At least one person was killed and more than 25 were injured Tuesday evening when a tornado devastated a trailer park near Chetek in northwestern Wisconsin.

One person died at the mobile home park, the Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center said in a statement late Tuesday. No details of the fatality were given. More than 25 people were injured, the state said, without giving their conditions.

Helicopter video from WCCO-TV and KARE-TV shows extensive damage at the trailer park, with several homes reduced to rubble.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald described the scene at Prairie Lakes Estates mobile home park as "total devastation" and said first responders could hear people yelling for help when they arrived. He said at least one child was among the injured.

"It's a mess," Fitzgerald told the Leader-Telegram of Eau Claire. "We have at least one deceased so far and we're still in a search pattern."

Chetek Mayor Jeff Martin estimated the park, about 40 miles north of Eau Claire, had around 50 homes.

Martin also told KSTP-TV that several turkey barns in the area also were hit hard.

Devin Feuerhelm told KMSP-TV that his sister, Lenna Samuelson, lives at Prairie Lakes Estates with her two daughters, Ashley and Brenna. While their home was flattened, the SUV next to it was untouched.

He said her sister also had her 2-month-old grandson, Nolan, in the home when the storm hit, and they had nowhere to go but the bathtub. Nolan escaped with just a couple of scratches, he said. Samuelson's daughters suffered minor injuries, and the mother suffered a gash on her head, but he said all are expected to be fine.

The Twin Cities station of the National Weather Service tweeted a photo of large hailstones that fell in the town of Barron, with the largest 3 inches in diameter.

The Wisconsin tornado was part of a huge swath of the Plains and Upper Midwest threatened with severe weather and followed a turbulent but less violent night of storms in southern Wisconsin on Monday night.

Emergency management officials in Grant County reported a gust that hit 68 mph in Cuba City, and wind felled tree branches in the Hazel Green area and debris was blowing across the highway in Ellenboro. The National Weather Service office in La Crosse received numerous reports of winds topping 50 mph, and trees and power lines are down in Green and Lafayette counties.

In Oklahoma on Tuesday, another tornado damaged much of a subdivision on the southern fringe of Elk City, Oklahoma, about 110 miles west of Oklahoma City. Fire Chaplain Danny Ringer told reporters at the scene late Tuesday that one person was known dead from the twister, although details were lacking. He also said the storm destroyed 40 homes and damaged 50 to 75 others severely. It was not immediately known if there were injuries.

More than two dozen tornado sightings were reported to the National Weather Service Tuesday night across the five states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The storm also brought numerous reports of large hail and strong winds.

A mobile home is a particularly dangerous place to be during a tornado, according to the National Weather Service. The high winds during a tornado can rip a mobile home, which frequently would not have a foundation, from its moorings.

In 2011, when devastating tornadoes struck in Joplin, Missouri, and in Alabama and Mississippi, 111 of the 551 people killed nationwide in tornadoes, or 20 percent, were in mobile homes, according to the Storm Prediction Center website.

[Editor's note: The original version of this story contained the wrong day for the Wisconsin tornado.]
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The West Virginia Capitol Police purport to be a bona fide law-enforcement agency. But theres scant evidence of that.

In arresting reporter Dan Heyman last week  his offense was asking questions  they look more like the security services in repressive regimes.

The political polarization of America has helped to erode Americans trust of the media. President Donald Trumps love-hate relationship with the Fourth Estate has been a big contributing factor.

Even so, the behavior of the West Virginia Capitol Police was outrageous. Heyman was manhandled, arrested, locked up for eight hours and charged with a misdemeanor count of willful disruption of governmental processes because he sidled up to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price in the capitol hallway and  gasp!  asked him questions. The criminal complaint accuses Heyman of trying to breach security and causing a disturbance by yelling questions.

Heyman works for Public News Service, which describes itself as having operations in 36 states with support from nonprofit organizations, foundations, individuals and businesses for social responsibility. When he got out of the slammer, Heyman was flabbergasted.

This is my job, this is what Im supposed to do, The Washington Post quoted him as saying.

Hes absolutely right.

Reporters routinely trail behind or walk alongside public officials as they move from one location or event to the next and take the opportunity to ask questions. It must happen hundreds of times each day on Capitol Hill and in statehouses, city halls and courthouses across America. Reporters anticipate the face time; public officials expect it and nearly always act civilly, even if they decline to answer the questions posed to them.

Heyman was persistent in asking a non-responsive Price  accompanied by White House adviser Kellyanne Conway on a visit to Charleston to discuss the opioid crisis  whether domestic violence would be a pre-existing condition under the GOP health care plan.

But there was nothing out of the ordinary, let alone illegal, about his conduct. Did the West Virginia Capitol Police overreact or did they want to spare Price further questioning? They were wrong either way.

The charges should be dropped, the officers involved disciplined and Heyman given an apology. However, theres been nothing but silence so far from West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, who should have immediately rebuked the capitol police. Its time the Democrat lived up to his name.

Price could have, and should have, intervened to stop Heymans arrest. Hes mostly dodged questions about the incident, except to say the police did what they felt was appropriate.

The police did nothing appropriate here. As the police detained him, according to a New York Times account, Heyman asked: So the Capitol of the state of West Virginia is no longer a public space?

That, like his other questions, hasnt yet been answered.
Updated at 12:52 p.m.

The dark narrative of decline developing in Detroit stands in stark contrast to President Donald Trump's boasts of a booming U.S. auto industry that's building plants and adding jobs.

The latest evidence the party's over in Motown: Ford Motor Co., confronting a drop in profits, vehicle sales and stock price, plans to trim about 10 percent of salaried staff within its North American and Asia Pacific operations. This comes on the heels of Ford laying off 130 factory workers in Ohio for the summer due to slowing sales of the big trucks they build. Earlier this year, General Motors cut 3,300 employees at three car plants in Ohio and Michigan that make struggling models like the Chevrolet Camaro and Cadillac CT6.

As the U.S. auto market loses steam after seven years of growth, a familiar pattern of cutbacks is emerging. That's not how the president portrays the industry's state of affairs. A television commercial marking Trump's first 100 days showed line workers assembling vehicles as the backdrop to a boast about job creation. "They're all talking about building in the United States because of me," Trump said in an interview with Bloomberg this month.

Trump's itchy Twitter finger has so far been silent on Ford's plan to cut 1,400 jobs by the end of September. That's a rare positive these days for Ford Chief Executive Officer Mark Fields, who was grilled by the company's board last week and assailed by investors eager for a turnaround. Ford's stock fell 18 cents, or 1.7 percent, to close Wednesday at $10.76. The stock is down 37 percent since Fields became CEO in July 2014.

"Trump has got his hands full right now, so I don't know if he's going to bother to send out a tweet about this," said David Whiston, an analyst with Morningstar in Chicago. "Someone like that is never pleased. But I mean, who is running the company, Mark Fields or Donald Trump?"

The move to trim salaried staff is part of Ford's plan to reduce costs by $3 billion this year. The cuts will be selective so Ford can retain the tech-savvy employees it's recruited to develop driverless and electric cars. Departments that will be spared include product development, information technology and global data and analytics, the Dearborn, Mich.-based company told employees Wednesday.

"This has to be done surgically rather than randomly or otherwise you lose the talent you need the most," said Maryann Keller, an industry consultant in Stamford, Conn. "This will be offered to the traditional automotive staff."

Ford shares have declined 10 percent this year, while GM's have dropped 5.4 percent, dropping the market capitalization of each company below Tesla Inc.

"I don't think there's one or two levers Mark can pull that will magically boost the stock," Whiston said. "He doesn't have a lot of options because sentiment against auto stocks is so negative right now because we're at the top of the cycle."

Retrenching in the U.S. risks reopening Ford to criticism from Trump eventually. Fields and Executive Chairman Bill Ford have curried favor with the President this year, giving him advance notice of hiring and investment at American plants and canceling a small-car factory in Mexico.

"They've already done a lot for the president," Whiston said. "Even though Ford really did not stop building the Mexico plant in response to Trump, it still made him look good."

Ford scrapped plans for the $1.6 billion small-car Mexico facility amid declining demand for sedans and will build the Focus compact in an existing plant south of the border.

Automakers have widespread shutdowns planned for the summer to adjust to the U.S. car market's recent slowdown, conflicting with Trump's more upbeat depiction of the state of the industry.

Fields, 56, discussed the cost cuts that Ford plans for this year in a call with analysts last month when the company posted a 42 percent plunge in first quarter adjusted earnings. He has said pretax earnings will fall to $9 billion this year, from $10.4 billion in 2016, and will rebound next year.

"We are continuing our intense focus on cost and the reason for that is not only mindful of the current environment that we're in, but also I think preparing us even more for a downturn scenario," Fields said on April 27.

In the U.S., Ford has about 30,000 salaried workers. The company employed a total of about 201,000 workers as of the end of last year, including about 101,000 in North America, according to a regulatory filing.

"It's sad to see jobs disappear when the company is still doing well. But you should do it when you identify the need," Whiston said. "If you wait until the recession happens, you're just delaying the inevitable."
NEW YORK  A federal judge signaled that he may reject parts of Wells Fargo & Co.'s proposed $142 million settlement with customers for whom it opened millions of unauthorized accounts.

In an order made public on Tuesday evening, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco said he was "strongly inclined" to reject the settlement's provision for an injunction barring customers from pursuing other claims against the bank.

He also said he was "tentatively" inclined to carve out claims related to customer overdrafts, and said "there may be an argument" that the settlement gave too much protection to executives and directors.

The judge also ordered lawyers for the customers and Wells Fargo to address several issues, including whether the bank should owe punitive damages, and how the estimated number of bogus accounts rose to 3.5 million, a number suggested by the customers' lawyers last Thursday, from 2.1 million.

Wells Fargo spokesman Jim Seitz said on Wednesday that the San Francisco-based bank is preparing a response.

"We believe this agreement is an important step in our journey to make things right for our customers and rebuild trust," he added in an email.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Chhabria is scheduled on Thursday to consider whether to preliminarily approve the accord.

He has received several objections contending that the settlement is too broad and that the payout is too low.

The settlement came in the wake of a national scandal in which Wells Fargo employees were found to have opened bogus accounts in part because of pressure to meet sales goals.

Wells Fargo agreed last September to pay $185 million in penalties to settle related charges by various authorities. Chief Executive John Stumpf and retail banking chief Carrie Tolstedt lost their jobs soon afterward.
ST. LOUIS  A federal jury on Wednesday found a Berkeley man guilty of conspiring to commit the murder of a witness in an unrelated murder case against him, federal prosecutors said.

William Chuckie Clarett, 34, of the 6100 block of Shillington Lane, was in jail at the time, charged with the April 22, 2015 murder of Travis Hayden, 28, of Kinloch.

Prosecutors say he began talking about the case with a longtime friend and fellow inmate at the St. Louis County Justice Center, and eventually asked that inmate to find someone to kill the witness.

The inmate went to the authorities, and they set up Clarett with an undercover police detective posing as the hitman. Clarett and his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Barbrial Jones, paid the hitman $500 and promised a gun and heroin, Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Granger told jurors Monday in opening statements.

Clarett now faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced in September. His murder trial is still pending in St. Louis County Circuit Court.

Jones, 31, pleaded guilty in March to the conspiracy charge.
ST. LOUIS  An 8-year-old boy was shot in the abdomen Tuesday night in north St. Louis, police said.

Police at the scene said the investigation was just beginning, but it appeared that the child might have accidentally shot himself.

The shooting happened just before 9:30 p.m. in the 4900 block of San Francisco Avenue. The child was conscious and breathing when taken to a hospital, police said. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

The child was found inside a residence on San Francisco, just northeast of the intersection of Kingshighway and Natural Bridge Avenue.

Police said adults and another child, 6, were in the residence at the time of the shooting.

Neighbors said the family had only recently moved into the home.

Police are investigating.
ST. LOUIS  Federal agents and police on Wednesday began a roundup of St. Louis gang members accused of dealing crack cocaine and heroin, saying that they had arrested or were searching for 15 people.

The operation is part of Mission SAVE, a collaborative law enforcement effort launched in 2015 targeting the most violent offenders, said Bill Woods, special agent in charge of the St. Louis office of the FBI.

Woods, at a morning news conference, said that about half of the 15 members of the Cochran Crips or their associates had been arrested, and four search warrants were being executed.

The Crips, he said, operated out of Carr Square and Columbus Square neighborhoods just north of downtown St. Louis. Woods and other officials declined to detail the allegations against the Crips, citing the pending charges.

They also declined to say which, if any, of those arrested were responsible for violent acts.

Woods said that Mission SAVEs cooperative effort among the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, other federal agencies and St. Louis city and county prosecutors and police was what the public expects when they think of law enforcement. The initiative, he said, was trying to target murders and other violent crimes and the 467 drug overdose deaths that occurred last year in St. Louis city and county.

Wednesdays arrests and raids will add to the 539 arrests and the seizure of $4.9 million in assets as well as 242 weapons, 89 kilograms of cocaine, nearly 23 kilos of heroin and 63 kilos of meth the program has tallied so far, officials said.

Among the significant cases highlighted by officials were the arrests earlier this year of the Downtown Taliban, accused of involvement in rolling gunbattles, and a drug conspiracy linked to 17 murders. They operated in Midtown, Baden and Soulard, authorities said.

James Shroba, special agent in charge of the local office of the DEA, said that investigators were able to disrupt a plan by Downtown Taliban members to retaliate against a rival gang for the death of a Downtown Taliban member this year. He said that investigators were now targeting that rival gang.

Officials also listed the case of a local executive, Todd Beckman, accused of a violent kidnapping motivated by a drug debt.

Shroba said that Beckmans name was known to drug investigators before the kidnapping.

Indicted on a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base are St. Louis residents Farid Rumble Annoor, 26, Randy Big Randy Johnson, 33, Johnnie King, 39, and Kevin Simmons, 45, prosecutors said.

Indicted separately on a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin are St. Louis residents Darryl Black, 26, Arieawn Richaud Dillon, 22, Gregory Greasy Hampton, 32, Jermaine Johnson, 45, Troy Parker, 47, Travis Roberts, 28, Daviyon Big Boy Thomas, 27, and Jerome Thomas, 45.

Phoenix residents Christian Nunez, 20, Armando Ramos-Estrada, 34, and Ricardo Ramos-Estrada, 31, were indicted on the same heroin charge.
A man who was shot and critically injured early Wednesday morning in St. Louis was a driver for ride-hailing service Lyft.

Police say the victim is a 47-year-old man. He was shot at about 2:40 a.m. in the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue. The area is a few blocks west of Jefferson Avenue.

Witnesses on Minnesota who heard the shots went outside and found the man unconscious in the vehicle. He had gunshot wounds to his back and side.

Details of the shooting weren't available. The witnesses saw two vehicles pull away quickly and leave the area, but police aren't sure if anyone in those vehicles were involved in the shooting.

Police say they have no suspects.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been updated with the correct location of the shooting. Police originally had said it happened on a different block.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY  Riders aboard a MetroLink train ducked for cover Tuesday night when someone outside fired eight bullets into the side of the train leaving the Washington Park station.

Neither the train operator nor any of the 20 passengers on board was hurt.

Passengers told police they heard six to 10 loud "pops" as the train was pulling out of the Washington Park station, near North Kingshighway and St. Clair Avenue. The train was heading east toward the Fairview Heights station.

"They ducked, people laid on the floor," said St. Clair County Sheriff's Capt. Bruce Fleshren.

The train operator pulled into the Fairview Heights station, at 9200 St. Clair Avenue, and summoned help. Police arrived at about 10:40 p.m. Many of the passengers left without talking with police.

Officers found eight bullet holes in the train, and it was clear to them that the shots were fired by someone outside the train, Fleshren said.

The train operator told police he at first thought rocks were hitting the train, but then saw glass breaking on the train's windows.

Fleshren said no one knew where the shots came from. Metro and the St. Clair County sheriff are offering a $1,000 reward in the case.

Authorities asked anyone with information to call the St. Clair County Sheriffs Department at 618-825-2051 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477. Tipsters can also use the free app, P3 Tips, or www.stlrcs.org.

Illinois State Police crime-scene investigators examined the train and collected evidence. Metro employees were pulling surveillance video on board the train and at the station to search for any clues.

"Unfortunately, Metro is not immune to the crime occurring in the communities we operate in," the transit agency said in a statement. "Targeting trains and other vehicles can have serious consequences, potentially injuring innocent people. We are thankful no MetroLink passengers were injured in this incident."

Crime on MetroLink is a hot topic in the region after two recent homicides, one at a station in downtown St. Louis and the other on a train as it pulled into a station on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus.

On March 19, Mac Payne, 57, was killed at the station near Busch Stadium when a gun went off inside a train during an assault and robbery, according to police. A bullet passed through a window and struck Payne in the head. On April 5, Jesse Boone, 22, of St. Louis, was fatally shot in the chest on a train during a fight as the train approached the UMSL South station, according to police. Students riding on the train saw it happen and called for help.

Last month, in light of those recent crimes, Bi-State Development Agency added an extra $20 million for transit security to its planned budget for next year. Agency officials say that amount would be enough to put a law enforcement officer on every MetroLink car and at each station, plus conduct a feasibility study of installing turnstiles and other upgrades.
UPDATED at 11:30 a.m. with boy turning self in.

ST. LOUIS  A 13-year-old boy has turned himself into police after the shooting of another boy Wednesday in St. Louis' Walnut Park West neighborhood, police said.

The injured boy, also 13, was hospitalized in critical condition but was stable, Lt. Daniel Zarrick said at the scene.

He was shot in the chest just before 5 p.m. inside a home in the 5900 block of Lalite Avenue, near Riverview Boulevard, police said.

Police initially said the shooting appeared to be accidental, but Major John Hayden said afterward that police were conducting a criminal investigation to pursue all leads.

Hayden said three other juveniles were in the home at the time of the shooting. A 13-year-old boy was seen fleeing the scene after the shooting. Police called him a suspect, and he later turned himself in at the North Patrol Division. He was taken into juvenile custody.

Police had not recovered the gun. Several officers appeared to be searching an alley near the home shortly after the shooting.

The scene is near Northwest Academy of Law High School.

On Tuesday night, an 8-year-old boy was shot in the abdomen in the 4900 block of San Francisco Avenue, less than 2 miles away. Police believe he may have accidentally shot himself. He was stable but his medical condition was not available.
After 10 years at the helm of the University of Missouri-Columbia's College of Veterinary Medicine, dean Neil Olson is stepping down.

His departure was announced by campus leaders Wednesday morning.

Olson joins St. George's University in Grenada, an island in the Caribbean, as the dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. His last day at Mizzou is Aug. 15.

Mizzou's veterinary school is one of 30 nationwide. Interim chancellor Garnett Stokes said she hopes to announce interim leadership soon.

In her campus announcement, Stokes commended Olson for his accomplishments with the school's accreditation processes, endowment boost and the creation of a cancer center in Wentzville.

There are active searches at Mizzou for two other dean positions, including the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the College of Arts and Sciences.
WASHINGTON  Leading into the sudden appointment Wednesday of special counsel Robert Mueller, the different reactions of Roy Blunt and Ann Wagner to the latest conflagration involving President Donald Trump are symptomatic of the dilemma facing congressional Republicans.

How closely should they stand with Trump and their shared legislative goals, with the former FBI director now probing Russian influence on the 2016 election, and the Trump campaign? What effect, if any, will the appointment of the former FBI director have on the GOP agenda, and on Republican congressional support?

Even before the appointment of the special counsel, Blunt, a characteristically cautious Republican senator, made headlines with veiled criticism of Trump for divulging secrets to top Russian diplomats that led to Israel being identified as the source of that information. Blunts reaction was a pivot from the previous week, when the Missouri senator, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had essentially defended Trumps controversial firing of FBI Director James Comey.

On Wednesday, Blunt backed a Senate Intelligence Committee invitation for Comey to testify before that committee. We should talk to everyone that any reasonable person would think should be talked to, he said. But Muellers investigation, with widespread subpoena power, will be what many people will focus on.

Wagner, a U.S. representative from Ballwin, remained on the defiant-defender road, blaming Democrats and the Washington press corps for trumping up non-scandals.

She had no immediate comment after the appointment of Mueller.

Its a significant divergence because Wagner and Blunt are long allied. She was a Missouri and national Republican Party official when Blunt was rising in the U.S. House, and she chaired Blunts first Senate campaign in 2010.

If Wagner wins the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., next year, Blunt  recognized even by Democrats as an effective retail politician  could be a valuable Wagner surrogate.

The Wagner-Blunt split over this latest Trump controversy highlights fresh cracks in congressional Republican solidarity that had first appeared during the GOP majoritys struggles to follow through on seven years of campaign promises to repeal and replace former President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act.

Some of the cracks are Trump-inflicted. He acknowledged in a tweet that he is such an active president that even his paid spokesmen  including White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer  cant keep up with his latest thoughts. On a regular basis, Trump himself contradicts what Spicer and other surrogates are sent out to say.

Its culture shock for a capital that had just lived through eight years of no-drama Obama.

I think we could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so that we can focus on our agenda, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday.

But that is unlikely with this president, and with this new development. His kinetic management style feeds chaos in a town of perpetually roiling interests, and its been his style for decades.

I never get too attached to one deal or one approach, Trump wrote in his 1987 best-selling Art of the Deal. For starters, I keep a lot of balls in the air, because most deals fall out, no matter how promising they seem at first.

But the latest contretemps with his critics, the media and even, tangentially, the FBI director, are not mere balls in the air. They pose serious legal and constitutional questions, such as whether the president obstructed justice by urging Comey to back off investigations of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

As of late Wednesday, one Republican congressman, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, said that if the Comey memo on his conversations with Trump are true, it may be grounds for impeachment. But although no colleagues have gone that far, many Republicans are worried that the constant swirl around Trump is taking energy from their policy agenda.

For the first 100 days (of Trumps presidency), and as long as they possibly could do it, the Republicans in the House and Senate wanted to keep no distance, no separation, from their ambitions and the ambitions of the president, said David Robertson, chairman of the political science department at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. But you are starting to see that now, and the use of the word distracting  (is) showing that that gap is widening.

McConnell, Robertson said, is trying to keep the GOP agenda from being swamped by the personality politics of the Trump administration.

Two other points explain the divergent paths Wagner and Blunt took this week.

By sticking with Trump, Wagner blunts potential primary challenges from pro-Trump forces in Missouri. She has already been criticized for twice backing away from Trump but ending up in his camp during the tumultuous 2016 campaign.

Blunt, re-elected in 2016, doesnt have to worry about that, Robertson said.

Finally, Blunt serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and is therefore privy to far more U.S. secrets than Wagner is. The fact that Israel was outed as the source of the information Trump said he gave the Russians could be an intelligence boon to Iran. And Blunt was one of the fiercest critics of Obamas nuclear arms agreement with Iran.

I am absolutely sure that Republicans on the Intelligence Committee are not big fans of helping Iran at this point, Robertson said. So this is a serious problem.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to provide a transcript of a controversial Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, raising the stakes in an affair that has sent the White House into a tailspin.

Speaking at a press conference in Sochi, Russia, Putin dismissed allegations that Trump had shared top-secret security intelligence with Russian diplomats as "political schizophrenia."

"If the US administration finds it necessary, we are ready to provide the record of the conversation between Trump and Lavrov to the Senate and Congress," Putin said.

The intervention by Putin could turn up the pressure on the White House to provide its own transcript of the meeting. The Senate intelligence committee has already demanded a briefing on what was said at the meeting from members of the Trump administration who were present.

The episode is the latest woe for Trump, whose administration is engulfed in a series of scandals linked to Russia. His meeting with Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak came a day after Trump fired FBI director James Comey, the man leading an investigation into contentious links between members of the President's campaign team and Russia.

Trump has admitted sharing security information on terrorism and aviation safety with the Russians, saying he had the "absolute right" to do so, but the White House has not confirmed or denied whether that information was classified.

The Washington Post first reported the allegations on Monday, saying that Trump described details to Lavrov and Kislyak about how ISIS hopes to use laptop computers as bombs on planes.

It reported that an official with knowledge of the meeting described Trump as saying: "I get great intel. I have people brief me on great intel every day," just before revealing the intelligence. Two sources told CNN that the information was classified.

According to US and diplomatic officials, Israeli intelligence was a source for some of the information about ISIS bomb-making capabilities.

Trump's meeting with Lavrov and Kislyak came as the White House deals with a series of scandals linking members of Trump's team with Russia. The FBI has confirmed it is investigating these links.

The White House has scrambled to respond to the intelligence scandal, at first denying the story, then arguing that it was "wholly appropriate" for Trump to discuss the information with the Russians.

"At no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed and the President did not disclose any military operations that weren't already publicly known," Trump's national security adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters Monday night.

"The premise of that article is false that in any way the President had a conversation that was inappropriate or that resulted in any kind of lapse in national security."

'Dumb, dangerous, dirty'

At the press conference in Sochi, Putin made light of the allegations.

"I think we need to come up with some sort of punishment for him, because he didn't share this secret information, not with us, not with the special services. This is really not nice of him," Putin joked, laughing with Lavrov, who was also at the conference.

But he then took a more serious tone, accusing Americans of "rocking the internal political situation in the US under anti-Russian slogans."

"They either don't understand that they are harming their country -- which makes them just dumb -- or they understand, which makes them dangerous and dirty."

CNN's Lindsay Isaac and Emma Burrows contributed to this report.
Many sex offenders in Missouri are finding themselves shackled for life to the states criminal justice system, even though some pleaded guilty or were convicted before a law tethering them to GPS monitoring ankle bracelets existed. The law took effect Jan. 1 but is being applied retroactively to crimes committed on or after Aug. 28, 2006.

It also lowers the bar for the types of sex offenders who must wear the devices, requiring it of some first-time convicts and of non-contact convicts who may have served sentences, completed probation and undergone treatment. As reported by the Post-Dispatchs Jesse Bogan, the devices send out alerts if an offender lingers too long near a school or park and beeps to notify monitors if the device is disabled, or the offender must report to a probation officer. The convicts must pay for their own monitoring, and if a payment is overdue, the device sounds an alarm.

Such monitoring technology previously was used for a limited class of high-risk offenders, which seems more reasonable. Repeat offenders and those who commit violent sex crimes absolutely deserve this sort of monitoring. The law should not treat sex offenders lightly, particularly since scientific data suggests many are likely to offend again.

But a lifetime of monitoring is excessive punishment for a first-time offender or for someone convicted of a so-called Romeo and Juliet crime, where the sex is consensual and both people involved are teens. Its also not justified for a non-contact offender, such as someone found with child pornography on a computer, or who may have tried to entice a child online into sexual misconduct.

There is some information indicating that non-contact offenders are largely living in fantasy worlds and that their crimes will not escalate to actual contact. There is no evidence suggesting that a teen who has consensual sex with another teen will become a child predator worthy of lifetime monitoring.

Matt Fry, a Clayton-based attorney who is suing the state on behalf of an offender who pleaded guilty before the law existed, said the law is unconstitutional because it abridges a persons rights based on a prior event. He noted that it further subjects convicts to a new criminal offense of violating GPS requirements, and said there is no research showing whether such devices are effective at preventing further offenses.

Its not as though sex offenders arent already publicly identifiable. State law requires them to be listed on a sex offender registry that the public can access. But the big, bulky bracelets may make it harder for them to get jobs and to lead normal lives.

Many of these convicts have paid their debt to society and are unlikely to re-offend. They should be allowed to become productive citizens without being branded for life.
Nick Harrington.

A CONSERVATIVE district councillor who is being investigated by police over comments he made on Twitter has resigned from his political role.

Nick Harrington resigned from Warwick District Council earlier today, Wednesday, and it is believed he has also stepped down from his role as a councillor on Weston Under Wetherley Parish Council.

The 54-year-old quit as a magistrate on Monday. He had served on the Coventry and Warwickshire bench since late 2009 and had been a district councillor for two years.

Mr Harrington hit the headlines when a tweet that appeared to be making reference to the votes cast during Saturdays Eurovision song contest and future Brexit negotiations was made from his Twitter account.

It read: Thanks Ireland. You can keep your f***ing gypsies! Hard border coming folks!

Ireland did not give any points to the UKs entry by former X Factor contestant Lucie Jones.

Complaints led to the launched of an investigation by Warwickshire Police which confirmed to the Herald on Monday that previous tweets posted from the same account were also now being looked at.

The Conservative party locally and nationally have suspended Mr Harrington, pending their own investigation.

Warwick District Council leader, Cllr Andrew Mobbs, said: "I believe his resignation to be entirely appropriate. He is however, still under investigation by the police who will no doubt update us as soon as they have a made their report.

"I am very disappointed that his comment was made in the first place and by the reaction it generated towards the district council on social media.

"Nick Harrington was not an employee of Warwick District Council and so I would like to add that his attitude and comments are in no way supported by the district council, or are in any way a reflection on the progressive and dedicated staff that work for the council."
Thailand has reportedly backed down from threats to sue Facebook if it did not remove illegal images of its new king from the social media platform by Tuesday morning.

The Guardian reported Tuesday that the Thai government appeared to backed down on threats that it would proceed with legal action and block access to Facebook in the country unless the site pulled 131 illicit posts by 10 a.m. Reports indicate the social media site is still up and running in the country following the deadline's passing.

One video, which seems to show now-King Maha Vajiralongkorn wearing a yellow crop top at a Munich mall last June, was reportedly pulled from the site earlier this month as per the countrys laws that ban content defaming the Thai monarchy. Vice News reported on May 8 that the video, which has been widely circulated, had been geo-blocked in Thailand.



The video in question seems to show the Thai King strolling through the German mall with a bodyguard and a young woman, reportedly one of his mistresses. According to Vice News, the video was taken in June 2016, just a few months before the October death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Thailands lese-majeste laws  which state that any person who defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent will face up to 15 years in prison  put Facebook in a difficult position. As Facebook continues to broaden its reach overseas, Mark Zuckerberg has said the company is attempting to maintain a free speech platform while respecting local laws.

Thai authorities back down from threat to block Facebook. Meanwhile the story and video of the king have gone viral. Congratulations junta!  Andrew MacG Marshall (@zenjournalist) May 16, 2017

A Facebook spokesperson told International Business Times in a statement, When governments believe that something on the Internet violates their laws, they may contact companies like Facebook and ask us to restrict access to that content.

When we receive such a request, we review it to determine if it puts us on notice of unlawful content. If we determine that it does, then we make it unavailable in the relevant country or territory and notify people who try to access it why it is restricted, the spokesperson added.

Thailand officially entered its one-year period of mourning in October following the death of beloved King Bhumibol after he reigned for more than seven decades, one of the longest reigning monarchs in history.
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Sweet Louise, New Zealands only charity solely dedicated to supporting incurable breast cancer, has just been named as one of four nominated charities to participate locally in Zs popular Good in the Hood Campaign for 2017.

Good in the Hood is a campaign running throughout Z stations nationwide during May in support of local community charities.

Customers purchase an item in store during May and are given a token to place into one of four charity boxes. At the conclusion of the campaign, $4000 will be split between the four groups, according to the number of votes they receive. Z Te Puke, Tauranga and Z Central Parade, Mt Maunganui have nominated Sweet Louise as one of their four charities along with Te Puke Volunteer Fire Brigade, Under the Stars Te Puke and Coastguard Maketu (at Z Te Puke) and Bay of Plenty Foster Care Association, Family Works Tauranga, and Live for More Charitable Trust (at Z Central Parade).

Sweet Louise CEO Fiona Hatton is delighted at their inclusion in the national campaign for the fourth consecutive year.

We really appreciate this opportunity to raise funds and highlight what we are doing in communities such as Tauranga and Mt Maunganui, throughout New Zealand.

Each year 3000 New Zealanders are delivered the news that they have breast cancer. Of these, 15-20 per cent will go on to develop incurable cancer, while 600 people die from it every year. Sweet Louise touches the lives of over 90 per cent of these people and relies solely on donations. There are currently 580 Sweet Louise members.

One local Bay of Plenty member who is extremely grateful to the Sweet Louise charity is Tracey Pay.

My world fell apart and all I could think about was staying strong for my two boys, she says.

With the help of Sweet Louise that all seems possible. The charity is amazing, they send out vouchers to spend on things such as massages, flowers, cinema tickets, home cooked food (which really helps when you are not feeling well) and so much more. They provide support groups so you dont feel alone and seem to fill in the gaps where ever it is needed. I would truly would be lost without them, so please help in keeping Sweet Louise going by donating your tokens to this awesome charity.

Z community manager Christine Langdon says its wonderful to see Sweet Louise named again alongside other worthy charities.

They offer an invaluable and unique service being the only charity solely dedicated to incurable breast cancer and we feel very proud to be partnering with our customers to support them.
Junction: Peer Support and Advocacy will be among the local groups celebrating Pink Shirt Day on Friday May 26.

The day is about standing up to bullying in all its forms, and began after a Canadian student was bullied at school for wearing a pink shirt.

This is the first year Junction has participated in Pink Shirt Day, and they will have a stall outside Greerton Library on Friday May 26 from 11am to 2pm, with a giant pink T-Shirt to write anti-bullying messages, balloons, stickers, give-aways and other information, to mark the occasion.

Team Leader Vaughan Cruickshank saysJunction is committed to celebrating diversity and addressing bullying every day.

As a local NGO working in community alongside those experiencing mental illness and/or addictions, we know the impact bullying can have on ones life, no matter your age or background, he says.

Pink Shirt Day provides us with a platform to raise awareness and understanding of this serious issue and take action to address it, all while having a lot of fun.

According to Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson, bullying is a significant problem in New Zealand and can have serious and ongoing impacts on mental health and wellbeing.

We know that students who are bullied are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety and avoid going to school. In the workplace, bullying harms workers health, wellbeing and ability to do their job, says Shaun.

While all young people can be the target of bullying, some groups experience higher rates such as those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI).

It is a serious problem, but by speaking up, standing together and saying no to bullying, we can bring about change.

For more information visit: www.pinkshirtday.org.nz
Zespri grew sales by 30 per cent in its longstanding number one market of Japan over the past two seasons.

The kiwifruit company has plans to keep growing sales of premium Zespri Kiwifruit by 25 per cent over the next five years, creating new opportunities to grow value in-market.

Zespri Chief Executive Lain Jager is accompanying the trade mission to Japan led by New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English and explains Zespri sold a record 24 million trays of kiwifruit in Japan last season.

Japan sales earned around $500 million last season and accounted for 16 percent of our global sales.

This is all the more remarkable as overall fruit sales in Japan declined by almost 10 per cent over the past decade, against the backdrop of an economy with an ageing population and changing consumer behavior, with a growing preference for more convenient processed products.

This strong performance is testament to the longstanding relationships we have with our customers  distributors, wholesalers and retailers  who work very closely with us in-market to deliver consistently great-tasting kiwifruit to Japanese consumers.

Last year saw Zespris Japan marketing become more product-centric, making Zespri Kiwifruit more relatable and engaging, and this will continue this season.

This new approach won the team in Japan a top design award last year, the Good Design Award, for the new campaign featuring two cartoon kiwifruit brothers talking about how and why kiwifruit is good for you.

Our team in-market is working hard to introduce more consumers in Japan to the great taste of Zespri Kiwifruit through sampling programmes and promotions, says Lain.

Once that connection is made, the powerful health benefits of our product - high fibre and vitamin C  provide an ongoing communication platform with consumers.

Lain says Zespri welcomes the New Zealand Governments decision to ratify the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.

The TPP would eliminate tariffs on kiwifruit exports into all 11 Asia-Pacific nations and the most immediate impact would be in Japan, where kiwifruit growers paid around $25 million in tariffs last season. If this tariff relief was passed straight through to New Zealand growers, it would equate to savings of around $1900 for every hectare of kiwifruit grown in New Zealand.

Lain explains Zespri has partnered with local Japan kiwifruit growers for the past 14 years to grow Zespri gold varieties to supply the local Japanese market in the few months of the year when New Zealand kiwifruit is not available.

Zespri also has supplying orchards in Italy, France and Korea to meet consumer demand in the New Zealand offseason.

Our partnership with local growers keeps Zespri Kiwifruit on shop shelves in Japan all year round, supporting the relationships with our trade partners and keeping our brand in front of consumers all year round.

Zespri is expanding Japan production under a new commercial model which will see the aggregation of larger land areas, with significant volume growth ahead in response to the exceptional success and demand for SunGold in the Japanese market.
Nineteen of the New Zealand Defence Forces best combat marksmen are competing in the Australian Army Skills at Arms Meeting this month.

The annual combat-focused competition helps prepare soldiers for success on the battlefield.

About 500 personnel from 15 countries are taking part in AASAM at Puckapunyal Military Area, in central Victoria, from May 5-26.

Captain Matthew Singleton, Team Captain of the New Zealand Army Combat Shooting Team, says the NZDF personnel were competing at individual and team levels in three categories: the Sniper Competition, the International Competition and the Champion Shot.

Fifteen members of the NZDF are taking part as individuals and the other four have joined forces with four Australian Defence Force personnel to form an Anzac team to compete against 20 other international teams.

The training we gain by participating in AASAM helps to enhance the operational shooting capability of our army. The competition is one of the few opportunities for our marksmen to test their skills against those of our colleagues in other militaries.

Although the ultimate prize is to be recognised as the top shot, the event also offers us an opportunity to assess our combat shooting techniques.

The NZDF has been participating in AASAM since 1987. To prepare for this years competition, the NZDF participants practised daily throughout April, including during weekends, at Waiourus shooting range.

The Australian Armys Combined Arms Training Centre says the annual competition tests the marksmanship ability of participants. It provides a benchmark to validate standards, equipment and training.
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David Hammond, a Syracuse criminal lawyer who also happens to be Chelsea Manning's military counsel.

( Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

Syracuse, NY - Lawyer David Hammond arrived in Syracuse a year ago as a self-described "random dude on the street trying to find work."

There's a tiny plaque outside a 12th floor office downtown bearing his name, beneath the Carden Dotzler lawyers' banner. He has a website and Facebook page, but gets more business chasing down judges in hopes of getting assigned to represent people who are too poor to pay for their own lawyer.

"When I first showed up, I didn't know anyone," Hammond said. "All I knew was that I had to find judges to assign me cases."

A world away, Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning was released today from military prison in Kansas after being convicted in one of the largest intelligence breaches in military history: the release of some three-quarters of a million pages of classified and sensitive military records. She was spared a 35-year prison term by President Barack Obama. To some, she's a whistleblower and hero. To others, she's a menace and a traitor.

Hammond has a different view: He's the military lawyer assigned to Manning's appeal.

Chelsea Manning

As a U.S. Army Captain in 2015, Hammond became one of the few people in the world to read the entire 50,000-page record of her yearlong trial. He assisted in the legal battle that forced the Army to acknowledge Manning's gender change from Bradley to Chelsea. He's met with Manning to go over her case and keeps up with her by phone.

"She's very, very smart," Hammond said. "Chelsea Manning is incredibly smart. She knows where she is in the system."

Manning has admitted what she did. But much of the legal wrangling revolves around what crimes she committed. She was acquitted of aiding the enemy, a capital offense, but convicted of others. Still, disagreements arose over whether she "stole" the documents - much like stealing a file cabinet - or if digital records could not actually be taken in the same way. Then there was her controversial pretrial detention in Quantico that was condemned by the United Nations as solitary confinement.

For his part, Hammond contributed to the 270-page appellate brief on Manning's behalf. Manning has civilian big-shot lawyers, too: Nancy Hollander and Vincent Ward, who get most of the publicity. But soldiers always keep a military lawyer, even if they hire their own outside counsel.

He contributed to arguments that Manning's original 35-year sentence was too harsh. The same arguments were made in an appeal to Obama that led to Manning's reduced, 7-year prison sentence. Now in the Army Reserve, Maj. Hammond continues to confer with Manning's legal team as the only military-appointed lawyer on the case.

"It's been an amazing experience as an attorney to be involved in Chelsea's case," Hammond said. "It's not every day that a lawyer gets to work on a case of such magnitude, not only from a standpoint of the legal issues, but also from public interest. People love Chelsea Manning or they hate Chelsea Manning. She's polarizing."

Leaving a life of 'lawfare'

Hammond, 35, was born in Raleigh, N.C. and attended North Carolina State University. His father had served in the Navy and his grandfather in the Marine Corps. He wanted to serve, too.

After 9/11, Hammond signed up for the Army ROTC. He got an educational delay to attend law school at Syracuse University. There, he met his future wife, Ellen Rust, of Camillus, who also became a lawyer.

After graduation, he began his military service for two years prosecuting courts-martial in Maryland: sex assaults, thefts, desertions, absence without leave and other routine cases.

David Hammond returns to Fort Drum in 2012 after his first tour to Afghanistan. He is greeted by General Mark Milley, then Commander of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, but now Chief of Staff of the Army.

In 2011, he was assigned to Fort Drum, near Watertown, and sent to Afghanistan. There, he did a bit of everything: wills, divorces, administrative law and court-martials. Once, a rocket attack during a court-martial in a shabby wooden building led everyone running for cover.

He screened proposals by Afghans who were looking for U.S. grants to start small businesses or build infrastructure. There was a pot of money - originally seized from Saddam Hussein's palace and later supplemented by the military - for small projects at a commander's discretion. Hammond scrutinized plans for cell-phone shops and bread-baking businesses. Once, there was talk of a courthouse. But was there a justice system in place yet? He wondered.

The biggest thrill came from advising military leaders on the laws of war, coined "lawfare," he said.

They'd ask him: Can we bomb that location? Is that person a target?

"The commander would say, 'I want to blow this up. Lawyer, come here. Can we do this?' Your adrenaline was pumping. 'If you said yes, it went off right then,'" Hammond said.

It was his job to ask about potential civilians in the area or what made for an off-limits target.

Former Afghanistan President Hamid "Karzai would shut down operations if civilians were killed," Hammond said.

Sometimes he had to tell a commander no. Or bring up risks that complicated things.

David Hammond in Afghanistan in this 2011 photo.

"It wasn't always comfortable," he added. "They kill people for a living. They destroy the enemy. You don't want to be the guy inhibiting that."

Hammond came back to Fort Drum before being transferred to a special forces unit in the state of Washington that sent him back to Afghanistan from May 2013 to February 2014. He recalls giving legal advice to people on the radio who were in the middle of battle.

"If you can give legal advice in combat, you can give legal advice anywhere," Hammond said wryly.

50,000 pages

Returning from his second overseas tour, Hammond was reassigned to the defense appellate division at Fort Belvoir near Washington D.C. It was basically a warehouse of hundreds of military lawyers.

"I needed to go back to pure legal work," Hammond said. "I was looking forward to doing nothing but lawyering."

As luck would have it, Manning's appeal landed in his office shortly before he arrived. Hammond's not sure why he was assigned the case - maybe just because he was a fresh face - but he said he started plowing through it almost immediately.

"I wasn't initially excited about it," Hammond said. "The trial record was the entire length of a bookshelf. I bought an iPad and spent a year, a couple hours a day, reading it and taking notes. Few people have ever done that."

He had to learn from scratch everything that had happened. While Manning was leaking documents to WikiLeaks in Iraq, Hammond was just getting his feet wet prosecuting larcenies in Maryland. When Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison, Hammond was still in Afghanistan.

"It was a mixture of excitement and dread because it was so big," Hammond said. "Ultimately, it was an opportunity to be involved in an important case. I learned a ton, got involved with some excellent lawyers."

The trial record consisted of nearly 50,000 pages, including a transcript of testimony and the trial exhibits. It's one of the largest files in military history, Hammond said.

Supervisors cut his caseload in half - perhaps only assigning him 100 other appeals - during his two-year tenure in the appellate division. He still managed to work on a couple of murder cases and argued before the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals. He even won a few appeals.

Hammond and his wife believed they would live an Army life. But then his world changed again.

Coming to Syracuse

Hammond said the birth of his son, now 2 1/2 years old, changed his whole outlook. He didn't want to keep moving around anymore - the hallmark of a military life. He wanted his son to have cousins and in-laws around.

So Hammond decided he wanted out. His wife had grown up in Camillus and her family still lived there. That was good enough for him to lay down roots.

"For me, it was as simple as family and stability," Hammond said.

So he arrived a year ago with plans of starting his own defense practice. The Manning case provided him a small springboard.

One of Manning's civilian lawyers, Nancy Hollander, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, once worked on behalf of Syracuse mother Precious Bedell, who beat her 2-year-old daughter to death in a restaurant bathroom in 1979. Bedell's murder conviction was later tossed and she was freed after 19 years on a manslaughter conviction. Another lawyer in that case was Kate Rosenthal, now a Syracuse City Court judge.

At Hollander's recommendation, Rosenthal was one of the first judges to start assigning Hammond cases when he arrived in Syracuse. He also did his own legwork: once chasing down Cicero Town Court Justice David Bruffett to ask if there were any cases he could take. He's also a regular now in the Onondaga and Camillus town courts. He fits the odd court hours around his son's music class and other activities.

"My priority in life is my family, number one. That's why I'm in Syracuse," Hammond said. "And actually, I kind of like Syracuse. I'm an outsider to Syracuse. I'm not sick of snow yet because I'm from the South. Come talk to me in 10 years."

Hammond said he's not thinking about jumping into anything as complex as the Manning case anytime soon.

"I'm open to what the future holds, but for now I'm happy with a small criminal defense practice in Syracuse," he said.

He's teamed up with local lawyers Cliff Carden and Matt Dotzler. In the next month, Hammond said, the law firm will officially become Carden Dotzler Hammond.

What's next for Manning?

Manning may be a free woman, recognized as an openly transgender soldier. But her shortened sentence doesn't erase her convictions under the Espionage Act, among other crimes.

Hammond thinks his client will want to continue her appeal even after release. That comes with drawbacks, however.

National media reported this week that Manning will remain on active duty and retain health care benefits when released. That's because she can't be discharged until her appeal is over. But that doesn't mean she will be doing military work anytime soon. She won't be paid. While she could technically be called upon at a moment's notice, in reality, she will be free to pursue a civilian life.

But she'll have to operate under the soldier's code of conduct. That prohibits her from endorsing candidates or running for office, Hammond said, something he thinks she may want to pursue someday.

"Chelsea Manning is a transgender soldier who has certain opinions," he said, trying not to reveal anything confidential.

As for his career, Hammond said starting on his own is its own thrill of sorts - though short of giving legal advice in a combat zone.

"By moving here and opening my own practice, there's excitement in trying to make a name for myself in a new community where I hardly know anybody," he said.

Then he paused, thinking about all of his experiences so far.

"I've been incredibly lucky," he said. "My life and career has been stroked by luck at every turn."
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Federal officials are in the process of seizing this 5,625-square-foot home at 5188 Hoag Lane in the town of Manlius. Federal prosecutors allege the six-bedroom, 4 1/2-bathroom home with two kitchens was purchased and being improved with money from the sale of illegal drugs.

(Steven Billmyer | sbillmyer@syra)

Federal officials are in the process of seizing this 5,625-square-foot home at 5188 Hoag Lane in the town of Manlius.

TOWN OF MANLIUS, NY - The U.S Attorney's Office is asking a federal court for permission to seize a large suburban home in an upscale, quiet Manlius neighborhood.

The government alleges the home at 5188 Hoag Lane was purchased by a drug dealer who was laundering money by buying the home.

The six-bedroom, 4 1/2-bathroom colonial home features two kitchens, according to Onondaga County real estate records. The home - which is being renovated and is currently vacant - is 5,625 square feet, records show.

A 14-by-30-foot pool was added in 2016, according to county records.

Homes on Hoag Lane - a short, tree-lined, dead end road off of Fayetteville-Manlius Road - range in value from about $200,000 to more than $800,000, according to county records.

In February, U.S. Attorneys Richard S. Hartunian and Tamara Thomson filed papers in U.S. District Court to seize the property.

The government alleges that a limited liability corporation - Somerset Technology LLC - was formed to buy the home with proceeds from drug trafficking.

The feds also allege that cash generated from drug trafficking was used to make major improvements to the home - such as the swimming pool - and also to hide illegal drug money.

Somerset Technology LLC was formed in 2011 in New Mexico by Saladin Hadid, who then used the LLC to purchase the home in October 2012 for $110,000, according to court and county records.

Hadid was arrested in January 2017, according to court papers. A raid of Hadid's home in Syracuse uncovered $250,000 in cash and drugs, according to court papers. Hadid is being held in jail without bail at this time.

A federal grand jury indicted Hadid in March, and that indictment now includes both the criminal charges and the forfeiture action, said Richard Southwick, assistant U.S attorney.

A trial is scheduled for July 6, Southwick said.

Along with seizing the home, the government is looking for a $1 million judgement, about $287,000 in cash and a Nissan Murano, according to the indictment.

Federal court papers are taped to the front door of 5188 Hoag Lane in the town of Manlius. Federal officials are in the process of seizing this 5,625-square-foot home. They allege the six-bedroom, 4 1/2-bathroom home with two kitchens was purchased and was being improved with money from the sale of illegal drugs.

Last fall, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration executed the search warrant at 935 W. Lafayette Ave., Syracuse, the home of Saladin Hadid. Agents found found cocaine, drug packaging paraphernalia, two digital scales, a money counter, and two shoe boxes containing the cash, the court papers said.

Hadid, 37, along with Cory Ogletree, 43, were arrested on charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine. The pair were alleged to be part of a drug-trafficking conspiracy that sold the drug over the past three months, according to the court papers.

DEA agents conducted surveillance of the defendants since September, observing them selling cocaine to a confidential source, the affidavit said.

According to the court papers filed in the seizure case, Hadid, who also went by Dean Hadid, laundered money through the Hoag Lane house.

During the drug investigation in fall 2016, DEA agents several times observed Hadid purchasing building materials and delivering them to the Hoag Lane house, the court papers said. Hadid also was observed meeting with contractors doing remodeling work at the residence.

On Oct. 24, 2016, DEA agents observed Hadid park in the driveway in his 2011 Kia Optima at 4:16 p.m., and then leave again at 4:51 p.m. He was then followed by surveillance down Hunt Lane to Route 92 and then onto Woodchuck Hill road, Lakeview Drive and then Braxton Circle.

The original property owners have filed papers challenging the seizure, as has Hadid.

Annaleigh Porter, a lawyer who represents Hadid, said she couldn't comment beyond the fact that her client is challenging the seizure.

The house was originally owned by Mark and Francis Onofri, who said in court papers they were an "innocent owner" and had no knowledge of any criminal activity.

Indictment 5188 Hoag Ln Forefeiture by The Post-Standard on Scribd
WASHINGTON -- A Syracuse police officer who responded alone to a riot last year, fatally shot an armed man and was attacked by a crowd, has received an award for her actions.

Officer Kelsey J. Francemone was honored Friday at the 24th Annual TOP COPS Awards Dinner in Washington, DC. Police Chief Frank Fowler was in attendance.

The National Association of Police Organizations, which sponsors the awards, said they are meant to educate the public and pay tribute to people in law enforcement for "actions above and beyond the call of duty."

Recipients are nominated by fellow officers. Hundreds of nominations are whittled down to one case in each state. Officers from the top 10 cases receive the TOP COPS Award. Francemone was among the the top 10.

On June 19, 2016, she responded to what had been a daylong Father's Day party at a housing project on Syracuse's Near Westside.

According to police statements and court testimony, a group of suspected gang rivals had opened fire among the throngs of hundreds of people. Francemone rushed into the chaos without backup.

She engaged one of the armed men and shot him to death, police have said.

As the man - identified as Gary Porter - lay dying in the courtyard of the housing project, Francemone went to disarm him and try to help him, according to police statements and court testimony. But an angry crowd attacked her.

She was later rescued from the scene by fellow officers.

Officers counted 37 gunshots fired that night. Officers used pepper spray and riot shields. The rioting escalated to the point that Syracuse police eventually called in every available officer across Onondaga County.

A grand jury was later convened to investigate the shooting and found Francemone was justified in her actions.

Francemone, of Solvay, joined the Syracuse Police Department in 2014 when she was 21 years old; she was the youngest person in her academy class. She graduated in 2015 and works in the Patrol Division.
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The Syracuse Police Department cordones off 572 S. Salina St. in Syracuse with crime scene tape on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. A stabbing was reported on South Salina Street on Wednesday afternoon.

(Kira Maddox)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Police are investigating a report of a stabbing in downtown Syracuse.

The Syracuse Police Department rushed to South Salina and East Adams streets at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday after a stabbing was reported, Onondaga County 911 dispatch logs show.

It appears a male was injured, said Sgt. Richard Helterline, a police spokesman. More information will be released when it is available, he said.

Police cordoned off 572 S. Salina St. -- a building across the street from the Centro Transit Hub -- with crime scene tape. Cones were used to block off South Salina Street at Harrison Street.

In addition to police, American Medical Response and the Syracuse Fire Department responded to the call.

Kira Maddox contributed to this report. This story will be updated when more information is available.
VIRGIL, N.Y. -- A Syracuse man speeding in Cortland County was caught after his car caught fire and he fled into a nearby swamp, the New York State Police said.

John R. Perry

Around 4:30 p.m. Monday a trooper responded to a 911 report of a dark Mazda sedan speeding and driving erratically on I-81 south near mile marker 63 in the town of Preble.

State police said that at first the trooper could not catch up to the driver of Mazda, later identified as John R. Perry.

But the trooper was able to catch up when 911 got a report of a car on fire on Route 11, near Reagan Road, in Virgil, state police said. Perry is accused of running from his burning car into a swampy area nearby. But he was found by a Cortland County sheriff's deputy, state police said.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by sheriff's deputies and Virgil and Cortlandville firefighters.

Perry later submitted to a blood test for drugs, state police said, but the results are not back yet.

Perry, 36, of Syracuse, was charged with felony first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, misdemeanor driving while ability impaired by drugs and several traffic violations.

He was arraigned in Virgil Town Court and ordered held at the Cortland County jail in lieu of $7,500 bail or $10,000 bail bond.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- After a chilly start to spring, Central New York will see potentially record-setting highs today and Thursday--largely welcome news to fishermen and women.

The hot temperatures should be enough to boost the water temperatures of ponds and small streams into the mid to high 50s, the ideal temperature for trout fishing, said Rick Cramer, co-owner of The TroutFitter Fly Shop on Erie Boulevard in Syracuse.

"They're plenty hungry right now," Cramer said.

Thanks to a mild winter and late spring, fish in Lake Ontario have been feeding all winter and on average, are bigger this spring than past years, said Troy Creasy, owner of High Adventure Sportfishing in Oswego.

Creasy said the warm-up is great for fishing, particularly for walleye and bass, which prefer the warmer water. Salmon and trout, which tend to like cooler water, will swim deeper when it gets warm.

"It's been an excellent season," Creasy said. "There are a lot of fish out there right now."

The fish aren't the only ones active in the water. Mike Crawford, owner of Upstate Guide Service, said his phone has been quiet for much of March and April, but when the forecast shows temperatures rising to the 70s and 80s, his phone rings off the hook with people looking to head out on the water.

He said his customer base is an even split between experienced anglers and those with no prior experience.

For those looking to fish for the first time, make sure to keep an eye on the sky. Both Creasy and Robert "Buck" Carter, owner of Lucky Buck Fishing Charters in LaFayette, said fish don't like sudden change or erratic weather.

A slightly overcast day is perfect fishing weather because fish can be easily spooked when its too sunny, Creasy said. For fishing on sunny days, Creasy likes to out early in the morning or later in the day.

For newbie fly fishers, Cramer recommends practicing casting in the yard and "establish a bit of a rhythm" before heading to the stream for the first time. He said a 15 or 20-foot cast is all you need for most streams in Central New York.

Creasy said folks fishing for the first time would do well at public access points, such as Oneida Lake or the Sylvan Beach canal, where anglers can catch fish right from the edge of the canal--no boat necessary.

"The best time to go fishing is when you can," Creasy said. "You have to make time to go."

Both experts agreed that the end of the day, fishing all comes down to enjoying yourself.

"The biggest thing is to just have fun," Cramer said.
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The ability to run Android apps natively in a Linux desktop environment is a step closer to realization, thanks to Anbox, a new open source project.

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

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

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

Pent-Up Interest?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anboxs Promise

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Running Android apps on Linux would not be as useful as enabling the apps to run in Windows or MacOS, Christy said, and even there the impact would be limited.
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.
Qualcomm is escalating its patent dispute with Apple by suing the contractors that build iPhones for the Cupertino-based company. Filed Wednesday in a federal district court in San Diego, the lawsuit accuses Compal Electronics, Foxconn, Pegatron and Wistron of breaching patent-licensing agreements with Qualcomm by halting royalty payments on Qualcomm technology used in iPhones and iPads.

Apple originally sued Qualcomm for $1 billion, saying that the mobile chip maker had been dramatically overcharging it for the use of basic patents. Qualcomm hit back with a countersuit, claiming among other things, that Apple deliberately hindering the performance of Qualcomm chips in certain iPhone 7 models to make Intel chips look better and that it encouraged regulatory attacks on Qualcomm's business.

Apple doesn't have a patent license directly with Qualcomm, relying instead on licenses held by the contract manufacturers, whom Apple reimburses. However, in an aggressive move, last month the iPhone maker reportedly instructed its manufacturing partners to stop paying royalties to Qualcomm, as it wasn't going to reimburse them anymore until a court determines how much it actually owes. Apple agreed to indemnify them against any damages they may incur by failing to pay royalties to Qualcomm.

"We've been trying to reach a licensing agreement with Qualcomm for more than five years but they have refused to negotiate fair terms," an Apple representative told Market Watch.

Qualcomm's patent-licensing segment in fiscal 2016 contributed roughly 80% of its pretax profit.
On Monday, May 15, SpaceX successfully launched its heaviest ever satellite using the Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. The Inmarsat payload carrying launch is the second one in two weeks for the Elon Musk-owned company.

The Inmarsat-5 F4 satellite will remain in the Earth's orbit to provide high speed Ka-band relay stations to aircrafts, offshore ships, and to government and commercial users all over the world.

The Inmarsat-5

Monday's launch was the fourth broadband satellite from Inmarsat in its $1.6 billion Global Xpress constellation. The other three Boeing-build satellites have already been launched previously. Over the next 90 days, the Inmarsat-5 will use its boosters to maintain its orbit above the Earth at an altitude of 22,300 miles.

"That is the background of Inmarsat, mobile applications, so this constellation, and the entire network around it, has been designed to be optimized for mobile users," Michele Franci, Chief Technology Officer at Inmarsat, revealed.

The fifth generation satellites will ensure speeds of a maximum 50 megabits for downlink and upto 5 megabits for uplink for customers on the sea, in the air, or on the land.

How SpaceX Handled The Launch

The mission initiated when the Falcon 9's engine ignited and the rocket achieved lift off. After a flight of around 2 minutes and 45 seconds, the first-stage boosters of the Falcon 9 shut down and disengaged. However, this time around, SpaceX did not plan to recover the first-stage rocket.

The Inmarsat-5 weighs around 13,417 pounds, which is the heaviest payload the Falcon 9 rocket has ever delivered. To fly the heavy satellite into space, all the fuel in the first-stage rocket had to be used up. Without any fuel it would have been futile to try and land the first-stage rocket. This is why SpaceX technicians sacrificed the first-stage rocket this time around.

Out of the six launches this year, SpaceX managed to recover the first-stage rocket four times. Monday's launch was just the second time in the year that the first stage could not be recovered.

Nonetheless, after the first stage disengaged, the second stage boosters fired up twice to ensure that the payload reached the desired destination.

"It's been a great afternoon and evening. All you can ask for today," SpaceX mission commentator John Insprucker noted.

SpaceX is planning to launch the dragon spacecraft on June 1, which will carry important cargo to the International Space Station. The agency is then scheduled to launch a Bulgarian Satellite on June 15 and also an Intelsat relay station by month end.

The pace at which SpaceX is launching missions indicates how proficient the company has becomes at these launches. All it needs to do now is to get the Falcon Heavy rocket ready as soon as possible.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
It's safe to say that the Samsung Galaxy has been one of, if not the, most popular Android smartphones on the market for the last few years. Like so many others, it took a cue from Apple, working to iterate on the devices every year, and given how well the S8 and S8 Plus have sold, Samsung isn't showing signs of slowing down.

Millions On Millions

The Investor has reported that in less than a month, sales of the S8 and S8 Plus have crossed over 5 million units worldwide.

"Although we cannot provide detailed figures, the sales are going smoothly around the globe. The combined sales already are beyond 5 million units," a Samsung representative told the website.

Samsung's newest phones were released on April 21 in the United States, Canada, and Korea, and have slowly been rolled out to more territories, primarily in Europe. By the end of May, the phone will be widely available in nearly 120 countries worldwide, most notably China.

Given the rate at which the phones have sold in just a few major markets, it is believed that Samsung's sales could cross over 50 million units by the end of the company's financial year.

Cornering The Market

As mentioned, Samsung has had the Android market cornered for the last few years, slowly becoming the dominant force in a fairly crowded market that includes the likes of HTC and LG, to name a couple.

This also reinforces that Samsung has been the primary competition to Apple and the iPhone for the last several years. The launch of the iPhone 7 back in September 2016 to, let's say, mixed response at best, set the table for Samsung to strike with its newest phone, and boy did it.

However, it does bear noting that, while China is a major market, it isn't believed that it will have a major impact on global sales. This is in part due to a declining market presence for Samsung in China, despite appointing a new marketing head for the Chinese market earlier this month. It will be interesting to watch if this new appointment will have a positive effect on sales after the S8's release in China or if it continues to see a slow decline in the country.

While not necessarily a major blow, given the sales numbers, it would be interesting to see just how much more dominant Samsung would be if it saw a sudden boom in the Chinese market with the S8 line.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A new study has found that most of the soldiers who were discharged from U.S. military service because of misconduct from 2011 to 2015 suffered from mental health conditions.

62 Percent Of Discharged Soldiers Have TBI Or PTSD

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) looked at the data of more than 91,000 service members who were discharged for misconduct and found that over the previous two years, 62 percent of them were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other conditions such as alcohol-related disorders that could be linked to misconduct.

Of these discharged servicemen, 23 percent received an "other than honorable" discharge, which means that they may be potentially ineligible to receive health benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Advocates have long raised concerns about the lack of support for former U.S. servicemen without honorable discharge papers, which new Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin has said he intends to address.

GAO also found that the Navy and Air Force were not able to comply with the policies of the Defense Department regarding the screening of troops for TBI and PTSD prior to discharging soldiers.

PTSD And TBI

PTSD and TBI have become the signature wounds of soldiers who suffered from stress due to repeated deployments to war and brain injuries from exposure to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that are used in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

A 2016 study conducted by U.S. military scientists revealed how shockwaves from explosives are associated with the development of mental conditions. After examining the scars in the brains of eight servicemen who survived bomb blast, the researchers found that the brain damage that the soldiers sustained most affected the parts of the brain that are linked to cognitive function, sleep, and memory.

PTSD and TBI have adverse effects on the thoughts, moods, and behavior of affected troops. The servicemen's actions can result in discipline problems that may eventually lead to discharge from the service.

The report, which was released on Tuesday, May 16, came with recommendations to the Department of Defense to address the problems. The DOD, however, did not agree to one of the five recommendations that involve inconsistencies in training policies.

"GAO is making five recommendations, including that DOD direct the Air Force and Navy to address inconsistencies in their screening and training policies and ensure that the military services monitor adherence to their screening, training, and counseling policies," GAO said.

"DOD agreed with four of GAO's recommendations, but did not agree to address inconsistencies in training policies."

Addressing Mental Health Conditions Among Soldiers

Psychotropic medications such as anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants are more commonly prescribed for people suffering from mental health problems. Some soldiers, however, resort to other treatments.

Other ways PTSD sufferers deal with their conditions include diving with sharks in giant aquariums and taking cannabis to better manage their symptoms albeit the latter has raised concern over the possibility soldiers would develop marijuana dependence. Soldiers on active duty are also urged to practice meditation to significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Apple is planning to unveil MacBook upgrades at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference in June, according to the latest report related to the annual event.

So far, there have been several product announcements tied to WWDC 2017, but the new MacBook models could be the most important for Apple, as it moves to fight back against tougher competition from rivals such as Microsoft.

Apple To Unveil Three New MacBook Models

According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is planning to announce three new MacBook models at WWDC 2017.

Apple is said to be developing a new 12-inch MacBook, which has not been updated since spring 2016, powered by a faster Intel chip. While specific details on what else will change with the laptop is not yet known, possible additions include a second USB-C port and the usage of the better keyboard on the recent MacBook Pro.

The MacBook Pro, meanwhile, will also receive a faster Kaby Lake processor from Intel, as the laptops were shipped with Skylake CPUs. In addition to improved CPU options, a new MacBook Pro may also offer increased RAM and bigger storage.

The 13-inch MacBook Air, the cheapest MacBook of Apple that continues to sell well despite not having been redesigned for almost seven years, could also receive an update, Bloomberg's sources said. This comes as a surprise, as Apple itself said that the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro with no touch bar was positioned as the replacement for the MacBook Air.

If Apple does indeed refresh the 13-inch MacBook Air, fans of the laptop should not expect dramatic additions such as a Retina Display or a touch bar. An updated MacBook Air would likely only mostly receive maintenance upgrades with newer processor options.

Both Apple and Intel have declined to comment on the rumors.

The Importance Of MacBooks To Apple

Apple's Mac business only accounts for 11 percent of Apple's annual sales compared to the iPhone division, which rakes in almost two-thirds of the amount. However, Macs and MacBooks are important for Apple to retain business with creative industries and loyal users.

The reported upgrades will show that Apple remains committed to the MacBook line of products, even if the updates do not present massive changes.

New MacBook models would also help Apple to be better equipped at dealing with tougher competition in the computer industry. Earlier this month, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop, with the new Windows 10 S operating system and considered a MacBook Air killer.

Apple Products At WWDC 2017

While the focus of the annual Worldwide Developers Conference is traditionally on software, Apple has used the event to announce new products.

This year, there have so far been many reports on new devices that Apple is planning to unveil at WWDC. It has been rumored that Apple will be announcing a premium smart speaker, powered by digital assistant Siri and coming with a touchscreen, to challenge the Amazon Echo and the Google Home.

Apple may also unveil a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro at WWDC 2017, according to famed Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo. The announcement is expected at the annual event because Apple is believed to be ramping up production of the device by the end of the current quarter.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A Samsung Galaxy S8 running Windows 10 Mobile has started making rounds online.

If these images are accurate, then it means that Windows Phones are not dying just yet, despite the circumstances  Upgrade Advisor app now defunct and Creators Update limited availability to 13 handsets, with Microsoft giving 40 percent of the devices in the wild the cold shoulder. That's a big "if," though.

Galaxy S8 Seen Together With Windows 10 Mobile

A set of allegedly leaked pictures shows that there's a Galaxy S8 powered by Windows 10 Mobile somewhere in the world.

To be exact, three images turned up:

As everyone can see, the first one features the home screen filled with tiles, from Instagram, Telegram, and Viber to Facebook Messenger, the Xbox app, and VLC.

The Settings menu can be seen in the second shot, and consists of all the usual options, including but not limited to Personalization, Time & Language, and Ease of Access.

Last but not least, the third one gives a good look of the Windows Store and the app Truecaller.

Windows 10 Mobile-Powered Galaxy S8 Legit?

It's hard to say these photos are legit. Across all of them, the screen appears to be cut off by the edges. Particularly speaking, the Instagram, Viber, and other tiles in the first image; the options' icons in the Settings menu; and the "Picks for you" bit in the Windows Store.

That's not all of them either, but at any rate, the creme de la creme of that makes it hard to believe in the pictures is the poor quality, not to mention it's a breeze to just get screenshots of Windows 10 Mobile and have them load up on an Android phone, which is a Galaxy S8 in this case.

In the images' defense, the three virtual keys at the bottom  back, Windows home, and search  are Windows 10 Mobile through and through, but anyone can still slap them on any device using photo-editing tools without breaking a sweat.

Galaxy S8 Windows 10 Mobile Edition Very Unlikely

From the look of things, all signs seem to point to a fake device, but optimists or Windows-phone hopefuls might still keep their fingers crossed. However, taking the news with a grain  or rather, a generous heaping  of salt is recommended.

Long story short, Windows phones aren't making a comeback with the Galaxy S8 among the front lines.

It's also worth mentioning that Microsoft collaborated with Samsung to release a Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition, which runs on Android, not Windows 10 Mobile, and it comes preloaded with the voice assistant Cortana, OneDrive, Groove, MSN News, and, of course, the Office suite. Still, that more or less shows that Microsoft is not giving up on phones yet.

What do you think of a Galaxy S8 with a Windows 10 Mobile OS? Feel free to hit us up in the comments section below and let us know.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Apple is now giving everyone the official in-depth look inside its new Apple Park campus, including details about the original design of the "Ring" building, images of the building's construction and interiors, and a whole lot more.

Call it a behemoth mothership, or an architectural masterpiece  Apple's new campus is a feast for one's eyes. Surrounded by greenery, Apple, along with the architects and workers who helped bring the mothership to life, deftly meshed nature and architecture together. In fact, this was one of the original aims.

Apple Campus: A Spaceship Has Landed

According to an article by Wired, Steve Jobs wanted to build the campus to consolidate all his employees amid the company's steep upswing. One of the original goals was to build a campus "where the border between nature and building would be blurred." Jobs thought run-of-the-mill corporate buildings were "pretty boring." He wanted the centerpiece to look "like a spaceship landed."

We certainly got that spaceship.

Construction and updates about the campus stretched out over the years, with current Apple CEO Tim Cook calling the long-gestating Apple Park as the company's "biggest project ever."

Jobs originally envisioned a reimagined headquarters for Apple as far back as 2004, discussing it with Jony Ive, Apple's Chief Design Officer. But it wasn't until 2009 when those plans grew legs, as Jobs hired architect Norman Foster, setting the vision in motion.

Creativity Pods

Beyond the sheer scale and beauty of the building, there was always the underpinning goal of boosting creativity  form follows function, as the classic mantra goes.

Originally, there were plans to design "pods" solely for fostering creative ideas, teamwork, and socializing. Jobs originally envisioned that many pods would be scattered across the site, and the concept was they'd serve as these gestating areas where you can work on something and then later move to another group of people in another pod. Hence, the practice of collaboration is promoted  walls would be broken down, sharing ideas would be encouraged. Most importantly, reaching someone to talk to would be as easy as moving to a different pod, no more hierarchal hurdles when it comes to creativity.

This eventually led to the clover leaf design of the main building. But by June 2010, after many scratched sketches and discussions, the building's design eventually became a circle. A ring, to be exact. No one takes credit over the decision, but it was clear that the design was inevitable. "Steve dug it right away," said architect Foster. Inside The Ring The Ring, or the Mothership. The centerpiece of Apple Park  pristine, gorgeous, colossal. It's probably the longest stretch of glass you'll ever see on a structure. Impressive as it may sound, however, Ive refrains from talking about it under steeped statistics and numbers. "It's frustrating to talk about this building in terms of absurd, large numbers. It makes for an impressive statistic, but you don't live in an impressive statistic," said Ive, who added that the scale of the building's glass isn't in itself an achievement. "The achievement is to make a building where so many people can connect and collaborate and walk and talk." The rest of Wired's article goes deep into the particulars of the Apple Park's design, showing a full view of Apple's trademark meticulous aggression with keeping everything detailed, perfect, and parallel to its ideals, and its design principles. No surprise there; Apple has always been a champion of great design, from its products to its stores and now, to its headquarters. The lengthy article is definitely worth a read, since you can get an in-depth history of the Apple Park  construction successes, milestones, and struggles in tow. Give it a go if you want an intricate look at the many aspects of the campus's construction, including staircases, ventilation, the giant glass sliding doors, the typefaces seen on the elevators, and much more.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Nokia 3310 is finally launched in India for Rs 3,310 and the fact that it will be available for purchase starting from tomorrow has made the good old Nokia fans go crazy. However, is this phone really worth the price tag of Rs 3,310? If so, what do users get when they purchase the phone? Or is it just a hype that it is getting because of the mere nostalgic factor? Let us find out.

Speaking about the phone, it certainly carries the nostalgic feel with it, and thats what we somehow love the most. The phone which was also known among the youth in the early 2000s as a brick phone because of its strength and durability is now back in the ring, bringing back the good old memories.

Adding further, it is worth noting that the phone also comes with the all new Snakes game preloaded with it, which is definitely once again a nostalgic feel, which, I am sure, no one wants to miss, especially if you have played it for at least once in your life time!

While being simple yet rugged in its true form, the Nokia 3310 is definitely a boon for those parents and kids who need a phone just for basic communication purposes. Also, this phone is definitely going to be loved by most of the users who are still not comfortable with smartphones.

However, on the other hand, let us see what are the cons that are ahead of us when buying a Nokia 3310. First and foremost, it does not support WhatsApp; well any app for that matter, as the device runs on Nokias Series 30+ operating system, which once upon a time ruled the phone industry, but obsolete now.

Additionally, the Nokia 3310 supports mere 2G connectivity. It doesnt even has 3G support; forget about 4G. And, another negative point that prominently stands out is the fact that the Nokia 3310 comes with a smaller screen, and in this era where we are all used to a display screen sized between 5 and 6 inches, this definitely looks difficult to get adjusted for.

With these facts noted out, there is one more negative point which definitely carries a significant importance with it - You cannot click a selfie with Nokia 3310!

While we definitely love the fact that the legendary phone is back in the scene, we somehow feel it could have been a little more advanced technologically. Anyways, with that in mind, all we can say is - choose your phone wisely.

Nokia 3310
Choosing The Wrong Host: Whats The Worst That Can Happen? | TechTree.com

An error message or a blank page is one of the worst things that can happen for a business, isnt it? This is especially true if much of your income is generated online. For instance, last year, Amazons site went down for just 20 minutes, costing them an eye-watering $3.75 million dollars.

But what might happen to your business if you choose the wrong host for your website?

Well, choosing the wrong host for your website means your site will go down. For a period of time, your website will be inaccessible and your businesss online presence will suffer, which could result in the following:

Lost revenue

If your website goes down, so does your opportunity for making money online. Your current and potential customers wont be able to buy your products, engage with your blog posts or find out about the services you offer, which is incredibly frustrating if youve put in the time to generate traffic to your site, or worse, paid for traffic via PPC adverts or promoted social media posts.

Damage to reputation

Reputational damage is another possibility, as a malfunctioning website doesnt inspire confidence in a brand! Getting customers on board with your message and persuading them to spend their money with you is hard enough without giving them the impression that youre not up to the job of handling your infrastructure.

A missed opportunity to convert a new customer

Convincing a new customer to engage with your brand  especially if theyre loyal to a competitor  isnt easy. In fact, just getting them to your website takes time! Thats why downtime is a real problem; without a working website, youll miss the opportunity to convert them into a paying customer, and may never get that chance with them again.

Lost SEO opportunity

SEO (or search engine optimisation) opportunities are lost when your website is down. This might not sound like a big deal, but it actually is: your goal is to rank highly in search results when customers type a keyword into Google. If your site is down repeatedly when search engines are attempting to visit your site, your ranking will lower and youll have to work hard to climb back up again.

Of course, all of the above can be largely avoided if you take the time to find a reliable, high-quality host for your business website. Heres what to look for when choosing a host:

Business hosting: Choose a provider that offers proper business hosting (such as Midphase Business Hosting) as opposed to shared hosting. Shared hosting is only sufficient if youre generating a small amount of traffic, but the cheaper package will quickly prove to be a false economy when your site cant cope with the number of visitors youre brining in. Choose a host that can offer you a business hosting package, rather than lumping you on a shared server.

Excellent customer support: Your host should be able to provide 24/7 support, especially if your expecting traffic from overseas. Do some research and read reviews from existing customers, or sign up for a trial period with a host to confirm youre happy with the quality of customer support you receive.

An excellent record of uptime: A good host is going to be doing everything they can to ensure your site is up for as much time as is possible. Of course, no-one can guarantee 100% uptime, but they should be averaging something close to it.

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ConveGenius Launches CG Slate Plus In Association With Samsung | TechTree.com

Indian educational technology company ConveGenius has recently announced the launch of its new product, the CG Slate Plus, which is claimed as a more evolved and enhanced version of its original CG Slate. For this CG Slate Plus, the company has announced that it is tied up with Samsung, thereby bringing the educational solution inside a Samsung Tablet, and is priced at Rs 15,999. The CG Slate Plus will be available exclusively on Flipkart.

Speaking about the tablet, as we told earlier, it is manufactured by Samsung and comes with the model names CG Slate Plus T116. It features a 7 inch display screen while being powered by 1.3 GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB ROM. The storage can be expanded upto 32 GB via microSD card. It also features a 3,600 mAh battery, and comes with 5 MP rear camera. However, there seems to be no front facing camera.

While the specifications are definitely not that exciting, the company may be in the belief that this might be enough for the actual edutainment solution purposes this tablet is made for. However, Android 4.4 KitKat as its operating system is very much disappointing.

At the announcement, Jairaj Bhattacharya, MD, ConveGenius Group, said, It gives me immense pleasure to say that Titu, our intelligent mascot featured in CG Slate, has been accepted as the best mentor kids can ever have. While keeping regular school curriculum in perspective, CG Slate has greatly amplified the learning curve of children. To offer a more evolved and enhanced version of the device, we are going to roll out the new and improved CG Slate on Samsung Tablets. The technological features of our offering combined with reliability of Samsung hardware will ensure a high-value product for our customers.

Sukesh Jain, Vice President, Enterprise Business, Samsung India said We are pleased to offer Samsung Galaxy 3V Tab to ConveGenius to host its eLearning solution. Galaxy 3V tablet is designed for ultra-portability. Slimmer at only 9.7mm, its concise form factor is sure to please. A beautiful compact tablet with long-lasting power, we are confident that children will enjoy the most comfortable hand grip, complemented by its extreme light weight.

TAGS: CG Slate
Brazil's president-elect, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, met this Wednesday in the country's capital with the leaders of the National Congress: the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur... | Read More
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Hyderabad, May 16 (IANS) Telangana plans to introduce state budget in calendar year format in tune with the Centre's thought process and in accordance with its proposed policy, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced on Tuesday.



Under the proposal, the budget will be presented for calendar year (January 1 to December 31), instead of the existing format of financial year (April 1 to March 31).



According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, he is holding discussions with higher officials and the state's finance department in this regard.



Rao also instructed Finance Minister Etela Rajender, Principal Secretary-Finance Ramakrishna Rao and other officials to pay a visit to Madhya Pradesh, where the budget is already being presented in the new format.
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Prairieville Middle School sixth-grader Megan McCarley won third place in the biochemistry category at the 2017 Louisiana Science & Engineering Fair held March 21-22 at the LSU Student Union.
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Members of Louisiana's U.S. Congressional delegation said Wednesday that they wanted more investigation into this week's bombshell report that fired FBI director James Comey wrote in a memo that President Donald Trump had asked him to back off an investigation into the president's former national security adviser.

Republican Senator John Kennedy and Republican U.S. Reps. Garret Graves, Steve Scalise and Ralph Abraham said they need to see more evidence and that they trust their colleagues on the appropriate committees will look into the matter. But Louisiana's lone Democrat in Congress, U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, disagreed and said an independent commission needs to be called in.

They spoke about Trump's statements before the U.S. Department of Justice announced late Wednesday that former FBI director Robert Mueller would serve as a special counsel investigating any Trump associates' connections to Russia. The investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn reportedly is tied to the FBI's ongoing probe of Russian influence during the 2016 election.

White House denies Comey memo that Trump asked to shut down FBI investigation WASHINGTON (AP)  FBI Director James Comey wrote in a memo that President Donald Trump had a

Late Tuesday, The New York Times reported that one of Comey's associates read to a reporter from a memo the former FBI director wrote in February. In it, Comey said Trump pressured him to stop investigating Flynn, calling him "a good guy" and adding, "I hope you can let this go." The White House has denied the report. Trump fired Comey May 9.

The memo has not become publicly available, but Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, requested the FBI turn over any communications between Trump and Comey to his House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In tweets, Chaffetz added that he had his "subpoena pen ready" and that he has already invited Comey to testify at a May 24 hearing.

Multiple members of the Senate's Intelligence Committee also asked the FBI to turn over communications between Trump and Comey and invited the former FBI director to testify.

But while some members of Congress have called for outside investigations and deemed the memo a possibly impeachable offense, Louisiana's Republican delegation members said it was too early to make that call.

"Any time you have a situation where a president tries to influence an investigation or decisions by the Department of Justice, that causes concerns and sets off alarms," said Graves, who represents Baton Rouge, during a phone interview from Washington, D.C. He likened the concern to the same type of worry he had when former President Bill Clinton met with former Attorney General Loretta Lynch almost a year ago on an airport tarmac while the Justice Department was investigating Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was Secretary of State.

In a statement, Richmond called Trump's conversation with Comey "outrageous" and said the request to drop an investigation "qualifies as obstruction of justice."

But Graves said it would be inappropriate to speculate about obstruction of justice  potentially an impeachable offense  before an investigation is completed.

"I'm not going to sit here and prejudge this thing," Graves said. "If an investigation comes out and shows that he crossed that line, sure. But that's not anyone's place to speculate, the alleged memo has not been released."

Both Kennedy and Scalise said they trusted their congressional colleagues to properly investigate.

The President fired the FBI Director, not the FBI," Kennedy said in a statement Wednesday. "I have complete confidence that the FBI and the Senate Intelligence Committee, led by Democratic Senator Mark Warner and Republican Senator Richard Burr, will each do thorough investigations and report the facts to the American people. The American people can make up their own minds, and the chips can fall where they may.

U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham of Alto said he would like to see Comey testify before Congress and that he will go into it with an open mind. But Abraham added that he still stands behind Trump "100 percent," and said he is thrilled with Trump's addition of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, the House of Representatives' recent vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and deregulation that he said has helped farmers and businesses in his district.

"To impeach a president, you've got to show intent, you've got to show malice," Abraham said during a phone interview from the U.S. Capitol. "There's a whole litany of boxes that have to be checked, and a memo's just not going to reach that standard."

Scalise's spokesman Chris Bond released a statement clarifying his position on the Comey debate.

"This is not a time to rush to conclusions without the full facts, and thats why the House Oversight committee has requested the memo in question," Bond said. "Its clear that some in Washington are playing politics and working to harm the presidency through wild speculation and political innuendo, and this fact makes it even more important for the House to take the time to separate fact from fiction."

Spokespeople for Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy and U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Port Barre; and U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Bossier, did not grant interviews.
The state House on Wednesday revived the controversial effort to punish cities that have policies considered lenient toward immigrants in the country illegally, after a harsher version of the bill was rejected last week.

The House-approved plan targeting so-called "sanctuary cities" removed certain penalties that required the vote to meet a two-thirds vote threshold for passage.

Rep. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, took few questions on the bill Wednesday before the watered-down version passed on a 63-32 vote, after she conceded that no cities currently are deemed "sanctuary cities."

It now heads to the Senate for consideration but faces continued opposition from critics who say that it encourages discrimination against immigrants.

Bill to stop sanctuary city policies in Louisiana clears first House hurdle With an eye on New Orleans, lawmakers Wednesday advanced a bill that would ban sanctuary cit

Under the latest version, cities that are deemed to have sanctuary policies in place would have 90 days to rectify. If they don't, then they risk losing state funding.

The effort to punish cities that adopt policies that shield undocumented immigrants has been building nationally in recent years. A similar effort to implement an anti-sanctuary city law here failed in the state Senate last year.

Though the debate was brief on Wednesday  at the objection to Democrats who said that they had sought to be recognized  the effort has sparked intense debates previously over the potential for discrimination.

Under the bill, the state attorney general would have the authority to deem local jurisdictions as sanctuary cities if they adopt any policy that limits cooperation with federal authorities in determining or reporting the immigration status of people in the country illegally.

Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican, has been supportive of the effort.

"In a loud, overwhelming manner the Louisiana House declared our state should not give more rights to criminal illegal aliens than to our own citizens," Landry said in a statement after the latest version passed. "Sanctuary cities impede communication and coordination with immigration authorities which in turn threatens public safety and jeopardizes our states access to federal funding."

While Hodges said that no cities in Louisiana currently would be deemed a "sanctuary city," but it's unclear whether that could change. The current legislation leaves the authority with the attorney general to challenge a city's status.

Previous concern had been raised about New Orleans because the city entered a consent decree with the federal government over previous treatment of immigrant communities.

Tyronne Walker, a spokesman for the City of New Orleans, said City Hall continues to strongly oppose the bill.

"It gives the attorney general unprecedented political power to punish New Orleans for following both federal law and the NOPD's consent decree that is overseen by the Department of Justice and a federal judge," he said.
The Legislature is partying like it's 1861, with pro-slavery apologias that made no sense then and less now, and a pointless new debate over Confederate monuments.

Even for those of us who want General Lee and the others to stay where they are, it seems a divisive and unnecessary bill, a majority-white Legislature intruding on local decisions because of the majority-black cities questioning the old monuments.

Is this the Legislature's business? Hardly, and the bill mandating public votes on war memorials  including those of the "War Between the States," itself a racially charged phrase  can only further damage the current session's failure to grapple with the state's bigger problems.

House Bill 71 by Rep. Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport, is about more than its author's ignorance of Civil War history; he told the House that slavery did not ignite that terrible war, a view at odds with the historical record. Given Louisiana's horrible racial divisions in Carmody's own lifetime, it takes conscientious levels of denial to advance that view in any serious forum.

Nor is it going to help save the Confederate monuments in New Orleans, where HB 71 apparently would not apply, as it is not retroactive. The mayor and City Council decided, unwisely but democratically, to take down the monuments.

The Legislature often meddles with local government in Louisiana. Decisions that in most states would be purely local are changed or circumscribed by state law. On the flip side, local governments get state benefits from their political kowtowing to the State Capitol, so that they don't have to face the responsibility of raising taxes on their own.

Making the State Capitol further into a city council is not a good idea. Carmody's bill is another case of making the structure of government worse, whatever the merits of his cause.

Worse, for the public's interest, stoking racial antagonisms in a divided House is not good for the already strained legislative process. "We can't seem to get the economic engine of our state going (but) we're here today to re-fight the Civil War," state Rep. Sam Jones, a Democrat and former mayor of Franklin, told the House.

Perhaps lawmakers in the 65-31 vote on the Lost Cause will now come together over tough votes on tax reform and sentencing issues. Those things are of far more vital importance to Louisiana in the here and now than Confederate monuments or battle flags. Nevertheless, those have been flashpoints in our long struggle to come to terms with slavery and its enduring consequences.

In the last years of Robert E. Lee's life, he was an important advocate of reconciliation between North and South. One cannot help but think he would be saddened at this debate.

In a letter to one of his sons, Lee said that duty is the sublimest word in the language. In politics, when duty is hard, emotional appeals to divert attention from the legislative body's failures are an alternative to compromise and progress.

This is an old story, over many generations, of Louisiana politicians preying on fears to avoid real issues. Perhaps the Senate, now facing Carmody's bill, will avoid the mistakes of the past.

The Lost Cause is truly lost, but the lost causes this year  balancing the budget, reforming the tax code, reducing the burden of incarceration  matter to the living.

Perhaps the Carmody bill would have come along anyway, as there is a renewed debate in Shreveport over the Confederate memorial on the lawn of the Caddo Parish Courthouse. But the New Orleans struggle helped fuel this controversy, even though that was certainly not the intention of Mayor Mitch Landrieu or the City Council.

Email Lanny Keller at lkeller@theadvocate.com.
After more than 7 hours of prep, workers lifted the statue of P.G.T. Beauregard from the base it had sat on for nearly 102 years.
What is to become of New Orleans' removed Confederate monuments? They'll be sitting in an unlocked storage yard, next to piles of scrap  at l
An investigation into a violent attack inside the Bimberi youth detention centre has now dragged on for more than a year.

Staff inside the centre criticised the ACT government for pouring resources into the review, while failing to address the underlying causes of the incident.

An investigation into a violent incident at Bimberi has now dragged on for more than a year. Credit:Karleen Minney

On May 6 last year, three detainees allegedly beat a youth worker unconscious, with two more staff hospitalised after rushing to their colleague's aid.

Four staff members were stood down in the wake of the alleged attack and are yet to return to work.
A University of Canberra student who was indecently assaulted by her law lecturer has told a court she could not believe a professor would have ever been so sleazy.

The lecturer, Arthur Marshall Hoyle, was found guilty by a jury this year of raping one student, making advances on two others, and showing another a pornographic PowerPoint slide.

Former University of Canberra academic Arthur Hoyle arrives at the ACT Supreme Court for his trial earlier this year. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

Hoyle had been investigating alleged plagiarism in the school when he invited the four female, overseas students into his office to discuss their business law essays in April 2015.

There were concerns at the time around students using cheat sites to buy their essays, and one lecturer had found that semester's business law question uploaded on a site.
After being fined almost $300,000 last year, the operators of the popular Mamak Malaysian restaurants are again facing legal action for allegedly underpaying staff.

The Fair Work Ombudsman is taking legal action against the restaurant owner-operators Joon Hoe Lee, Julian Lee and Alan Wing-Keung Au in the Federal Circuit Court, alleging two Sydney employees were deliberately short-changed. It is also alleged false records were used to try to disguise the underpayments.

People queuing to enter Mamak restaurant in Chinatown, Sydney. Credit:James Brickwood

The owner-operators face penalties of up to $10,800 per contravention and Mamak Pty Ltd faces penalties of up to $54,000 per contravention.

In the latest claim, two workers at the Mamak restaurant at Chatswood were paid as little as $12 and $13 an hour, between 2014 and 2016. This resulted in underpayments of their minimum hourly rates, casual loadings and penalty rates.
Ian Brady, whose murders of five children in the company of his lover horrified Britons and were viewed by generations as the distillate of evil, died on Monday night at a high-security psychiatric hospital in Liverpool, England. He was 79.

Julie Crompton, a spokeswoman for the facility, Ashworth Hospital, confirmed his death there. No cause was given. The Associated Press reported that at a court hearing in February, lawyers said Brady had been bedridden for the last couple of years and that it was "fair to say" he was terminally ill with emphysema and other ailments.

Even from prison the Moors Murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady exerted a strong fascination. Credit:AP

His accomplice, Myra Hindley, died at 60 in a hospital in November 2002. Despite appeals for parole, she was never released from prison.

Brady, who went on a hunger strike in 1999 and was force-fed on the orders of judges who had ruled him mentally ill, never expressed remorse for the killings, some of them involving beatings, torture and sexual abuse. He had been held at the psychiatric hospital since 1985.
In roughly the next 30 years, the government wants to build 12 submarines, nine frigates and 12 offshore patrol vessels, with an additional 19 patrol boats for the Pacific neighbourhood. Eager to invoke the nation-building enterprises of the past, the government has declared the shipbuilding project to be "larger and more complex than the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme and the national broadband network".

But to what ends? The government is yet to provide a compelling strategic justification for why Australia needs to devote such an extraordinary sum of money to military hardware. The vast stretches of coastline of an island nation ensure the navy has a crucial role in national defence, a role that also allows Australia to contribute to broader global security in distant waters. Yet to build a fleet of the size envisaged goes well beyond past ambitions or foreseeable threats.

But this investment, while doubtlessly significant on its own, is utterly dwarfed by the truly massive $89 billion the government wants to commit in the next decades to building submarines and warships.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull boasted his government would deliver a "massive injection of funds" for the naval shipbuilding industry in Australia, announcing this week a plan for the Commonwealth to spend $1.3 billion to upgrade shipyards and train thousands of specialised workers.

Whenever a government boasts of its big spending, its political motives are also made plain. It was telling that Mr Turnbull ranked the ship spending firstly as "a plan for jobs" and second as "a plan for security". The Coalition was riven in the Abbott years by the choice about where to build the next fleet of submarines, initially pursuing strategic co-operation with Japan, only to be ultimately beholden to the electoral vulnerabilities in South Australia.

It is evident that the same electoral calculation has driven the broader shipbuilding plan. The Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia and Henderson Maritime Precinct in Western Australia will be the principal beneficiaries of the government spending. The Coalition is seeking to bolster its flagging political fortunes in both states. Williamstown dockyard in Melbourne has been ignored, which the Andrews Labor government claims leaves the dock vulnerable to closure.

A parochial tussle between competing state jurisdictions should only be a sideshow to the more important question of why Australia even needs to build such a vast naval force. But beyond a defence white paper released last year, Mr Turnbull and his government have made little ongoing effort to explain to the public or the region the reason Australia intends to undertake such a massive military build-up. When proposing to spend almost $90 billion of taxpayer money, this is simply not good enough.

The government has been eager to emphasise the economic benefits at home from military production. While there is no doubting this shipbuilding program will generate jobs and technical expertise, it has long gone out of fashion for governments to provide such broad subsidies to industry. Witness, for example, the fate of car manufacturing. Without an adequate strategic rationale, the shipbuilding plan carries the distinct whiff of what has been termed "military Keynesianism".

Defence procurement in peace time has never previously proved an engine for the broader economy. The present era is a time of considerable global uncertainty, but the government owes taxpayers an honest explanation for the proposed naval expansion or should admit this massive spending is far more about its own electoral security than that of the nation.
Some earn, some acquire Re "Jobs that pay the most" (17/5), at least neurosurgeons and ophthalmologists etc who have well-paid jobs actually earn their money by healing people. Which is more than you can say for the richest Australians who don't "earn" anything but "acquire" wealth by moving money from one pile to another pile. Leigh Ackland, Deepdene The fruits of a long-fought campaign Concern by the government over the low rate of wage growth and the adverse impact this will have on the federal budget via lower taxation receipts and on consumer spending is a case of reap what you sow. Employers and the Liberal Party have long sought to minimise the wage increases, a policy assisted by largely successful attempts to weaken trade unions. Only this week, The Age reported that Coates Hire workers are threatened with termination of their workplace agreement unless they agree to slash new employees wages and conditions. The government is silent over such an abuse of workers, but cries crocodile tears over the effect low wages is having on the economy.

Garry Meller, Bentleigh THE FORUM Model flawed Clearly there is something amiss in the proposed Gonski 2.0 funding model. It's bad enough that Melbourne's elite schools with very high socio-economic status ("Wealthy schools to reap big windfalls", 17/5) receive any public money given that they enrol fewer than 3 per cent of lowest SES children (scholarship kids cherry picked from public schools) and no Indigenous students. By enrolling families from Asian backgrounds where English is not the language spoken at home, but the children are born in Australia, these schools receive large amounts of additional public money. On average, each of the schools mentioned also received more than $4million in government capital grants. The flawed SES model adopted by John Howard is long past its use-by date. David Zyngier, Frankston

A question of merit Ross Gittins proposes a significant reinterpretation of the concept of equality in Australian school education (Comment, 17/5). Rather than "equality of opportunity", Gittins stresses "equality of outcome". In other words, rather than all students having an equal chance to start school, we ensure they all leave school with a decent education. This idea may come as a shock for people steeped in principles of equal opportunity and merit. These principles have become so ingrained in modern society that we forget they have been dominant at the same time that social and economic inequality have increased. They have sanctioned an attitude that says: "You had your chance and blew it. Now live with the consequences." Rod Wise, Glen Iris Not about equity Ross Gittins highlighted the importance of better resourcing education for the lowest achievers and criticised Labor for not fully backing the government's schools funding initiative. The Coalition initiative is not intended to deliver the equity Gittins seeks. Its intent is to neutralise education funding sufficiently to get the Coalition re-elected. On the other hand, I have no doubt Labor and the Greens are fundamentally committed to redressing the balance as Gittins suggests and should be encouraged, not denigrated. The positive in the Coalition's policy is the principle of not funding the top end and in these times of tight budgets that makes sense.

Brewis Atkinson, Tyabb Fix the system I agree with Senator Hanson- Young that we need to fix the education funding model first. For far too long we have seen private schools grow their assets as well as their fees at government schools' expense. Even Catholic secondary school facilities are astonishing in my area where government schools are struggling to secure funds to maintain their 100-year-old buildings on crowded sites. No doubt these obvious advantages are reflected in staff numbers, class sizes, curriculum offerings and support within the schools. Let's get the system fixed, so from here on money can be directed where it is needed. Susan Mahar, Fitzroy North The hands of children

While reading the excellent piece by David Brooks ("The world in the hands of a child" (17/5), I couldn't help thinking how similar is the behaviour of some of our politicians here. The first to come to mind was Peter Dutton with his juvenile denial of facts that don't suit his agenda and his need for expenditure on empire building new offices. Then I thought of Tony Abbott, then the childish One Nation, such utter certainty of the righteousness of their position without any doubt whatsoever. We are all certainly in the hands of children. Vaughan Greenberg, Chewton Bring them here What a splendid editorial on the reign and aspirations of our immigration tsar. The extravagance of the proposed new building for this empire, the utter waste of our money in incarcerating unfortunate men on Manus Island in inhumane and dangerous conditions, is a disgrace. Bring these refugees to Australia now. Let us accept our responsibilities. Gael Barrett, North Balwyn

What fairness? In recent times the Prime Minister has used the term "fairness" to describe his policies. Recently The Age published a list of the properties owned by federal MPs, with some owning multiple. When so many of our population are struggling to own just one property, where is the fairness in that? When so many of recently constructed dwellings now sit vacant, yet walk down Swanston Street and see so many homeless, or visit some of the outlying suburbs, where single parents struggle to put food on the table, after paying the rent, where is the fairness in that? Bruce MacKenzie, South Kingsville

Too close for comfort When you publish satire, such as today's "Putin's found his Trump card" (17/5), please label it as satire. It is satire, isn't it? I hope it's satire. Actually, you don't need satire to laugh at Donald Trump. His actual utterances do the job nicely. I haven't laughed so much since Tony Abbott was PM. Wayne Robinson, Kingsley, WA Get real people Department general manager of integrity modernisation Jason McNamara's small concession that Centrelink has learnt from its mistakes post robo-debt debacle, is both disingenuous and an insult to the community's collective intelligence. ("DHS resists calls to restore staff to 'robo-debt' program in Senate hearing", 16/5).

The Centrelink automated debt recovery IT system was rolled out in full knowledge that the kinks had not been ironed out in the data analysis correlates and, as such, that debts would be raised against clients according to this flawed data. The ensuing modification of Centrelink debt recovery letters to clients was a strategic exercise in organisational damage control. What the community really wants is a face-to-face relationship with Centrelink staff, who are readily accessible, and responsive to client's concerns and online servicing for quick, throughput transactions only. Centrelink must uphold the "human" in its charter of service delivery. John Fitzsimmons, Mornington Look to Kiwi example

Peter Costello is right, Australians have become the victims of our banking systems ("Customers will be the ones hit", 17/5). Until the 1990s, Commonwealth Bank owned by the people kept the private banks honest. With the privatisation of the Commonwealth Bank, Australia lost the control of the banking system. It is time for Australia to establish a people's bank similar to Kiwibank in New Zealand. Kiwibank was established in 2002 when the Labour government found that the private banks served the interest of the shareholders and not the interest of the people. A 2007 study saw that Kiwibank achieved a new level of competition in banking, in terms of lower fees and customer satisfaction. Bill Mathew, Parkville Part of the plan The bank levy is a carefully crafted tax on the Australian taxpayer. Turnbull and Morrison knew exactly what they were doing by imposing this levy on the banks; they knew full well it would be passed on to bank customers. They get the tax and we blame the banks, perfect! Paul Foster, Kew

Winning the waste war I watched the ABC's War against Waste and was stunned by the unbelievable amount of waste forced on farmers by the supermarkets. Dispatching such food to famine-ravaged countries such as South Sudan and Yemen could become a long-term foreign aid program. This would employ Australians at this end and the RAAF useful relief experience by flying weekly flights to those countries in desperate need. Food no longer goes to landfill, and methane emissions are cut substantially. Ray Cas, Ashwood Get on board On Monday at 5pm I was waiting for a train at Camberwell station. An express service to Belgrave thundered past, each carriage packed. Then an Alamein train ambled into the station: only a handful of passengers in each carriage. If the state government and Metro are serious about dealing with Melbourne's chronic overcrowding on trains, shouldn't they be redirecting trains from boutique services to lines that are crying out for more trains?

Justin Shaw, Ringwood East Hold the phone Let me get this straight: Instead of improving the "detection" systems at airports, airlines are thinking of banning laptops from the cabin and putting them all in the hold, because they may have explosive devices inside them? I've seen enough episodes of NCIS to know you can trigger an explosive device using a mobile phone, so are they also going to ban mobiles as well? Linsey Siede, Croydon Polls apart

So Malcolm Turnbull believes the Senate should pass the budget because opinion polls show people support it. They also support same-sex marriage Mr Turnbull, as well as trying to prevent climate change. How about doing something about those as well ... David Torr, Werribee AND ANOTHER THING ... Donald Trump

Joan Segrave, Healesville If the world is in the hands of a child (David Brooks, 17/5), how do we describe the people who handed it to him? Tom Pagonis, Richmond Intelligence is not Trump's forte. Greg Mason, Glen Iris

The only information that Trump can keep secret are his tax records. Alan Inchley, Frankston Peter Dutton The government could save $250 million if they put Dutton's office on Manus Island where he belongs. Perry Becker, Leopold

With the biggest government debt in history it defies belief that the Department of Immigration will spend $250 million on office upgrades (17/5). Craig Cahill, Blessington, Tas So Peter Dutton is going to spend $250million on an office upgrade having just cut penalty rates. How can that be justified? What's more, they are taxpayer dollars. Shame, Trumbull, shame. Meredith Andrews, Seacliff, SA Banks

My concern is that the banks will pass the levy on to their customers, with interest. John Russell, Bonbeach Decision time for the banks. Is their primary loyalty towards their customers or their shareholders? I think we know the answer. Stephen Dinham, Surrey Hills Furthermore
How do bean counters at the NBN get through the daily grind? With the help of $437,000 worth of taxpayer-funded coffee.

NBN Co has revealed it spent $210,000 of public money buying high-end espresso machines for its office staff - at an average cost of roughly $5000 for each piece of equipment. It has also spent $145,000 on coffee and $82,000 on machine maintenance.

The company in charge of building Australia's high-speed broadband network, which has 5000 staff, also appears to be spending more on coffee than all other major government departments and agencies, which have a combined total of about 155,000 staff.

Most major departments - including Treasury, Finance, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Environment - say they do not buy coffee machines or coffee for staff. Of those that do, the total spending adds up to about $129,000 in recent years - although some major departments such as Defence do not provide figures.
None of that matters in the face of Turnbull's other justification. "Well, I think it's pretty obvious that welfare money should not be used to buy drugs." Indeed, while the drug test trial seems like the most wacky measure in the budget, it is straight out of the Coalition's "catch a bludger" playbook.

From trying to get young people to wait six months for the dole (to prove they really need it), casting people as "leaners" (not "lifters"), cashless welfare card trials (to control how welfare is spent) and demerit points for those who don't comply with their job-seeking requirements, the take-home message is: hardworking taxpayers are being swindled by those who would rather sit at home eating Cheezels and watching reruns of The Golden Girls than join the rest of us behind a desk, checkout or tractor.

Coupled with the frequent "whoa, Nelly!" refrain from government that the social security system is in the grip of a gnarly cost blowout, welfare recipients become the baddies of the budget papers.

But the harsh words and the harsh measures  while grabbing headlines and stirring up easy outrage  don't necessarily stack up.

At $164 billion, welfare is certainly the most costly thing in the budget. It currently makes up about 35 per cent of government spending and is projected to grow to 36.6 per cent by 2021. So it follows that it does (and should) come under scrutiny from those writing the cheques. But according to the Treasury's analysis, unemployment payments will be relatively stable over the next four years. The overall increase in cost is largely due to the ageing population, the full rollout of the NDIS and growth in childcare support.
Children have been kept in seclusion in mental health units for up to 38 hours on average, state government data has revealed.

The detailed data obtained by Fairfax Media shows high rates of isolation and restraint at Sydney's children's hospitals and huge variations across the state's hospitals.

It documents the use of seclusions and restraint at every mental health unit in NSW hospitals every six months between 2008 and June 2016.
An appeal by former chef Roman Heinze, who violently attacked two backpackers at Salt Creek last year, has been delayed.

The 61-year-old came before South Australia's Court of Criminal Appeal on Monday seeking permission to challenge the verdicts in relation to the attacks at the remote beach, south-east of Adelaide.

But defence counsel Bill Boucaut, SC, said he was not in a position to proceed with what he described as the "saga" of the Salt Creek case only just reaching a conclusion.

In March, Heinze was found guilty on six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life.
Commuters have been warned to expect major disruption and delays to Sydney's public transport and on roads during Thursday despite a planned bus drivers' strike being ruled illegal in a late-night Industrial Relations Commission hearing.

Hundreds of bus drivers failed to turn up to depots in Sydney's inner west and south early on Thursday morning, which the Transport Management Centre said would have a "severe" impact on the morning commute across the city.

The drivers' absence comes the morning after Transport for NSW applied for an urgent hearing in the Industrial Relations Commission to challenge the planned strike, which was due to start at midnight on Wednesday.

The hearing was held at 8pm on Wednesday. A government spokeswoman said the IRC reviewed the evidence and found the planned strike to be illegal, and ordered the drivers to work as normal on Thursday.
Warning: distressing content.

A coroner has been urged to this week find the death of a Brisbane chef who took his own life after killing and cooking his Indonesian partner was unavoidable.

Coroner Terry Ryan is due on Friday to hand down his findings in the 2014 murder-suicide at the couple's inner-city flat.

During closing submissions of a two-day inquest on Tuesday, counsel assisting the coroner, Emily Cooper, said the evidence was clear that Marcus Volke killed transgender escort Mayang Prasetyo before taking his own life in an industrial bin while evading police.
A new report indicates that Apple is planning to update its line of MacBooks at its Worldwide Developers Conference next month, but will the same machines with minor tweaks be enough to win back mindshare from its fresher competition?

A yearly iterative rejig is nothing new or unexpected for Apple's devices, but what's different this time is that rival Microsoft is also currently making moves in the laptop and home computer space, providing a point of comparison that Apple's not used to. Like many Apple products the various MacBooks were revolutionary at their introduction, but a procession of very similar units has left them feeling stale.

Apple is expected to introduce new versions of its laptops next month. Credit:Bloomberg

While Apple's MacBooks continue to appeal to some of the same audience they've always appealed to, Microsoft's recent approach (including its current hardware lineup as well as its direction with Windows 10), seems more modern.

Microsoft's ecosystem has been moving towards a duality for quite a while now. In one sense it's becoming more of a tightly-controlled Apple-like structure where the one company builds the hardware, manages the operating system and serves up the apps, but at the same time you can still build or buy whatever machine you want, have it run Windows and install anything you like.
Footage of an alleged forced wedding ceremony between a 14-year-old girl and a man 20 years her senior held at a Melbourne mosque has been played in court.

Imam Ibrahim Omerdic appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he faces charges of conducting the forced marriage at a Bosnian mosque in September, 2016.

Imam Ibrahim Omerdic, (right) accused of conducting the forced wedding ceremony of a man to a 14-year-old girl. Credit:Jason South

During the recording, as the bride's mother looked on, a male voice can be heard saying "she is very young". During the proceeding, Mr Omerdic says that the two should follow the example of the Koran.

"As a wife you have a duty to obey your husband," Mr Omerdic is heard saying in the video.
About a dozen residents are yet to find a place to go when the notorious Gatwick Hotel shuts its doors at the start of next month.

The hotel, St Kilda's destination of last resort for the homeless and drug-addicted, is to be bought by Channel Nine for around $15 million for renovators show The Block.

But with only two weeks until The Gatwick closes down, a small group of residents remain unwilling - so far - to accept a place to stay as part of a government-sponsored relocation program.

Those that remain in the hotel are largely those with significant mental health or dependency issues. None of those approached wanted to talk about their circumstances.
Washington: Members of Congress from both parties escalated calls on Tuesday for former FBI Director James B. Comey to appear before them after reports that President Donald Trump had asked him to drop an investigation into Michael T. Flynn, the former national security adviser.

Democrats were aggressive in seeking new hearings and opening an independent investigation. Republicans, on the whole, reserved judgment until they learned more or heard from Comey himself.

"The country is being tested in unprecedented ways," Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, said on the Senate floor Tuesday evening. "I say to all my colleagues in the Senate, history is watching."

Some Republicans were putting the burden on Comey to produce proof, with Representative Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, vowing to obtain a memo Comey wrote in which he said Trump had made his request on the Flynn investigation during a meeting in February.
Washington: For a few minutes on Monday evening, projection artist Robin Bell tried to bring attention to an issue he feels passionate about by shining light on it - a big, blue light.

Bell parked his van about 9.15pm across the street from the west entrance of the Trump International Hotel in Washington. Bell and two friends then turned on a projector in the van and displayed animated anti-Trump messages about the President's alleged conflicts of interest onto the upscale hotel's facade.

The projections focused on the US Constitution's emoluments clause, which says that no person holding a federal office shall "accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State".

Other projections read "emoluments welcome here" and "pay Trump bribes here".
Beijing: North Korea's state newspaper has acknowledged that the world was "astonished" by the "unprecedented attack" of the WannaCry computer worm.

Amid speculation that North Korean hackers could have been behind the computer worm, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Wednesday reported the wide scale of the chaos WannaCry had caused.

A screenshot of the warning screen from a purported ransomware attack, as captured by a computer user in Taiwan. Credit:AP

Banks, health care and IT organisations in 150 countries had been hit as 200,000 computers were impacted, it informed North Korean readers, who are isolated from the internet.

But while appearing to take a triumphant tone, the newspaper stopped short of claiming North Korean responsibility.
An Oxford University student who stabbed her former boyfriend could be spared jail after a judge said she had an "extraordinary" talent for medicine.

Lavinia Woodward, 24, who studied at Christ Church College, Oxford, stabbed her Cambridge-educated boyfriend in the leg on December 30 last year following a row.

Lavinia Woodward stabbed her ex-boyfriend during a drink-and-drug fuelled row. Credit:Facebook

The pair had a drink and drug-fuelled argument and, when he threatened to call her mother, she punched him.

She then picked up a bread knife and stabbed him in the leg before hurling a laptop, glass and a jam jar at him.
Rolf Harris' barrister has accused a woman who alleged she was groped by the Australian entertainer during the early 1970s of jumping on the "compensation bandwagon" and fabricating her story.

The woman is one of three who claim to have been groped by the entertainer at public events between 1971 and 1983. Harris denies all four counts of indecent assault against the women who were aged 16 or under at the time.

Entertainer Rolf Harris has denied his accusers' claims. Credit:AP

On Tuesday, Harris' QC, Stephen Vullo, played a previously unheard recording of the woman's first call to authorities made on July 3, 2014.

The jury was told that this was after Harris had stood trial and been convicted in June 2014. The woman denied accusations by the defence that she "was in a rush" to make the report on the day before he was sentenced because she had seen the "compensation bandwagon" and wanted to jump on it.
London: A woman who alleges she was groped by Australian entertainer Rolf Harris was reduced to tears in court on Wednesday, as she rejected suggestions made to her by Mr Harris' barrister that she had tried to "manipulate" potential witnesses.

Harris, aged 87, is facing four counts of indecent assault with three separate women accusing him of groping them at different events dating between 1971 and 1983. He is pleading not guilty to all charges.

On Wednesday the jury, comprising seven women and five men, heard testimony from the second of three women at Southwark Crown Court. The court heard Mr Harris was convicted in 2014 and also faced a trial in 2017.

She testified in person before the jury, that at Star Games event in 1978 where she worked, Harris groped her breast and ran his hands up her legs towards her crotch on three separate occasions.
Lamborghini's Stefano Domenicali on "The Future of the Motoring Enthusiast"

EDITOR'S NOTE: It looks to us like he and the other speakers missed the real topic that should be

addressed: Autonomous driving may kill enthusiasm for driving.

To read TACH's view on this CLICK HERE.

PALO ALTO, CA - May 17, 2017  Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Automobili Lamborghini, spoke at a garage talk discussion on The Future of the Motoring Enthusiast at Stanfords Center for Automotive Research.

Domenicali discussed the evolving industry with more than 300 people in attendance. CARS, the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford, is focused on technology, innovation and education. It links industry and academia around human-centered mobility and the future of the automobile, where industry experts and researchers both benefit from the exchange.

The event was attended by the Italian Ambassador to Washington, Armando Varricchio. Domenicali shared his perspective on strategy and future challenges in the car industry, focusing on breakthrough products, the customer experience, the mega trend of electrification, the enabling factors of digital technologies and human resources.

Lamborghini embraces innovative thinking, and seeks collaboration with institutions who are the collectors of great ideas. Lamborghinis drive is to improve and continuously pave a pioneering road ahead, says Stefano Domenicali.

Automobili Lamborghini announced its plans for offering internship opportunities, providing students from Stanford the opportunity to work with the renowned super car manufacturer both in the US and at its headquarters in Italy. The initial focus of the intern program will welcome majors in engineering, automotive research and development as well as marketing and communications.

Speakers included:

 Stephen Zoepf, Executive Director of CARS

 Armando Varicchio, Italian Ambassador

 Tom Kenny, Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Associate Dean, School of Engineering

 Chris Gerdes, Professor of Mechanical Engineering in conversation with Stefano Domenicali.
TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Japanese media reports indicate that an engagement announcement is expected soon from the imperial palace. Princess Mako of Akishino, the eldest granddaughter of the Emperor and Empress, is reportedly engaged to Kei Komuro. But while royal engagements usually start conversations about jewel appearances to come, this announcement would mean that royal jewels will be left behind.

NORBERTO DUARTE/AFP/Getty Images

According to various Japanese press sources, Princess Mako and her beau met while studying at the same university in Tokyo. Both are 25 years old, and theyve apparently been dating for about five years. Princess Mako currently works as a researcher at a Tokyo museum. She also occasionally represents the imperial family both at home and abroad; above, she is pictured on an official trip to Paraguay in 2016, and below, during an official visit to Honduras in 2015.

ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP/Getty Images

Reports suggest that the Imperial Household Agency, which oversees virtually all aspects of the Japanese imperial familys lives and activities, will announce the engagement soon, with a wedding expected next year. When she marries, Princess Mako will become a commoner, losing her title, her place in the imperial family, and any funds granted to her by the state. Her jewels will also head back to the palace vaults, perhaps to appear later on another imperial princess. The most recent member of the imperial family to lose her royal status because of her marriage was Princess Makos cousin, Princess Noriko of Takamado, who married Kunimaro Senge in 2014.
Since The Daily Beasts original Lost Girls investigation last summer, additional evidence and archives have been unearthed in the case. More than two dozen other victims were also reported in the same region of Panama, including a young woman from the United States found murdered earlier this year. Now a return trip to the scene of eventsas well as renewed sleuthing by best-selling author Dr. Kathy Reichs and other forensic specialistsprovide a fresh take on this cold case.

In the first chapter of this series, we traveled to the last place Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, two young Dutch women killed three years ago, were known to have been alive and apparently signalling for help. In the second chapter, we looked at the usual and unusual suspects and witnesses in the "Lost Girls" case. In the third chapter, we visited the Serpent River, where key evidence was foundand where we discovered it had been universally misinterpreted. In the last article we visit a Panama morgue to speak with an expert in the investigation, and in this segment we will look at whether the case of American Catherine Johannet, strangled to death in February, may fit into a larger pattern of murder cover-ups.

BOQUETE, PanamaLong before she arrived in this part of the world, Catherine Johannet had learned how to handle herself while traveling abroad.
Citing a former Fox News contributor-turned-private-eye, a local Fox station reported that slain DNC staffer Seth Rich was communicating with WikiLeaks prior to his death and it could be proven with tangible evidence on Rich's laptop.

But a spokesman for Richs family said theres a gaping hole in the Fox 5 D.C.s report: That private investigator, Rod Wheeler, doesnt have access to Richs laptop.

We know where Seths personal computer is. We know where his DNC computer is. Neither [Rod Wheeler] nor anybody else has it, Brad Bauman, who is representing the Rich family, told The Daily Beast.

Rich was murdered shortly after 4 a.m. a block away from his home in July of last year. His work as a Democratic National Committee stafferduring an election cycle in which his employer was hackedfueled conspiracy theories from the far right. Until Tuesday, those theories were mostly relegated to websites like InfoWars and 4chan, but Fox News brought those conspiracies to the mainstream after Wheelers claims on Tuesday.

The WikiLeaks claim, which trended on Twitter most of Tuesday and reached Fox News national telecast and website, is the latest in a war between two political consultants on opposite sides of the aisle to frame Richs death as part of a larger global conspiracy, according to the familys spokesperson.

One, spearheaded by a Never Trump Republican named Jack Burkman, alleges Richs death was perpetrated by the Russian government.

Wheeler, a Fox News contributor whom the family said is funded by a pro-Trump Breitbart writer, spread the other conspiracythat Richs death was tied to a communication with WikiLeaks for which he did not provide evidence of its existence.

Both have been given permission by the family to conduct independent investigations, but were not paid by the family, as other outlets reported, said Bauman.

There is one overwhelming fact in this entire thing every few months: There are people who continuously use Seth Rich and his murder to further their political goals, said Bauman. Its my hope those people get whats coming to them.

Fox 5 D.C. reported that Wheeler had been hired by the Rich family. Bauman said that this also isnt true, and that Wheeler was entirely independently funded. Bauman then claimed Wheeler had been hired by Ed Butowsky, a Dallas-based, pro-Trump wealth manager who regularly appears on Fox Business and writes about the economy for Breitbart.

The Daily Beast reached out to Butowsky for comment, but he didnt respond at press time. He told MSNBC that I didnt pay anybody. I didnt hire anybody on Tuesday afternoon.

For his part, Wheeler once appeared on The OReilly Factor to report on a national underground network of violent lesbian gangs in 2007. The Southern Poverty Law Center criticized the segment for fabricating nonexistent gangs of women who were forcibly indoctrinating children as young as 10 to become lesbians.

Still, the far right seized on Wheelers story Tuesday that Rich was absolutely linked to WikiLeaks before his murder last July. While President Trumps accidental leak of confidential information to Russia took over the front pages of most mainstream news sites, Fox News ran a story titled Slain DNC Staffer Had Contact With WikiLeaks, Say Multiple Sources. The storys broader implication is that Rich was murdered for providing emails to WikiLeaks.

NBC News later further debunked the Fox News story, confirming the FBI never possessed Richs laptop, despite Fox News reporter Malia Zimmermans claim that an agent at the bureau had access to the computer. The title was later amended to read Family of slain DNC staffer Seth Rich blasts detective over report of WikiLeaks link.

That story, now discredited, remains with its original title on Fox News sister site, Fox Nation.

Meanwhile, stories about Trumps ties to Russia were relegated to below-the-fold billing on FoxNews.com.

Throughout the last year, various folks have taken advantage of the Rich family in order to push their own political agendas. It is disgusting, said Bauman.

Fox 5 D.C. is not new to running stories about Seth Richs death that imply a global conspiracy without asking for proof or involving Richs family.

In March, the station ran a segment about a possible break in the case citing claims from lobbyist Jack Burkman, but again providing no evidence. That story, which placed the blame for Richs death on the opposite side of the political aisle to Fox 5 D.C.s most recent report, wasnt mentioned in its WikiLeaks story on Tuesday.

During the 2016 election cycle, Burkman worked as a lobbyist for an anti-Trump GOP group called Free The Delegates.

The Daily Beast was approached in February by the public relations firm representing Burkman and his investigation, but chose not to write a story. Glenn Selig, who runs the PR firm, told The Daily Beast on Tuesday that Burkman didnt have access to Richs computer either, and put out a press release demanding proof from Wheeler that Rich had ties to WikiLeaks.

This was a surprise to us as well, said Selig, who added that Burkman is working with students at George Washington Universitys forensics department to try to uncover Richs killers. Our investigation is independent of the family. I know nothing about this investigator. Its possible this guy went rogue.

Bauman said Foxs two contradictory stories, which dont mention each other, provide cover to the actual murderers to stay underground even longer.

If theres a God in heaven, he would shut down that editorial department, said Bauman. First it was Russia, now its WikiLeaks. All they seem to be interested in doing is courting controversy. All theyre doing is theyre impeding on the ability for the Metropolitan Police Department to do its job.

The Metropolitan Police told The Washington Post that there is nothing that we can find that any of [Wheelers story] is accurate on Tuesday.

Amidst the firestorm, Seth Richs parents, Joel and Mary Ann Rich, released a statement to debunk Wheelers invented bombshell, which reached the top of most alt-right websites by Tuesday afternoon.

As weve seen through the past year of unsubstantiated claims, we see no facts, we have seen no evidence, we have been approached with no emails and only learned about this when contacted by the press, it read. We are a family who is committed to facts, not fake evidence that surfaces every few months to fill the void and distract law enforcement and the general public from finding Seths murderers.

When asked how Richs parents are handling the fallout of Wheelers allegations, Bauman said they are absolutely devastated.
Recklessly firing FBI Director Jim Comey eliminated any remaining doubt: Donald Trump and his administration cannot be trusted to have any role in investigating his and his entourages relationship with Russia and Russians. Yet he is about to seize control of that probe, while the Republican-controlled Congress acts less like a coequal branch of government and more like a White House subsidiary.

Compounding this, the White Houses efforts Monday to deceive the American public about the president giving Russia super-secret intelligence only add to the reasons to distrust his competence, integrity and, indeed, suspect his loyalty.

The day after firing Comey, the Washington Post reported Monday, President Trump gave Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador to Washington Sergey Kislyak information we received from Israel  who may not care to share such information again so secret we had not shared it with our closest allies. That put in danger not just American lives, but those of the brave agents of the Israeli government who obtained th at information and shared it with us.

You can be sure that many foreign governments will share less with American intelligence agencies, thanks to Trumps betrayal.

And you can be equall y sure that the ruthless leaders of ISIS have been rounding up those with knowledge of these secrets for summary execution if their fealty is in doubt. That means less information will flow about terrorist plots, making it less likely they will be detected and thwarted.

How could any president give such sensitive intelligence to Russia, a foreign power hostile not just to the United States but to the very concept of democracy?

Last September Trump denounced his opponent on this very issue of holding secrets close, telling a rally, We cant have someone in the Oval Office who doesnt understand the meaning of the word confidential and classified.

Yet that is precisely what Donald Trump did last week. And he did so after allowing a Russian government photographer in the Oval Office with a bag full of who knows what kind of electronics gear, while no American journalists were allowed in.

The White House readout on the meeting made no mention of Kislyak, a central figure in the FBI counterintelligence investigation of Trump and his entourage. We know Kislyak attended only because the Russian government released photos of Trump, Lavrov and Kislyak grinning at each other.

As with most things Trump, the FBI investigation and the sharing of highly classified material with Moscow involves something akin to Churchills description of Russia as a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

Weaving the many threads of fact, including White House lies, into a tapestry reveals a vivid portrait.

A key thread traces back to Trump s choosing Michael Flynn as his national security adviser. President Obama had previously fired Flynn, evidently for being mentally unstable, and privately warned Trump against hiring him .

Flynns conduct was egregious. He lied, covered up his conduct, violated military law, ignored the advice of others and after those bad acts were exposed and he was forced to step down  has asked for immunity from prosecution. If Trump didnt know this, well, that is frightening about his naivete. If he did, which seems much more likely, it is terrifying about the presidents judgment.

Trump fired Flynn only after news reports revealed his lies and cover-ups, including his multiple conversations with Kislyak. Since, Flynn has registered retroactively as a foreign agent.

Take a moment to let that sink in: Donald Trumps national security adviser was a paid agent of a foreign government. And while that government was Turkey, the money came from a Russian oligarch, who like all the Russian oligarchs keeps his fortune and his life only so long as Vladimir Putin does not want him robbed or whacked. Putins Russia Today propaganda television operation also paid Flynn handsomely.

Now imagine how Congressional Republicans would have reacted had Hillary Clinton won and her national security adviser held so much as held a single unauthorized conversation with Ambassador Kislyak.

Another thread was Trumps effort to influence James Comey, the FBI director overseeing the only known counterintelligence investigation of a sitting president. Exactly one week after taking office. Trump ordered Comey, on short notice, to the White House for a private dinner.

That dinner came right after Sally Yates, the acting attorney general, issued the first of two loud - and - clear, but private, warnings to the White House that Flynn lied and thus was compromised by Russia.

Flynn had lied to Vice President Mike Pence and presumably others, as Yates knew from counterintelligence intercepts of phone conversations with Ambassador Kislyak. Others in the Trump entourage also had had conversations with Kislyak.

Kislyak is not some Soviet apparatchik holdover . He is a trained diplomat, which is to say, a master at intelligence gathering for the kleptocracy run by Vladimir Putin, whom Trump admires as a great leader.

Trump later said that over dinner Comey begged for his job, a preposterous lie given Comeys record. Trump also says Comey told him, three times no less , that he was not under investigation. Theres no reason to believe that, and Trumps offered no proof at all, just his word for what thats worth.

Comeys friends and colleagues told reporters on background what James Clapper, former director of national intelligence and a retired three - star general, had aid publicly over the weekend: Comey thought it inappropriate to go to dinner with Trump, but advisers said he had little choice but to succumb to the summons from the president.

These friends say Trump twice demanded that Comey pledge his loyalty, which should horrify anyone with an eighth - grade - civics understanding of our Constitution.

At campaign rallies, Trump leads supporters in pledges of loyalty to him, an indication of Trumps dictatorial instincts. Trump, in his 2008 book Think Big and in a profane 2005 lecture, detailed his insistence on absolute loyalty from subordinates and the pleasure he gets from destroying the lives of those who dont demonstrate abject fealty.

Comey loyalists say the director pledged his honesty, which fits with Comeys record, unlike the Trumpian version. Last week Trump Tweeted that Comey had better hope he doesnt have tape recordings, raising more questions about Trump not just as bully, but perhaps as obstructor of justice trying to intimidate a witness and for sure seeking to muddy the waters about his and his entourages ties to Russians.

Comey, meanwhile, moved from weekly to daily briefings on the investigation into Trump camp connections to Moscow and its friends. He also asked for more prosecutors to work the case.

Comeys request went to Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, because Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he had recused himself from any role in the inquiry because of his own work for the Trump campaign and his conversations with Kislyak.

When Trump fired Comey last week, his White House issued both the dismissal letter and a Justice Department memo that placed the idea of firing Comey on Rosenstein.

That preposterous explanation drew derisive retorts, not the least because the White House seemed not to realize that it had outed its lie that Sessions had recused himself from all matters involving Trump and Russia by participating in the firing. Sessions is now deeply involved because he is interviewing potential new FBI directors.

Comey is eager to testify about the dinner, his surrogates told reporters, but only at a public hearing.

Just as troubling, Trumps former campaign manager, Paul Manafort who has not registered as a foreign agentwas paid tens of millions of dollars to promote Russia and pro-Russian Ukraine before the Kiev government was overthrown.

Trump, keep in mind, has pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars from real estate deals with Russians. Yet he insists any mention of him and Russia is fake news.

Next, Trump confessed to Lester Holt of NBC News that he intended to fire Comey all along and the Justice Department memo served as mere cover. That means that Sean Spicer and Laura Huckabee Sanders lie to the public as easily as Trump does. And it means Rosenstein, who was U.S. Attorney in Baltimore, got played by Trump in his initial appearance on the national political stage.

Trump and the Justice Department memo said they needed to restore confidence in the FBI, asserting Comey was disliked by agents. Numerous FBI agents, current and past, have stepped forward to say that is nonsense.

Then came The Washington Posts report Monday that Trump had given extremely tightly held secrets to the Russian government.

H.R. McMaster, the retired general who succeeded Flynn as national security adviser, stood outside the White House Monday and read a statement denying what was not reported and remaining silent on the damning news that had been reported. Tuesday, he said his issue wasnt the facts of the report, but its context but refused to talk about that context because it involved highly classified materials. And, the kicker, that Trump himself didnt know the material was so secret when he spilled about itfulfilling Israeli intelligence officials fears as early as January.

Sometimes presidents and their advisers must lie. That is a reality in our world. But Trump and his secondsincluding Spicer, Sanders and now McMaster all told gratuitous lies that can serve only one purpose: to cover up the indefensible conduct of the president in obstructing the FBI counterintelligence investigation and his reckless disclosure of super-secret information to the hostile government in Moscow.

How much clearer can the picture be of what is really going on here, that America has a president who is contemptuous of the Constitution, compromised by the Russians and willing to try any lie to hang onto power?

The next encyclopedia should include a photo of Trump. It should go next to the entry on clear and present danger.
The same Balch Springs, Texas police department that shot and killed an unarmed, black 15-year-old has been filmed using a taser on a handcuffed black man.

On April 29, Balch Springs Police officer Roy Oliver allegedly shot and killed Jordan Edwards, a high school freshman, as the boy and his friends drove away from a party. The police department initially issued a public statement claiming Oliver fired in self-defense after the teenagers reversed toward him in an aggressive manner.

After reviewing body camera footage from the killing, police admitted that the teenagers had been driving away from police when Oliver fired the fatal shot. Oliver was dismissed from the force and charged with murder.

But now, two weeks after Edwards death, another body camera video evidently depicting excessive force by a white Balch Springs officer against a black man has been released to Dallass Fox 4 News. And unlike in Olivers case, an internal investigation found no fault with the officers actions.

On April 28, 2016, Balch Springs police responded to a call of a man waving a gun, Fox 4 reported. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Marco Stephenson, now 39, holding a BB gun.

The body camera footage begins as a Balch Springs officer exits his squad car, his gun pointed at Stephenson, who is already kneeling with his hands on his head. An unnamed sergeant is already on the scene, pointing a gun at Stephenson. The sergeant kicks Stephensons BB gun, which was lying on the sidewalk.

Stephenson appears to comply as three officers arrest him, and does not resist as the officers place handcuffs on him. Stephenson tells officers he plans on spitting out a toothpick. While his face is not visible in the footage, he appears be standing calmly, with his hands cuffed behind his back. But the sergeant who kicked his BB gun immediately pulls out a taser and fires it into Stephensons abdomen.

Stephenson is seen shouting and collapsing. While Stephenson is still lying on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back and an officer pinning him down, the officer with the taser shocks him a second time. Dont pull away. Do you understand? Do you understand? an officer asks Stephenson. Dont pull away. Do you get it? Do you get it?

Stephenson still does not appear to resist officers. Yes sir, he says.

Are you going to straighten up? the officer asks. Cause I aint playing with you today. Do you understand?

Yes sir, Stephenson repeats.

In a statement, the Balch Springs Police Department said the sergeant, whom Fox 4 reported was a supervising officer, had been cleared of wrongdoing.

Balch Springs PD is aware of the incident that occurred in 2016. The video was reviewed by the Texas Ranger Division which is the highest and most prestigious law enforcement agency in Texas, the department wrote in a statement. It was determined charges would not be filed against the Balch Springs police officer after the video was reviewed by an independent agency and an internal review was conducted.

The police department did not respond to The Daily Beasts request for further information.

The investigation may have been the only reason a leaker was able to obtain a copy of the 2016 body camera footage, which an anonymous person sent Fox 4 in the mail. When the Balch Springs Police Department began using body cameras in January 2015, the department announced that it would be storing footage for 90 days, unless the footage was under investigation.

Balch Springs Police Chief Jonathan Haber told Fox 4 that officers brought the incident to his attention in its immediate aftermath, but that Stephenson never filed a complaint with the department.

But at the time of his arrest, Stephenson was already taking action against a nearby police department for a startlingly similar case of alleged excessive force.

In a March 2015 lawsuit reviewed by The Daily Beast, Stephenson accused the nearby Dallas Police Department of aggressively arresting him for driving while intoxicated. Police lacked probable cause for the arrest, and Stephensons toxicology test revealed him to have been sober, he claimed in the lawsuit.

A Dallas Police officer ordered him to get face down on the ground with his taser pointed at Plaintiffs chest,  Stephensons lawyers alleged in his suit. Plaintiff complied calmly, without sudden movements, and without protest. As soon as Mr. Stephenson complied, [an officer], with great force and without justification, pushed his face down and into the pavement. [Another officer] immediately pushed Mr. Stephensons back down while grabbing his right arm back and up behind his back.

The lawsuit, filed over two years ago, is still ongoing, and would have been active for over a year when Balch Springs police arrested Stephenson, possibly explaining his decision not to file a new complaint.

In its statement, the Balch Springs Police Department said it was aware that the footage of Stephensons arrest was particularly inflammatory in the wake of Jordan Edwards death.

With recent events we understand we are under the microscope of the public eye, and that is why we will continue to serve our community as we have done in the past, the department wrote. We understand people are upset and angry from the video that occurred in 2016, and we have made changes and corrections to better serve our community.
The Trump administration announced a series of punitive moves Wednesday against Iranian defense officials to send a signal that Irans ballistic missile program and support for terrorism wont be tolerated, a senior administration official told The Daily Beast Tuesday.

The U.S. Treasury Department actions will hit two senior Iranian defense officials connected to the ballistic missile program and other Iranian entities, and four suppliers of missile technology based in China.

The State Department was also slated to release a report detailing Irans human rights abuses in its prison systems, designed to send a message to Tehran and its supporters that its behavior would not be tolerated.

Whether its imprisoning people arbitrarily, inflicting physical abuse and torture, or executing juvenile offenders, the Iranian regime has for decades committed egregious human rights violations against its own people and foreign nationals, and this pattern of behavior must come to an end, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Ambassador Stuart Jones said in a statement. This includes the U.S. citizens wrongfully detained or missing in Iran, and we call on Iran to immediately return them to their families.

The actions come at a tumultuous time for the Trump administration. The White House is engulfed in a series of overlapping scandalsincluding the passing of classified information to Russian officials and the firing of FBI director James Comeyall while the president gets ready to meet Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia, before traveling to Israel and Europe.

Iran is a topic thats sure to come up at every stop.

The message is, the Trump administration is not going to give them a pass on the other aspects of their destabilizing behavior just because of the existence of the JCPOA, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to explain Trump administration policy. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actionsigned by the Obama administration, and nations including China, France, Russia, the U.K., and the European Union, rewards Iran with sanctions relief for stepping away from its nuclear weapons programbut puts no requirements on its behavior beyond that.

The administration is planning to honor the terms of the international nuclear agreement with Iran for up to another four months, the official added. The 120-day waiver on U.S. sanctions against Iran expires Wednesday, requiring the Trump administration to act.

The message is to address the totality of the Iran problem including support to terrorism, abuses of human rights, and the development of the ballistic missile program, the official said. Its not a get out of jail free cardnor did the Obama administration ever say that it was, the official added.

The Treasury Department this week also announced action against 10 Syrian individuals including several members of Bashar al-Assads family, including the Makhlouf clan which the official says has helped finance the regime, after the State Department this week accused the regime of killing civilians by the thousands and cremating them to hide the evidence.

One of those sanctioned in recent weeks is the brother of Qassem Suleimani, the head of Irans infamous Republican Guardsthe overseas arm of Irans military which helps prop up the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad and supply weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

In the past four months, the Trump administration has issued 281 designations against the Assad regime, Irans closest ally in the Mideast, and there have been more than 40 new designations connected to ballistic missiles and terrorism, and the Quds Force, said Mark Dubowitz, an Iran sanctions expert and CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, D.C. They are making Iran hurt and putting international companies on notice that premature business engagement is risky.

Now-resigned National Security Adviser Michael Flynn had warned that Iran was on notice in February after a ballistic missile test, a declaration that sounded like a threat of military action. Thats still on the table, the senior administration official said.

We have a range of tools at our disposal so these are the ones we are using this weekwe have a lot of tools in our kit bag.
The Bryan City Council approved two economic development agreements Tuesday that would create more housing in the city -- including modern apartments in the historic Bowie School.

One Chapter 380 agreement allows for an economic development grant of $175,000 and the waiving of permit fees to establish 53 Class A urban studio apartments in the historic Bowie School, located at 401 W. 26th St., which Lindsey Guindi, director of strategic projects for the City of Bryan, said will "preserve the historic fabric of that area."

Guindi said the school will look the same from the outside but will have modern apartments on the inside, "to make sure we can see the history of Bryan." She added that the city wanted to see "a building that has declined over the years be brought back to life" and that the renovations would have a "ripple effect" on the surrounding community.

Guindi said the abandoned school had become a haven for crime in recent years, and a redevelopment of the Bowie School would have a positive impact on the community.

"The more positive things we have going on in that building, the better," she said.

The other agreement is between the city and Cozumel Investors, Ltd., for their construction of multifamily living units at The Ranch at Turkey Creek, a 6.17-acre space of property southeast of the intersection of West Villa Maria Road and Texas 47. The agreement increased the total possible amount of the economic development grant to $275,000 and allows for a one-time payment of $150,000 for a 12-inch waterline for the property.

Guindi said the multifamily units will be a "high-end product" that will compliment the developing area known as the BioCorridor.

Guindi said the respective companies front the cost of the renovations and then get reimbursed over a seven to 10-year period. The economic development grant, she said, was a reimbursement, not an abatement, since the developers front the cost of their projects, though they do get that money back, albeit over a time frame that could stretch up to a decade.

A Chapter 380 agreement is part of the Texas Local Government Code that allows Texas municipalities to provide assistance for economic development.
A College Station woman faces charges after police say she burglarized a motel room and gave authorities a false name when questioned.

According to College Station police, officers were called to a motel in the 2300 block of Texas Avenue around 1 p.m. Monday on the report of an assault. Once at the motel, police found a man and a woman, as well as five adults and three children sitting in a vehicle.

The man and woman told police they had been in a motel room when five adults entered their room, assaulted the woman and stole their wallets. Police noted the woman had a cut on her forehead. Officers tried to talk to the adults in the vehicle, but there was confusion when everyone referred to themselves and each other by nicknames. Police say Crystal Lee Burleson, 29, gave authorities a false name. Under Burleson's car seat, officers found two wallets that matched the description of the stolen items.

Burleson is charged with burglary of a habitation, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines, and a misdemeanor charge of giving a false identity. Burleson also had outstanding warrants. Burleson is being held in the Brazos County Jail on $27,000 bond.
Bill would improve nursing home care for senior Texans

I work in a skilled nursing facility and I love my job caring for the elders. It is spiritually fulfilling work.

That's why I was happy see state Rep. J.D. Sheffield's effort to improve funding to long-term care through HB2766. Rep. Sheffield is a family practice doctor from small-town Texas: Gatesville. He has practical ideas. His legislation would provide a funding solution for Texas nursing homes without increasing state spending. It is a reasonable solution to a potential crisis in our state.

I hope our lawmakers can see past the lies being told about this effort. No one's grandma would be charged under the bill, but her care would improve if the staff caring for her were paid enough to stay.

JULIE SULIK

College Station

A celebration honoring all mothers and grandmothers

Last Sunday, families of all backgrounds celebrated Mother's Day across the country. For my Muslim immigrant family this meant a gathering of four generations in the home of my grandmother. For us the significance of Mother's Day is not only a day to send gifts to our mothers, but also a reminder of the high status of mothers in Islam.

After a shared meal, a person recited from the Holy Quran, "We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth" (46:15). Shortly after, someone else recalled a saying of the Prophet Muhammad "Your heaven lies under the feet of your mother (Ahmad)."

We all gathered together to pray for each other, especially the many amazing mothers among us. Afterwards gifts were given from all the children to their mothers and grandmothers. We talked, joked and laughed into the night, thankful for not only our mothers but our grandparents' decision to come to the United States -- to a place where anyone can believe how they wish, and where cultures from all over the world come together to create something truly special.

HASSAN MAHMOOD

Bryan

Congress should challenge discriminatory voting laws

I'm disturbed by President Donald Trump's recent creation of an election integrity commission, despite a lack of evidence that voter fraud is a problem. This commission's extremist membership and Trump's own false statements about the 2016 elections suggest that the group will work to limit voting rights nationwide.

I'm urging our congresspeople to commit publicly to preserving voting rights by challenging discriminatory policies, such as voter ID laws, that suppress voting in the name of electoral integrity.

AMANDA SNYDER

College Station
Muir's call for wilderness in the past may become a clarion call for wilderness in the future, one on which our survival as a species rests. We now know that if we are to ensure a livable future for our children and their children, we must keep close to 80 percent of all remaining fossil fuels in the ground.

This means keeping the public in our public lands where America's protected wilderness is found.

Dances with trees

Detractors of wilderness in the past few decades have said, 'Wilderness has become irrelevant before it has become resolved' - suggesting the protection of wilderness no longer matters because wilderness itself is a human construct.

But with the era of climate change upon us, we are now recognizing that many of our most valuable carbon banks beneath the ground, insurance policies for the future, are found within our protected wilderness areas, national parks, and refuges. Protecting our public lands has taken on an added layer of urgency and import. These open spaces are also reservoirs for our spirit, where awe and majesty are fueled.

I like to imagine John Muir in conversation with the eminent biologist E. O. Wilson. Oh, how I would love to eavesdrop on the two of them discussing Wilson's Half-Earth Theory, the overwhelming evidence that our capacity to flourish as a species is in direct relationship to leaving half of the Earth in a state of wildness.

When I first read John Muir's description of climbing a conifer during a snowstorm and riding its top while all around him windblown trees crashed to the forest floor, I wanted to love and live that passionately in the world.

After cautiously casting about, I made choice of the tallest of a group of Douglas Spruces that were growing close together like a tuft of grass, no one of which seemed likely to fall unless all the rest fell with it. Though comparatively young, they were about 100 feet high, and their lithe, brushy tops were rocking and swirling in wild ecstasy.

Being accustomed to climb trees in making botanical studies, I experienced no difficulty in reaching the top of this one, and never before did I enjoy so noble an exhilaration of motion. The slender tops fairly flapped and swished in the passionate torrent, bending and swirling backward and forward, round and round, tracing indescribable combinations of vertical and horizontal curves, while I clung with muscles firm braced, like a bobolink on a reed.

A thousand bright Ambassadors of morning

Awe defines John Muir. Perhaps it began for him in 1863, sitting beneath a black locust tree on the Wisconsin University campus where he was a student. His friend Griswold showed him a flower from that tree and told him it belonged to the pea family.

"But how can that be", Muir recounted in The Story of My Boyhood Home and Youth, "when the pea is a weak, clinging, straggling herb, and the locust is a big, thorny hardwood tree?" This insight stabbed deeply into Muir's consciousness and changed the course of his life. "This fine lesson charmed me and sent me flying to the woods and meadows in wild enthusiasm."

Griswold's "fine lesson" also injected him with a case of wanderlust rarely seen since. He walked a thousand miles from Indianapolis to the Gulf of Mexico. He sailed to Cuba and from there to Panama, where he crossed the isthmus and sailed up the west coast of the continent to San Francisco. He walked across the San Joaquin Valley and first glimpsed the "Mighty Sierra":

"Then it seemed to me the Sierra should be called not the Nevada or Snowy Range, but the Range of Light. And after ten years spent in the heart of it, rejoicing and wondering, bathing in its glorious floods of light, seeing the sunbursts of morning among the icy peaks, the noonday radiance on the trees and rocks and snow, the flush of the alpenglow, and a thousand dashing waterfalls with their marvellous abundance of irised spray, it still seems above all others the Range of Light."

Along with the locust and the pea, this journey opened wide the lens through which he experienced the world. Muir both believed in God's creation and supported Darwin's theory of evolution. According to historian Terry Gifford in his book, Reconnecting with John Muir,

"The awe with which Muir viewed every part of the natural world - floods and storms as much as anything else - was intended in his writings to induce respect, humility, and, ultimately, conservation." It became his bridge between seemingly opposing banks of thought.

Everything must go!

In the nineteenth century, the American West was on the verge of selling itself to the highest bidder, and I believe we stand at this threshold again today. Only, now, there is so much more at stake - the very health and wealth of the planet.

John Muir and the community that surrounded him, including President Theodore Roosevelt, stopped this wholesale destruction of wild America through brave acts of conservation, be it the creation of the National Park Service or the importance of wild words on the page, which showed us that wilderness everywhere matters not only to the human spirit, but to life itself in all its evolutionary processes.

We are not the only species that lives and loves and breathes on this planet. Earth is terrain of transformation: dynamic, indifferent, and acutely personal. By that I mean a mountain stands its ground, regardless of whether we choose to approach it; but as John Muir has shown us repeatedly, if we do approach the mountain, it is we who are moved.

Awe, I believe, set Muir apart during his lifetime. Awe is his currency today.

May the words between these covers reach us now and inspire another generation to fall in love with wild nature, to care for it, to know that wilderness is not optional but central to our survival in the centuries to come.

May Muir's writing remind us how to embrace this beautiful, broken world once again with an open heart, especially in the midst of what we stand to lose as temperatures rise.

And may the planetary consciousness John Muir found in all life - from the wonder of a pea plant to the grandeur of great rivers of ice, now receding glaciers - inspire us to engage in the great work of ecstatic observation, relentless wandering, and joyous-fierce actions on behalf of the Earth. May we use our own curiosity as a compass.

With this reader in hand, we have a map. John Muir walks with us.

Terry Tempest Williams is the best-selling author of fifteen books, including the environmental classic Refuge and most recently, 'The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America's National Parks'. She has received numerous awards and honors for her commitment to peace and ecological consciousness. She lives in Utah and Wyoming.

This article is an extract from the introduction to 'Selected Writings by John Muir' edited by Terry Tempest Williams.

The book: 'Selected Writings by John Muir' is published by Everyman's Library at 14.99 and is out now.
Begonias, dahlias, petunias, geraniums, marigolds, succulents  the Blossom Valley Greenhouse has them all. The space is filled to the brim with flowers of every kind and color, on the floor, on tables and hanging from above.

The greenhouse is a new addition to Robert Rutroughs property in Rocky Mount. Aside from his oldest daughter Chelsie, who did similar work for a season in Ohio, Rutrough said his family is completely green in this. This past winter they bought and constructed a greenhouse, and in February began with planting 35,000 flower plugs. Now, the greenhouse is an explosion of color. Theres plenty of work to go around for Rutrough, his wife Freda and their four daughters.

It was Foothills Produce Auction, which last month began its second season of operation in Boones Mill, that inspired the dairy farmer to buy the greenhouse and start growing flowers and some vegetables.

The produce auction  envisioned by county officials and brought to fruition by the German Baptist community  has encouraged farmers in Franklin County to diversify and expand their operations. Greenhouses are going up and farmers are trying their hand at different crops.

Dairy, beef and grains have traditionally served as the core of the countys agricultural economy, said Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent Chris Brown. The auction is encouraging farmers to branch out into produce, which Brown described as a crop with high value that can be grown on far fewer acres.

Without a doubt I can tell you that acreage has increased with produce, and even operations that were strictly dairy farms, they had diversified into actually cutting back the number of dairy cows and increasing the amount of produce grown, Brown said.

As he spoke about the effects, Brown said he was standing in a watermelon field that was a direct result of the auction.

I think a lot of times maybe agriculture is overlooked as a source of economic development or economic growth, but it contributes to the economy in all sorts of ways, he said.

Of course, theres a growing curve with the auction, and it will take a few years to get established, Rutrough said, but his family wants to be part of that effort.

Its going to take participation to get it off the ground, he said.

Rutrough said he likes that the auction brings him closer to consumers.

From the dairy side, were under a constant squeeze to get bigger and we have less control of our product after it leaves, he said. Its exciting to see something like the auction, where it shortens that chain of supply from the grower to consumer.

People want to know where their food is coming from, and favor locally grown items. Brown said Homestead Creamery, a buyer at the auction, labels produce in its store to let buyers know where it was grown. He believes shoppers appreciate that and like to support their community.

Chairman Dan Long said the Foothills board is glad to see the produce auction giving agriculture a boost in Franklin County.

Thats really what were all about. Were not in it so much to make money, I dont think thats any of the stockholders goal, so much as to give the young people in our community an opportunity to get into agriculture, he said. Produce is just about the last stand for agriculture in Franklin County.

Its difficult to make a living raising beef cattle, Long said, and as a former dairy farmer, he knows its not easy to support a family that way either. He said growing produce is one of the few ways left to make a farm thrive financially.

Andrew Bowman said the K. Edward Goode farm in Ferrum is the longest continually running dairy farm in Franklin County. Now, the land is also being used to raise produce. Bowman said the produce auction played a factor in that decision.

We just saw a way of diversifying and supplementing our farm income, he said. Bowman is growing a variety of vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli.

Bowman is also building a greenhouse, although he said thats more to raise produce in the winter months when the auction is closed.

Bowman is glad that Franklin County helped to get the produce auction off the ground.

Agriculture got Franklin County established and I think its wonderful the county recognizes the heritage in agriculture, he said.
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 ...
Brynn Casady makes most of her volleyball season at Spoon River College

Casady played defensive specialist, libero and outside hitter at various times during the season
NORWALK  The Medical Academy at Brien McMahon High School will transform into a full-fledged Healthcare Pathway with an expected inaugural cohort of 50 students next school year.

The program will take the form of a small learning community within the school for students interested in medicine or other health-related fields.

In four years time, students will be able to complete college-level courses, get firsthand field experience within the surrounding medical community and garner a variety of certifications such as CNA, CPR and phlebotomy, school officials said.

The (Brien) McMahon Healthcare Pathway is the logical next step for the work that weve been doing at

McMahon now for about five years in our partnership with Norwalk Community College, said Brien McMahon High School Principal Suzanne Brown Koroshetz, while discussing the program at Tuesday evenings Board of Education meeting.

For the past several years the school has hosted its Medical Academy, where students would work after school and go to Norwalk Community College on Friday afternoons.

The idea, Koroshetz said, is that kids dont really know when you talk about health care they may think about being a doctor or a nurse, but its so much more than that.

The program is meant to expose and train students for a variety of areas of modern healthcare.

The change over to the a Healthcare Pathway establishes an official four-year program within Norwalk Public Schools where students apply before their freshman year and then work their way through to graduation.

The program will feature an integrated curriculum, interdisciplinary instruction with experiences with Norwalk Community College, field experiences within the medical community, college courses, a range of professional certifications and membership in HOSA (a national career and technical student organization for future health professionals).

Norwalk Hospital also joined the partnership for the new career path. In getting the hospital involved, Koroshetz said the school asked what is a viable path for young people to be able to leave McMahon and join the world of work?

The idea is for students to be able to go directly into the workplace upon graduation or apply to college to eventually study medicine.

Skills gained could also be used as a tool along the way in other areas of study.

Thomas Seuch, a teacher at Brien McMahon High School who is overseeing the program, said the end goal is to have 70 percent of students obtain professional certificates, 90 percent reach exemplary status in communication and 100 percent to be involved in field experiences, earn college credit and be informed and educated on the college to career process.

Superintendent Steven Adamowski said the program will be open next year to middle school students that traditionally feed into Brien McMahon High School. The pathway is expected to open up to the entire city the following year, much like the Norwalk Early College Academy at Norwalk High School.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203-354-1049; @kevinedschultz
NORWALK  After years of lagging behind, the citys public school district has surpassed the states high school graduation rate and is continuing to build on that progress.

That is according to Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski who, at this weeks Board of Education meeting, presented a verified report of Norwalks four-year high school graduation rates compared to the states.

After first surpassing the state average with the class of 2015, Norwalk Public Schools has built on that progress, Adamowski said, with its class of 2016 receiving an even higher graduation rate.

Norwalks combined class of 2016 saw an average four-year graduation rate of 90.5 percent compared to the states average of 87.4 percent. Norwalks four-year graduation rate first surpassed the states average in 2015 by 2.4 percentage points. That margin is now up to 3.1 percentage points.

This is our first gap closure with the state of Connecticut, Adamowski said, and we have actually pulled ahead of the state on this measure.

The highest graduation rates in Norwalk were reported at Brien McMahon High School, where 96.2 percent of students graduated in four years, compared to 95 percent in 2015 and 86.8 percent in 2014.

Norwalk High Schools graduation rates remained relatively flat within that same three-year period. In 2016, 90.3 percent of students graduated in four years, compared to 91 percent in 2015 and 91.7 in 2014.

More Information Four-year graduation rates Categories Class of 2014 Class of 2015 Class of 2016 Connecticut 87% 87.2% 87.4% Norwalk Public Schools 83.8% 89.6% 90.5% Norwalk High School 91.7% 91% 90.3% Hispanic 83.8% 87.3% 88.1% Asian 100% 94.4% 100% Black 90.5% 88.3% 85.2% White 96% 94.2% 92.8% English Language Learners 86.8% 82.9% 66.7% Brien McMahon High School 86.8% 95.% 96.2% Hispanic 81.4% 92.1% 96% Asian 90.9% 91.3% 94.1% Black 87.6% 96.3% 94.8% White 90.6% 98% 97.9% English Language Learners 67.6% 77.3% 88.2% See More Collapse

Adamowski called the districts progress in four-year graduation rates for students considered to be a part of the high needs subcategory  that is, an English language learner, special education or low income student  one of the proudest and most significant aspects of the results.

The state average graduation rate for those students for 2016 came in at 76.8 percent. Norwalks came in at 85.1 percent, nearly 10 percentage points higher.

But it wasnt all good news for the school district, as progress for specific subcategories of students at each school varied.

Board of Education Member Artie Kassimis pointed out, for example, a concerning 16.2 percentage point drop in graduation rates for English language learners at Norwalk High for the three-year period. In 2016, 66.7 percent of English language learner students graduated from Norwalk High in four years, compared to 82.9 in 2015 and 76.9 in 2014.

Adamowski said he and his staff werent prepared to analyze the reason for that drop just yet, that they would be examining it in the coming weeks.

Clearly, he added, the ELL is a concern.

Meanwhile, he called the results for the same category of students at Brien McMahon High School remarkable.

The English language learner graduation rate at Brien McMahon climbed 10.9 percentage points, from 77.3 percent in 2015 to 88.2 percent in 2016. That represents a cumulative increase of more than 20 percentage points from 2014, which saw a rate of 67.6 percent.

High school graduation rates are released by the state of Connecticut each year for the prior years graduating class. Its not that the school district doesnt immediately know the rates on their own, Adamowski said, but that they must be verified by the state and broken down according to various subcategories.

The results presented Tuesday factor Norwalk Pathways Academy students into their home high schools. That practice, Adamowski said, began for the class of 2016.

Overall, I think the biggest positive is being at or above the state average, Adamowski said, and certainly being able to maintain that and still grow some is a very significant achievement.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203-354-1049; @kevinedschultz
NORWALK  Norwalk will honor its veterans at several events over the next two weeks, culminating with the citys 2017 Memorial Day Parade on May 29.

We would love to have as many people as possible along the parade route to honor our veterans and support our troops, said Karen Doyle Lyons, Norwalk Veterans Memorial Committee secretary and master of ceremonies for the parade. We ask that they wave a flag and wave a banner for our veterans and those who have given their time and effort to be participants in the parade.

The Norwalk Veterans Memorial Committee 2017 Memorial Day Parade is scheduled to step off at 10 a.m. from Veterans Memorial Park in East Norwalk and proceed down Van Zant Street and East Avenue to the Norwalk Green. A review stand will be set up outside City Hall.

Doyle Lyons said the Norwalk Exchange Club will leave the park early to distribute American flags to parade spectators along the route. The VMC will hand out 700 roses to veterans in and along the parade.

Henry A. Simon, a Navy veteran who served as a pharmacists mate aboard LST-469 during World War II, will lead the parade as grand marshal.

The Norwalk police and fire departments, state and local elected officials, the Governors Horse Guard, Brien McMahon High School Band, Norwalk High Schools Marching Bears, American Legion Post 12 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 603 are among the many organizations expected to march in the this years parade.

More Information Memorial Day events Memorial Day Flag Placing, Saturday May 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. John Cemetery Shea-Magrath Memorial Ceremony, Sunday May 21, at 12:30 p.m., Calf Pasture Beach 2017 Memorial Day Parade, Monday May 29, starting from Veterans Memorial Park at 10 a.m., down Van Zant Street and East Avenue to the Norwalk Green. See More Collapse

As of Wednesday, about a dozen floats had been registered to roll in the event with room for more. Organizations wishing to participate should apply at www.norwalkvets.org by Friday.

Officials are hoping for favorable weather. Last years parade was canceled because of the threat of lightning.

Memorial Day Flag Placing

On Saturday, May 20, King Industries of Norwalk and volunteers will place flags on the graves of local veterans. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. John Cemetery, 223 Richards Ave. Refreshments will be served at 9:30 a.m.

Volunteers also will place flags on veterans graves at Riverside Cemetery and elsewhere. Those wishing to place a flag on a veterans grave at a Norwalk cemetery may pick up a flag a St. John Cemetery that morning.

Shea-Magrath Memorial

On Sunday, May 21, the VMC will honor fallen Norwalkers Daniel J. Shea and John D. Magrath during the annual ceremony at the Shea-Magrath Memorial at Calf Pasture Beach. The event will begin at 12:30 p.m. with a concert by the BMHS Wind Ensemble. The ceremony will get under way at 1 p.m. Retired U.S. Army Col. Archie Elam of Stamford will be the guest speaker.

The ceremony honors Army Pvt. 1st Class John D. Magrath, who fell to mortar fire on April 14, 1945, after earlier that day storming a German machine-gun position in Italy during World War II, and Army Pvt. 1st Class Daniel J. Shea, a medic who died May 14, 1969, after retrieving five wounded comrades from a rice paddy battlefield during the Vietnam War.

Theres five guys alive who wouldnt be, said Dennis Shea of his brothers sacrifice. His unit was ambushed and there were wounded out in the open. He kept going out and dragging them back.

Shea and Magrath each were awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor for their gallantry.

Dennis Shea, a U.S. Marine who also served in Vietnam, has loaned the city his brothers Medal of Honor. The medal will be on display at Sundays ceremony. Shea and his family will be in attendance.
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WILTON  Every year before Memorial Day, Bing Ventres visits the towns five cemeteries to plant American flags at the graves of his fellow veterans.

The 85-year-old has kept a running list of veterans and former American Legion Post 86 members buried in town for the past three decades.

And sometimes, hes carried out this mission alone.

Its not a simple operation, the Korean War veteran said Monday, while making his rounds at Hillside Cemetery. You could spend hours up here searching.

Ventres joined the American Legion nearly 60 years ago and served as the groups commander for more than 20 years, earning the title of past commander emeritus.

Though he has led this effort for the past 30 years, he said its an ongoing tradition that preceded his time. And in recent years, a few other American Legion members have joined him in identifying graves and planting flags.

Like Ventres, they share a deep respect for those who served.

Fellow American Legion members Raymond Tobiassen, 68, and Judd Mott, 88, joined Ventres at Hillside on Monday.

You honor veterans, said Tobiassen, who served in the Marine Corps.

For remembrance, added Mott, who served in the Air Force.

See, Tobiassen said, pointing to a silver emblem at the corner of the gravestone of Arpad Vasale, a past American Legion member. Thats what Bing put on this thing here: Let us not forget the veterans.

The exact wording of the emblems message is, Let us not forget those who served. The emblem reflects the sunlight, which makes it easier to pinpoint veterans graves among the numerous headstones.

Ventres had the emblems specially made from a company in Massachusetts 10 years ago, after receiving multiple phone calls from family members of deceased veterans with unmarked gravestones  and, therefore, no flag.

While some organizations remove the flags after the holiday, Ventres said the American Legion keeps them at the grave sites the entire year. The group also supplies the flags, which costs around $500.

We feel its important to recognize our fellow veterans that have passed, he said. Many people go into a cemetery and they probably have no idea whos a veteran. Some people might not even know how to identify the grave.

The three American Legion members plan to replace worn out flags with new ones, soon after the cemetery mows the lawn. They expect to visit up to 450 grave sites in the coming days and will dispose of old flags by burning them, which is the proper and easiest way to dispose of them, Ventres said.

Looking out at the flags scattered across Hillside Cemetery, with some still in good shape, Ventres smiles with pride.

Weve done a good job, he said. Things are looking pretty good here.

The American Legion also helps organize Wiltons Memorial Day Parade, which begins 10 a.m. May 29, followed by a service at 11 a.m. near the flagpole at Hillside Cemetery, 70 Ridgefield Road. All Wilton veterans are invited to participate in the parade.

Donations for the organizations year-round activities can be mailed to P.O. Box 75, Wilton, CT 06897.

skim@hearstmediact.com; 203-354-1044; @stephaniehnkim
WASHINGTON DC - One GOP member of the Illinois congressional delegation is climbing on the Democrats' call for special prosecutor to investigate possible ties between President Donald Trump and the Russians.

Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-16) was never a big fan of Trump, but in an interview with the anti-Trump CNN network, Kinzinger wasn't shy about his distrust of the White House. Specifically, Kinzinger told CNN he was concerned about reports of fired FBI Director James Comey's memo allegedly recalling the president asked him to conclude investigating General Flynn:
With the New World Order and global democracy having been abandoned as Americas great goals, what is the new goal of U.S. foreign policy? What is the strategy to achieve it? Does anyone know?

For the World War II generation, there was clarity. The attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec 7, 1941, united the nation as it had never been beforein the conviction that Japan must be smashed, no matter how long it took or how many lives it cost. After the defeat of the Axis powers in 1945, however, Americans divided.

Only with the Berlin Blockade of 1948, the fall of China to Mao and Russias explosion of an atom bomb in 1949, and North Koreas invasion of the South in 1950, did we unite around the proposition that, for our own security, we had to go back to Europe and Asia. What was called the Cold War consensusthat only America could contain Stalins empireled to NATO and new U.S. alliances from the Elbe to the East China Sea. Vietnam, however, shattered that Cold War consensus.

The far left of the Democratic Party that had taken us into Vietnam had repudiated the war by 1968, and switched sides to sympathize with such Third World communists as Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Ho Chi Minh and the Sandinistas. Center-right presidentsJFK, Nixon, Reaganaccepted the need to cooperate with dictators who would side with us in fighting Communism.

And we did. Park Chung-Hee in Korea. The Shah in Iran. President Diem in Saigon. General Franco in Spain. Somoza in Nicaragua. General Mobuto in the Congo. General Pinochet in Chile. Ferdinand Marcos in Manila. The list goes on.

Under Reagan, the Soviet Empire finally fell apart and the USSR then disintegrated in one of the epochal events of history. The American Century had ended in Americas triumph.

Yet, after 1989, no new national consensus emerged over what ought to be our role in the World. What should we stand for? What should we fight for? What Dean Acheson had said of our cousins in 1962: Great Britain has lost an empire and has not yet found a role, was true of us. What was our role in the world, now that the Cold War was history?

George H.W. Bush took us to war to drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. Soaring to ninety percent approval, he declared Americas new role was to construct a New World Order. Those who opposed him, Bush acidly dismissed in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1991, the fiftieth anniversary of Pearl Harbor: We stand here today on the site of a tragedy spawned by isolationism. And it is here we must learnand this time avoidthe dangers of todays isolationism and itsaccomplice, protectionism. Neither Bush nor his New World Order survived the next November.

Then came payback for our sanctions that had brought death to thousands of Iraqis, and for the U.S. bases, we had foolishly planted on the sacred soil of Saudi ArabiaSept. 11, 2001. George W. Bush reacted by launching the two longest wars in our history, in Afghanistan and Iraq, and announced that our new role was to end tyranny in our world. The Bush II crusade for global democracy also fizzled out.

Barack Obama tried to extricate us from Afghanistan and Iraq. But he, too, failed, and got us into wars in Yemen and Syria, and then started his own war in Libya, producing yet another failed state.

What does the balance sheet of post-Cold War interventions look like? Since 1991, we have lost our global preeminence, quadrupled our national debt, and gotten ourselves mired in five Mideast wars, with the neocons clamoring for a sixth, with Iran. With the New World Order and global democracy having been abandoned as Americas great goals, what is the new goal of U.S. foreign policy? What is the strategy to achieve it? Does anyone know? Globalists say we should stand for a rules-based world order. Not exactly Remember the Alamo! or Remember Pearl Harbor!

A quarter century after the Cold War, we remain committed to sixty-year-old Cold War alliances to defend scores of nations on the other side of the world. Consider some of the places where America collides today with nuclear powers: the DMZ, the Senkakus, Scarborough Shoal, Crimea, the Donbass.

What is vital to us in any of these venues to justify sending an American army to fight, or risking a nuclear war?

We have lost control of our destiny. We have lost the freedom our Founding Fathers implored us to maintainthe freedom to stay out of wars of foreign countries on faraway continents. Like the British and French empires, the American imperium is not sustainable. We have issued so many war guarantees it is almost assured that we will be dragged into every future great crisis and conflict on the planet.

If we do not review and discard some of these war guarantees, we shall never know peace. President Trump once seemed to understand this. Does he still?

Republished with gracious permission from Mr. Buchanan (May 2017).

The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politicswe approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now.
Hall County is one step closer to being considered livestock-friendly.

The Hall County Board of Supervisors voted 7-0 on Tuesday to submit an application to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to be declared a livestock-friendly county.

Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity told the county board the proposal before them would move forward without any changes to the current zoning regulations in Hall County.

We are not proposing any changes to go along with this, he said. But if you move this forward, I and my staff will get the application submitted.

County board Chairwoman Pam Lancaster said she considers Hall County as already being livestock-friendly. Supervisor Scott Arnold agreed.

Livestock friendly does not mean we get out, pet cows and play with them, he said. It means that we invite livestock businesses to operate in Hall County. Its not the livestock were friendly to; its the business.

Ken Kohlhof, owner of C&I Cattle Co. near Dannebrog, thanked the county board for looking at the livestock friendly issue because the livestock industry in Hall County is a very vital industry. He said one of the biggest employers in Hall County is JBS, which processes probably 5,000 head of cattle a day.

Kohlhof also cited the livestock facilities at the Nebraska State Fair grounds as an example of livestock being a big thing in Hall County.

But the thing about livestock friendly is it is not lip service, he said. Youve got to live it. Youve got to be behind it.

Kohlhof told the county board there is no quick fix to the livestock issue in Hall County, and that there needs to be a fix that is sustainable for the future.

We need solutions now that are going to be good in 10, 15 or 20 years, he said. If youre serious about this, look at the money invested in this county. If those cattle feeders and agriculture producers are making money, we are supporting farmers by buying their grain, supporting ethanol plants by buying those byproducts. It is better for the county and the businesses in town. When we make money, we come here and spend money.

Greg Baxter, owner of T&E Cattle Co., said he has not been an advocate of Hall County pursuing the livestock friendly status because the motive would not be one of sincerity but one of political purposes.

I dont want to appeal to the county to pursue a livestock-friendly status when it is not necessarily something that is sincerely meant from the heart with the spirit of the law as it is written and enacted, he said.

Baxter made one simple request to the county supervisors as they made their decision on whether to approve a resolution to declare Hall County livestock friendly. He urged them to consider the facts as they know them, do so without bias and consider the intended and unintended consequences.

Dont tell me youre livestock friendly. Show me, he said.

Supervisor Karen Bredthauer asked Nabity what future steps Hall County would need to take to be declared livestock-friendly. She also asked if it would have to send future changes to its comprehensive plan to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture for review.

If we do make changes, and weve already been declared livestock-friendly, then we also submit those changes to the (Nebraska) Department of Agriculture for review of whatever changes we make because it could affect the status, Nabity said.

The county board also read into the record a letter from Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 10 demanding contract negotiations for its members in regard to changes to work schedules, days off and hours of employment for members of the Hall County Sheriffs Department.

After the letter was read into the record, the county board voted to take the matter into executive session, which is closed to the public. Upon returning to regular session, Lancaster said no action was taken by the board but that the matter would be referred to the negotiating committee.

For the record

In other action, the county board:

 Voted 7-0 to approve a plan for the Hall County Department of Corrections to move mental health counselors from contracted to county employees.

 Voted 7-0 to set a date for a public hearing on a conditional use permit for a construction and demolition waste disposal area for ONeill Wood Resources for 9:30 a.m. June 13.

 Voted 7-0 to install prints of the Bill of Rights, Constitution and Declaration of Independence, donated by local attorney Howard Tracy, in the stairwell of the Hall County Courthouse between the first and second floors.
The website for applications launched on Oct. 10 and will be up until Nov. 23. The vouchers are sent out in mid-December.
Last nights thunder and lightning may have seemed severe, but National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Kelley said they brought enough rain to put Grand Island in range of hitting the May precipitation average.

The weather service in Hastings recorded 40 mph winds last night, with top gusts at 53 mph. At 7 a.m. Wednesday, the weather service reported 1.44 inches of rain at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island.

Area residents should brace for more action on Thursday night, with storms continuing on Friday. Kelley said Act 2 will bring at least half an inch to Grand Island, with a 70 percent chance of a full inch and a "very good chance" of 1.5 inches falling throughout the full storm.

Saturday will be a transition day to Sundays good weather. Radar predicts Saturday to be cool and cloudy, but Sunday will reach 70 degrees with "plenty of sunshine," Kelley said.

With the Tuesday and upcoming Thursday storms, Kelley said Grand Island will likely hit the average May precipitation rate.

As of 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, Grand Island had received 3.2 inches of rain for the month of May, putting the city within an inch and a half of hitting the 4.41 inch May average.

"If we get another inch or so of rain Thursday into Friday, well be on our way to being normal," Kelley said.

The rain also brings Grand Island up to the year average, erasing the 0.67 of an inch precipitation deficit Grand Island had on May 1.

After Tuesdays storm, Kelley said there was no flooding concern, but Thursdays storm could bring danger to the area stretching from Harlan County Lake through Hastings and up to Columbus.

"This stripe through Central Nebraska has received 2 to 3 inches in the last three days," Kelley said. "So thats the area were most concerned about."
University of Nebraska at Kearney Senior Vice Chancellor Charles Bicak said his journey to and from Central Nebraska proves hes a slow learner. He started at Kearney State College with a bachelors degree and would travel to Vancouver, Colorado, California and Texas for his education and career before permanently returning to his home state.

While he was in Texas, he said, he knew one thing: All 2 million of the Austin areas population were constantly on I-35.

I remembered a quality of life that was far better, Bicak said. So now Im here to stay.

Since returning to Nebraska in 1992, Bicak has been working hard as senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, he said in a speech at the Grand Island Rotary Club meeting this Tuesday.

Bicak was standing in for UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen, who was called to Lincoln for meetings after Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoed several state budget items, resulting in an additional $5.7 million reduction from the University of Nebraska over two years.

Bicak said record retention rates, timely graduation rates and a diverse student population reflect UNKs hard work. Along with 53 countries and 49 states, all 93 of Nebraskas counties are represented by UNK students. Hall County contributes the third-most students to UNKs student body, after Buffalo and Douglas counties, which Bicak said shows the relationship between UNK and Grand Island.

Grand Island is a very important pipeline for UNK, Bicak said. We are proud to have a very tight connection in this community.

But the progress doesnt give Bicak a day off. Even with a record 83.6 percent retention rate, Bicak said UNK is working toward improvement. An 83.6 percent rate means there are still students leaving the university, so theres still work to be done.

Were still concerned about those students, Bicak said. Where are they going? What should we have done for them, and what can we do now?

Bicak said UNK invests in students by focusing on four goals: academic excellence, access and support to students, quality faculty and staff, and stewarding resources.

To accomplish all four goals, Bicak said, UNK has focused on collaboration and partnerships.

The days are gone when we used to be able to say, It would be nice to collaborate with that institution or this entity, Bicak said. Its not nice; collaboration is essential.

UNKs refocus on collaboration began when Bicak and Chancellor Kristensen started looking at plans for a UNK health science building to house a University of Nebraska Medical Center curriculum.

The chancellor and I spent Christmas vacation sketching out napkin-like notions of what our facility could look like, Bicak said.

Four years later, the UNK Health Science Education Complex houses UNMC undergraduate nursing, graduate nursing and other programs that have allowed a transition from school to college for the health science program.

Among other affiliations, UNK also collaborates with the University of Nebraska-Lincolns engineering programs and the University of Nebraska at Omahas social work program.

The success of the future depends on collaboration, Bicak said.

The benefits of UNKs hard work and partnerships stretch beyond just the university, Bicak said.

Although the admission of UNK into the University of Nebraska system was controversial in 1991, Bicak said its clear the school has earned its place 25 years later.

I would guarantee that not only is Kearney, not only is Central Nebraska better off because of Kearneys admission into the University of Nebraska system, Bicak said, but the whole state is stronger, and so is the University of Nebraska system.
CHICAGO - Late Wednesday afternoon, a Democrat candidate for Illinois governor followed the example of GOP President Donald Trump and announced to his own 14,000 plus Twitter followers:

This week, reports of Pritzker's own embarrassing property tax scam hit leftist Chicago papers. His finger pointing at the president is from the old Democrat playbook - deflection. Look over there!!
It's not over. Thousands of uncounted ballots remain in Bucks, Montco

Bucks County officials do not anticipate all ballots cast Tuesday will be counted - or not - until next week. Leaving House key races in limbo
SPRINGFIELD  Tuesday, the Illinois House approved legislation sponsored by State Representative David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) to end the requirement for the Secretary of State to mail out information about a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the Office of Lieutenant Governor.

I have been pushing to eliminate the Office of Lieutenant Governor for a while now because it would save taxpayers about $1.5 million annually, McSweeney said. If we get a Constitutional Amendment eliminating the Office of Lieutenant Governor on the ballot, not only can we save taxpayers money by eliminating this office, but with House Bill 348, we also will be able to save taxpayers money by eliminating the mailing requirement. These two ideas are a win for taxpayers.

Under current law, any proposed change to the Illinois Constitution requires a mailing to all Illinois households informing them of the change as it will appear on the ballot. House Bill 348 removes this requirement for any constitutional amendment aimed at eliminating the Office of Lieutenant Governor. The legislation would add an online notice requirement and still require newspaper notices for all constitutional amendments.

McSweeney said removing the requirement to mail voters about a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the Lieutenant Governor's office would save taxpayers about $1.3 million.

In 2013, the Illinois House voted 83-28 to support McSweeney's measure to eliminate the Office of Lieutenant Governor. Last year, the House overwhelmingly approved a similar McSweeney-sponsored Constitutional Amendment with 95 votes in favor of the measure and only 10 votes against it.

Unfortunately, a former Republican nominee for Governor filed to become the chief sponsor of the measure in the Senate in a hostile move to ensure the Constitutional Amendment was never called for a vote. Senator Tom Cullerton, who supports eliminating the Office of Lieutenant Governor, is the lead Senate sponsor of Representative David McSweeney's HJRCA 5, which is a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the Office of Lieutenant Governor.

Lets save $2.8 million total by eliminating the Lieutenant Governors office and eliminating the mailing requirement, McSweeney said. We need to eliminate wasteful spending."

House Bill 348 passed the House on a vote of 112-0 and now moves to the Illinois Senate.
Six members of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineerings (SOE) Constructors Club volunteered their time and put their building skills to use over spring break, March 4-9, to help people in need through Habitat for Humanity.

This was the fifth consecutive year club members have participated in a week-long volunteer project. This year they traveled to Walton County, Florida.

Participating students, all of whom are studying construction management in the SOE, included Will Zerr, of St. Peters, Mo., Aaron Borrowman, of Rockport, Nicole Howell, of Vienna, Dalton Brookshire, of Nokomis, Alex Orban, of Streator, and Jordan Grant, of East Peoria.

We were glad to participate on this trip with the amazing people of Habitat for Humanity, Grant said. While we were in Florida, we worked on two separate houses in Defuniak Springs. One was for a widow who had lost her home to a lightning strike, the other was for a family who has five young children.

The students gained hands-on experience as they assisted in hanging vinyl siding, soffits and facias, installing bedroom and closet doors, trim and molding, cutting and installing window sills, hanging shutters and installing hardware such as doorknobs and towel bars. More importantly, they made a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

The most meaningful part of the trip was meeting the people whose homes we were helping build, Grant said. They were incredibly grateful for all the hard work that was accomplished. Being able to work side by side with the owners and hear their stories changed what we were doing. We werent just working. We were giving them their home back. It was an experience we will never forget.

The Constructors Clubs active volunteerism has earned them the SIUE Kimmel Outstanding Community Service Project Award for the past three years. The Club also earned third place in the 2016 Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Outstanding Student Chapter Contest for their service work. Funding for the spring break trip was provided by a student-organized Trivia Night.

The SIUE School of Engineering offers one of the most comprehensive and affordable engineering programs in the St. Louis region with eight undergraduate degrees, five masters degrees and two cooperative doctoral programs, all housed in a state-of-the-art facility. Students learn from expert faculty, perform cutting-edge research, and participate in intercollegiate design competitions. Companies in the metropolitan St. Louis area provide students challenging internships and co-op opportunities, which often turn into permanent employment. All undergraduate programs are accredited by their respective accreditation agencies.
After working nearly nonstop from 7 p.m. Friday, March 24 until 11 a.m. Sunday, March 26, a team of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) students took first place in the second annual eHacks competition held at the T-REX Innovation Center in downtown St. Louis.

The winning team comprised Thomas Lynch and Eli Ball, both of Rockford, and Glen Carbon native Daniel Harding. They created Photo Code, which is a system of educational tools used to teach core programming concepts and skills to kids with no programming experience.

We decided to make Photo Code, because we recognize the increasing demand for and importance of young students to have a quality education in technology and computer science, said Harding. Photo Code was designed in such a way that it can be used in a grade school setting with low budgets and little access to technological resources. It was designed to be user-friendly and interactive, so young kids can learn about computer programming in a fun and engaging way.

A hackathon is essentially an invention competition, with less emphasis on competition, and more on learning, creating, making new friends and having fun.

Our project was challenging and almost too ambitious to take on during the time at eHacks, Harding added. But, we were innovative and determined, so we successfully overcame every hurdle we encountered. Were grateful and humbled to have been recognized for our hard work.

The hackathons opening ceremoniesa included a presentation by Angie Heise, president of Leidos Civil Group. Heise earned a bachelors in computer science from the SIUE School of Engineering in 1996.

Twenty-three projects, completed by approximately 80 participants, were created and judged. Competitors were from area collegiate schools. Prizes were awarded for best overall project as well as best user experience, best use of data, best visualization, most technically challenging and sponsored prize categories.

Six SIUE students volunteered hundreds of hours to make the event a success. They were supported by a couple of dedicated staff members in the SOE Department of Computer Science, along with professor and department chair Dennis Bouvier, PhD.

This was the second eHacks weve coordinated, and our number of participants doubled from last year, said Bouvier. It was a great weekend, with a lot of fantastic work completed. The T-Rex location proved to be a great place to host this years event. Not only did it offer large and small places for teams to work, but it also gave students a chance to see one of the hubs of innovation in the St. Louis area. We look forward to growing our event again next year.

Event sponsors were Centene Corporation, Enterprise Holdings, AT&T, Care Otter, and NISC. Major League Hacking provided additional support.
Those visiting the village of Selo Duwur in Selo district, Boyolali regency, Central Java, on Sunday were greeted with endless invitations from the locals to dine at their homes.

Such courtesy, which is part of a tradition known as nyadran or sadranan, will be offered until the day prior to the holy month of Ramadhan.

The food prepared by local residents of the village located on the slopes of Merbabu and Merapi mountains is quite fancy: various beef dishes, opor ayam (chicken stew with coconut gravy), lontong (rice cake), nasi tumpeng (cone-shaped yellow rice), delicacies and fruits.

Aside from Selo Duwur, other villages in the Selo district also celebrate nyadran for a period of one week, such as the villages of Samiran, Lencoh, Senden and Jrakah.

The tradition also includes cleaning graveyards and sending prayers to ancestors during the months of Ruwah in the Javanese calendar.

Read also: Indonesians uphold tradition to welcome Ramadhan

"The locals usually mudik [exodus] during nyadran; even merrier than during Lebaran," said Sukarman, a respected figure of Selo Duwur village.

"During the one week period of nyadran, every house in the village usually welcomes around 1000 guests," said Samiran village head Marjuki, adding that the home owners would prepare enough food to make sure their guests are well-fed.

According to the tradition, a guest who visited 10 houses will have to eat 10 times since refusing would mean they also refuse future blessings and fortune. Meanwhile, the more people who enjoy their food means more fortune and blessings for the home owners.

During the week, the locals visit their ancestors' tombs and pray for them. The nyadran ritual will then be closed with the exchanging of food between the residents who will eat together around the site.

"Before fasting in Ramadhan, we have to clean ourselves and our family who have passed away so that our worship will run smoothly. This is the true meaning of nyadran," said the graveyard's juru kunci (caretaker), Sumahdi. (kes)
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Linkedin Ashraf Khan (Agence France-Presse) Mohenjo Daro, Pakistan  Wed, May 17, 2017 07:01 2003 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1217ce 2 Art & Culture Pakistan,archaeology,#archaeology,Mohenjo-Daro,destination,#destination Free

The center of a powerful ancient civilization, Mohenjo Daro was one of the world's earliest cities -- a Bronze Age metropolis boasting flush toilets and a water and waste system to rival many in modern Pakistan.

Some 5,000 years on archaeologists believe the ruins could unlock the secrets of the Indus Valley people, who flourished around 3,000 BC in what is now India and Pakistan before mysteriously disappearing.

But they warn, if nothing is done to protect the ruins -- already neglected and worn by time -- it will fade to dust and obscurity, never taking its rightful place in history.

"Everybody knows Egypt, nobody knows Mohenjo Daro, this has to be changed," says Dr Michael Jansen, a German researcher working at the sun-baked site on the banks of the Indus river in Pakistan's southern Sindh province.

Jansen is at the forefront of a new effort to promote the site internationally while finding ways to protect what is left.

In summer temperatures can soar above 46 degrees Celsius (115 Fahrenheit). "There is enormous thermo-stress," says Jansen, adding that salt from the underground water table is also damaging the ruins.

Read also: Egypt archaeologists discover massive statue in Cairo slum

But it's more than just the weather and time. Pakistan's bloody fight against militancy has also raised the spectre of destruction by an Islamist group, much like Islamic State destroyed the ruins in Syria's Palmyra.

Most horrifying, however, is the wanton disregard for Mohenjo Daro -- or "mound of the dead" -- by ordinary citizens.

In 2014 police stood atop the main stupa as hundreds of people swarmed the site to, ironically, commemorate Pakistan's cultural heritage -- complete with scaffolding, dancing, fireworks, heavy spotlights and lasers.

Sardar Ali Shah, cultural minister in Sindh province, vowed never to let such a thing happen again.

"It's like you are jumping on the bed bed of a 5,000-year-old ailing patient," he tells AFP.

Yet today curious visitors still roam the remains with impunity, many leaving rubbish in the once pristine-streets and wells.

Read also: Ancient Rome treasures discovered during subway dig on show

- 'Foreigners are afraid' -

Some 5,000 years on archaeologists believe the ruins could unlock the secrets of the Indus Valley people, who flourished around 3,000 BC in what is now India and Pakistan before mysteriously disappearing.(AFP/Asif Hassan)

Jansen and his Friends of Mohenjo Daro society aim to promote the site internationally, with plans to recruit Pakistanis around the world for conferences, seminars and debates.

Dr Kaleem Lashari, chief consultant to the Pakistani government over Mohenjo Daro, said they will also digitally archive the Indus script -- which has never been deciphered -- in hopes that making it accessible will increase the site's profile.

At the site itself, he said, technical reviews are being held to examine the water logging issue and other ways to shore up the ruins, while exploring new, modern technology that allows researchers to ascertain what lies beneath the surface in the portions of the city not yet excavated.

But, Lashari says, perhaps the biggest challenge remains Pakistan's international image, tarnished by extremism, corruption, poverty, and insecurity.

"Foreigners are afraid to visit Pakistan and the site because of the chronic issue of law and order," he warns.

Read also: Russia reports new damage to Palmyra archaeological site

- All roads lead to equality? -

The issues he cites underscore unsettling differences between modern day Pakistan and the civilisation found among the ruins.

At their peak during the Bronze Age, the Indus Valley people are believed to have numbered up to five million, with Mohenjo Daro their largest and most advanced settlement.

Clay and metallic seals, coins, standardised weighing stones, gold and bronze ornaments, toys and whistles -- the bric-a-brac of ancient lives have revealed volumes about thriving Indus trade and commerce.

The layout of the city itself suggests an egalitarian people more concerned with cleanliness than hierarchy, says Dr Jonathan Mark Kenoyer of the University of Wisconsin.

"In Mesopotamia, the streets went from the city to the palace ... whereas in (Indus) cities all the streets were organised to allow access to the whole city," he says.

Mohenjo Daro had a complex water and waste management system which observers have wryly noted was better than in many parts of Pakistan today.

Read also: Albania promotes its underwater archaeology, for tourism

Only a small portion of the site has been excavated properly, but the most important building appears not to have been a palace or a place of worship, but a massive public bath.

Houses had tiled bathrooms and their own cylindrical brick wells, sometimes raised to the second floor to allow for a flush system.

None of this, however,has yet explained why such a powerful, advanced and flourishing civilisation disappeared so abruptly around 1900 BC.

Currently, there is no bid to excavate further among the plans being laid by Lashari and Jansen. "It is actually preserved when it is buried," explains Harvard University's Dr Richard Meadow.

Despite their access to new technologies, that puts researchers in a quandary, especially as they try to understand what happened to the Indus people. As Jansen says, the "best way to learn information is to excavate".

But mysteries take time to solve: for now, the researchers say, they will settle for ensuring that Mohenjo Daro endures for a few centuries more.
Children in Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, risk their lives each day they go to school.

In order for the children to get to their school, they need to cross the Kambaniru River, which is infested with dangerous crocodiles.

Just a few days ago, crocodiles in the river ate a local by the name of Cornelis when he tried to fish in the river. All that remains of Cornelis are his two legs and intestines.

Despite what happened to Cornelis, the children are determined to go to school for their education.

Without hesitation, the children bravely swim the 65-meter wide river, racing against crocodiles that cunningly lurk in the deep for their next meal.

After they safely cross the river, they then face the harsh terrain of mountains and cliffs that they need to conquer to finally arrive at the Bidi Praing elementary school.

The life of children in Sumba is a world away from that of kids in Jakarta.

Jakartas kids have all the facilities at their disposal to get safely to school and then return home.

The children of Sumbawa encapsulate true perseverance. Amid all the dangerous challenges they face, they are willing to break through all of that in order to achieve their dreams and goals.
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Linkedin Gwendolyn Ng (The Straits Times/Asia News Network) Hong Kong  Wed, May 17, 2017 16:22 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a144554 2 People gong-yoo,Hong-Kong,South-Korea,K-Drama,#KDrama,#SouthKorea,goblin Free

Gong Yoo, South Korea's hottest actor at the moment after starring in the top-grossing movie Train To Busan (2016) and the No. 1-rated TV series Goblin (2016-2017), could not seem to stop raving about Hong Kong's movies and actors while he was in the territory for a fan meet.

"Growing up I watched a lot of Hong Kong movies, I watched big stars like Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau and Tony Leung on the big screens. Hong Kong movies were really popular in my generation," he said through a translator at a press conference at Hong Kong's Kerry Hotel on Friday (May 5), ahead of his fan meet on Saturday.

He is an especially big fan of the Infernal Affairs movie trilogy. Gong, 37, said: "Infernal Affairs is really amazing, and was a really popular movie. I would be fine with playing any character in the movie."

The actor's popularity has surged in the region after the double successes of Train To Busan and Goblin.

Read also: Goblin, The Handmaiden win big at Baeksang Awards

The former propelled him to international fame. Train To Busan debuted at last year's Cannes Film Festival with much fanfare and received the thumbs-up from critics around the world. The apocalyptic thriller was also a commercial success. In Singapore, Train To Busan raked in $5.4 million and was crowned the top Asian film last year (2016).

Hence there is a huge demand to see him live at fan meets across East Asia. On April 29, Gong attended a session in Taipei that sold out all 5,500 tickets.

In Hong Kong on Friday, he was still aglow from winning the Best Actor prize at the 53rd Baeksang Art Awards two days earlier, for his role as the titular immortal called Goblin. The annual ceremony celebrates the best in Korean film and television.

But in a self-deprecating fashion typical of South Korean stars, Gong said he was happier that Goblin's screenwriter Kim Eun Sook received the night's top honours, the Grand Prize.

He said: "It was my pleasure to meet such a great crew, and work on such a great script by screenwriter Kim Eun Sook. The best thing was not me winning, but screenwriter Kim getting the grand prize."

His next project, which has not been decided, is likely to be a movie.

Who knows, he may just pull off a daring skin-baring act like Tony Leung Chiu Wai in Taiwanese director Lee Ang's famed espionage thriller Lust, Caution (2007).

He said: "I really respect Tony Leung as an actor. His performance was really bold. He was really brave. For the good of the film, it is important for an actor to respect the script. If it is necessary for the script, I'm okay with showing off my body."

Topics :

This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Wed, May 17, 2017 14:06 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a13be76 2 Science & Tech hp-enterprise,hewlett-packard-enterprise,the-machine Free

Researchers from Hewlett-Packard Enterprise on Tuesday unveiled what they claimed was a breakthrough in computing with a new machine capable of handling vast amounts of data at supercomputing speeds.

The prototype named simple "the Machine" uses a new approach to computer architecture which the company says can be adapted for a range of Big Data applications, handling tasks at thousands of times the speed of existing devices.

The new system is called "memory driven computing" and uses light waves to transmit data instead of electrical impulses traveling over silicon, bypassing what engineers say is an obstacle to boosting computing speeds.

Sharad Singhal, who heads machine applications for HPE, said previous efforts to boost computing power "were running into a brick wall into computation" because computing needs are increasing beyond the capacity of existing chips.

Singhal said the project is an effort "to rethink computers from the ground up."

This means instead of a silicon chip at the heart of the computer, "we are putting data at the center," the researcher said.

The prototype unveiled contains 160 terabytes of memory, capable of simultaneously working with the contents of approximately 160 million books, a task never before possible in a single unit.

This file photo taken on July 7, 2016 shows Meg Whitman, chief executive officer of Hewlett Packard (HP), attending the annual Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, in Sun Valley, Idaho. Researchers from Hewlett-Packard Enterprise on May 16, 2017 unveiled what they claimed was a breakthrough in computing with a new machine capable of handling vast amounts of data at supercomputing speeds.The prototype named simple "the Machine" uses a new approach to computer architecture which the company says can be adapted for a range of Big Data applications, handling tasks at thousands of times the speed of existing devices."The secrets to the next great scientific breakthrough, industry-changing innovation, or life-altering technology hide in plain sight behind the mountains of data we create every day," said Meg Whitman, chief executive of HP Enterprise.(GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP/Drew Angerer)

Read also: Ukraine blocks Russia's top social media networks

Singhal said supercomputers accomplish this task by stringing together clusters of processors, but that the new machine can handle this more efficiently within a single unit.

HPE unveiled its first prototype last year, but in the current version has increased the number of computing nodes from two to 40. Singhal said the company hopes to be able to commercialize the machine within a few years.

He said one area where this can be useful is in health care, where powerful computing can analyze health studies, genetics and the potential for personalizing medical treatment.

"These kinds of things can be done a lot faster on the architecture we are talking about," he said. "The research still needs to be done. But for the people working in those areas, we are giving them a more efficient tool."

He said this approach can help shorten the time in which medicines are developed by better analysis of their effectiveness and side effects.

"The secrets to the next great scientific breakthrough, industry-changing innovation, or life-altering technology hide in plain sight behind the mountains of data we create every day, said Meg Whitman, chief executive of HP Enterprise.

"To realize this promise, we cant rely on the technologies of the past, we need a computer built for the Big Data era."

HPE, based in Palo Alto, California, was the created in November 2015 from the breakup of computing giant Hewlett-Packard into consumer and business units.
Senator McConchie discussed pending state legislation, with special emphasis directed to the perilous condition of Illinois and how Illinois can avoid becoming the first junk rated state.

Peggy Siebert serves as the president of the Women's Republican Club of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff. Founded in 1941, the organization is the longest continually operating political organization of its kind in the area.

Senator Dan McConchie introduced by Peggy Siebert

Senator McConchie, as the lone Illinois Republican senator in Lake County, isn't one to mince words about the deplorable financial situation Illinois is facing. As McConchie revealed, Illinois has gone twenty-two months without a budget, a record not matched by any other state. General spending is $38 billion. Given a revenue of $32, Illinois' debt is increasing by $15 million every day the state is without a budget. McConchie further stressed that money is being spent even without a budget. 60% of what Illinois spends is mandated, which puts spending on autopilot. This leaves $24 billion for discretionary spending. With a population of 12.3 million, each person in Illinois would owe $979 to erase the state's debt. Pensions alone, as unfunded liabilities, amount to $15.6 billion.

As McConchie explained: Madigan's proposed House budget bill overspent by $7 billion. It was thought by Senator McConchie that Senate President John Cullerton wasn't going to call up Madigan's budget bill for a vote in the Senate, but he did. Even though only 30 Senators were needed to pass the bill, only 17 senators voted in favor of it. To McConchie, it was a good sign that Cullerton was willing to bring Madigan's budget bill up for a vote and that legislators stood up to vote against Madigan's budget, even Democrats. Cullerton, as president of the Senate and a protegee of Madigan, usually bows to the wishes of Madigan to enact a stranglehold on the way legislation moves through the Senate.

McConchie believes it matters how a budget bill is first presented. The main focus of Democrats is to decide what and how much to tax, when raising taxes should be viewed as perhaps last. A claim made by Democrats is that taxes were raised before and the sky didn't fall, so why not raise taxes again?

Illinoisans see their state as a black hole and are unsure of what the state is doing with all of its money. Medicaid does consumes the biggest chunk of spending, while K-12 education ranks next.

According to Senator McConchie: Illinois has the 2nd highest property tax in the nation and ranks 51st in tax burden when counting Puerto Rico. McConchie was adamant that taxes not be raised first. His first priority is to cut spending.

As to how Senator McConchie views Speaker MIke Madigan, every day Mike Madigan thinks of what he must do -- who is he playing chess with today? -- to maintain his majorities in the General Assembly. At 75, Madigan is the longest serving Speaker in U.S. history. He has no concern about his legacy. He only wants to maintain power in his own little sandbox.

Bills sponsored by Senator McConchie

The Taxpayer Bargain proposal was introduced on April 26 by Senators Kyle McCarter and Dan McConchie. McConchie was pleased to hear that fourteen pieces of their 18-bill package of government reforms and cuts have been assigned to seven Senate committees.

About the bill, the Taxpayer Bargain represents the reality of Illinois current fiscal crisis. It is called tough medicine for a very sick state. The plan prioritizes spending, recognizing the states limited resources. It includes challenging cuts and an enforceable spending cap with no new or higher taxes. The package of legislation was created with bipartisan input and includes some pending legislation. Specific committee hearing dates and times have not yet been announced. Details of the Taxpayer Bargain are available on its website.

In March of this year State Senator Dan McConchie likewise sponsored practical transparency legislation that would clearly outline for taxpayers when they receive a property tax break from their units of local government. Senate Bill 1072 requires local property tax bills to clearly indicate when a local taxing body chooses not collect the full amount of property taxes for that year and allows taxpayers to keep a portion of the money. On May 4, 2017, McConchie's legislation, Senate Bill 2072, passed the Senate.

Cullerton is viewed by McConchie as the biggest obstacle in passing an Illinois budget. Cullerton is a typical tax and spend liberal. Presently both the House and Senate only need a simple majority to pass legislation with an immediate effective date. After May 31, in any given calendar year, an immediate effective bill requires a super majority to pass. The Senate has 39 members and the House 71. The May 31th deadline was set in the state constitution to force legislative action on the budget before the fiscal year begins on July 1.

McConchie revealed that an old fashioned computer system being used in Illinois and of the $250 computer technology initiative that was launched by Republican Rauner under his "Do it" program. Both political parties see the need for upgrading technology, but not Illinois' state comptroller who has suspended $27 in payments for the $250 million computer technology initiative, because of her doubts that the program will produce in long-term savings for the state.

Illinois is one of the few states still operating in the technological Stone Age.

Seventy percent of the states systems operate under an outdated technology platform, with the majority of the programmers reaching or past retirement age.

Some Illinois departments don't even have computers.

In closing, Senator McConchie spoke of Illinois facing perilous times and stressed the importance of talking to our friends and family to let them know just what is happening here in Illinois.

Facts: Questions and Answers

Teacher don't qualify for Social Security because they opted out of it. Teacher pensions (TRS) represent the largest unfunded pension system in the state. Illinois is not on the hook for Chicago teachers. A block grant is provided of $215 million

Fire and policemen also receive pensions, mandated because of physical demands of the job and the limiting factor of age on their activities.

IL state employees are the highest paid of any state in the nation.

There is no balance between public sector unions and the government. Public sector union wants more money. The Illinois Income tax would have to be raised from 3.7% to 5.76% to reach a balanced budget and would have to be upped to 6% to cover what the unions are requesting.

The prevailing wage in the public sector is higher than that in the private sector for a comparable job. Clear warnings ensue from Democrats not to mess with unions, and trail lawyers make sure it doesn't happen.

It is thought that Jesse White, who remains popular, will likely run again at age 83, but is unlikely to fill his 4-year term. Democrats fear Secretary White could lose to a Republican, which might also affect House and Senate races in 2018.

K-12 education was not cut in Illinois. Lots of schools are struggling. In certain zip codes schools are miserably failing kids who have little chance to succeed. Many end up in crime. Change must be made in the state formula of how money is distributed to school districts. Education must shift away from property taxes as the primary way of funding schools. McConchie recommends a voucher system, opposed by teacher unions, where $8,000 would go to any school a child wants to attend.

There is a dramatic inequity within school system. Good teacher are poached out of districts who can pay more, while poor school districts suffer.

Brief Remarks from Mark Shaw, head of Republican Party in Lake County

When Senator McConchie was slightly delayed in reaching Gorton Community Center to begin his presentation, Mark Shaw, head of the Republican Party in Lake County, was called upon to offer his thoughts about the recent Lake County municipal and countywide elections. As stressed by Mark Shaw, some of the most important offices, certainly those that most directly affect our lives and our pocketbooks, are decided in municipal election. Elected units of government include park districts, townships, colleges, school boards, etc. Regarding local property taxes, two-thirds of our assessment goes to fund local school district(s).

Shaw indicated that Lake County, once a predictable Republican enclave, is belonging more and more to Democrats, as more and more registered Democrats are moving to Lake County (and other collar counties) and then run for office. Once Liberals obtain a majority on local boards, they start to change government policy. In the past many Democrats ran as Independents, making it impossible to determine the political leanings of a candidate. This is changing. Democrats are now starting to win on their own in Lake County municipal elections. Our responsibility, said Shaw, is to help good people get elected at the local level.
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 13:55 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a13ae71 1 City #AhokDetention,RPTRA-Jakarta Free

Non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has suggested the creation of "pink troops" to take care of child-friendly integrated public spaces (RPTRA) across the capital.

Ahok gave his advice on Tuesday while receiving a visit from acting governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, at the National Police's Mobile Brigade detention center in Kelapa Dua, Depok. Ahok has been in detention for a week after being sentenced to two years imprisonment for blasphemy on May 9.

"Because RPTRA is child and mother related, Pak Ahok suggests the troops wear pink t-shirts," Djarot said at City Hall on Wednesday morning.

The city administration under Ahok and Djarots leadership created several colorful troops, including the orange troops responsible for cleaning up the capital and the red troops who renovate houses of the urban poor under the Public Facility Maintenance Agency (PPSU).

The capital has some 188 RPTRAs with that number set to grow as the city administration plans to build 100 more.
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Linkedin Tassia Sipahutar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017

What was once feared by bank customers has become a reality with the issuance of a regulation that opens up a wide door for tax officials to scrutinize banking data.

The government issued on Tuesday a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on financial information access for taxation purposes.

A Perppu is the equivalent of a law and can be issued in urgent cases. It comes into effect immediately, but the House of Representatives still has the power to review it at a later date.

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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 10:29 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a12c2f7 1 Business Chandra-Asri,profit,Q1 Free

The profits of publicly listed petrochemical giant Chandra Asri Petrochemical (TPIA) surged by 181 percent year-on-year (yoy) to US$107.8 million in the first three months of 2017 from $38.4 million in the same period last year, according to a statement released by the company on Tuesday.

Net revenue increased by 77 percent to $632.7 million from $358.2 million in the same period.

Most of the increase in net revenue comes from 37 percent sales volume to 554,000 tons amid higher ethylene production capacity and the profit from good petrochemical margins, read the statement.

(Read also: Chandra Asri pays out $150 million in dividends)

The relatively low price of oil as a raw material for the company and the high price of end products lead to good profit margins, especially for olefins and butadiene products, or raw materials for various plastic articles.

The firms gross profit margin was 28 percent in this first quarter of this year compared to 17 percent in the same period in 2016.

Chandra Asri plans several expansions in the next five years, including a 37 percent increase in butadiene production capacity to 137,000 tons and the construction of tire factory PT Synthetic Rubber Indonesia, a joint venture between Chandra Asri's wholly owned subsidiary, PT Petrokimia Butadiene Indonesia, and France-based tiremaker Michelin.

Chandra Asri also plans to increase its polypropylene production capacity by 20.8 percent to 580,000 tons and polyethylene production capacity by 119 percent to 736,000 tons. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Banda Aceh  Wed, May 17, 2017 13:59 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a13b190 1 National euthanasia,Banda-Aceh,Berlin-Silalahi,tsunami,tsunami-survivor Free

The Banda Aceh District Court in Aceh has begun hearings in a lawsuit filed by resident Berlin Silalahi, a survivor of the 2004 tsunami who has demanded that the court allow him to undergo euthanasia.

The first hearing was conducted on Monday and presided over by judge Ngatimen when a petition was read and testimonies of witnesses Puspita Dewi and Habibah, Berlin's former neighbors at a shelter in Bakoy, Aceh Besar, were heard.

Berlin's lawyer from the Aceh People Advocacy Foundation (YARA), Safaruddin, said Berlin has been suffering from a chronic disease that caused paralysis, leaving him unable to provide for his family.

(Read also: Your letters: Euthanasia shouldn't be legalized)

Berlin, 45, and his wife Ermawati, an unemployed housewife, have two daughters. The eldest daughter, 12-year-old Tasya Maizura, is being taken care of by Ermawati's sibling in Lambajabat, Meuraxa district, while her sister, Fitria Baqis, 6, temporarily lives with in the YARA Headquarters with her parents and 17 other families.

"Berlin suffers from a chronic disease, including infection caused by bone inflammation, paralysis and asphyxiation. He is unable to carry out activities, let alone feed his family. [Berlin] feels he is a burden on his family," Safaruddin said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

His family's shelter was demolished by local authorities.

Housing assistance promised during the post-tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction period never materialized, leaving Berlin to suffer physically and psychologically, Safaruddin said.

Berlin filed the lawsuit on May 3 to gain permission to carry out assisted suicide, which is illegal according to existing laws. (afr/bbs)
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 23:45 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a152b76 1 National Papua,Papua-elections,Lukas-Enembe,Democratic-party,#Papua,gubernatorial-candidate Free

The Democratic Party is officially supporting incumbent Papua Governor Lukas Enembe to run for reelection in the upcoming elections in Papua, which will be held on June 27 next year alongside elections in other regions across Indonesia. The endorsement came during the partys regional conference in Biak, Papua, on Tuesday.

Lukas is also set to continue in his position as chairman of the Democrat Partys Papua regional board for the 2017-2022 period.

We announce today [Tuesday] that we endorse Lukas Enembe to continue his leadership as governor for the 2018-2023 period, the conferences organizing committee head Thomas Ondi said in his remarks.

Around 500 participants from 29 local branches of the Democratic Party attended the conference.

Two Democratic Party central executive board executives, Muhammad Jafar Hapsa and retired general Edi Wibowo, deputy secretary-generals Rahlan Nashidik and Rifai Darus, and the partys executive director Fajar Sampurno also attended the conference.

The Democratic Party has not yet announced Lukas running mate for the gubernatorial race.

The registration phase for the 2018 regional elections will start in August this year as stipulated by a General Elections Commission regulation. (mrc/ebf)
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 10:47 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a12d192 1 National GreenDevelopment,Transportation Free

Members of the 500KM Ecotransport community in Semarang, Central Java, participated in a Pokoke Gowes group eco-tour on Tuesday as part of a series of eco-tours entitled No Matter What You Bike to promote local heritage as well as raise environmental awareness.

The tour was held on Tuesday morning around Semarang's Kota Laman, or Old Town, where participants started their tour at the Semarang Post Office, a heritage building.

(Read also: Colorful kampung becomes new tourist attraction in Semarang)

During the tour, participants cycled by Semarangs historical buildings, 500KM Ecotransport said in a written statement on Tuesday.

The participants also collected garbage in an effort to raise awareness on the importance of maintaining a clean environment.

Meanwhile, in Salatiga, a number of volunteers and members of bike communities cycled from Jl. Fatmawati to the Salatiga regional administration office. During the activities, discussions among participants took place on how to create environmentally friendly public transportation as well as on road safety, the organizer said in the statement. (rin)

Topics : GreenDevelopment Transportation
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17 2017

Indonesias offshore borrowings rose slightly in March, according to the latest statistics issued by Bank Indonesia (BI) on Tuesday.

The statistics show a 2.9 percent annual increase that resulted in US$326.34 billion in offshore borrowings by the end of March.

More than half the external loans were recorded by the public sectorcomprising the government and central bankwith $166.45 billion, while the rest was booked by the private sector, consisting of banks and non-banking institutions.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 10:21 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a12b9c0 1 City Firza-Husein,Rizieq-Shihab,police,Jakarta-police,pornography,pornographic-content,crime Free

The Jakarta Police have named Firza Husein, the coordinator of the Solidaritas Sahabat Cendana Foundation (SSC) and treason suspect, a suspect in a separate pornography case.Investigators have charged her under the 2008 Pornography Law, which carries a maximum sentence of six years' imprisonment, for allegedly sharing pornographic material in WhatsApp chats between her and firebrand cleric Rizieq Shihab.

Firza was named a suspect after undergoing 12 hours of questioning at the office of the Jakarta Police's special crimes unit on Tuesday.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said the police had obtained enough evidence to name Firza a suspect.

"We have evidence consisting of a police report, statements from regular and expert witnesses and of course physical evidence," Argo said after the questioning session.

(Read also: Police to detain Rizieq for evading questioning of pornography case)

Investigators of the National Police's Indonesia Automatic Fingerprints Identification System (INAFIS) confirmed on Monday that nude pictures posted in a WhatsApp chat belonged to Firza.

"Tomorrow [Wednesday], we will question her again as a suspect," said Argo.

Meanwhile, investigators have yet to question Rizieq, who failed to fulfill two summons to be questioned as a witness in the case.

Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab gestures during the 12th hearing of then active Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's blasphemy case on Feb 28. (Republika/POOL/Raisan Al Farisi/ via JP)

The police said on Tuesday that Rizieq was located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Rizieq's lawyer, Kapitra Ampera, said his client had intentionally defied police summons because he claimed innocence. Kapitra also said that Rizieq might not return to Indonesia before Idul Fitri. (dea/bbs)
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Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam, Riau Islands  Wed, May 17, 2017 21:13 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a151283 1 National military,exercise,cannon,accident,Natuna,TNI,army,PPRC Free

A Chinese-made cannon malfunctioned and fired off shots randomly during military exercises in Tanjung Datuk, Natuna, Riau Islands province, on Wednesday. Four soldiers were killed and eight were wounded.

During the exercises, held by an Indonesian Army quick response team (PPRC TNI AD) at the Air Defense Artillery 1/K compound, soldiers were undergoing target practice with the Giant Bow cannon.

The exercises were reportedly part of preparations ahead of a May 19 event during which a military parade will be conducted in front of President Joko Jokowi Widodo.

(Read also: Air force proposes new base in batam)

However, Army spokesperson Col. Alfret Denny Tuejeh denied the exercises were connected to a parade, saying they were just regular exercises. He had previously confirmed that the incident occurred during a rehearsal.

The incident occurred during the second round of exercises [on Wednesday], he said on Wednesday, adding that the incident happened at about 11 a.m.

The gears "malfunctioned," Denny said.

The first round of exercises proceeded smoothly, he said.

Denny said there were 12 victims, including the four fatalities. The eight wounded soldiers were taken to Natuna General Hospital (RSUD Natuna). (mrc/afr/bbs)

Topics : military exercise cannon accident Natuna TNI army PPRC
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 12:15 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a136405 4 Business bank-secrecy,Perppu,Darmin-nasution,comments Free

The Indonesian government on Tuesday issued a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) to end bank secrecy in the country, with officials of tax offices allowed to directly access bank accounts owned by both Indonesian citizens and foreigners.

Perppu No. 1/2017 on financial information access for taxation purposes was signed by President Joko Jokowi Widodo on May 8.

Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution confirmed that the Perppu applied to customers of both Indonesian banks and foreign banks.

We used to have a regulation only for accessing foreign bank customers. But now the regulation is for customers of both foreign and Indonesian banks, Darmin said as reported by kontan.co.id on Wednesday, adding that the Perppu annulled all regulations ensuring bank secrecy.

Under the Perppu, the Directorate General of Taxation is allowed to access bank accounts without having to secure permits from the Finance Minister or Bank Indonesia governor. Before the Perppu was released, the Directorate General of Taxation was required to get a permit from both institutions before accessing a bank account. (bbn)
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 23:55 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a153251 1 National Lithuania,setya,setya-novanto,Jokowi,jokowidodo,bilateral-relations,bilateral-ties Free

House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto has expressed his hope that the visit of Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite to Indonesia will strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

Since the countries forged their diplomatic relation in 1993, the bilateral ties between Indonesia and Lithuania have been running well. The two countries are committed to improving their partnerships, especially in the field of economy and trade, said Setya, who is also the Golkar Party chairman, at the House on Wednesday.

He further said the trade value between Indonesia and Lithuania was expected to improve in the coming years, exceeding the US$38.6 million recorded in 2016.

Setya also said he expected the two countries to intensify cooperation to tap their renewable energy potential.

We fully appreciate the willingness of both countries to improve bilateral cooperation as agreed by President Grybauskaite and President Joko Widodo," Setya said.

He added that the ties between legislative bodies of Lithuania and Indonesia should be strengthened. The two countries also needed to initiate more people-to-people programs, especially in the field of education, culture and tourism. (afr/ebf)
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 10:58 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a12ed18 1 Business garlic,imports,2018,plantations,price Free

The government is looking to achieve its goal of zero garlic imports in 2018, following an expansion of garlic farms across the country.

We aim to see 100,000 hectares of garlic farms next year. If 1 hectare [ha] can produce 5 tons [of garlic], we won't need to import anymore, Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Agung Hendriadi told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Tuesday.

Annual garlic consumption for household and industrial needs reached 500,000 tons in 2015, but only 20,000 tons of it was planted domestically. The remaining 480,000 tons were imported from China and India, ministry data shows.

(Read also: Bulog to control garlic prices through market intervention)

Last year, the government expanded garlic farms, which jacked up the national production of garlic to almost 200,000 tons.

Indonesia in the 1990s supplied most of its garlic to the domestic market, but gradually the farmers were discouraged from planting it due to a continuous decline in prices. Now, there are only 2,000 ha of garlic plantations, a massive decrease from the 28,000 ha of plantations in the 1990s.

Agung also said that the Trade Ministry had set maximum price of Rp 38,000 per kilogram for garlic and would maintain the price to encourage farmers to cultivate garlic. (ags)

Topics : garlic imports 2018 plantations price
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 20:42 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a14fede 1 World #AhokDetention,switzerland,solidarity Free

Around 200 Indonesian in Switzerland have gathered in front of the United Nation's office in Geneva to give morale support to the Indonesian government and non-active Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, who has been sentenced to two years for blasphemy.

The participants lit candles, read poems, sang national anthems and carried out mass interfaith prayers on Tuesday, a week after Ahok was detained.

"Although we live abroad, we are very concerned about the situation in Jakarta and Indonesia. We support President Joko Widodo in efforts to keep the nation united," said Widiasih, who took part in the event.

The participants came from several cities in the country, such as Geneva, Bern and Zurich and other cities on the border of France. Similar actions will be carried out in other big cities in Switzerland," Widiasih said in a press statement.

She said their concerns were based on recent uproar following the divisive Jakarta gubernatorial election that had been marred with racial and religious sentiment.

Ahok, a Christian of Chinese ethnicity, was jailed for commenting on a verse in the Quran, which he believed had been used by his political opponents to influence voters to vote against him.

"We hope Pak Ahok will get fair trial during his appeal [of the court's verdict]. We hope the court can make an objective decision without any pressure from any parties so that he can be freed," Widiasih said. (fac)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar  Wed, May 17 2017

The Bali High Court increased the sentence for Australian Sara Connor to five years in prison on Monday, an extra year from the original four-year sentence handed down by the Denpasar District Court in March.

The decision came about following an appeal lodged by Denpasar prosecutors against Connors sentence. The prosecutors had originally demanded an eight-year sentence for Connor.

The panel of judges on the Bali High Court in Denpasar presided over by judge Sutoyo added some aggravating factors that had not been considered in the first sentence issued by the district court.

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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 14:49 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a142545 1 Business market-intervention,StapleFood,Bulog,ramadhan Free

Ahead of the fasting month of Ramadhan, which begins on May 27, state logistics agency Bulog on Wednesday began to distribute staple foods to stabilize prices in markets as part of a two-week long market intervention program.

Distribution will continue for two weeks across Indonesia, said Bulog president director Djarot Kusumayakti during the launching of the program, called the Food Stabilization Movement, on Wednesday.

Bulog has stocked more than 2 million tons of rice, 320,000 tons of sugar, 207,000 liters of vegetable oil, 62 tons of garlic, 60 tons of shallots and 37,500 tons of meatsalmost all of which is buffalo meat from India.

More shallots and garlic will come from local and foreign farmers to fulfill the demand, he said.

The staples will be sold to individuals in traditional markets at set prices, such as Rp 8,500 (63 US cents) for one kilogram of rice, Rp 12,500 for one kg sugar and Rp 38,000 for one kg of garlic.

The commodities can be bought from Bulog during market hours or through Bulogs Rumah Pangan Kita partner shops set up across the archipelago.

Sellers looking to buy staples in bulk from Bulog can contact the agency for discounted prices. (bbn)
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Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 12:19 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1367c5 1 Business oil-and-gas,investment,climate,business Free

The Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) has expressed concerns over the investment climate in Indonesias upstream oil and gas sector amid poor oil prices.

IPA president Christina Verchere said that although she appreciated the governments moves to issue new policies intended to improve the investment climate, more efforts were needed to make the oil and gas sector more attractive to investors.

Some other uncertainties such as fiscal terms and the tax regime also need to be addressed so that Indonesia can be more competitive, she said during the opening of the 41st IPA convention and exhibition in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Verchere acknowledged that the government was committed to working with the IPA to achieve its goals.

However, she emphasized that what had been done by the government had not brought in investors. The facts show that the number of active fields is in decline; exploration results are not good and lately there has been only a minimal amount of exploration activities across the country, she said.

The IPA convention and exhibition, one of the biggest energy gatherings in Southeast Asia, will be held for three days from May 17 to May 19 at the Jakarta Convention Center. (bbn)
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 13:13 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a137b4f 1 Business garlic,hoarding,police,raids,North-Jakarta Free

The National Police have raided a garlic warehouse in Cilincing, North Jakarta, amid allegations of illegal hoarding, Trade Minister Enggartiasto "Enggar" Lukita said Wednesday.

"The police have been tracking data [of the related importer's purchase and sale] and monitoring their moves. The government is serious when we say we won't tolerate any more hoarding," he told reporters during the launch of the food price stabilization movement by State Logistics Agency (Bulog).

Previously, Indonesian Garlic Entrepreneurs Association (APBPI) chairman Piko Nyoto Setiadi emphasized that importers under the association have not been hoarding any garlic, saying, "All of our warehouses are empty now."

However, APBPI only comprises of around 15 importers and there are many more garlic importers under other associations, he said.

The price of garlic in Jakarta has surged to Rp 70,000 (US$5.26) per kilogram from Rp 40,000 per kilogram in January, hargapangan.id shows.

The government has been suspicious of possible hoarding by importers and of illegal imports.

APBPI claims the recent surge in garlic price is a result of the increasing price of the commodity in China. Traders in China have been holding on to stock to stabilize prices in their local market, leading to prices as high as $2,700 per ton, Piko explained. (bbn)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 20:15 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a14e1a6 1 City Rizieq-Shihab,pornography,suspect,Firza-Husein Free

The Jakarta Police have yet to name Islam Defenders Front (FPI) founder Rizieq Shihab a suspect in a pornography case, despite naming Firza Husein a suspect for purportedly sharing pornographic material in WhatsApp chats between her and Rizieq.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said they still needed to obtain more evidence that showed Rizieqs involvement in the case.

Were still waiting for the polices investigation, Argo said at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Wednesday.

Rizieq ignored two police summons on April 25 and May 10.

He was reported to be in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and now in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Argo said the police might request Interpol to issue a blue notice to discover Rizieqs whereabouts.

Previously, the police confirmed that the pictures of a naked woman who appeared in the chats were of Firza.

Police have also questioned experts including criminal law expert from Trisakti University, Effendy Saragih, who said the alleged conversation between Firza and Rizieq fulfilled the pornography elements as stipulated in the 2008 Pornography Law.

According to the chat, he [Rizieq] asked for the [nude] photos, Effendy said.

Effendy said he assumed that the motive in the case was simply personal pleasure.

Firza's lawyer Azis Yanuar said his client, who denied the authenticity of the chat and photos, would file a pre-trial challenge to her being named a pornography suspect.
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Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 14:42 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1408dd 1 Business Gas,agreement,IPA-Indonesian-Petroleum-Association Free

Six gas sale and purchase agreements were signed during the opening of the 41st Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) exhibition and convention at the Jakarta Convention Center in South Jakarta on Wednesday.

The agreements are estimated to contribute around US$5 billion to state coffers during the contract period.

Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) head Amien Sunaryadi said all the agreements were for domestic purposes.

The gas will be used to supply power, industrial and oil and gas lifting [ready-to-sell production] demands, in addition to household needs, he said.

The six agreements signed on Wednesday consist of four new agreements and two amendments of existing contracts.

One of the agreements is for sale of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from BPs Tangguh plant to state-owned electricity firm PLN. BP, alongside other Tangguh contractors, to supply PLN with 16 cargoes of LNG per year starting from 2020 until 2035.

We hope that PLN will be able to fully absorb the LNG supply to support the governments Nawacita program and provide sufficient electricity while also increasing the national electrification ratio, Amien said.

While Indonesia continues to export gas, supplies for domestic demand continue to increase. SKKMigas estimated that demand increased by around 9 percent per year from 2003 to 2016. Data shows that 58.5 percent of this years domestic gas allocation had been fulfilled by the end of February. (bbn)
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura  Wed, May 17, 2017 14:39 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a13fbcb 1 National Jayapura,Papua,immigration,journalist,press-freedom,Russia,Ukraine Free

The Jayapura Immigration Office deported two Russians and one Ukrainian on Tuesday for immigration document violations.

The authorities conducted investigations after receiving reports from locals about suspicious activities conducted by the three foreigners, said Jayapura Immigration Office head Yopie Wattimena as quoted by Antara.

The Russians were identified as Mukhametamin Gasanov and Valerii Kulygin, while the Ukrainian was identified as Mykola Tkachov.

The foreigners were reported to have been found "inspecting" aircrafts belonging to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog). The foreigners also claimed they had arrived in Indonesia via the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta on March 25.

(Read also: Papua yet to see freedom of press: AJI)

The investigation also revealed the three foreigners did not have proper documentation to legalize their activities in Jayapura.

The two Russians and one Ukrainians allegedly violated article 122 of the 2011 Immigration Law over intentionally misusing or conducting activities that are not in accordance with entry permits, said Yopie on Wednesday.

The deportations occurred amid intense scrutiny over Papua's unfriendliness to foreigners especially journalists.

Last week, six Japanese citizens were deported via Sentani Airport in Jayapura, Papua, over alleged visa misuse. Yopie said the six were found to have illegally taken pictures for a documentary in Wamena. They did not have journalist visas needed to carry out such activities, he added.

In March, two French journalists, Frank Pierre, 45, and Basille Marie Longhamp, 42, travelling tourist visas were deported for conducting journalistic activities. (mrc)
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 17:13 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a147582 1 National sectarian-issues,Pancasila,preachers Free

A group of young Islamic preachers has called on the nation to walk hand in hand to oppose any campaigns that polarize people along religious or ethnic lines, including movements that run counter to the nation's pluralistic values.

The group, which calls itself the Young Islamic Preachers Network of the Archipelago (Jaringan Ulama Muda Nusantara  JUMAT), said religious hate speech harmed the religion itself and broke the pluralistic foundation of Indonesia.

"The politicization of religion makes members of society suspicious of one another. If we let such movements continue to exist, the foundation of our pluralistic society will eventually tear apart," said Hadi Badori, the group's national coordinator.

The group, advisory board members of which include Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Said Aqil Siradj, particularly condemns the group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), saying its campaigns harmed the pluralistic foundation of Indonesia.

"HTI is harmful. It is against the principles of the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] and the 1945 Constitution," Hadi said. "For us, Pancasila [the state ideology] is final."

HTI is a pan-Islamic organization that seeks to establish a global caliphate. The Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal & Security Affairs Minister recently declared it would ban the organization.

As part of its campaign to save the nation from polarization, JUMAT will hold a mass prayer on Friday that is estimated to be attended by 20,000 people.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington  Wed, May 17, 2017 11:02 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a12f9ed 2 News laptop-ban,#laptop,laptop,#LaptopBan,flight,#flights,flights,security,#security,electronic-ban,US,#USA,aviation,#AviationSafety Free

A ban on laptops and other electronics in the cabin of flights from Europe to America will likely be further expanded to include additional countries, a US official said Tuesday.

In March, US authorities banned passengers on direct flights to the United States from 10 airports in eight countries from bringing laptops, tablets and other electronic devices larger than cellphones into the cabin.

The Department of Homeland Security sparked deep concern in Europe last week when it said it would soon decide on extending the ban to European airlines.

It is "likely that the restrictions that were put in place in March could be expanded to other areas," Department of Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said.

"But not solely Europe -- extended to additional areas," he added, without giving details.

DHS Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke is due to attend high-level talks with European partners in Brussels on Wednesday.

Read also: Q&A: A look at the electronics ban on some flights

Lapan said talks would consider the "scale and scope" of what the laptop ban might entail.

A US ban on now ubiquitous laptops could cause havoc, with more than 3,250 flights a week scheduled to leave EU airports for the US this summer, according to industry data.

Some experts also say there is a security risk in putting them with checked luggage given the danger of their batteries catching fire.

Lapan defended a prospective ban, saying authorities need to keep up with the changing nature of terrorist threats.

"How many attempts have we seen at bringing down a commercial airliner -- underwear bombs, using liquids, using (printer) cartridges," he said.

"It's always incumbent on us to figure out where those who wish to do us harm are going to next and try to stop that."

President Donald Trump is engulfed in crisis amid reports that he shared with top Russian officials details about an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on airplanes.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2017 14:47 2002 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a14149c 1 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Tourism-Ministry,homestay,village,tourist-village,tourism,#tourism Free

The Tourism Ministry together with other institutions will hold the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) II 2017 to discuss homestays in tourist villages.

Themed Indonesia Incorporated Tourist Village Homestays: 20,000 Homestays for 2017, the two-day gathering will kick off on May 18.

Read also: East Nusa Tenggara up and ready to boost tourism potential

The opening day will feature several prominent speakers, including Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Eko Putro Sandjojo, head of Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) Triawan Munaf, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno and Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, as well as a workshop on land permits.

Another workshop, set to be held on the second day, is titled, Funding Schemes for Tourist Village Homestays, and will be followed by another workshop titled, The Development Scheme for Tourist Village Homestays.

A homestay exhibition will also be part of the event, allowing visitors to learn more about tourist village homestays. (kes)
First on The Lo-Down: A teenager faces arson charges this morning in connection with the devastating fire at Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, the Norfolk Street synagogue.

The 14-year-old boy was taken into custody last night just hours after NYPD officials said they were investigating the blaze as arson. Witnesses said three young people were seen in the vicinity of the building. Cops had been reviewing security camera tape that also showed the possible teenage suspects fleeing the scene.

The synagogue, one of the neighborhoods most important historic sites, was destroyed Sunday evening. Rabbi Mendel Greenbaum told us that kids have been going in an out of the building for weeks (the synagogue has been vacant since 2007 but a restoration plan was in the works).

Police are not releasing the name of the suspect since he is a juvenile, but were told he lives in the neighborhood.

One other note. The teen was brought into the 7th Precinct last night as the monthly community council meeting was underway. He was taken to a room on the second floor for questioning. Police Commissioner James ONeill was in attendance at the meeting.

UPDATE 9:24 a.m. A few more details now from the New York Post: The teen was arrested at his home, which is not far from the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol synagogue. The boy has been charged with third degree felony arson as a juvenile. The other teens are apparently claiming they did not participate in setting the fire:

Cops busted him after speaking to one or more of his friends who were present at the time the fire was set, and implicated him as the person who started the blaze, police sources said. The people who provided that information told cops that their friend acted alone  even though they accompanied the suspect into the abandoned temple, sources said. The teen will likely be arraigned at Manhattan Family Court later Wednesday.

UPDATE 9:57 a.m. More from Channel 7:
A small plane carrying the young children and longtime partner of Lowline co-founder James Ramsey is missing in the Bahamas. Searchers have found a debris field near where the plane was last heard from.

40-year-old Jennifer Blumin, a well-known event planner, was heading to Florida from Puerto Rico after a Mothers Day celebration when the plane disappeared from radar. The Coast Guard has not confirmed whether the debris is from the missing aircraft and a search for survivors is ongoing.

Also on board were Blumins 3 and 4 year-old sons, as well as Nathan Ulrich, a New Hampshire inventor. Ramsey, creator of the proposed Lowline underground park, is the father of the two toddlers. In the early years of the Lowline (beginning in 2011), Blumin was heavily involved (she formerly served on the board of directors).

Well have more details as they become available.
Latitude is one of the UKs largest multi-arts festivals. Aside from headliners such as The 1975 and Goldfrapp, Tania Harrison has curated a vast programme of arts and theatre events that explore an array of issues, all taking place alongside the festivals signature pink sheep.

2017 has seen an outpouring of artists responding to the wave of conservatism sweeping the West  and, as we endure the political hangover of 2016, Tania has aptly responded with this years theme, Come the Revolution.

When Im thinking of a theme, I have  like all of us  so many things that are permeating my consciousness. I think it goes without saying that the whole world is looking very different from how we certainly would hope it, and I think we didnt expect revolution would come in the form in which it has, she says.

Latitude coincides with Bastille Day, the anniversary of the storming of Bastille during the French Revolution. This revolutionary spirit is felt in many of Latitudes shows, such as Locker Room Talk, presented by Traverse and written by Gary McNair.

Inspired by controversial comments made by Donald Trump, which he dismissed as locker room talk, McNair spoke to men about women and misogyny to explore this attitude; these conversations have been reworked and will be performed by a cast made up solely of women.

Elsewhere, High Rise will perform Merryville, fast-forwarding to 2020, three years post-Brexit during a (hopefully) imagined coalition between the Conservatives and UKIP.

However, Tania makes clear that revolution does come in more subtle forms: Revolution doesnt always necessarily mean an uprising; it could be the development of a technology such as VR or a scientific breakthrough. I wanted to explore all of these things that are happening.

The Nature of Forgetting focuses on recent neurobiological research and interviews with people living with dementia, for example.

As this years lineup focuses so heavily on empowerment, I ask what kind of audience she wants to attract to Latitude, yet she responds with: Its never prescriptive  all I want is to open up a conversation. Its not up to me to decide what people think. Its like when you decide who you want to come and speak at university  who do we deem okay to come and speak and who we not? I think we need to open up and listen to different perspectives. I want as many people to hear these conversations as possible.

Not only does Come the Revolution boast a range of theatre, it also lists a number of esteemed novelists and poets, such as Benjamin Zephaniah.

Film also makes an appearance, too: Ive not announced this yet, but Im screening Queer Armour, a film that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK. Its a beautiful film, with a score composed by John Grant and Goldfrapp.

Nick Bloomfields film about Whitney Houston, Can I Be Me, will also be screened, reinforcing Tanias previous assertion that revolution doesnt always come in a political context  it can even be personal.

One of the most unique areas of Latitude is the Faraway Forest. Music festivals such as Glastonbury and Leeds project this image of festivals as a wet, open, muddy field, so this is a particularly interesting space, which comes with its own constraints and challenges.

Everything feels different in a forest. I just like that how when you put something into a forest everything sort of changes. Its lovely to have some sort of escape. Youve got to have something that goes a bit strange and a bit weird and interesting. I love it! Forest Fringe will return with a range of innovative and witty performance artists, as well as The Soaring Sky, a performance of live voices inspired by the song of birds.

Also performing in the Faraway Forest are Leeds Beckett, in association with SBC Theatre, with their new production, How I Hacked My Way Into Space.

When I ask Tania why she allows students to perform at her festival, she says: The Beatles wrote their best songs when they were a student age. Everyone experiences things differently; I dont care if youre a new artist. Festivals are a conversation. And theyre a conversation between everybody. Why the fuck would I ignore what theyre saying? Im not a person that wants to tell you what you think  you tell me!

Latitude is now in its 12th year and, with shows from the Black Honey Company and The Negro Problem, the arts and theatre programme is set to be the most exciting yet. Tania Harrison is a woman committed to tackling hard hitting issues with a great sense of fun  all whilst letting students join in on the conversation.

Latitude Festival runs from 13th to 16th July at Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk. Tickets are available at http://www.latitudefestival.com/
A group of protesters wielding torches took to the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia, to voice their disapproval over plans to remove a Confederate monument.

Why were they protesting?

The group  led by white nationalist Richard Spencer, a prominent figure in the so-called alt-right movement  say they were celebrating their heritage.

told Im here to take part in this great celebration of our heritage and to say no to the city of Charlottesville. Youre not going to tear down our statue and youre not going to replace us, SpencerNBC.

Chants heard included all white lives matter, you will not replace us, and Russia is our friend.

Whats the statue?

A group of counter protesters, led by councillor Wes Bellamy (Ryan M. Kelly/AP)

A monument to General Robert Edward Lee  the commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American civil war  has stood in Charlottesville since 1924.

The city council voted for its removal earlier this year, citing residents who see it as a sign of white supremacy.

What is the connection between Confederates and white supremacy?

Demonstrators at a separate protest in New Orleans, also about a Confederate monument (Gerald Herbert/AP)

In 1860, 11 southern US states seceded from the Union to protect the institution of slavery, forming the Confederate States of America which led to the American civil war.

The Confederate flag has come to represent a symbol of hatred and racism for many people, including some of those who wave it proudly, although to others its a symbol of southern pride.

What was the reaction to the protest?

In front of the Robert E. Lee statue pic.twitter.com/roWDjOOJGl  Allison Wrabel (@craftypanda) May 14, 2017

Mayor Mike Signer called the protest either profoundly ignorant or aimed at instilling fear in minority populations in a way that hearkens back to the days of the KKK.

The Daily Progress reports that Charlottesville Republican Party chairman Erich Reimer said the groups promotion of intolerance and hatred is utterly disgusting and disturbing beyond words.
Chelsea Manning, the soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks, has been released from a Kansas military prison.

Here is a timeline of her story so far.

2009

(Niall Carson/PA)

Manning, then known as Bradley, was a private in the US army. In 2009 she was sent to Iraq as an intelligence analyst.

May 2010

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

She was arrested in 2010 after leaking 700,000 secret military and state department documents to WikiLeaks.

Included in the leaked files were sensitive messages and video footage of a US helicopter killing 12 civilians in Baghdad in 2007.

July 2010

A few weeks later, she was charged with the leaking of classified material.

August 21 2013

(Niall Carson/PA)

In August 2013 Manning was convicted of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

The trove, which included classified battlefield videos, was one of the biggest breaches of intelligence in US history.

She acknowledged leaking the files while working in Iraq, but protested that she had acted to raise awareness of the impact of US military action on innocent civilians. She was sentenced to 35 years behind bars.

August 22 2013

The day after her sentencing, Manning said she had felt female since childhood and now wanted to be referred to as Chelsea, not Bradley. She said she wanted to begin hormone therapy and be referred to using female pronouns.

2016

In 2016 Manning made two attempts to take her own life, citing ill-treatment behind bars. She was imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth, a male military prison.

She also went on hunger strike, before the army agreed to provide her with gender reassignment surgery.

January 2017

(Phil Noble/PA)

In his final days in office, Barack Obama granted Manning clemency and commuted her sentence. He did not grant a pardon, which would have symbolically forgiven her for the crime.

Obama said his decision took into account the fact that Manning took responsibility for her crime, and had been given a harsher sentence than other leakers.

May 17 2017

Two more days until the freedom of civilian life ^_^ Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans =P  Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) May 15, 2017

Manning was released from prison after serving seven years of her initial 35-year sentence.

In a statement, she said she hopes to use the lessons she received in prison to help others.

She added: I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world.

Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine.
So, Prince Philip will retire from public service this autumn. Hell be 96 by then.

Some quarters have met the news with ridicule. After all, the Duke of Edinburgh is an immigrant, born in Eastern Europe, who lives on an estate and is completely reliant on benefits.

The Daily Mail should be having a field day.

But Philip deserves respect, not ridicule for a lifetime of serving others.

The life of a royal isnt entirely a life of privilege. Philip has given up many freedoms we have taken for granted.

He has his every action monitored, being in the public spotlight.

The royals are constantly on the go. They are de facto ambassadors for the nation, whether they like it or not.

The Duke constantly attends events, even in his old age, even if he doesnt want to.

It may sound easy, but believe me, you wouldnt want that life. You wouldnt. Youd want more freedom, and to do what you want to do.

In addition, his uncle Lord Mountbatten and his nephew, Nicholas, were blown up in a bomb attack by the Provincial Irish Republican Army in 1979.

In recent years, members of the royal family have hard to meet Sinn Fein politicians such as Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. Can you imagine how difficult that must be for the man?

The complex and sometimes fragile political situation has meant Philip has had no choice but to watch his wife and son meet these men, something which takes strong moral fibre.

He also renounced his titles as Prince of Denmark and Greece.

He needed to get married. He did it all out of the love and affection he had for his wife.

He has stood by Queen Elizabeth II, who he met as long ago as 1939, faithfully carrying his role as consort to the monarch.

The consort to the monarch has no constitutional role. All the charity work he has done, he did not have to. His role in setting up youth clubs and the Duke of Edinburgh Award have proved real value to young people, providing countless opportunities.

To top this all off  he is a war hero. He served as a naval officer in the war with distinction as honour. He was the top cadet at Dartmouths Royal Naval College. He was at 21, the youngest first lieutenant in the navy.

In 1943, he saved the HMS Wallace from being destroyed by a night bomber by building a raft to distract the bombers as the ship got away safely.

As news of his retirement broke, he still showed he still possess razor sharp wit, after being told it was shame he was standing down, he replied at his age it was hard to stand up.

Philips sense of humour has made him see more human. At a time of anti-establishment sentiment, this is vital. Philip, despite representing an older, more traditional side of the monarchy, has probably saved it. His grandchildren, William and Harry, represent a younger face, allowing it to become more liberal and progressive - and crucially, more accessible. This allows the monarchy to continue its role in representing the nation and providing tourist income.

He does occasionally offend people, and we all wish he wouldnt. But I guess nobody is perfect, and given the amount of speaking engagements he has been involved in, theres going to be the odd gaffe here and there.

He understands this, once stating: "I know you will never think much of me. I am rude and unmannerly and I say many things out of turn which I realise afterwards must have hurt someone. Then I am filled with remorse and I try to put matters right." The most important thing is that he is indeed, remorseful.

I dont think he does on purpose; it comes from a desire to be liked that goes too far. This is backed up by Stephan Menary: "I think he just tries to put people at ease by trying to make a joke. I certainly didn't take any offence."

Menary was blinded by an IRA bomb and Philip joked he couldnt have much sight left due to his choice of tie.

Menary had no problem, we shouldnt either. We shouldnt be offended on behalf of others who are not offended.

His slit-eyed comments on a state visit to China, despite receiving bad press, didnt really anger Chinese authorities or affect Sino-British international relations. A local official even compared it to a similar joke told to Chinese students about being round-eyed.

I agree the comments were highly controversial and couldve been damaging, but again, he wasnt as offensive as he was made it to be. Gaffes make him seem human, more likable.

Id be furious if there was genuine malice intended, but the evidence seems to suggest there really wasnt.

Philip has done a lot for his country and his wife, for this he should be respect and we should all wish him a happy retirement.
A university student who went viral after being filmed finishing an essay in a nightclub has revealed he got a first for the assignment.

Lawrence Kemp, 21, a second year business management student at the University of Gloucestershire, had been trying to finish the 2,000-word project hours before the deadline last week while his friends prepared for a night out.

Footage filmed by his friend Danny Cotter, 22, showed Lawrence trying to write the essay while others partied around him before eventually tempting him to get involved.

After some time, he was convinced to take his laptop to a popular student night in Cheltenham, where he was shown on camera armed with his laptop and attempting to finish his work in time.

The clip then showed him submitting it one minute before the midnight deadline, to big cheers from his friends.

Another friend, Eddy Hedley, 23, then edited the footage and uploaded it to Facebook, where it has since been viewed more than 100,000 times on his page, while also receiving millions more views elsewhere.

(Lawrence Kemp/PA)

Several days later, after receiving his results, Lawrence, described by friends as a good and professional student, told the Press Association: Ive only gone and got a first.

Admitting he was delighted with his score of 81, he added: To be perfectly honest, I had started a few days prior, but I left my last 750 words and editing to last minute.

I fully intended on going out as I hadnt been out in a while, but the assignment took longer than I thought.

So I was reluctant to join my mates until I finished, but I knew I was capable of editing work and enjoying the night, he said.

(Danny Cotter and Eddy Hedley)

Danny, a film student, explained the nights events: As you can see in the video, we persisted to pester poor Lawrence until he cracked, until he joined in. A few drinks later and it wasnt too hard for us to convince him the club had WiFi and he could complete it there which of course, it didnt.

He got the laptop into the club through one of our friends working there.

Once in, he discovered there was no WiFi and had to hotspot his laptop through his mobile.

Needless to say, were all taken back with the success of the video, he said.

Its nice to see so many students relating to Lawrence, and giving them something to laugh at amidst all the deadline stress theyre under.
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Phuket Police charge British boyfriend for death of Sophie Anderson

PHUKET: British national Danny Glass from Margate in Kent, England, has been charged with reckless driving causing the death of his long-term partner, British mum Sophie Emma Rose Anderson.

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By The Phuket News

Wednesday 17 May 2017, 05:28PM

Phuket expat Danny Glass, from Margate in England, has been charged for the death of Sophie Anderson, who was six months pregnant with his child when she was crushed by a truck in Phuket last Monday (May 8). Image: Sun Fruit Dan / YouTube

Ms Anderson was riding pillion when Mr Glass lost control of the scooter they were riding on after he braked suddenly to avoid ramming into the back of a car, that he said had braked suddenly Monday last week (May 8).

Ms Anderson fell onto the road and was run over by an 18-wheeled truck driven by Nattawoot Kimchue, 30, from Thai Muang in Phang Nga Province. (Se story here.)

She was six months pregnant, with Mr Glass as the father.

Ms Anderson was also mother to 5-year-old Shaye, from a previous relationship. Young Shaye lived with her and Mr Glass in Phuket, but has since been taken to live with his father in Bangkok. (See story here.)

Both men are being held responsible for the death of Ms Anderson, because both were driving recklessly, Lt Col Sanit Nookong of Thalang Police station confirmed to The Phuket News today (May 17).

The drivers have already been charged, he affirmed.

Right now, the investigation is not yet closed because we are still waiting for the autopsy to be released. Then they will go to court, Col Sanit added.

The case echoes an incident in early February in which Australian tourist Thomas Keating, 22, was charged with reckless driving causing death after an accident that resulted in the death of his girlfriend Emily Jayne Collie, 20.

The two crashed their separate jet-skis into each other off Kata Beach in southern Phuket, Ms Collie sustained severe injuries in the crash which later claimed her life.

Mr Keating was handed down a two-year suspended jail sentence and fined B5,000 after pleading guilty to the charge. (See story here).
Ballot stamps cause minor issue in Brown, turnout in Codington 63%

While there was a minor issue counting some ballots in Brown Co., local election officials said Tuesday night went pretty well. SD voter turnout 57.5%
Srinagar, May 17 (IBNS) : Violent clashes erupted in Shopian in south Kashmir on Wednesday morning after security forces, looking for militants, launched a cordon and search operation in the Heff-Shirmal and Achan village areas.

The operation was conducted jointly by the Army and police following inputs about few militants hiding in the area.

The locals reportedly raised pro-freedom slogans and pelted stones at the security forces in an effort to disrupt the operation.

The security forces retaliated by lobbing teargas shells.

The clashes were going on when the last reports came in.

This is not the first time the security forces have come under attack from locals at the time of the hunt for militants.

Army chief General Bipin Rawat and Defence minister Arun Jaitley will be in Srinagar on Wednesday to review the security situation.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)
It's our annual Labour Weekend tradition ...The Sound 'Hall Of Fame' Countdown... Where we honor the greatest 500 songs of all time as voted by you.
Kolkata, May 17 (IBNS): The trustee board of central Kolkata's Tipu Sultan Mosque on Wednesday officially declared to remove Maulana Nurur Rehman Barkati from the post of masjid's Imam.

"Maulana Barkati was appointed as the Imam of Tipu Sultan mosque to lead the prayer everyday and neither his recruitment nor his post was political," Arif Ahmed, trustee chairman of Prince Gulam Muhammad Wakaf Estate, said during a press conferences at Kolkata Press Club.

"As his recent remarks were very shameful for Muslim community and derogatory for national interests, we have served a termination notice to him today with an immediate effect. He is no longer an Imam of Tipu Sultan mosque from today onwards," Arif Ahmed added.

"Our trustee committee is set up by the Calcutta High Court and we have sent the termination notice, following all legal norms. Barkati can challenge us legally in Calcutta High Court," Ahmed said.

Week ago, Barkati triggered huge controversy after he refused to remove red beacon from his vehicle, when Central government's ban on lal batti has come into effect since May 1.

"West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave me permission to use red beacon on my car and it's a heritage practice as erstwhile British government gave permission to my ancestors to use lal batti," Barkati claimed.

"I won't accept Central government's ban on lal batti," he told reporters.

Later Imam Barkati drew flak when he expressed his wish to fight for Pakistan.

"If RSS has plans to make India a Hindu country, we will protest and fight against it. Then give us Pakistan, we will fight for Pakistan," Barkati said.

Following his remarks, at least two complaints were lodged against Barkati at different police stations in Kolkata and its adjoining Hooghly district and cabinet minister and the state secretary of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, Siddiqullah Chowdhury, hit out Imam Barkati over his 'anti-national' statements.

Later on Saturday, after being directed by state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the city police officials detached the red beacon from his vehicle, according to sources.

However, Tipu Sultan Mosque's trustee officials said that they are looking for the next Imam for the mosque and he will be appointed soon.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)


New Delhi, May 17 (IBNS): In a significant decision to fast-track Indiaas domestic nuclear power programme, and give a push to countryas nuclear industry, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for construction of 10 units of Indiaas indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR).



The total installed capacity of the Plants will be 7000 MW. The 10 PHWR project will result in a significant augmentation of nuclear power generation capacity.

India has current installed nuclear power capacity of 6780 MW from 22 operational plants. Another 6700 MWs of nuclear power is expected to come onstream by 2021-22 through projects presently under construction, read a government statement.

As the government marks three years of its nation and people centric governnace, in a first of its kind project for Indias nuclear power sector, the ten new units will come up in fleet mode as a fully homegrown initiative.

It would be one of the flagship Make in India projects in this sector.

With likely manufacturing orders of close to 70,000 crores to the domestic industry, the project will help transform Indian nuclear industry by linking our goal of a strong nuclear power sector with our indigenous industrial capacities in high-end technologies.

This Project will bring about substantial economies of scale and maximise cost and time efficiencies by adopting fleet mode for execution. It is expected to generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment. With manufacturing orders to domestic industry, it will be a major step towards strengthening Indias credentials as a major nuclear manufacturing powerhouse.

The ten reactors will be part of Indias latest design of 700 MW PHWR fleet with state-of-art technology meeting the highest standards of safety.

The approval also marks a statement of strong belief in the capability of Indias scientific community to build our technological capacities. The design and development of this project is a testament to the rapid advances achieved by Indias nuclear scientific community and industry. It underscores the mastery our nuclear scientists have attained over all aspects of indigenous PHWR technology. Indias record of building and operating PHWR reactors over the last nearly forty years is globally acclaimed.

The Cabinets decision reflects the Governments commitment to prioritise the use of clean power in Indias energy mix, as part of low-carbon growth strategy and to ensure long-term base load requirement for the nations industrialization.

It also supports Indias commitment to sustainable development, energy self-sufficiency and bolsters global efforts to combat climate change.
Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who believes in the right to basic education for every child, has decided to do his bit in providing free education to underprivileged children.

Talking about the initiative, Sushant told here: "My team is working on the idea where we are selecting a group of schools, and we will take a merit test of the kids. If the kids pass the exam, we will take care of their education cost for a year."

"Next year, they again have to sit for the test to get the free education. This is the first step and will work on other models. But I think this process will give kids a new excitement and encouragement to study and make them more competitive."

Born and brought up in Patna, Sushant had a desire to study abroad and couldn't fulfill his dream because of financial crisis. Otherwise, he has always been a studious person and cleared multiple engineering exams.

Asked about his opinion on importance of education, Sushant said: "My mother always taught me that we educate our children not to become a doctor or engineer, but the impact of basic education reflects on their thought process and decision making. So even if you are getting into a creative profession like acting, your basic education will open your mind enough to think analytically.

"Therefore, I have taken this small step towards providing basic education to deserving children."

Having gained popularity with television serial "Pavitra Rishta", Sushant stepped in to Bollywood with the film "Kai Po Che" and got critical and commercial success of "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story".

Currently, the actor busy promoting "Raabta" which is slated to release on June 9.


The state government will consider the possibility of extending scholarship to medical students belonging to poor economic backgrounds, who are pursuing programmes in self-financing medical colleges, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in the Assembly on Wednesday.

Vijayan was replying to a notice for an adjournment motion on the alleged police excesses on pro-Congress Kerala Students Union activists during a protest march against the 'fee hike' in self-financing medical colleges yesterday.

Responding to a demand in this regard by former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Vijayan said government will examine all possibilities to introduce a scholarship scheme on these lines.

Vijayan maintained that fees was fixed by the State Fee Regulatory Commission and government has not either hiked or decreased the fees.

He denied the Congress-led UDF opposition charge that police lathicharged KSU activists without any provocation.

The chief minister said the protesters threw stones and indulged in violence and even tried to break the police barricade.

Hitting out at the CPI-M-led LDF government, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that treatment was denied to the injured student leaders at the medical college hospital here.

Seeking notice for the motion, Hibi Eden (Cong) alleged that police used water cannons, teargas and stun grenades on students and lathicharged them without any provocation.

Eden also was seen showing a shirt reportedly worn by a student leader that contained blood stains.

Later, the UDF opposition staged a walkout after Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan rejected their plea for a debate.
The publishing industry calls this genre "True Crime". We have not seen much of it from Delhi, despite the city being awash with media outlets. Perhaps this is because Delhi is a city where politics matter above all, and crime is of secondary importance. In 2015, there was Aarushi by journalist Avirook Sen but this look at the Talwar case came rather late in the day, as the murder dates back to 2008. He writes after the fact, since he was never a crime reporter, and he presents the whole case like a clever lawyer, in a way that exonerates the parents, which raises questions about the writer's motives.

Mumbai has done much better in this genre. Mafia Queens of Mumbai by investigative reporter Hussain S Zaidi came out in 2011 and received rave reviews. Zaidi followed it in 2012 with the book Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia. This is a history of the Mumbai underworld: Dawood Ibrahim, Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Chhota Rajan and Abu Salem. Of course, the Hindi film industry has given us many movies based on these characters, so they are always alive and kicking in the popular imagination.

There has been a long gap but the wait has been worth it, with Puja Changoiwala's The Front Page Murders: Inside the Serial Killings That Shocked India now in our hands. The book could have benefited from a better title, as it gives no clue the author she is talking about a particular serial killer, Vijay Palande. She is a much more classy writer than Sen and Zaidi, able to give an insider's account of the experience of crime reporting. The worlds of policing and media both suffer from a crisis of credibility but she pushes aside all the cynicism and makes one believe that systems work: One, that the police goes about investigations with serious intent and without the corruption we hear about all the time; two, that for media organisations, professional challenges like getting exclusive stories are still serious business. This is what makes the book so endearing, and so good for gifting to the younger generation. Incidentally, if you are looking for such a gift, another book that makes you believe in the police force is Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand by former STF chief K Vijay Kumar.

Changoiwala, who worked for the Hindustan Times in Mumbai, takes the reader along in the mad story chase, giving a good idea of the physical acrobatics as well as the mental calisthenics that enable a crime reporter to get ahead of the pack when a story makes the front pages of a newspaper. The life-saving inputs from sources, the hours-long wait for police officers to brief the press, the adrenalin rush, the despair at missing out on an angle ~ all this is conveyed in breathless prose punctuated by humour. The case of killer Vijay Palande is told from start to finish with enough suspense and twists to make it unputdownable.

A few secrets are also revealed. Sample this: As the men neared us, Shinde's strong build and spotless clothes prompted a journalist to ask, "Dummy hai kya? The cops blushed in response and the journalist laughed. We had all heard of cases where policemen, when unable to find the real culprit, asked random people, sometimes one of their own men, to stand veiled before the press, posing as the accused for pictures"

Like the Indrani Mukherjee case, this one too unfurls bit by bit, as reporters and police chase one bit of evidence after another. In this case too, the bodies were dumped along the highway in the Western Ghats. The brutality of the stabbings and the deliberate intent of the killer have a chilling effect as the narrative progresses. A lot of elements are typical of Mumbai: celebrities, models, Bollywood aspirants, deranged dreamers and relentless pursuit of big money.

Most of the story is told via dialogues between people, as direct speech, avoiding big intimidating blocks of text. This makes it an easy read. The reader also feels reassured by the author's research, which reveals that the West may have psychopathic killers, who enjoy mutilating and eviscerating (as shown most memorably in Silence of the Lambs) but only a handful of Indians have been mentally unstable: Auto Shankar, the Nithari killers and Darbara Singh aka Baby Killer of Punjab. Their primary motive is to rob, and the killing is what she calls "collateral damage".

Unusually for a book, and more typical of magazines, the pages are dotted with pithy sayings on the practice of journalism. These aphorisms are relevant to the situation the author is describing, as in "Journalists do not have patience. They have deadlines". Or more insightfully: "Journalism is turning people's fears into words, pictures and videos".

Rather unfairly, the book ends with an indictment of the system and of public interest in such stories. She writes, "It is our voyeuristic love of their anticsthat makes them covet notoriety. It is our judiciary and the long years that undertrials spend languishing in prisons that makes them seek revenge. It is our police who treat them like scoundrels, beat their bodies and their soul, that make them even more coldblooded."

If society at large is responsible for criminal behaviour, why are murderers such a small part of our vast population? And if media coverage is feeding voyeurism, then there is no need for a book to retell the sensational story of a serial killer. Reporters should go on to tell more such stories without their collective conscience pricking. And tell them eloquently, as Puja Changoiwala has done.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of 10 indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) for nuclear power generation.

"The cabinet has approved to install 10 indigenously built PWHRs," Union Minister Piyush Goyal said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Goyal, who is Union Power and Coal Minister, said the new PWHRs will generate 7,000 MW power. At present India generates 6,780 MW from nuclear power.

Goyal also said that nuclear reactors, which will produce 6,700 MW, are under implementation and these are expected to be completed by 2021-22.


Amid reports of several ATMs remaining shut due to a possible virus attack by WannaCry ransomware, the largest public lender of the country State Bank of India (SBI) on Wednesday said that it has not been affected at all by the malware and all its ATMs were fully functional.

"We have not been impacted at all. None of our ATMs have been asked to shut down," SBI Chief Information Officer Mrutyunjay Mahapatra said.

SBI has close to 59,000 ATMs out of over two lakh ATMs in the country.

Mahapatra said that 80-90 per cent of the old ATMs have already got the security patch, and the remaining are being updated, but none of the ATMs have been shut down as SBI has a secure closed loop network and robust firewalls.

"80-90 per cent of the old ATMs have already got the security patch. Wherever remaining, our engineers are updating. We are doing a review, and putting additional security patch if needed," he said.

"Ours is a close-looped network, where all servers end to end are ours. We are dealing with public trust and public money, so we are very careful about it. Our security network is very high and we have very robust firewalls. We run anti-malware quite often," Mahapatra told IANS.

The ransomware is said to affect the ATMs which were installed 5-7 years back and are running on the Windows XP software. The newer ATMs which run on Windows 10 are said to be safe from the malware attack.

"Roughly our 50 per cent ATMs are running on Windows XP. ATMs installed 5-7 years back have Windows XP, but they are not greatly vulnerable. Malware files are large in size and cannot travel through firewall. However, for Windows XP, new security patch has been updated," he said.

Mahapatra claimed that the ransomware attack was aimed at harming the economy but the banking sector has not been affected by it.

"Malware attack means they want to bring down the system. Their idea is to bring down the economy. This is more mischief than reality. As the CIO of SBI, to my knowledge no such thing has come to my notice. To my knowledge other banks are also not affected," he said.

"There is no need to panic. Taking advantage of this situation, miscreants may send mails to reveal their old password, that should be avoided," he added.

ATM manufacturer AGS Transact Technologies, which has an installed base of 60,000 ATMs in the country, said they were working with the partner banks to secure their network and updating of the security patch.

"We ensure regular updates of the security patches on the servers to protect all ATMs in our network from such attacks. Additionally, we are working closely with our partner banks to secure their network and eliminate chances of any vulnerability," Mahesh Patel, President and Group Chief Technology Officer, AGS Transact Technologies, told IANS.

"The WannaCry attack is a wake-up call for all countries including India, which is at the cusp of digital revolution. It brings to the fore the collective need for Indian companies to be more vigilant and treat cyber-security as one of their highest priorities," he said.
Bigger television screens have always been much sought after. With a surge in consumers' disposable incomes, the demand for Smart Televisions has shot up, contributing around 18-20 per cent to sales in India's electronics sector, industry experts say.

Availability of Smart TVs at par with normal televisions has helped them become one of the preferred mainstream products not just in larger metros but also in smaller towns and tier II cities.

A Smart TV is at times also referred as connected TV or hybrid TV. These are televisions equipped with the ability to interact with the Internet, giving consumers access to a plethora of online content.

Akshay Dhoot, Head of Technology and Innovation, Videocon, said the country's middle class population, growing at nine per cent and with higher disposable incomes, has provided the necessary boost in the demand for Smart TVs.

Also a 12-15 per cent dip in prices of Smart TVs as compared to two to three years ago, has led to a surge in sales.

The price of Smart TVs depends on the screen size. Panasonic India says its 32-inch Smart TVs start at around Rs 30,000, while the 4K Smart TV starts from around Rs 70,000 and goes up to Rs 3 lakh.

Speaking about the impact of Smart TVs on the overall industry, Dhoot said: "The contribution of Smart TVs to overall sales has gone up to 18-20 per cent from 12-14 per cent last year and the share is expected to move up significantly. Also, with increasing innovation and technological improvements in the consumer electronics industry, the cost of Smart TVs is expected to see a downward trend in future as well.

"Factoring these, we can say that Smart TVs are well on their way to becoming one of the preferred mainstream products in India."

Industry experts were of the view that complementing India's growing internet-readiness and faster digitalisation, TVs are turning smarter with no requirement of any peripheral devices to communicate and relay information, leaving the conventional TV sets far behind, which offer only linear viewing.

"The contribution of Smart TVs has gone up to 30 per cent in the Indian scenario," Neeraj Bahl, Business Head  Consumer Electronics, Panasonic India, told IANS.

"If we talk globally, people have already shifted to 'smart' as a technology and penetration in developed countries is almost 100 per cent. With the development of data network, we will also see a boom in the Indian market," he added.

According to an India Brand Equity Foundation report on the electronics sector, India's television industry is expected to expand to $16.8 billion by 2020 from $9.4 billion in 2016.

But what is keeping consumers away from adopting Smart TVs on a larger scale?

"Lack of awareness from users and retailers, erratic supply of electricity in tier-II and III cities as well as rural areas and cost-to-utility are some of the basic parameters keeping the average Indian consumer away from Smart TVs," said Jagdish Rajpurohit, founder of CloudWalker, a tech start-up which has a smart TV range under the brand name Cloud TV.

"Currently, Indian manufacturers have no incentive to produce Smart TVs as the demand is too low for the production to be feasible. However, with increased Internet networks, explosive growth of OTT (over-the-top) content services and availability of VoD (video on demand) content platforms, users are now realising the multi-utility of Smart TVs and are getting inclined towards its purchase," Rajpurohit told IANS.

"With continuous innovations, the technology is becoming affordable every year. Urban India is ready to endorse this product. Soon, rural India will also be ready with further increase of Internet penetration in the country," Bahl added.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday suspended three policemen, including a station house officer, for laxity in the twin murder case of bullion traders in Mathura, an official said.

The killings triggered protests in Mathura and neighbouring areas on Tuesday, forcing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to dispatch Power Minister Shrikant Sharma and the DGP Sulkhan Singh to personally visit Mathura and monitor the probe.

Sharma, who is a BJP legislator from Mathura, met the bereaved family members on Wednesday and the DGP held meetings with local police officers.

Singh asked them to nab the culprits at the earliest.

CCTV footage was being checked to identify the criminals. An official privy to the probe said two men have been identified.

The two bullion traders were killed on Monday night in their shop and the assailants had decamped with gold worth more than Rs 4 crore.

Opposition parties have been up in arms against the state government and had raised the matter in the ongoing assembly session.

The furore forced Adityanath to give a statement in the House assuring everyone that his government was committed to establishing law and order in the state. He said the criminals would soon nabbed.
The Delhi government's Anti Corruption Branch on Wednesday questioned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's political adviser Vibhav Patel in the alleged Rs.400-crore water tanker scam.

According to the ACB sources, Patel was questioned for more than three hours. He arrived at the ACB office around 11.15 a.m. and was questioned till 2.30 p.m.

The ACB had summoned Patel on Sunday after rebel and sacked Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra told the ACB that two persons  Patel and Ashish Talwar  close to Kejriwal were responsible for the delay in action in the water tanker scam.

An ACB offical related to the probe said: "Patel has denied any involvement in the matter. Thus, we will once again cross-question Mishra on his allegation and if required, Patel would also be told to join the probe."

Mishra recorded his statement with the ACB on May 11, after he submitted evidence in support of his allegations that two persons close to Kejriwal tried to influence the scam probe.

Talwar is also likely to be summoned after Patel's statement in the case is recorded, according to the official.

The Rs.400-crore water tanker scam involved alleged favouritism shown in the allotment of contracts to private water tanker operators to supply water to areas not falling under the Delhi Jal Board's network during the previous Congress government in Delhi.
The Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Tuesday expressed anguish over the Italian Supreme Court upholding a ban on wearing of 'kirpan' and plan to raise the issue at appropriate platforms to ensure "justice" to Sikhs settled in Italy.

In a statement here on Tuesday, Akali Dal secretary and spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said the Italian court has "ignored" the fact that carrying of 'kirpan' is essential and a mandatory part of religious code of conduct of an 'Amritdhari' (baptized) Sikh.

"It is a question of faith and a fundamental right of a Sikh. Banning of 'kirpan' means that no 'Amritdhari Sikh' will be able to live in Italy after this order," Cheema pointed out.

Cheema said the Akali Dal and SGPC would raise this issue at appropriate platforms to ensure "justice" to Sikhs settled in Italy.

"The party will also take up of the matter with the External Affairs Ministry and urge them to take up this matter with the Italian government at the earliest," Cheema said.

The Akali Dal expressed deep concern and anguish over the decision of the Italian Supreme Court upholding a ban on wearing of 'kirpan', a small sword-like weapon considered a Sikh religious symbol, on the pretext of public safety.

"The decision of the Italian Supreme Court has shaken the Sikh community the world over," Cheema added.

Italy has a large number of immigrants from India, especially Sikhs from Punjab.
Kolkata, May 17 (IBNS): West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday congratulated people of West Bengal for her party Trinamool Congress' victory in four out of seven civic bodies that went on to poll last Sunday.

In a tweet, Banerjee said: "Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again & again putting their trust in us, We are honored, privileged & humbled."

Domkal, Raigunj and Pujali were among the civic bodies in the plains which went for voting on Sunday.

In Domkal, the TMC won 20 of the 21 seats, while in Raigunj, a Congress stronghold once, TMC won 24, Congress-Left combine won 2 and BJP got one.

In Pujali TMC won 12 seats and BJP got 2 while the Left Congress alliance got one.

In six booths of Domkal and Pujali, re-pollings were held on Tuesday, according to the order of the state Election Commission, following the complaints by the Opposition.

The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal also made inroads in the hills by winning Mirik where they won 6 seats against 3 by BJP-GJM.

The TMC emerged in hills as a challenger to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), an ally of the BJP, even as the latter won Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong corporations convincingly.

GJM-BJP won 17 of the 20 wards in Kurseong.

In Darjeeling, TMC won one only against 31 by BJP-GJM.

In Kalimpong, TMC won 2 while the BJP-GJM won 18 of the total 23. Jana Andolan Party (JAP) from the hills won 2 and one by others.

Regarding the success of her party in the hills, the TMC supremo in a follow up tweet said: "Congratulations to my brother/sisters in hill areas of Darjeeling Kurseong Kalimpong Mirik for participating in the democratic process."

"Special thanks to Mirik for reposing faith in us. We will work sincerely for you. After so many decades we begin a new era in the hills" she added.

After almost three decades, any political party of the plains could win an election in the hills of North Bengal.

However, the opposition parties did not give much importance to the win of TMC, as they accused the ruling party for booth capturing during polling on Sunday.

Image: Official Facebook page of Mamata Banerjee
Controversial Islamic cleric Syed Noor ur Rahman Barkati was on Wednesday sacked as the head of Kolkatas Tipu Sultan mosque, officials said.

The Shahi Imam has been removed by the trustee board, Arif Ahmed, a trustee said.

Last week, the head of the Trustee Board, Shahezada Anwar Ali Shah had called Barkati "a blot" on the Muslim community.

Elected in 1989, Barkati headed the mosque for 28 years was mired in many controversies due to his comments regarding waging a jihad if India was declared a Hindu state or refusal to remove the red beacon from his car.

Recently, it was reported that he fell out of favour with Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who was once one of his strongest supporters.

Barkati also grabbed headlines in January when he issued a fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the November decision to ban high-value currency notes.

(With inputs from agencies)
Drinking water supply to lakhs of people in Tripura was stopped after ONGC drilling waste spilled over into a key river, officials said here on Wednesday.

"Drilling waste contained with chemical and oils from the ONGC's abandoned drilling site at Mandai (in Baramura Hill Ranges) was spilling over into Howrah river since Tuesday.

"Immediately we have shut four major water treatment plants and stopped supply of drinking water in the Agartala Municipal Corporation areas and its adjoining areas to prevent people drinking polluted water," Water and Sanitation Department Chief Engineer Bishu Debbarma told reporters.

He said that the engineers of the Water Supply Department and West district administration officials are testing the water at a regular interval and working round-the-clock to stop the spillover.

"We expect that the situation would be normal by tonight (Wednesday) or early tomorrow (Thursday). We have also asked the ONGC to take suitable measures to prevent the spillover of drilling waste," Debbarma said.

The four major water treatment plants, that draw in supply from the Howrah river, cater drinking water to at least six lakh people in Agartala Municipal Corporation, adjoining Ranirbazar Municipal Council and Jirania Nagar Panchayat Areas.

Water Resources and Sanitation Minister Ratan Bhowmik, District Magistrate Milind Ramteke, engineers of various departments camping the affected areas and supervising the remedial works.

An Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) spokesperson said that the company finished their drilling works at Mandai in Baramura Hill Ranges around a week ago and maintaining the standard scientific practice, did "effluent treatment" by finally covering the waste by high quality plastic sheets.

"To take away the waste substances, the local people cut off the plastic sheets leading to the spill over of drilling waste into the nearby Howrah river. Recent rain might have further worsened the situation," the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, as the Howrah, like other Tripura rivers, flows into Bangladesh, officials of Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh here informed their government of the development and are monitoring the situation.

"We have informed about the spillover of chemicals and oils into the Howrah River to the Water Resources Department in Dhaka to take suitable steps," said Assistant High Commissioner Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain.
A school in Jamshedpur is all set to have an environment-friendly toilet made of plastic bottles and other materials.

The proposed toilet would be set up on an experimental basis. Later such toilets would be set up at other places depending on the success of the first toilet, Deputy Collector in the chief minister's camp office, Sanjay Kumar Pandey said.

The pilot project would be implemented at Manav Vikas School managed by retired employees at Garudbasa in Telco.

The authorities of Manav Vikas School lauded Pandey since the school only has only one toilet.

The facility is negligible when compared to the number of students studying in it and therefore the pilot project would be started from here, Pandey said.

Mondrita Chatterjee, a STD VII student of the city-based Hill Top School, and her family would bear the financial expenses to be incurred for the toilet.

Chatterjee had already spent her savings for the construction of toilets in the periphery of the city and was also felicitated in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das at a function held here few months ago.

During his visit to the school on Monday, Pandey encouraged the teachers of the school as well as Chatterjee and her family to give the proposal a concrete shape.

Our target is to implement the project before Environment Day on June 5, Pandey said.

Elaborating about the environment-friendly toilet, Pandey said the empty unused water bottles would be filled with sand, iron-ore dust and slag ash. These materials would serve as alternative to bricks.

He said that construction work of the toilet would be started in couple of days.

The objective behind the proposed toilet was to utilise unused plastic bottles and slag ash, which were available in and around the city in plenty, he said claiming that it would help maintain the cleanliness in the city.

Besides, it would also send out a message to the society that unused items could be utilised for constructive purpose, he said.

Pandey said around 3000 empty plastic bottles would be required for construction of the toilet.

The bottles would be collected from the nearby residential colony and majority of the bottles would be collected by the students from their homes, he said.

Chatterjee expressed happiness on being involved in this pilot project.
Haryana Police chief B S Sandhu on Wednesday said nodal officers from the Northeast will be appointed at state police stations to help people from the region here.

Director General of Haryana Police Sandhu said this while announcing a reward of Rs.2 lakh to anyone providing clues related to the culprits behind the gang-rape of a woman from Sikkim in a moving car in Gurugram.

He said officers from the Northeast would be appointed, especially in Gurugram, on deputation basis.

The nodal officers would help the people from the Northeast region in a better manner as they will understand their language and culture, he said.

A Sikkimese woman was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by three men in a moving car on Sunday in Gurugram and thrown out on a road in Delhi.

The incident took place when she was returning from Delhi around 2 a.m. to her residence in Sector 17-C, Gurugram.

The woman had gone to Connaught Place to meet her friend on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old victim, in her statement to the police, said that as she neared her house, she was dragged into a Swift car by three men, who took turns to rape her and later dumped her in Delhi's Najafgarh area.

She later approached some passerby and told Delhi Police about the incident which alerted Gurugram police.

A case of rape was registered against three persons in Sector 18 police station. One of the accused was addressed as Deepak by others, police said.
Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev called on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray at his Shivaji Park residence here on Wednesday morning.

However, scotching all speculation, a MNS official claimed that it was a mere 'courtesy visit' as Ramdev was in Mumbai.

The two, who were together for about half an hour, reportedly discussed their interests  yoga and politics  in their cordial meeting before emerging for smiling photo ops before the waiting media.

"It is great meeting Baba Ramdev. He is the biggest global evangelist of Hindu traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda that India has seen," Thackeray said, who earlier received the guru with a warm hug at his doorstep.

Incidentally, in the past the MNS chief has been critical of Ramdev, who is in the process of expanding his Patanjali empire in Maharashtra.
At least half a dozen persons were injured in a violent clash between RJD and BJP workers in the Bihar capital on Wednesday, a day after IT raids in connection with alleged "benami" property deals involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family.

"RJD and BJP workers clashed violently by attacking each other with bamboo sticks and pelted stones at each other in which some of them were injured. They also shouted slogans with abusive language against top leaders of the rival party," a police official said.

The clash took place in front of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state headquarters office on the busy Birchand Patel Marg near the IT square in the heart of Patna.

"The two sides clashed for nearly half an hour in the presence of police officials, who hardly intervened initially and did not use force to control the situation. The police became active only after the situation went out of control," an eyewitness, who owns a pavement tea shop, said.

After police dispersed the Rashtriya Janata Dal workers, hundreds of angry BJP workers staged a protest by blocking the Birchand Patel Marg, demanding action against RJD workers.

The protest started when a group of Chatra (student) RJD workers, holding an "Akrosh march" to protest against the IT department raids on 22 locations involving Lalu Prasad, reached near the BJP office. They shouted slogans against the BJP and their leaders. In response, some BJP workers came out of their office and shouted counter slogans.

The RJD workers expressed their anger against senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who has addressed several press conferences in the past one month accusing Lalu and his family of "benami" property and corruption.

Later a group of BJP workers tried to attack the RJD office, located not far away from the BJP office, but police dispersed them.

RJD workers shouted slogans like 'BJP Ki goondagardi nahi chaalegi, Sampardayik aur Fascistwadi BJP hai hai'.

But when BJP workers started shouting slogans like "Lalu Chor hai" "Charaa Chor hai", "Lalu ko jail bhejo", the RJD workers got angry. Some RJD workers pelted stones, as alleged by BJP workers, after which both sides indulged in a free-for-all with bamboo sticks, bricks and stones.

Hundreds of armed police officials were deployed to control the situation, a senior police official said.

Reacting to the violence, Sushil Modi said that RJD goons had attacked the BJP office.

"It clearly shows the desperation of the RJD and its top leaders Lalu and his two sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, both ministers in the Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar," he said.

However, the RJD leaders claimed that a "silent" march of RJD workers was attacked by the BJP near its office.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the police to take action against the culprits behind the violence at Ramjas College here in February.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar issued notice to the Delhi government and the police seeking a status report regarding the investigation carried out so far in the matter.

"You (police) must do something. If you know the culprits, you must take action. Law has to take its own course," the court said while listing the matter for further hearing on September 11.

The order came on a plea by three Ramjas College students seeking setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) of independent officers to probe the incident of violence which took place on February 21 this year.

The petition has demanded constitution of an independent SIT claiming that the police have not taken any action against the culprits behind the incident despite availability of photographs and video clippings identifying them.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioners, argued that only an FIR with regard to a scuffle has been lodged and that there has been no progress with regard to the investigation.

The petition has also sought a direction to the colleges where the "culprit" students are enrolled to suspend or rusticate them.

It has also sought action against the police personnel on duty at the time of the incident for allegedly not taking any preventive action.

The plea also asked for a direction to the Delhi government to pay Rs.5 lakh to each of the assault victims.

Advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for Delhi Police, countered the submissions of Gonsalves saying that the investigation was proceeding along the right lines and all efforts were being made to identify and trace the culprits.

He also said that the four police officers who were on duty at the place of the incident have been suspended.

The court noted his submission that a panel of senior police officers has been set up to look into the matter and the investigation has already been transferred to the Crime Branch.

Delhi university's Ramjas College had witnessed large- scale violence allegedly involving members of the Left- affiliated All India Students Association (AISA) and the student body of the RSS, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The genesis of the clash was an invite to JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid to address a seminar on 'Culture of Protests' which was withdrawn by the college authorities following opposition by the ABVP.

Earlier, a law student had moved a PIL seeking action against the police personnel who had allegedly assaulted students and scribes during the incident.

The petition was disposed of after the police had told the court that a panel of senior officers has been set up after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sought the police response regarding the alleged assault on a complaint filed before it.

The PIL had also sought lodging of an FIR under various sections of the IPC, including assaulting a woman with an intent to outrage her modesty, action against the police personnel and others who allegedly harassed and assaulted women students and journalists during the protest.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday scripted history by winning four out of the seven Bengal towns that had gone to polls on 14 May

According to reports, TMC won Pujali in south 24 parganas, Domkal in Murshidabad, Raiganj in north Dinajpur and Mirik in Darjeeling.

At Pujali, TMC won 12 out of the 16 wards with BJP coming second with only 2 wards, while at Domkal, TMC won 20 out of the 21 wards

The Raigani municipality was also swept by the TMC that won 24 out of the 27 wards. At Mirik TMC won 6 out of 9 wards, beating the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha  BJP alliance for the first time for any political party in the plains since 1986.

The three other towns in the hills  Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong however remained in control with GJM. GJM won 31 out of the 32 seats in Darjeeling and 17 out of 20 wards in Kurseong. Kalimpong municipality was won by the GJM- BJP alliance.

People of Bengal have yet again reposed their faith on the development initiatives of Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress said in a statement after four municipality wins.

The way Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly visited the hills and interacted with the people is remarkable. People have naturally supported us, senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee said.

(With inputs from agencies)
The 17th Cannes Film festival starts on 17 May and it is going to be an absolute star-studded affair with celebs from different parts of the globe walking the red carpet. The audience is waiting with baited breath to catch this years best red carpet look and not to forget the movies that would be screened in this years film festival. So, heres a detailed account of everything you would want to know the most famous film festival being held in the French Riviera:



Indian celebrities likely to walk the red carpet



Aishwarya Rai, who has been the most consistent Indian actor at Cannes, walked the red carpet in 2002 when her film Devdas got released. The actor will present the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial again in the 70th film festival. She will be presenting the film on 20 May as part of the L'Oreal Paris Open Air Cinema. From some ravishing to some really outlandish looks, Aishwarya has flaunted them all at the Cannes.

Another most anticipated Bollywood actor to join the Cannes block this year is Deepika Padukone, who landed at Cannes on Tuesday. Ever since she has set her foot in the French city, Deepika has posted many pictures on Instagram of the beautiful city and the location. She made her debut in 2010 and this would be her second appearance.



"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, Padukone was quoted as saying. The Piku actor will be walking the red carpet on 17 and 18 May.



Then we have Sonam Kapoor, who walked the red carpet for the first time in 2011 and will attend the festival this time too. Along with Deepika, Sonam will be representing L'Oreal too.

I will always represent India at the red carpet. So, you will see that. Even if I am not wearing an Indian designer, I will include Indian designs in some way. I will always do something in some way to represent India. This is my eighth year at Cannes and I am super proud to be representing my country in such a way. I wish, one day, I go there to represent a film too, Sonam was quoted as saying. She will walk the red carpet on 21 and 22 May.



Indian films to be screened at the event

For the first time, FTII is invited to be a part of the film festival. Afternoon Clouds directed by a third-year student Payal Kapadia has been selected for participation in Cine Foundation.

Priyanka Chopra also revealed that she would screen her Sikkimese production Paahuna at the festival. We are dealing with issues like gender bias, the idea of currency Money is money, but there is a currency divide, impact of older people on children, our fear of the unknown, said the director of Pahuna, Paakhi A. Tyrewala, when asked about the film.



Michelan star Chef Vikas Khanna also ventured into filmmaking with Buried Seeds, the trailer of which will be released at the Cannes film festival. The film is a biopic based on his life and the difficulties he faced while rising to fame. The film is a docu-drama and is directed by award-winning Russian filmmaker Andrei Severny.



Rima Das Village Rockstars is also among the films selected by the Hong Kong-Asian Film Financing Forum (HAF) for its Goes to Cannes programme.


It was on 11 May that the outbreak of the revolt of 1857 spread to Delhi from Meerut. The emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was no doubt taken by surprise when the rebel sepoys reached the Capital via the Calcutta Gate, though they actually entered the Walled City through the Rajghat Gate in Daryaganj. However, two days earlier, in many homes in the Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Mori Gate areas, gossip was rife that the days of the British Raj were over. Haji Zahooruddin, whose maternal grandfather was Maulvi Rajab Ali (the man who brought about Zafars surrender) used to say in 1957, when the centenary of the First War of Independence was observed, that the Maulvi had warned his family to be prepared for earth-shaking events that would make blood flow again on the streets of Delhi, as it did when Nadir Shah ordered the massacre in 1739. Maulvi Rajab Ali, incidentally, headed a secret service of his own.

In many other homes, like that of Lala Hanwant Sahai in Chandni Chowk, women used to collect every evening after their chores were done and talk of the predictions of Babbal (turmoil) by soothsayers following the appearance of the Jahoodar tara(comet) that appeared in the horizon at midnight behind the Red Fort. "It spells doom for the praja(subjects) or the ruler (the East India Company in this case)," they would mutter.

In Kutcha Mir Ashiq, just behind the Jama Masjid, where Maulvi Rajab Ali's son-in-law Munshi Turab Ali and his family used to stay, after the evening meal was cooked, the children were served dinner early and told to retire to bed and the elderly women sat down to talk of what fate might have in store.When the menfolk arrived they too joined in the hush-hush talk, bringing with them all the gup of the day. They told the women not to discuss their forebodings with neighbours as the Angrez Sarkars spies were all over the city and listening to conversations in streets, shops, eating houses and religious places. They were both Muslims and Hindus, some with long beards and black marks between the eyebrows which seemingly indentified them as piousnamazis, and others with big tilaks on their foreheads and dressed either like pandits, traders or as strangers from other cities, who showed curiosity in the everyday affairs in public places. There were Kutnis (women spies) too, eavesdropping at the zenanas.

In Kashmere Gate and the Civil Lines, Anglo-Indian and local Christian families had their own tales. The bearers and khansamas brought word from the bazaars that there were moves afoot to overthrow the Raj. George Heatherley's great-grandmother used to shake her head and say, "God knows whats going to happen in Fajar (morning), for the sweeperwoman was saying, 'Memsahib, be prepared to flee somewhere, for fakirs like the Maulvi of Faizabad are sounding the alarm that the days of the infidels were numbered and the Padshah is going to rule again after every Firangi is either killed or jailed.' For the city, despite the bravado of the Skinner haveliwallahs and Metcalfe Sahibs heir at Matka Kothi, has been shamed far too long by half-naked mems dancing unabashedly with males not even distantly related to them. The pork-eaters have profaned our hallowed Delhi, sacred to the 22 Khwajas or saints by not only eating forbidden food but also drinking at the Rauzas (mausoleums) and making love in them."

"Firdaus Jan, a dancing girl of Chawri Bazar, refused to sleep with a Gora who had entered her brothel at midnight, dead drunk and wearing only khaki knickers. The Gora created a scene and was beaten up by the Bharuas. But next day Firdaus and her pimps were arrested and taken to the police chowki, where they were flogged mercilessly and then put in the lockup, with poor Firdaus wearing just a torn petticoat that hardly hid her shame.

This was stated by Sibbo the mehtrani, who cleaned the toilet of Nawabzada Mohd Ismail. She added that the Gora who wanted sexual favours the previous night was actually an Angez spy checking out on the ambience (fiza) in the red light area as the Firangis had got wind of the "seditious gossip" being spread in the mohallas and kutchas.

There was some truth in these happenings as long before May 11 the sadhus and fakirs had been going about asking people to clean their rusty talwars so that they could use them when the call for inquilab (revolution) came. They affirmed that the curse of 100 years after the Battle of Plassey, when the Raj came into being, was over and now the kafirs were going to be thrown back into the sea via which they entered the country as docile traders. One can vouch for these tales as in 1947 (90 years after the Great Revolt) Elias Nana proclaimed, while smoking his hookah, that the communal riots were in keeping with the trend of bloodshed that took place since 1556, when Hemu was defeated, 1667 that sparked the war of succession between the sons of Shah Jahan, 1757 when Clive won at Plassey, then the Ghadar and now almost a century later, a parting kick by the Ferangis to a newly-emerging India.

Whenever 11 May comes around such thoughts naturally come to mind though Nana has been dead for over 50 years and Siboo the sweeperess even longer, while the Nawabzada for whom she worked passed away much earlier and Nanas maternal greatgrandson Noel, believe it or not, on the portentous 10 May, when the "Mutiny" broke out 140 years earlier at Meerut, in 1997, not far from the street named after the heroic Mangal Pandey, who started it all by refusing to bite the tainted grease cartridges.

What Delhi was like in 1857 is not difficult to imagine if you were to climb atop the Red Fort and look towards the Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid. Many of the houses are still as they were during the Mutiny, except for the additional buildings that have come up to cope with the population explosion, making the old quarter little more than a rabbit's warren.

In those days the buildings were not high, through exceptions there were like the Lahore Bank and other such places where many of the British dwelt. That's an interesting point because it was only after the Great Revolt that the sahibs thought of living in separate areas to maintain their distance from the general populace. Safety was the primary purpose of this shift, which resulted in the creation of New Delhi on Raisina Hill.

The afternoon of May 10 this year was not as hot as it was in 1857 when the sepoys shot their British officers in Meerut and prepared to march to Delhi. Since it was a Sunday, that day in the Red Fort, 160 years ago, must have been a hectic one, what with all the rumours that had been floating for months about the impending end of the British Company Sarkar and the return of the Padshah and the Peshwa to their rightful places. The lotus and the chappati had made their rounds of the entire length and breadth of Hindustan, with runners fleeting away into the night through villages and towns to pass the word of the forthcoming event. And yet this year 10 May was a peaceful one in the fort with visitors, both Indian and foreign, trooping in and out of the Moghul places and the monkeys jabbering away in the trees or drinking water from the huge overhead tanks that feed the water supply to the barracks that have come up in place of the many royal buildings demolished after the Mutiny.

Trees seldom last that long and no wonder the one under which Bahadur Shah Zafar stood before bidding the final adieu to his palace, nay hearth and home, where he was born and brought up and attained an old, respectable age, is no longer there. But surely some of the remaining trees in the fort must have been witness to the gory events that followed the re-establishment of British authority because it was from them that the freedom fighters were hanged and their bodies left for the kites and the crows to feed on. Things associated with gruesome sights have a knack of fading away, perhaps in accordance with some natural law of retribution. The trees are no exception, for now only the neem thrives when in the past it must have been a poor cousin of the more favoured varieties of mainly fruit-bearing trees. The walls of the fort, however, still stand intact and making acquaintance with them yesterday brought a flood of thoughts in its wake.

Several monsoons have come and gone, washing many a building clean in the Capital, but the Khooni Darwaza in Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg retains its scars. Old timers say these are the blood stains of those killed at the historic gate and which continue to remind people in every generation of the atrocities of long ago. Among these was the murder of two sons and a grandson of Bahadur Shah, who were shot at the gate by a British officer Lt Hodson, after the uprising of 1857 had been quelled in Delhi.

The legend of the blood stains may be true, but what is intriguing about them is that they descend from top to bottom of the wall facing Maulana Azad Medical College. The sons and grandson of Bahadur Shah were killed by Hodson at the gate. Could it be that some others were butchered on top of it and then thrown down?
Kolkata, May 17 (IBNS): An hour after he was officially removed as the Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan mosque, Maulana Nurur Rehman Barkati on Wednesday evening told the media that he won't be accepting the trustee's decision and he will continue his works as an Imam at the masjid here.

"There is no question of accepting my removal order as I'm not an employee of the mosque and I don't take salary from the trust," Barkati said.

"I will continue my work here as an Imam like previous days," he added.

Earlier in afternoon, the trustee board of central Kolkata's Tipu Sultan Mosque officially declared to remove Maulana Barkati from the masjid's Imam post.

"Maulana Barkati was appointed as the Imam of Tipu Sultan mosque to lead the prayer everyday and neither his recruitment nor his post was political," Arif Ahmed, trustee chairman of Prince Gholam Mohammad Wakf Estate, said during a press conferences at Kolkata Press Club.

"As his recent remarks were very shameful for Muslim community and derogatory for national interests, we have served a termination notice to him today with an immediate effect. He is no longer an Imam of Tipu Sultan mosque from today onwards," Arif Ahmed added.

"Our trustee committee is set up by the Calcutta High Court and we have sent the termination notice, following all legal norms. Barkati can challenge us legally in Calcutta High Court," Ahmed said.

Week ago, Barkati triggered huge controversy after he refused to remove red beacon from his vehicle, when Central government's ban on lal batti has come into effect since May 1.

"West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave me permission to use red beacon on my car and it's a heritage practice as erstwhile British government gave permission to my ancestors to use lal batti," Barkati claimed.

"I won't accept Central government's ban on lal batti," he told reporters.

Later Imam Barkati drew flak when he expressed his wish to fight for Pakistan.

"If RSS has plans to make India a Hindu country, we will protest and fight against it. Then give us Pakistan, we will fight for Pakistan," Barkati said.

Following his remarks, at least two complaints were lodged against Barkati at different police stations in Kolkata and its adjoining Hooghly district and cabinet minister and the state secretary of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, Siddiqullah Chowdhury, hit out Imam Barkati over his 'anti-national' statements.

Later on Saturday, after being directed by state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the city police officials detached the red beacon from his vehicle, according to sources.

However, Tipu Sultan Mosque's trustee officials said that they are looking for the next Imam for the mosque and he will be appointed very soon.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will arrive here in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to review the security situation amid heightened tension on the Line of Control (LoC) and student unrest in the valley.

This would be Jaitley's first visit to the state after he took over the additional charge from Manohar Parrikar.

The Defence Minister advanced his visit by a day since he was otherwise scheduled to chair the two-day long Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting beginning here on Thursday.

During his visit to the LoC, Jaitley would meet the field commanders.

He will be briefed on the overall preparedness of the army to meet challenges of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the heightened risk of infiltration as the snow starts to thaw on the mountains.

Sources here said the ongoing students' unrest fanning separatist sentiments in the valley would also remain in focus.

"The impact of an unrest on the overall security situation cannot be wished away. Therefore, the visit will also focus on ways and means to help the civil administration bring the situation under control," a top official told IANS.


A week ago hundreds of people chanting Hari Om were protesting at Delhis Jantar Mantar seeking the release of rape accused Asaram. The banner hanging on the wall behind the stage read Hindu Muslim Ekta Manch, a forum for preserving the traditions and culture of the Hindu way of life in India.

The event was organised by Shiraz Quraishi, who calls himself the brain behind this organisation meant to promote HinduMuslim unity. Explaining the philosophy behind establishing the organisation, Shiraz said he wants to bridge the gap between the two religious communities that is increasing.

There is a general perception among Hindus in this country that Muslim Ulemas have more privileges than Hindu saints and that Hindu saints are time and again targeted whereas Muslim priests are appeased by the government. To remove this notion from the mind of the masses, we have decided to run a campaign in support of Asaram Bapu, who we believe was a victim of Congress politics. Being a lawyer, I can understand that the charges against Bapu are false and manipulated but unfortunately he has been languishing in jail for four years now, said Quraishi.

He told the Statesman that his organisation is supported by Hindu Mahasabha. Its general secretary Pooja Pandey was present at the event organised in support of Asaram at Jantar Mantar. Pooja Pandey accused the Modi government and current regime of going soft on Hindutva and slammed the Prime Minister for calling Gau Rakshaks anti-social elements.

Shiraz, who is also a member of the Madhya Pradesh Haj committee, claims to have his offices in every major city in India and a few outside India too. He believes that there is involvement of Israel too in implicating Asaram in this case besides several multi-national companies in compliance with Christian missionaries.

Israel wants to disturb Muslims living in every part of this world. By conspiring against saints like Asaram they want to create tension among Hindus and Muslims in India. Besides, big corporations like those involved in soft drinks business are also after him because Asaram had time and protested against them, Shiraz added.

He claimed to have more than 2000 members in his organisation including some Muslims like Mufti Salim Qasmi from Delhi, Mufi Zahid from Aligarh, Mohammad Faiz Khan from Raipur and Qazi Rashiduddin from Gwalior. He asserted that he has been in regular contact with Asaram and that when he went to meet him in jail, Asaram asked him to keep a close look at the case and strengthen his organisation.

Shiraz is slated to organise a press meet in Delhi on 21 May.
The Income Tax Department continued its operation on Wednesday and raided the properties of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadavs son and daughter, a day after it swooped on the RJD leader in connection with the benami land deal case.

The Income Tax Department on Tuesday raided at least 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas in connection with the alleged benami deals worth Rs.1,000 crore being linked to Lalu and others.

Officials said the department raided the premises of some prominent businessmen and real estate agents in Delhi, Gurugram, Rewari and few others.

People and businessmen connected with the land deal involving Lalu Prasad and his family are under the scanner. There are allegations of benami deals worth about Rs. 1,000 crore and subsequent tax evasion, a senior I-T official said.

Last week, the BJP had accused Lalu, his daughter Misa Bharti, an MP, and sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, both Bihar Ministers, of being involved in corrupt land deals, and asked the Central government to probe one such transaction in Delhi.

All the companies owned by Lalu Prasads family members for the purpose of these land transactions had no employees, no business activities and no turnover, BJP minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said.

Earlier in the day, RJD and BJP workers clashed outside the saffron party office in Patna. The RJD activists turned up to stage a protest against the raids, leading to the clash.

The RJD workers were angry against senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who had accused Lalu and his family of acquiring illegal wealth.

(With inputs from agencies)
Indian Naval Ship Sharda, deployed for anti-piracy operations in Gulf of Aden, came to the rescue of Liberian merchant vessel Lord Mountbatten and saved it from a pirate attack, officials said on Wednesday.

INS Sharda, an offshore patrol vessel, has been on deployment in the Gulf of Aden since April 6.

On May 16, the ship received a distress call from Liberian ship Lord Mountbatten at around 4.45 p.m. (local time), Navy officials said.

The vessel reported an incident of attempted piracy by two suspected mother vessels, along with 7-8 skiffs.

INS Sharda arrived at the location around 7 p.m. and detected two dhows and eight skiffs in the vicinity of the ship, three of which escaped at high speed.

A team of special forces unit MARCOS from INS Sharda, with support from an armed helicopter, investigated the boats that were left.

"No fishing gear was recovered from the dhows. One high calibre AKM rifle along with one filled magazine was found on one of the dhows," Indian Navy said.

The weapon and ammunition were confiscated.
Heated arguments were exchanged as Arvind Kejriwals counsel and senior advocate Ram Jethmalani cross-examined Arun Jaitley on Monday in Delhi High Court in connection with a defamation case. The proceedings were interrupted after the Minister objected to the use of the word crook against him.

Jaitley asked Jethmalani whether the word was used by him in his personal capacity or as per the instruction from Kejriwal.

I will aggravate the charges against the defendants (Kejriwal) There is a limit to personal malice, Jaitley said.

Asked to clarify the source of the word crook, Jethmalani said the word has been used by him on instruction from his client (Kejriwal).

Senior counsels Rajiv Nayyar and Sandeep Sethi representing Jaitley objected to Jethmalani referring to the Minister as being guilty of crime and crookery.

During the proceedings, Jethmalani and some lawyers defending the AAP leaders contended that Jaitley was not entitled to Rs. 10 crore damages he has sought from Kejriwal and others.

The Joint Registrar (JR) Deepali Sharma disallowed the question by Jethmalani in which he alleged Jaitley of trying to stall publication of an article in a newspaper.

The question is disallowed as the article has been observed to be irrelevant by the court on May 15, 2017. Moreover, the defendant number 1 (Kejriwal) is seeking to make specific inquiries into a matter, which is not in issue in the instant case, the JR said.

Jaitley was being cross-examined by Kejriwals counsel and senior advocate Jethmalani in connection with the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) defamation case filed by the Minister.

In December 2015, Jaitley filed a civil defamation case against Kejriwal and AAP leaders Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chaddha and Deepak Bajpayee, claiming that they made false and defamatory statements in the case involving DDCA, thereby harming his reputation.

Jaitley has sought Rs. 10 crore in damages from Kejriwal and other AAP leaders.

He had claimed that the AAP leaders attacked him over alleged irregularities and financial bungling in Delhis cricket association, of which he was the President for about 13 years.

The court has listed the case for further cross-examination on July 28 and 31.

(With agency inputs)
Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Sri Lanka was a grand success and enabled both countries to finalise a number of projects, including the Trincomalee port project, a minister here said.

Sri Lankas Minister on Special Assignment Sarath Amanugama, who was part of the official delegation headed by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeshinghe that took part in the One Belt, One Road initiative here, said talks were underway with India for its participation in free-trade zones in Trincomalee, Hambantota free trade as well as the Colombo port.

Modis visit was a grand success. The chemistry between our President, Prime Minister and Modi was excellent The interesting thing is that Modi made a clear statement that projects should be fast tracked, the minister told PTI.

India and Sri Lanka are in talks to jointly operate oil tanks at the strategic Trincomalee port. At least 73 of the 99 storage tanks in Trincomalee are to be managed under a new equity arrangement between India and Sri Lanka.

Calling both India and China friends, Amanugama said Sri Lanka doesnt see the world divided between the two countries.

Taking sides is not rational in Sri Lankas interest. No way we subscribe to the view that India and China have different interests, he said.

India is our brother,China is our friend. Our link with India is historical and geographical. Both are our friends. We dont see the world divided between India and China, he said.

Modi wrapped up his Sri Lanka visit last week during which he took part in the International Vesak Day celebrations and addressed Indian-origin Tamils.

Modi addressed Tamils of Indian origin in Dickoya town in the tea-growing Central Province of Sri Lanka and inaugurated a Rs. 150 crore super-specialty hospital built with Indias assistance.
Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire again on Wednesday by firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan army resorted to firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector from 0050 hours today, a defence spokesman said.

Pakistan troops also fired on forward posts and civilian areas last night along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. The firing continued till 0130 hours, the spokesman said.

He said the Pakistan army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 1830 hours last night along the LoC in Nowshera sector. The firing continued till 2100 hours yesterday.

The Pakistan Rangers fired shells on the intervening night of May 15 and 16 on forward areas and civilian belts along the LoC in three belts of Rajouri district.

The firing and shelling from across the border has affected over 10,000 people.

Civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera sector were pounded with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three others.

On May 13, Pakistani troops had pounded civilian areas and forward posts in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three.

On May 15, Pak troops resorted to fresh ceasefire violation along the LoC in Nowshera sector since 1600 hours till late night. Four villages in Nowshera have come under small arms fire from across the LOC in Nowshera.

Shelling started in Ans Bhandhaar areas of Nowshera in Rajouri at 2255 hours night of May 15 and 16. Lam and Kalsian areas were also affected, Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

Interdepartmental teams deputed by District Administration for damage assessment reported small arms firing begins at 4 PM on May 15 in village Sarya followed by villages Khamba, Anwas and Bhandar, Choudhary said.

Nearly 1700 people have already been evacuated from the LoC hamlets hit by shelling from Pakistani side and shifted to relief camps.

Around 10,042 people from over 2,694 families have been affected by the continued shelling from across the border, the DC said.

The district administration has provided an immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the dead and financial assistance to the injured, he said.

Choudhary said the administration is prepared to make more relief camps as more than 25 buildings have been earmarked.

He added that students' classes will be resumed this week to ensure that education doesn't suffer.

Six ambulances have been pressed into action for shifting of injured and treatment. One mobile medical unit was stationed at Nowshera and another deputed to forward areas, he said.

According to a Home Ministry reply to an RTI, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) 449 times in 2016 as compared to 405 violations in 2015. 23 security personnel were killed in the two-year period.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Lakshadweep in November, BJP president Amit Shah, who is on a three-day visit to the islands, said.

He said Kavaratti will be included in the Smart city project of the Centre and thrust would be given for development of infrastructure in the inhabited islands of Lakshadweep.

Also, steps will be taken to provide drinking water to all the 10 inhabited islands  Agatti, Amini, Androth, Bitra, Kadamath, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Minicoy and Chetlat  within two years, the BJP chief said.

"The prime minister will visit the island territory on November-end and will stay the whole day," Shah said at a public meeting here last night.

The BJP president said after returning to Delhi he would prepare a project for the 10 islands of Lakshadweep and more cargo vessels, cold storage facilities and 4G connectivity would be provided.

He also interacted with members of the BJP's Lakshadweep state committee here.

In a tweet yesterday, Shah had said, "Reached Lakshadweep for my 3-day booth pravas.. Different states, different people, different cultures but same passion and support for BJP.
President Pranab Mukherjee will on Thursday inaugurate eastern Indias first full-fledged healthcare institute dedicated to liver diseases in West Bengal as part of his two-day tour to the state, officials said on Wednesday.

Mukherjee will inaugurate the Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences, set up by the Liver Foundation West Bengal, in Sonarpur, Kolkata.

The Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences, spread over a four-acre plot, has a 100-bed inpatient section and will be a boon for people suffering from liver diseases, which claim an estimated 2 lakh lives every year in India.

He will also receive the first copy of a book, titled 'Metaphysics, Morals and Politics, from Prof. Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay at a function in the Raj Bhavan later in the day.

On Friday, the president will attend a medical award ceremony following which he will inaugurate an integrated rooftop power generating facility at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology at Shibpur in Howrah.

He will then leave for Delhi.

(With inputs from agencies)
In the wake of Pakistan violating ceasefire in Balakote sector of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian security forces on Wednesday morning carried out search operation in Heff and Shirmal villages of Shopian district.

The Indian Army launched the massive anti-terror operation after receiving information about the presence of militants in the area. Around 1,000 army personnel and police force have been deployed for the operation.

The search operation comes on a day when Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat are scheduled visit the state to review the security situation there.

The visit comes in the wake of beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani Army in Poonch district earlier this month which was termed barbaric by India.

According to reports, Pakistan on Tuesday had resorted to shelling and firing for the fourth consecutive day on forward posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district even as nearly 1,700 people have been evacuated from shelling-hit areas.

(With inputs from agencies)
Kolkata, May 17 (IBNS): President Pranab Mukherjee is coming to West Bengal on Thursday on a two-day visit, officials said.

He will be attending a few programmes during his stay at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata.

The President will inaugurate the Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences at Sonarpur on Thursday.

Later the President will receive first copy of the book Metaphysics, Morals and Politics from the Prof Amal Kumar Mujhopadhyay, former Principal of Presidency College.

On Friday, the President will inaugurate the Integrated Renewable Energy Smart Micro Grid Centre and also lay the foundation stone of Rabindranath Tagore Academic Complex at Indian Institute of Engineering, Science & Technology (IIEST), Shibpur, Howrah.

Besides, Mukherjee will also present Dr Malati Allen Noble Award and will receive the first copy of books like Jnan, Ajnan o Bigyan before leaving for New Delhi in the afternoon.
Had the reputation of the Central Bureau of Investigation not consistently sustained such self-inflicted injury when probing politically-tinted matters, it would have been fair to raise three cheers to the Delhi High Court for transferring to it the investigation of the disappearance of Najeeb Ahmad, a first-year student of Jawaharlal Nehru University ~ he has been missing since 15 October, a day after an altercation with members of the BJP-affiliated ABVP. Though judicial sobriety restrained the court from delving into politics when divesting the Delhi Police of the probe and entrusting it to the CBI, not many will share the partial satisfaction of Najeebs mother that the quality of investigation will improve after the court directed that a senior CBI officer monitor the inquiry. Apart from apprehensions that the CBI will soft-pedal the ABVP angle, the reality remains that so much time has elapsed that it would be difficult to now pick up a credible trail. It is virtually impossible to ignore how subsequent investigations into the massacre of Sikhs in Delhi after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 have led nowhere simply because the initial probes were indifferent ~ or worse. There is, admittedly, little evidence to confirm the allegations of the student community that foul play was at work in Najeebs disappearance, but even their Lordships will be aware that their action has only token significance, and comes a trifle too late. It will require a mini-miracle to establish the truth ~ whatever that may turn out to be. Is the CBI mentally prepared to attempt that kind of challenge?

What remains truly worrisome is that despite several adverse observations on the Delhi Polices investigations, the home ministry, senior police officials and indeed the court itself have not directed a thorough probe into the manner in which the capitals constabulary conducted the inquiry. The police have been brazen ~ had the whip been cracked soon after Najeeb went missing there would have been a more balanced approach when the agitation broke out at Ramjas College. The statements from some BJP leaders, and the certificate issued to the police by the more loyal than the king minister of state for home affairs leaves few neutral observers convinced that there is no tilt towards saffron. The several infirmities the High Court has noticed in the Delhi Polices probe into the Najeeb affair cannot be wished away: the court has itself observed that the next victim could be someone with an entirely different political perspective. That is in itself a grave indictment of the manner in which the police conducted itself in this matter, a sad reflection on the personnel involved. A politicised police rings alarm bells for democracy ~ that too in the national Capital.
China has deepened its influence on ASEAN nations, and the just-concluded ASEAN Summit with its chairmans watered-down statement stands testimony to this.

This China factor  coming on the back of Beijings huge investments as well as more intense diplomatic activity in the region may continue to feature prominently in future ASEAN meetings  at least for this year.

China is currently the biggest trading partner of most of ASEAN members, and their biggest or a significant investor.

The outcome of the recent meeting of the 10 top leaders of ASEAN  Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam  shows the majority wanted a non-confrontational approach towards the Middle Kingdom on the South China Sea issue.

Before the April 28-29 ASEAN Summit, there were expectations that most ASEAN heads of state would raise concerns over Chinas conduct in the disputed waters of South China Sea.

China is claiming most of the energyrich South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion worth of trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan, also have sovereign claims.

But in recent months, China has not only built reefs and structures in several parts of the disputed area, it has also installed military facilities there, according to reports citing satellite images.

Due to a growing Sino-Philippine rapprochement, few expected Rodrigo Duterte  the Philippines president who is the rotating chairman of ASEAN this year  to take a tough stance. However, it was unacceptable to many to see the removal of the term serious concern from the chairmans final statement after the conclusion of the summit. These words reportedly had appeared in previous ASEAN pronouncements.

Chinas influence in ASEAN has increased, but this is expected. However, ASEAN chairing country does have an important role in shaping the outcome of summits and meetings, says Ngeow Chow Bing, deputy director of Institute of China Studies, Universiti Malaya.

If the chairman decides not to pursue a certain stand or posture, this will be reflected in the outcome. Given that under Duterte, a new, more conciliatory policy has taken shape in the Philippines, this outcome is something not too surprising for us, he says.

Since becoming president last year, Duterte has reoriented Philippines foreign policy. He is working on rebuilding Sino-Filipino ties to bring in Chinese investments into his country, after a fiveyear hiatus.

He started his overtures by sidelining a landmark arbitration case that decided in favour of Manila. The July 2016 Hague ruling invalidated Chinas claim of sovereignty over South China Sea. China refused to recognize the decision.

Following a visit to Beijing last October, Duterte saw positive results from his policy change.

Fruit exports to China resumed and Filipinos were allowed to fish in disputed waters. Beijings promised soft loans and multi-billion dollar investments are being discussed. Chinese tourists are returning in droves.

Duterte told reporters it was pointless for ASEAN to pressure China. In his opening address to the summit, he made no mention of South China Sea. Dutertes overly pro-China moves have caused unease. Richard Javad Heydarian, political science professor at De La Salle University in the Philippines, writes in his opinion piece:

During the ASEAN Summit in Manila, reports suggest that Duterte not only declined to raise the Philippines arbitration case, he also vetoed any reference to Chinas massive reclamation activities which have given rise to a sprawling network of military facilities in the high seas.

This resulted in a chairmans statement taking a softer stand on South China Sea maritime issues. By any measure, this was a slam-dunk diplomatic victory for Beijing, which has sought to court Duterte by offering multibillion-dollar investments and the prospect of joint development deals in contested waters.

He warns that ASEAN, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, risks fading into irrelevance and risks undermining its internal cohesion and centrality as an engine of peaceful integration in the region. China is satisfied with Manila. On May 2, it welcomed the chairmans statement and reaffirmed cooperation with ASEAN on the South China Sea issue.

According to Ngeows observation, ASEAN members that had stood by Duterte were Laos and Cambodia  two of the worlds least-developed and poorest nations that have benefited tremendously from Chinas investments.

From the very beginning, China has been helping socialist Laos  largely shunned by investors. Chinas cumulative investments in almost all sectors totalled more than $5 billion. Currently, China is also building a $7 billion, 1,022-km China-Laos high-speed rail scheduled to complete in 2020.

Cambodia, which only attained peace in 1989 after being devastated by civil war and Vietnamese invasion, saw aid and investments coming from China since 1994. With total investments of over $10 billion within 1994-2012, Chinese firms are now in control of Cambodias power supply.

It is no wonder that in 2012, while serving as rotating chair of ASEAN, Cambodia stopped ASEAN foreign ministers from issuing a joint communique that contained wordings on the disputed South China Sea. Echoing the stance of China, Cambodia said these disputes were bilateral rather than multilateral. Traditionally, Thailand and Myanmar have been neutral on the South China Sea issue as they are not claimants, says Ngeow. Hence, it was likely they did not push for the issue at the Manila Summit.

Currently, China is Thailands largest trading partner and second largest foreign investor. It has named Thailand as a recipient country under the Belt and Road initiative of President Xi Jinping due to its location and close ties with China.

According to a Reuters report, four ASEAN member states had disagreed with omitting land reclamation and militarization from the chairmans statement.

The three nations that held strong views for a joint stand on the maritime waters were Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. Malaysia  which had in the past taken a very conciliatory stance on South China Sea issue  was lumped together with the three nations by news reports. Hence, in terms of number these four countries were in the minority at the summit.

According to Heydarian, Dutertes decision to block any robust ASEAN statement on South China Sea disputes was likely due to the deals Manila might sign with Beijing. He is scheduled to meet Xi on the sidelines of the May 14-15 BeltRoad conference.

Duterte will likely seek not only major trade and investment deals, but also explore a modus vivendi which will allow the Philippines to have easier access to contested waters and resources in the South China Sea, says Heydarian.

In addition, the ASEAN Summit was tame on China partly because nations have witnessed the impact of Chinas action or inaction. Due to its pro-U.S. policy, South Koreas tourism and retail investments have been hit recently.

Many ASEAN nations are eager to seek economic benefit from China. Continued world economic doldrums means China investments are increasingly important for many ASEAN members, says Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University.

But economic deals and economic ties might not be the sole influencing factor. Many nations think about the longterm consequence of a China-confrontational policy. And also, can the United States always be counted on? Compared to the U.S., China is a geopolitical fact, a permanent presence in the region, says Ngeow.

The Star/ANN
India recently hosted (5th-9th May) the Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders. As this was not a state visit, it went relatively unnoticed in the mainstream media. This came after a tense visit to New Delhi by Turkish President Recep Erdogan and preceded Mr. Narendra Modis visit to Sri Lanka. In June 2015, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had met the Indian Prime Minister on a state visit to New Delhi along with a trade mission of more than 80 Dutch companies where some 43 agreements were signed with Indian companies, setting the stage for further cooperation.

The Dutch minister told his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj that Netherlands is serving as a valuable partner in the governments Make in India, Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Smart Cities programs, etc. The Netherlands has certainly assimilated the governments penchant for acronyms, LOTUS (Local Treatment of Urban Sewage Systems for Healthy Re-use) a project for the clean-up of the Barapullah drain in New Delhi and DIWALI (Dutch-Indo Water Alliance Leadership Initiative) a waste-water project in Baroda, being projects for which the foundation stones were laid by the visiting minister.

In a signal of how seriously Netherlands views India, a Consulate was opened in Bangalore in addition to the one in Mumbai. Mr. Koenders also paid a visit to Aleppy in Kerala, called by some the Leiden/Venice of India  for its beautiful canals  the cleaning up of which is done with the help of Dutch companies. Kerala also has significant historical importance for the more than 400-year-old IndiaDutch relationship.

Indian historian and now government servant Sanjeev Sanyal in an insightful talk at the Jawaharlal Nehru University titled Indias maritime history remarked that the Battle of Colachel (1741) where the Travancore king Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch maritime force was probably the reason his lecture was being delivered in English and not Dutch. Keeping the long eye of history aside, the fact is that, there is much more to be desired in the Netherlands-India relationship.

Annual trade between India and Netherlands stands at 6 billion Euros. Netherlands and India are among the five largest investors of FDI in each others countries. In a talk at the Confederation of Indian Industry, the visiting minister stressed on the fact that Netherlands could be Indias gateway to Europe. Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe already serves as a trading route for many Indian goods entering Europe, and moving on from there to other parts of the world. The Port of Rotterdam has entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to lend its expertise in a slew of projects including planning for new ports and churning out skilled professionals in shipping and transport sectors.

Netherlands is also a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group  the elite grouping that New Delhi has made a bid to join. Netherlands has actively supported Indias membership to the NSG and from 2 to 12 May 2017 the Netherlands chaired the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 2020 Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had visited The Hague in March 2014 for the Nuclear Security Summit where he also had a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Education and business represent the best opportunities for cooperation between countries. The Netherlands-India Chamber of Commerce and Trade serves as the apex meeting point for industry representatives from both countries. 200 Indian companies are active in the Netherlands and more than 115 Dutch companies have a presence in India. Dutch companies are particularly active in the field of water management, where they have expertise because their survival as a country which is below sea level is directly contingent on the management of dykes and water levels. Dutch companies are also active in the health care, mobility, agriculture and horticulture, and urban planning areas in India.

There has been a particular focus on linking Indian and Dutch Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)  the bedrock of both economies. This relationship is characterised by a focus on jobs and growth. The SME Chamber of India website states that IndiaNetherlands SME Business Council will act as a bridge to exchange information on business, import, export, joint ventures, technology transfers, contract manufacturing tie up and other business opportunities in various sectors as well as investment promotion in both the countries.

India has been focusing on getting its states involved in trade promotion and attracting foreign investment. A dedicated States Division at the Ministry of External Affairs has been set up. It is therefore of importance that the visiting minister had meetings with Karnataka Minister of Heavy Industries RV Deshpande and the Kerala Finance and Transport Minister Dr. Thomas Isaac. On a visit in 2015, the Dutch Prime Minister has offered expertise in the building of the coastal road in Mumbai. Netherlands has also signed an MoU with Uttar Pradesh for the setting up of a Skill Development Centre.

In the education sphere, the EUMIND (Europe Meets India) programme connects a number of Dutch and Indian high schools for cultural and student exchange activities. This and cooperation agreements between universities of the two countries have helped in getting people of the two countries together. Leiden University has since 2010 had a Long-Term Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Chair for study of Contemporary India.

As tighter immigration and visa requirements in the United States and the United Kingdom are set to come into force, Netherlands certainly has great potential in challenging these two countries as the preferred higher educational destination for Indian students. There are now about 1,500 full time Indian students enrolled in Dutch universities compared to more than 4,000 Chinese. But there are less than 15 Dutch students enrolled in Indian colleges. Working on improved co-operation in this field is of immense importance.

Netherlands has just come out of a bitterly-contested general election with incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte successfully holding out against the far-right candidate Geert Wilders. This victory of the liberal establishment should provide impetus for India to engage more constructively. As Netherlands continues to face challenges to its multiculturalism with the problems of integrating refuges, maybe taking a leaf out of Indias Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb will come in handy for the Dutch.

The Dutch long famous for their height, cheese, tulips and openness have a lot to offer to India. In the four months that I have spent here as an exchange student, I have come to realise that they have a love for all things Indian. In Netherlands, there is also a large population of Indianorigin people from the Dutch colony of Suriname in South America. Between 1873 and 1916, 34,000 people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were taken as indentured labour to work on plantations in various British and Dutch colonies.

The 200,000 Dutch Surinamese speak their own version of Bhojpuri and represent the second largest grouping of Indian origin people in Europe after the United Kingdom. The government has been undertaking schemes such as the Know India Programme aimed at children of People of Indian Origin (PIO) to connect with their roots. The Netherlands also has a large number of roads and statues dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and improving this relationship would certainly be a lasting legacy to the father of the nation.

The writer is a student at the WB National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata and is currently doing his exchange at Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
Human teeth evolved from the same genes that make the bizarre beaked teeth of the pufferfish, according to a new research published on Wednesday which may help explain tooth loss in humans.

The study, led by Gareth Fraser from the University of Sheffield's Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, found that the pufferfish had a remarkably similar tooth-making programme to other vertebrates, including humans.

Publishedin the journal PNAS, the research done by an international team of scientists found that all vertebrates have some form of dental regeneration potential.

However, the pufferfish use the same stem cells for tooth regeneration as humans do but only replace some teeth with elongated bands that form their characteristic beak.

The study's authors, which include researchers from the Natural History Museum London and the University of Tokyo, believe the research can now be used to address questions of tooth loss in humans.

Our study questioned how pufferfish make a beak and now we've discovered the stem cells responsible and the genes that govern this process of continuous regeneration. These are also involved in general vertebrate tooth regeneration, including in humans, Fraser said.

The fact that all vertebrates regenerate their teeth in the same way with a set of conserved stem cells means that we can use these studies in more obscure fishes to provide clues to how we can address questions of tooth loss in humans, he said.

The unique pufferfish beak is one of the most extraordinary forms of evolutionary novelty.

This bizarre structure has evolved through the modification of dental replacement.

The beak is composed of four elongated tooth bands which are replaced again and again.

However, instead of losing teeth when they are replaced, the pufferfish fuses multiple generations of teeth together, which gives rise to the beak, enabling them to crush incredibly hard prey.

We are interested in the developmental origin of the pufferfish beak as it presents a special opportunity to understand how evolutionary novelty can arise in vertebrates more generally, said Alex Thiery, a PhD student at the University of Sheffield who contributed to the study.

Vertebrates are extraordinarily diverse, however this doesn't mean that they are dissimilar in the way in which they develop. Our work on the pufferfish beak demonstrates the dramatic effect that small changes in development can have, Thiery said.

Meanwhile, in another study published in the journal EvoDevo, Fraser and his team from the Sheffield university have also found that shark skin teeth (tooth-like scales called denticles) have the same developmental origins as reptile scales, bird feathers and human hair.

Previous studies said human hair, reptile scales and bird feathers evolved from a single ancestor a reptile that lived 300 million years ago, but this new study found that the skin teeth found on sharks also developed from the same genes.

Our study suggests the same genes are instrumental in the early development of all skin appendages from feathers and hair to shark skin teeth. Even though the final structures are very different this paper reveals that the developmental origins of all these structures are similar, Fraser said.
Armed attackers on Wednesday stormed the building of Afghanistans National Radio Television in the eastern city of Jalalabad, TV news channels reported.

At least four attackers entered the Afghan state television compound and engaged in a gun battle with security forces.

Heavy gunfire could be heard from around the building of RTA, Afghanistans national broadcaster, located close to the provincial governors compound.

Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar, the eastern province on the border with Pakistan where Islamic State fighters have established a stronghold, but there is also a strong Taliban presence in the region.

No insurgent group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack in Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State jihadists, where the US military dropped a massive bomb last month.

Two of them have been killed and one is still resisting, a government spokesperson was quoted as saying. Details are still awaited.

Details are still awaited.

(With inputs from agencies)
The defence team of former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday said they will lodge a new complaint with the UN's Committee on Human Rights, saying Lula has been suffering politically motivated judicial persecution.

Since July 2016, lawyers Cristiano Zanin Martins and Roberto Teixeira have accused Sergio Moro, the judge overseeing Operation Car Wash anti-corruption investigation, of not being impartial toward Lula and putting his rights in danger, Xinhua news agency reported.

In October, the UN agreed to evaluate the case but has provided no opinion regarding Lula so far. Such investigations are confidential and can take up to two years.

Since then, Lula's lawyers have regularly provided new documents to the Committee on Human Rights to back up their claim.

The UN could decide not to accept the case or could send recommendations to the Brazilian government on the operation of its judicial system.

This week, Lula's chief lawyer, British human rights expert Geoffrey Robertson, will hold a press conference in Geneva to explain the situation to the international press.

Last week, Lula was interrogated by Moro and said the charges against him were "a farce".

Lula is accused of being guilty of passive corruption and money laundering for having received assets from the construction company OAS worth a total of 3.7 million reais ($1.15 million), in exchange for favouring the company with public contracts.

In total, the former President is facing five separate legal cases, which could stop him from running in the 2018 presidential elections.
A sharia court on Wednesday sentenced two men to be publicly caned for gay sex for the first time in Indonesia's conservative province of Aceh, the latest sign of a backlash against homosexuals in the Muslim-majority country.

The pair, aged 20 and 23, were sentenced to 85 strokes of the cane each after being found guilty of breaking Aceh's strict Islamic laws.

They were caught together in bed in March by vigilantes who burst into the boarding house where they were staying in provincial capital Banda Aceh.

Presiding judge Khairil Jamal told the court that the men had been "proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing gay sex, the defendants are sentenced to 85 strokes of the cane in public".

Officials have not revealed the men's names due to the sensitivity of the case. The sentence will be carried out at a later date.

Aceh is the only part of Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, that is allowed to implement sharia law and public canings for offences ranging from gambling to drinking alcohol were already common.

But the men found guilty Wednesday will be the first to be subject to the punishment for gay sex, which was banned in Aceh under a regulation introduced in 2015. Gay sex is not illegal in the rest of Indonesia.

The verdict is the latest example of growing hostility towards Indonesia's small lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, which faced a backlash last year with government ministers publicly making anti-gay statements.

After the men were caught in the raid in March in the provincial capital Banda Aceh, phone footage circulated online showing the vigilantes kicking, slapping and insulting them, with one of them slumped naked on the ground.

They were then turned over to the sharia police.

Authorities said the pair admitted to being in a relationship and having had sex three times.
Militant group Islamic State on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack on the building of Afghanistans National Radio Television in the eastern city of Jalalabad that killed a security guard along with three attackers and wounded at least 17 people.

At least three attackers entered the Afghan state television compound and engaged in a gun battle with security forces.

Heavy gunfire could be heard from around the building of RTA, Afghanistans national broadcaster, located close to the provincial governors compound.

Two of the attackers blew themselves up at the start of the operation but a third engaged security forces in a heavy gunbattle before being killed.

Nine of the 17 wounded were discharged from a hospital after being treated, reports stated.

Islamic State has recently been hit hard by US air strikes and special forces operations.

Islamic State has established a stronghold in the province bordering Pakistan, where it fights both the Taliban and Afghan government forces.

(With inputs from agencies)
Israel will maintain strong military ties with the US, the country's Defense Minister said on Wednesday.

The statement was the first Israeli comment following US President Donald Trump's alleged intelligence leak reports, Xinhua news agency reported.

The relationship with the US "is unprecedented in its contribution to our strength. This is how it has been and how it will continue to be", Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

He said the US had been Israel's closest ally and this alliance "is deep, significant and unprecedented in volume".

The Washington Post reported on Monday that Trump leaked "highly classified information" regarding the Islamic State in Syria to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as well as Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak during a White House meeting last week.

According to reports, US officials said the alleged leak endangered the life of a spy planted within the IS by Israel.

Trump defended his right to share anti-terrorist information with Russia. However, he did not tell whether it was highly classified.

Trump is expected to arrive in Israel on May 22 for his first official visit to the country.
Guwahati, May 17 (IBNS): A powerful explosion rocked the Indo-Myanmar border area in Manipur on Wednesday evening, officials said.

There have no report of any casualty in the explosion.

According to the reports, a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was exploded at Kut ground near Moreh Youth Club in ward number 2 in Moreh town along the Indo-Myanmar border.

Following the explosion, top army and police officials rushed the bordering area and started investigation.

Meanwhile, a top official of Manipur police said that, suspected militants are behind the explosion.

On May 8, an army jawan was killed and three others including a Junior Commanding Officer ( JCO) were injured in a powerful IED blast triggered by suspected militants at Moreh in Manipur along the Indo-Myanmar border.

The blast took place very close to International border with Myanmar hit the vehicle, where the army personnel of the 165 Territorial Army were traveling.

The blast was triggered by the suspected militants using remote control when the army vehicle passing on the NH-102 at the area.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
North Korea has justified its latest long-, medium-range ballistic missile test-firing as "routine work to raise nuclear capability for self-defence", rejecting the UN Security Council's condemnation.

"The successful test-fire of Hwasong-12 is of special significance in ensuring peace and stability in the Korean peninsula, and it is the greatest victory of the Korean people," Xinhau news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying on Tuesday.

North Korea is also stepping up diplomatic actions to seek support and understanding from other countries over its missile launch.

The Foreign Ministry on Monday briefed envoys of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-states on the present situation.

North Korean officials accused the US of pressuring other countries into severing or degrading diplomatic ties with it by misusing "sanction resolutions" against it.

They were referring to a recent meeting between US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Asean officials in Washington, during which Tillerson called on Asean countries to degrade diplomatic ties and cut interactions with North Korea.

"Such pressure by use of 'sanction resolutions' devoid of legality, morality and impartiality is a blatant infringement on the independence of a sovereign state and act of interference in others' internal affairs," said a senior North Korean diplomat.

North Korea on Sunday test-fired a ballistic missile, which "accurately hit" the targeted open waters 787 km away after flying to a maximum altitude of 2,111.5 km.

Both the UN Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday slammed the missile launches.

The UN Security Council "strongly condemned the most recent ballistic missile launches" conducted by North Korea on April 28 and May 13, the 15-nation UN body said in a statement.


UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is watching the rising tensions between India and Pakistan very closely and reiterates the need for the South Asian neighbours to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue.

Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, responding to a question at the daily press briefing yesterday, asserted that the Secretary General is not reluctant to focus on the issue.

"I don't think it's a matter of reluctance. As I said, he's obviously watching the situation very closely and reiterates his need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue," Dujarric said.

The Secretary-General, "a student of history", knows what has happened, Dujarric said referring to similar tense and volatile situations in the world.

Dujarric has repeatedly said that Guterres is following the situation in Kashmir amid escalating tensions at the border between India and Pakistan.

The UN Chief has not made any direct intervention to resolve the issue and his spokesperson has repeatedly said the UN Chief reiterates his call for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue.


Chelsea Manning, the transgender US soldier convicted of espionage for providing national security secrets to Wikileaks, was released from a military prison on Wednesday.

Manning, behind one of the largest classified information leaks in US history, left Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas in the morning, Lt. Col. Jennifer Johnson told CNN.

Manning was convicted in 2013 of stealing 750,000 pages of documents and videos pertaining to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as sensitive State Department cables before leaking them to WikiLeaks.

Manning  earlier known as Bradley Manning  was sentenced to 35 years in prison on 20 counts, including violations of the Espionage Act.

After the 2013 sentencing, the ex-intelligence agent changed the name to Chelsea Manning and became a transgender woman.

In January, former US President Barack Obama commuted Manning's sentence, thereby giving her an early release date.

Amnesty International, which had campaigned for Manning's release, was quick to applaud the decision.

" We will continue to call for an independent investigation into the potential human rights violations Manning exposed, and for protections to be put in place to ensure whistleblowers like Chelsea are never again subjected to such appalling treatment," a statement by Amnesty International said.

Last week, Manning tweeted her excitement about her impending release: "Freedom was only a dream, and hard to imagine. Now it's here! You kept me alive <3"

Manning had to serve her sentence in an all-male military prison despite a request to transfer to a civilian prison, said the report.

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world," she said in a written statement.

Manning remains on active duty status pending the conclusion of her appeals. As such, she may be entitled to military benefits, including healthcare.

Manning was one of the first service members to access transgender health care benefits under new policy and the first to be approved for gender reassignment surgery in military prison.
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New Delhi, May 17 (IBNS): Amid speculations over the Presidential candidate, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday hinted that there might not be a second term for Pranab Mukherjee.

Top BJP sources told NDTV that the party does not want to nominate President Pranab Mukherjee for a second term.

On Tuesday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, after a meeting with the Congress national president Sonia Gandhi, said that her Trinamool Congress are in favour of a consensus candidate for the presidential election.

"We will decide a consensus candidate from the opposition who will be better for the country, because the country is important," Banerjee had said.

While interacting with the media after the meet, Banerjee had said that she might again meet Sonia next week to discuss on presidential election.

The term of Pranab Mukherjee as a president will expire in the month of July and to decide on the possible face to be projected by the opposition for the presidential election, WB CM flew to the national capital to meet Gandhi, a day back.

Though Banerjee did not reveal the details of the meeting with the Congress national president, she said that there were no name for the post discussed in the course of the discussion.


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New York, May 17(Just Earth News): The United Nations migration agency on Tuesday warned that while hundreds of thousands of people displaced from Mosul have braved the ongoing offensive to oust the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daaesh), the beleaguered citizens are now struggling to cope with another danger a the sweltering summer heat.

With temperatures nearing 37 degrees Celsius and rising, the coming months will be trying, said UN Migration Agency (IOM) communications officer Hala Jaber.

From June onwards, temperatures in the Ninewa governorate will hit, and sometimes surpass, the 50 mark. The PVC tents that provided warmth during the cold winter will be hard to tolerate in summer, as temperatures inside register at least 10 higher than outside.

The scorching heat is already impacting health and living conditions at IOMs emergency site at the former Qayara airstrip, which hosts over 52,000 displaced Iraqis or 8,746 families.

Thirty-seven-year old Thaer, who returned to Qayara after his six-month-old son was treated for acute dehydration sleeps outside to escape the suffocating heat.

During the day, the tents are very hot and at night unbearable with all of us inside. So, I and my older children are sleeping outside the tent to escape the heat, he said.

At full capacity, IOM teams are in the process of ensuring that all internally displaced persons (IDPs) are equipped with basic materials to help alleviate summer discomfort, including supplementary mini kits  containing 40-litre capacity cool boxes, battery-rechargeable fans and summer bed linens  for distribution to some 7,790 families in Qayara and neighbouring Haj Ali camp.

Another 5,400 or so summer kits have already been distributed to IDP families from West Mosul, who have arrived in the emergency sites since the end of March 2017.

IOMs primary health centres in both Qayara and Haj Ali, home to 34,000 people, each serve an average of 1,800 patients per week with medication. Displaced people with scabies have also been seeking treatment in IOMs medical centre in Qayara, prompting the primary health care to set specific morning hours, exclusive to these cases. Winter colds have been replaced by diarrhoea and dehydration, particularly among children.

With only 33 per cent of the required $28.83 million needed by IOM for the Mosul response, the funding gap is having a significant impact on IOMs ability to effectively provide for the scale of needs created by the Mosul crisis.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced Iraqis from Mosul have escaped the conflict but now need humanitarian assistance to survive. Forced to flee their homes and exposed to the elements, they are especially vulnerable to the hot summer weather, said IOM Iraq Chief of Mission Thomas Lothar Weiss.

IOM staff are providing emergency assistance at full capacity, but additional funding is required to cover the massive scope of the Mosul crisis needs: shelter, medical services, household items, and more, without which displaced Iraqis will continue to be at risk, he added.

Photo: IOM

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Olympic gold medalist Kaetlyn Osmond can't wait to skate in front of Newfoundland crowd for her first performance since COVID

When Kaetlyn Osmond steps on the ice at the Mary Browns Centre in St. Johns next month, it will be the first time the Marystown native has performed on ice in front of an audience since before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. It's also the ...
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): Two-thirds of internally displaced Ukrainians are struggling financially; many without even enough money for food, according to the latest report by the United Nations migration agency on the situation in the crisis-torn country.

In its report National Monitoring System on Situation of IDPs in Ukraine, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), reveals that on average, income per internally displaced person (IDP) in Ukraine is 1,991 Ukrainian Hryvnia  or $75 per month, approximately $2.50 per day. While a loaf of bread costing about 0.40, some 21 per cent are surviving on less than $2 a day.

Lack of support in finding relevant solutions for IDPs and returnees hinders their integration and creates dependencies on government and aid organizations, said IOM Ukraine Chief of Mission, Manfred Profazi, in a press statement.

As of April, Ukraines Ministry of Social Policy has registered some 1.5 million IDPs since 2014. Since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine, IOM has provided support to some 138,000 conflict-affected people. Its current focus lies in providing income opportunities for IDPs and conflict-affected populations, and facilitating social cohesion, recovery and peacebuilding.

On a positive note, the level of employed IDPs has increased slightly, from 35 per cent in March 2016, when the first IOM survey was conducted, to 42 per cent currently. However, when compared to the situation before displacement, employment levels remain quite low  approximately one third of those working before the conflict remain unable find a new job.

Other problematic issues are living conditions and payment for rent and utilities. Two thirds of IDPs dwell in rented housing, while one fifth stay with relatives or host families. Only one per cent of people in the Government-controlled part of Ukraine live in their own home.

The survey shows great uncertainty about the future. A quarter of IDPs say they will never move back to their places of origin. Thirty-nine per cent would like to return when the conflict is over. Another 17 per cent said that they may consider returning in the future.

With the National Monitoring System, IOM aims to assist the Government in improving its knowledge about the situation and the needs of IDPs, continued Profazi. We want to highlight emerging trends so that the Government can better develop evidence-based policies to address IDPs needs.

At the joint presentation of the survey in Kyiv, Deputy Minister of Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs, Heorhii Tuka, stressed the importance of data collection and IOMs expertise in shaping strategy and planning practical steps to support the well-being and integration of IDPs.

Photo: IOM/V.Shuvayev

Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): Poverty continues to impact the lives of Middle Eastern and Northern African children, according to new analysis from the United Nations Childrenas Fund (UNICEF), which highlights that millions of the regionas young people live without quality health care or decent housing.

Based on research among children in 11 countries, UNICEF says that the lives of at least 29 million children  or one in four in the region  are deprived of two or more of the most basic life necessities including basic education, nutritious food, quality safe water, sanitation and access to information.

The outcome of the UNICEF research has been presented ahead of the first-ever conference on child poverty in the region, which is currently taking place in Rabat, Morocco.

While at the conference in Rabat, the UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Geert Cappelaere, explained that child poverty is about much more than family income  it is about access to quality education, healthcare, a home and safe water.

He also warns that future families could become impoverished for at least three generation. When children are deprived of the basics, they are at risk of getting trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.

Looking back, UNICEF notes that important progress has been made in most countries to reduce poverty, but at the same time the number of children living in poverty continues to be high, particularly in conflict-affected countries, which are seeing a rapid regression of gains made in past decades.

UNICEFs key findings

Among others, the study finds that:

Lack of education was found to be one of the key drivers of inequality and poverty for children. Children who live in households that are headed by an uneducated family member are twice as likely to live in poverty. One quarter of children aged 5 to 17 are not enrolled in school or have fallen two grades behind;

Almost half of all children live in inadequate housing with poor flooring and overcrowding;

Almost half of all children are not fully immunized or were born to mothers who did not get enough antenatal care or birth assistance; and that

One in five children are forced to walk more than 30 minutes to fetch water or use unsafe drinking water. More than one third of children live in homes with no tap water.

Looking ahead

UNICEF warns that major regional challenges stand in the way of measuring the impact of poverty on children and taking collective action towards poverty alleviation. The agency says there is a risk that existing policies and actions fall short from addressing child poverty effectively in absence of a full understanding of childrens reality, including the most marginalised or invisible ones.

The return on investing in the most vulnerable children now is a peaceful and prosperous region in the future, says Cappelaere. It takes a combination of true leadership and courageous public and private investment from governments, civil society, private sector, individuals and the international community.

Photo: UNICEF/Wathiq Khuzaie

Source: www.justearthnews.com

Keyword: children, North Africa, Middle East, poverty, UNICEF
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New York, May 17(Just Earth News): During his first working visit to Mali, United Nations peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix met on Tuesday in the capital, Bamako, with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and other senior Malian officials, whom he thanked for their constructive and sustained cooperation with the UN integrated mission in the country, known by the French acronym, MINUSMA.

Lacroix, the Under Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations, also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of International Cooperation and African Integration, Abdoulaye Diop, as well as the High Representative of the President for implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, Mahamadou Diagouraga.

Meeting with President Keita, Lacroix hand-delivered a letter from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres encouraging further progress on the peace agreement, as well as expressing support for the G5 regional initiative, as the Group of Five for the Sahel  formed in 2014 by Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger  is known.

Accompanied by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Mali, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, these meetings provided an opportunity to discuss the peace process and challenges, particularly in the security field.

Lacroix thanked Malian officials for their constructive and sustained cooperation with MINUSMA, the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission, in fulfilling its mandate. As part of his first working visit, he was in Timbuktu with Annadif to visit the Liberian contingent at the site of the attack on 3 May in which one of their comrades was killed and nine others were wounded.

Lacroix paid tribute to the fallen peacekeeper and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded. He also conveyed his solidarity when he met with civilian and uniformed staff and thanked them for their dedication and sacrifices in very difficult conditions.

Photo: MINUSMA

Source: www.justearthnews.com
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 ...
A lot has been written about Manisha Koirala since the news of her comeback to films broke. She has been away for almost six years, but is currently on a promotional spree for her June 2 release, Dear Maya. She confesses the entire drill is 'tiring', but emphasises that she is completely 'committed' to the film and will follow the norm to promote it, without any compromises.



We met the actor, who had a long battle with cancer and some serious issues in her personal life, on a sultry Saturday afternoon in her Versova apartment. She has had a long night at a shoot and was a little under the weather, too. But she wore a smile throughout the conversation, sometimes even giggling like a young girl, especially while talking about her misadventures of watching a few weird shows on Netflix. But she is just trying to keep up with the changing times. She has turned into a Netflix junkie and has watched quite a few documentaries, back-to-back episodes of House Of Cards and Crown which she really loved. She thinks the different kind of cinema that is being made these days is great, taking the industry to newer heights. Excerpts from the conversation:



When you came back after your illness you said you will do a film only when it excites you a lot. What's special about Dear Maya?



It was the script that really excited me. And when I met the director Sunaina (Bhatnagar), I realised that she is going to make a good film. She had written everything so well. She had put in all the detailsthe character's thought process. Maya is a woman who has locked herself for 20 years. She feels unloved. She feels she is not deserving of love. She feels the world outside is very threatening, and so she has a knife around her all the time. She has dogs to protect her. She is always guarded. Yet, in her own space, you see a little vulnerability in her. It's a pretty complex character. But because Sunaina had made it so amazing, I really wanted to do a good job. I hope it comes out well. I am so anxious before its release.



You, too, have been through a lotillness and personal issues. Do you feel vulnerable?



Of course, I do. We all go through tough phases, but life takes care of us, somehow. I have faith in goodness of people. It (her fight with cancer) was a difficult phase. It was not easy. I had no clue how long I would live and if I would live at all. It was life-changing experience, a very tough phase.



You have been talking at motivational events. What was the trigger?



First of all, it's a new dimension, so that's good for me personally. But the main reason I go about doing it is to share my experience, the lessons I have learnt in life, so that it could benefit somebody. Because I realise that a part of this life is about sharing as well. When I was down and out, a lot of people came forward to help me without expecting anything. When I saw that kind of compassion, love and care, and kindness without any expectations, it kind of really made an impact on me. As and when I find a good platform, I go and talk and I hope that my talk sets people in the right direction.



Coming back to films, a lot has changed in the recent past. Are you finding it difficult to adapt to the changes?



Well, I have to work extra hard to understand what's going on and then to adapt myself to it. And because I love my job enough, I am willing to put in that kind of hard work. A lot has changed. But I think it has changed for better. There is more professionalism now. There is more quality, in the sense the kind of subjects we are picking up now is for the international market. I feel the filmmakers are experimenting and they have the scope to experiment with different kinds of narratives. One doesn't have to stick to hero-heroine and dance-song or family drama. Now, various kinds of scripts and stories are being appreciated. Those films are liked and are successful commercially, too. It has opened doors for filmmakers to try different kind of cinema, which is great. Same goes with the performance. I think today's actors are on par with [actors of] any international scale. We have raised the bar in every dimension of cinema.



You have always been trying to do films that were different from each other. Films that didn't fit into the conventional themes, be it Dil Se or Khamoshi...



I think now we have become very accepting of those themes. Back then also we were, but now even more.



Do you remember being confused about accepting a role for fear of it being unconventional?



When I did Bombay, the initial reaction was that it was unconventional. But then people loved the film. Bombay, Dil Se, or be it Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Khamoshi, the script of which was rejected by many, I did it. All the good directors were a little unconventional. (Pauses) For Bombay, I had to play a mother's role. I was very apprehensive of that, but Ashok Mehta (cinematographer) told me that he (Mani Ratnam) is a good director and I should do it and I did that. For 1942: A Love Story, Vinod (director Vidhu Vinod Chopra) wanted me to do a screen test and I was thinking, 'I am Manisha Koirala, why should I need to do a screen test?', but I did that, too. I was already an established name and had big banners with me. [It's like] today, asking Deepika (Padukone) to do a screen test when she is already established. Well, I did that because my mom insisted and I am so glad I did. It's a landmark film in my career. I would always love to venture out into something different.



A still from Dear Maya

There were a few bold choices too, like Ek Choti Si Love Story?



I don't want to talk about that movie. That's not something I am very proud of.



You will be playing Nargis Dutt in the Dutt biopic. How did the film happen?



Yes. Mukesh Chabbra (casting director) had called me and he said, 'Raju sir (Rajkumar Hirani) wants you in his project'. Initially, I was thinking what will I do in the film. It's a small, special appearance. But look at the figure. I felt I will be playing Nargis Duttji, a legendary name, and in a Rajkumar Hirani film, so it's like sone pe suhaga (laughs).



How are you preparing for the role?



The look test has happened. I will soon be meeting him and will be doing the readings to get into the skin of the character. I am looking forward to that.



You are okay with playing an ageing character?



Yeah. Yeah. I have passed through that phase [where I would have issues].



Now that you are back, what are the other things you want to do?



I want to continue working in good projects. One or two good films a year are more than enough. I want to have a balanced life. I want to travel the world. At some point, I would like to write and direct. I want to continue acting for as long as I live. Maybe lesser work, but quality work.



You are also one of the first few female actors to have gone for a filmmaking course. Do you want to pursue it now?



I have something in mind. I wouldn't talk about it, it's too early. But towards the end of the year, I would go ahead with it.



Do you have a script that you want to direct?



We are actually going to be working on it. I have spoken to somebody, but it's early to talk about this project.



Have you been brushing up your directorial skills?



I haven't had time for that. But more or less, I will be working on thatbrushing up, watching movies to understand what clicks. But that would be a little later, not now.



What films have you been watching?



I saw some weird films on Netflix, nothing to mention about (chuckles). But then I also watched Bombay Talkies and I really liked it, especially Dibakar's film. Then I saw Shaitaan, which is a new-age film. The director (Bejoy Nambiar) had approached me so I wanted to see what he has done. He has done two films. I thought Wazir will be typical because it has established actors like Amitji and Farhan, so I decided to watch Shaitan because it has a new, younger cast. It's fairly good.



A lot of actors with good directorial sensibilities have been criticised for being interfering...



Oh... I don't interfere. See, when I am signed as an actor I am signed to do my job as an actor. It's not my job to poke my nose into the director's job. But if the director asks me something, 'how you want to do the scene or what do you think', then I am more than happy to sit through and think that we may do this or that or something else. But there are certain films, like Raju's film I wouldn't dare look into the direction part. Because if I can do a good job of what he gives me, that would be enough. I just did a Dibakar Bannerjee film (Bombay Talkies 2). He would tell me to put what I felt like, so there I explored. Every director works differently. Primarily, an actor's job is to act and portray the character the way the director and the writer have envisaged it. If one can add and give something more to it, why not? But [it's] never wise to intrude in other people's job.


Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief Bipin Rawat's arrival on Wednesday coincided with the Army and police launching a big search operation in Shopian in south Kashmir.

The district has emerged as one of the hotbeds of militancy in Kashmir.

The security forces are increasingly trying to assert their writ on the militant's bastions in the south amid heightened student protests and clashes with Pakistan forces on the line of control.

In Wednesday's operation, the forces searched more than 500 houses in Shopian to flush out militants. The areas combed include Heff and Shirmal.

The operation was launched in the intervening night of May 16 and 17 after security forces received specific intelligence inputs about the presence of ultras in the twin villages.

But the operation was marred by stone pelting that led to its early termination.

During the searches, maximum restraint was shown in dealing with the miscreants who tried to disrupt the operation at Heff village,'' a police spokesman said. ''After successful completion of searches with the cooperation of villagers, the operation concluded as planned this morning''.

The spokesman refuted reports of vandalising property and beating the residents by the security forces.

More than a 1,000 security personnel took part in Wednesday's sweep without any success.

The Army and the police have stepped up offensive against the militants after the killing of 22- year- old Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz after abduction on May 10 from his uncle, Muhammad Maqbool Mir's house at Batepora Nelgdang in Shopian.

On the LoC, Pakistan Army on Wednesday targeted Balkote sector of the Poonch district. Earlier, it has shelled Nowshera area of the neighbouring Rajouri district in which two people including a woman were killed.

Unprovoked ceasefire violation was carried out by Pakistan Army in Balakot Sector from 12.50 am to 1.30 am, said defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta. He said befitting reply was given by the Indian side.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday said its leader Sharad Pawar has declined the offer of Congress President Sonia Gandhi to be the opposition candidate in the presidential election.

"In last month's meeting, Sonia Gandhi had asked Pawar saheb to be the opposition candidate. However, he refused. He said 'I should not be considered'," NCP's national spokesperson Nawab Malik said.

Malik added that Pawar had already said in the past that he was not interested in contesting the election.

Gandhi has taken the initiative to talk to leaders of opposition parties to field a consensus candidate.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called on Gandhi on Tuesday to discuss a consensus candidate for the presidential election.

Gandhi has spoken to Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad and met JD-U leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah.

The term of President Pranab Mukherjee ends in July. The ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which has clear edge in the presidential election, has not given any inkling so far on its choice of candidate.
The BJP has responded cautiously to reports of actor Rajinikanth entering politics. Said Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to THE WEEK, Our partys central leadership will decide at the appropriate time whether to invite Rajinikanth to the BJP or not. He is a superstar who has millions of fans. We have great respect for him.

While speaking to his fans on May 15 in Chennai, Rajinikanth talked about politics, among other things. He said, God decides what we have to do in life. Right now, he wants me to be an actor and I am fulfilling my responsibility. If God willing, I will enter politics tomorrow. If I enter, I will be very truthful and will not entertain people who are in politics to make money.

Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, who is from Tamil Nadu, said that the BJP would welcome Rajinikanths entry into the BJP, if and when that happened. But the partys maverick leader Subramanian Swamy said Rajinis sense of politics was very bad.

If he decides to enter politics, it is not sure if Rajini would form his own party or be a catalyst to the BJP. During the campaigning of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi called on Rajini at his residence in Chennai. Rajini had said then, He (Modi) is my well-wisher and I am his well-wisher.

All political parties in Tamil Nadu have tried to capitalise on Rajinis mass appeal. Rajini, on his part, kept equidistance from all parties. In 1996, angry over corruption charges in the Jayalalithaa government, Rajini said, If Jayalalithaa is voted back to power, even God cannot save Tamil Nadu. In December 2016, after Jayalalithaas death, he apologised for the comment. Said Rajini, Despite the pressure from a patriarchal society, she (Jayalalithaa) shone like a diamond and now rests like a Kohinoor diamond.
US President Donald Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end the agency's investigation into ties between former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia, according to a source who has seen a memo written by Comey.

The explosive new development on Tuesday followed a week of tumult at the White House after Trump fired Comey and then discussed sensitive national security information about Islamic State with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The Comey memo caused alarm on Capitol Hill and raised questions about whether Trump tried to interfere with a federal investigation.

The White House quickly denied the report, saying in a statement it was "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey."

Comey wrote the memo after he met in the Oval Office with Trump, the day after the Republican president fired Flynn on February 14 for misleading Vice-President Mike Pence about the extent of his conversations last year with Russia's ambassador, Sergei Kislyak.

I hope you can let this go, Trump told Comey, according to a source familiar with the contents of the memo.

Reports said that during the Oval Office meeting, Trump condemned a series of government leaks to the news media and said the FBI director should consider prosecuting reporters for publishing classified information.

Coming the day after charges that Trump disclosed sensitive information to the Russians last week, the new disclosure further rattled members of Congress.

"The memo is powerful evidence of obstruction of justice and certainly merits immediate and prompt investigation by an independent special prosecutor," said Democratic US Senator Richard Blumenthal.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers said they wanted to see the memo.

Republican US Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of a House of Representatives oversight committee, said his committee "is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready."

Legal experts took a dim view of Trump's comments, as quoted in the memo.

"For the president to tell the FBI to end a potential criminal investigation, that's obstruction of justice," said Erwin Chereminsky, a constitutional law professor and dean of University of California, Irvine School of Law. "This is what caused President Nixon to resign from office."

But the experts said intent was a critical element of an obstruction of justice charge, and the presidents words could be subject to interpretation and possibly put into the context of other actions, like Comeys termination.

The fact that the president apparently said he hoped Comey would end the Flynn investigation rather than more directly ordering it makes for a weaker but still viable case, said Christopher Slobogin, a criminal law professor at Vanderbilt University Law School.

Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks earlier that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Kislyak before Trump took office on January 20.

Kislyak was with Lavrov at the White House when Trump disclosed the sensitive information.

A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment on the details of the memo.

An emailed fundraising appeal by Trump's political organisation and the Republican National Committee sent out after reports of the Comey memo said Trump was being victimized by an "unelected bureaucracy."

"You already knew the media was out to get us," it said. "But sadly its not just the fake news There are people within our own unelected bureaucracy that want to sabotage President Trump and our entire 'America First' movement."

The new development came as Republican and Democratic lawmakers pressured Trump to give a fuller explanation for why he revealed sensitive intelligence information to Lavrov.

The information had been supplied by a US ally in the fight against the Islamic State militant group, the officials said.
The United Nations has urged Israel to abide by the international law and standards of detention in regard to the Palestinian prisoners.

In a written statement, Michael Lynk, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory under occupation, requested better and accessible health care, unrestrained family visits and an end to solitary confinement and administrative detention for Palestinian hunger strikers, reports the Anadolu news agency.

Approximately 1,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails have been on a hunger strike for over a month now.

"Prisoners everywhere have a right to engage in hunger strikes to protest their living conditions, and they should not be punished as a result," said Lynk's statement.

"I deeply regret not having the opportunity to visit the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to speak face-to-face with victims and witnesses of Israel's alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law," the statement added.

Speaking on the many Palestinian prisoners in Israel, not in the occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international humanitarian law, he said, "These transfers create significant barriers to the families of prisoners who wish to visit them, due to the difficulty of obtaining permits to enter Israel, and the often-arduous journey families must undertake to reach their relatives."

According to reports, around 7,000 Palestinian, including 57 women and 300 children, are currently jailed in Israeli prisons.
Chelsea Manning walked out of a US military prison on Wednesday, seven years after being arrested for passing secrets to WikiLeaks in the largest breach of classified information in US history.

Manning, 29, was released from the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, at about 2 am, according to a brief statement released by the US Army.

The former military intelligence analyst, once known as Private First Class Bradley Manning, is likely to become a transgender advocate following her release, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who has represented her.

Manning was convicted of providing more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks, an international organization that publishes such information from anonymous sources.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a target of criminal investigations in Sweden and the United States, has promised to accept extradition if Manning was freed. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said Assange's arrest was a priority.

Manning said in 2014 that she chose to disclose the classified information to expose truths about the civil war in Iraq "out of a love for my country.

"Before he left office, president Barack Obama commuted the final 28 years of Manning's 35-year sentence. The decision angered national security experts who say Manning put US lives at risk, but it won praise from transgender advocates who have embraced her transition to a female gender identity.

Manning announced her gender transition while the US Army kept her in the men's prison. Her lawyer said she twice tried to commit suicide and faced long stretches of solitary confinement as well as denial of healthcare.

Intelligence analyst

Last year, the US Defense Department lifted a long-standing ban against transgender men and women serving openly in the military.

Although transgender people still complain of widespread discrimination in education, employment and medical care, awareness of the issue has exploded since Manning went to jail. Transgender celebrities such as Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox have become part of the mainstream.

In a statement to ABC News, Manning said she appreciated the support she had received from people all over the world."

As I rebuild my life, I remind myself not to relive the past," the statement said. "The past will always affect me, and I will keep that in mind while remembering that how it played out is only my starting point not my final destination.

"WikiLeaks began revealing secrets in 2007 and then burst onto the wider public consciousness three years later with a series of releases, including material gathered by Manning during her stint as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad.

Among the material from her was a 2007 gunsight video of a US Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people, including two Reuters news staffers.

More recently, WikiLeaks published Democratic National Committee emails in the weeks leading up to the November 8 US presidential election. US intelligence agencies have concluded the email accounts were hacked by Russian intelligence as part of a campaign by Moscow to influence the election.

On April 13, Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo called WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service."

Assange has been Ecuador's London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for the investigation of allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape there in 2010. He has said he fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks.
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): Following the killing of award-winning Mexican journalist Javier Arturo Valdez CArdenas, the head of the United Nations cultural agency on Tuesday encouraged the countryas authorities to move quickly to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure the killing does not go unpunished.

A winner of the International Press Freedom Award, Valdez Cardenas was shot yesterday in Culiacan in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

This crime is yet another stark reminder of the dangerous conditions in which all too many courageous journalists exercise their profession, said Irina Bokova the Director-General of the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a statement condemning the murder.

She went on to emphasize that attacks on journalists undermine the fundamental human right of freedom expression as well as freedom of information.

Valdez Cardenas reported extensively on the Mexican drug trade and he received the Committee to Protect Journalists International Press Freedom Award for his reporting on crime and drug trafficking. According to UNESCO, he was shot near the offices of Riodoce, the weekly he founded and edited. HE was also a correspondent for other outlets, notably La Jornada daily newspaper and Agence France Presse.

According to UNESCO, Bokova has denounced the killings of three other Mexican journalists so far this year. Since 1997 UNESCO has released approximately 80 responses to assassinations of journalists in the North American country.

UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Kansas, May 17 (IBNS): US soldier Chelsea Manning was freed from the military prison after serving seven years, according to BBC News on Wednesday.

According to media reports, the soldier was detained for leaking classified documents to the Wikileaks.

Manning had left the Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas on Wednesday, where the soldier was imprisoned for last seven years.

The term of imprisonment was reduced by the former president of United States Barrack Obama to seven years from previous 35.

After the release, Chelsea Manning uploaded a picture of his first step on twitter, calling it as "First steps of freedom".

Earlier after the imprisonment, Manning said that she felt like a woman ever since childhood and wanted to live her life as a woman with the name of Chelsea.

Image: Twitter of Chelsea Manning.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has lashed out at U.S. politicians whipping up what he described as anti-Russian sentiment for being either stupid or dangerous, and dismissed the ongoing scandal around President Donald Trump sharing classified intelligence with Russian officials as political schizophrenia.

Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting Italian prime minister, Putin said on Wednesday Moscow initially found debates about Russias meddling in U.S. politics as funny but said Moscow is now concerned because its hard to imagine what the people who produce such nonsense can come up with next.

Putin dismissed the U.S. politicians, whom he did not identify, as either being stupid or dangerous and unscrupulous who are wittingly causing the damage to their own country.

Trump came under fire earlier this week after it was revealed that he shared the sensitive intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak.

Putin even suggested that Russia share the records of last weeks talks between Trump and Lavrov with the U.S. Congress, if the White House approved.

Putin joked that that he would reprimand Lavrov because he hasnt shared those secrets with us.

Asked what he thinks of Trump presidency, Putin said its up to the American people to judge but his performance can only be rated only when hes allowed to work at full capacity, implying that someone is hampering Trumps efforts.

(AP)
Irans top leader has called for high turnout in Fridays presidential election, urging voters to send a message to the United States.

In a televised speech Wednesday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the United States and its allies, including the pathetic prime minister of the Zionist regime, or Israel, are closely watching the vote.

He called the election a great popular epic, saying that while the region is drowned in anxiety, Iran is peacefully and safely holding an election.

President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate, is seeking re-election in a vote that will largely serve as a referendum on his outreach to the West, which culminated in the 2015 nuclear deal.

Khamenei, who will remain Irans top decision-maker, is deeply suspicious of the United States. He is believed to favor Rouhanis main challenger, the hard-line candidate Ebrahim Raisi.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said turnout is expected to exceed 70 percent. Some 56.4 million people out of a population of 80 million are eligible to vote.

Fazli said the vote counting would commence after midnight and that the results would be announced sooner than in previous elections. In past elections, the results have been announced two days later, on Sunday.

Rouhani won the 2013 presidential election with nearly 51 percent of the vote. Turnout for that election was 73 percent.

(AP)
Texas Sen. John Cornyn has told the Trump administration he isnt interested in serving as FBI director, the second member of Congress to take himself out of the running this week.

Cornyn, a former Texas attorney general and judge on the state supreme court, was interviewed for the position after President Donald Trump abruptly fired James Comey last week. Trump himself called and urged Cornyn to take the job, but the senator said in a statement Tuesday that he would rather remain in the Senate.

Now more than ever the country needs a well-credentialed, independent FBI director, Cornyn said. Ive informed the administration that Im committed to helping them find such an individual, and that the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate.

Another Republican whose name had been mentioned as a possible candidate, Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, said Monday that he had taken himself out of the running. A friend of federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland, someone recommended by several senators, also said Tuesday that Garland is happy in his job and has no interest in leaving the judiciary to head the FBI. The friend spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

The administration has interviewed at least eight candidates to replace Comey, of more than a dozen being considered. Trump has said a decision could come before he leaves Friday for a trip to the Mideast and Europe. In addition to members of Congress, the list includes current and former FBI and Justice Department leaders and federal judges.

A source familiar with Cornyns thinking said the senator felt obligated to consider the job because a friend, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, asked him to, and Trump called and asked him to think about it. The source declined to be named because the decision was private.

Cornyn is the No. 2 Republican in the Senate behind Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said Tuesday that hed recommended that Trump nominate Garland for the post.

Garlands name began to surface as a possible replacement last week when GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah suggested it on Twitter. McConnell later agreed that he would be a good choice.

President Barack Obama nominated Garland to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court last year after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, but McConnell declined even to hold a hearing. Senate Republicans insisted at the time that the next president should replace Scalia, and the strategy paid off when Trump won the election. The high court vacancy was filled last month by Neil Gorsuch.

Questioned about Garland later in the day, McConnell said he illustrates the kind of person I hope and expect will come next, somebody with deep credentials in criminal justice and criminal justice enforcement, completely apolitical and in line with prior FBI directors.

FBI directors have predominantly been drawn from the ranks of prosecutors and judges. Comey, for instance, was a former United States attorney in Manhattan before being appointed deputy attorney general by George W. Bush. His predecessor, Robert Mueller, was a U.S. attorney in San Francisco.

(AP)
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): The world's first solar farm in a refugee camp switched on on Wednesday in northern Jordan, providing renewable energy sources to about 20,000 Syrians living in the Azraq camp, the United Nations refugee agency on Wednesday said.

Calling it a milestone, the deputy from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the 2-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, funded by IKEA Foundation's Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign, allows all residents to leave more dignified lives.

Lighting up the camp is not only a symbolic achievement; it provides a safer environment for all camp residents, opens up livelihoods opportunities, and gives children the chance to study after dark, said UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner, Kelly Clements.

A lack of electricity was one of the main challenges in Azraq, which opened in April 2014, and which has 5,000 shelters.

Each family can now connect a fridge, a TV, a fan, have light inside the shelter and charge their phones, which is critical for refugees to keep in contact with their relatives abroad, the UN agency said.

In addition, 50 refugees have been trained and employed to help build the solar farm under the supervision of a Jordanian company, and some will work on its maintenance.

The solar farm is expected to save about $1.5 million per year in electric costs. Once it is upgraded from 2-megawatts to 5, it will cover all the refugee camp's needs. Any extra electricity will be sent for free to the cover the host community's energy needs.

Photo/IKEA Foundation/Vingaland AB

Source: www.justearthnews.com
The leadership of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America  the nations largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization  issued the following statement after todays briefing at the White House by National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster. At the briefing, Gen. McMaster was asked twice whether the Trump Administration recognizes the Western Wall of the Temple Mount (the holiest site in Judaism) as part of Israel. Gen. McMaster avoided answering the questions. (White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer similarly avoided the issue in a subsequent briefing.)

Orthodox Union President Mark Bane issued the following statement on behalf of the organizations leadership:

We appreciate that President Donald Trump will make a historic trip to Israel next week and will be the first sitting president to visit and pray at Judaisms holiest site  the Western Wall of the Temple Mount.

However, we are dismayed that just days before the trip, the White Houses National Security Adviser declined to state at the press podium that the Western Wall is part of Israel.

The questions posed to NSA Gen. McMaster today were prompted by press reports yesterday that U.S. officials (working in Israel to prepare the Presidents trip) stated the Western Wall is not part of [Israels] territory, it is the West Bank. A senior administration official subsequently issued a statement that the comments about the Western Wall were not authorized communication and they do not represent the position of the United States and certainly not of the president.

We were relieved by this clarification. But it is all the more troubling today that Gen. McMaster did not affirm it when asked at todays on-the-record briefing.

The Western Wall is indeed the holiest site that Jews can visit today for prayer and reflection as it is the only accessible remnant of the Holy Temple that once stood in Jerusalem. For centuries, Jews across the globe turned toward Jerusalem and prayed to return. Those prayers were answered 50 years ago next week as Jerusalem was reunified by Israeli forces in the Six-Day War  and Jews across the globe will celebrate this anniversary.

Now, therefore, is a crucial time for highlighting the historic connection of the Jewish People to Jerusalem and to give no credence to those who deny it. We therefore ask President Donald Trump to explicitly affirm that the Western Wall was  and is now  by the grace of G-d under Israels sovereignty.

Moreover, we ask the president to begin to fulfill his campaign pledge to relocate the American Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem  by announcing he will not sign a national security waiver (under the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act of 1995) and that the process of that relocation will commence.

(YWN Headquarters  NYC)
A 14-year-old boy was taken into custody Tuesday night in connection with a fire at the Lower East Side Shul on Sunday night.

The boy was charged with third-degree arson as a juvenile. He will appear in family court.

Detectives have names of his two friends, also spotted on surveillance video, fleeing the scene. Police said they are seeking to question them also.

More than 100 firefighters battled the three-alarm blaze Sunday evening at the abandoned Beth Hamedrash Hagodol on 64 Norfolk St. Flames broke out around 7 p.m. and were brought under control about three hours later.

Surveillance video recovered from a nearby camera showed three young people running from the general area.

Although the fire occurred in what was once a house of worship, it was not investigated as a bias crime. Investigators are aware of previous reports of youths going in and out of the 167-year-old house of worship, which has been vacant for the past decade.

The Gothic structure was originally built in 1850 as a Baptist church. It later served as synagogue for the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Orthodox Jewish congregation for over 120 years. The synagogue was closed in 2007.

This Shul was founded in 1852 and was said to be the oldest Russian Jewish orthodox one in the United States until it was abandoned ten years ago.

WPIX reported that the structure was landmarked, but there had been a recent move to demolish the structure to turn it into condominiums.

The good news is that the synagogue was vacant for a decade, and no one was injured.

(AP / YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): Marking the international day against homophobia, senior United Nations officials on Wednesday called for respect for sexual and gender diversity and urged the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people from discrimination and harm.

On Wednesday, I am deeply concerned by the excessive trivialization of insults, sexist and homophobic remarks in the media, in everyday life, on social networks, even from political leaders, said UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova in her message for the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT), commemorated annually on 17 May.

She recalled the situation of homosexuals under the Nazi regime, interned in "re-education" camps, and killed. The UN was created to prevent such crimes from happening again, she stressed, noting that UNESCO is committed to protecting the rights of homosexual and transgender people by drawing across its mandate to advance education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

These are powerful tools to fight the prejudice, verbal violence and stigmatization that foreshadow physical violence and that violate the equality and inherent dignity of all. This work for reason and tolerance begins on the benches of school, she said.

Research by the International Labour Organization (ILO) has found that workplace policies, often designed from a hetero-normative perspective, may fall short of addressing the issues and concerns of LGBTI workers. For example, LGBTI workers may be excluded from leave and benefit entitlements, such as parental leave, because their families do not fit traditional nor

In keeping with the principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, no LGBTI worker should be left behind. On Wednesday let us stand in solidarity for the rights of LGBTI workers and their families, said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

Gender identity and sexual orientation can have an impact on a migrant's journey, unfortunately often in a negative and even dangerous way, warns the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

VIDEO: There are an estimated 500,000 homeless youth in the US of which 40 percent are identified as LGBT. In this story of Kellen, enrolled in the Ali Forney Center, the largest community centre for LGBT homeless youth in the U.S.Credit: United Nations

IOM has a zero tolerance policy for any type of homophobia, transphobia or biphobia and does not tolerate any abuses against migrants and host communities receiving assistance or protection from IOM, said Director General William Lacy Swing.

A group of UN and international human rights experts urged States and other stakeholders to protect trans and gender diverse children and adolescents effectively from discrimination, exclusion, violence and stigma and to foster supportive family environments for trans and gender diverse people.

We urge States worldwide to adopt a legal and policy framework, with comprehensive implementation measures, to protect the rights of trans and gender diverse youth, respectful of gender diversity, and to enable the realization of their fullest potential, they said in a news release from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said that its vision of zero discrimination and ending AIDS by 2030 will only become a reality if the response to HIV reaches everyone, including LGBTI people.

Many young gay and transgender people are rejected by their families, living on the streets, facing all types of discrimination and violence, said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe. This is not the path to healthy and productive societies. We must encourage inclusion and compassion and ensure that networks of support are in place, including access to essential health and social services.

The Day's theme this year is 'Love Makes a Family.'

Photo: ILO

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Little-known energy companies are beating the big suppliers to offer the cheapest prices on the market.

And some of the companies with the top deals hail from Italy, France and Holland.

But many households will be nervous about putting their gas and electricity supplies with firms they have never even heard of.

So which are the firms putting the Big Six suppliers to shame? Here we give our rundown of the tiny energy firms offering the best deals.

Little-known energy companies are beating the big suppliers to offer cheaper prices

Engie

The international French firm has its origins in Gaz de France, set up by former communist minister for industry Marcel Paul when he nationalised the country's gas production just after World War II.

Engie operates in 70 countries and has been supplying businesses in the UK for 30 years, but only started offering deals to households last December.

This week, it even promised to switch customers to the best tariff at the end of their fixed deals.

Engie is still part-owned by the French government and its UK chief executive, Wilfrid Petrie, 51, is French. But it has offices in Leeds and a call centre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Customers can pay by cheque at no extra cost but it charges 15 more a year per fuel if you have paper bills. It plans to allow cash payments via the Post Office in the near future.

Cheapest tariff: Fixed Sept 18 v3 Paperless, 879 a year for a typical household using 12,500 kilowatt hours of gas and 3,100 kWh of electricity a year.

Many households will be nervous about signing up to providers they have never even heard of

Green Network Energy

This company says it wants to 'bring a little Italian flavour' to the UK's energy market and greets callers with a cheery 'benvenuto' before asking whether they'd like to continue their call in English.

Green Network Energy was founded in 2003, but only arrived in the UK last November. Vice president Sabrina Corbo 47, has moved to London to help the firm take on Britain's Big Six.

Its call centres in London and Ireland are staffed by Italian and English workers.The firm reinvests its profits in green energy production.

Cheapest tariff: The Italian Touch V4 GNE FIX, 883 a year for a typical household.

Bulb

An East London renewable energy start-up launched just a year ago and founded by Cambridge maths boffin Amit Gudka and economics graduate Hayden Wood, both 33.

Mr Gudka was an energy trader and Mr Wood a management consultant before they set up shop together.

Bulb has only one tariff, a variable-rate deal called Vari-Fair. It only accepts payment by direct debit and doesn't offer paper billing. Its call centre is based in London.

Cheapest tariff: Vari-Fair, 888 a year.

Foreign invasion: Some of the companies with the top deals hail from Italy, France and Holland

Bristol Energy

Launched just over a year ago, Bristol Energy is wholly owned by the city council but supplies customers across the UK. It ploughs profits back into the Bristol community.

As well as nationwide tariffs, it has a range of special deals for Bristol customers and a local tariff that covers the wider South West, South Wales, West Midlands and Southern regions. Its call centre is also based in Bristol.

Paper bills cost an extra 6 a year per fuel. Customers can pay by cheque or cash if they prefer at no extra cost. Managing director Peter Haigh, 53, has worked in the energy market for 20 years, including a stint at giant E.On.

Cheapest tariff: One-year fix issue 13 paperless, 901.

OneSelect

Sister company to Dutch supplier EnergieFlex, it was only set up in the UK last month and is based in Farnborough, Hants.

OneSelect is still restricted in the number of customers it can sign up. That's because energy watchdog, Ofgem, sets limits on new energy firms to prevent them being flooded with customers they can't service properly.

Its only tariff  Secure 1-year fix  is one of the cheapest on the market. OneSelect director Sathees Sampar, 40, remains in charge of EnergieFlex, founded in 2014, which supplies 100,000 customers in Holland.

There's no charge for paper bills, and you can pay by cheque at no extra cost, if you don't want to set up a direct debit. There's no option to pay in cash.

Cheapest tariff: Secure 1-year fix, 850 (excludes Scotland).

Affect Energy

Based in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, the company was launched in March 2016. Chief executive John Szymik, 32, also hails from one of the Big Six, EDF Energy.

Affect says it aims to 'keep things simple', only ever offering one tariff at a time. It also has a standard tariff you will be automatically rolled onto when your deal ends.

Tariffs must be managed online and Affect Energy only accepts payments by direct debit.

Cheapest tariff: Fixed until May 2018, 882.

l.milner@dailymail.co.uk
Firms insuring the over-50s are routinely charging older people hundreds of pounds more than the cheapest deals available, Money Mail can reveal.

Our investigation into insurance rip-offs found specialist firms Saga and Age UK are often among the most expensive for older homeowners and drivers.

In some cases, new customers are being charged as much as 900 a year more than the cost of comparable cover elsewhere.

And in a further blow, loyal customers who remain with Saga and Age UK then face huge hikes in their premiums.

Specialist firms Saga and Age UK are often among the most expensive for older homeowners and drivers

The family of one long-standing 81-year-old customer discovered he was paying seven times more than the best rates available elsewhere.

Comparison site GoCompare obtained insurance quotes using genuine data for a 62-year-old married female chef driving a Fiat Panda and living in a four-bedroom detached house in Cardiff.

For home insurance, Age UK quoted 272  almost three times the price of Tesco's cover at 93 and Churchill and Privilege at 100.

It does offer a lower excess, though, at 45 compared to 100 to 200 for the others. Saga was also some way down the list, at 156 a year.

For car insurance, she was quoted 418 with Saga and 406 with Age UK. The cheapest quotes came from LV, Esure and Sheilas' Wheels at 275  a huge saving of 143 or 131.

The only notable difference in the cover was that Saga's policy offered 10,000 of personal accident cover compared to 5,000 with the others.

A potential customer who asked Age UK why his quote was so expensive was told by executives that, at 52, he was too young to be in their 'sweet spot' for the best deals. But most customers say they've been given no explanation when they've found high charges.

Martyn John, of GoCompare, says: 'So-called specialist insurers do not always offer the best value, so never assume that just because you're over a certain age they'll be the right choice for you.

'Older drivers are typically attractive to insurers as they tend to be lower risk, so it's likely that you'll have a range of competitive premiums to choose from.'

Money Mail's investigation last week exposed how Britain's biggest insurers routinely charge their longest-standing customers up to three times more than new customers.

Experts say this is because insurers use existing customers' premiums to subsidise the cheap deals they use to attract new customers.

Older customers are among those most at risk of overpaying, as evidence suggests they are less likely to shop around each year.

Firms such as Age UK and Saga claim to specialise in providing older homeowners and motorists with affordable cover.

They also pride themselves on being able to offer insurance to pensioners struggling to get cover elsewhere.

But the latest findings from our insurance investigation suggest these firms charge customers higher rates from the outset.

Businessman Andrew Brettell, 52, says the home insurance quote he received from Age UK was seven times higher than the cheapest deal on the market.

When shopping around to insure his home in Clapham, South London, he received quotes varying from 166 with Tesco to 1,155 with Age UK.

Andrew emailed Doug Strachan, managing director of the charity's commercial arm, to question the quote.

One 61-year-old was quoted 418 for car insurance with Saga and 406 with Age UKm while the cheapest quotes came from LV, Esure and Sheilas' Wheels at 275

Mr Strachan explained the reason for the 'relatively uncompetitive quote' was that 'your young age puts you outside our sweet spot', adding that less than 2 per cent of its customers are under the age of 55.

He said Age UK's 'sweet spot customers' were 'generally about 20 years older' than Andrew.

Mr Strachan also said Andrew's high-value property, flat roof and the high claims risk in his area had contributed to the dearer premium  though these factors had not prompted Tesco to charge anything like as much.

'It's outrageous,' says Andrew. 'Age UK is trading on its name and often dealing with vulnerable and older customers who don't necessarily know they're not getting value for money.'

A spokesman said the 'private' correspondence outlined a number of factors affecting Andrew's premium, and added that its insurance was generally suited to people 'of more modest means than this customer'.

Money Mail has received many emails and letters from customers who say their premiums rocketed after remaining faithful to a firm for decades. It was only after comparing prices elsewhere that they realised they'd been overpaying.

David Smith, 94, from Bridport, Dorset, discovered his premium with Saga had risen by 50 per cent, from 350 to 544, in a year.

He was told it was because he was in a flood risk area  even though he was last flooded in 1979. He has now found similar cover from John Lewis for 328.

Retired sales manager Jean Banks, 83, says her car insurance with Age UK rose by 308 in a year, despite making no claims and keeping the same car.

When she took out cover with Age UK two years ago, she paid 681 a year.

Businessman Andrew Brettell says Age UK home insurance quote was seven times higher than the cheapest deal on the market

The next year, it rose to 777 and then to 1,085 12 months later. She has now found a similar deal with Direct Line for 780.

The widow and great-grandmother from Essex says: 'I trusted Age UK because it is a charity for senior citizens, but I felt very annoyed they had put it up so much for no good reason.'

Age UK says it cannot know whether Jean's new cover was like-for-like 'in every respect'.

Christine Finney, 69, of Lincolnshire, discovered her 87-year-old mother was paying 400 a year for her contents and buildings insurance with Age UK.

She had insured her house through the charity for ten years. When Christine posed as a new customer with the same details online, she got a quote for 198.

She then found more comprehensive cover with Churchill for 106  a quarter of the original price.

Christine reported Age UK to the Charity Commission over its claims that it sells 'products tailored to the needs of older people'.

She also complained to its underwriter, Ageas, who paid her mother 1,000 compensation after admitting it failed to investigate her initial complaint properly.

The Charity Commission said Age UK must learn lessons from this case and follow a transparent complaints process.

A spokesman for the charity says it was disappointed the handling of this case fell below expectations and has launched an investigation into its complaints processes.

He adds: 'To make sweeping generalisations about Age UK insurance based on a single case or a few quotations is grossly unfair. While we have never claimed to be the cheapest insurer, we are actually quite often highly competitive on price.

'Age UK policies have no upper age limit and have been recognised by Which? for customer-friendly features such as low excess payments, interest-free monthly instalments and no cancellation fees.'

A Saga spokesman says: 'We recognise that offering new customers a discount to get them to try a service can be frustrating for customers, therefore we would be fully supportive of an industry-wide change, which is focused on a fairer, longer term pricing system.'

It aims to launch a loyalty reward scheme later this year.

l.eccles@dailymail.co.uk
Much in Labour's death-notice manifesto is anathema to anyone engaged in the free-market economy. But one fears that plans to take railways, water, the Royal Mail and energy back into public ownership will be highly attractive to great swathes of the public.

There is a misty eyed nostalgia about the great days of British Rail which is hard to shake. This is fertile ground for the opposition because of the hash made of privatisations. Too many enterprises ended up in the hands of uncaring overseas investors, in many cases state controlled.

Exploitation of assets for remote investors has been the main objective. Consumers and other stakeholders have been betrayed by successive governments that failed to protect our economic security and pusillanimous regulation.

The scale of the betrayal is illustrated by Thames Water, until recently owned through a byzantine structure by 'kangaroo vampire' Macquarie. In the decade 2006-16, Macquarie paid itself and fellow investors 1.6billion in dividends.

Jeremy Corbyn's pledge to take railways, water, the Royal Mail and energy back into public ownership will be highly attractive to great swathes of the public

It loaded Thames with 10.6billion of debt, ran up a 360million pension deficit and paid no UK corporation tax.

As the ownership consortium bled the company dry, it effectively forced the Exchequer to pay into the cost of the super-sewer or Thames Tideway.

Just to cap it all, earlier this year it was fined 20.3million after admitting to dumping 1.4bn litres of untreated raw sewage into the Thames.

Unscrupulous behaviour has damaged the whole concept of privatisation.

What is needed is an overhaul of the Competition and Markets Authority so that takeovers and mergers among utilities are scrutinised properly to ensure that the broader public interest is preserved.

As importantly, we need far more robust regulation so the financial sharks are no longer able to run rings around the broader stakeholder interests of workers, consumers, the environment and nation.

State ownership is not the answer.

Steel nerves

WHILE on the subject of overseas ownership, it looks as if Tata Steel, an offshoot of the Mumbai-based Tata Group, is finally ready to do the right thing for 130,000 members of the British Steel pension fund.

After a year of tense negotiations, Tata will plough 550million of cash into a new British Steel scheme. In addition it has granted the trustees and the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) an option over 33 per cent of British Steel operations at Port Talbot.

Scheme members will be able to choose between transferring to the new scheme or sliding into the PPF, where benefits will be top-sliced by 10 per cent.

These things don't just happen. Tata Steel was shamed into dealing with the issue by firm intervention from the Government and the Pensions Regulator.

It was also driven by its desire to merge Tata Steel with Germany's ThyssenKrupp. The current outcome is a great leap forward for British Steel pensioners, who looked as if they had been betrayed by Tata.

Some retirees will receive a smaller pension than they deserve, but a deal is better than no deal.

Indian winter

We have become so used to huge write-offs at Vodafone after its adventurous phase of buying spectrum in every corner of the world that a 5.2billion loss, after a calamitous investment in India, looks normal.

Hopefully, trouble in India should be over now that rival newcomer Jio has stopped giving away services for free. Italian boss Vittorio Colao has made big bets on fast-growing markets such as India and Turkey, pulling back from more mature operations in the US, France and China. This enabled Vodafone to improve investor returns.

Colao has also shunned expensive investment in sport of the kind made by BT in the Champions League.

Just as well, given Vodafone's terrible record on customer billing which is now being corrected.

The best measure of Vodafone performance is cash generation, which climbed to 4.3billion in the last year. That pushed the shares 4 per cent higher in latest trading.

Hard times

Dame Carolyn McCall at EasyJet is at pains to point out that the first-half loss of 212million is largely due to a late Easter and the pound. Nevertheless, the scale of the shortfall took the market by surprise.

McCall is confident things will improve in the second half, with capacity coming out of the market, enabling it to raise revenues per seat.

It is also making a bold move to cut costs by investing in 30 larger A321 planes. None of this was enough to prevent some investors heading for the exits.
Crest Nicholson said it sold 1,064 new homes in the six months to the end of April

Crest Nicholson said the housing market remains 'robust' as it revealed that the average price of its homes has risen 12 per cent to more than 400,000.

The builder said it sold 1,064 new homes in the six months to the end of April  although this was down from 1,206 in the same period a year earlier.

But it dismissed fears of a slowdown in the market and said demand continued to be supported by access to cheap mortgages and the Government's Help to Buy scheme.

Crest said the average selling price of its homes rose to 418,000 as it focused on building bigger houses in more affluent areas.

Chief executive Stephen Stone, who has been paid 27.7million since Help to Buy was launched in 2013, said Crest remains on track to meet its target of 1.4billion of annual sales from 4,000 homes in 2019.

The chronic shortage of homes in the UK has become a major issue ahead of the general election next month.

Stone said the industry was being held back by the planning system and a shortage of bricklayers, plumbers and other tradesmen.

Shares fell nearly 2.6 per cent, or 16.5p, to 620p.
Britain's nuclear power strategy has been thrown into chaos after National Grid pulled the plug on its role in plans to build a 10billion plant in Cumbria.

The national power network has suspended work on cables to connect the planned Moorside nuclear power plant to the grid.

A month ago the French firm which was involved in building the plant sold its stake to Toshiba.

The crisis stems from the financial troubles of the Japanese firm, with doubts growing about the future of the station that is supposed to produce around 7 per cent of the country's electricity by the mid-2020s.

Connection issues: The National Grid has suspended work on a cable to connect the planned Moorside nuclear power plant (pictured) to the grid

Justin Bowden, from the GMB Union, said: 'How many kicks in the teeth for the desperately needed nuclear plant at Moorside will it take to bring politicians of all colours to their senses?'

The proposed plant near the Sellafield nuclear site has been beset with problems for years.

Its owner NuGen was established in February 2009 as a joint venture between French company Engie, Spanish company Iberdrola, and Scottish group SSE.

But SSE and Iberdrola left in 2011 and 2013 respectively, with Japanese company Toshiba snapping up 60 per cent of shares to Engie's 40 per cent.

In December Toshiba's finances went into meltdown and its Westinghouse subsidiary, which has been designing the reactors for Moorside, went bankrupt.

That prompted Engie to back out. Toshiba will take full ownership and says it is committed  for now.

However, NuGen has suspended the project and launched a review to look at where it will get funding and technology, though many hope the Government will intervene.

A spokesman for National Grid said: 'In line with NuGen's review, we are pausing work on our connection.'

NuGen chief executive Tom Samson yesterday insisted he was confident that Moorside would go ahead.
Investment house Hargreaves Lansdown saw 583million wiped off its value yesterday as shareholders worried it could lose large swathes of customers to lower-cost rivals.

Hargreaves is the go-to service for armchair investors who fancy a punt on the stock market. Users can either invest directly in companies or through portfolios run by fund managers.

But the firm suffered its biggest one-day fall in ten months yesterday after US investment company Vanguard launched a rival service in the UK charging less than half its prices.

Vanguard's online investment service will charge an account fee of just 0.15 per cent a year, capped at 375, plus an additional fee for direct access to its products, currently averaging 0.14 per cent.

US Rival: Investment house Hargreaves Lansdown saw 583m wiped off its value yesterday after Vanguard launched a service in the UK charging less than half its prices

Hargreaves, on the other hand, currently charges 0.45 per cent on the first 250,000 held in its tax-efficient ISA accounts, alongside further fees charged by fund managers.

Vanguard is able to charge such low prices on many of its products because they are passive (they use software to automatically track a stock market) rather than active (where stocks are picked by an experienced fund manager).

With other personal investing companies charging similar fees to Hargreaves, Vanguard's offering has stoked fears of a price war braking out between UK brokers and fund managers.

As a result, Hargreaves Lansdown's shares fell 8.5 per cent, or 123p, to 1324p, making it the biggest loser on the FTSE 100.

But a strong day for telecoms stocks and consumer stocks helped to push the FTSE past the 7,500 mark for the first time in history. It rose 0.9 per cent, or 67.66 points, to hit a record high of 7522.03.

Countryside Properties also hit a record high after broker Berenberg initiated its coverage with a glowing review of the housebuilder's business model.

STOCK WATCH - GREATLAND GOLD Greatland Gold saw its share price soar after announcing a tie-up with one of the worlds largest gold producers, Newmont Mining. The explorer will give one of Newmonts subsidiaries access to its 1,118 square miles Ernest Giles project in Western Australia for six months. With the area hosting multiple gold exploration targets, Greatland said it hopes Newmonts involvement and resources will speed up the projects development. Shares rose 17.2 per cent, or 0.06p, to 0.38p.

Analysts gave the firm a 'buy' rating and a price target of 330p, adding that it is the fastest-growing of all the housebuilders Berenberg covers.

The broker also said Countryside is less cyclical than its rivals, meaning its performance is less directly influenced by the health of the economy it is based in.

Shares rose 5 per cent, or 14p, to 291.9p, placing it among the FTSE 250's biggest winners.

Drug maker BTG was among the FTSE 250's biggest losers after failing to meet analysts' expectations in its results for the year ended March 31.

Despite the company reporting revenues of 570.5million, up 27 per cent from 447.5million the previous year, and profits of 129.6million, up from 93million, shares fell as much as 8 per cent in early trading.

The company had failed to gather as much ground as expected in its interventional medicine business, which uses devices to treat diseases.

BTG has been attempting to develop this part of its business after making its name developing drugs to treat overdoses and rattlesnake bites.

But it expects growth in the division for the current year to fall considerably short of analysts' predictions of 26 per cent. Shares fell 6.8pc, or 49p, to 673p.

Shares in communications firm Inmarsat quietly rumbled on rather than completely taking off after it launched a satellite from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Built by Boeing, it is the firm's fourth, high-speed broadband communications satellite.

Despite its sky-high ambitions, Inmarsat was thwarted last month by a bruising shareholder pay revolt at its AGM.

Investors holding 49 per cent of shares voted against the rewards offered to bosses  including the 2.2million earned by chief executive Rupert Pearce last year.

Shares rose 1.7 per cent, or 13p, to 795p.
Taxpayers have finally sold their stake in Lloyds  nine years after rescuing the bank at the height of the financial crisis.

This morning the last of the Government's stock will have been sold  resulting in a 500million profit from the 20.3billion bailout.

The landmark moment ends the rockiest chapter in the history of the 252-year-old lender.

Ministers were forced to rescue the bank in 2008 when it came close to collapse as the global financial crisis threatened to sink the world's biggest economies.

This morning the last of the Government's stock in Lloyds will have been sold  resulting in a 500m profit from the 20.3bn bailout

'This is a long road that has lasted the best part of a decade,' said Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Laith Khalaf, 'but Lloyds is finally out of Government hands and back to being a normal bank.'

The Treasury has been gradually selling its stake since 2013, and last month made back the 20.3bn it had invested to keep the lender afloat.

That meant that every remaining share sold was profit for the Government.

At a shareholder meeting on Thursday, the bank's chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio, 53, said that the shares would all be back in private hands within days.

He said the state's holding was down to 0.25 per cent and he expected it to make a 500million profit. 'Six years ago, this was a bank in crisis,' the Portuguese boss said. 'We are now a strong, safe and UK-focused bank.'

Lloyds embarked on a disastrous 12billion takeover of toxic bank HBOS when speculators drove it to the brink. It only went ahead after the Labour Government changed takeover laws to permit the acquisition.

Then-prime minister Gordon Brown is said to have told Lloyds chairman Sir Victor Blank at a cocktail party that he would help force the takeover plan through.

But instead of stemming the collapse of the sector, the deal brought Lloyds to its knees.

In October 2008, one month after the HBOS tie-up was completed, bosses were forced to beg the Government for support, and Brown handed over 20.3billion of taxpayers' money in exchange for a 43.4 per cent holding.

The following year, bosses stunned the City by revealing HBOS had made an 11billion loss.

Lloyds was later buffeted by a string of scandals including PPI mis-selling. After the bailout, Lloyds did not make another profit until 2010, and the share price only recovered enough for ministers to start selling their stake three years later.

Today's announcement will inevitably fuel fresh speculation about the future of 53-year-old Horta-Osorio.

The married boss has previously been linked to the top job at HSBC, although his credibility suffered a blow last year after he was caught conducting an affair while he was on business trips.

Lloyds shares rose 1.1 per cent, or 0.76p, to 70.15p yesterday.
BRUSSELS RAID City officials have hit out at European efforts to snatch away London's lucrative euro clearing business.

Brussels bureaucrats have long been jealous of the 1.3trillion-a-day industry and some see Brexit as a chance to steal it back.

But in a speech yesterday, the City of London Corporation's policy chairman Catherine McGuinness said this 'would not only be vastly complicated, but also vastly damaging and potentially destabilising'.

JOB FEARS Car maker Ford is planning to cut around 10 per cent of its global workforce, potentially leaving thousands of Britons without a job.

The American company is hoping the move will reduce costs and boost profits.

The cuts, first reported in the Wall Street Journal, are part of its plan to save 2.3billion and halt its sliding share price.

Ford has around 200,000 employees worldwide, with nearly 14,000 in the UK at plants in Dagenham and Bridgend. Ford refused to comment last night on 'speculation'.

AUSSIE DEAL Motor dealer Inchcape has won a contract to sell Peugeot and Citroen cars in Australia.

The deal with PSA, the owner of the two brands, will see the firm operate across 57 sites in the region.

BERLIN BLAZE A fire in online retailer Asos's new warehouse near Berlin is believed to have caused 6.3million worth of damage.

Orders have been diverted to its Barnsley warehouse. Its main distribution centre in Barnsley caught fire in 2014, causing 30million worth of damage.

DRUG PRICES A European Commission investigation has been launched to examine claims that drug firm Aspen Pharmacare excessively increased the price of five cancer medications.

BURGER BOSS Simon Cope has been appointed as managing director of Byron Hamburgers, switching across from food rival Wagamama.

IT TIE-UP Telecoms group Communicate Plc has bought IT security firm Landscape Networks for an undisclosed sum. The deal will ramp up its service to business parks and buildings across the UK.

FASHION FALL Indian fashion retailer Koovs saw its shares fall by more than 10 per cent yesterday, but said it had no idea why. It said it continues to see year-on-year growth, after reporting growth of 87 per cent in the year to March 31.
Tata has struck a deal to hive off the British Steel pension fund

Tata has struck a deal to hive off the British Steel pension fund and allow the Indian group to continue to sell its UK business.

Under an agreement with the Pension Protection Fund, Tata will pay 550million into the British Steel Scheme, which has more than 130,000 members.

This will save the scheme from being forced to cut retirement incomes for thousands of workers by 10 per cent.

Under the agreement, the PPF and pension trustees will have an option over a third of the British Steel company, in order to safeguard future assets.

Members of three trade unions backed a rescue deal aimed at safeguarding jobs and guaranteeing investment, with the final salary pension scheme closing and being replaced with a less generous one.

The scheme currently has a black hole of around 400million.

It also means that Tata can now press ahead with selling its assets to German rival ThyssenKrupp.
Kabul, May 17 (IBNS): Militants attack on the National Radio Television building in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province left at least two people killed, media reports said on Wednesday.

The incident left six others injured.

Attaullah Khogyani, the governor's spokesman, was quoted as saying by Afghanistan's Pajhwok Afghan News that four assailants were involved in the attack.

He said two attackers blew themselves up while others were gunned down by security men.

The injured people were rushed to hospital.


MANZINI  Police were called and tear gas canisters were fired to disperse over 50 angry Sihhoye community members, who marched to complain about the killing of the man who was shot by rangers on Monday.



The man, who was suspected to be a poacher, was shot dead by Inyoni Yami Swaziland Irrigation Scheme (YSIS) Farm rangers, who claimed that he was poaching in the farm.

However, the community members claim that the incident was witnessed by a herd boy who was driving cattle in the same bush where the man was shot dead by the rangers.



They believe that the rangers had a plot to kill the man because they allegedly shot him about three kilometres away from the farm.

They alleged that according to the herd boy, the man was carrying a bag of rice and the rangers must have assumed that he was carrying a poached animal.



Furthermore, they said the man was suspected to be mentally challenged because of the life he was leading.

They said he spent most of his time in his makeshift structure (umkhukhu) which he built next to his fathers tomb and liked walking along the road.



They alleged that according to the witness, the man was unarmed and he raised his hands to the air after he was surrounded by the rangers, which meant that he was no threat to them.

On top of that, they saw that he was not carrying a poached animal but they continued to shoot him, the source said.

He said after seeing the herd boy, the rangers chased him away.
MBABANE  A police officer-in-charge of the Serious Crimes Unit (Lukhozi), and his family watched helplessly as his house was burnt after it had been petrol-bombed.



Family members of Mbazo Dlamini, the police officer heading the Lukhozi Department in Mbabane, said they were alerted to the fire by smoke at around 9pm on Monday.



The incident happened at Siphocosini and Dlaminis mother, Philda, said they had a suspect in mind.

The house is situated within the family compound which also has other houses.



All the property inside the two-room house was burnt to ashes and there was nobody in any of the rooms when the fire started.

Dlaminis first wife, who is also a police officer based in Piggs Peak, lived in the house. During the incident, Dlamini was in another house within the compound.



According to Philda, they heard footsteps outside as they were about to go to bed and they thought it was a person who had come to steal maize in the yard.



The house is occupied by LaNhlabatsi and a nephew to my son, who is also a police officer. I wanted to go out when I heard the footsteps but thought it would not be safe since it was dark. The door going into the inner room in the burnt house was faulty and it did not close properly. This is where we suspect the person threw in the petrol and lit a match. Everything in both rooms was ruined because there was nothing the children could save.
MBABANE  The Swazi student who was reported missing at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has been found dead.



According to the South African police, the young man was found hanging from a tree near a rail line on the same day of his disappearance.



The police said they had opened an investigation on the cause of his death following that there was no suicide note the student, Siboniso Dlamini, had left.

The discovery of the lifeless body of Dlamini comes after he was reported missing by one of his relatives, who posted the information on social network facebook after he was last seen on April 23 at the university.



The post was followed by a comment from a facebook user, who emphasised that the student had not been seen for two weeks and that he had left his phone in his room.



His relatives only learnt about his death on Monday, after they found Dlamini in a mortuary where he had been kept following his death.

Yesterday, the relative posted again but this time with the sad news that he had been found dead.



The relative, who said Dlamini was her nephew, mentioned that his body was already in a mortuary and that he died on the same day he went missing.



The relative thanked those who had shown support including media houses, who had published the story about the students disappearance.



Now he must be fetched in Cape Town and brought home for burial, thanks everyone for sharing this post, its much appreciated, the relative said in the post.






MANZINI  Four army recruits, including a chief and three full-figured females, have resigned from the ongoing USDF training.



The chief is said to have left the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF) Mbuluzi Infantry School on Friday fuming, after he was slapped by an instructor, who was correcting him while they were at the assembly square.



An impeccable source said the recruits were ordered to gather at the assembly square and the chief mistakenly did something wrong.

An instructor who spotted his mistake slapped him on the back while shouting at him to do what he was taught to do, when they were lining up at the assembly square.



The source said the slapping on the back was a normal practice used by the military instructors when correcting the recruits during training.

However, it did not go down well with the chief as he said; Angeke ngikhone kushaywa yindvondza ngingabuyiseli, meaning I cannot be slapped by a man and not retaliate.



The source said the chief said these words while leaving the assembly square towards the tents where they live.

He said other instructors tried to stop him from leaving the assembly square by persuading him to take it easy and join the other aspiring soldiers, but he refused and repeated the statement that he could not be hit by another man and be expected not to fight back.



Senior army officers were immediately notified about the incident and they intervened by trying to talk sense to the fuming chief, but all in vain as he strode towards the tents.
Islamabad, May 17 (IBNS): Pakistan on Wednesday said it has executed four militants.

Country's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) called the terrorists as 'hardcore'.

"Today another 4 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including killing of innocent civilians, destruction of educational institutions, attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan and Law Enforcement Agencies are executed at a Jail of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These convicts were tried by military courts," the ISPR said in a statement.

Detail of each case is as under.

Ahmed Ali S/O Bakhat Karam. The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan, Law Enforcement Agencies and destruction of an educational institution which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers a

nd civilian. He was also in possession of fire-arms and explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

Asghar Khan S/O Aziz Ur Rehman. The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan, Law Enforcement Agencies and destruction of educational institution which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. He was also in possession of fire-arms and explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

Haroon ur Rasheed S/O Mian Said Usman. The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan, Law Enforcement Agencies and destruction of an educational institution which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers and civilian. He was also in possession of fire-arms and explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.

Gul Rehman S/O Zareen. The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death of a civilian and a soldier. He was also in possession of explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded death sentence.
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By Naeisha Rose

At the Academy of Finance and Enterprise in Long Island City,Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a $25.8 billion education bill last week that left many public school education advocates in an uproar.

The state budget will provide $1.1 billion in school aid for charter schools in the 2018-2019 school year, while public schools will receive only $700 million through the Foundation Aid, which is funding programs and facilities for underprivileged kids and schools in need.

Many education advocates believe public schools should have received over $1 billion in funding that was guaranteed to them and its being siphoned off to charter schools.

The Foundation Aid and Campaign for Fiscal Equity, which fights to get quality education for urban schools, was created after a lawsuit in 1993, filed by former City Councilman Robert Jackson (D-NY), brought to light the many ways that New York State schools were failing children, according to the Alliance for Quality Education Executive Director Billy Easton.

He sued the state based on the Constitution that gave the students a right to a sound basic education, Easton said. The courts found that the state was violating the students right to education and that it needed to make sure that schools had a lot more funding.

It was settled in 2007 when Gov. Eliot Spitzer was in office and the Legislature agreed to increase funding statewide for students in high-need districts by $5.5 billion in classroom operating aid and the core foundation aid, Easton said.

For two years payments were made and then they were frozen. These schools are still owed $ 4 billion in aid, according to Easton.

The classrooms in these schools were overcrowded, there was a lack of access to curriculum for students, and middle-schoolers and high-schoolers werent receiving the best quality education and experiences, which is required under the state Constitution, according to Easton.

One of the parent advocates was Dionne McNeil, who marched from New York City to Albany on March 4 in protest because of the renewed smaller amounts in funding then what they were supposed to receive from the lawsuit.

That is the money that he knows about that we are trying to get, McNeil said. He just released $700 million and that is not enough for the whole state public school system. It was supposed to be $1.9 billion.

McNeil is disappointed at the state of the high school one of her sons attends. She believes the lack of funding is the reason why.

At August Martin High School in South Jamaica, they had business and communications, law, there was a medical academy, and we have a courtroom sitting idle not being used. We have a state of the art media center that was donated. That is a $1 million TV studio basically not being used to its full capacity, because of the lack and of money and teachers, McNeil said.
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By William Lewis

It is rare that those elected New York City mayor or governor have not had the ambition to run for higher office. In the case of mayor, none have advanced further since the 1850s.

When we look at the contemporary list, we see that Mayors Robert Wagner, John Lindsay, Rudy Giuliani and Ed Koch all sought to obtain higher office. However, they failed.

Robert Wagner wanted very much to obtain the office of U.S. senator, which had been held by his father for many years. Wagner had hoped that the Democratic Party would give him the nomination, however, that was not to materialize.

In the case of John Lindsay, he ran for president in the Republican primaries, yet failed to achieve his partys nomination.

Rudy Giuliani ran in the presidential primary in 2008 and lost.

Ed Koch ran for governor against Mario Cuomo in the Democratic primary and was defeated. He never ran for higher office again.

As for governors, there have been a few from New York who have reached the office of president, the most notable being Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt.

Political observers have wondered why incumbent mayors have not gone into higher office. First, the office of mayor of New York City is an extremely busy one, making it difficult for the mayor to leave the city and campaign. The mayor, especially if he is in office a long time, can make political enemies, which could hurt his chances. It also seems that the electorate of New York City doesnt like the idea of our mayor leaving the city and campaigning for higher office.

All of the forementioned mayors had qualifications.

When we look at the mayors race this year, Bill de Blasio will face a tough race in the 2020 Democratic primary. If he should win the Democratic primary, he may face a difficult race in the general election that fall.

The mayors office has been an office of high status and prestige throughout its history. Hopefully, that will continue in the future.
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By Philip Newman

A Queens County grand jury has indicted a 27-year-old Jamaica man on multiple counts of sex trafficking, rape, promoting prostitution and other charges for allegedly forcing a 15-year-old girl into having sex in exchange for money, which the defendant allegedly pocketed, the district attorney said.

Queens DA Richard Brown identified the defendant as Lance Hamilton, 27, of Foch Boulevard,, who was arraigned May 4 before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Marcia Hirsch. He was charged with kidnapping, promoting prostitution, compelling prostitution, sex trafficking, assault, rape, criminal sexual act, unlawful imprisonment, menacing, aggravated harassment, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, and endangering the welfare of a child, Brown said.

Hamilton was ordered held on $750,000 bail. If convicted, Hamilton faces up to 25 year in prison,

Brown said that according to the charges, the 15-year-old victim was brought to Hamiltons home in December 2015 and sexually assaulted by him. Hamilton then allegedly stole the victims belongings and identification. The defendant, over the next several months, forced her to have sex in exchange for money, which she was forced to turn mover to Hamilton, the criminal complaint said. Hamilton also posted prostitution advertisements on a website, according to Brown.

It is alleged that when the victim refused to have sex, Hamilton allegedly punched and choked her and once pointed a gun at her inside his home, the DA said.
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.
BETHLEHEM -- Meredith Moriarty, Christine Beck and Holly Dellenbaugh will be the new members of Bethlehem's board of education.

But there's a chance, albeit small, that could change.

The school board announced the three winners at their regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday, less than 24 hours after confusion over ballots threw the Tuesday night election into disarray and forced a manual recount of 888 votes.

The ballot itself featured two rows of eight squares each  one with the names of eight candidates and one with empty boxes for write-ins. Each square contains a bubble that can be filled in.

(See a sample ballot here)

But a number of voters  including one school board member who admitted he revised his ballot after realizing he had goofed  were confused by the ballots, and filled in the bubble in the write-in box but listed no name. Others wrote in names but didn't fill in bubbles.

"It was an easy mistake that people made," said board member Matt Downey, who was almost one of the people who made the mistake.

That left district officials with an abnormally high number of write-in candidates, throwing the vote count into chaos Tuesday night and pushing the electoral decision into unchartered legal waters, with no apparent case law or precedent to inform how officials should proceed.

The fate of the eight candidates vying for three open seats ultimately hinged on this question: "Can the will of the voter be reasonably ascertained?"

In other words: Can officials clearly determine that the votes, which made up about 12 percent of the total, were obviously intended for one candidate or another?

The board said yes, with a majority of its members trusting the discretion of the recount and thus accepting the three new members.

Moriarty came in first with 1,232 votes; Beck in second with 1,088 and Dellenbaugh with 1,080. The fourth-place candidate received 1,043 votes.

But this may not yet be over: Candidates are able to petition the state education commissioner for a recount, a move that at least one board member encouraged as a way to legitimize the board's composition moving forward.

It's unclear whether any candidate plans to mount such a challenge, but decisions made by the board in the time between now and any resolution would stand, and cannot be retroactively changed should one of the three announced winners be replaced.

Design debate

"The ballot designed by the county to meet standards of the new digital voting machines created some voter confusion," said the district's Chief Business and Financial Officer Judith Kehoe, who oversaw the election process, in a statement posted to the district website earlier Wednesday.

Perhaps the design was the problem, Albany County officials say, but a number of other districts around the state had similarly designed ballots without any confusion.Board of Elections Commissioner Rachel Bledi said Wednesday that the district seemed eager to deflect blame for the mass confusion.

"My issue is this sort of ballot was handed out across the county, in many other districts," she said. "Why is it in the town of Bethlehem there was mass confusion? There's more to the story than just a ballot design issue."

School board elections are run by local school districts, but the Albany County Board of Elections provides the voting machines and designs the ballots for districts.

"They give us the information and how they want it designed and we design it for them," Bledi said.

Bledi said it appeared a number of voters filled in the bubble in the write-in box but listed no name, while others wrote in names but didn't fill in bubbles.

"We do see this in primary elections, but not to this extent," she said. "I don't know what caused this to happen. It's so bizarre."

She wondered if candidates or interest groups might have given residents mistaken instructions about how to vote, or perhaps circulated an image of a ballot with the incorrect voting method.

"The instructions are right on the ballot, but if somebody didn't read them, you might get confused," she said.
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MENANDS  Finn the German shepherd was a "smart, strong and brave" police dog, his handler Kyle McCraith said.

"It was almost like we could read each other's mind. No words exchanged. It was a look and he knew what to do," McCraith said. They patrolled the streets of Albany together for eight years and shared a home four more years after the dog retired.

Then, last spring, Finn died from spinal myelopathy  a degenerative disease that causes progressive paralysis. With tears in his eyes, McCraith said that, near the end of Finn's life, the 13-year-old dog could barely walk.

"He was the best dog I've ever had," McCraith said. The master sergeant had three canine partners during his nearly 20 years at the Albany Police Department and now he trains dogs for the Albany County Sheriff's Office.

Finn was one of seven retired police dogs honored by their human partners Wednesday at a memorial ceremony on the grounds of the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.

A police dog graveyard and memorial, erected 20 years ago, is maintained by volunteers.

The dogs, who all died from natural causes within the last two years, being honored were:

Annie, who worked with Albany County Sheriff's Chief Deputy William Rice from 1997 to 2008

Ammo, who worked with Amsterdam police Officer Kirk Walters from 2002 to 2010

Bianca, who worked with University at Albany police Officer Ed Meyer from 2003 to 2015

Finn, who worked with McCraith for the Albany Police Department from 2005 to 2012

Jeter, who worked with Schodack police Officer Brian Rossiter from 2003 to 2011

Al, who worked with Altamont police Officer John Govel

Eric, who worked with Warren County Sheriff's Deputy Terry Combs

"It's important for the handlers," McCraith said. "They spend more time with their dogs than with their family."

The bond showed. About two dozen officers, who gathered in the shade next to the graveyard, hid their tears behind sunglasses and clapped when each police dog's name was read.

The Rev. Lloyd Rebeyro of St. Mary's Church in Albany led a prayer asking for God's "protection and blessing for all canines and their handlers."

Officer John Govel laid Al's favorite stuffed animal  a fluffy elephant  on his gravesite. The dog's ashes were saved from a house fire last year and had been in the officer's back seat since.

"I saw it was time to lay him to rest in the way he deserves," Govel said.
Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has become the first woman governor of New York. She has defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin. Heres a look at the political journey of the 57th governor of New York.
Saratoga Springs

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center will deepen its partnership with the Spa City's legendary music venue Caffe Lena with a trio of Sunday afternoon concerts on SPAC's gazebo stage.

In another addition to its programming, SPAC will host the Saratoga Film Forum on a number of dates in July and August, screening films with connections to the arts that are presented on SPAC's stages.

Both new series were announced Wednesday afternoon at SPAC's annual members meeting, held at the Hall of Springs, adjacent to SPAC's grounds in the Saratoga Spa State Park.

In other news from the meeting, the overhaul of the gazebo stage, announced in March, will be paid for in part by a $150,000 grant from the Charles R. Wood Foundation, a Glens Falls charity established by the eponymous late businessman and philanthropist, who was on SPAC's board of directors in the 1990s. The new gazebo, with stage more than double the size of the original, built 36 years ago, will be named in honor of Wood. Construction is projected to be completed in time for the Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival, scheduled for June 24 and 25. Over the past dozen years, the Wood foundation has given SPAC $825,000 to support programming and educational efforts.

The free Caffe Lena @ SPAC Concert Series will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoons and will feature a diverse lineup of American roots music. June 11: The Pines, Birds of Chicago and a third band to be announced. July 9: Western Den, Honeysuckle, Twisted Pine and The Steel Wheels. Aug. 27: Let's Be Leonard, Sweet Megg & The Wayfarers and Soul Inscribed. The rain site is Caffe Lena, at 47 Phila St. in downtown Saratoga.

"Cultivating SPAC's role as a place where creativity, culture and social connection thrive is a key part of our vision for the future," SPAC President and CEO Elizabeth Sobol said in announcing the acts for the Caffe Lena @ SPAC series.

SPAC will host the Saratoga Film Forum at the Spa Little Theatre from July 20 to 31 and Aug. 1, 2 and 23 to 28.

"Partnering with the Film Forum on an August series is an opportunity to support independent cinema in our community while creating meaningful connections to our programming and the performing arts. We are very enthusiastic about this partnership," Sobol said. Series titles, dates and screening times will be announced later.

sbarnes@timesunion.com  518-454-5489  @Tablehopping  http://facebook.com/SteveBarnesFoodCritic
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State Police said a gas station employee who stole more than $1,000 in lottery tickets at work is among the fugitives troopers list on this week's roster of Warrant Wednesday suspects.

Angelo Patterino Jr., 31, is wanted on a grand larceny charge for allegedly stealing $1,332 worth of lottery tickets from a Jeffersonville gas station where he worked, State Police said. Patterino has failed to return to Callicoon Town Court to answer the charge, troopers said.

Nathan L. Page, 27, is wanted by State Police in Brunswick for failing to appear in town court to face an identity theft charge. Page was originally arrested in February 2016 after, troopers said, an investigation revealed he used someone elses Apple Pay account to make purchases totaling $2,562. Page had lived in Troy but State Police said he may have fled to North Carolina to avoid capture.

 Edward Mastrella, 44, is wanted by State Police in Lake Success on a drug possession charge. Troopers said Mastrella was involved in a crash on Northern State Parkway and was later arrested on the drug charges.

 Nathanial Johnson, 28, is wanted by State Police in Rochester on a misdemeanor charge charge. State Polcie said he was arrested after a traffic stop on Interstate 490 in Rochester.

 Charles L. Griswold Jr., 38, is wanted by State Police in Syracuse on charges of aggravated unlicenced operaiton of a vehicle and driving while intoxicated. State Police said an arrest warrant was issued for Griswold on April 5 in Syracuse City Court.

 Manfid Duran, 43, is wanted by State Police in Tarrytown on a bench warrant that accuses him of failing to appear in court to answer a charge of aggravated driving while intoxicated. Duran was arrested on April 19, 2015, after state troopers said they stopped his car on the Thruway and found he was intoxicated.

 Jordan P. Spinner, 31, is wanted in Franklin County for an allegation of felony violation of probation.

 Ann-Janette M. Johnny, 45, is wanted by the State Police on a bench warrant from the town of Batavia. The warrant stems from a driving while intoxicated arrest in 2013, troopers said.

 Derek Maurice, 35, is wanted by State Police in Brewster on allegations he was caught with stolen jewerly in September 2015. State Police said the arrest stems from an investigation state troopers began in March 2015.
If you feel as though half of the dairy case in your grocery store has been commandeered by yogurt, you are probably right. Someday, when food historians look back on the gustatory trends of the early 2000s, the tart, fermented, creamy phenomenon of yogurt will be a hallmark for how we ate.

Greek yogurt, most specifically. Before 2010, most people recognized yogurt as a portable cup of pastel-colored goo. Then companies like Chobani  a top brand-name in Greek yogurt  moved to capture a piece of the "better for you" movement that promoted healthy-"ish" eating while slowly weaning off high-calorie convenience foods. Greek yogurt is made by straining regular yogurt, leading to a tangy and thick substance, which can work for more than breakfast.

Options are becoming more and more vital for the recently booming yogurt market. Local producers are part of a national trend, coming up with new ways of making their yogurts stand out, from more varied flavors to dessert options to drinkable varieties.

In 2007, Greek yogurt accounted for only 1 percent of the U.S. yogurt market. By 2015, market share had skyrocketed to 47 percent. Data from the IRI market research group shows that by 2015, 2.2 million linear feet of grocery dairy space was reserved for yogurt, an increase of 1.9 million from 2013.

Those numbers seem to be dipping, however. Nielsen data for 2016 showed that the U.S. market dipped 0.9 percent, with Greek yogurt sales declining a full percentage point. Compound annual growth rate for yogurt through 2020 is projected to decline nearly two points, to 7.88 percent.

Price Chopper spokeswoman Mona Golub said that on average, each Price Chopper location allocates 20 linear feet in the dairy section to yogurt products. Much of that yogurt is made close to home, as yogurt companies like Dannon, Chobani, Siggi's and Fage are headquartered or have production facilities in New York.

Local farmers market favorite Argyle Cheese Farmer, located in Argyle, makes non-homogenized cream-top Greek yogurt.

Maple Hill Creamery in Kinderhook has become a wunderkind of yogurt in New York, making yogurt before the Greek boom had taken effect. The organic, 100 percent grass-fed brand started in Little Falls before moving its headquarters to Columbia County. Its yogurt is made at a Byrne Dairy facility in Cortland, with milk sourced from 110 farms throughout the state.

"We settled on yogurt because it was repeatable, and I didn't have the patience for cheese," said company founder and former dairy farmer Tim Joseph. Maple Hill's first batch of commercial yogurt was produced in 2009 and its longtime best-selling product is unflavored plain yogurt in a single-serving cup.

Blue Hill, the sustainability mecca in Pocantico Hills, introduced flavors like beet, carrot, tomato and parsnip in conjunction with Maple Hill Creamery. Yoplait's Dippers line offers options like tortilla chip rounds packaged with chipotle-ranch nonfat Greek yogurt. Chobani produces Meze Dips, made from Greek yogurt in flavors like smoked onion-paprika or roasted red pepper.

More and more, the yogurt case looks like a United Nations convention. German quark and Icelandic skyr, both technically cheese, appeal to the sweet-tart and thick-loving crowds, and labneh is an ultra-strained yogurt that straddles the yogurt-cheese line. Australian yogurt's unstrained whole milk base draws customers in with its velvety texture. Vietnamese-style yogurt is packed with protein but incorporates sugar before it is cultured, leading to a naturally caramelized flavor.

Inspired by lassi, the traditional Indian yogurt drink, yogurt makers are producing convenient no-spoon-needed drinks to appeal to the on-the-go lifestyle of Americans. While Nielsen data shows that "spoonable" yogurt sales declined 2.2 percent ($6.843 billion in U.S. sales), "yogurt drink" sales increased 12 percent in 2016.

Ronnybrook, based in Ancramdale, offers a line of yogurt drinks that have the consistency of a protein shake and contain added protein, live cultures and probiotics. Other brands follow suit.

The boom in yogurt production brought a problematic surplus in whey. For every ounce of yogurt produced, there's also two to three ounces of whey, the cloudy, acidic slurry left over from culturing yogurt that contains high levels of lactose, galactose, calcium phosphate and lactic acid. Whey also contains high levels of nitrogen, making it beneficial as a fertilizer in moderate doses, but lethal to water ecosystems in excess. U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates state that as much as 2,313,000 metric tons of whey were produced in the state in 2015 from Greek yogurt production alone.

There are two kinds of whey produced in dairy manufacturing: sweet whey and acidic whey. The sweet version, a byproduct of cheesemaking, typically has more residual protein and is commonly used for protein isolate powders and dairy-based infant formula. Acidic whey, the byproduct of yogurt, has fewer commercial uses in its raw form.

Eric Paul, owner of the Cheese Traveler in Albany, said cheese and yogurt producers are working with livestock farmers to feed whey to pigs, later turned into salami and other cured meat products. Jody Somers, from Dancing Ewe Farm in Granville, formerly followed this holistic approach, using sweet whey from his pecorino cheese to make ricotta, then giving the remaining whey to a nearby hog farmer. The hogs were used for farm-made capicola and pancetta.

The disposal of whey is highly regulated due to its potential toxicity. Acidic whey has a pH level of 4.2, putting it on par with orange juice or A&W root beer. Chobani's head of communications, Michael Gonda, said his company's whey waste is transported to neighboring farms to be incorporated into animal feed and fertilizer, a permitted practice under the state's waste regulation laws. While the nitrogen in the whey is useful and beneficial with moderate use for agricultural purposes, long-term or overuse in high-intensity farming can be damaging.

"Just like any other nutrient source, we want to use it in a judicious way," said Karl J. Czymmek, agronomist with Cornell's PRO-DAIRY program.

Research scientists for yogurt makers are seeking new ways to use and dispose of whey. Globally, 3,500 patents related to yogurt acidic whey were applied for in 2015, a 75 percent increase from 2012, that included processes for extracting soluble fiber (for baked goods and snack food), sugars (for artificial sweeteners) and protein.

"There's not as much science conducted on it," Czymmek said. While trial-and-error uses on a small level (home-brewing forums extol the virtues of whey in making beer; home bakers, like Ellie Markovitch of Troy use whey to replace water in baked goods because, "I notice that my bread rises faster and has a nice texture," she said), many are looking to biogas as an ultimate whey solution.

Whey can be used in more places than the kitchen: When mixed with bacteria, the two produce a methane gas that can be used as a power source. The Fage yogurt factory in Johnstown and the Cortland Byrne Dairy plant are utilizing whey in this way. Whey for biogas is an imperfect practice, though, said Chris Bystroff, professor in the biological sciences department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The conserved nutrients effused from biogas product can have effects "similar to sewage going into water; a high level of e. Coli," he said.

It seems unlikely that yogurt could be a total answer to agricultural, nutritional and energy usage issues, but a deeper understanding of the nature of yogurt production seems to have untapped potential that could be one solution to pressing matters.

Deanna Fox is a freelance food and agriculture writer. www.foxonfood.com @DeannaNFox

PULLMAN LOAF WITH WHEY

Makes one ''sandwich'' loaf, or two rounded, smaller loaves

1 1/2 cups lukewarm whey

2 tablespoons honey

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 cup nonfat powdered milk

2 tablespoons butter, softened and in cubes

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the whey, honey, and yeast. Stir to combine and allow to "proof" and become foamy for about five minutes.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, salt, and powdered milk. Add the proofed water and yeast mixture to the dry ingredients, and start the mixer with the dough hook. Mix until a rough dough forms. Slowly add in the butter a bit at a time and continue to mix the dough. Knead the dough (in the mixer or by hand) until the dough is smooth and elastic. Remove the dough from the bowl and place in a separate bowl lightly coated with vegetable oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise for about 30 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Punch the dough down gently to expel gas, then briefly knead the dough on the counter. Roll the dough into a 13-inch log and place seam-side down in a greased Pullman loaf pan (or two equal logs in greased regular loaf pans). If using the Pullman loaf pan, place the cover on the pan now. Allow the dough to rise for about 40 minutes in a warm, draft-free place.

Bake the dough in the chosen pans until golden brown on the crust, about 40 minutes. Allow the pans to cool slightly once removed from the oven, then remove the bread from the pans and allow to cool on racks. Brush extra butter on the top of the loaves for a softer loaf. Allow to cool completely before slicing.

From Deanna Fox

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TZATZIKI PARFAITS

Serves 4

1 large cucumber, unpeeled

1 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

2 large garlic cloves, finely minced

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon minced fresh dill

1 cup raisins

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained and well rinsed

Crumbled pita chips

Grate the cucumber and drain through a fine mesh sieve overnight in the refrigerator. Combine the yogurt, garlic, oil, vinegar, and kosher salt in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerator overnight.

Combine half of the cucumber, dill, and yogurt mixture. Set aside. (This is a tzatziki sauce. Try it over grilled meats and vegetables or in sandwiches.)

Using 4 half pint-size mason jars, add a base layer of raisins to each jar, using roughly half of the raisins. On top of the raisins, add a base layer of chickpeas, using roughly half of the chickpeas. Add a thin layer of the remaining grated cucumber. Add a generous layer of the tzatziki sauce/yogurt mixture, then top with more raisins, chickpeas and cucumber, as desired. Top with crumbled shards of toasted pita chips. Serve chilled.

From Deanna Fox
It's a good thing Sam Reilly takes such pleasure in building sets, because in "True West," his latest project at the Ghent Playhouse, everything onstage takes a beating in every performance. The Sam Shepard play opens Friday at the Ghent Playhouse and continues through June 4. It tells of the conflict between two brothers, one stable, one unhinged. They fight it out at the close of the show, and the real loser is their mother's kitchen.

"The show ends with them completely trashing the kitchen; things are broken, cabinets cleaned out. It's destroyed. Every night," explains Reilly. "And I'm obsessive about set dressing being just so. We'll have to take notes to remember where things belong."

Having created sets for some 20 shows at the Ghent Playhouse during the past five years, it's fair to say that Reilly has become the de facto in-house stage designer. The company couldn't ask for a more hardworking and imaginative person to fill that role.

"My father's a carpenter, and I so I grew up in the building world, hanging out in hardware stores a lot as a kid," recalls Reilly. "I minored in art history in college, so I have a vast knowledge of architectural history."

More Information If you go "True West" When: Opens 8 p.m. Friday and continues for eight more performances through Sunday, June 4 Where: Ghent Playhouse, 6 Town Hall Place, Ghent Tickets: $10-$20 Info: (800) 838-3006; http://www.ghentplayhouse.org See More Collapse

Having grown up in Columbia Country, Reilly's earliest memories of theater come from attending performances at the Ghent Playhouse.

"The playhouse was so cool, it almost felt like Broadway when I was a little kid," says Reilly. "It had fun productions, and there were gender-bending things and a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. I was also impressed with their production values."

Besides his credentials in art, design and construction, Reilly is also an actor. In typical fashion, he got his start performing in high school shows. Theater got put on the shelf during college, in favor of training as a painter at SUNY Purchase. Once he received his degree, Reilly returned to his home turf in Columbia County, where the theater got him again.

"When I graduated I was dying to do theater," he says. "I was so over painting, just burned out on it. But I was too shy to audition, and there was this four-year gap in my resume."

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," the William Finn musical, was next up at the playhouse. A friend got in touch with Reilly and said there was a second round of auditions and encouraged him to give it a shot.

"Oh my god, I was born to play Leafy Coneybear," says Reilly, referring to the role of a shy and nerdy youngster. Not only did he land the part, but he quickly became part of the community at Ghent Playhouse.

According to Reilly, the company's artistic director Cathy Lee-Visscher looked at him and said, "Where have you been in this world?"

The staging of "Putnam County" was a huge success, and Reilly has been involved in one Ghent Playhouse production after another ever since. Reilly's most intricate and elaborate sets have been for the annual winter offering known as the "panto," a British tradition of a spoof. There's a Ghent Playhouse tradition that cardboard is the only material used for the panto set. Reilly relishes the challenge and collects used shipping boxes all year long. As the production nears, he spends hours fine-tuning an elaborate construction.

Last November, Reilly worked himself into such a frazzle that he almost fell asleep at the Thanksgiving dinner table. But the show was opening on Black Friday. So after downing some turkey and dressing, it was back to the theater.

"I went a little too far with that one. I made it so over-the-top and complicated," recalls Reilly. "I worked like a crazy person. I built a cuckoo clock out of cardboard, because I was crazy that day. What's also amazing is I built that entire set for like $50. The budget mostly went toward paint, and we now buy hot glue at 1,000 tubes at a time."

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Patrick White, who directs "True West," is naturally a big fan of Reilly's sets.

"I've probably seen a dozen of Reilly's sets, and every one is a gem," says White. "Technical elements usually suffer in these shoestring theater companies, but this guy's ingenious work shines."

Properties are another aspect of theater where Reilly goes the distance. For a recent production of "Boeing-Boeing," the stewardesses needed matching carry-on shoulder bags.

"There was a great shape with a Dora the Explorer bag," explains Reilly. "So I took them apart and shellacked them to look like vinyl bags from the '60s."

With "True West," the kitchen is modeled to be like a Southwestern ranch house. "We're doing a '60s flair," says Reilly, "but I'm calling it tastefully tacky."

"Everything needs to be sturdy enough to survive the rehearsals and the performances, or it needs to be completely disposable and we get replacements," continues Reilly. "But hopefully they don't have to touch the dishes."

Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy.
Albany

New York City and New Jersey are locked in a war over water in the Catskills, where the city has its massive drinking water reservoir system. Potential casualties could be the people who live below reservoirs in the Southern Tier and a world-class trout fishery on the Delaware River that brings badly needed tourism to the region.

The stand-off prompted the national head of Trout Unlimited, a conservation group, and local advocates who want reservoirs used more to reduce flood risks, to warn Tuesday that the dispute threatens to reactivate decades-old city water rules that would make those issues worse, not better.

"This is an eastern version of the western water war," said Jeff Skelding, executive director of Friends of the Upper Delaware, a river advocacy group in Hancock, Delaware County, that wants reservoir water releases into the river that are more steady and reliable. "I guess the question is who is going to blink first."

New Jersey claims that New York City, which controls a network of five reservoirs in the Catskills that also feed the Delaware, is fudging numbers on how much water it can spare for the river, which flows through New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. New Jersey has been demanding more guaranteed water, but the city defends its water figures as accurate.

Under a 1954 agreement between the city, the states, and the federal government, which specifies how billions of gallons of water gets divvied up, any single party can block a proposal. And that is just what New Jersey is doing, with its officials refusing to renew the current water release system for another year, after agreeing to the previous five years.

That demand is forcing a "poison pill" scenario that would make the city return to 1980s reservoir rules, which would hold back more water. That would expose tens of thousands of downstream residents to potential floods if extreme storms spill over topped-off reservoirs, as well as damage the river's delicate trout habitat.

Devastating downstream floods happened in 2004, 2005 and 2006, before the city created new rules that lower reservoirs during winter and early spring, so heavy rains can be captured and released gradually, said Charles Schroeder, of the local residents' group Drowning on the Delaware.

The old rules also would mean less river water for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The deadline for New York City to renew or revert is May 31, and now it appears old rules will kick back in unless a compromise is reached. Both the city and New York state want to extend current rules for another year.

"This is a standoff where no one would end up winning," said Chris Wood, national president of Trout Unlimited. On Monday, he wrote to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as well New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, and Delaware Gov. John Carney urging that a deal be reached.

If less water is released from reservoirs, water levels in Delaware will drop and the water temperature will warm, damaging the "ecologically and economically valuable" trout habitat, said Wood. Thousands of fishermen come to the river each season, spending millions of dollars on lodging, vacation homes, boats, gear, food and fuel.

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"New York will continue to work diligently ... to achieve an equitable agreement," said Environmental Conservation Department spokeswoman Erica Ringwald. "In the absence of unanimous agreement, New York is willing to sign an extension of the existing plan to avoid potential harm to the river and its interests."

Bob Considine, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, said that "nothing had changed" since the state announced in February that it would not agree to extend current rules. In October 2015, New Jersey told New York City that it believed the city had more available water than it was admitting to.

"New York City has committed to sign a one-year extension to prevent potential harm to the river and its many stakeholders. We have encouraged the others to also sign the extension," said Adam Bosch, a spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Protection.

bnearing@timesunion.com  518-454-5094  @Bnearing10
Albany

As state lawmakers consider a bill to loosen restrictions on people renting out their homes with online services like Airbnb, the company issued a report Wednesday touting economic benefits from the program in the Capital Region and the rest of the state.

The report said nearly 28,000 people stayed for a total of more than 74,000 nights at Airbnb homes in the six-county region, including Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Fulton and Washington counties. Those stays generated about $25 million in economic activity, including $4 million paid to people who rent out their homes with the service.

In 2016, about 27,900 Airbnb guests stayed in the Capital Region, up from 6,400 in 2014, the survey found. However, the report also found that about 94 percent of about $3.2 billion in total Airbnb economic activity statewide was located in metropolitan New York City. The balance happened upstate, with the Capital Region accounting for less than 1 percent of all Airbnb activity.

Based on a survey of more than 1,000 guests and 1,120 Airbnb hosts, the report by the consulting firm HR&A covered 2014 to 2016. Currently, there are 49,600 Airbnb hosts in the state.

Last month, a bill was introduced into the state Legislature seeking to permit short-term home rentals in New York City, and allow Airbnb to collect and remit New York City and state taxes on behalf of hosts.

Introduced by Brooklyn Assemblyman Joe Lentol, the bill's justification language closely mirrors a 2016 memo by Airbnb pushing its cause.

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This month, Lentol and state Sen. George Amedore, R-Rotterdam, joined Airbnb hosts and others at a news conference in support of the proposal, and issued a report on the economic impact of the service on the state's economy last year.

On Wednesday, Josh Meltzer, head of state public policy for the company, said, "The positive impact of home sharing goes well beyond the host. From small businesses like restaurants, cafes and shops that can welcome new customers to local governments that benefit from tourist spending that didn't previously exist, entire communities benefit from economic activity created by the sharing economy."

bnearing@timesunion.com  518-454-5094  @Bnearing10
By Press Trust of India: village after 70 years

Sambhal (UP), May 17 (PTI) For 70 years, members of the Valmiki community in Uttar Pradeshs Fatehpur Shamshoi village were denied a haircut due to an upper-caste diktat. That changed yesterday -- but only after they threatened to convert to Islam.

The barbers in the village had shut their shop for the last one month, as for the first time in decades, they were asked to give haircuts to the lower-caste Valmikis.

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With the intervention of police and district administrative officials, the stand-off ended yesterday.

In Fatehpur Shamsoi, there are about 15,000 Thakurs and Brahmins, and about 1,250 Valmikis in 250 families.

"Yesterday, people from different communities interacted with officials of police and district administration, and the deadlock was resolved. After this, the barbers started accepting Valmikis as their customers," said Sanjeev Sharma, a former village pradhan, who brokered the peace.

For decades since Independence, Valmikis have allegedly not been allowed to get haircuts or shaves from the village barbers, because upper castes declared they would boycott the "impure and unhyegenic" razors.

A month ago, however, a Muslim barber agreed to give haircuts to a Valmiki family. But he refused to attend to them when the they later on turned up for a shave, allegedly under upper-caste pressure.

This snowballed into a major agitation, with all the Valmikis of the village threatening to convert to Islam.

"Almost a month ago my cousins, Anil, Bhura and Birjesh Valmiki had got haircuts at Asif Alis saloon. A few days later, when they turned up for a shave, Asif refused. He was beaten up by upper caste villagers because he broke the rule," said Saurabh Valmiki.

"Other barbers also refused to give us haircuts or a shave out of fear. We filed a police complaint against them. By the time the police reached the village, all the barbers had shut shop and fled," he said.

Additional SP Sambhal, Pankaj Pandey, said, "The barbers have agreed to cut hair of members of the Valmiki caste and a few Valmikis even got haircuts. Earlier, we had received a complaint in this regard."

Over the past few decades, Valmiki men had to travel 15 to 20 kilometres to towns like Chandausi, Bhajoie and Islamnagar to get haircuts.

Valmiki is a Dalit community which has historically faced exclusion and oppression in the upper caste-dominated society and has frequently been affected by anti-Dalit violence and repression by members of other castes.

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In certain cases, the members of the community have turned away from Hinduism in order to avoid the persecution associated with caste practices.

The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh recorded the Valmiki population, which was classified as a Scheduled Caste, at 1,319,241. PTI COR NAV SMI BSA TIR BSA

--- ENDS ---
Three environmentally-conscious secondary school students may have come up with a solution to decontaminating lead-poisoned soil.

Students Ronan Murphy, Patrizia Spiess and Gerard OReilly from Moate Community School in Westmeath, have carried out a study of how plants can be used to rid the soil of excessive lead.

And among their areas to study was the Silvermines where two cattle died from lead poisoning in February.

Lead is a highly dangerous heavy metal that is released into soil due to the dumping of batteries and shotgun cartridges and from the mining industry In Ireland, they told the Tipperary Star.

The All-Island Animal Disease Survelliance Report 2015 reported that 33 cattle died due of lead poisoning. Lead is the most common source of poisoning among cattle in Ireland.

The three carried out a number of experiments to decontaminate polluted soil using Indian Mustard, growing the plant on soils from around the country to which lead had been added.

They then measured the lead concentration of the plants after five weeks. In particular, they studied the uptake of lead in mustard grown on soil from the Silvermines.

They found elevated lead levels in all plants, meaning that decontamination of soils using plants is a suitable method to remove lead.

The students promoted the absorption of lead by adding a variety of chemicals, called chelates, and found that EDDS greatly increased lead absorption by plants.

As these plants are now unsuitable for human consumption, the students plan to burn the Indian mustard as a biofuel in a furnace using lime scrubbers which would trap the lead.

The lead could be used elsewhere for batteries or roofing.

This would allow farmers to reduce lead levels on their farmers while providing them with a source of income.

Ronan, Patrizia and Gerard will present their findings at the ECO Unesco Young Environmentalist awards on May 23 in Dublin's Mansion House.

Meanwhile, the inter-agency set up to look into the cause of the lead poisoning that caused the cattle deaths has met once in the past weeks and a further meeting is scheduled.

One of the possibilities of the cause of the deaths is that flooding from a local river in 2015 washed lead on to land that was subsequently used to either graze cattle on or cut for silage which was then fed to cattle.

Some 20 local dairy farmers had their herds restricted at the time when excessive lead amounts were found in bulk tanks, but this precautionary move has since been rescinded.
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[May 17, 2017] Cancer Crisis in Africa Prompts BVGH's New African Access Initiative

BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH), which enlists the capabilities of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries to tackle critical global health needs, today announced it will expand its programs to address the emerging cancer crisis in Africa. The African Access Initiative (AAI) will provide affordable, sustainable access to cancer therapeutics, enhance healthcare capacity, and foster cancer research in Africa. BVGH will launch its new initiative at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) International Convention in San Diego on June 21, 2017. "The global health community has made important headway in tackling infectious diseases such as malaria in Africa, yet we are seeing an alarming rise in cancer and other non-communicable diseases," said Jennifer Dent, President of BVGH. "The BVGH team will leverage our strong industry relationships, African networks, and capacity-building programs to help local healthcare professionals gain access to the cancer medicines they need and deliver educational, diagnostic, and treatment services in their communities." "Healthcare has come a long way in Africa, but as we make inroads into some of the infectious diseases that have so plagued the continent, we must refocus our vision on the non-communicable diseases, especially cancer, that affects millions of people globally," said Professor and Honorable Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, Nigeria. "We must take action now to build infrastructure and develop sustainable means to provide access to cancer treatments in Africa. Our partnership with BVGH is an important step down this path." Cancer kills 50% more Africans than malaria. GLOBOCAN reported the number of Africans who died from cancer in 2015 was 635,404. By comparison, malaria killed 394,680 Africans according to the World Health Organization (WHO) World Malaria Report 2016. The WHO expects cancer deaths in Africa will nearly double in the ext two decades, while malaria is projected to continue to decline on the continent. African healthcare leaders are turning their attention to cancer and non-communicable diseases as they see the rise in cancer cases is already overwhelming many existing healthcare systems. Most African countries do not even have adequate radiation centers to treat patients. Some countries have none and lack the specialized skills necessary to deliver radiation therapy. Dramatic disparities in patient outcomes are the norm in Africa compared to middle and higher income countries. For example, 5-year net survival from breast cancer is 90% in the US, vs. 12% in Gambia.



"Understanding Africa's cancer crisis is the first step in finding innovative ways of overcoming the current health systems' challenges on the continent," said Dr. Cristina Stefan, president-elect of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). "Partnerships and collaboration with international organizations are essential in advancing and sustaining a better health care with access to oncology medicine for all Africans, as well as for responsible teaching, training and research." The initial phase of AAI will involve one to three hospitals in each of six African countries - Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. BVGH will assess the cancer treatment and R&D needs of each participating hospital and country; engage pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with complementary capabilities, priorities and interests; and broker innovative partnership and custom pricing agreements among the hospitals, governments, and companies to address the identified needs. Details of the AAI program along with a joint BVGH/AORTIC white paper on the state of cancer care in Africa will be presented at the BIO meeting in June.

BVGH will also be hosting its third annual Africa Pavilion at the BIO Convention, featuring representatives from AORTIC, the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Networks of Excellence, the East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC), and leading African research organizations. Participation in the 2017 Africa Pavilion will represent 24 African countries. About BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) BVGH is a results-oriented nonprofit organization based in Seattle, Washington, USA whose mission is to engage private industry in global health initiatives. BVGH engages global health stakeholders in partnerships to accelerate the development of new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics that address the unmet medical needs of the developing world. Working at the crossroads of the biopharmaceutical industry and global health, BVGH creates customized programs that fit the needs and capacity of partners and impact health in measurable ways. About the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) AORTIC seeks to become the Continent's pre-eminent non-profit organisation working for cancer control. AORTIC will achieve this through the facilitation of research and training as well as the provision of relevant and accurate information on the prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and palliation of cancer. Our organisation is dedicated to providing all Africans with these benefits, as well as to increasing public awareness of cancer and reducing the stigma associated with it. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005275/en/

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[May 17, 2017] Conde Nast France and ADYOULIKE Come Together to Create a Programmatic Marketplace Dedicated to Native Advertising

LONDON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Through ADYOULIKE ' s native technology, advertisers and Trading Desks will have direct access to programmatic premium native inventory of Conde Nast

The creation of this new ' Private Native Marketplace ' stems from a strong partnership of 3 years between ADYOULIKE and Conde Nast

This collaboration further demonstrates how publishers and adtech companies working together to innovate can provide new ways forward for native advertising Today, Conde Nast France and ADYOULIKE announce the creation of a programmatic marketplace for native advertising. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160901/403517LOGO )

The launch of this new Private native Marketplace will enable Trading Desks to plan and optimise directly in real time their native campaigns, with the opportunity to also implement their data. Conde Nast will rely on the SSP (Supply Side Platform) developed by ADYOULIKE's 'Native Lab', to promote their native programmatic ad campaigns. Furthermore, this collaboration will reinforce Conde Nast's digital expertise in native advertising and programmatic while providing added value for its sites and different industry sectors as well as being a key element in its sales strategy. Conde Nast France will benefit from ADYOULIKE's programmatic expertise and the ability to work with a leading technology company in native advertising for the French Market. Tony Nguyen, Head of Programmatic at Conde Nast said: "Conde Nast is leader in programmatic and also amongst the pioneers of native advertising. This form of advertising is extremely relevant and innovative for our industry sectors, especially in fashion/beauty and luxury. It enables to amplify the ways brands can communicate by giving them a dedicated platform where consumers are receptive to their adverts. These are the main drivers that have led us to create a new dimension to native advertising through our partnership with ADYOULIKE."



Yohan Elmaalem, Chief Operating Officer (COO) & Co-Founder - ADYOULIKE commented: "Built from strong partnership of more than three years, we are delighted to have had the opportunity to launch this new Private Native Marketplace with Conde Nast. It is rewarding to see that our expertise and technology will be contributing to developing their sales channel on native advertising and that they will benefit from our Supply Side Platform (SSP) which has already integrated with over 40 DSPs." About ADYOULIKE

ADYOULIKE is a global leading in-feed native ad platform. Launched in 2011, it is recognised for being a pioneer in native technology and creating advertising experiences for users that mirror the websites they are visiting. Using its own native supply-side platform (SSP) and native technology platform, the company enables brands to scale native advertising campaigns across premium and niche publishers, while publishers benefit from access to ADYOULIKE's marketplace. In November 2016, ADYOULIKE launched the world's first semantic targeting capability for native advertising by integrating IBM's ground-breaking Watson artificial intelligence software with the ADYOULIKE platform. It is now, for the very first time, being used to create better semantic targeting for native advertising. The fast-growing firm is now operating in more than 18 countries, has 65 employees and received series B funding in October 2016 to underwrite its continued international growth. Accolades for ADYOULIKE include: BPI France Excellence, Pass French Tech, The Everline Future 50 and The BIMA Hot 100. ADYOULIKE is a member of the IAB in the UK, US and Europe. About Conde Nast Conde Nast France was founded in 1920 during the launch of Vogue Paris. Dedicated to media brands in the sectors of luxury, Conde Nast France publishes Vogue, Vogue Hommes International, AD, Glamour, GQ et maintenant Vanity Fair. All these brands are today available in print and online as well as on mobile platforms. In France, Conde Nast is one of the leading publishers of magazine and the one group to have launched the most magazine in the past 10 years, including Vanity Fair in 2003.

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[May 17, 2017] McDonald's Is Now Available for Delivery on UberEATS in Los Angeles County, Orange County and Riverside County

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether they are home, the office, or somewhere in between, McDonald's customers in Southern California can now enjoy their favorite burgers, fries, beverages and desserts delivered right to them through UberEATS. Now McDelivery on UberEATS is available at more than 375 McDonald's restaurants throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County and Riverside County. "We are excited to bring a new level of convenience and personalization to our customers in Southern California with UberEATS," said Paul Tulaphorn, McDonald's franchisee and association president of the local McDonald's owner operators group. "Our customers have told us they enjoy experiencing McDonald's in new ways, and this is just one more way for them to enjoy their favorite menu items." Customers can place McDonald's orders on the UberEATS mobile app or on UberEATS.com, using the same account they use to take Uber rides and track their order, as an UberEATS delivery partner brings their meal directly to them. The full menu at participating McDonald's restaurants will be available for delivery with the exception of soft serve cones. An UberEATS booking fee applies to each order. "With UberEATS, you can get the food you want, where you want it, delivered at Uber speed. We're thrilled to partner with McDonald's to give fans in Southern California easy access to their McDonald's favorites at the tap of a button," said Allen Narcisse, General Manager of UberEATS Southern California. "People in Southern California search for McDonald's in the UerEATS app almost daily, so we're excited to expand our reach and deliver what they've been craving."



Delivery is just one way that McDonald's is enhancing the customer experience through added convenience. McDonald's of Southern California is innovating its customer experience by making interior and exterior improvements to their restaurants, which include a more modern design, digital menu boards, table service and self-serve kiosks. Southern California customers can also enjoy a range of balanced menu items that fit their lifestyle, including the Egg White & Turkey Sausage Breakfast Bowl, and smoothies and parfaits made with nonfat vanilla Chobani Greek Yogurt. About McDonald's of Southern California

McDonald's of Southern California is comprised of more than 600 franchised and company-owned McDonald's restaurants in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Learn more at http://changeisheremcdsocal.com/ and follow us on Instagram @mcdonalds_socal and Twitter @McDonalds_SoCal. About McDonald's USA McDonald's USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook www.facebook.com/mcdonalds. ABOUT UberEATS

UberEATS is Uber's stand-alone meal delivery app that makes getting food as easy as requesting a ride, whether you're at home, the office, or the park. Uber is leveraging its technology and expanding its driver partner network to deliver food to hungry customers who can track their order, get an upfront delivery time, and use the same account they use to take rides. UberEATS is available globally in more than 70 cities, bringing millions of people the right food, for right nowat the tap of a button. CONTACT: Havonnah Johnson

310-469-2270

[email protected] Heather Krug

310-854-8126

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonalds-is-now-available-for-delivery-on-ubereats-in-los-angeles-county-orange-county-and-riverside-county-300458979.html SOURCE McDonald's of Southern California

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[May 16, 2017] Mouser Electronics and Grant Imahara Set to Empower Makers at Maker Faire in California

Global distributor Mouser Electronics Inc. will participate in this weekend's Maker Faire Bay Area at the San Mateo (Calif.) Event Center as a Coppersmith Sponsor. Joining Mouser will be longtime customer and celebrity engineer Grant Imahara, who will discuss innovation in the maker movement, including Mouser's exciting Empowering Innovation Together program. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170516006601/en/ Join Mouser Electronics and Grant Imahara at this weekend's Maker Faire Bay Area at the San Mateo Event Center. Imahara is a featured speaker on Saturday at the Center Stage. (Graphic: Business Wire) Imahara will be a featured speaker on Saturday, May 20, at 11 a.m. on the Center Stage, after which fans can watch through Mouser's Twitter (News - Alert) feed (@MouserElec) as Grant tours the Faire. Imahara will then appear at the Mouser booth, located across from the Make: Electronics Stage in the Electronics building in Zone 2. Mouser representatives will be in the booth to discuss how Mouser empowers makers with the newest technologies from its 600-plus manufacturer partners.Visitors to the Mouser booth can also sign up for a chance to win an Intel (News - Alert) Compute Stick.



"Mouser proudly supports makers, whether they're part-time tinkerers, professional engineers, or STEM educators," says Kevin Hess, Mouser Senior Vice President of Marketing. "We're excited to sponsor and attend Maker Faire, enjoying the community and innovation that runs throughout the event." In addition to a creative, interactive LED puzzle game - a favorite from Mouser's appearance at World Maker Faire New York - Mouser will showcase a variety of development boards from leading manufacturers, including a live demo of the Intel Edison Development Platform.

Join Mouser in the Electronics building in Zone 2: Friday, May 19, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 21, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mouser and Imahara received much attention throughout 2016 and 2017 for projects featured in Mouser's Innovation Lab, part of the Empowering Innovation Together program. From bringing superhero technology to life to 3D printing a semi-autonomous car with drone technology, Mouser is helping to inspire innovation and creativity. Maker Media produces over 190 Maker Faires throughout the world each year, and Maker Faire Bay Area is among the largest. The flagship event is a wonderful opportunity for all ages to create, invent, learn, think and be inspired by the creative, engineering-related impulse to make and re-make the everyday objects that shape our future. Attendees can meet talented makers and learn about the interesting technologies they use, and then join hands-on activities to make their own creations. To learn more about Mouser at Maker Faire Bay Area, visit https://eng.info.mouser.com/makerfaire-bayarea. About Mouser Electronics Mouser Electronics, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an award-winning, authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor, focused on the rapid introduction of new products and technologies to electronic design engineers and buyers. Mouser.com features more than 4 million products online from more than 600 manufacturers. Mouser publishes multiple catalogs per year providing designers with up-to-date data on the components now available for the next generation of electronic devices. Mouser ships globally to over 550,000 customers in 170 countries from its 750,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility south of Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.mouser.com. About Grant Imahara Well known in the engineering community, Grant Imahara has paired his engineering expertise with a Hollywood TV and film career. In addition to his roles on MythBusters and BattleBots, Imahara is the inventor behind many famous robotic characters, including the Star Wars prequel-era R2-D2, talking robot sidekick Geoff Peterson from The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and the rhythmic arms on the modern-day Energizer (News - Alert) Bunny. Trademarks Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170516006601/en/

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[May 17, 2017] WeddingWire Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary, Highlighting the Evolution of Weddings

CHEVY CHASE, Md., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WeddingWire, Inc., the leading global online marketplace connecting consumers with event and creative professionals, is proud to celebrate ten years of innovation, service and partnership within the wedding industry. A decade ago, Timothy Chi joined forces with his Blackboard co-founder, Lee Wang, along with Jeff Yeh and Sonny Ganguly, to set up WeddingWire's first office in his pink living room in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Since then, the company has grown to over 850 employees with its corporate headquarters in the Washington, D.C. metro area and additional offices across the globe, including in New York, California, Romania, Mexico City, Spain and India. In its first ten years in the U.S. alone, WeddingWire has helped 70 million users--brides, grooms, wedding professionals, and guests--who have spent the equivalent of 4,460 years on WeddingWire's desktop and mobile sites. WeddingWire has also hosted 680 thousand vendor storefronts on the site, while couples have conducted over 150 million vendor searches and consulted reviews from recently married couples 52 million times, upping their confidence in vendor selection. "We started WeddingWire with one mission in mind: to help engaged couples and wedding professionals connect online," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. "Wedding planning and the industry has greatly evolved since our company's inception, but our founding goal has remained constant. We are so fortunate to have played a role in helping millions of engaged couples connect with wedding businesses for the happiest day of their new lives together." To mark this anniversary, WeddingWire analyzed how weddings have changed over the past decade in a first-of-its kind report, The Evolution of Weddings: A 10 Year Comparison. The study compiles WeddingWire's research collected from nearly 15,000 couples who married in 2016 and ten years prior. Couples surveyed provided details on a variety of topic areas comparing how the couple met, financial etails, style trends, planning resources, and more in order to provide the most comprehensive view possible.



The survey reveals how technology has significantly impacted planning, as well as some unexpected insight on how weddings have evolved. Highlights include: A Delayed "I Do": In the past ten years, the average age that couples get married has shifted from their twenties to their thirties. The average age for a woman getting married 10 years ago was 26, compared to 30 today. Couples today are taking more time for themselves before getting married, such as traveling and focusing on their education and career, before saying "I do."

It's all About the Guests: Ten years ago, couples spent approximately $16,000 on a wedding with about 110 guests; however, today couples spend closer to $28,000 and have about 124 guests. This increase demonstrates the current trend of couples splurging to ensure each of their guests has an amazing experience, with the average spend per guest rising from $145 to $240. October is the new May: The most popular months to wed used to be May, June and July, but today, couples are shifting away from summer weddings by opting for celebrations in the fall. In 2016, October was the most popular, with 15 percent of couples exchanging vows during this month, followed by September (13 percent) and June (12 percent.) Personalization is Key: Ten years ago, only 17 percent of couples incorporated some kind of theme into their wedding. Today, nearly 50 percent plan their special day around a theme such as beach, rustic, or travel. Couples want their special day to reflect their unique relationship and the increasing availability and variety of venue options and vendors help them achieve this goal. Love the One you (Work) With: Vendors play a big role in alleviating the pressure of wedding planning for couples, so much so that many of today's couples establish longstanding personal relationships with their vendors. Forty percent of couples now note they became friends with their wedding vendors during the planning process, versus around 15 percent a decade ago. To see more of the survey findings and learn how WeddingWire is celebrating ten years of serving engaged couples and wedding professionals visit go.weddingwire.com/10-year-anniversary. About WeddingWire, Inc.

WeddingWire, Inc. is the leading global online marketplace connecting consumers with event and creative professionals. Operating within a $200 billion industry, WeddingWire hosts 10 million monthly unique users across its mobile and web platforms. Consumers around the world are able to read over 4 million vendor reviews and search, compare and book from a database of over 400,000 businesses globally. It provides these businesses the technology they need to serve their clients through advertising, marketing and business management tools such as websites, payment processing, invoicing and contracts. Founded in 2007, the WeddingWire portfolio of sites serves couples and businesses across 15 countries in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia, making it the worldwide leader in weddings with brands including Bodas.net, Matrimonio.com, Mariages.net and more. The company employs more than 850 and maintains global headquarters in Washington, DC and international headquarters in Barcelona, Spain. Contact:

Elizabeth Millett

WeddingWire

[email protected]

301.231.9473 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/weddingwire-celebrates-10-year-anniversary-highlighting-the-evolution-of-weddings-300459197.html SOURCE WeddingWire, Inc.

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[May 17, 2017] Xago Africa and Alevo Analytics Partner with US Trade and Development Agency to Provide Technical Assistance for Energy Storage in Kenya

USTDA is partnering with Kenyan renewable energy developer Xago Africa and US battery storage manufacturer Alevo USA, Inc and analytics service provider Alevo Analytics to support the development of a utility scale solar photovoltaic power plant with integrated battery storage in Siaya County, Kenya. The project will utilize battery storage technology from Alevo and will be among the first utility-scale battery storage installations in Africa. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006083/en/ U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, Robert F. Godec, signs the grants on behalf of USTDA, along with Xago Africa Managing Director, Paul W. Webb. (Photo: Business Wire) A $1.4 million technical study supported by the partnership will also provide detailed analytics for the Kenyan power system and serve as a roadmap to help advance the energy storage market in Kenya. Implementation of energy storage technologies can increase the efficiency and stability of the national grid, allow for increased integration of renewable energy generation sources, and reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuel generation in Kenya. "Our primary focus is on solar energy which has the potential to eliminate the power shortages that hold back socio-economic development across the continent," said Paul W Webb, Xago Africa's Managing Director. "Furthermore, energy storage will transform electricity transmission networks and rapidly accelerate the take-up of renewables, and we are proud to be partnering Alevo which leads the field in battery technology and network analtics. This USTDA funded project builds on our valuable relationship with Power Africa and will lay the foundations for the Kenyan electricity system to become the most advanced in Africa."



"Solar plus energy storage will enable Kenya to increase the adoption of renewable energy as the storage will provide grid stability, help to manage solar intermittency, and provide dispatchability of clean reliable and sustainable power to the Kenyan people," confirmed Dr Randell M Johnson, PE, Chief Analytics Officer, Alevo Analytics. Julian Oteng, Xago Africa's Director of Operations, said "We are also looking at expanding into other territories. Energy storage is coming and we aim to lead the way in North and Sub-Saharan Africa with Alevo Battery Technology. This is the start of a long-term relationship which will help to bring clean power to the 600 million Africans who do not have access to electricity."

"USTDA is pleased to facilitate new business partnerships between US and Kenyan companies that can spur long-term, sustainable economic growth," said Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Director Lida Fitts. "The adoption of innovative and cost-effective US technology can help Kenya to meet its energy development goals." Xago Africa is currently developing a 40 MW solar power plant at a cost of around $75 million near Lake Victoria which will alleviate the chronic power shortages in Western Kenya. And together with construction partner, Solarcentury East Africa, Xago Africa will provide solar power systems to three schools in the area in addition to its ongoing support for the Mama Sarah Obama Foundation's school building programme. About Xago Africa Xago Africa was established in 2014 to deliver vital public infrastructure projects financed by private sector funding with the aim of fostering economic growth and sustainable industrial development in Africa. Headquartered in Kenya, Xago Africa combines environmental engineering and project development capabilities with an extensive investor network to accelerate socio-economic development for the people of Africa. About Alevo Alevo, a leading provider of energy storage is redefining energy as a developer, manufacturer and provider of grid-scale energy storage solutions featuring GridBank & Alevo Analytics. GridBank lithium-ion batteries feature a proprietary inorganic electrolyte (Alevolyte), which is non-flammable and offers extreme long life and stability. Alevo's vertically engineered turnkey energy storage solution can be placed anywhere on the electricity supply chain, to reduce energy waste, lower greenhouse gases and other emissions, create efficiencies and lower costs. Founded in 2009, Alevo is headquartered in Switzerland with GridBank manufacturing in the US. About Alevo Analytics Alevo Analytics provides advanced energy storage and network analytics, simulation capabilities, business intelligence and advisory services with a primary focus on the power and energy sectors. Alevo Analytics offers Consulting Services, Analytics IQ databases and its GridMaestro product suite of real time software solutions for remote operation and control of energy storage with SCADA, SSE Stacked Services Emulator, Data Collector and Master Controller. About USTDA The US Trade and Development Agency helps companies create US jobs through the export of US goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links US businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006083/en/

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The sisters were seen pleading for asylum in Turkey and claimed that their family will get them executed the moment they land in Saudi Arabia.

By India Today Web Desk: Another Dina Ali in the making?

The Turkish police arrested two sisters yesterday and deported them to Saudi Arabia after receiving a formal complaint from their family living in the kingdom. The complaint was lodged by their father in March 2017 claiming they are ISIS loyalists.

Areej and Ashwaq were recently seen in a video that surfaced on the internet pleading for help as they were being taken to a Turkish police station by the immigration officers. In the video, the duo talked about how their family has been spreading lies to get them deported along with a life-long abuse that they went through. The sisters pleaded on social media to seek help.

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Here's the video:

#SaveAshwaqAndAreej these sisters who fled Saudi Arabia are detained in Turkey , Dina's tragedy happening again ! pic.twitter.com/OhvxyPLzzA- Moudi Aljohani (@Moudhi90) May 16, 2017

The videos of the duo went viral on social media along with the hashtags #SaveAshwaqandAreej and #helpashwaqandareejurgent which were initiated to help the duo.

The sisters fled Saudi and came to Turkey in February 2017 after they got fed up of facing domestic violence. The duo also claims that their family used fake accusations to get them deported. The duo is pleading for asylum in Turkey as they fear they will be executed the moment they land in the Saudi Kingdom.

Also read: Save Dina Ali: Saudi woman seeking asylum in Australia 'forcibly' put on plane and sent home

People on social media are trying to help the duo by creating awareness and sharing their grief:

#SaveAshwaqAndAreej Areej was my student.Ican't forget her innocent eyes as she was sittingin my office relating her dad's continuous abuse- ? ??? (@Da7eyatAlmojtam) May 16, 2017

#Saudi women will be killed if taken back to the country. If you are a human rights lawyer pls #SaveAshwaqAndAreej https://t.co/OkuoySodMq- Deeyah Khan (@Deeyah_Khan) May 16, 2017

#SaveAshwaqAndAreej those two women are treated as terrorists, criminals, animals with the threat to be killed but not as an adult Human- Dr. Noor Almarzouq (@NoorAlmarzouq5) May 17, 2017

#SaveAshwaqAndAreej Areej and Arwa just got beaten by the Turkish police for refusing to sign papers and give blood test without a lawyer- Moudi Aljohani (@Moudhi90) May 17, 2017

#SaveAshwaqAndAreejOnly in Saudi Arabia, freedom for women is a crime!- Serah ?? (@S_RedVelvet0) May 16, 2017

#SaveAshwaqAndAreej they said the Turkish police have beaten and humiliated them pic.twitter.com/7wIbkvSOZU- Moudi Aljohani (@Moudhi90) May 17, 2017

The Saudi Embassy in Turkey denied any comments regarding the matter.

--- ENDS ---
[May 17, 2017] JD.com's CTO Mr. Zhang Chen and VP Dr. Li Kefeng to Give CES Asia 2017 Keynote

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced today that top executives from JD.com, China's largest retailer (both online and offline), will deliver a keynote address at the upcoming CES Asia 2017 in Shanghai. JD.com's chief technology officer (CTO) Mr. Zhang Chen, and vice president, Dr. Li Kefeng, will take the keynote stage at 4 PM, Thursday, June 8, in the Kerry Hotel, Level 3, Shanghai Ballrooms 2-3. Mr. Zhang and Dr. Li will discuss how JD.com is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), smart devices, augmented/virtual reality and big data to make e-commerce smarter and more interconnected. The two executives will share the company's vision for making e-commerce easier and more efficient, as well as its ability to provide customers a better user experience. As part of the presentation, they will unveil the company's new initiatives and programs for the future. "JD.com is a pioneer in the e-commerce landscape in China. JD.com has succeeded in extending its innovative vision globally, and is now one of the biggest and fastest-growing companies in the world," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. "It is my pleasure to welcome Mr. Zhang Chen and Dr. Li Kefeng to the CES (News - Alert) Asia keynote stage. I look forward to their discussion of how integrating groundbreaking technologies can enhance consumer experiences and change our lives for the better." Mr. Zhang Chen is the CTO of JD.com, in charge of driving research and development growth in big data and cloud computing, as well as technical support for the daily operation of JD Mall. Mr. Zhang has more than 20 years of experience in software development and management. Prior to joining JD.com, he worked at Yahoo for 18 years and at one point was responsible for the development of Yahoo Messenger. More recently he worked at DEC and Oracle (News - Alert) Corporation as head of technology. In addition, he headed the global R&D center at Yahoo Beijing. He holds a Master's Degree in Computer Science from Indiana University (News - Alert) Bloomington. As Vice President at JD.com, Dr. Li Kefeng is responsible for the business lines of mobile products, e-commerce open platform, smart devces and AR/VR. He leads the team in strategic planning, product innovation and ecosystem development. He is focused on creating a next generation e-commerce shopping experience by leveraging cutting-edge technologies. Before joining JD.com, Dr. Li worked for Samsung (News - Alert), Baidu and Ping An Insurance (Group) of China, with senior management positions at each. Dr. Li holds a Ph.D. Degree from Beihang University.



More than 400 companies are already slated to exhibit including 3M, Audio-Technica, Baidu, BMW, BYD, Carl Zeiss, Changhong Electric, China Mobile, Continental, Digital China, DJI, Dynaudio, Fossil/Misfit (News - Alert), Garmin, Gibson Brands, Goertek, Haier, Harman, Hisense, Honda, Huawei, Hyundai, JD.com, Konka Group, Mercedes-Benz, Monster, NavInfo, NEVS, Onkyo, OnStar, OtterBox, Pioneer, PPTV, Samsung, Scosche, Segway, Suning, Tencent, United States Postal Service, UPS, Valeo, Volvo, Voxx, Wacom and Yuneec. Ultimately, CES Asia 2017 is expected to draw more than 30,000 attendees and more than 1,100 global media to cover the latest tech innovation across 19 product categories, including major growth areas such as drones, the Internet of Things (IoT) and virtual reality. For more information on how to attend or exhibit, visit CESAsia.com. All CES Asia industry affiliated attendees may access the keynotes with a valid show badge.

Note to Editors: Journalists traveling from outside of China will require a J-1 or J-2 visa. For questions about exhibiting at CES Asia, contact Brian Moon at [email protected] or +1 703-907-4351. About CES Asia: Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM and co-produced by Shanghai Intex Exhibition Co., Ltd (Shanghai Intex), CES Asia is the premier event for the consumer technology industry, showcasing the full breadth and depth of the innovation value-chain in the Asian marketplace. Key global businesses come to this new event to grow and reinforce their brand by showcasing the latest products and technologies to consumer tech industry executives, foreign buyers, international media and a limited number of consumers from China. Attendees have exclusive access to some of the largest brands from China and around the world, while celebrating the innovation that defines the consumer technology sector. About Consumer Technology Association: Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is the trade association representing the $292 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs. More than 2,200 companies - 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are among the world's best known brands - enjoy the benefits of CTA membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces CES - the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTA's industry services. About Shanghai Intex: Shanghai Intex Exhibition Co., Ltd was originally the exhibition organizing business of Shanghai Intex, a pioneering exhibition organizer established in 1995. Shanghai Intex is jointly overseen by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Shanghai and PNO Exhibition Investment (Dubai) Limited. Starting in 1998, Shanghai Intex has organized over 100 trade shows and conferences with a sum total exhibition space in excess of 2 million sqm. Shanghai Intex is comprised of professional teams with a wealth of experience in organizing major international events, covering the creative industry, healthcare, lifestyle, advanced manufacturing and consumer electronics. UPCOMING EVENTS CES Asia 2017 - Register

June 7-9, Shanghai, China CEO Summit

June 21-24, Amalfi Coast, Italy Innovate! and Celebrate

October 9-11, San Francisco, CA CES 2018

January 9-12, Las Vegas, NV View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005405/en/

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[May 17, 2017] RiskIQ Digital Threat Management Platform Recognized in 'On the Radar' Report from Leading Industry Firm Ovum

SAN FRANCISCO, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RiskIQ, the leader in digital threat management, announced today that the RiskIQ Digital Threat Management Platform has been recognized in an Ovum Research On the Radar report for providing organizations with comprehensive visibility and protection of their digital presence. According to Ovum, the combination of RiskIQs threat intelligence and application suite presents organizations with additional layers of business and brand protection, and the opportunity to make cost savings as a result of RiskIQs approach to digital threat management.

To access the Ovum research report entitled On the Radar: RiskIQ provides external digital threat defense, visit https://www.riskiq.com/ovumotr. As cited in the report, businesses continue to increase their investments in public-facing web, social, and mobile activities to get their brand stickier with consumers, and to facilitate customer, employee, and partner interaction. In many organizations, online digital interactions are now of equal or greater importance than traditional trading channels. The resulting digital dynamic and sprawl, more often positioned outside the sight or management of IT, can prove difficult to control and puts business operations and reputation at risk. RiskIQ deals with these issues through comprehensive internet data sets and the use of predictive analytics to enable security teams to efficiently identify, understand, monitor, and take action against threats to an organizations brand, online properties and infrastructure, mobile apps, and social community. While threat intelligence feeds enrich internal event data, organizations need to consider end-to-end approaches that enable security staff to move to a more systematic, automated approach to help reduce business impact and increase proactive response to external digital threats, said Andrew Kellett, principal analyst, Infrastructure Solutions at Ovum. RiskIQs combined intelligence and SaaS application approach can yield considerable advantages over point-based solutions that are either threat feeds, cover one digital channel, or have limited threat coverage. The RiskIQ Digital Threat Management Platform is a SaaS-based threat intelligence and integrated application suite that addresses security issues across web, social, and mobile channels. It helps security managers protect their business assets, including their brands, their customers, an their employees, from external exploits that originate from beyond the firewall. The RiskIQ application suite provides unified visibility and protection for enterprise organizations, ensuring that their public-facing digital assets are kept safe from impersonation and illegitimate misuse by malicious threat actors. It also enables security teams to optimize a broad range of investigation, analysis, and mitigation tasks.



RiskIQs mission from day one was to address ongoing outside the firewall security challenges, and over the years, weve built a scalable platform to capture an enterprises digital presence and automatically triangulate exploits, exposures, and attackers, said Scott Gordon, chief marketing officer at RiskIQ. "RiskIQ is used by thousands of security analysts, progressive security organizations, and popular global brands to protect businesses from the impact of external threats. We are extremely gratified by Ovums validation of our vision and solution set. Highlights

Ovums On the Radar reports recognize companies and products that bring innovative ideas and solutions to their markets. Highlights in the report include:

RiskIQ intelligence is achieved through advanced internet reconnaissance techniques that capture detailed internet data through a global proxy network of collectors, sensors, and web crawlers using virtual user emulation techniques.

Big data, advanced algorithms, and machine learning (ML) techniques are used to analyze and monitor new and active threat activities, and to dynamically generate and assess a clients digital attack surface.

Beyond threat intelligence, RiskIQs suite of threat investigation, brand protection, digital footprint, and threat mitigation applications offer collaboration, monitoring, and workflow that provide a means to optimize resources and consolidate other toolsets.

With the solutions in-app mitigation, security teams can block threats using available third-party reputation management protocols. RiskIQ mitigation workflows assist security and legal teams to automatically submit take-down requests made of an adversarys digital infrastructure.

Interoperability with other popular security tools, to automate and extend investigation and mitigation processes

The RiskIQ Community Edition allows organizations to have entry-level access to the platform and applications at no charge, contributing machine learning advantage. The complete Ovum On the Radar report, which examines RiskIQ and digital threat management, is available at https://www.riskiq.com/ovumotr. About Ovum Ovum is a market-leading research and consulting firm focused on helping digital service providers and their vendor partners thrive in the connected digital economy. Through its 150 analysts worldwide, it offers expert analysis and strategic insight across the IT, telecoms, and media industries. Founded in 1985, Ovum has one of the most experienced analyst teams in the industry and is a respected source of guidance for technology business leaders, CIOs, vendors, service providers, and regulators looking for comprehensive, accurate, and insightful market data, research, and consulting. With 23 offices across six continents, Ovum offers a truly global perspective on technology and media markets and provides thousands of clients with insight including workflow tools, forecasts, surveys, market assessments, technology audits, and opinion. Ovum is part of the Business Intelligence Division of Informa plc, a leading business intelligence, academic publishing, knowledge and events group listed on the London Stock Exchange. About RiskIQ RiskIQ is the leader in digital threat management, providing the most comprehensive discovery, intelligence, and mitigation of threats associated with an organizations digital presence. With more than 75 percent of attacks originating outside the firewall, RiskIQ allows enterprises to gain unified insight and control over web, social, and mobile exposures. Trusted by thousands of security analysts, RiskIQs platform combines advanced internet data reconnaissance and analytics to expedite investigations, understand digital attack surfaces, assess risk, and take action to protect business, brand, and customers. Based in San Francisco, the company is backed by Summit Partners, Battery Ventures, Georgian Partners, and MassMutual Ventures. Visit RiskIQ.com or follow us on Twitter. Try RiskIQ Community Edition for free by visiting https://www.riskiq.com/community/.

Alyssa Pallotti Montner Tech PR [email protected] 203-226-9290

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[May 17, 2017] CrowdStrike Closes $100 Million Series D Financing Round

CrowdStrike Inc., the leader in cloud-delivered next-generation endpoint protection, today announced that the company has completed a $100 million Series D financing round, led by existing investor Accel. Other CrowdStrike investors CapitalG (formerly Google (News - Alert) Capital) and Warburg Pincus are also participating in this round, along with new investor March Capital Partners and Telstra, a CrowdStrike customer. Following the closing of this round, the company's total funding raised is $256 million with a valuation of over $1 billion dollars. This round of funding will accelerate CrowdStrike's explosive global growth and help the company meet the spiking demand for its CrowdStrike Falcon platform, the new standard for endpoint protection. As organizations are looking to replace their antivirus (AV) with more effective and forward-looking solutions, CrowdStrike's cloud-based endpoint protection platform has emerged as the clear choice for customers around the world, displacing many legacy technologies and next-generation AV point products. With endpoint deployments in 176 countries, CrowdStrike Falcon processes 40 billion security events a day, aggregating one of the biggest threat databases in the industry. CrowdStrike is the leader in applying artificial intelligence/machine learning to endpoint security, providing unmatched prevention of malware and malware-free attacks on and off the network. By running its artificial intelligence/ machine learning algorithms in the cloud and on the endpoint, CrowdStrike's prevention engine sets a new standard in the industry for highly effective protection and ensures minimal false positives and extremely low performance overhead on the endpoint. "CrowdStrike's rapid market penetration has been one of the most impressive things we've seen. Accel was one of the company's first investors, and the company's emergence as a leader in the next generation of enterprise security is why we wanted to lead this round and support the world-class CrowdStrike leadership team," said Sameer Gandhi, partner at Accel. "The investment will enable CrowdStrike to build on the incredible momentum the company has experienced globally and expand its presence in domestic and international markets to meet the demand for its platform and services." CrowdStrike has significantly increased its core customer base, and expanded operations in EMEA, APAC, and Latin America. CrowdStrike's corporate growth and fast-yielding financial performance include: 476 percent growth in new endpoint protection platform (EPP) subscriptions, year-over-year

382 percent growth in endpoint protection platform (EPP) subscriptions for Fortune 500 customers, year-over-year

400 percent growth in the number of $1 million or greater transactions, year-over-year

253 percent growth in endpoint protection platform (EPP) sensors deployed, year-over-year

More than 10 percent of the Fortune 1000 companies worldwide leverage CrowStrike's technology and services



To learn more about the funding, read a blog post from George Kurtz, co-founder and chief executive officer of CrowdStrike here.

Supporting Quotes: Mark Sherman, managing director of Telstra (News - Alert) Ventures "As one of CrowdStrike's first customers, we have been impressed by the innovation and effectiveness of the Falcon platform. CrowdStrike has played an important role as part of Telstra's security program. Also we have already successfully introduced CrowdStrike to some of our business customers and we are excited to strengthen our partnership through this investment." Jamie Montgomery, co-founder of March Capital "At March Capital, we are looking for industry outliers and true innovators who are ready to establish themselves as the market leaders in their respective industries. CrowdStrike is the embodiment of a successful innovator in cybersecurity - impressive sales and growth trajectory, unique and compelling approach to solving the security challenge, and a highly experienced and talented management team. We couldn't be more thrilled to invest in their success." Gene Frantz, partner at CapitalG "Prior to investing in CrowdStrike, we evaluated the entire endpoint protection market and found CrowdStrike's approach and technology to be absolutely best-in-class in offering an end-to-end platform, fully powered by the cloud, coupled with security services and threat intelligence for a complete approach to endpoint protection. CrowdStrike brings forward a compelling combination of strategic vision, differentiated technology, and high product efficacy - all delivering long-term business value for customers and the company itself." About CrowdStrike CrowdStrike is the leader in cloud-delivered next-generation endpoint protection. The CrowdStrike Falcon platform offers instant visibility and protection across the enterprise and prevents attacks on endpoints on or off the network. CrowdStrike Falcon deploys in minutes to deliver actionable intelligence and real-time protection from day one. Falcon seamlessly unifies next-generation AV with best-in-class endpoint detection and response, backed by 24/7 managed hunting. Its cloud infrastructure and single-agent architecture take away complexity and add scalability, manageability, and speed. CrowdStrike Falcon protects customers against all cyber attack types, using sophisticated signatureless artificial intelligence/machine learning and Indicator-of-Attack (IOA) based threat prevention to stop known and unknown threats in real-time. Powered by the CrowdStrike Threat Graph, Falcon instantly correlates 40 billion security events from across the globe to immediately prevent and detect threats. There's much more to the story of how Falcon has redefined endpoint protection but there's only one thing to remember about CrowdStrike: We stop breaches. Learn more: https://www.crowdstrike.com/ Follow us: Blog | Twitter  2017 CrowdStrike, Inc. All rights reserved. CrowdStrike, CrowdStrike Falcon, CrowdStrike Threat Graph, CrowdStrike Falcon Prevent, Falcon Prevent, CrowdStrike Falcon Insight, Falcon Insight, CrowdStrike Falcon Discover, Falcon Discover, CrowdStrike Falcon Intelligence, Falcon Intelligence, CrowdStrike Falcon DNS, Falcon DNS, CrowdStrike Falcon OverWatch, and Falcon OverWatch are the trademarks of CrowdStrike, Inc. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005425/en/

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[May 17, 2017]

Alliance Memory Launches New 32-Bit Wide 8Mb and 16Mb Fast SRAMs in 90-Ball TFBGA Package

SAN CARLOS, Calif., May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To meet the demand for high-density fast CMOS SRAMs, Alliance Memory today introduced new 8Mb and 16Mb x32 devices in the 90-ball 8mm by 13mm TFBGA package.



Providing space-saving alternatives to solutions in larger 119-ball packages, the devices released today are optimized for networking routers and switchers, test and medical equipment, and automotive applications. Featuring access times of 10 ns and data retention voltages of 1.5V minimum, the 8Mb AS7C325632-10BIN and 16Mb AS7C351232-10BIN are configured as 256K x 32 and 512K x 32, respectively.

The SRAMs provide low power consumption with operating current of 125mA typical and standby current of 4mA typical. The devices operate from a single power supply of 3.3V and offer tri-state output. The RoHS-compliant and hlogen-free components operate over a -40C to +85C temperature range.







The AS7C325632-10BIN and AS7C351232-10BIN are the latest additions to Alliance Memorys full range of fast SRAMs, which include devices with densities from 64K to 16M. Fabricated using high-performance, high-reliability CMOS technology, the ICs provide reliable drop-in, pin-for-pin-compatible replacements for a number of similar solutions.

Samples and production quantities of the new fast SRAMs are available now, with lead times of eight weeks for production quantities.

About Alliance Memory Inc.

Alliance Memory is a worldwide provider of critical and hard-to-find DRAM and SRAM memory ICs for the communications, computing, consumer electronics, medical, automotive, and industrial markets. The companys product range includes DRAMs and SRAMs with commercial, industrial, and automotive operating temperature ranges and densities from 64Kb to 8Gb. Privately held, Alliance Memory maintains headquarters in San Carlos, California, and regional offices in Europe, Asia, and South America. More information about Alliance Memory is available online at www.alliancememory.com.

Editor resources:

Link to product image:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alliancememory/albums/72157681980665510

Link to detailed product info:

http://www.alliancememory.com/datasheets/AS7C325632.asp (AS7C325632-10BIN)

http://www.alliancememory.com/datasheets/AS7C351232.asp (AS7C351232-10BIN)

Agency Contact: Bob Decker Redpines +1 415 409 0233 [email protected] Alliance Memory Contact: TJ Mueller VP of Marketing +1 650 610 6802 [email protected]
[May 17, 2017] InGenesis Founder and CEO Joins a Very Small Group of Latina Doctoral Degree Earners

InGenesis founder and CEO Veronica Muzquiz Edwards has officially become "Dr. Edwards," completing her doctorate in business administration this week. She joins a small number of Latino doctoral scholars. Her diploma was conferred by the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) where her DBA research focused on disaster preparedness and crisis leadership. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005810/en/ Dr. Veronica Muzquiz Edwards, InGenesis Founder and CEO (Photo: Business Wire) In addition to celebrating this "first" for her family, Dr. Edwards' daughter, Sydney, earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Criminal Justice from UIW on the same day. "As someone who failed the first grade, I'm proud to have completed my doctorate. It just goes to show that everything is within reach," Dr. Edwards said. "Needless to say, I'm most proud of my daughter and the example she is setting for young women." To that end, Edwards promised that InGenesis will continue to contribute to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and UIW's School of Osteopathic Medicine to encourage more women and people of color to pursue advanced degrees. According to the most recent findings fromthe National Center for Educational Statistics, 7.2% of doctoral degrees were awarded to Hispanics in 2014-15. Although the number of Hispanics with a doctoral degree has increased in the last decade, the number of Hispanics conferred with doctoral degrees since 1976 represents less than 0.50% of the population.



"The accomplishments of Dr. Edwards and her daughter should make her family proud and their example will inspire any student aspiring towards similar goals," said HACU's President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. "InGenesis' generous contribution to our scholarship efforts will help others to pursue their own goals of excellence, in academia and beyond." One year into the doctoral program, Dr. Edwards deferred her studies shortly after a major fire at InGenesis' former headquarters. Determined to complete her degree, she returned to the classroom. Dr. Edwards is a first-generation Mexican-American, among the first to participate in UIW's inaugural Doctor of Business Administration program and the first in her family to earn academia's highest degree.

Dr. Edwards was also recently named to the prestigious NIST Baldridge Executive Fellows Program and will spend this coming year examining world-class organizations and how senior leaders achieve strategic and operational excellence and stimulate innovation. Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) has recognized InGenesis as the largest provider of diverse staffing in healthcare, and named Dr. Edwards to the prestigious lists of Staffing 100 and Global Power 100-Women in Staffing for two consecutive years. InGenesis is certified by The Joint Commission for Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS), a commitment to excellence in providing qualified and competent staffing services to support patient care. Dr. Edwards founded InGenesis in 1998, which has grown into one of North America's largest woman- and minority-owned staffing enterprises. InGenesis provides staffing to dozens of industry sectors, including healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, professional services, financial services, information technology, and manufacturing. About InGenesis, Inc. Founded in 1998, InGenesis, Inc. is one of the largest woman and minority-owned workforce solutions enterprises in North America, and recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) as the largest diversity supplier in the healthcare staffing industry. SIA also named Dr. Edwards to the prestigious lists of Staffing 100 and Global Power 100-Women in Staffing for two consecutive years. InGenesis is certified by The Joint Commission for Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS), a commitment to excellence in providing qualified and competent staffing services to support patient care. Visit www.ingenesis.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005810/en/

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[May 17, 2017] Dynamic Q1 for Tickmill with Record Trading Volume and New Features

LONDON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickmill Group started the year on a high note by reporting a record $146.7bn trading volume in the first quarter of 2017, while adding new languages, tools and contests, as well as strengthening its global presence in Europe and Asia. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160718/814103 )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/513080/Tickmill_Dynamic_Q1.jpg )

Building on last year's exceptional trading metrics, the company executed 9.05m trades. In March only, Tickmill posted an all-time high $61.5bn trading volume and executed 3.58m trades. The Tickmill UK CEO Duncan Anderson commented: "The strong numbers we have seen in the first quarter are a reflection of our hard work and commitment to building a trusted brand that puts clients' interests first. We are grateful for all our traders and partners who have helped us reach these outstanding results and grow so rapidly." Holding true to the company's values as a global broker with a loal approach, Tickmill has launched its Italian, Arabic and German websites, with Korean soon to be added, while the Client Area is now available in English, Polish, Spanish, Chinese, German, Italian and Czech.



In a bid to meet growing demand for sophisticated analytical tools, Tickmill added Autochartist to its range of trading tools to provide traders with unrestricted access to advanced technical analysis and live trading alerts. The company also launched the exciting "Ultimate IB Ride" contest, giving Introducing Brokers the opportunity to grow their referral network and win a Harley-Davidson or one of over $10,000 worth of prizes.

Opening the scene of this year's international events, Tickmill sponsored the prestigious iFX EXPO Asia in Hong Kong, where it presented its institutional liquidity, white label and partnership services, while hosting an exclusive workshop for Introducing Brokers. The team then flew to Poland to attend the FxCuffs Expo in Krakow as a Gold Sponsor, to showcase its FX and CFD services and to reinforce its presence in the Polish market. Tickmill will soon be attending the ITForum in Rimini, Italy, the iFX EXPO International in Limassol, Cyprus and the World of Trading in Frankfurt, Germany, in its effort to expand its footprint in Europe and to strengthen its relationships with its clients and key partners. Duncan Anderson concluded: "It has certainly been an interesting start to the year for global markets and Tickmill. In light of the expected volatility in the year ahead, we look forward to providing our clients with advanced features and resources to empower them to make the most of the rising opportunities and enhance their prospects in forex trading." Notes to Media About Tickmill Tickmill is a global ECN/STP broker, authorised and regulated in the UK by the FCA UK and the SC by FSA SC. Tickmill offers trading services with a prime focus on CFDs on Forex, Stock Indices and Commodities including Precious Metals. Please visit http://www.tickmill.com or contact [email protected] Trading CFDs can involve losses that exceed the initial investment.

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[May 17, 2017] Bates College Launches Historic Capital Campaign

Bates College President Clayton Spencer has announced the public launch of The Bates Campaign, the largest capital campaign in the college's history. The five-year, $300 million campaign, toward which more than $168 million has been raised to date, will endow professorships, increase financial aid resources, support academic innovations, improve facilities, expand student programming, and significantly augment the college's endowment and annual fund. The public launch was punctuated by a $50 million gift from alumni Michael Bonney and Alison Grott Bonney to support the building of new and renovation of existing STEM facilities at Bates. "The Bates Campaign provides us with the opportunity to secure the programs and values that have defined Bates for a century and a half and to shape new strategies for a new age. We will build our endowment, expand financial aid, invest in our faculty, and enhance our facilities," Spencer said. "This campaign will be transformational for Bates." Given to Bates by the Bonneys' family foundation, the $50 million gift is one of the largest monetary gifts to a Maine college and is the largest in Bates history. It will specifically support the creation of an integrated system of science facilities to optimize teaching and research at Bates. The Bonneys are both 1980 graduates of Bates. "I believe that never in the history of the liberal arts tradition has a liberal arts education been more critical when one thinks about the future of our society than today," said Michael Bonney, chair of the Bates College Board of Trustees an retired CEO of Cubist Pharmaceuticals.



The Bates Campaign will provide comprehensive support for several of the college's strategic priorities: Driving academic excellence and innovation across a broad front, including endowed professorships and funding for the newly established Digital and Computational Studies program.

Allowing for a substantial investment in financial aid, a core priority for the school, which provides more than $30 million in grant aid annually with an average grant of more than $40,000. Forty-three percent of Bates students receive financial aid, graduating with an average of $13,000 in total debt, less than half the national average.

Bolstering student success both at Bates and after graduation by enriching leadership opportunities and athletic offerings, supplementing funding for paid internships and Bates' signature Purposeful Work program, and deepening its core commitment to diversity, community-engaged learning, and inclusivity.

Increasing the college's endowment and annual fund to ensure steadfast financial vitality and maximum ability to adapt to future needs. "This ambitious fundraising endeavor will strengthen the college for decades to come," said Spencer.

For more information about Bates College and The Bates Campaign, visit https://www.bates.edu/campaign. About Bates College Located in Lewiston, Maine, and engaged worldwide, Bates is broadly valued as a leading national college of the liberal arts and sciences, attracting 2,000 students from across the U.S. and around the world. Since 1855, Bates has been dedicated to the emancipating potential of the liberal arts and sciences, educating the whole person through creative and rigorous scholarship in a collaborative residential community. Bates has always admitted students without regard to gender, race, religion or national origin, boldly embracing the transformative power of difference, cultivating intellectual discovery and informed civic action, and preparing leaders sustained by a love of learning and a commitment to responsible stewardship of the wider world. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005872/en/

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[May 17, 2017] Esri Brings The Science of Where to the 2017 Digital Enterprise Show

Esri, the global leader in spatial analytics, today announced that it will discuss location strategies in retail, government, and infrastructure at this year's Digital Enterprise Show (DES), to be held May 23-25 in Madrid, Spain. The event welcomes 18,000 attendees from 49 countries and 450 journalists from 13 countries. Los Angeles chief information officer Lilian P. Coral will join Esri staff to discuss the ways location intelligence can be used to build smarter business and government services. Whether a private company or a public utility, organizations can gain deeper insight from their data through mapping and analytics.







WHO: Lilian P. Coral, CIO, City of Los Angeles, California, USA Gary Sankary, Head of Retail, Esri David Totman, Head of Global Water Practice, Esri WHAT: Masterminds Series Lilian P. Coral: "Putting Data to Work for Residents and Businesses," Tuesday, May 23, 1:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

David Totman: "Energy Analytics," Wednesday, May 24, noon-12:45 p.m. Digital Marketing Planet Gary Sankary: "'The Science of Where' for Location Intelligence," Thursday, May 25, 11:20 a.m.-12:40 p.m. WHERE: Hall 3 IFEMA-Feria de Madrid, Spain WHEN: May 23-25, 2017 LEARN MORE: des-madrid.com/

About Esri Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, offers the most powerful mapping and spatial analytics technology available. Since 1969, Esri has helped customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Today, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including the world's largest cities, most national governments, 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and location analytics to inform the most authoritative maps in the world. Visit us at esri.com. Copyright  2017 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005874/en/

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[May 17, 2017] Jeunesse Among Leading Winners in 2017 American Business Awards with Nine Stevies

For the fourth consecutive year, global youth enhancement company Jeunesse received top honors in the American Business Awards, earning two Gold and seven Silver Stevie awards in the 2017 competition, making the company one of the leading multiple award-winners. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005905/en/ Jeunesse garners nine Stevie awards in 2017 American Business Awards. (Photo: Business Wire) Gold Stevies were awarded for: Company of the Year - Consumer Products

Executive of the Year - Consumer Products - Jeunesse Co-Founder and CEO, Randy Ray. Jeunesse, its executive team and nonprofit foundation wre honored with Silver awards for:



Company of the Year - Health Products and Services

Fastest Growing Company of the Year

Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year - Jeunesse Kids

Management Team of the Year - Consumer Products

Woman of the Year - Consumer Products - Wendy Lewis (News - Alert), Co-Founder and COO

Maverick of the Year - Consumer Products - Scott Lewis, Chief Visionary Officer

Marketing Executive of the Year - Mark Patterson, Chief Marketing Officer. "We are honored to be recognized in the American Business Awards for our growth, leadership and philanthropic efforts. The entire family of Jeunesse Distributors and corporate employees around the globe have played an important role in our success, and we congratulate each of them for the unique contributions they have made to further our mission to make a positive impact in the world. Our success is a direct reflection of their hard work and dedication," said Chief Visionary Officer, Scott Lewis. Widely considered the "Oscars" of the business world, the American Business Awards have presented the coveted Stevie award to iconic American companies such as IBM, Disney, AT&T (News - Alert) and Coca-Cola, as well as revered CEOs including the late Steve Jobs of Apple, Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Alan Mulally of Ford Motor Company. This year's competition included more than 3,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and industries. View the winner's gallery here.

About Jeunesse Jeunesse is a global direct selling company with a mission to positively impact the world by helping people look and feel young, while empowering them to unleash their potential. The company's exclusive skin care and nutritional products form a comprehensive Youth Enhancement System. With multilingual customer service, back office support and a global enrollment system, Jeunesse utilizes a cutting-edge platform to share innovative products, training and support through 32 fully operational offices to markets in over 140 countries. Learn more at jeunesseglobal.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005905/en/

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"IMatter" Campaign Launches in Celebration of National Nursing Home Week

Skilled nursing centers across the country are filled with staff and volunteers who embody endless kindness, giving and sacrifice. In the spirit of supporting fellow colleagues, volunteers, residents and their families, The Grove at Valhalla Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Westchester, NY recognized National Nursing Home Week by producing a music video promoting its "#IMatter" campaign. The fun-loving music video is a parody of Madcon's popular hit song, "Don't Worry," inspiring staff to work together and show their love and support for one another, their residents and families.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006076/en/

Staff from The Grove at Valhalla Rehabilitation and Nursing Center took turns lip syncing and dancing to the contagious, inspirational words of "Don't Worry" in various backdrops throughout their facility. Staff members' spirits awaken and energetic feelings of fulfillment and compassion transcend within each individual. This was an opportunity for staff and volunteers to build camaraderie and unite for a common cause. It underscores the American Health Care Association's "The Spirit of America" theme in support of National Nursing Home Week (May 14-20, 2017).







"We want to acknowledge all the special healthcare professionals across the globe who have elevated rehabilitation, healing and individualized care within skilled nursing centers," said Aaron Levy, LNHA Administrator, The Grove at Valhalla Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. "Together, we can make a difference serving the needs of patients and their families. We wish all nursing home staff a happy and celebratory National Nursing Home Week."

CareRite Centers recognizes all staff alongside world-renowned partners celebrating National Nursing Home Week, including Dr. Mehmet Oz, Donna Karan and Rodney and Colleen Yee and wishes a happy #NationalNursingHomeWeek from its entire community. This week CareRite Centers takes pride in showcasing why we all matter. #IMatter #TheCareRiteDifference

About CareRite Centers, LLC.

With locations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida, CareRite Centers is committed to excellence and superior quality of care, offering stellar subacute rehabilitation services as well as calm, soothing environments in a long-term care setting, and is renowned for providing a luxurious five-star experience that exceeds all expectations. CareRite Centers is the owner and operator of The Grove at Valhalla Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Westchester's premier provider of subacute and long-term care.

For More Information Visit: (www.TheGroveRehab.com) and (www.CareRiteCenters.com).

The Grove At Valhalla Rehabilitation and Nursing Center: 61 Grasslands Road  Valhalla, NY 10595

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006076/en/
The storm, damaged 180 houses completely and several others partially besides uprooting many trees, snapping power supply lines and damaging cattle sheds and granaries.

By Press Trust of India: Cyclonic storm accompanied by rain left a trail of destruction in Arunachal Pradesh, killing a person, rendering 100 people homeless and damaging houses.

Khonil Gogoi of New Mohong area in Namsai district died on the spot when a building collapsed on him on Monday evening during the storm, an official report said today.

The storm, which lasted for about 90 minutes, also damaged 180 houses completely and several others partially besides uprooting many trees, snapping power supply lines and damaging cattle sheds and granaries.

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The uprooted trees have blocked several inter-village roads in Lekang circle and the local administration and police have swung into action to clear the roads.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who is also the local MLA, has expressed shock and grief over the loss of life.

He has requested the district administration to provide immediate and necessary assistance to the affected.

STORM, FLASH FLOODS AND RAIN

Incessant rain in the past couple of days triggered flash floods at Dirang in West Kameng district on Monday, damaging government and private properties.

The official residence of ADC Dagbom Riba and private residence of local MLA Phurpa Tsering were partially damaged by the flash floods.

The BSNL exchange has been totally damaged and mobile service has been affected.

Efforts have been made to restore electricity, water supply and road connectivity by the concerned departments as per the report.

The storm also left a trail of destruction in Riangchi-Poriang village of Parsi-Parlo circle in Kurung Kumey district.

The storm which hit the village on Monday damaged several houses, including an Anganwadi Centre and a church.

Hundreds of fruit bearing trees, bamboos groves were also uprooted.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has ordered release of working funds to the affected areas to carry out relief and restoration works.

He further directed the district administrations to expedite the process of final loss assessment while appealing to the people to be cautious and prepared to avert harm during natural calamities, the report added.

ALSO READ:

Cyclone Kyant to hit Odisha, Andhra Pradesh this week, Met issues warning for fishermen

Cyclone Vardah: 4 dead, winds and rains might intensify, warns NDMA

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[May 17, 2017] RealNex and on-geo Partner to Revolutionize CRE Tech in Europe

RealNex, a commercial real estate technology company that delivers an integrated transaction management and marketplace solution, today announced its entrance into the European market. on-geo GmbH, an industry-standard provider of technology for investment property valuation and reporting, will expand their business to distribute RealNex solutions to CRE professionals throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. on-geo will deliver RealNex's cloud-based software, including the RealNex Suite, inclusive of CORE CRM, MarketEdge, a financial analysis and reporting solution, and MarketPlace, an online property listing and marketing platform. The RealNex mobile app, a smartphone version of CORE CRM, and RealNex's VR offerings are also among the company's first products to be available in Europe. The newly-forme sales partnership between the two companies includes hosting RealNex's software solutions in on-geo's Germany-based data centers. Currently, more than 10,000 national and international users of on-geo's LORA Suite, among them Europe's leading financial institutions, are using the hosting service by on-geo. This service will provide RealNex clientele fast and secure access to their data.



"We are extremely pleased to extend the value of RealNex into the German market," said Mark Kingston, chairman, RealNex. "Our expertise, combined with the experience of on-geo in the German-speaking markets, is a first step in delivering our vision for an integrated CRE transaction management solution to a global audience." on-geo's ubiquitous reach into the DACH region's property and mortgage markets grants them unique insight into the needs of CRE professionals. "RealNex's integrated solution, focusing on the totality of tasks in the CRE world, is a fitting extension of the LORA Suite," remarked Klaus Wiegal, managing director of on-geo. "Adding RealNex to our family of products makes our offering to CRE professionals unparalleled."

About RealNex RealNex strives to become the marketplace and transaction management solution for the CRE industry. Its singular solution is designed to improve user success by increasing accuracy, professionalism and productivity. About on-geo on-geo is a long-standing partner to the real estate and finance industry. Its online software and data services cover the entire process chain for valuation. on-geo promises commitment to transparent and secure data processing for its clients, as demonstrated by being awarded the SCHUFA privacy seal in 2013. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006081/en/

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[May 17, 2017] iboss Announces New Corporate Headquarters in Boston to Fuel Rapid Growth; Will Hire Nearly 200 Employees

iboss, provider of the first and only distributed gateway platform, announced today it has opened its new corporate headquarters in Boston during a press conference with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (News - Alert). This announcement comes during an explosive growth period for iboss including over 100 new employees since 2015 and reaching a total of over 4,000 customers. With the new employees in Boston, iboss' total headcount will grow to over 400. The new 23,000 square foot office at 101 Federal Street will enable iboss to capitalize on the innovative talent pool in Boston as it continues growing its leadership, sales, engineering, and marketing teams. In addition to naming Boston as its new headquarters, iboss will continue expansion in its San Diego office. The new Boston employees will join employees in San Diego and across the world to continue developing cybersecurity solutions designed to solve the challenges of distributed organizations. iboss recently announced the first and only Distributed GatewayPlatform that leverages an elastic, node-based architecture built for the cloud. With over 100 patents and patents pending, the groundbreaking new platform and packaging model is fundamentally changing the secure web gateway market, estimated to reach $5.6B by 2020. By focusing on distributed organizations, iboss provides its customers with advanced security that scales with them, eliminating the costs associated with legacy secure web gateway appliances and increasing bandwidth requirements.



"We are thrilled to have Governor Baker join us as we announce our new headquarters in Boston, one of the world's largest and most innovative technology and cybersecurity hubs," said Paul Martini, iboss CEO and co-founder. "When we were looking to expand our footprint in order to hire the best leadership and employees possible, Boston was at the top of our list due to its renowned universities and vibrant talent pool. We are looking forward to continuing the innovation iboss is known for from our new headquarters in Boston and with our colleagues around the world." "We are excited to welcome iboss' corporate headquarters and the jobs they will bring with them to Boston and the Commonwealth," said Governor Charlie Baker. "Their decision reinforces Massachusetts' role and success as a global leader in technology, innovation and education, as well as our opportunity to compete in the growing cybersecurity industry."

About iboss iboss has created the first and only Distributed Gateway (News - Alert) Platform specifically designed to solve the challenge of securing distributed organizations. Built for the cloud, iboss leverages an elastic, node-based architecture that provides advanced security for today's decentralized organizations and scales to meet the ever-increasing bandwidth needs of tomorrow. The iboss Distributed Gateway Platform is backed by more than 100 patents and protects over 4,000 organizations worldwide, making iboss one of the fastest growing cybersecurity companies in the world. To learn more, visit www.iboss.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005939/en/

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[May 17, 2017] Westlake Financial Services Hires Former Senior Executive from JP Morgan Chase to Develop Strategic Accounts

Westlake Financial Services recently contracted Bill Jensen to focus on developing its Strategic Accounts division. In this role, he will analyze all aspects of strategic account relationships to maximize business for dealerships and Westlake. "Westlake's relationships with strategic accounts are crucial to continued growth primarily because these accounts consist of the largest and most growth orientated dealer groups in the U.S.," commented Jensen. "Westlake Financial is a strong competitor in the industry, successfully serving both franchise and independent dealers nationwide through its integration of technology and constant innovation. Westlake's full range of financial services products and full-spectrum lending capabilities are a solid fit for auto dealers of all sizes." Jensen looks to leverage his extensive background in indirect auto lending from JP Morgan (News - Alert) Chase, Mazda and Bank of America to provide Westlake measurable strategies to expand in this segment. Jensen began his career in auto finance with Bank of America in 1972 joining their management trainee program. In 1973, he joined Security Pacific Bank as an indirect auto collector, worked in various roles in both credit and sales and was appointed Head of Business Development in 1989. In 1993, Jensen became Manager of Dealer Finacial Services at Mazda Motor of America where he expanded Mazda's captive finance relationship with Primus, a subsidiary of Ford (News - Alert) Motor Credit. Jensen returned to Bank of America in 1995 in the role of National Sales and Marketing Manager in which he helped design and launch its national indirect lending platform. He joined Bank One in 1999 as Director of Marketing; in 2005, the company was acquired by JP Morgan Chase and Jensen was appointed Custom Finance Senior Executive, a position in which he was responsible for sub-prime business and processes including originations, booking and funding, collections, pricing and profitability, dealer management, dealer administration, MIS and sales. In 2012, he became National Retail Lending Credit Executive and was responsible for Chase Auto Finance Credit originations, booking and funding provided to over 17,000 auto dealerships nationwide. In 2014, Jensen was appointed Senior Credit Executive and was responsible for major credit origination process and control improvement projects until his retirement in 2016.



"Bill brings over 45 years of experience to this role," commented Ian Anderson, Group President - Westlake Financial Services. "His knowledge will provide us even deeper insight into the needs and interests of these unique groups. We are dedicated to solidifying our position as the selected indirect lender for strategic accounts nationwide and we are confident that Bill will heavily contribute to this initiative." About Westlake Financial Services: Westlake is an internet based, privately held finance company that specializes in the acquisition and servicing of prime to sub-prime automotive retail installment contracts. Headquartered in Southern California, Westlake originates indirect retail installment contracts through a network of over 30,000 new and used car dealers throughout the United States.

www.WestlakeFinancial.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006171/en/

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[May 17, 2017] PetSmart Becomes First National Pet Specialty Retailer to Launch Dog Therapy Training

PetSmart, North America's leading pet specialty retailer, today announced a new Dog Therapy Training Course - a first for a national pet retailer to offer this unique dog training program. The new dog therapy training service prepares pet parents and their dogs for Therapy Dog evaluation, which is conducted by third parties dedicated to registering therapy pets. Once officially registered, the therapy dog and pet parent can work together to give back to their community, delivering emotional support to those who need it at senior living facilities, hospitals, schools, libraries, funeral homes, community centers and other locations. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006184/en/ According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), classroom and therapy pets can motivate children to improve their reading performance. Now, pets and their pet parents can prepare for Therapy Dog evaluation through PetSmart's newly offered six-week Dog Therapy Training Course - a first for a national pet retailer to offer this unique pet training program. Once certified, the pet parents and their dogs can give back to the community through the emotional support of a Therapy Dog at schools, libraries, hospitals and senior living facilities, among others. (Photo: Business Wire) The new six-week training course, available for $119, is rolling out this month at select stores and is expected to be available across the majority of PetSmart's 1,500-plus store chain by the end of the year. The course is led by an Accredited Pet Trainer who delivers therapy training techniques designed to prepare pet parents and their dogs for the evaluation required to become a registered therapy dog through organizations like Pet Partners. According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), animalassisted interventions and support can reduce people's stress, depression and anxiety and help with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder. Research also shows that classroom pets can motivate children to improve their reading performance. Therapy dogs can help hospital patients -- especially children -- battling illness with long hospital stays, as well as seniors, where trained therapy dog visits to nursing homes and senior living facilities reduce loneliness, generate smiles and lift spirits.



"We are thrilled to be the first national pet retailer to offer this unique training program, and we look forward to the positive impact this new course will have on pet parents and their dogs, as well as in local communities across North America," said Joanna Zucker, vice president of Services for PetSmart. "We listened to our pet parents, who told us they wanted this new level of training. Our dog training services range from puppy training and beginner training to advanced and trick training. This new offering provides another way for pet parents to deepen their connection with their dog and a powerful way to give back." Pet parents interested in PetSmart's Dog Therapy Training are encouraged to contact local stores to learn more.

About PetSmart PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart's passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as 204 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with nonprofits PetSmart Charities and PetSmart Charities of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.3 million adoptions - more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company's portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, PetFoodDirect.com, Pet360.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world's first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 - Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017.* Follow PetSmart on Twitter (News - Alert): @PetSmart

Find PetSmart on Facebook (News - Alert): www.facebook.com/PetSmart

See PetSmart on YouTube (News - Alert): www.YouTube.com/PetSmart *Ends 12/31/17. 5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need. See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold. The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006184/en/

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[May 17, 2017] SimpliSafe's Top 6 Tips for a Safer Summer

BOSTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SimpliSafe, the nation's fastest growing home security company, today announced its top 6 tips for a safer summer. With Memorial Day around the corner, SimpliSafe wanted to help people prepare for fun in the sun. "According to the FBI, summer is the peak season for burglaries as people head outdoors and on vacation," said Melina Engel, vice president of marketing. "At SimpliSafe our mission is 'Every Home Secure,' so we thought we should share some common-sense tips to help keep families safe this summer season." 6 Tips for a Safer Summer Have someone mow your lawn. There's nothing like bushy grass to flag that you're out of town. Put a "stop" on your mail. Skip the online shopping before you go away. If something slips through the cracks, have a friend or neighbor keep an eye out for packages and mailpiling up. Packages on doorsteps are ripe for the picking and can clue that you may be away. Put your lights on an automatic timer, and not just one light. Rotate them so it gives the impression that someone is home. Install a motion-sensitive floodlight to scare off critters and potential burglars alike. Be careful about open windows. As warm weather arrives and windows fly open, don't forget to close and lock each one, especially on the ground floor, before you hit the road. Get to know your neighbors. If you're not already on a friendly basis with your neighbors, now is the perfect time to dust off your tollhouse cookie recipe and swing by with a sweet treat and your contact info, in case they spot something suspicious.



About SimpliSafe

Founded in 2006 by Chad Laurans , SimpliSafe offers simple, affordable, professionally-monitored home security systems and HD security cameras. SimpliSafe's mission, "Every Home Secure," is carried out in its commitment to provide top-of-the-line security products and services without barriers like aggressive salesmen, expensive fees, and long-term contracts. Anyone can set up a SimpliSafe home security system in under an hour with no wiring, no drilling and no tools. Today, SimpliSafe protects over a million Americans and has been featured in CNET, New York Times , Fortune, the Today Show and more. To connect with SimpliSafe visit the SimpliSafe Facebook and Twitter profiles and SimpliSafe.com. The company is based in Boston and employs approximately 450 people.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simplisafes-top-6-tips-for-a-safer-summer-300459553.html SOURCE SimpliSafe

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[May 17, 2017] Ledcor Donates $250,000 to Innovative Safety Program at University of Alberta

EDMONTON, May 17, 2017 /CNW/ - The Ledcor Group of Companies is proud to be donating $250,000 to the University of Alberta's new David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management (ESRM). As the first of its kind in Canada, the University's new program integrates safety and risk management into the curriculum of all its engineering students. Tom Lassu, President of Ledcor Industries Inc. and University of Alberta Civil Engineering alumni ('92 BSc), has been passionate and influential in setting new safety standards for the entire industry and applauds this type of innovation. "Engineering students are the future leaders of our industry, and I am proud to see the University of Alberta take the initiative to raise the bar on safetyand risk education," says Lassu. "For Ledcor, our safety commitments are part of our corporate culture, from our offices to our project sites. We are continually seeking and supporting advancements in safety."



The donation from Ledcor will help fund an endowment to sustain and increase the impact of the Lynch School. Earnings will help recruit more teachers, support research, develop further ESRM courses and programs, and fund student-led projects. ESRM will be offered to all third- and fourth-year engineering students, and by 2018, every University of Alberta Engineering graduate will have taken an ESRM course. Ledcor places the health and safety of their employees at the core of their corporate values. Their award-winning safety programs aim to go above and beyond industry standards, ensuring that all employees and contractors go home safe at the end of every work day.

"Think safety. Work safely" has been Ledcor's slogan for over forty years. See Ledcor's safety commitments: http://www.ledcor.com/who-we-are/safety Learn about the University of Alberta's David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management: https://www.ualberta.ca/giving/giving-news/2016/march/engineering-safety-into-every-grad About Ledcor The Ledcor Group of Companies is one of North America's most diversified construction companies, serving the building, oil & gas, infrastructure, mining, power, and telecommunications sectors. Ledcor also owns operations in property investment, forestry, aviation, and marine transportation services. Ledcor employs over 7,000 people across 20 offices, and numerous construction sites. Since 1947 we have been growing with our clients and partners: Forward. Together. SOURCE Ledcor Group

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[May 17, 2017] Baron & Budd Investigating Potential Lawsuits Regarding PFOS and PFOA Contamination of Drinking Water

The national law firm of Baron & Budd announced today it is investigating potential lawsuits related to a recent finding that the water supply in the City of Airway Heights, Washington, may be contaminated with dangerous, perfluorinated chemicals known as PFOS and PFOA. City officials have warned residents not to drink or cook with water from city pipes. Hundreds of Airway Heights residents waited in line for bottled water on May 16 after learning about the contamination. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006321/en/ In Airway Heights, and the nearby town of Medical Lake, PFOA and PFOS chemicals may have originated from AFFF foam used a nearby Fairchild Air Force Base, since the 1970s. A number of private residential wells are also affected at levels several times higher than the EPA's Health Advisory limit. (Photo: Business Wire)



At 5:30 p.m. today, Baron & Budd will host a community meeting at Northern Quest Resort & Casino. Water contamination attorney John Fiske will present on the PFOA/PFOS contamination and will field questions from area residents.

In Airway Heights, and the nearby town of Medical Lake, PFOA and PFOS chemicals may have originated from AFFF foam used at nearby Fairchild Air Force Base, since the 1970s. A number of private residential wells are also affected at levels several times higher than the EPA's Health Advisory limit. Baron & Budd was the first firm in the nation to file suit on behalf of an airport against AFFF foam manufactures for PFOA/PFOS groundwater contamination. Product manufacturers, such as 3M (News - Alert), added PFOA and PFOS chemicals to firefighting foam, known as AFFF foam. Airports and Air Force bases across the country sprayed AFFF foam directly onto the ground and soil, unknowingly contaminating groundwater. "It is extremely troubling that potentially thousands of people have been continuously exposed to toxic chemicals in their drinking water," said Fiske. "Our team brings decades of experience fighting on behalf of victims of water contamination, and we are committed to holding the companies responsible for this disaster accountable for their actions." If you live in the affected area and are concerned about contamination on your property, you are not alone. To learn more about your legal options during this contamination crisis, call John Fiske directly at (619) 261-4090. ABOUT BARON & BUDD, P.C. The law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C., with offices in Dallas, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Austin, Los Angeles, and San Diego, is a nationally recognized law firm with a nearly 40-year history of "Protecting What's Right" for people, communities and businesses harmed by negligence. Baron & Budd's size and resources enable the firm to take on large and complex cases. The firm represents individuals and government and business entities in areas as diverse as dangerous pharmaceuticals and medical devices, environmental contamination, the Gulf oil spill, financial fraud, overtime violations, deceptive advertising, automotive defects, trucking accidents, nursing home abuse, and asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006321/en/

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Proposed Kentucky constitutional amendment to end right to an abortion defeated in vote
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, directed by SS Rajamouli, is expected to rake in more than Rs 1500 crore.

By India Today Web Desk: When Baahubali: The Beginning hit the screens in 2015, the expectations in had among the audience was less. However, the film went to earn Rs 650 crore worldwide. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is probably the biggest film event of the year. Nearly after two years, the film, which released on April 28, has been smashing box-office records with its collection. As per trade figures, Baahubali 2 has grossed Rs 1450 crore on its third week. Notably, the Hindi version is nearing Rs 500 crore in India.

#Baahubali2 19 Days WW Box office: advertisement India: Nett : ? 925 Crs Gross : ? 1,189 Crs Overseas: Gross: ? 261 Crs Total: ? 1,450 Crs- Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) May 17, 2017

At the Overseas Markets, #Baahubali2 has crossed US$40 Million [?256.66 Crs] pic.twitter.com/UclLMLGrMT- Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) May 16, 2017

BREAKING: #Kollywood has a New Industry Hit.. #Baahubali2 crosses 7-yr old Champ #Endhiran 's ? 105 Cr Gross in TN 2 b the New Industry Hit! pic.twitter.com/4yHEjLuQbs- Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) May 16, 2017

Baahubali 2: The Conclusion has been doing a fantastic business in South. The Prabhas-starrer has raked in Rs 100 crore in Tamil Nadu, while it is touted to be the fastest film to earn Rs 50 crore in Kerala. As per trade reports, Baahubali 2 has minted more than 285 crore in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

In the US, Baahubali 2 is the first Indian film to collect Rs 100 crore. According to trade reports, the film is all set to enter into the Rs 150-crore club this week.

#Baahubali2 eyes $ 20 mn in NORTH AMERICA [till 14 May 2017]:USA: $ 18,256,999Canada: $ 742,534Total: $ 18,999,533 [? 121.69 cr]@Rentrak- taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 15, 2017

Meanwhile, Aamir Khan's Dangal has opened to exceptional response in China and has earned Rs 382.46 crore. So far, Dangal has netted Rs 1200 crore, globally.

#Dangal has an INCREDIBLE second Monday in China... Refuses to slow down... All set for ? 500 cr... UNIMAGINABLE biz... Data in next tweet.- taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 16, 2017

Baahubali: The Beginning ended with Katappa revealing himself as the killer of Amarendra Baahubali. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion takes the story forword from where the first part ended.

Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Sathyaraj and Ramya Krishnan star in pivotal roles in this instalment of Baahubali too.

Reports are rife that the makers are contemplating for a third part. However, we await an official confirmation.

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 Tamil Review

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 Hindi Review

WATCH: Everything you need to know about Baahubali

--- ENDS ---

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The cyber crime police of Hyderabad have arrested a gang of six, who allegedly blackmailed the producers of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion for money.

By Ashish Pandey: The cyber crime police of Hyderabad have arrested an inter-state movie piracy gang for illegally downloading HD print of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion from a theatre in Bihar. The gang had blackmailed the producers including Karan Johar for money.

Police arrested Rahul Mehta (26), Jitender Kumar Mehta (37) Taufiq (27) Md Ali (39) all from Delhi. Divakar Kumar (owner of Veena Cinema Hall at Teghra Begusarai in Bihar) and Chandan from Patna, while another accused Monu from Begusarai, Bihar is absconding.

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On April 29, cyber crime sleuths of the CCS, received a complaint from Arka Mediaworks and the producer alleged that one Rahul approached them posing as a member of an anti-piracy agency and demanded Rs 15 lakh from the producers to not upload the HD copy of the film online.

The cyber crime police registered a case and nabbed the main accused Rahul Mehta on May 11 from Posh Jubilee hills area of Hyderabad. Based on his information, the rest were arrested in Delhi and Bihar.

Investigation has also revealed that the accused Monu had helped the gang to get copy the digital print of the film with the digital key supplied by the distributor, while other accused Jitender and Taufiq were earlier arrested by Jabalpur Police in 2015 for pirating Baahubali: The Beginning.

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 box office collection Day 20

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 Tamil Review

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 Hindi Review

WATCH: Everything you need to know about Baahubali

--- ENDS ---
By Press Trust of India: Dhaka, May 17 (PTI) Twenty-three people, including a leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, were today sentenced to death for killing four activists of the ruling Awami League and its student wing in 2002.

Second Additional District and Sessions Judge Kamrunnahar of the Narayanganj court pronounced the verdict.

Out of the 23 convicts, four are absconding, the Daily Star reported.

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The 19 others, who were present in the court, include then Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) president of Gopaldi unit Abul Bashar Kashu, the report said.

Kashu and his aides picked up the victims -- Barek, his cousin Badal, Faruk and Kabir -- from their houses on March 12, 2002. Later, they tortured and burnt them to death, the prosecution said.

The opposition BNP is led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia. PTI CPS

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Google Assistant can now pop up on your iPhone, and it's bringing new powers with it. And pretty soon, the artificial intelligence-powered assistant could find its way onto a number of devices.





At its I/O Developer Conference, Google vice president of engineering Scott Huffman announced that Google Assistant would be available as an app for iOS devices starting today (May 17).

While Google didn't share many details as to how the app will work  presumably, you'll have to launch the app to use it instead of triggering it with your voice like you would on a Pixel  the move to the iPhone expands Google Assistant beyond the 100 million Android devices that currently support it.

MORE: 10 Siri Tips and Tricks Every iPhone User Should Know

If Google has its way, you'll soon be interacting with its Assistant on devices other than the iPhone, Android devices and the Google Home speaker. Google is releasing a new Assistant SDK that will let device makers put the assistant on "speakers, toys, drink-mixing robots, whatever crazy device you can think of," Huffman said.



Assistant is also gaining some new skills. The most impressive one will be integration with the newly unveiled Google Lens feature, which uses the camera on your phone to identify objects. That sounds a lot like the Bixby Vision feature Samsung is adding to its Galaxy S8 phone, but Google's adding its own twist on the feature, letting you act on Assistant's visual recognition prowess.



In a demo, Huffman talked about how Google Lens will let you point at the marquee of a theater hosting an upcoming concert. Google Assistant will be able to recognize the name of the band, and with a tap, you can perform actions like call up songs from that band, order tickets or add the concert to your calendar. Other features in Google Lens touted by CEO Sundar Pichai include the ability to pull up restaurant reviews by pointing your camera at an eatery or adding Wi-Fi login information via the camera.



While Google Assistant is primarily voice-powered, the phone version of the assistant will gain another input method. You'll be able to type queries for those times when you're out in public and don't want to speak your Google Assistant requests out loud.



Google plans to add support for more languages to Google Assistant. French, German, Brazilian Portuguese and Japanese are rolling out this summer. Italian, Spanish and Korean will arrive by the end of the year.



Google Assistant on the phone will also add support for Google Actions, which will let third parties integrate services into the assistant. To demo the feature, a Google rep used the Google Assistant to order food from Panera, using her voice to place the order and paying for it with a fingerprint through Google Pay.
Moving far beyond Windows on the desktop, Microsoft wants to provide the platform for all of your devices, from handsets to headsets. At its recent Build developer conference and EDU event, the software giant laid out its vision of the very near future. Here are four ways Microsoft plans to become an even more ubiquitous part of your daily life.

Youll download (good) apps from the Windows Store.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Today, most people download programs from their publishers, third-party vendors or open-source repositories. However, Microsoft really wants you to get all your software from its Windows Store, much in the way you get iPhone or Android apps from Apples and Google's stores, respectively.

Microsoft's upcoming Windows 10 S operating system, which is targeted at students, will only install apps that come from the Windows Store. Meanwhile, the company is adding more important software, such as iTunes and Autodesk, to the store.

The store promises more convenience, as it ensures a certain level of quality and security while allowing you to sync apps across different devices. The company also gets a share of revenue from apps sold through its store, while developers have the chance to build one program that can run on Xbox, phones, headsets and computers.

MORE: Windows 10 S Unveiled: Here's How It's Different

Windows will be on iOS and Android (sort of).

(Image credit: OneDrive for iMessage. Screenshot credit: Microsoft)

Ding dong! You hear that? Its Windows Phones death knell. Microsoft has all but acknowledged that its mobile phone platform can't compete with Android and iOS. Thats why its focusing on putting its core functionality onto iOS and Android via apps.

For instance, to use the new universal Windows 10 keyboard, youll have to use its Word Flow keyboard. Want to use the Continue Where You Left Off feature? Youll install Cortana on your phone.

Youll have affordable VR, but no HoloLens.

(Image credit: The Acer VR headset (left) and HoloLens (right). Credit: Andrew E. Freedman / Tom's Guide)

Lets make two things clear:

1. HoloLens is nowhere near ready for a consumer launch. It may never be.

2. Microsofts Windows Mixed Reality headsets are regular VR headsets.

HoloLens, while still amazingly cool, is shaping up to be an enterprise tool. That means you shouldnt expect it to be available to the public for years (or maybe even longer). Almost every HoloLens demonstration Ive seen has involved building something, showing off models at scale, providing detailed instructions or working in a space collaboratively with others.

MORE: I Got Lost in a World Where VR and HoloLens Collide

Considering the dev kit is still $3,000 and the enterprise version is $5,000, Microsoft wont have it at a mass-market price for a while. Even then, developers will need to build tools that make it worthwhile. In other words, there are no holograms coming to your home anytime soon.

Acers "mixed reality" headset is Microsofts favorite consumer device to show off right now, but youll see similar options from HP, Lenovo, Dell and others soon. Despite Microsoft and partners call these products "mixed reality" devices, they only do VR, and on the Acer at least, the output is blurry around the edges. However, for $299 ($399 with controllers), the price is right for mass adoption.

Cortana will be your digital assistant.

(Image credit: The Harman Kardon Invoke speaker. Credit: Harman Kardon)

Heres where Microsoft has a lot of catching up to do. Many of the companys recent announcements subtly say one thing: Amazon was right. By the end of the year, youll be able to buy Microsofts digital assistant in a speaker.

Cortana is getting its own speaker, courtesy of audio titan Harman Kardon, but it wont be released until the fall. HP is also building its own Cortana device. Microsoft released a Cortana skills kit to developers; initial actions include telling the weather from Dark Sky and delivering pizza from Dominos.

Thats all well and good, but Amazons Echo speaker and Alexa assistant dominate the market  More than 11 million units have been sold, according to Morgan Stanleys estimates  with Googles Home speaker in a distant second place. Alexa has more than 10,000 skills, so Microsoft is desperate for developers to jump on board and make its assistant the best. If they dont get on board, youll probably be using Alexa instead. You may already be.

MORE: Invoke Speaker Is Microsoft's Answer to Amazon Echo

If Cortana has one advantage, its that its already built into millions of PCs running Windows 10. According to Microsoft, more than 145 million people use it in some fashion (but far fewer than the 500 million who use Windows 10 monthly), either speaking or typing, so at least theres some familiarity. And it means your PC will be a smart home device, too. But Cortana has a lot of work to do to catch up with Amazon and Alexa.

Microsoft claims that AI will eventually reach all of its products, from Windows PCs to Xbox to Bing. The companys new bot framework will, in theory, help organize your life and files, by scheduling meetings and summoning whatever youre working on. In theory, theyll work hand in hand with Cortana for seamless interactions. This is an area where Microsoft could surge ahead of Amazon (Amazon doesnt really have a need to work on Windows PCs), but everywhere else, it has a lot of catching up to do.

Microsofts New Future

More than ever, Microsoft has its eggs in many baskets: Windows, high-end PC hardware, AR, VR, AI, cloud computing and Xbox, to name just a few. (Well hear more about the latter at E3, when the company discusses its 4K powerhouse, Project Scorpio.)

Microsoft will play a bigger role than ever in your digital life  that is, if it can court developers to give you experiences better than those from Google and Amazon. Microsoft says it will make Windows great, and that Windows will make your other platforms so much better, that youll want to use Microsoft services and apps everywhere.

Will you? Only time will tell.
Google Pixel 7 features coming to Pixel 6  heres what to expect

Google has announced that the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are getting some of the Pixel 7s new features, and older Pixel phones are even getting a few updates. Here's what we know so far.
It must be a good week to file complaints with the U.S. court system. One man sued his date for texting during "Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2," ZeniMax alleged that Samsung knowingly used stolen intellectual property in its Gear VR products, and now Qualcomm has complained that Apple told its manufacturers not to pay royalties for tech licensed from Qualcomm. (The first doesn't really compare to the others, but we figure all this court talk could use a bit of levity.) This complaint is the latest in a global legal battle Apple and Qualcomm have been fighting since January.

Qualcomm said in a press release that four iOS device manufacturers--Foxconn, Pegatron Corporation, Wistron Corporation, and Compal Electronics--are "refusing to pay for use of Qualcomms licensed technologies." None of the manufacturers are disputing their contracts, Qualcomm said, which were "entered into before Apple sold its first iPhone." Instead, they "say they must follow Apples instructions not to pay." Now the company is asking a U.S. District Court in California to force the manufacturers to honor their contracts and pay declaratory relief and damages.

The complaint doesn't come as much of a surprise. Qualcomm said in April that Apple had instructed manufacturers to stop paying royalties; the only difference is that Qualcomm is now going after the manufacturers themselves instead of merely targeting Apple. We said when Qualcomm first claimed that Apple was interfering with its business that the legal fight, which revolves around the cost of using Qualcomm-patented technologies in Apple products, was being taken from the court room to the balance sheets. This complaint is Qualcomm's attempt to bring the fight back into the courts.

In an email to Tom's Hardware, Qualcomm called attention to the following paragraph within its filing:

91. Apple orchestrated the actions of each Defendant. In addition to withholding payments from Defendants for Qualcomm royalties, Apple instructed Defendants to withhold corresponding royalty payments from Qualcomm. Moreover, Apple has agreed to indemnify Defendants for any damages they may incur as a result of breaching their agreements with Qualcomm, further demonstrating their strong-arm tactics.

This is not to say that Qualcomm is the only one accusing its opponent of using strong-arm tactics. Apple CEO Tim Cook said after the company filed the lawsuits in California and Beijing that he viewed the legal battle as a "last resort" because previous negotiations had failed. Separately, companies like Intel and Samsung accused Qualcomm of abusing its patents to monopolize the component market. The Federal Trade Commission made similar accusations, and an arbitrator recently ordered Qualcomm to refund $815 million in royalty payments to BlackBerry. Apple isn't the only one flexing its muscles.
Angry Kansas City Poster Board Saves The Planet!?!?!

Group holds rally against proposed cuts to EPA KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Community and environmental leaders are rallying against President Donald Trump's proposed budget. The budget would cut millions from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Bone Cracker Complaints

Olathe man says neck adjustment at chiropractor led to stroke An Olathe man says he went into an Overland Park chiropractor's office for an adjustment and left in an ambulance. Josh Clark, 34, says a simple visit at Spine Aline, which is operated by Dr. Rick Connolly Walker, led to a stroke. "My symptoms happened laying on the table," Clark said.

ANOTHER KCMO Pedestrian Hit

Victim critically hurt in Kansas City hit-and-run crash KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City police say the driver of a vehicle hit someone at about 5:30 on Tuesday afternoon. Investigators add that this was a hit-and-run near Ruskin Way and Herrick Avenue in the south part of the city.

Medical Training Day For Future KCPD

Future cops taught how to stop'Stop the Bleed' training for police officers aims to stop preventable deaths KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Bleeding out is one of the leading causes of death in a trauma. A national campaign called "Stop the Bleed" is working to change that reality through training. "Stop the Bleed" focuses on eliminating preventable deaths. The leading cause of death in trauma is through hemorrhage.

Tribute To Local Legend

Stubbornly One-Of-A-Kind, Kansas City Gallery Owner Tom Deatherage Dies At 74 One of the Kansas City art world's most legendary characters - and most fearsome promoters of area artists - has died at age 74. Tom Deatherage, who lived in an art-filled apartment above his gallery The Late Show, died peacefully and surrounded by loved ones after a long illness on Tuesday morning, according to friends who were present.

This morning we start with a quick tribute toand her ongoing social media winning as ourgoes even deeper. Take a peek:is the song for the day and this is thefor right now . . .
Celebrate Kansas City Local

MU guest editorial: Local is always better By Miranda Smith Northeast News May 17, 2017 Everything is better when it's local. Local produce is fresher and creates less waste. Shopping locally supports the local economy. Local art keeps a city's unique culture alive and thriving. It only makes sense that a locally-controlled police force would be a good thing too.

More Top Cop Talk

Kansas City citizens sound off on the kind of leader they want for chief of police KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There are four days left until Kansas City Police Chief Darryl Forte retires. On Tuesday night, citizens got to voice their opinions on who should be selected as the next chief. It was the third and final public input session put on by Kansas City's Board of Police Commissioners.

Talking To Local Dead

Keys to Kansas City's historical past may lie in the metro's cemeteries PARKVILLE, Mo. - There are all kinds of ways to make ends meet, but for geophysicist Keith Seramur, he makes a living among the dead. "We use this on archaeology sites that may be 6,000 years old, 10,000 years old," said Seramur.

Reward For Info

$2,000 reward offered for men wanted in shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The U.S. Marshall Service is offering a $2,000 reward for information that leads to the arrests of two men connected to the shooting of an elderly Platte County man during an armed robbery. Officials say James Osler and Requon Dillard may be hiding out somewhere in the Kansas City metro area.

MCI Stays Winning

KCI's passenger numbers are up for the 36th straight month Kansas City International Airport's passenger numbers have increased every month for the past three years. Last month was the busiest April at the airport since 2001. The increases lately have been higher than the airlines had projected to finance a new airport terminal.

Avoiding Rock Chalk Gun Talk

Kansas Senate backs down from floor debate on concealed guns Kansas Senate backs down from floor debate on concealed guns Senators opt to send bill back to committee Senators on Tuesday voted to send back a bill that would allow public hospitals and nursing homes, community mental health centers, low-income health clinics and the University of Kansas Medical Center to ban guns in their facilities.

Active After Leaking

Convicted transgender soldier will stay on active duty (AP) - The Army says that when transgender solider Chelsea Manning is released from military prison on Wednesday she will remain on active duty in a special status, pending her final appellate review. An Army spokeswoman, Lt. Col. Jennifer Johnson, said Manning will be released in accordance with former President Barack Obama's decision to grant her clemency.

Guide To Political Double Talk

This is just a roundup of things Missouri and Kansas Republicans said about classified intelligence last year Donald Trump is mentally unstable and has no core beliefs and no curiosity about anything besides his own public image, and he was willing to say anything at all, to anybody, in order to get elected. As a result, it is boringly easy to dig up old Donald Trump quotes and tweets that directly contradict his actions now that he is president.

Northland Department Story Farewell

Antioch Crossing Sears closing after more than four decades After opening in Antioch Center in 1973, Sears held on for decades, through changing demographics and a major redevelopment of the center. But now the store, at 5415 N.E. Antioch Road in Antioch Crossing, is having a liquidation sale and will close in late July.

Playtime Is Over

Students raise concerns as Kansas City, Kansas Community College set to close day care center KANSAS CITY, Kan. - On Tuesday morning, students addressed their concerns about KCK Community College closing its child care center. The Board of Trustees opened the floor to students during their meeting. Nestor Olmo, a KCKCC student and parent, became emotional as he explained his concerns. "I don't know what to do," he said.

Hottiestarts our Kansas City early morning as we take just a quick moment to link and look at some of the better local news stories that we didn't catch from the recent news cycle. Take a look:And this is thefor right now . . .
SET A COURSE FOR INTENSE DEBATE AS KANSAS CITY AIRPORT TAKES OFF!!!

KANSAS CITY TAX FIGHTERS PLAN PROTEST AGAINST THE NO-BID CORPORATE AIRPORT PLAN!!!

"Do you like the convenience and flexibility of KCI?? Then heres your chance to give City Hall your opinion. Tomorrow The Mayor and selected City Council Members will begin to push the Burns & McDonnell single terminal plan. The effort to rush this by council members is troubling. I would hope the council would protect themselves and ask for a more thought out approach where there is time for questions and perhaps opposing presentations. As far as we no there is no plan just a push. If you are able to attend tomorrows meeting, please do so. If not please call your council person and share your concerns with them."

The City Council of Kansas City, Missouri will have a Business Session on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. in the 10th Floor, Conference Room, 414 East 12th Street, City Hall. Items on the agenda are as follows:





- KCI Single Terminal Proposal

- Discussion of Ordinances, Resolutions and Communications on Todays Docket or for Floor Introductio

City Hall meetings start to get serious this week as athreatens the future of Kansas City.To wit . . .PR coverage and a great deal of corporate hype are pushing the plan to hand over the airport to one of the biggest companies in town . . .Here is their reasoningThe run-up to the debate has seen Mayor Sly making threats, forgoing community discussion that was promised and basically playing pitch man for some of his biggest campaign donors . . .A glimmer of hope . . .Here's the bulletin sent out locals today . . .The City Hall manifest . . .Developing . . .
Today, Clay Chastain files $1 million lawsuit against city-this one for harassment and malicious conduct.

Today I am filing another lawsuit against Kansas City, Missouri government, led by the Sly James Mayoral Administration. This one is for harassment and malicious conduct directed against me by the city. Sly and the city unjustifiably and maliciously placed my name on the City's "Watch List" (citizens the city deems potentially dangerous and who require an armed security escort inside City Hall) for no valid reason other than to harass me, intimidate me and undermine my public reputation.For the past 5-years, under Sly's administration, I have been stopped (even with my 10-year old daughter at my side) from entering City Hall, unduly searched and unduly detained (usually 20-minutes) then prevented from entering unless I agreed to be escorted (along with my daughter) throughout the building by an armed security guard. The city, under James' direction, arbitrarily placed my name on this 20-person most feared list without justification or valid reason. I have never committed an act of violence against anyone, nor have I ever threatened anyone with an act of violence, nor have I ever even implied any kind of violence toward anyone. I am, and have always been, a non-violent individual. Yes, I have been known to be passionately mouthy and jawbone with people about my ideas to improve Kansas City, but otherwise am a peaceful man who merely exercises his right to free speech.Clearly Sly has gone bananas over citizens like me who challenge his leadership via petitions. In my case, Sly apparently, arbitrarily and unilaterally decided the way to get back at me and slow me down was to order security to place my name on the City's "Watch List" (possibly dangerous person or terrorist). Sly and others at City Hall don't like my interference with their leadership of the city so they concocted this malicious scheme to harass me, intimidate me, humiliate me and make me appear dangerous to the public, city council members and City Hall employees, like the city clerk and her staff. The last time Sly and the city pulled this mean caper on me I was, once again, accompanied by my 10-year old daughter. This time though, Michael Mahoney of KMBC Channel 9 news happened on the scene and got it on film despite the fact the City's security guards tried to stop Mahoney's camera man from filming what was going on.Sly has abused the power of government by ordering the City's security department to profile me, harass me, intimidate me, humiliate me, inconvenience me and make me appear dangerous to the public and people at City Hall because he doesn't like the fact I stand up to him and his leadership. This kind of calculated, abusive and undeserved treatment of a citizen by a government (that is threatened by the people's right to exercise their opinion via the democratic petition and referendum process), is a threat to us all.Clay Chastain...Kansas City community activist.#############
"A spokesperson with the health department, says inspectors believe the rats are coming from construction sites, as rat burrows and nests are unearthed, and old sewer lines are breached. Snook says those excavations often provide rats an easy avenue to the surface."

To start this week ourand now our journalism goodness has become news fact . . .Money line explanation . . .And so, amid hype over development and so many other Kansas City pet projects. We want to thank our blog community for bringing this important public health topic to the forefront of our local discourse.Developing . . .
The Greek economy is at a turning point, Yannis Stournaras, head of the Greek central bank, told POLITICO in an interview. I am more optimistic now, but  cautiously optimistic, given the mistakes that have often been made in the past both by the Greek side and by Greeces creditors.

Ahead of next weeks eurozone ministerial gathering in Brussels, the Greek parliament on Thursday will vote on the latest set of reform measures that will clear the way for the conclusion of the creditors second review of the bailout package. The Greeks hope that this will then pave the way for an agreement on debt relief and more fiscal leeway, at last putting the country on a path to normality  even as transport workers, doctors, and civil servants opposed to further austerity went on a nationwide strike on Wednesday.

Last week, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Greece is closer than ever to reaching a deal on debt relief. The solution has to do mainly with our lenders clear obligation. he ball is no longer in our court.

The uncertainty is the last thing Greece needs right now, said Elias Kikilias, head of research at the National Center for Social Research. If the political leadership in Greece, as well as the creditors, will offer a period of steadiness, then all conditions are in place for the Greek economy to growth 2 to 3 percent a year in the years ahead.

Time and again, political uncertainty has held back Greeces economic recovery. The latest delay in bailout talks prompted the European Commission to make a sharp downward revision in its growth projections for this year to 2.1 percent from 2.7 percent previously. The Greek government has cut them deeper, to 1.8 percent. And its first quarter GDP figure, released earlier this week, showed the economy contracting 0.1 percent from the previous quarter.

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
Assistant Commandant Nabeel Ahmed Wani, who topped the BSF's (Border Security Force) entrance exam in Jammu and Kashmir, sought the minister's help in accommodating his sister at her college hostel in Chandigarh.

By India Today Web Desk: An assistant commandant with the BSF has written to the Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi saying that officers like him and their families are under threat from militant attacks.

Assistant Commandant Nabeel Ahmed Wani, who topped the BSF's (Border Security Force) entrance exam in Jammu and Kashmir, sought the minister's help in accommodating his sister at her college hostel in Chandigarh.

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In the letter, the BSF exam topper said that his sister's college has asked students to leave the hostel this month. "My sister could not leave hostel as she is under threat and for security purpose it is very risky," he wrote.

UNDER THREAT OF MILITANT ATTACK

The BSF assistant commandant's letter comes days after Indian Army officer Ummer Fayaz was abducted and murdered by militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.

In his letter to Maneka Gandhi, Nabeel Ahmed said, "These days officers like me, who are from Jammu and Kashmir, are under threat of attack by militants as well as our family (sic)".

"I am always in news for supporting forces against terrorism," the BSF exam topper said. He said "this is a matter of emergency and national integrity" and hoped that the minister would not disappoint him.

MINISTER's SWIFT RESPONSE

In a span of 48 hours, Maneka Gandhi asked officials to talk to the college hostel authorities and let the BSF exam topper's sister stay there.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Women and Child Development said, "Maneka Gandhi immediately took it up with the college authorities, who have now allowed Mr Nabeel's sister to stay in the hostel".

Smt. @ManekagandhiBJP immediately took it up with the college authorities, who have now allowed Mr. Nabeels sister to stay in the hostel.4- Ministry of WCD (@MinistryWCD) May 16, 2017

"Under the guidance and leadership of PM @NarendraModi ji it is our solemn duty to safeguard the families of soldiers, who guard our country," the Ministry said on Twitter.

Nabeel Ahmed Wani's letter to Union minister Maneka Gandhi.

ALSO READ:

Army hero Lt Ummer Fayaz and Hizbul terrorist Zakir Musa: The story of two Kashmiri lives

Why Hizbul Mujahideen is rattled after murder of Army officer Ummer Fayaz

Stone pelters on hire in Kashmir: India Today nails Valley's insidious villains

ALSO WATCH: Misguided youth of Kashmir should introspect in light of Ummer Fayaz's killing: Army chief Bipin Rawat

--- ENDS ---
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and his Czech counterpart Lubomir Zaoralek expressed their mutual volition to further enhance the Greek and Czech relations not only at bilateral cooperation level but also towards the establishment of a better future in Europe in their joint statements after their meeting in Prague on Tuesday.

Kotzias, who is paying an official visit to Prague, said that the future of the European Union is a matter that concerns us both very much. We must contribute to a substantial discussion among the partners, the societies and the institutions on the future of Europe, he noted.

The future of the European Union is something that concerns us very much because we are countries that have approximately the same population, said Zaoralek.

We must agree on our vision, principles and values that will be supported in order to promote a social Europe and render it, again, attractive to its citizens and to the new generation. We must prevent Europes fragmentation, said Kotzias.

We are facing two huge and difficult geostrategic and geo-economical problems. The Brexit and the stabilisation of our relations with Turkey, he added. Regarding the second one, he underlined that the Turkish must decide if they want to work and promote the necessary reforms in order to be included

in the European Union.

On the western Balkans, both ministers agreed that their course to the European Union and the EuroAtlantic structures should be further supported but to also contribute to the development of the political culture of consensus and compromise.

At a press question on the condition of the Greek economy, Kotzias said: We have many difficulties but we have a plan on how we will face the crisis and return to high growth rates. All indications show that this year will be a record year in the foreign trade between Greece and the Czech Republic. Last year we had a reduction in the tourist flow but this year it will be over 400,000 arrivals to half a million. The development of our relations with the Czech Republic is another fact that contributes to the stabilisation and growth of our economy, said the Greek minister.

According to diplomatic sources, the two ministers all refered to the policy of the Visegrad countries while during the working lunch the two delegations agreed that the two Foreign Ministers will meet once a year and hold political deliberations between the two ministries on several issues as the migration, the future of Europe and the condition in the western Balkans.

Honorary consulate on Corfu

On the condition in the Middle East, they emphasised on Syria where the Czech Republic is the only European country that continues to have an embassy. The two countries agreed to closely cooperate on the issue provided that Greece will send, in the near future, a special delegate in Beirut who will monitor Syrias issues. They also discussed the relations with Turkey, the stance of both countries in Egypt and the migration issue.

Zaoralek invited Greece to participate in the European Conference on Security which will be held in Prague on June 9 and expressed his countrys will to open an honorary consulate on Corfu.

Finally, they examined the possibilities for economic cooperation on several sectors as tourism. A special reference was made to the spa tourism and the cooperation between regions of central Greece with Czech region such as the spa town Karlovy Vary.

After his meetings in the Foreign Ministry, Kotzias met with the president of the Senate Milan Stech. Their talks focused on the migration issue and Kotzias expressed the Greek positions and reminded that Greece had warned in advance on the outburst of migration while stressing the need for the EU-Turkey agreement to be respected by both sides.

Kotzias also referred to the Greek position on the Cyprus issue and explained the problem of Cyprus which is an issue of invasion and occupation and the clear position and there cant be a solution if Turkey maintains its intervention rights or the fulfillment of irrational demands as the four freedoms.

On Wednesday morning, before his departure for Athens, Kotzias met with Prime Minister Buhoslav Sobotka who expressed his pleasure over the success of Kotzias visit in Prague. The two top officials discussed the course of the Greek economy and the strengthening of the Greek-Czech relations as well as the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement on the refugees, the EU-Turkey relations and the future of Europe and its institutional function. Both expressed their skepticism on ideas and proposals expressed for a two-speed Europe and also expressed their pleasure over the new chapter of a closer bilateral cooperation between the two countries that opened with Kotzias visit to Prague.

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
In a recent ceremony, First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions, Karl-Heinz Lambertz has taken part in the launch of the 21st May as the " European Natura 2000 Day ". First Vice-President Lambertz has co-signed a joint declaration together with Commissioner for Environment, Karmenu Vella , Chairwoman of the European Parliament's Environment Committee, Adina-Ioana Valean, and Neil Kerr, Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta.

First Vice-President Karl-Heinz Lambertz (BE/PES) declared: "Protecting our biodiversity is also about preserving our local economies, cultural heritage and way of life. The 'European Natura 2000 Day' is both an acknowledgement of the tireless efforts of individuals' work on the ground and a commitment to further collective action. It is therefore essential to bolster support for cities and regions in managing Natura 2000 sites in order to promote regional identity, revive the relationship between rural and urban communities and foster protected areas as a valuable asset for jobs and sustainable growth".

The European Natura 2000 day will be celebrated annually across Europe. Already this year hundreds of local events and networking activities across Europe will mark this special day for nature. What started as a grassroots initiative through an EU funded LIFE project in Spain is now becoming an official European day.

Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries , said: " With the European Natura 2000 Day we pay tribute to this unique network and its value for people and our economy. For me it is one of the European Unions truly outstanding achievements: a network of over 27,000 protected sites, covering over 1 million square kilometres across the land and sea, made possible through the co-operation among all our Member States".

Natura 2000 is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world. It covers 18 % of the EUs land area and almost 6 % of its marine territory and contributes between 1.7% and 2.5% of EU GDP through the provision of ecosystem services such as carbon storage, water purification, pollination and tourism. Natura 2000 was created 25 years ago through the Nature Directives which include the EU Birds and Habitats Directives . The Nature Directives are the cornerstone of Europes legislation on nature conservation, protecting around 2,000 of Europes most vulnerable species and habitats. While the cost of implementing Natura 2000 has been estimated at EUR 5.8 billion per year, its annual benefits are assessed at EUR 200-300 billion.

The CoR and the European Commission are closely cooperating to improve environmental law implementation in Europe. For the first time, the CoR joined a project team of EU commissioners to steer the new Nature Directives Action Plan launched last 27 April. CoR members are further contributing to the Environmental Implementation Review (EIR) via an opinion currently being drafted by Andrew Cooper (UK/EA), Member of Kirklees Council. It is scheduled to be adopted in October 2017.

Today also saw the launch of the next round of the European Natura 2000 Award . This is a European Commission initiative dedicated to rewarding excellence in the management and promotion of the network and raising awareness about Natura 2000 and its benefits to European citizens. The winners of the 6 Award categories will be revealed on next year's European Natura 2000 Day.

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
A delegation of 19 high-profile Omani exporters is participating on a two-day Ithraa-led trade delegation to Egypt.



The mission included site visits to companies in Cairo as well as B2B meetings with Egyptian importers, agents and manufacturers.



We are in Cairo to introduce our hosts to a range of high quality, Oman-made products, forge better connections with existing business contacts and establish new relationships too, particularly in food processing, marble, pharmaceuticals and plastics, explained Nasima Al Balushi, Ithraas director general of Export Development.



Over 100 Egyptian companies attended Wednesdays B2B meetings. The visit has proven to be incredibly useful on a number of levels, as it is given participating Omani firms an excellent opportunity both to highlight their high-end offer in food production, marble, pharmaceuticals and plastics as well as communicate to our Egyptian counterparts that we are open for business, added Al Balushi.



Founded in 1997, Ithraa is a government-run, ISO and Investor in People certified inward investment and export promotion agency.  TradeArabia News Service
Chile-based practice Elemental has been awarded a contract for a massive art museum on a historic waterfront site at Doha Bay after it won the Art Mill International Design Competition conducted by Qatar Museums to find an outstanding team to design this cultural marvel.



Art Mill will come up over a one-million-sq-ft area in the centre of capital Doha.



Elemental was selected by an international jury, from a 26-strong longlist, based on its strategies for the site and its links to the city.



The Chilean group's concept design for the historic waterfront site in the centre of Doha took as its inspiration the rhythmic monumental grain silos that are the industrial legacy of the original flour mills on the site, which have produced bread for the state since the 1980s.



However, in a creative riff, the team added to the strict geometry of retained silos a looser grouping of new silos that will act as cooling chimneys circulating air through the site that extends spectacularly on three sides into Doha Bay.



Gifted with one of the most spectacular and historic sites in the centre of Doha, Art Mill will be pre-eminent in Dohas waterfront ensemble of institutions dedicated to art and is expected to become one of the worlds leading cultural centres, said the company in a statement.



Lauding the novel design, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the chairperson of Qatar Museums, and jury chair, said: "Art Mill will be an international exemplar where art connects across cultures and boundaries. Elementals assured handling of space and scale in its treatment of the silos creates a memorable and original scheme that evokes a strong sense of calm."



"The team showed a love of simplicity in the use of humble materials, which will acquire a patina with age," she stated.



The concept design also received a pat from the international jury as a serene artwork, where the structure is the architecture.



The teams environmental strategy also came for praise "for its understanding of the local climate".



Elemental is led by Alejandro Aravena, the 2016 Pritzker Prize laureate, and supported by climate engineers, Transsolar; structural engineers, Schlaich Bergermann; and global design consultants, Stantec.



We are hugely appreciative of the interest shown by the international architectural community in the project and would like to thank the long-list and the finalist teams for their work during the competition, stated Prof Harry Gugger, special adviser to Qatar Museums and competition juror.



The competition reached out to some of the most extraordinary talents working in architecture today and Elemental, known for their social buildings, won in brilliant fashion, being both inventive and indefatigable. Elementals wonderful design proves once again that competitions get the best out of architectural practices, he added.



The Chilean architect will now work with Qatar Museums to develop the initial concept design.



A gallery of all eight shortlisted designs, including the runner-up Adam Khan Architects, will be published by the competition organisers, Malcolm Reading Consultants.



The competition was hugely successful; the original open call attracted great interest from the international design community with 489 submissions received from 56 countries.-TradeArabia News Service
Cooper Tire Europe, a subsidiary of the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, has announced the appointment of Arabian Tires as its retail partner in Saudi Arabia.



The announcement coincides with the launch in the kingdom of three new Cooper tyres, and is the latest move in the brands strategy to facilitate customer access to its range of high quality products across the Middle East, said a statement from the company.



Well established as one of the world's top tyre manufacturers, Cooper Tire has been supplying world class tyres since 1914. The company produces a full range of car and 4x4 tyres, which have been designed and developed to meet the demands of todays vehicles and perform to the highest standards across the worlds most diverse terrain and climatic conditions.



The brand is particularly relevant in Saudi Arabia as it has one of the broadest 4x4 tyre ranges of any manufacturer.



Founded in 2002, Arabian Tires quickly established itself as a major player in the Saudi Arabian market. With a retail outlet in Jeddah and warehouses in Jeddah and Dammam, the company is well positioned to meet the demand for Coopers SUV and passenger tyres in Saudi Arabia.



The new Cooper Zeon 4XS Sport, the Cooper Zeon CS8 and Discoverer STT Pro have each been designed to meet the varying needs of Middle East customers.



Introduced as part of Coopers new high performance product range, the Cooper Zeon 4XS Sport has been developed specifically to cope with the weight of large SUVs. The Cooper Zeon CS8 is a high-performance passenger car tyre, which offers exceptional grip, fuel efficiency and handling and incorporates a range of advanced technologies.



Finally, the Discoverer STT Pro has been designed for customers who love outdoor adventure, delivering serious traction, toughness and treadwear to meet the demanding off-road conditions of Saudi Arabia, said a statement from the company.



Luis Ceneviz, managing director of Cooper Tire Europe, said: We have witnessed solid growth in the Middle East over the past four years and identified Saudi Arabia as a strategic market for us.



With the introduction of a number of new models and the launch of our website in Arabic, the appointment of Arabian Tires was the next logical step to making our products more accessible to our customers in Saudi Arabia and to increasing our presence in the Middle East, he said.



Youssef Yassin, managing partner of Arabian Tires, said: Its an honour and a privilege to be part of the Cooper Tire family, a strong and prestigious brand with a long history.



Cooper Tires premium range of products really plays to our strengths in the SUV segment, while the range of passenger tyres offers our discerning customers new technology and high quality at an affordable price. We are looking forward to working with the company and increasing their market share in Saudi Arabia, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Kuwait remains committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 in oil & gas sector and in other sectors by 2060, said its foreign minister at the UN climate summit COP27, adding that it had executed several projects to preserve the environment and cut emissions.
The UAE-based retail giant Lulu Group today inaugurated its world-class sourcing, food processing and export unit in Sri Lanka.



The new facility, Y.A.S. Lanka, is aimed at further boosting the company's sourcing operations and to bring in high quality products for its large chain of hypermarkets, the company said.



Initially we have invested $20 million in this facility, and soon we intend to venture into retail sector with a world-class shopping mall and modern hypermarket in Colombo, said Yusuffali MA, chairman of Lulu group.



The unit was inaugurated by Sagala Ratanayaka, chief of staff to the prime minister and Minister for Law and Order and Southern Development, in the presence of Duminda Disanake, Agriculture Minister; Navin Disanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries; Eran Wickramaratne, State Enterprise Development Minister; Yusuffali MA, chairman of Lulu Group; and other high ranking officials and prominent businessmen.



Situated ideally in the Katanayake Export Processing Zone, near Colombo International Airport, the state-of-the-art facility will primarily focus on sourcing, processing, storing, packaging and exporting of fruits, vegetables and commodities from Sri Lanka to various Lulu operations around the world.



Speaking at the inauguration, Yusuffali said: It is our ongoing strategy to set up our own sourcing and food processing units around the world to ensure uninterrupted supply and competitive pricing by eliminating middle men. Sri Lanka has a vast variety of fruits, vegetables and various commodities and we are working closely with the Ministry of Southern Development and Government of Sri Lanka to boost the export of these. Already we are exporting almost $5 miilion worth of fruits, vegetables and commodities, which is expected to go up to $10 million by the end of first year.



The quantum of export is expected to raise from current 3,500 tonnes to 7,000 tonnes.



Currently Lulu operates 134 hypermarkets in 10 countries including the GCC, Egypt, India and the Far East and employs over 40,000 people. Last year the group recorded an annual turnover of $6.9 billion and was ranked as the No.1 retailer in the Middle East and North Africa region and as one of the Top 50 fastest growing retailers in the world by Deloitte.



Yusuffali will also be holding meetings with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe to update them about Lulus future plans.



Lulu Group has similar sourcing centres in UK, US, Turkey, Vietnam, Thailand, China and Africa. -TradeArabia News Service






NEO Receives Qualified Foreign Exchange Designation by OTC Markets Group

Aequitas NEO Exchange announced it has been designated a Qualified Foreign Exchange by OTC Markets Group Inc., effective March 29, 2017.

With this designation, NEO-listed companies may apply to qualify for trading on the OTCQX and OTCQB markets in the United States. The OTCQX and OTCQB markets allow companies to establish an efficient and cost effective secondary market to reach the US-based investment community, without a U.S. exchange listing.

We are proud to receive this designation from OTC Markets as it expands the international scope of our listings business and further establishes our place in the global markets, stated Jos Schmitt, President and Chief Executive Officer, NEO Exchange. We are particularly aligned with the efforts of OTC Markets to provide their services in an efficient and cost effective manner and believe its an important avenue for NEO-listed companies to consider as they seek visibility from the broadest possible audience.

We are pleased to officially recognize NEO as a qualified non-U.S. stock exchange, added Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group. Any company listed on the NEO Exchange may now apply to qualify for trading on our OTCQX and OTCQB markets, and we look forward to welcoming more Canadian companies to the U.S. markets.

OTC Markets Group operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market, and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS, the company connects a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. OTC Markets Group enables investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empowers companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

A complete list of OTC Markets Qualified Foreign Exchanges can be found here: https://www.otcmarkets.com/services/companies/otcqx-international/qualified-exchange-list.

For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:
CBSE had started this project titled "Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India" (KPTI) in 2012. Many erudite people are said to have contributed to books under this project that are currently available on the CBSE website itself.

However, it is Module 6: Life Sciences (1) Ayurveda for Life, Health and Well-Being - Part 1, which has invited the wrath of many.

This particular 32-page e-book has "extracts from primary texts" like that of "The oath of Caraka", which talks about the initiation of a medical student in the health services and also highlights who shall and who shall not get medically treated.

The book says, "Those who are extremely abnormal, wicked and of miserable conduct, those who have not vindicated their honour, those who are on the point of death, and similarly, women who are unattended by their husbands or guardians shall not receive treatment." It goes on to add, "No offering of presents by a woman without the behest of her husband or guardian shall be accepted by thee."

The book carries a note after this and instead of contextualising it to modern days, elaborates that "extreme caution was to be exercised when interacting with women, especially because in ancient times, the physician used to make house visits to administer treatment."

But it is not just women who are so regressively portrayed. The book also highlights the casteist mindset.

It says, "If thou desirest success, wealth and fame as a physician and heaven after death, thou shalt pray for the welfare of all creatures beginning with the cows and Brahmins."

The notes elaborate that Brahmins and cows are given priority as they have dedicated their lives for the welfare of society. "On the other hand, people who are harmful to society are given the least priority. It was considered important to allow patients on their deathbeds to die peacefully without being subjected to futile treatments."

Last month, CBSE came out with a two-page circular and explained how KPTI was important and that schools which were interested in taking it up should contact the Board within a month.
Simon Suarez will address CHIEF delegates.

TOURISM EXPERTS CONFIRMED FOR CHIEF HOSPITALITY CONFERENCE IN MIAMI

MIAMI (May 17, 2017) - An impressive roster of speakers, including a top executive from Virgin Atlantic, a leading authority on tourism intelligence and a host of respected hoteliers will address delegates attending the annual Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), slated to take place from June 2 to 4 at the Hyatt Regency Miami.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) reports that Britain's Mark Anderson, Executive Vice President at Virgin Atlantic, and Trinidadian Dr. Auliana Poon, Managing Director of Tourism Intelligence International, are among the list of speakers for the high-level forum, which features a number of educational sessions. At CHIEF, the region's hospitality industry assembles to network, learn, share ideas and collectively brainstorm creative solutions to current challenges.

Respected Caribbean hotelier Sir Royston Hopkin, KCMG, will keynote the conference, addressing the importance of excellence in Caribbean tourism when he delivers his presentation at this year's event.

Accomplished tourism executive and former CHTA President Simon Suarez, Vice President of Institutional Relations and Projects of Grupo Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, will also address conference-goers, along with Bonita Morgan, Director of Resource Mobilization and Development of the public sector Caribbean Tourism Organization.

Ewald Beimans, Owner and Managing Director of Aruba's award-winning and environmentally friendly Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort; Sandro Fabris, General Manager of the acclaimed Half Moon in Montego Bay in Jamaica; and sustainable tourism specialist Denaye Hinds, Director of Sustainability of OBM International will participate in the conference.

This year's CHIEF offers attendees the chance to be part of intimate professional development sessions on Friday June 2, produced by Springboard Caribbean and Forbes Travel Guide. The sessions will focus on a "Measure of Success" and "Foundations of Service Leadership" respectively.

CHIEF 2017 set for June 2-4, 2017 in Miami

During the CHIEF conference, attendees get to customize their experience with a choice of 16 industry-relevant topics throughout the conference. General session tracks focus on leveraging marketing potential, embedding sustainability into tourism offerings, and LGBTQ travel.

Other more specialized sessions will highlight areas such as branding strategies, cost management, customer service, local sourcing and upselling.

CHIEF will also recognize Caribbean businesses that masterfully implement best practices in the categories of Operations, Sales and Marketing, Environmental Sustainability, and Social Responsibility.

About CHIEF

Produced by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) is the premier educational forum for Caribbean hospitality and tourism professionals. CHIEF is where the hospitality industry assembles to connect, learn best practices, share ideas, brainstorm creative solutions to current challenges and build relationships. With three educational tracks covering a multitude of relevant topics, from the sharing economy to sustainability, and interactive roundtable and speed networking sessions, this event addresses issues affecting all businesses. The forum attracts hoteliers, vendors, government officials and industry experts focused on a stronger, profitable and more sustainable industry.

CHIEF is supported by host sponsors Interval International and JetBlue Vacations; platinum sponsors Cable and Wireless, CaribbeanWE, Mastercard and STR; and gold sponsors Adara, BCV Social, Choice Hotels, Delta Air Lines, HeBSDigital, La Bottega, Marketplace Excellence, Miles Partnership, OBMI, Oracle Hospitality, Rainmaker, Standard Textile, SteadyVU, TravAlliance, TravelClick, Tropical Shipping, TSA Solutions, and Virgin Atlantic.

For additional information about CHIEF, visit www.chtachief.com or call +1 305 443-3040.

About the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean's leading association representing tourism interests for national hotel and tourism associations. For more than 50 years, CHTA has been the backbone of the Caribbean hospitality industry. Working together with 1,000 hotel and allied members and 32 National Hotel Associations, CHTA is shaping the Caribbean's future and helping members to grow their businesses. Whether navigating new worlds like social media, sustainability, legislative issues, emerging technologies, data and intelligence or looking for avenues and ideas to better market and manage businesses, CHTA is helping members on matters that matter most.
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 17 (PTI) A new coal linkage policy to ensure adequate supply of the fuel to power plants through reverse auction received approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today.

"The CCEA today approved a policy for providing linkages to power plants," official sources said.

The new coal linkage policy for power plants will help producers ensure fuel supplies in an organised manner.

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The governments initiatives as well as international market conditions have helped bring down price of the dry fuel and boosted domestic production. But a mechanism is required for providing coal linkages to power plants at competitive rates.

According to sources, the new policy will address this concern and put in place a proper mechanism for sourcing of the dry fuel by the power plants as per their schedules. PTI SID ARD

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Six armed men came on motorbikes and barging into a jewellery shop in Mathura, they opened fire and killed two traders. Gold worth Rs 4 crore was looted.

By India Today Web Desk: CCTV footage shows two traders were killed during a robbery in Koyalawali Gali in Mathura. Two other men were also injured.

The two traders -- Vikas and Megh -- were gunned down by six armed men who came on motorbikes, barged into the shop and opened fire in the jewellery shop.

The market falls under Kotwali police station limits. The two other men injured were hospitalised.

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The borders of the district have been sealed and police alerted to nab culprits, the SSP added.

Watch: CCTV footage of armed men looting jewellery shop in Mathura killing two men

CCTV FOOTAGE : 2 jewelers shot dead, gold worth Rs 4 crore looted in #Mathura, #UttarPrdesh.#iDreamNews pic.twitter.com/hDNrxMavbO- iDream News (@iDream_News) May 16, 2017

TRADERS IN MATHURA PROTESTED THE INCIDENT

Uttar Pradesh police scanned CCTV footage and examined other clues in the sensational dacoity-cum-murder case.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked DGP Sulkhan Singh to visit the spot. Meanwhile, the traders in Mathura protested the incident that took place on may 15.

A traders body also gave a bandh call to protest the crime.

"The market in Mathura would remain closed tomorrow and if there is no prompt action, it may be extended," said Sunil Agrawal of the Nagar Udyog Vyapaar Mandal.

Along with the protest, the traders also demanded compensation of Rs 50 lakh and jobs for the kin of the deceased.

Also Read || Mathura: Locals protest killings-dacoity as CM tells top cop ||

3 POLICEMEN SUSPENDED

After the robbery incident in Koyalawali Gali, Three police officials were suspended.

Sub-inspector Prateek Kumar, in-charge police out post Holi Gate, along with two constables have been suspended for the incident, superintendent of police (city) Ashok Kumar said.

He added that local police officials have been given a time of three days to crack the case.

Also Read || 3 policemen suspended over killing of traders in Mathura ||

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Bengaluru, May 17

US tech giant Apple Inc on Wednesday said it is beginning initial production of a "small number" of 'iPhone SE' in the city and start shipping to domestic customers this month.

"We are beginning initial production of a small number of iPhone SE in Bengaluru. iPhone SE is the most popular and powerful phone with a four-inch display in the world and we'll begin shipping to domestic customers this month," Apple said here.

The Karnataka government had in February announced Apple Inc's proposal to commence initial manufacturing operations in Bengaluru.

The phones will be manufactured by Wistron, a Taiwanese OEM for Apple at Peenya in the city.

Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge had on March 30 said Apple would be ready to start assembling high-end iPhones in the city in less than a month to boost its chances of gaining a foothold in the fast growing Indian market.

Local manufacturing is expected to help Apple price its phones more competitively in India as it currently attracts additional duty on imports.

Apple had asked for several tax and other incentives to enter India in the manufacturing sector.

The company has been ramping up its efforts to expand its business in India, one of its fastest growing markets.

Apple is also keen on setting up retail presence in India and has sought relaxation in local sourcing norms.

The company has also announced opening of 'App Accelerator' in Bengaluru, an initiative that would provide support to Indian developers and enable them transform the design and performance of their apps on its mobile operating system iOS.  PTI
Tribune News Service

Mohali, May 17

Daily wage earner Shambhu Chawan and his family were scheduled to leave the town today to solemnise the marriage of his son at Siwan. The poor labourer had also booked the tickets, but yesterdays inferno consumed everything, including his hutment, savings of around Rs 50,000, new clothes and other household items.

I have lost everything in the fire. We have no option but to postpone the marriage of my son indefinitely, said Chawan with tears in his eyes.

In the fire, which broke out at Shaheed Udham Singh Colony at Phase VIII, Industrial Area, around 20 families have lost everything.

Surinder Sa, a native of Bihar who sustained a severe cut on his right hand a few days ago, is now clueless regarding how to feed his family, comprising his wife and four children. Except for the clothes we are wearing, nothing has been left, said Surinder.

Due to the grave injury on my hand, I was forced to stay at home. I lost everything, including my hutment, in yesterdays fire. I dont know what to do to feed my family, said the halpless labourer.

Sharda Devi, who sustained burn injuries on her face and arm during the incident, was seen crying for help. Today, our neighbours and some philanthropists arranged food, but where will we sleep; what will we wear, said Sharda Devi and other victims, including Kavita Devi and Sonu.

Most women of the victim families were working as domestic help at houses of nearby residents. Now, they have no place to leave their children. Its a double blow for them, said a resident of the colony.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 17

A 29-year-old man accused of raping an IT professional was today produced in a court, which remanded him in judicial custody.

The 27-year-old victim, who had arrived from Jaipur and was staying at Hotel Taj in Sector 17, had alleged that the accused, Sunny Kumar, a contractual employee of Hotel Taj who was working in the food and beverages department, allegedly raped her at his rented accommodation in Sector 22.

The police said the victim and the accused had gone to the latters house to celebrate the victims birthday, where the victim was allegedly raped.

The accused pleaded innocence in the court.

Sources said the victim called the accused on his mobile phone a few times after reaching the hotel. However, he did not take the calls after which she called the police and told them about the incident.
Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, May 17

In a big catch, Punjab Vigilance Bureau sleuths arrested one of the key accused, Sanjay Kumar Shrivastava, alias Guruji, alias Mithlesh Pandey (37), along with two other accused in the paper leak scam here today.

Nageshwar Rao, Director, Vigilance Bureau, said along with Guruji from Lucknow, two other accused, Anup Kumar and Shiv Bahadur Singh, from Varanasi had been arrested in the scam. The Vigilance Flying Squad I team had recently brought the mastermind, Shailesh Kumar, of Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, on a production warrant from Hyderabad.

With the arrest of the main accused, including Guruji and Shailesh Kumar, all missing links have now been plugged in the case, said Rao, adding that so far 85 accused, including 55 candidates-cum-conduits, had already been arrested.

Now, seven accused have been left, who are at large, said Rao.

The Punjab Government had conducted recruitment tests for posts of Assistant Corporation Engineer (Civil), Assistant Municipal Engineer (Civil) and Sub-Divisional Engineer (Civil) in the Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, Nagar Panchayat and Improvement Trust on November 8 and November 15, 2015. Rao said the matter of paper leak for these recruitments was reported and after preliminary investigations, the Vigilance Bureau had registered a case on April 6 last year. During the investigation, similar cases of paper leak for the examination of Punsup and PUDA also came to the fore. The police said the gang was involved in leaking question papers for various senior-level posts, including SDO and JE, of different departments, including Punsup, PUDA, Local Bodies and Irrigation.

The police said the gang used to charge a whopping amount, ranging between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 30 lakh, from each candidate and then take them to Nazafgarh or Lucknow where the candidates were given the question paper along with answers for the exams.

After leaking the question papers, Guruji, who has done MBA and a diploma in mechanical engineering, also helped the candidates in their exam preparation at Lucknow. The candidates were taken to Nazafgarh or Lucknow for the purpose, said Rao.

On the modus operandi, Rao said the gang members had tied up with printing presses, where question papers were being published, and bought the papers from there.

Two such presses at Delhi and Agra were under the scanner of the police. We have identified the accused and teams have been dispatched to nab them, said Rao.

The trio was produced before the court today. The court remanded Guruji in five-day police custody and Anup Kumar and Shiv Bahadur Singh in three-day police custody.
K.S. Pannu

History gets distorted when it is not explained in the right perspective and factually. Since November, 1954, when the Government of India called upon irrigation engineers of the then joint Punjab to devise plans to utilise the surplus waters of Ravi and Beas, much water has flown down both the rivers. The engineers of joint Punjab could work out plans to utilise only 7.25 out of 15.85 MAF surplus waters of both the perennial rivers flowing down to Pakistan, keeping in view the prevailing cropping pattern. In a meeting held on January 29, 1955, convened by Gulzari Lal Nanda, the then Union Water Resources Minister, and attended by Irrigation Minister, Punjab, Chaudhary Lahiri Singh from Sonepat, the Centre allocated 7.20 MAF water to Punjab as per the plan presented before them. Rajasthan was allocated 8 MAF and 0.65 MAF was given to Jammu and Kashmir. Unfortunately, the written plan put up by joint Punjab before the Centre showed only 0.62 MAF water shall be utilised in present-day Haryana area through the Hansi Canal (0.32 MAF) and through the Bhakra Canal (0.30 MAF). Rest of the 6.63 MAF surplus water and the pre-Partition usage of 1.98 MAF was proposed for utilisation in present-day Punjab as follows: Upper Bari Doab Canal (3.17), Shah Nehar (0.79), Bet Area of Ravi Beas (0.23), Sirhind Feeder (2.79), Eastern Canal (0.71), Chakandher Tract (0.24), PEPSU area through Bhakra Canal (0.68).

In case Chaudhary Lahiri Singh, the illustrious son of Haryana, had shown the need and capacity of south-east Punjab (now Haryana) to utilise 3.50 MAF water, as is now being demanded, the Centre would have allotted 10.70 MAF water to joint Punjab, instead of 7.20 MAF,. Rajasthan was not interested in utilising surplus water but was forced to utilise the balance surplus of 8.00 MAF to justify before the World Bank team that India could utilise the entire surplus water of the three eastern rivers. With the allocation of surplus Ravi-Beas water by the Centre as per proceedings of the meeting of January 1955, the World Bank was satisfied about Indias claim on three eastern rivers. Haryana, the reorganised state, got dissatisfied over the internal distribution of this surplus water. It got allocated 3.50 MAF water as per December 1981 agreement, instead of the 0.62 MAF approved by GOI in 1955. Incidentally, the Malwa region of present Punjab constituting 65 per cent area which got only 0.60 MAF water by the 1955 order of the Centre is still getting only that quantity. Not even a drop of more water was allocated to it after 1955. Malwa is the worst sufferer of depletion of ground water table.

As per the provision of section 78 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966, Haryana is to get the water of Beas as per the Purpose of project. The Purpose of project mentioned in Beas project report clearly stipulates that Haryana areas will get only 0.90 MAF water. As against this, Haryana is actually utilising 1.62 MAF water against the spare capacity available in the Bhakra Main Line Canal. Reasons of discontent of Haryana were political rather than logical.

Like division of assets in an agrarian feudal family where at the time of partition everything has to be divided equally, Haryana insisted on equal division of river waters, oblivious of laws of nature which determine the flow and use of river waters on a riparian basis and not on the whims of partisan elders to support the younger son. C.B. Singh Sheoran, former Chief Engineer of Haryana tells us (The Tribune April 12) that Punjab may not be aware that Himachal is an upper riparian state and what will Punjab do if it starts dictating terms. Punjab knows that not only is Himachal an upper riparian state to Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers but Jammu & Kashmir is an upper riparian state of river Ravi. It is clearly known that Punjab is a lower riparian state of all the three rivers and Haryana and Rajasthan do not even fall in the distant definition of riparian states. The author obliquely admits this. Punjab's political leadership has declared that the state will not share even a drop of water, because Punjab has none to spare.

The rain and ice flakes falling outside Punjab constitute rivers which flow through the territory of Punjab. Not even a drop of such water flows through the territory of Haryana. Punjab has prior right of usage of such water, along with other riparian states (HP and J&K). The allocation of 4.65 MAF of Yamuna waters to Haryana as a result of the agreement amongst five states is a reality and not an illusion. Punjab has time and again stressed upon the need to build storages/dams for full utilisation of the allocated Yamuna waters. Instead of spending a huge sum of money over the construction of the SYL Canal, for long-distance transfer of Ravi-Beas waters to the Yamuna basin of Haryana, which would cause disruption of water already being used by Punjab farmers in Ravi-Beas areas, the amount should be spent on constructing storage dams on the Yamuna. This would adequately fulfil the requirement of Haryana. The position that Yamuna water allocations to Haryana should have no bearing on the distribution of Ravi-Beas waters, is self-defeating. Why should Yamuna waters which formed an asset of joint Punjab before reorganisation, be earmarked for the exclusive usage of Haryana, when Haryana has been entitling itself to waters of Ravi-Beas on an equal footing with Punjab.

It is wrong to say that Punjab farmers prefer tubewells than canals for irrigation. River water allocations to Punjab, out of the total availability of water in the three rivers (34.34 MAF), is only 14.22 MAF  including protected pre-Partition utilisation of 4.55 MAF of Sutlej waters, 1.48 MAF of Ravi waters and 0.50MAF of Beas waters. Due to the meagre allocation of river waters, agriculture in Punjab, perforce, became dependent upon tube well irrigation. Not only in Punjab, but also in other states including Haryana, water requirement is comparatively higher during paddy plantation. It is wrong that only a nominal quantum of water is needed thereafter.

It is an established fact that the quantum of surplus Ravi-Beas waters has decreased to 13.38 MAF based on 1981-2013 flow series instead of 17.17 MAF as estimated earlier. Punjab had, as far back as 2003, requested the Centre, as per provisions of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, to constitute a tribunal for reallocation of waters. On a pro rata basis applied to available water as per 1981 agreement, for arguments sake, Haryanas share works out as 2.95 MAF, instead of 3.50 MAF. After taking into account the existing utilisation of 1.62 MAF through the existing BML Canal by Haryana, the dispute has been relegated to 1.33 MAF water. By the Yamuna agreement of 1994, Haryana is to get 2.01 MAF additional water from Yamuna, over and above the usage of 2.64 MAF at the time of reorganisation of Punjab in 1966. This means Haryana will end up getting 30 per cent more water from Yamuna, than its demand from Punjab.

The Haryana viewpoint that Punjab farmers are happier pressing the button of tubewell than waiting for the wari (turn) of canal supply and that Punjab canals even do not have proper water course to supply water to farms, is not only wrong reading of situational position but also smacks of disdain towards Punjab farmers. Hence, Haryana should invest financially and politically to utilise 2.01 MAF of Yamuna waters rather than looking at 1.33 MAF of illusionary water from Ravi-Beas.

The writer, an IAS officer, is the acting Vice Chancellor of the IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar
G Parthasarathy

THE past 18 months have seen a bitter power struggle in Pakistan between the elected government led by Nawaz Sharif and his former army chief, the overbearing Gen Raheel Sharif, who was desperately seeking an extension. His ambitions were sidestepped and his ego assuaged by getting him appointed as the head of a Saudi-led military alliance of 41 Sunni Islamic countries. With the Panama Leaks exposing his vast foreign assets, Sharif remains under pressure from a less than sympathetic Supreme Court, which has appointed a committee of civilian and military officials to further investigate the charges.

To add to Sharifs woes, he came under new pressures. In an act of brazen defiance and indiscipline, the army publicly challenged a notification issued by the PMs office to deal with the leak of information in Dawn newspaper. With a somewhat more rational army chief now holding office, Nawaz has been able to ward off challenges from the army for the present. But he will have to expend considerable time and effort in dealing with the Supreme Court and charges of corruption. There is, however, little doubt that if he successfully deals with these issues, he can overcome challenges posed by Imran Khans PTI and Asif Ali Zardaris PPP, and win the parliamentary elections in 2018, even though the economic situation is fragile, with external debt growing rapidly.

Pakistan now faces serious challenges to peace and security along its land borders with Iran, Afghanistan and India. While Pakistans borders with India and Afghanistan have been traditionally disputed and tense, troubles on its borders with Iran grew as Pakistan got drawn into the American war on terror. Iranian Sunni extremist groups were armed and trained in Pakistan to attack targets across the Balochistan-Iran border. The Iranians allege CIA-ISI involvement in these attacks by a group called Jundallah, whose present-day version goes by the name of Jaish-ul-Adl (army of justice). Barely a fortnight ago, the Jaish-ul-Adl mounted a cross-border attack on the Iranian town of Mirjavejh, near the Balochistan-Iran border, killing 10 Iranian soldiers. After a visit by the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Jarif, produced only Pakistani platitudes, Irans army chief Major-General Mohammad Baqueri warned that his forces would attack terrorist havens within Pakistan unless Rawalpindi stopped cross-border attacks.

These developments coincided with escalating tensions across the disputed Pakistan-Afghanistan border, leading to casualties on both sides and an assertion by President Ashraf Ghani that he would not visit Pakistan. The Taliban, meanwhile, stepped up its spring offensive across Afghanistan. Pakistan, in turn, accused Afghanistan of fomenting terror across the Durand Line in collusion with India. In the meantime, the unpredictable and inconsistent Trump administration has indicated it will be enhancing its military deployment in Afghanistan and increasing Afghan firepower. Iranian foreign minister Jarif arrived in Kabul on May 7 amidst these developments. He called for greater cooperation between Kabul and Tehran in combating terrorism, adding: There is no such thing as good terrorists and bad terrorists. His Afghan counterpart Rabbani, in turn, asserted that Afghanistan wants neighbouring countries to work on dismantling the sources of funding of terrorist groups.

It is now evident that with expectations of Russian and Chinese backing, Pakistan intends to continue its support for the Taliban. We need to have some candid discussions with our Russian friends on this at the highest level. While Sharif may want to meet Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Kazakhstan, it would be naive to believe that the Pakistan army is going to relent on its fomenting terrorism and violence in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in India. Given the fact that the Pakistan army and Sharif are evidently not on the same page on the Kulbhushan Jadhav affair, India will have to wait and see if Sharif has the political space to spike the armys intentions to continue on its present path on this issue. Moreover, there should be no relenting on taking all available measures, overt and covert, to make Pakistan pay heavily for its adventurism in J&K.

In the light of these developments, Sharifs visit to Saudi Arabia for a get-together of the 41-member Sunni military alliance, during the Saudi-Trump summit is clearly designed to avail of the occasion to persuade Trump that Pakistan will be a steadfast ally in his war against the IS and radical Islam. Will Trump, the avowed master of cutting deals, be impressed by such posturing, given his distrust of Pakistani policies on Afghanistan? Trumps visit to Saudi Arabia is primarily to boost American arms sales, cut deals in the energy sector and encourage the tough posture that Deputy Crown Prince Salman has adopted towards Iran and Yemen. Despite his loathing for Gen Raheel Sharif, Nawaz will miss no opportunity to impress Trump with the fact that a Pakistani general is commanding the Islamic alliance, while asserting Pakistans commitment to fight terrorism globally. But it is clear that Pakistans enthusiastic participation in a Saudi-led, American-backed alliance is not going to please Iran.

These are issues that are going to shape Indian diplomacy significantly in coming months. New Delhi will need to discuss measures to squeeze Pakistan on its support for cross-border terrorism, in discussions with Iran and Afghanistan, both bilaterally and trilaterally. Our unusual decision to publicise cuts in our oil imports from Iran needs to be reviewed, even as we press Iran to discard its reluctance to fulfil its commitments on Indian participation and investment in its energy projects.

Delays in moving ahead in the development of Chabahar Port need to be addressed at the highest level. PM Modi has shown considerable skill in carrying out a delicate diplomatic balancing act in the Gulf and West Asia by developing good ties with all major players  Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran and Egypt. These skills will be fully needed and tested while dealing with the emerging scenario across our western neighbourhood.
Activist Anjali Damania has written to prison authorities against perks being given to Chhagan Bhujbal at Arthur Road Jail.

By Mayuresh Ganapatye, Virendrasingh Ghunawat: A former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal has written to the editor of the daily which had carried the letter by activist Anjali Damania against the perks given to Chhagan Bhujbal's custody.

Activist Anjali Damania had written a letter to Arthur Road Jail prison authorities against perks being given to Chhagan Bhujbal, who is in judicial custody for money laundering, along with his son and nephew.

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Bhujbal was brought to a special PMLA court from Arthur Road for his remand when he was allegedly allowed to be in court for hours, meeting people. "Is this a meeting ground for the NCP leader? Why is he being allowed to meet people?" Damania asked in her letter, apart from raising many other questions.

Bhujbal's judicial custody was, meanwhile, extended to May 30.

Here's the text of Bhujbal's complaint:

"Your daily had carried allegations levelled against me by Anjali Damania. She talked about the preferential treatment given to me in jail. For the past 14 months and more, I have been imprisoned. However, at regular intervals, all sorts of things against me are broadcast to make sure that I do not get bail.

Apparently, Anjali Damania has taken this contract. According to her, I have been given a television to watch in jail when actually, there is a small television set at every circle inside the prison which is common to all and has only Doordarshan channel run on it.

Apart from this, as per court's order, I get homemade food. In jail, we don't get fruits every two hours. If we want anything else, we have to purchase it from the jail canteen with our earned money.

Also as per the court's order again, only lawyers come to meet me to discuss issues related to the case. So, I refute the allegations made by Damania that I am allowed personal communication."

In the letter wriiten in Marathi, Bhujbal has also denied being provided vodka which Damania alleged was sneaked into the jail through coconut water.

Bhujbal adds that CCTV cameras to constantly monitor prisoners are installed inside and outside his jail room. "Anyone can check the footage. Moreover, none of the inmates are allowed to bring coconuts inside the jail."

Chhagan Bhujbal further writes that mobile phones can't be used as there are jammers inside the jail. "Thus, I refute this allegation also," Bhujbal exclaims.

The former Maharashtra minister feels that he is being unnecessarily getting targeted by a few. He says that anyone can check the CCTV footage of the jail premises and decide the authenticity of the allegations levelled by Damania.Also Read:

Anjali Damania writes to prison authorities against perks given to Chhagan Bhujbal custody

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THE post-Jat agitation period has been one long series of censures for the Haryana Government from at least the Punjab and Haryana High Court, if not various civil institutions. The latest matter to exasperate the court is the complete lack of movement in the investigation in the breach caused by the agitators in a canal carrying water to Delhi, which by no measure is a minor issue. It is now becoming increasingly clear that the state government has no stomach to bring to book even the criminal-agitators who committed the most serious of crimes, including arson and rape.

In appeasing the politically significant Jats, the government seems to have found not acknowledging crimes a convenient way to avoid responsibility. The matter of suspected Murthal rapes was a case in point. The government has also found it inconvenient to implement the report of the Prakash Singh Committee, a panel it had itself set up to inquire into the Jat violence. The result is that more than a year later, the state has in place no comprehensive and credible actionable inquiry into a matter that will go down as a landmark in the history of lawlessness in Haryana.

According to the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB) statistics, Haryana has the highest rate of gangrapes in the country, and is also among the top-rankers in overall crimes against women. The girls of a middle school in Rewari fasted till the government agreed to upgrade their school. The reason was they did not want to go outside the village for senior school for fear of boys harassing them. This speaks about the permanent fear that grips girls and women in the state. Reports of improvement in the sex ratio in certain districts turned out to be based on falsified data. All of this points to nothing but lawlessness and weak governance. Chief Minister Khattar, embattled as he is within his own party and government, must understand certain bulls have to be taken by the horns. Shutting eyes to the beasts will only provide temporary comfort.
LESS than two months before Narendra Modi becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel, Indian diplomats conducted a balancing act by ensuring Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas visited the country. So far Indian Foreign Ministers and even President Pranab Mukherjee made sure they put both Israel and Palestine on their itinerary. PM Modi intends breaking that mould because India-Israel ties are at an inflexion point. A standalone visit to Israel from a country with a substantial Muslim population and an ardent backer of the Palestinian cause will be a grand symbolic gesture. This would hopefully help ensure the flow of cutting-edge arms such as armed drones for counter-insurgency operations against the Maoists and militants in Kashmir and thus avoid casualties to the ground troops.

The Deep State in the US will also be pleased by the gesture and, hopefully, persuade Israel to release military technologies that Pentagon cannot directly provide because of export control laws. India also hopes that this gesture as well as that of hosting the Israeli President would dampen the ardour of Israeli dual-technology (military and civilian use) companies to look at China as a more alluring market. India wants these companies to favour it more than China because it would like to have an exclusive hold over some of the technologies in the naval field instead of Beijing passing them to Pakistan.

The tilt towards Israel had been taking shape ever since governments, past and present, recognised that the Israel-Palestine dispute is intractable and the national cause would be better served by striking a delicate balance between the two sides. Abbas visit and PM Modis declaration of unwavering support to the Palestinian cause is a recognition of the fact that Israel and its Western allies have been unfair and unjust to the Arabs. This fact is also enshrined in several UN Security Council resolutions which condemn Israels annexation of East Jerusalem and other territories as a violation of the international law. Being an interested party in the dispute since its origin, India has warm ties with both parties, having the advantage of Israel's technological prowess on the one hand and maintaining a principled position on the other.
Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 17

Health Minister Anil Vij today ordered a probe into the reported manipulation of figures of the child sex ratio in some districts of Haryana.

Vij confirmed to The Tribune that he has ordered an inquiry since the matter was very sensitive and the entire nation was keeping an eye on Haryanas claims of a marked improvement over its past reputation of foetus killers.

I have asked Health Secretary Amit Jha to conduct a thorough probe into the records of all districts of the state and find out officials responsible for manipulation of figures. These officials have not only tarnished the image of the state, but also done much harm to the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Vij.

Asked when would the probe begin and by what time the report was expected, he said it was up to Jha whether he goes about the inquiry by himself or constitutes teams for various districts.

The Tribune, in a report Govt under fire for fudging gender ratio figures published in these columns on April 28, had highlighted how manipulation of the gender ratio figures from January to March this year by some districts has come to light.

The Tribune had also reported that the state government had taken a serious view of the alleged fudging of figures and ordered validation of figures by an independent agency.

Rakesh Gupta, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, who also looks after the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, had, however, maintained that the validation (audit) process had been ordered for 10 districts as a routine to check manipulations.

Later, it was reported in a section of media last week that the audit teams had found that at least six districts had manipulated the gender ratio figures by registering the birth of baby girls and deliberately ignoring the birth of baby boys to make the gender ratio look remarkable.
Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16

More than a year after the Prakash Singh committee noted that the Moonak canal breach case points to a grave internal security threat to Indias critical national infrastructure, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today quoted the report while ordering a CBI probe.

The direction came even as Haryana attempted to undermine Prakash Singhs authority by refusing to allow the former DGP to head a special investigation team (SIT) being constituted to probe the Jat stir violence in February last year. The Moonak canal was breached during the stir, affecting water supply to Delhi.

In all, four FIRs were registered (on February 21, Kharkhoda police station; February 22, Kundli police station; February 23, Ganaur police station and February 24, Kharkhoda). Investigations in all four stand transferred to the premier investigation agency, which has been told to submit a report by July 13. Trials in these four cases have, meanwhile, been stayed.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The Bench of Justices SS Saron and Darshan Singh observed that 3,000-4,000 persons were stated to be involved in arson and breach of the canal. Yet, police reports/challans were filed against only four or five, that too without arrests. Challans were filed in two cases, and untraced reports prepared in two.

The Bench took note of CBIs apparent reluctance to probe the matter for want of manpower, but refused to accept its contention.

Referring to the CBI probe in cases related to the attack on the Haryana Finance Ministers house, the Bench said: Why are you running away? You are already seized of five cases. You took them without objection. Thats also mob violence Cant let things go out of hand Cant allow water supply to the national capital be affected.

The Bench said it was disheartening that the police had done nothing even after it asked the CBI counsel to seek instructions a month-and-a-half ago. The assertion came as Haryana Additional Advocate-General Pawan Girdhar suggested that the SIT, in the process of being set up, could look into the Moonak case too.

Opposing the suggestion, amicus curiae Anupam Gupta argued: If a group of agitators could stop an important source of water supply to the national capital, what a determined group of terrorists could do is rather discomforting.
Chandigarh, May 17

Upping the ante on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal issue, Haryana's principal opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) said on Wednesday that it will fight a do-or-die battle if the Centre fails to take up the construction of the canal by July 10.

Senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala said party workers will stop Punjab Roadways buses and other government vehicles from the neighbouring state in Ambala on July 10 as a symbolic protest, if the demand was not met.

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The Supreme Court has made it clear that the canal has to be constructed and Punjab must give the due share of water to Haryana, said Chautala, the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly.

INLD workers are sitting on 'dharnas' at sub-divisional levels in their respective assembly constituencies in Haryana and have been submitting memoranda to their respective deputy commissioners on the SYL issue, he told reporters.

Chautala said that last year, the Supreme Court had held as unconstitutional, the 2004 law passed by Punjab to terminate the SYL canal water sharing agreement.

He also alleged that the BJP government in Haryana had failed to exert enough pressure on the Centre to take up the canal's construction.

"Today, 60 per cent of Haryana, which also includes areas other than the southern part, is in the dark zone. Water table has fallen to alarming levels. We will start a massive stir and fight a do-or-die battle if Centre does not take up the construction of the SYL canal by July 10," Chautala said.

He said if the state failed its share of water despite the Apex Court verdict, then vast swathes of land will turn barren and farmers will be forced to migrate to other states.

"In July, we will intensify our stir which will then be like a war, and we can go to any extent to protect Haryana's rights. We can sacrifice our lives for the cause of SYL, which is our lifeline," Chautala said.  PTI
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 17

Himachal will seek funds for strengthening of its three strategic roads providing all-weather connectivity along the Indo-China border and tightening of the inner line restrictions right up to Wangtoo in Kinnaur.

Himachal will raise these issues at the meeting of five states  Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal, Uttrakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh  with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at Sikkim on May 20. The endeavour is to look into all state specific issues which confront various agencies, including the Army, Police, Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and other agencies along the border with China.

Besides the issue of strengthening of road network, various law enforcing agencies, including the ITBP, are keen that the telecommunication network in the border areas is strengthened. Besides, Himachal Police is keen that the inner line restrictions, which make it mandatory for foreigners, including Nepalese, to seek a permit before entering any area which is within 10 km of the international territory with China is strengthened further.

India shares international boundary with China in Kinnaur district and as such the state government will seek over Rs 70 crores for strengthening of road network which will provide all-weather connectivity. The three roads for which the process of land acquisition has already been completed are Chitkul-Dumti, Thangi-Charang (20 kms) and Chanrang to Kota Dogri (six kms).

While the Chitkul-Dumti road falls in Sangala Valley, the other two roads fall in the Kalpa diviison in district Kinnaur. We will seek funds to the tune of Rs 70 crores for the construction of these roads so that we have an assured all-weather connectivity to the border areas, revealed Narinder Chauhan, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD).

He added that the construction of another important road - Chango-Leo by-pass  will help reduce the distance to Spiti by almost 25 km. More importantly, this will help us by-pass the Mulling Nullah near Nako, which is a problematic area and poses a problem in connectivity every now and then, he said.

Director-General of Police Sanjay Kumar said the police is keen that the restrictions of inner line permit (ILP) should be enforced right from Wantoo so that villages falling on both sides of the Satluj river are covered. Earlier, the ILP was mandatory beyond Wangtoo but later it was extended up to Akpa, so we want it to be restored to the original position in Wangtoo, he said.

In sharp contrast to the stand of Himachal Police, the locals in Kinnaur are seeking relaxation in the ILP conditions as they are facing problems in getting Nepalaese labour to work for them in their apple orchards and fields. The number of foreigners visiting Kinnuar and Lahaul Spiti has been on the rise and was the highest in 2016 in the last five years.
Ravinder Sood

Palampur, May 17

The state government has decided against resumption of tandem flights at Billing in Kangra district till the verification of documents of all the 140 registered pilots is complete. There was no flying in Billing when the state government had imposed a ban on tandem flights.

SDM, Baijnath, Sunania Sharma recently imposed more restrictions on pilots keeping in view rising number of accidents, misbehaviour with women tourists in tandem flight by pilots and over-charging. She announced that no pilots would fly in bad weather, before sun rise and after sun set. It was made mandatory for the pilots to insure the second person flying in tandem flights with them. Besides, there will be regular inspection of equipment of pilots by experts.

She said in future only experienced pilots having valid documents would be given permission to fly. She categorically told the members of Para Gliding Association that if any pilot violated the directions of the state government, their licences would be cancelled and a case registered.

Various travel agents associations have welcomed the decision of the state government as this will ensure safety of tourists. A spokesman of the Kangra Valley Travel Agent Association while talking to The Tribune said rising accidents in tandem flights had caused insecurity among tourists. Besides, it had brought bad name to the adventure sport.

He asked the state tourism department to install display board at Billing reflecting tariff fixed by the government for tandem flights so that no tourist was fleeced. This will stop the practice of over-charging.

Meanwhile, Subhash Verma, a Delhi resident, has would file a suit for damages in the High Court against the state government, Kangra administration and state tourism department. Harashvardhan (27), his son, was seriously injured when a glider crashed in remote area of Ladh Bharol in Mandi district last month. Later, Harashvardhan was air-lifted to a hospital in New Delhi, where he has been struggling for life.
Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 17

The authorities in Kashmir on Wednesday did not allow senior separatist leader and Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to address a seminar, which was being organised by the Amalgam here.

A senior Hurriyat functionary, Manan Bukhari, informed the audience, which had gathered at the Hurriyat headquarters at Rajbagh here, where the seminar is being held, that Mirwaiz had not been allowed to move out of his house and put under house detention to stop him from attending the seminar.

The one-day seminar on Resolution of Kashmir Issue--Prelude to Peace, Guarantee to Stability is being organised by the Hurriyat in which many senior Hurriyat leaders, including Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, are participating.

The seminar was to be presided over by the Mirwaiz, but in view of his detention, Prof Bhat was asked to preside over it.

At the outset, the participants condemned the house arrest of Mirwaiz and his media adviser Shahid-ul-Islam.
Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 17

The constant fear of mortar shelling and firing from the Pakistan side has triggered fresh migration from villages close to the Line of Control in Rajouri district, with nearly 500 more border villagers reaching relief camps till Wednesday evening.

The fresh migration has been reported from Pukharni, Lam and Jahangar areas close to the LoC. The administration is expecting more migration from border belts in view of the growing apprehension of fresh firing and shelling from the other side of the border.

The Pakistan army, meanwhile, continued to target the Indian forward posts, though intermittently, in violation of the truce pact. According to official sources, the Pakistan army resorted to heavy firing at forward posts along the LoC in the Balakote sector of Poonch district early Wednesday morning. They (Pakistan) violated the ceasefire again by firing at Indian forward posts and civilians areas, located in the 12-km range of Tarkundi-Lohar Gali belt on the LoC. First, they targeted two forward posts Lanjote and Dadot around 5 am for a few minutes and later resumed firing around 7.30 am on the entire Tarkundi-Lohar Gali belt till 9 am, a source said.

A defence spokesperson, however, said: Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Balakote sector from 12.50 am to 1.30 am on the intervening night of May 16 and May 17. Our troops retaliated strongly and gave a befitting reply to Pakistan firing.

Fresh migration of border people has taken place from Pukharni, Lam and Jahangar areas as 435 more villagers shifted to relief camps today. Till now, a total of 2,180 people of 540 families are staying in five relief camps set up by the administration, said Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary. On May 13, Pakistani troops had pounded civilian areas and forward posts in the Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three. The firing from the other side of the LoC triggered migration in the area besides closure of educational institutions.
By Press Trust of India: Kathmandu, May 17 (PTI) China has accepted a proposal from Nepal to invest in mega projects in the Himalayan country under the Belt and Road initiative to link its border areas with road and railway networks, a media report said today.

Nepals transport minister Ramesh Lekhak, who is on a visit to China, had proposed to his Chinese counterpart Li Xiaopeng that they work to link Nepals border areas with road and railway networks, The Kathmandu Post reported.

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Li accepted the proposal to investment and extend support in mega projects in Nepal, the report said, citing Lekhaks personal secretary Janak Bhatta.

During their meeting, Li said that a new step has started in Nepals economic development after its participation in the ambitious One Belt, One Road initiative, that aims to link China with European and African markets through Asia.

The two countries have named Nepali Ambassador to China Leelamani Paudyal and the general manager of International Department of Chinas transport ministry as the focal persons for facilitating Chinese investment in mega projects.

Former Nepali prime minister KP Sharma Oli and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had agreed to cooperate in several areas, including the transportation sector, during the formers official visit to Beijing in March 2016.

That was followed by Chinese President Xi Jinpings assurance to Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda during that the Chinese government is ready to initiate construction work on the cross-border railway link between the two neighbors and boost trade and connectivity. PTI ABH

--- ENDS ---
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 17

Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire again on Wednesday by firing at Indian forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote sector of Jammu of Kashmir.

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The Pakistani Army resorted to firing at Indian forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector from 0050 hours today, a defence spokesman said.

Pakistan troops also fired on forward posts and civilian areas last night along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district. The firing continued till 0130 hours, the spokesman said.

He said the Pakistani Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 1830 hours last night along the LoC in Nowshera sector.

The firing continued till 2100 hours on Tuesday.

The Pakistan Rangers fired shells on the intervening night of May 15 and 16 on forward areas and civilian belts along the LoC in three belts of Rajouri district.

The firing and shelling from across the border has affected over 10,000 people.

Civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera sector were pounded with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three others.

On May 13, Pakistani troops had pounded civilian areas and forward posts in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three.

On May 15, Pakistani troops resorted to fresh ceasefire violation along the LoC in Nowshera sector since 1600 hours till late night. Four villages in Nowshera have come under small arms fire from across the LOC in Nowshera.

Shelling started in Ans Bhandhaar areas of Nowshera in Rajouri at 2255 hours night of May 15 and 16. Lam and Kalsian areas were also affected, Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

Interdepartmental teams deputed by District Administration for damage assessment reported small arms firing begins at 4 PM on May 15 in village Sarya followed by villages Khamba, Anwas and Bhandar, Choudhary said.

Nearly 1,700 people have already been evacuated from the LoC hamlets hit by shelling from Pakistani side and shifted to relief camps.

Around 10,042 people from over 2,694 families have been affected by the continued shelling from across the border, the DC said.

The district administration has provided an immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the dead and financial assistance to the injured, he said.

Choudhary said the administration is prepared to make more relief camps as more than 25 buildings have been earmarked.

He added that students classes will be resumed this week to ensure that education doesnt suffer.

Six ambulances have been pressed into action for shifting of injured and treatment. One mobile medical unit was stationed at Nowshera and another deputed to forward areas, he said.

According to a Home Ministry reply to an RTI, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) 449 times in 2016 as compared to 405 violations in 2015. 23 security personnel were killed in the two-year period.

Jaitley, Army Chief to visit J&K today



Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will visit Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to review security situation amid heightened tension on the Line of Control (LoC) and student unrest in the Valley.

This would be Jaitleys first visit to the state after he took over the additional charge from Manohar Parrikar.

The Defence Minister advanced his visit by a day since he was otherwise scheduled to chair the two-day long Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting beginning here on Thursday.

During his visit to the LoC, Jaitley would meet the field commanders.

He will be briefed on the overall preparedness of the Army to meet challenges of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the heightened risk of infiltration as the snow starts to thaw on the mountains.

Sources here said the ongoing students unrest fanning separatist sentiments in the Valley would also remain in focus.

The impact of the unrest on the overall security situation cannot be wished away. Therefore, the visit will also focus on ways and means to help the civil administration bring the situation under control, a top official said. With agencies inputs
Amarjot Kaur

If you are a Chandigarh born and bred millennial, we empathise with you for hearing tales about how Kiran theatre looked like during the 50s and that Sector 17 was the place to be! We are also sure youve heard that...the southern sectors were only but jungles with some houses here and there.

Guess what, Chandigarh has a pre-historic past; it has fossil remains with imprints of a large variety of aquatic plants, animals, and amphibians. Also, about 8,000 years ago, the area was known to be a home to Harappans.

Well, cities evolve just like we grow. But does that keep us from looking at our childhood pictures? On the International Museum Day, let us become tourists in our city and interact with the past, which reminds us of our present. The museum culture in the city has gone beyond Sound and Light Show. Its the age of audio tours!

A museum experience

A conversation with Kriti Garg, Director, Government Museum and Art Gallery, updates us on the new strategies that the government is planning to adopt, some of which are also being implemented as pilot projects. Its rare to find three museums on one campus, like we have Government Museum and Art Gallery, Natural History Museum, and Chandigarh Architecture Museum in Sector 10. To involve more students, we have tied up with private and government schools, and they visit the museums here. However, I would like to get more footfall and participation from the students at Government College of Arts. We started an audio tour of the museums and are also organising a painting exhibition by 18 artists on the International Museum Day, she shares.

Though Kriti adds that during her tenure no sale or purchase of items in the museum has taken place, she refuses to comment on the policies regarding the same. The policies will soon be made available on the website when it gets completed, as it is still underway, she says. According to the data given by Kriti Garg, the footfall at Government Museum and Art Gallery last year was 45,955 and this year it increased to 63, 230.

All dolled up

At the International Dolls Museum, Bal Bhawan, Sector 23, we stand informed that the museum was, in a way, reborn in 2009. Dr PC Sharma, officer in-charge, tells us about the museum: It attained international status after comprehensive upgradation in 2009. The museum showcases contemporary dolls from 32 countries, portraying artistic, socio-cultural and traditional costumes, and their ethnic/mythical features. There are as many as 456 dolls made of terracotta, soft wood, bones, plaster, and rubber. The collection has been gifted by doll-lovers from across the world and embassies. Also, the Chandigarh administration has received 27 new dolls from Vietnam and three from Turkey. The request was made to 35 countries and more dolls are expected to arrive soon, he says.

For arts sake

Apart from the audio tour and magnificent paintings by contemporary artists, the Museum and Art Gallery features ancient miniature paintings, metal antiques, rate textile paintings, Brahmanical and Gandhara sculptures. We have paintings by MF Husain, Nicholas Roerich, Amrita Shergil...name it and we have it! There are as many as 1,100 paintings, a library and a research centre. The guided audio tour makes it a different experience altogether, says Seema Gera from the Government Museum and Art Gallery.

Scientific bent of mind

Though Natural History Museum was founded in 1968, it was named as Science Museum and then rechristened as Museum Of Evolution of Life, which since 2001 is called Natural History Museum. It comprises four major sections: the dinosaur of India, human evolution, evolution of life and redefining our past. We have everything from tools used by early man to fossils to rare minerals of Himalayas. The rare fossil collection includes fossilised egg and dung of dinosaur, among many other interesting things, shares PC Sharma.

Open to all

Both, Chandigarh Architecture museum and Le Corbusier Centre, speak volumes of citys modern architecture. Deepika Gandhi, the in-charge of the museums, shares that they have been conducting workshops for government school teachers. Most private schools have heritage clubs that take children to museums and educate them about the history. Not so much for government schools, though! So, thats why we arrange an audio-visual lecture and direct tours for them to Chandigarh Architecture Museum. We are presently working with 90 government schools, says Deepika.

While sharing that there are no NGOs or societies dedicated to generating a cult for museum culture in the city, she shares that the ones that exist are only too commercial and cater to a specific class, not the masses. We are not selling or buying anything as of now, but we are renovating Le Corbusier Centres second block and planning to open a research centre there. It will be open for researchers and scholars, she adds.

amarjot@tribunemail.com
Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 16

A routine exercise of collecting food samples was done by the Health Department staff in Ghumar Mandi under the guidance of Food Safety Officer Ravinder Garg and District Health Officer Andesh Kang.

Vendors selling juice/ soda on rehris and ice-cream parlours were raided by the department this time. Interestingly, when the Health Departments team was taking samples of soda/ juice of a mobile van outside Khalsa College for Women, they were requested to do sampling of a prominent juice bar in Ghumar Mandi Chowk also, as there were allegations that synthetic colours were mixed in juice by them. But no sample was collected from the particular shop and the team moved to other places.

District Health Officer Dr Andesh Kang, when asked about it, said Food Safety Officer Ravinder Garg was asked to do the sampling of the particular shop as well.

The particular shop is a few metres away from where they collected the samples today. If there were allegations against someone, they should have targeted the person. But instead of going to the juice bar, the Health Department staff gave enough time to them to manage things, said a person, who was a witness to the raid in Ghumar Mandi.

The Health Department conducted raids at several places. On being asked if rehri vendors they raided were registered with the authorities or were selling things in an illegal manner, Dr Kang said: Their credentials are also being checked by the department.

In this routine exercise, samples are sent for tests at a lab in Chandigarh and when samples fail, as per law, they are either penalised or their case is sent to the court. Till the time, the court does not give its verdict we cannot take another sample from the particular shop/ person. In the absence of strict punishment, adulteration of food products goes on unabated, said another official in the Health Department.
Sumitra Dabas

I REMEMBER the day in 1962 when the entire village collected to mourn the death of Naik Sher Singh who laid down his life fighting the Chinese in NEFA. I was about seven. That day his caste did not matter. He was the son of the soil, the martyr who did our village proud.

Sher Singh was the sole bread-earner of his family and left behind his aged parents, his wife in her early twenties (I called her Sarla bhabhi), two little daughters and a 14-year-old school-going brother, Radhey Shyam. His father was a cobbler while other family members worked as farm labourers. The major source of subsistence was the monthly money order from Sher Singh.

This Dalit family was content with the life it lived, but the day it got the fateful telegram about his martyrdom, their future seemed uncertain. His father could not bear the shock and breathed his last. His mother would console the family  a pillar of strength. But deep down she was worried about Sarla, the young widow.

In those times, especially for the oppressed class, Sarlas were a vulnerable lot for exploitation by the high and mighty if left to themselves. Sher Singhs mother was not oblivious to this reality. She probably had a plan.

After the terahavin rasam was over, the old woman told her daughter-in-law: I dont believe the telegram. There may be so many Sher Singhs in the Army. There is a lady-soothsayer in Kosli village. Tomorrow I will meet her and ask her about my son. The next day after returning from Kosli, she told Sarla: The soothsayer says Sher Singh is alive. He was caught by the Chinese and is in jail along with other Indian prisoners. He will be released in few months. Everyone believed this untruth. The young widow saw a ray of hope in the revelation. The old woman would, quite often, repeat the prophesy to comfort her. Gradually, Sarla reconciled to her fate and moved on in life.

With no money orders and five mouths to feed, Sarla worked on the farms the whole day, through all seasons. After returning from school, Radhey Shyam would rush to the farms to help her. He finished schooling and wanted to leave studies to assist her. But she insisted that he join college. She worked harder to arrange for college fee, books, clothing and travel fare to his college in Charkhi Dadri. While fetching water from the designated well for Dalits, she often heard womenfolk say: Radhey Shyam ko achha khilaya kar, jaldi jawan ho jayega. Once a woman asked her: Uski shaadi karegi ya tu hi uski odhni odh legi? Sarla did not respond and walked home with a heavy heart.

Radhey Shyam graduated in second division. Sarla was probably the happiest then. She called him, mustered courage and said: Tuney BA pass kar li hai, naukri bhi mil jayegi. Ab tu shaadi kar le. Koi achhi si ladki main dhoodungi. He listened quietly and left. He returned with a red chunni, Bhabhi, mera bhai to desh ke liye shaheed ho gaya. Ghar ke liye uske bhi sapney thay. Main unko poora karunga. Main aapko odhni udha dun? With moist eyes, she lowered her gaze.

Whose sacrifice was bigger? I suppose none of them sacrificed anything. Thas how some people are.

I saw the film, Ek Chadar Maili Si. I cannot comprehend how the chadar was maili. But I can say with conviction that Sarla bhabhis chadar was spotlessly clean, it was pak saaf.
Tribune News Service

Kolkata, May 17

Controversial Muslim cleric Noor-ur-Rehman Barkati was today sacked as the imam of Kolkatas Tipu Sultan mosque by a meeting of the trustees of the 165-year-old mosque.

Barkatisaid to be close to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjeewas fired for making objectionable and inflammatory remarks against the country.

The cleric has found himself at the centre of controversy on multiple occasions over fatwas issued by him against high-profile persons. However, his latest fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi (for demonetisation) and threat of a jihad if India was declared a Hindu state had apparently sealed his fate.

Barkati was recently under the spotlight also for refusing to remove the red beacon from atop his vehicle despite the Centres decision to do away with this symbol of being a VIP. The cleric was forced to remove the beacon by the state government.

According to Arif Ahmed, chairman of the Prince Gholam Mohammad Wakf Estate, the custodian of the mosque, the termination notice to Barkati was sent today. The notice says that he is no more the Imam. Barkati has been given seven days to vacate the office or face forcible eviction.

A defiant Barkati, however, said there was no question of him quitting the Imams post. I became Imam 30 years ago. The committee came into existence only 12 years ago. It has no right to fire me. The trustees have hatched a conspiracy against me with the help of a section of the media. I will take legal steps, he said.

Barkati also said that he would speak to the Chief Minister on her return from Delhi.? Shahezada Anwar Ali Shah, the head of the mosque board, had earlier described Barkati as a blot on the Muslim community.
Three days after hearing arguments from India and Pakistan over the death sentence handed to Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will announce its verdict in The Hague on Thursday. The verdict is likely to be announced at 3.30 pm IST.

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For both India and Pakistan, the verdict at the ICJ tomorrow will go a long way in determining the future course of action as far as the bilateral ties are concerned.

Before the ICJ on Monday, India argued that Pakistan was in violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations as it had refused India access to Jadhav, despite 16 such requests.

Pakistan, meanwhile, stuck to its position of referring to Jadhav as a spy and a terrorist and argued that consular access could not be granted as the person in question was involved in spy activities.

Pakistan suffered a minor setback when the Court refused it permission to play out the confessional video of Jadhav.

India approached the ICJ on May 8 when it was left with no other option. It said the life of an Indian national was at stake and the urgency to raise the matter in front of the ICJ arose since India feared Pakistan might execute Jadhav even earlier.

Pakistan, in its arguments, questioned the urgency on the Indian side arguing that Jadhav has been given 150 days of clemency even after the sentence was announced.

India-Pakistan ties have been under major stress over the last-year-and-a-half now.

India has consistently maintained that till the time Pakistan ceases to support cross-border terrorism, talks cannot be resumed. Pakistan has raised the issue of Kashmir time and again and sought international spotlight on the alleged human rights violations taking place in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

India was represented at The Hague by Harish Salve who took a little over 90 minutes to present Indias case. Pakistan was represented by UK-based lawyer Khawar Qureshi who took less than an hour to make his case before the international Court.
Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) today stayed the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav until it rules on the merits of the case.

The stay passed unanimously by the court is a diplomatic victory for India as it upheld its argument that Pakistan has violated the Vienna Convention. For Pakistan, it comes as a setback since the court did not accept its arguments that the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access takes precedence over the Vienna Convention.

While India welcomed the decision and said it was a matter of relief for everyone, Pakistan was quick to say that the United Nations highest court has no jurisdiction in national security matters.

Edit: Reprieve for Jadhav

Full text: What the Court said

Read: ICJ order on Jadhav binding on Pakistan: India

Pak does not accept ICJ's jurisdiction in national security matters: FO

India heaves a sigh of relief as ICJ stays Jadhav's execution

The Ministry of External Affairs said the ICJ order was unanimous, favourable, clear and unambiguous. MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the provisional relief provided by the ICJ is the first step towards ensuring justice. A statement by the office of Pakistans attorney general was in line with the position taken by their foreign office that the order of the ICJ did not change the status of Jadhav in any manner. We are determined to pursue this case to its logical end, said the statement.

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Pakistan foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said India had been trying to hide its real face by taking the case of Jadhav to the ICJ.

The ICJ, in its stay today, upheld Indias argument on the urgency of the issue. Without prejudging the result, the ICJ considers that the risk or irreparable prejudice, the mere fact that Jadhav is under such a sentence and might be executed, is sufficient to demonstrate such a risk. There is considerable uncertainty as to when the decision on any appeal is rendered or when Jadhav will be executed, said ICJ President Judge Ronny Abraham.

What might make matters tough for Pakistan are the courts observations that its orders are legally binding.

Pakistan claims to have arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan in March last year for espionage. While India has accepted that Jadhav is a former naval officer, it has rubbished claims of his being a spy.

"Satisfied at ICJ order staying the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav. Satisfied at the efforts of Harish Salve for presenting Indian case effectively. Narendra Modi, PM

"The ICJ order has come as a great relief... We are grateful to Harish Salve for presenting Indias case so effectively before ICJ. I assure that under the leadership of PM Modi, we will leave no stone unturned to save (him). Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister

"As a lawyer for 40 years, you get a feel of how judges are reacting. I felt a positive energy when I was arguing the case. I felt judges were connecting. I felt gratified. I did not feel that connection when the other side was arguing. Harish Salve, Counsel for India
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 17

Convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to a six-month jail term, controversial Calcutta High Court Judge CS Karnan today filed a mercy petition before President Pranab Mukherjee, seeking suspension of sentence.

Filed through Justice Karnans counsel Mathews J Nedumpara under Article 72 of the Constitution, the petition alleged that he had been denied justice by the highest court of the land.

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It read: The concept of justice is divine; it is his birthright and when justice is denied by the highest court, the only authority which the petitioner could think of to seek justice is Your Excellency, the President of India...

The plea comes after the counsels failed attempts to get an urgent hearing of his petition, seeking that the May 9 order, sentencing him, be recalled. The petition alleged that the SC had assumed the power to remove a HC judge through provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act without discussing if such a jurisdiction was vested in it.

The petitioners case is no longer of an individual convicted and sentenced without a charge-sheet, trial, without even a judgment... but one concerning the very right of freedom of speech, Justice Karnan submitted.
By Ananth Krishnan: Even while India decided to boycott China's first Belt and Road Forum (BRF), China's richest man, the billionaire head of the Wanda Group, Wang Jianlin, praised India's economic potential at the summit and highlighted his group's ambitious plans for India.

Wang, head of China's powerful conglomerate which has vast investments in real estate, development projects and in the film industry, was the most prominent Chinese businessman at the BRF, which was opened by President Xi Jinping on May 14 among 29 foreign leaders. India was the only major country absent at the summit, with the U.S., Japan and South Korea among those sending delegations.

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While some Chinese officials and scholars have suggested India's absence could lead to India's "isolation" and its missing out on the One Belt, One Road (OBOR)'s benefits - Xi announced more than a hundred billion dollar boost in new loans and infrastructure investments - Delhi's view is that India doesn't need to endorse a domestic Chinese initiative and that Chinese companies will invest in India regardless, for economic reasons.

That argument was buttressed from an unlikely source, as in his keynote speech on tourism projects under OBOR, Wang chose to highlight the group's ambitious new projects in India - despite Delhi not being present.

"Along the 'Belt and Road' are mostly developing countries with a sizable population and a considerable demographic dividend. For example, India is the world's second most populous country with a population of over 1.3 billion and a median age of 26 years, and Indonesia with a population of approximately 260 million, ranking 4th in the world, and a median age of less than 26 years. These countries are relatively lagging behind in tourism infrastructures and offer huge opportunities for tourism investments," Wang said.

As examples, the billionaire interestingly chose to highlight Wanda's projects in Paris and in India. The former is Europe's biggest tourism investment, involving a 800,000 square metre project 10 km from downtown and a theme park, hotels and shops.

Wang also mentioned the upcoming Wanda Industrial New City in Haryana. "The project is located in Haryana state within the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and India's National Capital Region, in close proximity to urban Delhi," he said. "Covering 11 sq. km. of land, the project will have a manufacturing park, cultural tourism park and residential zone, with manufacturing and cultural tourism taking up more than 70 per cent of its total land area. After completion, the project will create more than 100,000 jobs. It is currently the largest investment project in India. The Wanda New Industrial City in India will attract manufacturers from around the world, especially Chinese manufacturers to take Chinese manufacturing to the world, while also in furtherance of India's own [Make in India] Indian manufacturing strategy."

The project has reportedly faced teething troubles in land acquisition, but the Wanda chairman was bullish about its prospects. Wang suggested the tourism projects offered a different model from the vast infrastructure projects China is planning under OBOR. Some of those, such as port projects in Sri Lanka and projects in Myanmar, have triggered local protests amid perceptions that Chinese companies largely benefit.

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These, however, offered "a high revenue sharing ratio", Wang said. "Participants in the tourism industry are mostly medium, small and micro-sized enterprises and even individuals, with more than two thirds of tourism revenue going directly into the hands of individuals, thus directly enriching the people. This is unlike investments in manufacturing and infrastructures, for example, which benefit individuals in monetary terms only after two or three steps of transmission."

Also Read:

China says door always open for India to join OBOR, stays mum on CPEC plan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

China rejects India's OBOR statement, says international support speaks volumes

China backs Pakistan on PoK dam ahead of Belt and Road Forum

WATCH VIDEO: Why is India opposing One Belt One Road Forum?

--- ENDS ---
Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 17

Indian Navy rescued a merchant vessel MV Lord Mountbatten from a piracy attempt in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday.

"On May 16, at about 1645hrs, the Indian Naval ship Sharda received a distress call from MV Lord Mountbatten, 230nm South-West of Salalah in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel had reported an incident of attempted piracy by two suspicious mother vessels along with 7-8 skiffs," Navy Spokesperson Capt DK Sharma said on Wednesday.

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INS Sharda which was 30nm from the Liberian merchant vessel at that time responded immediately.

The ship was deployed for anti-piracy operations since April 6.

As soon as INS Sharda arrived at the location three of the skiffs "fled the area at high speeds on sighting the warship."

Navy's MARCOS commandos with support of the armed helicopter from the ship investigated the dhows and their skiffs by conducting boats and search operations, Capt Sharma added.

The absence of any fishing gear onboard the dhows indicates malicious intent piracy linked intentions, Navy officials stated.

One high-calibre ALM rifle alone with one filled magazine was found hidden onboard one of the dhows which were confiscated. The dhows were let go after that.
New Delhi, May 17

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-nation tour of Germany, Spain and Russia from May 29 with an aim of consolidating the relations with these countries and invite investments to India.

The visit to Germany and Spain will be bilateral in nature while the trip to St Petersburg in Russia is in connection with the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) to be held from June 1-3, sources told PTI here on Wednesday.

The SPIEF, which will be attended by thousands of business leaders from across the globe, will provide Modi an opportunity to invite investments in India.

On the sidelines of the SPIEF, the Prime Minister is expected to have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to review the state of bilateral relations and ways to push the ties further, the sources said.

Matters related to trade and investment, defence and nuclear cooperation are expected to figure in the talks.

India and Russia are currently in talks over finalisation of the General Framework Agreement (GFA) for units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu but it is not clear yet whether it would be signed during the visit.

In Germany, the first stopover of the five-day three- nation tour, the Prime Minister will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel and discuss ways to take the Strategic Relations to the next level by mainly enhancing the business ties.

This will be his second visit to Germany in two years.

Earlier, he had paid an official visit to the country in April 2015 when India was the Partner Country in the annual Hannover Fair.

Merkel had subsequently visited India in October in the same year.

On May 31, the Prime Minister will be in Spain where his focus will be on seeking cooperation in sectors like infrastructure and energy, the sources said.

After return from the three-nation tour, Modi will be travelling to Kazakhstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet to be held in Astana on June 7-8.

Significantly, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is also expected to attend the Summit of the SCO, a grouping which includes Russia, China, Kazakshstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

He will also be travelling to the US and Israel, for which dates are being finalised.  PTI
Chennai, May 17

The Madras High Court on Wednesday adjourned a plea of V Sriharan alias Murugan, one of the seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking permission to meet his mother in prison.

He had sought permission to meet his mother, who has come from Sri Lanka, on any day between May 22 and 27.

A vacation bench of Justices R Mahadevan and M Govindaraj refused to entertain and adjourned the petition of Sriharan, after summer vacation.

When the matter came up, Additional Public Prosecutor Govindaraj said permission could not be given to the prisoner as he was recently caught using cell phone in the prison.

The petitioner submitted that as a punishment for his misconduct, the Superintendent of Central Prison, Vellore, had withdrawn the privilege of meeting even his wife Nalini, another life convict in the case, for about 30 minutes every 15 days.

The privilege of meeting family members for prison inmates is granted as per Rule 525 of the Tamil Nadu Prison rules.

Nalini is lodged in the special women cell at the Vellore Central Prison.

He said the prison authority had prohibited any meeting with friends and relatives in prison for three months. Even his aged mother, who had come from Sri Lanka on April 2 to meet him in the prison between April 11 and 18, was not allowed to meet him, he added.

He said he had made a representation through the Superintendent of Central Prison, Vellore, to the ADGP and IG of Prisons at Egmore, Chennai, to suspend the punishment to enable him to see his mother when she visited the prison.

The petitioner said his mother had also made a representation in this connection.

He sought a court direction to the authorities to consider his plea and permit him to meet his mother, whose visa is due to expire by the end of this month, on any date between May 22 and 27.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a suicide bomber at nearby Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991 and seven people--Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan, Nalini, Robert Payas, Jayakumar and Ravichandran--were convicted in the case.

Nalini was first awarded death sentence, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court and subsequently the Tamil Nadu government under Article 161 of the Constitution commuted her sentence to life on April 24, 2000.

In February 2014, the apex court had commuted the death sentence of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan following delay in deciding on their mercy plea.

Murugan is lodged in the Central Prison at Vellore for the past 26 years.

The summer vacation of the court is from May 2 to May 31. PTI
Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, May 17

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) today swept the municipal polls in Bengal, capturing four of seven civic bodies and breaking the decade-old hold of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the hills.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party won a decisive majority in Domkal (Murshidabad), Raigunj (North Dinajpur) and Pujali (South 24 Parganas) in the plains and Mirik (Darjeeling) in the hill area. The GJM won the rest three municipalities  Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

This is the first time in three decades that a party (TMC), having its base primarily in the plains of Bengal, put up an impressive performance in the hills. Mamata took to Twitter to express her joy. The hills are smiling #VerdictOfBengal, she tweeted. Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again & again putting their trust in us. We are honoured, privileged & humbled #VerdictOfBengal.

The civic poll results underline Banerjees continuing hold over the state, with the two main Opposition parties  the Left and the Congress  together winning only six seats.

The BJP, which has its eyes set on Bengal where it hopes to take the TMC on in the next Assembly polls, also failed to make a dent  winning just three seats( one seat in the Raigunj municipality and two seats in Pujali). The TMC captured 24 of the 27 wards in Raigunj, while the Congress bagged two. The TMC won 12 of the 16 wards in the Pujali municipality, while the Congress and an Independent won one seat each.

The GJM, which champions the demand for a separate state formed out of the hill areas of the state, could win only three of the nine wards in Mirik while the TMC won six. The GJM had won all nine wards in Mirik in the last civic elections.

The GJM virtually made a clean sweep in Darjeeling winning 31 of its 32 seats, while the TMC managed to win one. In Kurseong, the GJM won 17 wards and the TMC the remaining three. TMC candidates won in two wards in Kalimpong, while GJM captured 19 of the 23 wards. The Jan Andolan Party of Harka Bahadur Chetri, a former GJM leader, managed to win only two seats in Kalimpong.

The Opposition called the civic election a farce with BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said it was not a real reflection of the peoples mandate.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung hailed the victory and accused the TMC of misusing administrative and money power in certain pockets, including Mirik. TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee rejected such charges as a reflection of the political frustrations of the Opposition.

(With agency inputs)
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 17

Seeking to allay fears of the Muslim community about possible interference in their religion by the State, the NDA government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the case against triple talaq should not be seen as a majority-minority tussle or as an attempt by the Hindu majority to swamp the Muslim minority.

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On fifth day of arguments on petitions challenging triple talaq, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar that declaring triple talaq invalid would not alter Islam as the practice was not essential to the religion practised by Muslims in India and other countries.

This is not a tussle between the majority and the minority of the country. The real tussle is between the Muslim men and women. Muslim women have questioned centuries of hegemony they suffered at the hands of the men of their community, Rohatgi told Bench.

Responding to All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) senior counsel Kapil Sibals contention that triple talaq was a 1,400-year-old practice and a matter of faith for millions of Muslims, Rohatgi said: This is a cry of Muslim women for justice against the men of their own religion andagainst 1,400 years of deprivation and discrimination.

He said, The men are strong, dominant, educated and probably the sole breadwinners while the women are weak and have no public employment. This is a battle between the haves and the have-nots within the Muslim community. The battle is intra-minority.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising  who appeared for Bebak Collective, a womens rights group  said the hands-off approach of courts in the matter would help as the matter related to right to equality and non-discrimination under Article 14 and Article 15 which were not subject to any restrictions. If personal laws clashed with fundamental rights of citizens, the latter must prevail, she said.

Jaising said marriage and divorce were merely practices associated with religion as distinguished from religious belief and practices and should be dealt with as civil matters.

Triple talaq impacted half the Muslim population (women) as it altered their status, she said emphasising that courts must test it on the ground of fundamental rights.

The Attorney General said at best the AIMPLB could argue that its an essential practice in Islam, and therefore, protected under Article 25 (right to religion) of the Constitution. But Article 25 is subject to public order, morality, health and all other fundamental rights, he said.

Noting that AIMPLB itself said that triple talaq in one sitting was sinful, undesirable and optional, Rohatgi asked, How can something be sinful, undesirable, optional and at the same time integral to religion? Islam continues to thrive in many countries which have abolished triple talaq.

The Attorney General once again cautioned the Bench against testing validity of triple talaq by examining if it was an essential practice in Islam, saying it was undesirable for courts to take that route. It had to be tested on the touchstone of constitutional principles and fundamental rights, he told the bench -- which also included Justices Kurian Joseph, Rohinton Nariman, UU Lalit and S. Abdul Nazeer.

He said even if it was a core practice of Islam it can be declared invalid as right to religion was subject to fundamental rights. What if a religion believed in human sacrifice? he asked.

Rohatgi said if there was a clash between personal law and fundamental rights, personal law should give way to fundamental rights.

As the Attorney General said social evils such as Sati, Devdasi and untouchability had been done away with in the Hindu community, the CJI pointed out that it was done through legislation and went on to ask, Why dont you bring in a law?

I (government) will do what I have to do. The question is: what will you (Constitution Bench) do? Rohatgi said, adding, I can only speak for the government. I cant speak for Parliament.

Justice Joseph said if courts did something the government complained about judicial activism.

The AG responded by saying, The hallmark of a secular court is to start reform without waiting for legislation. Be the guardian of the rights of women and the weak and protect their fundamental rights.

He said courts had done it in the past, including in the famous Vishakha case in which it laid down the law to deal with sexual harassment of women at workplace. He also gave the example of gender discrimination in Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai which was declared illegal by the Bombay High Court.

During the first part of hearing on the fifth day, the Bench said instant triple talaq was not part of the Quran and evolved as an innovation. It also asked if it was sinful, how it can be essential part of Islam.

The hearing is likely to conclude on Thursday.
Mumbai, May 17

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naiks Islamic Research Foundation has lost control of its school in Mumbai. The Maharashtra Government has agreed to hand over control of the Islamic International School at Mazgaon in South Central Mumbai to a trust run by Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi.

The state government had earlier considered shutting down the school after the IRF was banned for allegedly inspiring terror attacks in Bangladesh. Azmi said his Niyaz Welfare Trust would retain the school staffers and rename it as the Avicenna International School. He said the schools syllabus would see some changes in the academic year beginning June.

Parents of the 185 students enrolled in the school had sought the intervention of Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawade to prevent it from being shut.

The Islamic International School was running classes from nursery to Standard X. However, it was not affiliated to any of the school boards, though it claimed to follow the Cambridge Internationals curriculum, which later proved to be a lie. Sources say Azmi may get the school to follow the Maharashtra governments syllabus.  TNS
Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, May 17



Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naiks Islamic Research Foundation has lost control of its school in Mumbai.

The Maharashtra government has agreed to hand over control of the Islamic International School at Mazgaon in South Central Mumbai to a trust run by Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi.

The state government had earlier considered shutting down the school after the IRF was banned for allegedly inspiring terror attacks in Bangladesh.

Azmi told reporters here that his Niyaz Welfare Trust would retain all the school staffers and rename it as the Avicenna International School. He added that the schools syllabus would see some changes in the new academic year which began in June. The teachers employed by the institute would also be retained, Azmi said.

Parents of the 185 students enrolled in the school had sought the intervention of Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawade to prevent it from being shut down.

The Islamic International School was running classes from nursery to Class X. However, it was not affiliated to any of the school boards though it claimed to follow the Cambridge Internationals curriculum.

However, it was not affiliated to the international institution.

Attempts by the Maharashtra government to get several Muslim trusts take over the school hit a roadblock as they were not prepared to continue with the religious instructions provided at the institute.

Sources say Azmi may get the school to follow the Maharashtra governments syllabus from the next academic year.

The school had been under fire from various government agencies for allegedly trying to indoctrinate its students into following a rigourous version of Islam.
Jagraon, May 17

The Punjab Police has arrested two Nigerian nationals from Delhi for allegedly supplying drugs in the state.

Austin and Edeh were arrested from Vikaspuri in New Delhi, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Ludhiana, Virinder Singh Hayer said on Wednesday.

He said the two Nigerians were arrested on the basis of details revealed during interrogation by a man named Balbir Singh, who had been arrested on May 4, for allegedly supplying heroin.

During interrogation, the arrested Nigerians disclosed that one packet containing one kg heroin was buried at a deserted place near a brick kiln Chowkiman and another packet had been hidden near the railway platform in Mullanpur, the DIG claimed.

Police have recovered the heroin from the two places, he said.

Hayer said that the drugs were being supplied to them from across the border and were delivered as per the instructions received from their mastermind.

Austin had come to India five years back on a business visa and married an Indian woman, who hails from Manipur, the DIG said.

A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against both the accused.

The accused covered their illegal acts by presenting themselves as businessmen dealing in spare parts of vehicles.

A car has also been recovered from them, the DIG said.

Police has identified the drug supply chain and are now looking for the drug-dealers who delivered bigger consignments and are trying to track the masterminds behind them, he added.  PTI
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 17

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has assured the Centre of his governments commitment to implement the Real Estate Regulation Act (RERA), in letter and in spirit, and to ensure that the central government aided poverty alleviation and housing projects funded during the previous government in the state are brought back on track and executed at the earliest.

The issues came for discussion during the Chief Ministers meeting here with Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday.

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Amarinder apprised the minister of the progress made by his government, since taking over just two months ago, on the implementation of the various central schemes and projects for which the Centre had released funds in the past but which had not reached the intended beneficiaries.

The Chief Minister assured the Union Minister that his government had initiated the process for the implementation of RERA, without diluting the spirit of the legislation in any way. To a suggestion from the Chief Minister on the adoption of certain rules from other states to strengthen RERA, Naidu said the Centre had no objection as long as there was no dilution of the spirit of the law, according to a spokesperson in the Punjab Chief Ministers Office.

Naidu, who is planning to visit Punjab in July to review the progress of the central projects, noted that the central government funds released to the state had not been transferred to the beneficiaries. The Chief Minister assured the minister of his governments all-out efforts to bring things on track on this front at the earliest. The Union Minister promised full support to ensure early implementation of the various projects in the interest of the people of Punjab.

The Chief Minister said his government was cognizant of the fact that the central funds were lying un-utilised as the previous dispensation had failed to transfer these to the beneficiaries. His government, Amarinder said, had started the process of verifying the beneficiaries, especially for the affordable housing scheme of the Centre.

The Chief Minister further assured the Union Minister that his government was working on policies and programmes for taking forward key projects, including the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY) and the Housing for All mission. An action plan had been drawn by his government to launch the necessary reforms in the housing and real estate sector, the Chief Minister said, adding that he was hopeful of implementing these with the Centres support.
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, May 17

The audio clip of Excise Department official meeting liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda in the Amritsar jail yesterday has created a storm in administrative, political and social circles as the conversation has gone viral on the social media.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Punjab Pradesh Congress president Sunil Jakhar had been apprised of the development, sources said.

Trying to downplay the incident, Divisional Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jitender Singh confirmed over phone that he had gone to meet Doda in Central Jail, Amritsar, to discuss the status of his liquor vends and stayed with him for 15 minutes.

Responding to telephonic queries, Amritsar Jail Superintendent Ashish Kapur also confirmed that Jitender Singh had sought permission to meet Doda in connection with some official work yesterday.

However, the audio clip on conversation reportedly held between a liquor baron of Fazilka district and an official in the Excise Department indicates that pressure was being mounted allegedly to safeguard interests of Doda even as his family had this time distanced from the auctioning of shops in the district.

On the complaint of local liquor contractors, the police had conducted raids in the past few days and seized liquor that had been smuggled from Haryana. SSP Dr Ketan Baliram Patil had asked the department to intensify vigil on interstate check posts to check liquor smuggling, but the response was zero so far. Doda and his nephew Amit are accused in the Bhim Tank murder case.
Various airlines, including IndiGo and Jet Airways, under the banner of Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) have been pitching for increasing the mandatory notice period for pilots to one year from six months.

By India Today Web Desk: Soon pilots in India may need to serve a notice of one year if they resign from their current job.

The Civil Aviation Ministry is planning to come out with new guidelines on resignation rules for the cockpit crew.

Aviation regulator DGCA plans to extend the mandatory job leaving notice period for commanders to one year, from the six months at present, which some private airlines have been demanding since a long time.

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"It has been decided that every pilot working in an air transport undertaking shall give a notice period of at least one year in respect of commanders and six months in respect of co-pilots to the employer indicating his intention to leave the job," the DGCA said in its draft proposal.

Various airlines, including IndiGo and Jet Airways, under the banner of Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) have been pitching for increasing the mandatory notice period for pilots to one year from six months.

ALPA India, the Indian chapter of the International Federation of Airlines Pilots Association (IFALPA) had last year opposed the demand of domestic carriers to extend the mandatory notice period for pilots beyond six months.

In the notice period, a pilot will not refuse to undertake flight duties and the employer will not deprive pilots of legitimate rights.

According to the DGCA's draft note:

Pilots are resigning in groups without providing any notice period to the employer which forces the airlines to cancel their flights at the last minute.

Sometimes, such an abrupt action on the part of the pilots is in the form of a concerted move which tantamounts to holding the airline to ransom and leaving the travelling public stranded.

This is a highly undesirable practice and goes against the public interest. The resultant cancellation of flights causes inconvenience and harassment to the passengers.

Besides, it takes around nine months to train a pilot for a particular type of aircraft and an "exodus" could jeopardise an airline's flight plans.

Pilots are highly skilled personnel and shoulder complete responsibility of the aircraft and the passengers.

They are highly paid for the responsibility they share with the airlines towards the travelling public and are required to act with extreme responsibility.

ALPA India is a member associate of International Federation of Airlines Pilots Association and claims representation of pilots from across various airlines.

Also Read:

DGCA probes Jet Airways, Alliance Air mid-air near miss

'Naughty' pilots 'crying wolf' behind Mamata Banerjee flight row: DGCA

Mamata Banerjee flight row: IndiGo airlines takes off duty pilots of operation CM's flight

--- ENDS ---

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Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 17

Two of three persons who died in the bus fire incident at Rampura on May 13 have been identified.

They are Prasad Vinayak (23) of Nasik and Malkit Singh (28) Mansa. They were identified by their brothers.

Suneet Vinayak, Prasads brother, said Prasad was working as an engineer in a private company that manufactured medicine-making machines.

He said Prasad had come to Central University Punjab, Bathinda, to repair some machines. After the repair, he had boarded the bus to go to Ludhiana.

He said that the family  on getting no information about Prasad after May 13  had lodged a police complaint in Nasik. When the police checked his last mobile location, it indicated the railway crossing at Rampura.

He said the cremation would take place at Rampura as the body has been fully burnt. His parents and relatives would be arriving here shortly.

Malkits brother Surjit Singh said Malkit was a van driver in Gurukul Academy School. He had boarded the bus to go to his village.

The third body would be kept for another 72 hours in the mortuary. After that, samples would be taken and the body would be cremated.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 17

Amid war of words between Akali Dal leaders and Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu over the spending of grants in various Centres urban development projects, the minister today released a letter by Union Minister of Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu expressing concern over the tardy execution of such projects in the state.

Sidhu reiterated that the SAD-BJP government had diverted funds meant for such projects, including Smart City and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Mission, to fund their populist schemes before the Assembly elections.

The letter, sent by Naidu a month after the Congress government assumed charge, was written after the Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, held a meeting with the state officials to review these projects on April 7.

Naidu wrote: In the Smart Cities Mission, even though the special purpose vehicle (SPV) was formed long back in Ludhiana and project management consultant was appointed, no project has been tendered so far. In AMRUT mission, there has been long delay in detailed project report (DPR) preparation, issuance of tenders and start of works.

The Union Minister further wrote: Not only the states share is not being released, but also the central share is inordinately delayed. Another issue is the shortage of staff, especially professionals, at the city/state level. We are funding the recruitment of experts/professionals in urban local bodies but positions have not been filled by the state government.

Asserting that Naidus letter buttressed the claims he was making for the past several days, Sidhu demanded that SAD-BJP should now tell people as to where they had spend this money.

Naidu is a minister in the NDA government, of which SAD is also a part. Rather, the minister has gone two steps ahead of me in showing his concern over spending on these projects. The SAD-BJP should disclose where all the money has gone, added Sidhu, while maintaining that large amounts of central grants have been blocked as the previous government didnt submit utilisation certificate (UC) against the money it had received under these projects.

Enough talking, time to act: Phoolka

Chandigarh: Reacting on Navjot Singh Sidhus claim of diversion of central funds by the previous government, AAP asked Sidhu to act rather than just talking. In a statement, Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka alleged that it was a known fact that the Badals were involved in corrupt practices. Even after the completion of two months of the Congress government, no inquiry had been initiated against them, he said. The AAP leader said the Congress must fulfil its promise of putting behind bars people responsible for corrupt practices in the past. TNS
Dehradun, May 17

The number of pilgrims for the annual Char Dham Yatra has significantly increased in 2017, an official of the Uttarakhand Government said today.

Post the 2013 flash floods that killed thousands, the pilgrimage had evoked a lukewarm response over the past few years.

The natural calamity had left the pilgrims worried about their safety. Those who braved the odds found the new route tough and the roads in poor shape, deterring many.

However, in 2017, there has been a turnaround and in the first 10 days alone, 2.21 lakh pilgrims have already visited the Badrinath-Kedarnath shrines, the official said.

Of these, 1,23,285 have visited the Badrinath shrine, the seat of Lord Vishnu and 97,815 paid obeisance at the Kedarnath shrine, which is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country.

Official said pleasant weather and better arrangements have added to the increase in numbers.

In the last two days, around 10,000 pilgrims visited the Kedarnath shrine from Rudraprayag, while 7,000 trekked to the shrine from Gaurikund.

A large number of pilgrims are also availing the chopper service to Kedarnath, which was started with some delay owing to late clearance from the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Expressing happiness at the spike in numbers, Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Badri-Kedar Shrine Board BD Singh said the number logged in the past 10 days had surpassed past turnouts.

This is also for the first time since 2013 that in a fortnight the number of pilgrims undertaking the yatra has crossed 3 lakh, BD Singh said.

The other two shrines  Yamunotri and Gangotri  are also witnessing a large turnout.

In a fortnight, over 60,000 pilgrims have visited Yamunotri and more than 71,000 visited Gangotri.  IANS

Will provide medical assistance: Nadda

New Delhi: Union Health Minister JP Nadda today spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and assured all kinds of medical assistance, including a team of doctors, for Char Dham yatra pilgrims. Around 16 or 17 pilgrims, who died during the pilgrimage in the past 19 days, have reportedly lost their life due to cardiac arrest. Devotees have blamed the state government for the lack of cardiologists in health facilities set up on the yatra route for the rise in the number of cases. The number of pilgrims for the annual Char Dham Yatra has significantly increased in 2017.  ANI
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 17

Padma Shree Avdhash Kaushal, chairperson of the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), has questioned recent transfers of district police officials in the state.

In a statement issued here today, he said frequent transfers of district police officials were against the order of the Supreme Court of India.

He further said in its directions on Prakash Singh & Ors vs Union of India on September 22, 2006, a Bench comprising Justice YK Sabharwal, CK Thakker, PK Balasubramanyan, the Supreme Court court had clearly said that no police officer would be transferred before completion of his two-year tenure. The Supreme Court ordered this under Police Reform Orders.

This kind of policy of transfers of the present government is not only demoralising for the police force but also raises doubts in the minds of common citizens about the intentions behind it, he said.
Beijing, May 17

China has installed rocket launchers on a disputed reef in the South China Sea to ward off Vietnamese military combat divers, according to a state-run newspaper, offering new details on China's ongoing military build-up.

China has said military construction on the islands it controls in the South China Sea will be limited to necessary defensive requirements, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory.

The United States has criticised what it has called China's militarisation of its maritime outposts and stressed the need for freedom of navigation by conducting periodic air and naval patrols near them that have angered Beijing.

The state-run Defence Times newspaper, in a Tuesday report on its WeChat account, said Norinco CS/AR-1 55mm anti-frogman rocket launcher defence systems with the capability to discover, identify and attack enemy combat divers had been installed on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands.

Fiery Cross Reef is administered by China but also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

The report did not say when the defence system was installed, but said it was part of a response that began in May 2014, when Vietnamese divers installed large numbers of fishing nets in the Paracel Islands.

China has conducted extensive land reclamation work at Fiery Cross Reef, including building an airport, one of several Chinese-controlled features in the South China Sea where China has carried out such work.

More than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped through the South China Sea every year. Besides China's territorial claims in the area, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.

Reuters
Kabul, May 17

Gunmen stormed the local headquarters of Afghanistans state media in the eastern Nangarhar province today, setting off clashes that killed 10 people, officials said.

Inamullah Miakhial, a spokesman for the provincial hospital in Nangarhar, said four state TV employees and two police officers were among those killed, and that 18 other people were wounded.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said four attackers were killed in the assault, which began with an explosion, followed by a gun battle with Afghan security forces.

The state media building is close to the governors compound and a police station. Video footage from Jalalabad showed hundreds of Afghan security forces fanning out across the city, where shops were closed. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. Both the Taliban and an Islamic State affiliate are active in Nangarhar, a mountainous province that borders Pakistan.

No one immediately claimed either attack. The Taliban have stepped up their attacks since announcing their spring offensive last month.  AP
Leavenworth, Kansas, May 17

Chelsea Manning walked out of a US military prison on Wednesday, seven years after being arrested for passing secrets to WikiLeaks in the largest breach of classified information in US history.

Manning, 29, was released from the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, at about 2 am, according to a brief statement released by the US Army.

The former military intelligence analyst, once known as Private First Class Bradley Manning, is likely to become a transgender advocate following her release, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who has represented her.

Manning was convicted of providing more than 7,00,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks, an international organisation that publishes such information from anonymous sources.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a target of criminal investigations in Sweden and the United States, has promised to accept extradition if Manning was freed. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said Assanges arrest was a priority.

Manning said in 2014 that she chose to disclose the classified information to expose truths about the civil war in Iraq out of a love for my country.

Before he left office, President Barack Obama commuted the final 28 years of Mannings 35-year sentence. The decision angered national security experts who say Manning put US lives at risk, but it won praise from transgender advocates who have embraced her transition to a female gender identity.

Manning announced her gender transition while the US Army kept her in the mens prison. Her lawyer said she twice tried to commit suicide and faced long stretches of solitary confinement as well as denial of healthcare.

INTELLIGENCE ANALYST

Last year, the US Defense Department lifted a long-standing ban against transgender men and women serving openly in the military.

Although transgender people still complain of widespread discrimination in education, employment and medical care, awareness of the issue has exploded since Manning went to jail.

Transgender celebrities such as Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox have become part of the mainstream.

In a statement to ABC News, Manning said she appreciated the support she had received from people all over the world.

As I rebuild my life, I remind myself not to relive the past, the statement said. The past will always affect me, and I will keep that in mind while remembering that how it played out is only my starting point  not my final destination.

WikiLeaks began revealing secrets in 2007 and then burst onto the wider public consciousness three years later with a series of releases, including material gathered by Manning during her stint as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad.

Among the material from her was a 2007 gun sight video of a US Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people, including two Reuters news staffers.  Reuters
Islamabad, May 17

Pakistan on Wednesday hanged four hardcore terrorists convicted of heinous terrorism-related offences by controversial military courts in the restive northwestern province, taking the number to over 160 since the Peshawar terror attack in 2014.

The terrorists belonging to a banned outfit were executed in a jail in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, the worst hit due to violence by Taliban terrorists.

They were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including killing of innocent civilians, destruction of educational institutes, attacking armed forces of Pakistan and law-enforcement agencies, the army said.

It said the terrorists were awarded death sentence by the military courts which worked in secrecy due to fear of attacks by militants.

Military courts were restored in March for another two years after their initial two-year term expired in January.

The courts were set up after a constitutional amendment following a terror attack on an Army-run school in Peshawar in December 2014 which killed more than 150 people, most of them students.

Human rights group Justice Project Pakistan says 441 people had been executed since the Peshawar attack.

Pakistan has been fighting various extremist groups for over a decade. Militant attacks have killed tens of thousands of people.

The military courts have handed down death penalty to more than 160 militants. PTI
Sochi, May 17

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump had not passed on any secrets to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Washington last week and that he could prove it.

Speaking at a news conference alongside Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin quipped that Lavrov was remiss for not passing on what he made clear he believed were non-existent secrets. I spoke to him (Lavrov) today, said Putin with a smile.

Ill be forced to issue him with a reprimand because he did not share these secrets with us. Not with me, nor with representatives of Russias intelligence services. It was very bad of him.

Putin, who said Moscow rated Lavrovs meeting with Trump highly, said Russia was ready to hand a transcript of Trumps meeting with Lavrov over to US lawmakers if that would help reassure them.

A Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, later told reporters that Moscow had in its possession a written record of the conversation, not an audio recording.

Complaining about what he said were signs of political schizophrenia in the United States, Putin said Trump was not being allowed to do his job properly. Its hard to imagine what else can these people who generate such nonsense and rubbish can dream up next, said Putin.

What surprises me is that they are shaking up the domestic political situation using anti-Russian slogans. Either they dont understand the damage theyre doing to their own country, in which case they are simply stupid, or they understand everything, in which case they are dangerous and corrupt.

Two US officials said on Monday that Trump had disclosed highly classified information to Lavrov about a planned Islamic State operation, plunging the White House into another controversy just months into Trumps short tenure in office.

Russia has repeatedly said that anti-Russian politicians in the United States are using groundless fears of closer ties with Moscow to sabotage any rapprochement and damage Trump in the process.  Reuters

The israeli connection

US President Trump (C) has confirmed via Twitter that during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) at the White House last week, he shared information related to a potential airline plot by Islamic State and the information Trump divulged came from an Israeli intelligence asset.

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) have spoken by phone as controversy brewed over the US Presidents sharing of intelligence with Russia that came from Israel. A spokesman in Netanyahus office confirmed the phone call took place on Tuesday but did not say who initiated it. Reuters

Israeli intel experts alarmed by leak

Israeli intelligence experts are gravely concerned that US President Donald Trumps sharing of classified information with Russia may have compromised an Israeli agent, but dont expect any long-term consequences for intelligence cooperation

Trump has confirmed via Twitter that during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the White House last week he shared information related to a potential airline plot by Islamic State, thought to involve a laptop bomb

The New York Times, citing a current and a former US official, reported on Tuesday that the information Trump divulged came from an Israeli intelligence asset based in Islamic State-held territory in Syria

Will continue to share intel with america: May
Washington, May 17

US President Donald Trump would begin his maiden foreign trip with a visit to Saudi Arabia later this week, where he would pitch for the need to tackle radical Islam ideology.

He (Trump) will meet and have lunch with leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries where he will deliver an inspiring, yet direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and his hopes, the president hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world, US National Security Advisor HR McMaster told reporters during at the White House on Wednesday.

The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against the common enemies of all civilisation and to demonstrate Americas commitment to our Muslim partners, he said while giving details of Trumps itinerary for his visit.

The US President will be welcomed Saudi King Salman.

McMaster said Trump will participate in a signing ceremony of several agreements that will further solidify US-Saudi security and economic cooperation.

The President and the First Lady will also join members of the Saudi royal family for an official dinner.

Bilateral meeting are scheduled between Trump and Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, besides meetings with Gulf state leaders, he said.

Trump will also inaugurate a new centre intended to fight radicalism and promote moderation.

By establishing and operating this center, our Muslim friends, including Saudi Arabia, are taking a firm stand against extremism and those who use a perverted interpretation of religion to advance their criminal and political agendas, the NSA said.

From Saudi Arabia, Trump would travel to Jerusalem, where he will meet Israeli President Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and lay a wreath at Yad Vashem.

The next day, he would meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem and convey Americas interest to facilitate an agreement that ends the conflict in the region.

He will urge Palestinian leaders to take steps that will help lead to peace. He will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and say a prayer at the Western Wall, McMaster said.

The next destination would Rome and the Vatican, where Trump will meet the Pope.

He looks forward to celebrating the rich contributions of Catholics to America and to the world, and to discussing a range of issues of mutual concern, he said.

From Rome, Trump would fly to to Brussels to meet leaders of the European Union and of the European Council.

From Brussels, Trump would travel to Sicily for the G-7.

Throughout the summit, he will meet bilaterally with leaders, including the Italian prime minister. In the formal meetings, he will press Americas economic agenda and call for greater security cooperation, Mc Master said.

On the first night of the summit, he will also attend a concert performed by the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a leaders dinner hosted by the president of Italy.  PTI
Deepika Padukone's second look at the Cannes Film Festival is prettier than the serene beaches of the French Riviera.

By Shivani Chhabra: While the world is abuzz with Deepika Padukone's sensual first look for the press interactions at Cannes Film Festival 2017; Deepika's second look shows that she is a woman of variety and taste.

Deepika's transition from her fiery Johanna Ortiz red dress to this second look which is all about class is bound to cast a spell on everyone.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/deepikapadukone

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Displaying a versatility in her choice of ensembles, the leggy lass donned a satin, halter-neck Galvan London number looking the total stunner that she is. Her mauve-hued dress and it's flattering cut sat well with her hair tied in a high-bun. The decision to keep things minimal with absolutely no accessories, was well-substituted by her sophisticated demeanour.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/justfilmyfashion

Also Read: Deepika Padukone's first look at Cannes is a mix of fiery, hot and sexy

Deepika looked like a dream in the mauve, shift dress which she teamed with a pair of Christian Loubotin peep-toes stilettos and those magical smokey eyes that are enough to send you in a trance.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/justfilmyfashion

It's only the second look, and she is already making heads turn and heartbeats skip--we wonder what her red carpet look will do to us?

--- ENDS ---
United Nations, May 17

The UN Security Council will on Wednesday discuss the crisis in Venezuela, where at least 42 people have died in weeks of unrest, diplomats said.

The US requested the closed-door talks to be held in the morning, following meetings on Somalia and Eritrea.

Opposition demonstrators have held daily protests since April 1, angry at what they see as moves to strengthen elected socialist President Nicolas Maduros hold on power.

Prosecutors said Tuesday that a 17-year-old boy and two men died after being shot during anti-government protests, bringing to 42 the number of people killed in six weeks.  AFP
Beijing, May 17

The Chinese state media on Wednesday criticised the US for hindering efforts to stop global cyber threats in the wake of the WannaCry ransomware attack that has infected more than 3,00,000 computers worldwide in recent days.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) should shoulder some blame for the attack, which targets vulnerabilities in Microsoft Corp systems and has infected some 30,000 Chinese organisations as of Saturday, the China Daily said.

Concerted efforts to tackle cyber crimes have been hindered by the actions of the United States, it said, adding that Washington had no credible evidence to support bans on Chinese tech firms in the US following the attack.

The malware attack, which began on Friday and has been linked by some researchers to previous hits by a North Korean-run hacking operation, leveraged a tool built by the NSA that leaked online in April, Microsoft says.

It comes as China prepares to enforce a wide-reaching cyber security law that US business groups say will threaten the operations of foreign firms in China with strict local data storage laws and stringent surveillance requirements.

Chinas cyber authorities have repeatedly pushed for what they call a more equitable balance in global cyber governance, criticising US dominance.

The China Daily pointed to the US ban on Chinese telecommunication provider Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, saying the curbs were hypocritical given the NSA leak.

Beijing has previously said the proliferation of fake news on US social media sites, which are largely banned in China, is a reason to tighten global cyber governance.

The newspaper said that the role of the US security apparatus in the attack should instill greater urgency in Chinas mission to replace foreign technology with its own.

The state-run Peoples Daily compared the cyber attack to the terrorist hacking depicted in the US film Die Hard 4, warning that Chinas role in global trade and internet connectivity opened it to increased risks from overseas.

The fast-spreading cyber extortion campaign eased for second day on Tuesday, but the identity and motive of its creators remain unknown. Reuters
Washington, May 17

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told US President Donald Trump on Tuesday his country would not accept Syrian Kurdish fighters in the region but stopped short of directly criticising a US decision to arm them.

At a White House meeting, Trump lauded Erdogan as an important ally in the fight against terrorism and did not mention Erdogans domestic crackdown after last years failed coup attempt.

Weve had a great relationship and we will make it even better, Trump said in their joint appearance.

Erdogan said his visit would mark a historical turn of tide and hailed outstanding relations between the nations.

It was an especially positive tone considering the tensions over Washingtons decision to arm the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia that Ankara regards as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Fighting erupted among protesters outside the Turkish ambassadors residence, resulting in multiple injuries and two arrests - one for aggravated assault and one for assault on a police officer, a city police spokesman said.

The spokesman, officer Hugh Carew, said the origin of the melee was still under investigation. A local NBC television affiliate reported Erdogan was inside the building at the time.

The city fire department reported nine wounded were taken to a local hospital.

US officials on May 9 disclosed Trumps approval of plans to supply the YPG as it advances toward the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa in Syria.

Turkey has been a partner in the US-led coalition against Islamic State forces. The US alliance with Turkey has proven pivotal in the battle against Islamic State in Syria, providing the coalition with access to Turkeys Incirlik air base to wage strikes against the militants.

Erdogan had pledged to use the White House meeting to try to get Trump to change course on the YPG. Ankara regards the YPG as an extension of the PKK, which has fought an insurgency in southeastern Turkey since 1984 and is considered a terrorist group by the United States, Turkey and Europe.

We support Turkey in the ... fight against terror and terror groups like ISIS and the PKK, and ensure they have no safe quarter, the terror groups, Trump said, using an acronym for Islamic State. We also appreciate Turkeys leadership in seeking an end to the horrific killing in Syria. The YPG, or Peoples Protection Units, effectively serves as the military of the autonomous Kurdish-led regions that emerged in northern Syria with the retreat of state authority in 2011 that accompanied the outbreak of civil war.

The United States sees the YPG as distinct from the PKK and as a valuable partner in the fight against Islamic State.

The administration of Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, had criticized Erdogans crackdown on the Turkish press and academia after the failed coup in July 2016. Tens of thousands of Turkish citizens have since been detained and some Erdogan supporters sought to blame the United States for the coup attempt.

On Tuesday, Trump made no mention of Erdogans record on dissent and free speech.

Erdogans visit was further complicated by Turkeys calls for the United States to extradite Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania.

Erdogan blames Gulen supporters for the attempted coup. Gulen has denied involvement.

Erdogans spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said in a statement the two leaders discussed possible steps against FETO, referring to what Ankara calls the Gulenist Terror Organization, a term it uses to describe Gulens network. Kalin did not specify exactly what steps they discussed.

Turkey also has raised concerns about a US criminal case against Reza Zarrab, a dual Turkish-Iranian national, arrested last year and charged with helping Iran process millions of dollar in transactions that violated US sanctions against Tehran.  Reuters
Fort Leavenworth, May 17

Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, was released from a military prison today after seven years behind bars.

The 29-year-old walked free from a maximum-security facility in Kansas thanks to a commutation of her sentence by President Barack Obama before he left office.

Manning has been released from the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, US Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a statement.

In July 2010, Manning, then a male soldier known as Bradley, was arrested over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks.

Without Obamas parting gift, the army private, who served as an intelligence official in Iraq, would have remained behind bars until 2045, after serving a 35-year sentence.

Manning went on a hunger strike during her detention to denounce the disciplinary measures to which she was subjectedincluding stints in solitary confinement. For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world, she wrote last week. Mannings defence team is intent on protecting her.

The Oklahoma native had a difficult childhood. After her parents divorce, Manning moved with her mother to Wales, where she repressed her sexuality and was mocked for her effeminate ways. The military was therefore keen on keeping her release low-key. No press conference is planned and media massed at the military installation caught no glimpse of Manning as she was released.

Labeled a traitor by President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.  AFP

Chelsea manning: A transgender soldier
Arun Jaitley and Bipin Rawat's Kashmir visit comes in the wake of beheading of two Indian security personnel by Pakistani military in Poonch district earlier this month which was termed 'barbaric' by India.

By Manjeet Negi: Amid a spike in militant attacks and incidents of violence, Defence minister Arun Jaitley today arrived in Srinagar to review the overall security situation in the valley. The Raksha Mantri was briefed about the prevailing situation in the state including incidents of cross-border firing and ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops at Badami Bagh Cantt. Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, and other senior Army officers were present in the review meeting.

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Sanjay Mitra, Defence Secretary (Designate) was also a part of the meet.

Defence minister was apprised of the various measures to strengthen the robust counter infiltration grid along the Line of Control. He was also briefed on the close coordination amongst all the government agencies to bring back normalcy in the region.

Lauding the valour, sacrifice and patriotic fervour of every soldier who was serving in these challenging situations for national integrity, Arun Jaitley urged everybody to continue the good job being done and ensure safety of the innocent people while dealing firmly with the inimical elements.

He also impressed upon the commanders to maintain strict vigil along the LoC and remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across the border.

Jaitley, who also holds the finance portfolio, is in Srinagar primarily for the two-day meeting of the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Council on May 18 and 19.

DEFENCE MINISTER'S KASHMIR VISIT

Arun Jaitley and Bipin Rawat's Kashmir visit comes in the wake of beheading of two Indian security personnel by Pakistani military in Poonch district earlier this month which was termed 'barbaric' by India.

While Rawat hinted at retaliation to avenge the killings, Jaitley had said the sacrifice of the two soldiers will not go in vain and that the armed forces will react 'appropriately'.

The Kashmir valley has witnessed a spurt in incidents of violence and militant attacks in the last couple of months.

The Pakistani troops were involved in 67 ceasefire violations in the first four months of 2017, with maximum of 26 incidents reported in April, according to Army sources.

They said a total of 27 militants were killed between January and April in counter-insurgency operations.

Also Read:

When Arun Jaitley lost his cool over Ram Jethmalani in Delhi High Court

Raids against Chidambaram, Lalu: Jaitley says day of reckoning has come

Also Watch:

Operation Stone Pelters: Kashmir's scariest admissions caught on camera

--- ENDS ---
Shikha Tiwari, aka DJ Adaa, was arrested by Special Operations Group as the young lady couldn't resist to go live on Facebook.

By India Today Web Desk: Technology is surely a man's best friend, but in this case, the technology turned out to be Rajasthan Police's 'Facebook' best friend.

Working as a DJ in a Mumbai hotel, 21-year-old Shikha Tiwari, aka DJ Adaa, was recently arrested by Special Operations Group (SOG) from Rajasthan after she ran away with a whopping Rs 1 crore to Mumbai.

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The cops were able to nab the young DJ after she went live on her Facebook account making it easier for them to track her location.

Photo: Facebook/OfficialDJAdaa

Shikha was arrested for alleged blackmailing and honey-trapping a high-profile medical professional from Rajasthan.

The 21-year-old DJ was being tracked by SOG since December 2016 after her name cropped up for more honey-trapping cases.

Also read: From doctor to thief: Man arrested for auto theft who sold bikes on OLX and Quikr

Photo: Facebook/OfficialDJAdaa

Shikha was a part of a blackmailing gang, a gang which used to target high-profile real estate agents, doctors etc. Around 33 people have been arrested from the gang, which included five girl members as well. The racket was able to shell out around Rs 20 crore from people who fell into their traps.

Sunit Soni, a Jaipur-based doctor, met Shikha when she visited his clinic for a hair-transplant appointment. Shikha befriended Soni and got closer to the him.

After sometime, the couple went to Pushkar for a trip where Shikha scared him off with a false rape allegation and demanded Rs 2 crore. She threatened him to go to the police after he denied giving her the money.

Also read: A Karnataka thief is revisiting everyone he ever robbed...only to apologise

Shikha lodged an FIR against him after the doctor denied falling into her trap. The doctor was arrested and kept behind bars for 78 days after being acquitted. On December 24, 2016, the doctor filed an official complaint against Shikha.

Photo: Facebook/OfficialDJAdaa

The doctor then decided to settle the case with the 21-year-old DJ and gave her Rs 1 crore and Rs 5 lac. Shikha fled the scene and went to Mumbai thinking she won't be caught, but her addiction of social media took her down.

She went live on Facebook while she was DJ-ing at a Mumbai hotel and made it easier for Rajasthan police to nab the lady after five long months of search.

Also Watch: Mega sex racket busted; 33 including 6 women, 6 lawyers arrested

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--- ENDS ---
Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in Southern California has won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot. The winning numbers drawn Tuesday morning at the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and the red Powerball was 10. The jackpot ticket was sold at Joes Service Center in Altadena, northeast of Los Angeles. The business will receive a maximum Powerball bonus of $1 million. The Multi-State Lottery Association said Monday nights scheduled drawing was delayed by nearly 10 hours until Tuesday because a participating lottery had issues processing sales. The jackpot was by far the largest lottery jackpot ever won, topping the previous record $1.586 billion prize won by three Powerball ticketholders in 2016.
We are in the final countdown. The Legislature has to have all revenue measures on the table by the end of the day on Friday, May 19th and then just one more week remains to negotiate a full budget and vote on it by Sine Die at 5:00 pm on Friday, May 26th. With a billion dollar budget shortfall to fill just to break even, the pressure is on. In my short seven years in the legislature, this has been the most intense and stressful year yet.

I can honestly say that the House has been trying hard to come up with additional revenue plans. Because we are required to have 76 votes to raise revenue, the House Democrats must agree to the measure. We negotiate a deal with the House Democrats, and then the Senate seems to lock up on us. And when we negotiate a deal with the Senate, the House Democrats seem to lock up on us. We are stuck in the middle. However, as of Monday, it appears the House may have come to an agreement on a plan to raise about $400 million in new, recurring revenue. The plan includes increasing the cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack, reducing some incentives given to the oil and gas industry, and limiting itemized deductions to $17,000 with an exception for charitable giving. This obviously wont fill the billion dollar budget hole completely but it is a start. Yet the question remains, will the Senate and the House Democrats actually buy off on the plan.

Things are changing very fast. There is also some talk of additional proposals from the House, which hopefully will get some traction. The proposed plans would fund core services, include a teacher pay raise, protect the Department of Transportations Eight Year Plan, and include a slight increase for the Oklahoma Department of Education, Department of Corrections, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Human Services, all which are top budget priorities for the House of Representatives. There are, of course, other entities that are in desperate need of funding as well that may have to take cuts, which is not ideal. Its definitely not a perfect plan and there is still a lot of work to do, but I want to mention how much I appreciate our Budget Chair and leadership, along with individual contributors who have helped develop a plan in such difficult circumstances. Hopefully we will be able to get the support we need to fulfill our responsibilities to fund core functions of state government that serve the good citizens of Oklahoma.

About six of us Representatives had breakfast with the Governor this past week. We sat around her dining table in the Governors mansion and had a real breakfast complete with eggs, sausage, and biscuits with gravy. We discussed the budget and where we are in the process this session and even had time to find out some personal things about each other. The Governor reaffirmed her position that she will veto any budget that includes deep cuts to agencies. She still believes that we have a revenue issue and would like to see some recurring revenue measures pass this year. I mentioned consideration of restoring last years state income tax reduction trigger since it was not the intent of the legislature to have a quarter percent state tax cut on a year when we had a revenue failure. Going back to 5.25 percent from 5.0 percent would provide over $150 million in recurring revenue for the state. However, this idea still hasnt taken hold yet, but maybe with the deadline around the corner it will be reconsidered.

My teacher retention pay bill (HB2157) will be heard this week by the General Conference Committee on Appropriations (GCCA). The Senate added a friendly amendment to the bill that was well-received by education stakeholders and I am hopeful that it will be approved by both the House and the Senate before the end of session.

Governor Mary Fallin recently announced that Oklahoma has received a grant from the Lumina Foundation that will provide $100,000 toward the Launch Oklahoma goal of increasing to 70 percent the number of Oklahomans age 25-64 with a postsecondary degree by the year 2025. Currently only about 40 percent of Oklahomans have that level of education or training. This will be a great help toward increasing the states overall educational attainment.

On a lighter note, I recently was notified that our own Joseph Bouchard of Sand Springs was named a National Merit Scholar! He is a senior at Moriah Christian Academy. Also, there are two National Merit Commended Scholars from Charles Page High School, Joshua Taber and Elijah Warren. Congratulations, Joseph, Joshua, and Elijah on attaining this prestigious honor! Also, Id like to congratulate all of our high school seniors who are graduating this year. I salute you!

Until next time, God Bless!
A bizarre "call for justice" was raised after a dog bit a child in Pakistan. The argument was that the dog should be killed since it injured the child. The dog was even imprisoned for a week.

By Asian News International, India Today Web Desk: Pakistan may not be able to deal with the problem of terrorism in their country the same way they have dealt with a dog who bit a child.

Maybe Pakistan has created history with a bizarre case hailing from Pakistan's Punjab province.

A dog when bit a child, it was sentenced to death by Assistant Commissioner Raja Saleem in Bhakkar's Klor vicinity in Punjab province of Pakistan, Geo TV reported.

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Be advised, the argument might come as a lapse of reason.

FYI || Firefighter performs CPR on lifeless dog, brings him back to life ||

A unique and a bizarre argument which can certainly go down in history, was put up by Assistant Commissioner Saleem while announcing the sentence stating "The dog injured the child, hence, it should be killed."

The owner of the dog has filed an appeal with the Additional Deputy Commissioner against the uncanny punishment.

"The affected child's family registered a case against my dog, following which it completed a one-week prison sentence. Any further punishment for it would be unfair," Geo TV quoted the dog's owner, as saying.

The good human of the dog Jamil Jamil added that he would knock on the doors of all courts to get justice for his pet.

FYI || Canine or Einstein? Watch dog open several doors, flee animal clinic to be with his humans ||

--- ENDS ---
OKLAHOMA CITY  Negotiations on revenue-raising options continued Wednesday at the Capitol as lawmakers struggle to come up nearly $1 billion to fill the fiscal year 2018 budget hole.

The talks came after a $345 million revenue-raising package failed in the House late Tuesday.

Republican and Democratic legislative leaders met with Gov. Mary Fallin on Wednesday morning and again in the afternoon, said House Appropriations and Budget Committee Chairwoman Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang.

Mike Ray, Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus media director, said leaders reached no agreement after the morning session.

Republicans, who are in the majority, would need some of the 26 members of the House Democratic Caucus on their side to raise revenue through a tax increase. It takes a supermajority in both chambers or a vote of the people to raise taxes.

Revenue-raising measures must start in the House and cant be done during the last five days of a session.

House Minority Leader Scott Inman, D-Del City, is seeking an income tax increase on high wage earners in exchange for votes to increase the tax on gasoline and diesel by 6 cents a gallon, Ray said.

Inman wants those earning $200,000 a year to pay 6 percent, a 1 percetage point increase over the current rate of 5 percent, Ray said.

House Democrats want those earning $400,000 and up to pay 7 percent as opposed to 5 percent, he said.

In exchange for votes to increase the cigarette tax by $1.50, House Democrats want production from all new wells taxed at 5 percent. Currently, all new wells pay 2 percent for the first 36 months in a gross production tax discount period.

Fallin has vowed to veto any budget that contains deep cuts to state agencies, which have already seen deep reductions.

A special session, either concurrent with the regular session or after it, may be necessary to finalize a 2018 budget, officials say.

Lawmakers must adjourn by 5 p.m. May 26, and House members were told Wednesday afternoon to be prepared to meet through the weekend.
Update: Closing arguments ended about noon Wednesday as Betty Shelby's case now goes to the jury for deliberations.

The story below appeared in Wednesday's Tulsa World:

Jurors will begin deliberations in the manslaughter trial of Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby on Wednesday after the defense rested its case Tuesday afternoon.

Sgt. Dave Walker, who leads the Tulsa Police Departments Homicide Unit, took the stand Tuesday for the third time since testimony began May 10. Walkers testimony for the defense, though brief, served to underscore his disagreement with the Tulsa County District Attorneys Offices decision to charge Shelby in the Sept. 16 shooting death of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher.

Walker mentioned that warrants for Crutchers arrest were active at the time Shelby encountered him and his SUV in the 2300 block of East 36th Street North. He said it was important to know both that Crutcher had such warrants, which court records show were for failure to pay costs, and that he had been arrested in the past on complaints of obstruction.

Prosecutors have argued that Crutchers background isnt relevant because Shelby didnt know any of that information when she shot him, but District Judge Doug Drummond allowed the jury to hear of Crutchers four arrests for obstruction over a 21-year period and that warrants for his arrest had been issued before Sept. 16.

In response to a question from defense attorney Shannon McMurray, Walker said he would not have referred the case to the Tulsa County District Attorneys Office for a criminal charge.

Shelby testified Monday that she shot Crutcher once when she saw him put his left hand through his SUVs half-open window, which she said was a sign that he was reaching for a gun. Police have said no weapons were found on Crutcher or in his SUV.

A slew of witnesses on both sides have asserted that Shelby acted within her training, but Assistant District Attorney Kevin Gray has implied that the training provided to officers on when to use force is as much at issue as what he called Shelbys wrong perception of Crutchers behavior and intentions.

When referencing what Shelbys defense has called action vs. reaction, Gray asked defense expert and criminology professor David Klinger, That concept is an academic way of saying shoot first. Correct?

Under some circumstances, yes. Very narrow circumstances, Klinger responded, later saying he thinks Shelbys actions were among those circumstances.

During another exchange, Gray said Shelbys belief that Crutcher had a gun was an informed hypothesis that was based on no actual knowledge.

Klinger, in response, said that if he were a suspect in a dangerous encounter, you would be a fool to allow him to get his hands on a gun. But Gray replied, I dont know you have a gun, though. Do I?

Taser expert Howard Williams, during his testimony, also implied that it was permissible for Shelby to have shot Crutcher because he believed that Officer Tyler Turnboughs simultaneous deployment of a Taser was ineffective.

District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said that belief isnt supported by Turnboughs statements about Crutchers reaction to the Taser. He said it seemed that Williams was trying to supplant his opinion, which is not based on firsthand observations at the scene, over Turnboughs perspective on the matter.

Kunzweilers questions appeared to stem from a claim that Shelby might have accidentally fired her gun in reaction to hearing Turnbough deploy his Taser. But Shelby testified that she did not hear the Taser and was unaware of Turnboughs presence until after she fired the fatal shot.

Gray told Shelby on Monday that Turnboughs testimony contradicts her claims because Turnbough reported that Shelby responded in acknowledgement when he said he had his Taser ready.

Kunzweiler told Williams that there is a moment in the video in which he can see Shelby put her hand on her own Taser, which he introduced into evidence late Monday.

Gray additionally pointed to several items in his questioning about Walkers investigation of the shooting that he suggested show a lack of objectivity on the part of Walker and the Tulsa Police Department.

Shelbys case is the first in which an on-duty Tulsa police officer was charged in a fatal shooting.

Among the issues Gray raised were Walkers decision to show Shelby video footage of the shooting before taking her official statement and asking her about drug-recognition expert training when he already knew the answer. The state has also suggested that someone told Shelby or her counsel that investigators recovered a vial of PCP from Crutchers SUV before she was interviewed by police  which Shelby denied when she testified.

At the beginning of Tuesdays proceedings, McMurray asked Drummond to order a mistrial because of Grays implication that Shelby took time to get her story straight before giving Walker a statement. She said the references suggested guilt on Shelbys part before she was even accused of a crime and also said it was unfair for the state to repeatedly say Crutcher was unarmed because Shelby has said she didnt know at the time that there was no weapon.

Gray said he asked other witnesses, not Shelby, about the delay in her interview.

In denying the mistrial on both grounds, Drummond said that the fact there wasnt a gun is an issue at the end of the day, and he told the attorneys that evidence has indicated that police shootings are investigated differently than others between citizens.

Drummond on Tuesday denied a state request that second-degree manslaughter be included as an optional lesser charge in juror instructions.

Prosecutors, in making the request, argued that testimony from Shelby and defense witnesses could make jurors conclude that there was a sympathetic or accidental weapon discharge.

The judge said it would be improper to introduce another felony theory so late in the trial.

Closing arguments are set to begin Wednesday morning.
Putin, who said Moscow rated Lavrov's meeting with Trump "highly," said Russia was ready to hand a transcript of Trump's meeting with Lavrov over to US lawmakers if that would help reassure them.

By Reuters: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump had not passed on any secrets to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Washington last week and that he could prove it.

Speaking at a news conference alongside Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin quipped that Lavrov was remiss for not passing on what he made clear he believed were non-existent secrets.

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"I spoke to him (Lavrov) today," said Putin with a smile. "I'll be forced to issue him with a reprimand because he did not share these secrets with us. Not with me, nor with representatives of Russia's intelligence services. It was very bad of him."

Putin, who said Moscow rated Lavrov's meeting with Trump "highly," said Russia was ready to hand a transcript of Trump's meeting with Lavrov over to US lawmakers if that would help reassure them.

A Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, later told reporters that Moscow had in its possession a written record of the conversation, not an audio recording.

POLITICAL SCHIZOPHRENIA IN THE US?

Complaining about what he said were signs of "political schizophrenia" in the United States, Putin said Trump was not being allowed to do his job properly.

"It's hard to imagine what else can these people who generate such nonsense and rubbish can dream up next," said Putin.

"What surprises me is that they are shaking up the domestic political situation using anti-Russian slogans. Either they don't understand the damage they're doing to their own country, in which case they are simply stupid, or they understand everything, in which case they are dangerous and corrupt."

Two US officials said on Monday that Trump had disclosed highly classified information to Lavrov about a planned Islamic State operation, plunging the White House into another controversy just months into Trump's short tenure in office.

Russia has repeatedly said that anti-Russian politicians in the United States are using groundless fears of closer ties with Moscow to sabotage any rapprochement and damage Trump in the process.

ALSO READ:

US President Donald Trump shared highly classified information with Russians

When Russian President Vladimir Putin started playing piano while waiting to meet China's Xi Jinping

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CLAREMORE  A man was fatally shot during a home invasion early Tuesday.

Officers found the body of Dakota Lee Rex, 22, in a house in the 600 block of South Maryland Avenue, Deputy Police Chief Steve Cox said.

Police said Rex was among at least four people in the residence at the time of the invasion, which was reported as a robbery shortly after 2 a.m.

Cox said three people forced their way inside.

We have several leads that were running down at this point, he said.

Rex sustained a gunshot wound, according to a preliminary investigation by a medical examiner at the scene.

Cox said a description of the intruders was unavailable. No arrests had been made as of late Tuesday afternoon.

People who arrived at the scene and identified themselves as family members of Rexs said he had gone out to visit friends and play video games.

One neighbor reported hearing a loud pop about the time of the home invasion.

Other neighbors raised concerns about the magnitude of the crime. Sherri Kelley and Gwen Noble said the neighborhood can be loud and lively, but it has been a while since they heard of any petty crime in the area.

If it is a home invasion, I am worried.  It does make me wonder, Kelley said. Was it targeted? Was it a deal gone bad? Was it crazy happenstance?

Cox said the motive for the home invasion or the shooting of Rex was not immediately clear.

Claremore police urge anybody out there that might have information on this to please call our tip line, he said.

The Claremore Police Department tip line can be reached at 918-283-8255. Callers may remain anonymous.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation assisted with processing the crime scene.
The words full circle were spoken often during a group interview with the brothers from Hanson.

Lets get some business out of the way before explaining.

Near the end of a lengthy chat session, Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson were asked what message they most wanted to communicate to the public.

Without hesitation, Taylor said, The Hop Jam is here to stay, and its here because we feel like its part of the future of Tulsa and what Tulsa is trying to be.

The Hop Jam is a fourth-year beer and music festival that will take place Sunday, May 21, in downtown Tulsas Brady Arts District. The festival was created in 2014 by the brothers, co-founders of pop-rock trio Hanson and Hanson Brothers Beer Co.

Hanson will headline the 2017 Hop Jam and, in doing so, will christen a 25th anniversary tour that will take the Tulsa-based trio around the world. More than 25 foreign and U.S. tour stops are sold out, according to hanson.net.

Prior to globetrotting will come The Hop Jam, a free-music, all-ages festival featuring performances by Hanson and other bands. The festival is divided into two areas  a 21-and-older craft beer area and the all-ages area. Purchase of a beer ticket or designated driver ticket are required for entrance to the beer festival. Beer and music VIP tickets are available at thehopjam.com.

Attendees will be a witness to Hanson coming  here come those words  full circle.

Hanson was formed in 1992. The bands first proper gig was at Mayfest, which was held in the Brady Arts District in 92. Isaac said there were about 10 people at the debut performance. Half of the 10 were family members, chimed in one of his brothers.

Here we are in the same neighborhood literally a block and a half  actually not even a block and a half  from where we did our first show 25 years ago, Isaac said.

But this time, the crowd will be in the thousands.

So here you are, you are looking out at a great crowd of people who are there to have a good time, and you are able to be the person giving them that good time and giving them encouragement and so on, Isaac said. It feels extra cool to have that full-circle element of 25 years ago there were 10 people. And, now, look at this.

The full-circle journey will include a special honor. It was announced Monday that Hanson is being inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Jim Blair, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame executive director, will be present to induct Hanson at The Hop Jam. An on-stage ceremony will take place before Hanson performs.

Hanson didnt just venture forth into the world to share Tulsa-born music (Mmmbop and the album Middle of Nowhere exploded onto the scene 20 years ago). Hanson invested in downtown Tulsa by setting up a headquarters down the street from Cains Ballroom and by creating The Hop Jam.

Tulsa is part of our story, Taylor said. And about 10 years ago, we really decided to double down on being in this neighborhood and saying if we are going to be here, we want to be a part of it.

The Hop Jam was launched with the intent of cultivating the citys future. Perhaps the craft beer movement can be a part of that future. Zac, noting that Hansons HQ has a Main Street address, said, Beer is Main Street, right?

Zac said he has noticed something different about The Hop Jam this year. In years past, he would see people in the community and they would ask So are you guys doing The Hop Jam this year? Now what he hears is, Im coming to The Hop Jam.

I think its cool to see the festival has made a transition where people are not only expecting it, they are planning to be there and they are identifying with it, Zac said.

And thats what you hope for, according to Taylor. He wants Tulsans to take ownership in The Hop Jam. He wants Tulsans to feel like the festival celebrates them. Theres a reason why the stage is set up with the downtown skyline as a backdrop.

Its a lot cheaper to go to a field somewhere and set up a bunch of tents and put on an event, he said. But the long-term (aim) of The Hop Jam is we want to create a picture of the future. We want to create a postcard that allows people to say, Live from Tulsa, live from downtown, this is happening.

Its a little more complex to do that, but its so much more fun when, at the end of the weekend, we know that we havent just had a great event that we feel really proud of, that brought people to Tulsa. But we also feel like we can look around the neighborhood and people are going, I had the best weekend. I had a great time. ... This is a great thing for Tulsa. 
Its always a risk to talk up a new comedy series for fear of over-hyping it.

What amuses me doesnt necessarily amuse you, and vice versa. Its much better to let you discover something for yourself without expectations.

With that in mind, True Story with Hamish & Andy is one of the brightest new formats weve seen in some time. The cleverness of this concept is that each episode features a different cast bringing to life a true blue Aussie yarn. Think Enough Rope meets Drunk History, or Australian Story meets Its A Date. Take your pick.

Central to the success of this format is that our trusty hosts have never met the guests nor heard the yarns until they sit down face to face in a studio. All casting was done by producers, independent of the boys. Theres nothing quite like hearing a story for the first time, and the reactions from Hamish & Andy give this real authenticity. Its one of the reasons Don Lane never liked to meet his guests prior to his show.

The first episode centres around Aussie mum Rachel whose work trip to Hong Kong with her family turned into a comedy of errors.

As Rachel starts to explain her story of arriving at a HK hotel we see actress Emily Taheny assume the role in a separately-filmed sequence. Naturally everything is played for comedy .its just a little bit more colourful, more exaggerated than that of our chief storyteller. Cleverly, as Rachels memory wavers and shifts, the vision matches it, even erasing family members who may or may not have been there.

Rachels work in Risk Management leads to a business dinner invitation by a HK government official well call her Sophie (Fiona Choi). But a friendly family Yum Cha in a Chinese restaurant turns into a formal, ritzy dinner in Lan Kwai Fong. Upon arrival, an under-dressed Rachel, hubby Mark (James Saunders) and two bored kids are now dreading dinner with Sophie and her tycoon husband (Keith Brockett).

With Hamish and Andy on the edge of their seat as Rachels elaborate tale unravels, things go from bad to worse in dinner scenes. There are awkward Chinese customs, and rare local delicacies including a thousand year old egg. I wont reveal too much more other than to say a battle with the egg turns Rachels hubby positively slapstick, with the kids bringing up the rear. Literally.

The casting here is on point. Taheny beautifully endeavours to save face while Saunders goes for broke as embarrassing dad. Fiona Choi (The Family Law) again proves impeccable comic timing, ably supported by a dour Keith Brockett.

Director Wayne Hope (Upper Middle Bogan, The Librarians) proves playful with the story, including the interchanges from filmed drama to studio narration. Producers are also to be commended for the photography and art direction here. There is depth to the colour which means the script by Blake, Lee and Ryan Shelton never looks like it has been filmed on the cheap.

Another episode surrounding an eager primary school teacher outwitted by one of his pupils was equally a joy. Its cast features Shelton, Glenn Robbins, John Wood, Madeleine West and Julie Nihill. Trust me, theres a whos-who of Aussie showbiz faces to come.

The ability of the subject to tell their tale is central to the success of the format. The five episodes have been chosen for contrast. Some are big yarns, others much smaller, but all told with the ability to laugh at ones self, as pure Australiana.

True Story with Hamish & Andy is a cheeky delight, and unlike anything else on screen right now. I suspect it will be one of those shows rival network execs say they wish they had commissioned. But lets not over-sell this. You can make up your own mind.

7:30pm Monday June 5 on Nine.
Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the US-Arab-Islamic Summit in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on May 20-21 where, apart from delivering his vision about Islam, a religion that he used to slam during his campaign days, he would also make a strong pitch for a $100 billion arms deal with the Saudis.

By Santosh Chaubey: Donald Trump's National Security Advisor, HR McMaster, has announced that the US President will deliver "an inspiring, direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and his hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam".

Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the US-Arab-Islamic Summit in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on May 20-21 where, apart from delivering his vision about Islam, a religion that he used to slam during his campaign days, he would also make a strong pitch for a $100 billion arms deal with the Saudis.

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This will mark Trump's first foreign visit as well as his first outreach to the major Muslim countries of the world. The tour itinerary of his first international visit, spread over eight days, also includes Jerusalem, Belgium, the Vatican and Italy.

But will it work, given Trump's streak of controversies with Islam, his disdain for the second largest religion of the world? Can he inspire peace when he carries a baggage of contempt?

Or will it be another badly executed move by Trump which will generate even greater a controversy like the ongoing row over Trump revealing highly classified intelligence on the Islamic State to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergei Kislyak. The row has generated such an intense debate in the US that Trump's NSA had to come forward to defend him last evening and CIA Director Mike Pompeo is going to brief the US Senate Intelligence Committee on the matter. And the US media has again started debating if there are possibilities emerging of impeaching President Donald Trump.

Trump has continued with his controversial views about Islam even after winning the US Presidential Election. He had taken oath on January 20 this year and within first four months of his term, he has tried twice to impose restrictions on Muslims from entering the United States. He first presented an executive order, banning travellers from seven Muslim majority nations, i.e., Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan. He also suspended the US immigration programme and put an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees. When the US courts banned it, his administration reworded the order with cosmetic measures, dropped Iraq from the list and issued it again. The US courts again banned the order expressing their strong disapproval of the racial and discriminatory bias behind the order.

And the court observations were largely based on Donald Trump's past views about Muslims and Islam that he exhorted one after the other.

In a December 2015 campaign rally after the San Bernardino shooting incident, he had said, "Donald J. Trump is calling for a complete and total shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on."

The statement that was later removed from his official campaign website further said, "According to Pew Research, among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population."

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A month before that, in November 2015, he had blamed Muslims for cheering the bombing of the World Trade Centre, "There were people that were cheering on the other side of New Jersey, where you have large Arab populations. They were cheering as the World Trade Centre came down."

Donald Trump, during his campaign days, had floated the idea of a nationwide database of Muslims. It was ridiculous, humiliating, discriminatory and racial and was widely criticised but Trump didn't budge from his stand. He would speak on "how Islam hated them (the Americans)" and he would say he was going to see his Muslim ban plan implemented once he got elected. His Muslim ban idea later got the angle of extreme vetting, an intense scrutiny of Muslims before entering the US.

It is through the route of extreme vetting that Donald Trump, after becoming the US President, tried to impose his idea of Muslim and immigration ban with his failed executive orders. After passing his first executive order on travel ban, Trump had tweeted, "Everybody is arguing whether or not it is a BAN. Call it what you want, it is about keeping bad people (with bad intentions) out of country!" And Trump did not like the US courts coming in his way of doing things. He expressed his anger and displeasure by comparing the US judicial system to that of the third world countries.

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It is ironical that Trump has chosen a Middle East country for his first international visit, a region that he believes has executed large number of Christians. And this he had said as recently as in January this year, a week after the inauguration of his presidency. He tweeted, "Christians in the Middle-East have been executed in large numbers. We cannot allow this horror to continue!"

Christians in the Middle-East have been executed in large numbers. We cannot allow this horror to continue! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017

So, every eye will be on Donald Trump when he delivers his vision for Islam in a Middle East country, in the presence of the heads of state of many other Middle East nations. It will be interesting to see how direct he sounds in inspiring a community that has traditionally been targeted by him.

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In what indicates that all is not be well inside Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami's camp, 11 of his legislators held a secret meeting inside the MLA hostel right under the chief minister's nose in Chennai.

By Pramod Madhav: In what indicates that all is not well inside Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami's camp, 11 of his legislators held a secret meeting inside the MLA hostel right under the chief minister's nose in Chennai.

The meeting was supposedly called by former Tourism Minister Thopu Venkatachalam. Former Transport Minister Senthil Balaji is learnt to have participated in it.

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Venkatachalam was already upset about his being sidelined while Sengottaiyan was made the Education Minister.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Senthil Balaji already emerged as a rebel when he spoke against Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker Thambidurai and Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar, claiming that they were deliberately sabotaging infrastructure development to his constituency. He even went to the extent of holding a hungerstrike against them. According to the meeting's specific details, 11 MLAs were allegedly unhappy with the 'promises' that were made to them at Kuvathur. Hence they decided to call for an MLAs' meeting to discuss the issue. It is a known fact that Senthil Balaji is still closely associated with Sasikala Natarajan and he even distanced himself from TTV Dhinakaran all this while. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu made it clear during his visit to Tamil Nadu last week that the Centre was watching Tamil Nadu government's performance, a remark aimed particularly at the chief minister, who sat next to Naidu with the same obedience he used to show to Jayalalithaa. But if he loses these 11 MLAs, it would mean the end of his CM era. A party insider said, "There is a simple solution. Give them what they want and they will become quite. As far as Senthil Balaji is concerned, only Natarajan can control him."

Also read | Stalin slams Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami for asking his ministers not to criticise Centre's policies in public

Also read | Did PM Modi invoke AIADMK founder MGR in Sri Lanka to help BJP make inroads in Tamil Nadu?

ALSO WATCH VIDEO

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By Press Trust of India: Mumbai, May 17 (PTI) Egypt, famous for its pyramids and the Great Sphinx, is expecting more than 50 per cent growth in tourist arrivals from India this year at over 1.2 lakh visitors.

During 2016, Egypt received 80,000 travellers from India, according to data from the Egyptian Tourism Authority.

"We see huge potential of 3-4 lakh tourists from India and are working towards achieving this goal. Looking at the current growth rate in the first quarter, we expect over 50 per cent growth in 2017, which will be over 1.2 lakh travellers from India," Egyptian Tourism Counselor - Regional Director India and Far East Ismail A Hamid Amer told PTI here.

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Egypt is being promoted as an premium and exotic destination in India and it expects to reach the potential of 3-4 lakh tourists by 2019, he added.

Further, he said, even as the tourists numbers from India currently is not big. However, looking at the growth trends it is likely to be among the top 10 source markets for Egypt in a 2-3 years.

The top source markets for Egypt are Europe, which constitutes 70 per cent of its tourism traffic, followed by the Arab nations constituting 26 per cent, he said.

"We are promoting Egypt for all age groups with different packages to suit everyone. We have special products like Nile cruise, history and culture for the elderly travellers and many adventure activities for the youth. We also have products that will suit the family," Amer said.

Egypt, he said, is focusing on family, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE), Bollywood, honeymooners and pilgrimage (for Christians and Muslims) among others, he said.

Indians, Amer said, are big spenders and add value to the tourism industry of Egypt.

Currently, Egypt is targeting travellers from big cities in India and but will slowly penetrate to Tier II and III cities, Amer said.

"We have conducted road shows in cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. Little by little we will reach out to Tier II and III cities as well," he said.

Talking about direct connectivity, he said, at present there is four weekly flights from Mumbai and by the end of this year, there might be more connecting 1-2 cities of India to Egypt.

"We have one direct flight which flies four times weekly from Mumbai. We also have several connecting flights from India as well. We are hoping for more direct flights from India connecting with 1-2 cities by December this year," Amer added. PTI SM DK DK RDS

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The plant stretches out into the desert.  IKEA Foundation/Vingaland AB

AZRAQ REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan  Thousands of Syrian families will light up their homes, charge their phones and chill their food by solar power tonight, as Jordans Azraq camp becomes the first refugee camp in the world to be powered by renewable energy.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, switched on Azraqs new two-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant on Wednesday. It will provide clean energy free of charge to some 20,000 Syrian refugees living in shelters that have been linked up to the electricity grid since January. The grid is due to be expanded to all 36,000 refugees currently residing in the camp by early next year.

The plant was built at a cost of 8.75 million (US$9.6 million), funded entirely by the IKEA Foundations Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign. It will result in immediate energy savings of US$1.5 million a year  which UNHCR will be able to reinvest in other much-needed assistance  as well as annual CO2 emissions savings of 2,370 tons.

Electrification will transform the lives of Syrian refugees living in the harsh environment of the camp, located in Jordans barren northern desert. For the past two and a half years, Azraqs residents were reliant on portable solar lanterns to light their homes, and had no reliable means of preserving food or cooling their shelters in the extreme desert heat. The introduction of electricity earlier this year improved their daily lives.

Today marks a milestone it allows all residents of the camps to lead more dignified lives."

Fatima, a 52-year-old single mother from rural Damascus, has lived in the camp since 2015 with her two adult sons. She described the practical and psychological benefits that electricity has brought to the camp and its residents.

In Syria we were used to a particular lifestyle, and then we were disconnected from it when we became refugees, she said. For someone who is used to having electricity, you cannot imagine how difficult it is to live without it.

Fatima and her two sons have already invested in a second-hand fridge, washing machine and electric fans, which they share between their three shelters.

Jordan: Solar plant brightens lives at Azraq refugee camp

Before this, when we cooked a meal we had to throw the leftovers away because there was no safe way to store food, Fatima explained. When we got too hot, we had to pour water on our clothes to keep cool. Now we can listen to music or have a cold glass of water, and daily life no longer ends when the sun sets.

The construction of the solar plant has also provided welcome income and training to more than 50 refugees in the camp, who were employed under the supervision of Jordanian solar company Mustakbal to help build the plant.

The construction of the solar plant is a remarkable example of cooperation between a host government, a private organization, and UNHCR."

Mohammad, 20, is from the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, and came to the camp in May 2014 a month after it opened. He had been forced to leave school with no qualifications aged 14, following the outbreak of Syrias conflict which is now in its seventh year.

Having previously received some metalwork training in the camp, Mohammad was one of those chosen to build the frames that support the solar panels, as well as installing the plants electrical circuits. As a result, he says he gained new skills that have already helped him find occasional work outside the camp.

Syrian refugees will benefit from the opening of a solar power plant at Jordan's Azraq camp.  UNHCR/Benoit Almeras Martino

UNHCR is helping to power households like these.  UNHCR/Benoit Almeras Martino

At last, Syrian refugees can enjoy the evening outside their shelters.  UNHCR/Benoit Almeras Martino

UNHCR's Deputy High Commissioner and the IKEA foundation's CEO officially open the solar power plant.  UNHCR/Benoit Almeras Martino

Electrification will transform the lives of Syrian refugees living in the harsh environment of the camp.  UNHCR/Benoit Almeras Martino

UNHCR's Kelly T. Clements chats with a Syrian father and his daughter.  UNHCR/Benoit Almeras Martino

IKEA Foundation CEO Per Heggenes meets with some of the refugees supported by UNHCR.  UNHCR/Benoit Almeras Martino

I wasnt able to finish my education because of the war and then exile, but this has given me a practical skill that I can hopefully use in the future, Mohammad said. If we return to Syria, the infrastructure is all destroyed, but this is a technology that we could use to rebuild.

Azraqs solar plant is connected to Jordans national grid, meaning that any unused electricity generated can be fed back into the network at no cost, supporting the energy needs of the host community.

Today marks a milestone, said Kelly T. Clements, UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner, who visited Azraq on Wednesday.

Lighting up the camp is not only a symbolic achievement; it provides a safer environment for all camp residents, opens up livelihoods opportunities, and gives children the chance to study after dark. Above all, it allows all residents of the camps to lead more dignified lives, she added.

The construction of the solar plant is a remarkable example of cooperation between a host government, a private organization, and UNHCR, said UNHCR's Representative for Jordan, Stefano Severe.

Through the generous support of the IKEA Foundation and with the collaboration of the Government of Jordan, we can not only address the immediate electricity requirements of refugees living in Azraq, but we can also support the longer-term energy needs of refugees and the Jordanian host communities.
Apple is making a deep push in the machine learning and artificial intelligence space. The American tech giant has just acquired a data-crunching startup called Lattice. Apple is said to have bought the startup to beef up its capabilities in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). The deal was first reported by the tech-focused site TechCrunch.

The Cupertino-based company this week has reportedly acquired the Menlo Park, California-based AI specialist Lattice for $200 million. Apple has decided to acquire Lattice, whose technology focuses on "dark data" and turn it into structured or more usable information, to bolster its capabilities in the machine learning and artificial intelligence.

The term "dark data" refers to the mass of unorganized information stored in computer networks or IT systems that are not in a proper format for companies to analyze or tap into, and this where the Lattice technology comes on. The startup simply applies AI technology just to make sense of all that "dark data." Once that data has been unlocked using proper organization, it can then be used for various purposes, which could range from policing, medical research and more, the TechCrunch reported.

The deal has already being closed a couple of weeks ago, and around 20 engineers have already joined the Cupertino-based company as their new home. When asked about the Lattice deal, Apple has just responded with its usual boilerplate confirmation that the Cupertino-based company buys smaller technology companies from time to time and it generally does not anything about its purpose or plans, the website added.

According to Fortune, Lattice's technology has some similarities with Google's Knowledge Graph, which Google claimed can understand relationships between people, places, and things. This Google's technology can even provide answers to some questions like "What's the capital of the state of Colorado?"

This is not the first time Apple has acquired an AI-focused startup. Last year, Apple has acquired also the Seattle-based Turi, a machine learning startup led by University of Washington computer scientist Carlos Guestrin. Turi has been added by Apple to enable the tech giant to create a base of talent around artificial intelligence and machine learning in the Seattle area, where it plans to grow its footprint, the GeekWire reported.

Coincidentally, Lattice also has some Seattle connections, according to GeekWire. Three of Lattice's its founders, namely Christopher Re, Raphael Hoffmann, and Mike Cafarella, came from the prestigious University of Washington's computer science program.

Lattice has first started a research project at Stanford called DeepDive, a system developed at Stanford that focuses on extracting value from dark data. Founded in 2015, Lattice has largely remained under the radar, but it doing well in its early stages. The company has managed to raise at least $20 million funding from GV, Madrona, and InQTel before exiting from stealth mode last year.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan are teaming up once again to help bring more kids to college. The announcement, which was made on Tuesday, will be giving an undisclosed amount of wealth for this partnership.

Zuckerberg and his wife have created a philanthropic vehicle they called the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) where they funneled most of their wealth to worthy causes, such as science and technology innovations.

And now the latest, they are partnering with College Board, a non-profit which is responsible for many standardized test keys for college admission and preparation.

According to the announcement, it will be a two-year partnership to provide students with personalized learning pathways that will help them prepare better for college.

The project will focus more on low-income students and those who are in the rural areas. College Board CEO David Coleman called it the "Manhattan Project on academic motivation" because they will also underwrite research on student achievement and motivation focusing more on praising the student's effort rather than their intelligence.

The partnership seems to be the next logical step after SAT was revamped in 2014 making it more than just an aptitude test to something that accurately tracks what students learn so they can work on the areas they need to improve.

Moreover, the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative builds on an earlier collaboration with Khan Academy in 2014 which provides free SAT preparations for students. College Board released a data earlier this year indicating that students who spent 20 hours of SAT practice on Khan Academy showed an average score gain of 115 points.

Meanwhile, when asked how much the couple is giving away for the project, CZI's Jim Shelton did not disclose anything but emphasized that it is one of the most significant projects of the initiative. Coleman, on the other hand, referred to it as a multi-million dollar grant.
Who doesn't love pizza? However, they lose their appeal when they get soggy and cool. Thus, Apple took it on their shoulders to make sure every pizza-loving human on earth will not get soggy pizzas by designing a pizza box that keeps it from getting into the sorry state.

The pizza box was not totally new among Apple employees since it has been a regular fare in Apple's Caffe Macs for years. In fact, it even made a special appearance on Twitter when Apple employees paid a tribute to the late Steve Jobs.

But what makes this pizza box special?

For one, it does not look like the typical square pizza box but a cylindrical design with holes on top to allow air to circulate around it inside. The inside bottom has concentric rings where extra grease can drip and cool. It has a clasped lid so it can be carried using one hand with ease.

The pizza box was reportedly invented so that Apple employees can easily carry their pizza box to their desks while the holes on top keep the pizza from getting soggy.

The inventors of the cylindrical pizza box must have thought it very brilliant that they applied a patent for its design in 2010. The patent for the invention, which can be found online, listed Francesco Longoni and Mark E. Doutt as the inventors. Longoni is the head of Apple's food services.

The pizza box might look simple but it reflects Apple's core values of inspiring their own to continually create and innovate things whose levels of quality also grows.

This is also the reason why Apple continues to create a sense of a perfect environment for its workforce so that they will be spurred and inspired to create and innovate.
Title

Note verbale dated 4 May 2017 from the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations (Vienna) addressed to the Secretary-General
By Press Trust of India: time in two weeks

Srinagar, May 17 (PTI) In less than two weeks, security forces today conducted the second major cordon-and-search operation in Kashmirs Shopian district but called it off after hours as no militant could be found but not before stone-pelting mobs hampered it.

The search operation, in which a large number of security forces were involved, was launched in Heff village in the Zainapora area following information about presence of militants there, an Army official said.

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The operation, which started in the early hours, was hampered by local residents who pelted the forces with stones, a police official said.

The official said additional security force personnel were sent to the area to disperse the stone-pelters.

No casualties were reported in stone-pelting, he said.

The forces did not find any militant or hideouts and as a result, the operation was called off, the official said.

The search operation was carried out two weeks after a similar but larger operation was undertaken in Shopian district which has witnessed a spurt in militant activities recently.

In the operation conducted on May 4, about 4,000 troops scanned two dozen villages of Shopian district for a day but could not find any militant.

However, while the troops were returning on that day, militants attacked an Army patrol, resulting in the death of a taxi driver and injuries to several security personnel.

Six days after that operation, a young Kashmiri Army officer Lt Ummer Fayaz, who was on leave and unarmed, was abducted and shot dead by militants in the same district where he had gone to attend a family wedding.

Major General B S Raju, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of Victor Force which is responsible for security in south Kashmir, had said on Saturday lat that more than 100 militants are active in that region.

"I am aware of the presence of the militants in the area (south Kashmir) and I must tell you that because of the high vegetation that is there, they are having slight amount of freedom but we are doing operations in a way to restrict their movement and subsequently neutralize them,? he had said.

Operations in south Kashmir have been intensified in the wake of videos of large groups of militants -- in some cases as many as 30 -- surfacing on the social media, despite a ban imposed by authorities on 22 such sites and applications.

Security agencies believed the videos had been shot in the south Kashmir area, mostly in the Shopian district. PTI MIJ AKK AKK

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The Sharia court said that both the men would be subjected to 85 lashes for having sexual relations.

By AP:



A Shariah court in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province has sentenced two gay men to public caning for the first time, further tarnishing the country's moderate image after a top Christian politician was imprisoned for blasphemy.

The court on Wednesday said the men, aged 20 and 23, would each be subjected to 85 lashes for having sexual relations. One of the men cried as his sentence was read out and pleaded for leniency. The chief prosecutor, Gulmaini, who goes by one name, said they will be caned next week, before Ramadan starts on about May 25.

Photo: AP/Heri Juanda

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The couple was arrested in late March after neighborhood vigilantes in the provincial capital Banda Aceh suspected them of being gay and broke into their rented room to catch them having sex. Mobile phone footage that circulated online and formed part of the evidence shows one of the men naked and visibly distressed as he apparently calls for help on his cellphone. The second man is repeatedly pushed by another man who is preventing the couple from leaving the room.

International human rights groups have described the treatment of the men as abusive and humiliating and called for their immediate release. Human Rights Watch said in April that public caning would constitute torture under international law. Prosecutors had asked that they receive 80 lashes.

The lead judge, Khairil Jamal, said the men were "legally and convincingly proven to have committed gay sex." He said the three-judge panel decided against imposing the maximum sentence of 100 lashes because the men were polite in court, cooperated with authorities and had no previous convictions.

Photo: AP/Heri Juanda Photo: AP/Heri Juanda

"As Muslims, the defendants should uphold the Shariah law that prevails in Aceh," Jamal said. Indonesia's reputation for practicing a moderate form of Islam has been battered in the past year due to attacks on religious minorities, a surge in persecution of gays and a polarizing election campaign for governor of the capital Jakarta that highlighted the growing strength of hard-line Islamic groups.

Earlier this month, the outgoing Jakarta governor, a minority Christian, was sentenced to two years in prison for campaign comments deemed as blaspheming the Quran. The judges also imposed a tougher sentence than sought by prosecutors who had ultimately downgraded the charge from blasphemy and asked for just two years of probation.

FYI fact: Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia allowed to practice Shariah law.

Why Sharia law is still practiced in Aceh?

This concession was made by the national government in 2006 to end a war with separatists, but other some other areas have introduced Shariah-style bylaws.

Aceh implemented an expanded Islamic criminal code two years ago that allows up to 100 lashes for morality offenses including gay sex.

Caning is also a punishment for adultery, gambling, drinking alcohol, women who wear tight clothes and men who skip Friday prayers. More than 300 people were caned for such offenses last year.

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Investigators were left baffled upon seeing a huge carcass of a mysterious sea creature that washed up on an island in Indonesia.

By India Today Web Desk: A giant mysterious dead body washed ashore in Huamual in Indonesia. The carcass left investigators in a fix but has now been identified.

The enormous sea creature was found last week in bloody water on the island of Seram. The enormous sea creature's dead body triggered a discussion on what the animal was as its body had badly decomposed

Screenshot: RT/YouTube

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People took wild guesses as some called it a giant squid and the guesses did not end there as people called it a whale and many even thought it was some long lost sea monster.

FYI || Emotional story behind viral photo showing a mother monkey holding her unconscious child ||

IDENTITY OF THE SEA MONSTER

Alexander Werth who is a whale biologist at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, believes the 22-meter carcass was likely a baleen whale in an advanced state of decomposition.

"There is lots of stuff in the ocean that we don't know about - but there's nothing that big," RT quoted Werth. According to Werth, the two prominent signs were the "throat pleats," and the upper jaw where the two racks of baleen plates, used for filtering out food in the whale's mouth, would have been.

However, what is the exact species of the baleen whale still remains unclear.

FYI || After an intense battle, dog sacrifices life to save Kerala family from cobra ||

Werth is of the view that it could be a blue whale or a Bryde's whale while Moe Flannery, collections manager in ornithology and mammalogy at the California Academy of Sciences, proposed it could be a fin whale.

Widder, CEO and senior scientist at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association told the Huffington Post that the images show what looks like baleen plates.

George Leonard, the chief scientist at the Ocean Conservancy, agreed that the remains most likely belong to a baleen whale.

FYI || Watch: Deadly python swallows man, police cuts open snake's stomach to retrieve his body ||

Indonesia's Office of Marine and Coastal Resources Management said upon the discovery that it was a suspected whale but a sample would be carried out to confirm its identity.

Watch: Mysterious sea monster carcass triggers confusion in Indonesia

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Farmers warn that if GM mustard is allowed, it will lead to increased use of chemicals, which will poison the leaves of Sarson Ka Saag, making them unfit for human consumption.

By Anand Patel: Hundreds of activists, who are part of the 'Sarson Satyagrah' movement to oppose GM Mustard, gathered outside the Paryavaran Bhawan, the building housing the Ministry of Environment and Forests in the national capital.

Organisations representing farmers and consumers are up in arms against the government-appointed Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which approved GM mustard last week.

A farmer by the name Praveen Arya travelled all the way from Jhajjar in Haryana with a few others to be part of the protest. He said, "I have seen fellow farmers using BT Cotton. They have been ruined. GM Mustard will be harmful for us as well. We will not be able use 'sarson ka saag' and use it as an oil since its genes have been modified."

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THE STORY IN DETAIL Farmers allege that mustard, being a winter crop, doesn't need pesticides, a reason why its leaves are used as a delicacy - the mouth-watering 'Sarson ka Saag' - since times immemorial. These farmers warn that if GM mustard is allowed, it will lead to increased use of chemicals, which will poison the leaves making them unfit for human consumption. Government has been claiming that GM mustard would increase productivity by four times and reduce our dependence on edible oil imports. Kavita Kurugranthi of Sarso Satyagrah says, "If the government is really keen on increasing oilseed productivity, it should correct policies. GM Mustard is a herbicide-tolerant genetically-modified variety. It means farmers will use more pesticides on this mustard crop, which will lead to more cost input and harm the environment as well, apart from stealing jobs from millions of women who work as labourers to remove weeds in our farms." The Kisan Sangh, an RSS-affiliate farmer body, is fiercely opposing GM Mustard. Badri Narayan Chaudhary, National General Secretary of the Sangh, says, "Government talks of doubling farmers' income, but whenever such an attempt has been made, farmers have suffered. This issue has not reached the Prime Minister properly, else it would have been addressed properly." So far, the only genetically-modified crop grown in the country is cotton. Farmers in Punjab had to suffer huge losses due to the white-fly attack in 2015. Environmental activist Vandana Shiva says, "BT cotton case is a good learning example. In some years, 95 per cent of the seed went into agriculture company Monsanto's hand. the company looted 7,000 crores out of India and left the farmers in debt. Farmers are committing suicides and now Monsanto is pretending to attack Indian companies. In fact, Monsanto is attacking India's sovereignty. As many as 3 lakh farmers have committed suicide, 84 per cent in BT Cotton area." While the GEAC approved GM mustard for commercial release, it is yet to be cleared by the ministry. Amita Prasad, additional secretary with the Environment Ministry and a member of GEAC, told India Today, "GEAC has done its job, all concerns have been discussed and now it has to be approved (by the minister). The decision is in conformity with the Niti Ayog policy for promoting technology in agriculture." While a number of NGOs and pro-farmer organisations are lobbying against GM mustard, think tanks working on global food security are supporting it. Avinash Kishore, a research fellow with US-based think tank on food policy International Food Policy Research Institute, says, "Research has shown there is not an iota of truth that GM food has any health hazards. We are already importing a lot of edible oil from Canada and Australia which is GM and there are no reported ill-effects on our health due to them. Now that we will grow GM Mustard in our own country, there is no basis to this apprehension that it will have any ill-effect on us. So far, there is no evidence worldwide that GM food has caused diseases or deaths." Kishore adds, "We should allow our governments and scientists to do their jobs and move ahead on a scientific basis, not on some preconceived notions. This alone should be our guiding principle."

Also read | AAP up in arms against genetically-modified mustard, says an attack on Punjab's identity

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Barkati has refused to step down as Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan mosque. The Muslim cleric said he has support of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

By Indrajit Kundu: "Hum Imam hai, kisi ka ghulam nahi," these were the words of a defiant Maulana Noor-ur-Rehman Barkati, Imam of the Kolkata's famous Tipu Sultan mosque after he was unceremoniously sacked from his post today.

Notorious for his instant fatwas, the motor mouth cleric was terminated from the post of Shahi Imam of the century old mosque by the Prince Ghulam Mohammed waqf estate which runs the mosque, citing gross misconduct.

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"His conduct was unbecoming of an Imam. An Imam is supposed to provide leadership to the community and not incite one against another. We have been trying to tone him down, we even issued show-cause notices but he did not relent," said Arif Ahmed, member of the mosque's Trustee Board.

The decision comes just a week after India Today reported how the controversial cleric continued using the red beacon on his vehicle flouting the ban imposed by the central government. "No one has the guts to arrest me," he had then said, when India Today asked him about the multiple police complaints filed against him for flouting the rule book and making hate speeches.

But despite the mosque board's decision, Barkati refuses to relent. Flanked by supporters who raised slogans in his favour, the cleric conducted the evening Namaz at the mosque. "You just saw how I conducted the namaz here. They (trustee) have no right to terminate me. An Imam can never be terminated," he announced.

Known for his proximity to chief minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress, Barkati blamed a section of the ruling party for conspiring against him.

"It's a conspiracy by a goonda, his name is Sultan Ahmed (Trinamool Congress MP). They are destroying the property of the wakf. They should be investigated," Barkati said, alleging that state minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury and TMC MP Nadimul Haque were also involved.

Last week, Triamool Congress minister and a key minority figure in Mamata's cabinet Siddiqullah Chowdhury had demonstrated outside the mosque against the Imam for his alleged pro-Pakistan remarks. Many saw it as an attempt by the party to counter BJP which has been targeting Mamata Banerjee citing her proximity to the cleric.

But despite his sudden tirade against the TMC leadership, Imam Barkati has pushed the ball in chief minister Mamata Banerjee's court. "Mamata se humko pyar hai. Party is not against me," he said on Wednesday adding that he will take the up with Banerjee soon after her return from the capital on Thursday.

Also Watch:

Also Read

'No one has the guts to arrest me': Kolkata Imam Barkati defies red beacon ban

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Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill presents its Summer of Beer three-part dinner series beginning this June at Downtown Summerlin. Each event will showcase a different brewer with beers paired with a coursed menu by Executive Chef Spencer Rudow.

Kicking off Tuesday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m., the first dinner will present four beer pairings provided by Kona Brewing Co. alongside a four-course luau-themed menu. With a portfolio that highlights The Big Island, the tropical tasting notes and fruit-forward aromas of Kona Brewing Co.s flavors will be expertly matched with Chefs collection of plates, transporting guests to a Hawaiian luau in the desert.

The menu will include Ahi Tuna Poke or Hawaiian tartare served as a traditional setup, Lau Lau Salmon, steamed in banana leaves, Kahlua Pig, whole roasted for up to 20 hours and Halo Halo, pineapple shaved ice with coconut tapioca pudding.
The latest issue of Vietnam Briefing Magazine, titled Payroll Management in Vietnam, is out now and currently available to subscribers as a complimentary download in the Asia Briefing Publication Store.

In this issue:

Vietnams Statutory Payroll Requirements

Emerging Challenges in Vietnamese Payroll

Expert Commentary: Understanding the Benefits of Payroll Outsourcing in Vietnam

As companies establish new operations in Vietnam, one of the first tasks for businesses is to put employees on the new entitys payroll.

This will allow new market entrants to engage local workers and bring in managerial staff from overseas. But payroll administration can quickly become a significant undertaking, even for those who are well versed in market expansion. Payroll compliance and the ever-changing regulatory environment are a challenge for any expanding business.

From individual income tax calculation to ensuring proper social security contributions, companies are required to conduct a variety of monthly compliance tasks to ensure that they are up to take with their statutory obligations. These areas of compliance can often be quite complex and take significant time to master, navigate, and implement effectively.

On top of regulatory complexity, Vietnams rapid growth and desire to attract investment has led to a steady overhaul of the countrys regulatory infrastructure. While this bodes well for the long-term prospects of investment within the country, staying up to date with relevant changes can become a continual struggle, particularly for small and medium sized enterprises.

In this edition of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss Vietnams current statutory requirements regarding payment, social insurance withholdings, and individual income taxation. We go on to explain the areas where compliance is likely to become a concern for HR managers. Finally, we describe the importance of payroll processing, touching on its adoption in Vietnam, the benefits of outsourcing, and the options available to those seeking to utilize payroll processing services.

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Managing Contracts and Severance in Vietnam

In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the prevailing state of labor pools in Vietnam and outline key considerations for those seeking to staff and retain workers in the country. We highlight the increasing demand for skilled labor, provide in depth coverage of existing contract options, and showcase severance liabilities that may arise if workers or employers choose to terminate their contracts.
The Income Tax Department has raided Kaleesuwari Refinery Oil Private Limited in Chennai. Raids are also in progress in three other Tamil Nadu cities.

By India Today Web Desk: The Income Tax Department raided Kaleesuwari Refinery Oil Private Limited in Chennai, ANI reported today.

Raids are also in progress in Madurai, Dindugal and Vellore, the news agency tweeted.

This comes a day after the I-T department conducted raids at 22 locations in Delhi and Gurgaon, in connection with benami land deals linked to Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

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Also on Tuesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the residences of former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in Chennai and Karaikudi respectively.

The raids were carried out in connection with the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approvals when Chidambaram was the finance minister in the former UPA government.

Besides Chennai and Karaikudi, locations in Delhi and Noida were also searched by the CBI.

CBI sleuths also raided former media honcho Peter Mukerjea's house in Mumbai hours after searches at Chidambaram's house.

ALSO READ | Stung by Income Tax raids, Lalu Prasad hits back, says will continue fight against 'fascist' BJP

ALSO READ | CBI raids Chidambaram, son Karti's residences; Modi government trying to silence my voice, says former minister

ALSO WATCH | Income Tax raids at Lalu Prasad, daughter Misa Bharti's houses over dubious land deals

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Cau Gie - Ninh Binh Highway. - VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung

The North-South Expressway is an important national project, which needs Government approval before submission to the Politburo and National Assembly, he said.

The Deputy PM asked the State appraisal council to promptly appraise the project and report back to the Government.

Additionally, the Ministry of Transport was asked to complete a report on the project for the Politburo and National Assembly, clarifying the total investment, progress schedule, significance of the project, and specific mechanisms needed for its successful implementation.

Ministries were also urged to send their ideas on mechanisms and policies for the project to the Ministry of Transport by May 15.

Binh also agreed on adding the Dau Giay-Phan Thiet section to the project, saying it will be discussed in another meeting. A national steering committee will be set up on the investment of the project led by Deputy Prime Minister Trinh inh Dung.

The committee will have responsibility for directing implementation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport will be in charge of conducting the project.

The State Bank of Viet Nam was assigned to propose measures to mobilise capital resources for the expressway, while monitoring the provision of credit to ensure investors responsibility in providing promised capital.

The ministries of Planning and Investment, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, Construction and other relevant ministries and agencies were requested to design supervision mechanisms for the implementation of the project in the form of build-operate-transfer (BOT).

Limited budget

According to experts, exhausting the investment sources of the State budget, banks and investors is the biggest obstacle facing the North-South Expressway project.

Total investment from the State and investors for the projects first phase reached more than VN140 trillion. Meanwhile, domestic investors lacked sufficient funds after investing in National Highway 1A and other BOT projects.

The Transport Ministry has proposed several specific mechanisms to solve the issues, such as guaranteeing investors benefits at 14 per cent or allowing investors to derive benefits from wayside stations along the expressway.

The ministry also proposed calling for investment from foreign investors. However, according to the ministry, through consultation, potential investors and international finance organisations said that Vietnamese legal regulations have changed dramatically, the national credit level remains low while land clearance procedures are complicated. Additionally, the cost and timescale of the project is not stable.

The Transport Ministry proposed three specific mechanisms for foreign investors  a turnover guarantee, an exchange rate guarantee and a guarantee for the third party on the Governments responsibility.

Mai Tuan Anh, general director of Viet Nam Expressway Corporation said that the company had submitted to the Transport Ministry a plan to sell highway fee collection rights (firstly on the Cau Gie-Ninh Binh highway) in order to invest in new expressways.
As the leading manufacturer and distributor of standard components for factory automation, what is your companys strategy in Vietnam?

Misumi is a one-stop solution provider for various manufacturing needs. We are proud to be the leading manufacturer and distributor of standard components for factory automation, press dies, and plastic moulds. Furthermore, we have expanded our scope to include electronics, tools, maintenance and repair, and operational consumables. Our firm supplies more than 10 million quality products to our customers worldwide.

To meet the growing demand for Misumi products in the region, Misumi Vietnam Co., Ltd. was established in July 2016. This has allowed us to provide better services to all of our valued customers in Vietnam, enabling them to enjoy shortened lead times in receiving our products for operational designs, machine assembly, and maintenance.

At Misumi, we support manufacturing operations by delivering high quality and low cost products and services in a reliable and timely fashion. We strive for continuous improvements in our offerings to better provide for our customers ever-changing needs.

Misumi Vietnam aims to assist firms in the manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on Japanese and Korean companies, by leveraging our existing business relationships in Japan and Korea.

In the longer term, we intend to penetrate local manufacturing firms to provide solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes. I believe Misumi Vietnam can contribute to the further development of supporting industries in Vietnam by providing high quality products with shortened lead times, transparent and reasonable prices, and offering a convenient purchasing experience.

What is your view on industrial production and trade in Vietnam, especially in field of factory automation?

I believe that the demand for factory automation will increase dramatically in the coming decade. Two key factors support this view.

One factor is that foreign direct investment (FDI) is at a healthy level. In 2016, it reached $15.6 billion, and what is favourable for us is that a large portion of this is contributed by major manufacturers that produce mobile phones, electrical machinery, and other types of electronic devices.

The second factor is the rising cost of labour in Vietnam. Labour costs increase 7-10 per cent every year in Vietnam, which affects companies that are vulnerable to global competition. Many corporate executives and managers mention lower labour costs, higher localisation, and increased automation as their three main targets for boosting long-term results.

Increased FDI and higher labour costs support our vision of a dramatic shift towards factory automation in the next decade.

Could you share with us your views on the current trends in investment, including opportunities for Vietnamese manufacturers within ASEAN and throughout the globe?

Good or bad, we cannot avoid global competition any longer. Thus, I believe any company that wishes to succeed must have a rapid and thorough response to global competition  and Vietnam is no exception.

I believe that Misumi Vietnam can be a tool for the Vietnamese manufacturing industry  not only as a source for the latest manufacturing products, but also as an information centre, as we compile the thoughts and opinions of many engineers and designers from around the world.

What do you look to get out of the Vietnam Manufacturing Expo 2017? What are the key products Misumi Vietnam will present there?

The Vietnam Manufacturing Expo 2017 is a great opportunity for us to increase the awareness in Misumi Vietnam for Vietnamese manufacturers.

We would like to communicate three points during the Expo. The first is that Misumi Vietnam offers more than three million components. Customers can search through our products, make comparisons, get price quotes, and purchase the best items from a variety of product lines. The second point we want to communicate is that Misumi Vietnam provides pre-assembled products and ships quickly, accurately, and free of charge. Finally, we want people to know that Misumi Vietnam provides many convenient services. Some examples include our e-catalogue, WOS (Web Ordering System), and CAD data (2D/3D) software. We provide our customers with quick price quotes and expedited technical schematics. Misumi Vietnam will continue to evolve locally to help customers search for and purchase our products.
Receiving Ambassador Sultan bin Saif bin Hilal Al Mahrouqi, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said he hopes the diplomat will help connect Omani investors with Vietnamese enterprises.



He noted that the capital city is calling for investment in a range of infrastructure projects on transport, clean water supply, environmental sanitation and waste treatment, adding that these projects will be carried out in the next five years.



Chung said Vietnam-Oman partnership will be included in the agenda of a conference on investment and development in Hanoi scheduled for June. He invited the diplomat to take part in the event.



The Omani ambassador accepted the invitation and affirmed that he will push for Omani investments in Hanoi through the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.



He stressed the potential of the Omani market and suggested Vietnamese firms export more tourism and food products to the Middle East country.
The conference is a highlight event for the Vietnamese private sector

Phuc told more than 2,000 delegates, including representatives of enterprises, ministries, and local and international organisations, that since his last meeting with the business community in Ho Chi Minh City in April last year, the local business climate has remarkably improved.

However, these achievements are still humble and are just the first results. There still exist numerous obstructions affecting enterprises performance, Phuc said.

We would like to receive your proposals and frank, hearty, and constructive advice, so that the business and investment climate can be further bettered, he said. The government will also enact a directive on better implementing Resolution 35 on improving the local business and investment environment.

Resolution 35, issued in May 2016, reflects the governments determination to support and develop the business community. It requires ministries and state management agencies to drastically reform procedures to facilitate enterprises operations.

Resolution 35 has also set the goals of raising the number of enterprises to one million by 2020 from the 515,000 at present. The private sector will contribute about 50 per cent of the GDP. Social labour productivity will increase by 5 per cent annually.

According to a survey conducted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in late 2016, 75 per cent of surveyed enterprises see the positive impacts of Resolution 35, and 25 per cent said that they were left unaffected.

The business community shared their issues with the PM at the dialogue

Nguyen Thi Nga - Chairman of BRG Group

As an enterprises owner, I am so thankful for the huge support from the PM and the government. Without them, the business community could not have become a driver of national growth.

Nevertheless, we see some obstacles facing our business.

First, to turn the private sector into an important driver of the economy, we wish the government would introduce some resolutions or documents to materialise the Resolution of the Fifth Party Central Meetings spirit, so that the private sector could be supported just like other economic sectors in Vietnam. It would recognise the important role of the private sector, especially as it accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the GDP at the moment.

Second, regarding the PMs previous commitment to abolish the criminalisation of civil and economic relationships, the PM said this is one of the government focuses and this policy is mentioned in Resolution 35.

We proposed the government to work out a detailed legal framework, regulations, and documents to protect companies, not criminalise their economic violations, so that companies will have a chance to fix their mistakes. This will enhance companies belief in the government and could also encourage investors to act with more confidence.

Jens Ruebbert - Chairman of EuroCham

Today we have a unique opportunity to do this and to take this partnership and friendship between Europe and Vietnam further with the coming EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, also known as the EVFTA. The EVFTA is immensely important and will provide fantastic opportunities to both sides. EuroCham is firmly committed to make the implementation of the agreement a great success and to fill it with life. Therefore, we are not only promoting the FTA in Vietnam, but also in Europe, in particular during our visit to Brussels and other European capitals in September this year. We believe that with the EVFTA, we will see a "new strong wave" of European investment into Vietnam, while when it comes to trade, the export-import turnover is expected to increase by 50 per cent in the next coming years. We would like to also raise the importance of our SMEs which constitute more than 70 per cent of our members, reflecting the backbone of European businesses and economies. Hence, as part of our strategy towards a successful implementation of the FTA, EuroCham is closely cooperating with VCCI on an action plan to bring European and Vietnamese SMEs closer together, not only in the large business hubs of Vietnam, but in the provinces as well.

At EuroCham, we have been following your guidance and implementation of Resolution 35 with great attention. Since 2016, we have really seen positive efforts and changes, and a very modern, open-minded, practical, and constructive approach. Overall, your government has been clearly business-minded, having the good of the people at heart, a stance that we truly welcome. This year, EuroCham published the 9th Edition of its yearly Whitebook, the Chambers compilation of issues and recommendations from our Sector Committees towards building a great business environment in Vietnam. Among them, much work has been put into identifying key topics and provide recommendations from the perspective of business professionals, in particular in the areas of healthcare, food safety, green technology, education, intellectual property rights, and the Vietnamese legal and tax framework.

We believe their practical experience in doing business in the country constituted a valuable input, one that may help the government assess the formulation, application, and enforcement of regulations and policies. Retrieving information from the ground and on how things are working is to collect actionable facts that can be used to ultimately improve the business environment in Vietnam.

Karashima Hiroshi - Chairman of the Japan Business Association in Vietnam

More transparency and fairness in the implementation and interpretation of laws and regulations must be promoted in Vietnam.

According to a Japan Bank of International Cooperation-led survey on Japanese companies, Vietnam is ranked fourth among the countries with the best investment outlook in the mid-term. The top suggestion fed-in by Japanese firms looking to invest in Vietnam is to improve transparency, operational standards, and the interpretation of Vietnamese laws.

The catalyst for effective investment in Vietnam is to clarify interpretation and implementation of laws and regulations.

Jonathan Moreno - Chairman of AmCham Vietnam

AmCham would like to express our appreciation for the intentions and results of the governments Resolution 35 on supporting businesses. This effort, as recently noted by our partners at VCCI, demonstrates the governments commitment to action and integrity in service of business in order to make businesses a real driving force of the economy.

The American business community is proud of our contribution to the development of the Vietnamese economy. Trade between our two countries surpassed $52 billion last year, up 16 per cent year-over-year. We are confident that the upward growth trend of trade and investment relations between the US and Vietnam will continue, and can strengthen.

A new US President took office recently, and while we regret that the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement has stalled, AmCham believes there are new paths forward to increase trade and investment between the US and Vietnam.

Among other things, we support a free trade agreement between our two countries. For an FTA to move forward, it will need to be viewed as fair by all parties. The American business community in Vietnam stands ready to do our part to make this goal a reality. Our first step takes place later this week, when AmCham, VCCI, and the US Chamber of Commerce will join officials from both governments to emphasise the importance of the US-Vietnam economic relationship and to hold in-depth discussions on ways to further develop trade and investment between our countries.

For Vietnam to maintain competitiveness in the US and other global markets, your Excellency has correctly identified the importance of managing the costs of doing business. In order for Vietnam to take full advantage of the markets that are open to it, non-productive red tape must be controlled. Vietnamese and foreign-invested businesses alike need a supportive environment to thrive, and as you well know, that means their relationship with the administrative agencies should be mutually supportive. You have had great success in the past with Project 30 and other administrative procedure reform initiatives. Our enterprises have appreciated these initiatives and today we would like to urge some specific additional procedural reforms.

AmCham supports the APEC activities in Vietnam this year that also present a great opportunity to highlight Vietnams economic progress.

Le Van Kiem - Chairman of Long Thanh Golf Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company and the Vietnam Veterans Business Association

To implement highway projects, we need a huge amount of capital, which domestic banks cannot supply.

Our company has been cooperating with a big Japanese firm in infrastructure construction. We have agreed that the Japanese partner will provide us with billions of dollars to implement some of our projects. Also, we will purchase some BOT projects managed by state-owned companies in order to cooperate with the government to implement them. However, one of the difficulties when implementing these projects is that they have to be constructed over a long period, at the risk of heavy exchange rate fluctuations.

Thus, we expect to receive the governments guarantee in terms of exchange rate, whereby in case of big fluctuations, investors can extend the period during which they can collect tolls.

Nguyen Van De - Chairman of Hop Luc Corporation and chairman of the Thanh Hoa Business Association

The government should increase the number of personnel that work directly with enterprises. State employees are too often not available at work. Please encourage the competitive selection to fill in state employment positions so that capable state employees can rise up, just like the prime minister orders.

The government should not join in business fields that the private sector is capable of handling. They should create equality between public and private hospitals, ensuring that the process of examination and treatment as stipulated by the Ministry of Health and the Vietnam Social Insurance Agency is consistent. In addition, the government should amend regulations on providing healthcare services to the poor, as well as regulations on allowing people to receive healthcare services at any hospital, not just the hospital they registered on their medical insurance plan.

The government should specify the responsibility of localities in receiving and handling the complaints of enterprises.

Nguyen Van Than - Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises

The small and medium business community in Vietnam is facing many difficulties, but costs are the biggest obstacle.

Although many steps have been taken to improve the business environment, compliance costs remain high, accounting for a large proportion of companies business cost structure. Especially, unofficial costs mainly related to procedures in land access, taxation, and customs, remain a big problem.

This has negatively affected the cost of production, inadvertently pushing up the price of the product, directly affecting the benefits of consumers. There are many reasons leading to the appearance of these unofficial costs. In terms of public servants, unprofessional, irresponsible staff with low wages ask companies to pay these fees despite the clear regulations of the government. Meanwhile, the enterprises themselves believe that making such payments is necessary to gain their targets easier.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Han Myoung-Sup, General Director of Samsung Vietnam

PM Phuc highlighted Samsungs significant contributions to Vietnams export turnover and job generation.



Applauding Samsungs investment expansion in the country, the leader suggested the group support Vietnam in training and technology transfer, thus enabling local support industry firms, especially small and medium-sized ones, to enhance links and join the supply of materials and components, tourism service and other services for Samsung.



He asked the group to accelerate the implementation of the Samsung Research and Development (R&D) centre in line with pledged progress so to help promote R&D activities in electricity and electronics in Vietnam.



Vietnam will continue supporting Samsungs investment expansion in the country, thus maintaining and boosting the export of Samsungs products manufactured in Vietnam, Phuc affirmed, calling the group to make more efforts for its future stable and constant development to contribute to Vietnams economic development.



For his part, Han Myoung-Sup briefed the host on Samsungs operation in Vietnam in recent time, saying that the firms export and revenue recovered in the first months of this year after the Galaxy Note 7 incident with its export expected to hit US$11 billion in the second quarter.



Samsung Display Vietnam (SDV), a subsidiary of Samsung Vietnam, which has a total investment of US$6.5 billion, is striving to expand its investment, he said.



Samsung Vietnam has set to rake in US$60 billion in revenue and US$50 billion in export turnover in 2017, he noted.



According to the general director, as many as 107,000 Vietnamese are working at factories of Samsung Vietnam. The group plans to recruit more local workers to serve its future production expansion scheme.



He said he hopes that the Vietnamese Government, ministries and sectors will create favourable conditions for Samsung Vietnam in general and SDV in particular to effectively operate in the country.
Viet Nam has proposed an initiative on building an e-commerce facilitation framework within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation which is expected to contribute to facilitating trade and investment and become a driving force for the regions economic development. - Photo doanhnhansaigon.vn

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trades E-commerce and Information Technology Agency, trans-border e-commerce is seen as the fastest growing sector in world commerce. Over the past two decades, the global e-commerce value has been estimated at US$1.92 trillion.

The Asia-Pacific region has recorded the largest transaction volume in the world, followed by West Europe and North America. E-commerce revenue from the business-to-consumer (B2C) model was $144 billion in Asia-Pacific last year, accounting for approximately 35.9 per cent of the global B2C value. These figures are expected to rise to $467 billion and 47.9 per cent, respectively, by 2020.

The APEC leaders have realised the significance of e-commerce in increasing the competitiveness of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises; in promoting sustainable growth; and in accelerating extensive and intensive regional economic connectivity.

Against this backdrop, Viet Nam has proposed an initiative on the building of an e-commerce facilitation framework, which focuses on five pillars.

The pillars include: finalising and harmonising legal frameworks on e-commerce in APEC member economies; strengthening capacity-building to enable APEC economies to support micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises to join the trans-border e-commerce market in the region and around the world; promoting cross-border protection of individual data via the implementation of the APECs current programmes; facilitating non-paper trade in the region; and dealing with newly arising issues in cross-border e-commerce.

The e-commerce facilitation framework within the APEC is one of the highlights of the 2017 APEC. It is expected to contribute to facilitating trade and investment and become a driving force for the regions economic development.

The APEC was established with the goal of promoting sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. The 2017 APEC Year is a pivotal event celebrating 20 years of Viet Nams APEC membership.
Previously, on April 21, the Party Central Committees Secretariat announced the conclusion on disciplinary actions against the personnel of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environments Party Committee and several officials involved in the Formosa environmental incident in four provinces in the Central Coast of Vietnam.

Based on the seriousness of these violations, the Party Central Committees Secretariat decided to dismiss Cu from his post as member of the Ha Tinh Party Committee in two tenures of 2005-2010 and 2010-2015, as well as Deputy Secretary and Secretary of the Ha Tinh Party Committee.

The conclusion of the Secretariat stated that Vo Kim Cu had personally signed many documents violating the law on issuing investment certificates, allocation and leasing marine areas, permitting Formosa to install illegal waste pipes during site clearance, lacking directions and not monitoring the projects progress.

Previously, before the environmental incident in April 2016, the Vietnamese Fatherland Front introduced and nominated Vo Kim Cu as a representative of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance. On the election on May 22, 2016, Cu was elected at the deputy of the 14th National Assembly, with 75 per cent of the valid votes from Hong Linh town of Vu Quang, Huong Son, and Duc Tho districts in Ha Tinh.

According to the Law on Organisation of the NA, deputies can relinquish the position due to health or other reasons, but the final decision will be made by the NA. If the application is submitted when the National Assembly does not have any meetings, the NAStanding Committee will decide and report to the NA at the next meeting.
Pakistan's envoy to the US Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry blamed India for derailing the peace process between the two neighbouring nations and said his country was ready to restart the dialogue process.

By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan's envoy to the US Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry has blamed India for stalling peace process between the two neighbouring countries adding that Islamabad was ready to restart the dialogue process with New Delhi.

"The bilateral ties were affected due to the delay in the negotiations process. However, Pakistan is ready for dialogue," Chaudhry said speaking during a program organized by World Affairs Council in Washington.

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The top diplomat also raked up the Kashmir issue, saying his country will 'continue its diplomatic, political and ethical support to Kashmiris whatever the attitude of India maybe'.

"India is using force and committing horrendous human rights violations in Kashmir. Indian forces have blinded approximately 1000 Kashmiris using pellet guns," The Express Tribune quoted Chaudhry, as saying.

Describing terrorism as a common enemy for both India and Pakistan, he stressed that the two nuclear-power nations 'need to fight the enemy together'.

HEIGHTENED TENSION BETWEEN INDIA, PAKISTAN

The statement from the Pakistani diplomat regarding his country's readiness for bilateral talks to resume comes at a time when India and Pakistan are locked in a bitter battle at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence.

Tension between the two nations continues to simmer as the unrest in the Kashmir Valley refuses to die down. India has often claimed that Pakistan is behind the tension in the region.

An India Today investigation had also exposed how Pakistan was funding stone pelters to create trouble in Kashmir. India Today's special report showed several top Kashmiri separatist leaders admitting that they received funds from across the border.

WATCH: Kulbhushan Jadhav case: German diplomat criticises Pakistan for not allowing India consular access ALSO READ:

Pakistan will pour oil in fire if it hangs Kulbhushan Jadhav before ICJ verdict, says ex-German ambassador Mulack

How India argued against Pakistan for Kulbhushan Jadhav at International Court of Justice

Caught on Camera: How Pakistan funds Kashmiri separatists to burn the Valley - India Today Exclusive

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With deteriorating ties with Pakistan, its closeness with China and the latter's aggressive military exercises and an increase in Indo-China border patrolling, the Indian Air Force has decided to deploy Rafale jets in Ambala and Hasimara. IAF's plan to station the fighter jets at eastern and western front will make it combat ready.

By Ajit Kumar Dubey: Faced with a two-front war scenario against Pakistan and China, the Indian Air Force is going to deploy its latest Rafale combat aircraft at Ambala in Haryana and Hasimara in West Bengal.

In September 2016, India signed a deal with French Dassault Aviation to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets for close to Rs 60,000 crore to arrest the fall of combat squadrons and meet urgent requirements on the eastern and western fronts.

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"One squadron (comprising 18 aircraft) would be based in Ambala, while the other would be deployed at Hashimara. These would cater to requirements on both the fronts," a government official told Mail Today.

INDIAN MILITARY BRACES ITSELF

After aggressive patrolling by the Chinese on the eastern and northern borders and its increasing defence ties with Pakistan, the Indian military has been preparing itself for a two-front war and developing infrastructure on both sides.

The earlier plan was to deploy one squadron at Sarsawa air base in Uttar Pradesh, but that did not work out due to land acquisition issues, after which Ambala was chosen. The Ambala base has some jaguar aircraft squadrons catering to the western front.

On the eastern front, the Hasimara air base close to the China border would see Rafale planes replacing the exisiting MiG 27 squadrons, which are on their way out of the air force.

In presentations given to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) before the acquisition was finalised, the service had stressed that on the China front, it would require a plane like Rafale due to its long range capabilities. The Air Force has rated Rafale planes higher than Su-30 MKIs, 272 of which have been ordered by India from Russia.

INDIA ASKS FOR ADVANCE DELIVERY

On the Chinese front, the PLA Air Force bases are deep inside the Tibetan plateau with the nearest base being over 150 km away from the Indian border. Sources said the French aircraft manufacturer has already started the process of building the aircraft, and they are supposed to be delivered from September 2019 onwards.

"We are requesting the French to advance the deliveries to meet our requirements and hope to get a positive reply," the official added.

The process of developing the infrastructure at air force bases has also started and they would be ready by the time the aircraft fly in for operational service. The Air Force has already started the process of replacing its ageing fleet of MiG series planes on the eastern and western fronts, as it has been replacing the old MiG-21 variants with Sukhoi-30s acquired from Russia. On the eastern front, where aircraft with long range capability are required, the IAF has already based Su-30MKIs at Tezpur and Chhabua air fields, while it has deployed them close to the Pakistan front in Sirsa (Haryana), Halwara (Punjab) and Jodhpur (Rajasthan). The planes also operate from Leh, bordering both Pakistan and China and are capable of swift deployment in no time.

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Also read: Rafale to give Indian Air Force edge over Pakistan

Also read: 36 Rafale jets not enough, India needs 200-250 to maintain combat edge: IAF chief Arup Raha

Also watch: How Rafale fighter jets will add extra wings to Indian Air Force

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Thailand backed off a threat to block Facebook on Tuesday, instead providing the social media site with court orders to remove content that the government deems illegal.

Thailand made the threat last week as it wanted Facebook to block more than 130 posts it considers a threat to national security or in violation of the country's lese majeste law, which makes insults to the monarchy punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Thailand's military government has made prosecuting royal insults a priority since seizing power in a coup three years ago.

Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of Thailand's broadcast regulator, said Facebook had requested the court orders before it would take action but he expected the social media giant would comply with the government's demands.

"Facebook have shown good cooperation with us," Takorn told reporters.

Emails and calls seeking confirmation from Facebook were not immediately returned.

The regulator last week demanded that Facebook remove more than 130 illegal posts by Tuesday or face legal action that could shut down the site. In a change of tactic, Takorn said that Thailand had forwarded 34 court orders to Facebook so far.

"The websites that need to be taken down are not only for those that are a threat to stability but they also include other illegal websites such as porn and websites that support human-trafficking which take time to legally determine," Takorn said.

Thai authorities try to take pre-emptive actions against material they consider illegal, having local internet service providers block access or reaching agreements with some online services such as YouTube to bar access to certain material in Thailand.

Much of that is content deemed in violation of the country's lese majeste law, the harshest in the world. The military government has charged more than 100 people with such offenses since the coup and handed down record sentences. Many of those cases have been based on internet postings or even private messages exchanged on Facebook.

Last month, Thai authorities declared it illegal to exchange information on the internet with three prominent government critics who often write about the country's monarchy.

Facebook, which is blocked in a number of authoritarian countries such as North Korea, has said it relies on local governments to notify the site of information it deems illegal.

"If, after careful legal review, we find that the content is illegal under local law we restrict it as appropriate and report the restriction in our Government Request Report," Facebook has said in past statements outlining its policy.
Protests erupted over the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, over a decision by the city to remove monuments to Civil War Confederate generals and leaders. This was the latest such protest over the removal of these monuments in different parts of the southern United States, monuments many view as racially divisive. More from VOA's Kevin Enochs.
When Hurricane Sandy swept over Long Island, New York, in October 2012, power was knocked out and traffic lights were inoperable. While driving in her car, Stony Brook University student Vishwaja Muppa, 21, was struck by a police car and later died. The death of Muppa, from India, was one of 53 that were blamed on the storm.

On Stony Brook's campus, damage was limited and students who sheltered remained safe. But university officials took the hurricane's visit as a wake-up call and planned a state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Stony Brook hired two security technology firms, VCORE Solutions and IntraLogic Solutions, to install equipment and software that would bring separate monitoring and communications systems under one roof.

"All the things we have in different silos, managed by different systems, are imported into one virtual environment," Larry Zacarese, director of emergency management at Stony Brook, told VOA.

From the command center during Hurricane Sandy, Zacarese had little contact with other parts of the campus or local emergency responders off campus, he said. The new system shows images from cameras throughout campus and projects them on several monitors mounted across a 6-meter-long wall.

Eyes everywhere

The system is regarded as a model and has been studied by other universities. Among the devices linked electronically are entry codes on hundreds of doors across campus, Global Positioning System units, fire alarms, video cameras and large, flat-screen television sets. The information from cameras and sensors is projected onto a large computer screen that shows the entire campus from above, including each building.

"We have a three-dimensional world overlaid on top of satellite imagery of our campus," Zacarese said.

Software allows operators in the command center to expand each image and go into a building, checking its characteristics and the status of its sensors and alarms on each floor.

The system also allows the Emergency Operations Center to communicate in 15 ways with students across campus, utilizing social media, text messages, public address speakers and the 175 flat-screen television panels across campus. Operators can use the screens to warn students and faculty of a problem. They can use screens at all locations, or only at one site.

"If there is a fire in a chemistry lab," Zacarese said, "we could communicate specifically to people in the chemistry building, as well as those in the immediate vicinity outside."

Violence on campus

Zacarese said Stony Brook's security system is vital in responding to violence and protecting those on campus. Last year, threatening messages of a "terroristic nature" appeared at a campus bus stop, he said. Using the information from cameras and other devices, police were able to identify the perpetrator and arrest him.

"In less than three hours," Zacarese said, "we had someone in custody."

There are more than 25,000 students enrolled at Stony Brook during a normal semester, but adding faculty and staff, campus population swells to about 50,000.

"The population size of this campus is essentially as big or bigger than some small cities," Zacarese said.

The high-tech Emergency Operations Center can also be useful in police and fire investigations, he said, because investigators can use recorded data to find evidence and trace suspects.
Residents of an Oklahoma subdivision and a Wisconsin trailer park that were leveled by deadly tornadoes sifted through what remained of their homes and possessions Wednesday, even as forecasters warned of another round of powerful storms on the horizon.

The twisters were among up to 29 that were reportedly spawned by powerful storms that raced through a swath of the central U.S. stretching from Texas to the Great Lakes on Tuesday evening, destroying dozens of homes, killing two people and injuring dozens of others.

The tornadoes, some of them still unverified a day later, touched down in five states: Wisconsin and Oklahoma, which each had one death and about 40 homes destroyed, and Texas, Kansas and Nebraska. The governors of Wisconsin and Oklahoma toured the destruction in their states on Wednesday, and residents were allowed to sift through the wreckage.

'Constant thunder'

The tornado that struck Elk City, a community of about 13,000 people roughly 110 miles (180 kilometers) west of Oklahoma City, sounded like "constant thunder," said local Dennis Knight, a retired sheriff's deputy.

Knight said that when the winds died down and he emerged from his cellar, he saw one of his metal barns had been tossed on top of one of his other barns. His home was fine, but his camper had been hurled across the street and ripped to shreds.

One of Knight's neighbors, 53-year-old Bo Mikles, was killed while he was apparently fleeing his home in his truck, which was thrown several hundred feet, said Danny Ringer, the Elk City Fire Department chaplain.

"As a community we'll pull together. It's always been a resilient community and the people are willing to help each other," said Knight.

A tornado also ripped through a mobile home park near the northwestern Wisconsin city of Chetek, about 110 miles (180 kilometers) northeast of Minneapolis. It destroyed dozens of homes, killed a man, 46-year-old Eric Gavin, and injured at least 25 other people, some seriously, authorities said.

Dale Daily, 61, said he heard the warning siren about a half-hour before the tornado hit the mobile home park. He said he and his wife drove away to safety and returned just after the twister left the area to find the park in ruins.

Daily said he walked among the debris and helped free a man who was buried under a refrigerator and debris.

"He had some bad head trauma going on and I didn't want him to go to sleep," Daily said.

Business spared this time

Gary Schulz, who owns a rental storage business near the Prairie Lake Estate Mobile Home Park, said a twister claimed his business eight years ago but spared it this time around. Many of his neighbors in the trailer park weren't so fortunate.

"It was just chaos. It was just people searching for family members, for their pets, belongings," Schulz said of the aftermath.

Several poultry barns at a turkey processing plant across the street from the trailer park were badly damaged, and turkeys could be seen wandering in the debris.

One of the tornadoes that touched down Tuesday night destroyed about 20 homes in central Kansas.

Barton County spokeswoman Donna Zimmerman said the tornado that formed near Pawnee Rock remained on the ground for up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) before dissipating. She said initial reports were that it was more than 400 feet (120 meters) wide, and that it was "very fortunate" that it didn't strike in a more populated area.

In eastern Nebraska, winds damaged homes, farms and businesses and left thousands of people without electricity. Gusts of 85 mph (135 kph) were recorded at the weather service's office in Valley, west of Omaha. Lightning blew siding and bricks off a home in Lincoln and a funnel cloud was spotted about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of the city, near Exeter, but no damage was reported.

In Iowa, the storms damaged homes and other buildings and knocked down trees, limbs and power poles, leaving thousands of people without power. The Iowa State Patrol said the strong winds knocked over some semitrailers on Interstate 29, which runs north-south along the Missouri River.

Two supercells

Tuesday's storms were part of two supercells that formed in the Texas Panhandle before moving to the north and east. National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Hultquist said the storms covered so much ground and were so powerful because of a combination of factors, including the dry Texas air that fed them and strong winds in the Great Lakes area.

The region could be in for more potentially damaging storms on Wednesday and Thursday. Hultquist said a low-pressure system moving north from Nebraska on Wednesday was expected to bring strong thunderstorms to southeastern Minnesota and western portions of central and southern Wisconsin.

"There is definitely the potential for all the severe weather hazards," including tornadoes and hail, Hultquist said.

The weather service's Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma said storms with the potential to spawn tornadoes and dump large hail stones could hit the region Thursday.
The New York Times reported Tuesday that President Donald Trump asked former FBI director James Comey to let go of the investigation into former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn, and since then, opposition lawmakers have been lining up to accuse Trump of obstructing justice.

Adding to their dismay, Trump fired Comey last week, citing the Russia investigation as his primary motivation.

When I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, Trump said in an interview with NBC. It's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.

The Russia investigation is technically separate from the investigation into Flynn, although the two are related.

Another Times report last week cited anonymous sources who claimed Trump asked Comey to pledge his loyalty to the president during a one-on-one dinner in January, shortly after Trump was inaugurated. Comey declined, according to the sources.

The day after that Times report was published, Trump seemingly threatened Comey on Twitter, saying Comey better hope that there are no tapes of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press."

Trump has denied any wrongdoing in his firing of Comey, and on Tuesday the White House denied Trump asked Comey to end the investigation.

The president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, the White House said in a statement.

Despite the White House denials, some opposition lawmakers are questioning whether Trump's actions amount to obstruction of justice, and even calling for his removal from office.

On CNN Tuesday night, Sen. Angus King said Trump's actions, if true, run very close to the legal definition of obstruction of justice, and said Trump could potentially face impeachment proceedings.

Rep. Al Green on Wednesday called for Trump's impeachment on the House floor over allegations of obstruction of justice. He said it wasn't for political purposes, but rather because he believes in the great ideals this country stands for.

Here's a brief legal explainer in a question-and-answer format about what constitutes obstruction of justice, and the potential consequences Trump could face.

What is obstruction of justice?

Obstruction of justice is a federal crime covering interference with official government proceedings. It is defined broadly as the attempt to "influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice" in a corrupt or threatening manner.

Is Trump guilty of obstruction?

It's unclear. First, it would need to be established that Trump acted in a corrupt manner, and as Andrew McCarthy, a former federal prosecutor, wrote in conservative publication National Review, that is extremely difficult to do.

I do think obstruction of justice, to anyone who has had to prove it in court, is not easy. It has a lot to do with intent, with the context in which things are said and perhaps, the most important word in the statute: corruptly, he wrote.

According to McCarthy, nothing reported so far would, in itself, constitute obstruction of justice.

A prosecutor wouldn't make a decision on the basis of one hearsay line in a memo that has not been publicly available and that no one knows the context of, he wrote.

But as Ryan Goodman, a law professor at New York University, pointed out in Politico: If taken together, Trump's alleged comments to Comey regarding his allegiance and Trump's alleged request that Comey drop the Flynn investigation, prior to Trump's dismissal of Comey, could help establish intent.

Was the president's expressing his hope an exercise of coercion or pressure? It definitely was if it involved an implicit threat that Comey's job was on the line. The events before and after that meeting suggest that's exactly what it was about, Goodman wrote.

Those subsequent actions help prove that yes, indeed, the president was threatening the FBI director with his job that day.

Could Trump be indicted?

Unlikely. An opinion written by the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Council in 2000 concluded that a sitting president is immune from indictment or federal prosecution.

According to the memo, written by then-assistant Attorney General Randolph D. Moss, a sitting President is immune from indictment as well as from further criminal process, noting that only Congress has the authority to bring charges of criminal misconduct against a president through the impeachment process.

Could Trump be impeached?

Yes. Obstruction of justice accusations were used to bring impeachment proceedings against both Bill Clinton in 1998, and Richard Nixon in 1974.

Whether Trump could be impeached over his alleged wrongdoing will come down to a political decision in Congress. Goodman says that is where things start to get murky.

Congress may define impeachable offenses more broadly than anything that's in the federal criminal code and members must satisfy only their own consciences' with respect to the president's guilt rather than any hard standard of proof.

In essence, the standard for impeachment boils down to whether a majority of the House and two-thirds of the Senate think Trump's actions should see him removed from power.

There is no real legal hurdle to pass during impeachment proceedings, but given the current Republican majorities in both houses of Congress, Goodman called a Trump impeachment a most unlikely prospect.
Following a bombshell revelation that President Trump may have asked then-FBI Director James Comey to drop the agency's probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, a powerful Republican Congressional committee chairman has asked the FBI to hand over Comeys notes on the incident within a week.

In a letter to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, House Oversight Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) demanded that all memoranda, summaries, and recording, referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the President be made available to the committee by May 24.

The New York Times broke the story late Tuesday, reporting that Comey had written a memo detailing his conversation with Trump a day after Flynn resigned under fire last February. The Times story said the memo was part of a paper trail Comey created to document his perception that the presidents request was improper.

Several legal analysts have argued that any such request could be considered obstruction of justice, an impeachable offense. Representative Adam Schiff of California, ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said at a news conference Tuesday, "if true, this is yet another disturbing allegation that the president may have engaged in some interference or obstruction of the investigation."

The Times reported that an FBI agents contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations.

The Trump White House swung into crisis mode after the story broke. A statement issued Tuesday evening did not directly refer to the Times report, but denied that Trump had asked Comey or anyone else to end the Flynn probe.

While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, the statement said. The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey.

In a separate statement issued at the same time, the administration pointed out that then deputy FBI Director McCabe had told a Senate committee last week that the White House had not interfered with any investigation.

FBI controversy

Trump abruptly fired Comey last week, creating a firestorm of political controversy and increasing calls for a special prosecutor or independent commission to look into any Russia-Trump connections.

White House officials have stressed that the Russia probe had nothing to do with Trumps firing of Comey, although Trump himself has suggested in interviews that it was at least partly a motivation.

Colleagues of Comey have said the former FBI director took careful notes of meetings, especially politically sensitive ones, and there have been reports in recent weeks suggesting that such memos existed.

Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak before Trump took office.

A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment on the details of the Comey memo.

Reaction from Congress

News of the reported Comey allegations prompted swift reaction on Capitol Hill. Several key Republican Senators seemed to question Comeys reported version of events.

The director might have told us that thered been a request like that, and it was never mentioned by him, said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC). So somebodys going to have to do more than have anonymous sources on this one for me to believe that theres something there.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a frequent Trump critic, said, If this happened, the FBI director should have done something about it or quit.

Seeking independent investigation

But for House Democrats, the revelations are just the newest reason on a long list that should move Congress to pass legislation creating an independent investigation into Russian election interference.

On the floor of the Senate, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he was shaken by reports that Trump tried to shut down an active investigation. The country is being tested in unprecedented ways history is watching," Schumer said.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted, "If reports are true, Trump's attempts to shut down the FBI's Flynn investigation is an assault on the rule of law."

There already have been calls for Trump to turn over records of any conversations with Comey. That was especially the case after Trump, in a tweet earlier this week, appeared to threaten Comey into silence with the existence of what he said could be tapes of their conversations.

It is the latest controversy to embroil the White House, which also has been dealing with the fallout over reports suggesting that Trump divulged sensitive information during a meeting with Russian officials last week.

The controversies threaten to distract from Trumps first overseas trip, which begins later this week.
The case of a U.S. pastor jailed in western Turkey since October after lawyers say the government deemed him a "security risk" has been elevated to the highest levels of U.S.-Turkey diplomacy.

The White House and the legal team for American Protestant missionary Andrew Brunson said U.S. President Donald Trump raised concerns about his detention during meetings with his Turkish counterpart this week.

"President Trump raised the incarceration of Pastor Andrew Brunson and asked that the Turkish Government expeditiously return him to the United States," the White House said in a statement after Trump met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington on Tuesday.

Authorities and representatives of the Protestant Christian community in Turkey say Brunson, who has been a Protestant missionary in Turkey for more than 20 years, is being held at an Izmir detention facility in isolation. He and his wife, Norine Brunson, who led the Protestant Resurrection Church in the city of Izmir, were detained October 7, Turkish officials confirmed to VOA. Norine Brunson was released October 20 and has since pursued her husband's freedom.

Alleged ties to Gulen

In a statement to the United Nations on May 15, the legal Christian advocacy group, American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), said Brunson was told that he was being detained as a "national security risk." His "detention appears to be related to his work as a Christian minister," the statement said.

Brunson was charged in December with belonging to what the Turkish government calls the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO). Gulen, a moderate Islamic preacher and Turkish citizen who lives in Pennsylvania legally, is accused by the Turkish government to be the mastermind behind the July 15 coup attempt. Turkey has been seeking Gulen's extradition.

Tens of thousands of Turks have been arrested, suspended or fired from their jobs under a state of emergency imposed by the government following that failed coup attempt. Christian groups in Turkey told VOA they are being targeted by the conservative Muslim-dominated government.

Officials in Ankara have not responded to several VOA requests for comment in Brunson's case.

Appeal to Trump

Through his attorneys, Brunson in March appealed to Trump for help.

"Will the Turkish government face no consequence for stubbornly continuing to hold an American citizen as a political prisoner?" Brunson asked in a statement. "I appeal to President Trump: please help me. Let the Turkish government know that you will not cooperate with them in any way until they release me. Please do not leave me here in prison."

ACLJ counsel met with Trump last week on behalf of Brunson.

Jordan Sekulow, ACLJ executive director, told VOA on Wednesday that Brunson's case was brought up "three times" during Tuesday's U.S.-Turkey meeting  "twice by the president and once by the Vice President [Mike] Pence," he said.

Brunson's supporters don't know how Erdogan responded or will respond to the U.S. demand, Sekulow said.

"President Trump is actively engaged with this issue," he said. "We are very encouraged by our government's position. This is not over until Andrew Brunson is free."

Bulent Aliriza, the director of the Turkey Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA that it would be a diplomatic success for Trump if Brunson is released.

"This shows that for Trump, this is an important issue," he said, adding that it plays to evangelical voters who backed Trump in November.

But Turkish analyst Metehan Demir said that given the U.S. stance of not acting on Turkey's request for Gulen's extradition, it could be a long time until Brunson is released.

"Both sides will continue to observe how the other side will move for some time," he said.

The pastor's wife said she remains optimistic.

"I am grateful that you are praying and I have heard of some who are fasting," Norine Brunson said in a web post late Tuesday. "Do continue to pray for the meeting between the two presidents. Pray for peace for Andrew and for me."
For weeks, most Republican lawmakers limited their comments about the crisis-plagued Trump administration to vague expressions of concern  if they commented at all. That common stance began to shift late Tuesday after media reports surfaced that former FBI director James Comey had written memos alleging President Donald Trump pressured him to halt an investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn's ties to Russia.

Hours later, one of the Republican Party's elder statesmen, Senator John McCain, raised eyebrows by comparing Trump's woes to those of former President Richard Nixon, who resigned in 1974.

"I think it's reaching the point where it [Trump controversies] is of Watergate size and scale," McCain said. "Every couple of days there is a new aspect of this really unhappy situation."

Democrats, meanwhile, are making an increasingly lengthy list of demands for a full accounting of Comey's firing, Trump's alleged meddling in the Russia probe, the intelligence the president shared last week with Russian officials, and any ties between Moscow and the president's inner circle.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is urging the White House to release any written or recorded records of Trump's conversations with Comey.

"The president says what Comey said was wrong. Prove it," Schumer said.

Democrats also want the White House to provide a transcript of the president's meeting with Russia's foreign minister and ambassador. Above all, they are demanding a special prosecutor to lead the investigation of Russia's meddling in last year's presidential election.

"We have learned, if the reporting is accurate, that the president is willing to directly interfere with an active investigation," Schumer said. "The only way out [solution] is a special prosecutor. It's the right thing to do."

A panel in the House of Representatives has demanded the FBI turn over Comey's memos. House Speaker Paul Ryan, on whose shoulders much of the burden of advancing an ambitious Republican agenda rests, is taking pains to remain above the fray.

"We need the facts," he said. "It is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president. Now is the time to gather all the pertinent information. Our job is to be responsible, sober and focused only on gathering the facts."

Representative Elijah Cummings is among Democrats who question Ryan's resolve  and that of Republicans more broadly  to unflinchingly uncover the truth.

"Speaker Ryan has shown he has zero, zero, zero appetite for any investigation of President Trump," Cummings said.

The man who could appoint a special prosecutor, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, will brief the entire Senate behind closed doors Thursday.
The State Department summoned Turkey's ambassador after bodyguards and supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan beat protesters outside the Turkish embassy earlier this week.

A State Department official said Ambassador Serdar Kilic met Wednesday with Under Secretary of State Thomas Shannon  a day after the embassy violence.

"Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest," State Department spokesman Heather Nauert said. "We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms."

Republican Senator John McCain, head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wants even tougher action.

"We should throw their ambassador the hell out of the United States of America," McCain told MSNBC's Morning Joe broadcast Thursday.

Other U.S. officials also criticized the Erdogan supporters as the aggressors against peaceful protesters, saying their actions outside the Turkish ambassador's residence violated American protections on free speech.

The embassy blamed the violence on groups linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), saying they "aggressively provoked Turkish-American citizens" who had gathered to greet Erdogan.

"The violence and injuries were the result of this unpermitted, provocative demonstration," an embassy statement said.

Turkey regards the PKK as a terrorist group.

Tuesday's fight outside the embassy injured 11 people, at least one critically. It took place just hours after Erdogan met with President Donald Trump at the White House.

Video appeared to show Erdogan's bodyguards hitting and kicking protesters and pulling out guns as D.C. police tried to intervene.

Asked what happened, one man bleeding profusely from a cut to his forehead said, "The Turks, the Turks, the Turks attacked us."

Turkish supporters, however, claimed they were provoked by members of the Turkish Kurdish party YPG, which Erdogan's government considers a terrorist group for its links to the PKK.

Washington police said they were checking reports that two men who were arrested were among the Turkish leaders' guards, adding that other suspects were being sought.

Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the violence. "A violent attack on a peaceful demonstration is an affront to D.C. values and our rights as Americans," she said. "The Metropolitan Police Department will continue investigating the incident and will work with federal partners to ensure justice is served."

Police Chief Peter Nesham called reports of guns by the pro-Turkey side "very dicey," adding: "I will say that is not something that we will tolerate here in Washington, D.C."

Republican senators McCain and Ben Sasse separately criticized Erdogan's supporters on Twitter.

"This is the United States of America," McCain wrote. "We do not do this here. There is no excuse for this kind of thuggish behavior."

Sasse said Erdogan should "remember that this country is built on free speech, free religion, free press and freedom to protest."

The two sides of supporters swapped allegations of what set off the melee.

VOA's Turkish Service said the protesters were Kurdish supporters of pro-Kurdish lawmaker Selahattin Demirtas who were calling for his release from prison. Police barricaded the perimeter to separate the groups.

The protesters said they were suddenly charged by Erdogan's guards and supporters. Similar clashes happened last year when Erdogan visited Washington for a nuclear security summit.

"We were the first to arrive at the protest location, we were few, and we did not want to provoke Erdogan's supporters, as we had an experience with them," said Lucy Usoyan, an Armenian-American activist. "We started to chant 'Long live U.S.A., long live Kurdistan and Armenia,' so all of a sudden they broke into us, they beat us badly, and the U.S. police was not enough to protect us.

"I saw blood everywhere. For a second, I thought that I am not in the capital of the U.S., but in Turkey being beaten by Erdogan supporters," Usoyan said.

Gunay Evinch, a Turkish-American lawyer, said the attacks were "started by the pro-YPG Kurdish protesters."

"They crossed the line which they were not supposed to. U.S. police did not move in right away. In that case, there is the rule of 'hot pursuit.' Turkish police felt they had to intervene," said Evinch, who is very active in the Turkish-American community and has defended the Turkish government in some U.S. cases.

In Turkey, Erdogan's rule has become increasingly authoritarian, particularly after a failed coup attempt last July.

Tens of thousands of people have been jailed since then, and Erdogan narrowly won a disputed referendum last month that will grant him more power.

A video shot by VOA's Turkish Service was widely broadcast in the U.S. and elsewhere, including on Fox News Turkey and CNN Turkey, though most smaller stations in the country did not air it.
Delhi Belly actor Poorna Jagannathan, the missing man's cousin, has appealed people to come forward and help find him.

By Ashish Pandey: Days after a 26-year-old Indian-American man went missing in Boston, his family members took to Facebook to urge people to come forward and share information they may have on the case.

Ram Jayakumar, of Lexington, was last seen on May 12 when he had parked his car on a Boston street. He had told his parents he would return in an hour but has not been seen since then.

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According to a police statement, Jayakumar's parents contacted the Lexington Police to report that their son is missing. The Indian-American's car was found parked on Bay State Road near Silber Way in Boston on Saturday morning.

In a Facebook post, Jayakumar cousin and Indian-American actress Poorna Jagannathan urged people to contact the police if they get any information about him.

"Dear friends: need your help urgently. Please share this in your communities, especially tag those in the BOSTON area.

My cousin, Ram Jayakumar, has been missing since Friday night. He last parked his car at the Vedanta Society on Deerfield street in Boston and has not been seen since then. He's 26, about 5'6" and weighs 120 pounds. Please be on the look out and let the Lexington police know if you have any leads:

781-862-1212.

Thank you so much."

Appealed Poorna in her Facebook post.

Lexington police has also urged people to come forward and share any information regarding the case and call at 781-862-1212.

ALSO READ | Indian-American man killed in crossfire outside US motel

--- ENDS ---
In a surprise move, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was named Wednesday as a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation of Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

The appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel  also known as a special prosecutor  does not mean a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted, explained Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who in recent days expressed skepticism about the need for such independent oversight.

What I have determined is that based upon the unique circumstances, the public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command, Rosenstein added.

President Trump was notified of the decision after Rosenstein had signed the order. Rosenstein informed the White House counsel, Donald McGahn, who walked into the Oval Office around 5:35 p.m. to tell the president. Trump reacted calmly but defiantly, according to two people familiar with the situation.

Trump expects quick conclusion

Without mentioning Mueller's appointment, President Donald Trump, in a statement, said: A thorough investigation will confirm what we already know  there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity. I look forward to this matter concluding quickly.

After his new assignment was announced, Mueller said, I accept this responsibility and will discharge it to the best of my ability.

Mueller held the top position at the FBI for 12 years until 2013. He was succeeded by James Comey, who was fired last week by President Trump, a move that set off a political firestorm.

Mueller brings instant integrity

A Republican political analyst, Evan Siegfried, told VOA that until Mueller's appointment, there was zero integrity in this investigation.

Mueller, he explained, will be completely siloed off from the Department of Justice and the FBI. He has his own budget; he can hire his own staff; he can kick all the FBI to the curb for all he wants and can take the investigation wherever it leads.

The special prosecutor also would seek indictments and lead court action against anyone charged with criminal acts as a result of discoveries during the probe.

Concerns from both sides

The move came after a small but growing number of Trump's Republican colleagues in Congress, along with Democrats, began calling for a special prosecutor or commission to examine ties between Trump and his campaign aides to Russia.

Such an investigation would be in addition to those already being conducted by the FBI and the intelligence committees in both the Senate and House.

Comey had been leading an investigation into the Trump team's ties to Russia. News reports Tuesday disclosed that Comey wrote an internal FBI memorandum months ago saying the president asked him to suspend or end an investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

A mixed response

Democrats predictably are praising Mueller's selection. Some prominent Republicans on Capitol Hill are, as well, concerned that a ballooning scandal could derail their legislative agenda, despite controlling both house of Congress.

Republican Senator Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Democratic Senator Mark Warner, the committee's vice chairman, in a joint statement, called Mueller's appointment a positive development and will provide some certainty for the American people that the investigation will proceed fairly and free of political influence.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Intelligence Committee, commented that for the sake of the country, all parties must fully cooperate with his efforts that are focused on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Democratic Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees, termed the naming of a special counsel absolutely necessary, adding that Mueller's reputation for exercising judgment in standing up to administration pressures is exactly what is required for this important position.

Congressman Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Mueller is a great selection, adding that he has impeccable credentials and should be widely accepted.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Mueller is a respected public servant of the highest integrity, but that a special prosecutor is the first step, but it cannot be the last.

Congressman Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the oversight committee, commended Rosenstein for putting our country and justice system first.

Some Republicans question move

However, some Republicans questioned the move.

Congressman Peter King expressed concern about the wide purview special prosecutors have. Im worried with all special counsels because there's no control over them and they can abuse their power.

The Republican leadership, however, confirmed that investigations already started in the Senate and the House will continue.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said his top priority has been to ensure thorough and independent investigations are allowed to follow the facts wherever they may lead.

(Katherine Gypson, Mike Bowman and Bill Gallo contributed to this report.)
The German Air Force this month sent the U.S. military a written request for classified data on the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jet as it gears up to replace its current fleet of fighter jets from 2025 to 2035.

The letter, sent by the Air Force's planning command and seen by Reuters, makes clear that the German government has not yet authorized a procurement program and is not committed to any particular aircraft to replace its current warplanes.

It said the Defense Ministry would carry out "an in-depth evaluation of market available solutions, including the F-35, later this year," with a formal "letter of request" to be issued in coming months.

Germany's interest in the F-35 - the Pentagon's most advanced warplane and its costliest procurement program  may surprise some given that it is part of the four-nation consortium that developed the fourth-generation Eurofighter Typhoon, which continues to compete for new orders.

The Eurofighter is built by Airbus as well as Britain's BAE Systems and Leonardo of Italy. Germany will need to replace its current fleet of fourth-generation warplanes - Tornadoes in use since 1981 and Eurofighters - between 2025 and 2035. The F-35 is considered a fifth-generation fighter given stealth capabilities that allow it to evade enemy radars.

Berlin's letter also comes amid growing tensions between the West and Russia over Moscow's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, with NATO officials saying that Russian naval activity now exceeds levels seen even during the Cold War.

Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and Italy  key NATO allies of Germany - are already buying the F-35 fighter jet to replace their current aircraft, and other European countries such as Switzerland, Belgium and Finland are also looking at purchasing the fifth-generation warplane.

Germany's gesture may be aimed at strengthening its hand in negotiations with its European partners over the scale and timing of development of a next generation of European fighters.

Any moves to buy a U.S. built warplane could run into political resistance in Germany, which has strong labor unions.

But military sources say buying the F-35 could make sense for Germany given steady declines in the cost of the U.S. jets, and technical challenges with the Eurofighter.

Eight-hour briefing

In the letter, the Air Force said a small team of air force officers was gathering data to prepare for a detailed analysis of alternatives for a new warplane.

The group was working closely with the ministry's "Task Force Future Air Combat System," which aims to make a recommendation for a political decision in mid-2018, the letter said.

"In order to understand [the] F-35's cutting-edge technologies, the German Air Force is requesting a classified brief of the F-35's capabilities in general and especially concerning sensor suites, information management and operational capabilities," the letter said.

The letter said a video conference suggested by U.S. officials in Bonn would help speed up the process. A source familiar with U.S. weapons programs said the classified briefing requested by Germany would likely last around eight hours.

Since Germany is not part of the international consortium that funded development of the stealthy new fighter, the request for classified information must first be approved by the U.S. government, but U.S. officials said they did not expect any problems securing the needed marketing license.

The Pentagon's F-35 program office said it had received the letter and was "working to support the German Air Force request."

Lockheed referred questions to the State Department, which oversees foreign military sales, and the Pentagon. Spokesman Michael Rein said it would be inappropriate for Lockheed to comment since any potential sales would be negotiated between the two governments.

The F-35 is in operational use by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force, which last month carried out its first operational deployment of a small number of jets to Estonia for training with other U.S. and NATO military aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force this month also announced this month that it plans to bring the F-35 to the Paris Air Show in June.
Businesses had better move fast to prepare for Brexit in under two years and should not count on long transition periods to cushion the impact of Britain leaving the European Union, the EU's chief negotiator said on Wednesday.

Many businesses, notably in London's financial services sector, which is dominant in Europe, or among manufacturers wary of new tariff barriers are considering relocating parts of their operations from Britain. But few have made firm decisions until they see what kind of new trading relationship can be agreed.

Defending his planned phasing of negotiations to start next month -- under which talks on trade will not start until other issues are settled -- Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told the European Parliament he wanted to build trust to forge a deal that suits both sides and warned that no deal was a bad option.

Responding to questions from lawmakers, he also stressed the tight timetable for offering legal clarity to firms and people before a two-year negotiating window closes in March 2019 and Britain is out of the EU, deal or no deal. Even with agreement, he warned, they should not rely on gentle transition periods.

"Possibly we will work on transition periods after Brexit, after Britain leaves, periods of phasing out and of phasing in toward the future relationship," Barnier said.

"But the real transition period is now, before withdrawal," he said. "I recommend that particularly all economic actors make good use of this period so that withdrawal, on the day it happens, probably in March 2019, is as orderly as possible."

Barnier confirmed he expects to start talks after the British election on June 8. He said Prime Minister Theresa May's move to call a vote she is expected to win handsomely offered the prospect of a stable government that could help negotiations.

'No Punishment'

He rejected criticism in Britain of his refusal to launch negotiations on a future EU-UK free trade pact before the Union sees "significant progress" on a divorce treaty focusing on the rights of expatriate citizens, the Irish border and a financial settlement to cover outstanding British commitments to the EU.

"This sequencing is not done to create problems, or as some kind of punishment for the United Kingdom," Barnier, a former French foreign minister and EU financial services commissioner said. "It is there to solve problems and put them in the right order.

"It is there to create the basis of trust," he added. "We have to lay down a foundation of trust which we will need to construct the future relationship with the United Kingdom."

Responding to a charge during the debate from Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, that Brussels was trying to "bully" Britain and was seeking 100 billion euros or more in a financial settlement, Barnier warned that Farage's suggestion that Britain should simply walk out without a deal was unwise.

"The option of no deal or a bad deal does not come from me," said Barnier, who has previously said that a threat by May to leave with no deal would be much more disruptive for Britain than it would be for the Union: "We want to reach an agreement with the United Kingdom, not against the United Kingdom."

He repeated that he had never himself cited a figure for the possible bill Britain would have to pay. His priority is to agree how it should be calculated, while the actual final amount will depend on developments in the EU budget among other things.

"We will work with the British, calmly and without fuss," he said, "To find an agreement on the commitments which have been made. There is no punishment, there is no 'exit bill'."
Hundreds of Africans living in the northern U.S. state of Minnesota are about to lose their temporary immigrant status.

As many as 5,000 people were granted the special protected status in 2014 when an Ebola epidemic hit three West African nations, allowing residents from the impacted countries to live and work in the U.S. legally until the outbreak was contained.

Last year, those countries were declared Ebola free. Now, those with temporary immigrant status must either return home or obtain legal status, Minnesota Public Radio reported this week.

Abdullah Kiatamba, executive director of African Immigrant Services in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, who along with other immigration leaders is calling the termination premature, says Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone are still recovering from the outbreak, so it's still not safe to go home.

John Keller, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, said health care systems in the countries hit hardest by Ebola were already delicate before the outbreak. "It's great these countries have been declared Ebola free, but the toll that fighting Ebola took on the countries, you have to take that into effect, too," he said.

Kiatamba estimates that between 200 and 500 people will be affected. Officials haven't released numbers, and it is unclear how many of the immigrants have returned home or found other ways to make their immigration status permanent.

Kiatamba said that more than 11,000 people died during the Ebola outbreak, but that its impact goes beyond the health care system.

"The employment system, economic system, social system, health have all collapsed," he said. "Their coming to the U.S. was a very important humanitarian step, and I think the reason for their coming has totally not been eliminated."

The temporary immigration status was originally issued for an 18-month period. It was extended twice, each time for six months.
Annual exercises held by the Philippine and U.S. navies are skipping the South China Sea this year as the Southeast Asian nations leader takes another step toward a stronger political and economic relationship with China, the seas most ambitious claimant.

The Balikatan military exercises May 8-19 include a disaster drill off Aurora province on the Pacific Ocean side of the main Philippine island, Luzon. They have kept clear of disputed tracts in the South China Sea. Beijings maritime claims overlap Manilas in the South China Sea off the west Luzon coast.

Avoidance of the disputed sea advances Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes friendship with China after four years of open disagreement that had landed in a world arbitration court.

President Duterte has never been a true geopolitical person, which means that foreign policy is about economic policy, and you can see this in the way he actually justifies or explains the approach to China, said Herman Kraft, a political scientist at University of the Philippines Diliman.

Duterte has visited China twice, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and agreed to hold talks  going on this month  over management of contested tracts of water. China offered $24 billion in aid and investment in October and in January committed to 30 projects worth $3.7 billion.

The exercises off the Philippines Pacific coast signal support for China while giving a new nod to the United States as well as pro-American elements of the public, analysts say.

Benham Rise, a 13-million-hectare undersea plateau believed to be rich in fossil fuels, was awarded to Manila in 2012 by the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. But Chinese vessels were spotted exploring it last year. China does not officially claim the plateau.

A show of force backed by the U.S. navy, part of the worlds strongest military, near Benham Rise should help calm Filipinos upset by Chinas presence last year and those who simply prefer Washington to Beijing, analysts say.

It ensures the pro-American Filipinos the Americans are not totally out of the Philippines and theres still room for dialogue and cooperation, and so these exercises are just a calibration of Philippines-U.S. relations, said Eduardo Araral, an associate professor at the National University of Singapores public policy school. So China is happy, Philippines is happy, U.S. is happy.

About 70 percent of Filipinos place much trust in the United States, according to a late 2016 poll by the Metro Manila research institution Social Weather Stations.

The United States colonized the Philippines for about 50 years through World War II and has given it military support since then.

Duterte angrily questioned American influence in the Philippines last year and ordered that its forces leave -- but later backed down on most of his threats. He knew about Chinese research vessels at Benham Rise last year, but didn't reveal that knowledge according to some Philippine media reports.

China resents U.S. involvement in the South China Sea, a 3.5 million-square-kilometer tract rich in fish, shipping lanes and possible fuel reserves.

The naval drill serves also the purpose of signaling that Manila is intentioned to make the Philippine defense posture less unbalanced, said Fabrizio Bozzato, an associate researcher specializing in international affairs at Tamkang University in Taiwan.

So far the Philippine defense strategy, attention and resources have been focused on the western corridor of the Philippines, so President Duterte intends to show the domestic and international audience that hes determined to improve the security infrastructure in the eastern part of the country, Bozzato said.

In 2014, former Philippine president Benigno Aquino signed an enhanced defense agreement with Washington. Joint naval exercises since that year had targeted possible scenarios aimed at resisting China in the disputed sea.

The world arbitration court said in July China lacks a legal basis to most of its claim, which covers about 95 percent of the whole sea extending south from Hong Kong to Malaysian Borneo. China has irritated the Philippines and three other Southeast Asian claimants to the same sea with a push since 2010 to landfill tiny islets for military use.

Philippine and U.S. officials agreed in November to the scope of this years joint exercises, which the U.S. Embassy in Manila says include maritime interdiction and amphibious raids as well as humanitarian aid and anti-terrorism work. The United States sent a navy logistics vessel, amphibious vehicles and more than 25 military aircraft, the embassy says.

The Pacific coast was picked for exercises this year because of "logistics requirements, community needs, unit capabilities, and training requirements, the embassy said.
Developments on Tuesday concerning President Donald Trump, reports the president pushed former FBI Director James Comey to end the probe into fired National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, Trump's upcoming travels to Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican; and Trump's visit with the Turkish president:

White House Denies Reports That Trump Asked Comey to End Flynn Probe -- The White House was in crisis mode yet again Tuesday after reports emerged claiming that President Donald Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to shut down an investigation into Trump's ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's ties to Russia.

Trump Signals Shift in Middle East Strategy With Symbolic First Stop in Saudi Arabia -- U.S. President Donald Trump is about to embark on his first foreign trip, a nine day journey that takes him to the seats of the worlds three great Abrahamic (monotheistic) religions and signals a 180-degree shift from his predecessors approach toward the Middle East.

Schumer to White House: Provide Transcript of Trump's Russia Meeting -- The U.S. Senate's top Democrat called on the White House on Tuesday to provide a transcript of President Donald Trump's meeting last week with Russian officials, in which the president himself has acknowledged sharing sensitive intelligence.

White House: Trump's Intel Revelations to Russians 'Wholly Appropriate' -- U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster on Tuesday said information about terrorism and threats to international aviation that President Donald Trump shared with Russian diplomats last week was "wholly appropriate" and did not compromise U.S. intelligence sources.

Trump's Expansion of Global Gag Rule Affects Health Funding -- The Trump administration says it will expand a rule that pulls funding from public health agencies who provide or even discuss abortions. The global gag rule, which Trump reinstated via executive order earlier in his term, bans any U.S. aid to international organizations that support the practice of abortion. This new policy could disrupt hundreds of clinics in Africa and around the world that fight AIDS and malaria.

Haley Urges Nations to Unite Against North Korea Nuclear Ambitions -- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations told countries Tuesday that they must join the effort to prevent North Korea from getting a nuclear weapon, warning they could face sanctions themselves if they help the rogue state achieve nuclearization.

WATCH: Demonstration at Turkish Embassy in Washington turns violent

Trump, Erdogan Avoid Discord Over Kurds in White House Talks -- After meetings Tuesday at the White House, President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, praised the strength of the two countries' relations, while at the same time sidestepping their differences over strategies for confronting Islamic State extremists in northern Syria.

US-China Trade Deal Brings Mixed Reaction -- The new U.S.-China trade deal, which includes 10 initial agreements on agricultural trade, financial services, investment and energy, is drawing mixed reviews. The agreement is being panned by some as a poor deal for the United States that does not address fundamental issues concerning the Chinese market. But others say the agreement represents incremental progress.

Deportations of Africans Rise, But Still Fall Below Other Immigrant Groups -- With the deportation of 67 people last week, the U.S. has now removed about 326 Somali nationals since January, more than the total for all of 2016. This makes it the third year in a row that the number of Somalis removed from the U.S. has increased, stoking fears of raids, detentions and deportations.

Pennsylvania Farmers Fear Labor Shortage Amid Immigration Fears -- The streets of tiny York Springs, Pennsylvania, are often empty these days. "Before it was different; it was more relaxed. People would go out and walk around," a former fruit picker, who called himself Arturo, lamented in Spanish. "Today  people are in hiding." Many residents attribute the climate of fear in York Springs to the election of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to take a tough stance toward illegal immigration.

Mexico Expects NAFTA Talks by Late August, Its Economy Minister Says -- Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said Tuesday that he expected U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to tell Congress early next week of plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, a move that would produce talks by late August.

Trump Taps Callista Gingrich to be Ambassador to Vatican -- The Trump administration has approached the wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to be the next U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, days before President Donald Trump embarks on his first foreign trip.
1 This composite image of the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant, was assembled by combining data from five telescopes spanning nearly the entire breadth of the electromagnetic spectrum: the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, the XMM-Newton Observatory, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said Tuesday that he expected U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to tell Congress early next week of plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, a move that would produce talks by late August.

Guajardo said he would have more information after meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Vietnam on Thursday as part of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

During the 2016 U.S. election campaign, Trump vowed to scrap the 1994 deal between the United States, Canada and Mexico if he could not adjust it to benefit U.S. interests.

"Probably the notification will be sent to Congress by the U.S. executive at some time early next week," Guajardo told Mexican reporters, a day after meetings in Washington with U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and other U.S. officials.

In Washington, Ross declined to predict the timing of the notification, saying that there were more consultations with Congress needed first.

Current format

In a meeting Tuesday, U.S. senators said Ross and Lighthizer expressed their preference to keep the current trilateral format in the NAFTA talks.

Guajardo also said that a dispute over sugar with the United States could be resolved within two weeks, before a June 5 deadline to break the impasse.

The U.S. sugar industry pressed the U.S. Commerce Department late last year to withdraw from a 2014 agreement that sets prices and quotas for U.S. imports of Mexican sugar unless the deal could be renegotiated. The U.S. sugar lobby wants Mexico to export less refined sugar and has become emboldened since Trump took office.

A U.S. Commerce Department spokesman said Ross and Guajardo discussed possible solutions and that they were continuing to work toward a negotiated settlement.

Any deal, however, would need agreement from the U.S. sugar producers who brought an anti-dumping case against Mexican competitors.

On Monday, Mexico's sugar chamber said no deal had been reached in talks on Monday to resolve the dispute.
Scientists say they have identified the sea monster that washed ashore on an Indonesian beach.

The badly decomposing carcass measures over 15 meters long and baffled scientists since it washed up on Seram Island last week.

Marine biologists now believe the carcass is a dead baleen whale, largely because of a visible skeleton, which would rule out speculation that the creature was a giant squid.

"Giant squid are invertebrates and there are clearly bones visible, so I am very comfortable saying its some type of rorqual whale, said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of Whale and Dolphin Conservation in an interview with the Huffington Post. Certain species of baleen whales (rorquals) have ventral grooves which run from their chin to their belly button. It is stretchy tissue that expands when they feed."

Alexander Werth, a whale biologist at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia agrees with the assessment after seeing photos of the carcass on social media that showed the nearly amorphous carcass surrounded by blood in the water. He added that the carcass probably stinks to high heaven.

"That's yet another reason you don't want to be close to these things, not because it's a scary, spooky creature, but [because] it would just be releasing some pretty foul, noxious gases," Werth told Live Science.

Locals have asked the government for help in removing the whale.
A group of at least four Islamic State militants, including suicide bombers, stormed an office of Afghanistans state broadcaster in eastern Nangarhar province Wednesday, killing at least six people and wounding up to 20 others.

Provincial officials and hospital sources said four employees of the national Radio Television Afghanistan, or RTA, and at least two security personnel were among the dead.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the violence as an "attack on free speech."

The assault in Jalalabad, the provincial capital, began with suicide bombers blowing themselves up and making way for others to enter the facility.

The raid set off fierce clashes with Afghan security forces. The firefight left the assailants dead, ending a nearly four-hour siege.

IS through its global media outlet, Amaq News Agency, claimed the suicide raid killed 30 security personnel and media men, though the group often issues inflated tolls after such attacks.

Loyalists of the Syria-based terrorist group are operating in several districts of Nangarhar, with Achin as their stronghold. They regularly stage attacks on Afghan and U.S. forces that are conducting major operations to eliminate IS from the volatile province, which borders Pakistan.

The Taliban insurgency is also active in parts of Nangarhar.
INS Sharda which was 30 nautical miles at that time responded immediately.

By Manjeet Negi: Indian Navy patrol ship INS Sharda fought off pirates at the Gulf of Aden and rescued a merchant vessel, officials said today.

The ship received a distress call yesterday from a Liberian registered ship, MV Mountbatten, 230 nautical miles South-West of Salalah in the Gulf of Aden, which is located in the Arabian Sea near Yemen. The vessel had reported an incident of attempted piracy by two suspicious mother vessels along with 7-8 skiffs.

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INS Sharda which was 30 nautical miles at that time responded immediately. The ship was deployed for anti-piracy operations since April 6 this year.

Navy's MARCOS commandos with support of armed helicopter from the ship investigated the dhows and their skiffs by conducting search operations.

#WATCH: INS Sharda, an Offshore Patrol Vessel foils piracy attempt on MV Lord Mountbatten, by 2 mother ships & 8 skiffs, in Gulf of Aden pic.twitter.com/nYuMdvA1GK; ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

As soon as INS Sharda arrived at the location three of the skiffs "fled the area at high speeds on sighting the warship".

The absence of any fishing gear on board the dhows indicates piracy linked intentions, Navy officials said.

One high caliber ALM rifle alone with a filled magazine was found hidden on board one of the dhows which were confiscated.

Also read:

Indian Navy test-fires land attack version of BrahMos missile: All you need to know

Also watch:

Indian, Chinese Navy rescue bulk carrier OS 35 from pirates in Gulf of Aden

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Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, who built a following among conservatives with his provocative social media presence and strong support of Donald Trump, said Wednesday that he's taken a job as an assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security.

The tough-talking, cowboy hat-wearing firebrand said in an interview with WISN-AM talk radio host Vicki McKenna that he will work in the Office of Partnership and Engagement as a liaison to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. He will start in June.

"I'm both honored and humbled to be appointed to this position," Clarke said.

A DHS spokesman didn't immediately reply to a phone message and email. A spokesman for the sheriff didn't immediately respond to messages.

Clarke has made himself a darling of the political right through his brash social media presence, his staunch support for Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration and his support for patrolling of Muslim neighborhoods. He's one of the most polarizing figures in Wisconsin politics.

"Our country deserves better," Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, who has repeatedly clashed with Clarke, said of his appointment to the DHS position.

'Gratuitous name calling'

Abele said Clarke has engaged in "gratuitous name calling, insults of other public officials, questioning judges' sentences. In general the focus is on what you should be angry about, not what to like."

Clarke was one of the few African-Americans to speak at the Republican Party convention last year. He has been vocal about gun rights and critical of what he called the "hateful ideology" of the Black Lives Matters movement, saying at times, "Stop trying to fix the police, fix the ghetto."

Clark has been sheriff of Milwaukee County since 2002 and spent more than two decades before that with city's police department.

A lengthy inquest into the dehydration death of a Milwaukee County Jail inmate raised troubling questions about how Clarke manages the jail, just as the White House was said to be considering him for the job. Seven jail staffers could face criminal charges after the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office outlined a case for the jury suggesting that disobedient inmates were routinely deprived of water as punishment and pleas for help were ignored.

Clarke wasn't among the seven staffers on the jury's list because prosecutors say he wasn't directly involved in the events that led to the death last year of 38-year-old Terrill Thomas, who was deprived of water for seven days. But the death happened under his leadership, which his critics said was sufficient cause for Clarke to be fired. Clarke has said little about Thomas' death.

Despite the investigation into his jail, Clarke remained popular with many conservatives, including some who had been trying to get him to run for U.S. Senate next year against Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Last year, the frequent Fox News guest earned more than $105,000 in speaking fees -- almost as much as his sheriff's salary -- at more than three dozen events across the country.
New Orleans removed a statue honoring Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard early Wednesday morning, marking the third of four historical monuments the city slated for removal because they were deemed racially offensive.

Crews laboring under the glare of floodlights began the work of detaching the bottom of the 14-foot-tall statue  a bronze likeness of Beauregard on horseback  from its pedestal on Tuesday night while some 200 bystanders looked on near the entrance of City Park.

Shortly after 3 a.m. CDT (0800 GMT) on Wednesday, a crane lifted the statue from its base after workers had cleared the area. A stone slab with Beauregard's name on it also was removed, but the statue's empty base was left at the site.

The crowd of onlookers, about evenly divided between statue supporters and opponents, were mostly subdued, though a few individuals shouted at one another across the police barricade separating them. Some members of the pro-statue group waved Confederate flags.

The public memorials to Beauregard and other heroes of the U.S. Civil War's pro-slavery Confederacy have been denounced by critics as an affront to the ideals of multi-racial tolerance and diversity in the majority-black Louisiana city.

But doing away with the monuments has met with staunch resistance from groups who argue that the statues are nevertheless important symbols of the city's Southern heritage.

The City Council voted in 2015 to remove monuments honoring two of the Confederacy's best-known generals  Beauregard and Robert E. Lee  as well as Confederate President Jefferson Davis and a 19th-century white supremacist militia.

The Crescent City White League monument was taken down on April 24 and the Davis statue on May 11. The Lee memorial is scheduled to go next, though officials have not publicized precise removal dates in advance.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu wrote an editorial published on Monday in The Washington Post defending his decision to support bringing down the statues, which he characterized as one of his proudest moments in public office.

"Removing New Orleans's Confederate monuments from places of prominence is an acknowledgment that it is time to take stock of, and then move past, a painful part of our history," Landrieu wrote.

The Louisiana House of Representatives passed a measure on Monday that would require local governments to hold referendums before removing any Confederate monuments.

But the bill would not keep New Orleans from proceeding with its plans, said Richard Marksbury, a Tulane University professor and member of the Monumental Task Committee that fought to keep the Confederate monuments in place.
The U.N. Security Council held a closed door meeting Wednesday to discuss the deteriorating situation in Venezuela, where anti-government protests have rocked the country for more than six weeks, amid a worsening economic and humanitarian situation.

The United States called for the meeting, which marks the first time the 15-nation council, which is responsible for international peace and security, has taken up the matter.

In Venezuela, we are on the verge of a humanitarian crisis, U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley said ahead of the meeting. Peaceful protestors have been injured, arrested and even killed by their own government. Medicine is unavailable, hospitals lack supplies, and it's become difficult to find food.

Protests continue

For the past six weeks, Venezuela has been shaken by near-daily anti-government street demonstrations aimed at removing President Nicolas Maduro from power. At least 43 people have been killed in the unrest.

Protesters are angry about the socialist country's downward economic spiral, which has led to food and medical supply shortages, and they blame Maduro for wrecking the economy.

Maduro blames the opposition for the country's problems, accusing his opponents of launching a coup against him with the support of Washington. On Tuesday, he extended the country's state of emergency for the seventh time.

The regional bloc Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Vatican have separately tried to mediate the crisis.

We're not for the opposition, we're not for President Maduro, we're for the Venezuelan people, Ambassador Haley told reporters after the meeting. She added that Washington supports a regional solution to the crisis.

Venezuela's U.N. envoy Rafael Ramirez rejected what he called U.S. intervention in his country. They have to understand that we need and we are asking for respect for our position, our decision and our sovereignty, he said.

A regional issue

Not all council members thought the Security Council should take up the issue.

We are not facing a threat to international peace and security in Venezuela, not even on a regional level, Bolivian ambassador Sacha Llorenti told reporters.

We prefer to maintain the issue within the realm of the regional organizations, Uruguay's Ambassador Elbio Rosselli said after the meeting.

We understand that the only way to come out of this is through an agreement between the Venezuelan political actors, Rosselli added. They themselves are the ones who have to take the situation in their hands and carry through negotiations to a satisfactory outcome.

'A source of concern'

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been following the situation very closely, his spokesman told reporters. Obviously, it is a source of concern, not only because of the political situation, but also due to the difficult economic and social situation we are seeing, Stephane Dujarric said.

He said Guterres, who is in Europe, has been conducting telephone diplomacy with the various mediators to help resolve the crisis.
A man who was sentenced to life in prison for murder and espionage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been freed and has returned to Norway, Norwegian newspaper Verden Gang reported Wednesday.

Joshua French, who has dual British and Norwegian citizenship, was serving a life sentence after he and a fellow Norwegian, Tjostolv Moland, were convicted of murdering their driver in Congo in 2009 and spying for Norway  charges they both denied. They originally were sentenced to death, but their sentences were commuted.

French and Moland were in Congo researching ideas for an extreme tourism company when they were charged with and found guilty of the murder of Abedi Kasongo. The two men said their car had been ambushed by gunmen and that their driver had been shot.

The men also were charged with espionage because they were carrying military ID cards at the time. The Norwegian government denied that the men were spies.

Moland found dead

In August 2013, Moland was found dead in his prison cell. A Congolese military court found French guilty of strangling Moland, but a Norwegian forensics team assisting French informed the court that Moland had hung himself.

Earlier this year, Congolese Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba told Norway's largest media organization, NRK, that French would be released this year.

French's mother, Kari Hilde French, wrote on her blog that her son's health recently has been "very bad," and that his most recent stint in the hospital had lasted 4 months.

"Our greatest wish is to get Joshua French home alive before it is too late," she wrote.
The father of a university student who was killed by a mob over blasphemy accusations told Pakistans top court Wednesday that his two daughters have received death threats and should be transferred from schools in their hometown.

Mobile phone video of Mashal Khans brutal slaying April 13 at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan went viral, shocking the public and sparking condemnation, including from prominent clerics. It has cast a sharp focus on Pakistans blasphemy laws. An investigation showed Khan had not made online posts that had been attributed to him.

The journalism students father, Muhamamd Iqbal Khan, addressed reporters after attending a Supreme Court hearing on the case in the capital, Islamabad.

Mashals sisters cannot continue their education due to threats to their lives, he said. They must be transferred to Islamabad from their hometown of Sawabi.

Iqbal Khan also said the trial of suspects in his sons killing should be transferred to Islamabad from Mardan because of security issues and local administration attempts to influence the cases outcome. The top prosecutor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Advocate General Waqar Khan, told the court that 53 of the 57 suspects have been arrested.

The Mardan university should be reopened, with more security, so students can resume their education, Iqbal Khan said.

Critics claim the governments push to make blasphemy laws even tighter is aimed at quashing dissent and intimidating opponents. Other violent attacks have been attributed to blasphemy allegations.

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday urged Pakistan to end excessive state monitoring of internet activity, prosecute those committing violence based on internet blasphemy allegations, and commit to upholding free expression for all.

The government-run Pakistan Telecommunication Authority sent a text message to millions of citizens a week ago, warning against sharing blasphemous content on social media and asking them to report such content.

In addition, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan last week ordered the Federal Investigating Agency to take immediate action against all those dishonoring the Pakistan Army through social media.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says President Donald Trump never passed any classified information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov when they met last week in Washington, and he has the transcripts to prove it.

Speaking Wednesday alongside Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Putin said Lavrov never passed the purported secrets on to him, and he would be happy to hand over the transcripts of the conversation.

Trump has been defending himself this week after media reports claimed he shared sensitive intelligence with Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak.

The president and his aides have denied Trump shared any information that would have compromised sources or methods of gathering intelligence. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster called Trumps discussion with Russian diplomats wholly appropriate.

"I'm not concerned at all," said McMaster, who sat in on the Oval Office meeting.

News accounts of the meeting claim the classified information involved a possible Islamic State plan to smuggle bombs hidden in laptop computers aboard airliners.

Putin said the anti-Russian sentiment in America is damaging the country and not allowing Trump to govern properly. He accused Trumps detractors of suffering from political schizophrenia.
Ashin Wirathu, the Burmese Buddhist monk known for whipping up anti-Muslim sentiment in Myanmar, is the subject of a new documentary airing at Frances renowned Cannes Film Festival, which starts Wednesday.

By filmmaker Barbet Schroeder, The Venerable W will appear in a special screening at one of the most prestigious cultural events in the world, marking the culmination of Wirathus journey from an obscure rabble-rouser to international infamy.

But his path to notoriety abroad points to questions back home about how much of a role the media have played in fueling his rise. Some believe he has been given too much of a platform for his hateful views or that coverage of his activities merits a more thoughtful approach.

Media attention for anti-Muslim views

He has been famous because of the interviews and because of the posts in the local media, said Thitsa Hla Htway, secretary of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Myanmar.

He urged journalists to not report his more repugnant musings and to report on more diverse issues.

What I want to stress is that they should just stay away from him and his popularity will go down. There are many important issues in Myanmar which are more important than him, he said.

In and out of prison

This wasnt the feeling five years ago, when Myanmar was emerging from military rule and grappling with ascendant Buddhist nationalist forces in the form of the 969 movement and Ma Ba Tha, the Committee to Protect Race and Religion.

Sentenced to prison for 25 years in 2003 for inciting violence, Wirathu was released in an amnesty in 2012, the same year that saw the first of several deadly riots to plague the countrys transition to democracy from nearly five decades of military rule.

'Time magazine' interview

Though Myanmar has long struggled to contain religious enmity, the story was not often heard outside of the country due to its isolation. That changed with a 2013 TIME magazine issue that put Wirathu on the cover and sought to explain the man's connection to the mayhem.



The initial coverage was revealing, but over the years, Wirathu was interviewed by countless journalists, including the author of this article. Doubt crept into the worthiness of the enterprise for many journalists.

Social media star

But his following on social media is enormous, his posts can be inflammatory, and the fact that he has not faced strong pushback implies he has connections.

Thiha Saw, the director of the Myanmar Journalism Institute, said he credits Wirathus rise more to the explosion of internet access that has occurred in recent years. He added that mainstream media outlets in Myanmar have been cautious about not giving Wirathu an unnecessary amount of exposure.

Supported military

But his level of influence remains an open question. He supported the military-backed ruling party in a 2015 election contest against Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy, which won easily. This past March, Wirathu was hit with a ban on giving sermons for one year.

Even so, he was allowed to travel to a part of northern Rakhine State this month that has been largely closed off to observers since Rohingya militants attacked border posts in October, killing nine and setting off a crackdown that has resulted in accusations of possible crimes against humanity.



British journalist Oliver Slow, the chief of staff for the weekly magazine Frontier Myanmar, said in his personal opinion there needs to be a mix of scrutiny and restraint in the reporting.

Journalists want more scrutiny of Wirathu

I think obviously he [Wirathu] needs to be heavily scrutinized. His group and the people behind him have the potential to cause massive issues, so I think its important to be reporting on him and what they are doing, Slow said. But I think we pretty much know all his views now, theyve been aired for the past four or five years. His views on Muslims, his views on religion, have been so well aired, I just dont really see any benefit any more of interviewing him.

Matthew Smith, executive director of the NGO Fortify Rights, said in an email he isnt persuaded by arguments the media has disproportionately fueled Wirathus rise to power, even if Wirathu has benefited from the attention.

Wirathu is a populist demagogue with a considerable following and powerful connections behind the scenes, Smith said. But he and his followers have unarguably used international media attention to their advantage, to build their prominence and advance nationalist and racist narratives.

Smith wants more investigative coverage of Wirathu.

We see the occasional profile piece and don't find those terribly helpful. Most foreign readers, particularly in the West, regard Buddhism as a tranquil religion of peace, so editors have endless fodder in stories of an extremist monk who preaches hatred."

Schroeder, the filmmaker, did not immediately respond to a request for an interview sent through his production company.
On May 17, 1954, 63 years ago today, the social construct of the United States forever changed when the U.S. Supreme Court delivered its ruling in the case of Brown versus the Board of Education.

we unanimously hold that separate but equal has no place in the U.S. Constitution.

Then chief Justice Earl Warren said that was a violation of the 14th Amendment.

And with that, lawful segregation of the public education system in America was over  and the civil rights era began in earnest.

Linda Brown

Before that day, state education was governed by the separate but equal principle, which allowed states to bar black children from attending white schools.

Schools for black children were far below the average public schools for whites, without basic resources such as up to date textbooks and bathroom facilities.

A few years before, the parents of nine-year-old Linda Brown, who traveled an hour to get her to an all black school in Topeka, Kansas, tried to register their daughter in a much closer nearby white school.

The principal refused.

Browns parents turned to the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which recruited 12 other African-American children for a class-action suit against the Topeka school board. Several other states joined the suit, argued at the Supreme Court by the NAACPs Thurgood Marshall.

Civil rights movement

Despite the landmark court ruling, some states  particularly in the southern U.S.  balked, refusing to comply. The resistance energized civil rights activists, who ramped up their movement to improve equality for black Americans.

Three years after the High Court ruling, nine black students enrolled in the all-white Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas.

In September, the governor brought out the National Guard to prevent the students from attending classes.

Then President Dwight Eisenhower sent in federal troops, announcing his decision to protect the Brown ruling in a televised address to the nation.

Under federal escort, the so-called "Little Rock nine" finally made it inside Little Rock High on September 25, 1957, for their first day of school.

The soldiers remained to protect the black students for the entire school year.

By 1961, only three southern states  South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi  maintained a completely segregated school system.

Of the three, South Carolina resisted until a court case filed by the parents of black students finally forced the state to desegregate in 1963.
Well before his fatal shooting Monday on a Mexican street, journalist Javier Valdez Cardenas acknowledged a fear that had gripped him while covering drug trafficking and other crimes.



"I have never felt safe," Valdez said, in one of several interviews with VOA's Spanish Service over the years. "Now, the feeling of insecurity is much worse. We are in danger in this country, not only to dissent with the government and not just to criticize or protest.  We are in the hands of the narcos, the powerful bad guys inside and outside the government."



Valdez, 50, was shot and killed Monday in broad daylight in Culiacan, a city in the northwestern coastal state of Sinaloa. The Associated Press reported that masked gunmen had dragged him from his red Toyota Camry, firing shots and leaving his body on the street about a block from the office of Riodoce, the local weekly he launched in 2003.



No arrests have been made, fueling cynicism among beleaguered journalists in a country where at least five other journalists have been slain since early March and at least 40 since 1992, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Earlier this month, the New York-based organization released a special report saying that, though the government had appointed a special prosecutor, "a lack of political will to end impunity exposes Mexico as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists."



Valdez also was a correspondent for La Jornada in Sinaloa. The state is associated with heavy drug activity, including the cartel run by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. The drug kingpin is in a New York prison facing trial.



Guzman had managed to escape two maximum-security prisons: first in 2001, when guards smuggled him out of a facility in Jalisco state, and again in 2015, when he tunneled out of Altiplano prison near Mexico City. He was extradited to the United States in January of this year.



"Many Mexicans  agreed with the extradition because they considered that this would help change the situation in Mexico," Valdez told VOA then. "But this does not happen. Everything remains the same and nothing is going to change."



Valdez spent his journalism career investigating the drug trade, writing about it in news reports, columns and books. In 2011, CPJ presented Valdez with its International Press Freedom Award.



"Poverty and inequality have allowed the narco to nest easily in several regions," Valdez said. He added that drug trafficking fostered corruption in the political class, which "feeds on narco not only for drugs but financing campaigns and parties. 



"It is a dirty tangle of decomposition, backwardness and violence," the murdered journalist concluded.



VOA's Carol Guensburg contributed to this report.
Analysts and rights advocates are expressing concern about reports that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been invited to a summit this weekend in Saudi Arabia which U.S. President Donald Trump also expects to attend. The invitation to Bashir has stirred controversy, as the Sudanese leader has been charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court.



The International Criminal Court considers al-Bashir a fugitive from justice and has sought his arrest since 2009.

Elise Keppler, an associate director at Human Rights Watch, says interactions between a U.S. president and an alleged war criminal would send what she calls a terrible signal.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been charged by the International Criminal Court with the most grave crimes under international law, for alleged responsibility for abuses in Darfur. The charges are genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. There really is nothing more serious, said Keppler.

Eric Reeves, senior fellow at Harvard University's FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, says Trump should boycott the event altogether.



To the extent that Bashir can travel without problem, it weakens the ICC and so Trump is contributing to that with his presence, he said.

Calls to Sudans foreign minister and government spokesman for response went unanswered.



David Bosco is an associate professor at Indiana University and an expert on the International Criminal Court. He says Saudi Arabia has welcomed Bashir in the past.



So this isnt a departure from Saudi policy on Bashir, but it is of course notable that hes being invited to a summit where President Trump would be present and U.S. officials have not met with Bashir. And theyve had a policy of avoiding meeting with Bashir and so Saudi Arabia has put the United States in a difficult position here, he said.

Bosco adds that the Trump administrations position toward the ICC is still vague.



It is important to recognize that were in a different world with the Trump administration regarding the ICC than we were with the Obama administration," he said. "The Obama administration, while it wasnt going to push to join the court, was fairly friendly toward it. The Trump administration  its much less clear how friendly this administration is going to be to the court.

The United States is not a member of the ICC, but a State Department official provided a statement that the U.S. opposes invitations, facilitation, or support for travel by any person subject to outstanding ICC arrest warrants, including President Bashir.



The U.S. lifted some sanctions against Sudan in January, with then-President Barack Obama citing positive actions by the Sudanese government. A State Department official said there could be a permanent revocation of sanctions in six months if progress continued.



Since his indictment, Bashir has traveled to ICC-member countries such as South Africa and Jordan, which have an legal obligation to arrest him, but so far, have not.

Because Saudi Arabia is not a member of the ICC, the country does not have the same obligation.






Jaitley and Rawat will arrive in Jammu and Kashmir today to review the security situation amid heightened tension on the Line of Control (LoC) and student unrest in the Valley.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will arrive in Jammu and Kashmir today to review the security situation amid heightened tension on the Line of Control (LoC) and student unrest in the Valley.

This would be Jaitley's first visit to the state after he took over the additional charge from Manohar Parrikar.

The Defence Minister advanced his visit by a day since he was otherwise scheduled to chair the two-day long Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting beginning on Thursday.

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During his visit to the LoC, Jaitley would meet the field commanders.

He will be briefed on the overall preparedness of the army to meet challenges of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the heightened risk of infiltration as the snow starts to thaw on the mountains.

Sources here said the ongoing students' unrest fanning separatist sentiments in the valley would also remain in focus.

"The impact of an unrest on the overall security situation cannot be wished away. Therefore, the visit will also focus on ways and means to help the civil administration bring the situation under control," a top official told IANS.

ALSO READ | Jammu and Kashmir: 2 LeT terrorists, involved in attack on Army camp in Kupwara on April 26, killed in Handwara

ALSO READ | Mehbooba Mufti meets PM Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh over Jammu and Kashmir unrest

ALSO WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: 2 Lashkar militants behind Kupwara attack gunned down in Handwara

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is attempting to put a positive spin on his Washington encounter with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, calling it a "new awakening" in bilateral relations.

But behind joint commitments "to work together in the war against terrorism," reaction has been cool in Turkey, with a recognition that the much-heralded "pivotal" encounter failed to deliver any breakthrough in ongoing points of bilateral tension.

"Trump, Erdogan seek to strengthen ties: White House," read a less than enthusiastic headline of the pro-Erdogan Turkish Yeni Safak newspaper.

"It was an important meeting, but to qualify it as pivotal, some long-lasting big-time decisions have to be made. This was no such meeting," said Sinan Ulgen, a visiting scholar of the Carnegie Institute in Brussels, adding, "On many issues which continue to divide Turkey and the U.S., there does not seem to be a particular convergence."

Erdogan had pledged to seek to reverse Trump's decision to arm the Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG, in its fight against the Islamic State. Ankara accuses the militia of being a terrorist organization affiliated with the PKK, which is fighting the Turkish State.

"Erdogan was hoping to use his much-vaunted persuasive skills in high-level meetings when he met Trump," noted Atilla Yesilada, a political consultant of Global Source Partners.

But the Turkish president had little opportunity to persuade Trump, with his meeting lasting only a reported 22 minutes. The two leaders' meeting was followed by a luncheon involving officials from both sides.

"The fact the initial meeting was so short is another indication that this was essentially a preparatory meeting where many issues on the bilateral relationship were not discussed in depth," noted analyst Ulgen.

Gulen remains an issue

Erdogan's calls for the extradition of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, too, appears to have made little headway. Ankara blames Gulen for masterminding last July's failed coup attempt. "Possible steps" were discussed on the issue, wrote Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogan's top adviser, in a statement. Ankara is also reportedly pressing for Gulen's detention ahead of extradition hearings.

The failure to make any breakthrough on key issues of dispute was widely predicted, but resolving such disputes may not have been the main purpose of Erdogan's visit.

"The single most important outcome from the Turkish perspective of this visit was clear  that is, to garner international legitimacy for the referendum results and the Erdogan presidency," said former senior Turkish diplomat Aydin Selcen, who served in Washington and Iraq. "Of course the U.S. being sole global power, to have the photograph at the Oval Office was the sole target of Erdogan's visit. From that perspective, it was a success."

YPG at status quo

Last month, Erdogan narrowly won a controversial referendum victory extending his powers. Allegations of vote rigging continue to dog the result, with Trump remaining the only western ally to congratulate Erdogan's success.

During talks with Erdogan, Trump reportedly did not raise human rights concerns and an ongoing crackdown on dissent, despite more than 60 members of Congress expressing their concern over the deteriorating situation.

The U.S. president also extended support to Ankara's war against the PKK. "They will have no safe quarter," Trump said.

"All talk, no walk. That support was already there," noted former Turkish diplomat Selcen. "Does that entail a green light from Washington for Turkey to carry out similar airstrikes as Ankara did against the YPG? I don't think so."

Erdogan has warned that his forces are ready to launch cross-border operations against the Kurdish rebels based in Iraq. Just hours before Erdogan sat down with Trump, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim made a less than thinly veiled warning of military incursions if Washington fails to address Turkish concerns.

Turkish military forces remain massed on both the Syrian and Iraqi borders close to position of the YPG. Last month, Turkish forces struck YPG targets in Syria and Iraq, in the face of U.S. opposition, with one strike narrowly missing U.S. special forces. "I would expect more of the same. The same tensions will continue," predicted former diplomat Selcen, "yet at the same time, some sort cooperation will continue concerning Syria and Iraq, as well."

But such differences with Washington will be tempered by Ankara's increasingly vulnerable position.

"From Erdogan's perspective and Ankara's perspective, the relationship with the U.S. is at a critical importance, at a time when Turkey's relationships with its other partners in the West have entered a period of acrimony and difficulty. Therefore, the relationship with Washington and the need for a sound relationship with the new U.S. president is now more important than ever," said analyst Ulgen.
President Donald Trump used his speech Wednesday at the United States Coast Guard Academy graduation ceremony to slam his critics, especially the news media, and tout his accomplishments so far as commander-in-chief.

At the ceremony in New London, Connecticut, Trump took a defiant tone at times, telling graduates, "No politician in history... has been treated worse or more unfairly," than he has, and despite negative media coverage, he still has been able to accomplish "a tremendous amount in a very short time."

Drawing inspiration from his long-shot win in the 2016 presidential election, Trump encouraged the new graduates to never give up.

"Over the course of your life you will find that things are not always fair...and you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight. Never, ever, ever give up, he said. He also told them, You cant let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams.

The remarks come as Trump faces growing scrutiny over his campaign's ties to Russia and whether he fired FBI Director James Comey to obstruct an investigation of Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Trump also listed several things hes accomplished since becoming president, saying illegal border crossings are down and the number of jobs in America are up. He also referred to the confirmation of new Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Trump said the graduates will soon play vital roles in protecting American borders from drug smugglers and human traffickers.

He said Coast Guard members dont run from danger, but rather confront it to keep our ports churning with American excellence.

You will battle the scourge of human trafficking  something that people havent been talking about, one of the big problems in the world, Trump said. Not only will our citizens trust in your leadership, your commanders will, as well. The Coast Guard is the gold standard.

Trump commended the cadets because, he said, they could have chosen to go to any school they wanted, with far fewer responsibilities than those they assumed at the Coast Guard Academy.

He said many other students graduating in the coming days will wonder what they are going to do afterwards, but that the Coast Guard graduates know exactly what they will be doing in a few weeks.

Its amazing to think of the adventures that are about to begin for you, Trump said. When you look back, you wont doubt. Youll know exactly how you spent your time  saving lives.

Trump called the Coast Guard truly vital to the U.S. armed forces.

Out of the five branches of our armed services, its only the Coast Guard that has the power to break through thick layers of Arctic ice, he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to give a major speech on the Islamic faith during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, home to the religions major shrines.

National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters Tuesday that Trump, who is leaving for Saudi Arabia on Friday, would meet and have lunch with leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries and deliver an inspiring, direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and the president's hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam.

McMaster said Trumps first overseas trip as president is aimed at promoting unity among Muslims, Jews and Christians, with visits also set for Israel and the Vatican as part of a five-nation, nine-day trip.

Trump, a Christian, has sparked some of the most controversial moments of his campaign for the White House and his nearly four-month presidency with comments and policies related to Muslims.

During his presidential campaign, he called for banning Muslims from entering the United States until immigration authorities could figure out a way to determine if any of them were likely to commit a terrorist act.

He soon backed off that idea, but as president has attempted to impose two travel bans, one aimed at seven Muslim-majority countries where terrorist attacks have occurred, and then a second one that removed Iraq from the list but still called for a travel ban covering Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen.

U.S. courts have blocked both travel bans, although appellate courts are considering Trumps appeal and the issue could wind up at the U.S. Supreme Court for a final ruling.

McMaster said that after a day of talks with Saudi King Salman and his crown prince, Trump would meet with leaders from across the Muslim world and would help open a center to de-radicalize extremists.

The national security adviser said the Islam speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilization and to demonstrate America's commitment to our Muslim partners.

He said that while on the trip Trump would visit key sites associated with Islam, Judaism and Christianity to stress "that we all have to be united and we have to be joined together with an agenda of tolerance and moderation."

In Israel, Trump is meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and will visit the Vad Yashem memorial to the Holocaust. The next day he will pray at the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites.

On the same day, Trump is meeting Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Bethlehem on the West Bank where McMaster said the president wants to continue pursuit of an agreement that ends the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

In Rome, Trump is meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, celebrating the contributions of Catholics to the United States and the world, and touring St Peter's Basilica.

Later, Trump is meeting with European Union officials in Brussels and attending a NATO meeting, before heading back to Italy for a G7 economic summit in Sicily.
The Trump administration has announced that it will continue nuclear sanctions relief for Iran, keeping in place an Obama-era deal.

Under the 2015 deal, sanctions punishing Iran for its nuclear program were waived in exchange for Iran's commitment to roll back the program. But continuing the sanctions relief requires the renewal of a six-month waiver. The most recent waiver, issued by former Secretary of State John Kerry in December, was set to expire this week.

But the administration also imposed unrelated sanctions on two Iranian defense officials, an Iranian company and members of a China-based network for supporting Iran's ballistic missile program.



Iran continues to pursue missile related technologies capable of delivering a nuclear weapon, Washington's top diplomat for the Middle East, Stuart Jones, said, noting that the missile program is in breach of internationally backed U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The State Department will continue to partner with our colleagues at the Department of the Treasury to ensure our national security in the face of Iranian threats.

Jones said the U.S. is still forming a "comprehensive Iran policy,'' alluding to President Donald Trump's assertion that he may tear up the deal after he finishes reviewing it. In the meantime, Jones said, the U.S. will keep implementing the deal, including the sanctions relief.

Human rights still a concern

The State Department also released a new report criticizing Iran for human rights abuses.

Jones said the U.S. will continue to hold Iran accountable for its human rights abuses with new actions. Whether it is imprisoning people arbitrarily, inflicting physical abuse and torture, or executing juvenile offenders, the Iranian regime has for decades committed egregious human rights violations against its own people and foreign nations, and this pattern of behavior must come to an end.

He also called on Iran to immediately release Americans detained in the country.

The announcements and the report comes just days before Iran holds presidential elections that pit President Hassan Rouhani against several conservative opponents. It also comes ahead of Trump's five-day trip to the region.
Chelsea Manning, the U.S. Army soldier who gave more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks in 2010, was freed from prison early Wednesday after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence.

An army statement said Manning was released at 2am local time from the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth in the state of Kansas.

"Whatever is ahead of me, is far more important than the past," said the 29-year-old in a statement released by her legal team. "I'm figuring things out right now - which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me."

An online fundraising effort set up to help Manning pay for living expenses after her release had brought in nearly $150,000 in donations as of Wednesday. Manning's lawyers say she plans to go to Maryland.

The leaks included battlefield reports from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as State Department cables, and rocketed WikiLeaks to international prominence. Critics said the disclosures publicized some of the nation's most sensitive secrets and put people mentioned in the documents, such as those who aided U.S. troops overseas, in danger.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama commuted Manning's sentence in January, setting Wednesday as her release date.

Manning, who was known as Bradley at the time of the leaks, came out as transgender after being sentenced to prison.

Manning said she acted "out of concern for my country," innocent civilians who died in the wars and in support of "transparency and public accountability."

Her conviction in a military court on 20 counts, including violations of the Espionage Act, theft and computer fraud, remains in place and Manning is appealing the verdict.

She objected to the length of the sentence, which was longer than any previously given for the disclosure of such information.



Manning's lawyers have said she was subjected to violence while in prison, and that the military mistreated her by forcing her to serve her time in an all-male facility and restricting access to physical and mental health care.

"Now, freedom is something that I will again experience with friends and loved ones after nearly seven years of bars and cement, of periods of solitary confinement, and of my health care and autonomy restricted, including through routinely forced haircuts," Manning said in a statement last week. "I am forever grateful to the people who kept me alive, President Obama, my legal team and countless supporters."
U.S. President Donald Trump is considering whether to send up to 5,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, a decision expected to come before a NATO summit on May 25. But the question being asked is what can the U.S. achieve with such a small number of extra troops in a country where 350,000 Afghan security forces are already engaged in battle.

Back in March, Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote an opinion piece in The Washington Post titled "Why we need more forces to end the stalemate in Afghanistan."

It is a question Trump must have considered as he viewed the proposals his top advisers put on his desk recently.

The Trump administration is determining whether to send between 3,000 to 5,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan to try to break a stalemate in the 15-year war against the Taliban. Administration officials say Trump is likely to discuss a troop increase when he attends a NATO summit later this month.

Some are calling it one of the most important decisions of his early presidency, pitting president Trump against candidate Trump, who proposed during his election campaign to leave Afghanistan and focus attention on the United States instead.

With some 350,000 Afghan security forces already engaged in the fight, the numbers reportedly under consideration are marginal, and seem intended only to increase pressure on the Taliban to negotiate.

"His thinking is basically to try and help the Afghan government keep territory, to take back some more territory, and to put it in a position where the Taliban would like to go to the negotiating table. That's it," said Kate Clark, a senior analyst at the Afghanistan Analysts Network.

However, bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table has been an elusive goal. Multiple multi-nation efforts toward this goal have fizzled out without concrete results.

When former Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar received a red carpet welcome in Kabul this month after signing a peace deal with the government, the Taliban squashed rumors that they may follow his example, calling negotiations "un-Islamic" and tantamount to "surrender."

When U.S. commander General John Nicholson publicly requested an increase in troop levels to advise and assist the Afghan forces during senate testimony in February, he admitted the Afghan forces were in a stalemate with the Taliban. While the latter had been unable to take over any major cities last year, they had held their ground, and even gained a bit of territory.

The surge, marginal as it may be, may break that stalemate in favor of the Afghan government and push the Taliban to change its mind. But it might also strengthen their resolve, according to Islamabad-based analyst Maria Sultan, who heads the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute.

"The mere fact that the entire war rhetoric is based against the presence of foreign troops, it creates more sources of instability and also more potential targets," she said.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and top officials of his government reportedly support a U.S. troop increase.
Venezuela's president is comparing treatment of his government's officials abroad to that of Jews in Nazi Germany.

President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday night criticized Venezuelan expatriates who have been harassing or yelling at Venezuelan officials abroad, or who use social media to post photos of the socialist officials living it up overseas while the country's people are struggling with economic crisis.

The Venezuelan leader declared, "We are the Jews of the 21st century."

Maduro also suggested that the huge protests that have convulsed the nation for six weeks are similar to the rallies Nazi leader Adolf Hitler presided over in the 1930s.

The South American country's socialist administration often characterizes the organized opposition as "fascist," and has recently been accusing opponents of trying to stage a coup.
Stock markets tumbled, the dollar's value sank and worried Republicans wondered what else could go wrong Wednesday as President Donald Trump faced congressional inquiries into allegations he tried to derail an FBI investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn and disclosed classified intelligence to Russia.

"Nobody knows where this really goes from here," one White House official told Politico, a Washington political news site. "What is next?"

On the other side of the partisan divide, a small but growing number of Democrats are speaking openly about impeachment, arguing that Trump obstructed justice when he asked then-FBI Director James Comey to "go easy" in its probe of Flynn's ties to Russia.

That story, first broken by The New York Times, came on the heels of a Washington Post report saying Trump had discussed highly sensitive intelligence information supplied by Israel to two Russian diplomats during an Oval Office meeting last week.

Trump, meanwhile, seemed stung by the one-two punch of negative stories. His Twitter feed, which has been a much-used mode of reply to negative news coverage, was quiet.

The president ignored shouted questions from reporters Wednesday as he left the White House to address a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut, where a complaint about media coverage was his only reference to the controversy swirling around him.

"Look at the way I've been treated lately, especially by the media," he said. "No politician in history has been treated worse or more unfairly."

Afterward, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, White House spokesman Sean Spicer brushed aside questions about the congressional inquiries. He referred all questioners to the administration's only comment so far, a terse written statement that says "the president never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation." The statement describes The New York Times account as "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president on Mr. Comey."

Lawmakers weigh in

On Capitol Hill Wednesday, lawmakers of both parties paraded to microphones to weigh in on Trump's travails. Republican Senator John McCain was quoted as saying the current scandal is reaching a "Watergate size and scale," a reference to the scandal that forced President Richard Nixon from office.

House Speaker Paul Ryan urged his fellow lawmakers to "dispassionately do our jobs and make sure the investigations follow the facts where they may lead." When a reporter asked afterward whether he still supports the president, Ryan was reported to have answered, "I do."

Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer called for appointment of a special prosecutor to take charge of an independent investigation. "Concerns about our national security, the rule of law, the independence of our nation's highest law enforcement agencies, are mounting in this land," Schumer said. "The country is being tested in unprecedented ways."

Representative Al Green, a Democrat, spoke on the House floor, saying that following the latest revelations, he had made up his mind to join fellow Democratic Representative Maxine Waters in calling for Trump's impeachment. "This is where I stand, I will not be moved. The president must be impeached," Green said.

The river of congressional concern over Trump's actions turned to a flood after House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, a Trump loyalist, demanded Tuesday that acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe produce within a week all information it has related to the Comey-Trump meeting at the White House. Chaffetz said Wednesday he was inviting Comey to appear before the committee when hearings begin May 24.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, urged Trump to immediately release all information that could refute Comey's charges.

"We are watching in real time an obstruction of justice case unfolding and the president of the United States has an obligation to be more forthcoming with any tapes, memos, memoranda, but in the meantime, there need to be subpoenas that will make sure all of this evidence is preserved and produced," Blumenthal said.

Paper trail

The initial New York Times report published late Tuesday said Comey had written a memo detailing his conversation with Trump, which was part of a paper trail Comey created to document his perception that the president's request was improper.

The Times reported that an FBI agent's contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations.

Former FBI Assistant Director Ron Hosko, now president of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, said he thinks Trump may have underestimated Comey who, as a career FBI investigator, had been trained to make copious notes of his conversations. Hosko expressed skepticism, however, that Trump's request to "go easy" on the Flynn probe would rise to the level of obstruction of justice.

"There was no real result. There was presumably no conspiracy, no third party involved," Hosko told VOA. "It was treated as a casual, if regrettable, conversation or comment by the president. Certainly, it should never have been made. But I think most people would say that, alone, would fall short of a crime."

VOA's Jeff Seldin in Washington contributed to this report.
The U.S. State Department is expressing concern about Tuesday's violent clash involving supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a few dozen protesters outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington.

"Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement Wednesday. "We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms.

Erdogan bodyguards also were involved in the scuffle that occurred on the same day the Turkish leader met with President Donald Trump at the White House. At least two people were arrested and nine people were injured.

In a statement Wednesday, Washington police said the incident outside the Turkish embassy stood "in contrast to the First Amendment rights and principles we work tirelessly to protect each and every day.

"We will continue to work with our partners at the United States State Department and the United States Service Service to identify and hold all subjects accountable for the involvement in the altercation," the statement said.

VOA's Turkish service says the protesters at the scene were Kurdish supporters calling for pro-Kurdish lawmaker Selahattin Demirtas release from prison.

Police barricaded the perimeter to separate the groups.

At one point, Turkish Ambassador to Washington Serdar Kilic appears and shouts at one of the police officers.

Similar clashes happened last year when Erdogan visited Washington for a nuclear security summit.

Republican Senator Ben Sasse, writing on Twitter, said Erdogan should "remember that this country is built on free speech, free religion, free press, and freedom to protest."
The White House was in crisis mode yet again Tuesday after reports emerged claiming that President Donald Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to shut down an investigation into Trump's ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's ties to Russia.

An administration statement said the reports aren't true. But the claims raise new concerns that Trump was attempting to obstruct an investigation that Comey had been leading into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow to influence the 2016 presidential election.

The reports said Trump made the request of Comey during a February meeting.

According to a memo that Comey wrote following the meeting, the president said, "I hope you can let this go," referring to the investigation into Flynn. The details of Comey's notes were first reported by The New York Times and then confirmed by The Washington Post and other news outlets.

But a statement from the White House said the report is "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey.'' It said while the president has repeatedly expressed his view that Flynn is a "decent man,'' he never asked Comey or anyone else to end any investigations involving the national security adviser.

Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks earlier that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak before Trump took office on January 20.

FBI controversy

Trump abruptly fired Comey last week, creating a firestorm of political controversy and increasing calls for a special prosecutor or independent commission to look into any Russia-Trump connections.

White House officials have stressed that the Russia probe had nothing to do with Trump's firing of Comey, although Trump himself has suggested in interviews that it was at least partly a motivation.

The Times said Comey's memo was part of a "paper trail" that the FBI director kept to document allegedly "improper" pressure by Trump in the FBI's Russia investigation, raising the possibility of a paper trail of evidence.

Colleagues of Comey have said the former FBI director took careful notes of meetings, especially politically sensitive ones, and there had been rumors for weeks that such memos existed.

A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment on the details of the Comey memo.

Reaction from Congress

As the latest reports surfaced Tuesday, reaction from lawmakers in both parties was swift, with intensifying calls for Comey to testify before Congress.

"I would like to see that," Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a high-ranking Republican congresswoman, said of Comey testifying.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters that he's asked Comey "to come before the Judiciary Committee to tell his side of the story."

Comey turned down a recent request to testify in a closed session, but reports have suggested that he would do so if the hearing were public.

Congressman Jason Chaffetz, a prominent Republican who heads the House Oversight Committee, said in a tweet that he "is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready."

On the floor of the Senate, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he was "shaken" by reports that Trump tried to shut down an active investigation. "The country is being tested in unprecedented ways  history is watching," Schumer said.

Any movement on an independent investigation depends upon the votes of House Republicans. With a year-and a-half still to go until 2018 midterm elections, many members of Congress are carefully watching polling numbers for Trump back in their home congressional districts.

"The people who did vote for him continue to support him," Congressman Trent Franks of the conservative House Freedom Caucus said Tuesday.

Franks said the media is looking at Trump in the most negative way possible, while voters "just look at the big picture and say, well who is really fighting for America here  and I think they've concluded, rightfully, that that's Donald Trump."

Seeking independent investigation

But for House Democrats, the revelations are just the newest reason on a long list that should move Congress to pass legislation creating an independent investigation into Russian election interference.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted, "If reports are true, Trump's attempts to shut down the FBI's Flynn investigation is an assault on the rule of law."

There already have been calls for Trump to turn over records of any conversations with Comey. That was especially the case after Trump, in a tweet earlier this week, appeared to threaten Comey into silence by saying Comey better hope there are no "tapes" of their conversations.
By Ahmad Azeem: Legal Assistance Establishments will serve the essential purpose of "access of justice" and are strategic cornerstone of the legal service authorities as a part of their commitment to update the legal service seekers about their cases and address the grievances of legal services beneficiaries at one stop center, said Supreme Court Judge, Justice Dipak Misra.

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Misra said while inaugurating the first Legal Assistance Establishment in Delhi State Legal Services Authority at Patiala House Courts Complex here.

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"Legal Assistance Establishments are multiple services single point establishment for providing facilities for legal aid seekers under one roof and at a single location," Misra said.

Misra said that Nyaya Sanyog opens a new chapter in the progressive history of National Legal Service Authority.

The first such Legal Assistance Establishment (Nyaya Sanyog) would be manned by legal services advocate on the panel of Delhi State Legal Service Authority along with of para legal volunteers who would have knowledge of data base, a platform containing status of all legal aided cases pending in various courts of Delhi-- as well as other information required by legal services seekers.

Also Read:

Curious case of Justice Karnan: A history of controversies and mystery

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U.S. President Donald Trump's White House was left reeling Wednesday following the stunning allegation that he sought to derail a criminal investigation into links his former national security adviser had with Russian officials on top of reports that Trump disclosed highly classified intelligence to two Moscow diplomats last week.

"Nobody knows where this really goes from here," one White House official told Politico, a Washington political news site. "What is next?"

A small but growing number of Trump's Republican colleagues in Congress, along with Democrats, called for a special prosecutor or commission to examine ties between Trump and his aides to Russia, an investigation going beyond those already being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the intelligence committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

"Now is the time to put party considerations aside and do what is right for the country," by appointing an independent special prosecutor not beholden to the White House, Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer said.

The House Republican leader, Speaker Paul Ryan, said the three probes already under way were sufficient.

"There's plenty of oversight going on," Ryan told a news conference. "We need to follow the facts wherever they may lead."

Trump made no direct public comment about the controversy, but told graduating seniors at the Coast Guard Academy in the northeastern state of Connecticut, "No politician in history has been treated worse or more unfairly" than he has been.

The new willingness to investigate the Trump-related links to Russia came after associates of then-FBI Director James Comey, whom Trump abruptly fired last week while he was heading the agency's Russia probe, said that Comey wrote notes after a February meeting with the president saying that Trump had asked him to drop a probe of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

The Comey-Trump meeting came a day after Trump fired Flynn, a retired Army general, for lying to Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to Washington.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, a Trump loyalist, demanded that acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe produce within a week all information it has related to the Comey-Trump meeting at the White House.

Other lawmakers, including the Senate intelligence panel, called on Comey to testify publicly and privately about his conversations with Trump. Ryan questioned why Comey did not disclose Trump's request to end the Flynn probe shortly after their February conversation.

The New York Times broke the story late Tuesday, reporting that Comey had written a memo detailing his conversation with Trump. The Times story said the memo was part of a paper trail Comey created to document his perception that the presidents request was improper.

Several legal analysts have argued that any such request could be considered obstruction of justice, an impeachable offense. Representative Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said at a news conference Tuesday, "If true, this is yet another disturbing allegation that the president may have engaged in some interference or obstruction of the investigation."

The Times reported that an FBI agents contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations. A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment on the details of the Comey memo.

The Trump White House swung into crisis mode after the story broke. A statement issued Tuesday evening did not directly refer to The Times report, but denied that Trump had asked Comey or anyone else to end the Flynn probe.

While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, the statement said. The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey.

In a separate statement issued at the same time, the administration pointed out that McCabe had told a Senate committee last week that the White House has not interfered with the Russia investigation.

William Gallo, Michael Bowman and Katherine Gypson contributed to this report.
The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) on Wednesday committed US$1.6 million to assist over 32,600 flood-affected people with life-saving shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene and protection in 20 districts in Zimbabwe.

In a joint statement the United Nations and Zimbabwe said the fund is in addition to US$8.2 million allocated last year in response to the severe drought that affected over 4 million rural Zimbabweans.

The handover ceremony was held at the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Makombe boardroom, in Harare.

Dignitaries present at the handover ceremony included Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing; Senior Government Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Office of the President and Cabinet; and senior UN representatives led by UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Bishow Parajuli, including representatives of UNICEF, UNFPA and International Organization for Immigration.

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED

Speaking at the event, Mr. Parajuli, who applauded the CERF support for Zimbabwe, said, The CERF fund is a critical resource that guarantees life-saving interventions in support of affected communities and I believe it will help meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable particularly those who are still living in temporary camps in the southern parts of Zimbabwe.

The CERF, which will be implemented by UNICEF, IOM and UNFPA together with Government Ministries, Local Authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), will provide life-saving interventions to over 23,800 people with water, sanitation and hygiene. Over 12,500 pupils will receive emergency education materials while over 2600 households will be provided with emergency shelter. Over 1,000 vulnerable families will receive non-food items and 2,500 women will be provided with dignity and reproductive health kits.

The much-needed CERF support will be complemented with the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health and Child Care health programme which has strategically pre-positioned essential drugs, kits (to manage 800 emergency cases at any given time) and personnel to contain any water- borne disease in all provinces, including in the affected areas.

Rapid Response Teams are in place to conduct health-related assessments should the need arise.

ONSET OF DISASTER

Commending the strong engagement by the UN particularly in supporting the coordination of relief responses from the wider humanitarian partners in response to the national flood disaster, the chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management, Kasukuwere, said, the government of Zimbabwe appreciates the UNs support provided since the onset of the disaster and the financial commitment of US$1.6 million allocated from its emergency window funding it a true testimony of the UNs commitment to the people of Zimbabwe .

Following the declaration of national flood disaster at the beginning of March, 2017, the government launched a US$189 million appeal on March 20, 2017, to address the immediate, medium and long term impact of the flood disaster.

The United Nations and partners, in close consultation with the government estimate that out of the total US$189 million, over US$20 million is needed for immediate emergency humanitarian response.

The Government Special Cabinet Committee has committed US$35 million from the Treasury for the emergency, majority of which has been assigned to infrastructure development as many parts of the country remain cut off due to damaged roads and collapsed bridges.

The Government of China has donated US$1.06 million for emergency relief. The United Kingdoms Department for International Development (DFID) re-directed US$990,000 from drought response Several other development and humanitarian partners have committed additional resources, including the European Commission Humanitarian Office (US$300,000), the Government of Japan (US$50,000), in addition to in-kind contributions by the Government of Namibia.

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

USAID/Zimbabwe partners adapted some of their drought responses activities to reach tens of thousands of Zimbabweans affected by flooding since February 2017, when the floods began. USAID has also re-allocated $300,000 of its UNICEF drought response programming to provide water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions for people most affected by the floods.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has redirected food contributions from the drought response to flood-affected communities.

In response to the Governments appeal, UN agencies, NGOs and the Red Cross Movement have been on the ground providing temporary shelter; water, hygiene and sanitation; non-food items; education materials; medicine and nutrition supplements to internally displaced people (IDPs).

Noting the large gap on resources in rebuilding roads and bridges damaged by flooding, the UN Resident Coordinator appealed to friends of Zimbabwe for their support in the ongoing rehabilitation efforts.

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

In line with the 2015-2030 Sendai Framework, the UN in Zimbabwe is supporting efforts to improve disaster risk reduction in all its dimensions of exposure, vulnerability and hazard characteristics; the strengthening of disaster risk governance; preparedness to Build Back Better; and strengthening of partnerships.

The UN in Zimbabwe recently deployed a team of experts from the UN inter-agency Capacity for Disaster Reduction Initiative who have assessed the capacity needs for strengthening disaster risk reduction efforts in the country.

Noting the new-normal of recurrent natural disasters triggered mostly by the effects of climate change, Mr. Parajuli said, all our efforts should be geared towards building national resilience and strong contingency measures that could be rolled out in case of new emergencies, be it drought, floods or disease outbreaks.
Garcia Highlights Brexit Challenges to London Convention

The Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia has raised some of the challenges that Gibraltar faces in a Brexit Convention which opened in London yesterday morning. Dr Garcia was part of a panel discussion entitled "Will Europe make it?"

There was applause in the hall when Dr Garcia recalled the 96% vote in favour of remaining in the EU in Gibraltar, the highest in the entire voting electorate. He explained that Brexit was already complicated enough for the UK, without the added dimension that Gibraltar faced of a hostile and difficult neighbour.

In response to a direct question on aviation issues, Dr Garcia went over how Spain had rescinded from an agreement to stop blocking the application of EU law to Gibraltar Airport and to construct a connecting building on the Spanish side.

He then highlighted the importance of frontier fluidity for twelve thousand frontier workers, ten million tourists and residents on either side. He made the point that whereas freedom of movement and immigration were issues in the United Kingdom, these were not issues in Gibraltar.

On the wider subject, Dr Garcia said that there was some recognition among the European institutions that the EU needed to renew or to reinvent itself. He pointed to the White Paper produced by the European Commission, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which set out a number of options going forward. These ranged from reverting to a European Economic Community (a trading block), to going for a multi-speed Europe or for an outright federal solution.

The panel discussion was chaired by Charles Grant, the Director of the Centre for European Reform and it included the Deputy Leader of the Labour MEPs Richard Corbett, Liberal Democrat Candidate Louise Rowntree, writer Federic Martel and EU lawyer Laurent Pech.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that it was important for Gibraltar to be considered as part of the general Brexit debate in the United Kingdom and this participation was therefore very relevant in this context.
Scott. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella

Thanks to top-tier networking skills and strong curatorial instincts that, together, amount to permanent auditioning to be the it in the phrase its lit, Travis Scott has successfully transformed himself into an artist worth hearing out. Fittingly, for a man obsessed by fashion, his best collection is his most recent. Last years sophomore effort, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, displayed Scott to best advantage by combining agile productions pulsing with dark highlights, in medias res lyrics about drugs and status conveying a sensibility rather than a personality, and a guest list (Kendrick Lamar, the Weeknd, Bryson Tiller, Quavo, 21 Savage, Kid Cudi, Andre 3000) that doubled as a social register of black musics freshest, best, and/or brightest. What if someone tried very hard to be cool and ended up, finally, becoming kind of cool? Thats the Travis Scott story, and frowning too much at him, as his critics do, for being pointless or in bad faith is pointless in a digitized reality where, like it or not, everyone is occupied by relentless image maintenance: Let they who care not at all about finding their angles and filters cast the first stone, etc.

Judging by his body of work, and by a recent event where the artist dared fans to jump from a three-story height at a concert and was booked on riot-incitement charges, what drives Scott is, basically, a vague injunction to move people in a certain way. Yet the hollowness of that phrase (and of Scotts lyrics) belies an acute sense of taste and a serious work ethic. Being cool is hard, and staying cool is more laborious, and hollow, than ever: For this life, I cannot change, Scott repeats on Butterfly Effect, which together with A Man and Green & Purple are the three tracks he released on SoundCloud near midnight on Tuesday.

Like his idol Kanye, Scott has made bringing out the best in other artists into an art of its own; he is acutely aware that producers are artists in their own right. The beats  respectively from Murda, Southside, and Sevn Thomas  are the real draw, and each is superb; the relation of the vocals (delivered by Scott and fellow fashionista Playboy Carti) to them is the same relation as, say, concert venues to the performers playing there. But acoustics matter, and nightlife planning comprises a skill set all its own. Scott, with his polish, dynamism, and nocturnal ambience, has figured out how to operate in clubs and stages better than most. If fame is a role-playing game, hes maxed out his skill points; just because he isnt great yet  more character is required to unlock that achievement  doesnt mean he isnt already great at what he does.
Between the buttons, mockery. Photo: Kyle Buchanan

At the Cannes Film Festival, they take what you wear very seriously. Zachary Quinto once showed up to the glitzy Cannes premiere of a film he produced, only to be turned away by a guard for not wearing the right sort of black-tie attire. And the festival famously incurred the wrath of women when it tried to forbid flats on the red carpet, an edict that prompted Cannes darlings like Kristen Stewart to speak out against high heels. While the festival is still the site of glamorous photo opportunities and breathtaking fashion moments, it was all beginning to feel a little stern.

This year, however, I detect a bit of irreverence in the form of a big red button. As journalists began checking into the festival yesterday, their badge lanyards came with a shiny button attached, each emblazoned with a hilariously rude statement. How come I didnt get invited? mewled my button, like a Cannes-goer desperate to crash a big party. (I, uh, wouldnt know anything about that.)

At an annual dinner for journalists last night at La Pizza, media members compared the broadsides on their badges. Im so pathetic: I took a selfie on the red carpet, said one button. I fantasize about doing the red carpet in flip-flops, went another. (Relatable!) Several buttons seemed to satirize the journo-babble heard before and after big screenings, like, Its the latest by whats-his-name, the guy who did that other movie, Its always the same ones in competition anyway, and a sweetly upbeat half-apology: I didnt understand much, but the film was fantastic!

For the 70th anniversary of the film festival, had Cannes decided to lead with a sense of humor? Could these collectors pins, as theyre dubbed, be worn with both pride and self-effacement, a fashion statement meant to literally push our buttons? Or, after a 69th edition of Cannes that was full of trolling, had the festival decided to troll the press right back?

To find out, I tracked down the person responsible for the pins: Caroline Vautrot, who works in the festivals communications department. Even though the festival is 70 years old, said Vautrot, it knows how to stay young and listen to his participants while making fun of itself. Dubbing them a funny little wink, Vautrot wrote down 13 plausibly overheard statements, translated into French and English, and had the buttons distributed to many accredited Cannes-goers, including all members of the press.

Vautrot wanted to tell me more, but alas, it was the first official day of Cannes and she was slammed with work. As she attended to urgent matters, I asked which button was her favorite.

She held it up for me: Cannes is such a big factory, isnt it? And then, with a mischievous grin, she returned to work.
Marion Cotillard and Mathieu Almaric in Ismaels Ghosts. Photo: Why Not Productions

What better way to open the 70th Cannes Film Festival  days after the French inaugurated their new 39 year-old president, Emmanuel Macron, who married his now-64-year-old former drama teacher, Brigitte Trogneux, whom he met when he was 15  than with a tres messy love-triangle movie? Im not spoiling anything that isnt in the trailer of Arnaud Desplechins Ismaels Ghosts (Les Fantomes dIsmael), in which a presumed-dead Marion Cotillard returns after 20 years to steal her husband (French superstar Mathieu Almaric) from his unofficial partnership with Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Heres just how very, very French this whole scenario is. When Almarics filmmaker, Ismael, asks Gainsbourgs astrophysicist, Sylvia, why she has no children, she tells him shes only ever been involved with married men. Shrug. Then he jovially tells her that his wife Carlotta (Cotillard), who disappeared when she was 20, cheated on him constantly; she just loved life so much she couldnt be contained  and he loved her for it. When Ismael and Sylvia get together, its in an apartment whose main decoration is an oil painting of Carlotta. He asks her if he should take it down and she tells him to keep it up, even as she often has to take care of him when Carlotta regularly appears in his nightmares, and he often has to run off in the middle of the night to take care of Carlottas father, who also has nightmares about her.

When the living, breathing Carlotta shows up after 21 years to announce that shes baaaack, its Sylvia who ends up inviting her to stay in their seaside cottage, and loaning her clothes, and hanging out with her a ton as Ismael finishes a script. Only in a French movie with these French stars would all of this be played super casual, as if that was just the thing one does when ones lovers ex-lover turns up alive.

This next part is SPOILER-Y: It does turn out that all this openness is a little too open for Sylvia, who didnt sign up for a polyamorous relationship with a missing person and whos privately falling apart, even while going on nature walks and sunbathing with Carlotta. Theres a great How is this my life? moment when Carlotta turns on It Aint Me Babe and puts on a dance show for Sylvia. Instead of joining, Sylvia just sits and stares; its a magnificent actress showdown. Oh yeah, and Carlotta has just declared what Sylvia has known all along, that she wants her husband back. And then Sylvia keeps hanging out with her! The only time she draws a line is when it becomes clear that Ismael needs to sleep with Carlotta to get his head straight. So she leaves them to it. And this is after Carlotta confesses to Ismael that as soon as she left him she traveled the world sleeping with other men and then married an Indian guy who died and thats why shes back. Shrug. Cue full-frontal Marion Cotillard  followed by crying-on-cue-and-breaking-your-heart Marion Cotillard.

Whatever faults the rest of the film has (its essentially four movies: the love triangle, the fast-paced spy thriller that Ismael is shooting, the behind the scenes of Ismaels nervous breakdown during production, and some meta nonsense) the parts with Cotillard and Gainsbourg are the perfect embodiment of the French values that won out in the recent election. Empathy. Acceptance. Lack of judgment. The belief in the inherent goodness of people, and the need to let them make their own decisions. The two actresses have never been in a film together, but they cede the floor to one another with a mutual respect, just bringing it in every scene.

So lets raise a glass of champagne to the French  to their president who loves a woman with cellulite, to their great actresses finally together onscreen, and to their love triangles that dont end with winners or losers, but with everyone sexually satisfied.
Sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra in his Facebook post said Arvind Kejriwal has been ducking his questions on corruption in the AAP government but takes out time to watch Sarkar 3.

By India Today Web Desk: Sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra continued his tirade against Arvind Kejriwal saying the Delhi chief minister has been to his office just twice in the last year.

Mishra in his Facebook post said Kejriwal has been ducking his questions on corruption in the AAP government but has all the time to watch Sarkar 3.

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"New corruption cases are coming to light everyday. Houses of relatives and friends are being raided but the CM seems to be unaffected by all this. The CM who is completely cut off from public life has time to watch (movie) Sarkar 3," Mishra said in his scathing post.

Mishra, who was removed by Kejriwal from his cabinet after he levelled serious corruption charges on the CM, further said that the Delhi CM barely goes to office and works the least.

"He is the only CM in the country who has no portfolio, takes maximum offs, works the least and soon he will the one with maximum number of corruption cases," the former Delhi water supply minister said.

Mishra has claimed that he had seen Kejriwal accepting Rs 2 crore from minister Satyendra Jain. Mishra, who was suspended from AAP soon after he made the allegations had also approached the CBI with 'evidence' about Kejriwal's corrupt practices.

WATCH: Kapil Mishra demands Kejriwal's resignation, faints during press conference

ALSO READ:

Kapil Mishra to approach CBI today, says Arvind Kejriwal must prepare to go to Tihar now

Kapil Mishra ends hunger strike, says Arvind Kejriwal is hiding behind wife Sunita

It's Kapil Mishra vs Arvind Kejriwal's wife too: He says Sunita worried about husband's downfall; law of nature never errs, she hits back

Will approach CBI, CBDT against AAP as soon as I am discharged, says ex-Delhi minister Kapil Mishra

--- ENDS ---
From Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Photo: Chad Batka

When reading War and Peace, Dave Malloy was struck with the way Leo Tolstoys epic tells the story of all of Russia, from princesses to troika drivers. So when Malloy decided to adapt a sliver of the novel into the musical that would become Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, he decided he would have to use all of music.

Each song, he explains, required a different genre or style. The Great Comets sprawling soundtrack includes everything from traditional Russian sounds (sung by the old-fashioned Marya), to indie folk-rock (heard in Sonya Alone), emo (for the melancholy Pierre), and soaring Broadway melodies (Natashas No One Else). In advance of the release of Great Comets Broadway original cast recording on May 19, were hosting a first listen to all that music here on Vulture.

For those not acquainted with the musical, the plot follows the naive Natasha as she makes her way in Moscow society, and is eventually, disastrously seduced by Anatole, who, as the prologue helpfully explains, is hot. That introduction, which passes through the cast of characters one by one like a name game you might play at summer camp, was written out of spite, Malloy jokes. At the end of The Great Comets early workshops, audiences complained that they needed help following all the action, especially when everyone seems to have three names. I was like, fine, he says. Im going to write the most clear, simple, stupid way of explaining who these characters are  and it became the prologue.

The Great Comets Broadway cast recording also shows signs of other changes made over the course of its history. The musical first premiered Off Off Broadway at Ars Nova in 2012, then moved into a tent nicknamed the Kazino, and then traveled to Bostons American Repertory Theater, before arriving on Broadway. There have been a few edits since the 2013 cast album, which featured Malloy as Pierre and Phillipa Soo, pre-Hamilton, as Natasha, notably including a ballad, Dust and Ashes, written to fit Josh Groban, who took over the lead role. Grobans angelic voice, Malloy says, allowed me to open up the more spiritual side of Pierre that lives at his heart, that he really has a hard time expressing.

On Broadway, with Groban as Pierre and Denee Benton as Natasha, The Great Comet has remained a success, earning 12 Tony nominations, the most of any show this season, and introduced more than a few audience members to both Russian literature and eclectic musical references. Malloy delights in sharing his taste with fans, and hes recently been sharing his Great Comet influences on Twitter. In watching the show, [audiences] become fans of the show and all the totally different styles of music they might not have heard before, he says. There was this one woman at the stage door one night, she was with a large group of her friends. She said, We came to the show as Grobanites, but were leaving it as Cometeers.

You can purchase the Great Comet cast recording here.
Fallon. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Petting Donald Trumps hair was probably not the best idea, Jimmy Fallon is ready to admit. The Tonight Show host sat down with the New York Times to talk over his ratings drop and the fallout from the Trump interview that found the late-night host tickling the presidents scalp and asking him a set of goofy, softball questions. I didnt do it to humanize him, Fallon told the Times. I almost did it to minimize him. I didnt think that would be a compliment: He did the thing that we all wanted to do. Thats not the read many viewers had on the moment, though. Critics blasted Fallon for going easy on the then-presidential candidate, who at the time had recently refused to say if he believed President Barack Obama was born in the U.S. The fallout from the segment was tough on Fallon, who admits hes a people pleaser.

For Mr. Fallon, who lives a portion of every day online, the hate felt inescapable.



I go, I just cant read Twitter, he said. Then I cant read the news. I cant read the internet.



Speaking in a quiet, tentative tone, Mr. Fallon seemed to be reliving the experience as he recounted it.



Im a people pleaser, he said. If theres one bad thing on Twitter about me, it will make me upset. So, after this happened, I was devastated. I didnt mean anything by it. I was just trying to have fun.



The Times piece ties Fallons infamous Trump interview to his more politically incisive competitor Stephen Colberts rise in the ratings. In an email to the Times, Tina Fey commented that going too hard on Trump is outside of Fallons humor. Jimmy is not a political comedian, so it would be very phony of him to go out and do long political joke rants just because thats what some people want, she said. The Tonight Show has historically been a friendly, light show. Thats how Fallon said hed like to keep it  but he does wish he addressed the Trump hair moment during the heat of the fallout. I didnt talk about it, and I should have talked about it, Fallon told the Times. I regret that.

Revisit Fallons interview below.
Photo: Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images

For the past month, the world has been privy to  nay, blessed with  an inside look at Johnny Depps personal finances. Hot off the heels of his divorce from Amber Heard, Depp is suing his former wealth managers, the Management Group (TMG), saying he has been the victim of the gross misconduct of his business managers. TMG has countersued, a move that has resulted in them spilling every single drop of tea that could possibly be spilled about the Pirates stars loot. According to TMGs filings, besides incidental expenses like paying $3 million to launch Hunter S. Thompsons ashes from a cannon, Depp has also spent $75 million on 14 different properties.



By Vultures count, Depp definitely sold one property  a Kentucky horse farm he bought for his mother  nearly two decades ago. (Because of how long ago the sale was, it will not be included in this list.) But of the other 13 properties  which include mansions, penthouse apartments, a yacht, and an island  which is the best? Which is the lamest? And which is most befitting the actors eccentric lifestyle?

Photo: Philip Ramey/Corbis via Getty Images

13. The yacht

This is quite possibly the tackiest yacht on the planet, which would bring its ranking to No. 1, except for the small fact that Depp does not still own it. Once named Vajoliroja for Vanessa and their children, the actors yacht received millions of dollars in renovations to perfect its Eyes Wide Shutready interiors. (Its current owners now boast that theyre bohemian, but, in the more accurate words of Vanity Fair, theyre really Orient Express by way of Parisian brothel).

The yacht was renamed Amphitrite when Depp gifted it to ex-wife Amber Heard, but he eventually sold it to J.K. Rowling. (Brad and Angie reportedly used the yacht to vacation during their better days.) Do you have a lot of cash, a velvet and wood-paneling fetish, and desire the life of a pirate? Good news, the vessel is available to rent. A humble suggestion to Johnny, though: Please take your inevitable Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales bounty, and buy back this yacht. Please.

Photo: Toby Canham/Splash News/Toby Canham/Splash News

128. Hollywood Hills

Depp owns a handful of homes on the same cul-de-sac in Los Angeless Hollywood Hills. In February, there were rumors that he was keen on building an underground tunnel to connect them all, but couldnt get his hands on the cul-de-sacs sixth home because of a pesky neighbor. These five homes rank as the lamest Houses of Depp: Who doesnt have a home hidden among the Hollywood Hills these days?

(Its unclear from TMGs filings if one of these houses include the Sorry I Made The Rum Diary and Left You for Amber Heard parting gift  a $4.4 million home Depp bought for ex-partner Vanessa Paradis.)

Photo: Galkab/Wikipedia

73. Downtown Los Angeles

About ten years ago, Depp acquired five penthouse apartments atop DTLAs luxe Eastern Columbia Building for about $7 million. Instead of consolidating the adjacent multilevel penthouses into one nine-bedroom and 14-bathroom massive unit, Depp preferred to keep the adjacent apartments separate and live in them like rooms in a home, his listing agent told The Wall Street Journal.

Depp put all five on the market in fall 2016, but hes only sold only two so far. In classic Depp decor style, every room has an aesthetic well politely call technicolor bohemian.

Photo: Sothebys

2. Plan De La Tour, France

The France house isnt just a house, its a full compound. Located about ten miles outside of Saint-Tropez, the 37-acre spread has a 4,300-square-foot main house with five bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms, according to Variety. It comes complete with a small provincial French village, bringing its total bedroom count to 15 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms. A deconsecrated church is in use as a guesthouse, with the confessional converted to a closet. Theres also a private restaurant called Cafe Marcheline. The property was relisted in 2016 for about $63 million.

Photo: Splash News

1. Little Halls Pond Cay, the Bahamas

In this particularly calibrated paradise, every detail has its subtext  of Depps own devising, reported Vanity Fair when the magazine was invited to spend time on Depps personal paradise. One of those details is a long-abandoned Haitian-refugee skiff, which lies on the Lily Rose Beach, named for Depps daughter. As the magazine put it, The relic is a reminder that the dreamy Caribbean, for all its dazzling, blue-green hues, has always swelled with menace and mystery and broken lives. Little Halls Pond Cays has assorted residences and five other beaches. (One is named for Marlon Brando, another for Hunter S. Thompson.) Depp bought the solar-powered 45-acre island for $3.6 million in 2004. I dont think Id ever seen any place so pure and beautiful, the actor told Vanity Fair. You can feel your pulse rate drop about 20 beats. Its instant freedom. Well take his word for it: This is Johnny Depps best purchase.
Gather round, children, Jimmy Kimmel knows you might have trouble understanding how President Trump can blatantly lie and call it the truth, but, with the help of an adorable animated video and a catchy song, he hopes you can learn how a lie can become an alternative fact someday. Considering how the Republican agenda in Congress keeps getting derailed by distractions coming from the White House, theres not much need for original Schoolhouse Rock classic Im Just a Bill at this moment, so Kimmel updated the number to reflect the current political landscape. Unfortunately, watching a scroll of paper that knows its an insane lie be retweeted is quite a bit more depressing than watching a hopeful bill sit in committee.
Tonight: with White House scandals moving at a lightning-fast pace, Stephen takes a moment to recap this week's developments. #LSSC pic.twitter.com/aQDZdI8kqP  The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) May 17, 2017

While Stephen Colbert might owe much of his recent ratings success to his savage takedowns of Donald Trump, he and the president do agree on at least one point. That point being something Trump said on the campaign trail about his adversary Hillary Clinton. We cant have someone in the Oval Office who doesnt understand the meaning of the word confidential or classified, Trump told his supporters in reference to Clintons personal email server. Unfortunately for the 45th president, those words can also be applied to somebody divulging highly sensitive information during a meeting with foreign officials  no hacking necessary.
Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy, and Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia. Photo-Illustration: Maya Robinson

Close your eyes and imagine rows of racially diverse young women clad in blood-red robes and stark white bonnets, spread out upon a lush green field. Their movements are carefully tracked by guards armed with machine guns, heads bowed in respectful devotion as they await what soon becomes clear will be an execution. This is Gilead, the totalitarian dystopia built on the ruins of what was once the United States by a far-right Christian force in the wake of terrorist attacks. In the Hulu series, an adaptation of Margaret Atwoods seminal feminist novel, The Handmaids Tale presents a world with a strict caste system, where each of its members are color-coded to denote their station. Lead character Offred (an excellent Elisabeth Moss), a Handmaid brutalized into forced surrogacy for the men in power, known as Commanders, is the anchor who situates us in this strange new world. But its Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd)  an Aunt whose role it is to keep Handmaids subservient  who crystallizes one of the shows most trenchant observations: the ways women, particularly white women, are complicit in patriarchal structures in order to hold onto what little power theyre afforded.

Watching Aunt Lydia during the execution scene in the series premiere, something vital becomes apparent. While she explains the crimes of a man the Handmaids will soon be asked to rip apart with their bare hands, she says, with tears gleaming in her eyes, You know I do my very best to protect you. Its these tears that made me realize Aunt Lydias role in Gilead isnt conditional. She doesnt bow her head in false piety like Offred and other Handmaids. Shes a true believer. Its easy to imagine her as a woman who would picket abortion clinics or virulently refer to women as sluts for expressing the merest hint of control over their own bodies, thereby contradicting the will of the God she believes in. Speaking to the Handmaids onstage, detailing the crimes of the man about to be executed, Aunt Lydia is in her element. Shes most comfortable making room in the world so violence can flourish. Actress Ann Dowd takes full advantage of the role, heightening Aunt Lydias zealousness to a point where it almost seems like a caricature. Just when it hits that point, she pulls back with a stern glance and a tightened visage to communicate brutality.

Aunt Lydia is carved in the lineage of villainesses like Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Annie Wilkes in Misery, and Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca. Cold, brutal, and obsessed with their proximity to power, these women turn to violence not just for the sheer thrill (although thats part of it), but in order to remake the world in a shape they feel is just. But its Aunt Lydias obsession with the sort of power Commanders freely have access to that brings to mind how real-life white women have historically used their place in Americas hierarchies of power to brutalize those below them. Its this obsession with power  maintaining and wielding it  that makes a future like Gilead possible.

Its easy to rest the blame of the horrors of Gilead solely at the feet of men like Commander Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes). But no system this deeply entrenched and high functioning could survive without help. Fred and other Commanders need women to internalize their doctrine so they police themselves. The very people suffering from oppressive systems become the most valuable tools of enforcement by those in power. The Handmaids Tale is at its most potent when it interrogates the ways women participate in systems that exploit them, holding onto power that is ultimately transitory. Much has already been made about how characters like Aunt Lydia and Serena Joy feel like heightened analogues of real-life conservative women like Ivanka Trump and Kellyanne Conway, who are all too content to watch the world burn if it means consolidating their own power. As Sarah Jones writes for The New Republic, America is rich in Serena Joys. The Handmaids Tales exploration of female villainy, fueled by privilege, is startling in how clearly it mirrors a pernicious brand of internalized sexism. But Serena Joy, Aunt Lydia, and their real-world doppelgangers could not exist without a proximity to whiteness. The show isnt just indicting how women sometimes collaborate in their own oppression  it also exposes how white women are especially equipped to do so (arguably inadvertently, given what the creators have said).

From the moment shes present onscreen, Aunt Lydia is horrifying. In the premiere shes introduced holding court in the Red Center, the training facility for Handmaids before theyre assigned to Commanders. Shes quick to resort to violence, using a cattle prod on Janine when she talks back. Janine is later seen fresh from a surgery that removed her eye, a punishment also at the behest of Aunt Lydia. But no women in Gilead have real power  only a delusive version that allows them to keep other women below them in line. That Aunt Lydia believes every word shes saying only makes her more horrific  but the extent of her belief isnt understood until episode four.

In Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum, Offred thinks back to her time at the Red Center, including when she tried to escape Gilead with Moira. While Offred still wears her traditional Handmaid wear, Moira dons the stolen uniform of an Aunt. That Moira is able to escape shows the extent of freedom Aunts are given to move through Gilead. Offred, meanwhile, is captured and sent back to the Red Center to receive punishment. The most painful thing isnt the betrayal of trust, June. Do you know whats most painful? Aunt Lydia asks Offred (whose real name is June). The most painful thing in this entire ugly incident is the ingratitude. Dont you realize the opportunity youve been given? You were an adulterer, a worthless slut. But God found a way to make you useful. Framed by the light coming in through the window behind her, Aunt Lydia neither flinches nor blinks as she watches Offreds feet whipped until theyre bloody. What makes this scene, and Dowds performance as a whole, so effective is how it shows Aunt Lydias comfort with violence. She isnt such a biting portrait simply because of how she wields violence, but for how she witnesses it. Her stillness in the face of such savagery suggests an undercurrent of madness that Dowd capably exhibits throughout the series. Of course, no portrait of female villainy of this strain would be complete without a character like Serena Joy.

Showrunner Bruce Miller and his collaborators chose to make Serena Joy younger than she is in the source material. Doing so puts her in more direct competition with Offred, especially when it comes to fertility. Serena Joy bristles when Offred calls her maam. She carefully eyes Offreds reaction when she first meets Fred. He is my husband until death do us part. Dont get any ideas, she warns. In the first few episodes, Serena Joy is somewhat of a cipher. Her tools of power are shallow  things like controlling the bounds of the ceremony and locking Offred in her room until the Handmaid is a delusional wreck. Her power extends only as far as Fred will let it. Is she a true believer like Aunt Lydia or a woman so desperate to protect herself shell say and do anything to maintain the appearance of godliness? It isnt until episode six that Serena Joy comes into focus.

The flashbacks in A Womans Place give us insight into the precise nature of Serena Joys marriage and her role in what would soon be known as the Republic of Gilead. Fred and Serena Joy share so much passion for one another, its difficult to draw a line from the people they were in these flashbacks to the distant couple they are today. Her role as a right-wing speaker, hoping to ameliorate a society she considers undone by sin, is a world away from the prim, uptight wife always decked in blue. It soon becomes apparent that Serena Joy was more an architect of Gilead than Fred. She assuages him when he seems hesitant to carry out a series of attacks in order to wrestle control of the government. As actress Yvonne Strahovski said in an interview with Cosmopolitan, We find Serena Joy living in this cage that she spent a lot of time constructing herself. She believes the rhetoric of Gilead so thoroughly because she helped create it. The episode title even takes its name from the book she wrote, which proposes the ideas undergirding the society that now damns her to quiet servitude  she thought shed be the exception, not the rule. Watching Strahovski hide her well of anger and passion beneath an icy demeanor made me think if she was born in another time, shed be a pitch-perfect Hitchcock blonde.

Aunt Lydia and Serena Joys most meaningful interaction is nestled near the end of episode six. Theyre preparing for a grand feast in front of the visiting delegate of Mexico, Mrs. Castillo (Zabryna Guevara), a woman with actual power who serves as a brutal reminder for Serena Joy of what she lost in making this future come to pass. Serena Joy demands that the Handmaids exhibiting any sort of defect  missing eyes, bruised faces, hands hacked off at the wrist  not be allowed to attend the formal event. They would destroy the image she and Fred have presented to Mrs. Castillo, of Gilead as a healthy, admirable culture. But Aunt Lydia protests. Whatever punishment these girls had to endure was for the greater good. They deserve to be honored just like everyone else, she demands. Its a surprising flash of sympathy, but its still married to her troubling ideology. Serena Joy, of course, gets her way after likening the scarred handmaids to ruined apples. This exchange contextualizes the kinds of female villainy that work in tandem to keep Gilead alive. Aunt Lydia believes her actions, no matter how heinous, are working toward a greater good for everyone. Serena Joy has no such illusions. She knows the terrifying horror brought upon Handmaids benefits a select few, of which she isnt fully included.

The systems that men like Commander Fred Waterford run and benefit from would never survive without women like Aunt Lydia and Serena Joy. The latters attractive, blonde image  a look America has forever regarded as aspirational  obscures her brutality and grants her the ability to the look the part of a woman this world exalts. For many, The Handmaids Tale speaks to our era more than the one it was born into in 1985. But thats only true if you havent been paying attention, a luxury that I, as a black woman, cannot afford. I know Serena Joy and Aunt Lydia arent just nightmares housed in dystopias and reams of celluloid. They arent just the conservative blonde celebrities sporting empty smiles as they spout noxious beliefs in recent decades. They have existed throughout American history. They are the masters wife turning away from the slaves routinely beaten so her household runs smoothly. They are Carolyn Bryant, the white woman who, in 1955 Georgia, lied about the young Emmett Till whistling at her on that fateful September day. Her complicity in the racially segregated system and ease with which she relied on the image of white female fragility sealed Tills fate. They are the young white women whose faces contorted with hate as they trailed Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine, on her first day of school in 1957. Theyre the feminists of the anti-porn movement, unwilling to reckon with how their rhetoric aligns them with the very conservatives that seek to keep women powerless over their own bodies. And theyre the white women who proudly wear shirts emblazoned with the word feminism while ignoring how their economic and social practices add to the subjugation of women of color.

Much of the conversation around The Handmaids Tale has become a feminist war cry, but there is something disconcerting about this sort of groupthink. It is easy to indict men like Commander Fred Waterford or the brutality of those that make up Gileads police force. Its easy to rest the ills of Gilead and the real-world dynamics it clearly reflects solely on conservatism. It is easy to treat Serena Joy and Aunt Lydia as warped mirror images of conservative women. But it isnt primarily conservatism that creates women like this. Its a cultural obsession with whiteness that has plagued this country since its beginnings  particularly the brands of white womanhood that Serena Joy and Aunt Lydia represent. Its the disease whose name dare not be spoken even within the series, which means The Handmaids Tales commentary on it can only go so far. (This whole analysis, for example, may only be a byproduct of the colorblind casting of the series, not a result of its authorial intent.) This is the question that haunts the otherwise incisive series: How can The Handmaids Tale indict the world its created, and the real one it reflects, if the spectre of white womanhood isnt fully critiqued?

The complicity of white women within patriarchal structures need not always be marked by blood. Sometimes it takes the faces of women like Offred, who only seems to care about oppression when it knocks on her door, and holds onto the illusion that the world will revert back to its previous shape until its too late. There are times when a flicker of sympathy even seems to wrench Serena Joy and Aunt Lydia from their typical actions. But it never lasts long enough for them to reconsider their positions or their existence in gilded cages. Perhaps if they stopped for a moment and turned their eyes to the world around them, they would see their decisions arent just oppressing Handmaids, but themselves. Thats what makes The Handmaids Tale image of female complicity and villainy so blistering. It shows how futile it is. As Fred says to Offred at one point in the series, Better never means better for everyone. But it always means worse for some.
The Handmaids are cleaning the blood off the walls where the corpses used to hang. A trade delegation is coming from Mexico to meet with the Commander, and its important to keep up appearances  to literally hide the bodies when company shows up.

We have to make the right impression, Serena Joy tells Offred, her voice pointed. Our visitors may have some questions  I know that if spoken to, youll speak wisely.

Its a threat, because everything Serena Joy says to Offred is a threat. Thats what abusers do. Thats how they protect themselves. They teach you to keep their secrets. Theres a forbidden sort of acknowledgment at the heart of the imposed silence  that what they are doing is wrong, that if exposed to air, it would combust. You are the evidence of the worst and most shameful parts of themselves, and so your job now is to conceal them, to be both the crime scene and the cover-up. Anything less would be a betrayal, of course.

Theres a strange sort of intimacy to abuse. It becomes a dark, terrible confidence shared between the person who gives it and the person who receives it. Often, they dont even need to tell you to stay quiet, to wear long sleeves, to never tell. Its instinctive, almost  you curl around the knife in order to protect it, sometimes because it feels like the only way to protect yourself. It fits into you, like a hook into an eye.

Once Offred is introduced to the delegation, it becomes clear that she is here as a sort of curiosity, a strange animal from a faraway land. The Mexican ambassador, Mrs. Castillo, has all sorts of questions about why she chose this life, which is apparently the party line the government is selling about Handmaids. Gilead: We gouge out womens eyes if they dont let us rape them! somehow didnt pass muster with the tourism board.

Mrs. Castillo has one more question for Offred before she leaves, one more inquiry for the visibly traumatized young woman: Are you happy? The lie comes out almost as a whisper, a false confession at gunpoint: I have found happiness, yes.

While the commanders and wives retire to snack on hors doeuvres and discuss boring agriculture shit, Mrs. Castillo keep poking the beehive, asking what the quiet half of the room (read: women) think about Gilead. After a long pause, Mrs. Waterford leaps in with her megawatt smile and usual pablum about being #blessed, but Mrs. Castillo isnt done yet: Shes been reading a little book called A Womans Place, which we discover was written by Serena Joy herself, back in the days when women could touch books without having their hands cut off.

Turns out that back in the day, S.J. was a fiery domestic feminist who spoke passionately at rallies about why women belong in the home. Rallies, you might note, rarely take place in the home, but dont worry  that particular logical inconsistency will bear itself out in time. Theres a sad, hesitant flicker of pride in Serena Joys face when the ambassador mentions the book, one that instantly goes cold when Mrs. Castillo asks her next question.

Back then, did you ever imagine a society like this, a society in which women can no longer read your book, or anything else? There is a strain in her face before she answers, a hint of what we see in Offred before her lie, except that remarkably, Serena Joy tells the truth. No, I didnt, she says. Its a revelation of sorts: Whatever world she thought she was making, it wasnt this one, but now the cell door has snapped shut and she is as trapped inside it as surely any other woman.

We also learn that the Homemaker to End All Homemakers once got arrested for inciting a riot, and she admits that she had a temper in those days. If that makes you want to see what Serena Joy was like before her wardrobe was restricted exclusively to a shade of green that belongs on a fast-food restaurant uniform, then youre in luck! Because in this episode, the flashbacks belong to Serena Joy, Our Lady of Self-Inflicted Sorrows.

It begins the same way that Offreds flashbacks do: with love. She and Fred racing up the stairs on a sunny afternoon to make love, reciting racy scripture to each other as foreplay while they tear off each others clothes. Back when God was love, when the Bible was something more than a grave they could rob to justify atrocities in His name.

Like Offreds flashbacks, the hardest part is the contrast: the sheer delight in her face the moment she hears him at the door, the deep sense of intimacy that infuses all of their interactions, held up against the backdrop of their sterile, distant marriage where the closest she gets to intimacy is watching him fuck another woman five feet in front of her. The way he barely seems to see her, barely seems to hear her, closes every door behind him as he moves through his life and never lets her in. How much she misses him even when hes right in front of her.

He respected her, once, cared what she had to say, even felt pride in her accomplishments. We see them at the movies, as he asks her about an article shes working on, and she floats the idea of fertility as a national resource, reproduction as a moral imperative. Oh, shit. Did Serena Joy invent Gilead? Is the deepest, most brutal irony of this world that it was inspired by the ideas of a woman who was never given credit for them, and then imprisoned inside them? Its almost too perfect, too terrible, too true.

There have always been women who evangelize the doctrine of feminine submissiveness, of feminine deficiency. Women who battled against womens right to vote, to have equal pay, to control their own bodies. If you spend your life in a cage, your view of the world can get warped to the point where the only kind of power you know how to claim is saying, I belong here, I should be here, I want to be here. As though that were choice.

And then there is the specific tragedy of women who bootstrap their way to power through male supremacy, who find a way to achieve power and fame by promoting their own inferiority, by repackaging it as glory. Because what happens when the glory comes? Serena Joy is the endpoint of the particular brand of feminism that says getting yours is more important than ideology, that says a woman at a pulpit is always worthy of applause, even when she is preaching her own abasement.

And so we see Serena Joy in the halls of power in the newly formed Gilead, shuffling her note cards and waiting to speak to the men in power. She wont, of course; they will not have her. At the time, Fred was indignant. He still saw her as a person then. I wont give up trying, he says. You should be a part of these decisions, and Im going to keep telling them that. Moments later, when a man in a suit drifts outside talking about how all the book-learning made women get uppity and forget their real purpose, Fred says nothing. Because if theres any hallmark of patriarchy, its a man saying something disgusting about women, and another man  a good man  saying nothing.

Back in the present, ultimate hostess and stealth political operative Serena Joy has engineered an opulent, feel-good dinner for the trade delegation. On cue, all the Handmaids file in and get applauded at length for their devotion and contribution. Then there is the coup de grace: a procession of all the children who have been born in this district of Gilead, which in the context of a world in which the birth rate is negative zero is basically a procession of magical unicorns. This is also a procession of children who have been forcibly ripped away from their mothers in front of those mothers, who are being showered with hollow cheers about how wonderful it was for them to choose this  to choose this!  so its a pretty fucked-up evening all around.

Its also a very effective one. The Mexican ambassador is enchanted by the babies, so it looks like the trade deal is on. Oh, and one more thing. It turns out that the trade deal isnt about shipments of oranges or widgets, but rather about the one thing of value that Gilead has to offer: Handmaids. Yup! Despite all the lip service about respect and glory and virtue and blah, blah, blah, theyre just going to straight-up trade women as sex slaves for money. Its almost like the pseudo-religious gloss that powerful men put on their decisions to control women have nothing at all to do with God and everything to do with power and profit! What a bizarre speculative fiction story!

In the end, the Commander remembers that his wife is a human being because she helped him politically for a second, like thats a bold accomplishment, and Offred does an end run to the Mexican ambassador with one final, dangerous admission: I lied to you. She tells her everything: the torture, the rape, the maiming, the forced births. But none of it matters, because it has never been about that. The ambassador says she is sorry  truly sorry  but she cannot help her. She says that there hasnt been a baby born alive in her hometown in six years, that her country is dying. That turning women into an actual commodity to be bought and sold is just one of those compromises you have to make at the end of the world, when the alternative is death.

Offred cries, and rages for a moment, and then she stops. How often does she think about dying? Is it really so hard to imagine that there are worse things than death? You dont learn less about yourself when you lose everything. When everything is at stake, you learn more. Armageddon clarifies. And what are the men, or even the women in power, willing to do for women? What are they willing to do for their values, for freedom, when they actually have something to lose, when they have everything to lose? Look around you: nothing.
As the Giant would say, It is happening again: Twin Peaks, the 90s cult classic returns to SHOWTIME on May 21, with a two-hour-long premiere to boot. The series picks up a quarter of a century later (as Laura Palmer prophesied), with both beloved old characters and new. The creative forces behind the revival are the same  David Lynch directed the series in its entirety and wrote the scripts alongside Mark Frost over a three year period. Angelo Badalamenti, the composer behind the original, also returns.

The 18 new parts comprise a feature film, says the iconic director, and are promised to be the pure heroin version of David Lynch (at least, thats how SHOWTIME president and CEO David Nevins phrased it).

Before the premiere, flip through our Tao of Twin Peaks cards to reacquaint yourself with the duality of the series: the good and the evil, and the physical and metaphysical that constitute the yin and yang of the Twin Peaks universe. Click on a card to reveal key context, quotes, and trivia.

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Tao of Twin Peaks: The People

We cant wait to immerse ourselves in the macabre ongoings of the small Northwestern town and its inhabitants again. In fact, its Twin Peaks residents  and resident entities  that make the series Lynchian world so wonderfully weird and (literally) multidimensional.

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It all begins with the murder of Laura Palmer. When the homecoming queens plastic-wrapped body is discovered, local law enforcement under the direction of FBI Special Agent Cooper launch an investigation. Residents of Twin Peaks are affected by Lauras death in different ways: Some take it upon themselves to join in the investigation, others find themselves suddenly able to reveal their true feelings, and a select few become increasingly suspicious. As the investigation digs deeper, leveraging visions and dreams, even magic to find answers, its clear Twin Peaks is dealing with something otherworldly.

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Tao of Twin Peaks: The Places

The seemingly charming Washington town is comprised of quaint locales like favorite eatery and unofficial gathering spot, the Double R Diner, and the lodge-like Great Northern Hotel. However, theres a lot more going on that meets the eye. For example, Ben Horne, the scheming owner of the Great Northern is also behind One-Eyed Jacks, a brothel and drug running epicenter just across the Canadian border. And, via visions and dreams  but also deep in the forest  exists a place of pure evil from Native American legend.

Illustrations: Nicole Rifkin
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman said the agency had received information against Karti Chidambaram two years ago. Karti may be summoned by CBDT to quizzing.

By Devina Gupta: After CBI raids, trouble is set to rise for former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti as the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is likely to initiate a probe into the reported irregularities in foreign investment approval for a media firm in 2007.

CBDT chairman held a meeting with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) hours after Karti Chidambaram's house in Chennai and his office in Gurgaon and other places were raided by the CBI on Tuesday. Raids were also conducted at former media baron Peter Mukerjea's house in Worli, Mumbai.

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"We received information on Karti some two years ago, we have been investigating the cases. We will act on all information shared by the CBI. We are monitoring the case on a regular basis and can call Karti for questioning as well," CBDT chairman told India Today.

According to sources Enforcement Directorate (ED) had shared information regarding Karti Chidambaram with concerned department two years ago. The Income Tax department will now take up the probe further on the basis of information gathered during Tuesday's raids.

CBI RAIDS ON CHIDAMBARAM, SON KARTI

It is alleged that Karti received money from INX Media, which was owned by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, for using his influence to manipulate a tax probe against it in a case of violation of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) conditions to receive investment from Mauritius.

According to the CBI, INX Media clearly states in its records that Rs 10 lakh was given to Advantage Straetgic Consulting (P) Limited, a firm 'indirectly' owned by Karti, for management consultancy charged towards FIPB notification and clarification.

The FIR also alleges that invoices of approximately Rs 3.5 crore were raised in favour of INX group in the name of other companies in which Karti had substantial interests 'directly or indirectly'.

WATCH: CBI raids ex-INX Media chief Peter Mukherjea's Mumbai house hours after raiding Chidambaram, Karti

ALSO READ:

CBI raids former finance minister P Chidambaram, son Karti's house in Chennai

CBI raids Chidambaram, son Karti's residences; Modi government trying to silence my voice, says former minister

CBI now raids jailed Peter Mukerjea's Mumbai house; Chidambaram, son Karti's residences raided earlier

Raids against Chidambaram, Lalu: Jaitley says day of reckoning has come

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By Press Trust of India: (Eds: Adding latest development)

Kolkata, May 17 (PTI) The controversial Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan mosque, Noor-ur Rahman Barkati, who once threatened to ostracise and beat up Muslims if they joined RSS and BJP, was today sacked for allegedly making anti-national statements and "misusing" his position.

Barkati, however, refused to step down, asserting, "Nobody has the right to remove me".

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"We have sent him the notice of termination and he has been asked to vacate the office room allotted to him. We have asked his deputy to conduct prayers and we will appoint a new imam very soon," Prince Ghulam Ahmed Wakf Estate trustee Arif Ahmed told reporters.

"We have removed him as the imam of the mosque for his anti-national statements. We never expect an imam, who is a religious person, to cross his line and misuse his post," he said.

Ahmed said, "Barkati had shown disrespect to our national leaders and he was using the mosque for political purpose, and for his own financial gains."

"He was cautioned earlier for his activities. Recently, he was served a show-cause notice for his speeches seeking to incite people," he said.

Asked if Barkati was removed under political pressure, Ahmed said, "There was no such pressure".

Barkati was embroiled in a controversy last week when he refused to remove the red beacon from his vehicle, saying it was his right to use it.

"I am a religious leader and I have been using the red beacon for decades. I do not follow the orders of the Centre. Who are they to order me? In Bengal, only the orders of the state government are effective. I will use the red beacon," he had asserted.

Barkati had earlier attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, saying, "Every day people are harassed and face problem due to demonetisatio....Modi is bluffing the society and the innocent people of the country through demonetisation and nobody wants him to continue as PM."

He had recently said those who chant Jai Shri Ram outside mosques were "hijras" (eunuchs).

On being asked what steps the board would take in the event of Barkati digging in his heels and refusing to step down, Ahmed said, "In that case we will go for legal action".

On the wakf trustee boards termination notice to him, Barkati said, "Who are they to remove me? They have no right to do so. I will continue as imam of this mosque. Only the Muslim community can remove me."

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Barkati went on to say, "My Muslims brothers are with me. Actually an Urdu newspaper and a section of TMC MPs are conspiring against me and want to remove me so that they can siphon off the wakf property." PTI PNT SUN MD SK SK

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Eighteen more bikers filed federal civil rights lawsuits Wednesday as attorneys scrambled to beat the filing deadline on the two-year anniversary of the deadly Twin Peaks shootout.

The suits were filed by Dallas attorney Don Tittle, who represents 116 bikers seeking to recover damages from what they claim were their false arrests in May 2015 and being placed under what they charge were excessive $1 million bonds.

The mass arrests were unprecedented in both their scope and the complete absence of individual, particularized facts to establish probable cause, the suit alleges. This suit seeks to correct the miscarriage of justice and assault on the United States Constitution perpetrated by these defendants.

The lawsuit names as defendants former Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman, Waco police Detective Manuel Chavez, McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna, the city of Waco, McLennan County, Waco Assistant Police Chief Robert Lanning, Waco police Detective Jeffrey Rogers, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton, Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Steven Schwartz and DPS agent Christopher Frost.

In the aftermath of the incident at Twin Peaks, defendants apparently concluded that the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution ceased to apply, and could be ignored given what they perceived as an immediate need to announce the re-establishment of law and order in their town, the suit alleges.

The bikers charge that they were arrested without cause and because of their mere presence at the scene, the clothes or colors they were wearing and which group they were riding with.

Rather than investigating the incident and relying on actual facts to establish probable cause, defendants theorized that a conspiracy of epic proportion between dozens of people had taken place, and willfully ignored the total absence of facts to support their theory,  according to the lawsuit.

The bikers deny that they were members of a criminal street gang or that they regularly associate with the commission of criminal activities, as alleged in the identical arrest warrant affidavits drafted to detain 177 bikers on the day of the shootout.

Plaintiffs categorically deny the truthfulness or accuracy of either statement. Defendants conduct of alleging these facts against plaintiffs when they, in fact, had no such evidence can only be construed as willful, intentional and/or reckless, the suit alleges.

U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, of Austin, is presiding over the cases involving the 116 bikers. He initially put a stay on the civil cases, saying that the criminal cases in McLennan County needed to be tried before the civil proceedings. He extended that stay until Sept. 1 in the civil rights cases filed by the unindicted bikers, who have asked that their civil cases proceed since they are not involved in the criminal matters.

However, Sparks cautioned McLennan County and city of Waco officials that after Sept. 1, he would require more than their mere assurances that cases against unindicted bikers remain under investigation to convince him to keep the stay in place.
In an exclusive interview, former German ambassador to Pakistan Gunter Mulack said that Pakistan is in clear violation of the Vienna Convention by not granting consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav.

By Gaurav C Sawant: Pakistan is in violation of the Vienna Convention by not giving consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, Gunter Mulack, former German ambassador to Pakistan told Mail Today.

In an exclusive interview from Berlin, Dr Mulack insisted Pakistan will be pouring oil in fire if it hanged Kulbhushan Jadhav while the matter is still being deliberated upon by the International Court of Justice.

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"I had said during the course of a seminar in Karachi that it was heard Jadhav was abducted by the Taliban in Iran and then sold to Pakistan's ISI.

Gunter Mulack, former German ambassador to Pakistan.

"It is not uncommon for this to happen in the border areas. But this was what locals told me. It was not what German intelligence had picked up" he added. Both India and Pakistan are signatories of the Vienna Convention. And as per laid-down norms, Pakistan should have informed India and given consular access to Jadhav.

GRANT CONSULAR ACCESS, NOT TOO LATE: MULACK

"Even now it is not too late. If there is a high-level interaction between the Prime Minister of India and of Pakistan, a step can be taken to open dialogue and not hang Jadhav and reduce tensions between the two countries," he insisted.

Mulack had stirred a hornet's nest in Pakistan last year when he spoke at a seminar and said he had heard Jadhav was working in Chabahar in Iran and had been abducted by the Taliban from along the Iran-Pakistan border and then sold to Pakistan's ISI.

India has all along maintained Jadhav was abducted from Iran. Pakistan on the other hand claimed at the ICJ that Jadhav was arrested from the restive Balochistan province on charges of terror and espionage. Meanwhile at the ICJ, the eleven judges have been burning the midnight oil to deliberate on India's plea for urgent intervention to save an innocent man from the gallows in Pakistan.

The president of the ICJ at the conclusion of the hearing said a verdict will be delivered as soon as possible. Though India is relieved by the ICJ's interim order asking Pakistan to maintain status quo till India's plea is decided by the ICJ, New Delhi is hopeful of a quick verdict to stop Pakistan from hanging an innocent businessman.

Also read: How India argued against Pakistan for Kulbhushan Jadhav at International Court of Justice

Also read: 7 RAW rules that prove Kulbhushan Jadhav is not an agent; straight from the mouth of former sleuth

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ALSO WATCH: India's full argument of Kulbhushan Jadhav's case in ICJ

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In the two years since James Patrick Harris was arrested after the Twin Peaks shootout in Waco, he lost the lease on his apartment, was rejected for a job with a state health and human services agency and was kicked out of Mexico while on the way to work with sick children and Dr. Patch Adams.

All because he rode to Waco with a few friends as members of the Grim Guardian motorcycle group on May 17, 2015, he said.

Judy Bergman said her husband, George, hardly rides his motorcycle anymore. It used to be his passion. Now he rides occasionally with his son.

She said her husband, who owns his own trucking company in the Dallas area, has to be careful when he drives because police officers who initially pull him over for a defective taillight come back to his cab with their hands on their guns and order him out of his truck after checking records and finding his arrest at Twin Peaks.

He once delivered goods to Army bases and other areas with high security. Not anymore, she said.

A lot has happened in the two years since nine bikers died and 20 others were injured during a meeting of the Texas Coalition of Clubs & Independents at the former restaurant known for its cold beer and scantily clad waitresses. The restaurant never reopened, and the building is up for sale.

Pretty much the only thing that hasnt happened is a trial, criminal or civil. And with multiple complicating factors at play, the prospect of trials anytime soon is still in limbo.

While most everyone, including 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother, agrees that the incident presented officials with a unique situation, there are varying opinions about how best to move forward.

A life of its own

It is an unprecedented set of circumstances, one that I have never seen or been involved in my legal career as a lawyer or judge, Strother said. I am trying to look at it as I am supposed to, from every point of view. I appreciate the dilemma that everyone involved in this is in.

It is a very unique set of circumstances and situations that, because of the complexity of it, has taken on a life of its own. I wish I had a better answer about how to resolve it, but eventually this, too, shall pass. But it is probably not gong to be as quickly as everyone would like.

The criminal trials have been held up, in part, by the sheer volume of evidence that had to be analyzed, including social media and cellphone messages and images, DNA, ballistics, videos, photos and more. Despite the quick indictments, the DAs office simply wasnt ready to go to trial because of the mounds of evidence waiting to be tested and analyzed.

A federal investigation that led to the indictments of national Bandidos leaders also has complicated matters. Federal authorities have told Reyna a portion of their evidence in the case involves defendants arrested at Twin Peaks. Under the Michael Morton Act, Reyna is bound to turn over all evidence to defense attorneys before trial, and federal authorities have said they wont share their evidence with Reyna until after the trial in San Antonio is over. That trial recently was postponed from August to early 2018.

Still, there are attorneys for Twin Peaks defendants who have been clamoring for speedy trials since not long after their clients were freed from jail. They say they dont need to wait to see the federal evidence because their clients did nothing more than attend the COC&I meeting and dive for cover when the shooting started.

Trial dates are set, but officials think there is a strong possibility they will be postponed on motions from the defense or prosecution.

Since the beginning, Dallas attorney Clint Broden pushed the hardest for speedy justice for his clients, Matthew Clendennen, George Bergman and Richard Luther. Broden is also co-counsel with Dallas attorney Don Tittle for 40 of the 98 bikers Tittle represents in federal civil rights lawsuits.

Lost in the constant delays sought by the state is the tragic death of nine Texas citizens, Broden said. Yet, to this day, the Waco Police Department has refused to tell the public how many of those nine killed were killed by law enforcement officers. Meanwhile, the Sword of Damocles hangs over the heads of those indicted and, even two years later, these motorcyclists and their families are being denied justice and are unable to move on with their lives because there is absolutely no end in sight as a result of the states delaying tactics.

Also, during the past two years and likely into the next decade, McLennan County citizens are being asked to absorb the staggering financial burden of the ill-conceived actions by their elected district attorney.

Reyna, who testified at an early Twin Peaks hearing that he speaks to all media outlets except the Tribune-Herald, did not return phone messages left at his office.

Tittle said two years is a long time for innocent people to have criminal charges hanging over their heads. Jobs have been lost, reputations have been smeared, and families have been placed under undue hardships, he said.

Of all the shocking things associated with this fiasco, Id have to say that the general lack of concern and outrage from the media and the public is the most disappointing thing of all, Tittle said. These are not just technicalities were talking about. These are real peoples lives, and no one seems to give a damn. Not speaking up just because one isnt like these people is not an excuse. Trust me, theyre just like all of us.

As was famously said many years ago, the danger in not speaking up is that when they come for you, there may not be anyone left to speak. Hopefully, the fact that were at the two-year anniversary without a single trial scheduled, and justice nowhere in sight, will jolt a few people into actually taking action.

Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton, who is named as a defendant in many of the federal civil rights lawsuits, released a statement about the two-year anniversary.

As events unfolded on 5-17-2015 and several days/weeks following, we relayed to our public the most accurate and available account of the occurrences at Twin Peaks, Swanton wrote. Our investigators, along with other local, state and federal officials, have worked tirelessly to prepare the cases for criminal proceedings. At this point, there is nothing additional we can release.

Haunted by arrest

As for Harris, the 29-year-old Austin resident has not been indicted in the Twin Peaks case, but his arrest continues to haunt him. Harris recently graduated from St. Edwards University in Austin with a masters degree in counseling but fears any background checks will prevent him from being licensed as a professional counselor.

It was a background check that resulted in his landlord telling him he no longer is welcome there at the end of his lease and the reason he was given for not getting a job at the Department of Health and Human Services in Austin.

Harris is also one of four plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed over Twin Peaks arrests that seeks $1 billion in damages.

But he said the most disappointing event was being forcibly removed from Mexico a few months ago while he was en route to work with Hunter "Patch" Adams, the doctor portrayed in a movie by Robin Williams who dresses as a clown and makes children laugh.

Harris met Adams at the famed physicians Gesundheit Institute in West Virginia a few years ago and had planned to help in a clinic Adams was conducting for impoverished children in Mexico City. Harris was supposed to change planes in Guadalajara, but when officials there swiped his passport, red flags from his Twin Peaks arrest popped up.

The officer looked at me and told me to follow him, Harris said. They took me to an interrogation room, left me there about an hour and came back in and asked me if I had ever been in trouble with the law. I have not been indicted and told them that, but they wanted to know about Waco and why I was there.

After two hours of questioning, they told Harris he could not stay in Mexico. Military officers escorted him through the airport and put him on the first available flight to the United States, which happened to be going to Seattle, Harris said. He was stuck in Seattle for two days before he could make it back to Austin.

That was among the most frustrating things. I had already paid $2,000 for my lodging and meals and everything, and I was really looking forward to the experience, he said. Not only was I not able to go but I lost all that money, and it was all over being arrested in Waco. What a lot of people dont realize is that the whole innocent until proven guilty thing is fine, but until the charges are dropped, I am still in limbo. This has followed me around for two years.

Harris was born in Houston. Both his parents were police officers, and so was his stepfather. His great-uncle was the first Hispanic police officer in Houston, and his uncles brother was the first Hispanic firefighter in Houston, Harris said.

The Grim Guardians work with foster children and abused kids and include among its members youth ministers, police officers, city of Austin employees and other professionals, Harris said. He and three of his riding buddies had just pulled into the Twin Peaks parking lot when the shooting started. They dove for cover behind cars, he said.

My anger has calmed down a lot, he said. What Reyna and others have done to us by painting all of us with these negative images, we have an indelible mark on our records right now. Even if we win the lawsuit and they drop the charges, anyone who Googles my name, as a therapist, I can never go into private practice or open my own business.

We live in a time where we hear about Black Lives Matter. That has portrayed police officers in an unfavorable light, but we know there are good officers and bad officers. People should have the same objective approach to bikers. No group should be painted with the same broad brush.
Waco police are investigating a single-vehicle crash Monday night in which a 16-year-old was killed and his father was arrested on an intoxication manslaughter charge.

Police think alcohol and excessive speed played roles in the crash, which claimed the life of Latrell Ballard, 16, of Tennessee, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said.

Police investigators say Ballards father, Marcus Marquon Clear, 39, of Waco, was driving a 2000 GMC Yukon south on North 18th Street shortly before 11 p.m. when he lost control and slammed into a utility pole, flipping the Yukon, Swanton said.

The collision with the pole knocked down live power lines, which caused additional injuries to those in the vehicle, Swanton said.

Ballard died at a local hospital. A front-seat passenger, Durel Nickles, 31, suffered significant injuries, Swanton said, as did Janiyah Fowler-Goonan, a 7-year-old girl who was riding in the back seat.

Clear, who had no drivers license, was treated for minor injuries at a Waco hospital and was jailed later. He remained jailed Tuesday morning under bonds totaling $45,000.

Assault on peace officer

A man outside the Twin Peaks rally Saturday in downtown Waco was shot with nonlethal projectiles after he pulled a knife and made aggressive menacing slashing motions toward a deputy, McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said. The man was not associated with the rally or participating in the demonstration.

Daniel Maeberry, 57, of Waco, was arrested as demonstrators gathered outside the McLennan County Courthouse on Saturday to mark two years since the deadly Twin Peaks shootout. After the rally kicked off, McNamara said Maeberry approached a deputy with a knife.

This individual approached one of our deputies and began making menacing slashing motions at the deputy from approximately 10 to 15 feet away, McNamara said.

Deputies arrested Maeberry on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault on a public servant. He was taken to McLennan County Jail and remained in custody Tuesday night with a bond listed at $30,000.

Child indecency arrest

Police arrested a man accused of touching a girl under the age of 16 in a sexual manner at a north Waco home, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said.

Isai Tovar Rodriguez, 36, was arrested on three second-degree felony charges of indecency with a child after police received a report May 11. Swanton said police were told Rodriguez had inappropriate physical contact with the girl multiple times.

Police investigated the claims and determined Rodriguez, an acquaintance of the girl, had molested her.

Rodriguez was arrested and taken to McLennan County Jail on Tuesday. He remained in custody with a $300,000 bond.

Wanted man leads chase

A wanted man ran from local and federal authorities and attempted to steal an unmarked police car during a chase through a local neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said.

Waco police and members of a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were trying to find and arrest a man wanted on three outstanding felony warrants on burglary and theft charges. Officers found the man in the 2700 block of Cole Avenue about 3 p.m., and he ran from the officers, Swanton said.

At least one officer was able to deploy a stun gun on the man, and he was taken into custody.

The man was not immediately booked into McLennan County Jail on Tuesday evening.

Credit card abuse

A 46-year-old home health care nurse was arrested Tuesday, accused of using her 71-year-old clients credit card to pay for her cellphone and electric bills.

Angela Marie Castro, of Waco, was arrested on three third-degree felony charges of credit card abuse against an elderly person when she used a 71-year-old womans credit card to pay for personal items, an arrest affidavit states.

According to the affidavit, Castro spent $30 on Jan. 11 to pay an electric bill, spent $30 on Jan. 23 on another electric bill and spent $56 to pay for a phone bill on March 2.

Castro was arrested and taken to McLennan County Jail. She posted a $6,000 bond Tuesday and was released.

FedEx drug case arrest

A second suspect in a FedEx drug delivery was arrested Monday, nine months after he and his co-defendant were accused of picking up a package with more than 10 pounds of marijuana and 655 grams of promethazine from a Waco FedEx.

Omar Foster, 32, was arrested Monday on a third-degree felony charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a second-degree felony charge of possession of a controlled substance and a third-degree felony charge of possession of marijuana.

An employee at the FedEx location at 6601 Imperial Drive reported the odor of marijuana coming from an improperly sealed package June 25, according to an arrest affidavit.

Waco police responded with a drug dog, which indicated the odor of narcotics in the package.

Officers found 10.8 pounds of marijuana and 655 grams of promethazine, the arrest affidavit states. Promethazine is a strong sedative.
A second suspect in a FedEx drug delivery was arrested Monday, about nine months after he and his co-defendant are accused of picking up a package with more than 10 pounds of marijuana and 655 grams of promethazine from a FedEx location in Waco, arrest affidavits state.

Omar Foster, 32, was arrested Monday on a third-degree felony charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a second-degree felony charge of possession of a controlled substance and a third-degree felony charge of possession of marijuana. Police said Foster and Jeremy Tate, then 25, picked up a drug package in late June 2016.

An employee at the FedEx location at 6601 Imperial Drive reported the odor of marijuana coming from an improperly sealed package June 25, according to an arrest affidavit.

Waco police responded with a drug dog, which indicated the odor of narcotics in the package, the affidavit states.

Police waited for the package to be picked up, and Foster drove to the FedEx store with Tate, who picked up the package and put it in the car, according to the affidavit.

Both Foster and Tate were detained while police and searched with vehicle. Officers found a stolen gun in the car but did not arrest Foster and Tate at FedEx as they later executed a search warrant on the package, according to the affidavit.

Officers found 10.8 pounds of marijuana and 655 grams of promethazine, the arrest affidavit states. Promethazine is a strong sedative.

Police arrested Tate in August. He posted $15,000 bond and was released from jail Aug. 18.

Foster was arrested Monday and remained in McLennan County Jail on Tuesday evening. Completed bond information was not immediately available.
A man outside the Twin Peaks rally Saturday in downtown Waco was shot with non-lethal projectiles after he pulled a knife and made "aggressive menacing slashing motions" toward a deputy, McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said. The man was not associated with the rally or participating in the demonstration, McNamara and rally organizers said.

Daniel Maeberry, 57, of Waco, was arrested as demonstrators gathered outside the McLennan County Courthouse on Saturday to mark two years since the deadly Twin Peaks shootout. After the rally kicked off, McNamara said Maeberry approached a deputy with a knife.

"This individual approached one of our deputies and began making menacing slashing motions at the deputy from approximately 10 to 15 feet away," McNamara said. "Then he took off, and the deputies pursued him up 5th Street toward Waco Drive."

Members of the Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team and other deputies attempted to apprehend the man as he ran from officers. McNamara said deputies shot three non-lethal projectile bean bags at the man, but to no avail.

"He had been shot three times with bean bags, and it had no effect on him whatsoever," McNamara said. "One of our sergeants was able to bail out of his vehicle and tackle the suspect."

Deputies arrested Maeberry on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault on a public servant. He was taken to McLennan County Jail and remained in custody Tuesday night with a bond listed at $30,000.

"I am very proud of our deputies who acted very quickly and were able to get the situation under control," McNamara said. "We are very glad we did not have to use deadly force."

No officers were hurt in the incident, authorities said.

The Twin Peaks rally was a peaceful demonstration, and the incident was not related to the rally or any biker group, McNamara said.
One way you know the president is in trouble is that, accused of collusion, his best defense is incompetence. Such is the case with Donald Trumps firing of James Comey. And such is the case with the latest scandal to hit this White House: that Trump disclosed highly classified information in his meeting last week with Russias foreign minister.

It looks terrible. Trump fires the FBI director investigating Russias influence of the election and the very next day has the Russian foreign minister in the Oval Office. He proceeds to divulge to his guests sensitive details about an allied intelligence operation that detected an Islamic State plot against airlines. U.S. officials told The Washington Post that this disclosure was reckless and violated the trust of an allied spy service.

The implications could be grave. Intelligence cooperation could be chilled. A human source could be in danger. Our efforts to disrupt the Islamic State could be hobbled.

That said, this doesnt look like collusion with the Russians. Collusion implies the information should not be shared. The United States actually should inform Russia about terrorist threats against airlines, so long as this sharing is done with care. Both of Trumps predecessors pursued sensitive counter-terrorism partnerships with President Vladimir Putin. Also, Russia lost an airliner in 2015 over the Sinai to an Islamic State bomb. Putin claims to be fighting the Islamic State in Syria (which his air force has repeatedly failed to distinguish from Syrian civilians).

This leaves us with the presidents incompetence. On this score, The Posts story is damning. It says that current and former U.S. intelligence officials fear that Russia could reverse-engineer the sources and methods of the intelligence Trump shared because he revealed the city from which the Islamic State was plotting laptop bombings against airliners.

The error was serious enough that, The Post reported, the White House briefed the intelligence community and intelligence oversight committees on the breach. Senior Trump administration officials did not dispute those facts in on-the-record statements Monday evening.

In addition to being incompetent in a national security sense, the flub is also politically embarrassing for the president. Remember that Trump campaigned on the idea that Hillary Clinton was unfit to be president because her use of a private email-server was evidence of mishandling classified information. Clinton must find in this story a delicious Schadenfreude.

But in light of that, its also important to get some perspective. Let me make a prediction: Whichever allied intelligence service had its sources and methods endangered  apparently Israels  will not end intelligence sharing with the U.S. I base this on the fact that in the last seven years, the United States has endured worse. American allies were exposed by State Department cables shared with the world by WikiLeaks and NSA documents provided to journalists by Edward Snowden.

But neither these nor other stories are comparable to the prospect of a sitting president sharing too many details about intelligence with a major adversary like Russia. But its a reminder that the U.S. intelligence community has suffered greater breaches and its relationships have survived.

Finally, the relationship with Russia is complicated. If it were up to me, I would pursue a policy of quarantine against Moscow and treat Putin and his henchmen like the diplomatic equivalent of Ebola. Past U.S. presidents, though, have disagreed. Barack Obama, for example, cooperated with Russia on arms control, the Iran agreement and counter-terrorism, while challenging Russia on cyberwar and Ukraine. On Syria, he did a little of both.

Trump has said he would like to pursue a partnership with Russia as well in Syria. Of course, its politically much harder for him to do that when his campaign is being investigated by the FBI for its ties to Russia. Its even harder after last week when he fired the FBI director leading that investigation. This latest blunder sets back the agenda even further. The most likely explanation for now is troubling enough: The president is bad at his job. Stupid trumps sinister.
Today marks not only the second anniversary of the tragic shootout involving Waco police and bikers in the Twin Peaks restaurant parking lot that left nine people dead or dying but the day when the statute of limitations brings down the curtain on filing any further civil-rights lawsuits regarding the incident, whether the complainants were indicted or not. Some law-abiding citizens might dismiss the idea of bikers having rights  particularly those associated with the warring Bandidos and Cossacks gangs  and yet questionable lapses in the local criminal justice system demand they now get fair hearings. Our interest should be with any innocent victims not only swept up in the violence that day but also subject to institutional injustices.

Whatever your feelings about bikers  and they really do come in all stripes and from all walks of life, including those who enjoy the motorcycle mode of transportation come spring weekends  all should question employing vague arrest warrant affidavits and million-dollar bonds (to send a message) to keep 177 people in county stir, some for weeks. While the Twin Peaks experience ought to deliver some valuable lessons to bikers  such as the absolute idiocy of wearing leather vests or sporting tattoos that suggest affiliation with groups identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as organized-crime gangs  there are also constitutional issues that make all this a fiercely complicated matter.

During Saturdays rally at McLennan County Courthouse to protest the way bikers have been treated by the criminal justice system, Mel Robins of the Sons of Liberty Riders Motorcycle Club cheered the filing of biker lawsuits (with more than 100 bikers represented)  and also the restraint some bikers have shown in seeking compensation for lives, families and careers uprooted. Its important, he told the group, that we not be filing for billions of dollars or millions of dollars [but] file for something the jury and the judges feel is a righteous amount. Dont shoot for the moon. Go for whats right.

Meanwhile, impatience over delays in the criminal trials for the 155 indicted in connection with the Twin Peaks shootout is understandable. District Attorney Abel Reyna is probably right to balk in pressing these till federal prosecutors try key Bandidos leaders in San Antonio, given his decision to pursue local cases on organized crime charges and the fact federal prosecutors supposedly have information that could be relevant in the local trials. And as even bikers Saturday noted, those guilty of starting the parking-lot fight that led to all the death and chaos need convicting.

Even without all the evidence, certain lessons should have been embraced by now  and not just by the bikers. Theres no doubt that the scope and complexity of the Twin Peaks shootings tested local law enforcement like never before. Yet that experience should jolt all to realize there might well have been better ways for police to address the possibility of a violent confrontation between rival gangs that day. And it sure should have prompted quicker resolution of the incarcerated and their million-dollar bonds. We just hope that events dont put us all to another such test anytime soon.
Her way or the highway

Let me say first that I support what the Lula Janes owner has done and what she proposes to do. However, I have to say I was more than just put off when I read the Trib article about her not being willing to even sit down with City Center Waco executive director Megan Henderson to work out a compromise to her plan for Elm Avenue, which differs from the city plan. Not even willing to sit down.

Seems its her way or the highway.

Wow! I am so naive. I should have talked with her before I bought the building on Austin Avenue that houses Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits. I did renovations the way the city told me. And a couple of years later when I bought the building at 324 S. Sixth St. that houses Apex Coffee Roasters, Welhous Bikes and an antiques shop that is coming soon, I did renovations and again followed city rules. That even included tearing out a whole wall so the janitors closet could have a handicap-accessible door. I thought that was excessive, but I did what I was told instead of saying that wasnt my plan.

As I said, I didnt know I could tell the city I didnt want to follow the rules.

Sandy Jameson, Waco

Tragic anniversary

Today marks the second anniversary of a tragic event in Waco. On May 17, 2015, many bikers gathered at Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco for a regular political meeting to update themselves on legislative matters involving motorcycle safety. The fallout from events that day were nine bikers killed and 20 wounded to the degree they required hospitalization.

Incredibly, 177 bikers were arrested on identical, cookie-cutter warrants. The charge is conspiracy to commit murder and organized crime. The warrants contain no specific information about the acts allegedly committed by each biker. No trials have been held despite several filing motions for a speedy trial, a right established in the Bill of Rights.

A miscarriage of justice is occurring in Waco. Those 177 fellow Texans live with a giant sword over their heads. Many have lost jobs, homes or families over this travesty. Please demand that these Texans have their day in court immediately. Is that too much to ask?

Tom Kost, Pflugerville

Highway inefficiency

The traffic stackup at the State Highway 6 Twin Bridges inbound to Waco in the morning and outbound from Waco come evening is absolutely unnecessary. Particularly in the morning, no workers are even close to being on the bridge till after 9 a.m., yet the traffic cones are out anyway. Those cones could easily be put out after the morning rush is over. By 9 a.m., the traffic is light.

We are being seriously inconvenienced simply because the construction company doesnt want to take the effort to move the cones in or out of place to avoid the traffic stackup.

Stan Jarosz, Crawford
AUSTIN  The list of cities and counties planning legal action to stop the states sanctuary law from taking effect continues to grow.

Leaders from El Paso County and the cities of Dallas and Austin confirmed Tuesday during a rally at the State Capitol that they intend to move forward with resolutions or litigation next week.

The controversial measure, Senate Bill 4, was passed this month and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on May 7. It is scheduled to go into effect Sept. 1.

On Tuesday, which organizers said was the beginning of a summer of resistance, Austin City Council member Delia Garza said the city will move this week to take formal action to stop SB 4 in court.

I am proud to announce today, with much gratitude for my colleagues, this Thursday we are poised to approve a resolution that directs our city legal team to take any legal action necessary to challenge this awful law, she said.

The announcement comes after the League of United Latin American Citizens, Maverick County and the city of El Cenizo filed suit to stop the bill.

Austin and Travis County are defendants in a lawsuit Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed as a pre-emptive measure. His lawsuit specifically asks a U.S. District Court to rule that the law is constitutional and does not violate the 4th or 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution and is not pre-empted by federal law.

On Tuesday, Austin and Travis County welcomed an ally on that fight.

I have to preserve the work of these brave leaders in Austin, said Philip Kingston, a member of Dallas City Council. We will be discussing intervening in the case, coming to the aid of Austin because we have a large city attorneys office and we have lots of legal resources.

Later, El Paso County Commissioner David Stout said the commissioners court there voted 4-1 to move forward with a federal lawsuit in the Western District of Texas.
By Press Trust of India: Kannur, May 17(PTI)Union ministerRajiv Pratap Rudy today charged the CPI(M) led LDF government with failing to book all those involved in killing of an RSS worker here and said this would be brought to Prime Minister Narendra Modis notice. Expressing deep concern and anguish at the brutal killing of RSS worker Biju here on May 12, he said exemplary punishment should be meted out to the guilty. The state government, however, has not taken any step for it.

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"This will be brought to the notice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh," Rudy told reporters here.

The minister, who is the partys general secretary in- charge of Kerala, also met the parents and relatives of Biju earlier in the day.

Rudy said a detailed report on Kannur would be submitted to party president Amit Shah.

"It was a pre-meditated murder. The life of every citizen has to be protected and we are deeply concerned and anguished at the killing of Biju, who was waylaid and butchered," he said, adding it is a sad state of affairs in Kerala.

The minister said Bijus name was added prospectively in a murder case of a CPI(M) worker and he had been under threat for a long time.

The BJPs central and state leadership are with the family of Biju, he said, adding it was unfortunate for a state like Kerala to be so radical.

Rudy said it was the state governments primary responsibility to provide security to the lives and properties of its citizens, which it had forgotten.

"If Kerala Police finds it difficult to provide security to life and property, the state had the responsibility to seek assistance of central forces to maintain law and order," he said.

The minister said BJP had also submitted a memorandum to the state governor as the government has failed to take action against those responsible for the RSS workers killing.

He said Bijus family had sought a CBI probe and this would be examined.

Two CPI(M) activists have been arrested so far in connection with the case. PTI COR UD APR RAX

--- ENDS ---
ASHLAND  A poem has netted an Ashland-Greenwood eighth grader a second place award and a cash prize.

McKenna Sender won second place in the Nebraska Writers Guilds Future Great Writers of Nebraska competition for her poem, The Storm. The awards ceremony was held May 7 at the Sarpy County Museum in Bellevue during the Nebraska Writers Guild Six Corners of Nebraska event commemorating the 150th anniversary of statehood for Nebraska.

The Future Great Writers of Nebraska competition is aimed at writers from 13 to 25 years old. The awards were presented by Frank Kumar of Erwins Jewelry in Bellevue, which donated the prize money.

McKenna was the only finalist to submit a poem. She read it aloud during the ceremony.

It was well received by the audience at the awards ceremony and the only poem to place and win, said Wayne Anson of the Nebraska Writers Guild. We were thrilled by the quality of her work.

McKennas middle school English teacher, Vicki Washburn, was also thrilled with McKennas poem and her achievement.

McKenna did a great job of creating imagery throughout her poem, said Washburn. She definitely lets the reader see it happen.

The poem was written for an English assignment earlier in the school year. McKenna entered it herself in the Future Great Writers of Nebraska competition, after her teacher informed her of the contest.

McKenna was pleased with her work. She said the free verse poem is the best one she has written so far.

I like how it flows, she said. It had a little rhythm to it.

The eighth grader likes to write not only in English class but also in her free time, when she can find a spot in her busy schedule to craft a story or poem.

I only write when I have time, she said.

She likes to write fantasy and fiction stories, but obviously she enjoys writing poetry as well.

I like how I can express different things, she said.

McKenna was not expecting to be chosen as a finalist in the contest, or to win.

I was kind of surprised because I didnt think I would make it, she said.

The teacher said McKennas classroom work is indicative of her success in the competition.

McKenna is a conscientious student who gives 100 percent, Washburn said.

The Storm

By McKenna Sender

Slowly Slowly

Ever so slowly

Or fast

Fast

Ever so fast

It comes in the day

Or it comes in night

Two enemies come

They came for a fight

The clouds are their spectators

Watching to see who will win

They place their bets

And then the fight must begin

They start to do their dance

Light then sound

Light then sound

Over and over again

Light strikes at sound

Sound roars in pain

It shakes the ground

It shakes the sky

It shakes everything in sight

The clouds then began to weep

For some of them think that

There might be a defeat

The fighters start up again

They dance around the sky

Light then sound

Light then sound

Light strikes

While

Sound roars

The fight goes on and on

Until some of their spectators leave

Knowing that there will never be defeat

Light then sound

A battle of might

Light then sound

A continuous fight

Light then sound

A battle of might

Light then sound

A continuous fight

Light then sound
ASHLAND  From the Chamber of Commerce to the school board to the city council to the man and woman on the street, there are three letters that have been on the tips of tongues lately  TIF.

Tax increment financing (TIF) has been the subject of conversation throughout the community as the Ashland City Council contemplates approving the funding mechanism for the Whitetail Run residential/commercial development.

TIF is a program that encourages private development by allowing developers to pay for public infrastructure needed to improve a property by diverting a portion of the taxes.

The taxes on the property are frozen at the pre-improvement rate. Then, as the property is improved, the amount of money that would have gone to taxes is used to finance infrastructure like roads or sewer and water lines.

After a period of time agreed upon by the municipality and the developer (not to exceed 15 years according to Nebraska law), the property goes back on the tax rolls at the improved value.

The city council will host a public question and answer session regarding TIF and the Whitetail Run development at 7 p.m., Monday, May 22 at Riverview Community Church in Ashland.

It is not an official public hearing, but an opportunity for the public to ask questions about the project and the TIF process.

A public hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, May 25 at 7 p.m. at City Hall by the Ashland Planning Commission on Ordinance 1137 regarding annexation of Whitetail Estates, First Addition.

Annexation is the first step in the TIF process. At their April 20 meeting, the Ashland City Council approved the petition for annexation of the first phase of the housing development and asked the city attorney to prepare an ordinance.

The council was scheduled to vote on the first of three readings of the ordinance at their May 4 meeting, but chose to postpone the vote because the developers presented a change in the preliminary plat.

The ordinance is on the May 18 agenda as well, according to City Administrator Jessica Quady. The council could vote on the first reading or choose to table the vote again, Quady added.

The Whitetail Run development dates back to 2006, when a group of investors called Ashland Investment Company purchased the land southeast of the intersection of Highway 6 and 66. In early 2007, the investors presented their plans to the Ashland City Council. At the time, they were planning a mixed-use development with a large retail component and a residential neighborhood with 212 homes and 20 townhomes.

Don Kracl, who became an investor in the project in 2015, said the original plans included relocating the No Frills grocery store and building a retail store like Pamida.

But plans were put on hold when the Nebraska Department of Roads required two roundabouts for access to the development because of the high volume of traffic the stores would create.

That just killed the deal, Kracl said.

The recession and housing market crash in 2008-2009 didnt help, either.

That put the kibosh on the whole thing, Kracl said.

In 2010, the developers reworked the plat to include acreages. The city council limited them to five acreages, saying the area was targeted in the citys comprehensive plan for medium-density residential, not acreages. The first acreage was sold in 2012.

The developers recently reworked the project to minimize the commercial portion and redefined the residential area, lowering the number of homes to 150 and dividing the development into three phases. The first phase, which is currently under consideration, would include 50 homes.

Developers said it will take about two years before the first home is built. They plan to put up about 10 homes per year.

The state roads department recently informed the developers that they have revised their requirement for access from the highway. They will require turn lanes rather than roundabouts.

The developers are asking for TIF funding because the estimated cost of extending water and sewer to the proposed development, installing turn lanes, elevating and paving part of Dennis Dean Road and dirt work will be in the area of $2 million.

If the developer foots the bill, the cost of the lots would be about $95,000, an amount that would not be feasible for homes in the $250,000 range, Kracl said. With TIF, the developers would sell the lots for around $45,000. The proposed lots are 12,000 square feet.

The developers combined the residential with commercial in the first phase because without the homes the cost of bringing infrastructure to the area would be too high, Kracl said.

Weve tried to crunch the numbers every which way we can to try and find some way to bring in that infrastructure, but the problem is its just too expensive, he said.

Questions have surfaced in the community regarding the possibility that the development will fail and the taxpayers would be stuck with the bill. Kracl said the developers are ultimately responsible for paying for the infrastructure, even with TIF.

The developers are on the hook, he said.

Kracl said developing the Whitetail Run area will open up more development in that part of Ashland, including the East Side, which suffers from a lack of infrastructure and poor roads.

You have an area that can be developed if you can find the right person to do it, he said.

Parts of the East Side were included in the blight and substandard study that was approved by the city council in April. The designation also includes a portion of the Iron Horse subdivision that surrounds the historic Beetison house.

Prior to TIF financing, the area in question must be designated blighted and substandard. In order to earn the designation, the land must meet some, but not all, of a list of criteria that include the presence of dilapidated structures, nuisance factors like garbage or standing water that pose health risks, flood plain hazards, improper street layout or subdivision platting or having residential or commercial buildings that are an average of 40 years old or more.

During a public hearing on the blight and substandard study, owners of the Whitetail Estates acreages expressed concerns about the proposed development. One owner said they recall being told the developers planned to build more acreages in the area, not a medium-density housing subdivision. Kracl said that was never the case, citing the fact that the city council limited them to five acreages.

Kracl said the developers have met with the acreage owners to discuss the issues. The developers have agreed to increase the size of the lots that will be located adjacent to the acreages. They will also develop that area during the third and final phase.

These changes were among the reasons the city council opted to table the first reading of the annexation ordinance. Some local officials are happy the vote was postponed, because they would like the project slowed a bit so they can learn more about TIF and its impact on the community.

My opinion is things are moving too quickly, said Bob Luebbe during the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce meeting on May 11.

Quady, who attended the Chamber meeting to discuss TIF and the development, said the third and final vote on annexation ordinance is at least 45 days away.

Luebbe said he is also concerned about the impact on the local school district, which could see an increase in students without the benefit of higher tax revenue.

Ashland-Greenwood Superintendent Jason Libal was also invited to the Chamber meeting and said that he and the school board are educating themselves on TIF and researching the potential effect on the school district.

Libal said the impact could be softened by state aid, which the district receives because they are defined as an equalized district  one that has needs that exceed its resources.

State aid is distributed by the State Department of Education according to a complex formula that includes student enrollment figures. More students could potentially mean more state aid, Libal said.

In 2016-2017, the district received about $2 million in state aid. The amount of state aid fluctuates from year to year and is difficult to predict, Libal said. The figures for 2017-2018 will not be made available until June 1, he added.

Quady and members of the city council have met with representatives of the school district on several occasions, even though the city council makes the final decision.

The city is not ignoring the fact that the school district will be impacted, Quady said.

Libal said he is pleased the city has included the school district in the conversation.
PRAGUE  Annie Havlovic could not imagine Prague without its school building.

When she heard it was for sale and bids were being taken, she thought of the worst possible situation  it being demolished.

When I heard it was for sale I just wanted it, Annie said. Its the heart of the town. We have to keep this going.

Indeed, Annie, her husband, Dan, and the Havlovic family plan to see that the building remains a viable landmark atop its hill. The Havlovices purchased the vacant school buildings from the East Butler Public School District for $10,000.

Havlovics negotiated bid was accepted by the East Butler Board of Education at its meeting last week. It was the only bid submitted after the East Butler board terminated request for proposals at its April monthly meeting.

The search for a new owner began in December, when the board voted to solicit bids. The board could not begin the process sooner, as construction bonds for the elementary addition were still outstanding. The final bond payment was made at the end of December.

I dont know how we could get this more right, East Butler Superintendent Sam Stecher said just before the board voted May 10. I think its going to a good individual, a good family and someone that is invested in the community.

The purchase contract was signed on May 12, and the keys were exchanged for the check.

They wanted to move pretty quickly, Dan said. (The school board) has been great to work with.

Two businesses, community use and grandkids are all part of the familys plan for the schools second life.

One elementary classroom will transform into Rocket Mobility, an all-terrain tract mobility wheelchair that Dans son, Andy Havlovic, will operate and fabricate.

Andy and Dan acquired the business in January, that is popular among veterans and business is growing.

The schools shop building will house the second business, a metalcloak performance business that fabricates the ceramic coating for metal exhaust systems.

Its grown to a point that we needed to move it, Dan said.

However, there were steps that needed to be taken before the businesses could begin operating.

Dan said he had a meeting with the Prague Zoning and Planning board to determine if the property could be zoned blighted industrial. That appears to have a favorable outcome.

Bringing in the two businesses was necessary to make the school a justifiable purchase, Dan said.

We needed to give (the building) a purpose and to offset the cost, Dan said.

The cost of the buildings is more than the $10,000 up front cost. Insurance, utilities and taxes are some of the monthly costs the Havlovices also acquired with the building purchase.

However, Annie stressed that despite housing the two businesses, the building would not change.

The integrity of the school will not change, she said.

The Havlovices also want the community to be able to continue to make use of the school, specifically the gymnasium.

The gym can be used by anyone, they just need to contact us, Annie said.

However, with being the site of businesses, Dan said liability insurance may determine some of its use. Also a member of the Prague Village Board of Trustees, the villages insurance may be an option for community events, he added.

Dan, Annie and their three children all graduated from Prague High School. The couple is excited that their eight grandkids will also get to create memories and experiences in the school. The grandkids and their parents got the first round of shooting hoops in on Mothers Day. The scoreboard and score table were lit and the stereo system proved to be working.

However, the whole school is not in the same condition.

When the Havlovices submitted their first bid on the school it was with the stipulation that the old portion be demolished. The three story structure, which has 1922 etched in the brick, was found to have asbestos.

After the East Butler School District received a demolition estimate of nearly $300,000, they negotiated a bid to include the entire Prague school grounds as is.

Dan said despite originally trying to get the old portion removed, the family currently has no plans to demolish any of the building.

Cleaning the building will be a task in and of itself, with some classrooms still having items unneeded by the district left behind.

The art room still contains paint and supplies, the music room old sheet music and records and the library bookshelves and books.

The school also contains trophies, class portraits and other memorabilia.

The village board and the East Butler school district made an agreement that a portion of the memorabilia will be displayed at the East Butler School in Brainard, with the remainder belonging to the village.

According to the Prague Village Board of Trustees Chairman Ed Ourada Jr., the board has yet to determine what do to with the memorabilia.

Well get a better idea when we are able to (take) inventory of the memorabilia and determine the space required for any type of display, Ourada said.

Some ideas discussed include a rotating display, photographing memorabilia and uploading them to the villages website and possibly encouraging alumni from different graduating classes to submit an article about the item, he added.

Until then, the memorabilia will remain stored in the school. And, Annie will get to see it all in her school.

Some people end up with roses for Mothers Day, but (Annie) ended up with a whole school, Dan said.
LINCOLN - Lancaster County Engineer Pam Dingman announced Wednesday that the county will close Box Culvert H-115, located on N. 176th Street between Alvo McKelvie roads, due to safety issues.

The reinforced concrete box culvert, built in 1933, has been severely and progressively undermined due to ongoing scour and erosion activity, according to a press release. Despite numerous efforts to stabilize the site, the approximately 15-foot deep scour hole has now begun to encroach on the adjacent gravel roadway making continued use of this segment of 176th Street unsafe and is considered to pose a significant risk to the traveling public.

Although closing this box culvert will be an inconvenience to local thru traffic, Dingman strongly encourages people to take alternate routes. The Lancaster County Engineering Department does not close a structure unless it is determined to be dangerous to the public and urges drivers not to go around barricades.
Karnataka cadre IAS officer of 2007-batch, Anurag Tiwari was appointed as the Commissioner of Food and Civil Supplies in Uttar Pradesh.

By India Today Web Desk: A senior IAS officer was found dead near state guest house on Meerabai road in Lucknow's Hazratganj area today.

Anurag Tiwari, a Karnataka cadre IAS officer of 2007-batch, was appointed as the Commissioner of Food and Civil Supplies in Uttar Pradesh.

AK Shahi, Inspector of Hazratganj Police Station, said some passers-by informed the police after spotting him lying on the road. He said the victim's identity was ascertained by an identity card recovered from his belongings.

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The reason for Tiwari's death is yet to be ascertained bu the inspector said a preliminary examination confirmed an injury on his chin while no other injury is visible.

He said the body has been sent for post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of his death.

Tiwari was the resident of Behraich city in Uttar Pradesh.

The police is now pouring through CCTV footage of nearby areas to piece together moments before Tiwari's death.

Police refused to divulge any further details but confirmed that the "death was suspicious".

WATCH VIDEO | Lucknow: Senior IAS officer found dead near Hazratganj

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By Mark Chapin Col. USAF ret.

January 10, 1945 AAF Station 130:

The morning mist shrouded the tiny village of Conington in Huntingdonshire as the inhabitants once again awoke to the roar of dozens of Cyclone engines coming to life at nearby RAF Glatton. The B-17 squadron was a late addition to the mission and the crews hurried their preflights; their flight suits damp with sweat in spite of the cold. Gunners scrambled, stowing gear and extra flak jackets, checking their guns as the last jeeps and fuel trucks scurried away from the 749ths dispersal area. A Flying Fortress named Slow but Good, her engines straining against the brakes, would lead the squadron of dark green and silver bombers on this mission. The pilot gave the gages another check, then anxiously shifted his attention to the two-story, flat-roofed building with the greenhouse on top. The RAF called this type of structure a Watch Office but, the Americans knew them as Control Towers.

The British Royal Air Force (RAF) and US Army Air Force (AAF) had built 140 airfields in England for the fighters and bombers of the 8th and 9th Air Forces, and cargo planes of Air Transport Command since construction began in 1942. As the AAF presence expanded in 1943/44, some airfields became depots, aircrew replacement stations, and photo reconnaissance bases. At each location, the brick control towers looked nearly alike, being built to a standard plan. They served as the operations nerve center for more than half a million bomber sorties during WWII.

With permission to taxi, the sleek Flying Fortresses, each with a Triangle U emblazoned on their tail, rumbled along the twisting perimeter taxiway leading them to the runway. The nose-to-tail parade was routine by now, but as the planes taxied past the old farm house standing inside the triangle layout of concrete runways, it looked surreal and out of place. The US Army Aviation Engineering Battalion had simply built the airfield around the stately structure.

With checklists complete, the lead plane took the runway and the co-pilot set 280 into the gyro-compass. The pilot quickly double-checked the adjustment, then peered out into the dim, morning light, watching for the launch signal from the Tower, where staffers and flyers lined the balcony. Up in the green house a Staff Sergeant raised the light-gun and signaled the pilot: Green light, boyshere we go!

On every airfield, the control tower was the key to all aircraft movements on the ground and within the surrounding airspace; every mission, every sortie. And that same familiar brick tower was a welcoming sight to every weary pilot nursing home a damaged airplane, often with wounded aboard. On the rooftop, men waited anxiously for hours while their compatriots were away on the mission. They stood by, ready to respond to any emergency and counted the losses.

The AAF control tower would become a lasting, iconic symbol of Americas commitment, sacrifice, and victory in the air war against Germany. While hundreds were built, only a handful of these historic buildings remain in England, as following the war, most airfields were no longer needed. The land soon returned to its original use, most often agricultural, which had no secondary need for a control tower structure. Those few that avoided the wrecking ball have mostly crumbled into ruin, and are rapidly fading from the landscape. Soon these too will slide from memory unless something positive is done to preserve their legacy.

The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM), a 501(c)(3) charity located in Reading, Pennsylvania at Carl A. Spaatz Field (aka Reading Regional Airport) wants to help keep the memory alive by educating current and future generations of Americans about the history of the AAF and particularly the 8th Air Force. This includes building an authentic, WWII-era control tower as part of the museums living-history commemoration of WWII airpower and the men and women behind it. With a current collection of over 100 aircraft dating from the 1920s to the present day, the museum hopes to become a key educational destination on aviation technology and innovation. This includes demonstrating the remarkable advancements made during WWII in aircraft design and construction, on-board systems, communications, aerial bombardment, navigation, weaponry, tactics, and training.

Each year on the anniversary of D-Day, through the tireless efforts of Russ Strine, the museums president, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers, Spaatz Field transforms into an authentic WWII air base hosting over a hundred warbirds, scores of original WWII vehicles and armor, and many hundreds of international WWII re-enactors, complete with their encampments. Tens of thousands of enthusiastic visitors attend the annual WWII Weekend event, recently rated by a USA Today survey as one of the top ten air shows in the country. The 27th annual WWII Weekend is scheduled for the 2nd through 4th of June, 2017.

Interestingly, during WWII, Spaatz Field was a staging base for B-24s headed to join the 8th Air Force in England and outfitted with the latest technology and newest equipment. The airfields layout has changed little over the years, and still retains some original structures, such as the museums main hangar. The site has all the elements of an authentic WWII AAF environment except for one important piece, an authentic AAF control tower. Inspired by the replica control tower built by the 8th Air Force Historical Society at the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, OH, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum plans to build their own tower at Spaatz Field.

This particular control tower will play a unique, educational role at the Museum. Spaatz Field will be the only place in the nation where thousands of visitors, researchers, historians, and warbird enthusiasts can witness an operational 8th Air Force control tower, where controllers direct the live air operations of WWII bombers, fighters and trainers all happening on an authentic WWII-era US Army Airfield.

The new addition to Spaatz Field will also house a display of original control tower history, floor plans and pictures provided by the RAF Museum, as well as authentic equipment, instrumentation, and select collections of AAF militaria. The rooms and rooftop will be available for special events, air show viewing, receptions, guest speakers, reunions, and more.

The National Museum of the US Air Force has provided modern construction drawings for the new control tower, which will look exactly like the original structures: 28 wide across the front (not counting the balcony), 33 along the sides, and just over 18 from the concrete ground slab to the pre-formed concrete roof. Interestingly, each original structure required nearly 25,000 English bricks which are 4 1/2 x 9 compared with American bricks at 4 x 8. The unique pattern of English Bond brick laying resulted in walls that were 14 thick.

To raise construction funds, the Museum is accepting donations online at www.maam.org for Victory Bricks. These bricks are engraved pavers bearing the names of veterans, military units, or businesses and corporations who wish to donate. The museum will place each brick along Victory Road, shown in red on the above picture of the museum grounds. The bricks may also include depictions of airplanes, wings, ships, patches, and logos.

In addition to the sale of Victory Bricks, the Museum is accepting individual donations, grants and endowments, as well as encouraging tax-deductible corporate sponsorship or in-kind contributions. Recently the 8th Air Force Historical Society granted the Museum $60,000 towards the planning and construction of their control tower. Additionally, the Jimmy Stewart Foundation has granted permission to name the Control Tower after the famed B-24 pilot, commander, actor and USAF Brigadier General James M. Stewart.

The new control tower at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum will become a permanent, year-round memorial to American WWII air power where visitors may learn the history and honor the sacrifice, and help keep alive the legacy of all who served. Pending availability of resources, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum plans to start construction this year.

To raise construction funds, the Museum is accepting donations online at www.maam.org for Victory Bricks.
By Hill Goodspeed Historian

Historian, National Naval Aviation Museum

Article originally written for the Sextant

More than thirty years ago, stunning footage of F-14 Tomcats flashed across the silver screen and moviegoers were introduced to the high-speed operations and culture of naval aviation through the characters Maverick, Goose, Iceman, and Charlie. The release of the movie Top Gun on May 16, 1986, came at a time when naval aviation was very much in the publics consciousness, with carrier aircraft having participated in strikes against Libya the previous month as part of Operation El Dorado Canyon. The combination was a boost to recruiting at the time and the films memorable soundtrack, scenes, and linesI feel the need, the need for speedhave endured, even though the F-14 Tomcat has gone from frontline fighter to museum piece and the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOP GUN) has moved from near San Diego to the desert around Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada.



The Creation of Top Gun, Actual

The personalities of the fictional characters aside, the premise of the film rings true, a school of aerial combat born during the Vietnam War. In 1968, the Chief of Naval Operations initiated a study of the procurement and employment of missile systems. The impetus was the results of air-to-air combat over Vietnam since 1965, during which time American fighter aircraft had launched nearly 600 missiles in 360 engagements with enemy aircraft, achieving one kill for every ten missiles fired. Heading up the team of investigators was Captain Frank W. Ault, a veteran naval aviator with recent tours as a carrier skipper and carrier division chief of staff with Task Force 77 off Vietnam.

The resulting report, officially known as the Report of the Air-to-Air Missile System Capability Review and commonly referred to as the Ault Report, devoted page after page to technical evaluations of missile designs and performance, but one small paragraph would have a lasting impact. Up until 1960, the Navy had operated the Fleet Air Gunnery Unit and the report concluded that its disestablishment had created a gradual loss of expertise and continuity in the field of fighter weaponry. This trend, it was determined, must be reversed by providing a means of consolidating, coordinating and promulgating the doctrine, lore, tactics, and procedures for fighter employment. The result was the Navy Fighter Weapons School. Established on March 3, 1969, it initially was attached to Fighter Squadron (VF) 121 and operated out of a trailer, the initial cadre of personnel assigned to the school building the syllabus for what evolved into the premier training program for aerial combat.

The Creation of Top Gun, The Movie

A profile of the school that appeared in an issue of California magazine inspired production of the motion pictured about the Navys elite fighter pilots. The movie also received support from the sea service, with a number of naval aviators and naval flight officers assigned to fly the aerial sequences and serve as technical consultants. The Sailors that helped included future Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral James Jaws Winnefeld, Jr. and future Commander, U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Robert Rat Willard.

Captain Lloyd Bozo Abel, USN (Ret.), then a lieutenant commander, made numerous flights for the movie, including taking up the films young star, Tom Cruise. Abel told a reporter in a 1986 interview that he actually had to rent a video tape of the movie Risky Business so that he would recognize the actor. Abel related that the dogfighting scenes were flown with the airplanes closer than normal so that they could be captured in one frame and revealed that the most difficult maneuver for him was the roll he performed after launching from the carrier for the scene in which Maverick heads toward the engagement with enemy MiGs in the movies final scenes. The challenge was not in executing the roll, but doing it in a way that kept the rear-facing camera attached to the airplane pointed at the carrier. Fro Abel, there was one moment above all others that was for him the highlight of the filming. He was given the opportunity to play Maverick when the Cruises character violates regulations and makes a low pass by the control tower at NAS Miramar. Its not too many times they say Hey, Bozo, howd you like to buzz the tower a couple of times, he recalled in 1986.

Fact from Fiction

Being a product of screenwriters, the movie Top Gun takes its share of Hollywood license. For instance, a crisis situation halfway around the world would not require the quick dispatch of recent Top Gun graduates to a carrier at sea. Aviators sitting at desks more suited for an elementary school for a briefing on the flight line was not indicative of the professional instruction at the Navy Fighter Weapons School. Yet, in the bravado and competitive spirit of fighter pilots and the thrilling aerial dance of air-to-air combat, the movie struck a chord with the public that endures to this day. Oh, and yes, the mission of the school is still to, Train the way you fight; fight the way you train.

Hill Goodspeed is a native of Pensacola, Florida, and comes from a naval family. His grandfather trained at NAS Pensacola as a naval aviator during World War II, his father was a Vietnam War-era Marine officer, and a great uncle served as a PT-Boat skipper in the South Pacific during World War II. Article originally written for the Sextant






The Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari not only skipped the function, but well-placed sources claimed the Tiwari camp also advised BJP councillors against attending Union minister Vijay Goel's function.

By Rakesh Ranjan: The persistent tussle within the Delhi BJP has resurfaced soon after party's massive victory in the MCD polls.

Seeking to woo the leaders of wary factions, Union minister Vijay Goel organised a felicitation ceremony for newly elected councillors at his residence on Tuesday evening, which apparently did not go down well with Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari.

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He not only skipped the function, but well-placed sources claimed the Tiwari camp also advised BJP councillors against attending the function. A BJP councillor present at the felicitation ceremony said a general secretary of Delhi BJP had conveyed to the councillors not to attend the function against the wish of the state unit president.

However, a sizeable number of councillors were present at Goel's residence. The gathering also saw the attendance of South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri and West Delhi MP Pravesh Verma, who are not believed to have cordial relations with Tiwari.

CRACKS WITHIN BJP

Verma and Tiwari had even engaged in a verbal spat during campaigning for the MCD elections. BJP vice-president Shyam Jaju and BJP MLAs in Delhi Assembly, Jagdish Pradhan and Manjinder Singh Sirsa, also attended the function. BJP has 181 councillors in the three MCDs, out of which nearly 50 councillors participated in the event.

Top sources said the newly elected councillors were not felicitated since the MCD poll results. This prompted Goel to cash in on the opportunity. But as soon as the party leadership learnt about the function, the state leadership hurriedly called a meeting of all councillors at the Delhi BJP headquarters on Monday evening and greeted them with sweets. The state leadership tried to score some points by calling a meeting of the newly elected party councillors ahead of Goel's function, a source said.

"The programme was organised to initiate the 'Adopt a Slum' campaign in Delhi. At the same time, it was decided to felicitate the newly elected councillors to encourage them for the overall development of Delhi. We have urged every councillor to adopt a slum and resolve the issues of slum dwellers," Goel said.

"We have urged BJP councillors to work under the mantra of 'Good Governance' and respect public mandate. We must value the mandate of the masses and work for their overall development with new zeal and vigour," the Union minister said.

This is not the first time Goel has shown keen interest in Delhi's politics despite his elevation to the Union cabinet. Goel had also extended his support to sitting BJP councillors who were denied ticket by the party high command before the polls. While leaders like Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari had advised BJP leaders to accept the party's decision, Goel had promised them support and even said he would take up their grievance to the top leadership.

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Also read: Manoj Tiwari eats with slum dwellers; takes jibe at Kejriwal, says work is done here, not in AC rooms

Also read: MCD win just the beginning, Delhi CM is next target, says Manoj Tiwari's mother

WATCH | Manoj Tiwari to India Today: AAP a poisonous party

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Seven jobs at a Waterford charity look set to be lost after it was announced that it is to be wound down. The U-Casadh...
Bishop Anthony Fisher and Cardinal George Pell greet Pope Benedict in Sydney in 2008. "We have to respect due process, wait until it is concluded and obviously I will continue to co-operate fully." Meanwhile, one of Australia's most senior Catholic clerics has defended Cardinal Pell from "relentless character attacks" in relation to the allegations. Cardinal George Pell is Australia's highest-ranking Catholic. Credit:Getty Images Archbishop Anthony Fisher released a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, saying Cardinal Pell was entitled to the presumption of innocence.

"Justice must be left to run its course," he said. "It is unfortunate that in the very week this happens, media and authors publish and repeat allegations, some of which have already been thoroughly answered. "This cannot assist the impartial pursuit of justice. What is clear, however, is that Cardinal Pell has co-operated in every way with multiple police, parliamentary and royal commission investigations. "Everyone supports just investigation of complaints but the relentless character attacks on Cardinal Pell, by some, stand the principle of innocent-until-proven-guilty on its head. "Australians have a right to expect better from their legal systems and the media. Even churchmen have a right to 'a fair go'."

Andrew Halphen, from the Law Institute of Victoria, said it was "completely inappropriate" that information about the investigation into Cardinal Pell had again been leaked to the media. He said the "lack of regard" for the Cardinal's rights were "a startling affront" to the cornerstone of the legal system. "In the event [Cardinal] Pell is charged I hold grave concerns that he will receive a fair trial," said Mr Halphen, the co-chair of the Criminal Law Section. "There is a serious risk a stay application could be made should this matter reach the courts owing to the prejudicial material that has been published. "I can think of no other matter in recent memory where a DPP's advice to the police in respect of whether or not to charge a person finds its way to the front page of a major news publication before a person is actually charged."

If the Cardinal was charged, leading Australian extradition expert Professor Donald Rothwell outlined three possible scenarios. He said Cardinal Pell could refuse to step outside the Vatican walls to avoid prosecution, as there is no extradition treaty in place legally compelling him to return to Australia. However, Professor Rothwell said that was highly unlikely. He said Cardinal Pell had so far co-operated with police, sought to engage in legal proceedings and vehemently denied any allegations of misconduct. If the Cardinal did not agree to an extradition, Professor Rothwell conceded it would be difficult for Victoria Police to force him to return. Yet, Australia could appeal to Italy to make the extradition request on its behalf.

Under this situation, any clergy wanted on charges in Australia could be arrested by Italian authorities if they left the holy city. "The mere fact there is no extradition treaty does not create an impossible barrier to extradition because Australia has diplomatic relations with the [Vatican]," Professor Rothwell said. "There are legal relations between the two countries [Australia and Italy], so theoretically, an extradition request could be made." It is believed the DPP in Victoria has said that any decision to charge Cardinal Pell would be "an operational one" and should be made by senior police. Traditionally, the decision to lay charges is based on whether it is "more likely than not" that the charges would result in a successful prosecution.
Former chef Roman Heinze, who violently attacked two backpackers at Salt Creek in South Australia last year, has been jailed for at least 17 years.

In the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Trish Kelly handed down a sentence of 22 years and four months with a non-parole period of 17 years for the attacks on the women - a Brazilian and a German - and for some previous offences.

In March, Heinze, 61, was found guilty on six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life.

He attacked the backpackers on a remote beach south-east of Adelaide, where they had been camping while on a drive to Melbourne, in February last year.
Sofia, Bulgaria: A young Australian facing jail on terror charges in Bulgaria had vehemently rejected Islam more than a month before his arrest, according to evidence seen by Fairfax Media.

Former Sydney schoolboy John Zakhariev, 21, could be sentenced to up to eight years' jail for allegedly training in Bulgaria with the intention of joining Islamic State.

Though no verdict has yet been reached, his lawyer said on Tuesday he was "not hopeful" of an acquittal.

A Bulgarian judge has refused to consider the evidence, saying on Tuesday she had heard all she needed to reach a verdict.
Investors are 'losing optimism' in Trump, say analysts. Credit:Evan Vucci "You've got to insist on getting in front of POTUS, talk to him, and have like five, six minutes with him before you go out there and take the podium, and otherwise you're driving blind. "It has to be somebody with a very close relationship, where there's trust there, there's inherent loyalty, someone who's been there from the beginning." Sean Spicer. Credit:AP But as this week's grand furore over Trump leaking intelligence during a White House visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirms, the President is as much the problem as his communications team.

Just as Trump left his spin team beached when he contradicted the agreed explanation for why Comey had to go, on Tuesday he did it again, undercutting carefully constructed cabinet-level denials that he might have revealed enough for the Russians to work out the source of the intelligence and how it was gathered. A "pain": H.R. McMaster, national security adviser, speaks during a White House press briefing in Washington, DC. Credit:Bloomberg Not disputing The Washington Post's account of the meeting, Trump instead argued in early morning tweets that he "wanted to share with Russia  which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety". So how might Guilfoyle flip that curious equation? Would she do any better than the punch-drunk Spicer in running damage control in the wake of another bombshell? On Tuesday, The New York Times reported on a paper trail left by Comey, reportedly including a memo in which the sacked FBI boss details a request by Trump that Comey shut down the investigation of Michael Flynn.

Trump was forced to sack Flynn as national security adviser after it was revealed he lied about his communications with the Russians. In what sounds like a blatant presidential bid to influence Justice Department and FBI investigations into his campaign's links to Russia, a portion of a Comey memo read to the Times quotes Trump after, the memo suggests, the President asked that all others at a meeting clear the room save for Comey. "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump reportedly said. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go." The White House denied the Times' report. But here we have a new battlefront in Trump's war with the US intelligence agencies - the tape recordings that Trump implied he has of his meetings with Comey, versus Comey memos on all his interactions with Trump. How would Guilfoyle sugarcoat that lot?

Mind you, Spicer was not at his best on Tuesday. Taking his lead from Trump's Twitter stream earlier in the day, he slammed the leakers in his own ranks: "What has occurred here ... is frankly dangerous. It undermines our national security." Never mind that the leaks of which he complained were about the President leaking. In rushing to defend Trump's disclosure to Lavrov as "appropriate", the White House has simply ignored the dire thrust of his offence as cited by analysts. He may have provided sufficient detail for Moscow, which is allied with the likes of the Syrian regime and Tehran, to jeopardise a delicate and valuable intelligence-gathering operation, now reported as Israeli.

Trump is reportedly storming around the White House, demanding that the communications team get "on the same page" - which would require them to work out in advance how he will subsequently contradict them. How might Guilfoyle square that circle? And as the President turns on his own appointed aides, even his son-in-law and counsellor Jared Kushner is said to be getting bunched in with those who Trump dismisses as "incompetents". The man who replaced Flynn as national security adviser, the very establishment General H.R. McMaster, is said to have been seeking to save Trump from himself by attempting to qualify or recast the President's pronouncements in meetings. Trump, in turn, has reportedly taken to bad-mouthing McMaster as "a pain" who talks too much.

Reading Trump's Tuesday tweets, in which the President seemed to acknowledge the substance of the Post's account of his meeting with Lavrov, McMaster would have been pained. On the previous evening, he had gone out on a limb for Trump, declaring the Post's account "as reported" to be "false". And after the President's tweets, McMaster refused to budge: "I stand by my statement I made yesterday. What I'm saying is the premise of that article is false." Moscow, too, was blindsided. Despite Trump's tweets seeming to confirm the Post's account, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova took to Facebook to denounce the Post report as "yet another fake".
By Piya Hingorani: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor have been stealing hearts with their appearances at the Cannes Film Festival for years, but their fashion faux pas on the red carpet at the French Riviera have grabbed headlines too. So while all eyes are on what these beauties will pull off this year, the 70th edition of the prestigious film festival, joining them for the very first time is Deepika Padukone as the ambassador of the international beauty brand.

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Shruti Haasan will be making her Cannes debut this year. Shruti's film Sangamithra, directed by Sundar C, will be formally announced at the open night of the Film Festival, as the cast and crew will be unveiled to the media.

Come May 22, Nandita Das, who has been on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival, will unveil her directorial titled Manto. Based on the life of the prolific Indo-Pakistani author and playwright, Saadat Hasan Manto, who was known for his short stories, the film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead.

Speaking exclusively to India Today TV on the sets of her movie, filmmaker Nandita Das said, "It's more of a curtain raiser. We're taking a small break from our shoot to go to Cannes because I believe it's a great platform. I've been on the jury a couple of times. HP Studios, who are one of our producers, are also one of the main sponsors of the film festival, so we are getting the opportunity through them primarily to showcase it in a more mainstream space. Otherwise often Indian films go there, do their thing on the side and come back. We don't really get the opportunity to share out work in a more mainstream space, so we are hoping to do that, and have a Manto evening with Manto."

Nandita continued, "We'll be sharing the film, of course, for the sales agents and buyers, but have something special for the film goers and lovers at the festival."

Nawazuddin however, is no stranger to Festival de Cannes. Previously, his films including The Lunchbox and Raman Raghav 2.0 opened to packed houses and received a thunderous applause from the audience, but Manto, he confessed is special to him, "I'm very excited to go to Cannes and sharing our film in the International market."

ALSO READ: Nawazuddin Siddqui slays it as Saadat Hasan Manto in Nandita Das's BigShort

ALSO READ: Deepika Padukone is already making the most of her time at Cannes

ALSO WATCH: Nandita Das's short film In Defence Of Freedom

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As per the police, on Tuesday, Srinivas, who had loaned Rs 4 lakh to the man, who works as a watchman under Amberpet Police station, abducted the 35-year-old woman after her husband failed to repay the money that had been taken almost 1 year back.

By Ashish Pandey: In a bizarre incident, a private money-lender in Hyderabad abducted the wife of a borrower after he failed to repay the loan amount on time. However, all ended well as acting swiftly on the information of kidnap, police nabbed the main accused, identified as Srinivas, and rescued the lady.

As per the police, on Tuesday, Srinivas, who had loaned Rs 4 lakh to the man, who works as a watchman under Amberpet Police station, abducted the 35-year-old woman after her husband failed to repay the money that had been taken almost 1 year back.

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The watchman had repaid Rs 1 lakh, but could not pay off the rest of the amount and the interest, which irked the moneylender.

"On Tuesday night, Srinivas along with his two associates went to the watchman's house and demanded repayment of the loan. As the watchman was not at home, they abducted his wife," said inspector AP Anand Kumar of Amberpet Police station.

The son of the kidnapped woman lodged a complaint with the police, and she was rescued as the kidnappers were heading towards Nizamabad in a car.

All the three accused were arrested and booked on the charge of kidnapping, outraging a woman's modesty and other relevant offences under the IPC.

Also Read:

Revolver Rani: Woman kidnaps groom from his wedding venue, was furious over betrayal

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25-year-old Shadab is suffering from Lymphoma or blood cancer. His family was unable to afford the advanced treatment required at AIIMS.

By Siraj Qureshi: An ailing Muslim youth from Mantola, Agra had no hopes of surviving until he met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently. 25-year-old Shadab is suffering from Lymphoma or blood cancer. He was given a new lease of life by the chief minister after he ordered the state government to bear the cost of his treatment.

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According to Shadab's mother Fatima (name changed), Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saw Shadab lying on the hospital bed while inspecting the SN Medical College on May 7.

He inquired about Shadab's condition and found out that his family was unable to afford the advanced treatment required at AIIMS.

Following which, Yogi Adityanath ordered the preparation of a file of Shadab's condition for a referral at AIIMS and the best possible treatment for him in Agra until then.

Within three days of the Chief Minister's instructions, Shadab's file was prepared and he was shifted to AIIMS with the assistance of a local NGO Help Agra.

Fatima said that she was highly grateful to the chief minister for providing her son with the chance to live a healthy and disease-free life.

Commenting on Yogi's act of compassion, social activist Vishal Sharma said that what the chief minister did for Shadab was highly appreciable, but it should not be seen as something done by a Hindu chief minister for a Muslim youth.

"Yogi Adityanath has been elected as the Chief Minister of the state of Uttar Pradesh, which includes its Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and followers of other faiths. At this constitutional portfolio, what the chief minister has done for Shadab should only be seen as an act of compassion by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for a citizen of the state. To see it in any other light would demean the whole act," Sharma added.

Hotelier and social activist Arun Dang too appreciated the chief minister's move to help Shadab fight the deadly disease and said that saffron clothes do not mean that the chief minister would only work for Hindus and neither does wearing a skull cap mean that the chief minister would only work for Muslims.

"Being on such an important portfolio in itself means that the chief minister can have no differentiation between the citizens in his mind. Chief Minister Yogi is only following what Prime Minister Modi has already stated, that the country is one and every Indian is the same, irrespective of his or her faith," Arun Dang said.

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Hindustani Biradari Secretary Ziauddin said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has done nothing but follow Prime Minister Modi's 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas' slogan. He added that Yogi Aditynath's act shows that there is no difference between what he says and what he does.

Also Read:

Triple talaq victims meet Yogi Adityanath at his janta durbar in Gorakhpur, demand justice

Muslims in Uttar Pradesh have mixed feelings for Yogi Adityanath as chief minister

Also Watch:

Muslim angst over Yogi Adityanath's appointment: Does new CM deserve a chance to prove himself?

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By India Today Web Desk: Former Sasural Simar Ka actors and lovebirds Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar are currently slaying everyone with their dance moves and chemistry on Nach Baliye 8. And as if that was not enough, Shoaib decided to spice things up a bit by proposing Dipika for marriage in the cutest way.

According to a report in Pinkvilla, the actor went down on his knees with a ring for his lady love on the sets of Nach Baliye.

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Also read: When Divyanka Tripathi broke down on the sets of Nach Baliye 8

This obviously surprised everyone, but especially Dipika, who just wasn't able to hold back her tears.

"Wherever I am today, it is because of her. When I wasn't working after quitting Sasural Simar Ka, she told me to make a comeback which is worth remembering," the actor told Pinkvilla.

The two even got a standing ovation from the judges.

Super-sweet, isn't it?

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NCW wants triple talaq to be done away with as many women have suffered due to the practice.

By Press Trust of India: The National Commission for Women (NCW) today said it was ready to submit its opinion on abolition of triple talaq if the Supreme Court asked for it.

"As such NCW is against triple talaq.. It should go and it should be abolished," NCW member Rekha Sharma told reporters here to a question whether it (NCW) will offer its opinion on the issue if the apex court asked.

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Rekha said many women had suffered and continued to suffer due to this practice and that is why NCW wanted it to be done away with.

Moreover, the NCW Chairperson had questioned the absence of a woman in the Supreme Court bench hearing the triple talaq issue, Rekha, who is here for a two-day public hearing on women-related cases, said.

Alleging lack of coordination from police, she said it delayed action in many cases for want of FIRs.

Stating that about 33,000 cases remain unresolved in the commission, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and West Bengal, she said situation in the South was far better. With regard to Tamil Nadu, she said 90 per cent of the cases have been resolved. During the public hearing, the commission resolved 100 cases in Chennai and 35 cases out of 40 in Coimbatore district, Rekha said.

TRIPLE TALAQ HEARING

A five-judge bench, made up of judges from different religious communities, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim, is hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy practices among Muslims

The apex court has fixed a six-day schedule for hearing, in which three days are available for those challenging triple talaq and three days for those defending it.

The Centre had on October 7 last opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a re-look on grounds like gender equality and secularism.

ALSO READ:

Can women have the right to decline instant triple talaq, Supreme Court asks AIMPLB

If triple talaq declared illegal, will bring in law to regulate Muslim marriage, divorce: AG Mukul Rohatgi to Supreme Court

WATCH:

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"First pain, then gain...

"New Zealand is a place of great natural beauty and resources, of pioneering immigrants from the Maori to the more recent settlers. Theyre fierce, hardy, and strong, able to withstand challenges like the massive economic challenge they faced in the mid 1980s. With their economy unraveling, they made huge, controversial changes, including doing away with farm subsidies and protectionist import controls.

"At first, it hurt. A lot. But now, the farmers and the fishers, the people and the economy, are prospering. And they wouldnt go back to subsidies, special interests, or support for manufacturers. Travel to New Zealand with scholar Johan Norberg to meet some amazing Kiwis and see how they blazed a trail to economic prosperity."

Find out more at Free To Choose TV here...
By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 16, 2017 | 07:24 PM | PADUCAH, KY





At Tuesday's city commission meeting, the board was updated on the status of the design of a proposed park at 432 Broadway.The city-owned property is currently vacant, after the previous building was demolished in 2016.Planner Sheryl Chino explained that due to propertys narrow size, infill construction of a new building is challenging, so the development of a park is a good option.City Manager Jeff Pederson praised the planning staff for their vision for the park. Pederson said, As bad as it is to lose a downtown building, we all hurt. Mainly in part in how unusual this building was, as narrow as it was, this is such a wonderful opportunity to create an asset downtown. Even though its small, its going to have a real sense of place about it.Chino said the timeline will be fiscal year 2018. "We would like to bid the project in the fall. It's about a 90-day construction period give or take, because we are planting plants," Chino said. She said planting in the fall gives the plants the best opportunity to grow and will minimize replanting.Chino said the planning department is working with several area business and organizations on partnerships to help fund the park. She said Make Paducah and the Yeiser Art Center are teaming up for a community art project.At the end of June, YACs gallery will be turned into an art studio for seven weeks. Artists will paint mall squares that will be pieced together to form a pixelated image. Up close, the mural will be a mosaic of colorful blocks. When the image is looked at from a distance, a larger overall image will be seen. It is not known yet what the image will be, but the subject will "connect the Paducah community with visitors."Chino also thanked Paducah Bank for their contribution as one of the major sponsors on the project.
Discovery Park to kick off "Let It Glow" light show Friday
By Jeremy Rose, CFSB May. 17, 2017 | 08:05 AM | DRAFFENVILLE, KY

At ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Monday, CFSB introduced a new generation of interactive teller machines, branded as CFSB Live!

The new technology is the first of its kind in western Kentucky. It allows customers to be assisted by a live bank teller on a high-definition touch screen.



The service will be available for extended hours, from 7am til 8pm Monday through Saturday, and 1-8 pm on Sunday. The usual self-service features are also available 24 hours a day.

Current locations where the new teller machines are in use include Ash Street in Benton, US 68 in Draffenville, North 12th Street in Murray, and Park Avenue in Paducah. Future locations will soon be operational in Calvert City and at a banking center to be constructed in Mayfield.



"Technology-based services allow us to be open extra hours for our clients. These machines will offer those added times each day and you will be able to talk one-on-one with a CFSB team member, CEO Betsy Flynn said.


By Press Trust of India: From Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, May 17 (PTI) Nepal today declared as martyrs five Madhesi activists who were killed in police firing in the countrys Saptari region during a protest against the local body elections.

The United Democratic Madhesi Front activists were killed on March 6 when police opened fire to disperse their supporters who had encircled the venue of a meeting of the main opposition party CPN-UML in Saptari district.

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The Madhesi parties were protesting in support of their demand to re-demarcate the provincial boundary through Constitution amendment before conducting the local polls.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi handed over 1 million Nepali Rupees each to the kin of the victims at a function in Rajbiraj of Saptrai today.

Nidhi said the government has formed a three-member committee led by former Chief Justice of Appellate Court to probe the firing incident.

The local-level polls are taking place across Nepal after a gap of 20 years. First round of the elections were held on May 14. The second round of polls will be held on June 14.

They should be held in every five years but due to political instability, they were halted since May 1997.

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 the Parliament to address the demands of the agitating Madhesi parties ahead of the local elections.

Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, launched a prolonged agitation between September 2015 and February last year against the implementation of the new Constitution which they felt marginalised the Terai community. PTI SBP UZM ZH UZM

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By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 17, 2017 | 10:48 AM | MAYFIELD, KY

A shooting in Mayfield Wednesday led to two arrests.

According to the Mayfield Police Department, officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 200 block of North 8th Street. Officers said 21-year-old Mason L. West of Mayfield, was involved in an altercation that led to him firing a weapon at another person, who police said was fleeing the scene.

West was charged with attempted assault, three counts of wanton endangerment, criminal abuse - child 12 or under, trafficking in marijuana (firearm enhanced) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Officers searched Mason's apartment, which led to the arrest of his girlfriend, 20-year-old Elizabeth Bodeau. Bodeau is charged with trafficking in marijuana (firearm enhanced) and possession of drug paraphernalia.



Both West and Bodeau were lodged in the Graves County Jail. Police said the case is still under investigation, as to what caused the initial argument, and more charges are anticipated.
By The Associated Press May. 17, 2017 | 04:54 AM | FRANKFORT, KY

Gov. Matt Bevin's administration has created a new position in the Cabinet for Economic Development that comes with an annual salary of $250,000 to improve workforce development strategies.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Economic Development Secretary Terry R. Gill and the Kentucky Economic Development Partnership Board named Vivek Sarin as an executive officer in the cabinet on Monday. Gill and Sarin will earn the same salary.

Gill says the goal is to make Kentucky a national leader in engineering and manufacturing. Sarin led Shelby Industries LLC, a manufacturer of towing and trailer equipment that closed recently. He is the president of a professional services firm and has contributed to Bevin's campaigns.

State Democratic Party spokesman Daniel Lowry said Sarin's salary was an affront to state workers who haven't received raises.

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com
Gorey music students jet off to L.A. to experience the sights and sounds of the showbiz world
VIDEO

On her official Facebook, London further explained her choice of garb, posting: "I am Tlingit, and I am a proud Alaska Native/Native American woman.I wanted to use the moments I had on the Miss USA stage to show the world that I embrace and am proud of my culture and heritage. My hope with that is to inspire others to embrace their unique heritage and identity and also be open to learning about the beauty and richness of other cultures as well."Amen to that! London furthered, "The robe that I came out in was designed to emulate a Tlingit robe, which is the traditional regalia (ceremonial clothing) of my tribe.I am proud to have shown my clan's killerwhale crest on the front of my robe. They were designed by renowned Tlingit artist Preston Singletary."London also explained, "By wearing a gown with this design work, I felt I had the strength of my ancestors and my whole community behind me on stage. Also, in doing so, I am blending tradition with modernity, showcasing the vitality of our indigenous cultures today.Thank you Joey Galon, Atelier for honoring my culture and vision for my gown. I am the cultural ambassador for my tribe appointed by Sealaska Heritage and this is what I envisioned to show the beauty and vitality of our art and culture.I am very proud of making this statement through this gown, it will always be a treasured moment and memory."
Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu said in the next few days you will see more action.

By Devina Gupta: A day after India Today exposed how Pakistan is funding Kashmiri separatists to foment anarchy in the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police is probing the issue.

"I can't disclose details but things have moved swiftly. Our J&K police has been asked and NIA has also been roped in. So in the next few days you will see more action (against separatists)," PDP leader Haseeb Drabu told India Today.

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In the India Today sting operation, top Kashmiri separatists can be heard boasting about burning down schools and government institutions to spread unrest in the Valley.

Caught on camera are Hurriyat's provincial President (Geelani Faction) Naeem Khan, Tehreek-E-Hurriyat's leader Gazi Javed Baba and JKLF Chairman Farooq Ahmed Dar (Bitta Karate).

As their nefarious plans have been revealed, India Today's investigation has jolted the administration into action now.

CENTRE TO INTERVENE

According to top minister in the cabinet, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has been apprised of the India Today's report and she has been following all developments throughout the day. Even as the deputy CM Nirmal Singh, from the coalition partner BJP has promised action, the Centre has decided to intervene directly.

He said Defence Minister Arun Jaitley will discuss the issue with Mufti tomorrow morning.

But given the fact that both alliance partners have spoken in different tones with separatists engagement has been on the agenda, India Today's report revealing their real faces could be a turning point for the state government as well.

"I don't see anything rocking the boat but there will be stress and strain on any coalition given the situation. For now, I think its stable," Drabu said.

He was all praise for India Today's investigative team and went on to admit that the Hurriyat tapes were an eye-opener for the state government as well.

"What your channel has managed to do is establish it from the horses' mouth, so while the money part has been known but that it's been used for pelting stones and burning schools is a revelation for me as well. It's not about from where but how it is being used, the money that is coming from is an illegal source," he said.

Also read:

India Today reporters threatened after expose on Hurriyat leaders getting funds from Pakistan

Caught on Camera: How Pakistan funds Kashmiri separatists to burn the Valley - India Today Exclusive

WATCH | Hurriyat tapes: NIA investigating Pakistan link, law will take its course, says J-K minister

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At least 27 people lost their lives after the attack by gunmen in central Nigeria's state of Niger, a local official said.

By Indo-Asian News Service: At least 27 people were killed in a recent attack by gunmen in the central Nigeria's state of Niger, a local official said on Tuesday.

Ibrahim Inga, head of the State Emergency Management Agency, who confirmed the attack, said the victims were killed when marauders stormed Epogi community in the state's Mokwa district.

According to Inga, 21 people had died immediately after the gunmen unleashed terror on the community early Sunday. Three bodies were later recovered from a river and three more victims died while receiving treatment on Tuesday.

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He said security operatives in the area had put the situation under control.

ALSO READ | Attack on Nigerian students in Greater Noida: Hundreds booked, 5 arrested

ALSO READ | Nigeria mistakenly bombs camp, kills more than 100

ALSO WATCH | African envoys call attack on Nigerians 'xenophobic and racist', demand fair trial

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The senior Chautala was out on parole last month to attend the wedding of his grandson and Hisar MP, Dushyant Singh Chautala. His parole ended on May 5.

By Press Trust of India: At the ripe old age of 82, former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala has passed his higher secondary examination in the first division, while serving out a 10 year sentence in Delhi's Tihar jail.

Chautala, who was convicted in the teachers recruitment scam case, is now planning to pursue a BA course, his younger son and senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala said here today. "He appeared for the Class XII examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling at the centre set up for prisoners at Tihar Jail. The last examination was held on April 23. He was out on parole during that time, but as the examination centre was inside the jail premises, he went back to jail and sat for the examination," Abhay said.

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The senior Chautala was out on parole last month to attend the wedding of his grandson and Hisar MP, Dushyant Singh Chautala. His parole ended on May 5.

"He has been in prison for the last four-and-a-half years. My father thought of putting his time to best use and pursue his studies," Abhay said, adding that he had cleared the exam in the first division.

According to him, the Indian National Lok Dal president was forced to discontinue his studies during his school days due to family compulsions.

"When he was in school, my grandfather Chaudhary Devi Lal was into politics. Who was to take care of the large family, who will look after farming, these were some of the issues which my father, being the eldest member of the family after Devi Lal, had to take care of .

"This forced him to leave his studies in between and the responsibility to educate his younger siblings also fell on him. Later, he himself entered politics and found little time to pursue his studies," Abhay said.

He said his father often visits the Tihar jail library, where he reads newspapers and books. "He also asks the jail staff to arrange for his favourite books."

An unlikely source of inspiration for the former chief minister was Manu Sharma, serving a life term for killing model Jessica Lall in 1999, who was pursuing an LLB course while being lodged in the prison.

"Manus Cell in Tihar prison is also adjoining to the one where Chautala sahib is lodged and saw him pursue higher studies from prison," he said.

Abhay hoped other prisoners would take encouragement from the achievement and realise the importance of education.

Also Read:

How a convict's son aced the IIT exam from an open jail in Kota

Tihar Jail gets fashion laboratory, an initiative by Pearl Academy

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Pakistan troops also fired on forward posts and civilian areas last night along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. The firing continued till 0130 hours, the spokesman said.

Smoke billows out after a mortar shell was allegedly fired by Pakistani Army along the Line of Control in Rajouri district, of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Photo: PTI

By Press Trust of India: Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire again today by firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector of Jammu of Kashmir.

"Pakistan army resorted to firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector from 0050 hours today," a defence spokesman said.

Pakistan troops also fired on forward posts and civilian areas last night along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. The firing continued till 0130 hours, the spokesman said.

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He said the Pakistan army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 1830 hours last night along the LoC in Nowshera sector.

The firing continued till 2100 hours yesterday.

A villager shows a mortar shell that was fired from Pakistan at Jhanghar village near the Line of Control at Nowshera sector about 145km from Jammu on Sunday. Photo: PTI

The Pakistan Rangers fired shells on the intervening night of May 15 and 16 on forward areas and civilian belts along the LoC in three belts of Rajouri district.

The firing and shelling from across the border has affected over 10,000 people.

Civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera sector were pounded with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three others.

On May 13, Pakistani troops had pounded civilian areas and forward posts in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three.

A villager points out the damaged wall of a house after mortar shelling from Pakistan at Jhanghar village area near the Line of Control at Nowshera sector on Sunday. Photo: PTI

On May 15, Pakistan troops resorted to fresh ceasefire violation along the LoC in Nowshera sector since 1600 hours till late night. Four villages in Nowshera have come under small arms fire from across the LOC in Nowshera.

"Shelling started in Ans Bhandhaar areas of Nowshera in Rajouri at 2255 hours night of May 15 and 16. Lam and Kalsian areas were also affected," Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

"Interdepartmental teams deputed by District Administration for damage assessment reported small arms firing begins at 4 PM on May 15 in village Sarya followed by villages Khamba, Anwas and Bhandar," Choudhary said.

Nearly 1700 people have already been evacuated from the LoC hamlets hit by shelling from Pakistani side and shifted to relief camps.

Border migrants of Jhanghar village take shelter in a government school after shelling from Pakistan at Nowshera sector of Rajouri district on Sunday. Photo: PTI

Around 10,042 people from over 2,694 families have been affected by the continued shelling from across the border, the DC said.

The district administration has provided an immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the dead and financial assistance to the injured, he said.

Choudhary said the administration is prepared to make more relief camps as more than 25 buildings have been earmarked.

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He added that students' classes will be resumed this week to ensure that education doesn't suffer.

"Six ambulances have been pressed into action for shifting of injured and treatment. One mobile medical unit was stationed at Nowshera and another deputed to forward areas," he said.

According to a Home Ministry reply to an RTI, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) 449 times in 2016 as compared to 405 violations in 2015. 23 security personnel were killed in the two-year period.

Also Read:

Jammu: Pakistan's shelling creates fear among Arnia sector residents

Pakistan's ceasefire violations: Mass evacuation begins on border

J-K: 2 killed as Pakistan violates ceasefire in Nowshera, Army patrol fired upon in Pulwama

Watch Video: Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan targets schools in Nowshera shelling

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By Press Trust of India: Ahmedabad, May 17 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Gujarat for two days early next week, during which he will attend the annual general meeting of African Development Bank to be held in Gandhinagar on May 23.

The state unit of BJP said today during his May 22 and 23 visit, Modi will also go to Kutch district in the state to inaugurate development works at Kandla and dedicate to the nation Narmada Water pumping station at Bhachau in the same district.

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"The prime minister will arrive at Bhachau in Kutch district on May 22. After attending a programme there, he will reach Kandla, where he will attend a programme of Kandla Port Trust. He will make a night halt in Gandhinagar," state BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said.

At Bhachau, Modi will dedicate the pumping station of Narmada Water Project to the district. With this pumping station, the Narmada water will reach the remote areas of Kutch district, which lies in the arid western part of the state.

Modi will then attend another programme at Kandla Port Trust, one of Indias largest seaports along the Gulf of Kutch in Kutch district, where he will dedicate to the nation various developmental works.

After a night halt at Gandhinagar, he will attend the AGM of African Development Bank the next day.

"On May 23, the prime minister will attend the annual general meeting of the African Development Bank, which is being organised at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. After that, he will leave for Delhi," Pandya said.

The AGM is likely to see a participation by private sectors from across Africa, ministers of finances from 80 countries, and also heads of states from several African countries.

This is Modis third visit to the state this year. On April 7, he had visited Botad to inaugurate the Link 2 of the state governments ambitious SAUNI (Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation) project by formally releasing Narmada water in Krushnasagar dam.

Earlier, on March 8, he had visited Gandhinagar to address women sarpanch from across the country on the International Womens Day. PTI KA PD NP RAX

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/05/2017 (2002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hackers have once again struck at Hollywood, this time claiming one of the summers biggest blockbuster releases  Disneys Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, the fifth instalment in the highly profitable swashbuckling franchise starring Johnny Depp.

Walt Disney Co. chief executive Bob Iger told ABC employees in New York on Monday that hackers have claimed to have stolen a movie and are threatening to release it in segments until their demands, which include a pirate-like ransom paid with Bitcoin, are met.

Iger didnt identify the movie and the Burbank-based Disney declined to comment. But a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to comment said the movie that was hacked was the new Pirates sequel.

Pirates is set to open in the United States and Canada on May 26. The last four instalments in the franchise have been huge successes for Disney, collectively grossing nearly US$3.73 billion worldwide. The theft comes a few weeks after hackers stole the latest season of Netflixs Orange is the New Black. Hackers leaked episodes of the new season after Netflix refused to meet their demands.

Disney is working with federal authorities to investigate the attack, according to another source not authorized to speak to the media.

 Los Angeles Times
The India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) has decided to redevelop the complex into a world-class state-of-the-art exhibitioncum-convention centre by August 2019.

By Ajay Kumar: The home to national and international exhibitions - Delhi's Pragati Maidan - is set to get a makeover, which will be complete by August 2019.

The India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) has decided to redevelop the complex into a world-class state-of-the-art exhibitioncum-convention centre.

"Detailed planning and clearance from all departments concerned are expected to be completed by the first week of June, and if all goes well, we will start constructions from the first week of July," ITPO CMD LC Goyal said.

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WHAT ARE THE PLANS

As per plan, ITPO, in association with NBCC, will construct 17 halls in the first phase and seven in the second phase, apart from adequate parking lots, good connectivity with roads surrounding the complex at an estimated cost of Rs 2,254 crore. The arrangement of funds will be done by ITPO and loans from different banks. The exhibition segment of the integrated centre shall comprise seven modern halls with pre-function areas and exhibition space of one lakh square metres. Besides that, there will also be an open exhibition space in 15 acres with four open amphitheatres. The complex will also have walkways, canopies and skywalk connecting Pragati Maidan metro station.

"The Pragati Maidan complex will be developed as a latest architectural design, along with basement parking facility of 4,800 vehicles and comprehensive traffic decongestion interventions. The convectional centre will be 32.4 metres tall," Goyal said. The project has provision to deal with traffic congestions smoothly. It has introduced traffic interventions for better access that will also benefit general people.

Also read: Delhi's Brutalism: Here are 11 historical structures we'll regret losing. Because, memories

--- ENDS ---
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/05/2017 (2002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The shock and trauma of last weekends dog-mauling death in Little Grand Rapids is overwhelming, interim Manitoba Liberal leader Judy Klassen says.

Her husband, Jason, was among those who discovered the victim, 24-year-old mother Donnelly Rose Eaglestick.

I cant imagine. My husband was one of the first on the scene, she said in a telephone interview Wednesday morning from the First Nation. Im waiting for him to open up. If its taking him this long, I cant imagine how long it will take those people (who live in the community).

SUPPLIED Donnelly Eaglestick and her daughter,Danika.

Her husband was among a group of workers building a water treatment plant in Little Grand Rapids.

Klassen flew to the isolated community 270 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg Tuesday on the first float-plane flight she could get.

The community is still reeling in disbelief, Klassen said.

Theres still a great deal of shock. Its heartbreaking. Ive never seen so many people cry. Ive never seen an elder cry like that.

Its quite haunting, she said.

Klassen has been meeting with the band council and with anyone who wants and needs to talk, she said.

Obviously, these people need help, she said.

Klassen said everywhere she goes in Little Grand Rapids, people walk in groups and carry sticks, which has been the practice for years, she was told.

It would never occur to her she couldnt walk alone or let her kids walk anywhere in her home community of St. Theresa Point First Nation, and she has never encountered this level of concern about stray or wild dogs before on other reserves, the MLA for Kewatinook said.

Ive seen dogs all over the community. They become a pack as they move, she said about what she has witnessed since arriving.

The people who found Eaglestick saw four dogs around her and 30 in total nearby, but Klassen heard reports of as many as 50 wild dogs loose in Little Grand Rapids. People have told Klassen the dogs roam in small groups but can quickly join together and form a pack.

Eaglestick was reportedly walking home early Saturday when she was attacked.

Its quite shocking how close it was to homes, said Klassen, who described Little Grand Rapids as a typical reserve, with clusters of homes and buildings scattered across a large area.

Shes been told the community hasnt previously taken action against the wild dogs because of problems that arose when a biting incident led to dogs being killed inhumanely, background Klassen was looking into further today.

Elsewhere, Ive seen they do regular culls, she said.

A lot of communities dont know what they can do with their rights. It was quite new to me, she said about the precautions people take in Little Grand Rapids, but it shows the neglect with which the government treats small and remote indigenous communities, she added.

The $25-a-dog bounty and talk of a cull are difficult because people cant just use firearms in a residential community, but dogs could be trapped and taken to the landfill site to be shot, Klassen said.

Residents need to identify which dogs are wild and which dogs arent to ensure a familys pet isnt accidentally killed.

The community is small and isolated, with very few phones, Klassen said. Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen was helpful with mental-health services contacts, she said, and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak has flown in its mobile crisis unit to offer individual counselling and larger sharing gatherings.

Klassen doesnt accept statements from Manitobas department of sustainable development that it has no role in animal control on reserves.

She recalls provincial conservation officers coming onto St. Theresa Point to deal with bears, the interim Liberal leader said.

They have firearms, they have cages, traps. That needs to be clarified. If they come for a problem bear, why wont they come for a problem animal?

At the very least, the province could fund organizations such as Manitoba Mutts to rescue strays or conduct spay-and-neuter clinics, Klassen said.

She is gathering specific needs from community leaders and expects to raise them in the house Thursday.

As is traditional, Klassen said, the family took Eaglesticks body to Winnipeg and is returning with her later for Fridays funeral.

Its essential that help and support isnt temporary, and resources must be in place after the media attention calms down, she said.

This is the first time theyve had a response from the outside, as they put it, she said.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/05/2017 (2003 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When marijuana is legalized in Canada, it should be sold in standalone publicly operated stores, the head of the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU) says.

Michelle Gawronsky said the union believes that Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corp. should be responsible for selling cannabis products, but that marijuana not be marketed in booze stores.

You dont want to be selling the two together. You want to be socially responsible. Thats the whole idea here, she said following a public hearing on Bill 25, The Cannabis Harm Protection Act.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Pot advocate and medicinal marijuana user Steven Stairs at a committee hearing on marijuana at the legislature on Tuesday.

The MGEU represents more than 40,000 workers, including those who staff government-operated liquor stores.

The Pallister government has yet to announce whether cannabis products will be sold in private outlets or in public ones or a combination of the two.

The MGEU said the province stands to lose revenue if it opts for a private system. It calculates that the government could earn $25 million in the first year of legalized cannabis sales from taxes alone  if it charged the same rate as in the state of Colorado.

The federal government has set July 1, 2018 as the date for legalizing marijuana. It has given the provinces discretion over the price of the drug and how it is distributed and sold.

Bill 25 is Manitobas first step to set down some guidelines. The bill, when passed and proclaimed, will amend seven provincial laws, including the Highway Traffic Act. It will make it illegal to smoke pot in a public space or an indoor workplace and forbid the consumption of marijuana inside a vehicle travelling on a street or road.

It will allow for 24-hour licence suspensions if a police officer believes a driver is under the influence of the drug and unable to operate a vehicle safely. Users will have to store cannabis in a secure compartment, such as a cars trunk, so that it is inaccessible to people riding in a vehicle  similar to the rules governing liquor.

Gawronsky said the union is pleased that the government introduced Bill 25 to ensure that public safety is emphasized.

But there are fundamental safety concerns the bill doesnt address, she told MLAs.

If the government truly wants to ensure social responsibility it has to implement a public model for the sale and distribution of this controlled substance, she said.

Our members who work for Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries are experts in the regulation and sale of liquor, a controlled substance, within a public system.

Steven Stairs, a Winnipeg-based marijuana advocate and longtime president of the Winnipeg 4/20 organizing committee, disagreed with the creation of publicly operated cannabis stores, citing high start-up costs and questioning whether it would eliminate the black market for the product.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS MGEU representative Michelle Gawronski reviews her notes as she prepares to make a presentation at a committee hearing on Marijuana at the Legislature Tuesday.

Those people should have a place in the legal cannabis market, he said of current suppliers. Because if not, they are going to feel left out and theyre still probably going to have customers.

However, Stairs said his main concern with the bill is that it does not take the needs of medical marijuana users into account.

He said for many, it is not practical for them to keep the product in a cars trunk, for instance.

An amendment to the Public Schools Act as part of the bill would ensure that students using, possessing or being under the influence of marijuana while at school could continue to face disciplinary measures.

Stairs said thats not fair.

Lets say Im a medical cannabis user but Im a teenager in high school. I can get kicked out of high school (for possessing cannabis), he said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/05/2017 (2002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When I mention to my friends its frustrating the Winnipeg Public Library (WPL) charges a fee for DVD loans, Im always surprised by the response: Wait, you mean other public libraries dont charge for DVD Loans?

Unfortunately, Winnipeg is a glaring exception to the practices of similar libraries. A look through the policies of other public libraries shows it is the only major library system in Canada that charges for borrowing regular material. In fact, most provincial Public Library Acts forbid their public libraries from charging patrons for borrowing material.

Public libraries function as a collective pool of resources, an investment by citizens to provide access and benefit for all. For example, a recent study of the Toronto Public Library showed that for every dollar invested, Torontonians receive $5.63 worth of services from their library. This return on investment was calculated based on the Toronto comparative market price for similar services.

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg's is the only major library system in Canada that charges for borrowing regular material, namely DVDs.

Other studies confirm these numbers are reflected in public libraries as a whole, which have a proven record in providing support for homeless populations, immigrants, entrepreneurs, students and small business owners. The WPL is no exception. It is a successful public library system with about 17 items borrowed per library card holder per year.

Why then does the WPL put a borrowing fee of $1.20 on their DVD loans and $2.20 for Blu-rays?

The WPL does have two exceptions to this fee: it doesnt charge for childrens DVDs and it also waives the fee for those on social assistance. While these are important exceptions, it still places financial barriers on other potential borrowers.

There are Winnipeggers who, although theyre not on social assistance, are struggling financially and would appreciate the educational benefit of borrowing a documentary, the emotional enjoyment of an Oscar-winning feature or even just the chance to de-stress and enjoy a cheesy action movie.

The WPL refers to this $1.20 fee as a wear-and-tear charge. It was put in place during the 1999 city budget as a way for the library to increase revenue and create a fund for replacing overused and worn-out VHS tapes. The City of Winnipeg Charter has a law that specifies the WPL must provide free use of libraries by residents; however, the charter didnt anticipate libraries would loan non-print material, so the law was written only referring to books. This created a loophole that city council took advantage of and let the library charge for video loans.

This wear-and-tear fee is a bit a misnomer in 2017, though. DVDs can have a shelf life of up to 50 years and last much longer than VHS tapes. DVDs also last longer at the library than well-worn paperbacks. Why charge the wear-and-tear fee on the DVDs and not the paperbacks? Why not CDs? Why place a price on one form of obtaining knowledge but not the other?

Despite the current boom in online video-streaming services, many people still do not have the money to afford Netflix or the Internet services required for streaming video. Public libraries across the country have been actively working to remove access barriers for patrons (e.g. overdue fines on material), and it would be a solid step in this direction for the WPL to remove this wear-and-tear fee.

Based on my discussions with the WPL, the library makes about $100,000 a year from this charge. If city council was to let the library remove this wear-and-tear fee, it would only cost about 20 cents more per Winnipeg citizen. Staff at the WPL have told me they also would favour the removal of this fee. (They are library staff after all!)

Saskatchewan recently attempted a major funding cut to its public libraries that resulted in uproar and protests. The provincial government quickly reversed direction on these cuts and admitted it made a mistake. Wouldnt it be great if Winnipeg could remove its unnecessary borrowing fee and show that, like people in Saskatchewan, we value a library that provides equal access to all?

Ryan Regier is a government librarian located at the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health in Winnipeg.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/05/2017 (2002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It is true that Canada needs to be firing on all diplomatic cylinders when it comes to negotiating with the Donald Trump White House. There is no disputing that Ottawa will need a concerted and sophisticated effort from Canadian diplomats in Washington, officials in Global Affairs Canada, senior strategists in the PMO and businesspeople with corporate contacts in the United States.

But the Trudeau government should be very careful about enlisting the involvement of provincial premiers in this endeavour. It could easily end up backfiring in a big way  and to Canadas detriment.

Indeed, extensive provincial engagement could significantly complicate matters for Canada-U.S. relations. It could actually undermine Canadas bargaining position and leave us vulnerable to a hard-nosed, divide-and-conquer U.S. strategy.

SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump. Extensive provincial engagement could significantly complicate matters for Canada-U.S. relations.

Take the recent threat of British Columbia Premier Christy Clark to impose a ban on the shipment of U.S. thermal coal through B.C. ports (or even slap an inordinately high tariff on shipments of U.S. coal). That loose talk managed to raise the hackles of U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

But as Clark sees it, With our ban on moving thermal coal, we have got the Americans attention. We arent going to be weaklings. Maybe so. But were playing a very risky diplomatic game here.

The truth is that shining a spotlight on the workings of the bilateral relationship undermines one of Canadas advantages vis-a-vis the United States. We really dont want to get the attention of U.S. officials.

Being on the American radar is one of those things that has proven in the past to work against Canadian interests.

One of the key precepts of bilateral relations has always been the following: to know Canadians is not necessarily to love Canadians. Sometimes the less the Americans know and focus on Canada, the better off Canadians will be. The old adage of ignorance is bliss certainly rings true in the case of Canadian-American relations.

In addition, raising the ire of officialdom in Washington does not serve Canadian interests well. The last thing that the Trudeau government needs is to get into a shouting match with the Trump administration.

While provincial premiers look to bolster their political or electoral standing in their respective provinces, they lose sight of Canadas overall national or country-wide interests. That is where Ottawa has to step in and instruct provincial governments to stand down and keep their powder dry.

The federal government knows only too well that in any set of negotiations with the U.S., Canada would lose badly in a war of trade retaliation and hyperbolic rhetoric. It is counterproductive for Canada to get bogged down in bargaining sessions based on raw power capabilities or the ability to inflict punishment. Ottawa desperately wants to keep the focus on merit and evidence-based arguments involving the specific case at hand (whether that be NAFTA or softwood lumber).

Furthermore, by having Canadian premiers insert themselves into U.S. domestic politics by threatening punitive measures  and here I include Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynnes musings about retaliatory actions should various U.S. states adopt Buy America legislation  it can quickly poison the bilateral diplomatic well.

More important, it leaves open the possibility that the U.S. government could similarly intercede in Canadian domestic politics  including closely contested provincial election campaigns. One should not forget that the Kennedy administration sought to create all kinds of mischief for former prime minister John Diefenbaker by openly interfering in the 1963 federal election (which Diefenbaker ultimately lost).

The federal Liberals should also be concerned about various provincial softwood lumber envoys publicly discussing the issue and U.S. intentions. Ottawa wants to make sure that there are no conflicting messages on this important bilateral file. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, then, should make it clear to the provinces in no uncertain terms that Ottawa speaks with only one voice on softwood lumber.

The other potential problem materializes when the provinces are not all singing from the same hymn sheet. Those differences can actually serve to strengthen the negotiating hand of Washington at Canadas expense.

It also opens up the possibility for U.S. officials to play one province against the other and thus substantially complicate the negotiations for Canada  to say nothing of making life incredibly more difficult politically for the Trudeau government if it has to eventually choose sides.

I know that Prime Minister Trudeau thinks that the provinces can be a helpful component of Canadas Trump strategy. But their involvement is more likely to actually damage relations with Washington, to undermine our negotiation position and to jeopardize our national interests.

Peter McKenna is professor and chair of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.
Winona County law enforcement officers honored their own Wednesday.

May we never forget the ultimate sacrifice made by these brave men and women, retired sheriffs deputy and Goodview Mayor Steve Baumgart said at the Law Enforcement Memorial Day ceremony, which included Winona police, Winona County Sheriffs deputies and Minnesota state troopers, along with city and county officials.

Baumgart told the participants gathered around the Law Enforcement Center flag pole that while they honored the memory of memory of Winona police officer Matthew Hamilton, State Patrol Cpl. Ted Foss, and Winona County Sheriffs Investigator John Schneider, the continuing loss of law enforcement officers is a tragic loss to the entire nation.

Already, nearly 60 officers have died in the line of duty this year, adding to the more than 1,400 officers lost in the past decade.

Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman and former FBI agent Don Carlson also gave remembrances.

Sonneman said the theme of a legacy of honor was appropriate when thanking the departments on behalf of the Winona County Attorneys office and remembering the Winona County law enforcement who arent here anymore.

They are officers who gave their lives for all of us, Sonneman said. You put your safety and your life on the line every day to protect us and keep the community safe.

The event included a proclamation by Winona Mayor Mark Peterson and Winona County Commissioner Jim Pomeroy. Former Winona County Sheriff Dave Brand offered a sheriffs prayer.

Law Enforcement Memorial Day is part of a weeklong remembrance of fallen peace officers. It was first observed in the early 1960s and signed into law by President Kennedy.
Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu is on top of the shortlist of the BJP-led NDA. A surprise pick, if sworn-in, will become the first tribal President.

By India Today Web Desk: As President Pranab Mukherjee is set to complete his first term in office this July, the countdown for the 2017 Presidential elections has begun.

All major parties are discussing names of their probable candidates for the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Opposition is trying to reach at a consensus on a common candidate for the post. Last night's meeting between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee set the stage for the Opposition's agenda.

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Here is the list of probable candidates for the NDA government:

1. Draupadi Murmu - The Jharkhand Governor is on top of the shortlist of the BJP. A surprise pick, if sworn-in, will become the first tribal President.

2. Sumitra Mahajan - The Lok Sabha Speaker is also said to be the frontrunner in the race to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

3. Thawar Chand Gehlot - The Union Minister for Social Development and Entrepreneurship is a noted Dalit face and a Modi-Amit Shah loyalist.

4. Justice P Sathasivam - The former Chief Justice of India is now the Kerala Governor.

5. LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi - The names of these two senior BJP leaders have been floated around for a long time but the Supreme Court verdict on Babri judgement may prove to be a setback for their hopes.

On the other hand, these are the probable nominees of Opposition for the post of the President.

1. Gopal Krishna Gandhi - The former West Bengal governor is not a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi but is also a well-known scholar. He is emerging as the Opposition's top choice.

2. Fali Nariman - He is a senior advocate and the former Additional Solicitor General of India.

3. Sharad Pawar - The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief is believed to be considered for the post but the party said he has declined the offer.

4. Sharad Yadav - The senior JD(U) leader is also among the top choices.

5. Pranab Mukherjee - The incumbent may emerge as a common voice of the Opposition for a second consecutive term.

Opposition parties are all set to meet next week after which a common candidate will be decided. The ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which has clear edge in the presidential election, has not given any inkling so far on its choice of candidate.

Also read:

Mamata meets Sonia to discuss presidential candidate, attacks Modi government for vendetta politics

Will Opposition field common candidate for Presidential election? All eyes on Sonia Gandhi-Mamata Banerjee meeting tomorrow

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Also watch:

Who will make a good president? Top contenders

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Have you ever thought of going to the hospital for a great lunch or dinner?

Most people would find that thought a bit odd but not at Sauk Prairie Healthcare. It is a destination place in the area for fresh, affordable meals.

Our cafeteria has a bistro-cafe feel. Windows, walking trails and nature surround diners. We have people from the community who come to have meals just like its a restaurant, even if they arent visiting for medical reasons, said Amy Miller, nutritional services director.

Sauk Prairie is a food service leader in health care with 50 percent of their food being sourced locally, which takes quite a bit of monitoring and planning, especially in a hospital setting.

People love the fresh and locally sourced food we prepare, said Miller.

The idea for sourcing locally was the brainchild of Nutrition Services Team Leader Stacy Midthun when she began sourcing local food around 2010, prior to moving to the new health care facility, which opened in 2014.

The health care facility has a wellness committee that includes nutrition and Stacy Midthun has truly been the leader for the local food movement, even before our new facility. She has been the driving force, said Vice President of Human Resources Robbi Bos.

Sauk Prairie Healthcare defines local as owned and produced within Wisconsin. Midthuns reasons to source locally include supporting the local economy, serving food that is fresher, and has a longer shelf life, to preserve farmland, to increase food quality, to provide peak taste abundance and to keep prices low.

The hospital uses what is called Food Safety GAP or Good Agricultural Practices when they buy directly from farms. GAP includes five components including water quality, manure practices, worker hygiene, sanitation and trace backs to food sources for food bought directly from farms.

Food is sourced locally in several ways. They buy directly from local farms with GAP procedures and they also work with Community Supported Agriculture or CSAs, use large aggregator of products, buy with a local United States Department of Agriculture inspected meat market, and Reinhart FoodService which also provides local prime vendors.

We always have the freshest salad bar. Our patrons and patients love the fresh food and things like our spinach salad and kimchee fried rice. We are also proud that our new kitchen was designed with no fryers at all, said Miller.

The Nutritional Services rotate on 15-day menus and do periodic overhauls of the entire menu. They are also working their way to feeding people using seasonality for menus.

There is one item that wont be taken off seasonally, We call it the revolt of chili. We tried to take it off the menu but the demand was too high so its one item that will stay on the menu no matter what season. Everyone loves our chili year-round, said Miller.

The local and healthy food movement also is followed through in the vending machines that are necessary for a 24-hour a day facility.

We went through a lot of vendors and were persistent about adding fresh healthy foods. Today 50 percent of our vending choices are fresh and healthy, said Miller.

The nutrition experts develop recipes that both patients and visitors love and are willing to share if askedbut we make gigantic quantities so it takes a bit to convert for home cooking
A New Lisbon man is being held on $2,500 cash bond in Columbia County Jail for bail jumping, drug charges and a nearly Olympic effort of running from police.

Cody McGregor, 25, appeared in Columbia County Circuit Court on Tuesday charged with two felony counts of repeated bail jumping, misdemeanor bail jumping, resisting an officer, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, both as a repeat offense, and operating a motor vehicle with a revoked license.

This defendant, despite only being 25 years old, is charged as a repeat offender due to his criminal history and he has three open cases already  two felony and a misdemeanor out of Juneau County, said District Attorney Jane Kohlwey, requesting that McGregor be held on $2,500 cash bond. His matters out of Juneau County range from misdemeanor theft through substantial battery and strangulation and operating after revocation, so this runs the gamut of all types of crimes one can commit.

McGregors Columbia County case began at about 4 p.m. Saturday when a Wisconsin State Trooper saw a Buick driving over 80 miles per hour in a 70-mph zone near Caledonia. The trooper stopped the vehicle on the side of Interstate 90/94, where he reported seeing the driver grab a bag from the passengers seat and take off running into the ditch heading toward Cascade Mountain Road.

The trooper yelled, the suspect kept running, and the officer pursued him across Cascade Mountain Road, into a marsh and over a gate. The officer turned back when he had lost sight of his vehicle and was beginning to lose contact with dispatch.

At 4:40 p.m. the Portage Police Department K9 unit was called to assist tracking the escaped driver.

In the abandoned vehicle, the trooper found a glass pipe with a marijuana smell, pay stubs with the name Cody Jeremiah McGregor and a bag with prescription pills with the same name and a jail identification number.

Meanwhile in the swamp, the Portage officer found a discarded bag of marijuana with a photo work ID and pay stubs for Cody McGregor.

Dispatch then announced a suspicious individual spotted near County Highway U wearing orange shorts and no shirt. When a state trooper approached, the suspect took off on foot.

Just after 9 p.m. dispatch received word of someone matching the description of the suspect using the phone at the Days Inn on Kinney Road near the I-90/I-39 interchange. When officers met with McGregor at the hotel, he reportedly answered questions while waiting for an ambulance to take him to a hospital for an injured knee. The car and the bags belonged to him, he told officers, saying that he panicked because he was driving without a license and in an unregistered vehicle.

If convicted, McGregor faces a potential prison sentence of well over a decade depending on how the new charges could affect his previous cases.

The issue here is that Im not sure I have run across anybody who comes closer to defining a flight risk than this person, said Voigt. At least by way of the allegations in the complaint, the measures he took to avoid contact with law enforcement border on Olympic.

Voigt ordered McGregor to be held on $2,500 cash bond, scheduling him to appear in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing.
By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha

Indianapolis, May 17 (PTI) Race relations in the United States today is worse in several decades and suffered incredibly during the administration of the first African- American president Barack Obama, according to the Attorney General of Indiana, which is home to a large number of Sikhs.

Curtis Hill, in a recent interview to PTI, said he believes Obamas successor in the White House, the Republican Donald Trump, is providing a fresh approach on race-related issues amid a surge in violence against Indian-Americans.

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Among only a few African-American Attorney Generals in the US, Hill was elected to the position in November and sworn in on January 9. He has been leading efforts to address the issues surrounding race and hate in his state.

When an Indian-American Sikh doctor received death threats a few weeks ago in his state, he worked through the night to address the matter. And since, Hill has been working with the Indianapolis-based Sikhs Political Action Committee to address harassment and violence against Sikhs in Indiana.

Indiana is home to nearly 10,000 Sikhs, who own more than 3,000 businesses in the State.

He said he understands the issue as his family faced race-related issues. "My father built a house some 60 years ago and our home was bombed. We would get pamphlets: go back to Africa, and things of that nature that were very hurtful and would make one nervous or afraid," he said.

"My fathers a prime example, he certainly didnt pack up and go back to know his place. He continued moving forward and thats the message that we have to have," Hill said.

Asked about a surge in hate crimes against religious and ethnic minorities, including Indian-Americans, the 56-year-old attorney general laid the responsibility at Obamas doors, saying race issues widened under the previous administration.

"If you look at the level of race relations in this country under the Obama administration, I think race relations have suffered incredibly in the last eight years," Hill says.

But what about President Trump?

The billionaire-tycoon-turned-politician has often been criticised for his inflammatory rhetoric during his divisive presidential campaign.

"I dont think (race problems and hate crimes) were caused by President Trump," Hill said.

"I think he is blunt, he speaks his mind and sometimes what he says has a tendency to be interpreted by some as being over the top. Whether he is over the top or not, I wish he would use different language to help clarify that, but I dont think he is doing anything any worse now."

Hill, who has focused his agenda on rolling back federal overreach and protecting families from drugs and violent crime, said Trump is "speaking his mind" and does things that a typical politician wont do.

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"Some people appreciate it and some people dont," he said, adding that "thats refreshing."

"Even if you disagree with him... He is at least refreshing that here is a guy whos not just a cookie cutter of another politician," he said.

Hill said the US currently needed somebody whos "going to look at" federal government and "punch it in the gut, stir things up."

"Well, Donald Trump will punch it in the gut. He doesnt mind mixing it up, making some changes. We may say, Oh gee, we dont want to do those changes. But thats what the people wanted, the people wanted somebody that is going to look at government and say this isnt working, and its not," he said.

"Whether hes going to get it right or not, it needs to be seen. But thats what is necessary right now," Hill said.

Hill said he believes that hate crime legislations were of not much help in addressing the issue.

"From my background as a former prosecutor, I look at bad conduct as simply bad conduct regardless of why its the bad conduct. And yet recognise so many people suffer bad conduct as a result of how people feel about them," he said.

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"Having said that outside the issue of the so-called hate crimes legislation, I think its imperative to resolve the matters of how people treat each other based on external standards. This idea that people are different, therefore, we are going to disregard or disrupt the lives of different people. That really has no place in our American charter although, unfortunately been a part of our American history since the beginning of our country," Hill said. PTI LKJ ABH

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By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police has made another arrest in the high profile blackmailing sex racket today. The accused Akaanksha Hezkil has been remanded to two days' police custody.

Akaanksha and Shikha Tewari, arrested earlier, were booked in the doctor blackmailing case, one of the several high profile cases of blackmailing in which more than 30 accused are under arrest. The SOG plans to interrogate the two to get to the bottom of the case.

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"Shikha is from Jaipur and now she left Jaipur and for the last one year. She was playing DJ in variety of hotels and pubs in Mumbai and she was one of the prime accused in the blackmailing case, which was registered in December 2016. Akaanksha also helped in this conspiracy of blackmailing and when we arrested this Shikha, then it was revealed that Akaanksha also helped in blackmailing this doctor," SP SOG Sanjay Kumar Shrotriya, told India Today.

As per the police, both Akaanksha and Shikha Tewari come from an educated background. Shikha had shifted base and was working in Mumbai as a Disc Jockey (DJ) at the time of her arrest. It further mentioned that Shikha has claimed she was offered a job by Akshat Sharma, considered the kingpin, a job in a news channel and was told a sting operation had to be conducted on the doctor as a part of her job.

"Yeah, its true. Both of them are educated and Shikha is graduate in commerce and probably, Akaanksha is also a graduate and both were employed by this Akshat Sharma. Akshat Sharma was, actually, he tried to deceive both of these girls saying that he was running a news channel and he was head of that news channel and she was given employment by this Akshat Sharma and Akshat convinced her that she has to do a sting operation of this doctor. So, thats how he could manage using both of these girls," Shrotriya said.

The high profile sex racket which had several unsuspecting victims was first unearthed by the SOG in December last year. The agency has so far arrested more than 30 people, including Akshat Sharma and Naveen Devani, both considered to be the masterminds in several cases. Naveen has also emerged as the common link in several cases. Some of the accused in the high profile sex racket are also lawyers.

The agency is also investigating the role of some policemen through whom the agency believes the gang tried to get cases registered against their targets. "In this, all these cases, around 7-8 cases, we have registered since December 2016, around 30-35 people, they are involved in this case and most of them are arrested, like, 90 percent have been arrested and some of them are absconding and we are trying to catch hold of them," Shrotriya said.

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The modus operandi followed by the gang included luring unsuspecting, wealthy men into the net and using pictures and other material to blackmail them. As per the SOG, in the case of the doctor who paid extortion of Rs 1.05 crores, Shikha Tewari had accompanied him to Pushkar. Later, the doctor was blackmailed on the basis of pictures and other material that the gang claimed will be used as evidence. When the doctor did not accede to their demand, a case was registered and the girl got her statement recorded under Section 164. It was later withdrawn after the doctor agreed to pay extortion money. However, after the doctor went to the SOG, the agency found out that there were several other victims as well.

"Actually, it ranged from say, around Rs 1.5 lakhs to 1.10 crores in different cases. Modus operandi, if you talk about the modus operandi, these ladies were trained to lure the victim first of all and then, these advocates, so called advocates, they actually trained them to collect the evidence, that they have been molested or raped or and finally, some of other agencies, we have also arrested some policemen also. So, they actually, tried to threaten them that they will be put behind bars. In this doctor's case, a case was registered and he was arrested also and for, say around, 7-8 months, he was in jail, then this girl changed her statements in court. And finally, he was released, given benefit of doubt by the Court. Then, when he was released from jail, then he came to SOG and reported this case of blackmailing," Shrotriya told India Today.

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French honours leading Wits cities researcher

Emeritus Professor Alan Mabin has been awarded the French National Order of Merit.

French Ambassador Christophe Farnaud presented Mabin with the Ordre National du Merite: Chevalier (rank of Knight), on Monday, 15 May.

Mabin, an Emeritus Professor in the School of Architecture and Planning at Wits, has for over 30 years been a key figure in the fields of urbanism, development and town planning. He is the co-founder of Planact, in 1985, a NGO working with township communities and has been involved, as a consultant and board member, in town planning in several municipalities.

In presenting the award, Farnaud said: Professor Mabin have been a partner and a friend of IFAS-Recherche since the very first days of the Institute. He spent a lot of time in France where he researched and developed joint programmes, and to teach as a visiting professor, particularly at Paris-Nanterre University and at the Institute of Political Sciences Sciences-Po. Professor Mabin is a pillar of Franco-South African scientific and academic cooperation. French geographers, in particular, have benefited a lot from his knowledge, his help, and last but not least his enthusiasm.

This award takes place within the framework of the French Institute of South Africa, CUBES, and the Wits School of Architecture and Planning programme on urban studies research, titled: Experimenting/Experiencing the city, held at the University of Witwatersrand and elsewhere from 11  20 May 2017.

About the National Order of Merit

The National Order of Merit is a French order awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded in December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. The order was established to create an award for French citizens as well as foreign nationals for distinguished civil or military achievements.

There are five degrees: Knight (Chevalier), Officer (Officier), Commander (Commandeur), Grand Officer (Grand Officier), Grand Cross (Grand-Croix).

South African citizens who have been awarded the order: educator David Kramer and Rear Admiral Paul Alexander Wijnberg.
Nurturing talent at Wits

Providing full first-year bursaries and investing in high school programmes ensures a stream of excellent results for Wits.

Two flagship programmes of the University, which aim to reward and support young talent, welcomed new recruits on Saturday, 13 May 2017.

Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Adam Habib hosted a breakfast in honour of the top performing 2016 matriculants who selected Wits as their academic home in 2017.

Twenty first-year students were awarded the Vice-Chancellors Scholarship in recognition of their exceptional achievement in matric. Ten are Equality Scholarships recipients drawn from Quintile 1 and 2 schools, which are non-fee paying schools.

Equality scholarships are an attempt by Wits University to address inequality in our society and afford academically talented students from poor backgrounds an opportunity to flourish.

The scholarships are renewable for each year of the first undergraduate degree, provided that academic performance is of a high standard.

Another long-term Wits flagship programme, the Targeting Talent Programme (TTP), aimed at improving the performance of high school learners, held a concurrent family workshop to welcome learners to the programme.

Designed as a pre-university enrichment programme, the TTP aims to increase the academic, social and psychological preparation of academically talented learners, primarily from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, for admission to South African universities.

The TTP is a talent pipeline development programme open to Grade 9-12 learners across South Africa.

Zena Richards, Head of the Student Equity and Talent Management Unit which manages the TTP, expressed delight that the learners enrolled in the programme have consistently produced good results.

TTP learners perform significantly better than their peers in all key subjects especially Math and Science. They also tend to do better in university and exhibit positive academic and social qualities, says Richards.

The TTP was launched in 2007 with a cohort of 267 Grade 10 learners from three provinces.

Over the years, the programme has expanded and now enrolls nearly 2300 learners from nine provinces.

The programme receives generous support from the BP SA Education Foundation Trust, the Industrial Development Corporation, the Department of Science and Technology, and Primedia.
Two ready-to-use police stations are lying empty in Chhattisgarh despite Home Minister Rajnath Singh's call for more involvement of state government in fighting Maoists menace. This has ensured that policemen and counterparts from the CRPF continue to operate in lesser strength from older barracks in the vicinity.

By Jugal R Purohit: Assuring the assembly of chief ministers of ten Maoist-hit states about the centre's support in terms of training, resources and intelligence, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh added a condition nevertheless. "But states must take initiative to conduct operations and use resources optimally", he said before inaugurating the key meeting on May 8. While the national meet was called in the wake of repeated reverses suffered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, Singh's words have failed in making any impact in that very place. Exemplifying that irony are two ready, yet unused, 'heavily-fortified police stations which can serve as an impregnable base for nearly 200 troops' at any given point in time.

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Ready for months now and located in the heart of the troubled Sukma district, the local police has failed to move in to either of them. Inexplicably it has ensured that policemen and counterparts from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) continue to operate in lesser strength from older barracks in the vicinity.

Running south from the town of Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region is the National Highway (NH) 221, re-named as NH30. It has had a particularly bloodied past. Among the instances of bloodlust the road has witnessed, the brutal massacre of the Congress party's state leadership in the Jheeram Ghati in May 2013 reverberates in the national consciousness to this date. Located along that highway are the towns of Kukanar and Chhindgarh, separated by 15km. It is in these towns that the two fortified police stations have been constructed under central assistance where funds up to Rs 624 crore have been made available to ten states for a total of 400 such police stations. There are in all 75 such police stations earmarked for Chhattisgarh alone.

Empty police station building in Kukanar.

According to a local resident in Kukanar, "The building has been ready since the end of 2016 but no one has occupied it yet. Earlier this year, villagers were asked to attend its inauguration but we are still waiting for an invite." Similarly in Chhindgarh, locals said the building was awaiting occupancy since nearly a year. "May be it is about not getting VIPs to inaugurate it or something else, we don't know. There are other smaller police stations in other parts of Sukma also lying empty we have heard," said another local resident.

When asked for its response and stand on the issue, the Home Ministry kept mum. In Chhattisgarh, DM Awasthi, Special Director General, Anti Naxal Operations (ANO) said, "The one at Kukanar has been handed over to us six months back. I have ordered my staff to operationalise it immediately. In Chhindgarh, there are minor repairs pending." Sukma's Superintendent of Police, Abhishek Meena when asked said, "Chhindgarh building is ready but colouring and repair work is left. In Kukanar, we have ordered furniture and awaiting its set up".

This delay has not gone down well with members of the security set up.

"Where is the will to take on Maoists? In Delhi, they talk about doing things on war-footing, senior officials fly in and out conducting meetings and on the ground, the police is unwilling to move, wasting precious infrastructure," said a source on the condition of anonymity. Another source observed, "Across the country, there is outrage over how Maoists are killing security forces and here the policemen are waiting for well-designed, coloured and comfortable police stations".

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Interestingly, in the aftermath of the Burkapal ambush in Sukma last month where 25 CRPF personnel were killed by the Maoists, the centre had defended the state police's role. In a statement released on April 26th, the union home ministry had stated, "It is incorrect to say that Chhattisgarh Police is in shambles. In addition to 45,000 Central Forces, over 20,000 State Police personnel are posted in Bastar region. The Chhattisgarh police forces are well equipped and a Bastar package for police was introduced in end 2015. There is complete coordination between Centre and State forces".

Also Read:

Naxalism killed 12000 people in 20 years, says Rajnath as he invokes 9/11, launches SAMADHAN doctrine

We will strike unannounced: Rajnath Singh on Krishna Ghati beheadings

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Why Naxals succeed attack after attack in Chhattisgarh

Here's how Naxal violence is the biggest killer of our security forces

Life in the Red: When India Today visited Naxal hotbed in Chhattisgarh

WRITER IS A SENIOR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT WITH INDIA TODAY TV AND TWEETS @JRPUR

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While you wait for the ad featuring Ranbir Kapoor and the mystery woman, the photos of which were leaked yesterday, take a look at some of the steamiest Indian ads ever. Some of these were banned too.

By Ananya Bhattacharya: Ranbir Kapoor and his mystery girl have kept the internet busy for two days now, what with the steamy photos that have been leaked. Photos of Ranbir with a model for an inner-wear ad have been shared and re-shared numerous times.

While we wait to see the two on screen in the commercial, here's taking a look at some of the steamiest Indian TV ads of all time.

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DUREX

Long before Durex got on board the colourful Ranveer Singh to endorse their condoms, they were among the creators of the steamiest Indian ads on TV. Controversial, too. A section of people found this ad offensive and it was soon pulled off air. But turn to YouTube. It's still there.

AMUL MACHO

The ad that made Sana Khan a name to reckon with... at least a face to reckon with. This ad featured Sana Khan washing a pair of briefs and getting turned on. 'Yeh toh bada toing hai!'

FASTRACK

Why did the world move to auto-pilots, you ask? Fastrack, with their tagline of 'Move on' seem to have answered the question when they roped in Virat Kohli and Genelia D'Souza for a commercial. The ad featured Virat as a pilot and Genelia as a flight attendant, locking themselves in the cockpit to make out while the passengers, well, went to you know. After several aviation companies voiced their displeasure regarding the ad, it was finally taken off air. But trust YouTube to help when all else fails.

ZATAK

Most deodorant ads are known for themes involving women fawning over men who use some deodorant or the other. While some commercials have been able to run on TV without any roadblocks, others haven't been as lucky. This advertisement for Zatak deo, for example, was taken off air after several feminist groups found it extremely offensive. The ad has a bride waiting for her husband on her suhaag raat when the fragrance of a man hits her. The ad ends with the woman taking off her wedding ring.

BISLERI

Bisleri had a particularly steamy ad back in 2002 when the mineral water brand launched a campaign with the intention of promoting safe sex. Their tagline 'Pure and Safe' was changed to 'Play Safe', and the commercial that came along with it too tried to hint at the same. The advertisement had a couple on the beach. Soon, the woman starts breathing heavily, resulting in the man going to the nearest chemist shop for... wait for it... a bottle of Bisleri. She was just thirsty, for just water, after all. Goes without saying some people found the ad too raunchy for Indian television and it was banned. But all hail YouTube.

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WILDSTONE

Wildstone ran an ad with the tagline 'It happens' some years ago. The commercial had a married woman falling for an unknown man thanks to his deodorant. But soon Wildstone wafted across to people who found it too offensive, and the result? The ad was banned. But like all good and banned things, it is still available on YouTube.

(The writer tweets as @ananya116.)

ALSO SEE: Ranbir Kapoor gets intimate with a mystery girl, photos go viral

ALSO SEE: When Ranbir Kapoor met a young fan and totally made her day

ALSO WATCH: Don't want to compare Salman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, says Katrina Kaif

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VIMS grad students advise international fisheries

Data-limited stocks: When data from scientific surveys is meager or lacking, fishery scientists  and now students at VIMS  must generate stock estimates by using mathematical models and statistical techniques to amplify any data that might be available. Photo courtesy of VIMS Photo - of - Hide Caption

Work by graduate students at William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science is gaining attention far outside the classroom, as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has begun to use methods developed by the students to assess the status of fish stocks worldwide.

Established in Copenhagen in 1902, ICES is a global treaty organization with 20 member countries. Governments and international commissions turn to ICES for advice on marine policy issues, particularly in regards to management of shared, transnational fisheries. ICES partners with industry and scientists to assess the number of fish of a particular species in a particular area  a fish stock. Estimates of stock size are a key driver of fishery-management decisions.

VIMS Professor John Hoenig, who has mentored four students involved in developing stock-assessment methods for ICES and other advisory bodies, says, Our interaction with ICES has been extremely worthwhile, and its remarkable it has accepted and used our students work to help develop management advice. 

VIMS students Liese Carleton, Quang Huynh and Kristen Omori have each contributed to ICES during the past few years, either by evaluating generic stock-assessment methods or developing specific methods for a particular stock. Carletons efforts focused on Norway lobster, while Huynh focused on North Sea dab, a kind of flounder. Another VIMS student, Lisa Ailloud, has advised ICCAT, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, with a focus on bluefin tuna.

Linda Schaffner, VIMS associate dean of academic studies, says, Its nice to see how engaged Johns students have been in this important work. It's a wonderful opportunity for them and a wonderful reflection on Johns mentorship and on the quality of student we produce at VIMS.

New course at VIMS

The interaction has been mutually beneficial to such a degree that ICES and Hoenig are now looking to expand it. As part of that effort, Hoenig recently developed a new course-based internship in William & Mary's School of Marine Science at VIMS titled ICES Stock Assessment Reviews.

Although listed as a summer course, the internship began in April due to an ICES-imposed schedule. It enrolled eight students: five from VIMS, two from the University of Miami and one from Florida International University.

During the 18-week course, says Hoenig, Students first learned about the ICES process for assessing fishery resources and producing management advice, then reviewed special methods for assessing data-limited stocks  those for which there isnt a lot of information to inform management.

The students are now using their knowledge and experience to review the latest assessments for about 50 data-limited stocks comprising about 30 different species, and are now advising ICES as to their acceptability.

We just finished our first batch of reviews on Baltic stocks, and Lily Hoenig from UM just left for Copenhagen, says Hoenig. Next up is a batch of 10 deep-sea stocks, which Liese Carleton from VIMS will review in Copenhagen as well. Then it's Quang Huynh's turn, and then Nan Yao from FIU. The other students  Lisa Ailloud, Kristen Omori and Cassidy Petersen of VIMS and LaTreese Denson of UM  will present reviews to ICES Advice Drafting Groups by webinar.

It's a real madhouse, says Hoenig. The work has to be done in a rush to meet deadlines, but it is working. The students are getting an eye-opener about the way the real world works, and ICES is getting high-quality labor at very low cost.

The data-limited puzzle

As budgets allow, government agencies conduct fishery-independent surveys to estimate stock size for species of greatest commercial and ecological importance. The ChesMMAP and NEAMAP programs at VIMS are prime examples in U.S. waters.

Coupling results from scientific surveys with harvest records and knowledge of fish age, growth rates and natural mortality gives fishery managers ample data to determine a maximum sustained yield and set other regulations concerning the number, size, and species of fishes that can be safely harvested from a given area during a given season.

But for many marine fishes, data from one or more of these sources may be meager or lacking. Indeed, ICES puts about 60 percent of the 260 fish and shellfish stocks for which it provides advice into this data-limited category  including fish of significant commercial interest such as cod, plaice, and turbot.

This is where fishery scientists  and now students at VIMS  come onto the scene. Their job is to generate stock estimates for data-limited species by using mathematical models and statistical techniques to amplify any data that might be available.

Describing prior work by his students Huynh and Carleton, Hoenig says Quang estimated mortality rates by compiling and analyzing data on the mean length of caught dab, and ICES recommended his technique as an appropriate method for data-limited stocks.

Liese applied the mean length-based mortality estimator to several stocks of Norway lobster, he adds, and the results were accepted as the basis for ICES advice.

Huynh is now using computer simulations to generate data with known properties and then applying various assessment and management procedures to see which approach or approaches work best. Hoenig says this is the hot topic in fisheries these days.

Overall, says Hoenig, VIMS students are changing the way stock assessments are being conducted by introducing new methods into the stock-assessment process, participating as full members of stock-assessment meetings, and serving as external experts for the review of stock assessments and stock-assessment procedures. They are doing this both in North America and in Europe.

It's a remarkable project, he adds. It is still in its infancy but its potential is clear.




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By India Today Web Desk: Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL), also known as the Times Group, sued Republic TV founder Arnab Goswami and a journalist with the channel on Tuesday, accusing them of theft, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and infringement.

Both the accused are former employees of the company's TV channel Times Now.

In a complaint filed at the Azad Maidan Police Station in Mumbai, BCCL alleged that some material Goswami, and Republic TV's News and Special Projects Editor Prema Sridevi aired on the newly launched channel, was actually "procured and accessed" while they were still working with Times Now.

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"On the first day of its launch Republic TV carried an expose on Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav in which audio tapes containing phone conversations between the ex-chief minister of Bihar and Shahabuddin allegedly while he was still in prison were played out. Another expose was done on Republic TV by Mr Goswami on 8th May, 2017 in which audio tapes of phone conversations between Prema Sridevi (ex News Reporter of Times Now) and the Late Sunanda Pushkar (wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor) and their house help Mr Narayan was broadcast. Both these exposes displayed material (in the form of audio tapes of phone conversations) that was procured and accessed while Mr. Goswami and Ms. Prema were in the employment of Times Now," BCCL said in a press statement.

Employees across most media companies are bound by contract, when it comes to the material they collect in the process of reportage. In its statement, BCCL explains it "owns" any "stories, audio-video content, documents, tapes, etc., gathered by its team of reporters and journalists during its news gathering and broadcasting operations," which is its basis for suing Goswami and Sridevi.

BCCL claims its findings are based on an internal inquiry, and also both journalists' own admissions on Republic TV. "Arnab Goswami and Ms Prema Sridevi have on Republic TV admitted and claimed that the audio conversation in the Sunanda Pushkar case aired on 8th May 2017 was in their possession for the last two years when they were in their previous organisation i.e. with Times Now," said the statement.

"Mr Goswami and Ms Sridevi have wilfully, deliberately and with knowledge converted for their benefit and used the aforesaid intellectual property of "Times Now" and thereby dishonestly misappropriated the said intellectual property," it said.

The company claims it is suing Goswami and Prema to "defend its rights and protect its intellectual property against such misuse."

This is not the first time Goswami and BCCL are engaged in a legal battle. In April, Goswami claimed he received a six-page legal notice from "a media group" against using his pet phrase 'Nation Wants to Know'. He alleged the group threatened him with imprisonment 'if he ever used the phrase on TV.' Later, BCCL confirmed sending a legal notice to Goswami, but added it was just a caution notice, since they had already applied for trademark registration for the phrase.

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Japanese reactor restarts after lifting of injunction

17 May 2017

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Kansai Electric Power Company announced today that it had restarted unit 4 of its Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui prefecture. The reactor - which together with unit 3 has been offline since March 2016 - is expected to re-enter commercial operation next month.

Takahama units 3 and 4 (Image: Kansai)

The company said the 830 MWe (net) pressurised water reactor (PWR) was restarted at 3.00pm today and is expected to achieve criticality tomorrow. Kansai plans to resume electricity generation at Takahama 4 and reconnect it to the grid on 22 May "as the final stage of the periodic outage inspection following various types of tests". It added that "full-scale operation" of the unit will resume in mid-June after the completion of the comprehensive inspection performed by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA).

In late January 2015, 29 residents of Shiga prefecture - part of which lies within 30 kilometres of the Takahama plant - filed a petition with the Otsu District Court for a temporary injunction against operation of Takahama 3 and 4. Four hearings were subsequently held. The court's presiding judge Yoshihiko Yamamoto ruled on 9 March that the safety of the units cannot be guaranteed - despite the NRA saying they meet revised safety standards - and issued an injunction against their operation.

Unit 3 of the Takahama plant had resumed operation on 29 January, 2016. Takahama 4 was restarted on 26 February, but was taken off line on 29 February following an automatic shutdown of the reactor due to a "main transformer/generator internal failure". The injunction has since kept both Takahama 3 and 4 offline. Last August, Kansai removed the fuel from both Takahama units 3 and 4 and placed it in the units' storage pools.

Kansai appealed to the court to temporarily remove the injunction. However, the court ruled last June the injunction would remain in place.

The utility then filed an appeal with the Osaka High Court on 14 July 2016 pointing out the decision of the Otsu District Court was not rational. In late March, the Osaka High Court ruled in Kansai's favour and lifted the injunction. Local media reported the residents that sought the injunction decided not to appeal against the rejection of their demand by the Osaka High Court.

Kansai began reloading the 157 fuel assemblies - including four mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel assemblies - into unit 4 on 28 April and completed the process on 1 May. At unit 3 - also an 830 MWe PWR - fuel loading began on 13 May and was completed yesterday. That unit is expected to be restarted early next month, with commercial operation scheduled for early July.

Kansai president Shigeki Iwane said, "After successfully completing the reactor startup, which is one of the important steps in the process of resuming power operation, we will take sincere and deliberate actions on a continuous basis to support the inspections to be performed by the Nuclear Regulation Authority." He added, "Taking this opportunity, I would like to encourage each and every one of our employees and the employees of all the contractors to renew a resolve to pursue nuclear safety and to make an untiring effort."

Three other Japanese reactors are currently in operation: Kyushu Electric's Sendai units 1 and 2 and Shikoku Electric's Ikata unit 3. Another 19 have applied to restart.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
Schoolgirls in Haryana's Rewari, who were on indefinite fast demanding their school be upgraded, have ended the protest after the government agreed to their demands.

By India Today Web Desk: Haryana's Manohar Lal Khattar government has been forced to act after several girls of a government school in Rewari went on an indefinite hunger strike demanding their school to be upgraded.

The girls said that they would be molested if they travel to a senior secondary school located in a different village for higher studies.

The Haryana government today issued a notification accepting the demands following which the girls ended the strike.

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On day 8 of the strike today, many of the protesting girls were shifted to hospital after their condition deteriorated. Some of them had to be put on drips at the protest venue itself.

INDIA TODAY IMPACT

India Today provided the girls, studying in class IX and X in Gothda Tappa Dahina village in Rewari a platform to make their voices be heard .

The girls expressed in detail the problems they were facing. Taking note of the issue, Haryana education minister Rambilash Sharma had assured girls that their demands would be fulfilled. State BJP leader Raman Malik had also promised action in the matter.

WATCH: Image of the day: Girl students protest in Haryana's Rewari ALSO READ:

Rewari girls protesting for school upgrade enter 8th day of strike, many fall sick

Haryana: 83 girls on indefinite fast for higher classes at current school

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China, Saudi Arabia begin HTGR feasibility study

17 May 2017

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China and Saudi Arabia have held their first meeting to discuss the feasibility of constructing high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) in the Middle Eastern country. The joint working group aims to complete the feasibility study report later this year.

Al-Faraj (left) and Gu (centre) meet in Beijing (Image: CNEC)

China Nuclear Energy Engineering Group (CNEC) president Jun Gu met with Walid bin Hussein Abu al-Faraj, vice-president of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE), in Beijing on 15 May. During the meeting they reviewed and discussed the terms of the joint feasibility study.

Al-Faraj told Gu he hopes to take this joint feasibility study as the starting point to accelerate full cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China on the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor supply chain and to push through the Saudi HTGR project "as soon as possible".

Following the meeting, Gu and al-Faraj co-chaired the first meeting of a joint working group, marking the start of the feasibility study. The three-day meeting was attended by about 40 experts from Saudi Arabia and China, including from Tsinghua University's Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology. During the meeting, discussions were held on the application of the Saudi HTGR project, cooperation in intellectual property and the supply chain, financing of the Saudi project, as well as the country's nuclear regulatory system.

CNEC said China will fully share with Saudi Arabia its experience in developing and constructing high-temperature reactors. It will also assist Saudi Arabia in training personnel for the operation of HTGRs and in supply chain localisation.

They aim to complete the joint feasibility study report and submit it to the Saudi cabinet this year to obtain preliminary approval for the HTGR project.

China and Saudi Arabia signed a cooperation agreement for the joint study in March. The signing of that agreement was witnessed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Saudi Arabia's King Salman. It followed the signing in January of a memorandum of understanding between China and Saudi Arabia on the construction of HTGRs.

A demonstration HTR-PM unit under construction at Shidaowan near Weihai city in China's Shandong province. That plant will initially comprise twin HTR-PM reactor modules driving a single 210 MWe steam turbine. Construction started in late 2012 and it is scheduled to start commercial operation later this year.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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Jordan inaugurates region's first synchrotron

17 May 2017

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King Abdullah II of Jordan yesterday officially opened the Middle East's first particle accelerator. Scientists from across the region will use the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) for advanced research projects.

King Abdullah (third from right) at the inauguration ceremony, which was also attended by senior representatives from the IAEA, CERN, UNESCO, and SESAME members (Image: CERN)

Synchrotrons are particle accelerators that produce intense light from the electromagnetic radiation generated by electrons moving almost at the speed of light. The precise beams of light produced include microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma-ray light. Under controlled conditions, researchers can use these beams to look at materials with great precision. There are currently around 50 synchrotron light sources in the world.

Located at Allan in Jordan, the first synchrotron light source in the Middle East is also the region's first international centre of excellence. It is modelled on the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) and was developed under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) with support from the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA).

The project has cost some $90 million to date. Staff costs, power and other operational costs are provided by annual contributions from the joint venture's members of Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority and Turkey. Capital funding has been provided by the governments of Jordan, Israel, and Turkey, the Royal Court of Jordan, and by the European Union (through CERN and directly) and Italy.

SESAME's first electron beam was circulated on 11 January, and the design energy of 2.5 GeV was reached on 27 April. The light source is equipped with beamlines that focus the light on the samples to be studied, with each beamline capable of supporting several experiments at the same time. Two beamlines will be in operation initially: an X-ray absorption fine structure/X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy beamline and an infrared Beamline. These will support work in areas including basic materials science, life sciences and environmental science, biochemistry, microanalysis, archaeology, geology, cell biology, biomedical diagnostics, and environmental science.

A third beamline to support materials science studies will come into operation in late 2017. A Macromolecular Crystallography beamline and a protein expression/crystallization facility for structural molecular biology will come into operation in 2019. The facility has the capacity to house a total of 24 beamlines. Fifty-five proposals to use the first two beamlines have already been submitted.

IAEA director-general Yukiya Amano, who attended the opening ceremony, said: "SESAME is an excellent example of multinational high-tech collaboration, and the IAEA is proud to be your partner. I have no doubt that the people of this region will derive great benefits from the advanced research in the various scientific areas that will be carried out here in the coming decades."

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by World Nuclear News

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Ukraine confident of world-class fuel storage facility

17 May 2017

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Energoatom President Yury Nedashkovsky has confirmed progress in Holtec International's preparations to build a Central Spent Fuel Storage Facility (CSFSF) at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Between 1 and 10 May, Nedashkovsky led a delegation from the Ukrainian nuclear power plant operator to Holtec's plants in Pittsburgh, (Pennsylvania), Orrville (Ohio) and Camden (New Jersey).

The CSFSF will be a dry storage facility in which the used fuel will be stored in double-walled stainless steel canisters. The facility will mean Ukraine will no longer have to spend $200 million each year on its arrangement with Russia to transport and reprocess used nuclear fuel.

In an Energoatom statement issued on 15 May, Nedashkovsky said the trip had confirmed the high quality of Holtec's production base and its ability to transfer that expertise to the CSFSF project. He noted that the facility will store used nuclear fuel from three Ukrainian nuclear power plants: Khmelnitsky, Rovno and South Ukraine.

"We're very pleased with what we saw. The quality of the individual items of equipment that have already been manufactured by the American specialists for our order convincingly demonstrates that Ukraine will receive one of the most modern and safest storage facilities for used nuclear fuel in the world," he said.

At the Orrville plant, Holtec introduced the Ukrainian delegation to the production of friction-stir welded fuel baskets made of Metamic HT, an aluminium boron carbide metal matrix composite. The welds do not suffer from distortion typically seen with conventional welding processes. Holtec first unveiled the fuel basket design for fast-track decommissioning in January. Holtec said then that the basket has over ten times the thermal conductivity of conventional stainless steel fuel baskets, which shortens the required cooling period of the used fuel, prior to transfer to dry storage, from about seven years to two-and-a-half years. This would enable a shuttered plant site to be returned to its pre-plant state within about 66 months after the reactor's shutdown, the company said.

EnergoAtom and Holtec signed a contract for construction of the CSFSF in 2004, but the project was repeatedly stalled owing to changes to the political situation in Ukraine. Work on the project resumed in 2014. In January 2016, EnergoAtom and Holtec signed an amendment to the contract to build the CSFSF at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and supply used nuclear fuel dry cask storage systems.

The amendment means that EnergoAtom is responsible for the civil design and construction of the facility, while Holtec is responsible for the design and supply of used nuclear fuel dry storage, transport and related equipment. The equipment will be delivered by the end of 2020, with the "key developmental stage" set as 2015-2017. During this period, the design and construction of the storage facility will be completed, Holtec's equipment and technology will be installed and the CSFSF will be commissioned. Holtec will supply 94 used nuclear fuel storage systems for the facility.

In October 2015, EnergoAtom announced that the technology for the production of dry storage casks for used nuclear fuel will be transferred by Holtec International to Ukraine's Turboatom under a memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies and EnergoAtom. The agreement acknowledges the transfer of technologies for the manufacture of Holtec's HI-STORM used fuel storage casks to Turboatom. The projected cost of Turboatom's services to Holtec could reach $200 million over the next ten years, including some $60 million for equipment for the CSFSF, EnergoAtom said. Holtec delivered the first batch of the casks to the Chernobyl site the following month.

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by World Nuclear News

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Cambodia is a small country located in the Indochina Peninsula's southern portion in Southeast Asia. The country is bordered by Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. It also has a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. Cambodia has a well- developed tourism industry as tourism is one of the most important sectors of the country's economy. The country has a rich and inspiring history evident by the presence of magnificent temples and other structures from the past empires that ruled the region. Cambodia is also famous for natural attractions and unique biodiversity. Below is a sampling of ten of the most visited attractions in the country.

10. Siem Reap

A stone gate at Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is the capital city of Cambodias Siem Reap Province. The city is visited by millions of tourists each year as it serves as the gateway to the Angkor Wat. The city also has attractions of its own including colonial and Chinese-style buildings, museums, cultural villages, traditional handicraft shops, silk farms, and more. The Apsara traditional dance performances are also a popular attraction for tourists visiting Siem Reap. Siem Reap hosts a number of resorts, hotels, and restaurants to accommodate the large numbers of tourists visiting the city throughout the year.

9. Preah Vihear Temple

Preah Vihear Temple.

The Preah Vihear Temple is another temple tracing its origins to the Khmer Empire. The beautiful temple is located on a 525- meter tall cliff in the Dangrek Mountains in the province of Preah Vihear. The temple offers the most spectacular view among all the temples built during the Khmer rule in Cambodia. The Preah Vihear was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

8. Sihanoukville

A beach near Sihanoukville.

Sihanoukville is a coastal Cambodian city and the capital of the countrys Sihanoukville Province. The citys coast borders the Gulf of Thailand. The city is famous for its almost uninterrupted stretch of beaches and the coastal marshlands with its unique biodiversity. The Ou Trojak Jet is the only navigable river in Sihanoukville. The city is a relatively young one in the history of Cambodia as it developed in parallel with the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port construction. Currently, it is a leading center of commerce and industry in the country. The city is also popular among tourists who enjoy the beaches and islands of the city. It is steadily developing into the countrys premier beach destination.

7. Tonle Sap

Floating houses on Tonle Sap.

Tonle Sap refers to a wetland area comprising of the Tonle Sap Lake, a seasonally inundated freshwater lake, and a 120 km long river, the Tonle Sap River. The Tonle Sap is thus a part of the vast floodplain of the Mekong River. The water volume of the lake varies significantly throughout the year. The lake and the river support diverse inter-connected ecoregions and a great amount of biodiversity. At least 149 fish species including 11 threatened species are housed here. A large number of migratory birds also visit the wetland. Some of the most notable birds seen here include the spot-billed pelican, the greater adjutant, Bengal florican, the grey-headed fish eagle, etc. The Tonle Sap also hosts a significant population of several reptile species including many species of freshwater snakes. The Mekong giant catfish, one of the worlds largest freshwater fish, lives in the Tonle Sap. Due to its ecological significance, the region has been designated as a biodiversity hotspot and a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1997.

6. Silver Pagoda

Silver Pagoda, Cambodia.

Known by the official name of Wat Ubosoth Ratanaram, the Silver Pagoda is located on the Royal Palaces south side. The pagoda houses magnificent statues of Buddha. Among the statues, the most famous one is a small, green crystal Buddha statue and a life-size gold statue of the Maitreya Buddha. The latter weighs around 90 kg and is decorated with 9584 diamonds. The Silver Pagoda is also inlaid with over 5,000 silver tiles and Italian marble structures on its outer facade. The Silver Pagoda currently serves not only as a tourist attraction but also its grounds are being used for various royal and national ceremonies of the country.

5. Bokor Hill Station

The landscape around Bokor Hill Station.

The Bokor Hill Station was once a popular hill station for French colonists in Cambodia. The hill station is located at the top of the Bokor Mountain in the Preah Monivong National Park. It is now a ghost town that is popular amongst tourists, as it features several French colonial buildings including a royal residence, church, casino, and hotel. In the early 1920s, the French colonists would enjoy the hill station as a luxury summer retreat. Today, modern buildings have come up in the region and several films like the City of Ghosts (2002) and the R-Point (2004) have been filmed here.

4. Kratie

A typical street in Kratie.

Kratie is a small town located in eastern Cambodia and is the capital of the Kratie Province of the country. The town houses a population of about 38, 215 people and is located on the banks of the Mekong River. Many people visit this quiet and peaceful Cambodian city to enjoy its scenic beauty and unique culture. The central marketplace of the city is surrounded by French colonial structures. Big islands with white sand beaches are located on the Mekong flowing by the town. If one is lucky, one can get a rare sighting of the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River near Kratie .

3. Koh Ker

Koh Ker, Cambodia.

For the more adventurous tourists visiting Cambodia, Koh Ker is a perfect choice. Unlike the temples of Angkor Wat, the temples of Koh Ker are dispersed within dense forests with little human population in and around the site. Koh Ker is a remote archeological site in northern Cambodia about 120 km away from the city of Siem Reap. Of the many monuments present here, only about two dozen are visited by tourists. The rest of the temples are hidden under dense overgrowth or are too dangerous to be accessed because of the presence of land mines in the area. Koh Ker was one of the most significant settlements during the Khmer rule. It briefly served as the capital of the Khmer Empire during the rule of the kings Jayavarman IV and Harshavarman II. Jayavarman IV contributed the most towards the development of the site and had a water tank and 40 temples constructed here during his rule. The Koh Ker has been a part of the UNESCO tentative world heritage list since 1992.

2. Banteay Srei

The beautiful carvings of Banteay Srei.

The Banteay Srei is a Cambodian temple that is often praised as the "jewel of Khmer art. It is extremely popular among tourists who visit the site to marvel at its beauty. The Banteay Srei is a temple of the 10th century that is located near the Phnom Dei hills in the Angkor area. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, a Hindu god. Built of red sandstone, the building is elaborately carved.

1. Angkor

Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Angkor was the Khmer Empires capital city that flourished between the 9th and the 15th centuries. During its peak in 1010 to 1220, Angkor was a megacity that supported 0.1% of the global population. Today, the city is in ruins but is most famous for the grand Hindu temple complex of the Angkor Wat. The picturesque ruins of Angkor are nestled amid forests and farmland near the Siem Reap city of Cambodia. Over 1,000 temples are located here ranging in size from piles of rubble amidst the rice fields to the magnificent Angor Wat, the worlds largest single religious monument. The entire architectural complex has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is visited by millions of tourists each year.
The late 20th century was the period when the internet was born which was aimed to be used for beneficial and constructive purposes. However, in recent years, people have used the internet to conduct attacks against organizations and individuals in what is known as cyber-terrorism. Cyber terrorism is defined as the deliberate disruption or infiltration of computer networks using computer software.

1. WannaCry Ransomware Attack

WannaCry ransomware is an ongoing cyber attack involving the infection of Microsoft Windows with a ransomware computer worm. The global attack is on an unprecedented scale with over 230,000 computers being under attack in 150 countries spread all over the world. The Wannacry ransomware involves the encryption of files from vulnerable computers and demanding payment of a ransom amounting to about $600 payable in cryptocurrency. The infection vector behind the attack is thought to be EternalBlue which was developed by the US National Security Agency but leaked to Shadow Brokers, a group of hackers. The spread of the ransomware has however been minimized by a discovery of a kill switch.

2. Shamoon Computer Virus Attack

Shamoon is a type of computer virus which is attributed to the infection of computer systems and cyber espionage on computers in the energy sector. Also known as Disttrack, Shamoon was used by a group of hackers known as Cutting Swords of Justice on August 15, 2012 to destabilize computer systems in the energy giant, Saudi Amarco Company. The group claimed responsibility for the attack which affected operations in 30,000 workstations of the company. Another company hit by the computer virus was the Qatari RasGas Company and LNG Company where computer systems were temporarily knocked offline by the virus causing the company to incur operational downtime.

3. Operation Olympic Games

Operation Olympic Games is the code name given to the sabotage and disruption of nuclear facilities in Iran through cyber attacks. The source of attacks is claimed to be the United States government and to some extent, Israel, but the two countries never officially acknowledging responsibility. The campaign to sabotage the Iranian nuclear reactors began during the administration of President Bush and continued during President Obamas administration. The two countries used the computer virus known as Stuxnet to infiltrate Iranian computer systems which were able to stop operations in 1000 centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear plant. However, the infection of computers was not limited to the nuclear facility with the bug spreading to several personal computers in the surrounding region.

4. Operation Shady Rat

Operation Shady Rat is the code name to an ongoing cyber attack aimed at government institutions and businesses in 14 countries across the globe, and even international organizations such as the United Nations. Operation Shady RAT involved the infiltration of computer systems and stealing valuable and sensitive documents from the computers. Dmitri Alperovitch who named the cyber attack led investigations to establish the source of the computer attacks. Due to a spike in the attacks in days preceding the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in China, analysts believe that the attacks are sponsored by the Chinese government.

5. Titan Rain

Titan Rain is the code name given to a series of cyber attacks on American computer systems which occurred in the early 2000s. The attacks were focused on the main contractors of the Department of Defense including Redstone Arsenal, NASA, and Lockheed Martin. The cyber attacks were in the form of cyber espionage where the attackers were able to gain sensitive information from the computer systems. Investigations to establish the cause of the attacks showed that the Chinese military had a hand in their execution, a claim the Chinese government vehemently denied. Other sporadic attacks were directed to the British Ministry of Defense, an act which severely strained foreign relations between the UK and China.

6. The 2007 Estonia Cyber Attacks

On April 27, 2007, Estonia was subject to a series of cyber attacks on an unprecedented scale. The attacks paralyzed computer networks in the Parliament of Estonia, government ministries, banks, and media outlets. The attacks were in response to a decision to relocate the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn as well as the war graves in the capital city. The Estonian government immediate response was to cast the blame on the Russian Kremlin, allegations which it later retracted for being baseless. The government also increased investments in cyber security as well as drafting the Tallinn Manual on the International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare which outlines international laws on cyber warfare.

7. July 2009 cyber attacks

The July 2009 cyber attacks were several cyber attacks propagated against South Korea and the United States. The cyber attacks which occurred in three waves affected over 100,000 computers in the two countries and were directed to websites belonging to government institutions, including the White House, The South Korean National Assembly, The Pentagon, and media outlets. While the exact source of the attacks is not known, many analysts point fingers at the North Korean telecommunications ministry.

8. OpIsrael

OpIsrael was an acronym given to a series of cyber attacks propagated against websites which were deemed to be Israeli. The cyber attacks began on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 7, 2013 and involved database leaks, database hijacking, and defacements. The websites targeted including those belonging to schools, Israeli newspapers, small businesses, non-profit organizations, and banks.

9. 2010 Cyber Attacks On Myanmar

2010 was the year when Myanmar conducted its first elections in 20 years. However, in the few months preceding the elections, the country was hit by a series of cyber attacks which affected many internet users all over the country. The 2010 cyber attacks on Myanmar were of a DDoS nature (distributed denial-of-service) and began on October 25th, 2010. The attacks overwhelmed the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, the countrys leading internet provider by flooding the information gateway with more data than its bandwidth. The countrys ruling party was speculated as being involved in the cyberattacks as a way to silence dissent.

10. 2013 Singapore Cyber Attacks

The 2013 Singapore cyber attacks were a series of cyber attacks conducted by the hacking group Anonymous against the Government of Singapore. According to the hackers, the attacks were a response to the establishment of web censorship regulations by the government. The cyber attacks lasted for few days and were focused on government websites as well as social media accounts of influential people.
Urbicide is a term that literally translates to violence against a city. The term was coined by Michael Moorcock in 1963 and was later used in the 1960s by those who criticized the restructuring of the United States. The term came into being in the age of rapid globalization and urbanization. The rapid globalization has led to increased violence and destruction within the cities rather than the surrounding areas. Physical destruction of a city is the most obvious form of urbicide. However, urbicide may occur in several unnoticeable forms such as government designating certain areas of a city as slums or zoning of cities. Urbicide can either be direct or indirect.

Direct Urbicide

Direct urbicide is the direct deliberated material destruction of urban areas. It is the most common type of urban destruction throughout the world. Extreme urbicide is the complete destruction of urban areas with an attempt to completely destroy its identity. The destruction of urban areas does not only focus on buildings but includes anything which gives the city an identity. Extreme urbicide takes place alongside other forms of violence such as political and civil violence like genocide and ethnic cleansing. Another form of direct urbicide is the destruction of buildings of specific typology or with symbolic meaning to the city such as religious, national, and cultural buildings. This is an effort to erase the collective memory embodied in such historical buildings. The third case of direct urbicide is the wanton destruction of the urban environment including all types of buildings. In this case, the whole built environment is under assault as it happened in the destruction of Nablus Old Town.

Indirect Urbicide

Indirect urbicide involves measures and actions which contribute to the detriment of an urban area. The actions and measures are often less physically visible but involve laws, measures, and actions that cause indirect destruction to the city. Indirect urbicide may involve urbicide by construction or urbicide by control.

Cases Of Urbicide

Destruction of cities is part of history and a present activity in modern cities. The siege of Vukovar, led by the Yugoslav Peoples Army (YPA) and supported by several Serbian paramilitaries in 1991, indiscriminately destroyed the city buildings such as schools, public facilities, factories, and houses. The systematic destruction of the city has been described by several sources including Human Right bodies as urbicide. The violence of Sarajevo between 1992 and 1995 saw the YPA besiege the city. The violence was referred to as ethnic cleansing and resulted in the complete annihilation of the Sarajevos built environment. The deliberate destruction of Aleppo has been described by some scholars as urbicide. In 2005, over 700,000 people were forced from their settlement in Zimbabwe in Operation Murambatsvina. The operation involved the destruction of houses, markets, and other collective settlements.
At least two more girls had to be rushed to the hospital today as female students continue to strike for an upgrade on of their school in Rewari, Haryana.

Students being taken into the ambulance at the protest. Photo: Kanhaiya Sharma

By India Today Web Desk: Students demanding an upgrade of their school in Rewari, Haryana, have entered the eighth day of their indefinite strike. Many of these 90-odd female students have been reported to have fallen sick.

At least two more students had to be rushed to the hospital today, while two others were put on drips at the protest being held in Gothda Tappa Dahina village.

Photo: Kanhaiya Sharma

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Around 23 of the protesting students fell sick yesterday during the strike.

Reports have it that the ambulance at the venue had no doctors, and the nursing staff was also missing.

Photo: Kanhaiya Sharma

The protest, held majorly by female students of classes nine and 10, is in demand of an upgrade on of the school to class 12, as they fear that they will be molested on the way if they have to travel to the existing high school in a different village.

"We fear harassment and molestation by youths of other villages and hence, we are demanding upgrade on of our school up to Class 12," one of the girls on hunger strike told PTI.

Meanwhile, the district education authorities said that the school has not been upgraded because it does not fulfill the minimum condition required for the senior secondary level.

"At least 150 students are required in classes 9 and 10 for the senior secondary upgrade, but the Dahina village school has just 86 students in both classes," a PTI report quotes Dharmbir Balrodia, District Education Officer (DEO), Rewari.

As for molestation, police claims that there has been no such cases reported in the area in the past year.

"Not even a single incident of eve-teasing has been reported in the last one years in the area," a CNN-News18 report quotes an SP in Rewari.

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Disappointment Over Wrexham Glyndwr University Ranking  VC Confident Of Improvement

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, May 17th, 2017

The Guardian University Guide 2018 has been released, a well regarded league table of Universities around the UK, with Wrexham Glyndwr University taking the overall bottom spot.

The overall Guardian score rates the local uni 30.4/100 meaning it slips down two places from the 2017 list position to 121st and bottom place.

Although Wrexham Glyndwr Universitys overall rating was bottom of the main table, they are above the likes of Imperial College, Manchester Met and Hull when it comes to the overall satisfied with teaching score.

The dataset is sortable to subject area, so sorting into Engineering: Mechanical rates Glyndwr as mid table  but sorting into teaching satisfaction moves them to eighth  and top out of other universities in Wales.

Similar sorting for the Education courses sees Glyndwr listed as 5th in the UK for satisfaction on feedback, with Health Professions taking UK wide top spot for that rating.

Sports Science courses ranked high in the table on sorting for teaching satisfaction and feedback, being top in Wales and 17th and 10th respectively in the UK.

The guide also gives a data snapshot of the student profile:



The overall bottom of the table result cannot be ignored despite a range of strong scores in sub-ratings, with disappointment with the Universitys overall performance expressed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar.

Professor Hinfelaar said recent developments will mean the picture is brighter for the next set of results.

It is heartening to see that we have scored highly for teaching and academic feedback, as these are areas we have looked to improve, said Professor Hinfelaar.

We will continue to work hard to bring all Schools up to the level of those which have done so well in this league table, and would like to thank everyone for their hard work throughout the year.

She added: We are disappointed with the overall Guardian University Guide result but are confident that we will improve our position in the future, once such league tables have caught up with the huge strides we have made over the last 12 months.

That includes the unveiling of our vision for the Wrexham campus and looking ahead to the next National Student Survey (NSS) and employability figures, which have seen us perform highly in recent years.

We are always looking to better the student experience and are currently undertaking a curriculum review to ensure our courses remain up-to-date with the demands of modern industry. We will certainly not be resting on our laurels and will do all we can to make our way up the league tables in the years ahead.

The University has had another national league table focus recently, with Wrexham.com fave Cosmopolitan.com featuring it as the second most accessible universities in the UK based off UCAS point requirements. You can read that in-depth data heavy piece here.
By India Today Web Desk: A few years ago, Iulia Vantur was like any other foreigner in India, but over the last two years, the Romanian beauty has become a household name, courtesy Salman Khan. Rumoured to be Salman's lady love, Iulia has become a favourite with the fans as well as the paparazzi. From parties to film screenings to airport spottings, Iulia's every appearance with Salman has been delicately recorded. Her every Instagram post has been properly scrutinised for any hints on her rumoured relationship with Bollywood's most eligible bachelor.

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But things soon didn't stay rosy for a very long time. Amidst reports of growing differences and break-up with Salman, Iulia made a hurried exit from India due to the expiry of her visa. But after a short stint in Romania, Iulia returned to Mumbai and Salman's life.

From family vacations to parties at Galaxy apartment, the Romanian beauty is seen almost everywhere now. Salman is not just helping Iulia shape her singing career, but also making her bag the best of projects. Salman has recently crooned a Marathi song for Mahesh Manjrekar's Marathi film FU, but not many know that Iulia too has crooned a Hindi song for the film.

The 51-year-old actor is not only helping Iula professionally, but personally too. If the latest buzz is to be believed, Salman is busy house-hunting for his rumoured ladylove. According to a report in Mid-Day, Salman has been hunting for penthouse since last year to gift to Iulia.

A broker was quoted as telling the daily, "He has been heavily investing in properties for his family and also buying a flat for Iulia."

The report suggests that Salman wants the penthouse closer to his home in Mumbai. The source added, "The pre-requisite is that the property must be close to Salman Khan's Galaxy Apartments on Bandstand. A few buildings that the actor has checked out include Jivesh Terrace, The Address and Sagar Resham, all in the vicinity of his house. They are either duplex houses or above 1,500-sq ft in size, in the range of R25-30 crore. He will finalise one after getting Iulia's approval."

Going by this new development, it seems Salman and Iulia are ready to take their relationship to the next level. Their fans have been eagerly waiting for them to make things official, and this might happen soon.

ALSO READ: Iulia Vantur had a major fight with Salman Khan over Dabangg tour?

ALSO READ: Salman-Iulia can't stay apart for a minute, from dance rehearsals to parties

WATCH: Is Salman and Iulia finally getting married?

--- ENDS ---
By Press Trust of India: funds for extremists

From Lalit K Jha

Washington, May 18 (PTI) When US President Donald Trump travels to Saudi Arabia to address the Muslim world this week, participating leaders would be asked to sign a pledge to make it "illegal" in their country to fund outfits that promote extremism and terrorism.

Leaders of more than 50 mostly-Muslim countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan from Indias neighbourhood, are scheduled to attend the meeting convened by Saudi Arabia.

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Trump would addressed the gathering on Sunday.

Such a pledge would have a far-reaching implications on countries like Pakistan, where fundraising for terrorist organisations is common and at times supported by the ruling establishment.

While the pledge would be legally non-binding, it would be used for making these countries accountable by the Trump administration, which has made the fight against terrorism a priority, a senior administration official said.

"One of the other things (we are) doing on this trip is to get a lot of countries to sign a pledge to make it illegal in their countries to fund organisations that promote extremism and terrorism. Once we have that we are going to try to figure out where the grey is," an administration official said.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that White House has been working "very hard" on this.

"Because we want the countries to make a choice, do you want to be good, do you want to be gray or do you want to be bad? We are not going to allow people not to choose their destinations. I am not saying that check this box. (But) we intend to go to these countries and say look you told us that you would do these things then these are the things that we see you doing to the contrary, are you going to stop them or now?" the official said.

According to the official, many of these countries are doing what they are doing because of the circumstances they are in.

"What we find that a lot of these countries find in the gray because the people next to them, ...compete with them... playing in the gray and they are scared to jump. And we feel that if we can get all of them to commit to doing that, we would have a real chance of making progress," the official said.

The official, who has been part of the planning of Trumps maiden overseas trip, acknowledged that a lot of people would say that such a pledge is destined to fail.

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But, he added, theres no harm in trying.

"A lot of these countries are saying that they want to be on the good side and cooperate with America. So our job is to take that and then really verify and hold them accountable to them not doing that, and be very honest with them," the official said.

"We want to keep a 100 per cent success as our objective and work as hard as we can to get there," the official said PTI LKJ ABH ASV

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It took six days for the International Socialist Organization to issue a statement on Donald Trumps firing of FBI Director James Comey, an event that triggered the most serious political crisis in the United States since Watergate, and arguably since the Civil War, and quickly came to dominate headlines in the US and internationally.

The article that was finally published May 15 on SocialistWorker.org makes clear why the ISO was so reluctant to go into print. The pseudo-left organization completely accepts the reactionary framework of the Democrats opposition to Trump, which is based entirely on a warmongering campaign against Russia, reflecting the imperialist foreign policy positions of sections of the military-intelligence establishment.

The problem was how to obscure this support for one of the contending right-wing factions in the internecine war that has broken out within the state by means of some left rhetoric. The task was given to longtime Socialist Worker writers Danny Katch and Alan Maass.

The first thing that strikes one about their article (The arrogance of the completely corrupt) is its unseriousness, superficiality and complacency. There is no analysis of the historical or social roots of the crisis that has erupted, or, for that matter, what created a political gangster like Trump and elevated him to the presidency. There is no discussion of the context of escalating war and social reaction and explosive working class anger within which the political breakdown has occurred.

Nor is there any warning about the dangers posed by the crisis or its revolutionary implications. In fact, there is only one passing reference to war, and the words capitalism and socialism do not appear.

Katch and Maass deride the White House clown show and present the main question as whether Trump fired Comey because Trump is corrupt or incompetent. I'ts hard to tell, they conclude.

From there they come to their central point: For the record, there is currently no smoking-gun evidence to nail down a seriously criminal Trump-Russia connection. And also for the record, there is no reason to believe some couldnt emerge, given that we know Trump is a lifelong crook with ties to Russian mobsters.  (Emphasis added.)

Further on they refer to the dubious international connections of Trump aides Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort.

That the ISO seeks to lend credibility to the anti-Russia campaign spearheaded by the Democratic Party does not come as a surprise. It has avidly supported the neo-colonialist wars for regime-change in Libya and Syria and the US-NATO military encirclement of Russia.

Writers like Ashley Smith have written many articles on Socialist Worker denouncing opponents of the US war in Syria and declaring that the primary responsibility for the catastrophe inflicted on the country and its people rests not with American imperialism, but with the regime of Bashar al-Assad and its main allies, Russia and Iran.

The ISO, true to its anti-Communist state capitalist foundations, has lined up firmly in the camp of the most hardline anti-Russian militarists in the US ruling class. Alongside the Democratic Party, it reflects the concerns of much of the military-intelligence apparatus that Trump is inclined to pull away from the aggressive anti-Russia policy adopted by the Obama administration.

Katch and Maass downplay the seriousness of the political crisis that has erupted around Trump. Citing a Democratic senator who responded to Comeys firing by tweeting, Were in a full-fledged constitutional crisis, they write, Not quite yetpresidents are legally allowed to fire FBI directors

Their justification for such complacency is highly revealing. They write:

 the medias comparisons to the 1970s Watergate scandal are validbut with a very big difference: Richard Nixon was forced to resign the presidency because the scandal came at the end of an era when powerful social movements were rocking US institutions and creating divisions that reached into the US ruling class. The context today is different. Clearly the level of social discontent and struggle is nowhere near as high. Like the Gilded Age of the late 1800s, this is a time of skyrocketing inequality and corruption, with one set of laws for the rich and another for the rest of usand the political and social challenges to this state of affairs have been short-lived and disconnected.

These statements clearly define the social layers for which the authors and the ISO itself speakwealthy, complacent and corrupt sections of the upper-middle class that are separated by an enormous class chasm from the working class. The ISOs misreading of the sentiment among masses of working peopleseething anger over attacks on health care, jobs, education and pensionsis almost astonishing. What Katch and Maass write reflects their own outlook, not that of the working class.

They ignore the fact that some 4 million people participated in anti-Trump demonstrations one day after his inaugurationthe biggest single day of protest in US history. And that this was followed by a series of demonstrations involving tens of thousands against Trumps attacks on immigrants, the environment and science.

Trump won the election by exploiting mass anti-establishment sentiment that was ignored by the right-wing, war-mongering campaign of Hillary Clinton. The growth of anti-capitalist sentiment in the historical bastion of anti-communism was reflected, although in an embryonic and distorted form, in the vote of 13 million people for Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries. People, including millions of workers, voted for Sanders because they (mistakenly) took for good coin his claim to be a socialist and his call for a political revolution against the billionaire class.

And if the political and social challenges have been short-lived and disconnected, this is in large measure due to the non-stop efforts of the ISO and other pseudo-left organizations to contain social opposition and channel it into the dead end of the Democratic Party. The ISO helped to corral the protest movement against the Iraq war in the early 2000s behind the Democrats and candidates such as Howard Dean and John Kerry, and then wind it up altogether after Obama was elected.

They promoted Obama and hailed his election as a "transformative event." In an article published on Socialist Worker shortly after Obamas election, Maass himself gushed: Obamas election represents a historic change in US politics. The dam on expectations erected through 30 years of conservative dominance has broken.

In the 2016 election, the ISO promoted Sanders, who played the critical role in deflecting mass anti-establishment sentiment in an attempt to bring it behind Clinton and the Democrats. Maass co-author, Danny Katch, did his bit in this reactionary effort, writing in April of last year:

The foundation of Bernies mass appeal is that in an era in which politicians are almost universally seen as corrupted by big money, he refuses to take money from corporate-funded political action committees. It is from this position of principle that Sanders has been able to effectively argue that Hillary Clinton is fatally compromised by her reliance on big money donors who expect to get something in return.

Under Trump, the ISO has worked to channel social anger and protest behind the Democrats, continuing to build up demagogic frauds such as Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. They are, moreover, allied to and embedded in the trade union bureaucracy, which has betrayed every working class struggle since the end of the 1970s and made sure that political and social challenges were short-lived and disconnected.

In conclusion, Katch and Maass call for a mass democracy movement (not a mass anti-capitalist or socialist movement). They cite as a model the protest movement in South Korea that led to the impeachment of the incumbent president and election of the candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, Moon Jae-in, a thoroughly conventional bourgeois politician and long-time party functionary, who has pledged support for Trump and US imperialism.

In American political terms, this is a formula for once again channeling social opposition behind the Democratic Party.
Yesterday afternoon, newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron suddenly delayed the announcement of his initial ministerial cabinet, which will be subject to parliamentary approval after the June 11 and 18 legislative elections. The cabinet is to be announced today at 3 p.m. Paris time, with a delay of 24 hours, after verification of future ministers tax status and potential conflicts of interest.

The imbroglio surrounding the Macron cabinet is exposing the endless media propaganda according to which Macron is launching an ambitious renewal of official French politics. After the elimination of the Socialist Party (PS) and The Republicans (LR) in the presidential elections, amid widespread hostility to the two parties that have governed France for a half century, the media have hailed the 39-year-old president as proof that new forces are ruling France.

In reality, Macron is an investment banker and former minister in the unpopular outgoing PS government of President Francois Hollande, who intends to vastly intensify Hollandes policies of deep social austerity, attacks on democratic rights, and war. He offers not renewal, but a face lift for a decrepit capitalist ruling establishment in France.

The delay is manifestly intended to prevent tax evasion by the various established politicians being assembled in his cabinet from emerging as an issue that discredits Macron, as it did Hollande. In 2013, the revelation of tax evasion by PS Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac, an advocate of EU austerity who also was overseeing initiatives against tax evasion, dealt a serious blow to the PS. The scandal was particularly devastating as Cahuzac got help from Philippe Peninque, an advisor to the neo-fascist National Front (FN), to set up the offshore accounts he used to evade his taxes.

Yesterday, the Macron administration issued a communique stating the purpose of the delay is to give time for verification, so the general directorate of Public Finances and the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP) can carry out due diligence to ensure that people being considered for ministerial office (1) have been subject to an initial verification of their tax situation, whereas the law only requires this verification to take place after they are nominated; (2) are not involved in a conflict of interest, based on the information that is available to HATVP.

The Macron administration is particularly sensitive about this issue, as it campaigned based on a pledge to oversee the moralization of French politics. It is quite safe to say, however, that French politics will yet again resist the latest clumsy crusade to moralize it.

Even as the Macron administration was giving itself more time to pore over the tax returns of its ministerial hopefuls, the first criticisms of its top officials were emerging. Edouard Philippe, whom Macron named prime minister on Monday, voted against the PS 2013 transparency law and was formally censured the next year by the HATVP for having refused to give information on his 2014 tax returns.

The names that were circulating in the press as potential ministers to be announced today made clear that Macron will oversee a reactionary government that will rule in direct continuity with the previous PS and LR governments and come into bitter conflict with the workers.

*Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Hollande administrations defense minister, is expected to remain at his post under Macron. A leading PS official, Le Drian reportedly worked closely with Hollande to identify and approve targets for the PS homicide operations program of extrajudicial murder, which operated in flagrant violation of the French constitutions ban on the death penalty. He would be tasked with overseeing the broad increase in defense spending that Macron is advocating, as well as Macrons deeply unpopular call to reinstate the draft.

*As interior minister, the names that are circulating include Gerard Collomb, the PS mayor of Lyon who was a key supporter of Macron from early on within in the PS, and Richard Ferrand, a leader of Macrons The Republic on the March (LREM) organization. Both are PS fixtures. Collomb was a member of the Convention of Republican Institutions (CIR), the grouping that formed around ex-Nazi collaborationist politician Francois Mitterrand before Mitterrand founded the PS in 1971. As for Ferrand, he shepherded the so-called Macron law of austerity and deregulation measures through the parliament under Hollande, in 2015.

*Right-wing politician Francois Bayrou, who was briefly mentioned as a potential prime minister for Macron and who was the education minister in a string of right wing governments during the 1990s, is seen as a likely justice minister.

*Nicole Notat, the former head of the PS-linked French Democratic Labor Confederation (CFDT) trade union, has been mentioned as a likely labor minister. She ran the CFDT between 1992 and 2002. During this time she was bitterly unpopular among workers for supporting the pension cuts of right-wing Prime Minister Alain Juppe, which provoked the 1995 mass railroad strike. Since then she has become the CEO of sustainable development research firm Vigeo Eiris.

*Potential foreign ministers include former right-wing prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who was designated to deliver a letter from Macron to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Chinas One Belt One Road infrastructure conference, as well as former LR minister Bruno Le Maire.

Macron and this group of discredited reactionaries are provoking enthusiastic statements of support from corporate CEOs and European Union (EU) officials. Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the EU Commission, sent a letter to Edouard Philippe, published on Twitter, declaring: Your nomination is for me a sign that France, under the authority of its president, is taking a new political course with men and women of different political sensibilities but driven by the same ambition to bring the French people together and take it into the future.

Behind this florid language, the banks and CEOs are expecting to receive massive new profits extracted from the exploitation of the working class in France. Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of automaker Renault-Nissan who is infamous for his job-cutting methods, hailed the Macron administration yesterday for being of a nature that reassures the business world.
Army private Chelsea Manning, the military intelligence analyst who made public evidence of US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, is scheduled to be released from military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, today after completing more than 7 years of her 35-year prison sentence.

Chelsea Manning was arrested by the Army in 2010 after providing WikiLeaks with hundreds of thousands of internal Army incident logs and about 250,000 diplomatic cables from American embassies around the world. In August 2013, she pleaded guilty to 20 of 22 charges against her and was sentenced to 35 years in prison, a sentence 10 times longer than any previous punishment imposed on a federal employee, military or civilian, for leaking classified information.

After receiving the sentence, Manning announced that she was transgendered and took the name Chelsea Manning (previously she had identified as a man and was known by the name of Bradley Manning). She later began hormone therapy and requested gender reassignment surgery, which the Army repeatedly denied.

The release of Chelsea Manning is a politically significant event. Manning is rightfully a hero in the eyes of millions of workers and young people around the world who recognize what extraordinary courage it took to inform the American public about the criminal actions being carried out by the US military.

The number of crimes exposed by the material provided by Manning is staggering. Included in the leaked material was the infamous video that went on to be published on the Internet by WikiLeaks under the title Collateral Murder, showing an American helicopter attack on civilians in Baghdad that killed 16 people, including two Reuters journalists.

Other documents including after-action reports describing US soldiers experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, proving that civilian deaths were far higher than officially acknowledged. The cables revealed damning evidence of official US lying, including dossiers on the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay proving that most of them had no significant role in terrorist operations.

Despite the massive evidence provided, not a single person was jailed, arrested, or even charged for any of the documented crimes. Instead, the military brass together with the Obama administration ruthlessly persecuted Manning for what is a far greater crime in the eyes of the ruling class: exposing the murderous nature of the US war machine. The US political and military establishment, seething with anger, used Chelsea Manning to set an example for any other potential whistleblowers.

The retaliation was merciless. Immediately following the revelations, Manning was forcibly detained in an outdoor cage in an attempt to break her psychologically. From July 2010 to April 2011, she was held under atrocious conditions at Quantico Marine brig in Virginia, much of that time stripped naked as a security measure. All told, Chelsea Manning spent nearly a year and a half in solitary confinement, 23 hours a day, a form of detention classified as torture by human rights groups.

After sentencing, conditions would continue to worsen for Manning, leading to two separate attempts to take her own life, for which she was threatened with more severe treatment. Just last year, the Army considered sentencing Manning to indefinite solitary confinement for possessing unauthorized reading material and an expired tube of toothpaste.

President Obama commuted Mannings sentence to just over seven years, in one of his final actions before leaving office January 20. This was no great humanitarian action, as some sought to characterize it at the time, but rather a calculation that the global image of US imperialism would suffer if, as appeared likely, Manning had been driven by her ordeal to carry out a third and successful suicide attempt.

It was Obama and Hillary Clinton, in particular, who spearheaded the persecution of Manning and other whistleblowers. The class hatred of the Democratic Party toward Manning is demonstrated by their silence as she reaches her final day in prison. Moreover, under conditions where the Democratic Party is lining up with the military-intelligence apparatus to indict the Trump administration for handing over secrets to Russian envoys, the Democrats wish to distance themselves as much as possible from the example of Chelsea Manning, who offended the CIA and Pentagon by handing over evidence of their crimes to the American people.

Manning has kept in touch with her supporters and the outside world throughout her experience mainly through Twitter. Recently, she wrote of her pending release: I want that indescribable feeling of connection with people and nature again, without razor wire or a visitation booth. I want to be able to hug my family and friends again. And swimmingI want to go swimming!

It has recently been reported that Manning, who is now 29, will remain an active duty soldier in the U.S. Army after todays release. She will be placed on voluntary excess leave rather than being discharged. While it is technically possible, it is highly unlikely that she will be called to actual military service. Under this status she will be unpaid, but will have access to health care and other benefits that will allow her to complete her gender reassignment surgery. It should be noted that these benefits are not guaranteed. If Mannings appeal of her court-martial conviction is denied, she could be dishonorably discharged and lose her health benefits.

Manning has not publicly announced any plans for what she will do after today beyond her surgery. Her ACLU attorney, Chase Strangio, told NBC News, She is waiting to experience life outside of prison before declaring any future plans. ... After so many years of government control over her body and gender, I know she is eager to grow her hair, express her gender and negotiate decisions on her own terms.

While Mannings release from prison will grant her physical freedom, she will still be restricted in many ways. One important aspect of the voluntary excess leave status is that it makes her vulnerable to new military retribution if she steps out of line in the eyes of the military establishment. Mannings military defense counsel, David Coombs, told NBC News that Chelsea is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). ... She wouldnt be charged again for the same offenses, but if she committed a new crime, the military would still have jurisdiction over her.

An offense warranting military action includes things such as a fistfight, speaking or writing critically of the political or military establishment, or revealing previously unreleased classified information. You would want to be careful in terms of what you want to write or say if youre still under military control, Coombs warned. Lets say you write something critical, now you run the real chance of being called on the carpet for that.

Nonetheless, Manning has voiced some critical political views through Twitter since her commutation. In a guest column in Britains Guardian, Manning wrote that after eight years of attempted compromise and relentless disrespect in return, we are moving into darker times. Additionally, Manning has said former president Barack Obama left a vulnerable legacy, noting that he had achieved very few permanent accomplishments.

The persecution of more whistleblowers than all other administrations combined, including Chelsea Manning, will forever be a hallmark of the Obama administration. This policy was embraced by all prominent members of the Democratic party, including then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who in December 2011, while Manning was being tortured and persecuted, defended the campaign against her on the grounds that some information which is sensitive, which does affect the security of individuals and relationships, deserves to be protected and we will continue to take necessary steps to do so.

For its part, the Trump administration, determined to outdo the reactionary policies of the Obama administration in every way, has recently escalated the witch-hunt and persecution of other prominent whistleblowersJulian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, and Edward Snowden, the NSA whistleblower now in forced exile in Russia.

Snowden, in a recent comment, expressed his solidarity with Mannings ongoing struggle, saying, Im grateful that Chelsea will finally have a chance to enjoy the freedoms she gave so much to defend. Courage to herand volume to her voice.

The increasingly vicious crackdown on whistleblowers reveals most openly the immense fear within the ruling establishment of growing opposition within the working class. The true face of US imperialism has again and again been exposed with the help of brave individuals like Chelsea Manning, Julian Assange, and Edward Snowden. The defense of these individuals, and an end to the crimes that they have risked their lives to expose, can only come from the mobilization of the international working class.
On April 30 TV3s Newshub showed video footage from inside Pike River mine in the South Island of New Zealand, where 29 men were killed in an explosion in November 2010.

The footage was leaked after being kept secret since it was taken in March 2011, when the mine was controlled by police. It clearly shows members of Mines Rescue working inside the drift, the 2.3-kilometre tunnel that leads into the mine.

The fact that the video was suppressed for six years has outraged the Pike River victims families and working people throughout the country. After excerpts of it were shown on TV, police released 13 hours of footage on May 4. Many more hours of footage and photos have still not been seen by the families.

The National Party government has worked to prevent any real investigation into the disaster and to shield Pike River Coals leadership from prosecution. No one has been held responsible for the disaster and the 29 bodies remain in the mine. After initially promising to re-enter the mine, the government and state-owned company Solid Energy, which owns the mine site, has claimed since 2014 that the mine is too dangerous to enter.

A Royal Commission in 2012 concluded that there had been flagrant safety breaches by Pike River Coal. The company violated numerous health and safety laws and placed production and profit above safety. The precise cause of the explosion, however, has not been established because no thorough investigation inside the mine was conducted.

A police investigation into the company was dropped. Health and safety charges laid by the governments Labour Department against CEO Peter Whittall were also dropped in a sordid backroom deal.

Solid Energys plan to permanently seal the mine entrance was shelved in February only because of months of protests by the victims families.

Sonya Rockhouse, who lost her son Ben in the Pike River mine, told the World Socialist Web Site that the leaked video shows that weve been deceived, that what theyve told us, that the mine was too dangerous to enter, simply wasnt true. It begs the question: what else are they not telling us?

Many experts dispute the governments statements that re-entry is unsafe. Tony Forster, who was the governments chief mines inspector from 2013 to 2016, told a parliamentary Select Committee hearing in February how the drift could be explored safely.

The families have rejected claims by the government that the leaked video footage was made available during the Royal Commission. It had not been shown to the families or their lawyers, apart from a few minutes of grainy excerpts. It is not clear who else, aside from the police, knew about the footage.

Rockhouse said: Ive always thought that the Royal Commission fell short. I never really understood the purpose of it. We were so naive back then. When they said they were having a Royal Commission I imagined that because it was in a courtroom and it seemed like a court that someone would be held responsible.

Rockhouse added that workplace safety had not improved since the Royal Commission, despite the governments claims. On April 24 Radio NZ reported there had been seven workplace deaths within the space of a fortnight in the forestry, farming and construction industries.

Anna Osborne, whose husband Milton died in the mine, told the WSWS that the video showed the drift was still very intact and we have been misled that the drift was in such a bad state of repair that it was too dangerous to get in.

She said the mine was an uninvestigated crime scene. Theres lots of evidence to be found there and its going to point the finger at some government departments as well. The Labour Department knew about safety breaches at Pike River but did nothing to prevent the disaster.

In February, the Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by Osborne and Rockhouse seeking a judicial review of the decision to drop charges against Whittall. The court gave the spurious justification that the Pike River directors had made unsolicited payments to the disaster victims families. Rockhouse said the families lawyers were astonished by the decision, which she described as chequebook justice. The pair intend to take the case to the Supreme Court.

Osborne explained: Were not just doing this for the 29 men who died, were doing it for every New Zealand worker. You cant let this happen in a workplace and no one does a proper investigation. Rockhouse said: We have to stand up because if we dont theres nothing to stop this from happening again and again. We need to show them that they cant get away with this. Were entitled to have truth and justice.

Rockhouse also told the WSWS: Im not pinning my hopes on the opposition parties being elected  Were out for what we believe is right and we wont stop until we get it, no matter what party is in.

The opposition Labour Party, the Greens and New Zealand First have feigned sympathy for the families. Labour leader Andrew Little stated: It is disturbing that such important footage, which undercuts the Governments reasons for stopping a re-entry into Pike, has been kept from the public eye for so long.

The Labour Party has made no promise to re-enter the mine if it wins the September election, but instead called for an investigation into the issue.

The opposition parties principal aim is to divert attention from their role in creating the conditions that led to the disaster. Successive National- and Labour-led governments deregulated the mining industry and dismantled the mines inspectorate, allowing companies to self-regulate their safety procedures.

NZ First Party leader Winston Peters has called the mine a crime scene and demanded that it be entered. As Treasurer in the National government between 1996 and 1998, however, Peters advocated deregulation, cost cutting, tax cuts and other policies to boost profitability for New Zealand businesses. This is the environment in which Pike River was allowed to cut costs by ignoring basic safety requirements.

The union bureaucracy also helped pave the way for the disaster. These organisations, which function as the adjuncts of big business and the government, did not organise any campaign against the deregulation of mine safety by Labour and National.

In 2010, the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), now part of the E Tu union, had about 70 members at Pike River. Immediately after the disaster then-EPMU leader Andrew Little joined the government and opposition parties in defending Pike River Coal. He told the media there had been nothing unusual about the mine and praised its health and safety record.

In fact the union was aware of workers concerns about safety, which had prompted a walk-out on one occasion. It kept quiet about the safety breaches and collaborated with the company to keep the mine running.

The WSWS asked E Tu whether the EPMU knew about the suppressed video recording from 2011, which shows the mine can be safely entered to conduct an investigation. A media liaison replied, We will not be making any comment at this time.

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Families demand investigation into New Zealand mine disaster

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[23 December 2016]
Former general secretary of the Socialist Party (PSOE), Pedro Sanchez, is attempting to save the party from discrediting itself and disappearing as one of the main parties of capitalist rule in Spain. Sanchez is posing as a left alternative to the right-wing candidate and current regional premier of Andalusia, Susana Diaz, in the partys leadership contest.

Eight months ago, Sanchez was ousted from the post of general secretary. His ouster was carried out by a small cabal of bankers, CEOs, intelligence agents, Popular Party (PP) officials and PSOE operatives led by the former prime minister and PSOE general secretary Felipe Gonzalez, assisted by Diaz, because he did not agree to abstain in a parliamentary vote allowing the PP to return to power. Ever since, the PSOE has supported the PP directly or indirectly in parliament.

Faced with the coup, Sanchez decided to resign as general secretary in October, without even attempting to oppose the coup plotters. Weeks later, he resigned his seat in parliament to avoid voting against the PSOEs decision to support the PP. He virtually disappeared from the political scene overnight.

Sanchez was then resurrected. He lacks any significant political track record, besides supporting the PSOEs austerity measures as a parliamentarian in 2009-2011. Parachuted into leadership in 2014 by the same political forces which ousted him two years later, Sanchez announced his bid for leadership in late January. He proceeded to make public appearances at which he sang The Internationale with his fist clenched.

The faction backing Sanchez, supported by left media publications including Publico and Eldiario.org, represents sections of the ruling class seeking to preserve the PSOE from being destroyed like its counterparts in Greece (PASOK) and France (Socialist Party). The latter collapsed after implementing brutal austerity, supporting imperialist wars and attacking democratic rights. The PSOE has already suffered disastrous results in national elections, dropping from 44 percent of the popular vote in 2008 to its current 22 percent.

The PSOE is one of the main pillars of the post-Franco era. Under its leadership, Spain became a member of the European Union, NATO and the euro currency. Successive PSOE governments also implemented the first waves of labour and pension reforms, deindustrialization policies, privatisations and crackdown on democratic rights. Under its leadership, the Spanish army was sent on its first missions in US-led wars in the former Yugoslavia and the Middle East, the first foreign interventions since the World War II.

After the world capitalist crisis erupted in 2008, the PSOE government implemented a wave of austerity, reaching its zenith when it enshrined unending austerity by including a new article in the constitution (Article 135) that prioritizes the repayment of debts over social expenditure.

These policies and the ensuing rise in unemployment, especially among youth, have led to a situation where broad layers of the population are completely hostile to the PSOE as part of the entire political establishment. A European Union-sponsored survey titled Generation What? revealed that 63 percent of youth in Spaina figure similar to other European countrieswould actively participate in a large-scale uprising against the generation in power if it happened in the next days or months.

In this context, Sanchez is desperately intervening to control this anger by posing as a reborn PSOE dissident and dressing up the PSOE in a left garb. In this, he is aided and abetted by the pseudo-left Podemos, which aims to preserve the PSOE as its ally in an alternative Government of Change. Grasping at Sanchezs rebirth to spread the illusion that the PSOE still has some life left in it, Podemos has utilized the latest corruption scandal surrounding the PP, the Lezo case, to call for a parliamentary no confidence vote against PP Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy after the installation of a new PSOE leader.

There is a possibility that Sanchez might win the leadership contest. The forecast that Diaz would crush Sanchez by overwhelming him with tens of thousands of endorsements by party members proved false. Instead, the result was close. Diaz won 62,582 endorsements, compared to 57,369 for Sanchez.

The result has sparked rising concern at the possibility of a Sanchez victory in the election on May 21 and its consequences for the stability of the current minority PP government, which depends on the PSOEs support in parliament.

The PP has already confirmed that if Sanchez is elected, and withdraws the PSOEs support for the government, the PP will call a snap election, the third in 18 months.

Such a looming scenario would create an unprecedented political crisis, amid rising international geopolitical tensionsthe threatened breakup of the EU post-Brexit and the drive to secession by Catalan nationalist parties, which are threatening to hold an independence referendum at the end of this year. At the same time, Spain still has to comply with its austerity obligations and continue its attacks on the working class.

Sanchez has been targeted for attack in numerous editorials and opinion pieces for currying favour with Podemos and the Catalan separatists, which intensified after the high number of endorsements. In response, he has shifted to emphasise his political loyalty.

Previously, he had campaigned for unity of action with Podemos and the trade unions. Now, he talks about a more ambiguous social alliance for progress and a reformist project in opposition to the breakaway one cited by Podemos. His programme also insists on the defence of the Spanish nation, while recognising Spains plurinationality, playing down his previous support for a federal state structure.

This has been noted by the bourgeois press, with leading articles titled Pedro Sanchez keeps his distance from the break away [project] of Podemos (El Pais), Sanchez removes the pacts with Podemos (El Confidencial), Pedro Sanchez does not want to make pacts with Podemos (ABC), and Sanchez rectifies and eliminates the alliance with Podemos from his programme (La Razon).

Podemos continues to be at the centre of the debate in the PSOE. Despite its pronounced shift to the right, implementation of austerity in the town councils it controls, the numerous pledges to defend the capitalist system and the integration of judges, policemen and former generals into its leadership, factions of the ruling class continue to see Podemos as unreliable.

Although the pose of Podemos as an oppositional force is, like that of their potential ally Sanchez, bogusmeant to act as a lightning rod for social discontent to preserve the stability of Spanish capitalismthe bourgeoisie want no hint of a shift away from austerity. They fear this might arouse expectations in the working class that Podemos will not be able to control and that any concessions to Spains varied separatist movements threaten the integrity of the state.

Sanchez has also answered the media cry over the possibility that the close PSOE leadership contest could split the party in two. He said that if he wins he would maintain party unity and be loyal to the regional party barons that continue to oppose his leadership.

Further, he stated that he does not support Podemos call for a no confidence vote. Instead, he suggested that Rajoy resign in an attempt to save the PP-led government and maintain the ability of the PSOE to vote with it in parliament. He has never publicly stated what the PSOE led by him would do in oppositiona clear warning that it will continue with its programme of austerity and war.
Labour Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry used her appearance Sunday on the BBCs Andrew Marr Show to declare that party leader Jeremy Corbyn had repudiated his previous opposition to NATO, and was now committed to the US-led military alliance as a bedrock principle.

Thornberrys exasperated declaration of That is bollocks has been widely commented on by the press. It was exclaimed in reply to Conservative Defence Secretary Michael Fallons accusation that Labour was prepared to relinquish the Falkland Islands. Yet her expletive was of a piece with the rightward lurch in foreign policy that she staked out on behalf of her leader.

Her appearance on the show came just two days after Corbyns first major speech of the election campaign, and one day after the party leadership had approved Labours manifesto. Corbyn chose Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs)a key institution of British imperialism since the aftermath of World War Ito outline Labours backing for NATO and the Trident nuclear submarine programme. He also attacked the Tories for deep cuts to the armed forces.

I am not a pacifist, he proclaimed.

Corbyns speech included pro-forma appeals for nuclear disarmament and multilateralism, explaining that his own political views had been shaped by the horrors of war and the threat of nuclear holocaust. However, his remarks on the dangers of war are shot through with hypocrisy and deception. Which views would take precedencehis own moral objection to nuclear annihilation or Labours defence of NATO and commitment to Trident? Thornberrys exchange with Andrew Marr left no doubt as to where Corbyn stands.

Marrs first question to Thornberry was whether US President Donald Trumps planned state visit to Britain would be cancelled under a Labour government. Corbyn and Thornberry have repeatedly attacked Prime Minister Theresa Mays invitation. Thornberry was quick to respond, No, because hes been invited, and I dont think its right for us to disinvite him  it would be to the detriment of our country.

Next, Marr questioned her on Labours declared ethical foreign policywould this mean, for instance, that questions over human rights abuses would be allowed to interfere with British trade agreements? Dont take this too far, she replied, Im not saying that were going to boycott China, for heavens sake.

Marr then moved to the central questions of NATO and Trident. He asked Thornberry whether the nuclear submarine programme, which is reliant on US logistical support, would still depend upon the Americans under Labour.

The most important part of our defence is NATO, she replied.

Having established the shadow foreign secretarys loyalty to NATO, Marr played footage taken of Corbyn in 2011 attacking the military alliance. Corbyn said, We in the radical end of the left of the unions and the Labour Party have got to be realistic that NATO is a major problem and a major difficulty and we have to campaign against NATOs power, its influence and its global reach, because it is a danger to world peace and a danger to world security.

Are you going to campaign against NATOs world power or not? asked Marr.

Thornberry responded,  I think thats a quote from six years ago, and Jeremy has been on a journey, to coin a phrase, and there have been a number of discussions and it has been made  quite clear that the predominance of opinion within the Labour Party is that we are committed to NATO.

Labours new election manifesto, and Corbyns Chatham House speech, were repeatedly held up by Thornberry as proof of Corbyns support for NATO. The Labour Partys position is a clear one, she said.

Corbyn had been wrong on NATO, but had changed his mind, she continued. Youll find that lots of politicians change their minds.

Thornberry then mounted a strident defence of the responsibility to protect doctrine, utilised by British and US imperialism in 1999 to bomb Kosovo. A Labour government would utilise this principle to justify British military intervention, if it were being blocked by the exercise of veto powers on the UN Security Council.

Marr pointed out that Robin Cook, the late secretary of state for foreign affairs under former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, had led the charge for that, while Corbyn voted and spoke against that involvement. Who was right, do you think, Robin Cook or Jeremy Corbyn?

Robin was right, replied Thornberry.

With the position of a Labour government on NATO and responsibility to protect clarified, Marr asked, Do you think a future Labour government would send a task force against the Falklands if there was a crisis there?

Yes, replied Thornberry. So long as the people of the Falklands wish to remain British, they remain British. So thats not going to be compromised.

The significance of this declaration cannot be overstated. Thatchers dirty 1982 war against Argentina became emblematic of her persona as The Iron Lady, and her re-election in 1983 was attributed to patriotic sentiment whipped up by the media with Labours backing.

Marrs programme also included a lengthy exchange between Thornberry and Fallon. Marr introduced them by pointing to revelations in Sundays press that Corbyn had been arrested at a pro-Irish Republican Army (IRA) protest in 1986. Whats your message to patriotic working class people who look at this stuff and think I just dont like it? he demanded of Thornberry.

Thornberry countered Marrs patriotic appeal by confronting Fallon. In May 2007, he had attended a reception in Syria to celebrate the election victory of President Bashar al-Assad. Now, Im not going to judge you for going to a reception with Assad, and I dont think people should judge Jeremy for talking to people who might be open to a settlement in Northern Ireland.

Fallon was caught off guard: I was on an all-party parliamentary visit  a fact-finding visit, he offered. However, he quickly recovered his bearings, telling Thornberry, Theres a huge moral difference here between talking to other foreign leaders  and Jeremy Corbyns quite open support for the IRA.

Thornberry made clear that Labour could be relied on to maintain British rule in Northern Ireland. Corbyns position was not having open support for the IRA, she replied, You cant just go around making this stuff up.

Youve just said, for example, that I want to negotiate the future of the Falklandsthat is bollocks.  And it is not right for you to go around slinging dead cats in the way that you do.

Thornberrys reference to dead cats speaks volumes. This is how those closest to Corbyn in the Labour Party view the anti-war and anti-imperialist policies with which they were once associated. Opposition to nuclear war, opposition to the British invasion of the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, and protests against the bloody history of British repression in Northern Irelandall this amounts to dead cats and a load of old bollocks.

Nothing, however, will stop Britains pseudo-left groups, from the Socialist Party through to the Socialist Workers Party, from hailing Corbyn as the leader of an alleged socialist renewal of the Labour Party. Workers and young people must draw the necessary conclusions. Corbyns journeyfrom chair of the Stop the War Coalition in 2015 to his declaration of support for NATO as Labour leaderdemonstrates that Labour is a party of imperialist war and that Corbyn is its chief defender.
The Trump White House was under mounting pressure Tuesday in the wake of a report in the New York Times that Trump had met with FBI Director James Comey in February seeking to shut down the federal investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

It was the second media bombshell to explode in two days, following the report Monday afternoon by the Washington Post that Trump shared classified information about ISIS with two visiting Russian officials, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

In both instances, the media exposes actually represent attacks on Trump from within the military-intelligence apparatus. The Times report is based on material supplied by high-ranking FBI officials, while the Post article voices the concerns of officials in the CIA or National Security Agency.

The political motivation for these attacks was suggested by a question directed to White House spokesman Sean Spicer at an off-camera press gaggle on Tuesday, when one reporter asked him, Sean, do you believe that this is a case of the intelligence community or elements in the intelligence community actively seeking to undermine the President and his foreign policy as he seeks to build a closer relationship with Russia?

Spicer did not answer the question, but it has been evident for months that the driving force of the political warfare between the White House and the intelligence agencies is opposition to Trumps moves to pull back from the CIA-led campaign to undermine and overthrow the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, as well as the broader effort to confront Russia.

The Democratic Party has chosen to spearhead this campaign, attacking the Trump administration from the right, rather than focus on Trumps attacks on democratic rights, immigrants, environmental and safety regulations and social services, along with the overall policy of military aggression.

The highly-orchestrated character of this offensive against the Trump White House is demonstrated by the article posted on the web site of the New York Times Tuesday, just in time to be the lead item on the network television news programs that evening.

The Times report claims that after meeting with Trump February 14 in the Oval Office, the day following the forced resignation of Flynn, Comey drafted a memo for his files documenting the conversation he had with the president. According to this third-hand report (the Times citing a memo read to them by an associate of Comeys detailing what Comey wrote down about what Trump said to him), Trump asked him to drop any further investigation into Flynn now that he had quit his position as national security adviser.

I hope you can let this go, Trump allegedly said to Comey, describing Flynn as a good guy. Trump added that Flynn had done nothing wrong.

The Times posted its report under a banner headline, while declaring, in the text of the article, The existence of Mr. Trumps request is the clearest evidence that the president has tried to directly influence the Justice Department and F.B.I. investigation into links between Mr. Trumps associates and Russia. Without using the term, the newspaper was suggesting that Trump was guilty of obstruction of justice, an impeachable offense.

The article had an additional revelation, that The memo was part of a paper trail Mr. Comey created documenting what he perceived as the presidents improper efforts to influence a continuing investigation. In other words, Comey, an experienced political operator in the national security bureaucracy, was preparing a dossier to be used against Trump in the event that he moved against Comeyas he did May 9, firing the FBI director summarily.

Comey shared the memo of the February 14 conversationand no doubt other documentswith senior FBI officials and close associates, according to the Times. One week after Comeys firing, almost to the minute, the Times article based on the leaked Comey memo was posted on the newspapers web site.

The Trump White House flatly denied Comeys version of the February 14 meeting, declaring in a statement, The president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn  This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey.

The White House statement also referred to testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee last week by acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, previously Comeys top deputy, who said, There has been no effort to impede our investigation to date. McCabe was being questioned about the investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government during the presidential election, not about the separate investigation into whether Flynn lied to the FBI in January 2017.

The Times report came only 24 hours after the Washington Post report that threw the Trump White House into disarray. The Post article said that Trump had revealed highly classified information about ISIS plans to attack airliners with bombs concealed in laptops during a meeting May 10 in the Oval Office with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Ambassador Kislyak.

The source of the classified information was an unnamed U.S. partner, and there was much press commentary to the effect that this partner might now be unwilling to share intelligence information with Washington. On Tuesday afternoon, the partner was revealed to be the state of Israel, and Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer issued an official reassurance that there would be no damage to US-Israeli collaboration on anti-terror operations.

The Post report set off a media frenzy, with claims that the revelation confirmed allegations of an illicit Trump-Russia connection, and calls from media pundits, including conservative Republicans, for the appointment of an independent counsel or even the initiation of impeachment proceedings.

In a vain effort to stem the tide, the White House brought General H. R. McMaster, Trumps national security adviser, before television cameras on Tuesday morning to denounce the Post article and subsequent reports, and declare that Trump had done nothing to endanger US national security.

The other two US officials present at the meeting with the Russiansdeputy national security adviser Dina Powell and Secretary of State Rex Tillersonalso issued statements in support of the president. The crisis atmosphere within the administration was reflected in the fact that State Department officials were unaware of the Tillerson statement when contacted by the press.

At one point Monday evening, several reporters could overhear a stormy meeting involving Spicer, his deputy Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Communications Director Michael Dubke, and chief White House strategist Stephen Bannon. The shouting was so loud that White House staffers turned up the TV volume in the press room to drown it out.

As in the controversy last week over the firing of Comey, Trump undermined his own political defenders with statements on Twitter that contradicted the official explanations of his conduct. Trump declared that he had every right as president to divulge classified informationon this he is legally correctand that Russia could be a valuable ally in the conflict against ISIS.

The statements from the White House did nothing to quiet the media clamor and the mounting criticism on Capitol Hill, not only from virtually all Democrats, but from leading congressional Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, We could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so that we can focus on our agenda.

Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said of the Trump White House, Obviously, they are in a downward spiral right now and have got to figure out a way to come to grips with all thats happening. The chaos that is being created by the lack of discipline is creating an environment that I think makesit creates a worrisome environment.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, in a statement issued through a spokesman, said, We have no way to know what was said, but protecting our nations secrets is paramount. The speaker hopes for a full explanation of the facts from the administration.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain gave vent to the anti-Russian sentiment of a section of the Republicans and all the Democrats. Regrettably, he declared, the time President Trump spent sharing sensitive information with the Russians was time he did not spend focusing on Russias aggressive behavior, including its interference in American and European elections, its illegal invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, its other destabilizing activities across Europe, and the slaughter of innocent civilians and targeting of hospitals in Syria.

Several right-wing Republicans from the neo-conservative wing of the party joined Democrats in calling for action to remove Trump from the presidency. Eric Edelman, a former Bush administration State Department official, said that McMaster and other top officials should resign immediately, or else delay until a resignation becomes part of a push to either force a resignation or the invocation of the 25th Amendment.

Another Bush administration foreign policy adviser, Eliot Cohen, said of Trumps communication of classified information to Russian officials, If deliberate, it would be treason. He called on congressional Republicans to get off the Trump train and name a select committee whose job it will be to determine whether Congress should move ahead to impeachment.
Following White House meetings Tuesday, US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan both vowed that relations between the two countries would be placed on new foundations, cemented through the strengthening of cooperation in fighting terrorism.

The invocation of unity, however, could not mask the tensions arising from the fact that Washington is arming and fighting alongside a Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG, which Ankara regards as a terrorist organization.

On the eve of his trip to Washington, Erdogan vowed that he would seek to convince Trump to reverse his decision last week to authorize the shipment of small arms, ammunition, machine guns, armored vehicles and engineering equipment to the YPG, with which several hundred US special operations troops have been embedded as trainers and advisers.

Speaking in Ankara Tuesday, just ahead of the White House meeting, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim warned that Turkey was prepared to renew cross-border attacks against the YPG if Erdogan failed to win Trump over.

If necessary assurances are not given, what well do is very clear. We are determined and we will do whats necessary in order to clean terror, whether it is within our borders or outside our borders, Yildirim told the parliamentary group of Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Late last month, Turkish warplanes carried out airstrikes against YPG positions in northern Syria, killing at least 20 Kurdish fighters. The attack was followed by cross-border artillery barrages. The attacks prompted heated protests from Washington and the deployment of US Army personnel in Stryker combat vehicles along the Turkish border to serve as a buffer between the Turkish military and the Kurdish militia.

The Pentagon has insisted that the YPG, which is the military arm of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), is the only force capable of serving as a proxy ground force in the US campaign against ISIS in Syria, which has been waged with intensive US airstrikes that have killed large numbers of civilians. The weapons shipments are designed to prepare an imminent offensive against the city of Raqqa, proclaimed by the Islamist militia as its Syrian capital.

Ankara regards the YPG as a branch of the outlawed PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), which has carried out armed actions in Turkey in support of Kurdish autonomy. Both Turkey and the US have labeled the PKK as a terrorist organization, and in his remarks Tuesday, Trump vowed that Washington would stand with Turkey against terrorist groups like ISIS and the PKK.

Turkey has warned that US arms funneled to the YPG will end up in the hands of the PKK. Its real concern, however, is that the Syrian Kurds will succeed in carving out an autonomous zone on Turkeys southern border, thereby strengthening Kurdish resistance within Turkey itself.

In what was billed as a press conference after his initial talks with Trump, Erdogan insisted in his remarks that It is absolutely unacceptable to take the YPG-PYD into consideration as partners in the region, and it's going against a global agreement we reached.

Erdogan also indicated that he had reiterated his demand that Washington extradite the US-based pro-American Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish government has accused of masterminding the failed military coup of July 15, 2016. The US government has shown no sign of handing over Gulen, who is widely believed to be a CIA asset.

For his part, Trump delivered remarks in which he mispronounced the Turkish presidents name and praised Turkey as a military ally in the Korean War. Turkish courage in war is legendary; that is so true, he said. He made no mention of the tensions over the Kurdish question, affirming only that the US and Turkey agreed on the need to reduce the violence in Syria and create the conditions for a peaceful resolution. In fact, both Washington and Ankara are principally responsible for fomenting the more than six-year-old war for regime change that has killed hundreds of thousands and laid waste to Syrian society.

While normally such appearances are followed by two questions each from the White House press corps and the media from the country of the visiting head of state, Trump cut the event short, first indicating that there would be no questions and then briefly responding to the shouted demands of reporters for a response to the claims that he revealed classified information in a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week. We had a very, very successful meeting, Trump said of his encounter with Lavrov, insisting that its aim was to get as many to fight terrorism as possible. He then ducked out a side door with Erdogan, who was probably also not anxious to take any questions.

When Erdogan visited Washington in March of 2016, Obama failed to invite him to the White House, in what was meant as a gesture of disapproval over the Turkish governments human rights record. The Trump administration has explicitly jettisoned the use of such pretenses as a means of advancing US imperialist interests. The shift in policy was spelled out earlier this month in a speech by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the former ExxonMobil CEO, who told State Department employees that pushing the human rights agenda creates obstacles to our ability to advance our national security interests, our economic interests.

Trump called to congratulate Erdogan for winning a referendum last month that grants him quasi-dictatorial powers to intensify his regimes crackdown on political opposition and the media. He has publicly praised the Turkish head of state, clearly wishing to replicate his thuggish methods of rule in the US itself.

Despite Ankaras hopes that these gestures indicated a fundamental shift in US policy, Washingtons battle to assert its hegemony over the Middle East continues to cut across Turkeys own interests as a regional power.

In an attempt to assuage Turkish protests over the arming of the YPG, the Pentagon is providing additional resources for a so-called intelligence fusion center run by the CIA and military intelligence in Ankara for the purpose of helping the Turkish regime hunt down and kill Kurdish militants of the PKK both inside Turkey and across the border in Iraq.

While Erdogan undoubtedly failed in his bid to reverse the US decision to arm the YPG, it is likely that he pressed for reassurance from Washington that its support for the Syrian Kurdish militia was only a tactical expediency and not a move by US imperialism to carve out a new Kurdish mini-state on Turkeys border. He may also have sought a commitment that once the YPG has served its purpose in battling ISIS, the same Pentagon resources being provided against the PKK can be turned against the Syrian Kurds as well.
The Liberal-National federal budget marks a continuation of the bipartisan offensive against the social rights of workers and young people. Building upon decades of cuts to education, and huge increases in military spending by successive Labor and Coalition governments, it underscores the fact that the capitalist political establishment has nothing to offer young people, except a future of war and austerity.

For university students, the budget will:

* Increase university fees by 7.5 percent within five years

* Force universities to deliver another 2.5 percent efficiency dividend and compel already corporatized universities to compete for more business sponsorship and funding

* Lower the income threshold for HECS loan repayments to an annual wage of $42,000 a year

* Force most permanent residents, including New Zealand citizens, to pay exorbitant international fees in full

These policies are the Turnbull governments response to the demands of the corporate and financial elite to slash public spending and reduce university enrolments by placing ever greater costs on students.

The cuts to education go hand-in-hand with a broader offensive against the working class, targeting, in particular, the unemployed and welfare recipients. This includes the introduction of an arbitrary, anti-democratic drug-testing regime, aimed at stigmatising young people and blaming them for the social ills created by the ruling elite itself. In typical dog-whistle fashion, the government is also targeting foreign workers.

Once again, the lie is being advanced that there is no money to pay for essential social services. Money has been readily found, however, to provide tax cuts to the major corporations, and to squander $150 billion over the next four yearsand $494 billion over the next decadeon the armed forces. The build-up of the military is openly aimed at ensuring Australias war-readiness for further crimes in the Middle East and, most dangerously, to participate in steadily mounting US pressure and threats against North Korea and China, which could escalate into conflict and nuclear war.

The Labor Party has denounced the budget as a war on young people, and claims to stand for fairness. What a fraud! A version of every measure handed down in last weeks budgetfrom obscene levels of military spending, to scapegoating youth and savage cuts to education, health care and welfarehas been handed down before by Labor governments.

Students throughout the country are deeply opposed to the cuts, and to boosting the military for war. But the issue is: how to fight? What political perspective is needed to build a genuine mass movement against austerity and war?

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) fights for a revolutionary socialist and internationalist program, oriented to the working class and opposed to the entire political establishmentincluding Labor, the Liberal-Nationals and the Greens.

We insist that the only way to defend fundamental social rights, including free, high-quality public education for all, from kindergarten to university, is through the mobilisation of the working class and youth against the capitalist profit system itself. It is the drive for unending profits by a tiny privileged layer that has spurred the unprecedented growth in social inequalitynot only in Australia, but around the globe. A system that enables the eight richest billionaires in the world to amass more wealth than the poorest half of humanity, is one that deserves to be overthrown.

The National Union of Students (NUS), and the organisations that dominate it, including Socialist Alternative and Young Labor, are bitterly hostile to this perspective. Their National Day of Action has one key goal: to confine the growing anger and disgust of hundreds of thousands of students to protest appeals to the Labor Party, the Greens and the populist cross-bench parties in the Senate.

Socialist Alternatives Red Flag has once again called for students to try and pressure the official parliamentary set-up. One article stated: When the Liberals first announced their cuts in 2014, they had the support of the cross-bench. It was not until we organised protests on the streets and on our campuses that the balance began to shift.

Every word of this is a lie. In reality, the NUS demobilised nationwide opposition to the 2014 education cuts introduced by Tony Abbotts government, suppressing any political struggle by students against the bipartisan assault on education. When measures were blocked in the Senate, cuts were pursued through different mechanisms. The result over the past three years has been the destruction of hundreds of academic jobs, the elimination of entire faculties and courses, and an increase in class sizes.

At protests throughout 2014, Labor Party politicians were welcomed to the platform to fraudulently posture as opponents of the cuts, while members of the IYSSE were censored and blocked from advancing their socialist perspective. The NUS was, and remains, silent about Labors record in spearheading the dismantling of tertiary education. But the truth is that it was the Labor government of Bob Hawke that abolished free university education in the late 1980s. And in its 2013 budget, Julia Gillards Greens-backed Labor government sought to introduce the largest single cut to university funding in Australian history: $2.3 billion.

The appeals by the NUS and formations such as Socialist Alternative to Labor and the Greens, on the grounds they are the lesser-evil to the Coalition, is a political dead-end. It has no more credibility than the claims advanced in the US that Hillary Clinton, the hand-picked candidate of Wall Street and the military-intelligence apparatus, was a lesser-evil compared to Donald Trump, or that former banker, Emmanuel Macron, was a progressive alternative to the fascistic Marine Le Pen, in the French election.

The promotion of lesser evilism is not the product of political errors or misunderstandings. The NUS and Socialist Alternative speak for affluent layers of the upper middle-class, who are wedded to the existing political set-up and use it to advance their own careers in the trade union bureaucracy, the upper echelons of the public sector, academia, or the establishment media and parties.

Hand-in-hand with their kowtowing to Labor and the Greens, these layers are lining-up behind the war drive of US and Australian imperialism. That is why the NUS, which claims to represent the interests of students, is silent on the biggest issue facing young people, the eruption of militarism and the danger of a new world war.

One would search in vain for any NUS condemnation of the US airstrike in Syria last month, directed primarily against Russia, or the Trump administrations use of the largest bomb since the end of World War II against Afghan villagers in April. Nor does the NUS so much as mention Australias central role in the US wars in Syria and Iraq, or the advanced plans for war against North Korea and China.

In country after country, capitalist governments are reviving militarist traditions to prepare the population for war. Sweden has reintroduced the draft, while France and Germany are contemplating similar measures. Japan is dispensing with the pacifist constraints imposed after its defeat in World War II, while Germany is intent on becoming, once again, the strongman of Europe. And in this country, the political and corporate establishment has spent more than half a billion dollars celebrating the centenary of World War I, in a barrage of propaganda directed at promoting the values of militarism among young people.

Once again, the same contradictions of world capitalism that led to two world wars last centuryabove all between a unified global economy and the division of the world into rival capitalist nation-statesare creating the conditions for another warthis time threatening a nuclear disaster.

Young people, always the cannon-fodder in the frontlines of conflict, must play a central role in the fight to build an international anti-war movement of the working class, based on a socialist perspective, to end war, poverty, inequality and authoritarianism for all time.

This struggle can only go forward on the basis of the lessons of history. 2017 marks the centenary of the Russian Revolution, and the IYSSE and the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world Trotskyist movement, are celebrating, through a series of international lectures, meetings and film screenings, the seizure of power by the working class, for the first, and as yet, only time in history.

That event, the October Revolution, demonstrated that the working class is, as Marx and Engels analysed, a revolutionary class, capable of overthrowing capitalism, ending war, and beginning the reorganisation of society on socialist lines. Above all, the revolution showed that the most vital factor in the struggle against war and austerity is the existence of a revolutionary party based on Marxism, that is, a historical and scientific perspective, capable of leading the working class in the revolutionary struggle for power.

We urge students and young people who want to fight for a future to join the IYSSE, help build our upcoming meetings and film showings, and participate in the fight for socialism.
By India Today Web Desk: Kangana Ranaut has never been one to make friends in Bollywood. In fact, the Queen actor is the queen of cold wars and has rubbed several B-Towners the wrong way, from Deepika Padukone to Shahid Kapoor. The latest person to be irked by Kangana is Apurva Asrani, the writer of her upcoming film, Simran. When the poster of Simran released, many were surprised that Kangana's "additional story and dialogue" credit came before Apurva's, who was credited with writing the story, screenplay and the dialogue.

Nice feel @Apurvasrani hv heard of additional dialogues but can't understand "additional story" a story is a story how can u hv additional https://t.co/H7XMdtfTub- goldie behl (@GOLDIEBEHL) May 15, 2017

Seems, first Kangana wrote d "additional" story nd dialogues and then they hired @Apurvasrani to write the main story and dialogues. #Simran- Zama Habib (@zamahabib) May 16, 2017

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Now, Apurva broke his silence on the issue on Facebook. Calling it demeaning to have an additional credit before the main credit, he wrote, "Ms Ranaut has been claiming in several interviews that Hansal Mehta, the director of Simran, approached her with just a one line screenplay of the film. She says that they story was dark & gritty thriller (sic) at that stage and that she herself developed it into a light, fun film. This completely discredits me and my efforts, and I have to call out this lie at the cost of so many of her fans turning against me."

Apurva wrote that based on a news article sent to him by Hansal, he developed an original story and wrote a one-line screenplay. When Hansal and Apurva got a green signal from Kangana, who loved the narration, the writer took off to the US for research and began developing the script. Apurva wrote, "I wrote 9 drafts of the script. With each draft I went deeper into the character, I gave her an identity, motives and colour. Both Kangana and Hansal gave me valuable inputs. I incorporated some, rejected some. They were always happy with the outcome. I have proof of this... At no point (during 9 drafts and 1 & a half year!!) was there any talk or communication that Kangana didn't like the tone or direction of the script. Infact she used to jump with glee when I finished my narrations (sic)."

Apparently, when they began shooting in the US is when the trouble began. Apurva had heard stories, but he still "waited excitedly" for Hansal and Kangana to return, so he could start editing. "I was thrilled to see that it was exactly the story and screenplay that I had registered at the Film Writer's Association. I noticed that Kangana had improvised many dialogues, and I thought those improvs were excellent; in keeping with the lines/thoughts I had written. At no stage did I see this new narrative of theirs coming. It was only the day after I finished the first cut of the film that Hansal called me to meet. He informed me nervously that Kangana is turning director and therefore has demanded a co writer credit," he wrote.

An angry Apurva claimed that he was arm-twisted into finally letting her have an additional writing credit after he refused to share a co-writer credit. "Today not only do I see her credit before mine on the poster (which I had decided not to fight), but I also saw Kangana on her 'Facebook Live' event yesterday claiming that she had written the film (with Hansal) from a one-line he gave her," he said, shocked.

Sorry Mohar, this is completely wrong. #Simran has always been a light, fun film. You should've checked with the real writer of the film too https://t.co/ynhe07jHNM- Apurva Asrani (@Apurvasrani) April 26, 2017

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He signed off, "I have tried to be dignified about this for so long, but I am at a loss to understand why Kangana would snatch the hard earned work of a writer. I wish she had been graceful about this and acknowledged what I brought to this film. I also wish that my dear friend Hansal shows some spine and either refutes or endorses my story."

OPINION: Simran teaser proved that solo Kangana Ranaut is the best Kangana Ranaut, don't saddle her with heroes

ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut's Simran looks like the Queen sequel we had all been waiting for

WATCH: Kangana Ranaut on being called a witch, whore and a psychopath

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PORT ST. JOE, Fla. (WTXL) -- The Port Saint Joe Police Department are hosting a Public Safety Day on Saturday, June 24 at First Baptist Church, Hwy. 98 & Third Street in Port St. Joe, Fla from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Pubic Safety Day will allow event-goers to interact with members of the several different law enforcement groups.

This list includes:

police department

sheriff's offices

fire department

state agencies

federal agencies

military agencies

the department of corrections

underwater crime scene

The event will also include a roll over crash simulator, a bomb squad robot, Smokey Bear, McGruff the Crime Dog, a live K-9 Demo, free giveaways and free food.

The community and all surrounding areas are invited to come enjoy a day fill with family-friendly fun.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Florida Department of Corrections held its annual wreath-laying ceremony to honor fallen officers Wednesday.

This year's event, held at Wakulla Correctional Institution, honored two members from the department who died in the last year.

Sergeant Jorge Ramos, who worked at the South Florida Reception Center in Miami-Dade County, died in May 2016 during a department training event.

System project analyst Karan Smith died of a heart attack while on the job at the reception and medical center in union county last July.

Department Secretary Julie Jones says the job of a correctional officer is often thankless, and Floridians need to remember the work done by all employees in the agency who work to keep the public safe.

The names of ramos and smith were added to 47 others from the department of corrections who have died in the line of duty over the years.

And all last week WTXL followed the Police Unity Tour as they made their trek to Washington, D.C.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee school that serves students with intellectual disabilities unveils plans to create a recreation space for students and the neighborhood.

A project a decade in the making got the best of Brett Ketchum. His son goes to Gretchen Everhart School, reaching students with disabilities from seven counties.

Tuesday, the Everhart Excellence Foundation and the school announced plans for "Owl Landing", a park tailored for Everhart's older students.

"Owl Landing" will be built on this field adjacent to the school but it's across the street from the scene of a murder last week. The principal says despite this recent incident, she does not believe safety will be a concern.

A special project, coming to exceptional students.

The project is close to being fully funded. The goal is to start construction next month and to complete "Owl Landing" before classes start in the fall.
SANDY SPRINGS, GA (WSB/CNN) - A male nurse is under arrest for allegedly sexually assaulting at least two patients while they were still under anesthesia.

Police say there may be more victims out there.

Investigators believe between February and April, Morgan abused his position with patients at the Sandy Springs Gastroenterology and Endoscopy office.

"All the female victims were in recovery, still under anesthesia. Mr. Morgan was performing not sexual acts on them but sexual battery," said Sgt. Sam Worsham of Sandy Springs Police.

Police say the two victims of which they are aware likely didn't know what happened to them.

Worsham said detectives learned about the alleged assaults after two north Georgia pastors came forward a few weeks ago to report them.

"A pastor had talked to Mr. Morgan about this, and then he came and reported the crime to us," Worsham said.

Police believe Morgan likely assaulted other women during his short stint at the office, and they might have no idea until they see Morgan's face.

"And that's what's concerning about this case is that you are under anesthesia," Worsham said. "You do have a lot of trust in the facility that you are in."

Copyright 2017 WSB via CNN. All rights reserved.
LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A man wanted in both Wakulla and Leon counties for running away from law enforcement has been arrested.

According to a probable cause document, Sean Christopher Platt, 22, was arrested on Monday after he refused to identify himself and tried to pull a gun on the arresting deputy.

Platt had previously been spotted in Leon County on April 4, but had led police on a chase through a field after an attempted stop, escaping.

The document said that on Monday, a Leon County deputy was alerted by an off duty deputy that a wanted man was walking around in the area of Sunflower Road and Eglin Road. The deputy on duty eventually spotted Platt and exited the patrol car.

When the deputy did, however, Platt began to walk away while looking over his shoulder. When asked for his name, Platt threw out two different names but would not provide a last name as he continued walking away from the deputy.

According to the document, the deputy eventually stopped Platt and explained to him that he was being detained. As soon as the handcuffs were in the officer's hand, Platt tried to pull away and began to reach into the waistband of his pants.

The deputy knocked Platt off his feet, taking him to the ground. The action caused Platt's hand to be knocked from his waistband as well as the semi-automatic handgun that was hidden inside.

The gun landed about three feet away from the two of them and Platt began to reach for the gun. Luckily, the deputy stopped him in time, pinning Platt to the ground and drawing his own pistol.

Platt was arrested and taken to Leon County Jail. He is facing charges related to carrying an unlicensed firearm, resisting an officer, fleeing/eluding police and hit and run violations.

He is also facing charges in Wakulla County for a previous incident.

Platt is in jail on a $13,000 bond.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Troopers say a medical episode led to a Panama City man being hit and critically injured by a car.

The Florida Highway Patrol said that Bryan Barker, 25, was driving west in the outside lane on C.R. 392 Wednesday morning.

They said an another unoccupied truck towing an arrow board was parked in a temporary lane closure in the same lane Barker was traveling in.

Sometime while driving, troopers say Barker had a possible seizure. The car continued traveling into the closed off portion of the lane, hitting James Vinson, 43, and the truck's arrow board.

Vinson was transported to Bay Medical in critical condition. Barker was also transported to the hospital for minor injuries.

FHP said that they are still investigating.
By Press Trust of India: Cong

New Delhi, May 17 (PTI) The Congress today said the BJP government failed on various fronts during its three years in office, and social cohesion and balance "went for a toss because it does not believe in the idea of India".

Accusing the Narendra Modi government of creating an "atmosphere of fear and intimidation", the Congress said it "completely failed" in various areas, including internal security, economic development and international relations.

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Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the performance of the Modi government is dismal and blotted.

"Social cohesion and social balance has completely gone for a toss in the past three years and this is primarily because this government does not believe in the founding values of the Indian state.

"It does not believe in the Idea of India, in the preamble to the Constitution and that gets reflected in the assault on the freedom to eat, to dress as you like, to think, to express and most importantly the freedom to live your life without fear or intimidation," he told reporters.

The Congress leader said the only achievement of this government is that it created a climate of fear and intimidation which has compelled people from the creative community to install a "self censor" in their heads.

"That perhaps is the biggest assault on social cohesion in the past 36 months," he said.

On the issue of internal security, he said it also has been too awry and the failure on the Kashmir issue is in front of everyone.

"The Kashmir failure is before you... The lines of ideology are incompatible. The BJP and the PDP have proven to be an abject and miserable failure.

"As we speak, the sense of drift in Kashmir is getting institutionalised and the fear is that the situation is completely and absolutely beyond the control of this government," he said.

On the governments Pakistan policy, he said, "In the last 36 months, I have not seen any evidence of this government having any policy on Pakistan except u-turns, flip-flops and somersaults."

Tewari noted that left-wing extremism has grown by leaps and bounds and Maoism and militancy, besides claiming lives of our Jawans, are also eating into the finances of the country.

The Naga Accord, he said, is in the doldrums and one does not know if it exits or has vanished and the government does not have a concrete answer.

"In terms of action and coherent strategy, the nation has not heard a single word," he said, adding that the government has been utter failure on the economic development front.

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He said in 2015-16, the GDP grew by 7.9 per cent but has slowed down to 7.1 per cent in 2016-17, but the economy is actually growing at 5.1 per cent.

Against this, he said, under the UPA, the Indian economy registered an average growth of 7.8 per cent despite the global meltdown and the Eurozone crisis.

He also cited the declining IIP and industrial growth numbers and said the money supply was growing by 10 per cent in March last year but after demonetisation it has plateaued at 7.3 per cent.

Tewari also pointed out that the last three years have been marked with increasing conflict with the Supreme Court and destabilisation of states ruled by opposition parties.

He said the NDA government has failed in maintaining a balance between the United States, Russia, China and the European Union. PTI SKC GVS

--- ENDS ---
The world economy is going through a turbulent time, but the Belt and Road Initiative might just rebalance the things and help restore faith in globalization.
Sushant Singh Rajput's workout sessions will make you feel terrible about the hard work you don't indulge in.

By India Today Web Desk: Sushant Singh Rajput's penchant for making everything look effortless has been appreciated time and again. But this time, the actor has set a new benchmark even by his unattainable standards. The Raabta actor made ripples in the world of fitness when he performed at the IPL opening ceremony. While his dancing skills were to die for, his enviable, toned abs stole the show.

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His fitness trainer, Samee Ahmed, had taken to his personal Instagram account to praise Sushant for his sheer dedication and commitment. And taking things a notch higher, Sushant recently posted a long Instagram video that features him sweating it out while at the gym.

Also Read: The 8-week-long routine that gave Sushant his enviable 8-pack abs

His latest fitness video came after him dropping hints about the same. Previously, Sushant had shared a picture of himself taken during his IPL performance that he captioned saying, "Something interesting coming up soon..!!"

Something interesting coming up soon..!! A post shared by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) on May 14, 2017 at 11:59pm PDT

He then posted a video shot in Bangkok, which he said was a part of his fitness routine for Raabta. Seen performing martial arts, Sushant's mind-bending skills are enough to make one sweat with sheer disbelief.

Training video of #Raabta preparations in Bangkok. Hope you guys enjoy it..!! P.s this is a training video and is not the climax of the film:) A post shared by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) on May 15, 2017 at 3:04am PDT

Also Read: The 17-year-long diet that gave Hugh Jackman THAT body is finally over

"Training video of #Raabta preparations in Bangkok. Hope you guys enjoy it..!! P.s this is a training video and is not the climax of the film:)," he wrote.

While the first video has him perform martial arts, the second one has him channelise a total beast acing a mixed bag of physical exercises.

See for yourself and feel terrible about all the weight you've put on during the past few months.

Physical Transformation in 5 weeks for #Raabta after #msdhonitheuntoldstory . @sam.fitt A post shared by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) on May 16, 2017 at 9:13am PDT

--- ENDS ---
By Press Trust of India: Kolkata, May 17 (PTI) The Trinamool Congress (TMC) today swept the municipal polls in Bengal, capturing four of seven civic bodies and breaking the 10-year-old hold of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the hills.

The TMC won a decisive majority in Domkal, Raigunj and Pujali in the plains and Mirik in the hill area.

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"The hills are smiling," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted. "Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again & again putting their trust in us," the Trinamool leader said in another tweet.

The GJM maintained its supremacy in the hills winning three municipalities -- Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

In Domkal in Murshidabad district, the TMC captured 18 of the 21 wards. The Congress won two, and the CPI(M) one.

The civic poll results underline Banerjees continuing hold over the state, with the two main Opposition parties -- the Left and the Congress -- together winning only six seats.

The BJP, which has its eyes set on Bengal where it hopes to take the Trinamool on in the next assembly election, also failed to make a dent -- winning just three seats.

"We all know that the TMC has used money and muscle power to win the elections. Democracy was brutally murdered in this elections," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.

The BJP won one seat in the Raigunj municipality of North Dinajpur district and two seats in Pujali in South 24 Paraganas.

The TMC captured 24 of the 27 wards in Raigunj, while the Congress bagged two.

Banerjees party won 12 of the 16 wards in the Pujali municipality, while the Congress and an Independent won one seat each.

Although the GJM manged to retain three civic bodies in the hills, the TMC put up a creditable performance by winning six of the nine seats in Mirik.

The rest went to the GJM, which maintained its supremacy in the other civic bodies in the hill areas.

The Morcha virtually made a clean sweep in Darjeeling winning 31 of its 32 seats, while the TMC managed to win one.

In Kurseong municipality, the GJM won 17 wards and the TMC the remaining three.

The Gorkha front won 19 of the 23 seats in Kalimpong, while the TMC bagged two.

The Jan Andolan Party of Harka Bahadur Chetri, a former GJM leader, managed to win only two seats in Kalimpong.

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"Congratulations to my brothers/sisters in hill areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik for participating in the democratic process. Special thanks to Mirik for reposing faith in us. We will work sincerely for you. After so many decades we begin a new era in the hills," Banerjee tweeted.

The opposition called the civic election a "farce", with Ghosh stressing that it was "not a real reflection" of the peoples mandate.

State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury described the Trinamool regime as an "autocratic" rule.

"What is the use of conducting election in Bengal? The TMC doesnt allow free and fair elections. If an opposition candidate manages to win, they poach on him," he said.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty echoed his views.

GJM supremo Bimal Gurung hailed the victory of his party in the hill areas and accused the TMC of misusing administrative and money power in certain pockets including Mirik, where the TMC registered a victory.

TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee dismissed the allegations as a "reflection of the political frustrations of the opposition". PTI COR PNT SUN NN BDS

--- ENDS ---

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Amid prevailing uncertainty as to where the US Trump administration stands on the status of the Western Wall (the Kotel), US Envoy to the UN Nikki Haley sought to clarify Tuesday night her own stance, saying in an interview that I believe that the Western Wall is part of Israel.

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Speaking to CBN, Haley was asked about a recent spat that took place between an Israeli and American team at the Kotel during which a member of the US delegation told his counterparts, This isnt your territory. Its the West Banks.

Nikki Haley: 'Western Wall is part of Israel.'

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Stressing that she did not know what the US administrations official policy was, she nonetheless reaffirmed her belief that the Kotel belonged to Israel.

I think thats how weve always seen it and thats how we should pursue it. Im not really sure what happened with that issue but I know that theyre trying to fix that and get that taken care of but you know weve always thought that the Western Wall is part of Israel, she stated unequivocally.

Nikki Haley (Photo: MCT)

Haley is set to join President Trump on his upcoming visit to Israel. Since taking on her new role, she has managed to earn the trust of many Israel supporters and build a reputation as one of Israels staunchest advocates on the international stage through a series of public speeches and declarations admonishing the UN for its bias treatment against the country.

But Haleys remarks came on the heels of conflicting statements made by other White House officials. During a White House press conference held on Tuesday, National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster avoided answering a question on whether he recognized the Kotel as being part of Israel.

H.R McMaster (Photo: Reuters)

Oh, that sounds like a policy decision, you knowand thats the Presidents intention...The Presidents intention is to visit these religious sites to highlight the need for unity amongst three of the worlds great religions, he said.

The mixed signals from the Trump administration didnt stop with McMaster however. Shortly after the press conference, White House Spokesman Sean Spicer also dodged a similar question. The Western Wall is obviously one of the holiest sites in Jewish faith. Its clearly in Jerusalem, Spicer said in a somewhat ambiguous response.

H. R McMaster

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President Trump is officially set to visit Israel for the first time since entering the White House on May 22 and will stay in the country for one night. It will be the first foreign country he visits as president, a fact noted by US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman while presenting his credentials to President Rivlin.

"As you know, the President has chosen Israel as the site for his first international visit this coming week. His love for and commitment to the State of Israel is rock-solid and enjoys his highest priority, Friedman said.
The information President Trump gave Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak endangers the life of an Israeli spy in ISIS, according to a report Wednesday by ABC news.

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The spy in question had apparently been providing information about ISIS plans to bomb airliners on their way to the United States by planting explosive devices in computers that could make it past security checkpoints.

Trump meeting with Russian officials (Photo: EPA)

Due to the reliability of the information, the United States banned laptops, iPads and other electronic devices from being brought onboard aircraft from several countries.

It was reported Tuesday that the sensitive information concerning airline security protocols came from "an ally in the Middle East," who warned the Americans that the flow of sensitive information would stop if it was passed on or if the source of the information was exposed.

However, on the same day, the New York Times and other major media outlets reported that the source of the sensitive information was Israel. "I cannot specifically comment on that," said White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer when asked about whether or not the source of the information was Israel.

CNN reported that American intelligence officials claimed that the publication of details would "endanger life" and the Wall Street Journal noted that the same intelligence was not passed on to the closest allies of the United States, which comprise the "Five Eyes," including the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Sean Spicer (Photo: Reuters)

The officials, who are directly aware of the Israeli source, say it is unclear whether Trump provided the Russians enough details in order place the source in jeapordy. However, they emphasized that the sharing of classified information with an adversary of the United States is likely to make it nearly impossible to trust the United States with secrets of other countries.

CNN also reported that the sharing of the information with Russia is especially sensitive given the level of cooperation the Russians have with the Syrian regime and Iran.

US officials told networks that publishing information, including the city where intelligence was gathered, could help enemies ascertain the source of the information and the ways in which it was collected.

According to CNN, for several days, US intelligence officials made numerous telephone calls to news outlets to prevent the publication of specific details about the same intelligence information. They claimed that the publication would endanger life and destroy information gathering technologies used against terrorist organizations.

ISIS

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis said Saturday night that he is "not worried" about the Trump administration's handling of classified information.

Mattis added that the leak did not even come up in talks he held yesterday with several US allies. Mattis further added that he "knows a little more than what was reported in the newspaper" about Trump's statement to Russian officials.

At a press conference held yesterday by Trump in the White House with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump briefly addressed the disclosure of classified information. He said that the meeting with the Russians "was very successful and would contribute to the war on terrorism."
WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump has a clear advantage over his predecessors in his upcoming visit to the Middle East: He is free of prejudice, he isnt committed to anyone, he disregards details, precedents and memos, he adopts the opinion voiced by the last person who whispered in his ear, he overturns decisions, he cancels meetings and summons others, he asks for a brief version of everything, on the slogan level, which doesnt stop him from changing the plans and turning the tables shortly afterwards. What was true yesterday is irrelevant today.

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His predecessors had deep knowledge: Bill Clinton was able to draw every alley in Jerusalem on a napkin to indicate where Israeli sovereignty will begin and end in a future agreement. Barack Obama thoroughly understood the Israeli anxieties and the Palestinian aspirations. George W. Bush knew what he was talking about too. They all failed when they reached the main obstacle called the 1967 borders.

Trump is running a White House that has spiraled out of control, where there is a mixture of madness and chaos, but he stands tall when it comes to the ultimate deal he wants to achieve between Israel and the Palestinians. Perhaps in the place where the experts have crashed, the man who knows nothing about anything will manage to do something with the tricks of a businessman who hates fussy arguments and whines about deprivation. In order to succeed, however, he will have to make everyone cave in.

Trump is not coming to our neighborhood to win peoples hearts; he is coming to cash in on the situation (Photo: AP)

The Israeli Rightwhich rejoiced upon his election, which lauded him as Israels greatest friend ever, which was convinced that the construction freeze in Judea and Samaria was about to be cancelled, which stated that Obama was history and that the relations between the White House and Jerusalem were entering a honeymoonis now facing a different reality. The American president is on his way, but the messiah isnt coming. The person who is coming is a shrewd businessman who is trying to erase his domestic failures so far by reaching a historic agreement which will have his name all over it.

For years, Israel worked on marketing to the world the perception that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is neither the obstacle to a regional reconciliation nor the cause of instability in the Middle East. Trump isnt buying that approach. Its no coincidence that he chose Saudi Arabia as the first stop in his visit: Trump likes the royal family members, because he likes rich people like him, although they are much richer. He is determined to do everything the opposite way Obama did things: His predecessor did not get along with the Saudis; Trump wants them as partners both in his peace deal and in business in general. He is bringing them a billion-dollar arms sale deal. The Saudis like guided bombs and shiny warplanes, and Trump likes to sell and make a profit, which the American arms industries need like air.

As for the peace deal he is concocting, Trump has already declared that he accepts extensive parts of the Saudi initiative, which his hosts in Riyadh are very proud of. He wanted a commitment from them that they would establish diplomatic relations with Israel. The Saudis made it clear that they would be willing to do so, but that Palestine came first and that flags would only be raised afterwards.

Trump, who strives to create a coalition of Sunni states under his leadership against the Islamic State terror, wants to establish his status as the leader of the free world in Riyadh. And since he is not driven by sentiments, the pressure he will put on Israel will be as heavy-handed as he is with everything else. Alongside the worn-out talk about the strong alliance and the guarantees for Israels security, he is expected to demand a restraint in construction in Judea and Samaria and flexibility towards the Palestinians, even before the negotiations begin. He will likely also evade his promise to move the American embassy to Jerusalem, at least not immediately.

It wasnt by chance that American diplomats clashed with Israeli government workers who came to help prepare Trumps visit to the Western Wall. It wasnt by chance that National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster avoided stating that the Western Wall was part of Israel. It isnt by chance that Trump will not be accompanied to the Western Wall by an Israeli leader. While White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer did say on Tuesday that the Western Wall is obviously one of the holiest sites in Jewish faith and its clearly in Jerusalem, but this isnt the statement the Israeli prime minister was hoping for. The White House wants to make Benjamin Netanyahu sweat too.

Our great friend will arrive in the region without having any of the actors in the Middle Eastern show in his pocket, which creates hope that it may be the only way, with immoderate pressure, on the verge of coercion, to slam the parties heads together and do what seems like the theater of absurd at this stage: Comprehensive peace.

Trump is coming to our neighborhood, and he isnt coming to win peoples hearts. He is coming to cash in on the situation big time, like a businessman eager to cut the ribbon. Perhaps thats the right way to go.
The convicted terrorist and Fatah representative Taysir Abu Sneineh who murdered six Israelis in 1980, was elected as Mayor of Hebron Tuesday night.

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Abu Sneineh was a member of a Fatah cell that in May 1980 murdered six yeshiva students who were on their way to Beit Hadassah in the heart of the Jewish settlement in Hebron. Zvi Glatt, Eli Ze'ev, Shmuel Marmelstein, Hanan Kroythamer, Gershon Klein and Yaakov Zimmerman were murdered in the shooting.

Abu Sneineh (center) receiving well-wishers following his election (Photo: Elior Levy)

The four members of the Palestinian cell were sentenced to prison in connection with the attack. However, all four, including Abu Sneineh, were later released in a prisoner exchange deal.

Abu Sneineh will now head the largest Palestinian city in the Palestinian Authority.

As part of their duties, Palestinian mayors in the West Bank meet and cooperate with different Israeli officials from the Civil Administration in order to tend to civil issues and problems with infrastructure.

However, when it comes to a man who was convicted of murdering Israelis, the issue of cooperation is not a given for either side.

May 1980 report of the terror attack Abu Sneineh took part in, leading to the murder of six Israelis

Nevertheless, in his first statements, Abu Sneineh attempted to sound professional and to downplay any political undertones. "I do not rule out relations with Israeli authorities so that we can provide the best service to the residents of Hebron," he told Ynet. "Because of its division, this is a city where you cannot provide services to residents without coordination with the authorities that represent Israel here in the region."

In the past, Israel has refused to cooperate with mayors affiliated with Hamas. When asked about this possibility, Abu Sneineh responded, "We insist on providing services and cooperating with all parties that have a role in providing these services. We are part of the Palestinian Authority and there are agreements which Israel is obligated to honor. These are civilian activities and have nothing to do with political or military activity."

Taysir Abu Sneineh (Photo: Elior Levy)

As for his past and the criticism voiced in Israel as a result of his election, Abu Sneina says that the circumstances have changed.

"After 1994 (the Oslo Accords and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority), things changed completely. It is nothing to do with the past. There us a desire to build and invest is only important things."

However, Abu Sneineh evaded answering directly whether he regretted what he had done in the past. "All of us in Fatah fought for our national rights, and international law allows us to resist the occupation by all means," he insisted.

(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
The Swedish Institutea state organization funded by Sweden's governmenthas blocked the Israeli Foreign Ministry's Twitter account along with 14,000 others allegedly for offensive content while, notably, leaving the Twitter accounts belonging to Saudi Arabia and Iran untouched.

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The institute blocked tens of thousands of accounts it considers to be extremist, racist, inciting, and homophobic. Surprisingly, even the personal Twitter account of the Israeli Ambassador to Sweden, Isaac Bachman, was blocked in addition to that of the foreign ministry.

Israeli Ambassador to Sweden, Isaac Bachman

Following the incident, Ambassador Bachman Tweeted, "Now that the Foreign Ministry and the Embassy have been blocked, Sweden is much safer to read Iran's Twitter and others that haven't been blocked. Please, convince me this isn't real and sane."

Israel's standing in Swedish public opinion has never been as poor as it has been in the last few years, with members of the Swedish left refusing to even meet Ambassador Bachman, while willing to hold dialogue with Hamas.

Accounts blocked by Swedish gov't agency (Photo: Shutterstock)

In Israel, Sweden's hostility is explained as being related to anti-Semitic elements and appeasement to the Muslim voice in local politics.

Israel and Sweden have both engaged in high-level political spats in recent years, most notably with Swedish Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom, who claimed that Israeli responses to terrorist attacks constitute "extra-judicial execution" and that the Paris terror attacks are linked to Palestinian desperation.

Spats between the two countries are not exclusive to Wallstrom however, as Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven also raised ire in Israel when he claimed that Palestinian stabbing attacks are not terrorism.

(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
The guest of honor of a conference held at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem a few days ago was Rabbi Yitzhak Ginsburgh, the anti-Zionist ideologist of the violent price tag weeds, one of the supporters of the disgraceful Kings Torah text and a fan of murderer Baruch Goldstein.

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That same university was scheduled to host another conference, titled Fifty years of Israeli Occupation and Palestinian Resistance: Where is the Prisoners Movement Going? in honor of the publication of a study conducted by Dr. Maya Rosenfeld. Three participants were invited to this conference. All three are Palestinian activists for prisoners rightsin other words, for terrorists rights. The three are from the Abu Jihad Center for Prisoner Movement Affairs.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Is this what an academic conference looks like, or is it a propaganda conference? (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

So no, its not just the margins. The radicalizing comments are taking refuge under the wings of freedom of speech, and have even reached academia, sometimes even led by academia. Rosenfeld, who belongs to the ultra-radical left and whose study was supposed to be the focus of the canceled conference (and its a good thing it was canceled), has the right to her opinion, that militaristic Israel is to blame for Gazas troubles and should be punished by the world. Rosenfeld and her three guests would have likely competed over who would produce more anti-Israel statements. After all, One of the participants, Ashraf al-Ajrami, once lauded arch-murderer Samir Kuntar. Is this what an academic conference looks like, or is it a propaganda conference?

The conference held in Ginsburgs presence raises questions as well. It isnt obvious that he has the right to make these comments, because we are talking about racism and encouragement of violence. It should just be noted there is a difference: Rosenfelds conference was academically-sponsored; the conference starring Ginsburg wasnt. Nevertheless, the Hebrew University let a conference with this mega-racist take place on its premise.

It doesnt have to be this way. Haifa University once canceled a conference featuring The Kings Torah author, Yitzhak Shapira. Sometimes, silencing is the proper thing to do.

When the Finance Ministry and Hebrew University legitimize the march of radicalization, Israeli discourse plummets into an abyss. Instead of raising arguments against the occupation, IDF soldiers are presented as brutal and the Jews are accused of having a lust for money. And instead of presenting reasoned arguments against a joint Israeli-Palestinian memorial service, bereaved parents are called traitors and even Nazis.

And the march of radicalization receives justifications. The three magic words, freedom of speech, are saidand the audience is asked to stand to attention. Some even quote Voltaire: I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. With all due respect to Voltaire, who spread his anti-Semitic views as part of freedom of speech, its not the Torah and it doesnt come from Sinai, and there is no need to give every racist the most distinguished stage or offer a double and even triple stage to the most insane margins in each camp.

It has even reached Army Radio. The slope is becoming slippery, journalist Yael Dan said following the cancellation of the propaganda conference for the prisoners. Granted, one is allowed to voice irritating opinions, even very irritating opinions. But when the stars of the discourse are Samir Kuntar and Baruch Goldsteins followers, this slippery slope must be stopped.
Former Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon claimed Tuesday evening that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's involvement in the submarine affair is undeniable and that he acted in pursuit of financial gains. Speaking in an interview with Channel 2, Ya'alon further threatened, "If an indictment isn't filed, I'll go public and say everything."

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"I knew about previous prime ministers who were corrupt," said Ya'alon. "Here, I heard gossip about conduct, and it wasn't really interesting. But the disregarding of priorities by a prime minister who prefers a favor, or money, over the interests of the statethat for me was a crisis."

Ya'alon during his interview with Channel 2 (Photo: Courtesy of Channel 2)

When asked if he thinks whether or not Netanyahu and his attorney, David Shimron, are involved in the submarine affair, Ya'alon answered, "I have no doubt, it just needs to be investigated. The entire affair and the German shipyard is dirty. There are interests here that are not those of the State of Israel."

Ya'alon later posted a Tweet, repeating his threats to go public and divulge the details of the affair. "As is known, I testified to the police and gave investigators all the information I had, responsibly and honestly. Things speak for themselves and it is best for those involved not to broadcast panic and pressure, but to deal with the seriousness of the facts. If an indictment isn't filed, I will publically post everything I know," he wrote.

About two-and-a-half months ago, the state prosecutor and the attorney general ordered a move to a criminal investigation into the submarine affair "in light of the gathering evidence that raised reasonable suspicion against some of those involved in the affair to commit offenses of corruption."

A statement released at the time read, "According to the findings of the investigation so far, the prime minister is not among the suspects in the affair."

Another statement released on behalf of the Prime Minister dismissed Ya'alon's remarks. "Ya'alon's comments are nonsense and rude and his lies will soon become apparent."
Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman attempted to play down the severity of reports that President Trump gave Russia Israeli intelligence Wednesday, saying that security cooperation and relations with the US remained robust.

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"The security relations between Israel and its greatest ally, the United States, are deep, significant and unprecedented in their scope and their contribution to our strength. That is how it always was and how it always will be," Lieberman said.

Following the publication of Trump's apparent leak, the president uploaded a post on his Twitter account insisting that he has the "absolute right" to share intelligence with Russia.

Lieberman (Photo: Yair Sagi)

However, after it was exposed that the intelligence came from Israeli sources, US officials attempted to prevent media outlets from publishing the information. Despite the risk of rising tensions over the incident, Sima Shine, a former Mossad official who was head of a research department, said in an interview with Ynet that relations would not be harmed.

"These issues of information divulgence happen. The question is much broader, especially in how the information was prepared for him during the meeting. Did someone highlight things he should know, but not say? This specific case is not unique."

In regards to the political firestorm in the US, Shine said, "We've been with this president for four months and it has not calmed down, neither for him nor for the media, Democrats and people in his own party. It produces a lot of opposition, and every issue, such as the dismissal of Comey and other things, are exploited politically."

Regarding the source of the information being an Israeli spy in ISIS and the Trump administration leaking the information to Russia, Shine said, "I don't know if it came from Israel or some other state. Cooperation between organizations is very common and you can't handle a phenomenon like ISIS without cooperation between countries. It is true that this comes with rules pertaining to what you are given and how to use it. You definitely don't use intelligence that you received from another source, unless that source gives you permission."

Shine elaborated further on the issue, saying that she doubted that Israel had provided any permission to share its intelligence. However, she also maintained that the divulged information would not constitute any danger.

"According to what was published, I assume that this is not the case, so there is certainly a problem here," she said. "As others said, we have to put out the flames. The United States and Israel have many years of cooperation; we do not want this to be the focus and we certainly don't want this as harmful to anything. As such, I do not think our relations will be harmed."
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme court that there is no bargaining power between men and women.

By India Today Web Desk: Stating that triple talaq is not an integral part of Islam and can be struck down, the Centre today told the Supreme court that the issue is not of majority vs minority but of men vs women.

On the fifth day of its hearing on the contentious issue of triple talaq, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said, "Centre is ready to take a leap forward and bring in legislation. This matter is not a majority v minority. It's a tussle within the religion for rights of women".

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He pointed out that there is no bargaining power between men and women.

"It's not 1400 years of custom but 1400 years of deprivation," the Centre's top lawyer Rohatgi said while referring to All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) counsel Kapil Sibal's statement yesterday that how can a 1400-year-old practice be branded unconstitutional.

The Centre said they will do what they have to do to bring legislation. "The question is what will the Supreme Court do?," it asked.

"If all three forms of talaq go, we will bring in procedure. The community cannot decide whether personal laws can be tested against fundamental rights or not... What is not integral to religion can be struck down," the Attorney General said.

Today is the fifth day of the hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging triple talaq, polygamy and 'nikah halala' which is going on before a bench comprising members of different religious communities including Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim.

Yesterday, the law board had equated the issue of triple talaq with the belief that Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya, saying these were matters of faith and cannot be tested on grounds of constitutional morality.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court asked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) if it is possible to give women the right to decline instant triple talaq.

The top court constitution bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar suggested that a clause can be added on the Nikaah Nama to say that the marriage cannot be dissolved by the husband by pronouncing instant triple talaq.

The apex court also asked whether their advisory will be followed by the Qazi at the ground level. Replying to the query, Yousuf Hathim Muchala, an AIMPLB lawyer, said, "The advisory of AIMPLB is not mandatory for all Qazis to follow. However, we accept the suggestion in all humility and will look at it."

The AIMPLB also showed the court a resolution passed on April 14, 2017 which says that triple talaq is a sin and the community should boycott the person doing such an act.

Also read:

Can women have the right to decline instant triple talaq, Supreme Court asks AIMPLB

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Triple talaq: How it affects lives of India's 90 million Muslim women

Also watch:

Will India say talaq to triple talaq? Supreme Court begins hearing

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CAIRO -- ISIS said its fighters were attacking an Afghan state television building in the eastern city of Jalalabad on Wednesday.

The group's Amaq news agency said the fighters were inside the building.

Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar, the eastern province on the border with Pakistan where Islamic State fighters have established a stronghold.

There is also a strong Taliban presence in the region.
According to Israeli assessments, six days before Air Force One and US President Donald Trump land in Israel, the American team sent to Israel beforehand is considered junior, lacks the authority to make decisions and frequently changes its mind.

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Israeli officials are calling the chaos happening behind the scenes of Trump's visit "first visit symptoms." Trump's visit will be in the shadow of the turmoil that has ensued since Tuesday, when it was reported that he had passed on classified information given to him by Israel to Russia.

Trump on his way to Air Force One (Photo: Reuters)

As opposed to prior visits of US presidents, which were organized ahead of time, Israeli officials are encountering frequent changes in timetables as well as locations.

For example, American officials initially informed their Israeli counterparts Tuesday that they were considering changing the date and time of Trump's Masada speech from Tuesday to Monday due to heavy heat, even though temperatures are forecast to be a fair 78 degrees.

However, the American team then abruptly canceled the speech at Masada altogether, deciding instead to have Trump speak at the Israel Museum on May 22nd, the first day of his visit.

According to Trump's national security adviser, "The president will declare an irrevocable alliance with Israel and strengthen ties with the closest US ally in the Middle East."

Trump is expected to land on Monday, May 22, at 11:40am. The Israeli team wanted to hold a festive reception at the airport with limited staff and speeches by both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump, but the Americans were resolutely opposed to this, wanting instead to have a short ceremony with handshakes and the national anthems of both countries.

The ad campaign for Trump's visit

Currently, assuming no further changes occur, President Trump will be welcomed by Netanyau and President Reuven Rivlin along with their wives Sara and Nechama, respectively.

From the airport, Trump will fly to Jerusalem and meet with Rivlin before making a short visit to Yad Vashem along with Netanyahu. The Americans insisted the visit be no longer than 15 minutes, which will include a brief explanation and signing of the guest book.

From Yad Vashem, Trump will head to the Israel Museum, for his speech. Afterward, he will head to his hotel to rest before dining with Netanyahu and wives Sara and Melania at the Prime Minister's Residence.

During the meal, statements will be made to journalists, who will be allowed to ask each side a number of questions.

Photo: Reuters

Tuesday morning Trump will visit Bethlehem and meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before heading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall. The last two visits are considered private visits and will be conducted without any Israeli involvement. Press convoys traveling with the president will also not document the visits.

Following Trump's visit to the Western Wall, the president will go by helicopter to the airport for a short departure ceremony before taking off for Rome at 4:30pm.

(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
SOCHI -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump had not passed any secrets onto Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Washington last week and that he could prove it.

Speaking at a news conference alongside Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Putin quipped that Lavrov had not passed what he said were the non-existent secrets onto him either.

Putin said Russia was ready to hand a transcript of Trump's meeting with Lavrov over to US lawmakers if that would help reassure them.

Two US officials said on Monday that Trump had disclosed highly classified information to Lavrov about a planned Islamic State operation, plunging the White House into another controversy just months into Trump's short tenure in office.
The family of Abraham Asher Hasno decided to hold his grandson's traditional Jewish circumcision ceremony on Wednesday at the Fuer junction near Hebron, where Hasno was murdered in a vehicular attack in October 2015

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Hasno's daughter Natalie Shmuel said "there was no question" among family members where theceremony of baby Netzah Asher Yaakov should take place.

The family had to coordinate with IDF forces to be able to hold the ceremony at the junction.

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"I feel both happiness and sadness, it's all mixed up," she said.

"This is where my father lost his life in a heinous murder just because he was a Jew, and this is where I chose to have my son to receive his Jewish identity," Natalie added. "I felt like my father was here with me."

Photo: Har Hevron Regional Council

The family, along with the residents of Kiryat Arba, also marked Hasno's 57th birthday on Wednesday by releasing 57 balloons into the air in his memory.

Similar to her daughter, Ruth Hasno, Abraham's widow, described the moving event as bringng "both great happiness and a great feeling of loss."

"I know and feel that Abraham is here with me," Ruth said. "This is exactly how he would have liked his grandson's circumcision to look like. Abraham is here, he hasn't gone anywhere. We need to keep choosing life."

Photo: Har Hevron Regional Council

The Kiryat Araba's council leader, Malachi Levinger, also attended the ceremony. "This was an emotional event, there wasn't a dry eye among us. We will continue rising, continue building in our ancestors' city (Hebron) and in all of Judea and Samaria."

Hasno was murdered on his way home to Kiryat Araba from the settlement Otniel. When he arrived at the Fuer junction, his car came under a barrage of stones. He stopped his car and exited it. It was then that a truck driver who was also at the junction ran him over and killed him.

Natanlie Shmuel and her husband with their son (Photo: Har Hevron Regional Council)

The driver was initially accused of manslaughter, but after the family appealed the charges, they were changed to murder. The family also fought to be recognized by the Defense Ministry as victims of terror.
Riots erupted Wednesday morning in the Palestinian village of Silwad northeast of Ramallah in response to a Palestinian man being shot in by two Israeli settlers, during an altercation between the settlers and a group of Palestinians.

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The vehicle of the settlers was damaged when about 20 masked men threw rocks at the cars on Route 60 near Silwad. In response, the two drivers got out of their car, with one of them firing in the air in an attempt to disperse the rioters.

Vehices near Silwad (Photo: Inbal Reuveni/TPS)

A Palestinian man was shot in the back and sustained moderate injuries as a result of the firing. He was evacuated to Mount Scopus Hospital in Jerusalem, while the drivers were taken in for questioning by the Israel Police prior to being released in the afternoon.

Right-wing activist and the attorney representing the two detainees, Itamar Ben-Gvir, responded to the event by saying, The two Jews who were forced to shoot claim that they acted out of self-defense and out of fear for their lives. He added that the two were attacked by dozens of rioters who continued to throw rocks at them even after they shot in the air.

The conduct of the police in suspecting them of committing a criminal offense is terrible, continued Ben-Gvir. The two of them deserve a citation of bravery and it is difficult to understand why they are being detained in a police station. Do the police prefer settlers in a coffin?

Meanwhile, a 35-year-old woman was lightly wounded by rocks thrown at her vehicle on Route 60 near the al-Khader junction near Bethlehem. MDA medics treated her and then took her to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.
An IDF soldier belonging to Special Forces unit Maglan was wounded Wednesday in a parachute accident in the Upper Galilee. Initial questioning reveals that, due to human error, the soldier from the ground forces commando unit moved from the area where he was supposed to land, and landed near the landing of the docks and hit the concrete.

Following the incident, the army decided to stop the drills of training for 36 hours until the investigation was completed.

The soldier was evacuated to Rambam Hospital in Haifa, suffering from injuries in his head, and the initial investigation revealed that the wind conditions at noon were reasonable and at a speed of less than 8 knots.
Nearly a week and a half ago, a fire that nearly destroyed the ancient "Great Beit Midrash" Synagogue in Manhattan, New York, was apparently caused by arson, officials at the New York State Police Department said Tuesday.

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According to the investigation, a video containing vital details about the incident was brought to the attention of the investigators, and apparently led to the dramatic discovery.

The huge fire broke out just before 2 am Israel time. Dozens of curious people gathered nearby saw the roof of the 167-year-old building collapse shortly after the fire broke out. There were no casualties in the fire, and at first it was not clear what had caused it. The synagogue ceased operating in 2007.

Robert Bois of the New York Police Department announced that a video clip revealed during the investigation led investigators to believe that the fire was caused by deliberate arson. However, no further details were provided.

Many firefighters from New York arrived at the scene and managed to calm the fire a bit, but it still burned for about an hour after it broke out. The flames and smoke were seen up to a height of 25 stories north of 14th Street.

In addition, it was reported that tombstones were desecrated in the Jewish cemetery of Adat Yeshurun in northern Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Local police said an investigation had been launched after a worker at the cemetery found five gravestones that had been knocked down. The police have not yet defined the incident as an act of vandalism.
The Israel Airports Authority and the Defense Ministry are preparing for a reception for Donald Trump on Monday, when two Air Force One planes will be landing at Ben-Gurion International Airport.

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An American convoy in charge of the airport ceremony arrived at the airport on Wednsday morning, and on Thursday afternoon, some 40 US Army transport planes are expected to arrive. For the presidential visit, the planes will transport a large number of logistical equipment, including helicopters, armored vehicles, and Secret Service vehicles.

Welcome to Israel sign at airport entrance

The American delegation arrived at Terminal 1 as part of the final preparations for the US President's reception Monday morning. Mounted on the electronic board at the entrance to the airport was a sign welcoming the American convoy with flags of both countries.

On Thursday, the preparations will reach their climax with the arrival of the transport planes. More than 25 Boeing C-17s will be landing in Israel, the US military strategic transport aircraft that has been gradually replacing the Hercules aircraft, as well as two C-5 transport planes, used to carry heavy air cargo on intercontinental flights and is considered the largest transport aircraft used by the American armythe only one in the world to use it.

C17 (Photo: Moni Shafir, Israir)

Five VH-60 helicopters, which are a special version of Black Hawk helicopters called White Hawk due to their role, will also arrive as part of the logistics convoy to fly the president to visit Yad Vashem and Jerusalem. They will also be joined by Black Hawk military helicopters.

C-5 (Photo: Moni Shafir, Israir)

The planes will unload secret service vehicles, security vehicles and an armored limousine to transport the president around the city, nicknamed 'The Beast.' A number of such identical vehicles will be arriving in Israel and are more like war tools than vehicles: the car forms a seal that keeps the passengers safe in the event of a biological or chemical attack, it is impenetrable to bullets, and the doors are made of plated steel.

Air Force One (Photo: Moni Shafir, Israir)

Black Hawk helicopters (Photo: Moni Shafir, Israir)

The airlines have been informed in advance that during the official ceremony n Monday morning, Ben Gurion Airport will be closed for departures and landingsfor a time estimated at half an hour. Due to the advance preparations, delays are not expected in the flight schedule.

(Translated and edited by N. Elias)
Iran's supreme leader called on Wednesday for a high turnout in this week's presidential election, urging voters to head to the polls and send a message to the United Statesbut stopped short of saying which candidate he prefers of the four remaining in the race.

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In a televised speech, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the United States and its allies, including the "pathetic prime minister of the Zionist regime," or Israel, are closely watching the vote on Friday.

He called the election a "great popular epic," saying that while the region is "drowned in anxiety," Iran is "peacefully and safely holding an election."

"From the US state apparatuses to European powers and regional countries aligned with America, to the pathetic prime minister of the Zionist regime, all are closely watching (the vote) and how and in what spirit" the Iranians will cast ballots, Khamenei said.

President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate, is seeking re-election in a vote that will largely serve as a referendum on his outreach to the West, which culminated in the 2015 nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers. Under the accord, Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of some economic sanctions.

Despite the nuclear deal, Khameneiwho will remain Iran's top decision-makerremains deeply suspicious of the United States and its intentions toward Iran.

Khamenei is believed to favor Rouhani's main challenger, the hard-line candidate Ebrahim Raisi, who has support from major clerical bodies, hard-liners in the establishment as well as close allies of former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said turnout is expected to exceed 70 percent. Some 56.4 million people out of a population of 80 million are eligible to vote.

Also Wednesday, Hassan Qashqavi, deputy foreign minister in charge of consular affairs and Iranian expatriates, said polling would also be held on Friday for Iranians expatriates in 102 countries, including the United States.

The largest number of polling stations55would be in the US, where more than 1 million Iranians live. In the 2013 election, 20 polling stations opened in America for Iranian expats.

Historically, the more Iranians who cast ballots, the greater the chance a reformist or a moderate like Rouhani will be elected.

Besides Rouhani and his main rival Raisi, two other candidatesMostafa Hashemitaba, a pro-reform figure who previously ran for president in 2001, and former culture minister Mostafa Mirsalimare also in the running, but both are widely expected to drop out of the race before polling starts.
WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump is hoping the Muslim world's leaders join him in confronting extremist ideology when he attends a weekend summit in Saudi Arabia.

But the event could be overshadowed by a surprise attendee: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court and shunned by the United States for the past decade.

It's not clear if al-Bashir will actually attend the meeting. Saudi and Sudanese officials say he has been invited. US officials are pressing Riyadh to at least avoid any situation in which Trump and Bashir are near each other.

US officials familiar with the situation spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, May 17 (PTI) US President Donald Trump had asked sacked FBI director James Comey to end the agencys investigation into ties between his former national security adviser Mike Flynn and Russia, according to a media report.

The latest crisis to beset Trump came just 24 hours after another report accused him of sharing classified intelligence with Russia during Oval Office talks with Russian officials.

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The New York Times said yesterday that Trump asked Comey to end the investigation against Flynn.

"He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go," Trump is quoted as telling Comey.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump told Comey, according to the former FBI chiefs record of the meeting, as reported by the Times.

Comey was abruptly fired by Trump at a time when he was leading an investigation into whether Trumps election campaign had links with Russias alleged interference in the US polls.

Sourcing its story based on two people who read the memo, the daily claimed that Comey wrote the memo detailing his conversation with Trump immediately after the meeting, which took place a day after Flynn resigned.

A day earlier, The Washington Post also published a report which alleged that Trump shared "highly classified" information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a White House meeting last week.

The White House swung into action after the latest revelations and strongly refuted the latest report.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the resident has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House official said.

"The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr Comey," the official said.

Trumps team accused an "unelected bureaucracy" of sabotaging his presidency by spreading such information.

The Trump administration accused the media of putting national security at risk by publishing stories based on leaks.

"Our national security has been put at risk by those violating confidentiality, and those releasing information to the press that could be used, connected with other information available, to make American citizens and others more vulnerable," US National Security Advisor Lt Gen H R McMaster told reporters.

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Meanwhile, the opposition Democrats demanded an investigation into the allegations and Trumps relations with Russia.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said he was shaken by the report in the New York Times.

"And we are only one day removed from stunning allegations that the president may have divulged classified information to a known adversary. Concerns about our national security, the rule of law, the independence of our nations highest law enforcement agencies are mounting," he said on the Senate floor.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said if the reports are true, the Trumps brazen attempt to shut down the FBI investigation is an "assault on the rule of law" that is fundamental to the American democracy.

Pelosi said the Democrats will file a discharge petition to demand a vote on the bipartisan bill to establish an independent, outside commission to investigate the presidents ties with Russia.

Indian-American Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi termed the revelations as "a serious breach of the law".

"Today we learnt that former FBI Director James Comey documented his conversations with President Trump in a series of memos. In one memo, Mr Comey claims that after clearing the room, President Trump asked him to end the investigation of General Michael Flynn. If true, this would be a serious breach of the law," he said.

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Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley said this is a "blatant abuse of power", and demanded a thorough, independent and bipartisan investigation into the matter. PTI LKJ ASV NSA MIN NSA

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Police located three suspects in the burning of an Israeli flag in a Lag B'Omer bonfire in Jerusalem. The three, aged 21, 15 and 11, took part in an event on Saturday night in the Mea Shearim neighborhood of the capital, where effigies of IDF soldiers were burned as well.

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The 21-year-old suspect was arrested and the 15-year-old was detained for questioning. The 11-year-old boy and his parents were brought in for questioning. Social Services were notified about the youths.

(Photo: Chaim Goldberg)

The Jerusalem police said that "since the Lag B'Omer events in Jerusalem, during which the police were informed about the burning of effigies in the form of IDF soldiers, the Israel Police is making extensive efforts, both openly and covertly, to locate those involved. The Israel Police will continue its determined activity until the suspects are found and prosecuted. "

The incident on Lag B'Omer was not the first of its kind in Mea Shearim. Two months ago, an effigy dressed like an IDF soldier was hung in the neighborhood. The fire fighters who came to the neighborhood removed the effigies and were attacked with stones and objects.

Shortly before the arrest, Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan addressed the issue in the Knesset plenum: "I ask the police to fight this phenomenon with zero tolerance."

However, the minister put the blame on the Ministry of Justice, saying: "Unfortunately, due to the history of the State of Israel, the decisions regarding offenses of incitement to violence, expression of opinion, freedom of speech, etc. are not under the police's jurisdiction. They would very much like to bring such culprits to justice but it has no authority, it cannot make arrests and cannot investigate."

(Translated and edited by N. Elias)
Former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon published a video on Facebook on Wednesday in which he refers to the submarine affair, in which PM Netanyahu and is suspected of conflict of interests.

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"I personally blocked the submarine deal when I was defense minister, and the deal was renewed only after I left the ministry," Ya'alon said, who added that he had already given his full testimony to the police. "I am waiting for the investigation to be completed, and I am not publicly speaking about the details I know so as not to sabotage it."

"I believe indictments will be filed," added Ya'alon. "In the event that indictments are not filed, I will have something to say and will state this in public, because this deal is in the billions. I did not ask for it as defense minister and neither did the IDF chief of staff or the commander of the Navy."

"These billions, they do not meet the security needs, and as far as I'm concerned, they could have been given the disabled people who are demonstrating right now, the problems in the hospitals, the emergency rooms, the poverty that exists in Israel, though it was perhaps easier to stay quiet."

Ya'alon posted the video after giving an interview with Channel 2, in which he was asked whether he thought Netanyahu was guilty of any wrongdoing in the submarine deal. ""I have no doubt, it just needs to be investigated. The entire affair and the German shipyard is dirty. There are interests here that are not those of the State of Israel."

He added that "I knew about previous prime ministers who were corrupt," said Ya'alon. "Here, I heard gossip about conduct, and it wasn't really interesting. But the disregarding of priorities by a prime minister who prefers a favor, or money, over the interests of the statethat for me was a crisis."

The Prime Minister's Office refuted Ya'alon's claims. "Ya'alon's statements are nonsense and nothing more than mean-spiritedness. It goes without saying that the Justice Ministry has already made an official statement, in accordance with the state attorney and attorney general, that the prime minister is not a suspect in the Case 3,000 (another name for the submarine affaired)."

Touching upon reports that any political party that Ya'alon will found will not be able to garner the necessary votes to join the Knesset, the PMO continued by stating, "Ya'alon will have to find other ways to pass the voting threshold."
With the opening of the wedding season, one can award the original wedding ceremony of the year (thus far) to a young ultra-Orthodox couple who chose, for the first time in history, to perform a Jewish wedding ceremony in the heart of the most visited area in New York, Manhattan, in the center of Times Square.

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Hasidic Chuppah in Manhattan (:  )

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The famous New York Square has now seen it all: Times Square, the beating heart of New York City, was aflutter this week when a Hasidic couple chose to perform their wedding ceremony there. At 05:30pm, a cheerful parade accompanied by a Klezmer orchestra, guests in elegant Hasidic garb, and many other tourists who found themselves momentary guests, took out their cameras to capture the moving scene.

(Photo: Shimi Kutner, COL live)

The couple, according to the American Chabad website, comes from a privileged background within the ultra-Orthodox world: the groom, Yaakov Yehuda (JJ) Hecht, 23, of Brooklyn, New York, is a descendant of a well renowned family of Rabbis. And the bride is 20-year-old Hadassah Halperin from Toronto, who is a descendant of Chabad founder Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi.

The happy couple (Photo: Shimi Kutner, COL live)

(Photo: Shimi Kutner, COL live)

The Chuppah (a canopy under which a Jewish couple stand during their wedding ceremony) was conducted by the groom's father, Rabbi Shaya Hecht, who told COL live that the purpose of the public wedding ceremony was to strengthen the status of matrimony in general, and of Jewish matrimony in particular.

(Photo: Shimi Kutner, COL live)

(Photo: Shimi Kutner, COL live)

"Many no longer believe in marriage, and we hope that this Chuppah makes a statement. Spiritually, we must conquer the world, and there is no better way to do it than at a Jewish wedding." From there, the celebrants walked to the nearby Edison ballroom to continue the festivities.

(Translated and edited by N. Elias)
A lawyer for Jonathan Pollard, a former US Navy intelligence officer who served 30 years in prison after being convicted of spying for Israel, on Wednesday urged a US appeals court to loosen his parole conditions.

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Lawyer Eliot Lauer argued to a three-judge panel of the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan that the conditions, which require Pollard, 62, to wear an electronic tracking device, adhere to a curfew and submit his computers to monitoring, serve no legitimate purpose.

Jonathan Pollard (Photo: Reuters)

Pollard, who attended the hearing with his wife, pleaded guilty in 1986 to conspiracy to commit espionage in connection with providing Israeli contacts with hundreds of classified documents he had obtained as a naval intelligence specialist in exchange for thousands of dollars.

He was sentenced in 1987 to life in prison. After serving 30 years, which included time in custody following his 1985 arrest, Pollard was released on parole on Nov. 20.

He now lives in New York Citywhere his lawyers say his parole conditions have prevented him from finding employment.

As part of his parole, Pollard must remain in the United States for five years. He has sought to move to Israel, where his wife lives and where he was granted citizenship while in prison. Israel had long pushed for him to be freed, prior to his release.

Lauer said Wednesday there was no rational basis for the government to think Pollard "might retain details in his head about documents created 32 to 33 years ago" that he could disclose.

Circuit Judge Reena Raggi, however, pressed Lauer to explain why Pollard's crime was not enough to justify the conditions.

"Why is it the government's obligation to take the chance that he's forgotten something and it pops into his mind, or he does retain it?" she asked.

Lauer responded that there must be some rational basis for the government's position.

Rebecca Tinio, a lawyer for the government, said the conditions imposed by the US parole commission were "well within in its broad discretion."

Tinio also emphasized the "enormous harm to the United States" Pollard caused, noting that former US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper had submitted a letter stating that documents compromised by Pollard remained highly classified.

"We're optimistic," Lauer told reporters after the argument. "I think it went well. I thought the court understood the issues, and I have great faith in American justice."
A top US official says Trump said on Wednesday that will not announce US Embassy's move to Jerusalem while in Israel, though this remains his ultimate goal.

The US official explained that the Trump administration is concerned that the transfer of the embassy will complicate efforts to renew the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
Nebraska suffered a shock in 2008 with the safe haven crisis.

That year, the state adopted a law intended to provide parents and guardians a way to place infants in state custody, without fear of prosecution, at a hospital or other public site.

Once the law took effect, drop-offs soon began. But none of the children dropped off in succeeding months were babies.

Instead, most of them were troubled youngsters, largely teens and preteens. In all, three dozen children were affected.

Parents and guardians said they resorted to such an extreme measure out of desperation, unable to deal with their childrens mental health challenges or, in some cases, violent behavior.

The situation drew national attention to Nebraska and to the states need to bolster its support for families in crisis.

In an emergency session called by then-Gov. Dave Heineman in November 2008, the Legislature rewrote the law to apply only to infants 30 days and younger. But the complicated question of what Nebraska should do to improve its help for troubled young people and their families remained for state leaders and the nonprofit community.

In succeeding years, the state passed laws and made program adjustments to begin improvements.

Here are two examples. A Nebraska Family Helpline was set up at 888-866-8660 to guide parents and guardians through services and keep families from falling through the cracks. The state created a peer navigator program, in which incoming families are helped by an adult with family experience in dealing with the behavioral health system.

One of the most complex and ambitious responses to the safe haven situation was the effort to create whats called a system of care. Wide-ranging discussions going back at least to 2012 have worked to build close ties of communication and coordination among Nebraska government agencies and nonprofits. This system of care approach aims to deliver services in a more efficient, timely and appropriate manner.

Nebraska has begun using this strategy in some communities, and the Ricketts administration is now taking the effort statewide, thanks to a $12 million, four-year federal grant.

A key goal is to connect a family in crisis with a mental health professional, either in the family home or online, within an hour of a call for help. A quick, appropriate response often can spare children and families from resorting to more intensive, and more expensive, services.

Such a response for adults with behavioral health problems has kept about 75 percent of those adults out of hospitals or other intensive services, said Sheri Dawson, behavioral health director for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

The Ricketts administration has proposed that the state HHS take over operation of Right Turn, a program created after the safe haven crisis to provide support for families formed through adoption or guardianship. The Legislatures Appropriations Committee has included funding in the budget that, barring a gubernatorial veto, would enable nonprofits to continue providing the service.

Nebraska has a considerable need for behavioral health help for children. More than 37,000 boys and girls across the state have behavioral health disorders, the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health reports.

Findings presented this year at a national pediatric conference offered a relevant and disturbing national statistic. From 2008 to 2015, the percentage of children ages 5 to 17 hospitalized for suicidal thoughts or actions more than doubled.

Boys Town reported last week that the number of teens contacting its national hotline for help with mental health concerns jumped 12 percent from 2012 to 2016, and contacts seeking help about suicidal thoughts were up by 8 percent since 2012.

Mental health experts report that half of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by the average age of 14, and three-fourths by age 24.

Nebraska emerged from the safe haven crisis recognizing the need to do far more for families in crisis. The latest plan, to help families in crisis, shows the states commitment to continue moving forward with further improvements.
Many educators question why I introduced LB 415.

I want to share my reasons with you and explain some of the complexities. I support defined benefit plans as long as they maintain a healthy funded status. I believe they are a valuable benefit for our public employees and I am committed to protecting these plans.

The State of Nebraska contributes $38 million to the School Plan and an additional $7 million to the Class V (Omaha) School Plan every year. Because of the tremendous state budget deficit, there has been some interest in reducing this annual contribution. I objected to, and prevented an attempt on the floor to reduce this annual appropriation because I knew it would endanger the healthy funding status of this plan. I also understand that if we dont make these annual contributions, the State of Nebraska is liable for the funding.

In addition to keeping the plan well-funded, retirement plans must also be kept in compliance with IRS requirements for qualified plans  which includes ensuring there is a bona fide separation of service when a member retires.

Currently in the School Plan, intermittent substitute and voluntary service are allowed during the 180-day separation of service period following retirement. The Nebraska Public Employees Retirement System (NPERS) advised me they are seeing a trend in retirees providing more and more substitute service during this 180-day period  service that is beyond what can be deemed intermittent. As a result NPERS staff are spending significantly increasing staff time to monitor and investigate intermittent service in order to keep the plan in compliance with the IRS. When NPERS has deemed service has not been intermittent, they had to suspend the retirees benefit for a period of timea result that we all want to avoid.

LB 415 was introduced to eliminate retirees from providing substitute or voluntary service during the 180-day separation of service period in order to create a bright line to ensure that the IRS-required bona fide separation of service occurs.

The other proposed changes in LB 415 were in response to information provided by the actuary. During last summers examination of all the retirement plans, the actuary determined that members are living much longer -- which is great news! But it also means retirement benefits are paid over longer periods than originally assumed. The actuary also informed the Committee that when incentives are offered that encourage plan members to retire early, then benefits are paid over a longer period of time than assumed. Both of these findings result in increased costs to the plan which is why LB 415 includes the provisions that require future hires to work until at least age 60 and a longer separation of service period for retirees who take a voluntary separation agreement or other form of early retirement inducement.

These issues were studies throughout the interim. I met numerous times with representatives of NPERS, NSEA and NCSA throughout the interim last year to discuss these proposed changes and I also made presentations to NSEA and NCSA groups.

After the hearing on LB 415, I agreed to reduce the originally proposed Rule of 90 to a modified Rule of 85 with a minimum retirement age of 60 and during debate on the bill, I further agreed to reduce the separation of service period from 3 years to 2 years for retirees who take early retirement inducements and allow voluntary service after 180 days. During debate other alternatives were offered to reduce the 180-day period, but because of the complexity of determining whether or not they would meet IRS requirements, I agreed to eliminate my proposed changes to the 180-day separation of service and to study this issue further over the interim.

I know many educators are concerned about what I proposed in LB 415. I want to reassure educators, the 180-day separation of service period that allows intermittent substitute and voluntary service remains in effect  there are no changes.

I also want to assure educators that the new Rule of 85 requiring a minimum retirement age of 60 does not apply to any current member or to anyone who is hired prior to July 1, 2018. Only employees hired on or after July 1, 2018 will need to comply with the minimum retirement age of 60 requirement. The actuary determined that this change alone is projected to save the School and Class V (Omaha) Plans a little over $100 million over the next 30 years which will help keep the School plan well- funded.

During the interim the Retirement Committee, joined by several other senators, will study these issues under LR 202, and several Education Committee members have introduced LR 130 to study a number of issues raised about substitute teaching.

I appreciate the dedication and commitment of educators and respect the service provided to our communities and our children. I will continue to work to protect all retirement plans by keeping them in compliance with IRS requirements and making benefit adjustments in order to keep all plans fiscally healthy. In addition, I will continue to object to any efforts to reduce funding for the School Plan or efforts to convert any of the defined benefit plans to cash balance plans as long as they remain well-funded. I look forward to working with all educators in these efforts and welcome any questions.

As always, if we can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My door is open and I have made it a goal to be accessible to the constituents of our district. Please stop by any time. My e-mail address is mkolterman@leg.ne.gov, and the office phone number is 402-471-2756. David and Katie are always available to assist you with your needs. If I am not immediately available, please do not hesitate to work with them to address any issues that you may need assistance. Please continue to follow me on Facebook at Kolterman for Legislature and on Twitter at @KoltermanforLegislature.
LINCOLN  Elected officials and community leaders are applauding the passage of a Nebraska bill that will result in longer prison sentences for people who buy and sell sex.

Leaders gathered Tuesday at the Capitol after senators voted 48-0 to pass the bill. The measures sponsor, Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, says it will stop people who commit horrific crimes from just getting probation.

The bill will allow prison sentences of up to 50 years for trafficking an adult and life for trafficking a child. Attorney General Doug Peterson says these penalties demonstrate Nebraska will not tolerate slavery.

Womens Fund of Omaha Policy Director Traci Bruckner says the next step to combat trafficking is supporting female victims and potential victims.
69-year-old Fergus Wilson, one of the United Kingdom's biggest buy-to-let landlords, banned people from India and Pakistan from renting his properties as they cooked curry and left behind a lingering smell and not because of the colour of their skin.

By Press Trust of India: A British landlord, who instructed agents not to let his properties to people from India and Pakistan, is now facing legal action, UK's human rights watchdog said on Wednesday.

69-year-old Fergus Wilson, one of the United Kingdom's biggest buy-to-let landlords, banned "coloured" people from renting his properties as they cooked curry and left behind a lingering smell.

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The UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) confirmed that it had applied for an injunction against Wilson at the Central London County Court.

HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW "We have asked the court if it agrees with us that Mr Wilson's lettings policy contains unlawful criteria and, if so, to issue an injunction", said EHRC chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath. "As this is now a formal legal action, we will release further information at a later date", she said. However, Wilson remained defiant over his policy, which he justifies on economic grounds to save costs on re-carpeting homes that smell of Indian cooking once tenants have left. "Given that I have not had any Indian or Pakistani person apply for a house during the past five years, I am not sure what the EHRC seeks to achieve", he said. "It is not the colour of their skin, but the smell of the curry. A person is quite entitled not to purchase a house that smells of curry but to purchase the house next door which does not smell of curry. The EHRC appears to be saying that the purchaser then must let the house to someone who does cook curry", he added. The former boxer, whose property empire in Kent includes around 1,000 homes in the Ashford and Maidstone areas of south-east England, denied that he was being a racist. "There has been much support for the stance I have taken. I do not apologise for it. Faced with the same circumstances, I would do it again", he said. The EHRC had demanded a written assurance from Wilson that he would not refuse to let a property based on race, colour, nationality or national origins. It said it would now begin an investigation into his policy on women as it emerged his lettings criteria also covers a ban on single parents, "battered wives" and parents with children under 18. His stand had emerged as an email to his agents was leaked to the media earlier this year. "No coloured people because of the curry smell at the end of the tenancy," it read. According to the UK's Citizens Advice Bureau, refusing to rent or let a property based on race is unlawful.

Also read | South Delhi police swoop down on landlords over tenant verification rule, 174 FIRs reigistered

Also read | Bengaluru: Citizens protest demanding RERA implementation in Karnataka

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As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More
Close on heels of Lt Ummer Fayaz killing in Kashmir, a BSF Assistant Commandant from Jammu, who topped the recruitment exam has written to the government alleging that militants are threatening him and his family.

By Press Trust of India: Close on the heels of the killing of Lt. Ummer Fayaz in the Kashmir valley, a BSF Assistant Commandant from Jammu, who had topped the recruitment exam, has written to the government alleging that militants are threatening him and his sister.

Nabeel Ahmed Wani, the topper of the All India Examination for BSF Assistant Commandant (Works) last year, said his sister, a civil engineering student in Chandigarh, had been staying in a hostel but the college authorities now want her to move elsewhere.

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Wani wrote to Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Sunday (May 14) asking her to arrange for hostel facility for Nida Rafiq.

'I FEAR FOR MY FAMILY'S LIFE'

"She was worried that she would not get a place to stay as a Kashmiri, especially with my background. I didn't want to involve the BSF in a personal matter, so I wrote to the minister," Wani told PTI over phone from BSF Training Academy in Tekanpur near Gwalior.

Wani said he has spoken to his seniors in the BSF requesting them to allow personnel to carry their arms when they go on leave, especially in militant-affected areas, and also to secure their travel plans home.

He said he will go home for his cousin's wedding in next two months. "People like me and my family members are always under threat from militants. After the murder of Lt Ummer Fayaz, I am scared about my family's security. My mother lives alone in Jammu while my sister is in Chandigarh. I worry, especially now, as terrorists are targeting our families," said Wani.

He topped the exam last year around the time the Valley was on the boil following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani. He had written the mail to Gandhi on May 14 and got a response the very next day. "The minister immediately took it up with the college authorities, who have now allowed Mr. Nabeel's sister to stay in the hostel," a senior official of the WCD Ministry said.

Wani said, "I am now worried for all those Kashmiris who are serving in the Army or paramilitary forces. We (Kashmiris) join the forces despite a lot of opposition and now, with this trend of killing Kashmiris serving as soldiers, a sword hangs on all of us. This is very disturbing." As for his sister, he is now comforted she will remain safe in the security of her hostel room. "She is safe for now. Pray for her, she wants to become the first woman from Jammu and Kashmir to serve the Indian Army," he said.

ALSO READ | Army hero Lt Ummer Fayaz and Hizbul terrorist Zakir Musa: The story of two Kashmiri lives

ALSO READ | Why Hizbul Mujahideen is rattled after murder of Army officer Ummer Fayaz

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ALSO READ | Who is Zakir Musa? Why Hizbul Mujahideen distanced itself from his 'Islamic Kashmir' remark

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Kinshara : About 50 prisoners escaped from the main prison in Democratic Republic of Congo`s capital Kinshasa early on Wednesday followed by an attack by the supporters of jailed Christian cult leader Ne Muanda Nsemi, the government spokesperson said.



Nsemi, who was among the escapees, was arrested in March after a series of deadly clashes between his supporters and police, government spokesman Lambert Mende reported.




Wasgington: US President Donald Trump asked then-FBI director James Comey to end the agency`s investigation into ties between former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia, according to a source who has seen a memo written by Comey.

The explosive new development on Tuesday followed a week of tumult at the White House after Trump fired Comey and then discussed sensitive national security information about Islamic State with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The Comey memo, first reported by the New York Times, caused alarm on Capitol Hill and raised questions about whether Trump tried to interfere with a federal investigation.

The White House quickly denied the report, saying in a statement it was "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey."

Comey wrote the memo after he met in the Oval Office with Trump, the day after the Republican president fired Flynn on Feb. 14 for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of his conversations last year with Russia`s ambassador, Sergei Kislyak.

I hope you can let this go, Trump told Comey, according to a source familiar with the contents of the memo.

The New York Times said that during the Oval Office meeting, Trump condemned a series of government leaks to the news media and said the FBI director should consider prosecuting reporters for publishing classified information.

Coming the day after charges that Trump disclosed sensitive information to the Russians last week, the new disclosure further rattled members of Congress.

"The memo is powerful evidence of obstruction of justice and certainly merits immediate and prompt investigation by an independent special prosecutor," said Democratic U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers said they wanted to see the memo.

Republican U.S. Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of a House of Representatives oversight committee, said his committee "is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready."

In a letter to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Chaffetz set a deadline of May 24 for the FBI to produce "all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the President."

Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan backed Chaffetz.

"We need to have all the facts, and it is appropriate for the House Oversight Committee to request this memo," said Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong.
Washington: President Donald Trump risked the life of an Israeli spy embedded in the ISIS by sharing classified information with Russia, former US and Israeli officials believe.

"The spy provided intelligence involving an active ISIS plot to bring down a passenger jet en route to the United States, with a bomb hidden in a laptop that US officials believe can get through airport screening machines undetected," ABC News reported.

"The information was reliable enough that the US is considering a ban on laptops on all flights from Europe to the United States," it said.

The president's disclosure put the operative for one of the US' closest allies at risk and jeopardised future operations by sharing the information with Russia.

"The real risk is not just this source, but future sources of information about plots against us," Matt Olsen, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told ABC.

Many in the counter-terrorism community also feel that what the president did was a mistake as Russia is not the part of a coalition fighting against the Islamic State (ISIS).

"They are not our partner".

Dan Shapiro, the former US ambassador to Israel, now a senior visiting fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, called the president and his team "careless". He said that the reported disclosures demonstrate a "poor understanding of how to guard sensitive information".
Washington: US President Donald Trump would begin his maiden foreign trip with a visit to Saudi Arabia later this week where he would pitch for the need to tackle radical Islam ideology.

"He (Trump) will meet and have lunch with leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries where he will deliver an inspiring, yet direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and his hopes, the president hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world," US National Security Advisor HR McMaster told reporters during at the White House yesterday.

"The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against the common enemies of all civilisation and to demonstrate America's commitment to our Muslim partners," he said while giving details of Trump's itinerary for his visit.

The US President will be welcomed Saudi King Salman.

Mc Master said Trump will participate in a signing ceremony of several agreements that will further solidify US-Saudi security and economic cooperation.

The president and the first lady will also join members of the Saudi royal family for an official dinner.

Bilateral meeting is scheduled between Trump and Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, besides meetings with Gulf state leaders, he said.

Trump will also inaugurate a new center intended to fight radicalism and promote moderation.

"By establishing and operating this center, our Muslim friends, including Saudi Arabia, are taking a firm stand against extremism and those who use a perverted interpretation of religion to advance their criminal and political agendas," the NSA said.

From Saudi Arabia, Trump would travel to Jerusalem, where he will meet Israeli President Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and lay a wreath at Yad Vashem.

The next day, he would meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem and convey America's interest to facilitate an agreement that ends the conflict in the region.

"He will urge Palestinian leaders to take steps that will help lead to peace. He will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and say a prayer at the Western Wall," McMaster said.

The next destination would Rome and the Vatican, where Trump will meet the Pope.

"He looks forward to celebrating the rich contributions of Catholics to America and to the world, and discussing a range of issues of mutual concern," he said.

From Rome, Trump would fly to Brussels to meet leaders of the European Union and of the European Council.

From Brussels, Trump would travel to Sicily for the G-7.

"Throughout the summit, he will meet bilaterally with leaders, including the Italian prime minister. In the formal meetings, he will press America's economic agenda and call for greater security cooperation," Mc Master said.

On the first night of the summit, he will also attend a concert performed by the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a leaders' dinner hosted by the president of Italy.
Washington: US Homeland Security chief John Kelly has not made a final decision on extending a ban on larger electronic devices on airplanes, but the department still believes an expansion is likely, a spokesman said on Tuesday.



Fears that a bomb could be concealed in electronic devices prompted the United States to announce in March it would restrict passengers from bringing devices larger than cell phones on flights originating from 10 airports, including in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. Britain followed suit with restrictions on a slightly different set of routes.



DHS spokesman David Lapan declined to offer guidance on when a decision on an expansion would be made but reiterated it was likely the restrictions would be expanded. He also said any expansion could affect international airports in Europe and elsewhere.



European Union and US officials will meet on Wednesday to discuss airline security, including a possible extension of a ban on passengers carrying laptops in aircraft cabins, a European Commission spokesman said.



The meeting was arranged during a phone call between Kelly and EU ministers on Friday. DHS Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke will attend the meeting.



The United States has been considering increasing the number of airports affected by the ban to possibly include some European ones, prompting the EU to hold a meeting of aviation security officials last week.



In Australia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday the country may ban passengers from bringing laptop computers into the cabin on some international flights.



"We are looking at it very closely, taking into account all the information and advice we are receiving internationally and working very closely with our partners," Turnbull said, according to a transcript released by his office.



Chief among the Europeans` concerns is the fire risk from placing hundreds of devices with lithium-ion batteries in luggage holds.



Reuters reported last week that the Trump administration would likely expand a ban on laptops on commercial aircraft to include some European countries but was reviewing how to ensure lithium batteries stored in holds do not explode in midair, citing officials briefed on the matter.



Any expansion of the ban could affect US and European carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc, and American Airlines Group.



In 2016, 30 million people flew to the United States from Europe, according to US Transportation Department data.
Chinese state media said that concerted efforts to tackle cyber crimes have been hindered by actions of the United States.

By Reuters: Chinese state media on Wednesday criticised the United States for hindering efforts to stop global cyber threats in the wake of the WannaCry "ransomware" attack that has infected more than 300,000 computers worldwide in recent days.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) should shoulder some blame for the attack, which targets vulnerabilities in Microsoft Corp systems and has infected some 30,000 Chinese organisations as of Saturday, the China Daily said.

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"Concerted efforts to tackle cyber crimes have been hindered by the actions of the United States," it said, adding that Washington had "no credible evidence" to support bans on Chinese tech firms in the United States following the attack.

The malware attack, which began on Friday and has been linked by some researchers to previous hits by a North Korean-run hacking operation, leveraged a tool built by the NSA that leaked online in April, Microsoft says.

It comes as China prepares to enforce a wide-reaching cyber security law that US business groups say will threaten the operations of foreign firms in China with strict local data storage laws and stringent surveillance requirements.

GLOBAL CYBER GOVERNANCE

China's cyber authorities have repeatedly pushed for what they call a more "equitable" balance in global cyber governance, criticising US dominance.

The China Daily pointed to the US ban on Chinese telecommunication provider Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, saying the curbs were hypocritical given the NSA leak.

Beijing has previously said the proliferation of fake news on US social media sites, which are largely banned in China, is a reason to tighten global cyber governance.

The newspaper said that the role of the US security apparatus in the attack should "instill greater urgency" in China's mission to replace foreign technology with its own.

The state-run People's Daily compared the cyber attack to the terrorist hacking depicted in the US film "Die Hard 4", warning that China's role in global trade and internet connectivity opened it to increased risks from overseas.

The fast-spreading cyber extortion campaign eased for second day on Tuesday, but the identity and motive of its creators remain unknown.

WATCH:

ALSO READ:

Ransomware cyber attack: Hackers leverage stolen NSA tool WannaCry, Windows bug to wreak havoc worldwide

Microsoft on Wanna Cry ransomware: Governments should treat cyber attack as 'wake-up call', NSA partly to blame

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Washington: The classified intelligence US President Donald Trump divulged to Russian officials last week was provided by Israel, a media report said on Wednesday.

"The revelation adds a potential diplomatic complication to an episode that has renewed questions about how the White House handles sensitive intelligence," The New York Times said.

The White House refused to comment on the report.

"I cannot comment specifically on that," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters during an off- camera news conference.

However, Israel came out in support of the White House.

"Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under President Trump," Israeli Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, said in a statement to The New York Times.

US National Security Advisor Lt General HR McMaster asserted that Trump's sharing of information with Russia did not risk national security.

"What the President shared was wholly appropriate. The story combined what was leaked with other information and the insinuated about sources and methods," he said.

McMaster said Trump took the decision on sharing information during the conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last week when they were discussing fight against the Islamic State.

"He made the decision in the context of the conversation, which was wholly appropriate...The President was meeting with the Foreign Minister about the terrorist threat. He'd also raised some difficult issues: what we expected in terms of different behaviour from Russia in key areas like Ukraine, and in Syria," he said.
Washington: Scandals within the Trump administration are reaching the "size and scale" of Watergate, prominent Republican leader John McCain, a staunch critic of US President Donald Trump, has said.

"I think we've seen this movie before. I think it appears at a point where it's of Watergate size and scale. The shoes continued to drop, and in every couple of days there's a new aspect," Senator McCain, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee told an audience at a Republican event yesterday.

McCain, a former Republican presidential candidate who lost to Barack Obama in 2008 elections, made the comment at a dinner where he received the International Republican Institute's Freedom Award.

"I've known this guy (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei) Lavrov for 30 years, he's an old KGB apparatchik stooge, and Putin is a murderer and a thug," McCain was quoted as saying by the Daily Beast.

"And to have Lavrov in the Oval Office and be friendly with the guy whose boss, sent aircraft with precision weapons to attack hospitals in Aleppo, I just think it's unacceptable," said McCain.

Several other Republican lawmakers too expressed concerns over the developments inside the White House.

"Less drama from the other end of Pennsylvania would be a good thing," Senator John Thune told reporters.

"Can we have a crisis-free day?" asked Senator Susan Collins, another Republican Senator.

"I think we could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so that we can focus on our agenda, which is deregulations, tax reformations and repealing and replacing Obama Care," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Bloomberg.

Watergate was a major political scandal that occurred in the US in the 1970s, which ended in resignation of the then president Richard Nixon.

Trump has been lambasted with accusations over the past week. Last week, he abruptly fired former FBI Director James Comey, which concerned some because of the agency's investigation into Russia and his campaign.

On Monday, a report stated Trump shared highly classified national security information with Russian government officials.

Yesterday, another report surfaced claiming Trump told Comey to end the FBI investigation into former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn.




Jerusalem: Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken by phone, a spokesman said on Wednesday, as controversy brewed over the US president's sharing of intelligence with Russia that came from Israel.

A spokesman in Netanyahu's office confirmed the phone call took place yesterday afternoon but did not say who initiated it.

Trump is due to visit Israel next week.

"There was a call yesterday between the president and prime minister for about 20 minutes," the spokesman said. "The only topic discussed was the upcoming visit."

Israel meanwhile sought to contain fallout from Trump's sharing of its intelligence with Russia, while not commenting directly on the move.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman lauded security ties between the United States and his country, saying it would continue to be "unprecedented" in scope.

But he made no mention of Trump divulging intelligence to Russia that a US administration official said had originally come from Israel.

The United States is Israel's most important ally, providing it with more than $3 billion in defence aid each year.

The Washington Post reported late Monday that Trump revealed what it said was highly classified information on the Islamic State group (IS) during a meeting last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Moscow's Washington ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

It said that Trump told Lavrov about a specific IS bomb threat.

A US administration official confirmed to AFP on condition of anonymity that the original intelligence came from Israel, which was initially reported by the New York Times.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the government to ensure that 160 million Indian subscribers are not "entrapped" in any manner by service providers like WhatsApp, which is providing free services to its users.

The government also told the apex court that it was in the process of evolving a regulatory regime on data protection which would be binding in nature.

"State has a duty to protect the citizenry rights. Since service providers like WhatsApp and Facebook say we are giving it free, the state has to ensure that 160 million citizens who are using the service, are not entrapped in it," a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said.

The remarks by the top court came at the fag end of the day-long hearing after WhatsApp, while opposing the maintainability of the plea challenging its 2016 privacy policy, explained the nitty-gritty involved in it.

The bench, which is hearing a challenge to the privacy policy of WhatsApp, also questioned whether the instant messaging platform can impose any condition on its users here which violated any part of the Constitution.

While questioning the instant messaging platform why the world has "reacted" to its current privacy policy, the bench said nobody wants to share his or her data in "entirety".

"The issue is that you (WhatsApp) have framed a policy inviting customers for the purpose of availing the service. In that sphere, can you impose any condition which violates any part of the Constitution," the bench asked WhatsApp, which was acquired by Facebook in 2014.

"Why has the entire world, and a country like Germany, reacted to it? If it is such a laudable project, why are they reacting," the bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri, Amitava Roy, A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar, asked and observed, "we undertand the concept of charity".

Senior advocate K K Venugopal, representing Facebook, told the bench that they were not sharing any sensitive or personal data and since India was shifting to digitisation, the service provided by WhatsApp was beneficial as it was end-to-end encrypted.

"There are privacy laws in those countries. It is a matter which should be left to the government here," he said.

Meanwhile, the Centre told the apex court, which would now hear the matter on July 21, that they were in the process of making a regulatory regime to deal with the issue.

"At the outset, the central government is committed to freedom of choice and right to privacy of citizens. This is non-negotiable and we are committed to this," Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta said, adding, "We are already in the process of doing it (regulatory regime)."

"We are in the process of making either a statutory rule or executive guidelines, which would be binding in nature, on data protection," he told the bench.

During the day-long hearing, Venugopal said there was no legal framework at present to deal with the issue but most of the prayers sought by the petitioners were covered under the 2011 rules of the Information Technology Act.

"These rules have the framework, an issue which has been raised. My submission is that the petition is not maintainable," he said, adding that it was a matter of policy.

He also said they were complying with the provisions of the rules which were in place in India.

Senior advocate K V Vishwanathan, appearing for Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), an intervenor in the case, said that though these rules would apply to WhatsApp and Facebook, but the entire issue, including the aspect of metadata, pending before the apex court, was not covered under it.

"We find that the rules prescribe that there has to be a consent if you are sharing sensitive personal data. Suppose the consent is not taken effectively, what is the role of the constitutional court," the bench said and asked Venugopal,"are you collecting any sensitive personal data at all?".

Responding to the query, the senior counsel said they were not collecting any personal or sensitive data and only phone numbers, device ID, registration details and the last seen status were shared.

"These are totally non-sensitive and neutral data and no consent is required for it," he said while refuting the claims of the petitioner that they produce or use metadata.
Dhaka: A Bangladesh court on Wednesday sentenced to death 23 persons, including a Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader, for the murder of four activists of the Awami League and its student organisation in 2002, a media report said.

Additional Public Prosecutor Jasmin Ahmed confirmed the verdict and said that it was pronounced by Narayanganj Second Additional District and Sessions Court judge, Kamrunnahar.

Of the 23 sentenced to death, 19 persons including, BNP leader Abul Bashar Kashu, were present in the court, while the remaining four were absconding.

Awami league is a political party of which Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the president.

According to the prosecution, Kashu and others tortured the four activists, after picking them up from their houses on March 12, 2002, and later burnt them to death, bdnews24 reported.

One of the four murdered persons belonged to Awami League`s student organisation, Chhatra League.

Jasmin said he was satisfied with the judgment.
Beijing: China has installed rocket launchers on a disputed reef in the South China Sea to ward off Vietnamese military combat divers, according to a state-run newspaper, offering new details on China`s ongoing military build-up.

China has said military construction on the islands it controls in the South China Sea will be limited to necessary defensive requirements, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory.

The United States has criticised what it has called China`s militarisation of its maritime outposts and stressed the need for freedom of navigation by conducting periodic air and naval patrols near them that have angered Beijing.

The state-run Defence Times newspaper, in a Tuesday report on its WeChat account, said Norinco CS/AR-1 55mm anti-frogman rocket launcher defence systems with the capability to discover, identify and attack enemy combat divers had been installed on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands.

Fiery Cross Reef is administered by China but also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

The report did not say when the defence system was installed, but said it was part of a response that began in May 2014, when Vietnamese divers installed large numbers of fishing nets in the Paracel Islands.

China has conducted extensive land reclamation work at Fiery Cross Reef, including building an airport, one of several Chinese-controlled features in the South China Sea where China has carried out such work.

More than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped through the South China Sea every year. Besides China`s territorial claims in the area, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.
Karachi: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) here has ordered the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) to arrest Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) chief Dr. Farooq Sattar and senior leader Amir Khan and produce them before the court.

Both are to be arrested in connection with two cases pertaining to sedition, anti-state offences and attack on media houses following the Aug 22, 2016 incendiary speech of party founder Altaf Hussain, reports the Dawn.

The ATC-II judge sent a letter to the Rangers` DGP Major General Mohammad Saeed, along with non-bailable warrants for the arrest of the two leaders, directing him to arrest and produce them in court on May 31 without fail.

The court observed that despite several directives, police were unable to arrest Dr.Sattar and MQM-P`s senior deputy convener Amir Khan.

Declaring it a most urgent matter, the judge asked the Rangers chief to keep it as his top priority.

The ATC has repeatedly been issuing warrants for the arrest of the MQM leaders since October last.

However, the police on almost every hearing told the trial court that the leaders went into hiding and warrants could not be executed.

However, the court rejected the police reports and came down hard on police officials, telling them that the absconders were easily accessible to media and appearing on TV channels almost on a daily basis.

The two cases were registered at the Artillery Maidan police station after a highly provocative speech of the MQM founder on August 22, 2016 outside the Karachi Press Club that triggered a violent protest and ransacking of media houses in which a passer-by was killed and several others were injured.
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the setting up of an agriculture research institute in Assam, to help spur growth in north eastern states.

Briefing media on the Cabinet decisions, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said the government had plans to bring a green revolution in the north-east region and the new Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in Assam would "play a crucial role in bringing a second green revolution" in the country.

"Development of the north-eastern states has been a priority for the Modi government and the new institute will play a crucial role in driving growth in the region," Goyal said.

The institute would be set up at a cost of Rs 155 crore, Goyal said.

"Not a single agriculture research institute was built after 1967. In 2014, the Modi government approved two such institutes.

Construction of the one in Ranchi has already started. But there was not any development in the case of the Assam institute as the previous government did not allot land. The (current BJP-led) Sarbananda Sonowal government has allotted 587 acres for the institute," Goyal said.

The IARI-Assam will be the third such institute after those in New Delhi and Ranchi. It will have student capacity of 67 for MSc and 106 for PhD in agricultural sciences programmes.

"By 2020-21, the institute will produce about 90 PhD students every year. The institute will drive agricultural progress in Assam and other northeastern states. About 85 per cent of the people in Assam are dependent on agriculture," Goyal said.

The Agriculture Ministry said the IARI-Assam will have "all the hallmark identities of IARI in New Delhi", including all sectors of agriculture like field crops, horticulture crops, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, piggery, silk rearing, honey production.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said IARI-Assam would work on the agrarian challenges and complexities of northeastern India in coordination with all existing central and state governments, R&D institutions and private sector enterprises.

"(It will undertake) research, education, extension programmes in its mission towards developing quality human resource, generation of farmer-friendly technologies to enhance productivity, quality, profitability, promote agro-based industries and generate employment opportunities for holistic and sustainable development of the agriculture sector in the region," a release quoted Singh as saying.

The IARI-Assam has 100 per cent outlay of the central government on 587 acres of land provided by the Assam government. The proposal for 98 positions has been approved, the release said.
Patna: The workers of Rashtriya Janata Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party clashed outside BJP office in Patna on Wednesday, a day after the Income Tax Department conducted raids at 22 places in and around Delhi in connection with an alleged "benami" property case involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family.

RJD workers were protesting against senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi when the clashes occurred in front of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state headquarters office on the busy Birchand Patel Marg near the IT square in the heart of Patna.

"RJD and BJP workers clashed violently by attacking each other with bamboo sticks and pelted stones at each other in which some of them were injured. They also shouted slogans with abusive language against top leaders of the rival party," a police official said.



"The two sides clashed for nearly half an hour in the presence of police officials, who hardly intervened initially and did not use force to control the situation. The police became active only after the situation went out of control," an eyewitness, who owns a pavement tea shop, said.



After police dispersed the Rashtriya Janata Dal workers, hundreds of angry BJP workers staged a protest by blocking the Birchand Patel Marg, demanding action against RJD workers.



The protest started when a group of Chatra (student) RJD workers, holding an "Akrosh march" to protest against the IT department raids on 22 locations involving Lalu Prasad, reached near the BJP office. They shouted slogans against the BJP and their leaders. In response, some BJP workers came out of their office and shouted counter slogans.



The RJD workers expressed their anger against senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who has addressed several press conferences in the past one month accusing Lalu and his family of "benami" property and corruption.



Later, a group of BJP workers tried to attack the RJD office, located not far away from the BJP office, but police dispersed them.



RJD workers shouted slogans like 'BJP ki goondagardi nahi chaalegi, Sampardayik aur Fascistwadi BJP hai hai'.



But when BJP workers started shouting slogans like "Lalu Chor hai" "Charaa Chor hai", "Lalu ko jail bhejo", the RJD workers got angry. Some RJD workers pelted stones, as alleged by BJP workers, after which both sides indulged in a free-for-all with bamboo sticks, bricks and stones.



Hundreds of armed police officials were deployed to control the situation, a senior police official said.



Reacting to the violence, Sushil Modi said that RJD goons had attacked the BJP office.



"It clearly shows the desperation of the RJD and its top leaders Lalu and his two sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, both ministers in the Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar," he said.



However, the RJD leaders claimed that a "silent" march of RJD workers was attacked by the BJP near its office.

Notably, Sushil Modi had repeatedly alleged benami property against Lalu Prasad and his family members.

The Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday welcomed the IT raids and targeted Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar, saying the Centre initiated the action after he had demanded it.

The IT raids come a day after Nitish Kumar said that if there was documentary proof or solid evidence against the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and his family, then the central government should take legal action.

Following the IT raids, Sushil Kumar Modi told the media in Patna that his stand was "vindicated".

He said he has put all the evidence related to benami property of Lalu Prasad, his elder daughter and two sons in the public domain.

Last week, he said that "no one knows whether Lalu Prasad would be in jail or outside before the August 27 rally of RJD".

Earlier, Modi had demanded a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the connections between Lalu Prasad and his family with jailed businessmen brothers Surendra Jain and Virendra Jain.

Modi said Lalu Prasad's eldest daughter, Misa Bharti, should reveal the source of funds with which she bought a farmhouse in Bijwasan area in New Delhi, alleging that the money actually belonged to Lalu, and was part of the Rs 1,000 crore fodder scam.

Reacting strongly to the IT raids, RJD chief Lalu Prasad put up a brave front, saying he was "not scared at all" and will continue to "fight against the fascist forces."

"BJP mein himmat nahi hai ki Lalu ki awaz ko daba sake... Lalu ki awaz dabayenge to desh bhar me karoron Lalu khare ho jayenge... Main gidarbhabhki se nahi darne wala hoon (BJP does not have the courage to stifle my voice ... If it tries to silence one Lalu, crores of Lalu will stand up in the country. I am not scared of empty threats)," he tweeted.

(With Agency inputs)
Chennai: A day after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided his residence, former finance minister P Chidambaram's son Karti on Wednesday said the drama was over now.

Speaking to news agency ANI over the phone, Karti said that the 'drama is now over'.

On Tuesday, the CBI had raided the residences of former Union Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in connection with the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approvals when he was the Finance Minister.

P Chidambaram had termed it vendetta politics and declared the raids will not stop him from being critical of the government.

Karti had on Tuesday also reiterated his father's stand and said the filing of cases against him and raids on his properties were being done out of political vendetta and to muzzle his father's voice against the central government.

He had also asserted that he had committed no crime and the government cannot establish any guilt against him.

A team of 11 CBI officials entered the Haddows Road residence of Chidambaram on Tuesday morning and carried out searches.

Separate Central Bureau of Investigation teams conducted searches at more than 17 locations in Chennai, Karaikudi, Delhi and Noida besides Mumbai and Gurugram.

The CBI raids came close on the heels of an Enforcement Directorate probe into the affairs of Karti Chidambaram who they allege was involved in FEMA violations and money laundering. (With Agency inputs)
A man was kidnapped from his wedding venue by an armed woman in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur. The man had dated the woman for months before ditching her.

By India Today Web Desk: It was the biggest day in the life of Banda resident Ashok Yadav. Sitting at the mandap, he was moments away from tying the nuptial knot with the woman his family had selected for him.

The wedding venue was full with guests from both sides waiting for the bride to arrive. Suddenly, an SUV stopped at the main entrance and what happened next was nothing short of a scene from a Bollywood masala flick but with a twist.

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HOW THE STORY UNFOLDED

Ashok Yadav worked at a private clinic in Banda. He was in love with a woman who also worked at the clinic. Ashok had promised to marry the woman. However, after a few months into their affair, Ashok started to avoid the woman as his family had fixed his marriage with another girl in the neighbouring town of Hamirpur. Despite several attempts, the girl failed to meet Ashok as he tried to cut off all ties with her. The girl later got to know about Ashok's marriage with another woman. Furious over Ashok's betrayal, the woman decided to take revenge. On May 15 night, just when Ashok was preparing to take the wedding vows, an SUV stopped at the main entrance of the marriage venue. Ashok's girlfriend along with three other armed men walked straight into the wedding hall. The woman took out a pistol, pointed it towards Ashok and asked him to sit in the SUV. She threatened the guests of dire consequences if anyone tried to stop her. Before anyone could understand what was happening the woman fled from the scene with Ashok. Hamirpur ASP Brajesh Kumar Mishra said the police is investigating the incident and a search operation has been launched to locate Ashok and the woman. However, cops are yet to taste any success in the case.

ALSO READ:

Delhi: Man kills woman for argument with bar dancer girlfriend, arrested

Chennai shocker: Man kills girlfriend with hammer wrapped as birthday gift, hangs self with her shawl

Haryana shocker: Dalit youth murdered for marrying upper caste girl in Hisar

Delhi: Girl, 15, kidnapped, raped and sold for Rs 70,000

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: Sacked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kapil Mishra on Wednesday asserted that he will visit the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) today to file a complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"I will go to the CBDT today. Whatever complaint I have filed in the CBI, I will now file the same in CBDT. It is regarding hawala, corruption, money laundering and about the racket of fraud company that they are running," Mishra told ANI earlier in the day through his blog. Mishra also alleged that Kejriwal has been to the office just two times in the last year.

"I have questioned that whether Arvind Kejriwal as a Chief Minister is ready to put forward and evaluate his performance report. I have challenged him to put forward his performance report. He has been to office twice in past one year," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mishra claimed that the income tax authorities have started probing the allegations raised by him against fake companies registered in the name of AAP MLA Shivcharan Goyal. Mishra told media, "The income tax department has started investigations against the fake companies registered in the name of AAP MLA Shivcharan Goyal.

"Mishra had approached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit evidence of corruption against Arvind Kejriwal.Mishra also alleged that for three continuous years, black money was converted into white and was spent on foreign trips of AAP leaders." Moreover, AAP did not inform about some of its funding which it received from fake companies," he said.

Mishra targeted Kejriwal and revealed that 16 shell companies deposited money worth crores in the AAP`s bank accounts."These fake companies are registered in the name of AAP MLA from Moti Nagar, Shivcharan Goyal. These companies have given Rs. two crores to Kejriwal. The funds received from these companies were sent to the same branch of Axis Bank where there were allegations of converting black money into white at the time of demonetization," he added.
New Delhi: Suspended AAP leader Kapil Mishra on Wednesday again hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The former Delhi water minister has posted a blog on his twitter account and taken pot shots at the AAP convenor over range of issues.

Mishra has alleged that Kejriwal visited the CM office only twice in last one year.

He also took a dig at his one-time mentor for keeping mum on the corruption allegations against the AAP leaders.

Kejriwal's relatives and friends houses are being raided,, but the CM who is completely cut off from the public, leaves his house after many days to see Sarkar 3, Mishra said.

"These days Kejriwal is telling his party leaders that don't be afraid of the public, it forgets everything in 15 days," the former AAP leader wrote in his blog.

"Kejriwal is the only CM in the country whose attendance is very poor, he is the only CM who doesn't visits his office and neither holds any portfolio. He is the only CM who takes maximum official leaves and soon would be the only CM in the country, who would have the maximum number of corruption cases against himself," Mishra said.

He accused the AAP chief of looting Delhiites money and breaking the trust of people who supported him.

He also alleged massive corruption in the ambitous AAP governmnet's ambitious 'Mohalla Clinic' programme.

Mishra on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over allegations of corruption.

On May 9, Mishra approached the CBI and filed three complaints -- the exchange of cash between Kejriwal and Satyendar Jain, the firm owned by Kejriwal's relatives involved in PWD works and a Chhatarpur farmhouse land deal, and the foreign trips by five AAP leaders.

Mishra on May 14 levelled fresh charges against Kejriwal and accused the AAP of lying to the EC about donations and laundering money through shell companies, before he fainted midway through the press conference and was hospitalised.

He said the party has accumulated the money through shell companies.

On May 10, Mishra sat on indefinite hunger strike demanding the AAP leader reveal the source of funding of the foreign trips of its five leaders -- Sanjay Singh, Ashish Khetan, Raghav Chadhha, Satyendar Jain and Durgesh Pathak -- in the last two years.
New Delhi: Delhi Police arrested two drug suppliers of an inter-state cartel in south Delhi and seized 22.5 kg of party drug ephedrine, valued Rs 22 crore, which was meant for supply to a foreign national in Dwarka, police said on Wednesday.



The two men would supply drugs to rave parties in posh areas of Delhi, Chandigarh and other states.

Police said Ashok Kumar, 45, and Lalmuankima, 29, residents of Adarsh Nagar in Delhi and Mizoram respectively, were arrested on a tip-off on Monday night when Kumar came in his car to hand over the ephedrine to Lalmuankima in Pochanpur village of Dwarka.

"They disclosed that they used to prepare ecstasy (party drug) with the help of ephedrine which they supplied to rave parties in posh areas of Delhi and Chandigarh, Mizoram and northeast states and parts of Punjab," Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said.

"Kumar earlier used to work in a pharmaceutical company in Delhi and supply drugs collected from pharma companies to various parties. He gathered knowledge about the illicit use of ephedrine in preparing party drug tablets," Yadav said.

"This drug is widely used by party revellers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The ephedrine tablets are also mixed with drinks and consumed in rave parties," the officer added.

"Lalmuankima said that he is working for Aizawl and Mizoram -based drug traffickers and had come to Delhi to collect the drug consignment from Kumar in order to deliver it to a foreign national living in Dwarka," he added.
New Delhi: Neighbouring Haryana has commenced releasing water for Delhi and supply in the national capital would return to normal by Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said.



"Haryana has started releasing water. Production likely to be normal by tommorow (Thursday) morning and distribution by tomorrow (Thursday) evening. We are constantly monitoring the situation," Kejriwal tweeted on Wednesday.



Water supply in the national capital was hit after Haryana on Monday evening reduced water supply to the city.



On Tuesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government asked Delhi's Lt Governor Anil Baijal to request Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to intervene on the water-release issue.



The national capital faces shortage of water every summer and engages in a tussle with Haryana.
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval to pan-India implementation of maternity benefit program which now has been extended to all districts of the country with effect from January this year.

The Prime Minister in his address to the nation on December 31 last year had announced pan-India implementation of maternity benefit program.

The maternity benefit program will provide compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentives so that the women can take adequate rest before and after delivery and not be deprived of proper nutrition.

Objective of the Scheme

i) To provide partial compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentives so that the woman can take adequate rest before and after delivery of the first living child.

ii) The cash incentives provided would lead to improved health seeking behaviour amongst the pregnant Women and lactating mother (PW&LM) to reduce the effects of under-nutrition namely stunting, wasting and other related problems.

Target Group

All eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers (PW&LM), excluding the pregnant women and lactating mothers who are in regular employment with the central government or state government or public sector undertakings or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being. It has been decided to give the benefit of Rs 5000/- to PW&LM in three installment for the birth of the first live child by MWCD and the remaining cash incentive as per approved norms towards maternity benefit under existing programmes after institutional delivery so that on an average, a woman will get Rs 6000/-.

Conditions and installments

Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who are eligible will receive a cash benefit of Rs 5,000/- in three installment at the following stages as specified in the table given below:

Cash Transfer Conditions Amount (in Rupee) First installment Early Registration of Pregnancy 1,000/- Second installment Received at least one antenatal Check-up (after 6 months of pregnancy) 2,000/- Third installment -Child birth is registered -Child has received first cycle of BCG, OPV, DPT and Hepatitis-B or its equivalent/substitute 2,000/-

The eligible beneficiaries would continue to receive the remaining cash incentive as per approved norms towards maternity benefit under existing programmes after institutional delivery so that on an average, a woman will get Rs 6000/-.

Mode of cash transfer to the Beneficiaries

The conditional cash transfer scheme would be in DBT mode.
Gurugram: The Gurugram Police on Wednesday announced a Rs 2 lakh reward for anyone giving information on the men behind the gang-rape of a young woman from the northeast last week.

The appeal was sent out after police failed to find any clues to trace the three men who are believed to have abducted the 26-year-old woman from Gurugram on Saturday night and raped her in a moving car before throwing her out in Najafgarh.

"A reward of Rs 2 lakh has been announced for anyone who will give information leading to the arrest of the criminals involved in raping the north east girl," Gurugram Police Commissioner Sandeep Khirwar said.

The men had kidnapped the girl from Sector 17 in Gurugram when she was returning to her paying guest accommodation after watching a movie with a friend in Connaught Place in Delhi.

A sketch of one accused person had been made but police could not find any concrete clue to trace him.
Chandigarh: At the ripe old age of 82, former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala has passed his higher secondary examination in the first division, while serving out a 10 year sentence in Delhi's Tihar jail.

Chautala, who was convicted in the teachers' recruitment scam case, is now planning to pursue a BA course, his younger son and senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala said here today.

"He appeared for the Class XII examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling at the centre set up for prisoners at Tihar Jail. The last examination was held on April 23. He was out on parole during that time, but as the examination centre was inside the jail premises, he went back to jail and sat for the examination," Abhay said.

The senior Chautala was out on parole last month to attend the wedding of his grandson and Hisar MP, Dushyant Singh Chautala. His parole ended on May 5.

"He has been in prison for the last four-and-a-half years. My father thought of putting his time to best use and pursue his studies," Abhay said, adding that he had cleared the exam in the first division.

According to him, the Indian National Lok Dal president was forced to discontinue his studies during his school days due to family compulsions.

"When he was in school, my grandfather Chaudhary Devi Lal was into politics. Who was to take care of the large family, who will look after farming, these were some of the issues which my father, being the eldest member of the family after Devi Lal, had to take care of .

"This forced him to leave his studies in between and the responsibility to educate his younger siblings also fell on him. Later, he himself entered politics and found little time to pursue his studies," Abhay told PTI here.

He said his father often visits the Tihar jail library, where he reads newspapers and books. "He also asks the jail staff to arrange for his favourite books."

An unlikely source of inspiration for the former chief minister was Manu Sharma, serving a life term for killing model Jessica Lall in 1999, who was pursuing an LLB course while being lodged in the prison.

"Manu's Cell in Tihar prison is also adjoining to the one where Chautala sahib is lodged and saw him pursue higher studies from prison," he said.

Abhay hoped other prisoners would take encouragement from the achievement and realise the importance of education.
Kolkata: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday welcomed the sacking of Maulana Noor-ur-Rehman Barkati from the post of Shahi Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan mosque and said such people who give anti-India statements should be thrown out of the country.

BJP leader Rahul Sinha said while speaking to ANI, "These kinds of people should be thrown out of the country. Such persons, who raised pro-Pakistan slogans, doesn't have the authority to be the Imam. He should be sent to Pakistan. I welcome his sacking."

Another BJP leader Dilip Gosh expressed similiar views and said, "It is unfortunate since Imam is a religious figure. I have been reiterating that the reason he is courageous enough to say anti-India remarks because of the fact that Chief Minister ( Mamata Banerjee) was protecting him. He is a vote catcher. He should have sacked earlier."

Earlier today, the trustees of Tipu Sultan mosque sacked Barkati for his "objectionable and inflammatory remarks against the country".

However, the controversial cleric refused to acknowledge trustee board's order and declines to step down from the post. Speaking to ANI, Barkati said, ""Terminated, axed, these words don't apply to Imam. Imam is a community head . . . I get a lot of notices every day. Who are they to terminate me? They need to apologise before the media otherwise they will face serious consequences."

Barkati also alleged that the trustees were acting on the behest of Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and blamed them of siphoning the mosque's property.

Barkati is infamous for issuing fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defying Centre' order on the use of red beacon.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) whether a woman can be given an option to say 'no' to triple talaq at the time of execution of 'nikahnama'.

Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar, who along with four other judges, is hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq today suggested senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the AIMPLB that a clause can be added on the nikaahnama to say that the marriage can't be dissolved by the husband by pronouncing instant triple talaq.

Replying to SC's query the board said that a Muslim woman had every right to pronounce triple talaq in all forms, and also ask for very high 'mehr' amount in case of talaq.

The Muslim board also stated that marriage in the Muslim community is a contract.

Earlier, the SC bench also wanted to know from AIMPLB that whether the board's advisory will be followed by the Qazis at the ground level.

To this query, one of AIMPLB's lawyers Yousuf Muchala told the SC bench that board's advisory is not mandatory for all Qazis to follow.

The AIMPLB lawyer said that the board accepts the suggestions in all humility and will look into it.

Today is the fifth day of the hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging triple talaq, polygamy and 'nikah halala' which is going on before a bench comprising members of different religious communities including Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim.

The AIMPLB on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that triple talaq was a "sin and undesirable" act, but still permissible and efforts are on to educate the community against its misuse.

"If I have faith that Lord Rama was born at Ayodhya, then it's a matter of faith and there is no question of constitutional morality" and it cannot be interfered with by a court of law Sibal said while drawing an analogy between triple talaq and the belief about Lord Rama.

"Triple talaq has been there since 637 AD. Who are we to say that this is un-Islamic. Muslims are practising it for last 1,400 years. It is a matter of faith. Hence, there is no question of constitutional morality and equity," he told the five-judge Constitution bench.

The Constitution bench comprises of Chief Justice JS Khehar, Justice Kurian Joseph, Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice S Abdul Nazeer.
New Delhi: A Delhi court has sought the response of the city police on how much time it would require to de-seal the hotel suite where former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor's wife Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in 2014.

Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma asked the Delhi Police to file a report by coordinating with the forensic team as to how much time and how many visits they would need for a final view of the room to conclude their investigation.

The court, which put up the matter for further hearing on July 14, sought the response after the police claimed that the room may be required for further examination by the forensic laboratory or the Central Forensic Laboratory or any foreign lab team.

Meanwhile, on the other hand the hotel has claimed that for the past one year, no probe team has visited the suite.

Opposing the hotel's application to de-seal Suite number 345, the police claimed that some exhibits have been sent for forensic examination and the results were still awaited.

The hotel claimed that because of the sealing of the suite, which costs between Rs 55,000 and Rs 61,000 a night, the hotel has suffered a loss of over Rs 50 lakh in the last three years.

It claimed that a number of times police and forensic teams had visited the suite earlier and it was not required to be kept sealed any longer.

"The hotel continues to suffer loss with each passing days. The continuous sealing of the suite is also affecting the use of other rooms/suites on the same floor," it said.

It claimed that no prejudice will be caused to the police if the suite is de-sealed as it has been examined by multiple forensic experts and agencies.

The suite was sealed on January 17, 2014 during the investigation in pursuant of death of Pushkar, the wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.

An FIR was registered by Delhi police on January 1, 2015 against unknown persons under the section of 302 (murder).
By Somya Abrol: So, Vikas Khanna, like a good boy, had been dropping hints here and there and everywhere about some big announcement. Even while wishing his mother the warmest of "Happy Mother's Day", he added a couple of lines in the end that made us a little anxious (good anxious) about what's to come next. See this for instance:

Picture courtesy: Instagram/vikaskhannagroup

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Well, okay. That's more a veiled declaration than a hint. So, obviously, it got us all excited, and we found out that the movie is being directed by Russian filmmaker Andrei Severny and is called Buried Seeds.

Vikas posted a declaration of the film trailer being aired at Cannes earlier today, and we can't wait to see the response the trailer is going to get on this huge an international platform. According to Vikas' Tweet, the trailer for Buried Seeds is going to be launched at the Cannes film festival on May 18, Thursday. The launch will be followed up by a conversation with the director and Vikas Khanna himself, which clearly means Vikas is going to looking ravishing at the Cannes red carpet this year!

Also Read: Learn how to make the perfect rasam powder at home from chef Sanjeev Kapoor

Last year, Vikas Khanna had made history for the second time in a row at the Cannes film festival. Dressed in an Armani suit and a Tissot watch, Vikas made culinary history for the second time as he walked down the Cannes red carpet and introduced his documentary, Kitchens of Gratitude, to the world, becoming the first chef, globally, to have released a book and a documentary at the film festival.

Celebraty chef Vikas Khanna's life story has been a unique one. From being a boy who couldn't walk to learning cooking from his biji (grandmother) to starting a catering company in Amritsar as a teenager to becoming a Micheline-starred celebrity chef--Vikas Khanna has been a living example of determination and will power, and has inspired many over the years to follow their passions in life.

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New Delhi: In a swift operation involving marine commandos and an armed chopper, the Indian Navy thwarted a piracy attempt on a Liberian vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

The Navy's warship INS Sharda, deployed in Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy mission, swung into action after it received a distress call from MV Lord Mountbatten around 4:45 PM yesterday.

INS Sharda is deployed for anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden since April 06, 2017.

After reaching out to the vessel, the Navy's 'Marcos' commandos with support from the helicopter onboard the ship, carried out a 'board and search' operation on two dhows and five skiffs which had shown "malicious intent".

Three skiffs fled the area at high speeds on sighting the Indian warship.

"The ship received a distress call from MV Lord Mountbatten, in position 230 nm South-West in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel had reported an incident of attempted piracy by two suspicious mother vessels along with 7-8 skiffs. Sharda, which was at that time 30 Nm East of the reported position, immediately responded to the distress call and proceeded at best speed to investigate the incident," Navy Spokesperson Captain DK Sharma said.

One automatic Kalashnikov rifle and 28 rounds of magazines were also recovered from one of the dhows, he said.

Indian Naval assets have been increasingly deployed in recent times to address the various maritime concerns of the region, including piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Sharma said the Indian Navy had started deploying its ships in the Gulf of Aden since October 2008 and has been maintaining 24x7 presence in piracy-infested areas since then.

He said yesterday's operation was 41st such intervention by the Navy in the last eight-and-a-half years in the region during which the force had escorted 3,749 ships and apprehended 120 pirates, as per PTI.

The Navy had also rescued 74 fishermen during the period while INS Sharda is the 63rd Indian Navy ship to be part of the anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden.

The Navy tweeted the following:

# Anti-piracyOpsGoA INS Sharda foils piracy attempt in the Gulf of Aden https://t.co/HO5wcf4vDT pic.twitter.com/0oQuBE6Nr1 May 17, 2017

Also watch the video posted by @indiannavy:

#AntiPiracyOpsinGoA INS Sharda foils a piracy attempt on MV Lord Mountbatten, Liberian registered ship in Gulf of Aden @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/QRIJXjNPgT  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 17, 2017

The navies of India and China last month had rescued a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden after it was hijacked by Somali pirates.

Two frontline warships of the Indian Navy - INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash - were part of the operation while the Chinese Navy had deployed missile frigate Yulin.

However, China had not acknowledged participation of the Indian Navy in the operation.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday pulled up the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in connection with the alleged harassment of students during the National Eligibility/Entrance Test on May 7 in Kannur, Kerala.

The NHRC issued a notice to the chairman of CBSE in the regard, asking to submit a detailed report pertaining to the incident in four weeks.

The NHRC issued a notice against a complaint filed by Joseph M Puthusserry, ex-MLA and state general Secretary, Kerala Congress (M) who demanded the Commission's intervention, saying the incident was a gross violation of human rights and privacy of the candidates.

In the complaint, it was stated in order to adhere to the rigorous CBSE guidelines the students were humiliated at the examination center.

The CBSE had suspended four teachers for violating rights as female candidates appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test center in north Kerala's Kannur district were asked to strip off innerwear to abide by the dress code.

The CBSE has since issued a statement regretting the incident and has issued the suspension of the four teachers involved in the incident for one month.

The harrowing experience came as the metal detector went off when the candidate was entering the center due to the steel buckles of the innerwear. The move was a part of making sure that cheating and irregularities decreased. Physical frisking, strict dress codes are all part of the stringent measures.

Female students were not the only ones suffering humiliation.

Many male and female students reported alike that their sleeves were cut since long sleeves were not allowed. Some students reported that their parents had to go and buy clothes which suited the invigilators' rules. Many students were also asked to dump their shoes.
The Hague: The International Court of Justice will pronounce its verdict on Kulbhushan Jadhav on Thursday.

According to news agency PTI, the verdict will be out at 3.30 PM.

#ICJ order on #KulbhushanJadhav case to be announced tomorrow at 3:30 PM (IST), govt sources say.  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 17, 2017

Earlier, India and Pakistan on Monday crossed swords at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over Kulbhushan Jadhav's case with New Delhi demanding the immediate suspension of his death sentence and Islamabad accusing it of using the world body as a stage for "political theatre" through a "misconceived" plea.

The two neighbours -- who last faced off at the ICJ 18 years ago when Islamabad sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft -- India took the Jadhav case to the world court, accusing Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention and conducting a "farcical trial" for convicting Jadhav without a "shred of evidence".

After hearing the arguments of the two sides, the court said it will issue its order on India's request for provisional measures "as soon as possible".

"The date on which this order will be delivered at a public sitting will be duly communicated to the parties," the court said.

India demanded the immediate suspension of Jadhav's death sentence, expressing fears that Pakistan could execute him even before the hearing at the ICJ was over.

India made a forceful submission as the ICJ began hearing the case of the 46-year-old former Navy officer who was arrested on March 3 last year and sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities.

"Jadhav has not got the right to get proper legal assistance and the right to consular access. There is an immediate threat to him to be executed even before a decision is passed," joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs Deepak Mittal told the court in his opening remarks.

Representing India, lead attorney Harish Salve said, "The execution of the death sentence cannot be done while this court is hearing the appeal. Else, it will be a violation of the Vienna Convention."

Following India's arguments, Pakistan, in its submission before the the UN's highest judicial body, said India's application on Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities, was "unnecessary and misconceived" and must be dismissed.

India has seen it fit to use the International Court of Justice as a stage for "political theatre" but "we will not respond in kind", Mohammad Faisal of the Pakistan Foreign Office said in his opening remarks in response to India's submissions earlier in the day.

The ICJ also denied permission to Pakistan to play a purported "confessional" video of Jadhav at the public hearing here.

Representing Pakistan, lawyer Khawar Qureshi said India has sought to persuade this court that Pakistan intends to execute Jadhav within days.

"Simply by referring to the clemency process available as a right to commander Jadhav. A period of 150 days is provided for in this regard which even if started on April 10, 2017, which is the date of conviction at first instance, could extend to well beyond August 2017.

"There is also of course the potential for the writ petition of the High Court to be invoked as we believe India must be well aware," he said.

Earlier, Salve said Pakistan had denied India its 16 requests for consular

"The graver the charges, the greater the need for continued adherence of the Vienna Convention. Jadhav has been in judicial custody without any communication with his family," he said.

The rights of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations are sacrosanct, Salve said, citing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that recognises that no one can be arbitrarily deprived of their lives.

India had not been given the copy of the charges filed against Jadhav, Salve said.

"The need for a wholesome compliance is greater when charges are serious. We want appropriate legal representation for Kulbhushan Jadhav," he said.

Not just had all requests for consular access fallen on "deaf ears", the trial was conducted without providing Jadhav his rights. Pakistan did not even respond to Jadhav's mother's pleas to see her son.

Human rights treated as "basics" all over had been thrown to the wind by Pakistan and the trial had been vitiated, India argued.

Though Pakistan says Jadhav has the right to appeal, two-star generals will hear his mercy plea, Salve stressed, questioning the impartiality of the process.

India asserted that it wants the ICJ to annul Jadhav's death sentence and for Pakistan to ensure that no action is taken that may prejudice the rights of India or of Jadhav.

On India invoking the Vienna Convention, Qureshi said, "The Vienna convention article 36 which adopted to set up standards of conduct particularly concerning communications and contact with nationals of the sending state which would contribute to the development of the friendly relations among nations...the observation we made immediately is this is unlikely to apply in the context of a spy, terrorist send by a state to engage in acts of terror."

Kulbhushan Jadhav case

Jadhav, the latest flashpoint in the tensions between Pakistan and India, was sentenced last month. On May 8, India moved the ICJ against the death penalty, alleging violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. On May 9, the highest court in the UN gave Jadhav a lease of life.

India, in its appeal to the ICJ, had asserted that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he was involved in business activities after retiring from the Indian Navy. However, it denies that he has any connection with the government.

Pakistan claims to have arrested Jadhav from its restive Balochistan province.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-nation tour of Germany, Spain and Russia from May 29 with an aim of consolidating the relations with these countries and invite investments to India.

The visit to Germany and Spain will be bilateral in nature while the trip to St Petersburg in Russia is in connection with the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) to be held from June 1-3, sources told PTI here today.

The SPIEF, which will be attended by thousands of business leaders from across the globe, will provide Modi an opportunity to invite investments in India.

On the sidelines of the SPIEF, the Prime Minister is expected to have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to review the state of bilateral relations and ways to push the ties further, the sources said.

Matters related to trade and investment, defence and nuclear cooperation are expected to figure in the talks.

India and Russia are currently in talks over finalisation of the General Framework Agreement (GFA) for units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu but it is not clear yet whether it would be signed during the visit.

In Germany, the first stopover of the five-day three- nation tour, the Prime Minister will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel and discuss ways to take the Strategic Relations to the next level by mainly enhancing the business ties.

This will be his second visit to Germany in two years. Earlier, he had paid an official visit to the country in April 2015 when India was the 'Partner Country' in the annual Hannover Fair.

Merkel had subsequently visited India in October in the same year.

On May 31, the Prime Minister will be in Spain where his focus will be on seeking cooperation in sectors like infrastructure and energy, the sources said.

After return from the three-nation tour, Modi will be travelling to Kazakhstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet to be held in Astana on June 7-8.

Significantly, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is also expected to attend the Summit of the SCO, a grouping which includes Russia, China, Kazakshstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

He will also be travelling to the US and Israel, for which dates are being finalised.
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming Presidential Election.

The Trinamool Congress leader yesterday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and conveyed that her party was in favour of a consensus candidate for the presidential poll.

"We want a consensus candidate. This is good for the country," Banerjee told reporters here.

She is also learnt to have backed another term for President Pranab Mukherjee if the government proposes his name, sources said. Notably, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on Monday suggested that Mukherjee be given another term.

Banerjee said no names were discussed at the 40-minute meeting, which was also attended by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

The West Bengal CM added Sonia Gandhi, who has been holding talks with opposition parties to decide a common candidate, will hold further consultations and she would again meet her in about a week after the process is completed.

The term of President Pranab Mukherjee ends in July. The ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which has clear edge in the Presidential Election, has not given any inkling so far on its choice of candidate.

Sonia Gandhi has been contacting leaders opposed to the ruling BJP to evolve a consensus.

She has spoken to Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad and met JD-U leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah.

The Congress chief is also expected to meet Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati.

Among the names doing the rounds as consensus candidates of the opposition are of former governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar.

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra on Wednesday said that his mother never wanted security cover and its removal will help prevent unnecessary inconvenience to her.

"My mother never asked for this provision, and I am sure its removal will at least save her from the embarrassment and discomfort she always felt over the unnecessary inconvenience they sometimes caused to others despite her requests not to do so," Vadra said in a Facebook post.

He also accused sections of media of a "tirade" on the issue.

"There are more civilised ways of changing things than running a media tirade, in which a senior citizen is hounded and the media is informed even before the people concerned are regarding security arrangements for them."

"I reiterate...pls don't take your fight with me, to my mother at least," he added.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday removed the security cover of Vadra's mother, Maureen Vadra, a senior police official told IANS.
New Delhi: Google has paid tribute to Antikythera mechanism an ancient Greek analogue computer with a special doodle.

The Antikythera Mechanism, sometimes called the 'world's oldest computer', was discovered in 1901 amongst the wreckage of a Greek ship believed to have sunk sometime between 85 BC and 60 BC, near the island of Antikythera between Crete and Greece.

The mechanism's complex clocklike assembly of bronze gears and display dials predated other known examples of similar technology by more than 1,000 years.

The mechanism, measuring just about 8 inches across, accurately predicted lunar and solar eclipses, as well as solar, lunar and planetary positions.

The archaic looking doodle depicts a stone like wheel predicting the Olympics, lunar and solar eclipse and tracking planetary positions.

The crank-powered device was way ahead of its time - its components are as intricate as those of some 18th-century clocks.

All known fragments of the Antikythera mechanism are kept at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, along with a number of artistic reconstructions of how the mechanism may have looked.
Srinagar: Amid heightened tension on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Valley, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will on Wednesday visit Jammu and Kashmir to review the security situation.

This will be Jaitley's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after he took over the additional charge from Manohar Parrikar.

During his visit to the LoC, Jaitley would hold talks with field commanders.

The minister will be briefed on the overall preparedness of the Army to meet challenges of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the heightened risk of infiltration as the snow starts to thaw on the mountains.

Sources here said the ongoing students' unrest fanning separatist sentiments in the Valley would also remain in focus.

"The impact of an unrest on the overall security situation cannot be wished away. Therefore, the visit will also focus on ways and means to help the civil administration bring the situation under control," a top official told IANS.

Jaitley's visit comes in the wake of beheading of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistani Army in Poonch district earlier this month.

A rise in infiltration attempts, ceasefire violations, cross-border shelling along with the Valley's internal crisis has turned into a major crisis for the state government as well as the Centre.

The Defence Minister advanced his visit by a day since he was otherwise scheduled to chair the two-day long Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting beginning in Srinagar on Thursday.

(With Agency inputs)
Jammu: The joint search operation launched by the Indian Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district has concluded with the security forces lifting the cordon off from the two villages - Heff and Shirmal - on Wednesday.

The operation was called off as the security forces came under attack from a stone-pelting mob, which prevented them from locating any militants or their hide-outs.

A major search and combing operation was launched in the wee hours in Shopian district following inputs about a group of heavily armed terrorists hiding in the nearby villages.

The operation, which began at the midnight, involved nearly 1,000 security personnel, belonging to the Indian Army and Special Operations Group (SOG).

The security personnel conducted a massive door-to-door search at nearly 500 homes in these two villages to flush out terrorists holed up in the area.

This was the second major cordon-and-search operation in Shopian in south Kashmir in the last 15 days and the first after the killing of a young Kashmiri army officer Ummer Fayaz.

Intelligence sources had claimed nearly ten hardcore terrorists belonging to pro-Pakistan militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen were hiding in the dense forest near Shopian.

The operation was launched at a time when Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat are due to arrive in Jammu and Kashmir to review the security situation amid heightened tension on the Line of Control (LoC) and student unrest in the Valley.

This would be Jaitley's first visit to the state after he took over the additional charge from Manohar Parrikar.

The Defence Minister advanced his visit by a day since he was otherwise scheduled to chair the two-day long Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting beginning here on Thursday.

During his visit to the LoC, Jaitley would meet the field commanders.

He will be briefed on the overall preparedness of the army to meet challenges of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the heightened risk of infiltration as the snow starts to thaw on the mountains.

Sources here said the ongoing students' unrest fanning separatist sentiments in the valley would also remain in focus.

"The impact of an unrest on the overall security situation cannot be wished away. Therefore, the visit will also focus on ways and means to help the civil administration bring the situation under control," a top official said.
Thiruvananthapuram: The state government will consider the possibility of extending scholarship to medical students belonging to poor economic background studying in self-financing medical colleges, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in the Assembly today.

Vijayan was replying to a notice for an adjournment motion on the alleged police excesses on pro-Congress Kerala Students Union activists during a protest march against the 'fee hike' in self-financing medical colleges yesterday.

Responding to a demand in this regard by former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Vijayan said government will examine all possibilities to introduce a scholarship scheme on these lines.

Vijayan maintained that fees was fixed by the State Fee Regulatory Commission and "government has not either hiked or decreased the fees."

He denied the Congress-led UDF opposition charge that police lathicharged KSU activists without any provocation.

The chief minister said the protesters threw stones and indulged in violence and even tried to break the police barricade.

Hitting out at the CPI-M-led LDF government, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that treatment was denied to the injured student leaders at the medical college hospital here.

Seeking notice for the motion, Hibi Eden (Cong) alleged that police used water cannons, teargas and stun grenades on students and lathicharged them without any provocation.

Eden also was seen showing a shirt reportedly worn by a student leader that contained blood stains.

Later, the UDF opposition staged a walkout after Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan rejected their plea for a debate.
Kolkata: Days after openly defying the Centre's order and stating that he would keep using the red beacon on his vehicle, the Tipu Sultan Mosque trustee board sacked Shahi Imam Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati for "objectionable and inflammatory remarks against the country".

Notably, Barkati had recently threatened 'jihad' and refused to take off the beacon from his vehicle.

A police complaint was lodged against Barkati by the Board on Monday in Bowbazar police station for forcefully snatching away the keys of the mosque's official room.

Head of the Board, Anwar Ali Shah, told news agency IANS over phone that the office room was opened in the mosque under the direct order of the High Court and is being used to store the official documents.

"The documents of complaints against Imam Barkati is stored in the room. It seems he has taken away the keys to destroy those documents so that it does not reach the trustee board for validation," he had alleged.

Barkati, considered close to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is known for his repeated controversial and provocative comments.

Only last week he had warned of a 'jihad' if India was declared a Hindu Rashtra, and also refused to take off the red beacon from his car saying the privilege was granted to the Shahi Imam by the British government.

Following the Centre's ban on the use of red beacon in non-emergency vehicles, Barkati had on May 11 said: "I am a religious leader and I have been using the red beacon for the past several decades. I don't follow the orders of the Centre. Who are they to order me? In Bengal, only the orders of the state government are effective. I will use red beacon. In Bengal, no one has removed red beacon."

A day later, he had claimed that he would not remove the red beacon "even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to".

His comments were criticised by most Muslim leaders and clerics in the state.

Siddiqullah Chowdhury, state Library Minister and a cleric, had even demonstrated against Barkati on May 13 near the mosque.

A number of police complaints were also lodged against the Imam in different police stations of Bengal.

Later, the Kolkata Police officers visited Barkati and the red beacon was removed from his car.

He had also drawn flak for commenting that Muslims would "fight for Pakistan if India became a Hindu state".

His comments led to a hue and cry, with the BJP and other Sangh Parivar outfits dubbing him "anti-national" and senior West Bengal minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, regarded as a prominent face of the ruling Trinamool Congress, calling Barkati an RSS agent.

(With Agency inputs)
Kolkata: The fate of Tipu Sultan Mosque Shahi Imam Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati - the cleric who recently threatened 'jihad' and refused to take off the beacon from his vehicle  will be decided by the mosque's trustee board on Wednesday.

According to reports, the decision on Barkati would be officially announced by the trustee board this afternoon.

On Tuesday, the Board had filed a complaint against Barkati in Bowbazar police station for forcefully snatching away the keys of the mosque's official room.

As per head of the Board, Anwar Ali Shah, the office room was opened in the mosque under the direct order of the High Court and is being used to store the official documents.

"The documents of complaints against Imam Barkati is stored in the room. It seems he has taken away the keys to destroy those documents so that it does not reach the trustee board for validation," he alleged.

On reports that Barkati has been sacked as the Imam, Shah told news agency IANS that nothing has been officially announced by the mosque authority.

However, he revealed that a process has been started to terminate him from the post after evaluating the charges against him.

"It is not official yet. However, Barkati is aware that steps would be taken against him for constantly making wrong statements and politicising a religious institution. That's why he is hellbent on destroying the papers," Shah claimed.

The sources at the mosque said that a deputation would be given to the mosque and the respective police station to remove Barkati from the position of Imam, followed by a public meeting on Tuesday.

Barkati, considered close to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is known for his repeated controversial and provocative comments.

Only last week he had warned of a 'jihad' if India was declared a Hindu Rashtra, and also refused to take off the red beacon from his car saying the privilege was granted to the Shahi Imam by the British government.

He had also drawn flak for commenting that Muslims would "fight for Pakistan if India became a Hindu state".

His comments led to a hue and cry, with the BJP and other Sangh Parivar outfits dubbing him "anti-national" and senior West Bengal minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, regarded as a prominent face of the ruling Trinamool Congress, calling Barkati an RSS agent.

Finally, under pressure from the state government, Barkati was forced to take off the beacon from his vehicle.

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: Union Minister of Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here on Wednesday discussed the implementation of central schemes in the state, an official said.

The two discussed in detail various issues related to the implementation of flagship schemes of the Union government in the state, the Ministry of Urban Development said in a statement.

During the meeting, Naidu informed the Punjab CM about "the recent initiative of conducting review meetings across the country to take first-hand report on the issues and to evaluate the status of various programmes and initiatives" relating to his ministries.

The two leaders also discussed the possible areas of collaboration between the two governments to facilitate effective implementation of these schemes.

They also discussed the delegation of more power to the states by the Narendra Modi government under cooperative federalism.

The Ministry of Urban Development runs flagship schemes like Smart Cities, Swachh Bharat Mission, National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), among others.

Under the Smart Cities initiative, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar in Punjab have been selected for development.

The AMRUT scheme is being implemented in 16 cities of Punjab -- including Amritsar, Jalandhar and Malerkotla.

Senior officials from Punjab and the central government were present during the meeting.
New Delhi: Television's good looking hunk Karanvir Bohra and his gorgeous wife Teejay Sidhu welcomed their bundle of joytwin daughters sometime back. The dashing telly actor took to Instagram and shared the video and pictures of his daughters.

The adorable munchkins look as cute as a button in the pictures. The twin baby girls are named Raya-bella and Vienna (Miko n nonu) respectively. In fact, several telly actors even posed with the cuties such as Mouni Roy and Shweta Tiwari.

He shared the image on Mother's day with a beautiful caption: "My @bombaysunshine 's first #mothresday and I can't thank her enuff for making me a dad of these 2 angels. We believe they have come on this planet to spread joy and happiness in everyone's life they meet. Meet Raya-bella and Vienna (Miko n nonu), the 2 pumpkins in our all our lives. Don't forget to hug these2 when you see them. #omnamahshivaya Happy mothers day to all you beautiful mom's."

A post shared by   (@karanvirbohra) on May 14, 2017 at 3:25am PDT

A post shared by   (@karanvirbohra) on May 16, 2017 at 9:34pm PDT

The couple was blessed with the twin babies on October 19, 2016.
New Delhi: Experts claimed a saucer-shaped UFO has been spotted on the NASA live feed before flying past the International Space Station (ISS).

The disc in the latest footage, as per UFO hunters, is an evidence that the existence of aliens in space is real.

Tyler Glockner from YouTube channel Secure Team and an UFO spotter said, It can only be described as some sort of flying disc-like shaped UFO, that was spotted hovering in the distance behind the international space station before darting away at a very high rate of speed.

This is one of the most commonly seen and spoken about craft by hundreds and thousands of people over Earth, in space and above the moon. Just look how quickly this thing seems to dart away, he added. Check out the footage below!

Video credit: Secureteam10/YouTube

While this was the latest 'alien' sighting at the ISS, such sightings have been spotted on various occasions in the past.

However, the US space agency NASA has repeatedly rejected the claims, saying they are just distortions in the lens and not alien craft.
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday suspended three policemen, including a station house officer, for laxity in the twin murder case of bullion traders in Mathura, an official said.

The killings triggered protests in Mathura and neighbouring areas on Tuesday, forcing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to dispatch Power Minister Shrikant Sharma and the DGP Sulkhan Singh to personally visit Mathura and monitor the probe.

Sharma, who is a BJP legislator from Mathura, met the bereaved family members on Wednesday and the DGP held meetings with local police officers.

Singh asked them to nab the culprits at the earliest.

CCTV footage was being checked to identify the criminals. An official privy to the probe said two men have been identified.

The two bullion traders were killed on Monday night in their shop and the assailants had decamped with gold worth more than Rs 4 crore.

Opposition parties have been up in arms against the state government and had raised the matter in the ongoing assembly session.

The furore forced Adityanath to give a statement in the House assuring everyone that his government was committed to establishing law and order in the state. He said the criminals would soon nabbed.
Lucknow: In the wake of a series of criminal atrocities reported in several parts of Uttar Pradesh, the state government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath facilitated the transfer of 67 IPS officers on Wednesday.

Uttar Pradesh, the state government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath facilitated the transfer of 67 IPS officers on Wednesday.

The reshuffle is believed to be an attempt to change the face of law and order in the state.

A total of 200 senior police officers have been shuffled since the new government rose to power in the state in March.

After becoming the 21st Chief Minister of the state, Adityanath had vowed to take stringent steps in improving the law and order in the state, saying, there would be no leniency shown towards it.

However, the maiden session of the state assembly which was held on Monday witnessed a stormy session with Opposition parties creating uproar in the floor of the house.

Denouncing the Adityanath-led government over the law and order in the state and other issues, the slogan-shouting opposition members trooped into the well despite Speaker Hridaya Narain Dixit's appeal for an all-party meeting to ensure smooth proceedings.

Agitating opposition members even hurled paper balls at the podium and the marshals trying to dodge them away with files.

Accusing the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of failing to keep intact the law and order in the state, the Samajwadi Party said that it opposed the proceeding of the house to express displeasure over the poor governance of the Adityanath dispensation.

"The law and order in the state is very bad, people of the state are fed up. They have betrayed the farmers. Dalits and Muslims are being insulted and tortured. BJP is a communal force it will ruin the economic and social infrastructure of the state," said a Samajwadi Party leader.

Echoing similar sentiments the Congress party asserted that the BJP has failed to come up to the expectations of Uttar Pradesh and hence should not make tall claims about its success.

"The law and order in the state has collapsed. The culprits are not being punished. They just believe in talking. This government is not fulfilling the promises. This is why we staged a protest and boycotted Governor's address," said a Congress leader.
With the win in Mirik, the Trinamool Congress has become the first mainstream political party to win an election in the hills in the last three decades.

By Manogya Loiwal : As the Trinamool Congress won four of the seven municipalities in the civic polls in West Bengal, party chief Mamata Banerjee said the hills are smiling.

The Trinamool Congress created history by winning Mirik municipality in Darjeeling district. The TMC won six of the nine wards in Mirik, which has been a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) stronghold.

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With this win, the Trinamool Congress has become the first mainstream political party to win an election in the hills in the last three decades--regional parties have held sway in the hills for years.

"Special thanks to Mirik for reposing faith in us. We will work sincerely for you. After so many decades, we begin a new era in the hills," said Mamata Banerjee.

The hills are smiling #VerdictOfBengal 4/4- Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 17, 2017

BJP FAILS TO CHECK TMC's SURGE

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had expected to give a stiff challenge to Mamata Banerjee, failed to put a brake on the Trinamool Congress's surge in West Bengal.

The convincing victories in Pujali, Raiganj and Domkol, besides the win in Mirik, will give a major boost to Mamata Banerjee ahead of the General Elections in 2019.

The Trinamool Congress snatched Raiganj from the Congress by winning 24 of the 27 wards. The Congress managed to win just one ward, while the BJP got two.

BJP leader Dilip Ghosh has termed the election result a planned conspiracy of the Trinamool Congress.

He said, "TMC looted votes by threatening people. We could only save a few wards of the area. BJP was the only party that neither ran away nor withdrew its candidates and fought till the end. We came second in Pujali district. Even in Raiganj district, we managed to win 2 seats."

CONGRESS BASE WEAKENS IN MURSHIDABAD

Congress has seen a major slip in the support and strength in Murshidabad district which has been the Parliamentary Constituency of Congress state President Adhir Ranjan Choudhary and even to the Abhijit Mukherjee, son of President Pranab Mukherjee.

Adhir had earlier demanded that free and fair polls be held, questioning the role of the State Election Commission and even withdrawn party candidates from the election on the day of polling itself.

Congress leader Om Prakash Mishra has questioned the procedure followed for polling this time. He said, "The Election Commissioner did not meet us. We consider the conduct of the election to be illegal and unconstitutional and challenge the TMC to hold polls afresh, allowing the voters to cast their vote, I doubt they would win even a single seat."

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TMC HAS CREATED A STRONG IMAGE IN HILLY AREAS: MANDAL

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal said, "We have won three seats in the plains. Most importantly, the TMC has created a strong image of its own in the hilly areas. The only reason why people of north Bengal have accepted the TMC is because of Mamata Banerjee's initiatives towards development. People are always with development. Adhir Choudhury should resign from his post. There is no place for someone who does not respect the chief minister of the state. Adhir Choudhury is the only one who is responsible for the decimation of the Congress party. The people of Murshidabad have understood that the Left Front has just played with them. Only Mamata Banerjee can give them a bright future. Adhir is the only one who destroyed the Congress party. He should be kicked out of the state itself."

As the Trinamool Congress took to Twitter to declare its "Trinamool all the way", party chief Mamata Banerjee tweeted, "Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again and again putting their trust in us. We are honoured, privileged and humbled".

Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again & again putting their trust in us. We are honored, privileged & humbled #VerdictOfBengal 1/4- Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 17, 2017

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The final tally shows that Mamata Banerjee continues to hold sway in West Bengal, and the BJP's Mission Bengal may have failed to connect with voters.

What is good news for the BJP, however, is that it has won a few wards individually in the plains and not as an ally of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in the hills.

HERE IS THE FINAL TALLY FOR WEST BENGAL CIVIC POLLS:

Darjeeling: Of the 32 seats, the GJM won 31 while the TMC got 1

Kurseong: Of the 20 seats, the GJM won 17, TMC got 3

Mirik: Of the 9 seats, the GJM won 3, the TMC got 6

Kalimpong: Of the 23 seats, the GJM won 18, the TMC 2, and Jana Andolan Party (JAP) 2 and Others 1.

Domkol: Of the 21 seats, the TMC won 18, Left Front (LF) got 1, Congress 2

Pujali: Of the 16 seats, the TMC won 12, BJP got 2, Congress 1 and Others 1

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Raiganj: Of the 27 seats, the TMC won 24, Congress 1, BJP 2

ALSO READ:

Bengal BJP workers who lunched with Amit Shah at Naxalbari join Mamata's Trinamool Congress

West Bengal civic body elections: Bombs hurled at polling booth in South 24 Parganas

Mamata meets Sonia to discuss presidential candidate, attacks Modi government for vendetta politics

ALSO WATCH: I don't indulge in Hindutva that maligns Hindus: Mamata slams BJP

--- ENDS ---
Kolkata: Kolkata cleric Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati, who was earlier sacked from his position as Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan mosque by the trustee board, stirred another controversy when he refused to go with the order saying he has the backing of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"I will talk to Mamata Banerjee," Barkati said.

A police complaint was lodged against Barkati, who had recently threatened jihad against the country over 'lal batti' and refused to take off the red beacon from his vehicle - by the mosque's trustee board.

"We have lodged a police complaint against the serving Imam, Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati in Bowbazar police station for forcefully snatching away the keys of the mosque's official room," head of the Board, Anwar Ali Shah said.

Barkati had refused to remove a red beacon from his vehicle despite the central government ban on its use.

"No one has the guts to remove my red beacon. It's been with us for hundreds of years. It is the RSS which is illegal, Modi is illegal not the red light on my car. Don't try disturbing Muslims in Bengal," Barkati was quoted as saying by India Today.

Multiple police complaints have been filed against him in the past for illegally using the red beacon and making hate speeches. Barkati had also issued a fatwa against the prime minister.
Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress on Wednesday won four out of seven municipalities in West Bengal that went to polls on May 14 began on Wednesday.

LIVE updates:

- GJM bags Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. GJM won 31 out of the 32 seats in Darjeeling. Kurseong 17 out of 20. GJM-BJP alliance wrests control on Kalimpong by winning 11 out of 23 wards.

TMC won 18/21 wards in Domkal Municipality under Murshidabad district. INC won 1, CPI(M) 2; all 3 joined TMC later.

- TMC achieves victory in three out of 20 wards in Kurseong municipality.

- Mamata's Trinamool wins 20/21 wards in Domkal municipality.

Results at 9:37 am: (Mirik 9/9, TMC 6) - (Domkal 18/21, TMC 18) - (Pujali 16/16, TMC 12) - (Raiganj 27/27, TMC 24)

- Kurseong municipality - Total wards 20; TMC leads in three wards

- Darjeeling municipality - Total wards: 32; Trinamool wins 1 ward in Darjeeling municipality. Total wards: 32

- Pujali municipality: Total wards 16; Trinamool wins 11/15 wards

Wards declared so far: Mirik 9/9, TMC 6 Domkal 18/21, TMC 18 Pujali 13/16, TMC 9 Raiganj 20/27, TMC 15

- Raiganj total wards 27 - Trinamool wins 15 wards in out of 20 declared. It has majority in the municipality now.

- Trinamool wins Pujali municipality by winning 9/14 wards. Total wards: 16

Wards declared so far:

Mirik 9/9, TMC 6

Domkal 18/21, TMC 18

Pujali 13/16, TMC 9

Raiganj 20/27, TMC 15

- Raiganj municipality - Total wards 27; Trinamool leads in 15/18 wards

- Trinamool wins in Mirik municipality by winning 6 out of 9 wards

- Raiganj municipality - Total wards 27; Trinamool leads in 7/9 wards

- Pujali municipality - Total wards 16; Trinamool leads in 5/7 wards

- Trinamool leads in 18/21 wards of Domkal municipality

- Trinamool leads in 6/9 wards of Mirik municipality

- TMC wins in four wards of Pujali municipality

- The ruling party registers win in seven wards of Raiganj municipality

- Trinamool wins in four wards of Raiganj municipality

- Mamata Banerjee's TMC wins in two wards of Pujali municipality

- Trinamool Congress wins in 2 wards of Raiganj municipality.

- Counting begins in seven municipalities

The polls were held for four municipalities in the northern Bengal hills - Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik Notified Area Authority in Darjeeling district and Kalimpong in Kalimpong district. Besides, Raiganj municipality in North Dinajpur district, Domkal in Murshidabad district and Pujali in South 24 Parganas district are also up for grabs.

The overall turnout was nearly 68 percent, according to State Election Commission sources. Pujali registered 79.6 percent voting, the highest out of the seven, while Darjeeling had the lowest of 52 percent.

Domkal recorded 77.5 percent, Mirik Notified Area 74.3 percent, Kurseong 66.1 percent, Raiganj 66 percent and Kalimpong had a 58.1 percent turnout of voters.
Sanaa: A suspected raid by the Saudi-led coalition intervening in Yemen killed 23 civilians on Wednesday, including women and children, near the southwestern city of Taez, Shiite Huthi rebels said.

A military source with loyalist forces confirmed the raid, saying 20 civilians had died, and said it appeared to have been the result of a "mistake".
Seoul: A piece of human bone recovered from the site of South Korea's Sewol ferry wreck has been identified as one of the missing victims, officials said on Wednesday, the first such confirmed find since the vessel was raised in March.

The 6,800-ton ship sank off the country's southwestern coast three years ago in one of the country's worst maritime disasters, claiming more than 300 lives, mostly high school students on an excursion.

The bodies of nine victims have never been found, and the 145-metre Sewol was raised intact at the relatives' insistence to prevent any trapped remains being lost.

"The result of a DNA test on a bone piece identified it as Danwon high school teacher Ko Chang-Seok," the maritime ministry said in a statement.

Workers are sifting through silt and debris piled up inside the hull of the ship to search for human remains, while divers are scouring the seabed where the ferry had been lying -- where the bone was recovered two weeks ago.

The DNA test was completed earlier than expected because it was in "good condition", the statement added.

The ministry said the National Forensic Service was conducting DNA tests on suspected human bones recovered on four other occasions this month.

The Sewol sinking dealt a crushing blow to now-ousted president Park Geun-Hye.

Investigations concluded the disaster was the result of numerous human factors, including an illegal redesign, an overloaded cargo bay and inexperienced crew.
Amman: A car bomb exploded in Syria's sprawling Rukban refugee camp near the border with Jordan on Wednesday causing injuries, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and two rebel sources said.

The blast targeted fighters from a rebel group, the Britain-based war monitor said.

The blast came two days after a double car bomb attack at the same site.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for Monday's assault which killed at least six people.
Kabul: Gunmen stormed the local headquarters of Afghanistan's state media in the eastern Nangarhar province on Wednesday, setting off clashes that killed 10 people, officials said.

Inamullah Miakhial, a spokesman for the provincial hospital in Nangarhar, said four state TV employees and two police officers were among those killed, and that 18 other people were wounded.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said four attackers were killed in the assault, which began with an explosion, followed by a gun battle with Afghan security forces.

The state media building is close to the governor's compound and a police station. Video footage from Jalalabad showed hundreds of Afghan security forces fanning out across the city, where shops were closed.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. Both the Taliban and an Islamic State affiliate are active in Nangarhar, a mountainous province that borders Pakistan. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, three civilians were killed in separate bomb blasts, according to officials.

Qais Qadri, spokesman for the governor of eastern Kapisa province, said two civilians were killed and two others were wounded in a bomb blast late Tuesday in the Nijrab district.

Samim Khpolwak, spokesman for the governor of the southern Kandahar province, said a civilian was killed and 10 people were wounded, including three policemen, in a double bombing in the provincial capital.

No one immediately claimed either attack. The Taliban have stepped up their attacks since announcing their spring offensive last month.
Jalalabad: Gunmen attacked a building of Afghan state television in the eastern city of Jalalabad on Wednesday and engaged in a gun battle with security forces, the provincial governor`s spokesman said.

"We can confirm that a number of insurgents have entered the building," said Attaullah Khughyani. "Who they are, and what their target is, is still not clear."

He said there appeared to have been at least three attackers, two of whom had blown themselves up while at least one was still fighting.

Heavy gunfire could be heard from around the building of RTA, Afghanistan`s national broadcaster, located close to the provincial governor`s compound.

Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar, the eastern province on the border with Pakistan where Islamic State fighters have established a stronghold, but there is also a strong Taliban presence in the region.

Insurgents fighting to oust the Western-backed government in Kabul have conducted a series of high-profile attacks this year on targets including Afghanistan`s largest military hospital and a military base in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
Jalalabad: Militant group Islamic State on Wednesday claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a television station in Afghanistan`s eastern province of Nangarhar that killed a security guard as well as all three attackers and wounded at least 17 people.



Islamic State, or Daesh as it is generally known in Afghanistan, has established a stronghold in the province bordering Pakistan, where it fights both the Taliban and Afghan government forces.



As the attack unfolded, heavy gunfire could be heard from around the building of RTA, Afghanistan`s national broadcaster, located close to the governor`s compound in the provincial capital, Jalalabad.



"Islamic State fighters are currently carrying out an attack inside the state broadcasting building in the city of Jalalabad," the movement`s AMAQ news agency said in a statement on instant messaging service Telegram.



The Taliban, which also has a strong presence in the region, denied responsibility.



Two of the attackers blew themselves up at the start of the operation but a third engaged security forces in a heavy gun battle before being killed, said Attaullah Khughyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor.



Nine of the 17 wounded were discharged from a hospital after being treated, he added.



Islamic State has recently been hit hard by U.S. air strikes and special forces operations.



The head of Islamic State in Afghanistan, Abdul Hassib, was reported this month to have been killed in a joint Afghan-U.S. operation in Nangarhar at the end of April.



Islamic State has also claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile attacks in the capital, Kabul, including one in March on Afghanistan`s largest military hospital.

(Additional reporting by Mohamed el-Sherif in CAIRO; writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Robert Birsel and Clarence Fernandez)


Brussles: NATO's top brass today said they believed the alliance should consider joining the anti-Islamic State coalition put together by Washington to fight jihadists in Syria and Iraq.

The issue is top of the agenda at a NATO summit in Brussels next week, with US President Donald Trump pushing the allies to take on a greater role in combatting terrorism.

General Petr Pavel, head of NATO's military committee, told reporters after chiefs of defence staff (CHODS) met in Brussels that it was time to look at this option.

"NATO members are all in the anti-IS coalition. The discussion now is -- is NATO to become a member of that coalition," Pavel said.

"CHODS' recommendation is that there is some merit to NATO becoming a member of that coalition," he added.

All 28 NATO member states are in the coalition as individual countries and the alliance has supplied AWACS surveillance planes to help the coalition carry out operations but it has no combat role.

Some member states, including France and Italy, have strong reservations about going further, fearing that NATO could get dragged into a drawn out war on the ground and be seen as a belligerent in one of the world's most volatile regions.

They are against NATO assuming eventual command in Iraq, taking over control from US forces as it did in Afghanistan.

Pavel said that while NATO was stepping up its counter- terrorism help for Iraq, for example on training, and this would last a long time, "I don't see it necessarily as a kind of mission similar to Resolute Support (in Afghanistan)."

Afghanistan has turned into NATO's longest military campaign and although it halted its combat mission at end- 2014, it remains heavily committed to training and advising Afghan government forces to hold off a resurgent Taliban.
Tokyo: A top US Navy commander on Wednesday pushed for a "sense of urgency" over North Korea`s nuclear and missile development, stressing it even threatens Pyongyang`s allies China and Russia.

Admiral Harry Harris, who heads the Pacific Command, spoke during a visit to Japan after North Korea`s latest ballistic missile test raised further alarm over the pace of its weapons development.

North Korea on Sunday launched what appeared to be its longest-range ballistic missile yet, claiming it was capable of carrying a "heavy nuclear warhead" in a test aimed at bringing the US mainland within reach.

Pyongyang carried out two atomic tests last year, and has accelerated its missile launch programme, despite tough UN sanctions aimed at denying leader Kim Jong-Un the hard currency needed to fund his weapons ambitions.

"In every test he (Kim) makes, it`s a success because it takes North Korea one step closer to be able to deliver a nuclear-tipped missile anywhere in the world," Harris said.

"I must assume Kim Jong-Un`s claims are the truth, because I know his aspirations certainly are... That should provide all of us with a sense of urgency to address this problem now," he added.

The United States said the missile landed close to Russian territory, but Moscow later said it fell in the ocean about 500 kilometres (310 miles) away and posed no threat.

Harris, however, stressed that China and Russia, the North`s traditional backers, can no longer look the other way.

"The dangerous behaviour by North Korea is not just a threat to the Korean peninsula... it`s a threat to China, it`s a threat to Russia," Harris told an academic forum in Tokyo.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the test was dangerous, but warned against attempts to "intimidate" Pyongyang.

Harris is visiting Tokyo to discuss North Korea and other issues with Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who he met Tuesday.

He called for nations to "ratchet up sanctions" on the North, reiterating that the world needs to "bring Kim Jong-Un to his senses, not to his knees".

After the missile launch on Sunday, the United States, Japan and South Korea called a UN Security Council meeting to press North Korea to change course and dismantle its missile and nuclear programmes.

Earlier this month naval exercises were conducted in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, with South Korean and Japanese aircraft also taking part.

The US vessel is reportedly still patrolling in the region.
Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress is set to win four of the seven municipalities, fighting off challenge from the BJP.

By India Today Web Desk: The results of elections to seven municipal bodies in West Bengal are nearly out and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is set to win four of the seven municipalities.

The Trinamool Congress is emerging as a clear winner in Pujali, Raiganj and Domkal municipalities in the plains, and Mirik in Darjeeling district, which is a stronghold of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).

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The Mirik win is historic for the Trinamool Congress as no mainstream political party has won an election in the hills in the last three decades.

The GJM may have to settle with wins in Kurseong, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

The victory for Mamata Banerjee's party comes at a time when the BJP is campaigning aggressively in the state to make inroads ahead of the General Elections in 2019.

Violence and booth-capturing were reported at some places during the polling day (Sunday) with the Opposition parties demanding scrapping of the elections.

The Opposition had alleged that the workers of Trinamool Congress (TMC) were involved in violence and booth capturing. The Trinamool Congress, however, rejected the charges and blamed the BJP for poll violence.

The seven municipalities which went to polls are Kurseong, Darjeeling and Mirik in Darjeeling district; Kalimpong in the newly announced Kalimpong district; Pujali in South 24 Parganas district; Raiganj in North Dinajpur district; and Domkal municipality in Murshidabad district.

HERE ARE THE UPDATES:

A jubilant Trinamool Congress says "Trinamool all the way".

In Mirik municipality in Darjeeling, the Trinamool Congress winning six of the nine wards. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is leading in the other three seats, reports ANI. TMC workers celebrate after winning Mirik municipal election. TMC won 6 out of 9 wards, GJM won 3. pic.twitter.com/Mim52TU6tl- ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

In Domkal municipality, the Trinamool Congress is leading in 18 of the 21 wards.

In Raiganj municipality, the Trinamool Congress is leading in 24 of the 27 wards.

In violence-hit Pujali municipality, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is leading in nine of the 16 wards. Bombs were hurled at a polling booth in Pujali on Sunday when voting was underway.

ALSO READ:

Bengal BJP workers who lunched with Amit Shah at Naxalbari join Mamata's Trinamool Congress

Mamata meets Sonia to discuss presidential candidate, attacks Modi government for vendetta politics

BJP's multi-pronged strategy to corner Mamata Banerjee and wrest power from Trinamool in West Bengal

ALSO WATCH: I don't indulge in Hindutva that maligns Hindus: Mamata slams BJP

--- ENDS ---

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Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said he can provide the US Congress with the full transcript of the talks between US President Donald Trump and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, to dispel the "political schizophrenia" around the allegations that state secrets were leaked.

After the Washington Post came out with a damaging report that Trump shared some highly classified information about ISIS with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak to the US in a White House meeting last week, putting in jeopardy a critical source of intelligence.

During a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni ,Putin stated Russia is ready to provide the detailed transcript of the talks between US President Donald Trump and Foreign Minister Lavrov conversation to US Congress and Senate if Washington considers it appropriate, to dispel the "political schizophrenia" around the allegations that state secrets were leaked during the meeting.

Citing the officials, the Washington Post reported that who said Trump's disclosures jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on the terror group as the information the President relayed had been provided by a U.S. partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the U.S. Government.

According to the report, the partner had not given the United States permission to share the material with Russia, and officials said Trump's decision to do so endangers cooperation from an ally that has access to the inner workings of the Islamic State.

This comes as members of the Trump administration have already been beleaguered over their Russia links. Last week, Trump fired FBI Director James B. Comey who was investigating into possible Russian meddling in last year's presidential election.
Geneva: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will attend a gathering in Saudi Arabia on Saturday but has received no indication whether he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump there, Sudan`s foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Bashir is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and is shunned by Western leaders, so any direct contact would be a diplomatic bombshell, despite thawing relations between Washington and Khartoum in recent months.

Trump`s visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday is the first stop on his maiden international trip as president that will also take him to Israel and Europe.

"On the question of the Trump-Bashir handshake, nobody can pretend anything, but anyway, President Bashir has been invited by the Saudis to be in that conference," Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in Geneva.

"We hope that everything will go through as it has been planned, and we look forward for normalisation of our relations with the U.S.," Ghandour said, adding that he would travel with Bashir to Riyadh on Friday.

Asked if he hoped to see the two leaders shake hands, Ghandour said: "I dont have dreams but I have hopes, and I hope they will be materialised.

Bashir, who came to power in Sudan in a 1989 Islamist and military-backed coup, was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in 2008. He denies the charges and continues to travel abroad, trailed by human rights activists and shunned by Western diplomats.

Ghandour dismissed the ICC as a "political tool". "It`s a white man`s court created to indict people in Africa", he said.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has called on all states to help with Bashir`s arrest and urged the U.N. Security Council to take robust and concrete measures to ensure they do.



Bashir faces three counts of genocide, five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes for the murder and persecution of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups in the Darfur province.

Ghandour said Darfur was now peaceful and Khartoum wanted to open up to trade. It also supported international efforts to combat Islamist militants in the wider region.

In January, Trump`s predecessor Barack Obama ordered the lifting of a 20-year U.S. trade embargo and financial sanctions after 180 days, provided that Khartoum acts to further improve its human rights record.

Ghandour hoped the sanctions would finally be lifted after an evaluation on July 12, a major step towards integration with the world economy.

Sudan hopes to join the World Trade Organization later this year and reform its economy, which mostly produces gold, gum arabic and farm produce. Ghandour said he also hoped to resolve a trade dispute with Egypt at a meeting in Cairo on May 31.

He also urged the United States to play a stronger role in peacemaking in Syria and in Yemen, where Sudanese troops are part of a Saudi-led coalition.

Ghandour denied reports that Sudan was involved militarily in Libya and that it had helped to supply portable anti-aircraft missiles to rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad`s forces in Syria.
Washington: Praising US President Donald Trump's tough stance against the Kim Jong Un regime, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said the threat coming from North Korea's missile and nuclear programme is entering a new stage.

According to Abe, for the past some years, during the time of the Obama administration, the international community had increased the pressure. But North Korea never stopped its ambition of nuclear development.

"From the beginning of the Kim Jong Un regime, since last one year alone, they have launched more than 20 ballistic missiles which is more than the total number of ballistic missiles launched during the Kim Jong il regime," Abe told CNBC in an interview.

"It is indeed very clear that the threat coming from North Korea's missile and nuclear programme is now entering into a new stage. That is my recognition," he said.

"President Donald Trump says all options are on the table. He is demonstrating this position both by words and by action. We regard this highly," Abe said.

"We regard this highly. So going forward, we have to continue to have close coordination and collaboration with the US and Korea and also China is very important in this domain inclusive of Russia as well, we would like to make our efforts so that we will be able to radically change the policy of the Kim Jong Un regime," Abe said.

Responding to a question, Abe said the US and its allies are trying to urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear development programme. To that end, the international community has increased its pressure on North Korea.

"We would like to resort to diplomatic and peaceful means in resolving this situation and I think on this point, the US and Japan share the same views. However, we are not pursuing dialogue for the sake of dialogue. We must firmly and solidly stand upon the principle of action, for action that is the principle with which we would like to approach the situation," he said.dialogue for the sake of dialogue. We must firmly and solidly stand upon the principle of action, for action that is the principle with which we would like to approach the situation," he said.

According to North Korean state media, as long as the US continues its current policy, Kim Jong Un has ordered increases in the production of nuclear weapons and other offensive means, Abe said.

"We may see more displays of provocation from North Korea," he said, adding that it is important to have continued close coordination with the US, Korea, China and Russia to discourage provocations from North Korea.

"Should North Korea conduct additional nuclear tests, then Japan would seek additional sanctions through fresh UN Security Council resolutions," he said.

It is too premature, he said, to have any US-North Korea talks. Discussing the six-party talks between China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, and the US, he said Japan is not interested in dialogue for the sake of dialogue.

"The six-party talks should not be used as a tool for North Korea to buy time to develop their nuclear capability or to gain more attention," Abe said.

"I do not think that it is the proper timing to go to the six-party talks so I may repeat what I have already said, we have to exert proper pressure by the international community to North Korea to create a situation in order to entice North Korea to change their position and come up with a very sincere attitude towards the current situation," he said.
Brussels: U.S. and European Union officials will meet next week in Washington D.C. for more talks about risks to air travel, but no extension of a cabin ban on large electronics devices was announced after the two sides met in Brussels on Wednesday.

"At the meeting, both sides exchanged information on the serious evolving threats to aviation security and approaches to confronting such threats," the EU executive and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a joint statement after the four-hour meeting.

"The United States and the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to continue working closely together on aviation security generally, including meeting next week in Washington D.C. to further assess shared risks and solutions for protecting airline passengers, whilst ensuring the smooth functioning of global air travel."

Fears that a bomb could be concealed in electronic devices prompted the United States to announce in March that it would restrict passengers from bringing devices larger than cellphones onto flights originating from 10 airports, including those in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. Britain followed suit with restrictions on a slightly different set of routes.

The United States has been mulling increasing the number of airports affected by the ban to possibly include some European ones, prompting the EU to hold an extraordinary meeting of aviation security officials last week.

Chief among the Europeans` concerns is the fire risk from placing hundreds of devices with lithium-ion batteries in the hold.

A senior U.S. administration official said there was no time frame for making a decision on the extension of the ban but U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly was "currently considering next steps."

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that should the ban be extended to flights from Europe it could cost passengers over $1 billion a year and create safety risks.

The U.S. administration official said intelligence "continues to point to terrorist groups targeting commercial aviation and they are gradually pursuing innovative methods to undertake their attacks including smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items."

"We did share additional information with our European partners today," the official added.

When asked about concerns over costs and disruption, the official said there would also be economic consequences of an aircraft being brought down by an attack.

Any extension of the ban could affect U.S. and European airlines such as United, Delta, American Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France-KLM.

In 2016, 30 million people flew to the United States from Europe, according to U.S. Transportation Department data.

According to airports association ACI Europe, there are 3,684 weekly flights being operated between European airports and the United States.

The five airports with the largest number of U.S. weekly flights are London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Amsterdam Schiphol and Dublin, ACI Europe said.
Washington: The administration of President Donald Trump on Wednesday will extend sanctions relief on Iran that was called for under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, two U.S. officials told Reuters.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the administration would formally announce that it was renewing sanctions waivers that were granted to Iran as part of the deal under which Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear program. A State Department spokesman declined comment on the matter.
Sochi/Moscow: Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump had not divulged any secrets during a meeting in Washington with Russian officials and offered to prove it by supplying Congress with a transcript.

But a leading US Republican politician said he would have little faith in any notes Putin might supply.

Two US officials said on Monday Trump had disclosed classified information about a planned Islamic State operation to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov when they met last week, plunging the White House into a fresh controversy just four months into Trump`s tenure.

Trump, whose administration has been dogged by allegations that Russia helped him win the White House and that he and his allies are too cosy with Moscow, has defended his decision to discuss intelligence with the Russians after media reports of the meeting alarmed some U.S. and foreign politicians.

President Putin deployed his trademark sarcasm on Wednesday to make clear he thought the accusation that Trump had divulged secrets absurd.

"I spoke to him (Lavrov) today," a smiling Putin told a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.

"I`ll be forced to issue him (Lavrov) with a reprimand because he did not share these secrets with us. Not with me, nor with representatives of Russia`s intelligence services. It was very bad of him."

Putin, who still hopes Moscow can repair battered ties with the United States despite a deepening political scandal in the United States related to Trump`s purported Russia ties, said Moscow had rated Lavrov`s meeting with Trump highly.

If the Trump administration deemed it appropriate, Putin said Russia could hand over a transcript of Trump`s meeting with Lavrov to U.S. lawmakers to reassure them that no secrets were revealed.

A Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, later told reporters that Moscow had a written record of the conversation, not an audio recording.

US Republican Senator Marco Rubio was unimpressed with Putins offer and alluded to alleged Russian hacking of Democratic groups during the U.S. presidential election.

"I wouldn`t put much credibility into whatever Putin`s notes are," Rubio said on Fox News. "And if it comes in an email, I wouldn`t click on the attachment."

Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, which is among those probing alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election, called Putin`s offer "quite amusing."

"The last person Trump needs to vouch for him right now is Vladimir Putin," Schiff said in an interview with CBS News. "If they want to send something, you know, hats off. Send it our way... It`s credibility would be less than zero."

Russia has repeatedly denied interfering in the U.S. election.

Trump is also under pressure over accusations he asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end the agency`s investigation into the Russia ties of former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The allegation stems from a memo written by Comey and seen by a source familiar with the contents of the memo.

In Washington, Republican and Democratic lawmakers said they wanted to see the Comey memo. U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger joined a small but growing number of Republican lawmakers who have said they would back some sort of independent investigation into Russias role in the 2016 election.

"If in fact what was in the memo is true, it`s very concerning and we need to get to the bottom of that, Kinzinger said on CNN.

Complaining about what he said was "political schizophrenia" in the United States, Putin said Trump was not being allowed to do his job properly.

"It`s hard to imagine what else these people who generate such nonsense and rubbish can dream up next," said Putin, referring to unnamed US politicians.

"What surprises me is that they are shaking up the domestic political situation using anti-Russian slogans. Either they don`t understand the damage they`re doing to their own country, in which case they are simply stupid, or they understand everything, in which case they are dangerous and corrupt."

Russia has repeatedly said that Trump`s opponents are trying to damage him and Moscow by making what it says are false accusations about the billionaire president and the Russian government which initially had high hopes of a rapprochement.

Officials have told Reuters Trump`s alleged disclosure of classified information to Russia`s foreign minister is unlikely to stop allies who share intelligence with Washington from cooperating.

That view was reinforced on Wednesday when British Prime Minister Theresa May said her government had confidence in its relationship with the United States and would continue to share intelligence with Britain`s most important defence and security ally.
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow could provide a recording of the exchange between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US President Donald Trump, who is accused of sharing classified intelligence.

"If the US administration finds it possible, we are ready to provide a recording of the conversation between Lavrov and Trump to the US Congress and Senate," Putin said during a press conference.
Rabobank, the global food and agribusiness bank, has unveiled the 20 startups selected to pitch at the upcoming FoodBytes! event in NYC on June 15. The two-day event will bring innovative companies together with investors, and industry leaders in the hope of connecting them with the capital, mentorship, and resources they need to grow their businesses.

The 10 finalist companies will each have 3.5 minutes to pitch before a panel of expert judges and to participate in an audience Q&A. The fortunate finalists include a diverse array of technologies and innovations:

AgVoice  A voice-interaction service designed to help food and agriculture professionals capture valuable insights to optimize their use of resources.

Gebni  Offers demand-adjusted meal prices to reduce the cost of restaurant takeout.

Flashfood Inc  An app that reduces food waste by allowing grocery stores and restaurants to sell high-quality, surplus food at discounts to shoppers.

Burlap & Barrel Spices  Works directly with global spice farms to bring traditionally-prepared spices to professional and home chefs.

Impact Vision  Software platform that uses hyperspectral technology to provide insights about the quality and characteristics of different foods using image recognition and predictive learning.

Nom Noms World Food  Revolutionizing the ready-made meals market with healthy, family-friendly international meals and hot wraps.

Seal the Seasons  Partners with local family farms, freezing in-season produce at peak ripeness to provide healthy, local food year-round.

Wanderfuel  B2B approach to health food and wellness content for travelers offering curated, seasonally rotating boxes of organic products alongside content and experiences that support well-being.

Real Oyster Cult  App allows users to order fresh, sustainably farm-raised oysters to be delivered to their doorstep via overnight delivery.

Verdical.io  Automated indoor gardening system for everyone to grow produce from seed to harvest with the touch of a button.

Next, 10 runner-up companies will have an opportunity to give a 60-second pitch. These startups include:

Javazen  A balanced beverage of organic coffee, matcha green tea, and cacao nibs.

Natural Cuts  Processing technology that extends shelf-life and reduces the caloric value of freshly cut vegetables without sacrificing product quality.

Mekhala Living  Distributes wholesome and sustainable Asian foods and ingredients.

Wisran  Measures time variations of farming activities to manage revenue leakage.

Proud Pour  Pairs wines with solutions to local environmental issues, helping consumers make a difference with each bottle.

JuiceInnov8  Sugar reduction technology that enables the creation of a 100% juice with less sugar and calories.

Edamam LLC  Provides nutrition solutions to businesses in the food, health and wellness sectors, leveraging its proprietary cloud-based, structured-data semantic technology platform

Love Grain  Helps support Ethiopian communities with its gluten-free products that contain teff, an ancient grain

Victory Hemp Foods  Growing the domestic supply chain for hemp-based foods

GoParrot Artificial Intelligence chat platform that enables customers to place orders with restaurants over chat channels

In March 2017, three women-led startups won the first FoodBytes! event of the year held San Francisco, beating more than 160 startups from 20 countries that applied for a chance to pitch. Vega Coffee, a direct-to-consumer coffee subscription empowering coffee farmers, took the Judges Choice Award, while Evaptainers, a startup developing electricity-free refrigeration for developing markets, snagged the Peoples Choice Award, an accolade voted on by the audience. Finally, Pure Cultures, a company creating probiotics for pet and livestock health, claimed the Highly Commended award.

Rabobank presents FoodBytes! NYC in collaboration with presenting partners Food + Tech Connect, a global online community for food tech and innovation, and Fresh Ideas Group, a mission-driven communications agency. The program is supported by industry leaders including presenting sponsor Whole Foods Market, and official sponsors Holland & Hart, ADM, and The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. and its Cultivate Ventures platform.

Since launching in 2015, Manuel Gonzalez, the managing director for North America and the head of innovation at Rabobank, has seen quite a few changes to the food tech space. Now more so than when we originally launched, I see business models from these pitch companies that are slightly more complete he told AgFunderNews back in January. Now, there is a bigger and bigger ecosystem willing to find solutions and give support to these burgeoning companies.

Last year, the program offered its first international event in Australia and this year its traveling to Europe. As the alumni roster of FoodBytes! companies continues to grow, Gonzalez and the team have kept tabs on their progress.

Many of our alumni are continuing to find ways to sustain growth while improving on social impacts, he said. More recently, FoodBytes! alumni Kuli Kuli received $4.25 million in a Series A funding round led by Kellogg Companys venture capital fund eighteen94. The company, which manufacturers and distribute Moringa-based products, raised the Series A following a $500k seed round last year and a couple of crowdfunding campaigns, including a $500k raise on AgFunder.

Get tickets to FoodBytes! NYC HERE and use code AGFUNDER for a 20% discount!
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, who on an official visit to the State of Qatar, met with the representatives of the Armenian community of Qatar on May 15.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office, the President of Armenia addressed the audience. Noting that he was glad to have this opportunity to meet with the representatives of the newly established, small but robust Armenian community, Serzh Sargsyan commended the fact that residing and working in Qatar, the Armenian community makes its input to the development of Qatar, preserving at the same time Armenian national spirit and identity. In this context, President Sargsyan stressed the important role of the Mesropian day school.

According to the President, under current conditions, the existence and prosperity of the Armenian communities in the countries of the Persian Gulf acquire a new value. Serzh Sargsyan expressed confidence that there is great untapped potential in the Armenian-Qatari relations, and with the assistance of the local Armenian community efforts should be made to give a new content to these relations.



In his remarks President Sargsyan spoke also about Nagorno Karabakh peace process, presented the approaches of the Armenian side and concerns currently present in the resolution process. Today too, I would like to state for all world to hear that though we value peace, we will not hesitate for a moment to become a fist again and stand by the just demand of the people of Artsakh as we did twenty-five years ago, as we did last April, underscored Serzh Sargsyan.



President Sargsyan spoke about the process of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the events going on in Armenia now.



I am confident you are following all events happening in Armenia, rejoicing for each our achievement and feeling sad for our failures. I believe today you are happy that the reforms, which have been going on in our country for a while, have finally yielded results. I am speaking, of course, of the recent parliamentary elections which have received positive assessments of all international structures. But its not the end, not at all. As I have stated on many occasions, this is a new beginning which is even more compelling. We will take up reforms our country with new vigor, also relying on your potential, your knowledge, your talent: We have the same goal  a powerful and stable Armenia. As at every stage of our history, today too, the strongest guarantee of the existence and development of the Armenian nation is our unity.



So, lets put all our efforts, strength and strength, abilities and talents into developing and empowering the Armenian state, not only staying Armenians and bringing up generations of Armenians, not only through patriotic deeds and Armenia-oriented activities but also through the introduction and implementation of economic projects, even minor projects, even small projects. Let us pave the way for the eternal existence of the Armenian nation together, President Serzh Sargsyan said at the meeting with the representatives of the Armenian community of Qatar.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh told Armenpress the Azerbaijani forces made over 60 ceasefire violations across the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

The Ministry issued a statement which says: On May 16 and overnight May 17 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime over 60 times by firing more than 900 shots from various caliber small arms at the Armenian positions in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

In addition, the Azerbaijani forces also fired 82 mm (4 shells) and 120 mm (17 shells) mortars at the eastern direction, 60 mm (4 shells) and 82 mm (15 shells) mortars at the north-eastern direction of the line of contact, as well as anti-tank grenade launcher (5 grenades).

The Defense Army forces of Artsakh took countermeasures to suppress the Azerbaijani activeness and continued conducting the reliable protection of military posts.

At the moment the situation is relatively calm in the frontline.
TMC has won Pujali, Raiganj, Domkal and Mirik while GJM-BJP combine has bagged Kurseong, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has won the municipal elections in West Bengal, winning majority of the seats in four out of seven bodies. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and BJP combine won the remaining three municipal bodies. However, TMC made inroads in the hills by winning the Mirik municipality.

The results conclusively prove that TMC is going strong in the state despite the spate of corruption cases against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led party. Secondly, TMC has maintained its hold over the electorate in the plains besides making inroads in the hills.

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The seven municipalities which went to polls are Kurseong, Darjeeling and Mirik in Darjeeling district; Kalimpong in the newly announced Kalimpong district; Pujali in South 24 Parganas district; Raiganj in North Dinajpur district; and Domkal municipality in Murshidabad district.

TMC has won Pujali, Raiganj, Domkal and Mirik while GJM-BJP combine has bagged Kurseong, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

SETBACK FOR BJP

The results of the municipal elections also point towards BJP's failure to establish themselves as an alternative to the ruling TMC. BJP has received a setback as it has managed to win just three seats - two of the total 16 in Pujali and one out of 27 in Raiganj.

BJP had campaigned aggressively for the municipal elections which were held on May 14, though amidst complains of violence and booth-capturing. The opposition parties had demanded scrapping of the municipal elections.

BJP'S MULTI-PRINGED STRATEGY FAILS

The party ruling at the Centre has launched a multi-pronged strategy to register an impressive performance in the 2019 lok Sabha elections. In a bid to strengthen the organization, BJP president Amit Shah had toured West Bengal to launch 'Vistar Yatra' in Naxalbari on April 25.

He visited a tribal's house and knocked door-to-door as part of an intensive booth-level mass contact programme in the cradle of the 50-year-old Maoist movement. He also held a meeting of party workers in booth number 93 of the Naxalbari Assembly constituency.

Amit Shah also went to Mamata Banerjee's Bhawanipur constituency in Kolkata the next day and launched mission "Ebaar Bangla" (West Bengal this time).

BJP has been attacking Mamata Banerjee and TMC over the corruption cases and law and order issues. It harped on scams like Narada, Sarada and Rose Valley. With senior TMC leaders such as Sudip Banerjee and Tapas Pal behind the bars, BJP highlighted the corruption by the ruling party during Mamata Banerjee's regime.

The party also strived hard to publicise the developmental programmes of the Modi government.

However, these efforts seem to have made no mark in the municipal elections.

NO ENCOURAGING SIGNS FOR BJP SINCE 2016 ASSEMBLY AND 2014 LOK SABHA POLLS

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In the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections, BJP had bagged three seats as against just one which it had won in the 2011 polls. In 2011, BJP had garnered about 4 per cent votes which increased to 10.2 per cent vote share in 2016.

The party hopes that a jump of more than 20 per cent vote share will get translated into seats in the next polls.

BJP had garnered 17.5 per cent votes in West Bengal during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. This dipped to 10.2 per cent in the 2016 Assembly polls. Despite this setback, BJP won three seats for the first time in the state. In 2016 polls, BJP not only fetched about 56 lakh votes, as against 19.5 lakh in 2011, it also made its presence felt in 262 out of 294 Assembly segments by polling more than 10,000 votes.

In 2014, BJP believes it had secured 17 per cent votes because of the Narendra Modi wave across the country. It did not have any organisational base then. In 2016, there was no such wave. What it achieved was because of the organisational strength.

More than winning three seats, the party made its presence felt in maximum seats and secured second position in seven seats. It secured between 20,000 and 30,000 votes in 66 seats, 30,000 and 40,000 votes in 16 seats and between 40,000 and 50,000 votes in six seats.

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BJP was instrumental in the defeat of 70 candidates of Congress and the Left by eating into their vote share and garnering about 5,000 to 10,000 votes.

Despite these statistics, BJP has been left far behind TMC in the municipal elections. This may force the party to work harder and rework its strategy to present itself as an alternative to TMC in the state.

Also Read:

West Bengal civic polls results: Mamata's TMC wins 4 municipalities, creates history by winning Mirik

Bengal BJP workers who lunched with Amit Shah at Naxalbari join Mamata's Trinamool Congress

Amit Shah: Trinamool Congress can't stop PM Modi's chariot in West Bengal

Watch Video: I don't indulge in Hindutva that maligns Hindus: Mamata slams BJP

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YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The White House has been placed on lockdown after an individual jumped a bike rack serving as a barrier on the north fence line in Washington D.C, the US Secret Service said on Twitter.

The suspect is in custody.

Security was heightened at the White House due to an earlier visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Protests greeted Erdogan outside the White House as he met inside with President Donald Trump. The Turkish leader had already departed the executive mansion when the incident occurred, RT reported.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. Recep Tayyip Erdogans security detail were the attackers of the peaceful protest which was organized by the US Armenian community against the Turkish president, The Guardian reported.

According to witnesses, the brawl erupted when the Turkish presidents security detail attacked protesters carrying the flag of the Kurdish PYD party outside the residence.

CNN reported 9 people have been injured in the brawl outside the Turkish ambassadors residence in Washington.

New York Post also reported that the attackers were the security detail of Erdogan.

An online footage also shows how the security personnel also verbally abuse the peaceful protesters. According to New York Post, two of the injured are seriously hurt.

This is exactly the type of violence you see in Ankara and they are exporting it here. Its one thing for the Turkish government to do that to its own citizens[which is] a terrible thing. It is another thing for us, as Americans, to see that exported to the United States, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian said, who captured a part of the incident on film.

The demonstration, which began at Lafayette Square at noon, was organized by a coalition of organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the American Hellenic Council. Several different groups, which included representatives from the Armenian, Greek, Kurdish, and Assyrian communities, participated in the protest, while President Erdogan met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. A conference on prospects of renewable energy kicked off in Armenia.

The conference was organized by the US embassy and jointly with the ministry of energy infrastructures and natural resources and Contour Global.

The conference brought together 70 Armenian companies and several leading American renewable energy companies, which will present their development experience and technologies of green energy and smart-electric devices.

US Ambassador to Armenia H.E. Richard Mills delivered opening remarks, emphasizing that Armenia and its energy system have recorded big growth in the past 25 years.

When I think about the sectors future 25 years, I experience great excitement, because I know that these developments will be the results of partnership which will be formed here today. As many of you know, this year we mark the 25th anniversary of the Armenian-American relations. 25 years ago I was dealing with issues related to the newly independent Armenia in the US State Department. Many of you will recall, that during the initial years of independence, the energy situation in Armenia was very unstable, power outages were a frequent occurrence. It was a real crisis, but Armenia didnt give in to darkness, rather through the help of partners, it was able to become a country which can take care of its needs and furthermore, export energy surplus, the Ambassador said.

Ambassador Mills highlighted the governments work in this direction, as well as the Armenian-American cooperation, emphasizing last months visit of Armenian officials and private sector representatives to the US, which enabled them to get acquainted with the countrys best experience.

Seven companies arrived in Armenia for the conference  Honeywell Building Solutions, General Electric, Contour Global and others.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. Two opposition parties of Germany, the Greens and the Left, submitted a joint proposal to the Bundestag calling on to immediately withdraw the German soldiers from Turkeys Incirlik air base, Deutsche Welle reports.

The German army is the army of the parliament, and the parliamentarian must control it all the time. Thus, the Germany army must be immediately pulled out of the Incirlik air base, stated in the proposal.

Germany's Green Party Co-chairman Cem Ozdemir said banning the Bundestag lawmakers to visit the air base is considered as loss of trust within the frames of NATO partners. The Federal government has followed for a long time how president Erdogan turned our soldiers into foreign policy tool, Ozdemir said.

The proposal will be likely put up to voting on May 17 in the Bundestag. A number of lawmakers of the ruling party also expressed a wish to withdraw the troops from Incirlik.

On May 15 the Turkish government again banned the German Bundestag Defense Committee members to visit the German soldiers stationed in Incirlik air base. The German Foreign Ministry told Committee Chairman Wolfgang Hellmich that the Turkish government announced on May 10 the rejection of the request to visit the German soldiers in Incirlik air base. One reason given for the denial of access was Germany's granting asylum to a number of Turkish officers who faced persecution following the failed coup in Turkey on July 15 last year.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. For more than fifteen years, two inseparable companions stand out during Recep Tayyip Erdogans foreign visits.

One of them is the Turkish autocratic leaders bodyguard entourage, the other  the protests of people who are objectively discontented from this autocracy and its political consequences.

During the years, a special status quo had formed between Erdogans bodyguards, whod never stood out with civility, and the other companion of Turkeys autocratic leader: the protesters.

Hours ago, this balance was ultimately breached in the US capital, two miles from the White House. Surely, the Turkish security detail had earned a notorious reputation before that, both in the US, when they were under media spotlight for brawling with the American Secret Service during world famous boxer Muhammad Alis funeral, and by their good manners during the Nuclear Summit, which was the reason for the reputable Brookings Institution to cancel Erdogans speech at the last moment.

In the context of this all, even the story when Erdogans ten-strong bodyguard entourage was guarding the Turkish First Ladys mini shopping campaign in Warsaws stores, which increased Polands money circulation with nearly two hundred thousand zlotys, fades away.

And today, Erdogans security did their best for Turkey to once again appear on international headlines. But this revelation doesnt cause the innocent smile, which the Turkish First Ladys shopping companions status deserves.

Yesterday it was already known that Erdogans visit will be protested against by organizations who question US policy for Turkey, including the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), which said in a statement: Its time to challenge Erdogans arm-twisting and  even more importantly  to call out the Turkish governments covert campaign to hijack U.S. policy through questionable payments to foreign agents, lobbyists, and other influence peddlers. He can start putting American principles and priorities first by rejecting Ankaras gag-rule against honest U.S. remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

Now, it seems that this statement sounds anachronistic, due to the reason that in addition to political pressure, Turks in the US went on to physical pressure  charging obviously specially trained fighters against peaceful protesters.

Erdogan, who is losing touch with reality, addressed a new message to everyone, hinting that terror against their protestors will not be limited solely in Turkey. And this is already a display of hidden fears and extreme frustration. As a matter of fact, the bodyguard entourage is the reflection of its leaders unbalanced conduct.

Meanwhile, Turkish media are attempting to find more or less reasonable explanations for this action which doesnt anyhow have a justification  the extremely brutal vengeance against nearly three dozen people, namely elderly demonstrators, which resulted in nine people being hospitalized.

And now it doesnt even matter that the law enforcement of the host country became the indirect target of this brazen attack, who, to say the least, appeared in an awkward situation. Its impossible to understand how this devilish idea emerged in the minds of the attackers or its masterminds against a group of defenseless people, it is clear however that the footage which took over the internet - depicting battery carried out with satisfaction - prove the very thing which the group of US taxpayers were protesting, who gathered outside the Turkish Embassy in Washington  two miles from the White House.

Aram Ananyan
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia will discuss the draft law on VAT exemption for imports of military products for the Armenian Armed Forces within the frames of intergovernmental agreements between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, reports Armenpress.

The issue is included in the Governments May 18 session agenda.

The aim of presenting the draft is to define VAT privilege for import of military equipment by the law of the Republic of Armenia.

By the agreement on between the Governments of Armenia and Russia on providing state export loan to the Government of Armenia, as well as within the frames of similar inter-state agreements, VAT privileges for the Armenian Armed Forces in terms of import of military equipment are not defined. Taking into account the necessity and importance of import of military products for the Armenian Armed Forces, a problem arises in terms of ensuring a respective legal framework for providing VAT privilege over import of military products for the Armenian Armed Forces within the framework of agreements, stated in the drafts explanation.

The policy run by the Armenian Government on this path aims at creating favorable conditions for import of military product for the Armenian Armed Forces.
Most read of the week
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on relieving Felix Tsolakyan from the post of Head of the Presidential Oversight Service, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

Tsolakyan has been elected member of the Parliament based on the April 2 parliamentary election results.

The first session of the newly elected Parliament will be held on May 18.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. US soldier Chelsea Manning has been released from prison after serving seven years for leaking hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables and military files to Wikileaks, BBC reports.

A US Army spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that she had left Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas.

Most of what remained of her 35-year sentence was commuted by then-US President Barack Obama in January.

Her lawyer earlier said she was excited but likely to be "anxious".

"She's ready to finally be able to live as the woman that she is," Nancy Hollander told the BBC. The 29-year-old soldier was born Bradley Manning.

A day after she was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013, Manning said she had felt female since childhood and wanted to live as a woman called Chelsea.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. Gyumri will host new tourism festival.

On July 29 Arts and Crafts festival, entitled Lenduta, will be held in the second largest city of Armenia.

During the festival, Alexandrapol-Gyumri traditional arts, crafts, with theatrical performances and concerts, will be presented.

Usually it is perceived that it is hot in Armenia in July and it would be better not to visit the country in that period. Moreover, tourism activeness decreases to some extent. But in July it is the best season in Gyumri, weather is wonderful, Aleksan Ter-Minasyan, director of Gyumris Berlin Art Hotel, told a press conference in Armenpress.

The festival will launch in the evening of July 28, with a festive concert. Next day march will be held in the streets of Gyumri. The program will continue until late at night.

Starting from 21:30, the central square will be turned into an Italian square, it will be in the form of a big cafe where people can order something. We have talked with the administrations of hotels, restaurants, we hope they will ensure that part. The aim is not just to eat, but to organize screening of musical movies about Gyumri in the big screen, Aleksan Ter-Minasyan said.

First Vice-President of State Tourism Committee Mekhak Apresyan said the festival is expected to be held annually.

Gyumri will be presented with its arts and crafts, taste and smell. This is good example of public-private sector cooperation. Gyumri has great potential to become a regional tourism center. Preconditions exist, two airlines operate flights from Gyumri. We are going to contribute to Gyumris development through various events, including this festival, Mekhak Apresyan said.
Both the accused had been declared offenders in a gang- rape case registered at Shahdara police station in 2014.

By Press Trust of India: Two persons, including a woman, have been arrested from southeast Delhi's Garhi village for allegedly running a sex racket, police said today.

The accused, identified as Gaurav Anand and Nina Soni alias Sonu Bangalan, were arrested yesterday and have been declared proclaimed offenders, they said.

Both the accused had been declared offenders in a gang- rape case registered at Shahdara police station in 2014, they added.

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"They are pimps and used to provide call girls to their clients in Delhi and the neighbouring areas. In order to evade their arrest, they used to frequently change their hideouts in two-three months," said a senior police officer.

Anand revealed that he used to work as a driver at a call centre. But he was removed from the job after he demanded a salary hike.

He also had an altercation with his wife and he left his home before he came in contact with Bangalan and started living with her, the officer said.

She was running a call girl racket and Anand joined her, he added.

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Woman who honey trapped BJP MP taken into custody

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YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The regulation on the EU visa liberalization for Ukrainian citizens has been signed in Strasbourg on May 17, reports TASS.

The document was signed by President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta, the current chair of the European Union.

The signing ceremony was attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

The text of the regulation will be published in the EU Official Journal and will enter into force 20 days later.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The Executive Council of the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges (FEAS), led by FEAS president Mohamed Omran, chairman of the Egyptian Exchange, made a decision on re-locating the FEAS HQ from Turkey to Armenia.

In an interview to MENA news agency, Omran mentioned that Egypt endorsed the decisions on moving the HQ office from Turkey to Armenia, as well as Cyprus membership in the Executive Council instead of Turkey, taking into account the strong relations of Armenia and Cyprus.

He added that after the 33-member Executive Council passed the decision through Egypts efforts on relocating the office to Armenia, Turkey suspended its membership to FEAS.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. Considering the public interest over the case of the murder of the family of the Avetisyans in Gyumri, the Justice Ministry of Armenia informs that the Ministry has received the decision of the Court of the Russian Federation on recognizing the verdict of the Shirak District First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction and implementing it in the territory of the Russian Federation, Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Justice Ministry of Armenia.

The decision of the Russian Court guarantees the full and unconditional implementation of the verdict of life-sentenced Valery Permyakov as prescribed by the international agreements between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation.

On August 23, 2016 Valery Permyakov  serviceman of the Russian military base of Gyumri - was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of seven members of the Avetisyan family.

Valery Permyakov murdered 7 members of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri on January 12, 2015.

The youngest victim was a 6 months old baby. Six of the victims were gunned down, and the baby was stabbed.

Permyakov was apprehended while trying to illegally cross the Armenian-Turkish border.

Earlier, a criminal case was filed from the Russian side, which sentenced Permyakov to 10 years imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms and absence without official leave.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The Republican Party of Armenia will nominate the candidacy of Ara Babloyan for the President of the National Assembly, Armenpress reports RPA spokesperson, Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov told the reporters after the Executive Body meeting of the party.

Arpine Hovhannisyans and my candidacies will be nominated for the post of the Deputy Presidents of the National Assembly. The parliamentary faction of the party will be led by Vahram Baghdasaryan. The Secretary of the faction will be Gagik Melikyan Sharmazanov said.

He informed that on May 18 the Republican faction will submit a bill proposing to cut the number of the standing committees from 12 to 9.

Sharmazanov also reminded that the current Cabinet of the country will resign on May 18, following which the RPA will nominate Karen Karapetyans candidacy to the post of the Prime Minister.
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 so called "Democracy" does exists.
During Barack Obama's administration, the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights was staffed with "progressives" who were intent on pushing federal policy in ways that advanced their visions of what education should accomplish and how schools must treat students.But as the former president himself observed, "elections have consequences" and we are seeing them in the Trump administration's choices of personnel in the Department. Attorney Candice E. Jackson has been appointed to the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, where she will have a key role in making federal policy.Her appointment has a lot of people upset because Jackson is about as far from a "progressive" as possible.She earned her law degree from Pepperdine in 2002 and then took a position with Judicial Watch, an organization that has been a vigorous opponent of government corruption and overreach since 1994. In 2004, she co-authored an article in Reason magazine, " Washington's Biggest Crime Problem ," in which she and William Anderson argued that the government's constantly expanding criminal code leads to many injustices. Reason is a libertarian magazine where few if any federal officials have ever published.In 2005, Jackson wrote a book entitled, which firmly established her credentials as a non-progressive.Over the years, she has also written for the Ludwig von Mises Institute and the Independent Institute , both organizations that favor minimal government and oppose the abuse of the law for political ends.Candice Jackson is exactly the sort of individual the Education Department needs to reverse the growth of federal intrusion into higher education as exemplified by the Office for Civil Rights' "Dear Colleague" letters that have caused so much trouble. Back on March 1, I wrote that sweeping change is imperative in the Office for Civil Rights and Jackson appears to be just the person to spearhead such change.Naturally, she has come under attack by people who don' t want any retrenchment in the Education Department's power.Writing on ProPublica on April 14, Annie Waldman questioned whether Jackson wouldSeeing an opening to attack Jackson, on April 24, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. Speaking for a large number of leftist organizations, the letter belittles her, stating,These groups object to Jackson's appointment because she supposedly failsThere's a huge problem here, however. Jackson's demonstrated commitment to legal equality and the rule of law runs counter to the view of civil rights organizations that the government must continue to favor certain groups, but is entirely consistent with the Supreme Court's many decisions against affirmative action and racial preferences. It isn't Jackson who is out of step with the law, but rather the civil rights groups.Was it wrong for Jackson to argue that white students (a term that presumably includes Asians) should not be disadvantaged by the civil rights laws? Not according to the Supreme Court, which held in 1976 (McDonald v. Santa Fe Transport Co.) that white Americans are just as much protected by the Civil Rights Act as are members of minority groups.The Court has repeatedly disallowed race-specific programs such as scholarships restricted to students from certain groups or race-based classes. And with regard to racial preferences in college admissions, it ruled against quotas in Gratz v. Bollinger and held that preferences for the sake of "diversity" must be narrowly tailored and subject to strict judicial scrutiny in Fisher v. University of Texas.Jackson's view of the civil rights laws is that they mean exactly what they say and nothing more. They apply to individuals who have been mistreated, but do not call for or justify the kinds of group entitlement policies that the civil rights industry advocates. That is why it wants her out of the Education Department.From Jackson's writings on the overextension of federal law, it also seems clear that she would oppose the abuse of "guidance" letters to make new law, as the Education Department did during the Obama years, and would insist that the Department abide by the Administrative Procedure Act for any proposed regulations, which it did not.Commenting here on the attack on Jackson by the left, Hans Bader of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (who worked in the Office for Civil Rights during the administration of George W. Bush) writes,He's right. The Leadership Council's complaint that Candice Jackson does not support equality and the rule of law has things exactly backward. She does support equality and the rule of law and that is exactly why she is, in the view of these interest groups, not suitable for the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.The prospect of a top Education Department official who does not advocate imposing new policies through administrative fiat and would take the focus of civil rights enforcement in education off the "progressive" mania for group equality is exciting.
By Aukkarapon Niyomyat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has no immediate plan to block access to Facebook , the telecoms regulator said on Tuesday, as it expects the social media giant to comply with court orders for the removal of content deemed to threaten national security. In a move to censor criticism in the junta-run country, the telecoms regulator had set Facebook a Tuesday deadline to take down 131 web addresses with content it saw as threatening security or violating strict lese majeste laws. Last week's threat prompted a flurry of concern in the Southeast Asian country - one of Asia's most active on Facebook - that the site would be blocked. However, there would be no immediate measures to block Facebook, Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of Thailand's telecoms commission, told reporters, adding that bureaucracy had held up the process of removing the 131 impugned content items. "We have the necessary documents from the court to block 34 URLs now," Takorn said, following a visit to the head office of a grouping of internet providers in Thailand to check if Facebook had complied with the authorities' removal request. "Facebook has cooperated well in terms of taking steps to block the URLs that we asked them to in the past," he added. "If they cooperate, then there will be 97 URLs left which we have asked the court to issue warrants to block." Facebook did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the matter. The head of the service providers' association, which groups 19 landline and mobile ISPs and international gateway operators covering 90 per cent of Thailand, also told reporters there was no plan to block access yet. "We haven't discussed that action to shut down Facebook," said Morakot Kulthamyothin, president of the Thai Internet Service Provider Association (TISPA). All 131 sites were still accessible after the deadline expired on Tuesday, the provider added. Since the military took power in a coup in 2014, Thailand's government has ramped up online censorship, particularly against material perceived to insult the monarchy. Last month, Thailand also banned citizens from any contact online with three vocal critics of the monarchy. The junta's latest attempt to block content would not achieve much, said Pavin Chachavalpongpun of Kyoto University, one of the three critics. "The government will achieve little from the current ban," Pavin told Reuters. "If Facebook complies, it will be condemned by the international community. If Facebook ignores the request, then I guess the government will prove to the public that it is serious about this - expect more arrests of those who follow me." Facebook has said its general guideline on receiving government requests to remove content is to determine whether the material violates local laws before restricting access. In 2016, Facebook blocked 50 pieces of content found to have violated the lese majeste law, following government requests. Since taking power, the military government has made increasing use of the royal insult law, which can carry a penalty of up to 15 years for each offence, against critics. Days after the May 2014 coup, the ministry of information and communications technology blocked access to Facebook temporarily, saying the military had ordered suspension of content critical of its actions. The junta denied ordering the step. (Additional reporting and writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
By Karen Dillon

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (Reuters) - Chelsea Manning walked out of a U.S. military prison on Wednesday, seven years after being arrested for passing secrets to WikiLeaks in the largest breach of classified information in U.S. history.

Manning, 29, was released from the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, at about 2 a.m., the U.S. Army said in a brief statement.

"First steps of freedom!!" Manning wrote alongside a photograph of sneaker-clad feet that she published on social media.

Manning was convicted of providing more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks, an international organization that publishes such information from anonymous sources, while she was an intelligence analyst in Iraq.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a target of criminal investigations in Sweden and the United States, had promised to accept extradition if Manning was freed. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said the arrest of Assange, who has been living in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since 2012, was a priority.

Former U.S. president Barack Obama, in his final days in office, commuted the final 28 years of Manning's 35-year sentence, effective four months later. That decision angered national security experts who say Manning put U.S. lives at risk but it won praise from transgender advocates who have embraced her transition to a female gender identity.

Once known as Private First Class Bradley Manning, she is likely to become a high-profile transgender advocate, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who has represented her.

Manning announced her gender transition while the U.S. Army was keeping her in the men's prison and forcing her to wear a male haircut. She twice tried to commit suicide and faced long stretches of solitary confinement as well as denial of healthcare, Strangio said.

Last year, the U.S. Defense Department lifted a long-standing ban against transgender men and women serving openly in the military. The Pentagon estimated it affected 7,000 active-duty and reserve personnel.

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Although transgender people still complain of widespread discrimination in education, employment and medical care, awareness of the issue has exploded since Manning went to jail. Transgender celebrities such as Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox have become part of the mainstream.

"LOVE FOR MY COUNTRY"

In a statement to ABC News, Manning said she appreciated the support she had received from people all over the world.

"The past will always affect me, and I will keep that in mind while remembering that how it played out is only my starting point  not my final destination," the statement said.

Manning said in 2014 that she disclosed the classified information to expose truths about the civil war in Iraq "out of a love for my country."

In nearby Kansas City, Missouri, some 15 members a local group called PeaceWorks demonstrated in support of Manning on Wednesday, crediting her with exposing war crimes.

"This is the kind of information we the people should have in order to make decisions about our leaders and who should be in office," said Henry Stoever, 68, a retired lawyer and leader of the group.

Among the material Manning leaked was a 2007 gunsight video of a U.S. Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people, including two Reuters news staffers.

WikiLeaks began revealing secrets from anonymous sources in 2007 and then burst onto the wider public consciousness with a series of releases throughout 2010.

More recently, WikiLeaks published Democratic National Committee emails in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the email accounts were hacked by Russian intelligence as part of a campaign by Moscow to influence the election.

(Additional reporting by Kevin Murphy in Kansas City and Daniel Trotta and Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Bill Trott)
Thompson mine to close in October, will put at least 150 out of work

A nickel mine in Thompson, Man. will be closing this fall, a representative with the United Steelworkers confirmed Tuesday.

The closure of the Birchtree mine will put between 150 and 200 people out of work, USW 6166 president Les Ellsworth said.

"I certainly wasn't expecting to hear this week that we would actually be closing the mine," he said. "It came as a shock."

Ellsworth expected the mine to be open until at least 2020 but falling nickel prices forced mine owner Vale's hand, he said.

Ryan Land, manager of corporate affairs for Vale in Thompson, said the company has been in a "prolonged down cycle" for some time. He added the mine was approaching the end of its life cycle as well.

"We happen to be in a business where we are price takers, not price makers," he said, referring to nickel prices.

"Until we start to see the up cycle, I think these challenges will continue to be out there."

Ellsworth hopes most of the affected workers will be able to find jobs in other Thompson-area Vale operations. Otherwise, they face layoffs.

On top of the 150 workers at the mine, another 50 people who do indirect work for the mine will be affected by the closure, Ellsworth said.

The bulk of the jobs are high-paying positions with benefits, he added.

"Once you take those jobs out of the community it has a great effect," said Ellsworth.

Progressive Conservative MLA Kelly Bindle (Thompson) called the closure disappointing but understandable giving the price of base metals.

"It's commendable that Vale kept it open as long as they did. But it's still sad to see," said Bindle, who himself once worked at the Birchtree mine.

Ellsworth said he wants to have discussions with provincial and federal governments to discuss possible support, like money for training, for workers affected by the mine's closure.

Thompson Mayor Dennis Fenske said the city will definitely feel the impact  he hopes to meet with Finance Minister Cameron Friesen and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen next week.

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"For our community of 13,756, it's a huge impact. Vale is currently the largest employer in our community," said Fenske.

MLA Bindle is not worried about Northern Manitoba's mining future.

"I'm extremely optimistic that there is still lots of wealth in the ground, untapped in the north," Bindle said.

That said, none of that will be tapped unless the world demand is there, so it's important that the north look at diversifying its economy and become less reliant on mining, he said.

"That will help lessen the impact of these types of announcements."

The Birchtree mine is the smallest of three Vale mines in Thompson.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came under renewed attack Tuesday in the House of Commons over his vacation on a private Bahamas island, following the revelation that the Aga Khan's island is legally owned by a company with ties to corporations located in countries known to be tax havens.

New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair led off with his questioning about the island's ownership structure.

"The prime minister's explanation of his now infamous vacation is so full of holes and contradictions it is starting to sound like a White House press briefing," he told the House.

"The prime minister broke the law by taking a private helicopter to the island. He defended this by saying that it was simply a family vacation with a family friend along with a few senior Liberals. Now we learn that the island doesn't actually belong to the family friend. So will the prime minister finally own up to this entire mess and admit that he should never have taken that exclusive holiday?"

Mulcair also called on Trudeau to admit that the helicopter used by the Aga Khan was not the only way to get to Bell Island.

Trudeau, however, stuck to his talking points, saying that he was co-operating with Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson's investigation into his vacation.

"This was a personal family vacation with a longtime friend, and I am happy to work with the ethics commissioner to answer any questions she may have."

Murky ownership trail

The exchange came after an investigation by CBC News into Bell Island and the helicopter that carried Trudeau to the tropical retreat over the Christmas holidays found a trail that includes several different companies and four countries known for their favourable tax rules.

The legal ownership of Bell Island involves a number of shell companies and nominee directors with links to Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse. A title search reveals that the legal owner of Bell Island is Island of Discovery Ltd. The directors of Island of Discovery are two other companies that were mentioned in the Panama Papers database of offshore tax haven documents.

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A handwritten notation on the travel expenses for Privy Council technician Brad Cotten's trip indicates a $1,200 US payment for Cotten's accommodation on the island was to be remitted to a fourth company, Lexthree Ltd.

The reasons for the complex corporate structure are unclear, and officials working with the Aga Khan have refused to comment.

Setting up offshore companies is legal and there can be legitimate reasons for using networks of offshore companies with nominee directors.

However, experts say it is also the kind of structure often used by those who are trying to hide assets or avoid or evade taxes. While tax avoidance can be legal, evading taxes is not.

Aga Khan in Ottawa

On Tuesday, the Aga Khan was in Ottawa for the opening of the Global Centre for Pluralism, an education and research centre established in part with $30 million from the Canadian government. Reporters were unable to ask him any questions.

Although Trudeau was less than three kilometres away and has repeatedly described the Aga Khan as a longtime family friend, he was noticeably absent from the ceremony attended by more than 200 people.

Heritage Minister Melanie Joly, the only member of Trudeau's cabinet to attend, refused to say whether Trudeau had been invited to the opening.

Joly was also tight-lipped when asked about the complex corporate structure surrounding Bell Island.

"This is a subject that is not linked to the government of Canada," she told reporters. "We committed $1 billion to countering tax evasion."

Heat from the opposition

Conservative MP Blaine Calkins said the latest revelation about Bell Island underscore's Trudeau's lack of judgment in deciding to vacation there.

"It was a lack of judgment to spend taxpayers' money to go there in the first place," he said in an interview.

"It was a lack of judgment to not only break the ethical rules and the standards that he set for himself, not only that but the Ethics Act, when it comes to taking a flight on a private helicopter. Now it seems to be just compounding itself and it's a problem."

Calkins said he is concerned that the fallout over Trudeau's vacation and Bell Island could affect funding for the Aga Khan Foundation Canada.

"It would be a real shame, I think  if this friendship that he has is going to affect the future funding for that foundation, which does good work."

Fellow Conservative MP Chris Warkentin waded into the debate during question period, asking Trudeau about his future vacation planning.

"Mr. Speaker, it is that time of the year again when families start making plans for their summer vacations. I am wondering if the prime minister can commit to getting an estimate in advance from the Privy Council Office on how much his summer vacation dreams might cost. I am hoping that he will maybe take that into consideration when he chooses what to do and where to go this time."

Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch, said Trudeau is talking about ethics but not "walking the ethics walk."

"Prime Minister Trudeau and the Liberal cabinet and government officials are not being careful enough in dealing with people who are seeking to influence their decisions, including accepting this gift of a trip from the Aga Khan."

Elizabeth Thompson can be reached at elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca
Research

New Report Examines Use of Big Data in Ed

Even as "big data" is helping researchers better understand why some students seem to thrive while others don't, a growing backlash by parents and policymakers could hamper research efforts. On one side are concerns about "privacy breaches, hacking, the use of data by commercial software developers for marketing purposes and the possibility that sensitive information ... might limit future opportunities for students," as a new report from the National Academy of Education explained. On the other side is the potential for improving educational outcomes through the linkage of data generated by interactive education programs and administrative data.

The report, "Big Data in Education," summarizes the findings of a recent workshop held by the academy, in which the focus was to review the benefits of educational research using modern data systems, the risks to the privacy of families and students, and technical and political solutions for "maximizing benefits and minimizing risks." The authors also ponder how to balance the benefits of educational research and student privacy: Most of the burden appears to be on researchers themselves to better educate members of the public and others about what they're doing and why.

According to the report, laws protecting student privacy are on the rise. First, there are the three federal laws: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). Besides those, however, over the last four years, 49 states and the District of Columbia have introduced 410 bills related to student data privacy, and 36 states have passed 85 new education data privacy laws. Also, since 2014, 19 states have passed laws that in some way address the work done by researchers. "While some of these recent laws have fairly reasonable requirements concerning the governance structures for the collection and storage of data, as well as transparency provisions aimed at ensuring better communications with parents," the report asserted, "others set restrictions on the format of data that can be made available to researchers, insist on parental permission for any study using data or ban the collection of certain types of data or certain data uses." For example, some of the new regulations require parental permission to use data already collected or prohibit the use of data for predictive analytics. Some of the laws impose penalties "to enhance the accountability of data users, and in some cases researchers specifically."

What's a researcher to do? The report offers several recommendations for data users to keep in mind.

First, researchers need to get better at communicating about their projects, especially with non-researchers. People "are more likely to share their personal information when they see prior positive results and are told of the current uses of their data," the report noted. One approach to follow in gaining trust "from parents, advocates and teachers" uses the acronym CUPS:

Collection: What data is collected by whom and from whom;

Use: How the data will be used and what the purpose of the research is;

Protection: What forms of data security protection are in place and how access will be limited; and

Sharing: How and with whom the results of the data work will be shared.

Second, researchers must pin down how to share data without making it vulnerable to theft. The working group recommended a multi-tiered approach, in which data is assessed against a "data continuum." On one end is "deidentified or aggregated data that are publicly available"; on the other end is "individual identified data that are highly protected, such as through the use of data centers, memoranda of understandings between data collectors/repositories and institutions, and [virtual private network] access."

Third, researchers should build partnerships of trust and "mutual interest" pertaining to their work with data. Those alliances may involve education technology developers, education agencies both local and state, and data privacy stakeholders.

Along with the summary report, the results of the workshop are being maintained on a page within the Academy's website here. That includes videos from workshop sessions and resource lists.
Ed Reforms

Trustee Guide Acts as Playbook for Institution Innovation

For American colleges and universities to remain robust, they need to seek out "bold, dynamic innovation," according to a new report issued by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. The 48-page report is a follow-on to one published two years ago, describing more than a dozen innovative initiatives undertaken at a "broad range of schools." This time around, the new guide examines some of those programs to find out which ones held up. It also offers "fresh examples" of schools pursuing new kinds of projects.

"Bold Leadership, Real Reform 2.0: Improving Efficiency, Cutting Costs, and Expanding College Opportunity" profiles many different forms of "reform."

At the state university system level, the State University System of Florida's 2014 "performance-based funding model" is described. The report also looks at how the University System of Maryland undertook its second "effectiveness and efficiency" initiative in 2015, relying on predictive analytics to improve student success, as well as changes in purchasing to procurement policies and procedures, particularly pertaining to three areas: research, technology transfer and cybersecurity.

Inter-campus collaboration describes projects that address two kinds of problems: delivering vital programs that have small enrollment numbers and raising graduation rates. In the first category the Sunoikisis Project, a national consortium of Classics programs, gets a nod. For the second, the report covers the University Innovation Alliance, launched in 2014 and implemented in 11 public institutions from Florida to Oregon. What they have in common is "socioeconomically diverse student bodies," with at least a third of students being Pell-eligible. According to the report, the alliance has laid out five potential projects, such as adaptive learning and targeted student supports, structured primarily to help low-income students. Since coming together, the alliance's member schools are on track to increase the number of students who will graduate by 94,000.

The document also profiles individual institutions and their efforts, such as Purdue University, which instigated a tuition freeze, which will continue through the 2018-2019 academic year. (In-state students pay $10,002 in tuition.) The university has also developed an income-share agreement, a loan program in which students don't pay interest; they agree to pay back a set percentage of their salary after graduation over a term of nine years or less.

The goal of the report is providing stories that can serve as a template for other institutions' boards, said Armand Alacbay, the organization's vice president of trustee and legislative affairs, in a prepared statement. "Higher education's traditional business model is increasingly unsustainable, so the need for engaged trusteeship is at an all-time high. Boards can play a significant role in improving institutional strategy and efficiency without compromising academic quality or raising tuition."

The report is openly available on the council's website here.
Education Policy

Washington Prisoners Get Chance to Pursue 2-Year Degrees

A 2009 study found that prisoners who participated in prison-based college courses were less likely to do something that would send them back to prison during the first year after release. Now Washington state has signed into law a measure to expand existing partnerships and create new ones between the Department of Corrections and community and technical colleges. The goal: to offer state-funded associate's degree and certificate instruction to some of the 18,000 adults in Washington prisons.

Substitute Senate Bill 5069, which goes into effect this July, expands pathways that previously limited postsecondary education to one-year vocational certificates and privately funded academic degree programs. The legislation cited Rand research that found that adults who received such education while incarcerated were 43 percent less likely to recidivate and that adults who participated in such education while in prison were 13 percent more likely to be employed. A 2013 study by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy estimated that the state received a return on investment of $20 for every dollar invested in correctional education.

The new law doesn't come with additional funding. The Department of Corrections is expected to tap its own budget, which already covers various educational and vocational programs for inmates. Nor does it apply to individuals who are on death row or serving life without the possibility of parole or those who already have a four-year degree.

Along with the expanded educational offerings, the colleges involved in the program have been working with vendors to develop a secured laptop that can be used in living units to extend the amount of time students in prison can study. The laptop, as specified, would have a secure operating system, a clear bottom to expose the battery and no WiFi or network port.

The state isn't a stranger to training prisoners. During the 2015-2016 academic year, Washington community and technical colleges served 8,960 people in prison, about 3,413 full-time equivalent students. They also issued 1,709 vocational certificates. In addition, in the state school board funded pilot reentry programs on the main campuses of numerous colleges, including Edmonds Community College, Renton Technical College and Tacoma Community College.

Edmonds, as an example, will expand the number of courses it provides to the Monroe Correctional Complex, possibly starting in the winter quarter. That will include business management courses leading to an associate degree in technical arts. According to coverage in the Everett Herald Net, the college is currently delivering instruction to an average of 420 people at the Monroe facility, including adult basic education skills, a certificate in entrepreneurship and small-business management and a certificate in building maintenance technology. In the past the institution has offered courses in other building trades, such as carpentry.

Tacoma Community College as well as Centralia College and Seattle Central College are also participating in a federal "financial aid experiment" that lets colleges award financial aid to incarcerated adults in postsecondary programs. This three-year project began in fall 2016.
The Viaje Exclusivo line is one of the most well-known lines in the Viaje portfolio. The Exclusivo blend is a Nicaraguan puro that started out as a personal blend for company founder Andre Farkas. Over the years, Farkas has done many different sizes of the Viaje Exclusivo blend in limited editions, small batches and shop exclusives. In 2016, the company announced it would release several sizes of the Exclusivo as a regular on-going production. At the same time, Viaje has continued to do small batch limited offshoots. Last Fall, Viaje unveiled one of those offshoots known as the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua. While the original Viaje Exclusivo is a Nicaraguan puro, it is a cigar made in Honduras at Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L. (i.e Raices Cubanas). With the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua, this is a cigar made in Nicaragua at Tabacos Valle de Jalapa SA (Casa Fernandezs TABSA factory). As for the cigar, it is also a Nicaraguan puro, but features a different blend from its Honduran counterpart. Recently I had an opportunity to smoke the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua in the Toro size. Overall I found this to be an outstanding release by Viaje.

Theres been some confusion about the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua line and the original Viaje Exclusivo line. The Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua is not a cigar that is replacing the original Exclusivo line, but one that is meant to complement it. This probably stems from the fact that Casa Fernandez, Viajes manufacturing partner has moved production of many lines from Honduras to Nicaragua. Even Viaje has done this as it has moved production of the 2015 edition of the Viaje Summerfest out of the Raices Cubanas in Honduras to TABSA in Nicaragua.

Without further ado, lets break down the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro and see what this cigar brings to the table.

Blend Profile

As mentioned, the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua is a different blend than the Honduran made Exclusivo. Like the original Honduran made one, the Exclusivo Nicaragua features 100% Nicaraguan tobacco. How the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua differs from the Honduran-made one has not been documented.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Country of Origin: Nicaragua (TABSA)

Vitolas Available

The Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua is available in three sizes  each packaged in 25 count cabinet boxes. These three sizes reflect the three regular production sizes for the U.S. of the Honduran-made Exclusivo line

Robusto: 5 x 52

Double R: 5 1/2 x 54

Toro: 6 x 50

Appearance

The wrapper of the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro had a mix between a medium brown and a colorado red color to it. The surface of the wrapper had a light coat of oil to it. There were some thin visible veins and thin visible wrapper seams, but overall I considered this to be a smooth wrapper.

The band of the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua is a variation of the one found on the rest of the Viaje Exclusivo line. This is a band that features the classic Viaje leaf logo with a black, silver, and ivory color scheme. The difference is the Viaje lead logo has two blue leaves and white leaf representing the colors of the Nicaraguan flag. The actual Viaje logo and name are in black text sitting on an ivory background. The remainder of the band is adorned with silver. To the far left and right are the text (both in black font) Nicaragua and Hand Made respectively.

Appearance

Prior to lighting up the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro, I went with a straight cut to remove the cap. Once the cap was detached, I commenced with the pre-light draw experience. The pre-light draw delivered a mix of cedar, generic wood, natural tobacco, and a slight bit of cocoa. Overall I considered this to be a very good pre-light experience. At this point, I was ready to light up the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro and see what the smoking experience would have in store.

Flavor Profile

Out of the gate, the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro treated me to a combination of cedar, nut, natural, red pepper, and citrus. It didnt take long for the natural tobacco, red pepper, and citrus to fuse into what I call a twang. This twang along with the nut and cedar notes became the primary flavors. In the background, I also picked up some cocoa powder notes. Meanwhile, on the retro-hale, I also picked up some additional red pepper notes.

Later in the first third, earth notes surfaced joining the nut, cedar and twang flavor. The cocoa notes started to increase and by the start of the second third these notes began to surface in the forefront.

During the second third of the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro, the earth and cocoa notes seemed to be the primary flavors. The cedar, twang, and nut flavors moved into the background. In particular, the twang began to come apart and I started picking up more in the way of red pepper.

The last third saw the earth notes resume control as the primary note. At times the red pepper and cedar notes made their way into the forefront. Meanwhile, the cocoa receded into the background while the nut flavors pretty much dissipated. This is the way the cigar experience of the Viaje Nicaragua Exclusivo Toro came to a close. The resulting nub was firm to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn and Draw

Overall I found the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro to be a well-constructed cigar and this was reflected on the burn draw. For the most part, I found this cigar to maintain a straight burn line and straight burn path. The ash produced from this cigar wasnt the firmest ash, but it was not a loose or flakey ash either. The burn rate and burn temperature were both ideal.

I also found the Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro to have an excellent draw. This had a touch of resistance on it  which is something that I like.

Strength and Body

With the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro, I found this cigar to be somewhat bolder than the Honduran-made Exclusivo line. From a strength perspective, I found the Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro started out medium to full in strength. There was a slight increase in the strength along the way. Toward the end of this cigar, it was very close to being full strength.

As for the body, the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro started out in the full range. There was a slight increase in body, thus it remained in the full range right until the end. In terms of strength versus body, I found the body to have the edge.

Final Thoughts

Typically I am not a big fan of the twangy notes, but when it came to the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro, there was enough going on in the flavor department that balanced things out. Once the twang diminished and dissipated, I found the flavors really opened up  particularly in the second third. I also liked the that this cigar had some additional strength and body compared to its Honduran-made Exclusivo sibling. This is not only a cigar that has responded nicely to aging thus far, but I think its one that will continue to get better with age.

Given this is a bolder cigar, its probably one that I would steer to a more seasoned cigar enthusiast. As for myself, this is a cigar I would smoke again  and its one worthy of a box purchase.

Summary

Key Flavors: Earth, Coffee, Cedar, Red Pepper, Nut, Classic Twang

Burn: Excellent

Draw: Excellent

Complexity: High

Strength: Medium to Full

Body: Full

Finish: Good

Rating

Assessment: 4.0-Box Worthy

Score: 92

References

News: Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Heading to Stores

Price: $9.04

Source: Purchased

Brand Reference: Viaje
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New York, May 17, 2017The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns todays attack on a state television station in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. The four-hour attack on the Jalalabad office of National Radio Television of Afghanistan (RTA) killed at least six people and injured at least 18 others, according to media reports.

The Islamic State group in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Site Intel Group, which monitors websites used by violent extremist groups. Four RTA employees were killed, Ilias Alami, operations manager for the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, a press freedom group, told CPJ.

This attack is a brazen assault not just on one television station but on the entire media in Afghanistan, which is struggling against forces that want to control the flow of information, said CPJ Deputy Executive Director Robert Mahoney. Afghan authorities should do everything in their power to prevent these attacks.

RTA did not immediately respond to calls or emails. Police said four attackers and two guards were also killed, and that one assailant was arrested, according to TOLO News. Afghanistan ranked seventh in CPJs 2016 Impunity Index, which highlights countries where journalists are killed and their killers go free.
Tommy Arthur

The Alabama Department of Corrections doesn't have to provide documents to lawyers for Alabama death row inmate Tommy Arthur related to the executions of 2 other inmates last year, a judge has ruled.





Arthur's attorneys in March filed a request for a writ of mandamus asking a judge order the Alabama Department of Corrections to provide them records related to the executions of Christopher Eugene Brooks on Jan. 21, 2016 and Ronald Bert Smith on Dec. 8. The request was made under the Alabama Open Records Act.





The ADOC, according to the motion, had declined their request for execution logs that record the administration of drugs, the performance of a consciousness assessments, the times of death, and all other events relating to the executions. The attorneys also requested autopsy reports that record the cause of death, any evidence of irregularities or potential issues during the executions, and toxicology screens.





Arthur's attorneys have contended that Brooks and Smith may have suffered because of Alabama's new lethal injection drug combination. Smith heaved and gasped for breath for 13 minutes during his execution and two consciousness tests were performed. The ADOC has said the executions went according to their protocol.





In a brief order issued Monday afternoon ... Montgomery Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines granted the ADOC's motion to dismiss the request by Arthur's attorneys "because certified copies of the autopsy reports are available upon request from Alabama Department of Forensic Science and any release of the execution logs would be detrimental to the best interests of the public."





Akash Toprani, pro bono counsel for Arthur, issued a statement Tuesday.





"The people of Alabama have a right to know what their government is doing in their name, especially when it involves taking a life. The alarming reports arising from the recent execution of Ronald Bert Smith, Jr., makes transparency in the State's administration of the death penalty a matter of critical public importance, and we are deeply disappointed by today's ruling," Toprani stated. "If the State is so confident that its lethal injection protocol is constitutional, it would not obstruct public access to these records."





Arthur, 75,is set to be executed May 25 at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. It is the 8th time since 2001 that the state has set an execution for Arthur for his conviction in the 1982 shooting death of Troy Wicker.





Wicker's wife was also convicted of hiring Arthur, with insurance money, to kill her husband.





The U.S. Supreme Court denied Arthur's appeals earlier this year.





 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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Source: al.com , May 17, 2017
The Alabama House of Representatives Tuesday approved a bill that would shorten the appeals process for those on death row.





The chamber voted 74 to 26 for the measure, long a priority of the Alabama attorney generals office. The House amended the bill on the floor, which will send the measure back to the Senate.





The vote in the Montgomery County delegation fell down partisan lines. Democratic Reps. Alvin Holmes, John Knight and Thad McClammy of Montgomery and Kelvin Lawrence of Hayneville voted against the bill; Republicans Reed Ingram of Pike Road; Dimitri Polizos of Montgomery and Chris Sells of Greenville voted for it.





Under current law, those convicted of capital crimes can appeal the decision, then file a post-conviction appeal known as a Rule 32 measure that can challenge aspects of the conviction, such as the adequacy of counsel. The bill passed by the House, sponsored by Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, would require both processes to move concurrently.





Supporters say it would streamline the appeals process and take years off the appellate process, sparing victims of crime going through it.





If a defendant is found guilty, the court appoints two different appellate attorneys, so hes got two different people working for him, said Rep. Lynn Greer, R-Rogersville, who carried the bill in the House.





Alabama Attorney General Steven Marshall praised the passage in a statement.





Each year that these appeals drag on, the general public is further removed from and even desensitized to the horrendous crimes that led to the sentences of every individual on death row, the statement said. But, for the families of victims, the pain is not numbed with the passing of years.





Opponents said by making the two processes concurrent, the state would make it more likely that an innocent person would be executed. Linda Klein, the president of the American Bar Association, sent a letter to House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston on May 12 urging them to oppose the bill.





While the ABA respects the importance of finality and judicial efficiency, quicker resolution of cases where a life is at stake should not take priority over ensuring fundamental fairness and accuracy of those convictions, the letter said.





Those arguments were echoed by Democrats speaking against the bill Tuesday afternoon. Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, said the Legislature was trying to speed up the process of killing people despite approving an amendment declaring Alabama a pro-life state during the session.





This is Alabama, Jackson said. We understand were down in the South where we believe in killing people.





The House accepted an amendment from Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa  who voted against the bill  to raise the cap on indigent defense from $1,500 to $7,500.





The bill goes back to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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Source: Montgomery Advertiser, Brian Lyman, May 16, 2017
The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) urges the government of Singapore to halt the execution of Mr Muhammad Ridzuan bin Mohd Ali, 31, now said to be scheduled on 19 May 2017.





We call on the President of the Republic of Singapore Tony Tan Keng Yam to show mercy and grant Ridzuan clemency.





Muhammaad Ridzuan and Abdul Haleem were both convicted for two charges of trafficking in diamorphine under s 5(1)(a) of the MDA read with s 34 of the Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed).





However, only Abdul Haleem received the certificate of substantive assistance. This resulted in them receiving different sentences. Abdul Haleem was sentenced to life imprisonment and 24 strokes of the cane, and Muhammaad Ridzuan was given the mandatory death sentence.





In Singapore, for drug offences carrying the mandatory death penalty, it is only when the Public Prosecutor issues the certificate of substantive assistance pursuant to s 33B(2)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185, 2008 Rev Ed) will the courts have the discretion to hand down other sentences, other than the death penalty. In Muhammaad Ridzuans case, despite having provided the necessary information to the Central Narcotics Bureau as to who gave him the drugs, with full name and identification, he was not given the Certificate, thus leaving the judge with no choice but to sentence him to death.





ADPAN is disheartened by the seemingly arbitrary issuance of the Certificates of Substantive Assistance by the prosecution. Discretion on sentencing must be with the courts. It is totally unjustifiable for the Public Prosecutor to have the ultimate power to decide who gets issued the Certificate, consequently, who gets to live or who not.





While we understand Singapores public health concerns on the entry of illegal drugs, we strongly oppose the use of death penalty as a solution.





There is no evidence of efficacy of the death penalty in solving addiction or the entry of prohibited substances, even in Singapore. Despite carrying out executions, the Singaporean authorities continue to arrest drug mules and intercept large amounts of illegal drugs. The death penalty has shown to be not a deterrent.





Ridzuan was not raised in the best of circumstances, having to grapple with poverty that pushed him into working a series of jobs to contribute to his familys income. Ridzuan did not get the best opportunities in life and he has realised his wrongdoings while in prison, and we believe he has demonstrated the potential for rehabilitation. His family has attested how he renewed showing more maturity in his words and actions.





The execution on Friday, if to take place, will deprive a changed man of his right to life. In a statement, his family have pointed out that there would be no opportunity for him to commit a similar crime if his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.





The death penalty is an affront to human dignity. It disregards the right to life, the very basis of all human rights. ADPAN believes that these rights should be protected by the State at all times. We therefore ask the President and the Government of Singapore to show mercy and stop Ridzuans execution, and to establish a moratorium on all executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.





The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) is an independent cross-regional network committed to working for an end to the death penalty across the Asia Pacific region. ADPAN is made up of NGOs, organizations, civil society groups, lawyers and individual members, not linked to any political party, religion or government and campaigns against the death penalty. It currently has members in 28 countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Vietnam, UK, USA.





 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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BATON ROUGE  An effort to abolish the death penalty in Louisiana died in a House committee Wednesday after one of the bill's original co-sponsors switched his vote.





The bill's failure in the House Criminal Justice Committee signaled that a duplicate measure in the Senate by Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, would suffer the same fate when it arrived, causing him to shelve his effort as well. "Why would I bring a bill (to the Senate floor) that can't get out of this (House) committee?" Claitor said.





Rep. Terry Landry, D-New Iberia, said fellow former lawman Rep. Steve Pylant, R-Winnsboro, didn't warn him that he was voting against the bill. Pylant was the swing vote in the 9-8 decision. "I was surprised," Landry said. "It's not the way I would have conducted my business with a colleague."





But Pylant said he never intended to vote for House Bill 101, but instead co-sponsored the measure so he could get his message out to the public that the state should start executing those who have been given the death penalty.





Pylant has said in previous interviews he believes the death penalty is just, but it shouldn't exist if Louisiana wasn't following through on executions. "There are a few who don't deserve to live," he said.





Louisiana has carried out just one execution in the past 10 years and that was of an inmate who asked that the sentence be carried out.





"I was trying to bring attention to the fact we're not doing it now; I co-sponsored the bill to get the message out that we're not doing it," Pylant said. "I got on line so I could get my message out. We need to either get in the business (of executions) or get out of it."





Landry said he will bring the bill back next year.





"I still fundamentally believe there should be a moratorium on the death penalty," he said."It's cost us too many dollars and too many lives and too many families have been broken up."





Faith leaders like Bishop Shelton Fabre, representing the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, testified the death penalty is an affront to God. Former death row inmates who were ultimately exonerated like Ray Crone of Arizona also testified in favor of the bill.





"Ending the death penalty is not about public policy or public opinion but because of our belief that all human life is sacred," Fabre said. "It's essential in ending a culture of death and creating a culture of life."





But families of victims testified against the bill, while Louisiana's district attorneys said it's an appropriate tool in the most heinous cases where the jury's conscience has been shocked by the viciousness of a crime.





Edie Triche's son Jeremy Triche, a St. John the Baptist deputy, was murdered in 2012.





"The death penalty will not return my son, but it's simply a matter of justice," she said.

Death penalty upheld as Louisiana House panel blocks move to abolish it

Louisiana's death chamber

A move to abolish the death penalty in Louisiana has been dropped in the Legislature. A House committee on Wednesday (May 17) killed a bill to end capital punishment, dooming a similar bill in the Senate.





The House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice narrowly defeated House Bill 101 by Rep. Terry Landry, D-New Iberia, which would have eliminated the death penalty for all people convicted after Aug. 1 of capital crimes if voters agreed to the abolition. The measure failed on an 8-9 vote.





In light of that decision, Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, is pulling a similar proposal that is pending in the Senate. Claitor's Senate Bill 142 was the same as Landry's bill but did not require a referendum.





"This is the toughest thing I have ever done in my life," said Landry, a former State Police superintendent who also served two years in the military during the Vietnam War.





Neither bill was meant to affect the 73 people already on death row in Louisiana. Both bills would have kept their death sentences in place.





The Louisiana District Attorneys Association, Louisiana Sheriffs Association and Louisiana Chiefs of Police opposed Landry's bill. District Attorney Bridget Dinvaut of St. John the Baptist Parish told the House committee that the bill would affect a capital punishment case she is prosecuting against defendants accused of murdering two sheriff's deputies and wounding two other deputies. One slain deputy's relative also testified.

The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops supported Landry's bill and had been lobbying legislators for it. Ray Krone, an innocent man who had been on death row in Arizona, also testified for the bill. In 2002, Krone was released from prison after DNA testing showed he hadn't committed the crime that sent him to death row.





Landry's bill failed in part because Rep. Steve Pylant, R-Winnsboro, surprisingly voted against it. Pylant, a former Franklin Parish sheriff, was listed on the Legislature's website as a co-sponsor of the bill. Had he voted for the bill, it would have passed the committee to move to the full House, and Claitor might have moved forward with his Senate bill.





Pylant spoke in support of Claitor's bill in a Senate committee April 25, and he has given several news media interviews where he explained why he was co-sponsoring Landry's legislation. "I think certain crimes should be punishable by death," Pylant told The Associated Press in April. "But the fact is we're not enforcing it. We spend millions of dollars on death penalty appeals, and we claim we can't get the medicines to do it. ... Whether you're for capital punishment or not, it seems like at some point common sense ought to take hold.

In an interview Wednesday, Pylant repeated those sentiments. But he said he got involved with Landry's legislation only to bring attention to the fact that Louisiana isn't executing people quickly enough. "If I hadn't put my name on it, you wouldn't be out here talking to me," Pylant told reporters after the vote.





Louisiana has executed only one person since 2002. Gerald Bordelon had waived his right to more appeals in 2010 and was executed then.





The death penalty is expensive: Louisiana spends $9 million to $10 million annually on defense counsel for Louisiana's 73 inmates sentenced to death. That doesn't count the costs for prosecutors and courts -- or local parish expenditures on capital defense.





Pylant said Louisiana could be executing more people if officials prioritized it. He pointed out that Arkansas executed four people in eight days in April.





Arkansas initially scheduled eight executions in April, before the drugs it used to kill people were to expire, but four executions were put on hold by legal challenges. Louisiana, Arkansas and several other states are having trouble acquiring drugs for lethal injection because the drug companies no longer want to sell them to state for capital punishment.

"We say we can't get the drugs to execute with. Arkansas has executed four or five people in the last month," Pylant said. "So something's not right. The powers that be apparently don't have the will to carry out the executions."





Claitor's bill to abolish the death penalty won 6-1 backing from a Senate committee only hours after the first Arkansas' execution took place. And Pylant became a co-sponsor on Landry's legislation well before any of the Arkansas executions took place.





Pylant said what happened in Arkansas didn't influence his vote on Landry's bill on Wednesday or change his position. But he returned to the Arkansas executions more than once in an interview.





"We need to start executing people," he said. "They said we can't get the pharmaceuticals. Well, why can other people get them when we can't?"





"We don't want to give the lethal injection? Well, we've got firing squads. We've got the electric chair. We've got other things," he said.





If Louisiana wanted to use a method other than lethal injection to carry out executions, it would require a change to the law. No lawmaker in 2017 brought legislation to change the method.





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Source: USA Today , Greg Hilburn, May 17, 2017Here's how the committee voted Wednesday:John Bagneris, D-New OrleansBarbara Carpenter, D-Baton RougeRandal Gaines, D-LaPlaceTed James, D-Baton RougeTerry Landry, D-New IberiaDenise Marcelle, D-Baton RougeJoe Marino, no party-GretnaJohn Stefanski, R-CrowleyTony Bacala, R-PrairievilleRaymond Crews, R-Bossier CityStephen Dwight, R-Lake CharlesChris Hazel, R-PinevilleValarie Hodges, R-Denham SpringsFrank Howard, R-ManySherman Mack, R-AlbanyBarbara Norton, D-ShreveportSteve Pylant, R-Winnsboro. The Times-Picayune (nola.com), Julia O'Donoghue, May 18, 2017
LONDON, May 17 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - African countries have some of the most prohibitive laws against homosexuality in the world - same-sex relationships are a crime in many of them and can lead to imprisonment or the death penalty.





On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, here are a few facts about LGBT rights on the African continent:





* Same sex acts are illegal in 32 countries across the continent.





* Laws criminalising same-sex relationships only apply to women in only 24 of these. In countries such as Ghana, Kenya or Sierra Leone, it is illegal for men to engage in consensual sex with someone of the same sex but not for women.





* In Mauritania and Sudan, same-sex relationships can lead to the death penalty.





* In Nigeria, 54 people went on trial last week on charges connected to allegations that they were celebrating a gay wedding, which are outlawed in the country. A bill was signed in 2014 that criminalised same-sex relationships, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison.





* South Africa is the only African country that has legalised gay marriage. Same-sex marriage legislation came into force there in 2006.





* Only 19 percent of African respondents approved of same-sex marriage in a survey conducted in October 2016.





* Ivory Coast and its capital Abidjan are considered a refuge for the LGBT community in the region with gay bars, gay rights groups, and even an annual cross-dressing beauty pageant.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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Sources: ILGA, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Reuters, May 17, 2017
KYODO NEWS - May 17, 2017 - 02:14 | World, All

China's top diplomat is planning to visit Japan next month to lay the groundwork for a potential summit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping in July, sources close to bilateral relations said Tuesday.

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, who occupies a post equivalent to a deputy prime minister and superior to foreign minister, is expected to meet Abe during his visit.

Abe told a Japanese television program on Monday that he hopes to meet Xi on the sidelines of the Group of 20 leaders' summit in Germany in July, which both leaders plan to attend.

It would be Abe and Xi's first sit-down since their meeting in November last year in Peru.

Yang, who last came to Japan in October 2015, is also expected to meet Shotaro Yachi, head of the secretariat of Japan's National Security Council.

The visit will take place as the two countries this year mark the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties.

According to the sources, both governments had affirmed by mid-May that Yang would visit Japan to lay the groundwork for the Abe-Xi summit.

In meetings with Yang, Japanese officials are expected to ask for China's cooperation in putting pressure on North Korea, which continues to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

China has called for the resumption of talks between North Korea and five other countries aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

But Japanese officials are likely to reiterate Tokyo's stance to Yang that "dialogue for dialogue's sake is meaningless," citing the lack of concrete efforts by North Korea toward denuclearization.

The uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, controlled by Japan but claimed by China, may also be on the agenda during Yang's visit.

Chinese vessels have repeatedly sailed near the isles, which China calls Diaoyu.

Japan is expected to appeal to Yang for the establishment of a bilateral communication mechanism to avoid accidental clashes at sea or in the airspace between the countries.

Yang may also seek Japanese participation in the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Japan and the United States, the primary backers of the decades-older Asian Development Bank, are the only members of the Group of Seven countries yet to join the AIIB.

Abe said Monday that Japan could consider joining the AIIB if various questions are resolved, including the environmental impact of projects funded by the bank.

==Kyodo
- Nigerian couple Adeboye Taiwo and wife have been married for 17 years with no child

- In May, the wife finally gave birth to a set of sextuplets: 3 boys and 3 girls

Facebook user Chris Kehinde Nwandu posted the photos and story of a Nigerian couple Mr and Mrs Taiwo were recently blessed with sextuplets after 17 years of marriage.

His story says: "Miracle! Woman delivers sextuplets after 17 years of marriage. She is seeking support. Mr Adeboye Taiwo has been married for 17 years ,the wife got pregnant. He was expecting a baby but God gave him the greatest surprise of his life, not one or two, she delivered six kids (3 boys,3 girls)."

READ ALSO: Seven from heaven! Meet first ever surviving SEPTUPLETS, 4 boys and 3 girls, who turn 19

"All of them are alive.he is is seeking the support of well meaning Nigerians at home and abroad for support. Taiwo told CKN News: 'I and Ajibola my only wife had been married for 17 years. This is our first kids. All we were asking God for is at least a child and we never knew they were six until we had an ultrasound."

Mr. and Mrs. Taiwo with one of their sextuplets.

READ ALSO: These amazing JAMB 2017 results will make you proud to be a Nigerian! (screenshots)

Each of their beautiful sextuplets held a knitted toy of a different colour.

"I was short of words when the babies came because God surprised me. The babies were delivered on the 11th of May 2017 at the Labor and Delivery department of Virginia Commonwealth University Teaching Hospital (VCU) Richmond VA. USA".

"My wife is not employed she is a mere housewife. I will need the help of God and support of people to raise these six kids at the same time. Mr Adeboye can be reached on 08033775025, 08126279928. Account Number :Mrs Ajibola Taiwo 0026572547, ACCESSBANK."

Want more of the best news? Legit.ng Gossip - Android Apps on Google Play

The couple have 3 boys and 3 girls.

Those who want to help them can do so with the above information. Legit.ng congratulates them and prays for long life for all their children!

Watch the video below of Nigerian men telling Legit.ng what they would do if they find out their children are not theirs:

Source: Legit.ng




tucker carlson

Shock and alarm over reports that President Donald Trump shared classified information with Russian officials last week was evident Monday from both sides of the political aisle.

And curiously missing during the prime-time shows at Fox News was the full-throated defense of Trump  and outrage at other media figures  that has typified the opinion-driven programs on the network.

While pro-Trump right-wing outlets online dismissed the story, the prime-time Fox News shows offered Trump a far more muted defense than at other crisis points in his administration, including last week's decision to fire the FBI director, James Comey.

Instead, multiple shows during Fox News' prime-time lineup did not dedicate significant airtime to the story. But they leaned heavily on the Trump administration's pushback to the story, which was first reported by The Washington Post.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson dedicated little airtime to the contents of the reports, saying almost nothing about them himself.

White House correspondent John Roberts appeared at the top of the show to discuss the topic for several minutes, focusing less on the content of the reports than on the fact the White House was irked by the information leaks that led to the public report.

"It's almost like there are people in Washington who like to undermine the relationship between the US and Russia," Carlson said, reacting to Roberts' segment, before launching into a broadside against media outlets he accused of bias.

Fierce Trump loyalist Sean Hannity also hardly acknowledged the report, focusing his energies too on the coverage of Comey's firing.

The time he did dedicate to the report was spent urging White House staffers to stop leaking, arguing that "no White House can sustain these constant leaks."

"Enough with the self-serving leaks," Hannity said.

"If you have the honor and privilege of working in the White House, you should realize you're there for a reason and one reason only: to serve the American people."

Story continues

Trump's most enthusiastic supporter, though, was "The Five" panelist Jesse Watters, who said the investigation into the leakers "would seem to be the top priority of the Trump White House." He said the leaks were "the story."

During a relatively lengthy discussion of the report, Watters also dismissed The Washington Post's reporting. He pointed to a minor correction to a previous story last week about White House press secretary Sean Spicer's location before an impromptu briefing as well as to a report that the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, threatened to resign after Comey's firing.

"The Washington Post was wrong about Sean Spicer hiding in the bushes, they were wrong about Rosenstein, the deputy AG, resigning," Watters said. "We also know that Trump has been at war with the intelligence agencies for a very long time. And people have been leaking against him from the beginning."

Still, Trump's reported audacity in sharing information with Russia that came from a US partner and that had been withheld even from other US allies created at least one awkward moment for the right-leaning prime-time stars.

During a segment toward the end of "The Five," host Bob Beckel suggested the Trump administration's only option to combat resilient pockets of extremists in Afghanistan was to deploy additional American ground troops.

"And share intel. Well, maybe not," panelist Dana Perino quipped. "No, share intel. That's always good."

Related:

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available on iOS and Android.

NOW WATCH: The 9 best memes from Trump's first 100 days in office





More From Business Insider
Donald Trump

Reports that President Donald Trump asked James Comey, the former FBI director, to end the bureau's investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has left lawmakers on both sides of the aisle shell-shocked  and openly discussing the possibility of impeachment proceedings.

Democratic Rep. Al Green on Wednesday went to the House floor and called for Trump's impeachment.

Democratic Reps. John Yarmuth and Mark Pocan have also tossed around the word in interviews, saying Democrats were "actually pretty close to considering impeachment" and that Comey's firing moved Trump's "impeachment clock" an "hour closer."

Democrats are not the only ones discussing the possibility. Republican Rep. Justin Amash told reporters on Wednesday that if the allegations contained in Comey's memo about the conversation with Trump were true, it would be "grounds for impeachment." He added that he trusted Comey more than the president, according to Katie Williams, a reporter for The Hill.

Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told a CNN host who asked whether Congress had moved closer to the impeachment process that he would "have to say yes."

Axios reported on Wednesday that "Republicans close to the White House fear that yesterday's revelations could take President Trump into a legal or constitutional realm where his staff and supporters can't save him." A Republican operative told the publication that "a whole new door has opened" that could move the administration "backwards" instead of "the agenda grinding to a halt."

FILE PHOTO: A combination photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) in the House of Representatives in Washington, U.S., on February 28, 2017 and FBI Director James Comey in Washington U.S. on July 7, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool, Gary Cameron/File Photo

At an award dinner on Tuesday night, Republican Sen. John McCain told reporter Bob Schieffer that the Trump scandals had reached a "Watergate size and scale."

"I think we've seen this movie before," McCain said. "The shoes continue to drop, and every couple days there's a new aspect."

Story continues

The famously hawkish senator did not mention the word impeachment. But he drew further comparisons to President Richard Nixon, telling Schieffer that he would advise Trump to do "the same thing" Nixon was advised to do before he was faced with impeachment proceedings: "get it all out."

"It's not going to be over until every aspect of it is thoroughly examined and the American people make a judgment," McCain said. "And the longer you delay, the longer it's going to last."

In the UK, betting odds imply a 55% chance Trump will not last four years in office, according to Katie Baylis, a spokeswoman for the British betting firm Betfair.

"And many punters think it won't be too long before he departs," Baylis added, "with the odds of him leaving this year now into 12-5 from 11-2  a 27% chance [up] from 16% before the latest allegations."

'Drip, drip, drip'

Allan Lichtman, a political historian and American University professor, said the case was "becoming too compelling for even Republicans to resist an impeachment inquiry," which they may be tempted to use "to get to the bottom of the many controversies swirling around this administration."

"Otherwise, it's going to be drip, drip, drip, which is not good even for Republicans," Lichtman said.

The latest Trump-Comey bombshell came one day after the previous one  that Trump disclosed highly classified information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a meeting in the Oval Office last week.

It also came less than a week after the Trump administration wavered in its public statements about Comey's dismissal. Trump told NBC News' Lester Holt that "the Russia thing" was on his mind when he fired Comey, which contradicted earlier statements from his aides, who claimed Trump fired Comey on the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Rod Rosenstein

Noah Feldman, a professor at Harvard Law School specializing in constitutional studies, predicted that Republicans would first "gauge public reaction" to the Comey reports before launching impeachment proceedings.

"But we are gradually moving in that direction," Feldman said.

Louis Seidman, a professor of constitutional law at Georgetown University, said that "the right question is not legal, it is political: Has the president violated the oath he took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States? Lawyers and law professors have no special expertise about that. It's an issue for the American people to decide."

Seidman said he remained skeptical, however, that impeachment was a serious possibility.

"It seems to me quite unlikely, at least at this point, that Trump will face impeachment proceedings," he said. "Most Republicans seem to have cast their lot with President Trump."

Hugh Gusterson, an anthropologist at George Washington University, said in an email that, "by coincidence," he spent most of Tuesday "talking to various staffers and one senator on the Hill."

"No one raised the issue of impeachment. They all seemed to assume they would have to muddle on through the chaos. But everyone I spoke to was a Democrat, and when I asked them what Republicans were thinking, they didn't seem to know," Gusterson said. "On the other hand, reading conservative commentators in [Tuesday's] Washington Post, I thought I detected a shift in tone."

Paul Ryan

Veteran political operatives David Axelrod and David Gergen predicted the Comey memo could spur House Republicans to consider impeachment proceedings.

"I've been resistant to impeachment talk until now, but if Comey memo is true  and Comey is very credible  we are into a whole new deal here," Axelrod, who advised President Barack Obama, tweeted on Tuesday night.

Gergen, who advised Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton, told CNN on Tuesday night that Trump was now "in impeachment territory."

"It looks like he was trying to impede the investigation," Gergen said. "He was using his power to do that, and when James Comey didn't go along with him, when he wasn't his boy, he fired him."

He added: "After watching the Clinton impeachment, I thought I'd never see another one. But I think we're in impeachment territory now for the first time."

Seidman said it was worth emphasizing that "there are all sorts of considerations that members of the House might appropriately consider, but that would be improper for a judge or jury to take into account."

"For example," he said, "what the effect would be of removing a president when something like a third of the country would believe that their election victory was stolen from them, how much risk there is that this president's poor judgment will lead to truly catastrophic consequences for the country, and whether the vice president would do a better job."

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, seemed to echo those concerns in an interview with CNN on Wednesday morning.

He said there was "no avoiding having to answer the question" of whether impeachment was a possibility.

"But I do think that all of us ought to talk about just what a wrenching experience that would be for the country," Schiff said. "That's not something that we should be rushing into or rushing to suggest.

"We need to get to the bottom of what took place," he added. "What was the president's intention was in doing this? Was he trying to shut down a legitimate prosecution? Was he doing it because ultimately he was worried the trail might ultimately lead back to him? These are some profound questions I think we need to answer before we get too far down the path of what are the consequences if the proof turns out to be there?"

NOW WATCH: This is how impeachment works  and what a president would have to do to be impeached





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eddie lampert

Sears is suing a top tool vendor it says is refusing to honor its contract with the retailer.

The lawsuit follows through on threats that Sears CEO Eddie Lampert made in a blog post on Monday.

Lampert said One World Technologies was trying to "embarrass" Sears and "take unfair advantage" of the retailer by changing the terms of its supplier agreement or threatening to cancel its contract with Sears altogether.

One World Technologies is a subsidiary of China-based Techtronic Industries that manufactures power tools and other products under the Craftsman brand.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday, claims that the tool vendor threatened to cancel its contract with Sears because of concerns about the retailer's financial stability unless Sears agreed to cut back its orders, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Sears says it has always paid its suppliers on time and claims One World Technologies is trying to take advantage of negative rumors and media reports about Sears' viability to change the terms of its contract.

"We will not simply roll over and be taken advantage of," Lampert wrote in the blog post.

He said One World planned to file a lawsuit against Sears "as they seek to embarrass us in the media to force us to let them out of their contract. But Sears has nothing to be embarrassed about  we have lived up to our word under our contract, and we will take the appropriate legal action to protect our rights and ensure that One World honors their contract."

Sears' stock fell 12% after the blog post was published.

One World Technologies and Techtronic Industries did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lampert said Sears had helped One World "build a formidable presence in the tool industry" over their nine-year relationship. He said Sears had paid the company more than $868 million since 2007.

SEE MORE: Inside Sears' death spiral: How an iconic American brand has been driven to the edge of bankruptcy

Story continues

Last week, Lampert told the Chicago Tribune that some vendors had been treating Sears like a "pariah" and questioning its ability to pay for orders "because there are a lot of articles that are speculating, and there are elements of truth, but they're certainly designed to scare people."

"If you're a vendor and want to do business with us, then you have to treat us like a customer," he said. "You don't treat us like a pariah."

Sears' sales have been cut in half since 2007, and the company has been closing hundreds of stores and selling off assets including real estate and brands like Craftsman to raise money. The company has also been borrowing money from Lampert's hedge fund, ESL Investments, to keep funding operations.

There has been widespread speculation on Wall Street that the company is nearing bankruptcy, especially after Sears in March revealed "substantial doubt" about its ability to stay in business.

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eddie lampert

Sears CEO Eddie Lampert is taking his feud with a top tool supplier public.

In a blog post on Monday, Lampert threatened legal action against One World Technologies, a subsidiary of the China-based Techtronic Industries that manufactures power tools and other products under the Craftsman brand.

He said One World was trying to "embarrass" Sears and "take unfair advantage" of the retailer by changing the terms of its supplier agreement, or threatening to cancel its contract with Sears altogether.

"One World has informed us of their intention to take the very aggressive step of filing a lawsuit against us as they seek to embarrass us in the media to force us to let them out of their contract," he wrote. "But Sears has nothing to be embarrassed about  we have lived up to our word under our contract, and we will take the appropriate legal action to protect our rights and ensure that One World honors their contract."

Sears' stock fell 12% after the blog post was published.

One World Technologies and Techtronic Industries did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lampert said Sears had helped One World "build a formidable presence in the tool industry" over its nine-year relationship with the vendor. He said Sears had paid the company more than $868 million since 2007.

He said the supplier was trying to take advantage of "negative rumors" about Sears to sweeten the terms of its contract with the company.

"We will not simply roll over and be taken advantage of," he wrote.

SEE MORE: Inside Sears' death spiral: How an iconic American brand has been driven to the edge of bankruptcy

Last week, Lampert told the Chicago Tribune that some vendors had been treating Sears like a "pariah" and questioning its ability to pay for orders "because there are a lot of articles that are speculating, and there are elements of truth, but they're certainly designed to scare people."

Story continues

"If you're a vendor, and want to do business with us, then you have to treat us like a customer," he said. "You don't treat us like a pariah."

Sears' sales have been cut in half since 2007, and the company has been closing hundreds of stores and selling off assets including real estate and brands like Craftsman to raise money. The company has also been borrowing money from Lampert's hedge fund, ESL Investments, to keep funding operations.

Related:

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

There has been widespread speculation on Wall Street that the company is nearing bankruptcy, especially after Sears in March revealed "substantial doubt" about its ability to stay in business.

Here's the entire blog post from Lampert:

"Last week, at our annual meeting of stockholders, I said that Sears Holdings needs the support of our members, vendors, lenders and the communities we serve to succeed. I also shared my view that while we are not asking to be spared from informed opinions about our business performance, the recent wave of dire predictions about our companys future have done harm to our business.

"I also discussed the hard work we are doing with our vendors to meet their concerns. These efforts have resulted in a meaningful reduction in their counterparty risk with Sears Holdings  to the point where nearly all our vendors have a level of credit risk that is both affordable and appropriate given the relationships we have and our history of always meeting our obligations.

"But, as I explained last week, there have been examples of parties we do business with trying to take advantage of negative rumors about Sears to make themselves a better deal  a deal that is unilaterally in their interest. In such a case, we will not simply roll over and be taken advantage of  we will do whats right to protect the interests of our company and the millions of stakeholders we serve.

"Today, we are taking a stand against one vendor that is trying to take unfair advantage of us: One World, a company with whom we have had over a nine-year business relationship, has threatened to refuse to perform under their Supply Agreement unless we agree to what we believe are unreasonable demands. One World has informed us of their intention to take the very aggressive step of filing a lawsuit against us as they seek to embarrass us in the media to force us to let them out of their contract. But Sears has nothing to be embarrassed about  we have lived up to our word under our contract, and we will take the appropriate legal action to protect our rights and ensure that One World honors their contract.

"Additional Background

"One World is a subsidiary of Techtronic Industries, a conglomerate based in China with over $5 billion in revenues. One World makes various power tools and related accessories for Sears under the Craftsman brand. For over nine years, One World has enjoyed significant benefits from its relationship with Sears  we have paid One World more than $868 million since 2007  a relationship that helped One World build a formidable presence in the tool industry. Sears has paid and continues to make all payments to One World as they come due, and we are fully capable of continuing to meet our obligations under the Supply Agreement.

"There are important competitive reasons why we will fight hard to hold One World to honor our agreement. One World also manufactures power tools for other companies  by reducing its commitment to Sears, One World can do more business with those other companies by diverting resources now committed to Sears without incurring the cost of expanding its manufacturing or outsourced procurement capacity.

"If we allowed One World to break their agreement, it would effectively reduce the flow of products they are required to deliver to Sears, harming our ability to sell tools, supply parts, and provide goods to Sears members and customers. We wont allow that to happen. We are generally not a litigious company, but we will fight back to protect our legal rights, hold One World to its contractual agreements, and ensure that our customers are not affected by this business dispute.

"As I have said, I believe Sears Holdings can continue to operate as a very significant member-centric integrated retailer with a large number of stores as long as we receive the support of our vendors and other stakeholders. It is important to note that we purchase more than $13 billion a year in goods and services to offer our members in Sears and Kmart in-store and online. Across our entire vendor base, we have always met our payment obligations and are confident that the steps we are taking to improve our financial strength and reduce our operating losses will ensure that we will continue to be a strong business partner for many years to come."

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Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wants to work with Republicans to draft the Senate version of the health care bill, but she says Republicans have not included her and her Democratic peers.

Right now, the Republicans are trying to figure out what to do with the House bill and they have locked the Democrats out of the room, Warren said.

Warren said the Democrats have two main goals when it comes to health care: increase coverage and reduce costs for everyone.

We have said, Well work on those goals. You tell us, help us and we will work on those goals. Were glad to do a joint plan. Were glad to modify the current Affordable Care Act in order to do that, she said. And the Republicans are saying, in effect, Lalala, I cant hear you.'

At the beginning of May, the House narrowly passed a revised version of the American Healthcare Act (AHCA), or Trumpcare.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has not yet released its score of the bill, which will outline the impact on the deficit and how many people could lose coverage. The report, which is expected the week of May 22, will be necessary before the Senate begins real work on its version of the bill.

The CBOs scorecard for an earlier version of the bill found that it would save the federal government around $330 billion over a decade but would leave around 24 million fewer people with health insurance.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) speaks during a demonstrator on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 4, 2017. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Warren said Democrats billswhich she said would help millions of Americans with costsare not even being acknowledged. She gave an example about lowering the cost of drugs.

I have [a bill] with Bernie Sanders and several other senators that says, Lets import drugs from Canada,' Warren said. The Canadians are paying often half, a quarter of what we pay for our drugs. Lets pay the same price they pay. Lets get a little competition into this system and drive down the cost of drugs. That would matter for millions of families in this country, and it would help drive down the cost of health insurance  and it would drive down the amount our government is paying for its pharmaceuticals.

Story continues

Right now, we cant get the Republicans to talk to us about it, she said.

Warren confirmed reports that the Senate is negotiating its own legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare with groups of senators hand-picked by the party leaders, including Mitch McConnell.

These senators are taking the lead on writing the new health care legislation that could lead to winning support of at least 50 of the Senates 52 Republicans without attempting a bi-partisan effort. Instead, they are working on moving the legislation under reconciliation, special budget rules that make it not subject to filibuster rules and thus require only a simple majority.



Nicole Sinclair is markets correspondent at Yahoo Finance.

Please also see:

Elizabeth Warren finds it ironic that Jamie Dimon and Lloyd Blankfein complain about regulation

Senator Warren says the total tax revenue from corporations is too low and needs to be higher

Senator Warren: The CFPB reminds us that government can actually work

Warren: Senators are spending 110% of their time working through what Trump has done


Falcon 9 Inmarsat Elon Musk SpaceX Launch

Flying the biggest satellite that SpaceX has ever launched, weighing in at more than 6 metric tons, proved a routine piece of business for the companys Falcon 9 rocket yesterday.

The Inmarsat-owned satellite, built by Boeing, was originally scheduled to fly on a larger rocket, the Falcon Heavy, that SpaceX hopes to debut later this year. Flying the big bird on a smaller rocket required some sacrifices on SpaceXs partthe first stage booster could not be recovered for potential re-use, for example, since much of the fuel necessary would be used in flight. But the success puts the company on a path to finally hit its long-dreamed-of high-speed launch cadence.

SpaceX has been hoping to out-fly its competitors for the last several years, planning on a dozen to even 18 launches in a single calendar year. But in 2015, a mid-flight explosion grounded SpaceXs rocket for six months, putting a kibosh on those plans, and a 2016 refueling mishap required four months of work to ensure the rocket was ready for flight.

Now, having launched six rockets before the halfway point of 2017, the company looks set to hit its goals and finally fly more rockets than its incumbent competitors, the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance, and the European champion Arianespace. Thats striking, given that SpaceXs first commercial mission was in 2012. (ULA was formed in 2006, and Arianespace in 1980.)

This year, Arianespace has been the victim of circumstance, with its major spaceport becoming a pawn in a political battle between impoverished French Guianans and the mainland French government. The protests have now been resolved, allowing the company to start launching again.

For the rest of this year, SpaceX has plenty to do. It will launch a Bulgarian television satellite, and communications birds for Intelsat, Iridium, SES, and Echostar. It is expected to launch satellites on behalf of Taiwan and South Korea. And the company plans to launch its own demonstration satellite to provide internet access. Perhaps most importantly, it will fly three missions to the International Space Station for NASA, as well as demonstrating an uncrewed flight of its new astronaut-carrying space capsule. Plus, it expects to fly the experimental Falcon Heavy.

Story continues

Thats a lot of workat least a dozen more missionsand it will require the companys engineers and technicians to move fast and carefully, with no major mishaps. The companys goal has long been a mission cadence of one flight every two weeks, a pace it hit this month and in March but has yet to sustain over time. The tiny signals of progress are thereduring yesterdays launch, the company began loading liquid oxygen into the rocket ten minutes later than usual, part of an effort to compress and shorten the countdown process.

The rewards of frequent launches are clear: Besides establishing the Falcon 9s reliability, and the constant stream of data used by engineers after every launch to refine the vehicle, each launch represents revenue won by SpaceX.

While the company brushed off financial concerns after its 2016 mishap, with officials noting that it had no debt and $1 billion in cash on its books, replenishing its coffers will give SpaceX greater security and more resources to tackle big projects aheadincluding its mooted satellite internet constellation and an inter-planetary transportation system for reaching Mars.

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The Taliban have categorically stated that seeking a peace deal with the current government in Afghanistan would be tantamount to surrendering to the enemy and contrary to Islamic faith.

The Islamist insurgency issued the statement to media in response to reports its representatives told a former insurgent group that the Taliban are willing to enter into peace talks with the government.

The announcement, and reported U.S. plans to send additional American troops to the war-torn country to help Afghan forces contain the Taliban, strengthen widespread concerns of an escalation in hostilities and bloodshed this year.

The Taliban's denunciation of engaging in talks with Kabul also deals a critical blow to the U.S.-backed governments hopes that a recently concluded, much-touted peace deal with notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar may encourage Taliban leaders to also quit violence and join political reconciliation efforts.

The stance of the Islamic Emirate [Taliban] is that laying arms to the enemy and assisting them in achieving their sinister designs is not only contrary to the national aspirations of millions of martyrs, but Shariah [Islamic faith] too, said Zabihullah Mujahid, the main spokesman for the insurgency.

He also rejected as groundless propaganda the reported claims by members of Hekmatyars group, the Hezb-i-Islami Gulbuddin [HIG], that Taliban officials in the country and those at their Qatar-based so-called political office have established contacts with them and are willing to join the government-led peace process.

While the Taliban have long maintained their insurgency was aimed at forcing U.S.-led international forces to quit Afghanistan, the group is increasingly making clear it is fighting to regain power in the wake of significant territorial gains over the past two years.

Professor Marvin Weinbaum of the Washington-based Middle East Institute, however, said the Taliban have not been interested in entering into a peace process from the outset and internationally backed efforts to nudge the insurgents to the negotiating table were based on a misguided notion of having a negotiating partner.

The Taliban have come to this with a different vision. Its a vision not of this constitutional liberal system. Its a vision rather of a Sharia state thats willing to make accommodations but not to deviate from its basic objectives of an [Islamic] Emirate. And I submit to you that remains the major stumbling block [in the way of peace talks], he said.

The Taliban would use Islamic Emirate for their government in Afghanistan before they were ousted by the U.S.-led military invasion in late 2001.

The Islamist insurgency, meanwhile, has intensified battlefield hostilities across most of Afghanistan since launching its yearly so-called spring offensive two weeks ago. The Taliban are currently said to be controlling or influencing an estimated 40 percent of the Afghan territory.

Critics say years of alleged covert support from neighboring Pakistan, coupled with overt legitimacy lately lent to the Taliban by Russia and Iran, have emboldened the insurgency to evidently seek a settlement on their own terms, a proposition unacceptable for the Afghan government and its international backers, fueling fears the precarious security situation is bound to deteriorate in the months ahead.

The United Nations has already warned that Afghan civilians, particularly women and children, are increasingly bearing the brunt of the protracted conflict, and the number of civilian casualties have already hit a new high in the first quarter of 2017.

The first four months of 2017 witnessed the highest recorded number of child civilian casualties resulting from conflict-related incidents in Afghanistan, including the highest number of children killed, for the same comparable period since the mission began documenting cases [in 2009], reported the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on May 15.

It said that nearly 1,000 child casualties, including 283 deaths, occurred between January 1 and April 30 this year, showing a 21 percent increase in child deaths compared to the same period in 2016.

-- Written by Ayaz Gul for Voice Of America
OTTAWA, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. (Cornerstone or the Company) (TSX-V:CGP) (Frankfurt:GWN) (Berlin:GWN) (OTC:CTNXF) announces that, effective April 28, 2017, it completed its earn-in requirements under the Miocene (Chile) Property Agreement and amended that agreement to eliminate any remaining work obligations of Cornerstone.



Maps and Figures can be seen in PDF format by accessing the version of this release on the Companys website (www.cornerstoneresources.com) or by clicking on the link below:

http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/i/pdf/NR17-14Figures.pdf.

Under the amended Agreement Cornerstone now has acquired an undivided 100% interest in any existing and future concessions acquired using a proprietary database within the Miocene Project area having made option payments totaling $250,000 and $250,000 in common shares of Cornerstone and having satisfied all required work commitments (all amounts are CAD$). The Company has incurred exploration expenditures to date of $1,321,059, and is not required to incur any further work expenditures.

On November 4, 2014 the Company announced the re-start of work at Miocene during the austral summer. Five prospective areas defined by previous compilation and exploration work within the Miocene property were the focus of the recent exploration program: El Chaco, Zona Norte, Llano Blanco, Cerro Bayos Norte and Cerro Bayos Sur. Semi-detailed geological mapping (scale 1:5000) and systematic rock geochemical sampling were carried out in these five areas. 390 rock samples were collected, assayed for precious metals (gold and silver) and a suite of base metals and epithermal pathfinder elements. Spectrometry work (ASD TerraSpec) was carried out on all rock specimens (478 samples) collected during the 2011 to 2014 field programs.

Two sub-parallel NW-SE oriented alteration / anomalous trends affect the volcanic units present on the property. The Cerro Bayos (CB) alteration zone covers an area of approximately 9km by 3km and is located in the SW extension of the Atlas Gold, Atlas Silver and the Pampa epithermal prospects. Alteration minerals (native sulphur, predominant alunite, vuggy and massive silica and some silica-clay in the peripheral parts) and 3D distribution mapped along this trend are typical of high sulphidation epithermal system, centered on the highest part of Cerro Bayos Norte (CBN), with the top of the paleo-phreatic zone estimated to be at approximately 4260 masl. Similar alteration patterns are present at Cerro Bayos Sur (CBS) where the top of the paleo-phreatic zone at this location is estimated at 4150 masl. High temperature alunite and high crystallinity kaolinite minerals are centered on the CBN and CBS zones, with some minor presence within the Llano Blanco trend to the south. The aerial extent of the prospective CBN and CBS alteration zones are at least 5 km by 3 km and 4 km by 2.5 km but can possibly be significantly larger as they are partly covered by a thin veneer of relatively fresh younger volcanic rocks and gravels.

Rock geochemical anomalies defined on the Miocene property are very similar in distribution and intensities to anomalies defined during the regional prospecting program in the vicinity of the Atlas Gold and Silver prospects located to the NW. As expected in the upper part of this epithermal environment, the gold content is systematically low. Strong arsenic and mercury anomalies are present at El Chaco, CBN and CBS and to a minor degree at Azufre and Silice Masiva zones. Barium anomalies are present at CBN, Llano Blanco Norte and Cerro Azufre. Molybdenum is anomalous at CBN, to the NE of CBN and to a minor degree at CBS, Llano Blanco Norte and Silice Masiva zones. A large and strong copper anomaly is present at CBN and some less intense but widespread anomalies at Llano Blanco Norte and Cerro Azufre sectors. Sulphur anomalies are present at CBN, CBS, Llano Blanco Norte and Cerro Azufre. See Figures.

Cornerstones Miocene concessions lie adjacent to Mirasol Resources Ltd.s Atlas Gold, Atlas Silver and Pampa projects, where recent exploration programs by Mirasol and JV partner Yamana Gold Corporation confirmed the presence of a significant high-sulphidation epithermal gold system sitting above a postulated mineralized intrusion at depth.

The Company is encouraged by early results from Mirasols projects, which serve to support the conceptual model utilized in acquiring the Miocene concessions. The Company continues to seek a partner to help advance exploration on this exciting early-stage project.

For the next austral field season, it is planned to carry out a ground magnetic survey and a trenching program over most prospective areas to further define and prioritize targets to be drill tested.

Qualified Person:

Yvan Crepeau, MBA, P.Geo., Cornerstones Vice President, Exploration and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration programs for Cornerstone and has reviewed and approved the information contained in this news release.

About Cornerstone:

Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a well-funded mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Ecuador and Chile, and a proven ability to identify, acquire and advance properties of merit. The companys business model is based on generating exploration projects whose subsequent development is funded primarily through partnerships.

Further information is available on Cornerstones website: www.cornerstoneresources.com and on Twitter. For investor, corporate or media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations:

Mario Drolet; Email: Mario@mi3.ca; Tel. (514) 904-1333

Cautionary Notice:

This news release may contain Forward-Looking Statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Cornerstones plans, objectives, strategies, intentions and expectations. The words potential, anticipate, forecast, believe, estimate, expect, may, project, plan, and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes that its expectations reflected in these Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, such statements may involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our regulatory filings, viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets, predicting natural geological phenomena and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of an environmental, climatic, natural, political, economic, business, competitive, or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes the facts and information contained in this news release to be as correct and current as possible, Cornerstone does not warrant or make any representation as to the accuracy, validity or completeness of any facts or information contained herein and these statements should not be relied upon as representing its views after the date of this news release. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein except where outcomes have varied materially from the original statements.

On Behalf of the Board,

Hugh Brooke Macdonald

President and CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.




Legit.ng gathered that a pretty young lady was found dead by a roadside somewhere in Ughelli, Delta state recently.

According to reports, a young lady was murdered and abandoned by a roadside somewhere in Ughelli, Delta state.

The deceased identified as Amrasa Odirin was killed by yet-to-be-identified murderers who dumped her body.

According to a post shared by one of her friends on Facebook, she had even taken pictures before leaving her house that morning, and she was found dead later the same day.

READ ALSO: These guys dont seem to care about whats on their T-shirts

Sharing the post, the deceased's friend identified as Regina Osiaje, wrote:

"Oh Life is dis really wat u hold for us? Where humans will kill their fellow human for money and end their race of life untimely. Amrasa Odirin my friend is dis hw u left without saying goodbye? Oh Jesus what a cruel world! I still remembered u calling me to quarrel me for not inviting to my bday party....I never knew dat will be the last call I will receive from you.

It's still like a dream. Ur death is a big blow to us ur frnds n family. Your killers think they are free. As far God is existing may they never go unpunished. Dey will meet with their ends speedily. My dear Rest well till we all shall meet at d feet of our Lord Jesus."

READ ALSO: Woman gives birth inside BRT bus in Lagos

See more pictures of the deceased below:

RIP to her!

Meanwhile, see this woman who lost her son to cultists:

Source: Legit.ng
- The wife of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Taiwo Obasanjo, has opened up on her absence at her sons grand wedding in Lagos

- The wife of the former president missed out on her first and only sons wedding ceremony because of the dust she raised towards the son's wedding

The wedding solemnization between former president Olusegun Obasanjos son and his beau, Tope Adebutu, was held on Saturday, May 13. Interestingly, the mother of the groom, Taiwo Obasanjo, who had fought wildly for the wedding not to take place was absent.

Taiwo who is hale and hearty deliberately missed out on the wedding as her efforts to stop the wedding from taking place proved abortive.

Legit.ng gathered that the mother of the groom did not take part in the wedding ceremony as she said the former president and his new in-laws had evil plans they wanted to launch that day.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former Nigerian president with his wife, Mrs Taiwo Obasanjo.

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Obasanjos wife was asked why she did not make effort to stop the wedding from taking place with her physical presence on the set date. She said she could have carried placards and set up drummers to disrupt the wedding ceremony as she had earlier planned but she said she was asked not to take the measure.

Obasanjo and his daughter signing the marriage certificate at the wedding.

No, everyone has been calling me across the nation even from outside the country. Important people, men of God have been calling me to drop the protest.

Mrs Obasanjo who is a mother of two was also asked what she plans doing next as the wedding has taken place despite her cries and pleas. Her request for a court order to cancel the wedding was also turned down.

I plan to take it to God. I am a prayerful woman. I am a project of the living God.

The wife of the Nigerian leader was represented at the wedding by her daughter. She was asked why she took such a decision as no one can really take the place of the grooms mother when she is alive and hearty. Again, she responded by saying, The Lord did not tell me to go.

Men of God had pleaded with her to go but she preferred to listen to the voice of God instead. Upon being asked if her son would hold it against her for being absent at his wedding, she aired her opinion on his stand and hers.

Olajuwon and Tope on their wedding day.

My son has decided to defy the warning of the almighty God. Who should be obeyed? Is it me, or he or the people that are forcing him that he must do the wedding by fire by force?

Mrs Obasanjo clarified some issue relating to her son being in a fix as to who to obey with the wedding being planned. The ever poised woman then stated what he could have done even though he failed to do so.

READ ALSO: Chief Gabriel Igbinedion poses beside his N83m Rolls Royce Phantom (photos)

What is dilemma to a man of 34 and why the desperation when June 1 is just around the corner? Cant he use his brain to say let me stick to the warning of God? The Lord says dont engage in any noisemaking until after June 1, 2017. It is not that he should not get married. The instruction is that any marriage he is going to do before June 1 must be done quietly. Who is he supposed to honour? Is it his father or God? This is not a wedding, it is a demonic gathering.

What do you think about all these? Tell us in the comment section.

Meanwhile, the Legit.ng video below shows how some Nigerians reacted upon being asked if there is any big deal in their partners checking their phones and reading their messages:

Source: Legit.ng
A Nigerian lady who just gave birth to beautiful twin boys has expressed her joy on social media.

The lady identified as, Lola Matthew-Daniel, explained that throughout 2016 all she wished and prayed for was to have her own child.

She expressed that because she was trying to conceive her own child, she started congratulating and praying for everyone who welcomes a baby.

Daniel explained that even though it was hard to congratulate everyone for what you wished for she did it anyway.

Nigerian mother blessed with twin boys after years of waiting gives testimony

READ ALSO: These guys dont seem to care about whats on their T-shirts

According to her, congratulating everyone served as a point of contact to those who were blessed with their own children.

The new mother also prayed for everyone trying to conceive.

The cute boys in matching outfits

Legit.ng came across the amazing post after it was shared by a Facebook page, LagosMums.

Read the post below:

Be inspired by new mum, Lola St. Matthew-Daniel's story below:

On 5 March 2016, my birthday last year, my hubby bought me this very material as a birthday present and the first thing I said was "I will wear this for my babys dedication in Jesus name!" Yes, my number one prayer point for my 35th birthday was for God to bless my marriage with children!! . . Who knew that one year later I'd be holding my boys having celebrated their dedication to the Lord in this very material!! Yes, I was one of those that used everything as a point of contact for what I was believing for (check out my 'twin Coke' post lol). I made sure I congratulated everyone who had babies - even at times when it was hard, wondering when it would be my turn; would buy presents for couples who had babies, believing one day I would receive gifts from people too and even saw pregnant women on the street and said aloud "that's gonna be me soon" (sure my driver thought I was crazy at some point ). Call me OTT but it's the way I got through my waiting period. Sooooooo, I use this as a point of contact for all those couples who are praying for children - by your next birthday I pray you will also carry your own bundles of joy in Jesus mighty name I use this as a point of contact to everyone waiting for something, that by this time next year, God will surprise you with your hearts desires and more!! . . . This is your time, this is your season - I rejoice and celebrate with you also! #Twins.

See more photos below:

Photos of the boys cuddling each other

See the babies in cute matching head warmers

PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest gossips on NAIJ Gossip App

Meanwhile, Legit.ng went to the street to ask Nigerians if it is proper for people to check their partner's phone and read messages?

Source: Legit.ng
- Some policemen in Lagos allegedly brutalised and killed a 20-year-old boy

- The boy had refused to hand over his phone to them

Nigerians are reacting to the news of a 20-year-boy that was allegedly killed by police operatives in Lagos state.

Legit.ng gathered that the victim, Albert Okechukwu, had a misunderstanding with a bike man and this made the police interfere. Somewhere along the line, some police officers intervened and demanded to see the mobile phone of the young boy.

Okechukwu was said to have refused and this led to him being allegedly brutalised and killed by the police officers.

20-year-old Albert Okechukwu, the young boy allegedly killed by police men in Lagos state.

READ ALSO: Mercy Aigbe braces up, stuns in vintage shirt (photos)

Nigerians do not find this incident funny at all as they are spooked that police operatives who are saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and properties would dare take the life of an innocent boy.

The Lagos state commissioner of police had said recently that police officers do not have the right to check through peoples mobile phones and laptops.

A campaign has been launched for the poor guy who lost his life in the unfortunate incident as Nigerians do not want him to die in vain.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android to read the best news on Nigerias number one news app

What have you to say about this? Share your comments and observations with us in the comment section.

Meanwhile we took the time to ask Nigerians what they think about France's new president. When asked if they ever think Nigeria would be led by a young and vibrant leader, they gave the epic responses in the Legit.ng video below:

Source: Legit.ng
Google Assistant is expanding to new devices. Google recently launched an SDK that developers can use to integrate the companys intelligent assistant software into third-party devices. But now the company says Google Assistant is also available for iPhone.

Google Assistant updates

The iOS version of the app supports most of the features that are already available on Android. It can automatically track packages from notifications in your Gmail. It can answer questions you ask. And it supports integration with smart home gadgets, allowing you to control lights, thermostats, and other appliances.

At the Google I/O developer conference, Google also announced that Google Assistant will also soon let you type your questions instead of asking them aloud, making it easier (and more socially acceptable) to use Assistant when youre in public.

The service will gain support for additional languages including French, German, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Japanese, and Portuguese, and that the Google Home smart speaker is coming to new countries including the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and Japan.

Whats new with Google Home?

Speaking of Google Home, its getting a couple of really nifty new features:

Spotifys free, ad-supported music service is coming to Google Home.

You can now use your voice to launch videos on HBO Go if you have Google Home and a Chromecast.

Hands-free phone calls are coming to Google Home.

Bluetooth support will let you stream audio from an Android or iOS device to a Google Home speaker.

That last one is pretty impressive for a few reasons. First, phone calls are free when you call anyone with a cellphone or land line number in the US or Canada. Second, hands-free calling makes use of Google Homes ability to recognize up to 6 different uses.

That means if you say call mom, it will start a call to your mom. But if your spouse uses the same request, itll call the appropriate person.

Hands-free calling is launching first in the US, and Google says it should roll out to all users over the next few months.

Have a Google Home and Chromecast? Google is kicking their integration up a notch. Not only can you now use your voice to play a video but you can also get visual results to your Google Assistant requests on your TV.

For example, ask your Google Home to show your schedule, and youll see an agenda view on your screen.

Or you can ask for a weather forecast and get an overview on your TV.
In vivo osteoblast-specific delivery of CKIP-1 siRNA could improve bone formation and increase bone mass of aged rats dramatically. Credit: Hong Kong Baptist University

Researchers at Hong Kong Baptist University are conducting a study on board China's spacecraft Tianzhou-1 in order to understand the effect of the "CKIP-1" gene on bone formation under microgravity in space.

The School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) is conducting a space life science study on board China's first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, which was launched last month. HKBU is the only higher education institution from outside of Mainland to conduct a scientific research project onboard Tianzhou-1.

The HKBU team investigates the effect of the "CKIP-1" gene on bone formation under microgravity conditions in space. Under microgravity, bone loss is several times faster than on Earth, posing a serious health threat to astronauts, who therefore cannot stay in space for long periods of time. The HKBU team hopes that this study can lead to the formulation of a set of protective measures and treatment strategies as well as the discovery of new drugs to prevent or treat bone loss resulting from space travel. It could also serve as reference for the development of health care and therapeutics for the ageing population.

The HKBU team is led by Professor Lyu Aiping, HKBU's Dean of Chinese Medicine and Director of the Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases (TMBJ), and Professor Zhang Ge, Associate Director of TMBJ, Associate Director of SCM's Teaching and Research Division, and Director of the Technology Development Division, with Post-doctoral Research Fellow Dr Liang Chao and Senior Research Assistant Miss Wang Luyao as team members.

Professor Lyu Aiping said this is another important contribution made by HKBU to the Mainland's major scientific research initiatives after its participation in the first deep-sea expedition of the manned submersible Jiaolong in 2013. This new contribution not only recognises HKBU's and Hong Kong's research strength in related areas, but also is a great source of encouragement to members of the Chinese medicine and higher education sectors.

The HKBU research team: (From left) Professor Zhang Ge, Dr Liang Chao, Miss Wang Luyao and Professor Lyu Aiping. Credit: Hong Kong Baptist University

Professor Zhang Ge said the quality of research of TMBJ on bone and joint has reached the top international level. TMBJ members have in recent years published a number of research papers in prestigious academic journals such as Nature Communications and Nature Medicine. He hopes their project can bring a breakthrough in this related area of research.

The "CKIP-1" gene in osteoblast (bone forming cell) could specifically interact with "Smurf1" genes in the cells to inhibit cell activity, thereby slowing down or hindering bone formation. The research team led by Professor Lyu and Professor Zhang further found that the aberrant elevated "CKIP-1" expression in osteoblasts could inhibit bone formation and contribute to the reduction in bone formation during ageing as well as in the development of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Nevertheless, the function of "CKIP-1" on the process of bone formation reduction caused by microgravity in space is still not yet known. The team has placed osteoblast in which "CKIP-1" genes were silenced on board the Tianzhou 1 for further research and is monitoring the effects of "CKIP-1" on osteoblast.

To prepare for the launch of Tianzhou 1, Dr Liang Chao and Miss Wang Luyao of the HKBU team participated in a number of life science experiments at ground level organised by the National Space Science and Application Centre of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. These experiments included simulated vibration tests, bio-compatibility tests and simulated microgravity experiments as well as systematic matching experiments and rehearsals. Tianzhou 1 was launched at the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan.

Entitled "Research on the impact that microgravity has on the proliferation and differentiation of cells", the space life science study on Tianzhou-1 is led by Northwestern Polytechnical University in collaboration with HKBU, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, and the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The project consists of eight sub-projects and HKBU is responsible for the "CKIP-1" one.

Provided by Hong Kong Baptist University
Though she was adopted as a newborn, Anita Mattingly said she never questioned where she came from while growing up.

"I was happy and satisfied. I grew up with a loving mother and father, a wonderful sister and a brother and cousins. No one thought of me any less," said Mattingly, 63. "But there's always something that's inside of you that wonders who else looks like you."

It wasn't until the Conway, S.C., resident began a family of her own that questions about her medical and family history arose. That's when she decided to search for her biological mother.

Mattingly said she ran into multiple dead-ends before she finally tried an online DNA testing service called AncestryDNA in 2014. She mailed a sample of her saliva in exchange for a percentage breakdown of her genetic ethnicity and the possibility of matching DNA to any relatives who had also registered for the service.

Within weeks, Mattingly found out she was 94 percent European and roughly 6 percent Asian, but it wasn't until last year that she received an alert that she had matched with a first cousin in Maryland. The connection, paired with additional research into her family history, led her to her birth mother's doorstep in Nanjemoy, Md., a Charles County town not far from La Plata, where Mattingly spent much of her childhood.

"I already had a mom," said Mattingly, whose adoptive mother died 14 years ago. "Now, I have a mother. ... It is a pretty amazing story, a miracle."

What Mattingly and her biological mother, Lillian Haughawout, describe as a "miracle" is now happening all over the world as curious people and adoptees pay as little as $69 for DNA testing services like AncestryDNA, MyHeritage DNA and 23andMe to learn about their genealogy and to connect with relatives.

One of the leading DNA testing companies, 23andMe, has more than 23 million customers worldwide. The company breaks down ethnicity by comparing a customer's DNA with over 31 reference populations from around the world, according to product specialist Jhulianna Cintron. About 2 million are genotyped, allowing them to be matched with up to 2,000 relatives and to build online family trees. Ninety-five percent of customers match with a third cousin or closer, Cintron said. The company recently added genetic health risk and wellness reports to its offerings, serving customers who, like Mattingly, lack a family medical history.

Varda Makovsky, a clinical social worker and director of post-adoption services at the Barker Adoption Foundation in Bethesda, said that within the past two years, she has seen a spike in the use of DNA services among adoptees and parents who gave their children up for adoption. (The National Council for Adoption, awareness and education agency, estimates that there were nearly 70,000 unrelated adoptions in the U.S. in 2014.)

Makovsky, who counsels people involved in or affected by adoptions, said the experience is often an emotional roller coaster for all involved parties. It often draws up a mix of feelings and a struggle to figure out how a new relationship with a parent or child fits into daily life.

For some, the experience can be invasive.

"In previous years when birth parents were promised confidentiality, these genetic tests did not exist, and no one was aware that this technology was coming down the road," she said. "Adoptive parents need to be prepared that things may open up. Even if both parties of an adoption assume the adoption is and will be completely closed, they still need to anticipate that one party -or their relatives - may connect with the other. This may also affect how and when adoptive parents explain aspects of their children's birth story to [others]."

Still, the experience is riveting for many adoptees.

Rachel Jabin, 48, of Sauk Rapids, Minn., connected with her birth mother in 2015 after using 23andMe. Initially, she wasn't looking for her mother; her intent was to determine her ethnicity.

"I wanted to find out what I was. When you're adopted, you can't really identify yourself. You can't lock it in," said Jabin, who noted that her adoption papers stated that she was Italian and German.

After taking the test in 2015, she found that roughly 67 percent of her heritage was British and Irish. Later, when she connected with a cousin, she decided to search for her biological parents using Census records and other DNA services like GEDmatch and Promethease to get more information.

"I didn't have a name. I had an age and kind of a background," Jabin said.

Eventually, it led to her mother, Abingdon resident Deborah Bradley, who had run away from home around the age of 19 and had given birth to Jabin after a short love affair with her biological father.

Bradley, 68, said she was sitting in her home when the telephone rang that summer two years ago.

"For a moment or two, I was surprised, unusually surprised," she said, but almost immediately, she began confiding in her daughter. "I told her everything I could possibly tell her about me."

Bradley shared stories about her tough life growing up, about being pregnant with Jabin at a time when she was "young and dumb, not very worldly." She didn't want to be unmarried and pregnant, and she knew she wasn't going to be with the father of her child, she said.

"There was a moment where I had to sign a contract and sign her over to her future family. The tears ran down my eyes onto the paper on the contract. It was hard," she said. "But I was glad it was over with. I wanted out of there."

It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the best decision, she said.

"I believe because of her parents, they brought her up with so much love, and she is love," Bradley said, adding that she wishes she could have met Jabin's late adoptive parents and thanked them.

Jabin said that her birth mother seemed worried that she harbored negative feelings about the adoption, but after hearing about Bradley's volatile family history and relationships, Jabin says she understands.

"She was so worried that I was mad at her. But I said 'Why? You gave me a wonderful life. You gave me wonderful parents. Why would I ever be mad at you?'" said Jabin, who also tracked down her birth father. She said she decided not to contact him after finding that he was convicted of molesting a child.

"I am extremely blessed that my [adoptive] mom and dad picked me up, and that Deborah gave me up for adoption ... I dodged a bullet," Jabin said. But through the DNA service, she gained various relatives - aunts, uncles and cousins from both sides of the family - with whom she shares a resemblance.

"It has been so wonderful and meeting all these people who actually look like me," she said.

The experience has also led Jabin to a passion for genealogy. Today, she helps other adoptees search for their birth families at no charge to fill that "missing piece that you always have as an adoptee."

"I just enjoy doing it. I think everybody should know where they come from ... and people who are adopted are not given the luxury," she said.

Naomi Shinaul-Wright, an adoptee and Laurel resident, agreed. She was thrilled to learn about her Nigerian ancestry around five years ago after taking an AncestryDNA test in hopes of finding her biological mother.

Though she wasn't successful, Shinaul-Wright said that learning that she was 95 percent West African was an affirmation of her identity.

"It came together and made sense. I have all this African art in my house," she said, and she has long worn African prints.

"It gave me a base of who I am," said Shinaul-Wright, who, later this year, plans to petition the courts in Cleveland to open her adoption records to aid her search for her mother. "I'm proud, and when I find my mother, I'll still be proud."

That experience could provide closure, as it has for Mattingly.

"I wanted to tell my mother that it was OK. If I gave up a baby for adoption, I would feel really bad," Mattingly said. After meeting her biological mother and learning that she run away from home and had given birth at 17, Mattingly said, "she did the right thing."

The two had lived in Charles County for around 40 years but had never crossed paths. Mattingly decided to try and meet her mother last December while visiting a daughter who lives nearby.

When no one answered at Haughawout's home in Nanjemoy, Mattingly left behind a bouquet of flowers and a handwritten letter that explained she was looking for her birth mother. They connected later on the phone, and, at first, Haughawout seemed defensive and confused, Mattingly said.

"I don't know what you're talking about, a mother,'" Mattingly remembers her saying. "She was kind of mixed up, and the last thing I wanted to do was upset anybody, so when we talked, I said, 'Do you mind if I come see you?'"

Haughawout, 80, agreed, and when Mattingly arrived at her home and the door opened, Mattingly said, "she put her hands around me, and she hugged me and hugged me and hugged me."

"It was such a surprise to see a grown woman who was so beautiful, and she was my daughter," Haughawout said. She had wondered, over the years, what happened to her child but didn't have the resources to find her, she said.

When Mattingly asked why she was put up for adoption, Haughawout said the answer was simple.

"I had run away from home. I wasn't able to take care of myself, much less a child. I knew there were people in this world who wanted children but couldn't have them," she said, adding that life after the adoption also had its hardships.

Haughawout went on to marry and have a son, but her son died in 1992, followed by her husband, just a year later. The next year, Haughawout had a heart attack.

But after reuniting with Mattingly, Haughawout inherited an extended family, which includes Mattingly's daughter and grandchildren. She and Mattingly talk on the phone at least once a week.

Mattingly still hasn't found her birth father, but she's hopeful.

"If it's meant to be, I'll find out who it is," she said.

2017 The Baltimore Sun

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Beam me up: The new Nature study reports the crystal structure of the full-length human glucagon receptor (GCGR) that plays a key role in glucose homeostasis and serves as an important drug target for Type 2 diabetes. X-ray crystallography yields the complete, detailed, architecture of this class B membrane protein receptor for the first time, dramatically improving the prospects for a new generation of highly specific drugs for treating Type 2 diabetes with greater effectiveness and fewer side effects. Credit: Jason Drees for the Biodesign Institute

Type 2 diabetes, a prolific killer, is on a steep ascent. According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of the condition has grown dramatically from 108 million cases in 1980 to well over 400 million today. The complex disease occurs when the body's delicate regulation of glucose, a critical metabolite, is disrupted, creating a condition of elevated blood sugar known hyperglycemia. Over time, the condition can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

In a new study, Wei Liu and his colleagues at The Biodesign Institute join an international team, led by Beili Wu from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, to explore a central component in glucose regulation. Their findings shed new light on the structure of the glucagon receptor, a highly promising target for diabetes drug development.

"The biggest highlight of this paper is that we now have a full-length structure of a class B GPCR," Liu says, referring to a specialized cell-surface receptor able to bind with signaling molecules and influence blood sugar regulation.

In addition to ASU, scientists at SIMM, in collaboration with several groups based in China (ShanghaiTech University, Zhengzhou University and Fudan University), United States (University of Southern California, The Scripps Research Institute, and GPCR Consortium), the Netherlands (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) and Denmark (Novo Nordisk), provided a detailed molecular map of the full-length human glucagon receptor (GCGR) in complex with a modulator (NNC0640) and the antigen-binding antibody fragment (mAb1).

The research appears in the advanced online edition of the journal Nature.

Versatile components

GPCRs (for G-Protein Coupled Receptors) are specialized receptors adorning cell surfaces. They act like email inboxes for important messages, which arrive at the outer membrane in the form of binding molecules or ligands that affect cell behavior and regulation.

Receptor-ligand binding alters the conformation of the receptor and sends messages to the cell's interior, guiding cell function. Pharmaceutical companies hope to develop new drugs that can more accurately and efficiently bind with cell receptors, including diabetes drugs that will be able to halt or reduce the overproduction of glucose.

The detailed structure of the glucagon receptor (or "GCGR") examined in the study was solved using the technique of X-ray crystallography. Here, a crystallized protein is struck with X-rays, which form a diffraction pattern that can be reassembled into an extremely detailed picture of the sample. Such information is vital for the development of effective drugs, which must bind with their complex target cell receptors with great specificity.

Binding of a specific ligand to the glucagon receptor triggers the release of glucose from the liver during fasting, making this receptor a critical component for maintaining normal glucose levels in the body.

Class B GPCRs are essential to numerous physiological processes and serve as important drug targets for many human diseases such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, migraine, depression and anxiety. According to team leader and SIMM professor Dr. Beili Wu, "The GCGR structure provides a clear picture of a full-length class B GPCR at high resolution, and helps us understand how different domains cooperate in modulating the receptor function at the molecular level."

The GCGR receptor consists of three key components: an extracellular domain (ECD), which protrudes above the surface of the cell, a transmembrane domain (TCD), which is anchored into the cell membrane itself and a region known as the stalk, which connects the two domains and acts as a kind of pivot. (Figure 1 shows the basic structure of the GCGR receptor made up of an extracellular domain, stalk region and transmembrane region. Also pictured is the binding antibody mAb23.)

The results of the new study are significant because all three parts of the receptor are essential for its ability to properly bind with its target molecules."Previously we had solved the structure for this GPCR, but we had truncated the whole extracellular domain, which is a critical part for ligand binding," Liu says. Further, although the stalk region contains just 12 amino acids, it is critical for activating and de-activating the GCGR receptor.

Tale of two hormones

Progressive diabetes can result in serious health complications, including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. It is currently the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

Proper regulation of blood sugar levels relies on two key hormones, which together act like a kind of thermostat. When blood sugar becomes elevated above the normal threshold, insulin is produced by islet cells in the pancreas, acting to keep blood sugar in check.

But an even greater risk to the body occurs should blood sugar fall dangerously low. Indeed, low blood sugar or hypoglycemia can be fatal as glucose is the most important brain metabolite, essential for survival. Under conditions of hypoglycemia, another hormone, known as glucagon is produced by pancreatic -cells. Glucagon acts as the main counter-regulatory hormone, opposing the action of insulin and switching on glucose production in the liver during fasting. Glucagon influences target tissues through activation of the GCGR receptor.

In Type 2 diabetes, insulin production is impaired, leading to elevated blood sugar. Treatment for the disease with supplemental insulin has therefore been a therapy of choice for most patients of the disease. But diabetes also affects glucagon production through dysregulation of the GCGR receptor, causing the overproduction of glucose. The combination of insulin deficiency and glucose excess is typical of Type II diabetes and calls for a multi-pronged approach to addressing the disease.

The idea of targeting the GCGR receptor with drugs able to bind with it and switch it off has long been proposed and experiments in rats indicate that the approach is sound. Much more work is required however to perform the same feat in humans. Now, with the complete structure of the receptor in hand, pharmaceutical companies are poised to develop much more effective drugs that specifically target glucose production, while avoiding undesirable side effects.

Better reception

The glucagon receptor examined in the new study is just one member of a superfamily of GPCR surface cell receptors. GPCRs are the largest and most diverse group of membrane receptors in eukaryotes, (cells bearing a nucleus, including human cells). Signals that can be detected by GPCRs include light, peptides, lipids, sugars, and proteins.

GPCRs perform a vast array of functions in the human body and their role in modern medicine is vast. Researchers estimate that between one-third and one-half of all marketed drugs act by binding to GPCRs and around 4 percent of the entire human genome is devoted to coding for these structures.

While GPCRs bind a dizzying variety of signaling molecules, they share a common architecture that has been conserved over the course of evolution. Animals, plants, fungi, and protozoa all rely on GPCRs to receive information from their environment. Activation of GPCRs is involved with sensation, growth, hormone response and myriad other vital functions.

The team used an antibody to stabilize the receptor ECD region, making it less dynamic and more suitable for crystallization, locking the receptor in a particular conformation in which the ECD, TMD and stalk region are held in a specific orientation. The resulting full-length structure exposed by X-ray crystallography differed significantly from earlier predictions of the receptor's shape based on modeling studies. (Antibodies like those used in the new study are being explored as possible ligands used to target the GCGP receptor and control diabetes.)

"Now, we know how the ECD interacts with the ligand, so there can be much more directional development of drugs," Liu says. In addition to Liu's expertise in the realm of GPCRs, he and his ASU colleagues contributed sample preparation, data collection and analysis.

A number of large pharmaceutical companies, (including Novo Nordisk, which supplied experimental binding compounds used in the current study), are now aggressively pursuing new therapies for diabetes based on the exquisitely detailed GPCR structures beginning to come to light.

More information: Structure of the full-length glucagon class B G-protein-coupled receptor, Nature (2017). Journal information: Nature Structure of the full-length glucagon class B G-protein-coupled receptor,(2017). nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/nature22363
Micrograph showing emphysema (left  large empty spaces) and lung tissue with relative preservation of the alveoli (right). Credit: Wikipedia, CC-BY-SA 3.0

If 600,000 Swedish patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had received their diagnoses two years earlier, it could have saved more than SEK 15 billion in direct healthcare costs during the first two years after diagnosis. This is shown by research results from the ARCTIC study, conducted by researchers at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet. These results were presented at the Nordic Lung Congress in Visby, Gotland.

The new findings reported in Visby thus indicate that, over a two-year period, early COPD diagnosis could save the public purse approximately SEK 25,000 per patient in direct healthcare costs compared with late COPD diagnosis.

"Earlier COPD diagnosis could save the country huge sums in healthcare costs. In our study, we've focused on savings that are achievable during the first two years after COPD has been diagnosed," says Professor Christer Janson of Uppsala University, who contributed to the study.

Early diagnosis brings major advantages for patients during subsequent years, too, in the form of reduced risk of COPD worsening and fewer sequelae (complications), such as osteoporosis, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mental illness. For the individual COPD patient, there are very large gains associated with early diagnosis.

Spirometry for more people a must

"Many COPD patients, unfortunately, believe they're generally in poor physical shape and think that's why they often get out of breath. But breathlessness can mean something much worse: that COPD is developing. Our study shows that the earlier the disease is detected, the better the scope for effective treatment and improved control of symptom development. This enables patients to lead more active lives without complications. The study shows a 60% lower risk of acute episodes of COPD becoming more severe with early diagnosis than with late. That's why it's crucial for the public and healthcare services to become more aware of the need for pulmonary function testing with spirometry as soon as people find they're often getting breathless," says Christer Janson.

Other findings from the study

People diagnosed with COPD cost healthcare services five times as much as the control group who did not have COPD.

People diagnosed with COPD had incomes half as high as those of the control group who did not have COPD.

COPD patients diagnosed early have a 60% lower risk of the disease worsening

Women with COPD are diagnosed later than men with COPD.

ARCTIC is one of the largest studies on COPD patients conducted in Sweden. The study is based on the electronic medical records (EMRs) of 17,545 COPD patients and 84,514 reference patients. ARCTIC comprises three different studies: one that focuses on the value of early vs. late COPD detection; one that investigates the complications associated with a COPD diagnosis; and, last, a study that has quantified the economic implications of COPD. Investigations of this kind are feasible since EMRs have been used in Swedish healthcare for many years.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Children of migrants to Chinese cities have lower rates of obesity than youngsters in more affluent established urban families - probably because their grandparents are not around to over-feed them, a new study has found.

Fewer opportunities for unhealthy snacking and less pressure for academic achievement, leading to more active play, also contribute to migrant children's lower obesity rates.

Large-scale migration sees millions of Chinese families leave the countryside and settle in the country's biggest cities in search of economic prosperity.

However, migrant children are still at risk of increasing obesity because, unlike youngsters from affluent families, lack of parental supervision after school and unsafe neighbourhoods cause them to eat unhealthily and limit opportunities for active play.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham interviewed parents, grandparents and teachers at schools in the city of Guangzhou, in southern China. Their study - published today in the journal PLOS ONE - explored the differences in perceived causes of childhood obesity between local and migrant communities.

They worked in partnership with the Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and the Guangzhou Health Care Promotion Centre for Primary and Middle Schools to carry out the first qualitative study to explore and identify these differences in urban China.

Dr Bai Li, from the University of Birmingham, said: "Childhood obesity is a global public health crisis - particularly in China, yet the health of children who migrate with their parents to major Chinese cities has rarely been explored.

"It is clear that an important step towards preventing the rise of obesity in migrant children is understanding the perceptions of parents, grandparents and teachers on the causes of childhood obesity."

She added that 15 per cent of Chinese children and adolescents, aged 7-18, are overweight or obese - accounting for 30.43 million individuals. Live-in grandparents in local families often took responsibility for looking after their grandchild, but many viewed a fat child as a symbol of health and success and, as a result, overfed them.

However, grandparents of migrant children remained living in their hometown and had no influence on childcare.

Migrant children had fewer opportunities for unhealthy snacking after school, because they had to catch buses home - getting on and off the vehicles within their school. Yet, local children often bought food from unlicenced street traders or were met at the school gates by their grandmothers bearing snacks.

"Although childhood obesity in major Chinese cities is currently more prevalent among local children than migrant children, recent trends suggest a steeper increase among youngsters coming to the cities from rural areas," commented Dr Li.

"The results of our study highlight the need for tailored interventions to prevent a significant rise in the number of migrant children who are overweight or obese and the associated short and longer term health consequences.

"Future interventions for local communities should include education for grandparents, enforcement of regulations limiting illegal food traders outside schools and education policies that re-balance academic focus with increased physical activity. Within migrant communities on the other hand, interventions should focus on supporting parents and providing more physical activity opportunities outside of school."

Earlier research by Birmingham and Guangzhou researchers showed that the prevalence of obesity in resident children in Guangzhou was 20% compared with 14.3% in migrant children. Migrants now comprise up to 50% of the population in major cities across China. In general, they tend to have lower levels of income and education than city residents.

The earlier study found that the obesity among resident urban children was higher in boys than compared with girls. It also increased as children grew older and per-capita household income and maternal education increased.

Dr Weijia Liu said: "Childhood obesity is an important public health problem in China. With the cooperation of the University of Birmingham, the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control is able to deepen the research of factors contributing to childhood obesity in China.

"Our research does not only provide a scientific basis for formulating effective intervention for childhood obesity in the city, but also strengthens the friendship and cooperation between the two cities."

More information: Bai Li, Rong Lin, Wei Liu, Jingyi Chen, Weijia Liu, KarKeung Cheng, Miranda Pallan, Peymane Adab, and Laura Jones, "Differences in perceived causes of childhood obesity between migrant and local communities in China: a qualitative study" PLOS ONE, journals.plos.org/plosone/arti  journal.pone.0177505. Journal information: PLoS ONE Bai Li, Rong Lin, Wei Liu, Jingyi Chen, Weijia Liu, KarKeung Cheng, Miranda Pallan, Peymane Adab, and Laura Jones, "Differences in perceived causes of childhood obesity between migrant and local communities in China: a qualitative study"
(HealthDay)An expectant mother's biggest risk for undergoing an unnecessary C-section can be the hospital she chooses for the delivery, a new analysis contends.

Hospital cesarean, or C-section, rates vary widely across the United States, from a low of 7 percent to a high of 64 percent, the Consumer Reports analysis found.

"That kind of variation tells you there is not a standard agreement on how women should be handled during pregnancy," said Doris Peter, director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center.

Of more than 1,300 U.S. hospitals included in the analysis, 56 percent had C-section rates higher than the national goal, the researchers found. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set a national C-section target of 23.9 percent for mothers with low-risk births.

A woman's chances of a C-section can depend on which side of town she lives, Peter said.

For example, Good Samaritan Hospital and Bethesda North Hospital are both in Cincinnati, and even belong to the same health care network, Peter said. But Good Samaritan's C-section rate is 28 percent, while Bethesda North's rate is 18 percent.

Another example is Fort Worth, Texas, where Baylor All Saints Medical Center has a C-section rate of 34 percent, while JPS Health Network has an 18 percent rate, Peter said.

"Even within the same neighborhood you see variation from hospital to hospital," Peter said.

Many obstetricians and hospitals are making an effort to reduce unnecessary C-sections, said Dr. Mary Rosser, director of General Obstetrics and Gynecology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

C-sections pose a risk of potentially dire complications. Also, if a woman has a C-section for her first delivery, she is 90 percent more likely to need a C-section in her second and subsequent pregnancies, Rosser and Peter said.

"C-sections do save lives when needed, so they should happen when they're necessary," Rosser said. "But there are many, many cases where a C-section is unnecessary and should be avoided."

C-section is currently the most common major surgery in the United States, with 1.3 million performed every year, Peter said.

"One in three babies are born with C-section," Rosser said. "That is just enormous."

Overall, 216 hospitals had C-section rates above 33.3 percent for low-risk deliveries, which earned Consumer Reports' worst rating.

Hialeah Hospital, outside of Miami, had the highest rate, with 64 percent of low-risk babies delivered by C-section.

Among large hospitals, South Miami Hospital in Miami (51 percent); Richmond University Medical Center in New York City (44 percent); Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, N.J. (43 percent); and The Woman's Hospital of Texas in Houston (41 percent) had the highest C-section rates, the survey found.

Specific hospital characteristics generally fail to predict C-section rates, Peter said. For example, whether a hospital is public, private or academic doesn't seem to matter, nor does the mix of Medicaid versus privately insured patients.

However, some states tend toward more or fewer C-sections, Peter said. Florida, Louisiana and West Virginia had rates above 30 percent, while Idaho, Minnesota, New Mexico and South Dakota were among the lowest, at 18 percent or lower.

Standards at the hospitals where new doctors undergo training might explain these state averages, Peter said. Doctors may be more or less inclined toward C-section based on what they learn during their residency, and then maintain those practices at other hospitals within the same state.

Women who want to avoid a C-section need to ask questions and plan well in advance of delivery, Peter and Rosser said.

"Once you're in labor and a doctor recommends a C-section, it's going to be very hard for a woman to push back," Peter said.

They should ask their hospital and their doctor about their C-section rates, and weigh those rates in deciding who will treat them and where they will go for their birth, Peter said.

Although many hospitals submit their C-section rates to accrediting bodies, they aren't required to make the information available to the public, Peter added. Consumer Reports does not have data for more than half of the estimated 3,000 U.S. hospitals that deliver babies.

Some of these hospitals handle thousands of births every year. "That information shouldn't be hidden," Peter said.

Specific practices increase the chances of a C-section, Peter and Rosser said. These include:

Use of electronic fetal heart rate monitoring, which can influence the doctor to jump the gun and call for an unnecessary C-section.

Injection of epidurals, which can sedate the mother so much that labor stalls.

Admitting women for labor too early, which can make it falsely seem that labor is taking too long.

The analysis was published May 16.

More information: Doris Peter, Ph.D., director, Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center; Mary Rosser, M.D., Ph.D., director, General Obstetrics and Gynecology, Montefiore Medical Center, New York City; May 16, 2017, Consumer Reports, More Information Doris Peter, Ph.D., director, Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center; Mary Rosser, M.D., Ph.D., director, General Obstetrics and Gynecology, Montefiore Medical Center, New York City; May 16, 2017, For more on C-sections, visit the March of Dimes.

Copyright  2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Physical painoften "self-medicated" without help from healthcare professionalsis an important contributor to non-medical prescription opioid (NMPO) use by young adults, suggests a study in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

Young men with severe untreated pain are at especially high risk of frequent NMPO use, according to the new research, led by Brandon D.L. Marshall, PhD, of Brown University School of Public Health. Dr. Marshall comments, "Sex-specific patterns of pain and experiences interacting with health professionals could conceivably impact the way men and women report pain to health care providers, and thus the way young adults with severe physical pain are treated."

Risk Factors for Frequent NMPO Use Differ for Young Men and Women

The study included 199 young adult NMPO users enrolled in the Rhode Island Young Adult Prescription Drug Study (RAPiDS), an ongoing study of opioid overdose prevention. Non-medical prescription opioid use refers to using opioids without a prescription or in a way other than prescribed. The NMPO users were a racially/ethnically diverse group; about two-thirds were male. About one-third had a previous opioid overdose.

One hundred nineteen participants reported using NMPOs at least weekly. Dr. Marshall and colleagues evaluated history of pain, pain treatment, and other factors associated with being a frequent NMPO user.

Eighty-five percent of young adult NMPO users said they had experienced some type of injury or health condition that put them in severe painmost commonly leg or back pain. Consistent with previous studies, most participants said they had used NMPOs to treat physical pain.

For the subjects reporting pain, there was evidence of inadequate pain treatment. About one-fourth of males and one-third of females said that a health professional had denied them medication to treat severe pain. Of those who did not seek medical treatment, many said they could "self-medicate" their pain and/or believed they would be denied prescription pain medications. Others said they didn't like seeking medical help or didn't have health insurance.

After adjustment for other factors, young men with higher pain scores were significantly more likely to report frequent NMPO use. White race was also a risk factor for frequent NMPO use among men. For women, older age and non-medical use of benzodiazepinesa class of sedative drugswere risk factors for frequent NMPO use. In contrast, established risk factors for opioid use disorder (OUD), such as mental health disorders or street drug use, were not associated with frequent NMPO use.

The United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemicone study estimated 20,000 deaths related to prescription opioid overdose in 2015 alone. Young adults who are frequent users of NMPOs are at especially high risk for overdose. Recent studies have found high rates of untreated physical pain among patients with OUD.

This study provides new evidence that physical painand using prescription opioids for self-treatment of painis common among young adults with NMPO use. The factors associated with frequent NMPO use appear to differ by sex: severe pain is an important risk factor in young men, while benzodiazepine use is a more important factor in women.

The study also provides insights into the reasons why some young adult NMPO users don't seek medical care for severe pain. Especially if labeled as "drug seekers," they may have difficulty receiving recommended pain treatment, or may self-medicate without asking for help. Dr. Marshall adds, "Harm reduction and pain management interventions for young adults may need to account for sex-specific drivers of frequent NMPO use, including self-medicating with prescription opioids to manage severe pain."

More information: Tristan I. Evans et al. Associations Between Physical Pain, Pain Management, and Frequency of Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use Among Young Adults, Journal of Addiction Medicine (2017). Journal information: Journal of Addiction Medicine Tristan I. Evans et al. Associations Between Physical Pain, Pain Management, and Frequency of Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use Among Young Adults,(2017). DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000318
Full Article

On Friday May 11th one of the most special shows hit Club Red in Mesa, Arizona. The co-headlining tour with Hammerfall and Delain was incredibly special because it had been about 7 years since Hammerfall played the states. I had been fortunate to have seen them the last time they came to town 7 years ago.

The night kicked off with the local band Sanitation Squad and everyone was pleasantly surprised with their performance. All the guys did a really good job and their vocals were impressive.They warmed up the crowd and got everyone excited.

Up next we had Insatia. I have had the opportunity to see them play a few shows recently and I must say they are very talented. Zoe has a very beautiful voice and the band has amazing stage presence. Every song was better than the last.

Finally after a 7 year long wait it was time for Hammerfall to hit the stage. You could feel the energy shift in the venue and everybodys eyes were glued to the stage. The whole set was the perfect mix of old and new tracks. The crowd sang along and it was truly mesmerizing. The guys have a very special energy to them and it was nothing less than epic. Joacims voice sounded incredibly heroic and on point. Even though it took the guys way too many years to return they left their mark on Arizona. I dont think you could ever replicate the feeling lots of fans experienced. It was a very special performance.

The show closed with Delain. This was the second time I was able to catch them live and they did a phenomenal job. The guys and girls really put a lot of heart and passion into their set. There wasnt a second any of them stood still. From synchronized headbanging to jumping in the air and trying to interact with the crowd, their energy radiated from all corners of the stage. The vocal ranges that Charlotte Wessels hit were marvelous. She has amazing control over her voice. Every single song they played was marvelous.

Over all every band did amazing. It took 7 years for Hammerfall to return but it was worth every minute of it. Delain was absolutely astounding. It was a show no one could forget.
Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, is set to walk out of a military prison on Wednesday after seven years behind bars.

In July 2010, Manning  then a male soldier known as Bradley  was arrested over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.

Al Jazeeras Shihab Rattansi, reporting from Quantico, Virginia, where Manning was detained at a US Marines base for three years, said her leaks revealed the normality of lies and brutality by the US government.

In the end, it was Manning who was punished, not those at the highest levels of the US government, whose actions were exposed, Rattansi said.

On Wednesday, Manning will leave the prison barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas  the only maximum-security facility run by the Pentagon  thanks to a commutation of her sentence by ex-President Barack Obama before he left office.

Without Obamas parting gift, Manning, who served as an intelligence official in Iraq, would have remained behind bars until 2045, after serving a 35-year sentence.

I can see a future for myself

Supporters of Manning  who attempted suicide twice last year alone  said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her transition as a free, openly transgender woman.

Two more days until the freedom of civilian life, Manning tweeted on Monday. Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans.

Manning, now 29, also went on a hunger strike during her detention to denounce the disciplinary measures to which she was subjected  including stints in solitary confinement.

For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world, she wrote last week.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Chase Strangeo, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, said: Chelsea Manning is just this exceptional human being who continued to see the goodness even in the face of horrible evidence to the contrary.

Mannings defence team is intent on protecting her, while the military is keen on keeping her release low-key. No press conference is planned and media massing at the military installation may be hard-pressed to even catch a glimpse of Manning.

To ensure the privacy and security of Inmate Manning, no further information concerning the release will be provided, US Army spokesman Dave Foster said in a statement.

Virtually unknown at the time of her arrest, Manning today is a well-known figure around the world.

Labelled a traitor by right-wing President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She was not able to flee abroad like Edward Snowden, who in 2013 released documents showing that the NSA was sweeping up US citizens communications metadata.

Ahead of Mannings release, a group of musicians released a compilation album with all proceeds to go to the former soldier as she starts a new life.

Hugs for Chelsea, a digital album available for a $25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left-wing activism, including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.

Transitioning behind bars

Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists.

She was able to start hormonal treatment in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her right to exist.

While Mannings sentence was commuted, her conviction remains intact. Manning, who will turn 30 in December, has appealed.

She is also still employed by the army, and retains its insurance coverage.

Manning is statutorily entitled to medical care while on excess leave in an active duty status, pending final appellate review, said Foster, the army spokesman.

Chase Madar, Mannings biographer, argued that she carried out an act of public service by leaking the documents, adding that none of the information leaked by Manning was top secret.

One disturbing thing is just how few people leaked, Madar told Al Jazeera. Why was Chelsea Manning the first one? If hundreds of thousands of people had access to the material  no one had the guts?

Al Jazeera
YEREVAN.  The money, which was stolen from the grants allocated by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Armenia, is around 409 million drams (approx. US$844,800).

Sona Truzyan, adviser to chairman of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Active investigative actions are continuing, she added. The body in charge of the proceedings is collaborating with the workers of the European

Anti-Fraud Office, to find out the actual amount of the theft committed from the grants of the EU delegation to Armenia, [and] find other persons possibly involved.

The Investigative Committee had informed that Marine Papyan, Coordinator for Grant Programs of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, was detained on April 26, on suspicion of stealing money from the funds allocated by this delegation, and with prior arrangement with several people. She was later charged.

Thirteen people have been indicted on charges of theft from the funds used for carrying out grant programs by the EU delegation to Armenia, assistance to this theft, and forging of documents by a group of persons. Search has been declared for three of these thirteen persons.

The respective criminal investigation is in progress.
Ninety-six-year-old Nerses Krik Krikorian lives in Los Alamos, US.

Krikorian was born on a Turkish roadside in 1921. His parents were fleeing Armenian Genocide. They spent the next four years moving from country to country with nothing but the clothes on their backs, trying to find a permanent home.

They finally found refuge in Canada. When Krikorian was 4 years old, they moved to the United States, settling in Niagara Falls, where his father became a factory worker and his mom a homemaker, according to The Los Alamos Monitor.

He graduated from college with a bachelors degree in chemistry and began a job at Union Carbide, working in a lab that made highly enriched uranium.

It was 1943 and, unbeknownst to him, Krikorian was knee-deep in the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos.

When the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Krikorian knew then what hed been working on. I thought, Well, the war is going to end, he said. And I hope we never have to use it again for any reason.

The move to Los Alamos proved to be a good one. Its where he met his wife, Katherine Pat Patterson, who came to Los Alamos in 1943 to work on the Manhattan Project.

Krikorian had a notable technical career, holding six patents and publishing a range of analyses and technical assessments on everything from laser isotope separation and high-temperature reactor materials to directed-energy nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons testing.

In the 1970s, Krikorian started working for the US intelligence. Krikorian still marvels at the fact that he, who arrived in the United States as a boy with papers that labeled him as stateless, could be in charge of security for a US intelligence unit.

Krikorians selection for the intelligence unit was also no doubt spurred by the fact that he spoke fluent Armenian and some Russian. When he was a child, his parents forced him to not only learn to speak and write Armenian, but to understand the countrys history, culture, and literature.

His knowledge of Russian came later, in the 1960s, while he was working on Project Rover. To do well in high-temperature chemistry, the only books I could find were in Russian. So suddenly Im studying Russian and translating Russian science into English.

Krikorian retired in 1991. Today, he looks back on his achievements  Laboratory Fellow, recipient of the Los Alamos Medal (the Laboratorys highest honor), the CIAs coveted Intelligence Community Medallion, two honorary doctorates, and countless other recognitions  and expresses not pride, but gratitude.

Things have worked out far beyond what I ever imagined. I think of my parents and wonder, How did they ever do it? To be born on a roadside in

Turkey to this, he said, gesturing to his home. My parents instilled in me the importance of doing the right thing and giving back to your fellow man. I hope Ive done that.
Poland and Slovakia will increase defense spending

Audi presents new crossovers Q8 e-tron

Benny Gantz: Israel has an opportunity to strike Iran's nuclear facilities

Samvel Babayan: Russia will withdraw peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh

Hungarian government sets price ceiling on eggs and potatoes

Benny Gantz: Israel does not have the production capacity to supply Ukraine with air defense systems

Germany must adopt energy-saving measures in face of skyrocketing inflation

Beglaryan: Azerbaijan continues and will continue its policy of genocide and hatred against the Armenian people

Kiev believes it is too early to talk about withdrawal of Russian troops from Kherson

Raisi: Relations between Tehran and Moscow have a bright future

Taliban virtue representative kills minor for refusing to marry

Meeting held at Ministry of Defense

Kaljurand: A fair peace agreement, that will guarantee the rights and security of the Nagorno-Karabakh people, is needed

ATMs closed at night in Germany because of increasing number of break-ins

Moldova to request 450 million from EU amid fears of stopping Russian gas supplies

Kazakhstan plans to make knowledge of Kazakh obligatory for obtaining citizenship

Vladimir Putin to visit Armenia

Ayoob Kara: Israel and Azerbaijan must act together against Iran

Macron: France ends its military mission in Africa

Military forces of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey take part in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline protection exercise

Shoigu orders withdrawal of troops across Dnieper River

Swedish parliament will vote to change constitution for NATO membership on November 16

Reactor at nuclear power plant in southern Sweden stops unexpectedly due to turbine malfunction

Margaret Thatcher's dressing table case sells for $145

Zakharova comments on Azerbaijani attacks on Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh

Israel may reconsider its position on military aid to Ukraine because of threat from Iran

Tehran expresses readiness to play role in resolving conflict between Russia and Ukraine

Zakharova: Russia closely coordinates with Armenia and Azerbaijan on preparation of peace treaty

U.S. cut its oil production forecast in 2023

Gen. of Justice: Armenia is already going to abyss

MFA says Russia promotes comprehensive settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations

Australia to ban former military pilots from working in China

Ministry: 1,034 participants of 44-day Karabakh war declared disabled

Russian Security Council Secretary accuses Western intelligence services of organizing unrest in Iran

Niagara Falls is illuminated in colors of Azerbaijani flag through efforts of Azerbaijani Embassy to U.S.

'Armenia' bloc: Authorities going to peace at any cost legitimize change of power

Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia

FT: Taiwan plans to establish drone production, allocated $1.6 billion

Azerbaijan's 'Horst Wessel' for Iran: Baku media replicates 'murder story'

Tesla recalls 40,000 electric cars because of problems with power steering

Sky News: Russia handed over Javelin, NLAW and Stinger missiles to Iran in exchange for drones

Russia has record number of Armenia migrants outflow

Stoltenberg says NATO summit will be held in Vilnius on July 11-12, 2023

Iranian Interior Ministry: Organizers of riots in Iran were trained in 8 unfriendly countries

Europe fills its gas storage facilities almost 100% before cold season

Greece MPs visit Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan

Strasbourg city council adopts resolution on supporting Armenia

Ohanyan: We see hope in Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan format regarding Karabakhs future

Turkey says it will not focus only on Russian gas

David Babayan says Azerbaijan makes propaganda against Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh

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Shavarsh Kocharyan says current PM took step of declaring Armenia aggressor

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Armenia legislature discusses issues of residents of Karabakhs Kashatagh region handed over to Azerbaijan

President pays tribute to martyrs of 3rd Artsakh war

Australian pedophile sentenced to 129 years in Philippines

Japan says North Korea launches alleged ballistic missile

British cabinet minister resigns after recent harassment allegations

Eleving Group member Mogo applies the best practices in Armenia

Artsakh FM: Azerbaijan will have to take new realities into account in near future

Iran MFA. Azerbaijan president's reaction is incomprehensible

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Pashinyan: Armenia-Cambodia warm relations have great prospects for development

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Javier Colomina: NATO supports normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations

Copper falls in price

Iran official: Goal of $3bn trade with Armenia will be realized under this government

Karabakh FM: Azerbaijan has become more aggressive, brazen with Turkeys support

MOD: Artsakh army units did not open fire towards Azerbaijan positions

Oil prices go down

Armenia Security Council chief briefs Poland Senate vice-speaker on regional developments

Azerbaijan fires at Armenia positions

Gold prices go down

Newspaper: Armenia law enforcement agencies operative intelligence teams to enter several officials houses

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US State Department: Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs agreed to continue meetings, direct dialogue

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EU replaces pipeline Russian gas with imported Russian LNG

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YEREVAN.  Saying he was humbled to join such a distinguished group of active Armenians, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills, Jr., welcomed to the Embassy in Yerevan some of the 450 Armenian alumni of the U.S. State Departments Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program.

When you look around the atrium it is a wonderful site to see so many people, so many dedicated professionals working in a variety of sectors and fields to build a strong and vibrant future for Armenia, Ambassador Mills told the alumni during a networking reception at the Embassy on Tuesday, the Embassy informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. As the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia it is a great pleasure to know that through the Edmund Muskie Program the U.S. State Department has played a part, even if a small one, in helping you achieve all that you have.

The Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program promoted academic and professional training for Armenian scholars, focused on recognizing the importance of promoting mutual understanding across cultures while building participants leadership skills through exchange internships and study. In addition to helping with professional development, the Muskie Program allowed participants to realize their leadership skills and explore ways in which to implement new ideas and concepts back in Armenia.

Though the Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program which 450 Armenians have taken advantaged of has since ended, the alumni remain an important part of Armenian society, working in high-level government positions, leading businesses, and advancing issues such as environmental awareness and public health.

As the Embassy is celebrating 25 years of U.S.-Armenian diplomatic relations, Ambassador Mills noted how important such alumni are to strengthening the partnership between the two nations.

I think the many exchange programs, like the Muskie Program, which bring Armenians to the U.S. for study, internship, or cultural exchange, and those programs that bring Americans here to Armenia, are shining examples of the deep and warm relationship that has developed between our two nations over the last 25 years. In your work, bringing the knowledge and skills you learned in the U.S. to help your homeland, you are living examples of the value of our 25 year partnership, Ambassador Mills said.
YEREVAN.  The Armenian government has been leading the efforts in diversifying the nations energy sector into renewables and of boosting energy efficiency programs.

U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills on Wednesday noted the above-said during the day-long conferencein capital city Yerevanon the prospects for the development of renewable energy in Armenia.

The event was organized by the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia and the firm Contour Global. It brought together representatives from some of the top U.S. renewable energy companies to meet with 70 Armenian businesses to discuss how they can best partner.

As many of you know, this year we are marking 25 years of U.S.-Armenian relations. Twenty five years ago, I remember well working on the issues of the newly-independent Armenia at the State Department in Washington, D.C. Those of you old enough remember well that in those early years of independence, Armenias energy situation was shaky. Outages were the norm. Trees were clear-cut to provide heat. It was a time of true crisis, he said. But Armenia did not surrender to the darkness and scarcity. Instead, with the support of friends and partners like the U.S., Armenia developed into a nation that is able to meet its needs, and in fact able to export its excess electricity.

He highlighted the valuable work done by the Armenian government to encourage energy diversification and clean energy production, including a Solar Cell Investor Conference it organized in January. And he mentioned how the U.S. has partnered with the Armenian government, describing an exchange trip organized last month for Armenian officials and private sector representatives to visit experts in the U.S. to gain best practices for solar power energy production.

Seven U.S. companies  Honeywell Building Solutions, Honeywell Smart Energy, MacLean Power Systems, First Solar Power Solutions, Caterpillar, General Electric and Contour Global  sent representatives to the conference to share their experiences and to learn about business opportunities in Armenia. The one-day program also featured presentations by International Finance Corporation (IFC), German Development Bank KfW, Ameria Bank, Switzerland-based Meeco Group, and Armenian government officials.

The Armenian government has been leading the efforts in diversifying the nations energy sector into renewables and of boosting energy efficiency programs. They have put into place mechanisms and programs enabling the growth of Armenias renewable and solar cell energy sectors, Ambassador Mills said. And as we have for the past 25 years, the U.S. government will continue to be a partner with Armenia.
YEREVAN. - In the near future Armenia will launch a campaign for propaganda of organic products, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Armenia, Armen Harutyunyan, told Armenian News  NEWS.am.

Together with this, the support will continue to be provided to farmers, as well as small and medium-sized businesses wishing to produce organic food.

The European Union and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) provide 3.3 million euro support to the program.

In the first stage, support is provided to small enterprises in preparing the field, orchard or production of the organic food. For the ready-made products to appear on the table faster (if not in Europe, then at least in Armenia), the Ministry has already agreed with large supermarkets on opening organic sections. But the diversity will not be great yet: it is necessary to wait for a while.

After the preparation, a transitional period of up to three years is needed. But there are also those, who received the certificate prior to the current program. Currently, over 40 producers in Armenia have certificates, almost as many of them planning to receive them. I hope that in 2018 we will have our own budgetary funds. We want to allocate subsidies for those, who apply for organic food certification, wishing to buy organic fertilizers or nursery plants. However, it is very important for us to rely not only on foreign but also our Armenian market. And this requires our consumers to know better about the benefit of organics, since the healthier our food is, the healthier our children are, Harutyunyan noted.

Now the Agriculture Ministry is developing a wider program of green economy, where agro-tourism and clean energy will be added to organics.

The food, which has been grown without chemicals (fertilizers and spraying device), as well as their remains on the soil, is considered to be organic. In case of processed organic products (conserves, juice, etc.), not only the main but also all the rest of the ingredients (for instance, sugar) should be organic.

The demand in the local market is very small yet, the risks of cultivation being high (without chemicals the resistance to pests reduces), that is why very small amount of organics is produced in Armenia.
YEREVAN. - The Ministry of Justice of Armenia on Wednesday received the decision of the Russian court on recognizing the judgment rendered on 23 August 2016 by the first instance court of Armenias Shirak province against Valery Permyakov, and its implementation in the territory of Russia.

The decision of the Russian court guarantees unfailing implementation of the court judgment in the manner established by the international agreements between Armenia and Russia, the press-service of the Justice Ministry informed Armenian News  NEWS.am.

It is also reported that the agreement of 29 August 1997 On mutual legal assistance in issues related to the location of the Russian base in the territory of Armenia precisely establishes which state is to prosecute in case a crime is committed by servicemen, as well as the prosecution procedure.

According to Article 4 of the agreement, where the crime is committed by the representative of the personal staff of the base, the jurisdiction of Armenia applies to them in the territory of Armenia, whereas according to Article 5 of the same agreement in case of military crimes committed by the personal staff of the base, the Russian legislation applies.

Therefore, there is a duality of jurisdiction, the arrest and service of sentence of the person being conditioned by this.

Considering this and aiming to implement the court judgment, the law enforcement authorities of Armenia and Russia are holding discussions for solving the issue within the framework of the Moscow Convention of 1998 On handing over prisoners for the further service of sentence.

The murder took place on January 12, 2015. According to the indictment, Permyakov entered the Avetisyan family home on that day, and he killed home residents Aida Avetisyan, Hasmik Avetisyan, Seryozha Avetisyan, Armen Avetisyan, Araksya Poghosyan, and little girl Hasmik Avetisyan. Subsequently, he stabbed 6-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan five times. The baby boy died in the hospital one week later.

Permyakov was apprehended by the Russian border guards near the Armenian-Turkish borderand nearby Bayandur villageon the same night, he was arrested on January 14, and held in custody at the Russian military base.

Armenia and Russia instituted criminal cases on charges of murder and military desertion, respectively.

On August 12, 2015, the Russian court sentenced Permyakov to ten years in prison. And on October 16 of the same year, Armenia formally brought criminal charges against the Russian soldier.

And on August 23, 2016, the Shirak District Court of First Instance found Valery Permyakov guilty of all chargesmurder, robbery, and attempt to cross the Armenian state borderthat were brought against him, and he was sentenced to life in prison.
Coping with the Heat

Providing adequate amounts of cool, potable water for employees and encouraging them to drink water frequently is another recommended practicea recommendation so important that it is required by the California heat illness prevention regulation.

We know that many people are exposed to heat from working outdoors. Farm workers, law enforcement personnel, construction workers, landscaping workers, oil & gas and refinery workers, emergency responders, and many others can be at risk of serious heat illnesses. But indoor work also can post heat dangers, and workers and supervisors should be prepared for them in locations such as commercial kitchens, laundries, and warehouses.

Heat-related illnesses are clearly preventable. You and your workers can avoid them by understanding and recognizing the symptoms of these illnesses and by being aware of environmental factors that can put employees at risk.

Symptoms

Heat stroke is the most dangerous health ailment from working in hot environments. The body's temperature regulatory system fails and sweating becomes inadequate. Body temperature may be 105 degrees Fahrenheit or even higher, and the persons skin will be hot and dry. He or she may be confused and can experience convulsions or become unconscious. Prompt and appropriate treatment is essential.

Heat exhaustion happens when someone loses a large amount of fluid by sweating. He still sweats but also may be fatigued, giddy, or nauseous. His skin is clammy and moist, his body temperature normal or slightly elevated. The treatment for heat exhaustion is to have the individual rest in a cool place and drink plenty of liquids.

Heat cramps are muscle spasms felt by a worker who sweats profusely and drinks large quantities of water but does not adequately replace salt loss.

Heat rash can occur in hot and humid environments where sweat is not easily removed from the surface of the skin by evaporation and the skin remains moist most of the time. A skin rash results because the sweat ducts become plugged.

Recommendations for Preventing Heat Illnesses

NIOSH, always a good source for guidance about worker protections, has recommendations for preventing heat stress. They begin with controlling it through engineering and work practice controls such as increased air flow and the use of reflective or heat-absorbing shielding or barriers.
Weathering a Natural Disaster

While it is impossible to determine when or where the next natural disaster will strike, you may have a good idea of the type of natural disaster your geographical region may encounter. For example, earthquakes near a fault line, tornadoes in the central and southeast United States, hurricanes and storm surge in coastal areas, and wildfires in arid climates. However, there is one natural disaster that can happen anywhere it rains: flooding, which happens to be the most frequent, deadly, and costly natural disaster in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Weather, water, and climate-related events cause an average of approximately 650 deaths and $15 billion in damages per year. (www.noaa.org)

California, Arkansas and Missouri have already experienced severe flooding in 2017. And, with the Atlantic hurricane season recently underway, there is likely more to come. During a hurricane, coastal areas are at risk for storm surge, extreme winds and flooding from rain. Once the storm makes landfall, inland areas in its path are at risk for high winds, thunderstorms and flooding.

Mitigating the Impact of a Natural Disaster for Mission-Critical Facilities

In 2008, article 708, Critical Operations Power Systems (COPS), was added to the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC) to provide mission critical facilities with a higher level of protection, so that in the event of an emergency, these facilities will still function. The NEC mandate applies specifically to vital facilities that, if destroyed or incapacitated, would disrupt national security, the economy, public health and/or safety, such as hospitals, police and fire stations, emergency call centers, and government facilities involved in national security. In some cases, the mandate is applied to a specific area within a facility which is the designated critical operations area (DCOA), and in others the entire facility will be designated as a critical operations area.

For these mission critical facilities or designated critical operations areas within a facility, NEC mandates that a risk assessment be performed to:

1) Identify potential hazards (whether from a natural disaster or human error),

2) The likelihood of their occurrence, and

3) The vulnerability of the system.

Based on the risk assessment, an emergency operations plan must be developed and implemented to mitigate potential hazards. An important part of the risk assessment is evaluating the positioning of critical equipment. For instance, are backup generators elevated above ground so that it is safe from water in the event flooding? Are the pumps supplying fuel to the generators also located above ground so that in the event of flooding it is still possible to fuel the generators?

Beyond these mission critical facilities, other organizations such as schools and office buildings, that are affected by or in potential danger of natural disaster, should consider implementing similar measures to prepare their infrastructures. However, implementing some of the protective measures included in the NEC mandate can be very expensive. How can companies that are not required to comply with NEC 708 determine which of these measures are most worthwhile?

Two excellent resources published by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) provide comprehensive information on flood mitigation strategies.

Protecting Building Utility Systems from Flood Damage (FEMA P-348, Edition 2 / February 2017)

Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings (FEMA P-936 / July 2013)

Developing an Electrical Emergency Action Plan

The inclusion of electrical disaster recovery in NFPA 70B provides a foundation for the electrical infrastructure recovery. One objective of this article is to provide guidelines on developing an electrical emergency action plan (EEAP) and examples how it saved or could have saved facilities from excessive downtime. The purpose of an EEAP is to understand the electrical assets, critical operational infrastructure, risks, and short- and long-term power restoration execution plans. Some of the benefits include:

Reduces time to restore short and long-term power quickly and safely

Reduces uncertainties when a disaster occurs

Increases understanding of electrical assets, available emergencies services, replacement market availability

Being able to know when a disaster occurs, the immediate financial implications

Whether a facility is deemed mission critical or not, having an EEAP in place is critical to safely and efficiently restoring operations. The development of an EEAP may seem overwhelming. Below is a step-by-step guide created by Schneider Electric Services to help customers be prepared in the event of an emergency.

1) Define the criteria of an emergency.

Lighting strikes on service entrance transformers and flooding of backup generators clearly indicate operational "states of emergency." Does nuisance tripping on circuit breakers or power quality issues qualify as emergencies? When productivity is impacted, it can be confusing as to when a state of emergency should be declared. The EEAP should clearly define what constitutes an electrical emergency.

2) Identify electrical equipment that is critical to business operations.

On the single-line diagram, trace the power from the incoming utility source to every piece of electrical equipment feeding critical business operations. Perform an analysis on each of these critical assets to include availability in the market, lead times, and a plan of action when the equipment is no longer functional.

For most critical assets, it is necessary to understand cost of temporary rentals, logistics, contacts, and testing requirements for both temporary and permanent power restoration. For example, a special transformer's spare parts may not be available in the primary market, i.e., the local electric municipality. Therefore, it is a good practice to determine available suppliers, acquire budgetary pricing, and lead times on the secondary market.

3) Select outside vendors early and pre-negotiate commercial terms and conditions.

In the aftermath of a disaster, it may be too late to negotiate pricing or lead times for the required resources to restore electrical power. Without pre-negotiated emergency service contracts, companies may suffer from overpricing and insufficient support. In addition to pre-negotiated normal and emergency rates, due diligence should include estimated response time and procedures for large-scale project coordination (see Step 4). The selected vendor(s) should have the depth and experience to handle major disasters.

4) Define internal and external responsibilities.

he EEAP should clearly define "who has responsibility for what" in restoring power to the facility. They also have details on customers responsibility such as providing electrical one line diagrams, energization procedures, and coordination and communication activities between multiple vendors through a central contact. Third-party vendor(s) should also provide a clear procedure on how they will approach an emergency at a facility including assessing damage, mobilizing resources, appointing a project manager, and establishing a command center. All parties involved should fully understand the safety plan that is put in place.

5) Define the equipment and service scope.

This section will further define the equipment and associated work scope. For example, an electrical distribution service company can define the equipment scope to be from the utility service entrance (13.8 kV) to low voltage switchgear (480 V). The associated work scopes include equipment installation and commissioning in both temporary and permanent scenarios.

6) Specify the emergency contract terms.

Emergency contracts should be written for a specific time period, with an expiration date. It is also recommended to add expiration dates to the EEAP plan for self-auditing purposes.

7) Include the latest contact information.

This section of the EEAP should include the latest contact information for anyone (internal or external) who has a defined responsibility in restoring power due to an emergency.

After the Flood: Safety is Priority #1

Water and electricity don't mix. Attempting to restore power to water-damaged equipment can be deadly. In addition to developing (or updating) an EEAP, it is recommended that you:

Be aware of the most current industry codes and standards as well as those of authorities having jurisdiction. NFPA 1600 is the overarching standard and primary document on disaster recovery, emergency management, and business continuity. NFPA 70B, Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, includes a specific chapter on disaster recovery and emergency response. In addition, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published "Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment" and has published a guide for "Evaluating Fire- and Heat-Damaged Electrical Equipment."

Know the effects of water damage to electrical equipment. In the event of flooding or water damage, understand which equipment must be replaced and that which can be reconditioned. In accordance with OSHA/NFPA 70E, all services should be performed by qualified personnel who are familiar with the equipments operation and construction. NEMA has published the "NEMA Policy on Reconditioned Electrical Equipment," which provides valuable guidance on reconditioning electrical equipment.

Conclusion

While natural disasters cannot be avoided, their impact may be somewhat lessened if businesses are better prepared. Flooding is the most frequently occurring natural disaster in the United States and the impact of a flood on individuals, communities and businesses can be devastating. Restoring electrical power is a crucial part of the recovery process. Regardless of the industry or facility type, having a detailed Electrical Emergency Action Plan is critical to enable efficient recovery efforts. Businesses should look to the multiple standards and recommendations from NFPA, NEC, OSHA, and NEMA to serve as a guide to help them understand and develop an effective contingency plan in the event of a natural disaster.

Chad Kennedy is the director of Industry Standards for Power Equipment at Schneider Electric. With more than 26 years of experience, he is responsible for managing company activities relating to product and application standards for power equipment, renewable energies, energy storage, and microgrids. As a member of NFPA who serves on several committees with NEC and NFPA, including Code Panel 13, he possesses an understanding of customer needs for NEC-compliant installations in health care, critical power, data center, and redundant control system design.

Resources:

1. NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

2. NFPA 1600: Standard on Disaster / Emergency Management and Business Continuity / Continuity of Operations Programs

3. FEMA P-348, Protecting Building Utility Systems from Flood Damage (2017)

4. FEMA P-936, Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings (2013)

5. NEMA Guide to Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment
The need for further investment The 2030 sustainable development agenda, adopted by the United Nations, commits the world on a course to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure health and prosperity for all. But in order to drive that forward there needs to be sufficient finance. In fact, its estimated that an extra $2.5 trillion of funding will be needed each year to achieve this. So just where is that money going to come from?

Its not enough for nonprofits and governments alone to tackle global issues including ensuring access to health care, slowing climate change, and promoting equality. New players are entering this space  innovating around creative ideas, methods and techniques to fund life-changing projects and alleviate some of the worlds biggest challenges.

Wheres the innovation? Lets take an in depth look. Over the next 10 weeks Devex, along with our partners, will explore innovative financing mechanisms, asking how cross-sector collaboration can lead to improved outcomes, and discussing what it takes to build successful partnerships for change. Through the lens of People, Planet, and Prosperity, well bring together a wealth of insights.
Phuket, Thailand, 11 April, 2017  Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, has been named as the Most Excellent Family Hotel in Asia!

The award was presented to the resort at the inaugural Asia Awards of Excellence, which were held in Macau on 31st March, 2017.

The Asia Awards of Excellence is Asias most anticipated new awards platform, created to recognize and celebrate the best in travel, hospitality, design and more. The glittering awards ceremony showcased the finest hotels and resorts in the region, recognizing those that are committed to raising standards, exceeding expectations and offering the ultimate guest experiences.

The grand gala dinner and award ceremony took place at the Macau Tower and rolled out the red carpet for over 150 VIP guests from Asias finest hotels and resorts.

David Ippersiel, General Manager of the Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, said he was delighted to have received the Most Excellent Family Hotel in Asia award.

It is an exceptional honor for the resort to receive this very first award, Mr Ippersiel commented. With our rich combination of Thai hospitality, international amenities, innovation and an unsurpassed location, we believe that our resort is ideal for families visiting Phuket. This award will now allow us to showcase Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, as the perfect family destination, he added.

And the awards could continue flowing for Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach; the hotel is nominated for the Best Interior Design award, which will be decided at the Asia Property Awards 2017, taking place at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queens Park from 25-26 May.

For more information and reservations, please call at +66 (0) 76 625 555 or email booknaiyangbeach@marriott.com.
A study by Swansea University researchers has found that student academic integrity is not a core concept taught to academics in Higher Education.

An academic integrity-focused approach to addressing plagiarism emphasises the promotion of positive values alongside education of staff and students about good, and bad, practice in writing, studying and assessment design. The concept was developed many years ago and is seen as desirable, yet it was not clear whether academic integrity features prominently in the education of academics themselves.

About one third of all university students report engaging in some sort of plagiarism and related forms of misconduct. Reasons given for this misconduct vary from pressure to achieve, belief they won't be caught or and a lack of understanding. Staff also show varied understanding of student academic integrity and this may have negative consequences for all concerned.

Given the central importance, still, of textbooks in HE learning and teaching, two Swansea University researchers, Josie Ransome and Philip Newton, identified the most common textbooks used in PGCerts in UK Higher Education; the courses designed to teach academics themselves about learning and teaching and which often lead to Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. They analysed the texts, along with some assessment specific textbooks, to determine what messages the books convey regarding academic integrity and the behaviours associated with misconduct.

Philip Newton, Director of Learning and Teaching for the Swansea University Medical School said: "We did a few simple qualitative analyses of the content of the books, hunting for anything and everything to do with academic integrity. We found very little. There were some exceptions, but in general academic integrity did not feature, and where we did find relevant content, the language used ('cheating', 'plagiarism') was not reflective of an academic integrity-based approach.

"More recent developments in the field, such as the purchasing of custom written assignments (contract cheating), were particularly notable by their absence. This is, of course, not to say that these concepts are not covered elsewhere in staff development, but for academic integrity to truly function properly it needs to be part of the mainstream discourse around learning and teaching, not something that academics find out about through rules and regulations once something goes wrong".

The researchers concluded that current textbooks did not recognise 'academic integrity' as a concept. They recommended that future editions should include academic integrity as a core concept in learning and teaching. This would help to embed integrity in the mainstream discourse of higher education and prevent it being seen as a standalone, disciplinary concept.

The full research paper "Are we Educating educators about academic integrity? A study of UK higher education textbooks" has been published by Taylor and Francis.

More information: Josie Ransome et al, Are we educating educators about academic integrity? A study of UK higher education textbooks, Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education (2017). DOI: 10.1080/02602938.2017.1300636 Josie Ransome et al. Are we educating educators about academic integrity? A study of UK higher education textbooks, Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education (2017). DOI: 10.1080/02602938.2017.1300636
Confirmed supernova, SN 2017aew, can be seen on the top right side of the Fireworks Galaxy in the center of this animation. Credit: Patrick Wiggins

On May 13, 2017, Patrick Wiggins, public outreach educator for the University of Utah's Department of Physics & Astronomy, and NASA solar system ambassador to Utah, spotted something unusual in the sky. He was looking at the spiral galaxy NGC 6946, known as the Fireworks Galaxy, in the Cygnus constellation over 22 million light-years away from his telescope at his home near Erda, Utah. He noticed a bright spot that he hadn't seen before. By comparing what he was seeing with earlier photographs taken of the same galaxy, he realized he was witnessing a star explode. He had just discovered a supernova.

Named SN 2017eaw, Wiggins' discovery was confirmed on May 14th by two experts in supernovae; Subo Dong at Peking University, and Krzysztof Z. Stanek from Ohio State University.

When a star goes supernova, it is one of the largest, most impressive astronomical events in space. A supernova occurs when a massive star collapses in a brilliant explosion that can outshine entire galaxies. This can happen in two ways; when a smaller star burns through its nuclear fuel, the core loses the energy to push against the gravity relentlessly pulling the star inward. If the weakened star gains mass from a star orbiting nearby, the core will collapse due to the overwhelming gravitational force in an event called a Type I Supernova. When a massive star many times larger than our own sun runs out of nuclear fuel, the star's core collapses from its own staggering gravitational forces and explodes in a Type II Supernova. In both cases, these supernovae are astoundingly bright for a timebright enough to be seen by amateur and professional astronomers alikeuntil they expend their energy and the light begins to fade over the next few months.

Confirmed supernova, SN 2017aew can be seen on the top right side of the Fireworks Galaxy in the center of this animation. Credit: Patrick Dunford

SN 2017eaw has been confirmed to be a Type II supernova. This is the third supernova discovery for Wiggins. In 2015, he discovered SN 2015Q in the NGC 3888 galaxy in Ursa Major, and in 2014 he independently discovered supernova SN 2014G, along with Koichi Itagaki in Japan.

In addition, Wiggins has discovered a whole host of astronomical events in space, including an asteroid in 2008, which the International Astronomical Union named Univofutah, at Wiggins' request, to honor the University of Utah. Wiggins' work has earned him many accolades, including the prestigious Distinguished Public Service Medal, NASA's highest civilian honor. You can meet Wiggins and the rest of the Phun with Physics scientists during free days at the Natural History Museum of Utah.
The very design features that make Bitcoin technology appealing to its users are also weaknesses being exploited for the theft of the cryptocurrency  new research reveals.

The blockchain technology on which Bitcoin is based is decentralised, pseudo-anonymous and unregulated and therefore attractive to many of its users. It offers alternatives to, what many users consider to be, key weaknesses of traditional models - where banks act as trusted third parties to mediate financial transactions.

Traditional bank transactions can incur high fees, can be slow, and transactions can also be approved or reversed by banks even if contrary to a contract between the trading parties. In comparison, due to its open ledger design, blockchain is transparent, fast, cost-effective, and also intentionally provides irreversible transactions.

These transparent design features are supposed to promote trust in Bitcoin. However, computer scientists at Lancaster University and Universiti Teknologi MARA (Malaysia) show that these features are presenting opportunities for fraud undermining trust in the currency.

Problematic Bitcoin design features include:

The risk of losing a password  a lost or forgotten password cannot be recovered so all bitcoins from an electronic wallet could be rendered unrecoverable.

Insecure passwords can lead to bitcoins being stolen  for example through phishing scams.

The irreversible nature of transactions means that stolen bitcoins diverted to another wallet, due to hacking or dishonest trading partners, cannot be reversed and recovered.

The anonymous nature of bitcoin users, and their unknown reputations, opens up opportunities for dishonest traders to scam during transactions.

Dr Corina Sas, Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University's School of Computing and Communications, said: "The main trust challenge experienced by Bitcoin users is the risk of insecure transactions and in particular that of dealing with dishonest traders.

"The design features that make Bitcoin popular are also enabling dishonest trading. For example, irreversible transactions are an issue when a trader does not fulfil their side of a transaction  by paying an agreed price in conventional currencies, or goods, for bitcoins. If this happens, then honest traders are not able to recover their bitcoins.

"Our findings also uncover an interesting tension. Despite deregulation being a crucial characteristic of blockchain, its users actually desire regulation, mostly because of the challenge of dealing with dishonest traders which, they believe, could be addressed by de-anonymising trading parties. Bitcoin provides freedom over one's assets, but at the same time it no longer provides the security that traditional regulated financial institutions provide."

The researchers, who interviewed 20 Bitcoin users, have suggested design improvements to support trust:

New digital tools to record information on conventional currencies exchanged for bitcoins on the blockchain. Currently only the transfer of Bitcoins is recorded, and the offline transfer of fiat currency or goods is not, opening up opportunities for fraud.

A reputation management system built on top of the blockchain would motivate traders to keep the same wallet to build their reputation, providing more stable, though still private, identities.

New tools to reveal the identities of the owners of one-use only Bitcoin wallets, to deter dishonesty

The use of third parties to arbitrate and sign-off transactions.

More information: Design for Trust: An Exploration of the Challenges and Opportunities of Bitcoin Users. CHI '17 Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems , DOI: 10.1145/3025453.3025886
Consumers today insist on all-natural everything, and food dyes are no exception. Even if food manufacturers are willing to make the change, current sources of natural dyes are expensive and hard to come by. Now, a large University of Illinois project is filling the gap with colored corn.

"Most natural colors come from things like wine skins, red carrots, and beets. The problem with that is most of the product is wasted in extracting the coloring. It's not good value," says Jack Juvik, a geneticist in the crop sciences department at U of I.

Juvik and an interdisciplinary team have been experimenting with purple and blue corn varieties, noting that health-promoting pigments known as anthocyanins are located in the outer layers of the corn kernel. That makes a big difference, economically.

"You can process corn in different ways to remove only the outer layer. The rest can still be fed into the corn supply chain to make ethanol or grits or any of the other products corn is already used for. That outer layer becomes a value-added co-product," Juvik says.

The team has covered a lot of bases since the $1.4 million project began in 2014. For example, they identified the optimal milling process and demonstrated that corn-derived anthocyanins remain stable in food products. What's left is to find the most potent sources of the pigments for future corn breeding.

In a recent study, Juvik and his colleagues looked at anthocyanin type and concentration in nearly 400 genetically distinct lines of colored corn. They grew these lines in Illinois to see if anthocyanin concentration stayed constant from generation to generation - a critical quality for breeding new varieties.

Peruvian types had some of the highest anthocyanin concentrations, and they held up throughout multiple generations. "That's good news. It means we can select for the trait we're interested in without worrying whether it will be expressed in new environments," Juvik says.

The next step will be getting those mighty Peruvian genes into high-yielding corn hybrids selected for production in the Midwest. If Juvik is successful, blue or purple corn could come to a field near you.

The article, "A survey of anthocyanin composition and concentration in diverse maize germplasm," is published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

More information: Michael Paulsmeyer et al, A Survey of Anthocyanin Composition and Concentration in Diverse Maize Germplasm, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2017). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b00771 Journal information: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Nearly half of California's diverse types of native salmon, steelhead and trout are headed toward extinction in 50 years unless environmental trends are reversed, a team of scientists warn in a new report.

And nearly three-fourths - 21 of 31 types-will disappear in a century unless people figure out how to manage harm linked to dams, water diversions, habitat damage, global warming and other problems, said the scientists from the University of California, Davis and the CalTrout conservation group in the report released Tuesday.

The bleak outlook was softened by a note of hope: Scientists say there is time to save the salmon.

Government, landowners, regulators, farmers, water agencies and others need to mount a series of long-term measures to make the fish more resilient by improving their habitat from headwaters to rivers to bays, the group said.

"If we don't act, we face losing our native salmon, steelhead and trout species," said Curtis Knight, executive director of CalTrout, a nonprofit group. "This would be tragic, not just because we would lose these iconic species, their beauty, their mystery, but as importantly, we would lose what they signify - cold, clean water, healthy rivers, a better California."

So far only one of member of California's diverse salmon family - a big spotted fish called the bull trout - has disappeared. The bull trout was last seen in 1975 in the McCloud River north of Redding.

With 31 remaining salmon types, California has the most diversity of any state in the lower 48 states below Alaska.

But California's five-year drought from 2012 to 2016 underscored how many of those 31 fish types are struggling to survive, including the Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon and the Central Coast coho salmon.

The Central Valley Chinook salmon, the source of most commercially caught salmon, is doing better, but largely through hatchery fish.

The drought, scientists said, offered a preview of global warming hardships that will mean more extreme weather, and less snow left in spring and summer to melt and sustain healthy river flows for salmon.

"Climate change is warming up the water, pushing the cold water higher, and making it harder for the fish to survive," said Peter Moyle, the associate director of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Science. He is the lead author of the report called "SOS II: Fish in Hot Water."

The report calls for making the fish more resilient by improving their habitat in upstream spawning areas, flood plains where baby fish grow, and in wetlands in the estuary formed by the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

The scientists urged an expansion of a test program doing early flooding of Sacramento Valley rice fields to provide shallow nursery areas to feed baby salmon.

The report calls for restoring many degraded Sierra meadows to act as sponges to store cold water that would trickle into streams in summer and fall when fish struggle to find enough.

The scientists also called for relocating fish hatcheries downstream closer to or in the Delta to make it easier to steer anglers to catch hatchery fish, not fish that spawned in the wild.

Protecting wild fish as opposed to hatchery fish provides a tougher more resilient fish able to withstand hard times, the scientists said.

State fish and wildlife officials said it is too early for them to analyze the new report, but noted they have been carrying out some of the recommendations such as improving habitat.

"We need to take care of the entire system to have more resilient fish that can take care of themselves in the hard times," said Kevin Shaffer, fisheries branch chief of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

2017 East Bay Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Antarctic ice sheet. Credit: Stephen Hudson / Wikipedia

(Phys.org)An international team of researchers has examined ice cores taken from an island in northern Canada in the 1980s and found that air temperatures during the Holocene were higher than today. Further, there have been unprecedented air temperature changes in the area over the past half-century. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study of the cores and why they believe it may help better understand what might happen to our planet due to global warming.

Prior evidence has shown that global warming is happening in different degrees in different parts of the world, and that the biggest changes are occurring in the Arctic. As the planet warms, scientists look for examples from the past to predict what might happen in the future. In this new effort, the researchers report that temperatures at the end of the last ice age (8,000 to 11,000 years ago) were slightly warmer than they are today, which suggests that other studies might show the impact that such high temperatures had on the rest of the planet.

The ice cores were taken from the Agassiz ice cap on Ellesmere Island several decades ago, but were not thoroughly examined due to budget constraints. They now reside at a site on the University of Alberta campus, which allowed the team access for study. The cores came from depths as much as a kilometer, offering a look into the distant past. The researchers measured ice that had melted and subsequently refroze and oxygen isotopes to learn more about air conditions during the time of their formation. The team reports that they found matching results from the two measuring methods, which strengthens their findings. They also report that overall, their findings offer more evidence of global warming which, they suggest, is most certainly due to human factorsnatural factors, such as those that led to a warmer world during the Holocene (variations in the Earth's orbit and tilt) occur at a much slower rate.

The researchers suggest more research be done to look for changes wrought by the warmer conditions during the Holocene, both in the Arctic and other parts of the world, to predict what changes might be ahead.

More information: Benoit S. Lecavalier et al. High Arctic Holocene temperature record from the Agassiz ice cap and Greenland ice sheet evolution, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1616287114 Abstract

We present a revised and extended high Arctic air temperature reconstruction from a single proxy that spans the past 12,000 y (up to 2009 CE). Our reconstruction from the Agassiz ice cap (Ellesmere Island, Canada) indicates an earlier and warmer Holocene thermal maximum with early Holocene temperatures that are 45 C warmer compared with a previous reconstruction, and regularly exceed contemporary values for a period of 3,000 y. Our results show that air temperatures in this region are now at their warmest in the past 6,8007,800 y, and that the recent rate of temperature change is unprecedented over the entire Holocene. The warmer early Holocene inferred from the Agassiz ice core leads to an estimated 1 km of ice thinning in northwest Greenland during the early Holocene using the Camp Century ice core. Ice modeling results show that this large thinning is consistent with our air temperature reconstruction. The modeling results also demonstrate the broader significance of the enhanced warming, with a retreat of the northern ice margin behind its present position in the mid Holocene and a 25% increase in total Greenland ice sheet mass loss (1.4 m sea-level equivalent) during the last deglaciation, both of which have implications for interpreting geodetic measurements of land uplift and gravity changes in northern Greenland. Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

 2017 Phys.org
Google chief executive Sundar Pichai delivers the keynote address at the 2017 Google I/O Conference, where he stressed the importance of artificial intelligence

Google announced Wednesday it was bringing its digital assistant to Apple iPhones as part of its effort to win the battle with tech rivals on artificial intelligence.

At its annual developers conference at an outdoor concert-venue near its main campus in Mountain View, California, Google unveiled its vision for computing centered around artificial intelligence.

"We are now witnessing a new shift in computing: the move from a mobile-first to an AI-first world," Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said during an opening presentation.

"It is forcing us to reimagine our products for a world that allows a more natural, seamless way of interacting with technology."

Those interactions, for Google, include using artificial intelligence to let people engage computers conversationally, have software anticipate needs, and let smartphone cameras "recognize" what they see.

"In an AI-first world, we are rethinking all of our products and applying machine learning to solve problems," Pichai said.

Google Assistant, the center of its AI efforts, is in a fierce battle with rivals such as Amazon's Alexa, Microsoft Cortana and Apple's Siri to be the top choice for use in smartphones as well as connected homes, cars and a range of other devices.

Artificial intelligence is being woven into Google's free Gmail service, used by more than a billion people, for features such as suggesting responses to messages.

For example, opening an email containing an invitation to dinner might trigger a prompt to reply "I'm in."

Smartphones get eyes

Google machine vision capabilities are being used to enable services such as recognizing who is in pictures and what they are doing as well as translate languages in signs viewed through smartphone cameras, demonstrations showed.

Advanced "Lens" features are being added first to the Google Photo application, which is available free.

Aiming a smartphone camera at a flower will prompt it to be identified; while aiming it at a complex password and hotspot name on a router will let it automatically log into the wireless connection, demonstrations showed.

Google also unveiled a second-generation computer chip it designed specifically to improve cloud computing capabilities in data centers.

"We want Google Cloud to be the best cloud for machine learning," Pichai said.

He described the internet giant's core search service and its Google Assistant as the company's most important AI products.

Google Assistant, introduced last year, is now on more than 100 million devices, according to the team's vice president of engineering Scott Huffman.

"We are really starting to crack the hard computer challenge of conversationality," Huffman said.

"Soon, with Google Lens, your assistant will be able to have a conversation about what you see."

Google used the conference to announce a software kit that will let developers build Assistant capabilities into robots, applications, and other computerized creations.

Google also announced enhancements to its Home personal assistant, adding abilities such as hands free telephone calls and acting as speakers for wireless audio.

Android gets lean

Developers cheered when talk turned to Google-backed mobile operating system Android.

Google announced that more than two billion devices powered by Android software are used monthly in a freshly passed milestone.

The coming version of Android, referred to simply as "O" for the time being, will also have boosted artificial intelligence features along with enhanced security, executives showed.

Google is also crafting a lighter version of Android, referred to as "Go," designed for maximum performance on low-cost, entry-level smartphones in developing countries where internet bandwidth is lean or expensive.

Google said that while it is happy with the momentum of its Daydream virtual reality platform based on using smartphone as screens in headsets, it is working with partners on stand-alone virtual reality gear.

Partners in the endeavor include Vive-maker HTC and Lenovo, according to Google virtual reality team vice president Clay Bavor.

 2017 AFP
Air temperature (black) and a measure of the relative abundance of ozone (red) compared to hydroperoxy radicals and other detergents. The top panel shows the full 100,000-year ice core record. As Earth warms up after the last ice age (far left in top panel), the relative abundance of ozone drops. The bottom panel is a close-up of a Dansgaard-Oeschger event, a quicker temperature swing. Here the temperature drops suddenly while the relative abundance of ozone rises. Credit: Becky Alexander/University of Washington

Unseen in the air around us are tiny molecules that drive the chemical cocktail of our atmosphere. As plants, animals, volcanoes, wildfires and human activities spew particles into the atmosphere, some of these molecules act as cleanup crews that remove that pollution.

The main molecules responsible for breaking down all these emissions are called oxidants. The oxygen-containing molecules, mainly ozone and hydrogen-based detergents, react with pollutants and reactive greenhouse gases, such as methane.

A University of Washington study published May 18 in the journal Nature finds that during large climate swings, oxidants shift in a different direction than researchers had expected, which means they need to rethink what controls these chemicals in our air.

"Oxidants are very reactive, and they react with pollutants and greenhouse gases and clean up the atmosphere," said corresponding author Becky Alexander, a UW associate professor of atmospheric sciences. "We wanted to see how the ability of the atmosphere to clean itself might change with climate."

First author Lei Geng, a former UW postdoctoral researcher now at Grenoble Alpes University, analyzed slices from a Greenland ice core in the UW's isotope chemistry lab. The 100,000-year core begins in a relatively warm period, covers a full ice age and ends in the present day, with several shorter temperature swings along the way. The researchers used a new method to get a first-ever read on changes in atmospheric oxidantsvolatile chemicals that are not directly preserved in ice cores.

The researchers fed meltwater to bacteria that drank the liquid and then excreted a gas that can be measured by machines that track isotopic composition of gas. Looking at the weight of oxygen atoms from the meltwater let the team see how many had come from the two main oxidants: ozone, which varies in the atmosphere over time, versus the detergent molecules, which are expected to stay fairly constant.

Becky Alexander in the cold room of the UW's IsoLab with sections of an ice core. Her group is analyzing these samples from Antarctica to see if they show the same trend as the Greenland cores. Credit: Mark Stone/University of Washington

"We found that the sign of the change was the complete opposite of what we expected," Alexander said. "And that indicates that what we thought were the main drivers for the abundance of oxidants were not actually the main controls, and we had to come up with some other mechanisms."

Atmospheric scientists had believed that ozone levels rise as the temperature increases. Ozone is produced with water vapor and emissions from plants, soil bacteria and other living things. All of these go up as the temperature warms. So the authors expected to find more ozone in the warmer climates.

Instead, the proportion of ozone actually increased in colder climates. When the temperature changes were small, ozone did increase with temperature, but for big temperature swings that relationship flipped, with more ozone in the cold periods.

One hypothesis proposed by the authors is a change in the circulation between the troposphere, the air above our heads, and the stratosphere, the higher-elevation layer close to where most airplanes fly. Air circulates between these two, moving up in the tropics and dropping back down at the poles. The stratosphere contains more ozone that is largely formed at those elevations in the tropics, so if the circulation quickens, then more ozone from the stratosphere would get carried down to the surface.

"There is evidencestrong evidenceshowing that the Brewer-Dobson circulation became stronger during the last glacial maximum," said co-author Qiang Fu, a UW professor of atmospheric sciences. "That means there was less stratospheric ozone in the tropics but more in the high latitudes, and then more ozone going down from the stratosphere to the troposphere."

That's one explanation for why ozone would go up at the surface during cold climates. This shift in circulation would also cause more ultraviolet radiation to hit the tropics, and UV and water vapor are the main drivers for the formation of the other main group of oxidants, the detergents. The ice-age tropics could then become a rich source of detergents, which break down pollution and greenhouses gases like methane.

Close-up of an ice core from Antarctica with a darker layer of volcanic ash. The UW group is now analyzing these samples to see if they show the same trend as the Greenland cores. Credit: Mark Stone/University of Washington

"Traditionally, ice-core methane records have been interpreted solely as a change in the source," Alexander said. "But land-surface models have not been able to simulate the full scale of the change of methane seen in ice cores. That suggests that maybe the lifetime of methane has changed, and the only way to do that is to change the amount of detergent in the atmosphere."

A second possible explanation for the puzzling ozone trend, researchers said, is a less-understood group of oxidants: halogens. These molecules are poorly studied, and it's not fully known how they influence climate, but researchers suspect they could react to affect the levels of other oxidants.

"The largest source of halogens is from sea salt, and we know from ice cores that sea salt is much higher in colder climates," Alexander said. "Sea ice also changes with climate, of course."

The authors suspect that both mechanismsthe high-level circulation and chemical reactions with halogenscould affect oxidants during big swings in Earth's temperature.

"The changes we measured in ozone levels seem to be quite large if you only consider one mechanism at a time, suggesting that they might be acting simultaneously, and not necessarily independently from one another," Alexander said.

More information: Isotopic evidence of multiple controls on atmospheric oxidants over climate transitions, Nature (2017). nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/nature22340 Journal information: Nature
In this Aug. 11, 2006 file photo, passengers en route to London check in at Biarritz airport, southwestern France. U.S. and European officials will discuss Wednesday, May 17, 2017, plans to broaden a U.S. ban on in-flight laptops and tablets to include planes from Europe. (AP Photo/Bob Edme, File)

U.S. and European officials will discuss Wednesday plans to broaden a U.S. ban on in-flight laptops and tablets to include planes from Europe.

The move would create logistical chaos on the world's busiest corridor of air travelas many as 65 million people a year travel between Europe and North American on over 400 daily flights, many of them business travelers who rely on their electronics to work during the flight.

The ban would dwarf in size the current one, which was put in place in March and affects about 50 flights per day from 10 cities, mostly in the Middle East.

Airlines have said it is merely a matter of time before the ban is put in place, but the prospect has alarmed officials in the European Union, who want to know more about any new threats and the disruption such a move would create.

There is also the question of the relative safety of keeping in the cargo area a large number of electronics with lithium batteries, which have been known to catch fire.

Experts say a bomb in the cabin would be easier to make and require less explosive force than one in the cargo hold. Baggage in cargo usually goes through a more sophisticated screening process than carry-on bags.

The original ban on mostly Middle Eastern flights, which Britain also partially adopted and is being considered by Australia, focused on certain countries because their equipment to screen carry-on bags is not as effective as machines in the U.S., analysts say.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security met last week with high-ranking executives of the three leading U.S. airlinesAmerican, Delta and Unitedand the industry's leading U.S. trade group to discuss expanding the laptop policy to flights arriving from Europe.

The airlines still hope to have a say in how the policy is put into effect at airports to minimize inconvenience to passengers. The initial ban on passengers bringing large electronics devices into the cabin hit hardest at Middle Eastern airlines.

Emirates, the Middle East's largest airline, this month cited the ban on electronics as one of the reasons for an 80 percent drop in profits last year. It said the ban had a direct impact on demand for air travel into the U.S. and it faced rising costs from introducing complimentary laptop loans to some passengers.

 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati received the 2022 Adepi Award

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020.

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018.

* IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

* Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013.

* Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011.

2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100.

* Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010.

* Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010.

* Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010.

* Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll.

Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008.
Scientists at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, Florida found Sugar Belle mandarin (shown here) is high in several volatiles and beneficial compounds  known as phenolics. These findings could tell scientists why Sugar Belle mandarin is more tolerant to Huanglongbing, or HLB, also known as citrus greening. Credit: Courtesy, Fred Gmitter, UF/IFAS

While citrus greening disease has blemished the Florida industry, University of Florida scientists have developed a mandarin hybrid that seems to be winning the battle. Now, researchers are learning what makes this fruit a fighter.

UF/IFAS researchers have discovered that a mandarin hybrid developed by colleagues contains cellular activity  known as metabolitesthat makes it more able to fend off greening than most other types of citrus.

That's hopeful news in the state's battle against the disease that's severely damaging Florida's multimillion dollar-a-year industry. It also furthers the evidence that 'LB8-9', also known as Sugar Belle, is a good, greening-tolerant mandarin hybrid. In 2016, Florida citrus nurseries grew more Sugar Belle trees than any other mandarin hybrid except for one, demonstrating grower interest in the variety, said UF/IFAS horticultural sciences professor Fred Gmitter.

From field observation, scientists with UF/IFAS found the Sugar Belle mandarin is less affected by citrus greening than other mandarins, said Nabil Killiny, an assistant professor of plant pathology. Researchers want to know what makes the Sugar Belle resistant.

Killiny's study focused on identifying the chemicals found in Sugar Belle trees that have been shown to fight against diseases in other plants.

Scientists at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, Florida found Sugar Belle mandarin is high in several volatiles and beneficial compounds  known as phenolics. These findings could tell scientists why Sugar Belle mandarin is more tolerant to Huanglongbing, or HLB, also known as citrus greening.

"The results of this study gives more insights about the mechanism behind tolerance of some citrus cultivars to HLB," Killiny said. "Understanding of the mechanisms behind tolerance to HLB could help in developing economically tolerant citrus cultivars."

Researchers tested volatile and non-volatile metabolites of the greenhouse-grown mandarin trees. Among other traits, volatile metabolites emit odors, while non-volatile metabolites do not.

To analyze the metabolites, they used gas chromatography - mass spectrometry and found the Sugar Belle mandarins to be relatively tolerant. Other newly released mandarins should be further evaluated using greenhouse-controlled studies, the paper says. If tolerance of these hybrids is confirmed, they could be used to replace the traditionally susceptible cultivars.

Gmitter and UF/IFAS professor Jude Grosser, co-authors on the new study, developed and released Sugar Belle mandarin in 2009 and say they're very popular with growers. The mandarin hybrida mix of the sweet Clementine and the colorful, bell-shaped Minneolahas a rich taste and strong aroma, Gmitter said. The sweet-tart fruit may be best described as a mandarin with a tangy punch.

Since it spread to the Americas, greening has killed millions of trees and caused a sharp decline in production in many citrus growing regions. Field observations of hybrid citrus, such as the Sugar Belle, showed them to be greening tolerant, the study says.

The study is published in the journal Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

More information: Nabil Killiny et al. Metabolically speaking: Possible reasons behind the tolerance of 'Sugar Belle' mandarin hybrid to huanglongbing, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2017.05.001
MSU-led research shows that monarch butterfly declines are caused by a number of issues. Credit: Illustration by Daniel Greco

Every winter, trees on high mountains in a small area northwest of Mexico City turn orange. Close inspection reveals branches filled with brilliantly colorful monarch butterflies, rather than fiery leaves, as the eastern North American population of monarchs winters there.

Their numbers, however, are shrinking. New research at Michigan State University, published in the current issue of the journal Ecography, makes a strong case that the reasons for this decline go far beyond what's happening on the wintering grounds and addresses a current controversy about the primary causes of the specie's decline.

"We need to think of migratory species at regional scales to truly understand how changes in climate and land use affect population trends," said Elise Zipkin, MSU integrative biologist and co-author. "Global declines in migratory species, including monarchs, suggest that broad-scale conservation action may be necessary to prevent the loss of migratory populations."

In that vein, the research team incorporated features from the butterflies' complex continental movements to study the factors influencing summer populations in Illinois using data from a long-term citizen science monitoring program. Unlike other migratory species, which have distinct summer and winter grounds, monarchs take multiple generations to travel from Mexico to Texas, from Texas to the Midwest, from the Midwest and into Canada, and finally, back from the upper Midwest and Canada to Mexico.

Thus, the numbers of butterflies in small fields in the Midwest are linked to events that happen across the continent, said Sarah Saunders, MSU integrative biologist and lead author.

"The connection between population dynamics from winter to spring to summer is more complex than in other species," she said. "Our study provides the first empirical evidence of a negative association between glyphosate application and local abundance of adult monarch butterflies during 1994-2003, the initial phase of large-scale herbicide adoption in the Midwest."

Glyphosate, a key ingredient found in Roundup and other herbicides, may be a contributing cause of population decline due to its ability to reduce milkweed plants. While milkweed serves as the host plant for monarch eggs, the extent in which milkweed loss affects monarch trends is still controversial, she added.

Along with the impacts of herbicides, the study examined the effect of surrounding crop cover in summer habitat as well as cross-seasonal effects of spring weather fluctuations in Texas and population changes on the wintering grounds in Mexico.

"Butterflies face myriad challenges, and habitat loss and climate change are clearly important pieces of it," Zipkin said. "Our long-term goal is to examine the many stressors on monarchs across all seasons and identify which ones are the most critical. Future research could then offer solutions on how to develop effective conservation strategies."

The team's research could generate answers that eventually help reverse the nearly 20-year decline of monarch butterflies observed in Mexico. It gives hope to anyone, scientists and the public alike, who has ever witnessed the mass of overwintering butterflies in Mexico or cheered a flitting monarch as it traverses vast distances across the United States.

"Migration - whether it's undertaken by the smallest insects or the largest mammals - is a captivating phenomenon," Saunders said. "We hope that our study sheds light on how events and conditions during different stages affect the monarch butterfly's annual cycle as well as provides findings that can inform future conservation efforts."
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

(Phys.org)A team of researchers with Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary has conducted a study regarding how well humans interpret dog growls. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, the group reports on how well volunteers listening to taped dog growls correctly guessed the circumstances behind them.

People have been living with dogs for a very long time, but, the researchers with this new effort wondered, have we learned to understand their communications? Other groups have studied barking in dogs and how people interpret themin this new effort, the researchers sought to learn more about how well we humans understand what dogs are driving at when they growl.

Growling in dogs is generally associated with aggressiveness, though growls are not always threateningdogs often growl as part of their play, for example. To learn more about how well people are able to interpret dog growls, the researchers looked at how well they discern the differences between growls that occur during different activities such as when encountering a stranger (dog or human), defending a bowl of food, or when playing. They obtained recordings of dogs engaging in such activities and then played them individually for a group of volunteersas growls were played, the researchers asked the volunteers to match the growl with a given activity.

In all, the researchers asked 40 volunteers to listen to recordings of 18 dogs growling and to report which activity they felt was involved with each. They report that overall, the volunteers correctly matched the growl with the activity 63 percent of the time, which, they suggest, is well above guesswork. The researchers also found that women were better at reading the growls than men, guessing correctly 65 percent of the time, compared to just 45 percent for men. They also found that people who owned or worked with dogs regularly were better at reading the dog growls than those who did not by a margin of 60 percent to 40 percent. The volunteers were best at recognizing growls during play, but found it difficult to differentiate between growls associated with food guarding versus those associated with threat when encountering another dog.

More information: T. Farago et al. Dog growls express various contextual and affective content for human listeners, Royal Society Open Science (2017). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170134 Abstract

Vocal expressions of emotions follow simple rules to encode the inner state of the caller into acoustic parameters, not just within species, but also in cross-species communication. Humans use these structural rules to attribute emotions to dog vocalizations, especially to barks, which match with their contexts. In contrast, humans were found to be unable to differentiate between playful and threatening growls, probably because single growls' aggression level was assessed based on acoustic size cues. To resolve this contradiction, we played back natural growl bouts from three social contexts (food guarding, threatening and playing) to humans, who had to rate the emotional load and guess the context of the playbacks. Listeners attributed emotions to growls according to their social contexts. Within threatening and playful contexts, bouts with shorter, slower pulsing growls and showing smaller apparent body size were rated to be less aggressive and fearful, but more playful and happy. Participants associated the correct contexts with the growls above chance. Moreover, women and participants experienced with dogs scored higher in this task. Our results indicate that dogs may communicate honestly their size and inner state in a serious contest situation, while manipulatively in more uncertain defensive and playful contexts. Journal information: Royal Society Open Science

 2017 Phys.org
Instagram continued to play copycat to Snapchat, launching on Tuesday its own version of face filters - a feature popularized on Snap Inc.'s app.

The new Instagram tool superimposes adornments such as animal ears, hats, makeup and masks over a person's face on the app. The decorations include a gold crown and a pair of bunny ears reminiscent of Snapchat's offerings, as well as thick-rimmed glasses.

The company also added features such as the ability to play videos in reverse, hashtag stickers that link to a hashtag page, and an eraser brush when using drawing tools.

Instagram originally launched in 2010 as a photo-sharing platform with stylish filters. Facebook bought the company in 2012 for $1 billion. Over the last year, the company has launched features that bear striking resemblance to Snapchat, including Instagram Stories, which lets users share videos that disappear after 24 hours; drawing tools, which allow users to doodle over their photos and videos; and geo-filters, which create a range of location-specific stickers that can be placed on photos and videos.

When asked during Snap Inc.'s first earnings call about copycat competitors, Chief Executive Evan Spiegel said: "At the end of the day, just because Yahoo has a search box doesn't mean they're Google."

Which would be a sick burn, were it not for the fact that Instagram Stories has already surpassed Snapchat usage. Snapchat has 166 million people who use the app every day. Instagram Stories alone has more than 200 million.

The Los Angeles-based Snap Inc. has said its best strategy to stay ahead of imitators is to continue launching new features for users and advertisers. Its latest offerings, announced Monday, include geo-filters that add information such as ZIP Codes, cities, colleges and airports. The company also said it will give advertisers the ability to sponsor "world lenses," an augmented reality feature that superimposes three-dimensional digital objects onto phone screens.

2017 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
It may be hard to imagine that an ad offering "Welder b-tonis" - something with no connection to reality - would get clicks from potential customers.

But in a lawsuit claiming Google rakes in billions of dollars from fraudulent clicks, a business owner claims the hits on two nonsensical ads he created show that click fraud is rampant on Google ads.

Google declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Plaintiff Gurminder Singh of Vacaville, Calif., who is seeking class-action status for his suit, said he had been paying Google for online advertising since 2008, but early last year he began to suspect his ads were being "fraudulently manipulated" by third parties. An unusual number of clicks led to no "conversion," or follow-through, such as an online purchase or a call to a business, Singh claimed.

"Plaintiff's suspicions regarding the propriety of the clicks on his AdWords ads were based on an increase in a number of total clicks on each ad coupled with a decrease in the number of attendant conversions associated with the overall increase," the lawsuit said.

Singh said he had started advertising with Google after he learned through his research that the Mountain View digital-advertising powerhouse "promises to protect consumers from fraudulent clicks."

Fake clicks are a problem for advertisers, who get charged by Google according to the number of times an ad is clicked.

Fraudulent clicks may originate from competitors hoping to drive up rivals' costs, or from the owners of websites publishing pay-per-click ads, who make more money the more those ads are clicked.

The lawsuit points toward "click farms" - groups of workers paid very little to click on ads - and "click bots," or software programs that do the clicking.

Google, Singh said in his complaint, told customers that it catches the "vast majority" of invalid clicks, and that fake clicks accounted for fewer than 10 percent of all AdWords hits.

However, he claimed, "Google has a very limited incentive to reduce third-party click fraud, because it, like the third-party website publisher, benefits from each additional click, even if such click is fraudulent."

Google's failure to deal with click fraud "has increased its profits by billions each and every year," Singh claimed.

To test whether there was substance behind his suspicions, Singh designed an experiment in which he twice created both a real ad and a gibberish ad and compared the number of clicks received.

Results for his ad touting "Excellent Graphic Designs Local USA Artist Designs Custom Made Wedding Invites" were compared to those from "Welder b-tonis Welders we'll take your left over B-tonis and produce nice designs."

The real ad got 68 clicks, the fake ad 64, delivering a fraudulent click rate of 48 percent, Singh claimed.

Google, on a web page about invalid clicks, says it uses automated systems to filter them out, and investigates any complaints from advertisers.

"Clicks that are deemed to be invalid by our online monitoring systems are discarded in real time and these discarded clicks are not charged to advertisers," Google says.

"When invalid activity is found through offline analysis and reactive investigation, we mark those clicks as invalid and issue credits to any advertisers affected by this activity."

Singh had filed the lawsuit in July. This month he learned that San Jose U.S. District Court Judge Beth Freeman wasn't going to allow his experiment as evidence. In a hearing May 11 in which Google sought to have the case dismissed, Freeman said she'd never had a case where a plaintiff introduced such an experiment, and that it wouldn't fly in any court, Law360 reported.

Google's lawyer, in attempting to get the case spiked permanently, said none of the company's statements were misleading or deceptive, and that the figure of 10 percent for invalid clicks was based on Google's historical experience, according to Law360.

But Freeman elected to give Singh another chance, saying that in an amended complaint he "could find out how many (invalid-click claims from advertisers) Google processes, and then compare those numbers to experts' estimates to try to determine if a significant portion of click fraud is being passed on to advertisers."

In 2006, Google settled a class action lawsuit by agreeing to pay up to $90 million after claims it had, because of click fraud, overcharged thousands of advertisers.

2017 The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The iDiv Ecotron, a central experiment platform of the DFG Research Centre iDiv. Credit: Tilo Arnhold, iDiv

Bad Lauchstadt. The iDiv Ecotron, a central experimental platform of the DFG Research Centre iDiv, was officially launched during a ceremony last Wednesday. Researchers will use this unique facility to better understand the consequences of species loss. The iDiv Ecotron will enable investigations into the interactions within food webs among plants, animals, microbes and the soil under controlled conditions in 24 experimental chambers. Over 3.7 million euros have been invested into this modern platform, which is operated jointly by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and is anticipated to bridge the gap between simple laboratory experiments and complex ecosystem approaches. The iDiv Ecotron enriches the field research station of the UFZ in Bad Lauchstadt, which is gaining national and international stature as an ecological research station due to the cooperation between the UFZ and iDiv.

Basic research of high societal relevance

Many human activities are causing species loss. According to a number of estimates, numerous species of invertebrates are becoming extinct daily. Yet, what does this mean for the functioning of ecosystems? The following is clear: high species diversity has a positive effect on numerous functions of ecosystems. Thus, for example, a large number of plant species increases the production of biomass such as hay and wood, or the storage of climate-impacting carbon in the soil. This is demonstrated by experiments from various research platforms such as the Jena Experiment or the Biodiversity Exploratories of the German Research Foundation, which also involve researchers from iDiv and UFZ.

Little is known, however, about the role of small herbivores (e.g. snails or caterpillars), predators (e.g. ladybirds or spiders) or animals that live underground (e.g. earthworms or nematodes) and micro-organisms (e.g. bacteria or fungi). We know that these organisms play an important role in the food web and have a positive influence on many functions of ecosystems. Pollinators like bees and bumblebees, for example, are indispensable for the reproduction of many plant species. Other insects such as ants help plants spread their seeds. Decomposers such as earthworms and soil micro-organisms recycle nutrients for plant growth. But such dependencies between different food web components have, so far, been investigated in closer detail in only a few cases. Researchers plan to use the new research platform to change this. The iDiv Ecotron has been designed to find out how the disappearance of species at different locations of the food web impacts the functioning of ecosystems. This fundamental biological research has far-reaching economic relevance: functioning ecosystems are the basis for a series of so-called ecosystem services such as the provision of clean drinking water, food, and energy sources, which nature provides to people. UFZ scientists estimate that insects benefit the global economy in the realm of approximately 150 billion euros per year, just by pollinating cultivated plants in agriculture. Until now, it has been very difficult to make such estimates for other animals or micro-organisms.

The iDiv Ecotron, a central experiment platform of the DFG Research Centre iDiv. Credit: Tilo Arnhold, iDiv

How many losses can ecosystems cope with?

If many species are present, this has positive effects on ecosystems. But what happens when certain species disappear from complex food webs? Can their function be taken over by other species? How many losses can ecosystems take? The iDiv Ecotron chambers carefully examine the food web in all its complexity. In addition, researchers can replace or entirely remove certain animal and plant species in the closed systems. "We can examine, for example, the interplay and the interactions among different species above and below the soil", explains Prof. Nico Eisenhauer (iDiv and Leipzig University), who manages the facility. "Similar to a climate chamber, which simulates the warmer climate of the future, the iDiv Ecotron enables us to look at a future world which contains fewer species."

Key issues of coexistence

In doing so, Eisenhauer and his colleagues wish to investigate three key issues:

The iDiv Ecotron, a central experiment platform of the DFG Research Centre iDiv. Credit: Tilo Arnhold, iDiv

Does the complexity of the interactions between the species affect the functions of an ecosystem? How dependent are ecosystem functions on the relationships between aboveground and belowground organisms and processes? What are the impacts of global change on biodiversity, interaction networks and ecosystem functions? These environmental issues are of far-reaching importance. The German Research Foundation (DFG) has, for that reason, funded the facility with roughly three million euros and is financing two employees. Also involved financially, the UFZ has modernised the hall of the iDiv Ecotron for three-quarters of a million euros and is financing one employee.

A unique high-tech facility

The goal of the experimental chambers is to explore ecosystem functions by manipulating complex animal and plant communities. The environmental conditions must be as constant as possible to avoid disruptive events, which could distort the results. The 24 chambers are therefore all structurally identical and deploy extensive technology, which sets and adjusts the light, temperature and precipitation. That means that, for the first time, it will be possible to manipulate aboveground and belowground communities and their interactions on relevant spatial scales. The "EcoUnits" are experimental chambers, which consist of a bottom section filled with soil, a top section, and a technical section, and stand 1.55 x 1.55 metres wide and 3.20 metres high. Each "EcoUnit" can be divided into up to four largely independent compartments, due to aboveground partition walls and underground steel cylinders (lysimeters). All chambers are equipped with extensive technology. This includes, for example, cameras that observe the interactions between animals and plants. "Because such a facility has not yet been built, we have invested a lot of time over the past years in developing and optimising the technology together with the manufacturers. In some areas, we had to enter uncharted territory, which has often not been easy. We're so much happier that everything is now running and the scientific experiments can finally start", reported Dr. Manfred Turke from the iDiv and Leipzig University, who is coordinating the work at the facility. After the pilot phase, the facility will also be made available to external scientists. A commission will decide on proposals and applications and allocate the capacities - as is customary for large-scale scientific research equipment of international importance.

Bad Lauchstadt as an internationally renowned research station

The iDiv Ecotron enriches the field research station of the UFZ in Bad Lauchstadt, which is gaining in national and international stature as an ecological research station due to the cooperation between the UFZ and iDiv. In addition to a multitude of experiments in soil and biodiversity research at this location, since 2013 the UFZ has operated a globally unique outdoor experiment known as the Global Change Experimental Facility (GCEF), in which a seven-hectare test area is used to examine the impact of climate change on different forms of land use. "The research station in Bad Lauchstadt, with a total area of about 40 hectares, has in recent years already made a name for itself among ecologists, thanks to the highly varied range of experiments. The station is now getting a further boost thanks to its collaboration with iDiv. "And actually, many experiments have only just started", says a delighted Prof. Francois Buscot, who as head of the UFZ department of soil ecology is jointly responsible for the research station of the UFZ in Bad Lauchstadt, and is also Deputy Director of iDiv. Three platforms are among the new experiments: the MyDiv tree diversity experiment, the NutNet global research initiative to examine changes in nutrient availability and Drought-Net, the global network to examine the effects of extreme drought. With immediate effect, the iDiv Ecotron will complement these field experiments in Bad Lauchstadt and enrich biodiversity research in central Germany.

Provided by German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Credit: Public Domain

As the cyber-attack continues to spread around the globe causing massive disruption and damages for universities, hospitals, automakers and many other businesses including FedEx, only one thing is certain: It won't be the last.

That's because the cyber criminals are running a multibillion enterprise with the help of ultra-sophisticated tools, said Yuri Frayman, co-founder and CEO of Aventura-based cybersecurity company Zenedge. The company, which launched in 2014 after two years of development, helps companies worldwide protect their web applications and networks against cyber-attacks with its proprietary technology.

"If this was not a wake-up call to the corporate world, I don't know what needs to happen next," said Frayman, offering his view from the trenches. "About 220,000 companies have been hit, and this is just what we know. We are seeing a massive disruption in the network operations across the globe," said Frayman, in an interview Monday.

None of the firms his company protects have reported any disruptions from the so-called "WannaCry" ransomware virus, he said. But as the attack has unfolded, Zenedge has been talking with industry security specialists around the globe about how they are mitigating the damage and seeking to stabilize large infrastructure companies.

What really worries Frayman is what comes next in this attack, and ones to follow.

Companies such as FedEx will throw everything at this problem in the next three or four days at an unbelievable cost, said Frayman, who has himself been expecting a FedEx delivery for the past two days. But less-sophisticated firms may may not even know a virus lurks in their system.

A second problem, he said, is the massive shortage of cyber-security experts. The enemies are hackers who are "years ahead."

Telecommuting also creates risk. "Ninety-eight percent of the world population doesn't know if their home has been hacked. If I have your home, I can hack your corporate environment. Many people around the world work from home, and that is another black hole that is ready to explode."

The solutionbeyond turning off the internetis commitment to vigilance, he said. Generally, the largest financial services companies are very proactive, appropriating the proper budget, staff and training and putting key processes in place. But "take a step outside of that and you will see across the board that corporations have not taken this seriously."

Hiring a chief security officer is not enough, he said. "It's not about buying cyber insurance and hiring a couple of peopleit's about discipline."

Having a dedicated staff and/or vendors whose single task is to secure and protect the company is key. So is continual staff training.

"You can't just be clicking anymore ... . Hackers are using very sophisticated tools to mimic regular emails you get every single day," he said. If you click on one that downloads a virus, it eventually could discover the system administration credentials. "Once (the hackers) know those, they can do whatever they want."

Zenedge currently has about 250 clients spanning the financial, ecommerce, gaming, healthcare and manufacturing industries worldwide and also protects large internet service providers. The company raised $6.2 million in September to finance its global expansion; in total it has raised $13.7 million in venture capital funding.

"Every single attack, every single malware, we take it apart, and we train our algorithyms to be able to pick up the behavior of an attacker," he said. "If you train a computer to think like a human, then you can protect as many customers as we do without a need for a human interaction."

2017 Miami Herald

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A white oak (Quercus alba) in the summer. Credit: (c) The Morton Arboretum

Research published this week in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences solves a mystery that has long shrouded our understanding of white oaks: where did they come from? The approximately 125 white oak species in the Americas and 25 in Eurasiaincluding the massive bur oak of American prairies and savannas, the valley oak of California and the eponymous white oak of eastern North American forestsare important in forests and savannas throughout much of the northern hemisphere. Yet, despite their economic and ecological importance, not much was known about the evolutionary history of the white oak group until now.

This paper, co-authored by Andrew Hipp of The Morton Arboretum and Paul Manos and John McVay of Duke University, reveals for the first time that Europe and east Asia have eastern North America to thank for their white oaks. Coupling genomic data with fossil records and novel analytical methods, the research suggests that the Eurasian white oaks arose from a North American ancestor that migrated to Europe, perhaps by way of the North Atlantic land bridge. This is a story that has long been hidden by ancient hybridization among the Eurasian white oaks. The research implements new analytical tools to tease apart hybridization from evolutionary history to tell the full white oak story.

The study, funded by a collaborative four-year National Science Foundation grant to five institutions led by The Morton Arboretum, also shows that two oak species found on opposite ends of the globe, the Armenian oak (Quercus pontica) found in the Caucasus mountains and Sadler's oak (Quercus sadleriana) of California and Oregon, are each other's closest relatives. These species, the authors argue, are the last remnants of a widespread white oak lineage that stretched at least from Europe to the Pacific Northwest, of which all are extinct except for these two species.

"Understanding even the most basic questionshow many oak species are there? Where do they live?rests on our understanding of oak evolution," said study co-author Andrew Hipp of The Morton Arboretum. "This is the first paper to conclusively separate the role of gene flow and divergence to recover a holistic portrait of the white oak tree of life. It is a crucial step toward understanding why white oaks became so important to the ecology of temperate forests and savannas in the northern hemisphere."

The importance of oaks

White oaks are just one of many types of more than 450 species of oaks which live around the world. Considered a keystone species, oaks support our planet's ecosystem like very few other tree species do. These stately trees are fundamental to the health of our forests, providing critical food, habitat and shelter for animals, birds and insects, and have the highest amount of biomass compared to any other tree species in the forest, working harder to clean our air than many of their fellow tree species. In the Chicago region alone, oak ecosystems provide more than $2 billion worth of flood control and other water management services.

Today, oaks need our help. Around the world, due to pests, disease, forest loss and low rates of reproduction, oak forests are now a fraction of what they once were, upsetting the delicate balance of our forest ecosystems and leaving humans without their benefits. With only 17 percent of ancient oak forest area remaining in the Chicago region and similar oak loss throughout the world, human intervention is critical to ensure we don't lose this important species.

More information: John D. McVay et al, A genetic legacy of introgression confounds phylogeny and biogeography in oaks, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0300 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Provided by The Morton Arboretum
A new genomic study on southern Mediterranean reveals a genetic continuity across geographic and national borders. The map shows the sampling locations included in the study, with presence of Albanian, Greek or Italian languages. Credit: Sarno et al. DOI 10.1038/s41598-017-01802-4.

The Mediterranean Sea has represented one of the most important crossroads in human history, acting both as a barrier and a bridge between three continents and multiple human groups characterized by different genetic and cultural backgrounds. Despite this complex history and despite modern national borders, there is a shared Mediterranean genetic continuity, extending from Sicily to Cyprus, where the populations of certain Greek-speaking islands appear genetically closer to Southern Italian populations than to populations from continental Greece. This is a central finding of a new study published in Scientific Reports, co-authored by Chiara Barbieri, researcher from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, coordinated by the Human Biodiversity and Population Genomics group at the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA) of the University of Bologna, and funded by the National Geographic Society.

The study describes the genetic fingerprints of the Mediterranean people with high-density genomic markers and a wide sample of modern populations from Sicily and Southern Italy. Their genetic profiles were analyzed to reconstruct the combination of ancestry components and the demographic history of the region. As one would expect, populations inhabiting the southeastern shores of Europe are the result of a complex, multi-layered history. One of these layers corresponds to a shared genetic background, extending from Sicily to Cyprus and involving Crete, the Aegean islands and Anatolia. "This shared Mediterranean ancestry possibly traces back to prehistoric times, as the result of multiple migration waves, with peaks during the Neolithic and the Bronze Age," says Stefania Sarno, researcher from the University of Bologna and lead author of the study. Apparently, the ancient Greek expansions (during the Magna Graecia foundation) were only one of the last events in a long history of East-West movements, where the Mediterranean Sea served as a preferential crossroads for the circulation of genes and cultures.

A new perspective for the diffusion of Indo-European languages

One of the most intriguing layers hidden in the Mediterranean genetic landscape involves an important Bronze Age contribution from a Caucasus (or Caucasus-like) source, accompanied by the virtual absence of the typical "Pontic-Caspian" genetic component from the Asian steppe. The latter is a very characteristic genetic signal well represented in North-Central and Eastern Europe, which previous studies associated with the introduction of Indo-European languages to the continent. "These new genomic results from the Mediterranean open a new chapter for the study of the prehistoric movements behind the diffusion of the most represented language family in Europe. The spread of these languages in the Southern regions, where Indo-European languages like Italian, Greek and Albanian are spoken nowadays, cannot be explained with the major contribution from the steppe alone," adds Chiara Barbieri from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena.

The statues of the Bronzi di Riace (Riace's warriors) from the 5th century BC, found in the province of Reggio Calabria, became one of the symbols of the Greek presence in Southern Italy. (Museo nazionale della Magna Grecia, Reggio Calabria). Credit: Public Domain

Linguistic and cultural isolates

The current genetic study also focuses on more recent historical layers that contributed to the present-day genetic makeup of the populations sampled, in particular in the cases of long-standing, non-Italian-speaking communities in Italy. For example, mainland Greece and Albania seem to have acquired additional genetic contributions during historic times, most likely related to the Slavic migrations in the Balkans. This recent Balkan genetic ancestry is still evident in some ethno-linguistic minorities of Sicily and Southern Italy, such as the Albanian-speaking Arbereshe. The Arbreshe migrated from Albania to Italy at the end of the Middle Ages and experienced geographic and cultural isolation, which played a part in their distinctive genetic composition. A different case study is that of Greek-speaking communities from Southern Italy. The genetic features of these groups are compatible with the antiquity of their settlement and with a high cultural permeability with neighboring populations, combined with drift and effects of geographic isolation, as in the case of Calabrian Greeks. "The study of linguistic and cultural isolates in Italy proved to be important to understand our history and our demography," says Alessio Boattini, geneticist and anthropologist from the University of Bologna. "The cases of the Albanian- and Greek-speaking communities of Southern Italy help to shed light into the formation of these cultural and linguistic identities."

The origin of the Indo-European coincides with the Anatolian hypothesis according to quantitative lexical reconstructions. Credit: Bouckaert et al. DOI: 10.1126/science.342.6165.1446-a Science

"Overall, the study illustrates how both genetic and cultural viewpoints can inform our knowledge of the complex dynamics behind the formation of our Mediterranean heritage, especially in contexts of extensive - both geographically and temporally - admixture," says Davide Pettener, professor of Anthropology from the University of Bologna. "These results," adds Prof. Donata Luiselli, who co-led the project, "will be further developed in future studies integrating data from other disciplines, in particular linguistics, archeology and palaeogenomics, with the study of ancient DNA from archaeological remains."

More information: Stefania Sarno et al, Ancient and recent admixture layers in Sicily and Southern Italy trace multiple migration routes along the Mediterranean, Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01802-4 Journal information: Scientific Reports , Science
Jordan's King Abdullah II (L) attends the launch of The International Centre for Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME), an international research centre northwest of Amman, on May 16, 2017

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday formally launched an international research centre whose members include experts from around the world including arch-rivals Iran and Israel.

The International Centre for Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East, known by the acronym SESAME, "is the first research centre of its kind in the region," said the royal court.

The facility, located in Balqa province, just northwest of Amman, "will house the first nuclear-powered accelerator in the world," said SESAME council president Chris Llewellyn Smith.

"The centre is expected to attract a large number of scientists from the region," Smith said, adding it had "so far received 55 scientific research projects on the use of nuclear accelerators".

SESAME was set up on the model of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)Europe's top physics laboratoryand construction work on the $100 million centre started in 2003.

It was developed under the auspices of UNESCO and officially came into existence in April 2004.

Jordan was chosen from among five countries for the project, which was funded mostly by the member countries and the European Union.

The project's website says that SESAME is a "third-generation" synchrotron light source aimed at promoting "scientific and technological excellence in the Middle East".

Its mission is to "prevent or reverse the brain drain by enabling world-class scientific research in subjects ranging from biology, archaeology and medical sciences."

SESAME also seeks to "build scientific and cultural bridges between diverse societies, and contribute to a culture of peace through international cooperation in science," the website says.

Among the project's members are arch-rivals Israel and Iran, in addition to Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority.

Despite their deep hostilities, experts from Israel and Iran have served two-year terms as vice presidents of the SESAME council.

In 2010, one Iranian member of SESAME, Majid Shahriari, was killed in Tehran, with Iran accusing Israel of assassinating the nuclear scientist.

Seyed Mahmoud Reza Aghamiri served as vice president from December 2011 to May 2014 when Eliezer Rabinovici, a physics professor at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, replaced him.

Members Cyprus and Turkey also do not have diplomatic relations, like Iran and Israel.

The centre also has 17 observers, who have an advisory role and include the European Union, China and the United States.

The Jordanian king was given a tour of the facility on Tuesday and was briefed on the technology used there, the royal court said in a statement.

Synchrotron uses a high-resolution X-ray to delve below the surface and identify minute details.

The centre has three accelerators that can propel electrons up to 2.5 billion electron volts.

The chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Agency, Khaled Toukan, "pointed to the political, technical and financial challenges that faced the project's task force," the statement added.

 2017 AFP
Abdulrahman al-Rashed, the former General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel, wrote an op-ed for Al Arabiya in which he asserted that the policies of the Trump administration have surprised and angered extremists (especially in Iran) because they cannot predict his next move and this leaves them two steps behind.

He wrote: I believe nothing has angered extremists, be them regimes or organized radical groups, as much as the policies of US President Donald Trump has done.

He argues that Trumps stark contrast to the policies of former President Barack Obama are working in the USs favour in relation to Iran, especially considering his recent mission in Iraq and Syria, and Yemen; three places that Iran is heavily involved in.

Some within the current administration have argued that Trump would be constrained by the nuclear deal, but he is finding ways around that.

al-Rashed wrote: His Government had [expected] to respect the deal and insisted that Tehran should abide by its strict implementation. Trump did not want to be controlled by the deal.

Others have argued that Trump would wildly discriminate against Muslim-majority countries, because of his call for all Muslims to be banned from entering the US and his subsequent travel bans, but he has reached out to the USs middle-eastern allies and his first state visit will be to Saudi Arabia later this month.

A key topic of conversation during that meeting will be Irans expansionist qualities, especially regarding Iraq and Syria, Irans intimidation of foreign ships in the Persian Gulf and Irans illegal arms smuggling to Yemeni or Bahraini militias in violation of international law.

al-Rashed wrote: President Trump is determined to deal with terrorism, not only as a security issue but as an integral political movement. He surprised everyone with his project and actions that began when he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the White House; a program was drawn up to determine the allies he plans to cooperate with.

It appears that Donald Trump, who wants to take down ISIS and foster peace in the Middle East, wants to work with US allies to achieve his goals.

al-Rashed wrote: We are witnessing a collective project, Muslim governments and individuals are involved in it, and that is the difference. Trumps policy lies in transferring responsibilities to the international community, especially to Muslim countries. This is the right step, instead of dropping the accusations through the media and be limited to security pursuits.
We are living through an incredibly exciting period for prosthetics. A pioneering brain computer interface that will allow veterans to control artificial body parts with their minds was recently announced by researchers in Virginia in the US. Meanwhile, Newcastle University in the UK is developing limbs which "see" objects in front of them and react at speeds more comparable with the real thing.

Projects like these are steadily helping people with prostheses to move more naturally and easily than ever before. But what few people appreciate is just how far back this field actually goes.

If you were thinking a couple of hundred years, or maybe since the medieval era, you wouldn't even be close. Amputations and prostheses date back to ancient times, and saw advances that were heralded as no less life-changing then as they are today. It's a fascinating story of gods, gladiators and the limits of human endurance that adds a whole other dimension to understanding this discipline.

Prosthetics begins

Warfare was not kind to the bodies of soldiers in Ancient Greece and Rome. It has been estimated that in Ancient Greece, about 80% of seriously wounded soldiers died on the day of battle. Of the remaining 20%, a third died of their injuries after returning home. It is not easy to make direct comparisons with modern times, but these figures are certainly likely to be much higher.

Whether survivors in the ancient era were injured in battle by a blade, spear or missile, or in camp by frostbite or trench foot, their arms, legs and extremities were incredibly vulnerable. In Ancient Greece, they benefited from simple surgical amputations as far back as the late fifth or early fourth century BC. The Hippocratic treatise On Joints attests to rudimentary amputations of fingers, toes, hands and feet, but cautions against amputating an entire arm or leg.

Around the same time, orthopaedic surgery had refined to the point that prostheses were starting to become available as alternatives to staffs, sticks and crutches. We see this in the account of the Graeco-Persian War (499-449BC) by the historian Herodotus, for instance. Herodotus recounts how the Persian diviner Hegesistratus, when imprisoned by the Spartans, amputated part of his own foot to escape his shackles, then procured a wooden replacement.

Egypt was using similar technology around the same period. Prosthetic toes made from wood or layers of fibre known as cartonnage have been recovered from burial sites, such as the one from a mummy near Luxor pictured below. They show signs of wear and tear, indicating that they were functional rather than purely cosmetic.

Surgical techniques advanced considerably during the Hellenistic period (323-31BC), the last era before Greek dominance gave way to Rome. These advances were thanks to medical practitioners at the Museion and Library in Alexandria making in-depth anatomy studies by dissecting and even vivisecting criminals sentenced to death.

False toe on mummy found near Luxor. Credit: Egyptian Museum

This improved their understanding of the circulatory system and led them to discover that blood vessels could be tied off to prevent bleeding, which meant that amputations could be done slowly and carefully. There was less risk that the patient would die of blood loss, and stumps were now more amenable to prosthesis use.

It is unlikely to be a coincidence that prostheses advanced at the same time. An artificial leg recovered from a tomb in Capua in southern Italy, dated to the late fourth or early third century BC, had a wooden core covered in bronze sheeting. This was held in place by a leather and bronze belt, which would have made movement easier.

Another example is the Roman general Marcus Sergius Silus. He lost his right hand during the Second Punic War (218-201BC), which was fought between the Romans and Hannibal of Carthage in latterday Tunisia. But rather than retire, Silus procured an iron hand which he subsequently used to bear his shield, transferring his sword to his left hand instead.

Then and now

Surviving examples like these indicate that extremity prostheses were designed, commissioned, and manufactured to an individual's specific preferences. The same artisans that produced personalised armour and weapons likely produced personalised prostheses for wounded veterans.

Considering the ancient association of disabled people with crafts such as metalwork  epitomised by the Greek god Hephaistos and his Roman counterpart Vulcan  artisans may even have drawn on their own experiences of impairment to inspire their creations. Soldiers like Silus would duly have been able to defy their societies' expectations and continue to play significant roles at moments of historical significance.

We historians do have to speculate here to some extent: we don't know how soldiers acquired their prostheses, since medical treatises do not mention these procedures. Yet it seems probable that the technology improved due to the horrors of war  just as today's advances are partly a response to the unprecedented levels of multiple traumatic injuries that soldiers suffered in Afghanistan and Iraq. And then as now, prostheses were collaborative efforts between medics, technologists and artists.

After the ancient era, prostheses barely improved until the 16th century. That was when Ambroise Pare, the royal surgeon to four successive French kings, invented mechanical versions including knees and fingers capable of bending somewhat like the real thing.

So when we see the latest prostheses giving veterans an incomparable quality of life or helping athletes to achieve amazing things at the Paralympics, it is worth reflecting on the distance travelled. We have been trying to make amends for humanity's worst tendencies for 25 centuries. Long may such advances continue to be a vital consolation.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
The finished ModRoof material is installed on a home in Gomtipur, an area in the city of Ahmedabad. Credit: ReMaterials

How do you help someone thousands of miles away in an Indian slum fix their roof, or someone in the African urban jungle access cervical cancer screening? You might think of sending some money, or perhaps supporting some charitable agencies. But in recent years a new solution has emergedone that empowers as it helps people solve their own problems. The latest kind of engineering being explored at UC Berkeley helps those in the lowest resource areas of the world by finding ways to solve big problems without needing big resources. This rapidly evolving field is called development engineering, the core concept of which is helping others help themselves. While traditional aid imports finite resources that require an agency to distribute and maintain, development engineering finds new ways for a community to use their resources, knowledge, and people-power in solving their problems. After all, who is more motivated to solve a problem than those affected by it?

UC Berkeley's long history of philanthropic work has paved the way for engineering solutions in some of the world's most difficult living conditions. Founded in 2006, the Blum Center for Developing Economies is an interdisciplinary hub that supports and trains scholars across UC Berkeley to apply their skills to helping those who need it most. The development engineering program at UC Berkeley offers practical courses aimed at helping diverse teams of engineers, data scientists, entrepreneurs, and many other specialists figure out new ways of making life better with technology and ideas.

One such class is headed by the Roscoe and Elizabeth Hughes Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Alice Agogino, also the chair of the Development Engineering Graduate Group. "Development engineering is about using ideas and technology to help solve challenging problems using an interdisciplinary approach that builds on and contributes to a research foundation," says Agogino, who teaches the project-based development engineering seminar course for graduate students. "Solutions have to be self-sustaining. It's about understanding the whole situation," she explains.

To empower a community to use the resources they have on hand, development engineers must get into the nuances of the everyday lives of those they aid. Development engineering uses analysis, user research, and design methodology to come up with solutions and then test those solutions to make sure they really work. Development engineers' solutions are created with first-hand input from people immersed in the community. Exploring the locals' knowledge and skills enable development engineers to find scalableand sustainablesolutions.

VIA screening traditionally relies on community doctors or local medical staff to screen for cervical cancer. Development engineers created a kit, called Visualize, that teaches anyone how to use the VIA screen. This kit allows local midwives to screen for cervical cancer. Image by Ashley Truxal. Credit: University of California - Berkeley

Helping others help themselves

Self-help is not a new idea. As low-resource countries' economies and populations have grown, some have noted the danger of relying on aid. Providing aid without sufficient support for the community to be involved in solving problems poses the risk of losing rich cultural and social abilities; to avoid this, communities can be supported to invest in themselves by using their unique resources, talent, and cultural knowledge.

At UC Berkeley's Center for Effective Global Action, ideas about small changes in habits that could have big impacts on health are being developed. Professor David Levine, the Eugene E. and Catherine M. Trefethen Professor of the Haas School of Business, is an expert in sanitation who uses development engineering approaches to improve the health of children in low-resource countries. Levine works on a range of projects, from helping communities adopt improved cooking stoves that use widely-available wood fuel to writing children's books that promote the importance of good hygiene. One of Levine's ongoing projects is reducing the transmission of disease through handwashing at schools. His recent children's book, King Akbar Writes a Law, is a colorful and fun read and carries the serious message that handwashing is critical to staying healthy. "Things like handwashing are really important," Levine says. "We're working on how we get the entire health intervention to work for everyone when it's hard to change bad habits. Part of what I do is to help people to change their behavior every day, like handwashing." Some low-cost and low-tech solutions to promote handwashing have been found, such as reusing water bottles as soapy water dispensers. But just providing a physical item is not a complete solutionto be effective, solutions must cause lasting change in how everyday life is lived. "Providing a soapy bottle is easy," Levine says. "Changing behavior is not easy. Changing daily norms of millions of peoplethat's hard."

Healthcare at the heart of communities

Development engineering can also empower communities to solve challenging health problems where outside aid and experts are in short supply. In many places around the world, a lack of affordable medical services has significant impacts on women and children. In particular, reproductive health is often difficult to address without resources. For example, cervical cancer can be identified in its early stages with a Pap test, greatly improving a patient's chance of survival. Despite this effective screen, nearly a quarter of a million women die from cervical cancer annually, and nearly 85 percent of these deaths occur in low- and lower-middle income countries without routine screening. A new, low-cost screening method known as VIA (visual inspection with acetic acid) enables cervical cancer screening with only simple medical equipment, and local medical staff can be trained to screen women in their communities. One the most beneficial aspects of the VIA screening method is that it only requires acetic acid, which is readily accessible as store-bought table vinegar, and medical staff only require basic training to visually detect precancerous cells. By detecting these precancerous cells early, women in low-resource countries can move closer to having health equality and can be more likely to get needed treatment in time to save their lives.

The ModRoof precursor material is tested for its structural integrity in a UC Berkeley engineering lab. Credit: Ryan Forster

Recently, a team of development engineers has been working to enable women to monitor their cervical health even without trained medical staff. The UC Berkeley team is led by Julia Kramer, a graduate student in the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, who co-founded Visualize, a project to design and implement training for VIA cervical cancer screening in Africa. What began as immersive research project in Ghana led to an idea to empower local women by training midwives to screen for cervical cancer. While several organizations have worked to bring VIA cervical cancer screening to rural communities, none have taken the novel approach of empowering midwives. Midwives are traditional providers of reproductive healthcare in these communities, and by developing a technology to train them in the VIA screening methods, women can effectively help other women prevent cancer.

Making a lot from a little

Development engineering goes beyond technology for health and sanitationit can also solve problems such as acquiring housing materials for slums where money and resources are tight. A recent example of this is a project to help improve the low-cost housing materials widely used within the slums of India. Ahmedabad, in India's Gujarat state, has miles of dense, urban shanty housing built by families from limited local resources. Using sheet metal, bricks, plastic tarps, and any other available materials, families work together to build their own homes. Due to the lack of proper building materials, space and infrastructure, these homes often have no power, running water, or adequate roofing to keep out monsoon rains. While corrugated iron sheets are the go-to material to roof homes, they make it breathlessly hot during the 50C (122F) days, don't retain heat through the night, and constantly rust. With plenty of rainfall and no materials to weatherproof houses, rust quickly creates holes in the sheet metal roofs, which is replaced by yet more rusting sheet metal.

Despite limited resources, Ahmedabad's residents are highly skilled at making the most of the materials at hand and are actively empowering themselves to make their communities better. The narrow, winding miles of slums are a vibrant community full of energy, and residents work to support their families and have a rich cultural life of festivals, family life, and the everyday business of living. The powerhouse of these communities are the hardworking women who not only care for their families, but often use their local knowledge and resources to fix their homes themselves. Despite their ingenuity and support from their families, once they have paid for food, cooking fuel, and other necessities, few can afford expensive housing materials. Residents often are forced to buy cheap corrugated iron for their roofs, getting trapped in a cycle of need and lack of resources.

So how did development engineering help build better homes? In this case, working with the Blum Center for Development at UC Berkeley, a team of engineers, scientists, epidemiologists, and graduate students from many disciplines came together to work on a project with real potential: ModRoofs. The project was created by ReMaterials, founded by Hasit Ganatra, an engineer who decided the unfit cement and corrugated and metal sheets widely used for roofing materials had to go. Working with fellow engineer Lisa von Rabenau, ReMaterials has invested time in talking to the real expertsthe residents of the Ahmedabad slums. Together with the locals, ReMaterials found a widely available resource that could be used to solve the roofing materials problem: cardboard. Once the paper-based packaging has been used, it's often discarded, ending up being disposed of as solid waste. Ahmedabad is one of the engines of industrial and financial growth of India's Gujarat state; while making significant progress toward their aim of achieving zero-waste, the state is actively seeking to improve its ability to recycle solid waste, like cardboard. With this information, ReMaterials developed a new roofing material made from recycled cardboard.

Credit: University of California - Berkeley

With support from United States aid agencies and UC Berkeley, the project has figured out how to turn waste into building resources, and most importantly, hand over ownership and production of the roofing material to the residents of Ahmedabad. This novel roofing material recycles readily available cardboard to create tough, waterproof, and long-lasting roofing tiles, which are manufactured by local residents using technology and equipment available at the location. The large, brightly colored tiles are a desirable and stylish option in a world of rusty metal, and they are designed to be modular so they can be purchased one-by-one as a home is expanded over time. This is a key part of ensuring the solution is actually accessible to local residents: as families expand their homes over time and within their means, they can improve the roof tile-by-tile. Families can update their housing the way they want, when they want, and without breaking the bank.

Using development engineering concepts, ReMaterials has created a sustainable model of value, employment, and self-help, with local women entrepreneurs trained in how to manufacture the tiles from waste cardboard so they have control of their own working space and decisions. By using the development engineering approach, the solution to rusty roofs recycles waste and is both realistic and sustainable.

Creating sustainable businesses that solve problems as they serve the community are some of the most innovative ways of improving life in low-resource countries. Clean water for all is one of the most important health goals for all nations, and new approaches to this age-old problem can result in improvements, even in challenging locations. Sarvajal, a company founded in 2008 by Anad Shah, is widely acknowledged as providing a breakthrough in ensuring clean water access in slums. Sarvajal's success is in creating a business model that fit with the economic, social, and political needs of the slums they serve. Sarvajal created attractive and stylish locations where water is sold at very low cost (2.6 gallons of clean water for six cents). This strategy created local jobs and provided low-cost access to clean water, an inventive solution to a longstanding problem.

Development engineering also works on a larger scale, with philanthropic foundations finding new ways to use technology to solve short-term problems that have long-term humanitarian impacts. "Even in the software industry, the potential for impact is huge," says Zoe Bezpalko, the design and impact lead at the San Francisco-based Autodesk foundation. The foundation supports the design and creation of innovative solutions to the world's most pressing social and environmental challenges. "We are all involved in providing the tools people need to use their resources," Bezpalko says. The foundation's software is used in millions of applications around the world. Some help humanitarian efforts in locations with little infrastructure. "Working with drone technology and reality capture, we can donate our software and training to the UN Refugee Agency engineers, who use it for super-fast mapping of refugee camps," Bezpalko explains. This project, the goal of which is to find new ways to get necessary information to agencies faster than ever before, is one of her favorites.

Berkeley and building lasting change

Engineering change that positively impacts people and empowers the user is a multifaceted and sensitive task. While great strides have been made in sanitation, clean water, and health, difficult problems still need to be solved and require the coordination of many communities to make a lasting impact. All of us want a future in which we enjoy equality in life, resources, and health, but for so many in resource-limited parts of the world, access to basic healthcare, clean water, and safe housing is still a challenge. Development engineering helps communities find sustainable, realistic, and self-generated solutions to the problems they best understand. With so many engineers, business students, and researchers throwing their thoughts and time into finding new ways to solve old problems, the future is beginning to look just a little bit brighter.
A marbled spinefoot rabbitfish grazing on turf algae in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel. Credit: Erez Yeruham, IOLR

For some time, unicellular benthic organisms from the Indo-Pacific have been spreading in the Mediterranean. An international team of scientists with the participation of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel has now found evidence that a possible path of invasion has been in the gut of fish. The study was published in the international journal Limnology and Oceanography Letters this week.

The mystery of how some invasive species may rapidly invade and spread in the world's oceans without assistance by marine traffic may have been partly solved by a new Mediterranean Sea study. Red Sea rabbitfish invaded the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal in the 20th century. Soon after, more than 60 species of small Red Sea marine animals, known as foraminifera, also invaded the Mediterranean.

New research, lead by Tamar Guy-Haim of the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR) / the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel released in Limnology and Oceanography Letters this week, reveals that the rabbitfish brought the other marine life with them. The research was done in collaboration with Orit Hyams-Kaphzan (Geological Survey of Israel, GSI), Erez Yeruham (IOLR), Ahuva Almogi-Labin (GSI), and James Carlton (Williams College - Mystic Seaport, USA).

Although plant-eaters, the rabbitfish accidentally scoop up marine animals from the sea floor while feeding. After feeding and swimming long distances, the fish defecate the live animals that had survived the trip through the fish's digestive system. Fish moving plants and animalscalled "ichthyochory," or dispersal of species by fishhas been known in lakes and rivers but hardly from the marine environment.

Living foraminifera in a rabbitfish fecal pellet. Credit: Tamar Guy-Haim, GEOMAR

The new study is the first to document fish dispersal as a means of long-distance dispersal of alien species in the ocean. The researchers studied fresh waste from the fish. They found live forams as well as other live marine animals, such as snails, clams, and worms. Museum specimens confirmed that rabbitfish have been eating and moving species for decades.

The research team found that the spread of the fish through the Mediterranean matched the timing and sites of the spread of the exotic forams as well. While the marine life in ships' ballast water and attached to ship hulls explains the invasion of many species in the sea, the forams, and similar bottom-dwellers not found in the water or attached to hulls, are believed to be rarely moved by ships.

This left a mystery as to how and why so many Red Sea forams successfully invaded the Mediterranean. Bioinvasions, the expansions of species into regions outside their native range, threaten biodiversity and human livelihood worldwide. In the Mediterranean, one species of invasive Red Sea foram now coats rocky reefs by the millions, outcompeting native species, and radically changing the native biodiversity of the sea floor.

Warming seas are aiding the alien fish, and many other exotic species, in spreading through the Mediterranean. The newly expanded Suez and Panama Canals, designed to significantly increase ship traffic, will lead to new invasions, including new alien fish that may bring even more species with them.

More information: Tamar Guy-Haim et al, A novel marine bioinvasion vector: Ichthyochory, live passage through fish, Limnology and Oceanography Letters (2017). DOI: 10.1002/lol2.10039
It's big. It's nasty. It's the fight for dominance in the burgeoning market for driverless cars - and the service they'll provide.

Alliances are forming. Competitors are bulking up. The gloves are coming off.

There are accusations of subterfuge. On Monday, U.S. District Judge William Alsup slapped restrictions on ride-hailing giant Uber's driverless car research in a trade secrets civil lawsuit filed by archfoe Waymo, Google's autonomous car project.

There are hints of criminality. Last week, the same judge referred Waymo's allegations that Uber stole its proprietary technology to the U.S. Department of Justice for investigation.

There are questions of commitment. Even as nearly every automaker positions itself for a future of self-driving cars, the board of Ford is putting pressure on Chief Executive Mark Fields to justify his big bet on the driverless future, implying some think it might not be worth the financial risk.

The driverless economy is one few economic sectors with huge growth potential, now that the bloom is fading on consumer electronics.

Tens of billions of dollars are at stake, maybe hundreds of billions, according to market analysts.

"It's a huge market, but there are a lot of people who feel they have a right to compete - the tech companies, the automakers, the suppliers," said Mark Wakefield, head of the auto practice at consulting firm AlixPartners.

Add in driverless ride-hailing services, and the total could reach a trillion dollars or more, Tasha Keeney of ARK Invest said.

The most powerful weapon, along with the cash to make use of it, is intellectual property.

"When you own the I.P. for autonomous technology, that's a huge asset," Keeney said. "That's who's going to own the economics of this market."

And who stands to gain the most? Whoever is first to market, Keeney said. That's because data collection is crucial to perfecting robot car technology, and the sooner technology hits the road, the more data stream back to improve the systems.

Which explains the bare-knuckles nature of the Waymo-Uber battle.

Waymo's suit, filed in February, accuses Uber of knowingly using stolen trade secrets to "cheat" its way into the market.

The judge on Monday ordered Uber to keep Anthony Levandowski, the alleged thief, away from any work on lidar, a light-beam technology considered key to the development of autonomous vehicles.

Levandowski was considered a star in the self-driving industry and key to Uber's effort to replace human drivers with robot cars. Levandowski left Waymo last year and started Otto, a driverless truck company, where he soon grabbed headlines for testing driverless big rigs in Nevada. In August, Uber bought his company for $680 million and made him head of driverless cars.

Before he left Waymo, Levandowski downloaded 14,000 documents - an action that doesn't appear to be in dispute. While Waymo claimed 121 trade secrets were stolen, Alsup said in his order Monday that only some of them might have been used by Uber. He cited two examples but most of the detail was blacked out in the public document.

"Uber likely knew or should have known that Levandowski had taken and retained possession of Waymo's confidential files," the judge wrote.

The judge rejected Waymo's request to block Uber's work on lidar technology - but said it must continue without Levandowski, or any purloined data.

A court-appointed special master will inspect Uber work sites to ensure compliance.

Uber was also ordered to conduct a thorough investigation of the case, including interviews with anyone who might have been involved, and report back to the court June 23.

Alsup dismissed the patent claims and said only "some" of the trade secret claims hold merit.

Uber positioned the order as a victory. "We are pleased with the court's ruling that Uber can continue building and utilizing all of its self-driving technology, including our innovation around lidar," a spokeswoman said.

Anything short of shutting down its research could be considered a win for Uber, which has been hammered this year on controversies including a lawsuit claiming workplace harassment and the revelation that it used a program called Grayball to deceive local authorities about how its service was being used.

Replacing its drivers with robots is "existential" to Uber's future, founder and Chief Executive Travis Kalanick said last year.

"The entity that's in first, then rolls out a ride-sharing network that is far cheaper or far higher-quality than Uber's, then Uber is no longer a thing," he said last year.

Kalanick, meanwhile, will have to prove that he can guide Uber into that driverless future.

Uber will survive, said Evan Rawley, a professor at Columbia Business School. "People want a clean, safe, cheap ride that comes quickly and gets them where they're going."

But Kalanick? "The capital markets are not going to be quite as forgiving," Rawley said. Investors, he said, may "demand a change in strategy and perhaps a change in the executive ranks."

The private company, valued at $68 billion, is burning cash as it keeps fares low to put pressure on Lyft and other competitors.

Some investors are already growing impatient with Kalanick, who is under pressure to bring in a strong No. 2. After a viral video that showed Kalanick insulting an Uber driver from the back seat of the car, the executive publicly admitted he needs to "fundamentally change as a leader and grow up."

A criminal investigation in the Waymo case will only darken the clouds hanging over Kalanick. The judge's Justice Department referral "is not a good sign for Uber," said Robert Milligan, an attorney at Seyfarth Shaw in Los Angeles. "You don't normally see a judge make a criminal referral in a trade secrets case."

"Travis and the Uber board have to come out and own this problem," said Grayson Brulte, a autonomous vehicle consultant in Beverly Hills.

Kalanick couldn't have been happy to learn Sunday that archfoes Waymo and Lyft had signed a deal to collaborate on autonomous technology through pilot projects and product development. Already, Lyft and General Motors are using the new Bolt EV as a test vehicle for driverless cars.

Waymo is a leader in driverless technology. Lyft is the No. 2 ride-hailing company in the U.S. GM, which owns a major stake in Lyft, is an automobile manufacturing behemoth.

The partnership underlines the need for Uber to survive the trade-secrets case unscathed. Without an automobile fleet of its own and without competitive driverless technology, all Uber has in the long run is its name recognition - for better or worse - and the passenger data behind its app.

2017 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Soot can have a large effect on the environment. PNNL researchers developed a unique tagging system to understand whether local or remote sources of soot are more important for near-surface air quality and atmospheric heating effects. Credit: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Coating chimney flues and diesel exhaust pipes, black carbon leaves a sooty footprint on Earth. But how to track its travel through the atmosphere?

Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory developed a unique computational tagging technique to detect the influence of local vs. non-local sources of soot on China's regional air quality. They used this technique to determine how much each soot sourcelocal or remotecontributed to atmospheric warming over China. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics published the research.

When wood or coal is burned, soot is one of the by-products. Though soot particles can be fine and powdery, they can have a large effect on the environment. Local and non-local sources of soot have different influences on radiative forcingchanging the Earth's energy balancein its destination region. In China, for example, air quality is poor because of an increase in tiny atmospheric particles from rapid urban and economic growth in recent years. When more cars hit the road or people use more appliances (powered by coal-generated electricity), more of these particles are released into the atmosphere. Scientists have long wondered just how much influence these particles from one region have on the air quality of neighboring areas.

Reducing soot in the atmosphere is likely to improve atmospheric warming changes and regional air quality. Previous studies found that home heating and industry contribute the most soot over China. However, an effective program to reduce soot impacts in a particular region requires knowing the source of the sootwhether it is from within the region, or imported from another area.

PNNL researchers used the Community Earth System Model to simulate a representation of atmospheric aerosol particles and determine the source attribution of black carbon, a.k.a. soot, and its direct radiative forcing (contributing to atmospheric heating) over China. Researchers equipped the model with a black carbon source-tagging technique, through which they can track soot particles emitted from various source regions and/or sectors. Scientists also entered new data sets for the most recent years that were available.

In regions of China with strong black carbon emissionsfor example, the north, south, and northeastresearchers found that local sources predominantly contributed to near-surface black carbon concentrations. Scientists also discovered that non-local sources more strongly influenced black carbon over central and western China. During the winter haze season, more than 50 percent of near-surface black carbon in China originated from pollution in north China, which contributed more than 90 percent to local black carbon and a substantial amount to south, southwest, and central-west China. Overall, local sources accounted for 65 percent of black carbon's atmospheric heating over China, while outside sources contributed 35 percent.

The study also showed that China's soot doesn't stay within its borders. Air pollution from China, via transport over the Pacific Ocean, accounted for 8 percent of black carbon concentration and 29 percent of the total air column load of black carbon in the Western United States in spring.

The research team has developed a source-tagging technique for atmospheric sulfate particles, also components of pollution that affect radiative heating and cooling in the atmosphere. Researchers will use the technique to understand global sulfate's source attributions and its effect on atmospheric warming and cooling.

More information: Yang Yang et al. Source attribution of black carbon and its direct radiative forcing in China, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2017). DOI: 10.5194/acp-17-4319-2017 Journal information: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Marines test out the HoloLens during a training exercise geared towards the development and strengthening of small unit-decision making at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The HoloLens is an augmented-reality system designed to overlay digital information on top of an actual field of vision, and is part of the tactical decision kits that the U.S. Marine Corps is distributing to 24 infantry battalions. Credit: Sgt. Kaitlyn V. Klein, U.S. Marine Corps

Battlefield commanders confront life-or-death situations requiring fast, yet informed, decisions. To develop, strengthen and accelerate these quick-thinking abilitiesparticularly among small-unit leadersthe U.S. Marine Corps is distributing new "tactical decision kits" to 24 infantry battalions.

The kits, to be rolled out over the next six months, include software sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). They can be used in field, barracks or classroom settings to provide warfighters with a versatile workspace to practice and hone their decision-making skills. The included software tools enhance existing training technologies like virtual first-person simulations or field exercises.

"This suite of new training tools is easy to implement and can be tailored to Marines' needs," said Dr. Peter Squire, a program officer in ONR's Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and Combating Terrorism Department. "It will allow Marines to think more critically and adapt more quickly to changing environments and adversaries."

The ONR-sponsored technology includes (1) the Interactive Tactical Decision Game (I-TDG); (2) an augmented-reality Sand Table application that uses a HoloLens visual display to insert virtual objects into an actual field of sight; and (3) a quadcopter-based system for quickly surveying and modeling terrain.

I-TDG is a web-based application that allows Marines to plan missions and conduct "what if" tactical-decision games. It supports capturing virtual or live exercise scenarios and incorporating them into games that can be shared battalion-wide. I-TDG links to the Sand Table app to support terrain visualization and collaborative planning and review.

Sand Table allows multiple Marines to interact with a virtual "hologram"generated by the HoloLensof real-world, three-dimensional terrain. I-TDG units are displayed on this terrain and can be moved around. Because this is a shared augmented-reality environment (virtual objects placed in actual physical setting), Marines can see their surroundings and fellow participants virtually while remaining rooted in the real world.

To rapidly develop terrain models to support these technologies, Marines can operate the quadcopter-based terrain-mapping system to create a 3D model of a training area.

Among their many capabilities, the tactical decision kits literally bring training to where warfighters live. The kits are designed to be employed in barracks "decision rooms," where Marines can practice and compete in tactical decision-making on a routine basis.

In a recent media interview, Col. James Jenkins, director of Science and Technology for the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, said the value of the system is in the ability of squads and small units to run the same scenario multiple times with detailed after-action feedback.

"Here's the debrief, here's who shot whom, when, and here's whyand go back and get better every time," he said.

The tactical decision kit technology was developed in close cooperation with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines (2/6) based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The battalion employed prototypes in barracks decision rooms, in events such as Spartan Week, and in support of field activities such as a live fire exercise recently executed at 29 Palms, California.

These successes were largely responsible for inspiring senior Marine Corps leadership to select the tactical decision kits as the first experiment for the service's newly created Rapid Capabilities Office, which is designed to more quickly develop and deliver promising new technologies.
The Striga parasitic plant infests food crops such as rice and corn, causing them to wither and die. In Africa, Striga affects about 40 million hectares of land, leading to losses worth over US$10 billion and affecting about 100 million people in the process. Credit: Marco Schmidt / Wikimedia

Scientists in Japan have designed a synthetic molecule that gives new insight into how a destructive weed might be detecting its host crops.

The parasitic plant Striga, also known as witchweed, poses a major threat to food security, affecting 100 million people in Africa alone and destroying crops there worth US$10 billion every year.

Despite the devastating damage it causes, the full mechanism as to how Striga even detects the presence of its host crops, such as rice and corn, has been unclear. An interdisciplinary team from Nagoya University in Japan has developed a fluorescent molecule to help.

Striga is an effective and deadly parasite despite its deceptively colourful and attractive flowers and bright-green stems. Its success is down to its effective take-over of the host plant's signalling molecules, called strigolactones, present in their root systems.

Strigolactones control plant development and promote beneficial symbiotic interactions between plants and soil microbes. However, in the presence of Striga, the host plant's strigolactones actually promote the germination of parasitic Striga seeds in the soil. The weed grows around the roots of the host plant and develops appendages that penetrate the host root cells, taking over the root system and depriving the host plant of water and nutrients.

The Striga parasitic plant infests food crops such as rice and corn, causing them to wither and die. In Africa, Striga affects about 40 million hectares of land, leading to losses worth over US$10 billion and affecting about 100 million people in the process. Credit: Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM)

Despite its devastating effects, scientists have been struggling to understand how Striga seeds detect the presence of host crops. "I figured that there must be a protein receptor in Striga that can detect minute amounts of strigolactones produced by the host plant," says Yuichiro Tsuchiya, a plant biologist at the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) at Nagoya University.

Tsuchiya and synthetic chemist Masahiko Yoshimura designed a strigolactone-like molecule they called Yoshimulactone Green (YLG), which fluoresces bright green upon reacting with and being decomposed by Striga. Live imaging using YLG allowed them to see how and where strigolactones bind and act upon the host plant's cells. Using YLG, they confirmed that a protein named ShHTLS in Striga functioned as the strigolactone receptor and triggered Striga seed germination.

Knowing which receptors and regulatory mechanisms are responsible for triggering Striga growth will allow researchers to come up with solutions to combat the weed. They may, for example, be able to design chemicals that halt Striga germination and thus prevent parasitism of crops.

Researchers designed a strigolactone-like molecule they called Yoshimulactone Green (YLG), which fluoresces bright green upon reacting with and being decomposed by Striga. Credit: Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM)
This Oct. 3, 2014 photo shows the drilling site of an earthquake fault near Franz Josef Glazier on the South Island in New Zealand. The scientists found the water in the Alpine Fault was much hotter than expected, and could potentially be harnessed to generate electricity or provide direct heating in industries like dairy farming. (John Townend/Victoria University via AP)

When researchers in New Zealand drilled deep into an earthquake fault, they stumbled upon a discovery they say could provide a significant new energy source for the South Pacific nation.

The scientists found the water in the Alpine Fault was much hotter than expected, and could potentially be harnessed to generate electricity or provide direct heating in industries like dairy farming.

The finding was surprising because geothermal energy is usually associated with volcanic activity, but there are no volcanoes where the scientists drilled. Because the Alpine Fault stretches for hundreds of kilometers (miles) like a spine along the country's South Island, the energy source could be enormous.

Led by Victoria University of Wellington professor Rupert Sutherland, the study was published Thursday in the journal Nature.

Sutherland said the intention of the study near the popular tourist destination of Franz Josef Glacier was to collect rock cores and install monitoring equipment rather than gauge water temperatures, but researchers are excited about their unexpected findings.

"Economically, it could be very significant for New Zealand," Sutherland told The Associated Press in an interview. "It's a totally new paradigm."

In this Oct. 9, 2014 photo, Victoria University of Wellington professor Rupert Sutherland, right, watches a worker during the drilling of an earthquake fault near Franz Josef glazier on the South Island in New Zealand. The scientists found the water in the Alpine Fault was much hotter than expected, and could potentially be harnessed to generate electricity or provide direct heating in industries like dairy farming. (John Townend/Victoria University via AP)

In their study, the scientists say they believe two actions are creating the hot water.

First, they say, previous earthquakes have moved hot rocks up from deep within the Earth into the mountains along the fault line.

Second, the shaking has broken up the rocks, allowing rain water and snow melt to quickly percolate through the hot interior of the mountains, which concentrates the heat beneath the valleys.

Sutherland said they found the water in the fault reached 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit) at a depth of 630 meters (2,100 feet). Water typically gets progressively hotter with depth, but under normal conditions it doesn't reach that temperature until about 3 kilometers (2 miles) underground.

One hundred Celsius is boiling point on the Earth's surface, although water doesn't boil underground because it remains under pressure, much like the liquid inside a pressure cooker.

The Alpine Fault is among the most active faults in the world. It typically creates large earthquakes about once every 300 years, and scientists figure there is about a one-third chance it will rupture again in the next few decades. The resulting quake could devastate some New Zealand towns, although the fault is not located near any large cities.

In this Oct. 7, 2014 photo, Victoria University of Wellington professor Tim Little catches warm liquid in a bucket during drilling of an earthquake fault near Franz Josef Glazier on the South Island in New Zealand. The scientists found the water in the Alpine Fault was much hotter than expected, and could potentially be harnessed to generate electricity or provide direct heating in industries like dairy farming. (John Townend/Victoria University via AP)

Sutherland said the discovery of the hot water doesn't have any bearing on predicting when the next quake might hit.

He said before any commercial ventures begin, scientists will need to determine the extent of the hot water, what purposes it could be used for, how easy it is to extract, and whether it can be done safely. He said he didn't think removing water from the fault would risk triggering a quake but scientists would need to study that question as well.

New Zealand already generates about 15 percent of its electricity from geothermal sources, most of it from the Taupo volcanic zone in the central North Island. Sutherland said the declining coal mining industry in the South Island could provide needed expertise, engineering and infrastructure for any new geothermal ventures on the Alpine Fault.

He said the hot water could potentially be used by the dairy industry as a heating source to dry milk. Milk powder is one of the nation's largest exports.

Dave Craw, a professor at New Zealand's University of Otago who was not involved in the study, said that in a global context, the high temperatures found in the fault are very unusual.

"The famous San Andreas Fault of California was drilled in a similar way to this New Zealand borehole, and the temperatures and thermal gradient encountered there were much lower than the Alpine Fault," Craw wrote in an email. "The Alpine Fault is a spectacular thermal anomaly for an area without active volcanic activity."

Bill Ellsworth, a professor at Stanford University who helped review safety aspects of the study but who was not involved in the research, said that because elevated fluid pressures weaken faults, the study's findings also have important implications for understanding the workings of quakes on similar faults around the world.

More information: Rupert Sutherland et al. Extreme hydrothermal conditions at an active plate-bounding fault, Nature (2017). DOI: 10.1038/nature22355 , www.nature.com/nature/journal/  ull/nature22355.html Journal information: Nature

 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Point-of-Sale Software Industry Spurs Rust Belt Rebirth

BUTLER, Pa.  The point-of-sale industry not only provides a valuable technology product to thousands of restaurants, it is creating jobs and transforming the economic calculus for old industrial towns such as Butler, Pennsylvania.

Supercharging a rust belt reboot is Future POS, the Butler-based developer of payment-transaction software. The company recently calculated its impact in the Steel City region as equaling $5 million a year through jobs, taxes, philanthropy and trickledown spending, according to John Giles, President and Co-Founder.

Giles, a Butler native, founded the firm in 1998. His wife Kelly joined in 2003 as Vice President.

The wrecking ball has been a common sight in Butler, 50 miles north of Pittsburgh, since manufacturing collapsed 30 years ago. While the downtrodden city has had its challenges, Future POS is putting chip- embedded payment technology on the map like a screensaver. The company employs more than 60 software engineers, sales, marketing and tech support at its corporate office just a stones throw away from the steel mills that provide a monument to the golden age of heavy industry.

Small business is the muscle of our whole economy. One of the most inspiring companies in our area is Future POS, said U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, Pennsylvania 3rd District, which includes Butler. It employs dozens of people and provides important software to hundreds of restaurants.

The firm, often called Butlers Google, designs software for more than 18,000 hospitality venues worldwide, including 600 in western Pennsylvania.

By helping restaurants stay open and vibrant, they protect jobs and livelihoods and help spur new growth for other businesses, Congressman Kelly said. Based on its solid track record, its easy to say that Future POS has been an economic treasure for our entire community. I am incredibly grateful that John and Kelly Giles have chosen to keep the company in Butler. Such an investment in the wellbeing of our community is a result of their big hearts and wonderful character.

Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche agreed, saying Future POS represents the new economy. Future complements a Pittsburgh tech sector that comprises more than 15 big hitters. Google operates a satellite at Bakery Square, Schell Games in Station Square develops gameplay technology and Wombat Security Technologies in the Strip District works to prevent breaches. Former Carnegie Mellon University professors launched Wombat.

Innovation and technology are changing the way we do business across the globe, and we are proud to have John and Kelly Giles and Future POS in our community, Osche said. Future POS has the potential to be the anchor for technology innovation and growth, attracting and launching even more businesses and entrepreneurs like John and his team. Just as Pittsburgh has transformed from manufacturing to technology and health care, I believe that Butler has the potential to do the same, and the next generation workforce will lead us there.

Future POS has succeeded, the congressman and commissioner said, because of its vision and array of award-winning software. Future POS installs the infrastructure for a one-terminal sales station to 77-terminal stadiums. This year the company has released an industry-leading order entry at EMV pay-at-table solution piloted in Butler.

Future POS is already a star. Maybe its becoming a nova, said Stan Kosciuszko, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce. They are expanding, expanding, expanding.

The company, which has had double digit growth in sales nearly every year for 19 years, has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Giles started in a basement, amid hard times. Like many rust belt cities, Butler experienced economic stagnation after the collapse of heavy industry in 1980s. Motorists driving into town on Route 8 zipped pass buildings that tumbled out of the darkness like discordant notes: abandoned mill buildings, burned-out storefronts and crumbling houses.

Giles singlehandedly developed the Future POS point-of-sale package and started selling it in 1998. Kosciuszko said Giles deserves credit as an entrepreneur who nurtured an idea into a full-fledged business, piloting a Butler County rebrand along the way.

Future POS is an exceptional example of diversification of industry here in Butler County, Kosciuszko said. People always look at the heavy industry, but heavy industry is not going to bring the county back. Its coming back because of companies like Future POS that are more creative and high tech.

Kosciuszko described Future POS as a unique on many levels.

You start with the fact that Kelly and John grew up here, he said. They went to Butler High School, and they decided to make their home here and their business here. And they had an idea, an interesting idea  software. Because of their hard work and ingenuity, they ended up founding an extremely successful company that is an asset to Butler County. It employs quite a few people. It has a large payroll and is extremely philanthropic. They support a lot of community efforts.

Butler Countys livability index contributes to the companys brain gain of young developers. Compared to the Bay Area of California or Seattle, home base for Microsoft, living expenses, especially housing, dont break the bank.

Butler County is fortunate to call Future POS as one of our homegrown business success stories, said Steven Gifford, new Executive Director of the Butler County Community Development Authority. The software firm is a significant contributor to Butler Countys continuing evolution towards a balanced economy featuring a blend of traditional and advanced manufacturing, professional services and technology-focused businesses. More importantly, the growth and success of Future POS will serve as a magnet drawing other software and technology focused businesses to establish operations in our community.

Although exact economic impact percentages vary, it is widely accepted that for each dollar spent by local businesses, between 60-70 cents of additional local economic activity is generated in the community after additional spending cycles, said James Hrabosky, Vice President for Administration and Finance at Butler County Community College.

There is also direct evidence that local businesses lead to higher local real estate values and more local jobs, he said. Thus, Future POS will continue to play a large role in stimulating economic growth and job growth in the Butler community.

As Future POS double downs on its mobile, flexible and customizable product development, company leaders havent forgotten what matters most  people. An on-site gym, exercise ball chairs in offices, flex time and an outdoor patio for burger Fridays provide opportunities for decompressing. This week, the company installed a free soft drink dispenser in the break room.

Butler resident Greg Vottero, a Lead Design Specialist who commutes in a Smart Car, said the office environment gives employees the feeling theyre part of a laid-back, innovative enterprise.

The work is a great fit, Vottero said. Ive always had an interest in programing, and for years I even made Flash games as a hobby. A lot of the work here involves programming, so its a nice blend of design and tech.

The company is likely to become more prominent in the coming years. The firm recently purchased 59 acres next to the old Pioneer Drive In on Route 8 for a new headquarters. Giles said the site will be developed as a campus, with a flagship building surrounded by support structures as growth allows.

Although no hard timeline is set, Giles said he envisions an eco-friendly community with walking trails, pavilions, perhaps a green roof, open floor plans, colorful furniture and WiFi throughout.

The building will be a reflection of the fact that we are investing in our people and in the community, he said.



Other Point of Sale news of interest:
Diebold Nixdorf Presents Connected Commerce Solutions At #NRAShow

CHICAGO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/  Diebold Nixdorf (NYSE: DBD) is presenting a comprehensive portfolio of connected commerce solutions at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show, the largest annual gathering of the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry, May 20  23, in Chicago. In booth #9247, Diebold Nixdorf will highlight the latest innovations and technology that support four key drivers in the retail and hospitality industries digitalization, individualization, automation and miniaturization. These innovative solutions provide consumers with additional service options and the ability to control the way they wish to experience and engage with retail and hospitality businesses.

Unveiled for the first time, the new K-Two Kiosk automates routine transactions and provides engaging consumer experiences with order taking functionalities and more. The solution enables consumers to conveniently browse the retailers menu, select items they wish to purchase, place their order and pay electronically. Once the order is ready, the consumer can simply pick it up at the counter and leave.
The CNN article poses the question of whether the Iranian system is a democracy, and it answers that question with yes or no. It accepts that the forthcoming elections will conducted according to the general principles of democratic voting, but it also emphasizes that ultimate power of foreign and domestic power lies with the unelected supreme leader, who also personally appoints half of the Guardian Council, the body of judges and clerics that is empowered to disqualify legislation and candidates for high office if they are deemed to be out of step with the will of the supreme leader.

It is largely because of these latter factors that the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran has been striving to organize a mass boycott of the electoral process. The latest mainstream reports generally agree that approximately half of the countrys population will deliberately eschew voting, and the PMOI no doubt hopes to raise participation in the boycott even further before Friday. Activists for the banned dissident organization have reportedly risked arrest and torture by posting images of the exiled PMOI leader Mayram Rajavi in public places, along with slogans decrying both of the leading mainstream candidates and announcing a vote for regime change.

As of Tuesday, four candidates remained in the running for the presidency. Two of these are only minor candidates who may still drop out before Iranians actually go to the polls. Effectively, the race is between the two individuals who have been recognized for weeks as the sole frontrunners: the incumbent Hassan Rouhani and the hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, who has served as a judge but has not preexisting executive experience.

It is generally believed that Rouhani will win the contest, although many of his former reformist supporters have grown disillusioned with his administration as a result of his failure to move forward on any of his campaign promises regarding civil rights, diminished censorship, and so on. The CNN article agrees that he will likely win, but it adds that a major question on Friday will be whether people still buy his moderate agenda. The PMOI campaigns have referred to the sitting president as an imposter while calling Raisi a murderer because of his record of ordering the execution of political prisoners, including the thousands who were put to death in the summer of 1988 by the death committee on which Raisi served.

The 1988 massacre has become a topic of public discussion ahead of the election, although it has not been addressed by the candidates themselves. For much of the past three decades, the Iranian regime had refused to acknowledge the executions or the subsequent secret mass burials. But last year, Ahmad Montazeri, the son of the cleric who had once been in line to succeed Ruhollah Khomeini as the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, released an audio recording of Hossein Ali Montazeri criticizing his fellow officials for their roles in the massacre. Although authorities attempted to suppress the recording soon after it was released, it quickly entered the public consciousness, partly because of the efforts of the PMOI to keep talking about it on social media and within activist circles.

Although public knowledge of the massacre reflects particularly badly on Raisi, it does not reflect well on Rouhani, who held a position of prominence in the regime at the time and who appointed another member of the death commission, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, as his Justice Minister after winning the presidency in 2013.

IranWire recently published an interview with Ahmad Montazeri, who was defrocked and initially sentenced to 21 years in prison for releasing the recording. With his sentence now suspended, Montazeri has expressed a clear preference for the reelection of the incumbent Rouhani. When asked to characterize the likely outcome of a Raisi victory, Montazeri said that virtually all presidential authority would be ceded to the military and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. By contrast, he told IranWire that a second Rouhani term would proceed in much the same manner as the first.

Of course, this is not nearly enough for serious advocates of reform. The New York Times reports that the Rouhani administration has suggested it would be better able to follow through on his former campaign promises if he won a resounding victory over Raisi. But in light of the past four years, former supporters have reason to believe that such a promise is nothing more than a bid for reformist support and, perhaps more importantly, voter participation that could undercut the PMOI-organized boycott.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has made several public statements calling upon the Iranian people to go to the polls in order to defend the perception of the regimes legitimacy. But of course, this is precisely the reason why PMOI supporters and other opponents of the regime are interested in boycotting. Because of the power of the supreme leader and the role of the Guardian Council, there are no genuine reformist voices in Iranian politics.

Rouhani will be the closest thing to a moderate to be offered as a choice on Friday. Another candidate and current vice president, Eshagh Jahangiri, was arguably to the left of Rouhani. But as the BBC reported on Tuesday, Jahangiri was expected to withdraw from the race and finally did so. In a speech, he claimed that his truncated run had been intended to make the voice of reformists heard, but he then put his weight behind Rouhanis bid for reelection.

Jahangiris participation up to this point was only made possible by his passing the Guardian Council vetting process  something that identifies him as an establishment politician who has never presented a serious challenge to the hardline principles of the Islamic Republic. In this sense, establishment reformists can be regarded as quite different from those advocating for reform on the ground in Iran. The distinction was highlighted for instance, in a blog post at IranWire which chided reformist politicians for complete silence on issues such as education and womens rights.

The article pointed out that Supreme Leader Khamenei had recently taken aim at the UNESCO Education Action Plan, characterizing it as an example of Western cultural imposition, apparently because of its expectation of equal educational opportunity for men and women. The article went on to say that his intervention on this issue was both an expression of anti-Western paranoia and a warning shot across Rouhanis bows as we enter the homestretch of this election. Voice of America News points out that Khamenei has become increasingly critical of Rouhani in other areas as well, even though he has not explicitly taken a side in the election. Meanwhile, IranWire finds that neither Rouhani himself nor the reformist politicians who are expected to back him have stood up against the supreme leaders assault on things like nascent womens rights.

This inaction stands in contrast to the profound social changes that IranWire says are taking place throughout Iran. Young people are thinking for themselves, and steadily rejecting the rules of the religious regime, the article says. Young women are claiming their rights and insisting on being heard. But these trends are apparently altogether separate from the more tepid trends within the reformist wing of Iranian politics. And this in turn goes a long way toward explaining the extent to which the Iranian population is signing onto the PMOI-organized boycott or otherwise sitting out the election.

The boycott almost certainly contributes to the uncertainty about the outcome of Fridays election. Voice of America points out that the hardliners are resorting to economic populism and accusations that Rouhani has encouraged the influence of Western decadence, in an effort to get highly conservative citizens and politically disengaged rural voters to the polls. The BBC points out more specifically that Raisi has promised to triple the value of government handouts, even as he presents a challenge to the potential Western investment that might inject more capital into the Iranian economy.

On Monday, a day before Eshagh Jahangiri exited the race, the second leading hardline candidate did the same. Tehran Mayor Mohammad Qalibaf has now placed his support behind Raisi, and there is an open question as to what the effect of this development will be in the coming days. Some polls had previously found that Raisi and Qalibaf were collectively supported by 50 percent of likely voters, compared to Rouhanis 42 percent. But it is by no means certain what the new figures will be now that Qalibaf is out of the running.

It seems that either of the leading candidate could win on Friday, and the different outcomes would have different consequences in terms of certain strategic policies, particularly the long term prospects for the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers. But in spite of these modest differences, the PMOI boycott and general public discourse continues to emphasize the countrys poor prospects for major policy changes in such a tightly controlled system.
Retail Control Systems and Cegid Unite to Move Retailers to Unified Commerce

ENFIELD, NH, USA (May 16, 2017)  Retail Control Systems (RCS), an innovative provider of retail technology solutions since 1987, has signed a strategic partnership with Cegid, a leader in cloud services and retail software. Together, the organizations deliver capabilities retailers need to support todays shopping habits, including buy online and pickup in-store, shop from store, reserve online and pay in store and ship-to-home.

With increasingly mobile and digital lives, consumers are researching online and purchasing offline, accessing online reviews, and turning to social networks to shop on their terms. However, retailers are having a hard time adapting to this new standard because their traditional point-of-sale systems were not built to meet elevated shopping demands.

Cegid helps retailers adapt to the digital age, offering a full suite of retail enterprise software and cloud services for both head office and stores, says Dan Friedman, COO, Americas, Cegid. Much of our focus lies in omnichannel retailing, including POS and store management, inventory and replenishment, mobile POS, clienteling, CRM and loyalty, as well as business intelligence  all within a single, centralized database that works in real-time.

As part of their training and orientation, two members of the RCS leadership team, Kevin Albert, COO, and Jill Bujnowski, CFO, recently attended the Cegid Connections Conference in Budapest, Hungary. The event gathered 450 retailers and partners from around the world. The team gained insight into the future of retail and was excited to meet other partners to learn about their success with Cegid.

The RCS team was eager to learn about Cegids retail portfolio, called Yourcegid Retail Y2. The platform is a proven omni-channel and customer-centered solution designed to deliver a remarkable customer experience. It comes with an intuitive user interface for click-and-collect, ship to store, ship to home, and cash and carry transactions, among other new features.

Our integration as a Cegid VAR has been seamless. The resources Cegid provides  from marketing, sales and services tools to staff expertise  are outstanding and have allowed us to get started quickly. The team is extremely responsive to our needs and we feel like a truly valued partner, remarks Jill.

We consider business partners as a direct extension of the Cegid business and our focus is therefore on recruiting the right type of partners. Its all about quality, not quantity, and this is where RCS comes in, says Dan Friedman, COO, Americas, Cegid.

Retail Control Systems believes that combining its extensive retail expertise from the last 30 years with Cegids software will contribute to tremendous success. RCS is excited for the opportunity to partner with Cegid. We believe its on the forefront of retail technology and RCS cant wait to be a part of that, states Dave Albert, CEO, RCS. We were very impressed to see Cegid not only on the Retail Information Systems (RIS) Software Leaderboard, but the highest ranking for 2016. This bodes well for the future.

About RCS

Founded in 1987, Retail Control Systems specializes in retail and restaurant management software and hardware solutions. RCS has built a reputation for finding specialized business management solutions that help businesses gain complete control over their operations and finances. From inventory control to daily sales management, RCS has the experience and expertise across the full-range of retail and restaurant industries to meet the unique needs of any business. RCS has been providing superior customer service, exceptional quality, and innovation to the retail and restaurant community for nearly 30 years.

To learn more about RCS, visit www.retailcontrolsystems.com or call 1-800-417-3030.

About Cegid

Cegid is a leading player in the digital transformation of companies and public entities, improving the performance of its customers with its cloud services and enterprise software. Cegid offers solutions in the fields of finance, tax management and human resources, as well as vertical business solutions for the retail, manufacturing, trade and services sectors, the accounting profession and the public sector. Leveraging an ambitious innovation strategy, Cegids solutions integrate the new ways people use technology, from mobility, cloud-based services and paperless documents to data analysis and collaborative industry platforms. Cegid is an international group with more than 2,200 employees located throughout France and in 15 other countries. Serving more than 120,000 clients and 430,000 users, including over 150,000 in SaaS mode, Cegid achieved revenues of USD 315 million in 2016.

Other POS News:
- Governor Ayodele Fayose has promised to leave the PDP if Modu Sheriff becomes chairman of the party

- The governor said he would not work with Sheriff if he wins at the Supreme Court

- He has removed the PDP logo from from the party secretariat

Governor Ayodele Fayose has revealed that he will leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if Senator Ali Modu Sheriff wins at the Supreme Court as chairman of the party.

The party has been involved in leadership tussle with Senator Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi taking the case to the Apex Court to determine who deserves to be the true chairman of the party.

READ ALSO: Igbos will blame themselves if Nigeria break-up

According to Channels TV, Fayose who belongs to the Makarfi-led faction has declared that he would leave the PDP if Sheriff ultimately wins.

Fayose insisted that although at the moment he remains a core PDP member, he would not hesitate to dump the party if Makarfi does not win at the Supreme Court.

Legit.ng had earlier reported that Fayose removed the logo and name of PDP from his campaign office at Olora junction, Adebayo, Ado-Ekiti..

The one storey building was repainted white, with every insignia of PDP removed.

Before repainting, the building had Fayoses picture embossed on PDP logo with the inscription: Fayose Our Leader, Architect of Modern Ekiti.

The billboard, with Fayoses portrait, reads: Ekiti 2018: Support Continuity, Fayose Leads, We Follow. Again, Its Going To Be 16-0.

In the Legit.ng video below, Femi Fani-Kayode reveals details of his talk with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Source: Legit.ng
- Ango Abdullahi has insisted that the north would not allow a repeat of what transpired in the PDP between Goodluck Jonathan and the region

- Abdullahi, spokesperson of NEF, says Osinbajo should be allowed to run Buhari's first term till 2019

- He also wants the northern replacement to be allowed to contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress

In the event that President Muhammau Buharis failing health prevents him from seeking re-election in 2019, elders from the north insist that the region must retain the presidency.

Speaking through Professor Ango Abdullahi, its mouthpiece, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) says the region must be allowed to field a presidential candidate through the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

The New Telegraph quoted Abdullahi as saying that in such a situation, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo should be allowed to complete the term of office till 2019 as stipulated by the constitution.

Ango Abdullahi said there must not be a repeat of 2011 when Godluck Jonathan took over

This means that Osinbajo may not be allowed by the north to seek election as president unlike what happened in the days of late Umar YarAdua and Goodluck Jonathan.

READ ALSO: Blood bath in Ijebu Ode as Imam, wife, 4 children assassinated

Abdullahi recalled how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reneged on its power sharing provision following the death of YarAdua in 2010 by allowing Jonathan to run for the presidency in 2011 rather than a northerner.

The constitutional provision says that in the event that the president dies in office or becomes incapacitated for one reason or the other and cannot perform the duties of his office, he will be succeeded by the Vice president.

But no one is in a position to know at what point he is going to recover fully and come back to office, or whether the unexpected could happen.

The northern elders insist that Osinbajo cannot replace Buhari in 2019

If the worst case scenario happens, and Buhari is not back on seat, the constitution is very clear that the vice president takes over.

READ ALSO: "I will dump the PDP if Sheriff becomes chairman" Fayose

And what we then expect is that he will take that tenure to its logical end and from there, the politics of power sharing will take precedence over anything else.

When the unexpected happens, in 2019 we will be back to our position that the north should be treated equitably and fairly.

And we expect that another northern candidate will emerge as presidential candidate on the platform of APC, he said.

Meanwhile, Professor Yemi Osinbajo is reportedly doing his best in the absence of Buhari. He recently ordered that the Social Intervention Programmes (SIPs) of the federal government be expanded to enable more Nigerians to benefit.

Osinbajo gave the order after receiving the SIP update report, a statement by the Vice Presidential Spokesman, Laolu Akande, said on Tuesday.

Watch a Femi Fani-Kayode, a supporter of Goodluck Jonathan, reveals what he says Buhari told him. The video below is brought to you by Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng
Best known for promoting private-school vouchers and welfare reform, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation is also using its financial muscle to undo Obama-era environmental regulations and support the work of global warming skeptics.

Internal documents show the Milwaukee-based foundation is funding think tanks and public relations campaigns to attack the credibility of what it describes as radical organizations that have raised worries about climate change and called for stronger regulation of oil and coal.

The funding is detailed in internal documents that were hacked last fall by a group calling itself Anonymous Poland. Hundreds of thousands of pages of records were temporarily posted online, downloaded and brought to the attention of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Bradley Blueprint National Wisconsin A closer look at the grants Documents

The Bradley Blueprint National Wisconsin A closer look at the grants Documents

The documents show the foundation is using the same tactics as environmental groups, albeit with the opposite aim:

Bradley dollars have been used to fight federal regulations that limit emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants, challenge scientists who warn of the threat of rising levels of greenhouse gas and to tout the economic benefits of fossil fuels.

One example is the Washington, D.C.-based Competitive Enterprise Institute.

A November 2015 Bradley memo describing a $100,000 grant notes the conservative think tank "continues to aggressively use the federal Freedom of Information Act process to expose the collusion between (Environmental Protection Agency) officials and global warming alarmist groups."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a federal agency, says that "97% of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities."

Nevertheless, the debate over global warming policy has persisted, with critics  including many funded by Bradley  arguing the concerns are overblown.

They have also raised objections over the cost of making changes, such as those tied to the Obama administration's plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants by about one-third by 2030.

Michael Grebe, president and chief executive officer of the Bradley Foundation from 2002 to July 2016, said the foundation under his leadership did not hold a formal position on man-made global warming.

"The foundation has supported some organizations that are skeptical  that the science actually bears out whats been predicted or projected," he said.

Bradleys current CEO, Rick Graber, declined an interview on the foundation's spending on energy and environmental issues. In an email, Graber said the expenditures are not a major focus of the organization and would not be in the future.

The internal records show the foundation issued at least $2.1 million in grants involving energy and environmental issues between 2013 and 2015, a period in which Bradley gave out about $112 million.

The money spent on energy and the environment is likely higher, but totals for some groups with multiple grants were often lumped together in the documents.

Taking on environmental groups

Bradley's donations over the years have challenged the activities and claims of environmental groups.

Bradley Foundation climate-related donations 2013-2015 The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation annually provides more than $40 million in grants to groups locally and across the country. The foundation primarily funds organizations that promote conservative ideas and ideals.

Year Bradley fund recipient Amount received 2015 Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment $20,000 2015 Independence Institute $50,000 2015 Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Inc. - Center of Energy Policy and the Environment $250,000 2015 Sand County Foundation $100,000 2015 Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy $50,000 2015 Competitive Enterprise Institute $100,000 2014 Urban Ecology Center $10,000 2014 Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change $10,000 2014 Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment $20,000 2014 Sand County Foundation $100,000 2014 Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy $50,000 2014 Competitive Enterprise Institute $75,000 2013 Urban Ecology Center $10,000 2013 Competitive Enterprise Institute $100,000 2013 Center for Consumer Freedom $150,000 2013 Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change $10,000 2013 Consumers' Research - Center for Energy Innovation and Independence $150,000 2013 Consumers' Research - Center for Energy Innovation and Independence $100,000 2013 Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment $25,000 2013 Heartland Institute $92,500 2013 Independence Institute $75,000 2013 Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Inc. - Center of Energy Policy and the Environment $250,000 2013 Sand County Foundation $263,591 2013 Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy $50,000 See complete list here

Bradley Foundation climate-related donations 2013-2015 The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation annually provides more than $40 million in grants to groups locally and across the country. The foundation primarily funds organizations that promote conservative ideas and ideals.

Year Bradley fund recipient Amount received 2015 Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment $20,000 2015 Independence Institute $50,000 2015 Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Inc. - Center of Energy Policy and the Environment $250,000 2015 Sand County Foundation $100,000 2015 Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy $50,000 2015 Competitive Enterprise Institute $100,000 2014 Urban Ecology Center $10,000 2014 Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change $10,000 2014 Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment $20,000 2014 Sand County Foundation $100,000 2014 Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy $50,000 2014 Competitive Enterprise Institute $75,000 2013 Urban Ecology Center $10,000 2013 Competitive Enterprise Institute $100,000 2013 Center for Consumer Freedom $150,000 2013 Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change $10,000 2013 Consumers' Research - Center for Energy Innovation and Independence $150,000 2013 Consumers' Research - Center for Energy Innovation and Independence $100,000 2013 Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment $25,000 2013 Heartland Institute $92,500 2013 Independence Institute $75,000 2013 Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Inc. - Center of Energy Policy and the Environment $250,000 2013 Sand County Foundation $263,591 2013 Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy $50,000 See complete list here

In one instance, it provided $150,000 to Washington, D.C., public relations executive Rick Berman to launch a campaign starting in 2014 known as Big Green Radicals, which takes aim at national environmental organizations and some of their affluent supporters.

The money, according to a Bradley memo, went to the Center for Consumer Freedom  one of the several organizations Berman runs. The center has targeted labor unions, food activists and environmentalists.

According to the memo, Berman's group conducted research profiles of the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the group Food and Water Watch. It also seeded several thousand fans on Facebook and posted videos disparaging  and sometimes poking fun  at the environmental left.

In one video, Big Green Radicals portrayed actor Robert Redford, a member of NRDCs board of directors, as a hypocrite for opposing development of an eco-friendly housing development because of how close it was to his own Napa Valley home in California.

After the Beverly Hills City Council voted in 2014 to ban fracking, an oil-drilling technique, the group created a video deriding opponents as out of touch. In it, a woman standing on upscale Rodeo Drive said she agreed with the ban and tries to be energy conscious.

When we go out on the weekends, we see no point in paying the valet three times when three of us get together, she said. (We) either drive the same car or Uber it.

In 2014, Bradley donated $100,000 to the Madison-based Sand County Foundation to oppose "radical environmental groups" seeking to place the greater sage-grouse on the federal endangered species list in 11 western states, according to a memo.

Bradley officials were interested in protecting the bird, but through private efforts, not government ones.

The documents show the foundation's view that environmentalists are using the Endangered Species Act to "curtail economic activities related to energy development through the use of fracking in the western part of the United States."

The Sand County Foundation initiative was successful. In September 2015, the U.S. Interior Department announced it would not put the grouse on the endangered list.

A Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman said last week that the population of the grouse swings in 10- or 15-year cycles. Biologists are expected to conduct a review of its status in 2020, she said.

The idea behind the project was to bring together energy developers and ranchers, both of whom were being blamed for the decline of the sage-grouse and have them develop proactive and positive conservation solutions, said Kevin McAleese, president of the Sand County Foundation. The idea was to reverse the role of being on the defensive to being on the offensive.

Sand County has received $14.3 million from Bradley since 1992 to support voluntary efforts for soil and water conservation and to improve wildlife habitat.

The principles that we shared were respect for property rights, liberty and voluntary local solutions to environmental problems, McAleese said

Questioning climate change

In a 2013 ranking of energy and environmental recipients, Bradley named the Heartland Institute of Arlington Heights, Ill., the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research of New York as the best.

The organizations have expressed skepticism at times over the role humans play in climate change and have emphasized instead the economic costs of shifting away from fossil fuels.

In 2014 and 2015, Bradley gave a total of $175,000 to the Competitive Enterprise Institutes energy and environment program, which is led by Myron Ebell who was in charge of President Donald Trumps transition team at the EPA.

Ebell has been critical of what he calls alarmism of climate scientists who contend that increasing levels of greenhouse gas and warmer global temperatures are a cause of rising oceans and vanishing arctic ice.

Another recipient has been the Virginia-based CO2 Coalition, a group that has downplayed the harm of rising carbon dioxide levels  and cited what it describes as potential benefits of global warming, such as plants that grow faster and are more resistant to drought.

Formerly known as the George C. Marshall Institute, the organization has received more than $4 million from Bradley since 1986 for its work on a variety of issues, including environmental ones, according to the internal documents.

William Happer, a Princeton University professor emeritus of physics, heads the coalition. Happer was among those who were invited to meet with the president-elect at Trump Tower before the inauguration.

In 2015, Happer told a U.S. Senate subcommittee in 2015 that few realize that the world has been in a CO2 famine for millions of years, adding that increased agricultural yields and modest warming far outweigh any harm from rising levels of greenhouse gas.

Support our investigative journalism Become a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel subscriber today and get unlimited digital access to support stories like this one.

Support our investigative journalism Become a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel subscriber today and get unlimited digital access to support stories like this one.

Nick Surgey, director of research at the left-leaning Center for Media and Democracy, which tracks Bradleys philanthropic activities, said science has already settled the question of human impact on the changing climate.

"The alarmists and their supporters whole purpose for existing are to try to suggest that there is a debate," he said. "It is trying to create an idea in peoples minds that there is some debate about the fact that the climate is changing.
When Gov. Scott Walker laid out a plan in his state budget address urging people to take steps to avoid welfare, it mirrored a platform of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, which has pushed for greater personal responsibility and more stringent welfare requirements.

Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Gov. Scott Walker says Bradley Foundation funding has saved taxpayer dollars.

Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Gov. Scott Walker says Bradley Foundation funding has saved taxpayer dollars.

Documents hacked from the Bradley Foundation's computer server show the connection is not just philosophical  it's financial.

A Bradley Foundation staffer sat on the Future of the Family Commission, which came up with Walker's plan. Two experts who advised the state panel are major Bradley grant recipients, with one running a center that has received $11 million over the years. A key study used by the commission was paid for by Bradley.

The foundation even awarded a $100,000 grant to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families to underwrite the commission itself  an unusual, if not unique, step in government. Neither the source of the commission's money nor the foundation's stake in the outcome was disclosed. The state spent about $62,000 of the grant before making its recommendation to the governor.

In addition, state Children and Families Secretary Eloise Anderson, who chairs a separate Bradley-funded national initiative on welfare reform, met with foundation officials shortly after her appointment to explain her priorities. She later sought the grant for the state commission.

The Bradley Blueprint National Wisconsin A closer look at the grants Documents

The Bradley Blueprint National Wisconsin A closer look at the grants Documents

As the deep-pocketed Bradley Foundation takes its Wisconsin template for conservative control of government across the nation, an examination of the effort in Wisconsin provides an unprecedented look at how expansive, coordinated and influential its approach has become.

The foundation actively grades its grant recipients, looks for ways in which they can work together and evaluates progress, focusing often on how they took actions helpful to Walker and other Republicans or harmful to their opponents.

The result: The work of these Bradley Foundation-funded conservative groups often becomes deeply intertwined with that of the Republican governor, even as the foundation tries to avoid crossing the line into partisan politics.

As a tax-exempt charity, Bradley cannot engage directly in political activity. Federal law requires that charitable donations be made to benefit the public good, not a private interest.

In the case of the Bradley-funded state commission on family, state Rep. Amanda Stuck (D-Appleton) argued people should know who was paying for the commission. Former Gov. Tommy Thompson and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett made public announcements when they received Bradley grants for government projects.

"You need to know where it comes from so you can see where the data and information is coming from and whether it's valid," said Stuck, an Appleton Democrat and critic of Walker's welfare proposal.

In an interview, Walker said it saved taxpayer dollars to have the Bradley Foundation pay for the panel, even if it was never announced.

"People bring in speakers on given topics, so instead of the state taxpayers having to pay to bring them in, other organizations are willing to do that," Walker told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I think thats legitimate."

In his two-year spending plan, Walker is forwarding the commission's recommendations to do away with the so-called marriage penalty for the earned income tax credit, provide in-home training for new fathers and promote the "success sequence": graduate from high school, get a full-time job, dont have a child before age 21 and get married before childbearing. Critics maintain these rules are not a "magic formula" and shouldn't be seen as a substitute for welfare programs for needy families.

Anderson, who headed the commission, said by email that the Bradley Foundation was just one of many groups she met with after returning to Wisconsin to join the Walker cabinet. As for the grant for the family commission, she said, "There was never an attempt to hide this fact."

Along with being a Walker cabinet member, Anderson  who once said welfare had "outlived its usefulness"  is the head of the Secretaries Innovation Group, which has been awarded $1.5 million by the Bradley Foundation's board.

Anderson's group, made up of 20 human services secretaries from states with GOP governors, wants to return welfare decisions to the states and to cut the number of people on welfare, food stamps and Social Security Disability Insurance. It also wants to revise the earned income tax credit, with one option being to make it a subsidy for employers, not a payment to families.

One internal Bradley document showed the group meeting with the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee in 2015, when House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was chairman of the panel.

"The current U.S. welfare system is broken and needs to be fixed," Anderson said in her email to the Journal Sentinel. "I believe that we are in desperate need of Welfare Reform on the federal level that will develop a safety net that does not lock people into a lifetime of poverty and stops robbing them of their dignity."

The Wisconsin model

Under the Wisconsin model, Bradley-funded groups recruit conservative candidates, propose and defend conservative policy, dig up dirt on liberals, draft conservative legislation and provide legal support throughout the process. These 14 groups, dubbed the "Wisconsin Network," received more than $13 million from Bradley from 2011 to 2015.

The project was the brainchild of former Bradley Foundation CEO Michael W. Grebe, who stepped down last year after 15 years in the post. Grebe has said he never mixed his dual duties running the conservative philanthropy with his work as campaign chairman for Walker.

"I'm very careful here," Grebe said in 2011. "I don't use foundation resources for any of my outside activities. I have a separate email address that I use for politics. I do my political and civic work on my own time."

But Bradley's internal records show the line between politics and policy sometimes blurs.

The documents were obtained in a computer hack by a foreign group calling itself Anonymous Poland. The breach occurred shortly before the November 2016 election, but the records were posted online for a short period, downloaded by others and eventually came to the Journal Sentinel's attention.

Four months after Walker survived a 2012 recall election, Grebe held the foundation's annual donor retreat at the American Club in Kohler. Part of the cost of the event was underwritten by Beloit billionaire Diane Hendricks, whose holding company gave the foundation $40,000, the internal records show.

"The meeting will be closed to the media," Grebe wrote in an invitation. "It will be private, and fully confidential."

In all, about 85 major Wisconsin donors showed up for the Kohler conference, held Oct. 7 and 8. Of that number, 76  or nearly 90%  have given a total of $2.1 million directly to Walker's campaign since he first ran for governor, according to a Journal Sentinel analysis of the records and campaign contributions.

"If you got 85 people in a room that you identified as conservative donors who live in Wisconsin, should it surprise you that a significant majority of them contribute to Walker? Or to (U.S. Sen.) Ron Johnson?" Grebe asked in a recent interview. "I don't know why you would find that surprising."

Walker agreed to give a short talk at the Kohler event and then mingle with attendees during a cocktail reception on the conference's first day.

The next day, R.J. Johnson, Walker's chief campaign strategist, and then-Walker campaign manager Keith Gilkes spoke to the private group, Grebe said. The presentation  titled Recalling the Recalls  occurred after the formal conference, but all donors were invited to attend.

In retrospect, Grebe said there was nothing wrong by adding a political event at the end of the conference. But he said he did regret that it went so poorly. Only 10 people came.

"We never did it again," Grebe said.

Connections between groups

The records show the Bradley Foundation praised and appeared to reward conservative groups for helping to blunt the second John Doe investigation of Walker started by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm.

In 2012, Chisholm began looking into whether Walker's campaign had illegally coordinated fundraising and campaign advertising with other conservative groups around the state during the recall election. The crux of the investigation centered around whether campaign contribution limits were being skirted.

The probe was eventually closed with no charges.

When recommending renewal of grant money for several Wisconsin organizations, Bradley staffers cited the groups' work in undercutting and criticizing Chisholm and the investigation. An earlier John Doe probe of Walker and his aides, focused on Walker's time as Milwaukee County executive, had met with little resistance from conservative groups. Six individuals were charged with crimes in that first investigation.

"Media Trackers rocketed to national attention when it exposed and undermined the partisan nature of the John Doe investigation of Governor Scott Walker," one Bradley Foundation document said.

Media Trackers, which wrote about the political affiliations of Milwaukee County prosecutors, state regulators and their family members, has received more than $1.2 million in grant money from the foundation since 2010. The group is also credited in its grant review for stories critical of Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for attorney general.

While reviewing a grant request from the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a Bradley staffer noted the center had set up reporters in statehouses around the country "to exploit the gap in local news reporting that resulted from consolidations, mergers and cutbacks" at daily newspapers. Bradley gave at least $545,500 to Wisconsin Watchdog, its operation in Madison.

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"In Wisconsin that model worked," wrote Janet Riordan, a Bradley staffer who oversaw local projects before leaving recently. "Its editor and primary reporter, Matt Kittle, has made a name for himself for his aggressive investigative reporting  notably on the John Doe investigations and the Tomah Veterans' Administration scandal  and for his willingness to work with other conservative resources."

The stories on the Tomah VA are likely to be used prominently against U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in her election next year. Wisconsin Watchdog was called "the leading news outlet for coverage of Wisconsin's John Doe investigations."

Kittle, who also is a fill-in for Wisconsin conservative talk radio hosts, wrote nearly 400 stories critical of the John Doe probe. Wisconsin Watchdog shut down earlier this year, and Kittle switched to the MacIver Institute, a Madison think tank financed by the Bradley Foundation.

In recommending approval of a grant for the MacIver Institute, Bradley officials cited its work in support of right-to-work legislation, which bans labor contracts from requiring workers to pay union dues. Walker signed right-to-work legislation into law in 2015.

Bradley has given MacIver more than $1.1 million since it was founded in 2008.

The internal records show MacIver's agenda for the future includes a push for a 3% flat tax, a change in mandatory sentencing rules for 17-year-olds and a study on how to cut $1 billion in state spending.

These groups were also there to help lend support to Act 10, the governor's signature piece of legislation to curtail collective bargaining for public employees.

One of the most aggressive was the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative litigation center. In Bradley's review of its grants, the law center is credited with helping Walker by defending the law against challenges from state unions and suing the Kenosha Unified School Board for violating the new law in a new contract. The conservative law center also represented U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) in his unsuccessful lawsuit over health care coverage for federal lawmakers under the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare.

The Bradley Foundation encouraged the Milwaukee-based law center to continue to work with other conservative nonprofits in the state. The institute has been awarded more than $3 million from the foundation since 2011.

"If the Wisconsin Network had an MVP, it would be Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL)," a Bradley staffer wrote in 2015. "It is, as founder Rick Esenberg likes to say, counsel to the movement. Nearly all of the organizations of the conservative infrastructure come to WILL for advice."

Matt Rothschild, head of the liberal Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, said the Bradley Foundation and similar groups have been key players in helping turn the Wisconsin a deep shade of red.

"The Republican officials they helped elect understand what side their bread is buttered on, so they deliver the policies that these groups want," he said. "And then the officials get the support, either direct or indirect, for their re-election efforts because they were good little water boys for their paymasters.

"And around and around it goes.

Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 224-2135 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.
Brazil's ambassador to Venezuela, withdrawn last year during tensions between the two neighbors, will return to Caracas next week, Defense Minister Raul Jungmann said Wednesday. "Next Monday, the ambassador of Brazil will return to his place in Venezuela as a gesture of goodwill," Jungmann told journalists in Brasilia. Referring to the economic collapse and violent political standoff in Venezuela, Jungmann said: "We cannot lose any opportunity to help mediate." Both countries recalled their ambassadors in August 2016 during a row over the Brazilian Congress's impeachment of leftist president Dilma Rousseff and her replacement by center-right President Michel Temer. Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro has been criticized by Brazil and numerous other countries for violent clashes between riot police and anti-government protesters. Since the start of April, 42 people have died. The oil-rich country has been suspended from the regional economic trade group Mercosur.
In spite of that agreement and the associated UN Security Council resolution calling on Iran to avoid work on nuclear-capable weapons, the Islamic Republic has continued to test ballistic missiles, and by some accounts it has also continued to work with North Korea on the mutual improvement of weapons that could be outfitted with nuclear warheads in order to threaten the US and its allies.

On Tuesday, CNBC issued an extensive report on North Koreas nuclear work in which it quoted former CIA agent Fred Fleitz, now with the Center for Security Policy, as saying there is pretty credible information indicating that North Korea and Iran have exchanged missile design and testing know-how in both directions. Fleitz notes that Iranian scientists have apparently attended North Korean missile launches, some of which involved rockets that had originated in North Korean but then been improved by Iran.

This information may well encourage the existing suspicion maintained by the White House and other US officials regarding Irans compliance with the nuclear agreement. Although a recent Senate Intelligence Committee inquiry found that Iranian government had been working to preserve the deal in advance of the Iranian presidential elections, the Trump administration has accused that same government of violating the spirit of the agreement through its missile tests and other activities.

This accusation underscores the escalating tensions between the Tehran and the Trump administration, which has been antagonistic toward the nuclear deal and the Islamic Republic in general since day one. The US presidents assertive Iran policy is likely to go through a new period of development at around the same time that the Iranian national elections are taking place. That is to say, those elections coincide with President Trumps first official oversees visit, which will start in Saudi Arabia before proceeding to Israel, both of which will be the object of discussions about confronting Iranian influence in the region.

On Monday, the Wall Street Journal characterized the planned trip as part of an ongoing effort to encourage traditional US allies to develop a multilateral plan for fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant while also pushing back against Iran, which has a hand in a number of regional conflicts and terrorist activities.

The USs own strategy in Syria and Iraq has apparently already taken a turn toward forestalling Iranian influence while also trying to complete the destruction of the Islamic State. This was pointed out last week, for instance, by Riyadh Vision, in an article that described US efforts to help local forces close off the ISIL stronghold of Deir Ezzor, which lies along a route that could link Tehran to Damascus, Beirut, and the Mediterranean Sea.

And as The Guardian points out, the emerging competition over Deir Ezzor comes shortly after Tehran abandoned its previously planned route in order to avoid US forces that have built up in northern Syria. Such avoidance is particularly noteworthy in light of the Iranian missile tests and support for North Korean development, as these things had been part of a pattern or defiant gestures and statements implying readiness for war.

As the Islamic Republic tries to avoid direct confrontation and the US continues to push back against Irans regional influence, the stage could be set for the White House to pressure the Islamic Republic to back down on its ballistic missile posture as well. This could in turn limit the growth of North Korean missile capabilities while providing new reassurance to Irans other adversaries, including Saudi Arabia.
Egypt's prosecution said Wednesday it has handed over to Italian investigators documents requested by Rome to help the probe into the kidnapping and murder last year of an Italian student. Giulio Regeni, a 28-year-old Cambridge University PhD student, disappeared in central Cairo in January last year and his body, bearing signs of torture, was later found by the side of a road. "The Egyptian investigators gave their Italian counterparts the first bunch of documents requested by the Rome prosecution," said a joint statement released by the Egyptian and Italian prosecutions. It was released as a team of Italian investigators wound up a visit to Cairo. Egypt had previously dismissed as "unconstitutional" a request by Italy to retrieve thousands of phone records from the areas where Regeni lived, disappeared and where his body was found. Wednesday's statement also said a deal would be signed later this month aimed at retrieving footage from CCTV cameras from a Cairo metro station Regeni is believed to have entered before being abducted. In January, the prosecution said Cairo had approved a request to send experts from "the only German company specialised in retrieving data from the camera recording device" at that metro station. Regeni's case badly strained the traditionally close relations between Rome and Cairo. The slow pace of the investigation prompted Italy to withdraw its ambassador from Cairo. Egyptian police initially suggested Regeni died in a traffic accident, but later said he was killed by an anti-foreigner criminal gang whose members were all killed in a shootout with police. That account was met with suspicion in Italy, where politicians and the media have suggested Regeni was slain by elements of Egypt's security services. An Italian autopsy showed that Regeni's body was covered with cuts and his bones were broken, indicating he had been hit with "fists, batons and hammers". A letter "X" was carved on his forehead and hand, according to the report cited by Italian media. Regeni was in Cairo researching Egyptian street vendor trade unions, a sensitive topic, and had written articles critical of the government under a pen name. He disappeared from central Cairo on January 25, 2016, a day when security in the capital was tight as it was the fifth anniversary of the uprising that ousted longtime leader Hosni Mubarak.
A sharia court Wednesday sentenced two Indonesian men to be publicly caned for gay sex for the first time in the conservative province of Aceh, the latest sign of a backlash against homosexuals in the Muslim-majority country. The pair, aged 20 and 23, were sentenced to 85 strokes of the cane each after being found guilty of breaking sharia law in the only part of Indonesia that implements the strict Islamic regulations. They were caught together in bed in March by vigilantes who burst into the boarding house where they were staying in provincial capital Banda Aceh. Shaky phone footage of the raid that circulated online showed the vigilantes kicking, slapping and insulting the men, with one of them slumped naked on the ground during the attack. Public caning has long been common for offences such as gambling and drinking in Aceh, but Wednesday's verdict was the first time the punishment has been handed down for gay sex since a sharia regulation came into force in 2015 banning the practice. "This is barbaric -- this is another low point for Aceh, and also for Indonesia," said Andreas Harsono, Indonesia researcher for Human Rights Watch. Gay sex is not illegal elsewhere in Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population. The ruling is another sign of growing hostility towards Indonesia's small lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, which has faced a wave of angry rhetoric in recent times, with ministers, hardliners and influential Islamic groups lining up to denounce homosexuality. - 'Reduce my sentence' - Handing down the verdict at the Banda Aceh court, presiding judge Khairil Jamal said that the men had been "proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing gay sex, the defendants are sentenced to 85 strokes of the cane in public". The sentence was higher than the recommendation by prosecutors of 80 strokes of the cane. Officials have not revealed the men's names due to the sensitivity of the case. The men arrived at court handcuffed to one another, covering their faces with their clothes to hide their identities from journalists. During the hearing, they bowed their heads and covered their faces with their hands. Asked by the judge if he accepted the verdict, one of the men said softly: "Please reduce my sentence". The second nodded gently and did not say anything. Afer being caught, the men were handed over to sharia authorities who said they admitted to being in a relationship and having had sex three times. The sentence will be carried out at a later date. Canings in Aceh are typically conducted using a thin, rattan cane in front of huge crowds outside mosques. The backlash against the homosexual community began in early 2016, and activists believe it was triggered by widespread media coverage of a decision in the United States to legalise same-sex marriage. A growing number of cases of gay people being harassed and running into problems have been reported. Earlier this month, police arrested eight men in the city of Surabaya for allegedly holding a "gay party". Aceh has faced mounting criticism for its canings, with images of women collapsing as they are publicly flogged drawing criticism from rights groups. The province, on western Sumatra island, began implementing sharia law after being granted special autonomy in 2001, an attempt by the central government to quell a long-running separatist insurgency. Islamic laws have been strengthened since the province struck a peace deal with Jakarta in 2005.
By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will attend a gathering in Saudi Arabia on Saturday but has received no indication whether he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump there, Sudan's foreign minister said on Wednesday. Bashir is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and is shunned by Western leaders, so any direct contact would be a diplomatic bombshell, despite thawing relations between Washington and Khartoum in recent months. Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday is the first stop on his maiden international trip as president that will also take him to Israel and Europe. "On the question of the Trump-Bashir handshake, nobody can pretend anything, but anyway, President Bashir has been invited by the Saudis to be in that conference," Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in Geneva. "We hope that everything will go through as it has been planned, and we look forward for normalisation of our relations with the U.S.," Ghandour said, adding that he would travel with Bashir to Riyadh on Friday. Asked if he hoped to see the two leaders shake hands, Ghandour said: "I dont have dreams but I have hopes, and I hope they will be materialised. Bashir, who came to power in Sudan in a 1989 Islamist and military-backed coup, was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in 2008. He denies the charges and continues to travel abroad, trailed by human rights activists and shunned by Western diplomats. Ghandour dismissed the ICC as a "political tool". "It's a white man's court created to indict people in Africa", he said. ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has called on all states to help with Bashir's arrest and urged the U.N. Security Council to take robust and concrete measures to ensure they do. Bashir faces three counts of genocide, five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes for the murder and persecution of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups in the Darfur province. Ghandour said Darfur was now peaceful and Khartoum wanted to open up to trade. It also supported international efforts to combat Islamist militants in the wider region. In January, Trump's predecessor Barack Obama ordered the lifting of a 20-year U.S. trade embargo and financial sanctions after 180 days, provided that Khartoum acts to further improve its human rights record. Ghandour hoped the sanctions would finally be lifted after an evaluation on July 12, a major step towards integration with the world economy. Sudan hopes to join the World Trade Organization later this year and reform its economy, which mostly produces gold, gum arabic and farm produce. Ghandour said he also hoped to resolve a trade dispute with Egypt at a meeting in Cairo on May 31. He also urged the United States to play a stronger role in peacemaking in Syria and in Yemen, where Sudanese troops are part of a Saudi-led coalition. Ghandour denied reports that Sudan was involved militarily in Libya and that it had helped to supply portable anti-aircraft missiles to rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Additional reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in the Hague; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
Saudi Arabia has invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for alleged war crimes, to a summit with US President Donald Trump and Arab and Muslim leaders, a Saudi official said Wednesday. "He (Bashir) is invited," the official told AFP without saying whether the Sudanese leader would attend the top-level talks on Sunday. Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, from Saturday on his first foreign trip since taking office in January. He will address the summit on his "hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam," the White House said Tuesday. Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the International Criminal Court in 2009 for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Darfur in which at least 300,000 people have been killed. He denies the charges. The Hague-based ICC was set up in 2002 as a court of last resort to try the world's worst crimes where national courts are unable or unwilling to act.
EU Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday condemned his native Poland for wanting to "harshly reject European solidarity" by refusing to welcome refugees, warning Warsaw that there would be consequences. Poland is among the Eastern European countries to have opposed a European Union plan adopted in 2015 to take in 160,000 Syrian, Eritrean and Iraq asylum seekers from overstretched Greece and Italy. On Tuesday, the EU set a June deadline for Poland and Hungary to start admitting their share of migrants or risk sanctions. "With the help of Europe do we want to resolve the immigration problems, namely defend borders but also help the states who are welcoming too many refugees? Or instead do we harshly reject European solidarity and not welcome them, as the (Polish) government proposes today?" Tusk asked reporters in Strasbourg. The former liberal Polish premier said he was "able to understand" some of Warsaw's arguments but warned that its stance "would inevitably have certain consequences. Those are Europe's principles." Tusk has strained relations with governing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party in Poland, which was the only member state to oppose his reelection as EU president in March. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski has also accused him of "moral responsibility" for the death of his twin brother, the late president Lech Kaczynski, in a 2010 air crash in Russia that also killed 95 others. Tusk was prime minister at the time. Polish and Russian investigators had found that pilot error, bad weather and poor air-traffic control were to blame for the crash in Smolensk, Russia. But the PiS launched a fresh probe and a commission of enquiry suggested last month that an explosion likely caused the aircraft to break up in mid-air.
Venezuela's government said Wednesday it was sending troops to a region rocked by violence during anti-government protests, as Washington rallied the UN Security Council to prevent conflict in the country. The death of a 15-year-old boy brought the toll from weeks of protests in Venezuela to 43 -- a sad milestone that matched the number killed in the last comparable wave of unrest, in 2014. Looting and attacks against security installations erupted overnight in the state of Tachira, which borders Colombia, authorities said. The state prosecution service said on Twitter the boy was killed "during a demonstration" there. "I have ordered the transfer of 2,000 guards and 600 special operations troops" to Tachira, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on state television channel VTV. - Conflict risk alarms US - The United States warned at the United Nations that Venezuela's crisis was worsening and could escalate into a civil conflict like that of Syria. Following Security Council talks, US Ambassador Nikki Haley called for countries to send a message to Maduro. "We've been down this road -- with Syria, with North Korea, with South Sudan, with Burundi, with Burma," she told reporters. "The international community needs to say 'respect the human rights of your people' or this is going to go in the direction we've seen so many others go." She earlier warned that Venezuela was "on the verge of humanitarian crisis." Brazil's Defense Minister Raul Jungmann told reporters Wednesday his country was making contingency plans for a possible influx of Venezuelan migrants. Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, however, said on Twitter that the United States was out to topple the Venezuelan government. "The United States has shed light on the plan it is leading to intervene in Venezuela," she said. "Other countries (at UN headquarters) put it loudly and clearly: Venezuela is no matter for the UN to address." - Looting - Authorities said in a report on Wednesday that in Tachira some 20 shops, restaurants and a school were looted, two police stations set on fire and a military outpost attacked with firebombs over the previous night. One military commander was hurt, it said. Fernanda Carvalho, 53, told AFP virtually all the food was stolen from her bakery in San Cristobal. "It felt like my world was falling in. There go years of work and investment," she said. - 'Another Syria'? - Clashes have erupted across the country during protests in anger at Maduro's handling of an economic and political crisis. The unrest has left 43 people dead since April 1, prosecutors say. Protesters blame Maduro for an economic crisis that has caused shortages of food and medicine. They are demanding early elections and accuse him of trying to cling to power. Elected in 2013, Maduro has accused the opposition of plotting a coup against him with US backing. At the United Nations, Venezuela repeated its rejection of what it considers foreign meddling in its affairs. "Venezuela will resolve its own internal problems," Ambassador Rafael Ramirez told reporters after the meeting. "We will not accept interference." Padrino accused the opposition of trying to start a civil war and wanting "to turn Venezuela into another Syria." "We will not let the homeland fall into chaos," he said. - Street protests - The government and the opposition have accused each other of sending armed groups to sow violence in the protests. Police have fired tear gas and protesters have hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails in near-daily clashes. Analysts say street protests are one of the few means the opposition has left to pressure Maduro. Doctors and nurses in white overalls demonstrated in Caracas on Wednesday to denounce a crisis that has left hospitals desperately undersupplied. "We don't want weapons! We want medicine!" they yelled. Maduro fired health minister Antonieta Caporale last week after her ministry released figures showing infant deaths soared 30 percent last year. Opposition groups planned two further rallies later on Wednesday evening.
Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, was released from a maximum-security prison in Kansas Wednesday after seven years behind bars. With little fanfare, Manning, 29, walked out of Fort Leavenworth's military jail at 2 am to start a new life, after former president Barack Obama commuted her 35-year sentence just days before leaving office. "After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived. I am looking forward to so much!" said Manning in a statement released by her legal team. "Whatever is ahead of me, is far more important than the past," said Manning, whose original release date was set for 2045. "I'm figuring things out right now -- which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me." She posted a picture on Twitter of her black-and-white Converse baseball shoes with the caption "First steps of freedom!!" followed by a smiley-face emoticon. Hours later she added a photograph of a slice of pizza, quipping: "I'm already enjoying my first hot, greasy pizza." Manning was arrested in July 2010 over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks. Lauded as a hero by freedom of speech advocates and as a traitor by others, including President Donald Trump, Manning is expected to head to Maryland, where she lived with an aunt before joining the army as a young man. She remains in the army, as an appeal against her original court martial continues. But her status will be unpaid, off-duty, allowing her to stick to civilian clothes, live where she wants and get a job, a Pentagon spokesman said. - 'Question marks' - The former military intelligence analyst struggled with gender identity issues, growing up as a boy named Bradley in Oklahoma. Those continued as she joined the service and was deployed to a post near Baghdad in 2009. She was arrested shortly after turning over the trove of secret documents to WikiLeaks in 2010. The documents ranged from embarrassing diplomatic cables that revealed how US envoys really felt about friends and foes alike, to videos showing a US air strike in Afghanistan in 2009 that left more than 100 civilians dead and footage of a US helicopter attack in Iraq that killed two Reuters journalists. The documents influenced the course of US involvement in Iraq and added to the rebellious mood of the 2011 Arab Spring. After her arrest, Manning was convicted in a military court in 2013, and began her gender transition while locked up in the all-male military prison in Kansas. She twice attempted suicide last year as she struggled with gender dysphoria, a state of severe distress over her transitioning. The second time was in an isolation cell where she had been sent as punishment for the first attempt. "I firmly believe that the fact she is walking out of prison today not only secured her freedom but also very likely saved her life," Evan Greer, a friend of Manning, told AFP after her release. "She has been incarcerated for more than seven years and held in conditions that the United Nations considers to be torture. She's been through a tremendous amount." "Understandably she has a lot of question marks about what her life is going to be like next, but it's also her first chance in her adult life that she is really going to be able to define that for herself," Greer said. - 'Epic victory' - Greer said Manning's exact location would be kept under wraps for her own security and privacy. But maintaining that privacy could prove difficult. Now internationally known, both adored and reviled, Manning is to be the subject of a documentary called "XY Chelsea," co-produced by Oscar winner Laura Poitras who worked with fellow intelligence leaker Edward Snowden. "Chelsea Manning's story is one of the major events of our time," the film-makers said as they announced the project at the opening of the Cannes film festival, the same day that Manning was released. Julian Assange, whose WikiLeaks was put indelibly on the international map with the Manning leaks, cheered her release. "Chelsea Manning now walks free. An epic victory for which many good people fought -- including Chelsea herself. I can't wait to meet her."
Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, is set to walk out of a military prison Wednesday after seven years behind bars. In July 2010, Manning -- then a male soldier known as Bradley -- was arrested over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks. On Wednesday, Manning will leave the prison barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas -- the only maximum-security facility run by the Pentagon -- thanks to a commutation of her sentence by president Barack Obama before he left office. Without Obama's parting gift, Manning, who served as an intelligence official in Iraq, would have remained behind bars until 2045, after serving a 35-year sentence. Supporters of Manning -- who attempted suicide twice last year alone -- said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her transition as a free, openly transgender woman. "Two more days until the freedom of civilian life," Manning tweeted Monday. "Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans." Manning, now 29, also went on a hunger strike during her detention to denounce the disciplinary measures to which she was subjected -- including stints in solitary confinement. "For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world," she wrote last week. - Quiet release - Manning's defense team is intent on protecting her. The Oklahoma native had a difficult childhood. After her parents' divorce, Manning moved with her mother to Wales, where she repressed her sexuality and was mocked for her effeminate ways. The military is therefore keen on keeping her release low-key. No press conference is planned and media massing at the military installation may be hard-pressed to even catch a glimpse of Manning. "To ensure the privacy and security of Inmate Manning, no further information concerning the release will be provided," US Army spokesman Dave Foster said in a statement. Manning, of whom few photographs are publicly available, could find refuge at an aunt's home in the Washington region. - Unwanted fame - Virtually unknown at the time of her arrest, Manning today is a well-known figure around the world. Labeled a traitor by President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan. She wasn't able to flee abroad like Edward Snowden, who in 2013 released documents showing that the NSA was sweeping up US citizens' communications metadata. Ahead of Manning's release, a group of musicians released a compilation album with all proceeds to go to the former soldier as she starts a new life. "Hugs for Chelsea," a digital album available for a $25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left-wing activism including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore. - Trans icon - Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists. "The first thing Chelsea always says when we talk about her freedom is that she wants to give back to the trans community," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who is himself transgender. Manning was able to start hormonal treatment in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her "right to exist." While Manning's sentence was commuted, her conviction remains intact. Manning, who will turn 30 in December, has appealed. She is also still employed by the army, and retains its insurance coverage. "Manning is statutorily entitled to medical care while on excess leave in an active duty status, pending final appellate review," said Foster, the Army spokesman.
The 2017 Vans Shop Riot hit the Czech Republic last week, with Poruba Skatepark in Ostrava playing host to a joint Czech and Slovakia event which looks like it went off  peep the edit, press release and a couple of photos below then look out for coverage from the next leg in Israel, taking place on the 24th of this month!

For the first time in its 9-year history, Vans Shop Riot headed to Poruba skatepark, Ostrava in the Czech Republic. With great weather and strong support from the local community this was an ideal setting for a riot.

To start the day, a contest for future pros was introduced to allow kids to get a taste of chaos, then unique to the schedule was an epic skate deathrace in which Tomas Stejskal managed to come through unscathed and claim the top prize.

Overall, 14 shop teams competed with the top 8 making it onto the quarterfinals. This round showcased some of the Czech Republics brightest young skaters with eyebrow raising performances from the likes of The Chill and Darkslide.

Onto the Semifinals, here we saw StreetMarket go board to board with Picnic B whilst Mystic faced off against Picnic Skateshop. It was clear from the beginning that both Picnic & StreetMarket would be too strong for the others to compete against, therefore that left them to battle it out in the final.

With a huge local support, Picnic hit the rails early with Ales Jez, Michal Jez and Jirka Houka all throwing down impressive tricks. However, StreetMarkets experienced trio of Richie Tury, Martin Pek and Pepa Tipanic were just to consistent and mistake free on the day, making them the deserved winners, and guaranteeing a spot in the finals taking place later this year.

The Riot heads to Ashdod Skatepark, Israel next on the 24th May.

Follow all the action from Vans Shop Series 2017, from qualifiers to finals at vansshopriot.com.

Results:

StreetMarket  Martin Pek, Richie Tury, Pepa Tipanic Picnic Skateshop  Ales Jez, Michal Jez, Jirka Houka Picnic B team  Erik Tacina, Honza Navratil, Daniel Vojtas

Best Trick Winner:

Richie Tury (StreetMarket)  Nollie Heelflip Down the Biggest Rail.

Deathrace:

Tomas Stejskal (Mystic)
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Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. It produces conventional, premium, and reformulated gasolines; gasoline meeting the specifications of the California Air Resources Board (CARB); diesel fuels, and low-sulfur and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuels; CARB diesel; other distillates; jet fuels; blendstocks; and asphalts, petrochemicals, lubricants, and other refined petroleum products, as well as sells lube oils and natural gas liquids. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned 15 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day; and 12 ethanol plants with a combined ethanol production capacity of approximately 1.6 billion gallons per year. It sells its refined products through wholesale rack and bulk markets; and through approximately 7,000 outlets under the Valero, Beacon, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar, and Texaco brands. The company also produces and sells ethanol, dry distiller grains, syrup, and inedible corn oil primarily to animal feed customers. In addition, it owns and operates crude oil and refined petroleum products pipelines, terminals, tanks, marine docks, truck rack bays, and other logistics assets; and owns and operates a plant that processes animal fats, used cooking oils, and inedible distillers corn oils into renewable diesel. The company was formerly known as Valero Refining and Marketing Company and changed its name to Valero Energy Corporation in August 1997. Valero Energy Corporation was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.
Finding unique wedding and anniversary gifts can be a challenge, especially if youre looking for something thats completely personal to the bride. But thats why Nikki Gentry founded Dreamlines LLC. The company makes customized illustrations of wedding dresses that can make for great wedding or anniversary gifts. Read about the story behind the business in this weeks Small Business Spotlight.

Unique Wedding and Anniversary Gifts

What the Business Does

Provides unique wedding and anniversary gifts.

Owner Nikki Gentry told Small Business Trends, We create hand drawn sketches of the brides wedding gown and grooms suit, which is given as an anniversary gift from the husband or a wedding day gift from the groom. We have created over 2,000 sketches all over the world.

Business Niche

Creating custom work quickly.

Gentry says, We offer a turnaround of 7 days with the option of a 4 and 2 day turnaround if time is a factor. My competitors have a longer turn around. This has been a huge game changer for my business, as my turnaround has been a huge reason for referral business, as my customers share this with their friends.

How the Business Got Started

Because of customer demand.

Gentry explains, I started the business in 2006 selling wedding invitations. A bride asked me if we could create a sketch of her wedding dress. The bride loved her sketch so much that I placed it on the website. InStyle Weddings featured our sketch in their editorial piece, in 2009. It wasnt until 2013 that I decided to give Dreamlines 100 percent in 2014, which resulted in an 803 percent increase from the previous year.

Biggest Win

Sharing her experience on Capitol Hill.

Gentry says, I was invited to speak on Capitol Hill in, Washington DC May 2, 2017 for Small Business Weekly with PayPal and The Small Business Administration regarding the importance of small business capital and small business growth on a global level. The working capital allowed me to focus on marketing projects, website re-design and to create a business consulting company called LearnBelieveGrow.com. I met with Missouri Congressman Blaine Leutkemeyer to share my success as a small business owner.

Lesson Learned

Embrace mistakes.

Gentry says, I actually do not have any regrets or anything I would change. I believe the mistakes I made were as crucial as the successes that occurred for my business to grow.

Secret to Success

Helpful mentors.

Gentry says, I sought many mentors and I speak to them monthly, so as to gain different perspectives and ideas.

Favorite Quote

A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all.  Michael LeBoeuf

* * * * *

Find out more about the Small Biz Spotlight program
Canada  May 17, 2017  Richard Fidler

Quebecs broad party of the left, Quebec solidaire (QS), will open a four-day congress on May 19 in Montreal  the 12th congress in its 11-year history. The delegates face a challenging agenda. It includes the final stage of adoption of the partys detailed program, a process begun eight years ago; discussion of possible alliances with other parties and some social movements including a proposed fusion with another pro-independence party, Option nationale; and renewal of the partys top leadership.

Quebec solidaire has attracted unusual media attention in recent months in the wake of the February announcement by Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, the best-known leader of Quebecs massive student strike in 2012, that he had decided to join the party and become its candidate to replace QS leader Francoise David, who resigned in January, as the member of the National Assembly for the riding (constituency) of Gouin in Montreal. Nadeau-Dubois  often referred to as GND  also announced that he would campaign for election at this congress as the partys male co-spokesperson. He is widely expected to win the Gouin by-election now scheduled for May 29.

GNDs announcement, accompanied by his sharp attack on Quebecs political class which for 30 years has betrayed Quebec, prompted a flood of new membership applications; within a few days the QS membership grew by about 5,000, a 50 per cent increase. An opinion poll at the time credited QS with 16 per cent popular support, only 6 percentage points behind the Parti quebecois (PQ) in Montreal.

These were welcome developments for the party, which has failed since its founding to elect more than three MNAs under Quebecs undemocratic first-past-the-post electoral system. Also, although QS benefited from the militancy and popular support of the students struggle in 2012, gaining 4,000 new members for a time, it has suffered from a relative demobilization of social movement activists since then, although the ecology movement in opposition to climate change appears to be gaining in momentum.

Program Debate

The program debate covers such topics as the partys position on justice issues, including legal aid and access to the courts, prison reform, drugs, police and the right to demonstrate; urban and rural land reform including respect for indigenous lands, strengthened environmental controls, and direct popular democracy at the municipal level; and food and agriculture policy including the transition toward eco-responsible agriculture.

Of particular interest is adoption of a proposed international policy for Quebec solidaire based on the principles of opposition to imperialism and solidarity with the exploited and oppressed around a global justice (altermondialiste) agenda. The resolution has been debated for more than a year by the QS membership.

Adoption of an international program by Quebec solidaire is long overdue. The delay is due in part to a persisting tendency of the party to present its program in a provincialist Quebec framework instead of making its support of Quebec independence the driving factor in its program definition. (This ambivalence is explained below in relation to the debate on the proposed Constituent Assembly.) An exception is the partys consistent support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against the Israeli states oppression of the Palestinians, reaffirmed in last years congress.

Close to 30 local and national associations and bodies of the party submitted proposed amendments to the draft resolutions, which were then edited by a synthesis committee for debate at the congress. For the most part the synthesis document, which also publishes each of the suggested amendments with an explanation of why it proposes adoption or rejection, does not fundamentally alter the draft proposals.

The party plans to publish its program as a whole by September of this year. The program as adopted at previous congresses is available here (in French only).

Alliances: Is the PQ a Progressive Step Forward?

The focus on programmatic definition  important as it is  has been eclipsed in recent months by a renewal of a recurring debate in Quebec solidaire over proposals to ally electorally with other parties, and in particular whether the party should seek a possible alliance with the Parti quebecois for the next general election, in 2018. Whenever this question was raised in previous congresses, the delegates rejected by large majorities proposals for such alliance made by prominent QS leaders, among them Francoise David and Amir Khadir.

At its National Council meeting in November 2016, QS voted to investigate possible convergences and alliances between the party and some social and political movements that share the same inclusive vision: notably Quebec independence, an end to austerity, equality between men and women, recognition of the diversity of Quebecs population, support of First Nations and Inuit self-determination, an ecologist transition including an end to hydrocarbons development, and reform of the electoral system that would include representation of parties in the National Assembly in proportion to their respective share of the popular vote. For many Council members this list of criteria, consistent with the pursuit of broader links to the indigenous population and progressive social movements, would automatically exclude the Parti Quebecois.

However, immediately after the meeting PQ leader Jean-Francois Lisee, a wily politician, welcomed the QS decision, declaring it opened the way for concrete partnership between QS and his party to beat the governing Liberals in 2018. He claimed to see no reason for disagreement over the alliance criteria listed by the QS council  despite all the evidence to the contrary that the PQ has amply provided over the years.

Questioned by Le Devoir , Andres Fontecilla, the then QS spokesman, expressed some responsiveness to Lisees overture, saying he agreed that the important thing is to beat [Quebec premier] Philippe Couillard with the support of a progressive alliance. Fontecilla said that although the QS congress six months previously had said no formal alliance with the PQ was possible without a commitment by the PQ to undertake a pro-sovereignty campaign from the outset of its term in office, and although there were significant differences with the PQ on the process leading to independence  in particular, the QS insistence that its proposed Constituent Assembly be left to decide whether the constitution it drafted would be that of an independent state or simply that of a province within Canada  the QS Councils proposal did not say anything about these particular impediments to an alliance.

Deep Divisions Over Costs and Benefits of Electoral Alliances

It was soon evident that the QS leadership was deeply divided on these issues. The result was the publication within the party (on its intranet, for members only) of three options (A, B and C) on political alliances, to be debated at the forthcoming congress  two options in fact, since the third basically proposed that a decision be postponed to the subsequent convention next November when the party is to draw up its platform for the 2018 election.

Option B, now publicly supported by a majority of the central leadership, advocates for Quebec solidaire to become the home for those who are fighting neoliberalism and the Liberal government  an alliance that it maintains offers the possibility of negotiating an electoral agreement with the PQ, a party, it says, that for the electorate remains a fundamentally social democratic party and that represents a valid alternative to the Liberals. Failing such a pact, it says, means rejecting any alliance with that party and developing alliances with social movements or other parties that are resolutely independentist and genuinely progressive.

Alluding to the tendency for the electorate to vote strategically, that is, to vote for or against parties with a real possibility of forming the government, the supporters of Option B argue that the PQ will be the primary beneficiary of voters desire to oust the Liberals while QS, a party that is still very weak, will be caught in this polarization of the popular vote and threatened in 2018 with a setback to its still modest electoral gains.

The PQ, of course, is intent on neutralizing QS as a threat to its chances of victory in many ridings. Quebec solidaires Option B supporters hope to leverage this concern by pressuring the PQ to desist from running in a few ridings deemed winnable by QS, thus maintaining or increasing QS representation in the National Assembly (and entitling QS to continued state funding under the election laws, enough to offset reduced revenue in ridings where it desists in favour of the PQ!). In return, QS would agree not to run candidates in ridings where a sizeable QS vote might jeopardize a PQ victory. A related objective is a commitment by the PQ to institute a system of proportional representation when in office  although the PQ has consistently rejected PR throughout its history, including the 18 years when it formed the government, and despite a promise to institute it.

In fact, only a few ridings, all in Montreal, are considered to be winnable for QS, while in far more ridings throughout Quebec QS support is sufficient to thwart a PQ victory in close electoral races. And such a pact would be difficult to negotiate, partly because both QS and the PQ enjoy their greatest support in the same ridings, with QS in recent years eroding the PQs support among urban voters looking for a progressive alternative. Nor is there any certainty that substantial numbers of members of either party would be willing to vote for the other where the party they prefer is not on the ballot. The PQs primary electoral tactic in recent years has been to woo voters to its right, those who vote for the right-wing Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ), a party that includes former pequistes and Liberals and promotes the illusory hope of winning autonomy for Quebec within a revised federal regime. PQ supporters unwilling to vote for QS candidates would likely be more attracted to voting for the CAQ.

More importantly, as Option A supporters argue, the proposed pact would be devastating for the image of Quebec solidaire as a progressive party that actually enjoys more popular support than it receives from a pragmatic electorate voting strategically. Successive opinion polling accords QS up to twice the popular support registered by the party in general elections. And Option B supporters acknowledge that such an agreement with the PQ could result in the demobilization and probable demoralization of many QS members, especially in ridings where they agree not to run.

So what, then, does Option B propose, specifically? It calls for the establishment of a broad and progressive social bloc, the electoral goal of which is an increase in the number of QS MNAs, the defeat of the Liberal government and the election of a government that marks a rupture with the policies of neoliberal austerity, that favours a real ecological transition, that instigates a reform of the electoral system and allows the advance of an inclusive sovereigntist project. QS would undertake negotiations with the PQ  which Option B incredibly presents as corresponding to those criteria  seeking an electoral pact in a limited number of ridings represented at present by the Liberals or by the CAQ, currently the third party represented in the National Assembly. However, Option B explicitly rules out the formation of a governmental coalition of the party with the PQ.

This is an incoherent package. It would embellish the Parti Quebecois and, if such a pact were to be reached, seriously undermine Quebec solidaires identity as an anti-neoliberal alternative, let alone a genuine anti-capitalist party. If implemented, Option B would impede any serious attempt by QS to expose the PQs record as a party of neoliberal austerity, retreat from independence, and tolerance of hydrocarbon eco-suicide. And Option Bs rhetoric about galvanizing a social bloc in support of this tactic simply plays to the opportunist inclinations of grassroots social activists who tend not to see the relation between their progressive objectives and the need for a government that can actually help further those objectives.

Option A, in contrast, argues in favour of building a genuine united front against austerity, for energy transition and for independence. The united front we favour in the months and years to come, say Option A supporters, must be differentiated from the nationalist bloc led by the Parti quebecois. It must be countered by a popular bloc based on the working and popular classes defending a program that is opposed to austerity and free trade and in favour of an ecological transition based on a policy of public economic investment and a process of accession to independence through a radically democratic approach proceeding through the election of a Constituent Assembly and a referendum on its result, all within the first term of a pro-sovereignty government.

Only a minority of Quebecois today see the creation of an independent state as a necessary or feasible objective notwithstanding the widespread opposition to the capitalist austerity orchestrated by the federal government together with its provincial counterparts. Option A therefore proposes that Quebec solidaire first launch a campaign for Quebec independence that will link the national question with the issues posed by reform of our democratic institutions, energy and climate transition, the protection of public services and social programs and the fight against poverty and inequality on the basis of a feminist, inclusive and civic vision of the Quebec nation and in solidarity with the First Nations and their right to self-determination.

The assumption here seems to be that this campaign from below could create sufficient popular pressure on the Constituent Assembly to ensure it decides in favour of independence without any direction from a QS government  although QS as a party pledges to fight for independence as the necessary conclusion of the Assemblys deliberations.

Since Quebec solidaire does not have an on-line forum to enable its membership to debate these options or other political issues, most of the pre-congress literary debate has been carried on in Presse-toi-a-gauche , which is generally sympathetic to Option A. In addition to the many contributions challenging the thinking behind Option B or defending Option A, some QS members have gone beyond the debate on electoral strategies to advance alternative strategies for building the party in the months and years to come. In a future article I will discuss these in light of the congress decisions.

Leadership Contest, But With a Twist

The debate on alliances is reflected in the contest for election of a male spokesperson. (QS MNA Manon Masse, who succeeded Francoise David as co-spokeswoman, is unopposed in her bid for re-election, and professes that she is hesitating between Options A and B.)

Jean-Francois Lessard supports Option B, Sylvain Lafreniere supports Option A while Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, by far the favoured candidate, says he thinks an electoral pact with the PQ is both possible and desirable but expresses the view as well that alliances with other independentist parties would be facilitated if QS would drop its resistance to mandating its proposed Constituent Assembly to draw up a constitution for an independent Quebec. He also says he is not opposed to postponing a decision on alliances to the next congress, in November, which suggests he is favourable to Option C, perhaps in the hope of meanwhile winning the party to his position on the Constituent Assembly.

At a round-table debate of the four candidates for co-spokespersons organized by Le Devoir on May 12, GND was attacked by Lessard as engaging in extremely demagogic discourse by questioning the long-standing QS position on the Constituent Assembly. The partys debate over the process of accession to independence, Lessard said, had been closed at the previous congress, which once again voted to give carte blanche to the Assembly; the party, he recalled, refuses to presume the outcome of the Assemblys debates.

GND was quick to respond: You dont make a constituent assembly to draft a constitution of a regional county municipality We must be more clear, and it must be said: what we are proposing is a constituent assembly to make Quebec an independent state.

According to Le Devoir , the other candidates, Lafreniere and Masse, expressed great reluctance to impose such a mandate on the constituent assembly. Lafreniere in particular fears that Anglophones and racialized people [sic] would shun the proceedings of the constituent assembly if its conclusions were written in advance. Its an exercise in popular education that will motivate people, thats why we have done this..

The Quebec solidaire program says the Constituent Assembly is the institution through which the Quebec people will exercise their right to self-determination. This is referred to as popular sovereignty, the power of the people to decide completely democratically their future and the rules governing their own life, including the fundamental rules like membership or not in a country, or the drafting of a constitution. (Emphasis added)

And the party promises that the Constituent Assembly will be elected by universal suffrage and will be composed of an equal number of women and men, with proportional representation of tendencies and the different socio-economic classes [milieux] present within Quebec society. Although this formulation raises a number of questions  does tendencies mean parties?; does proportional representation of  the different socio-economic classes mean that priority of representation will go to working people, the vast majority of the population?  the party promises that the Assembly will be fully autonomous in all of its decisions. This text has so far been an article of faith for the party, and is not challenged by Options A or B.

Whatever the outcome of this leadership contest, it will be interesting to see how the winning candidate manages to balance the important divisions now apparent within the party  that may be deepened soon, as we see below  in his new role as a spokesperson for the party as a whole  a concept that assumes a high degree of consensus among the membership.

Toward Fusion with Option Nationale?

The QS leadership is also proposing that the convention approve a strategy of seeking closer relations with a small independentist party, Option nationale (ON), that was established a few years ago following a split from the PQ of several of its MNAs, one of whom, Jean-Martin Aussant, took the initiative of forming the new party. ON has no more than one thousand members and polled less than 1 per cent in the last general election. It has no members in the National Assembly.

The QS leadership is aiming for a fusion with ON before year-end. The document motivating fusion claims both QS and ON:

have always been close both programmatically and organizationally. While many elements of our programs are similar (Pharma-Quebec, free education, reform of the voting method, etc.), there are in particular two fundamental proposals that make our two parties sincere partners: our willingness to make Quebec independence a concrete reality, and the way in which to achieve this, through a Constituent Assembly.

Over the years, we have been in constant communication with ON, our spokespersons and the ON leadership meeting together at least once a year to discuss the political situation.

Moreover, each party has observed all the conventions of the other as guests.

The QS leadership sees fusion with ON as an application of its strategy, set out by the partys National Council in November 2016, of seeking possibilities for convergences and alliances with other parties and social movements. Option nationales contribution, it says, will reinvigorate very much our independentist profile and confirm the political strength of our option. It will consolidate our party as a pole for rallying progressives and independentists.

While some QS members are hesitant about this proposal, many have hailed it. A fusion with ON would remove a rival to QS among the pro-independence parties. But there are indications that the QS leadership is over-optimistic about its possibility and implications. For example, the fusion proposal seems to exaggerate the progressive nature of ON. In a 2013 internal report by QS members based on attendance at an ON convention, fundamental differences were noted between the parties on the fight for social change or the place for women and feminist issues as well as an indifference to the relation between independence and social justice issues. To them, independence is neither left nor right, but forward. That is still characteristic of the party today.

Contrary to the assertion in the QS-ON fusion proposal, there has never been agreement between the parties on the process of achieving Quebec independence. This is clear on ONs web site, which features a couple of articles by political scientist Denis Moniere, a member of the party, critiquing the QS position on  what else?  the Constituent Assembly, in particular the open-ended mandate QS proposes for it: to define Quebecs constitutional status either as an independent state or a province of Canada. This is a fundamental difference with Option nationale, whose procedure for accession to independence provides that the Constituent Assembly will be mandated to define the institutions of an independent Quebec, he notes.

Moreover, Moniere argues, the QS program as a whole is conceived:

as if Canada did not exist as a political decision-maker. They have so internalized the juridical separation of powers imposed by the Canadian constitution that they act as if what happens at Ottawa is irrelevant for Quebec. The Quebec solidaire discourse upholds illusions of autonomism by concentrating on the social justice issues that pertain essentially to provincial powers. This posture is no doubt useful in criticizing the other provincial parties but it is ineffective when it comes to the pedagogy of independence because it does not attack the Canadian system as a whole.

This is a telling critique. How, for example, can much of the QS program be implemented through staying in Canada as a province when Ottawa maintains control over such crucial jurisdictions as banking and finance, foreign affairs, the military, trade and commerce, criminal law and the senior courts and judicial appointments, etc.?

Much more can be said on this matter, but here again we find Quebec solidaires position on the Constituent Assembly and the process of constitutional change an easy target for Quebec critics for whom state independence is the only logical and feasible path toward national emancipation. Many charge that the open-ended mandate (province or state?  posing democracy in opposition to the determination of a strategic goal) confirms not so much a commitment to popular sovereignty (but not necessarily state sovereignty) as it testifies to the presence of many closet federalists within the party.

Finally, it is worth noting that despite the rapprochement being discussed between Quebec solidaire and Option nationale, the latter is running a candidate, Vanessa Dion, against Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois in the May 29 Gouin by-election. 

PS: Heres a translation of the original draft resolution on international policy proposed for debate and adoption at the Quebec solidaire congress in Montreal May 19-22.
A number of Facebook pages linked to the Slovak far right have been blocked; dozens of others flourish.

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The Facebook presence of Slovakias far-right parliamentary party of Marian Kotleba has been somewhat hindered in recent weeks. The social network has banned the profiles of three of its members over racism and hate speech concerns, yet many similar Facebook pages continue to thrive.

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There are about 140 profiles directly managed, related to, or supporting the extremist Peoples Party  Our Slovakia (LSNS) on Facebook, according to the counting done by the Dennik N daily in April 2017. In April and May, Facebook took down 37 of them, after they were heavily reported by critics of the party, mostly for spreading hate speech, racism, and hoaxes. Yet it is unclear why Facebook chooses to take down some pages while others, with similar content, remain online even after review.
There are also cases where callers abuse the emergency line.

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The emergency medical service reported more than 518,000 call-outs last year, while it dealt with another 90,000 cases via its emergency line either by phone consultation or recommendation to visit the emergency department or a general practitioner.

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Statistically, every sixth caller did not need an ambulance, said Boris Chmel, spokesperson for the Operational Centre of the Slovak Rescue Medical Service. Moreover, up to 2,500 people called the rescuers but there was nobody there when they arrived at the spot, as reported by the SITA newswire.

It is understandable that people cannot assess the seriousness of their health condition, thus they turn to rescuers, Chmel said, as quoted by SITA, adding they often do not deal with their problem during the day but call the emergency line and ask for the medical service in the evenings when they feel worse.

The problems, however, could often be prevented by better care of their health and visits to the general practitioner or emergency, Chmel said.

Read also:

Read also: FAQ: Health care treatment in Slovakia Read more

Some patients even use ambulances as taxis to get to the hospital. They call the phone number 155 and know what to say in order for the operator to send the ambulance.

They should however realise that the crew that attends such a case could have saved the life of a person who is really in danger, Chmel stressed, as quoted by SITA.

The rescuers often deal with cases in which the life or health of a person was put in danger and where it is necessary to provide urgent medical treatment. They do not deal with increased temperatures and similar conditions and neither do they serve as taxies.

If the illness lasts for some time and the person's health does not worsen immediately it is more appropriate to turn to the general practitioner or the medical first aid service, SITA reported.
Learning Resources

Robotics Company Releases STEM-Teaching Kit

More companies outside of education are attempting to move into the classroom, stating the importance of equipping students with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills. The latest is DFRobot, a robotics and open source hardware provider headquartered in Shanghai, China, which recently released a kit to teach young inventors to think creatively.

Each Boson module is color-coded. Input modules (pictured) are blue. Image: DFRobot.

DFRobots Boson Kit includes color-coded, modular electronic building blocks. With more than 50 different modules per set, students learn about sensors and circuit logic hands-on as they build a variety of gadgets. No coding is required to use Boson; however, users learn to program with Scratch, Blockly, Python and JavaScript.

Additionally, Boson is compatible with Arduino, micro:bit, Legos, magnets and more units commonly used in STEM classroom experiments. Modules can also be upgraded to connect to Intel Curie, harnessing machine learning and pattern matching capabilities.

The company also launched a Kickstarter offering 25 percent off Boson, in an effort to raise $36,695 to further develop the product. There are 38 days left in the online campaign and more than 100 backers have pledged $16,867 to date.

DFRobot stresses the impact that robotics can have on fostering STEM concepts. The company has designed more than 1,300 components and widgets  delivering 1.5 million units to 220 countries worldwide to date. To learn more, watch the video below or visit the company site.
STEM

Iowa Adds Computer Science to K-12 Curriculum

A new law passed in Iowa requires the state's Department of Education to establish standards in computer science for K-12 and a credential for teachers who teach CS. The hope is that by July 2019, every high school will offer "at least one high-quality" CS course, that each middle school will deliver instruction in exploratory CS and that each elementary school will cover the basics of CS.

The classroom standards won't be mandated; participation is voluntary. But they will come with "incentives" to increase the number of CS offerings at all grade levels in the form of a "professional development incentive fund," from which districts and teachers can receive reimbursement. Governor Terry Branstad recommended $500,000 in his 2019 general fund budget for the PD fund, making the fund available beginning in July 2018.

In the meantime, a work group is expected to hammer out recommendations for the CS guidelines and potential policies by Nov. 1, 2017.

"Ensuring all Iowa students develop foundational skills in computer science will prepare them for a changing world and position them to take advantage of opportunities in a growing professional sector," said Ryan Wise, director of the Department of Ed in a prepared statement.
LUSAKA, May 17 (Reuters) - Zambia is close to reaching an agreement with mining companies over its plans to increase electricity prices, Finance Minister Felix Mutati said on Wednesday.

The government last month proposed introducing a flat tariff of 9.30 U.S. cents/kilowatt hour (kWh) backdated to January for mining companies, instead of individually negotiated rates that have averaged 6 U.S. cents/kWh, but mining companies opposed the plan.

A team headed by the minister of energy was due to hold talks with mining companies this week, including First Quantum Minerals,.

"We have concluded with all the mining houses except for one. They have accepted our proposal to actually pay 9.33 cents/kwh," Mutati told Reuters.

However, an agreement has not yet been reached on backdating the higher tariffs to January as proposed by power firm Zesco Ltd, he said.

"It is part of the negotiations but ideally that is what the government is considering," Mutati said.

Other mining companies operating in Zambia, Africa's No. 2 copper producer, include Glencore (Frankfurt: 8GC.F - news) of Switzerland, Brazil's Vale (Swiss: VALE.SW - news) and London-listed Vedanta Resources (Other OTC: VDNRF - news) .

Last week Zambia's Energy Regulation Board (ERB) approved a 75 percent increase in the price of electricity for retail customers. (Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by James Macharia and Susan Fenton)
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The ransomware cyber attack that has so far affected around 300,000 computers in 150 countries could have been much worse. In fact, it still could be. The spread of the malicious software (malware), nicknamed WannaCry or WannaCrypt, has been halted several times by researchers who have identified flaws in the program known as kill switches. But cybercriminals are already fighting back by altering the code, leading to a game of cat and mouse as researchers then have to hunt for a new kill switch.

Ransomware is a type of malware that blocks access to a computer until money is paid to release it. It is normally spread as an attachment on an email but WannaCry is different because it can spread through a local network on its own.

It looks for other computers running a file and printer sharing protocol called Server Message Block (SMB), which is found in older operating systems such as Windows XP that no longer receive routine security updates. It then uses a flaw in SMB to spread to other computers without their users having to download the file. This explains why more computers have been affected than is typical with this kind of malware.

The Achilles heel of malware is the need to call home to its operator. For ransomware, there has to be a mechanism for the programs operator to collect the ransom money and unlock the data. These communications can provide a way for law enforcement to track down the cybercriminals, so they often build into their malware something called a kill switch.

Generally, a kill switch is a mechanism for turning off a device or a piece of software remotely  and abruptly  in an emergency, such as when it has been stolen or accessed without authorisation. In malware, a kill switch is a way for the operator to terminate their connection to the software to prevent authorities from discovering their identity.

One kill switch method is to redirect the malwares communications to a sinkhole server, which can render it ineffective. Investigators can study the malware and look for such a kill switch or a way to take over the software.

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A sophisticated piece of malware will often run its control communication across multiple unregistered internet domains. By periodically changing the domain it uses, the software can thwart attempts to understand or neutralise it. This means investigators need to constantly adapt and register any new domains the malware may try to use to make the sinkhole effective.

Accidental death

In the case of WannaCry, a researcher using the pseudonym MalwareTech ended up accidentally activating the kill switch when he tried to create a sinkhole in order to study the software. WannaCry included code that looked to check if a specified domain had been registered. If it received a response from the domain, it shut down. If not, it continued to work. So when MalwareTech registered the domain, it effectively activated the kill switch.

This kill switch was probably inserted to prevent investigators studying the software in a closed virtual environment called a sandbox. These typically respond to all communication attempts by the malware with signals from registered domains. So when WannaCry received a response from the domain, it was tricked into thinking it was in a sandbox and shut down to protect itself.

The problem is that modifying WannaCrys code so it looks for a different unregistered domain will allow new versions of the software to continue running. In fact, one new variant of the malware has already been stopped after researchers registered the new domain, activating the related kill switch.

An interesting paradox is that WannaCry was developed using a surveillance tool called EternalBlue created by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and leaked by a group of hackers known by the pseudonym Shadow Brokers. They are now claiming to have further harmful source code for WannaCry and are threatening to release it into the wild for anyone to modify freely. Based on the history of previous similar malware, copycats are extremely likely. With major modifications to the source code, the recent updates made to anti-malware software will become futile as the the cycle begins again.

Researchers are even questioning why WannaCrys kill switch existed at all given that it was so easy to discover and execute. The danger is that WannaCry was just a test to illicit the response of defenders so deadlier variants can be unleashed later.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Adrian Winckles receives funding from iCure/DCMS for Cyber Security Innovation Member of Open Web Application Security PRoject European Board & Cambridge Chapter Leader BCS Vice Chair Cybercrime Forensics Special Interest Group UK Cyber Security Forum - Cambridge Cluster Chair
OSLO (Reuters) - A Norwegian man jailed for life in Democratic Republic of Congo for murder and espionage has been freed and returned to Norway, the Scandinavian country's prime minister said on Wednesday. Joshua French, who also holds a British passport, was convicted along with fellow Norwegian Tjostolv Moland of killing their Congolese driver and spying in 2009 and was initially sentenced to death before his sentence was commuted. The men, both former soldiers, had denied the charges, saying that they had been setting up a local security business and that their driver had been shot and killed by gunmen when their car was attacked. "The Norwegian and Congolese governments have agreed to transfer Joshua French to Norway. He came back to Norway today and is receiving medical assistance," Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a news conference. Congolese authorities agreed to allow French to return to Norway on health and humanitarian grounds, Norway's foreign minister Boerge Brende said. Moland was found dead in his cell in a military prison in August 2013 and a Congolese military court found French guilty of his murder. A Norwegian forensics team sent to Congo as part of consular assistance to French told the court that Moland had hanged himself. The Norwegian government, which has denied the two men were spies, had been seeking to have them transferred to Norway to serve their term. Norway considers French to be a free man, although he has not been pardoned in Congo, Brende said. Norway did not pay any money for his release or promise any payments in the future, he added. At one stage a Congolese court had ordered the Norwegian government to pay more than $500 million in damages to Congo. Congolese authorities were not immediately available on Wednesday to comment. (Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis, additional reporting by Aaron Ross in Kinshasa, Editing by Gareth Jones and Toby Chopra)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Jailed Bahraini rights activist Nabeel Rajab criticised U.S. President Donald Trump in a New York Times column on Wednesday for selling arms to his country and Saudi Arabia, citing of their human rights records. The column appeared ahead of Trump's visit this weekend to regional power Saudi Arabia, a supporter of the fellow Sunni Muslim-ruled kingdom of Bahrain as it grapples with continued unrest from its Shi'ite majority. Both countries have been fighting for over two years in Yemen against the Iran-allied Houthi movement, which they have yet to defeat despite launching thousands of air strikes. "(Trump's) administration already decided to lift all human rights restrictions on arms sales to my country, Bahrain, which is a partner in the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen," the column said. "It fills me with shame that my country, Bahrain, is bombing Yemen, with United States support. And while the Saudi-led coalition continues its air assault on Yemen, Bahrain is also trying to crush civil society back home." The United States is close to completing a series of arms deals for Saudi Arabia totalling more than $100 billion, a senior White House official told Reuters this month. There was no immediate government comment on the article. Rajab and other mostly Shi'ite dissidents rose up against the government in 2011 protests inspired by the "Arab Spring", demanding more rights and representation. He was denied bail on Tuesday on charges of spreading false news, a pro-opposition rights group reported, and also faces charges related to writing an op-ed in the New York Times last year, as well as charges of spreading false news and making critical tweets. The United Nations Committee against Torture on Friday called for his release from more than nine months of solitary confinement. Bahrain's government denies any systematic rights abuses and accuses the opposition of seeking its violent overthrow with support from arch-rival Iran. Trump's White House has decided to pursue a $5 billion sale to Bahrain of 19 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft and related equipment, which was held up last year by human rights concerns. Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa told Reuters last month that Trump better understood the threat to the U.S.'s Gulf Arab allies than his predecessor Barack Obama. (Reporting By Noah Browning Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
By Ayman al-Warfalli BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar staged a large military parade on Tuesday for the third anniversary of his campaign to control Benghazi, as his troops fight to secure two last districts in Libya's second city. Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) has become the dominant force in eastern Libya over the past three years, though it continues to face armed resistance in Benghazi and other regions, and to take heavy losses. The LNA is aligned with a government and parliament based in eastern Libya that rejects a U.N.-backed government in Tripoli. That has frustrated Western efforts to end a conflict between two loose and shifting alliances that escalated in 2014, worsening the divisions and instability that surfaced with the 2011 uprising against the late strongman Muammar Gaddafi. Haftar, a divisive one-time Gaddafi ally, launched "Operation Dignity" against Islamist militants who had carried out a wave of bombings and assassinations in Benghazi, though he has also fought former rebels opposed to military rule. He has received backing from foreign powers including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. On Tuesday, thousands of LNA troops paraded in Tocra, 40 miles (65 km) northeast of Benghazi, in front of Haftar, other LNA commanders and senior politicians from the eastern government and parliament. Tanks, Grad rocket launchers, helicopters and fighter jets were also displayed. The event, billed as the largest of its kind since 2011, was reminiscent of military parades under Gaddafi. It was broadcast in full on pro-Haftar TV. "WE WILL NEVER KNEEL" In a speech delivered as parachutists with Libyan flags attached to their feet descended in front of him, Haftar presented the LNA as fighting against the odds to prevail. "They imposed an arms embargo on us and supported terrorists and cut off men's heads and fired rockets and blocked oil exports - all of this to make us kneel. But we will never kneel except before God," he said. Haftar and his allies say the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) of being beholden to militias, including some with Islamist allegiances. In his speech he repeated pledges to help stabilise the capital, saying the army was for all Libyans. "We will not leave Tripoli as a hotbed of terrorists and the country will not rest until Tripoli returns to the homeland," he said. Haftar's rivals fear he will try to take military control of the capital, though most doubt he has the capacity to do so. Haftar has recently appeared more open to dialogue, meeting the GNA's head in Abu Dhabi. But subsequent comments by the foreign minister in Tripoli suggesting acceptance of Haftar as head of the army sparked an angry reaction amongst factions in western Libya. The LNA took over key oil ports in September but briefly lost control of them earlier this year. It is still fighting in the Benghazi neighbourhoods of Souq al-Hout and Sabri, where a military spokesman said one of his men was killed and one wounded by a landmine explosion on Tuesday. At least 15 LNA troops were killed and 60 wounded in a military push there last week. (Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
By Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union countries urged Poland's nationalist-minded government on Tuesday to address concerns that it is undermining democratic checks and balances, in a dispute that has highlighted growing tensions between western and eastern Europe.

In the first such debate among EU ministers of the 28-nation bloc, Poland accused Brussels of trying to impose its views by "diktat" but only Hungary took Warsaw's side.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, opened an unprecedented probe in January 2016 into perceived threats to the rule of law in Poland. The Commission's Vice President Frans Timmermans has spent more than a year exchanging letters and issuing recommendations that Warsaw has refused to heed.

"There was broad agreement around the table today that rule of law is a common responsibility and we should continue dialogue with Poland," Timmermans, a Dutchman, told reporters after the discussions.

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Szymanski said Warsaw shared the EU's commitment to the rule of law, but denied that its policies undermined it.

"The conclusions of the meeting are that the dialogue should continue, which we agree with, and that the EU is a union of values where the rule of law plays an important role. We are in complete agreement with that as well," Szymanski said.

"But we do not agree with interpretations presented by the European Commission... A one-sided expectation that we will implement recommendations is not dialogue but diktat."

Poland's conservative, eurosceptic ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), has brought the judiciary and public media under more direct state control, prompting concerns among political opponents and rights groups that it is infringing basic rights and freedoms and also the constitutional separation of powers.

"CLEAR SIGNAL"

Szymanski sought to present the dispute as one between Warsaw and the Commission, but a majority of member states including heavyweights Germany, France and Italy backed the Brussels-based executive.

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Belgium and France suggested that Poland should face consequences if it does not change tack. Many said the case should be discussed among all EU states again.

"This is a clear signal. The Polish government should not think nobody cares and that they can get away with whatever," one EU diplomat said.

Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban is a close ally of PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, backed Poland in Tuesday's debate, while the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania remained neutral. Britain, which hopes to retain good ties with Poland after it quits the EU, also avoided direct criticism.

Poland's dispute with the Commission is part of broader tensions between the more affluent western EU states such as Germany and the ex-communist easterners over issues such as immigration and the handling of asylum-seekers.

If Warsaw refuses to budge, the EU could theoretically strip it of voting rights in the bloc but this would require unanimity and Hungary would probably veto such a step.

But a prolonged impasse could reinforce western European states' push to deepen integration among themselves and also sap their willingness to pay generously for the development of eastern European economies and infrastructure.

Poland is now the biggest beneficiary of such spending.

(Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly in Warsaw, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Ian Brady, who tortured and killed five children in the UK in the 1960s with his accomplice Myra Hindley, died in prison on May 15. Jailed in 1966, Brady buried four of his victims in shallow graves on Saddleworth Moor outside Manchester  and the remains have since been found. Sadly, the body of one his victims, Keith Bennett, however, is still missing.

Bradys death has left Bennetts family feeling like the final chance to find his remains has been lost. The police, however, insist that the search will go on. But how do you go about finding a lost body after so many years?

UK Home Office statistics show that around 2,000 of the 200,000 people who are reported missing each year are still not found after 12 months. Some want to start a new life, but an unknown number become victims of crime. Some are murdered. Most of these cases are solved fairly rapidly, but some  so-called cold cases  are harder to crack.

Luckily, science can help. In many homicide cases, bodies end up getting buried in the ground. There are various scientific methods that can help locate such victims, with one of the most important being to identify variations in the surface, such as depressions or small hills, which could indicate that a body has been buried underneath. Search teams can also use specialist cadaver dogs to sniff for remains or geophysical methods to scan identified areas. The latter include ground penetrating radar, which uses radar pulses to image the subsurface.

We recently published a review which set out best practice when it comes to finding bodies on land. We discovered that a phased approach usually yields the best results. This involves starting with analysis of large-scale satellite data to locate potential burial areas  for example where soil has been recently disturbed. You then proceed with initial site investigations, looking at suspect areas to find out the soil type and other environmental data. The last stage involves carrying out focused site searches and digging.

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Control studies with animal and human bodies

But despite this knowledge, the current detection rate of cold cases is low  perhaps only one in 100 cases are successful. As each case is unique, control studies using purpose-built clandestine graves are helping us further work out which detection techniques work best in which cases. In the UK, we currently use pigs as human analogues, although the US, Australia and, since January, the Netherlands, use donated human cadavers.

The approach needed will change as a body decomposes (see figure below)  with the local soil type, burial style and the types of rock in the ground also being important variables. A 50-year-old body buried in a shallow grave in the moors may be relatively intact in wet peatland, whereas a recently buried body in dry sand will rapidly decay.

Ground penetrating radar is best to locate bodies that have been wrapped in something (wrapping provides a good reflective surface). In other cases, where the body is still decomposing, fluids such as blood from the cadaver can be detected by machines that measure electrical resistivity  how strongly a material opposes the flow of an electric current. In a recent study, we showed that conductivity in grave soil water rapidly increases up to two years after burial  data which we can use to estimate the time since death.

Control studies can only go as far back in time as experiments last, so researchers have also been looking at real graves that are much older to assist with more ancient missing persons cases.

Graveyards and cemeteries are an obvious choice for this. These can be geophysically surveyed, most commonly with ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity to look for bodies buried without a grave stone. These can be exhumed, both for research purposes and to confirm the identity of the remains. We did this recently when new church community halls were being built on old graveyards. Exhumation regulations differ across the world, but in the UK you are allowed to do this if burials are over 100 years old.

An issue with this, however, is that graveyard burials are in coffins, often along with preservatives. Few accidental burials or homicide graves use coffins or chemicals. Nonetheless, ongoing geophysical research of graveyard burials is extending our knowledge of how long bodies are detectable for. This can certainly feed into cold case searches.

This kind of research has also improved our understanding of how well different survey methods work in different environments. For example, electrical resistivity surveys tend to work best in clay-rich soils whereas radar is best in sandy soils. Weve also learned that gravestones are often not exactly in the correct position, and that graves containing many bodies are often not vertically aligned. This may occur due to coffins subsiding in soft ground, or in more extreme examples, due to coffin slip, where in inclined ground, burials move down the slope over time.

Author provided

Clearly more research needs to be done to improve detection rates of cold cases. In fact, the key is to combine collaborative academic control studies with input from search practitioners and experts. Advances in technology  such as drones that can help locate surveys in real time and more sensitive geophysical devices  are also allowing us to integrate both simple observations and advanced geophysical searches into one system.

Theres certainly good reason to believe that Bennett was also buried somewhere on the moor. Initial searches, mainly using police manpower and volunteers looking for physical signs of ground disturbance, were unsuccessful. Many other methods have since been used, including specialist search dogs and metal detectors (should there be metal in Keiths clothing). Soil sampling and other tests have also been used to look for decomposition of fluids, but it is probably too late for this now. Ground penetrating radar has also been used to search for a skeleton.

However, these methods are time consuming and only a relatively small area can be surveyed each time. But, as long we continue looking  and use the latest technology and research to inform the search  there is every chance that we could one day find Bennetts body.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Jamie Pringle receives funding from the HLF, the Nuffield Foundation, Royal Society, NERC, EPSRC and EU Horizon2020. He is affiliated with the Geological Society of London.

Alastair Ruffell receives funding from ERC, EPSRC.
By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will attend a gathering in Saudi Arabia on Saturday but has received no indication whether he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump there, Sudan's foreign minister said on Wednesday. Bashir is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and is shunned by Western leaders, so any direct contact would be a diplomatic bombshell, despite thawing relations between Washington and Khartoum in recent months. Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday is the first stop on his maiden international trip as president that will also take him to Israel and Europe. "On the question of the Trump-Bashir handshake, nobody can pretend anything, but anyway, President Bashir has been invited by the Saudis to be in that conference," Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in Geneva. "We hope that everything will go through as it has been planned, and we look forward for normalisation of our relations with the U.S.," Ghandour said, adding that he would travel with Bashir to Riyadh on Friday. Asked if he hoped to see the two leaders shake hands, Ghandour said: "I dont have dreams but I have hopes, and I hope they will be materialised. Bashir, who came to power in Sudan in a 1989 Islamist and military-backed coup, was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in 2008. He denies the charges and continues to travel abroad, trailed by human rights activists and shunned by Western diplomats. Ghandour dismissed the ICC as a "political tool". "It's a white man's court created to indict people in Africa", he said. ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has called on all states to help with Bashir's arrest and urged the U.N. Security Council to take robust and concrete measures to ensure they do. Bashir faces three counts of genocide, five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes for the murder and persecution of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups in the Darfur province. Ghandour said Darfur was now peaceful and Khartoum wanted to open up to trade. It also supported international efforts to combat Islamist militants in the wider region. In January, Trump's predecessor Barack Obama ordered the lifting of a 20-year U.S. trade embargo and financial sanctions after 180 days, provided that Khartoum acts to further improve its human rights record. Ghandour hoped the sanctions would finally be lifted after an evaluation on July 12, a major step towards integration with the world economy. Sudan hopes to join the World Trade Organisation later this year and reform its economy, which mostly produces gold, gum arabic and farm produce. Ghandour said he also hoped to resolve a trade dispute with Egypt at a meeting in Cairo on May 31. He also urged the United States to play a stronger role in peacemaking in Syria and in Yemen, where Sudanese troops are part of a Saudi-led coalition. Ghandour denied reports that Sudan was involved militarily in Libya and that it had helped to supply portable anti-aircraft missiles to rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Additional reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in the Hague; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
ESTACADA, Ore.  An Oregon father is struggling to try to understand why his adult son allegedly decapitated his mother on Mothers Day and then showed up at a grocery store with her head, stabbing a clerk there until workers overpowered the man and police arrested him.

David Webb said his 36-year-old son, Joshua Lee Webb, had vision problems and received Social Security payments but never showed any signs that he might be capable of the crime. Police described him as catatonic after his arrest.

I never foresaw a problem. If I had I would have stopped it, David Webb told The Associated Press before bursting into sobs during a telephone interview.

Joshua Lee Webb decapitated 59-year-old Tina Marie Webb Sunday afternoon at the familys rural home in the once-significant logging town of Colton, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Portland, the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office said.

He then showed up at about 12 miles (19 kilometers) away at a small grocery story covered in blood with a large kitchen knife and carrying her head, authorities said.

A judge ordered Webb held without bail during his arraignment Tuesday, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported (http://bit.ly/2qpNuOL).

Webb is charged with murder, attempted murder, first-degree abuse of a corpse and first-degree aggravated animal abuse. Judge Jeffrey Jones set a preliminary hearing for Webb on May 23.

The mother had told David Webb that she believed their son was depressed, but the father said he never saw any indications of that when he spoke with his son. The parents recently bought him a dog because he wanted one.

I just cant believe I lost my wife and son in one dayI wish I had some answers, but I dont. I waited all my life to retire with my wife, and now I cant. Thats all I know.

After arriving at the store, Joshua Lee Webb stabbed the store employee but was quickly subdued by other employees who held him until officers arrived, authorities said.

The suspect told police only that he was thirsty, said Ernie Roberts, the interim police chief of nearby Sandy, Oregon, which provides police services for Estacada, population about 2,500.

He was in like a catatonic state, wasnt speaking to anybody, Roberts said.

The grocery store checkout clerk was hospitalized and expected to survive.

Customers on Monday placed balloons as tribute in front of the store, lit candles near its parking lot and signed a large get-well poster for the worker.

At Lews Drive-In restaurant next door, where the supermarkets customers took refuge during Sundays crime, owner Marvin Flora said the event was traumatic, but it happened so fast that nobody really saw what was going on.

One lady came in this morning and said she actually saw somebody come in with something that was bloody and was carrying something with his arm, Flora said.

___

Dubois reported from Portland.

___

Follow Gillian Flaccus at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus.
PHOENIX  Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye has said a proposed deal has been reached to keep an electricity-generating reservation coal plant open until 2020.

Begaye told dozens of happy coal miners Monday that the temporary lease-extension agreement is being considered by the Salt River Project utility, The Arizona Republic reported (http://bit.ly/2pGGqPf ). It operates the plant and is one of its owners.

Utility board members on Thursday will consider the lease, which must also be approved by the Navajo tribal council.

Salt River Project had said it would close the plant this year if a new lease could not be finalized by July 1.

The plant was threatened with closure because its owners concluded it is cheaper to buy electricity from natural gas-fired power plants.

Losing the plant would have been an economic blow to the region because 450 people, mostly Native Americans, have jobs at the plant.

Former Hopi Chairman Ivan Sydney, who now serves on a Hopi school board, said he was concerned the closure of the plant would negatively affect children.

What are they going to do when their parents no longer have jobs? he said.

Begaye said he hopes to find new owners to run the plant for nine more years after the proposed agreement expires.

Environmentalists support the plants closure, saying new solar or wind projects should be developed to supply the electricity that the plant produces.

___

Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com
When the National Security Agency began using a new hacking tool called EternalBlue, those entrusted with deploying it marveled at both its uncommon power and the widespread havoc it could wreak if it ever got loose.

Some officials even discussed whether the flaw was so dangerous they should reveal it to Microsoft, the company whose software the government was exploiting, according to former NSA employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the issue.

But for more than five years, the NSA kept using it  through a time period that has seen several serious security breaches  and now the officials worst fears have been realized. The malicious code at the heart of the WannaCry virus that hit computer systems globally late last week was apparently stolen from the NSA, repackaged by cybercriminals and unleashed on the world for a cyberattack that now ranks as among the most disruptive in history.

The failure to keep EternalBlue out of the hands of criminals and other adversaries casts the NSAs decisions in a harsh new light, prompting critics to question anew whether the agency can be trusted to develop and protect such potent hacking tools.

Current and former officials defended the agencys handling of EternalBlue, saying that the NSA must use such volatile tools to fulfill its mission of gathering foreign intelligence. In the case of EternalBlue, the intelligence haul was unreal, said one former employee.

It was like fishing with dynamite, said a second.

The NSA did not respond to several requests for comment for this article.

The consequences of the NSAs decision to keep the flaw secret, combined with its failure to keep the tool secure, became clear Friday when reports began spreading of a massive cyberattack in which the WannaCry software encrypted data on hundreds of thousands of computers and demanded a ransom to decrypt it.

The attack spread virally because the criminal hackers combined EternalBlues ability to penetrate systems with other code that caused it to spread quickly, like a computer worm, something the NSA never intended. The resulting digital concoction snarled hospitals in Britain, the Interior Ministry in Russia and tax offices in Brazil.

An unlikely combination of voices, ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to a top Microsoft official to Russian President Vladmir Putin, has singled out the NSA for its role in creating and eventually losing control of computer code.

Microsoft President Brad Smith, in a blog post Sunday, compared the mishap to the U.S. military having some of its Tomahawk missiles stolen.

Putin, for his part, echoed Microsoft: They said that the first sources of this virus were the United States intelligence agencies. Russia has absolutely nothing to do with this.

While few critics are saying that the NSA should never develop malicious software  cracking into the computers of surveillance targets is key to its work  the WannaCry incident has revived concerns about internal security at an agency that in 2013 lost massive troves of secret documents to contractor Edward Snowden.

Theyve absolutely got to do a better job protecting [the hacking tools]. You cant argue against that, said former NSA Director Keith Alexander, who ran the agency from 2005 to 2014 but said he was unable to comment on any particular tool. You had somebody stealing you blind. The government has got to do better at that.

The global backlash to the Snowden revelations added urgency to the governments efforts to revamp rules on when to report flaws to companies and when to use them for surveillance. Alexander said that about 90 percent of discovered flaws are reported to the companies that make the software.

Richard Ledgett, who retired this month as the NSAs deputy director, said disclosing all flaws would amount to unilateral disarmament. He said the idea that everything would be just fine if the NSA disclosed all the vulnerabilities it finds is nonsense.

In August, a mysterious group calling itself the Shadow Brokers dumped a set of exploits  or hacking tools  online. The exploits are built to take advantage of software flaws.

The agency eventually warned Microsoft after learning about EternalBlues theft, allowing the company to prepare a software patch issued in March. But the Shadow Brokers did not just release the flaw, which would take time and talent to turn into a tool. They released the exploits, which means even a novice hacker could use them to cause damage.

After fashioning their own tool, WannaCry hackers deployed it last week, causing an immediate outcry. The White House convened an emergency meeting of Cabinet-level heads led by Trump administration homeland-security adviser Thomas Bossert.

U.S. systems were mostly spared, but the damage could have been far worse. Since the NSA began using EternalBlue, which targets some versions of Microsoft Windows, the U.S. military and many other institutions updated software that was especially vulnerable.

The NSA also made upgrades to EternalBlue to address its penchant for crashing targeted computers  a problem that earned it the nickname EternalBlueScreen in reference to the eerie blue screen often displayed by computers in distress.

To mitigate its instability in the early days, the NSA hackers were under strict usage rules that required approval from a senior supervisor on a target-by-target basis to use the exploit, the employees recalled.

After a few years, its stability was improved, but NSA was still mindful of the potential for harm if the tool somehow got breached.

If one of our targets discovered we were using this particular exploit and turned it against the United States, the entire Department of Defense would be vulnerable, the second employee said. You just have to have a foothold inside the network and you can compromise everything.

The Shadow Brokers first dump of exploits in August sparked a robust discussion within the Obama administration. By that point, the intelligence value of the exploits was degraded, so it was decided that NSA would alert whatever vendors were affected, a former senior administration official said.

For years, NSA had its own internal process for weighing whether to disclose software flaws to the vendor or to keep them close so they could be used to build surveillance tools. In the spring of 2014, the Obama administrations National Security Council kicked off a new process to vet vulnerabilities among agencies including the FBI, NSA, CIA and Department of Homeland Security.

Some security experts say that the process to debate and disclose vulnerabilities worked in this case but that there was a failure to signal the seriousness of the need to apply fixes.

NSA identified a risk and communicated it to Microsoft, who put out an immediate patch in March, said Mike McNerney, a former Pentagon cybersecurity official and a fellow at the Truman National Security Project. The problem, he said, is no senior official took the step of shouting to the world: This one is very serious and we need to protect ourselves.

But critics say the government got off easy this time. What if the Shadow Brokers had dumped the exploits in 2014, before the government had begun to upgrade software on its computers? What if they had released them and Microsoft had no ready patch?

Vulnerabilities that are found in widely used software can also provide some of the most valuable intelligence because they may enable access to a larger number of targets, said Samir Jain, a former senior White House cyber official. But the fact that a vulnerability is widely used and therefore the harm could be broad should be a significant factor. At the end of the day, its a balancing act.

Governments around the world will continue using these hacking tools, so the issue is that NSA needs to do a much better job of securing them, current and former officials said.

It is not clear how Shadow Brokers obtained the hacking tools, which are identical to those leaked by former NSA contractor Harold Martin III, according to former officials. Martin was arrested in October after the FBI found evidence that he had over the years stolen a massive quantity of classified data from a variety of agencies. The most damaging breach was at the NSA, where Martin allegedly had filched virtually the entire library of hacking tools. Martin has been charged with stealing government property and retaining classified information.

When the breach was discovered last summer, NSA Director Michael Rogers told President Barack Obama that he considered himself accountable for it.

The NSA certainly failed to build an environment that protected these extraordinary secrets that weve got, said a former senior U.S. official. Weve got extraordinary capabilities, and its a huge responsibility to manage them on behalf of the nation.



The Washington Posts Elizabeth Dwoskin in San Francisco contributed to this report.
SANTA FE  Large last-minute contributions by the major funding sources on both sides of Santa Fes hotly contested special election over a tax on soda and other sugary drinks pushed the total spent on the election over the $4 million mark, according to the final campaign finance statements filed with the city clerk Monday.

The American Beverage Association provided a political committee opposing the tax with nearly $560,000 cash after the election to cover its costs, bringing the total the ABA spent to defeat the tax to more than $2 million  $1.9 million in cash and $186,000 worth of in-kind services.

The anti-tax committee, Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K, also received more than $88,000 of in-kind support from Coca-Cola during the campaign.

Meanwhile, billionaire Michael Bloomberg provided the political committee supporting the tax with $295,000 cash in a failed last-ditch effort to win voter approval in the May 2 election, bringing his total cash contributions to $695,000. Including $780,000 worth of in-kind support he previously provided to Pre-K for Santa Fe, the former mayor of New York City invested nearly $1.48 million in the campaign.

Santa Fe voters resoundingly defeated the proposed 2-cents-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages introduced by Mayor Javier Gonzales, with 58 percent voting no in balloting that drew a record turnout. The $7 million-plus the tax was expected to raise would have funded early childhood education programs.

All told, about $2.8 million in cash and $1.3 million worth of in-kind contributions were pumped into the various campaign groups. The reports show opponents of the tax used $2.2 million in cash and donated services, while the total for proponents was $1.8 million.

David Huynh, of Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K, said his anti-soda-tax group primarily spent its money to inform voters on the harmful effects of the proposed tax.

We are thankful to the community for listening to our concerns, standing up for working families and small businesses, and overwhelmingly rejecting the proposed tax, he said in a statement. Now it is time to work on a better way to fund Pre-K and move our community forward, together.

Sandra Wechsler led the pro-tax effort of Pre-K for Santa Fe. Though her group received most of its backing from Bloomberg, who has spent millions in support of soda tax initiatives in other cities, she pointed to the amount of money the soda industry spent to defeat the tax.

Were not surprised that the ABA spent over $2 million to defeat our efforts to fund Pre-K for every child in Santa Fe, she said. They represent corporations that care only about their profits, not about the health and well being of our community.

Bloombergs last-minute contribution, made the day prior to the election, helped Pre-K for Santa Fe out of a hole. Its last report, also made the day before the election, showed it had spent $140,000 more than it had raised. While the anti-tax group made an issue of that, suggesting the opposition couldnt be trusted if it couldnt manage its finances responsibly, Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K itself didnt receive its latest funding from ABA to balance its books until more than a week after the election.

Spending details

Better Way reported spending more than $688,000 against the soda tax on its final report, covering May 1 to May 15, almost all of it after the election. The biggest expense was to Dewey Square Group, of Washington, D.C., which received more than $422,500 for consulting, canvassing and field operations. It also reported spending nearly $35,000 with Rodriguez Strategies, of Los Angeles, for canvassing.

Among the other expenditures made by Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K were $69,435 to Blue Sky Media, of Washington D.C., for print ads, graphic design and mailers; $38,190 to Blue Front Strategies, of Washington, D.C., for consulting and digital services, including a Spanish language website; more than $63,600 to Waterfront Strategies, of Washington, D.C., for media; and nearly $47,000 to David Binder Research, of San Francisco, for telephone surveys.

In support of the tax proposal, Bloombergs in-kind support, including nearly $29,000 included on the latest report, has been for research, consulting and media.

Organizers in the Land of Enchantment, an Albuquerque-based group advocacy group that provided neighborhood canvassing in favor of the tax, contributed another $33,000 worth of in-kind help, bringing its total in-kind support to the effort to $250,000. The group previously gave a $100,000 cash contribution to the group.

The American Heart Association provided $2,800 worth of in-kind support  listed as outreach, staff expenses and Facebook  on Pre-K for Santa Fes final report, upping its total of in-kind total to more than $9,200.

Pre-K for Santa Fe reported spending $154,500 since May 1. Nearly half of that went to Message Audience & Presentation, of Austin, Texas, which was paid more than $74,000 for mailers.

Another anti-tax committee, Smart Progress New Mexico, raised $13,460  including a $10,000 contribution from the local Coca-Cola bottling company  and spent most of it, reporting it had $65 left over.

The Rio Grande Foundation, a libertarian-leaning Albuquerque-based non-profit group, previously reported a $7,500 in-kind contribution from Interstate Policy Alliance  a national coalition of free-market think tanks based in Washington, D.C.  that produced an anti-tax video commercial that was circulated online.
The apparent abduction of a young girl in Santa Fe on Tuesday turned out to be a domestic dispute and both of the people are safe and accounted for, the FBI said in an 11 p.m. news release.

Because no charges have been filed, their identities will not be released, FBI spokesman Frank A. Fisher said.

Earlier in the day, the FBI and Santa Fe police said they were investigating the apparent abduction of a young girl.

The incident that promoted the action occurred near the Tuscany Apartments in Santa Fe around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Witnesses told authorities they saw a man throw a girl, who appeared to be about 12 to 16 years old, into the back of a faded light brown, four-door sedan with a Texas license plate on the front and tinted windows.
TEMPE, Ariz.  A Phoenix man is dead after allegedly stabbing a Tempe police officer during a struggle and then being shot by another policeman.

Tempe police say the officers responded to a call about a knife-wielding man walking in the middle of a street around 7 a.m. Tuesday after he had crashed his vehicle into a parked car.

One policeman was stabbed when he confronted the suspect and a second officer fired several shots.

Police say the 25-year-old suspect later died at a hospital. His name hasnt been released yet.

They say the 19-year police veteran who was stabbed is in stable condition.

Police say the officer who fired his weapon is an 18-year department veteran.

They say the policeman unsuccessfully tried to turn on his body camera while drawing his gun.
MEXICO CITY  Several prominent Mexican news outlets went dark Tuesday to protest the murder of journalists across the country, including Mondays brazen midday killing of veteran crime reporter Javier Valdez.

The Day Without Journalism protests were staged by publications across Mexico, where at least five journalists have been gunned down this year and where few perpetrators are ever brought to justice.

On Tuesday, reports emerged of yet another attack, this time against a magazine executive in the state of Jalisco.

Sonia Cordova, an executive at the weekly Semanario Costeno and the wife of the magazines publisher, was wounded and her 26-year-old son killed Monday night when a gunman besieged them in the city of Autlan, the state prosecutors office said. Cordova remained hospitalized, the office said.

In Mexico, journalists are killed because they can be, because nothing happens, read the text Tuesday on the home page of Animal Politico, one of Mexicos most influential online news publications. Instead of its normal content, the site published a black Web page featuring photos of Valdez and other journalists killed this year. Several other major news outlets did the same.

In Mexico City on Monday night, journalists marched in the streets and scrawled In Mexico they are killing us in front of the Angel of Independence monument. Vigils were planned in several states on Tuesday evening.

Since 2000, at least 125 journalists have been killed in Mexico, according to the National Human Rights Commission, the governments independent watchdog.

The deadly risks of reporting on drug cartels or government corruption have led many publications to self-censor and others to shut down. Reporters who continue to pursue hard-hitting stories often must employ bodyguards or take other extraordinary security measures.

The death of Valdez, who had been internationally recognized for his work and who last year published a book about the challenges of practicing what he called narco-journalism, sent shock waves through Mexicos media community.

Valdez, a correspondent for the Mexico City-based daily La Jornada and a co-founder of the regional weekly Riodoce, was shot dead on a busy road in broad daylight in the city of Culiacan.

Alejandro Sicairos, a co-founder of Riodoce, said in a radio interview Tuesday that he is sure that organized crime ordered the attack, dismissing a suggestion by a local prosecutor that Valdez may have been killed in an attempted carjacking.

We dont know who ordered it and who carried it out, but we do know that organized crime is directly responsible for this, Sicairos said.

He said Valdez died because he had tirelessly documented rising violence in the state of Sinaloa, where the sons of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman have been fighting other groups for control of the Sinaloa drug cartel in the months since Guzman, the cartels founder, was extradited to the United States.

The bloody conflict has helped drive violence across Mexico, which is on track to record more homicides in 2017 than any year since the government began releasing such statistics in 1997.

There is unstoppable violence in Sinaloa, Sicairos said. Journalism is in the middle of this crossfire.

In the interview, Sicairos pleaded with the leaders of organized crime to respect journalists role as messengers of information. We give accounts of events, but we have nothing to do with them, he said.

Tania Montalvo, the editor of Animal Politico, said journalists in her newsroom decided to stage a Day Without Journalism protest Monday afternoon after they learned of Valdezs death.

It was a moment to do something, to say, Enough is enough,  she said.

Montalvo said Tuesdays protest was a call to our readers to act and an attempt to pressure authorities to do more to protect the media. An attack against a journalist, she said, is also an attack against citizens and their rights to free information.

Every time a journalist is killed there are tweets condemning the attack, but nothing happens, she said.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who has been criticized for not speaking out more forcefully after other journalists were slain, sent a Twitter message Monday denouncing the killing of Valdez: I reiterate our commitment to freedom of expression and press, fundamental to our democracy.

But media advocates say authorities are not doing nearly enough to protect freedom of expression in Mexico, which last year was named by Reporters Without Borders as the third-most deadly country in the world for journalists, after Syria and Afghanistan.

Although there is a special prosecutor devoted to investigating crimes against journalists as well as a program established in 2012 that provides emergency evacuations and police protection to members of the media who have come under threat, violence against journalists is getting worse, advocates say.

Article 19, a nonprofit that advocates for media protections in Mexico, recorded a record 426 threats or attacks against the press last year, including beatings and torture, said Luis Knapp, an attorney with the group.

In more than 99 percent of those cases, he said, the perpetrators were never prosecuted.



(Cecilia Sanchez in the Los Angeles Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report.)
Crime is out of control in Albuquerque, and we dont even have a fraction of the police officers we need to keep our city safe. Theres no easy fix, and its certainly not going to get better if we dont start taking bold steps to turn things around. Thats why the Albuquerque Police Officers Association supported an amendment to the City Charter by City Councilors Ken Sanchez and Don Harris to mandate the level of required police officers in Albuquerque.

A mandated officer level would send a very clear message that public safety is a priority for our city.

The mandate would also take the politics out of police force staffing. No longer would a mayor be able to come in and gut our department. Dont think that happens? Consider this: When Mayor Richard Berry took office, APD was its highest staffing level with more than 1,000 officers. Now we have about 840.

The exodus started as soon as Berry took office. He immediately cut officer salaries and broke a multiyear contract. It was a slap in the face to the men and women who serve and protect this city every day and a clear signal that he did not value them.

Then, this administration all but halted recruitment efforts. Take 2011 for example, when only 11 new officers joined the ranks.

The proposed mandate wouldnt fix our public safety issues, but it certainly would be a step in the right direction.

It does not mean we should lower our standards for hiring officers, but it does mean that we will have to look at recruitment differently. We will have to be more forward thinking about how to encourage our youth to pursue law enforcement as a career choice.

It will also require us to make a greater investment in our police force. We must be willing to pay officers competitively. Currently, Albuquerque police officers make far less than their counterparts around the country. We cant even compete with other departments here in New Mexico!

We all know we need more officers, that I think we can agree on. Why not try to make public safety a priority for Albuquerque? Even if it is an election year. Our officers are just grateful that someone is trying to fix the problem.
Months before Davon Lymon was accused of gunning down an Albuquerque police officer, a graphic video spread on social media showing him beating a man outside of a Downtown strip club, according to court documents. Prosecutors on Friday refiled charges against Lymon in the beating case, which has been dismissed three times.

A criminal information filed in state District Court charges Lymon, 36, with aggravated battery and conspiracy, both felonies.

The fight broke out in front of Knockouts Gentlemens Club in December 2014. Police said a video showed four men  Lymon, two strip club bouncers and a security guard who worked nearby  holding a man a lot smaller in stature down and kicking him. A second video, police said, showed Lymon charge the man before knocking him to the ground and beating him unconscious.

Lymon is awaiting trial on charges connected to the death of Albuquerque officer Daniel Webster, who was fatally shot Oct. 21 during a traffic stop.

The Attorney Generals Office has said it intends to seek life without the possibility of parole in Websters death, and Lymon is serving a decadeslong sentence for federal drug and firearm convictions. A spokesman for the District Attorneys Office said the state is pursuing the case because the alleged victim deserves justice.

This person (Lymon) represents the worst of the worst thats out there right now, spokesman Michael Patrick said.

Defense attorney Jeff Rein said he has been assigned Lymons new case but hasnt yet received case documents.

The beating case was first indicted in District Court in January 2015. Lymon faced four felony charges, including aggravated battery, kidnapping and conspiracy. In late February, a prosecutor dismissed the case and wrote that discovery issues would make complying with time limits impossible.

The case was refiled in June 2015, this time with just two aggravated battery charges, according to court documents. It was dismissed in August 2015 by a judge who noted that the case involved only misdemeanor charges and asked the state to look at whether this case should be refiled in Metropolitan Court.

Just a month later, prosecutors filed the case for a third time in District Court, with the same misdemeanor charges. It was dismissed by the state the day after Websters shooting, due to the defendant being arrested on new charges, according to court documents.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Gov. Susana Martinez has made it clear that overhauling the state tax code is a key to breaking the impasse over New Mexicos budget crisis, in her view.

And lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they share her goal of simplifying the tax system.

But is now, amid a historic budget crunch, the right time to reshape New Mexicos tax laws?

Thats a question at the heart of debate as lawmakers prepare to head back to Santa Fe for a special session next week.

Three approaches are emerging:

 Act now: The Martinez administration is working with Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, on a tax overhaul bill that could be approved as soon as next week, in the special session that begins May 24.

And now is absolutely the right time, they say, because the legislation could phase out a host of tax breaks next year, raising revenue to help cover state spending in the short term. In the long run, however, the goal is to make the proposal revenue neutral by lowering the overall gross receipts tax rate.

 Act slowly: The Democratic majorities in both chambers  joined by some Senate Republicans  have favored a more cautious approach. Theyve backed legislation that would phase in changes over a number of years, providing plenty of time for advocates to make their case to save one tax break or another.

This approach, they say, would help avoid unintended consequences and minimize the danger of disrupting state revenue when theres so little margin for error, given the states tight budget and sluggish economy.

 Split the difference: Republican Sen. William Sharer of Farmington will ask his colleagues next week to support a 90-day study of the tax system, with the goal of enacting broad changes to the tax code this fall.

A study, he said, would give lawmakers some numbers to work with as they debate changes to the tax code and how an overhaul might affect revenue.

But it would take the pressure off having to do it all next week. Instead, Sharer suggested, a special session could be held in October to focus on tax changes.

I am convinced that now is the time for tax reform, he said in an interview. But were still working without all of the data. That scares a lot of people.

Harper, who has led Martinez-backed efforts to revise the tax code, said he likes the idea of a study. But theres already enough information to overhaul the states complex system of gross receipts taxes, he said.

I worry that if we dont take the first step now and wait for another study, Harper said, itll never happen.

Funding up in the air

The debate over taxes comes as the Republican governor and the Legislature  where Democrats hold majorities in both chambers  remain at odds over a spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The Legislature earlier this year passed a $6.1 billion budget that relied on about $350 million in tax and fee increases to help cover the spending.

Martinez vetoed the tax package and the funding for higher education and the Legislature itself  a temporary move, she said, while a new spending plan is negotiated.

If funding is restored for higher education and the Legislature next week, there will be a gap of roughly $70 million to $150 million between spending and revenue. How to raise revenue to cover the potential shortfall  through tax increases or a broader reform package  is a focus of debate.

House Republicans announced their plan Tuesday for the budget  largely matching what Martinez has outlined in her own proposals.

Like the governor, they propose restoring funding for higher education and the Legislature, while adding in extra funding for the University of New Mexico Cancer Center and for financial aid for college students.

It would rely on raising revenue through Harpers tax overhaul, in addition to taking money from a legislative retirement fund and other budget changes.

New Mexicans want this situation resolved quickly to remove the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the states budget, Rep. Larry Larranaga, R-Albuquerque, said in a written statement. This plan meets everyones goals without harming New Mexicos families with unnecessary tax increases.

Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, a Gallup Democrat and chairwoman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, said that at least one component of the Republican plan may not be legal  taking money out of the retirement system.

And she said there are probably better places to increase funding, such as the Children, Youth and Families Department.

Weve got other agencies literally begging for relief, Lundstrom said.

In any case, she said, she remains hopeful a budget agreement can be reached.

Food tax contentious

A key question in reshaping the tax system is whether to reimpose the gross receipts tax on food purchases.

Harper favors that idea, and Martinez says shes open to it. They say there are ways to erase the burden on low-income people who qualify for food stamps  by exempting them from the food tax, for example.

But many Democrats say they wont support it. Opponents have blasted the idea as a tortilla tax.

Harper wasnt ready to say whether his proposal will include the food tax.

Weve run the numbers on every scenario you can think of, he said.

Some Democrats, meanwhile, are embracing Sharers proposal for a 90-day study.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said a comprehensive study of the tax base is picking up bipartisan support.

It will give us the baseline information we need to enact broad-based tax reform in a responsible way, he said.

Staff economists for the Legislature have warned lawmakers that its difficult to predict how certain tax changes would affect state revenue.

Harper and Martinez say the time to act is now. The Legislature already has the information it needs, they contend.

Now is not the time to spend even more taxpayer dollars on kicking the can down the road with another study for government bureaucrats to file away in a desk somewhere, Martinez spokesman Michael Lonergan said this week.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

Its been more than a month since New Mexicos colleges and universities had their funding zeroed out on the 2017-18 state budget, and it may take months  or even years  longer to determine the scope of the potential fallout.

But hints have already emerged, and they have school leaders pleading for a swift resolution to what they have called a fiscal crisis.

Some students have postponed registration for fall classes, professors are considering jobs elsewhere, and recruitment efforts  for both students and faculty  have suffered, according to a legal brief submitted to the New Mexico Supreme Court by the Council of University Presidents, an association representing the states seven public four-year institutions that together serve about 60,000 students and employ about 14,500 people.

Some schools including UNM, for example, are reporting they have not even set 2017-18 tuition due to lingering questions.

Gov. Susana Martinez in April put New Mexicos universities and colleges at the center of her standoff with lawmakers, vetoing higher education and legislative funding from a Legislature-approved budget bill for the fiscal year starting July 1.

The Governors Office has offered assurances the schools funding will be restored during a special session, now scheduled for May 24.

Lawmakers who questioned the constitutionality of her move took the matter to the Supreme Court. But the court last week rejected the petition, determining it was too early for judicial review as other options are still available.

The university presidents council had filed a brief in that case earlier this month, saying schools have a firm conviction that the corrosive uncertainty is beginning to cause long-term damage to New Mexicos higher education institutions.

Marc Saavedra, the councils executive director, said he is hopeful that universities will get their funding back soon, but noted that the last six weeks have taken a toll.

UNM, the states largest university, was to get $292 million next year if the governor had signed the budget as submitted by the Legislature. University officials say its too soon to know whether the defunding  which they believe is temporary  has affected overall enrollment.

Orientation deposits have tracked close to last years numbers, according to Terry Babbitt, associate vice president of enrollment management.

With that said, there is still a lot of time to go on new student commitments and we have had many inquiries from prospective student families about the budget status. Questions like Will UNM even be open next year? And What will that budget thing mean for us?' Babbitt said in an email.

Questions come from within New Mexico, but also from California to Pennsylvania, he said.

Right now we dont know the final impact, but it is a serious concern, he said.

Seat deposits from UNM School of Laws incoming class were down 20 percent in late April  when deposit activity peaks  compared with last year, according to the universities Supreme Court filing. It noted that the UNM College of Pharmacy also has significant concern about recruitment as several offers to prospective students remain outstanding.

Some New Mexico State University students have cited a lack of budget as why theyre not registering for future classes, the brief states, and students at Northern New Mexico College asked at a recent forum whether the school would survive.

Current registration for fall classes at New Mexico Tech started slower than last year, though President Stephen Wells said in a Journal interview it was still too early to gauge. New student registration does not begin until June 1.

Techs first-year president said he worries about long-term damage  especially since he sees higher education as an engine for economic growth  noting that national media outlets including The Washington Post and Chronicle of Higher Education wrote stories that feed into preconceived concepts of the state.

These kinds of things sometimes cast shadows that go on for a while, and I think maybe next year we could see (effects), he said. It depends on how quickly this is resolved.

UNM Acting President Chaouki Abdallah expressed confidence that schools would have funding restored by July 1. But he said not having a budget right now has hurt on the faculty front, especially since the states universities have already weathered 7.5 percent cuts the past two years.

UNMs faculty attrition usually ranges from 3-5 percent annually. While he did not yet know this years figure, he said some departments that typically lose one or two people are losing five. In some cases, UNM cannot afford to replace them. Even when it can, it could take a full year to recruit and fill the spot. Holes like that can affect the school for a long time.

Anything were doing today, and were cutting today, well feel it four years from now, Abdallah said.

Asked this week about concerns universities had expressed about student and faculty recruitment in the current budget climate, New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Barbara Damron described recruitment and retention as an ongoing, year-round issue.

I am confident the institutions are navigating that in the best way. They are very skilled at recruiting people in the face of challenges and when there are no challenges, she said.

Journal Staff Writer Kim Burgess contributed to this report.
Sens. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts are asking the Department of Justices inspector general to investigate Attorney General Jeff Sessions involvement in the firing of FBI Director James Comey to determine if it violated his pledge to recuse himself from the investigation into ties between President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign and the Russian government.

The senators sent a letter Inspector General Michael Horowitz Tuesday that says if so, it would compromise the integrity of the ongoing inquiry and raise concern about Sessions ability to remain impartial in the investigation. Sen. Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat, and seven other Democratic senators also signed the letter.

It is clear that Attorney General Sessions had an active role in the termination of Director Comey, the letter states. This seems to be in direct violation of Attorney General Sessions recusal from any existing or future investigations of any matter relating in any way to the campaigns for president of the United States.

At the time of his termination, Director Comey was actively leading the F.B.I.s investigations into both the attempts by the Russian government to influence the 2016 presidential campaign, and the ties of members/employees/representatives of the Trump Campaign had, or have, with the Russian government or Russian intelligence services, wrote the senators.

The senators ask the Inspector General to answer the following questions:

To what extent is Sessions required by law to recuse himself from investigations into matters related to the Trump campaign?

What was the scope of Sessions publicly announced March 2, 2017 recusal?

What is the timeline of Sessions involvement in the removal of Comey? Did his involvement in Comey termination violate his recusal agreement or requirements, or other DOJ rules, regulations, and precedents?

It is imperative that the American people have faith in the institutions that are investigating the influence a hostile foreign power may have had on our presidential campaign, election, and the current administration of President Trump, the senators wrote. We believe the Attorney Generals involvement in the termination of Director Comey has injected the exact partiality in these investigations he claimed to wish to avoid.

Further, the Presidents recent admission that Comey was fired, at least in part, due to the Russia investigation only raises further questions about the role of the Attorney General in the termination, his willingness to provide cover for a political decision, and both his and the Department of Justices ability to perform an independent investigation, they added.

Here is a full copy of the letter.

May 16, 2017

The Honorable Michael E. Horowitz

Inspector General

United States Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear Mr. Horowitz:

Shortly after Attorney General Jeff Sessions was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Washington Post published a story on March 1, 2017, entitled Sessions Met with Russian Envoy Twice Last Year, Encounters He Later Did Not Disclose. One day later on March 2, 2017, Attorney General Sessions held a news conference announcing he would recuse himself from all matters related to investigations connected to the 2016 presidential campaign.

The recusal of a senior member of the Department of Justice related to a high profile investigation is always a significant act. However, as Attorney General Sessions himself stated at the news conference announcing his recusal [i]f a specific matter arose where I believed my impartiality might reasonably be questioned. This recusal is required by with the Department of Justice regulations relating to conflicts of interest, 28 CFR  45.2:

[N]o [D.O.J.] employee shall participate in a criminal investigation or prosecution if he has a personal or political relationship with: (1) Any person or organization substantially involved in the conduct that is the subject of the investigation or prosecution; or (2) Any person or organization which he knows has a specific and substantial interest that would be directly affected by the outcome of the investigation or prosecution. 28 CFR  45.2(a)(1) & (2).

A political relationship is defined as a close identification with an elected official, a candidate (whether or not successful) for elective, public office, a political party, or a campaign organization, arising from service as a principal advisor thereto or a principal official there of 28 CFR  45.2(c)(1). A personal relationship is defined as a close and substantial connection of the type normally viewed as likely to induce partiality 28 CFR  45.2(c)(2).

Attorney General Sessions acted as a surrogate for then candidate Trumps campaign for president on numerous occasions including appearing and speaking at campaign events in support of candidate Trump. Further, reports that the Attorney General met with representatives of the Russian government, regardless of the capacity, lend credence to the specter of partiality that would arise over Attorney General Sessions oversight or participation in any investigation that touches upon the 2016 Presidential campaign, or the investigation of Russian involvement and attempts to influence the outcome of the subsequent election.

The Attorney General recused himself from any involvement in the investigations surrounding the 2016 Presidential campaign. The Attorney Generals recusal language itself could not be clearer I have now decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matter relating in any way to the campaigns for president of the United States. Attorney General Sessions Statement on Recusal, March 2, 2017.

Despite this recusal, Attorney General Sessions appears to have been intimately involved with the May 9, 2017 dismissal of Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) Director James Comey, who was in charge of an investigation of the Trump campaign and its ties to Russia. On Monday, May 8, 2017, Attorney General Sessions went to the White House for a meeting with President Trump and Rod Rosenstein, his Deputy Attorney General, in order to discuss the removal of Director Comey.

On May 9, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent a letter to President Trump recommending the termination of Director of the F.B.I. James B. Comey, Jr. Attorney General Sessions stated I have concluded that a fresh start is needed at the leadership of the F.B.ITherefore, I must recommend that you remove Director James B. Comey, Jr.

In his termination letter to Director Comey, President Trump stated that he had received a letter from the Attorney General [Sessions]recommending your dismissal as Director of the F.B.I. The following day, Attorney General Sessions reportedly began interviewing candidates to serve as the interim replacement for Director Comey  candidates who would temporarily lead the F.B.I.s ongoing investigation into the Trump campaign.

It is clear that Attorney General Sessions had an active role in the termination of Director Comey. This seems to be in direct violation of Attorney General Sessions recusal from any existing or future investigations of any matter relating in any way to the campaigns for president of the United States. At the time of his termination, Director Comey was actively leading the F.B.I.s investigations into both the attempts by the Russian government to influence the 2016 presidential campaign, and the ties of members/employees/representatives of the Trump Campaign had, or have, with the Russian government or Russian intelligence services.

It is imperative that the American people have faith in the institutions that are investigating the influence a hostile foreign power may have had on our presidential campaign, election, and the current administration of President Trump. We believe the Attorney Generals involvement in the termination of Director Comey has injected the exact partiality in these investigations he claimed to wish to avoid. Further, the Presidents recent admission that Comey was fired, at least in part, due to the Russia investigation only raises further questions about the role of the Attorney General in the termination, his willingness to provide cover for a political decision, and both his and the Department of Justices ability to perform an independent investigation. His involvement seems to be a clear violation of his recusal, and can only be construed as an attempt to influence an ongoing investigation that threatens to examine his own role in the 2016 presidential campaign, as well other elements of President Trumps campaign and administration.

We urge you to investigate whether Attorney General Sessions has violated his recusal, and the rules and regulations that govern it. Further, we ask that if you find a violation that you explore what effect such a violation may have on the ongoing investigations, and how the integrity of these investigations can be restored. In addition to any related matter you find appropriate, we ask that you specifically seek to answer the following questions:
LAS CRUCES  An expert psychologist testified Tuesday that he believed Tai Chan, the ex-Santa Fe County sheriff accused of killing a colleague in 2014 at Hotel Encanto, perceived a deadly threat before the shooting.

Philip Trompetter, a police psychologist from Modesto, California, told jurors on the seventh day of a high-profile retrial that he saw a copy of Chans remarks made hours after his arrest in late October 2014. Also, Trompetter said he interviewed Chan in recent weeks regarding the incident. And both sets of information  but primarily Chans remarks soon after his arrest, which included a claim that his colleague had tried to kill him  led to Trompetters conclusion about a perceived deadly threat posed by deputy Jeremy Martin.

Chan shot Martin five times that night, discharging 10 rounds altogether, as Martin was attempting to flee their shared hotel room. Martin died later at a Las Cruces hospital.

Chan is charged with murder. His attorneys claim self-defense. The first Chan case ended in a mistrial in May 2016.

Psychologist rehashes talk with Chan

Trompetter said Chan recounted the night of the shooting, saying Martin was upset about Chans teasing Martins response to a double-homicide call in Santa Fe County. At one point, Martin pushed Chan and then kicked him in the balls, prompting Chan to leave the hotel. Upon Chans return to the lobby, Martin met him, stating: I love you, bro,' said Trompetter, recalling what Chan told him.

Chan was then in the bathroom of their shared hotel room, when Martin began banging on the door, according to Trompetters account of his interview with Chan. After leaving the bathroom, Chan saw Martin had the gun in his hand, Trompetter recounted Chan saying.

Then, Martin punched Chan, a scuffle ensued, and the weapon discharged, Trompetter said.

I believe his actions are consistent with the way officers would generally respond with a threat like that, he told jurors.

Trompetter said police officers are trained to respond to deadly force with deadly force. They continue to fire until the threat is gone, he said.

On using deadly force

When cross-examined, prosecutor Davis Ruark posed a hypothetical question, asking Trompetter whether a threat would diminish if a person who may have posed a threat got into an elevator.

Yes, because that would just be firing into elevator doors, Trompetter replied.

Trompetter also said someone whod just punched another person and ran away, that alone wouldnt be enough to justify the use of deadly force.

Authorities believe Chan fired at Martin both inside their hotel room, Room 711, and in the hotel hallway. Martin, while wounded, continued down the hallway toward a bank of three elevators, taking one of them down to the lobby. According to police, Chan, who still had his handgun, was later found on a landing to a staircase leading to a hotel rooftop.

Calculated decision

Ruark pressed Trompetter on an assessment hed made about an aspect of Chans remarks  captured in whats informally been dubbed the Cosper audio, named after the officer who recorded it in the hours after Chans detention. Chan, during the audio, repeatedly shouts that theres a bomb in the hotel building, as officers initially respond to the scene. There was not a bomb in the hotel.

Trompetter said that claim by Chan did seem to be a calculated decision.

The only calculated decision I was aware of was Mr. Chan saying there was a bomb inside  that he knew not to be true, Trompetter told jurors.

One of Chans attorneys, John Day, asked Trompetter whether there are reasons officers involved in use-of-force situations will fire a large number of rounds at a subject.

Trompetter said sometimes, officers cant tell they hit somebody, especially if the person continues moving, and will keep firing. Also, there can be a time delay between when an officer perceives that a deadly threat has ceased and when the officer stops firing.

Trompetter was the first expert witness to be called by the defense. A series of prosecution witnesses, for scheduling reasons, was interrupted Tuesday to allow Trompetter to testify, said 3rd Judicial District Judge Fernando Macias, whos presiding over the retrial.

Medical examiner testifies

Jurors heard from Nika Aljinovic, a medical examiner who worked at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator at the time of Martins death and examined his body.

Aljinovic said Martins body had five wounds from projectiles entering his body. Some passed through his body, and others were lodged in his body. Also, Martin had bruises on his right knuckles, and abrasions on his right side and left knee. He had two cuts above one eye.

A black powdery substance on Martins hands wasnt tested. Aljinovic said a police officer inquired about having the substance tested later on, but it was too late to do further testing.

TIMELINE: Tai Chan case

There was a gun there

Las Cruces Police Department Detective Irma Palos launched the days proceedings, testifying about her role as lead investigator in the homicide investigation. She said she arrived at Hotel Encanto about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 28 after the initial response by LCPD officers.

As we walked up the stairway, we came up to a landing, where the roof hatch was, she said of her initial survey of the scene. There was a gun there.

Palos also reviewed details, such as about the hotel room, discussed in depth in Mondays testimony.

Defense attorney Monnica Garcia asked Palos why she hadnt told the grand jury early on about a self-defense claim Chan had made soon after the shooting when in custody of police. The grand jury had asked whether Chan had made any statements.

Palos said she didnt know the full contents of the Cosper audio recording, which contained Chans remarks, until after the grand jury proceeding.

I had not reviewed the tape that he makes those statements (on), she said.

Palos became a central figure in the Chan case earlier this year when it was revealed that she filed a whistle-blower lawsuit in October 2016 alleging, among other charges, that she was denied resources to investigate a high profile murder investigation in October 2014 because she had previously reported sexual misconduct within the detectives unit at the LCPD.

On Tuesday, Garcia also questioned Palos about delays in the police departments DNA testing of some items, such as a much-discussed item of bedding from Chans hotel bed that contained his blood. Also, a cell phone belonging to Chan had contained blood but wasnt tested.

Palos said her priority was to obtain the data from the cell phone. As for some items of evidence werent sent to the state lab for testing earlier, that was an oversight on my part, Palos told jurors.

Diana Alba Soular may be reached at 575-541-5443, dalba@lcsun-news.com or @AlbaSoular on Twitter.



2017 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)

Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

_____
PHOENIX  The state of Arizona and a southern Arizona tribe on Wednesday said a lawsuit settlement will allow the tribe to operate full-fledged gambling and sell alcohol at its casino in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale but bar it from opening more gambling operations in metropolitan Phoenix.

The agreement between Gov. Doug Ducey and the Tohono Oodham (toh-HO-noh AH-tuhm) Nation ends a yearslong dispute over the tribes Desert Diamond Casino near Glendale.

The tribe opened the casino in late 2015 but the Ducey administration denied it certification to operate full-fledged gambling. The governor had sent a letter to the states gaming director in April 2015 saying that the tribe engaged in fraud because it didnt disclose its plans for a casino in the Phoenix area while negotiating a gambling agreement with the state in 2003. He also said the state might consider cancelling its entire gambling compact with the tribe.

The tribe sued and opened the casino instead with bingo-style slots and no alcohol license. So-called Class III gambling that includes regular slot machines and card tables wasnt allowed, a bigger money-maker for casinos.

The agreement ends an ongoing battle between the tribe and the state in federal court.

This is a day the Nation has long been working toward, Tohono Oodham Nation Chairman Edward D. Manuel said in a statement. It establishes an agreement concerning the Nations ability to conduct Class III gaming on its West Valley land and it brings to an end the final dispute that was constraining this important project.

Ducey also crowed over the agreement, calling it a major victory for the state that ensures reasonable restrictions on future casinos in metro Phoenix.

It is time for us to move forward together, Ducey said in a statement. I am eager to continue meeting with gaming tribes to discuss how we can modernize the tribal-state gaming compacts and create positive economic opportunities for all Arizonans. I welcome the Tohono Oodham Nation to this process.

The governors office in December bypassed the Tohono Oodham when it agreed to make changes to its gambling agreements with 10 other tribes that gave them more gambling opportunities. Three other tribes signed on later. The agreement amended tribal gambling deals to formally block new casinos in metro Phoenix and allow more Keno games and poker tables at existing and new casinos.

Ducey said the Tohono Oodham tribe was welcome to sign onto the agreement if it agreed to the formal prohibition on additional Phoenix-area casinos.

The agreements signed with the tribes in December were considered a first step to a more extensive overhaul of tribal gambling agreements that limit what kind of gambling is allowed in casinos. Arizona voters in 2002 approved a law allowing the state to approve Indian casinos. The 2003 compact with numerous tribes followed.

That law was believed to limit the number of casinos in metro Phoenix. But the Tohono Oodham bought land near University of Phoenix stadium and applied for it to be taken into trust by the federal government in 2009. They then announced plans to build a large casino there, setting off the years of lawsuits that were ended with Wednesdays settlement.
DALLAS  The Dallas Police Department and city leaders held a ceremony to honor fallen officers as part of the annual Police Memorial Day.

Dozens of officers, city officials and members of the public gathered Wednesday for a march and ceremony at the citys police memorial site just 10 months after five law enforcement officers were killed and seven others injured in a sniper attack on July 7 in downtown Dallas.

The four Dallas police officers and one Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer were killed in what was the deadliest attack on police officers in the United States since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Wednesdays event followed a national memorial service Monday in Washington, D.C. that was attended by about 200 Dallas officers.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

Olivier Kamndon survived a two-month trek of hundreds of miles through Africa, dodging militia bullets and walking past dead bodies, all the while hoping to find safety as a refugee in the United States, only to be struck by a motorist as he crossed an Albuquerque street.

Kamndon was reported in serious condition at University of New Mexico Hospital on Thursday after being hit by a car reportedly driven by a teenager earlier this week. He was trying to cross Montgomery.

In December, Kamndon spoke to the Journal for a story about refugees. He said his family had arrived in Albuquerque last October after a seven-year struggle to escape violence in their native country of Central African Republic, which has been engulfed in a civil war most years since 2004.

I just wanted to be somewhere safe and peaceful, he said.

Kamndon said he and his family walked over 600 miles to Chad. Along the way they saw dozens of people who had been shot as well as bodies that had been thrown into a river.

In Chad, they lived in a refugee camp during the years it took for them to be approved for refugee status.

Kamndon speaks French and several African languages. He was eager to learn English so he could get a job and support his family. To that end he was taking classes several times a week.

He recently landed a job as a maintenance worker at the Jewish Community Center.

Now, he likely wont be able to work for a long time.

Around 9:45 p.m. Monday night, he was walking north across Montgomery near Carlisle when a red Cadillac that police say was being driven by 19-year-old Samantha Ramos-Montanez struck him and continued going west. Kamndon, his wife and their eight children live in an apartment complex in the area.

Police later took Ramos-Montanez into custody near Fourth and Osuna. She was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with great bodily harm.

Kamndon was taken to UNMH. Hospital staff had trouble locating his family, and a UNM social worker who found the Journal article contacted the newspaper for help.

The Journal put the social worker in touch with Lutheran Family Services, which helps refugees, and Melinda Forward, a French teacher at Del Norte High School who teaches one of Kamndons sons and has worked with the family.

Forward went to the hospital and helped translate information about Kamndons condition into French for his wife.

We reassured her he was in good hands, Forward said.

David Simon, executive director at the JCC, said he heard about the accident Tuesday night. He said he and others at the center are very concerned for Kamndon and his family

Theyve suffered a terrible blow. This is a good man who is working hard to make a new life here, Simon said.

Lutheran Family Services Program Director Tarrie Burnett said volunteers are providing meals for the family. Her agency has set up a fund to help them.
Leading full-service digital agency, BC Web Wise, has announced that it has secured the digital marketing duties for KEI Industries Limited, following a multi-agency pitch. The account will be managed by the agencys Delhi office.

KEI Industries Ltd, is one of the leading players in the wires & cables industry. The company is among the largest manufacturers of Electrical wires & cables in India has a large presence in turnkey EPC solutions for electrical and power-related projects. KEI also offers products for domestic household applications under its House wire range.

As the agency on record, BC Web Wise will be responsible for end-to-end digital strategy services for KEI. The mandate includes building a mobile-first presence for the brand in addition to creative strategy, online PR, social media management, and media planning.

Anil Gupta, chairman and managing director, KEI Industries Ltd., says, KEI has always been a leading player in the Wires and Cables category. For five decades, we have catered to diverse industries. Our requirement for a digital agency was driven by the decision to get more aggressive in the house wire segment. In the coming years, we want to find a place in every Indian household. BC Web Wise impressed us with its experienced team and clear strategy to help us meet our business objectives. I look forward to working with them.

Speaking about the win, Chaaya Baradhwaaj, Founder-MD, BC Web Wise says, We are glad to be extending our digital services to KEI. The brand has been synonymous with engineering brilliance and is one of the most flourishing businesses in the power industry. Seeing as the electrical cable category lacks a much needed social media connect with the consumer, we are here to build that bond and create a strong digital base for KEI.

Harshit Agrawal, Group Account Director, BC Web Wise adds, KEI is one of the most respected industrial brands in its category and associating with them is certainly a matter of pride for us. Our vision is to make it one of the most talked about brands among end-users i.e. the social media savvy home and office owners of today. We have put in great efforts towards creating effective messaging to bridge the gap and build sustainable digital engagement with the core audience.

Well-known in the B2B space for its unique product range, KEIs digital focus will be on increasing mindshare among end-users of its offerings for domestic households. Greater online visibility and social engagement will play a key role in improving its brand recall among the social media savvy and quality-conscious consumers in that segment.

BC Web Wise managed the digital launch and amplification of KEIs latest TVC featuring Irrfan Khan with the new brand positioning of #JodeDiloKeTaar. The agency created an online teaser campaign based on the storyline of the new TVC. In order to unlock the TVC, fans and followers were invited to share tips on being a khaas padosi with Irrfan on an interactive microsite (http://www.kei-ind.com/irrfankhan/) created especially for the campaign.
The life insurance sector in India has typically been publicized using emotional campaigns. PNB MetLife has been using a humorous route to drive the importance of investing in life insurance. Taking this forward, PNB MetLife has launched a digital campaign titled #MakeTime. With a quirky and light-hearted tone, the campaign gives a strong message on #MakeTime to protect your familys future during ones lifetime.

Extending the theme of Protection, the campaign aims to draw attention towards the importance of financial planning to protect ones family against uncertainties in life. An insight into the consumer mind-set in India showed that consumers view insurance as an investment tool rather than a safety net in case of any untoward incident. PNB MetLife seeks to change that mindset with the launch of this light-hearted film conveying the message of lifes unpredictability, re-iterating the importance of insurance to protect the familys financial future and a call to action to purchase MetLife Mera Term Plan.

Conceptualised and executed by Social Kinnect, PNB MetLifes Digital Agency, the film opens with Mr. Sharma addressing a prayer meet in loving memory of his legendary musician father, late Shri Shri Kavinarayan Sharma. What happens next takes everyone by surprise.

Watch the video here to find out
[May 17, 2017] CySure Launch New Virtual Online Security Officer for SMBs

LONDON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CySure is excited to announce the launch of VOSO, CySure's Virtual Online Security Officer. CySure's SaaS based VOSO is a unique, pragmatic and affordable solution for SMBs in the fight against cybercrime. Founded in 2015 CySure's VOSO is being launched after two years in development. Joe Collinwood, CySure's CEO and co-founder says, "Protecting a small business from Cybercrime is now an urgent issue for the economy. We recognize the typical SMB is already stretched beyond capacity and is struggling to deal with cybersecurity. The arrival of CySure mean SMB's can protect themselves the same as a large corporation might, but at a fraction of the cost it normally takes." CySure has recently completed several field tests and installations with early adopters to demonstrate the effectiveness of VOSO for SMBs. CySure is now available in both the UK and the United States. CySure believes VOSO is set to become the standard for executing a continual cybersecurity process allowing senior executives to easily monitor and oversee a cyber risk mitigation strategy. What SMBs need is a simple and inexpensive way to create implement and enforce cybersecurity security policies and procedures with the minimum of resources.



The advantage over competitors is that CySure's SaaS VOSO is inexpensive, makes it easy to implement standards based security policies and procedures, quickly builds a breach response plan and paves the way for cyber insurance optimization. The ransomware program WannaCry that recently attacked computers in more than 150 countries has left small and medium sized businesses scratching their heads and wondering what to do to protect themselves. The Government offers little practical help for the smaller enterprise. Virus checkers, anti-malware software and firewalls afford only so much safety. The heart of the problem of risk mitigation is not technology but human behavior.

CySure's approach is to take complex Government standards such as NIST and Cyber Essentials and deploy a Virtual Online Security Officer that automatically translates the selected standard into a simple to follow solution containing the related policies for the business owner. The service guides executives to which part of their company's cybersecurity plan needs attention and translates this information into clear actionable steps. The VOSO continues to monitor a company's performance against the selected standard. CySure's VOSO allows leadership to understand what to focus on to successfully guard against 80% of all cyber-attacks. CySure understands that some breaches cannot be prevented so CySure complements their solution with a breach response plan and optimized insurance. CySure's VOSO creates an audit trail enables senior executives to easily demonstrate adherence to the highest government standards and that management is discharging its fiduciary responsibility to protect the assets of their company. CySure believes many SMB's are struggling either to become HIPPA compliant or maintain that accreditation as well as become cyber secure. As a result, CySure plans to initially market its product in highly regulated industries where HIPPA compliance is mandatory as Cyber Essentials and HIPPA share many similar requirements. CySure is a start-up with headquarters in located in Fair Oaks, California and an office in London. CySure's website is www.cysure.net Contact:

Paul Good

[email protected]

020 8412 1106 Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/512868/CySure_Logo.jpg

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Zee TV is all set to beef up its prime time offering with a new fiction show  Aisi Deewangi ... Dekhi Nahi Kahin. Premiering on May 22, 2017, the show will replace family drama Sanyukt and will air Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm.

Touted as an action-packed love story of two young passionate souls, Aisi Deewangi ... Dekhi Nahi Kahin is based in the hinterlands of Gujarat. The story focuses on Tejaswani and Prem, but the epicenter of all the drama is Dharam Singh Rathod, Prems father and a dreaded don of yesteryears. Tejaswani and Prem are poles apart in personality and come from diverse family backgrounds. With Tejaswinis father being an honest, upright, martyred cop, nothing between her and Prem could even be faintly similar. It is circumstances that result in them fiercely locking horns.

Veteran Gujarati theatre and film actor Rasik Dave is essaying the character of Dharam Singh Rathod, who doesnt instill fear in people but still commands respect. After a series of auditions, debutante Jyoti Sharma has been cast as Tejawani, while Pranav Misshra will be seen making his debut as Prem.

Calling the show our single-screen mass entertainer on television, Deepak Rajadhyaksha, Deputy Business Head, Zee TV, said, It is a rollercoaster of fiery emotions, friction, power-play, love, deceit, manipulation, revenge and much more. It explores love against all odds, love between the most unlikely. The show has all the essential elements of a complete entertainer with universal appeal, cutting across barriers of age, gender or class. We have a robust, innovative 360-degree marketing campaign to ensure optimum buzz around the show in its launch phase.

Speaking to Adgully at the launch event for Aisi Deewangi ... Dekhi Nahi Kahin in Vadodara, Deepak Rajadhyaksha shared more on the shows concept, its TG, marketing strategy for the show, Zees DNA and more. Excerpts:

How will the new show complete Zees bouquet of shows?

Zee TV did not have any dramatic love story after our last show, Tashn-E-Ishq. Aisi Deewangi will fill that void for our audience, which is not just any ordinary love story but a passionate, compassionate and dramatic love story, and that genre was missing in Zees cluster of shows. The story is about the madness (Deewangi) of all the characters and not just the protagonists. As the story evolves, each character becomes interesting and the transformation of the characters is an interesting thing to watch out for.

With this show, Zee is venturing into the early prime time slot

Prime time now starts at as early as 5.30-6 pm, but Zee TV was weak in that area. With Aisi Deewangi, the channel will enter the early prime time band and plans to built likability. Zee TV is also looking at creating more new content in the early prime time slot.

Who is the show targeted at?

There is no fixed TG for Aisi Deewangi, since this is a family-oriented show. The show is not only targetted at youth, but also at the older generation since the character of Dharam Singh Rathod, who plays the father of the lead actor, is an influential character because of whom the story keeps evolving. The show talks about family values, love and is a dramatic love story, which addresses the entire state of family.

What made Zee choose Gujarat as the location for this show?

We chose Gujarat because there arent any major shows set out of this state. Gujarat itself has a unique culture, which had been shown in some earlier shows but we dont see that anymore on television. Since good days (Acche Din) have begun from this vibrant state which has led to good days in the entire country, we thought why not come back to Gujarat, take the backdrop of this beautiful and vibrant state to develop the shows characters.

What will be the marketing strategy for the show?

The show is supported by a high-decibel marketing campaign that will bring alive the concept through a thought mnemonic of Deewangi meter across mediums  print, radio and outdoor. Digitally, the channel has collaborated with user-generated content website AkkarBakkar.com to showcase eight real life stories of love against all odds. On radio, RJs will engage the listeners with real-life, absolutely fun and uncanny deewangi stories, while key markets will see interactive and distinct outdoor hoardings.

Will the show be a finite one?

As of now, we are looking at this show for a year and a half or two years. However, if the show is well received, we will continue with it further, but will not drag it with unnecessary twists and turns.

How did you finalise the cast for this show?

The cast for the show is a mix of experienced actors and fresh actors. For our lead characters, we had workshops to groom them and ensure that they are into the characters that they play. We also wanted Rasik ji to be a part of the show, so we waited for him for a long time and persuaded him to come on-board.

Coming to Zee TV, how has the content on the channel evolved over the years?

Content for Zee is more realistic and sharp now as it has evolved over the years. Today, the content is more specialized, not only in terms of our target group but also in terms of selecting the story plots for the shows. There is a lot of competition today and each channel will have to be sustained with their own DNA and identity. Every channel is trying to understand their DNA and maintain that in terms of various shows that they launch, be it fiction or non-fiction, there are a lot of experiments. We have taken some risks consciously and we are working through all those risks to make them believable, relatable and aspirational for our viewers.

What is Zees DNA?

Over the years, people have come to consider Zee TV as one of their family members; they relate with the channel and expect the characters to be aspirational, who will matter in their own lives, be empathetic and give glimpses on how to live life in a far better way. That is Zee TVs DNA, which is in its 25th year. We have never worked like other channels. Regardless of whether we are at No. 2 or No. 3 or No. 5, our content has always been realistic and that is what our viewers expect of us.

How does the channel plan on retaining the millennial and digital savvy viewers?

We intend to do that with shows that are universal in their value proposition, where the entire family comes together to watch them. Yes, there is the issue of time slots and availability of the show at a particular time slot, but digital platforms are helping us there. That has been a challenge in television and will continue to be a challenge in the coming years, but we have observed that with shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs, people are coming together and even the youth is watching the show. Though it is prime time show on weekends, the youth are watching it whenever they are at home. We are also providing them the same content on digital platforms and are also creating some special content for digital.

Does Zee plan to venture into other genres like comedy, action, etc.?

The channel is experimenting a lot and you will see that in a couple of months. We are also experimenting within our framework to cater our own viewers.

What does the road ahead look like?

The only strategy for Zee is to keep on experimenting, keep on innovating, build more credibility and the viewability factor in the minds and hearts of our viewers.

Also read:

Relatable & aspirational shows spearhead Zee's content: Deepak Rajadhyaksha

https://www.adgully.com/relatable-aspirational-shows-spearhead-zee-s-content-deepak-rajadhyaksha-71070.html
TVS Motor Company introduced a new advertising campaign Zyada Colours for its flagship scooter brand TVS Jupiter. The campaign, conceptualized by Dentsu Communications India, captures how TVS Jupiter continues to remain true to its promise of Zyada ka Fayda with its offering of 10 attractive colours giving its customers the widest range of colour selections.

The commercial shows a man riding on a TVS Jupiter captivating bystanders as the scooter changes colours riding across the city. The impact of the unique, attractive colours is captured through the reactions of the enrapt onlookers, when a TVS Jupiter rides past them. The film celebrates how TVS Jupiter has always focused on customer delight and this time offers them an even wider palette of colours to claim as their own. TVS Jupiter is currently available in spectacular colours of Titanium Grey, Mercury White, Midnight Black, Volcano Red, Sparkling Silver, Royal Wine, Matte Blue, and Stallion Brown. The recent additions of Jade Green and Mystic Gold, give customers a range of 10 colours to choose from.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr. Aniruddha Haldar, Vice President  Marketing (Scooters), TVS Motor Company, says, TVS Jupiter has stood for the promise of Zyada ka Fayda. The power of this campaign resides in how simply it conveys the message and brings our latest and widest offering of colour selections to the fore. TVS Jupiter is the only scooter to have 10 colour options more than any scooter in the market. Every customer can now select a colour he identifies with the most.

Mr. Samrat Chengapa, Senior Vice President, Dentsu Communications India Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore says, Staying true to its Zyada ka Fayda promise, TVS Jupiter offers 10 unique colours to give consumers the widest range of colour options in the category. To communicate this, we launched a new campaign with the message Colours so attractive that all eyes are on TVS Jupiter! We hope to get an excellent response from the market with this campaign.

Details of the creative team are as follows:
Yatra.com, one of Indias leading online travel portal, today announced Bollywood superstar and youth icon, Ranbir Kapoor, as their brand ambassador. Popularly known for portraying versatile and youthful roles on screen, Ranbir Kapoor is a perfect fit for the brand. Just like Yatra, he is a leader in his Industry and is technologically savvy, modern and has a passion for travelling. In his cinematic journey as well, travel has always played an important part.

Speaking on the association, Sharat Dhall, COO(B2C), Yatra.com, said, Today Yatra is an evolved and contemporary travel marketplace which stands apart for the richness of its product & services. Ranbirs persona is in line with these qualities, and he also brings with him a sense of casual coolness that todays youth relates to. We welcome him to the Yatra family and hope that with this association we are able to create a strong impact in the minds of our audiences and customers at large.

Speaking on the partnership, Ranbir Kapoor said, I am delighted to be associated with Yatra.com which has been a preferred travel partner for millions of Indian customers. I am an avid traveler myself and travel has played an important part in my films. So a partnership with a travel brand like Yatra was a natural fit for me. I am particularly excited to be a part of this new journey and am looking forward to a long & fulfilling 'Yatra' with the brand.

Commenting on the occasion, Vikrant Mudaliar, Chief Marketing Officer, Yatra.com, said, With Ranbir Kapoor coming on-board, we are confident of strengthening Yatras brand appeal and recall amongst our customers. Today, Yatra is bursting with new ideas, and we wanted our brand ambassador to exude similar qualities, hence, Ranbir was our natural choice. We are confident that this association will help us stand out in an increasingly cluttered media environment. Ranbir appeals to all age groups and demographics across the board and we are excited about using him in our marketing communication. 
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 on Wednesday announced a refresh of its Android-powered Fire tablet lineup, debuting four new models in total, all of which will start shipping to customers next month. The latest additions to the Seattle, Washington-based companys tablet series are the All-New Fire 7, All-New Fire 7 Kids Edition, All-New Fire HD 8, and the All-New Fire HD 8 Kids Edition.

This years version of the popular Fire 7 tablet is now somewhat thinner and a bit lighter than its 2016 predecessor and ships with a noticeably improved 7-inch IPS display panel, the company claims, adding that the device also boasts 8/16GB of storage space, a longer battery life, and Alexa integration, all while sporting the same $49.99 price tag that its predecessor did. The Kids Edition of the All-New Fire 7 tablet features 16GB of internal storage and up to eight hours of battery life, as well as 12 months of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited subscription, a two-year unconditional warranty, and a colorful case. This particular variant is priced at $99.99 and is otherwise identical to the regular Fire 7. The latest revision of the Fire HD 8 is equipped with an HD display panel and 16GB/32GB of storage, in addition to offering up to 12 hours of battery life. It starts at $79.99 and will start shipping in early June alongside all of the other new members of Amazons Fire tablet family. Finally, the All-New Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is a $129.99 device with 32GB of storage space and the same 1280 x 720 screen featured by the regular mode. The tablet ships with a year-long subscription to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited and 24 months of unconditional warranty, the company said.

While the Seattle eCommerce giant usually launches its new Fire tablets in September, the company apparently decided to move up that release schedule this year. Apart from support for the Alexa artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, the standout feature of this years lineup is the price of the larger All-New Fire HD 8 thats $10 cheaper than its predecessor was. All four devices will start shipping to customers on June 7, Amazon confirmed. You can already pre-order the new tablet lineup directly from Amazon by following the links below, with each model being available in a variety of colors. Finally, those who opt to purchase any three tablets from the 2017 Fire series are eligible for a 20-percent discount for a limited period by using the promo code FIRE3PACK.
Android Pay now supports 39 more U.S. banks and credit unions as Google continues to get the service up and running for customers of various banking establishments that werent previously able to take advantage of the growing mobile payment platform. Google tends to add support for new banks to Android Pay about once a month, at least for the U.S., as they added 5 new banks back in the middle of April, specifically April 18th, so this month theyre a couple of days ahead of schedule based on that time frame of release.

That being said the most recent time they actually added support for new banks was just last week, as Android Pay gained support for a total of 71 new banking establishments, which makes for a rather large amount of added banks and credit unions when you consider that they just added 39 more to the list as of today, bringing the total amount of new banks added to the list to over 100 in a month. Included in todays expanded support for the mobile payment platform is AimBank, Brand Banking Company, ChoiceOne Bank, Guardian CU, O Bee Credit Union, River Cities bank, and Workers Credit Union among many others. If youre bank wasnt supported before today youll want to head to the Android Pay support website where Google lists off the complete set of banks and credit unions that now support the platform with credit and or debit cards.

Speaking of credit and debit cards, just because support for your bank may have been added it doesnt necessarily mean that your bank will support Android Pay for all the cards that they offer. If your bank is listed, you should still contact them regarding the payment platform and see if they support your card of choice, or you could simply try adding the card in that you wish to use and see if the app takes it as a form of payment, and if rejected then youll know for sure. For the U.S., most of if not all of the major banks and credit unions are already supporting Android Pay so any more that added in the future are likely to be smaller and more regional banks and credit unions, which has mostly been the case for a little while now. If your bank wasnt added this time around, theres always next month.
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is putting out a book soon, in which he goes over the tale of his rejected proposal of a self-driving partnership that was given to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The proposal apparently came last year, after Apple started investing in Chinese ride sharing entity Didi Chuxing for self-driving car research. Since Didi Chuxing was already hard at work pushing Uber out of China, Kalanick decided to try to get some help advancing self-driving solutions which would help Uber in the race to commercialize this emerging technology. Kalanick says that the Tesla CEO essentially told him to stick to what Uber does best, at the risk of botching a move into the autonomous vehicle arena. Kalanick says that conversation tipped him off to the fact that Tesla was going to compete in that market as well.

Not too long after that rejection, Musks ten-year plan for Tesla surfaced, and contained calls for the company to double down on self-driving technology, and even launch a ride-hailing service, among other things. Essentially, Tesla planned to invest in the same tech on which Uber wanted to collaborate. This positioned the company as a direct competitor to Uber. The ride-sharing giant is currently in hot water with Alphabet over its self-driving tech, and it has dealt a serious blow to the growth of that department. Its been said that Uber could be facing irrelevance if its not ready when the autonomous vehicle revolution comes knocking, so the denial of a partnership with Tesla, combined with legal troubles with Alphabet, may severely hurt the company in the coming years.

Regardless, Kalanick isnt giving up on self-driving tech. Despite the ongoing legal battle and data showing that Ubers autonomous automobiles are far from the best on the market at the moment, the firm plans to continue developing the technology. The companys testing of autonomous cars was suspended following a serious crash in Arizona earlier this year, though the program was continued shortly after that incident. Time will tell whether Uber manages to commercialize autonomous vehicles, but an update on its efforts to do so should follow soon.
The Google Assistant will soon receive native support for digital purchases, the Alphabet-owned company revealed during the opening Keynote of the Google I/O 2017 developer conference. The Internet giants digital companion will receive the new functionality via an update thats scheduled to start rolling out in the coming days and will allow users to order and pay for goods and services without relying on third-party websites. Instead of creating individual accounts for each vendor, the feature will allow consumers to pay for goods and services from Googles network of partners using only their Google Wallet information. The experimental version of the Google Assistants support for payments will only support Panera Breads online store, but the bakery-cafe chain will not be the only major partner company that will become a part of Googles growing ecosystem this year.

As industry watchers previously speculated, Google opted to develop its assistants support for online purchases around Google Wallet that can already store all of the necessary information you need to pay for something online. Your name, birthday, credit card information, and address can be saved by the companys mobile payment platform and the Google Assistant will use that data to facilitate the process of making purchases. The artificial intelligence (AI) companion will also send you notifications about the status of your order, though the Mountain View-based company said its working on redesigning its notification algorithms in an effort to avoid scenarios in which the Google Assistant is serving you with too many notifications at once. While Notification Channels that are set to debut in the first stable build of Android O would certainly be helpful in this regard, its understood that Google is working on a more imminent solution for limiting purchase-related notifications sent by the Google Assistant thats currently supported on devices that are running Android versions as old as Marshmallow.

The company has yet to disclose when exactly will the purchase-enabling update be hitting the Google Assistant, but more details on that front are bound to follow soon. The experimental version of the service will only launch in the United States though its availability will likely be expanded in the future.
In the run-up to Google I/O 2017 whose Keynote is currently underway, Google discreetly launched Chatbase, an analytics service for developers of chatbots looking to improve their creations. The service is technically live as of this writing though it isnt freely accessible. Instead, interested developers are able to request access to Chatbase which the Mountain View-based tech giant will presumably grant on an individual basis. The main purpose of Chatbase isnt to create bots from scratch  although it can also be used with that motivation  but to improve existing solutions by providing developers with a robust set of analytics and data that will help them identify and eliminate bad user experience with bots, something thats plaguing many existing chatbots.

A representative of the Alphabet-owned company confirmed that Chatbase is being launched as an early access program later today, though it remains to be seen how long Google will take to move the service out of that development phase. Chatbase was developed by Hari Rajagopalan and Ofer Ronen, two Googlers who came to the company through a number of acquisitions. The project itself was funded by the companys in-house Area 120 incubator that already yielded a number of experimental solutions. Seeing how Google has yet to mention Chatbase at its annual developer conference thats currently underway, its possible that the firm still hasnt decided on the direction of the project and is looking at it as an experimental development tool and not a product that its ready to offer to the entire dev community anytime soon. The platform is currently being tested by around a dozen major firms including eBay and Viber and is not to be mistaken for the ChatBase messaging app for Android devices that was previously developed independently of Google.

Among other things, Chatbase will be able to track user acquisition and retention rates, individual sessions, and failed attempts at communicating with chatbots, the latter of which is one of the key features of the service. Its currently unclear when Google is planning to grant access to Chatbase to more developers, but an update on the matter will likely be available soon.
Lenovo has announced that its China-based businesses will undergo restructuring, with the company aiming to intensify its focus on consumers. The Chinese businesses of the Lenovo Group will be restructured to two new major divisions, the consumer-focused division, and the data center division. The consumer-focused division includes Lenovos PC and smart device enterprises based in China. Also included in this division is Lenovos smartphone business. Meanwhile, the data center division will include teams selling enterprise servers and storage devices. By restructuring the China-based businesses into two divisions, Lenovo aims to strengthen its position in the said country by taking advantage of new opportunities more effectively. Accompanying this change in structure is the change in staff, with new leaders called in to head the divisions. Leading the consumer division is the former head of Lenovos mobile business group, Liu Jin. Liu Jins experience in the mobile business group will aid Lenovo in managing the consumer-focused division, which primary products will likely include mobile devices.

The restructuring of Lenovo comes at a time that the Chinese electronics company is facing financial troubles. In the third quarter of the current financial year, Lenovo reported a massive 67 percent drop in net profit. This is despite the slight revenue increase of two percent in its flagship PC business, which comprises 70 percent of the companys revenue. While there is some positive news in the third quarter, Lenovo is still facing trouble due to the expected decline of the PC market globally. It is also facing stiff competition from other PC manufacturers like HP, which may result in the further diminishing of Lenovos lead in the PC market.

While Lenovo is known as the largest PC manufacturer globally, it is also known among Android enthusiasts as the current owner of Motorola. The Chinese electronics firm acquired Motorola from Google in 2014, with hopes of gaining market share in the lucrative smartphone market. Unfortunately, Lenovos mobile phone division has yet to turn a profit, with Lenovo admitting that the Motorola acquisition did not meet their expectations. The inability of the companys smartphone business to curb its losses affected Lenovos bottom line negatively. The restructuring of Lenovos Chinese enterprises could provide a boost to its smartphone sales, as Lenovo becomes more responsive to the challenges faced by the consumer-facing businesses like the mobile phone division.
[May 17, 2017] Veeam Brings Powerful Innovations Designed to Deliver Seamless Digital Life Experience

Users want the confidence of knowing that their information is available whenever and wherever they need it. In short, they want a seamless Digital Life experience. At VeeamON 2017, annual customer and partner conference, Veeam Software, the innovative provider of solutions that deliver Availability for the Always-On Enterprise, today unveiled a raft of innovations to help enterprises ensure 'Always-On Cloud' Availability in a Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud environment. Veeam helps businesses across the globe enable seamless Digital Life experiences with Veeam Availability Suite for the 'Always on Cloud'. Veeam Availability Suite delivers a fundamentally new kind of solution by providing: Non-Stop Business Continuity to deliver user confidence that their Digital Life will be available when, where and how they want it. Instantly recover - cross-cloud anything to anywhere. Backup, replication and continuous data protection (CDP) for Multi-Cloud or Hybrid Cloud environment wherever it is: private, public, managed or SaaS (News - Alert);

to deliver user confidence that their Digital Life will be available when, where and how they want it. Instantly recover - cross-cloud Backup, replication and continuous data protection (CDP) for Multi-Cloud or Hybrid Cloud environment wherever it is: private, public, managed or SaaS (News - Alert); Digital Transformation Agility provides easy, secure and reliable cross-cloud data management and migration. Choose your Cloud, your way. Veeam delivers a software-defined, hardware and cloud agnostic platform so you can adapt to user requirements as they change;

provides easy, secure and reliable cross-cloud data management and migration. Choose your Cloud, your way. Veeam delivers a software-defined, hardware and cloud agnostic platform so you can adapt to user requirements as they change; Analytics and Visibility with actionable insights for data management, operational performance and compliance across your entire infrastructure. Enterprises can now monitor, analyze and act with confidence. Veeam and its ecosystem of partners provide robust data analytics and discovery, simplified data management, workflow automation and more. "Today's users are demanding - period. At home, work or school, users want a seamless digital experience and anything less is unacceptable. Enterprises are having to re-think their IT strategies and service models, and Availability is of paramount importance," said Peter McKay, co-CEO and President at Veeam. "As enterprises move to the Cloud, Veeam ensures Availability of services, applications and data in Multi-Cloud and Hybrid-Cloud environments. Over the last 10 years Veeam has been the primary innovator in the space, with many industry first capabilities and highly differentiated solutions for private, managed, public and SaaS clouds, and at VeeamON we're raising the bar even further." Today at VeeamON 2017 the company unveiled NEW Veeam Availability Suite v10 and NEW extended Veeam 'Always-On Cloud' Availability Platform. NEW Veeam Availability Suite v10 Veeam Availability Suite v10 drives business continuity and agility to new levels by extending the 'Always on Cloud' Availability Platform to manage and protect: Physical servers and Network Attached Storage (NAS);

Tier-1 applications and mission-critical workloads with NEW Veeam CDP (continuous data protection), bringing recovery SLAs of seconds using continuous replication to the private or managed cloud;

(continuous data protection), bringing recovery SLAs of seconds using continuous replication to the private or managed cloud; Native object storage support, freeing up costly primary backup storage with policy-driven automated data management to reduce long term retention and compliance costs. This includes broad cloud object storage support with Amazon S3, Amazon Glacier, Microsoft (News - Alert) Azure Blob and any S3/Swift compatible storage. With v10, Veeam offers a complete end-to-end Availability and cross-cloud data management platform for enterprise customers by supporting any workloads (virtual, physical or cloud) on any infrastructure in Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud environments (private, public, managed or SaaS). Additional major enhancements to Veeam Availability Suite include: Veeam Availability for AWS

Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows

Extended Veeam 'Always-On Cloud' Availability Platform NEW Veeam Availability for AWS Amazon Web Services (News - Alert) (AWS) is becoming a popular choice for customers of all sizes. However, it is customer's responsibility to protect and recover their applications and data running in AWS. As more mission-critical applications are deployed in AWS the need for enterprise-class data protection and Availability solution is increasing. Veeam Availability for AWS (delivered through a Veeam - N2WS strategic partnership) is the industry's first cloud-native,agentless backup and Availability solution designed to protect and recover AWS applications and data helping enterprises reliably move to and manage a Multi-Cloud or Hybrid Cloud environment. This solution mitigates the risk of losing access to your applications and ensures protection of your AWS data against accidental deletion, malicious activity and outages.



Included in Veeam Availability for AWS: Cloud-native, agentless backup and recovery using native AWS snapshots eliminating complexity and dramatically improving recovery SLAs;

Mitigate risk of downtime and data loss for your AWS workloads by decoupling data and storing backups independently from the underlying AWS infrastructure;

Take full advantage of powerful and reliable recovery technologies to achieve industry-leading RTOs including instant recovery, granular file and application recovery. Veeam Availability for AWS is well positioned to revolutionize AWS data protection and become #1 Availability for AWS - the same way as Veeam has transformed VMware data protection.

NEW Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows, previously announced and being made generally available today at VeeamON 2017. This solution extends Veeam "Always-On Cloud" Availability Platform to public cloud and physical servers. It builds upon the success of Veeam Endpoint Backup - a product which has been downloaded over one million times since April 2015. This new solution offers features and capabilities designed to ensure Availability for Windows-based physical servers, workstations and endpoints, as well as Windows workloads running in public clouds including Microsoft Azure, AWS and other. NEW Extended Veeam 'Always-On Cloud' Availability Platform; New Partners: IBM, Lenovo (News - Alert) and INFINIDAT The Platform delivers new Universal Storage API framework adding IBM, Lenovo and INFINIDAT to Veeam's ever-growing ecosystem of strategic alliance partners which includes HPE, Cisco, NetApp, Dell EMC, Nimble (News - Alert) and Exagrid. These combined solutions enable users to leverage innovative and powerful 1 + 1 = 3 capabilities dramatically improving 'Always-On' Cloud Availability and reducing costs without negatively impacting production. Additionally, customers can leverage Veeam's open and extensible platform to solve today's business challenges through new integrations and partner solutions including VMware vRealize, DataGravity and StarWind Software: Log data generated by storage, hypervisors and applications is large in scale and unstructured, and takes a long time to analyze for actionable insights, costing time and money. Veeam's content pack for VMware vRealize Log Insight is a powerful analytics and monitoring tool for the Veeam Availability Suite environment designed to provide users improved visibility, actionable insights, and management of Veeam infrastructure, reducing IT management costs and mitigating the risk of downtime;

Data Gravity's fully federated search and analytics capabilities enable organizations to meet corporate data governance and regulatory compliance requirements, while providing total data visibility, security and enhanced availability for IT, virtualization, and security professionals. Combined with Veeam, organizations can ensure the protection and security of their most sensitive business information while maintaining optimal service Availability;

StarWind Cloud VTL for AWS and Veeam offers cost-effective and scalable tape replacement with Amazon S3 and Glacier object storage, helping businesses to meet regulatory requirements for data retention with no changes to the established tape-centric data archival processes. "With these new innovations across the Platform and ecosystem, Veeam is once again pioneering the market. Enterprises have long struggled to juggle user demands, but with Veeam Availability Suite v10, we are delivering wide array of new capabilities that will enable our portfolio of more than 242,000 customers deliver rich, seamless Digital Life experiences to their users," added McKay. Supporting Quotes "INFINIDAT is pleased to be among the first partners to leverage Veeam's newly announced Universal Storage API framework to provide direct integration between our Infinibox portfolio of petabyte-scale enterprise-class data storage solutions, and Veeam Availability Suite," said Jacob Broido, INFINIDAT's Chief Product Officer. "The combined offering provides organizations with unprecedented levels of application performance, Availability and efficiencies to power their critical application workloads across enterprise data centers and hybrid cloud environments."

"The freedom offered by hybrid, multi-cloud IT environments carries a new set of challenges when it comes to protecting, managing and monitoring business applications that run outside the classic datacenter," said Steven Hill, a Senior Storage Analyst with 451 Research. "Next-generation DR/BC solutions need to go beyond basic data protection to help insure the continuous Availability of the underlying services that cloud-based applications now depend upon."

"IT organizations are faced with ever-stricter service level requirements, more onerous governmental regulations implemented as a patchwork across geographies and stiffer penalties for any failure to meet them," said Phil Goodwin, Research Director, IDC. "Veeam's focus is on developing tools to help IT professional relieve the burden of data availability and governance that they face every day. IT leaders who attend VeeamON 2017 will have a unique, consolidated view of the Veeam ecosystem of solution providers, service providers and other partners to help them make the most of their investment in Veeam products."

"You always want your systems up, online and running smoothly, especially when the clock is ticking and decisions have to be made fast," said Russ Trainor, Vice President of Information Technology for the Broncos. "Just like other companies, we have critical systems that need to be up and online 24/7. Veeam is scalable, so even though our data grows by 30 percent each year, Veeam scales with us. Reliability is where the rubber meets the road. Veeam is a reliable data availability solution. It eases our anxiety."

"Our number one priority is delivering exceptional guest experiences, and we cannot begin to contemplate having critical services off-line, such as our bars or the casino floor," said Kevin Ragsdale, Director of IT for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. "Whether guests are listening to live music, playing slots, eating in our restaurants, attending conventions, relaxing by the pool or shopping in our boutiques, our mission is to ensure their experiences are stellar. Veeam gives us the peace of mind of knowing that if anything does happen across our infrastructure, we are able to resume services in mere minutes. This a quantum leap forward in terms of performance compared to what we were used to. We are able to successfully deliver to our guests seamless experience they have come to expect." For more information, visit www.veeam.com. About Veeam Software Veeam recognizes the new challenges companies across the globe face in enabling the Always-On Enterprise, a business that must operate 24.7.365. To address this, Veeam has pioneered a new market of Availability for the Always-On Enterprise by helping organizations meet recovery time and point objectives (RTPO) of less than 15 minutes for all applications and data, through a fundamentally new kind of solution that delivers high-speed recovery, data loss avoidance, verified recoverability, leveraged data and complete visibility. Veeam Availability Suite, which includes Veeam Backup & Replication, leverages virtualization, storage, and cloud technologies that enable the modern data center to help organizations save time, mitigate risks, and dramatically reduce capital and operational costs, while always supporting the current and future business goals of Veeam customers. Founded in 2006, Veeam currently has 47,000 ProPartners and more than 242,000 customers worldwide. Veeam's global headquarters are located in Baar, Switzerland, and the company has offices throughout the world. To learn more, visit https://www.veeam.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517006022/en/

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AsusTek Computer (ASUS) will release fewer consumer desktops following a sales decline, according to a DigiTimes report from Tuesday. The Taiwanese multinational company has been struggling with consumer-grade desktop models in recent times and is set to focus more on enterprise desktops and all-in-one PCs, as well as its own Republic of Gamers (ROG) mid-range and high-end gaming hardware. The news is not altogether surprising given that shipments of PCs across the world have been declining in recent years, with annual shipments of desktops now being barely above 100 million units. As far as ASUS desktops are concerned, the company sold approximately one million units last year, down from almost three million units shipped in 2015. One of the reasons for the decline in desktop sales is said to be the increasing popularity of notebooks that has made a significant impact on the PC market. The only segment of desktop PCs still achieving slight growth in shipments is that aimed at enterprise and gaming markets.

Desktops are not the only area of concern for ASUS lately, as earlier this month it was reported that the company might be discontinuing its ZenWatch lineup. While sales of Asus ZenFone smartphones and ZenBook laptops have been more satisfactory, ZenWatch wearable devices have not achieved anticipated sales figures, with only five to six thousand units sold in April. This reportedly led the company to consider whether this side of its business is still viable. In fact, the smartwatch business as a whole is struggling, with Motorola previously announcing that its smartwatch development has been put on hold.

ASUS is also facing stiff competition in the smartphone market and is not the only Taiwanese company to face pressure in this arena. A report last month suggested that both ASUS and HTC were struggling because of numerous new device manufacturers that are springing up in China and India, as well as other Southeast Asian countries. Many of the newer smartphone manufacturers are selling their devices at virtually no profit to gain a foothold in the market, so ASUS might also have to change its approach to this market in the future.
The Galaxy Note 7R has been all over the news lately, but it seems like Samsung wont launch the device under that name. According to a new report by ET News, the Galaxy Note 7R will be called the Galaxy Note FE, which is interesting. The FE part stands for Fandom Edition, according to the source, and the phone is coming at the end of June it seems. Now, for those of you who do not know, this actually a refurbished Galaxy Note 7, it is identical to the original Galaxy Note 7 in terms of specs, except for one detail, it comes with a smaller battery pack on the inside.

This smartphone comes with a model number SM-N935, and was already certified by the FCC, the Wi-Fi Alliance and the Bluetooth SIG. The Fandom Edition is actually supposed to mean that this edition of the Galaxy Note 7 is being released for fans, those of you who purchased the Galaxy Note 7, but were disappointed when the issues started. As most of you remember, the Galaxy Note 7 was a huge failure for Samsung because it has battery issues, the Galaxy Note 7 units started exploding all over the world, and the company actually had to recall the phone on two occasions, as the company was unable to fix issues with second editions of the smartphone. Samsung opted to put a smaller battery pack on the inside of the device it seems (a 3,200mAh battery instead of a 3,500mAh unit), change its name, and see what happens. The phone will probably land in Blue Coral, Black, White and Silver variants, and it is expected to cost 3,599 Yuan ($521) in China., while it will become available in some other markets as well, it seems like it, at the very least.

The Galaxy Note FE will sport a 5.7-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) Super AMOLED display, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable internal storage. Samsungs Exynos 8890 64-bit octa-core SoC will fuel this smartphone, and a 3,200mAh battery will be included on the inside, as weve already mentioned. A 12-megapixel OIS shooter (f/1.7 aperture) will be placed on the back of this phone, and a 5-megapixel snapper will be included on the front side of the device. Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow will probably come out of the box here (same as on the Galaxy Note 7), unless Samsung opted to ship the device with Android Nougat out of the box, which would be a nice touch by the company. Thats more or less it, all we can do at this point is sit and wait for Samsung to start selling this phone.
Google and other search engines are obligated to honor valid requests to remove content under a search for a persons name due to a set of European laws known as the Right To Be Forgotten, but a part of the interpretation of those rules is being called into question in the face of French authorities moving to uphold Googles recent decision to deny four such requests. Specifically, courts are trying to decide if information that could be detrimental to a person despite being true, such as political leanings and criminal records, should be accessible to the general public via a simple web search. Its essentially a case of privacy and possible detriment versus public interest. The case has yet to have a date set for a hearing as of this writing.

The case that kicked it all off was an appeal sent to CNIL, the French privacy administration, by four disgruntled individuals who had made Right To Be Forgotten requests of Google. The requests were deemed invalid by Google, the reasons for which can include that the information is accurate and not unnecessarily painting the individual in a poor light, among other things. This denial led to an appeal, which was initially shot down, but was sent to the European Court of Justice out of Luxembourg. What the case boils down to at this point is whether links containing sensitive personal information, as outlined above, should be delisted from the search engines on request, or if its in the overall public interest to leave them up.

According to the ECJ, at the very least, search engines being compelled to remove such content without a relevant review for public interest on a per-case basis risks the creation of a condition wherein individuals can simply claim that a link contains sensitive information and have it removed, regardless of its value to the public. The case in point has to do with a video that shows personal relationships within the Church of Scientology among high-ranking staff, including public relations staff. The links in question also consist of articles alleging that Church of Scientology members committed or had links to specific serious crimes.
Twitters co-founder Biz Stone on Tuesday said that hes set to rejoin the San Francisco, California-based social media giant after departing from the company in mid-2011. In a Medium post announcing his return to Twitter, Stone stated that the firms Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey personally invited him back, without revealing many details on the exact role that he intends to assume at the company he and Dorsey established in 2006 alongside Noah Glass and Evan Williams. According to Stone, hell help guide the corporate culture of the social media giant as thats the area where he could be most impactful, at least according to Dorsey and Twitter Chief Marketing Officer Leslie Berland. Stones duties will also include being Biz Stone, the famous entrepreneur revealed.

Its currently unclear when Stone will be officially rejoining Twitter, though the wording of his Tuesday announcement suggests that hes set to assume his duties soon, presumably in the coming weeks. Stone sold his community-driven advice hub Jelly to Pinterest back in March, when he announced that the social media company that bought his startup hired him as a Special Advisor. While the position wasnt a full-time job, the 43-year-old implied hell be leaving Pinterest due to his new Twitter gig. Stone worked at Twitter for almost six years before leaving the company in June 2011 and admitted he was happy to hear that Dorsey returned to head Twitter in 2015, seven years after he last served as Twitters CEO. The companys top executive reportedly asked Stone to rejoin the company in front of a group of employees, which Twitters co-founder described as an emotional moment and a proposition that he couldnt refuse.

Twitter has been going through an identity crisis of sorts in recent years as the company stopped recording startup-like growth and its revenue started stagnating and even declining in the first quarter of 2017. Video content is the latest focus of the San Francisco-based social media platform thats currently trying to differentiate itself from other community-driven online services, and while it remains to be seen whether Stones attempts to guide the company culture will have a profound impact on Twitters operations, an update on his activities at the firm will likely follow soon.
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CVT

As you might have heard already, the 10th generation Civic is pretty big. Compared to the outgoing model, it's wider (46 mm), longer (74 mm), and lower (20 mm). It's built on an all-new platform that's stronger yet lighter, thanks to the use of ultra-high-strength steel. They are targeting best-in-class comfort and space. Heck, it even has heated rear seats.The styling is also much more modern, though not as wild as that of the hatch. The front boasts a wing-shaped chrome grille that connects to the LED headlights. The back end looks like one of those notchbacks (Octavia, Insignia), but it's got a regular sedan trunk.Speaking of which, you can carry up to 519 liters of stuff in the trunk, 20% more than the previous generation. Honda boasts that thanks to the low sill and wide boot opening, big items like a bicycle can be transported more easily.Only one engine will be available for the 2017 Civic Sedan in Europe . It is, of course, the all-new 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo that came out roughly at the same time as the car. The version with a manual gearbox produces 182 PS at 5,500rpm and 240 Nm of torque from 1,900rpm, while themodel has the same power delivered 500rpm higher and only 220 Nm of torque.The outgoing model, launched in 2012, was sold with a 1.8 -VTEC producing 142 PS and 174 Nm, so they are making quite an upgrade. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h has gone down from 9 seconds to 8.4 with the manual (8.1s in the CVT model), while fuel consumption is down from 6.7 to 5.7 l/100km combined.The creation of this tenth-generation Civic represents one of the most comprehensive and ambitious new model developments ever undertaken by Honda, said Mitsuru Kariya, Chief Engineer and Global Project Leader. As well as an unprecedented commitment of R&D resources, the process involved sales and manufacturing operations around the world, from North America and Japan, to Europe, South America and Asia. This car, the sportiest Civic ever, sets new benchmarks for the compact class in terms of dynamic performance, fuel efficiency, spaciousness, safety and interior quality.
We wish we had more data, especially some measurements. But as far as we can figure out, the Argo is a subcompact, since Brazilian news outlets are calling it a replacement for the Punto, which went out of production in January 2017, and the Palio to a lesser degree. Its competition will include the Chevy Onix and Hyundai HB20 , among others.Known internally as Project X6H is about 4 meters long and boasts roughly 300 liters of cargo space. So it's noticeably shorter than the Fiat Tipo hatchback.While we can't confirm if it will be available in Europe or not, the model is likely to play a role in India sooner or later. From what we hear, Fiat will also spawn a small crossover from this platform, though one specifically designed for the South American market.Three trim levels will be available - Attractive, Essence and Sporting. But the car in the photos boasts red accents on the bumpers, 17-inch wheels, and a big exhaust pipe. So we think it's the Argo HGT, equipped with a 139 hp 1.8-liter mill from the companys E.torQ. Think of it as a rival for the Sandero RS.

The regular family cars will be fitted with "Firefly" engines. More specifically, there's a 1.0-liter with 77 hp and a 5-speed manual or a 1.3-liter with four-cylinder producing 109 hp for an automatic to send to the front wheels. In both cases, Fiat offers standard ethanol fuel compatibility.Between the LED headlight signature and the sporty design, this might be the second coolest car developed in South America, after Fiat's Toro pickup. The premium look might be just what the European lineup needs, too, as the Punto has been with us since 2005.
The German compact model is expected to reach the market in 2018 , and it will ride on the MFA2 platform. It will bring significant improvements to the range, which include a reduced overall weight, more technology, and the ability to support more drivetrain options. In the latter case, we are referring to hybrid and plug-in hybrid solutions, as well as all-electric options.Mercedes-Benz first generation A-Class had an innovative platform for its time, which was designed to accommodate these types of drivetrains, but it was not as popular as expected.Instead of returning to the old  sandwich  design, the Germans have reimagined the MFA platform for its second generation, and the result can be seen in the photo gallery.While camouflage is still present, it is important to observe that the wheelbase has been extended, the trunk has a bigger opening, and that the overall look of the A-Class has been kept for the most part.In spite of the larger and longer body, theres a good chance that the next-gen A-Class will be lighter than the ongoing model, or will match its weight.Mercedes-Benz will offer a sedan derivative of the A-Class for the first time in the history of this lineup, and it is supposed to complement the range along with the CLA It is unclear if the new sedan will be a China-only model, but the fierce competition in the compact segment between the premium brands could bring the second body style to other countries.While dealerships are expected to get the 2018 A-Class on their floors early next year, the production version should be shown by the end of this year. A presentation at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show is possible, as well as an online reveal that could happen in the fall or the winter.
Not that we thought it would. Throughout the entire testing phase, the X-Class hasn't showed one inch of bare skin, leaving us to feed on the few bits of information at hand like the large radiator grille or the production-ready headlights.The shapes underneath the camouflage wrap suggest the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will bear a lot of resemblance to the two concepts revealed in October last year, meaning we should only expect minor changes particularly in the lower part where the need for a license plate holder should cover some of that mesh up.Other than that, the overall silhouette of the truck, as well as the window line, seem to match the concept inch for inch. However, we won't really know for sure until Mercedes finally decides to remove some of the camouflage - which, by the way things are going, might not happen before the official reveal.As you all know by now, the X-Class is based on the same platform that underpins the Nissan Navara and the Renault Alaskan as part of the partnership between the two brands - the Germans lent their MFA (Modular Front Architecture) platform to Nissan's Infiniti premium brand in return. That explains the relatively short time it took Mercedes-Benz to come up with a working prototype, and also eliminates a lot of doubt over the vehicle's ability to function like a proper mid-sized pickup truck.Calling it a Nissan Navara with a different front end bolted on would be an oversimplification, though, as Mercedes-Benz promises unprecedented levels of luxury and refinement for this class. Completely not needed, you might say, but we're convinced the Stuttgart-based company knows what it's doing and will be short of customers.A lot has been made of the fact the X-Class will have a 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine, as opposed to the four-cylinder units most pickup trucks this size usually got. It will most definitely have two-liter power plants too, as well as gasoline-powered ones if talks of entering the North American market turn out to be true.The red mud plastered all over the prototype's body suggests the pickup is fresh out of an off-road excursion, and it's just a shame our photographers weren't there to catch it in the act. Given the tires, though, we don't imagine it was anything too spectacular, but probably still more than most X-Classes will ever see.
According to Ottawa Citizen's report , a rider named James Cole has been sentenced to two years in a federal prison and banned from driving another tow years beyond that after admitting he raced around Ottawa for several weeks last spring and flashing a fake gun at anyone who got in his way.The 26-year-old made the headlines in the region last June after the police released a photograph of him riding his red Honda and flipping the bird to another motorist.Prosecutor Kerry McVey told a judge the picture was taken by an Ontario Ministry of Transportation officer not long after the rider sped between cars on the double yellow line in the center of McNeely Street in Carleton Place trying to run from the police.But thats not all as two days prior to that event, Cole had pointed what appeared a fake handgun at a vehicle full of people after the driver honked at him for passing on the right in a bus lane.The same thing happened even before, as the rider threatened another citizen with the same gun after he stepped out in the street because the motorcyclist was disturbing a residential neighborhood with his reckless riding.Many other subsequent reports of an erratic red motorcycle driven by a male with a black helmet with missing/concealed license were made in the meantime. Once the police released the photo of Cole, two prior owners of the bike contacted them after recognizing the vehicles distinct decals and aftermarket parts.The police found and seized the motorcycle while Cole turned himself in and pleaded guilty to 10 charges.
This pixel play gifts a 718 Cayman with the treats we've learned to associate with the GT4 badge, appearing to be rather accurate - we'll tip our pixels to transportation designer Laurent Schmidt for this image.As usual when it comes to future Zuffenhausen goodies, Porsche manages to hide most of the juicy details in plain sight. To be more precise, most of the tech ingredients for the next incarnation of the GT4 mix seem to be on the table, but we can't be sure about the exact ones the Germans will turn to.Fortunately, Andreas Preuninger, the man who helms's the GT Division, has made it clear that the uber-Cayman will stick to naturally aspiration and continue to offer a stick shift. But let's take these details one by one.Since the 3.8-liter NA flat-six animating the outgoing GT4 came from the now-retired 991.1 Carrera S, one could expect the next mid-engined special to pack a downtuned incarnation of the 4.0-liter boxer heart of the 2018 911 GT3 As for the tranny department, Preuninger never dismissed the possibility of the new GT4 also being offered in PDK trim. In fact, the rumor mill talks about Porsche having tested the soon-to-be-replaced model with a double-clutch transmission, having labeled the resulting lap times as dangerous for the Neunelfer line-up, which meant the project was scrapped.With Porsche's GT people currently being busy preparing the 991.2 GT3 RS and the new GT2 for their launch (by the way, both should come in PDK-only form), the Cayman GT4 could land in the second half of next year, as a 2019 model. Hopefully, we'll get it sooner.
Once they became mainstream, people started doing crazy things with them. The situation has concerned authorities, as drones have also become appealing to smugglers and even terrorists Fortunately, the world does not have a terrorist-operated drone strike in its history, but experts are concerned it might happen one day.

Formula 1 s bosses are among those who are worried that one of their events will be attacked, and the Silverstone GP is among the potential targets.According to The Sun , the organizers of this race have decided to contract the services of a company that has supplied its security personnel with electronic jammers for drones, along with net guns.On July 16, tens of thousands of people will be roaming on and near the track, and the patrols will be there to keep everyone safe. A specialized security company, named Drone Defense, has been contracted to prevent any harm that could be caused by a rogue drone operator.While this story might seem like a joke that does not stir any laughs in the audience, things are dangerous, and peoples lives might be at risk. It is the job of the authorities and organizers to be sure that every visitor of the event will be safe from threats like terrorism.Evidently, the motorsport event is not the only one where specialists like the ones described above were present. According to a report quoted by The Sun, SAS troops were in the crowds of London this Christmas as they kept a lookout for suspicious activity. Those operatives were already prepared to tackle drones, a skill that came on top of their regular training.These days, it looks like you cannot be safe unless you lock yourself in a bunker, but that option may not bet that safe either. Therefore, the best you can do is keep your eyes open, try to avoid crowded places where you can enter without getting your bag and pockets checked, and hope for the best.
Affectionately named Satans Fuel by hard-line car enthusiasts, diesel eventually became the most popular propellant for both passenger and commercial vehicles. The U.S. of A. never got close and personal with diesel because, well, it doesnt make much sense in the land of the free and the home of the brave.The fate of the cetane-rich fuel is murky, though. Forget global warming and what Al Gore says about Johnny polar bear. The truth of the matter is, its the European Unions higher-ups who make it hard for manufacturers to keep the diesel engine alive.

Volvo s chief executive officer, Hakan Samuelsson, hits the nail on the head about one of the biggest challenges the automotive industry will be facing in the near future. More specifically, aftertreatment systems for controlling nitrogen oxide emissions are getting more expensive with each and every day.To this effect, Mr. Samuelsson told German publication Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung the following: "From today's point of view, we will not develop any new-generation diesel engines. Reading between the lines, Volvos head honcho is expecting the worst for the diesel motor. The cited report also suggests that the current crop of oil-chugging powerplant from Volvo, which dates back to 2013, will not live beyond 2023.Theres a silver lining, though, and thats electrification. The Swedish manufacturer is currently pumping money in plug-in hybrid and EV technologies, which are crucial to hitting the European Union's 95 grams of CO2 per kilometer fleet average emissions target.The first-ever electric vehicle from Volvo will start production in 2019. To be made in China, the yet-unnamed model has been confirmed to ride on the companys CMA platform.
The Coast Guard said late Tuesday that is has spotted debris in the water near where a missing Mitsubishi MU-2B is believed to have disappeared on Monday. The flight was en route from Puerto Rico to Florida when controllers lost radar contact with it 15 miles east of Eleuthera in the Bahamas.

Onboard the aircraft was the pilot, Nathan Ulrich, CEO of the Skylight Group, and his girlfriend, Jennifer Blumin. Also aboard were believed to be Blumins two young children. Blumin founded Skylight Studios, which refurbishes derelict buildings and turns them into event spaces.Ulrich is the founder and co-owner of Xootr, a manufacturer of kick scooters and folding bicycles.

The debris was sighted about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday by a Coast Guard helicopter. However, the agency did not confirm that it came from the missing MU-2. The airplane was cruising westbound at FL 240 on Monday morning when it dropped out of radar contact. No significant weather was reported in the area and ATC reported no distress call. A Coast Guard cutter was dispatched to the scene on Tuesday afternoon.
Several upcoming airshows in the U.S. and Canada have been canceled, following an announcement Monday evening that the Canadian Forces Snowbirds have temporarily suspended air show performances. The team made the announcement on its Facebook page, following an appearance at the Memphis (Tenn.) Airshow. A reduced training period hampered by poor weather which continued into the show season, resulted in numerous canceled practices, said Major Patrick Gobeil, Snowbirds team lead, in the Facebook post. As a result, more training is required before the Snowbirds resume the 2017 schedule. The team typically completes about 20 practices during spring training, but this year completed only 13. The grounding is expected to continue through at least June 4.

The 2017 Rochester (N.Y.) International Airshow has been cancelled, as well as the Airshow YQG in Windsor, Ontario. Military performers, and particularly the demonstration teams like the Snowbirds,are the main draws of a show, Windsor airshow director Paul McCann told CBC News. When theyre not able to participate, the financial impact is significant. The Rhode Island National Guard Airshow in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, will go on without the Snowbirds. Appearances in Fort Erie, Ontario; Whiteman, Missouri; and Duluth, Minnesota, also are cancelled. The team has returned to their home base at CFB Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and will return to the air show circuit once we have the consistency required for our dynamic nine-aircraft aerobatic performance, according to the Facebook post.
President Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to shut down the federal government's investigation into former national security advisor Michael Flynn on the day after Flynn's February ouster, per the NY Times.

The source: Comey wrote a memo immediately after the Oval Office meeting, which states that Trump said, "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go."

White House response: "While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation."

Stay tuned: The NYT highlights two key facts: (1) Comey wrote a memo after every interaction with the president, including some that remain classified, so there might be more shoes yet to drop and (2) an FBI agent's notes are widely held up as admissible in court proceedings.

Comey intends to "go public" with the memos from his interactions with Trump, according to NBC's Ken Dilanian.

Why it matters: It's the biggest bombshell yet regarding Trump's flouting of presidential norms  in this case, allegedly attempting to use the power of the presidency to interfere with an ongoing FBI investigation.

Outlets confirming the NYT report: NBC, WaPo, CNN, CBS, ABC, Politico, FT, AP.
17 May 2017 15:41 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Armenian Armed Forces shelled three villages of Agdam region on the evening of May 16, Chief Executive of the Region Ragub Mammadov told Trend on May 17.

Starting from the second half of the day, Armenian armed forces, located in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, fired from mortars the villages of Ashagi Garvand, Ahmadaghali and Tazakend in Agdam region. As a result, the power line with capacity of 10,000 volts was damaged in Tazakend village.

At night the line was restored, and the village was provided with electricity, Mammadov told reporters.

Azerbaijans Defense Ministry has earlier reported that starting from the evening of May 16, Armenian armed forces subjected to intensive fire from mortars of various calibers the Azerbaijani positions in the Agdam direction of the front and human settlements.

Thanks to the urgent actions, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces suppressed the enemy. The ministry informed that the military equipment of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces was not harmed and the military personnel did not suffer any losses. The artillery shells fired by the Armenian armed forces basically fell on empty sowing areas and on the territory near settlements.

The Defense Ministry also noted that Azerbaijani Armed Forces fully control the operational situation.

The Armenian side constantly breaches the ceasefire and resorts to attempts of sabotage against Azerbaijan. Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces, using large-caliber machine guns and mortars, have 110 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact.

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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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
17 May 2017 09:40 (UTC+04:00)

The 23rd Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition, WorldFood Azerbaijan 2017 and the 11th Azerbaijan International Agriculture Exhibition, CaspianAgro 2017 will take place in Baku on May 17-19.

Over the years, the exhibitions recommended itself like a reliable platform for traditional meetings between experts, and demonstrations of equipment, goods and services for the food and agriculture industry. These events additionally provide an opportunity to find customers, strengthen existing relationships with business partners, and expand to new markets. Over a number of years, the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan has provided invaluable support to the WorldFood Azerbaijan and CaspianAgro exhibitions. For the first time this year, the CaspianAgro exhibition has received support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO). The events are also supported by the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASK), and the Azerbaijan Export and Investments Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO). The events are organised by Iteca Caspian (WorldFood Azerbaijan) and Caspian Event Organisers (CaspianAgro).

This year, 331 companies from 28 countries of the world take part in WorldFood Azerbaijan and CaspianAgro exhibitions, of which 70% are foreign exhibitors and 30% are local. Among the participants are 6 national groups from Belarus, China, Georgia, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Sri Lanka. The exhibitions occupy 2 halls of Baku Expo Center and an adjoined outdoor area.

The WorldFood Azerbaijan 2017 is accepted by 164 companies from 21 countries of the world, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Russia, Spain and others. Mexico is being represented at the exhibition for the first time, while Hungary, Sri Lanka and the Republic of Belarus will also present their own national stands. The Stavropol Territory (Russia) participates at the exhibition with their regional stand. The export potential of Poland is represented by the Polish Embassy in Azerbaijan. For the second consecutive year, the Sri Lankan State Tea Committee Board, which heads the Ceylon Tea Producers Group from Sri Lanka, participates at the exhibition. A network of Belarusian shops in Baku is taking part at the exhibition for the first time.

Azerbaijani companies are actively engaged at the exhibition, proudly representing the Made in Azerbaijan brand. Local exhibitors are headed by the permanent participants of the exhibition - Azersun Holding, Gilan Holding and Metak, local exporters of fruits and vegetables are represented by the companies Amoris, Buta Group. Among this years debutants are companies like Bal Xurma, representing a new product on the market - dried persimmon using a special treatment method, Sem-Az (laboratory equipment), and Enes (packaging).

Thus, WorldFood Azerbaijan 2017 participants will demonstrate products in the following sections: equipment for the food industry, food, vegetables and fruits, meat and poultry, coffee and tea, canned, dairy products, groceries, ingredients, confectionery and flour products, beverages, refrigeration systems, laboratory equipment and much more.

For the first time this year the Organisers have created another business platform, a workshop, for exhibitors and visitors within the framework of the WorldFood Azerbaijan exhibition. Participants of the workshop are, on the one hand, foreign producers and suppliers of food products, and on the other, local distributors.

WorldFood Azerbaijan will take place alongside the Caspian International Packaging, Tare, Label and Printing Ipack Caspian 2017. The membership of the participants and the range of offered products significantly increased this year. In the framework of the exhibition companies from Azerbaijan, Italy, Russia, Turkey, UAE and other countries offering both tare and packaging, as well as various solutions for their production.

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17 May 2017 16:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Azerbaijan and Iran will soon launch joint manufacture of cars in the in Neftchala Industrial District.

The plant will operate on the basis of joint project of AzEuroCar LLC and Irans largest car manufacturer Iran Khodro. The plant was due to open in June, but because of the cold winter there were delays in the plant's construction. The opening is rescheduled for August.

The plant with a capacity of about 10,000 cars per year initially will produce four Iranian car brands  Dena, Runna, Soren and Samand. The cost of the project is estimated at $15 million.

Production of some spare parts is planned in local factories. For this, proposals will be made to the plants. If the plants receive positive feedback from the Iranian company, then the production of spare parts will begin.

The plant intends to cooperate with the Sumgayit Industrial Park and SOCARs new plant.

Some 20 percent of the vehicles will be exported to CIS and Central Asian countries.

Speaking about how the plant will get a share in the local market, Azeurocars representative said the plant will produce the cheapest cars.

The price of new cars will be 10,000-12,000 manats. The cars produced at the plant will meet Euro 5 standard.

Azerbaijan and Iran have had diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.

The trade turnover between the countries hit some $15.77 million in January 2017, while the index of last January stands at $9.56 million. In 2016, Azerbaijans trade turnover with Iran amounted to $210.76 million, which is 70 percent more than in 2015.

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17 May 2017 15:17 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Belarus plans to sign agreements on a system for the promotion of mutual trade with China, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Chairman of the Belarusian State Customs Committee Yuri Senko announced about this when answering a question from member of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Maksim Misko on May17, BelTA reported.

Such an agreement has already been signed with Moldova. We have established information exchange. Work is underway to draw up similar agreements with China, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The drafting is nearing completion. We plan to sign the documents in the near future, Yuri Senko said.

Misko believes that once the agreements are signed, the time spent on customs formalities at border checkpoints and at internal customs checkpoints will be reduced.

On 17 May, the House of Representatives ratified the intergovernmental agreement on the promotion of mutual trade with Turkey signed in Minsk on 11 November 2016.

The document allows for boosting efficiency and reducing the time of customs clearance, which will have a positive impact on the trade between Belarus and Turkey.

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17 May 2017 16:38 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Pony Express, a Russian logistics company, expects to operate in Azerbaijan and earn $3 million here annually, Companys Regional Development Director Sergey Sergushev said at a presentation of the Pony Express development strategy in Baku.

He noted that the main goal of the company is to get a 10-percent share in the logistics market of Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan is a strategically important market for us, as major transport and logistics projects are being implemented here - the Trans-Caspian transport route, the North-South corridor, and a free trade zone is being set up. We not only appreciate the transit potential of the country, but we also see the need of Azerbaijan's business in complex logistics services. This is why we opened a representative office in Baku and entered the local market. In three-year perspective, from operations in Azerbaijan, the company forecasts annual revenue at the level of more than $3 million," told Sergushev.

"For the coming year, we plan to stabilize our operations here and settle on the market, offering express and economic delivery services, as well as helping with customs clearance. In the future, we do not exclude the option of creating warehouse capacities in the country, its logistics center, which, possibly, will be in free trade zone, which is being created in the city of Alat, where we have already been and got acquainted with the situation," Sergushev added.

He went on to say that the prices for services will be on average 20 percent lower than in other companies.

The company's price policy was determined after a detailed analysis of the local market, according to him.

Pony Express is developing a platform for economical delivery by road to the countries of the post-Soviet space. This new service for the Azerbaijani market will save up to 30 percent of the express delivery rate.

He noted that in the near future the company plans to expand its network of offices in Azerbaijan by opening branches in Ganja and Sumgayit.

Azerbaijan is one of the main economic partners of Russia among the CIS countries. Interregional cooperation plays an important role in the development of Russian-Azerbaijani trade and economic relations and the increase in trade turnover.

At present, enterprises of 71 regions of the Russian Federation cooperate directly with Azerbaijan. 15 regions of Russia have relevant agreements with Azerbaijan on trade and economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation.

The trade turnover between Russian and Azerbaijan amounted to almost $2 billion in 2016.

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17 May 2017 17:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The 23rd Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition, WorldFood Azerbaijan 2017 and the 11th Azerbaijan International Agriculture Exhibition, CaspianAgro 2017 opened in Baku on May 17.

Over the years, the exhibitions have turned into a reliable platform for traditional meetings between experts, and demonstrations of equipment, goods and services for the food and agriculture industry. The exhibitions to last until May 19 additionally provide an opportunity to find customers, strengthen existing relationships with business partners, and expand to new markets.



Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov, addressing the opening ceremony, said that export of Azerbaijans agricultural products rose by 44 percent in January-April 2017 as compared to the same period of 2016.

The minister noted that Azerbaijan aims to increase its export annually while the main problem of the world is to ensure the food security.

The main growth of export over the past four months was observed in the export of fruits and vegetables. As for our expectations for the future, we expect an even greater increase in exports in the coming years, said Asadov.

In January-March 2017, the volume of agricultural production in Azerbaijan in actual prices was 744 million manat ($440 million) compared to 643.6 million manat ($381 million) in January-March 2016 (an increase of 3.5 percent).



The volume of production in the field of crop production amounted to 17.4 million manat ($10 million), which is 24.6 percent more than in January-March 2016.

The minister, talking to reporters, noted that the country plans to build plants for the production and processing of seeds.

This year the development of seed production is the main goal facing the agricultural sector of Azerbaijan, he said. To achieve this goal, the necessary work is underway. We have already started the construction of large enterprises specializing in the production of potato and vegetable seeds. I think that these enterprises will be put into operation by late 2017. In addition, we started construction of seed reception centers at our research institutes in a number of regions of Azerbaijan. Some of them are already ready.

The Ministry completed the creation of an agrochemical laboratory in 11 regions of the country, Asadov added.

"Currently, trainings are underway with participation of specialists from Turkey and other countries, after which in the coming months we will begin a full analysis of the soils in these laboratories," the minister said, noting that these analyzes will improve the agricultural specialization of the regions.

The creation of agrochemical laboratories is one of the steps taken by the Ministry in the direction of improving the material and technical basis of the agricultural industry. These laboratories will be both veterinary and phytosanitary.

WorldFood Azerbaijan 2017 is one of the most important and significant events in the regions food industry. The event is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and National Confederation of The Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic (AEC). The organizers of WorldFood Azerbaijan are Iteca Caspian and ITE Group.

A number of leading companies from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Russia, Spain and other countries are taking part in the annual exhibition.

CaspianAgro 2017 brings together both manufacturers and distributors of agricultural products and equipment from Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Italy, Turkey, Russia and Sri Lanka, as well as other countries.

Moreover, the CaspianAgro 2017 exhibition will provide participants with an opportunity to get acquainted with the latest trends. It will also create opportunities to expand cooperation and establish new business relationships that will boost investment inflow and introduce new technologies in the agricultural sector of Azerbaijan.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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17 May 2017 14:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The worldwide community of museums will celebrate International Museum Day on and around May 18.

The theme chosen for 2017 is "Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums".

The objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness of the fact that, Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.

Since its proclamation in 1977, participation in International Museum Day is growing among museums all over the world. In 2016, more than 35,000 museums participated in the event in some 145 countries.

Bakus Museums will also mark the Day and announced Open Doors Day on May 18 to May 20.

Dont mis a chance to visit the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, National Art Museum of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, Heydar Aliyev Center and museums of the city.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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17 May 2017 17:53 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Armenian Armed Forces shelled the territory of Azerbaijans Tartar region, adjacent to the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops, in the evening of May 16.

Chief Executive of Tartar Region Mustagim Mammadov told Trend that Armenians used mortars while shelling the territory of the region.

Our territories were fired at about 22:30. The villages were not damaged  mainly unpopulated areas came under fire," said Mammadov.

He added that at approximately 22:30, Azerbaijani Armed Forces suppressed the enemy fire with return fire. Currently, all is quiet, Azerbaijani Armed Forces fully control operational situation, Mammadov noted.

Chief Executive of Agdam Region Ragub Mammadov has earlier told Trend that Armenian Armed Forces shelled also three villages of Agdam region. As a result, a power line was damaged in Tazakend village of the region.

Azerbaijans Defense Ministry reported that starting from the evening of May 16, Armenian armed forces subjected to intensive fire from mortars of various calibers the Azerbaijani positions in the Agdam direction of the front and human settlements.

Thanks to the urgent actions, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces suppressed the enemy. The ministry informed that the military equipment of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces was not harmed and the military personnel did not suffer any losses. The artillery shells fired by the Armenian armed forces basically fell on empty sowing areas and on the territory near settlements.

The Defense Ministry also noted that Azerbaijani Armed Forces fully control the operational situation.

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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16 May 2017 17:24 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev received Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Malcolm Hoenlein in Baku on May 16, Azertac reported.

Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Malcolm Hoenlein recalled his meeting and a very interesting conversation with national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. Malcolm Hoenlein said the American Jewish community is planning to invest in the construction of a Jewish school in Azerbaijan.

Malcolm Hoenlein hailed the Azerbaijani-U.S. relations, particularly Azerbaijans successful cooperation with American Jews. He stressed the importance of strengthening this cooperation.

President Ilham Aliyev remembered their meeting with Malcolm Hoenlein, which took place during his previous visit to Azerbaijan with a large delegation. The head of state noted that Azerbaijan`s Jewish community co-exists together with members of other nationalities in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

The declaration of 2017 as a Year of Islamic Solidarity in Azerbaijan, the country`s successfully hosting the Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku and the excellent organization of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue was hailed as Azerbaijan`s contributions to strengthening intercultural dialogue. The importance of the fact that multiculturalism was ensured in Azerbaijan was emphasized at the meeting, and it was noted that measures taken in this regard are followed with great interest.

The sides stressed the successful development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the U.S. in various areas.

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17 May 2017 10:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain has congratulated President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Republic Day of Azerbaijan.

On the auspicious occasion of the Republic Day of Azerbaijan, it gives me immense pleasure to convey warm felicitations to the Government and people of Azerbaijan, said Hussain in his congratulatory letter.

Pakistan highly values its relations with Azerbaijan, which are rooted in our common faith. The strong cooperation between our two countries in multifaceted areas including political, economic, culture, energy, connectivity and defense is indeed a reflection of the strong bonds between the governments and people of our two countries, noted the Pakistani president.

I sincerely hope that bilateral relations will continue to strengthen further to the mutual benefit of the two brotherly countries, added Hussain.

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17 May 2017 11:00 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's Islamic Solidarity initiative is of crucial importance particularly at the present time when the Muslim world is facing numerous challenges, UAE's Minister of State for Tolerance Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi said.

Lubna Al Qasimi made the remark while talking to Azertac on President Ilham Aliyev`s declaring 2017 as a "Year of Islamic Solidarity" in Azerbaijan.

This initiative is of pivotal importance in terms of bringing together all the people of different races, religions, denominations and cultures at a time when human values face threats. The Islamic Solidarity initiative contributes to tolerance, co-existence and peace."

She said that the initiative by President Aliyev, who enjoys great respect and love of not only the people of Azerbaijan, but also other nations, will ensure promotion of such values as peace and mutual respect and contribute to solidarity.

"Today, we need this more than ever. We are in need of solidarity, cooperation, dialogue, peace, tolerance, brotherhood and harmony even more at a time when we are trying to address the internal problems and at a time when we face external challenges," she said.

Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi noted that Muslim countries now face a number of problems that need to be addressed, adding that this can only be achieved through the deepening of mutual discussions and non-interference with the internal affairs countries.

"The Year of the Islamic Solidarity initiative will make a greater contribution to the deepening of common understanding and unity and will stimulate efforts of the Islamic world in this regard."

"The real policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, its leadership, who advocate friendship, its government and people reflect the mutual discussions, and the philosophy of intercultural dialogue between different religions and cultures in terms of co-existence and acceptance of others," Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi said.

She also hailed Azerbaijan-UAE bilateral relationship, saying it is of profound strategic importance and is based on shared interests in a variety of fields. "The leadership of both countries is making efforts to further strengthen these strategic relations and friendly ties," Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi added.

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17 May 2017 16:52 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev received former President of the Senate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, chairman of the Dutch Friends of Azerbaijan Group Rene van der Linden in Baku on May 17, Azertac reported.

Rene van der Linden noted that economic collaboration between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Azerbaijan contributes to the efforts to promote Azerbaijan in the world, saying this could be an example of fruitful cooperation to other countries located in the same region with the Netherlands.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked Rene van der Linden for the kind words, saying his efforts towards strengthening cooperation play a crucial role in the development of bilateral relations between the two countries. Hailing mutual interest in expanding the Dutch-Azerbaijani bilateral ties, the head of state underlined the importance of reciprocal visits at different levels.

President Ilham Aliyev praised the fact that more and more Dutch companies are being involved in Azerbaijan`s important projects. The head of state hailed the Netherlands` traditionally active participation in the Baku-hosted Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition, underlining good prospects for cooperation in the field of agriculture between the two countries.

The head of state pointed out the expansion of Azerbaijan's export potential, saying the country's non-oil exports increased by 22 per cent in the last four months.

They exchanged views on the expansion of cooperation in a number of areas, including education, tourism and agriculture.

Former President of the Senate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, chairman of the Dutch Friends of Azerbaijan Group Rene van der Linden then presented a keepsake to President Ilham Aliyev.

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17 May 2017 16:16 (UTC+04:00)

President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

The order says that May 28,, 2018 will mark the centenary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first parliamentary republic in the East.

The President instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to draw up a plan of action on the celebration of the centenary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

On May 28, 1918, Azerbaijan declared its independence establishing the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which became the first secular parliamentary democracy in the Muslim World and recognized by other democratic nations, including the United States of America.

During the short period of independence Azerbaijan granted all people the rights to vote regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, and religion, becoming the first Muslim nation to give women equal political rights with men, an accomplishment preceding the United States. Azerbaijans independence was interrupted in 1920, when it was invaded by Bolshevists, and forcefully incorporated into the USSR in 1922 to restore its independence only in 1991.

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17 May 2017 17:38 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Oil producers will easily negotiate a further restriction of oil output at the upcoming OPEC meeting in late May, said Oleg Anashkin, an analyst at the Russian National Research University "Higher School of Economics.

Anashkin told Trend that oil production will decline soon following a decrease in the number of investment programs, especially in Russia.

The oil prices will increase up to $60 per barrel or even slightly higher whether the oil producers agree or not, according to the experts forecast.

"There are more political and in some ways strategic methods, in order to show that OPEC can influence pricing, but from these actions the price depends little or does not depend at all," the economist said.

The oil price today is more determined by futures trading, which is able to swing the price parameters in a fairly wide range and in a very short time, he told.

"Nevertheless, the trend of rising oil prices will continue, and by the end of the year the prices will probably exceed $60," Anashkin noted.

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. OPEC agreed to slash the output by 1.2 million barrels per day from January 1.

Non-OPEC oil producers such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Sudan, and South Sudan agreed to reduce oil output by 558,000 barrels per day, including Russia by 300,000 barrels per day, starting from January 1, 2017 for six months, extendable for another six months.

Oil prices rose on the announcement that Russia and Saudi Arabia want to extend the Vienna agreement to reduce oil production through the first quarter of 2018.

Russian Energy Ministry Alexander Novak and his Saudi Arabia counterpart Khalid al-Falih recently agreed to do whatever it takes to achieve the desired goal of stabilizing the market and reducing commercial oil inventories to their five-year average level.

The two will hold consultations with other producers with the aim of achieving complete consensus on the extended production cuts before the scheduled OPEC meeting May 25 in Vienna.

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17 May 2017 13:36 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

U.S. President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan met for their first face-to-face talks at the White House on May 16 amid tensions in U.S.-Turkish relations, fueled by renewed supplies of U.S. weapons to Syrian Kurds.

Turkey and the United States are key NATO allies, but their relationship has been complicated by the U.S.'s strategy on Syria and Washington's refusal to extradite a Turkish cleric, who stands behind the failed coup in Turkey last year.

Trumps recent decision to approve transfer of weapons to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) dominated by the YPG escalated this uneasy situation even more. The YPG is the Syrian wing of the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and EU.

Although both sides hailed the results of the talks, they made little progress to deal with their sharp differences on issues like terrorism and Syria.

At a joint news conference in Washington after the meeting, Trump expressed support for Turkey in the struggle against Islamic State and the PKK.

"Today, we face a new enemy in the fight against terrorism, and again we seek to face this threat together. The Turkish people have faced horrible terrorist attacks in recent years and even recently. We offer our compassion to the victims, and we offer our support to the Turkish nation," Trump said.

He also voiced appreciation for Turkeys leadership in seeking an end to the horrific killing in Syria.

While Trump explicitly called out the PKK and promised they would have no safe quarter, there has been no indication from the White House that the U.S. will withdraw support for the YPG.

"We are committed to fighting all kinds of terrorism, without any discrimination whatsoever, that impose a clear and present threat upon our future. There is no place for terrorist organizations in the future of our region," Erdogan said in his turn.

In his speech Trump mainly focused on centuries-long good relationship between two countries, while ignoring main problematic issues in their relations including Fethullah Gulens case.

The Turkish cleric and political figure currently lives in Pennsylvania, while Turkish officials blame him for a failed military coup last summer. The Turkish government wants him extradited to face charges in Turkey and Erdogan brought it up again while addressing a news conference.

I have been very frankly communicating our expectations with regard to the centralized terrorist organization, he said.

This meeting appears to be an important step which shows efforts of both sides to preserve good relations despite frictions, although no concrete results have been achieved yet.

Trump and Erdogan will next meet on May 25 at a NATO summit in Brussels.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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17 May 2017 12:39 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

First Vice President of Iran, Es'haq Jahangiri, has officially announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and supported the candidacy of President Hassan Rouhani, RIA Novosti reported.

"I have worked and will continue to make efforts for the sake of success of Rouhani and his program in the elections," Jahangiri said.

Rouhani found a huge boost of favor with Iranians after he aced rounds of live-aired TV debates.

Thus, Ebrahim Raeisi, custodian of Imam Reza (AS) holy shrine, former minister of culture and Islamic guidance Mostafa Mirsalim and former minister of physical education Mostafa Hashemi Taba, as well as President Hassan Rouhani are the four candidates to run for presidency in the forthcoming presidential elections.

The two main rivals in the race are President Hassan Rouhani and Ebrahim Raeisi.

On May 15, Mayor of Tehran Mohammad Qalibaf dropped out of the presidential race and supported the candidacy of Ayatollah Ibrahim Raeesi.

Unofficial reports say that Raisi is set to introduce Qalibaf as his to-be first vice president. By stepping out of elections, the coalition attempt to beat Hassan Rouhani, the incumbent president who is running for his second term.

Nevertheless, now, after Jahangiris withdrawal, the chances became equalized again.

Rouhani remains popular for stabilizing the economy and ending sanctions through a nuclear deal with world powers. After lifting the sanctions, Rouhani visited a number of European states and made deals that worth billions of dollars. European companies started looking for investment opportunities in the growing Iranian market.

Raeisi, who is a close ally of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would rely on his past record in high government posts and his managerial skills to win votes. A large number of conservatives are expected to fully support the candidacy of Ebrahim Raeisi.

The voting date for the 12th presidential and 5th city and council elections is May 19.

To win, the candidate must score more than 50 percent of the vote. If none of the applicants succeeds in enlisting the support of such a number of voters, a second round of voting will be held, in which two leaders of the first round will participate.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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17 May 2017 14:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

The Majilis (lower chamber) of the Kazakh Parliament approved the draft law "On ratification of the Agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and the Government of Kyrgyzstan on the development of economic cooperation in the conditions of Eurasian economic integration," TASS reported.

Under the agreement, the Kazakh side will render assistance in an amount of $100 million to the Kyrgyz side in order to facilitate the integration processes of the Kyrgyz Republic into the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC), Kazakh Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov said while presenting the bill to the MPs.

The assistance for the implementation of the activities envisaged by the "Road Maps" for the accession of Kyrgyzstan to the Eurasian Economic Union will be provided.

"The funds will be directed for improving customs infrastructure in the Kyrgyz section of the EurAsEC customs border, bringing the sanitary, veterinary and phytosanitary systems of Kyrgyzstan in compliance with the requirements of the Eurasian Economic Community," Suleimenov explained.

The assistance will be provided step-by-step in accordance with separate intergovernmental protocols on technical assistance in the form of cash, training services, and goods.

The procedure for providing assistance, as well as mechanisms for monitoring its implementation, will be determined by a separate protocol.

After Majiliss approval, the bill will be submitted to the Senate (upper chamber) of the Parliament for consideration.

EurAsEC is an international integration economic association which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. EurAsEC started its work on January 1, 2015.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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17 May 2017 15:37 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Irans President Hasan Rouhani promised not to allow the return of Western sanctions in case of his victory in the forthcoming presidential elections.

The current administration has always tried to protect the rights of the Iranian people, Rouhani, who is running for a second term, said.

"Together we made efforts to lift sanctions, and we succeeded," he stressed, adding that the country "can oppose the enemy only through cooperation and interaction with regional states."

Rouhani called on the Iranians to actively participate in the voting process in the upcoming elections, saying that if the people want the problems to be solved, they should take part in the voting.

Ebrahim Raeisi, custodian of Imam Reza (AS) holy shrine, former minister of culture and Islamic guidance Mostafa Mirsalim and former minister of physical education Mostafa Hashemi Taba, as well as President Hassan Rouhani are the four candidates to run for presidency in the forthcoming presidential elections.

Meanwhile, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation are the main winners of the upcoming presidential election, no matter who becomes president.

Khamenei, addressing a meeting with a group of Iranians ahead of the presidential election, said the Islamic Republic is preparing for election in peace and security, while regional countries suffer insecurity.

This peaceful and calm environment is invaluable, Khamenei said, adding that discipline and people's commitment to abide by the law before the election, on the day of the election and after the election, is important.

The voting date for the 12th presidential and 5th city and council elections is May 19.

To win, the candidate must score more than 50 percent of the vote. If none of the applicants succeeds in enlisting the support of such a number of voters, a second round of voting will be held, in which two leaders of the first round will participate.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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17 May 2017 14:25 (UTC+04:00)

By Amimina Nazarli

Baku is a dream city, visited by more than 2.5 million tourists yearly. Azerbaijans capital city had the world's attention with hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, First European Games, Formula 1 race and now 4th Islamic Solidarity Games.

If you decide to see what a traveler can do in this relatively undiscovered Caucasus gem, then you will have to take care not only of the cultural program, local sights, but also about housing in Baku.

Today, the country can accommodate about 40,000 tourists in its 535 hotels, which include a series of luxury hotels  Excelsior, Hilton, Four Seasons, Fairmont, JW Marriott, Kempinski  as well as several budget hotels for cost-conscious travelers. Moreover, 25 hostels and 92 apartments for tourists operate in Baku.



Recently, rent of private apartments is gaining popularity and for some this is the best way to spend vacation in Azerbaijan.

Muzaffar Agakarimov, the adviser of the Chairman of Azerbaijani Tourism Association AzTA noted that more and more tourists rent private houses in the country.



Local residents lease out houses both in the center of Baku and on the outskirts of the city, according to him.

The expert noted the need to build new hotels in Azerbaijan. "The number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan is growing, so there is a need for new hotels," he said.

As many as 146 of the hotels are located in Baku and Absheron peninsula, Agakarimov said. In addition, some 25 hostels and 92 apartments for tourists operate in Baku, he said adding that all these facilities are private.

Bulks of the hotels located in the country are 5-3 stars, which sometimes creates inconvenience for low-budget tourists. Here you can see the price list of some of them.

Tourism in Azerbaijan has a thousand-year tradition. To make sure it is enough to remember the Great Silk Road, which contributed to not only commercial, but also cultural exchange. A special surge of interest in the country located on the Caspian Sea shore, however, arose during the era of hydrocarbon resources.

Situated on the Great Silk Road, and divided partially between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Azerbaijan blended the best from both cultures, forming its own unique rich culture, thats why its people are neither totally Eastern, nor totally Western.

Azerbaijan has shown high growth rates in Europe on three main creation used in hotel business efficiency. It was mentioned in the article entitled "Europe's hotel industry has shown growth in the first quarter of 2017" published on the portal publituris.pt of Portugal. The hotel business is measured by the booking, the room rate, revenues, and price criteria.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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17 May 2017 17:54 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The Shahdag Winter-Summer Tourism Complex is one of the most advanced travel spots not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the world. The Complex located in one of Azerbaijans most picturesque regions has become a favorite place for many tourists since the opening.

The analytical Agency Turstat has named the Shahdag Complex among the most popular mountain resorts for outdoor activities in the CIS countries for the summer of 2017.

Active rest in the mountains includes mountain hiking, jeeping, mountain biking and quad biking, horseback riding, SPA and fitness.

The agency highlighted resorts in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as the most popular mountain resorts of the CIS states. These include Shymbulak (Kazakhstan), Shahdag (Azerbaijan), Chimgan (Uzbekistan) and Karakol (Kyrgyzstan).

The rating is based on the analysis of the online booking systems of hotels. Turstat noted that tourists book their active rest in the mountain resorts for some 7 days.

The smallest travel budget for vacation, including accommodation and food expenses, is in Karakol and Chimgan (less than $70 a day), while the most expensive rest is in Shymbulak (more than $100 per day). As for Azerbaijans Shahdag, the cost of rest here is some $90 a day.

The Shahdag winter and summer tourist complex is Azerbaijans first ski resort and it differs from similar facilities in the world for its uniqueness and diversity.

Year by year the number of tourists discovering this beautiful resort increases. Despite Shahdag was opened only in December 2012, it could attract hundred thousands of people.

The Shahdag complex located in 30 km north of the town of Gusar, stands 2,500 meters above sea level and serves as an outstanding getaway with its rich nature, fresh air, and wonderful climate, with temperatures ranging between minus 20-22 degrees Celsius in winter and 20 degrees in summer.

There are brand new hotels such as Zirva, Park Chalet, Gaya Residence, and PIK Palace that meet modern international standards and are stylishly designed to ensure maximum comfort for the visitors.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain.





Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that.





And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details.





If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Modified On Jun 06, 2017 11:41 AM By Rachit Shad for Maruti Dzire 2017-2020

The list includes markets in Africa, Middle East and Latin America

The new Maruti Suzuki Dzire finally went on sale in India yesterday. Bookings for the sub-4 m sedan began on May 5, 2017 and the company, at the launch event, confirmed that it has received over 33,000 bookings by far. The side effect to that kind of popularity is the extension of waiting period, which is already stretching to eight weeks.

Also Read: First Look Review  New Maruti Suzuki Dzire

While the company works to up the production to meet the ever-growing demand of its products in India, it will also export the new-gen 2017 Dzire to markets outside India. Apart from neighbouring countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, the Japanese carmaker will also export it to several markets in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Now that is some goal, especially when the company is struggling to meet the demand of its popular products like the Baleno and Vitara Brezza in India. Based on how the previous-gen Swift Dzire sold in the country and the huge fan following of the brand, the new one will take no time to sell at a similar pace and achieve the best-selling tag in its segment.

Also Read: Spec Comparison: 2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire Vs Rivals

Maruti Suzuki currently has three manufacturing plants in the country, one each in Gurugram, Manesar (both in Haryana) and Hansalpur, which is in Gujarat. The facility in Gujarat is the newest of the lot and has been strategically placed for the ease of transporting products that have to be exported, to the shipping ports. The Dzire, for other markets, is likely to be built in Gujarat as well.

Also Read: 2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire: Variants Explained

Back in February 2017, we learnt that Maruti Suzuki is also planning for a second manufacturing plant and a separate engine/transmission plant in Gujarat. If these additional facilities come up quickly, it will surely help the company ease the pressure on the rest of the manufacturing hubs.

Also Read: Accessories For 2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Read More on : Swift Dzire on road price
6 Trump quotes about Islam he'll have to live down when he visits Saudi Arabia

Donald Trump will give a speech on Islam to Muslim leaders in Saudi Arabia.

There's a top line you never thought you'd read. But it is true.

On his first trip abroad as US president, the property mogul turned politician will address around 50 Muslim leaders in opening a centre dedicated to moderate Islam.

It will be 'inspiring but direct' about the need to confront terrorism, his national security adviser H R McMaster said.

'The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilisation and to demonstrate America's commitment to our Muslim partners.'

We'll see.

In the meantime here are six quotes from what Donald Trump has already said about Muslims, that will certainly not endear him to his Islamic audience in a few weeks time.

1. On the election campaign he said:

'Donald J Trump is calling for a complete and total shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on' (December 2015).

2. On false reports Arabic people were cheering when the Twin Towers were attacked:

'There were people that were cheering on the other side of New Jersey, where you have large Arab populations. They were cheering as the World Trade Centre came down' (November 2015).

3. On ISIS:

'In the Middle East, we have people chopping the heads off Christians, we have people chopping the heads off many other people. We have things that we have never seen before -- as a group, we have never seen before, what's happening right now. The medieval times  I mean, we studied medieval times  not since medieval times have people seen what's going on. I would bring back waterboarding and I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding' (February 2016).

4. On the campaign trail again:

'I think Islam hates us. There's a tremendous hatred. We have to get to the bottom of it. There is an unbelievable hatred of us' (March 2016).

5. On Twitter after the Orlando shooting in a gay nightclub by a man who claimed allegiance to ISIS:

'Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!' (June 2016).

6. On the gold-star, Muslim-American parents who appeared at the Democratic Convention in support of Clinton:

'I saw him. He was, you know, very emotional. And probably looked like  a nice guy to me. His wife, if you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably  maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say' (July 2016).
Christian candidate barred from all-Muslim hustings in Bradford

A row is erupting in Bradford as a Christian candidate is being barred from an all-Muslim election hustings.

George Grant, Conservative candidate for Bradford West, is excluded from a question and answer session organised by the Muslim Women's Council billed as 'an audience with the two Muslim women candidates'.

Salma Yaqaab, the former leader of Respect, and Labour's Naz Shah will speak and answer questions at the Carlise Business Centre on Wednesday evening but no other candidates have been invited.

When contacted by Christian Today, the Muslim Women's Council denied the event was a hustings and said it was aimed at promoting Muslim women's engagement in the election.

But Grant told Christian Today that was 'rubbish' and the event was a 'hustings in all but name'.

A churchgoing Christian, he said: 'It has been advertised in the context of the general election as an opportunity to meet with the two Muslim women candidates.

'What I object to in this case is the assumption that the best person to represent a Muslim woman is a Muslim woman.'

He added: 'Inviting candidates based solely on their gender or religion is neither helpful nor progressive.'

He told Christian Today it was imperative that religious and social divides in Bradford were broken down but said events like this 'are part of the problem'.

Naz Shah, Labour's sitting MP, also expressed her disappointment and a spokesman agreed the event was a hustings in all but name and said all Bradford West candidates should be invited.

'We told the organisers we expected them to invited all the candidates,' he told Christian Today. 'We do not want to see any dividing lines.'

He went to criticise the Muslim Women's Council organisers.

'The way this has been done is detrimental to all the people in Bradford West.

'It is sad that this event has become what it is.'

I've made it clear I believe all candidates should be offered same platform, that is democracy, that is equality.... https://t.co/bEZQfFnQ2q  Naz Shah (@NazShahBfd) May 17, 2017

But the Muslim Women's Council defended the meeting and said it was vital to engage Muslim women in the electoral process.

CEO Bana Gora said: 'The women of Bradford West have requested the opportunity to engage with these two candidates on what real, tangible policies they will implement in Bradford, should they be elected to office.

'Muslim women might be a politically disenfranchised group, but now more than ever, we want to send the message that they can shape the future of this country through the simple act of casting their vote and engaging with those in positions of power.'
Does the Tim Farron heresy hunt show orthodox Christians aren't welcome in public life?

An inquisitorial tone is to be expected from the presenters on Radio 4's Today programme, but on Wednesday May 18 we had that tone of outrage reserved by the BBC for an idea which its presenters consider beyond the pale.

A Liberal Democrat spokesman was confronted with the fact that a decade ago his party leader, Tim Farron, had opposed abortion. Was this, the presenter asked, still the case and would it affect party policy?

As the Lib Dems are not famous for extending their definition of diversity to tolerating orthodox Christian beliefs on sexual matters, the answer was a foregone conclusion  no. But what was interesting was the presenter pressing for a recantation. We were duly informed that he had now recanted. Great joy ensued. Here was a man who had opposed gay marriage and abortion, but now he had got with the programme.

Under William III, parliament passed a series of Test Acts designed to bar from public life an otherwise qualified man who was not an Anglican. For 150 years Britain was an Anglican confession state, and not until the Catholic Relief Act of 1829 were Roman Catholics permitted to vote in national elections and sit in parliament.

In their original form the Test Acts allowed any non-Anglican who felt able to turn up to take communion a couple of times a year to vote  in other words, anyone who believed what their Catholic faith taught was barred, but those with looser consciences were able to squeeze in.

We now have a modern test Act.

'Are you now, or have you ever been, in favour of restricting abortion "rights" or have you opposed gay marriage?' Should you fail to recant, there will be a public roasting. Anyone familiar with Twitter will see the reaction of many progressives to orthodox Christians and it is not pleasant. At the very least, the Christian politician who holds to orthodox teaching on such matters has to be prepared to declare that whatever his or her views, they will have no influence on their conduct in office.

This Test is not required of those who promote any part of the progressives' agendas; it is taken for granted that part of their purpose in politics is to promote progressive causes. It aligns with the popular view that faith is a private matter which can be tolerated in the private sphere. There is no objective reason this should be so, it has simply become an underlying assumption of the new Test Act.

Are we to expect from Christians a standard different from that we ask from 'ordinary politicians'? If so, why? Why should a Christian politician be expected to check his or her beliefs at the door? My own university, which is explicitly Catholic, welcomes students of all faiths and none, asking only for mutual respect. One of our research centres is producing a handbook for the Catholic Education Service on how to combat homophobic bullying. Some have criticised it because it used, with permission, material from gay campaign group Stonewall, but that, for us, is part of a Catholic ethos. It has expertise here, and while not adopting its assumptions we can use its expertise. Should we have expected Stonewall to have left its principles at the door?

If we have reached a pass in public life where the possession of orthodox Christian views is a bar to public life, we shall exclude some of the people we most need in it  men and women whose focus is on service rather than self. Do we really want only those who are at least willing to pay lip service to a progressive agenda? Tim Farron may, or may not have changed his views, but the way in which the media, and some of his colleagues have behaved reminds one of heresy hunts. One of the comments one hears most often from voters is that politicians are opportunists, so do we want to further increase their suspicion? Do opinion polls suggest that the progressive agenda in some of these areas are popular? Or is this why there is a heresy hunt  the lingering fear that Farron's views might be shared by others?

Political life is already dominated by a narrow range of people, and the danger of group-think is obvious. The hounding of Tim Farron suggests there are those who wish to apply Test Act mentality to political life. We have recently heard much of the Benedict Option  it sounds as though Farron's persecutors would like to enforce it. That should be resisted.

John Charmley is an historian and Pro-Vice Chancellor at St Mary's University, Twickenham.
'Evangelicalism' is toxic. It's time to kill off the brand

Is the word 'evangelical' so toxic that it should be dropped? It's a perennial question. Tony Campolo said last year he didn't want to be known as an evangelical any more because the term had been hijacked by the religious right. He's not the only one. From its roots in the 'good news' of Jesus, it's become the badge of a tribe.

In the old days, it didn't mean what it does today. The theological college where I trained defined its mission in the 18th century as to train 'able and evangelical ministers'. It didn't mean ministers who belonged to a particular party, but who were outward-looking and enthusiastic. Today, the broad and generous evangelicalism that saw the foundation of the Evangelical Alliance in 1846 across denominational lines, when such collaboration was far less common, is struggling for air. The Church of England is feeling it with the appointment of rival 'missionary bishops'. In the US, a complementarian, neo-Calvinist ideology is bidding to be recognised as the sole keeper of the orthodox flame. It's not enough to claim to be an evangelical; you have to prove it by being the right kind of evangelical.

In truth, it's never been an uncontested label. The saintly CH Spurgeon left the EA over the question of baptismal regeneration, affirmed in the CofE's Book of Common Prayer  he launched a mighty blast against 'evangelical' clergy who, 'knowing that baptism does not regenerate, yet declare in public that it does'.

Now the term's been called into question again, certainly in an American context but arguably more widely. Ryan P Burge, who teaches at Eastern Illinois University, has analysed the use of 'evangelical' on Twitter using a clever Google tool. While it could be, he says, 'one of the most overused, misunderstood terms in modern American politics', he concludes that this misunderstanding is potentially very damaging. The details of the research are here, but one of his findings was that in tweets sent between February 23 and April 1, 2017, after 'Christianity' and 'Christian', the most common association with 'evangelical' was 'Trump'.

'If anything, that indicates that observers of evangelicalism see it as a largely political movement, especially in light of the election of Donald Trump,' says Burge. He notes that the word 'white' is the fifth most used in the dataset, indicating the average tweeter sees evangelicalism and 'white' as closely linked.

Burge says: 'Taken together an image emerges of the word "evangelical" that is very closely linked to American politics and is most often uttered by individuals who are not evangelical themselves. It seems that the religious identity of the movement has become so closely meshed with its political component that they are seen as one in the same by those most vocal on social media.'

So that's it: in the eyes of secular America, being evangelical means being a white supporter of Donald Trump. What about the eyes of secular Britain? The extraordinary treatment of Tim Farron over his opinions on gay sex indicates that here, too, evangelicals have an image problem. The resolute opposition of most evangelical organisations to homosexuality and transgender procedures has ensured that anyone who comes out as an evangelical is going to be seen as, frankly, a bit weird.

That, in itself, isn't a problem; Christians should worry if we're regarded as entirely normal. But the question is whether the word 'evangelical' has had its day. And it's clear that, at the very least, it has a serious image problem. So why would we want to keep it?

One answer is that it's simply a convenient shorthand for referring to a type of spirituality, a shared history, a network of churches and organisations and a few distinctive theological emphases. Fair enough, but that is precisely the brand that's been tarnished by its identification with political and social conservatism. So the question is, do we need the brand at all? Can we aspire to something better  not necessarily post-evangelical, in the sense of jettisoning theological and spiritual distinctives, but post-tribal?

Burge's research found, counter-intuitively, that 'the general media uses the term more than the Christian media does'. He suggests: 'It may be that newspaper writers believe that the public understands the word and it will generate traffic. However, the opposite could be true: evangelical writers don't believe that their target audience understands the term and therefore they avoid it in their news stories.'

I suspect, in fact, that 'evangelical writers' don't use the term because it's become such a catch-all that it's no longer sufficiently distinctive in the fiercely-contested space of the culture in which they work. But if that trend can be encouraged  if Christians can avoid using 'evangelical' as the badge of a party  then perhaps, in the end, the secular media will follow. Then Christians can be freer to be just Christians, rather than a particular brand of Christian. It won't mean the end of argument and factionalism, but it might allow us to recover a useful word as a description of how we do the gospel, rather than what we think the gospel is.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
First female Arab Christian minister allowed into UK after last minute Home Office reversal

The first female Arab Christian minister will be allowed to visit to the Church of Scotland's General Assembly after a last-minute change of heart by the Home Office.

Ministers had initially barred Rev Rola Sleiman, from the National Evangelical (Protestant) Church of Syria and Lebanon, claiming they were not convinced she would leave again after her eight-day visit.

But after a stream of protests and appeals the British Embassy in Amman, Jordan, said the 42-year-old would be allowed entry to the UK on Friday.

Ms Sleiman said she was 'extremely grateful and thankful' for the support but added she felt unjustly treated.

'Many things were said that were not right such as not able to cover the cost of my stay and not willing to go back to my country,' she said.

'I am concerned about leaving my church for just one Sunday.

'But now I feel that I am supported by fellow believers and I am not alone.

'I am extremely grateful for what people have done.'

Ms Sleiman took up a new post in Tripoli, Lebanon, in February and is scheduled to be part of the Kirk's debate as well as discussions on gender justice and the political situation in the Middle East.

Very Rev Dr John Chalmers, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said 'common sense had prevailed'.

He said: 'We are grateful to the Home Office who have heard our request and granted a visa waiver enabling the Rev Rola Sleiman to travel and join us at the General Assembly in Edinburgh.

'It was clear from the support that we received overnight from the media, the public and the church that people felt a mistake had been made and an important voice might be missing from our Assembly.

'In the end common sense prevailed and it has all happened in time for us to complete Rola's travel arrangements.

'We now look forward to welcoming her.'
If you think I'm happy that controversy and increased talk of impeachment are dogging President Donald Trump, you're wrong.

No, I'm not a Trump supporter. In fact, the last week or so could have been a great time for those who didn't vote for the billionaire businessman to say "I told you so."

But I don't feel smug or want to be snarky about Trump's troubles.

I'm sad. I'm worried for our country.

America is bigger than any one person, even if it is the president. Our system of government and democratic way of life are things we must not allow anyone to flout in the serious ways of which Trump is accused.

We should be talking about how to fix health care in this country. Our leaders should be working on increasing job opportunities for all Americans, and other initiatives to make life better for everyone.

Instead, we're trying to sort out what role, if any, the Russians had in interfering with our election and the current administration, what classified information the president may have shared irresponsibly, and if he obstructed justice or attempted to by interfering with related ongoing investigations.

I know. You don't want to talk about it.

If you're a Trump supporter, you think he's being picked on and the "Russian thing" is a non-issue. If you're moderate, you're not sure what to think. If you're liberal, you're angry that more people aren't more upset about the implications of all of this on our country.

And if you're most people, you're just sick of it all.

Well, it's kind of like balancing the checkbook. No one "wants" to do it, but it has to be done.

The first question is whether the Russians interfered in the 2016 presidential election. The least we need to know is if they did, how they did, and how our country can prevent an adversary from doing such a thing again.

And yes, Russia is an adversary. Vladimir Putin is not our ally. We're on friendly terms with them in some aspects, but they still oppose us on many vital issues, not the least of which is Syria.

The second question is if anyone, particularly anyone within a presidential candidate's campaign, cooperated with the Russians in their alleged bid to interfere in our democracy. That's called "treason," folks.

The third question, and final one for purposes of this discussion at this time, is whether the president of the United States attempted to -- or was successful in any attempts to -- obstruct justice by making moves to hamper the FBI's investigation into Russia's actions regarding the election and/or ties to his campaign.

"Obstruction of justice" -- that's cause for impeachment.

Now that I've summarized what you already know -- hey, I'm here for ya -- a few quick hits.

Just because you don't like the news doesn't mean it's fake.

Fake (as defined by online dictionaries): "A thing that is not genuine; a forgery or sham."

Something may be an "allegation," but that also doesn't warrant a cry of "fake news!" I'm seeing most people whine about "fake news" simply because they disagree with the facts presented.

Prove something to be completely false, and put forth as truth. That's "fake news," in some cases these days, or inaccurate reporting. The latter means that the newspaper or news outlet involved should issue a retraction or correction. That's what good journalists do. Anyone who doesn't do so isn't a good journalist, or isn't a journalist at all.

Speaking of the news media, we're not the bad guys.

You know that old saying about not shooting the messenger? Journalists are under a lot of heavy fire these days. Some of it is warranted, don't get me wrong; I've seen skewed headlines and news tickers on TV. But we're reporting what's going on -- not telling you how to feel about it.

And if you need details on how and why journalists ethically use anonymous sources -- which some try to call "leaks" in government -- give me a call.

Investigating a president isn't convicting him.

President Trump's associates, in some cases, are under scrutiny for alleged ties to Russians who allegedly tried to or were successful at interfering in the 2016 election. That's a lot of "ifs" and "allegedlys." Investigating Trump himself for alleged obstruction of justice is just that -- an investigation. He's innocent until proven guilty.

But people need to know whether their president is trying to manipulate the American government. If that were true of Trump or any other president, it's absolutely an abuse of power and absolutely wrong.

But the horse isn't even saddled on this investigation, yet alone out of the gate.

Honest people don't typically object to being scrutinized.

If a cop stops you for speeding and asks to search your vehicle, would you let him or her if you had a suitcase full of marijuana in the trunk? On the other hand, I'm sure most people would just shrug and say "yes" if they had nothing to hide.

Then again, I believe a citizen has a right to say "no" to a police search and require them to get a search warrant ... but I'm no lawyer, so don't quote me on that.

You don't care about any of this if you are hurting right now.

Maybe you're without health insurance and you just received a devastating diagnosis. Perhaps you have no job and are about to lose your home.

You and others like you don't give a hoot about potential constitutional crises and alleged presidential shenanigans.

That's just the truth.

But in some ways, you have to care. These issues -- largely self-inflicted wounds for Trump -- are keeping lawmakers from getting work done on important topics of the day: the economy, health care, the nation's financial systems and more.

A special prosecutor is the only realistic route to any chance for a fair investigation into what ails Trump right now.

Any FBI director appointed by this president is by association a Trump supporter, whether that's obviously the case or subtly the case. It's certainly not fair to Trump for a Democrat or anti-Trump prosecutor to take the reins of such a probe.

The only chance for the American people to see a level-handed, non-political investigation here is for an independent prosecutor to take over the probe into the situation. Anyone who wants to get to the truth should want that objectivity as built into the process as is humanly possible.

If none of this bothers you, there's something wrong.

I don't care if you're a Republican, a Democrat, an independent, a Wiccan -- oops, that's not political, but you know what I mean. You should be concerned about these issues.

If you love your country, you should be worried. If you voted for Trump and believe he's being mistreated -- as he says he is -- you should be concerned. If you're an anti-Trump type of voter, you ought to be dismayed that your concerns about him may have been warranted.

None of this is good for any American. We all must take off our political party blinders and look at these issues from the viewpoint of our Constitution and our nation as a whole. We are Americans first, aren't we?

Well, aren't we?
Murdered missionary's widow felt 'empty' after his death

The widow of a German missionary murdered in Turkey by Islamist extremists has described feeling 'empty' after his death.

Susanne Geske, whose husband Tilmann was tortured murdered with two Turkish converts in a Bible publishing house in Malatya in 2007, told The Christian Post what happened after she learned of his death.

'Actually, I couldn't go home,' she said. 'My kids were taken back from France to home. My eldest daughter came by bus and they sent me to the police office.

'So, I sat there for two hours not knowing what I am doing there and have this television on. I asked if they could [shut it down] because they all were just telling lies about us and what horrible people we are. I didn't want to watch that conversation.'

Describing her feelings, she said: 'It was just like empty.'

When she returned home with her children she found their Muslim friends and neigbours had gathered to show their support.

'My house was crowded, filled to the top. ... We have a kitchen, a long hall, a living room for my kids, a big living room and another room, they were all filled with people,' she said. 'Actually, they were all Muslim, all my neighbors, and some people from the church, of course. The Turkish church people, they were so scared, they wouldn't come but other people from other cities would come.'

The following day she found pastors had come to her home.

'In the end, we are sitting all there in my living room with people I have never seen before. I just had nothing in my mind. Then, someone came and said that the media is in front of the door and they want to talk to you. I was like, "No way. What on earth do I say to them?"

'Then one of the pastors said, "You know, we always want the Gospel to go out."

She said she prayed, saying: 'You always promised that when we don't know what to say, you would tell us what to say. It was really like Jesus said, "Father forgive them because they don't know what they are doing."'

She said this to Turkish TV channel ATV and it was reported around the world. It was, she said, an 'act of obedience'.

'There was nothing in my heart, not love, not hate, nothing. Actually, my daughter asked me once, "Mom, are you crazy? You forgive these guys but you still have trouble with your landlord?"

'I can't explain this. I can't. I think it is just the Lord's doing. He wanted this to happen and then he made it happen. That is the only explanation I have.'

After years of delay, five men were convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the crimes last year.
Prince Charles Hits Out Against Religious Persecution

Prince Charles has hit out against religious persecution around the world and spoken about "Our Lord Jesus Christ" in an unprecedented appearance on the Thought for the Day slot on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The Prince of Wales framed his passage around a meeting with a Jesuit priest from Syria who gave him "a graphic account of what life is like for those Christians he was forced to leave behind".

The heir to the throne, who has frequently spoken out about persecution against Christians in the Middle East and given undisclosed sums to the charity Aid to the Church in Need, said: "Clearly for such people religious freedom is a daily stark choice between life and death. The scale of religious persecution around the world is not widely appreciated, nor is it limited to Christians in the troubled regions of the Middle East. A recent report suggests that attacks are increasing on Yazidis, Jews, Ahmadis, Baha'is and many other minority faiths, and in some countries even more insidious forms of religious extremism have recently surfaced which aim to eliminate all types of religious diversity."

Prince Charles went on to compare the violent religious persecution of today with the horrors of the Second World War. "We are now seeing the rise of many populist groups across the world, that are increasingly aggressive towards those who adhere to a minority faith. All of this has deeply disturbing echoes of the dark days of the 1930s," he said. "I was born in 1948, just after the end of World War II, in which my parents' generation had fought, and died, in a battle against intolerance, monstrous extremism and an inhuman attempt to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe. That nearly 70 years later we should still be seeing such evil persecution is to me beyond all belief. We owe it to those who suffered and died so horribly not to repeat the horrors of the past."

The prince, who has faced criticism from Christian traditionalists in the past for describing himself as "defender of faith" rather than "defender of the faith", pointedly referred in the context of the Holy Family fleeing persecution to "Our Lord Jesus Christ" in what was his most public declaration of his own Christian faith to date. He went on, however, to talk about the Prophet Mohammed as well.

He said: "Normally, at Christmas we think of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder though if this year we might remember how the story of the Nativity unfolds, with the fleeing of the Holy Family to escape violent persecution. And we might also remember that when the Prophet Mohammed migrated from Mecca to Medina, he did so because he too was seeking the freedom for himself and his followers to worship. Whichever religious path we follow, the destination is the same: to value and respect the other person, accepting their right to live out the peaceful response to the Love of God."

The full text of Prince Charles's Thought for the Day is below:

In London recently I met a Jesuit priest from Syria. He gave me a graphic account of what life is like for those Christians he was forced to leave behind. He told me of mass kidnappings in parts of Syria and Iraq and how he feared that Christians would be driven en masse out of lands described in the Bible. He thought it quite possible there would be no Christians in Iraq within five years. Clearly for such people religious freedom is a daily stark choice between life and death. The scale of religious persecution around the world is not widely appreciated, nor is it limited to Christians in the troubled regions of the Middle East. A recent report suggests that attacks are increasing on Yazidis, Jews, Ahmadis, Baha'is and many other minority faiths, and in some countries even more insidious forms of religious extremism have recently surfaced which aim to eliminate all types of religious diversity. We are also struggling to capture the immensity of the ripple effect of such persecution. According to the United Nations, 5.8 million more people abandoned their homes in 2015 than the year before, bringing the annual total to a staggering 65.3 million. That is almost equivalent to the entire population of the United Kingdom. And the suffering doesn't end when they arrive seeking refuge in the foreign land. We are now seeing the rise of many populist groups across the world, that are increasingly aggressive towards those who adhere to a minority faith. All of this has deeply disturbing echoes of the dark days of the 1930s. I was born in 1948, just after the end of World War II, in which my parents' generation had fought, and died, in a battle against intolerance, monstrous extremism and an inhuman attempt to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe. That nearly 70 years later we should still be seeing such evil persecution is to me beyond all belief. We owe it to those who suffered and died so horribly not to repeat the horrors of the past.

Normally, at Christmas we think of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder though if this year we might remember how the story of the Nativity unfolds, with the fleeing of the Holy Family to escape violent persecution. And we might also remember that when the Prophet Mohammed migrated from Mecca to Medina, he did so because he too was seeking the freedom for himself and his followers to worship. Whichever religious path we follow, the destination is the same: to value and respect the other person, accepting their right to live out the peaceful response to the Love of God. That's what I saw when attending the consecration of a Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in London recently. Here were a people persecuted for their religion in their own country, but finding refuge in another land, and freedom to practise their faith according to their conscience. It is an example to inspire us all this Christmas time.
Rowan Williams in Christian Aid Week: 'We must stand up for the underdog'

The former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has called on Britain to continue its tradition of standing up for the underdog.

As thousands of volunteers hit the streets this collecting for Christian Aid Week, Lord Williams, who is chair of rthe charity, said Britain must not cut back on its overseas aid budget or turn its back on refugees.

This week marks the 60th anniversary of Christian Aid Week, and Williams said it is a time of great change for the political and social landscape of Britain.

'We face great choices about the soul and future of our nation. For many it is a time of uncertainty and fear, for others an opportunity for change and optimism.

'But I believe that all of us as individuals can play a vital role in shaping our nation. We can choose to turn inwards and struggle more and more urgently to protect ourselves; or we can look outwards, recognising that our good is bound up with that of others,' he said in a statement.

'We British are famously known for standing up for the underdog and standing firm when things get tough. We do not only look out for those less fortunate than ourselves; we want to meet halfway those working hard to stand on their own two feet. Effective aid is not about creating dependence but helping people become valued partners and co-workers for a safe and equitable world.

'The British public are rightly proud that our great nation hasn't turned its back on the world's poorest people. As we enter the election period and discuss the future of our country, debate the terms of Brexit and our relationship with the EU, as we also form our new relationship with the world, it is time to wear our aid budget as a badge of honour - one that sets a standard for others to follow.'

People can help to change the lives of refugees fleeing conflict and crisis by donating online at www.caweek.org or texting 'GIVE' to 70040 to give 5.
Three Girls: How the Rochdale child abuse scandal challenges the Church

'There's no such thing as a child prostitute ' says Maxine Peake's character Sara Rowbotham gently to teenage Holly's parents during episode one of the BBC drama Three Girls. Based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts, the three-episode series tells the true stories of three teenage girls who were groomed, abused and exploited by men in Rotherham and the surrounding area.

The episode captures the subtle development of control by men who worked in take-away shops and as taxi drivers. We get a glimpse into the girls' lives; their exuberance, their silliness, and their vulnerability. The brutality and indifference of the men who took advantage of their vulnerability, groomed and abused them, and the men who paid to rape them.

The episode also documents the callousness of almost all the adults in the girls' lives, their failure to safeguard them or take action against the abusive men. Sexual health worker Sara Rowbotham is defiant and courageous, pushing police officers, social workers and other professionals to examine their own prejudices and incompetence. We are yet to see how the subsequent episodes will document the eventual convictions of the men who groomed, rape and abused girls. Or how the case led to nationwide shock at the decades of organised abuse in Rotherham, colluded with by police, social care, health services and others.

Much has been made of the race and religion of the offenders in the Rotherham case, mainly of Pakistani origin, with some news outlets and politicians using the case to bolster racist and Islamophobic agendas. Indeed, in recent weeks anti-Islamic activist Tommy Robinson has utilised the rape of a woman in Sunderland to bolster his activism.

Both Three Girls and the various inquiries into men's exploitation of girls in Rotherham show that it was the status of the girls which was the driving factor in ignoring the men's crimes. White girls and girls of Pakistani origin were abused in Rotherham, most were working class and had significant vulnerabilities. The abuse they were subjected to was re-packaged as 'bad life choices'. It's only in recent years that professionals have stopped using the term 'child prostitute'.

It may be tempting to watch Three Girls and see organised abuse and organisational incompetence as limited to Rotherham, but that is absolutely not the case. There will be girls being groomed and abused within each of our local areas. Imagining it only happens in 'those sorts of places' is the same mentality which led to 'those sorts of places' being ignored in Rotherham.

Where does the Church fit into responding to men's choices to sexual exploit girls? What would have happened if a girl who is being sexually exploited walked into our church? Would they feel they belonged? Or would they feel out of place? Do our church youth groups make space for young people who have been coerced or forced into sexual activity, or do we naively assume that all church young people are going to be making empowered sexual choices?

Christian culture is very often middle class, with all the privileges that brings. It can be deeply alienating for those from poorer communities. Couple that with the shame and trauma of being subjected to abuse, exploitation or addiction and the shame and alienation becomes insurmountable.

Creating space in our church for vulnerable young people can be challenging and can mess up our carefully planned programmes. While we continue to believe sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse are only perpetrated by people in communities far from us, we will remain unable to be a light in the midst of such evil.

Those who fought for years to expose abusive men and corrupt statutory services were almost exclusively women. And it is not inconceivable that their concerns were written off as 'overly emotional' or because they were outspoken and female. Do our faith communities encourage women and men to be outspoken about injustice? Would those in our congregations speak out if they saw girls or women failed by a system set up to ensure their safety? Or do our Christian communities prevent critical thinking, leaving people unable to recognise injustice or feel able to respond?

Jesus said that we are the light of the world, and if we want that light to bring freedom to the most broken in our communities, we must overcome our prejudices and privileges, becoming courageous in challenging injustice and passionate about fighting for those that others have written off as worthless.

Natalie Collins is a Gender Justice Specialist. She is the Director of the DAY Programme and works to enable individuals and organisations to prevent and respond to male violence against women. She is on Twitter: @God_loves_women
Tim Farron insists he is 'pro-choice' after previously saying 'abortion is wrong'

Tim Farron was forced to declare he is pro-choice after an old interview emerged where he said 'abortion is wrong'.

The Liberal Democrat leader, an evangelical Christian, told a Salvation Army magazine in 2007, he thought terminations are 'wrong at any time'.

But when questioned on the interview by the Guardian on Tuesday, Farron insisted: 'I am pro-choice. I believe that abortion should be safe and legal and that the limit should be set by science.'

Speaking about his faith to the War Cry magazine 10 years ago, Farron said: 'Take the issue of abortion. Personally I wish I could argue it away. Abortion is wrong. Society has to climb down from the position that says there is nothing objectionable about abortion before a certain time. If abortion is wrong, it is wrong at any time.'

But he also argued against making abortion illegal immediately.

'Women would still want abortions and they'd have them illegally. So a complete ban on abortion would not achieve what I want,' he told the faith magazine according to the Guardian.

'The reality is that abortion is too widely available. There needs to be tighter restrictions. The challenge to Christians is to come up with realistic alternative strategies.'

Questioned on his believes about abortion by ITV last week Farron said he supported the current law which prohibits abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy, unless the child has a disability.

'When procedures takes place, it should be safe and it should be legal,' he said.

When pressed on his personal view, he said: 'Again, what one believes in one's personal private faith is just that.'

It is the second row regarding his faith to hit Farron after he was persistently questioned on whether he thought gay sex was a sin. After more than a week of ducking the question, the Lib Dem leader said that he did not think it was.

Asked by Christian Today whether he regretted speaking about his faith, he denied ever making a big deal of his faith and said it was important to open about your beliefs.

'I'm one of those people who thinks it's important you are not dishonest with people but also that you don't go around ramming it down people's throats,' he told Christian Today on Tuesday.

'I think in the end we live in society where we are secular, where we respect people's right to hold a faith or not hold a faith.

'It would be a shame if we lived in a country where you had to hide it.'

The most recent clarification of his views on abortion came after his personal views came to light when the Guardian obtained a copy of the 10-year-old interview from shortly after he was elected MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale in Cumbria.

Lib Dem election spokesman Ed Davey told the BBC's Radio 4 programme Farron had 'changed his mind' on abortion.

'He's made it clear that he is pro-choice and the Liberal Democrats believe that women should have the right to choose,' he said.
Trump accused of 'obstruction of justice' after revelation he asked FBI director to drop Russia investigation

President Donald Trump asked then-FBI director James Comey to end the agency's investigation into ties between former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia, according to a source who has seen a memo written by Comey.

The explosive new development on Tuesday followed a week of tumult at the White House after Trump fired Comey and then discussed sensitive national security information about Islamic State with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The Comey memo, first reported by the New York Times, caused alarm on Capitol Hill and raised questions about whether Trump tried to interfere with a federal investigation.

The White House quickly denied the report, saying in a statement it was 'not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr Comey'.

Comey wrote the memo after he met in the Oval Office with Trump, the day after the Republican president fired Flynn on February 14 for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of his conversations last year with Russia's ambassador, Sergei Kislyak.

'I hope you can let this go,' Trump told Comey, according to a source familiar with the contents of the memo.

The New York Times said that during the Oval Office meeting, Trump condemned a series of government leaks to the news media and said the FBI director should consider prosecuting reporters for publishing classified information.

Coming the day after charges that Trump disclosed sensitive information to the Russians last week, the new disclosure further rattled members of Congress.

'The memo is powerful evidence of obstruction of justice and certainly merits immediate and prompt investigation by an independent special prosecutor,' said Democratic US Senator Richard Blumenthal.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers said they wanted to see the memo.

Republican US Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of a House of Representatives oversight committee, said his committee 'is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.'

In a letter to acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, Chaffetz set a deadline of May 24 for the FBI to produce 'all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the President'.

Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan backed Chaffetz.

'We need to have all the facts, and it is appropriate for the House Oversight Committee to request this memo,' said Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong.

Legal questions

Legal experts took a dim view of Trump's comments, as quoted in the memo.

'For the president to tell the FBI to end a potential criminal investigation, that's obstruction of justice,' said Erwin Chereminsky, a constitutional law professor and dean of University of California, Irvine School of Law. 'This is what caused President Nixon to resign from office.'

But the experts said intent was a critical element of an obstruction of justice charge, and the president's words could be subject to interpretation and possibly put into the context of other actions, like Comey's termination.

The fact that the president apparently said he 'hoped' Comey would end the Flynn investigation rather than more directly ordering it 'makes for a weaker but still viable case', said Christopher Slobogin, a criminal law professor at Vanderbilt University Law School.

Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks earlier that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Kislyak before Trump took office on January 20.

Kislyak was with Lavrov at the White House when Trump disclosed the sensitive information.

A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment on the details of the memo.

An emailed fundraising appeal by Trump's political organisation and the Republican National Committee sent out after reports of the Comey memo said Trump was being victimised by an 'unelected bureaucracy'.

'You already knew the media was out to get us,' it said. 'But sadly it's not just the fake news... There are people within our own unelected bureaucracy that want to sabotage President Trump and our entire "America First" movement.'

The new development came as Republican and Democratic lawmakers pressured Trump to give a fuller explanation as to why he revealed sensitive intelligence information to Lavrov.

The information had been supplied by a US ally in the fight against the Islamic State militant group, the officials said.
Trump urges Turkey's President Erdogan to release jailed Christian pastor

President Donald Trump has used a White House meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to urge the Turkish leader to expedite the release of jailed Christian pastor Andrew Brunson.

Brunson has been detained since October when he and his wife were held on immigration violation charges after running a small church in Izmir, Turkey. His charges have since escalated to accusations of terrorism, though Turkey has produced no evidence for their claims.

Trump met with Erdogan yesterday and reportedly took the opportunity to pressure him to secure Brunson's release.

'President Trump raised the incarceration of Pastor Andrew Brunson and asked that the Turkish government expeditiously return him to the United States,' the White House said in a press release following the leaders' meeting, according to the Daily Caller.

The American Centre for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a religious freedom advocacy group, announced on Monday it had submitted a formal statement to theUnited Nations Human Rights Council over Brunson's case.

The ACLJ appealed to the UN for Brunson's quick release, and said that Turkey was violating essential principles of liberty and human rights on the basis of his peaceful Christian expression.

Jay Sekulow of the ACLJ wrote yesterday in praise of Trump's advocacy with president Erdogan.

'Last week, I urged the President and the Vice President when I met with them in the White House to raise Pastor Andrew's case with Turkish leaders. Today, they did just that, raising his plight directly to President Erdogan,' he wrote.

He reported that Trump had raised Brunson's case three times during the meeting.

He added: 'This is exactly what we asked the President to do and is a major sign of significant progress toward bringing Pastor Andrew home.'

It is not clear how Erdogan responded to Trump's appeal, but he made no public statement on the matter. In the joint White House press conference, Trump said the US' relationship with Turkey would be 'unbeatable'.
Audio Transcript

Seth Barron: Hi everyone. Welcome to another edition of 10 Blocks. My name is Seth Barron. I am an associate editor of City Journal. Over the last several years activists and politicians in the media and around the country have claimed that our nations colleges and universities are mired in a culture of rape, which officials have ignored or tried to downplay. To combat this rape epidemic on campus, in 2011 the Obama administrations education department sent a dear colleague letter to every school in the country. They ordered all school officials to adopt a lower preponderance of evidence standard during disciplinary hearings when judging a student accused of a sexually related offense. Previously schools had typically used a much higher clear and convincing evidence standard. Six years later school administrators are still trying to figure this out. Colleges are under intense pressure from both activists and bureaucrats to swiftly punish students accused of rape. Since the order in 2011, there have been numerous lawsuits against universities by men who say theyve been wrongly expelled. And the lawsuits keep coming. Despite giving lip service to due process rights, administrators know that in todays political climate there is little to gain from defending a student accused of rape. And they also know that just one mishandled case or protest could end their careers. Joining me today to discuss this issue is KC Johnson. KC Johnson is a professor of history at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center. He is the coauthor with Sturt Taylor of the new book, The Campus Rape Frenzy: The Attack on Due Process at Americas Universities, and he has also written extensively about the Duke lacrosse case. KC, thank you for joining us.

KC Johnson: Thank you for having me.

Seth Barron: So what is the scope of the problem? Is there an epidemic of rape on college campuses that requires federal intervention?

KC Johnson: There is an epidemic. The problem is that the epidemic is sort of an assault on due process. And there are two, I think, related issues. The easier question to answer is the campus attitudes. And here I think the Obama administration approach, the media approach, the activists approach, is something approximating a kind of big lie approach to the issue. I spent a lot of time on this with the Duke lacrosse case. And what I thought was the one clear lesson from the Duke lacrosse case that was pretty much incontrovertible is that for a variety of reasons campuses are inclined to presume guilt on the issue of sexual assault. And in large part thats because on basically any gender-related question the typical college campus today is overwhelmingly one-sided and that one side on this issue translates into a principal of believe the survivor. So the idea that Title IX required federal intervention on the side of punishing alleged rapists because colleges and universities are allegedly soft on these people is truly bizarre. But is has become a commonly accepted narrative. And its very, very problematic. The tougher question to answer is exactly how many sexual assaults are actually occurring on campus. The Obama administration used this figure of one in five, which would translate to between 400,000 and 500,000 sexual assaults per year. The federal database on this suggests there are actually around 5,000, not 500,000. There are instances where weve seen this in world history, most recently in the Congo, where rape was used as a weapon of war. I dont think many people would associate the typical college campus with the Congo. But the figure was arrived at by some very selective surveys that define sexual assault very, very broadly, in ways that neither the college culture nor the law would understand. But the data on exactly how many assaults there are is ambiguous and the fact is we have 7,000 colleges and universities in this country that are very, very different. I teach at a nonresidential college, Brooklyn College. We have zero sexual assaults for the last five years because our students dont live on campus. At residential colleges, doubtless there are some instances but nowhere near the figure that Obama maintained.

Seth Barron: What are some of these, not standards, but what are some of these definitions, expanded definitions that have you know, led to this inflated statistic?

KC Johnson: A couple of interesting elements thats common, especially to elite institutions, is to define sexual assault as unwanted sex. Now of course unwanted and communicated unwanted sex is sexual assault. If you have an instance where a man asks a woman if she wants to have sex, she says no, and he proceeds to have sex with her anyway thats sexual assault. But in the typical college environment the want doesnt need to be communicated. And indeed in some states, four now, New York among them, at around 1,500 colleges they use a standard called affirmative consent, which is that both parties need to say yes or unequivocally communicate yes throughout the process. So you can have an instance where two college students have sex, the male student asks the female student do you want to have sex, she says yes, five minutes later in her own mind she has decided that she actually no longer wants to have sex but doesnt communicate that to the student, that counts as sexual assault at any New York, or California, or Illinois, or Connecticut institution, and many other institutions regardless of state law. And in these sorts of standards, once you are accused theres almost no way to prove your innocence. Because how can you actually get into that room and prove that the person repeatedly said yes? And thats not of course how sex normally works. You dont spend every minute asking the partner do you still want to have sex. So this question of want and the ability not to communicate an unwanted, and then this definition of affirmative consent are the two areas where the offense is defined far more broadly than any states criminal or civil law.

Seth Barron: Okay. And so assuming there is an incident like this that occurs between two people, how does this then play out on a disciplinary level with the university or the college? Where does it go? How does it work?

KC Johnson: Okay. The first thing which is critical and I think which a lot of times people dont quite understand is that it does not go to the police. And that includes it doesnt go to the campus police, which often are official law enforcement officers. Instead the accusing student files a report, generally to a Title IX official at the institution, who assumes jurisdiction over the investigation and the adjudication of the offense. And schools use one of two procedures. One is called a single investigator model, where the Title IX officer or a person that she designates, and most Title IX officers are women, conducts the investigation, interviews both of the parties and other witnesses as the investigator sees fit, and then makes a determination. There is no hearing, there is no cross-examination, there is nothing. A second procedure does have a hearing but a hearing under terms that no one would recognize as a fair hearing. It has to use the preponderance of evidence standard, per federal guidelines. It has to give the accuser a right to appeal a not guilty finding, per federal guidelines. Per federal guidelines the accused student is strongly discouraged from being able to cross-examine the accuser. In most cases the accused student doesnt have the right to a lawyer, doesnt have the right to an impartial tribunal, and the tribunal members have to be trained, they are generally other Title IX bureaucrats, have to be trained in terms that are clearly unfair. The equivalent would be if in the criminal justice system if we had a rape, in rape trials the prosecutor got to train all jurors in rape trials through information that only the prosecutor got to select and the defense had no opportunity to provide similar training. So its essentially a system in which the accused student is presumed guilty and then is denied the tools that would be necessary to prove his innocence. So its a double rigged system.

Seth Barron: So what kind of punishments can be meted out by these boards, and what opportunity of appeal is there?

KC Johnson: The most extensive punishment is expulsion, which is problematic in a couple of respects. If in fact the guy is guilty, this is by nowhere near enough punishment, because essentially youve just sent the guy out to presumably commit sexual assault again without any way of the public knowing that this person has been found a rapist. If the guy is actually innocent and you know, there are, I think, a significant number of these cases where innocent parties are found guilty, this is a life-altering effect. He is likely going to be expelled. His chances of getting into another institution are very remote because what college or university in its right mind is going to accept a student who has been found a rapist by his previous institution? And if we project ahead in terms of how this is going to have a you know, affect him over the rest of his life, we live in a society where you need a college degree, you know, theres a clear relationship between college education and moneymaking potential, any job that requires a background check is likely going to be foreclosed to one of these students, so these are judgments, even though they are not criminal judgements, that have an effect for the next forty or fifty years. Students in theory have a right to appeal in these processes. But in the real world the chances of a college administrator, who often is the same Title IX official who is overseeing the process, overturning a guilty finding on either factual or substantive grounds is close to zero.

Seth Barron: So how big a problem is this? How many cases are brought before, you know, college tribunals yearly?

KC Johnson: Since 2011 there have been around 25,000 cases reported to the federal government. Not all of these cases yield hearings before tribunals or investigators because in some instances the student will simply withdraw from school once he is charged. And Im going to use the gendered pronoun here because 99% of accused students are males in the campus system. So theres no way of knowing exactly how many, but a ballpark figure would be somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 of these tribunals since 2011. And the number is growing. The reports of sexual assault have risen by around 1,000 per year since 2011, and this is largely a result of very active movement by both the media and by campus activists to encourage the reporting even of dubious allegations. So we have this strange situation where in society as a whole rape remains a very much underreported crime and there are lots of cultural reasons why victims of rape will not report their offense to police, but on campus we sort of have the reverse, where even highly, highly dubious claims, the accuser is encouraged to report on grounds that the campus has a rape culture and there will be something positive in reporting even if the allegations arent necessarily true.

Seth Barron: The Duke case, which youve written a lot about, you wrote a whole book about it in fact, that got a lot of attention. To what extent was that an outlier? Are there other cases around the country that are as egregious, or should be as well known?

KC Johnson: This was an outlier in one respect, which is that because it went into the criminal justice system, the accused parties eventually had the opportunity to uncover the evidence that led to their innocence. And the critical aspect here was DNA testing that showed that they had no connection to the accuser in that case, which the prosecutor tried to withhold. If, and you imagine this counter scenario, the Duke lacrosse students had been tried though the Duke campus system, they almost certainly would have been found guilty. Because that evidence never could have been introduced, they couldnt have had a lawyer, and they likely would have been found guilty and expelled, especially given the racial element of the case and the particular environment at Duke. And so in terms of how many actually innocent students are expelled it is very hard to tell because there are all secret tribunals, unlike the Duke case, where the evidence was exposed to the public, well Ill give you one good example, which is a case at Amherst. This is a case where two students hooked up. It was a personally tricky case because the female student was the roommate of the male students girlfriend, and so there were personal dynamics here. The female student is sending text messages all night, she recognizes that shes made a mistake, but word gets out, she loses all of her friends, which isnt much of a surprise, and the guy and his girlfriend breakup, they go on their way. Eighteen months later she files a claim of sexual assault against this guy, claiming that she did not consent to this episode, both of them were drunk at the time, he more so than her. Case goes through the Amherst tribunal. She is asked do you have any text messages that are relevant to the events of that night? She says no. They actually had dozens of text messages which strongly suggested that this event was a consensual event. She goes to the hearing. She talks about text messages at the hearing but she is not asked by anyone at the tribunal to actually produce them. Two months later the guy tracks down these text messages. They show that shes basically lied throughout the process. He turns them over to Amherst, Amherst gives a twofold response. First they say its too late. They say that under their procedures you only have the opportunity to produce evidence of your innocence within seven days of the tribunal finding and after that you are out of luck. But then they say that even if he did produce them in a timely fashion it did not matter because under their system the only written evidence that would be relevant from the accuser was evidence that confirmed the accused students guilt. Evidence that impeached the accuser was not what they were looking for. Now the frightening thing about the Amherst process is that Amherst has publicly maintained, this is now in court, that the process worked as it intended. And indeed I think it did, as it intended, according to Amherst. And Amherst procedures are actually more fair than most colleges procedures in that they separate between the investigation and the hearing. And then here you have a situation where the guy is actually innocent, is able to uncover evidence to prove his innocence, and that evidence is dismissed.

Seth Barron: It sounds as though Title IX is kind of a double-edged sword in that some men have tried suing the university systems arguing that they are being discriminated against. Could you explain what is going on there?

KC Johnson: Yeah. Its one of the more troubling aspects of this policy as a whole. So in 2011 when the Obama administration changes policies, they cite Title IX by claiming that most, not all of course, but most victims of sexual assault are women and therefore the existence of sexual assault applies under Title IX because women suffer a disparate impact from sexual assault. But in court filings, you cant file a disparate impact claim under Title IX. So for the most part, although with two critical exceptions, courts have said since you cannot prove that these people were targeted because they were men, because in theory an accused woman would be treated equally unfairly, you are out of luck. The two exceptions are a case out of Columbia, where in a really important decision the Second Circuit said thats not the correct interpretation and that in an environment where there is a kind of campus frenzy about sexual assault and where there is strong pressure from the media and from accusers groups, and from student activists, to basically convict anyone who is accused that thats enough to survive a Title IX claim. That went to the Second Circuit. The Second Circuit you know, outlined this standard, which applies only for New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, but nonetheless three states, and very quickly Columbia settled the case after that. And the other was that Amherst case that I mentioned. One of the more interesting decisions at a district court level in the First Circuit, the judge was not eager to side with the accused student on this claim, but he did. And the argument that he made was that the accuser, among other things in that case, was a campus accusers rights activist herself. And because of her background the judge argued that you could credibly claim her goal was to use this process to target any man on campus, it just happened to be this guy who got wrapped up in it. Those are the only two important cases where courts have sided with a male accused student. For the most part, men who have filed Title IX claims have lost.

Seth Barron: So it sounds like theres not a lot of places for men to go to redress their grievances on this. Where are we headed?

KC Johnson: We are headed to no place good, right now. I mean there are around 150 lawsuits that have been filed since the dear colleague letter was issued, almost all of them by men. More accused students have prevailed in these lawsuits than have lost, but often on very narrow grounds where they are able to show that the college didnt follow the procedures it was supposed to do and if they win they get their disciplinary infraction removed but virtually no money. There have been no important judgements against a college or university where the college was required to spend you know, $800,000 or $900,000 in a penalty. So from the court system, which really does need to be much more active on this issue, there hasnt been much. You know the best-case scenario if you are accused, you sue, it drags out for two or three years, you prevail, you get the disciplinary infraction removed but youve spent tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars by that point and youve put your life on hold for two or three years. The other two areas that I think we need some action, the first is from the Trump administration. You know, its been nearly three months. They continue to enforce these Obama-era guidelines. These were issued as guidance documents, not as regulations, by Obama so they could be repealed by Betsy DeVos with the stroke of a pen, but she has thus far declined to do so even though other Obama education guidance documents have been repealed. That would not eliminate the problem but it would alter in particular the legal framework of this because universities frequently claim in courts that oh, the federal government is making us do this, we dont want to do it on their own, although frequently they do. And then I think the second institution that has really failed on this issue is the media. The coverage of this issue in the mainstream media, especially in the New York Times, has been very, very poor, has presumed the guilt of accused parties, and I think the biggest problem is that the coverage tends not to describe the procedures that colleges use. So a fair-minded reader could see sexual assault or rape and would assume well this must mean the accused student has a lawyer, has a right to exculpatory evidence, has the right to cross-examination, all of these rights we associate with due process in American constitutional law but which dont exist in the campus tribunals. Eventually, like all witch hunts, this one will fade. But you know, when we get to the point where it is thousands of people who are harmed by this thats a really big penalty to have to pay.

Seth Barron: Well thank you, KC. This was very illuminating, and it is certainly a major issue that doesnt seem like it is going away anytime soon. Dont forget to check out KCs new book, The Campus Rape Frenzy, coauthored with Stuart Taylor, which you can find on Amazon. We would also love to hear your comments about todays episode on Twitter, @CityJournal with the hashtag #10Blocks. Lastly, if you like our show and want to hear more, please leave ratings and reviews on iTunes. Thanks for listening and thank you again, KC, for joining us.
ActionAid has condemned a decision by US President Donald Trumps administration to widen a policy that prevents foreign aid going to groups that discuss abortion or advocate for abortion rights.

The rules were issued by the State Department on Monday, and mean that any foreign non-governmental group that wants American money for its health activities must promise not to promote abortion as a method of family planning.

The new rules apply to $8.8bn in existing foreign aid provided by the state department, USAid, and the Department of Defense. The Guardian has said that this dwarfs the $600m in programming that fell under the ban during previous administrations.

International aid charity ActionAid has said that the global gag rule will have a damaging effect on a range of health programs for women in need

Sarah Carson, ActionAids womens rights campaigns manager, said: President Trumps expansion of the global gag rule will have a chilling effect on womens access to contraception and safe abortions in the worlds poorest countries. Some of the poorest, most marginalised women in the world will have their rights restricted or taken away entirely, with grave consequences for their health.

Such severe funding cuts could have a damaging effect on a broad range of health programs that provide lifesaving treatment and prevention options to women in need. This is part of a global trend that is seeing the rights of women and girls eroded.

Now more than ever we must work together to defend the right of women and girls. ActionAid firmly believes that women should have access to their full range of sexual and reproductive rights, and this includes access to information and safe abortions.

The policy had been lifted in 2009 by then President Barack Obama, but Trump signed an executive order re-imposing the ban, known as the Mexico City Policy, just days into his presidency.

The change in policy will not cut the amount of foreign aid distributed through existing channels, and it does not apply to emergency disaster relief funds. But it will prevent those funds from going to any organization that promotes abortion rights.

Civil Society Media is hosting its NGO Insight conference, which looks at practical aspects of running international NGOs, on 28 November 2017. For more information, and to book, click here.
Early bird prices for Civil Society Medias annual Charity Property Conference ends on Friday.

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, will chair the opening panel discussion looking at how the decision to leave the European Union will affect the property market.

He will be joined by Alex Baily, portfolio director of Cazenove Charities, Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation and Andrew OBrien, head of policy and engagement at the Charity Finance Group.

Delegate prices start at 199 for a small charity delegate, and 259 for other charity delegates. This charity delegate prise will rise to 309 after Friday.

In the afternoon representatives from Guide Dogs will host a session on dealing with disaster and there will be a panel discussion on the future of charity shops.

There will also be sessions on sustainability and ethical property and round table discussions looking at different aspects of strategy.

The event takes place in London on 4 July and there are early bird discounts until 19 May. Full programme and booking information is available here.


BY NOW YOUVE LIKELY HEARD ABOUT DAN HEYMAN, the 54-year-old journalist arrested last week at the West Virginia capitol for causing a disturbance. Heyman tried to ask Donald Trumps health secretary, Tom Price, questions about pre-existing conditions under the new GOP healthcare plan. When people accompanying Price blocked Heyman from doing so, Heyman told the AP he reached his cellphone recorder past Prices staffers. Police said Heyman was aggressively breaching Secret Service agents, and charged him with a misdemeanor for willful disruption of governmental processes, then released Heyman on a $5,000 bond.

[VIDEO] Reporter talks with @AP about being arrested while trying to question a Cabinet member in West Virginia. https://t.co/P5QP6zPw5q pic.twitter.com/Cz52lvHDcD  AP South U.S. Region (@APSouthRegion) May 10, 2017

Set against the backdrop of a White House war with media, news of Heymans arrest spread far and wide. Until his arrest, however, many may have never heard of the news outlet for which he was reporting.

Heyman is an independent contractor for Public News Service (PNS)a small, for-profit newswire founded in 1996 and based in Boulder, Colorado. PNS works with a network of journalists around the country to provide content to 8,000 media outlets in at least 37 states, according to founder and editor Lark Corbeil.

PNS is part of the nonprofit Media Consortium and has an annual budget of around $1.2 million, she says. It is funded through memberships and paid services as well as philanthropic and individual donations; it counts PEW and The Annie E. Casey Foundation as supporters, says Corbeil.

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After coverage of Heymans arrest, Corbeil says PNS saw a significant surge in donations. (The Washington Posts Erik Wemple quantified it as a 26-fold boost.) Corbeil tells CJR, I think this has brought our name to many more people than would have ever known about us.

Despites its longevity, the news wirewhich has a native advertising arm and a nonprofit offshootis still struggling to find the best model to help fill gaps in public interest journalism in a time of media disruption.

I feel strongly that good will and democracy is at stake if we do not find ways to fund journalists to cover all the issues, Corbeil says. And we cannot sustain a democracy if we dont find a way to do it. Our conversation has been edited for clarity.

You probably havent heard of us because were slow to the internet.

You worked for Reuters and in TV, and then left to start PNS in Idaho in 1996. Why?

My goal was to help balance the public debate, to lift up the voices that were not in the local newspaper very often. I wanted to enrich the stories and the sources available to all the other journalists. Coming from a news service background, Im used to providing content that is useful for other media outlets. I saw a need in the local landscape and so I filled that need.

How has Public News Service changed since its founding?

I started this in radio because I could just do it all myself, I didnt need a crew. Then, over the years, we made the content more multi-platform. So its audio and now graphics, or photos and print. Were still working on funding video. We provide video when we have it, but we havent found the funding to make that a regular part of our work.

You probably havent heard of us because were slow to the internet. We have about 8,000 media outlets that are using our content. As far as we can measure, were reaching about an average of 40 million readers a week through other media outlets, mostly legacy.

We struggle to kind of find the right method to build an online audience, because that was never our primary goal.

Who gets to use your content, and how?

Its pretty old school and pretty simple. We send them an email saying, Hello, this is what were doing. Were going to send you content now and again. If you want it, go to our back end and take what you want. Its that simple. We survey them and say, What would you guys like? What could we do that would make your jobs easier? Would you ever pay for this content?

And then we think, OK, do we have the resources to give them what all they want? And, given how few of them have resources to payor would pay can we do it or not? And if we can do it, we do, and if we cant, we dont.

Thats how weve morphed over the years to provide more content to more platforms. And still we struggle to kind of find the right method to build an online audience, because that was never our primary goal.

Who works for PNS?

Weve got a couple dozen journalists across the country. We have news services in 37 states at the moment. We put out job notices and say, Hey, weve got a news service position, come and work for us. Youve got to have broadcast experience, hopefully wire service experience if possible.

So far, we have not worked with stringers because when we need people we really need them to be available on a regular basis, so we tend to just hire employees or contractors on long-term contracts. Dan Heyman is a contractor at his own request.

And we have never not paid interns, ever.

How did you react to Heymans arrest?

I was so shocked. I was numb. My producing instincts immediately kicked into gear and I just started figuring out how we get a lawyer and get him out of jail. I had to first establish the facts. I called the statehouse to see who would be the entity who might have arrested our journalist, and it took me a couple calls. I suspect they did not want any publicity while they moved him, and that was disturbing.

Do you have your own attorney on call?

No, were a very small shop. We called the Media Consortium. Kevin Goldberg had graciously offered to give counsel, and Kevin advised me to call the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, which I did. They were very helpful. Its been a whirlwind. Weve been extremely grateful; this is not anything were used to. I just cant express our appreciation at having such serious support.

Where does PNS get its funding?

Over the years weve had to innovate quite a bit and maybe be on the forefront on the models for what works [and] doesnt work. Weve built a hybrid here.

Weve got Public News Service, which is an S Corp, founded and owned by myself and my partner. We then started a nonprofit called Media in the Public Interest. The idea was, Hey, lets see if this nonprofit model works, because I dont come from the nonprofit world.

You can fund a beat. You can say, We choose to support reporting on childrens issues or housing, homelessness or urban planning or rural affairs, air water, you name it.

You take donations, right?

Yeah, absolutely, we take donations from the web. Once in awhile we get somebody who throws $500 at us. Mostly we get $10 dollars, $5 dollars here and there, and were very, very grateful. Thats one of our streams.

Do you disclose your donors?

Weve wondered about that. Ive gotten sick of being attacked for receiving funds from the George Soros Foundation six years ago. [PNS received funding from what was then called the Open Society Institute, which was founded by Soros.] Were still trying to figure that out.

Over these last 21 years, weve solicited contributions from literally thousands of NGOs, and thousands have given us something. When I started, I thought, Just make it like public media, where members can decide if they want to fund A Prairie Home Companion or All Things Considered. Weve been calling it membership. You can fund a beat. You can say, We choose to support reporting on childrens issues or housing, homelessness or urban planning or rural affairs, air water, you name it.

Its been a process in terms of media literacy. Its been quite a row to hoe since we startedto educate folks on why they need to support, essentially, a news co-op, or support local media that they cant control. And weve had people who walked away because they saw that they werent getting what they wanted.

Thats probably not a nice way to say it. It takes a while for us to find the perfect supporter who understands theyre helping to make sure that an issue is covered but they cannot control it in any way. Its a balance. And its not easy, so thats why its just one of our funding streams.

And another funding stream is a kind of native advertising?

There was a government agency in Oregon who wanted to fund us, and we dont take government money, so we said no. They started their own news service. We thought, Thats probably not the best thing for us. So we started a regular pay-to-play outlet, so if people wanted to pay for native advertising they could, and we would not lose that revenue stream. So thats called Soundbite Services.

Were really good at innovating. Were maybe not so good at marketing. And so we have not sold that as much as we could yet.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Corey Hutchins is CJRs correspondent based in Colorado, where he teaches journalism at Colorado College. A former alt-weekly reporter in South Carolina, he was twice named journalist of the year in the weekly division by the SC Press Association. Hutchins writes about politics and media for the Colorado Independent and worked on the State Integrity Investigation at the Center for Public Integrity; he has contributed to Slate, The Nation, the Washington Post, and others. Follow him on Twitter @coreyhutchins or email him at coreyhutchins@gmail.com.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns defensive tackle Caleb Brantley came to rookie minicamp with a chip on his shoulder last weekend from a battery probe against him, and it rolled off his back Wednesday.

The sworn complaint against Brantley filed by the Gainesville Police Department last month was dismissed Wednesday by State Attorney William P. Cervone in Florida, citing "insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction.''

Brantley, the defensive tackle from Florida who tumbled from a projected second-round pick to the sixth, had been facing a potential misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly punching fellow Florida student Chelsea Austin in the face and knocking her unconscious outside a Gainesville bar on April 13.

"Based on our information, we understood there was a reasonable chance that the charges would be dismissed," Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown said in a statement. "As we have previously discussed, the allegations made regarding the incident were not something we take lightly. Caleb understands that we have an expectation and standard for every member of our organization.

"He's a talented young man with a great opportunity in front of him. Caleb must grow as a person from this situation. He is now able to move forward and focus on earning a spot on this roster."

Brantley, who admitted during minicamp last week that he had a chip on shoulder from the accusation, said he's grateful for the ruling.

"I won't take the opportunity the Browns have given me for granted and now I can shift all my focus on working hard to make this football team while also showing my teammates, coaches, the organization and this community the type of person I really am,'' he said in the release.

In press release from the State Attorney's office, Cervone, via spokesman Darry Lloyd, stated there was no "reliable evidence'' on which to arrest or charge Brantley and the complaint was therefore dismissed.

Because of "the notoriety involved in this matter," the release outlined four reasons for not charging the 6-2, 307-pound defensive tackle:

* The alleged victim had been drinking heavily despite being underaged, and was initially un-cooperative. He said she initially denied being assaulted and has little or no memory of what actually happened.

* Witnesses on her behalf had also been drinking and provided conflicting accounts of the incident, which called "into serious question the accuracy of what they say.''

* Their testimony contradicted that of Brantley and witnesses on his behalf, and "most importantly an apparently neutral witness who supports Brantley's version of events."

* Finally, Cervone said reports of a significant injury to the alleged victim were inaccurate and that any minor injury she sustained was "inconsistent with any great force having been used against her."

He added that the victim's friends engaged Brantley in an unpleasant verbal exchange, "during which the alleged victim began to physically punch or assault Brantley, causing him to shove her away.''

Citing Florida's Stand Your Ground law, Cervone said "Brantley had the legal right to defend himself by pushing away someone who was punching and assaulting him. While it may not be popularly approved of or morally appropriate, that the alleged victim is a female of smaller stature than he, does not change that.''

Cervone stressed that "there is a clear lack of evidence to prove guilt of any criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt.''

He said it would be inappropriate to file charges, and closed the case.

Brantley's attorney, Amy Osteryoung, said in a release, "It is obvious the State Attorney's office did a thorough investigation into this case. It should be equally apparent that we agree with his decision.

"I spoke with Mr. Brantley and he is both relieved and thankful this investigation has concluded. He is looking forward to beginning the next chapter in his life with the Cleveland Browns.''

The Browns took plenty of heat both locally and nationally on draft weekend for taking a chance on Brantley just two weeks after the incident. But Browns owner Dee Haslam, a member of the NFL's conduct committee, said Tuesday that the club had done its due diligence and was comfortable with its decision.

"We really trust our football personnel group to make these decisions and they vet every situation very carefully," she said following a groundbreaking ceremony at John Adams High School for the installation of a new football field. "They do their research. We trusted that, and we have to trust in that."

At rookie camp, Brantley admitted that the incident had him fuming. In addition to damaging his reputation and draft status, it cost him millions of dollars.

"There's definitely a chip on my shoulder,'' he said. "I'm just going to go out and prove everybody wrong who said bad things about me, said I have character issues and all of that. But I ain't really worried about it, just ready to move on.''

Brantley was never arrested or charged.
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New York, May 17, 2017Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko should immediately reverse his order obstructing at least 19 Russian media companies, four popular Russian websites, and banning at least 13 journalists from entering the country for a year, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The decree, published on the Ukrainian presidencys website on May 15, would restrict the broadcasters and websites access to telecommunications services for three years and freezes their assets in Ukraine.

In total, the ordersigned as part of expanded Ukrainian sanctions in response to Russias 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsulaapplies to 468 companies and 1,228 individuals. The decree restricts or suspends the access of Russias official RIA Novosti news agency, broadcasters Channel One, VGTRK, Zvezda, TNT, Ren TV, TV-Center, NTV-Plus, RT, and RBC, among others, the popular Russian social networking sites Odnoklassniki and VK, and the ubiquitous search engine Yandex, to Ukrainian telecommunications networks. The order made no explicit mention of efforts to prevent cross-border broadcasts of the Russian television stations from reaching viewers in neighboring Ukraine. Many, but not all, of the affected media organizations have a strong pro-Kremlin editorial slant.

Attempts to ban Russian media in Ukraine are antidemocratic, are likely to be ineffective, and could easily backfire by making the government appear afraid of allowing citizens to make up their own minds, CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said. We call on Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to reverse this misguided order and to cease interfering with Ukrainian citizens right to receive information and opinion from a range of sources.

Additionally, the decree bans the following journalists from entering Ukraine: Aleksey Yefimov, of Russias Channel One; Dmitry Kiselyov, of the Russian broadcaster RT; Aleksei Pimanov, of the Russian broadcaster Zvezda TV; Aleksandr Potapov, of Russias Izvestiya newspaper; Vladislav Fronin, of the Russian newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta; Aleksei Sharavskiy, of the Vzglyad.ru media company; Valery Fadeyev, the editor of the Russian magazine Ekspert; Maksim Beryozin, a correspondent for the Russian broadcaster NTV; Olena Berezovskaya, a journalist for Ukraina.ru and RT; Magdalena Tasheva, a Bulgarian politician and journalist; David Berezicki, who writes for the right-wing Polish blog Novorossiya; Hudziec Dawid, also from Novorossiya; and Vladimir Bukarskiy, a Moldovan blogger.

Commenting on the expanded sanctions, which were based on April 28, 2017, recommendations of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, Poroshenko wrote on Facebook that Kiev continues putting pressure on Russia, to force them to start negotiations, implement the Minsk [peace agreements, aimed at ending fighting in eastern Ukraine], and to withdraw their forces from Ukraine.

The countrys state telecommunications company, Ukrtelecom, announced yesterday that it had started implementing the decree, adding that it might take a week to comply, the Ukrainian branch of Russias Interfax news agency reported. Following the decree, many internet users in Ukraine and Russia expressed doubts that the ban could be implemented. Some media outlets posted instructions on how to circumvent attempts at censorship.

Following Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea and continued fighting between pro-Russia separatists and Ukrainian security forces in eastern Ukraine, Kiev has banned several Russian media outlets and journalists reporting from those regions, CPJ has reported. Pro-Russia authorities in Crimea shut down several Ukrainian television and radio broadcasts and replaced them with Russian broadcasters following the annexation, CPJ reported at the time.
The European cruise capacity is slated to grow more than 60 percent over the next 10 years, according to the 2017 - 2018 Cruise Industry News Annual Report. The estimated passenger capacity of the European brands is 6.8 million in 2017 and will be 11.1 million by 2027, based on new ship orders and ship deployment, but excluding the capacity of North American brands also sourcing in European markets.

The single largest brand in Europe this year is MSC Cruises with a European passenger capacity of 1.6 million, followed by Costa Crociere with 1.1 million, AIDA with nearly 950,000, and P&O with more than 550,000.

Combined, Carnival Corporation brands will have an estimated capacity of approximately 2.9 million passengers in 2017; MSC, 1.6 million; and the TUI Group, 872,000.

By 2027, however, MSC will carry roughly 4.1 million passengers; Carnival brands, 4.2 million; and the TUI Group 1.2 million.

The 2017-2018 Cruise Industry News Annual Report tracks the capacity growth of all the European brands from 1998 through 2027.

About the Annual Report:

The Cruise Industry News Annual Report is the only book of its kind, presenting the worldwide cruise industry through 2027 in 400 pages.

Statistics are independently researched. See a preview of last years edition by clicking here.

The report covers everything from new ships on order to supply-and-demand scenarios from 1987 through 2027+. Plus there is a future outlook, complete growth projections for each cruise line, regional market reports, and detailed ship deployment by region and market, covering all the cruise lines.

Order the 2017-2018 edition today.
MedCruise will make history in June when it gathers in Gibraltar for a ground-breaking 50th General Assembly event.

The event will run from June 14-17 as MedCruise members, which are the majority of Mediterranean cruise ports, will gather with industry stakeholders and key cruise line representatives to discuss issues and challenges and working together. It is a key annual event for the cruise industry.

According to the 2017-2018 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, the Mediterranean is the third biggest cruise market by capacity, only trailing the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific.

The MedCruise General Assembly in Gibraltar will be held at The Caleta Hotel, opening with a cocktail hour on June 14.

June 15 includes a State of the Industry panel and business to business meetings, where cruise lines sit down with ports for what is essentially "speed dating."

The day concludes with the trademark gala dinner.

Gibraltar Tourist Board Cruise Film from Gibraltar Port Authority on Vimeo.

Friday June 16 includes another key business to business session, an interactive workshop with cruise lines and ports, and two panel discussions before lunch, recapping the morning workshop and discussing the way forward for the cruise industry in the Mediterranean.

Gibraltar hosts a technical inspection of its port for the group on Saturday.

Among key attendees: Kerry Anastassiadis, president and CEO of Celestyal Cruises; James Langley, director of marine operations for Saga Cruises; Spyros Almpertis, manager port operations, Silversea Cruises; Paul Britton, manager marine operations, Disney Cruise Line; Alessandro Carollo, head of port operations for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India, Royal Caribbean Cruises; Claudius Docekal, vice president of deployment for Crystal Cruises; Marios Polydorou, shore ex and port operations manager, Celestyal Cruises; Javiar Sanchez, port, ground, shore ex and cruise operations director, Pullmantur; and Doug Santoni vice president of deployment and revenue operations for Windstar.

Cruise Industry News is the official media partner to the event.
Talking Points

- Austria will hold a snap election in October and the Eurosceptic right-wing Freedom Party will likely be a member of a new governing coalition.

- Thats a risk for the Euro, which is currently benefiting from Donald Trumps problems in the US.

- Check out the DailyFX Economic Calendar and see what live coverage of key event risk impacting FX markets is scheduled for the week on the DailyFX Webinar Calendar.

Elections have already passed this year in the Netherlands and France without giving the markets too much to worry about, and are likely to pass too in France (again), the UK and Germany without upsetting the applecart. But what about Austria?

The little Alpine nation that was once at the heart of an empire and is now an EU member is to hold an early snap parliamentary election on October 15 after persistent rows within the governing coalition. As a result, the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which is Eurosceptic, anti-immigration and anti-Islam, could become a member of a new ruling coalition.

While this would not have the market impact a far-right victory in France would have had, it would certainly bring the subject of populism back into focus after the votes for Donald Trump and Brexit, and would again raise the specter of a Euro-Zone breakup.

The FPO led the opinion polls for more than a year before the conservative Peoples Party (OVP) elected 30-year-old Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz as its new leader on Sunday, putting it ahead of the FPO. Kurz has been likened to Frances Emmanuel Macron and has revitalized his party. However, no party is likely to win outright, and the FPO could well become part of a new government.

An EU referendum  like the UKs  would unlikely be held immediately, but strong pre-election polling by the FPO would clearly be a risk for the Euro and help curb the recent strength of EUR/USD on Trumps mounting problems.

Chart: EUR/USD Daily Timeframe (2017 to Date)

Chart by IG

--- Written by Martin Essex, Analyst and Editor

To contact Martin, email him at martin.essex@ig.com

Follow Martin on Twitter @MartinSEssex

If youre looking for trading ideas, check out our Trading Guides; theyre free and updated for the second quarter of 2017

If youre looking for ideas more short-term in nature, check out the IG Client Sentiment Data
US President Donald Trump asked former FBI director James Comey to drop an investigation into his ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn , according to a memo leaked to the New York Times .

Flynn was forced into resignation in February, just 17 days after being appointed to the Trump administration following accusations that he had improper contact with the Russian embassy in Washington. Comey's sacking last week drew further criticism towards the US President, who now faces calls to release further details of his conversation with the former FBI chief.

According to the NY Times, Comey wrote a memo directly after an Oval Office meeting with Trump in which he quoted the President as saying He is a good guy, I hope you can let this go.

Those reports saw the Chicago Board of Options Exchange's VIX volatility index jump 9.86% to 11.70 in overnight trading.

Trump's presidency has been dogged by constant speculation pertaining to his election campaigns purported links to the Kremlin, which came to a head once again on Tuesday as it was reported he revealed classified information to senior Russian officials.

Comey's memo reportedly documents the meeting between himself and Trump which took place the day after Flynn resigned from his position as national security adviser.

WHITE HOUSE DENIAL

The White House fervently rejected the accuracy of the leaked memo, in a statement released in response to the article.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," the statement said. "The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey."

US senator Bernie Sanders once again called for a special prosecutor to be appointed

If proven to be accurate, the memo could be the clearest indication yet that Trump has attempted to pressure the FBI into an ongoing investigation into his campaigns links to Russia.

Prominent US senator Bernie Sanders once again called for a special prosecutor to be appointed in order to conduct a fair investigation into the allegations.

"We need a special prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation, Sanders said. That's where we are right now. It is a sad day for our country."

Accendo Markets' Michael van Dulken pointed out that perhaps the most worrying thing for investors in the long-term is Trump's loss of support among Republican lawmakers.

"This adds to a darkening cloud of controversy and disarray hovering over the White House," the analyst said. "It also means more questions about the administrations ability to garner enough Republican, let alone bipartisan support, for the policy pledges for which investors are growing increasingly impatient."
Markets in Asia were mostly lower on Wednesday, taking their cue from the US overnight where retailers dragged on Wall Street as questions remained around President Donald Trumps handling of classified information.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was down 0.53% at 19,814.88, as investors rushed to the yen, seen as a safe haven asset in times of uncertainty.

The currency was last 0.65% stronger against the greenback at JPY 112.39.

Major exporters were hurt by the yens strength, with Fast Retailing down 1.11%, Sharp 1% off and Toyota slipping 0.97%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite was off 0.26% at 3,104.74, and the smaller Shenzhen Composite managed a 0.13% gain to 1,867.68.

South Koreas Kospi was 0.1% softer at 2,293.08, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong finished 0.17% lower at 25,293.63.

Domestic political tension in the US was still at the fore during the Asian session, after allegations surfaced earlier in the week that President Trump divulged classified intelligence in a meeting with Russian officials.

The White House initially roundly denied the allegations, before Trump himself appeared to stop himself just short of confirming them, saying on Twitter that it was his prerogative to declassify and discuss any information he wants.

Markets and the electorate in general were also rocked by a report published by the New York Times and confirmed by NBC News suggesting former FBI director James Comey was asked by Trump to stop investigating former national security advisor Michael Flynn on his ties to Russia.

Trump fired Comey last week in a surprise move, for what the President initially said was a bungled investigation into Hillary Clintons email misuse during last years election campaign.

He later admitted in an interview that Comeys investigations into the Trump administrations ties with Russia - which he called false - were on his mind at the time of terminating Comey.

Investors are deeply concerned that all the political noise will morph into economic risk as the political back-fence talk, speculation and dirty laundry could detract from Trump's key agenda - tax reform, noted OANDA senior trader Stephen Innes.

Oil prices were down during Asian trading, after fresh data suggested an increase in American stockpiles, though they picked up again during early European hours.

Brent crude was last up 0.52% at $51.92 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate added 0.33% to $48.82.

Australias S&P/ASX 200 was down 1.1% at 5,786.03, with the major regional banks dragging on the benchmark through the weighty financials subindex.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group was off 1.29% and National Australia Bank fell 2.13%.

The banking sector in Australia had come under pressure in the wake of the federal budget last week, which promised to impose a levy on the banks liabilities.

A fresh note from Moodys on Wednesday also stoked the tension, as it described concerns about the countrys growing household leverage.

It said rocketing house prices, accompanied by stagnant wage growth, were creating risks for the regions banks.

Resources were on the up in the sunburnt country, however, with Fortescue Metals up 4.15%, Newcrest Mining 4.55% higher, and Rio Tinto 2.22% firmer.

In New Zealand, the S&P/NZX 50 rose 0.2% to 7,422.50, beating the regional trend, with medical equipment manufacturer Fisher & Paykel Healthcare rising 1.7%.

It was boosted by the news its US competitor ResMed had dropped a complaint against it at the US International Trade Commission, though ResMed did say it still planned to replace the complaint with fresh action over the breathing mask patent dispute.

The down under dollars were mixed, with the Aussie last 0.33% weaker against the greenback at AUD 1.3509, while the Kiwi strengthened 0.06% to NZD 1.4522 per $1.
BHP Billiton boss Andrew Mackenzie has agreed to meet his tormentors at Elliott Advisers after the US activist investor ramped up its criticism of the mining giant's "do-nothing approach, which some analysts felt was not totally justified.

Mackenzie will meet Elliott representatives on Wednesday, according to several media reports from a mining and metals conference in Barcelona that both parties are attending.

This follows a new attack from Elliott the previous day, when the browbeating New York hedge fund criticised BHPs strategy of selling off oil assets one at a time as death by a thousand cuts and said its discussions with other shareholders found broad support for a restructuring of the petroleum business and agreement that there should be a renewed focus on capital returns.

Elliott revised its approach somewhat, following regulatory concerns over the unification proposal, proposing that BHP stay incorporated, headquartered and tax resident in Australia, retaining full ASX and LSE listings, but still argued that unification will cost a considerably lower $0.2bn than the $1.3bn BHP states.

Mackenzie gave a speech to the conference on Tuesday where he reiterated his confidence in boosting the value of the company by up to 50% and almost double the return on capital, through cutting costs and carefully managing assets.

Mackenzie said: Our path is deliberate, with value and returns at the centre of everything we do.

Recent notes from Deutsche Bank and Citi have agreed that BHP could free up billions of dollars by selling part or all of its petroleum business, although Citi said this would bring only a one-off benefit to shareholders and the company should focus on how to grow value for investors.

Investec analysts said on Wednesday that BHPs chronic underperformance is not as chronic as Elliott makes out and that while BHP has made some poor investments, "in our view it has been no worse than its peers in this regard".

"We have argued previously against a petroleum demerger, but do acknowledge that improved outcomes may be achievable under different demerger methodologies. We also believe that BHP did not address DLC unification adequately in its first response to Elliott, and that it needs to do so this time," Investec said.

"Whatever the outcome, Elliotts agitation should be good for BHP shareholders, in our view, if only to create greater transparency."
There are only seven days to go before Planet Textiles 2017 takes place next week in Bangalore, India and its the last chance for delegates to sign up for event as places are now strictly limited.

You can see the full agenda HERE, which includes 4 breakout sessions on water use, wastewater pollution, chemical management, a special session run by the ZDHC Foundation and a table top exhibition of solution providers.

You can register as a last-minute delegate HERE  although we anticipate that registration will have to close in the next few days.

Perhaps the strongest Planet Textiles event yet, the highly topical issues of water availability, water conservation in wet processing, wastewater discharge, the circular economy and the rise of environmental awareness in India will dominate this years event which is being held on 24th May at the JW Marriot Hotel in Bangalore, India.

The event takes place in partnership with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and is sandwiched between the two-day SAC annual members meeting and the SAC manufacturers forum. For anyone interested in practical solutions to the issue of sustainability in the global textile sector this is a unique, 'must attend' event.

Registered delegates including some of the biggest brand names in apparel retail and a healthy representation of the Indian textile industry, NGOs and textile suppliers.

A table top exhibition will feature 20 different solutions providers.

More information can be found at the Planet Textiles website.
Have you ever noticed that inspiration never sleeps? Some of the best ideas strike when the mind is at rest, as was the case with the birth of Days for Girls. In this Ecwid and Wix partnership story, were going to share the insights that we learned from Celeste, Founder & CEO of Days for Girls, about managing a rapidly growing global nonprofit organization.

With the simple tagline  Every Girl. Everywhere. Period. Days for Girls has reached over 640,000 people in 100 countries since their inception in 2008. They bring vital hygiene supplies and health education to girls in need globally and are working to end the stigma around menstruation. The best part, its working! Days for Girls is on track to attain their goal of reaching 1 million girls and women by the end of 2017. Lets see how theyve come this far, and where theyre heading next.

Getting Started

Days for Girls was founded in 2008 by Celeste Mergens when she learned about the high dropout rates for puberty-aged girls around the globe due to lack of sanitary menstrual supplies. A lack of basic sanitary supplies meant that instead of going to school, girls were kept home during their periods. This new knowledge literally kept Mergens up at night, until the idea to start Days for Girls hit her and she took action.

There are a lot of things that are difficult to solve in the world  this doesnt have to be one of them. This we can solve, together, explained Mergens.

Days for Girls mission is to restore health, dignity, and education around the globe by providing women and girls access to sustainable feminine hygiene solutions and promoting health education in underserved communities.

How are they going to achieve this bold mission? By enlisting a global organization of volunteers committed to improving girls lives  one stitch, Kit, and a girl at a time. And, by taking their message to the web, the ultimate worldwide platform. After receiving recognition from a number of organizations and publications they created impact partnerships with global brands like doTERRA, Revlon, The Honest Company, and Deloitte to magnify their message even further.

The Evolution of the Kit

What seemed like a very simple solution  providing sanitary supplies, was actually more complex than first envisioned. At the start, disposable sanitary pads were sent to girls in need at an orphanage in Kenya. It didnt take long for the Days for Girls team to receive feedback that the supplies were appreciated, but disposal of used items was problematic in many places. Mergens realized that a sustainable, reusable solution that went beyond a simple pad was necessary and the DfG Kit was born.

No one was talking about menstrual hygiene at the time, Mergens explained. This was 2008, and no one was talking about the importance of menstrual hygiene in education, or as a key water & sanitation issue, so we didnt have a lot of examples to lead the way. Improving the usability of a product with new iterations is something that many entrepreneurs can relate to. Like all good designs, the DfG Kits have gone through multiple revisions (28 to be exact!) to reach their current state.

Stitching Together a Global Network

The magic of Days for Girls comes from their unique combination of volunteerism and social enterprise. Free Kits are sewn by volunteer Teams and Chapters, and sent out into the world via a distribution network of partner organizations and individuals.

This is complemented by Days for Girls Enterprise programs, which employ local women to sew and sell Kits. Enterprise members keep all of the funds they raise. Enterprises work really well in places where women or organizations might be able to afford Kits or Kit components (which is the case in many areas.) At the same time, there will always be women and girls who cant afford hygiene supplies. This is true in the United States as well as Zimbabwe. For this reason, Days for Girls combines both approaches, to ensure every woman and girl has the solution she needs.

Four years ago, Days for Girls had approximately 60 Chapters making kits. Now, Days for Girls has over 900 Chapters on around the world, and Enterprise programs in 15 countries. In 2016, approximately 50,000 volunteers were active in some capacity.

50,000 volunteers were active in some capacity for Days for Girls in 2016

When we asked Celeste about the challenges of managing such a large network she credited the amazing Days for Girls staff and global network for stepping up to challenges and for their creativity in problem-solving. People support what they create, said Mergens. Invite people to become a part of the solution, and they will come.

Meet the San Diego Chapter

When I learned that Days for Girls is operating in almost every major city in the United States I met up with Teagen, the head of our local San Diego Chapter where I got a first-hand view of the Kits.

Super soft flannel cotton cloth and cute prints are used to make the Kits both comfortable and attractive. The outer bag doubles as a school bag or purse for the girls and the reusable plastic bags make transporting soiled items to the wash clean and easy. Also included is a cycle calendar that enhances the dialogue about health education, another primary focus of Days for Girls.

Fundraising  The Sales of a Nonprofit

The foundational tool that connects Days for Girls with supporters and volunteers is their Wix website  DaysforGirls.org. We looked at a lot of different platforms, and Wix just had everything we needed. We love the new editor, and the many apps that come with the site, shared Mergens. Days for Girls often uses ShoutOut, Wixs emailing platform, in addition to the website builder.

In any business  nonprofit or for profit  running lean and identifying new revenue sources are keys to sustaining growth. This is where Ecwid comes into the picture. Mergens found us in the Wix App Market in 2016 and added the Ecwid store to the existing Days for Girls website.

Days for Girls uses Ecwid to sell branded items in their online store. The clothing items are created by women that the organization employs via their social enterprise model in Uganda and Ghana, and the giclee prints and trinkets ship from various locations in the United States.

They are also using the store for internal purposes. Sewing Teams and Chapters use the private wholesale storefront to order Kit supplies that are shipped from their Seattle headquarters to the local sewists.

In a nonprofit organization, every dollar saved means more money remains available to support the cause. Shipping rates, especially when miscalculated, can take an oversized bite out of much-needed revenues. The diversity of global shipping options with Ecwid has been a key to the successful operation of Days for Girls multi-faceted distribution network.

Whats Next?

Days for Girls has grown in leaps and bounds since their start in 2008. What began as a practical solution to help girls stay in school during their periods has evolved into a social enterprise employing and empowering women and girls in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. They are a part of a larger global movement that has developed to support womens empowerment through education and localized investment opportunities.

Though the bulk of the girls served are in developing nations, Days for Girls is also making an impact here at home in the U.S. where they have distributed Kits to low-income schools, homeless shelters, and to the womens prison system in New York.

Ecwid and Wix are committed to helping Days for Girls meet their 1 Million reached goal before the end of 2017. Since we met Mergens (almost 3 months ago), the Days for Girls website has been revamped with a great new look, and sales in their online store have almost doubled. There are so many ways to get involved. We invite you to volunteer, join their mailing list or simply spread the word!
WASHINGTON (May 17, 2017) -- A new investigation of more than 48,000 stored tumor samples finds evidence of a key deficiency in a repair mechanism designed to keep DNA from being mutated and causing cancer.

The DNA repair deficiency, called homologous recombination deficiency, or HRD, has previously been studied in only a few cancers, but as researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center report, HRD can be found in all of the cancer types the researchers studied, including prostate, breast, cervical, and endometrial cancers as well as two of the more deadly types: ovarian cancer and glioma, a type of brain cancer.

The researchers say the findings could play an important role in identifying which mutated genes, and which types of cancer, could be targeted to take advantage of the deficiency and ultimately help in treating the cancer. The abstract describing the work was released today. Additional details will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting next month in Chicago.

"We know that patients with BRCA mutations are at high risk for developing breast, as well as pancreatic, ovarian, prostate and other cancers, and we have learned over time that BRCA plays a very important role in DNA damage repair. But BRCA is just one of the many genes that encode important proteins in the DNA repair pathway known as homologous recombination," says the study's lead author, Arielle Heeke, MD, a clinical fellow at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"With ongoing studies of the homologous recombination pathway and its impact on cancer development, we may identify additional genes that, when mutated, allow for either improved response to specific treatments or conversely, portend more aggressive tumor biology, and this could greatly inform development of new cancer therapies," Heeke explains.

In this study, Lombardi researchers partnered with Caris Life Sciences, Inc. Caris performed the molecular profiling on 48,733 solid tumor samples to assess the prevalence of homologous recombination deficiency in about 20 different types of solid tumors. The investigators identified evidence of HRD-related mutations in 11.61 percent of them, with the highest concentration of mutations in endometrial cancer, gliomas, and ovarian cancers (38, 15 and 12 percent respectively). The most commonly mutated genes were found to be the ATM, PTEN, BRCA2, BRCA1, and ATRX genes.

"We do not yet know the clinical impact of many of these mutations. However, several clinical trials are currently underway to assess a type of therapy that inhibits a DNA repair enzyme known as PARP in tumors with HRD," said Heeke. "In fact, Lombardi has a clinical trial that will open this summer evaluating the use of a PARP inhibitor in patients with tumors with this key deficiency."

Heeke says the study would be open to people whose tumors have evidence of HRD like those found in this study, which includes bladder, breast, cervix, liver and bile duct, colorectal, endometrial, gastric/esophageal, head & neck, kidney, neuroendocrine, lung, ovarian, pancreas, prostate, sarcoma, and thyroid cancers, as well as gastrointestinal stromal tumors, glioma, melanoma and unknown primary cancers. The trial "Niraparib Plus Carboplatin in Patients with Homologous Recombination Deficient Advanced Solid Tumor Malignancies" is not yet recruiting patients for enrollment.

"If, as we postulate, the combination of chemotherapy and PARP inhibition is successful in treating patients with HRD tumors, I expect that others will start exploring whether similar drugs or analogous therapies can make a difference in these diseases," Heeke concludes.

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Co-authors include Filipa Lynce, Michael Pishvaian, and Claudine Isaacs of Georgetown Lombardi, and Tabari Baker of Caris Life Sciences, Inc.

Heeke and the other co-authors report having no personal financial interests related to the study. Caris, under the guidance of Baker, provided the tissue and ran the molecular profiling on solid tumor samples collected from across the United States.

About Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center is designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center -- the only cancer center of its kind in the Washington, DC area. A part of Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Georgetown Lombardi seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach, and the training of cancer specialists of the future. Connect with Georgetown Lombardi on Facebook(Facebook.com/GeorgetownLombardi) and Twitter (@LombardiCancer).

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization, which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. Connect with GUMC onFacebook (Facebook.com/GUMCUpdate), Twitter (@gumedcenter) and Instagram (@gumedcenter).
Key Takeaways:

Low-income adults have seen major improvements in their medical care and health as a result of the Affordable Care Act's health coverage expansions.

Key improvements for people who obtained health coverage under Medicaid or through the federal insurance marketplace included reduced out-of-pocket spending, better access to primary care and preventive services, and improved self-reported health.

People with chronic conditions--a vulnerable and high-cost population--have also fared better under the ACA, with more affordable care, more regular care for their conditions, better adherence to their medications, and better self-reported health.

Boston, MA - The Affordable Care Act's health coverage expansions have produced major improvements in medical care and health for low-income adults, including reduced out-of-pocket spending, better access to primary care and preventive services, improved self-reported health, and improved care for those with chronic conditions, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The study provides the most up-to-date assessment yet of the ACA. It will be published online May 17, 2017 in Health Affairs.

"With Congress debating major changes to the Affordable Care Act, especially for people on Medicaid and with pre-existing conditions, it's critical for policymakers to understand what's at risk. Our study shows that the ACA continues to improve medical care and health among low-income patients and those with chronic illnesses," said Benjamin Sommers, associate professor of health policy and economics at Harvard Chan School and lead author of the study.

Researchers looked at survey data from low-income adults in three states: Kentucky, which expanded Medicaid under the ACA; Arkansas, which expanded private insurance to low-income adults using the federal marketplace; and Texas, which did not expand coverage.

Prior to the ACA, each of the three states had similar uninsured rates among low-income adults, around 40%. By the end of 2016, the uninsured rate in Kentucky and Arkansas, the two states that expanded coverage, had dropped by more than 20 percentage points relative to Texas--the rate was 7.4% in Kentucky, 11.7% in Arkansas, and 28.2% in Texas.

Among those who gained insurance coverage, there was a 41 percentage-point increase in having a usual source of care, a $337 reduction in annual medical out-of-pocket spending, significant increases in preventive health visits and glucose testing, and a 23 percentage-point increase in "excellent" self-reported health.

People with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and asthma also fared better after gaining coverage through Medicaid or the federal marketplace health plans. They reported improvements in affordability of care, regular care for their conditions, medication adherence, and self-reported health.

The authors noted that the improvements in health care have continued to grow over the three years of the ACA's coverage expansions, and that the improvements occurred whether states expanded Medicaid (as in Kentucky) or private insurance (as in Arkansas), showing that both are effective ways to help lower-income Americans.

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Other Harvard Chan School authors of the study included Bethany Maylone, Robert Blendon, E. John Orav, and Arnold Epstein.

Funding for the study came from the Commonwealth Fund and in part from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, grant number K02HS021291.

"Three-Year Impacts of the Affordable Care Act: Improved Medical Care and Health Among Low-Income Adults," Benjamin D. Sommers, Bethany Maylone, Robert J. Blendon, E. John Orav, Arnold M. Epstein, Health Affairs, June 2017, doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0293

Link to paper after embargo lifts: http://content.healthaffairs.org/lookup/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0293

Visit the Harvard Chan School website for the latest news, press releases, and multimedia offerings.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health brings together dedicated experts from many disciplines to educate new generations of global health leaders and produce powerful ideas that improve the lives and health of people everywhere. As a community of leading scientists, educators, and students, we work together to take innovative ideas from the laboratory to people's lives -- not only making scientific breakthroughs, but also working to change individual behaviors, public policies, and health care practices. Each year, more than 400 faculty members at Harvard Chan School teach 1,000-plus full-time students from around the world and train thousands more through online and executive education courses. Founded in 1913 as the Harvard-MIT School of Health Officers, the School is recognized as America's oldest professional training program in public health.
In a small and preliminary clinical trial, Johns Hopkins researchers and their collaborators have shown that an experimental gene therapy that uses viruses to introduce a therapeutic gene into the eye is safe and that it may be effective in preserving the vision of people with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in the U.S., affecting an estimated 1.6 million Americans. The disease is marked by growth of abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid into the central portion of the retina called the macula, which we use for reading, driving and recognizing faces.

The study published on May 16 in The Lancet, reports an exciting new approach in which a virus, similar to the common cold, but altered in the lab so that it is unable to cause disease, is used as a carrier for a gene and is injected into the eye. The virus penetrates retinal cells and deposits a gene, which turns the cells into factories for productions of a therapeutic protein, called sFLT01.

The abnormal blood vessels that cause wet AMD grow because patients have increased production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in their retinas. Current treatments require injections of proteins directly into the eye that bind and inactivate VEGF, reducing fluid in the macula and improving vision. However, the therapeutic proteins exit the eye over the course of a month, so patients with wet AMD usually need to return to the clinic for more injections every six to eight weeks in order to stave off vision loss. Eye specialists say the burden and discomfort of the regimen is responsible for many patients not getting injections as frequently as they need, causing vision loss.

Because viruses naturally penetrate cells and leave behind genetic material, the investigators designed their virus to target retinal cells and provide them with a gene that produces sFLT01. Thus, retinal cells become factories that produce the therapeutic protein -- potentially eliminating the need to repeatedly inject it.

"This preliminary study is a small but promising step towards a new approach that will not only reduce doctor visits and the anxiety and discomfort associated with repeated injections in the eye, but may improve long-term outcomes because prolonged suppression of VEGF is needed to preserve vision, and that is difficult to achieve with repeated injections because life often gets in the way," says Peter Campochiaro, M.D., the George S. and Dolores D. Eccles Professor of Ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The phase 1 clinical trial involved 19 men and women, 50 years old or older with advanced wet AMD.

Participants were divided into five different groups that received increasing doses from 2X10^8 to 2X10^10 viral particles containing the therapeutic gene in 0.05 mL of fluid. Each group was examined by investigators for signs of adverse reactions for at least 4 weeks before administering a higher dose to the next group.

After the virus deposited the gene, the cells began secreting sFLT01 which bound to VEGF and prevented it from stimulating leakage and growth of abnormal blood vessels. The goal is for the retinal cells infected by the virus to produce enough sFLT01 to permanently stop the progression of AMD.

After monitoring the first three groups and finding no dose-limiting toxicity, the researchers administered the maximum dose to a group of ten participants and observed no serious side effects. "Even at the highest dose, the treatment was quite safe. We found there were almost no adverse reactions in our patients," Campochiaro says.

For safety and ethical reasons, the study group was composed of people for whom standard approved treatments were highly unlikely to regain vision, meaning in part that only 11 of the 19 had the potential for fluid reduction. Of those eleven patients, four showed dramatic improvements. The amount of fluid in their eyes dropped from severe to almost nothing, just like what is observed with optimal standard treatment, Campochiaro says. In addition, two other participants showed a partial reduction in the amount of fluid in their eyes.

Five participants showed no reduction in fluid levels. Surprisingly, the researchers say, they found that all of the patients who did not show improvement had pre-existing antibodies to the AAV2 virus.

From that result, the researchers conclude that even if further studies affirm the safety and value of their gene therapy, it may have limitations for broad use. That's because an estimated sixty percent of the U.S. population has been infection with adeno-associated virus, the family of viruses that AAV2 belongs to, and have built an immunity to it. The researchers believe that in these patients, the immune system destroyed the virus before it could insert the therapeutic gene. Campochiaro explains, "The numbers are small and simply show a correlation, so we don't know if serum antibodies are definitely an impediment, but more work is needed to determine this."

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Other researchers involved in this study include Jeffrey S. Heier and Shilpa Desai of the Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston; Saleema Kherani, of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Pravin Dugel of the Retinal Consultants of Arizona; Shalesh Kaushal of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center; and Seng H. Cheng, Cheryl Delacono, Annie Purvis, Susan Richards, Annaig Le-Halpere, John Connelly, Samuel C. Wadsworth, Rafael Varona, Ronald Buggage and Abraham Scaria of Sanofi Genzyme.

This study was funded by Sanofi Genzyme, Framingham, Massachusetts, USA.

Seng H. Cheng, Cheryl Delacono, Annie Purvis, Susan Richards, Annaig Le-Halpere, John Connelly, Samuel C. Wadsworth, Rafael Varona, Ronald Buggage and Abraham Scaria are employees of Sanofi Genzyme.
The study -- coordinated by the Human Biodiversity and Population Genomics group at the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA) of the University of Bologna and funded by the National Geographic Society -- describes the genetic fingerprints of the Mediterranean people with high-density genomic markers and a wide sample of modern populations from Sicily and Southern Italy. Their genetic profiles were analyzed to reconstruct the combination of ancestry components and the demographic history of the region. As one would expect, populations inhabiting the southeastern shores of Europe are the result of a complex, multi-layered history. One of these layers corresponds to a shared genetic background, extending from Sicily to Cyprus and involving Crete, the Aegean islands and Anatolia. "This shared Mediterranean ancestry possibly traces back to prehistoric times, as the result of multiple migration waves, with peaks during the Neolithic and the Bronze Age," says Stefania Sarno, researcher from the University of Bologna and lead author of the study. Apparently, the ancient Greek expansions (during the Magna Graecia foundation) were only one of the last events in a long history of East-West movements, where the Mediterranean Sea served as a preferential crossroads for the circulation of genes and cultures.

A new perspective for the diffusion of Indo-European languages

One of the most intriguing layers hidden in the Mediterranean genetic landscape involves an important Bronze Age contribution from a Caucasus (or Caucasus-like) source, accompanied by the virtual absence of the typical "Pontic-Caspian" genetic component from the Asian steppe. The latter is a very characteristic genetic signal well represented in North-Central and Eastern Europe, which previous studies associated with the introduction of Indo-European languages to the continent. "These new genomic results from the Mediterranean open a new chapter for the study of the prehistoric movements behind the diffusion of the most represented language family in Europe. The spread of these languages in the Southern regions, where Indo-European languages like Italian, Greek and Albanian are spoken nowadays, cannot be explained with the major contribution from the steppe alone," adds Chiara Barbieri from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena.

Linguistic and cultural isolates

The current genetic study also focuses on more recent historical layers that contributed to the present-day genetic makeup of the populations sampled, in particular in the cases of long-standing, non-Italian-speaking communities in Italy. For example, mainland Greece and Albania seem to have acquired additional genetic contributions during historic times, most likely related to the Slavic migrations in the Balkans. This recent Balkan genetic ancestry is still evident in some ethno-linguistic minorities of Sicily and Southern Italy, such as the Albanian-speaking Arbereshe. The Arbreshe migrated from Albania to Italy at the end of the Middle Ages and experienced geographic and cultural isolation, which played a part in their distinctive genetic composition. A different case study is that of Greek-speaking communities from Southern Italy. The genetic features of these groups are compatible with the antiquity of their settlement and with a high cultural permeability with neighboring populations, combined with drift and effects of geographic isolation, as in the case of Calabrian Greeks. "The study of linguistic and cultural isolates in Italy proved to be important to understand our history and our demography," says Alessio Boattini, geneticist and anthropologist from the University of Bologna. "The cases of the Albanian- and Greek-speaking communities of Southern Italy help to shed light into the formation of these cultural and linguistic identities."

"Overall, the study illustrates how both genetic and cultural viewpoints can inform our knowledge of the complex dynamics behind the formation of our Mediterranean heritage, especially in contexts of extensive - both geographically and temporally - admixture," says Davide Pettener, professor of Anthropology from the University of Bologna. "These results," adds Prof. Donata Luiselli, who co-led the project, "will be further developed in future studies integrating data from other disciplines, in particular linguistics, archeology and palaeogenomics, with the study of ancient DNA from archaeological remains."

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Gov. Pete Ricketts on Tuesday stood with a Mexican trade delegation and American grain industry leaders to emphasize the importance of the soon-to-be-renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mexico is Nebraskas largest export market for corn, dairy, sugar and sweeteners, and second largest market for soybeans, wheat, sorghum and distillers grains. All of this combined accounts for thousands of Nebraska jobs, Ricketts said.

Its important future negotiations dont damage that trade relationship, he said.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly bashed the United States' 20-year-old agreement with Canada and Mexico, pledging on the campaign trail to rip it up as part of his promise to bring manufacturing jobs back to ailing Rust Belt states. Trump has since walked back from his pledge to terminate NAFTA in favor of reworking it.

Ricketts warned that Trumps rhetoric is putting billions of dollars in trade that support 34,000 Nebraska jobs at risk.

That impacts actual families here in this state, Ricketts said.

Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo this week warned Mexico would walk away from the negotiating table if met with threats of tariffs or demands for quotas.

Planning for that possibility, Mexican trade officials and grain buyers have begun exploring new partnerships with Brazil and Argentina.

The five-member Mexican industry group, which represents 80 percent of Mexicos grain demand, came to the United States to express their concerns with Trumps rhetoric, urge sensitivity and tell the United States not to take their business for granted, said Felipe Basarte, purchasing manager for Queretaro's state cattle union and a representative of the Mexican national feed association Conafab.

The United States needs us as buyers, and we need United States grain, Basarte said.

Mexico has been a loyal customer with U.S. grain enjoying 99 percent market share, but Trumps aggression toward NAFTA has cracked that loyalty, said Ryan LeGrand, a U.S. Grains Council director based in Mexico.

With some of the things that have been said, weve opened a door that has never been opened before, he said.

Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board, echoed that concern over the prospect of customers slipping away. The United States has long held a competitive advantage over Brazil because of its reliable rail and shipping routes, but that might not always be the case, he said.

If they start talking about going to Brazil, its only a matter of time before Brazil builds out their infrastructure and is competitive to the advantages were already witnessing, Brunkhorst said.

Before and after the governors news conference, the Mexican trade group spoke with farmers and politicians during a series of meetings in Nebraska, including a roundtable conversation at the Farmers Cooperative in Dorchester.

The group planned to fly to Washington on Wednesday for a slate of meetings with national politicians and trade officials.

The United States in 2016 exported 523.5 million bushels of corn to Mexico valued at $2.5 billion, as well as exporting 1.9 million metric tons of distillers dried grains, a byproduct of ethanol.
The increasing growth of the automotive industry demands the development of groundbreaking solutions, innovative technologies and disruptive products, services and business models. New industrial players must constantly invest in R&D and look one step forward into the future, which was in fact the main objective of the International Industry Roundtable (IIR) promoted by the MIT Portugal Program, which took place on Monday, May 15th, at the ROMULO - Centro Ciencia Viva from the University of Coimbra.

The auto industry has some of the largest industrial R&D investors in the world. Typically, the annual investment in R&D surpasses 30 billion in Europe only. The automotive industry is also one of the most important industries in Portugal, being a top contributor for value creation and generation of jobs. It represents around 8% of the country's GDP, 11% of the country exports and more than 30.000 direct jobs.

This Roundtable brought together more than 80 industry leaders, entrepreneurs, expert researchers and graduate students in a look ahead to the next 5-10 years of the industry. The Session allowed participants to discuss common objectives, share new technologies and ideas, and promoted networking and potential collaborations between participants from academia and industry.

The initiative counted on the participation of speakers from emerging companies based in Portugal such as the Fraunhofer Institute, Magnum Cap, AFIA, Brisa, Ceiia, TU Delft, Bosch, Caetano Bus, Uber, BMWi and Ubiwhere, and representatives of MIT Portugal, University of Coimbra, University of Minho, and University of Lisbon.

The International Industry Roundtables (IIR) are an ongoing initiative of the MIT Portugal Program in collaboration with multiple academic and business entities and this is the second edition dedicated to Cities, Energy and Transportation. The IIR aim is to use the neutral grounds of academia to bring together entrepreneurs, company executives, policy makers, scientists, engineers and graduate students around topics where cutting-edge technology is put at the service of sustainable economic and social development. The focus is to bridge views and find common objectives between industry and academia, as well as within industry and within academia.

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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Every winter, trees on high mountains in a small area northwest of Mexico City turn orange. Close inspection reveals branches filled with brilliantly colorful monarch butterflies, rather than fiery leaves, as the eastern North American population of monarchs winters there.

Their numbers, however, are shrinking. New research at Michigan State University, published in the current issue of the journal Ecography, makes a strong case that the reasons for this decline go far beyond what's happening on the wintering grounds and addresses a current controversy about the primary causes of the specie's decline.

"We need to think of migratory species at regional scales to truly understand how changes in climate and land use affect population trends," said Elise Zipkin, MSU integrative biologist and co-author. "Global declines in migratory species, including monarchs, suggest that broad-scale conservation action may be necessary to prevent the loss of migratory populations."

In that vein, the research team incorporated features from the butterflies' complex continental movements to study the factors influencing summer populations in Illinois using data from a long-term citizen science monitoring program. Unlike other migratory species, which have distinct summer and winter grounds, monarchs take multiple generations to travel from Mexico to Texas, from Texas to the Midwest, from the Midwest and into Canada, and finally, back from the upper Midwest and Canada to Mexico.

Thus, the numbers of butterflies in small fields in the Midwest are linked to events that happen across the continent, said Sarah Saunders, MSU integrative biologist and lead author.

"The connection between population dynamics from winter to spring to summer is more complex than in other species," she said. "Our study provides the first empirical evidence of a negative association between glyphosate application and local abundance of adult monarch butterflies during 1994-2003, the initial phase of large-scale herbicide adoption in the Midwest."

Glyphosate, a key ingredient found in Roundup and other herbicides, may be a contributing cause of population decline due to its ability to reduce milkweed plants. While milkweed serves as the host plant for monarch eggs, the extent in which milkweed loss affects monarch trends is still controversial, she added.

Along with the impacts of herbicides, the study examined the effect of surrounding crop cover in summer habitat as well as cross-seasonal effects of spring weather fluctuations in Texas and population changes on the wintering grounds in Mexico.

"Butterflies face myriad challenges, and habitat loss and climate change are clearly important pieces of it," Zipkin said. "Our long-term goal is to examine the many stressors on monarchs across all seasons and identify which ones are the most critical. Future research could then offer solutions on how to develop effective conservation strategies."

The team's research could generate answers that eventually help reverse the nearly 20-year decline of monarch butterflies observed in Mexico. It gives hope to anyone, scientists and the public alike, who has ever witnessed the mass of overwintering butterflies in Mexico or cheered a flitting monarch as it traverses vast distances across the United States.

"Migration - whether it's undertaken by the smallest insects or the largest mammals - is a captivating phenomenon," Saunders said. "We hope that our study sheds light on how events and conditions during different stages affect the monarch butterfly's annual cycle as well as provides findings that can inform future conservation efforts."

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Additional scientists contributing to this study include Leslie Ries, Georgetown University; Karen Oberhauser, University of Minnesota Twin Cities; and Wayne Thogmartin, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center.

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Michigan State University has been working to advance the common good in uncommon ways for more than 150 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU focuses its vast resources on creating solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges, while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

For MSU news on the Web, go to MSUToday. Follow MSU News on Twitter at twitter.com/MSUnews.
NEW HYDE PARK, NY - In one of the first studies of its kind, nearly one-third of 10,000 older adults were prescribed opiate pain medications such as morphine, Percocet and OxyContin while hospitalized for non-surgical conditions, a course of care significantly linked to poor outcomes such as being restrained and requiring bladder catheterization, according to startling new research by Northwell Health physicians.

The study, "Opiate Prescribing in Hospitalized Older Adults: Patterns and Outcomes," is one of a pair focusing on pain management in older adults scheduled for presentation at the American Geriatrics Society Meeting being held in San Antonio, TX from May 18-20. With legislation in recent years governing prescription drug monitoring and the use of medical marijuana in New York State, Northwell investigators Sutapa Maiti, MD, Liron Sinvani, MD, and Gisele Wolf-Klein, MD, joined colleagues to spotlight perspectives and practices influencing these timely and contentious topics.

The investigators agree that alternative pain management options should be integrated into the inpatient setting, including acupuncture, tai chi, heat therapy, and exercise tailored to patients' needs, among others.

"With older adults, both physicians as well as patients understand they'll probably be living with chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, arthritis or COPD for the rest of their lives, but what they really don't want is the pain associated with these conditions," said Dr. Wolf-Klein, director of geriatric education for Northwell Health. "This is all about quality of life. Patients' lives may be challenged by illness, but pain is something that we as physicians have a huge responsibility to manage properly."

Dr. Wolf-Klein is senior investigator of the second study, "Older Adults' Perspectives on Medical Marijuana Use," which found that 36 percent of seniors would be unlikely or extremely unlikely to use medical marijuana if prescribed. This reluctance exists despite 25 percent of the 93 study respondents reporting chronic pain and 43 percent using prescription painkillers in the prior month.

Legislation enacted in recent years pertaining to pain management lent particular context to the research led by Dr. Wolf-Klein and Dr. Maiti, the first author of the opiate study and chief palliative fellow at Northwell Health. As of December 2015, 49 states initiated mandated legislation by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, statewide electronic databases that collect prescription-dispensing data of controlled substances.

Meanwhile, since January 2016, medical practitioners in New York State have been officially able to prescribe medical marijuana for 10 qualifying conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, neuropathies and inflammatory bowel disease, among others. Practitioners must complete a mandatory certification course to legally prescribe marijuana to their NY patients.

In the opiate study, Dr. Maiti and her team evaluated data on 10,529 patients aged 65 and older who were hospitalized over a one-year period in a large New York facility, comparing those who received opiates to those who did not. While hospitalized, 29.3 percent received opiates. And 83.9 percent of those patients were newly initiated or "naive" to their use. Only 12.5 percent reported opiate use prior to hospitalization, while 11.2 percent were prescribed opiates at the time of discharge.

But seniors who received opiates while hospitalized were far more likely to suffer negative outcomes than peers who did not. These include being more than twice as likely to be restrained; taking no nutrition by mouth; having bladder catheters; and ordered to bed rest, among other associations. Patients on opiates also had a 50 percent longer average hospital stay and were more often readmitted within 30 days.

"What makes our study particularly interesting is that pain requiring opioids is expected in surgical or trauma patients, such as those with a hip fracture or after an accident," Dr. Maiti said. "However, we are uncovering the prevalence of opiate use in chronic illnesses, which is a factor we hear about in the news daily as Americans are battling an opioid epidemic. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that opiate prescribing during hospitalization is associated with poor short-term outcomes."

"The use of opiates, when warranted, is a necessary component for providing high-quality care in the hospital setting," she added. "The real question is, should we be so quick to resort to opiates in patients who are elderly and naive to opiates? Or should there be other ways to explore and tackle proper pain management?"

In the medical marijuana study, Dr. Wolf-Klein and her team capitalized on its new legality to determine what attitudes influenced its acceptance among seniors. Seventy-one percent of respondents, with an average age of 71, had chronic conditions, while 19 percent reported previous use of recreational marijuana. Only 3 percent had received a prescription for medical marijuana.

Thirty-six percent of participants said they would be unlikely or extremely unlikely to try medical marijuana if prescribed. Their concerns over its use included side effects (30 percent), addiction (19 percent), legal (9 percent), and lack of acceptance from loved ones (8 percent) and medical providers (3 percent).

No significant association was found between respondents' willingness to try medical marijuana and their age, gender, education level, chronic pain or other factors.

"It was interesting to see that people were not necessarily frightened about taking marijuana, but that those who admitted to using it in the past for recreational purposes would be much more willing to try it for pain than people who had never been on marijuana," Dr. Wolf-Klein explained.

"I think the medical marijuana story is one we're just beginning to write," she added. "In the life of any kind of drug, a 12-month history is in its infancy. I don't know that we have enough experience in the great variety of conditions it's prescribed to have a profile of which patients are best helped, but if it seems to be of value, we need to help overcome some concerns or biases patients, families or practitioners might have."

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Reporters interested in an interview onsite at the meeting, please contact Gisele Wolf-Klein, MD at GWolf@northwell.edu or 516-526-1722; or Sutapa Maiti, MD at Sutapa.Maiti@gmail.com or 818- 599-2469.

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is New York State's largest health care provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals and over 550 outpatient practices. We care for more than two million people annually in the metro New York area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 61,000 employees -- 15,000+ nurses and nearly 3,400 physicians, including nearly 2,700 members of Northwell Health Physician Partners -- are working to change health care for the better. We're making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and the School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. And we offer health insurance through CareConnect. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu.
During an expedition to the Krasnoyarsk Territory, scientists from Tomsk State University and St. Petersburg State University (TSU and SPBU), discovered the remains of a previously unknown mammal - the baidabatyr.

The animal belonged to multituberculates, one of the ancient taxa of mammals known from the Middle Jurassic. Their name derives from the structure of their teeth. These animals appeared in the Jurassic period and survived the mass extinction of species at the end of the Cretaceous. Some species of multituberculates became extinct only in the Paleogene. Thus, this clade/group has existed for about 150 million years.

- Baidabatyr is a multituberculate mammal. We found only one tooth and immediately realized that the characteristic features of the structure - the number and location of the tubercles - indicate that this is a species previously unknown to science. This is an important find for Western Siberia. - said Stepan Ivantsov, a TSU paleontologist.

He clarified that there are no present representatives of this order - they died out about 20 million years ago.

- Judging by the structure of the tooth, it was a herbivorous animal, probably it ate seeds. The size of the tooth is a couple of millimeters, which means that the animal was the size of a hamster or slightly larger. The name was composed of the words "bidarka" (kayak) because the type locality can be reached only by kayak and "batyr" as "hero" from the Turkish language. First representatives of this taxon were found in Mongolia, and the name of most species traditionally includes Mongolian word "baatar". We decided to name it in Turkish, because it is one of the local languages - added Stepan Ivantsov.

According to the scientist, the find was made on the Bolshoy Kemchug River in the remote taiga. The southeast of Western Siberia in the Early Cretaceous was a refugium: an area where some species of the Jurassic period (about 145 million years ago) were preserved in the Cretaceous - where, they existed for several million years longer than on the rest of the planet.

The remains of the animal were discovered in the summer of 2015. However, before the scientists officially announced their discovery, they had to describe the find and publish an article in a leading international journal.

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NASA's annual survey of changes in Arctic ice cover greatly expanded its reach this year in a series of flights that wrapped up on May 12. It was the most ambitious spring campaign in the region for NASA's Operation IceBridge, an airborne mission to monitor ice changes at Earth's poles, which also included a rapid-response flight over a new crack in Petermann Glacier, one of the largest and fastest-changing glaciers in Greenland.

"This has easily been our best year ever for surveying sea ice," said Nathan Kurtz, IceBridge's project scientist and a sea ice researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "Geographically, we covered a wider area than ever before, and the new instruments we deployed during this campaign have given us denser and more accurate measurements."

IceBridge explored for the first time the Eurasian half of the Arctic Basin through two research flights departing from Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the northern Atlantic Ocean. The mission also took measurements of a recently formed crack on the ice shelf of Petermann Glacier.

This Arctic season, IceBridge completed all of its sea and land ice baseline flights -surveys that are repeated year after year to measure regions that have been evolving rapidly over the last decades. In total, the mission carried out 39 eight-hour flights in 10 weeks. Of those, 13 focused on surveying sea ice, while the remaining 26 flights targeted land ice. Several flights included collaborations with international Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) missions teams to collect and compare measurements of snow and ice. The largest one was with CryoVEx, a campaign dedicated to validating data gathered by ESA's (the European Space Agency) CryoSat-2 satellite, but IceBridge also coordinated data collection with a group of European adventurers collecting snow depth data while doing a traverse toward the North Pole, with ESA's Sentinel-3A satellite, and with a GPS survey near Summit Station, Greenland, designed to validate future measurements by the upcoming Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) mission, among other collaborations.

IceBridge's first research flight took place on March 9 onboard NASA's Wallops Flight Facility's P-3 Orion aircraft. As with every year, the first part of the campaign was dedicated to overflying the Arctic Ocean's sea ice cover, plus several fast-changing land ice areas from two sites: Thule Air Base in northwest Greenland and Fairbanks, Alaska. But this campaign, the IceBridge team added an extra base: Longyearbyen, Svalbard. From there, the mission was able to reach areas of the Eurasian side of the Arctic Ocean that had not been explored by IceBridge before.

While analyzing preliminary data, Kurtz said that he was intrigued to see that the layer of snow on sea ice in the Eurasian side of the Arctic is currently thinner than what snow depth climatology models based on older measurements predict.

"The new snow measurements will help better understand changes in the Arctic sea ice cover and help constrain satellite measurements to make sure they're accurate," Kurtz said.

IceBridge also expanded its scope westward with a flight to the western side of the Chukchi Sea, a sea situated between Alaska and Russia. It was the first time the mission ever crossed the International Date Line.

In mid-April, the IceBridge team was alerted to a crack on the floating ice shelf of Petermann Glacier. Stef Lhermitte, an associate professor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, had just discovered the rift while going through satellite imagery. Lhermitte wrote about his observations on Twitter and the NASA manager for the cryospheric sciences program learned about the tweets. Serendipitously, IceBridge was then planning on flying one last mission over Petermann.

"The day before the flight, we worked late into the evening to redesign our Petermann flight plan to overfly the new rift according to the coordinates Stef [Lhermitte] sent us," said John Sonntag, IceBridge mission scientist. "This achievement was only possible because of the long-standing culture of international scientific openness and cooperation. IceBridge and other NASA missions, which make their data freely available to all comers worldwide, go a very long way to perpetuate and strengthen this culture."

The new rift intrigues scientists because it is much further upstream from the glacier's front than other cracks, which could create a large iceberg when it finishes tearing through the ice and potentially make the ice shelf and the glacier it buttresses unstable. Whether this happens or not, the new measurements of the rift IceBridge collected will help researchers better understand the evolution of cracks.

"Getting fresh data on this newly developed rift is exciting. Because it's so new, we'll have a better handle on its evolution," said Joe MacGregor, IceBridge deputy project scientist and glaciologist at Goddard. "I look forward to seeing what comes out of these measurements."

The final part of the campaign was based in Kangerlussuaq, in west Greenland, and focused on land ice.

As with every Arctic campaign, IceBridge hosted a teacher from the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States' PolarTREC program. This year, the participant was Adeena Teres, a science teacher at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Teres wrote a blog on her IceBridge experience and participated in live chats from the airplane with K-12 classes across the U.S. In total, the IceBridge team conducted 65 classroom chats from the P-3 and from the ground during this campaign that reached 1414 students in 14 U.S. states, plus Mexico and Canada.

This summer, IceBridge will carry out two additional campaigns to gauge how the melt season impacts Arctic sea and land ice. The first survey will take place in late July and will be based out of Thule, focusing on the multi-year sea ice cover north of Greenland and in the Canadian Archipelago. The second one, starting in early September, will operate from Kangerlussuaq and replicate land ice missions that IceBridge completed this spring. Both campaigns will use smaller planes with a more limited set of instruments than the regular springtime flights.

The mission of Operation IceBridge is to collect data on changing polar land and sea ice and maintain continuity of measurements between ICESat missions. The original ICESat mission ended in 2009, and its successor, ICESat-2, is scheduled for launch in 2018. Operation IceBridge is currently funded until 2019. The planned overlap with ICESat-2 will help scientists validate the satellite's measurements.

For more about Operation IceBridge, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/icebridge

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Our Cold War history is now offering scientists a chance to better understand the complex space system that surrounds us. Space weather -- which can include changes in Earth's magnetic environment -- are usually triggered by the sun's activity, but recently declassified data on high-altitude nuclear explosion tests have provided a new look at the mechansisms that set off perturbations in that magnetic system. Such information can help support NASA's efforts to protect satellites and astronauts from the natural radiation inherent in space.

From 1958 to 1962, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. ran high-altitude tests with exotic code names like Starfish, Argus and Teak. The tests have long since ended, and the goals at the time were military. Today, however, they can provide crucial information on how humans can affect space. The tests, and other human-induced space weather, are the focus of a comprehensive new study published in Space Science Reviews.

"The tests were a human-generated and extreme example of some of the space weather effects frequently caused by the sun," said Phil Erickson, assistant director at MIT's Haystack Observatory, Westford, Massachusetts, and co-author on the paper. "If we understand what happened in the somewhat controlled and extreme event that was caused by one of these man-made events, we can more easily understand the natural variation in the near-space environment."

By and large, space weather ? which affects the region of near-Earth space where astronauts and satellites travel ? is typically driven by external factors. The sun sends out millions of high-energy particles, the solar wind, which races out across the solar system before encountering Earth and its magnetosphere, a protective magnetic field surrounding the planet. Most of the charged particles are deflected, but some make their way into near-Earth space and can impact our satellites by damaging onboard electronics and disrupting communications or navigation signals. These particles, along with electromagnetic energy that accompanies them, can also cause auroras, while changes in the magnetic field can induce currents that damage power grids.

The Cold War tests, which detonated explosives at heights from 16 to 250 miles above the surface, mimicked some of these natural effects. Upon detonation, a first blast wave expelled an expanding fireball of plasma, a hot gas of electrically charged particles. This created a geomagnetic disturbance, which distorted Earth's magnetic field lines and induced an electric field on the surface.

Some of the tests even created artificial radiation belts, akin to the natural Van Allen radiation belts, a layer of charged particles held in place by Earth's magnetic fields. The artificially trapped charged particles remained in significant numbers for weeks, and in one case, years. These particles, natural and artificial, can affect electronics on high-flying satellites -- in fact some failed as a result of the tests.

Although the induced radiation belts were physically similar to Earth's natural radiation belts, their trapped particles had different energies. By comparing the energies of the particles, it is possible to distinguish the fission-generated particles and those naturally occurring in the Van Allen belts.

Other tests mimicked other natural phenomena we see in space. The Teak test, which took place on Aug. 1, 1958, was notable for the artificial aurora that resulted. The test was conducted over Johnston Island in the Pacific Ocean. On the same day, the Apia Observatory in Western Samoa observed a highly unusual aurora, which are typically only observed in at the poles. The energetic particles released by the test likely followed Earth's magnetic field lines to the Polynesian island nation, inducing the aurora. Observing how the tests caused aurora, can provide insight into what the natural auroral mechanisms are too.

Later that same year, when the Argus tests were conducted, effects were seen around the world. These tests were conducted at higher altitudes than previous tests, allowing the particles to travel farther around Earth. Sudden geomagnetic storms were observed from Sweden to Arizona and scientists used the observed time of the events to determine the speed at which the particles from the explosion traveled. They observed two high-speed waves: the first travelled at 1,860 miles per second and the second, less than a fourth that speed. Unlike the artificial radiation belts, these geomagnetic effects were short-lived, lasting only seconds.

Atmospheric nuclear testing has long since stopped, and the present space environment remains dominated by natural phenomena. However, considering such historical events allows scientists and engineers to understand the effects of space weather on our infrastructure and technical systems.

Such information adds to a larger body of heliophysics research, which studies our near-Earth space environment in order to better understand the natural causes of space weather. NASA missions such as Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS), Van Allen Probes and Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) study Earth's magnetosphere and the causes of space weather. Other NASA missions, like STEREO, constantly survey the sun to look for activity that could trigger space weather. These missions help inform scientists about the complex system we live in, and how to protect the satellites we utilize for communication and navigation on a daily basis.

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ARLINGTON, Va. -- Battlefield commanders confront life-or-death situations requiring fast, yet informed, decisions. To develop, strengthen and accelerate these quick-thinking abilities -- particularly among small-unit leaders -- the U.S. Marine Corps is distributing new "tactical decision kits" to 24 infantry battalions.

The kits, to be rolled out over the next six months, include software sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). They can be used in field, barracks or classroom settings to provide warfighters with a versatile workspace to practice and hone their decision-making skills. The included software tools enhance existing training technologies like virtual first-person simulations or field exercises.

"This suite of new training tools is easy to implement and can be tailored to Marines' needs," said Dr. Peter Squire, a program officer in ONR's Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and Combating Terrorism Department. "It will allow Marines to think more critically and adapt more quickly to changing environments and adversaries."

The ONR-sponsored technology includes (1) the Interactive Tactical Decision Game (I-TDG); (2) an augmented-reality Sand Table application that uses a HoloLens visual display to insert virtual objects into an actual field of sight; and (3) a quadcopter-based system for quickly surveying and modeling terrain.

I-TDG is a web-based application that allows Marines to plan missions and conduct "what if" tactical-decision games. It supports capturing virtual or live exercise scenarios and incorporating them into games that can be shared battalion-wide. I-TDG links to the Sand Table app to support terrain visualization and collaborative planning and review.

Sand Table allows multiple Marines to interact with a virtual "hologram" -- generated by the HoloLens -- of real-world, three-dimensional terrain. I-TDG units are displayed on this terrain and can be moved around. Because this is a shared augmented-reality environment (virtual objects placed in actual physical setting), Marines can see their surroundings and fellow participants virtually while remaining rooted in the real world.

To rapidly develop terrain models to support these technologies, Marines can operate the quadcopter-based terrain-mapping system to create a 3D model of a training area.

Among their many capabilities, the tactical decision kits literally bring training to where warfighters live. The kits are designed to be employed in barracks "decision rooms," where Marines can practice and compete in tactical decision-making on a routine basis.

In a recent media interview, Col. James Jenkins, director of Science and Technology for the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, said the value of the system is in the ability of squads and small units to run the same scenario multiple times with detailed after-action feedback.

"Here's the debrief, here's who shot whom, when, and here's why -- and go back and get better every time," he said.

The tactical decision kit technology was developed in close cooperation with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines (2/6) based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The battalion employed prototypes in barracks decision rooms, in events such as Spartan Week, and in support of field activities such as a live fire exercise recently executed at 29 Palms, California.

These successes were largely responsible for inspiring senior Marine Corps leadership to select the tactical decision kits as the first experiment for the service's newly created Rapid Capabilities Office, which is designed to more quickly develop and deliver promising new technologies.

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The country is one of the most forested in Southeast Asia, providing habitat for endangered species

The loss of intact forest cover in Myanmar has accelerated over the last decade, according to a study published May 17, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Peter Leimgruber from Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, United States of America; Ned Horning from American Museum of Natural History, United States of America; and colleagues.

Due to its long political and economic isolation, Myanmar has retained much of its original forest cover but much of the intact forest is unprotected and is increasingly subject to pressures from rapid political and economic changes in the country. Areas that were inaccessible due to armed conflicts between the government and ethnic groups, for example, are starting to open up for timber production and commercial plantations. To investigate changes to forest cover, Leimgruber, Horning and colleagues used Landsat satellite images to map forest cover in Myanmar between 2002 and 2014.

The researchers found that in 2014 63% of Myanmar was covered by forest (more than 42 million hectares), making it one of the region's most forested countries. However, in terms of conservation efforts and protection of endangered species, intact (un-fragmented) forests are the most valuable. In Myanmar, 38% of forest cover is intact forest and during the study period the authors found that this intact forest declined by 11% (more than 2 million hectares) with an annual loss of 0.94%. Through their analyses the authors also identified 9 township hotspots of deforestation of intact forests and a large area 6.1 million hectares of intact forest in Northern Myanmar.

The authors suggest that protection of intact forests should take priority but other ways of improving forest management could include encouraging forest restoration, and reclaiming degraded forestlands for plantations and sustainable agriculture.

Co-author Dr. Qiongyu Huang states: "We found that forests cover 42,365,729 ha or 63% of Myanmar, making it one of the most forested countries in the region. However, severe logging, expanding plantations, and degradation pose increasing threats. Only 38% of the country's forests can be considered intact with canopy cover >80%. Between 2002 and 2014, intact forests declined at a rate of 0.94% annually, totaling more than 2 million ha forest loss."

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In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS ONE: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0176364

Citation: Bhagwat T, Hess A, Horning N, Khaing T, Thein ZM, Aung KM, et al. (2017) Losing a jewel--Rapid declines in Myanmar's intact forests from 2002-2014. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0176364. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176364

Funding: EU FLEGT--Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Provided funding for mapping forest condition and change from Landsat satellite imagery. Website: http://www.euflegt.efi.int/map-flegt-projects Role: The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust Website: http://helmsleytrust.org/grant/smithsonian-institution-0 Supporting Integrated Protected Area Land and Seascape Management in Tanintharyi. The funder supported salaries for trainers and senior remote sensing analysts based in Myanmar. Role: The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. USAID Burma Program Website: https://www.usaid.gov/burma/our-work/democracy-human-rights-and-rule-law Provided funding to support local GIS/remote sensing analyst as well as capacity building. Role: The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) website: https://www.iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/asia/asia_where_work/southeast_asia_group/country_members/myanmar/ Provided funding to support Myanmar GIS/RS analysts to help with mapping. Role: 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.
The question about why more intelligent people tend to be atheistic dates back to the times of Romans and Ancient Greeks. The link between intelligence and religion can be explained if religion is considered an instinct, and intelligence the ability to rise above one's instincts. This is the suggestion by Edward Dutton of the Ulster Institute for Social Research in the UK, and Dimitri Van der Linden of the Rotterdam University in the Netherlands, in an article in Springer's journal Evolutionary Psychological Science.

The Intelligence-Mismatch Association Model proposed by the two authors tries to explain why historical evidence and recent survey data in different countries and between various groupings supports the stance that intelligence seems to be negatively associated with being religious.

Their model is based on the ideas of evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa's Savanna-IQ Principles, according to which human behavior will always be somehow anchored in the environment in which their ancestors developed.

Dutton and van der Linden argue that religion should be regarded as a separate evolved domain or instinct, whereas intelligence allows people to rise above their instincts. Rising above instincts is advantageous because it helps people to solve problems.

"If religion is an evolved domain then it is an instinct, and intelligence -- in rationally solving problems -- can be understood as involving overcoming instinct and being intellectually curious and thus open to non-instinctive possibilities," explains Dutton.

In the proposal of their Intelligence-Mismatch Association Model, Dutton and van der Linden also investigate the link between instinct and stress, and the instinctiveness with which people tend to operate during stressful periods. They argue that being intelligent helps people during stressful times to rise above their instincts.

"If religion is indeed an evolved domain -- an instinct -- then it will become heightened at times of stress, when people are inclined to act instinctively, and there is clear evidence for this," says Dutton. "It also means that intelligence allows us to able to pause and reason through the situation and the possible consequences of our actions."

The researchers believe that people who are attracted to the non-instinctive are potentially better problem solvers. "This is important, because in a changing ecology, the ability to solve problems will become associated with rising above our instincts, rendering us attracted to evolutionary mismatches," adds van der Linden.

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Reference: Dutton, E. & Van der Linden, D. (2017). Why is Intelligence Negatively Associated with Being Religious, Evolutionary Psychological Science, DOI: 10.1007/s40806-017-0101-0
Springer is sponsoring two key prize lectures at the upcoming EUROANALYSIS XIX conference, which will be held in Stockholm, Sweden from 28 August to 1 September, 2017. The conference is organized by the Division of Analytical Chemistry (DAC) of EuCheMS (the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences), and provides participants with an overview of current research in analytical chemistry.

This year's Robert Kellner Lecture award goes to Luigi Mondello, professor of analytical chemistry at the University of Messina, Italy. The prize is given to a European scientist who has made substantial contributions to the advancement of analytical chemistry research or education in the last five years.

The 2017 DAC-EuCheMS Award lecture is given to Lo Gorton, professor of biochemistry and structural biology at Lund University, Sweden. This award is presented to a European scientist who has demonstrated significant and sustained achievements in analytical chemistry research or education throughout his or her career.

Slavica Razi?, Chair of the steering committee of DAC and professor at Belgrade University in Serbia, said: Every two years the EUROANALYSIS series of conferences, organized by the DAC of EuCheMS, presents the latest developments in analytical chemistry. These findings are relevant not only to all branches of chemistry, but are important in the biological sciences, engineering, medicine, public health and the environment. We are delighted that two of the major lectures at the next EUROANALYSIS conference will be sponsored by Springer."

Steffen Pauly, Editorial Director for chemistry at Springer explained: "Early on in our 175-year history we started to publish books and journals in analytical science, and we will continue with that tradition. The journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, for example, co-owned by major European Chemical Societies, provides a forum for excellent research in this field. We appreciate the partnership with the DAC of EuCheMS and gladly support the Robert Kellner Lecture and the DAC-EuCheMS Award lecture."

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EuCheMS, the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences, aims to nurture a platform for scientific discussion and to provide a single, unbiased European voice on key policy issues in chemistry and related fields. Representing more than 160,000 chemists from more than 40 Member Societies and other chemistry-related organisations, EuCheMS relies on a unique network of active researchers involved in all the fields of chemistry. Through this network, EuCheMS organises several specialised academic conferences as well as the biannual EuCheMS Chemistry Congress, the European congress of chemical sciences. EuCheMS also promotes the role and image of the chemical sciences among the general public and policy-makers through social media, newsletters and through the organisation of conferences and workshops open to society. Through the promotion of chemistry and by providing expert and scientific advice, EuCheMS aims to contribute to solutions for today ?s major societal challenges.

Springer is a leading global scientific, technical and medical portfolio, providing researchers in academia, scientific institutions and corporate R&D departments with quality content through innovative information, products and services. Springer has one of the strongest STM and HSS eBook collections and archives, as well as a comprehensive range of hybrid and open access journals. Springer is part of Springer Nature, a global publisher that serves and supports the research community. Springer Nature aims to advance discovery by publishing robust and insightful science, supporting the development of new areas of research and making ideas and knowledge accessible around the world.

As part of Springer Nature, Springer sits alongside other trusted brands like Nature Research, BioMed Central and Palgrave Macmillan. Visit http://www.springer.com and follow @SpringerNature
When Abigail Vogts began taking guitar lessons as a middle schooler from her pastor, she said he had one requirement.

He wanted singing to be a part of my instrument playing, the now 20-year-old from Erie, Kansas, said in a phone interview.

Who knew that a few years later that would lead to bigger things?

Not long after Abigail began playing, her older sister, Maggie, picked up the guitar and then one day it sort of clicked, Abigail said. The two of them started singing and playing together.

In May 2012, they entered a singing competition at Katy Days in Parsons, Kansas, where they performed Gillian Welchs Down Along the Dixie Line and Bruce Robisons Travelin Soldier. They didnt win, but, according to the sisters, something better happened.

Russell Head, then director of recording arts at Labette Community College in Parsons, approached them about making an album.

We didnt know what to think about him, said Abigail, recalling their initial reaction to Head.

But they learned he was legit, and their collaboration led to Old Time Noise (2012), the first of three albums the sisters now have to their credit. The others are My Own Dixie (2015) and Homeward (2016), their first co-produced album.

Along the way, the sisters learned to play more instruments -- Abigail on mandolin and Maggie, 26, on fiddle -- and they started winning and not just competing in songwriting contests. The latest victory came last year at Walnut Valley Festivals New Song Showcase.

We dont do this for any kind of glory, Abigail said. We just like to sing for people who come out to hear us sing.

The Vogts Sisters will make their Nebraska debut this weekend -- first, Saturday night, as the closer for the Lincoln Association for Traditional Arts 2016-17 season at the 7th Street Loft and Sunday night at a house concert in Omaha (2440 Fontenelle Blvd.). They travel with their parents, who serve as their managers.

The sisters harmonize a mix of covers, including some more of Welch -- one of their inspirations -- and originals.

Maggie writes all of our music and songs, Abigail said. She plays them for me. I guess you could say I edit them.
People choose to buy free-range or cage-free eggs because they believe they taste better and are better quality than eggs from caged hens, new research published today suggests.

In a study, conducted by researchers at the University of Adelaide and published in Anthrozoos, the journal of the International Society for Anthrozoology, the most often reported motivations for buying free-range eggs included reasons such as the eggs were of better quality, more nutritious, and safer to eat, and that they allowed purchasers to avoid "industrialized" food.

Despite participants describing caged-egg production as "cruel", they did not tend to emphasize welfare reasons as critical for their purchases of free-range eggs. Instead, participants felt that the free-range chickens were "happier" and thus produced a better quality of product. This finding suggests that consumers are more likely to purchase a food product if it is both "ethical" and viewed as being of better quality, rather than for ethical reasons alone.

The study also revealed that there were high levels of awareness among participants of caged-egg production when compared to other types of animal farming. In addition, participants who bought free-range or cage-free eggs did not necessarily tend to buy meat with ethical claims, in part because the price difference is much smaller in eggs in comparison to different types of meat products. Some people produced their own free-range eggs by keeping a few hens.

To collect the data for the study, the researchers conducted focus groups and shopping mall interviews with 73 participants (of mixed age and gender) and asked about their food purchasing habits. Then they categorized the different reasons that people gave for their decisions to understand why people choose the food they do, especially when there are ethical issues and competing values involved.

Lead author Dr. Heather J. Bray from the School of Humanities and the Food Values Research Group at the University of Adelaide commented, "Taste and quality are strong motivations for purchasing and may be part of the reason why people are prepared to pay a higher price. More importantly these findings suggest that consumers think about animal welfare in a much broader way than we previously thought, and in particular they believe that better welfare is connected to a better quality product."

The authors recommend that more research is needed including studies to further understand consumer motivations behind purchasing products with ethical production claims, in order to explore whether changes in production methods or labelling would be supported by consumers.

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This work was funded by the Australian Research Council. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS

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Sleep is important, but if there is something more important or interesting to do -- for example, taking care of a baby, finishing a grant proposal before a deadline, or reading a fascinating book -- we may stay up late. Sleep in fruit flies is a lot like human sleep, and like humans, flies can keep themselves awake if there is something important to do. In research published on May 16th in eLife, researchers report discovery of neurons that allow male fruit flies to suppress sleep so they can court female flies.

"The idea that sleep and courtship might compete with each other is intuitive but had not been studied experimentally, and the underlying neural mechanisms had not been explored. We wanted to know how the sleep drive and sex drive compete to determine behavior," says Kyunghee Koh, PhD, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and senior author on the study.

The researchers found that whereas a male fly normally spends much of the night awake and courting if there is a female nearby, a male that has recently mated several females (and therefore has low sex drive) ignores the female and goes to sleep. They discovered that a small number of neurons (termed MS1 for male specific 1) release octopamine, a neurotransmitter similar to human noradrenalin, to keep male flies awake in a sexual setting. Silencing MS1 neurons allows males to go to sleep even when there is a female around, while artificially activating MS1 neurons keeps males awake even when they are alone. Interestingly, although females have the same neurons, their activation has no effect on female sleep. MS1 neurons do not belong to a previously identified group of neurons important for male sexual behavior, but instead communicate with them to keep males awake so they can court.

It is unclear whether similar mechanisms are at work in humans, but Dr. Koh says "it is known that noradrenalin promotes wakefulness in humans. Our work suggests noradrenalin may be especially important for suppressing sleep when we have to engage in other urgent activities". However, the first goals for her team are to identify specific neurons that communicate directly with MS1 neurons and examine how their activation leads to sleep suppression and how MS1 neuronal activity is regulated.

This work was supported by NIH grants R21NS094782 and R01NS086887 and predoctoral fellowships from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology.

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Research published this week in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences solves a mystery that has long shrouded our understanding of white oaks: where did they come from? The approximately 125 white oak species in the Americas and 25 in Eurasia--including the massive bur oak of American prairies and savannas, the valley oak of California and the eponymous white oak of eastern North American forests--are important in forests and savannas throughout much of the northern hemisphere. Yet, despite their economic and ecological importance, not much was known about the evolutionary history of the white oak group until now.

This paper, co-authored by Andrew Hipp of The Morton Arboretum and Paul Manos and John McVay of Duke University, reveals for the first time that Europe and east Asia have eastern North America to thank for their white oaks. Coupling genomic data with fossil records and novel analytical methods, the research suggests that the Eurasian white oaks arose from a North American ancestor that migrated to Europe, perhaps by way of the North Atlantic land bridge. This is a story that has long been hidden by ancient hybridization among the Eurasian white oaks. The research implements new analytical tools to tease apart hybridization from evolutionary history to tell the full white oak story.

The study, funded by a collaborative four-year National Science Foundation grant to five institutions led by The Morton Arboretum, also shows that two oak species found on opposite ends of the globe, the Armenian oak (Quercus pontica) found in the Caucasus mountains and Sadler's oak (Quercus sadleriana) of California and Oregon, are each other's closest relatives. These species, the authors argue, are the last remnants of a widespread white oak lineage that stretched at least from Europe to the Pacific Northwest, of which all are extinct except for these two species.

"Understanding even the most basic questions--how many oak species are there? Where do they live?--rests on our understanding of oak evolution," said study co-author Andrew Hipp of The Morton Arboretum. "This is the first paper to conclusively separate the role of gene flow and divergence to recover a holistic portrait of the white oak tree of life. It is a crucial step toward understanding why white oaks became so important to the ecology of temperate forests and savannas in the northern hemisphere."

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The study was funded by National Science Foundation awards to A.L.H. (1146488) and P.S.M. (1146102).
For decades we have been told that globalization is an irresistible force. As Tony Blair said: "you might as well debate whether autumn follows summer."

According to a new book by a Cambridge academic, however, factors ranging from automation and 3D printing to environmental regulations and customer expectations are now spelling the beginning of the end for globalized manufacturing.

Dr Finbarr Livesey, an expert in public policy, says that while digital globalization continues apace, early signs can be seen of a sea change in the production and distribution of goods: with global supply chains shrinking as companies experiment with moving production closer to home.

In the book From Global to Local: the Making of Things and the End of Globalization, published this week by Profile Books, he argues that many of the big assumptions we have about globalization and outsourcing are now wrong, and that the global economy is subtly changing in ways yet to be picked up by blunt macroeconomic measurements.

"Robots are becoming cheaper than overseas labor, climate concern and volatile fossil fuel markets are restricting carbon footprints, and consumers increasingly expect tailored products with express delivery. Bouncing production around the planet is already making less and less economic sense," says Livesey.

"Holding on to familiar stories about the global economy is not an option, as technological and political changes make a mockery of any past consensus."

However, he warns against falsely claiming such shifts as a victory for protectionism: the technologies allowing the return of production to high-cost economies are unlikely to mean the promised return of jobs.

Livesey also argues that if 'deglobalization' is indeed coming down the line then Brexit may be a particularly bad move for UK manufacturing:

"Trying to reach over our neighbours in the name of 'global Britain' at a time when many companies are on the cusp of reverting to regionalism means that marginal calls for European manufacturing bases may go to France or the Czech Republic, for example, rather than the UK," he says.

Leaders in both west and east have hitched their wagons to the apparent inevitability of globalisation over the past thirty years. Yet, as Livesey points out, regionalism never went away. A significant percentage of exports continue to land in the same area they originate: around 50% in Asia and North America, and as much as 70% in Europe.

In the book he draws attention to examples of what he believes to be "weak signals of early change" - as major companies tentatively start to U-turn on globalisation.

The new Adidas 'Speedfactory' uses automation and 3D printing to produce high-end trainers - not in China or South Asia, but in Germany. "And we were told textiles were never coming back," says Livesey.

The mighty General Electric recently rejuvenated a vast manufacturing "ghost town" in Kentucky when they realised appliances could be made for the same or cheaper in the US than in China.

Foxconn, the company that makes iPhone innards, raised eyebrows when they suggested robots could replace one million Chinese workers - and that production could even move to the US as a result.

Global supply chains cost companies time in an age of next-day delivery, and add risks of disruption - from cultural differences to natural disasters - and even intellectual property theft. They also take a heavy environmental toll: shipping alone produces a billion tonnes of carbon, roughly equal to that of Germany.

"Take Zara, one of the daughters of 'fast fashion'," says Livesey. "They have a cycle from design through to production and shop floor delivery of just four weeks. In some cases it would take almost that long just to ship product from China. The new 'Belt and Road' initiative may only reduce that to two weeks.

"Many companies can't afford the time, not to mention the added risk, of freighting goods around the world. Zara base much of their production in Spain, Portugal and Morocco to be on Europe's doorstep - an example of 'nearshoring'."

Ultimately, the journey from production to customer may be measured in metres rather than continents. For example, Harvard Bookstore's 'Espresso Book Machine' uses information from digital files to print and bind new books in store on demand.

Livesey highlights the patents for mobile 3D printing filed by Amazon in 2015 as indicative of a hyper-local rather than hyper-global direction for production. "While not currently feasible, there may come a time when your purchased product is printed en route to your house."

While he admits that the data from the last few decades can make his position seem Canute-like at the moment, Livesey argues that the tide is turning, with signals of new localism amid the noise.

A recent survey of over 500 companies found well over half were moving production away from China. One in six companies surveyed by the Engineering Employees Federation had moved production from a low-cost economy to the UK. The Korean government passed a 'U-Turn' law encouraging companies to return from China.

"Companies are deciding to have their production either in their home country or nearby. Automation is attacking the costs of labour and shifting the calculus for managers. Political forces are constraining the space for manufacturing, for example restricting emissions from transport. The early signs are there."

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A key gene that helps to explain an underlying cause of incurable bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease has been identified by scientists

A key gene that helps to explain an underlying cause of incurable bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease has been identified by scientists.

Blocking the gene harms vital parts of the cell and leads to bowel disease, while targeting these vital cell parts with drugs can reverse damage, the study shows.

The findings aid understanding of the cause of these lifelong conditions and could lead to new treatments, scientists say.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - or IBD - includes Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis and affects around 300,000 people in the UK. The causes of these disorders are unknown and there is currently no cure.

The gene - known as MDR1 - governs an important extractor system for toxins in the gut, removing damaging substances from intestinal cells.

A research team - led by the University of Edinburgh - showed that MDR1 function was lower in colonic biopsies from people with inflamed IBD compared with those without inflammation.

To demonstrate how MDR1 dysfunction leads to bowel damage, the scientists then showed that mice lacking MDR1 had faulty mitochondria - parts of the cell often referred to as 'batteries'. These play a vital role in energy generation and cell health.

This mitochondrial dysfunction resulted in colitis - inflammation in the inner lining of the bowel that is a defining feature of IBD.

Scientists further implicated the role of mitochondria by linking IBD to a large number of genes involved in regulating these cell batteries. The researchers analysed genetic data from 90,000 people - 40,000 of whom had IBD.

The study also showed that a drug called Mitoquinone - which protects the mitochondria against toxins - can reduce colitis and promote bowel recovery in the mice lacking MDR1, which scientists say is a significant step forward.

Lead author Dr Gwo-Tzer Ho, Honorary Consultant Gastroenterologist at the University of Edinburgh's MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, said: "IBD has a serious impact on quality of life, with 6,000 new cases diagnosed per year in the UK. We have shown that MDR1 and mitochondrial function are important jigsaw pieces in the complex causes of IBD.

"Our studies highlight the importance of shielding the mitochondria from damage. This will open new approaches to drug targets that focus on the mitochondria to better design treatments for patients."

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The research - carried out in collaboration with researchers at the University of Bristol and in the USA and Japan - was funded by Crohn's and Colitis UK. It is published in the journal Mucosal Immunology.
Large families and strong social ties help animals live longer, new research suggests.

In a huge study of female rhesus macaques, a scientist from the University of Exeter found those with many close female relatives have better life expectancy.

However, the effect fades with age - suggesting older females learn how to "navigate the social landscape" and have less need for social ties.

"Our study supports the idea that social ties promote survival," said Dr Lauren Brent, of the University of Exeter.

"This adds to a small but growing body of research that helps to explain why animals are social."

The researchers used female relatives as a proxy for social ties, and they found that each extra female relative reduced a prime-aged female macaque's chances of dying in one year by 2.3%.

Dr Brent added: "What was particularly interesting was that social ties didn't have survival benefits for older females.

"One possible explanation for this is that older females behave differently from their younger counterparts.

"Macaques spend a lot of time interacting with one another. Being groomed helps rid them of parasites, while being aggressive helps establish their place in the social order.

"Each macaque would like to get a lot of grooming and give a lot of aggression, without spending much energy grooming others and without being the target of aggression."

The study found that older females manage this - behaving aggressively and spend a lot of time being groomed by others without offering much grooming in return or being the target of aggression themselves.

"Older females were still involved in society but seemed better able pick and choose their involvement. The experience and social skills females gain with age could mean they no longer need to rely on help from their friends to get by."

The researchers used a large dataset spanning 21 years and including 910 adult female rhesus macaques in Puerto Rico.

Dr Brent said such research could be "hugely important in understanding humans".

"Just like these monkeys, we spend a lot of time navigating the social world," she said.

"Humans and macaques last shared a common ancestor about 25 million years ago, and we can take clues from these distant cousins about how humans might have existed in pre-industrial societies.

"Human societies are hugely complex, and factors such as culture and access to healthcare make it hard to study the impact of a single factor like social relationships on survival."

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The research, carried out in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Puerto Rico, is published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The paper is entitled: "Family network size and survival across the lifespan of female macaques."
URBANA, Ill. - Consumers today insist on all-natural everything, and food dyes are no exception. Even if food manufacturers are willing to make the change, current sources of natural dyes are expensive and hard to come by. Now, a large University of Illinois project is filling the gap with colored corn.

"Most natural colors come from things like wine skins, red carrots, and beets. The problem with that is most of the product is wasted in extracting the coloring. It's not good value," says Jack Juvik, a geneticist in the crop sciences department at U of I.

Juvik and an interdisciplinary team have been experimenting with purple and blue corn varieties, noting that health-promoting pigments known as anthocyanins are located in the outer layers of the corn kernel. That makes a big difference, economically.

"You can process corn in different ways to remove only the outer layer. The rest can still be fed into the corn supply chain to make ethanol or grits or any of the other products corn is already used for. That outer layer becomes a value-added co-product," Juvik says.

The team has covered a lot of bases since the $1.4 million project began in 2014. For example, they identified the optimal milling process and demonstrated that corn-derived anthocyanins remain stable in food products. What's left is to find the most potent sources of the pigments for future corn breeding.

In a recent study, Juvik and his colleagues looked at anthocyanin type and concentration in nearly 400 genetically distinct lines of colored corn. They grew these lines in Illinois to see if anthocyanin concentration stayed constant from generation to generation - a critical quality for breeding new varieties.

Peruvian types had some of the highest anthocyanin concentrations, and they held up throughout multiple generations. "That's good news. It means we can select for the trait we're interested in without worrying whether it will be expressed in new environments," Juvik says.

The next step will be getting those mighty Peruvian genes into high-yielding corn hybrids selected for production in the Midwest. If Juvik is successful, blue or purple corn could come to a field near you.

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The article, "A survey of anthocyanin composition and concentration in diverse maize germplasm," is published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Co-authors Michael Paulsmeyer and Laura Chatham are graduate students and Talon Becker a post-doctoral scholar in the crop sciences department at U of I. Megan West and Leslie West worked for The Kraft Heinz Company, which supported the project. Additional support came from the Illinois Corn Grower's Association and Monsanto.
URBANA, Ill. - In the primordial soup that was early Earth, life started small. Elements joined to form the simple carbon-based molecules that were the precursors of everything that was to come. But there is debate about the next step.

One popular hypothesis suggests that ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules, which contain the genetic blueprints for proteins and can perform simple chemical reactions, kick-started life. Some scientists refute this idea, however, saying RNA is too large and complex a molecule to have started it all. That group says simpler molecules had to evolve the ability to perform metabolic functions before macromolecules such as RNA could be built. This idea is appropriately named "metabolism-first," and new evidence out of the University of Illinois backs it up.

"All living organisms have a metabolism, a set of life-sustaining chemical transformations that provide the energy and matter needed for the functions of the cell. These metabolic transformations are assumed to have occurred very early in life, in primitive Earth. Organisms probably replaced chemical reactions already going on in the planet and internalized them into cells through development of enzymatic activities," says Gustavo Caetano-Anolles, bioinformatician and professor in the Department of Crop Sciences at U of I.

Caetano-Anolles and Ibrahim Koc, a visiting scholar in the department, found evidence for the "metabolism-first" hypothesis by studying the evolution of molecular functions in organisms representing all realms of life. For 249 organisms, their genomes - or complete set of genes - were available in a searchable database. What's unique about this particular resource, known as the Gene Ontology (GO) database, is the fact that for each gene product - a protein or RNA molecule - a set of terms describing its function goes with it.

"You can take an entire genome that represents an organism, like the human genome, and visualize it through the collection of functionalities of its genes. The study of these 'functionomes' tells us what genes do, instead of focusing on their names and locations. For example, we can find out what kinds of catalytic, recognition, or binding activities a gene product has, which is much more intuitive," Caetano-Anolles notes. "The best way to understand an organism is through its functions."

According to Caetano-Anolles, the number of times a function appears in a genome provides historical information. So the team took the GO terms describing all of the molecular functions in each organism and counted them up. The idea was that an ancient function, such as the catalytic activity of metabolism, is likely shared by all organisms and will be found in large numbers. On the other hand, more recent functions are found in lower numbers and in smaller subsets of organisms.

The team used the information and advanced computational methods to construct a tree that traced the most likely evolutionary path of molecular functions through time. At the base of the tree, close to its roots, were the most ancient functions. The most recent were close to the crown.

At the base of the tree, corresponding to the origin of life on Earth, were functions related to metabolism and binding. "It is logical that these two functions started very early because molecules first needed to generate energy through metabolism and had to interact with other molecules through binding," Caetano-Anolles explains.

The next major advancements were functions that made the rise of macromolecules possible, which is when RNA might have entered the picture. Next came the machinery that integrated molecules into cells, followed by the rise of functions allowing communication between cells and their environments. "Finally, as you move toward the crown of the tree, you start seeing functions related to highly sophisticated processes involving things like muscle, skin, or the nervous system," Caetano-Anolles says.

The research doesn't just shed light on the past. Knowing the progression of these molecular functions through time can help predict where life on Earth is headed. "People think of evolution as looking backwards," Caetano-Anolles says. "But we could use our chronologies and methodologies to ask what novel molecular functions will be generated in the future."

The work has applications for bioengineering, an emerging field that uses biological information and computation to produce novel molecules. Engineered molecules could combat disease and improve the quality of everyday life, according to Caetano-Anolles. "The best way to reengineer biological molecules with novel and useful molecular functions is to learn principles from clues left behind in their past," he says.

The article, "The natural history of molecular functions inferred from an extensive phylogenomic analysis of gene ontology data," is published in PLoS One.

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PHILADELPHIA - The likelihood of a family member or friend stepping in to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a person suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at home decreases with the victim's age, suggests a new study from Penn Medicine that also found low CPR training rates among older Americans.

The results were published this week in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Preliminary findings from the study were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in November 2016. At the time, the research team reported that older Americans - those who are most likely to be stricken by SCA - are the least likely to have received CPR training. The full study shows that a victim's chances of receiving bystander CPR decreases significantly by age: for example, a 50 year old who suffers a SCA at home is 62 percent more likely to receive the life-saving technique than an 80-year old, the researchers found.

"The new data affirms the need for targeted training in the older population," said the study's senior author Benjamin Abella, MD, MPhil, director of Penn's Center for Resuscitation Science and an associate professor of Emergency Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "There is a striking relationship between age and CPR training and delivery that is really important to better understand."

"Most SCAs occur in the home and older victims are less likely to get CPR from a bystander, like a spouse or other family member, making it very likely that the age/training relationship has a big impact on actual CPR delivery, and therefore lives saved or lost," he added.

Over 350,000 Americans suffer from SCAs outside of the hospital every year - and only 32 percent of them receive CPR. Past studies have shown bystander CPR rates are lower in the private residential environment compared with the public setting.

The team sought to identify factors that may influence whether people receive CPR training, by administering a telephone survey. During a two-month period in 2015, 9,022 individuals completed the survey, which included calls to both landline and mobile phone numbers, and were conducted in English or Spanish. Of these participants -- a statistically representative sample of the United States population -- 65 percent had been trained in CPR at some point in their lives and 18 percent has been trained in the last two years.

Older individuals and those with less education and lower household incomes were found to be the least likely to be CPR-trained.

Those who are 60 years and older are roughly 50 percent less likely to be trained in CPR, as compared to those under the age of 49, the researchers reported. Similarly, those whose highest level of education is a high school diploma were more than five times more likely to never have been CPR-trained, as compared to those with graduate degrees. And those with a household income of less than 15,000 were nearly 50 percent less likely to be currently trained in CPR as compared to those with a household income between 30,000 and 74,999.

Using data from the U.S. Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium Epistry data registry (2011-2015), the team also examined the association of bystander CPR delivery during SCA events by victim age. They found a statistically significant association of decreased delivery in the home with increased age. That data mirrored the age/CPR training relationship demonstrated in the survey work.

The same trend cannot be said for events that occur outside the home. Researchers found no association of decreased bystander CPR with victim age in the public setting.

"This is a teachable moment," Abella said. "We need more aggressive, innovative, and creative efforts to reach the population at risk. For example, we should consider training videos while you're waiting for a train, renewing your driving licenses, or in the waiting room before you see your doctor."

Penn offers CPR training for family members and friends of cardiac arrest victims treated at the hospital upon discharge. The study researchers have also been investigating digital strategies and mobile applications to better circulate video-only trainings, said first author Audrey Blewer, MPH, assistant director for Educational Programs in Penn's Center for Resuscitation Science and a doctoral candidate in Epidemiology at Penn.

"There's a real mismatch in the people we know may a have cardiac arrest in the future and who might be CPR trained," Blewer said. "The fact that older Americans are much less likely to be currently CPR trained highlights an important training opportunity and message for the public in general. It's not only the young kids who needs to be CPR trained; it's also the older adults. They are ones who are going home with the people who are at risk for cardiac arrests."

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Additional Penn authors on this study include Said Ibrahim, Marion Leary, and David Dutwin. This study was supported by a Mentored Clinical and Population Award from the American Heart Association (15MCPRP25090161) and a Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Communication and Dissemination Contract (CDR-1409-23100).

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $6.7 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $392 million awarded in the 2016 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2016, Penn Medicine provided $393 million to benefit our community.
ORLANDO - Overprescribing of opioid medications for pain has contributed to a record-high number of drug-related deaths in the United States in recent years. A significant part of the issue, experts say, is the vast amount of variation in opioid prescribing habits for minor injuries such as ankle sprains - which don't require treatment with such risky drugs in the first place. For example, patients who received their first opioid prescription for an ankle sprain treated in U.S. emergency departments (EDs) commonly received prescriptions for anywhere from 15 to 40 pills, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Those who received 30 or more pills compared to less than 15 pills were twice as likely to fill an additional opioid prescription within three to six months. The authors say the results point to the urgent need for policies and guidelines to address when opioid medications are indicated for minor injuries and to reduce the number of pills supplied for opioid prescriptions. The study will be presented today during the plenary sessions at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine annual meeting in Orlando, FL.

"The substantial variation in prescribing patterns of such extremely addictive medications for minor injuries results in many thousands of pills entering the community, and places patients at an increased risk of continued use and potentially addiction," said lead author M. Kit Delgado, MD, MS, an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine and Epidemiology at Penn. "It's vital that we identify and understand the root causes of this growing issue."

In the study, researchers examined private insurance claims data from more than 53,000 patients visiting U.S. emergency departments for an ankle sprain in 2011-2012. All patients included in the study had not filled an opioid prescription within the past six months. Overall, seven percent of patients received a prescription for an opioid pain medication (such as hydrocodone or oxycodone). However, there was wide variation across states: in Delaware only 1.6 percent of patients received an opioid prescription, compared to 16 percent in Mississippi.

Additional results showed that although the median number of pills prescribed was 20, five percent of patients received 60 pills or more.

"Looking only at the cases analyzed in this study, if all prescriptions written for more than 20 pills were instead written for only 20, there would have been 37,721 fewer opioid pills entering the community," Delgado said. "If extrapolated more broadly to the treatment of other minor injuries, this likely translates to millions of highly addictive and unnecessary prescribed pain medications filtering into the community. The study illustrates the potential benefit of laws to limiting new opioid prescriptions for acute pain to no more than five-day supply as was recently passed in New Jersey."

"An even more critical aspect of this study is that many would argue that opioids should not be prescribed for ankle sprain at all," said senior author Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, a professor of Emergency Medicine and director of Medical Toxicology. "Exposing young patients with an ankle sprain to opioids is unnecessary and risky. To limit the escalation of the opioid epidemic in this country, it's critical to keep these medications limited to patients whose injuries absolutely require them, and limit exposure to opioids for all other patients."

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The study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (P30DA040500) and the Leonard Davis Institute Small Grants Program.

Additional Penn authors on the study include Yanlan Huang, Zachary Meisel, Sean Hennessy, and Daniel Polsky.

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $6.7 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $392 million awarded in the 2016 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2016, Penn Medicine provided $393 million to benefit our community.
Attorney General Doug Peterson says Nebraska will have "some of the strongest possible penalties" for human traffickers thanks to changes approved overwhelmingly Tuesday by state lawmakers.

Supporters say the measure offered by Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks will help ensure people convicted of sex trafficking can't avoid prison time.

The bill (LB289) includes stiffer punishments for several human trafficking-related crimes, many of which had no minimum penalty.

That sends a message to traffickers, Peterson said: "We don't allow slavery in Nebraska."

Pansing Brooks and Peterson celebrated the bill's passage during a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda, flanked by Speaker Jim Scheer and 13 more senators, as well as other supporters.

Scheer, who has also sponsored anti-human trafficking legislation, thanked former Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill for helping bring the issue to lawmakers' attention.

Nebraska's pre-existing laws made the state a hub for sex trafficking, Scheer said.

"We were the dumping spot," he said. Now, "Nebraska's certainly a safer place for all individuals, and especially young women."

The measure, which passed on a 48-0 vote, was among seven bills granted final approval Tuesday as the Legislature nears the end of its 2017 session.

Boost to the courts

Members of the Nebraska Supreme Court will receive a 2.5 percent raise over the next two years, and Douglas County will add a sixth juvenile court judge under measures approved Tuesday.

Lawmakers voted 42-1 to raise Supreme Court salaries by 1 percent this year and 1.5 percent in 2019. The proposal (LB647) was sponsored by Pansing Brooks.

Chief Justice Mike Heavican and the six associate justices are currently paid $171,974 per year. That will increase to $173,693 in July, and $176,299 in January 2019.

The bill (LB10) to add a juvenile court judge in Douglas County was sponsored by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist.

A legislative study found that Omaha's heavy juvenile court caseloads have made it difficult for children to appear before a judge in a timely fashion. That means children spend more time in out-of-home care at the state's expense.

Lawmakers voted 43-3 to increase the number of judges from five to six.

More state support for ambulance rides

A measure that is intended to boost federal support for the cost of ambulance rides received 41-0 support in the Legislature.

The average cost of an ambulance ride in Lincoln is $500, but the federal government only reimburses the city about $170 for such rides, Fire Chief Michael Despain told lawmakers in March.

Under the bill (LB578), sponsored by Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services must work with the federal government to boost the amount local governments and nonprofit groups are reimbursed for providing ambulance rides as well as medical care during transport to the hospital.

Supporters predict the change could boost statewide ambulance funding by $15 million or more.
Researchers at Turku Centre for Biotechnology have invented new tools for decoding and controlling signalling circuits in living cells with flashes of light. In principle, any cellular circuit can now be targeted with the new method. By using this approach, the researchers discovered that major biological signalling circuits can be made to resonate when driven at their resonant frequency.

Resonance is a familiar concept in music, physics and engineering and underlies technical approaches in chemistry, biology and medicine.

- Our discovery that signalling circuits of mammalian cells can made to resonate is new and likely to have a relevance in the treatment of diseases. With this method we can control when the signalling pathway is on or off, says Senior Researcher Michael Courtney from Turku Centre for Biotechnology at the University of Turku and Abo Akademi University, Finland.

The team developed optogenetic inhibitors for protein kinases such as JNK which is a central regulator of cell function.

- JNK protein in the cell cytoplasm was not thought to regulate gene expression in the nucleus and continuous inhibition in the cytoplasm is ineffective. However, the team found that delivering a specific frequency of inhibition pulses to JNK in the cytoplasm drove inhibition of gene expression in the nucleus. This indicates that cell signalling circuits can be controlled in previously unforeseen ways once the appropriate time-code has been identified, says Courtney.

He explains that not only might cell circuit resonance play an unexpected role in degenerative disease processes, but it could even guide the discovery of new therapeutic approaches.

Interestingly, the only previous report on cell circuit resonance in the scientific literature showed it can be used to prevent microbial cells from growing. This new discovery of similar behaviour in mammalian cells suggests it could potentially be used to stop cancer cells from growing.

- Currently, the development of resistance to new drugs is a major problem in cancer, as it cost billions of dollars to develop and approve new drugs, and yet they can rapidly become ineffective as a treatment. With this new research information, we can perhaps change the frequency instead of using the same drug and in this way achieve a better outcome, says Courtney.

The research team's newly discovered phenomenon of circuit resonance in mammalian cells might offer a way to avoid or work around drug resistance. The researchers have now assembled a research consortium which has applied for funding in order to begin the evaluation of this idea.

###

The team started developing light-regulated tools while at the University of Eastern Finland. The project was funded primarily by the Academy of Finland's Photonics programme. The mammalian circuit resonance was discovered and characterised by the team after moving to the University of Turku. The team received support from the Turku BioImaging Screening Unit and funding from the National Cancer Institute in the Uniteds States, the EU-Marie Skodowska-Curie programme, and Finnish foundations including the Magnus Ehrnrooth, Alfred Koredelin, Instrumentarium and Orion Foundations.

This work was published in the Nature Communications journal on 12 May 2017.

Original publication: Melero-Fernandez de Mera RM1, Li LL1, Popinigis A, Cisek K, Tuittila M, Yadav L, Serva A, Courtney MJ (2017) A simple optogenetic MAPK inhibitor design reveals resonance between transcription-regulating circuitry and temporally-encoded inputs. 1equal contribution. Nat. Commun. 8, 15017 doi: 10.1038/ncomms15017.

Read the article: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15017

Freely useable drawing from the article: https://apps.utu.fi/media/tiedotteet/michael-kuva.png

More information: Senior Researcher Michael Courtney, University of Turku, Turku Centre for Biotechnology, tel. +358 (0)504649827 , e-mail miccou@utu.fi
Unseen in the air around us are tiny molecules that drive the chemical cocktail of our atmosphere. As plants, animals, volcanoes, wildfires and human activities spew particles into the atmosphere, some of these molecules act as cleanup crews that remove that pollution.

The main molecules responsible for breaking down all these emissions are called oxidants. The oxygen-containing molecules, mainly ozone and hydrogen-based detergents, react with pollutants and reactive greenhouse gases, such as methane.

A University of Washington study published May 18 in the journal Nature finds that during large climate swings, oxidants shift in a different direction than researchers had expected, which means they need to rethink what controls these chemicals in our air.

"Oxidants are very reactive, and they react with pollutants and greenhouse gases and clean up the atmosphere," said corresponding author Becky Alexander, a UW associate professor of atmospheric sciences. "We wanted to see how the ability of the atmosphere to clean itself might change with climate."

First author Lei Geng, a former UW postdoctoral researcher now at Grenoble Alpes University, analyzed slices from a Greenland ice core in the UW's isotope chemistry lab. The 100,000-year core begins in a relatively warm period, covers a full ice age and ends in the present day, with several shorter temperature swings along the way. The researchers used a new method to get a first-ever read on changes in atmospheric oxidants -- volatile chemicals that are not directly preserved in ice cores.

The researchers fed meltwater to bacteria that drank the liquid and then excreted a gas that can be measured by machines that track isotopic composition of gas. Looking at the weight of oxygen atoms from the meltwater let the team see how many had come from the two main oxidants: ozone, which varies in the atmosphere over time, versus the detergent molecules, which are expected to stay fairly constant.

"We found that the sign of the change was the complete opposite of what we expected," Alexander said. "And that indicates that what we thought were the main drivers for the abundance of oxidants were not actually the main controls, and we had to come up with some other mechanisms."

Atmospheric scientists had believed that ozone levels rise as the temperature increases. Ozone is produced with water vapor and emissions from plants, soil bacteria and other living things. All of these go up as the temperature warms. So the authors expected to find more ozone in the warmer climates.

Instead, the proportion of ozone actually increased in colder climates. When the temperature changes were small, ozone did increase with temperature, but for big temperature swings that relationship flipped, with more ozone in the cold periods.

One hypothesis proposed by the authors is a change in the circulation between the troposphere, the air above our heads, and the stratosphere, the higher-elevation layer close to where most airplanes fly. Air circulates between these two, moving up in the tropics and dropping back down at the poles. The stratosphere contains more ozone that is largely formed at those elevations in the tropics, so if the circulation quickens, then more ozone from the stratosphere would get carried down to the surface.

"There is evidence -- strong evidence -- showing that the Brewer-Dobson circulation became stronger during the last glacial maximum," said co-author Qiang Fu, a UW professor of atmospheric sciences. "That means there was less stratospheric ozone in the tropics but more in the high latitudes, and then more ozone going down from the stratosphere to the troposphere."

That's one explanation for why ozone would go up at the surface during cold climates. This shift in circulation would also cause more ultraviolet radiation to hit the tropics, and UV and water vapor are the main drivers for the formation of the other main group of oxidants, the detergents. The ice-age tropics could then become a rich source of detergents, which break down pollution and greenhouses gases like methane.

"Traditionally, ice-core methane records have been interpreted solely as a change in the source," Alexander said. "But land-surface models have not been able to simulate the full scale of the change of methane seen in ice cores. That suggests that maybe the lifetime of methane has changed, and the only way to do that is to change the amount of detergent in the atmosphere."

A second possible explanation for the puzzling ozone trend, researchers said, is a less-understood group of oxidants: halogens. These molecules are poorly studied, and it's not fully known how they influence climate, but researchers suspect they could react to affect the levels of other oxidants.

"The largest source of halogens is from sea salt, and we know from ice cores that sea salt is much higher in colder climates," Alexander said. "Sea ice also changes with climate, of course."

The authors suspect that both mechanisms -- the high-level circulation and chemical reactions with halogens -- could affect oxidants during big swings in Earth's temperature.

"The changes we measured in ozone levels seem to be quite large if you only consider one mechanism at a time, suggesting that they might be acting simultaneously, and not necessarily independently from one another," Alexander said.

###

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation. Geng will soon begin a position at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei. Other co-authors are Andrew Schauer at the UW, Lee Murray at the University of Rochester, Loretta Mickley at Harvard University and Pu Lin at Princeton University.

For more information, contact Alexander at 206-543-0164 or beckya@uw.edu, Geng at genglei@ustc.edu.cn and Fu at 206-685-2070 or qfu@atmos.washington.edu.
Available to industry for the first time: New computation tools enable much faster and cheaper product development Faster, more accurate and agile computation tools and methods have been developed through the SEMTEC project, led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. This will enable the elimination of the expensive and time-consuming prototype phase in the electromechanical industry.

Finnish industry will gain a competitive advantage due to the faster product development of electrical motors, generators and transformers, which will enter the markets at lower cost. The project will also result in quieter and more energy-efficient machines.

The key result of the SEMTEC project is new computation methods, which can now be exploited by industry for the first time, using companies' own tools. The project produced innovative and accurate methods to control vibrations, dampen noise and improve the energy efficiency of devices.

Beneficiaries of the results include the electromechanical industry in particular, which manufactures electric motors, generators and transformers. In addition, cooperation between research and industry will increase when all results are available to everyone via the open-source Elmer software.

"Finnish industry will gain a competitive advantage from leaner design processes. Electromechanical devices are seldom mass-produced -- each product unit tends to be separately designed. Accelerating product development will therefore markedly shorten delivery times and create a major competitive edge," says project manager Janne Keranen of VTT.

For example, the noise generated by lifts and transformers will be reduced. This will enable the reducing of disturbing and tiresome noise in homes and workplaces.

"SEMTEC has led to close and symbiotic cooperation between industrial enterprises, research institutes and universities. Open source code means that new models developed by researchers can be tested immediately in the industry's own design systems. The project has enabled the productisation of new, world-class modelling toolset, which we have already been using to win major deals," says Eelis Takala, Lead Research Specialist at Trafotek.

Scientific computing in transition: the Elmer tool

As computing power grows and the use of open source software increases, electromagnetic computation is reaching a turning point. Old software is seldom suitable for the world of parallel computing.

The Elmer tool, an open-source finite element method (FEM) software developed by CSC, was used in the project. Elmer features numerically efficient parallel computing and advanced coupling of multiple phenomena.

"Only genuine cooperation enabled the development of software for a new application area so quickly. The importance of parallel computing will continue to grow as number of computational cores in CPUs increases. This leads us to believe that long and fruitful cooperation lies ahead," says Peter Raback of CSC, Product Manager of the Elmer software.

###

The project began in February 2015 and will end in May 2017. The following companies are participants: ABB Oy, Kone Corporation, Konecranes Finland Corporation, Trafotek Oy, Sulzer Pumps Finland Oy, Ingersoll-Rand Finland Oy and CSC - IT Center for Science (CSC). The research organisations involved were VTT, Aalto University, Lappeenranta University of Technology and Tampere University of Technology. The SEMTEC project was funded by Tekes and the companies and research institutes participating in the project.

SEMTEC final, open seminar will be held in Aalto University on Tuesday 23 May 2017. For further details on the project, go to http://www.semtec-project.fi.

More information about the project:

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd

Janne Sami Keranen, Project Manager and Senior Scientist

+358 40 775 9832, Janne.Sami.Keranen@vtt.fi

More information about Elmer:

CSC - IT Center for Science (CSC)

Peter Raback, Product Manager

+358 50 330 5225, Peter.Raback@csc.fi

Further information on VTT:

Milka Lahnalammi-Vesivalo

Communications Manager

+358 40 5457 828

milka.lahnalammi-vesivalo@vtt.fi

http://www.vtt.fi

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd is the leading research and technology company in the Nordic countries. We use our research and knowledge to provide expert services for our domestic and international customers and partners, and for both private and public sectors. We use 4,000,000 hours of brainpower a year to develop new technological solutions. VTT in social media: Twitter @VTTFinland, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Periscope.
The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) has published a document outlining what the UK agri-supply industry looks to the next Government to deliver.

The key three points in the document are: a Brexit outcome that recognises the strategic importance of UK agriculture; supports a growth agenda, laying the foundation for a competitive, commercial and business sector; and recognition of the potential damage that a no deal outcome on Brexit negotiations would deliver to UK agribusiness.

The document is divided into two parts. The first dealing with Brexit issues, the second reflecting on the current regime where the UK is still a member of the European Union.

On Brexit, AIC urges the Government to work constructively with its EU partners and to recognise the 'strategic importance of timely and accurate' data on trade flows.

The organisation says the next Government must focus on a 'practical and workable' solution to replace the customs union.

'Preserved trade patterns'

For decades, the UK agricultural industry has been based on complex trading relationships both within the EU and beyond, said AIC Chief Executive David Caffall.

There is a genuine desire for existing trade patterns to be preserved, not just within the UK, but across the EU and further afield those who export to and import from the UK want to maintain these relationships.

Within the UK, AIC has said it wants Government to affirm its financial commitment to agri-tech funding of programmes that deliver real benefits across the industry as part of a wider coherent strategy on science and innovation in agriculture.

It also calls for formal recognition of the value of professional on-farm advice.

'Failed to capitalise'

AICs value of advice highlighted how both industry initiatives and Government sources influenced on-farm activity, said Mr Caffall.

However, to date, Government has failed to capitalise on the benefits that collaboration with industry could deliver in policy terms.

The UK has benefited from industry investment in agricultural research and development. For this commitment to continue, industry needs clear signals that such work will be encouraged. Government needs to send a clear message to the world that the UK is a natural home for agricultural research, said Mr Caffall.

The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) is the agrisupply industrys leading trade association. Formed in October 2003 by a merger of three trade associations, AIC has over 250 Members in the agrisupply trade

Farming manifestos

Labour has officially launched their manifesto. The manifesto pledges an end to the badger cull, a ban on neonicotinoids and the promotion of cruelty free farming.

Welsh political party Plaid Cymru has also released their manifesto, calling for a Brexit deal which best represents Welsh agriculture.

Numerous rural organisations have released their own manifestos, including the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, the CLA, the Soil Association, the Tenant Farmers' Association, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the British Veterinary Association, the Farmers' Union of Wales, the Ulster Farmers' Union and the Countryside Alliance.
Brazil, the second largest beef producer in the world, could lead the way in sustainable intensification in agriculture, according to new research published by scientists.

The scientists have outlined plans to reduce the environmental footprint of Brazilian beef.

Researchers from the University of York, Scotlands Rural College and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation have published a paper on how the countrys farmers can meet the rising demands for beef without increasing the amount of farming space used.

The paper, Sustainable intensification of Brazilian livestock production through optimised pasture restoration has been published as part of the Agricultural Systems journal.

The group of scientists have outlined plans to optimise Brazilian grazing pastures in order to increase beef productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Demand set to double

Researchers have estimated that global demands for livestock products will double by 2050, a shift which is leading to calls for agricultural industries to adopt sustainable farming methods.

The team has now developed a method for restoring many of Brazils degraded grassland areas.

It is estimated that over half of Brazils pastures are currently degraded and, if restored, could transform the countrys beef production systems.

Sustainable intensification in Brazil is also believed to be necessary in order to maintain the current low deforestation levels in areas such as the Amazon and the Cerrado.

Professor Dominic Moran of the N8 Research Partnerships AgriFood programme said: Brazil has the potential to lead the way for global sustainable intensification in beef production.

This paper focused on how we can apply the method to many of the countrys degraded farming fields, as well as outlining the benefits that this will bring to both the farming industry and environment.

Through the optimisation of Brazilian grasslands, we can supply the growing demand for beef and also reduce greenhouse gas emission levels.
Free range egg producers may quit a farm assurance scheme following its decision to press ahead with controversial plans to enforce the use of aerial perches.

A former chairman of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) has said he will probably withdraw from the RSPCA's farm assurance scheme 'Freedom Food' over the issue.

They say they are concerned about both the difficulty and cost of installing aerial perching in existing sheds.

They are also worried about animal welfare, with evidence suggesting that aerial perching increases the risk of keel bone injuries.

Processing statistics show that keel bone injuries are as much as 40 per cent higher in units with aerial perches.

And a leading scientist, who has conducted research into keel bone damage, says that aerial perching increases both the incidence and the severity of keel bone injuries in birds.

"I haven't seen any evidence to suggest that it improves welfare," said Professor John Tarlton of Bristol University, who said he was worried that Freedom Food was pressing ahead with plans to enforce the installation of aerial perches.

'It's a worry'

Professor Tarlton works at the university's School of Veterinary Sciences, which has established a reputation as a leading research centre for the layer industry.

One study in which he was involved, which was published in 2011, looked into the impact of housing systems and designs on bone strength and keel bone fractures in birds.

The research team reported in its published findings: "In flocks from free range houses fitted with either rows of suspended perches above the slatted area or perches incorporated into extended A-frames, the prevalence of broken keels was higher, and the severity of fractures worse, than in systems that provided no dedicated raised perches."

Professor Tarlton said research indicated that aerial perches could increase the risk of keel bone damage towards 90 per cent at end of lay.

"If they want go ahead with this, it needs to be evidence led and I am not sure that it is evidence led at the moment," said the professor. "It's a worry."

Robert Gooch, chief executive of BFREPA

Packing station evidence of keel bone damage in end-of-lay hens shows injuries running at 17.6 per cent in conventional single tier units. In single tier units with aerial perches, the figure is 24.6 per cent - an increase of 39.8 per cent.

'Left with no choice'

Roger Gent, who farms in Berkshire, is a former chairman of BFREPA who is also worried about keel bone damage.

"When I was chairman, Freedom Food said they were concerned about keel bone damage. Now they are saying we have to have aerial perching. What will be the effect of that on keel bone damage," said Roger, who told FarmingUK he would now probably pull out of Freedom Food following the decision to press ahead.

"I want to know what's behind it. Where is the research to prove the benefits to welfare greater than the damage caused to the birds," said Mr Gent.

"I used to have a lot of respect for Freedom Food but I will be putting in one more crop before the deadline and then that will be it. I am left with no choice." He said he did not see how he would be able to retro-fit aerial perching in his sheds.

'Improve animal welfare'

Freedom Food is changing its rules to require producers with traditional flat deck units to install eight centimetres of aerial perching by August 2018.

Freedom Food told FarmingUK that the intention was to improve animal welfare.

"We are confident that providing properly designed raised perches in the right positions in the hen house will help to deliver significant improvements to hen welfare," said a spokeswoman for Freedom Food in a prepared statement.

"Hens have a strong natural instinct to perch. Providing raised perches can reduce stress, fear and birds pecking each other, as well as improving body condition.

"Our standards are devised to be stretching but achievable, and while we understand they may be challenging for some farmers to apply, the phase-in period we allow for application of the new standards should help with this.

"Any change to an RSPCA standard is undertaken following consideration of a range of available evidence, including the latest scientific research, expert opinion and practical experience, and involves consultation with a range of stakeholders including the veterinary profession, welfare researchers, farmers and industry groups."

Hen welfare is primary concern

The spokeswoman quoted research suggesting that the design and placement of perches was important in helping to reduce the risk of injury.

However, Professor Tarlton said research at Bristol indicated that fitting aerial perches increased keel bone injuries in laying birds.

The 2011 study showed that the most benign unit for keel bone damage was an organic mobile system. Examination at end of lay showed that prevalence of old keel bone breaks was 45 per cent.

Robert Gooch, chief executive of BFREPA, said the association disagreed with Freedom Food's proposal: We are opposed to this requirement on a number of levels, with hen welfare being our primary concern.

The evidence we have seen from Bristol University shows that fitting large amounts of aerial perching can lead to an increase in keel bone damage to hens. Its a welfare concern that we would expect any organisation  particularly the RSPCA  to recognise.

At a practical level this will also cause huge difficulties for those retro-fitting perches to sheds that werent designed for them and are likely to hamper daily management procedures.

He said that BFREPA had agreed to fund research into the issue but Freedom Food had decided it wanted to press ahead irrespective of this offer.

One of three things will happen with producers. Some may leave Freedom Food and carry on as they are. Some producers will decide it is time to go and will get out of the industry. Some older producers may be on the edge of packing up and this will probably be the final straw. Some may invest in a multi-tier system instead. It shows you what a mess the RSPCA has made in dealing with what is a very important part of the industry.
Securing the right trade deal with the European Union must be a key priority for the next UK Government, the agricultural industry has said.

It comes as news of a significant boost to Britains ambition to sign a quick Free Trade Agreement with the European Union after a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice handed expanded trade negotiation powers to Brussels.

Trade experts said the ECJ ruling could substantially reduce the risk of any future EU-UK free trade agreement getting bogged down in the EU national parliaments, opening the way for an FTA to be agreed by a qualified majority vote of EU member states.

The food sector in the United Kingdom is worth more than 100 billion each year to the country's economy, and is a sector which is desperately looking for a quick FTA.

It employs 3.8 million people - 400,000 of them in farming - making the industry not just a major part of the rural economy but also the national economy.

The industry currently benefits from tariff-free access to a market of 500 million people.

'Absolutely crucial'

Farming union NFU Cymru explained that with around a third of total Welsh lamb production sold into EU markets, ensuring the best possible access for agricultural produce into the EU post-Brexit is 'absolutely crucial' to the future of the sheep industry.

Upland Sheep farmer and NFU Cymru Deputy President John Davies spoke to an audience at the NSA Sheep Event yesterday (16 May) explaining the sector's frustrations.

NFU Cymru said it wants to avoid the 'nightmare scenario' for Wales' sheep sector

He said: Sheep farmers want to see a clear commitment from all parties ahead of the General Election that they recognise the importance of securing frictionless tariff-free trade in agricultural produce in any future bilateral trade agreement with the EU.

We expect the next Westminster Government to give us the best possible opportunity to capitalise on this and to allow us to continue to grow our share of the EU lamb market. Exports of lamb deliver well over 100m annually back to Wales and we must do everything possible to maintain and grow this trade.

'Nightmare scenario'

Mr Davies said failure to secure the right trade deal and the possibility of a 'cliff-edge Brexit' in Spring 2019 is a potential 'nightmare scenario' for the sheep sector in Wales.

Operating under World Trade Organisation tariffs would see tariffs of 50% or more placed on some cuts of lamb, this would effectively price us out of the marketplace.

The CLA, which represents owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales, is preparing a series of reports on the challenges facing the country's rural community in the wake of the referendum decision to withdraw from the European union.

The first report looks at the issue of trade, and the CLA says that the priority for the Government must be to secure a free trade agreement with the EU.

The major threat to the UK rural economy would be a situation where the UK removes itself from the EU without a preferential trade deal agreed while at the same time removing all tariff barriers for exporters from anywhere in the world to sell their goods into the UK market, say the report's authors.

This approach would be catastrophic for the rural economy and have dramatic and immediate consequences for the countryside, with many farmers unable to compete.

'Enormous challenges'

Commenting on a recent House of Lords report looking into the Brexit impact on agriculture, Lord Teverson, who chaired the Sub-Committee up until the dissolution of Parliament, said post-Brexit the UKs agriculture and food sectors face 'enormous challenges'.

Trade  especially with the EU  is really important for the agri-food sector. It is unlikely that a comprehensive trade deal with the EU will be negotiated before Brexit, so a transitional deal is vital to avoiding a 'cliff edge' for farmers.

The Government and the devolved administrations will also need to be careful that tailored agricultural policies dont create non-tariff barriers for UK exports.

The National Farmers' Union has said that if the government secures a free trade arrangement with the EU, ensures UK farmers are not disadvantaged by future trade deals outside the EU and ensures the industry's labour needs are met, then the UK can consider an 'ambitious new policy' for the UK agricultural industry.
Two lambs and two sheep died because of out-of-control loose dogs over last weekend in three separate incidents.

An ewe was killed on Sunday (7 May) in an attack on British Camp, Herefordshire leaving two young lambs orphaned and needing to be bottle fed.

In a separate attack on the same day, and a few miles from the first incident, a lamb was killed on Castlemorton Common, Worcestershire.

And at least two lambs died and a dog had to be put down after a series of sheep worrying incidents in North Devon.

Bideford Police issued the following warning on Facebook yesterday: "Last weekend we had a number of calls regarding dogs down on Northam Burrows worrying livestock.

"This has resulted in at least two lambs being killed and one of the owners responsible choosing to put their dog down. Allowing your dog to worry livestock is a criminal offence. Please keep your dog on a lead when walking around livestock."

'Heart-breaking'

Dog owners have been urged to keep their pets under control around livestock as the lambing season reaches its peak.

Kathy Peebles, NSA Scotland vice-chairman, said: For farmers, as well as lost income, it is heart-breaking to witness horrendous injuries in the sheep they work hard to look after.

For pregnant ewes, the result of being hounded by dogs can be miscarriage of unborn lambs and for ewes with young lambs at foot the result can be offspring getting separated from ewes and dying of hypothermia or starvation."

Earlier this month, out of control dogs massacred thirty lambs on farm in Wales, prompting the farmer to share a picture of the incident as a warning to others.
Fourteen pregnant sheep have been stolen from a west Cumbrian farm, Cumbria Police are now appealing for information.

The sheep, marked with ear tags number UK102197, were taken from a farm at High Harrington in the early hours of April 29.

Police are now appealing for anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious to get in touch.

Sheep rustling is becoming an increasing problem across the UK, farmers have said.

On Monday (15 May), 21 sheep were stolen in the Sperrin mountains, Northern Ireland.

On 5 May, sheep rustlers stole more than 50 sheep in a raid on a north-east farm in Scotland.

In March, Police appealed for information after the theft of between 25 and 30 sheep from a field in North Yorkshire.

And in February, sheep rustlers stole almost 100 sheep, worth just under 13,000 in a farm near Falkirk, Scotland.

Anyone with information can email 101@cumbria.police.uk or call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Liberal Democrats are to give the British public a second EU referendum, saying it would "give the final say to the British people".

Their general election manifesto, released today (17 May), stated that a vote on the final Brexit deal would include an option to remain in the EU.

On farming matters, the party said the vote to leave the EU puts farming and agricultural businesses in 'huge danger'.

The manifesto said leaving the EU threatens both cuts to the support which supports farmers livelihoods and ability to manage the countryside, and also tariffs on exports.

For agricultural products outside the EU, tariffs average 22.3%  putting Britains 18 billion of food exports in danger.

The Liberal Democrats said a system is needed that supports farmers, ensures food production, and protects the environment.

Key pledges

 Continue a campaign to reform agricultural subsidies  making sure British farming remains competitive and doesnt lose out in the event of Britain leaving the EU.

The manifesto says that subsidies must rebalance away from direct subsidy and refocus support towards the public goods that come from effective land management including countryside protection, flood prevention, food production, and climate change mitigation.

The manifesto says that this would ensure that smaller farms are protected and move support away from large landowners, whilst delivering a more localised agricultural policy.

 Encourage new and younger entrants to farming by championing different forms of ownership including longer tenancies, share farming, and community ownership.

 Introduce a National Food Strategy to promote the production and consumption of healthy, sustainable and affordable food.

 Increase the powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator and extend its remit to include businesses further up the supply chain, helping to ensure that farmers receive a fair price.

 Improve standards of animal health and welfare in agriculture by updating farm animal welfare codes and promoting the responsible stewardship of antibiotic drugs.

 Ensure that future trade deals require high safety, environmental and animal welfare standards for food imports, including clear and unambiguous country of origin labelling for meat and dairy products.

 Develop 'safe, effective, humane, and evidence-based ways' of controlling bovine TB, including by investing to produce workable vaccines.

Farming manifestos

Labour has officially launched their manifesto. The manifesto pledges an end to the badger cull, a ban on neonicotinoids and the promotion of cruelty free farming.

Welsh political party Plaid Cymru has also released their manifesto, calling for a Brexit deal which best represents Welsh agriculture.

Numerous rural organisations have released their own manifestos, including the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, the CLA, the Soil Association, the Tenant Farmers' Association, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the British Veterinary Association, the Farmers' Union of Wales, the Ulster Farmers' Union, the Agricultural Industries Confederation and the Countryside Alliance.
The Legislature will debate a resolution Thursday that would create a Nebraska Justice System Special Oversight Committee.

The purpose of the committee is to study programs and policies of the adult justice system, including the Department of Correctional Services, Office of Parole Administration, Board of Parole, Office of Probation Administration and Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.

Dan Watermeier, chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board, amended the resolution (LR127) introduced by Sen. Bob Krist to provide oversight rather than investigate.

Department of Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes testified Tuesday in opposition to the committee because he said it would take up time he should be devoting to other duties. There is already legislative oversight, he said.

Watermeier was not interested in creating more work for the Department of Corrections, which gets inundated with requests for information, he said.

Krist said it would be important to him to have members among the seven from not only the Judiciary Committee, but also the Health and Human Services and Appropriations committees. Judiciary Chairman Laura Ebke would lead the group.

Krist said he does not want to be on the committee but would point them to reports of past Corrections investigative and oversight committees.

"What we need to do is energize the future legislators who are going to be here for longer than I am to dig in and apply that oversight function," he said.

The committee would sunset in two years.

The Executive Board advanced the resolution on a 6-3 vote, with Sens. Tyson Larson, Jim Scheer and John Kuehn voting no.
A Northern Irish farmer has been fined 1,400 for failing to dispose of animal carcasses on his farm and for animal neglect.

50-year-old Derek Trimble from County Down was convicted on Monday (15 May) at Newry Magistrates Court.

He was charged with two counts of failure to dispose of livestock carcasses.

He was also charged with two counts of failure to ensure the needs of animals were met to the extent required by good practice, one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a ram and two charges of failure to maintain veterinary medicine records.

Mr Trimble pleaded guilty and was fined 1400 plus 15 offender levy.

This case arose from a number of welfare inspections carried out on Mr Trimbles farm during March 2016.
The beginnings of agriculture changed human history and has fascinated scientists for centuries.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield have shed light on how hunter-gatherers first began farming and how crops were domesticated to depend on humans.

Domesticated crops have been transformed almost beyond recognition in comparison with their wild relatives  a change that happened during the early stages of farming in the Stone Age.

For grain crops like cereals, the hallmark of domestication is the loss of natural seed dispersal  seeds no longer fall off plants but have become dependent on humans or machines to spread them.

Professor Colin Osborne, from the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures at the University of Sheffield, said: We know very little about how agriculture began, because it happened 10,000 years ago  thats why a number of mysteries are unresolved. For example why hunter-gatherers first began farming, and how were crops domesticated to depend on people.

One controversy in this area is about the extent to which ancient peoples knew they were domesticating crops. Did they know they were breeding domestication characteristics into crops, or did these characteristics just evolve as the first farmers sowed wild plants into cultivated soil, and tended and harvested them?

Vegetable seed size

The new research, published in the journal Evolution Letters, shows the impact of domestication on vegetable seed size.

Any selective breeding of vegetables by early farmers would have acted on the leaves, stems or roots that were eaten as food, but should not have directly affected seed size.

Instead, any changes in vegetable seed size must have arisen from natural selection acting on these crops in cultivated fields, or from genetic links to changes in another characteristic like plant or organ size. In the last instance, people might have bred crops to become bigger, and larger seeds would have come along unintentionally.

The University of Sheffield researchers gathered seed size data from a range of crops and found strong evidence for a general enlargement of seeds due to domestication.

They discovered domesticated maize seeds are 15 times bigger than the wild form, soybean seeds are seven times bigger. Wheat, barley and other grain crops had more modest increases in size (60 per cent for barley and 15 per cent for emmer wheat) but these changes are important if they translate into yield.

Evolution of crops

We found strong evidence for a general enlargement of seeds due to domestication across seven vegetable species, said Professor Osborne.

This is especially stunning in a crop like a sweet potato, where people dont even plant seeds, let alone harvest them.

The size of this domestication effect falls completely within the range seen in cereals and pulse grains like lentils and beans, raising the possibility that at least part of the seed enlargement in these crops also evolved during domestication without deliberate foresight from early farmers.

Professor Osborne added: Our findings have important implications for understanding how crops evolved, because they mean that major changes in our staple crops could have arisen without deliberate foresight by early farmers.

This means that unconscious selection was probably more important in the genesis of our food plants than previously realised. Early increases in the yields of crops might well have evolved in farmers' fields rather than being bred artificially.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that 45 million worth of national Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) loan payments have been made.

Payments from the loan scheme designed to help the most vulnerable farmers and crofters in Scotland have started.

More than 7400 payments worth over 45 million have been processed and will be paid next week, the Scottish Government stated.

Further payments are likely to follow as a total of 11,000 letters have been issued offering eligible businesses the opportunity to benefit from the 2016 National Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS).

These loan payments will be automatically deducted from EU payments once LFASS 2016 applications are fully processed. Further payment runs will be made in the coming weeks.

'Pump millions'

Scotland's Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said the scheme will 'pump millions' into the rural economy.

I understand how important these payments are for farmers, crofters and the wider rural economy, so Im delighted to see the money being released to those that require this much needed financial security.

"This scheme will pump millions into the rural economy at an important time enabling farmers and crofters to get on with purchases and investments for the crucial summer and autumn months.

Farmers and crofters who accept the offer, but have missed the 5 May deadline, will still receive the full payment to which they are entitled, and will receive it as soon as possible. I'd encourage anyone yet to apply for an LFASS loan to do so."

The Scottish Government has recently been criticised by a 'highly critical' report into the 178m IT system set up for farm payments.
After botching the development of its 787 Dreamliner -- leading to big delays and even bigger cost overruns -- Boeing (BA -0.52%) was much more cautious with the 737 MAX, an upgraded version of its best-selling line of jets.

Up until very recently, this approach was working extremely well, putting the 737 MAX on track to be delivered several months early. However, last week, Boeing seemed to hit a snag, as it was forced to ground the entire 737 MAX test fleet because of a manufacturing problem related to some 737 MAX engines.

However, as many industry experts had predicted, the fleet grounding turned out to be a non-event. This allowed Boeing to go ahead with its first delivery of the 737 MAX on Tuesday.

Boeing is relying on the 737 MAX

While the Boeing 737 MAX has often been dismissed as an inferior competitor to Airbus' A320neo family, it is still a hugely important product for Boeing. Indeed, it is the fastest-selling jet in Boeing's history.

As of the end of April, Boeing had a backlog of 5,704 firm orders across all of its commercial aircraft lines. More than 3,700 of those orders were for the 737 MAX.

The 737 MAX thus represents Boeing's most important potential driver of revenue, profit, and cash flow growth for the coming decade. Getting the first one delivered on time and then ramping up production smoothly has been a critical priority for Boeing.

No need to worry

As one aerospace analyst put it, last week's brief period of concern about 737 MAX engine defects was "a tempest in a teapot." First, the cause of the problem was already known by the time the fleet was grounded. Second, there were never indications that these defects were part of a larger problem. Third, the component in question was manufactured by multiple suppliers -- and only one of them was responsible for the defective parts.

Still, Boeing needed to get regulators to sign off before it could resume test flights and start delivering planes. This could have caused problems due to launch operator Malindo Air's aggressive plan to put its first 737 MAX into service on May 19.

Fortunately, the FAA quickly cleared Boeing to restart test flights using engines without the potentially defective components. As a result, it was able to deliver the first 737 MAX to Malindo Air on Tuesday, just a day later than previously planned. That may still allow the carrier to get the plane back to Malaysia in time for the scheduled entry into service on Friday.

Avoiding a big delay in that first delivery was particularly important because Malindo Air is a subsidiary of fast-growing Indonesian airline group Lion Air. Lion Air is the No. 1 customer for Boeing's 737 MAX, with 201 firm orders.

Now comes an even bigger challenge

The 737 MAX isn't nearly as technically complex as the 787 Dreamliner, but it's still notable that Boeing was able to execute a more-or-less flawless development program.

That said, ramping up production may prove to be the real challenge. Over the next two to three years, Boeing plans to switch over all of its 737 production to the new-engine models, while simultaneously ramping up output from 42 per month to 57 per month.

Aggressive output targets at Boeing and Airbus have put suppliers under a lot of strain, particularly for the new engines. Boeing's engine supplier, CFM, will now have to address the recent manufacturing defect in the midst of this aggressive production growth. Time will tell whether it is up to the challenge, or if Boeing will instead have to modify its production plans.
Thanks all. I know I'm looking for something very rare conditions isn't as important as price. I'm not looking for something that's been restored and someone wants a lot of money for. I don't have it to give anyways. Plus I don't believe they are worth a lot to begin with. And as far as I've seen I'm looking for one of the rarest ones at that. Because I want the dual axle which was add on by another company I think. And I've only seen one extended cab and it wasn't on a 51-52. That's what I really want but I think I will be lucky to find a normal one.
A flexible and brilliantly executed strategy helped Mercedes win in Spain on Sunday - but for that strategy to work they needed perfection in the pit lane. Fortunately for the Silver Arrows, they got just that

ot since Singapore last year had Mercedes been the fastest team in the pits, but in Barcelona, in the midst of an every second counts battle with chief rivals Ferrari, their pit crew came up with the goods once more.

The chart-topping pit stop time of 2.39s came on lap 21 as Hamilton finally pitted after a long first stint, swapping from soft tyres to mediums. That contributed to a total time through the pit lane of 21.544s, which was around a second faster than Sebastian Vettel had been when he stopped seven laps earlier.

That small margin didnt win the race for Hamilton - there were still plenty of twists and turns to come - but it certainly did his chances no harm whatsoever, and illustrated that Mercedes were well on top of matters in the pits (as evidenced by them also recording the third fastest time with Valtteri Bottas).

The Silver Arrows are now joint-second in the overall DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award standings, tied with Red Bull, who produced the second-quickest tyre change in Spain. Williams remain comfortably in front thanks to another double points score, though it says something about their recent excellence that it was a surprise to see them only fifth and ninth.

Another excellent pair of stops saw Toro Rosso jump Force India into fourth in the table, while Haas overhauled McLaren for P7.

But who will rule in the pit lane in Monaco?
State senators spent all day Wednesday debating veto override motions, the majority knocking down every attempt to restore line-item vetoes that Gov. Pete Ricketts put in place.

It was a clean sweep for Ricketts on vetoes of Supreme Court funding for the Probation Administration, and Health and Human Services' aid for child welfare, developmental disabilities and behavioral health.

Ricketts' line-item vetoes brought the minimum reserve in the state's $8.9 billion, two-year budget back up to 3 percent.

The first override motion to go down was a veto of $300,000 in funding for the Probation Administration Office. That vote was 23-25. Veto overrides need 30 votes.

Override supporters said the money was necessary to help more offenders on probation and parole stay out of trouble and out of Nebraska prisons that are too crowded.

Senators then defeated the override motion that would have restored $32.4 million in funding for Medicaid providers on a 27-21 vote.

In the afternoon, senators voted down two more efforts to override vetoes of $2.37 million in funding for developmental disabilities and $1.3 million for child welfare aid.

Proponents gave heartfelt arguments on the necessity of ensuring that the pay rates for people who provide care for developmentally disabled clients, foster children and those with mental illness are at least held even. Without the override, they said, many of them would have provider rates reduced.

Omaha Sen. Bob Krist introduced a motion to override Ricketts' veto of funding for developmentally disabled Nebraskans.

"This one is a litmus test for how you feel about taking care of the most fragile, those who cannot advocate for themselves. Those who cannot come here on a daily basis and bend your ear and buy you a drink and buy you dinner," he said.

Topher Hansen, CEO of CenterPointe in Lincoln, which provides treatment for mental illness and addiction, said he believed the cuts in the budget would mean Medicaid providers would go in the hole further than they already are.

"The state is responsible to care for the indigent, and charities, behavioral health organizations, nursing homes, developmental disabilities (groups) all step (up) to do this work. And our margins are fractional," he said. "And our costs are going up."

Courtney Phillips, CEO of the Department of Health and Human Services, said late Wednesday afternoon that budget reductions did not mean provider rates would go down.

"Based on where we are today ... these will not result in provider rate reductions," Phillips said.

But former Sen. Annette Dubas, who is now the executive director of the Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations, questioned how more than $32 million can be cut from those programs without reducing rates and impacting access to care.

The governor stated in his veto letter that he had reduced general funds for provider rates in four programs, she said, and the rhetoric from HHS only leads to confusion and mistrust.

Senators also introduced motions to override vetoes of $26,828 for specialized court operations, $716,682 for juvenile justice and $5.8 million in additional cuts for the University of Nebraska system, but withdrew those motions after speaking on them.

Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld said Ricketts' cuts to the university inhibited the ability of young people and others to contribute to Nebraska's growth.

"Young Nebraskans want our state to come together, not just on football Saturdays for our university, but on days like today to ensure that our institutions of higher education are strong, that the most vulnerable are taken care of, and that everyone has equal access to opportunity regardless of their economic background," Morfeld said.

Lincoln Sen. Mike Hilgers is one of the senators who voted no across the board on overrides. He said he spent the day talking to stakeholders, providers and HHS directors to understand the full implications of the line-item vetoes.

One thing he considered was whether tax revenue declines in the state would continue, and if so, whether cuts would have to be deeper and more long lasting in six months if the Legislature did not accept the governor's cuts today.

"If we don't do anything now, I think we'll be in a worse position later," he said.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said she didn't take her decisions to vote no on overrides lightly.

By lowering the minimum reserve to 2.5 percent, the Appropriations Committee was gambling that the state's economy would improve in the next 12 months, she said.

"I hope they are right. But hope is not a plan. Nebraskans are prudent. The Legislature's decisions should reflect that prudence," she said in a news release.




Haiti - Politics : The Mayor of Port-de-Paix on tour in the USA





Josue Josue Alusma, the mayor of the town of Port-de-Paix, has been in Florida for a few days as part of a tour aimed to sensitize the Haitian diaspora originating from his commune, to the major problems that constitute a handicap to the development of the city.



During his interventions, he stressed the involvement of his compatriots in the development process of Port-de-Paix, by bringing their experiences and expertise in key sectors such as sanitation and urbanization.



In addition, this Tuesday, May 16, Mayor Alusma will be in New York to attend a meeting with a group of American businessmen, about the potential of the Northwest department and particularly Port-de-Paix because of its key geographic location.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Agriculture : FAO, Belgian cooperation and the Ministry alongside fishermen from the Great South





The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Belgian Development Cooperation, which are particularly sensitive to the situation of fishermen and fish traders who ended up without livelihood after the passage of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, decided in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, to help households living mainly on maritime resources in the Great South through the Project "Protection, Rehabilitation and Diversification of the Livelihoods of the People Affected by Hurricane Matthew"



he project, targeting 2,500 fishermen and women fish traders in 21 coastal communities in the South, began operations to distribute fishing gear to Saint Jean du Sud, one of the communes on the South Coast severely affected.



Jean Riviere Bartole, Director General of the Town Council of Saint Jean du Sud, thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and its partners for their assistance to the fishermen's groups of this commune. Jean Ernso Roger, Director of the Agricultural Bureau of the Commune (BAC) of Saint Jean du Sud welcomed this support and assured that his Office was willing to follow up this initiative in order to guarantee optimal management of the given materials " I would like to draw the attention of all fishermen who are present here that these materials should be used for collective purposes for the sustainable improvement of the situation of the whole fishing community. I invite them to make a rational management of these fishing equipments. The BAC will ensure thh follow up and accompany the groups of fishermen with a view to the development of the fishing industry in the commune."



Maria Rey de Arce, Project Coordinator for FAO, pointed out that this initiative targets the most vulnerable fishermen in the affected communes "Within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between the FAO and the organization 'Artisanal Fisheries and Integrated Development' (PADI), a technical assistance will be given to fishers for the proper use of the materials we are distributing, including engines, equipment for the construction of Fish Concentration Devices (FAD), lines and hooks . PADI will accompany the fishermen in the improvement of their fishing techniques with a view to strengthening the sector."



Nearly 60 fishermen and fish traders who were members of the "Coordination des Organizations des Pecheurs de Saint Jean du Sud" (COPESS) welcomed the launch of this project and the donation of equipment.



In the 21 coastal communes targeted by the project, training sessions for fishermen's groups will be carried out, in addition to the distribution of equipment, for the establishment, management and maintenance of Fish Concentration Devices (FADs), as well as the management and maintenance of engines, boats and fishing equipment. At the same time, boat and engine repair workshops will be organized for fishermen's groups, as well as training courses on Risk Management and Disasters at Sea.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-20681-icihaiti-agriculture-fao-response-to-hurricane-matthew.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politics : Odette Roy Fombrun proposes a revolution to the PM





Author of numerous instructional books, of a collection of good citizenship and several novels, sacred "living national treasure" in 2009, the former teacher and Haitian feminist activist widely known and respected, Odette Roy Fombrun, who will celebrate her 100th anniversary on June 13, following the dramatic situation drafted by Prime Minister Lafontant, addressed a letter to him in order to present him the revolution that must be made.



Extract from the letter of Odette Roy Fombrun to the Prime Minister :



"[...] It must be admitted that the country has been badly managed and especially that its wealth has never been exploited. Indeed, Haiti is rich and all its wealth is wasted inside the country: natural, cultural and especially historical wealth [...] It should be the country of the Caribbean to receive the most tourists. Now, here it is declared the only LDC (Least Advanced Country) of America



Whatever the options of the States-General, we must come to the exploitation of these wealth. I present to you the way I intend to exploit them: DYNAMISATION OF THE DEPARTMENTS



The revolution that must be done:



The exploitation of these wealth will allow to develop the interior of the country, called country outside. Without its development, there is no future for Haiti: their confined populations invade the cities that they transform into street markets, multiplying the slums, without any hope of well-being. At all costs, they must be taught how to exploit this wealth, so to go back home where the project will create work. Indeed: The dynamization of the departments is a great konite of the mayors of the department. The mayor of the chief town is responsible for creating the Wealth Production Commission (CPR), whose seat will be this town hall and its mayor, the president. The government delegate will represent it at the CPR.



The Commission will have the collaboration of government technicians and private sector volunteers, depending on the needs of the project. Indeed :



- Each communal administration will have to include to the files of the CPR the exhaustive list of the wealth of its commune: waterfalls, caves, ruins, customs, dances, historical sites, us and customs, patronal festivals, available arable land, etc...



- The Government Delegate will have to include in the files of the committee the list of the technicians of the State functioning in the department specifying their area of expertise and the ministry of which they are responsible. They are obviously technicians able to contribute as consultants or actors to the study and implementation of projects to exploit natural, cultural and, above all, historical resources, study tourism circuits or agricultural projects. These technicians will be part of the Technical Commission for Wealth Production (CTPR).



- The deputies of the department are invited to contribute to the research of wealth and the orientation for the development of their regions. They will study bills that are beneficial to the department. They will no longer have to present their problems to the PM but to work with them to resolve them. As the senators.



[...]



Of course, TOURIS LAKAY's vision for the endogenous development of the interior communities makes sense here because it is based on the konbite of three forces: the living forces of the community, its often dispersed youth, and its diaspora. All are invited to combine their efforts in projects of investments identified, by the community and the dynamism of its youth, realizable thanks to the interest, the know-how and the financial resources of the diaspora. Because the diaspora is interested in visiting its lakay provided that its lakay offer it certain amenities including: toilets and drinking water.



[...] In conclusion, my struggles concern here as elsewhere, the place that belongs to our country and that we must help it to occupy, by the union and the national konbites :



HAITI, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER OF THE CARIBBEAN."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20609-haiti-politics-constructive-proposals-by-odette-roy-fombrun.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20356-haiti-social-odette-roy-fombrun-appeals-against-immorality.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19363-haiti-politics-odette-fombrun-launches-an-appeal-to-presidential-candidates.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19434-haiti-politics-odette-r-fombrun-s-2nd-message-to-the-presidential-candidates.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Two men from Miami were arrested Tuesday after a Seward County deputy sheriff found credit card skimmers and fraudulent credit cards during an Interstate 80 traffic stop, the sheriff's office said Wednesday.

The deputy pulled over Jose Roberto Jr., 18, and Reinier Pena, 28, for a traffic violation at 11:20 a.m. and asked to search the car after developing suspicion they were involved in criminal activity, a news release said.

The men allowed the deputy to search the car and under the hood the deputy found two gas pump credit card skimmers concealed under the air filter and in a void space, the release said.

Credit card skimmers are illicitly attached to ATMs and gas pump pay stations to secretly record credit card information that can be used to make fraudulent credit cards.

The deputy also found eight cards in the car that had been altered and loaded with stolen credit card numbers.

Both were taken to the Seward County jail on suspicion of multiple felonies.

Investigators believe they were traveling to Colorado from Florida.
County budget cruises in a less turbulent climate

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One year removed from budget deliberations dominated by rancorous debates over school construction and a 5-cent tax increase, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners took up a steady-as-she-goes budget recommendation and mostly endorsed the spending outline.

The budget is underpinned by County Manager Steve Wyatts ability to enforce spending discipline and preserve a large fund balance even while guiding the board through one of the most ambitious capital building programs in county history. Unlike last year, most of the big decisions  including what to do with Hendersonville High School  have been made.

The countys total debt service climbs to $168 million in fiscal year 2019, when the county will be paying off debt for completed projects like the Health Sciences Center and new projects like Edneyville Elementary School, Hendersonville High School and the emergency services headquarters. Yet the countys fund balance  at $45 million  remains so hefty that commissioners Bill Lapsley and Grady Hawkins have consistently argued for a property tax rollback.

I didnt see anything out of the ordinary, Commissioner Grady Hawkins said of the budget. It looks like pretty much a continuation of some of the major projects weve been undertaking. One of the things Id like to do is take a closer look at a year or two past this budget. Theres going to be a big peak for about three years where we have a significant increase in debt service and then it starts dropping off as some of the other projects we have are getting paid off.

Specifically, total debt principal and debt service (the amount the county allocates to pay back loans) peak in FY 2019, at $168.3 million and $9.7 million, and then start to taper down  to $153.5 million and $12.7 million in 2020, $140 million and $10,7 million in 2021  until it reaches a low in 2026 of $80 million and $8.3 million, not counting any new debt the county takes on.

Hawkins said on Tuesday the county is more than likely at the high-water mark of capital debt for the foreseeable future because its just about completed major school and emergency services construction.

I really dont think at this point there are any other large capital projects coming on line, Hawkins said.

Besides new schools, the county has added ambulance stations in Crab Creek and Fletcher and authorized the new $13 million emergency services headquarters. A $20 million law enforcement training center has been postponed while Sheriff Charlie McDonald responds to commissioners order to come up with cost cuts.

Weve not pulled the plug on it, Hawkins said. We directed the staff and the sheriff to at least look around and see if we could satisfy those training requirements at a little bit lower cost. I quite frankly dont know where theyre at.

Although Hawkins said its possible the location and magnitude of the project could change, he pointed out that moving off the BRCC campus would mean buying property.

Its on hold pending our request to the sheriff to find a way to cut the cost, Lapsley said. He begged us for more time and we told him take what time you need. Its not a crisis situation. If it takes another six months then we want him to do that. Asked whether McDonald had gone back to his initial idea for an outdoor range, Lapsley said, I think hes looking at all options.



Property tax rollback?

Hawkins said hed be willing to consider a property tax rollback, as he and Lapsley tried for last year. But another way to use extra revenue would be to sock it away for 2019 and 2020 when the debt service reaches $19.7 million.

Remember also that the $45 million fund balance is a little bit of a misleading number, Hawkins said. You really dont have $45 when you take out some of the restricted money. Theres about $9 million in the bank thats already called for and then there was $7 million that we used to balance the budget this year.  Were looking at $10 million to balance it this year. I think thats kind of a misunderstood factor in the fund balance.

Asked whether he plans again to push for a rollback of county property tax rate of 56 cents per $100 valuation, Lapsley said Im not going to answer that question. But, as he did in the fall of 2015 and again last spring, he made the case for sending money back to taxpayers instead of keeping it in the bank.

I dont think we should make a decision for this coming year based on what may or may not happen 2-3 years from now, he said. We just need to look at it year to year. I think we need to adjust the tax rate each year. It should go up and down. I dont think we should leave the tax rate at a specific level just because we expect to need it down the road. So the question is, as I said last year, how much should we have in the rainy day? How much is enough?



Budget highlights

Among the highlights of Wyatts recommended budget:

 The $134.9 million budget is $3.5 million bigger than the current budget, or 2.7 percent more.

 The budget funds this years debt service at $16.6 million. Outstanding debt is from the Innovative High School, now under instruction at BRCC; refinanced bond issues from 2010, 2012 and 2013, the 2010 Apple Valley-NHHS renovations, 2008 Hillandale and Mills River elementary school construction projects, the jail, ambulances and the health sciences center.

 Keeps the tax rate at 56 cent, fifth lowest rate among 27 medium- to large-sized counties in North Carolina.

 Fully funds requests made by BRCC and public schools administrators. The county allocation for public schools is $26.9 million for operating costs, plus $1 million for repairing and preserving the Stillwell building plus school construction debt service of $36 million  overall a 6.3 percent increase. The BRCC allocation of $5.7 million is up 5.5 percent from the current year.

 The tax base of $13.23 billion is the highest its been in any year since 2009.

 Among the new expenses are $50,000 for spay and neuter programs.

 All rural fire departments have requested the same tax rate as the current year. The Fire and Rescue Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday to finalize the recommendation.
Residents eager for answers on Mud Creek dump

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Green Meadows residents left an information meeting Tuesday night saying theyre eager to get more information on whether an abandoned dump near their homes poses a health threat.

The city and its environmental consulting firm hosted a drop-in information meeting to give residents a chance to ask questions about the so-called Mud Creek dumps, which operated without environmental regulations before the early 1970s. Tests so far have turned up no hazardous materials or vapors. The residents had plenty of questions but the city won't have complete and final answers until July, when a contractor is expected to complete a report on the extent of the long-abandoned dump and whether what's buried there poses any health or environmental threat. Once that's done, the city and state will determine the next steps.

An information sheet issued joinly by the citys contractor, Hart & Hickman, the N.C. DEQ and the city, described the process of identifying the landfill and assessing the health threat.

The city knew of the old landfill but based upon its location in a primarily uninhabited area of along Mud Creek no environmental assessment had been conducted, the statement said. This is very common for old, closed municipal waste landfills in North Carolina.

The state DEQ first identified the site in 2007 but didnt require any mediation because the state program addresses sites with the highest public health risk first.

In the summer of 2016, Hart & Hickman reported that on the southern part of the old dump buried waste is limited to the William H. King Memorial Park and does not extend to private properties. In testing this spring, the consultants confirmed that buried waste extends beneath a limited number of private properties on Martin Circle and Lincoln Circle. Landfill gas probes showed no significant levels of landfill gasses underground. The consultant also expects to test groundwater quality and test for vapor intrusion into existing structures. It will evaluate remediation where any risks to health and the environment are identified, the information sheet said.

Green Meadows residents who came to the information meeting said they hoped to learn more about the threat and see the city and state react if anything harmful is found.

I hope if the land is contaminated they will fix it, said Melody Rudisill. I hope theyll be honest about whats going on and I hope they will tell us any repercussions that people might have that have lived down there for years. As a neighborhood I feel like we have a right to know.

When urban renewal came through there they tore all of that down," she said. "They had to have known about it.

Housing Authority officials did know about the dump in the early 1970s. As the Hendersonville Lightning reported last week, Housing Authority officials sought help from a federal agency in 1972 to clean up the old dump but nothing was done.

The Rev. Billy Waters, minister of Union Grove Baptist Church, the Green Meadows neighborhood church, said he has seen discolored water seep from the ground in heavy rains.

Its got orange in it, said the Rev. Billy Waters. You can see something bubbling. Then when you walk on the trail when it has rained, the muck coming out of Mud Creek, you talk about something slick. Everybody uses the walking trail, not just the Green Meadows community. Were just waiting to hear what the report says as to contamination and how its going to affect residents of Green Meadows.

The Mud Creek dump comes under the Pre-Regulatory Landfill Program, a part of the states waste management division in the Department of Environmental Equality. The program aims to identify, assess and clean up old city landfills and dumps established before 1983, when most state waste disposal regulations were enacted. The state has identified 675 eligible dumps.

The Hart & Hickman report will determine the extent of contamination making its way from waste at the Mud Creek dump into water, soil and air, the DEQ and city said. If officials determine that waste contamination is causing an imminent health threat, the state would act quickly to mitigate the risks.

Councilman Jerry Smith said he is confident that the city has done everything it can so far to assess the problem.

I learned a lot, Ill say that, he said of his conversation with a state DEQ official. She was very open and answered all my questions. What I learned from her is that we as a city from what she said have been very pro-active in trying to remedy this situation.

She said that theyre in the midst of doing a lot of testing. Before they can do remediation they have to come back and determine what kind of problems exist if any."

The only thing the city could do to speed up the process, the state official told Smith, would be to hire more consultants to do more testing faster.

"Basically, what I got out of her was  she thought our timeline was actually really good," said Smith, who was the only council member to attend the drop-in event.

An interesting thing I learned as well is the goal the state has is not to dig things up," he said. "It is to find out if there is a danger. If were talking about refuse, the goal is to do some type of remediation on the surface that would prevent any of that stuff from rising to the top. She said anytime youre looking at something like this youre looking at a lot of square yards of dirt. The biggest concern is the areas that are right on the back of peoples properties. She said they had a site in Fairview in 2009 and its only two acres and theyre still not finished with it. I really pressed her hard on what the city could do and apparently weve done everything we could have done.

"If there's something we can do to speed this process up I will definitely be in favor of doing that. She said we are in the order of projects to get done. She said there are some more dangerous than ours, for lack of a better term. She said thus far all the preliminary tests have found that there are no toxicity issues around any of these. They have to do the in-depth testing.

City Manager John Connet said he hoped residents came away from the information meeting with the understanding that the city and the state are being pro-active to make sure theres no health issues.
Henderson, Polk Habitat agencies merge

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Habitat for Humanity agencies serving Henderson County and Polk County and Landrum, S.C., announced the merger of their organizations on Wednesday.

he Habitat affiliates, each with a long history of helping families in their communities, are uniting to create an organization that will increase their ability to serve families in need of decent, affordable housing. Both affiliates say the merger will enable them to more efficiently leverage donor funds and ultimately increase the number of affordable homes built and families served through their Homeownership and Neighborhood Preservation Programs.

Over 28 years ago, the two affiliates were founded independently out of local grassroots efforts to face mounting shortages of affordable housing. As the housing challenges in the area have grown more urgent over the years, the need for a united approach to those challenges has become more compelling.

We are very excited about working together to achieve greater impact in our neighboring communities," Henderson County Habitat for Humanity President Ron Laughter said in a news release. "By pooling our resources, combining our staff and board expertise, we will become more efficient and accomplish more than we would have as two separate organizations. Joining two neighboring counties will expand our capacity to acquire more land, build and renovate more homes, partner with more families, and engage more supporters."

Henderson County Habitat board Chair Glenn Richardson said: "Our two affiliates collectively have created homeownership opportunities for more than 250 families throughout our service areas and together as one Habitat affiliate we will be even more effective in our role as advocates for successful homeownership opportunities for low-income families."

Each affiliate will continue to represent the unique character of its community, and will continue to do business as Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity in Polk County and Landrum and Henderson County Habitat for Humanity in Henderson County. They will continue to use local resources, depend on local supporters, and serve local families.

Most of the changes resulting from the merger will not be noticeable to the community. Our back-end systems will be streamlined to eliminate redundancies and preserve financial resources. Our united homeowner programs will retain best practices from each organization and, as a result of the merger, will expand and grow stronger said Ron. Office headquarters will be at 1111 Keith St., Hendersonville where Henderson County Habitat for Humanity has been since 1992.

About Henderson County Habitat for Humanity

Henderson County Habitat for Humanity, a Christian organization, builds quality affordable homes, creates strong communities, and changes lives by partnering with committed volunteers, professional staff, and eligible families living in inadequate housing. For more information about Henderson County Habitat for Humanity, please visit www.habitat-hvl.org, find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @habitatie.

Angie Hunter
Should Hospitality Embrace or Ignore Google AMPs?

Background

Introduced in 2016 as Googles response to other mobile publishing platforms like Apple News and Facebook Instant Articles, Googles AMP (short for Accelerated Mobile Pages) began to spark interest amongst online retailers across industries. In hospitality, some website developers have been trying to convince hoteliers that they need to have AMP version of their website. What is Google AMP? It is an open platform with the sole objective to help publishers create mobile content (articles and commentary, quick opinion postings, etc.) that download fast on mobile and other devices.

AMPs are characterized with stripped down mostly textual content and simple, no-clutter page layouts, and are hosted by Google, which at least in theory ensures fast downloads. Google has restrictions on what type of content can be included on AMPs, utilizes special HTML and coding, and allows only very basic styling (read: Design) of the page.

What should hoteliers do about Google AMPs?

It is immediately clear that AMP pages feature simple, textual/blog-like page layout with stripped-down content. Obviously, the mere objective of the hotel website as the main digital face of the hotel and its product and services, and the main direct booking source for the property, goes beyond what an AMP layout can offer.

Todays hotel planning and booking customer journey is becoming increasingly complex in this multi-device, multi-channel and multi-touch point environment we operate in. On average, the travel consumer goes through 19 different touchpoints before making booking (Google Research). Each one of these touchpoints presents an opportunity for the hotel to build a brand connection, influence intent, and be there for every step of the way. Nine out of ten people are cross-device Internet browsers and researchers, using multiple devices sequentially (mobile, desktop, laptop, tablet, wearable devices, etc.) and moving from one device to another at different times.

This is the reason why travel consumers and hoteliers alike prefer fully responsive hotel websites that feature the same in-depth content (visual, textual, promotional) on every device. Having an AMP version of the hotel website for mobile users goes against todays best practices and is like going back in circles and moving away from fully responsive website to the old days of adaptive websites with separate versions for desktop, tablet and mobile.

Here are only a few questions hoteliers must consider before contemplating AMPs:

Did you invest time and money on a unique website design that best reflects your property, its locations, services and amenities? Your custom design wont go with you if you move to AMP. These design elements are critical to the hotel website, and they cannot be compromised without missing out on online revenue.

Does your website feature rich media in the form of videos, slide shows, photo galleries, storyboard page layout with content and image blocks, etc.? These are typical features of todays hotel website that help present well your product, services and amenities and sell the dream of experiences awaiting at your hotel. AMP might be able to load the text content quickly, but the rich media content will lag behind.

Does your current website feature deep, relevant and visually appealing content? A typical hotel website for a 4-5 star property should have a minimum of 35-40 pages of unique and highly visual content (including content blocks, high res visuals, videos, floor plans, etc.), describing and illustrating the hotel product, services and amenities, positioning your hotel as the perfect choice from the perspective of your main market segments (corporate transient, groups, leisure, family, social event planners, etc.), as well as establishing the hotel as the hero of the destination. This content serves dual purpose: provide information and visualize to potential guests everything they need to know about the hotel, as well as provide tremendous SEO value. This high impact content value, the prerequisite for customer engagements and conversions on the website, will be lost in the AMP stripped-down version of the website.

Does your website feature any third-party integrations? Because AMPs forces websites to feature as few capabilities as possible to ensure fast mobile downloads, this new format favors only stripped down page layouts and functionality. Removing third-party capabilities and elements such as reservation widgets and other technology integrations like Reservation Abandonment Applications, live rates or customer review feeds, promotional banners, slides and lightboxes, social media integration, RFP forms/sign-ups, etc. will affect negatively user engagements, website conversions and revenue.

Does your website feature live rates and promotional banners with real-time availability and pricing for tonights rate or specials for the upcoming weekend? Since AMP content is cached, such live rate feeds will be lost.

One of the most promoted features of AMPs is that it promises fast download speeds on mobile devices. We believe that fast download speeds are no longer an issue with todays CMS technology and in this day and age of 4G LTE and cloud hosting. Any fully responsive hotel website, supported by up-to-date cloud hosting and CDN (Content Delivery Network) and advanced CMS technology should have no issues with download speeds. As an example, here at HeBS Digital we do not launch a hotel website with lower download speed of 95/100 in the Google Page Speed test, even without being an AMP site. In other words, you do not need an AMP site for your property website to download fast.

Conclusion:

AMPs are not designed to maximize hotels direct online revenue. A stripped down, Google hosted version of the hotel website (i.e. AMPs) goes against the mere objective of what the hotel website is all about. Hotel websites are not news sites or blogs, but complete ecommerce websites featuring rich visual content that have the singular objective of presenting the hotel product in the best possible light, engage the online traveler and generate maximum direct bookings.

About HeBS Digital

Through its Smart Guest Acquisition Suite, including the smartCMS, Smart Personalization Engine, Smart Data Marketing, and full-stack digital consulting and marketing solutions, HeBS Digital helps hoteliers drastically boost direct bookings, lower distribution costs, and increase lifetime value of guests. Founded in 2001, the firm is headquartered in New York City and has global offices in Las Vegas, London, Europe, Singapore and Auckland. A diverse client portfolio of top-tier luxury and boutique hotel chains, independent hotels, resorts and casinos, franchised properties and hotel management companies, convention centers, spas, restaurants, DMO and tourist offices across the globe are all benefiting from HeBS Digitals direct online channel strategy and digital marketing expertise.

Part of Hotel360 Technologies, HeBS Digital and Serenata, the most comprehensive hotel CRM platform today, are launching the hospitality industrys first Fully-Integrated 360-Degree Guest Engagement & Acquisition Platform.

HeBS Digitals technology, website design and digital marketing services have won more than 400 prestigious industry awards, including World Travel Awards, HSMAI Adrian Awards, Stevie Awards (American Business Awards), Travel Weeklys Magellan Awards, and more.

The HeBS Digital team is comprised of thought leaders, a diverse team of experts comprised of over 33 nationalities speaking over 22 languages. Contact HeBS Digitals consultants at 1 (800) 649-5076 (North America), +44 (0) 7730 779 213 (London), +64 (0) 9 889 8489 (Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific), +65 9005 1589 (Asia), or success@hebsdigital.com.

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Editorial Contact:

Mariana Mechoso Safer

SVP - Marketing, HeBS Digital

Phone: (212) 752-8186

Email: mariana@hebsdigital.com
Cachet Hospitality Group Announces Cachet Resort Phuket

Cachet Hospitality Group this week announced the signing of a management agreement for Cachet Resort Dewa Phuket, a conversion property owned by R&B Partners Co., Ltd. Located on Thailand's largest island, the hotel marks the company's second resort property and adds to Cachet's expanding portfolio in Southeast Asia, following on the heels of the recently announced SAVANT Vela Hotel  Bangkok. Operations as a CHG managed property will begin May 2017, with interior renovations to be completed November 2017, helmed by Cachet Interior Design (CID).

"We are honored to collaborate with R&B Partners Co., Ltd. and eager to introduce the Cachet resort brand to this region," said Kimy Chen, President of Southeast Asia, Cachet Hospitality Group. "With 59 flights from Bangkok per day, Phuket is an extremely accessible and appealing vacation destination. Travelers to the island are ready to experience our acclaimed designs, enticing F&B programs and innovative amenities."

Set beside the tranquil shores of Nai Yang Beach, considered one of the most idyllic beaches of Phuket, this 128-room lifestyle resort is surrounded by azure waters and the lush green forest of Sirinat National Park. It is just a 7-minute drive from Phuket International Airport and only a 30-minute drive from historic Phuket Town.

The sprawling property will feature CHG's signature offerings, including a premium sleep experience, rejuvenating bath amenities, a grandiose arrival area, and global culinary experiences. On-site facilities will include two distinctive dining venues, approximately 1,000 square meters of meeting and event spaces, a luxurious spa, a fully equipped fitness center, a yoga-focused wellness center, a Kids Club, and two picturesque swimming pools.

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Reinterpreted by CID, Cachet Resort Dewa Phuket's standard rooms, villas and residential suites will feature sleek, contemporary interiors with polished concrete floors, deep mahogany, black marble, coconut shell finishes, and exposed ceilings. The modern effect is balanced by incorporating classic Thai blue silk on the pillows, chairs, and beds and adorning the guestrooms with authentic Thai sculptures and artwork.

The resort's restaurants and bars will appeal to the globally well travelled as well as local long term residents, offering both Thai and international cuisine with personalized service and talented local and international chefs. The Aleta Restaurant Bar and Grill promises to bring something new and fresh to the Phuket dining scene. It will deliver a wide array of well crafted dishes fusing its Mexican heritage with Thai flavours in simply-prepared offerings with unique flavor profiles. Local fishermen's fresh catch seafood will be on display and cooked guests' desired tastes on the wood fired grill.

Catering to wine enthusiasts, CHG will also bring Stonehaus, California's renowned wine bar brand, to the resort. Guests can sip a glass of wine while looking out over the sea, enjoying simple and well prepared fair the will be matched perfectly with our wide range of wines by the glass or pick up wines to go as part of the wine club. Stonehaus will also feature fresh baked products, sweet treats and an incredible coffee program.

In addition to its beautiful aesthetics and natural surroundings, Cachet Resort Dewa Phuket will be an epicenter of social events on the island, featuring the Cachet Pool Club. The pool club is the perfect place for intimate indulgence, large soirees or just simply chilling out. Cachet Beach Club will be an oasis within an oasis, with international DJ's and local artist setting the scene for some of Phuket'sbest Chill parties. The resort will be an indoor-outdoor destination for seaside weddings, private parties and corporate functions.

"We are delighted to partner with Cachet Hospitality Group. As the Phuket market grows increasingly sophisticated, our prime Nai Yang Beach location is more coveted than ever," said Lars Ydmark, Managing Director of R&B Partners Co., Ltd. "With our transformation into Cachet Resort Dewa Phuket and the introduction of Cachet's exciting F&B and social programs, we are poised to set a new standard for what is Nai Yang Beach, Phuket."

Cachet Resort Dewa Phuket will be distributed on CHG's revolutionary technology platform and participate in the platform's loyalty program Cachet World. The technology platform is a lifestyle community that features a search and booking engine for boutique and lifestyle hotels and high-end residences worldwide. Through the platform, guests of Cachet Resort will enjoy interactive mobility, exclusive member rates, and personalized food and beverage experiences.

Cachet Hospitality Group's global portfolio, including properties in the pipeline, extends across China, Thailand, Mexico and the United States.
Visibility to Heath Career Pathways a Focus at INFORM Journeys and the Classroom of the Future Foundation Networking Event

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San Diego's booming heath industry and the importance of creating a regional approach to connecting education to the world of work a hot topic.Local education and business leaders joined forces for a discussion on expanding career pathway opportunities for San Diego students and achieving collective social impact in the health innovation economy. The event addressed the need for a regional approach to connecting education to the world of work, and how San Diegos nationally recognized heath industry can play a strong role in doing so.The Health Industry is one of the fastest growing and one of the largest employers in the region. San Diego is considered a leader in health innovation due in part to its Live Well, San Diego initiative, a 10-year plan to build a healthy, safe and thriving community. The region is home to 25 hospitals and more than 26,000 unique healthcare and social assistance establishments that employ more than 140,000 people. In addition, San Diego healthcare compani...

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To avoid bad hiring decisions, California employers have increasingly turned to pre-employment background screening as a risk management tool. The most commonly used tool is a criminal records check, as employers seek to avoid candidates that may create an undue risk. At the same time, there is increasing concern that the overbroad and unfair use of criminal records can not only discriminate against protected groups, but may have a negative impact by preventing ex-offenders from getting jobs and re-entering society. To add to the complexity for employers, California has a number of unique laws designed to protect job applicants and to ensure that background checks are accurate. In 2014, new California state laws took effect prohibiting employers from considering certain criminal matters. Even individual counties are passing their own laws on criminal records use, such as the new San Francisco Ban the Box, law which could potentially change how employers hire. The issue of criminal records has even been on the statewide California ballot with the passage of Proposition 47 in November 2014 which reduced certain felony charges to misdemeanors. To add to the confusion, federal and state courts have struck down part of the unique California rules so the legal situation is still very fluid.



In this session, you will learn about many critical Only in California rules that govern the use of criminal records in hiring and background checks, as well as a review of the federal requirements and the EEOC Guidance of 2012 and that impacts employers nationally. Topics will include unique California rules and current litigation surrounding the use of criminal record, limitations on what a background firm can report and numerous of limitations on what type of criminal information California employers may utilize. It will also review California Ban the Box rules especially in San Francisco and hiring tools to help employers effectively deal with the issues of past criminal records but at the same time not loose good applicants due to an irrelevant or old criminal matter. The session will also summarize other unique California laws that every employer needs to know before conducting criminal background checks.



With the dramatic increase in class action lawsuits, and the emphasis on ensuring criminal records are accurate and used fairly in California, this is a topic that every California employer and Human Resources professional needs to deal with.

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Guest Column Stop Using Criminal Laws to Quash Peaceful Speech

Participants gather in Rangoon in January for a demonstration urging the govt to amend Article 66(d). / The Irrawaddy

When a group of high school and university students staged a play at a peace conference in Myanmar early this January, they never imagined that they would end up in prison.

The play, performed at a gathering of civil society organizations, satirically criticized those who supported the ongoing conflict between the Burmese military (the Tatmadaw) and ethnic armed groups. According to the lead organizer of the drama, the message of our drama is that we dont want wars.

After a video of the performance was posted online, a lieutenant-colonel in the army filed a criminal complaint accusing the students of defaming the army and, on January 25, nine students were charged with criminal defamation. They now face up to three years in prison.

According to a police officer quoted in the media, the lieutenant-colonel lodged the complaint because the play, which included jokes about military wives having affairs while their husbands were away, could disgrace and destroy the image of the Tatmadaw and their families.

The charges against the students were filed under section 66(d) of the 2013 Telecommunications Act, a provision adopted by the then-military-controlled Parliament that criminalizes the use of a telecommunications device to extort, threaten, obstruct, defame, disturb, unduly influence or intimidate another person. Use of the provision has risen dramatically since the new government, dominated by Daw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD), took office, with at least 54 cases filed and eight people sentenced to prison in the past year. While section 66(d) is only one of three laws that criminalizes defamation in Myanmar, it is the only one for which bail can be denied pending trial.

In recent weeks, Myo Yan Naung Thein was sentenced to six months in prison for criticizing the military commander-in-chief, while Aung Myint Tun was sentenced to six months in prison for posting on social media an erroneous report that NLD Central Executive Committee member U Win Thein had resigned due to health reasons. While Myo Yan Naung Thein was one of the prisoners who received a presidential pardon on April 12 in honor of New Year, he had already been detained for more than five months at the time of his release.

The law is so vague and overbroad that seemingly any criticism of government officials or the military can lead to arrest, detention without bail, and prosecution. Concern over the breadth of the law is so great that a recent article in The Huffington Post on military commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing carried a warning that sharing the article on social media in Burma would result in arrest and prosecution under section 66(d).

With this and other laws being used to suppress dissent, the sense of disillusionment among activists who supported the NLD during its years in the wilderness is palpable. To be clear, only some of these cases have been filed by NLD members or on the instructions of NLD officials. Many are being filed by the military or its allies, perhaps as a test of the NLDs resolve and commitment to an open society. But the NLD has taken no visible steps to halt these attacks on freedom of expression.

The NLDs 2015 election manifesto included a promise to revoke legislation that harms the freedom and security that people should have by right. Many of those who voted for the party hoped that, at a minimum, people would no longer be going to jail for expressing their opinions. To their disappointment, that has not been the case.

Some are translating their disappointment into action. Maung Saung Kha, who served six months in prison after being convicted under section 66(d) for defaming former president Thein Sein in a poem, is spearheading a new civil society group campaigning for amendment or repeal of the law. On January 23, he and other activists, lawyers and journalists held a protest against the law in Yangons Maha Bandoola Park. Although U Soe Thein, director general of the communications department at the Ministry of Transportation, announced on April 11 that the ministry was discussing possible amendments to section 66(d), there is no indication that the ministry intends to end criminal prosecutions for peaceful speech and end the misuse of defamation and other military-era laws.

In opposition, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD would have agreed with this simple proposition: no one should go to jail for insulting or criticizing a public official. The question is what they believe now that they share power with the military.

Burmas Parliament, which is dominated by the NLD, should move quickly to repeal all laws that criminalize peaceful expression, including the criminal defamation provisions in section 66(d), the Penal Code and the News Media Law. Pending repeal, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should instruct her party members not to file any cases under the kinds of laws that once imprisoned thousands, including more than 100 current NLD members of Parliament, and President Htin Kyaw should make it clear that if the military or others file such cases it will be a waste of time, as he will pardon all those charged.

Until the ruling party acts to put an end to the arrests, harassment, and imprisonment of those who speak critically of the government or the military, the hopes of those who have long supported them will remain unfulfilled.

Linda Lakhdhir is a legal advisor in the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, and the author of the 2016 Human Rights Watch report They Can Arrest You at Any Time: The Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Burma.
An 18-year-old was arrested late Tuesday after the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department said he attempted to rob a man on City Campus just after 10:30 p.m.

University Police said a 34-year-old man was near the Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., when a man wearing a red hoodie approached him, pulled out a gun and demanded his items, Assistant Chief Hassan Ramzah said Wednesday.

A second man then threw a backpack at the victim before they took off, Ramzah said.

Officers found the 18-year-old about an hour later near 21st and Q streets. He was identified based off the description given by the victim and surveillance footage, Ramzah said.

Police have learned a total of three men were involved in the attempted robbery, two of which are still at large, he said.

The 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery, use of a weapon to commit a felony and false information. University Police wouldn't release the teenager's name.

The incident sparked police to send an alert that a dangerous man armed with a handgun was spotted on campus.
News Arakan Education Dept Director Threatens Local Editor with Defamation Charges

Arakan State Education Department building / Facebook

RANGOON  The director of Arakan States education department threatened to sue the editor of a local weekly journal under controversial articles 66(d) of Burmas Telecommunications Act and Article 505(b) of the Penal Code after he published an article uncovering malpractice in the education department.

U Aung Kyaw Tun told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday he was preparing to sue Kaung Mrat Naing, editor of Thazin Pan Khine (meaning tiger lady in Burmese), for an article titled Whats wrong with the salary of ethnic language teachers in Arakan State? which was shared on the publications Facebook on Monday.

That guy [Kaung Mrat Naing] accused me of extorting one months salary from ethnic language school teachers. I have never done this. Thats publishing misleading information and insulting me, he said.

Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law, enacted under former President U Thein Seins government in October 2013 has been increasingly used to stifle political dissidents and by individuals for personal retaliation against alleged defamation. Article 505(b) is a broadly defined charge, used to punish dissent in the past by punishing those who make statements that could alarm the public.

It was unclear if U Aung Kyaw Tun himself or the education department would be the plaintiff in the case.

On May 1, disgruntled Arakan State teachers submitted a letter of complaint to the Presidents Office and the Ministry of Education, demanding an investigation of the regional education authorities of under-payments of a bonus for teaching ethnic language in schools, Thazin Pan Khine reported.

The teachers letter stated that while teachers from other states and divisions were receiving a 30,000 kyats bonus each month for 10 months, 4,885 teachers in Arakan State received only nine months of bonuses.

Teachers from Myebon Township complained they were paid only eight months of bonuses and accused the deputy director and an official from the township education department of extorting 30,000 kyats from every individual.

Myebon Township education department later paid teachers one extra month of bonus.

U Aung Kyaw Tun told The Irrawaddy over the phone on Monday afternoon that the Union government allocated a budget for only nine months of bonuses for Arakan State and issued the payments to township level officials.

He declined to comment on whether other states and regions paid bonuses for nine months.

Editor of Thazin Pan Khine claimed that he presented the story fairly and that nothing was fabricated in the article. He said he would face the lawsuit in court if the director filed the case.

The director of the education department should reconsider a trial in order to avoid unnecessary risks, Kaung Mrat Naing told The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar Press Council member U Myint Kyaw said even if the director of the education department is committed to bringing the case to court, he must first obtain the approval of the regional government for the trial or consult the state attorney as the case concerns government work.

If he continues [without government approval] that will not be in line with procedure, said U Myint Kyaw, the state government prosecuting a journalist would harm its image, he added.

U Myint Kyaw suggested the Myanmar Press Council mediate the dispute rather than bringing the case to court.
News Breaking News: Former Vice Presidents Sister and Niece Die in Fire

The blaze in Muse Township, northern Shan State, that killed the sister and niece of the former USDP vice president Dr. Sai Maukkham. / Myo Min / Facebook
Burma Burma Army Files Article 66(d) Lawsuit Over Satirical Piece

Editions of The Voice Daily / Chan Son / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  The Burma Army has filed a lawsuit against the chief editor and a columnist of The Voice Daily newspaper under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law over a satirical article questioning the countrys peace process, according to the papers executive editor.

The article titled Kyi Htaung Su Thitsarmeaning Oath Made in a Nation of Bulletswas written by the papers regular columnist who goes by the pen name British Ko Ko Maung and published on March 26.

The title was a play on the army-produced film Pyi Htaung Su Thitsartranslated as Union Oaththat commemorated the countrys 72nd Armed Forces Day and aired on state- and military-owned channels in early March.

Ko Aung Soe, the papers executive editor, told The Irrawaddy they received a letter from Rangoons Bahan Township police station on Wednesday, summoning the chief editor Ko Kyaw Min Swe and the satirist Ko Ko Maung, also known as Ko Kyaw Zwa Naing.

The lawsuit comes amid meditation held by the Myanmar Press Council between the paper and the military, which complained to the council about the article just before the Thingyan holidays in April.

The piece suggested that ethnic armed groups in the long-running civil war are united only in fighting one another. It said people in Burma do not need to leave the country to fight wars when they are a days drive away from the frontline.

Lower-ranking soldiers die in ongoing battles while the leaders of armed groups hold peace talks and exchange smiles, Ko Ko Maung wrote.

In defense of the piece, he said it did not name specific institutions, groups, or the army, but satirized the generic situation of all the armed groups.

I will respond to the lawsuit through legal channels, he told The Irrawaddy, adding that he would not apologize for doing what he believes in as a writer.

The Voice Daily published a note in its May 14 edition expressing its regret for the armys complaint. It stated that the article was humorous, constructive and did not intend to harm the image of the Burma Army or any other ethnic armed groups.

The press councils code states it has to take action within 15 days of receiving a complaint and settle a dispute between parties within 60 days.

Deputy chairman of the council, Dr. Myo Thant Tin, said the council was not aware of the lawsuit until The Irrawaddy contacted him for comment on Wednesday.

He said the mediation process between the paper and the military has not finished and there would be a meeting with the papers representative on Thursday about the complaint.
Burma Four Dead and Several Injured in Clash at Sagaing Jade Mine

Ma Kyan Kha jade mining area in Hkamti Township, seen a week ago. / The Irrawaddy

MANDALAY  Four prospectors were fatally shot and at least a dozen people were injured during a fresh clash between prospectors and police on Wednesday at a jade mining region in Nan Si Bon, Hkamti Township, upper Sagaing Division.

More than 500 local prospectors from Nan Si Bon reportedly search for jade residue in the Ma Kyan Kha jade mining area, where restrictions were recently issued on entry and mining.

Police have stopped the prospectors from entering and searching for jade residue since Tuesday night, said Ko Aung San Myint, a local of Nan Si Bon.

Prospectors had a confrontation with police when they burned 38 fuel tanks and later apprehended a policeman. The police opened fire and four prospectors died, he added.

Another local, who asked to remain anonymous, said police opened fire near a waste pile where prospectors were working.

I was there when police opened fire. I did not know what was happening but I was shot and saw police shooting toward the waste pile, said the injured local.

According to locals, the injured people were taken to Hkamti General Hospital.

The administrative office in Hkamti issued a warning on Monday that prohibited entry into the jade mining premises and order mining companies to cease work.

The warning also stated that illegal prospectors should stop their actions and leave the Ma Kyan Kha area by May 30.

The Emerald Jade Myanmar Company is currently working in the area and has sent complaints to the Sagaing divisional government over the past few months regarding local piling waste soil and the environmental impact. Complaints regarding the illegal mining of jade on company premises were also filed.

To solve the problem, the divisional government issued a notice on Monday to halt all mining and prospecting on the property until an investigation could be carried out.

The notice said no one should work while the authorities look into illegal mining, environmental impacts and rules and regulation for prospectors in line with the law, while ensuring stability and rule of law in the region.

According to the Hkamti District administrative office, prospectors were breaking martial law, which was enacted in the area on Monday.

They broke into the area and then fought police who tried to stop them while destroying property as well, said U Zaw Zaw, a Hkamti district administrative officer.

Nine policemen were injured also. The incident is under investigation, he added.
Burma Group Targets Rangoon Division for Next Petition Against U Wirathu

Myat Kyaw talks to the media in Rangoon. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  A group combating false teachings of Buddhist doctrines is collecting signatures across Rangoon Division for a petition against the ultranationalist monk U Wirathu.

The Anti-False Buddhist Doctrine Committee will send the petition to the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, better known by its Burmese acronym Ma Ha Na, asking if the actions and speeches of U Wirathu are moral or not.

Formed in March as an outlet for netizens to protest against the monks inflammatory racial and religious rhetoric, the committees original 12 members delivered a petition of more than 500 signatures from Rangoons Dagon (South) Township to Ma Ha Na on April 11.

But the state Buddhist authority did not reply, according to the committees organizer Ko Myat Kyaw. This time, he said, the group is collecting signatures across the division for one month beginning from May 21.

Well take a step forward and demand more signatures, he said. Well try to put the petition directly in the hands of the Ma Ha Na senior monks and the religious affairs minister.

Membership of the committee has swelled to 50 people, added Ko Myat Kyaw.

Ma Ha Na banned U Wirathu, a prominent leader of the hardline Buddhist monk association known by its Burmese acronym Ma Ba Tha, from delivering sermons across the country for one year starting from March 10, because of his religious hate speech.

Fellow Ma Ba Tha leader U Sopaka said the monks words have nothing to do with Ma Ba Tha at a press conference in Rangoon on Tuesday.

We have a policy to discipline a member who tarnishes the image of Ma Ba Tha, he told reporters. But we wont take action against anyone who doesnt violate the regulations. So far, none of Ma Ba Thas members have done anything that deserves expulsion.

At the conference, Ma Ba Tha denied any involvement in a midnight confrontation between Buddhist nationalists and Muslims in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township last week.

The group formed an association named Dhamma Wunthanu Rekhitatranslated as Champion of Buddhas Teachings and National Interestson April 29 to respond to accusations that are seen as damaging to its image.

The association will handle cases that are not appropriate for Ma Ba Tha monks, according to its joint secretary U Aung Chit.

Maung Thway Chun, chief editor of Ma Ba Thas nationalist weekly journals Tharki Thway and Aung Zay Yatu, chairs the association, which is overseen by Ma Ba Tha.

U Soe Tun Shein, owner of National Prosperity, which operates in Moehti Moemi Mines in Mandalay Division, is the secretary. His company has received criticism in the past

National Prosperity won a tender to mine gold in the area in late 2011, but in June 2012, workers from the hundreds of small mines in Moehti Moemi began protesting after the company allegedly reneged on an earlier verbal agreement to split all gold found in the area 50-50

The association will work within the legal framework on religious and educational matters to facilitate national development, said U Aung Chit.

Last summer, Ma Ba Tha monks organized Dhammameaning the Buddhas teachingsclasses for young students, which drew criticism from netizens after photos of anti-Muslim lessons went viral.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
Burma Police Detain Notorious Criminal in Mon States Ye Township

New Mon State Party members hand Akyin over to police. / Aung Naing Win

MOULMEIN, Mon State  New Mon State Party (NMSP) members handed over a notorious criminal to the Ye Township Police Force in Mon State on Wednesday after holding him for more than a month, according to party officers and police.

We handed Akyine over to the police this morning, officer Nai Pin of NMSPs liaison office in Ye Township told The Irrawaddy.

Akyine is a local of Toe Tet Village in southern Ye Township and is accused of committing a string of robberies across southern areas of the township as well as Pauk Pin Gwin Village in Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division.

He is now in Ye Township, we are still investigating and then we will hold him on remand, said police officer Kyaw Myint, who escorted Akyine from NMSP officials in Dawei District.

Members of NMSP Dawei District chapter apprehended Akyine in April and kept him in custody at NMSPs Yay Chaung Pya headquarters before transferring him to police Wednesday, Lt-Col Nyan Tun, a member of the NMSP central executive committee, told The Irrawaddy.

We arrested him around one month ago, before we held our central executive meeting. He is a henchman of notorious Avin. We captured him near Han Gan Village and confined him at our headquarters, said Lt-Col Nyan Tun.

Avin was the leader of a now-defunct powerful criminal gang which was active in Ye Township from 1995 to 2011. In February 2012, Avin, along with his gang members including Akyine, surrendered their arms to the Burma Army 19th Military Operations Command (MOC-19) based in Ye Township as part of a deal with the military.

This year, Akyine started to rob alone. On Feb. 17 this year, he allegedly robbed houses in Thae Khon Village, holding the village administrator as a hostage, the administrator of Kaw Hlaing Village Nai Shwe Moe told The Irrawaddy.

He fired two shots [in the air], and took away gold necklace and rings worth around 4 million kyats that day, said the administrator.

In the fourth week of March, he sent a letter to a monastery abbot in Han Gan Village, threatening to disturb a planned religious ceremony if he was not paid 10 million kyats. The money was not paid, but he did not do anything.

Before the Burmese New Year in April, he also sent a letter to Pauk Pin Gwin Village, asking them to give him 10 million kyats. Villagers did not hand over the money, so Akyin kidnapped people outside the village and took around 1.5 million kyats.
Burma Screening Cancelled of Film Showing Armys Role in Jade Trade

NGO Global Witness documentary Jade and the Generals was due to air at the Park Royal Hotel in Rangoon on Wednesday. / Global Witness / Facebook

RANGOON  The screening of a new documentary showing Burmas jade industry as a driving force behind the countrys armed conflict was cancelled on Wednesday after Park Royal Hotel in Rangoon announced it did not have permission to show the film.

The documentary Jade and the Generals by NGO Global Witness, released ahead of Burmas landmark Union Peace Conference (UPC) on May 24, examines how a fair peace deal could see powerful army families and companies losing out on vast profits from jade.

But the Park Royal Hotel, part of the Singapore-based Pan Pacific Hotel Group, provided the following written statement to Global Witness hours before the 1 p.m. screening: We regret that we are unable to show the video as written permission from the Yangon Regional Government office is required prior to the event.

Global Witness campaign leader Paul Donowitz said the NGO had a very positive meeting with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation on Monday in which they screened the film. He added that two officials from the governments Myanmar Gems Enterprise attended Wednesdays event.

I can tell you that the reasons provided by the hotel to Global Witness concerned perceived risks to their business interest associated with screening a film critical of specific powerful military figures, he told The Irrawaddy.

The hotels general manager Jean-Marc Poli, who consulted Pan Pacific Hotel Groups legal and public relations offices in Singapore before the decision not to air the film, could not be reached for comment.

Kachin State in northern Burma is home to mines that produced jade worth up to US$31 billion in 2014it is also the site of some of the worst fighting. In July 2016 reformers in the National League for Democracy (NLD) government implemented a suspension of jade licensing.

The film includes testimony from refugees and local leaders calling for an end to the fighting and reform of the trade that is driving it. Influential Kachin leaders and civil society groups are calling for the upcoming UPC to focus on fair, transparent and accountable management and allocation of natural resources in order to forge lasting peace.

Most of the jade companies are connected to the army. It is very obvious that the army is protecting the jade business and trying to control the land, said Reverend Samson, the general secretary of the Kachin Baptist Convention, in an interview in the film.

Global Witnesss latest documentary is a follow-up to its 2015 film titled Jade: Myanmars Big State Secreta year-long investigation identifying a network of military elites, drug lords, and crony companies who illegally exploit jade for tens of billions of dollars a year.
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Jon Queally, staff writer | ( Commondreams.org) |  

Donald Trump wanted to stop the FBI investigation, which is the definition of obstruction of justice, says Sen. Bernie Sanders.

President Donald Trumps threat also follows differing reports of what occurred during a dinner between him and James Comey just before the FBI directors firing. (Photo: Getty)

The possible existence of memorandum penned by former FBI Director James Comey in the immediate wake of a dinner he had with President Donald Trump earlier this year is being treated Tuesday night as an explosive development if its version of events, specifically that the president asked the chief of the bureau to drop the investigation into national security adviser Michael Flynn, is verified.

First reported by the New York Times, the memowhich journalist Michael S. Schmidt did not see himself but which a source, identified as a one of Mr. Comeys associates, read aloud selected portionsis Comeys account of the dinner meeting with Trump just a day after Flynns resignation in February. As the Times reports:

I hope you can let this go, the president told Mr. Comey, according to the memo. The documentation of Mr. Trumps request is the clearest evidence that the president has tried to directly influence the Justice Department and F.B.I. investigation into links between Mr. Trumps associates and Russia. Late Tuesday, Representative Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, demanded that the F.B.I. turn over all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings of discussions between Mr. Trump and Mr. Comey. Such documents, Mr. Chaffetz wrote, would raise questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the F.B.I.

While the White House denied the version of events in the memo, the Times reports that Comey shared it among high-level FBI associates, part of a paper trail Mr. Comey created documenting what he perceived as the presidents improper efforts to influence a continuing investigation.

And while it could be seen as one persons version of events against another, Schmidt notes that an F.B.I. agents contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations.

Under increased scrutiny already for his firing of Comey and the explanations given for the abrupt ouster, the latest revelations only served to increase the political heat now facing President Trump.

Donald Trump wanted to stop the FBI investigation, which is the definition of obstruction of justice. We need a special prosecutor, tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in response to the developments.

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) called it a very serious matter and though previously reluctant to utter the phrase, told CNNs Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday night that impeachment of Trump should now be on the table because obstruction of justice is such a serious offense.

Earlier on Tuesday, as Common Dreams reported, a new Public Policy Polling survey showed that for the first time more Americans support impeachment proceedings against Trump than oppose them.

Other members of Congress used the word impeachment with less apparent reluctance than Sen. King:

If reports about #ComeyMemo are true, the president committed obstruction and this is grounds for impeachment. https://t.co/XVoRj1ntdP  Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) May 16, 2017

In addition to the letter sent to the FBI requesting relevant documents, Chaffetza member of Trumps own party who so far has been criticized for not standing up to the president over alleged ethical breaches and conflicts of interest chargesmade it clear Tuesday night that he was ready to use the Oversight Committees authority to secure information on this matter. The committee, Chaffetz tweeted, is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready. Here is the copy of the letter (pdf) Chaffetz sent to the FBIs Acting Director Andrew McGabe on Tuesday.

Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California and the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, also indicated he would utilize all the power at his disposal to obtain the reported memo.

Todays allegations that the President urged Director Comey to drop the investigation of Michael Flynn are among the most disturbing to date, Schiff said in a statement. Following shortly on the heels of the Presidents admission that he raised his own potential liability at a dinner with the Director and at a time when the Director was concerned about keeping his job, the allegations paint an alarming portrait of a President potentially interfering with, or worse, obstructing, the progress of the Russia investigation.

If there are notes of these meetings, he continued, they should be provided to Congress immediately  subpoenaed if necessary  and Director Comey should be brought back to testify before Congress without delay. Finally, this report further strengthens the case for the appointment of a special counsel in the Russia investigation to ensure that prosecutorial decisions are fully insulated from any White Houses effort to interfere.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License

Via Commondreams.org

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

CBS News: Comey memo: Trump asked Comey to end Flynn investigation
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University of Exeter |  

Scientists believe the modern ocean is on the edge of anoxia  and the Exeter researchers say it is critical to limit carbon emissions to prevent this.

The depletion of oxygen in the oceans is known as anoxia, and scientists from the University of Exeter have been studying how periods of anoxia end.

Dramatic drops in oceanic oxygen, which cause mass extinctions of sea life, come to a natural end  but it takes about a million years.

They found that the drop in oxygen causes more organic carbon to be buried in sediment on the ocean floor, eventually leading to rising oxygen in the atmosphere which ultimately re-oxygenates the ocean.

Once you get into a major event like anoxia, it takes a long time for the Earths system to rebalance, said lead researcher Sarah Baker, a geographer at the University of Exeter.

This shows the vital importance of limiting disruption to the carbon cycle to regulate the Earth system and keep it within habitable bounds.

The researchers, who also include Professor Stephen Hesselbo from the Camborne School of Mines, studied the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, which took place 183 million years ago and was characterized by a major disturbance to the global carbon cycle, depleted oxygen in Earths oceans and mass extinction of marine life.

Numerical models predicted that increased burial of organic carbon  due to less decomposition and more plant and marine productivity in the warmer, carbon-rich environment  should drive a rise in atmospheric oxygen, causing the end of an anoxic event after one million years.

To test the theory, the scientists examined fossil charcoal samples to see evidence of wildfires  as such fires would be more common in oxygen-rich times.

They found a period of increased wildfire activity started one million years after the onset of the anoxic event, and lasted for about 800,000 years.

We argue that this major increase in fire activity was primarily driven by increased atmospheric oxygen, said Baker.

Our study provides the first fossil-based evidence that such a change in atmospheric oxygen levels could occur in a period of one million years.

The increase in fire activity may have also helped end ocean anoxia by burning and reducing the amount of plants on land.

This is because plants can help to erode rocks on the land that contain nutrients needed for marine life  therefore with fewer plants, fewer nutrients are available to be carried to the sea and used to support marine life in the oceans.

Less marine life  that would use oxygen to breathe  would mean less oxygen being used in the oceans, and could therefore help the oceans to build up a higher oxygen content, ending anoxia.

It may therefore be essential to maintain the natural functioning of wildfire activity to help regulate the Earth system in the long-term, the researchers say.

The charcoal sediment tests were carried out at Mochras in Wales and Peniche, Portugal.

The paper, published in the journal Nature Communications, is entitled: Charcoal evidence that rising atmospheric oxygen terminated Early Jurassic ocean anoxia.

The research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

Via University of Exeter



Related video added by Juan Cole:

UCSD Ocean Scientists:

Ocean Deoxygenation: Our Oceans Oxygen Supply & Demand Issue
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

Two really big egos met Tuesday at the White House, as Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan consulted with Donald Trump.

The two countries are deeply divided over Syria policy. Syria is actually several wars at once:

Rebels are fighting the Baath regime of Bashar al-Assad.

An al-Qaeda-linked group is allied with the rebels and spearheading the fight against the regime in the northwest.

ISIL (ISIS, Daesh) is ensconced in the east, imposing a radical fundamentalist cult. It opposes the regime, the rebels and the Kurds.

The Kurdish Democratic Union party controls the northeast. It opposes ISIL and has bad relations with Sunni Arab fundamentalist rebels.

So which of these fights do outside powers prioritize?

The US says, go after ISIL first. That means allying with the Kurds, the only group on the ground with the will to defeat ISIL as its top goal, since ISIL is an aggressive neighbor and has it in for the Kurds.

Second, the US says, al-Qaeda in the northwest needs to either be defeated or to radically de-radicalize.

A tertiary US goal is to see al-Assad step down under pressure from what Washington sees as moderate rebels.

The conflict between the US and Turkey is mainly about how you order these priorities.

Turkey says:

Goal number one is to defeat the Democratic Union Party (PYD) of the Syrian Kurds and make sure it is subordinated to whatever Arab government emerges in Damascus. Ankara sees the PYD and its paraamilitary, the YPG, as linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party, which both Turkey and the US tag as a terrorist organization.

Overthrowing al-Assad is task number two, which means strong backing for the Sunni Arab rebels and winking at the al-Qaeda connection of some of them.

Erdogan goal number three, if it can someday be gotten around to, is to roll up ISIL. But maybe leave it there for a while to put pressure on al-Assad from one side and the Kurds on the other.

Inasmuch as Erdogan has backed Sunni rebels in the far north of the country against ISIL, it wouldnt be true to say hes done nothing against the phony caliphate. But rolling it up in Raqqa just isnt his top priority.

So the US is backing the Kurds as its number one priority, in order to get at ISIL, and that is the opposite of Turkeys policy.

The Syria priorities have roiled relations between the two countries, for which ERdogan blames the Obama administration.

Erdogan said as he was going to Washington,

Erdogan is wrong. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has obviously looked at the Syria battle plan and decided that the alliance with the Kurds is the ony practical approach to defeating ISIL. Moreover, it is necessary for the US to synchronize Syria policy with Iraq, where Kurds are also US allies.

Im not sure Trump can get his magpie mind around the complexities of Syria. He just patted Erdogan on the back as a good ally against terrorism. Trump has hotel investments in Istanbul, and has admitted that he has a conflict of interest in dealing with Turkey, as a result.

What matters is that Mattis has ordered US priorities opposite from those of Turkey, in continuity with the Obama Pentagon under Ash Carter, and so Washington-Ankara relations are going to remain difficult.



Related video added by Juan Cole:

PBS Newshour: Trump meets with Turkeys Erdogan amid slew of tensions
The city of Lincoln cannot unilaterally change its long-standing practice of allowing street maintenance workers to volunteer for standby status during bad winter weather, according to a state appellate court decision.

That change requires union support and must be part of union negotiations, said the state Court of Appeals, upholding a decision by the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations.

For more than 20 years, employees volunteered for standby status during winter months, permitting the city to call them into work during bad weather.

In January 2015 the city changed that policy, placing employees on mandatory standby status. Street maintenance workers on standby status were required to report for duty when called. And if called, they were required to work 12-hour shifts, on a 7-day per week basis, or face disciplinary action, according to the courts decision.

The city had argued that the changes were part of management prerogative, not subject to bargaining with the union.

The CIR and the Court of Appeals said the changes affected the hours, terms and conditions of employment and were therefore a mandatory subject of bargaining with PAGE (Public Association of Government Employees).

The city has not decided whether to appeal the decision to the Nebraska Supreme Court, said Jeff Kirkpatrick, city attorney.

The mandatory plan was more than simply scheduling work, according to the decision.

It would force employees to work 12-hour shifts, instead of eight- or 10-hour shifts and would require employees to forgo their weekends off. The union argued that the mandatory standby meant people could not plan ahead for their weekends. They could not guarantee they would be able to go to Lied concerts, for example.

These matters of employee work hours are a mandatory subject of bargaining, according to the decision.
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - May 17, 2017) - Trek Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE: TREK) ("Trek" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that initial drilling in Piaba West has intersected 3.90 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au") over 11.0 metres in a step-out drill hole located 300 metres along strike of the currently defined Piaba gold deposit at its 100%-owned Aurizona Gold Mine ("Aurizona") in Brazil. Results from the initial 18 shallow holes totalling 1,594 metres have successfully demonstrated that significant gold mineralization persists below the shallow, westernmost reserve pit and that the Piaba gold deposit extends along strike at least 300 metres to the west.

Drilling highlights include:

3.90 g/t Au over 11.0 m in BRAZP575

1.95 g/t Au over 4.0 m and 2.17 g/t Au over 5.0m in BRAZP580

28.16 g/t Au over 4.0 m including 112 g/t over 1.0 m in BRAZP582

2.63 g/t Au over 9.0 m in BRAZP572

0.99 g/t Au over 15.0 m in BRAZP571

1.22 g/t Au over 33.0 m including 2.27 g/t Au over 11.0 m in BRAZP569

"Encountering ore grade intercepts along strike is exactly the result we were looking for," said Scott Heffernan, EVP Exploration of Trek. "Drilling at Piaba West is ongoing and will further test the continuity of mineralization along strike from current gold reserves in the Piaba gold deposit."

Drill hole BRAZP575, located 300 metres beyond the westernmost edge of the existing Piaba pit, encountered 3.90 g/t Au over 11.0 metres from 49 metres down hole. BRAZP576 was collared a further 100 metres west of BRAZP575 and ended in mineralization grading 0.71 g/t gold over 6.0 metres at a depth of 110 metres, indicating that mineralization continues for an additional 100 metres along strike but may dip to the southwest.

Table of the Company's 2017 exploration drill results to date



Map showing the Company's 2017 exploration drill holes and highlight results to date





"These initial results support our expectation that the Piaba gold deposit continues at depth and along strike to the west," said Christian Milau, CEO of Trek. "Successful infill drilling below the western end of the pit and in the identified extension should lead to an increase in Aurizona gold resources and an extension of the mine life."

Current gold reserves at Aurizona are contained primarily within the Piaba gold deposit which remains open along strike and to depth. Piaba West is a potential 900-metre long extension of the Piaba gold deposit and is the first of several near-mine targets to be drilled as part of the Company's planned 30,000-metre 2017 exploration program at Aurizona. Trek's immediate priority is to follow the mineralization along strike and down plunge, and to increase drill hole density below the western edge of the current reserve pit and the initial 300-metre extension. An additional 600 metres of westerly strike will be tested upon receipt and interpretation of a recently completed 38,000 line-km airborne magnetic and radiometric survey.

Invitation to Trek Mining Open House

Trek is hosting an open house at its office in Vancouver at the end of May, providing an opportunity for existing and potential investors to meet Trek's executive team and discuss ongoing activities at the Company's portfolio of projects. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by May 22 to Rhylin Bailie by phone at +1 604-260-0516 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

When: Sunday, May 28 from 4-6pm Monday, May 29 from 4-6pm Where: Suite 730, 800 West Pender St., Vancouver RSVP: +1 604-260-0516 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About the Aurizona Gold Mine

The current reserve and resource model for Aurizona outlines a 6.5-year mine life based on reserves identified in the Piaba and Boa Esperanca pits. Gold mineralization is structurally controlled by subvertical, strike-slip shear zones occurring along significant lithological contact between metavolcano-sedimentary units and intrusive rocks. Host rocks are hydrothermally altered quartz diorite and plagioclase-quartz diorite rocks. The mineralization style is disseminated stockwork and vein-hosted sulphides and gold within a silicified shear zone. Gold mineralization at Piaba West is hosted in a northern, hanging wall sequence composed mainly of diorite and quartz diorite intrusives with subordinate dacitic volcanics. Additional information about Aurizona is available in the September 2016 "Pre-feasibility Study on Aurizona Mine Project, Maranhao, Brazil, NI 43-101 Technical Report" that is available on the Company's website and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Trek Mining Inc.

Trek is a Canadian mining company with a portfolio of production, near-production and exploration-stage projects in North and South America. The Company is producing gold from its Koricancha Mill, a custom-built gold and silver ore processing facility in Peru, and is completing a feasibility study for its past-producing Aurizona Gold Mine in Brazil, with the objective of pouring gold at Aurizona by the end of 2018. Trek's exploration properties include both near-mine and district exploration opportunities at Aurizona; the Warintza project, a porphyry copper-molybdenum exploration project in Southeastern Ecuador; the Ricardo project, a porphyry copper-molybdenum exploration project in Chile; and Elk Gold, a past-producing high-grade gold mine in British Columbia, Canada. Further information about Trek's business strategy and portfolio of assets is available at www.trekmining.com or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Qualified Person and Disclosure Statement

Scott Heffernan, M.Sc., P.Geo., the Company's EVP Exploration and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained in this news release is accurate and approves the written disclosure of the same. Drill composites were calculated using cut-off values of 0.3 g/t, 1.0 g/t or 5.0 g/t gold as specified in the drill table and contain no more than 3 metres of internal waste. Drill intersections are calculated using uncut assays and are reported as drilled thicknesses. True widths of the mineralized intervals are interpreted to be 60 to 90 percent of the reported lengths. All samples were submitted to ALS Chemex in Belo Horizonte, Brazil for sample preparation. Sample pulps were then sent to ALS Chemex in Lima, Peru for geochemical analysis for gold by fire assay of a 30-gram charge with an Atomic Absorption finish (AA) and for a 33 multi-element geochemical suite by 4-acid digestion and Inductively-Coupled Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples with AA gold values over 5.0 g/t are re-assayed using a Gravimetric Finish (Grav). Control samples (accredited standards, blanks and duplicate samples at the field and preparation stages) were inserted on a regular basis. Results were monitored upon receipt of assays.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 17, 2017) - Irving Resources Inc. (CSE:IRV)(CSE:IRV.CN)(CNSX:IRV) ("Irving" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Irving Resources Japan GK, has recently acquired the Eniwa Gold Project, Hokkaido, Japan.

Eniwa Gold Project

Irving recently filed applications for 20 mineral prospecting licenses totaling 56.15 sq km (5,615 hectares) covering a prospective area approximately 20 km south of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan (Figure 1). All applications have been accepted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI"), Hokkaido Bureau, and a multi-step review now begins for the final approval. Mitsui Mineral Development Engineering Co., Ltd. ("MINDECO") is assisting the Company throughout the process.

The Eniwa Gold Project encompasses areas in or around the historic Koryu and Eniwa mines, both of which exploited high-grade epithermal Au-Ag veins on a limited basis. Both mines closed abruptly due to the Gold Mine Closure Act in 1943. Koryu mine saw brief periods of mining and exploration activity in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970-80s, but Eniwa mine remained closed. Veins at both mines are hosted by Miocene and Neogene volcanic and sedimentary rocks and are associated with local structural doming believed related to underlying magmatic intrusions, a possible source of mineralization. Banded quartz-adularia veins with ginguro, a Japanese term for dark grey bands of fine-grained silver and gold-rich minerals, characterize mineralization. Precious metal-rich, silica-rich veins are the focus of Irving's exploration strategy in Japan where such material is routinely utilized as smelter flux by the numerous base metals smelters throughout the country.

Irving decided to apply for prospecting licenses at Eniwa based on historic references highlighting un-mined mineralized veins within the historic mines and in surrounding areas as well as stream sediment gold data, rock chip geochemical data, whole rock oxigen isotopic data and airborne magnetic data that were conducted by MMAJ (Metal Mining Agency of Japan) between 1995-2002. All of these references suggests the extent of anomalous geochemistry and alteration extends well beyond these mine sites. The anomalous areas remain un-drilled.

With Eniwa, Irving now holds five highly prospective precious metal projects in Japan, four on the island of Hokkaido (Omui, Utanobori, Rubeshibe) and one on Sado Island. Irving plans reconnaissance level prospecting and sampling at Eniwa later this year.

Additional Surface Rights Lease at Omui Project

At its Omui Au-Ag project, Irving recently entered into a long-term lease of surface rights. According to the terms of the lease, Irving has paid approximately JPY6,500,000 cash (approximately CAD $79,000) for access to 86.9 hectares (0.869 sq km) for the initial five years. The lease is a five-year term and can automatically be extended for up to three additional five-year periods. These surface rights are considered critical for Irving to proceed with mining work.

Quinton Hennigh (Ph.D., P.Geo.) is the Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release. Dr. Hennigh is a technical advisor and director of Irving Resources Inc.

About Irving Resources Inc.:

Irving is a junior exploration company searching for opportunities in certain countries, including Japan. In addition to its Japanese precious metals projects, Irving holds, through a subsidiary, three Project Venture Agreements with JOGMEC for joint regional exploration programs in the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Malawi and the Republic of Madagascar. JOGMEC is a government organization established under the law of Japan, administrated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, and is responsible for stable supply of various resources to Japan through the discovery of sizable economic deposits of base, precious and rare metals.

Additional information can be found on the Company's website: www.IRVresources.com.
KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO--(Marketwired - May 17, 2017) - Robert Friedland, Executive Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN)(OTCQX:IVPAF), and Lars-Eric Johansson, Chief Executive Officer, announced today that the company has completed an independently verified, updated Mineral Resource estimate for the extremely-high-grade Kakula Discovery on the tier one Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project, near the mining centre of Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Kamoa-Kakula Project is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The new Mineral Resource estimate covers a strike length of approximately 7.7 kilometres along the eastern section of the Kakula Discovery. It boosts the tonnage of Kakula's estimated Indicated Resources by 75% compared to the October 2016 resource estimate - which covered a strike length of 4.1 kilometres.

Kakula's Indicated Resources increased by 50 million tonnes, to the current total of 116 million tonnes at 6.09% copper, at a 3% cut-off grade. This compares to 66 million tonnes at 6.59% copper estimated in October 2016, also at a 3% cut-off grade.

Kakula's new estimated Inferred Resources are an additional 12 million tonnes at 4.45% copper, at a 3% cut-off.

"With 12 rigs currently drilling at Kakula and Kakula West and another two rigs about to begin testing important new targets on the licence area, Kakula is an international story of discovery that has earned the mining world's attention," said Mr. Friedland.

"To keep the mine-planning process driving forward, we need to provide the mining engineers with updated resource numbers for the expanded-case preliminary economic assessment due to be issued in the third quarter."

Mr. Johansson said that the copper grades at Kakula are significantly higher than the average grades found at the adjacent, earlier Kamoa Discovery. "We're highly confident that fast-tracking mine development at Kakula will have a profound, positive impact on the economics of the overall Kamoa-Kakula Project.

"Kakula alone already has enough resources, grading 6% copper or higher, to maintain approximately 20 years of mining at a rate of six million tonnes per year. We're also confident that Kakula West has similar potential."

The new Kakula resource estimate covers approximately two thirds of the known strike extent of the high-grade, chalcocite-rich Kakula trend, which now is approaching 12 kilometres, and remains open along strike in both directions.

Kamoa-Kakula geologists now are planning for a resource estimate at the newly discovered Kakula West area, located approximately three kilometres west of the new Kakula resource boundary. Excellent visual drill intercepts at Kakula West show a rapidly expanding area of shallow copper mineralization characterized by finely disseminated chalcocite in siltstone and maroon diamictite. The style and the overall geometry of mineralization at Kakula West are typical of the high-grade Kakula trend to the east.

The Kakula Discovery is approximately 10 kilometres southwest of Kamoa's initial Kansoko Mine development. Ivanhoe and Zijin have been conducting an aggressive drilling program at the Kakula Discovery since April 2016. More than 85,000 metres of drilling have been completed. Given the outstanding success to date in delineating high-grade copper resources, the Kakula drilling program is expected to continue throughout 2017.

Nearly 200 square kilometres of the approximately 400-square-kilometre Kamoa-Kakula Project area remain untested. The Kamoa-Kakula geology team, with the assistance of its technical advisors, has intensively evaluated the structural and stratigraphic controls on mineralization of the broader Kamoa-Kakula basin. This work has highlighted at least nine high-priority targets located in the untested areas of the Kamoa-Kakula Project that are planned to be drill tested this year.

"The potential exists to find another Kakula. Or perhaps something even better," Mr. Friedland said.

Figure 1. Kamoa-Kakula mining licence shows the Kamoa and Kakula Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource areas, and the Kakula West Discovery:





The Kakula Mineral Resource estimate was prepared by Ivanhoe Mines under the direction of Dr. Harry Parker and Gordon Seibel, both RM SME, of Amec Foster Wheeler, of Reno, Nevada, in accordance with the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Dr. Parker and Mr. Seibel are the Qualified Persons for the estimate, which has an effective date of May 16, 2017.

Highlights include:

Indicated Mineral Resources total 349 million tonnes at a grade of 3.23% copper, containing 24.9 billion pounds of copper at a 1% copper cut-off. At a 2% copper cut-off, Indicated Mineral Resources total 210 million tonnes at a 4.41% copper grade, containing 20.4 billion pounds of copper. At a higher cut-off of 3% copper, Indicated Mineral Resources total 116 million tonnes at a grade of 6.09% copper, containing 15.6 billion pounds of copper.

Inferred Mineral Resources total 59 million tonnes at a grade of 2.26% copper, containing 3.0 billion pounds of copper at a 1% copper cut-off. At a 2% copper cut-off, Inferred Mineral Resources total 27 million tonnes at a 3.19% copper grade, containing 1.9 billion pounds of copper. At a higher cut-off of 3% copper, Inferred Mineral Resources total 12 million tonnes at a grade of 4.45% copper, containing 1.1 billion pounds of copper.

The average true thickness of the selective mineralized zone (SMZ) at a 1% cut-off is 12.0 metres in the Indicated Mineral Resources area and 6.4 metres in the Inferred Mineral Resources area. At a higher 3% cut-off, the average true thickness of the SMZ is 5.3 metres in the Indicated Mineral Resources area and 3.9 metres in the Inferred Mineral Resources area.

A technical report on the new resource estimate will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Ivanhoe Mines website at www.ivanhoemines.com within 45 days of the issuance of this news release.

The Kakula Mineral Resources are defined within an area covering a total area of 12.8 square kilometres at a 1% copper cut-off. The total areal extent of Indicated Mineral Resources is 9.8 square kilometres at a 1% copper cut-off and the areal extent of the Inferred Mineral Resources is 3.0 square kilometres at a 1% cut-off. The average dip of the mineralized zone in the Indicated Resources area is 15 degrees, while the average dip is 18 degrees in the Inferred Mineral Resources area.

The Kakula Discovery remains open for significant expansion along trend to the west and the southeast, while the remainder of the southern parts of the Kamoa-Kakula mining licence area remains virtually untested (see figures 2 and 3). Twelve rigs now are drilling in the Kakula Discovery Area and more than 25,000 metres have been drilled at Kakula since the start of the year.

The May 2017 Kakula Mineral Resource estimate is based on the results from approximately 61,400 metres of drilling in 121 holes. The May 2017 estimate includes drill holes completed by April 18, 2017 in the eastern section of the high-grade, chalcocite-rich Kakula trend; it does not include any holes drilled in the new Kakula West Discovery area. The October 2016 Kakula Mineral Resource estimate was based on results from approximately 24,000 metres of drilling in 65 holes.

Indicated Resources are defined when the drill-hole spacing approximates a 400-metre grid, while Inferred Resources are defined when the drill-hole spacing approximates an 800-metre grid.

The May 2017 Kakula Mineral Resource estimate was prepared by Ivanhoe Mines under the direction of Dr. Harry Parker and Gordon Seibel, both RM SME, of Amec Foster Wheeler. Dr. Parker and Mr. Seibel are the Qualified Persons for the estimate, which has an effective date of May 16, 2017. A technical report will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Ivanhoe Mines website at www.ivanhoemines.com within 45 days of the issuance of this news release.

The May 2017 Kakula Mineral Resources, along with sensitivities at various cut-offs, are shown in tables 1, 2 and 3.

Table 1. Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources at a 1% copper cut-off grade, Kakula Deposit:



Notes:

Ivanhoe's Mineral Resources Manager George Gilchrist, a Member of the Geology Society of South Africa and Professional Natural Scientist (Pr. Sci. Nat) with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), estimated the Mineral Resources under the supervision of Dr. Harry Parker and Gordon Seibel, both RM SME, who are the Qualified Persons for the Mineral Resources. The effective date of the estimate is May 16, 2017. Mineral Resources are estimated using the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves (2014). For Kakula, Mineral Resources are reported using a total copper (TCu) cut-off grade of 1% TCu and an approximate minimum thickness of 3 metres. A 1% TCu cut-off is a natural cut-off grade on the Central African Copperbelt. There are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction under assumptions of a copper price of US$3.00/lb, employment of underground, mechanized, room-and-pillar and drift-and-fill mining methods, and that copper concentrates will be produced and sold to a smelter. Mining costs are assumed to be $38/t. Concentrator and General and Administrative (G&A) costs are assumed to be $19/t. Metallurgical recovery is assumed to be 77% at the 1% TCu cut-off and 88% at the average grade of the Mineral Resource. Ivanhoe is studying (preliminary economic assessment in progress) reducing mining costs using a convergence backfill method. Reported Mineral Resources contain no allowances for hanging wall or footwall contact boundary loss and dilution. No mining recovery has been applied. Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal content.

Table 2. Kakula Deposit Indicated Mineral Resources, Sensitivity Cases:



Table 3. Kakula Deposit Inferred Mineral Resources, Sensitivity Cases:



High-grade Kakula Discovery presents transformational opportunities for Kamoa-Kakula development

Mineralization at Kakula is substantively thicker and higher grade than elsewhere on the Kamoa mining licence; it also is consistently bottom-loaded and will support the construction of selective mineralized zone (SMZ) composites at cut-offs up to at least 3% copper. The lateral consistency of mineralization at these higher cut-offs presents significant opportunities for mine planning, with large areas of the resource having average grades in excess of 6% when using the a SMZ at a cut-off of 3% copper.

The Kakula resource model was constructed using a series of nested grade shells at 1%, 2% and 3% cut-offs. A minimum thickness of approximately 3.0 metres was applied to the 3% grade shell and the outer shells were nested above and below this central shell. The resultant model allows the flexibility to show distribution of grades and thicknesses across the various grade shells and highlight Kakula's outstanding, high-grade potential.

Figures 4 and 5, below, show the distribution of grades across the 3% copper shell and the base-case 1% copper shell, respectively.

Kakula West rapidly emerging as another shallow, high-grade discovery

In March 2017, Ivanhoe announced that a new step-out hole - drilled 3.0 kilometres west of the boundary of Kakula's May 2017 Inferred Resources - intersected a relatively shallow, 16.3-metre (true width) zone of typical Kakula-style, chalcocite-rich copper mineralization similar to holes drilled in the centre of the eastern portion of the Kakula Deposit. Assays for the discovery hole - DD1124 - confirmed the high-grade discovery with assays of 5.83% copper over 8.86 metres (true width) at a 2.5% cut-off, including a 6.14-metre (true width) interval at 6.84% copper.

Subsequent drilling in and around DD1124, including DD1138 and DD1144, which both intersected relatively shallow, Kakula-style, chalcocite-rich copper mineralization, has extended the Kakula West mineralized zone to a length of more than one kilometre and a width of approximately 850 metres. The zone still is open in multiple directions. The style of copper mineralization and geometry of the high-grade zone is showing similar characteristics to the profile across the Kakula main trend to the east. Visual results show a rapidly expanding area of shallow mineralization characterized by finely disseminated chalcocite in siltstone and maroon diamictite.

The Kamoa-Kakula geological team is focused on the logging and processing of drill core from recent Kakula West drill holes now that the core processing and assaying have been completed for the drill holes that comprised the May 2017 Mineral Resource estimate.

Three of the 12 rigs currently drilling at Kakula are drilling in the Kakula West discovery area; five rigs are extending the western limit of the currently defined Kakula Resource area; two rigs are drilling expansion holes in the southeast; and two drill rigs will begin drilling infill holes between Kakula West and the Kakula Deposit.

Figure 2. Kamoa-Kakula mining licence shows the copper grades of the Kamoa and Kakula Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource areas, and the Kakula West Discovery:



Figure 3. Kakula Discovery Area showing grade of Indicated and Inferred Resource blocks at a 3% SMZ cut-off, and the Kakula West Discovery:





Figure 4. Average grades of Indicated and Inferred blocks in Kakula's 3% selective mineralized zone:





The Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource perimeters indicate a confidence classification. Cut-off criteria are applied within the perimeters to state Mineral Resources.

Figure 5. Average grades of Indicated and Inferred blocks in Kakula's 1% selective mineralized zone:





The Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource perimeters indicate a confidence classification. Cut-off criteria are applied within the perimeters to state Mineral Resources.

Figure 6. Section along the axis on the Kakula Deposit on the section A - A'- A" - B showing drilling completed to date and composites at a 3.0% copper cut-off:





Kakula's updated resources add to an already tier one resource base at the Kamoa-Kakula Project

Kakula is the second major discovery on the Kamoa mining licence in the past nine years. The Kamoa Deposit, which was announced as a major new discovery in 2009, is now under initial development with twin declines nearing completion at the Kansoko Mine. An independent prefeasibility study was completed on the Kamoa Deposit in February 2016 and is the basis of Kamoa's current mineral reserve for the Kansoko Mine.

The combined Kamoa-Kakula Indicated Mineral Resources now total 1.10 billion tonnes grading 2.85% copper, containing 69.1 billion pounds of copper at a 1.0% copper cut-off grade and a minimum thickness of approximately three metres.

At a higher 1.4% copper cut-off grade and a minimum thickness of three metres, the combined Kamoa-Kakula Indicated Mineral Resources now total approximately one billion tonnes grading 3.02% copper, containing approximately 66 billion pounds of copper.

Kamoa-Kakula now also has Inferred Mineral Resources of approximately 191 million tonnes grading 2.37% copper and containing 10.0 billion pounds of copper, also at a 1.4% copper cut-off grade and an approximate minimum thickness of three metres.

The total consolidated Mineral Resource for the Kamoa-Kakula Project is shown in Table 4 and the sensitivity of the resource at various cut-offs is shown in Table 5.

Table 4. Consolidated Mineral Resource Statement, Kamoa-Kakula Project - May 16, 2017, 1% copper cut-off over minimum thickness of approximately 3 metres:



Notes to Accompany Kamoa Project Mineral Resource Table:

Ivanhoe's Mineral Resources Manager, George Gilchrist, Professional Natural Scientist (Pr. Sci. Nat) with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), estimated the Mineral Resources under the supervision of Dr. Harry Parker and Gordon Seibel, both RM of Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), who are the Qualified Persons for the Mineral Resource estimate. The effective date of the estimate is May 16, 2017. Mineral Resources are estimated using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources at Kamoa are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. No Mineral Reserves are currently reported at Kakula. Mineral Resources are estimated assuming underground mining methods, a copper price of US$3.30/lb (Kamoa) and US$3.00/lb (Kakula), a cut-off of 1% total copper, an approximate minimum thickness of 3 metres, and that concentrates will be produced and sent to a smelter. Tonnage and contained-copper tonnes are reported in metric units, contained-copper pounds are reported in imperial units and grades are reported as percentages. Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal content.

Table 5. Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, Kamoa-Kakula Project - May 16, 2017:



Kamoa-Kakula now ranks as one of the world's five largest copper deposits

The May 2017 Kakula estimate firmly establishes the Kamoa-Kakula Project in the ranks of the five largest copper deposits in the world - and its copper grades are the highest, by a wide margin, of the copper world's top 10 deposits (see Figure 7). Significantly, both the Kakula Discovery and the earlier Kamoa Discovery continue to remain open for expansion.

Research by Wood Mackenzie also shows that the Kamoa-Kakula Project's distinctions include the world's largest, high-grade (>2.5% copper grade) copper deposit and the world's largest, undeveloped copper deposit, based on contained copper in the project's Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources.

Figure 7. Among the world's largest copper deposits by contained copper, Kamoa-Kakula has the highest copper grades by a wide margin:



Figure 8. World's largest undeveloped copper deposits:





Figure 9. World's largest high-grade (above 2.5% copper grade) copper deposits:





Figure 10. Central African Copperbelt discoveries, ranked by resources and historical production:





Revised preliminary economic assessment underway for two six-million-tonne-per-year mines -- one at Kamoa's Kansoko Sud and one at Kakula

Following completion of the revised Kakula Mineral Resource estimate, Kamoa Copper has retained OreWin Pty. Ltd., of Australia, to prepare a follow-up preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the development of the Kakula and Kamoa deposits.

The new PEA will be based on the May 2017 Mineral Resource estimate. It is expected that the increased resource base at Kakula will support a mine capacity of approximately six million tonnes per annum (Mtpa). The Kansoko Mine capacity also is expected to be six Mtpa, giving the revised PEA a projected peak mine production of approximately 12 Mtpa from the presently delineated Kamoa and Kakula deposits. In light of the successful step-out drilling at Kakula West, as well as the potential to find additional resources in high-priority targets located in the untested parts of the Kamoa-Kakula Project area, the Kamoa-Kakula development plans will be reassessed and amended as the project advances.

The PEA also will analyze process facilities, mining planning and scheduling, including capital costs and operating costs for both mining and concentrator operations. The PEA will draw on recommendations from the Kamoa 2016 pre-feasibility study and the Kamoa-Kakula PEA issued in December 2016.

Kakula mineralization is characteristically bottom loaded. The resource estimate demonstrates that opportunities exist to mine Kakula at much higher lateral and vertical cut-offs than at Kamoa's Kansoko Sud. The clear zonation and grades in the central high-grade core should provide sequencing opportunities to mine at significantly elevated grades.

To help advance the mine-planning work at Kakula, the Kamoa technical team is proceeding with the construction of a box cut at Kakula to accommodate decline ramps that will provide underground access to the deposit.

Qualified Person and Quality Control and Assurance

The independent qualified persons for the May 2017 Kakula Mineral Resource estimate are Dr. Harry Parker and Gordon Seibel, both RM SME, of Amec Foster Wheeler. Dr. Parker and Mr. Seibel are both independent of Ivanhoe Mines.

Other scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Stephen Torr, P.Geo., Ivanhoe Mines' Vice President, Project Geology and Evaluation, a Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Torr is not independent of Ivanhoe Mines. Mr. Torr has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release not related to the current Mineral Resource estimate disclosed herein.

Ivanhoe Mines maintains a comprehensive chain of custody and quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program on assays from its Kamoa-Kakula Project. Half-sawn core is processed at the Kamoa-Kakula on-site preparation laboratory and prepared samples then are shipped by secure courier to Bureau Veritas Minerals (BVM) Laboratories in Australia, an ISO17025-accredited facility. Copper assays are determined at BVM by mixed-acid digestion with ICP finish. Industry-standard certified reference materials and blanks are inserted into the sample stream prior to dispatch to BVM. For detailed information about assay methods and data verification measures used to support the scientific and technical information, please refer to the January 20, 2017, technical report on the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project, on the SEDAR profile of Ivanhoe Mines at www.sedar.com.

Data verification for the Kakula Deposit

Dr. Parker and Mr. Seibel, (collectively the Amec Foster Wheeler QPs), reviewed the sample chain-of-custody, QA/QC procedures, and the accreditations of analytical laboratories used by Ivanhoe. The Amec Foster Wheeler QPs are of the opinion that the procedures and QA/QC are acceptable to support Mineral Resource estimation. Amec Foster Wheeler also audited the assay database, core logging and geological interpretations and found no material issues with the data as a result of these audits.

In the opinion of the Amec Foster Wheeler QPs, the data verification programs undertaken on the geological and assay data collected from the Kakula Deposit support the geological interpretations and the analytical and database quality, and the data collected, can support Mineral Resource estimation.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is advancing its three principal projects in Sub-Saharan Africa: 1) Mine development at the Platreef platinum-palladium-gold-nickel-copper discovery on the Northern Limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex; 2) mine development and exploration at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project on the Central African Copperbelt in the DRC; and 3) upgrading at the historic, high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-lead-germanium mine, also on the DRC's Copperbelt. For details, visit www.ivanhoemines.com.
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 17, 2017) - Cordoba Minerals Corp. (TSX VENTURE:CDB)(OTCQX:CDBMF) ("Cordoba" or the "Company") and its joint venture partner, High Power Exploration Inc. ("HPX"), a private mineral exploration company indirectly controlled by mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland's Ivanhoe Industries, LLC, are pleased to announce that ongoing drilling at the Alacran Project in Colombia, has continued to encounter high grade copper-gold mineralization.

Recent drill holes have recorded mineralized intercepts of up to 184 metres, many with gold and copper mineralization that are significantly higher than the grades used in the preliminary Inferred Mineral Resource statement with the potential to expand the resource envelope.

Drilling also has resulted in an enhanced understanding of the structural controls to the mineralization, providing good targets for future drilling. In addition, drilling has confirmed additional intersections of the carbonate base metals (CBM) veins, which host the bonanza-grade gold mineralization previously intersected in hole ACD036 (see January 23, 2017 news release).

Highlights

(refer to Table 1 for complete drilling results)

ACD037: 34 metres @ 0.94% copper and 0.28 g/t gold (1.15% CuEq; from 68 metres), including: 8 metres @ 2.35% copper, 0.55 g/t gold (2.77% CuEq; from 76 metres)

ACD040: 122 metres @ 0.55% copper and 0.22 g/t gold (0.72% CuEq; from 40 metres), including: 12 metres @ 2.01% copper, 0.81 g/t gold (2.63% CuEq; from 82 metres)

ACD041: 184 metres @ 0.46% copper and 0.28 g/t gold (0.67% CuEq; from 6 metres), including: 12 metres @ 1.04% copper, 2.44 g/t gold (2.90% CuEq; from 16 metres) and 2 m @ 9.82 g/t gold, 1.57% copper from 18 metres

ACD047: 128 metres @ 0.80% copper and 0.24 g/t gold (0.98% CuEq; from 0 metres), including: 34 metres @ 1.43% copper, 0.38 g/t gold (1.72% CuEq; from 74 metres)

ACD050: 42 metres @ 0.55% copper and 1.25 g/t gold (1.51% CuEq; from 76 m), including: 18 metres @ 0.98% copper, 1.50 g/t gold (2.12% CuEq; from 20 metres) 2 metres @ 11.15 g/t gold, 1.32% copper from 78 metres and 2 metres @ 7.36 g/t gold, 1.56% copper

ACD057: 114 metres @ 0.59% copper and 0.16 g/t gold (0.71% CuEq; from 0 metres), including: 8 metres @ 2.66% copper, 0.51 g/t gold (3.05% CuEq; from 106 metres)

ACD058: 28 metres @ 1.55% copper and 0.58 g/t gold (1.89% CuEq; from 214 metres) , including: 6 metres @ 4.67% copper, 1.67 g/t gold (5.45% CuEq; from 214 metres) 2 metres @ 3.4 g/t gold, 8.89% copper (from 216 metres)



Mario Stifano, President and CEO of Cordoba, commented: "Drilling at Alacran continues to identify near surface high grade copper-gold mineralization with additional CBM veins intersected in multiple holes over a 400 metre structural trend, indicating potential to identify additional bonanza grade zones and veins. Our geological understanding of the multiple mineralizing events and structural interpretation at Alacran is improving with visible gold recently intersected in drill hole ACD063, with assays pending. With strong community support, the Company is now positioned to drill deep holes around the artisanal mine workings to identify the source of the higher-grade gold and copper mineralization and target additional CBM veins at Alacran."

Gold-rich zones at the Alacran project are associated with CBM (carbonate base-metal) style veining that has a zinc-gold association and is interpreted to be a later event overprinting the copper-gold mineralization. Recent drilling analysis has shown that a north-south striking, steeply west-dipping, diorite dyke has been noted in a number of holes. This dyke appears to have a very strong correlation with high grade Cu-Au replacement mineralization and also appears to have a close affinity with high grade gold, such as the bonanza gold grade reported previously in ACD036 (0.90 meters @ 4,440 g/t gold, 10.25% copper, 24.70% zinc and 347 g/t silver). A direct magmatic-related association between high-grade copper-gold, and potentially the gold-zinc CBM veining, adds additional potential high-grade drill targets over a considerable strike length of the Alacran known mineralization.

The relationship of this dyke to mineralization is outlined in Figure 2, where additional high-grade gold has been intersected in ACD041 (2 metres @ 9.82 g/t gold, 1.57% copper), in ACD050 (2 metres @ 11.15 g/t gold, 1.3% copper and 2 metres @ 7.36 g/t gold, 1.56% copper) and ACD58 (2 metres @ 3.4 g/t gold, 8.89% copper). There is potential to follow this body down dip to the west for additional replacement-style mineralization. Another primary control on late high-grade gold mineralization at Alacran is a NNE striking fault corridor which appears to control a series of en-echelon CBM style veins (as seen in ACD036). The gold in these veins is coarse and highly "nuggety", but values typically return in excess of 5 g/t gold.

Diamond drilling, aided through detailed structural interpretation of previously intersected CBM style mineralization, will target these zones in the ongoing drill program at the Alacran project.

Discussion

Twenty-two drillholes have been completed at the Alacran project that focused on lateral extensions and continuity of copper-gold mineralization related to higher-grade zones between drill sections that to date, are drilled on approximately 100 metre spaced drill fences. Drilling was concentrated on the northern parts of the known copper-gold mineralization, some of the key results are discussed below.

On Section 855825mN one drillhole was collared to test obliquely to the south the continuity of copper-gold mineralization between sections.

ACD047 intersected 128 metres @ 0.80% copper and 0.24 g/t gold (0.98% CuEq) from surface and demonstrated higher than average grades for both copper and gold from surface over a significant interval.

On Section 855680mN,

ACD058 was drilled obliquely to the south to test the continuity of copper-gold between sections and successfully intersected a number of copper-gold rich zones that are significantly higher than the preliminary resource grades for both copper and gold. These are outlined in Table 1 and include: 80 metres @ 0.43% copper and 0.22 g/t gold (0.60% CuEq) from 114 metres including 4 metres @ 1.38% copper and 0.50 g/t gold (1.76% CuEq) from 168 metres, 28 metres @ 1.55% copper and 0.58 g/t gold (1.89% CuEq) from 214 metres including 6 metres @ 4.67% copper and 1.67 g/t gold (5.45% CuEq) from 214 metres.

was drilled obliquely to the south to test the continuity of copper-gold between sections and successfully intersected a number of copper-gold rich zones that are significantly higher than the preliminary resource grades for both copper and gold. These are outlined in Table 1 and include:

Section 855570mN, six drillholes were collared; some to test the up-dip extensions to the orebody on section and some drilled oblique to section, both north and south, to better determine the short distance variation in both copper and gold grades. The copper-gold mineralization remains open down-dip on section.

ACD050 was an oblique drillhole drilled to the south east to test the continuity of higher-grade copper-gold mineralization between section that successfully intersected multiple, large intervals of copper-gold mineralization as noted in Table 1, and include 42 metres @ 0.55% copper and 1.25 g/t gold (1.51% CuEq) from 76 metres.

was an oblique drillhole drilled to the south east to test the continuity of higher-grade copper-gold mineralization between section that successfully intersected multiple, large intervals of copper-gold mineralization as noted in Table 1, and include ACD041 was drilled to the west to better define structural controls of stratigraphy on copper-gold mineralization down-dip and successfully intersected a large interval of copper-gold mineralization that incorporated 184 metres @ 0.46% copper and 0.28 g/t gold (0.67% CuEq) from 6 metres and included a number of higher-grade intervals as outlines in Table 1 including: 12 metres @ 1.04% copper and 2.44 g/t gold (2.90% CuEq) from 16 metres, and 12 metres @ 1.09% copper and 0.20 g/t gold (1.24% CuEq) from 106 metres.

was drilled to the west to better define structural controls of stratigraphy on copper-gold mineralization down-dip and successfully intersected a large interval of copper-gold mineralization that incorporated from 6 metres and included a number of higher-grade intervals as outlines in Table 1 including: Drillholes ACD052 , ACD055 and ACD056 was a fan of drillholes testing the short distance variation of copper-gold grades and also was targeting interpreted CBM vein targets. Results are outlined in Table 1 and include: 42 metres @ 0.77% copper and 0.45 g/t gold (1.11% CuEq) from 78 metres (ACD052)

, and was a fan of drillholes testing the short distance variation of copper-gold grades and also was targeting interpreted CBM vein targets. Results are outlined in Table 1 and include:

On Section 855440mN, three drillholes were collared to test the up-dip extensions of copper-gold mineralization to the east, copper-gold mineralization between drillholes ACD034 and ASA001 and an oblique drillhole to the north to test for continuity of copper-gold mineralization between sections.

ACD037 was an infill drillhole and intersected multiple zones of copper-gold mineralization with grades above the preliminary resource grades for both copper and gold as outlined in Table 1 including: 34 metres @ 0.94% copper and 0.28 g/t gold (1.15% CuEq) from 68 metres including 8 metres @ 2.35% copper and 0.55 g/t gold (2.77% CuEq) from 76 metres and 6 metres @ 1.06% copper and 0.47 g/t gold (1.42% CuEq) from 92 metres)

was an infill drillhole and intersected multiple zones of copper-gold mineralization with grades above the preliminary resource grades for both copper and gold as outlined in Table 1 including: ACD040 was an oblique drillhole oriented to the NE to test the continuity of copper-gold mineralization between sections where it intersected a large interval of copper-gold mineralization that included numerous internal intervals that are higher than the preliminary resource grades for both copper and gold as outlined in Table 1 and include: 122 metres @ 0.55% copper and 0.22 g/t gold (0.72% CuEq) from 40m including 8 metres @ 1.05% copper and 0.51 g/t gold (1.43% CuEq) and 12 metres @ 1.05% copper and 0.51 g/t gold (1.43% CuEq).

was an oblique drillhole oriented to the NE to test the continuity of copper-gold mineralization between sections where it intersected a large interval of copper-gold mineralization that included numerous internal intervals that are higher than the preliminary resource grades for both copper and gold as outlined in Table 1 and include:

Section 855350mN was the southern-most section tested and where the most significant results were located, adding prospectivity for further advances to the south within the Alacran orebody. Three drillholes were collared to test for up-dip extensions of the copper-gold mineralization to the east, infill drilling between drillholes ASA002 and ACD023 and an oblique hole directed to the north-east to test for continuity of copper-gold mineralization between sections.

ACD053 was an infill drillhole with multiple intersections as outlined in Table 1, including: 62 metres @ 0.89% copper and 0.31 g/t gold (1.13% CuEq) from 55 m including 12 metres @ 1.12% copper and 0.65 g/t gold (1.62% CuEq) from 55 m) and 14 metres @ 2.03% copper and 0.30 g/t gold (2.26% CuEq) from 95 metres.

was an infill drillhole with multiple intersections as outlined in Table 1, including: ACD057 was collared obliquely to the north-east to test for continuity of copper-gold mineralization between sections where it intersected a significant large zone of copper-gold mineralization containing intervals at significantly higher copper and gold grades as reported in the preliminary resource estimate, intersections can be found in Table 1, they include 114 metres @ 0.59% copper and 0.16 g/t gold (0.71% CuEq) from 0 metres including 8 metres @ 1.71% copper and 0.13 g/t gold (1.81% CuEq) and 8 metres @ 2.66% copper and 0.51 g/t gold (3.05% CuEq).

was collared obliquely to the north-east to test for continuity of copper-gold mineralization between sections where it intersected a significant large zone of copper-gold mineralization containing intervals at significantly higher copper and gold grades as reported in the preliminary resource estimate, intersections can be found in Table 1, they include

Alacran Copper-Gold Project

The Alacran Copper-Gold project is located within the Company's San Matias Copper-Gold Project in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. The Alacran project is located on a topographic high in gently rolling topography, optimal for potential open-pit mining. Access and infrastructure are considered favourable. The Alacran initial, pit-constrained, Inferred Mineral Resource is 53.52 million tonnes at 0.70% copper and 0.37 g/t gold, or 0.95% copper equivalent (CuEq), including 7.37 million tonnes at 2.14% copper and 0.41 g/t gold above 1% copper (Cu) cut off (see news release dated January 5, 2017.

Alacran is approximately two kilometres southwest of the Company's Montiel porphyry copper-gold discovery, where drilling intersected 101 metres of 1.0% copper and 0.65 g/t gold, and two kilometres northwest of the Costa Azul porphyry copper-gold discovery, where drilling intersected 87 metres of 0.62% copper and 0.51 g/t gold. The copper-gold mineralization at Alacran is associated with stratabound replacement of a marine volcano-sedimentary sequence in the core of a faulted antiformal fold structure. The deposit comprises moderately to steeply-dipping stratigraphy that is mineralized as a series of sub-parallel replacement-style or skarn zones and associated disseminations. The copper-gold mineralization is composed of multiple overprinting hydrothermal events with the main ore phase comprised of chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite-pyrite that appears to overprint a large-scale early magnetite metasomatic event.

About San Matias Project

The San Matias Copper-Gold Project comprises a 20,000-hectare land package on the inferred northern extension of the richly endowed Mid-Cauca Belt in Colombia. The project contains several known areas of porphyry copper-gold mineralization, copper-gold skarn mineralization and vein-hosted, gold-copper mineralization. Porphyry mineralization at the San Matias Project incorporates high-grade zones of copper-gold mineralization hosted by diorite porphyries containing secondary biotite alteration and various orientations of sheeted and stockwork quartz-magnetite veins with chalcopyrite and bornite. The copper-gold skarn mineralization at Alacran is associated with stratabound replacement of a marine volcano-sedimentary sequence. The nature of mineralization encountered at San Matias is similar to other large high-grade copper-gold deposits.

Technical Information

The technical information has been reviewed, verified and compiled by Christian J. Grainger, Ph.D., a Qualified Person for the purpose of NI 43-101. Dr. Grainger is a geologist with over 15 years in the minerals mining, consulting, exploration and research industries. Dr. Grainger is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).

Copper-equivalent values have been calculated using a US$1,300 per ounce gold price and US$2.50 per pound copper price. All samples have been prepared and assayed at ALS laboratory in Medellin, Colombia with gold assays being carried out as 50-gram Fire-Assays with AAS finish and all trace elements and base metals being assayed using four Acid Digest with ICP-MS finish. Copper-equivalent values have been calculated using a US$1,350 per ounce gold price and US$2.20 per pound copper price. The company utilizes an industry-standard QA/QC program. HQ and NQ diamond drill-core is sawn in half with one-half shipped to a sample preparation lab. The remainder of the core is stored in a secured storage facility for future assay verification. Blanks, duplicates and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance and a portion of the samples are periodically checked for assayed result quality.

The Alacran preliminary Inferred Mineral Resource estimate was completed by Mining Associates Limited and reported by the Company on January 5, 2017, and is in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 and the 2014 Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) definition standards. Inferred Mineral Resources are considered to be too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Joint Venture Agreement

The San Matias Project is a joint venture between Cordoba and HPX, a private mineral exploration company founded by mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland. HPX has entered Phase Three of the Joint Venture Agreement, whereby HPX can earn a 65% interest in the San Matias Project by completing a feasibility study.

About High Power Exploration

HPX is a privately owned, metals-focused exploration company deploying proprietary in-house geophysical technologies to rapidly evaluate mineral prospects. The HPX technology cluster comprises systems for targeting, modelling, survey optimization, acquisition, processing and interpretation. HPX has a highly experienced board and management team led by Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Friedland, President Eric Finlayson, a former head of exploration at Rio Tinto, and co-chaired by Ian Cockerill, a former Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields Ltd. For further information, please visit www.hpxploration.com.

Table 1 - Significant intercepts from recent Alacran drilling

HoleID From To Interval

(m) CuEq

(%) Cu

(%) Au

(g/t) Cut-off

(% CuEq) True Thickness (approx % of intercept width) ACD037 40 60 20 0.47 0.30 0.21 0.3% 90-100% ACD037 68 102 34 1.15 0.94 0.28 0.3% ACD037 76 84 8 2.77 2.35 0.55 1.0% ACD037 92 98 6 1.42 1.06 0.47 1.0% ACD037 110 146 36 0.57 0.49 0.11 0.3% ACD037 160 188 28 0.56 0.47 0.11 0.3% ACD038 0 10 10 0.32 0.22 0.13 0.3% 90-100% ACD038 28 90 62 0.62 0.51 0.14 0.3% ACD038 110 116 6 1.82 0.27 2.04 0.3% ACD040 40 162 122 0.72 0.55 0.22 0.3% 70% ACD040 60 68 8 1.00 0.65 0.46 1.0% ACD040 82 90 8 1.43 1.05 0.51 1.0% ACD040 98 110 12 2.63 2.01 0.81 1.0% ACD040 170 194 24 0.48 0.36 0.15 0.3% ACD041 6 190 184 0.67 0.46 0.28 0.3% drilled down dip ACD041 16 28 12 2.90 1.04 2.44 1.0% ACD041 90 98 8 1.25 1.10 0.20 1.0% ACD041 106 118 12 1.24 1.09 0.20 1.0% ACD043 0 12 12 0.35 0.18 0.23 0.3% 90-100% ACD043 114 122 8 0.34 0.33 0.02 0.3% ACD044 12 24 12 0.61 0.55 0.08 0.3% 80-90% ACD044 32 50 18 0.70 0.62 0.11 0.3% ACD044 36 40 4 1.44 1.26 0.24 1.0% ACD044 100 122.9 22.9 0.92 0.73 0.26 0.3% ACD044 118 122 4 1.50 1.38 0.17 1.0% ACD045 48 88 40 0.54 0.48 0.08 0.3% 90-100% ACD045 70 80 10 1.15 0.95 0.26 1.0% ACD046 0 8 8 0.36 0.23 0.16 0.3% 90-100% ACD046 36 58 22 0.79 0.66 0.17 0.3% ACD046 38 44 6 1.96 1.80 0.21 1.0% ACD046 68 76 8 0.45 0.39 0.07 0.3% ACD046 90 98 8 0.39 0.32 0.08 0.3% ACD047 0 128 128 0.98 0.80 0.24 0.3% 80-90% ACD047 20 36 16 1.26 1.22 0.05 1.0% ACD047 74 108 34 1.72 1.43 0.38 1.0% ACD047 114 126 12 1.13 0.87 0.34 1.0% ACD047 146 186 40 0.66 0.52 0.18 0.3% ACD047 152 158 6 1.10 0.91 0.25 1.0% ACD047 168 172 4 1.24 1.04 0.26 1.0% ACD047 224 232 8 0.32 0.18 0.18 0.3% ACD048 0 32 32 0.40 0.27 0.17 0.3% 90-100% ACD049 4 36 32 0.36 0.27 0.12 0.3% 80-90% ACD049 58 108 50 0.82 0.61 0.29 0.3% ACD049 62 66 4 1.62 1.15 0.62 1.0% ACD049 72 76 4 1.66 1.20 0.60 1.0% ACD049 82 86 4 1.29 0.96 0.43 1.0% ACD049 116 124 8 1.22 0.96 0.34 1.0% ACD049 116 126 10 1.10 0.86 0.32 0.3% ACD049 134 208 74 0.45 0.36 0.11 0.3% ACD049 216 252 36 0.43 0.36 0.08 0.3% ACD050 30 42 12 0.37 0.34 0.04 0.3% 80-90% ACD050 56 66 10 1.50 0.22 1.68 0.3% ACD050 58 62 4 2.97 0.31 3.52 1.0% ACD050 76 118 42 1.51 0.55 1.25 0.3% ACD050 100 118 18 2.12 0.98 1.50 1.0% ACD050 126 130 4 3.29 2.68 0.80 1.0% ACD050 126 158 32 0.84 0.71 0.17 0.3% ACD050 152 156 4 1.28 1.06 0.29 1.0% ACD050 166 194 28 1.10 0.87 0.31 0.3% ACD050 168 174 6 1.15 0.82 0.44 1.0% ACD050 182 194 12 1.60 1.28 0.41 1.0% ACD050 236 244 8 1.01 0.74 0.35 0.3% ACD050 238 242 4 1.44 1.06 0.50 1.0% ACD051 26 120 94 0.64 0.53 0.14 0.3% 80-90% ACD051 132 162 30 0.39 0.29 0.14 0.3% ACD051 170 176 6 0.58 0.25 0.44 0.3% ACD051 206 220 14 0.91 0.62 0.38 0.3% ACD051 210 218 8 1.33 1.01 0.43 1.0% ACD052 6 34 28 0.37 0.28 0.11 0.3% 80-90% ACD052 48 70 22 0.50 0.29 0.28 0.3% ACD052 78 120 42 1.11 0.77 0.45 0.3% ACD052 106 118 12 2.09 1.43 0.87 1.0% ACD052 128 150 22 1.01 0.80 0.28 0.3% ACD052 130 138 8 1.68 1.27 0.53 1.0% ACD052 180 192 12 0.36 0.29 0.10 0.3% ACD053 0 43 43 0.56 0.33 0.31 0.3% 90-100% ACD053 55 67 12 1.62 1.12 0.65 1.0% ACD053 55 117 62 1.13 0.89 0.31 0.3% ACD053 95 109 14 2.26 2.03 0.30 1.0% ACD053 127 147 20 0.40 0.32 0.10 0.3% ACD053 155 163 8 0.39 0.33 0.08 0.3% ACD053 173 203 30 0.46 0.39 0.09 0.3% ACD055 2 36 34 0.36 0.24 0.16 0.3% 90-100% ACD055 54 62 8 0.33 0.27 0.08 0.3% ACD055 74 110 36 0.63 0.45 0.23 0.3% ACD055 88 102 14 1.04 0.79 0.34 1.0% ACD055 122 196 74 0.72 0.53 0.25 0.3% ACD055 128 146 18 1.25 0.94 0.41 1.0% ACD055 178 186 8 1.13 0.80 0.44 1.0% ACD056 0 12 12 0.32 0.24 0.10 0.3% 80-90% ACD056 16 26 10 0.31 0.23 0.10 0.3% ACD056 94 130 36 0.58 0.42 0.21 0.3% ACD056 114 118 4 1.33 1.06 0.36 1.0% ACD056 146 150 4 2.24 1.69 0.72 1.0% ACD056 146 156 10 1.41 1.03 0.50 0.3% ACD056 170 182 12 0.71 0.53 0.23 0.3% ACD057 0 114 114 0.71 0.59 0.16 0.3% 70% ACD057 4 8 4 1.17 0.90 0.36 1.0% ACD057 86 94 8 1.81 1.71 0.13 1.0% ACD057 106 114 8 3.05 2.66 0.51 1.0% ACD058 56 68 12 0.51 0.48 0.03 0.3% 50% ACD058 114 194 80 0.60 0.43 0.22 0.3% ACD058 168 172 4 1.76 1.38 0.50 1.0% ACD058 180 186 6 1.36 1.16 0.27 1.0% ACD058 214 242 28 1.89 1.55 0.58 0.3% ACD058 214 220 6 5.45 4.67 1.67 1.0% ACD058 228 240 12 1.14 0.86 0.36 1.0% ACD058 256 314 58 0.42 0.30 0.17 0.3% ACD058 306 310 4 1.57 1.16 0.55 1.0%
By Jun Ji-hye



A group of North Korean defectors said Wednesday that they have lodged a complaint with White House officials against U.S. President Donald Trump's positive remarks about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.



During his interview with Bloomberg News, May 1, Trump said he was "absolutely" willing and would be "honored" to meet with the North's young leader, though such a meeting could only take place "under the right circumstances."



Ten North Korean defectors were visiting Washington, and their schedule included a visit to the White House, according to Park Sang-hak, chief of the Fighters for Free North Korea, who was among them.



"We arrived at the White House about four hours after President Trump's interview was published," Park said.



"We lodged a strong complaint with the National Security Council (NSC) officials in charge of affairs on the Korean Peninsula. We told them how Trump said he would be honored to meet with a flagrant, anti-human criminal."



The defectors noted that the NSC officials told them the media interview was exaggerated to some extent.



White House press secretary Sean Spicer earlier said Trump's use of the word "honored" was because "Kim is still a head of state."



"There is a diplomatic piece to this," Spicer said.








By Kim Se-jeong



The Seoul Metropolitan Government is seeking to recruit 150 middle- and high-school students interested in mingling with their peers from different cultural backgrounds.



Applicants should be residents of the Gwanak, Guro and Geumcheon districts, and each local council will choose 50 students.



They will be paired with immigrant students of the same age and do activities with them in a project to help them feel at home and overcome challenges facing them in a new culture.



The number of immigrant children is on the rise, as Korean society becomes more diverse. Challenges for those who arrive in Korea as a teenager are particularly high due to pronounced language and cultural barriers. Statistics show their school drop-out rates are higher than that of other immigrant children who were born here or arrived very early.



According to statistics, the population of such immigrant children is 4,200 in Seoul. Most children came from China at 55 percent, followed by Vietnam, Japan and the Philippines.



The opportunity is open to an student at middle and high schools in the three districts, and the application deadline is May 23.



For more information, call (02) 879-6130 for Gwangak, (02) 860-2573 for Guro and (02) 2627-2881 for Geumcheon.








This is the fourth in a series of interviews with international experts on Korea giving advice to President Moon Jae-in on how to overcome challenges and create a better future for the Korean people.  ED.

By Kim Jae-kyoung





Balbina Hwang

President Moon Jae-in should map out a long-term strategy on North Korea as the reclusive country will never give up its ambitions to become a nuclear weapons state, according to a former U.S. State Department adviser.

"It seems that Moon must settle and coordinate with the Trump administration what the next actions will be should North Korea decide to launch another missile test, even an ICBM, or conduct another nuclear test," said Balbina Hwang, a visiting professor at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies, in an interview.

But the much greater issue is what Moon's long-term approach and strategy is toward North Korea, as a whole, she added.

Hwang expects that the North Korea issue cannot be resolved in the next four years under the Trump-Moon years, whether it is defined narrowly as the nuclear or missile' issue, or even the broader issue of North Korea's regime and its continued survival.

"There can be no resolution to the North Korean issue if we mean the nuclear issue. The Kim Jung-un regime will never give up its nukes. So, unless the U.S. and South Korea are willing to pursue regime change, then it cannot be resolved," she said.

"Regime change will not be allowed by Moon, and even Trump has stated officially that regime change is not the U.S. policy," she added.

Hwang, who served as a special adviser on East Asian affairs in the George W. Bush administration, indicates that it is important for Moon to understand North Korea's rhetoric and what it aims to do with its nuclear weapons.












This is the fifth in a series of suggestions for new President Moon Jae-in.  ED.



By Kyung Moon Hwang





As President Moon Jae-in already knows, Korean history demonstrates repeatedly that big powers with interests in Korea have always acted on their own interests before Korea's. This is a basic lesson in international relations.

Meanwhile, in emerging from their biggest crisis in years, South Koreans have shown the power of the rule of law and self-governance. And even though South Korea is a young democracy, its prospects moving forward look good, despite all of the entrenched problems. This is especially reassuring because it seems everywhere else, countries are mired in nationalist autocracies or regressing toward them, including the surrounding big powers that have traditionally intervened in Korean affairs.

China and Russia, as we know, have failed to overcome their tragic modern histories by moving toward more sustainably open societies, which presents all kinds of problems to neighbors such as South Korea (see the current Chinese response to the THAAD issue). Ruled by either a party or personal dictatorship that manipulates information into a ready-made tool for inflaming nationalist sentiment, the leaders of these big powers should be dealt with politely, but at arms length.

Sadly, the same goes for the United States, historically a beacon of democratic ideals but most recently the victim of its own ugly past, namely systemic racism, the enormous influence of money in politics, and decades of increasing economic polarization. This has resulted in the election of Donald Trump, probably the most unqualified and unstable person to ever hold such a leadership position in an established democracy anywhere.

As we know, ethnic nationalism targets not only other countries but minority groups within the country. Unlike most other major nation-states, the United States has not experienced the ravages of ethnic nationalism coupled with authoritarianism, a deadly combination that resulted in the horrific tragedies of the 20th century. That is why so many Americans, deprived of such lessons, were lured by the promises of a boorish white nationalist with a shocking lack of ethics, integrity, honesty, knowledge, thought, or composure.

The next few years, or maybe months, will determine whether the United States dives deeper into this abyss or survives in defense of its best democratic traditions of self-governance and the rule of law. Soon it will likely face a constitutional crisis that will unveil threats to its core sovereignty and governing system, on a scale of corruption and misbehavior that might make the Park Geun-hye scandal look tame in comparison.

So here is my advice to President Moon: Stay away from this charlatan. Do not stain your reputation or that of your country by playing into his dreadful reality show. Knowing that the ROK-USA alliance is just as important to the US as it is to South Korea, deal instead with American officials and commanders in East Asia, who have an actual understanding of things and more direct influence over matters on the ground.

Moon Jae-in promised to move beyond the slavishly conventional subservience to the United States. But he seems already to have yielded to the absurd expectation that he will promptly visit Washington DC to pay respects to the American president, as if he were some newly enthroned Joseon dynasty monarch sending an emissary to ritually notify the Chinese emperor.

South Korea's long-term interests would be better served by publicly strengthening its economic, cultural, and political ties to other liberal democracies whose citizens have learned from history and recently resisted nationalist demagoguescountries like France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and yes, even Japan. This would be a promising sign that South Korea truly has entered a new age.

Kyung Moon Hwang is a professor at the Department of History, University of Southern California. He is the author of "A History of Korea  An Episodic Narrative" (Second edition, Palgrave Macmillan, 2016).
No one was hurt Wednesday when a tornado spawned over a farmstead west of Wisner, damaged outbuildings and moved a house from its foundation, the National Weather Service in Valley reported.

The tornado touched down at 3:48 p.m. five miles northwest of the town of 1,100 that's 27 miles east of Norfolk, Meteorologist Dave Fobert said.

It was the only tornado spawned from an upper-level, low pressure system that moved across northeast Nebraska, Fobert said.

Meanwhile Wednesday, Lincoln and Southeast Nebraska saw only heavy rain from isolated storms following a line of thunderstorms Tuesday that pelted the area with golf ball-size hail and blasted high winds.

Lincoln had reached 74 degrees by early Wednesday afternoon, but the temperature plummeted 16 degrees as the storms rolled in between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

At 2:30 p.m., the line of thunderstorms had pushed east of Lincoln, where any severe weather was likely to be focused for the rest of the day.

"We knew that wed probably be on the western edge of things, expecting more severe (storms) in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin," Fobert said.

Tuesday's system was more severe and sustained, featuring a stretch of storms spanning from Nebraska into Central Kansas.

Those storms brought powerful winds and heavy rain that ripped through eastern Nebraska Tuesday night, leaving behind damaged homes, farms and businesses and thousands of people without electricity.

Winds gusted to 85 mph at the National Weather Service office in Valley on Tuesday night, and an 80 mph gust was reported in Papillion.

A funnel cloud was spotted 3 miles northeast of Exeter, but no damage was reported.

The high winds knocked trees and limbs onto power lines in several areas, with Blair among the communities hardest hit. The Omaha Public Power District said nearly 1,700 customers remained without power Wednesday morning.

The Lincoln Airport recorded 1.8 inches of rain between 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Thursday should be calm before storms return by the weekend.
Generally, I am not a fan of anything from New York  the Mets, Jets or even the people. Recently, I tasted the Empire Estate riesling  and it was so good that I decided to explore the area without my anti-Big Apple bias.

New York has an ancient history of wine production and has the oldest continually running winery brotherhood, established in 1839 in the Hudson River Valley. The first bonded winery in the U.S. was in 1860  at Pleasant Valley in the Finger Lakes region.

New York is the third-largest producer by state in the U.S., but 80 percent of the grapes are vitis labrusca. This grape species is considered inferior and used for sacramental wine and grape juice. Types of these grapes include Catawba and Concord.

Vitis vinifera is the species known worldwide for making the best wine and includes cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and all the other classics of the wine world. We will be looking closely at the important wine regions, though there is nothing wrong with Manischewitz  well, yes, there is, truthfully.

Finger Lakes

This region is a long five-hour drive northwest from NYC. The area produces world-class riesling in both dry and sweet variations. Along with riesling, you will find great bottlings of chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet franc.

The lakes are very important to the region for creating wine. They protect the vineyards from frosts in the winter and also cool them during the hot summers. This helps create a temperate and long growing season, which is critical to developing healthy grapes.

This region owes all to Dr. Konstatin Frank, a transplant from the Ukraine. During the 1950s, he was the first to believe that Vinifera grapes could be planted in the region, and there would not be a New York wine industry without his contributions.

Long Island

Though only officially a wine region since 1973, some of the most exciting wines come from this region. Its wineries are all within 11 miles of the Atlantic, and many winemakers are growing Bordeaux varieties due to the similar maritime climates. The cabernet francs, merlots and sauvignon blancs from this region are especially noteworthy. There is also experimentation with Syrah, Friulano, Refosco and some remarkable sparkling wines as well.

Lake Erie and Niagara Escarpment

The Lake Erie AVA also includes part of Pennsylvania, and 95 percent of the grapes are Concord and destined for a Welchs can in your local market. The other 5 percent produces wonderful riesling as well as some interesting hybrid varieties. The Niagara Escarpment  taking notes from the Ontario wines across the border  is making fabulous ice wines in response to its harsh weather conditions. Ice wines are an epiphany; the grapes are frozen and pressed to create a sweet wine that is luscious, aromatic and acidic!

Hudson River Region

Just north of NYC, this region is unique for focusing on French hybrids. The region has a rigid system of practices for grapes such as Noiret, Dechaunac and Seyval Blanc. A hybrid is a combination of a vitis vinifera and a vitis labrusco clone. This is a huge wine region with a potential of 220,000 acres.

While I will continue to boo the Yankees, I sure love this Empire Estate riesling!!
So far it has cost Saudi Arabia something like $200 billion to undertake one of the most expensive experiments of all time. The Saudi government has been draining its massive $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund to cover revenues lost from the petroleum price collapse over the past couple of years.

What were witnessing is a two-part test. The first question is how much damage have low oil prices caused Americas shale industry. Then the second and far more critical part of the test: As oil prices rise, will the shale industry limp or roar back? If it roars back, high oil prices are history. Odds are now that in 2017 we will witnessalong with the oil princes of Arabiathe outcome. However it goes, the economic and geopolitical implications are enormous. And the outcome has more to do with technology than with politics.

Nothing is Bigger Than Oil

But before delving into all that, some underlying realities: This is no small battle. Oil is the worlds biggest traded commodity, bigger than all the minerals and metals combined, bigger than agriculture. And despite decades of hype, hope and subsidies, petroleum fuels 95 percent of the machines used to move all people and all goods for all purposes, trade included. The world today uses more oil than at any other time in history and every forecastincluding a recent lamentation about this reality from the International Energy Agencypredicts demand will increase for the usefully foreseeable future. And of deep geopolitical relevance, of the worlds five economic regions that account for 75 percent of global GDPEurope, China, India, Japan and North Americafour of them will see rising dependency on petroleum imports. North America, especially the United States, is the outlier with exactly the reverse trend.

As for the Saudi experiment, it distills to answering a basic question....

Read the entire piece here at the University of Mary's 360 Review

______________________

Mark P. Mills is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a faculty fellow at Northwestern Universitys McCormick School of Engineering, and author of Expanding America's Petroleum Power: Geopolitics in the Third Oil Era. Follow him on Twitter here.
BBC, Tuesday, May 16, 2017 8:10 AM

The BBC reports there is a suspicion that a sophisticated cyber criminal ring with links to North Korea is behind the attack on computer systems around the world, including the NHS in the UK. Clues in the code point toward the Lazarus Group which has been held responsible for the attack on Sony Pictures in 2014.

Read the whole story at BBC 
The Guardian, Wednesday, May 17, 2017 6:35 AM

Facebook has been issued a 150,000-Euro fine by France's data protection watchdog and is still under investigation by its equivalent in the Netherlands, Germany and Spain. The fine is for using data from third-party Web sites to offer more targeted advertising on Facebook. The social media giant disagrees, claiming it should be monitored by the Irish data watchdog where it is based.

Read the whole story at The Guardian 
by Wayne Friedman , May 17, 2017

Sling TV says marketers can now bid in real-time on anonymous targeted commercial impressions for its over-the-top (OTT) service.

Joining the list of TV platforms looking to meet marketers demands for new advertising targeting/buying efforts, Sling TV, a partnership with supply-side video serving company SpotX, will allow marketers to target addressable consumer segments.

These segments will be anonymously matched with Sling TV subscribers for ads to be inserted in live and on-demand content via SpotXs platform.

For example, this could be "would-be-vacationers," "auto intenders" and "back-to-school shoppers," says the company. The Dish Network-owned OTT service says these segments are the first of many to come.

Were creating turn-key, off-the-shelf segments for brands seeking the most popular audiences at a given time, stated Adam Lowy, director of advanced TV and digital sales with Dish Media Sales and Sling TV.

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Sling TV impressions are also available on demand-side platforms through the SpotXs video ad serving platform: Adobe, AOL, AppNexus, BrightRoll, DataXu, Google DBM, MediaMath, The Trade Desk, Turn, VideoAmp and Videology.

Three major TV/media companies -- 21st Century Fox, Turner, and Viacom -- recently started Open AP, an effort that will, in part, look to standardize new TV audiences -- on traditional linear TV and on digital media --- to be sold to TV advertisers.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 17, 2017

Facebook has defeated a lawsuit accusing it of violating users' privacy by gleaning data from health sites in order to send people targeted ads.

The complaint, brought in 2016 by a Missouri resident proceeding under the pseudonym "Winston Smith," alleged that Facebook gathered data about users' visits to a host of sites, including ones operated by the American Cancer Society, Melanoma Research Foundation and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Facebook gathers this data via the "Like" button, according to the court papers.

Smith and the other users claimed that Facebook violated several privacy laws, including the federal wiretap act, which prohibits companies from intercepting transmissions without at least one party's consent.

Smith and the others also sued the Web site operators for allegedly violating the wiretap act, and their own privacy policies, which promised to refrain from sharing users' personally identifiable information.

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Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila in the Northern District of California quietly dismissed all claims against Facebook and the health sites.

He ruled that the users consented to Facebook's data-gathering efforts, which the company discloses online. Facebook's "Data Policy" provides that the site collects information from third-party sites that use Facebook services, including the "Like" button and Facebook log-in button. "This includes information about the websites and apps you visit, your use of our Services on those websites and apps, as well as information the developer or publisher of the app or website provides to you or us," Facebook says in its policy.

Davila also ruled that he lacked jurisdiction over the American Cancer Society and other health site operators because they aren't based in California.

Internet law expert Eric Goldman, a professor at Santa Clara University, notes that some of the issues presented by this lawsuit were first litigated more than 14 years ago in a lawsuit against marketing company Pharmatrack. In that matter, Pharmatrack allegedly used cookies to track people at pharmaceutical companies' Web sites.

That matter, like the allegations against Facebook, hinged on whether the users' consented to online tracking.

A federal appellate court ruled in 2003 that Web users could proceed with claims that Pharmatrack violated the wiretap law, ruling that the users didn't consent to have their communications accessed by Pharmatrak.

"The efforts to grab data aren't a new thing," Goldman says. "The demand has been there for decades."
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, May 17, 2017

As the centerpiece of a rebranding push targeting working moms, Red Baron pizza is introducing a female counterpart to its namesake male brand character, called the Baroness.

The brand says that the Red Baron is stepping aside after 40 years to make way for the new audience targeting strategy and a new voice to support it.

The multi-year marketing campaign  a major directional shift for the nations second-largest frozen pizza brand  takes a humorous approach to celebrating working mothers that was informed and created by members of the target audience, according to the brand.

The research confirmed that women feel that smart, relatable female brand characters are all too scarce, particularly in the CPG categories that are shopped by most frequently by women.

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We listened to a lot of moms  friends, consumers, team members  who didnt see themselves in a lot of the picture-perfect moms usually portrayed in TV and advertising, said April Anslinger, chief growth officer, Schwans Consumer Brands, Inc., who is herself a mom.

The Baroness character is a working mother who wears a bomber jacket adorned with badges earned by acing the roles and battles that moms face each day, such as Tantrum Slayer and Clean Plate Club. Other badges bear mom-isms like Nailed It and Whatever Works.

The character understands that parenting doesnt always mean perfection, and speaks to busy moms as only another mom can  by finding humor in the often-hectic moments of motherhood, and by sharing patches to remind moms just how well they are doing, every day, even when they dont realize it, said Anslinger.

The Baroness was created by a team of working moms (who felt like smart, relatable women were missing from the abundance of brand characters in advertising and marketing  especially within the consumer packaged goods space  a category shopped most frequently by women/moms.

The Baroness was unveiled in a 30-second online spot (below)  which will start airing nationally on television in July  in which she swaps mom war stories with Kristin Hensley, star and co-creator of the popular Web series #IMomSoHard. The character presents Hensley with a badge for accomplishments including mopping up spilled milk with a sock and continuing to wear it (above)  and serving Red Baron, resulting in her family finishing their entire dinner willingly.

Hensley and her family will also interact with the Baroness in other new advertising creative.

Beyond the videos, the brand will encourage moms to share them as symbols of support and empowerment. Red Baron will offer patches through surprise and delight efforts, including creating personalized versions for moms who share their war stories in real time using #WingMama, and through influencer partnerships with real moms wearing and sharing their patches.

The character has her own Facebook and Twitter accounts to foster ongoing interaction with moms.

The campaign will also include custom media content through Romper.com and People.com, and influencer, public relations and shopper marketing elements.
The Caregiver Education Group will hear from Lee Nyberg of Home Care Assistance at its 1:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday (May 23) in Room 155 of Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 M St.

Nyberg, who writes monthly columns for the Alzheimer's Alert pages in the Neighborhood Extra, will discuss the "17 Joys of Caregiving." She will share the value of humor and laughter in the caregiving journey and how to use humor to keep yourself healthy and lighten your day.

"Everyone needs to keep healthy," said Caregiving Group spokeswoman Suzy Campbell. "Caregivers especially need to take care of themselves so they are able to care for their loved ones. This will be invaluable information for all caregivers, family members, pastors/church members, friends, and neighbors as well as professional care providers."

The Caregiver Education Group and Saint Paul United Methodist Church sponsor meetings for caregivers the fourth Tuesday of each month. There is time allowed for discussion and sharing after the presentation.

Jen Wolf-Wubbels from Southlake Village, a member of the Lincoln Caregiver Education Group, provides refreshments each month.
BAE Systems plc provides defense, aerospace, and security solutions worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Electronic Systems, Cyber & Intelligence, Platforms & Services (US), Air, and Maritime. The Electronic Systems segment offers electronic warfare systems, navigation systems, electro-optical sensors, military and commercial digital engine and flight controls, precision guidance and seeker solutions, military communication systems and data links, persistent surveillance systems, space electronics, and electric drive propulsion systems. The Cyber & Intelligence segment provides solutions to modernize, maintain, and test cyber-harden aircraft, radars, missile systems, and mission applications that detect and deter threats to national security; systems engineering, integration, and sustainment services for critical weapons systems, C5ISR, and cyber security; and solutions and services to intelligence and federal/civilian agencies. It also offers data intelligence solutions to defend against national-scale threats, protect their networks, and data against attacks; security and intelligence solutions to the United Kingdom government and allied international governments; anti-fraud and regulatory compliance solutions; and enterprise-level data and digital services. The Platforms & Services (US) segment manufactures combat vehicles, weapons, and munitions, as well as provides ship repair services and the management of government-owned munitions facilities. The Air segment develops, manufactures, upgrades, and supports combat and jet trainer aircraft. The Maritime segment designs, manufactures, and supports surface ships, submarines, torpedoes, radars, and command and combat systems; and supplies naval gun systems. It also supplies naval weapon systems, missile launchers, and precision munitions. The company was founded in 1970 and is based in Farnborough, the United Kingdom.
FLEETCOR Technologies, Inc. provides digital payment solutions for businesses to control purchases and make payments. It offers corporate payments solutions, such as accounts payable automation; Virtual Card, which provides a single-use card number for a specific amount usable within a defined timeframe; Cross-Border that is used by its customers to pay international vendors, foreign office and personnel expenses, capital expenditures, and profit repatriation and dividends; and purchasing cards and travel and entertainment cards for its customers to analyze and manage their corporate spending. The company also provides employee expense management solutions, including fuel solutions to businesses and government entities that operate vehicle fleets, as well as to oil and leasing companies, and fuel marketers; lodging solutions to businesses that have employees who travel overnight for work purposes, as well as to airlines and cruise lines to accommodate traveling crews and stranded passengers; and electronic toll payments solutions to businesses and consumers in the form of radio frequency identification tags affixed to vehicles' windshields. In addition, it offers gift card program management and processing services in plastic and digital forms that include card design, production and packaging, delivery and fulfillment, card and account management, transaction processing, promotion development and management, website design and hosting, program analytics, and card distribution channel management. Further, it provides other products consisting of payroll cards, vehicle maintenance service solution, long-haul transportation solution, prepaid food vouchers or cards, and prepaid transportation cards and vouchers. The company serves business, merchant, consumer, and payment network customers in North America, Brazil, and Internationally. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
The following companies are subsidiares of Fluor: 202 Maintenance Services LLC, 3Angle B.V., 3Angle EPCM V.O.F., 684033 N.B. Ltd., AAR 2007 Limited, ADP Marshall Contractors Inc., ADP/FD of Nevada Inc., AG&P Fluor Joint Venture Company Inc., AJS V.O.F., AMECO COLOMBIA S.A.S., AMECO Caribbean Inc., AMECO Holdings Inc., AMECO PANAMA S.A., AMECO Peru S.R.L., AMECO Project Services Inc., AMECO Services Inc., AMECODISC LLC, ATCO  Fluor Support Solutions Ltd., Acqyre B.V., Agensi Pekerjaan TRS Malaysia SDN. BHD., Ameco Chile S.A., Ameco Equipment Services Inc., Ameco Inc., Ameco Pty. Ltd., Ameco Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Ameco Services S. de R.L. de C.V., American Bridge/Fluor Enterprises Inc. A Joint Venture, American Construction Equipment Company Inc., American Equipment Company Inc., Arbeitsgemeinschaft BAB A8 Ausbau Augsburg - Munchen, B.C. Mining Joint Venture, BNA Constructors Canada GP, BNA Constructors USA JV, BNA O&M General Partnership, BNA O&M USA General Partnership, Brady-Fluor LLC, Bridging North America Holding Corporation, CEJV Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, CGF Projects Ghana Limited, COOEC-Fluor Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., CSP EG S.L., Canadian National Energy Alliance Ltd., Cavendish Fluor Partnership Limited, Cibolo Creek Infrastructure Joint Venture, Colorado River Constructors JV, Compania Minera San Jose Del Peru S.A., ConOps Industrial Ltd., Connect 202 Partners LLC, Consorcio Generacion P135 MASA-VEPICA, Consorcio Group Stork, Consorcio KGM, Consorcio MASATEC POWER, Consorcio MSC, Consorcio Stork Y Masa, Consorcio Stork-TMI Peru, Consorcio Turnaround Alliance, Cooperheat Franchising B.V., Cooperheat GmbH, Cooperheat Saudi Arabia Company Ltd., Corrosion Inspection & Integrity Services SDN Bhd, Crown Energy Company, D/FD Operating Services LLC, DAX Industries Inc., DSC Maintenance V.O.F., Daniel International Corporation, Dean / Fluor LLC, Del-Jen Inc., Denver Transit Constructors LLC, Denver Transit Holdings LLC, Denver Transit Operators LLC, Denver Transit Partners LLC, Denver Transit Systems LLC, Desarrolladora De Etileno S. de R.L. de C.V., Dominican Republic Combined Cycle LLC, Duke/Fluor Daniel (GP), Duke/Fluor Daniel Caribbean S.E., Duke/Fluor Daniel Caribbean S.E., Duke/Fluor Daniel International, Duke/Fluor Daniel International Services, Duke/Fluor Daniel LLC, ESSI LLC, Efdee Connecticut Architects Inc., Efdee Engineering Professional Corporation, Efdee Mississippi Architects A Professional Corporation, Efdee New York Engineers & Architects P.C., Elgin RBG (Pty) Limited, Empresa Constructora Fluor Salfa SGO Limitada, Encee Architecture Services P.C., Energy Resourcing Limited, Etileno XXI Contractors SAPI, Etileno XXI Services B.V., Europea de Ingenieria y Asesoramiento, Evergreen Equipment and Personnel Leasing Inc., FBT Services Inc., FCI/Fluor/Parsons a Joint Venture, FD Architects & Engineers Corporation, FDEE Consulting Inc., FDH JV - KNPC AZRP/ZOR, FDH JV - KNPC CFP, FDHM Inc., FHdB LLC, FIID LLC, FLAG Joint Venture, FLUOR M Ltd., FM Operating Services LLC, FMC Holding Company LLC, FPMM XXK (FPMM LLC-English translation), FWPJV Limited, Fluor (China) Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd., Fluor A&E Services Inc., Fluor A27/A1 B.V., Fluor AMEC II LLC, Fluor Aker Solutions Indonesia JV, Fluor Alaska Inc., Fluor Americas Inc., Fluor Arabia Limited, Fluor Argentina Inc., Fluor Argentina Inc. Sucursal Argentina  TECHINT Compania Tecnica Internacional S.A.C.I-Union, Fluor Australia Pty Ltd., Fluor B.V., Fluor BNA GP Inc., Fluor BNA Holdco Inc., Fluor BNA O&M GP Inc., Fluor BNA O&M USA LLC, Fluor Boke Inc., Fluor Brasil Ltda., Fluor Brasil Ltda., Fluor Brasil Servicos de Engenharia Ltda, Fluor Canada Ltd., Fluor Cebu Inc., Fluor Central Asia Limited Liability Partnership, Fluor Chile Inc., Fluor Chile Ingenieria y Construccion S.A., Fluor Colombia Limited, Fluor ConOps Limited, Fluor Construction Services Pty Ltd., Fluor Constructors Canada Ltd., Fluor Constructors International Inc., Fluor Consultants B.V., Fluor Craft Services Inc., Fluor Daniel (Japan) Inc., Fluor Daniel (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd, Fluor Daniel Asia Inc., Fluor Daniel Caribbean Inc., Fluor Daniel China Inc., Fluor Daniel China Services Inc., Fluor Daniel Coal Services International Inc., Fluor Daniel Construction Company, Fluor Daniel Development Corporation, Fluor Daniel E&C LLC, Fluor Daniel Eastern Inc., Fluor Daniel Engineering Inc., Fluor Daniel Engineers & Constructors Inc., Fluor Daniel Engineers & Constructors Ltd., Fluor Daniel Engineers & Consultants Ltd., Fluor Daniel Engineers S.A. (Pty) Limited, Fluor Daniel Espana S.A., Fluor Daniel Eurasia Inc., Fluor Daniel Global Limited, Fluor Daniel Global Services Limited, Fluor Daniel Holdings (Botswana) (Pty) Limited, Fluor Daniel Holdings Canada Inc., Fluor Daniel Holdings Inc., Fluor Daniel Illinois Inc., Fluor Daniel Inc. - Philippines, Fluor Daniel India Inc., Fluor Daniel India Private Limited, Fluor Daniel International (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Fluor Daniel International Services Inc., Fluor Daniel Latin America Inc., Fluor Daniel Maintenance Services Inc., Fluor Daniel Mexico S.A., Fluor Daniel Mining & Metals Ltd., Fluor Daniel Modesto Inc., Fluor Daniel Nigeria Limited, Fluor Daniel Overseas Inc., Fluor Daniel P.R.C. Ltd., Fluor Daniel Pacific Inc., Fluor Daniel Pulp & Paper Inc., Fluor Daniel Services Corporation, Fluor Daniel South America Limited, Fluor Daniel Technical Services Inc., Fluor Daniel Venture Group Inc., Fluor Daniel a Professional Architectural Corporation, Fluor Daniel-AMEC Philippines Inc., Fluor Driver Inc., Fluor Energy Technology Services LLC, Fluor Engenharia e Projetos S.A., Fluor Engineering Corporation, Fluor Engineering N.V., Fluor Engineering Solutions Ltd., Fluor Enterprises Group Inc., Fluor Enterprises Inc., Fluor Europe B.V., Fluor Facility & Plant Services Inc., Fluor Federal Global Projects Inc., Fluor Federal Inc., Fluor Federal Petroleum Operations LLC, Fluor Federal Services Inc., Fluor Federal Services LLC, Fluor Federal Services NWS Inc., Fluor Federal Solutions LLC, Fluor Fernald Inc., Fluor Finance International B.V/S.a.r.L., Fluor Finance U.S. Inc., Fluor Flatiron Balfour Beatty Dragados DBJV, Fluor Global Plant Services (Proprietary) Limited, Fluor Global Services Australia Pty Ltd., Fluor GmbH, Fluor Government Group International Inc., Fluor Government Group-Canada Inc., Fluor Guinea Inc., Fluor Hanford Inc., Fluor Heavy Civil LLC, Fluor Holding Company LLC, Fluor Idaho LLC, Fluor Industrial Services Canada Inc., Fluor Industrial Services Inc., Fluor Industrial Services Limited, Fluor Infrastructure B.V., Fluor Intercontinental Arabian Peninsula LLC, Fluor Intercontinental Germany GmbH, Fluor Intercontinental Inc., Fluor Intercontinental Solutions LLC, Fluor International Inc., Fluor International Limited, Fluor International Nigeria Limited, Fluor Investments LLC, Fluor Ireland Limited, Fluor Island ehf., Fluor Kazakhstan Inc., Fluor Kazakhstan LLC, Fluor Limited, Fluor Maintenance Services Inc., Fluor Management Company L.P., Fluor Management and Technical Services Inc., Fluor Marine Propulsion LLC, Fluor Mediterranean Inc., Fluor Mideast Limited, Fluor Mining and Metals France Inc., Fluor Mocambique Limitada, Fluor NE Inc., Fluor Nuclear Services Inc., Fluor Oak Ridge LLC, Fluor Ocean Services Limited, Fluor Pension Trustee Limited, Fluor Plant Engineering S.A., Fluor Power Services Pty Ltd., Fluor Project Services B.V., Fluor Projects Inc., Fluor Projects Limited, Fluor Rail Services Pty Ltd., Fluor Real Estate Services Inc., Fluor Rovuma Inc., Fluor S.A., Fluor S.A. (Pty) Limited, Fluor SPN Inc., Fluor Scaffolding Inc., Fluor Services International Inc., Fluor Services LLC, Fluor South Africa Proprietary Limited, Fluor Spain Holding S.L., Fluor Supply Chain Solutions B.V., Fluor Supply Chain Solutions LLC, Fluor Supply Chain Solutions Singapore Pte. Ltd., Fluor Techint SRL Construccion y Servicios Limitada, Fluor Technip Integrated Joint Venture, Fluor Technologies Corporation, Fluor Texas Inc., Fluor Transworld Services Inc., Fluor US Services Inc., Fluor Uganda Engineering and Construction Limited, Fluor WEP Holdings Inc., Fluor environmental Resources Management Services Inc., Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth LLC, Fluor-Brady LLC, Fluor-Habboush International Limited, Fluor-Igoda Projects (Proprietary) Limited, Fluor-Lane 95 LLC, Fluor-Lane LLC, Fluor-Lane South Carolina LLC, Fluor-SKM Iron Ore Joint Venture, Fluor-United Asheville LLC, Fluor/HDR Global Design Consultants LLC, Fluor|Westinghouse Liquid Waste Services LLC, Fru-Con/Fluor Daniel Joint Venture, GLT-Plus V.O.F., GLX Constructors an unincorporated joint venture, Genesys Telecommunications Holdings Limited, Genesys Telecommunications Limited, Giovenco Industrial Services Pty Ltd., Giovenco Industries (AUST) Pty Limited, Giovenco Industries (AUST) Trust, Giovenco/Insulations International JV Pty Ltd., Giovenco/Insulations International JV Unit Trust, Global Project Execution Inc., Goar Allison & Associates, Goar Allison & Associates LLC, Greenville Technical Services Inc., Grupo Alvica SCS, Grupo Empresarial Alvica S.A., ICA Fluor Daniel S. de R.L. de C.V., ICA Fluor Operaciones S.A. de C.V., ICA Fluor Petroquimica S.A., ICA Fluor Petroquimica S.A. de C.V., ICA Fluor Servicios Gerenciales S.A. de C.V., ICA Fluor Servicios Operativos S.A. de C.V., ICA Stork S. de R.L. de C.V., IF Proyectos S.A., IFD Servicios de Ingenieria S.A. de C.V., IT Development Centre B.V., IXAS Gaasperdammerweg B.V., IXAS Zuid-Oost B.V., Indo-Mauritian Affiliates Limited, Industrial Del Hierro S.A. de C.V., Industrial Services France SAS, Infra Combinatie Zuid-West, Infraspeed (Holdings) B.V., Infrastructure Civil Equipment LLC, Ingenieria y Construccion Fluor Daniel Chile Limitada, Integrated Solutions France Inc., Integrated Solutions Services Inc., Iraq Construction Ltd., Iraq Water General Contracting Company L.L.C., Istimewa Electrotechniek B.V., J Crowder Corporation, J.A. Jones International, JGC - Fluor Mocambique Lda, JGC Fluor BC LNG Joint Venture, JGC Fluor Kitimat LNG Project JV, JGC-FEI Joint Venture, JGC/Fluor JV, KDPC Limited, KPJV Limited, Karratha Engineering Services Pty Ltd., Kazakh Projects Joint Venture Limited, KazakhNefteGasServis Limited Liability Partnership, Koninklijke Machinefabriek Stork B.V., Lone Star Infrastructure Joint Venture, Lone Star Infrastructure LLC, M&W/Marshall a Joint Venture, MGJV Pty Ltd., Maquinaria Ameco Guatemala Limitada, Mecanicos Asociados S.A.S., Mid-America Conversion Services LLC, Middle East Fluor, Mineral Resource Development Corporation, Mongolian National Facility Services (MNFS) LLC, Mourik Istimewa Combinatie V.O.F., N2ES V.O.F., NWKC LLC, Najmat Al-Sabah for General Services Limited Liability Company Private Company, NuScale Holdings Corp., NuScale Power LLC, Nuclear Production One LLC, Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners Joint Venture, P.T. Fluor Daniel Indonesia, P.T. Nusantara Power Services, P.T. Signet Indonesia, P2S Bermuda LLC, PESIL Inc., PESNC Inc., PFD (UK) Limited, PFD International LLC, PT Singgar Mulia, PT. MITRA BERSAMA ENGINEERING, Palmetto Seed Capital Ltd. Partnership, Parkway Infrastructure Constructors, Pegasus Link Constructors, Pegasus Link Constructors - LBJ East Project, Pegasus Link Constructors LLC, Phoenix Constructors Joint Venture, Pipeline Maintenance Alliance, Plant Engineering Services LLC, Plant Performance Services, Plant Performance Services Caribbean Limited, Plant Performance Services International LLC, Plant Performance Services International Ltd., Poort van Den Bosch B.V., Poort van Den Bosch V.O.F., Pro-V/ConOps JV, Provo River Constructors, Purple Line Transit Constructors LLC, Purple Line Transit Operations LLC, Purple Line Transit Partners LLC, Qatar National Facility Services, RBG Kazakhstan LLP, Rash Inversiones 2007 S.L., Rock Island Integrated Services, S-M V.O.F., SFS 007.298.633 Pty Limited, SSLP/FCCL JV, Saddleback Constructors, Sakhalin Neftegas Technology, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, Servicios Cuyuni E.T.T. C.A., Servicios Mineria Inc., Servicios de Construccion del Pacifico Inc., Servitrade  Servicos Investimento y Trading Limitada, Servitrade  Servicos Investimentos y Trading Limitada, Signet Engineering Pty Ltd., Signet Holdings Pty Ltd., Singapore (JV), Soli Flo LLC, Soli-Flo LLC, Soli-Flo Material Transfer L.P., Soli-Flo Partners L.P., Soli.Flo Inc., Springfield Resource Recovery Inc., Springfield Resource Recovery Limited Partnership, St. Joe Participacoes Ltda, St. Joe Participacoes Ltda., Stork Asset Management Technology B.V., Stork B.V., Stork Caspian LLC, Stork Cooperheat Bahrain SPC, Stork Elecon Ltd, Stork GOAL JV Pty Ltd., Stork Gears & Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Stork Gears & Services B.V., Stork German Holding GmbH, Stork Getriebe & Services GmbH, Stork H & E Turbo Blading Inc. DBA Stork DFW Service Center, Stork Holding, Stork Holding B.V., Stork Integrated Solutions B.V., Stork Intellectual Property B.V., Stork International B.V., Stork International Limited, Stork Mechanical Works and Maintenance Co. K.S.C.C., Stork Nederland B.V., Stork Oryx Turbo Machinery Services LLC, Stork Peru S.A.C., Stork Power Services & Technology Beijing Limited, Stork Power Services B.V., Stork Power Services OOO, Stork Power Services USA Holding Inc., Stork TS Holdings Limited, Stork TS UK Limited, Stork Technical Services (Holdings) Limited, Stork Technical Services (RBG) Limited, Stork Technical Services (STS) Ltd., Stork Technical Services Australia Pty Ltd., Stork Technical Services Beheer B.V., Stork Technical Services Belgium N.V., Stork Technical Services GmbH, Stork Technical Services HOLDCO B.V., Stork Technical Services Holding Australia Pty Ltd., Stork Technical Services Holding B.V, Stork Technical Services International Ltd., Stork Technical Services International South Africa, Stork Technical Services Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Stork Technical Services New Zealand Limited, Stork Technical Services Sadaf LLC, Stork Technical Services Saudi Arabia Co., Stork Technical Services Trinidad and Tobago Ltd, Stork Technical Services UK Limited, Stork Technical Services USA Inc., Stork Thermeq B.V., Stork Turbo Blading B.V., Stork Turbo Service B.V., Strategic Organizational Systems Enterprises Inc., Strategic Organizational Systems Environmental Engineering Division Inc., Support Services International LLC, Supreme Modular Fabrication Inc., TDF Inc., TRS Consultants-JLT, TRS Craft Services Inc., TRS Far East Sdn. Bhd., TRS International Group S. de R.L. de C.V., TRS International Payroll Co., TRS Labour Hire Solutions Pty Ltd, TRS SA HOLDING COMPANY (PTY) LTD, TRS SEARCH AND SELECTION (Pty) Ltd, TRS STAFFING SOLUTIONS (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED, TRS Staffing Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd., TRS Staffing Solutions (Canada) Inc., TRS Staffing Solutions (Pty) Ltd, TRS Staffing Solutions B.V., TRS Staffing Solutions Inc., TRS Staffing Solutions India Private Limited, TRS Staffing Solutions Limited, TRS Staffing Solutions Mozambique Limitada, TRS Staffing Solutions S. de R.L. de C.V., Tabarca Consortium, Tappan Zee Constructors LLC, Technical Resource Solutions S.L., Technip-Fluor JV, Thermoprozess Cooperheat GmbH, Trans-Africa Projects (Pty) Ltd., Trans-Africa Projects Ltd., UNEC Engineering, Venezco Inc., WODECO Nigeria Limited, Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team, Wescon (B) SDN BHD, Wescon International B.V., Williams Brothers Engineering Company, Williams Brothers Engineering Limited, Williams Brothers Process Services Inc., Wilmore/Fluor Modesto LLC, Windsor Essex Mobility Group GP, WorleyParsons Arabia Limited Fluor Arabia Limited Joint Venture, Wright Engineers Chile Limitada, Wright Engineers Limitada Peru, and ZuidPlus V.O.F..

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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.
Deutsche Post AG operates as a mail and logistics company in Germany, rest of Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The company operates through five segments: Express; Global Forwarding, Freight; Supply Chain; eCommerce Solutions; and Post & Parcel Germany. The Express segment offers time-definite courier and express services to business and private customers. The Global Forwarding, Freight segment provides air, ocean, and overland freight forwarding services; and offers multimodal and sector-specific solutions. This segment's business model is based on brokering transport services between customers and freight carriers. The Supply Chain segment delivers customized supply chain solutions to its customers based on modular components, including warehousing and transport services; and value-added services, such as e-fulfilment and returns management, lead logistics partner, real estate solutions, service logistics, and packaging solutions for various industrial sectors. The eCommerce Solutions segment provides parcel delivery and cross-border non-time definite international services. The Post & Parcel Germany segment transports and delivers mail communication, parcels, physical and hybrid letters, and special products for the delivery of goods; and offers additional services, such as registered mail, cash on delivery, and insured items. This segment also provides digital products, including stamps with data matrix codes and various postal services. Deutsche Post AG was founded in 1490 and is headquartered in Bonn, Germany.
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation provides technology-based equipment, systems, and services for the freight rail and passenger transit industries worldwide. It operates through two segments, Freight and Transit. The Freight segment manufactures and services components for new and existing freight cars and locomotives; builds new commuter locomotives; rebuilds freight locomotives; supplies railway electronics, positive train control equipment, signal design, and engineering services; and provides related heat exchange and cooling systems. It serves publicly traded railroads; leasing companies; manufacturers of original equipment, including locomotives and freight cars; and utilities. The Transit segment manufactures and services components for new and existing passenger transit vehicles, such as regional trains, high speed trains, subway cars, light-rail vehicles, and buses; refurbishes subway cars; and provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, as well as doors for buses and subways. This segment serves public transit authorities and municipalities, leasing companies, and manufacturers of subway cars and buses. It also provides electronically controlled pneumatic braking products; railway electronics; freight car trucks; draft gears, couplers, and slack adjusters; air compressors and dryers; heat exchangers and cooling products; and track and switch products. In addition, the company offers railway braking equipment and related components; friction products; new switcher locomotives; transit locomotive and car overhaul services; and freight locomotive overhaul, modernizations, and refurbishment services. Further, it provides platform screen doors; pantographs; window assemblies; couplers; accessibility lifts and ramps for buses and subway cars; and traction motors. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The following companies are subsidiares of CIT Group: 1143986 Ontario Limited, 1244771 Ontario Limited, 3918041 Canada Inc., 544211 Alberta Ltd., 555565 Alberta Ltd., 555566 Alberta Ltd., Baliardo Limited, C.I.T. Leasing Corporation, C2 Aviation Capital LLC, CBG LJB 21 LLC, CCERU Finance LP, CFHE Funding Company LLC, CIT Aerospace (Australia) Pty Ltd, CIT Aerospace Asia Pte Ltd., CIT Aerospace Belgium Sprl, CIT Aerospace Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, CIT Aerospace Holdings (France) SAS, CIT Aerospace International, CIT Aerospace International (Aruba) A.V.V., CIT Aerospace International (Australia) Pty Ltd., CIT Aerospace International (Bermuda) Limited, CIT Aerospace International (France) Sarl, CIT Aerospace International Leasing II, CIT Aerospace LLC, CIT Aerospace Sweden AB, CIT Asset Management LLC, CIT Aviation Finance I (France) Sarl, CIT Aviation Finance I (Ireland) Limited, CIT Aviation Finance I (UK) Limited, CIT Aviation Finance I Ltd., CIT Aviation Finance II (France) Sarl, CIT Aviation Finance II (Ireland) Limited, CIT Aviation Finance II (UK) Limited, CIT Aviation Finance II Ltd., CIT Aviation Finance III Ltd., CIT Bank N.A., CIT CBK Funding Company LLC, CIT CBK Funding Inc., CIT CLO Holding Corporation, CIT CLO I Blocker Inc., CIT CLO I LLC, CIT CLO I Ltd., CIT Canada Finance LP, CIT Canada Finance ULC, CIT Capital Aviation (UK) Limited, CIT Capital Finance (UK) Limited (in liquidation), CIT Capital Securities LLC, CIT Capital USA Inc., CIT Cayman Coconut Palm Leasing Ltd., CIT Cayman Sandy Keys Leasing Ltd., CIT Communications Finance Corporation, CIT Credit Group USA Inc., CIT Equipment Finance (UK) Limited (in liquidation), CIT FSC Eighteen Ltd., CIT FSC Nineteen Ltd., CIT Finance & Leasing (Tianjin) Corporation, CIT Finance & Leasing Corporation, CIT Finance LLC, CIT Financial (Alberta) ULC / Services Financiers CIT (Alberta) ULC, CIT Financial (Barbados) SRL, CIT Financial (Hong Kong) Limited, CIT Financial II (Barbados) Srl, CIT Financial Ltd./Services Financiers CIT Ltee., CIT Financial USA Inc., CIT Funding (UK) Limited (in liquidation), CIT Funding Company LLC, CIT Funding LLC, CIT Funds LLC, CIT Group (Hungary) Financial Servicing Limited Liability Company "under voluntary dissolution", CIT Group (NFL) Limited (in liquidation), CIT Group (NJ) LLC, CIT Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd (In Members' Voluntary Liquidation), CIT Group (UK) Limited (in liquidation), CIT Group Finance (Ireland), CIT Group Holding (Germany) GmbH i.L., CIT Group Holdings (UK) Limited (in liquidation), CIT Group Holdings B.V., CIT Group Inc., CIT Group Italy Srl in liquidazione, CIT Group SF Holding Co. Inc., CIT Healthcare LLC, CIT Holdings (Barbados) SRL, CIT Holdings B.V., CIT Holdings Canada ULC, CIT Home Lending Securitization Company LLC, CIT Insurance Agency Inc., CIT Leasing (Bermuda) Ltd., CIT Leasing (Germany) GmbH i.L., CIT Lending Services Corporation, CIT Lending Services Corporation (Illinois), CIT Loan Corporation, CIT Malaysia One Inc., CIT Maritime Leasing LLC, CIT Mezzanine Partners of Canada Limited, CIT Millbury Inc., CIT Rail Holdings (Europe) SAS, CIT Rail LLC, CIT Railcar Funding Company LLC, CIT Small Business Lending Corporation, CIT Strategic Finance Inc., CIT TRS Funding B.V., CIT TRS Holdings B.V., CIT TRS Subsidiary B.V., CIT Technology Financing Services Inc., CIT Trade Finance Funding Company LLC, CIT Transportation Holdings B.V., CRE CT 21 OTHER LLC, CRE CT 27 OTHER LLC, CRE FFBC LLC, CRE LJ 21 OTHER LLC, CRE LJ 27 OTHER LLC, CRE LJ 4800 Riverside LLC, CRE LJ CA 2 LLC, CRE LJ CA LLC, CRE LJ CP ESCONDIDO LLC, CRE LJ TX LLC, Canadian Income Partners I Limited Partnership, Canadian Income Partners II Limited Partnership, Canadian Income Partners III Limited Partnership, Canadian Income Partners IV Limited Partnership, Canadian Income Partners V Limited Partnership, Canadian Income Partners VI Limited Partnership, Canadian Income Partners VII Limited Partnership, Canadian Income Partners VIII Limited Partnership, Capita Corporation, Capital Direct Group Inc., Centennial Aviation (Bermuda) 1 Ltd., Centennial Aviation (France) 1 SARL, Centennial Aviation (France) 2 SARL, Centennial Aviation (Ireland) 7 Limited, Direct Capital Corporation, Direct Capital Funding III Company LLC, Direct Capital Funding V LLC, Education Loan Servicing Corporation, Emerald Funding (Netherlands) C.V., Emerald Holdings C.V., Financial Freedom Acquisition LLC, IMV 11 PALM LLC, INDYMAC VENTURE LLC, Jessica Leasing Designated Activity Company, MEX CIT SERVICIOS S. de R.L. de C.V., Madeleine Leasing Designation Activity Company, Memphis Peaking Power LLC, Millennium Leasing Company I LLC, Millennium Leasing Company II LLC, NACCO (U.K.) Limited, NACCO GmbH, NACCO Rail Ireland Limited, NACCO S.A.S, Nacco Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Newcourt Financial Espana S.A., North Romeo Storage Corporation, ONEWEST VENTURES HOLDINGS LLC, OWB REO LLC, OneWest Bank N.A, OneWest Investments II LLC, OneWest Investments LLC, OneWest Resources LLC, PL Servicing LLC, Rita Leasing Designated Activity Company, The CIT GP Corporation III, The CIT Group Securitization Corporation II, The CIT Group/Business Credit Inc., The CIT Group/Commercial Services Inc., The CIT Group/Corporate Aviation Inc., The CIT Group/Equipment Financing Inc., The CIT Group/Equity Investments Inc., The Capita Corporation do Brasil Ltda, The Equipment Insurance Company, and Worrell Capital Limited.

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Snap Inc. is a social media company operating globally. The company was founded in September 2011 by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy. Originally known as Snapchat, the company changed its name to Snap in order to represent its offerings better as it grew over the years. The companys headquarters are in Santa Monica, California and it is a very tightly held company. The original founders, Evan Speigel and Bobby Murphy own a combined 45% of non-dilutable shares with ownership transferable to the other upon death. The two remain active in the company today serving on the board and acting as CEO (Speigel) and CTO (Murphy).

The company was formerly known as Snapchat, Inc. and changed its name to Snap Inc. in September 2016. Snap Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Over the years it has been courted by most of the big tech companies including Facebook and Google but has always opted to remain a standalone company. The business went public in 2017 and raised $30 billion on its opening day which is about 10 times the expected amount.

Today, Snap operates as a camera company internationally. The companys main revenue streams are Snapchat, a mobile app for cameras and communications, and Spectacles, a wearable augmented reality device. Snapchat is a camera app that allows users to take pictures and tell stories, the platform also permits ad sales which is an integral part of the revenue and earnings. The companys mission? To empower people to express themselves in todays digital world.

Spectacles is a hardware device that can connect with Snapchat to deliver pictures and video from a point-of-view perspective. The company has since made three upgrades to the original version and has a Next Generation model available too. The Next Generation of Spectacles are not intended for sale but will be made available to creators who wish to push the boundaries of video and digital communications.

In October 2022 the company reported it had more than 347milion daily active users with more than 250 million engaging with AR each day. The platform had more than 250,000 Lens creators (Lenses are AR experiences) with more than 2.5 million lenses created. There were more than 6 billion lens plays each day and more than 75% of 13-34-year-olds in 20 countries were users.
May 19: The Marlins announced that Koehlers optional assignment has been voided due to the fact that he has been diagnosed with bursitis in his right shoulder. Rather than being optioned to the minors, hes instead been placed on the Major League 10-day disabled list (retroactive to May 17).

Teams arent allowed to option a player to the minor leagues when he is injured, and Miami assuredly wouldve faced a grievance had Koehler been placed on the minor league DL rather than the Major League DL. Hell now continue to accrue service time as he works back from his shoulder troubles, though theres yet to be any indication as to how long he might be on the shelf.

May 16: The Marlins announced following tonights game that right-hander Tom Koehler has been optioned to Triple-A New Orleans. Thats a fairly surprising development not because of Koehlers performance but simply due to the fact that the 30-year-old has been a mainstay in the Miami rotation since 2013. In fact, Koehler hasnt thrown a single pitch in the minors since that 2013 campaign.

Over the winter, Koehler and the Marlins avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal that guarantees the right-hander a $5.75MM salary. Between that salary and the fact that Koehler has more than four years of Major League service time, hes hardly the type of player that is typically optioned to the minors.

Of course, one would be hard-pressed to argue that Koehler didnt pitch his way off the 2017 staff. The righty was tagged for eight runs on seven hits and four walks through just three innings tonight, causing his already unsightly ERA to balloon from 5.60 to 7.04. Koehler has already surrendered 10 home runs this year in just 38 1/3 innings, which has been the primary reason for his painful numbers.

The downturn in production for Koehler was rapid; prior to this season, hed been a durable, albeit somewhat unspectacular rotation cog for Miami on a yearly basis. From 2013-16, Koehler worked to a 4.14 ERA with 6.8 K/9 against 3.7 BB/9 and averaged 30 starts and 175 innings per year. While his velocity and his K/9, BB/9 and ground-ball rates in 2017 have all remained similar to their 2016 levels, though, Koehlers homer-to-flyball ratio has soared from 12.1 percent to 21.7 percent. While theres likely at least some randomness at play there, his efforts cant be aided by the fact that hes seen a dramatic decrease in his first-pitch strike rate and his opponents chase rate.

Koehler will join fellow Opening Day rotation-mate Adam Conley in New Orleans, leaving Miami with a starting corps that consists of Edinson Volquez, Dan Straily, Justin Nicolino and Jose Urena. Left-handers Wei-Yin Chen and Jeff Locke are currently on the disabled list  theres no timetable for Chens return  and the team is thin on options to replace Koehler. Conley could conceivably be a candidate, but he was only just optioned himself and didnt pitch well in his first outing with New Orleans. Veterans Vance Worley and Odrisamer Despaigne are both with the Marlins Triple-A affiliate (Despaigne is on the 40-man roster; Worley is not) and could merit a look.

From a service time vantage point, the demotion could have serious implications for Koehler, who entered the year with four years, 16 days (4.016) days of Major League service time. Hed need to accrue a fairly substantial 156 days of MLB service in 2017 to reach five years of MLB service and position himself to be eligible for free agency following the 2018 campaign, so if Koehler spends even a month in the Majors itd push his free agency back by a year. Then again, if he cant right the ship, his production to date would likely result in a non-tender following the year anyhow.
17.05.2017 LISTEN

With Stonebwoys visit to Jamaica recently, you might have seen a new face around him in the studio and on set for videoshoot. Khalia who works with Grammy Producer, Anthony Kelly (Tony Kelly) is poised to be a global record breaking musician with her new projects. Already recorded with DJ Khaled, she has voice on 2 songs with Stonebwoy, Ghanaian 2015 BET Winner (and 2017 Nominee) for Best African Act International.

Khalia has shot 2 videos with Stonebwoy in Jamaica  one for herself and the other for Stonebwoys song which features her, due for official release soon.

The Jamaican born Londoner, bringing an international flavor to the dancehall music we know and love, is currently working on releasing her new sounds to the world.

Khalia is no stranger to the studio, as she started recording in London at the age of 15. Finding her sound and recording demos with producers for signed acts, under labels such as Universal. Jamaica was always home in her heart so she took a leap and moved to Kingston alone, where she started working with Grammy Award winning producer Tony "CD" Kelly.

Her fusion style has led her to collaborations with Ghanaian award winning artist Stonebwoy and upcoming remixes with EDM DJ Sidney Sampson. While making Jamaica her home again, it has made space for some new inspiration and features from Tifa, Busy Signal, Romaine Virgo, OMI, Shaggy and more.

You can follow her progress via all social media platforms @khalia100.

Khalia 1

Khalia & Stonebwoy On Set
17.05.2017 LISTEN

The flag bearer of Maskalinx Music,Tee Rhyme the stylish rapper after launching his Tafo music video is set to embark on a Club Tour this year

The tour will feature a pre-album party and the virtual premiere of his Tafo music.

The Tafo hitmaker announced last week that he is going to tour parts of Ghana including Kumasi, Takoradi, Accra and as part of his Club-2-Club train this year.

Some Ghanaian musicians have pledged their support for Tee Rhymes upcoming Club-2-Club tour. Maskalinx Music yesterday unveiled a tall list of top Ghanaian artistes who will be make appearances during Tee Rhymes Club tour. Among them were Cabum,Koo Ntakra,Grey and many more

DJs on rotation will be Ghana's finest DJ Elladeevah and DJ Bentle, with MC Dyce making a special appearance as the MC for the club tour.

The event, which will be held in night clubs in every region,starting from Accra very soon.

Tee Rhyme the stylish rapper is about to release his first album which includes all his hits songs such as Tafo and Too Much which features Luther.
17.05.2017 LISTEN

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reassured Ghanaians of his total commitment to promoting development across the country without any form of discrimination.

In view of this, he called on the citizenry to support his government to enable it to succeed in transforming the socio-economic fortunes and make Ghana a prosperous country.

He said: Ghana is a rich country where there are more opportunities for the youth to develop. Therefore, there is the need to put aside tribalism and forge ahead in unity.

Holding that Ghana has a huge heritage, the President said the country finds itself in its present difficulties because of the past, thus, admonishing Ghanaians to forget about the past and forge ahead.

Sounding hopeful, he said Ghana would be a beacon of hope and a reference in ten years time.

Addressing the Ho Fiave congregation of the Global Evangelical Church as part of his two-day working visit in the Volta Region, President Akufo-Addo said his government's 'one district, one factory' policy would be fully implemented.

Besides, he said the planting for food and jobs would be implemented, and for him, these two principal projects will transform the country. Consequently, he called for support and cooperation to help change the country to an appreciable level.

Nana Addo maintained that the free Senior High school education would start this year to reduce the financial burden that parents go through in catering for their wards education.

He said: Every Ghanaian child of school-going age will enjoy free basic and second-cycle education under this New Patriotic Party government.

Touching on health, Nana Akufo-Addo said his government had taken notice of the profound financial challenges the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) had been confronted with over the years.

In the light of this, he said the necessary steps to address the problems facing the effective implementation of the Scheme to make it more viable to the beneficiaries are being tackled head on.

On this note, the President thanked the chiefs and people of the Volta Region for the support given him, which culminated in his victory, stressing that the campaign promises made to Ghanaians to bring the needed development to the people would be delivered.

I will deliver my promises and my assurance to you is that I wont fail Ghanaians, President Akufo-Addo said.

The Synod Clerk of the Global Evangelical Church, Reverend Raphael Mark Ati, in a sermon commended the President for the visit and urged the people to cherish truth at all times. He preached that peace and unity are vital in the development of the nation.

To this end, he assured the President that the church would continue to pray for the Presidency to ensure that the government succeeds.

Reverend Ati led the congregation in prayer for the President, the Vice President, the Chief Justice, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State and all Ghanaians to be guided by the Spirit of God to enable them work hard to meet the development aspirations of the nation.

The Presidents tour of the Region saw him being hosted by the Ho Technical University, where he assured the school of more infrastructure.

He said he would improve on the development former President John Agyekum Kufuor started at the school that saw it transform significantly.

The President noted that technical education was so crucial to the development of the country and promised that government would play its role in lifting the image of technical education to an enviable level that would be at the center of industrialization.

Nana Akufo-Addo said: Ghana cannot continue producing raw materials. We have to develop to become an industrial nation where we will be in the position to transform the raw materials into finished products to turn the economic fortunes of our nation.

The Vice Chancellor of the Ho Technical University, Professor Emmanuel Sakyi noted that, the President's visit to the university should be seen as divine, explaining that the first time that former President Kufuor visited the then Ho Polytechnic, the school saw unprecedented infrastructural development.

He said that former President Kufuor and the NPP would remain in the records of the institution and appealed to President Nana Akufo-Addo to help complete some projects that had been abandoned for the past ten years.

Do this for us and the NPP shall remain on our lips, he assured the President.

Among the entourage of President Nana Addo were the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Asensu Okyere, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, Minister for Land and Natural Resources, Mr. John Peter Amewu.

The rest were the Volta Regional Minster, Dr. Archibald Letsa, a Member of the Counsel of State, Mr. Albert Nyonyo and the Volta Regional Patron of the NPP, Mr. Castro Mediale, as well as a former Deputy Minister for the Volta Region, Mr. Joseph Kweku Nayan.

From Samuel Agbewode, Ho
The Chief Justice (CJ), Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, officially retires from office on June 8th. Per the provisions of the 1992 Constitution, all Supreme Court justices are supposed to retire at 70. But, in order not to create a vacuum after her departure, President Akufo-Addo announced her replacement last week, in the person of Justice Sophia Akuffo.

The Chronicle congratulates the new CJ, whose appointment has received overwhelming endorsement from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). But, one cannot talk about the new CJ, without first looking at the good works of the outgoing Justice Theodora Wood.

When she was appointed by the Kufuor government to replace the late Justice George Acquah, the criticism, especially from the NDC, was that she had been rewarded for presiding over the MV Benjamin cocaine probe.

Some even went to the extent of claiming she was appointed to do the bidding of the then Kufuor government. But, anyone with objective lenses, would agree with The Chronicle that Justice Wood is one of the best CJs Ghana has ever produced. Despite all the negative comments politicians made against her, she discharged her duties according to dictates of the constitution. Indeed, if she was a political animal, as the NDC had tagged her, she would have seized the landmark Election Petition case filed at the Supreme Court by the late Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey and others, to 'teach' the NDC a lesson, but she never did that.

In fact, no rule would have prevented her from presiding over the case, but she decided to recuse herself, and allow her other colleagues at the Supreme Court to sit and hear the case. If she had presided over the case, and given a ruling that did not favour the NDC, it would have given credence to the propaganda the now opposition party spewed against the respected lady.

Apart from this, the outgoing CJ also demonstrated that she was there for all Ghanaians, irrespective of one's status in society. The Chronicle recalls vividly, the intervention she made to ensure freedom for a man from Begoro in the Eastern Region, who had been jailed for three years for stealing a bunch of plantains. The elderly man had argued in court that he was not a thief, and that he plucked the plantain to cook and eat, since he was hungry.

The lower court at Begoro would, however, not listen to the pleadings of the septuagenarian, and sentenced him to three years imprisonment in hard labour. The story was published by the Public Agenda, but after reading The Chronicle editorial on it, Justice Wood appointed one of the Court of Appeal judges to investigate the issue, and at the end of the day, the poor old man was set free. This is not the only case she intervened in after a newspaper publication  there are several others we cannot enumerate here.

This means that she was always ahead of her Public Affairs Department by reading everything concerning the judiciary in the newspapers, and reacting to them where necessary. Indeed, if she was not doing that, the poor man at Begoro would have probably died in prison, because he could not afford a lawyer to defend him at the lower court. Ghanaians can also recall the way and manner Justice Wood dealt with the judicial corruption case, after Anas Aremeyaw Anas' expose.

To prove that she was an incorruptible leader, she tackled the issue head on by sacking some of the judges who were found guilty of the offence, whilst others have also dragged her to court to challenge her decision. In a nutshell, the Lady Chief Justice demonstrated that she was not a pushover, and that she was appointed to defend the Constitution.

Judging from the above issues we have raised, it is clear that Justice Theodora Wood has set a high standard, which the incoming the CJ, Sophia Akuffo, must follow. We advise her to closely follow the media instead of overly relying on her media managers, who can, sometimes, sieve the information before it gets to her. If her predecessor had done that, she would not have today been receiving praises from The Chronicle and other industry prayers. Hundreds of poor Ghanaians have found themselves in prison, because they lack the financial wherewithal to hire a lawyer to defend them. These are some of the issues we think the incoming CJ should look at, so that when she exits office in future, Ghanaians would remember her good deeds.
16.05.2017 LISTEN

Tepa (Ash), May 16, GNA - The Tepa Nursing and Midwifery Training College in the Ashanti region has awarded some students, teaching and non-teaching staff for their hard work towards the development of the school.

According to the educational authorities, the immense contributions of the awardees had helped improve on academic performances and discipline of students.

In all eight students, two teaching staff and three non-teaching staff were given prizes ranging from certificates, undisclosed sums of money and some teaching and learning materials.

The award ceremony coincided with the fourth matriculation ceremony of the school at Tepa, which saw the official admission of 882 students who gained admission in the 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016.

They are pursuing training in a two-year Nurse Assistant Clinical and a three-year diploma in Registered General Nursing and Midwifery professions.

Dr Victoria Amoah, the Principal of the College expressed happiness about the level of discipline exhibited by the students who were awarded and urged the others to emulate their character.

She said the school had improved on its infrastructural development in the past years and could boost of modern information and communication technology centre and a laboratory among others.

She said notwithstanding though, the school needed to expand its kitchen, and appealed to the government to come to their aid.

Nana Baffour Appiah I, the Twafohene of Tepa Traditional Council, urged the college to give priority to the natives of the town during admissions.

He assured of the council's readiness to support any development project in the school and asked management not to hesitate to contact the council.

GNA

By Daniel A Ashietey, GNA
17.05.2017 LISTEN

 Says Some Of Them Take Advantage Of A Change In Gov't To Submit Dubious Certificates

By Maxwell Ofori

Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Finance, has exposed contractors for conspiring to steal from the state whenever there is a new government.

Mr. Ofori-Atta disclosed that some contractors take advantage of the change in government to submit dubious certificates of works, which could not be proved, for payment.

The dishonesty of some these Ghanaian contractors, he noted, has contributed to the leakages in the state coffers.

Suddenly, you are all at my door with certificates for some jobs you have executed, for which you have not been paid, as if I do not want to pay you, he opined.

Minister Ofori-Atta expressed concern over the piles of certificates that have flooded his office from contractors, with some dating as far back as 2013. He further expressed disgust at the attitude of some the contractors, who think he (Minister) was under obligation to pay them.

According to him, the contractors sometimes behaved as though this government contracted them, and has, thus, failed to pay them.

The Minister, who said this at the maiden edition of a National Policy Summit, which opened in Accra yesterday, was responding to questions on the issues of the delay in paying contractors.

He observed that if contractors would blame the government for conspiring to pay them, then they are also part of the plot, saying, government cannot pay for some false contracts.

He wondered why, for instance, a contract certificate issued in 2013, would be signed in December 2016, and how sanctimonious is such a contract?

Continuing, Mr Ofori-Atta said: I think we all have to give ourselves space and find a decent way of addressing this conspiracy, he said demanding that both government and contractors reconsider the financial harm they are plunging the country into, through such dubious contract approaches.

Calling for an immediate change from that rot, the Minister said the government was bent on protecting the public purse.

Ghana spends more than it generates, the Minister said, and that the challenge the countrys economy is faced with would be halted under the Akufo-Addo-led administration.

We are stopping a lot of the approaches that did not get Ghana to work. This government is on course, he said.

The National Policy Summit was to provide a platform for government ministries, departments and agencies to engage stakeholders in their operations.

The two-day summit, which ends today, May 16, is under the theme: Building Partnerships for Growth and Jobs', and is expected to help the government elicit feedback to enhance further policy development.
On 1st May, the President gave a stirring speech during the May Day Celebration at the Independence square. During the delivery of what sounded very much like a bold wake up call to the citizenry in general, and workers in particular, His Excellency Nana Addo-Danquah Akufo Addo, struck many central chords to our quest for sustainable national development and prosperity.

He was very bold to address the lackadaisical attitude many of us have towards work. Another issue he took on, head on, is the ever topical issue of child labour. The President was very direct on the matter, blowing off the lid and dust that have stampeded efforts against the canker. In all the President of the Republic called attention and action on nine key nodes, which he seems to have pledged to provide presidential leadership as he rallies the nation to eliminate child labour, which is one of the grand abuses of fundamental human rights, under the 1992 Constitution.

Presidential strike 1: Child labour is a despicable act.

The President said of child labour: It is a shameful phenomenon and an indictment on all of us, and it is time to stop hiding under a so-called cultural practice to find excuses. This is a very direct jab. The ears of the President are on the ground. The culture card is one boring arguments you hear from even people in high positions who should be leading the fight against child labour. First of all we need to appreciate that our culture is very protective of our children. It is not our culture to exploit our children. No tribe, clan or family in Ghana has the culture of exposing children to hazardous work.

Perpetuators of child labour are anti-cultural. It is not even our culture to sacrifice our childrens wellbeing for so-called family survival. When we give off our children to any work that is detrimental to their education and health, we are doing something very shameful. There are those in high places now, who seem to argue that because they were engaged in child labour but managed to survive, there is nothing wrong with the labour exploitation of children.

What kind of argument is this? Such leaders must be indicted. Do you know how many children who never survived the condemnation of child labour? Many who lost their childhood to exploitative labour, are todays unskilled and thus unemployed adults. There is no culture in Ghanas rich tradition, which promotes the labour abuse of children. To be in a country where a fifth of children are in child labour is indeed shameful and a true indictment on all of us.

Presidential strike 2: Children are our most important resource

The President said, Children are children; they are our most important asset and deserve to be protected from being exploited in the labour field. Children are not adults. They are not capable of assuming the responsibilities of adulthood. They have to be allowed to grow systematically into competent adults. Children are not to be the bread winners for their families. If orphans, we should have good state facilities to comfort and give them the opportunities needed. They are not to be forced into parenthood because their parents passed on. So if we are in a country where there are insignificant numbers of fosterage facilities to help rehabilitate and reintegrate unfortunate children.

Children are the future of our notion. The quality of adults today is a function of yesterdays children. If we have so many unskilled youth, it is because we allowed so many of our children to miss out on quality education, because they were on the labour fields when they should have been working hard in the classroom. Children are vulnerable and cannot fend for themselves. They have no direct access to necessary resources and are wholly dependent on adults: parents, family, the state and society as a whole.

We stab ourselves in the back when we relegate the welfare of our children to the background. That is why it should not be the case that at the district and national levels budgetary provisions are least when it comes to the development of children. No Ministry or District Assembly should sacrifice its budget on children for any other thing. Any employer, formal or informal who admits any child below the minimum age for employment, under any guise, should be seen as a wrecker of our collective future. A so-thought engagement of children in child labour is exploitation of our children and a mortgage of our future. It is blight to our national conscience.

Presidential strike 3: Child Labour attracts international sanctions and dents our global image

This could have been tricky, but the President pulled it off: it is worth pointing out that, if we do not stop these shameful practices, there are global agencies that have determined to institute punitive measures in some critical industries, which would lead to the loss of markets for our goods and loss of jobs our chief labourer pointed out. Trade sanctions on our exports due to allegations of child labour may be perceived to imply a likeness of blackmail.

The debate on certification of products as child labour free in order to, in some cases, receive premium prices on the international market is not wholly decided because some argue, among other things, that the cost of production is affected by many other factors that may seem to necessitate cutting corners, including the employment children because the cost of labour provided by children is relatively lower than what the cost of adult labour would be.

Yet, the reality is that cocoa from Ghana was under such threat; and so can be our gold from artisanal and small-scale mining. Also, the issue of international image has become very crucial as the world shrinks further from a global village into a global household. It is not delightful to be looked upon as coming from that country where children are abused and exploited.

Presidential Strike 4: strong leadership is required to make effective and sustainable progress in the fight against child labour

Unless there emerges a strong drive from government, this whole quest against child labour will be threatened by mediocre outcomes. Many years have passed since Ghana ratified the ILO Convention on worst forms of child labou (C184); more have passed since we were the first country to ratify the United Nation Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). After all these years child labour consumes over 20% of our children. How did we get here?

This year, just like many other years that have come and gone, child labour featured in the national budget and economic policy of Ghana, but whether substantial funding will actually reach the on-the-ground actors or end up locked up or leaked from the disbursement bureaucracies, will be determined by the willingness of leadership at all levels to actually deal with the problem or pay mere lip service. The President says we should hold him accountable if we fail again: Under my watch, government will work with all partners towards the goal of eliminating child labour.

Governments delivery on the Constitutional guarantee to protect every child from child labour is now squarely under the watch of His Excellency. This means that the government machinery should be reinforced to avert any embarrassment to the President. The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) with its Labour Department and Child Labour Unit (CLU) must be reinvigorated to deliver on their mandates. Labour inspections should be properly carried out, including the effective monitoring of work places where children are likely to be found. Is the Ghana Child Labour Monitoring System (GCLMS) still operational, if not, what are the challenges are and when will it, if ever, get into productive function?

Is there a current National Plan of Action (NPA) under implementation, after the expiry of the 2009-2015 version which was well formulated but poorly implemented NPA? Who is keeping the National Steering Committee on Child Labour on its toes? How resourced is the Committee, and to what extent is its technical, logistical and financial capcity leveled up to the responsibility it bears to coordinate the effective implementation of all child labour interventions, government or non-government, in Ghana?

Another major government institution in this regard is the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) and the Local Government Services (LGS). Given that child labour occurs in households and workplaces in local communities at the district level, especially in rural areas, it is critical to ensure that the MLGRD and the LGS are driving the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to take full responsibility and result-producing actions through their Medium Term Development Plans and Budgets (MTDP&B). all partners, local and international NGOs, development agencies such as UN Organisations, should brace themselves to give their best technical and financial assistance to this noble cause.

This is particularly timely because the recently out-doored global agenda for transformation, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically highlights the elimination of a ll child labour by 2025 as one of the Targets. There is even a global effort focused on the achievement of this target. The ILOs Alliance 8.7 platform is perhaps an opportunity for Ghana to demonstrate its commitment to work with all partners to achieve Target 8.7 of the SDGs. How will it be like if Ghana, having been the first country to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, becomes the first in the world to eliminate child labour from its territory?

Presidential strike 5: Hazardous work by children cannot be justified

It is refreshing to note that the President is aware of the error of justifying child labour under the guise of child or family survival. He recognizes that it is inappropriate for a child to be responsible for his or her survival or that of his family. Nana pledged to ensure that our children do not work under hazardous conditions to support themselves and their families. Children exposed to the hazards on our roads, because they are helping beggars should not be tolerated.

If the beggars are refusing to go off the streets and the government cannot find a viable alternative to support them, then adults should be made to assist them not our children, who can easily be killed or turned into disabled beggars by road accidents. Yes our fellow citizens who have been struck by unfortunate situations, which can happen to any of us, should be supported to make ends meet; but we cannot rub Peter to pay Paul. The President says that we should make sure our children are not exposed to hazardous situations in the name of self or family survival; and he is spot right.

Presidential strike 6: Government has given strategic priority to the fishing and mining sector

Child labour occurs in many other industries apart from fishing and mining. But it is tactical to systematically deal with the issues sector by sector because of, among other things, varying stakeholder interests. Some partners prefer to give their assistance in particular industries because they can better account for their expenditure. While the focus is on the well-being of the child rather than the mere business interest of especially corporate partners, focusing on a few sectors at a time helps to effectively mobilise resources and properly strategise for maximum effect. Also by closing the door on child labour in one sector after another, we progressively narrow the problem and increase the focus on the remaining few. The focus on fishing and mining is timely.

Child labour on the Volta Lake has become a global eyesore. Forcing children to dive under the lake to disentangle fishing nets is a well-known chilling experience. There are many stories of children who never returned from under the water. The engagement of children in illegal mining, galamsey, is another current issue. How I wish the fight against galamsey does not only focus its devastation of our water bodies and environment, but very much also on the terrible impact of galamsey of children.

We should agree with the President when he says children I illegal mining is disgraceful. When one sees our children crawling into galamsey pits or dredging in the alluvial, in comparison with their colleagues elsewhere enjoying exposure to quality education and a playful childhood, shame is not far-fetched when we ask ourselves why our children?

I support the Presidents pledge We will work to eliminate, in particular, the disgraceful practice of forcing children into fishing and illegal mining activities.

Presidential strike 7: Child Labour is a threat o national security

After a quarter of a century since we promulgated a Constitution that claimed to guarantee the fundamental human rights of every child to be protected from child labour, we have woken up today to find 22% of our children exploited by illegal labour practices. If we dont think this is a threat to our economic, social and political security, what is? Child labour is a recipe for inter-generational poverty. So the president says it is important to keep reminding ourselves that child labour and child trafficking are not only crimes, but also now pose veritable threats to our national security.

Presidential strike 8: child labour is a crime.

Child labour is not a mere labour offense.

Today, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), almost 2 million children are in child labour. This means the fundamental human rights of 2 million children is in jeopardy. The futre of these children is potentially stolen. They are likely to be robbed off a happy childhood and a decent adulthood. The criminality of child labour is not just a legal issue, it is a deep moral challenge. We all have a responsibility to protect our children from the criminality of child labour.

Presidential strike 9: the first lady is on board!

The engagement of the office of the first lady, in the fight against child labour, adds a strong emotive dimension. There is a mother in the house! This is reassuring. We can be confident that if men shut their insensitive eyses to the menace of child labour, our women, mothers and sisters, will not be that negligent. The bowls of tender care for the vulnerable will lead us to redeem any child. It is good for us all to join the President to acknowledge his wife, Rebecca, for the determined manner in which she is speaking out against the evil of child labour and child trafficking, and for the memorandum she has signed with her counterpart in Cote dIvoire to this effect.

We look forward to a very eventful presidential onslaught on the menace of child labour which threats to erase the usefulness of any present gains we make towards our future. The challenge is on.
17.05.2017 LISTEN

I have never been a pastor, a soothsayer, a prophet or a necromancer. Yet my dreams mostly come to pass. Didnt I dream about the NDCs humiliating defeat in the 2016 general election?

Indeed, I dreamt and further prognosticated on numerous occasions about former President Mahamas humiliating defeat.

Unsurprisingly, however, I received avalanche of harsh criticisms and needless insults from the NDC Party faithful for predicting their election defeat.

Somehow, the NDC loyalists were extremely confident of electoral victory prior to the 2016 general election.

In fact, the NDC leadership were so confident to an extent that they insisted on getting over one million votes in the Ashanti Region, the stronghold of their political opponents, the NPP Party.

It was indeed surprising for a government who failed abysmally to improve upon the previously booming economy, brought about stiff utility bills and high fuel prices (water, electricity, gas, petrol and diesel), failed to end the dumsor which crippled businesses, collapsed the NHIS in the Ashanti Region as a result of the introduction of Capitation, to maintain that they were going to receive one million votes in the Ashanti Region.

In their desperate attempts to motivate their downhearted party supporters before the announcement of the election results, the leadership incredibly assured the supporters of their comfortable lead in the race to the Flagstaff House.

Nevertheless, their much touted comfortable lead was soon to be metamorphosed into a humiliating defeat.

The NDC faithful received a shock of their lives and it was later alleged that the vast majority of the supporters sadly suffered heart muscle fibrillation.

It is against such a credible background that I shivered repeatedly following a dream I had about a split of the NDC Party upon former President Mahamas return as a flagbearer.

Well, let us put dream aside, the vineyard news and other sources have it that the Professor Kwesi Botchwey Election Fact-finding Committees report has indicted former President Mahama.

The sources have it that former President Mahama contributed largely to the NDCs 2016 humiliating election defeat.

There are those who believe that Ex-President Mahamas woeful errors in judgement accounted for the NDCs 2016 election loss.

Some party supporters insist that former President Mahama woefully turned a blind eye to their concerns over his association with election money grabbers.

Apparently, the concerned party loyalists were worried over the actions and inactions of the numerous fun clubs for Mahama 2016.

Indeed, there were numerous fun clubs for Mahama, which included among others, Artists for Mahama, Barbers for Mahama, Butchers for Mahama, Mahama Ladies, Akpeteshie Sellers for Mahama, Drunkards for Mahama, Macho Men for Mahama, etc.

The aggrieved diehard NDC supporters beef stemmed from the fact that although the vast majority of the Mahama fun clubs members were novices in electioneering campaign, they were entrusted with such a responsibility.

Somehow, former President Mahamas association with the novices and his apparent poor economic management incensed the vast majority of party faithful, who even threatened to boycott the 2016 general election.

The NDC Party faithful however maintained that the straw that broke the camels back was when President Mahama unjustifiably gave Madam Akua Donkor of Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) two four wheel drive cars and a luxury bungalow (estimated to cost a staggering $470,000)for no work done.

Consequently, leading to the 2016 general election, there were numerous publications on the rebellious NDC Party supporters.

NDC Supporters Threaten To Leave Party Over Preferential Treatment Given To John Dumelo, Mr Beautiful, Tracey Boakye and co (ghanakasa.com).

Angry residents of Gbulung and its surrounding communities in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region have threatened to boycott the 2016 polls if government fails to fix their road.

About a thousand of them including sub and youth chiefs, opinion leaders and assembly members, joined a massive demonstration on Wednesday August 17, 2016 to express their anger.

They held placards some of which read, John Mahama stop sleeping, NDC since 92 why, JM it is going against us why, We are tired, no road no vote, John Mahama, remember where you are coming from (cityfmonline.com).

Ho residents in the Volta region, called the bluff of the Volta regional Minister, Madam Helen Notoso as they protested over the poor road networks in the municipality. The aggrieved residents say they are tired of governments failure to fix the bad roads in the area.

The protestors ignored warnings from the Police and the regional minister not to demonstrate without police protection.

The poor turnout did not however prevent the protestors from presenting a petition to the president through the regional minister.

Some of the demonstrators speaking to Starr News said the bad nature of the roads is making life unbearable for residents. They warned the governing NDC they are likely to lose more votes in the region in the upcoming 2016 elections if the government does not pay attention to their needs (starrfmonline.com; peacefmonline.com; ghanaweb.com; modernghana.com).

Following their humiliating 2016 election defeat, the NDC leadership have been vigorously fighting their way through in a desperate attempt to convince their aggrieved supporters of their consuming desire to recapture power in 2020.

The General Secretary of the party, Asiedu Nketia and his cohorts have been holding a phantom believe that they lost the 2016 election because their aggrieved supporters failed to cast their vote.

Somehow, the NDC apparatchiks ridiculous denial over the election defeat gave rise to a Fact-finding Committee to uncover the reasons for their defeat.

It is, however, quite ironic that the NDC loyalists do not want to acknowledge the fact that Ghanas economy was in some state prior to the 2016 election as a large portion of the countrys resources went down the drain from the irreversible mismanagement and the wanton sleaze and corruptions committed by the officials of the Mahamas administration.

It is indeed heartrending for one to recount how Ghanas economy sunk deeper and deeper into the mire under President Mahamas leadership.

So, it is not quite surprising that while the Mahama loyalists are moving heaven and earth to have him back as the partys next presidential candidate, the sceptics are insisting that Mahama was not up to the task during his tenure in office and must thus be replaced with a more capable flagbearer.

Consequently, the seeming squabbling has culminated in a tussle over the choice of a more capable flagbearer to lead them to recapture the elusive victory in the 2020 general election.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, a few presidential aspirants have come forward and hinted of their interest in the NDCs flagbearership position.

Predictably, the supporters are throwing their unflinching support behind their favourite aspirants.

Strangely, though, despite the fact that the argument about former President Mahamas unpopularity somewhat tilts in the sceptics favour, the diehard supporters will somehow succeed in their quest to bring back Mahama as their flagbearer if he decides to accept their invitation.

Obviously, the vast majority of the NDC Party loyalists are living in a denial about former President Mahamas much touted popularity and will thus choose him any day over any other presidential aspirant.

In my view, therefore, it would be unjustifiable for sceptics to tag a reflective forecaster as an irresponsible doom prophet for venturing to prognosticate that the NDC Party could split into uncountable parts before their flagbearership contest in 2018.

K. Badu, UK.
17.05.2017 LISTEN

The entirety of the Ghana media is highly commendable for their unanimous stance taken against the uncontrollably devastating legal or illegal surface mining (galamsey) going on in Ghana. The power of the media in supporting or fighting an action is like the pen which is said to be mightier than the sword. Again, in unity lies strength and this is proven by the recent action by the Ghana media in rallying behind His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in fighting the ecological savagery in perpetuation by foreign and local galamseyers.

Without the support of the media, the President might have encountered a herculean task fighting the entrenched, but havoc-wreaking illegal surface mining masterminded by some irresponsible politicians, traditional leaders and orchestrated by some illegal Chinese nationals resident in Ghana.

However, with the clarion call by the media to all discerning Ghanaians that care about our future and our very survival in our own land as well as that of the unborn, to declare intensive war on galamseyers to rescue our lands, water bodies etc. from annihilation under the hands of these selfish and short-sighted individuals called galamseyers, the President will realise his objective.

Nobody can build Ghana to a prosperous nation to the admiration and expectation of all except the Ghanaians themselves. Therefore, we should all be supportive of the wise and most admirable action collectively taken by the Ghana media to arrest the decadence that has propelled some Ghanaians into seeking to enrich them by destroying the very God-endowed (nature-endowed) fabric of our human existence in Ghana.

Without arable land, potable water, and clean air to breathe, how can Ghanaians survive? Therefore, I am very appreciative of the collective action taken by the Ghana media in fighting to rescue our lands and water bodies from total destruction by both local and foreign, especially, Chinese surface miners.

No amount of purposeful blackmailing should be enough to obstruct us from pursuing the good cause of eradicating galamsey from Ghana. There should not be any tolerance for legal or illegal galamsey activity in Ghana judging from the destruction the galamsey menace has already caused to our lands and water bodies.

Much as I appreciate the efforts by the media to fighting the gangrened galamsey, could I invite them to always rally in support of all genuine initiatives to fighting corruption of all sorts? It is only by honestly fighting corruption, the bane of Ghanas socio-economic emancipation, that Ghana could become a place to be proud of and cherished by all meaningful persons.

Our politicians and traditional leaders and so-called overlords have oftentimes been the perpetrators of these very crimes that have brought Ghana to her knees.

Could I subsequently invite the media to look into the ongoing Kumawu chieftaincy dispute to take the appropriate action to ensure that true justice without any acts of inducement to twist the truth takes place? The facts are already glaringly in the public domain for all to see.

Should the media that have now seen the light, continue to do the right thing without being influenced as they used to be under former President Mahama, judicial corruption, institutional corruption, Chinese taking our leaders to ransom to destroy our ecology in the aggressive pursuit of their selfish interests and some so-called traditional overlords reaping from where they have not sown will all cease.

In all these, I thank His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for being so resolutely determined to ensure that justice and the rule of law prevail in Ghana under his regime.

Once again, I take my hat off to the Ghana media for relentlessly rallying support for the fight against galamsey in Ghana.

Rockson Adofo
17.05.2017 LISTEN

Awake News can confirm that some officers from the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) made an announced visit to the Dambai College of Education in the Volta Region yesterday, Friday May 12, 2017.

It is not yet clear the purpose of their visit, but it is being alleged the college principal, Mr. Musah Yamba Issahaku and the former Bursar, Mr. Sebastine Sokah are being investigated for possible financial misappropriation.

"EOCO is on campus as I speak and they are looking into so many files. They have collected all files in the bursars office" - A college staff who spoke on condition of anonymity has said.

According to sources, the officers from the anti-graft agency clashed with one of the members of the an ongoing interview panel, Mr. Jerry [ads1]Sarfo, Coordinator of Colleges of Education of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE).

Awake News can confirm that Mr. Jerry Sarfo was then picked-up at the College campus by Police and detained at the Dambai Police Station for close to four hours for disrupting the work of the security forces.

However, speaking to Awake News, ASP Amegbor, Karachi East Police Commander denied the Mr. Sarfo arrest and detention.
The government has said it is not perturbed by the Minority petition to the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States to investigate its $2.25 billion bond issued this year.

It says the petition among other actions is only a diversionary tactic meant to sway Ghanaians from seeing the positive work the government is doing.

A deputy Minister for information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the government remains focused on fulfilling its promises to Ghanaians and will not debate the Minority in parliament or the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the issue,

The government in April this year raised $2.25 billion from four bonds including a 7 and 15-year bond, at a rate of 19.75%.

The bond which was open to resident and non-resident investors raised disquiet among members of the opposition NDC.

The Minority raised issues of possible conflict of interest following the purchase of 95% of the bonds by Mr. Trefgarne who is a Director of Franklin Templeton and a Board Chairman of Enterprise Group.

The government had defended the bonds issue explaining that it did not flout any regulation.

But the minority appears to have taken a keen interest in the matter and is using any means available to it to get challenge the issuance of the bond.

The Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Brogya Genfi, also recently petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over the matter, calling for investigations into it.

But speaking on Eyewitness News, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said, a lot of answers have been provided. We have come to believe that they will consistently keep bringing up this issue even when you provide them answers. They consistently issue statements about it because they know that when they do, the media will be stopped from following any good news and you'll be chasing that particular story. We don't have any problem with them, they can attend to any particular establishment as they ask for any information and those establishments shall provide them with that information that they want.

In the meantime, while they do that, we will remain focused on the governance agenda

Lawyer demands authentic details of $2.25bn bond

Meanwhile, a private legal practitioner, Victor Kojogah Adawudu has written to the Attorney General requesting for more information on the controversial $2.25 billion domestic bond which was issued in April 2017.

According to the lawyer, Victor Kojogah Adawudu, he exercised his right to information due to the scanty details provided by the Ministry of Finance on the issue.

In a letter addressed to the Attorney General and copied to the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Adawudu, who also enclosed a processing fee of GHc 1,000, said the information he is seeking is aimed at addressing several concerns voiced on the matter.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Assembly Members of the La-Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly in Greater Accra Region on Tuesday rejected President Nana Akufo-Addos nominee for the position of Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the municipality.

The nominee, Madam Dede Jennifer Afegbedzi, failed to obtain two thirds of the votes of the Assembly members during her confirmation. Four out of the 13 Assembly members voted 'Yes' while nine voted 'No', securing her only 30 percent of the total ballot cast.

Speaking to Citi News after the voting, the Presiding Member for La-Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly, Alhaji I.F Failah described the outcome as disappointing.

It is rather unfortunate that we had this results, I know her as a young lady who is very hardworking from TESCON at the Tertiary level to other areas. The election was to be held last week Friday, but was postponed and many people believe that if it had been held on Friday the nominee would have won hands down.

But we must also know that La-Nkwantanang is not like other municipal assemblies, we are very focused and very learned. They cannot be persuaded or bribed in anyway and that is why over the years we have topped all the other assemblies in Greater Accra. That tells you that they were up to a certain task and they knew what they want to reject the nominee he said.

Asked whether, a new date will be set for another confirmation exercise, the presiding member told Citi News, the percentage was not encouraging.

If you go to part four- page eight of the standing orders of the assembly, section c and d it tells you that if the president's nominee is able to secure 50% or more of the total vote cast, the person is required to come back for re-election. That is if the person could not secure the two third needed to confirm him or her. But because this is less than 50% it is a very worrying situation.

Madam Dede Jennifer Afegbedzi is among 212 persons named by the President to fill the vacant positions of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives in the various assemblies nationwide.



By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Why would alien countries name present day Ghana Gold Coast, then abandon gold standard to back their promissory notes with mere printed paper? African currencies used to have some value under their rule before Independence. While they gave Independence, they would not relinquish economic independence. They have been able to exchange African resources with printed paper enhancing what Nkrumah titled Neo-colonialism. We have more American $100 bills outside than inside. Aliens never gave up African gold chase, they expand it to other resources.

Are you then surprised that Ghana have to sell its gold mine to aliens in order to gain economic freedom and become rich as western countries? Ghana is just a case in point, it is true for every African country and how their currencies became 500 or 1000 to one foreign currency. Nigerias naira used to be one and a half to one American dollar. Liberalized forex has made it worse!

They have been able to convince many African economists as their proponents to preach liberal market that hardly exist in their countries as a way for Africans to be rich or be threatened with the fate of Zimbabwe dollar. In order words, African countries must open markets to dump expensive finished products made from cheap raw materials. The irony is obvious; Africa cannot exchange enough currency or supply sufficient raw materials to buy inflated finished products.

Indeed, there are certain industries that are highly protected in western countries that other companies outside the country cannot buy. When China was allowed into the Rich Club as a trading partner to spite Russia, United States and Europe declared certain companies off limit for sale. Even companies on Bond and Wall streets that are traded daily, have limits and regulations on what can be sold. But African markets must have no limit and left unprotected.

Tsetse fly and malaria had prevented them from invading the rain forest where gold actually came from as they tried to displace the Mossi and Mandinka as middlemen supplier. The British got around that by ship along the coast. Today they resorted to devaluing African currencies to get the same gold, diamond, uranium and other essentials that cheaply subsidize their economy and lifestyle. Mwalimu Nyerere reacted to Pres Reagan when told men should be taught how to fish: how many tons of cocoa do Africans have to work for to buy one tractor in 1960s to 80s?

In spite of the fact that World Bank and International Monetary Fund publicly regretted policy of Structural Adjustment Program in Ghana that devastated and impoverished middleclass, they always find other ways to buy our resources cheap by devaluation. The same way Foreign Portfolio Investors drive African stock markets up and check out. Bitcoin or altcoin is next.

Meanwhile, their markets are heavily guarded and you have to be a member of the rich club to to trade with them. Even within the rich trading club, goods and services are regulated as long as it favors one another. There are always clauses to pull out once it is no longer bearable. United States, the richest debtor in the world has recently threatened to do so with its trading partners. However, African countries must leave their markets wide open for dumping.

They preached liberalized markets to Africans that in most cases only have one or two raw materials to sell. Since they want to buy these raw materials as cheap as possible, they asked each African country to devalue its currency. With a little foreign currency, they could buy the biggest farm cheaply. Usually, if you have junk like China to sell to a trading partner, you can devalue your money so that these countries could buy more of your finished faked products.

So, why cry or condemn devalued currency in China that has cheap labor, plastics and imitated fake finished products to sell but encourage devaluation for Africans with REAL raw materials?

When China penetrated the Rich Club with devalued currency so that Europe and American could buy more of their plastics, steel and other manmade finished products competing with their local companies at home, they cried out against Chinas manipulation and devaluation of its currency. Recently, China tightened up when their privileged class started using loopholes and abusing devaluation that reduced its foreign reserve. Point is China can control its currency.

If African countries have manmade materials to sell to the Rich Countries Club like Japan and China, there would be no problem devaluing African currency. But African countries have no trading privileges and the only material they can sell are dictated by the rich countries to their detriment because that policy drains and depletes African gold, diamond, uranium, coffee, cocoa etc. Since Africa have the most arable land, they are buying up the cheap arable land too.

It boils down to predatory mentality of exploiting the ignorant and the poor with colo-mentality that appreciate alien products more. The fact that you have well trained Africans in their most prestigious universities as their proponent preaching liberalized market to African countries but not access to Rich Countries Market, worsen the situation. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi it was, that used to preach that India did not want aid but access to western market to trade.

African countries love foreign educated economists or those specializing in principles of African domination theories preached by their alien mentors. They are showered with appointments and awards in foreign countries as if they have delivered a single economic miracle to a single developing country. The younger generation must ask them what exactly it is these economists have done since independence apart from echoing their masters voices.

The glut of steel in the world market is an indication why Ajaokuta Steel never actually took off in Nigeria. Russia was called to help build it after the western capitalist countries procrastinated and eventually refused. All countries are looking for where to dump or sell their steel including Russia that never completed the Steel industry in Nigeria. China has been accused in United States of dumping their cheap steel in their market.

The logical way is to make sure raw materials produced in a country has secondary industry to produce finished products. Since 1957 oil discovery, Nigeria oil industry has not been able to fully develop its secondary industry so that all the oil produced and its byproduct like gas are enhanced to the full maximum potential. Therefore, gas is still flared and wasted since western corporate bodies do not see the benefit of making an African country less dependent on them.
Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi Arabia has invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for alleged war crimes, to a summit with US President Donald Trump and Arab and Muslim leaders, a Saudi official said Wednesday.

"He (Bashir) is invited," the official told AFP without saying whether the Sudanese leader would attend the top-level talks on Sunday.

Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, from Saturday on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

He will address the summit on his "hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam," the White House said Tuesday.

Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the International Criminal Court in 2009 for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Darfur in which at least 300,000 people have been killed.

He denies the charges.

The Hague-based ICC was set up in 2002 as a court of last resort to try the world's worst crimes where national courts are unable or unwilling to act.
Former boss of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Sylvester Mensah has called on supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to unite ahead of the 2020 general elections.

Speaking at the NDC's National Cadres Conference in Accra Tuesday, he said irrespective of the challenges that led to the party's defeat in the 2016 polls, there is the need for unity.

"The demands of the time impose on us a historical responsibility to close our ranks and unite like never before with all who believe and share in the desire to wrestle political power from the inhumane NPP government," he said.

"Comrades this is not only shameful but significantly elicits a needless cycle of equal or greater reprisals after each successive government going forward. A bad political culture that our dear late Professor Mill sought to nib in the bud with the concept of Father For All- but no more! Perhaps this can be a subject matter for another discussion."

Read full statement below:

Comrade Brother Sylvester A Mensah, at the National Cadres Conference Held On Tuesday 16th May 2017 at the Jefkings Hotel (On The Dodowa Road)

Topic:

Commemorating June 4 - Integrating Cadres Into The NDC, A Cadres Perspective

Senior Comrades, Comrades, Distinguished Invited Guests, Our media friends,

I deem it a great honour to be accorded the place of a Guest Speaker and asked to share a few words at an auspicious gathering of this kind.

Gathered in this audience today are men and women of great valour whose tenacity, perseverance, and determination shaped the destiny of our beloved country and its modern fledgling democracy.

Many among us played crucial roles in the mobilization efforts that returned hope to the hearts and minds of our people across the country. I am therefore excited at this unique chance to interact, recount, share ideas and experience, and reignite new hopes to guide and usher our country into the blissful future we continue to work for.

Let me express my profound gratitude to the initiators and organizers of this conference, for asking me to speak at a gathering of what I consider the assembly of great Ghanaians with social conscience.

On an occasion like this, it is also important to thank you all for the many ways in which together as cadres we have selflessly used our talents, expertise, and experiences to shepherd our country out of the difficult times of the 1980s and early 1990s.

I consider this conference yet another step to illustrate our perseverance, persistence, determination, tenacity and drive to remain relevant is shaping the future course of socio-political and economic decisions that have implications for the wealth of our people.

Senior Colleagues, the National Democratic Congress as a political party remains our only natural home. As you will recall, it is a house built on the foundations of several social forces including in particular the Eagle Club, the Development Union of Progressive Revolutionary Cadres throughout the country, and the Rawlings Fan Club of Progressive Cadres and other Civilians  as well as functionaries, operatives, supporters, sympathizers and all those who believed and participated in the prosecution of the principles and ideals of the 1979 June 4 Uprising and the 1981 31st December Revolution.

Shall we observe a minute silence for the fallen hero-activists as well as those who were at the receiving end of excesses and avoidable errors? We salute all those who have remained steadfast despite emotionally disturbing life changing circumstances. Indeed social progress comes with its inherent hiccups and coke-ups. While we regret the needless and avoidable, we find solace in how far we have come as a people.

Fellow comrades, permit me to begin with a historical backdrop. I guess this serves our course and the interest of students of Ghanas democratic history to take a snapshot view of some of the past events. As you recall, in July 1990, the then Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), established the National Commission for Democracy (NCD) to hold seminars in all ten regional centres to gather public opinion on the future democratic pathway for the country.

The NCD submitted its report on 1st April 1991, advocating a multi-party system of democratic governance. The PNDC then appointed a nine-member committee of constitutional experts charged with developing proposals for a draft constitution. The prepared draft was then deliberated upon, reviewed and voted on by a larger 258-member Consultative Assembly. The Consultative Assembly concluded its work on March 30, 1992.

After the PNDC received the Assemblys final draft, it put the draft to a public referendum on April 28, 1992. Though only a simple majority was needed to approve the Constitution, the referendum passed with 92% of voters in approval. This immediately culminated in lifting the ban on political party activity on the 18th of May 1992, which paved way for the emergence of new political parties and the revival of some previously existing ones.

With the approval of the 1992 Constitution, the stage was set for Presidential and Parliamentary elections in November and December 1992 respectively; with the Constitution billed to come into force on January 7, 1993, to usher in Ghanas Fourth Republic.

The above narrative is important because every step along the way, cadres worked as conveyor belts to carry the intent and purpose of the PNDC from the urban centres to every part of the country, making sure that every Ghanaians is given an opportunity to be part of the processes. I remember the 5 member Prompting Committee constituted in the Greater Accra Region of which I was a member, tasked with the responsibility of creating awareness on the formation of a new political party  the NDC.

Comrades and friends, it was seated here and others who went round every district virtually begging individual to become founding members of our dear party. We again had a historical duty to scout for the first set of Parliamentary Candidates, most of whom became Hon. MPs in the 1st Parliament of the 4th Republic.

Comrades and friends, despite the remarkable achievements, Cadre yielded to the caution to cede front line activities to fresh faces in order to attract greater patronage. This singular act of understanding and commitment to the collective good has had a frustratingly difficult effect on cadres in general, in the bid to effectively integrate into the structures of the party.

In hindsight I guess we appreciate that cadres were not well positioned for the transition to multiparty democracy. Nevertheless, Cadre loyalty and commitment has remained undiminished and continues unabated.

Comrades and friends, irrespective of our individual or collective circumstances, the demands of the time impose on us a historical responsibility to close our ranks and unite like never before with all who believe and share in the desire to wrestle political power from the inhumane NPP government, currently dismissing properly appointed civil and public servants to create space for employing unemployed foot soldiers of the NPP.

Comrades this is not only shameful but significantly elicits a needless cycle of equal or greater reprisals after each successive government going forward. A bad political culture that our dear late Professor Mill sought to nib in the bud with the concept of Father For All- but no more! Perhaps this can be a subject matter for another discussion.

Ladies and gentlemen, our challenges transcend bread and butter issues for today. Our common enemies are disease, ignorance, poverty, inequality and social exclusion, among others. Indeed our enemy is a bad political culture that invites reprisals of equal or greater magnitude. Our enemy is an ill-funded and suboptimal party apparatus.

Our enemy is the friend and colleague within, with a dagger behind his or her back, dismembering, frustrating and eating-up its own from within. Our enemy is the lack of trust and sincerity in those we look up to, as well as those who look up to us.

We are in the peoples industry and our unique selling proposition must be anchored in trust. What leadership requires is principled loyalty as against gaping sycophancy, which is creeping up on us. Our enemy is unethical behaviour and the creeping culture of silence at all level of leadership. Our enemy is the tendency of remaining reluctantly subservient and quiet under unacceptable conduct by those we look up to.

It is no secret that many Cadres feel disenchanted and disillusioned about the turn of developments since the return to constitutional rule. But as the foundation upon which NDC was built, and the true soul of the party, we have no choice but to remain resolute and firmly committed to the forces of good over evil; and selfless dedication over selfish arrogance.

As cadres, we must remind ourselves that, the Founding Father of the NDC is Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings upon whose vision and leadership the Party was established. It is no secret that many people became members of our great party through the mobilization efforts of Cadre. We must be proud of our heritage and sacrifices for the collective achievements so far and resolve to be committed to the total reorganization of the Party as we prepare for the 2020 General Elections, an election beckoning the NDC for victory!

As former President John Mahama recently noted, if you ride a lame horse to battle and you encounter defeat, your first duty is to cure the lameness of the horse, irrespective of the cause of lameness (emphasis is mine). Our party obviously needs to be strengthened, and that enterprise needs your expertise, experience and skills.

Lets take the wise counsel of former President John Mahama to make our NDC party attractive again. Let us reconnect our values to the lived experiences of Ghanaians. Let us show that the idea of building a society of equal opportunities in Ghana is within our reach in the NDC.

Collectively, there is the need for cadres to rededicate to grassroots mobilization at the party branches, communities and workplaces to identify allies and sympathizers and galvanize their support and involvement for the reorganization of the party.

There is opportunity now like never before for cadres to re-locate in all the branches of the party across the country in the first instance and then assess further opportunities into higher structures of the party. Indeed the time has come for the party to create space in the party constitution for cadres as an integral wing. Today there are new corps of party cadres who have not been adequately oriented to appreciate the partys antecedent, history and sacrifices of those who have come before them.

Even past successive party leadership have had challenges with recognition and appreciation. We have a historical responsibility to integrate into the party as party cadres with shared values and nurture growth through new membership of party cadres if were not to become extinct.

We didnt get where we are today by accident, or by chance, fate or coincidence, but by careful orchestration and navigation with sufficient consultation

As I prepare to take my seat, let me use this occasion to respectfully and humbly entreat all of us as Cadres to return to the branches, wards, constituencies, and the regional levels of the party, and offer ourselves to be elected to position of influence so that our wealth of knowledge and experience can truly become beneficial to the party. In an environment of competitive elections, we cannot stay outside the vital veins of the party and expect that the change we desire will take place.

Fellow comrades, on the commemoration of the 38th year of the historic June 4 popular uprising I commend all cadres assembled here as well as those whose circumstances could not allow them to be present. Indeed, your concern for the ordinary man, your selflessness, sacrifice and commitment to the abiding principles and values of probity and accountability, transparency and social justice remain the most enduring legacy of our past.

You dedicated your youth to a cause we remain proud of. You laid the foundation and moulding blocs for a sustainable political edifice for generations yet to come. You defined the values and attitudes consistent with changing societal expectation and a platform for building our world outlook.

This is how far we have come, transforming into a formidable political party with our role diminishing after successive governments of our own party. Posterity would remember and acknowledge our individual and collective contribution and sacrifice.

I commend the organizers of this forum, their collaborators and sponsors for keeping up the spirit.

Finally, as we all know, in less than a month from now, our great party will be celebrating 25 years since the sacrifices and selfless dedication culminated in its birth. Two years from now, we will be celebrating four decades of the June 4th Uprising, the first of the two Revolutions that ushered our new and stable democratic dispensation. Let us step forward forcefully not only to tell our story but to provide leadership at all levels.

A bit of introspection can be helpful in our quest to pick ourselves up as a party.

How do we ensure that the party does not suffer a lack of motivation and neglect?

How do we ensure shared values and shared imperatives of our social democratic agenda?

How do we remain effective in opposition to regain the peoples mandate?

How do we interrogate and redefine the Father-For-All philosophy consistent with our experiences in opposition?

How do we give true meaning to social democracy and deepen our social democratic credentials?

How long should it take the party to recognise the Cadre corps as an integral wing of the party with voting rights?

Comrades and friends, making cadres an integral part of the party is long overdue.

Its been a pleasure accepting the invitation to speak.

Its been a great pleasure sharing these thoughts with you.

And I know it would be a much greater pleasure working together with you and the party into the future to fulfil some of the thoughts we have shared.

My pleasure, my gratitude.

Thank you.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Kinshasa (AFP) - Rebels from an outlawed political-religious group attacked Kinshasa's central prison on Wednesday, breaking out their leader and about 50 other prisoners, the Congolese government said.

"Followers of the Bundu Dia Kongo (BDK) attacked Makala prison at dawn and broke out around 50 prisoners including their guru, Ne Muanda Nsemi," government spokesman Lambert Mende said, indicating that police had given chase.

According to a local resident, the attack began just before dawn when there were "prolonged exchanges of fire".

One of the prisoners on the run told AFP he had managed to escape during violent clashes between the attackers and the prison guards.

A lawmaker, Nsemi is the spiritual leader of the BDK which has called for an insurrection against Kinshasa.

He was arrested along with his three wives and son in early March following a violent two-week siege of his home in Kinshasa, DR Congo's capital.

The government has accused BDK followers of a string of violent attacks in western DR Congo since the start of the year.

By around 8:30 am (0730 GMT), a column of thick black smoke could be seen rising over Makala prison, with dozens of police and soldiers blocking off all access to the facility.

The derelict palace complex of Mobutu Sese Seko, former president of Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) who was ousted exactly 20 years ago on May 17, 1997

The dramatic assault took place as DR Congo marks 20 years since the fall of Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled the country -- which was then known as Zaire -- with an iron fist for more than three decades.

Mobutu was ousted by rebel chief Laurent-Desire Kabila, father of the embattled current president Joseph Kabila.

BDK stands for "Kingdom of the Kongo" in the Kikongo language, and its members want to restore an African monarchy that once included what is today Kongo Central (formerly Bas-Congo) along with parts of Angola, the Republic of Congo and Gabon.
Kinshasa (AFP) - Two decades after Kinshasa gave itself up willingly to rebel commander Laurent-Desire Kabila, his son Joseph remains at the helm of this vast, conflict-ravaged nation although his rule is mired in political crisis.

Back in 1997, the country then known as Zaire was struggling under the authoritarian rule of Joseph Mobutu Sese Seko, who seized power in 1965 and presided over a nepotistic regime steeped in corruption.

His rule came to an abrupt end in May that year when Kabila's Alliance troops marched into the capital and the rebel chief declared himself president of the newly named Democratic Republic of Congo.

"They were very young, dirty, starving and collapsing under the weight of their weapons," recalls Chantal Kikalulu of the forces who entered Kinshasa on May 17, a city exhausted by decades of dictatorship.

"Without thinking, we offered them food and drink."

Backed by Uganda and Rwanda, Kabila's Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (ADFL) had begun their rebellion just seven months earlier, staging a rapid takeover which saw Mobutu flee and the rebels welcomed with open arms.

"By dawn on May 17, 1997, excited residents of the city were running towards us with bread and water, and even buckets of water to wash ourselves with," recalls Cedric 'Zimbabwe' Kabeya, who was just 16 when he served in Kabila's army.

During the campaign, the ADFL -- which had liberally recruited children and teenagers as soldiers -- appeared to be far better disciplined than the rag-tag and generally unpaid Zairean Armed Forces (FAZ).

'Had enough'

"Most of the cities fell into our hands without any resistance from Mobutu's men who were demoralised and were just spewed out by the population," recalls Major General Jean-Claude Kifwa, former head of Kabila's guard.

Child soldiers, or 'kadogos', were on the front line of Laurent-Desire Kabila's rebel troops when they marched into Kinshasa in May 1997, ending Mobutu's 32-year dictatorship in what was then known as Zaire

The people were happy to cooperate because they had simply "had enough of being humiliated, plundered and gratuitously killed" by FAZ troops, says Kifwa, who is today in charge of defence for the southeastern part of the country.

There was even disillusionment with Mobutu at the highest levels within the army, he adds, saying the rebels had access to "strategic information" which came from the general staff.

According to a former senior FAZ officer, the last "real clashes with the enemy" took place at Kenge, 200 kilometres (120 miles) east of Kinshasa.

After Kenge fell, there was "no real reason to defend Kinshasa, which would have resulted in a bloodbath" in a metropolis which was home to several million people.

'Liberators!'

By May 16, the ADFL was at the gates of the city and Mobutu fled to his hideout on the border with Central African Republic, dying in exile four months later.

General Donatien Mahele Lieko, who was chief of staff at the time, decided to surrender without a fight -- for which he was quickly assassinated by Mobutu's loyal presidential guards.

Known as the "leopard king", Joseph Mobutu Sese Seko ruled Zaire from 1965 until May 1997, when he was ousted by rebel chief Laurent Desire Kabila who renamed the country Democratic Republic of Congo

But history had already been written.

On May 17, ADFL forces entered Kinshasa alongside troops from Rwanda where they were welcomed by crowds hailing them as "liberators!" and shouting: "Kabila, we're waiting for you!"

At the time, Kabila enjoyed a particularly favourable international context.

As well as the backing of Rwanda and Uganda, the rebel chief also had the support of Angola and Burundi which were determined oust Mobutu at a time when the dictator's Western support had dried up following the end of the Cold War.

'Total disillusionment'

But the enthusiasm over Kabila's victory was short-lived -- overtaken by the swift slide towards authoritarianism, subjugation of the opposition and the troublesome presence of Ugandan and Rwandan soldiers on the streets.

"It was total disillusionment," admits Adolphe Muzito, who served as prime minister under Joseph Kabila, the current president, from 2008 to 2012.

"The people quickly understood that Laurent-Desire Kabila had been brought to power by Rwandan tanks and that it was time to free him from these foreigners whose leading role was clear."

The rapid change in sentiment was also registered by the troops.

"Those who had welcomed us like princes suddenly became hostile, accusing us of being Rwandan," says Zimbabwe, who ended his military career in 1999 and became an electrician.

They accused us of "acting as if we were in a country we'd just conquered," recalls Armel Matabaro, another former child soldier.

Just 40 kilometres (25 miles) outside Kinshasa stands the derelict palace complex of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled what was then known as Zaire for more than three decades

"Our Rwandan commanders started looting property and mistreating people for no good reason, just like Mobutu's soldiers."

It was 14 months later when Kabila finally ordered Rwandan and Ugandan troops out of the country, triggering a violent conflict that quickly degenerated into the Second Congo War (1998-2003).

At the height of the war, which drew in at least six foreign armies and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, Kabila was assassinated by a child soldier, and in January 2001 his 29-year-old son took over as president.

He was formally elected in 2006 in the country's first free elections since independence in 1960, and has been in power ever since: His refusal to leave office after his term ended in December has sparked a new political crisis.
Information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that the nomination of Hajia Amama Sayibu for the Tolon District Chief Executive (DCE) position, has allegedly been revoked by the party in the Northern Region.

The confirmation process which was supposed to take place on Monday, was suspended indefinitely.

It was alleged that the youth in the area planned a massive demonstration to disrupt the process to register their disapproval of the president's nominee for the area.

An emergency meeting was reportedly called by the regional minister, party executives, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tolon and the assembly members.

An assembly member who spoke to DAILY GUIDE on condition of anonymity said during the meeting, members outlined reasons why they did not approve of the nomination of Hajia Amama Sayibu.

According to him, the Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, assured members that the nomination of the woman would be revoked to sustain peace in the Tolon District.

A source at the Tolon chief's palace disclosed to DAILY GUIDE that the minister and the party had requested the regent to submit three names for consideration as district chief executive for the area.

The regent of Tolon Major Sulemana Abubakari (retired) told DAILY GUIDE that so long as the people of Tolon had declared that they do not want the president's nominee as their DCE, he would support them.

He warned the authorities that should they try to bring military and police to impose the DCE on the people, he would personally come out and fight them.

The youth in the Tolon District went on a peaceful demonstration to register their displeasure about the nomination of Hajia Amama Sayibu as their DCE.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, NPP Chairman for the Tolon Constituency Abdulai Alhassan, said the president's nominee qualifies because she is a Ghanaian but falls short of the rest of the requirements by the party.

According to him, the nominee does not hail from the area because nobody in the area knows her and does not vote in the district, among other things.

FROM Eric Kombat, Tolon


Recent comments by the Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Daniel Bugri Naabu, did not only disgrace his political grouping  the New Patriotic Party (NPP)  but has also emboldened the family of Gregory Afoko, who is standing trial in a court, to press for his immediate release from prison custody.

Gregory Afoko, younger brother of suspended national chairman of the NPP  Paul Afoko  has been accused of killing the late Adams Mahama, Upper East Regional chairman of the NPP; and for almost two years has been on remand.

Family members of Gregory Afoko, including Paul Afoko, has since the beginning of the case, insisted that their brother was not responsible for the death of the late Adams Mahama and called on the police to do extra work to get the true killers of the late party chairman.

At a press conference at Sandema in the Builsa North District of the Upper East Region on May 15, the family announced that Gregory Afoko was not the killer of the late party chairman, but the real killers of the late Adams Manama are walking around freely, enjoying the goodies that the NPPs victory has come with.

The family, through a spokesperson, Robert Atong Asekabta, mentioned Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu; the Minister for Gender and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba; the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari and the National Nasara Coordinator, Kamal-deen Abdallah as people who know about the murder of Adams Mahama, considering the recent comments by Mr. Naabu and past comments of the Nasara Coordinator after the death of Mahama.

The family has called on the police to invite these persons to assist in unraveling the killers of Mr Mahama and if possible, be arrested just as their brother, Gregory Afoko, was arrested and being tried based on allegation.

So, just as Gregory Afoko was arrested on the allegation of someone, it is our humble plea to the Ghana Police Service that Madam Otiko Djaba, Mr. Rockson Bukari and Bugri Naabu himself be arrested or invited by the police to assist them in finding who actually killed Adams Mahama and for what purpose. The law must be seen to be applied equally to all manner of persons including Bugri, Bukari and Otiko.

The Police have not widened the net of their investigations enough. For instance, some hours after the night Adams Mahama sadly passed on, the current National Nasara Co-ordinator of the NPP, one Kamal Deen Abdulai, was heard in the media saying that he had called to inform the late Adams to take issues of his personal security seriously and that he should be prayerful.

FROM EBO BRUCE-QUANSAH, Sandema


NINE GOVERNMENT appointees in the Ada East District Assembly of the Greater Accra Region have been sacked after the failure to endorse President Akufo-Addo's nominee for the position of district chief executive (DCE).

The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council issued the revocation letter signed by the Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey, late Monday afternoon  a few hours after the 23 assembly members voted against the nominee.

The letter dated May 15, 2017 and copied to the Ada East District Assembly, indicated that approval had been given by the president to revoke the appointment of the nine members who were among the 36 government appointees to the assembly.

H.E. the President, acting under Section (9) sub-section (6a) of the Local Government Act 2016 (Act 936) has revoked your appointment as a Government Appointee with the Ada East District Assembly with immediate effect.

You therefore cease to be a member of the Ada East District Assembly accordingly. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted, one of the dismissed letters states.

Information was that the dismissal letters were handed to the appointed assembly members, and have them replaced because the district chief executive nominee missed the required two-third mark during the confirmation exercise.

Sarah Dugbakie Pobee, the nominee, secured 13 votes against 23.

The nominee needed 24 votes to secure her position as the DCE for the Ada East District.

Notwithstanding the outcome of the polls, she thanked the president for having faith in her and also thanked the assembly members for their support, but urged them to soften their stance so as to catapult development of Ada East

The members of the community also expressed worry and urged the president to retain the nominee and not to think of changing her.

One of the appointees told DAILY GUIDE that the news came as a shock to those affected because that was only a few minutes after the assemblys elections during which Sarah Dugbakie Pobee's nomination was disapproved.

Some affected members who claimed they did not receive copies of the letter expressed regret about the way their appointments had been revoked.

We have worked and toiled for the party here so it is unfair if we are treated this way, one of them bemoaned.

From Vincent Kubi, Ada-East


17.05.2017 LISTEN

The Second-in-Command at the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in the Ashanti Region, is in hot waters a recording of a conversation between him and two other men regarding notorious Chinese illegal miner, Asia Huang, leaked.

Chief Supt Peter Adu Appiah, who is also the Head of Enforcement and Intelligence Bureau at GIS in the Ashanti Region, is being investigated over comments he is said to have made on the said tape which is being aired by local radio stations in Accra.

The tape puts the officer in a complicit position, Luv FM's Erastus Asare Donkor told Kojo Yankson, host of the Super Morning Show Wednesday, May 17, 2017.

Head of Public Relations at the Ghana Immigration Service, Chief Superintendent Francis Palmdeti confirmed this but wouldn't give any details.

Some recordings on some local FM stations in Accra have come to our attention and we have invited the officers to come to the head office.

I am not at this moment in the position to start commenting on something that is under investigation. Individuals mentioned in the tape will surely have the opportunity to also state their side of the story, Palmdeti told Kojo Yankson.

Erastus says the conversation must have been recorded by the two gentlemen who posed as staff of the Flagstaff House in Accra. They tow men had visited Aisha whilst Immigration officers were trying to effect her arrest.

Asia Huang together with four of her accomplices who are also Chinese is also facing prosecution for offending Ghanas immigration laws.

They have been charged with illegally employing foreign nationals as well as disobeying a directive by the government ordering all those engaged in illegal mining to cease operations.< >

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy


Opportunity International Savings and Loans (OISL) has organized clients' forum for over 400 smallholder farmers in Tamale, Kintampo, Techiman and Wenchi.

The forum which forms part of the company's objectives to help impact agriculture in the country was organised to examine the impact of OISL's services to smallholder farmers, educate them, and help find solutions to challenges facing their agricultural businesses.

Speaking at the event, Isaac Gyesi, Head of Agric business at Opportunity International said OISL has realized how difficult it is for some farmers to visit the organisations branches for products and services, explaining the situation led to the introduction of the cell phone banking solution (called Opportunity Mobile).

We know some of you are far from our physical branches but with Opportunity Mobile solution, you can still do basic banking transactions on your phone without coming to us physically, he said.

Mr. Gyesi said OISL considers that robust economic growth cannot be achieved without putting in place well focused agriculture financing programmes.

This, he said, will help reduce poverty through agriculture for the economically active poor by increasing their access to credit.

Mrs. Vivian Akofa Mottey, the Head of Transformation at Opportunity International taught the farmers the importance of savings, their rights and responsibilities as clients and advised the farmers to ensure that they use their loans to expand their businesses and pay back the loan on time so they can continue to enjoy the good services and support from Opportunity International Savings and Loans.

The smallholder farmers expressed appreciation to OISL for all the support especially the GAP training and the financial literacy conducted for them in 2016 calendar year.

The forum was sponsored by the UK Aid which has provided financial assistance to Opportunity International Savings and Loans for organising Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training, financial education and gender awareness for their customers in the Brong Ahafo and the three northern regions.

A Business Desk report


BARRON COUNTY  Authorities have released the name of a man who was killed when a tornado tore through a mobile home park in northwestern Wisconsin.

Barron County sheriff's department officials say 46-year-old Eric Gavin was killed Tuesday evening by the tornado that destroyed the Prairie Lake Estates Mobile Home Park near Chetek.

It destroyed 50 to 60 trailer homes and injured 25 people, 17 of whom were taken to hospitals.

Gov. Scott Walker plans to survey what's left of the Prairie Lakes Estates Mobile Home Park Wednesday afternoon. Officials say residents of the park will be allowed to enter the site to look for their belongings around noon.

Barron County Sheriff Christopher Fitzgerald on Wednesday praised the efforts of first responders. He says that in some cases, the responders left their own storm-damaged homes to help search the mobile home park. Fitzgerald says they lifted walls off people who were trapped.

Storms barreled through a large swath of the central U.S. Tuesday and tornadoes reportedly touched down in four other states, including Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma, where another man was killed trying to flee to safety.

The National Weather Service in Sullivan said more severe storms were possible Wednesday.
Ghana's leading Brand in Consumer Electronics and Household Appliances, LG Electronics, has introduced its advanced LG DUALCOOL Air Conditioner with Dual Inverter technology into the Ghanaian Market.

With the current demand of consumers seeking Energy Efficient products, the introduction of the LG DUALCOOL Air Conditioner is aimed at helping consumers save as much as 70 percent on electricity consumption with an increased cooling capacity of 40 percent thereby reducing bills.

The LG DUALCOOL Air Conditioner features a DUAL inverter compressor with 10 Year Warranty that helps users enjoy benefits of LG air conditioner for a longer period of time.

Other unique features of the LG DUALCOOL INVERTER Air Conditioner includes its variable speed compressor which is designed to save energy by 70% by constantly adjusting the compressor speed to maintain desired temperature level thereby reducing energy costs.

Unlike the conventional AC's that cannot operate at lower speed due to constant rotation, the LG DUALCOOL Inverter Air Conditioner has faster cooling technology which operates at higher speed with more stability, cooling air up to 40 % faster.

The LG DUALCOOL INVERTER Air Conditioner features a 40% torque vibration reduction resulting in the quietest operation of outdoor unit. The 15 degrees tilted skew fan minimizes the surface friction of the blade when in contact with the air.

Its Inverter Compressor constantly adjusts a compressor's speed to maintain desired temperature levels.

Moreover, Dual Inverter Compressor with power saving operation range frequency saves more energy than conventional compressor.

Commenting on this new product, General Manager, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Cholyong Park said This AC meets the demands of customers who want to use air conditioners in Ghana with small capacity generators as well as inverter/solar; it comes fully loaded with innovative technologies for convenience and optimum performance.

Mr Nii Ayi Hyde, Executive Director of Somotex Ghana Limited said we understand that durability is just as important as strong performance; the AC comes backed by 10-year warranty on the inverter compressor. The compressor to the air conditioner is the same as the engine is to a vehicle.
THE GHANA Water Company Limited (GWCL has entered into a major partnership with a German technology company, Evoqua Water Technology, to use local raw material in disinfecting its water.

Evoqua Water Technology represented in the country by Intermerc Ghana Limited, is expected to deploy its technologies for an electro-chlorination project in Ghana as it's been done in other African nations with the aim of reducing the operating cost of the water company.

Electro-chlorination is the use of common salt, water and electricity as an alternative to chlorine gas for the treatment of water, and the move in Ghana, according to GWCL, means it will stop importing chlorine gas from India and China.

Annually, GWCL imports chlorine gas from the two Asian nations at a cost of GH 4.5 million for its water treatment.

Business Guide gathered that the electro-chloride are to be produced on site from salt to be generated from the sea in some selected areas nationwide, after a pilot phase of the project which shall be carried at GWCL's catchment areas at Weija and Kpone in the Greater Accra Region for a period of six months.

A unit of the electro-chlorination machine with a capacity of 40kg per hour, this paper understands, can last for a period of about 20 years, and that if managed well, would mean Ghana shall cease the importation of chlorine gas over a long period, thus helping to reduce its foreign exchange wage bill.

That is expected to drastically reduce the operating cost of the company which in turn shall translate into a major reduction in water tariffs nationwide as well as providing numerous jobs for the masses, especially in salt-producing communities.

Managing Director of GWCL, Ing. Clifford Braimah addressing the media yesterday in Accra during an interaction with officials of Intermerc Ghana Limited and Evoqua Water Technology, said the water company was adopting several technologies to reduce its operating cost.

According to the MD, the partnership with Evoqua Water Technology shall not only reduce GWCL's cost of operation but shall also create numerous businesses for Ghanaians within the downstream sector.

Africa Regional Sales Manager of Evoqua Water Technology, Fabrice Pellote, in a presentation said his outfit has since 1945 been producing quality water treatment technologies for the global market.

Countries like Burkina Faso and Mali, among others, he said, were using the onsite electro-chlorination technology for the treatment of their water locally.

BY Melvin Tarlue
17.05.2017 LISTEN

BBC Somali is today launching its first ever poetry award for young women. The contest is open to all women aged 16 to 35 with no restrictions on their level of experience or location. Entries for the award must be an original work of poetry, that is a maximum of 15 lines long and not more than one minute of recording, in Somali language.

A panel of judges will select one winner and two runners-up and will be looking for the quality of the language and conformity of the work to Somali poetry rules in terms of rhyme, rhythm and theme. The contest is now open for entries and the closing date is Friday 15th June 2017. Entries are to be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] .Details of how to enter including the full terms and conditions are available on bbcsomali.com .

Caroline Karobia, Editor of the BBC Somali Service, says: We are excited to be bringing these new voices and poetry to our audiences. Historically, Somali women have been known for their creativity which includes the leading role in traditional dances. This new award will bring to light the culture of poetry among Somali-speaking women and give them an avenue to showcase their creativity.

The winner of the BBC Somali Young Female Poet of the Year Award 2017 and two runners up will be announced at a special event to mark the 60th anniversary of BBC Somali that will be held in Hargeisa on Tuesday 18th July 2017.

BBC Somali is part of the BBC World Service and is the most listened to international station in Somalia. It broadcasts to Somali-speaking audiences, providing radio, online and TV content in East Africa, in the Horn of Africa andfor Somalis around the world. It reaches a weekly audience of 3.6 million people. BBC Somali recently began broadcasting its flagship TV new programme -details are here and they can also be found on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .
Nursing is fashioned in order of the military, where mistakes and negligence are not considered as mistakes, but as acts of indiscipline and criminal mindedness, Dr Michael Wombeogo, the Council Chairman of the Neumann College of Nursing in Kumasi, has said.

As you make up your minds to study nursing, be ready to be among the nurses in future that will be quality reminiscent of the new Nightingale in Ghana, full of hope, knowledge and skill, ready to save lives and lead people in a new order, he said.

Dr Wombeogo, a senior lecturer at the University of Development Studies (UDS), said these in a speech he delivered at a matriculation ceremony held at the college on Thursday where 250 students were admitted to pursue a degree programme in Nursing.

He charged the students to consider the days of rote learning a thing of the past, where students are committed to memorising every single sentence or thought handed down by the lecturer.

The senior lecturer advised the students to eschew acts of indiscipline and live a life worthy of emulation, as the behaviour they put up outside the precincts of the college does not reflect the person in them alone but also reflects on the image of the college.

The President of the Neumann College of Nursing, Rev Dr John Osei Appiah, on his part, appealed to the government to strengthen the implementation of the private-public participation in Ghana (PPP) for the local private school entrepreneurs.

According to him, President Akufo-Addo's support of public colleges and universities must equally be extended to the accredited private tertiary institutions as it is done in many countries.

He pointed out that parents of both public and private tertiary institutions pay taxes, hence any allowances and grants paid to public nursing trainees must equally be extended to the private nursing trainees of accredited institutions.

In the opinion of the Neumann College boss, students both public and private institutions render patriotic services to the nation so they must be treated equally and fairly to encourage local foreign investors in the sector.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor of UDS, Professor Seidu Alhassan, urged the students not to share the responsibilities assigned them, insult or maltreat their patients but respect them.

He advised them to be studious so as not to become professionals but relevant nurses after their four-year period of studies.
17.05.2017 LISTEN

Completion of the redevelopment of the Kejetia Lorry Terminal project has been rescheduled for July next year.

The project, being executed by Messrs. Contracta Engenharia Ltd from Brazil, on a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBO&T) at an estimated cost of US$259,425,000 and started on July 14, 2015 to be completed in 30 months by January 13, 2018, would need six more months for completion.

The Metro Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Osei Assibey Antwi, quoting a report from the consultant on the Kejetia/Central project explained the delay in the non-availability of the entire site to the contractor has resulted in the delay, following which the contractor has requested for additional six months extension of time to complete the project.

He said the KMA, under the supervision of Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has appointed a third party, Messrs. Avangarde Design Services to provide holistic all-in project management and supervisory consultancy services for the project.

He further explained that the appointment of an external consultant is to ensure that the DBO&T contract between the Government of Ghana and Messrs. Contracta Engenharia Ltd is well implemented according to the Contract Agreement to ensure proper supervision, value for money, achieve project target, maintenance period and guide the preparation of the 2nd phase.

The mayor, briefing members of the assembly on the three-phase project said the Government of Ghana has granted approval of the first phase of the project, while approval for the second and third phases is under consideration.

He said the first phase, which is 77% complete, consists of the General infrastructure like Roads and Transport system, Drain system, Market infrastructure detailed as Parking lot, Transport terminal and Community facilities.

It also has Market construction namely, the Technical, the stalls and circulation and metallic roofing.

Mayor Osei Assibey Antwi indicated that the project was facing legal, planning/design and other operational issues, preventing the project from achieving its target.

He mentioned project implementation challenges, which needed immediate attention as Court injunction in relation to the Technical Area, Transport Terminal, Parking and related issues, Registration and validation of traders, Operation and maintenance and Preparation activities towards phase 2 of the project.

He said the contractor is restrained from working on a portion of the site earmarked for installation of utility supplies and from working in the area that falls within 60 metres off the alleged disputed location, according to a Kumasi High Court ruling.

The KMA boss said when completed, the Kejetia project could accommodate about 108 trotro vehicles and that, because there was a limitation of height 3.5 metres of the ground level, the terminal cannot accommodate lorries/trucks or vehicles above 3.5 metres.

Also, the terminal made no provision for other vehicles for shoppers, including shop owners. He said the registration of traders at both the Kejetia Lorry Park and Kumasi Central Market has been completed and a report on the registration and the inventory has been duly submitted to KMA, except the validation of the owners.

Meanwhile, the mayor has disclosed that the contractor has expressed interest in the operation and maintenance of the Kejetia Terminal/Market on completion, which he said is permissible under the terms of the contract.

The MCE also said preparatory activities towards phase 2 of the project per the joint Memorandum to Parliament indicates that the 2nd and 3rd phases of the project will start shortly after the completion of the 1st phase, using the income from the1st phase to support the Government's contribution.

According to the mayor, if the project becomes functional, economic benefits to be derived from it will include availability of around10,000 stores for more than 60,000 people and that the revenue to be generated from its operation will allow for the execution of the two remaining phases with a total of 15,000 stores.

He said the completion of the project will also ease the traffic jam and thus allow the thousands of shops and other businesses in the area to develop while the construction of a parking lot and a

bus terminal will also provide for a well-organised mass transport system in this densely-populated area.

Osei Assibey Antwi said the transport terminal as designed now can hold only 110 vehicles and due to the limited height clearance of3.90 meters, the terminal cannot accommodate lorries/trucks/ vehicles above this height.

The mayor has, therefore, implored the Assembly to consider the possibility of providing space for the construction of a multi-storey car park to cater for the needs of the shop owners, shoppers as well as the general public.

From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi
17.05.2017 LISTEN

 Set To Launch 'People Safety First' Campaign

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is to embark on a National Petroleum Safety Campaign to engage all stakeholders in the petroleum downstream industry and the general public on the collective responsibility of safety.

Dubbed People Safety First, the goal of the campaign is to minimize accidents in the petroleum industry in Ghana.

Discussing 'the spate of gas explosions and the way forward' on Ghana Television flagship programme 'Talking Point', the Chief Executive of NPA, Alhassan Tampuli said the Authority was meeting the Chief Executives of the petroleum service providers somewhere next week to collate their views on how best we can jointly prevent petroleum related accidents in the country.

He was concerned about the recent fires in the industry and the lives that were lost to these accidents and the properties destroyed.

We are working to improve the situation. Safety is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders. We must all join hands to see our industry become safer and healthier, he added.

He entreated petroleum service providers to adhere to safety protocols; consumers must abide by safety guidelines on the use of petroleum products and the NPA as regulator will monitor and continue to enforce safety standards through inspections and sanctions.

The Director of Public Relations, Divisional Officer (DO)1 Prince Billy Anaglate, who was also on the panel, entreated owners of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants and fuel stations to adhere strictly to fire safety regulations in their operations in order to reduce fire outbreaks at the stations.

The service has also urged drivers of fuel tankers to participate in the fire safety education programmes it has rolled out to equip them with fire prevention skills.

In a related development, Chief Executive of the NPA, Mr. Alhassan Tampuli has commenced a series of safety sensitization workshops for Tanker Drivers, Tanker Owners, Dealers, retailer and oil marketing companies on the need to improve safety standards in their operations to prevent accidents.

The sensitization workshops were held in Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi as prelude to the launch of the National Petroleum Safety Campaign in June 2017.

The launch of the national safety campaign will be followed by a safety workshop for Petroleum Service Providers (PSPs) in all regional capitals.

There will also be stakeholder engagements with the media, organized labour, civil society organization and the consumer interest groups to sensitize them on safety to disseminate the safety message to all sections of the society.

Speaking at the safety workshop, Mr. Tampuli reminded the Petroleum Service Providers petroleum products were hazardous and must be handled with maximum attention.

He also revealed the NPA would institute a Safety Day as a clarion call to the petroleum industry to uphold safety standards in their operations.

Mr Tampuli urged them to strictly adhere to the safety standards such as preventing oil spillage and leakages, adding that, personnel at the forecourt should therefore insist that consumers adhere to safety guidelines at the forecourt such as observing no smoking signs, no use of mobile phones while refuelling at the filling station and turning off car engines.

He further assured the NPA will continue to strictly enforce all safety standards, to ensure sanity in the petroleum industry.

We will increase inspections and monitoring of activities of licensed service providers. Petroleum Service Providers that fail to conform to safety standards will be sanctioned where applicable.

Mr. Tampuli and a team of directors of NPA also visited the Buipe and Bolgatanga depots of Bulk Oil Storage Transportation to assess the levels of safety standards of the depots.

While in Tamale, Mr. Tampuli extended his visit to Paga on the Ghana-Burkina Faso border to interact with officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Discussions there centred on smuggling of petroleum products along the Ghana-Burkina Faso and how GRA and NPA can collaborate to check smuggling.

The Chief Executive also stopped over in Bolgatanga and interacted with the Upper East Regional Commander of the GRA. Thereafter, the NPA entourage inspected the BOST booster station in Savelegu.

The booster station helps to speed up delivery of petroleum products pumped via pipelines from Buipe to Bolgatanga. The station has not been active since September 2016 because no petroleum products have been through the pipes.
17.05.2017 LISTEN

The countries of Sub-Saharan Africa have sustained strong economic growth in the last 15 years. However, in order to maintain the existing annual remarkable growth rate of approximately 5-6%, African countries need to ensure that power infrastructure is developed at a far greater rate.

Since 2000, power consumption has increased by 45%, while the potential for power industry development remains almost untapped. At the same time, high prices for electricity caused by under developed power infrastructure remain a serious obstacle to improving the living standards of millions of people.

Today, access to stable and affordable electricity has become an indispensable precondition for securing sustainable development and decent living standards. Against the background of growing electricity demand, especially in the countries with large population and buoyant economies like South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria, nuclear energy is being considered as a highly reliable and affordable source of energy. For instance SA is one of the pioneers in developing peaceful nuclear energy with decades of experience in fuel fabrication and reactor operation. Thats why South Africa stands ready to continue its nuclear programme and become a true leader in the development of nuclear technologies in Africa.

Today we witness a wave of interest towards nuclear power from emerging African countries like Kenya and Nigeria, where the governments are committed to implement nuclear programmes to add guaranteed electricity to their grids to keep economies and industries growing. For instance Kenyan government decided to start nuclear programme after it was estimated that the country will not be able to reach its economic goals relying only on intermitted renewable energy sources.

The real challenge African countries need to resolve is to ensure that energy supply is reliable and adequate. In this case, nuclear energy development can be a perfect solution. Nuclear power is a cost-effective and reliable base load power source. In countries that opted for nuclear energy it has ensured uninterrupted power supply for 60-80 years at a predictable price which does not depend on the volatility of global prices for energy resources. For instance, if the price of uranium doubles, the final cost of electricity generated by nuclear power will only increase by roughly 5%, which cannot be said about conventional energy sources.

So, why nuclear power should make part of energy mix in emerging countries?

Firstly, without nuclear power - a non-carbon baseload energy source - it will be almost impossible to meet COP goals. As for today nuclear energy accounts for nearly 11% of electricity and has no CO2 emissions. Renown energy expert Jude Clemente argues that, more nuclear energy will be needed to guarantee reduction of dangerous emissions in the power sector, which accounts for approximately 45% in global share of carbon emissions. To meet COP 21 and 22 goals this figure should be increased to 18% by 2030 and 25% by 2050.

That means that installation of more nuclear power is critical because it would drastically reduce emissions in the power sector, which accounts for nearly 45% of all global CO2 emissions.

Secondly, according to Charles Frank, expert from the Brookings Institution, nuclear power is the most cost-effective emissions-free technology. He argues, that for its part solar power is by far the most expensive way of reducing carbon emissions. It costs around $189,000 to replace 1MW per year of power from coal. Wind is the next most expensive. Hydropower provides a modest net benefit.

Nuclear power is efficient source of energy

Moreover, Jude Clemente states that modern NPPs have proven to be real workhorses of baseload energy generation. This means, that nuclear stations provide guaranteed and reliable electricity production. In this case nuclear as a backup for renewables is significant because it maintains no-carbon production.

In general modern NPPs have a baseload capacity factor of 90% and can operate for decades. These factors give nuclear option a clear advantage over wind and solar energy, which are totally dependable on nature. If we take global picture, the average nuclear power plant provides about 6 TWh of electricity, which is equivalent for 2,000 modern wind turbines.

Prominent South African expert Rob Jeffrey argues that wind only supplies electricity at best on average 34% of the time, thats why it is highly variable, unreliable and unpredictable. At the same time solar is only available to generate electricity on average 26% of the time.

Against this background it is important to estimate efficiency of energy sources can be measured by different benchmarks. However the most important is levelised cost of electricity, which can be defined as current cost of producing one kilowatt-hour of electricity from any given energy source (no matter nuclear, coal or renewable energy). In other words, that it is the average price at which electricity must be sold in order to cover the costs of its production.

The levelised cost of electricity includes the costs of equipment used in producing energy and the cost of building a power plant after investment is made. Additionally, it includes the operations and maintenance costs and the costs of borrowing in order to build the plant.

For instance the table below shows that nuclear energy remains the most efficient source of non-conventional and clean energy source available in South Africa to guarantee base-load energy generation and supply for growing economy and infrastructure projects.

For example, Germany and Denmark, which pour huge resources into renewable energy, face the issue of increasing electricity prices in comparison with other developed countries. Rob Jaffrey, independent economic expert mentions that Electricity prices in Germany and Denmark are now more than 65% higher than nuclear France and the highest in Europe. He also cautions that electricity mixes which rely heavily on wind and limit drastically any plants to boost economy growth in case of South Africa.
Government has given the assurance that 70 per cent of taxpayers funded contracts in the country would be subleted to local companies in its quest to empower them to grow.

It said the private sector holds the key to creating wealth and jobs for Ghanaians and would, therefore, create friendly economic environment for them to achieve that objective.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia gave the assurance at the maiden Policy Summit, organised by the Ministry of Information, in Accra.

The two-day summit was held on the theme: Building Partnerships for Growth and Jobs.

It provided a platform for stakeholders in the public and private sectors to dialogue on key government policies and programmes and solicit feedback from them to ensure effective implementation.

Dr Bawumia said it was Government's priority to create jobs and wealth as outlined in this year's budget statement by growing the economy from dwindling 3.6 per cent to 6.5 per cent this year.

In order to achieve the objectives, he said, there was the need to be transformational in the implementation of policies and programmes by maintaining and sustaining macro-economic stability.

According to him, agriculture would feature prominently in Government's quest to industrialise the economy and would invest huge resources into the sector including irrigation infrastructure and other farming inputs to ensure food security and export surplus food produce to increase the country's foreign exchange earnings.

''Agriculture is the most important sector in terms of job creation therefore we need a marshal plan in agriculture to create surplus for industrialisation, ''he stated.

The Vice President said it would need both domestic and foreign partners to achieve Government's vision of building an economy that was beyond aid and pledged to treat all partners with mutual respect.

He said the ruling New Patriotic Party considered the promises it made to Ghanaians as sacred contract and would work to make the Ghanaian dream a reality.

According to the Vice President, there were three key elements that would help in the formalisation of the economy and mentioned the issuance of the national identification system, which would commerce hopefully by August or September this year as one of them.

The other two elements were the issuance of unique digital addressing system, which would be rolled-out in July and financial inclusion where all telecommunication companies would be linked in terms of transfer of money or payment system, otherwise known as interoperability.

The event brought together captains of industries, government officials, diplomatic corps and Members of Parliament, as well as civil society organisations and the media.

-GNA


The Medical Director of Ridge Regional Hospital, Dr Thomas Anaba, has been relieved of his post, according to media reports.

Starrfmonline.com, confirming the news in a publication, said the tenure of the medical director who was appointed by the erstwhile Mahama administration in February 1, 2016 and was supposed to last till 2020 with the option to reapply, has been revoked.

It is unclear why the Public Service Commission and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Council terminated his appointment, but sources within the medical circles have cited political reasons.

The appointment of Dr Anaba, former head of Anaesthetics at the University of Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, was characterised by a series of protests at Ridge after staff objected to his selection, citing incompetence and a breach in the selection process.

It was believed that his appointment was influenced by the powers that be at the time, a move that triggered protest among the staff.

The staff, with posters splashed on walls of the hospital, threatened a breakdown in the service delivery if Dr Emmanuel Srofenyo, popularly known as Srof, who was acting medical director then, was not made the head of the hospital.

Among other reasons the posters cited for the preference of Dr Srofenyo, who is a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist, were he has stayed with the hospital during difficult times and exhibits commitment, good governance, innovation and team work.

No Srof No Medical Director, Srof, A Faithful And Committed Servant Of Ridge, Srof Nie, Good Governance, Team Work And Innovation Nie! No Srof As Medical Director, No Work, some of the writing on the posters read.

However, after investigating the allegations raised in the petition, the appointing authority in consultation with the Public Service Commission cleared Dr Anaba of the allegations and maintained him as the new medical director.

Meanwhile, information gathered by DAILY GUIDE as at press time yesterday indicated that Dr Thomas Anaba has been asked to hand over the management of the hospital to Dr Emmanuel Kwabla Srofenyoh.

Dr Srofenyoh, who has been the choice of the hospital staff since June last year, has been asked to take over from Dr Anaba until a substantive medical director is appointed.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
Fethullah Gulen is an Islamic scholar, preacher and social advocate.

SAYLORSBURG, Pa.

As the presidents of the United States and Turkey meet at the White House on Tuesday, the leader of the country I have called home for almost two decades comes face to face with the leader of my homeland. The two countries have a lot at stake, including the fight against the Islamic State, the future of Syria and the refugee crisis.

But the Turkey that I once knew as a hope-inspiring country on its way to consolidating its democracy and a moderate form of secularism has become the dominion of a president who is doing everything he can to amass power and subjugate dissent.

The West must help Turkey return to a democratic path. Tuesdays meeting, and the NATO summit next week, should be used as an opportunity to advance this effort.

Since July 15, following a deplorable coup attempt , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has systematically persecuted innocent people  arresting, detaining, firing and otherwise ruining the lives of more than 300,000 Turkish citizens , be they Kurds, Alevis, secularists, leftists, journalists, academics or participants of Hizmet, the peaceful humanitarian movement with which I am associated.

As the coup attempt unfolded, I fiercely denounced it and denied any involvement. Furthermore, I said that anyone who participated in the putsch betrayed my ideals. Nevertheless, and without evidence, Erdogan immediately accused me of orchestrating it from 5,000 miles away.

The next day, the government produced lists of thousands of individuals whom they tied to Hizmet  for opening a bank account, teaching at a school or reporting for a newspaper  and treated such an affiliation as a crime and began destroying their lives. The lists included people who had been dead for months and people who had been serving at NATOs European headquarters at the time. International watchdogs have reported numerous abductions, in addition to torture and deaths in detention. The government pursued innocent people outside Turkey, pressuring Malaysia, for instance, to deport three Hizmet sympathizers last week, including a school principal who has lived there for more than a decade, to face certain imprisonment and likely torture.

In April, the president won a narrow referendum victory  amid allegations of serious fraud  to form an  executive presidency  without checks and balances, enabling him to control all three branches of the government. To be sure, through purges and corruption, much of this power was already in his hands. I fear for the Turkish people as they enter this new stage of authoritarianism.

It didnt start this way. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) came into power in 2002 by promising democratic reforms in pursuit of European Union membership. But as time went on, Erdogan became increasingly intolerant of dissent. He facilitated the transfer of many media outlets to his cronies through government regulatory agencies. In June of 2013, he crushed the Gezi Park protesters. In December of that year, when his cabinet members were implicated in a massive graft probe , he responded by subjugating the judiciary and the media. The temporary state of emergency declared after last July 15 is still in effect. According to Amnesty International , one-third of all imprisoned journalists in the world are in Turkish prisons.

Erdogans persecution of his people is not simply a domestic matter. The ongoing pursuit of civil society, journalists, academics and Kurds in Turkey is threatening the long-term stability of the country. The Turkish population already is strongly polarized on the AKP regime. A Turkey under a dictatorial regime, providing haven to violent radicals and pushing its Kurdish citizens into desperation, would be a nightmare for Middle East security.

The people of Turkey need the support of their European allies and the United States to restore their democracy. Turkey initiated true multiparty elections in 1950 to join NATO. As a requirement of its membership, NATO can and should demand that Turkey honor its commitment to the alliances democratic norms.

Two measures are critical to reversing the democratic regression in Turkey.

First, a new civilian constitution should be drafted through a democratic process involving the input of all segments of society and that is on par with international legal and humanitarian norms, and drawing lessons from the success of long-term democracies in the West.

Second, a school curriculum that emphasizes democratic and pluralistic values and encourages critical thinking must be developed. Every student must learn the importance of balancing state powers with individual rights, the separation of powers, judicial independence and press freedom, and the dangers of extreme nationalism, politicization of religion and veneration of the state or any leader.

Before either of those things can happen, however, the Turkish government must stop the repression of its people and redress the rights of individuals who have been wronged by Erdogan without due process.

I probably will not live to see Turkey become an exemplary democracy, but I pray that the downward authoritarian drift can be stopped before it is too late.
MILWAUKEE  Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, who built a following among conservatives with his provocative social media presence and strong support of Donald Trump, said Wednesday that hes taken a job as an assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security.

The department said not so fast.

The tough-talking, cowboy hat-wearing firebrand said in an interview with WISN-AM that he will work in the Office of Partnership and Engagement as a liaison to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. He said hes leaving his current job next month, but declined to give a date.

Im both honored and humbled to be appointed to this position, Clarke said during the interview.

DHS spokeswoman Jenny Burke said in a statement that such senior positions are announced by the Department when made official by the Secretary. No such announcement with regard to the Office of Public Engagement has been made.

Craig Peterson, a Clarke spokesman, said the sheriff would not comment further and that he felt the need to tell folks he had accepted the position so the governor could get the ball rolling on appointing a replacement.

Clarkes elevation to a national posting would come at a time of great turmoil for him and the sheriffs office. Seven workers at the county jail he oversees are at the center of a criminal investigation into the dehydration death last year 38-year-old Terrill Thomas, an inmate who prosecutors say was deprived of water as punishment.

The Milwaukee County Districts Attorneys Office is considering charges against those staffers, based on a jurys recommendation after prosecutors presented them with evidence during a weeklong inquest.

Clarke wasnt among the seven staffers on the jurys list because prosecutors say he wasnt directly involved in the events leading up Thomas death. But the death happened under his leadership, which his critics say was sufficient cause for Clarke to be fired.

Clarke would also be leaving office with several pending lawsuits against him, including one filed by Thomas relatives. In February, a 24-year-old Milwaukee man sued the sheriff, saying Clarke had deputies detain and question him after a flight from Dallas because, while boarding, the man shook his head at Clarke.

The sheriff didnt deny he had the man detained, saying he reserves the reasonable right to pre-empt a possible assault.

Its that in-your-face, wont-back-down approach that has endeared him to his conservative supporters. Hes been one of Trumps biggest cheerleaders, frequently praising the presidents every move on Twitter, where his brash social media presence has earned him over 600,000 followers.

His big following among conservatives got him a spot at the podium of the Republican Party convention last year, making him one of the few African-Americans speakers at the event.

Last year, the frequent Fox News guest earned more than $105,000 in speaking fees  almost as much as his sheriffs salary  at more than three dozen events across the country.

As Clarkes profile has risen since taking over the sheriffs office in 2002, hes become one of the most polarizing figures in Wisconsin politics.

Our country deserves better, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, who has repeatedly clashed with Clarke, said of his appointment to the DHS position. During one of those clashes in 2013, Clarke insulted Abele saying he had penis envy.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker would be responsible for appointing someone to serve the remainder of Clarkes term, which runs through 2018. Walkers office said the application process for interested applicants will last for about two weeks, followed by interviews.

In explaining the appointment process, Walkers office did not offer congratulations or any reaction to Clarkes news.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole says he has written to the Interior Minister to set up a police post in mining communities along Ghanas border with Ivory Coast taken over by gunmen.

Yusif Sulemana said the raid by police when the presence of some rebels was reported in the Rorthern Regional town, is not the way to go since the residents are still living in fear.

The MPs request to the Ministry follows a Joy News Hotline documentary Rebel Land which highlighted how rebels and local gunmen are raining terror on residents of the area.

Dollar Power and Accra near the Northern Region town of Bole, have been hotbeds of illegal mining.

Related: Rebel Land: Joy News digs deep into rebel activities at Ghana-Ivory Coast border

In February this year, the Northern Regional Police Command promised to conduct an operation in the town of Bole to arrest gunmen operating along Ghanas border with Ivory Coast.

Northern Regional Police PRO, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh told Joy News persons in possession of firearms that are not registered were engaging in an illegality explaining they would map out a strategy to drive out all persons operating illegally out of Bole.

He visited the area after the documentary aired and confirmed that illegal gold mining in small towns such as Dollar Power and Bole Accra have attracted former Ivorian rebels.

Related: Police ready to flush out gunmen along Ghana border with Ivory Coast

Joy News' Kwettey Nartey reported the activities of rebels, who have mounted checkpoints at some vantage points to extort money from passers-by.

The activities of the rebels have become a major concern for residents who told the reporter that they are constantly living in fear.

Their lands which used to be farms, have been converted to mining grounds with over a thousand illegal miners engaged in the activities.

Every blessed day our lives are always at risk [because] you dont know what will happen, one resident said.

This road is dangerous and sometimes we fight with them, another said, adding one of the residents has been shot in the engagement before.

The rebels have grown bold to the extent that in 2016, some gunmen attacked members of the Bole District Security Council killing a soldier and a nursing mother.

The Police Command said it was ready to bring an end to the activities of the gunmen in order to restore peace in the area.

On Wednesdays edition of the Joy News Agenda, Kwetey Nartey takes a look at what has been done after the story was first aired three months ago.

His visit to the Bole MP revealed that nothing much has been done and legislator is hopeful that the Interior Ministry will make good its promise to protect the residents as local miners rely on gunmen to protect their gold.

Watch the documenatry below:



Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
Just at the heels of the NDC government losing the 2016 election, a respected Professor went on the usual pedestrian argument that the party lost the historic election among other things because of the former president's choice in fielding young and inexperienced persons as ministers in government.

I thought that statement coming from him particular was quite unfortunate for some reasons.

In the first place, he ought to know we have passed the age when one needs lengthy years to sit in a confined place before an ageing professor who delivers to you an outdating knowledge from some worn outs materials before one can acquire knowledge and experience.

Today, just by the click of a button , one could have access to information and knowledge right in the privacy of one's room.

Today, people are acquiring valuable knowledge online. In our time, young persons in their thirties are owning two degrees and more.

And so, I thought it was quite unfortunate for this learned Professor to go on such unscientific verdict of the previous government.

In the political discourse, politicians throw into the public domain wild ideas and accusations at their opponents.

As a people, we are unable to fact- check these accusations and ideas. Unfortunately, the majority uninformed get carried away with false information.

But when academicians want to make pronouncements on matters of interest to us, we expect that their contributions are guided by some scientific research findings.

This crusade against using young persons in political positions was primarily instigated as an in- party political gimmick Then later, the main opposition party took it as a weapon against the ruling party. They'd had labeled the ruling government as not having the men to prosecute government business because the then government fielded young ministers in government. They had shouted 'We have the men '.

For the record, our past governments had always touted their achievements in office by pointing to infrastructural facilities they had put up in the course of their term.

I am yet to come to anybody who can say the NDC government that just left office did poorly in this respect. The past government could be said to have given this country an unprecedented infrastructural facilities by any single government.

If the NDC government lost the previous election, it could not be said it was because it failed to provide the people the infrastructure they needed; and that it was because it fielded young persons in office.

For me, this grand crusade against giving political roles to youthful persons in government is borne out of some old- guard politicians' desire to make politics a life time career.

It is their desire that only when they have passed on that the young ones should be given a chance in politics.

The argument against having youthful persons in political office has been made more impotent with the current political development in France .

France is by far a much more larger corporate organization than Ghana. France's population is 67 million whilst Ghana's population is about 26 million. Ghana's GDP is about 40 billion dollars whilst France's GDP is about 2418 billion dollars.

It must take a warped mind to champion such campaign against youthfulness in government in a small economy such as ours whilst the people of France are comfortable trusting their economy to a 39 year young man.

It is also instructive to note that a president of France engages in a more complex international matters than a president of Ghana.

The problem with us is that we cannot be proactive in our ways. We have no original thoughts of our own. We are either fixated with our primitive old ways or we are late to employ a discarded solution to a problem.

When are we going to chart a course that is original to us?

Whilst we had made a mockery of our young whom we placed in office in the past, I have no doubt we would wake up in the nearest future championing a course of putting our destinies in the young because they are the future. This would only happen when we have read about how the whole world is celebrating the great feat the young Emmanuel Macron has chalked for his people in government.

We only come to a place when others have left.

#TALKINGBLUES

PAUL ZOWONU

TUTOR ACCRA
Geneva (AFP) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been charged with war crimes and genocide, will attend the same summit in Saudi Arabia as US President Donald Trump, Khartoum's top diplomat said Wednesday.

"I can confirm President Bashir will go ... to Saudi Arabia," Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in Geneva. "We look forward (to) normalisation of our relations with the US."

The Saudi-hosted summit of Arab and Muslim leaders is expected to include top level talks on Sunday.

Trump is scheduled to be in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, from Saturday on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

Asked ifBashir expected to shake hands with the US president, Ghandour said it was impossible to predict, but added that "a handshake doesn't mean a lot if relations are not (good)".

Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the International Criminal Court in 2009 for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Darfur in which at least 300,000 people have been killed.

He denies the charges.
17.05.2017 LISTEN

"My say, my thought", my slogan as an objective activist and societal radical. I am so concerned with economic and social change. I believe this is the only way our nation can accomplish her goal.

Unfortunately, many sectors in our country are not improving. The traditional methods have gotten a seat and they fail to see the necessity to revamp these sectors to help our country achieve higher productivity.

Some citizens with their subjective attitudes and decisions are pulling the nation backwards instead of taking objective judgement for birthing results. They are always baffling with perception and factual basis for decisions.

"Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong"!

These sadistic democratic ways of leading and performing our duties needs to be gotten rid of!!!

Being Subjective is when one is lacking in reality or substance. It is more of moral judgment. It is a statement that is based on emotions, feelings, perception and one's beliefs. There is factual basis for comments and statement for that matter.

One philosopher argued that; the existence of human beings is the primary object of social science, many things related to humans are subjective instead of objective.

Since 1992 when Ghana adopted the democratic system of government, we have been using subjective ways of doing things and we need to change our style.

The subjectiveness of our democratic way of ruling is hindering our Economic Success. We need to change some of our principles of actions.

In fact, there are some sectors we need to apply objective actions.

Being Objective is not influenced by emotions or prejudice and is based on observed fact. In objective principles; there is no factual basis of comments or statement for that matter. It's high time we adopted this ideology because one's own beliefs, emotions, perceptions of doing things are becoming worse and it is retarding our growth as a democratic nation.

STUDENTS POLITICS

Recently, students have become subjective in their beliefs, emotion and perception subjecting their students politics to the control of political parties. Constitutions drafted to govern students clearly condemns such acts but continually, laws are ignored and honor is found in behaving unlawfully.

The case of the national NUGS is saddening. It is alleged that, it was operated by NPP when they were in power, and just as government changed, the NDC also took over as if it was a complement to the power of the government of Ghana.

Today, the national NUGS stands divided into two. With politics acting like white markings that separate lanes on asphalt road. The "NDC NUGS" and "NPP NUGS".

"I believe we fail when we don't recognize we are failing, and success could start only when failing stops" ~ @torchesamuel.

Does the national NUGS have future at all?

aah!! Shame is an understatement.

A man once said, "even as it appears that students forms about 20% of our population, they are 100% of our future. And now here is the future; 100% of leaders who will always be under the control of higher authority!

Students have lost power to work within their own political therein.

Lets remember what Abraham Lincoln said; "a house divided against itself cannot stand". Lets pour oil on trouble waters by fighting against the spin divided.

Sadly, the roots are more like the fruits of the national. It has extended to campuses, and my campus UDS NAVRONGO CAMPUS can't be left out. Pushing "Caucus agenda" has become an ill-will and malice in this tertiary institution and its effects can't be describing.

"As our case is new, we must think and act anew".

Students will never move forward if they don't restrict their political jurisdictions to only students politics.

Lets all be objective to put an end to partisan politics in our students organization, right from the national level and in our various tertiary institutions.

EDUCATIONAL SECTORS

Our educational sectors may be facing one of its trying risks which is the free education.

It may be a successful one when there are critical checks and supervisions. It may also be a curse if it is constructed as it is now, at the basic schools.

Our education is improving but not on a faster pace as galamsey, betting, cybercrime, child labor and major factors that restricts our youth from enjoying their right to education.

The number of unqualified teachers employed in the schools are becoming abundant. How can our basic schools achieve success with ineligible acts?

How can the nation eradicate poverty when protocols are being given to underserving children who are from rich families i.e. scholarships being given to already rich but average students?

Headmasters violating laws by charging students with unapproved fees.

In fact, educational directors should be objective to their role as supervisors and monitors of our educational sectors very well because we cannot achieve uprightness for doing wrong.

PUBLIC SECTORS

Ghana's public sector is not doing well.

I think we have had these corruption jumping on our necks for some time now.

Maybe we should transform corruption from a mere misdemeanor to a felony crime in order to scare public servants in joining the growth of the canker.

"Patriotism is the conviction that, your country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it" and this demands eschewing negative attitudes toward work.

SECURITY SERVICE

Security in Ghana is taking too slow because of the fear they face in performing their duties.

Police and army personnel's always want to impress sitting Governments and that is the main reasons why when a new Government sets in, supporters of that government takes the nation in their own hands.

JUDICIAL SERVICE

The appointed Chief Justice Ms. Sophia Akuffo as she has spent many years in the sector, is expected to objectively exhibit some maturity and set legacy to her service. I believe her relationship with the president is not going to destruct her of doing her work independently.

The judicial service needs technological ways of keeping files of trial cases and judgement records of cases for easy references, it will also increase transparency.

The media and everyone would get the chance to access those documents online when needed.

The situation of keeping our judicial documents in a hardcopy (docket) form is retarding the service's progress.

Electronic gadgets should be accessible for Judges. On touching buttons of the computer, the judge will be able to turn pages of a case records, turn the pages of the documents, video record the evidence of the witness and keep the record of the arguments advance by the counsel, hunt for the case reference and citation of different decisions from the electronic journal and on conclusion of the hearing of the case deliver his order or judgment.

We are expecting the appointed CJ to upgrade the Judicial Service even to the lower courts.

As H.E Nana Akuffo Addo said during his remarkable speech; " I expect discipline, fairness, integrity and continuing modernization of the Judicial activities to be hallmark of her tenure as the Chief Justice".

It is time for her to proof her legacy to the service and be objective as chief Justice.

"The rule of law should not be a slogan but an operating principle for development of our state".

Being a lawyer before becoming a professional Judge is something the CJ should reconsider.

It shouldn't be that; someone becomes a lawyer before he becomes a judge.

Judicial Training Institutes should be open to those who have the passionate for the work. If only the person is a graduate, he should be allowed to apply and train to become a professional Judge.

Lets separate the two and enjoy the passion that comes with it.

The Quota to the Law school should be increase from 250.

Also there are less court houses, less judges and likewise their conditions of service are very bad.

Conclusively;

"Success is the results of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty and persistence"- Colin Powel.

Ghana will not be a good country for any of us to live in, unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.

We need our nation with the wisdom of experience. But we must not let Ghana grow old in spirit of democracy.

"Government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish" with objective way of doing things.

"Let us all take more responsibility, not only for ourselves and our families but for our communities and our country. - Bill Clinton.

THE WRITER IS A STUDENT ACTIVIST.

GOODNUFF APPIAH LARBI

[email protected]
Head of Surgical Unit at the refurbished Ridge Hospital says the resplendent edifice is a source of attraction to expatriate medical practitioners.

Ralph Armah said both workers and patients are now happy to move into the facility and provide the needed services since the perennial problem of shortage of bed no longer exists.

For us, its having this hi-tech thing [facility] that has allowed us to have some expatriates working with us, he told Joy News' Maxwell Agbagba shortly after the formal opening of the facility Wednesday.

So for every unit in the Surgical Department, the skill was there but the tool for working was not so workers and patients are happy to move into it and the increased bed capacity would help us to work well.

The 420-bed hospital commissioned by former President John Mahama in November 2016, replaces the colonial structure which was built in 1929 and had only about 190 beds.

It comes with modern technology to equip the medical staff to provide services for patients who hitherto, would have to travel to China, India and South Africa to undergo certain types of surgery including tummy tuck.

Unlike the case in many of the countrys health facilities, Mr. Armah said the new Ridge Hospital can produce its own oxygen, generate power and supply water for internal use.

The facility The case previously was that we used to buy oxygenbut this facility everything has been done so that we dont have much difficulty with generation of power, oxygen and water. Its generally a complete hospital running all by itself so thats what we are happy about.

Listen to his interview below:

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy
At least one person has died following a gas explosion at the Tamale Industrial Area in the Northern Region, Wednesday.

Three others are reported to be in a critical condition and have been rushed to the Tamale Hospital for treatment.

The explosion is reported to have started inside a mechanic shop at the Industrial Area where the fire touched nearby vehicles.

The deceased was working on a truck that had been delivered to his shop when the explosion started.

Joy News Northern regional Correspondent, Martina Bugri visited the scene said the deceased whose name has not been disclosed said was burnt beyond recognition.

She said the explosion also ripped off some electrical cables in the area which has cut power supply to the area for the time being.

According to her, the fire moved into other areas with residents losing properties running into thousand of cedis.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com |
Geneva (AFP) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been charged with war crimes and genocide, will attend the same summit in Saudi Arabia as US President Donald Trump, Khartoum's top diplomat said Wednesday.

"I can confirm President Bashir will go ... to Saudi Arabia," Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in Geneva. "We look forward (to) normalisation of our relations with the US."

The Saudi-hosted summit of Arab and Muslim leaders is expected to include top level talks on Sunday.

Trump is scheduled to be in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, from Saturday on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

Asked ifBashir expected to shake hands with the US president, Ghandour said it was impossible to predict, but added that "a handshake doesn't mean a lot if relations are not (good)".

Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the International Criminal Court in 2009 for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Darfur that has killed tens of thousands.

He denies the charges.

Khartoum has said it is keen to improve relations with Washington under Trump.

"Sudan renews its commitment to continue a bilateral dialogue in order to reach full and normal relations between the two countries in the interests of their peoples," its foreign ministry said on March 7.

That was despite Sudan's inclusion on an executive order signed by Trump in March to temporarily close US borders to nationals from six Muslim-majority countries.

The travel ban has since been blocked by a US judge.

After signing of the order, however, Sudan voiced "deep regret and discontent" over the move.

'Partner in fighting terror'

It condemned the ban, saying it came despite Khartoum engaging in talks with Washington on fighting terrorism.

"These negotiations confirmed that Sudan plays a big role as a partner in fighting terrorism that endangers people of both countries and of the world," the foreign ministry said at the time.

Before leaving office, president Barack Obama eased decades-old US sanctions against Sudan, but kept Khartoum on the blacklist.

Sudan was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993 and has been subject to a US trade embargo since 1997 over its alleged support for Islamist groups.

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was based in Khartoum from 1992 to 1996.

Washington believes Khartoum's terror ties have ebbed, but has kept sanctions in place because of the scorched-earth tactics it has used against ethnic minority rebels in Darfur.

An end to fighting in Sudan's hotspots -- Blue Nile and South Kordofan states as well as the Darfur region -- had been set as a precondition for sanctions being lifted.

According to the United Nations, 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced since the Darfur conflict erupted in 2003.

South Africa came under fire for failing to arrest Bashir in 2015 when he attended an African Union summit in Johannesburg.

It insisted he had "head of state immunity" after letting him slip out of the country under shadowy circumstances.
Poster for the International Museum Day 2017.

17.05.2017 LISTEN

Truth must be repeated constantly, because error is being repeatedly preached round about all the time, and not just by a few, but by the masses. In the periodicals and encyclopaedias, in schools and universities, everywhere error prevails, being confident and comfortable in the feeling that it has the majority on its side. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. (1)

When I read that the theme of the International Museum Day (IMD) 2017 will be Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums , I was overjoyed. I read from the home page of International Council of Museums, (ICOM) the following:

The theme chosen for 2017 is "Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums".

History is a vital tool for defining a given people's identity, and each of us defines ourselves through important and fundamental historic events. Contested histories are unfortunately not isolated traumatic events. These histories, which are often little known or misunderstood, resonate universally, as they concern and affect us all.

Museum collections offer reflections of memories and representations of history. This day will therefore provide an opportunity to show how museums display and depict traumatic memories to encourage visitors to think beyond their own individual experiences. 

By focusing on the role of museums as hubs for promoting peaceful relationships between people, this theme highlights how the acceptance of a contested history is the first step in envisioning a shared future under the banner of reconciliation. (2)

I thought the museums will finally be coming out with the truth about the acquisition histories of the artefacts in their exhibition hall and depots. They would have a lot of work to do considering the number of bloody artefacts most of them hold and the precious time wasted in the past. But what has been the attitude and actions of Western museums so far as regards looted/stolen artefacts or objects acquired under dubious circumstances?

Among the impressive African objects in the Pavillon des Sessions, Paris, is this sculpture of Gou, God of war, made by Akati Ekplekendo and previously located at the palace of the King of Abomey. The French looted the statue in 1892 after the defeat of Dahomey.

Gold mask, 20 cm in height, weighing 1.36 kg. of pure gold, looted by the British from Kumasi, Ghana, in 1874 and now in the Wallace Collection, London, United Kingdom.

Western museums are linked through their artefacts to some of the worst episodes in the history of colonialism and imperialism. We have no intention of listing here all the violent attacks on peoples in Africa, Asia or the Americas for refusing to submit to colonial rule. The invasions of Kumasi (1874), Magdala (1868) and Benin(1897) are familiar to our readers. (3) They will also recall German attacks in Namibia and East Africa. (4) These cruel invasions brought more artefacts to Western museums as alredy admitted by some museum directors although some would seek to convince us that the so-called universal museums have nothing to do with imperialism. David Wilson,predecessor of Neil MacGregor as Director of the British Museum has admitted the acquisition of artefacts as result of imperialist invasions:The Asantes skill in casting gold by the lost-wax method,and the use of elaborately worked gold to adorn the king and his servants is represented by many superb pieces which came to the Museum after British military interventions in Asante in 1874,1896 and 1900.(5)

We leave out similar imperialist attacks in Asia such as the invasion of Beijing (1860) that brought thousands of Chineese artefacts to the Western world.(6)

We leave also aside the question of the human tremains that are still kept in Western museums and institutions in countries such as Germany. Though it has been generally accepted, even by the so-called universal museums, that human remains should be repatriated to their countries of origin, several African remains are still to be found in Europe. Namibian and other African remains have not found their way back home. How much long must decendants of the deceased wait to give them a proper burial in accordance with tradition? Will this subject still remain unspeakable after the International Museum Day 2917?

Will the Mus e e du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac and other French museums,including Musee Guimet and the Louvre, tell the true histories of their acquisitions? Musee du quai Branly that presents its self as a place where cultures dialogue, la ou les cultures dialoguent must admit that some cultures have been forced there, brought there against their wills or through dubious ways. The museum inherited looted artefacts from two previous museums that had been acquired under dubious circumsatneces - Musee de lhomme and Musee des arts africains et oceaniens. Michel Leiris, a member of the notorious Dakar-Djibouti Expedition (1931-1933) that brought 3500 artefacts to France, has described in lAfrique fantome the brutal methods used by the mission to acquire artefacts.(7)

Have the the museums shown themselves, as far as concerns the contested ownership of artefacts under their control, to be seeking reconciliation or some reasonable compromise?

The French generally refuse to consider restitution unless put under great pressure by a country such as Egypt with the dynamic Zahi Hawass as General Secretary of the Antiquities Authorities . (8) The University of London did return several artefacts to Egypt, however, the British Museum has stubbornly refused to return the Rosetta Stone.

Western museums have spent the major part of the last decades in trying to justify unjustifiable colonialist lootings. They have ignored United Nations and UNESCO resolutions urging the return of cultural property to the countries of origin. (9) They have not always followed scrupulously ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums as concerns restitution. Whereas Paragraph 6.3 of the Code of Ethics forsees the return of illegally acquired artefacts to their country of origin, Western museums seem prepared only to contemplate temporary exhibitions They have even pretended that Africans have never requested the return of looted and stolen artefacts. After a Nigerian minister of culture had gone to Germany and delivered a speech he described as Berlin Plea for the Return of the Benin Artefacts, the German museums, Etnologisches Museum, Berlin and the German authorities denied there had ever been a demand for restitution (10). Similary, the Neues Museum in Berlin and the President of the Preussische Kulturbesitz that holds the bust of Nefertiti have denied that the Egyptians have ever officially demanded the return of the bust of Nefertiti which Ludwig Borchartd is alleged to have surreptiously whisked of to Berlin in 1930. (11)

When Nigerians and other Africans have requested the return of their looted artefacts,Western museums and authorities have met such demands with scorn and cynicism. A good example of this behaviour is Neil MacGregors reply to Prof.Tunde Babawale when he requested for FESTAC the loan of the ivory hip-mask of the Queen Mother Idia that has been in the British Museum since the notorious violent invasion of Benin City by the British imperialists in 1897. In his response, MacGregor does not even bother to answer the request for the Queen-Mother hip-mask,which was the object of Babawales letter. Instead the Director of the British Museum goes on to write about the co-operation between his museum and Nigeria. How disrespectful and arrogant can one be? MacGregor seems to be saying,let us discuss more important matters. (12) Other Western museums and authorities have not behaved better. They have mostly simply ignored requests for restitution.

Similarly,whenever the Greeks have asked for the return of the Parthenon Marbles, they have been met with baseless arguments and cynicism. For several decades the British Museum argued that the Parthenon Marbles could not be returned to Athens for lack of adequate musem facilties in Athens. The Greeks built a first class museum, the New Acropolis Museum, only to hear Neil MacGregor proclaim at the London School of Economics that the location of the Parthenon Marbles was never an issue. What matters now, according to the former director of the British Museum, was how Britain and Greece make it possible for Africans and Chinese to see the Marbles The real question is about how the Greek and British governments can work together so that the sculptures can be seen in China and Africa. (13)

How cynical can one be? We leave aside the various insults to the Greeks such as that the Greeks were imitating Lord Elgin in removing the Marbles to the new museum.

New Acropolis Museum, Athens

We leave aside also the disgraceful conduct of Magregors, predecessor,David Wilson, towards Melina Mercouri, then Greek Minister for Culture,when she went to London to request the return of the Parthenon Marbles. When reference was made to the desire of the Greek Minister to view the Parthenon Marbles,the then director of the British Museum said said publicly that it was not usual to allow burglars 'to case the joint' in advance. (14)

Melina Mercouri, Minister of Culture of Greece. (1981-89,1993-94).

When Zahi Hawass asked for the restitution of the Roseta Stone and the bust of Nefertiti he was derided by many Westerners. Hawass managed to secure many artefacts from the French but the British refused to return any. The Germans displayed a lot of cynicism. They insisted that a request from the Director-General of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority was not enough;it should come from a Minister. Hawass become a Minister and put in a request. The Germans replied that such a request must come from the Egyptian President or his Cabinet. (15)

Nefertiti, Egypt, now in Neues Museum, Berlin, Germany

But how have the museums presented the histories of individual acquisitions? The museums and their supporters usually provide truncated and tendencious history of acquisitions through a choice of vocabulary that gives a favourable, and less aggressive version of the real history. How often do we read in connection with the 1897 British invasion of Benin that involved looting of artefacts and the burning of Benin City histories that tend to distort many aspects of the invasion: nature and objectives of the preliminary Britsh incursion, objectives and tactics of the Punitive Expedition, and how the Benin artefacts were brought to Europe. (16)

Some have described the preliminary mission of the British to Benin that ended in disaster as a trade delegation, a peaceful unarmed delegation, a mission to discuss trade with Oba of Benin, an unarmed mission of 9 officials and 250 carriers with guns at the bottom of their boxes. Many questions arise. Why did a small mission of 9 officers have 250 carriers with guns in their boxes? Were they intended at some point to spring a surprise attack on the Oba? Why did the mission go to Benin when the Oba had stated he could not receive them since he was involved in traditional rituals during which he was not allowed to see any foreigner? Was it possible that the plans of the British were so advanced that they did not want to wait? Some have suggested that Captain Galloway who led the preemptive army was a young inexperienced official? What is the relevance of his youth and inexperience in a plan discussed long ago with the British colinial office in London? Was he incapable of understanding that the Oba was not prepared to receive visitors at the proposed time? How much experience does one need to understand this royal answer?

Regarding the burning of Benin City,some have stated that this was due to an accidental fire. Ekpo Eyo has demonstrated that this interpretation was absolutely false. As the burning of Magdala, Beijing and Kumasi had shown, it was standard practice of the British Army to burn cities undergoing punishment. (17)

We read often that when the Benin artefacts came to Europe,they changed European attitudes towards African art. Often it is not even added that the artefacts were looted. Most of the absurd and baseless theories proposed by Western museums in the last decades have all aimed at avoiding restitution and consequently the true histories of the thousands of looted/stolen artefacts or artefacts acquired under dubious circumstances. The Declaration on the Importance and Value of Universal Museums , the changing of names of some national or ethnological museums into World Museums, proposals of travelling exhibitions of looted artefacts, dubious notions of shared heritage all have the same objective: to avoid returning any of the looted artefacts to their owners. Can we expect Western museums,given the background above, to play the role of reconciling contesting demands of ownership? Can they assist in reconciliation of opposing contestants?

Commemorative Head, Benin, Nigeria, now in Weltmuseum, formerly Museum fur Volkerkunde, Vienna, Austria

There is so far very little evidence that Western museums and other institutions are serious about restitution.They usually treat demands for restitution with contempt and arrogance. (18). Their African counterparts have also not always shown the determination and seriousness that such matters require. They usually give up easily or make half-hearted demands because it is their function to do so. They have not always shown the commitment and determination that would be needed. They have not always informed their peoples and governments about difficulties they may have encountered in their negotiations,if any,with Western museums and governments.Let us remember that at the same time many Western institutions claim that their African counterparts have never requested the return of artefacts. (19)

Throne of King Ghezo, Abomey, Dahomey, Republique du Benin, now in Musee du quai Branly, Paris, France.

Western governments and museums could help us all is reconciling our conflicting claims and histories regarding artefacs in their museums but certain matters would have to change.

Western museums must abandon, as regards restitution, the attitudes and arguments inherited from the generation of Phillip de Montebello, Neil MacGregor and James Cuno. (20) Their attitudes reflect the basic racism that underlie most of the actions of the colonial past. Westerners cannot expect the rest of the world to accept their view points and actions that are based on nothing more than racism and prejudices inherited from the so-called European Enlightenment and born out of assumptions of Caucasian superiority.Western museums have assumed automatically that they must defend colonial atrocities that broguht artefacts to their countries. None of those claiming returns holds contemporary Westerners responsible for the atrocities of their predecessors and the defence posture assumed by many westerners can only be attributed to their guilty complex. They should rid themselves of this complex and try to use normal standards of fairness and justice in dealing with present claims for restitution.

The end of colonialism sounded the death knell of such ideas.The rejection of colonialism and racism deprives the arguments of past Western generations of any validity they may have appeared to have. How can Westerners of 21st Century continue to cling onto illegal and illegitimate acquisitions of the past with those discredited ideas? They cannot condemn racism amd colonialism and still hang onto acquisitions based on those two evils,rejecting all appeals from the United Nations and UNESCO.

Nok Terracotta Acquired Illegally by France. Seated person, 500 BC - 500 AD. Quai Branly, depot of Louvre, inv. No. 70. 1998. 11. One of the three looted items from Nigeria now in Paris. The sculpture has been allowed to stay in Paris by a post factum consent of Nigeria even though the ICOM Red List For Africa forbids exportation of such artefacts.

Deprived of their legitimacy, looted acquisitions of the past can obviously not remain in the old colonial countries without some adjustment and agreement with the victims of colonial and imperialist aggression. Devious plans such as loans cannot solve the basic historic injustice without concrete return and some symbolic expressions of regret. (21)

r

Queen-Mother Idia, Benin, Nigeria, looted in 1897 and now in transferred to captivity in Ethnologisches Museum, Berlin, Germany.

True and genuine reconciliation cannot be achieved simply through the narration of the true histories of the looted artefacts; attempts must be made at redressing the present and glaring imbalance between Western States and African States with reference to iconic African artefacts. There is no reason why Western States and their museums should have more and better African artefacts than African States and their museums. There is no reason why the Ethnological Museum, Berlin or the British Museum, London should have more Benin artefacts than the Oba of Benin or the Nigerian National Museum.

We do not know what exactly were the motivations for the choice of this years theme of International Museum Day. Did the proposers just want the museums and their visitors to discuss contested histories and say the unspeakable in museums and then move on to business as usual after everyone has had their say? Does the unspeakable become again unspeakable? Did they envisage proposals for the solution of the contestations of ownership or did they intend to leave the problems as permanent features of Western museums? Do they envisage the museums to remain permanent arenas of contested claims? Acceptance of a contested history is the first step in envisioning a shared future under the banner of reconciliation No one can pretend that the question of return of looted African artefacts only arose yesterday. The historic documents in the Annex include documentation of the efforts by a Labour Member of the British Parliament, Bernie Grant to secure the restitution of the Benin Bronzes in 1996. (22)

So, what concrete steps have the Europeans taken to show their willingness and determination to seek reconciliation with the African peoples who have suffered so much from European aggression? How many centuries more must we wait for demonstration of a genuine desire to seek reconciliation, not based on our accepting whatever Westerners propose? Recent writings and acts by Westerners do not convince us. Shared heritage and shared history, as understood and presented by Westerners do not include sharing any material objects but exchange of views. That is also a form of sharing.

The world has many other urgent problems to solve and the museums would render the world a tremendous service if the restitution issues did not continue to remain a feature of the relationship between the West and the rest of the world.

African Governments and museums must assume their responsibilities in the matter of recovery of looted African artefacts. They cannot put all the blame on Western Governments and museums if they themselves have not displayed sufficient effort and determination to recover their national treasures and archives that should have been returned at Independence. If the many decades since Independence have not brought any success they must reconsider the problem over and reorganize themselves to achieve the proclaimed objectives. They should not let others present criminal violent acts against African peoples and cultures as a service to mankind. If on the other hand, they are happy with the thousands of looted African artefacts remaining in Western museums and institutions, they should inform their peoples and the world accordingly.

We have stated that the restitution issues resulting from colonial and imperialist adventures did not have to be acrimonious and appear unsolvable if Western museums and institutions showed a minimum of respect and fairness towards claimants. As we write now, a request from the previous Oba of Benin, -carried by a Benin noble to Dr. James Cuno, then Director of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Field Museum, Chicago, has still not even been acknowledged. The letter was sent following a statement by Cuno at the opening of the Benin exhibition, Benin-Kings and Ritual: Court Arts from Nigeria, in Chicago that if a formal request from the Oba of Beni were sent it would be considered. (23) In the meanwhile, we are not even sure of the whereabouts of the 400 Benin Bronzes that used to be in the Field Museum. (24) Could this large number of Benin Bronzes have disappeared from the Field Museum without anybody being aware of their whereabouts? Have they perhaps been exchanged with another American institution for a consideration they would rather not discuss? A visit to the homepage of the museum did not help at all in answering these questions. Obviously, the retentionist plea based on the availability of internet versions of artefacts would not apply to the Benin Bronzes in the Field Museum. On the other hand, the World Museum , Vienna, that has closed for 17 years its African Section where the Benin artefacts are, at least, provides some internet images at its website. It is true though that virtual images are no substitute for the return of the looted physical artefacts. We do not know how one can perform a ritual sword dance with virtual images from the internet where available in an African community. Besides, most museums are not yet able to provide virtual images of the looted artefacts.

There should be no mistake. Africans and other peoples are not going to forget the atrocities committed against their peoples and continents to satisfy the greed of some Europeans. (25). By keeping silent on the acquisition histories of their artefacts, some may hope to obliterate memories of past evils but the very nature of the looted artefacts is their strong indelible links to their countries of origin and their undeniable connections to those countries and peoples, far away from the so-called universal museums. A former director of the British Museum once suggested that we need another history. (26) We suggest our true history should be enough.

One day two bandits entered the Summer Palace. One plundered, the other burned. Victory can be a thieving woman, or so it seems. The devastation of the Summer Palace was accomplished by the two victors acting jointly. Mixed up in all this is the name of Elgin, which inevitably calls to mind the Parthenon. What was done to the Parthenon was done to the Summer Palace, more thoroughly and better, so that nothing of it should be left. All the treasures of all our cathedrals put together could not equal this formidable and splendid museum of the Orient. It contained not only masterpieces of art, but masses of jewellery. What a great exploit, what a windfall! One of the two victors filled his pockets; when the other saw this, he filled his coffers. And back they came to Europe, arm in arm, laughing away. Such is the story of the two bandits. Before history, one of the two bandits will be called France; the other will be called England.  Victor Hugo. (27)

Kwame Tua Opoku,16 May 2017.



Salt cellar, Benin, Nigeria, looted in the 1897 Punitive Expedition, now in British Museum, London, United Kingdom.

NOTES

1 "Und denn, man mu das Wahre immer wiederholen, weil auch der Irrtum um uns her immer wieder gepredigt wird, und zwar nicht von einzelnen, sondern von der Masse. In Zeitungen und Enzyklopadien, auf Schulen und Universitaten, uberall ist der Irrtum oben auf, und es ist ihm wohl und behaglich, im Gefuhl der Majoritat, die auf seiner Seite ist." Goethe am 16. Dezember 1828 Johann Peter Eckermann, Gesprache mit Goethe in den letzen Jahren seines Lebens,

Seite 311, Reclams Universal Bibliothek, Nr.2002, Stuttgart,2006.

2. International Museum Day- ICOM

icom.museum  What we do  Activities

3. K.Opoku,  When Will Britain Return Looted Golden Ghanaian Artefacts? History of Looting of More than 100 Objects...

https://www.modernghana.com/.../when-will-britain-return-loote ...

4. Kwame Opoku: Return Of Stolen Skulls By Germany To Namibia ...

www.africavenir.org/.../kwame-opoku...germany...namibia.../pri..

Have Germans Finally Acknowledged Their Extermination Wars ...

www.africavenir.org/news.../have-germans.../print.htm

5. David M. Wilson 9-(Ed.), The Collections of the British Museum,The British Museum Press,1989, London.p.97. Note that Wilson calls the bloody British military invasions,interventions thus minimizing the true violent military attack on Asante for refusing to submit meekly to British imperialist domination.

6. K. Opoku, Chinese Research Artefacts Looted in An in Anglo-French Attack on Summer Palace in 186: Do the Great Museums not keep Records?

afrikanet.info: China research artefacts looted in the West - France ...

www.afrikanet.info/.../china-research-artefacts-looted-in-the-wes

7. To our delight and relief, this very important book,published in French in 1953 will be published in English this year. In previous articles, I had pointed out that this major work had not yet been published in English even though translations exist in German ,Portuguese and other languages.See K.Opoku, From Benin to Quai Branly - Dr. Kwame Opoku - AFRIKANET.info

www.afrikanet.info/archiv1/index.php?option=com...task..

8. The Logic of Non-Restitution of Cultural Objects from the Musee du Quai Branly ... www.afrikanet.info  Home  African Art

Egyptian Season of Artefacts Returns: Hopeful Sign to be followed by Others? ... www.museum-security.org/opoku_hawass.htm

9.Resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly about Return and Restitution of Cultural Property www.unesco.org/.../culture/...cultural-property/resolutions-adopt .

K. Opoku, Did Germans Never Hear Directly or Indirectly Nigerias Demand for Return of Looted Artefacts? www.no-humboldt21.de/information/nigeria_treasures/www.africavenir.org/.../kwame-opoku-did-germans-never-hear-d

10 Berlin Plea For The Return Of Nigeria's Cultural Objects - Modern Ghana

https://www.modernghana.com/.../berlin-plea-for-the-return-of-n

11. . Did Egyptians Never Ask For The Restitution Of Nefertiti?

https://www.modernghana.com/.../did-egyptians-never-ask-for-th

12. Annex-D.Historical Documents-Correspondex between Neil Macgregor and Babatunde Babawale

13. K. Opoku: The Amazing Director of the British Museum:Gratuitous Insults as Currency of Cultural Diplomacy?

14. Christopher Hitchens, The Parthenon Marbles, Verso, London, 2008, pp. 97-99.

15. Kwame Opoku: Nefertity In Absurdity: How Often Must Egyptians Ask ... www.africavenir.org/...nefertity...egyptians-ask...egyptia/print.ht

16. Nigel Barley writes in, The Art of Benin, (British Museum Press, 2010, p. 15) An unarmed diplomatic mission went to urge the oba to comply and was attacked by chiefs acting without royal authority. It is remarkable that the writer mentions that they were unarmed. Is a diplomatic mission supposed to be armed? There is no mention that the Oba had told this diplomatic mission that he could not receive them at the time proposed for the visit and that they should postpone the visit. Is this how diplomacy is conducted by entering the territory of a monarch who says he cannot receive the mission?

Paula Girshick Ben-Amos writes in, The Art of Benin, (British Museum Press, 1995, p. 58) The British viewed Benin as the main obstacle to their expansion into the agricultural interior and when in 1897, an envoy to Oba Ovonramwen was ambushed and killed, the British sent out a Punitive Expedition against the kingdom. Here the military force of some 250 is reduced to an envoy.

Neil MacGregor, in The whole world in our hands makes this statement in dealing with the British invasion of Benin:

A British delegation, travelling to Benin at a sacred season of the year when such visits were forbidden, was killed, though not on the orders of the Oba himself. In retaliation, the British mounted a punitive expedition against Benin. http://arts.guardian.co.uk/; In defence of the British Museum, by Neil MacGregor ... - The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com  Arts  Heritage

Frank Willet states in a contribution Benin in Afrika: Kunst und Kultur (ed.) (Hans-Joachim Koloss, Prestel Verlag, Munich, 1999 p. 43) that Captain Phillips had in November 1896 asked the Foreign Ministry in London for permission to dethrone the Oba and was denied permission. Nevertheless, in January 1897 Phillips and his troops went to Benin with peaceful intentions, and that the guns they had with them had been packed away and were not ready for usage Ekpo Eyo describes the Pre-emptive Strike Force and its back ground as follows: CONSUL PHILLIP ILL  FATED EXPEDITION.

The event that was to lead to the overthrow of the Oba began when an acting consul  General was appointed for the area in 1896. He was a young naval Officer, called Captain Phillips. With this appointment events moved rather quickly. Soon after his arrival, consul Phillips began to advise the Benin River Chiefs not to comply with Oba Overanwens demand for additional tribute to the Oba of Benin for partially opening up the hinterland markets. Phillips followed up his advice to the Benin River chiefs with a letter dated November 1846 to Oba Overanwen proposing a visit to Benin city. The stated purpose of the visit was to try and persuade the king to let white men come up to the City When ever they wanted to (Boisrangon p. 58) Such a letter could have done nothing less than increase the fear of the Bini. The king was to allow whitemen to come up to the City whenever they wanted to. The visit was planned for early January 1897. In reply, the Oba requested that the visit be delayed for two months, to enable him to get through the IGUE ritual during which time his body is scared and not allowed to come in contact with foreign elements. Igue ritual is the highest ritual among the Edo and is performed not only for the well- being of the king but of his entire subjects and the land. But Phillips showed no sympathy. He replied the king that he was in a hurry and could not wait because he has so much work to do elsewhere in the Protectorate. Defiantly, the expedition set out as it proposed in January, 1897 and when it arrived at UGHOTON, three royal Emmissaries met it with a request that it should tarry for two days so that they could send up and let the King know in time for him to make his preparation for receiving us (Boisrangon, p.84). Again Phillips regretted that he could not wait because he has so much work to do and that he would start early the next morning. And, on the next morning, he set out for Benin City. By the afternoon of that day, January 4, 1897 the inevitable happened: Seven out of nine white members of the Expedition includingPhillips himself were ambused and killed. The only white survivors were Boisragon and Locke. The story of this ill-fated Expedition is set out in Boisragons book: The Benin Massacre http://www.dawodu.net

See K. Opoku Compromise on the Destitution of Benin Bronzes? Comments on an Article by Prof. John Picton on Restitution of Benin Artefacts

http://www.museum-security.org/2011/02/kwame-opoku-compromise-restitution-benin-bronzes-comments-article-prof-john-picton-restitution-benin-artefacts/

. K.Opoku, Germans Debate Legitimacy And Legality Of Looted Artefacts In Ethnology Museum, Berlin...

https://www.modernghana.com/.../germans-debate-legitimacy-an...

17.Ekpo Eyo, Benin: the sack that was, Dawodu Net

www.dawodu.net/eyo.htm

18. K.Opoku, Respect and Disrespect in restitution of cultural artefacts

https://www.modernghana.com/.../respect-and-disrespect-in-restit..

19. K.Opoku, Germans Debate Legitimacy And Legality Of Looted Artefacts In Ethnology Museum, Berlin...

https://www.modernghana.com/.../germans-debate-legitimacy-an...

20..We have discussed some of the ideas of the leading proponents of the universal museums in several articles: Phillip de Montebello

Does the Demand for Restitution of Stolen African ...

https://www.modernghana.com/.../does-the-demand-for-the-restit...

Do Directors of Universal Museums ever learn from ...

https://www.modernghana.com/.../do-directors-of-universal-mus..

Kwame Opokus response to Philippe de Montebello - AFRIKANET.info

www.afrikanet.info/archiv1/index.php?option=com...task...

Neil MacGregor

Is the de-accession policy of the British Museum a farce? | Community ... www.ligali.org/article.php?id=1825

History through a hundred looted objects www.pambazuka.org/.../history-through-hundred-looted-objects

Kwame Opoku  Neil Macgregor is playing the usual Game... www.museum-security.org/.../kwame-opoku-neil-macgregor-pla...

afrikanet.info: Comments on a lecture by Neil Macgregor, British ...

www.afrikanet.info/.../comments-on-a-lecture-by-neil-macgregor ..

K. Opoku: Arrogance, Duplicity And Defiance With No End ...

www.africavenir.org/.../kwame-opoku-arrogance-duplicity-and-..

James Cuno

Affirmation and declaration as strong weapons: Review of Cuno's ...

www.museum-security.org/opoku-cuno.htm

Whose Culture?: The Promise of Museums and the Debate over ...

https://www.amazon.com/Whose-Culture.../dp/0691154430

Do present day Egyptians eat the same food as Tuthankhamun? Review of James Cunos Who Owns Antiquity?

www.elginism.com/similar-cases/kwame-opoku...cuno/.../1135/

Review of James Cunos Museums Matter

https://www.newsghana.com.gh  Opinion  Featured Articles

Does Dr Cuno really believe what he writes? | Pambazuka News

https://www.pambazuka.org/.../does-dr-cuno-really-believe-what.

James Cuno: "There is not a credible museum in this country that has ...

savingantiquities.org/james-cuno-there-is-not-a-credible-museum.

21. K. Opoku,  European Museums To 'Loan' Looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria?  https://www.modernghana.com/.../european-museums-to-loan-lo..

22 .Annex I.B. Letter of Bernie Grant to Director of Glasgow Museum.

23. Benin Exhibition in Chicago: Cuno Agrees to Consider Request for Restitution of Benin Bronzes benin exhibition in chicago: cuno agrees to consider request for ... https://www.modernghana.com/.../benin-exhibition-in-chicago-c ..

K. Opoku, Formal Demand for the Return of Some of the Benin Bronzes: Will Western Museum Return Some of the Benin Bronzes? http://www.modernghana.com

24. K. Opoku, Where are the 400 Benin bronzes in the Field Museum? | Pambazuka News https://www.pambazuka.org/.../where-are-400-benin-bronzes

25. Annex II.

26. Neil MacGregor, "The whole world in our hands http://www.guardian.co.uk, http://www.guardian.co.uk

27. Kwame Opoku on Returned Chinese Sculptures  SHEKERE https://shekereblog.wordpress.com/.../kwame-opoku.../kwame-op ...

Bernie Grant, Labour Member of the British Parliament, from 1987 to his death in 2000. Benin Bronzes Campaign Files | The Bernie Grant Archive

https://alchetron.com/Bernie-Grant-744944-W

ANNEX - HISTORIC DOCUMENTS

A. The Case of Benin Memorandum submitted by Prince Edun Akenzua to the British Parliament

Memorandum submitted by Prince Edun Akenzua to the British Parliament I am Edun Akenzua Enogie (Duke) of Obazuwa-Iko, brother of His Majesty, Omo, nOba nEdo, Oba (King) Erediauwa of Benin, great grandson of His Majesty Omo nOba nEdo, Oba Ovonramwen, in whose reign the cultural property was removed in 1897. I am also the Chairman of the Benin Centenary Committee established in 1996 to commemorate 100 years of Britains invasion of Benin, the action which led to the removal of the cultural property.

History On 26 March 1892 the Deputy Commissioner and Vice-Consul, Benin District of the Oil River Protectorate, Captain H L Gallway, manoeuvred Obal Ovonramwen and his chiefs into agreeing to terms of a treaty with the British Government. That treaty, in all its implications, marked the beginning of the end of the independence of Benin not only on account of its theoretical claims, which bordered on the fictitious, but also in providing the British with the pretext, if not the legal basis, for subsequently holding the Oba accountable for his future actions.

The text quoted above was taken from the paper presented at the Benin Centenary Lectures by Professor P A Igbafe of the Department of History, University of Benin on 17 February 1997.

Four years later in 1896 the British Acting Consul in the Niger-Delta, Captain James R Philip wrote a letter to the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Salisbury, requesting approval for his proposal to invade Benin and depose its King. As a post-script to the letter, Captain Philip wrote: I would add that I have reason to hope that sufficient ivory would be found in the Kings house to pay the expenses incurred in removing the King from his stool.

These two extracts sum up succinctly the intention of the British or at least, of Captain Philip, to take over Benin and its natural and cultural wealth for the British.

British troops invaded Benin on 10 February1897. After a fierce battle, they captured the city, on February 18. Three days later, on 21 February precisely, they torched the city and burnt down practically every house. Pitching their tent on the Palace grounds, the soldiers gathered all the bronzes, ivory-works, carved tusks and oak chests that escaped the fire. Thus, some 3,000 pieces of cultural artwork were taken away from Benin. The bulk of it was taken from the burnt down Palace.

Number of items removed It is not possible for us to say exactly how many items were removed. They were not catalogued at inception. We are informed that the soldiers who looted the palace did the cataloguing. It is from their accounts and those of some European and American sources that we have come to know that the British carried away more than 3,000 pieces of Benin cultural property. They are now scattered in museums and galleries all over the world, especially in London, Scotland, Europe and the United States. A good number of them are in private hands.

What the works mean to the people of Benin The works have been referred to as primitive art, or simply, artefacts of African origin. But Benin did not produce their works only for aesthetics or for galleries and museums. At the time Europeans were keeping their records in long-hand and in hieroglyphics, the people of Benin cast theirs in bronze, carved on ivory or wood. The Obas commissioned them when an important event took place which they wished to record. Some of them of course, were ornamental to adorn altars and places of worship. But many of them were actually reference points, the library or the archive. To illustrate this, one may cite an event which took place during the coronation of Oba Erediauwa in 1979. There was an argument as to where to place an item of the coronation paraphernalia. Fortunately a bronze-cast of a past Oba wearing the same regalia had escaped the eyes of the soldiers and so it is still with us. Reference was made to it and the matter was resolved. Taking away those items is taking away our records, or our Soul.

Relief sought In view of the fore-going, the following reliefs are sought on behalf of the Oba and people of Benin who have been impoverished, materially and psychologically, by the wanton looting of their historically and cultural property.

(i) The official record of the property removed from the Palace of Benin in 1897 be made available to the owner, the Oba of Benin.

(ii) All the cultural property belonging to the Oba of Benin illegally taken away by the British in 1897 should be returned to the rightful owner, the Oba of Benin.

(iii) As an alternative, to (ii) above, the British should pay monetary compensation, based on the current market value, to the rightful owner, the Oba of Benin.

(iv) Britain being the principal looters of the Benin Palace, should take full responsibility for retrieving the cultural property or the monetary compensation from all those to whom the British sold them.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk

B. Letter of the late Bernie Grant, member of Parliament, to director of Glasgow museum and the reply thereto.

Mr Julian Spalding Director Art Gallery and Museum Kelvingrove Glasgow G3 6AG

10 December 1996

Dear Mr Spalding,

African Religious and Cultural Objects Thank you very much indeed for your recent correspondence about the above matter.

I write on behalf of the Oba of Benin, Oma n'Oba, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, and on behalf of the Africa Reparations Movement (UK) of which I am the Chair. The subject of this letter is the Benin Bronzes, Ivories and other cultural and religious objects contained in the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum, about which I understand you have recently spoken to Mr Edward Wood of the House of Commons Library.

As you are aware, most of the Benin religious and cultural objects currently in British museums and other institutions were looted in February 1897 from Benin City. The context of this was the battle for trade in the carve up of Africa, into "spheres of influence", by the European powers, and the launching of a military expedition by the British in 1897, to depose the King of Benin who insisted on preserving the independence and sovereignty of his kingdom.

The Benin religious and cultural objects belong to a living culture and have deep historic and social value, which go far beyond the aesthetic and monetary value which they hold in exile. I was recently informed by Prince Akenzua, the Oba's brother, who was in the UK on a quest to speak to MP's regarding the return of the Bronzes etc., that those officiating at the Oba's coronation ceremonies had forgotten the rituals. They had had to consult some of the Bronzes that are still in Benin, in order for them to wear the correct vestments and have the appropriate officials present.

Prince Akenzua explained that the previous coronation had been well over 50 years previously and because the ceremony is not written down, the officials had forgotten and their only recourse to the proper rituals were the Bronzes which were made for that specific purpose. He went on to say that many of their ceremonies have not been performed satisfactorily because most of the Bronzes are missing. This situation is very distressing for the Benin people of today. Moreover, the objects have come to symbolise the intense sense of injustice widely felt in Africa, and indeed amongst many people of African origin in Britain, about the mis-appropriation of African art, cultural and religious objects, arising from the period of European colonisation.

There has for many years now, been a demand for these religious and cultural objects to be returned to Benin, and as the centenary of their looting approaches in February 1997, the strength of feeling around this has intensified. Formal requests for their return have been made in the past by the Nigerian Government, and by the Obas of Benin themselves, but have been met with refusal. A request for the mere loan of an ivory mask for the purposes of a major World African Arts Festival was denied in 1977, and this affair led to the cooling of relations between Britain and Nigeria at that time.

As Chair of the Africa Reparations Movement (UK), (ARM UK), at the recent meeting with Prince Akenzua, I discussed the plans for the centenary commemoration next year. The demand for the return of the Benin religious and cultural objects is clearly central to this occasion, and the Prince has formally authorised me to investigate the possibility of returning at least some of the objects at this time. However, as you will no doubt be aware, the legal position as regards returning artefacts lodged in English museums and institutions is complex, although a challenge to the current legislation features firmly on the agenda of ARM (UK). I understand though that the position in Scottish Law is different, and it is within the powers of individual local authorities to make decisions on the restitution of items from collections which they hold. I also understand that there are precedents for restitution where a formal request has been made.

The Royal Family of Benin has therefore authorised me to make such a formal request, and has asked me to draw an analogy with the recent return to Scotland of the Stone of Destiny. Just as the Stone is of such great significance to the people of Scotland, so the Benin treasures are significant to the people of Benin. Theirs was a rich, sophisticated, and advanced civilisation, which was in many ways far more developed than contemporary European societies. The denial and destruction of the history of the Benin people were acts of appalling racism, which need urgently to be rectified. These are indeed some of the most distasteful and abiding injustices arising out of the period of European colonisation of Africa.

Whilst I am aware that the collection held in the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum is a relatively minor one, its symbolic value is immense. The Oba himself would be more than pleased to visit Glasgow to receive the religious and cultural objects, and to express his appreciation if restitution can be arranged.

I would be grateful if you could look into this matter and let me have your views as soon as possible.

I remain,

Yours sincerely,

BERNIE GRANT M.P.

Art Gallery and Museum Kelvingrove, Glasgow G3 BAG Tel: 0141-287 2600 Fax: 0141-287 2608 Director of Glasgow Museums: Julian Spalding

Mr Bernie Grant MP House of Commons London SW1A OAA

10 January 1997

Dear Mr Grant

AFRICAN RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL OBJECTS

We have now had a chance to consider your request for the return of the Benin bronzes, ivories and other cultural and religious objects contained in our collection. We have considered the whole complex position and have reached the following conclusion. Though it is possible for our museum service to restitute items from its collection and we have done this recently in the case of some Aboriginal human remains, we cannot advise the City Council that this should happen in this case.

Our reasons are entirely professional. Museums have a collective responsibility, both nationally and internationally to preserve the past so that people can enjoy it and learn from it. In the case of the Benin collection in Glasgow though it is small and not of the highest quality, it does play an important role in introducing our visitors to the culture, and religious beliefs of Benin, whose artistic achievements rank with the finest not just in Africa but in the whole world. Virtually all our 22 Benin items are on permanent view to the public in Kelvingrove and in St Mungo's Museum of Religious Life and their withdrawal from these displays would limit, in our opinion, our visitors' understanding of the world.

We have taken into account, too, the fact that the museums in Nigeria, including the one in Benin itself, do now have one of the world's finest representations of this great culture and our collections would not add significantly to this, even if the request for restitution had come from them. However, in this case, we are not considering a transfer from one public museum to another, but a request on behalf of the Oba of Benin, for future religious use. We believe, however, that these artefacts have an important role to play in the public sector by informing over 3 million visitors here about the culture of Benin and, it has to be said, the history of British Imperialism.

Kind regards.

Julian Spalding Director

cc Councillor F McAveety, Glasgow City Council http://www.arm.arc.co.uk

C. Letter to Director, Glasgow Art Gallery And Museum - from Emmanuel N. Arinze - Chairman, West African Museums Programme

WAMP West African Museums Programme Programme des Musees de l'Afrique de l'Ouset B.P. 357. Dakar. Senegal. Tel: (221) 22 50 57 Fax: (221) 22 12 33

P.O. Box 71041 Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria Tel: 01-2622917, 09-2341722, 09-5234757 Fax: 01-2694642, 09-2341722

Dear Mr. Spalding

Return of Benin Objects to The Oba of Benin

I have just heard of the effort being made by Mr. Bernie Grant, MP to convince your Museum to return some Benin artefacts to the Oba of Benin as a gesture of historic reconciliation and positive response to the age long yearnings and aspirations of an aggrieved People. This gesture would not have come at a more appropriate time in the history of Benin and indeed Nigeria, as we prepare to celebrate the centenary of the great Benin Expedition of 1897.

The return of any single Benin artefact is of great significance as the object returns to the altar of our ancestors where they religiously, culturally and historically belong. Each object on the ancestral altar has a meaning and performs a function that is paramount and necessary to the life of the Edo. In a different context, environment and situation, the same object becomes sterile, empty and just a work of art.

Having worked in Museums foreclose to twenty-five years, I do understand and appreciate that humanity should have access to the creative works of different peoples and different cultures. However this universal idea should not deprive people of their natural right to hold and to keep that which they have made and which is part of their very existence and humanity.

The sacred and unique religious ceremonies that are performed in the Palace of the Oba of Benin and which affect the life of every Edo citizen draw a huge crowd to the Palace grounds and it is significant that these ceremonies centre around the artefacts one finds on the ancestral altars.

In this regard, and in my capacity as the Chairman of the West African Museums Programme and President of the Commonwealth Association of Museums, I join my voice with those of eminent citizens like Rt. Hon. Bernie Grant, MP in appealing to you, your Museum and your Council to be gracious enough and agree to return the Benin artefacts in your Museum collection to the Oba of Benin who today is the personification of the Edo nation in all its ramifications.

This singular act of your Museum will encourage many others in our great profession to take the path of honour and join in the historic quest for restitution.

I wish you well. Best wishes ,

Emmanuel N, Arinze Chairman 22-01-97

D. Letter from Prof.T.Babawale,CBAAC,to Neil MacGregor,Director Brtish Museum.

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR C/CBAAC183/114 16th February, 2007

Director of British Museum Russell Square, London EC1

Dear Sir,

COMMEMORATION OF THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF FESTAC 77 REQUEST FOR SPONSORSHIP

IN 1977, Nigeria hosted the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC77). The festival covered dance, exhibition, colloquium, durbar and a boat regatta. From all conceivable parameters FESTAC77 was an unqualified story. It brought Africans from all over the world in a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the African race. More importantly, it brought to the fore the invaluable contributions of Africans to the funds of universal knowledge.

The success of FESTAC77 made it imperative that the gains of the festival should be sustained. The Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBACC) was established to perpetuate the gains of FESTAC77. Thirty years after the hosting of the momentous festival, CBAAC has considered it necessary to commemorate the epochmaking event. Thus a number of events have been lined up for the commemoration (Please see document attached). Proudly Nigerian Project has been commissioned by CBAAC to act on its behalf in sourcing for sponsorship and coordination of events.

The essence of this letter is to request that the British Museum, safely return/hand over the original 16th century ivory mask which was last worn by King Ovonramwen Nogbasi of the ancient Benin Empire in 1897 before he was exiled by Britain. The ivory mask is the official emblem for FESTAC and a unification symbol for Nigerians and Black and African peoples worldwide. The mask is also of great significance to us as Africans. Attempts were made to recover the mask for the 1977 FESTAC event but to no avail. Nigeria and Britain have enjoyed a mutually warm and cordial relationship over the years. We are therefore optimistic that the British Museum would not object to this humble but historically significant request.

We await your reply in writing and look forward to your positive response. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Prof. Tunde Babawale, Director/Chief Executive.

REPLY OF DIRECTOR, BRITISH MUSEUM TO DIRECTOR CBAAC

Prof. Tunde Babawale, Director/Chief Executive. CBAAC National Theatre Inganmu Lagos, Nigeria

Dear Professor Babawale,

BENIN IVORY MASK

Thank you for the letter dated 23 February 2007, (which was delivered to the British Museum on 19th March 2007) concerning the Benin ivory mask, and the history of CBAACs interest in it since FESTAC77.

Let me assure you that the British Museum appreciates the significance of the Benin material in the collections for Nigeria, Africa and the world, and wishes to make it better understood and more accessible in Africa and worldwide. To this end, we are currently engaged in a new dialogue with the National Commission on Museums and Monuments in Nigeria. We have been invited by NCMM to offer our assistance and advice on the development of the Lagos Museum through a programme of museum development, training, professional exchanges, and capacity building for which we are seeking international backing. We are currently also involved with NCMM in a project together with the University of Frankfurt, Germany, on the material culture of Ife.

It is through programmes such as these, undertaken in partnership with our colleagues in Nigeria and at their instigation that we will best be able to further relations between British and Nigerian museums and, most importantly, promote public understanding of Nigerias culture and history worldwide.

Yours sincerely,

Neil MacGregor.



The Cross of Emperor Tewodros II looted at Maqdala, Ethiopia, now in British Museum, London, United Kingdom,

Extracts from Lost, Stolen or Shredded: Stories of Missing Works of Art and Literature - Rick Gekoski

The British Museum, that great repository of the art and architecture of the rest of the world, has a significant holding of objects, many of them on display for generations, which testify to a quality of art and culture in sub-Saharan Africa which men of the stature of David Livingstone and Conrad had either failed to notice, or to appreciate

Here is a nice bit of synchronicity: at much the same time that Conrad was beginning to write Heart of Darkness, an unauthorised British expeditionary force entered the kingdom of Benin, ostensibly to enforce an 1892 treaty of friendship (known as the Gallwey Treaty) that King Omo nOba Ovonramwen had rightly refused to sign. He recognised that, beneath the usual rhetoric, it would have made his lands into a British Protectorate, as such were often, and ironically, labelled. Rightly alarmed, the king banned British visitors to his kingdom, rightly fearing their intentions, for the unreciprocated offer of friendship had become, in British eyes, an excuse for an invasion of Benin

Late in 1896 an invading force led by Lieutenant James Phillips, which consisted of six British officers and some 250 African soldiers, set out to capture the city of Benin, depose its king and lay hold of its many assets. On learning that the force was on its way, the king was inclined to let them into the city to declare their intentions, but was overruled by the commander of his army, whose pre-emptive strike against the would-be invaders killed most of the soldiers and all but two of the British officers. It was a terrible slaughter  the so-called force was totally unprepared for the attack  and feelings in London were incendiary. Benin must be taught a lesson

What the British reprisal soon did, aside from killing a great many Beninese, was not merely to destroy the remnants of a great and ancient culture but to strip its artistic assets  (in order to defray the cost of the war)  including over 900 of those magnificent bronzes that were for centuries produced there, and which are now the property of museums throughout the world, particularly in Germany and at the University of Pennsylvania, with a few left for the British Museum

The palace, the major building within the city, was an enormous structure of some 2 million square feet. Very little of this remains. The British force of 1897 destroyed most of the city walls, though some remnants can still be seen today. The Benin bronzes taken after the 1897 raid were (finally) acknowledged as booty in an in-house British Museum report of 1972, which nevertheless insisted there was nothing illegal about their acquisition. It was just a little unseemly, perhaps? 

If you wish to study the civilisation and art of Benin, there is little sense going there. Go to a museum, a Western museum, instead. Go, perhaps, to the University of Pennsylvania, where Richard Hodges, the Director of the Penn Museum, notes proudly that some 20,000 important African objects may be found, including what is undoubtedly one of the finest collections of Benin art in the world

The transmission of cultural objects as the spoils of war is an essential part of the diaspora of objects of art, and is regarded as inalienable. But it is hard to justify the looting of the Benin bronzes even in this mitigated if conventional sense. Britain was not at war with the kingdom of Benin, and its first, unauthorised, attempt to sack the city was punished with a justified pre-emptive strike. British reprisals were fierce, and totally out of scale with the moral imperatives, and it is hard to see why Nigeria should not regard the restitution of the bronzes as their moral and legal right

The Oba, on the other hand, had enhanced and protected their treasures. Nor was the destruction of the kingdom of Benin an isolated incident. Those most respected of Conrads colonialists, the British, were also responsible, at much the same time as the sacking of Benin City, for destroying Kumasi, the capital of the Ashante empire, which was located in what is now called Ghana.

For some hundreds of years a prosperous centre of trade and agriculture hacked out of the indigenous forest, the Ashante thrived due to the huge reserves of gold, and a relatively enlightened importation of slave labour. At its height, Kumasi had a population of some 2 million people, and was a thriving urban culture with a grand palace for the king, and a plethora of art works and jewellery fashioned from gold. The Ashante were literate, and the palace, according to one traveller, had a great many books, as well as sophisticated systems of law and trading. Britain had been in armed conflict with the Ashante four times in the nineteenth century, drawn by the vast wealth, natural resources and trading power of the kingdom. Repulsed respectively in 1823 and 1863, a protracted assault on Kumasi in 1873-4 lead to a Treaty of Peace on terms favourable to the British, and to the sacking by some 2,500 soldiers of large parts of the city, and the destruction of the Royal Palace.

Gekoski, Rick. Lost, Stolen or Shredded: Stories of Missing Works of Art and Literature (S.234-244). Profile Books. Kindle-Version.
17.05.2017 LISTEN

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Vincent Redeemer Dedjo, Upper East Regional Police Commander, has incurred the wrath of journalists in the region, following a comment that he does not do his policing in the media.

If the cliche by some top police officers that Policing is a shared responsibility is anything to go by, then the police will not be successful without the media, because the media is the mouthpiece of the general public, which the policing institution is mandated to serve.

However, on Saturday May 13, when members of two royal gates in the Bolgatanga chieftaincy dispute -Abilba and Apakre gates  clashed, resulting in the death of two persons, all journalists who sought to enquire from the police on how they were responding to the disturbances, were rudely ignored by the Police Commander.

Instead of simply providing members of the Fourth Estate of the realm with information on the true state of affairs regarding the conflict, DCOP Dedjo rudely snubbed them. He said he does not do his policing in the media.

When this reporter contacted the Commander on Sunday to find out whether the police had made some arrests in connection with the renewed clashes, he rudely told the reporter: I don't do my policing in the media. I have put all the necessary security measures in place, and that is what is important to me. When this reporter asked him: Sir, do you mean you will not confirm or otherwise, any arrests? He retorted: I said policing is not about talking in the media, but about doing the right thing, and I have done so.

It was clear DCOP Dedjo was not willing to speak to any journalists who called him on phone on the matter, not because they called him on phone, but because he claims policing and media have nothing in common, as far as he is concerned. Some journalists even complained that was not the first time he was rude to them. They said, even in his office, he is not media-friendly.

Outraged by his rude posture, some of the inky professionals in the region have resolved to ignore the police, especially the Regional Commander, in their reportage, not only on the chieftaincy matter, but also to boycott any programme his administration may seek media coverage for.

Until his transfer to the Upper East Region in February this year, DCOP Vincent Redeemer Dedjo was the Volta Regional Police Commander. He took over from DCOP Simon Afeku during a major shakeup in the police administration this year.

December 2014 report

This is not the first time the police have put up such an attitude towards journalists. In December 2014, The Chronicle carried a similar report about the conduct of the police. The following is how the said incident was reported.

Senior police officers in the Upper East Regional have become hostile and snobbish to journalists. Some of the journalists in the region say whenever they approach the police for information, and sometimes confirmation or otherwise over certain issues, they are unwilling, hostile and snobbish.

This obdurate stance by the police has angered most journalists, and they have resolved to blacklist the police in their reportage. As a result, some affected journalists have resolved not to attend any programme organised by the police, until the Police Command explains and apologises for its incessant failure to address the issue.

The behaviour of the police has also angered the Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Eric Amoh, who has sent a strong reminder to the police hierarchy in the region that they were not an island.

Speaking this reporter, Mr. Amoh said: You see, there are some of the police officers who do not have communication sense, and once they do not have the communication sense, they use their position as protection. They think that once they are police, they are untouchable.

He stated in clear terms that though the media could not force out information from the police, the most important thing was that the police in the region needed to be schooled on the importance of information in this critical era, where the people have been empowered with the social media, through which they could read and write anything. He stated: At a point, when people do not get information, they burst out and anything goes.

It is time we let them know that the public needs the information, and it is their duty to give it out. They police shouldn't think that they are an island. If people are not there to police, what is your work as a police officer? It is the same people who need the information from you, the police, he said.

Recently, the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Commander, Christian Bortsi, verbally assaulted this reporter when he sought from him a confirmation or otherwise of a lynching incident in the Municipality. Before this verbal assault, the Regional Crime Officer, Supt. Alex Asamoah-Frimpong, had also seized copies of a press statement the Regional Commander had read, and asked his PRO to make copies for reporters who were at that press briefing, which was addressed by the Commander.

The Crime Officer's explanation for seizing the statement was that it was not meant for the public. Though the reporters resisted giving out their copies, after a few minutes of resistance, they returned the copies and left his office in anger.

Following the collapse of an illegal mining pit at Gbane in the Talensi District, a Daily Graphic reporter, Mr. Alhandu Abdul-Hamid, and Madam Fati Astinga of the GNA were also snubbed by the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Simon Afeku, when the two approached to greet him.

According to them, they had gone to the Regional Headquarters to see the PRO over the accident, but when they got there, the PRO was not in the office. They then greeted the Staff Officer on duty, and informed him of their mission. They said, in a chat, the Staff Officer encouraged them to just greet the Regional Commander, who was then with the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Daniel Syme, while they waited for the PRO.

After they had greeted the Commander and he responded, the next thing he said to them was that he would not speak on the matter, because he was not the Police PRO. Apparently, he thought they were coming to him for information on the incident. Knowing very well that they were not going to him to speak on the matter, and weighing his harsh and unwarranted remark, the journalists left despondently.

Still on the same mining incident, this reporter also had a similar experience, when the Regional Crime Officer declined to speak to him at Gbane where the accident occurred. According to the Crime Officer, since Mr. Daniel Syme had declined to talk to the reporter, he would not also speak. As if that was not enough, he went further to say that he was not the PRO of the police in the region.

Responding to all these issues, the GJA Chairman said he saw a very big vacuum in the police administration, in terms of communication. He said he suspected the Regional Security Council would have met and resolved not speak to the media. His suspicion was based on the grounds that the Regional Police PRO, ASP Thomas Agbanyon, had also declined to speak to the media two days after the incident occurred.

From William Jalulah, Bolgatanga
I laughed my head off when I saw Kofi Adams (herein now referred to as Kofi Adamu, according Alfred Agbesi Woyome) in company 0f Kofi Portuphy, Asiedu Nketia and all the Kofi-Kofis in the contraption peddling litany of lies against the NPP. Wasnt it this Kofi Adams who alleged that some members of the NDC wanted to assassinate him on the Accra-Tema Motorway between 11,30pm and 11.40 pm on Wednesday, November, 2010? Refer to Daily Guides story by Charles Takyi Boadu on Friday, November 12, 2010. J.JS Boy attacked was the headline. Mr. Adams disclosed that he has been getting calls and receiving several text messages on his mobile phone both from members of his party and outside the party with some asking him to shut his mouth or else they would kill him.

NDC foot soldiers chased the MCE of Yendi out of his office with arms and out of Yendi Township. What did the NDC do? Not even a verbal reprimand was issued to the marauding foot soldiers. And a whole Police Commander in the Municipality told the country that the Police could not apprehend the miscreants who committed such abominable act because the attack had political elements.

And what are these NDC Buccaneers telling Ghanaians? We leave their pettiness and incongruous behavior to History, for History will judge they and their families harshly. Were the trouble shooters arrested? Did the Presidency condemned such outrageous behavior? Compare what their Government did with the action taken by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and one cannot help but conclude that Kofi Portuphy, Kofi Adams and all the vultures, hawks, rabid dogs, tarantulas, snarling snakes/serpents and the cockroaches in their contraption are agents of Lucifer who must not be let loose in any decent society. Ghanaians can now see the difference in style of administration between Current President and Gods Own Elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and that of Mills/Mahama. Under the Rule of Law is pursued vigorously, while under the former, kangaroo justice system was in operation.

I refer readers to Daily Graphic of Monday, April 27, 2009, page 14 (Politics). The headline was NDC feuding factions clash over Lorry Park. The story was by Rose Hayford Darko and Russell Ocloo from Ashiaman. Part of the story reads  A clash between two feuding factions of the NDC over Lorry Park at Ashiaman resulted in the injury of several people including activists of the party. All the injured were discharged but five of them were asked to return to the hospital on April, 27, 2009 for the bullets embedded in their bodies to be removed.

Maybe, maybe, Kofi Portuphy, Kofi Adamu and the rest of the Big Ogas in the NDC have short memories, but Ghanaians like, Citizen Daniel Danquah Damptey dont. Have they forgotten so soon the severe beatings the former Eastern Regional Womens Organizer, Evelyn Koran received from party Executives from Akwatia Constituency, at the office of the DCE for Kwaebibirim, Mr. Agyeman- Dua. The MCE had to give the former Womens Organizer his jacket to use as an improvised blouse after the men had turned her blouse into shreds.

At Akwatia, during the re-run election in 2009, one Yaw Darkwa, an NDC activist and a devotee of Church of Satan was seen firing a pistol in broad day light. What did the Police and the NDC do? Nothing! Today, the scallywag is walking the streets of Akwatia a free person.

In the same Re Run Election, NDC thugs and its leadership insisted that Honourable Dan Botwe, the duly accredited Agent in one of the Polling Stations be removed election could begin. And Dan was forcefully removed with the active connivance of the Police.

The Bye Election in Atiwa followed the same trend. At Abomoso in the Atiwa Constituency, the Jezebel of our time, Anita de Soso ruthlessly and recklessly drove her vehicle through a barricade of human beings who were out to fish out infiltrators who had laid siege on the town. Her ungodly and anti-social behavior resulted in three of the victims being maimed for life. When she was asked to apologize, this uncouth, callous, wicked and demented agent of Lucifer retorted that she owed nobody any apology and that was that. What did the NDC do? Nothing! Yet, this apostles of destabilization talk of lawlessness in the country!

During the Talensi Bye Election, Kofi Portuphy, who today is talking like a fish out of water brought out one AK47 and fired several rounds of ammunition into the air to scare people from going out to cast their votes? Did he have a license to use a gun which is in the exclusive custody of the Police and other law enforcement agencies?

Again, Kofi Portuphy, Kofi Adamu, Kofi Asiedu Nketia and all the Kofi Kofis in the NDC talk about seizure of public institutions. WOULD Kofi Portuphy, the NDC National Chairman be kind enough to tell us how he became the head of NADMO, and if he had any appointment letter, he should bring it out. What happened was this. Immediately after NPP had lost the elections, he (Kofi Portuphy) together with his thugs went and seized NADMO Head quarters and declared himself National Co-coordinator.

We have not forgotten the antics of a past editor of Palaver newspaper which serves as a propaganda machinery for their party, Joojo Bruce Quansah. He was sued for defamation and judgment was awarded against him. To court public sympathy, Joojo Bruce Quansah slaughtered a fowl and smeared its blood on himself. He then made a report to the police that he had been attacked and wounded by hired assassin. The whole thing was proved to be a hoax.

I f a member of such contraption could concoct such a bizarre story to attract attention to himself like what Mahama Ayariga, Okudzeto Ablakwa , Sampson Ahi and other notorious NDC MPSs did when they made unfounded allegations against a ministerial nominee, what else could they not do to smear their political opponents?

You see, a few days after the hand over to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, the NDC alleged that the residence of the Ghanas Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Siad Sinare had been attacked by hoodlums in Riyadh. I told my colleagues that such a thing could not happen in Saudi Arabia. Lo and behold, I was proved right. You see, the NDC members are masters in group mind manipulation who can conjure facts and figures from nowhere to make you believe against your better judgment such a thing is true.

There is a saying in Twi that, Se asem ba a okwasea tu fo. Translated literally it means a fool gets the opportunity to give counsel when a situation arises. And so it is that the NDC can open its big mouth and bad mouth government because of the liberal policies introduced by Nana Akufo Addos administration.

Worse things had happened under Mills/Mahamas administration but the leadership never condemned them. This was exemplified by Ras Mubarak when he was attacked by hoodlums with links to the Presidency.

Party foot soldiers destroyed tender documents in the course of a demonstration in the Northern part of the country. This is a criminal offence, but the miscreants were never apprehended.

The NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Abuakwa South Constituency in the 2012 Election was teaching at Abuakwa State College, K ibi and he was the culprit behind the desecration of the School land. He wielded absolute power in the school and became untouchable. The Headmaster could not bring him to order because of his position as a candidate of the ruling party. A student even died in one of the uncovered pits as a result of galamsey activities engaged in by the NDC Parliamentary Candidate. This is an uncontestable fact because an arbitration panel made up of the DCE and other top party officials made him to pay compensation to the school, which he did. So all those blaming the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin ll for galamsey activities in Kibi should go and ask the NDC Officials in the town.

What else did NDC foot soldiers not do during Mills/ Mahama administration? On Wednesday, September 8, 2010, Police at Effiduase in Ashanti Region had to fire several gunshots to disperse rampaging foot soldiers of the NDC who nearly lynched the Regional Minister, Honourable Kofi Opoku Manu.

On Thursday, 10th February, 2011, the Wench MCE, Nana Yaw Osei Adjei escaped from being lynched by irate youth of the ruling NDC who stormed his office. The report was captured by Joy Online of Friday, 11th February, 2011. Under the headline, Wenchi MCE flees from NDC foot soldiers. This is how Joy Online captured the incident.

The NDC youth, who embarked on a peaceful street protest earlier i9n the Wenchi Municipality earlier in the day to press home their demand for the immediate removal of the MCE, later marched to the Municipal Assembly to present their petition to State Officials there. Upon arrival, a section of the demonstrators wanted to force their way into Mr. Adjeis office to drag him out and give him a sound beating. However, armed policemen who were on guard prevented them from executing their intended action.

It is of interest that the uncertainties and lawlessness in the country reached a crescendo when an armoured vehicle was placed at the entrance to the Trade Fair Site at a time late President, Professor Evans Fiifi Atta Mills was having a meeting with his so called brethren in the Nefarious Destructive Cancer. What at all will lead to the presence of an armoured Personnel Carrier at the venue of a meeting attended by members of the same contraption? This was the extent of how serious and unsafe the country had deteriorated under Mills presidency. That of Mahama did not fare better either. Under the two fumbling and wobbling presidents, there were daggers in mens smiles even amongst close relatives.

We have not forgotten the callous and shabby treatment given to ACP Awuni Anwubutoge after he had effected the arrest of the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Afotey Agbo. He was hounded from his position as Greater Accra Regional Police Commander and sent to the Eastern Region, ostensibly as the Regional Commander but in actual fact he had no such powers. In was such insensitive and shabby treatment meted out to him that broke his mighty heart and he succumbed to the cruel fate of death.

A similar treatment was also extended to former Police Commander of Greater Accra, ACP Dampare. After a thorough investigation into the death of Honourable J.B.Danquah (Late MP for Abuakwa North) his report was completely at variance with that of the BNI, The Mahamas administration found his presence in the capital too close for comfort and therefore sent him to a police workshop at Winneba.

Under the clueless administration of late President Professor Atta Mills aka Baba Go Slow and his successor, John Dramani Mahama aka Danger Boy riding a bicycle without brakes down a sloppy hill, Ghanaians could not sleep with even one eye close. We stood still with both eyes widely open throughout the night. In fact, we did not sleep at all.

You see, the NDC while in opposition had made so much noise about the death of the Ya Nah and promised to delve re-open the matter when it came to power. The NPP had in its custody three members of the security services in its custody. The suspects were duly handed over to the NDC came to power in 2009. But do you know what happened? Wait and I will give you the filla. They let one of the accused persons escape from lawful custody. The irony of the whole saga was that the public was kept in the dark until six months after the culprit had escaped. This was to give the escapee enough time to cover his tracts. What is different between the escape of this suspect in such a high profile case and that of the Delta Force? Were we safe under clueless Mills and his appendage, Mahama?

I cannot end this write-up without making reference to some security breaches that occurred in our body politics. Here, I want to touch on the abduction of the Tuobodomhene from his Palace by agent of the Takyimanhene who sent him to the palace of the latter. There, he was stripped naked, beaten and subjected all forms of indignity. Once again, it took the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll to publicly announce that he would arrest the Takyimanhene should he set foot in any part of Asanteman. It was then that the Security Capos woke up from their deep slumber. Both the National Security Coordinator and the National Security Advisor claimed they knew nothing about the incident. Were we safe under those clueless leaders?

Less I forget, it is pertinent at this juncture to mention that a constitutional crisis was averted by the matured attitude exhibited by the Justices of the Supreme Court. Immediate past President, Clueless John Dramani Mahama said Ghanaians have short memory. I would like to correct such wrong assumption for record purpose. It is rather NDC apparatchiki who have short memory. Kofi Portuphy and Kofi Adamu, Asiedu Nketia and others who today are singing discordant tunes have forgotten so soon how signed a petition to coerce the President to release three miscreants who had been duly convicted by the highest court of the land. This was against the background of sound legal advice by the Presidents Legal Advisor.

That singular Presidential pardon was reckless, stupid, undemocratic, repulsive and the height of impunity. If My Lords (Temporal) had not exercised restraint, but had acted in a manner to show who was who, the country might have been plunged into an abyss.

You see, the Leadership of the Nefarious Destructive Cancer discourse like angels, but they live like ordinary mortals. The hardship Ghanaians endured the two successive clueless NDC presidents will take long to evaporate from our memory.

The leadership of the Nefarious Destructive Cancer is bereft of ideas and they feel that the only way they can become relevant in the scheme of affairs in the country is to throw darts at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, The Peoples Man and Gods Own Elect. But the evil machinations of these Yesterday Men will come to nothing. This is because, the people are in tandem with Nana Akufo Addo and God is also with him.

I have also given copious examples of various acts of destabilization embarked upon by lawless zealots from the NDC stables. One Deputy Minister even went to the ridiculous extent by telling NDC supporters to slap any opponent of the party who speaks ill of the NDC. Another Deputy Minister went quixotic by levying a fine on Nana Ohene Ntow (then General Secretary of the NPP) for turning his official residence into a shito-making factory.

Now, for the first time since 2009, Ghanaians are enjoying a serene atmosphere  thanks to the liberal minded President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, a Man of the People and Gods Own Elect. It is no secret that the duo of De Clerk and Nelson Mandela brought Apartheid to an end, whilst Mikhail Gorbachev is credited with policies which led to the dismantling of Soviet Union whose resultant effect was the end of Communism. But Our President with such a charismatic personality and a Polyglot for that matter is a combination of the trio of De Clerk, Mandela and Gorbachev.

Majority of Ghanaians see him as the Founder of the New Ghana Nation. No wonder they prefer to call him Gods Own Elect.

Daniel Danquah Damptey ( [email protected] ) 0243715297.
BURLINGTON  Prosecutors have added a second sexual assault charge against a Burlington man who allegedly had sexual relationships with students he taught in Kenosha.

Douglas A. Richmond was charged Tuesday with sexual assault of a student by school staff. He was previously charged in Racine and Kenosha counties with sexual assault of a child by a person who works or volunteers with children.

The latest charge came after the Racine County Sheriff's Office announced Friday it learned of a second minor who allegedly had a sexual relationship with Richmond while he was a chemistry teacher at Kenosha Indian Trail High School.

According to the criminal complaint, the girl, who is now 21, told investigators she had sexual intercourse with Richmond on "probably" two occasions between 2009 and 2010. Once was in Richmond's minivan near the girl's home in Kenosha, and another was in Richmond's home in Burlington, the complaint states.

Last week, prosecutors filed charges accusing Richmond of having sex with another girl multiple times in Kenosha and Racine counties.

Richmond was in court Tuesday and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday. Court records show he's now been charged with a total of three felonies, which carry a combined maximum sentence of nine years in prison and $30,000 in fines.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, a former Deputy Minister of Communications, has criticised government for discontinuing the case against eight members of the Delta Force who stormed a court and freed their colleagues standing trial.

A Kumasi Circuit Court struck out the case against the eight persons who aided the escape of the 13 Delta Force members arrested for assaulting the security coordinator of the Ashanti Region.

The court, presided over by Her Honour Patricia Amponsah, discontinued the case on Wednesday, May 17, because the prosecution lacked evidence against the accused.

The eight were charged with causing disturbances in court, resisting arrest, and rescuing persons in lawful custody.

According to the prosecutor, ACP Okyere Darko, the police did not have enough evidence to support the charges levelled against the accused persons.

However, Mr Ofosu does not understand why such injustice has occurred during the tenure of a President who is a lawyer.

Mr Ofosu, in a Facebook post, wrote: History will record that when three National Democratic Congress (NDC) activists sat on radio and verbally abused esteemed judges in a reprehensible manner, they received a most severe punishment  four months imprisonment and heavy fines.

He was of the view that history will yet record also that when militants of the NPP violently stormed a court, freed suspects on trial and threatened the presiding judge with assault, they did not receive even a slap on their wrists, they were in fact set free.

For him, History may well mock those who expected that an NPP government, led by the paragon of the rule of law, will take firm action against criminal elements who were recruited by the NPP to foment violence as part of the push for power.

It will be said that never was selectivity, impunity and injustice so frontally endorsed.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sagnerigu has described as ridiculous, a Kumasi Circuit Courts decision to acquit some eight members of pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) vigilante group, Delta Force, who were standing trial for raiding a court.

A.B.A Fuseini said the courts ruling delivered Wednesday, is a demonstration of government's readiness to condone impunity of people affiliated to the NPP in the governance of the country.

Speaking to Gifty Andoh Appiah on The Pulse on JoyNews channel on MultiTV, the former Deputy Northern Regional Minister said the court's ruling is "farcical and elephantiasis judgment."

Related Article: 8 Delta Force members discharged for lack of evidence

"It is very clear that this prosecution is being done by the Attorney-General [because] from day one, the NPP was committed to ensuring that the people will be let go," he said.

A Kumasi Circuit Court has discharged eight members of NPP-linked militia group, Delta Force, who were being tried after they disrupted court proceeding of 13 of their members on April 6, 2017.

The 13 were part of 21 men arrested by the police after they attacked the newly appointed Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Agyei. The men had said Mr Agyei did not deserve the position because he played no role in the struggle to bring the NPP into power.

They wanted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to appoint their leader who was instrumental in the NPP's 2016 elections camapign.

Out of the 21 men who were rounded up by the police and arraigned before court, only 13 showed up. This compelled Presiding judge, Mary M.E. Nsenkyire to direct the 13 men to be kept in custody to reappear on April 20.

Dissatisfied with the judges decision, the well-built men numbering 50 stormed the court and resisted an order to hold 13 of their members in prison custody. They freed their colleagues.

The eight were charged with disturbing a court session, for resisting arrest, and freeing the 13 persons who were in lawful custody.

At a court hearing in Kumasi, the case against the eight was dismissed due to the absence of evidence.

But the NDC MP said the prosecution could have made use of video footage that has been circulating on social media following the attack.

Mr Fuseini said it was obvious from the Court's decision, the Attorney-General, Gloria Akuffo and the President were not interested in the continuation of the matter.

This, he said explains why the Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Apeatu did a "shoddy work" with investigations of the attack.

"I am scandalised that the President who touted his respect for rule of law will allow this to pass," he said. "Government has exhibited crass incompetent and Ghanaians are watching."

The NDC MP cautioned government to learn to treat the citizens as intelligent people and not people who are dumb.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Instagram: @Realbrakopowers
The Ministry of Health is asking urban poor communities to capitalize on Community-based Health and Planning Services to address their health needs.

Facilities provided under the services known as CHPS compounds are often considered rural interventions.

National Coordinator of CHPS, Barnabas Yeboah, says such misconception is a draw-back.

Health officials believe the CHPS system is one of the tools to catapult Ghana to achieve universal health.

Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 8 emphasize universal coverage in health.

Though the CHPS system is widely accepted after successfully implementation in rural areas, many have questioned its viability in urban areas.

About 6, 445 CHIP zones have been demarcated across the country.

Out of the number, 4,007 are actively functioning with the required human and other resource.

Mr. Yeboah says the way out is for urban dwellers to accept the CHPS concept.

He indicates the primary aim is to prevent diseases, adding more chips compounds will be established to improve access to healthcare.

We are also considering urban CHPS so we look at areas that are deprived in the urban zones. For instance if you take like the Zongo area, slum areas-there are vulnerable groups there. We need to station community health Officers there to help the people plan their health and take responsibility of their health so its not out of place even though we are not emphasizing much on the urban CHPS.

Mr. Yeboah was speaking at a training of trainers workshop by the Millennium Promise Alliance and Ghana Health Services.

Over 80 community health workers from 13 districts of the Ashanti Region are undergoing training in community health and electronic health programmes.

Millennium Promise has, since last year, trained about 700 Community Health Workers and Electronic Health Technical Assistants in the region after it piloted the programme in seven districts of the Ashanti region. The districts are Amansie Central and West, Asokore Mampong and Bosome Freho. Others include Ejura Sekyeredumasi, Sekyere Central and Kumawu districts.

Chief Nat Ebo Nyarko is Country Director of One Million Community Health Workers Campaign (1mCHW).

He says allocation of 240 smatphones and computers to the volunteer trainees will advance electronic health through data collection as they take health and related education to the doorsteps of local people.

For instance, you go to the field do malaria testing (RDTs) and then once you enter into the data and it enters into the server, we are able to see where malaria is springing up so that we need to target intervention to that place so you do targeted interventions. You dont go there scouting to see what disease is prevailing in that area, explains Chief Nat.

Visiting professors of the Duke Global Health Institute from North Carolina, USA were at the workshop to get first hand information on how Millennium Promise Alliance has effectively used to programme to improve lives of Ghanaians.
The Minority in Parliament has entreated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure the eight members of Delta Force who were acquitted by a Kumasi Circuit court over the lack of evidence are re-arrested.

The NDC MPs at a news conference in Accra Wednesday said the Attorney-General's decision to discontinue the case for want of evidence is "an abuse of discretion, it is capricious."

Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu told the media it was obvious from the court's ruling that it was done for narrow political expediency because, the men belong to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

"We find it very bizarre that the Hon. Attorney-General, Ms Gloria Akuffo, who assured the entire citizenry of her commitment to fairness ....will claim that she exercised the said constitutional discretion on grounds merely that there was a lack of evidence," he said.

A Kumasi Circuit Court has discharged eight members of NPP-linked militia group, Delta Force, who were being tried after they disrupted court proceeding of 13 of their members on April 6, 2017.

The 13 were part of 21 men arrested by the police after they attacked the newly appointed Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Agyei. The men had said Mr Agyei did not deserve the position because he played no role in the struggle to bring the NPP into power.

They wanted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to appoint their leader who was instrumental in the NPP's 2016 elections camapign.

Out of the 21 men who were rounded up by the police and arraigned before court, only 13 showed up. This compelled Presiding judge, Mary M.E. Nsenkyire to direct the 13 men to be kept in custody to reappear on April 20.

Dissatisfied with the judges decision, the well-built men numbering 50 stormed the court and resisted an order to hold 13 of their members in prison custody. They freed their colleagues.

The eight were charged with disturbing a court session, for resisting arrest, and freeing the 13 persons who were in lawful custody.

At a court hearing in Kumasi, the case against the eight was dismissed due to the absence of evidence.

But the Minority has asked President Akufo-Addo to demonstrate leadership by calling for the re-arrest and prosecution of the eight men without fail.

"We demand therefore that this cancerous exercise of discretion be reversed immediately and the accused re-arraigned before court without any further hesitation," Mr Iddrisu said.

According to him, there is enough evidence on social media especially on Facebook to aid the Attorney-General with the prosecution of the men.

"Some evidence is available and some can be made available and some can be found so we encourage them to find some," he said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Instagram: @Realbrakopowers
The Attorney General says she did not order the discontinuation of the case involving members of the Delta Force who were standing trial for conspiracy to commit crime, assault on public officer among other charges.

Gloria Akuffo has consequently ordered investigations into the circumstances under which the Principal State Attorney in Kumasi entered a nolle prosequi and got eight of the suspects discharged for lack of evidence.

A statement released by the Information Minister said "preliminary investigations suggest that decision was taken without recourse even to the Director of Public Prosecution and may amount to breach of internal procedures."

The statement comes in the face of blistering attacks from the minority condemning the decision by the court to free the suspects.

Abass Caesar, Ebenezer Opoku, Samuel Yeboah, Kofi Fosu, Christian Anokye, Kwame Frempong, Eric Kusi and Abdul Suleman Odudu were asked to go home today because the prosecution does not have evidence to prove its case of assault on a public officer and three other charges leveled against them.

They attacked the court, intimidated the judge and freed 13 suspects who were at the time standing trial for attacking the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator.

The 13 suspects were part of 20 others who budged into the offices of the Regional Coordinating Council and in a Rambo style drove the security coordinator out of his office.

They said Mr Agyei had nothing to do in that office if he played little or no role in getting the NPP into office.

Their action was condemned and they were arrested and arraigned before court.

However during hearing, tens of angry members of the Delta Force besieged the court, insulted the judge and freed the suspects.

Their action was captured on video which went viral on social media.

More soon;

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah
Bamako (AFP) - An unmarried couple were stoned to death in public in northeast Mali by "Islamists", local officials told AFP on Wednesday, the first such incident since jihadist groups were driven out of the region.

Jihadists seized key northern cities in Mali in March 2012, and though they were driven out by a French-led military intervention in 2013, Islamist groups continue to make their presence felt with frequent attacks on domestic and foreign forces.

"The Islamists dug two holes where they put the man and the woman who lived maritally without being married," said a local official. "They were stoned to death."

The stoning happened in Taghlit on Tuesday, close to Aguelhok in the Kidal region, and the same source told AFP that members of the public were invited to take part.

"Four people threw stones at them until they died," they said.

Another local official said the Islamists had accused the unmarried couple of violating "Islamic law", which requires punishment by stoning.

During their brief control of key towns in the vast north, jihadist groups imposed a version of Sharia law which forced women to wear veils and set whipping and stoning as punishment for transgressions.

In July 2012, the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine group stoned a couple in public in Aguelhok who they accused of having children outside marriage.

The Malian Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AMDH) described Tuesday's stoning as "cowardly murder".

"This is barbaric. The people who did this should be arrested and put on trial," said Oumar Diakite, an AMDH official.

The opposition Parena party meanwhile noted that 309 people had been killed since the beginning of the year by armed groups, describing "alarm at the deterioration of the security situation" two years after the signature of a peace deal.

That accord was aimed at ending successive uprisings by Tuareg rebels, who signed the deal along with the government and pro-Bamako militias in the hopes of bringing stability to the north.

The last Tuareg rebellion in 2012 was hijacked by the Islamists, throwing the country into chaos.

The stoning comes on the eve of an expected visit to Mali by French President Emmanuel Macron, who is due to meet French troops stationed there on Thursday or Friday.

A UN mission known by its acronym MINUSMA has also been stationed in the west African country since 2013 and is considered the world body's most dangerous active peacekeeping deployment.
Oslo (AFP) - A British-Norwegian dual citizen who was serving a life sentence for murder and espionage in a Congolose prison was released and returned to Norway on Wednesday, authorities said.

Joshua French, 35, was sentenced to life in prison in 2013 for the murder of his cellmate and fellow Norwegian Tjostolv Moland in a Kinshasa prison, although forensic evidence concluded the cause of death was suicide.

"There's been great pressure on French and his family," Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a news conference in Oslo.

"I'm happy we've found a solution," Solberg said, adding his release was a "demanding issue" for Norway and Congo.

She said French was placed under medical supervision after he arrived.

French and Moland were former soldiers who launched a security company in Uganda after leaving the Norwegian army, public broadcaster NRK said.

A Congolese military court had initially sentenced them to death in 2009 for espionage, illegal possession of weapons, armed robbery, conspiracy and attempted murder.

Only Moland was found guilty of the murder of their driver, who they claimed was killed in an attack by gunmen in Kisangani.

NRK quoted Norwegian foreign minister Borge Brende as saying that French was transferred to Norway for "humanitarian" reasons.

French did not receive a pardon and Norway did not pay financial compensation to the Democratic Republic of Congo in exchange for his release, Brende said.
Government is in negotiation with the managers of the countrys top Senior High Schools to reserve at least 30% of their intake for students from public Junior High Schools (SHS).

This is to create opportunity for more pupils from public Junior High Schools (JHS) who qualify to enter SHS, to benefit from the governments Free SHS policy.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) prior to the 2016 elections, promised Ghanaians to redefine basic education and make it free from primary school to JHS.

The NPP will redefine basic education to include Senior High School (SHS), covering vocational, agricultural and technical schools, and make it available for free on a universal basis to all Ghanaians, they promised in the manifesto.

President Akufo-Addo after emerging victorious from the polls, announced the free SHS policy will take effect in September this year, when the new academic calendar begins.

Addressing school managers in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh said plans are underway to persuade top senior high schools such as Achimota, PRESEC, Prempeh, Mfantsipm and the rest, to make 30% reservation for students from public schools.

Currently, it is believed that about 90% of students who gain admission into SHS are from private JHS which their parents could afford while the brilliant ones from poor backgrounds are pushed out.

Ironically, majority of the senior high schools are funded by the government.

This, according to the Education Minister is unfair on the part of the brilliant but deprived children from public schools and should be addressed.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy
Khartoum (AFP) - Sudan said Wednesday that President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for genocide, will appear at the same summit in Saudi Arabia as Donald Trump, but the United States indicated it opposes his attendance.

"I can confirm President Bashir will go ... to Saudi Arabia," Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in Geneva. "We look forward (to) normalisation of our relations with the US."

But the US embassy in Khartoum said in a statement it opposes "invitations, facilitation, or support for travel by any person subject to outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants, including President Bashir".

Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the ICC in 2009 for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Darfur that has killed tens of thousands.

He denies the charges.

The Saudi-hosted summit of Arab and Muslim leaders is expected to include top level talks on Sunday.

Trump is scheduled to be in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, from Saturday on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

Asked ifBashir expected to shake hands with the US president, Ghandour said it was impossible to predict, but added that "a handshake doesn't mean a lot if relations are not (good)".

Khartoum has said it is keen to improve relations with Washington under Trump.

"Sudan renews its commitment to continue a bilateral dialogue in order to reach full and normal relations between the two countries in the interests of their peoples," its foreign ministry said on March 7.

That was despite Sudan's inclusion on an executive order signed by Trump in March to temporarily close US borders to nationals from six Muslim-majority countries.

The travel ban has since been blocked by a US judge.

After signing of the order, however, Sudan voiced "deep regret and discontent" over the move.

'Partner in fighting terror'

It condemned the ban, saying it came despite Khartoum engaging in talks with Washington on fighting terrorism.

"These negotiations confirmed that Sudan plays a big role as a partner in fighting terrorism that endangers people of both countries and of the world," the foreign ministry said at the time.

Before leaving office, president Barack Obama eased decades-old US sanctions against Sudan, but kept Khartoum on the blacklist.

Sudan was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993 and has been subject to a US trade embargo since 1997 over its alleged support for Islamist groups.

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was based in Khartoum from 1992 to 1996.

Washington believes Khartoum's terror ties have ebbed, but has kept sanctions in place because of the scorched-earth tactics it has used against ethnic minority rebels in Darfur.

In its statement on Wednesday, the US embassy said there has been "no change to Sudan's inclusion on the United States' State Sponsor of Terrorism list".

"We have been quite clear with the government of Sudan on the steps that need to be taken for us to consider delisting, as well as what would be required to make progress in easing economic sanctions."

An end to fighting in Sudan's hotspots -- Blue Nile and South Kordofan states as well as the Darfur region -- had been set as a precondition for sanctions being lifted.

According to the United Nations, 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced since the Darfur conflict erupted in 2003.

South Africa came under fire for failing to arrest Bashir in 2015 when he attended an African Union summit in Johannesburg.

It insisted he had "head of state immunity" after letting him slip out of the country under shadowy circumstances.

Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the Rome Statute under which the ICC was founded, while Sudan and the United States have not ratified the statute of the Hague-based court.
The US Embassy has broken its silence on the state of its indebtedness to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), saying it has not been billed for the past two years.

In a tweet Monday, the Embassy said it has been chasing the power distributor to submit the bill for payment but this has not been done.

The Embassy's tweet follows comments by Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko about the balance sheet of ECG during an interaction with journalists and officials of Millennium Development Authority (MiDA). This was at the inauguration of a 7-member ECG PSP Stakeholders Committee in Accra.

The Minister said the debt stock of Ghana's power distributor is increasing by the day due to inefficiency.

Mr Agyarko added the inability of ECG to improve its balance sheets is because it has failed to collect debts owed it by entities such as the US Embassy and telecom giant MTN.

Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko

I had a discussion with the managing director. American Embassy has 160 facilities in Ghana. They have not been billed for two years. So they went to ECG and said look, we owe you money. Bring us a bill. Bring us pre-paid meters.

"We will use it for one year, and whenever we use, we will multiply it by 3 and give it to you. Up to now, the ECG hasnt been able to do that, he said.

The Minister's comment triggered a response from the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) who described as "strange" Mr Agyarko's claim about the US Embassy.

PUWU in a statement released Tuesday said, "US Embassy does not owe ECG in terms of bills [so] if they were not getting bills, would they have paid all their indebtedness till date?"

According to the PUWU, the Ministers claim that ECGs debt stock appears to be worsening by the day due to its faulty metering system and avoidable employee recklessness is not supported by the facts.

On the contrary, ECGs currently average weekly collection is GH103,918,594.11, as against a target of GH130,000,000. This excludes indebtedness by MMDAs and Ghana Water Company Limited, which are state entities, it said.

But US Embassy Spokesperson, Sarah Stealy told Joy News funds have been set aside to redeem the Embassy's debt owed ECG. She confirmed the tweets sent earlier on the handle of the Embassy (@USEmbassyGhana) authentic.

"We are going to continue to work with ECG to get the correct bill so we can pay," she said.

Reacting to the news, deputy ranking for the Energy Committee Adams Mutawakilu said the position taken by ECG is surprising now that the Embassy has come out to say otherwise.

Adams Mutawakilu

This is not surprising as several people in the country have complained that they have been using electricity for over two years and receiving their bills later.

It is time to initiate investigations and ensure that the right thing is done, he said.

Critics have also criticized the Embassys posture as painting ECG in a bad light and publicizing the power distribution company as inefficiency to make a strong case for the concessionaire.

The U.S government is giving Ghana the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact II which is also meant to invite a concessionaire to reorganize ECG.

But Mr Mutawakilu disagreed saying the liabilities are to be taken care off first before the concessionaire gets to work.

It is known fact that the balance sheet of ECG has not been for some time now...it is good to go into the correspondence between the ECG and the Embassy," he said regarding the two years non issuance of bill.

He said the Committee would invite ECG for questioning.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim |[email protected]
RACINE  A Racine man was charged with nine felonies after allegedly aiming a gun at a car Tuesday in the 4200 block of Durand Avenue.

Allen L. Reed, 19, of the 1600 block of Packard Avenue, was charged with three counts of recklessly endangering safety and five counts of felony bail jumping, in addition to firearm possession as a felon and possessing an illegally obtained prescription. According to a criminal complaint, Reed pleaded guilty May 9 to two prior bail jumping charges.

Officers from Racine and Mount Pleasant responded at about 11 a.m. Tuesday to a report of shots fired in the 4200 block of Durand near the Park Vista Apartments, according to the complaint. Although police didn't say in the complaint whether Reed actually fired a shot, they reportedly found a bullet and casing at the scene.

According to the complaint, a witness saw Reed aim a gun at a blue car with three men inside and then run from the scene on foot. Police said they found Reed at the corner of Durand Avenue and Kentucky Street not far from the apartments and confiscated a pill in his possession for which he did not have a prescription.

Reed made his initial court appearance Wednesday, according to court records. Records show his bond was set at $50,000 and that he will make his next appearance at a preliminary hearing May 25.
In line with the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD) celebrations on May 17, the National Communications Authority (NCA), organised a symposium on the theme Big Data, Big Impact at the NCA Tower, Airport City in Accra.

The symposium, which marks the 152nd Anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the formation of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), aimed at raising awareness of the possibilities that the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies. The workshop also aided stakeholders to leverage insights in identifying new opportunities to creatively address sustainable development challenges with regards to big data.

The newly appointed Board Chairman of the NCA, Mr. Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, in a statement read on behalf of the ITU Secretary General, noted that the insight brought about by this analysis of data will enable evidence-based decision-making at national, regional and international levels and help the implementation of all 17 United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. He also stressed that countless opportunities will also be identified as we learn to better perfect and harness big data, and understand the impact big data can have as a global good.

Mr. Sakyi- Addo urged participants to use the occasion to take a closer look at the importance of governance and regulation, as well as the implications for personal privacy and security given the future exponential growth in data and connectivity.

Also present at the symposium was Mad. Cynthia Prah representating the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana. She reiterated that Big Data can transform communications and that the UN is ready to learn from discussions from the conference.

The Deputy Minister for Communications, Hon. Mr. George Andah, MP, indicated in his keynote address that there are calls on government to empower young people to develop ICT tools that improve the experience of health and effective frameworks to protect the use of private data, intellectual property as well as to deter online criminal activity.

The Hon. Deputy Minister, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West Constituency in the Central Region, urged participants to be security conscious in order not to expose our entire behavioural pattern online and take personal interest on who collects their personal data and for what purposes.

He also stated that Government has put in place a tier-3 National Data Centre with a 600 rack capacity in anticipation of the need for a reliable storage facility for public and private sector data in a secured environment and urged the private sector to take advantage of the facility to support their operations.

The workshop saw representatives from the Ministry of Communications, Ghana Technology University College, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER). Ghana Statistical Services, Data Protection Commission, Service Providers from the Communications Industry among others.

A flag raising ceremony was held to climax the celebration reinforcing a message of inter-national cooperation.

The various topics discussed were related to the theme. The resource persons that were drawn from academia and industry effectively engaged participants present at the symposium.

The theme for WTISD-17, "Big Data for Big Impact", focuses on the power of Big Data for development and aims to explore how to turn imperfect, complex, often unstructured data into actionable information in a development context.

About NCA

The National Communications Authority, (NCA), was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 524 in December 1996, which has been repealed and replaced by the National Communications Authority Act, 2008 (Act 769). The Authority is the statutory body mandated to license and to regulate electronic communication activities and services in the country.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

In November 2006, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, decided to celebrate both events on 17 May as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. The updated Resolution 68 invites Member States and Sector Members to celebrate the day annually by organizing appropriate national programmes with a view to:
Wesfarmers Ltd [ASX:WES] traded down 1.45% today, to a low of $4.30 per share.

What happened the the Wesfamers Share Price?

On 15 February, 2017, WES announced it had discussed the possibility of turning Officeworks into a separately listed company. This means Officeworks would be independent, but owned by WES. Similar to the Fairfax Media Ltd [ASX:FXJ] and Domain situation.

But this morning, the retail giant announced it would not consider spinning off Officeworks at this time. The company said the current climate for initial public offerings would not release an appropriate value for Officeworks. And therefore, it would not be in shareholders best interests.

ASX:WES in 2017 and beyond?

Reported by The Australian Financial Review:

Managing director Richard Goyder said the company was comfortable retaining Officeworks in its portfolio and the business would be divested only if it was considered to be in the best interests of Wesfarmers shareholders.

I suggest you keep a close eye on WES. Investing in spinoffs is a great opportunity to buy into growth companies. The idea is that a spinoff could prosper due to a focused strategy, and management working to improve the companys profitability.

While this doesnt always result in share price growth, more often than not, spinoffs can be great investments.

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).
The quality of education in any country is one of the major keys to national development. The decline in the quality and standard of education in Nigeria is alarming. Well try to highlight the leading causes for poor state of education in our country and possible ways out.

Nigeria runs a federation system so the Nigerian education system is overseen by Ministry of Education. The federal government controls public schools while state schools are controlled at the regional levels. The education system at the federal level is managed by the Ministry of Education. This includes management of federal universities and schools. State public schools and tertiary institutions are controlled regionally by the Ministry at the state level. This implies that the standard of education across states differs depending on the quality each state can deliver.

READ ALSO: History of Western Education in Nigeria.

Problems of education in Nigeria

Public education problems in Nigeria are so many but well try to highlight the major ones. We have prepared a list of problems in education for your attention.

Poor governance and management

One thing that has crippled most sectors in Nigeria today is poor governance. The educational sector is not an exception. The government's attitude towards crucial problems of education, especially its quality, is lackadaisical. This situation can be noticed on every level of government. Basic universal education suffers most because primary education is neither fully controlled by the federal government, nor by the state or the local government.

Poor funding and neglect of the education sector

Education in Nigeria is poorly funded. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommends that 26% of the nations budget should be allocated to the educational sector. This way, the educational sector will have a good impact on the national development. According to the analysis done by a leading media outlet Daily Trust in 2016, the joint expenditure of the federal and 33 state governments on education is 8.44% of their total budget for the year. Also, there is a huge gap in the funding of education at the different levels of the government.

Corruption

Corruption in Nigeria affects every sector of the government including the educational sector. This occurs in the educational system an a high rate at every level. Taking bribes is practiced not only by politicians but also by people in the educational system including school authorities. Funds meant for education infrastructure, salary payments, maintenance, and running of schools and institutions are being diverted and mismanaged. Also, the collection of bribes by lecturers and teachers is not a secret anymore. According to the report by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), corruption is endemic in Nigerian Universities today and there is a lack of political will to deal with it.

Poor infrastructure and training facilities

Most schools and institutions in Nigeria are in very bad conditions. In most states, the teaching environment is not conducive. The buildings are in bad shape and most of them lack teaching materials. Schools lack practical or technical facilities. Lack of standard and up to date practical facilities makes education to be rather theoretical and quantitative than qualitative.

Poor teachers welfare

This is another major problem affecting the level of education in Nigeria. It is one of the consequences of both poor funding and corruption. Poor salary scale and bonuses, as well as irregular payments of salaries, are the problems that teachers face in Nigeria. It is a sad practice that teachers have to take industrial actions before they get their salaries.

Lack of dedication of teachers

This is a direct effect of the poor welfare of the teachers. Teaching is not seen as a lucrative job. So, not many people want to become teachers or to stay in the profession. The ones that are teachers now in most cases are not dedicated, some even hate their jobs. Most of the teachers in Nigeria have another businesses to support them and their families. This way, they spend more time attending their businesses than they do in class. Some even do their businesses in schools like selling of clothes and other things.

Lack of high performers

It is not a secret that there are teachers in Nigeria schools especially at the primary education level that are either unqualified or underqualified. There have been cases when teachers can't speak English properly. Also, most teachers lack the proper training in order to pass across quality education.

High level of exam malpractices

There is an alarming rate of exam malpractices in Nigeria. They are practiced both by student and teachers. The inability of the government to curb this has caused a serious decline in the quality of the Nigerian education system products (level of knowledge).

Solutions to education in Nigeria

The first step forward towards reviving the educational system lies in the hands of the government. Necessary steps need to be taken in order to restructure and save the sector. The government at all levels needs to commit to the delivering of a competitive standard of education across the country and with other countries.

Also, the right investments need to be done in order to get the desired results. Adequate funding with good management will provide high-quality education in Nigeria. Funds for renovation of schools and institution, acquiring quality training facilities, research grants, decent teachers salaries and welfare, etc. are the things that need to be increased, released and spent appropriately.

The level of corruption in education ministries and regulatory bodies needs to be taken seriously and tackled.

The level of exam malpractices needs to be curbed by a joint effort of the government and examination regulatory bodies.

The teaching curriculum needs to be reviewed and updated. It needs to be more practical and research based.

Teachers salaries must be reviewed and improved. Fair wages will also motivate teachers to do their job on a high-quality level. Also, there should be regular payments of teachers salaries. This will attract qualified and dedicated teachers to public schools and will change the attitude of young people towards the teaching profession and youth will study to become teachers.

Proper training of teachers with current and up to date materials and technology also will improve the condition of education in Nigeria. Necessary vetting measures should be taken to make sure that only qualified teachers are employed.

Admissions into tertiary institutions should be based solely on merit level.

In conclusion, we will be able to see real changes in the level of education in Nigeria, when power will belong to visionary and selfless leaders who understand the importance of quality education. Our future is in our hands. Turn the flashlights on yourself!

READ ALSO: ASUU and JAMB: A choice between progress and retardation by Best Agbese

Source: Legit.ng
Have you ever entertained the thought of working abroad, in Canada, for example? If yes, do you know how to apply for jobs in Canada from Nigeria? Read about Canadian visa and job vacancies in Canada.

Canada is one of the most popular immigration destinations in the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of migrants from all over the world aspire to live in this prosperous country with the hope of getting permanent residency and subsequently Canadian citizenship.

Comfortable geographical location near the USA, vast territory, abundant natural resources, access to three oceans, and many other factors contributed to the development of the Canadian economy and achieving a high standard of living of the local population. Canada has always been popular among Nigerians, who want to find a job abroad. Many citizens are attracted by the opportunity to immigrate.

Best way to live and work in Canada - Express Entry

You can use this platform and become one of those Nigerians who would like to work in Canada.

- To make a successful start - go to cic.gc.ca. After registration, you will see all the possible job vacancies in Canada.

- Share information about yourself: nationality, skills, labour experience, language skills, education.

- Check your inbox, wait for the mail from Express Entry.

- If everything is done properly, you possess all the needed qualifications and you are lucky, you will be sent an Invitation to Apply.

Express Entry doesn't give you 100% guarantee that you will be accepted to live and work in Canada. Only highest-ranking applicants will be approved and issued the ITA.

The essence of such innovation is to ensure that foreigners wishing to move to this country will be able to apply through a single center under a simplified procedure. Access to the centralized database will be given to employers from all the provinces in Canada. Potentially eligible professionals will need to provide the immigration services with a full package of documents. If, after final assessment, the applicant is considered qualified and skilled, then he will get an immigrant visa.

You can be a member of Express Entry platform and apply for some work in Canada for 12 months. After the end of the term, you may re-apply.

Express Entry can help you find some job under certain programs, in particular:

- Federal Skilled Worker Program

Potential applicants are evaluated in accordance with six factors:

1. education (maximum 25 points);

2. language skills (English/French) (not more than 28);

3. experience (9-15 points);

4. age (12 points is given to applicants from 18 to 35 years and for those older, scores are dropped);

5. adaptability (not more than 10 points);

6. arranged employment in Canada (10 points is a maximum).

The opportunity to find a job in Canada and to adapt to it is also assessed. To get into the country, applicants must get at least 67 points out of a possible 100.

- Federal Skilled Trades Program

- Canadian Experience Class

For Canadian visa, go to canadainternational.gc.ca/nigeria/

Jobs in Canada for foreigners: Preparation of documents

What are the documents needed to live and work in Canada? You need to receive a job offer from an employer from Canada or an employment contract. Such future worker must successfully complete an interview with the Canadian employer. It is necessary to obtain a positive feedback of local officials concerning employment permission for foreigners.

Categories of possible applicants for job vacancies in Canada:

1. Student;

2. Businessman;

3. Foreign worker;

4. Live-in carer.

Of course, each applicant needs to meet several requirements of the employer: have experience in the specialty, appropriate education, knowledge of English and French. You will also need recommendations from previous employers and proof of good command of English.

If the application is approved, he/she receives a visa to Canada. On arrival, he/she is issued a document approving work permit. It clearly regulates working conditions in Canada. Thus, the document contains information about the permitted work, the location of the employer, the period during which the employee has the right to stay and work and so on.

READ ALSO: Easy steps to apply for Canadian visa from Nigeria?

What are the risks?

There is a risk that you will not get a working visa, even if all the documents are prepared correctly.

When preparing documents, the applicant should provide accurate information. This is very important: all the documents should be carefully checked. If ANY falsification is detected when considering an application, this locks up an opportunity to visit this North American state and even some other countries forever.

Which category of people are more likely to be hired?

- Young people who have graduated from local higher educational institutions.

- Qualified professionals with knowledge of English or French languages.

- Those who are ready to switch careers.

- Most required professionals in Canada  farmers, builders, welders, truck drivers, fast food restaurants and meat processing plants workers, engineers, cleaners, babysitters.

For instance, farm workers' average payment for Saskatchewan is about $17 hourly before paying taxes. However, there are employers willing to pay from 20 to 24 dollars per hour, if the specialist has relevant experience. For example, combine operator/tractor driver can get from 2000 to 4500 thousand Canadian dollars/month, depending on the number of working hours and seasonality. For babysitters, it's about $1000  1500 monthly.

Payment for work is determined by the position of the province. Laborers receive from 11 CAD/hour, skilled workers from 20 CAD/hour, butchers or employees on farms earn 17 CAD/hour as a minimum.

Web sites where to find information about jobs in Canada from Nigeria:

- monster.ca

- canadajobs.com

- indeed.com

- eluta.com

- workopilis.com

Things you should pay attention to:

1. Pay attention to the developed Canadian cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Unemployment rate here is lower and chances to find a job are higher.

2. Improve your English language skills. In some regions, such as Quebec, knowledge of French is required. Working in Canada without understanding these languages is almost an impossible task.

3. Look for options of legal employment.

4. Continue your growth as a professional. Qualifications, experience, and skills are cards up your sleeve. Canada requires professionals with serious knowledge and skills.

5. The level of education is of great importance. It is best to possess a diploma of one of Canadian, American or British universities.

Give it a try, maybe this time luck will be favorable to you.

READ ALSO: anada visa lottery 2017/2018 in Nigeria - Is it a scam?

Source: Legit.ng
Have you heard of the story of Rapunzel? Is it possible to grow such long hair in real life? Who has the longest hair in the world? Read and see girls with world record longest hair, and not only girls, men are also keeping up.

Hair is a symbol of beauty! It's hard not to agree with this. Long hair looks very nice. It continues to have an effect on men's (and women's) imagination due to its luxury and beauty. But if hair length is more than six meters, I wonder whether its "owner" is happy to put so much time, patience and efforts into its care.

Woman with the longest hair in the world: China

Who has the longest hair in the world? Her name is Xie Qiuping and the length of her hair is 5.62 m.

Wow! This record was set in 2004. She started to grow her hair in 1973 when she was only 13. It was officially confirmed that the record length of the hair is 5 meters 62 centimeters. Unofficially, it's 7 meters and 92 centimeters. Just imagine!

To achieve this record, she refused any hairdressers' services. It is clear that to take care of such hair is really difficult. So if you would like to repeat or break this record, you need to think twice. For example, her usual procedure of hair washing takes a few hours, a lot of strength and a bottle of shampoo and conditioner. In this regard, she washes her head once every month.

Unknown Indian nun (hair length 7.92 m)

However, according to other sources, Xie Quiping is now far from real record holder for the World's Longest Hair. In India there is a woman living with curls the length of which is nearly eight meters (7 m 92 cm). Unfortunately, this wasnt officially proven.

China: Chenq Shiquin (hair length 2.4 m)

Chinese Chenq Shiquin is the owner of a beauty salon. She has let her hair grow longer than 2.4 m. She hasn't cut her hair in 16 years. While participating in photo sessions, she complained that hair care is very difficult. She spends two hours of her time washing her hair and more than one hour for combing it.

READ ALSO: Tiwa Savage natural hair care tips

Man with the longest hair: Vietnamese Tran Huy Wai (hair length 6.80 m)

According to him: "Last time I cut my hair when I was 31 years old." The 67-year-old man named Tran, was determined not to go for another haircut. In order to get into Guinness Book of Records, he grew his hair long, despite the fact that it lost its luscious appearance and turned into felt. It was clear that the hair was in urgent need of care.

Tran Huy Wai admitted that he had not washed his hair for 6 years. In order to get rid of the disturbance caused by his long hair, he would wrap it around himself. His life occupation was to cure people. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 79 not being able to cure himself.

This odd man didnt want to cut his hair because he observed that he fell ill after every haircut.

Bear in mind: Hair usually stops growing when it reaches the length of 60-90 cm. So, Guinness Book of World Records contains only those people whose hair grew without ceasing, due to some anomaly, during the whole life.

Thailand: Hu Satio (hair length 5.79 m)

Tran Huy Wai has already broken Hu Satio record. His hair length was 5.79 cm. In 2001, he died after a stroke. In the opinion of his comrades, it was his own fault because he allowed tourists to take pictures of his hair. Representatives of Hmong nation regard this behavior as an intervention into his private life.

Girls with very long hair: American Asha Mandera (hair length 2.60 m)

American Asha Mandera also spends quite a bit of time on her hair. Her hair length is 2.60 m. She is a world famous longest dreadlocks owner. For one hair wash, she uses the whole bottle of conditioner and shampoo. Imagine how much money she spends on hair care!

Asha admitted that, at first, she washed her hair three times a week, but these days, only once a week is enough. The procedure takes a lot of time and effort. It took her 20 years to grow such long hair. Her dreadlocks need two days to get dry without a hairdryer. Check out these dreadlocks, their total weight is about 11 pounds. Wearing them must not be easy. This process could become exhausting, but everything is done for popularity!

Natasha Moraes de Andrade (1.6 m)

12-years-old Brazilian girl from Rio de Janeiro required more than $600 per year to buy shampoo to wash her long curls. Her parents were very poor people and the family lived in the poorest district of Brazilian metropolis.

She didnt cut her hair from birth and she spent a lot of time and effort to care of it, but she hesitated to get rid of her long hair. Indeed, it was a pity to part with her curly dark hair, with a length that was only 10 cm shorter than Natasha's herself was. However, Natasha managed to sell her cut hair for $5000, this helped her family to solve the pre-existing housing problem.

Have a look at the pictures of the longest hair in the world:

Some might argue that these hair are not that beautiful. Only well-groomed and healthy hair looks really beautiful, no matter the length. The only thing you should remember that very long hair requires much time and money for hair care.

READ ALSO: Brazilian wool hairstyles in Nigeria

Source: Legit.ng
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) operates in a joint venture with Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total and Eni. The oil business industry can be lucrative and many people want to build their careers in this field. Consequently, there are many fraudsters who might want to take advantage of this desire.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. has released a statement aimed at informing prominent members of the community about some important issues. The first thing is that this corporation is not undertaking any personnel recruitment. The second one is that Nigerians should be watchful because of fraudulent activities.

It had been officially declared that the corporation is currently not recruiting according to information on their website, nnpcgroup.com. Members of the general public have been lured into attending fraudulent job interviews.

It was also disclosed that fraudsters now use very sophisticated means to capture the interest of people. For example, they were sending various text messages, using social media networks as well as forged messages. This is all was done with one purpose in mind - to lure trusting members of the general public for job interviews. However, understand that this is not the corporations recruitment exercise or their means of selecting candidates.

READ ALSO: Petrol pump price varies after NNPC increment

In connection with this, we would urge you to be consider the following:

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. is not recruiting for any position at the moment. So, you should disregard any message asking you to make payment transactions of any kind for the provision of future employment.

Avoid any doubtful invitations for job interviews. The NNPC will make public statements about all vacant job opportunities whenever the corporation starts a new recruitment program.

General public, in particular, trustful applicants, should beware of frauds. Invitations to the NNPC Towers, Abuja, or other affiliated companies which are related to the Corp. should be ignored.

People who accept such invitations or sign any documents with the initiator of such doubtful interview do this at their own peril and risk.

If you have been contacted by such double dealers with the purpose of purported employment for the NNPC, you should inform law enforcement agencies. Provide necessary proof with the full information you have. Contacts, examples of advertisements, pieces of newspapers, links to the social networks and so on will help track down the fraudsters.

Do not hesitate to report this. By sharing the information you may prevent other unsuspecting people from being cheated. Keep in mind that the Internet is now currently filled with claims about the NNPC recruitment 2017 and vacancies within the corporation.

READ ALSO: Discovered $9.8 million: Court rules against former NNPC GMD, Yakubu

Source: Legit.ng
RACINE  Changes might be coming, again, to the proposed Racine Unified School District ethics statement and code of conduct, which includes regulations on what Unified employees can say on social media.

The proposed administrative regulation is on the district website for public comment, and will be until June 2. However, district officials have met with representatives of the Racine Education Association about their issues over employee First Amendment rights.

Angelina Cruz, president of the REA, said they raised concerns that the proposed change contained language that was too broad and may infringe on employee free speech rights.

(The district) backed up a little bit and said the intention is, at the end of this comment period where they have it posted on the internet, to include language that addresses that, Cruz said. I think were slowly making progress. We have a couple weeks left where we meet regularly and well continue to talk about it.

Points of contention

There are several points the REA has an issue with that have been the topic of the meetings.

Under the Prohibited Conduct section of the proposed regulation, one of the 18 points states: Engaging in activity or public commentary (including social media) that significantly detracts from the districts image or reputation.

Social media is implied when you say public commentary,  Cruz said. So why (is the district) specifically pointing that out?

Another point states: Failure to support the Districts mission, vision, goals, policies, and procedures.

Almost the entire proposed regulation is copied from the Milwaukee Public Schools policy on employee rules of conduct, with minor adjustments.

The only exceptions were the previously listed points and also Failure to speak to and treat students, employees, parents/guardians, and members of the public in an appropriate and respectful manner, and Failure to participate in and/or cooperate with a District investigation.

Its the same thing, Cruz said. With the exception of the items that we have problems with. Those were added on by our district.

The previous code of conduct was adopted from the National Education Association, of which REA is a member.

There were concerns about it being outdated, Cruz said adding she was told by an REA member that the district isnt interested in adopting the NEA policy. I dont know how having this list really changes how we conduct the business of the district.

Cruz said shes talked with REA leadership and the legal team at the Wisconsin Education Association Council; she said there is concern that the proposed changes would violate the National Labor Relations Act, which protects rights of employees and employers to encourage collective bargaining.

That was a sticking point that (Julie Landry, chief of human resources) said that she probably wasnt going to address, Cruz said. Thats problematic because the NLRA is still law.

District officials did not comment on the specific points regarding free speech and only said in a statement: We are currently reviewing input and will continue to do so until the end of the 30-day window. At that time, well finalize our recommendation for the Board.

The School Board will most likely hear the recommendation at the June 19 meeting.

Im hopeful we can work this out by June 2, when the comment window closes, Cruz said.
- Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa said there was a gran plan to get him removed but it failed

- He said Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation lost a unique opportunity for development under former President Goodluck Jonathan

For the governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson, the six years spent by Dr Goodluck Jonathan as president of Nigeria was a wasted opportunity for Ijaw people.

Dickson made the declaration on Tuesday, May 16, while reportedly regretting that Jonathan, his own kinsman, wasted a very good opportunity for the Ijaw people.

Governor Dickson also revealed that during the administration of Jonathan, ministers and other presidential aides from Bayelsa were strictly after selfish interests.

Dicskon said Jonathan and his appointees failed Bayelsa and Ijaw people

This, according to him, made the state and the Ijaw nation lose the unique opportunity of attracting development.

The Nation reports that the governor spoke at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa during the annual celebration of their hero, Major Adaka Boroh, who fought and died in the struggle for self-determination for the Ijaws.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Army raises coup alarm, warns soldiers not to mix with politics

Dickson, who was at the event with his deputy, John Jonah, and members of his cabinet, said he and some others have suffered from the Bayelsa-Ijaw disease of pulling-him-down syndrome.

He revealed that at a time, there was a devilish plot to unseat him as governor of Bayelsa state.

Legit.ng learnt that Dickson lamented that the scenario under Jonathan was repeating itself in the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari where ministers and appointees from the state have refused to use their positions to assist his governments developmental efforts.

It is true that we are celebrating Boroh, but ask yourself whether you are doing your bit.

Boroh came, saw and did his bit and has gone. I and my team have come and we have taken up the battle from where Boroh stopped and we are doing our duties.

Each of us must examine ourselves and to be frank we have not done very serious examination in this state and in the Ijaw nation.

READ ALSO: Nigerians react after Pastor Adeboye asked them if they've prayed for Buhari

We cannot blame God. God has been very merciful and kind to us particularly of late, he said.

He thereafter laid wreaths at the tomb of Boroh in the Heroes Park in the presence of traditional rulers from the state.

Legit.ng had earlier reported that in a new book published by his aide, Reno Omokri, former President Goodluck Jonathan revealed names of those who conspired to ensure his defeat in the 2015 general election.

Jonathan specifically mentioned former Governor of Adamawa state, Murtala Nyako, among others as one of the arrowheads of the move.

He also detailed the alleged roles Nyako played in the entire saga.

Meanwhile, some Nigerians insist that Jonathan was a good leader who was surrounded by some wrong people. Watch this video:

Source: Legit.ng
- Musiliu Obanikoro suddenly appeared in the Ikoyi home of Bola Tinubu, national leader of the APC, years after leaving for the PDP

- Days after Obanikoro visited Tinubu, the latter's spokesperson has revealed what transpired at the meeting

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, recently played host to former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Musiliu Obanikoro.

Obanikoro, a former staunch member of the PDP and ex-minister of State for Defence in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, was a critic of the APC and Tinubu since 2006.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Army raises coup alarm, warns soldiers not to mix with politics

His visit with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa of the Lagos state House of Assembly and former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro to Tinubu in the latters Ikoyi home had spurred speculations that he had joined the APC.

Obanikoro was a staunch critic of Tinubu and the APC

Giving a reason Obaniko was at Tinubus home, Tunde Rahman, the former governors spokesperson, said: I dont think there is more to the visit.

Its been in the public domain that Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has reconciled with his political leader.

So, if you see him around Asiwaju, you should understand within that context.

He (Obanikoro) even said it publicly that he has retraced his steps and come back home.

READ ALSO: Osinbajo takes huge decision in Buhari's absence, orders expansion of social intervention programmes

He said when he went astray, he thought Asiwaju would reach out to him but that now, he has retraced his steps He joined those who came to present the staff of Eyo to Asiwaju as a mark of respect.

At the meeting, a staff of the Eyo was presented to Tinubu.

The staff is presented to very important people ahead of the big Eyo festival.

Legit.ng had earlier reported that Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is expected to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a matter of days following his meeting with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as part of his plans for 2019.

Obanikoro dumped the Tinubu camp about a decade ago to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while in the Senate but according to The Nation, he has now expressed interest to re-join the APC.

Watch this video as Chief Femi Fani-Kayode speaks on what President Muhammadu Buhari told him:

Source: Legit.ng
- Governor Bello has denied rumours that he is after Senator Melaye's life

- The governor said Melaye is a serial liar and a blackmailer

- He called on the Senate to discipline Melaye

Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello has denied allegation by Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West senatorial district that he is after his life.

Bello said Melaye is a serial liar and a blackmailer and should not be taken seriously at all.

The governor, who spoke through his director general of media and publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, called on the Senate to call Melaye to order and accused the senator of dragging the Senate in the mud.

Fanwo, in an interview with Vanguard said: "It is an embarrassment to logical reasoning. Governor Yahaya Bello is not competing with Senator Dino Melaye for anything.

The governor called on the Senate to call Melaye to order.

READ ALSO: 'I am ashamed of myself' - JAMB candidate shares UTME result

"He is the governor of the state, father of the state and the leader of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

"The governor has no reason to be after Dino Melayes life. Governor Yahaya Bello cannot hurt a fly. The allegation is not only irresponsible and false, but represent the height of pathological lying.

"There is need for the Senate to call Dino Melaye to order. He should stop embarrassing our revered Senate.

READ ALSO: UPDATED: 12 dead, 15,000 displaced as farmers, herdsmen clash in Taraba

"Anyone who is a serial liar, morally bankrupt and professional blackmailers should not be making laws for us. Senators should be societal role models."

Recall that Legit.ng had earlier reported that Senator Dino Melaye reported to the police that an attempt to assassinate him failed in the early hours of April, 15 2017.

Melaye has since accused several people including Bello and the chairman of Ijumu local government area of Kogi state where the incident happened.

Meanwhile, Dino Melaye launched his book titled 'Antidotes for Corruption' on Monday, May 15.

Among the dignitaries who were at the occasion were Bukola Saraki, the Senate president, his counterpart at the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, the minister of Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Bello Mohammed, his labour and productivity counterpart, Dr. Chris Ngige and former secretary to the government of the federation, Dr. Anyim Pius Anyim.

Watch this Legit.ng video of Nigerians giving their opinion on the possibilities of a young person winning election in Nigeria:

Source: Legit.ng
- Over 1,000 Nigerians have voluntarily returned to Nigeria from Libya

- The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the Nigerians returned between December 16, 2016 and May 16, 2017

- NEMA said the returnees were brought back to Nigeria with the support of International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerian Embassy in Libya

One thousand two hundred and sixty-eight Nigerians are said to have voluntarily returned to Nigeria from Libya.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the Nigerians returned between December 16, 2016 and May 16, 2017.

The director general of NEMA Mustapha Maihaja while receiving a fresh batch of 258 Nigerians who arrived in Lagos on Tuesday, May 16, said the returnee arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos aboard a charted Libya Airline Airbus A330-200 with registration number 5A-LAU at about 8:30 p.m.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the Nigerians returned between December 16, 2016 and May 16, 2017

READ ALSO: Goodluck Jonathans 6 years as president a waste - Bayelsa Governor Dickson declares

The returnees were received at Hajj Camp area at the airport by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service, the the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigeria police.

Represented by the deputy director, search and rescue Onimode Bandele, NEMA DG said the returnees had among them 20 children and infants.

The were brought back to Nigeria with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerian Embassy in Libya with another set of returnees expected on May 25.

READ ALSO: See photos of Nigerias most wanted kidnapper Evans

Legit.ng gathered that Bandele added that repatriation exercise will continue as long as Nigerians stranded in Libya are willing to return.

Since December 2016, we have been able to bring back 1,268 Nigerians and the exercise will continue in collaboration with the IOM," Bandele said

The Federal Government is collaborating with the various state governments to rehabilitate and reintegrate the returnees, he said.

Also, in her reaction, the public information officer of the IOM Julia Burpee said the organization has supported the Nigerian government in the return of over 7,000 Nigerians over the past 16 years.

Burpee said IOM would further assist the returnees to get back to their feet and continue to provide assistance to others willing to leave Libya.

Watch this Legit.ng video of Nigerians reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari's r eturn to London below:

Source: Legit.ng
- The coroner's inquest into the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke is still on

- More revelations are coming out on the cause of the senator's death

- A consultant anatomic pathologist, Olufemi Solaja has revealed more during his appearance

A report by The Punch quotes a consultant anatomic pathologist, Mr Olufemi Solaja,, as saying there was no trace of poison or heavy metals found in the result of toxicology carried out on the corpse of Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

Solaja said this while testifying before the coroner, Mr Olusegun Ayilara on Wednesday, May 17.

He said pathologists however, found excessive levels of alcohol, sedatives and analgesics in the senator's body.

READ ALSO: I went astray - Obanikoro reportedly confesses to Tinubu

Senator Adeleke's death has caused uproar in Osun politics

The pathologist was quoted in the report as saying the late senator died of asphyxiation.

In a related development, the nurse, Mr Alfred Aderibigbe, who allegedly administered some injections on the late senator at home shortly before his death could not testify before the coroner.

Counsel for the nurse, Mr Lekan Alabi, said his client needed an interpreter due to his inability to speak English language fluently.

The coroner adjourned to Thursday, May 18 for his evidence in order for an interpreter to be made available.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun West Senatorial District, Mr Amobi Akintola has cleared the air on a rumour making the round.

Akintola said Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke did not eat any food at the burial of his grandmother, Late Bilikisu Salimonu, on Saturday, April 22.

There had been rumours that the late senator was poisioned at the event, prompting some people to accuse Akintola of complicity in the senator's death.

READ ALSO: I will dump the PDP if Sheriff becomes chairman - Fayose

Watch the Legit.ng TV video below analysing the Ile-Ife crisis in Osun state.

Source: Legit.ng
- Reno Omokri has taken a swipe at some politicians who took selfies with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

- He said they used to sing the praises of President Muhammadu Buhari and criticise Jonathan

- According to him, they have now realised who is more clueless between Buhari and Jonathan

Controversial former media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has once again taken a swipe at some politicians who were all over Jonathan at the wedding ceremony of Hadiza, daughter to former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida.

Omokri, in a recent post he made on his Facebook, attacked Honourable Muhammad Gudaji Kazaure for taking a selfie with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Kazaure is a member of the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives, representing Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi federal constituency of Jigawa state.

Kazaure, Jonathan and other Nigerian dignitaries were on Saturday, May 13, at the wedding ceremony of the last daughter of former head of state Ibrahim Babangida.

READ ALSO: The next 10 years will be very difficult, 5 other quotes from Osinbajo's May 16 speech

Omokri accused Kazaure and others of fanning over the former president Jonathan, who they conspired to boot out of office in 2015.

READ ALSO: Sizeable number of cabinet members present as Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting

He wrote: "This is Hon. Muhammad Gudaji Kazaure who for months was singing President Muhammadu Buhari's praises and castigating the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

"He was amongst those who excitedly besieged the former President to take selfies at Halima Babangida's wedding.

"After two years, Gudaji now knows who is truly clueless between Buhari and Jonathan!"

Legit.ng earlier reported that Omokri mocked the All Progressive Congress as Saraki, others struggled for hand-shake with the ex-president.

Omokri said: Now they know who is really clueless and who is not, they struggle to shake hands with Goodluck Jonathan, the transformer!

Watch this Legit.ng video of what Nigerians think about Goodluck Jonathan:

Source: Legit.ng
Legit.ng gathered that the founder of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet TB Joshua, provided financial support to Libyan deportees.

Prophet TB Joshua has once again done what many will consider a great deed, considering the fact that they were not done to members of his church.

Even though it wouldn't be the first time the controversial prophet would be doing this, he invited Nigerians who were deported from Libya, to his church, to offer them his little token.

According to a post shared on the church's official Facebook page, TB Joshua gave the deportees the total of N6 million and bags of rice, alongside his popular 'morning water'.

TB Joshua donated N6m to Libyan deportees

READ ALSO: These guys dont seem to care about whats on their T-shirts (photos)

According to reports, the prophet gave instructions for the money to be released to the deportees, even though he's outside the country.

Sharing the post on their official Facebook page, they wrote:

"On Friday 17 May 2017, 200 Nigerians who were deported from Libya rushed to The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) in search of refuge. When Prophet T.B. Joshua, who is currently in Ecuador for the opening of the new school donated by Emmanuel TV, heard of their arrival, he said that they should be attended to the same way as the deportees of the previous week. He instructed that foodstuff and financial support be provided immediately. Many of the deportees were weak and sick from their difficult episode. They were given a cash gift totaling 6 Million alongside two bags of rice and Morning Water to start their lives afresh. Glory be to Jesus Christ!

If you dont give, you dont receive. - Prophet T.B. Joshua"

PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest gossips on Naij Gossip App

See photos below:

The Libyan deportees got N6 million from the founder of SCOAN

The deportees were also fed at the church

The deportees show off the cheques they were given

The deportees jubilated after receiving their money

The deportees were overcome with joy after they heard what they were getting from the prophet

The deportees were given two bags of rice each

The deportees pick up their bags of rice joyfully

This is just awesome!

Meanwhile, see this video of a Nollywood actor who said he'll soon become a pastor:

Source: Legit.ng
- Mr. Christopher Hobobo who was a chairman of the PDP was killed in his home

- His assailants attacked him with a knife in his sitting

- The police promised to arrest the perpetrators

Mr. Christopher Hobobo who is a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa state has been assassinated.

The Punch reports Hobobo who served in an acting capacity was killed at his residence located on PDP Road, Yenagoa on Wednesday, May 17.

READ ALSO: How Goodluck Jonathan wasted 6 years as president - Bayelsa Governor Dickson

It was reported that the attackers forced the gate to his apartment open before stabbing him to death in his sitting room.

Report indicated that the assailants were armed with guns but chose to stab him in order not to make noise.

Hobobo's compound where he was assassinated

Family members and sympathisers thronged to the house of the deceased while the police was also notified and they took his body away.

Mr. Desi Tambrebofa and Mr. John Gidi who are members of the victims family expressed shock at the manner in which he was killed.

PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

They described Hobobo as an easy going man.

Mr. Amba Asuquo who is the state commissioner of police promised that investigation will be carried out and the perpetrators brought to book.

Source: Legit.ng
- Twelve days after 82 Chibok girls were rescued, Federal Government has confirmed the release of another one

- President Buharis Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Osinbajo made it known during FEC meeting

- He said the affected girl had been brought to Abuja to join her colleagues who were rescued from captivity

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday May 17 confirmed that another Chibok schoolgirl had been found, 12 days after the release of the 82 abducted girls by their captors.

Legit.ng gathered that Femi Adesina, President Buharis Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, who made this known Wednesday May 17 in Abuja, said the recovery of the girl was announced by the acting president during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

READ ALSO: Army intensifies war against Boko Haram as new GOC of 7 Division takes over command

According to him, the affected girl had been brought to Abuja to join her colleagues who were rescued from captivity.

The 82 rescued Chibok girls when they were received by President Muhammadu Buhari

Yes, at the Federal Executive Councils meeting, the Vice-President broke the cheering news to members of the cabinet and after that I have also spoken to defence people who confirmed it.

The details are yet to fully unravel. But in terms of is it, true- yes, it is true. I learnt she is already being brought to Abuja, but I have not seen her.

Mr. Adesina expressed the hope that the remaining Chibok schoolgirls and other Nigerians in captivity would soon be rescued.

However, the Presidency, on Thursday, May 18 in a tweet, denied that the girl is one of the 276 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents over three years ago on April 14, 2014.

The tweeted read:

Legit.ng had previously reported that 82 Chibok girls were rescued by the troops fighting Boko Haram in Maiduguri, Borno state.

He also dismissed concerns that members of the Boko Haram sect had started regrouping in the Sambisa forest, saying that the Federal Government had the capacity to confront any security challenge arising from any part of the country.

One thing you can be sure of is that this government has the capacity to confront any security challenge that arises.

So, if they are regrouping they will be flushed out again.

I believe that we have seen the worst of that insurgency. We are in a mopping up process and I believe the mop up would be completed, he said.

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82 girls were recently released by their captors in exchange for an undisclosed number of Boko Haram commanders held by the federal government. Twenty one others were released in October last year and another three also regained their freedom, in separate circumstances.

They were released to international negotiators who have been working in collaboration with the federal government for their safe return since they were kidnapped in April 2014.

Watch this Legit.ng video as Nigerians comment on whether Buhari should handover to Osinbajo on health issues

Source: Legit.ng
- Honorable Yakubu Dogara says Nigerians below 40 will soon be allowed to run for the office of president

- Dogara says the House of Representatives is committed to ensuring that this happens soon

- The speaker says the NotTooYoungToRun# bill will open up opportunities for young persons

The recent victory of Emmanuel Macron in France, has caused Nigerians to start nursing the thoughts of a young president.

Macron on Sunday, May 7, beat Marine Le Pen in French election, taking more than 65 per cent of the vote, according to exit polls.

According to the polling conducted by Ipsos, Ifop and BVA, Macron secured a strong lead over Front National leader Marine Le Pen.

His victory comes after a massive hacking attack on his campaign database which saw hundreds of thousands of private emails and official documents dumped online.

The 39-year-old former investment banker, who served for two years as economy minister but has never previously held elected office, will now become France's youngest president.

In the light of Macron's victory, Hon Yakubu Dogara has assured Nigerians that soon, persons below 40 will be able to run for president.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Army captures 126 suspected jihadists as Boko Haram infiltrate IDP camp

Dogara affirmed that the House was committed to passing the NotTooYoungToRun# bill.

The bill is to be passed in order to lower the age requirements for elective offices.

Dogara says it is time to allow the youths participate fully in Nigeria's politics

It is aimed at ensuring youth inclusion in politics and leadership.

Dogara made the assurance while addressing the plenary session of the Nigerian Youth Parliament in Abuja on Wednesday, May 17.

Dogara stated that as elected representatives, it was their duty make sure that their constituents voices were heard.

He said it is essential that the peoples' voices are listened to, especially in a country with a youth population of over 60%.

Dogara noted that the parliament is committed to give priority to necessary legislative interventions.

Stressing that interventions which promote equality and inclusion, and entrench the rights of women, youths and vulnerable groups in the society are of great concern.

He said the bill which seeks to alter sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the 1999 Constitution is aimed at reducing the age of eligibility for elective offices across board.

The bill is also aimed at introducing independent candidacy to Nigeria's electoral process.

The speaker however, said that while the bill will not immediately correct the marginalization of young persons in Nigeria, it will, however, open up opportunities hitherto unavailable to young persons in politics.

A chieftain of the APC, Comrade Timi Frank has said that the emergence of Emmanuel Macron, who will become Frances youngest-ever leader has become a serious challenge to the African youths in general and Nigeria in particular.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Former PDP chairman assassinated in Bayelsa

Frank believes that the resounding victory of the 39-year-old former investment banker should be a thing of joy and encouragement to the youths in Nigeria, challenging them to stand up for the positions of leadership.

Initial estimates showed Macron winning between 65.5 percent and 66.1 percent of ballots ahead of his closest rival Le Pen on between 33.9 per cent and 34.5 per cent.

In a statement Frank signed on Monday, May 8 in Abuja, he congratulated Macron, the people of France and the country's embassy in Nigeria for a successful election.

He called on African youths to take the challenge Macron's emergence has brought to them, advising the youths to to come out and join politics to attain political power.

In a similar vein, former president Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated French president-elect Emmanuel Macron on his emphatic victory against Marine Le Pen in the nations presidential run-off.

PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

In a message posted on his Facebook page, Jonathan said: "As a democrat who believes in one man one vote, one woman one vote and one youth one vote as the ultimate means of attaining political power, I congratulate the French nation, that stood by Nigeria during my time in office, for the successful determination of their Presidential election.

I also congratulate the man of destiny, Emmanuel Macron, for his victory.

May God grant him wisdom to lead a nation that has shown herself to be a bastion of liberty and freedom over the ages. Vive le Nigeria et la France.

In the video below, Legit.ng went to the streets, to ask Nigerians if like France, Nigeria can have a young president also.

Source: Legit.ng
- Oxfam International has said that Dangote, Adenuga, Otedola, others could end poverty in Nigeria

- Forbes magazine had listed the five richest Nigerians as Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Femi Otedola, Folorunsho Alakija and Theophilus Danjuma

- The Oxfam report exposed the large and growing gap between the rich and poor in Nigeria

The combined wealth of Nigerias five richest persons, estimated to be about $29.9 billion, can end extreme poverty in the country, a report by Oxfam International has stated.

Vanguard reports that the Oxfam report was titled Inequality in Nigeria, Exploring the Drivers.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Osinbajo confirms rescue of another Chibok girl

Legit.ng had previously reported that Forbes magazine lists the five richest Nigerians as Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Femi Otedola, Folorunsho Alakija and Theophilus Danjuma.

The Oxfam report exposed the large and growing gap between the rich and poor in Nigeria.

SEE 5 Nigerian billionaires who can end poverty in Nigeria according to Oxfam

It also revealed that the benefits of the nations economic growth had been captured by a few wealthy elite at the expense of the ordinary Nigerians.

According to the report, the economic inequality is a key factor in the conflict in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.

Oxfam International also disclosed that Nigerias richest man, Mr. Dangote, earned 8,000 times more in one day than a poor Nigerian would spend on basic needs in a year.

Mr. Dangote is also the richest African with a net worth of $12.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine. Born into a wealthy business family, Mr. Dangotes business focus includes industries (cement, sugar, flour and so on) as well as oil and gas.

READ ALSO: Former PDP chairman in Bayelsa assassinated

The second richest man, Mike Adenuga, has major business interests in oil and gas as well as telecoms. He is the owner of Globacom, Nigerias largest indigenous telecom operator and has a net worth of $10.5 billion.

The third richest person is Femi Otedola, the CEO of Zenon Oil and Gas and Forte Oil whose net worth is $2.3 billion. He is closely followed by the richest woman, Folorunsho Alakija, a business tycoon who is into fashion, oil and printing industries. With an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion, she is believed to have made her billions though oil block deals.

The fifth richest person is Theophilus Danjuma, a former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff. He is the founder/chairman of Atlantic Petroleum and has an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion.

According to the latest poverty report by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, about 112 million Nigerians (representing 67.1 per cent of the countrys total population of 167 million) live below poverty level; although lower than that are in extreme poverty.

The bureau also predicted this rising trend was likely to continue.

Absolute poverty is measured by the number of people who can afford only the bare essentials of shelter, food and clothing.

Nigeria is Africas biggest oil producer but the sector has been tainted by accusations of corruption.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

The Oxfam report also said public office holders stole estimated $20 trillion from the treasury between 1960 and 2005, while multinational companies receive tax incentives estimated at $2.9 billion a year.

Watch this Legit.ng video as Nigerians comment on whether Buhari should handover to Osinbajo on health issues.

Source: Legit.ng
As the White House reeled on Tuesday from a chaotic 24 hours, bookended by a pair of bombshell scoops raising serious questions about President Trumps comportment in the Oval Office, the administration and its surrogates quickly settled on a blunt message: Blame the press.

National security is put at risk by this leak and by leaks like this, the national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. He was referring not to Mr. Trumps disclosure of intelligence to Russian leaders, but to the government officials who acted as sources for The Washington Posts scoop about it.

Doing battle with journalists has become a frequent tactic of the Trump White House. But the conflict has been heightened this week, as aides to the president  and their supporters in the right-wing press  seek to shift focus onto questions about the use of confidential sources and the credibility of the news media, and away from concerns about Mr. Trumps behavior.

Sean Hannity, the Fox News host who speaks frequently with Mr. Trump, floated the possibility of a daily press briefing where journalists were required to submit written questions ahead of time. Newt Gingrich, another adviser, told Politico that the White House should close down the White House press briefing room.
Its one thing to cover cultural institutions, which Ive done for nearly 20 years. Its another thing to cover the art world  in particular, the annual spring and fall auctions  which I added to my beat about two years ago.

While many collectors buy from galleries throughout the year, those prices remain private; the auctions are therefore the single available public bellwether of the art market in the areas of Impressionist and Modern works as well as in the Postwar and Contemporary category. The sales are where youll see whether the big spenders are up for spending; whether collectors are parting with their best material; what enables an auction house like Sothebys to guarantee a painting by the graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat at a whopping $65 million (a topic I will be exploring in an article later this week).

On the one hand, I get a front-row seat to the art world at its most glamorous, watching in real time as the well-heeled raise their paddles (or, in most cases, barely nod their heads) while bidding on great works out of art-history textbooks for millions of dollars.

On the other hand, although Id like to look as elegant as the collectors, I have to wear comfortable shoes: I dont actually get to sit down, but rather stand for hours in a cordoned-off area with the rest of the scribbling press scrum. There is plenty of competitive pressure; our group comprises reporters from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, international papers and the many blogs that now populate the art media.
The New York City Correction Departments top internal affairs official, who was demoted last week amid accusations that he eavesdropped on telephone conversations between city investigators and their jailhouse informers on Rikers Island, was quietly fired this week.

The official, Gregory Kuczinski, who was the Correction Departments deputy commissioner of investigations, was initially stripped of his duties on May 8. The jails agency took that action soon after the Investigation Department made the accusations in a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The accusations of spying on city investigators as they were conducting undercover anticorruption operations, along with a city report about the misuse of agency vehicles by the correction commissioner, Joseph Ponte, Mr. Kuczinski and other top staff members  as well as the disclosure that the commissioner had been out of state for 90 days last year  prompted Mr. Ponte to announce Friday that he would resign this summer.

The troubled jails agency was under intense scrutiny well before the Investigation Departments allegations surfaced, and they prompted further questions about the management of the agency from the City Council and city and state oversight boards.
It has been about three months since Terrell Gillss release from jail, and there are still sleepless nights and days spent in his room as he contemplates the year and a half he spent on Rikers Island for a crime of which he was acquitted.

He stays there for most of the day with the door locked, his jail life so ingrained that he still eats at times close to his old jail schedule: 4:30 a.m., noon and 5 p.m.

There is other baggage: antisocial feelings, and the questions that come during job interviews about the nearly two years left blank on his resume.

The answers do not come easily.

Mr. Gills, now 36, was arrested in August 2015, accused of robbing a Dunkin Donuts about three months earlier in Jamaica, Queens. The arrest was made, in part, on the strength of forensic evidence that is typically persuasive: a DNA match.
ALBANY  The State Senates top Democratic leader asked law enforcement on Tuesday to investigate how stipends were seemingly improperly awarded to eight senators aligned with that chambers rival, majority coalition.

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who leads the Senate Democratic Conference, issued a statement noting troubling new questions about the apparent abuse of the Senate stipend system.

Payroll records revealed that eight senators  including three members of the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference, who collaborate with Republicans to run the Senate  have received tens of thousands of dollars in stipend payments as vice chairmen of committees during the last three years, even though the money is earmarked for the committee chairmen.

Funneling the payments to vice chairmen is not explicitly permitted by law, though Senate leadership and lawyers have tried to prove that there is a legal and constitutional basis for such stipends, commonly known as lulus.
One does not need to be a Marvel superhero or Nietzschean Ubermensch to rise to this responsibility. But one needs some basic attributes: a reasonable level of intellectual curiosity, a certain seriousness of purpose, a basic level of managerial competence, a decent attention span, a functional moral compass, a measure of restraint and self-control. And if a president is deficient in one or more of them, you can be sure it will be exposed.

Trump is seemingly deficient in them all. Some he perhaps never had, others have presumably atrophied with age. He certainly has political talent  charisma, a raw cunning, an instinct for the jugular, a form of the common touch, a certain creativity that normal politicians lack. He would not have been elected without these qualities. But they are not enough, they cannot fill the void where other, very normal human gifts should be.

There is, as my colleague David Brooks wrote Tuesday, a basic childishness to the man who now occupies the presidency. That is the simplest way of understanding what has come tumbling into light in the last few days: The presidency now has kinglike qualities, and we have a child upon the throne.

It is a child who blurts out classified information in order to impress distinguished visitors. It is a child who asks the head of the F.B.I. why the rules cannot be suspended for his friend and ally. It is a child who does not understand the obvious consequences of his more vindictive actions  like firing the very same man whom you had asked to potentially obstruct justice on your say-so.

A child cannot be president. I love my children; they cannot have the nuclear codes.

But a child also cannot really commit high crimes and misdemeanors in any usual meaning of the term. There will be more talk of impeachment now, more talk of a special prosecutor for the Russia business; well and good. But ultimately I do not believe that our president sufficiently understands the nature of the office that he holds, the nature of the legal constraints that are supposed to bind him, perhaps even the nature of normal human interactions, to be guilty of obstruction of justice in the Nixonian or even Clintonian sense of the phrase. I do not believe he is really capable of the behind-the-scenes conspiring that the darker Russia theories envision. And it is hard to betray an oath of office whose obligations you evince no sign of really understanding or respecting.
Since President Trumps firing of F.B.I. Director James Comey, one question has been repeated over and over: With Democrats lacking any real governing power, are there a few good elected men or women in the Republican Party who will stand up to the presidents abuse of power as their predecessors did during Watergate?

And this question will surely get louder with the report that Trump asked Comey in February to halt the investigation into the presidents former national security adviser.

But we already know the answer: No.

The G.O.P. never would have embraced someone like Trump in the first place  an indecent man with a record of multiple bankruptcies, unpaid bills and alleged sexual harassments who lies as he breathes  for the answer to ever be yes. Virtually all the good men and women in this partys leadership have been purged or silenced; those who are left have either been bought off by lobbies or have cynically decided to take a ride on Trumps Good Ship Lollipop to exploit it for any number of different agendas.

It has not been without costs. Trump has made every person in his orbit look like either a liar or a fool, as David Axelrod put it. So call off the search. There will be no G.O.P. mutiny, even if Trump resembles Captain Queeg more each day.
FRONT PAGE

An article on Tuesday about hints that hackers linked to North Korea may have been involved in recent ransomware attacks misspelled the given name of the countrys leader in some copies. He is Kim Jong-un, not Kim Jung-un.



An article on Monday about disillusionment in Iran over the approaching presidential election misstated the timing of a parliamentary election in which reformists and moderates won a small majority. It was in 2016, not 2015.

INTERNATIONAL

An article on May 4 about a controversy over All the Rivers, a novel by Dorit Rabinyan about a love affair between an Israeli woman and a Palestinian man, misidentified the program for authors that Ms. Rabinyan attended at the University of Iowa in 2002. It was an International Writing Program residency, not the Iowa Writers Workshop.

NATIONAL

An article on Saturday about an Environmental Protection Agency decision to settle a lawsuit over a mine in Alaska described the location of the mine incorrectly. While it is in the watershed of Bristol Bay and while waste from the mine could affect the fishery there, the mine is not on Bristol Bay itself. (It is roughly 100 miles away.)
Political turmoil rocked the nations capital again on Tuesday evening as politicians from both parties responded to President Trumps  you know what, never mind. This is a story about ducks.

Ducklings, to be precise. Ducklings walking up a ramp and stepping off it into the waters of the Capitol Reflecting Pool, which can be difficult for them to do unassisted because they are very small.

The two ramps at the reflecting pool are a new feature whose arrival Monday attracted attention (from humans, at least) only after a congressman voiced his displeasure. This is happening in Washington, after all, so it may not surprise you to hear that the duck ramps were controversial.
It seemed like an important victory for voting rights advocates on Monday when the Supreme Court declined to reconsider an appellate decision striking down North Carolinas restrictive voting law. But those who follow the arcana of election law have another view  that the justices have merely postponed a showdown over what kind of voting rules are acceptable and how much influence partisanship should have over access to the ballot box.

And in that struggle, it is by no means certain who will prevail.

A parade of voting rights cases is headed for likely review by the Supreme Court  including challenges to gerrymanders in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Texas and a ruling against another restrictive voter law in Texas. At the same time, states controlled by Republican legislatures and governors are continuing to enact stringent election laws, many of them similar to the ones already moving through the courts.

The pending cases and new laws raise some of the same issues the justices declined to address in the North Carolina case: What is the reach of the Voting Rights Act since the court struck down its most powerful provisions in 2013? Is it legal to disadvantage minority voters if the motivation is political gain, not racial or ethnic hostility? How heavily can the court weigh in on partisan issues like gerrymandering and voter ID requirements before it becomes even more enmeshed in partisanship itself?

I think the right way to think about this is that North Carolina was a temporary victory in a very long war, Heather K. Gerken, a scholar of election and constitutional law at Yale University, said in an interview. In an era of almost toxic partisanship, she said, the court is the last bastion of legal craft, genuine argument and engagement.
None of his neighbors were surprised when the only notice of Jerry Canterburys death was a terse three-paragraph notice published in The Canton Repository, his hometown newspaper in northeastern Ohio, on March 23, fully a week after he died at 78.

His body had already been cremated. No service was planned. And the death notice, which he had drafted himself a few years ago, made no mention of the suffering he had stoically endured for 58 years, his last three decades in a wheelchair and bed-bound, or the cause of it: a relatively routine back operation that left his legs paralyzed when he was 19 and consigned him to a lifetime of urinary incontinence.

Yet by the time of his death, that surgery  with its horrific outcome  had taken its place in the annals of medical law. It had led to a landmark court ruling that fundamentally transformed how doctors deal with patients in evaluating the risks of potential treatment.

This is probably one of the handful of most significant medicolegal cases in United States history, said Jacob M. Appel, a doctor and bioethicist.
Three-fifths of troops discharged from the military for misconduct in recent years had a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or another associated condition, according to a report released Tuesday by the Government Accountability Office.

The report, mandated by Congress, for the first time combined military medical and staffing data, as well as data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, to show that tens of thousands of wounded troops were kicked out of the armed forces and severed from benefits designed to ease their transition from service in war.

It is everything many of us believed for years said Kristopher Goldsmith, a veteran who served in Iraq and was discharged for misconduct after a suicide attempt. He is now an assistant director for policy at Vietnam Veterans of America, a veterans advocacy group based in Washington. Many people didnt believe that the problem could be this big. Now I hope Congress will direct the resources to making it right.

From 2011 to 2015, according to the report, nearly 92,000 troops were discharged for misconduct  the military equivalent of being fired. Troops can be discharged for reasons like testing positive for drugs or repeatedly showing up late. And in recent years, as the military was downsized, misconduct discharges surged.
WASHINGTON  Chelsea Manning walked freely out of the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., on Wednesday, bringing to a close one of the most extraordinary criminal cases in American history over the leaking of government secrets to the public.

Sentenced to an unprecedented 35-year prison term for disclosing archives of secret files to WikiLeaks, Ms. Manning spent about seven years in prison  already double the second-longest sentence in any leak case. She was freed 28 years early because President Barack Obama, in one of his final acts, commuted the bulk of her remaining sentence.

Army Lt. Col. Jennifer Johnson confirmed that Ms. Manning was released, but both the military and her legal team, seeking to avoid a media circus, disclosed few details about her release and immediate plans. The military would not permit reporters to wait near the gate to the prison barracks complex.

Ms. Mannings support network, which raised about $138,000 in online donations to help cover her initial living expenses in a GoFundMe.com campaign, has said she eventually intends to settle in Maryland, where she has family. But her supporters have also been secretive about where she will be for the next few weeks, hoping to give her mental and physical space  and safety  to adjust.
Second Amendment case Peruta vs. California

may be heading to Supreme Court

By Steve Kurtz, Georeen Tanner. May 15, 2017

The Second Amendment is only 27 words, but Americans have used millions of words arguing over what it means. It guarantees "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." But which people, what arms, and under what circumstances?

Two milestone cases involving the Second Amendment that reached the Supreme Court are District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), declaring an individual has a right to own a firearm, and McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010), affirming the Second Amendment applies to state law.

WHY JUSTICE GORSUCH WILL HAVE AN IMMEDIATE

(AND BIG) IMPACT ON THE SUPREME COURT

Now, if the Supreme Court decides to hear it, there may be a third major case in a decade: Peruta v. California.

At issue is the right to keep and bear arms outside the home. The Heller case specifically applies to situations within the home. Those who have petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case are hoping the justices will see it as a logical extension of their earlier opinions. .......

The "good cause" judgement for CCW permit approvals has always been beyond infringement of rights. No one should have to claim anything other than their innate right of self defense, added to which it should not be down to how a Sheriff's department feels on a given day - as well probably as whether the applicant is seen as being of sufficient community standing. Above all, a law abiding citizen should need no permit anyways.

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He really needs a lawyer, Ms. OSullivan said of Mr. Trump. He is building a beautiful case against himself.

Did Trump have lawful authority to fire Comey?

Yes. But courts have ruled that otherwise lawful acts can constitute obstruction of justice if done with corrupt intentions. In a 1998 case, for example, a federal appeals court upheld the conviction of a lawyer who had filed legal complaints and related motions against a government agent who was investigating an illegal gambling operation. The court ruled that the defendants nominally litigation-related conduct was unlawful because his real motive was to safeguard his personal financial interests in the corrupt enterprise.

What would such a case entail, in theory?

Obstruction of justice cases often come down to whether prosecutors can prove defendants mental state when they committed the act, legal specialists said. It is not enough to show that a defendant knew the act would have a side consequence of impeding an investigation; achieving that obstruction has to have been the specific intention.

Samuel Buell, a former federal prosecutor who led the Justice Departments Enron task force and now teaches criminal law at Duke University, was initially skeptical about whether the mere firing of Mr. Comey could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Trump had an improper mental state. But he said on Tuesday that subsequent revelations have made the evidence much more robust.

The evidence of improper purpose has gotten much stronger since the day of Comeys firing, Mr. Buell said. Trump has made admissions about that. And we now have evidence that he may have indicated an improper purpose previously in his communications with Comey about the Russia investigation.

What impediments would there be to charging Mr. Trump?

Ms. OSullivan said it was not realistic to expect the Trump administrations Justice Department to charge the sitting president. And Mr. Buell argued that the developments had strengthened the case for Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, who is overseeing the investigation because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself, to appoint a special counsel to handle it.

The issue right now is whether there needs to be a serious impartial investigation, and there can be no doubt about that at this point, said Mr. Buell, who said the developments showed that Mr. Comey needed to be interviewed as a witness. This kind of drip, drip, drip  we keep addressing this scenario as here is the evidence, what is the result, but thats only good until tomorrow when something else comes out. It is not at all clear that this is the end. If anything, it has become clearer that there is more to know.
President Trump disclosed highly classified intelligence to Russian officials in a meeting last week, a government official said on Monday. The disclosure was not illegal, since presidents have the power to declassify nearly anything, but the sharing of sensitive intelligence provided by Israel, one of the United States most important allies in the Middle East, was disclosed without their permission.

Mr. Trump defended his disclosure on Twitter, saying it was his absolute right to do so.

Our readers shared thousands of comments on Facebook, Twitter and the website of The New York Times. Some called him a danger to the United States, while others praised his actions, saying it would aid efforts to defeat ISIS.

Here are excerpts from the comments, some of which have been edited for length and clarity.

Mr. President, its you who is not fit!

Some readers called on Republicans to scrutinize Mr. Trumps dealings with the Russian government.

For all the damage this President is doing to the national interest, one positive aspect is that the Republicans utter hypocrisy is being laid bare. There is absolutely no question that they would have been calling for Clintons head if she had done anything remotely like this, or for that matter, any of dozens of outrages Trump has committed since taking office after losing the popular vote.
UNITED NATIONS  Sudans president, indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes including genocide, has been invited to a summit in Saudi Arabia alongside President Trump, a Sudanese government spokesman said Tuesday.

If President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan attends the meeting this weekend with Mr. Trump, human rights advocates said, it would be a destructive breach of longstanding American policy.

The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court but has long sought to ostracize defendants who defy the courts arrest warrants, including Mr. Bashir, who has led Sudan for nearly three decades.

He was indicted in 2009 and 2010 on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudans Darfur region. In refusing to honor the indictments, he has come to symbolize impunity toward the Hague-based court.
PARIS  The world was just catching its breath after World War II when the Cannes Film Festival began in 1946.

Since then, the festival has helped introduce the Italian Neo-Realists, the French Nouvelle Vague, the gritty Hollywood classics of the 1970s and many major directors known to viewers at the multiplex and students of film studies.

This year, the festival, whose red carpet has helped start a thousand careers, will hold its 70th edition. (Over the years, the festival skipped a few editions.) To celebrate, a series of events are planned between opening night on Wednesday and closing night on May 28, when the prizes are to be awarded. The jury, led by the Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar, a Cannes regular, includes the actors Will Smith and Jessica Chastain.
CANNES, France  After weeks in the desert, dehydrated and afraid, refugees and migrants who are apprehended crossing the United States-Mexico border are regularly locked in what are called las hieleras: the freezers. They are meant to be short-term holding cells  they have no beds  but they also exact a kind of extrajudicial punishment. As revealed by a Freedom of Information Act request in 2015, migrants are trapped there for nearly two days on average. Children are separated from their families; detainees are deprived of food. Sometimes their lips split. Sometimes their skin turns blue.

The cold of the hieleras is the first thing you feel in Carne y Arena (Flesh and Sand), a groundbreaking hybrid of art exhibition, virtual reality simulation and historical re-enactment by the Mexican film director Alejandro G. Inarritu on view here ahead of its art-world debut in June at the Prada Foundation in Milan. You enter a cold-storage chamber, spare but for a few industrial benches, and are instructed to remove your shoes and socks. Dusty slippers and sneakers, recovered from the border zone, litter the floor. Barefoot, you exit the cold room and enter a larger one, its floor covered with sand. Attendants equip you with an Oculus Rift virtual-reality headset, headphones  and a backpack. The darkness gives way, and you find yourself on the border, and in danger.

In the gloaming you can make out an old woman who has broken her ankle, moaning in Spanish for help; a people-smuggler, or coyote, complains in English that theyre slowing down. You can walk through the sand to get close to them, since your headset is equipped with a motion detector. But soon a helicopter appears overhead, its spotlight bearing down on you, and border agents with guns and dogs are ordering you in two languages to put your hands up. With a rifle in your face, you instinctively throw your hands in the air.

Politically urgent and technically accomplished, Carne y Arena is the first virtual-reality installation to screen in the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival, which opened its 70th edition this week. Its debut here in an airplane hangar, far from the glamorous Croisette, is a foretaste of its display in arts institutions. Along with its showing at the Prada Foundation, which produced the work with Legendary Entertainment, it will also travel to two museums on either side of the border that President Trump has promised to divide with a wall. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art will host Carne y Arena starting in July; the Tlatelolco museum in Mexico City will also feature the VR work this summer.
To premiere one film at Cannes is an honor. Being granted two slots in the lineup is a major distinction indeed.

But for the prolific South Korean director Hong Sang-soo, the two new films he is showing at the festival, The Day After and Claires Camera, do not even comprise his entire output in 2017. Earlier this year, Mr. Hongs On the Beach at Night Alone was shown at the Berlin International Film Festival, where its lead actress won a prize.

This prodigious rate of creativity is normal for Mr. Hong, a chronicler of the human condition and the pleasures and pitfalls of attraction. Since his 1996 debut feature, The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well, the director, now 56, has averaged a film a year (and more recently, two), and most of them have won prizes at major festivals, including Cannes.

His two decades of disarmingly funny and honest storytelling most recently earned him a complete retrospective last year at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York.
I was on my phone, reading an article from a respectable news outlet, when I came across an ad tempting me toward a seedier corner of the web. It featured a photograph of an anonymous woman leaning over the bathroom sink, her head cut out of the frame, backside front and center, iPhone gleaming on the counter nearby. Husband Divorced His Wife After Looking Closer at This Photo, the headline read.

Image

I squinted. Was this some kind of  butt-related mystery? I clicked the link. Soon I was mired in a distended slide show, crammed with photos of random women and bloated with distracting doodads, including a decoy Next button that misdirected me to an advertorial for a supplement claiming to cure erectile dysfunction with a blend of ingredients like horny goat and potency wood. When I finally arrived at the slide shows terminal page, the promised divorce-inducing photograph appeared: It was a decade-old viral photo, one that had been debunked by Snopes.

I went on that ride courtesy of one of the internets many content discovery solutions. These companies occupy real estate at the margins of websites like CNN, Politico and TMZ, and fill them with links to content landfills with names like Buzz-Hut, CollegeFreakz, Dogsome and TimezOff. The links are often ads for stuff like bedsheets and dental implants that are disguised as news articles  or else barrel-scraping clickbait that tempts the reader toward still more ads  and because the thumbnails and headlines are written by the individual advertisers themselves, they range in caliber from straightforward sales pitches to gross body stuff. The links appear under the banner of Related Content, You May Also Like, or  their most accurate descriptor  Around the Web.
Seth Meyers on Tuesday made fun of the Trump administration for avoiding reporters as news emerged about President Trumps recent conversations with Russian diplomats.

A senior Trump aide told The Daily Beast that when the news broke, communications staff and senior staffers at the White House were literally hiding in offices. Hey, that might sound bad, but at least Sean Spicer was hiding in an office and not the bushes, like he did last week.  SETH MEYERS

Mr. Meyers had a similar joke for similar news: The national security adviser, H. R. McMaster, has been just as reluctant to talk to journalists.

Reporters last night said that after the news broke, they saw McMaster in the White House, and as he walked by the gathered reporters, McMaster said, This is the last place in the world I want to be. Wow! At least Sean Spicer only says that with his eyes.  SETH MEYERS

Fallon Doesnt Expect Much
THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER Yorgos Lanthimos is a reliable wellspring of dark absurdism at Cannes, having unnerved audiences in the past with Dogtooth and The Lobster. His latest film promises to continue his study of familial perversity with the story of a doctor who takes a fatherless teenager under his wing and unwittingly introduces upheaval to his family. Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman again co-star.

LET THE SUNSHINE IN In the opening-night film of Directors Fortnight, Juliette Binoche and the director Claire Denis team up to tell the story of a divorced woman in search of true love. But bare-bones plot summaries fall short when it comes to Ms. Deniss customary impressionistic style. The filmmaker here works again with the atmospheric cinematographer Agnes Godard, and Gerard Depardieu and Alex Descas round out the cast.
A graduate student at Northwestern University is suing the author Laura Kipnis and her publisher, HarperCollins, over her new book, Unwanted Advances: Sexual Paranoia Comes to Campus, which tackles the thorny subject of sexual politics in academia.

The lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday under the name Jane Doe in federal court in Illinois, alleges that Ms. Kipnis defamed the student and invaded her privacy by publishing her text messages and other details about her private life. Those details were central to a chapter about the plaintiffs relationship with Peter Ludlow, a former philosophy professor at Northwestern who resigned following allegations of sexual harassment by two students.

Although Ms. Kipnis used a pseudonym for the plaintiff in the book, the legal complaint argues that her identity was obvious to many at the university and within the insular world of philosophy studies, and that the damage done to her reputation could hurt her job prospects. Jane Doe alleges that the book contains false and damaging statements about Plaintiff and presented her in a false light as lying, manipulative and litigious, despite having reason to know that this portrayal was false, the complaint says.

Unwanted Advances, which came out last month, explores the potentially harmful side-effects of Title IX, a portion of a 1972 education law that prohibits gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and assault, and has been broadened to include sexual misconduct. Ms. Kipnis, a media studies professor at Northwestern, makes the case that campuses have been overzealous in applying the rule. Jane Does complaint against Mr. Ludlow was used as a central example.
 The word impeachment was bouncing around Washington as lawmakers invited the dismissed F.B.I. chief, James Comey, to address reports that President Trump asked him to scuttle the investigation of Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser who did not fully disclose his Russian contacts.

No politician in history  and I say this with great surety  has been treated worse or more unfairly, Mr. Trump said.
1. The Justice Department appointed Robert Mueller, the former F.B.I. director, above, to serve as a special counsel to oversee its investigation into Russian meddling in the election.

The appointment of Mr. Mueller dramatically raises the stakes for President Trump in the multiple investigations into his campaigns ties to the Russians.

While a special counsel would remain ultimately answerable to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein  and by extension, the president  he would have greater autonomy to run an investigation than a United States attorney.
LONDON  Nearly nine years after a government bailout during the financial crisis, the Lloyds Banking Group is fully private again.

Lloyds  one of Britains four largest lenders  said on Wednesday that it had returned to private ownership after the British government sold its final stake.

The sale is a major milestone for Lloyds and comes five months after the lender made a big bet on the British economy, agreeing to buy Bank of Americas British credit card business for about $2.4 billion.

The British government owned 43 percent of Lloyds after it injected 20.3 billion pounds, or $26.2 billion at current exchange rates, into the lender. Including 400 million in dividends, taxpayers recouped 21.2 billion, the bank said.
Among the reasons for the sudden skittishness:

 Continued turmoil in Washington. New revelations about President Trumps sharing of sensitive information with Russian diplomats, and his reported suggestion that the former F.B.I director James B. Comey drop the investigation into a former national security adviser are raising fears that Mr. Trumps agenda of lower taxes and lighter regulation could be harder to enact.

 Underlying weakness in the economy. While strong technology stocks have been inflating major indexes in recent months, some major companies for the American economy  especially retailers and carmakers  are facing real struggles.

The dollar was weaker against major currencies on Wednesday.

And Wall Streets fear gauge is up. After hitting historic lows, the Chicago Board Options Exchange volatility index, or VIX, spiked 20 percent in early trading on Wednesday, although the index remains well below its historical average.
The major networks are unveiling their offerings for the coming television season to advertising buyers in Manhattan. Money, prestige and cultural import are at stake. Two New York Times reporters who cover media  John Koblin and Sapna Maheshwari  assess what they saw at the ABC presentation on Tuesday, the third upfront presentation of the week.

JOHN Well, that was a nostalgia fest at ABCs upfront, wasnt it? The cast of Roseanne reunited onstage  sitting awkwardly on the familys famed couch  to promote their coming revival. ABC touted its American Idol reboot. The network also made note of its live musical The Little Mermaid, based on the 1989 movie. We saw an extended look-back sizzle reel of Scandal as it prepares for its seventh and final season. Oh, and the Backstreet Boys performed the closing song at the presentation so the network could drum up enthusiasm for its new reality show Boy Band. What was all of this, Sapna?

SAPNA You mean outside of a stark reminder that were old? I cant believe Greys Anatomy is heading into its 14th season! And that some of the Backstreet Boys are in their 40s! But in all seriousness, it seemed like ABCs pitch was that TV advertising exists in an oasis away from all the industry concerns around cord-cutting, Facebook/YouTube/Netflix and data and measurement. At one point, Disney-ABCs ad sales chief came out and said, Dont be distracted by the noise of the market. And with all that talk about Disney moments and comparisons to the other networks, it felt like a departure from the Silicon Valley talk we saw out of NBC and Fox on Monday.
The White House did not respond on Wednesday when asked if Mr. Trump supported imprisoning reporters who publish stories based on leaked material. The presidents press secretary, Sean Spicer, told reporters on Air Force One that Mr. Trump did not believe the Times article was an accurate representation of that meeting.

Mr. Trump often derides the coverage of him and his administration, even as he submits to interviews with a variety of journalists, including from news organizations that he attacks. He told graduates at the Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday that no politician in history has been treated worse or more unfairly by the media.

But while Mr. Trumps proposal to Mr. Comey could be construed as a private fit of pique, journalists and press freedom groups said Wednesday that they were alarmed by the possibility that he considered, even casually, enlisting the Justice Department to quash reporting he disliked.

Weve been saying theres a big gap between the presidents rhetoric and actions he can take to undermine the work of the media, said Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, which often works to aid reporters in countries with autocratic regimes. That gap has now been closed.

At the Feb. 14 meeting, Mr. Trump was fixated on a series of damaging leaks about his administration, according to one of Mr. Comeys associates, who conveyed to The Times the contents of a memo Mr. Comey wrote after the meeting. The topic led Mr. Trump to suggest that Mr. Comey consider putting reporters in prison for disseminating classified information, the associate said.
A half century after the beginning of a Cultural Revolution dedicated to erasing all traces of its past splendor, China is the setting of a museum show spotlighting the influence of its imperial arts on Western creativity.

Imperial Splendors: The Art of Jewelry Since the 18th Century, organized by the French heritage brand Chaumet, is on view to July 2 at the Palace Museum in the heart of the Forbidden City, official residence of Chinas emperors for almost 500 years. It is unusual for a Western brand to mount an exhibition in that space.
MR. KATZ: I actually think they went too big this year. Like the stones Charlize wore to the Oscars  those earrings wore her. I always say, you must match the personality of the celebrity to the jewelry you use with them. When some of these houses are all about the shock value of jewels so big, its really not that pretty.

MR. KWIAT: And it calls attention to the fact that These are not my jewels! The best placements on the red carpet are the ones that seem like the person could own those pieces.

Monique, do you feel youre sought out because of your brands sustainable ethos?

MS. PEAN: The actress or actor has to appreciate the design or aesthetic. If theyre focused on sustainability or philanthropy, thats an added benefit. Last year at the Golden Globes, Taylor Schilling wore my dinosaur-bone ring with recycled gold, and that was really exciting, because thats not normally what you wear to those events. But she also wore a black sequin custom suit from Thakoon that really went against the grain for the Golden Globes.

If you could single out one red carpet look as your favorite of all time, what would it be?

MS. SHERGALIS: When Nicole Kidman wore the diamond sautoir to the Oscars in 2008. It was a huge piece, but Nicole being Nicole, she really wore it. And on the flip side, working with Janelle Monae this year, that really fun dress with a fistful of diamond rings. It was so whimsical.

MR. KATZ: Its a little like saying whats the absolute best restaurant there is? Certainly, Nicole Kidman [at the 1997 Oscars] in that green Galliano for Dior dress wearing my vintage Mughal jewelry.

MR. KWIAT: When Lupita Nyongo went to the Oscars [in 2014], it was the culmination of an entire season that wed worked with her, from the Golden Globes to the SAGs [Screen Actors Guild awards]. It was a lot of pressure, and we were working with her stylist, trying to create something that hadnt yet been done. She saw this gold and diamond headband, a piece we make at Fred Leighton, and said, I like that. By the end of the night, the headband had its own Twitter account.
Openings and Events

On Thursday at 7 p.m., stop by the Collective, the trend-merchandized shopping experience on the newly renovated fifth floor of Saks Fifth Avenues New York flagship. You can pick up a Public School long lace dress ($895) or a Tanya Taylor embroidered military jacket ($695) and meet the designers. Ten percent of proceeds from sales through Saturday will be donated to the NewYork-Presbyterian Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Childrens Health.

The jewelry designer Jovana Djuric will have a trunk show on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Sucre NYC. Youll find her signature stacking Horus slice rings ($125 to $275). At 9 Christopher Street.

Image A carry-on bag from Away and Madewell.

Also on Friday, Tom Dixon and Dezeen are hosting a block party to celebrate NYCxDESIGN with a number of local businesses on Howard, Crosby and Mercer Streets. At 6 p.m. at 19 Howard Street, Mr. Dixon will reveal his new collection just shown at the Milan furniture fair, which includes a bloblike Melt Surface wall sconce ($800). From 6 to 7 p.m., there will be a wine hour (choose from free red, white or bubbles) at the Library at 11 Howard. And Canal Street Market will have a kite-painting workshop with the Haptic Lab design studio. At 265 Canal Street.
The French School in Duala: Some of the future citizens of the colony getting their first lessons in French. The teacher is a French officer.

Credit... The New York Times Mid-Week Pictorial, May 17, 1917
Listen to this short podcast from Behavior Gap Radio, and then think about what being a creative person means to you. Do you see yourself as a creative type? Why or why not?

In Want to Be Creative on Purpose? Schedule It, Carl Richards writes:

What if you dont have to be creative to create? We all know the archetype of the creatives, right? Eccentric, weird, scattered, messy. The creatives are plagued perpetually by writers block (or sculptors block or painters block or whatever block). They spend most of their time lazing about gloomily, smoking cigarettes and cursing this cruel world. But then, every once in a while, the creatives are so touched by the muse that they are forced to immediately drop everything, go into a trance and become a funnel for the beauty of the world. Personally, I think thats a bit too precious. This notion to wait around in the rain until you get struck by lightning to make art (or anything) doesnt mesh with my experience at all. What comes much closer is the famous Chuck Close quotation: Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work. The major implication of Mr. Closes quotation is that you dont have to be creative to create. So heres a secret ninja trick that will help: Dont wait around for creativity to strike. Strike creativity! Invent an obligation for yourself so you have to be creative on purpose. I once heard a story about a guy who wanted to write a book. But he was too overwhelmed by the enormity of the process, so for a decade, he didnt do it. One day, he decided to create a 5,000-word monthly magazine and offer a two-year subscription to everyone he knew. A bunch of people signed up, and all of a sudden, he had to do it. At the end of two years, he had 120,000 words to work with to create this book.

Students: Read the entire article, then tell us:

 Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, have you ever simply sat down and begun working, even if you didnt think the work was as creative as it should be? If so, when, and how did it work out? What tips did you use to sustain yourself while working? And if not, why not?

 Do you think creativity can be scheduled? Would it work for you to set aside a certain amount of time devoted to creative output daily, or weekly, in order to produce enough to reach your aim, or goal? Would that discipline break through any procrastination or blocked creativity that you need to complete your project? Why or why not?

 Can creativity work be manufactured with dedication and persistence? Or, can creativity be scheduled? Why or why not, and how?
Article: An Everyman Museum to Celebrate American Writers

Before Reading

Watch this Chicago Tribune video announcing the opening of the American Writers Museum. What did you notice about the exhibits, or the names of writers? Would you want to go visit? Why or why not?

Questions for Comprehension and Analysis

1. What did Andrew Anway, lead designer, say about the goal of the American Writers Museum? Where is the museum within the City of Chicago?

2. What interactive exhibits are in the museum? What homier touches? Where did the money come from to create the museum?

3. Who is Malcolm OHagan and where did he come up with the idea for the museum?

4. What is Amaze Design, and what brainstorming did the company do? What crucial decision did it make?
What is your reaction to this news? Why?

Questions for Comprehension and Analysis

1. What happened to cause Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, to write on Twitter: Just leaving Senate floor. Lots of chatter from Ds and Rs about the exact definition of obstruction of justice. What did President Donald J. Trump do to cause that chatter to occur?

2. What does the White House say about the suspicion that Mr. Trump tried to end the F.B.I. investigation involving his former national secuity adviser, Michael T. Flynn?

3. What is obstruction of justice? Does the definition cover asking the F.B.I. director to drop part of an investigation, and later firing him? What did Julie OSullivan, a former federal prosecutor who now teaches white-collar criminal law at Georgetown University, say?
Philosophers  notably Bernard Williams and Thomas Nagel  have explored the phenomenon, too. Ive had occasion in previous columns to mention what Williams termed agent regret; he imagined how a truck driver would respond if, through no fault of his own, he ran over a child. A spectator to the accident would be aghast, but the driver owns the disaster in a particular way. Thered be something wrong with him if he didnt. (Inasmuch as our usual conception of morality cant make sense of this, Williams thought, so much the worse for morality.)

If regret means simply the wish that things were otherwise, agent regret is something deeper, closer to remorse. And its nested in seeming paradoxes. You knew you didnt do anything wrong, and yet you wanted to extend an apology to the childs parents. At the same time, you understand their failure to accept it. Although youve been assured youre not to blame, you are shadowed by this terrible accident decades later. We mostly have no social rituals to call upon. (Erdrichs novel suggests that there are old Ojibwe traditions here, which come with their own costs and repercussions.)

Accepting the parents desire not to be in touch with you is in no way an ethical failing. Because you dont need to be forgiven, theres no obligation to make contact with the siblings of the person who died, either. You clearly want something like forgiveness, but a message from you is unlikely to be helpful to the siblings. So, I suggest you simply forgive yourself.

A man in my neighborhood has been charged with aggravated sexual assault. The crime received media coverage and was described by the police as one of the worst cases they had ever seen. The victim was drugged, beaten and raped. I have spoken with neighbors who captured video of the beaten woman on security cameras mounted to their home and with another neighbor whose door the woman knocked on for help. The man is out of jail on bond and has not been convicted of this crime. Public records show that in the past he was convicted of felony armed robbery and assault of a police officer.

This man runs a computer-repair business from his house. I see clients visiting from time to time. Today I saw a woman carrying her laptop out of his house. Should I have stopped her and told her about his criminal record? Name Withheld


The results were just as confusing as the rest of the case. The fluid from the spinal tap had an abnormally high white-blood-cell count, suggesting an infection. But it also had an abnormally high protein count. The neurologist conceded that given the white blood cells, this probably was an infection. But as the results of tests for infectious diseases trickled in, not one was positive for any of the bacteria or viruses they had looked for.

Testing a Theory

This is where things stood when Dr. Mehak Idrees, a physician trainee in her second year, took over the care of this patient. She was surprised to hear about him: Few patients stay in the hospital as long as he had, nearly two weeks, and even fewer stay that long without a diagnosis. Her new patient was a healthy looking man but still profoundly weak in his limbs. More ominously still, the numbness and tingling that preceded the weakness in his arms and legs had recently moved into his face. Was the weakness heading there too?

She sat down with his extensive chart. The problem, as far as she could tell, was that the patients illness didnt fit exactly into any single category. The team was stumped, so little had been done for the patient, besides treating his pain.

Butler, the neurologist, had an interesting suggestion. Why not try treating the patient for G.B.S.? The treatment, an infusion of antibodies taken from thousands of donors, given once a day for five days, had been shown to help some with G.B.S.  though why it worked at all was not clearly understood. If the patient got stronger, that would suggest that he had G.B.S., and if he didnt and actually had an infection, the treatment wouldnt hurt him.

Waiting to Feel Better

On the first day, there was no improvement. Same on Days 2, 3 and 4. But on the last day, the patient noticed something. His weakness was unchanged, but the feeling of numbness in his face was gone. Was that enough to prove this was G.B.S.? The neurologist thought so. The infectious-disease doctor theorized that the man had a virus: one they hadnt thought of, one they hadnt tested for. The two doctors, along with Idrees, thought it was possible the patient had both  that he started out with some virus and then developed G.B.S. One point of agreement among the three was that something had injured the nerves in this mans legs and arms, and that without a diagnosis, all they could do was wait and see if he got better.

Uncertainty in medicine isnt discussed much. We much prefer that the mystery is solved and the villainous ailment is blamed for the deed, or at least eliminated. A diagnosis is just a label unless it leads to a better understanding of prognosis or useful treatment. Those who have been to a doctor for a complicated problem will recognize the truth in this scenario: that far too often the diagnosis is unclear and the complexities of the body and of its illnesses cannot always be neatly categorized.

When this patient left the hospital last summer, he was too weak to walk, too weak to even feed himself. Nearly a year has passed and after months of rehab, the patient can walk without assistance and his arms and legs, while still numb, are getting stronger. He works out with 15-pound weights at the gym. And he can climb the stairs on his own, though he still has to hold on to the banister tightly. Progress is slow, but hes hopeful that his body will eventually recover all that it once had and was.
That high expectation goes for filmmakers, too. In 2015, the knives came out for Sea of Trees, starring Matthew McConaughey as a depressed scientist who travels to Japans suicide forest, Aokigahara. The films director, Gus Van Sant, had scored memorable Cannes causes celebres with To Die For and Elephant.

That didnt save Sea of Trees from the carnage, but Mr. McConaugheys response at a news conference was characteristically sanguine: Anyone has as much right to boo as they do to ovate.

Mr. Jacob also mentioned David Cronenbergs Crash, screened in 1996, and Jean-Jacques Beineixs The Moon in the Gutter, in 1983, as victims of audience discontent during his programming tenure. Mr. Cronenbergs breathtakingly bold adaptation of the J. G. Ballard novel shocked viewers with its portrayal of fetishistic sex involving cars and scars. At the Cinematheque Francaise exhibition on Cannes, its under the category of moral scandals at the festival.

Crash went on to win a prize at Cannes. At the festival, the line between genius and folly is often up for debate.

The Good and the Bad

The history of Cannes is full of examples of boos turning later into cheers, or at least prizes. These include artistic landmarks like LAvventura and Taxi Driver, not to mention work by leading auteurs like David Lynch (Wild at Heart and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me), Jane Campion (Sweetie), Lars von Trier (Dancer in the Dark, Antichrist) and Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life  although apparently only a clutch of critics took issue initially).

Maurice Pialat was jeered at the 1987 award ceremony upon winning the Palme dOr for Under the Sun of Satan, and struck back. If you dont like me, he told the audience, I can tell you that I dont like you either!
The lack of opportunities for women has been an important issue facing studios in recent years, but a new study of American film festivals, which have long served as talent spotters for Hollywood, shows that they too have a ways to go.

The Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film at San Diego State University examined 23 festivals held since last June in the United States and found that their programmers selected features directed by men three times as often as those made by women, according to the report released Wednesday. The findings also showed that programmers chose twice as many documentaries directed by men.

Over all, 29 percent of the directors of independent movies in these festivals were women, a rise of 1 percentage point over the previous year and an increase of 7 percentage points since 2008-9. Women fared better in another key role  they made up 32 percent of the producers on the films studied (a dip of 1 percentage point since 2008-9).

Expanding the view to include whether the festivals indie selections employed women in any important behind-the-scene role, like writer or cinematographer, the study found that they accounted for only 28 percent of all those jobs. But that was a recent high  in 2008-9, the figure was 24 percent.
But Mr. Ashman and other residents still filed a lawsuit on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in the city, the shelter plan has been more successful. A shelter for women in Prospect Heights, a neighborhood adjacent to Crown Heights, opened without protest, though residents have noted that the shelter provider has a good reputation and that the location of the shelter had previously served people with addictions.

The other two new shelters  one for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths and another for families  are in Belmont, a neighborhood in the Bronx district represented by Councilman Ritchie Torres.

There was no need for Mr. de Blasio to personally call Mr. Torres, who was already working closely with homeless services.

In an interview, he said the mayors administration would be better served with a more diverse staff and by offering proof that shelters would be in other areas. The failure to specify possible sites for shelters in wealthier, whiter neighborhoods is a glaring omission and a cause of concern, Mr. Torres said.

But he said his district needs safer shelters, pointing to two young sisters who died after a radiator malfunctioned in a cluster apartment in a poorly maintained building. Affordable housing alone is not the answer, he said, citing data showing that one million households in New York and nearby areas earn less than 50 percent of the median income in the region but that only 425,000 units of affordable housing would be truly affordable to those households.

In March, Mr. Torres joined Mr. Banks and Chirlane McCray, Mr. de Blasios wife, to give the news media a tour of the youth shelter. It was a much-needed boost for the administration on the same day that the mens shelter was scheduled to open, but did not.
To the Editor:

Re They Got Breast Implants, Then a Rare Cancer (front page, May 15):

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has a singular focus on patient safety, and we appreciate your reporters shining a bright light on this rare lymphoma.

In 2011, the society began collaborating with the Food and Drug Administration to better understand breast-implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. We commissioned a RAND study that brought together government, plastic surgeons, epidemiologists, oncologists and others to evaluate the known data regarding the etiology of this disease.

The society, in partnership with the F.D.A., started a national registry called Profile in 2012 to collect information on patients with this cancer to determine best practices for diagnosis and treatment. The disease is so rare that data-gathering is a slow process.

We regularly communicate with our members in our publications, conferences and email and on plasticsurgery.org/alcl regarding updates on this disease. We fund multiple research projects to further delineate this disease process.
Like California, Virginia uses so-called dynamic pricing to adjust express lane tolls depending on traffic volume. It states that the top rate is approximately $1 per mile; however, rates rise without limit in the case of especially clogged traffic, such as might result from a major accident. Rates during busiest periods have climbed dramatically, sometimes reaching $30 for a single trip.

How could anyone earning minimum wage possibly afford $1 or more per mile  above and beyond the costs of owning and operating a car  to get to work speedily?

Yet in the Bay Area around San Francisco, a 550-mile network of express lanes is planned, with construction continuing through 2035. In Central Florida, eight express lane projects are underway.

Express roads have been around for more than a decade, but the spike in construction is because of aggressive marketing by tech companies that have improved automatic collection systems. These businesses partner with local governments and share in the revenue.

The new technology requires motorists to obtain transponders for their vehicles, because all tolls are collected electronically. The devices are free, but the process of obtaining them can be like excessive voter-registration procedures: It can be more difficult to participate if youre on a budget and dont have a credit card.

If fairness, not government greed, were considered, the transponders could easily be used to adjust tolls progressively, based on the value of a car: A Lexus owner would pay more than someone driving a Kia. However, such common sense seems too much for even liberal legislators to consider.

(In addition to being unfair, express lanes are being cited as a safety risk. State Senator Frank Artiles, Republican of Miami, introduced legislation to ban the programs, but his bill died this month in committee. Its clear that its not safe, Mr. Artiles told ABCs Miami affiliate, citing highway patrol statistics about an increased number of accidents in the narrow express lanes. He added, I truly believe that its only a moneymaking scheme.)
The mayor of Charlottesville, Va., was on the mark when he compared the people who marched with torches on Saturday to protest the planned removal of a Confederate monument to Ku Klux Klansmen, who terrorized Southern nights with cross-burnings and violence. By embracing the symbols and rhetoric of racial terror, the demonstrators made clear that they valued the Confederate memorial not for civic or aesthetic reasons but as a testament to white supremacy.

Communities across the South have been removing Confederate flags from public spaces and removing or reappraising Confederate monuments since the white supremacist Dylann Roof murdered nine African-Americans at a church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015. The Charlottesville City Council voted last month to sell a statue of the Confederate general Robert E. Lee that was donated to the city by a wealthy segregationist almost a century ago. A court has barred the city from removing the statue while it weighs a lawsuit opposing the action.

A commission established by the City Council, in a report issued last year, dispensed with the notion that the sculpture was, as its supporters argue, simply a neutral expression of Southern pride. Rather, it said the sculpture had emerged from the Lost Cause movement, which developed in the South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It romanticized slavery, affirmed white supremacy and justified the segregation of black Virginians in virtually all walks of life, the report said, including employment, education, housing, health care and public accommodations.
TEL AVIV  On Monday, The Washington Post reported that President Trump had disclosed highly classified intelligence to senior Russian officials in a meeting at the White House last week. The intelligence had come from an American ally in the Middle East that had not given permission for such sharing, breaching a cardinal rule of intelligence cooperation among allies. On Tuesday, we learned that this ally was Israel, and that the intelligence reportedly involved information about Islamic State plots to blow up airliners with bombs planted in laptops.

The specific accuracy of these press reports is a secondary issue. The primary issue is the affront to protocol, as well as reported concern for the safety of the intelligence source, which was compounded by the impression that the leak came from a witless leader oblivious to the gravitas of his office. Or worse, that Mr. Trump might be a useful idiot, sucking up to a wily and authoritarian Moscow regime that serves as his role model.

To be sure, leaders, including Israeli ones, do on rare occasion leak classified information. And they have the authority to do so. Often, such leaks reflect a conscious political calculation that the potential reward justifies any possible damage. In such circumstances, the intelligence community simply has to roll with the punches.

This instance, however, does not appear to reflect this sort of considered decision making. We can only hope that when confronted with the damage to American interests from this leak, Mr. Trump will learn to be more careful.
At this point, regardless of what happens with Mr. Comey, the Russians and anything else that comes out of the White House in the next few days, its hard to see how Mr. Trump can function as the president. Reports cast him as someone who cannot be trusted to perform the core duties of his office. Before the Inauguration, some speculated that Mr. Trump might operate as a head of state, flying around the world and meeting dignitaries while leaving the day-to-day workings of government to his vice president. It now appears he cannot even manage that: Mr. Thrush and Ms. Haberman report that some of his advisers fear leaving him alone in meetings with foreign leaders out of concern he might speak out of turn.

Calls for impeachment have begun, but they will only gain traction if enough Republicans decide to back them. In the meantime, what does the country do with a president who cant do his job?

The president is unlike King Lear in many respects, but in this perhaps most of all: He seems to lack a Cordelia who will speak to him honestly. Instead, Mr. Trump has been Regan and Goneriled all the way to the presidency, flattered and coddled by his advisers, the Republican establishment and his family to the point where flattery and coddling are useless and no amount of careful management can keep him from revealing state secrets and then bragging about it on Twitter.

Its not clear whether someone who refuses to lie, flatter or curry favor would have much influence with Mr. Trump, so surrounded is he by people willing to do all of those things. But someone like that, especially from within the Republican Party, could have a great influence on the country right now. Without such voices, were all at the mercy of the storm.
Here, the evidence strongly suggests that the president acted corruptly. That starts with the demand for loyalty from Mr. Comey, the account of which the White House disputes. That demand can reasonably be understood to mean that Mr. Comey should protect Trump and follow his bidding, rather than honoring his oath to follow the evidence. It is also an implicit threat: Be loyal, or you will be fired.

When Mr. Comey did not seem to take the hint, Mr. Trump made his meaning crystal-clear on Feb. 14: Let the investigation go, and let Mr. Flynn go, too. The president denies this as well, of course, as he has denied so much else that has proven to be true. Who are we to believe: Mr. Comey, who would have no reason to accuse the president of obstruction of justice, and who has apparently preserved meticulous notes of his conversations? Or the president, who fact-checkers have demonstrated has told more lies in less time than any other modern occupant of the Oval Office?

While Mr. Trump might have been within his rights to fire Mr. Comey, this pattern of demands to protect himself and Mr. Flynn, followed by retaliation when the demands were not met, if proven, is a textbook case of wrongful conduct. Add to this the fact that Mr. Flynn was already offering testimony about the Russia connection in exchange for immunity from prosecution, and Mr. Trumps clumsy attempt to dissemble the cause of the firing, and it is clear that a cover-up was afoot.

Finally, Mr. Trump topped things off with his tweeted threat to Mr. Comey; witness intimidation is both obstruction of justice in itself, and a free-standing statutory offense.

Taken together, this evidence is already more than sufficient to make out a prima facie case of obstruction of justice  and there are likely many more shoes to drop. Mr. Comey reportedly took notes on all of his encounters with the president. If what has emerged so far is any indication, this is unlikely to offer much comfort to Mr. Trump.

And there remains the core question of the presidents motives. Is he withholding his taxes because they show evidence of a lot of money pouring in from Russia, as his son once stated, or do they show no such thing, as his lawyers claim? Why is Mr. Trump so fervently protecting Mr. Flynn: out of loyalty to a friend, or because Mr. Trump fears what that friend would say if he received immunity?

We have previously called for Congress to set up an independent 9/11-style commission on the Russia and Flynn investigations, and for the Department of Justice to appoint a special prosecutor. This appointment is necessary because Congress cant actually prosecute anyone who may have committed crimes, including obstruction of justice, in connection with the Trump-Russia matter. This weeks revelations about the president, the most powerful man in the country, emphasize the need for these independent structures to be erected and to encompass these new allegations.
Leaked portions of a memo penned by James Comey, the former F.B.I. director, have provided new ammunition to President Trumps opponents. The memo purportedly memorializes a conversation between Mr. Comey and the president regarding Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser. In it, Mr. Comey asserts that the president stated, He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

Widespread howls erupted, including by editors of this paper, asserting that President Trump obstructed justice. But as distasteful as the presidents statements may be, they do not constitute an obstruction of justice. Indeed, if they did, virtually every communication between criminal defense lawyers and investigators would be a crime.

Section 1510 of Title 18 of the United States Code addresses obstruction of criminal investigations. It is a narrow statute, criminalizing only willful acts by means of bribery that have the effect of obstructing the communication of information about crimes to federal investigators. Even assuming Mr. Comeys memo is accurate, there is no indication that President Trump willfully attempted to bribe the F.B.I. director. As the Supreme Court stated in United States v. Sun-Diamond Growers of California, for bribery there must be a quid pro quo  a specific intent to give or receive something of value in exchange for an official act.
Wow, Donald Trump cant even give a commencement speech to the military without making it all about him.

Now I want to take this opportunity to give you some advice. Over the course of your life, you will find that things are not always fair. You will find that things happen to you that you do not deserve, the president warned as he was addressing the Coast Guard Academy graduating class Wednesday.

How many of you think Trump was envisioning an unjustly embattled seaman?

Look at the way Ive been treated lately, especially by the media, he went on. No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly.

We will pause now to recall that Abraham Lincoln was accused of everything from drunkenness to treason to being a fungus from the corrupt womb of bigotry and fanaticism before being assassinated. Youd think Trump would remember that, since he seems to regard himself as an expert on Lincoln. (Most people dont even know he was a Republican, he informed a fund-raising dinner recently.)
With its first successful test on Sunday of an intermediate-range ballistic missile, North Korea stands on the verge of becoming a complete and verifiable nuclear power that poses a direct threat to the United States. This latest act of defiance came just days after the swearing-in of Moon Jae-in as president of South Korea and hours before Chinas celebration of a $1 trillion international infrastructure project called One Belt, One Road.

Pyongyangs countless provocations since the Korean War have never set off a meaningful punitive response. Even in egregious cases like assassination attempts against South Korean leaders or the shooting down of an American reconnaissance plane in international airspace in 1969, the United States and its allies have answered with restraint.

Since the early 1990s, American presidents have treated the growing threat of the North Korean nuclear program as a priority  but one to be dealt with later. North Koreas deep poverty and the apparent clownish nature of its leaders have sustained the illusion that its nuclear program could be bought out, the regime itself could be waited out, and that its largely concealed crimes against humanity could be tuned out.

While the United States has vacillated between expedient deals, halfhearted sanctions, pleas to China for greater intervention and doing nothing, the North has methodically advanced its nuclear arsenal and missile capacity.
Make no mistake: Senate Bill 4 does not advance public safety. Thats why police chiefs from major cities in Texas, including Austin, oppose the law, saying it would drive a wedge between police officers and the communities they serve. The Houston police chief has reported a significant drop in the reporting of crime by the Latino community, and he attributes it to the fear generated by this kind of policy. Since the immigration raids in Austin this year, the citys provider of sexual assault forensic exams has reported an 80 percent increase in sexual assault victims who werent willing to report their assaults to police.

I made my first presentation to the Austin City Council when I was a 21-year-old community organizer. Working alongside immigrant construction laborers, we moved the council to pass a law mandating a daily 15-minute water break for the people who labor in the Central Texas sun.

Since then, the immigrants-rights and workers-rights movements have grown in numbers and influence, in Austin and across Texas. Organizations led largely by undocumented families and communities of color, like the Workers Defense Project, the Texas Organizing Project and Grassroots Leadership, have waged successful campaigns to scale back deportation policies in Dallas, Houston and Austin area jails.

These groups are now at the forefront of the fight against Senate Bill 4. Theyve worked with elected leaders from across the state to announce their joint support for litigation to stop the bill before it can go into effect this September.

I wholeheartedly support this, and my colleagues on the Austin City Council are poised to vote Thursday to challenge the State of Texas in court. Our vote will also affirm that our police departments mission is the enforcement of criminal laws, not federal immigration enforcement.

I hope that our vote will inspire more municipalities across the Lone Star State to draw a line in the sand and defend the rights of all of our community members.

But this is bigger than Texas. If Senate Bill 4 is allowed to go into effect in my state, we can expect similar laws across the country. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, recently called Texas Senate Bill 4 a positive step that makes sense for the citizens of our country. More than 50 similar bills are pending in dozens of state legislatures.

The racism and fear that play such outsize roles in support for this type of legislation, and in contemporary politics more broadly, must be confronted head-on. I believe that immigrants-rights activists and elected officials together are up to the task. With Senate Bill 4, were faced with the threat of a continued cycle of political and economic disenfranchisement of working-class minority communities, and the tragic human consequences that suppression brings. Theres just one thing standing in the way: all of us.
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Maybe the questions bubbled up over time. Maybe the realization hit you suddenly. Am I gay? Everyone calls me a girl, but I dont feel like one. Why do I feel different from the people Im around? Those feelings can be the beginning of a journey of self-discovery that can be rewarding, but also extremely daunting.

You are not alone.

If this is what youre going through, take a breath and remember that there are plenty of people and resources to help and support you. Even if facing discrimination is not a concern for you, the anxiety and isolation you may feel privately can be all too real.

You are not alone, said iO Tillett Wright, a speaker whose TedxWomen talk, Fifty Shades of Gay, has more than 2.5 million views. Its comical how not alone you are.

While it is not possible to get an exact figure on the population of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, a 2015 report by the Public Religion Research Institute suggests that 7 percent of millennials identify either as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. A January 2017 Gallup survey revealed that an estimated 4.1 percent of Americans identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, up from 3.5 percent in 2012.
Malla is pursuing a PhD in disaster management from Kagawa University, Japan and was involved in the Bara-Parsa reconstruction programme.
Google is not alone in this quest to build a future out of A.I. Its parent company, Alphabet, is spending billions to inject machine intelligence into much of the global economy, from self-driving cars to health care.

Then there are the other members of the Frightful Five  Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft  which are also spending heavily on the intelligent future. Collectively, the five are among the biggest investors in research and development on the planet. According to their earnings reports, they are on track to spend more than $60 billion this year on research and development. By comparison, in 2015, the United States federal government spent about $67 billion on all nondefense-related scientific research.

There are two ways to respond to the tech industrys huge investments in the intelligent future. On the one hand, you could greet the news with optimism and even gratitude. The technologies that Google and other tech giants are working on will have a huge impact on society. Self-driving cars could save tens of thousands of lives a year, for instance, while computerized methods for diagnosing and treating disease could improve our health and cut the cost of care.

Whats more, experts in the field say that many tech giants are currently approaching A.I. with a kind of academic ethos. For instance, they regularly publish papers on their findings, and  through their cloud server businesses  they are allowing third-party companies to access some of their latest A.I. tech.

But the tech industrys huge investments in A.I. might also be cause for alarm, because they are not balanced by anywhere near that level of investment by the government.

In the waning days of the Obama administration, the White House published a report examining the ways artificial intelligence would alter the world. The report found that the federal government spent only $1.1 billion on unclassified A.I. research in 2015. It argued for increasing spending on artificial intelligence by several times. With greater federal funding, the report said, researchers could focus more on basic research  more tenuous, potentially less immediately applicable areas of A.I.  and through the grant-making process, the government would have a greater say in how the technology develops.

Greg Brockman, a founder and chief technology officer of OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research firm, echoed this idea.
The friendship developed into a partnership. Mr. Levandowski left Google last year to form Otto, a self-driving trucking start-up. Uber acquired it months later for nearly $700 million. Mr. Kalanick subsequently appointed Mr. Levandowski to run Ubers autonomous vehicle research.

That relationship has since set off a legal morass, with Googles self-driving vehicle business  now called Waymo  accusing Mr. Levandowski of creating Otto as a front to steal trade secrets from Google, then using the findings with Ubers driverless cars. On Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco barred Mr. Levandowski from working on a crucial component of Ubers self-driving car technology for the duration of the case.

The implications are set to reverberate far beyond the courtroom. Any setback for Uber will shake up the driverless car industry, which is locked in a bitter race to introduce and commercialize autonomous cars. Silicon Valley tech titans and Detroit automakers are making huge investments  bets that autonomous vehicle technology will usher in a new age of how people get around. For some companies, especially traditional carmakers, their very survival is at stake.

While Google has been developing autonomous vehicle technology for more than a decade, others have raced to catch up. General Motors, Ford, Apple, Tesla, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are among those that have jumped in. All are competing  and sometimes cooperating  for a slice of a new market expected to top $77 billion over the next two decades, according to a study from Boston Consulting Group.
Riveting from the start, this is a performance that overleaps with uncommon grace the plays most formidable obstacle  the dialect in which ONeill wrote Brutuss lines, a principal reason that the play is often tagged as racist. Mr. Abili told me in an interview that finding his way through that language was arduous work, but he has arrived at a way of speaking it that erases any insult. His Brutus is a man, not a walking stereotype. It is painful to watch him break as he does, over the course of a disoriented night in a forest, where the trees dance and ghosts can be banished by gunshot.

The past is what chases Brutus, but the present torments Yank, Mr. Cannavales character in The Hairy Ape. A steamship laborer who has always felt proud of his place in the order of things, he loses that sense of belonging in a single enraging encounter with a spoiled scion of the upper class, a young woman who faints at the sight of him. From there, in a cascade of humiliations, his life unravels.

Mr. Cannavale made an astonishing Yank, not least for his vertical, nearly feline leaps from the stage floor to the tabletops. Yanks lines are written in dialect, too  period tough guy  and on the page they look antique. But in performance, they were as natural as breath. ONeill meant for audiences to be moved by Yank, and Mr. Cannavale allowed that to happen. With his alpha-male virility and soulful woundedness, he became the vital, beating heart of Mr. Joness sleek, stylized machine  an actual machine, with the set revolving around the audience on a mammoth track.

The Emperor Jones had its premiere in 1920, The Hairy Ape two years later, and while theyre both expressionist dramas, theyre totally different in feel. But ONeill built each around a character who finds himself on the outside of American culture looking in: Brutus a black man who fled this country and its ugly legacy of racism, Yank a working-class white man who discovers that he is not nearly as important as he had believed. In Mr. Jones and Mr. OReillys interpretations, the stripping away of human dignity is as central to both plays as it is to this years finger-on-the-pulse Pulitzer Prize winner, Lynn Nottages Sweat.

Target Margins Mourning Becomes Electra, at Abrons, is a completely different animal  a production (through Saturday, May 20) whose probing of ONeills text is evident in every moment of the performance. Its a strange, immersive, peregrinating take on his overwrought, overlong Oresteia adaptation, from 1931. Contemporary resonances are scarce: too much psychodrama in the script. But whereas a conventionally reverent staging can numb the mind, this one stimulates the audience to view the play anew.

And that is exactly what this springs rare windfall of thrillingly staged ONeill has done: freed him from his pigeonhole, let him stretch and breathe, and allowed us to see him in ways we hadnt realized we could. Including with two brilliant ONeill interpreters we didnt know we had.
Effie, the human firestorm raging through Gary Owens Iphigenia in Splott, at 59E59 Theaters, knows that if you saw her coming down the sidewalk, you would probably cross the street. A part of her resents this. But she also savors it; your discomfort confirms her strength.

You arent wrong to be afraid of Effie, the only character in this production from the Sherman Theater of Cardiff, Wales. As embodied by the dynamic young actress Sophie Melville, she combines incinerating contempt with the fierce, resilient hedonism that belongs to young adults for whom the day begins when the bars and the dance clubs open.

This woman  on the prowl and on the dole in the Splott district of Cardiff  is a blazing life force, for sure. But you can also tell its only a matter of time before shes burned herself into ashes. You dont want to stand too close to her  you get the feeling youd blister  but you cant help staring. Effie knows that, too.

I first met Effie last year at the National Theater in London. And Id almost forgotten the disturbing, exciting pleasures of her company in this fast and furious production, directed to scorch by Rachel ORiordan. Its not easy for a theatergoer to be the focus of so much rage and resentment.
Take Economics 101 and youll encounter a concept called price discrimination. It works like this: In any market for goods and services  apples, Xboxes, college tuition  there is a range of prices that customers are willing to pay. As a rule, there will be a small number of people willing to pay a lot of money (billionaires who really love apples), a large number of people willing to pay a little money (poor people who prefer pears), and some other numbers in between.

These preferences converge when the number of people who want to buy something at a given price is the same as the number of items the company wants to sell at that price. This is the market price.

But companies dont want to sell all of their product at the market price. Instead, they want to find the fruit-loving billionaire and sell him an apple for the most hes willing to pay. Then they want to find the next most apple-craving rich person on the demand curve, and then the next, selling each apple for a different price  that is, discriminating the price. This brings in a lot more money than selling all the apples for the same, market price.

Price discrimination is all but impossible for actual apples, because they are an inexpensive commodity. Its easier when the product is scarce and the market is complicated. Take airplane trips. There are a limited number of seats on airplanes, theyre expensive, and people want to buy them for complex reasons. Airlines take advantage of this to price-discriminate, in two ways.

First, they create business- and first-class cabins. In theory, the larger price is for better service: free drinks, bigger seats, flight attendants who arent mean. But first class is also just an excuse to get people who were already willing to pay more  because theyre rich, or their company is footing the bill, or they really love flying  to pay that full amount.

The next thing airlines do is gather information about you, to better estimate how much they can charge. Airlines know, for example, that certain itineraries suggest business travel, and that last-minute fliers are willing to pay more than people planning months in advance.
Alex Jones, a high-profile conspiracy theorist and the host of a right-wing radio show, said Wednesday that he had mischaracterized the yogurt company Chobani in statements on social media that led to a lawsuit.

In a statement at the end of one of his broadcasts, Mr. Jones said: During the week of April 10, 2017, certain statements were made on the InfoWars Twitter feed and YouTube channel regarding Chobani L.L.C. that I now understand to be wrong.

The tweets and video have now been retracted and will not be reposted. On behalf of InfoWars, I regret that we mischaracterized Chobani, its employees and the people of Twin Falls, Idaho, the way we did.

Chobani had filed a lawsuit against Mr. Jones on April 24, claiming that he had posted false and defamatory news reports about the company and its founder, Hamdi Ulukaya, a Turkish immigrant of Kurdish descent. The suit, filed in Federal District Court in Twin Falls County, Idaho, where the company has a factory, named Mr. Jones and the media companies InfoWars and Free Speech Systems as defendants.
NEW ORLEANS  A little after 9 p.m. on Tuesday, a crane was hauled to the entrance of City Park, signaling that the final retreat of the Confederate general Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard had begun.

It took some six hours  during which the small crowds sang and bickered, a couple of people were detained by the police, and a brass band came and went  but just after 3 a.m., the six-ton, 102-year-old statue of Beauregard astride a horse was lifted off the pedestal to be crated and stored at an undisclosed warehouse.

Much of this had been rehearsed. The Beauregard statue is the third of four monuments that have been removed  or will be removed  at the direction of the mayor, Mitch Landrieu, and the City Council. Early last Thursday, a statue of Jefferson Davis was taken down; last month, workers removed a monument to an 1874 insurrection in New Orleans by a white supremacist militia. The remaining monument, a 70-foot column topped by Robert E. Lee in a prominent downtown traffic circle, awaits.
City leaders in Cairo say they are pressing for alternatives so people can stay in town. Could the owners of some of Cairos numerous vacant homes fix them up and rent them out using vouchers?

Mayor Coleman said he was hopeful that if everything falls into line, more people will be able to stay somewhere in Cairo than initially expected. Meetings are being held with owners of vacant properties. Beyond McBride and Elmwood, there is talk here of a proposed river port terminal and a new grocery store, just the sort of lift thats needed in a city that has been written off as a ghost town by plenty of people.

In response to pleading letters from students in Cairos sixth-grade classes and school officials, Ben Carson, the secretary of HUD, said he understood the devotion that residents have to their hometown, but the circumstances, including a nearly bankrupt local housing authority, made moving families the best immediate option.

Despite our best efforts, we know that some families, your students included, may have to move outside of Cairo, Mr. Carson wrote to the superintendent. My hope would be that they never forget their Cairo roots and the inspiration youve provided.

Mikayllah Oliver, 11, said that a green and black mold grows in the apartment where her family stays, and that nighttime worries her because of people hanging around, sometimes firing weapons. Still, she added, she would rather stay in Cairo because of her friends here.

She said she spends a lot of time wondering where her family will be by the time seventh grade starts in a few months.

What will it be? she said. I almost cant even think about it.
Good morning.

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Cannabis may now be legal here, but drug policy experts say many Californians remain behind bars on marijuana-related charges.

Much of the attention after the passage of Proposition 64 last fall focused on its relaxing of rules against recreational marijuana use.

But the measure also called for retroactively eliminating the penalties for minor pot crimes, and reducing those for bigger ones such as cultivating and selling.

A survey published last fall by the Drug Policy Alliance, a group that pushes for drug law reform, estimated that more than 2,100 people were jailed for marijuana-only offenses in California in 2015.
For thousands of patients, a stay at a state asylum in Mississippi ended in unmarked graves.

One man was a former soldier who had acute mania. Another was an impoverished farmer who developed dementia from malnutrition because he made sure his children ate before he did. And then there was the woman who was forced into the asylum by her husband, just so he could remarry.

Not much is known about the more than 11,000 patients who died at the state asylum in Mississippi from 1855 until it closed in 1935. But a group of researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson is trying to change that.

This month, the researchers announced their plans to dig up remains from unmarked graves on the former asylum site and preserve them in a memorial and study center. The news has renewed the hopes of descendants that they can find out more about what befell their distant relatives who went into the asylum and never came out. And with those hopes, came the stories.

Families have been contacting the experts at the Asylum Hill Research Consortium to share their history, pieced together from old records, DNA profiles, ancestry searches and stories passed down through generations.
Keys to ballot boxes go missing from inside court building

Vote count in Sangachokgadhi Municipality, Sindhupalchok, was delayed by five hours on Tuesday after the keys to some ballot boxes went missing from inside the district court building.
President Trump has said he has an absolute right to reveal highly classified information to Russian officials and defended his disclosure as a way to collaborate against terrorism, contradicting earlier positions on leaks.

Mr. Trump has been far less forgiving of recent leaks of government secrets, offering scathing assessments and suggesting harsh punishments. But the president hasnt always been consistent.

Heres an assessment.

2012: Repeatedly criticizing the Obama administrations handling of leaks to the media
In Georgia, taxpayers who want to help low-income students afford private school tuition are enticed by more than just an appeal to their good will. On its website, Whitefield Academy, a Christ-centered preparatory school in the suburbs west of Atlanta, tells donors, You actually stand to make money on this program.

The Wood Acres School, 25 minutes north of Whitefield, advertises that donors can profit up to 29 percent on their donation.

And Pay It Forward Scholarships, an organization that doles out grants under Georgias tax credit program, counsels, You will end with more money than when you started, and you will be helping students receive a good education.

AASA, the association of the nations public school superintendents, released an exhaustive report Wednesday on tax credit scholarship programs like Georgias, which allow donors to piggyback on state and federal tax breaks  often to turn a profit.
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

 Joel B. Pollak in Breitbart:

This dagger is a rather dull blade. It lacks any apparent quid pro quo  a sense that Trump was offering something to Comey in exchange for dropping the investigation.

Joel B. Pollak believes that The New York Times oversells the consequences of the Comey memo, taking issue with The Timess interpretation of the word hope to mean a request. If the president told James B. Comey, I hope you can let this go, Mr. Pollak sees no reason to read this as an effort to interfere with the investigation. That is a rather liberal (pun intended) spin on Trumps words. Read more 

_____

 Guy Benson in Townhall:

The Times track record of bias obviously merits skepticism. However, this particular reporting was done by a tough young journalist who also broke the Clinton email server story.
WASHINGTON  The Justice Department appointed Robert S. Mueller III, a former F.B.I. director, as special counsel on Wednesday to oversee the investigation into ties between President Trumps campaign and Russian officials, dramatically raising the legal and political stakes in an affair that has threatened to engulf Mr. Trumps four-month-old presidency.

The decision by the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, came after a cascade of damaging developments for Mr. Trump in recent days, including his abrupt dismissal of the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, and the subsequent disclosure that Mr. Trump asked Mr. Comey to drop the investigation of his former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn.

Mr. Rosenstein had been under escalating pressure from Democrats, and even some Republicans, to appoint a special counsel after he wrote a memo that the White House initially cited as the rationale for Mr. Comeys dismissal.

By appointing Mr. Mueller, a former federal prosecutor with an unblemished reputation, Mr. Rosenstein could alleviate uncertainty about the governments ability to investigate the questions surrounding the Trump campaign and the Russians.
Mr. Brady and Mr. Ryan both insisted this week that some form of border adjustment tax remained crucial to a tax overhaul, while Mr. McConnell said it would not have sufficient support to pass in the Senate. The White House has not backed it.

As he left the meeting with Mr. Mnuchin and Mr. Cohn, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said the White House was still struggling to add substance to the one-page outline it released last month.

To date, they have not given us very much  one page  Ive had drugstore receipts that were longer, Mr. Wyden said. The clock is really ticking down, and they need to get us some specifics soon.

Despite the flurry of activity, the prospects of quick action on taxes are dim because Congress has so many other things to deal with. Mr. Trump is expected to release a budget next week. That will set off a new debate about cuts to domestic programs and increases in military and border security spending for 2018. Congress faces an October deadline to pass a funding bill for next year. Otherwise, parts of the government will shut down.

Republicans in Congress must separately approve a budget resolution this summer if they want to use the reconciliation process to pass a tax overhaul with a simple majority in the Senate. That will determine the scope of the tax legislation that Republicans can pursue if they choose to exclude Democrats from the process. Health care legislation that is being put together in the Senate could lead to additional delays.

And to top things off, Republicans and Democrats must reach a deal this fall over raising the debt ceiling.

Im not optimistic that we can have actual legislation on the presidents desk in calendar year 2017, said G. William Hoagland, vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center and a former director of the Senate Budget Committee. There are a lot of other things on their plate, and they dont have that many days left.
When the audience applauded, Mr. Trump  whom aides have described as angry and defiant in recent days  smiled and said, I guess thats why I won. Read more 

 Maggie Haberman in New London, Conn.

Anyone have Comeys phone number?

Representative Jason Chaffetz, Republican of Utah and the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said he planned to invite Mr. Comey to testify in an open session next week.

On Tuesday, Mr. Chaffetz vowed to obtain a memo that Mr. Comey wrote in which he said Mr. Trump asked him to scuttle the Flynn investigation. He said he had his subpoena pen ready.

But on Wednesday, as he hoped to reach Mr. Comey with his invitation, Mr. Chaffetz encountered a stumbling block.

Since hes left government, the old telephone number that I had for him, I havent been able to get through, Mr. Chaffetz said by phone from Utah, where he is recovering from foot surgery. I used to be able to text and call him on it.

As of early afternoon, the chairmans strategy was not entirely clear.

I need to actually be able to contact him and other than looking him up on Google, I need to network out how to be able do that, he said.

Mr. Chaffetz added that he hoped Mr. Comey would be able to appear potentially for next Wednesday, if his schedule permits. The request comes as the Senate Intelligence Committee also asked the former director to appear in both open and closed sessions.

 Matt Flegenheimer on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration signaled on Wednesday that it would not, for now, jettison the Iran nuclear deal, despite the presidents harsh criticism of the agreement during the campaign.

Facing a deadline of Thursday, the administration said it was waiving sanctions against Iran, as required under the deal. To have done otherwise would have violated the accord, freeing the Iranians to resume the production of nuclear fuel without any of the limits negotiated by the Obama administration two years ago.

But while acknowledging that the deal would remain in place, the administration imposed modest new sanctions against several Iranian individuals and four organizations, including a China-based network that supplied missile-related items to a key Iranian defense entity.

That appeared to be an effort to mollify Republican critics of the deal, which President Trump has called a disaster and said he would have negotiated far more skillfully.
President Trump, hoping to nominate a new F.B.I. director before leaving on a long foreign trip on Friday, interviewed four potential candidates on Wednesday, including Joseph I. Lieberman, the former senator from Connecticut.

The task of coming up with a credible replacement for James B. Comey, whom the president fired as director last week, has taken on new urgency over the last few days. Mr. Trump accelerated his search after The New York Times reported on Tuesday that he had pressured Mr. Comey to drop his investigation of Michael T. Flynn, the former national security adviser, amid a broader F.B.I. inquiry into possible collusion between the presidents 2016 campaign and Russian officials.

Several administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal White House deliberations, described a rushed and fluid process in which the president and Attorney General Jeff Sessions had swung nearly hour by hour on which candidate they preferred.

Mr. Liebermans name surfaced publicly for the first time on Wednesday after Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, added him to the list of candidates Mr. Trump and Mr. Sessions were scheduled to interview before the president departs for a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Europe. Mr. Spicer said the other three candidates were the acting F.B.I. director, Andrew G. McCabe; former Gov. Frank Keating of Oklahoma, a Republican; and Richard A. McFeely, a former top official at the F.B.I.
The murder last July of an employee of the Democratic National Committee received renewed attention from news media outlets on the right this week when a private investigator and longtime Fox News contributor said that there was tangible evidence that the employee, Seth Rich, had contacted WikiLeaks before his death.

The investigator has since given shifting and contradictory accounts to other news organizations, and Mr. Richs family has grown increasingly distressed, calling the politicization of his death painful and debilitating and asking for retractions and apologies from the Fox outlets that promoted the investigators story.

What do we know about Mr. Richs murder?

Seth Conrad Rich, 27, worked for the committee for a little more than a year. He was shot in the back in July near his home in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Mr. Richs murder is still under investigation by Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department.

The police in Washington responded to the sound of gunshots early in the morning of July 10 and found Mr. Rich, who was still conscious, at an intersection in Northwest Washington near his house. Mr. Rich was taken to a hospital, where he died a little more than an hour later.
The Turkish embassy released a statement late Wednesday that contradicted United States officials and video evidence and blamed the demonstrators, who, it said, had been aggressively provoking Turkish-American citizens who had peacefully assembled to greet the president. The presidents supporters and security forces were reacting in self-defense, the statement said.

The altercation, which played out in broad daylight and ricocheted across social media on Tuesday, puts the United States in an uncomfortable position as it must navigate investigating and potentially charging the security personnel and other Erdogan supporters involved in the attack, who could potentially claim diplomatic immunity.

Chief Newsham demurred when asked whether members of Mr. Erdogans security team were involved in the attack, but the State Department later acknowledged their presence. Mr. Erdogan and his security guards have since left the country. It was unclear if embassy staff had also been involved.

Chief Newsham said an investigation was continuing, adding that the authorities were reviewing video from the scene and had a good sense of who was involved. He said that some members of the pro-Erdogan group were carrying firearms, which made it more difficult for the police to contain the scene.

We intend to assure that there is accountability for anyone involved in this assault, Chief Newsham said. Yesterday we witnessed what appeared to be a brutal attack on peaceful protests.

The Secret Service, which provides protection for visiting dignitaries, said in a statement it would work with the police and the State Department to aggressively pursue accountability for those involved in yesterdays protests.
Anup Ojha is a reporter for The Kathmandu Post primarily covering social issues and human interest stories. Before moving to the social beat, Ojha covered arts and culture for the Post for four years.
If you speak bad of Maduro, you will be jailed, she warned, referring to the President Nicolas Maduro.

Unable to reach the presidential palace, which has been cordoned off, many Venezuelans have vented their outrage at the police officers containing them in streets, throwing homemade bombs and feces at the security services. At least one officer and a National Guardsman have been killed, the authorities say.

The scenes of repression from the police and military have been stark as well. As protesters demand food and new elections, stone-faced police officers have dragged them across the pavement or chased them into a dirty canal with the sting of tear gas. More than 40 people have died in the clashes in recent weeks.

Yet there are moments when the two sides have seemed closer. On the side of a building one night, as shots were heard in the capital and people in high-rises banged on pots and pans to protest the president, someone projected a message on a wall directed at the National Guard. Guardsmen, it said, are you not hungry?

The pain has been growing in Venezuela for more than two years as it reels from its worst economic crisis in generations. Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets to demand the ouster of Mr. Maduro, and clashes between protesters and the state have continued for weeks.

What we consider before using anonymous sources. Do the sources know the information? Whats their motivation for telling us? Have they proved reliable in the past? Can we corroborate the information? Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. Learn more about our process.

The United States raised the crisis at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, despite Venezuelas objection that it was an internal matter. Ambassador Nikki R. Haley of the United States said that if left unaddressed, Venezuelas crisis would escalate into a world problem, as had the crises that afflicted countries like Syria and South Sudan.

The United States took no sides in Venezuela, Ms. Haley insisted, but she called on Mr. Maduro to show respect for the Venezuelan people and their constitutional rights. Suddenly, youre arresting protesters, were seeing deaths happen, were seeing political prisoners, she said. Thats not the way to respect your people.
HONG KONG  North Korea tests nuclear weapons less than 100 miles from Chinas border. It launched a missile hours before a major speech by President Xi Jinping of China on Sunday, a move Chinese analysts called a diplomatic slap in the face. Its counterfeiting of Chinese and American currency costs China millions of dollars a year.

North Koreas history of erratic behavior has embarrassed China in many ways. But through it all, China has remained stoic about its neighbor and ally.

As evidence mounts that North Korea may have links to a ransomware attack that destroyed more than 200,000 computers globally  and hit 40,000 institutions in China  Chinas response has been muted. Which raises the question: How far can North Korea go without getting disciplined by its more powerful neighbor?

China has been one of the biggest victims of the attack, which crippled computers at universities, major businesses and local governments, adding a potentially dangerous new element to a relationship that has increasingly tested Chinese leaders.
JAKARTA, Indonesia  Two men accused of having sex with each other were each sentenced on Wednesday to 85 lashes in public, the first case of people being punished for homosexuality in the Indonesian province of Aceh under a strict version of Shariah law.

The sentences alarmed rights activists, who called the punishment excessive and a dangerous turn of events in Aceh, a semiautonomous province that has imposed a strict version of Shariah, the legal code of Islam.

News reports said that vigilantes had caught the two men naked in bed, and that the two had pleaded not to be reported to the Shariah police. The two were then beaten, an attack recorded on video, and were later taken to a local police station.

So you dont like women? Not interested in them anymore? Marzuki Ali, chief investigator for the Shariah police, asked the men, ages 20 and 23, shortly after they were taken to the police station in March. Cameras recorded his comments.
TOKYO  A royal engagement typically unleashes breathless headlines and frenzied efforts by the press to learn of the wedding details. All that is happening in Japan, where Princess Mako, the eldest grandchild of Emperor Akihito, will soon be engaged to her college boyfriend.

But news of the impending engagement, which broke Tuesday night, is also raising fresh questions about the status of women in the imperial family.

Under the Imperial Household Law, which governs the succession of emperors in Japans monarchy, the worlds oldest, women are not allowed to reign on the throne. And women born into the royal family must officially leave it once they marry.

So when the princess, a 25-year-old doctoral student at International Christian University in Tokyo, marries Kei Komuro, 25, an aspiring lawyer, she will become a commoner, narrowing the prospective pool of heirs to the throne.
KATHMANDU, Nepal  A South African filmmaker who tried to climb Mount Everest without a permit has been arrested by the Nepali police in Kathmandu, officials there said on Wednesday.

The climber, Ryan Sean Davy, 43, was apprehended by a tourism official near the Everest Base Camp earlier this month and sent to Kathmandu, where he was arrested on Tuesday. He was prevented by the police from speaking with reporters.

In addition to the charge of climbing Everest without a permit, Mr. Davy was accused of a public offense after a verbal altercation with the police.

All foreign climbers are required to obtain an $11,000 permit that allows a mountaineer to climb Everest. Those caught climbing without a permit face a fine of twice the fee they were trying to evade. Fees are less for other mountains.
JALALABAD, Afghanistan  Suicide bombers besieged the state television offices in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Wednesday, officials said, fighting for three hours and leaving at least six people dead.

The office of the governor of Nangarhar Province, where Jalalabad is, said four attackers had stormed the building. One of the attackers detonated his explosives at the entrance, while the others entered the building and resisted security forces for nearly three hours.

Two of the attackers were killed, and security forces were trying to track down the other two. Mohammad Gulab Mangal, the provinces governor, said four employees of the state television channel and two police officers were killed, and 24 others, including seven police officers, were injured. But Najibullah Kamawal, the provincial health director, put the number of injured at 18.

Witnesses reported multiple loud explosions and continuing gunfire. Video captured by the local news media showed one suspected militant being arrested by Afghan forces.
TAIPEI, Taiwan  Nowhere is the boom in tourism from China over the last decade more palpable than among neighbors of the country, Asias largest economy. But perceived economic benefits can be used as a political weapon when Beijing wants to send a message.

Many Chinese tourists are boycotting South Korea in response to its deployment of an antimissile system that China considers a threat to its security. In March, Chinese tourist arrivals in South Korea were 40 percent lower than a year earlier, dragging total arrivals in the period down 11 percent. Hong Kong had a similar experience after pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014.

Beijing has used Chinese tour groups as both carrots and sticks, said Ian Rowen, an assistant professor of geography at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, who is writing a book on Chinese tourism.

Now, the stick is being deployed against Taiwan, he said, to pressure President Tsai Ing-wen, who took office a year ago, to publicly endorse a view of China and Taiwan as part of one China. Her Democratic Progressive Party has historically favored independence for Taiwan. Since her inauguration, Chinese visits to Taiwan have fallen significantly.
SPRING RIDGE, Australia  Mark Coulton and his daughter, Claire, both believe there is a future in rural living. They are both active members of Australias National Party, which traditionally represents farmers and voters outside the main cities who lean conservative, and they agree on most things  but not on how to deal with climate change.

Mr. Coulton, 59, thinks measures like carbon trading are symbolic things that really wont have any impact. Claire Coulton, 33, supports carbon trading as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and worries that Australias economic dependence on coal could undermine her future.

I think its something all young people should be looking at with real interest, she said, because if there are negative effects of opening up that coal mine, our generation will be the one to bear the brunt of it.

The elder Coulton is a lawmaker in the Australian Parliament, representing the electoral division of Parkes in New South Wales, and his daughter belongs to the partys youth wing, but their disagreement is not limited to family debate. Last month, the regional youth wing, the NSW Young Nationals, including Ms. Coulton, went against party leaders at an annual meeting and voted to endorse a plan that would place a cost on emissions, known as an emissions intensity plan.
Austria has banned wearing a full facial veil in public places, the latest move by a European country to restrict expressions of Muslim identity viewed as contrary to Western secular values. The decision immediately drew criticism from rights advocates and from representatives of Austrias Muslim community.

Under the new legislation, approved by Parliament on Tuesday, women who wear clothing that covers their faces, such as burqas or niqabs, in places like universities, public transportation or courthouses will face fines of 150 euros, or about $167. The measure will take effect in October.

The ban is part of legislation aimed at improving the integration of immigrants, according to Muna Duzdar, a state secretary in the office of Chancellor Christian Kern. Other elements of the legislation include mandatory integration courses, German-language lessons and requirements that asylum seekers do unpaid work while awaiting the processing of their claims. Under the new law, migrants who do not meet the requirements could see their welfare benefits slashed.

Analysts said the new law appeared to be at least partially calculated to try to defuse the growing influence of the far-right anti-immigrant Freedom Party. (On Tuesday, it criticized the legislation, saying it did not go far enough.)
Mr. Kenny drew attention during a St. Patricks Day visit to Washington, where he seemed to reproach President Trump, raising the subject of the estimated 50,000 Irish people living in the United States illegally who would be at risk if Mr. Trump keeps his campaign promise to round up undocumented immigrants.

It would remove a burden of so many that they could now stand in the light and say, Now Im free to contribute to America as I know I can,  Mr. Kenny said in March, his voice briefly choked with emotion. Thats what people want.

Irelands two largest political parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, are both center-right. Fine Gael currently leads a minority government under an agreement with Fianna Fail, which remains officially in opposition but effectively wields a veto.

The main contenders to succeed Mr. Kenny are Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney. Mr. Varadkar, a Dublin physician, is currently the minister for social protection; he would be the countrys first openly gay prime minister and the first of South Asian ancestry. Mr. Coveney, the minister for housing, planning, community and local government, belongs to a politically prominent family from Cork in the countrys southwest.

It is possible, though, that the party will turn to someone else. After protracted discussions over who will lead the party after Mr. Kenny, some Fine Gael members are hoping that a dark-horse candidate will emerge.
Demonstrations were held in Athens and in other major cities, including Thessaloniki, Patras and Iraklio, against the new round of belt-tightening, which calls for pension cuts starting in 2019 and tax increases beginning in 2020 that together would save about 5 billion euros, or $5.5 billion.

In a statement, the Greek civil servants union, Adedy, called the austerity measures barbaric. It decried what it called the looting of wages and pensions and a sellout of state assets, referring to plans to privatize the power board and other public bodies.

The memorandums have consciously crushed small- and medium-size businesses, Thanos Vasilopoulos of Greeces private sector union, GSEE, told the radio station Sto Kokkino on Wednesday, referring to three foreign bailouts that successive governments have agreed to since 2010. Basically, they have created an army of 1.5 million unemployed.

The protests were mostly peaceful, although a group of around 20 hooded youths in Athens broke away from a crowd and hurled stones and flares at riot police officers.
For two decades, the king of the Netherlands has been putting the royal in KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

King Willem-Alexander said in an interview published Wednesday that for the last 21 years, he has flown twice a month as a commercial airline co-pilot for KLMs Cityhopper subsidiary, a regional carrier that flies among European cities.

He was seldom recognized in uniform, particularly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when safety protocols were introduced to limit access to cockpits, he said.

The king would often greet passengers over the intercom, but not readily identify himself. The advantage is that I can always say that I wish everyone a heartfelt welcome in the name of the captain and the crew, he told De Telegraaf newspaper. So I dont have to say my own name. But most of the people dont listen anyway.
Mr. Brady then wrapped a cushion cover around the boys head, Mr. Smith said, tied a piece of cord around his neck and strangled him. Mr. Smith said Mr. Brady then looked up at Ms. Hindley and remarked: Thats it. Its the messiest yet.

Mr. Smith said he helped cover up the body and clean the mess because he was scared stiff and wanted only to get out of the house in one piece. Later, they all had tea together. When Mr. Smith got back to his flat, he and his wife called the police.

Edward Evanss body was found in Mr. Bradys house in October 1965.

Lesley Ann Downey, 10

She was snatched from a fairground in December 1964. Her killing was the most notorious because of the details about her death that were presented in court. Pictures of Lesley, along with books on torture, were found in a suitcase belonging to the couple, according to prosecutors. The photographs showed a young girl in the nude in various pornographic poses, the prosecutor said. She had been gagged with a scarf but was still wearing her shoes and socks.

The most sensational and horrifying evidence, also found in the suitcase, was tape recordings the couple had made, apparently of Lesleys murder. Jurors heard the voices of a man and a woman, and also of a girl, believed to be Lesley, crying out for her mother and asking God to help her before she was killed.

Her body was found in a shallow grave on Saddleworth Moor in October 1965.

John Kilbride, 12

He disappeared from a marketplace in Ashton-under-Lyne, a town near Manchester, when Ms. Hindley offered him a ride home and then made a detour to the moor, where Mr. Brady sexually assaulted him and strangled him with a piece of string in November 1963.

His badly decomposed body was found in October 1965, not far from Lesleys grave.

Pauline Reade, 16

She was abducted on her way to a disco in 1963. Mr. Brady and Ms. Hindley confessed in 1985 to murdering her, and her body was found on Saddleworth Moor.

Keith Bennett, 12

He disappeared in June 1964 while on his way to his grandmothers house in Longsight, a neighborhood in Manchester, after Ms. Hindley asked him for help loading boxes into her car. In 1985, Mr. Brady and Ms. Hindley confessed to his murder. A letter from Keiths mother persuaded Ms. Hindley in 1986 to assist the police in searching for his burial site on the moor, but despite an intensive search by more than 100 police officers, his remains were never found.
MOSCOW  Asserting himself abroad with his customary disruptive panache, President Vladimir V. Putin on Wednesday jumped into the furor over President Trumps disclosure of classified information to Russian diplomats, declaring that nothing secret had been revealed and that he could prove it.

Mr. Putin, who has a long record of seizing on foreign crises to make Russias voice heard, announced during a news conference in Sochi, Russia, the Black Sea resort that has become his equivalent of Mr. Trumps Mar-a-Lago, that he has a record of the American presidents meeting at the White House with two senior Russian officials and was ready to give it to Congress  so long as Mr. Trump does not object.

Referring to reports that Mr. Trump had revealed highly classified intelligence, Mr. Putin said, Its hard to imagine what else these people who generate such nonsense and rubbish can dream up next.

Mr. Putins offer to release a record of what was said, made after a meeting with the visiting prime minister of Italy, Paolo Gentiloni, suggested less an effort to create clarity over what Mr. Trump actually said in the Oval Office last Wednesday than a headline-grabbing assertion of his own authority and a reminder that he should not be ignored.
Presidential elections in Iran raise a puzzling contradiction: How can the government include both an unelected supreme leader and a president who is chosen in votes that are treated as serious contests?

Put another way, is Iran a democracy or a dictatorship?

Citizens elect the president, as they will on Friday, as well as members of a legislature. But they are overseen by institutions staffed by clerics. One, known as the Guardian Council, approves all candidates for office, narrowing the scope of elections. Still other unelected bodies, like the Revolutionary Guards, wield tremendous power.

The supreme leader, who holds the position for life, is the most important figure, overseeing everything.

The system began with a series of hurried political compromises amid the countrys 1979 revolution. The end result was an Islamic republic, meant to combine democratic involvement with theocratic oversight. In practice, the two often clash, with unelected, unaccountable officials holding the most power.
Namobuddha, Dhulikhel re-election today

The District Election Office is all set to hold elections in Ward No 4 of Namobuddha Municipality and Ward No 12 of Dhulikhel Municipality on Wednesday.
Exposures

IN SEPTEMBER 2013 we began an experiment. We sent reporters across the city to find college students, new to the city, who would agree to be photographed twice: Once, during their first week of school and then again at the end of their freshman year. We hoped to see the difference time would make. We published those pictures and a little bit of each students story here, in 2014.

Four years later, in the weeks before graduation, we asked the students to sit for us again. Some returned, some did not. With those who did, we talked about school, the city and how the years had passed.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHAD BATKA FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

INTERVIEWS BY ALICIA DeSANTIS

Sophia Greene Age 22, Charleston, S.C. Fashion Institute of Technology Sophia is graduating from F.I.T. with a major in fashion merchandising. She has a job at Kes, a boutique on the Upper West Side. This is the fashion place, this is where you do fashion. But I dont see my mental health withstanding this for more than a decade, she said. My teachers are all about, like, Have you created your brand? Are you curating your Instagram, your Twitter, your Linked In? And youre just like, No, I dont. I have a job. Im fine. She said she had changed her style since the first pictures. Maybe it came from having a significant other that tells me my value. I think that has a lot to do with it, she said. I dont have to be the most sparkly thing in everyones eyesight.

Ololade Oguntayo Age 25, Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Technology Ololade left F.I.T. before his second year began but stayed in the city, working a variety of jobs in retail, magazines and fashion. I discovered these bars, where I discovered people that were just like me. Wait, so Im not a freak? And they became like my family. Hes recently started performing in drag, under the name Lae DuBoi. That character, Im so confident I feel so invincible, he said. You know, people in New York City, they kind of dont bother you, they kind of keep to their own  but of course you still get the looks, and you get the glares and whatever. Now I can kind of embrace it, I accept it: Yeah, come look. The first looks free: You've got to come to my shows for the rest.

Emily Morrison Age 22, Jacksonville, Fla. Pratt Institute Emily is graduating from Pratt, with a major in painting. She brought with her the notebooks she had made over the years. After my thesis show I could put everything on the wall and be like: I made all of this stuff, and its concrete, and I can touch it, and I have proof of what I did. And then I was kind of like: Now what? You take everything off the wall, and its just in a box or in your studio or in your apartment. What do you do with it now? She has a residency in Scotland this fall, and might not come back to the city. I mean, I really like it here, but I also want to go somewhere else that I havent I been before. I mean honestly: It wasnt as much fun as I thought it would be. I think that goes for a lot of things. Thats kind of life, she said. I think I thought it would be  like, things would kind of click into place more easily. And to some extent they, like, ended up O.K. Like, I landed on my feet. But it wasnt that way for a solid two years in the middle.

Grace Kim Age 22, Seoul, South Korea N.Y.U. Grace is graduating with a major in nutrition. Since we last talked, her parents have moved from South Korea to Savannah. I dont really have roots in Seoul anymore, she said. If I went back now, there wouldnt be a place to stay. We asked what she had learned in the time that had passed. Even if you like your major, you have that meltdown three times a year: What am I going to do after I graduate? she said. But its realizing people change their careers all the time. This is just a start. A stepping stone.

Sam Krovocheck Age 22, Milford, Mass. Pratt Institute Sam, a writing major, left Pratt after two years. He moved back to Massachussetts and is now enrolled at University of Massachussetts, Lowell. The hardest part was probably dropping out of school and that whole year, he said. If Im not a writer, then what am I? I would think and I would want to do something and I would kind of stop myself, get nervous, re-start something else. I had anxiety. So that was like a year of me just kind of like doing something for a little bit, something else for a little bit. I put all this pressure on myself because I wasnt in school, and felt guilty for it. And gradually I just stopped thinking about it, for whatever reason.

Madisen Masog Age 22, Lebanon, Ore. Pratt Institute Madisen is graduating with a major in fashion design. Her mother died of cancer when she was in her second year at Pratt. I found out my junior year of high school, so I knew that she wouldnt be around to like see me graduate, which was really hard to think about. She was like my number one supporter  so like the fact that Im graduating now is just, its really exciting she said. I definitely got my style from her. Like everywhere she went her hair was perfect. Ill never forget her hair. Like there was never a piece of hair out of place. It was just this short haircut, and it was just this specific look, with a little bit of bangs, but it fit her so well.

Teddy Finkelstein Age 22, Louisville, Ky. Columbia University Teddy is graduating with a major in financial economics, and will start a job at Citibank in July. I worried a lot when I was younger. Especially going to college, I was always worrying. Now I just feel like I can handle that. He will be sharing an apartment in Chelsea with some classmates. I cant imagine trying to stay in New York City without having a job. And I know that as soon as I get out I have to put a substantial part of my income, at least early on, towards paying my debt and saving money and that sort of stuff. It scares me to think about not having a job. And luckily I dont have to do that.

Kate Magnuson Age 22, Laguna Beach, Calif. Barnard College Kate is graduating from Barnard College. She will be pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology at Baylor University in the fall. I was like, Im good at this, and this feels good, and I think I can do it, she said. To say it was an epiphany would be overdramatic. I think people want you to have a good story. In reality it was different: I took one class, I took three classes, I took five classes, and Im studying and it doesnt totally suck. I like writing these papers. In her sophomore year, she started seeing a therapist. I feel like theres such a stigma attached to it, like you shouldnt go and you shouldnt say anything about it because people will assume you have a problem. But its so nice to have somebody have no investment and no pre-conceived judgements about you. And I was like, it would be so cool to do that with somebody, but be on the other side.
There are currently three main investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible ties to the campaign of President Trump. They all have some issues.

Fact-finding investigations Criminal investigation House Intelligence Committee Senate Intelligence Committee F.B.I. Asks what happened. Produces report. Asks if laws were broken. Could result in criminal charges. Fact-finding investigations Criminal investigation House Intelligence Committee F.B.I. Senate Intelligence Committee Asks what happened. Produces report. Asks if laws were broken. Could result in criminal charges.

The independence of the Senate and House investigations has been called into question, in large part because the presidents party controls both chambers of Congress.

Led by Republican Chairmen House Intelligence Committee Senate Intelligence Committee 13 Republicans

9 Democrats 8 Republicans

7 Democrats Devin Nunes Recused himself after improperly sharing information with White House. Richard Burr Mike Conaway Leading House investigation after Mr. Nuness recusal. Led by Republican Chairmen House Intelligence Committee Senate Intelligence Committee 13 Republicans

9 Democrats 8 Republicans

7 Democrats Devin Nunes Recused himself after improperly sharing information with White House. Richard Burr Mike Conaway Leading House investigation after Mr. Nuness recusal.

At the same time, the leadership of the Justice Department, which is in charge of the F.B.I. investigation, has also been marred by politics.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions Key role in Mr. Trumps campaign. Recused himself from Russia investigation. Acting Attorney General Sally Q. Yates Fired by Mr. Trump for refusing to defend in court his original travel ban. She previously warned the White House that Michael T. Flynn was vulnerable to blackmail because he misled his bosses about conversations with a Russian official. Deputy A.G. Rod J. Rosenstein Wrote White House memo used to justify firing James B. Comey. F.B.I. director James B. Comey Fired by Mr. Trump. Attorney General Jeff Sessions Key role in Mr. Trumps campaign. Recused himself from Russia investigation. Acting Attorney General Sally Q. Yates Fired by Mr. Trump for refusing to defend in court his original travel ban. She previously warned the White House that Michael T. Flynn was vulnerable to blackmail because he misled his bosses about conversations with a Russian official. Deputy A.G. Rod J. Rosenstein Wrote White House memo used to justify firing James B. Comey. F.B.I. director James B. Comey Fired by Mr. Trump.

The firing of Mr. Comey added a new circular conflict to deal with.

President Trump who said the Russia investigation was on his mind when he fired Mr. Comey who will oversee the investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the campaign of will appoint a new F.B.I. director President Trump who said the Russia investigation was on his mind when he fired Mr. Comey who will oversee the investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the campaign of will appoint a new F.B.I. director

Democrats and others have been calling for an investigation that would be considered less partisan. On Wednesday, Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein appointed Robert S. Mueller III to serve as a special counsel. Heres how the special counsel compares to other possible investigatory bodies:

Fact-finding investigations Criminal investigation Select Committee Independent Commission Special Counsel Bipartisan, made up of members of Congress. Bipartisan experts from outside government. Appointed by Justice Department. Example: House Benghazi committee 9/11 Commission Robert S. Mueller, former F.B.I. director. Fact-finding investigations Criminal investigation Independent Commission Select Committee Special Counsel Bipartisan, made up of members of Congress. Appointed by Justice Department. Bipartisan experts from outside government. Example: House Benghazi committee Robert S. Mueller, former F.B.I. director. 9/11 Commission

The select committee and special counsel are easier to initiate than an independent commission because they do not require Mr. Trumps signature. However, some legal experts consider them potentially less independent than other options.

Fact-finding investigations Criminal investigation Either the House or the Senate can create a  The Justice Dept. appoints a  Both the House and Senate pass a bill. President signs the bill, creating an  Select Committee Special Counsel Independent Commission Work culminates in report. Work culminates in report. Could result in criminal charges. Fact-finding investigations Criminal investigation Either the House or the Senate can create a  Both the House and Senate pass a bill. The Justice Dept. appoints a  President signs the bill, creating an  Select Committee Special Counsel Independent Commission Work culminates in report. Work culminates in report. Could result in criminal charges.

A select committee would be made up of current members of Congress and therefore has the potential to be more political than an independent commission, which would be filled with outside experts. Both of these options would have fact-finding missions.

While Mr. Mueller will enjoy more day-to-day autonomy than a United States attorney usually has, he still falls under the supervision of the attorney general  or in this case, Mr. Rosenstein  who could overrule important decisions.

There is also precedent for the department to waive those regulations and appoint a special counsel with greater independence.

In 2003, Mr. Comey was the deputy attorney general and was overseeing an investigation into the leaking of a C.I.A. operative's identity because Attorney General John Ashcroft was recused.

Mr. Comey chose to waive the regulations and appointed Patrick Fitzgerald, then the United States attorney in Chicago, as special counsel, and delegated to Mr. Fitzgerald his supervisory powers as the acting attorney general for that case.

However, the president could order the firing of either type of special counsel.

Some experts say the best option could be one that no longer exists. The law under which independent counsels were appointed was enacted in the years after the Watergate scandal in an attempt to ensure the independence of inquiries into possible misconduct by top executive branch officials.

It gave the judiciary branch, rather than the executive, direct control  meaning the person could not be fired by the president.
New Delhi changes tack, assumes neutral position

The successful conduction of the first round of local elections which took place on Sunday after a long spell of uncertainty has paved the way for the second round polls on June 14, and if the current political mood is anything to go by, the agitating Madhes-based parties will actively participate.
eSCon USA to Host the First Meeting of the Brand Research Council

Published May 17, 2017 by OCR Editor

For two days, starting on September 13, the eSCon USA will bring together eSports industry leaders and see the launch of the Brand Research Council.

The eSports Conference eSCon USA will take place at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles on September 13-14. This years edition is special because the event will also act as a gracious host for the Brand Research Council as announced by Kisaco Research. This board of key representatives from industry leaders is expected to help with eSports brand investments. The focus is on helping non-endemic organizations who contemplate the possibility of entering the eSports space.

Many of the relevant players will be present, and the list of global brands features Twitter, Ubisoft, Dolby and Turtle Wax among others. Those who choose to participate will be presented with unique networking opportunities, since all these bright minds get together under the same roof. This conference promises to be the highlight of September and one of the must-attend eSports conventions of 2017.

New Milestones to be Set in 2017

Past performance is a reliable indicator for the direction in which eSports are heading and the numbers are promising. Investments surged in 2016 and even more brands have announced their intention of jumping on the bandwagon. The eSCon USA 2017 provides an excellent opportunity for discussing new strategies and unique brand activation openings.

This conference will span over the course of two days, so there is plenty of time for those interested to connect with their peers from the fast expanding eSports industry. Game developers, media partners and representatives of leading brands will discuss hot topics, such as fan behavior, Investment, Fan Behavior, Brands and Localization. To learn more about the program, the topics and the attendees, one should visit the official website.

In addition to attracting representatives from non-endemic brands, the conference organizers will also offer complimentary passes. A limited number is available, so those who want to be part of this major eSports event should act quickly.
Twenty four Nepali girls rescued from Delhi

Twenty four Nepali girls were rescued from a House in Delhi on Tuesday evening. A joint team of Nepal Embassy in New Delhi and Crime Branch of Delhi police rescued from Uttam Bihar of New Delhi.
Reprinted from www.thenational.ae

A display of Israeli-style community policing before an audience of hundreds of young schoolchildren was captured on video last week. Were the 10-year-olds offered road safety tips, advice on what to do if they got lost or how to report someone suspicious hanging around the school?

No. In Israel, they do things differently. The video shows four officers staging a mock antiterror operation in a park close to Tel Aviv. The team roar in on motorbikes, firing their rifles at the "terrorist".

As he lies badly wounded, the officers empty their magazines into him from close range. In Israel it is known as "confirming the kill". Everywhere else it is called an extrajudicial execution or murder. The children can be heard clapping.

It was an uncomfortable reminder of a near-identical execution captured on film last year. A young army medic, Elor Azaria, fired a bullet into the head of an incapacitated Palestinian in Hebron. A military court sentenced him to 18 months for manslaughter in February.

There has been little sign of soul-searching since. Most Israelis, including government officials, call Azaria a hero. In the recent religious festival of Purim, dressing up as Azaria was a favourite among children.

There is plenty of evidence that Israel's security services are still regularly executing real Palestinians. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem denounced the killing last week of a 16-year-old Jerusalem schoolgirl, Fatima Hjeiji, in a hail of bullets. She had frozen to the spot after pulling out a knife some distance from a police checkpoint. She posed no threat, concluded B'Tselem, and did not need to be killed.

The police were unrepentant about their staged execution, calling it "a positive, empowering" demonstration for the youngsters. The event was hardly exceptional. In communities across Israel this month, the army celebrated Israel's Independence Day by bringing along its usual "attractions" -- tanks, guns and grenades -- for children to play with, while families watched army dogs sicking yet more "terrorists".

In a West Bank settlement, meanwhile, the army painted youngsters' arms and legs with shrapnel wounds. Blood-like liquid dripped convincingly from dummies with amputated limbs. The army said the event was a standard one that "many families enjoyed".

The purpose of exposing children at an impressionable age to so much gore and killing is not hard to divine. It creates traumatised children, distrustful and fearful of anyone outside their tribe. That way they become more pliant soldiers, trigger-happy as they rule over Palestinians in the occupied territories. A few educators have started to sense they are complicit in this emotional and mental abuse.

Holocaust Memorial Day, marked in Israeli schools last month, largely avoids universal messages, such as that we must recognise the humanity of others and stand up for the oppressed. Instead, pupils as young as three are told the Holocaust serves as a warning to be eternally vigilant -- that Israel and its strong army are the only things preventing another genocide by non-Jews.

Last year Zeev Degani, principal of one Israel's most prestigious schools, caused a furore when he announced his school would no longer send pupils on annual trips to Auschwitz. This is a rite of passage for Israeli pupils. He called the misuse of the Holocaust "pathological" and intended to "generate fear and hatred" to inculcate extreme nationalism.

It is not by accident that these trips -- imparting the message that a strong army is vital to Israel's survival -- take place just before teenagers begin a three-year military draft.Increasingly, they receive no alternative messages in school. Mr Degani was among the few principals who had been inviting Breaking the Silence, a group of whistle-blowing soldiers, to discuss their part in committing war crimes. In response, the education minister, Naftali Bennett, leader of the settlers' party, has barred dissident groups such as Breaking the Silence. He has also banned books and theatre trips that might encourage greater empathy with those outside the tribe.

Polls show this is paying off. Schoolchildren are even more ultra-nationalist than their parents. More than four-fifths think there is no hope of peace with the Palestinians.

But these cultivated attitudes don't just sabotage peacemaking. They also damage any chance of Israeli Jews living peacefully with the large minority of Palestinian citizens in their midst.Half of Jewish schoolchildren believe these Palestinians, one in five of the population, should not be allowed to vote in elections. This month the defence minister, Avigdor Lieberman, called the minority's representatives in parliament "Nazis" and suggested they should share a similar fate.

This extreme chauvinism was translated last week into legislation that defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people around the world, not its citizens. The Palestinian minority are effectively turned into little more than resident aliens in their own homeland.Mr Degani and others are losing the battle to educate for peace and reconciliation. If a society's future lies with its children, the outlook for Israelis and Palestinians is bleak indeed.

Jonathan Cook is an independent journalist in Nazareth
By Robert Weiner and Ryan Powers

Article originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News

Missing in action amid the hoopla on the barely passed House health-care bill and the broadly supported government funding measure is the promised infrastructure package by President Trump.

During a speech in Kenosha, Wis., on April 18, Trump declared that a sweeping change is on the horizon. "Infrastructure. Big infrastructure bill," he said. "Infrastructure is coming, and it's coming fast."

But just a month before, Philadelphia's city planning director, Anne Fadullon, had addressed the National Press Club in Washington about the uncertainty of necessary infrastructure reform. "We have no more information than you do," she said.

While Trump has repeatedly stressed how easy it is to improve infrastructure, his administration has yet to make any substantive legislative proposal.

Carl Weisbrod, New York City's immediate past City Planning Chairman, asserted that "infrastructure has suffered from decades of disinvestment," and confirmed Trump's assertion that "tiles on the ceiling are missing from the Lincoln Tunnel." Weisbrod added, "Bridges and tunnels are in dire need."

Fadullon remarked that she has been eagerly waiting for the Trump administration to subsidize long overdue infrastructure improvements. "I'm cautiously optimistic," she said. "The hope is significant."

Trump had listed Philadelphia infrastructure as a priority during his campaign and the transition, but has remained silent for months. Congressional leadership has likewise stalled on an infrastructure bill, leaving shaky bridges on I-95 vulnerable to empty promises.

Philadelphia's transit renovations are hanging in the balance. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's 95 Revive project lacks federal funding, due in part to disagreements between Republicans and Democrats.

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Reprinted from wallwritings.me

His name is Muhammad Majid Bakr. He was a 23-year-old Palestinian fisherman killed by an Israeli rifleman patroling on a naval boat in the Gaza Sea.

When he was shot, Muhammad Majid Bakr (left)was fishing at 8:30, Monday morning, 69 years since the day the Nakba began.

Muhammad was shot in the chest when he and his brother Umran Majid Bakr, were in their small fishing boat in the waters of the Gaza Sea.

Bleeding profusely, Muhammad was taken to an Israeli hospital where he died, the latest Palestinian victim whose death came, Israeli officials claim, because his boat had "deviated from the designated fishing zone".

The Bakr brothers had entered the Gaza Sea the morning of the day Muhammed died, to fish for food to eat, to share, perhaps to sell.

They had traveled from their home in al-Shati, refugees in their own land, a land which has suffered under colonial occupation since the army of a newly-formed state of Israel began its invasion of Palestine on May 15, 1948, 69 years ago.

Al-Shati is now a city with a population in excess of 80,000. It was created in 1948 as a refugee camp for about 23,000 Palestinians, all of whom had been driven from their homes in the cities of Jaffa, Lod and Beersheba.

Palestinians have designated May 15 as the Day of the Nakba, an Arabic word for catastrophe. Palestinians in Israel and the current state of Palestine, marked Nakba 69 with rallies, marches and candlelight vigils.

Thousands of Palestinians in the cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem marched in the streets carrying Palestinian flags and keys symbolic of the "right of return" for refugees who lost their homes during the Nakba.

Israel continues to make it difficult for Palestinians to commemorate Nakba. It has passed a "Nakba law" that "authorises Israel's finance minister to revoke funding from institutions that reject Israel's character as a 'Jewish state' or mark Israel's 'Independence Day' as a day of mourning".

Nakba Day 69 is also the 29th day of the hunger strike of 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails, a hunger strike designed to draw world attention to the injustice of Israel's occupation. The strike has been largely ignored by American media.

Outside the Zionist iron dome that smothers American culture, scattered attention is paid to the occupation. You American readers, raise your hand if your local church or synagogue remembered the suffering of the hunger strikers in their prayers this weekend. Anyone? Didn't think so.

The capital city of Ireland did more than offer prayers.

Last month, a Dublin City Council sub-committee passed a motion to fly the Palestinian flag over Dublin's City Hall.

The action was applauded by BADIL, a Palestinian legal rights NGO. Underlining the importance of this symbolic act of solidarity to the Palestinian people, BADIL quoted Tamir, a 13-year-old child from the Palestinian Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem as saying:

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Fake News or not?

(Image by kennethkonica) Details DMCA



Harvard Law professor Larry Tribe, the leading Constitutional scholar and practitioner of his era, has told Congress to "grow a pair" and impeach Trump. Tribe had already initiated litigation against Trump under the Foreign Emoluments Clause for his conflicts of interest involving foreign countries and their potential for filling what Tribe calls Trump's "bottomless money pit." Tribe now invokes as the occasion for Congress to take immediate action the new evidence that Trump himself revealed about the apparent attempted bribery and obstruction of justice involved in his brief, and now terminated, relationship with former FBI Director James Comey.

Tribe is not the first law professor to find Trump impeachable. But Tribe makes clear that this latest problem goes beyond mere conflicts of interest, which is what the Emoluments Clause prohibits. It goes all the way to actual bribery, done much in the manner of a mobster . Trump's own words suggest that he may have dangled the FBI directorship before Comey in exchange for Comey's assurance that Trump was (and would remain?) excluded from the Russian investigation plus Comey's swearing of general fealty to Trump rather than, as his oath requires, to the Constitution's rule of law. Comey's continued employment as FBI director was an implicit quid pro quo. The deal implied by Trump's own words, amplified by leaks from Comey, was: "You obey my will and I will keep you employed as my pet FBI Director."

Trump admits discussing such an implied offer with Comey three times. He put a gratuitous sentence in his May 9 firing letter to Comey memorializing the conversations, possibly lying in his assertion that Comey had agreed to the deal by informing Trump he is not under investigation. Trump's later tweeted threat to Comey that the conversations may have been recorded, on the other hand, suggests that Comey did not exactly decline the bribe, even if Trump did change his mind and fire him anyway. This threat itself might also constitute obstruction of justice.

Racketeering under the federal RICO law is committed by two or more instances of "any act or threat involving ... bribery," among other named crimes. That law specifically covers bribery of a public official "to do or omit to do any act in violation of the lawful duty of such official." This single incident could therefore expose the whole Trump enterprise to investigation and discovery of other similar racketeering. Other "predicate acts" by Trump involving racketeering crimes such as bribery or extortion could include the kinds of activities involved in Tribe's Emoluments Clause litigation. Comey himself might plausibly join a Civil RICO suit as a "person injured in his business" by the Trump enterprise. It would not be Trump's first brush with racketeering charges .

Trump's conversations with Comey that amounted to a bribe, Tribe argues , also constitute an impeachable "high crime or misdemeanor" of greater significance than the speculation about Russian collusion with Trump's 2016 campaign. Indeed it is important to separate the significance of Trump's attempted influence on Comey from both the dubious merits of the " Russian Hacking Fiasco " -- for which no credible evidence has yet been made public -- and also from the considerable merits of firing James Comey.

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The Democratic Party in Virginia thought it had cleared the path for the moderate Lt. Governor Ralph Northam to be the gubernatorial nominee to go against Ed Gillespie in the general election in November. Then Tom Perriello came along. Tom was a former member of the House of Representatives who served from 2009-11. He lost his seat in the Tea Party wave of 2010 and they were helped in no small part thanks to Mr. Perriello's vote for Obamacare.

Tom was born in Charlottesville, Virginia and was active in politics from a young age, even knocking on doors for Douglas Wilder, Virginia's first and only African-American governor, and the first African-American governor of any state. Perriello has since been fighting his entire life for progressive causes.

Ralph Northam is from Nassawadox, Virginia. He has served as the lieutenant governor under Terry McAuliffe. He has Mr. McAuliffe's support as well as the support of Virginia's senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, who won their respective terms as governor as well as their senate seats on centrist campaigns. Mr. Perriello's entry into the race has pushed Northam to the left.

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, two progressive icons and titans in the senate have endorsed Tom. This has added real credibility to a campaign that some Virginia primary voters did not know if they could trust. Tom also recently received the endorsement of Blue Virginia, a progressive website that usually does not endorse in primary races, but felt compelled by Mr. Perriello's message of change and equality.

I believe this governor's race is important, not only to the commonwealth, but to the future of the Democratic Party. Mr. Perriello has a unique opportunity to be a symbol of progressive change that will be a blueprint for congressional campaigns in 2018.

Tom Perriello is also not afraid to show that he is progressive and to the left of center. He wears it like a badge of honor even in rural and conservative communities that voted for Donald Trump, because he knows that having a strong economic message relates to voters better than identity politics.

Mr. Perriello also opposes two oil pipelines that would not benefit Virginia's workers. He also supports two years of free community college, a $15 an hour minimum wage, and better access to health care for all in the commonwealth. He also supports campaign finance reform so utilities like Dominion don't hold power over state politics.

Mr. Northam supports the pipelines and would like to cut taxes. These are the two largest issues that the candidates disagree on. Other issues like the minimum wage they agree on. Also, Mr. Northam once called health care a "privilege."

Tom has the intelligence and the drive to be a fantastic governor for all Virginians. It is up to the people whether to give the progressive a shot and I'm all for him! If you live in the commonwealth and plan to vote, I hope it is for Tom!
Reprinted from ourfuture.org

Many Americans are rightfully outraged at the firing of FBI Director James Comey, just as they were shocked at Comey's ability to influence political events. But what can we do about it?

A political movement should do more than just react to the day's events with outrage, although that's important. It should also offer the vision of a better world.

Donald Trump will nominate the next FBI director. Barring something unexpected, his nominee will almost certainly be approved. But that doesn't mean the rest of us are powerless. We have the power to imagine a nation run on principles of economic and social justice. We can create a vision so compelling that it brings new people into politics, encourages more activism, and compels our political leaders to fight for it.

That vision can, and should, include the FBI.

The idea of a progressive FBI may seem strange, even preposterous, given that agency's real-world history. But, as explained in part 1 of this two-part series, the Bureau was created along progressive principles in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt and Attorney General Charles Bonaparte.

Its initial work was progressive, too. The original agency, which was then called the "Special Agents Force," concentrated on investigating banking crimes, violations of antitrust law, peonage, which included debt servitude and misuse of prison labor, and land fraud. It also investigated people seeking citizenship.

That changed -- first, with the passage of the racist-inspired Mann Act, then with the political abuses and misdeeds of long-term director J. Edgar Hoover, and lastly with the political shifts of recent years.

Today, the Bureau sees its mission in very different terms. The FBI's website lists its priorities in the following order: protect the United States from terrorist attack, stop foreign intelligence operations and espionage, end cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes, fight public corruption at all levels, protect civil rights, combat transnational and other criminal organizations, fight white-collar crime, and combat major violent crime.

While all these objectives are worthwhile, it's a telling list. Protecting civil rights is more than halfway down the list. Fighting organized crime -- the mission that made the FBI famous -- is near the bottom. "White-collar crime," a category that includes the massive bank fraud that cost the economy trillions of dollars and once put 41 million American mortgages underwater, is second to last.

Imagine an FBI whose priorities more closely reflected its progressive roots. An FBI that cared more about civil rights would make it a priority to end discriminatory law enforcement practices. According to a study by the Department of Justice, black motorists were three times likelier than whites to be searched during a traffic stop. During encounters with police, African Americans were twice as likely to be arrested and almost four times as likely to experience the use of force. Once in the court system, black defendants were six times as likely to be imprisoned.

Hanging over all these encounters is the risk of violent death.

In 1892, even before the Special Agents Force was created, police chiefs around the country created the Criminal Investigation Bureau as a central repository for information on criminals. It, too, was eventually folded into the FBI. Why isn't the FBI using its data management function to track the fatal police shootings of black men, women, and children around the country?

If our law enforcement system made it a priority to fight organized crime, it would pay more attention to the Wall Street bankers at institutions who laundered money for the Mexican drug cartels. They went free, while kids on the corner went to jail.

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There has never been a single moment before, during, and now especially after, the election of #45 Trump that the call for his impeachment hasn't been loudly screamed. The impeachment talk thermometer now blazes hotter with the allegations that Trump badgered former FBI Director James Comey to scrap the Trump-Russia ties investigation, and then summarily fired him, told him too lay-off investigating former national security advisor, Mike Flynn, and has obstructed justice at every turn. This charge is almost certainly the charge that would have been brought against Nixon in the Watergate saga, and was brought against Clinton in the House impeachment charges against Clinton. It can't be brought yet with Trump. One, because there's no smoking gun proof, a document, memo, a tape, something, that can nail Trump on the charge. Two, the GOP controlled Congress barring smoking gun proof would never bring an impeachment count against him.

Despite the endless chatter about impeachment, and the obsessive yearning by millions to get the guy out of the White House, it's a good thing that Trump isn't likely to go anywhere for now. You get Mike Pence. There are terrifying reasons why this would be a catastrophe of epic proportions. Pence is practically the made in heaven poster boy for turning the clock back a half century or more. His primitive record on gay rights, civil rights, civil liberties, and education is well-known. His anti-position on same sex marriage, public school emphasis, union protections, hate crimes laws, corporate checks, and equitable corporate taxing, separation of church and state during his stint as Indiana governor are equally well-known. Every major liberal and progressive activist group on these issues have consistently given him straight Fs on their report cards for elected officials. While every conservative and ultra-conservative group has given him straight As on their legislative report card. A President Pence would move quickly, adeptly, and expertly at trying to ram legislation and initiatives through Congress and via executive order fiat to gut or eliminate every one of these protections.

The key word here is expertly. He knows the legislative process through and through. He is part and parcel of the GOP establishment. GOP senators and congresspersons are comfortable with him. He would smile affably, make no bombastic, outrageous statements or tweets, and work quietly and businesslike behind the scenes to implement his agenda. His quiet, businesslike manner, was on full display when he cast the deciding vote as VP and President of the Senate on the confirmation of hotly disputed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and the vote to defund Planned Parenthood. He did it without fanfare, attacks on the Democrats and the handful of Republicans who opposed her. There were no tweets. This paid double dividends for him, Trump the GOP, and ultra-conservatives. He got DeVos in, and the defunding of Planned Parenthood, and he did it without drawing any real media or public fire for his vote.

On the issues, such as building a border wall, immigrant restrictions, eliminating the Affordable Care, and a full scale assault on public education, Pence would not do or say anything inflammatory to stir tens of thousands to immediately sprint to the streets in anger, or have Hollywood celebrities thundering at him from nationally televised film award ceremonies, or have legions of advocacy groups furiously taking out ads and sending out action alerts on something outrageous that came of his mouth. However, the result would be the same. He'd figure out a way to get the money and the congressional support to build a border barrier. He'd institute tighter immigration controls with the full support of Congress. He'd come up with a plan that the GOP and maybe even some Democrats could agree on to dump Obamacare. He'd gradually increase funding and resources, and shape policy directives for vouchers, religious schools, and charter schools. He'd get rid of the Common Core requirement along the way.

Maybe the most compelling reason of all, though, for keeping Trump in the White House--no matter what--is that he could have colossal PR and political shelf value for the Democrats in the 2018 mid-term elections. There are roughly 25 to 30 congressional seats that are considered in play for the Democrats. Winning those seats would effectively give the Democrats the much-needed legislative breathing space to hector, slow down, and even stymie much if not all of Trump and the GOP's right wing agenda for the remaining two years of his term. The caveat, though, is that Trump's bumbles, stumbles, BS, poll unpopularity, and impeachment talk alone won't deliver those seats to the Democrats. It's going to take hard work, a real ground game, boots on the ground and a full-throated voter mobilization campaign to win those seats.

The impeachment clamor won't go away. It will likely dog #45 every second of his White House tenure. But thank goodness talk of impeachment is one thing, action is another. That's why I again ask, do you want Pence?

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.
We know that state politics by-and-large is populated by nutbags on a scale that even Federal Parliament cant handle, but even by that standard this is rather insane.

The WA Liberals have passed a series of motions it would like debated as the state parties prepare to descend on the Liberal Partys federal council, which is slated to go down in Sydney on June 23rd and 24th.

The council is a chance for state parties to raise any concerns they have with Federal policy directly with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

For the Western Australian-arm of the party, two of the issues they dearly want debated essentially constitute:

That they would like to be able to freely kill great white sharks in the name of  protection. And;

in the name of  And; That they are so petrified of Chinese military action that they are demanding an increased Armed Forces presence to help stave it off.

That is ah quite serious.

Fairfax Media has this afternoon published details on the motions which will be taken to, and very seriously discussed at, the Federal council.

One motion asserts that the WA party would like great white sharks removed as a vulnerable and threatened species, which would allow for open shark culls in the event of any attacks on humans in the ocean where the sharks live. The party is arguing, in this instance, that protecting the safety of humans who enter the water is the greater priority.

The second, and far more radical, motion (that, again we stress, was passed as a topic of debate that will be taken to the Federal council) calls for Malcolm Turnbull to beef up Australias military presence on the western and northern shores of Western Australia as a direct response to increased military activity by China in the South China Sea.

75-year-old former Federal Senator Alan Eggleston is reported to be behind that piece of brain-busting logic, who has previously relayed personal fears and assertions that China could cripple Australias economy in three weeks should China ever chose to clamp down on key shipping routes.

Other less outrageous motions passed by the WA Liberals include one that continues the states long-running sook about the distribution of the GST, as well as one that takes aim at the Labor-founded Fair Work Commission.

But there you have it, folks. Western Australian Liberals: scared of China, keen to shoot sharks.

There you bloody well have it.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald.

Photo: Dave J Hogan/Getty.
Take Care of You Trails weekend

Best MTB Community in Europe 2017

We were delighted that we had over 420 volunteers taking part including the President of the Republic of Slovenia!

More than 1200 mountain bike volunteers joined nearly 100 groups for the first ever pan-European. The co-ordinated weekend of volunteer trail maintenance was a great success and highlighted the fantastic voluntary contribution that bikers make towards the key ingredient in their experience: the trails.The weekend was also a chance for each country to engage in a friendly competition to see who could get the largest number of volunteers to attend sessions per head of population. IMBA Europe are delighted to announce that Slovenia have been given the crown of "".Slovenia were closely followed by Scotland who had 211 volunteers attend 15 sessions across the country. Graeme McLean, project manager of Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland stated We are extremely proud that Scotland has so many committed volunteers who are absolutely essential for our area to maintain our world class trails. We expect to keep growing and we hope, and believe, we will take the crown from Slovenia in 2018!Mark Torsius, the CEO of IMBA Europe, was impressed with the turnout and the impact of the campaign. Mark said "For the first year we are delighted that there were so many groups taking part and the number of volunteers helping out on trails across Europe. It really highlights the positive contribution that mountain bikers make towards maintaining the trail network. We have also had groups tell us that by being part of a wider initiative has helped legitimise their volunteering and helped them engage effectively with landowners and managers. We really believe that this campaign will grow and grow over the upcoming years and make a significant impact to opening trail access and highlight the willingness of riders to give back to the sport."Slovenia went away with a stunning plaque, designed by Scottish artist LeRoc, the co-ordinator of the Slovenian groups was Peter Dakskobler . Peter was delighted with the victory "We are proud of our mountain biking and our mountain biking community in Slovenia. The weekend was a great success and we will use the title of Europe's Best MTB Community to keep expanding our access and develop the sport and tourism.It is already the third milestone for our community since 2014 when we first stepped together for real. In the same time it is next important award for Slovenia and it's green and sustainable tourism development in the last year."To find out the date of next years event and keep up with new on mountain biking development follow IMBA Europe on facebook Instagram and twitter
888poker XL Inferno Series Day 10: 'spud_gun888' Wins Super High Roller

May 17, 2017 Eric Mertens

On the 10th day of the 888poker XL Inferno Series, there were 11 new tournaments.

Most of the attention went to the XL Inferno #126 - $5,200 XL Inferno Super High Roller Chip In, where the high rollers competed for a huge prize pool. Let's take a look at who took the most money and the results in other tournaments.

XL Inferno #126 - $5,200 XL Inferno Super High Roller Chip In

Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $5,200 May 16 121 $810,000

Players started the tournament with 20,000 in chips and had the option to do a rebuy in case they lost all their chips. At the end of the registration period, there were 121 players and 41 rebuys to create a total prize pool of $810,000 which was divided among the last 18 players.

Long before the money was reached, Chris "888Moorman" Moorman, Artem "veeea" Vezhenkov, Thomas "WushuTM" Muhlocker, Doug "DougPolkPKR" Polk, Scott "AggroSantos" Margereson, Mike "SirWatts" Watson, Roman "Romeopro33" Romanovskyi, Jussi "jnevanli" Nevanlinna and Sergio "zcedrick" Aido all busted from the tournament.

Before the bubble came in sight, the tournament lost Niklas "tutten7" Astedt, Dominik "888Dominik" Nitsche, Adrian "ADRI_ATM" Mateos, Jonathan "chut_up" Von Fleet, Parker "888tonkaaa" Talbot and Anton "anteen" Bertilsson. On the bubble, "aIderfaIder" lost with his pocket jacks against ace-five and he was the last player to leave the tournament empty-handed.

The final table was reached after more than one hour and it started with just seven players. On the bubble of the final table, "sweetness158" and Robin "Inho" Yitalo were both busted so only seven players took a seat.

In quick succession, "iBotPauseNot" (seventh, $32,400), "Vickktor" (sixth, $40,500) and "AlreadyHigh" (fifth, $48,600) busted. From that moment, it was a long grind with the final four players. In the end, "ZeusLAZER" was sent to the rail in the fourth place after losing with ace-ten against ace-jack.

Fabricio "DrMiKee" Gonzalez ended up all in for his last nine big blinds with ace-six against the ace-seven of chip leader "spud_gun888." Once again, the best hand held up and Gonzalez was sent to the rail in third place for $98,415.

Once again, "Kannwas" made it to the final table after finished in second place in the $2,100 High Roller earlier this series. This time he started with a 3:1 deficit and once again he couldn't win. On a king-five-seven-six-ten board, he bet-called all in with eight-ten for the second pair. That wasn't good enough because spud_gun888 showed six-ten for two pair.

Kannwas had to settle for $129,600 and spud_gun888 secured the top spot for $186,300.

Position Player Country Prize 1 spud_gun888 United Kingdom $186,300 2 Kannwas Germany $129,600 3 Fabricio "DrMiKee" Gonzalez Uruguay $98,415 4 ZeusLAZER Canada $72,900 5 AlreadyHigh Mexico $48,600 6 Vickktor Poland $40,500 7 iBotPauseNot Canada $32,400 8 Robin "Inho" Yitalo Sweden $24,300

XL Inferno #120 - $10,000 Lightning 6-Max

Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $109 May 16 155 $22,800

Once again, the first winner of the day came from the $10,000 Lightning 6-Max. This time there were 155 players competing to create a prize pool of $22,800. Thailand's "ihavenoboss" took the victory and received the first prize of $5,928.

Place Player County Prize 1 ihavenoboss Thailand $5,928 2 mil3n4oO Czech Republic $3,990 3 cuadrado12 Sweden $2,964 4 888pruha Kazachstan $1,938 5 xXGlamBabeXx Ireland $1,482 6 ZeroNineee Czech Republic $1,026

XL Inferno #121 - $15,000 Breeze

Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $55 May 16 465 $23,250

"WadoIchimonj" was crowned winner in the XL Inferno #121 - $15,000 Breeze. He defeated Brazil's "Luanova14" in the final heads-up to snag the first prize of $4,417.

Place Player County Prize 1 WadoIchimonj Netherlands $4,417 2 Luanova14 Brazil $3,255 3 lovelydonk Finland $2,383 4 Concrete1990 Netherlands $1,813 5 Ozzy_M Poland $1,278 6 DJ_Guetta777 Belarus $988 7 1OMGsolucky1 Sweden $755 8 noWHATfella Brazil $523 9 suitedfish Austria $385

XL Inferno #122 - $15,000 Deepstack Swordfish

Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $30 May 16 816 $22,440

Another Brazilian winner came in the XL Inferno #122 - $15,000 Deepstack Swordfish. The Brazilian players, who are pretty much dominating this series, saw their fellow countryman "ALTUSDOMUS" win the title and first prize of $4,061.

Place Player County Prize 1 ALTUSDOMUS Brazil $4,061 2 jota_ocho Peru $2,917 3 kamalove999 Germany $2,187 4 3bet4nuzZ Germany $1,638 5 Scampi76 Germany $1,155 6 R3li_able Lithuania $931 7 l.mantovan Brazil $706 8 IMDool Lithuania $495 9 BTIPPPPP Canada $287

XL Inferno #123 - $25,000 Crocodile

Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $160 May 16 316 $47,400

One of the tournaments with a higher buy-in on Day 10 was the XL Inferno #123 - $25,000 Crocodile. The 316 players paid the buy-in of $160 to create a prize pool of $47,400. On the final table, Apo "APOARSLAN" Arslan and Anton "anteen" Bertilsson were the familiar faces. Arslan finished in sixth ($2,085) and Bertilsson finished in fourth place ($3,910).

The first prize of $9,171 went to Czech Republic's "BigNich09," who defeated "23noraB" in the final heads-up.

Place Player County Prize 1 BigNich09 Czech Republic $9,171 2 23NoraB Austria $6,873 3 PuntSonPunt Czech Republic $5,214 4 Anton "anteen" Bertilsson Sweden $3,910 5 Madeon1994 Sweden $2,701 6 Apo "APOARSLAN" Arslan Sweden $2,085 7 SkallePer58 Sweden $1,611 8 Jimmy90511 Malta $1,137 9 Jaolito85 Brazil $829

XL Inferno #124 - $15,000 Swordfish

Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $30 May 16 767 $21,092.50

Place Player County Prize 1 sosickPL Poland $3,870 2 aeon.nOOb Russia $2,763 3 buszmen88091 Poland $2,088 4 ZDamian Poland $1,571 5 fortunato2b Russia $1,096 6 StorValle Sweden $885 7 AKyki89 Czech Republic $674 8 LLDG11 United Kingdom $464 9 rafa.udi543 Brazil $274

XL Inferno #125 - $20,000 Monsoon

Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $55 May 16 743 $37,150

Place Player County Prize 1 MWFTBG Sweden $6,817 2 MrGanjaman Czech Republic $4,866 3 cikipaujeje Lithuania $3,677 4 tocanopai Brazil $2,767 5 GramNaKartke Poland $1,931 6 PridvorD Ukraine $1,560 7 BTIPPPP Canada $1,188 8 hypoagrobot United Kingdom $817 9 Dziesma Cyprus $482

XL Inferno #128 - $50,000 Tuesday Challenge

Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $109 May 16 730 $73,000

In the XL Inferno #128 - $50,000 Tuesday Challenge, Swedish player "Toobo16" snagged the title and secured the $10,374 prize. He defeated "PrdelXXl" in the deciding heads-up after the final three players made a deal. The runner-up received $9,536.

"ofcourseobv" got $10,274 for third place.

Place Player County Prize 1 Toobo16 Sweden $10,374 2 PrdelXXl Czech Republic $9,536 3 ofcourseobv Brazil $10,274 4 Zebest7r Canada $5,438 5 BigNich09 Czech Republic $3,796 6 IaMTheDaNGeR United Kingdom $3,066 7 OTwenty Netherlands $2,336 8 mrx122 United Kingdom $1,606 9 Viachello Estonia $949

XL Inferno #129 - $20,000 Tornado

Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $109 May 16 211 $29,500

One of the bigger tournaments on Day 10 was the XL Inferno #129 - $20,000 Tornado. In this tournament, 211 players competed for a prize pool of $29,500. After several hours, Russia's "Jujin_EX" took the victory and received $6,342.

Place Player County Prize 1 Jujin_EX Russia $6,342 2 joga_pra_cor Czech Republic $4,572 3 PuntSonPunt Czech Republic $3,466 4 Truchota Peru $2,581 5 ego_death United Kingdom $1,770 6 uR4iseM3Up Austria $1,475 7 gripsed Canada $1,180 8 DuduPa1986 Canada $885 9 Ti0373 Russia $590

XL Inferno #130 - $10,000 Turbo Chip-In

Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $55 May 16 367 $22,700

Place Player County Prize 1 WowAceDude Sweden $4,051 2 Ipoo1 Sweden $3,539 3 MarianMera Romania $2,383 4 TeamShippo Netherlands $1,816 5 FernandoKoni Brazil $1,271 6 Clay_Born Sweden $964 7 lovesuiii China $737 8 Sinatra48 Lithuania $510 9 bubbleboybr Brazil $376
Whats new about new politics?

Whatever the final tally, two new emerging political forces, Bibeksheel Nepali and Sajha Party, have bulldozed their way into peoples consciousness.
Calling the Clock with Matt Glantz Sponsored by KO Watches

May 17, 2017 PokerNews Staff

Beginning as a cutting-edge brand active in design, manufacturing and distribution of quality-finish watches from young Mexican entrepreneurs, KNOCK OUT -KO- Watches works to distinguish itself with its quality and clean design, allowing people to use time they have as they wish and without interruption. With our sponsor, KNOCK OUT -KO- Watches in mind, we're now going to "Call the Clock" on Matt Glantz.

PokerNews Sarah Herring called the clock on Matt Glantz, giving him two minutes to answer as many questions as he can. This week's segment comes from a previous interview with Glantz on the PokerNews Podcast.

Who is your favorite Twitter follow?

Favorite Twitter followMike Dentale.

Who is the biggest troll on Twitter?

Me.

I know youre a mixed game guy a lot of the time. Whats your best game?

My best game is poker.

Best advice your dad ever gave you?

My dad was kind of a shit so I dont know if he ever gave me any good advice.

Yes! Me too. Celebrity you would most want to have on Poker Night in America?

Thats a good question.

Please dont say Kevin Hart. I thought you were going to say Donald Trump.

Alan Iverson.

Whats the hashtag that you hate the most?

Hashtag that I hate the mostIts got to be something to do with Trump. Anything to do with Trump thats negative.

Favorite Saturday Night Live cast member of all time?

Eddie Murphy for sure.

Album you can always listen to?

Smashing Pumpkins.

Person you most want to fight in poker?

Olivier Busquet, only because hed be the biggest challenge. Id never have a chance but Id like to think itd be great. Im not saying I have a problem with him, I just think that would be the biggest challenge.

Whats the last book that you didnt finish?

The last book that I didnt finish would have to beI dont know. Its been so long since I read a book. I dont read poker books so its been so long. Its probably been since college that I read a book. Im not a reader.

Cats or dogs?

Both. We have cats and dogs at my house.

Name of your dogs?

Our dog is Molly. We have one dog and two cats.

Cats names?

Well pass on that one.

Who was your childhood crush?

Childhood crushA celebrity, you mean?

Yeah, celebrity.

Morgan Fairchild.

I dont know who that is but I love Jean-Claude Van Dam.

Im older than you so

When the clocks stops, time comes to life. Get your hands on a Knock Out -KO- watch right here.
Four Big Changes at the 2017 World Series of Poker

May 17, 2017 Mo Nuwwarah Editor

For amateur and pro poker players alike, if they can travel to one poker series a year, it's generally going to be the World Series of Poker.

Pro players plan their annual schedules around the WSOP; amateurs save up for their yearly Las Vegas binges and everyone has become used to things being done and set up a certain way at poker's biggest gathering.

However, each year, there are small changes to the event as organizers strive to improve the WSOP, sometimes in response to player feedback and other times simply because they think they've spotted an inefficiency that can be corrected.

Already, there have been some announced changes for 2017. For one, the November Nine has been banished to poker's history books, a nine-year experiment that's been shelved in favor of a two-day break and July finish for the Main Event.

There's been a major change to the mechanics of calling a clock, with a new rule allowing tournament supervisors to institute countdowns with no player prompt and a shorter clock overall.

Also, the coverage schedule has been revamped with Poker Central handling live stream duties.

In addition to these changes, the WSOP has issued a press release outlining a number of less major tweaks for the 2017 Series. Below, we've listed a few of the more important ones that players and fans should know about before they step foot in the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino this summer.

Amazon and Brasilia Switch Roles

In years past, poker fans knew if they wanted to watch the big drama and the moments where the legends separated themselves from the merely great by claiming gold bracelets, they needed to head to the Amazon Room. That's where tournaments restarted from Day 2 and beyond, with the most prestigious final tables taking place on the "mothership" main stage, surrounded by friends, family and fans in the seats.

Not so any more.

Now, Brasilia Room will be the destination of choice for those looking to sweat final table action. The ESPN set will be built there around the main featured table along with two "outer" featured tables, as in recent years. There will be 30 more tables set up in the room as well, presumably to cover other restarts.

That means Day 1s need a new home, and that home will be the Amazon Room. There will be 180 tables set up in the Amazon Room to handle Day 1 action, with the most massive tournaments spilling over into the Pavilion. Speaking of the Pavilion...

Pavilion to Host High Roller Lounge, General Rest Area

...there will be a couple of changes to the Rio's most sprawling ballroom.

The jack-of-all trades room that has been the home for cash games, satellites and Daily Deepstack action in recent years will also serve as a place players can grab a seat and take a breather.

King's Casino from the Czech Republic has stepped in as a sponsor for a high-stakes cash game lounge. Fifteen tables will be sectioned off in a designated area where players participating in high-stakes games can relax and enjoy "the Rozvadov high roller experience." King's Casino's own Leon Tsoukernik will be on hand, and he's been known to hop in high-stakes games himself and get his share of action.

For those with less deep pockets, the stage area of the Pavilion will be turned into a general break area for players. Tables and chairs will be set up so they can eat and hang out while waiting on seats, tournaments or other developments.

Player of the Year Changes

One of the most prestigious awards in poker is the WSOP Player of the Year. It rewards a player who excelled throughout a long stretch of tournament poker that encompasses games ranging from limit hold'em to some of the wild stuff played in the dealer's choice tournaments.

King's Casino again has a role in the changes here, as they'll be sponsoring the award for 2017. As part of King's Casino's new role as the host of WSOP Europe, they'll hand out a seat to 2017 WSOP Europe Main Event to the player accumulating the most points over the course of the 71 open events.

Additionally, the method of determining a victor will change. Gone is the use of the Global Poker Index points formula, and in its place will be a "proprietary formula." More details will presumable emerge before the series starts.

Daily Deepstacks  New Home, New Schedule

If the aforementioned lounge on the Pavilion's stage sounded an awful lot like the dining area of the poker kitchen, that's likely because it seems to be replacing it. There will still be food service booths in the Miranda Room, but no seating will be available.

Instead, Miranda will now be home to the ultra-popular Daily Deepstacks series, which will award tens of thousands in prize money every day at affordable price points. Many players travel to the Rio with the goal of simply grinding the Daily Deepstacks day in and day out, and now they'll often be sitting among the 45 tables in the Miranda Room.

Some large tournaments will also utilize the Miranda Room for spillover and restarts.

The schedule has been adjusted. Whereas in 2016, the $365 Daily Deepstack took place at 9 p.m. and the $135 Daily Deepstack took place at 7 p.m., those will now be switched.

The $365 will still feature "an accelerated format" in an attempt to get the tournament done at a reasonable time. Past Daily Deepstacks have been known to run well into the next morning in some cases.

The WSOP did not make any announcements regarding the 2 p.m. $235 Daily Deepstack or the 5 p.m. $185 Daily Deepstack, so those will likely remain unaffected.
Cooke's Corner: A Little Variety in Your Bet Sizing

May 17, 2017 Roy Cooke

Some poker authorities recommend standardizing your bet sizing, thinking that varying your sizing allows opponents to read your intent  and therefore your range  more accurately.

Predictability is a very bad thing, but don't assume your opponents are accurately reading your sizing. Many players can't read your sizing's range. Also, if you apply a few deceptive plays, good readers will make errors and/or lose their confidence in their reads.

Accurate bet sizing based on your opponents' ranges and tendencies will extract optimum EV. Usually, when value betting a hand with no cards to come, you want to bet the amount that your opponents' calling will generate the most EV. Since most players call differing size bets with different strength hands, you need to calculate the width of each of their bet size calling ranges and analyze how each size bet fares.

For example, assuming you hold the nuts, if an opponent will call a $100 bet 75 percent of the time and $200 bet 25 percent of the time, the $100 wager is a better proposition. If you standardly bet $200 in that spot and never vary, you've lost the additional EV the $100 bet generated.

Should you be bluffing, you want to assume as little risk as possible and bet the lowest amount that will get the job done. Getting your opponent to fold a busted draw will require a different size bet than making him fold top pair.

Once again, varying your bet size produces different EV. Maximizing your EV is where your profits come from. Think about what hands are in your opponents' folding range for what price and determine which bet size has the highest EV.

Of course, if your opponents read these tendencies in you, your plays have lost much, if not all, of their value. Therefore, against good readers who will accurately interpret your bet sizing, you need to mix it up with them. Not only will mixing it up prevent them from reading and adjusting to your plays, but you should be able to obtain additional EV from the misreads  and from the mental confusion created.

There are many additional dynamics to bet sizing and players' reads on your bet sizes. Some players are more likely to call a large bet with a mediocre hand than a small wager, thinking you're more likely to be bluffing. Others read your bets at face value, reasoning that large bets mean big hands and small bets mean weak ones. And with many players  the ones who don't vary their bets  those thoughts are true.

What you need to do is identify your opponents' thought process and determine the correct countermeasures. Generally, this involves thinking about what your opponents' reads are and then adjusting your play to their thinking.

If they read large bets as bluffs and small bets as value bets, value bet large, bluff smaller. If they read large bets as big hands, you may want to widen their calling range with smaller bets in situations when weak hands are a significant portion of their range and size your bluffs larger. Against these opponents you might also want to value bet small more often to induce raises should they be prone to raising.

Realizing these reads requires intense concentration at the table. Do it!

* * * * *

Roy Cooke played poker professionally for 16 years prior to becoming a successful Las Vegas Real Estate Broker/Salesman. Should you wish any information about Real Estate matters  including purchase, sale or mortgage  his office number is 702-376-1515 or Roys email is [email protected] His website is www.RoyCooke.com, and more of his blogs and poker tips can be found at www.RoyCookePokerlv.com. You can also find him on Facebook or Twitter @RealRoyCooke.
Automatic Fire Suppression System AFSS Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-17 15:05:32

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Unattended breakout of fire damages assets and endanger human lives. At industries or manufacturing plants, damaged machinery/assets are expensive to repair or replace. Most of the times due to fire hazards, businesses cannot continue with the operations, and the business downtime causes financial and goodwill loss. Automatic fire suppression system (AFSS) is used in industries to control and extinguish the fire without human interference. Automatic fire suppression system is largely used in industries to protect life, assets, climate & environment and to ensure business continuity.Automatic fire suppression system is also used in vehicles to control and extinguish fire. The system is specially designed for vehicles to withstand vibrations of vehicles and the system doesnt require any power supply to make them use anywhere and anytime. The system is easily integrated with the vehicles, due to its low weight.The automatic fire suppression system contains infrared optical detection, fire suppressing storage cylinders, alarm unit and other components to prevent the assets and lives from the fire. There are different types of automatic fire suppression system available such as fire detectors, fire extinguisher and sprinklers.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-847 Global Automatic Fire Suppression System Market: Drivers and ChallengesThe demand for automatic fire suppression is growing with the expansion of various industries globally, especially in the Asia Pacific, Western Europe and North America. The automatic fire suppression system is already being implemented in various industries such as manufacturing, mining, automotive, oil & gas. Implementation of stringent government regulations to create a safe environment by encouraging the installation of automatic fire suppression system market is fueling the growth for the global automatic fire suppression system market. Growing demand for safety features in vehicles in developing countries and above factors are propelling the growth for global automatic fire suppression system market.Though, the demand for automatic fire suppression system is increasing in the developing countries, the system has low awareness in underdeveloped countries. The automatic fire suppression systems requires higher capital investment, this is inhibiting the growth of the Global Automatic Fire Suppression System market.Global Automatic Fire Suppression System Market: OverviewThe Global Automatic Fire Suppression System market by value is expected to expand at a CAGR of around 7-9% during the forecast period (2015-2025), due to stringent government safety regulations, growing demand from various industries, etc.Global Automatic Fire Suppression System Market: SegmentationThe global automatic fire suppression system market can be segmented by end-use industry, by product type and by regionsBased on end-use industry, the global automatic fire suppression system market is segmented as:Oil and GasMiningManufacturingAutomotiveOthersRequest For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-847 Based on product type, the global automatic fire suppression system market is segmented as:Engineered Automatic Fire Suppression SystemsPre-engineered Automatic Fire Suppression SystemsGlobal Automatic Fire Suppression System Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global automatic fire suppression system market is expectedto register a single-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, the global automatic fire suppression system market is segmentedinto seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. In terms of market volume and revenue, Asia Pacific automatic fire suppression market is projectedto register a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Growing demand for the system from industries such as Mining and Oil & Gas, especially in the economies like India and China, is fueling the growth of the global automatic fire suppression system market in Asia Pacific. Western Europe is also forecast to register a significant growth in the global automatic fire suppression system market, due to stringent government regulations to increase the safety.Global Automatic Fire Suppression System Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market participants in global automatic fire suppression system market are Siemens AG, Tyco, Robert Bosch GmbH, Johnson Controls, Honeywell International Inc., Halma PLC, etc.Browse Full Report@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/automatic-fire-suppression-system-afss-market
PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-17 16:38:01

LINCOLN, Neb., May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tim Barber, Duncan Aviation's London-based Aircraft Sales Rep, is pleased to announce that he has had good interest and inquiries since joining Duncan Aviation this spring, and in just six weeks secured the company's first listing in Europe, followed swiftly by a second within 8 weeks.

"Having the Duncan Aviation brand is a big benefit when speaking with clients and prospects because they know there's a wealth of technical support available to support their sale," Barber says. "The Duncan Aviation brand is generally known throughout the region, but few actually appreciate the scale of the business. Even fewer are aware that we have transacted nearly 3,500 aircraft, many that have occurred across borders, since our beginnings more than 60 years ago."

The first listing is a 2002 Citation Excel with 4187 Total Time and 3,732 landings. The engines and APU are enrolled on Power Advantage and the airframe is on Pro Parts. It is also being offered as a fractional ownership opportunity with quarter-shares available and established charter income. To see the listing, visit: http://da.aero/aircraft-sales/G-CGMF.

The second listing is a 2006 Hawker 850XP with 3300 Total Time and 1,500 landings. The engines and APU are covered by JSSI. This listing will soon be available on Duncan Aviation's website at www.DuncanAviation.aero/aircraftsales.

Barber, who is representing the aircraft sales and acquisitions services of Duncan Aviation across EMEA, is also working on the acquisition of a Hawker 900XP for a client and has a number of other sales projects that are in an advanced stage of negotiation.

Duncan Aviation is known worldwide for its extensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services for business aircraft. The company supports business aircraft owners with a network of three large, full-service facilities, more than 20 avionics satellite locations and engine Rapid Response team launch offices located at busy airports across the United States. These teams travel worldwide and help operators around the globe. Their expertise and model-specific knowledge is regularly tapped by Duncan Aviation's Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions team to help them locate and accurately position pre-owned aircraft on the market.

To contact Barber, reach him the following ways:

tel: +44 203 2 87 89 86

mob:+44 7836 352 676

email: tim.barber@duncanaviation.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tim_bizav

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timbarber2

To learn more about Duncan Aviation, visit www.DuncanAviation.aero or stop by Duncan Aviation at stand G88 at EBACE 2017 held May 22-24 at Palexpo Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland. Barber will be attending EBACE along with Arjen Groeneveld, Duncan Aviation's European Regional Manager for Service and Support sales, and other Duncan Aviation representatives. Visit www.DuncanAviation.aero/ebace to see Duncan Aviation attendees and show announcements.

About Duncan Aviation Aircraft Sales and Acquisitions

Founded in 1956 as a business aircraft sales organization, Duncan Aviation has been locating, buying and selling business aircraft for customers worldwide for more than 60 years. Operating in all kinds of market conditions, Duncan Aviation's aircraft sales consultants and market analyst have the experience of more than 3,000 aircraft transactions to help them provide customers with the best acquisition and sales options to maximize their clients' aircraft investments. They are backed by the technical knowledge and expertise of Duncan Aviation's 2,100 team members, whose resources help the aircraft sales team make connections, value aircraft, determine future aircraft worth and truly understand the business aviation market.

About Duncan Aviation

Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of government and business operators and other service providers. Services include major and minor airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit systems, full paint and interior services and preowned aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has international aircraft components solutions experts available 24/7/365 at +1 402.475.4125 who can handle any aircraft system problem with immediate exchanges, rotables, loaners or avionics/instrument/accessory repairs and overhauls. Complete service facilities are located in Lincoln, Neb., and Battle Creek, Mich. Additional locations include Provo, Utah, and more than 20 other facilities strategically located throughout the United States to provide customers with local support and the quickest response to avionics, engine and airframe Aircraft On Ground (AOG) situations.

For more information about any of Duncan Aviation's services, call +1 402.475.2611 or visit www.DuncanAviation.aero.

FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT: Lori Johnson, 402.479.1518

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: Duncan Aviation via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-17 15:00:14

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ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Far Resources Ltd.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, BC (FSCWire) - Far Resources Ltd. (CSE:FAT). has issued a press release with the following headline:Far Resources Closes Acquisition of 100% of Zoro Lithium Property, Snow Lake, Manitoba; Announces FinancingTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Far Resources Ltd., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Far Resources Ltd.Source: Far Resources Ltd. (CSE: FAT, FWB: F0R, WKN: A2AH8W, ISIN: CA30734R1001)Date: May 17, 2017Time: 9:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Far Resources Ltd. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-17 13:03:02

- Hotel run by omotenashi spirit of women -

First Toyoko Inn Hotel Opening in the Philippines on May 18th!

Official Website Exclusive Opening Campaign!

Toyoko Inn CO., Ltd.

Naomi Fujii / Miki Ogikubo, +81-(0)3-5703-1045

We could reply only in Japanese.

koho@toyoko-inn.com

http://www.toyoko-inn.com

FAX: +81-(0)3-3736-1138

1-7-4, Shin-kamata Ota City, Tokyo 144-0054

Toyoko Inn Co., Ltd. (Headquartered in Tokyo, President and CEO Maiko Kuroda) is proudly to announce its first opening of our new hotel in the Philippines, Toyoko Inn Cebu (582 rooms). For the opening, we would like to offer you a special introductory offer!

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201705170055

Toyoko Inn Cebu (Graphic: Business Wire)

Toyoko Inn Cebu

Toyoko Inn Official Website Exclusive Opening Campaign

Contents: Single Room PHP 1,900 > PHP 1,300

[Rates for 2 guests]

Twin Room PHP 2,600 > PHP 1,700

* Twin Room C PHP 2,800 > PHP 1,700

* Deluxe Twin Room (mini kitchens installed) PHP 3,000 > PHP 1,700

* Deluxe Twin Room C (mini kitchens installed) PHP 3,200 > PHP 1,700

Double Room PHP 2,400 > PHP 1,700

King Double Room PHP 2,600 > PHP 1,700

All tax included

For guest rooms with *

3 guests PHP 2,200, 4 guests PHP 2,700

Period: Stays until 17 June 2017

Visit our official website for more information: http://www.toyoko-inn.kr/index.html

Background

In 1986, we opened our first hotel in Kamata, Tokyo. In 2015 we reached 50,000 rooms and became one of the largest hotel chains in Japan.

To accomplish our final goal of opening 10.45 million clean, reliable, reasonable rooms, we are now expanding overseas.

We provide same Japanese omotenashi hospitality as is in Japan.

We employ our staff at the location for job creation.

About

Toyoko Inn Cebu is located on the 6th to 18th floor of Jcentre Mall which is in central part of Cebu. Facilities are the same to the ones in Japan so that you can experience our original atmosphere.

To add more, we have installed mini kitchens for long term travelers inside both Deluxe Twin Rooms and Deluxe Twin C Rooms.

We also have free bus rides from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to cut down number of transfers for you.

Name: Toyoko Inn Cebu (6th to 18th floor of J-center-mall)

Address: J Centre Mall, 165 A.S. Fortuna St., Bakilid, Mandaue City, 6014

Phone: (+63)-(0)32-255-1045

Website: http://www.toyoko-inn.kr/index.html

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201705170055
Food Sorting Machines Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-17 15:01:49

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Automation is becoming more of a requirement than an option in the food processing industry. The rigorous quality and cost controls required in the food industry is making it more critical. Production of high grade food requires capable and efficient inspection and sorting systems, in the operations and production line. The food is sorted by color, size, shape, specific gravity prior to inspection and other criteria depending upon the raw material and application.Global interest is increasing towards the quality of food consumed along with the stringent legislations on product quality and operating procedures. In the food industry, the product specification is extremely important, and is one of those area where new developments are crossing the boundaries. The food industry is under immense pressure of meeting the demands of growing world population.The global population is becoming urbanized and there is heavy industrialization seen in the emerging economies. This leads to an upward trend towards convenience foods that are healthy, nutritious and easy to prepare. Food security is an emerging challenge for policy makers and companies in the food supply chain. Over the period food production will be under threat from climate change, competing land uses, erosion and diminishing supplies of clean water. One of the solutions to this dilemma is increased efficiency and waste reduction in the food supply chain. Food sorting machines offer increase in efficiency by selectively filtering out the undesired materials from the main food. The main purpose is separation of foreign seeds and bodies, such as unhealthy or spotted grains. The insertion of optical sorter into strategic positions of the milling process facilitates and optimizes the whole cleaning process. Worldwide the optical sorters are being used in the food industry. Its highly adopted in the processing of harvested foods such as fruits, potatoes, vegetables and nuts where it achieves non-destructive,100% inspection on full production volume. Since manual sorting is subjective and inconsistent, its not preferred. Optical sorting helps to improve the product quality, increase yields, maximize throughput while reducing labor costs. Since few years the trend is of integration of the traditional mechanical cleaning process with optical sorting machines.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-843 Food Sorting Machines Market: Drivers & RestraintsGrowing population, rising urbanization, growing technological awareness, industrialization of emerging economies and increasing per capita income are some of the key factors driving the growth of the food sorting machines market.Environmental Protection Agency regulations on disposal of food waste, changing consumption patterns and smaller households are few of the probable factors restraining the growth of the food sorting machines market.Food Sorting Machines Market: SegmentationThe global food sorting machines market is broadly classified on the basis of product type, technology and geographies.Based on product type, the global food sorting machines market is segmented into:Channel SortersFreefall SortersBelt SortersADR SystemsBased on technology, the global food sorting machines market is segmented into:LaserCameraLEDX-rayRequest For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-843 Food Sorting Machines Market: OverviewThough food sorting machines is a new technology for emerging economies like India, but in the developed economies like North America and Europe the same technology is in use for years.With growing global population and increasing pressure on food industry to meet the customer demands, the acceptance of food sorting machines is gaining popularity. The global food sorting machines market is expected to expand at a promising CAGR during the forecast period (2015-2025).Food Sorting Machines Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global food sorting machines market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, global food sorting machines market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. As of 2015, North America dominated the global food sorting machines market in terms of market revenue followed by Europe. Asia Pacific & Japan are projected to expand at a substantial growth and will contribute to the global food sorting machines market value exhibiting a robust CAGR during the forecast period, 2015?2025.Browse Full Report@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/food-sorting-machines-market Food Sorting Machines Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market participants in global food sorting machines market are Tomra Systems ASA, Sesotec GmbH, Buhler AG, Key Technology, BarcoVision, Satake USA Inc.
Portable Ultrasound Bladder Scanners Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-17 15:50:10

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616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Invasive surgeries performed by urologists necessitate the need for advanced imaging systems that provide intricate details on infected organs & tissues, as well as the maturation of a disease.Replacing the existing imaging devices with 3D portable ultrasound bladder has been proven to improve the efficiency of treating urinary disorders. Images derived from portable ultrasound bladder scanners are also safeguarding the health of patients by providing accurate topography of infected organs, mitigating the risks of clinical misinterpretation. A recent study conducted by Future Market Insights has projected that over 90% of the global revenues from sales of portable ultrasound bladder scanner will be accounted by 3D products.Future Market Insights report, titled Portable Ultrasound Bladder Scanners Market: Global Industry Analysis & Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026, delivers insights on key factors driving the growth of the portable ultrasound bladder scanner market. By the end of 2026, the global market for portable ultrasound bladder scanners is projected to incur a steady growth in terms of market value, rising from an estimated US$ 93.8 million in 2016 to US$ 170.6 million, exhibiting a 6.2% CAGR during the period.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2008 According to the report, prevalence of independent urology care centres, pathology labs, and diagnostic facilities in the world reduces the potential risks of business impedance due to inadequate distribution. Hospitals will continue to be the largest end-users of portable ultrasound bladder scanners, while diagnostic centres will account for about 15% share of global revenues during the forecast period.Operational flexibility of ultrasound scanning technology, coupled with the benefits of handy devices that facilitate visualization mobility, will continue favouring the growth in global sales of portable ultrasound bladder scanners. Urologic patients are expected to opt for non-invasive bladder scanning procedures that deliver results in real-time and decimate the need for catheterization, which will, in turn, promote the sales of portable ultrasound bladder scanners, globally. Although, global leaders in manufacturing of pharmaceutical & medical devices are compelled to lower the high costs of portable ultrasound bladder scanners for increasing penetration in the global healthcare devices market.Leading Manufacturers of Portable Ultrasound Bladder ScannersA well-established supply chain urges medical device manufacturers to extend their production capacity for portable ultrasound bladder scanners. Strategic collaboration such as Investor AB-owned Patricia Industries acquisition of Laborie Medical Technologies Inc. indicate the aggressive measures are being undertaken by players in the global portable ultrasound bladder scanners market to expand their presence. Companies such as C. R. Bard, Inc., GE Healthcare Inc., Sonostar Technologies Co., Limited, and SRS MEDICAL SYSTEMS Inc., have recently made the news for being a part of acquisitions in the global portable ultrasound bladder scanner market. Other leading manufacturers of portable ultrasound bladder scanners, profiled in the market, include, Verathon Inc., Echo Son SA, dBMEDx Inc., Caresono Technology Co. Ltd, and Signostics Inc.Global Portable Ultrasound Bladder Scanners Market: Regional AnalysisNorth Americas portable ultrasound bladder scanner market will account for more than 40% of the global revenues through 2026. The regions dominance in the global portable ultrasound bladder scanner market is predicted to be attributed by increasing healthcare expenditure in the US. Besides, the portable ultrasound bladder scanners sold in Western Europe are also expected to prominently factor the growth in global revenues. Clinical research institutions based in several Western European countries will be attributing towards development of advanced ultrasound scanning devices for key market players, a majority of whom have expanded their businesses in Europe.Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-2008 The portable ultrasound bladder scanner market in Western Europe is projected to expand at a 6.0% CAGR throughout the forecast period. Furthermore, the revenues attained from sales of portable ultrasound bladder scanners in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region have been forecasted to reach US$ 26.4 million by the end of 2026, registering expansion at the highest CAGR  6.7%. On the other hand, Japans portable ultrasound bladder scanner revenues are projected to reach US$ 14.5 million revenues, while Latin America, Eastern Europe and Middle East & Africa (MEA) are expected to incur nascent growth in their portable ultrasound bladder scanner markets through 2026.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-17 15:03:01

Nearly 90 Percent of Patients 71 and Older Met Clinical Guidelines for Remote Monitoring

DUBLIN and CHICAGO- May 17, 2017 - A new Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT) study shows a high use of app-based remote cardiac monitoring among older patients. Presented at Heart Rhythm 2017, the Heart Rhythm Society's 38th Annual Scientific Sessions, the first-of-its-kind study evaluated 15,595 patients across 1,969 clinics with Medtronic pacemakers who were assigned a MyCareLink Smart(TM) app-based remote monitor.

The study found that 88.4 percent of patients of all ages who were prescribed this new technology used their smart devices to successfully activate their MyCareLink Smart mobile app, and 89.7 percent remained "adherent" by transmitting data to the Medtronic CareLink(TM) Network within 12 months, the minimum frequency recommended by the HRS and European Heart Rhythm Association expert consensus.

Age was not a clinically significant factor in activating or adhering the app-based monitoring at 12 months, with 89.4 percent of patients aged 71 and older using the app to transmit data, compared to 86.7 percent of patients 18-50 and 91 percent for those 51-70.

"There is often a misperception that older patients aren't adapting to newer technologies, but this study shows that is not the case," Khaldoun Tarakji, M.D., M.P.H., electrophysiologist and director of clinical electrophysiology research at the Cleveland Clinic, who led the study. "Hundreds of thousands of pacemakers are implanted every year in the United States, and the majority of them in patients over 65 years of age. Physicians should discuss the importance of remote monitoring with patients, regardless of their age." Dr. Tarakji has received compensation from Medtronic as an invited speaker and educator and is a scientific advisory board member.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2015, the MyCareLink Smart patient monitor is the world's first app-based remote monitoring system for patients with implantable cardiac devices. With the MyCareLink Smart monitor, patients can use their own smartphone or tablet technology, with cellular or Wi-Fi service, to securely transmit data from their cardiac device to their physicians, who can then interpret the data to make treatment decisions.

By connecting patients and physicians, remote cardiac monitoring provides many clinical and economic benefits. These include faster time to treatment if the physician detects a problem with the pacemaker based on the transmitted data;1 less time spent at a doctor's office or clinic for regular checks of the pacemaker;2,3 reduced time spent in the hospital if the physician quickly detects and treats a medical problem;1,4 and a potential increase in patient survival rates.4,5,6

"The MyCareLink Smart Monitor was designed to provide seamless compatibility with devices that patients use every day," said Aisha Barry, vice president and general manager for the Connectivity & Insights business, which is part of the Cardiac and Vascular Group at Medtronic. "We are encouraged this study shows such a high rate of patient use of remote monitoring with our app-based offering, particularly among our older pacemaker patients."

In collaboration with leading clinicians, researchers and scientists worldwide, Medtronic offers the broadest range of innovative medical technology for the interventional and surgical treatment of cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrhythmias. The company strives to offer products and services of the highest quality that deliver clinical and economic value to healthcare consumers and providers around the world.

About Medtronic

Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world's largest medical technology, services and solutions companies - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 88,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in approximately 160 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

-end-

1 Crossley GH, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;57:1181-1189. 2 Cronin EM, et al. Heart Rhythm. 2012;9:1947-1951. 3 Varma N, et al. Am Heart J. 2007;154:1029-1034. 4 Akar J, et al. LB03-03 Presented at HRS 2014. 5 Saxon LA, et al. Circulation. 2010;122:2359-2367. 6 Mittal S, et al. LB01-05 Presented at HRS 2014.





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: Medtronic plc via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-17 16:30:14

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for The Graystone Company Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Santa Ana, California (FSCWire) - The Graystone Company Inc. (OTC Pink:GYST). has issued a press release with the following headline:The Graystone Company to Complete A 95% Reduction in Authorized SharesTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on The Graystone Company Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/The Graystone Company Inc.Source: The Graystone Company Inc. (OTC Pink: GYST)Date: May 17, 2017Time: 10:30 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of The Graystone Company Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




Avignon Capital has acquired a purpose-built property in The Hague, let to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), for 38m. The property is located in the International Peace and Justice District of The Hague, home to numerous UN or UN-related organisations. It comprises 16,734 sqm of leasable

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South Africas Showmax has inked a deal with Polish mobile operator Play, three months after the video streaming service first entered the Eastern European country.





Plays eight million contracted customers will now be able to stream Showmax content on-demand for 12 months, with no extra charge. The video-on-demand (VOD) service will also be available to Plays remaining six million customers for one month.The level of interest in Showmax since our launch in Poland earlier this year has exceeded even our most optimistic estimates. The Play transaction is a big deal for us because it gives us instant access to millions of customers and Im hoping will help us build on the great start weve already had in the country, said John Kotsaftis, CEO, Showmax.The Naspers owned subscription VOD company provides a local offering in Poland including short films directed by Polish directors Patryk Vega and Wojciech Smarzowski. Showmax has also secured the rights to the popular political satire series Ucho Prezesa (The Chairmans Ear). Showmaxs operations in Poland are based in Warsaw and headed up by former Google executive Maciej Sojka. He is supported by Grzegorz Esz, formerly of UPC Polska, as head of marketing and Jerzy Dziegielewski (ex-HBO Central Europe) as head of content.Weve built our business in Poland around the premise that success requires having boots on the ground, having a deep understanding of customer needs, and having a willingness to make more than cosmetic changes to meet those needs, said Kotsaftis.Weve made good progress by partnering with incredibly talented local producers and directors, and its great to now expand that partnership approach and work with one of the leading mobile networks.Showmax launched in August 2015 in South Africa and is now available in more than 60 countries.
A pick up in speed in traditional multi-channel defections is being cited by research firm Kagan as the prime reason for an estimated loss of 802,000 subscriptions in the first quarter of 2017.





Worryingly, the companys First Quarter US Multichannel Subscriber Report calculated that this represented a 0.8% decline in what has historically been a strong first three months of the year.Key drivers of the drop were found to include the impact of new streaming options which, said Kagan, suggests an important component of the loss comes from a shift in platforms within the familiar subscription construct rather than outright cord-cutting. The estimated total of traditional multi-channel subscriptions fell to 97.0 million in the first quarter. Adding estimated subscribers from virtual services including Sling TV, DirecTV Now and PlayStation Vue, brought the combined total subscriptions to a package of live linear channels and on-demand content to 99.2 million.Assessing how individual platforms performed, Kagan found that cable operators posted their worst first-quarter performance since 2013, losing 188,000 total video customers. Yet this was a smaller loss than posted by direct broadcast satellite (DBS) and telecommunications (telco) competitors.After full-year gains in 2016, the DBS segment stumbled in Q1. Those that launched virtual service provider (VSP) alternatives lost a combined 291,000 subscribers in the quarter. Due to prominent retreats from the multichannel business by leading players, the telco sector lost 324,000 subscribers in the first three months of the year.
Attackers stormed the state television building in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, triggering an hours-long gunbattle with security forces that left at least two civilians dead.

The extremist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Four attackers and two civilians died in the May 17 violence, according to local officials and medical personnel. At least 13 other civilians were injured in the fighting.

Attaullah Khogyani, the spokesman for Nangarhar Provinces governor, said four attackers had entered the compound of Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), including two suicide bombers who blew themselves up.

Several RTA employees were reported to have been trapped inside the station during the clashes.

As the attack unfolded, the IS-affiliated AMAQ news agency said on the Telegram instant messaging service that "Islamic State fighters are currently carrying out an attack inside the state broadcasting building in the city of Jalalabad."

Both IS and the Taliban are active in the mountainous province bordering Pakistan.

With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters


Armenia's Republican Party (HHK), which won last months parliamentary elections, has proposed former Health Minister Ara Babloyan for the position of parliament speaker.

The proposal came from President Serzh Sarkisian, who is also the leader of the HHK, at a meeting of the HHK executive body on May 17 in Yerevan.

HHK spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov, who is deputy speaker of the outgoing parliament, and former Justice Minister Arpine Hovannisian have been proposed as deputy speakers.

Sharmazanov, who spoke to the media after the party meeting, said all nominations were approved unanimously.

The new parliament will convene on May 18, as the outgoing government presents its resignation.

The HHK has said it will propose that incumbent Prime Minister Karen Karapetian continue in office.

In the latest elections, the HHK retained its parliamentary majority and currently has 58 seats in the 105-member legislative body. Together with its junior coalition partner, Dashnaktsutyun, which has seven mandates, the ruling party also enjoys a constitutional majority.

The second-largest parliamentary faction, formed by the Tsarukian Alliance, which has 31 seats, also named its candidates for leadership positions in the National Assembly.

The bloc is entitled to one deputy parliament speaker and is going to nominate Mikael Melkumian for the position.
Armenias state human rights ombudsman Arman Tatoyan on May 16 questioned the use of force by the countrys police against Zaruhi Postanjian, an opposition candidate running for mayor in elections over the weekend.

When Postanjian, a flamboyant member of the outgoing parliament and leader of the recently founded opposition Yerkir Tsirani party, entered the incumbent mayor's campaign office on election day, May 14, to expose alleged fraud, she and her daughter were forced off the premises by the police.

The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) had called in the police. Postanjian and her daughter, Lilit Drampian, 22, were roughed up in the process. Drampian was hospitalized after the incident and diagnosed with a concussion.

Postanjian is still a member of parliament and a candidate nominated for mayor in the elections. This is very important and should have been considered by the police in taking appropriate actions, Tatoyan said in an interview with RFE/RLs Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) on May 16.

In any situation, the police must show a respectful attitude towards citizens, which, after all, is an important factor in the formation of trust towards the police. As for this particular situation, we immediately drafted a report and sent it to the police for an internal investigation to be launched as soon as possible, Tatoyan said.

Meanwhile, Postanjian issued a statement deploring the lack of response from appropriate law-enforcement bodies to the incident.

Earlier, the HHK said Postanjians entry to the campaign office was unwarranted and that its activists acted correctly by contacting the police.

Eduard Sharmazanov, an HHK spokesman and manager of the ruling partys city election campaign, told RFE/RL that he personally instructed his staff not to let anyone enter the premises.

[Postanjians] behavior was unlawful. For a whole hour the work of our campaign office in the district of Avan was disrupted because of the uncivilized, inappropriate, and abnormal conduct of Postanjian, he said.

Sharmazanov also defended the actions of the police. It was not the use of rude force. The law-enforcement agencies did what they should do. Moreover, they should have done it earlier, he said.

The head of the Central Electoral Commission Tigran Mukuchian did not say that the Electoral Code bans citizens from entering campaign offices during an election, but he said the presumption of reasonability should be applied.

In other words, if it is a place where someone works, and if someone else wants to enter it, while the person who legally owns the office does not want it, the person who wants to enter cannot do that, he said.


Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on Azerbaijani authorities to immediately free Ilkin Rustamzade, an activist who has been in prison for four years.

"The anniversary of his arrest marks another grim milestone in [a] relentless crackdown on critics in Azerbaijan," the New York-based group said in a May 17 statement. "The story of his arrest is as absurd as the charges authorities pressed against him."

Rustamzade, a member of the pro-democracy NIDA youth group, blogger, and critic of the government's human rights record, was arrested on hooliganism charges for alleged involvement in a satirical video that was posted to YouTube, HRW said.

Authorities later charged him with inciting violence and organizing mass disorder in connection with a peaceful protest in 2013.

The 21-year-old university student was sentenced to eight years in prison in May 2014 after an "unfair trial," according to HRW.

Amnesty International recognizes him as a prisoner of conscience.


Azerbaijani officials and legislators on May 16 decried a decision by Russia's Supreme Court to shut down a group representing more than 2 million Azerbaijanis living in Russia.

Baku's foreign ministry called the ruling cancelling the registration of the All-Russia Azerbaijani Congress "discriminatory," while the Azerbaijani State Committee on Work with the Diaspora said it would ask for reconsideration of the ruling, which it said harms the "centuries-old friendly relations of our peoples."

Fazil Gurbanov, president of the group, appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene in the case.

The Congress group was established in 2001 by Putin and Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev, and has played a big role in the deepening of economic and cultural ties between the countries.

The Russian court nullified the group's registration following a lawsuit brought by the Russian Justice Ministry alleging violations of Russia's registration law.

The Azerbaijani Parliament on May 16 debated what recourse is available to Baku, with legislators saying they would investigate the matter.

"We know that in Russia there are some people who don't like Azerbaijan, and it is not a secret," said legislator Bahar Muradova.

With reporting by TASS and Interfax
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, said Governor Valentyn Reznichenko. Ukrainian air defense destroyed some of the drones, but others hit targets. The Russian forces also used drones in an attack on the city of Dnipro, targeting a logistics enterprise. Reznichenko said four employees were wounded, and three of them are in serious condition in hospital.

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
Well I guess now it's official. The Russian Orthodox Church appears to be the final arbiter of Russian law.

This all became clear over the past couple days. Let me explain.

Earlier this week, the popular television host Vladimir Pozner issued a remarkable on-air appeal to Vladimir Putin, Constitutional Court Chairman Valery Zorkin, and Patriarch Kirill, asking them to clarify whether or not atheism now constitutes a crime in Russia.

Pozner was responding to the conviction of Yekaterinburg-based blogger Ruslan Sokolovsky, who had just been handed a three-and-half-year suspended sentence for insulting religious believers by playing Pokemon Go in church.

The verdict against Sokolovsky noted the fact that he "denies the existence of Jesus Christ and the Prophet Muhammad."

In his appeal, Pozner said that, like Sokolovsky, he too was an atheist -- and he asked whether he too could face prosecution.

In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment, saying such matters were for the courts.

Now, anybody who understands how Russian criminal justice works knows that that is complete nonsense. But fair enough.

But the Constitutional Court also declined to comment, saying it only responds to formal legal appeals.

But guess what? The Russian Orthodox Church did respond. It said that Sokolovsky was convicted not for his atheism, but for showing disrespect toward believers.

So I guess the good news is that no, atheism has not been criminalized in Russia -- at least not yet.

But the bad news is that Russia now looks increasingly like a theocracy.

Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page.
STRASBOURG -- Representatives of the European Parliament and the European Council have signed a document in Strasbourg formalizing a long-awaited visa-liberalization deal with Ukraine.

The deal was signed by the president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, and Malta's Interior Minister Carmelo Abela. Malta currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who was present at the ceremony, said the signing of the agreement represents a landmark in Ukraine's history.

"It is an absolutely historic day for Ukraine, for my 45 million nation, and I am absolutely confident that this is a historic day for the European Union," Poroshenko said after the signing.

"Ukraine returns to the European family. Ukraine says a final farewell to the Soviet and Russian Empire," he said.

Tajani said the visa liberalization was a "good message" to "very pro-European" Ukraine.

"The new rules on visa liberalization are the beginning of a new era," Tajani said.

EU member states gave their approval on May 11, and the visa-free regime is due to enter into force on June 11.

Ukrainian citizens who have biometric passports will be able to enter all EU member states other than Ireland and the United Kingdom without a visa for up to 90 days during any 180-day period. It also applies to four Schengen Area countries that are not in the EU: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

Poroshenko's predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, was pushed from power in 2014 by massive pro-European protests after he scrapped plans for a deal to tighten ties with the EU. Russia then seized control of Ukraine's Crimea region and fomented separatism in eastern Ukraine, where a war between Russia-backed forces and the government has killed more than 9,900 people.

Much of present-day Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire beginning in the 17th century, and Ukraine was under Moscow's thumb as a Soviet republic for most of the 20th century. It gained independence in the Soviet collapse of 1991.

Visa-free EU travel began on March 28 for citizens of Georgia, another former Soviet republic that is under pressure from Russia.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Marek Hajduk in Strasbourg and Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels
WASHINGTON -- The United States should impose new sanctions and move more aggressively to "shape Russian thinking" in response to Moscows actions in Ukraine and elsewhere, former top State and Defense department officials said.

Michael Carpenter, who was the Pentagons top Russia official until January, said the measures Washington should take should include deploying an armored brigade permanently to the Baltics and restricting some Russian surveillance flights over U.S. territory now authorized under the 2002 Open Skies treaty.

"If we do not check Russian aggression with more forceful measures now, we will end up dealing with many more crises and conflicts, spending billions of dollars more in the defense of our European allies, and potentially see our vision of Europe whole and free undermined," Carpenter told a hearing of the U.S. Helsinki Commission on May 17.

Carpenter, along with former State Department arms control director Stephen Rademaker, also suggested that the United States should consider returning intermediate-range cruise missiles to Europe, in response to Russias alleged violations of a key Cold War-era arms agreement.

Rademaker told the commission that Russia will comply with important treaties like Open Skies, Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, and Conventional Armed Forces in Europe but only when it is in Moscows interest.

When it isnt in Moscows interest, "it will seek to terminate themor violate them while continuing to play lip service to them...or it will selectively implement them," he said.

Russia, for its part, has repeatedly denied violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty and instead accuses the United States itself of violating the agreement.

Carpenter called for more financial sanctions that leverage U.S. dominance in financial markets, for more pressure on top Russian officials, and he said that the so-called Magnitsky Act, a 2012 law that puts restrictions on alleged Russian human rights offenders, had been "vastly underutilized."

Steven Pifer, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, said the list should be expanded to include relatives of Kremlin-connected oligarchs and other powerful government officials, for example, to keep their children from enrolling at U.S. colleges and universities or spouses from "going on London shopping trips."

During last year's election campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly expressed a conciliatory approach toward Moscow, saying more cooperation was needed in the fight against terrorism. Since taking office, however, the administration has largely maintained the stiff-armed policy initiated by Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama.

The Helsinki Commission is a U.S. government agency that monitors international adherence to the 1975 Helsinki Accords on human rights.
TBILISI -- Thousands of antigay activists, including Georgian Orthodox priests, marched in Tbilisi on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, And Biphobia.

The activists, some holding Orthodox Christian icons or Georgian flags, were marking the Day of Unity and Holiness of the Family -- an event established by Georgian Orthodox Patriarch Ilia II in 2014 to counter the International Day Against Homophobia.

The influential patriarch has called on authorities to ban gay-rights rallies in the South Caucasus, calling them "an insult" to Georgian traditions.

In 2013, Georgian gay-rights defenders who tried to carry out a gay-pride march in Tbilisi were severely beaten by members of antigay groups.

This year, the Unity and Holiness march was held hours after hundreds of gay-rights activists rallied in downtown Tbilisi, protected by a heavy police presence.

Although homosexual relations were decriminalized in Georgia in the 1990s, antigay sentiment runs high.

WATCH: Transgender In Tbilisi: Maria's Story
TBILISI -- The Georgian Foreign Ministry summoned the European Union's ambassador on May 17 to complain about what it said were inappropriate comments by an EU envoy during a visit to breakaway South Ossetia.

Georgian officials say that Herbert Salber, the EU special representative for the South Caucasus, congratulated Anatoly Bibilov on winning the presidential election held by the separatists on April 9.

After meeting with EU Ambassador Janos Herman, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Dondua told journalists that Salber made remarks that were unacceptable and contradict international law, as well as the EU's official position.

Herman said that the EU does not recognize the election in South Ossetia and that it supports Georgia's internationally recognized sovereignty and territorial integrity. He did not comment directly on Salber's alleged remarks

South Ossetia broke from central govenment control in a war in 1991-92, and Russia recognized it as an independent state after fighting a five-day war against Georgia in 2008.

Only a handful of countries followed suit, while the vast majority consider Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be regions of Georgia.
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.
When Hassan Rohani was elected as Iran's president in June 2013, he assumed power at a time when the Islamic republic was facing unprecedented sanctions, international isolation, and a worsening economy that was a source of discontent at home.

Rohani, a relative moderate, won the election on promises to improve ties with the West, secure more freedoms to the Iranian people, and revive the recession-hit economy.

As he seeks a second term in office four years later, his critics are lashing out -- accusing him of failing to deliver on many pledges, and knocking those that he pulled off.

Here's a look at how Rohani fared on the main challenges he faced:

FOREIGN POLICY

"This [election] victory is a victory for wisdom, moderation and maturity...over extremism." -- Hassan Rohani upon scoring a landslide, first-round win in June 2013.

Rohani took over from Mahmud Ahmadinejad, a hard-line conservative whose two terms in office were marked by anti-Western rhetoric, threats to Israel, and defiance in the face of international scrutiny of his country's controversial nuclear program. The confrontational polices made Iran an international pariah, and led to the imposition of international sanctions that hit the country's economy hard and hampered its ability to conduct trade.

Rohani indeed toned down the rhetoric, promising to constructively engage with world powers, end the tense standoff over Tehran's nuclear program, and open Iran to new business opportunities.

End Iran's International Isolation -- PASS

"The new government feels there is a fresh opportunity for interaction at the global level." -- Rohani, June 2013

The new president made unprecedented conciliatory gestures to world powers. In 2013, there was a historic telephone with then-U.S. President Barack Obama, the first such contact between leaders of the two countries since they broke off diplomatic ties following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In 2016, he made the first trip by an Iranian leader to Europe in 16 years, meeting with European leaders and the pope.

Rohani also made a new push for nuclear negotiations that culminated in the landmark July 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers, a deal that is held up as the main achievement of the Rohani presidency and which initially exhibited a thaw in relations with the West.

Rohani also extended a hand to some of Tehran's traditional adversaries. He described archrival Saudi Arabia as "a brother," and in 2013 wished Jews around the world a happy Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Regional tensions persist, however, fueled in large part by wars in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq where Tehran has supported its Shi'ite allies to the chagrin of the Sunni-dominated Persian Gulf states. Israel has maintained its strong opposition to the nuclear deal and questioned Tehran's honesty.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, meanwhile, has criticized Rohani for saying his rapprochement policy toward the West had caused the threat of war to diminish. "What protected this country during all these years against aggression, and the enemy's intrusion, is the presence of the people," Khamenei said just three weeks before the May 19 election.

Lift International Sanctions -- PASS

"You should know the nuclear issue and the sanctions will also be resolved, and economic prosperity will also be created." -- Rohani, June 2013

Rohani's team told the Iranian public that all international sanctions would be removed immediately after the implementation of the agreement in January, despite Washington's assertions otherwise.

When the nuclear deal worked out in the summer of 2015 was implemented in January 2016, the United Nations lifted all nuclear-related sanctions and the European Union lifted many bilateral sanctions. But removing U.S. sanctions was trickier, with those related to Iran's nuclear activities taking months, owing to bureaucracy and stipulations worked into the deal under which Iran had to prove it was meeting the terms of the deal.

Even when all U.S. nuclear-related sanctions were lifted, Washington maintained or added unilateral sanctions linked to Iran's human rights record, alleged support for terrorism, and its controversial ballistic-missile program.

Such sanctions have severely affected Iran's "access to [international] trading relationships, access to foreign investment, and access to finance," says Scott Lucas, an Iran specialist at Birmingham University in Britain and editor of the EA World View website.

Tehran accused Washington of foul play when all sanctions were not immediately removed after the deal was signed, with Khamenei saying it showed "devilish" U.S. intentions.

Rohani has been accused by the deal's domestic opponents of misleading the Iranian public and overhyping the nuclear deal.

Supreme Leader Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, has criticized the deal and emphasized a "resistance economy" and warned against Western "infiltration" through the agreement.

ECONOMY

"My message to the Iranian nation is that we should all get ready for a jump in production, a jump in economic growth, and an economic boom because of the new conditions that are ahead of us." -- Rohani, October 2015

Despite promises of an economic boom, Iran has been unable to reap the full benefits of the nuclear deal for a variety of reasons, including resistance among hard-line conservatives to opening up the state-controlled economy, residual U.S. sanctions, and European companies' continued wariness of investing in Iran because of fears of U.S. penalties.

"He has stabilized the situation, which was deteriorating very badly," says Steve Hanke, an economist teaching at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "Now the situation is one of stability and modest improvement. Rohani has succeeded in turning the corner."

The economic progress Rohani's government has made has yet to trickle down to the average Iranian household in terms of jobs, salaries, and the price of basic goods. Reports from Iran suggest there is rising public frustration over a lack of tangible benefits from the deal. Most respondents in a recent poll said they believe the nuclear accord has not improved the life of average Iranians.

Hard-line clerics, the judiciary, and the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have complained that Rohani conceded too much in the nuclear deal while obtaining little in return. They have said that under Rohani, the number of poor Iranians has increased.

"This deal was like a check that the government has been unable to cash," said Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line conservative cleric who is considered Rohani's main rival in the upcoming vote.

"Why can't we run the country better despite all of our resources? Because we don't have effective management, and corruption doesn't allow it," said Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a conservative who was among the candidates vying for the presidency before he dropped out on May 15.

Boost Growth, Jobs -- INCOMPLETE

The main economic indicators indeed point to improvement in Iran. Economic growth is projected to reach 4.3 percent and 4.8 percent in 2016 and 2017, respectively, compared to 0.5 percent in 2015.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that "increased activity" in agriculture, car production, trade, and transport services has led the recovery in growth in the nonoil sector.

The improvement in growth, however, has not translated into more jobs. The unemployment rate rose to 12.4 percent last year, up 1.4 percentage points from the previous year.

Increase Oil Output To Presanctions Level -- PASS

Iran has dramatically increased its oil output to 4 million barrels a day (bpd), the level it produced before sanctions, from as low as 1 million barrels when it was under sanctions. Today, Tehran exports 2 million barrels of oil per day. Without the nuclear deal, Rohani said that figure would only be 200,000 bpd.

But low oil prices, which have fallen from over $100 a barrel in 2014 to around $50 recently, have limited the gains for Iran's economy and budget revenues.

Increase Foreign Investment -- INCOMPLETE

Rohani said recently that the way to tackle unemployment was to attract $140 billion in foreign investment to modernize the oil-and-gas, transportation, and telecommunication sectors. When selling the deal, the president mentioned access to lucrative markets as a major benefit.

There have also been potentially lucrative understandings with the French firm Total and Russia's Gazprom to develop major oil and gas fields in Iran. But so far, none of these deals have come to fruition.

Rohani has also delivered on promises to the Iranian people by signing headline-grabbing agreements to purchase long-desired passenger aircraft from the U.S. firm Boeing and its European rival, Airbus. The deals were seen as a symbolic benefit of dealing with the West, and while the planes have been ordered, most deliveries are not expected until 2018.

DOMESTIC POLICY

"What I truly wish is for moderation to return to the country. This is my only wish. Extremism pains me greatly. We have suffered many blows as a result of extremism." -- Rohani, June 2013

Rohani assumed power after two terms of Ahmadinejad, whose reelection in 2009 was seen as based on fraud and sparked the largest demonstrations in Iran since the Islamic Revolution. The protests brought a harsh crackdown on demonstrators and the opposition Green Movement, with thousands arrested and hundreds jailed, including the protest leaders.

Rohani promised to expand individual freedoms and civil liberties that were eroded following the protests. He also pledged to lessen censorship and state restrictions on people's lives. But the general "openness" he pledged has yet to materialize.

"Despite his efforts to open up political and social space, Rohani has always been contained by the supreme leader, the judiciary, and the Revolutionary Guards," analyst Lucas says.

The supreme leader -- not the elected president -- controls Iran's armed forces and makes decisions on security, defense, and key foreign-policy issues. The president sets the country's economic policies, domestic social and education programs, and some public works. The president also has some say in the level of media freedom and political openness. However, he can be overruled by the clerical establishment by way of the judiciary or the IRGC.

Free Political Prisoners -- FAIL

High on his list was to free political prisoners, which has gone largely unfulfilled. Rohani vowed to work to end the house arrest of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and reformist cleric Mehdi Karrubi. The two Green Movement figures, along with Musavi's wife, Zahra Rahnavard, have been under house arrest since February 2011.

In September 2013, about a dozen political prisoners were released. But the move has proved an isolated incident.

"Rohani may want to free political prisoners but he does not have the power to do so," Lucas says. "The supreme leader will ensure that this is still the case if the president is reelected."

Many pro-reform Iranians remain concerned about the oppositions leaders' house arrests. Rohani's supporters chanted Musavi's name at one of his recent campaign events, according to a video posted online by young reformists supporting him.

Unblocking Social Media -- FAIL

"We have to give people a free hand; we shouldn't intervene so much in people's private lives and culture." -- Rohani, June 2013

Rohani spoke out against tough state censorship and promised to end Iran's "security atmosphere."

The Islamic republic blocked access to YouTube and Western social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter after the post-2009 crackdown. That has led Iranian authorities to create one of the largest Internet filters in the world, although its citizens continue to access Western websites by using virtual private networks (VPNs), on which the authorities have clamped down.

In 2012, Iranian officials said they were planning to create a national intranet that would be largely isolated from the World Wide Web, saying the internal system would protect the public from "un-Islamic" content. The project has not been fully implemented.

In November 2013 there were reports that the government had met to discuss unblocking access to Facebook and Twitter, triggering a backlash against Rohani.

Hard-liners oppose social media, which they describe as tools of Western intelligence agencies and "Zionists."

In 2014, Rohani said in order to unlock access to social media there would need to be "coordination" between other parts of the government, suggesting it was out of his hands.

"Access to Internet and connectivity speeds improved significantly under Rohani," says Ali Vaez, a senior Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group. "This is why social media have now become the main platform for electoral debate. But he could not go as far and as fast as he wanted, given resistance from other power centers."

Establishing Ministry Of Women -- FAIL

"We will not accept the culture of sexual discrimination. Women must enjoy equal opportunity, equal protection, and equal social rights." -- Rohani, June 2014

In 2013, many women voted for Rohani, who made issues of gender discrimination part of his platform for office.

Rohani's appointment of female vice presidents -- who hold the portfolios for women, legal affairs, and the environment -- was seen as a positive step.

But he has failed to fulfill his promise of creating a women's affairs ministry, and he has not submitted a promised bill to protect women's rights in the face of opposition from conservatives.

But he has still said he is the best candidate to defend women, adding that his conservative critics want to "create segregated pavements" on public footpaths and separate the sexes in the workplace.

Analyst Vaez says Rohani had to pick his battles and the women's issue was one he could not win, considering the fierce opposition it would have prompted among conservatives.

"Rohani made incremental progress on specific issues by building new coalitions in backroom negotiations, but he refrained from actions that could jeopardize his main priorities where he had the best shot at success," Vaez explains.
BAKU -- A court in Azerbaijan has ordered human rights activists Leyla and Arif Yunus to be returned to the country by force from the Netherlands to participate in new hearings in their politically charged case.

On May 17, the Baku Court of Appeals rejected a motion by the couple's lawyer Elcin Sadiqov to allow his clients to take part via a video link. The judge also ruled that the hearing will be held on May 31.

Sadiqov said the ruling may lead the Azerbaijani authorities to issue international arrest warrants for the Yunuses.

Leyla Yunus, 61, and Arif Yunus, 62, were arrested separately in 2014 and convicted of economic crimes in August 2015 after a trial that the couple and international human rights groups denounced as a travesty of justice.

They were sentenced to 8 1/2 and 7 years in prison, respectively, but they were released on health grounds in late 2015 when their prison terms were replaced with suspended sentences.

They were allowed to travel to the Netherlands in April 2016 to receive medical care and have lived there since.

New hearings were ordered last month after the court started examining an appeal from the pair, who are seeking full exoneration.
Lithuania's foreign minister says the Baltic nation has given refuge to two gay men from Chechnya following reports of a campaign of torture and abuse against homosexuals in the southern Russian region.

Linas Linkevicius told the Baltic News Service on May 17 that Lithuania had granted visas to "two natives of Chechnya who suffered persecution because of their sexual orientation."

Linkevicius later retweeted the news agency's tweet, saying he had confirmed that visas had been issued to the two men.

Russia is facing mounting international pressure over the treatment of LGBT people in Chechnya, which Kremlin-backed regional strongman Ramzan Kadyrov has ruled with an iron hand for a decade.

Both the United States and European governments have urged Russia to investigate an alleged campaign of abuses -- including torture and murder -- against gay men in Chechnya that was first reported last month by the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

Since the report, 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.

Kadyrov denies the allegations and has said that homosexuality does not exist in Chechen society.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to discuss the matter with top law enforcement officials, but also suggested the reports are "rumors."
Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov has asked the leader of the Social Democrat party to form a government, potentially ending the longstanding political deadlock in the Balkan country.

Ivanov officially gave the mandate to Zoran Zaev on May 17, saying obstacles to the step had been removed.

Zaev said his parliamentary majority would defend the countrys "unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and a multiethnic Macedonia."

He has 20 days to seek a coalition partner and form a cabinet but said he hoped to complete talks in half that time.

The move was quickly welcomed by the EU, which along with the United States has been urging Macedonia to mend internal rifts.

The Social Democrats and parties representing ethnic Albanians agreed a coalition following a December parliamentary election in which no party received a resounding majority.

But Ivanov -- an ally of the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party, which has ruled Macedonia for years -- had refused to give a government mandate to Zaev, contending that the coalition's agreement to make Albanian the nation's second language threatened national unity and sovereignty.

However, after speaking with a U.S. envoy on May 1, Ivanov suggested he might relent if Zaev provided reassurances that his coalition would work according to the constitution and uphold national sovereignty

And Zaev told reporters on May 4 that he was "ready, if necessary, to see Ivanov and offer guarantees that the territorial integrity of Macedonia will be respected."

Macedonia has been without a functioning government since 2015, when it fell into turmoil over a wiretapping scandal that brought down VMRO's governing bloc.

The political stalemate stalled Skopje's efforts to move toward membership in the European Union and NATO.

The EU praised the new development.

Giving Zaev the mandate was "an important step in the process of government formation," European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn and EU foreign affairs representative Federica Mogherini said in a joint statement.

"We call on all parliamentary parties to put their divisions aside and work jointly on a common reform agenda, to bring the country back on its Euro-Atlantic integration path. This is what the people want and deserve," they said.

The inconclusive election in December led to the tense impasse that persisted for months. Though the VMRO party 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 third of the country's 2.1 million population, the VMRO and its nationalist supporters repeatedly staged protests calling for new elections.

Tension increased last month after the coalition voted to install Talat Xhaferi, a former ethnic Albanian guerrilla, as parliament speaker.

Dozens of protesters to storm into parliament on April 27, assaulting Zaev and ethnic Albanian lawmakers in a melee that left more than 100 people injured.

Xhaferi was unable to get into his office in the building until May 3.

The EU and the 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.

Zaev said he would immediately start talks with three ethnic Albanian parties: the Democratic Union for Integration, Besa, and the Alliance for Albanians.

He said he hopes to be able to form a coalition within 10 days.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP
Police found a gruesome scene in an apartment on the southwestern edge of Moscow on May 15. The previous evening, a man shot and killed his girlfriend and her 4-year-old daughter before turning his hunting rifle on himself.

Russia's Investigative Committee issued a dry statement: "It was established that the woman and her daughter were visiting an old friend, who took out a hunting rifle and shot them each at least two times. The mother and daughter died at the scene. After that, the man committed suicide."

Various media soon reported the gunman was a senior Foreign Ministry official named Aleksandr Shilin. The tabloid Moskovsky Komsomlets reported on May 15 that the ministry had confirmed those reports, but officially it has confirmed only that its employees were involved.

Shilin was a former first secretary in the ministry's Department on Security and Disarmament and served at the Russian embassies in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the United States, Austria, and Indonesia. The adult victim was reportedly a former Foreign Ministry employee who worked under Shilin.

According to a police officer at the murder scene who was quoted by the website Dni.ru, "various absurd and incomprehensible writings" were found in the apartment. Police also found four hunting rifles, including the murder weapon, and six boxes of ammunition on the scene.

Visions Of A Violent Future

One person who said she was shocked but not surprised at the news was blogger and radical-leftist activist Lyubava Malysheva (who is an occasional contributor to RFE/RL's Russian Service). She has been following Shilin's social-media persona and his diplomatic career since 2009, when she received an anonymous letter from his official e-mail address. Although the writer coyly declined to sign the letter, the e-mail address and identifying details in the letter regarding the author's education and training made it easy to establish Shilin's identity, Malysheva said.

At the time, Malysheva and other leftist activists had organized a program called Food, Not Bombs under which they were feeding homeless people at train stations and advocating the position that Russia should spend more on social programs and less on the military.

Shilin's letter, which Malysheva published in full on her website in 2009 and again on RFE/RL's Russian Service website in 2014, was an emotional counterargument that raised many themes that have become increasingly mainstream in Russia in the ensuing years.

"My postulate is that, under the current circumstances, the only thing that will save our nation from defeat in the global fight for survival is militarization," Shilin wrote.

He sees a world on the brink of a new global war. "Within a few years, we will see a new division of the world very much like what happened around World War II, only on a larger scale. And only those who emerge among those powers that are victorious in this fatal and inevitable battle will rule the world," Shilin wrote. "Personally, I want our long-suffering Motherland to be among those victors."

He went on to write that people like Malysheva "are working into the hands of our numerous enemies, who cleverly use various pacifist organizations, including yours. In the U.S. National Security Agency there is a whole department busy working with international pacifist and 'green' organizations, including sending agents into all sorts of movements like yours."

Under Diplomatic Cover

Most alarmingly for Malysheva, Shilin wrote in his letter that "I would like to point out that in our ministry, not only many people, but a majority of people, hold views analogous to mine."

That assertion was virtually impossible to test, of course.

But in 2014, Malysheva decided to learn more about Shilin and to see if he was still thriving at the Foreign Ministry. She found his social-media accounts, in which he lauded Russia's 2014 occupation and annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea and other policies of President Vladimir Putin.

The accounts also featured numerous photographs of Shilin in exotic locations, standing with rifle in hand over the carcasses of big-game animals: a hippopotamus, a leopard, a Nile crocodile, and more.

One photograph shows him with a small wild pig. "I wasted this wild piglet yesterday," the Russian disarmament expert wrote. "This is a South Korean pneumatic 12.7 mm. Crazy! God only knows how many joules it is, but definitely less than my Moscow .375 HH Mag. I put two bullets into that swine, but it wasn't enough for him -- I had to finish him with my knife."

Moskovsky Komsomolets quoted an unidentified acquaintance of Shilin's as saying that "he constantly and in depth told how he killed various animals, how they suffered -- he told in great detail the process of the hunt and sent his friend those horrible photos of dead animals. He could talk about his passion for hunting for hours. Naturally, not everyone liked that. So gradually he lost almost all his friends."

Malysheva says she was not surprised to see Shilin's name in the news again. "If a sick man, under the protection of diplomatic immunity, is traveling around the world with his hateful ideas and weapons, the finale is predictable," she told RFE/RL.

"The real question is will we find out about other crimes [committed by diplomats] or will they remain forever hidden in the state archives. Only rarely do stories about the bestiality of our diplomats get into the media. Rapes, human trafficking, murders, violence -- everything that is forbidden to ordinary people. But it is very difficult, nearly impossible, to hold people protected by diplomatic immunity to account."
Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny says he has had to postpone the opening of his election campaign headquarters in Moscow.

The opening of the headquarters was originally scheduled for May 17, but Navalny's campaign chief, Leonid Volkov, said on May 16 that the opening was moved to May 24 due to "problems with premises."

He has faced numerous obstacles while opening campaign offices across Russia.

Earlier this month, the opening of Navalny's election headquarters was postponed in Moscow, as well as in Vologda, Volgograd, Vladivostok, Vladimir, and Krasnodar, after landlords decided to cancel lease agreements.

On May 15, Navalny's election staff had to read out its campaign program at a gathering under the open sky in Vladivostok after authorities changed the locks on the building rented by Navalny's team.

Navalny, a prominent anticorruption campaigner and adversary of President Vladimir Putin, announced in December that he will run for president in a March 2018 election in which Putin is widely expected to seek a fourth term.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Moscow is prepared to provide a record of a White House meeting in which U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly shared classified intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Putin's remarks on May 17 came a day after political tension in Washington increased again following reports that Trump appealed to FBI Director James Comey in February to drop an investigation into Michael Flynn, the national security adviser who was forced out after making misleading statements about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak.

"If the U.S. administration considers it possible, we are ready to provide a record of Lavrov's conversation with Trump" to U.S. lawmakers, Putin said at a press conference with visiting Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. He added again: "If the American administration wants this, of course."

A senior Kremlin aide, Yury Ushakov, later said that Putin was talking about a written record of the meeting, not an audio recording.

Citing anonymous officials, U.S. media reported on May 15 that during his May 10 meeting with Lavrov, Trump had disclosed highly classified information received from a U.S. ally -- reportedly Israel -- about a planned operation by the extremist group Islamic State (IS).

Putin said the United States is going through a period of increasing "political schizophrenia."

He injected a note of mockery into remarks that appeared aimed to suggest no sensitive information was exchanged during the meeting between Trump and Lavrov, quipping that his longtime foreign minister had failed to pass on any secrets.

"I spoke to [Lavrov] today," said Putin with a smile. "I'll be forced to issue him a reprimand because he did not share these secrets with us. Not with me, nor with representatives of Russia's intelligence services. It was very bad of him."

Lavrov is the highest-level Russian official to meet face-to-face with Trump since he took office on January 20. During the campaign last year, Trump praised Putin and voiced hope that badly strained Russia-U.S. relations would improve, but there have been few signs of closer cooperation against terrorism. Senior Trump administration officials have taken a tough stance on Russia's actions in Ukraine, Syria, and elsewhere.

Expectations of a meeting with Putin early in Trump's term never materialized, and they are now expected to hold their first face-to-face talks during a G20 summit in July.

In his remarks in Sochi, Putin dismissed outrage over Trump's reported disclosures as an effort by U.S. politicians to whip up "anti-Russian sentiment."

Asked what he thinks of Trump's presidency, Putin said that it is up to the American people to judge but that his performance can be rated "only when he's allowed to work at full capacity," implying that someone is hampering Trump's efforts.

"It's hard to imagine what else can these people who generate such nonsense and rubbish can dream up next," said Putin.

"What surprises me is that they are shaking up the domestic political situation using anti-Russian slogans," Putin said. "Either they don't understand the damage they're doing to their own country, in which case they are simply stupid, or they understand everything, in which case they are dangerous and corrupt."

The White House has denied that Trump did anything wrong in his meeting with Lavrov, which was also attended by Kislyak.

Trump said on May 16 that he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" with Russia.

With reporting by RIA, Reuters, AP, dpa, AFP, and TASS
Tajikistan had given prior warning that it was not cool with the idea of university students driving to school, but it seems the kids were not paying attention.

To get their point across, the authorities have resorted to publicly shaming violators, and to leave no room for confusion the president himself has called for their expulsion in the future.

Speaking at a gathering on May 13, President Emomali Rahmon said that young, inexperienced drivers were responsible for nearly half of the 3,000 serious traffic accidents, causing 1,000 deaths, recorded across the country over the past two years.

He also slammed government officials and private entrepreneurs for letting their children drive "extremely expensive" cars to university classes, "putting their own as well as other people's lives in danger."

So, in an apparent effort to both reduce such road accidents and at the same time discourage ostentatious displays of wealth, Rahmon announced that from now on students caught driving to lectures "would be immediately expelled from universities and will not be readmitted to any other school."

It's the second time in less than a month that Rahmon has singled out young drivers of "expensive cars" causing road accidents and pointed out that many of them are the offspring of government officials.

A similar warning from Rahmon came in a government meeting in late April, when he threatened officials with dismissal and their children with expulsion from universities for breaking the law.

That was swiftly followed by an unprecedented move by the Interior Ministry, which published a list of 313 students "who drove to school in private vehicles and violated road-safety regulations in the first four months of 2017."

The list included the names of the students and their schools, details relating to their vehicles, and the type of violations they were allegedly involved in, such as speeding, lack of car insurance, or failing to wear a seat belt.

Rich Kids, Drive Safe!

Several fatal road accidents in Dushanbe have been linked to children of high-ranking officials in recent years. In one of the most-publicized cases, three people were killed when a BMW plowed into their vehicle in Dushanbe late at night in October 2013.

Tajik authorities said a 16-year-old son of the influential head of the state railways company was behind the wheel. The teenager's mother was fined under Tajikistan's law on parental responsibility, although police eventually cleared the young driver of any wrongdoing.

Just three weeks after the accident, Tajikistan launched the Safe City campaign in Dushanbe, with the presidential press service saying that 850 CCTV cameras were installed around the city to monitor the streets to prevent, among other violations, "deadly accidents [involving] the children of officials, state workers, and rich citizens."

In 2007, Tajikistan prohibited students from driving to school to prevent traffic accidents involving inexperienced drivers as well as to create an egalitarian environment in schools.

Don't Flaunt It

The measure came after Rahmon ordered a state anticorruption agency to investigate the incomes of the students who owned luxury cars.

The same year, Tajikistan banned students from wearing expensive jewelry and using mobile phones on university campuses.

Rahmon also initiated a law that sets a limit on how much families can spend on weddings, funerals, and other private functions.

The law, locally known, as the "regulation," is strictly enforced in Tajikistan, curbing a local tradition of private parties that Rahmon said put a financial strain on many families in the impoverished country.

With a GDP per capita of $3,000, Tajikistan is one of the poorest Central Asian states and heavily depends on remittances from migrant workers abroad.
ON MY MIND

So which is it? Is it Putin the invincible? Or is it Putin the vulnerable? Is the current Kremlin regime a monolithic authoritarian state impervious to change? Or is a revolution or a palace coup just around the corner?

In an insightful piece featured below, journalist and playwright Natalia Antonova concludes that "when it comes to possible scenarios, for now its best to stick with the boring ones" like "the slow corrosion of an inflexible political system."

That's probably about right.

Vladimir Putin's regime is in trouble because it has run out of rationales for why it should rule indefinitely. First it promised prosperity in exchange for political freedom. That worked until from 2000 until about 2012. Then it promised empire in exchange for prosperity and political freedom. But the high from the "Crimea drug" appears to be wearing off. For the first time, Putin seems incapable of articulating a convincing legitimizing narrative.

But the Kremlin also has enough tools of repression at its disposal to handle any public unrest. And Putin has been careful to take precautions -- purging his inner circle and creating the National Guard -- to insure against a palace coup.

What this all should add up to is a prolonged period of stagnation and decay. Can you say "Late Brezhnev"? Of course you can!

The Putin regime isn't strong, but it isn't weak either. But it is brittle.

As Antonova notes: "Russian history has been known to move in fits and starts, with plenty of surprises along the way. Its just that surprises rarely occur exactly where youre looking for them."

IN THE NEWS

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has imposed sanctions on several leading Russian social networks and search engines, ordering access to the sites to be restricted or blocked entirely in Ukraine.

Officials say a gas explosion has killed at least two people and injured eight in an apartment building in the southwestern Russian city of Volgograd.

The Telegram messaging service has announced that it will not hand over information to the Russian authorities.

Azerbaijani officials and legislators on May 16 decried a decision by Russia's Supreme Court to shut down a group representing more than 2 million Azerbaijanis living in Russia.

Authorities in the Czech city of Ceske Budejovice have stripped the late Soviet dictator Josef Stalin of the title of honorary citizen.

The Belarusian opposition movement Havary Pravdu (Tell the Truth) has been registered after seven years of unsuccessful attempts to gain official status.

Representatives of the European Parliament and the European Council are due to sign a document in Strasbourg formalizing a long-awaited visa-liberalization deal with Ukraine.

European lawmakers have delayed the disbursement of financial assistance to Moldova after several political groups in the chamber voiced concerns about the political situation in the country.

WHAT I'M READING

U.S. Helsinki Commission Hearings On Russia

The U.S. Helsinki Commission will hold hearings today on the growing Russian military threat to Europe. Witnesses will include former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Carpenter (currently the senior director of the Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement), former State Department official Steven Pifer (currently a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute), and former Assistant Secretary of State Stephen Rademaker (currently of the Podesta Group). The hearing starts at 9:30 a.m. EDT and you can watch it live here.

Putin The Weak, Putin The Strong

Natalia Antonova has a piece in BNE Intellinews looking at the apparent contradiction between Putin the invincible and Putin the vulnerable.

Containment In The 21st Century

On his blog, veteran Kremlin-watcher and former U.S. State Department official Paul Goble explains why containment of Russia would be much more difficult in a globalized world.

The Duma's Council On Patriotism

The pro-Kremlin daily Izvestia is reporting that the State Duma will set up a new council to promote morality and patriotism -- and combat "cultural extremism."

It's Good To Be Rosneftegaz

In her column for Republic.ru, political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya looks at the privileged position occupied by the energy company Rosneftegaz.

Hybrid Threats

Veteran Kremlin-watcher Edward Lucas has a short piece on the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) website reviewing a panel he moderated on Russian hybrid threats at the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn.

Propaganda In An Age Of Discontent

Also on the CEPA website, former U.S. State Department official Donald Jensen, a senior fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, looks at how Russian television is coping with a more complicated political environment.

The War On Drugs In Crimea

Lily Hyde has a reported piece out of Crimea on how Russia's ban on substitution therapy for drug addicts is leading to an HIV epidemic.

Slavophone Unity?

A Czech linguist and a Croatian anthropologist are trying to create an inter-Slavic language.
U.S. President Donald Trump tried to quash an FBI investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's ties with Russia during a meeting with FBI director James Comey shortly after taking office, media reported on May 16.

Comey, who was fired by Trump last week, met with Trump in the Oval Office for dinner a day after Flynn was fired in February and afterwards wrote a memo about Trump's request to drop the investigation, according to The New York Times, Reuters, AP, and other news organizations. The reports cited sources who said they had seen the memo or were reading parts of it to the news outlets.

The White House immediately denied that Trump asked Comey to drop the investigation -- a move that some U.S. lawmakers and legal experts said may have been obstruction of justice, a criminal offense.

The news came after a week of turmoil at the White House that began with Comey's firing on May 9 and continued with a meeting the following day with Russian envoys at which reports said Trump divulged classified secrets provided by a U.S. ally -- charges also denied by the White House.

According to the news reports, the Comey memo recounts how Trump asked him to drop the FBI's investigation of Flynn shortly after Flynn was fired for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the United States.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump told Comey, according to The New York Times, which was the first media outlet to report the existence of the memo and said one of Comey's associates read parts of it to a reporter. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

It later emerged that Flynn was suspected by the Justice Department as having become vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

The Times reported that Comey wrote his memo to create a "paper trail" documenting allegedly "improper" pressure by Trump over the FBI's investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the election and possible Kremlin collusion with former Trump aides.

AP reported that Comey documented conversations he had with Trump in several memos because he found the encounters "odd" or "troubling."

AP said Comey is willing to testify about his experiences with Trump, but wants to do so in public, not in a private briefing as some congressional committees have suggested.

Both AP and the Times reported that during his Oval Office dinner with Comey, Trump asked Vice President Mike Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to leave the room before discussing the Flynn investigation with the FBI director.

The Times said that during the Oval Office meeting with Comey, Trump condemned a series of government leaks to the news media and said the FBI director should consider prosecuting reporters for publishing classified information.

The White House said the news reports about Comey's memo are "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey... The president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation."

Democrats in Congress expressed alarm at the reports.

"This is one of the most serious allegations you can make against a leader -- that they're in some way trying to delay or obstruct the administration of justice," said Senator Dick Durbin, the second most senior Democrat in the Senate.

"It's stunning, breathtaking to think that a president of the United States would have considered reaching out to the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and ask him to stop an investigation on anyone."

"History is watching," said Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer of New York. "The country is being tested in unprecedented ways."

"If true, it is the most explosive evidence to date that the President attempted to obstruct the investigation into his associates connections to Russia," said Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"It is time for Republican leadership in Congress to publicly acknowledge how dangerous the Presidents actions and rhetoric are to American rule of law" and agree to appoint a special counsel to investigate the Russian matter, he said.

Republicans also expressed concern and demanded to see the Comey memo on which the news reports were based.

Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of a House of Representatives oversight committee that is investigating the Russian matter, said the memo raises concerns "about improper interference placed on an active investigation."

Chaffetz said his committee wants to see the memo and he is prepared to force the Justice Department to turn the memo over using a congressional subpoena, if necessary.

"I have my subpoena pen ready," Chaffetz wrote on Twitter.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, said the latest revelations emerging from the White House are "at a point where it's of Watergate size and scale."

"We've seen this movie before," he said, referring to the scandal that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation after an impeachment process had been launched against him.

"The shoes continue to drop, and every couple days there's a new aspect," McCain said. Trump needs to "get it all out...and the longer you delay, the longer it's going to last."

McCain also called it "unacceptable" for Trump to invite Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov into the Oval Office last week, calling him a "stooge" for the Kremlin.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, the Daily Beast, and The New York Times


KYIV -- Censorship and a blow to freedom of expression, or a long-overdue move in defense of national security?

President Petro Poroshenko's blanket ban in Ukraine on several Russian Internet services, including leading Russian-language social networks and a popular search engine, has struck a chord -- or a nerve, depending on who you ask.

The ban, based on recommendations of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) put forth in April and issued on May 16 by presidential decree, immediately triggered a wave of criticism from human rights groups and journalists who claimed it was undemocratic.

Meanwhile, many Ukrainians -- particularly from the government and security apparatuses -- heralded it as a long overdue step to combat Russian instruments of information warfare amid a bloody shooting war with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Specifically, the decree orders Internet service providers (ISPs) to block public access for three years to the Mail.ru group and its social-networking sites, VK (formerly VKontakte) and Odnoklassniki -- the top two in Ukraine.

At least 78 percent of Internet users in Ukraine, or some 20 million people, reportedly had a VK account as of late April. The Mail.Ru group is controlled by Kremlin-friendly oligarch Alisher Usmanov.

The decree also orders a block on the popular Russian search engine Yandex and its various services.

It brings the total of sanctioned physical and legal entities to 468 companies, most of them Russian, and 1,228 individuals in connection with what Poroshenko called via his own VK page Russia's "hybrid warfare" against Ukraine, including its seizure of Crimea in March 2014 and its role in a conflict in the country's east that has killed more than 9,900 people.

In signing the decree, Poroshenko promised to close his own VK page, where he has more than 466,000 followers. (The page was still up at the time of publication.)

Cynical Or Long Overdue?

Blistering criticism of the president's move came fast and hot.

"This is yet another example of the ease with which President Poroshenko unjustifiably tries to control public discourse in Ukraine," said Tanya Cooper, Ukraine researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW). "Poroshenko may try to justify this latest step, but it is a cynical, politically expedient attack on the right to information affecting millions of Ukrainians, and their personal and professional lives."

Some critics drew comparisons to Internet restrictions imposed by China, Iran, and Turkey.

The "Erdoganization of Poroshenko is here" former journalist-turned-lawmaker Serhiy Leshchenko tweeted in an ominous reference to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's crackdown on that country's press and academia after a failed coup in July 2016.

Serhiy Petrenko, the former head of Yandex Ukraine, wrote this especially scathing indictment of Poroshenko's decree on his blog: "I'll be brief. Everyone who had a hand in this decree, including the person who signed it, are f***ing idiots."

The decree's supporters were no less enthusiastic, with many, like Ukrainian political consultant Taras Kuzio, saying the move was "long overdue."

"On the territory of Crimea and in the Russian Federation, Roskomnadzor blocked all our information resources, in particular, Free Crimea," Ukrainian political analyst Taras Berezovets wrote on Facebook, referring to a nonprofit project that monitors activities of Russian authorities on the annexed Crimean Peninsula. "Russians constantly write letters demanding to ban materials from our sites to our German [service] providers. So don't be surprised that for me this is a day of personal victory. Vendetta is such a sweet word, I'll tell you."

In justifying the ban, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said in a statement that "Russian security agencies are waging a hybrid war against the Ukrainian population, using in their special information operations Internet resources such as VK, Odnoklassniki, Mail.ru, and so on."

Andrei Soldatov, a Russian cybersecurity expert, told RFE/RL that "it is true that VK is extremely intrusive and known to be cooperative with the FSB," a reference to Russia's Federal Security Service and main successor to the KGB. But he argued that most Ukrainian users "cannot pose a security risk" as ordinary citizens "have no access to secrets."

Rather than risk public outrage, Soldatov said, Ukraine could have limited usage of those sites to military and officials with security clearances. Another option, he said without endorsing it, would have been to take a page from Russia's playbook and require the sites to store Ukrainians' personal data on Ukrainian soil.

But How To Ban?

At the time of publication, all of the banned sites were still accessible in Ukraine.

Ukraine had no legal mechanism in place for blocking the Internet resources listed in the ban when Poroshenko signed the decree, according to an SBU statement, leaving it and other law enforcement agencies scrambling to recommend the necessary changes in Ukrainian law.

Mykhaylo Chaplyhya from the Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsperson's Secretariat told the UNIAN news agency that no website may be blocked in Ukraine without a court order.

Failure to comply with the order may result in fines equal to 100-200 tax-free minimum incomes of citizens, according a statement published on the site of the National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Informatics.

Some ISPs, including Ukraine's largest fixed-line operator, Urktelecom, said on May 17 that they had already begun to implement the ban, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

"Work will be carried out in stages and, according to specialists' preliminary estimate, will take several days, up to a week," Interfax quoted Urktelecom as saying.

If or when access to the targeted sites ceases, experts say it will be easy to skirt the block, as virtual private networks (VPNs) are readily available in Ukraine.

Not skipping a beat, VK sent Ukrainian users a message late on May 16 with a link to instructions on how to use such tools to circumvent the block.

"We love our Ukrainian users and want you to always stay in touch with friends and family," the company said.
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The United States has expressed concern to Turkey in the "strongest possible terms" after members of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's security detail clashed with anti-Erdogan protesters in Washington.

"Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

Erdogan was in Washington on May 17 for talks with President Donald Trump, but his visit was marred by violence between his bodyguards and pro-Kurdish demonstrators.

Witnesses said Turkish bodyguards pushed past a Washington police cordon outside the Turkish ambassador's residence and attacked the protesters with their fists and feet.

A police spokesman described the assault as a "brutal attack on a peaceful protest" and said investigators were studying video evidence and would seek to identify and question the suspects.

Two suspects -- not from Erdogan's detail -- were arrested at the scene and 11 people were hurt.

"We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms," Nauert said.

Turkey's state-owned Anadolu Agency reported on May 17 that members of Erdogan's security team were involved in the scuffle but said they were responding to provocative actions by the protesters.



Others among the pro-Turkey delegation accused the protesters of triggering the clash, during which several men wearing suits and others in more casual clothing repeatedly punched and kicked protesters while they lay on the ground.

Police scrambled to contain the violence but were unable to restrain several people involved.

Video of the incident showed a handcuffed man in a suit sitting on the ground.

Doug Buchanan, a local fire- and emergency-services spokesman, said two of the nine people hurt in the incident suffered serious injuries and were taken to the hospital.

The incident unfolded the same day that Erdogan and Trump held talks at the White House, a meeting that came amid continuing bilateral tensions on a range of issues, including Washington's recent agreement to arm Kurdish militia fighters in Syria that Ankara links to terrorists.

The Turkish Embassy said that the protesters were affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist group by both Turkey and the United States. The embassy's claim could not immediately be verified.

The embassy said that Erdogan was in the ambassador's residence after meeting with Trump, and Turkish-Americans who were there to greet him responded to provocations from PKK-linked protesters.

"The violence and injuries were the result of this unpermitted, provocative demonstration," the embassy said.

The protesters included supporters of Turkey's pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party, whose members are peaceful and included elected members of parliament, as well as Armenian-Americans.

Armenia demands that Turkey take responsibility for the massacre of at least 1 million ethnic Armenians during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, which Armenia and many other countries label as "genocide."

Turkey admits many Christian Armenians were killed in clashes with Ottoman forces, but denies the killings were orchestrated and constituted a genocide.

Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Washington-based Armenian National Committee of America, said in a video he shot from the scene of the brawl that people he presumed to be Erdogan supporters "stormed the street" to attack "peaceful" protesters and "left many, many people bloodied."

"It's one thing for there to be this kind of violence in Turkey, that's a terrible thing. It's far worse for that violence to be exported to America," Hamparian added in an interview with local television.

One woman interviewed by local television claimed she was put in a headlock by a member of Erdogan's security detail.

"I was so afraid and angry, of course, because we're in the United States. They cannot just attack the woman or any person," the woman, whose name was not given, said in the interview.

Pro-Turkey demonstrator Busra Eren, referring to the acronym for the Kurdish militia that the Trump administration has agreed to arm, said that "one of the YPG supporters ran across, picked up a megaphone, and hit a Turkish citizen with it."

Gunay Evinch, a Washington-based attorney of Turkish heritage, told a local affiliate of the CBS network that the anti-Erdogan protesters charged at the pro-Turkey rally.

"Those provocateurs were successful in getting exactly what they wanted, which was to be responded to," he said.

Lucy Usoyan, a Yazidi Kurd demonstrator, said that the Erdogan supporters suddenly "just ran toward us."

"Someone was beating me in the head nonstop, and I thought, 'Okay, I'm on the ground already, what is the purpose to beat me?'" she told ABC television.

Andalou reported that Erdogans security "intervened" after police were unable to control the situation.

In March 2016, Erdogan's bodyguards clashed with protesters and journalists in Washington outside of the Brookings Institution think tank, where he delivered a foreign-policy speech.

With reporting by VOA, AP, AFP, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Anadolu Agency, Wusa9.com, and CBS News
A brawl broke out on the lawn outside the Turkish ambassador's residency in Washington, as security guards and supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan clashed with Kurdish and Armenian protesters. Two people were arrested. The incident occured after Erdogan visited the White House, where he criticized U.S. support for Kurdish militia in Syria. (VOA Turkish Service)
It was one more case of a car being driven at high speed, a few more unnecessary deaths and young lives lost. The accident occurred at the flyover in Punjabi Bagh in West Delhi when a Honda City with 7 students on board met with an accident, reports Hindustan Times.

The car which was travelling at a high speed, crashed into a divider and rolled off the flyover. The car crashed through the cement railings and an iron fence to plunge down 30 feet and land just next to the railway tracks.

All occupants of the Honda City were on their way to appear for an exam when the accident occurred. Three students were seated in the front of the car while there were four at the rear. The police stated that the car was driven by Rajat, one of the students and it was travelling at high speed at the time of the mishap.

As the car was overloaded, the purpose of being safe inside a car is defeated. Cars are made for a set number of passengers. If you overload it, you increase the risk of injury during an accident by many folds. In this case, only five should have travelled in the car, and no seven. Also, all five should have worn seat belts, but only the driver was wearing seat belt.

Ritu Singh and Sanchit Chhabra died on the spot. Rajat, who was driving the car died later on Monday while 21 year old Garima, died at the AIIMS trauma center on Tuesday. Rishabh and Raja are in a critical condition while the seventh occupant Pranav, is said to be out of danger and under observation at the BLK Hospital in Rajendra Nagar, Delhi.

A case of negligent driving and causing hurt by a negligent act has been registered. Post mortem of those dead are underway and reports are awaited.
Maruti Suzuki India Limited, wholly owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, has planned increased investments in India to the tune of INR 10,000 crores. New manufacturing facilities has been set up in Gujarat where production will touch 7.50 lakh units per annum by the end of next year.

Heads of Toyota Motors and Suzuki Motors were in India earlier this year to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Joint plans between the two auto majors, their alliances, and investments in India were discussed.

(L-R) Japan PM Shinzo Abe and India PM Narendra Modi. File Photo.

The two leaders also appraised the PM on possibility of introducing pure hybrid and electric vehicles in India and possibility of producing these vehicles within the country from where they would be making their way to export markets. This comes at a time when India itself is turning towards greener technologies and bringing in new regulations where vehicle emission standards are concerned. Maruti Suzukis in-depth knowledge of the Indian market would prove to be advantageous in this venture.

In terms of investments, Suzuki targets INR 10,000 crores in augmenting manufacturing facilities at the company plant in Gujarat from where 750,000 units could be produced each year. Investments into product development, marketing and service infrastructure are also on the cards with an additional INR 4,500 crore investment to launch new products and INR 1,900 crores for commissioning of its R&D center in Rohtak, Haryana. Expansion of sales and service networks are also a part of the companys investment plans.

Expanding reach is also a part of Maruti Suzuki plans. The company targets sales of 2 million units per annum by the turn of this decade with INR 11,000 crore investment towards existing sales and service infrastructure, while increased land prices would entail added investments. The company also furthers its reach into interiors of the country and wishes to add 3,000 new outlets and 1,800 workshops over next 3-4 years to its already existing 2,000 sales outlets and 3,200 workshops.

R&D budgets have also been enhanced with Maruti Suzuki planning new vehicles and set to upgrade current models in the market. Maruti Suzuki India Limited has announced 15 new products by 2020 which will entail 70% increase in investments at the R&D center in Rohtak which was earlier set at INR 2,000 crores initially but which has been augmented to INR 3,800 crores. The Rohtak center has recruited 1,400 engineers, most of whom have received training at the Suzuki headquarters in Japan.

An aggressive sales offensive has also been planned by the company. While Maruti Suzuki was noted for its smaller cars such as the Alto, Dzire, Wagon R and Swift, its entry into the midsized, sedan, crossover and SUV segment has also borne much fruit. The Brezza and Baleno have seen increased demand along with the Ignis, Ciaz, S-Cross and Celerio. Increased demand has resulted in the company stepping up production thereby bring down waiting periods on all models.

Besides new products, extensive sales and other growth strategies, Maruti Suzuki is also said to be showing more impetus towards new technology solutions which can be seen in their recent launches  AMT and SHVS. With the new battery packaging facility in the offing, new products with hybrid and electric technology can also be expected from the company.

Increased localization of products is also on the cards with Maruti Suzuki scouting for new vendors and intentions of sourcing from multiple basis. This would help in de-risking operations and will also prevent disruptions in supply. As on date the company has 444 Tier I suppliers and 2,050 Tier II suppliers. More emphasis will be paid to quality as against earlier where precedence was give to cost over quality.
A positive attitude toward and desire to take up hookah smoking are the most likely predictors of a young adult becoming a hookah tobacco smoker, University of Pittsburgh researchers found in the first nationally representative analysis of hookah use by young adults over an extended follow-up period.

The findings indicate that prevention efforts are likely to be more successful if they work to counter the image of hookah tobacco smoking as a fun activity for socializing and relaxing, rather than focusing on the negative health consequences. The research is published in this month's issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention.

"What this study showed us is that young adults who take up hookah tobacco smoking do so because they think it's cool and attractive, and they weren't dissuaded by the health dangers of smoking," said lead author Jaime E. Sidani, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant director of Pitt's Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health (CRMTH). "We need to find an effective way to combat those positive attitudes. That might include regulations on advertising and flavorings, coupled with solid counter-messages and educational programs encouraging young adults to think critically about marketing."

Sidani and her colleagues analyzed data from 1,785 adults ages 18 to 30 who reported on their hookah tobacco smoking habits, knowledge and attitudes in 2013 and again 18 months later in 2014. The participants were from across the U.S., equally male and female, and 57 percent white, 22 percent Hispanic, 13 percent black and 9 percent "other."

Forty-three percent reported having an education level of high school or less, making this study even more notable, as most hookah-related studies focus on college students due to the prevalence of hookah bars near university campuses.

Initially, 69 percent of the participants reported never smoking tobacco from a hookah, also known as a waterpipe, and 25 percent reported having smoked from a hookah at least once. The remaining 6 percent reported smoking from a hookah in the previous 30 days and were characterized as "current" smokers.

After 18 months, 7 percent of people who reported never smoking hookah had transitioned to having smoked at least once, while 4 percent of those who reported ever smoking had transitioned to current users.

Participants who initially reported that they intended to smoke tobacco from a hookah at some point in the future had seven times greater odds of starting to smoke from a hookah in the following 18 months, compared to those who reported they had no plans to use a hookah. And people who reported a positive impression of hookah smoking were nearly twice as likely as their peers to start smoking from one.

However, a negative attitude toward hookah smoking did not have any association with decreased odds of participants becoming hookah smokers, nor did overall knowledge of the harmful components of hookah smoke. This suggests that simply educating young adults on the negative aspects of hookah smoking is likely to be ineffective.

"When we extrapolate our findings to the greater population, that translates into nearly 9 million nonsmokers ages 18 to 30 who may have some intention to participate in hookah tobacco smoking," said Sidani. "Considering the strong association we found between intention to smoke and becoming a hookah smoker, it is clear that this is a ripe opportunity to target prevention efforts at this age group."
A Portland State University researcher discovered that a rabbit known for centuries to exist in South America is different enough from its cousins to be its own unique species.

"At a time when species are going extinct every day, it's encouraging to know we can add one back on the list of survivors," said PSU biology professor Luis Ruedas.

His findings will be published May 17 in the Journal of Mammalogy.

Ruedas made his discovery after studying rabbit specimens at the Naturalis museum in Leiden, in The Netherlands. The specimens, collected in 1983 from the small country of Suriname on South America's northeast coast, were labeled as South American cottontails.

Ruedas studied the anatomy of the museum specimens and determined they were larger and shaped differently than other rabbits throughout South America -- so much so that they deserved to be classified as a distinct species.

The creature will be only the third new rabbit species named in South America since the start of the modern classification system 260 years ago.

The discovery follows another finding that Ruedas published this year showing that the South American cottontail, which was considered to be a single species distributed over a vast area from Mexico to most of South America, really only occupies a small area of Brazil. The other rabbits on the continent -- perhaps as many as 35 species in all -- will have to be renamed, he said.

The rabbit from Suriname will be the first on that list.

Ruedas -- who has traveled around the world studying small mammals and discovering new species -- said the rabbit discovery in South America could affect how animal species are identified as unique, which is an important step when determining if a species is endangered. Ruedas said it could also lead to conservation efforts in Suriname, where environmental degradation is threatening the rabbit's habitat.
Marine reserves -- sections of the ocean where fishing is prohibited -- promote coral reef sustainability by preventing overfishing and increasing fish abundance and diversity. But to be effective, they need to be sized right, and in a way that accounts for how far juvenile fish travel away from their parents after spawning.

Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), along with researchers from Australia, France, and Saudi Arabia, have successfully measured the dispersal distances of two coral reef fish species across a 3,000 square mile section of the ocean -- an area the size of Yellowstone National Park. The study, published in the May 8, 2017, issue of the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, marks the largest, most comprehensive study of larval dispersal ever conducted and has important implications for the sizing and spacing of marine reserves.

"How far fish will disperse in their lifetimes is critical when you start thinking about how marine reserves should be designed," said Simon Thorrold, co-author of the study and a senior scientist at WHOI. "This is the first time we've been able to measure dispersal distances on spatial scales that are relevant to marine reserves, which means we can now provide data that informs management on optimal spacing and sizing."

Size matters

Marine reserves come in many shapes and sizes. But if a reserve is too small, it can't accommodate enough larvae to sustain populations. And if it's too big, larvae will simply stay within the confines of the reserve without contributing to surrounding fisheries -- a critical secondary role marine reserves need to play to improve fisheries management.

To get a read on fish dispersal in the past, scientists relied on population genetics approaches that lacked the power to measure dispersal over space and time scales relevant to protected areas of the ocean. More recently, ecologists have turned to computer-generated models of water currents to track particles through virtual oceans. According to Thorrold, this approach also has limitations since there was no way to verify the accuracy of the models. "The software can generate a lot of cool-looking graphs, but it was impossible to test the skill of those models in any real way."

An empirical approach

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To overcome these limitations, Thorrold and his colleagues took direct measurements of dispersal distances in the field. They collected DNA samples from thousands of adult and juvenile clownfish and butterflyfish throughout Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, in 2009 and 2011. The entire sampling process occurred underwater, with the 30-person science team spending thousands of man-hours on SCUBA over several weeks in the field each year.

When the scientists returned to the lab, they used DNA parentage analysis, a sequencing technique that allowed them to match the juveniles up with their parents based on the DNA samples and spawning and settlement location data. From that, they were able to determine that most of the juvenile clownfish stayed relatively close to home, settling at mean distances of 10-15 kilometers from their natal reefs. The butterflyfish dispersed further, averaging distances of 43-64 kilometers before settling into their new habitats.

"Since we knew the respective locations of the adults and babies, we were able to come up with the exact linear distances that the larvae had dispersed. We're no longer talking about estimates," said Thorrold.

Benefits beyond design

In addition to helping inform the design of protected areas, the measurements can help to test the ability of reserves to perform key conservation functions. For example, one way a marine reserve network may improve fish population sustainability is through the so-called "rescue effect." In theory, if fish in a reserve suffer catastrophic mortality, the reserve can be repopulated by larvae from other reserves within the network. Thorrold and colleagues were able to track larvae from one reserve to another in the study area, confirming that rescue effect is likely to occur in real-world reserve networks.

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The dispersal measurements could also allow fisheries managers to monitor the effectiveness of existing reserves, helping answer the question of whether or not a particular reserve is contributing to fish populations beyond its boundaries. This, according to Thorrold, has been a big unknown.

"If you can trace larvae from one reserve to a place that's fished, you can come up with a direct measure of how many fish the reserve is contributing to exploited populations beyond the reserve," he said. "This helps when trying to convince fishermen that networks of marine reserves are a good management tool."

Future work

According to Thorrold, as coral reef seascapes continue to face pressure from human-made stressors, marine reserves will continue to serve as an important conservation management tool. As such, it will become increasingly important to be able to provide direct measurements of larval dispersal, and find ways to apply the information to other regions of the ocean.

"The next thing we are working on is developing a coupled bio-physical model of the area that will allow us to take the results from this study and generalize them to other coral reef seascapes around the world," he said. "Limited resources for ocean management, particularly in the developing world, means that we need to maximize the chances of successful conservation outcomes from these efforts. These types of scientific insights will be critical for ongoing efforts to promote resilience of coral reef ecosystems in the face of human exploitation and climate change."
New big-data analytics by a City College of New York-led team suggests that both an individual's economic status and how they are likely to react to issues and policies can be inferred by their position in social networks. The study could be useful in maximizing the effects of large-scale economic stimulus policies.

A team led by City College physicist Hernan A. Makse was legally granted access to two massive big datasets: all the phone calls of the entire population of Mexico for three months and the banking information of a subset of people. All the data, approximately 110 million phone calls and 500,000 bank clients, was anonymous with no names.

"It is commonly believed that patterns of social ties affect individuals' economic status, said Makse, whose research interest includes the theoretical understanding of complexity. "We analyzed these two large-scale sources -- the telecommunications and financial data of a whole country's population. Our results showed that an individual's location, measured as the optimal collective influence to the structural integrity of the social network, is highly correlated with personal economic status."

The social network patterns of influence observed mimicked the patterns of economic inequality. For pragmatic use and validation, Makse and his colleagues carried out a marketing campaign that showed a three-fold increase in response rate by targeting individuals identified by their social network metrics as compared to random targeting.
The nearly century-old effort to employ selective breeding to rescue the American chestnut, which has been rendered functionally extinct by an introduced disease -- Chestnut blight, eventually will succeed, but it will take longer than many people expect.

That is the gist of findings from a new study conducted by a research team composed of scientists from Penn State, The American Chestnut Foundation and State University of New York. This research should tamp down expectations of both the public and some members of the science community that victory is imminent, but it also provides reassurance that the rescue ultimately will result in chestnuts flourishing in forests again, according to lead author Kim Steiner, professor of forest biology, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.

To reach their conclusions, researchers reviewed and evaluated decades of breeding records and transgenic experiments, new experimental data, and made projections related to how recurrent selection and incorporation of transgenic material into breeding lines will expedite blight resistance. They considered experimentally based estimates of heritability and genetic gain for blight resistance that were never available before this research was conducted.

"Those estimates are why we know, now, for sure that it is just a matter of time," Steiner said.

"Very few people understand the magnitude of the breeding challenge embarked upon by The American Chestnut Foundation when it began in 1983. Just to complete the B3F2 generation of breeding and selection -- the final generation as originally envisioned -- has meant that 73,000 trees must be created by hand pollination and grown and tested in plantations for a minimum of three years."

B3F2 is the third backcross, intercrossed generation of Chinese and American chestnuts.

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The process began in 2002 with the foundation's main breeding program and probably will not be completed until 2022, Steiner added. Furthermore, it is being duplicated through the work of volunteers in 13 affiliated state programs. The Pennsylvania program is overseen by Sara Fitzsimmons, a research technician in Penn State's Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and one of the study's co-authors.

Developing an accurate and comprehensive status report on the chestnut-rescue effort and identifying next steps and expectations of progress were the main reasons behind the research, explained Steiner, who is a board member of The American Chestnut Foundation and senior science adviser to the board.

"For a number of years, the foundation has made seed from B3F2 trees available for special purposes," he said. "But the average blight resistance of those seedlings was not expected to be high until the B3F2 plantation is completed and culled to the few hundred most-resistant trees. Our current findings indicate that, even then, average levels of resistance will not match Chinese chestnut."

However, some seeds from the B3F2 plantation will carry genes for high resistance, and there may be enough of them to begin restoration work, Steiner noted. Ultimately, he explained, the foundation's goal is to give the American chestnut the "genetic wherewithal" to survive to maturity and evolve on its own. "So we are not concerned about uniformity from tree to tree in the way that a landscape nursery must be."

In the research, recently published in New Forests, progress and future steps were summarized in two approaches -- The American Chestnut Foundation's system of hybridizing with the blight-resistant Chinese chestnut species and then backcrossing repeatedly to recover the American-type tree, and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry's transformation of the American chestnut with a resistance-conferring transgene. That effort has been sponsored by the New York Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation.

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Several decades of effort have been invested in each approach, and more work remains, researchers noted, but results provide the best experimental evidence since the blight hit North America sometime after 1904 that success is within practical reach.

"We believe that the breeding program may need an additional one or two generations of recurrent selection to maximize resistance," Steiner said. "The New York transgenic tree still must undergo regulatory review before release, and it must be tested in harshly competitive, natural environments before its true worth is understood. If it proves out, we expect that the New York work will be integrated with the foundation's conventional breeding program because both lines of work have inherent strengths."

Steiner, who is director of The Arboretum at Penn State, where the Pennsylvania program's B3F2 plantation is growing, called the chestnut-restoration effort the most ambitious, protracted and technically difficult rescue of a species that ever has been undertaken. And he credits the volunteer members of The American Chestnut Foundation for making it happen.

As a graduate student at Michigan State University in the fall of 1970, Steiner wrote a breeding plan to solve the American chestnut problem as a class assignment. He clearly remembers the professor's assessment that the plan was workable but utterly impractical. Industry, the professor said, had no interest in American chestnut, and government agencies would not undertake to breed a blight-resistant chestnut after abandoning two earlier long-term programs with the same goal.

"As it turns out, now 47 years later, he was correct on those two points," Steiner recalls. "But he did not reckon on the ability of a nonprofit organization like The American Chestnut Foundation to accomplish a 'lost-cause' conservation task through the power of thousands of volunteer citizen-scientists and philanthropic supporters."

Their enthusiasm and the wonderful example of this model inspired Steiner in the late 1990s to offer his services to the organization as a volunteer science adviser. And he is not alone. A great many university, agency and industry scientists have assisted the foundation in small and large ways.

The promise that the foundation's breeding program will succeed has leveraged tens of millions of dollars in supporting research, according to Steiner. "And since the mid-1990s, there has been an explosion in published research about American chestnut, a species that has been ecologically and economically insignificant since the early decades of the last century," he added.
The blood-brain barrier is biology's proverbial double-edged sword.

An impermeable shield of endothelial cells that protects our brains from toxins and other threats that may lurk in circulating blood, the barrier can also exclude therapeutic drugs and, at times, essential biomolecules required for healthy brain development.

A case in point is the rare but severe psychomotor disease Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS), a congenital condition that affects only males and starves the developing brain of thyroid hormone, resulting in cognitive impairment and atrophied muscles and motor skills. The condition is not only untreatable, but seems to be peculiar to humans, meaning scientists have been unable to study the disease and seek new treatments by modeling it in an animal like the mouse.

But now, a team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles have used the cells of AHDS patients to recreate not only the disease, but a mimic of the patient's blood-brain barrier in the laboratory dish using induced pluripotent stem cell technology.

"This is the first demonstration of using a patient's cells to model a blood-brain barrier defect," explains Eric Shusta, a UW-Madison professor of chemical and biological engineering and a senior author of the new study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell. "If we had just the (compromised) neural cells available, we wouldn't have been able to identify this key characteristic of AHDS."

The new work not only establishes a laboratory model for Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome, but also hints at therapies that could prevent or reduce the debilitating effects of the disease, says Clive Svendsen, director of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, a senior author of the new study and an expert on diseases of the central nervous system. The Wisconsin-Cedars-Sinai collaboration also included UW-Madison Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering Sean Palecek and Abraham Al-Ahmad, now a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Texas Tech University.

Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome is caused by defects to a single gene that controls the flow of thyroid hormone to the brain. It affects the developing male brain beginning before birth and results in moderate to severe cognitive disability, impaired speech, underdeveloped muscles and involuntary movement, among other symptoms. As patients age, the condition progresses and many become confined to wheelchairs.

The flawed gene, says Shusta, blunts the work of a biomolecule called MCT8, a transporter that shepherds thyroid hormone through the blood-brain barrier. In the earliest stages of development, several studies suggest a fetus obtains significant amounts of thyroid hormones from the mother.

"The blood-brain barrier forms pretty early in gestation, so the thyroid hormone, even from the mother, is probably not getting through the barrier and into the brain, likely leading to developmental deficits," says Shusta, whose group was among the first to develop blood-brain barriers from patient-derived stem cells in the lab dish.

The ability to recapitulate both the affected neural cells and the blood-brain barrier, according to Shusta and Svendsen, provides detailed insight that not only reveals the mechanics of the syndrome, but also raises the possibility of identifying drugs that may help overcome the diminished ability of the hormone to nurture the developing brain.

In addition, several other neurological diseases like Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease may involve dysfunction in the blood-brain barrier, explains Gad Vatine of Cedars-Sinai, the lead author of the report. "The significance of this study expands beyond the limits of AHDS research, to the possibility of stem cell modeling the blood-brain barrier component in many other neurological diseases," Vatine says.

As an example, Leslie Thompson and coworkers at the University of California, Irvine, have used the blood-brain barrier model developed in the Shusta laboratory to study abnormalities in the blood-brain barrier of Huntington's disease patients. That work is published in the May 16 edition of Cell Reports.
A key gene that helps to explain an underlying cause of incurable bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease has been identified by scientists.

Blocking the gene harms vital parts of the cell and leads to bowel disease, while targeting these vital cell parts with drugs can reverse damage, the study shows.

The findings aid understanding of the cause of these lifelong conditions and could lead to new treatments, scientists say.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease -- or IBD -- includes Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis and affects around 300,000 people in the UK. The causes of these disorders are unknown and there is currently no cure.

The gene -- known as MDR1 -- governs an important extractor system for toxins in the gut, removing damaging substances from intestinal cells.

A research team -- led by the University of Edinburgh -- showed that MDR1 function was lower in colonic biopsies from people with inflamed IBD compared with those without inflammation.

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To demonstrate how MDR1 dysfunction leads to bowel damage, the scientists then showed that mice lacking MDR1 had faulty mitochondria -- parts of the cell often referred to as 'batteries'. These play a vital role in energy generation and cell health.

This mitochondrial dysfunction resulted in colitis -- inflammation in the inner lining of the bowel that is a defining feature of IBD.

Scientists further implicated the role of mitochondria by linking IBD to a large number of genes involved in regulating these cell batteries. The researchers analysed genetic data from 90,000 people -- 40,000 of whom had IBD.

The study also showed that a drug called Mitoquinone -- which protects the mitochondria against toxins -- can reduce colitis and promote bowel recovery in the mice lacking MDR1, which scientists say is a significant step forward.

Lead author Dr Gwo-Tzer Ho, Honorary Consultant Gastroenterologist at the University of Edinburgh's MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, said: "IBD has a serious impact on quality of life, with 6,000 new cases diagnosed per year in the UK. We have shown that MDR1 and mitochondrial function are important jigsaw pieces in the complex causes of IBD.

"Our studies highlight the importance of shielding the mitochondria from damage. This will open new approaches to drug targets that focus on the mitochondria to better design treatments for patients."

The research -- carried out in collaboration with researchers at the University of Bristol and in the USA and Japan -- was funded by Crohn's and Colitis UK. It is published in the journal Mucosal Immunology.
WCS scientists have discovered a refuge for corals where the environment protects otherwise sensitive species to the increasing severity of climate change. The bad news is that the reefs are showing signs of being overfished and weak compliance with local fisheries laws needs to be reversed to maintain the fish that help to keep reefs healthy. The scientists describe their findings in the journal Ecosphere.

The authors say reefs located in northern Mozambique and the Quirimbas Islands supports two types of refuges and a gradient of environments that create the potential for corals to adapt to climate change.

The first refuge is an environment that has enough variability for corals to adapt but lacks temperature extremes that would kill them. A second is deeper, cooler water but with the full spectrum of light that allows many species to thrive and avoid heat stress.

The second refuge area is associated with shipping channels that support coastal people and centers of heavy fishing. The authors found that many nearby reefs were not fished sustainably and fishers were therefore migrating to the second refuge to find profitable fishing.

Identifying climate-resistant reefs, called "Reefs of Hope," is a high priority among conservation groups as corals are collapsing globally due to higher water temperatures.

The authors found warning signs of overfishing including small fishes, reduced numbers of species and the increasing occurrence of sea urchins and algae growth. Sea urchins can damage corals if not controlled by predators such as triggerfish, while algae can suffocate corals unless kept in check by grazing fish species.

The authors recommend that these coral refuge areas maintain a fish biomass of greater than 500 kilograms per hectare, which, as previously published WCS research shows, is the threshold to maintain ecological functions while sustaining local fisheries.

Said Tim McClanahan, WCS Senior Conservation Zoologist and lead author of the study: "Northern Mozambique Quirimbas reefs have a variety of refugia, environmental variability, and high diversity that give these reefs a high potential to adapt to rapid climate change. If this region is to provide adaptive potential to climate change, fishing at a sustainable level and maintaining reef fish biomass, life histories, and functions is a high priority."

Management recommendations include gear restrictions and closing certain areas to fishing, and enforcing regulations in the Quirimbas National Park, which was established many years ago, but has failed to implement restrictions. Research is showing that properly managing marine protected areas (MPAs) continues to remain a challenge due to insufficient personnel and expenditures needed to enforce management. Another recent WCS-co-authored study said widespread lack of personnel and funds are preventing MPAs from reaching their full potential.

Global awareness continues to grow about the immediate threats facing coral reef ecosystems, as is a global commitment to address those threats. Last February, at the Economist World Ocean Summit in Bali, Indonesia, the '50 Reefs' initiative was launched by the Global Change Institute of the University of Queensland and the Ocean Agency. The initiative brings together leading ocean, climate and marine scientists to develop a list of the 50 most critical coral reefs to protect, while leading conservation practitioners are working together to establish the best practices to protect these reefs.
Type 2 diabetes, a prolific killer, is on a steep ascent. According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of the condition has grown dramatically from 108 million cases in 1980 to well over 400 million today. The complex disease occurs when the body's delicate regulation of glucose, a critical metabolite, is disrupted, creating a condition of elevated blood sugar known hyperglycemia. Over time, the condition can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

In a new study, Wei Liu and his colleagues at The Biodesign Institute join an international team, led by Beili Wu from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, to explore a central component in glucose regulation. Their findings shed new light on the structure of the glucagon receptor, a highly promising target for diabetes drug development.

"The biggest highlight of this paper is that we now have a full-length structure of a class B GPCR," Liu says, referring to a specialized cell-surface receptor able to bind with signaling molecules and influence blood sugar regulation.

In addition to ASU, scientists at SIMM, in collaboration with several groups based in China (ShanghaiTech University, Zhengzhou University and Fudan University), United States (University of Southern California, The Scripps Research Institute, and GPCR Consortium), the Netherlands (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) and Denmark (Novo Nordisk), provided a detailed molecular map of the full-length human glucagon receptor (GCGR) in complex with a modulator (NNC0640) and the antigen-binding antibody fragment (mAb1).

The research appears in the advanced online edition of the journal Nature.

Versatile components

GPCRs (for G-Protein Coupled Receptors) are specialized receptors adorning cell surfaces. They act like email inboxes for important messages, which arrive at the outer membrane in the form of binding molecules or ligands that affect cell behavior and regulation.

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Receptor-ligand binding alters the conformation of the receptor and sends messages to the cell's interior, guiding cell function. Pharmaceutical companies hope to develop new drugs that can more accurately and efficiently bind with cell receptors, including diabetes drugs that will be able to halt or reduce the overproduction of glucose.

The detailed structure of the glucagon receptor (or "GCGR") examined in the study was solved using the technique of X-ray crystallography. Here, a crystallized protein is struck with X-rays, which form a diffraction pattern that can be reassembled into an extremely detailed picture of the sample. Such information is vital for the development of effective drugs, which must bind with their complex target cell receptors with great specificity.

Binding of a specific ligand to the glucagon receptor triggers the release of glucose from the liver during fasting, making this receptor a critical component for maintaining normal glucose levels in the body.

Class B GPCRs are essential to numerous physiological processes and serve as important drug targets for many human diseases such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, migraine, depression and anxiety. According to team leader and SIMM professor Dr. Beili Wu, "The GCGR structure provides a clear picture of a full-length class B GPCR at high resolution, and helps us understand how different domains cooperate in modulating the receptor function at the molecular level."

The GCGR receptor consists of three key components: an extracellular domain (ECD), which protrudes above the surface of the cell, a transmembrane domain (TCD), which is anchored into the cell membrane itself and a region known as the stalk, which connects the two domains and acts as a kind of pivot. (Figure 1 shows the basic structure of the GCGR receptor made up of an extracellular domain, stalk region and transmembrane region. Also pictured is the binding antibody mAb23.)

The results of the new study are significant because all three parts of the receptor are essential for its ability to properly bind with its target molecules."Previously we had solved the structure for this GPCR, but we had truncated the whole extracellular domain, which is a critical part for ligand binding," Liu says. Further, although the stalk region contains just 12 amino acids, it is critical for activating and de-activating the GCGR receptor.

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Tale of two hormones

Progressive diabetes can result in serious health complications, including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. It is currently the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

Proper regulation of blood sugar levels relies on two key hormones, which together act like a kind of thermostat. When blood sugar becomes elevated above the normal threshold, insulin is produced by islet cells in the pancreas, acting to keep blood sugar in check.

But an even greater risk to the body occurs should blood sugar fall dangerously low. Indeed, low blood sugar or hypoglycemia can be fatal as glucose is the most important brain metabolite, essential for survival. Under conditions of hypoglycemia, another hormone, known as glucagon is produced by pancreatic ?-cells. Glucagon acts as the main counter-regulatory hormone, opposing the action of insulin and switching on glucose production in the liver during fasting. Glucagon influences target tissues through activation of the GCGR receptor.

In Type 2 diabetes, insulin production is impaired, leading to elevated blood sugar. Treatment for the disease with supplemental insulin has therefore been a therapy of choice for most patients of the disease. But diabetes also affects glucagon production through dysregulation of the GCGR receptor, causing the overproduction of glucose. The combination of insulin deficiency and glucose excess is typical of Type II diabetes and calls for a multi-pronged approach to addressing the disease.

The idea of targeting the GCGR receptor with drugs able to bind with it and switch it off has long been proposed and experiments in rats indicate that the approach is sound. Much more work is required however to perform the same feat in humans. Now, with the complete structure of the receptor in hand, pharmaceutical companies are poised to develop much more effective drugs that specifically target glucose production, while avoiding undesirable side effects.

Better reception

The glucagon receptor examined in the new study is just one member of a superfamily of GPCR surface cell receptors. GPCRs are the largest and most diverse group of membrane receptors in eukaryotes, (cells bearing a nucleus, including human cells). Signals that can be detected by GPCRs include light, peptides, lipids, sugars, and proteins.

GPCRs perform a vast array of functions in the human body and their role in modern medicine is vast. Researchers estimate that between one-third and one-half of all marketed drugs act by binding to GPCRs and around 4 percent of the entire human genome is devoted to coding for these structures.

While GPCRs bind a dizzying variety of signaling molecules, they share a common architecture that has been conserved over the course of evolution. Animals, plants, fungi, and protozoa all rely on GPCRs to receive information from their environment. Activation of GPCRs is involved with sensation, growth, hormone response and myriad other vital functions.

The team used an antibody to stabilize the receptor ECD region, making it less dynamic and more suitable for crystallization, locking the receptor in a particular conformation in which the ECD, TMD and stalk region are held in a specific orientation. The resulting full-length structure exposed by X-ray crystallography differed significantly from earlier predictions of the receptor's shape based on modeling studies. (Antibodies like those used in the new study are being explored as possible ligands used to target the GCGP receptor and control diabetes.)

"Now, we know how the ECD interacts with the ligand, so there can be much more directional development of drugs," Liu says. In addition to Liu's expertise in the realm of GPCRs, he and his ASU colleagues contributed sample preparation, data collection and analysis.

A number of large pharmaceutical companies, (including Novo Nordisk, which supplied experimental binding compounds used in the current study), are now aggressively pursuing new therapies for diabetes based on the exquisitely detailed GPCR structures beginning to come to light.
Studying the effects of great cormorant droppings on water reservoirs is a dirty job, but someone's got to do it.

At the Maji Agricultural Reservoir in Wonju, Gangwond-do, South Korea, that someone is Tae Kwon Lee. Lee regularly jogs around the reservoir. One day he noticed large black birds completely covering the small island in the lake. The black birds were great cormorants, a type of large water bird, and the trees on the islet were completely covered in the birds' feces. As time passed, Lee made another observation: the lake suffered a severe algal bloom.

Algal blooms deplete oxygen in lakes, produce toxins, and end up killing aquatic life in the lake. This sequence of events got Lee wondering: Did the bird feces cause or contribute to the algal bloom?

The Maji reservoir is an important water source for local farmers who use the water for their crops in the summer. Maintaining water quality is important. About five years ago, the cormorants showed up and now there are 300-500 great cormorants inhabiting the lake and islet. That's a lot of birds and a lot of bird feces, so it's important to understand how the bird feces affects the water. The bird droppings are rich in phosphorus and nitrogen, and when it gets into the water, it adds those nutrients to the water.

Adding nutrients to an existing ecosystem can have a cascading effect. "The feces can influence not only water quality but also whole ecosystems including plants, soil, and other birds," explains Lee.

Lee designed a microcosm experiment to test his hypothesis. He collected water, sediment, and yes, cormorant droppings, and created 14 miniature ecosystems. Each microcosm contained the same amount of water and sediment from the lake. Then Lee added .5 g, 1.0g, and 5.0g of cormorant droppings to the microcosms. Over the next 21 days, he tested samples of the water. Specifically, he was looking to see if the feces affected the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients in the water.

Lee found that even a small amount of cormorant feces was enough to produce noticeable changes in the nutrient conditions of the water. These could be long lasting: "Furthermore, feces in the water acted as a nutrient source for days," said Lee.

Lee also analyzed both the water and the sediment to document changes to the microbial (bacterial) communities.

While the microbial community of the water was only significantly affected when 5.0g of feces was added, the microbial community of the sediment was impacted by smaller amounts of feces. Based on his findings, Lee can't blame the algal bloom completely on the cormorants. But Lee thinks their feces may have some influence, since chlorophyll concentrations, signaling more algal growth, doubled after adding only 0.5g of feces to the microcosms.

"Our results confirmed the changes in nutrient condition and microbial community in water caused by a small amount of feces," Lee concluded. "Fecal input may adversely affect the condition of the reservoir, bringing about undesirable changes such as algae bloom."

Lee recognizes the limitations of his experiment. "Microcosm experiments give researchers more control over variables normally not possible in the real world. But the results don't fully represent what happens in the real world because the microcosm can't completely mimic the real environment," he explains.

Lee hopes to continue his research. "We want to understand how many birds a waterbody can support before becoming seriously polluted." For Lee, studying the cormorants in the real world means the dirty work continues.
The loss of intact forest cover in Myanmar has accelerated over the last decade, according to a study published May 17, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Peter Leimgruber from Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, United States of America; Ned Horning from American Museum of Natural History, United States of America; and colleagues.

Due to its long political and economic isolation, Myanmar has retained much of its original forest cover but much of the intact forest is unprotected and is increasingly subject to pressures from rapid political and economic changes in the country. Areas that were inaccessible due to armed conflicts between the government and ethnic groups, for example, are starting to open up for timber production and commercial plantations. To investigate changes to forest cover, Leimgruber, Horning and colleagues used Landsat satellite images to map forest cover in Myanmar between 2002 and 2014.

The researchers found that in 2014 63% of Myanmar was covered by forest (more than 42 million hectares), making it one of the region's most forested countries. However, in terms of conservation efforts and protection of endangered species, intact (un-fragmented) forests are the most valuable. In Myanmar, 38% of forest cover is intact forest and during the study period the authors found that this intact forest declined by 11% (more than 2 million hectares) with an annual loss of 0.94%. Through their analyses the authors also identified 9 township hotspots of deforestation of intact forests and a large area 6.1 million hectares of intact forest in Northern Myanmar.

The authors suggest that protection of intact forests should take priority but other ways of improving forest management could include encouraging forest restoration, and reclaiming degraded forestlands for plantations and sustainable agriculture.
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California employees are entitled to one day of rest in seven, but the state labor code isn't clear about how that seven-day period should be measured. On May 8, the California Supreme Court delivered some good news for employers: The day of rest must be given in a workweek, not on a rolling basis for any consecutive seven-day period.

This ruling means that if an employer's workweek runs from Sunday to Saturday, it's not a problem for an employee to be scheduled to work every day from Wednesday to Wednesdayeven though that's more than seven consecutive days of work, said Sandy Rappaport, an attorney with Hanson Bridgett in San Francisco. "The calculation is based on one day of rest in the workweek, and there's no per se prohibition on scheduling seven days of work that go across multiple workweeks."

The state high court's decision on this question benefits employers because it provides clarity, said Gina Haggerty Lindell and Debra Ellwood Meppen, attorneys with Gordon & Rees in Irvine, Los Angeles and San Diego.

[SHRM members-only toolkit: Complying with California Wage Payment and Hours of Work Laws]

Scheduling Flexibility

Nordstrom retail employees filed lawsuits claiming that they occasionally had to cover other workers' shifts, which impermissibly caused them to work seven consecutive days without a break.

The employees argued that the California "day of rest" rule should apply on a rolling basisotherwise, employees could be required to work up to 12 consecutive days without a day off. But the court disagreed and said the proper measurement period is the employer's workweek.

The court gave even more work-scheduling flexibility to employers by saying that employees must average no less than one day of rest for every seven over the course of a calendar month, Rappaport noted.

"If at one time an employee works every day of a given week, at another time shortly before or after she must be permitted multiple days of rest in a week to compensate, and on balance must average no less than one day's rest for every seven, not one for every 12," the court said.

For a large retailer like Nordstrom, that makes it a lot easier from a scheduling perspective to ensure employees are provided their rest day.

Exceptions

Some part-time employees don't have to be offered a day of rest, but the exception to the rule is also vague. The labor code says that employers aren't required to give workers a day of rest when the "total hours of employment do not exceed 30 hours in any week or six hours in any one day thereof."

So does "six hours in any one day" mean for every day of the workweek or just for one? The California Supreme Court clarified that part-time employees are exempt if they never work more than six hours in any day of the workweek.

"If on any one day an employee works more than six hours, a day of rest must be provided during that workweek, subject to whatever other exceptions might apply," the court said.

This outcome is generally more beneficial to employees, but the silver lining for employers and their attorneys is that "we now know and understand exactly what we need to look for," Meppen said.

Rappaport noted that there is another exception that wasn't mentioned in the case for rest-day policies made pursuant to a collective bargaining agreementthose may trump the labor code provisions.

'Gray Area'

California law also says that an employer can't "cause" an employee to go without the day of rest, and the state high court weighed in on what "cause" means.

"The court essentially said that the employer isn't going to be liable simply by allowing an employee to choose not to take the day of rest," Rappaport said. "But if the employer is doing anything to motivate the employee not to take a day of rest, it could be liable."

Nordstrom had argued that "causing" means "forcing" or "requiring," but the court said that interpretation is too narrow because there are a lot of ways an employer can implicitly require employees to forego a day of rest, she explained.

This is a gray area because it will take an individual inquiry into each employee's circumstances to determine whether an employer caused a worker to skip the day off, Lindell said.

For example, did the employer provide more favorable schedules to employees who chose to give up their day of rest or assign a poor performance rating to those who didn't?

An employer can get into trouble if it ends up with a record that looks like workers were getting implicitly rewarded or punished based on their decision, Rappaport said.

On the positive side for employers, the case-by-case analysis that this ruling requires means that it may be more difficult for employees to get a class action certified, Lindell noted.

On an employee-by-employee basis, workers could be in slightly different roles or report to different managers, and therefore the factual interpretation could be different for each plaintiff, Meppen added. "It will be interesting to see how this plays out."

HR's Role

Although the ruling leaves room for interpretation as to what constitutes "cause," there are actions employers can take to protect themselves, Rappaport said. For example, they can have a sign-up sheet for employees who want to work additional days, and the sheet could state that the work is voluntary and not a requirement of employment.

Employers may want to send a companywide e-mail explaining that they will not require employees to work on a seventh day in the workweek and telling employees the steps they need to take if they want to voluntarily work a seventh day, Meppen said.

She cautioned that employers should check with counsel to make sure the documentation they are creating is compliant. "It's worse to think you are protecting yourself when you are actually saying something that could be harmful."

The case is Mendoza v. Nordstrom, Cal., No. S22461 (May 8, 2017).

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New Zealand has ordered four P-8A maritime patrol aircraft for $1.46 billion. Unlike most nations, the P-8As are not just another small part of the armed forces. New Zealand, located in a very remote part of the world has largely demilitarized since the Cold War ended in 1991. But you still have to eat and the P-8A will be more effective at finding and trackers fleets of fishing boats (mostly Chinese) poaching in New Zealand waters. With the new P-8As the Royal New Zealand Navy will be able to retire its six elderly P-3K maritime patrol aircraft. The P-3Ks had been the only combat aircraft in New Zealand since 2001 when the last combat jets were retired. In 2014 New Zealand obtained Penguin anti-ship missiles for its five SH-2 helicopters. The 370 kg (814 pounds) Penguins have a range of 55 kilometers. The New Zealand Navy consists of two frigates and six patrol boats so the four P-8As are a major addition.

This P-8A purchase includes the aircraft as well as maintenance equipment, training and support. The P-8 Poseidon is based on the widely used Boeing 737 airliner. Although the Boeing 737 based P-8A is a two engine jet, compared to the four engine turboprop P-3, it is a more capable plane. The P-8A has 23 percent more floor space than the P-3 and is larger (38 meter/118 foot wingspan, versus 32.25 meter/100 foot) and heavier (83 tons versus 61). Most other characteristics are the same. Both can stay in the air about 10 hours per sortie. Speed is different. Cruise speed for the 737 is 910 kilometers an hour, versus 590 for the P-3. This makes it possible for the P-8A to get to a patrol area faster, which is a major advantage when chasing down subs first spotted by distant sonar arrays or satellites. However, the P-3 can carry more weapons (9 tons versus 5.6). This is less of a factor as the weapons (torpedoes, missiles, mines, sonobouys) are lighter and more effective today and that trend continues. Both carry the same size crew of 10-11 pilots and equipment operators. Both aircraft carry search radar and various other sensors.

The 737 has, like the P-3, been equipped with hard points on the wings for torpedoes or missiles. The B-737 is a more modern design and has been used successfully since the 1960s by commercial aviation. Navy aviators are confident that it will be as reliable as the P-3. The P-3 was based on the Electra civilian airliner that first flew in 1954, although only 170 were built, plus 600 P-3s. Some Electras are still in service. The Boeing 737 first flew in 1965, and over 5,000 have been built. The P-8A will be the first 737 designed with a bomb bay and four wing racks for weapons. The P-8 costs about $275 million each.

The main customer for the P-8 is the U.S. Navy, which is buying 117 of them to replace 250 P-3Cs. In addition the American navy is also buying 68 MQ-4C Triton UAVs. These will serve in five squadrons each with twelve of these unmanned aircraft. The MQ-4C cost $60 million each and each has a wingspan of 42.2 meters (131 feet) and is 15.5 meters (48 feet) long. Range is over 22,000 kilometers and cruising speed is 650 kilometers an hour. The MQ-4C is based on the RQ-4B Global Hawk, which entered service in 2006. At 13 tons the Global Hawk is the size of a commuter airliner (like the Embraer ERJ 145) but costs nearly twice as much. Global Hawk can be equipped with much more powerful and expensive sensors, which more than double the cost of the aircraft. These "spy satellite quality" sensors (especially AESA radar) are usually worth the expense because they enable the UAV, flying at over 20,000 meters (62,000 feet), to get a sharp picture of all the territory it can see from that altitude. The B version is a lot more reliable. Early A models tended to fail and crash at the rate of once every thousand flight hours.

The MQ-4C is seen as the ultimate replacement for all manned maritime patrol aircraft, at least once it is equipped with more anti-submarine sensors and weapons. The P-8A will probably be the last manned naval search aircraft. Some countries are using satellite communications to put the sensor operators who staff manned patrol aircraft on the ground. Some nations propose sending aircraft like the P-3 or P-8 aloft with just their flight crews, not all the system operators and having all the other gear operated from the ground. This enables the aircraft to stay in the air longer and carry more equipment.

By 2008 the U.S. Navy had six RQ-4B UAVs available for developing modifications and upgrades needed to turn the RQ-4 into a maritime patrol aircraft.. In early 2013 the first prototype model of the MQ-4C took off and began its flight testing. The MQ-4C Triton was different in that it had additional protection against salt damage and a set of sensors optimized for monitoring water rather than land. The flight control software was also tweaked to adapt the UAV so that was better able to spend most of its time navigating across the high seas. The first production MQ-4C was delivered in late 2012. The MQ-4C is seen as the future of maritime patrol aircraft but for now most nations are replacing their P-3s with P-8s. Since 1962 757 P-3s were built and over half of them are still in service. Meanwhile New Zealand expects its new P-8As to last until the middle of the century and probably be replaced by UAVs.
Despite the continued heavy military activity in the northeast (mainly northern Borno state) Boko Haram survives and is able to maintain hidden bases large enough to hold hundreds of Islamic terrorists and their prisoners. Particularly controversial was the recent agreement that got 82 of the Chibok captives (from 2014) released in exchange for the release of eight Boko Haram leaders being held and awaiting prosecution for mass murder, terrorism and so on. Many Nigerians believed these men should have at least stood trial before being traded for hostages. As expected some of the freed Boko Haram leaders promptly went back to Islamic terrorism.

Meanwhile Boko Haram is very visibly divided into factions. That may be one reason it survives, as there is no longer much central control at all. Back in March Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau released a video to boast that he was still alive and operating in the northeast. Security forces have claimed Shekau was dead at least five times since 2011 but so far have always been wrong. In late 2016 there was hope that a recent split in Boko Haram might lead to Shekau getting killed by other Islamic terrorists but that hasnt happened either and the two main factions appear to have achieved some kind of truce with each other and continues to operate.

The Boko Haram split began in August 2016 when ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) announced that it was replacing Shekau, who was accused of mismanagement, with Abu Musab al Barnawi. ISIL believed Shekau devoted too much effort to killing fellow Moslems (especially civilians) rather than the real enemies of ISIL (local security forces and non-Moslems in general). ISIL leadership was also unhappy with the Boko Haram use of children and women as suicide bombers. That has become an issue in Nigeria because the use of children as suicide bombers has tripled this year (27 in the first three months of 2017 compared to nine in 2016). While the new Boko Haram leader has concentrateds attacks on the security forces and non-Moslems he has also used children, especially females, as suicide bombers. Barnawi is a son of Mohammed Yusuf, one of the ISIL founders. Barnawi was appointed chief Boko Haram spokesman in January 2015. Although Barnawi has developed a following in Boko Haram Shekau refused to accept the ISIL decision.

Boko Haram is now split into competing factions which is nothing new as there have always been some factions, but not to this extent. At this point many Boko Haram loyalists regret the 2015 decision to become part of ISIL, which was believed to be an effort to avoid a split in Boko Haram as more radical members declared themselves followers of ISIL or even tried to go to Syria to join ISIL. Few African Islamic terrorists have done that, largely because of the cost and difficulty travelling from Africa to areas where ISIL is dominant. But in many parts of the world older Islamic terror organizations are fracturing because their more enthusiastic members prefer the ISIL style of ultra-violence. By the time Boko Haram joined ISIL was already on the defensive in the Middle East and by early 2017 ISIL was facing the loss of its primary sanctuary in Syria and Iraq. Barnawi is in his 20s and similar to his father, Mohammed Yusuf, who was well educated, an Islamic conservative and murdered by police in 2009 just before he turned 40. That murder was one of the reasons Boko Haram turned to widespread and ruthless violence rather than just depending on agitation and education. Barnawi said he was going to serve fellow Moslems, especially those loyal (or at least tolerant) of ISIL. This has worked to a certain extent as in some parts of Borno State ISIL tells villagers they will not be attacked if they do not actively work against ISIL. In many rural areas the locals are fine with that. But Boko Haram men have to eat and the new less violent approach does not always work when the locals are going hungry and Boko Haram has to steal from these hungry civilians or starve. Barnawi has made good on his pledge to concentrate on killing non-Moslems, especially Nigerian Christians and his faction is believed responsible for several recent attacks on Christians in the northeast. It is still unclear who is winning the power struggle within Boko Haram but both factions appear to be operational and avoiding fights with each other.

Shekau is getting most of the security forces attention at the moment because of his publicity seeking and continued reliance on lots of violence against everyone. Since March the army has been sending troops to areas throughout the northeast to revisit former Boko Haram base areas to see if there were signs that Shekau men were in the vicinity. There are still large areas of Kano and Borno State that are deserted, with the civilians reluctant to return until order is restored. In these areas Boko Haram groups can survive, if they can find enough to eat. Many die trying as soldiers have come across the bodies of emaciated Boko Haram men who collapsed and died while seeking something to eat. Others surrender before they pass out from hunger and their emaciation is pretty obvious. These men provide a lot of details about who is still out there and what their mental and physical condition is. They also confirm that Boko Haram survives, but does not thrive. The main reason for this are pro-government militias and local defense forces in the northeast. By late 2014 Boko Haram was regularly attacking towns or villages which had a lot of these volunteers. That led more civilians joining these groups. Officially called the Civilian JTF (Joint Task Force or CJTF), these volunteers initially received little material support from the government. In early 2013 Boko Haram began to notice that in Borno and Yobe states thousands of Moslem and Christian young men were enthusiastically joining the CJTF to provide security from Boko Haram violence and provide information to the security forces about who Boko Haram members were and where they were living. That trend continues and now the CJTF and self-defense groups in general have become the greatest threat to Boko Haram in rural areas as well as the cities. The CJTF frequently patrol remote areas and operate a growing network of trusted informants who can quickly phone in details on local Boko Haram activity.

In 2013 Boko Haram openly declared war on CJTF and threatened to kill any of them they could find. That state of war continues but now it is Boko Haram that is on the defensive. The CJTF often operates with heavily armed police or soldiers nearby (ready to move in arrest Boko Haram suspects the vigilantes identify or fire back if Boko Haram attack). By the end of 2013 the army was using the volunteers to replace troops at checkpoints. This policy enabled more checkpoints to be set up and more through searches of vehicles to be conducted. This made it more difficult for Boko Haram to move around, plan and carry out attacks or to resupply the few men they still had in the cities. Boko Haram responded by attacking checkpoints more frequently and that led to many volunteers getting weapons, officially or otherwise (sometimes with the help of soldiers or police). The checkpoints have become a major problem for Boko Haram and now the growing use of CJTF patrols and informants are even more of a problem.

By the end of 2014 some CJTF groups were launching attacks on Boko Haram, and usually winning because they knew the area and people better and often were able to launch a surprise attack at night. A major factor in this was that in the more remote areas, like near the Sambisa Forest, the CJTF groups contained a lot of local hunters. These men are professional hunters who thrive in rural areas where there is a lot more game than people. CJTF first demonstrated to the army the skills of local hunters who tracked game for a living. The army noted that the success of CJTF attack units was largely the result of local hunters. Soon the army began to hire some of the hunters who were exceptional trackers as well as offering bounties if they could track down certain Boko Haram men or groups. At first Boko Haram fought back and attacked trackers or their families. That backfired because the CJTF have better information about their home areas which made it difficult for Boko Haram to make revenge attacks. The attacks are made anyway and fail so often that most Boko Haram are advised by their leaders to stay away from CJTF, especially those groups with professional hunters.

The military doesnt like to publicize how important the CJTF, and civilian support in general, was to the defeat of Boko Haram but the truth gets out anyway and the civilian volunteers are getting more credit for their contribution. This is particularly true now as CJTF has become essential in spotting families of Boko Haram men who try to pass themselves off as refugees from Boko Haram. The situation is so dire for the remaining Boko Haram that they are sending their families (usually just wives and children) away because of food shortages and the increasing frequency of air or ground attacks. This media attention also revealed that the military had recruited over a hundred of the most effective CJTF informants into a special unit where these men work full time for the military as plain clothes agents who are sent to any area where Boko Haram is believed to be active (or trying to be) and collect information.

Peace For Oil

Oil production rose 22 percent in April to 1.48 million barrels per day (BPD). Production was 1.53 million BPD at the start of 2017 but then declined to 1.43 million in February and 1.21 million BPD in March. The April increase is largely the result of the federal government making acceptable peace deals with the local tribal rebels who have been bombing pipeline and other oil facilities. That violence returned recently because of corruption in the local state governments that became an issue once more. Back in late 2016 the government proclaimed the 1.56 million BPD in November 2016 put Nigeria on the way to the goal of 2.5 million BPD by 2020. Then reality intervened as promises to the locals were broken. Peace and more oil production is unlikely to be achieved much less sustained unless there are some fundamental economic and political changes in the Niger River Delta oil fields. Corruption, theft and sabotage continue to hamper oil production. There is also a growing problem with unexpected competition. The drop in world oil prices after 2013 was largely because of the huge quantities of oil and gas coming on the market in North America. There the decades old fracking techniques had been perfected after 2000 and changed the world oil market. Nigeria was recently told that efforts by Arab oil states to make a deal with the fracking producers failed. The Arabs wanted the frackers to become unofficial members of the OPEC oil cartel in order to keep production low enough to keep the price high. That did not work because there is no fracker cartel and the attitude among the new North American producers is to rely on their technical prowess, and not market manipulation to stay in business and prosper.

All this makes little difference to most Nigerians because most of the oil money in Nigeria has been stolen over the last half century. There is still an incentive to make peace in the Delta as that will be one less factor that prevents growth in production or even maintaining high levels of production. That tribal unrest is largely the result of corruption and battles between tribes and clans over the many illegal opportunities in the delta. These include gangs that act as private armies for local politicians (usually state governors) or otherwise work for local politicians or even police commanders. In return for this political violence-on-demand the gangsters get government jobs, most of which dont require much effort. You also get some protection from the security forces if you are stealing oil (as long as a percentage goes to your patron).

May 16, 2017: President Buhari, himself a retired Army general, openly warned military officers to stay out of politics. This came in the wake of a recent reorganization of the senior army leadership that affected 147 officers. Buhari has also reminded officers that corruption is often the cause, if not the result, of officers getting too involved with politicians. Nigeria has gone a record 18 years without military interference with the elected government. Few Nigerians old enough to remember it want a return to military rule. This was frequent until 1999 and the temptation (among politicians and senior officers) is always there.

May 15, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) three female Boko Haram suicide bombers attacked a village outside the state capital Maiduguri. This left two villagers dead and six wounded.

May 14, 2017: In the west (Niger state) Fulani herders raided a Moslem farming village and killed 27 people, most of them in a mosque. While most of the Fulani violence is aimed at Christian farmers in central Nigeria (especially Jos state) and the northeast (often Kaduna State) the Fulani have no problem with going after Moslem farmers who get in the way. While these attacks often trigger reprisals by local militias the Fulani keep attacking. Most of the victims of the Fulani violence are Christian. Thus there were over 800 Christians dead in 2016 along with extensive property damage, including 1,422 houses, 16 churches, 19 businesses and one school destroyed. State governments often refuse to believe that the Fulani raiders are local (and thus the responsibility of the state government.) Instead the violence is blamed on Fulani from a different state, despite evidence that the Fulani raiders are locals. To make matters worse the raiders have also been attacking soldiers or police who intervene.

May 13, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) three Boko Haram suicide bombers tried to get into the University of Maiduguri. They died trying although a security guard was killed. Outside Maiduguri (the state capital) a group of Boko Haram men attacked over a dozen farmers working in their fields and killed of them before driving off.

May 12, 2017: Boko Haram released a video in which four of the Chibok girls announce that they have joined Boko Haram.

May 7, 2017: Nigeria released eight Boko Haram leaders in return for the freedom 82 of the Chibok girls kidnapped in 2014 from a boarding school in the northeast (Borno state). Within a week three of the released Boko Haram leaders released a video promising more attacks, especially on cities.

In central Nigeria (Benue State) Fulani herders attacked two farming villages leaving eight dead and many more wounded. This follows a similar incident in late April that left three dead. Apparently the current peace deal between nomads and farmers in Benue is still having problems. Back in January the state government negotiated an agreement with neighboring Nasarawa state to end the four years of violence created by Fulani tribesmen who fought Benue state Christian farmers who opposed Fulani attempts to use farmlands to graze and water their herds. Since 2012 nearly 4,000 Benue farmers have been killed fighting with the Fulani. The peace deal allows unarmed Fulani herders to graze and water their animals at certain locations and then leave. The agreement explicitly forbids the Fulani from settling in Benue lands farmed by Christians for centuries. The Fulani long resisted such an agreement but since 2015 soldiers have been more frequently catching up with some of their raiding parties, killing many of the Fulani and returning stolen cattle and other goods to the Benue farmers. Tribal violence in this area has been a problem for generations because Moslem and Christian tribes do not get along. The violence has gotten worse lately. There were over a thousand casualties a year since 2013 and it got worse in 2016 as officials from both states met with Moslem and Christian tribal leaders to work out a peace deal. Boko Haram has claimed involvement, but that appears to be marginal and more unlikely now that Boko Haram suffered such heavy losses in nearby Borno State. The Moslem tribes have long claimed that the government was sending Christian soldiers and police to persecute them because of their religion not because they were constantly attacking Christian farmers. The settled (farming) tribes have been there a long time and in the last few decades more Moslem tribesmen have come south looking for pasturage and water for their herds and have increasingly used force to get what they want.

May 6, 2017: In the Niger River Delta major local political groups called on everyone to keep the peace (not attack oil facilities) in order to encourage the federal government to keep the pressure on local officials to deliver promised benefits. Unfortunately whenever attention is diverted to some other national crises the local officials revert to their larcenous ways. So far this year most of the aid money is reaching the local people it is meant for.

Britain and the United States warned their citizens to avoid northern Nigeria if possible because Boko Haram is apparently planning to kidnap Westerners to hold for ransom.

May 5, 2017: In the northeast (Borno State), just across the border in Chad Boko Haram attacked a military base and killed nine soldiers, wounded 28 and got away with some loot. Reinforcements arrived and before it was all over at least 40 of the attackers were also dead.

May 4, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) two Boko Haram suicide bombers tried to get past checkpoints and into the state capital Maiduguri. Police tried to capture them but the three managed to detonate explosives leaving five dead. The day before a similar incident occurred involving three suicide bombers but the only casualties were the three bombers.

April 28, 2017: A year after the government declared Boko Haram defeated many people in remote areas of the northeast Borno state are questioning that assessment. The Islamic terrorists are still around, although most Boko Haram activity is of the bandit variety as the hungry Moslem fanatics seek food and other necessities in a large area there violence has largely depopulated in the last five years.

April 27, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) a Boko Haram suicide truck bomber attacked a military convoy headed for the base at Damboa. The explosion killed five soldiers and wounded another 40. This attack, like most others recently, was carried out by the ISIL faction (led by Abu al Barnawi).

April 18, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) soldiers, acting on a tip, raided several well-hidden Boko Haram camps in remote areas near the Cameroon border. These attacks took over 24 hours but ended up killing 21 Islamic terrorists, wounding many more and freeing over 1,600 civilians that were being held in bondage by the Islamic terrorists

April 17, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) over a hundred Boko Haram raiders attacked an army checkpoint near a village. Five of the soldiers were killed, five wounded another few fled and the checkpoint was captured. The Islamic terrorists then looted the nearby village for three hours and moved off before army reinforcements showed up.
TransUnion provides risk and information solutions. The company operates in three segments: U.S. Markets, International, and Consumer Interactive. The U.S. Markets segment provides consumer reports, actionable insights, and analytics to businesses. These businesses use its services to acquire new customers; assess consumer ability to pay for services; identify cross-selling opportunities; measure and manage debt portfolio risk; collect debt; verify consumer identities; and mitigate fraud risk. This segment serves various industry vertical markets, including financial services, insurance, tenant and employment, collections and services, technology, commerce and communication, public sector, media, and other markets. The International segment offers credit reports, analytics, technology solutions, and other value-added risk management services; and consumer services, which help consumers to manage their personal finances and consumer credit reporting, insurance and auto information solutions, and commercial credit information services. This segment serves customers in financial services, retail credit, insurance, automotive, collections, public sector, and communications industries through direct and indirect channels. The Consumer Interactive segment provides credit reports and scores, credit monitoring, identity protection and resolution, and financial management solutions that enable consumers to manage their personal finances and take precautions against identity theft. This segment offers its products through online and mobile interfaces, as well as through direct and indirect channels. The company serves customers in approximately 30 countries and territories, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, India, and the Asia Pacific. The company was formerly known as TransUnion Holding Company, Inc. and changed its name to TransUnion in March 2015. TransUnion was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
As technology companies race to invent the future, theyre turning to a metaphor borrowed from Medieval times to explain their businesses.

Moat has become a favourite term of tech executives. Its typically used to describe products or services that protect a company from incursions by competitors. The word has come up 89 times since last year in earnings calls, presentations and other tech company events, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Two dozen of those were this year, and on the current trajectory, its likely to match 2016s total.

Moats, in the business sense, were popularized around the turn of the century by billionaire Warren Buffett. It initially took off in the financial services sector and spread more recently to Silicon Valley. At a 2013 financial analyst meeting, Steve Ballmer, Microsofts then chief executive officer, likened the companys investments in cloud infrastructure to a moat.

Use of the phrase within tech circles soon exploded, including by Ballmers deputies. Scott Guthrie, the executive vice president of cloud and enterprise at Microsoft Corp., outlined the major initiatives his firm was undertaking to dominate cloud computing at the Deutsche Bank Technology Conference in September: You ultimately need to have three things, which create kind of a moat, if you will, around the market.

The tech industry loves its buzzwords. Apple Inc.s Tim Cook and Googles Sundar Pichai have their favourites. However, Buffett is an unlikely person to inspire a tech trend. He has a reputation for avoiding most tech investments, with rare exceptions.

Jonah and Noah Goodhart said Buffett was the inspiration for the name of their digital analytics startup, called Moat. They started the company seven years ago after hearing the investor outline the concept at an annual Berkshire Hathaway Inc. meeting.

Theres something pretty phenomenal about that word moat, Jonah Goodhart recalled telling his brother. If were going to build something, we should use that word. Last month, they sold Moat to Oracle Corp.

With time, the word has spread. Lee Kirkpatrick, chief financial officer of Twilio Inc., adopted the term to describe his cloud software companys strategy at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference in February. We are continually investing in quality and trust and building that moat around the service, he said.

SPS Commerce Inc., which makes supply-chain management software, has been building the most moats of any company since the start of 2016, according to transcript data. IRobot Corp., maker of the Roomba, and Adobe Systems Inc., which owns PhotoShop, were also digging their own metaphorical water-based defence systems.

Another popular term in the tech industry is runway. Technology executives used the term 2,348 times in analyst calls, presentations and filings over the last decade, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The words popularity doubled from 2009 to 2010 and peaked in 2015.

CEOs convey their advantage by the type of vocabulary they use, said L.J. Rittenhouse, a consultant who develops communication strategies for companies. Whats wrong with saying opportunity? Runway conjures up the airline industry, which is not particularly attractive.

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VANCOUVERPrime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to pitch major multinational companies on investing in Canadas technology sector on Wednesday, joining top business leaders inside the closed-door Microsoft CEO Summit in Redmond, Wash.

Trudeaus visit comes as U.S. President Donald Trumps administration poses both challenges and opportunities for Canadas high-tech industry. Trumps America First rhetoric and his plans to slash corporate taxes could mean more investment flows south of the border, but his restrictive approach to immigration could draw talent north, experts say.

Trudeau is the first sitting head of government or state to be invited to address the annual gathering of CEOs, his office said.

The prime ministers participation in the summit is an important opportunity to encourage innovation, promote investment in the technology sector, and draw global talent to Canada, said press secretary Andree-Lyne Halle in a statement.

The PM will showcase Canadas skilled, hard-working, creative, and diverse workforce. It is an ideal venue to remind decision makers and investors that Canada is recognized as a world leader in research and development in many areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and 3D programming.

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The summit, under the theme The CEO Agenda: Navigating Change, will bring together more than 150 executives to Redmond, just outside of Seattle. Trudeau will meet with investors to discuss what Canada has to offer and hear their perspectives, ideas and advice, Halle said.

The event is closed to media and Microsoft declined to make a representative available for an interview. Trudeau has no media availability other than a photo opportunity prior to a meeting with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday.

Werner Antweiler, an associate professor at the University of British Columbias Sauder School of Business, said the prime ministers main goal at the summit should be to put Canada on the map.

Trudeau needs to promote Canadas standard of living and ease of immigration, qualities that make the country an attractive place for global talent as well as investment, Antweiler said.

After Trump signed an executive order barring citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries in January, dozens of Canadas technology CEOs signed a letter asking Canada to offer immediate entry visas to those affected. The American order was struck down by the courts and a second, similar order is now being challenged.

Trump says America First but then hes putting America last when it comes to attracting talent from abroad, said Antweiler.

A lot of people from Europe, from Asia, from the Middle East, are going to look at the United States and say, Well, wait a minute, am I feeling comfortable moving there when there is a government that is quite hostile to certain types of immigration?

Paul Preston, director of science, technology and innovation policy at the Conference Board of Canada, said in order to attract more global investment, Canada must give incentives to its businesses to spend more on research and development.

Compared to other developed nations, we spend a lot less, he said. The more we can continue to attract investment from other places around the world and encourage our businesses to spend on R&D, then well start to push the envelope and create more globally competitive ideas and companies.

The summit is an opportunity for Canadian companies to become part of supply chains for the firms involved in the meeting, said John Reid, CEO of the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance, an industry group.

Once you sell to a large company, it opens up the doors to other marketplaces, he said.

Namir Anani, CEO of the Information and Communications Technology Council, said attracting international companies to Canada not only creates jobs but creates the ecosystem for future entrepreneurs to connect with local markets.

For example, General Motors added 1,000 jobs in Oshawa to create autonomous cars, allowing an entrepreneur developing an innovative battery system the opportunity to pitch to GM and access international markets, he said.

Benjamin Bergen, executive director of the Council of Canadian Innovators, said his industry groups focus was making sure that domestic companies can scale up and grow in Canada.

If foreign investment dollars are flowing, lets make sure that our domestic firms are still able to hire talent here in Canada as well and be able to compete with multinationals.

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SAN DIEGOQualcomm filed a breach of contract lawsuit late Tuesday against four Taiwanese contract manufacturers that build iPhones and iPads for Apple  the latest salvo in an escalating war between two tech giants over patent royalties.

Qualcomms court action is in response to Apples steps last month to block its contract manufacturers from paying Qualcomm for use of its cellular patents in iPhones and iPads.

Apple is definitely behind this, and certainly what the contract manufacturers would say is the reason they are not paying, said Don Rosenberg, Qualcomms general counsel. Our response to that is you are big, sophisticated companies. You have contractual obligations. You have license agreements with us that dont involve Apple. You are responsible for paying that.

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The lawsuit falls short of more drastic moves that media outlets speculated Qualcomm would pursue against Apple  including seeking to ban imports of iPhones and iPads into the U.S.

Last week, Bloomberg reported Qualcomm would ask the U.S. International Trade Commission to issue an injunction prohibiting iPhone imports, citing sources familiar with the companys plans. The story was widely repeated.

Rosenberg declined to comment on why Qualcomm chose a lawsuit in San Diego Federal Court against Apples contract manufacturers rather than going to the U.S. International Trade Commission to bar iPhone imports.

We dont like suing our licensees, Rosenberg said, noting that in the past decade the company has brought just one patent infringement case against a smartphone maker. And we wont unless we are really put in a corner and forced to do that, and we are forced to do that here.

The lawsuit names iPhone/iPad assemblers Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., known as Foxconn Technology Group; Pegatron Corp.; Wistron Corp. and Compal Electronics  all based in Taiwan, but with manufacturing operations in China and elsewhere.

All have long-standing patent license agreements with Qualcomm and continue to pay patent royalties to Qualcomm on smartphones and tablets that they make for other companies besides Apple, Rosenberg said.

The lawsuit seeks unpaid royalties of at least $1 billion (U.S.) and damages, as well as attorney fees and other costs.

What they are saying is Apple is not paying us, so we are not paying you, and Apple has told us not to pay you, Rosenberg said. And we said, that is interesting, but that is between you and Apple.

He continued, Presumably you have a contract with Apple. You ought to go enforce that contract against Apple. I hope they take that action.

Over the past eight months, Qualcomms patent licensing business has been under fierce attack by anti-monopoly regulators and technology giants, including Apple, Samsung and Intel.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission fined Qualcomm more than $850 million and seeks to dismantle the way it licenses its patents. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Qualcomm in January over similar grounds, and Samsung and Intel have filed friend of the court briefs supporting the FTCs case.

Apple joined the assault shortly after the FTC and perhaps has been the most aggressive in manoeuvres against Qualcomm, which believes that Apple is behind a global attack on the company.

It is a complicated dispute. Apple reimburses Foxconn and the other contract manufacturers for patent royalties owed to Qualcomm.

Early this year, it withheld $1 billion in reimbursements on the grounds that Qualcomm had reneged on a separate royalty rebate agreement with Apple in retaliation for Apples co-operation with antitrust regulators.

Then last month, Apple quit reimbursing Foxconn and the others altogether for Qualcomm patent royalties  claiming it couldnt pay until the dispute was resolved.

As a result, Qualcomm slashed its financial forecast for the year.

Qualcomm pioneered a good portion of 3G/4G cellular radio technology and holds thousands of patents on its inventions. Its technology is inside nearly every smartphone.

The company licenses patents based on the price of the entire device, and it has agreed to provide certain patents under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms because they are included in wireless industry standards.

Apple and regulators claim Qualcomm abuses its market power to overcharge for standard-essential patents and block competition. These companies are pushing for patent royalties based on the cost of the cellular modem chip instead of the entire phone, and they want Qualcomm to agree to license not only smartphone makers but also rival chip outfits, such as Intel and Samsung.

Qualcomm has counter-sued Apple, is appealing the Korea Fair Trade Commissions decision and has asked a Northern California federal judge to dismiss the FTC case. A hearing on the dismissal motion is slated for mid-June.

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David Letterman, who reinvented late-night television with his irreverent and distinctly original comic sensibility, will receive the Kennedy Centers 2017 Mark Twain Prize for American Humour.

Letterman, 70, will be honoured with the 20th annual prize at a gala performance Oct. 22. The event will be televised later nationally.

The Twain, considered the most prestigious honour in the world of comedy, will be awarded to Letterman five years after he was made a Kennedy Center Honouree. Only Steve Martin, Bill Cosby and Lily Tomlin have received both honours.

Its not surprising. Lettermans late-night reign stretched over 33 years and 6,028 shows, debuting with NBCs Late Night in 1982 before moving to The Late Show on CBS in 1993.

He arrived at a time when late night was ruled by Johnny Carson, the host of The Tonight Show. With Letterman and Jay Leno competing for an audience, the landscape shifted, spawning a host of new programs, everything from Comedy Centrals The Daily Show to a slew of younger hosts, including Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Conan OBrien.

Letterman retired from CBS in 2015, replaced by Stephen Colbert but, unlike Carson, one of Lettermans heroes, he has not retreated from the public eye. His retirement beard  my son thinks its creepy, he said in an interview last year  has made appearances in Super Bowl commercials, at award dinners and, last year, in an episode of Years of Living Dangerously, a National Geographic series focused on renewable energy for which Letterman travelled to India.

Letterman was at the Kennedy Center in 2016 as one of the presenters for that years Twain honoree, Bill Murray.

Letterman also has not shied away from politics in the past year. In the wake of Fallons hair-tousling episode with then-candidate Donald Trump, Letterman went on the attack. He went so far as to call Trump crazy in an interview with New York magazine earlier this year.

Letterman said in a statement that receiving the Twain was an exciting honour.

For 33 years, there was no greater guest, no greater friend of the show, than Mark Twain, he added. The guy could really tell a story.

For decades, David Letterman delivered comedy to America that was smart, authentic and, frankly, what many of us came to rely upon to elevate our spirits after a long day, said Kennedy Center president Deborah F. Rutter. Raise your hand if, like me, you shifted your bedtime because you didnt want to miss a moment of Dave on television lest you not be part of the conversation with friends and co-workers the next day.

His 30-year late-night presence  filled with pranks, antics and his quintessential deadpan humour  remains a fixture of the American experience. Im probably not the first to say that Dave is comedy royalty and we are thrilled to present the Mark Twain Prize in his special anniversary year to such a deserving individual.

Named for 19th-century author and satirist Samuel L. Clemens  whose pen name was Mark Twain  the prize was created in 1998 to celebrate Americas best humorists. Winners include Richard Pryor, Carol Burnett, Bob Newhart, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Neil Simon, Murray and Leno, who was Lettermans late-night rival for decades.

The Kennedy Center said it wasnt ready to announce who will speak about Letterman onstage  in addition to Letterman, last years celebrity toasters included late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, actress Emma Stone and comedian Aziz Ansari.

Letterman lives in New York with his wife, Regina, and his son, Harry. Born in Indiana, Letterman started his career as a TV weatherman in Indianapolis before deciding, in 1975, to move to Los Angeles to try his hand at comedy. He began guest-hosting The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson in 1978 and launched a critically acclaimed but short-lived morning comedy show in 1980. Late Night With David Letterman debuted in 1982.

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The family of Tammy Keeash and northern Ontario First Nations leaders say they are rejecting the premise of the Thunder Bay Police Service that the 17-year-old drowned in a river nearly 10 days ago.

There are no words to describe how I feel, said Pearl Slipperjack, Keeashs mother, as she spoke to the media at a Thunder Bay press conference on Wednesday. Slipperjack said she also lost her young son in 2010 while he was in care.

Keeash, who is from the remote North Caribou First Nation, was a trained Junior Canadian Ranger, well familiar with water safety and the land. She was a troubled kid, living in a group home in Thunder Bay while she received counselling in the city, said Slipperjack who cried that she regretted she did not fight harder to get her children back from provincial care.

There are a lot of questions surrounding Keeashs death and everyone is having a hard time accepting the conclusion put forward by Thunder Bay Police that it was simply a drowning, said Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. She knew the waters, she knew something about water safety and how to navigate the land. It was the way she was brought up. The family is asking more questions on what led to Tammys death.

The press conference also addressed the disappearance of Josiah Begg, 14, who hasnt been seen since Saturday, May 6, the same day that Keeash missed the curfew at her group home. Begg was in town with his father for medical appointments from their home in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug. The community is upset with the Thunder Bay Police response to the case. His mother, Sunshine Winter, made a tearful plea for her son to come home. Josiah, if you can hear this, we want you to come back, Winter said.

James Cutfeet, the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation chief said by continually forcing indigenous people out of their homes for mental health, medical care and other services, the residential school days are still in practice.

Canada will be celebrating 150 years of occupying our lands. Canada continues to determine what it suspects is best for the First Nations. It is time to talk as equals, Cutfeet said.

North Caribou Lake Chief Dinah Kanate is reaching out to other communities, asking everyone to pool their resources so they can hire an outside investigator into Keeashs death as relations between First Nations people and the police in Thunder Bay are strained.

They have a hard time accepting the work and the conclusion of the Thunder Bay Police. The trust and the relationship between the police and the communities is very difficult, Fiddler said.

From 2000 to 2011, seven First Nations students lost their lives in Thunder Bay while they were far away from their home communities. They were in Thunder Bay for a high school education because their home reserves did not have adequate schools. Five of those students bodies were found in the waters surrounding Thunder Bay and an inquest into all sevens death wrapped up last June.

Indigenous people living in this city on the shore of Lake Superior have long complained about the racism they face. And, nearly eight years ago, indigenous student Darryl Kakekayash said he was beaten and thrown into the river by three white men. A former Toronto police homicide detective investigated Kakekayashs case, on behalf of some of the lawyers at the inquest, and, concluded the attack was racially motivated.

In November 2016, a provincial watchdog, the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, began investigating the Thunder Bay police for systemic racism when dealing with the disappearance and death cases of indigenous people. The review is ongoing.

Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum said the inquest into the deaths of the seven students examined the need for improved protocols surrounding missing children. She added given the history with the many tragic deaths of indigenous children and people in Thunder Bay, this should have been ironed out by now.

Keeashs death should be under a particular spotlight in light of the coming launch of the national inquiry into the deaths of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls in Canada at the end of this month.

When I think of Tammy, the circumstances of her death and there have been so many deaths like this where we have lost our indigenous women and it is concluded as accidental. This is a concern I have as an indigenous woman, as a person, and as the deputy grand chief of NAN. This is to frequent and has to be addressed, she said.

Chris Adams, of the Thunder Bay police, said the post mortem examination results are a matter for the coroner and it is part of an extensive investigation into Tammys death.

As stated in the past we will continue to work with the coroners office in their investigation. We will work with and pursue any new information that comes forward, he said.

Regarding the search for Begg, Adams said their investigators are in regular contact with the family and that information is shared only directly between the investigators and the family.

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1. Yes. Taxpayers are funding its operation; they should have a voice in the naming process.

2. Yes. The city should operate with a spirit of inclusivity. Residents will be responsive.

3. No. Public input can be problematic; rejection of suggestions can be divisive for residents.

4. No. Residents elect council members to make decisions on their behalf. No input is needed.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say whether public input would be more of a benefit or a hindrance.

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Facing a constitutional challenge and widespread criticism from humanitarian organizations, government lawyers defended Canadas immigration detention system in Federal Court on Tuesday, saying indefinite detention is necessary to ensure public safety.

The notion of indefinite detention is a construct, said C. Julian Jubenville, one of the governments lawyers, who added that even when a detention has been long and its end is unclear, continuing to hold the detainee could still be justified in order to protect the public. There is a purpose to detention that involves public safety, he said.

Lawyers representing former immigration detainee Alvin Brown, who spent five years in a maximum-security jail before he was deported to Jamaica last year, are in court this week arguing that Canadas immigration detention system is unconstitutional because it violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by allowing arbitrary and indefinite detention as well as cruel and unusual treatment. They are calling on the court to impose a six-month limit on immigration detention and demanding other changes to the system.

Canadas border police currently have the right to imprison non-citizens without charge and for an indefinite length of time if they have been found to be inadmissible to the country and declared a danger to the public or unlikely to show up for their deportation. Although immigration detention is, by the governments own description, not supposed to be punitive, detainees are often held in maximum-security jails  in some cases for several years  while the government tries to deport them.

Government lawyer Jubenville, riffing on a metaphor used Monday by Browns lawyers, argued that setting a maximum length for immigration detention would not be like taking a hammer or scalpel to the current system.

Its a hand grenade, he said. We have no idea where this is going to spray and who will be left standing at the end.

He argued the government needed to take an individual approach to each immigration detention case.

Unlike some other countries, Canada has no maximum length of immigration detention, an aspect of the system that has been widely condemned. Two years ago the United Nations Human Rights Committee called on Canada to set a reasonable time limit for immigration detention.

Government lawyers argued Tuesday that while long-term detentions do occur, they are not systemic and are usually caused by the detainee themselves. They also said that setting a maximum length of detention would create an incentive for detainees to not co-operate with their deportation.

Last month, an Ontario Superior Court judge ordered the immediate release of Kashif Ali, a 51-year-old West African man who spent more than seven years in maximum-security jail because the government could not deport him. Ali, who was the longest-serving immigration detainee, lacked the documentation to prove his citizenship and his home country refused to take him back.

In his decision, Justice Ian Nordheimer called Alis situation unacceptable and said the government could not purport to hold someone in detention forever. Nordheimer rejected the governments allegation that Ali was intentionally thwarting his removal, but he said that even if Ali wasnt co-operating, the government still could not justify detaining him as long as it did, let alone indefinitely.

Government lawyers argued Tuesday that robust protections already exist for immigration detainees, whose detentions are reviewed every 30 days by the quasi-judicial Immigration and Refugee Board, an independent administrative tribunal. Browns lawyers, meanwhile, argued that the detention reviews are procedurally unfair and not only fail to protect detainees rights but actually contribute to prolonging their detention.

As part of a recent investigation into immigration detention, the Star found that the monthly detention reviews amounted to little more than a rubber stamp. Detainees are often unrepresented, the governments evidence is untested and accepted as fact, and there is no meaningful disclosure. Two immigration lawyers described the hearings to the Star as Kafkaesque.

Government lawyers argued on Tuesday, however, that the current system is reasonable and fair, even if detainees dont always take advantage of its protections.

The case is being heard by Federal Court Justice Simon Fothergill, who could strike down the current immigration detention system and order the government to write new laws, impose specific changes to existing laws, or keep the status quo in place. He said he will make his decision some time this summer.

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OTTAWAJennifer McCreath thinks carefully before making plans to get on an airplane.

McCreath, a 43-year-old transgender person in St. Johns, N.L., wants to change a long-standing regulation that prohibits airlines from transporting anyone who does not appear to be of the gender indicated on the identification presented.

Its a cause the federal NDP has been pushing for five years, and one for which Justin Trudeau expressed support before becoming prime minister.

It all comes back to the notion of equality, McCreath said in an interview, citing the deep historical connections between the Liberal party and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Ultimately, access to air travel or any type of transportation is . . . a fundamental service thats out there. It just sends the wrong message.

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The Liberal cabinet has the ability to change the regulation immediately, said Randall Garrison, the NDPs critic for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues

The regulation has nothing to do with safety, and does little more than subject transgender Canadians to public humiliation and obstructs their fundamental right to travel, Garrison said.

Trudeau himself raised the issue both in the House of Commons and on Twitter in 2012, when he was an opposition MP. This government keeps pushing its agenda of intolerance and hopes we dont notice, Trudeau tweeted at the time. This is just wrong.

Asked Garrison during question period: If he supported removing this discriminatory regulation then, why as prime minister has he taken absolutely no action?

The question came one day after Transport Minister Marc Garneau introduced a new passenger bill of rights, a response of sorts to last months sensational viral video showing airline security forcibly dragging a passenger off a United Airlines jet.

The Liberal government is looking at the transgender issue, Garneau responded. We will have more to say in due course.

All Canadians should be able to travel without worry theyll be barred by an airline official, Garrison noted.

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BARRIEPerhaps the scowl is a permanent feature of this young mans face.

From the little that is known  and the less that can be reported  the teenager might have cause for such bitterness.

Whos to know what makes a youth so anti-social, so disaffected, so monstrous.

That he was witness to the violence his mother suffered at the hands of his father? That by age six he was already identified by teachers and social workers as incorrigible, excluded from play groups for the safety of others. That the behaviour adjustment programs into which he was steered were apparently effective for their short duration. And then there was nothing, except a distraught mom confronted with long counseling wait-lists who could find no further help in the community for a troubled boy.

Childrens Aid entered the picture. Multiple family moves. A father with a long history of drug abuse. By Grade 7, he was a 300-pound six-footer who used his size to engage in numerous fights, to intimidate. By high school, his mother had lost all ability to control her sons turbulence.

Twice, mom called the cops herself, worried that the boy would do himself harm.

Drugs, booze, lying, thieving, frenzied anger; the influence of bad friends  gravitating towards likeminded malefactors, with escalating misdeeds and deviance but no criminal record.

Excuses or explanations?

The psychiatric report submitted to court notes that he expressed no remorse for what he did in the early morning hours of Dec. 29, 2016: a traumatizing assault against a 97-year-old widow.

It would be hard to conceive of a more vulnerable victim than Jean Knox.

She contracted polio when pregnant with her son in 1953 and has spent the past three decades confined to a wheelchair. Yet Knox managed a life of independence, with the help of care-givers, continuing to live in the Barrie home she and her husband built together, where they raised their family.

On that night some five months ago, the youth and an associate shattered a window and broke into her house, ransacking the home, smashing eggs, smearing ketchup and syrup and cooking oil across the walls, over the floors and even the ceilings of every room.

Almost completely deaf, yet Knox heard the ruckus they made entering at around five oclock in the morning. Testifying in court last week, she described her terror, lying in bed and feigning sleep when the two hooded invaders entered her bedroom. Lying perfectly still, making not a sound, as they tipped maple syrup on her body. They began pouring something all over me. At first I thought it was blood.

Eyes kept firmly shut as they continued to drench her bed linen, her slippers. Imagine her terror.

Other elderly people living in their homes must be concerned and frightened about this, she said, of an incident that triggered public outrage after police laid charges of break and enter, assault and mischief.

What happened to me could happen to anybody.

This just turned 17-year-old  he cant be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act  pleaded guilty in February and, a week ago, delivered a tearful apology in court, its sincerity somewhat cast in doubt by the psychiatric assessment. Im sorry. I wasnt thinking that night. I was struggling a lot with life . . . If there is anything I can do to help, I will.

How do you un-do the damage to an ancient woman who will never feel safe in her home again? Who had to move temporarily into a retirement residence while the damage in her house was repaired?

And still, my bleeding heart says there might be two victims here. (The other youths charges are still before the court.)

Because the intruders took nothing except a foot massager. There seemed no purpose to their aggression and their humiliation of a feeble old lady.

Nothing but inchoate rage.

Justice John Bliss could make no sense of it Tuesday as he sentenced the youth to 100 days of open custody  a secure residence in the community  to be followed by 50 days of community supervision and two years probation.

Central to the tenets of the Youth Criminal Justice Act is rehabilitation and reintegration. These are young human beings, still salvageable, often at the crossroads of crisis  deciding what kind of adults they want to become. In open custody, the hope is they will be able to access treatment (often an underlying mental health condition is involved) for maladroit behaviour.

Behavior which Bliss described as culminating in cruelty . . . disgraceful, intended to humiliate a helpless woman . . . and you could not care less. It makes one wonder what sort of person would do this?

Adding: Were all struggling to understand how you could have treated an old and defenseless woman so cruelly.

The youth had destroyed not just a home, but memories, said Bliss.

The end result is a crime that was, quite frankly, shocking in its callousness and its cruelty.

And for what? For casual malice.

If youd gone in there at least to steal, there might be a purpose to it, to get money for drugs, but there was none. It speaks to the sheer pointlessness of what you did  to demean and humiliate. But the only person who ended up demeaned and humiliated was you.

Bliss was directed by the impetus of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Its not just about punishment, not just about imposing a sentence driven by anger.

The judge was legislatively bound to impose the least restrictive sentence capable of satisfying the purpose of both rehabilitation and societal denunciation. I dont find that a non-custodial sentence would hold you accountable.

But this youth, approaching the age of adult consequences, is running out of time to change a lifetime of baneful habits. That was Blisss warning: It will be a dark and lonely road and you will eventually, likely, end up in jail.

Mom watched as the cuffs were clicked on her sons wrists.

Rosie DiManno usually appears Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

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Amid growing calls for the collection and release of race-based statistics on police encounters, the Toronto Police Service says it is constrained by provincial rules dictating what identifying information must be recorded every time an officer uses force against a civilian.

In a report filed in advance of next weeks police board meeting, Toronto police chief Mark Saunders acknowledges the expectation his force will collect and report on demographic data will almost certainly expand in the near future.

But Toronto police do not currently collect certain kinds of identifying information following use-of-force incidents  including the skin colour, spoken language or perceived ethnicity of the civilian  because the provincial report that must be filed after such incidents does not have a field for such data.

Provincial approval is required for any changes to the Provincial Use of Force report because changes to that report will apply to all police services in Ontario, Saunders writes in the report.

According to Saunders, Ontarios Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services is in the midst of reviewing its use-of-force reports and may consider including a requirement to collect applicable race-based data.

Brent Ross, spokesperson for MCSCS, said in an email Tuesday that the ministry expects legislative amendments this fall, as part of the ongoing overhaul of the Police Services Act.

If passed, the ministry will examine how the new legislation impacts police use of force, which incorporates the collection of information on Use of Force Reports. No decisions have been made regarding the reports at this time, Ross said.

Last December, a Toronto police board advisory committee comprised of more than two dozen mental health professionals and hospital leaders stressed the importance of demographic data to help better understand incidences of officer use of force on people with mental health challenges.

Former police board member Hamlin Grange, who co-chaired advisory committee, said Toronto police must pay more attention to the intersection of mental health and race, gender and other factors.

The committee asked Toronto police to report back on the feasibility of providing race-based statistics on use of force reports, as well as in the annual report on Taser use.

In Saunders written response this week, he states race and sometimes language information is collected by his officers in certain situations, including when a person is being investigated or arrested for committing an offence, or if they are being apprehended under the Mental Health Act.

Additionally, information about race is now mandated by the province under new carding legislation, which regulates the controversial police tactic of stopping, questioning and documenting people not suspected of a crime.

However, Saunders says without modification to Ontarios use-of-force reports, including the Taser report, the task of identifying the race of the person first requires a separate search of the occurrences (apprehension reports) that are associated to the incident where the use of force occurred.

This search is a labour intensive exercise that is inefficient, costly and slow, Saunders writes.

He adds that Toronto police are now consulting with the ministry on collecting race-based data, but in the interim, intends to start the process of amending its use-of-force reports, including consulting with the provincial Anti-Racism Directorate.

Pressure has been mounting for the province and its police services to collect and release demographic data.

Last month, Ontarios Attorney General Yasir Naqvi committed to taking action to require police watchdogs, such as the Special Investigations Unit, to begin collecting demographic data, including statistics on race, ethnicity and Indigenous status.

The move was in response to a central recommendation of Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Michael Tullochs ambitious review of police oversight in Ontario. Tulloch said the data was vital for evidence-based policy and decision-making, accountability and transparency.

In 2015, Toronto police had an estimated 24,000 interactions with people experiencing a mental health crisis, and year-to-date statistics indicate that number will jump by 10 per cent by the end of 2016.

Encounters with people in crisis is a pressing issue for this service, deputy chief Mike Federico said after the December meeting where the mental health committee raised their concerns.

He stressed that of about 23,000 interactions annually between police and people in crisis, only roughly 100 result in use of force.

The Toronto police board meets next Tuesday.

Correction  May 19, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version the incorrectly said that in about 23,000 annual interactions between Toronto police and people in crisis, 1,000 result in use of force. In fact, roughly 100 interactions result in force.

Wendy Gillis can be reached at wgillis@thestar.ca

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In the frantic moments after bullets flew inside Muzik nightclub, a man with blood soaking through the front of his shirt stumbled into a nearby cab.

Staff. Sgt. Joseph Matthews was watching from inside his cruiser, stopped near the outside the club.

After the call came over the police radio reporting gunfire, hed driven to the west side of the club, near where the initial shooting took place, and spotted the visibly wounded man.

He didnt know if the injured man was armed, and knew there was an ongoing shooting unfolding nearby, north of the club. But looking into his eyes, you kinda knew that he wasnt a threat to me at that point, he was just a victim looking for help, Matthews said in an interview with the Star Wednesday.

For his actions that day  including administering first aid amidst what he says was an angry and confused crowd  Matthews, now a detective sergeant, was named the 2016 Police Officer of the Year by the Toronto Region Board of Trade on Tuesday night.

There was so much chaos. And you cant plan for those incidents  you just hope you react as best you can, Matthews said.

Ariela Navarro-Fenoy, 26, and Duvel Hibbert, 23, were killed in the early morning of August 4, 2015, when gunfire erupted first inside the club, then continued outside. Three other people were people were injured.

Navarro-Fenoy was a victim caught in the crossfire  shot outside the club after cabbies refused to take her because her fare home was too low  while Hibbert was believed to be the intended target.

No arrests have been made in the shooting.

Responding immediately after the shooting, Matthews says he pulled the wounded man out of the taxi, laid him down on the ground, began administering first aid and applied pressure to his wounds.

Around him a crowd began to gather, and Matthews says some people started questioning why he wasnt immediately putting the injured man in his police vehicle and taking him to the hospital.

Matthews said he tried to explain the man was better off waiting for the ambulance, but one woman became angry and struck him in the head out of anger.

Around the same time, a man who identified himself as a pharmacist  Matthews doesnt know if he had been at the club, or was just in the area  came forward to help administer first aid and helped explain to the crowd that waiting for the ambulance was the right thing to do.

Soon after, paramedics arrived and the wounded man was transported to hospital where he underwent surgery and survived (Matthews has not had contact with the man since the shooting).

He has successfully demonstrated outstanding bravery, professionalism and dedication to duty, a Toronto police spokesperson said in a statement.

The professional manner with which he has conducted himself is worthy of substantial recognition, not only by (his) peers, but also the Toronto Police Service and the community in which he proudly serves.

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WannaCry, the latest extortionate malware to seize hard drives from Beijing to Boise, may seem like the product of the Mr. Robot writers room. But as viruses go, ransomware is actually an antique.

The first ransomware virus was unleashed in 1989  predating the Internet and email as we know it  and distributed on floppy disk by the post office.

The culprit? Joseph L. Popp, an American evolutionary biologist with a PhD from Harvard. The 20,000 disks Popp sent out to health researchers around the world that year masqueraded as a survey designed to test ones risk of contracting AIDS.

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after a fixed number of reboots, the virus locked the computer. Users were instructed to turn on their printers, from which a ransom note soon emerged, demanding a $189 licensing fee in exchange for a decryption key.

Victims were instructed to send the ransom to a PO box in Panama  the 20th century equivalent to Bitcoin.

Popps virus terrified the medical establishment  there were newspaper reports of laboratories destroying 10 years of research upon learning their drives had been infected. However, the virus turned out to be crude and ineffective. Free decryption software was quickly made available to the victims.

When the FBI finally tracked down Popp at his parents home in Ohio, it was clear that he was no mafia don. His behaviour was so eccentric (while waiting to stand trial, he took to putting curlers in his beard to ward off the threat of radiation) that he was ultimately judged unfit to stand trial. Popp wasnt motivated by money, but rather anger at the World Health Organization for a variety of reasons. (Some say the WHO had snubbed him for a job, others say he was a critic of their AIDS education policies.) And while Popp was truly unique as cyber-villains go, it turns out that most early virus makers werent in for the money either.

Last year, Finnish computer security guru Mikko Hypponen created the Malware Museum, an online museum for vintage viruses.

Shortly after it launched, Hypponen explained, How the profile of the average cybercriminal has evolved. Weve seen huge technical changes in the types of attacks we see and the malware we analyze, but weve seen even larger changes in who were fighting, he continued.

Basically, all the samples we have in Malware Museum were written by teenage boys and their motive was fun. They did not get money. They did not get famous. They just did it because they could. The hobbyists were actually competing with one another to see whose virus spreads worldwide fastest, and who makes the biggest headlines. Some were destructive, but they were destructive for no reason at all.

It was only within the past 15 years, according to Hypponen, that the hobbyist hackers were replaced by criminals seeking to weaponize viruses like ransomware. Nowadays, ransomware is nearly a billion-dollar-a-year business.

After being set free, Popp resumed his colourful career and established a butterfly conservancy in upstate New York, which exists to this day. But viruses like WannaCry are surely his most important legacy.

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NEW YORKStepping deeper into the Democratic resistance, Hillary Clinton launched a new political organization on Monday designed to push back against U.S. President Donald Trumps agenda.

The former Democratic nominee used social media to announce the creation of Onward Together, an adaptation from her campaign theme, Stronger Together. The group, she tweeted, will encourage people to get involved, organize, and even run for office.

This year hasnt been what I envisioned, but I know what Im still fighting for: a kinder, big-hearted, inclusive America. Onward! Clinton wrote.

Read more:

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Hillary Clinton says shes ready to come out of the woods

The announcement comes as Clinton, 69, works to find a new role in an evolving political landscape.

She recently described herself as an activist citizen, but it was unclear how she would continue to inject her voice into national affairs and influence Democratic Party politics. Pondering her future in recent months, she had begun taking long walks in the woods near her suburban New York home, something she joked about on Monday.

The last few months, Ive been reflecting, spending time with family  and, yes, taking walks in the woods, she tweeted.

Mondays move all but ensures she will not retain a leadership position at the Clinton Foundation, the continued focus of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and daughter, Chelsea Clinton.

Republicans quickly lashed out at the leading Democrat.

Republican National Committee spokesperson Michael Ahrens said voters rejected Clinton last fall because shes completely out-of-touch, untrustworthy, and embraced the failed policies of the past.

If Democrats were smart, theyd realize its time to move onward from Hillary Clinton altogether, Ahrens said.

For her part, Clinton did not reference Trump directly on Monday, but the groups mission statement takes an indirect swipe at the Republican president by noting she won almost 66 million votes in the last election. Thats about 3 million more than Trump.

At a Planned Parenthood 100 anniversary event in New York where she was honored, Hillary Clinton urges the audience to fight the changes to women's health legislation.

Clinton on Monday vowed her organization would support specific groups that help Democrats. She singled out Emerge America, an organization that trains Democratic women to run for office, along with Color of Change, which promotes criminal justice reform and other racial issues.

Onward Together is a non-profit organization that does not have to disclose its donors.

Clinton becomes the latest high-profile Democrat to launch an independent group. Former U.S. president Barack Obama, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and 2004 Democratic nominee Howard Dean all helped create political organizations.

More than ever, I believe citizen engagement is vital to our democracy, Clinton tweeted. Im so inspired by everyone stepping up to organize and lead.

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATESA Dubai firms dream of towing icebergs from the Antarctic to the Arabian Peninsula could face some titanic obstacles.

Where many see the crumbling polar ice caps as a distressing sign of global warming, the National Advisor Bureau Limited sees it as a source of profit, and a way of offsetting the effects of climate change in the increasingly sweltering Gulf.

The firm has drawn up plans to harvest icebergs in the southern Indian Ocean and tow them 9,200 kilometres away to the Gulf, where they could be melted down for freshwater and marketed as a tourist attraction.

The icebergs are just floating in the Indian Ocean. They are up for grabs to whoever can take them, managing director Abdullah al-Shehi told The Associated Press in his Dubai office. He hopes to begin harvesting them by 2019.

It is perhaps no surprise that the idea would originate in Dubai, which is already famous for its indoor ski slope, artificial islands and the worlds tallest building. But the plan to harvest icebergs faces a wide array of legal, financial and logistical hurdles  and environmentalists are less than thrilled.

The firm would send ships down to Heard Island, an Australian nature reserve in the southern Indian Ocean, where they would steer between massive icebergs the size of cities in search of truck-sized chunks known as growlers. Workers would then secure them to the boats with nets and embark on a yearlong cruise to the United Arab Emirates.

The company believes that, as most of the icebergs mass is underwater, they would not melt significantly during the voyage. Al-Shehi said each iceberg would hold around 20 billion gallons of fresh water that could be harvested without costly desalinization, which currently provides nearly all of the Gulf regions water.

Masdar, a government-backed clean energy firm in the United Arab Emirates, is exploring new technologies to meet the countrys water needs. The United Arab Emirates Energy Ministry issued a statement this week denying reports that an iceberg was in the process of being imported, without specifying the reports to which it referred.

Al-Shehi said his project is a private initiative and that he would seek government approval once his firm completes its feasibility study. He declined to share the companys cost estimates, and said it has not carried out an environmental impact study.

Robert Brears, the founder of the climate think-tank Mitidaption, has studied the feasibility of Antarctic ice harvesting and estimates the project would require an initial outlay of at least $500 million.

The challenges begin at Heard Island, where Australia strictly limits access in order to preserve the areas rich ecosystem of migratory birds, seals, penguins and fish, which could be disrupted by large ships. Antarctica itself is subject to global treaties that mandate environmental regulations and ban mining and military activities.

Even if the firm secures the necessary approvals from multiple governments, the wrangling itself could prove daunting.

There are thousands and thousands of icebergs drifting around and they can move without warning, said Christopher Readinger, who heads the Antarctic team at the U.S. National Ice Center. Storms down there can be really brutal, and theres really not anyone that can help.

The interagency group uses satellites and floating sensors to track large icebergs in order to warn fishing and science vessels. One of the icebergs it tracked last month was twice the size of Manhattan.

Antarctica holds 60 per cent of the worlds freshwater, frozen in an ice shelf that sheds nearly 1.2 trillion tons of icebergs a year, according to NASA. The ice loss is accelerating as global temperatures warm.

In the Arctic, Canadian iceberg cowboys use rifles to blast off chunks of icebergs that are later sold to wineries, breweries and vodka distilleries. A Norwegian company sells 750ml bottles of melted iceberg for $100 each.

But iceberg wranglers off Antarctica would find a leaner herd. Its the driest ice in the world, Brears said. You could melt a lot of this ice and get very little water from it.

Environmentalists meanwhile point to simpler measures that could be taken to address climate change in the Middle East, like drip-irrigation, fixing leaks and water conservation.

This region is the heartland of the global oil industry, it will be at the forefront of experiencing these massive, insane heat waves, and theres only one way to avoid this  reducing emissions and keeping all fossil fuels in the ground, said Hoda Baraka, spokeswoman for the climate advocacy group 350.org.

Green investment groups are unlikely to finance the iceberg project, said Charlotte Streck, director of the consultancy firm Climate Focus. She says the project is an exceptionally futile and expensive way to solve the Gulfs water woes  and seems to run counter to all ideas of climate change adaptation.

Al-Shehi is undeterred, and insists the project will have no impact on Antarctica or any other natural environment. The whole process, he said, will be a drop in the ocean.

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Pvt. Chelsea Manning, spared by presidential clemency from the rest of a 35-year prison term for giving classified materials to anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks, stepped out of a military lockup Wednesday and into a future she said she was eager to define.

Im figuring things out right now  which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me, Manning said by email hours after being released from confinement at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., having served seven years behind bars for one of the largest exposures of classified information in U.S. history.

I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me is far more important than the past, added Manning, 29.

Mannings immediate plans, including living arrangements, remained unclear.

The Oklahoma native had previously tweeted that she planned to move to Maryland, where she has an aunt, but her attorneys have cited security concerns in refusing to make public specifics about her release or where she was headed.

The U.S. army is allowing her to live where she pleases  still on active duty but under a special, unpaid status.

Manning relished her new-found freedom, posting on social media photos of her lunch  So, (Im) already enjoying my first hot, greasy pizza, she declared of the slice of pepperoni  and her feet in sneakers, with the caption, First steps of freedom!!

Manning, who is transgender and was known as Bradley Manning before she transitioned in prison, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, has acknowledged leaking the materials, including more than 700,000 military and State Department documents, along with battlefield video.

Manning said she wanted to expose what she considered to be the U.S. militarys disregard of the effects of war on civilians and that she released information that she didnt believe would harm the U.S.

Critics said the leaks laid bare some of the nations most sensitive secrets and endangered information sources, prompting the State Department to help some of those people move to protect their safety. Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.

U.S. President Barack Obamas decision in January to commute Mannings sentence to about seven years, including the time she spent locked up before being convicted, drew strong criticism from members of Congress and others, with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan calling the move just outrageous.

On social media Wednesday, people either hailed her as a courageous hero or denounced her as a traitor.

Chase Strangio, one of Mannings attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union, called her a fierce advocate for justice.

We can all finally truly celebrate the strength and heroism she has shown in surviving and sharing her truth and life with all of us, Strangio, who also is transgender, said in a statement that included Mannings post-release comments. Chelsea has emerged with grace, resilience, and an inspiring amount of love for others.

Manning, who was arrested in 2010, filed a transgender rights lawsuit in prison and attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers.

In a statement last week  her first public comments since Obama wiped away her remaining sentence  Manning thanked him and said letters of support from veterans and fellow transgender people inspired her to work toward making life better for others.

For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea, she said. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world. Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine.

Her attorneys have said Manning was subjected to prison violence, and they argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male lockup, restricting her physical and mental health care, and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut.

The Department of Defence repeatedly has declined to discuss Mannings treatment.

Manning will be on excess leave  meaning she is considered to be off-duty  while her court-martial conviction is under appellate review, an Army spokeswoman, Lt. Col. Jennifer Johnson, said.

Manning will be allowed to wear her preferred civilian clothing, including womens attire, while on excess leave, Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said. She also is still legally entitled to military medical care and commissary privileges, according to the Army.

Manning remains subject to the militarys criminal code until her discharge from the Army and her excess leave status can be lifted if she is prosecuted for any violations, the Army said.

Department of Defence and Army policy also restricts political activities by all members of the armed forces, including Manning, until their service time is completed. Army regulations require that with any book or other publishable writings by Manning involving military matters, national security issues or subjects of significant concern to the Defence Department, Manning first must consult with a military public affairs office.

Pulse Films announced Wednesday at the Cannes Film Festival in France that Manning would be the focus of a documentary titled XY Chelsea and has granted filmmakers unprecedented access. It was not immediately clear how that would be affected by the Defence Department and Army restrictions.

The army said that while Manning is being assigned to Oklahomas Fort Sill, she doesnt need to report for duty there, meaning she has discretion about where she lives

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PARISFrench President Emmanuel Macron named a mix of prominent and unknown figures from the left and the right Wednesday to make up the government tasked with pushing through his plans to reduce labour protections, tighten European unity and boost military spending.

The most senior Cabinet job  the post of interior minister  went to Gerard Collomb, 69, the long-time Socialist mayor of Lyon who played a key role in Macrons presidential bid. Collomb said his duty will be to protect the French people, to fight terrorism and to prevent youth from falling in the grip of Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL.

A few hours after taking office, Collomb made an unexpected visit to Paris grand Champs-Elysees avenue, where a police officer was shot to death by an Islamic extremist last month.

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Jean-Yves Le Drian, 69, who led Frances military operations abroad as former president Francois Hollandes defence minister, will stay on in Macrons government as foreign minister and also be in charge of European affairs. Le Drian, another Socialist, brings deep experience that could prove valuable to the untested 39-year-old president.

Le Drian vowed to promote the countrys key role in the international community, noting continuity between his previous position and his new diplomatic job.

The armed forces will now be led by Sylvie Goulard, the most senior woman in the government. Goulard, 52, is a European Parliament member and strongly pro-European centrist politician who will be expected to champion Macrons push for joint European military operations.

In an important gesture to the right-wing Republicans party ahead of parliamentary elections next month, the crucial Economy Ministry will be run by prominent conservative Bruno Le Maire, 48.

The Cabinet includes 18 ministers and 4 junior ministers, half of them women and half men. Centre-right Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, whom Macron tapped named Monday, is to lead the government at least until the elections.

Members of civil society without government work on their resumes were appointed to some ministerial posts. Nicolas Hulot, the well-known host of a television show focusing on nature and the environment, was named minister for environment transition. His portfolio includes energy and transportation.

Muriel Penicaud, the new labour minister, previously worked for food corporation Danone and French telecommunications group Orange. Since January 2015, she led Business France, a public agency in charge of promoting French companies abroad and attracting foreign investments.

Penicaud will have the daunting task of supervising the reform of labour protections, a part of Macrons agenda that already has prompted outcries from unions.

Culture minister Francoise Nyssen is CEO of French publishing house Actes Sud. Macron is known as a passionate literature lover.

The youngest person selected to work in Macrons government was Mounir Mahjoubi, 33, who was named junior minister for digital economy. As Macrons campaign digital chief, Mahjoubi was responsible for cybersecurity.

The announcement initially planned for Tuesday was pushed back a day while authorities dug more deeply into candidates tax records and financial assets for signs of potential conflicts of interest.

Macron has pledged to fight corruption after tax evasion and other scandals hit the previous government.

The new government may only serve for a few weeks. If Macrons party doesnt win a majority in the June 11 and 18 parliamentary elections, he might have to form a coalition and adjust the makeup of the government. He also could end up with a government led by an opposition party.

Macron hosted European Council President Donald Tusk at the Elysee Palace for a private dinner on Wednesday night, a sign of his determination to shore up European unity. Before their meeting, Macron said he wants a Europe that is both more conducive to investment and more protective of workers.

Macron wants European militaries to join efforts and for eurozone countries to share a budget and tax rules. He has also promised a tough line on Britain as it negotiates its departure from the EU, to deter others from trying to leave.

Speaking with Tusk by his side, Macron said hes advocating a less bureaucratic and a more political Europe and relying on Tusk to go even further in this work of reshaping and setting in motion again a European ambition.

Tusk approved the goals proposed by Macron and said words such as security, protection, dignity and pride must return to our political dictionary.

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LOS ANGELESA federal judge has tossed out an animal rights groups lawsuit against a California synagogue that practices the ritual slaughter of chickens.

Judge Andre Birotte Jr. ruled that Chabad of Irvine doesnt engage in an unfair business practice by charging for the killing and disposal of chickens used in the rite called kapparot or kaporos.

United Poultry Concerns, a Virginia-based group, argued that the $27 fee was well above the actual cost, making it a profit-making venture.

But Birotte said in the ruling Friday that the synagogue does not participate nor compete as a business in the commercial market by performing a religious atonement ritual that involves donations, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

The ritual, observed by some Orthodox sects of Judaism, involves whirling a chicken above ones head while reciting a prayer prior to it being slaughtered. The practice is believed to transfer the persons sins to the chicken.

The rite typically is performed before Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.

Chickens used in the ceremony were once given to the poor but they are now generally disposed of because of food-handling laws.

We hope this victory will encourage everyone to live in peace and tolerance of everyones religious beliefs, Rabbi Alter Tenenbaum of Chabad of Irvine said in a statement.

The ruling is being appealed, said Bryan Pease, an attorney representing United Poultry Concerns.

Pease also is representing another non-profit group, the Animal Protection and Rescue League, in a state court lawsuit against the synagogue that alleges animal cruelty. The suit is scheduled for trial next month.

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MEXICO CITYShouts of justice echoed from the press corps Wednesday moments after Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto called for a moment of silence for journalists who have been murdered at a frightening pace.

The presidents hastily called meeting with his security cabinet and the countrys governors was meant to show a united response to the slaying of reporters from one corner of Mexico to the other so far this year. On Monday, Javier Valdez in Culiacan, Sinaloa, became the sixth journalist slain in less than three months in six different states.

Violence cant be part of daily life, Pena Nieto said. Each crime against a journalist is a strike against freedom of expression and the press and the citizenry.

Read more:Award-winning journalist Javier Valdez killed in Mexicos Sinaloa

The gathering was titled actions for freedom of expression and protection of journalists and defenders, but as is customary, Pena Nieto did not take questions.

The president sketched out three measures, but without details.

He promised more resources to help journalists under threat and for the special prosecutors office tasked with investigating crimes against journalists.

Both measures have so far proven ineffective in stopping the bloodshed among the countrys media workers. Mexico ranks behind only Syria and Afghanistan for such murders.

Pena Nieto also called for better co-ordination between federal and state authorities and the development of protocols for handling such investigations.

While slayings of journalists draw attention, they are not an aberration in a country with steadily deteriorating security. Homicides in general were up 29 per cent in the first quarter of 2017.

Pena Nieto seemed to allude to that fact Wednesday, saying, the murder of journalists and human rights defenders often is a symptom of greater phenomenon of impunity.

On Tuesday evening, several hundred journalists gathered in front of Mexicos Interior Department to protest the killings.

One of them, Alejandro Paez Varela, content director for the online outlet SinEmbargo.mx, said Valdezs murder  in broad daylight and just a block from his newspaper Riodoces office  was a demonstration of impunity.

They kill because they can kill. And they kill because they never go after them, said Paez Varela. That is the federal governments fault.

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NEW ORLEANSWorkers in New Orleans took down a Confederate monument to Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard early Wednesday as onlookers watched from lawn chairs, while defiant statue supporters waved Confederate battle flags and opponents celebrated.

It was the third of four such monuments to come down under a plan proposed by Mayor Mitch Landrieu and approved by the City Council more than a year ago. As with two earlier removals, it happened under cover of darkness. Work began soon after sundown and news outlets showed the statue being lifted off its base shortly after 3 a.m.

The statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee will be the last to come down. The city already had taken one the Confederacys only president and a memorial to a white rebellion against a biracial Reconstruction-era government in the city.

Today we take another step in defining our City not by our past but by our bright future, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a news release. While we must honour our history, we will not allow the Confederacy to be put on a pedestal in the heart of New Orleans.

Read more:

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Landrieu called for the monuments removal in the lingering emotional aftermath of the 2015 massacre of nine black parishioners at a South Carolina church. The killer, Dylann Roof, was an avowed racist who brandished Confederate battle flags in photos, recharging the debate over whether Confederate emblems represent racism or an honourable heritage.

The removal process has been anything but easy.

The City Council voted 6-1 in 2015 to remove the monuments after a succession of contentious public meetings where impassioned supporters and opponents heckled each other. Contractors involved in the removal process have been threatened, and the work stalled for months as statue supporters looked in vain to the courts for help. Workers removing the first two memorials generally wore bulletproof vests, helmets and face coverings to shield their identities as the work took place well after midnight to minimize attention.

More recently, lawmakers in the Louisiana House backed a proposal aimed at keeping cities from removing Confederate monuments in a controversial vote Monday that black lawmakers derided as divisive and offensive.

Workers at the Beauregard removal Tuesday night also covered their faces and wore helmets but the atmosphere appeared slightly more low-key, with work starting in the evening after sunset. Local media showed images of monument supporters waving Confederate battle flags while those supporting their removal stood nearby. But the situation was largely peaceful. Across a bayou from where the monument stands, some observers sat in lawn chairs to watch the proceedings, and a brass band celebrating the sculptures removal showed up after midnight, news outlets reported. People in kayaks and canoes could be seen at times watching workers prepare the statue for removal.

Among the witnesses was Terence Blanchard, a celebrated New Orleans trumpet player who told The Times-Picayune that he headed for the scene with his wife and two daughters when he learned that the statue was coming down.

Its a sign that the world is changing, said Blanchard, an African-American who attended a high school near the Beauregard monument.

Monument supporters, said the works are a way to remember and honour history.

Mayor Landrieus actions are an insult to New Orleanians who came before us  the veterans, widows, parents, children, and citizens  who donated their personal money to build and place these monuments where they stand to honour the memory of their fallen family members, said Pierre McGraw, President of the Monumental Task Committee which has been advocating keeping the monuments in place.

But for many in this majority black city, the monuments pay honour to a history of slavery and segregation, and they want them down.

Ive never looked at them as a source of pride, Blanchard said. Its always made me feel as if they were put there by people who dont respect us.

The White Rebellion

That granite obelisk, erected in 1891, was the least prominent of the monuments and the first to be removed. But to some it was the most objectionable. It commemorated what came to be known as the Battle of Liberty Place, in 1874  a rebellion by whites who battled a biracial Reconstruction-era government in New Orleans. An inscription extolling white supremacy was added in 1932.

It had been tied up in legal battles over efforts to remove it since at least the 1980s. It was moved from busy Canal Street to a more obscure location in the 1990s, with a plaque calling for racial harmony.

Jefferson Davis

Unveiled in 1911, the memorial to the Confederacys only president was in the Mid-City neighbourhood on a broad green space and was the second monument to be removed. The monument, an estimated 18 feet tall, had a bronze likeness of Davis standing astride a tall stone pedestal.

Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard

Beauregard commanded the attack at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, that marked the outbreak of the Civil War. His statue sits at a traffic circle near the entrance to New Orleans City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Its been there since 1915.

Gen. Robert E. Lee

It is easily the most prominent of the statues: Lee standing, in uniform, arms crossed defiantly, looking toward the northern horizon from atop a roughly 60-foot-tall pedestal. It was unveiled in 1884. The city said Tuesday that due to intimidation, threats, and violence, serious safety concerns remain it would not announce a timeline for Lees removal.

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Video transcript:

There are two impressive guys called Axe on TV right now. Both know their stuff but their styles are incredibly different.

Theres the fictional Bobby Axelrod on Billions. Hes the cocky boss at hedge fund Axe Capital. Everyone on Billions is super confident: his wife, his archrival played by Paul Giamatti, the brilliant trans character, Taylor:

This kind of certainty rings fake to me. Its inhuman. If there are business guys who talk like that, Id bet its because theyre copying characters they saw on shows like Billions.

Then theres The Axe Files, with David Axelrod, former chief adviser to Barack Obama  in real life. Hes the opposite. Very hesitant:

That Uh is his trademark. Bobby Axelrod never says Uh. Not that David Axelrod doesnt pass strong judgments:

But for me its his hesitancy that cements his credibility. Im a sucker for authorities who start off saying: Thats really hard to know. I feel I can relax and believe them. At least theyre not mimicking something they saw on TV. It takes real confidence to admit doubt. Uh, I think.

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A British court has rejected another attempt by Nestle SA (NSRGY) - Get Free Report to trademark the shape of its iconic KitKat chocolate bar after judges upheld a challenge from rival Mondelez International (MDLZ) - Get Free Report .

The U.K. Court of Appeals agreed with Mondelez, the owner of chocolate market Cadbury, when it argued that the KitKat's design, with four separate sections of equal length, "lacked distinctive character." The Appeals Court ruling upholds a January decision that challenged Nestle's attempt to trademark the bar in 2010.

"Nestle is disappointed by the court of appeal judgment and is considering next steps," the company said in a statement. "KitKat is much loved around the world and its four-finger shape is well known by consumers. Nestle's four-finger shape has been granted trademark registration in many countries of the world, for instance Germany, France, Australia, South Africa and Canada, further protecting it from imitations."

The U.K. verdict is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Swiss-based food group to protect the KitKat brand, which it acquired from Rowntree & Co. in 1998. The European Court of Justice rejected Nestle's argument that the four-fingered bar's shape was distinct to consumers, even without its red-and-white packaging, and thus deserved trademark protection.

Nestle shares were marked 0.5% lower at Sfr81.90 in late Zurich trading, trimming their year-to-date advance to just over 12%. Mondelez shares were trading 0.3% lower at $45.32 each by 10:00 am in New York and have risen just 2.3% so far this year.
The bizarre series of rants by Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD) CEO Eddie Lampert a week ago has spurred a crisis of confidence in the retailer's short-term outlook.

At least in the eyes of the stock market.

Shares of the dying owner of Sears and Kmart plummeted 3% to $7.72 on Thursday, bringing the week to date plunge to about 19%. Since May 8, shares of Sears have crashed nearly 28%, bringing its market cap down to $827 million from just over $1.1 billion.

The sell-off reflects numerous factors, with Lampert mostly at the enter of all of them.

On Monday, the reclusive CEO came out against a vendor in a new 697 word blog post. "One World [Technologies] has informed us of their intention to take the very aggressive step of filing a lawsuit against us as they seek to embarrass us in the media to force us to let them out of their contract," wrote Lampert. "But Sears has nothing to be embarrassed about - we have lived up to our word under our contract, and we will take the appropriate legal action to protect our rights and ensure that One World honors their contract." Lampert's comments have seemed to spark fresh fears that Sears -- which has hemorrhaged money for years -- could be losing confidence among its suppliers, despite assertions to the contrary.

Lampert's rant came on the heels of a rare, and borderline completely out-of-touch interview with the Chicago Tribune last Wednesday, where he blamed media reports for his inability to get the retailer out of its sure decline to death and suggested that the company is "ahead" of rivals J.C. Penney (JCP) - Get Free Report , Macy's (M) - Get Free Report and Target (TGT) - Get Free Report . The executive then took the stage at Sears' annual shareholders meeting and continued to rail against the media.

As icing on the cake, investment bank Morgan Stanley raised red flags this week on Sears' ability to survive.

"[Sears] one- and two-year credit default swaps imply the market is pricing a high profitability of default over the next 12 to 24 months," Morgan Stanley said in a note. "If Sears files for bankruptcy this year and subsequently liquidates, J.C. Penney could be a major beneficiary."

Sears spokesman Howard Riefs did not return several requests for comment on the stock sell-off.

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Jim Cramer and the AAP team are discussing fallout from first-quarter earnings from Apple (AAPL) - Get Free Report and Facebook (FB) - Get Free Report and how to play the big tech names. Get his insights or analysis with a free trial subscription to Action Alerts Plus.
Exxon Mobil (XOM) - Get Free Report said today that it will invest $300 million over the next 10 years into Mexico's fuel market and open its first Mobil filling station in the country in the latter part of 2017, the Financial Times reports.

The move illustrates expanding fueling options for Mexico after a 2013 ruling on energy reform ended the national oil company Pemex's monopoly on the fuel market.

Exxon Mobil joins BP (BP) - Get Free Report, which opened its first Mexican station in March, as the second foreign firm entering the filling station sector.

Exxon Mobil will franchise locations under the Mobil name, selling its Synergy petrol and diesel brand, and will begin sale in central Mexico.

The $300 million investment will be in fuels logistics, product inventories, and marketing over the coming decade "to provide a reliable supply of quality products to the retail, wholesale, industrial and commercial sectors," Exxon Mobil said.

Jim Cramer and the AAP team know what's causing oil prices to decline, and they're telling their investment club members what to do about Apache (APA) - Get Free Report , Schlumberger (SLB) - Get Free Report and Cimarex (XEC) - Get Free Report . Get his insights or analysis with a free trial subscription to Action Alerts Plus.
Our portfolio of high quality UK commercial property is focused on London Offices and Retail around the UK. We own or manage a portfolio valued at 13.7bn (British Land share: 10.3bn) as at 30 September 2020 making us one of Europe's largest listed real estate investment companies. Our strategy is to provide places which meet the needs of our customers and respond to changing lifestyles - Places People Prefer. We do this by creating great environments both inside and outside our buildings and use our scale and placemaking skills to enhance and enliven them. This expands their appeal to a broader range of occupiers, creating enduring demand and driving sustainable, long term performance. Our Offices portfolio comprises three office-led campuses in central London as well as high quality standalone buildings and accounts for 65% of our portfolio. Our Retail portfolio is focused on retail parks and shopping centres, and accounts for 31% of our portfolio. Increasingly our focus is on providing a mix of uses and this is most evident at Canada Water, our 53 acre redevelopment opportunity where we have plans to create a new neighbourhood for London. Sustainability is embedded throughout our business. Our places, which are designed to meet high sustainability standards, become part of local communities, provide opportunities for skills development and employment and promote wellbeing. In April 2016 British Land received the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development, the UK's highest accolade for business success for economic, social and environmental achievements over a period of five years.
Dunelm Group plc retails homewares in the United Kingdom. The company offers furniture and beds products, which include bedroom, living room, dining room, and other furniture, as well as bed and mattresses, and sofas and chairs; bedding products comprising bed linen, dorma, baby and kid's bedding, and duvets, pillows and protectors; curtains and rugs; and venetian, roller, roman, vertical, and made to measure blinds. It also offers range of home decor products, such as mirrors, clocks, ornaments, pictures and frames, candle and home fragrance, flower and plants, vases, kid accessories, cushions, bean bags, and letterbox flowers, as well as housewarming, engagement, anniversary, and wedding gifts; lighting products, including ceiling and wall lights, table and desk lamps, floor lamps, and pendants and lamp shades; and paint, wallpaper, DIY and upcycling, and haberdashery products. In addition, the company provides kitchen and utility products comprising cooking, dining, electrical, utility, and pet products; towel and bathmats, and bathroom accessories, as well as furniture and decor products; storage products, such as travel and luggage, home, clothes, and kitchen storage; kids bedroom, nursery, and accessories products; outdoor products, which include garden furniture and decoration, and entreating and dining products; and trends christmas products and winter essentials. It operates through a network of 177 stores and 2 distribution centers, as well as sells its products through an online store at dunelm.com. Dunelm Group plc was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Syston, the United Kingdom.
The following companies are subsidiares of Roper Technologies: AC Analytical Controls B.V., AC Analytical Controls Holding B.V., AC Analytical Controls Services B.V., Abel Pump, Acton Research, Acumen PM LLC, Aderant Canada Company, Aderant Company, Aderant Holdings Inc., Aderant International Holdings LLC, Aderant Legal (UK) Limited, Aderant Legal Holdings (AUS) Pty Ltd, Aderant Legal Holdings (NZ) ULC, Aderant Legal Holdings Inc., Aderant North America Inc., Aderant Parent Holdings Inc., Advanced Sensors Limited, Advanced Sensors Ltd., AiCambridge Ltd., Alpha Holdings of Delaware I LLC, Alpha Holdings of Delaware II LLC, Alpha Technologies B.V., Alpha Technologies GmbH, Alpha Technologies Japan LLC, Alpha Technologies Services LLC, Alpha Technologies U.K., Alpha Technologies s.r.o., Alpha Trust Corporation, Alpha UK Holdings LLC, American LegalNet Inc, Amot Controls Corporation, Amot Controls GmbH, Amot/Metrix Investment Company Inc., Amphire Solutions Inc., Amtech Systems (Hong Kong) Limited, Amtech Systems LLC, Amtech World Corporation, Antek Instruments, Archisnapper BV, Ascension Technology Corporation, Assureweb Limited, Atlantic Health Partners Inc., Atlas Database Software Corp., Avitru, Bellefield Systems, BillBlast, C/S Solutions Inc., CBORD Holdings Corp., CBORD Holdings Corporation, CIVCO Holdings Inc., CIVCO Medical Solutions B.V., Centurion Research Solutions LLC, Chalwyn Limited, Civco Holding Inc., Civco Medical Instruments Co. Inc., Clackamas Pump LLC, CliniSys Group, CliniSys Group Limited, Clinisys Scotland Limited, Clinisys Solutions Limited, Cointec Ingenieros y Consultores S.L., Commerce Pump LLC, Compressor Controls (Beijing) Corporation Ltd., Compressor Controls Corporation B.V., Compressor Controls Corporation Middle East, Compressor Controls Corporation S.r.l., Compressor Controls LLC, Compressor Controls Mauritius Ltd., Compressor Controls Pty Ltd., Compressor Controls Saudi Arabia LLC, ComputerEase Software, ConceptShare, ConstructConnect, ConstructConnect Canada Inc., ConstructConnect Inc., Cornell Pump Company, DAT Solutions LLC, DATSolutions Private Limited, DCMH Group Holdings Inc., DCMH Group Holdings LLC, DCMH Holdings Inc., DI Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., DI Dutch Holdings LLC, DI Hong Kong Limited, Data Innovations, Data Innovations Canada Ltd., Data Innovations Cooperatief U.A., Data Innovations Europe S.A., Data Innovations LLC, Data Innovations Latin America Ltda, Dawning Technologies LLC, Deltek, Deltek Ajera Inc., Deltek Asia Pacific (HK) Limited, Deltek Australia Pty Ltd., Deltek Danmark A/S, Deltek France SAS, Deltek GB Limited, Deltek GmbH, Deltek Inc., Deltek Nederland B.V., Deltek Netherlands B.V., Deltek Norge AS, Deltek Sverige AB, Deltek Systems (Canada) Inc., Deltek Systems (Colorado) Inc., Deltek Systems (Philippines) Ltd., Deltek TNSCore Holdings LLC, Deltek WST LLC, Dominion I Inc., Duncan Technologies, Dynamco Inc., Dynamic Instruments Inc., Dynisco Enterprises GmbH, Dynisco Enterprises LLC, Dynisco Europe GmbH, Dynisco Holding GmbH, Dynisco Instruments LLC, Dynisco Instruments S.a.r.l., Dynisco LLC, Dynisco Parent Inc., Dynisco S.r.l., Dynisco Viatran LLC, Dynisco Viatran (M) Sdn Bhd, Dynisco-Viatran Instrument Sdn Bhd, EPSI, FMS Purchasing & Services Inc., FSI Holdings Inc., FTI Flow Technology Inc., Flow Technology, Fluid Metering, Fluid Metering Inc., Foodlink Holdings Inc., Foodlink Holdings Inc., Foodlink IT India Private Limited, Foundry, Foundry Visionmongers (Ireland) Limited, Freight Market Intelligence Consortium, Gatan, GeneInsight Inc., Getloaded Corporation, HRsmart Canada Inc., HRsmart France SAS, HRsmart Germany GmbH, HRsmart Inc., HRsmart International, HRsmart International Holdings LLC, HRsmart Mexico, HRsmart SA (Pty) Ltd., HRsmart Talent Management Solutions Europe Limited, HRsmart Ventures LLC, Handshake Software Inc., Handshake Software Inc., Hansco Automatisering B.V., Hansen Technologies, Hansen Technologies Corporation, Harbour Holding Corp., Hardy Process Solutions, Horizon Lab Systems LLC, Horizon Software International LLC, IDS, INPUT Inc., IPA Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., ISL Finance SAS, ISL Holding SAS, ISL Scientifique de Laboratorie - ISL S.A.S., Impact Financial Systems, Industrial Products Investment Company, Innovative Product Achievements LLC, Innovative Product Achievements LLC, Inovonics Corporation, Instill Corporation, IntelliTrans Limited, Intellitrans LLC, Intellitrans Sweden AB, JLT Mobile Computers Inc., Job Access LTDA, Laser App Inc., Link Logistics Holding LLC, Loadlink Technologies Corporation, Logitech, Logitech Limited, Lumenera Corporation, MASD, MED Professional Services LLC, MEDTEC Inc., MEDTEC LLC, MHA Long Term Care Network Inc., MHA Long Term Care Services Inc., MIPS Austria GesmbH, MIPS Deutschland GmbH, MIPS France Sarl, MIPS Nederland B.V., MIPS Schweiz AG, MIPS Software Iberica SL, MPR Readers Inc., Managed Health Care Associates Inc., Media Cybernetics L.P., Medical Information Professional Systems NV, Medina Acquisition LLC, Metrix Instrument Co. L.P., NDI Europe GmbH, NDI Holding Corp., Navigator Group Purchasing Inc., Neptune Technology Group (Canada) Co., Neptune Technology Group Holdings Inc., Neptune Technology Group Inc., Neptune Technology Group Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Neptune Technology Group Services Inc., Nippon Roper K.K., Northern Digital Inc., Omega Legal Systems Inc., On Center Software LLC, Onvia Inc., PAC (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PAC Denmark ApS, PAC GmbH, PAC Instruments (Thailand) Company Limited, PAC Instruments Asia PTE. Ltd., PB Bidco Limited, PB Holdco Limited, PB Midco Limited, PB Topco Limited, PGP UK Limited, PMC/Beta, Petroleum Analyzer, Petroleum Analyzer Company L.P., Petrotech, Phase Analyzer Company Ltd., Photometrics, PowerPlan, PowerPlan Canada ULC, PowerPlan Holdings Inc., PowerPlan Inc., PowerPlan Intermediate Holdings Inc., PowerPlan Operations ANZ Pty Ltd, PowerPlan Operations Ltd., Princeton Instruments, Project Aloha Merger Sub Inc., Project Diamond Intermediate Holdings Corporation, Project Torque Intermediate Holdings Inc., Project Viking Holdings Inc., Project Viking Intermediate LLC, QSC 1208 Limited, QSC 1209 Limited, Quantitative Imaging Corporation, RF IDeas, RF IDeas Inc., RI Marketing India Private Limited, RIL Holding Limited, RMT Inc., RT Merger Sub Inc., Rebate Tracking Group LLC, Redlake Imaging Corporation, Resonant Software Inc., Roda Deaco Valve Inc., Roper Acquisitions Holdings Inc., Roper Brasil Comercio E Promocao De Productos E Servicos LTDA, Roper Canada Holdings LP, Roper Canada UK Limited, Roper Denmark UK Limited, Roper EUR Pte. Ltd., Roper Engineering s.r.o., Roper Europe GmbH, Roper GM Denmark Holdings ApS, Roper Germany GmbH, Roper Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Roper Holdings Limited, Roper IH LLC, Roper Industrial Products Investment Company, Roper Industries Denmark ApS, Roper Industries Deutschland GmbH, Roper Industries Inc., Roper Industries Limited, Roper Industries Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Roper Industries Mauritius Ltd., Roper Industries UK Limited, Roper International Holding Inc., Roper International Holding Limited, Roper International Holding SCS, Roper LLC, Roper Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.l., Roper Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Roper Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Roper Middle East Ltd. FZCO, Roper NL1 UK Limited, Roper NL2 UK Limited, Roper Operations Company I LLC, Roper Operations Company II LLC, Roper Pte. Ltd., Roper Pump Company, Roper Scientific B.V., Roper Scientific SAS, Roper Scot LP, Roper Singapore Holding LLC, Roper Southeast Asia LLC, Roper Swiss Finance GmbH, Roper T1 LLC, Roper T1000 Corp., Roper T2 LLC, Roper Tech. Middle East Ltd. FZCO, Roper Technologies (Ireland) Limited, Roper Technologies (Scot) LP, Roper UK Investments Limited, Roper UK Ltd., Roper-Mex L.P., Ropintassco Holdings L.P., SHP Group Holdings Inc., SIRA LLC, Shanghai Roper Industries Trading Co. Ltd., Sinmed Holding International B.V., Societe de Distribution de Logiciels Medicaux, SoftWriters Inc., Softwriters Holdings, Softwriters Holdings Inc., Sohnar Pty Ltd, Star Purchasing Services LLC, Strata Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., Strata Decision Technologies LLC, Strata Decision Technology LLC, Strata Parallel II Inc., Strategic Healthcare Programs Blocker 2 Inc., Strategic Healthcare Programs Blocker LLC, Strategic Healthcare Programs Holdings LLC, Strategic Healthcare Programs Holdings LLC, Strategic Healthcare Programs L.L.C., Struers, Struers (Shanghai) International Trading Ltd., Struers A/S, Struers GmbH, Struers Inc., Struers K.K., Struers Limited, Struers SAS, Sunquest Europe Limited, Sunquest Holdings Inc., Sunquest Information Systems (Europe) Limited, Sunquest Information Systems (India) Private Limited, Sunquest Information Systems (International) Limited, Sunquest Information Systems Inc., Sunquest Information Systems Pty Ltd, TLP Holdings LLC, Team TSI Corporation, Technolog Group Limited, Technolog Holdings Limited, Technolog Holdings Ltd., Technolog Limited, Technolog SARL, The CBORD Group Inc., The Foundry Topco No.2 Limited, The Foundry USCo Inc., The Foundry Visionmongers Ltd., The Tidewater Healthcare Shared Services Group Inc., The Washington Management Group Inc., Torque Acquisition Holdco Inc., Transcore Atlantic Inc., Transcore CNUS Inc., Transcore Holdings Inc., Transcore ITS LLC, Transcore LP, Transcore Nova Scotia Corporation, Transcore Partners LLC, Trinity Integrated Systems Limited, Trinity Integrated Systems Ltd., UHF Purchasing Services LLC, Union Square Software (International) Limited, Union Square Software Inc., Union Square Software Limited, Union Square Software Pty, United Controls Group Inc., Uson L.P., Uson Limited, Utilitec Limited, Utilitec Services Limited, Utility Data Services Limited, Verathon Canada Holdings Inc., Verathon Holdings (Delaware) Inc., Verathon Inc., Verathon Inc., Verathon Medical (Australia) Pty Limited, Verathon Medical (Canada) ULC, Verathon Medical (Europe) B.V., Verathon Medical (France) SARL, Verathon Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Verathon Medical (Japan) K.K., Verathon Medical (UK) Ltd., Vertafore, Vertafore Canada Inc., Vertafore Inc., Vertafore India Private Limited, Viastar Services LP, Viatran Corporation, WELIS, Walter Herzog GmbH, WorkBook APAC Ltd., Workbook Software A/S, Zetec (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zetec Canada Ltd., Zetec France, Zetec Inc., Zetec Korea Inc., Zetec Services Inc., iPipeline, iPipeline (TCP) Limited, iPipeline Canada Inc, iPipeline Co. Ltd., iPipeline Holdings Inc, iPipeline Inc, iPipeline Limited, iSqFt Holdings Inc., iSqFt Parent Corporation, iSqFt Sub Inc., iTradeNetwork Inc., and mySBX Corporation.

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Church & Dwight Co., Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets household, personal care, and specialty products. It operates through three segments: Consumer Domestic, Consumer International, and Specialty Products Division. The company offers cat litters, carpet deodorizers, laundry detergents, and baking soda, as well as other baking soda based products under the ARM & HAMMER brand; condoms, lubricants, and vibrators under the TROJAN brand; stain removers, cleaning solutions, laundry detergents, and bleach alternatives under the OXICLEAN brand; battery-operated and manual toothbrushes under the SPINBRUSH brand; home pregnancy and ovulation test kits under the FIRST RESPONSE brand; depilatories under the NAIR brand; oral analgesics under the ORAJEL brand; laundry detergents under the XTRA brand; gummy dietary supplements under the L'IL CRITTERS and VITAFUSION brands; dry shampoos under the BATISTE brand; water flossers and replacement showerheads under the WATERPIK brand; FLAWLESS products; cold shortening and relief products under the ZICAM brand; and oral care products under the THERABREATH brand. Its specialty products include animal productivity products, such as MEGALAC rumen bypass fat, a supplement that enables cows to maintain energy levels during the period of high milk production; BIO-CHLOR and FERMENTEN, which are used to reduce health issues associated with calving, as well as provides needed protein; and CELMANAX refined functional carbohydrate, a yeast-based prebiotic. The company offers sodium bicarbonate; and cleaning and deodorizing products. It sells its consumer products through supermarkets, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs, drugstores, convenience stores, home stores, dollar and other discount stores, pet and other specialty stores, and websites and other e-commerce channels; and specialty products to industrial customers and livestock producers through distributors. The company was founded in 1846 and is headquartered in Ewing, New Jersey.
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), a leading international aluminium smelter, has appointed Ahmed Bahar as its new manager for operational excellence.



A Bahraini national, Bahar joined Alba in 2004 as a Supervisor and in 2008 was selected to undergo Albas training and development programme for the position of head of shipping.



Moreover, he also held various supervisory posts: head of supply  commercial and raw material, head of alumina supply and trading and team leader of procurement task force.



In 2016, Bahar joined the Operational Excellence Department and was made acting manager operational excellence in October 2016.



Ahmed holds an MBA from Ahlia University, Bahrain and has a B.Sc. in Maritime Transport with Logistics and Economics Management as well as a special certificate in supply chain and lean management.



Albas chief executive officer Tim Murray said: Our company believes in developing its talented nationals and promoting them to leadership positions, which will translate into a successful, strategic leadership model for the company.



Both, as an individual and a team leader, Bahar has contributed effectively and efficiently towards the objectives of the company. I congratulate him on his well-deserved promotion and wish him continued success in his career, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
- Kenyan atheists, who believe God does not exist, have openly supported Raila Odingas presidential bid

-Uhuru Kenyattas Jubilee government suspended the societys registration certificate in May last year following opposition from religious groups.

-Ironically, the support comes at a time when Raila has been cutting a highly religious figure, adopting the name of the Biblical Joshua and even visiting Jerusalem

Atheists in Kenya have now thrown their weight behind opposition flag-bearer Raila Odinga, who they hope will have their society registered if NASA assumes power.

This comes after the Jubilee government refused to register their association last year amid a push to have the word God expunged from the national anthem.

Atheists believe God does not exist and thus argued that the first stanza of the anthem, which starts with Oh, God of all creation is not inclusive.

The move to back Raila was publicly announced by the Atheists in Kenya (AIK) President Harrison Mumia, who on Monday posted an ad with the hashtag #Atheists4Raila on his wall.

The open support has, however, not gone down well with some members, who feel they share different political views with the former premier or that the move would tarnish his image and reputation ahead of the general elections.

READ ALSO: Popular TV anchor called by husband on live TV, look how shocked she was

The NASA co-leaders Mudavadi, Raila, Ruto, Kalonzo and Wetangula.

READ ALSO: Is Chris Kirubi the father to Mike Sonko's running mate? We found out the interesting details

Details shared by Mumia show that the society wants to enter into a binding memorandum of agreement with NASA, with AIK supporting Railas presidential bid in return.

In a post on his Facebook page, Mumia said the fresh move was inspired by the Jubilee governments refusal to grant them registration as a society.

Ironically, the courtship comes at a time when Raila has been cutting a highly religious figure, adopting the name of the Biblical Joshua and even visiting Jerusalem, claiming he will be the one to lead Kenyans to the promised land of Canaan.

READ ALSO: DP Ruto clarifies on the contentious Mexico maize issue

AIK President Harrison Mumia.

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Kenyans also castigated Mumia for inadvertently disparaging Railas image by associating him with an atheist group at a time the opposition is trying to marshal 10 million supporters ahead of the August 8 General Election.

Kenyans online received the societys support offer for Raila with diverse reactions as follows:

READ ALSO: CJ David Maraga angry with NASA

NASA presidential aspirant Raila Odinga

READ ALSO: Uhuru attends same meeting with man wearing a skirt and open shoes(photo)

READ ALSO: Dandora residents HORRIFIED after discovering decomposing human leg

Have something to add to this article? Send to news@tuko.co.ke

Watch one of the 14 presidential aspirants talk about his bid in the video below:

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- An Albino teenager went from war refugee to star model

- His skin color made him the target of witch doctors back in his native Sierra Leone

- He managed to escape to Australia with his family

An Albino teenager escaped a life of persecution and possible death at the hands of witch doctors in Sierra Leone, to become a prized model in Australia.

Regarding his grand presentation during Australian Fashion Week, Weah Bangura commented that I could've walked back and forth on that runway 100 times.

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19-year-old Weahs parents never let him out of his house as a child, and he was quite a lonely child. Witch doctors wanted to kill him, thinking his skin held supernatural powers. They make potions, he comments, adding that they believe that albinos have special power in their bones, their hair, their skin.

In the midst of his countrys 11-year-long civil war, Weah and his family moved to a refugee camp, and then immigrated to Sydney. They wanted us kids to have a better education, better opportunity, in a country where we were safe, he said. His parents always treated him equally, but needed to protect him from the many menaces albino people suffer in Africa.

READ ALSO: Rare flowers! Meet twin sisters, 11, who are conquering fashion world with their stunning looks (photos)

The family did not know the language, but just being among people with skin even lighter than his, automatically made Weah start feeling better, less isolated.

In his early teens, he watched FashionTV, which made him decide he wanted to go into the industry.

READ ALSO: Sad! Witchdoctors hire hitmen to KILL albinos for their internal organs (photos, video)

He started modelling for several clothing firms, and he now got his big break walking with Australian fashion designer Justin Cassin on Monday. It has been his dream for many years.

My favourite quote is to live a life that leaves a mark on the world, Weah says. And he is taking all the opportunities that have come his way, and will continue do so.

Have something to add to this article or suggestions? Send to news@tuko.co.ke

Source: TUKO.co.ke
The Opposition has threatened to take the Government all the way to the Privy Council over o
Rainbow Flag is being flown at the High Commission for the full day (17.05.2017). High Commissioner Tim Stew was present for the event, as well as, representatives from the German Embassy.
Militants launched 43 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 small arms to shell Ukrainian positions near Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), Hnutove (19km north-west of Mariupol). ATO troops also came under grenade launcher fire outside Pavlopol.

In Donbas direction, Russian-backed militants shelled Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk), using 120mm mortar, grenade launcher and small arms fire. The terrorists used 82mm mortar to fire at Verkhniotoretske (22km north-east of Donetsk) and 120mm mortar to fire at Mayorske (45km north of Donetsk).

In Luhansk direction, illegal armed formations used 82mm and 120mm mortars, grenade launchers and machine guns to shell ATO troops near Krymske, Kriakivka and Triokhizbenka rural areas.

ish
The Verkhovna Rada has adopted the law "On Ratification of the Agreement on Economic Cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Croatia."

As an Ukrinform correspondent reports, 231 MPs voted for this law.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Natalia Mykolska stressed while presenting the draft law that the Ukrainian export to Croatia amounted to more than $40 million in 2016 and almost doubled compared to 2015.

The agreement on economic cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Croatia was concluded on March 27, 2013.

ish
The Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) and the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) have established the Spain-Ukraine Business Council.

The Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) and the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) have adopted a cooperation agreement, under which was created the Spain-Ukraine Business Council. The document was signed in Madrid (Spain) by the vice-president of the ULIE, coordinator of the Export Promotion Center of the ULIE, Denys Krasnikov and the vice-president of the CEOE, Juan Pablo Lazaro.

The main objective of this agreement is to promote business interaction between Ukraine and Spain, as well as to expand business opportunities between the two countries.

According to the document, the Export Promotion Center of the ULIE will organize joint meetings of representatives of the two entrepreneurial blocks in order to explore new areas of cooperation and develop new projects, as well is previewed participation in specialized conferences, held both in Ukraine and in Spain. It is planned to schedule joint activities at least once in a quarter.

Promotion of trade and investment will be carried out in the form of technical assistance in different professional areas, depending on specialization and other characteristics of companies from the both countries. Particular attention will be given to exchange with current information on economic and regulatory conditions, including financial, commercial, scientific and industrial nuances of business development in Ukraine and Spain. In addition, the support to companies will be made through exchange and dissemination of information on commercial proposals, products for export, as well as through assistance in finding potential partners.

"The Spanish market is potentially very interesting for Ukrainian business. At the moment the main pattern of our exports to Spain is agricultural: grain for animal consumption and vegetable oil, but in the near future this list can be amplified with the products of high added value. The creation of the Spain-Ukraine Business Council will make a difference. From our part, we will provide support in commercial implementation in the Spanish market within the framework of the Export Promotion Center activities of the ULIE," Denys Krasnikov said.

The signing ceremony was attended by Ukrainian Ambassador to Spain Anatoliy Scherba. According to Krasnikov, the Ukrainian Embassy in Spain is actively supporting Ukrainian companies in the market of this foreign country and foments new investments to Ukrainian economy.

DOSSIER

The Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) brings together more than 2 million companies and individual entrepreneurs from all sectors of the economy, as well as 200 territorial and sectorial organizations. It is the largest business association in Spain.

The Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) is the largest association of industrial companies and manufacturers of Ukraine of all forms and types. The league has 28 regional offices; more than 100 specialized associations are among its partners. The ULIE is represented at the headquarter of Business Europe in Brussels, as well as in other countries.

The Export Promotion Center was created like a structure division of the ULIE with the aim of uniting and supporting domestic producers as also promoting export infrastructure of Ukraine (http://www.uspp-export.com/ua/).
Ukraine and Israel in the presence of the Prime Ministers of two states, Volodymyr Groysman and Benjamin Netanyahu, signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of health care between the Health Ministry of Ukraine and the Health Ministry of the State of Israel for 2017-2021.

This has been reported by the press service of the Health Ministry.

"With this document, our countries begin a five-year cooperation in the field of health care. We will together promote the development of rehabilitation, national health insurance, financing of medical services, cardiology, oncology, early intervention programs, and telemedicine. It will be a fruitful cooperation!" Acting Health Minister of Ukraine Ulyana Suprun said after signing the cooperation agreement between the Health Ministry of Ukraine and the Health Ministry of the State of Israel.

The plan of cooperation in the field of health care between the Health Ministry of Ukraine and the Health Ministry of the State of Israel for 2017-2021 provides necessary regulatory conditions for the development of Ukrainian-Israeli cooperation in the field of health and medicine and determines the main areas of cooperation.

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Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli says that the EU hopes for the completion of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement ratification by the Netherlands until the end of June.

"We hope that the Senate will ratify the Association Agreement in the next few weeks until the end of June," Mingarelli said, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

At the same time, he noted that "we cannot guarantee anything, but we hope that it [the decision] will be positive for Ukraine."

As known, the Netherlands is the only EU country that has not yet ratified the Association Agreement.

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On Wednesday, May 17, in Strasbourg, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko took part in the signing ceremony of the legislative act on abolishing visa requirements for Ukrainians for short-term trips to the countries of the European Union and the Schengen zone.

The document was signed by President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and Minister for Home Affairs and National Security of Malta Carmelo Abela.

According to the legislative order, Ukraine is included to the list of third countries whose citizens are canceled visa requirements when travelling for short stays of up to 90 days to the Schengen area. The visa-free travel will apply to all EU Member States except for Ireland and the UK, as well as the countries of the Schengen area, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

As expected, the visa-free travels for Ukrainian citizens are to come into force on June 11.

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Boston, MA (UroToday.com) In this session, Dr. Ficarra provided a thorough review on cystic renal lesions and their management. He reminded the audience of the Bosniak criteria for characterizing cystic renal masses and that the likelihood of malignancy increases in lockstep with increasing Bosniak score.To facilitate the case discussion, Dr. Ficarra presented two cases. The first was a 54-year old female with no comorbidities who presented with an incidentally detected complex 2cm Bosniak II lesion in the left kidney. Given the known incidence of malignancy at 20-25% in these lesions, the patient was followed with interval imaging. At 24 months, the tumor had increased in size and complexity to a 4cm Bosniak III lesion. At this point, Dr. Ficarra took time to recommend against biopsy in this population since the sensitivity approaches only 83%. Given the more than 50% chance of malignancy for Bosniak III lesions, the patient was taken to surgery where a partial nephrectomy was performed. Final pathology demonstrated clear cell renal cell carcinoma, Fuhrman grade 2, pT1a with negative surgical margins.Case two was a 63-year old male patient with an asymptomatic Bosniak III lesions. Again, given the high risk of malignancy, the patient was taken to surgery where a partial nephrectomy was performed. Final pathology represented a multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma. Recent data have demonstrated favorable survival outcomes in these patients (Bhatt et al. J Urol 2016;196: 1350).In conclusion, Dr. Ficarra noted that CT, MRI, and contrast-enhanced US represent the diagnostic tools to characterize cystic renal lesions. Category IIF lesions must be followed, while, category III/IV lesions are high-risk for malignancy and must be resected (unless patient is not a surgical candidate). Partial nephrectomy should be recommended in this tumor with preferential consideration favoring a minimally invasive approach. Lastly, multilocular cystic renal cell carcinomas usually have an excellent prognosis.Presented by: Vincenzo Ficarra, MDWritten By: Benjamin T. Ristau, MD, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PAat the 2017 AUA Annual Meeting - May 12 - 16, 2017  Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Boston, MA (UroToday.com) This session discussed growing an active surveillance program in a large, community-based practice. Dr. Benjamin Lowentritt of Chesapeake Urology provided an overview of some of the challenges inherent to rolling out active surveillance protocols in this setting. The rationale for active surveillance is strong and based on level 1 evidence from recently published trials (e.g. ProtecT). Moreover, guideline statements from multiple organizations now preferentially recommend active surveillance in the setting of low risk prostate cancer. However, most active surveillance programs occur in the context of the academic medical center. While the concept doesnt necessarily differ in the community, there are some gray areas which remain challenging to define. These are related to patient selection, patient adherence, variation in adoptions by physicians, risk management (i.e. is there exposure to litigation by not treating, and value-based care.The goal of active surveillance programs in the community setting represents more than simply creating a pathway. Instead, it involves taking care of the patient, knowing ones own data, implementing quality control, providing guidance for doctors adjusting to new paradigms, and giving patients an idea of what to expect. Compiling patient data is challenging. Active surveillance does not have a searchable diagnosis code and many community practices have multiple offices making the creating of a single database difficult. Finally, although active surveillance affords opportunities to show value, there is no alternative payment model or established PQRS/MIPS measures.At this point, Dr. Shore offered his thoughts on current efforts by the large urology group practice association (LUGPA) relating to alternative payment models (APMs). CMS estimates that only 88 urologists would be qualified participants in advanced APMs in 2017 and only 5 urology practices will participate in the Oncology Care model. LUGPA is collaborating with various stakeholders to develop urology-specific APMs for localized prostate cancer and prostate biopsy. He made the point that CMS is interested in models that address appropriateness of treatments, not simply the costs of treatmentsTo gather data, Dr. Lowentritt noted that there is no single method. His group has created code, used a navigator, and engaged in third party search and occasional manual chart review. The overarching goal should be to understand all treatment trends. These data can be used to drive education. Specific attention should be paid to who qualifies for active surveillance and how are they monitored. Most guidelines offer minimal acceptable time intervals for PSA and biopsy; however gray areas remain and often one size does not fit all.Currently the Chesapeake urology stratifies risk groups based largely on NCCN guidelines modified by patient factors. The monitoring plan is based on risk-stratification. Other components of the program include patient information packets, consent forms, guidance for when to come off active surveillance (PSAdt < 3 years, presence of primary Gleason pattern 4, increase volume of disease, and patient anxiety). Follow-up questionnaires seek to understand adherence and patient satisfaction.Presented by: Neal Shore, MD and Benjamin Lowentritt, MDWritten By: Benjamin T. Ristau, MD, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PAat the 2017 AUA Annual Meeting - May 12 - 16, 2017  Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Boston, MA (UroToday.com) A panel of expert prostatectomist were task to discuss the most important topics associated with procedure and future directions to improve the surgery. The session is started by Dr. Menon who discussed the results of the CONSORT trial. The trial is a randomized controlled trial which looked to assess key differences between the standard robotic prostatectomy approach (VIP) and the emerging Retzious sparing posterior approach. The trial randomized a total of 120 patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer. The patients where closely followed in regards to continence, potency and biochemical recurrence rates. Patients undergoing the posterior approach regain continence much faster than the standard group, but the difference in continence rates disappeared at 3 months. There was no difference is potency or biochemical recurrence rates. Margin rates where not reported in the presentation but Dr. Menon states that the difference was not statistically significant. Complication rates were equal in both groups but there is a higher risk of ureteral injury with the posterior approach due to the proximity of the dissection to the distal ureter.Dr. Wiklund followed presenting the results of the LAPRO study. The LAPRO study is a prospective trial which assess the functional and oncological outcomes 4000 patients who underwent prostatectomy via a robotic or open approach. All surgeons included in the study were required to have performed at least 100 cases in order to enroll patients. Of the 4000 patients, 3000 underwent a robotic procedure and 1000 an open prostatectomy. Patient reported data was collected before and at 3, 12 and 24 months after surgery. A standardized documentation was required for all procedures.There was no difference in overall continence rates between the two procedures. When assessing continence rates by specific surgeon, open surgeons had the best continence rates of the group. On retrospective evaluation of the surgical technique this select group of surgeons were performing aggressive urethral sparing procedures which likely contributed to their improved continence rates. When the patients were stratified by DAmico risk group open surgeons were able to achieve better continence rates, likely to due to more aggressive apical dissection that was aided by tactile feedback. Likewise there was no overall difference in potency rates between the two procedures. Potency rates within individual surgeons were more widely distributed than continence rates, which is suspected to be due to greater variability in nerve sparing technique and layer dissection. As with continence rates, high risk patients had better potency rates following an open procedure.In regards to oncological outcomes there was no difference in biochemical recurrence rates between the two groups. The overall margin rate was also equivalent but marked differences were noted when patients were stratified by risk group. Margin rates were higher in patients with low risk prostate cancer undergoing a robotic procedure likely due to an aggressive nerve sparing technique. Interestingly, the opposite was seen in high risk patients, with a higher margin rate observed in open cases. The likely reason behind this phenomenon is the overconfidence of the open surgeon to perform a closer apical dissection compared to robotic surgeons who lack tactile feedback.Dr. Costello presented is view on the state of RARP by discussing the history of prostatectomy. Early prostatectomists followed the Halstedian view of cancer treatment by performing wide local excision without specific regard to functional outcomes. In the PSA era, however, curative treatment for prostate cancer (PC) is expected, and therefore quality of life outcomes have become paramount. For example, in 1977, radical prostatectomy required a 3-week hospital stay, had major blood loss, and expected near total incontinence and ED. Compare that to todays expectations! Dr. Costellos view is that contemporary robotic surgery incorporates better anatomical insights and improved standardization, all of which has led to improved continence and potency.There are some known factors that optimize continence such as age, radiation, pelvic floor training, center volume, and meticulous apical dissection. A wide host of other surgical manipulations and thoughts exist that purport to also improve functional outcomes; but Dr. Costello poignantly calls out the reality that there is no evidence behind most of those manipulations. For example, it is unclear if nerve sparing actually leads to improved continence. Likewise, seminal vesical tip sparing has an unclear anatomic basis for working and newer evidence shows it doesnt make any difference in functional outcome.He presented a compelling view that meticulous apical dissection is paramount to continence preservation. We now have an improved understanding of urethral striated sphincter anatomy. This rhabdosphincter can easily be damaged during apical dissection and sphincter fibers should be recognized and separated from the apex/urethra early. Innervation of the rhabdosphincter comes from the pudendal nerve and should enter separately, but branches can still be injured as they enter the rhabdosphincter if the surgeon dissects too distally.In conclusion, surgical technique at the apex appears to be one of the central factors to optimizing continence. He presented data that supports this hypothesis. Realistically, the adoption of robotic assistance has allowed for the feedback and insight needed to disseminate these improved techniques and reduce surgeon variability, which continues to be one of the most predictive factors affecting postoperative functional outcomes.Presenters: John Davis, MD; Mani Menon, MD; Peter Wiklund, MD; Anthony CostelloWritten By: Shreyas Joshi, M.D. & Andres Correa, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PATwitter: @ssjoshimdat the 2017 AUA Annual Meeting - May 12 - 16, 2017  Boston, Massachusetts, USA
The world's No. 1 opium-producing country, Afghanistan, is braced for an exploding poppy harvest this year, as farmers are cultivating the illicit crop in areas where it has never grown before.

Unfortunately, the narcotics production is on the rise this year, Javed Qaem, Afghan deputy counternarcotics minister, told international donors in Kabul Tuesday. We are concerned that narcotics would increase this year, including in areas and provinces where previously we had zero opium production.

A new United Nations survey said Friday the total area under opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has increased by 10 percent, from 183,000 to 201,000 hectares, compared to the previous year, leading to a significant rise in the production of illicit opium. The illicit drug is fueling insecurity, violence and insurgency among other problems to discourage private and public investment in Afghanistan, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime said in its survey report.

Qaem's comments come amid growing international concern that the Taliban, who are fighting Afghan government troops in rural areas of the country, are fueling the poppy trade by engaging in trafficking and skimming hundreds of millions dollars in profit to fuel their militancy.

Taliban insurgents, according to U.S. officials, net 60 percent of their war chest from narcotics.

Top producer of opium

Afghanistan is thought to produce an estimated 90 percent of the world's heroin. As poppy cultivation spikes, U.S. intelligence officials warn that the war-torn country is likely to see more armed violence this year.

The intelligence community assesses that the political and security situation in Afghanistan will almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in [the] military assistance by the United States and its partners, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said in a Senate hearing last week.

Since 2002, the U.S. has spent more than $8.5 billion on counternarcotics in Afghanistan  about $1.5 million a day, according to the Special Investigator General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).

In addition to war, opium fuels corruption and organized crime in Afghanistan, a country already ranked among the five most corrupt states in the world by Transparency International.

Only 13 of the country's 34 provinces were reported poppy-free in 2016, and this number has dropped into single digits this year, Afghan officials say.

Areas of cultivation increase

Afghan authorities said poppies, which traditionally have been grown in southern provinces, have found fertile lands in several northern and northeastern provinces, including Balkh and Jawzjan.

A large-scale increase also is expected in provinces with previously little opium crops, such as northwestern Badghis and Ghor.

Opium is cultivated in almost half of the province, including areas under the government influence, a resident in northeastern Baghlan province told VOA on condition of anonymity for safety concerns. Poppy crops are seen everywhere in the northeastern region. Badakhshan  which borders Tajikistan and China  is the epicenter of narcotics in the north.

Helmand province a top producer

Around 50 percent of the poppy crop in Afghanistan is produced in southern Helmand province, which borders Pakistan.

The Afghan government says the increase in drug production and trafficking is taking place mostly in conflict-hit areas.

Opium cultivation, production and trafficking take place in remote areas that are under the control of militants, terrorists and the Taliban, said Afghan General Baz Mohammad Ahmadi, the deputy interior minister for counternarcotics.

The Afghan government says it, along with aid agencies, has been trying to help Afghans find a sustainable alternative crop source. But those efforts appear to be failing.



Afghan counternarcotics police said they last year seized almost 650 tons of contraband drugs. The confiscated drugs included raw opium, heroin and hashish. Around 2,683 smugglers and traffickers, including 67 women, were arrested last year, Ahmadi said.

Experts say worsening security and immediate economic benefits for farmers are major reasons for the rise in poppy cultivation.

A satanic triangle of smugglers, terrorists and corrupt government officials is involved in drug production and trafficking, Haroon Rashid Sherzad, former Afghan acting minister of counternarcotics, told VOA. Security is an important reason, but several other factors fuel the drug production and trade in Afghanistan. Corruption at the local government levels encourages poppy cultivation.

Afghan response is lacking

Experts also believe that the increase is partly due to weak counternarcotics efforts by the government.

The government lacks political will to fight opium production, Abdul Aziz, a Kabul-based counternarcotics expert, told VOA. For the last 16 years, the government has done little to rid the country of narcotics and provide alternatives to farmers.

According to Sherzad, counternarcotics efforts require a comprehensive approach and coordination among government departments, which, he said, is lacking. He added that narco-entrepreneurs control large portions of government lands in several provinces where they cultivate poppies.

VOA's Afghan service contributed to this report from Kabul.
It's a sure sign that summer is on its way: Former President George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara are back in Maine.



A spokesman confirms they arrived at Walker's Point on Monday, less than a month after the former president was released from a hospital in Texas.



Officials said last month that the 92-year-old Bush was treated for a mild case of pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, but that it wouldn't interfere with his summer plans.



Bush, the nation's 41st president, has spent every summer in Kennebunkport, Maine, except during World War II, when he was a naval aviator. The Bushes spend the winter in Houston.
After breaking the story about the systemic torture and extrajudicial killings of gay men by Chechen security officials in an unofficial prison outside Grozny, Elena Milashina of the Russian-language Novaya Gazeta newspaper has been forced into hiding.

Faced with a fatwa by Chechen clerics who have vowed to kill the reporter along with any journalists associated with her publication, Milashina recently agreed to speak with VOA from an undisclosed location via Skype.

Like her late colleague Anna Politkovskaya, the Novaya Gazeta investigative reporter who was gunned down in the doorway of her Moscow apartment building in 2006, Milashina has reported on numerous human rights violations under Chechnya's pro-Kremlin leader, Ramzan Kadyrov.

Although the Russian Embassy in Israel on Thursday said a recently completed Kremlin probe had disproved Milashina's report, the gruesome details of covert Chechen concentration camps for gays have been corroborated by multiple international news outlets and human rights organizations.

Saying she was prepared to die in the line of journalistic duty, Milashina told VOA why Chechnya's treatment of gays marked the end of a Kremlin-backed "culture of impunity" that has flourished in the deeply conservative, predominantly Muslim North Caucasus republic, which she describes as Kadyrov's own feudal kingdom.

The following transcript has been edited for brevity.

VOA: As someone who has covered Chechnya since 2004, how does this latest story on Chechen human rights abuses stand apart? What has the impact been regionally?

Elena Milashina (EM): This was about a campaign in Chechnya that was organized in the end of February and lasted throughout the whole of March against men in Chechnya who were suspected of being gay. And this was the only reason they were legally detained and put in secret prisons and tortured, and some of them were killed. The only reason why they were tortured with electricity twice daily was to get information about other gays. This is the only reason. First of all, we were able to save a lot of people by eventually publishing a hotline for victims, through which some gay man began applying for help. So far, we've saved more than 100 people who were tortured and detained and had other problems with the Chechen police. Now they're in a safe place, and now we're trying to help them escape Russia. That's the main result.

The other result is that the whole world, through this story, has refocused on human rights [abuses against] the Chechen people, and what kind of regime the Kremlin has established there over the past decade. It has also put pressure on the Russian government to start preliminary steps toward an investigation that may lead to a criminal case, which would be the first time that's happened since Kadyrov has ruled over Chechnya. And that's the biggest result.

VOA: Do you think most people understand what is happening in Chechnya? That it has basically become a state within a state?

EM: In Russia, people understand. And that's why Chechnya continues to be a high-level news item in Russian media. Because people in Russia are very afraid of Kadyrov's Chechen regime; they're afraid of Kadyrov himself and his [officials], their ability to go anywhere and commit crimes without punishment. This fear explains their interest in news from Chechnya, and the Russian government understands this. I'm very sure about this.

As for international society and governments: Just over the past two years we've seen this huge number of Chechen refugees trying to get to Europe. And European countries won't give them visas. They don't want to let them in. [European officials] were saying, actually, that Chechnya is a peaceful region, that there is no war there, everything is good, that life is OK, and so [the refugees] should go back. Now, after this story, nobody is saying this anymore.

VOA: How are gay people living today in Chechnya now? Those who didn't escape?

EM: They're in hiding. They trust no one, and it's very hard to convince them to contact the hotline we arranged for victims. They're terrified, and I think they're still in grave danger. When Chechen authorities decide to do something, they will do it no matter what. So, if they decide to cleanse Chechen society of gays, they will do it, and nobody can push them not to do this. Even if they're stopped, [Chechen authorities] will wait for a while, then start again. There is a big threat for Chechen gays, and the Chechen gays understand this. That's why a lot of them call us for help, but still there are a lot of gay Chechens in hiding who trust nobody but themselves, who try to manage their problems alone.

VOA: Many people outside Chechnya, accurately or not, still think of Chechnya as only a breeding ground for radical Islamist militants. Some critics of Kadyrov have said he abuses the counterterror mandate to attack anyone he chooses. But does domestic terrorism remain a problem, or is it time to look at this from a different angle?

EM: I would say that this cliche is coming away because the level of terroristic threats have been coming down for the whole North Caucasus region, and we have far fewer attacks than we used to have. And now a lot of Russians are scared of Chechen people, because it's the Russian opinion that Chechens can do anything and get away with it. For Russian society, this is scarier than terrorism.

VOA: You've seen many horrifying stories in Chechnya over the past 12 years  people disappearing, people tortured, families torn apart. As such, did this story still shock you?

EM: For me, it doesn't matter if the person is gay or suspected of being a terrorist or a Salafist or a drug user. I see them all equally because, in Chechnya, all those people can be illegally detained, tortured, even killed. I see how this situation is developing. For me, the attacks on gays by Chechen authorities is a logical end to the culture of impunity. When a lot of other Chechens were detained, tortured, killed  the world was silent. But this crime is something special. We've never had this in Russian history; we've never had this in the history of Russian-Chechen relations  during two wars, even. This is a crime against humanity. Because this was sanctioned by authorities, because it was produced by Chechen police, and because of the motive  that the only guilt of these people is that they are gay  it is an absolutely textbook definition of a crime against humanity. And I don't think Russian authorities understood this from the beginning, but now they're starting to realize that if they won't do anything about this, they are implicitly covering up crimes against humanity. And, if that's the case, nobody can know what's next in Chechnya. As I said, it was a logical, step-by-step situation development in Chechnya. It went from targeting anyone suspected of being terrorists to targeting gays.

VOA: Do you see other groups or minorities being threatened?

EM: It depends on Ramzan Kadyrov, whatever or whomever he would like to target next. If he decides it's Chechen lesbians, then we'll have a campaign against Chechen lesbians. If he decides tomorrow that the target is children whose drawings offend him. ... Anything can be a target, because only one man is deciding. That is the problem of Chechnya. One man can order his police or his army to take, detain and torture people  and for what? For whatever he deems harmful to Chechen traditions.

VOA: About your personal safety: Have things improved? Can you work or even go out in the open?

EM: The problem is that no matter what President Vladimir Putin might tell Ramzan Kadyrov about stopping aggressive behavior toward journalists, we're not sure whether Kadyrov would obey, because of his impunity. So we're not sure about our safety, because we're not sure if [Kadyrov is] even under control. That's why we're deciding to take security measures. I actually moved out of the country for a while. I will definitely continue developing this story on gays in Chechnya, and we'll continue our work covering Chechnya, but we're taking measures.
Malaysian authorities said Monday that they have seized 330 exotic tortoises from Madagascar worth 1.2 million ringgit ($276,721), in the latest heist of illegal wildlife and animal parts being smuggled into the country.

Deputy customs director Abdull Wahid Sulong said that 325 Indian Star tortoises and five Ploughshare tortoises were packed into five boxes and labeled as stones. He said the live tortoises, usually kept as pets, arrived via Etihad Airways from Antanaviro Airport in Madagascar on Sunday.

Customs officials found the boxes at the Kuala Lumpur airport cargo warehouse on the same day based on a tip, Abdull Wahid said.

The import of exotic tortoises requires a special permit from Malaysia's Wildlife Department. No arrests were made and the case is still under investigation, Abdull Wahid said.

Two weeks ago, airport customs officials seized African pangolin scales worth $2.1 million at the airport cargo warehouse. Last month, they confiscated 18 rhino horns worth $3.1 million believed to have been flown in from Mozambique and declared as art objects.
The head of the U.S. Pacific Command warned Wednesday that the combination of ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads in the hands of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un represents "a recipe for disaster."

Speaking at an event in Tokyo, Admiral Harry Harris Jr. said every test North Korea carries out brings it a step closer to the ability to launch nuclear-tipped missiles.

"I must assume that Kim Jong Un's claims are true, because I know his aspirations certainly are," Harris said. "So I take him at his word ... and that should provide all of us with a sense of urgency to address this problem now."

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations told countries Tuesday that they must join the effort to prevent North Korea from getting a nuclear weapon, warning they could face sanctions themselves if they help the rogue state achieve nuclearization.

Nikki Haley spoke ahead of a closed meeting of the U.N. Security Council called by the U.S. and council member Japan, along with South Korea, to discuss Pyongyang's latest illicit ballistic missile launch.

"You either support North Korea or you support us, because that's what it comes down to," Haley told reporters.

Speaking of the enforcement of international sanctions, she added this warning: "The United States is not past looking at third-country entities who are helping North Korea, and putting sanctions on them, because if you are supporting North Korea, you are against the rest of the international community."

Council members met Tuesday following Pyongyang's May 14 launch of a mid- to long-range missile that traveled 800 kilometers before landing in the sea west of Japan.

Strong condemnation

It was North Korea's second missile test in as many weeks, and came just four days after Moon Jae-in took office as president of South Korea.

"Obviously, Pyongyang, with this missile launch, Pyongyang tried to test the resolve of the new government in its pursuit of denuclearization of North Korea," Seoul's U.N. Ambassador Cho Tae-yul told reporters.

He said South Korea's new leader had been clear that his government would respond to North Korean provocations and would consider dialogue only if and when there was a change in the North's behavior.

In a statement Monday evening, Security Council members "strongly condemned" both of the recent missile launches and expressed their "utmost concern" over North Korea's "highly destabilizing behavior and flagrant and provocative defiance of the Security Council."

North Korea's Foreign Ministry rejected the statement, saying it called into question the country's nuclear deterrence for self-defense purposes.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the launch, saying it violated Security Council resolutions and was a threat to peace and security in the region. He urged Pyongyang to ensure full compliance with its international obligations and return to the path of denuclearization.

"We need to put further pressure on North Korea to make them feel that they have to change course," Japan's U.N. envoy Koro Bessho told reporters.

Sanctions expected

Many are expecting additional and stronger international sanctions. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson directly called on the international community to act before North Korea carries out a more serious provocation and to impose new sanctions. Washington and Beijing have been discussing possible measures, but it did not appear that a new resolution is imminent.

"China was really working with us in terms of tightening the sanctions, in terms of what they were saying to North Korea in trying to convince them," Haley said. "We have not seen anything from them in the past week, but we are encouraging them to continue moving forward."

The U.N. Security Council has imposed several rounds of increasingly harsh, targeted sanctions on North Korea since 2006. The last round, imposed in November 2016, took three months to negotiate.
A 16-year-old HIV-positive Kenyan girl whose mother died from AIDS-related complications recounts her experiences Feb. 16, 2015, at a center run by a Kenyan nongovernmental organization in the Korogocho slum neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya. (Ben Curtis/AP)

A Trump administration order took effect this week barring U.S. aid for global health organizations that discuss or provide referrals for abortion. But the new policy put another program in the crosshairs: Americas global HIV/AIDS effort.

Since 2003, the U.S. government has spent more than $70 billion to combat the global epidemic, with tremendous results. The annual number of AIDS-related deaths has fallen by more than 40 percent. Under President Trumps expansion of the so-called global gag rule, however, many HIV/AIDS organizations funded by the United States stand to lose their funding, putting at risk the possibility of eliminating the epidemic by 2030, a commitment established at the U.N. General Assembly last year. About $6 billion in U.S. HIV/AIDS funding could be affected.

Reaching those ambitious targets could now be placed in real jeopardy, said Divya Bajpai, the director of programs at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.

HIV/AIDS organizations could lose their U.S. funding not because they provide abortions, but because they offer counseling that includes the mention of abortion, or a referral to an abortion provider. The health organizations  most of which are in Africa, the region most affected by AIDS  will be able to keep their U.S. assistance only if they agree not to mention abortion services to their patients.

Past Republican presidents implemented versions of the global gag rule, but they affected only about $600 million in family-planning funds and did not apply to groups fighting HIV/AIDS. President George W. Bush, whose administration launched the multibillion-dollar Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), is credited across much of Africa for his role in tackling the epidemic.

(Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

The International HIV/AIDS Alliance, which consists of 32 local organizations, offers a window into how the new policy will play out. The alliance receives a total of $130 million in annual funding  20 percent of which comes from the United States. Each of the alliances members will now have to decide whether to keep its U.S. assistance by cutting any mention of abortion from its services.

This is going to drive girls and young women away from treatment, said Bajpai.

Thanks in large part to U.S. funding, hundreds of community health organizations treating HIV/AIDS have emerged across the developing world. Many of them, such as Family Health Options Kenya, offer a range of services, from antiretroviral treatment to contraceptive distribution and abortion counseling.

With 17 locations, Family Health Options Kenya treats hundreds of HIV-positive women in some of the most remote parts of the country. But nearly half of its $400,000 budget comes from the United States. Already, the organization is trying to decide which services to cut and which locations to close.

We are being forced to reduce our operations, said Amos Simpano, the executive director for clinical services. That means women wont have access to services. And for those on antiretrovirals, what will happen to them? Will they die?

Simpano says the organization has tried to look for a new funding stream, but without success.

Theres a lot of pressure on us now, he said.

Experts say Trumps policy could especially affect girls and young women, who are now the most likely people to contract the disease. Girls and young women account for 74 percent of new HIV infections among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, according to PEPFARs fact sheet.

Some of those girls and young women contract the disease after a violent sexual encounter, which in some cases also results in an unwanted pregnancy. A recent United Nations study said that in some regions, women who had experienced physical or sexual abuse by their partners were 1.5 times more likely to acquire the disease than those who had not.

The Trump administration has said that the new policy does not ban referrals for ending a pregnancy caused by rape or incest.

The Trump administration is dead set on denying women the benefit of scientific evidence that shows for highest impact, HIV treatment and prevention should be delivered alongside sexual and reproductive health services, said Asia Russell, the executive director of Health GAP, a group that campaigns for access to HIV/AIDS treatment.

The administration has named the expanded policy Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance. Officials said they dont expect the overall amount of health assistance to decline but that funding would be redirected to other organizations offering similar health services.

This executive order does not cut a single penny from U.S. aid; rather, it simply ensures our hard-earned tax dollars are used by other health-care entities that act consistently to save lives, rather than promoting and performing abortion. Abortion is not health care, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which backs politicians who oppose abortion.

But given the rural environments in which many health organizations operate in Africa  where there is often only one HIV/AIDS treatment provider in a particular place  its unclear how existing providers would be easily replaced.

Read more:

How teen moms in Nigeria could wind up hurt by Trumps U.N. cuts

Tanzania suspends U.S.-funded AIDS programs in a new crackdown on gays

The mythology of how the AIDS virus traveled to the U.S. is all wrong

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Two centuries ago, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was, with the possible exception of Lord Byron, the most famous writer of his time. His 1774 short novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther  about a poetical young man whose unrequited passion for a married woman ends in suicide  had swept across Europe, elevating its youthful author into a cultural celebrity. Napoleon, no less, claimed to have read it seven times. Yet Goethe was even more accomplished as a poet. Just think of his chilling ballad Der Erlkonig (The Erl-King), the limpidly beautiful Heidenroslein, (Heather Rose) or Gretchen am Spinnrade (Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel)  all of which provided the texts for some of Schuberts most beautiful lieder. Not least, Goethes verse drama Faust  in which a Renaissance magus sells his soul to the devil  stands high among the worlds classics.

"Goethe: Life as a Work of Art," by Rudiger Safranski and David Dollenmayer (Liveright)

Needless to say, all this sounds very impressive, but is Goethe still read outside of an ever-diminishing number of college courses in German literature? I suspect he isnt, which is why I hoped Rudiger Safranskis Goethe: Life as a Work of Art might re-introduce this great writer to American readers. Alas, the book, though excellent in its way, wont do that. Safranski  the author of biographies of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche , and a philosopher himself  focuses on Goethes evolution as a thinker and artist at the expense of narrative excitement and anecdote. Given how little of the Germans work most Americans have read, we dont really need analysis so much as enthusiastic cheerleading.

[The Same Old Story is anything but]

In the past W.H. Auden  who himself aspired to be a minor Atlantic Goethe  championed this last universal genius in several characteristically brilliant essays. More recently, the scholar-critic Edward Mendelson declared that Goethes capacious imagination can be likened to that of Dante and Shakespeare. At least James Joyce would agree with this judgment, since he links the trio together as Daunty, Gouty and Shopkeeper in Finnegans Wake. Nonetheless, when you finish Safranskis pages on, say, Wilhelm Meisters Apprenticeship, you will certainly understand this novel better if youve already read it, but if you havent, you probably wont be eagerly rushing out to find a copy (ideally in the translation by my one-time teacher Eric Blackall ). I dont know if much can be done for Goethes poetry, which tends to sound flat and rather bland in English, though translator David Dollenmayer does his best.

Is this ambitious book, then, a failure? Not at all. Neophytes will certainly be bored, yet Goethe aficionados will learn a lot. As his subtitle indicates, Safranski argues that Goethe approached his life as a work of art, requiring that any experience further his personal growth and development. You didnt think he kept chasing women just for the fun of it, did you? Other important experiences included pietism, a fascination with alchemy, Shakespeares plays, helping govern the small duchy of Weimar, studying nature, exploring the science of color, travel in Italy, philosophical and political discussions with contemporaries (including Herder and Schiller), working in the theater and, of course, wide reading and constant writing.

For this polymath, art was never limited to copying reality, but could instead function as a thought experiment, a form of self-realization. As Safranski stresses, to Goethe art creates a new nature: an artificial, incomparable, original, and surprising nature. It has no need to measure itself against what already exists, but should be judged according to its own inner truth. Thus Goethe opposes the principle of imitation of nature with the principle of creative expression.

[Can a chic Parisian intellectual also be a Christian?]

In a characteristically insightful discussion of The Sorrows of Young Werther Safranski points out that it is not the pain of love but rather Lebensekel  revulsion at or weariness of living  that is at the center of the novel. This taedium vitae, he explains, grows out of Werthers reading: The soulful proto-Romantic mediates the world through books rather than taking part directly in life. Among others, Don Quixote and Madame Bovary famously suffered from this same malady, but its only a myth that Werther itself inspired an epidemic of copy-cat suicides.

While the young Goethe was handsome, charismatic, sentimental and callous, the older Sage of Weimar all too often resembles a statue of himself: Even Safranski speaks of his being encased in political frost. Yet Goethes actual work  whatever the authors age  tends to be more thrilling than it is given credit for. Take the stirring lines  borrowed from his play Egmont with which he closes his autobiography, Truth and Poetry : As if lashed by invisible spirits, the solar horses of time bolt off with our fates flimsy wagon, and there is nothing left for us but to calmly and bravely keep hold of the reins and steer the wheels clear of a stone on the right, a precipice on the left. Where are we going? Who knows? We hardly know whence weve come.

Let me end with a recommendation. If youve never read Goethe, try his novel Elective Affinities. This is an elegant book, with something of the stylized formality of a baroque opera or one of Watteaus paintings of a fete galante. In it a middle-aged couple, Eduard and Charlotte, invite their friend the Captain and Charlottes young niece Ottilie to visit them on their estate. In due course, Charlotte and the Captain are drawn to each other, even as Eduard and Ottilie fall deeply in love. Because they are all good and kindly people, each tries to do the right thing  with ultimately tragic results. To me, Elective Affinities ranks with Theodor Fontanes Effi Briest as the finest German novel of the 19th century. There are admirable translations by R.J. Hollingdale and David Constantine, though my favorite is that by Elizabeth Mayer and Louise Bogan .

Michael Dirda reviews books on Thursday for Style.
Malachy McCourt is not a goner. Not yet, anyway, but he sees the writing on the funeral home wall. All six of his siblings  including brother Frank, the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angelas Ashes  have died. Many good friends, too. As a member of a species that has a 100 percent mortality rate, he knows that his final exit is just a little ways around the bend.

In Ireland, they say were in the departure lounge, says the 85-year-old actor, writer, onetime Green Party candidate for governor of New York and full-time Irish American raconteur. McCourt is on the phone from his home in Manhattan talking about his new book, Death Need Not Be Fatal, and the end of living is very much on his mind.

Death Need Not Be Fatal, by Malachy McCourt and Brian McDonald (Center Street )

Im quite blase about it, he says of dying, and you can hear the smile in his lilting Irish accent as he explains how he talks about death with his family and friends. I just tell them that Im going to head off and that Ill go to sleep. And I tell them dont be expecting me to go to heaven and intercede for them. I have no hope of heaven nor fear of hell, so Im all set.

Raised Catholic, McCourt is now a devout atheist whos ready to make the leap into the great unknown without worrying what it will bring. Perhaps death doesnt scare him because hes seen so much of it.

Born in Brooklyn, McCourt moved with his family to Limerick, Ireland, following the death of his baby sister, Margaret Mary. He was just 3 at the time. By the time he was 10, his younger twin brothers, Eugene and Oliver, would also be dead. As would 11 other school pals between the ages of 6 and 10.

It was common then, he says. Death was part of the deal.

McCourt skirted death, dropped out of school, returned to New York at age 20 and moved on to drinking. He held many jobs along the way  coal shoveler, dishwasher, concrete inspector, longshoreman, actor, barkeep  but for decades, boozing was his profession. He describes those 30 years as an alcoholic tornado and a period of great hilarity, great sadness, and the occasional suicidal thought.

The alcohol fueled many nights of fun and games. He was acting on soap operas at the time and a regular guest on talk shows where his stories were a hit and being liquored up wasnt a problem. But the drinking also cost him relationships, helped wreck his first marriage and kept him from addressing deeper, darker issues, including anger at the Catholic church and his father for leaving his family destitute in the slums of Limerick.

[Forging friendships in the ring: A Belfast-Beltway boxing connection]

The drinking didnt help him forget, and it didnt lessen the pain. Drinking alcohol because youre mad at someone, he writes, is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die.

But when the pain cuts too sharp, McCourt returns to the twin balms the Irish have relied on forever: laughter and song. A wake in book form, his new memoir, written with Brian McDonald, is chock-full of lyrics and verses from McCourts favorite songs and poems as well as tales that may or may not be true, but are quite funny even when  maybe, especially when  they deal with death.

McCourt recounts visiting his mother, Angela, in 1981 as she lay dying in her hospital bed. They had not discussed funeral arrangements, so he broached the subject. Her response was magnificent.

When I asked if she wanted to be buried or cremated, she said, Surprise me. 

The author Malachy McCourt (Vincent Remini)

For more deep thoughts on death, he quotes the English comedian Bob Monkhouse, who said, I want to die like my father, peacefully in his sleep, not screaming and terrified, like his passengers.

McCourt has already written two rollicking memoirs, A Monk Swimming and Singing Him My Song, so Death Need Not Be Fatal feels like the completion of an unholy trilogy. Hes catching up and setting the record straight. He devotes a chapter to his brother Frank, and you can still feel his loss. But more than anything, McCourt conveys a sense of peace.

He has survived cancer, has hearing loss, suffers from a muscular disease that has severely restricted his mobility and still battles depression. But he stopped drinking in 1985. He writes adoringly about his wife of more than 50 years, Diana. He has four children and a gaggle of grandchildren. He is letting go of resentments and old grudges.

Each day I try to do something kind for someone else, McCourt writes. And I believe in what Oscar Wilde said: Always forgive your enemies; it annoys them. 

Asked whether he had a suggestion for the first line of his obituary, McCourt responds with a delighted chuckle.

He made us laugh, he said.

Joe Heim is a staff writer for the Metro section. He also writes Just Asking, a weekly Q&A column in the Sunday magazine.
To their sleek and strikingly conceived mounting of Timon of Athens, one of Shakespeares more curious creations, director Robert Richmond and his star, Ian Merrill Peakes, add an intriguing indicator of human frailty: Timon, one of the richest men in the city, is a germaphobe.

This could have seemed a gimmick, but it becomes more meaningful. Peakess Timon recoils from the embraces of the painters and merchants and poets who greet him in the initial scenes of Folger Theatres estimable modern-dress production  an early warning that something about this mans relationship to his lavish world is off. I am wealthy in my friends, the standoffish Timon declares. Given his inability to shake hands with his supposedly beloved intimates, the notion of a man out of touch with the society in which he holds financial sway acquires immediate currency.

Only in the aftermath of Timons downfall, when the extreme generosity he has shown has led to fiscal ruin, is he able to open his arms and make physical contact with a true and loyal friend. Though Timons story takes him from a spirit of largesse to abject nihilism  a bitterness never completely explained by the text  his transformation is recognizably Shakespearean. Humbled, as Lear is, by the stripping away of privilege, Timon is failed by his swagger, and hes forced to confront the stark, existential isolation that haunts us all.

Richmond, who has emerged, along with Aaron Posner, as an unofficial house director at Folger, carves a compelling path through the thicket of Timon, a play rarely thought of as among Shakespeares best and sometimes described as unfinished or at least in need of one more draft. You see the point, in the one-dimensional secondary characters, the choppy verse and the suddenness of Timons shift, from his position of influence and security in Athens to his self-imposed exile, during which he spews bile at the world and contemplates his own annihilation.

Folger is going to some lengths here to expose an audience with a refined appreciation for the classics  does any other U.S. city sustain, with Folger and Shakespeare Theatre Company, two such intellectually weighty Shakespeare theaters?  to works they dont ordinarily get to see. Supporting these efforts is important to keeping viable the rigorous exploration of Shakespeares craft in its entirety. And when presented with this degree of thought, that support becomes even more essential.

Antoinette Robinson, foreground left, and Michael Dix Thomas, foreground right, with other cast members in Timon of Athens. (Teresa Wood)

[Dumbing down Shakespeare: Are Americans too intellectually lazy to appreciate his genius?]

The personality tics assigned here to a profligate man who flirts with bankruptcy may remind you of a figure out of our contemporary public life. But the associations here are less political than philosophical, an idea embodied in the character of Apemantus, played by a suitably caustic Eric Hissom, who emerges from recesses in Tony Ciseks futuristic set to reinforce Timons darkest misgivings.

Why does Timon throw it all away? Dont expect an answer. The plot of Timon is fairly straightforward: the fable of a man at two radically opposite interludes, first when he has everything, and then nothing. A slim subplot, concerning a celebrated military officer, Maboud Ebrahimzadehs Alcibiades, who is himself banished from decadent Athens, feels insubstantial and contributes to the sense of a play in a raw state. Still, Richmond helps us see the connection between Shakespeares world and ours, with a portrait of Athens as a city of the near-future, obsessed with money  a theme reflected in the projections by Francesca Talenti of gold coins careening across a screen like a news zipper. Whats in your wallet, it seems, is the only news you need.

The plays single-mindedness is frustrating: You find yourself wondering what else makes this guy tick, and, clearly, that occurred to Richmond and Peakes as well. In lieu of galvanizing exposition, the director smartly adds some Dickensian flourishes to the production: Timons friends, gathering around him and brandishing forks and knives, the better to feed off his misguided philanthropy; later, after theyve bled him, bill collectors mass at his gates, waving their paper payment demands like a flock of vultures.

It takes an actor of Peakess declamatory resourcefulness to keep us fully engaged. He recently added dramatic heft to Shakespeare Theatres presentation of Mike Bartletts King Charles III, playing a wily prime minister, and over the years he has anchored with magnetism such Folger offerings as Macbeth, Othello and Measure for Measure. His Timon is another notable achievement. He summons here all the necessary reserves of bravado and anguish. The neurotic disorders Peakes applies to the character  for good measure, he tosses in a hint of obsessive-compulsive behavior  set us up convincingly for the plays pitiable outcome: This is a man whose long-standing private suffering has become public.

And yet, his motives and reactions remain enigmatic. Ultimately, Folgers impressive attempt to unravel Timons downward spiral ensnares us all in a plays eternal mystery.

Timon of Athens, by William Shakespeare. Directed by Robert Richmond. Set, Tony Cisek; costumes, Mariah Hale; lighting, Andrew F. Griffin; sound, Matt Otto; projections, Francesca Talenti. With Antoinette Robinson, Louis Butelli, Sean Fri, Kathryn Tkel, John Floyd, Andhy Mendez and Michael Dix Thomas. About two hours. Tickets: $35-$75. Through June 11 at Folger Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu/theatre.
Even the reporters who are supposed to like the Trump administration are grumbling about the Trump administration these days.

The frustration among conservative media outlets, which cheered for Donald Trump on the campaign trail, has nothing to do with the scandals and policy setbacks engulfing the president. Instead, they say they have become second-class citizens in their access and connections to the president and his closest aides.

Several are upset that big interviews and big scoops have gone to the mainstream news media. And some of the biggest have gone to the New York Times and NBC News, outlets Trump has branded enemies of the American people.

The liberal mainstream media has gotten the big chunks of meat, said a reporter for a conservative news organization. He added, Its infuriating to read [a mainstream news story] and see that theyre talking to them and not us. Theyve forgotten who got them here.

The complaints come at a time when the mainstream media  particularly The Washington Post and New York Times  has delivered stories that have plunged the White House into its most serious turmoil to date. And its another knock against White House press secretary Sean Spicer, whose job security has been questioned over the past week. (Spicer and White House communications director Michael Dubke are the main gatekeepers who determine who gets to interview the president.) Trump reportedly is considering a shakeup in his communications staff; on Tuesday, Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle said she has been interviewed for Spicers job.

(Erin Patrick O'Connor/The Washington Post)

[Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle is openly gunning for Sean Spicers job]

But the griping is also surprising in light of the unprecedented efforts Spicer and other White House officials have made to accommodate Trump-centric media organizations since he took office.

Trump himself has given interviews to such Trump-friendly outlets as Breitbart News, the Christian Broadcasting Network , the Washington Examiner and several to Fox News since the inauguration. The White House has also given press credentials to right-leaning hoax-peddlers like Gateway Pundit and enabled conservative talk-show hosts to ask questions via Skype during daily press briefings.

Not good enough, say several conservative journalists, who commented for this article on condition of anonymity to avoid damaging their relationships with the White House.

Theres still this outsize focus on trying to work with the establishment media, said an editor of a conservative journal. The people who gave Trump 306 electoral votes arent reading The Washington Post or watching CNN. Theyre reading Breitbart, the Daily Caller, listening to [Laura] Ingraham and watching Fox News. I think they run a risk [with Trumps core supporters] by keeping the conservative media at arms length.

The journalists took umbrage when Trump ignored them to call New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman and Washington Post reporter Robert Costa to comment on a failed effort to pass a health-care bill in March. They also said Trumps top advisers, chief of staff Reince Preibus and chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, gave a rare joint interview to New York magazine in February, but have offered nothing similar to them. (Bannon is the former chairman of Breitbart News.)

[Passage of the GOP health-care bill is earning mixed reviews in the conservative media]

One reporter noted that Trump has spoken to four of the five outlets (ABC, CBS, NBC and the New York Times) that he declared enemies of the American people in a notorious tweet in mid-February. They call the establishment media the opposition party, he said, but they dont act like it.

Last week, Trump gave interviews to NBC and Time magazine, again ignoring the conservative media. This makes him look like a Manhattan snob, the reporter said. Those big New York-D.C. media people dont play in the red states.

The frustration among conservative journalists has grown to the point that there has been talk among them of breaking away from the venerable White House Correspondents Association to form an organization of their own that would lobby officials for access.

Spicer and his top deputy, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not return a request for comment Tuesday.

Several reporters are still sore about the last official White House outreach to the conservative press in late April.

During a White House reception featuring Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross with about 30 editors, reporters and commentators, officials asked journalists to surrender their phones and declared that the meeting was on background. That meant comments could not be attributed to specific speakers.

Afterward, press staffers told the journalists that Trumps remarks were on the record. But by then many in the group hadnt taken notes or recorded the remarks, leaving them unable to render specific quotes. Whats more, given the broad guestlist, no one had an exclusive on anything.

They treated us like children, said one journalist who attended.

In some respects, Trumps strategy of playing to the mainstream media shouldnt surprise anyone, said the editor of another conservative website, who expressed less frustration with the White House.

The New York Times was the respected hometown newspaper during his salad days as a New York developer, he noted, and Time magazine was the gold standard when newsweeklies were prominent and prestigious. The TV networks were the biggest players of all, he said.

The media he cares about is the media he reads and sees, said this editor. Theres a disconnect there between him and his staff. He wants to do the media he watches or reads. His staff has a different strategy at times.

Several conservative journalists offered differing opinions on whether theyd like to see Spicer stay on the job. But they seem to agree on one thing:

At the end of the day, all we want is a seat at table, said one. We think weve earned it.
On Tuesday, President Trump warmly welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House.

Just hours later, we found out that Trump would like to put reporters in jail.

Theres a connection here. And its not good news for Americas journalists or the citizens who depend on them to hold their government accountable.

Both as a candidate and as president, Trump has shown no regard for the role of a free press in a democracy.

New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet told me he found appalling Trumps suggestion (which surfaced in a leaked memo from former FBI director James B. Comey), but not entirely surprising.

(Erin Patrick O'Connor/The Washington Post)

He doesnt understand our role. He wants Fox & Friends coverage instead, Baquet said.

So Trumps embrace of Erdogan  who may be the leading jailer of journalists in the world  should come as no surprise. The same goes for his regard for the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin or Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, clear enemies of a free press in their countries.

The lack of criticism from the Trump administration about Turkeys human rights and journalistic abuses sends a bad signal to the rest of the world, said Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron.

Whats happening in Turkey is just outrageous, Baron said. They hardly have an independent press. There are hundreds of journalists in jail at this moment.

The news about Trumps wish to jail journalists came in a New York Times report based on conversations with former associates of the fired FBI director. Its exactly the kind of story Trump would like to stamp out, along with Mondays Washington Post piece that Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador. (The two papers have been answering each others major scoops like smitten teens volleying text messages.)

Those who think that reporters cant be jailed in America for doing their jobs may be wrong, said Geoffrey R. Stone, the University of Chicago law professor who wrote Perilous Times: Free Speech in Wartime.

The law seems clear enough on leakers themselves; in many cases, especially during the Obama administration, they have been successfully prosecuted. (Chelsea Mannings 35-year prison sentence testified to that; the former Army intelligence analyst was released Wednesday after seven years because President Barack Obama commuted her sentence.)

And, on the other end of the spectrum, Stone said, news organizations that publish leaked information seem to be safe. The Pentagon Papers case, which torpedoed prior restraint, remains a pretty strong precedent.

But, in between leakers and publications are the reporters themselves. There, the legal lines are far less clearly drawn.

The law is not clearly resolved for the journalist who actively encourages the leak, Stone told me. Thats a case the court has not addressed. And thats just where Trump seems to want to go.

Baquet made the case for exactly the kind of journalism the president wants to punish.

The biggest and most important stories of recent years wouldnt have been done without classified leaks, he said. One example is the expansion of Americas drone warfare in Yemen and Pakistan; another is the U.S. governments widespread surveillance of its own citizens.

These are not even debatable as things the American people need to know, Baquet said.

Imprisoning journalists is not unheard of in America. New York Times reporter Judith Miller was jailed in 2005 for refusing to reveal a confidential source. And the Times James Risen was threatened with jail during the Obama administration for his refusal to testify about a government employee who was under investigation.

But what Trump talked about would take things to a whole new level. His administration apparently wants to use the Espionage Act not just to go after leakers but to directly prosecute journalists. The 1917 law, once obscure, is so broadly worded that it might well serve the purpose.

Trumps attorney general, Jeff Sessions, refused to pledge during his Senate confirmation hearing that he wouldnt pursue journalists for doing their job. And the Justice Department has made it clear that it wants to go after Julian Assange of WikiLeaks  a successful prosecution there might make the next ones much easier.

That, said Baron, could shut down a fair amount of accountability journalism: It would take the government into very new territory.

Would the current Justice Department really follow through on Trumps expressed desire?

Hardly out of the question.

Hopefully, its typical gibberish, Stone said of Trumps comments to Comey. But its so unpredictable. Would they really bring that prosecution? I can imagine these characters doing that.

We need journalism to break through government secrecy and inform citizens. Punishing reporters has no place in a country that calls itself a democracy.

But as far too many Turkish journalists could tell you, it can be done.

For more by Margaret Sullivan visit wapo.st/sullivan
Anne Arundel County

The following were among incidents reported by the Anne Arundel County police. For information, call 410-222-8050.

HANOVER AREA

ROBBERIES

Arundel Mills Cir., 1:05 a.m. May 8. A man in the parking lot of a casino grabbed a mans wallet while he was talking on his cellphone. A Norfolk man, 27, was charged with robbery.

ODENTON AREA

HOME INVASION

Retreat Ct., 3:46 p.m. May 8. Two armed males entered a home, stole cash, and fled.

Annapolis

These were among incidents reported by the Annapolis Police Department. For information, call 410-268-9000.

ROBBERIES

Bay Ridge Ave., 1000 block, 8:40 p.m. May 9. A masked male entered a business and demanded cash. He grabbed an employees arm. When another employee began screaming, the male fled.

Heritage Ct., 3:40 a.m. May 5. Four men punched another man and stole cash from his pocket.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Cedar Ridge Ct., 1000 block, 7 p.m. May 9 to 7:20 a.m. May 10. Two duffel bags were stolen from a vehicle, and a wallet was stolen from another vehicle in the area.

Clay St., 1 p.m. April 28 to 1 p.m. May 4. Cash, electronic devices, watches and clothes were stolen from a home.

Conley Dr., 100 block, 2 a.m. May 7. A woman entered a home and refused to leave. An Annapolis woman, 31, was charged with fourth-degree burglary, trespassing, carrying an open container, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Hilltop Lane, 10 p.m. May 8 to 7 a.m. May 9. A cellphone charger was stolen from an unlocked vehicle.

Hilltop Lane, 400 block, 6:30 p.m. May 9 to 7 a.m. May 10. A girls bicycle was stolen from a yard at a home.

Madison St., 1100 block, 3:30 p.m. May 7 to midnight May 8. Cash and prescription medication were stolen from a vehicle.

Spa Creek Landing, 7 p.m. May 7 to 7 a.m. May 8. Two laptop computers were stolen from two unlocked vehicles.

State St., 300 block, noon, May 5 to 9 a.m. May 7. Three pairs of sunglasses were stolen from an unlocked vehicle.

West St., 8 to 8:15 p.m. May 5. A vintage bicycle was stolen from a outside a business.

West St., 3 to 7 a.m. May 7. Musical instruments were stolen from a trailer. Two guitars were found later in the day in duffle bag in the 400 block of South Cherry Grove Avenue.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Bens Dr., 9 p.m. May 3 to 5 a.m. May 4. A vehicle was stolen and recovered later in the day in the 900 block of Royal Street.

WEAPONS

Madison St., 1100 block, 10:55 p.m. May 9. Officers responded to reports of gunfire; no suspects or victims were found.

Howard County

These were among incidents reported by the Howard County Police Department. For information, call 410-313-2236.

COLUMBIA AREA

ROBBERIES

Centre Park Dr., 8800 block, 4:50 a.m. May 3. Two armed males entered a gas station and stole a wallet from a man.

Columbia 100 Pkwy., 8900 block, 11:47 a.m. May 5. Two armed males with their faces partially covered stole cash and prescription medication from a pharmacy.

Snowden River Pkwy., 8200 block, 2:29 a.m. May 3. Two armed males with their faces partially covered stole cash and cigarettes from a gas station.

Twilight Ct., 7500 block, 11:09 p.m. May 7. During a meeting arranged through an online classified ad, a male assaulted another man and stole a cellphone and bag.

Twin Knolls Rd., 5500 block, 12:35 p.m. May 3. Two armed males stole a bag from a man leaving a store.

Twin Rivers Rd., 10400 block, 8:50 p.m. May 4. A man assaulted another man and stole cash.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Columbia Gateway Dr., 6700 block, 11:58 p.m. May 4. A man was found in a business. A Baltimore man, 26, was charged with burglary, destruction of property and trespassing.

Stevens Forest Rd., 5600 block, 10 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. May 5. Electronic devices and a dog were stolen from a home.

Stonegate Lane, 11700 block, and New Country Lane, 11800 block, 10:42 p.m. May 2. A man broke into a vehicle. A Gwynn Oak man, 26, was charged with rogue and vagabond, An investigation was ongoing as to whether the man committed thefts from other vehicles in the area.

Tricross Dr., 5600 block, 5:39 p.m. May 9. A window at a home was pried open; entry was not gained.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Cloudleap Ct., 8700 block, May 2-3. A 2014 Chevrolet Camaro was stolen.

Flowerstuff Ct., 5100 block, 8:09 a.m. May 2. A 2016 Hyundai Sonata was stolen.

ELKRIDGE AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Greenfield Rd., 6200 block, 8:17 p.m. May 2. A television and other items were stolen from a garage.

Old Waterloo Rd., 7100 block, 1:55 a.m. May 3. Locks were cut on multiple storage units at a storage facility; it was unclear whether anything was stolen.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Troy Hill Dr., 7000 block, 5:17 p.m. May 6. A tow truck was stolen.

ELLICOTT CITY AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Baltimore National Pike, May 6 to 7. A 4-month-old husky mix was stolen from a cat-and-dog rescue facility.

Centennial Lane, 4600 block, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. May 6. A concession stand door was pried open; nothing was reported stolen.

Millers Way Dr., 2800 block, May 2 to 3. A tablet was stolen from an unlocked vehicle in a garage. Clothing and sunglasses were stolen from a vehicle in a garage on the same street.

North Ridge Rd., 3300 block, 6:07 a.m. May 2. Cigarettes and alcohol were stolen from a wine and spirits business.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Town and Country Blvd., 8700 block, 6:32 a.m. May 2. A Dodge Challenger was stolen.

ARSON

W. Springs Dr., 3100 block, 12:18 p.m. May 6. Mail was set on fire in the stairwell of an apartment building. An Ellicott City male youth, 14, was charged with arson.

FULTON AREA

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Maple Lawn Blvd., 8100 block, 6:42 p.m. May 7. A 2009 Ford Fusion was stolen.

LAUREL AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Bourbon St., 9100 block, April 1 to May 9. A home was entered through a window; it was unclear whether anything was stolen.

Ice Crystal Dr., 8300 block, 4:36 a.m. May 4. Airbags were stolen from two vehicles.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Lady Slipper Ct., 9700 block, 6:52 p.m. May 5. A 1998 Mercedes Benz was stolen.

Washington Blvd., 10000 block, 1:41 p.m. May 8. A 2014 Honda Civic was stolen.

MOUNT AIRY AREA

INDECENT EXPOSURE

Old Frederick and Beetz Rd., 2:30 p.m. May 5. An male exposed himself on a road. A Mount Airy man, 35, was charged with indecent exposure.

WOODSTOCK AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Breezewood Dr., 10600 block, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 8. Coins were stolen from a home.
Kaya Henderson, left, talks about her time as the District of Columbias school chancellor, photographed in Mayor Muriel Bowsers office on June 29, 2016, in Washington, D.C. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Former D.C. Public Schools chancellor Kaya Henderson routinely helped well-connected parents  including two senior aides to Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D)  bend or break the rules of the Districts notoriously competitive school lottery to enroll their children at coveted schools, according to a confidential report obtained by The Washington Post.

The report, based on an investigation by the D.C. Inspector Generals Office, describes in remarkable detail how Henderson used her power as head of the school system to place the children of those with political clout at campuses they could not otherwise access through the random lottery, which every year leaves thousands of families on waiting lists for their desired schools.

Inspector General Daniel Lucas found that Henderson misused her authority by giving preferential treatment to seven of 10 people who requested special school placements for their children during the 2015 lottery season. The investigation did not examine the rest of Hendersons tenure from November 2010 to September 2016.

[Read the confidential inspector generals report obtained by The Post]

Henderson openly acknowledged in interviews with investigators that she gave special treatment to the children of government officials. Asked about the help she gave City Administrator Rashad M. Young, a top Bowser cabinet official whose salary is $295,000, Henderson said D.C. officials do not necessarily get paid as much as we should.

(Whitney Leaming/The Washington Post)

The former chancellor bestowed such favors even as she dismissed pleas for special consideration from those with less influence, such as a deaf Vietnamese immigrant whose request that her daughter be allowed to attend a school where she could practice sign language was rejected.

The findings could shake public confidence in the citys school lottery, which has been held up as a national model. It also raises troubling questions for Bowser, whose defense of her cabinet officials roles in the scandal is undercut by details in the report.

Henderson did not return calls requesting a comment. A nationally prominent educator, Henderson stepped down at the start of the current school year. She sits on the board of New York Citys Robin Hood Foundation and was recently named a superintendent in residence at the Broad Academy, a professional-development group funded by Los Angeles billionaire Eli Broad.

According to the report, she told investigators that she was thoughtful and judicious in her decisions and did not hand out the discretionary placements like candy.  Henderson said she understood the appearance of impropriety but believed she had the discretion to place any student in any DCPS school.

In an interview Wednesday, Bowser insisted that her top deputies did nothing wrong.

This is not an investigation of any parent, the mayor said. Where the inspector general was pointing to and we have recognized  and have acted  is on a system that is too loose and needs to be tightened up.

Bowsers office issued a 30-day moratorium on discretionary school transfers while Chancellor Antwan Wilson, Hendersons successor, crafts new rules. The mayor said that for starters, public officials and the chancellor will have to seek guidance from the citys ethics board before a discretionary placement is issued for a child of a public official.

(My School DC)

Now in its fourth year of operation, the Districts single, citywide school lottery offers parents a chance to win a spot in a school outside their neighborhood if it has unfilled seats.

[This is how the D.C. lottery is supposed to work]

In a city where the quality of public education varies wildly, the opportunity to switch schools is prized, particularly outside of a few areas west of Rock Creek Park and on Capitol Hill where residents are guaranteed access to high-performing neighborhood schools. The citys traditional public schools and most charter schools participate in the lottery.

The system  designed by a Nobel Prize-winning economist to level the playing field for families regardless of address, income or connections  is an annual ritual for families in the nations capital. Every spring, parents find themselves talking lottery numbers and waiting-list rankings; many walk away unsatisfied. More than 22,000 students entered the lottery this year, and about 13,000 ended up on a waiting list.

Under D.C. regulations, the schools chancellor has the power to place students directly into schools, regardless of their lottery results, but that authority is supposed to be limited to cases when it would be in the best interests of the student and promote the overall interests of the school system.

Lucas did not conclude that Henderson committed any crimes, but he said she violated guidelines and forwarded his findings to the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability for further action.

Investigators were focused on Henderson and did not address whether the public officials she helped had abused their positions.

The report does not name the parents who benefited from Hendersons VIP treatment. However, a former city official with knowledge of the school placements provided documents identifying four of them as Young, D.C. Deputy Mayor Courtney Snowden, former D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty and Roberto J. Rodriguez, who served in the White House as an education adviser to President Barack Obama. The former official provided the information on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.

Fenty and Rodriguez could not be reached to comment; Snowden and Young referred questions to the mayors office.

Lucas shared his confidential report with the mayor and D.C. Council members but has declined to make it public, arguing that doing so could jeopardize the privacy of the children involved.

The Post reported last week that Snowden was investigated concerning her sons placement at Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan, a DCPS school with a waiting list of more than 1,000 students. At a news conference last week, Bowser said that Snowden had not skirted any rules.

She also said that the inspector generals office had made a mistake in its apparent references to Young, who Bowser maintains had enrolled his children in school in 2015 through the normal lottery process without special favors.

According to the inspector general, Snowdens child was placed at the Capitol Hill school in a grade that had no open seats and despite the fact that he did not appear to have prior Montessori schooling  a requirement for admission. The placement was made in a matter of hours after Henderson sent a note to her chief operating officer inquiring if there was room for the child.

Henderson told the inspector general that she granted a discretionary placement to Snowden, who was being paid $196,000 a year as the deputy mayor for greater economic opportunity, because she was paying a lot to send her son to a private school where he was unhappy. However, the inspector noted that Snowden had won a spot for her son through the lottery for another campus, Watkins Elementary School, but declined to take it.

A confidential source with knowledge of the incident told investigators that  special children, those of city officials, did not have to go through any process to be enrolled at Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan, the report states.

Henderson, herself, acknowledged a different standard for top government employees, saying that when officials have their children in DCPS schools, it shows trust in the DCPS system, where there is a crisis of confidence, according to the report.

Henderson also waived the rules for Young, who participated in the 2015 lottery and was apparently offered a seat at a school but did not enroll his children by the May 1 deadline. In mid-July, Henderson authorized a discretionary transfer to allow Young access to Murch Elementary School, a public school in Northwest Washington with a waiting list of nearly 800 students.

The inspector generals report does not say whether Murch was the school where Youngs children were originally matched. If they were, however, the report notes that they would have forfeited their spots when they did not enroll by May 1 and that the school should have moved on to other students on the waiting list.

Last week, Bowser insisted that Young had followed proper lottery procedures. Rashad Youngs children participated in the lottery, she told reporters. They were matched in the lottery. And his children attend a school where they were matched.

On Wednesday, Bowser said she was not aware at the time that Henderson had given Young special treatment by allowing him to enroll his child months after the deadline passed.

In explaining how she handled Youngs case, Henderson told investigators that she has given discretion to a lot of government officials and if she could help these government officials feel safe about where their children attend school, then she should extend that courtesy.

Fenty and Rodriguez, Obamas deputy assistant to the president for education, had children specially placed by Henderson at Mann Elementary School, one of the citys most sought-after campuses. Mann had a waiting list of 788 students after this years lottery.

Fenty, who served a single term as mayor from 2007 to 2011, previously came under fire for his childrens special placement at Lafayette Elementary School by former schools chancellor Michelle Rhee in 2009.

The other people Lucas said received special treatment in 2015 were a principal in the school system, the director of a foundation that works with the school system and one of Hendersons classmates from graduate school at Georgetown University.

The same year, Henderson rejected requests for special school placements from a D.C. agency director and a deaf woman who wanted her daughter to attend Brent Elementary School, where she said there would be greater opportunities for the child to use sign language with several children of other deaf parents.

Henderson also dismissed out of hand a request from a teacher at Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan  the same school where she enrolled the deputy mayors son  who wanted her child to attend classes at the same campus where she worked.

I must say, I was somewhat taken aback by this request and your endorsement of it, Henderson wrote in an email to the schools principal, who had followed up on the teachers request.

Is there some reason that I dont know about that makes you think I should intervene in this particular case, but not in any other case of teachers or parents who dont get the result they want in the lottery? Henderson wrote in an email that was quoted in the investigative report. How would I explain to other teachers or to anyone why [this] child deserves a spot over any other parent who followed the rules that we all agreed on for enrollment in a limited number of seats? What am I missing here?

Emma Brown and Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report.
THE DISTRICT

Driver in fatal crash

is identified

A driver killed Monday in a single-vehicle crash in Northwest Washington has been identified as a resident of Silver Spring, Md., according to D.C. police.

Rhondye Williams, 48, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred about 2:45 a.m. in the 5800 block of Blair Road NW. Police said Williams was driving north on Blair Road when he lost control and struck a tree.

 Peter Hermann

MARYLAND

Plea in weapons, pornography charges

A Maryland man pleaded guilty to weapons and child pornography charges Monday after a federal raid of his home uncovered an underground bunker with a cache of firearms, explosives, covert recording devices and pornography.

Caleb Andrew Bailey, 31, of Waldorf, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of unregistered machine guns, rifles, destructive devices and child pornography in federal court, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Maryland.

Bailey was one of three top vote-getters in Marylands 5th Congressional District to serve as a delegate to the Republican National Convention and ran as a Donald Trump delegate, according to state party officials when an indictment was announced in May 2016.

The case against Bailey began when a package filled with hundreds of rounds of ammunition burst at a U.S. postal facility in Capitol Heights, a court affidavit states.

 Lynh Bui

Langley Park homicide investigated

Police said Tuesday that they are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead in a wooded area in Prince Georges County.

The mans remains were found Monday night in the 1800 block of Drexel Street in Langley Park, a Prince Georges police spokeswoman said. The man had trauma to the body, and the case was ruled a homicide Tuesday.

 Justin Wm. Moyer

Murder charge in fatal Greenbelt stabbing

A Maryland man was arrested and charged with murder Tuesday in connection with a stabbing in Greenbelt.

On May 5, officers responded to the 7200 block of South Ora Court in Greenbelt, where in front of a house they found 19-year-old Jean Marie Acha suffering from stab wounds, Greenbelt police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Tuesday, police said they arrested 20-year-old Rodrick Achu Cheg of Greenbelt in connection with the killing, after he was arrested on an unrelated warrant. Cheg said he stabbed Acha, according to police.

Cheg was charged with first-degree murder, among other offenses.

 Justin Wm. Moyer
Reported incidents of sexual harassment of students have jumped more than 80 percent in one year in the Montgomery County school system in Maryland. (Photo by J. Lawler Duggan/For The Washington Post) (J. Lawler Duggan/For The Washington Post)

More than 200 incidents of sexual harassment of students were reported in Montgomery Countys public schools in the last academic year, a one-year jump of more than 80 percent, according to new data from the Maryland school system.

The numbers show that reports of such misconduct  including inappropriate physical contact, written messages and verbal remarks  rose for a third straight year, to 214 in 2015-16. That was 96 more than the previous years total.

School officials said Wednesday they plan to look into the issue and will move to a new process in the next school year that will provide clearer data on serious incidents, including sexual harassment.

Were still in the very early phases of what this could mean, said Derek Turner, spokesman for the school system.

Turner said the increase could be the result of more reporting of incidents, noting that in 2015 officials expanded staff training on reporting child abuse, which may have spurred more teachers and students to report sexual harassment.

The district is committed to combating sexual harassment, he said, and includes lessons on the topic as part of its curriculum. It also is training staff on preventing, recognizing and reporting sexual harassment.

But some advocates in Montgomery say that while a reporting increase would be a positive step, more needs to be done to keep students safe. They view the increase as a sign that serious sex-related incidents may have gone unreported in the past.

There are still too many incidents, and I dont think the culture has changed enough, said Susan Burkinshaw, a parent and community advocate who served on a school district advisory group that examined child abuse issues.

The new numbers, provided in response to a public records request by The Washington Post, come as Montgomery officials have scrambled to respond to a string of sex offense allegations and launched a safety review across the countys 204 schools.

Two male students at Rockville High School were accused in March of raping a 14-year-old girl in a school bathroom. Prosecutors recently dropped rape charges but filed child pornography-related counts over texts discovered during the investigation.

[Threats and safety concerns follow Rockville High rape case]

While that case focused on students, two others since then have involved allegations against school staff.

In April the head of security at Richard Montgomery High School was arrested for inappropriate sexual contact with a 17-year-old student at the school, whom he had showered with gifts and met at a hotel. This week a security assistant at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School was accused of sex offense and sex abuse counts involving an eighth-grader.

[School security assistant arrested for alleged sexual contact with student]

In the wake of recent cases, the new numbers give more detail than the districts yearly report on serious incidents in schools.

The data show that last school year a total of 247 sex-related incidents were reported, including two rapes, 24 sexual assaults, seven incidents of sexual activity and 214 of sexual harassment. Police were contacted in 64 cases.

The numbers do not shed light on details of the allegations, whether incidents occurred on or off campus, or whether alleged offenders are students or adults.

Turner said most are student-on-student allegations, but some involve employees alleged to have acted inappropriately with students.

The rapes  a total of six over five years of data  occurred off school property, he said. A majority of sexual harassment reports came from middle schools, he said, citing a number of instances of inappropriate touching and sharing of inappropriate photos by cellphone.

Superintendent Jack Smith launched the districtwide safety review after the Rockville High case emerged. Last month, the district began examining its high schools  looking at facilities, bathroom configurations, surveillance cameras, staffing and procedures for being out of class. Middle schools are next, then elementary schools.

[Montgomery school board approves abuse policy that calls for conduct code]

Montgomery County has a long history of safe schools, Smith said in a recent interview. We want to continue that and be ever-more vigilant.

[Security review to be launched in wake of Rockville High School rape case]

Lynne Harris, president of the countywide council of PTAs, said she was surprised by the data and is interested in knowing more about the nature of sexual harassment reports and how many took place on school grounds. As a parent, I am concerned about what our students are experiencing, she said. School is supposed to be a safe place.

Harris said the increase could result from students being more aware of the need to come forward when someone crosses the line and school staff getting strong messages about the need to err on the side of reporting troubling incidents. She said she also wondered whether reports were up as the political atmosphere left more people feeling more licensed to treat other people in diminished ways.

[School system sees rise in abuse reports amid increased efforts to protect kids]

Given the size of the school system - 160,000 students and 23,400 employees - Patricia ONeill, a school board member, said the increase is concerning but she would expect even higher numbers.

District data show three yearly jumps in reports of sexual harassment incidents - from a low of 52 in 2013, to 92 in 2014, 118 in 2015 and 214 in 2016.

I think the sexual harassment numbers and the bullying numbers are under-reported, ONeill said, voicing concern for students affected. Each incident is one too many. Zero would be the best number.

Jennifer Alvaro, an activist on sexual abuse issues who also served on the districts child abuse advisory group, called for greater transparency and more urgency on the issue.

She said she is troubled by the surge in harassment reports for several reasons, including that the definition is so broad it is impossible to tell what kinds of reported incidents are on the rise. You cant correct a problem if you dont know what the problem is, she said.
WASHINGTON, DC - Kaya Henderson, former DC school chancellor, abused her authority by giving perferential treatment to well-connected parents in 2015 when she allowed them to skirt the rules governing the citys school lottery, according to a confidential report issued by the citys inspector general. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

Former D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson gave preferential treatment to several city officials, a principal and a graduate school classmate to enroll their children in schools outside their neighborhoods, according to an investigation by the D.C. inspector general.

[Secret report shows special treatment for public officials in D.C. school lottery]

Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas found Henderson had misused her authority by giving preferential treatment to seven of 10 people who requested special school placements for their children during the 2015 lottery season.

As chancellor, Henderson was empowered to grant a discretionary transfer, in cases when the placement is in the best interest of the students or the school system. But the inspector general identified seven cases where those standards were not met.

Thousands of District families enter the citywide lottery system each year, hoping to snag a seat in a traditional public school outside their attendance zone or in a public charter school. Here are some answers to basic questions about the lottery:

(My School DC)

Dont students have assigned schools in D.C.?

Yes, students have a right to attend their neighborhood school, which is determined by the home address. There is no need to go through the lottery to attend a neighborhood school.

So then who applies to a school via the lottery?

Lots of families, especially outside of pockets in northwest D.C. and Capitol Hill. Three out of every four children in D.C. do not attend their assigned neighborhood school. This year, there were 22,050 applications in the lottery.

The lottery is for students applying to a charter school, citywide selective high schools (such as Benjamin Banneker Academic High School and School Without Walls), traditional DCPS schools outside of a students attendance boundary and preschool students (enrollment is not guaranteed in neighborhood schools until kingergarten).

Who came up with this system, and is the District the only one doing this?

The lotterys algorithm was developed by Alvin Roth, an economist. He shared the 2012 Nobel Prize for designing a program that match thousands of medical residents with hospitals as well as New York City students with high schools.

The system is designed to be strategy-proof that creates school lotteries that are fair, transparent and cant be gamed.

Denver and New Orleans have similar lotteries.

How does the application process work?

Families can select up to 12 schools on the myschooldc.org, the centralized system for the District. Families rank schools in order of preference from one to 12. This years application deadline was March 1 for prekindergarten through eight grade.

After families submit their preference, students are assigned a random number and a computer algorithm matches students to a school.

How are matches made?

Students are offered a seat at a school based on a randomly assigned lottery number.

But schools also have preferences, which gives an edge to certain students meeting those criteria. The most common preference is for siblings, meaning if a student has a sister or brother at a school, that child gets bumped in front of any student without a sibling in the school.

If there are no preferences at a school, then a student is placed based on a randomly assigned lottery number.

Are families guaranteed a seat in their first choice school?

No, some schools are in very high demand.

This year, city officials said less than 60 percent of students were offered a seat at their top choice, but 85 percent were offered a seat at one of their three school choices.

Students remain on wait lists for the schools that were ranked higher. So, if a student was matched with a seat in her third-choice school, shell remain on the wait list for her first and second choice school.

How many students are on wait lists?

In early April, there were over 9,700 students on waitlists to attend a charter school. There were 8,864 students on waitlists for a DCPS school.

Some schools have hundreds of students applying for a few dozen seats. Latin American Montessori Bilingual Charter School had 643 students on its waitlist for next years prek3 seats. This school year, the school enrolled 77 students in that grade level.

DCPSs Capitol Hill Montessori School at Logan saw 834 students apply for 61 prek3 seats.

Thats why many parents are upset that former DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson gave some city officials preferential treatment. The Inspector Generals report notes that some of those who received Hendersons help were far down on the waiting list, meaning they had slim chances of getting into the school using the standard method.
President Trump addresses the graduating class of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy during commencement ceremonies in New London, Conn., on Wednesday. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Federal immigration agents are arresting more than 400 immigrants a day, a sharp leap from last year that reflects one of President Trumps most far-reaching campaign promises.

In Trumps first 100 days in office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 41,318 immigrants, up 37.6 percent over the same period last year, the agency said Wednesday. Almost 3 out of 4 of those arrested have criminal records, including gang members and fugitives wanted for murder. But the biggest increase by far is among immigrants with no criminal records.

This administration is fully implementing its mass-deportation agenda, said Gregory Chen, government relations director for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Theyre going after people who have lived here for a long time.

ICEs announcement showcased one of the Trump administrations few victories on immigration this year, after federal judges halted parts of his entry ban and sanctuary-city crackdown, and Congress refused his initial requests to fund a border wall.

Advocates for undocumented immigrants say the numbers will add to the fears of longtime and otherwise law-abiding residents who felt spared from deportation under the Obama administration.

(Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post)

Days after Trump took office, he issued an executive order that made clear that anyone in the United States illegally could be deported and ended former president Barack Obamas policy of frequently granting reprieves from deportation to undocumented immigrants with clean criminal records or U.S.-born children.

Acting ICE director Thomas Homan said the statistics released Wednesday show that agents still prioritize lawbreakers: 30,473 criminals were arrested from Jan. 22 to April 29, an 18 percent increase from the same period in 2016.

Meanwhile, arrests of immigrants with no criminal records more than doubled to nearly 11,000, the fastest-growing category by far.

Will the number of noncriminal arrests and removals increase this year? Absolutely, Homan said. Thats enforcing the laws that are on the books.

What is less clear is what is happening to the immigrants who are being taken into custody.

Overall, deportations have fallen about 12 percent this year, to about 56,315 people, which Homan attributed to a severe backlog in federal immigration courts. He also said it can take longer to deport criminals than those without criminal records, because those in the former category may have additional court proceedings. The Trump administration has called for additional immigration judges and detention space to speed deportations.

Homan did not say how many of the 41,318 people whose arrests were announced Wednesday have been deported, remain in custody or have been released.

Unlike criminal arrests, records of immigration arrests  which are considered civil violations  are not publicly accessible.

The secrecy allows immigration officials to pick and choose which examples of their work to highlight. On Wednesday, they said the immigrants arrested since Trumps executive order include Estivan Rafael Marques Velasquez, an alleged MS-13 gang member from El Salvador captured in New York in February; Juan Antonio Melchor Molina, a fugitive wanted for a 2008 murder in Mexico who was arrested last month in Dallas; and William Magana-Contreras, another reputed MS-13 member arrested in Houston last month. Magana-Contreras is wanted for aggravated homicide in El Salvador, officials said.

Some advocates questioned whether ICE is truly prioritizing the most serious criminals.

Parastoo Zahedi, an immigration lawyer in Virginia, said ICE is actively trying to deport one of her clients to Italy because of a conviction for possession of a small amount of marijuana. He has lived in the United States nearly all his life.

Its not criminal aliens, Zahedi said. Its anyone that they can catch.

Ava Benach, a D.C. immigration lawyer, said ICE agents are empowered, emboldened and . . . eager to enforce the law aggressively.

Advocates also questioned the wisdom of arresting thousands more immigrants  especially those who pose no known public safety threat  when immigration courts are severely backlogged. But Homan said that is the agencys job.

When a federal judge makes a decision and issues [a deportation] order, that order needs to mean something, he said. If we dont take action on those orders, then were just spinning our wheels, arent we?

Obama also sharply increased deportations during parts of his tenure, expelling about 400,000 deportees a year during his first six years in office. At the same time, he lobbied Congress to create a path to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living here.

In his last two years in office, Obama curtailed deportations somewhat and emphasized that ICE should try to spare law-abiding residents and those with U.S.-born children.

Under Trump, many of those limits are gone  with the exception of a program that protected undocumented immigrants who came to America as children.

Given the collapse in enforcement in the last few years of the Obama administration, its a long-overdue increase, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which has pushed for stricter adherence to immigration laws. Its one data point, obviously, but its welcome news.

Houston, Los Angeles and other cities have pushed back against Trumps crackdown, blaming it for sharp decreases in reports of sexual assaults and other crimes among Latinos, who officials say are increasingly afraid to go to the police.

But Homan said ICE is like any other law-enforcement agency. He expressed frustration with jurisdictions that refuse to hold immigrants in local jails and courthouses until deportation agents can take them into custody.

The men and women of ICE are law-enforcement officers sworn to enforce the law, he said. And thats what were going to do, and were not going to apologize for it.
A freshman congressman from Maryland is proposing legislation that would restrict the U.S. president from dismissing the head of the FBI without good cause and amend a 1968 law that limits the grounds for removal to inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.

The bill sponsored by Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D-Md.) is another sign of the outrage on Capitol Hill over the May 9 firing by President Trump of FBI Director James B. Comey and subsequent reports that the ouster was tied to the agencys probe of potential ties between Russia and Trumps campaign.

Congress already restricts removal powers for members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the leaders of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (The Trump administration is challenging those restrictions for the consumer agency in a court case.)

Brown says the same high standard  nothing short of a dereliction of duty  should apply to FBI directors, who are supposed to serve for 10-year terms, to protect the agencys autonomy.

Comeys dismissal shatters the idea that the FBI is independent and insulated from partisan politics, Brown said. The president should not be able to fire the FBI director for political or personal reasons.

Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D-Md.), shown here in Annapolis in 2015, on his final day as Marylands lieutenant governor. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

The question of whether or not you can impose a good-cause standard for the FBI director is certainly an unsettled matter of law, Brown said in an interview. But the fact that its a 10-year appointment demonstrates Congresss intent to take the politics out of the hiring and firing of the FBI director.

Eleven men have served as FBI director in the agencys more than 100-year history. Before Comey, the only man to have been fired was William Sessions. He was dismissed in 1993 by President Bill Clinton after Attorney General Janet Reno determined that reports about the directors ethical lapses prevented him from leading effectively.

Browns communications director, Matthew Verghese, said the congressman is cautiously optimistic his legislation will receive bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled House and make it out of the Judiciary Committee.

Im seeing signs that some Republican members in both the House and Senate share our concerns that we ought to be putting America first and not partisan politics, Brown said. I think soon we will see Republicans standing up.

Concerns about Trump have led another freshman Maryland congressman, Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D), to author a bill allowing the creation of a special commission, under certain circumstances, to determine whether the president is fit to serve.
The first Democrat to enter Marylands 2018 governors race announced his first major policy proposal on Wednesday, calling for every school in the state to offer computer science classes and eventually require them for all students.

Alec Ross, a Baltimore entrepreneur and best-selling author, said his plan would cost the state about $10 million a year, or less than 1 percent of its annual K-12 budget.

A spokesman for Rosss campaign said the state could pay for the initiative with savings from other parts of the budget, and that private partners would likely kick in additional funding beyond the states contribution.

Ross said only 40 percent of Maryland schools offer computer-science courses and that the state is falling behind national leaders. He pointed to a Virginia law that added the subject to the states core academic requirements for elementary, middle and high school.

About one-quarter of high schools nationwide offer computer science classes, and access to such courses is often concentrated in affluent areas, according to a 2016 report from the Innovation Technology and Innovation Foundation.

Ross said his plan for making computer science available to all students is morally and ethically the right thing to do  because delivering next generation skills across our society will help close the gap of economic inequality.

The candidate wrote The Industries of the Future, a 2016 book that earned a spot on the New York Times list of business bestsellers.

So far, Sen. Richard S. Madaleno (D-Montgomery) is the only other Democrat to declare that he plans to run for governor. Six others have said they are considering bids, including Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III; Rep. John Delaney; former Maryland attorney general Douglas F. Gansler; former NAACP executive director Benjamin Jealous; Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz; and attorney James Shea.
A state lawmaker from Montgomery County is urging his fellow Democrats not to endorse any 2018 gubernatorial candidates until next winter, hoping to avoid perceptions of an anointed favorite in what is expected to be a crowded primary.

But some Democrats are questioning that strategy, saying the best hope of unseating popular Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is to rally around a challenger early in the process.

If you wait for March, its too late, said Del. Jimmy Tarlau (D-Prince Georges), a progressive who likes prospective candidate Ben Jealouss outspoken support for a $15 minimum wage, criminal justice reforms and a progressive tax system. If I think theres someone who will lead Maryland in a good direction, I plan to support that person.

The campaign launched this month by Del. David Moon (D-Montgomery) reflects an ongoing debate among Democrats about whether their party is controlled by elites. Some Democrats say the Democratic National Committee lost grass-roots support in 2016 by favoring former secretary of state Hillary Clinton over rivals such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). And then-Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D) accused party leaders that year of never giving her a fair hearing before backing her House colleague Chris Van Hollen in the Democratic Senate primary.

Moon said his petition is partly inspired by Marylands 2002 and 2014 gubernatorial races, the only two won by Republicans in the past 50 years. Both times, elected Democrats in the state coalesced around candidates who had served as lieutenant governor but did not generate strong enthusiasm for voters.

Some progressive lawmakers in Annapolis are leaning toward Ben Jealous, the former NAACP president, who is considering a running for governor of Maryland. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post)

This time around, Moon said, Democratic hopefuls should go to all corners of the state to define themselves on issues, and do all that before the elected officials go out and tell people who they should be voting for.

He is asking Democrats to withhold endorsements until after the Feb. 27 filing deadline and at least one debate, and to sign a pledge saying early endorsements may create a primary among insiders that reduces voter input and unnecessarily keeps potential candidates out of the race.

Sixteen Democratic elected officials have signed so far, including U.S. Rep. Jamie B. Raskin; 11 state lawmakers; Jacob R. Day, mayor of Salisbury; two city council members; and a county legislator.

There are currently two declared Democratic candidates for governor: state Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (Montgomery) and Baltimore entrepreneur Alec Ross. In addition to Jealous, the former president of the NAACP, five others are openly exploring bids: Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III; U.S. Rep. John Delaney; former Maryland attorney general Douglas F. Gansler; Baltimore County Executive Kevin B. Kamenetz; and attorney James L. Shea.

The prospective candidates expressed varying degrees of support for minimizing the endorsement game.

I think it makes sense to give people the opportunity to demonstrate their viability without anyone putting their hands on the scale, Madaleno said.

Delaney spokesman Will McDonald said the congressman, a health-care financier who has spent millions on his own campaigns, has never liked the insider endorsement game and that it tends to really upset people.

Gansler, who placed second in his partys 2014 gubernatorial primary, declined to take a position on Moons petition, saying Democrats may feel compelled to endorse early this year because of Hogans fundraising prowess and record approval ratings.

Baker, Kamenetz and Jealous did not respond to requests for comment on the petition.

Tarlau is not the only progressive questioning the petition. Del. A. Shane Robinson (D-Montgomery), who backed long-shot candidate and former state delegate Heather Mizeur (D) in the 2014 primary, agreed with Moon that the early endorsements that then-lieutenant governor Anthony G. Brown received in that race dampened debate.

But he said he doesnt foresee the same problem this cycle, because there doesnt appear to be any clear front-runner on the Democratic side.

Robinson, who chairs the Montgomery County delegation in Annapolis, said he wont sign Moons pledge, and would probably endorse Jealous if he decides to run.

Moon pointed to the 2008 Democratic nomination battle between Clinton and then-Sen. Barack Obama as an example of a competitive primary that helped engage people and lay the groundwork for our outreach during the general election.

I would hope thats the same effect wed have in Maryland in 2018, he said.
Obituaries of residents from the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Kenneth Young, Smithsonian Institution exhibit designer

Kenneth Young, 83, one of the first black Smithsonian Institution exhibit designers and a former acting assistant director of its office of exhibits, died March 23 at his home in Washington. The cause was atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, said a nephew, Terence Shepherd.

Mr. Young was born in Louisville, and he moved to Washington in 1964 to work for the Smithsonian. From 1973 to 1985, he taught painting and drawing at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. He left the Smithsonian in 1994 and continued teaching art history and exhibition design at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington.

He also consulted on exhibition design as a visiting scholar and curator at museums in the United States and abroad, including the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Museo Civico di Arte Contemporanea in Gibellina, Italy. His paintings have been featured at the National Gallery of Art and at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, among other institutions.

Mary Early, church member

Mary Early, 62, a longtime resident of Potomac, Md., where she attended Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, died April 15 at her daughters home in Towson, Md. The cause was amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, said her daughter, Lisa Early.

Mrs. Early was born Mary Skokowski in Washington. She moved to Potomac in 1985.

Robert Biegalski, engineer

Robert Biegalski, 75, an engineer with the Department of the Navy and later the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory who specialized in fusing the capabilities of conventional and nuclear warheads, died April 27 at a care center in Aldie, Va. The cause was Lewy body dementia, a brain disorder, said a daughter, Patricia McCaleb.

Mr. Biegalski, who lived in Oak Hill, Va., was born in Buffalo. He joined what was then the Naval Ordnance Lab in 1963 and retired from federal service in 1997 from the Naval Surface Warfare Center. He then worked at the Applied Physics Lab until 2008.

Mr. Biegalski was a member of Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Washington and with his wife was a teacher of pre-marriage classes for couples intending to marry.

Peter MacQueen, journalist

Peter MacQueen, 74, a journalist who worked at the Washington Times from 1981 to 2007 and served many years as an assistant editor on the foreign desk, died April 27 at a care center in Rockville, Md. The cause was complications from dementia, said a daughter, Yuki MacQueen.

Mr. MacQueen, a resident of Bethesda, Md., was born in Worcester, Mass. Before joining the Times, he worked at newspapers including Stars and Stripes in Seoul; the Japan Times in Tokyo; and the Kyodo News agency in Tokyo.

Frances Kieffer, League of Women Voters volunteer

Frances Kieffer, 89, who managed a national youth voter registration project in the 1980s for the League of Women Voters national office, died April 17 at her home in Springfield, Va. The cause was myelodysplasia, said a daughter, Edie Kieffer.

Mrs. Kieffer was born Frances Clarfield in Duluth, Minn. She volunteered for the League of Women Voters Congressional Lobby Corps, mainly advocating on energy and air quality issues. Her memberships included the Mantua Citizens Association in Fairfax County, Va., and she was appointed to the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board to manage its energy education projects. Her husband died March 22.

 From staff reports
MARYLAND

Police ID Pr. Georges homicide victim

Police said Wednesday that they identified a man found dead in a wooded area in Prince Georges County this week and are searching for his killer.

About 7 p.m. Monday, officers responded to the 1800 block of Drexel Street in Langley Park after 43-year-old Jose Regalado-Trujillo of no fixed address was found dead in a wooded area, Prince Georges police said in a statement.

An autopsy showed that Regalado-Trujillo died as a result of sharp-force trauma, and his death was ruled a homicide, the statement said.

 Justin Wm. Moyer

2 dead, infant

injured in collision

A 66-year-old Maryland man died Wednesday after his car was hit while driving on U.S. 50 near Annapolis, becoming the second fatality in a multi-car crash in Anne Arundel County.

Maryland State Police said that Robert Skidmore, 66, of Cape St. Claire was driving a 2016 Mercedes SUV eastbound when he was struck by a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction.

Laura Ashley Murphy, 22, of Salisbury was the driver of the black 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan that collided with the Mercedes. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Murphy had been driving west in the eastbound lanes of Route 50 in Annapolis, state police said in a statement.

Murphys son, who was 14 months old, was in the Tiguan. He was flown by medevac to a hospital, where he was being treated Wednesday night for injuries.

State police said preliminary information indicated that Murphy had been driving about a quarter-mile east of the Severn River Bridge when the collision occurred.

Murphys vehicle collided head-on with Skidmores car, which came to rest on the side of Route 50. He was trapped inside the car before being taken out and transported to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, where he later died of his injuries.

A third car in the crash was driven by Anthony Stanley, 59, of Bowie. Stanley, who was driving a 2016 Nissan vehicle, was not injured, according to the statement.

At about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, multiple callers had reported a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on Route 50 in Annapolis. Troopers found fire and rescue workers attending to Murphy at the scene, where she was pronounced dead.

A state police crash team is continuing an investigation.

 Dana Hedgpeth

and Erica Johnston

Murder charges in

10-year-old case

Authorities in Prince Georges County said Wednesday that they have arrested and charged a man in connection with a 10-year-old case that left a woman he knew dead.

Based on new information from a witness, police said they have arrested and charged Darryl Strickland, 49, of Southwest Washington with the slaying of 44-year-old Sharon Cunningham. He faces first- and second-degree murder charges.

Cunningham, of Northeast Washington, was killed April 6, 2007.

An autopsy found that she had been strangled. Police said Cunningham and Strickland had been involved in a previous relationship.

Strickland is being held on a no-bond status.

 Dana Hedgpeth
Leo (A457657) a 4-year-old brown tabby male domestic short haired cat, is available for adoption after being surrendered by his owner because of issues with their landlord. (Prince George's county animal shelter/PGCAS)

Leo (A457657 ), a 4-year-old brown tabby male domestic shorthair, is available for adoption after being surrendered by his owners because of issues with their landlord.

The Prince Georges County Animal Shelter, 3750 Brown Station Rd., Upper Marlboro, has animals available for adoption. Adoptable animals can be seen at adoptapet.com/adoption_rescue/74710.html. The shelters viewing and adoption hours are noon to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays; 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. The shelter is closed Thursdays, Sundays and holidays. Call 301-780-7200.
Howard University officials are investigating an incident involving a female patient at the universitys hospital who was dumped from a wheelchair by campus police officers and left lying on the ground at a nearby bus stop.

The incident, captured on video, appears to show a male officer pushing the barefoot woman in the chair along Georgia Avenue. The womans legs are flung in the air when the officer stops abruptly and she tumbles out of the chair. A second male officer and a female officer watched as the woman hits the ground.

Howard spokeswoman Crystal Brown said that the matter is under investigation and that the officers have been put on leave pending the outcome. Brown declined to release their names, citing personnel matters. She also declined to identify the woman or describe why she was at the hospital, why officers removed her, who issued the order and why they left her on the street.

I cant really talk about the discharge of a patient, Brown said.

She also did not respond to written questions about the incident.

Passersby could be heard on the video expressing concern about the woman, who was left on the ground with no wheelchair and no hospital personnel.

What the freak are they doing to this lady? one man can be heard saying. What the freak is going on here?

Why would they leave her out here like that? a female bystander asks.

A female officer throws up her gloved hand and tells the male officers to leave her there.

The woman remained motionless on her side as one of the male officers tosses a small, black cosmetic-size bag from the chair near her and walks away.

You can worry about her all you want to  she threw herself on the ground, the female officers told onlookers.

James Diegel, chief executive of Howard University Hospital, and Mae Johnson, deputy police chief at the hospital, did not return calls Tuesday seeking comment.

The incident occurred several weeks ago. Several Howard officials have viewed the video, which was taken by a bystander. The Washington Post has also watched the video.

University board members were notified of the incident by email.

I received a notice that there was an incident associated with the hospital, said trustee George K. Littleton, who teaches in the College of Medicine. There were no details.

Littleton said he was troubled after learning of the matter.

I think its a terrible thing, he said. We have not specifically met to address this collectively.

Trustee Marian Johnson-Thompson, a Howard and Georgetown University graduate and professor emerita of biology at the University of the District of Columbia, said she had not seen the video but that the hospital endeavors every day to give the highest-quality care.

Howard University Hospital has come under criticism from patients, former physicians and others for how it is run and its patient care. The Post reported in March that the hospital has paid more than $27 million in malpractice or wrongful-death settlements since 2007, among them an undisclosed amount given to the family of a woman who was discharged while still ailing, unable to walk unassisted and wearing only a hospital gown. Hospital staff called a taxi instead of a medical van to take the woman home. When she arrived, she collapsed in the lobby and died the next day.

[Howard University Hospital shows symptoms of a severe crisis]

A review of more than 675 medical malpractice and wrongful-death lawsuits filed since 2006 involving six D.C. hospitals found that Howard had the highest rate of death lawsuits per hospital bed.

The $27 million paid out by Howard represents just 22 of the 82 cases filed against the hospital and tracked by The Post.
(Update: Erdogans guards clash with protesters outside Turkish ambassadors D.C. residence)

Nine people were injured Tuesday afternoon in a brief but violent confrontation between two groups outside the Turkish ambassadors residence on Washingtons embassy row.

All nine were taken to hospitals, and at least one was reported to be in serious condition. D.C. police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said two people were arrested.

From initial accounts, and from videos made at the scene, it appeared that fighting broke out between a group of men who were standing in front of the ambassadors residence and a group of men and women who stood across the street in Sheridan Circle near Dupont Circle.

Indications were that the scuffling may have stemmed from political conflict within Turkey, whose president is on a visit to Washington.

Several members of the first group wore dark suits and ties, and a couple of them waved small Turkish flags. One or two members of the other group carried placards expressing support for a jailed Turkish political figure.

One of the placards said Free Demirtas Now. It appeared to refer to Selahattin Demirtas, who was a leader of Turkeys pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party. At the time of his arrest in November, he was regarded as a strong opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan met here Tuesday with President Trump.

In a video of Tuesdays confrontation, individual skirmishes occur around Sheridan Circle, as those in dark suits appear to rush across the Sheridan Circle roadway toward the other group. Some of those coming from the direction of the ambassadors residence are shown shoving and kicking. Police dart from one confrontation to the other, trying to keep order. But the unruliness appeared relatively brief, lasting no more than a minute or two.

In one of the skirmishes, a man in a dark suit, who is carrying a furled flag, seemingly that of Turkey, appears to be kicking at a demonstrator who is on the Sheridan Circle sidewalk, holding his hands protectively to his head. A bullhorn lies beside him.

At the outset, it appeared that about two dozen men and women assembled for the demonstration along the perimeter of the circle. A similar number of people, most or all of them men, stood closer to the ambassadors residence.

Turkey is in an internal conflict with Kurdish insurgent groups. One of groups demands has been for creation of an independent Kurdistan. Both Turkey and the United States consider the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, a terrorist group.

Although he led a pro-Kurdish party in Turkey, Demirtas has said he is neither a member or sympathizer of the PKK organization.

Traffic on Sheridan Circle NW was backed up for a time as a result of the protest.

Embassy officials could not be reached immediately.

The Secret Service referred questions to the Turkish Embassy and to D.C. police. Many D.C. police officers took part in trying to quell the disorder.
A woman who appeared to have a gun was shot and fatally wounded by police Tuesday in the District, authorities said.

The woman, who was not named, died at a hospital after being shot around 6:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Joliet Street SW, near the citys southern tip, police said. A recreation center is nearby.

D.C. police chief Peter Newsham said officers were sent to the area after a car crash was reported. However, he said, a subsequent call reported a woman with a gun.

Arriving officers found a woman who appeared to be armed with a gun and shots were fired, the chief said. He said two officers fired.

At a news conference, Newsham said the matter remained under investigation, and police were interviewing witnesses.

Few details were available, and police did not say whether a gun was found.

Little information was given about the interaction between the woman and the police.

Peter Hermann and Martin Weil contributed to this report.
Police said Wednesday that they identified a man found dead in a wooded area in Prince Georges County this week and are searching for his killer.

[Pr. Georges police open homicide probe after mans body found in woods]

About 7 p.m. Monday, officers responded to the 1800 block of Drexel Street in Langley Park after 43-year-old Jose Regalado-Trujillo of no fixed address was found dead in a wooded area, Prince Georges police said in a statement.

An autopsy showed that Regalado-Trujillo died as a result of sharp-force trauma, and his death was ruled a homicide, the statement said.

Police ask that anyone with information about the killing contact them at 301-772-4925 or submit a tip at pgcrimesolvers.com
Tuesdays clash involving protesters and security guards for visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prompted outrage by local and U.S. officials who accused the guards of using violence to quell what had been a peaceful demonstration in Northwest Washington.

D.C. police arrested two men, one from Virginia and one from New York, and said they are pursuing charges against additional suspects since the melee outside the Turkish ambassadors residence at Sheridan Circle. Eleven people were injured, among them a police officer. Some were kicked and stomped, their heads bloodied.

Included in the police search are members of Erdogans armed protective detail, according to two people with direct knowledge of the case. Police are working with the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Secret Service to identify people seen on videos and obtain arrest warrants, even as they anticipated thorny issues involving diplomatic immunity or the special status afforded to those who guard visiting heads of state.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward R. Royce (R-Calif.) said agents of foreign governments should never be immune from prosecution for felonious behavior. In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, he urged a quick inquiry and the filing of appropriate criminal charges before the security officers leave the country.

In a statement, the State Department said violence is never an appropriate response to free speech. It added that the United States is communicating our concern with the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms.

(ANCA)

D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham, whose department is leading the investigation, decried the violence. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) said police are working very hard with our partners to see if we can get to the bottom of this, adding that it was a pretty savage beating. And Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) added: This is the United States of America. We do not do this here. There is no excuse for this kind of thuggish behavior.

A Turkish state news agency acknowledged that guards for Erdogan, who had earlier met with President Trump at the White House, had targeted demonstrators. Many of the aggressors seen on video were wearing dark suits and ties, and several had guns. At least two of the guns were seen on video being dropped and then picked up during skirmishes.

In a statement released Wednesday evening, the Turkish Embassy called the demonstration unpermitted and provocative. Officials alleged in the statement that the protesters were affiliated with the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and the United States. A protest leader denied that any of the participants were involved with the PKK or sympathized with the group.

The demonstrators began aggressively provoking Turkish-American citizens who had gathered to greet Erdogan, the statement said. The Turkish-Americans responded in self defense and one of them was seriously injured.

The Anadolu news agency also blamed the incident on an inadequate response by police, implying anger over authorities not stopping the protest. . Demonstrators recounted being kicked, beaten and bloodied while cowering on the ground, and they complained that police did not move quickly to stop the violence.

Tuesdays melee highlighted the political divisions and conflicts that in some cases have roiled Turkey for decades and have become far more acrimonious and violent of late. After Erdogans government survived a coup attempt last summer, authorities have pursued a wide-ranging crackdown on enemies and dissidents. Nearly 200,000 people have been arrested, dismissed or suspended from their jobs.

The government has faced a resurgent threat from militant groups, including the Islamic State and the PKK. In turn, militant attacks and the states iron-fisted response, have fed a deepening sense of political polarization in Turkey.

Tuesdays group was made up of roughly two dozen demonstrators including those angry at Erdogans crackdown on dissent and his consolidation of power. Others were Kurdish activists, including supporters of a pro-Kurdish political party in Turkey whose leaders have been prosecuted by the Turkish government.

Seyid Riza Dersimi, a 61-year-old Virginia resident who owns a flooring company, said he started organizing Tuesdays protest soon after he learned of Erdogans visit to the United States. They started outside the White House, where he said Turkish guards taunted them as they chanted, Erdogan is a dictator! Ergodan is ISIS! and Mr. Trump, please stop him!

Later, at the circle on Massachusetts Avenue, Dersimi said he was pushed to the ground and repeatedly kicked in the face. He received five stitches in his nose, his lips were busted and he lost a tooth. This is what happens in Turkey  this is not what happens in the U.S., he said. The American police let them attack us.

Court documents describe the demonstration as peaceful until a group of radicalized protesters began taunting the peaceful protesters. The document says four men in dark clothing then emerged from the crowd and began attacking several of the peaceful protesters.

The two men arrested by D.C. police were identified as Ayten Necmi, 49, of Woodside, N.Y, charged with aggravated assault for allegedly punching someone in the face, and Jalal Kheirabaoi, 42, charged with assault on a police officer. Both were released from detention Wednesday.

Necmi said after the hearing that he heard about the protest over social media. He said fights had begun by the time he arrived. His attorney, Gunay Evinch, blamed D.C. police and the Secret Service for being surprised by the large turnout and overreacting. They were caught off-guard by the size of the group, Evinch said.

Necmi said he and group of other Turkish individuals came to Washington solely to welcome the Turkish president.

Kareem Fahim in Istanbul and Aaron C. Davis, Keith L. Alexander, Carol Morello and Victoria St. Martin in Washington contributed to this report.
(Twitter/SenThomTillis)

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) collapsed while running a race in Washington on Wednesday morning, but later said he was doing well.

Tillis, 56, a Republican elected in 2014, tweeted at about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday that he planned to run in the American Council of Life Insurers Capital Challenge three-mile team race, a charity event attended by many members of Congress and the media.

At about 8:50 a.m., the Associated Press reported that Tillis first appeared unconscious, but was breathing when taken from the race. While near the finish line, he was taken away by a private ambulance to a hospital.

About an hour later, Tillis posted a message on Twitter, saying Im fine.

Just running about two-and-a-half miles in, got overheated, he said. See you back on the Hill.

Members of Congress posted well-wishes on Twitter.

Thinking about my good friend @SenThomTillis this morning and praying for a quick recovery, wrote Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) tweeted, Please keep my colleague @SenThomTillis in your prayers. Wishing him a quick recovery.

Tillis is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Judiciary, Veterans Affairs and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committees, and the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

The American Council of Life Insurers Capital Challenge is held annually in Anacostia Park.

Steve Hendrix and T. Rees Shapiro contributed to this report.

Correction: This story was updated to reflect that Tillis was taken from the scene by private ambulance, not a helicopter, as originally reported.
Calvert County

These were among reports received by the Calvert County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Criminal Investigation Division at 410-535-2800 or 301-855-1194, the Crime Solvers line at 410-535-2880 or the state police Prince Frederick Barrack at 410-535-1400.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

10th St., 7:15 p.m. May 6. A front door window and wooden door frame were broken at a residence, and a male was seen running from the house. Nothing appeared to be stolen.

VANDALISM

Chesapeake Beach, May 6. A white storage box was damaged and several deck boards were spray-painted near the main entrance of Town Hall.

DUNKIRK AREA

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

Southern Maryland Blvd., 7 a.m. May 7. A fence and motion sensor lights were damaged at a home.

LUSBY AREA

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

Golden West Way, May 5. Screws were removed from the sidewalls of six tires on a truck.

VANDALISM

Dancer Ct., 8:30 a.m. May 7. Eggs were thrown and mustard was smeared on vehicles, homes, boats, a boat trailer and a satellite dish, and vehicle tires were flattened.

OWINGS AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Chaneyville Rd., May 4. A package was stolen from a mailbox.

PRINCE FREDERICK AREA

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

Merrimac Ct., 1 p.m. May 1. A window was broken on a vehicle.

Charles County

These were among reports received by the Charles County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. For information, call 301-932-2222 or 301-870-3232. The website ccso.us has crime statistics and information on crime prevention programs.

REWARDS FOR INFORMATION

Crime Solvers will pay a reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment. The 24-hour hotline is 866-411-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.

LA PLATA AREA

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Colebrook St., 5200 block, 8:30 to 9 p.m., May 2. A cat was shot with a high-powered pellet gun. The cats lef was shattered and had to be amputated.

St. Marys County

These w ere among reports received by the St. Marys County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. For information, call 301-475-8008. To submit a tip, call Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333. The Leonardtown Barrack of the state police has an anonymous tip line at 301-475-2936.

AVENUE AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Caroline Ct., May 6. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

CALIFORNIA AREA

ASSAULTS

Airport Rd., May 9. A man pulled an acquaintance out of a vehicle, kicked the person in the stomach and hit the acquaintance several times in the face. A Waldorf man, 35, was charged with second-degree assault.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Alydar Dr., May 4. A vehicle was entered.

Indian Bridge Rd., 5:58 a.m. April 23. A cash register was stolen from a business.. A Lexington Park man, 25, was charged with second-and fourth-degree burglary, theft of less than $1,000 and malicious destruction of property.

Three Notch Rd., May 8. A man and a woman, with their children, entered a store, damaged a display and concealed merchandise. A California man and woman, 30, and 28, were charged with theft of less than $1,000 and malicious destruction of property.

CHAPTICO AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Bushwood Rd., May 5. An elementary school was entered; no damage was reported.

Patuxent Blvd., May 6. Property was stolen from a guard shack at a park.

GREAT MILLS AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Knockeyon Lane, May 5. Property was stolen from an unlocked vehicle.

LEONARDTOWN AREA

ASSAULTS

Baldridge St., April 29. During an argument, two inmates at detention center, assaulted each other. A Lexington Park man, 23, and a Great Mills man, 33, were charged with second-degree assault.

Baldridge St., May 1. An inmate at a detention center bit a correctional officer twice on the hand. A California woman, 56, was charged with second-degree assault on a Department of Correctional Services employee.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Point Lookout Rd., April 28. A man took a wallet that had been left on a chair in the emergency room lobby at a hospital and put it in his pocket. He then entered a bathroom. After the man had left, the wallet was found in the bathroom. A Lexington Park man, 32, was charged with theft of less than $100.

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

Baldridge St., April 30. An inmate at a detention center cracked a glass and broke a cup in his cell. A Loveville man, 54, was charged with malicious destruction of property less than $1,000.

Baldridge St., April 28. An inmate at a detention center damaged a light fixture in his cell. A Loveville man, 54, was charged with malicious destruction of property more than $1,000.

LEXINGTON PARK AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Bristol Lane, May 4 Property was stolen from a home.

LOVEVILLE AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Point Lookout Rd., 9:23 a.m. April 4. A generator was stolen from a boat.

PINEY POINT AREA

ASSAULTS

Sayre Point Lane, May 9. During an argument, a man shoved and tried to hit a family member. When another family member intervened, he bit the person and hit the family member in the face. A Piney Point man, 31, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault.
Air traffic controllers at Washington Dulles International Airport give a firsthand demonstration of the NextGen technology called Data Communications to FAA, UPS and United Airlines officials on Sept. 27, 2016, in Dulles, Va. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

The debate over whether to remove more than 30,000 air traffic controllers and engineers from the federal payroll got underway in Congress on Wednesday with testimony that efforts to modernize the aviation system have fallen short.

Calvin Scovel III, inspector general for the Transportation Department, said the Federal Aviation Administration has significant problems that might further delay an ambitious modernization plan.

The FAAs estimation [for completion] is 2030 at a cost of $36 billion, Scovel said. We dont know what the total cost will be and when it will be complete.

The fate of more than 30,000 workers  14,000 controllers and the engineers working on the modernization program known as NextGen  is unclear for several reasons, but none has been as worrisome for Congress as the FAAs perceived lack of progress in overhauling the air traffic control system.

[Scathing report: FAA isnt delivering what was promised in $40 billion project]

President Trump has endorsed the concept of separating the 30,000 employees and NextGen from FAA control. The FAA would retain its role as an oversight agency, much like the Federal Railroad Administration, which issues rail regulations and investigates crashes and other railroad incidents.

An effort last year to spin off the controllers and NextGen workers into a private, federally chartered nonprofit organization faltered in Congress, and the new bill under discussion has not been fleshed out in writing.

[New year, new president, renewed debate over fate of 30,000 federal workers]

The makeup of the board that would direct that corporation will be a critical revelation once a bill emerges.

Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (Ore.), the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, said the new board would effectively be controlled by the airlines.

After the hearing, Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) said the boards makeup is one of the most important parts of the whole thing. Governance of this [new corporation] has to be critical.

The proposed corporatization has raised concerns among small-plane operators and smaller airports that they will be lost in the shuffle if the focus turns to airlines and their passengers.

Shuster pointed out at the hearing that general-aviation pilots and people served by smaller airports are constituents in his largely rural district in southwestern Pennsylvania.

[Plan to privatize 30,000 FAA workers gains momentum, but is it enough?]

The move to a corporation has been tentatively endorsed by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which has argued that spinning off controllers into a private entity would protect them from the threat of government shutdowns and uncertain federal funding.

Union President Paul Rinaldi, in testimony Wednesday, said the union would support the move if the legislation guaranteed current pay rates, and health and retirement benefits for his members.

Shuster concurred, pointing out that if the controllers were dissatisfied with the terms of their transfer to the corporation, about one-third of them are eligible to retire, and their departure could cripple the system.

Status quo or doing nothing is impossible, Rinaldi said, with the FAA facing a possible expiration of its funding in September. We need a reliable funding source.

But seven smaller unions whose members would be affected sent a letter to committee leaders this week imploring them to refrain from any attempts to privatize the air traffic control system.

The committee was reminded that this was not the first proposal to remove the air traffic control system from the FAA.

Corporatization of the air traffic system is not a radical idea, nor is it a Republican idea, said Dorothy Robyn, who served in the White House during the Clinton administration. The federal government is poorly suited to running it.

A Clinton administration effort to separate the FAAs regulatory responsibilities from the day-to-day operation of the air traffic control system went nowhere on Capitol Hill.

I think it would be a mistake to view this proposal as ideological, Robyn told the committee.

DeFazio and Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), in a column published last week, acknowledged the FAAs rocky start in modernization efforts but said the agency is now delivering on the promise to improve our nations air traffic control system.

We are now on the cusp of a 21st-century system, DeFazio said at Wednesdays hearing.

Joseph W. Brown, president of an Ohio propeller company who said he regularly flies his small plane for business, testified that NextGen is working. It works for me every day.

About a dozen years ago, the FAA was looking for a catchy name for its multifaceted program to modernize a system that had seen minimal enhancements since radars introduction during World War II. Commercial jetliners still move around the country from one designated waypoint to the next, rather than flying in a straight line to their destinations.

The goal was to sell Congress on funding several expensive projects, and the name that was devised to cover all of them was NextGen.

Calling the combined programs NextGen gave the FAA a single name to use when it sought modernization money from Congress. But it also gave Congress a single program to hold accountable when elements of NextGen moved slowly, or not at all.

Congresss perception that NextGen was moving at a glacial pace was amply bolstered by critical reports from Scovels office and from the Government Accountability Office.
The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to approve the creation of the Metro Safety Commission  one of the last legal steps necessary to establish a federally-mandated regional safety oversight agency to regulate the troubled transit agency.

The bill, which passed unanimously, came up for a vote more than three months after a deadline to get the oversight agency up and running. Now, the legislation must pass the House and be signed by President Trump.

With heavy effort  and yes, continued foul-ups  things [at Metro] are slowly starting to improve, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said in a statement. A critical piece of this effort is getting a tough new safety body in place, and the sooner we empower it, the sooner it can start enforcing the high safety standards missing for too long.

The creation of a Metro Safety Commission has been in the works for at least two years, after federal transportation officials determined that the agency responsible for safety oversight was poorly staffed and ineffective.

Former transportation secretaryAnthony Foxx had set a Feb. 9 deadline for the District, Maryland and Virginia to establish a new safety body  and when the region failed to meet the deadline, his successor, Elaine Chao, took swift action in response to the what federal officials viewed as the regions continued foot-dragging.

On Feb. 10, Chao announced that the Transportation Departmentwould withhold millions of dollars in funding to the region until the safety commission was in place.

[U. S. withholds millions of dollars until Metro Safety Commission is created]

Since then, governors in Virginia and Maryland have both signed the bill into law. The D.C. Council passed a version of the legislation in December, but some uncertainty remains about whether it must revote on a revised version to fix some minor wording glitches to conform with versions approved by Maryland and Virginia, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said.

Mendelson said the D.C. Councils general counsel said the differences between the Districts version of the bill and those approved by Virginia and Maryland are minor and could be resolved in a routine, technical vote at the end of the year.

To ensure that will be adequate, however, Mendelson has asked D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine to look at whether the Council should vote earlier on a corrected version.

Although the federal bill has the official thumbs-up from the Senate, a House staffer said recently that the bill remains in that chambers Judiciary Committee and there are no immediate plans for the legislation to move to the House floor.

But even after the legislation passes Congress and is signed by the president, there is still more that must happen before the Federal Transit Administration is expected to release the funds it is withholding from the region. The jurisdictions must hire people to staff the agency, submit documents to the FTA offering details on the staffs credentials and expertise, and conduct a transitional handoff period when new safety inspectors must work side by side with federal officials.

But regional officials say theyve begun that process.

Were not going to wait for congressional action to start the process of hiring an executive director and staff, and appointing commissioners, and getting the operation fully mobilized, Jennifer Mitchell, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, said after Virginias bill was passed last month.

[Regional transit agencies get caught in the middle with Metro safety commission penalties]
Problems with the D.C. Circulator and D.C. Streetcar are examples of why the District and Metro should be wary of privatizing more services, the transit agencys union said Tuesday. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

Reliability problems with the D.C. Circulator and planning and construction shortfalls of the citys streetcar system are examples of why the District and Metro should be wary of privatizing more services, the transit agencys union said Tuesday.

Although the District Department of Transportation owns the Circulator buses and oversees the D.C. streetcar, Amalgamated Transit Union International says theres an implicit warning for Metro.

Fix the service you have; take responsibility for the quality of service you have, said Michael McCall-Delgado, a strategic researcher at ATU International and author of a new report, Fool D.C. Twice.

You should understand that weve attempted this before, and doubling down on failed initiatives is not the way to move forward, McCall-Delgado said.

Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld has said he wants to use outside contractors for more services. The push for more privatization is included in Wiedefelds extensive blueprint for saving the system, which he released last month. The union is opposed to the idea.

The union report holds the District partially responsible for the decline of the regions transit system, saying that instead of investing in Metro, local leaders pushed seemingly hip and premium ridership projects to attract millennials to the city.

[D.C.s tortured quest to bring back streetcars: Boon to some, affront to others]

D.C., like its neighbors in Virginia and Maryland, has contributed to the neglect of [Metro], which still serves as the regions central nervous system, the union says in its report. Instead of championing a new era of regionalism and public transit policy, the District has focused on developing a parallel, locally controlled, privately-operated transit system that benefits its newer and wealthier residents and the businesses and institutions that employ and serve them.

A city-commissioned audit last year found that Circulator buses were kept in service despite critical safety and operational defects. The report identified weaknesses in Metros and DDOTs oversight of the contractor that operates and maintains the bus fleet.

The problem-plagued Streetcar took more than a decade and $200 million to build and resulted in a 2.2-mile line that is far smaller than originally envisioned.

[Multiple critical safety defects found on D.C. Circulator buses, audit says]

DDOT said it had not seen the report. However, providing safe, efficient and reliable transit services for the District of Columbia is an essential part of our mission at DDOT, agency spokesman Terry Owens said in a statement. We continuously evaluate our transit services to determine where improvements can be made.

Transit officials also rejected the idea that two problematic programs could be used as a wholesale indictment of privatization.

We would caution against condemning all contracting because of a concern over one or two examples, Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said in a statement. The fact is Metro has many contractors who perform well. In the interest of maximizing efficiency while maintaining or enhancing service, the GMs plan calls for consideration of additional private sector support for Metro where it makes sense.

[As Metro eyes privatization, inspiration comes from Bostons subway]

ATU, which represents more than 9,000 Metro employees through its Local 689 chapter, has rejected Wiedefelds shift toward privatization, including a proposal that would use private contractors to fill station manager or track inspection jobs on the second phase of the Silver Line. Contractors could also be used to operate such facilities as new bus garages. Separately, Metro has nearly doubled its spending on private contractors over the past two years.

[Union dissent highlights difficulty of enacting Wiedefelds rescue plan for Metro]

In its report, however, the union takes D.C. officials to task for failing to hold contractors accountable for construction, planning and service failures. The report highlights how the Circulator, operated by Cincinnati-based First Transit, has been beset by maintenance problems for years while avoiding government oversight, according to the union.

Circulator buses have a notoriously poor reliability record, with the 2016 audit finding an average of 22 defects per bus. Many of the defects  nearly three per bus  were tied to safety equipment and should have been caught during routine inspections, the audit said. And the problems have persisted: A report this week from WAMU said reliability issues have left the Circulator up to 10 buses short of its quota when buses depart its lots each day.

With regard to Circulator, DDOT and [Metro] are working cooperatively to improve the performance of this particular contract, Metro said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the union said, poor planning and construction failures from corner-cutting contractors led the District to build what it called The Train to Nowhere for No One, the 2.2-mile streetcar.

The desire to deliver a public good at bargain prices led DDOT to launch a service that was poorly designed, poorly managed, wildly expensive, and publicly disdained before the first car ran down the track, the report says.

The streetcar, launched in February 2016, hit a milestone million riders in March, the same month it hit a monthly record for passengers at 93,909, according to the DDOT website. The service, however, still is not charging fares.

Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans acknowledged the shortcomings of the Districts public-private transit partnerships in an interview Tuesday, but he said the success of such ventures should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. He wasnt shy about admitting, however, that government oversight has fallen short in some cases.

If Metro is going to look at privatizing something, I would have to be convinced its going to save us money in the short and long term and we have the oversight in place, said Evans, who also is a D.C. Council member.

Still, the conservative-leaning American Action Forum, which is pushing the federal government to let Metro privatize operations and buy equipment from foreign suppliers to save money, says the unions report is too limited in scope to draw broad conclusions about privatization.

[Conservative Rx for Metro: Feds should let it privatize operations and buy overseas]

Theyre saying that [Metro] should have been the entity to expand and take on those roles, said Philip Rossetti, a data analyst at the forum. So the question is, would [Metros] performance have been better when we have all the problems we have now? Thats the counterfactual thats missing from this analysis, and its one thats impossible to prove.
Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam responds to a moderator during a Democratic debate Tuesday in Norfolk with former congressman Tom Perriello. The two men, who will hold their last debate May 22, are campaigning ahead of a June 13 primary. (Stephen M. Katz/Associated Press)

The Democratic candidates for governor who are running neck and neck for their partys nomination seemed to be battling different opponents during their fourth debate, as former congressman Tom Perriello repeatedly attacked President Trump and Republican front-runner Ed Gillespie instead of his primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam.

Northam, by contrast, kept his focus on state issues Tuesday night and invoked his Democratic allies in Virginia politics, from Gov. Terry McAuliffe to Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine.

For two candidates who differ very little on issues, the approaches were telling. Perriello has enjoyed national attention lately as he has drawn endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), while launching a viral media campaign that taps into the enthusiasm of young progressives frustrated by Hillary Clintons defeat last fall.

[Shades of blue; two Dems vying for nomination differ mostly on style]

Northam, who has traveled the state for years building up support from Democratic elected officials at every level, has spent more on traditional TV ads and is running on his record of being able to navigate the demands of a Republican-controlled legislature.

Trump has been a theme in all their encounters, but Perriello went after the president and his recent scandals from the start of Tuesdays debate, saying it was time to begin removing him from office.

Its incredibly important that we see leaders in Washington start to proceed with impeachment and special prosecutor proceedings, Perriello said in his opening remarks. He referred to reports that Trump shared classified information with Russian diplomats as reckless.

He then called out Gillespie, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee who has a commanding lead in the GOP nomination race, saying that he has been silent on these very serious charges.

[Gillespie has big lead in GOP race, new poll finds]

Northam, by contrast, said a central difference between him and Perriello is that he has won statewide elections and has stood up to big business and special interests. I have been pleased to work with Terry McAuliffe with the new Virginia economy, he said, touting the states 3.8 percent unemployment rate.

The debate was co-sponsored by the Greater Hampton Roads Black Democrats. The African American vote will be an important factor in winning what is usually a low-turnout primary, and both candidates have spent time cultivating African American community leaders.

Issues of race came up a couple of times Tuesday evening, as both candidates condemned recent demonstrations in Charlottesville by white supremacist groups seeking to preserve Confederate statues.

One questioner asked why the opioid crisis raging in many white, rural communities is being treated as a mental health issue when the crack epidemic that ravaged African American communities was treated as a crime.

Perriello took the topic as a chance to condemn Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his racist dog-whistling politics, and both he and Northam called for decriminalizing marijuana and reforming the criminal justice system so that African Americans are not disproportionately targeted.

The two candidates stuck to their story lines for most of the debate, and refrained from some of the needling of one another that has marked their recent encounters. Speaking to a well-behaved crowd of about 100 in the studios of WHRO public television, the two touched on issues that are big in Hampton Roads, such as sea level rise and dependence on government contracting.

Northam, who represented Norfolk in the state Senate and is from a fishing village on the Eastern Shore, took pains to talk about his efforts to get federal funding to study resiliency as a way to help the region withstand and adjust to rising sea levels.

Perriello talked more broadly about the need to pursue alternative energy sources that will help address climate change.

[Perriello and Stewart each try to ride a wave of populism into governors mansion ]

But time after time, Northam tackled questions by saying what he would do with the state legislature, while Perriello threw the issues back at the president and their Republican opponent.

On health care, Perriello touted his support in Congress for the Affordable Care Act and then blamed Republicans and Trump for working to repeal it  and attacked Gillespie for saying he would consider a state waiver that would allow insurers to charge different rates for people with preexisting conditions.

Unfortunately, Ed Gillespie has said that he would put his insurance company clients ahead of the citizens of Virginia, he said.

Once again, the issue of gas pipelines in Virginia served to highlight their narrow policy differences. As he has in every debate, Northam declined to take a hard yes-or-no stance on the two pipelines proposed for Western and Southern Virginia, saying only that they need to be subject to careful environmental review.

[Virginia power broker in the hot seat]

Perriello sharply opposes the pipelines, and took the opportunity to throw it back at Northam in terms the Hampton Roads audience would relate to  suggesting that continued reliance on fossil fuels would contribute to sea level rise. Allowing the pipelines is like someone coming to you right when digital cameras were taking off and saying you should bet your pension fund on Eastman Kodak, he said, drawing the only audience laughter of the night.

Northam jabbed Perriello for getting support from the National Rifle Association when he was in Congress and for supporting an Affordable Care Act amendment that would have restricted federal funding for abortions. A pediatric neurologist, Northam has won endorsements from NARAL and has worked closely with other womens health advocates.

But Perriello kept turning his remarks back to Gillespie and Republicans in Washington. While Northam, 57, concluded with a moving  but familiar  refrain about the hope he sees in the eyes of his young patients, Perriello, 42, suggested that Virginians are ready for something new.

We cant afford to continue to change things around the margin. We need a new generation of ideas, he said.

The two men, who will hold their last debate May 22, are campaigning ahead of a June 13 primary. On the same day, Republicans will choose from among three candidates  Gillespie; state Sen. Frank W. Wagner (Virginia Beach) and Prince William County Supervisor Corey A. Stewart.
A U.S. Border Patrol agent leads undocumented immigrants through the brush after capturing them near the U.S.-Mexico border in 2015. (John Moore/Getty Images)

The Virginia Court of Appeals is considering two cases that could determine whether young undocumented immigrants can seek special visas intended for those who cant return to their homelands because their parents have neglected, abused or abandoned them.

Across the nation, immigration lawyers increasingly have turned to the federal Special Immigrant Juvenile visa program to secure permanent legal residency for young people, mostly from Central America, who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, in many cases joining a parent who is already here.

During fiscal 2016, a total of 15,100 of the visas were approved, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, compared to 1,600 in 2010. There is a two-year backlog for applications to be processed.

In order to apply, immigrants need an order from a family judge in the state court system, affirming that they are in need of protection and cannot be safely reunited with a parent in their native country.

But different judges have interpreted the program differently, with some  including those in the cases under appeal from Loudoun and Arlington counties  saying they lack the authority to make rulings in what will ultimately become a federal immigration case.

The result, advocates say, is confusion and inconsistency over what should be a straightforward government program.

There is a lot of misunderstanding, said Greg Chen, director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. You may have courts in the same state but in different counties that have different policies in how they want to handle these.

Some states have taken steps to clarify how judges should weigh such cases. For example, in Maryland a 2014 law raised the age of who comes under a family courts jurisdiction to 21 from 18, in order to match the maximum age of eligibility for the federal program.

Virginia, where nearly 12,000 unaccompanied minors have arrived since 2014, is among the states that have left local judges to navigate the program themselves. Though there are no state-by-state statistics on Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions, a group of Virginia lawyers known as the Commission on the Needs of Children estimates that 1,382 were filed in the commonwealth last year, a calculation based on the nationwide number of visa applications and the percentage of unaccompanied minors living in Virginia.

In jurisdictions like Fairfax County, with large numbers of unaccompanied minors, family judges see many visa cases and are comfortable issuing rulings, advocates say. But their counterparts in places where such cases are rare tend to hesitate, according to legal experts in Virginia and across the country.

A state court judge, especially when they are seeing this for the first time, their first response is: Well, Im not an immigration judge. I cant possibly make this decision,  said Abigail Trillin, executive director of Legal Services for Children in San Francisco. So weve had to explain: Well, youre not being asked to make an immigration decision. 

The Loudoun case being appealed deals with a 13-year-old boy from Honduras whose mother claimed his father was emotionally abusive and threatened to kidnap his son for ransom money. The Arlington case was filed by the mother of a 16-year-old boy from Guatemala who she claims was conceived during a rape, and whose father she says has been mostly absent.

In each case, the juvenile court judge ruled the court had no authority to make a finding  decisions that were upheld in Circuit Court.

As soon as the General Assembly gives us the authority and the jurisdiction to hear these matters, Id be happy to do so, Loudoun Circuit Court Judge Jeanette A. Irby said, according to court records.

In an amicus brief on behalf of the plaintiffs, the office of Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (D) argued that the local courts do have jurisdiction. Rulings on whether a child should live with one parent or another, the brief says, are exactly the determinations that courts routinely make in custody matters.

Tanishka Cruz, an attorney with the nonprofit Legal Aid Justice Center who represented the mothers before the appeals court, said that the federal statute governing the visa program clearly requires a ruling from a local judge.

The order . . . in no way confers immigration status on the child, Cruz said. But without that order, the door is closed; They cant even knock.

William Hurd  a former Virginia solicitor general who was appointed to argue against overturning the Circuit Court decisions  raised questions about the facts in both cases, including whether the fathers were aware of the proceedings, and said neither case should be the source of a broad-based ruling.

In the Arlington case, Hurd said, the boys father was never properly notified of the petition. Cruz said an announcement of the hearing published in a local Virginia newspaper met the states notification requirements.

In the Loudoun case, Hurd said, Irby ruled that there wasnt enough evidence to prove the boy had been mistreated by his father. Hurd also questioned the motivations of the boys mother, saying she had technically abandoned her child when she left him with her mother and came to the United States in 2006. The mother arranged for the boy to join her in Sterling in 2013.

Here you have a father who is in Latin America who does not even know there are proceedings against him, Hurd said.

Critics of the visa program have raised similar concerns, alleging that some immigrant parents are making false claims of mistreatment in hopes of keeping their children from being sent back to their homelands, and that in many cases the journey to the U.S. is arranged by both parents. They also question whether a young immigrant who crosses the border illegally to join a parent who is also here illegally can legitimately be considered unaccompanied.

A bill introduced in Congress this year by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) seeks to address those concerns by proposing that the term unaccompanied minor no longer apply to those with a parent or adult relative in the United States who can assume custody. A separate bill by Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.), would restrict eligibility for the visa program to applicants who dont have parents in the United States.

If youre a parent in Central America and you can pay a smuggler to get your kid to the United States, that sort of fulfills the requirement for abandonment, even though the parents very often finance the trip to the United States, said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for Immigration Reform, which has pushed for such reforms.

Jennifer Podkul, director of policy for the Washington-based Kids in Need of Defense, said the visa program already includes reviews at every level to confirm the applicant has no safe option to return to their country.

The appeals court is expected to rule by late June. The 10-judge panel began considering the two cases last week, after an initial hearing before a three-judge panel in January.

At last weeks hearing, several judges questioned whether state law requires juvenile courts to make any ruling beyond which parent gets custody, and noted that in the Loudoun case it appeared that there wasnt enough evidence to prove parental mistreatment.

Advocates say their to goal is to make clear that family court judges do have the power  and the obligation  to rule on abandonment petitions.

Its still case by case, Podkul said. Local judges have a lot of autonomy in determining whether the specifics of a case merit the findings the child is seeking.


Army Pfc. Chelsea Manning is shown when she was known as Bradley Manning in 2013. On right, an undated photo shows Manning after she began transitioning. (From left: Patrick Semansky/AP; U.S. Army/AP)

Chelsea Manning, the transgender Army private who passed a trove of sensitive government documents to WikiLeaks in 2010, walked out of the disciplinary barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., on Wednesday morning after serving an abbreviated sentence in connection with one of the most notorious leaks of classified documents in U.S. history.

Mannings 35-year sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama, who concluded that seven years in federal custody was enough for her crimes. She now heads to Maryland, according to supporters who set up an online fundraising site that collected more than $150,000 for housing and other essentials as she re-enters society.

Wednesday morning, Manning  who wrote columns and posted to Twitter with the help of supporters while in prison  posted a photo on her social-media accounts of two feet in black Converse shoes. First steps of freedom!! she wrote.

Manning, who was previously known as Bradley Manning, later tweeted about one of her first meals outside prison: Hot, greasy pizza. And she issued a statement through the American Civil Liberties Union, which helped her get treatment for gender dysphoria while incarcerated.

After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived. I am looking forward to so much! Manning said. Whatever is ahead of me is far more important than the past. Im figuring things out right now  which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me.

Mannings representatives have declined interview requests.

Manning, 29, was an intelligence analyst for the Army at the time of her arrest in 2010. The trove of material she provided to anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks  documents known as the Iraq and Afghanistan War Logs  included video of a U.S. Apache helicopter opening fire on a group of suspected insurgents in Baghdad. Among the dead were two journalists who worked for the Reuters news agency.

She also leaked documents related to detainees at the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and about 250,000 State Department cables.

[Trump calls Chelsea Manning a traitor who does not deserve freedom]

Manning has been lauded as a hero by some and decried as a traitor by others, including President Trump. Her lengthy initial sentence and at times severe treatment while incarcerated  she spent long stretches of time in solitary confinement and at one point was made to sleep naked  made her a cause celebre for antiwar and government transparency advocates. Critics, meanwhile, said she put U.S. lives and operations at risk as an attention-getting antic.

(Thomas Johnson,Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

Obama commuted Mannings sentence, concluding that she had served enough time. The decision marked a surprising turnaround for Obama, who brought more leak prosecutions than previous administrations combined.

[Obama commutes sentence of Chelsea Manning, soldier convicted of leaking classified information]

Manning announced after her conviction that she is a woman. Her battle to receive treatment for gender dysphoria at an all-male facility increased her profile in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. She emerges from prison as one of the most recognizable transgender people in the country.

Chelsea is someone who has taken on a great personal risk and tremendous personal cost to do something she thought was in the best interest of the public, said Chase Strangio, a staff lawyer with the ACLU and a well-known transgender activist.

He called Manning an advocate for herself and others at a time when people wanted and needed a voice for government transparency, for trans rights, for principles of democracy.

The possibility that Manning could become a prominent face in the LGBT rights movement has sparked concern among some, however. Gregory T. Angelo, president of the Log Cabin Republicans, an organization advocating for LGBT conservatives, said he finds it perplexing that Manning would be idolized.

I think that it is great that Chelsea Manning is going to be able to live her life authentically, and she should most definitely be allowed to do so, but that does not excuse past behaviors that put lives at risk and put her into prison in the first place, Angelo said. There are far better representatives of the LGBT community.

That Manning will maintain a public persona now that she has been released seems a given. While in prison, she wrote a column in the Guardian newspaper in addition to her Twitter account and blog. Her writings touched on issues including the ethics of solitary confinement and the Orlando nightclub shooting, but it also detailed her efforts to gain access to gender-related treatment recommended by her doctors.

In 2014, a federal judge granted her request to formally change her name to Chelsea Elizabeth Manning. The Army also eventually allowed her to use makeup and receive hormone therapy. But it denied a plea to let her grow out her hair, which, according to photos posted on the GoFundMe site, remains trimmed into a side-swept, masculine cut.

Mannings attorneys disclosed in September that she had been approved for gender reassignment surgery. The assurances from the Army that she could have the procedure came two months after Manning tried to commit suicide, and after a hunger strike that lasted four days, the ACLU said. Her sentence was commuted before that surgery could take place.

Army officials said Manning will remain on active duty  but will be on leave  as she pursues an appeal of her court-martial conviction. That means she will not be paid but will be eligible for benefits, including health care.

In the weeks leading up to her release, Mannings Twitter account has counted down the days. On April 20: You know youve been in prison for a while, when the prospect of freedom is nerve wracking. =| And just Monday was the message, Two more days until the freedom of civilian life ^_^ Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans =P.

I personally would love for Chelsea to sit on a beach for a month and sip whatever drinks she likes to sip and relax, said Evan Greer, campaign director for Fight for the Future, a digital rights organization, who has been helping to raise money for Mannings return.

But Manning, whom Greer considers a friend after speaking with her over the phone almost every week, is an incredibly driven person, and I would expect that we will be hearing from her in her own voice, he added.

Julie Tate contributed to this report.
Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann may have invented LSD, and Timothy Leary was clearly its most prominent frontman.

But it was a self-taught chemist and obscure-by-choice figure named Nicholas Sand who was the true wizard behind the curtain, the man who launched tens of millions of acid trips across generations by producing the best, most pure, highest-quality acid ever consumed.

Mr. Sand, who with fellow chemist Tim Scully created the legendary version of LSD known as Orange Sunshine that first hit the streets of San Francisco in 1967, died April 24 at his home in the Northern California community of Lagunitas.

He was 75 and had spoken just the day before at a Psychedelic Science Conference in Oakland where the film The Sunshine Makers was screened. His friend Lorenzo Hagerty, host of the Internet program The Psychedelic Podcast, confirmed the death but did not provide a cause.

Mr. Sand was born Nicholas Francis Hiskey in Brooklyn on May 10, 1941. His father, chemist Clarence Hiskey, had worked on the top-secret Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb until authorities caught him spying for the Soviet Union. After Hiskeys wife, Marcia, divorced him, she restored her maiden name and gave it to her son.

As Nicholas Sand, he earned a degree in anthropology and sociology from Brooklyn College in 1966. By then, he had already begun to chart a different path.

Two years before, when LSD was still legal, the longtime devotee of yoga had sat naked in the lotus position in front of a roaring fire at a farmhouse in Upstate New York and taken his first hit of LSD.

I was floating in this immense black space, he later recalled. I said, What am I doing here? And suddenly a voice came through my body, and it said, Your job on this planet is to make psychedelics and turn on the world.

If we could turn on everyone in the world, he added, then maybe wed have a new world of peace and love.

Mr. Sand had been invited to that farmhouse by former Harvard University professor Richard Alpert, who soon would be better known as psychedelic guru Baba Ram Dass. Alperts former Harvard colleague, Leary, had formed the League for Spiritual Discovery (LSD) there.

A year later, Mr. Sands reputation as a drug chemist had spread to San Francisco, where another self-taught chemist, Owsley Bear Stanley, was cranking out millions of doses of LSD.

Stanley introduced Mr. Sand to yet another self-taught chemist, Scully, and they began cranking out Orange Sunshine doses. They had produced about 4 million when the government, which had outlawed LSD in 1966, busted them.

Sentenced to prison, Mr. Sand vanished into Canada, living on the run for the next 20 years while cranking out millions of LSD hits.

He claimed to have distributed them to U.S. soldiers in Vietnam in an effort to stop the war, given them to jail inmates, even taken them to India after becoming a follower of the Indian guru Shree Rajneesh. When authorities finally raided his lab in 1996, he boasted that they seized enough doses to turn on every Canadian citizen twice.

He was imprisoned for three years and sentenced to a halfway house for four more. Returning home unapologetic, he told National Geographic in 2009 that hed produced an estimated 140 million hits of LSD in his lifetime. It was a claim no one disputed.

A complete list of survivors was not immediately available.

He was dedicated to the proposal that psychedelics, when used properly, could really change the world, his friend Hagerty told the Associated Press recently. He really believed in what he was doing and of course he paid the price.

 Associated Press
Joe Biden was vice president of the United States from 2009 to January.

My father taught me that everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. Its a simple but powerful notion that lies at the heart of our identity as Americans. It is a truth that continues to drive me today, particularly when it comes to full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Over the past decade, we made tremendous progress in this journey toward full equality  new federal laws and policies to protect LGBT people, a Supreme Court decision that made marriage equality the law of the land. But important work remains, particularly regarding the treatment of transgender people. In 28 states, you can still be fired for being a lesbian, gay or bisexual  30 if youre transgender.

Progress doesnt happen by chance. It happens because good people come together and demand change. And any person of conscience, regardless of their religious or partisan beliefs, should be able to agree: Violence against any person, in any form, is intolerable. No one should be killed, tortured, assaulted or harassed because of who they are.

Yet, in Syria and Iraq, LGBT individuals face terror and torture, often at the hands of the Islamic State. Countries such as Russia  where appalling reports recently surfaced that authorities in Chechnya were imprisoning and torturing individuals believed to be gay or bisexual  Uganda and Tanzania continue to be openly hostile to LGBT people, and their political leaders have used anti-American sentiment to fuel anti-LGBT hate. And in many parts of the world, the horrific assault of corrective rape is used as an extreme form of conversion therapy to try to turn women straight.

In the face of such atrocities, it is the responsibility of every person to speak out. And Wednesday , the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, is an important moment to raise awareness, stand up and speak up about anti-LGBT hate.

Many times, this kind of discrimination, harassment and violence is justified in the name of culture. This offensive argument ignores the fundamental truth that LGBT rights are human rights. Prejudice is prejudice; inhumanity is inhumanity. Using religion or culture to license discrimination and demonizing LGBT individuals to score political points are no more justifiable around the world than they are here at home.

Progress happens when fair-minded individuals  from political leaders to on-the-ground activists  stand up to hate, prejudice and violence in all their forms. For instance, thanks to the efforts of activists in Mozambique, and the leadership of the countrys former president Joaquim Chissano, who proclaimed we need to unleash the full potential of everyone, the country recently revised its penal code to decriminalize homosexuality. Nepal continues to make progress, enshrining LGBT protections in its constitution and allowing transgender individuals and other third-gender communities to choose their gender on identity documents. In September, I was on hand at the United Nations as Chilean President Michelle Bachelet expressed her support for the freedom to marry. Bachelet has pledged to support marriage equality legislation; I hope Chile will act swiftly to add momentum in Latin America, where 70 percent of people now live in freedom-to-marry countries.

Progress is possible. But we cannot wait, we cannot stand by.

Governments, including ours, can wield the levers of diplomacy, defense and foreign aid to promote and protect the human rights of all people.

The foreign-policy community can further incorporate and highlight LGBT equality in broader conversations about global health, gender-based violence and human rights.

Business leaders, especially those at the helm of multinational companies with a footprint in countries hostile to LGBT equality, can change the terms of the debate by highlighting the economic costs of discrimination.

For my part, I will continue to speak out for the full equality of all people. The Biden Foundation has prioritized promoting LGBT equality and will use its resources to convene networks and catalyze action on issues ranging from transgender equality to LGBT youths to global human rights.

Together, we will work to defend and advance the human rights of all people, and we will not rest until equality, at home and around the world, is fully realized. Until then, to all those suffering discrimination and violence simply because of who they are or whom they love, know this: The American people are on your side.
PRESIDENT TRUMP on Feb. 14 asked then-FBI Director James B. Comey to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynns connections to Russia, according to a memorandum Mr. Comey wrote at the time. The White House says the conversation didnt happen as described. If it did, it would represent an extraordinarily improper effort by the president to influence an FBI investigation. The report certainly bolsters the case, already persuasive, for independent inquiries into Russias meddling in the U.S. election, any possible collusion by the Trump campaign  and any post-inauguration effort by the administration to disrupt investigation into any such collusion.

The New York Times, which reported the existence of the Comey memo on Tuesday, notes, An F.B.I. agents contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations. Mr. Trump had already admitted that he had the Russia investigation on his mind when he fired Mr. Comey last week. At the time, the investigations into Russias meddling and Mr. Flynns Russian connections were ramping up. If Mr. Trump had tried and failed to persuade Mr. Comey to discontinue the Flynn inquiry, the firing becomes all the more suspicious.

More than a generation has passed since the country so badly required an aggressive independent investigation into White House behavior. Tuesdays news only raises more questions. How many memos did Mr. Comey write? What else may the president have improperly asked of federal law enforcement officers? The country needs to hear from Mr. Comey, see his memos and hear White House tapes of the conversations, if they exist.

The Justice Department must appoint a special prosecutor charged with determining whether any laws were broken. But that would not be sufficient. Some of the things Mr. Trump has done, such as terminating Mr. Comey, may have been legal but inappropriate. Other elements of the Russia story, such as the election hacking, may not lend themselves to criminal prosecution, as many or all of the perpetrators are outside the country. In order to provide the public a full picture of what happened inside and outside the country, Congress must empanel an independent commission. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) can no longer duck these issues in an effort to focus on the GOP agenda. The Russia-Comey fiasco is now the countrys agenda. Mr. Trump, if his denials are true, should welcome an independent inquiry.
President Trump outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington on May 15. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Laurence H. Tribes May 14 Sunday Opinion commentary advocating impeachment of President Trump, Trump must be impeached. Heres why, was over-the-top.

There are no grounds for impeachment. We have seen no evidence of campaign collusion between Russia and the president or his associates, and no evidence has leaked from the Washington sieve.

The president includes the FBIs Russia-Trump investigation among his reasons for sacking former director James B. Comey, but this may reflect outraged innocence or a reasonable fear that Mr. Comey would bungle the probe as he did the Hillary Clinton investigation.

Theres no comparison to Watergate. In Watergate, substantial and mounting evidence pointed to presidential wrongdoing. Here, there is no disclosed evidence of wrongdoing. In Watergate, the president ordered the firing of an official appointed specifically to investigate presidential wrongdoing. Here, Mr. Comey had many things on his plate, and he wasnt the official directly overseeing the Russia-Trump investigation.

Impeachment is a serious thing. Mr. Tribe did not make a serious case for it.

James A. Dueholm, Washington
Michael Morell was acting director and deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2010 to 2013.

Most of the commentary, including my own, about what The Post says was President Trumps sharing last week of sensitive intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has focused on the very real downsides of the incident  the risks to the intelligence source or method that produced the information and the risk that other countries will begin withholding critical intelligence from the United States out of concern that something similar might happen to their information.

In this commentary, Trump, who reportedly proudly shared information provided to the United States by a third country, is criticized as not being prepared for an important meeting, for being careless during the meeting, for letting his ego drive his decisions and for not understanding that Russia is an adversary, not an ally of the United States. And this criticism is deserved. But what has been missing from the discussion so far, I think, are three lessons  one heartening, two disturbing  that provide some important and interesting context.

First, we now know that the president is actually paying attention to the intelligence community. He was evidently able to recite to the Russians the Islamic State-related threat intelligence on which he had been briefed with a significant level of detail. So, gone should be the perception that the president is not listening to the intelligence community. And gone should be the idea that the intelligence community is withholding information from the president that he needs to do his job. Neither is true.

Democrats and Republicans  and independent-minded Americans  should see these as positive. A commander in chief cannot do the job of keeping the country safe without listening closely to what the intelligence community has to say and without its members telling the president what they know. Trump not paying attention to intelligence was something a number of us feared during the transition, but we were clearly wrong about that. Time to admit it.

The idea that Trump is paying attention to the intelligence community is consistent with rumors among former intelligence officers that those in the community are getting near daily access to the president, that he is interested in the material and that he is listening and asking questions. The rumors attribute this access largely to the relationship that has grown between Trump and his CIA director, Mike Pompeo. Gaining the confidence of the president and getting access to him is one of the jobs of a CIA director. So, good for Pompeo.

Second, the presidents advisers have not been able to properly manage the president. The Lavrov incident underscores that national security adviser H.R. McMaster and his staff are failing us in two ways. They are not succeeding in persuading Trump to work off of a set of carefully written and coordinated talking points when meeting with foreign officials. And they are not always willing or able to redirect the conversation between the president and foreign officials when it is heading into inappropriate areas.

Most lay the blame here on the president because of the idea that managing him must be extraordinarily hard. While it is true that it must be difficult, that cant be the end of the story. I once briefed President George W. Bush on the intelligence communitys failure to collect insightful intelligence on an important adversary of the United States, and I made the mistake of saying it was hard. Bush quickly responded, I pay you to do hard. The American people pay McMaster and his staff to set the president up for success, not failure.

This incident is an opportunity for McMaster to sit down with Trump and have a one-on-one discussion on how to handle meetings with foreign officials going forward. McMasters ability to speak truth to power is one of the characteristics that made many of us excited when he was named national security adviser. Time to deploy that capability.

Third, the leaks that led to The Posts article on the issue have made matters worse. The Post relied on multiple sources, who leaked not only the idea that Trump had shared sensitive information with Lavrov but also many of the details of that information. Because of the leaks, the Russians now know the extreme sensitivity of the information. Because of the leaks, other governments now know what happened and may be recalculating their sharing with us. And, because of the leaks, the Islamic State may now be narrowing its search for the source or method of the intelligence on its attack plans.

Trump, who as president has the ultimate authority in the executive branch to declassify intelligence information, did not commit a crime when he shared sensitive information with the Russians. But the leakers did commit a crime, and they should be held accountable.

The country deserves a president who is going to do the hard work to master the job. But the president and, more important, the countrydeserve more balanced and nuanced commentary on how he and his administration are doing.
Michael V. Hayden, a principal at the Chertoff Group and visiting professor at George Mason Universitys Schar School of Policy and Government, was director of the National Security Agency from 1999 to 2005 and the Central Intelligence Agency from 2006 to 2009.

In November, a few days before the election, I tried to parse Donald Trumps strange affection for Vladimir Putin and the various contacts that members of his campaign had had with folks in Russia.

The best explanation I could come up with was something the Russians call polezni durak, the useful fool. Thats a term from the Soviet era describing the naive individual whom the Kremlin usually held in contempt but who could be induced to do things on its behalf.

Six months later, it is disappointing to report, the term useful fool still seems a pretty apt description.

(The Washington Post)

President Trump continues to resist the conclusion that Russia meddled in the American electoral process. As recently as last week, the best he could muster was a conditional if Russia interfered.

Understandably, that attitude led to a strained relationship with the intelligence community, a state of affairs not helped by the presidents unfounded, yet continuing, accusations that the community spied on his campaign.

Now the Russians are front and center in another controversy, this one fully of the presidents making. Last week, according to The Post, the president disclosed highly sensitive intelligence on the Islamic State to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during an Oval Office meeting.

The information reportedly derived from another countrys intelligence service, so its revelation would have violated the near-sacred third-party rule of intelligence: Information from one country cannot be shared with another without the agreement of the originator. Break that rule often enough and your intelligence begins to dry up.

The administration contends that neither sources nor methods were discussed. That may be true enough, but I have had many arguments with journalists trying to explain that revealing the fact of something often points the way to the fact how  to the very sources and methods they claim they are not threatening.

Of course, the president has absolute declassification authority and, in practice, should have great leeway in what he wants to share with other nations. The issue here is not the power of a president but the performance of this president.

Governing is new turf for Trump. He is one of the least experienced presidents in the nations history. There is no evidence of scholarship or even deep interest in the processes of U.S. government. He has little international knowledge beyond real estate and business.

But even with such a thin portfolio, he seems incapable of humility in the face of such inexperience. By all accounts, the president is impatient with process and study, preternaturally confident in his own knowledge and instincts, and indifferent to, and perhaps contemptuous of, the institutions of government designed to help him succeed.

We saw this coming in the transition when a self-confident president-elect contacted foreign leaders without benefit of briefings from, or even the knowledge of, the State Department.

So, little wonder that an impulsive president appears to have gone off script to warn his Russian visitors in dramatic fashion. Or was it to impress them with the prowess of his intelligence services?

Once again, the White House circled the wagons. National security adviser H.R. McMaster and deputy adviser Dina Powell, both of whom I know and regard highly, stated that the president had not specifically revealed sources and methods and asserted that the Post article was false.

Debates over what exactly the president said or did not say were made moot, though, when the president tweeted that he could damn well do what he pleased in these circumstances.

McMaster and Powell could not have been comfortable being thrust into this position. One hopes that they are not put there very often.

Indeed, there is a creeping corruption near the president as his spokespeople are frequently forced to defend that which should not be defended. The national security team cant allow itself to be touched by that.

Then there is the question of the leak itself. Who told The Post  and, very quickly, other news organizations  about the meeting? The presidents defenders are already pointing to dark elements of the deep state or to holdovers from the Obama administration.

Maybe, but there are alternative explanations. There may have been more here than just malice or obstructionism.

Reportedly, National Security Council staffers were concerned enough about the revelations that they felt compelled to warn the CIA and the National Security Agency. Clearly, someone in government was concerned about potential damage. Once that word was out, its not hard to imagine the alarm among government professionals increasingly uneasy about managing the consequences of what they see as presidential missteps.

The administration will probably try to hunt down some of those folks, at least those who talked to The Post. Leaks are leaks, after all. But one hopes they also turn considerable attention to making our president more knowledgeable and prepared  and more open to the processes and protocols that have governed the behavior of others who have held that high office.
Steve Vladeck is a professor of law at the University of Texas School of Law and co-editor of Just Security. His Twitter handle is @steve_vladeck.

Now that President Trump has all but confirmed that he shared classified information with senior Russian officials, the conversation has shifted from whether it really happened to whether the president can really do that. The conventional wisdom suggests that, while disclosing such information may have been a Really Bad Idea, the president does not face any legal problem because he has the ultimate authority to declassify national security information.

In fact, the legal situation is much more complicated. A number of laws may well prohibit what Trump did, and Congress may have the power to subject even a sitting president to such restrictions. No one should expect grand jury indictments to be forthcoming. (Spoiler alert: They wont be.) But the classic Nixonian argument  when the president does it, its not illegal  doesnt apply in this situation.

First, even if the president does have unfettered authority to declassify whatever national-security secrets he chooses, its pretty clear that this is not what happened here; whatever he told the Russians is still secret, as evidenced by The Posts initial decision, at the governments urging, not to publish the details of the underlying revelations. Whatever the scope of the presidents power, he presumably has to actually exercise it in order to invoke it as a legal justification. He did not do that. Instead, the most charitable reading of what the president did was to authorize the Russian officials to receive still-classified information, a move that implicates a different array of legal authorities.

Second, many of the relevant criminal statutes dont actually turn on whether the wrongly disclosed information is classified or not. For example, the relevant section of the Espionage Act  which the Obama administration used so controversially to prosecute leakers  prohibits the knowing disclosure of information relating to the national defense to any person not entitled to receive it so long as the discloser has reason to believe [the information] could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation.

Likewise, the federal conversion statute, which has also been used to prosecute leakers, prohibits the conversion to . . . the use of another of any thing of value of the United States. If Trump had, for example, handed copies of photographs to the Russians that they could not otherwise have obtained, its not at all clear why that language wouldnt be satisfied, too  even if the photos were not actually classified.

Third, and perhaps most important, it is not nearly as clear as commentators tend to assume that the presidents inherent constitutional power over national security information is not subject to limits  such that any attempt by Congress to restrict the presidents authority would be unconstitutional.

Supporters of the presidents power in this area typically invoke the Supreme Courts 1988 decision in Department of the Navy v. Egan, which held that the presidents authority to classify and control access to information bearing on national security . . . flows primarily from this constitutional investment of power in the President and exists quite apart from any explicit congressional grant. But Egan concerned the presidents power to act on this topic without congressional authorization. It did not reach the altogether different and far more serious question of whether Congress has any role to play in national security classification  and who would prevail in an interbranch dispute over classification.

Although Congress of late has largely abdicated any authority or responsibility for national security classification, that hasnt always been the case. Thus, the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 includes detailed legislative rules governing the classification of nuclear secrets (many of which are still on the books). The Freedom of Information Act, signed in 1966, gives courts the power in some circumstances to review government claims that requested materials cannot be disclosed because they contain classified information, and to overturn such claims in contexts in which they are not consistent with the underlying statutory rules.

Of course, the scope of Congresss power over national security classification is an entirely academic exercise; even after this latest imbroglio, this Congress is not likely to revisit control of national security secrets anytime soon. And even if the president did transgress some statutory prohibition, its not as if he realistically faces criminal prosecution for doing so. It therefore makes plenty of sense that the discussion of Trumps patently indefensible disclosures has shifted to why its so dangerous as a policy and political matter  assuming away the significance of any legitimate legal objections.

But now more than ever, it is incumbent upon all of us  the press, the public and all those who would seek to hold our government accountable  to tread carefully before assuming that the president is vested with special powers to ignore rules that bind the rest of us. As with much of the commentary emanating from the White House these days, there are reasons to believe that its just not true.
Think of the intelligence community and its fragile array of secret relationships as a china shop. Think of President Trump as a bull, restless and undisciplined. For months, weve been watching the disastrous collision of the two.

Trumps latest self-inflicted spy scandal was the disclosure this week that he had boastfully revealed to Russian visitors his knowledge of highly classified reports about threats by the Islamic State to attack planes with undetectable bombs hidden in laptop computers. This is the kind of secret intelligence that saves lives; bragging about it to foreign visitors was unwise, perhaps even reckless.

Then came the stunning reports Tuesday evening that in February, Trump had asked FBI Director James B. Comey to drop his investigation into the Russia connections of Michael Flynn, whom Trump had just fired as national security adviser for lying about those same contacts. Trumps alleged request may become a signature phrase: I hope you can let this go.

Observing this White House in action is sometimes like watching a horror movie. The good guys (and yes, there are a few) keep falling through trap doors. National security adviser H.R. McMaster, whose credibility is precious, struggled Tuesday to defend Trumps actions in disclosing terrorism information as wholly appropriate. He said the president hadnt even been aware of what country had provided the terrorism information. Israel, reportedly the source country, issued a statement endorsing its intelligence-sharing relationship with Trump.

If theres no problem here, why did Tom Bossert, assistant to the president for homeland security, call the directors of the CIA and NSA to warn them about what the president had told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak? The White House line is that Bossert was freelancing. Maybe so, but thats not a bad word for Trumps own behavior.

(The Washington Post)

Trump is a daily reminder of why presidents need protocols and talking points. When someone as inexperienced and impulsive as Trump tries to wing it, the result is chaos or worse. The Lawfare blog, one of the most fair-minded chroniclers of national security issues, reviewed the string of Trumps recent actions involving intelligence and asked whether he was violating his oath to faithfully execute the Office of President. Thats a polite way of asking whether he should be impeached.

The threat to Trumps presidency is deepening. His credibility is unraveling, with prominent Republicans now voicing concern about his erratic, impulsive decisions. Each new revelation builds the narrative of a man who has been trying to bully or cajole intelligence and law enforcement officials since his election. As one GOP veteran told me: There are no guardrails for this president.

Intelligence issues have been at the center of Trumps troubles since before the election, animated by a strange mix of anxiety, insecurity and vanity. Last fall, he began calling reports of Russian election meddling a hoax; he later likened intelligence officers to Nazis; after his inauguration, he delivered a smug, self-congratulatory speech at the CIAs hall of heroes; he reportedly pressed the FBI director, who was leading the Russia investigation, for a declaration of loyalty and then fired him after he didnt deliver  and allowed the White House to issue a misleading explanation.

And then Tuesdays nights allegation that Trump wanted the FBI to halt the investigation of Flynn, and concentrate instead on leaks.

1 of 58 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  A look at President Trumps first year in office, so far View Photos The presidents term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media. Caption Scenes from the Republicans beginning months in the White House. Jan. 25, 2017 Trump signs an executive order for border security and immigration enforcement improvements at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington. Chip Somodevilla/Pool photo via Bloomberg News Wait 1 second to continue.

Against this litany, Trumps garrulous discussion of terrorism with the Russians strikes me as a secondary issue. Presidents get to decide what they want to tell foreign officials. But this incident is another warning light.

Every president encounters damaging leaks and other intelligence issues. During the Carter administration, The Post revealed that Jordans King Hussein was on the CIA payroll. The station chief in Amman cant have enjoyed that revelation, but the relationship continued.

The George W. Bush administration suffered catastrophic intelligence failures in the 9/11 attacks and in assessing Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, yet its intelligence relationships abroad were, if anything, deepened. The Obama administration inadvertently bolstered an Associated Press story revealing a British/Saudi penetration of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula  a breach that infuriated foreign partners but didnt end cooperation.

The difference in Trumps case is that he doesnt seem sure whether the intelligence community is his friend or enemy. He attacks the CIA and FBI directors when he thinks theyre challenging his legitimacy. Then he boasts to Lavrov and Kislyak about what great intelligence he gets.

This presidential love-hate relationship with intelligence needs to change. It demeans the government and, just as important, its self-destructive. Intelligence relationships are built on trust. So are successful presidencies. The bull needs to get out of the china shop.

Read more from David Ignatiuss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Democrats were at the barricades over the conduct and policies of President Trump long before the blockbuster developments of the past week. One question now is whether they can step back enough to let events play out slowly, deliberately and without prejudice, whatever the ultimate outcome.

With the revelation that fired FBI director James B. Comey has notes of a Feb. 14 meeting in which the president allegedly urged him to back off the investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, there is an urgent need to find out exactly what happened between the two men who are now adversaries in what has quickly come to resemble a Shakespearean tale.

[Notes made by FBI Director Comey say Trump pressured him to end Flynn probe]

In todays overheated political and media environments, there is an almost irresistible desire to reach conclusions long before all the evidence is in. That cottage industry is in overdrive, as anyone absorbing the commentary on cable news or trying to keep up with the ever-scrolling tweets is aware. It is far easier to spin forward with speculation than to wait patiently for the investigative machinery to catch up.

Trumps presidency was in trouble before the New York Times hurled the Comey memo story into the public domain. Now the president and the White House are under siege. But just how much trouble, and what the consequences will be, cannot yet be known.

View Graphic Team Trumps ties to Russian interests

Investigations of presidential administrations are always political as well as legal, and it is the political aspect of this that presents Democrats with some hard choices. It has been clear since the day after the inauguration, when streets around the country and the world were filled with demonstrators registering their disapproval of the new president, that the Democratic Party is being led from the bottom up.

Any sense that congressional leaders or former presidents or former or prospective presidential candidates are directing the opposition is misplaced. The leaders are following the people and have been for months. But these leaders nonetheless must make strategic decisions and render judgments about how to proceed in the face of multiple investigations with multiple strands off the president, his administration, his campaign and his past business record.

[Key Democrats challenge GOP but call impeachment talk hasty]

Everything looks simple and obvious to many Democrats, who believe Trump is unfit for office and threatens to do great damage to the country. That is what will continue to rise up from the rank-and-file. But there is another constituency that Democratic leaders ought to be thinking about, the millions of people who backed Trump in November.

Trump supporters see all this  the daily attacks by the Democrats on the president and his policies, as well as the startling revelations coming from mainstream news organizations  as part of the lefts attempt to delegitimize a president who won an electoral college majority and perhaps to try to undo the results of that election. The more damaging the new allegations appear to be, the more many in Trumps base see it as a grand conspiracy by the very elite they rejected last year.

A long-polarized country is now even more divided in the era of Donald Trump. On one side, there is anger toward the president and impatience to render judgment. On the other side, there is admiration for Trump and deep suspicion about the motives of his detractors. What the two sides share is mutual disrespect, even hostility, toward one another. That makes for a politically toxic environment in which to try to conduct the careful and serious investigations now called for.

Public opinion has not shifted notably. Trumps base remains relatively solid. There are signs or suggestions of cracks in what has been a solid wall supporting Trump, but nothing dramatic enough to suggest that the president has lost significant ground among those who helped put him in office. The history of the past two years says Trumps ability to retain support during times of controversy far exceeds that of other politicians. Whether he has entered different territory is the question.

Can Democratic leaders rise above this, even marginally? Can they apply pressure for the most aggressive investigations  through a select committee or special prosecutor  with as little political hype and spin as possible? Can they take on the president without being gratuitous in their criticisms? They now see the possibility of political gains because of what the president is going through, but that cannot be their principal motivation or even be perceived to be.

The events of the past week have accelerated everything surrounding the Trump presidency. New information has come at a dizzying pace. Yet very little of it has been moved through the investigative channels. What has been moving through remains opaque.

[Mitch McConnell just shut down any hopes Democrats had of an independent Russia investigation]

That the Russians meddled nefariously in the election remains the most concrete conclusion to date. Other matters have yet to be resolved, including possible cooperation between the Russians and Trump campaign associates. Now added to those questions are ones about the conduct and fitness of the president himself and whether he obstructed justice. But the Comey memo still exists publicly on the basis of anonymous sources, not on the testimony of the former director under oath in a public setting.

Trumps candidacy and presidency have been described as one continuing political reality television show. The investigations fall into another category, more serious and sobering and with enormous consequences for the future of the country.

Democrats may believe they know where this will end and are eager to get there as quickly as possible. But the investigative process is also an educational process in which public confidence in the eventual outcome remains a critically important factor. Thats part of the challenge of the opposition party as the investigations deepen.
President Donald Trump listens at a news conference in the East Room of the White House on April 12. His transition from corporate giant to president, some aides say, has been ruffled by his reliance on techniques better suited for the business world than politics. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

As President Trump manages his latest crises, he is turning to strategies from his tumultuous business career: Rely on family and a few trusted advisers, demand absolute loyalty from those beyond the inner circle, threaten opponents with legal action, and insist on bare-bonebriefings.

But the tactics that Trump think served him so well in business may be adding to his self-inflicted wounds as a special counsel prepares to launch an investigation into allegations that Russia sought to influence the 2016 election.

Trumpsfamily has no government background, and most of his most trusted advisers never worked in a White House. His demands to government officials for personal loyalty are superseded by their loyalty to the Constitution. His threats  such as tweeting that fired FBI Director James B. Comey better hope that there are no tapes of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!  have often backfired. Comeys associates provided quotes from a memo about the conversation that appear to support Comeys version of events.

And Trumps famous aversion to in-depth analysis  he once wrote that the day I realized it can be smart to be shallow was, for me, a deep experience  has led to concerns that he doesnt absorb complicated briefing material from intelligence agencies and other sources.

Barbara Res, former executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said that Trump would often come up with business proposals that needed someone to tell him thats not a good idea, Donald. It seems to me that people are not doing that at the White House.

(The Washington Post)

Trumps view of Washington is rooted in deep distrust of government authority, stemming from the day in 1973 when the Justice Department sued him and his father for racial bias at apartmentsownedby Trump Management. The story about the case marked the first time Trump appeared on the front page of the New York Times, along with his quote calling the charges ridiculous. Trump vowed never to settle the case but ultimately felt forced to do so. That set a pattern that lasted decades and increased Trumps animosity toward government.

As president, Trump continued the same defiant strategy  only to be forced into concession. When judges suspended his entry ban that mostly affected Muslim travelers and immigrants, he attacked judges and vowed to see you in court, just as he had during his business career. But he ultimately dropped that idea and came up with a new policy, which also has been suspended.

This week, Trumps business strategies similarly appear to have failed him in the Comey firing. Trump often deployed a tactic of telling others that he was taping their conversations and monitoring their work, and threatening to file lawsuits or to reduce payments owed to contractors. By suggesting that he had secretly recorded his dinner conversation with Comey, Trump apparently hoped to prevent the former FBI director from speaking negatively about him. The White House has declined to confirm or deny that such recordings exist.

In response to the threat, Comey associates revealed that he had written a memo outlining how the president allegedly asked that an investigation into ties between Russia and his fired national security adviser, Michael Flynn, be dropped. Lawmakers are calling for documents that would shed light on Trumps attempt to pressure Comey.

Tellingly, Trumprisked fallout in an effort to support Flynn, who he thought was loyal  putting aside the fact that Trump fired him for lying to Vice President Pence about discussions with the Russian ambassador. Flynn, Trump told NBC News anchor Lester Holt in an interview last week, is a very good person.

Flynns firing took 18 days from the time that acting attorney general Sally Yates warned White House Counsel Donald McGahn that Flynn had compromised himself by having private discussions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

That has raised questions inside and outside the White House about McGahns role and whether he felt comfortable urging Trump to fire Flynn. McGahn is the nephew of Patrick Paddy McGahn, who once was Trumps lawyer.

(Peter Stevenson,Jason Aldag,Whitney Leaming/The Washington Post)

When Trump experienced potentially catastrophic financial problems in the Atlantic City casino business, the elder McGahn played a crucial role in helping Trump survive the crises. John ODonnell, the president of one of Trumps casinos, recalled in his book Trumped! that he told Trump that Paddy McGahn was overbilling. But Trump stood by McGahn, saying the attorney had a record of 13 wins and no losses. Trumps way of expressing gratitude to Paddy McGahn was to create a bar called Paddys Saloon in the Trump Taj Mahal.

Paddy McGahn was one of the few people that just didnt care and would say anything to Trump, ODonnell said in a telephone interview. He was a fixer, getting out in front of things, issues that might come, before they turned into problems.

After Yates warned the younger McGahn that Flynn could be compromised by the Russians  and may have broken the law by having the conversation with Kislyak  it was 2 weeks before Flynn was fired.

Trump told NBC News last week that my White House counsel, Don McGahn, came back to me and [it] did not sound like an emergency.

Yates, however, said in a CNN interview that we expected the White House to act.

A former White House lawyer who has spoken to McGahn said the counsel ill served the president if he did not make it sound like an emergency. He had an obligation to make it clear to the president that the Department of Justice had raised a critical issue that needed an immediate resolution, said the lawyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The lawyer said he sometimes had to tell a president he couldnt do something, and he sometimes wasnt happy about it. But playing such a role provides a first  or, sometimes, last  line of defense for a president, the lawyer said.

Separately, a veteran Republican who has discussed the matter with White House officials said there are concerns that McGahn, unlike his uncle, was reluctant to stand up to Trump.

McGahn did not respond to a request for comment, and a White House spokesman did not respond to questions about him. A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said there is no reason to assess McGahns role because officials dont think that anything wrong occurred.

Trumps reliance on attorneys is a hallmarkof his business career. His lawyers filed hundreds of lawsuits against contractors, business associates, journalists and government entities. He often paired the lawsuits with verbal vitriol, seeking to intimidate those he sued. While Trump keeps up the vitriol in the White House with his use of Twitter, it has caused much angst in his own party, as he makes statements that ignite new controversies, sometimes contradicting his media representatitves.

Trump has had difficulty transitioning from the way he communicated with the public as a business executive. In that role, he usually spoke for himself. He gave countless interviews instead of having a public relations official speak for him.

As president, he has had to cede much of that role to the media office, which has sometimes provided misleading or incorrect information. Trump has acknowledged those mistakes by tweeting that As a very active President with lots of things happening, it is not possible for my surrogates to stand at podium with perfect accuracy! He suggested that he might cancel media briefings and hand out written statements.

As Trump considers how to curtail the turmoil surrounding his presidency, one of his senior aides said that the presidents history provides a heartening example. After Trump filed six corporate bankruptcies and $900 million in personal debt, he retooled his image and changed the way he did business. He went from risking his own money to profiting by selling his brand and image. And, the aide noted, Trump wrote a book called The Art of the Comeback.
The world spins faster these days, but in Washington, as President Trump is now learning, the essential chemistry of crisis  quick to boil, difficult to dampen  hasnt changed in four decades.

Tom Railsback, one of the last surviving members of the House Judiciary Committee that voted to impeach Richard M. Nixon, recalls the moment he knew he and his party finally had to break with their wayward president. I personally liked Richard Nixon, said Railsback, a Republican from Illinois who is now 85. He campaigned for me. But I reached a point  a number of us did  where we all felt that this was the most important decision of our lives.

No such decision confronts Republicans in Congress or the administration right now, but within the presidents party this week, what had been a fairly solid wall of support has suddenly developed cracks  the latest being the appointment late Wednesday of a special counsel to investigate Russias role in Trumps election. Are those cracks dangerous splits in the foundation of Trumps support or merely cosmetic chinks that might be patched by, say, a successful presidential trip to Europe and the Middle East?

The danger he faces is his own party, with a growing chorus of leading Republicans who want to distance themselves from Trump because he has the smell of a wounded animal, said Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian who met with the president-elect at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., in December as Trump prepared to take office. Right now, there arent many Republicans in Congress facing reelection who are going to want to be in photo opportunities with him. Hes a man without coattails.

[Lawmakers demand FBI, White House hand over records.]

(Peter Stevenson,Jason Aldag,Whitney Leaming/The Washington Post)

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) is old enough to recall watching Republicans turn against Nixon in the latter phases of the Watergate investigation. What Im worried about is, in the early 1970s, politicians like me were standing around saying, Nixons okay; he didnt do anything, and look what it led to, said Simpson, who was in dental school as the Nixon presidency crumbled.

Now, with revelations dominating the news almost daily, you find Republican politicians kind of a little leery about saying either they support Trump or Oh, no, this is all made-up, fake news bulls--- stuff, Simpson said. Theyve seen whats happened in the past, and as long as this continues, its hard to stand behind him, Ill tell you in all honesty.

But where some see the start of a snowballing opposition, others caution that a momentary crisis does not necessarily imply collapse.

I see the parallels with Watergate, but the differences are enormous, said David Greenberg, a historian at Rutgers University who has written books on Nixon and the politics of media coverage. We are so far from the mountain of evidence we had in the spring of 1973. Some Republicans feel its imperative now to furrow their brows about Trumps behavior, but for the most part, they are still very much on board with him. Were in the early stages, certainly not the endgame.

[Rosensteins Senate appearance Thursday will be a big moment for him  and for Trump]

In the Watergate scandal, hard evidence  including the burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the discovery of Nixons White House taping system  as well as convictions of some of the presidents aides made it easier for Republicans to break with their president, Railsback said. He does not think that the crisis that has engulfed the Trump presidency has reached that point, but he viscerally recalls the feeling of collapsing confidence that led him and his fellow Republicans to discard core beliefs about loyalty and party discipline.

It was easier then because things were a lot more nonpartisan, and in those days I had very good friends that were Democrats, he said. But there came a point when both parties had to tone down the rhetoric and look for the common good.

(Thomas Johnson/The Washington Post)

On Capitol Hill and in the conservative media Wednesday, by word and by gesture, Republicans edged away from the president whose world-shaking election last fall had put them where theyd dreamed of being since 2007  in charge of the whole kit and caboodle in Washington, finally in position to turn their ideas into action.

But after a whirlwind first hundred days of china-breaking rhetoric and frustratingly stalled progress on Trumps biggest initiatives, this new presidency has become mired in the mud of scandal: The firing of the FBI director, who was leading an investigation into any role Russia may have played in Trumps election. The presidents decision to share classified information with Russian officials. A report that Trump had asked FBI chief James B. Comey whether he might shut down an investigation into Trumps former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Then, on Wednesday, the Justice Department announced the appointment of a special counsel, heightening the sense of an administration under siege.

[Special counsel appointed to oversee probe of alleged Russian interference in 2016 election.]

Republicans in Congress moved from ritual statements of solidarity to worries about Trumps troubling behavior, and from assurances that the process was working to outright calls for independent investigations of the presidents actions. But only two Republicans joined with 197 House Democrats to sponsor a bill that would have created a commission to look into suspected Russian interference in the 2016 election; GOP lawmakers on Wednesday blocked a vote on the bill. Still, Republican leaders of committees in both chambers of Congress demanded that the White House produce documents and any tapes, if recordings exist, that might shed light on reports that Trump pressed Comey to halt his investigation.

Sometimes, silence spelled out the shift in Republican support for the president. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) ignored questions from reporters about the controversies. On Fox News, where Republican lawmakers are most comfortable speaking to their base, anchor Bret Baier on Tuesday night told viewers that he had found no one to defend the president. Weve tried tonight to get Republicans to come out and talk to us, and there are not Republicans willing to go on camera tonight, he said. This story changed the dynamic on Capitol Hill.

Current politicians, as well as those who served during the Nixon and Bill Clinton impeachment processes, said they based their decisions about a presidents ability to serve on some combination of public opinion, consensus among political and media voices, and their own moral compasses.

Although his constituents are not following every twist in the D.C. drama, Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) said: I do think its taking a toll on the psyche of our country. You know, this constant dose of scandal, of controversy, of intrigue, its just not healthy. What it does is it erodes the trust and confidence in our institutions.

Curbelo, whose South Florida district voted for Hillary Clinton for president by a wide margin, said he has decided to make public the discussion of impeachment that has become commonplace in private chatter on the Hill.

If any congressional committee documents and concludes that any federal official is guilty of obstruction of justice, he said, certainly that would rise to the level of impeachment. . . . I dont think thats what will likely end up happening. But is it something thats on peoples minds around here? Yes. I happen to be saying it publicly; most members are saying it privately.

After Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, announced an inquiry into the Trump-Comey meeting, he said, I had a number of members send me a personal text saying, Thank you, good job, keep it up. Glad were out there, not ducking this. 

Chaffetz said his partys credibility is at stake. The public is really good at sensing authenticity, he said. If we fall anywhere short of being thorough, responsible and complete in our investigation, the public will get it and theyll get rid of us.

Although Trumps approval ratings are historically low for a new president, they remain well above the depths that Nixon and George W. Bush experienced at the nadirs of their presidencies. The thing that would make these cracks really widen would be hard evidence directly linking Trump or top aides to Russia, or showing a deliberate plan to snuff out the investigation, Greenberg said.

I dont think this has reached the point for an impeachment inquiry, but both parties have to move quickly to complete a careful investigation, Railsback said. Its overheated now  some of that has been brought on by the president, but the media has been overly aggressive and too speculative.

Trump loyalists  and the president himself  have sought to paint the snowballing media coverage of the Comey memo and Trumps disclosures of classified information to Russian officials as evidence of a partisan, anti-Trump bias.

Look at the way Ive been treated lately, especially by the media, the president said during his commencement address Wednesday at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. No politician in history  and I say this with great surety  has been treated worse or more unfairly.

Presidents have faced the ultimate sanction mainly when there was bipartisan consensus that they had lost the trust of the nation. With Watergate, Greenberg said, from fairly early on, there were at least some Republican voices that were critical, and that shaped public opinion. With the Clinton impeachment, it was very hard to argue at any point that this was anything other than partisan. Until you have that bipartisanship, talk of impeachment is wishful thinking by Democrats.

At this early stage in the Trump presidency, there is still ample opportunity to build support, Brinkley said. He could do a prime-time address to the American people like Ronald Reagan did in the Iran-contra crisis, the historian said. He still has a core base of supporters, but he hasnt sought to unite Americans beyond his base.

For decades, Trump has boasted that he thrives along the edges of failure, that he and risk are the most comfortable of bedfellows.

At the Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday, Trump told the graduates that they will face rough passages, just as he is facing today. Never, ever, ever give up, he said. Things will work out just fine.

Thirty years ago, as he was amassing his first fortune, Trump explained why he had such a voracious appetite for properties and publicity: I do it to do it, he wrote in his bestseller, Trump: The Art of the Deal. But in the end, youre measured not by how much you undertake, but by what you finally accomplish.

In that same book, however, Trump  always brimming with confidence that he can land any deal, vanquish any rival  made one concession. Making choices, he wrote by way of explaining why he would rather run his own company than take his business public, is a lot easier when you have to answer only to yourself.

Mike DeBonis, Paul Kane and Carol D. Leonnig contributed to this report.
Comfortable chastising and cajoling in his fluent English, Sergei Lavrov has brought scowls and smiles to the faces of officials from four U.S. administrations during more than two decades as a senior statesman from Russia.

So it was no surprise that when the Russian foreign minister paid a visit to President Trump last Wednesday, there were broad grins all around the Oval Office  just in time for Moscows official photographer to memorialize a chummy image of a tete-a-tete that Trump might now wish he could forget.

Lavrov  almost certainly aware of Trumps proud indifference to the conventions of his office, especially when trying to impress visitors  listened as Trump bragged about the intelligence he receives and shared highly classified information from a U.S. partner with Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, who also attended, according to current and former U.S. officials.

The meeting that produced one of the biggest crises yet for a White House already well accustomed to tumult began as a favor from one president to another.

On May 2, eight days before Lavrov showed up at the White House, Russian President Vladimir Putin was on the phone with Trump and made a request. Putin had new ideas about stopping the civil war carnage in Syria, according to a senior U.S. official, and noted that his top diplomat, Lavrov, would soon be visiting the United States for a previously scheduled meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

A photo made available by the Russian Foreign Ministry shows President Trump, far left, meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, second to left, and other U.S. and Russian officials during their White House meeting on May 10. (Russian Foreign Ministry/AFP/Getty Images)

Will you see him? Putin asked Trump, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private talks.

Yes, Trump replied.

Lavrovs itinerary had him going nowhere near Washington  4,100 miles away in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he and Tillerson would be attending a meeting of the Arctic Council, the group of countries that have territory in the Arctic region. Putin glossed over that detail with Trump, however, and once he agreed to a face-to-face meeting with Lavrov, the Russian minister changed his plans to jet first to Washington.

For the Kremlin, a private audience with the president was a major opportunity to show the world that U.S.-Russia relations were normalizing.

Since the crisis in Ukraine, when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and sent troops into breakaway eastern Ukraine, the United States has sought to show that it is not conducting business as usual with Russian figures, said Andrew Weiss, a Russia specialist who is vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

[Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian foreign minister and ambassador]

But Putin and his deputies, Weiss said, have sought whenever they could to lessen that international isolation and demonstrate, See, were back in the family of nations, and were all going to get back to business again. 

1 of 58 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  A look at President Trumps first year in office, so far View Photos The presidents term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media. Caption Scenes from the Republicans beginning months in the White House. Jan. 25, 2017 Trump signs an executive order for border security and immigration enforcement improvements at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington. Chip Somodevilla/Pool photo via Bloomberg News Wait 1 second to continue.

Trump on Tuesday said that his meeting with Lavrov was very, very successful and that it was a precursor to a lot of great success over the next coming years in fighting global terrorism.

Trumps advisers insisted that the president did nothing wrong.

What the president discussed with the foreign minister was wholly appropriate to that conversation and is consistent with the routine sharing of information between the president and any leaders with whom hes engaged, national security adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters Tuesday.

In one important respect, the Trump administrations hand might have been forced. After Putin received Tillerson in Moscow last month  meeting privately with the secretary of state for two hours at the Kremlin  the United States owed reciprocity to Russia in the form of an audience with Trump for Tillersons Russian counterpart, Lavrov. Rejecting Putins request for a Trump-Lavrov meeting would have represented a breach in diplomatic tradition.

Never mind the United States growing list of grievances with Russia  which includes the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered with the 2016 presidential election to help elect Trump, as well as Moscows refusal to rein in support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad amid that countrys civil war and humanitarian crisis.

U.S. officials moved forward regardless to orchestrate Lavrovs meeting with Trump. Weiss said that throws out the very limited leverage we have with the Russians, and makes it look like were softies.

The meeting took place the morning of May 10 in the Oval Office, the very symbol of presidential power, and White House aides took pains to keep the plan from leaking to reporters. It was not until the presidents daily schedule was released about 10:30 p.m. on May 9 that the Lavrov meeting was confirmed.

The date was set before Trump knew he would be firing James B. Comey as FBI director on the afternoon of May 9. The presidents advisers knew the optics would be bad politically, one of them said, but calculated that the fallout would be just as bad if Trump abruptly canceled on Lavrov, so he kept the appointment.

There was no photo availability for Lavrov pulling up at the White House driveway, as is typical for arriving foreign dignitaries. The meeting was considered closed press, meaning that the White House press pool was not allowed to enter the Oval Office for what is known as a photo spray, which usually lasts for a minute or two.

Instead, the U.S. and Russian officials who negotiated the visit agreed in advance that the meeting would be documented only by one official photographer from each delegation. A few hours before the meeting, according to a White House official, some of Trumps aides wondered why they could not bring in the press corps and were told it had been predetermined that there would be no access.

The two photographers took pictures at the start of the meeting and then left the room. White House aides said they were under the impression that the Russian photographer in attendance was on Lavrovs staff, and were angry when they later saw the photos published online by Tass, the state-owned Russian news agency.

[Presence of Russian photographer in Oval Office raises security concerns]

The Tass photographers presence also raised security alarms with former U.S. intelligence officials, who cited the possibility that a hidden listening device or other surveillance equipment could have been brought into the Oval Office. Administration officials played down the danger and said the photographer and his equipment were subjected to a security screening before entering the White House.

Still, U.S. officials acknowledge that they were outmaneuvered by their Russian counterparts, at least on the photographers, and got rolled, in the words of one.

The images selected by Tass showed Trump, Lavrov and Kislyak laughing, as if telling jokes or engaging in backslapping banter. The White House later released three pictures depicting a more serious exchange between Trump and Lavrov, but not until after the Russian photos circulated widely on social media.

All of those photos that the Russians released of them all standing around laughing  this is the country that just violated our sovereignty, just interfered in our presidential election, said Michael McFaul, a U.S. ambassador to Russia under President Barack Obama. It sends a signal, unfortunately, that Trump doesnt care about that.

Weiss said, The photos of people yukking it up in the Oval Office gave a sense that theres nothing wrong with U.S.-Russia relations, were all pals.

There were six people from the U.S. side in the room during the Lavrov meeting: Trump, Tillerson, McMaster and deputy national security adviser Dina Powell, as well as two more junior aides who are subject-matter experts, according to a senior administration official.

For Trump and Lavrov, the agenda included a discussion of Ukraine and Syria, though from different perspectives.

In advance of the meeting, Trump was given briefing materials along with a cover memorandum highlighting the points his national security staff wanted him to raise with Lavrov. Normally, McMaster briefs Trump immediately before a foreign leader meeting, but the senior administration official did not know if he did so the morning of Lavrovs visit.

In the Obama era, there would be a pre-brief and we would walk through all the talking points, said McFaul, who prepared Obama for his May 2009 Oval Office meeting with Lavrov. That would have been the moment to brief the president about what is sensitive information and what is not.

After last weeks meeting, Lavrov praised Trump. Addressing reporters at the Russian Embassy in Washington, he said, The dialogue between Russia and the U.S. is now free from the ideology that characterized it under the Barack Obama administration.

Lavrov dismissed allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. election as a fictional narrative  apparently one issue on which he and Trump agree. The president has called investigations into Russias meddling a taxpayer-funded charade and a total hoax.

None of us touched on that bacchanalia, Lavrov said, an apparent reference to the Roman festival of drunken revelry.

Speaking the next day in Alaska, Lavrov said the most important takeaway from his Oval Office visit had been that President Trump reaffirmed his resolve to normalize relations. He later wrote about this on Twitter.

Trump tweeted a picture of himself posing with Lavrov  alongside a second picture from a meeting his aides had kept secret from reporters, showing him grinning behind the Resolute Desk with Pavlo Klimkin, Ukraines foreign minister, who met separately with Trump in the Oval Office on the same day.

Trump used a hashtag: #LetsMakePeace!
Parks Bennett, left, and Matt Oczkowski are the founders of Campaign Inbox, a start-up focusing on email fundraising. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Last fall, Matt Oczkowski and Parks Bennett were logging 12-hour days in a rented office in San Antonio that smelled of Chick-fil-A and Doritos, focused on one mission: to elect Donald Trump president.

As they raced to crunch voter data and build up Trumps small-donor base, an idea began to jell: Could they apply data science to make email fundraising more effective and transparent?

The concept, which the two young GOP digital strategists had begun discussing earlier in the cycle while working for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walkers presidential bid, is the heart of a company theyre formally launching this week called Campaign Inbox.

There has to be some innovation in this space, said Oczkowski, who helped lead the data science efforts for the Trump campaign as head of product for Cambridge Analytica, a company backed by hedge fund magnate Robert Mercer. We didnt see a solution in the marketplace that really fit with what we wanted, so we just decided to do it ourselves.

The venture is the first known start-up to emerge from Trumps White House run  the latest example of how presidential campaigns serve as hothouses for new enterprises, particularly in the technological space.

We always call campaigns the worlds greatest start-ups, because one day you have no money and no entity and the next day you have a million dollars and are ready to go, said Lee Dunn, who headed Googles elections advertising team in 2016. Campaigns, she noted, throw crazy ideas out there, they discard and start anew, they act fast.

President Barack Obamas two presidential bids, for example, birthed a slew of successful enterprises such as Optimizely, a website optimization company, and Modest, a mobile commerce platform eventually acquired by PayPal.

There is an energy that does push innovation and gives people space to explore it, said Betsy Hoover, who served as Obamas national digital organizing director in 2012.

Earlier this month, Hoover and other Obama campaign alumni launched a business incubator called Higher Ground Labs that aims to provide investment to early-stage political tech companies on the left.

If we dont build this ecosystem, we do risk being outpaced by the Republicans, she said. They did some things in 2016 that pushed the envelope.

Trumps tech operation was based in San Antonio, headed by chief digital strategist Brad Parscale. At its peak, the team  which included staff from Parscales company, the campaign, the Republican National Committee and contractors  numbered a few hundred. They worked out of an office space near the airport that had been hurriedly fashioned into a campaign-like bullpen.

Dunn, who visited occasionally from Washington, said she was impressed with how Oczkowski and Bennett sought to calibrate online messages by testing responses to news developments in real time. I think they are leaders in a new generation that is starting to emerge in online advertising, she said.

As the head of the RNCs small donor program, Bennett oversaw an effort that generated millions for the Trump campaign and the party. But he said he thinks the returns could have been even greater if the campaign had a clearer sense of who was receiving their barrage of email solicitations.

The biggest problem for me has been the lack of transparency when deploying an email, Bennett said. Youre just loading a list and hitting send and crossing your fingers that its actually going to make it into your intended users inbox.

Unlike Democratic campaigns, which typically build donor lists by running online ads, GOP groups have relied heavily on email list brokers, who pocket commissions in exchange for access to email addresses they control.

[GOPs hunt for new Trump donors drove millions to low-profile firm]

Campaigns and committees often rent dozens of lists in an effort to hit as many potential donors as possible. In the 2016 campaign, the RNC and one of its joint fundraising committees with the Trump campaign spent more than $38 million on email list rentals, Federal Election Commission reports show.

Its a dynamic that has troubled Oczkowski for some time.

Youre really blind going into this relationship, Oczkowski said. This is a big industry, and there are just no protections or watchdogs out there if youre a buyer.

If you go out there and rent email lists for $10,000, as long as it yields more than $10,000, youre happy with the scenario, he added. You have no idea if you could have raised double that, or if youre annoying these people because they are on all these different lists.

After the campaign, Oczkowski and Bennett partnered with a developer they met through the Walker campaign to build a new email service provider that tracks inbox placement. Eventually, the nascent company hopes to acquire enough emails to build a database that will allow clients to better target certain constituencies.

The foray into start-up land is a risk, acknowledge the partners, who are financing the company themselves.

But, Oczkowski said, we know this is needed in the market. Ive sat and watched this for four or five years now, waiting for someone to do this.
 President Trump offered a robust defense of his presidency Wednesday, arguing that he has been treated unfairly by the Washington media amid a series of deepening scandals that have engulfed his administration.

In a commencement ceremony at the Coast Guard Academy, Trump said no politician in history . . . has been treated worse or more unfairly. You cant let them get you down, cant let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams.

Trump did not directly address news reports this week that he revealed highly classified information to Russian government officials and that he had asked then-FBI Director James B. Comey to end an investigation into his campaigns ties to Russia. But the president was clearly eager to defend himself, using the second half of his commencement address to express his frustration in rhetoric just loosely cloaked as advice for the soon-to-be-commissioned officers .

Over the course of your life, youll find things are not always fair, he said. Things happen to you that you do not deserve and are not always warranted, but you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight. Never, ever give up. Things will work out just fine.

In an aside, he added: I guess thats why we won. Then he returned to his remarks to add: Adversity makes you stronger. Dont give in, dont back down, and never stop doing what you know is right. Nothing worth doing ever, ever came easy.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for the Coast Guard Academy commencement. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

Escaping Washington for the day trip, Trump appeared buoyed as he drew hearty applause throughout his remarks from the crowd of family and friends of the graduates attending the outdoor ceremony on a brilliantly sunny day at the Coast Guard stadium.

He defended his record, saying he had accomplished a tremendous amount in very short time as president. He listed as accomplishments the appointment of Neil M. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, new funding for the military, and a decrease in border crossings by illegal immigrants. He also touted the health-care legislation that passed the House and promised to tackle tax reform.

The people understand what Im doing and thats the most important thing, Trump said. I did not get elected to serve the Washington media or special interests. I was elected to serve the forgotten men and women in our country and thats what Im doing.

I will never stop fighting for the American people, Trump said.

Wrapping up his remarks, the embattled president appeared to end on a note of frustration. Enjoy your life, he told the crowd.

He received a standing ovation when he finished speaking.

Trumps brief jaunt outside Washington was perhaps a welcome respite.

(The Washington Post)

The president arrived at Joint Base Andrews with a clutch of aides, including Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and senior counselor Kellyanne Conway, for the short flight on Air Force One. He boarded quickly, eschewing the customary presidential wave as he ducked into the cabin.

As Trump flew north, in-flight television feeds in the press quarters were tuned to the House Republican leaders holding a news conference on Capitol Hill, which was dominated by questions about Trumps conduct and the political fallout.

People turn on the TV and they think this is all thats happening, all were doing, Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said. Thats just not the case.

Reporters could not see clearly to the front of the plane, where the staff was seated, but an open door provided glimpses of a screen mounted on a wall. The TV, which had previously been showing ESPN, had been switched to Fox News.
President Trump listens during a working luncheon with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Tuesday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Donald Trump has stepped into an office that brings enormous power, but after two days of bombshell headlines, the growing question is whether he has the judgment and discipline to be entrusted with that authority.

Back-to-back revelations have the White House reeling into the deepest level of disarray yet seen in his chaotic young presidency.

On Monday, The Washington Post reported that Trump had shared highly classified information with Russian diplomats.

Then, barely 24 hours later, the New York Times reported that the president had asked his now-fired FBI director, James B. Comey, to end a probe into Trumps former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, according to a memo written by Comey at the time of the request in February.

[Notes made by former FBI Director Comey say Trump pressured him to end Flynn probe]

(Bastien Inzaurralde,Jayne Orenstein,Dalton Bennett,Alice Li,Whitney Leaming/The Washington Post)

Flynn was a close political associate of Trump who was being investigated for his ties to Russia. The disclosure of Comeys memo comes a week after Trump dismissed the FBI director, a move critics say was improper, given that Comey was leading an investigation of possible Russian interference on Trumps behalf in last years presidential election.

Even before news of the Comey memo, Republicans on Capitol Hill were struggling to figure out what to make of all the disarray.

Once again we are faced with inexplicable stories coming from the White House that are highly troubling, said Rep. Barbara Comstock, whose Northern Virginia district is a top Democratic target in next years congressional elections.

We need to have immediate classified briefings on what occurred at this meeting so that Congress can at least know as much as Russian leaders and know the impact on our national security, our allies, and our men and women protecting our country, she added.

It has become the pattern at moments like this: The White Houses explanations for a seemingly rash act on the presidents part are evolving and colliding.

As happened last week with Comeys firing, each new turn has also brought more damage to the credibility of the hapless aides who are charged with selling a version of the truth, only to see it disintegrate.

When the original report came out about the president sharing intelligence with the Russians, the White House denied its accuracy.

(The Washington Post)

Then it shifted to insisting that Trumps actions were wholly appropriate  a phrase that national security adviser H.R. McMaster used no fewer than nine times in a midday briefing Tuesday.

And in between, the president himself tweeted: As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining . . . to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.

Others, however, have a different view of a longtime adversary.

Its not helpful that this was with the Russians, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said on MSNBC. This is just weird. We and the Russians do not have aligned interests. They want to exacerbate our internal distrust of each other, they want to fracture NATO. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is an enemy of the freedom of the press, speech and assembly, which is the beating heart of what America means.

A strong posture on national security has long been considered one of the Republicans greatest political strengths. One of Trumps campaign ads last year ended with the tag line: Donald Trump will protect you. He is the only one who can.

The news that Trump offered intelligence to the Russians breaks against the Trump brand, said conservative commentator Charlie Sykes, a frequent critic of the president. Not only are you appeasing an international adversary but youre doing it in a reckless, thoughtless way.

If Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama had done it, Sykes added, Republicans would have had their hair on fire. This would have been 24/7 outrage, and a sign of weakness, and a sign of unfitness for office.

Trumps allies on Capitol Hill are becoming exasperated.

We could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so we can focus on our agenda, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

Can we have a crisis-free day? asked Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Thats all Im asking.

Democrats, meanwhile, say the latest crisis is forcing a reckoning with some fundamental truths about Trump himself.

At some point, the Republican leadership is going to have to stop just looking at their shows, and come to grips with the fact that the [White House] is dysfunctional, and that he is erratic and impulsive, said John Podesta, who was chief of staff in Bill Clintons White House and chairman of Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign.

Theyre getting nervous about whether he can actually do the job, Podesta added.

Any efforts that Trumps party might make to defend him are undercut by the countless times that Republicans last year declared Democratic nominee Clinton unfit to be commander in chief, because she had put sensitive material on a private email server when she was secretary of state.

She was entrusted with some of our nations most important secrets, and she betrayed that trust by carelessly mishandling highly classified information, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said last July.

At Trumps rallies, his supporters regularly chanted: Lock her up!

But in Clintons case, the dangers of her reckless email practices were largely theoretical. There is no evidence that any sensitive material made it from her server into the hands of an adversary.

Trump actually volunteered information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

This isnt a question of legal propriety, but more a judgment with respect to the handling of sensitive information, said Alexander Vershbow, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and NATO. It does look like sources and methods were at least put at risk.

This was not the first instance in which the president has shown a disregard for security in dealing with confidential material.

When North Korea conducted a ballistic missile test in February, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed it in full view of patrons in the open-air dining area of Trumps Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla.

Photos of the two leaders reviewing documents by the light of an aides cellphone quickly made it onto social media.

Theres no excuse for letting an international crisis play out in front of a bunch of country club members like dinner theater, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), the leader of House Democrats, complained in a tweet.

On Friday, a sharp-eyed Washington Post reader noted a photograph of Trump and bodyguard Keith Schiller in which a sticky note was visible on the outside of a stack of papers in Schillers hand. It said Jim, Mad Dog, Mattis and contained what turned out to be a private number for the defense secretary. (The Post removed the photo from its website.)

Meanwhile, more concerns about Trumps judgment were raised last week at the mere presence of the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in the Oval Office  concerns that escalated when it became clear that a photographer from Russias government-run news agency Tass was there as well.

The meeting occurred the day after Trump fired Comey.
Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosensteins reputation was thrown into question during the fallout of President Trumps firing last week of James B. Comey as FBI director. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein offered a major olive branch Wednesday to his biggest critics less than 24 hours before he was set to walk into the lions den  an all-Senate briefing on the investigation of the Russian incursion into the 2016 presidential campaign.

Barely three weeks after a resounding 94-to-6 confirmation vote, Rosensteins previously stellar reputation as a prosecutors prosecutor had been thrown into question amid the fallout of President Trumps abrupt firing last week of James B. Comey as FBI director.

Democrats had gone from voicing cautious optimism to some calling for his resignation after Trumps allies cited a Rosenstein memo as the reason for Comeys dismissal.

Democrats mocked the quality of Rosensteins writing and research. They noted that Attorney General Jeff Sessionss recusal from the investigation left Rosenstein as the man holding the power to appoint a special prosecutor to handle the Russia case, and Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) convened an early Wednesday afternoon huddle of Democrats to plot strategy about how to force Rosensteins hand.

Rosensteins credibility is on a very shaky foundation with many of my colleagues. He needs to be forthright, thorough, responsive to have any hope of restoring the confidence of many of my Democratic colleagues, Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), who enthusiastically voted to confirm Rosenstein April 25, said Wednesday.

(NBC News)

[This man could soon be handling Americas most politically charged investigation]

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Rosenstein gave into those demands and appointed Robert S. Mueller III, the FBI director for 12 years before Comey, as the special counsel to conduct the investigation into Russian meddling and any ties to the Trump presidential campaign. Mueller, who became FBI director a week before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, guided the bureau into a wartime footing focused on protecting the homeland.

In 2011, President Barack Obama asked for and received a 100-to-0 vote to grant a two-year extension of the usual 10-year term granted to FBI directors.

Democrats were quick to applaud Rosensteins appointment of Mueller, who became a close ally of Comeys while he served as deputy attorney general in 2003 and 2004. In one dramatic standoff, Mueller, Comey and other senior Justice Department officials threatened to resign en masse over a dispute related to warrantless wiretapping.

But Rosenstein will still face tough questions from Democrats and Republicans who want to understand the timeline of events over the past nine days.

Well have a chance to ask him about the scope of Sessions recusal, about the Comey firing, about his memo, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said before the Mueller announcement.

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, said he wants to know if Rosenstein had seen or heard about Comeys interactions with the president  which have come to light in notes that the FBI director filed away after each meeting  before Rosenstein wrote his analysis of Comeys FBI tenure that was released upon his dismissal.

(Amber Ferguson/The Washington Post)

Obviously people are going to want to know if he got that memo before he wrote his memo, if he got his Comey memo before he wrote his Comey memo. Thats the big question, Flake said.

The Mueller appointment was greeted with a deep sigh of relief among Republicans. Each day, with each new revelation, more Republicans came closer to calling for a special counsel but usually with a caveat of maybe the time had come for such a step. They were hesitant to call for such an investigation of a president from their own party, but they were weary from being on the defensive as Trump allegations mounted.

Now, with such a respected appointee overseeing the investigation, Republicans have a ready-made defense to shield themselves from inquiries: Bob Mueller is going to get to the bottom of this.

[Republicans increasingly call for answers on Comey, Trump conversations]

Wednesday evening marked the third straight on Capitol Hill where late-breaking news caused whiplash as lawmakers came to the chamber to vote.

On Monday, it was The Washington Posts report that Trump, in an Oval Office meeting last week, provided to Russian diplomats highly classified information gleaned from a then-undisclosed ally about the Islamic State.

On Tuesday, it was the New York Times report that in mid-February, after Trump was forced to dismiss his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, over lying to superiors about his contacts with Russia, the president pulled Comey aside and asked him to let it go regarding the ongoing investigation of Flynn.

That report sent senators into a frenzy during Tuesdays round of votes, when they could be seen anxiously chatting among themselves. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) saw them too  and realized she had missed out on something.

What now? she screamed across the chamber.

McCaskill walked over and briefed Heitkamp on the latest breaking news.

Regardless of the Mueller appointment, senators will want Rosensteins assurance that all of Comeys memos about Trump will be provided to the relevant committees overseeing investigations. I want to see the evidence, she said. I dont want to just read about it. I want to see it.

Rosensteins shaky standing is a stunning turnaround. In 2005 President George W. Bush nominated him to be U.S. attorney for Maryland. He won such high praise that the states Democrats convinced Obama to keep him on in 2009.

During his confirmation hearing, Rosenstein promised to be an independent voice in considering such a move. I would evaluate the facts and the law [and] consider the applicable law, he told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

But two weeks after Rosensteins confirmation, Trump dismissed Comey. His aides cited Rosensteins memo as the reason for his firing  until Trump himself cited the Russia thing in an NBC News interview two days later.

Rosensteins previous supporters now question whether they ever should have supported him. I have real questions about his judgment, Coons said, given the memo, the memo that was cited as the reason for the firing FBI Director Jim Comey, and the subsequent shifting White House justification for why the FBI director was fired needs to be more thoroughly explained.

His appointment of Mueller is the first step to winning back their trust.

Read more from Paul Kanes archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Senior U.S. homeland security officials briefed European officials Wednesday about an evolving aviation security threat that may prompt an expansion of a ban on carry-on laptops and electronic devices on U.S.-bound flights, after President Trump disclosed highly classified intelligence to Russia about a laptop-related terrorism plot.

The meeting in Brussels  a portion of which occurred in a classified setting  came after European officials were surprised last week by media reports of a potentially expanded ban. Europeans were worried that it would possibly disrupt travel with little security payoff. The Department of Homeland Security has said it has not yet made a decision.

The classified briefing underlined the awkward situation U.S. allies have been put in by Trumps decision last week to share sensitive information during an Oval Office visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. That put Russia  a U.S. adversary  in the position of knowing more about sensitive security intelligence than Washingtons closest counterterrorism partners.

Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke conferred Wednesday with Dimitris Avramopoulos and Violeta Bulc, the top E.U. officials in charge of migration and transportation. At the meeting, both sides exchanged information on the serious evolving threats to aviation security and approaches to confronting such threats, the European Commission and the Department of Homeland Security said in a joint statement after the meeting.

European officials have complained about being in the dark.

[Travel groups, airlines brace for possible expansion of laptop ban to all flights from Europe]

Any threats that affect the U.S. are the same for Europe. So information should be shared. We explained that. And our response should be one in common, European Commission spokesman Enrico Brivio said before the meeting, voicing European concerns that the United States was about to take unilateral action without explaining the threat to its partners.

The U.S. delegation appears to have started those explanations Wednesday  a week after Trump shared related information with the Kremlin. Another meeting will be held in Washington next week.

We did provide certain European partners specific insight into the specific and current and I would say evolving aviation security threat around the electronic restrictions, a senior U.S. official said, briefing reporters after the meeting on the condition of anonymity.

The ban took on new political overtones this week after The Washington Post reported that Trump disclosed classified information to Russias top diplomat about a plot to sneak bombs onto planes in laptop computers. The intelligence came from a U.S. partner and was considered so sensitive that it was distributed among only a small circle within the U.S. government and was withheld from broader sharing among English-speaking allies that U.S. intelligence agencies do as a matter of course.

[Putin offers to provide Congress with details of Trump disclosures to Russian envoys]

The broad topic of a bomb threat was less sensitive than the specific intelligence, which contained information that from its context could jeopardize the intelligence-gathering abilities of the U.S. ally. Administration officials have insisted that Trump did nothing wrong in the disclosure.

A laptop ban has drawn skepticism from transportation and security groups in Europe. The U.S. ban currently covers flights from 10 airports in eight Muslim-majority countries. Media reports have indicated that it might be extended to European flights.

The European Aviation Safety Agency, the E.U. counterpart to the Federal Aviation Administration, counseled in April the exact opposite of the U.S. proposal, telling airlines that personal electronic devices should preferably be carried in the passenger cabin so that flight attendants could more easily address fires if lithium-ion batteries combust. The agency declined to comment Wednesday but said that last months guidance was still valid.

Industry groups worry about the economic consequences of expanding the ban to more flights. The head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed serious concerns Tuesday about the ban and urged leaders to consider other enhanced screening methods as an alternative.

Expanding the ban could cost $1.1 billion a year in lost productivity, travel time and passenger well-being, Alexandre de Juniac, director general and chief executive of the group, which represents 265 airlines, wrote in a letter to Bulc and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly.

Although the current ban affects travelers on about 350 flights a week, an expansion could affect 390 flights a day, de Juniac wrote.

IATA fully acknowledges that security remains the primary responsibility of States, and we understand that the US, the UK and other States have compelling reasons to mandate the implementation of counter-measures in response to credible threat intelligence, he wrote.

De Juniac suggested expanding random explosives screenings at airports, which he said would improve security but would be less disruptive. Other possibilities include deploying more specially trained security officers and explosives-detecting dogs.

Aratani reported from Washington. Annabell Van den Berghe in Brussels contributed to this report.

Read more:

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Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) strongly opposes the new charging policy announced by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and has co-sponsored a sentencing reform bill. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Attorney General Jeff Sessionss former colleagues in the Senate are pushing back on his order to federal prosecutors to pursue the most severe penalties possible for defendants, including mandatory minimum sentences, and introducing legislation to give federal judges more discretion to impose lower sentences.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who co-sponsored the legislation, said that Sessionss new policy will accentuate the existing injustice in the criminal justice system.

Mandatory minimum sentences disproportionately affect minorities and low-income communities, while doing little to keep us safe and turning mistakes into tragedies, Paul said. As this legislation demonstrates, Congress can come together in a bipartisan fashion to change these laws.

Last week, in a two-page memorandum to federal prosecutors across the country, Sessions overturned former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr.s sweeping criminal charging policy that instructed his prosecutors to avoid charging certain defendants with offenses that would trigger long mandatory minimum sentences. In its place, Sessions told his more than 5,000 assistant U.S. attorneys to charge defendants with the most serious crimes, carrying the toughest penalties.

[Session issues sweeping new criminal charging policy session policy]

After Sessions released his new policy, it drew bipartisan criticism that the policy would mark a return to mass incarceration, especially of minorities. It was embraced, however, by the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, whose president said it would restore more tools to do their jobs.

An outgrowth of the failed war on drugs, mandatory sentencing strips critical public-safety resources away from law-enforcement strategies that actually make our communities safer, said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.).

Leahy and Paul introduced the Justice Safety Valve Act with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Robert C. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) are introducing a companion bill in the House. The proposed legislation would allow federal judges to tailor sentences on a case-by-case basis. It would also reduce correctional spending, which accounts for nearly one-third of the Justice Departments budget.

Attorney General Sessionss directive to all federal prosecutors to charge the most serious offenses, including [those that trigger] mandatory minimums, ignores the fact that mandatory minimum sentences have been studied extensively and have been found to distort rational sentencing systems, discriminate against minorities, waste money and often require a judge to impose sentences that violate common sense, Scott said.

During President Barack Obamas second term, similar sentencing reform legislation was introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.

The legislation, which had 37 sponsors in the Senate, including Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), and 79 members of the House, would have reduced some of the long mandatory minimum sentences for gun and drug crimes. It also would have given judges more flexibility in drug sentencing and made retroactive the law that reduced the large disparity between sentencing for crack cocaine and powder cocaine.

The bill, introduced in 2015, had support from outside groups as diverse as the conservative Koch brothers, the NAACP and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.). But Sessions, then the longtime Republican senator from Alabama, became a leading opponent of the bill and successfully worked with other senators to derail it.

As he has done as attorney general, Sessions said then it was the wrong time to cut prison sentences for drug traffickers and other criminals and cited the spike in crime in several cities and his belief that an era of near-historically low crime rates might be coming to an end.

In a conference call with reporters, Paul acknowledged that lawmakers will have an uphill battle getting support from the White House for the sentencing reform bill.

Read more:

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Sessions vows crackdown on violent crime in his first major speech as attorney general

From a first arrest to a life sentence
The Justice Department appointed a special counsel Wednesday to investigate possible coordination between President Trumps associates and Russian officials  a clear signal to the White House that federal investigators will aggressively pursue the matter despite the presidents insistence that there was no collusion with the Kremlin.

Robert S. Mueller III, a former prosecutor who served as the FBI director from 2001 to 2013, has agreed to take over the investigation as a special counsel, Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein announced. The move marks a concession by the Trump administration to Democratic demands for the investigation to be run independently of the Justice Department. Calls for a special counsel intensified after Trump fired FBI Director James B. Comey last week.

[Everything you need to know about the Russia investigations special counsel]

In my capacity as acting attorney general I determined that it is in the public interest for me to exercise my authority and appoint a special counsel to assume responsibility for this matter, Rosenstein said in a statement. My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted. I have made no such determination. What I have determined is that based upon the unique circumstances the public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command.

Mueller, often described by those who worked for him as a stern and press-averse disciplinarian, issued a characteristically terse statement: I accept this responsibility and will discharge it to the best of my ability.

(Victoria Walker,Jayne Orenstein,Dalton Bennett,Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

Trump reacted to the news by saying a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know  there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity. I look forward to this matter concluding quickly. In the meantime, I will never stop fighting for the people and the issues that matter most to the future of our country.

In a series of tweets early Thursday, Trump decried that a special counsel was not named to investigate what he alleged were illegal acts by the Obama administration and the campaign of Hillary Clinton.

With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel appointed!, Trump wrote, misspelling the word counsel.

Less than 15 minutes later, he tweeted: This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!

The White House did not learn of Rosensteins decision until just 30 minutes before the public announcement was made. Rosenstein called White House Counsel Donald McGahn at 5:30 p.m. to inform him, at which point McGahn walked downstairs from his second-floor office to the Oval Office to notify Trump.

Trump summoned his senior staff to the Oval Office, and together they drafted a statement reacting to the decision, coming from the president, that was distributed to reporters shortly after 7 p.m.

One senior White House official who was present for the discussions described Trump as unbelievably calm and measured.

I expected him to be ranting and raving, but he was like, Fine, let them do what they have to do, but well be focused on our agenda,  said this official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private talks.

Democrats cheered the announcement as a step forward in resolving the unanswered questions about Russian meddling in last years presidential election  and whether the president or anyone at the White House has interfered with the investigation.

[Heres how an independent investigation into Trump and Russia would happen]

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said Mueller has the expertise and experience, guts and backbone to uncover the truth. He said Mueller must be given all the resources necessary to pursue the facts wherever they lead, including whether anyone may have tried to obstruct justice.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, cheered the choice, writing on Twitter: Impeccable credentials. Should be widely accepted.

But some Democrats said Muellers appointment does not preclude the need for an independent commission to examine Russian interference in the election.

An independent commission doesnt govern the FBI investigation, an independent commission doesnt make charging decisions, said Rep. Adam B. Schiff (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, which is conducting its own probe of Russian meddling. The value an independent commission adds is you have a body that is truly independent of any political consideration. And also has all the resources it needs and a single focus on the oversight of what Russia did, how we need to respond in the future, and it brings that political independence and staff and resources on task. So those are two different needs, and I think theyre complementary, not in competition with each other.

The special counsel law grants Mueller the authority to probe possible attempts to stymie his investigation.

The decision to appoint a special counsel comes a day after revelations that notes taken by Comey in February recount a conversation with the president in which Trump asked him to drop an investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Associates of Comey said he took detailed notes of multiple conversations with the president, and lawmakers are now demanding access to those memos and any other related records held at the FBI.

The decision also comes amid intense pressure on the senior official who has been overseeing the Russia probe, Rosenstein, to appoint a special counsel.

Rosenstein was put in charge of the Russia probe after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself. Democrats have challenged Rosensteins impartiality in the Russia probe because he wrote a memorandum initially used as the rationale for Comeys firing. In the memo, Rosenstein said Comey had violated long-standing Justice Department practices in his handling of the investigation into Clintons use of a private email server, but shortly after the announcement of the firing, the president said he had decided to fire Comey before he received the recommendation from Rosenstein.

Rosenstein is scheduled to brief the full Senate in a closed session on Thursday.

Former colleagues said Rosensteins move may help restore his battered reputation among current and former government lawyers. He got absolutely pummeled by people that he knows, said a former senior Obama administration lawyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly. I think this move, as so often happens in Washington, where there is the opportunity to wash away your sins, was a thorough scrubbing.

Under the order signed Wednesday by Rosenstein, Mueller is tasked with investigating any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump as well as any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation and any other matters that fall under the scope of the Justice Department regulation covering special counsel appointments.

It wasnt immediately clear from the language of the order where Mueller might draw the lines as to which matters are related to the Russia investigation.

That language seems to suggest that Mueller could also take over ongoing investigations into leaks of classified information connected to the Russia probe. As the FBI director, Mueller assiduously discouraged leaks by his subordinates and oversaw investigations that sought to criminally charge leakers of government secrets.

If the special counsel believes it is necessary and appropriate, the special counsel is authorized to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation of these matters, the order states.

Another potential legal complication could arise from the law firm where Mueller worked until his appointment as special counsel. That firm, WilmerHale, has represented Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who has been under investigation relating to his work and payments for advising Ukrainian government officials. Officials referred questions about possible recusals on those subjects to Mueller, who didnt respond to requests for comment.

Officials said the appointment was being made under a Justice Department statute that has only been used once, in 1999, although the Justice Department has made other special counsel appointments more recently under different authority.

Peter Zeidenberg, who has worked for a past special counsel, called Mueller an inspired choice because he comes to the job with automatic credibility among both parties.

Hes nominally a Republican, but hes really not a political person at all, said Zeidenberg, a lawyer now in private practice, who cautioned that such an investigation is likely to take a long time and may not ultimately satisfy the publics demand for a full accounting. People are waiting for public answers to what happened, but thats not his job. There wont be a report or a news conference at the end of this from him, thats not his role.

When he was FBI director, Mueller worked closely for a time with Comey  who as deputy attorney general was nominally Muellers boss during the George W. Bush administration  and while the two men agree on much, they have very different personalities. Mueller was a harsh taskmaster who eschewed expressions of warmth with his staff. Comey, in contrast, has written holiday greetings to staff that have been described as moving.

The special counsel gets money and personnel from the Justice Department, but Mueller can ask for specific individuals to join the case. WilmerHale lawyers James Quarles and Aaron Zebley also stepped down from WilmerHale Wednesday, and a firm spokesman said they were expected to join Mueller. Zebley, a former FBI agent and assistant U.S. attorney, was Muellers chief of staff at the FBI. Quarles was an assistant special prosecutor on the Watergate Special Prosecution Force.

Given the extremely sensitive nature of the counterintelligence probe, it is likely that Mueller will also work with many of the current FBI agents assigned to the case, although the decision is ultimately his to make. The budget for the investigation will still have to be approved by Rosenstein.

In his new role, Mueller answers to, and in theory could be fired by, Rosenstein, but in practice a special counsel is not subject to daily supervision by any Justice Department official. And given that Muellers appointment came about largely because of the firing of the FBI director, it would probably touch off a new political firestorm if Mueller were ever dismissed.

Philip Rucker, Ellen Nakashima and Julie Tate contributed to this report.

Read more:

House majority leader to colleagues in 2016: I think Putin pays Trump

The worst job in Washington right now: Working for Trump
(Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

A month before Donald Trump clinched the Republican nomination, one of his closest allies in Congress  House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy  made a politically explosive assertion in a private conversation on Capitol Hill with his fellow GOP leaders: that Trump could be the beneficiary of payments from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Theres two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump, McCarthy (R-Calif.) said, according to a recording of the June 15, 2016, exchange, which was listened to and verified by The Washington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a Californian Republican known in Congress as a fervent defender of Putin and Russia.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) immediately interjected, stopping the conversation from further exploring McCarthys assertion, and swore the Republicans present to secrecy.

Before the conversation, McCarthy and Ryan had emerged from separate talks at the Capitol with Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Groysman, who had described a Kremlin tactic of financing populist politicians to undercut Eastern European democratic institutions.

News had just broken the day before in The Washington Post that Russian government hackers had penetrated the computer network of the Democratic National Committee, prompting McCarthy to shift the conversation from Russian meddling in Europe to events closer to home.

Some of the lawmakers laughed at McCarthys comment. Then McCarthy quickly added: Swear to God.

Ryan instructed his Republican lieutenants to keep the conversation private, saying: No leaks. . . . This is how we know were a real family here.

The remarks remained secret for nearly a year.

[Read the transcript of the conversation among GOP leaders obtained by The Post]

The conversation provides a glimpse at the internal views of GOP leaders who now find themselves under mounting pressure over the conduct of President Trump. The exchange shows that the Republican leadership in the House privately discussed Russias involvement in the 2016 election and Trumps relationship to Putin, but wanted to keep their concerns secret. It is difficult to tell from the recording the extent to which the remarks were meant to be taken literally.

The House leadership has so far stood by the White House as it has lurched from one crisis to another, much of the turmoil fueled by contacts between Trump or his associates with Russia.

House Republican leaders have so far resisted calls for the appointment of an independent commission or a special prosecutor to investigate Russian interference, though pressure has been mounting on them to do so after Trumps firing of FBI Director James B. Comey and the disclosure that the president shared intelligence with Russian diplomats.

Late Wednesday, Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein announced he had appointed Robert S. Mueller III, a former prosecutor who served as the FBI director from 2001 to 2013, as special counsel to oversee the Russia probe.

[Deputy attorney general appoints special counsel to oversee probe of Russian interference in election]

Evan McMullin, who in his role as policy director to the House Republican Conference participated in the June 15 conversation, said: Its true that Majority Leader McCarthy said that he thought candidate Trump was on the Kremlins payroll. Speaker Ryan was concerned about that leaking.

McMullin ran for president last year as an independent and has been a vocal critic of Trump.

When initially asked to comment on the exchange, Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Ryan, said: That never happened, and Matt Sparks, a spokesman for McCarthy, said: The idea that McCarthy would assert this is absurd and false.

After being told that The Post would cite a recording of the exchange, Buck, speaking for the GOP House leadership, said: This entire year-old exchange was clearly an attempt at humor. No one believed the majority leader was seriously asserting that Donald Trump or any of our members were being paid by the Russians. Whats more, the speaker and leadership team have repeatedly spoken out against Russias interference in our election, and the House continues to investigate that activity.

This was a failed attempt at humor, Sparks said.

Ken Grubbs, a spokesman for Rohrabacher, said the congressman has been a consistent advocate of working closer with the Russians to combat radical Islamism. The congressman doesnt need to be paid to come to such a necessary conclusion.

When McCarthy voiced his assessment of whom Putin supports, suspicions were only beginning to swirl around Trumps alleged Russia ties.

At the time, U.S. intelligence agencies knew that the Russians had hacked the DNC and other institutions, but Moscow had yet to start publicly releasing damaging emails through WikiLeaks to undermine Trumps Democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton. An FBI counterintelligence investigation into Russian efforts to influence the presidential election would open the following month, in late July, Comey has said in testimony to Congress.

Trump has sought to play down contacts between his campaign and the Russians, dismissing as a witch hunt the FBI and congressional investigations into Russian efforts to aid Trump and any possible coordination between the Kremlin and his associates. Trump denies any coordination with Moscow took place.





Presidential candidate Trumps embrace of Putin and calls for closer cooperation with Moscow put him at odds with the House Republican caucus, whose members have long advocated a harder line on Russia, with the exception of Rohrabacher and a few others.

Among GOP leaders in the House, McCarthy stood out as a Putin critic who in 2015 called for the imposition of more severe sanctions for its actions in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea.

In May 2016, McCarthy signed up to serve as a Trump delegate at the Republican National Convention, breaking ranks with Ryan, who said he still was not ready to endorse the candidate. McCarthys relationship with Trump became so close that the president would sometimes refer to him as my Kevin.

Trump was by then the lone Republican remaining in the contest for the nomination. Though Ryan continued to hold out, Trump picked up endorsements from the remaining GOP leaders in the House, including Rep. Steve Scalise, the majority whip from Louisiana, and Republican Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.)  both of whom took part in the June 15 conversation.

Ryan announced on June 2 that he would vote for Trump to help unite the party so we can win in the fall but continued to clash with the candidate, including over Putin. While Trump sought to cast Putin as a better leader than then-President Obama, Ryan dubbed him an aggressor who didnt share U.S. interests.

On the same day as Ryans endorsement, Clinton stepped up her attacks on Trump over his public statements praising Putin. If Donald gets his way, theyll be celebrating in the Kremlin, she said.

Ukrainian officials were unnerved by Trumps statements in support of Putin. Republicans, they had believed, were supposed to be tougher on Russia.

When Trump named Paul Manafort as his campaign manager in April 2016, alarm bells in Kiev started ringing even louder. Manafort was already well known in Ukraine because of his influential role as a political consultant to Viktor Yanukovych, the countrys former Kremlin-friendly ruler until a popular uprising forced him to flee to Russia. Manafort had also consulted for a powerful Russian businessman with close ties to the Kremlin.

Ukraine was, in a sense, a testing ground for Manafort, said Ukrainian political scientist Taras Berezovets, who became a grudging admirer of Manaforts skills in the dark arts of political stagecraft while Berezovets was working for one of Yanukovychs political rivals.

At the urging of Manafort, Yanukovych campaigned with populist slogans labeling NATO a menace and casting elites in the Ukrainian capital as out of touch, Berezovets said. Trump struck similar themes during the 2016 campaign.

The FBI is now investigating whether Manafort, who stepped down as Trumps campaign manager in August, received off-the-books payments from Yanukovychs party, U.S. officials said. As part of that investigation, FBI agents recently took possession of a newly discovered document that allegedly details payments totaling $750,000. Ukrainian lawmaker Sergii Leshchenko, who first disclosed the new document, declined to comment on his contacts with the FBI.

A spokesman for Manafort has said that Trumps former campaign manager has not been contacted by the FBI. Manafort has also disputed the authenticity of the newly discovered document.

Groysman, on an official visit to Washington, met separately with Ryan and McCarthy on June 15 at the Capitol.

He told them how the Russians meddled in European politics and called for unity in addressing the threat, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials. Ryan issued a statement after the meeting saying, the United States stands with Ukraine as it works to rebuild its economy and confront Russian aggression.

Later, Ryan spoke privately with McCarthy, Rodgers, Scalise and Rep. Patrick T. McHenry (R-N.C.), the deputy whip, among others.

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Ryan mentioned his meeting with Groysman, prompting Rodgers to ask: How are things going in Ukraine? according to the recording.

The situation was difficult, Ryan said. Groysman, he said, had told him that Russian-backed forces were firing 30 to 40 artillery shells into Ukrainian territory every day. And the prime minister described Russian tactics that include financing our populists, financing people in our governments to undo our governments.

Ryan said Russias goal was to turn Ukraine against itself. Groysman underlined Russias intentions, saying, Theyre just going to roll right through us and go to the Baltics and everyone else, according to Ryans summary of the prime ministers remarks in the recording.

Yes, Rodgers said in agreement, noting that the Russians were funding nongovernmental organizations across Europe as part of a wider propaganda war.

Maniacal, Ryan said. And guess, guess whos the only one taking a strong stand up against it? We are.

Rodgers disagreed. Were not . . . were not . . . but, were not, she said.

Thats when McCarthy brought the conversation about Russian meddling around to the DNC hack, Trump and Rohrabacher.

Ill guarantee you thats what it is. . . . The Russians hacked the DNC and got the opp [opposition] research that they had on Trump, McCarthy said with a laugh.

Ryan asked who the Russians delivered the opposition research to.

Theres . . . theres two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump, McCarthy said, drawing some laughter. Swear to God, McCarthy added.

This is an off the record, Ryan said.

Some lawmakers laughed at that.

No leaks, all right?, Ryan said, adding: This is how we know were a real family here.

Thats how you know that were tight, Scalise said.

Whats said in the family stays in the family, Ryan added.

Andrew Roth in Moscow, Michael Birnbaum in Brussels and Robert Costa in Washington contributed to this report.

Read more:

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Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian foreign minister and ambassador
President Trump was meeting Wednesday with four candidates to succeed James B. Comey as FBI director, including former senator Joe Lieberman, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said.

In addition to Lieberman, the president was to meet with former Oklahoma governor Frank A. Keating, who worked previously as a U.S. attorney and as the No. 3 official in the Justice Department; Richard A. McFeely, a former FBI official who spent more than two decades in the bureau; and acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, who has taken over for Comey in the short term.

Last Saturday, top Justice Department officials interviewed eight people  though Lieberman, Keating and McFeely were not among the names made public that day. A Justice Department official said the attorney general has now also met with them. It was not immediately clear how many candidates Trump plans to interview.

[A packed day of interviews could lead to a fast decision on the next FBI director, Trump says]

Trump has said he could make a fast decision on who will take over the top role at the nations premier law enforcement agency  perhaps even deciding before he leaves for a foreign trip Friday. The position is particularly important because the FBI is leading the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin to influence the outcome.

A few people have already removed their names from consideration. Alice Fisher, a former Justice Department official now in private practice at Latham & Watkins, became the latest to do so Wednesday. A person close to her said in a statement that Fisher, who interviewed with Justice Department officials Saturday, was honored and humbled to have been considered, but she had decided not to move forward.

While she had productive discussions with those working on the nomination, she determined that she would not proceed, the person said. She has tremendous respect for the Justice Department and deeply values the hard work that the men and women at the bureau and throughout the department do every day to protect the American public. She will do all she can to help support the presidents nominee as they take on this incredibly important national security and public safety role.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), who also interviewed Saturday, already had bowed out, and Judge Merrick Garland, whose nomination to the Supreme Court by President Barack Obama was blocked by Senate Republicans, conveyed through associates that he was not interested in the job. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was among those saying Garland should be considered  though he was not included in the group that interviewed Saturday.

Whoever Trump picks will have to win Senate confirmation, and that will likely require demonstrating a willingness to be independent of Trump. Former director Comey alleged in a memo  the details of which were made public Tuesday  that Trump asked him to shut down an FBI investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Trump fired Comey from his post last week.

Of those on the latest list, Lieberman might be the most controversial  even though he identified as a Democrat for most of his political career and was even the partys nominee for vice president in 2000. He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2004 and became an independent in 2006.

Legislators on both sides of the aisle have expressed wariness about having a politician lead the FBI, and a Senate Democratic leadership aide said Lieberman would not be exempt from that.

Lieberman was Connecticuts attorney general decades ago.

There couldnt be a worse time to take the unprecedented step of handing the FBI over to a politician, the aide said. That includes Senator Lieberman.

As a former governor, Keating could also be considered a politician, but he also has Justice Department credentials, having worked as an FBI agent, U.S. attorney and associate attorney general. He confirmed in an email he had talked to the president and added: The conversation was pleasant. It was in the Oval Office with the AG and the Veep in attendance. The list is probably long. I am flattered to be a bridesmaid. The wedding will be special!

McFeely retired from the FBI in 2014; most recently, he led the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. He was the lead case agent on the Oklahoma City federal building bombing in 1995, when Keating was governor, and he was the FBIs on-scene commander after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon.

McCabe seems an unlikely choice. At a recent congressional hearing, he contradicted the White House on a number of critical topics and asserted that he considered the probe of possible coordination between the Kremlin and the Trump team during the 2016 election campaign a highly significant investigation.

But he also said there had been no effort to impede our investigation to date  which would seem to be good news for a White House that now faces suggestions that the president might have attempted to obstruct justice. Through a spokesman, McCabe declined to comment for this report. Efforts to reach McFeely and Lieberman were not immediately successful.
Former FBI director James B. Comeys allegation that President Trump pressed him to shut down the bureaus investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn provides the strongest support yet for a criminal obstruction-of-justice case against Trump, legal analysts say, though even more evidence would probably be required to warrant action.

Comey wrote in a memo that Trump asked him to walk away from the Flynn probe, declaring that Flynn was a good man and asserting to his FBI director, I hope you can let this go.

That, legal analysts say, provides a plausible case that the president obstructed justice. The FBI is investigating Flynns dealings, as well as possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin to influence the 2016 presidential election.

[Notes made by Comey say Trump pressured him to end Flynn probe]

Theres definitely a case to be made for obstruction, said Barak Cohen, a former federal prosecutor who now does white-collar defense work at the Perkins Coie law firm. But on the other hand you have to realize that  as with any other sort of criminal law  intent is key, and intent here can be difficult to prove.

President Trump listens as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the White House on May 16. (Evan Vucci/AP)

On Tuesday, all 33 Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees sent a letter to their Republican counterparts asking to launch an investigation into whether Trump and those in his administration were engaged in an ongoing conspiracy to obstruct the various probes by the Justice Department, FBI and Congress. House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) sent his own letter to the FBIs acting director, asking him to turn over all records of communications between Comey and Trump, noting that reports about the communications raise questions as to whether the President attempted to influence or impede the FBIs investigation.

The existence of the Comey memo was first reported by the New York Times. Associates of Comey later confirmed the details of it to The Washington Post. Spokesmen for the FBI and the Justice Department declined to comment on it.

The laws governing obstruction of justice require prosecutors to show a person corruptly tried to influence a probe  meaning investigators have to find some evidence of what a person was thinking when taking a particular action.

In this case, analysts said, that would mean analyzing the specific details of Trump and Comeys conversation, assessing what else was happening at the time and possibly talking to Trump associates who had talked with the president about what he wanted to do.

It depends on what he said and how he said it, said Edward B. MacMahon Jr., another criminal defense lawyer. I call all the time and ask prosecutors to stop investigations. It just depends on how its done.

MacMahon noted there are circumstances  such as the CIA worrying about disclosure of classified information  in which one component of the executive branch discourages prosecutors from pursuing a case.

If the reason you wanted it stopped was because it was going to lead to the prosecution of one of your friends, that would be one thing, he said. If you wanted it stopped because you didnt want to disclose national security information, thats something provided by statute.

In a statement, the White House disputed Comeys characterization of his conversation with Trump, saying the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end an investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn. . . . This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey.

That is important, analysts said, because if the president were merely asserting that he personally knows the target of the investigation and hes just trying to provide his two cents, that might not present him any legal problems, Cohen said.

You have Comeys word against Trump, right? Cohen said. You need somebody else that Trump may have spoken to that provides evidence of intent.

Trump has suggested on Twitter that there might exist tapes of his conversations with Comey. If that is true, those could be critical to proving whose account of the meeting is accurate.

At worst, Cohen said, prosecutors theory of the case would be that Trump pressured Comey to stand down on Flynn because he feared the investigation could affect him personally. Last week, Trump removed Comey from his post as FBI director and claimed that Comey had told him three times he was not under investigation.

While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau, Trump wrote to Comey.

Cohen said that itself could be a piece of circumstantial evidence that Trump was trying to impede an ongoing probe. Trump also said in an NBC News interview that the Russia probe was on his mind when he fired his FBI director.

Cohen said Comeys memo was direct evidence against Trump, but he noted it only comes out after the termination.

The question is, if the president committed the crime or attempted to commit the crime of obstruction, and you serve the Constitution and not the president, why didnt you say something about this before you were fired? Cohen said.

[No good lawyer would have let Trump give Lester Holt this interview]

When the FBI was investigating Hillary Clintons use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, President Barack Obama notably said in an interview with Fox News, I continue to believe that she has not jeopardized Americas national security. Obama insisted the White House was not meddling in the probe  though his comments undeniably struck at the heart of the matter.

Cohen said that while it was highly improper for Trump to insert himself in an investigation in any way, charging him would be difficult. With a lower-profile target, he said, maybe prosecutors might be aggressive enough to bring a case, but it also arguably undermines democracy for prosecutors to go after a sitting president with only circumstantial evidence.

The Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel has opined in the past that the president cannot be indicted or prosecuted at all, because it would impermissibly interfere with the Presidents ability to carry out his constitutionally assigned functions and thus would be inconsistent with the constitutional structure.

Trump could be impeached, though, for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. In the articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon  which were never taken up by the full House of Representatives  legislators cited obstruction of justice.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his visit to the new studio complex of television channel Russia Today in Moscow in 2013. (Yuri Kochetkov/Pool photo by Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he would be willing to provide the U.S. Congress a record of President Trumps meeting with top Russian envoys, bringing scoffs on Capitol Hill that the Kremlin could help shed light on the disclosures of reportedly highly classified intelligence.

The provocative offer for the Kremlin to share evidence with U.S. oversight committees about the Oval Office meeting came with the caveat that the request for the transcript would have to come from the Trump administration.

[Lawmakers laugh off Putins offer to provide evidence about Trump]

Presenting a transcript is the Kremlins latest gambit in denying that Trump shared classified secrets last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russias ambassador to the United States during an Oval Office meeting.

But the tactic may have more to do with attempts to sow further chaos in Washington than assuage suspicions about the talks.

(Bastien Inzaurralde,Jayne Orenstein,Dalton Bennett,Alice Li,Whitney Leaming/The Washington Post)

The Kremlin has denied reports that Trump shared classified secrets last week with Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. But Trumps full comments to the Russian envoys have not been made public.

As reported first by The Washington Post, Trump in a meeting with Lavrov and Kislyak shared classified information about an Islamic State plot to smuggle a bomb disguised as a laptop aboard a passenger plane. Subsequent reports have suggested the intelligence was provided by the Israeli government and was so sensitive that it was not shared even with the United States closest allies.

Putins remarks left some ambiguity as to the nature of the records. While the word zapis in Russian could indicate an audio recording, an aide told reporters that Putin was referring to a transcript, the Reuters news agency reported.

If there were any question as to whether Putin was trolling the White House, he playfully ribbed his foreign minister during the news conference, saying he would have to censure Lavrov for not sharing these secrets with us.

Neither with me nor with our intelligence services, he continued. Thats very bad on his part.

Putin said that a political schizophrenia had gripped the United States and that it was eliciting concern in Russia.

[Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian officials]

If the administration of the United States deems this possible, we will be ready to provide a transcript of the Lavrov-Trump meeting to the U.S. Senate and Congress, Putin told reporters during a news conference with visiting Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. Putin added, It will happen if the U.S. administration wishes so.

Rep. Adam B. Schiff (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, dismissed Putins offer.

Probably the last person the person [Trump] needs to vouch for him right now is Vladimir Putin, he said on the CBS show This Morning, referring to the Russian offer.

He said he doubted the Kremlin would send anything worth trusting. Sure, send it our way. But its credibility would be less than zero, Schiff said.

In a morning interview on Fox News, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) also spurned the Russian presidents announcement.

[The Posts live blog on White House turmoil]

I wouldnt put much credibility on what Putins notes are, and if it comes in an email, I wouldnt click on the attachment, he said.

Speaking on CNN, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) added: The idea that we would accept any evidence from President Putin is absurd.

On Tuesday, Russias Foreign Ministry spokeswoman denied that Trump revealed classified information during last weeks meeting, while Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the report was another piece of nonsense, and we do not want to have anything to do with this nonsense at all.

There is nothing here to confirm or deny, he added.

Shortly after the Russian statements, however, Trump posted tweets saying that facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety were shared during the White House meeting on May 10.

Trump added in the tweets that he has the absolute right to share the information, which was described to The Post as highly classified and intended to remain only within a tight circle of allies.

As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining . . . to terrorism and airline flight safety, Trump wrote. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism, he added, using an acronym for the Islamic State terrorist group.

Brian Murphy and J. Freedom du Lac in Washington contributed to this report.

Read more:

Political chaos in Washington is a return on investment for Moscow

What happened inside the Oval Office with Trump and the Russians?

Heres what we know about Trumps campaign ties to Russia

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Georgia executed J.W. Boy Ledford Jr. at the state prison in Jackson early Wednesday morning. Ledfords lethal injection of the barbiturate pentobarbital began at 1:17 a.m., according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It was the first execution in the state this year.

Ledford, 45, had spent about a quarter century on death row. He was convicted of murder in the 1992 stabbing death in Murray County, northwest Georgia, of neighbor Dr. Harry Johnston, the physician who had delivered him.

Ledford stabbed Johnston to death during an argument, according to court files, and then demanded money from his wife. He took money and guns from the home, tied up Johnstons wife and then left in the doctors truck. He was arrested later that day.

The execution was scheduled for 7 p.m., but it was put on hold awaiting a ruling from the US Supreme Court. The high court denied a stay of execution after midnight, clearing the way for the lethal injection.

The Georgia Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal of a lower courts refusal to stop the execution.

A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit on Monday denied Ledfords appeal filed last week. Ledfords attorneys argued that their clients long-term exposure to gabapentin, a drug used to treat chronic pain, had likely caused him to develop a tolerance to the pentobarbital used in lethal injections.

The lawyers said in their filing that taking gabapentin for nerve pain changed his brain chemistry, which meant that the pentobarbital would not render him unconscious and insensate. They said the barbiturates use in the lethal injection would violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment barred by the Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution.

Ledfords lawyers had also requested that he be executed by firing squad as an alternative. US Supreme Court precedent requires that condemned inmates propose a known and available alternative method of execution. The request that he be executed by firing squad was rejected on the grounds that this method is not allowed under Georgia law.

Also on Monday, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, which is the only authority in the state with the power to commute a death sentence, declined to spare Ledfords life. Ledfords attorneys had asked him to be spared, citing his rough childhood, substance abused from an early age, and his intellectual disability.

Attorneys for Ledford had also asked that his execution be halted because he was 20 at the time of the crime, and his brain was not fully developed when he killed Johnston. They argued that just as juvenile offenders are considered not the worst of worst for whom the death penalty is reserved, that the execution of those under 21 is also unconstitutional. A Butts County Superior Court judge rejected that petition.

Ledford was the 11th inmate put to death in the US this year. The 10 prior executions included four in Arkansas over a period of eight days, including the double-execution of Jack Jones and Marcell Williams on April 24.

Attorneys for Williams, the second inmate to die that day, argued that Jones was moving his lips and gulping for air after being administered midazolam, suggesting he had not been rendered unconscious by the first drug in the execution protocol. A US District judge refused to stop Williams execution on this basis.

Arkansas had sought to execute eight men over 11 days, but temporary stays and a commutation stopped four of these. Ledell Lee was executed on April 20; Kenneth Williams was executed April 27.

Georgia sent nine prisoners to their deaths in 2016, nearly half of the 19 executions carried out across the US last year. The others included seven in Texas, two in Alabama, and one each in Florida and Missouri.

Georgia has a long and gruesome history of capital punishment. The first recorded execution in Georgia was in 1735, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Indentured servant Alice Wyley was put to death for murdering her master. The method of execution from 1735 to 1924 was hanging. Over 500 hangings occurred in Georgia between 1735 and 1931.

Electrocution was introduced in 1924, after the Georgia General Assembly outlawed hanging. The electric chair was used until 1972, when the US Supreme Court declared capital punishment procedures unconstitutional in Furman v. Georgia, which imposed a temporary hiatus on executions due to inconsistency in the application of the death penalty.

Electrocution was reinstated in Georgia after the Supreme Court reinstituted the death penalty in 1976 as a result of another case involving the state, Coker v. Georgia, in which the high court held that the death penalty is unconstitutional in all cases that do not involve murder or crimes against the state.

In 2000, the General Assembly passed a new law instituting lethal injection in place of electrocution. In total, 1,010 executions have occurred in Georgia since 1735, the fifth highest total of any US state.
On Saturday, Jean-Luc Melenchons Unsubmissive France (UF) movement held a convention in the Paris suburb of Villejuif to launch its campaign for the legislative elections of June 11 and 18.

Despite a raft of polls showing UF obtaining just 14 percent of the vote, down substantially from Melenchons 19.6 percent showing in the presidential elections, Melenchon asserted that UF will be able to govern the country. That is, he was repeating his offer, made between the two rounds of the presidential elections, to serve as prime minister under Frances newly elected president, Emmanuel Macron.

Melenchon won a substantial following in the first round of the French presidential election by presenting himself as an opponent of war and social inequality. But Saturdays convention starkly illustrated the class gulf separating Melenchons call for a parliamentary deals with President Emmanuel Macron from the campaign by the Parti de legalite socialiste (PES) for an active boycott of the second round of the presidential elections, to politically prepare a mobilization of workers in struggle against Macron.

In a one-hour speech to delegates, Melenchon declared: Unsubmissive France is proposing to the voters to organize a new political cohabitation to defeat Macronist politics. We can do, it is within our grasp, may the happy days come! The word cohabitation is the term used for a situation in which the president and the prime minister are from different parties. He added, We are running candidates everywhere with the objective of governing the country and constituting a new parliamentary majority.

As prime minister, Melenchon explained, he could help guide Macron in the implementation of his policies: We must show that this young man needs to be tempered in his follies by the steady hand of a wise man who knows on what side the happiness of the people is to be found, he added.

Melenchon is sowing absurd illusions in Macron. Macrons program of deep austerity and militarism is not the product of personal folly, but of the crisis of capitalism. A former Socialist Party (PS) government minister and executive of the Rothschild bank, Macron advances a program representing the interests of the most powerful sections of the ruling class: the banks, the military and the intelligence agencies. Yet Melenchon proposes only an impotent plan to offer Macron wise advice, reassuring everyone that he knows how to make the people happy.

This policy is the direct continuation of Melenchons backhanded support for Macron after the first round of the presidential elections. The PES called for an active boycott of a second round between Macron and neo-fascist National Front (FN) candidate Marine Le Pen, warning that Macron would no less than Le Pen impose police-state policies, austerity and war. Even though his supporters overwhelmingly voted to boycott the elections, he refused to say how he planned to vote in the second round, insisting that supporters of Macron and of a boycott could both remain in his organisation.

Melenchons cowardly abdication of his political responsibility to his voters is designed to lay a political trap for the working class. There is explosive social anger in France and across Europe, with two-thirds of the French population saying that the class struggle is a daily reality of life and 64 percent of French youth opposing plans to restore the draft. Melenchon aims to lead the growing disquiet and anger among workers over Macron into the dead end of a bankrupt parliamentary perspective.

It is widely understood that Macron will maintain the state of emergency, which suspends democratic rights in France, and use it to impose deeply unpopular social policies. Macron is vowing to slash corporate taxes and impose EU austerity policies by fiat, using the framework provided by last years labour law, which was imposed in the face of mass protests and the opposition of 70 percent of the population.

Under these conditions, even Melenchon felt compelled to make a few criticisms of Macron. He complained that Macron wanted emergency powers to ram his policies through parliament via decree: The first Macron will ask for from his deputies is the authorisation to rule by decree, that is, that they submit to him.

Holding out wild hopes that voters would return a UF majority to the National Assembly, he insisted that a parliamentary struggle against Macron is still viable. If voters gave a majority to UF, then you will have a majority that applies UFs program, A Future in Common.

In fact, it is impossible to obtain even the fairly mild social concessions proposed in the UF election program under a Macron presidency. Macron is committed not only to deep austerity and to the state of emergency, but also to a major military build-up, including a return to the draft, which Melenchon also supported during the presidential election campaign. Social funding would be simply unavailable under Macron, as he poured countless billions of euros into preparing to join major NATO wars in the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe.

An essential contradiction underlies the bankruptcy of Melenchons program. He proposes to obtain under capitalism various concessionswage increases, funding for students, etc.that are listed in his program, but that cannot be obtained without the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism and the building of socialism across Europe and internationally. While he tries to present himself as radical because he advances social demands, he is in fact desperately trying to tie the working class to a bankrupt bourgeois parliamentary perspective.

This is rooted in Melenchons political history and in particular his hostility to Trotskyism. He joined the Organisation communiste internationaliste (OCI) as it was breaking with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), whose French section today is the PES, on a reactionary nationalist perspective of building the PS, which had been founded in 1971. The OCI integrated itself deeply into the PS and its political periphery.

One OCI member, Lionel Jospin, served concurrently as a leading PS member and became a top aide to PS President Francois Mitterrand and then prime minister of France. Jospin led the 1997-2002 Plural Left governmentcomprising the PS, the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF), and the Green Partywhich cohabited with conservative President Jacques Chirac. Melenchon was a PS minister in the Jospin government, whose reactionary policies proved deeply unpopular.

At the Villejuif convention, Melenchon baldly advanced the perspective that UF voters should allow him to follow in Jospins footsteps, by setting up a fruitful cohabitation between himself and Macron. He said, Whatever criticisms one has to make of it, the cohabitation of Lionel Jospin for five years was one of the most positive moments in the life of the French economy.

Melenchons characterization of the Plural Left government as positive testifies to his hostility to the working class. Jospin carried out a series of austerity measures, including mass redundancies and the privatization of many public enterprises, and participated in the Afghan war. The ultimate outcome was a humiliating defeat for Jospin in the first round of the presidential election of 2002, as Jospin and the PS were eliminated in the first round, setting up a second round between Jean-Marie Le Pen and Chirac.

As in 2017 with Macron, Melenchon and the political descendants of the OCI supported Chirac against Le Pen in 2002. Over the last 15 years, their bankrupt policies have only produced disasters for the workers. They shifted further to the right: backing austerity, war and police-state measures, while allowing the FN to continue to rise in the polls, doubling its vote between 2002 and 2017 and becoming a major force in the political establishment.

Melenchons positions confirm yet again the correctness of the PES call for an active boycott in the second round of the election, to give an independent political line to workers and arm them politically with a revolutionary and socialist perspective for the mass struggles that will erupt against Macron and the EU. The forces that, like Melenchon, seek to keep the working class trapped in the dead end of parliamentary politics are utterly bankrupt. They have nothing to propose but illusions and political lies.
The allegation that an espionage agent spying for Israel is in danger of losing his life because President Trump revealed classified information is deeply damaging to him. It is said that he told senior Russian officials that the spy had disclosed details of an Isis plot to blow up planes by placing explosives inside laptops carried on board.

The Israeli spy story is so damaging to Mr Trump because it is simpler and more concrete than vague accusations that his presidential election campaign was aided by Russia. But in both cases the allegations should be treated with caution because they come from US intelligence agencies and mass media that are engaged in a fierce struggle for power and influence with Mr Trump and are hence highly partisan.

Read more

Erdogan and Trump clash over role of Kurds in fight against Isis

Generally speaking, Western and regional intelligence agencies have a poor record in penetrating or gathering intelligence about Isis since it re-emerged as a military force in 2012-13. The identity of many of its leaders remains unknown and others who were reported killed have turned out to be alive. Isis itself is obsessively secretive and has executed many whom it accused of gathering information about it.

The degree to which classified information was disclosed remains uncertain. According to the report in The New York Times, claiming that Israel was the source of the secret intelligence Mr Trump disclosed to the Russians, it was only after his meeting with them that the information was flagged as too sensitive to be shared, even among many American officials.

The most specific accusation is that Mr Trump revealed the name of the city where the spy learned that Isis was developing a bomb to be hidden in batteries that could be placed in a laptop, kindle or iPad to be carried aboard a plane by a passenger. This has led to such items being banned by US and UK from the passenger compartments of aircraft flying from airports in ten Muslim countries. Critics of the move say these items may pose an even greater threat to a plane when stored in the hold of an aircraft.

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Isis does not now control many cities or town in Iraq and Syria, having lost them over the last two years. In Syria, it still controls Raqqa, though this is expected to be attacked soon, part of Deir Ezzor not held by the Syrian armed forces and Mayadeen further east. In Iraq, it no longer controls significant urban areas as the siege of Mosul draws to a close, but in both countries it holds large rural areas. If there is a spy working for the Israelis, it is just possible that Isis might be alerted to his identity by the naming of a city such as Raqqa but it is not very likely.

The defence of Mr Trump by his National Security Adviser, Gen HR McMaster is being treated with scepticism by the US media, but may well be true on present evidence. He said that no secrets had been revealed and what was said was nothing that you would not know from open source reporting.

Israel has been quick to say that it still has confidence in its security relationship with the US, which is scarcely surprising since it is very much the junior partner. The reputation of Mossad tends to be higher abroad than inside Israel, where in the 1990s it was discovered that the countrys most trusted spy in Syria for over a decade had been invented by an Israeli security official who was pocketing large sums of money supposedly paid to the source who was meant to be working as a top level official in Damascus.

Mr Trump starts on his first foreign tour as President on Friday beginning in Saudi Arabia and going on to Israel, but the unrelenting furore in Washington since he fired James Comey as head of the FBI is likely to overshadow his talks with regional rulers. Saudi Arabia and the coalition of Sunni states that it leads will seek to draw the US into its escalating confrontation with Iran. While Saudi Arabia and Israel makes belligerent noises towards Iran, their policy has always been to encourage the US to fight for regime change in Tehran, but not to do so themselves.

The political battles between Mr Trump and his opponents in the US are now so intense that it will be difficult for him to initiate new policies in the Middle East or elsewhere. There are growing doubts about his political longevity in states like Saudi Arabia, Israel and Turkey who welcomed his election last November. They are finding that his policies in Syria and Iraq are so far very similar to those of President Obama whose military interventionism was greater than he was credited for. It is possible, however, that Mr Trump may feel that military action against Isis will help him survive the mounting political crisis at home.
Associated Press

There has already been two coaching changes halfway through the NFL season with Indianapolis firing Frank Reich this week four weeks after Carolina did the same to Matt Rhule. The NFL had a record-tying 10 coaching changes last offseason and three-quarters of the teams have changed head coaches at least once in the past five years. Here's a look at some coaches who figure to be on the hot seat if things don't turn around in the second half of the season and some assistants who could be in line for head coaching jobs.
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan security forces have regained control of a district center close to the northern city of Kunduz that fell to Taliban insurgents earlier this month, officials said on Tuesday. A statement from the interior ministry said security forces had launched their operation to retake Qala-i-Zal, a district to the northwest of Kunduz, on Tuesday morning and had secured the district governor's office, police headquarters and other areas. "Right now, a massive operation in insecure areas of Qala-i-Zal is ongoing," it said. "Afghan security forces will not let Taliban insurgents rule our people in any part of the country." The defense ministry said one insurgent had been killed in the operation. There was no word on any casualties among security forces. Taliban fighters seized Qala-i-Zal, on the border with Tajikistan, on May 6 as they stepped up pressure on Kunduz at the start of their annual spring offensive. Fighting has been going on all around Kunduz, with security forces struggling to open the main highway into the city after it was blocked with mines and improvised roadside bombs. Although the city center itself is in government hands, the Taliban control most of the surrounding districts and thousands of residents are reported to have fled their homes to avoid the fighting. Kunduz has been one of the Taliban's main targets ever since international troops largely ended their combat mission in Afghanistan in 2014. Over the past two years, the insurgents have twice managed to seize the city center for brief periods before being driven off after days of fighting and air strikes. According to U.S. estimates, the government controls only about 60 percent of the country with the rest either under Taliban control or contested by the insurgents. (Reporting by Mirwais Harooni; Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Paul Tait)
Infowars host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has settled a lawsuit with yogurt company Chobani after spreading false information about the company and the city of Twin Falls, Idaho.

Chobani filed a defamation suit against Jones last month after he posted stories about a wave of refugee-fueled crime and disease in Twin Falls, the Idaho city where Chobani opened a factory in 2012. According to a Los Angeles Times report, the key component of the settlement was for Jones to retract statements he made about Chobani and Twin Falls.

During the week of April 10, 2017, certain statements were made on the Infowars feed and YouTube channel regarding Chobani, LLC that I now understand to be wrong. The tweets and video have now been retracted, and will not be reposted, Jones said in the apology video. On behalf of Infowars, I regret that we mischaracterized Chobani, its employees and the people of Twin Falls, Idaho, the way we did.

The case has been resolved, a Chobani spokesman told Yahoo News. The terms were not disclosed.

Twin Falls has accepted refugees since the 1980s, recently settling approximately 300 per year. Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya is an immigrant from Turkey who has been a supporter of refugees, hiring many at his factories. After a 5-year-old girl was assaulted last summer by three school-age immigrants, right-wing media sensationalized the story, calling it a gang rape at knifepoint by Syrians  when there was no rape, knife or Syrians.. Those same outlets began to portray Twin Falls as a wasteland of crime and disease.

Jones promised to make this a signature cause: Im going to be going to Idaho. Im going to go on that local radio station. Im going to bring investigative crews there. I am going to show what the locals are doing. I am going to show the Islamists getting off of the planes. You want a fight? You better believe, baby, youve got one.

Im choosing this as a battle, said Jones last month in response to the suit. On this I will stand, I will win, or I will die.

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Yahoo News reported from Twin Falls last week, as the thriving community with an unemployment rate hovering around three percent passed a resolution to name itself a welcoming city, and dedicated a new flagpole at the area refugee center.

Jones apologized in March for promoting the Pizzagate conspiracy, which suggested that Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta was involved in a child sex ring based in a Washington, D.C., restaurant. In December, a North Carolina man who said he was investigating the claim fired shots inside the restaurant. Following his arrest, he told the New York Times he had listened to Jones show.
Amid the roaring catharsis that rippled through Belmont Park on June 6, 2015, one of the first people to reach Bob Baffert in the grandstand and congratulate him was Todd Pletcher.

Bafferts colt, American Pharoah, had just released thoroughbred racing from 37 years of waiting and wondering whether a Triple Crown could ever be won again. Pletcher, perhaps Bafferts only legitimate rival in the training business, showed his respect that day. Baffert returned it in kind.

Youre going to win one of these, he said to Pletcher.

Difficult as its been for anyone to accomplish the ultimate feat in American horse racing, that still was more than an empty platitude from Baffert. If anyone else in the sport had a chance, its the trainer with the most lifetime earnings and the most quality horses in his care.

Two years later, that possibility presents itself.

Pletchers colt, Always Dreaming, has won the Kentucky Derby and at 4-5 is the solid favorite Saturday in the second race of the Triple Crown, the Preakness. If Always Dreaming triumphs in Baltimore, it will be on to New York for the Belmont June 10 and a shot at making Bafferts 2015 pronouncement come true.

Ive never seen him go into the Preakness with a horse like this, Baffert said of Always Dreaming. If he has racing luck, I cant see him getting beat.

If it plays out that way, the Triple Crown hype would arrive in bulk  especially with a colorful ownership tandem of native New Yorkers who will play that homecoming storyline to the hilt. But that hype has been notably, strangely absent thus far.

Start with Derby day. The post-race news conference transcript is 12 pages long, and yet there wasnt a single question or answer about Always Dreaming as a potential Triple Crown horse. This is the first time I can remember when the possibility hasnt at least been broached in that setting. Its always premature and almost always erroneous, but somebody always asks.

This year? Nothing.

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Then there was the National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference last week. Pletcher was asked 21 questions on that call, none of them pertaining to the Triple Crown chances of Always Dreaming.

So what gives? Why is nobody screaming about Always Dreaming as a potential Triple Crown horse?

A trio of theories:

The Pharoah Effect: The sport was starving for a superstar, desperate for a horse to end the drought. When American Pharoah became that horse, it lessened the allure of the Triple Crown storyline, sated the hunger for it, diminished the news value going forward. And if it happens again two years later, Pharoahs memorable race trilogy wont seem as special and historic.

Admittedly, the last part of that theory ignores the considerable national interest in the cluster of Triple Crowns in the 1970s, when Secretariat won in 1973, Seattle Slew in 77 and Affirmed in 78. But the current sporting climate is seemingly more fickle, with a been-there, done-that, over-it mentality that can create instant fatigue with repeat storylines. And horse racings place within the sporting landscape is much more tenuous today than it was 40 years ago.

Little pre-Derby buzz: [Always Dreaming] came in there quiet, Baffert said. He was under the radar.

Fact is, the entire field came in quiet. This was a crop of 3-year-olds without distinction: none of them had fired off consecutive big performances in high-profile races; all of them had blemishes on the record; everyone had a question mark attached. There was no identified star, and thus no horse was worthy of Triple Crown-level attention or speculation.

That was not the case last year, when Nyquist came to Louisville undefeated and left it that way as well, generating instant Triple Crown buzz. American Pharoah was the established headliner in 2015. California Chrome was the same way in 2014, while also carrying the attractive backstory of common-man owners who refused to sell even a share of the horse for a kings ransom pre-race.

Always Dreaming? He was a very talented horse who had won just a single stakes race in his life. The Florida Derby is a big one, but that basically was the sum and substance of the colts resume and it usually takes more than one race to spark grandiose speculation over a 3-year-olds potential.

To win the Triple Crown, Todd Pletcher will have to do something hes never done before: win the Preakness. (AP)

Pletchers Preakness aversion: If one trainer has done the most to lessen the prestige of the Triple Crowns second leg, its Pletcher. He has historically skipped it with his Derby horses, preferring to rest up and wait in ambush at his home track for any Triple Crown aspirant that makes it to Belmont.

Pletcher has had 48 Derby horses, 22 Belmont horses and just eight in the Preakness  with zero victories in that race. The last time Pletcher brought a Derby horse to Baltimore was the last time he won the Derby  Super Saver in 2010. That horse finished eighth.

Pletcher is, on balance, opposed to running horses on two weeks rest. He prefers at least three weeks, and often more, between races. With the Preakness always coming two weeks after the Derby, its been an almost automatic toss from the schedule.

But when youre pursuing a Triple Crown, there is no avoiding it. Always Dreaming has had a minimum of 28 days between his six lifetime starts, and now it will be compressed to half that time after the longest race of his life.

The question is whether the horse and his trainer can perform outside of their calendar comfort zone.

It is a quick turnaround, and sometimes you dont know how horses are going to respond to that until you get into the stretch of the race, and thats really when you find out what they have left in reserve, Pletcher said. But we like what were seeing so far.

The Preakness will be, at the very least, an even playing field. Always Dreamings prime competition in the race also ran in the Derby  Classic Empire was fourth after a troubled trip and Lookin At Lee was the runner-up after a dream trip along the rail. But both of those horses have experience on a shorter turnaround, having run in the Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby on three weeks layoff.

And the pace scenario figures to be to Always Dreamings liking. A naturally speedy horse, he may find himself alone on the lead after the injury to Royal Mo, who looked like the primary Preakness horse capable of pressing the early pace.

Over the past two decades, the Preakness has been a largely formful race  the randomness produced by a 20-horse Derby field is lessened, and the wear and tear often seen at the Belmont has yet to take its toll.

The best horse wins the Preakness, said Baffert, who should know. Hes won six of them.

On paper, Always Dreaming is the best horse. Well see about that on the track Saturday. But if he does win, the Triple Crown buzz that has been absent will build in a hurry.

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At least nine people were injured in clashes during a protest against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans visit to Washington on Tuesday, May 16.

A Metropolitan Police Department spokesman told The Hill that two people were arrested at the demonstration outside the Turkish ambassadors residence.

Armenian and Kurdish groups had organized the demonstration to protest President Erdogan and his meeting with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, at the White House. Video from Voice of America Turkish shows men from a group holding Turkish flags charging into a small group of protesters who gathered around the Sheridan Circle. Credit: VOATurkish via Storyful
By Nick Mafi. Photos courtesy of Apple.

Apple Park, the tech giant's soon-to-be-completed new headquarters, was the final vision of the firm's inimitable founder: Steve Jobs. So invested in the project was Jobs that his final public appearance before his death on October 5, 2011, was addressing a group of Cupertino council members to pitch his vision for the 175-acre plot of land that would house his company for the next century. "We've come up with a design that puts 12,000 people in one building," said Jobs during the address. "We've seen these office parks with lots of buildings, and they get pretty boring pretty fast...so we're going to do something different from that." Apple chose Norman Foster, a Pritzker Prizewinning architect who has been responsible for some of the most innovative buildings on the planet.

Steve Jobs's inspiration for the new headquarters came in 2004 while he was walking through Hyde Park in London. It was there, in the open, in nature, that Apple's former CEO decided it was necessary to house his company in a new environment where the barrier between building and nature seamlessly disappeared. Yet, more than that, and much like his revolutionary iPhone, Jobs wanted to create the kind of campus that other companies would aspire to in the decades to come. Below, AD covers some of the most cutting-edge features of Apple's newest headquartersa project so vast and exciting that it consumed the final months of Jobs's life.

Energy Efficient: The Ring, as the structure has come to be known, has the ability to run on fully sustainable energy, much of which comes from the solar panels that line the top of the spaceship-like structure. What's more, the campus will house a cluster of various trees, many of them fruit-bearing. The foliage is not merely for aesthetics, however: They will all be drought-tolerant varieties, planted to withstand climate change.

All-Glass: The glass exterior, part of Jobs's original vision, succeeds in blurring the lines between office and nature. To achieve this, Apple hired the German firm Seele Group (the same company that outfitted the famous all-glass exterior of Apple's Fifth Avenue location in New York City). The company produced roughly 800 glass panels that are 45 feet tall, extremely durable, and curved to fit the contours of the ring-like structure.

A Campus Filled with Foliage: Jobs felt his best thinking was done while walking, specifically walking through nature, so he wanted to offer his employees the same creative freedom. To do so, Apple bought some 9,000 trees (many of them apple, plum, apricot, and other fruit trees) to plant throughout the 175-acre plot of land. The result is a corporate campus that, at times, might be mistaken for a state park.

A Building That Breathes: Between each floor of the building is a canopy that juts out, mainly to protect employees from the intense California sun. Tucked within each canopy is a ventilation system that funnels air in and out of the building. Apparently Jobs, who was not a fan of air conditioning, wanted his employees to feel any passing breeze as if they were sitting outside. Through a variety of sensors, the building can maintain a temperature of 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, all by using an intake and release of natural air.

More: 5 Examples of Iconic Modern Architecture That Have Serious Flaws

This story originally appeared on Architectural Digest.

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The US has claimed Syrias Bashar al-Assad has constructed a large crematorium and is using it to dispose of the bodies of up to 50 political prisoners it is said to be executing every week.

Amnesty International reported in February that an average of 20 to 50 people were hanged each week at the Sednaya military prison north of Damascus. Between 5,000 and 13,000 people had been executed there in the years since since a popular uprising descended into a bitter civil war, it said. The group said the process being carried out to crush any dissent against the Assad government and that the majority of those being killed in mass hangings, were civilians opposed to the government.

Stuart Jones, acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, said the US believed a crematorium had been built at the jail, though he did not provide evidence to prove the claim.

Jones said Assad regime killing up to 50 detainees a day at Sednaya prison, buried in mass graves, believes installed a crematorium  Laura Rozen (@lrozen) May 15, 2017

Credible sources have believed that many of the bodies have been disposed in mass graves, Mr Jones told reporters. We now believe that the Syrian regime has installed a crematorium in the Sednaya prison complex which could dispose of detainees remains with little evidence.

Reuters said during the briefing, he showed aerial images of what he said was a crematorium. He also claimed that Russia had either aided in or passively looked away as the regime has engaged in mass murders and other atrocities.

Some will be disinclined to believe the allegations from the State Department and dismiss them as little more than the latest instance of propaganda from Washington. The US, UK and other nations have repeatedly accused Syria of various humans rights abuses during the six year conflict.

Video not available for syndication

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Chemical attack '100 per cent fabrication', Assad says

Earlier this year, Syria and Russia denied Western claims that chemical weapons had been used against Syrian civilians.

During a meeting in Washington with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Mr Jones said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Russia must now, with great urgency, exercise its great influence over the Syrian regime.

Mr Jones also said he was not optimistic about a Russia-brokered deal to set up de-escalation zones inside Syria.

The deal was reached with support from Iran and Turkey during ceasefire talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana earlier this month.

In light of the failures of the past ceasefire agreements, we have reason to be skeptical, said Mr Jones.

Mr Jones said Assads government had carried out air strikes, chemical attacks, extrajudicial killings, starvation, and other measures to target civilians and its opponents. He criticised Russia and Iran for maintaining their support for Assad despite those tactics.

These atrocities have been carried out seemingly with the unconditional support from Russia and Iran, Mr Jones said. The [Assad] regime must stop all attacks on civilian and opposition forces. And Russia must bear responsibility to ensure regime compliance.

The State Department released commercial satellite photographs showing what it described as a building in the prison complex that was modified to support the crematorium. The photographs, taken over the course of several years, beginning in 2013, do not definitely prove the building is a crematorium, but they show construction consistent with such use, said the Associated Press.

Earlier this year, Amnesty called the prison a slaughterhouse.

The horrors depicted in this report reveal a hidden, monstrous campaign, authorised at the highest levels of the Syrian government, aimed at crushing any form of dissent within the Syrian population, said Lynn Maalouf, Deputy Director for Research at Amnesty Internationals regional office in Beirut.

We demand that the Syrian authorities immediately cease extrajudicial executions and torture and inhuman treatment at Sednaya prison and in all other government prisons across Syria. Russia and Iran, the governments closest allies, must press for an end to these murderous detention policies.
Newborn poison frogs of Peru have quite an appetite. If left home alone in their hatching pool, the ravenous tadpoles will eat each other. To keep the tadpoles from gorging on their siblings, their doting father will carry them one at a time on his back and drop them in separate pools, where other food is available.

Some frog fathers, however, abandon their young. For unknown reasons, these males leave and never return to fetch their developing offspring.

Researchers have now found that abandoned tadpoles don't wait for their father to return, because they run the risk of getting eaten by cannibalistic siblings. Instead, they try to piggyback on any adult frog that happens to visit the pool to breed, sleep or cool off in it. What's more, the researchers found that it made no difference to the tadpoles if the visiting adult belonged to the same or a different species. [40 Freaky Frog Photos]

Lisa Schulte and Michael Mayer, of the Department of Biogeography at Trier University in Germany, studied the behavioral response of tadpoles of the Neotropical poison frog Ranitomeya variabilis toward adults of the same species as well as two different species (Ranitomeya imitator and Hyloxalus nexipus).

To perform the experiments, the researchers set up a makeshift laboratory in an unused coffee plantation next to a forest in Peru. They left tadpoles hatched from the same egg clutch in a plastic bowl filled with water and then placed an adult frog in the bowl. The researchers noticed that the tadpoles approached adults of all three species and tried to wriggle their way up the frogs' backs.

"The tadpoles beg for transportation; it surprised us that for them it does not matter if it is their own species or not," Mayer told Live Science in an email from Peru.

Out of 39 tadpoles, two were able to hop on the adult's back  one on the R. variabilis male (same species) and the other on the R. imitator male (same genus but different species). The tadpoles received no help from the adult frogs, which expressed no interest in piggybacking the tadpoles, "affirming that the tadpoles followed the frogs, not vice versa," Schulte and Mayer wrote in their study, published online May 5 in the Journal of Zoology.

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"When in acute danger, they do not passively wait for their parents to pick them up," the researchers wrote, "but instead show a strong, nearly aggressive form of approaching and mounting adults."

Original article on Live Science.

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A private passenger plane carrying two adults and two children has gone missing in the Bahamas.

Authorities lost contact with the aircraft as it was flying from Puerto Rico to Titusville on Floridas east coast on Monday.

Efforts to find the four people on board, identified as Jennifer Blumin, Nathan Ulrich and Ms Blumin's four-year-old and 10-year-old sons, are being concentrated close to where the plane last made contact - in the Bermuda Triangle.

Air traffic control in Miami lost contact with the MU-2B plane as it was flying to the east of Eleuthera, an island in the Bahamas archipelago.

The communication was lost at 24,000 feet as the plane travelled at 300 knots, officials said.

#BreakingNews @USCG searching for overdue airplane 37 mi E of Eleuthera, Bahamas. Read more https://t.co/hA5TaVUgr4  USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 16, 2017

Search and rescue aircrafts from the US coastguard, Customs and Border Patrol and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force were scouring the seas for any sign of the aircraft roughly 40 miles east of the island.
For more than three decades, actor Brad Pitt was "boozing too much," and his drinking became a problem. But the actor has been sober for the last six months, he revealed in an interview appearing in the summer issue of the magazine GQ Style.

"I can't remember a day since I got out of college where I wasn't boozing or had a spliff or something," Pitt told GQ Style, using a slang term for smoking marijuana.

These days, the 53-year-old has given up drinking and has substituted "cranberry juice and fizzy water" for alcohol. In another important step in Pitt's recovery, he has been seeing a therapist to cope with "running from his feelings," the actor said.

Pitt's struggles may resemble those of the approximately 17 million adults in the United States who have an alcohol use disorder, the medical term now used to diagnose drinking that seriously interferes with a person's life and health, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. [7 Ways Alcohol Affects Your Health]

Although millions of people grapple with alcohol problems, only a small fraction of those individuals stop drinking and seek treatment to break the addiction, as Pitt did.

Most addictions are difficult to break, and there is not a lot of scientific evidence available about which substances may be harder or easier to quit using, said Dr. Robert Swift, a psychiatrist and associate director of the Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies in Providence, Rhode Island. How difficult it is to quit an addiction may depend on the length and intensity of a person's use of the substance, he said.

A person like Pitt has both fame and fortune, but sometimes that is not enough to make someone quit drinking, Swift said.

Live Science asked Swift to explain what happens in the brain when a person drinks heavily that can make alcohol so addicting.

Three major brain changes

One of the first things that happens to make people dependent on alcohol is that the substance stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked with pleasurable and rewarding activities, such as enjoying a great meal or having sex, Swift said. The release of this brain chemical affects the brain's reward center, and it can stimulate people's interest in and enjoyment of alcohol, so they continue to drink, he said. Consequently, the brain learns to associate alcohol with positive experiences.

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But as a person continues to drink frequently and heavily, a second major change occurs. The brain gets sensitized to the release of dopamine and over time, that enjoyment of alcohol fades, Swift said. As the brain becomes tolerant to alcohol, people need to drink more and more, in a sense, to feel good, and this begins the transition from liking alcohol to becoming addicted to it, he noted.

A third major change takes place with repeated exposure of the brain to alcohol. As the brain becomes used to alcohol, it compensates for the substance's depressant, or slowing effects, by increasing the activity of glutamate, one of the main excitatory chemicals in the brain, Swift told Live Science. In other words, the brain responds by becoming more excited by the presence of alcohol, and even when a person is not drinking, the brain remains in an excited state, he noted. [11 Interesting Facts About Hangovers]

With the brain in this excited, overactive state, a person with a chronic alcohol problem may not sleep well, may feel more anxious or may develop the shakes, Swift explained. The brain then needs the sedative effects of alcohol to damp down the excitatory chemicals so the person can feel normal, Swift said. In other words, the person needs to continue to drink.

Alcohol addiction

Breaking an addiction to alcohol is more difficult the longer and the more frequently a person has been drinking.

If the individual has been drinking heavily for years, the changes that take place in the brain may be permanent, Swift said. Chronic alcohol use actually changes the brain neurologically; it sensitizes certain brain circuits and changes neurotransmitter levels, and it can also affect executive function, which is the part of the brain involved in decision-making that tells a person not to drink, Swift explained.

Because some of the brain changes that occur with chronic alcohol use cannot be reversed, people who have become addicted typically need to avoid alcohol for the rest of their lives, Swift said. [How 8 Common Medications Interact with Alcohol]

Individuals can vary in their vulnerability to becoming addicted to alcohol, he said. Some people are more genetically susceptible than others, and alcohol dependency tends to run in families, Swift said.

About half of the cases of alcohol use disorders are due to genetics and family history, and the other half are due to environmental exposure, Swift said. Environmental factors may include social influences, such as friends and family, the availability and access to alcohol, and age at first use.

For someone with a long-term addiction to alcohol, quitting drinking can be a difficult process with a high likelihood of relapse, Swift said. But chronic alcohol problems are treatable. The best treatment is a combination of medication and counseling, and some people need to go through a detox program first to get the alcohol out of their systems, he said.

Originally published on Live Science.

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So desperate is Trump to impress the Russians, it seems hes giving away our most classified information. The only winner here is Vladimir Putin

President Trump with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak at the White House. Photograph: HO/AFP/Getty Images

There is nothing Donald Trump loves more than a great superlative. He builds the tallest hotels. He is the most successful businessman. His inaugural crowds were the biggest ever. None of these claims are remotely true, no matter how exaggerated the adjective nor how emphatic the delivery.

But after his alleged blabbing of highly classified intelligence to the Russians, Trump can now lay claim to the greatest superlative of any sitting president: he is the biggest bozo of them all. Bigger than the Bush who thought invading Iraq would be easy. Bigger than the biggest president who got stuck in his bathtub.

Trump is the most unpatriotically reckless, most flamboyantly ignorant, most ludicrously incompetent of them all. Never mind The Apprentice, hes actually The Biggest Loser.

There are only a few explanations for why the 45th president of the United States would reveal the most sensitive intel about Isis capabilities to one of the least trustworthy countries on the planet. The Washington Post reported that Trump shared classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador about an Isis threat. After all, this intel is so sensitive that we havent shared it with our real allies for fear of disclosing vital sources and methods. Even the denials from the White House look pathetically brief. It was the desire to suppress this intel from the official account of the Russian meeting that led to the collective face-palm of the US intelligence community.

He ran an entire campaign on the premise that Hillary Clinton should be locked up for mishandling classified intel

So how could Trump be so stupid? Its impossible that he was clueless about the classified information he was leaking: he was clearly bragging about having the best intel to his Russian buddies.

Its also impossible that he thinks its fine to leak classified intel. He ran an entire presidential campaign  the greatest ever, he claims to anyone mad enough to listen to him  on the premise that Hillary Clinton should be locked up for mishandling classified intel.

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In fact, just last week he fired his FBI director James Comey for at least two reasons. The official (fake) reason was that he botched the Clinton investigation. The unofficial (true) reason was Comey was spending too much time investigating Trumps Russian collusion and too little time investigating the leaking of classified info to the media.

No, even the bozo-in-chief isnt stupid enough to think its OK to hand out information like presidential M&Ms to anyone who walks into the Oval Office.

It seems Trump sees nothing wrong in being so close to the Russians that he spills his guts about our most precious intelligence. He is so desperate to impress them that he cannot distinguish between American interests and his own neediness. America First means Trump First, and if Trump wants to brag about his inaugural crowds or his intel reports, its all good. As Richard Nixon liked to say, if the president does it, that means its not illegal.

Richard Nixon in a diner on New Yorks Upper East Side. Photograph: New York Daily News Archive/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Case in point: what were the Russian foreign minister and Russian ambassador even doing inside the Oval Office on the day after Trump fired Comey over the Russian investigation? Why couldnt he understand that this might confirm the worst fears about his collusion with Russia?

The simple answer is that he sees nothing wrong in colluding with the Russians. Or inviting into the Oval Office their photographer. Vladimir Putin has no need to eavesdrop on an American president who is willing to tell his cronies everything useful about his vast national security infrastructure.

Of course, we know from Trumps personal lawyers that apart from several tens of millions of dollars, Trumps tax returns show no money from Russian sources. Just several tens of millions of dollars that are easily linked to Russia. The rest well never know about because well never see the tax returns or the business workings of the Trump empire.

Its here that all comparisons with Nixon need to cease. Say what you like about the crook, but Nixon was no friend of Moscow. In those days, to be a friend of the Kremlin meant you were also a communist. To be a friend of the Kremlin today means you are a friend of a kleptocracy.

In the world of Hollywood movies and airport fiction, we are witnessing an unsubtle foreshadowing of Trumps final demise in a dumpster fire of Russian documents and cash. What we dont yet know is the fate of the Republican party that is so content to stand by and watch its own reputation burn with the same garbage.

This is the party that, not so long ago, ran several election cycles claiming nobody else could be trusted with national security. Before that, it claimed it was going to restore honesty and integrity to the Oval Office in place of a president who got impeached. Just last year it claimed that Clinton should never be trusted with classified intel because she was under FBI investigation for sending it via her private email server.

The GOP has gone far beyond the bounds of hypocrisy. It now faces an existential crisis about what kind of values it represents. If it cannot or will not break with Trump after the last week of daily crises, then it is doomed to fight the next election on whether it stands with the biggest bozo of them all.

Democrats will face the quandary of impeaching Trump or leaving a castrated president and the remnants of his party in place for a total wipeout in 2020. Of course, Senate Republicans may decide this for themselves by voting Trump innocent in his impeachment trial in 2019. In which case, they can all find jobs when the latest Trump resort opens in Vladivostok two years later.

In the meantime, the only clear winner from the Trump fiasco is Putin. With a few million dollars and few phishing emails, he has compromised and destabilized the entire western alliance, its intelligence-sharing operations, and the moral authority of the United States.

Clinton warned us on national television that Trump was Putins puppet. His response was as terrified as it was childish: youre the puppet, he sputtered. Even then, Clinton could not have known how obviously wooden this Pinocchio was.
The Beguiled (Photo: Focus Features)

Today is the official start of the 70th Cannes Film Festival. Until May 28, movie lovers in France will have their choice of 49 films from 29 countries  including nine directorial debuts and 12 features from female filmmakers. The events big prize  the Palm dOr  will be selected by a jury led by Pedro Almodovar, and comprised of Will Smith, Jessica Chastain, Fan Bingbing, Agnes Jaoui, Paolo Sorrentino, Maren Ade, Park Chan-wook, and Gabriel Yared. Whichever film premiering on the French Riviera over the next two weeks wins their vote, even the also-rans figure to include some of the years very best. Here are the 10  eight in competition for the Palm dOr, two that arent  that were most hoping to see in the near future.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Colin Farrell and director Yorgos Lanthimos follow up The Lobster  along with Nicole Kidman and Alicia Silverstone  for this psychological thriller about a teenage boy who enters into a not-very-healthy relationship with a surgeon.

The Beguiled

Sofia Coppola directs a stellar cast (led by Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning) in this remake of the 1971 Clint Eastwood thriller, about a wounded Civil War soldier whos taken in at an all-female boarding school.

Okja

South Korean auteur Bong Joon-hos latest  about a young girl who strives to rescue her giant-animal BFF after hes captured by a corporation  has caused quite a fuss on the Croisette, thanks to the fact that its being released by Netflix (and thus runs afoul of French rules stipulating that movies must be given a lengthy theatrical window before arriving on home platforms).

You Were Never Really Here

Six years after We Need to Talk About Kevin, director Lynne Ramsay returns with this thriller about a war veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) on a mission to save a young girl from a sex-trafficking ring.

Happy End

Austrian provocateur Michael Hanekes previous two films  2009s The White Ribbon, and 2012s Amour  both won the Palm dOr. Naturally, all eyes are on his upcoming film starring Isabelle Huppert, reportedly a family drama set against the backdrop of the European refugee debate.

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Wonderstruck

Based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Brian Selznick, this drama from director Todd Haynes (Carol) features two storylines  one in 1927 and one in 1977  about young people running away from home in search of cherished adults. It boasts a cast that includes Hayness Safe and Far From Heaven star Julianne Moore, as well as Michelle Williams.

Good Time

Robert Pattinson is a NYC bank robber who finds himself desperately trying to raise cash in order to bail out his partner-in-crime brother in this latest drama from Josh and Ben Safdie (Heaven Knows What).

The Meyerowitz Stories

Adam Sandler takes a break from his Netflix comedies to once again try his hand at drama in this family saga from writer-director Noah Baumbach (While Were Young), about a New York clan reuniting to celebrate the artistic career of their father. It co-stars Ben Stiller, Candice Bergen, Emma Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman.

Before We Vanish

Kiyoshi Kurosawa is one of Japans most unconventional  and fascinating  genre filmmakers, and for his latest (screening in the Un Certain Regard portion of the fest), hes delivering an intriguing sci-fi film about three aliens who, in preparation for a mass invasion, take control of human bodies.

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

Eleven years after he first warned moviegoers about the escalating dangers posed by climate change, former Vice President Al Gore returns for a follow-up, which diagnoses the current state of the planet.

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An ant named after the fierce, carnivorous dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex has been observed alive for the first time  and it failed to live up to the dinosaur's reputation.

Tyrannomyrmex rex is a timid, finicky eater, new research finds. The ants can, however, turn to cannibalism in times of need.

Until now, these Asian ants were a complete mystery to science, despite being discovered more than 20 years ago. No one had ever collected more than a single specimen, and no one had ever observed a T. rex ant alive for an extended period of time. So when biologist Mark Wong stumbled across a colony of T. rex ants while conducting an ant diversity survey in Singapore, he knew he had something important.

He and his colleague Gordon Yong from the National University of Singapore carefully collected the colony, which consisted of 13 workers, as well as eggs, larvae and pupae (the liminal stage between larva and adulthood). They then observed the ants in an attempt to figure out what makes them tick. Because the study is the first of its kind, everything the researchers discovered is new, Wong told Live Science. [See Stunning Mug Shots of Ants Across the Globe]

Chance discovery

The T. rex ant was first discovered in Malaysia in 1994. It's part of the rare group of ants in the Tyrannomyrmex genus; there are only two other identified species. (T. dux from India and T. legatus from Sri Lanka.) The ants have pointed snouts, which may explain the T. rex namesake, Wong said.

In March 2016, Wong found the first known live colony of T. rex ants in a piece of rotting wood stuck in the ground in Singapore's Mandai area, just south of Malaysia and north of the Singapore Zoo. The ants were nesting in a second-growth forest that was once the home of 20th-century orchards and rubber plantations, Wong and Yong reported April 27 in the journal Asian Myrmecology.

In the field, it was apparent why the T. rex ant is so little-known. The colony was small, subterranean and unobtrusive. Ant collection methods rarely involve careful underground surveys, Wong said.

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"Our finding of T. rex below the ground surface highlights the need for more focused exploration of the ant communities within this environment," he said.

Timid T. rex

In captivity, the colony further exhibited the retiring manner that has made these ants so elusive. They were more active at night than during the day, suggesting that they are probably nocturnal in the wild, Wong said. They are not aggressive. When exposed to a potential threat, like a millipede, the ants curled up and froze, likely hoping to be overlooked so they could run away when the immediate danger passed.

Despite offering the ants an absolute smorgasbord of food, Wong and Yong could not determine what the ant version of T. rex eats. They rejected termites, smaller ants, mites, millipedes and even honey, Wong said. When shown a drop of honey, they kept their distance, except for a tentative poke at the sticky substance with their antennae. [In Photos: Trap-Jaw Ant Babies Grow Up]

Besides the 13 adult workers, the T. rex colony consisted of two worker pupae, one male pupa, nine larvae and five eggs. The male pupa emerged as an adult two days into captivity, but the other ants immediately ate him. It was "unfortunate," Wong said, but not unheard of.

"The colony is one big organism," he said, "and this is one way in which it channels resources from some biological functions [in this case, reproduction] to others, based on which are deemed important in the prevailing environmental conditions."

After 10 days of observation, the researchers euthanized the ants and preserved their bodies for study. Wong and his colleagues returned to Mandai to search for more T. rex ants, but they have had no luck, he said. He plans to keep looking.

"Increasingly, we're finding that many ants which live underground have unique life histories and ecological relationships that are poorly understood," he said. "There's this amazing world right beneath our feet, which we've hardly explored, and I'm excited to get started."

Original article on Live Science.

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Chelsea Manning has taken her first steps of freedom as a woman, and commemorated the occasion like any 27-year-old might celebrate a big day: posting a photo on Instagram.

Ms Manning posted a photo of her black Converse soon after being released from military prison where she served seven years of a 35-year sentence for leaking classified information to WikiLeaks.

First steps of freedom!! she wrote on Instagram alongside a smiling emoji and the hashtag chelseaisfree.

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Chelsea Manning released from prison

Ms Mannings sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama in what was one of his final acts as president earlier this year. Mr Obamas decision to cut the transgender soldiers sentence angered his successor, Donald Trump, who called the former intelligence analyst an ungrateful traitor and said she should never have been released from prison.

First steps of freedom!!  . . #chelseaisfree A post shared by Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea87) on May 17, 2017 at 6:39am PDT

In a statement released by her legal team, Ms Manning expressed joy and optimism for her future.

After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived, Ms Manning said of leaving the US military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me, is far more important than the past. Im figuring things out right nowwhich is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me.

Ms Manning was convicted in 2013 of 20 charges, after leaking diplomatic cables and military files she gained access to as an Army intelligence analyst. Those charges included six Espionage Act violations, theft, and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge she faced, aiding the enemy.

Those leaks revealed abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan by the US military, the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, killings by military contractors in Iraq, Afghan civilian deaths and other incidents.

Those astonishing revelations sparked global outrage over what seemed to be a disregard by the US military for the impact of war on civilians. The leaks were also criticised by some who said that exposing the countrys most sensitive secrets endangered information sources. The State Department quickly moved to protect sources in the aftermath.

In prison, Ms Manning also became an inspiration for transgender people as she struggled with identifying as a woman while in American military custody. Her representatives allege that she was subjected to violence in prison and that she was mistreated by the military, which forced her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison. They allege that her physical and mental health care was restricted and that she was not allowed to keep her feminine haircut.
The first Instagram post from newly freed Chelsea Manning. (Photo: Instagram/xychelsea87)

Chelsea Manning  the transgender Army private sentenced in 2013 for leaking classified information, whose sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama  took her first free steps on Wednesday. And Manning, 35, caught right up with 2017 by celebrating the moment the way anyone else her age might: by snapping a #shoefie of her feet in her brand-new Chuck Taylor All-Stars, which she then posted to Instagram.

First steps of freedom! she wrote next to the photo, which showed the bottom portion of black leggings and the Converse low-tops  black, brand-new, and scuff-free.

First steps of freedom!! ???? . . #chelseaisfree A post shared by Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea87) on May 17, 2017 at 6:39am PDT

The shoe choice seemed empowering and fitting, not only because Converse sneakers have long been embraced as an iconic symbol of unisex fashion in popular culture, but also because the brand itself has made a point of embracing its LGBT fans, specifically through releasing its Proud to Be pride line back in 2015.

Manning, who went to prison for sharing U.S. secrets with WikiLeaks, walked out of her maximum-security holding cell in Kansas more than 30 years early, and said in a statement, After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived. I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me is far more important than the past. Im figuring things out right now  which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me.

While imprisoned at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Forth Leavenworth in Kansas, Manning  nee Bradley, who transitioned and changed her name to Chelsea while incarcerated  had to conform to male grooming standards.

She has experienced trauma over the past seven years of her confinement, and the trauma from those experiences wont just evaporate the day she walks out of prison, noted one of her lawyers, Chase Strangio of the American Civil Liberties Union. Its going be a process for her to heal and begin to live her free life with more autonomy over her gender and her decisions and vision for the future.

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So, im already enjoying my first hot, greasy pizza ???? A post shared by Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea87) on May 17, 2017 at 9:34am PDT

She seems to have already gotten the hang of social media  soon adding a second Instagram post, of her first hot, greasy pizza  and is receiving lots of loving support there (along with some predictable trolling). Her #shoefie has more than 2,500 likes and a slew of comments, including Here we go!! Queer Radical Vets for the Win, and Thank you for your sacrifices. Welcome home Chelsea.

Some couldnt help but dole out fashion advice. Ffs Chelsea tuck your laces in, advised one, as another noted, I walked out into my new life 20 years and 9 days ago. You have so much to embrace and be grateful for. Dont let the bastards grind you down girl! Sunlight is the best disinfectant and your truth  both personally and politically  is good for our democracy. Rock those leggings (I know I do).

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Journalists are accustomed to President Trumps contempt for the press by this point, but his apparent desire to jail reporters who publish classified information still sent shockwaves through the profession.

The New York Times published a story with details from a memo written by former FBI Director James Comey about a meeting he had with Trump in February. Although the memo has mostly generated controversy for Trumps reported attempt to squelch an investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, the president also reportedly asked Comey to bring charges against journalists who publish classified information:

Alone in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Mr. Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information, according to one of Mr. Comeys associates.

Yahoo News reached out to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent nonprofit dedicated to defending the rights of journalists around the world, for reaction to Trumps reported desire to jail journalists.

Joel Simon, who has been the executive director of the CPJ since 2006, has led the organizations efforts to protect press freedom in the digital space. He helped establish the CPJs Global Campaign Against Impunity and Journalist Assistance program.

He spoke to Yahoo News about how Trumps latest comments differ from his anti-media campaign rhetoric, and what they mean for the state of journalism.

Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); President Trump. (Photos: Yuriko Nakao/Reuters, Yuri Gripas/Reuters)

Yahoo News: As somebody whos committed to protecting the rights of journalists, what was your immediate reaction when you heard this?

Joel Simon: My immediate reaction is that its crazy and scary. It suggests that the kind of rhetorical attacks on the media that have become sort of background noise at this point  actually, there was an attempt by the president to translate those ideas into actions that could affect the ability of journalists to do their work.

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The CPJ put out a statement condemning Trump as an unprecedented threat to press freedom when he was still a candidate. Do you feel that weve seen this now that hes in the White House?

Well, his language is unprecedented in terms of the way he talks about the media and views its role. The damage done by that language to rights of journalists around the world is very significant because hes normalizing the kind of language that autocratic leaders generally use when they talk about the media. And when he met with [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan yesterday, he completed what we call the Press Freedom Violators trifecta. Hes now met with the three leading jailers of journalists: Hes met with Erdogan of Turkey, [President Abdel Fattah] el-Sisi of Egpyt and [President] Xi [Jinping] of China.

In terms of journalists in the United States, lets acknowledge that the attacks have been rhetorical. Journalists find that chilling, but for the most part theyre able to do their jobs. But this is an escalation, or a potential escalation, so the threat is very real. This is a reminder, and what hasnt been borne out, yet it still something we need to be cognizant of.

President Trump bows his head in prayer at the United States Coast Guard Academy Commencement Ceremony in New London, Conn., on May 17 2017. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Trump essentially says something shocking or controversial every single day. Sometimes its about an inconsequential matter, but occasionally hell say something like this, which carries consequences. Do you fear that the sheer number of outlandish things he says will prevent the public from picking up on these more serious matters?

Let me clarify something. He didnt actually say this to the public. When he condemns American journalists as enemies of the American people, or he lashes out and calls CNN fake news, thats alarming, obviously. But you can kind of say thats a rhetorical gesture hes making to rally his supporters, or that theres a political dimension. But this was said, allegedly, in a private meeting. This was not said to the public. This was not intended to distract people, change the subject or rally the base. It appears, based on the reporting, that hes serious about finding ways to put journalists in jail, and sought to enlist the director of the FBI. This is of a different magnitude.

*****

Bruce Brown, the executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, released the following statement:

The comments attributed to President Trump cross a dangerous line. But no president gets to jail journalists. Reporters are protected by judges and juries, by a congress that relies on them to stay informed, and by a Justice Department that for decades has honored the role of a free press by spurning prosecutions of journalists for publishing leaks of classified information.

Comments such as these, emerging in the way they did, only remind us that every day public servants are reaching out to reporters to ensure the public is aware of the risks today to rule of law in this country. The presidents remarks should not intimidate the press but inspire it.

Trumps handling of classified information has itself fallen under scrutiny over the past few days. A bombshell report from the Washington Post indicates that Trump handed over top-secret information to Russias foreign minister and ambassador during a meeting last week.

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Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Oxon Hill, Md., last February. (Photo:/Susan Walsh)

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke announced Wednesday afternoon that he would be taking a position in the Department of Homeland Security.

Clarke told Wisconsin radio host Vicki McKenna that he would be leaving his current job for a post in the Department of Homeland Security. Clarke met with President Trump back in November and was considered a potential candidate to run the department, a position that eventually went to Gen. John Kelly.

The position mentioned is a secretarial appointment, said a Homeland Security spokesperson in a statement to Yahoo News. Such senior positions are announced by the department when made official by the secretary. No such announcement with regard to the Office of Public Engagement has been made.

Clarke, who originally ran for sheriff as a Democrat, has become a hero of the conservative movement and was an early supporter of Trump. His department recently came under fire for the 2016 death of a mentally ill inmate who died of dehydration after deputies withheld water from him for seven days. A jury recommended charges against seven staffers in the jail earlier this month after medical examiners ruled the death a homicide.

Clarke has a long history of controversial statements. He has advocated sending any Americans accused of terrorism to Guantanamo Bay for indefinite detention, compared Beyonces Super Bowl performance to the Ku Klux Klan, suggested adding an automatic rifle to the Great Seal of the United States, and called Black Lives Matter vile and slimy. In an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of Infowars, Clarke suggested that an attempt at gun control legislation would start a second American Revolution. Clarke spoke at last summers Republican National Convention, using the platform to celebrate the acquittal of Baltimore police officers that had been on trial in the death of Freddie Gray.

Before long, Black Lies Matter will join forces with ISIS to being down our legal constituted republic. You heard it first here.  David A. Clarke, Jr. (@SheriffClarke) October 28, 2015

According to a Daily Beast report, Clarke traveled to Moscow in 2015 as part of a National Rifle Association delegation, where he met with a deputy of President Vladimir Putin.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Controversial new US ambassador to Israel David Friedman arrived in the country on Monday to take up his post, days ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump.

Friedman, due to present his credentials to President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday, has been a strong supporter of Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank.

After his arrival in Tel Aviv, Friedman visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, praying there and kissing the sacred site, the holiest location where Jews are allowed to pray.

"I prayed for the president and I wished him success, especially on his upcoming trip," Friedman said in a video posted on the US embassy's Twitter feed.

"I know its going to be an amazing trip," he said.

Friedman, a frequent visitor to Jerusalem, also exchanged words near the wall with Steven Tyler of American rock band Aerosmith, in town for a concert.

Jewish-American bankruptcy lawyer Friedman has expressed scepticism over the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the basis of years of US peace efforts.

He has also advocated breaking with decades of precedent by moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed city of Jerusalem, a prospect deeply alarming to Palestinians.

Trump vowed to move the embassy to Jerusalem during his campaign, but has since backed away, saying the move was still being looked at.

He will have to decide by the beginning of June whether to continue with the policy of his predecessors and again block the embassy's transfer.

Trump is expected to visit Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories on May 22 and 23.

- 'Worse than kapos' -

Speaking at a pre-election rally in October in support of Trump on Jerusalem's Mount Zion, Friedman said the now US president would fire US State Department "lifers" who refused to move the embassy.

He has also clashed with American Jewish progressive groups, notably dubbing liberals "worse than kapos", a reference to Jewish collaborators who worked as guards in Nazi concentration camps.

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His appointment comes as Trump seeks ways to restart moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, and questions have been raised over whether Friedman will be able to put his personal views aside.

Trump himself has sent mixed signals over how he will approach the decades-old conflict.

He cast uncertainty over years of international efforts to foster a two-state solution when he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in February.

At that meeting, he said he would support a single state if it led to peace, delighting Israeli right-wingers who want to see their country annex most of the occupied West Bank.

At the same time, he urged Israel to hold back on settlement building in the West Bank, a longstanding concern of Palestinians and much of the world.

He also held face-to-face talks in Washington with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas earlier this month, confidently predicting that a peace agreement was within grasp, brushing aside the complexities of a conflict that has bedevilled successive US leaders.

- Deal-maker optimistic -

"We will get it done," Trump said, flaunting what he has described as his deal-making prowess.

"It is something that I think is, frankly, maybe not as difficult as people have thought over the years."

Friedman's support for settlements has drawn particular attention.

Trump, the parents of his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Friedman have all reportedly contributed financially to Beit El settlement, near the Palestinian political capital Ramallah.

According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Friedman has been president of a group called American Friends of Beit El Institutions.

It said the group raises about $2 million a year for Beit El.

Israeli settlements are viewed as illegal under international law and major stumbling blocks to peace as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.

Israel occupied the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1967 in moves never recognised by the international community.

It later annexed east Jerusalem and claims the entire city as its undivided capital. The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday that Trump was still assessing whether relocating the embassy would help or harm chances for peace.

Netanyahu responded by saying on Monday that "not only would moving the embassy not harm the peace process, but to the contrary.

"It would advance it by fixing a historic wrong and shatter the Palestinian illusion that Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel."
The message can't be simpler: Don't put cotton swabs in your ear canals.

A new study, the first of its kind to look at a nationally representative sample, found that between 1990 and 2010, an estimated 263,000 children were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments for injuries to their ears from cotton tip applicators.

"It's concerning that while these products have been around for almost 100 years and many of the manufacturers put warning labels on the products stating to not use them in the ear canal, we are still seeing a significant number of injuries in children using them for the purpose of cleaning their ear canal," said the study's senior author, Dr. Kris Jatana, a pediatric otolaryngologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and associate professor at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. [9 Weird Ways Kids Can Get Hurt]

The cotton swab was invented by Leo Gerstenzang in 1923 under the name "Baby Gays," which eventually became "Q-tips." In the 1970s, the brand added a label that warned consumers not to put the applicators in their ear canals.

With about 12,500 children coming into emergency rooms annually, or about 34 each day, the message does not appear to be getting through.

"I see kids every day in my clinic who misuse cotton tip applicators to clean their ears," Jatana told Live Science.

Children come in with impacted wax, perforations of the ear drum, other soft tissue injuries and sometimes damage to the hearing bones, he said. For the study, the researchers analyzed the data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, which is maintained by the government's Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Over the 21-year study, the most common diagnoses were the presence of a foreign body in the ear and eardrum perforation. Injuries like these can cause dizziness, infection and irreversible hearing loss, Jatana said.

And perhaps most disconcerting to him is that children were handling the cotton tip applicators themselves without parental supervision, he said. "Children under 8 accounted for two-thirds of the injuries," Jatana said. [25 Scientific Tips for Raising Happy Kids]

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Some parents put ear cleaning right up there with brushing your teeth as a hygiene practice, he said. "This is a misconception being taught to children," he said. "It's not something that needs to be done, and this study shows how important it is that these products are not used to clean the ear canals."

The ear is self-cleaning and the presence of earwax is normal, he said. It has protective, lubricating and antibacterial properties. Visible wax in the outer portion of the ear can be wiped away with a wet cloth.

Jatana said he hopes the study will open some eyes. "I hope that we can learn from the number of injuries and help advise children and parents that this is not something that needs to be done."

Originally published on Live Science.

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Tommy Schultz proposed to his girlfriend, Ashley Harvey, before a tour of the White House. (Photo: Twitter)

We can only imagine the scene inside the White House yesterday, as more allegations about President Trump and Russia made their way to the press. Outside those walls, though, a very different kind of scene was taking place: On the White House driveway, Tommy Schultz proposed to his girlfriend, Ashley Harvey.

I knew for the past couple weeks that we were going on a tour of the White House, so that was a big deal, Harvey tells Yahoo Style, but she didnt suspect that Schultz had anything else up his sleeve, even when he made a point to make sure she was dressed up for the occasion and helped choose her outfit.

The happy couple (Photo: Twitter)

One of the first things we did when we moved up to D.C. was have a touristy day, where we just went up to all the monuments and museums, and we both love that kind of stuff, says Harvey, an account manager at a digital media firm, who moved to the city from Nashville a month ago. I think I might have said that day was one of my favorite days Ive had with him.

Schultz, who moved there earlier this year for his work as national communications director for the American Federation for Children, tells Yahoo Style that he had been trying to come up with the perfect proposal location for months. So when she said that, I knew I needed to do something in a similar fashion that had a sense of history, and something where she might not get tipped off that I was up to something!

She was swept off of her feet by the proposal. (Photo: Twitter)

He arranged for the special tour with a friend who works in the executive office building. We definitely had to work quite a bit with the Secret Service and White House staff, he says. Im incredibly grateful to them for making everything run smoothly. From getting her parents and friends cleared to be on the White House complex, to not sounding the alarm as I put the engagement ring through the scanners, to picking the spot with the best background, it all worked out perfectly in the end!

After they went through security on Tuesday evening, the friend asked them to wait in front of the building for a minute.

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Tommy and I were just standing there taking it all in, looking at the White House, and then suddenly, the next thing I know, hes saying all this really sweet stuff and getting down on one knee, she shares with Yahoo Style.

When we walked up to the prearranged spot where I was going to get down on my knee, I about had a heart attack, Schultz confesses. Press was everywhere! Reporters and photographers all staring at us. I thought I walked into a press conference! I almost made a split-second [decision] to go to a different spot, but I had no idea how to communicate that with the photographer I had hired.

Little did he know, news had just broken about James Comeys memo documenting Trumps alleged request to drop his investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Meanwhile, a couple just got engaged here in the WH driveway (and it was actually really sweet). pic.twitter.com/AYoq38N5ws  Ali Vitali (@alivitali) May 16, 2017

The White House press was cheering and clapping, and I dont think she heard it at all, Schultz recalled. After she said yes, and I put the ring on her finger, she said, Im about to faint! I saw her start to buckle a bit, so I scooped her up! It was a completely perfect moment.

Thats when Harveys parents and three best friends arrived to greet the happy couple.

Afterwards, a couple of [the reporters] came up and asked us questions, and I think I was still kind of blacked out and catching my breath, Harvey says.

Schultz had been concentrating so much on his own big moment, he hadnt paid attention to the latest Trump controversy. Not even sure what happened today, he told CNN.

Schultz and Harvey after the proposal. (Photo: Twitter)

Schultz and Harvey arent the first couple to get engaged at the presidents home. In 2010, a bride named Katie wrote to TheKnot.com about her fiances proposal on the porch at the end of their tour. I turned around and Manny was on the ground. I said, What are you doing! You cant get on the ground at the White House. Then he pulled out the box and proposed! Such a shock, the crowds around us all cheered and applauded.

In the middle of an LGBT reception for Pride Month in June 2012, transgender man Scout got down on one knee and proposed to partner Liz Margolies.

That reception happens to be where U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Matthew Phelps went on his first date with Ben Schock. Six months later, they became the first same-sex couple to get engaged on White House grounds.

When we received an invitation from the Military Partners and Families Coalition to attend the White House holiday tour on Dec. 15, the coincidence that it would be the six-month anniversary of our first date  and also to the White House  was too big not to capitalize on, Phelps told the Huffington Post after his proposal photo went viral.

Another Obama-era proposal happened in April 2016, when U.S. Coast Guard naval engineer Orlando Morel, who was saved by the Coast Guard as a Haitian refugee age 6, proposed to his girlfriend, Shameeka Edwards, on a tour through the Blue Room.

I cried, Edwards told ABC News. I couldnt speak. I couldnt say anything. I was just shocked. You think, Im in the White House! It wouldve never crossed my mind. I was definitely grateful, and it was something I will never forget.

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Bamako (AFP) - An unmarried couple were stoned to death in public in northeast Mali by "Islamists", local officials told AFP on Wednesday, the first such incident since jihadist groups were driven out of the region.

Jihadists seized key northern cities in Mali in March 2012, and though they were driven out by a French-led military intervention in 2013, Islamist groups continue to make their presence felt with frequent attacks on domestic and foreign forces.

"The Islamists dug two holes where they put the man and the woman who lived maritally without being married," said a local official. "They were stoned to death."

The stoning happened in Taghlit on Tuesday, close to Aguelhok in the Kidal region, and the same source told AFP that members of the public were invited to take part.

"Four people threw stones at them until they died," they said.

Another local official said the Islamists had accused the unmarried couple of violating "Islamic law", which requires punishment by stoning.

During their brief control of key towns in the vast north, jihadist groups imposed a version of Sharia law which forced women to wear veils and set whipping and stoning as punishment for transgressions.

In July 2012, the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine group stoned a couple in public in Aguelhok who they accused of having children outside marriage.

The stoning comes on the eve of an expected visit to Mali by French President Emmanuel Macron, who is due to meet French troops stationed there on Thursday or Friday.

The Malian Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AMDH) described the stoning as "cowardly murder".

"This is barbaric. The people who did this should be arrested and put on trial," said Oumar Diakite, an AMDH official.

- UN rapid intervention force -

A 2015 peace deal signed by Tuareg-led rebels, the government and pro-Bamako militias aimed to quell separatist uprisings in the north and isolate jihadist groups.

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But its implementation has been piecemeal and the jihadists, who did not sign up to the accord, continue to mount attacks on civilians and the army, as well as French and UN forces.

The new UN peacekeeping chief said a rapid intervention force of Senegalese troops would soon be deployed in central Mali, which has seen an increase in attacks and communal violence since 2015.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, on his first visit to Mali since becoming under secretary-general for UN peacekeeping operations, said the UN mission lacked capacity.

"We are hopeful that, soon, a number of reinforcements will arrive, which will make up for these shortcomings," he said.

The UN mission, known by its acronym MINUSMA, has been stationed in the west African country since 2013 and is considered the world body's most dangerous active peacekeeping deployment.

The opposition Parena party meanwhile noted that 309 people had been killed since the beginning of the year by armed groups, describing "alarm at the deterioration of the security situation" two years after the signing of the peace deal.
Donald Trump is dramatically expanding the federal governments support for healthcare organisations that agree to not provide abortion services.

The State Department has announced a programme, called Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance, which will get $8.8bn (6.8bn) to fund non-governmental organisations around the world that comply with the global gag rule.

It that states that no organisation receiving US money can promote or discuss abortion services, even if they are using foreign funds to do so.

Read more

Donald Trump tells Congress he wants to 'invest in women's health'

The rule is also known as the Mexico City policy, named for the location of a 1984 United Nations conference where President Ronald Reagan announced the measure.

The money will come from the US State Department, the US Agency for International Development (Usaid), and the Defence Department, according to CBN News.

Mr Trump reinstated the rule from the George W Bush administration, which prevents any foreign organisation receiving US funds from providing or even discussing abortion services with women.

The rule also prevents any foreign organisation receiving US funds to work with any abortion service providers.

Mr Bush excluded programmes that involved HIV/Aids prevention from the rule; Mr Trump, however, did not. Instead he expanded global gag to apply to all global health assistance funds, not just money allocated towards family planning accounts as Mr Bush had ruled.

This means that an organisation - even a foreign one that gets a funding sub-award from a US NGO that has received federal money - in a developing country that provides anti-malaria medication or other preventable disease care with US money could be excluded from receiving any global health assistance funds if they offer or even speak to patients about any type of abortion services.

Mr Trumps version of the global gag rule left what many experts estimated was a $600m gap in abortion and family planning services that other countries aid agencies and private donors would need to fill.

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This latest announcement will increase that gap by millions, if not more, depending on what organisations the order will apply to according to Akila Radhakrishnan, vice president and legal director of the Global Justice Centre.

She told The Independent this was not new federal money but an allocation of the budget for all global health assistance, which is about $10bn.

The Department of Defence seems like a curious addition to Mr Trumps instructions, but the agency does receive funds for global health assistance, said Ms Radhakrishnan.

However, a White House official told CBN News that humanitarian, disaster, and refugee assistance from Usaid and Defence will not be affected.

Organisations that do not comply with the provisions laid out by Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance programme will not receive funds. That money will now go to organisations that do agree to comply, according to the State Department.

The agency also said in its statement that "the policy will apply to all new funding agreements...and to existing agreements when amended to add funding," however the total amount of existing funding for global health assistance will not be cut nor will existing contracts be broken.

Ms Radhakrishnan explained that "if a foreign NGO already has a three year contract for HIV/Aids related programming, they will not have to certify [compliance with global gag] in order to complete that contract. However, if that same contract is extended with additional money, then the Gag language will be added in."

Global health experts have widely criticised Mr Trump's expansion of the policy to include all health-related funding. Shannon Kowalski, Director of Advocacy and Policy of the International Women's Health Coalition, told the The Independent that it "will be devastating. Instead of protecting life, it will increase maternal deaths by putting essential sexual and reproductive health care out of reach for far too many women. It is cruel and unusual punishment.
Donald Trump told James Comey he should consider trying to imprison journalists for publishing classified information, it has been claimed.

The request surfaced in a New York Times report that also claimed Mr Trump asked the former FBI director to drop his investigation into Michael Flynn, the ex-national security adviser.

According to a memo written by Mr Comey and read to the paper, Mr Trump began their discussion by condemning leaks to the media and said Mr Comey should jail reporters who published classified information.

Video not available for syndication

Top Democrat on the House intelligence committee calls on Comey to publicly testify

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Republicans struggle to navigate chaos of latest Trump-Russia scandal

Mr Comey, who was known to keep a paper trail of sensitive meetings, chronicled the president's request soon after the February Oval Office meeting with the president, an associate who has seen the memo said.

Bruce Brown, director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said: "The comments attributed to President Trump cross a dangerous line. But no president gets to jail journalists.

"Reporters are protected by judges and juries, by a congress that relies on them to stay informed, and by a Justice Department that for decades has honoured the role of a free press by spurning prosecutions of journalists for publishing leaks of classified information.

"Comments such as these, emerging in the way they did, only remind us that every day public servants are reaching out to reporters to ensure the public is aware of the risks today to rule of law in this country. The President's remarks should not intimidate the press but inspire it."

On Tuesday Mr Trump tweeted: "I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community....."

The White House said: "The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr Comey."

Additional reporting by agencies
Officials in President Donald Trump's administration have expressed despair after a series of scandals rocked the White House.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday the President had asked former FBI Director James Comey to end an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn during an Oval Office visit in February.

The newspaper said Mr Comey recorded the conversation in a memo written shortly afterwards.

The existence of the memo is the latest piece of evidence to suggest Mr Trump attempted to shut down investigations into his campaign's dealings with the Russian government during the 2016 election.

The article came the day after it was reported Mr Trump had spontaneously revealed highly classified intelligence from a US ally to the Russian foreign minister.

Read more

Trump 'asked FBI director Comey to consider imprisoning reporters'

I dont see how Trump isnt completely f*****, one senior official in Mr Trump's administration reportedly told The Daily Beast.

Another told the publication they felt "like running down the hallway with a fire extinguisher" in response to the leaked memo.

The FBI and Justice Department declined to comment on the memo's existence on Tuesday. The White House disputed the account.

The conversation is said to have occurred weeks after the FBI interviewed Lt Gen Flynn regarding his contacts with the Russian ambassador and after the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, warned the White House that Lt Gen Flynn had misled them about those conversations and could be vulnerable to blackmail.

Mr Flynn was forced to resign on 13 February after reports of the conversation between Ms Yates and officials in the White House.

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National Security Advisor HR McMaster says Trump's conversations with Russian officials were 'wholly appropriate'

The reports of Mr Trump's request to Mr Comey renewed concerns from congressional Democrats about Mr Trump's links to Russia.

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We are witnessing an obstruction of justice case unfolding in real time, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Judiciary Committee member and former federal prosecutor, said in a statement. He called for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate.

Some Republicans also called for action, asking Mr Comey to speak to Congress and demanding that any memos or recordings of his conversations with the president be presented to them.

Mr Comey, appointed as FBI director in 2013 by President Barack Obama, spoke often about his desire to be as transparent as possible about FBI actions and about proving to the public that his agency was independent, competent and thorough.

We're not on anybody's side, ever, he said in a March speech. We're not considering whose ox will be gored by this action or that action, whose fortunes will be helped by this or that  we just don't care and we can't care.

He riled administrations of both parties with his moral certitude and decisions that critics said strayed from ordinary protocol, such as his public announcement  without the involvement of the Justice Department  that the FBI would not recommend criminal charges against Hillary Clinton for her email use.

Testifying before Congress is familiar to Mr Comey, a former Justice Department official in the George W Bush administration.

As FBI director, he was accustomed to hours-long oversight hearings before Congress, including one a week before his firing. In 2007, he recounted to a rapt congressional audience the dramatic hospital room clash three years earlier with Bush officials over the approval of a domestic surveillance program.

Mr Comey was abruptly fired on 9 May, learning of the dismissal as he was giving a talk in Los Angeles. While the White House initially cited a Justice Department recommendation and Mr Comey's very public handling of the Clinton email investigation as reasons, those explanations quickly shifted.

Mr Trump later admitted in a television interview about Mr Comey that he was bothered by this Russia thing and said he would have sacked him regardless of the Justice Department recommendation. He also tweeted a veiled threat warning the ex-director against leaking information.

Soon after the firing, an associate of Mr Comey told the Associated Press that the former FBI director recounted being asked by Mr Trump at a January dinner if he would pledge his loyalty. The White House has denied that report.

After Tuesday's revelation, the White House said in a statement, While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.

There is no sign the FBI's Russia investigation is closing. Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe told Congress last week the investigation is highly significant and said Mr Comey's dismissal would do nothing to impede it.

Associated Press contributed to this report
A senior advisor to Donald Trump has said the president himself decided to share highly sensitive information with Russia - effectively a spontaneous decision made on the spur of the moment.

National security advisor HR McMaster insisted to reporters that the President had done nothing wrong by speaking to the Russian foreign minister. He also said Mr Trump had not shared anything that was inappropriate.

Yet, he suggested that the decision to share the details of intelligence about details of an Isis plot, originally provided by a third country, was that of Mr Trump alone.

As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017

"In the context of that discussion, what the president discussed with the foreign minister was wholly appropriate to that conversation and is consistent with the routine sharing of information between the president and any leaders with whom he is engaged," he said.

I stand by my statement that I made yesterday, Mr McMaster told a White House briefing.

What I'm saying is really the premise of that article was false, that in any way the president had a conversation that was inappropriate or resulted in any kind of lapse in national security.

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Stephen Colbert: 'Donald Trump, youre a bad president, please resign'

Asked directly if Mr Trump had handed over classified information, Mr McMaster refused to answer.

We dont say what is classified, what it not classified, he said. What the president shared was wholly appropriate.

Mr McMaster was asked when the decision was made to present the details with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak. Did the president spontaneously, on the spot, decided to share it?

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As you know, its wholly appropriate for the president to share information he decides is needed to advance the security of the American people, he said.

When he was pressed about when the decision was made to share the information - reportedly details of an Isis threat to use explosives in laptops - he said: He made the decision in the context of the conversation, which was wholly appropriate.
Concerns over Donald Trumps mental status are taking hold in Washington and the media after the latest report that he leaked classified information to Russian officials.

Reporters and television news programme pundits have been diving into comments from sources close to the president that speak to his mental health and mood in a way that has not been done with other presidents. However, the recent news about Mr Trump is also somewhat unprecedented.

The Washington Post recently reported that Mr Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak during a meeting in the Oval Office.

The meeting took place just one day after Mr Trump unceremoniously fired FBI Director James Comey, who was leading an investigation into alleged ties between Russia and Mr Trumps campaign team.

Also, the New York Times reported that Mr Trump asked Mr Comey to drop the investigation into former National Security Advisor Mike Flynns alleged Russia ties, adding that Mr Flynn hes a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

On MSNBCs Morning Joe programme, co-host Joe Scarborough commented that People on the inside say he keeps getting worse  and mentally, keeps getting worse.

In another report, the Washington Post said their sources called into question Mr Trumps state of mind.

Carl Bernstein, the legendary journalist who uncovered the Watergate scandal and corruption within the Nixon presidency, argued that reporting on Mr Trumps mental fitness is valid.

We have many reporters, myself included, who have talked to numerous people, Republicans on Capitol Hill, who in private will tell you they doubt the stability of this president, he said.

However, those speculating are not trained mental health professionals.

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The American Psychiatric Associations code of ethics states a psychiatrist may share with the public his or her expertise about psychiatric issues in general. However, it is unethical for a psychiatrist to offer a professional opinion unless he or she has conducted an examination and has been granted proper authorization for such a statement.

The clause, dating back to 1973, has been dubbed the Goldwater Rule, named after the 1964 Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.

Over 2,000 psychiatrists responded to a magazines 1964 survey asking if Mr Goldwater was psychologically fit for the presidency in their estimation and the majority said he was not.

The magazine then published nearly 40 pages of the psychiatrists responses shortly before the election. Mr Goldwater lost the election and sued the now-defunct Fact magazine for libel and won.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors and can prescribe medication as necessary. Psychologists usually have doctorate degrees but are not medical doctors.

Still, the American Psychological Association issued a statement regarding their version of the Goldwater Rule during the 2016 presidential campaign given the number of media outlets calling them to weigh in on Mr Trumps psychological fitness to become president.

Our Code of Ethics clearly warns psychologists against diagnosing any person, including public figures, whom they have not personally examined, President Susan H. McDaniel, PhD wrote.

Some professionals, however, are disregarding the Goldwater Rule because they feel Mr Trump's position and behaviour make him an exception and that they have a duty to weigh in.

Thirty-five psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers - some of them retired - have signed a letter to the editors of the New York Times expressing their concern over Mr Trumps profound inability to empathise.

They wrote people with this trait distort reality to suit their psychological state, attacking facts and those who convey them.
Donald Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to end an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn during an Oval Office visit in February, the New York Times has reported.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," the President said to Mr Comey during that meeting, according to the memo. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

The existence of the memo, which was reportedly written by Mr Comey himself, is the latest piece of evidence to suggest that Mr Trump had attempted to squash investigations into his campaign's associates and their interactions with the Russian government during the 2016 election. Mr Comey wrote the memo detailing the conversation immediately after the meeting, which took place just one day before Mr Flynn resigned from his post, sources told the New York Times.

Mr Comey, according to his account of the interaction with the President, did not say anything about stopping the investigation into Mr Flynn and his Russian ties. He instead agreed that Mr Flynn "is a good guy."

The White House, in a statement, denied that the memo's description of the meeting was accurate.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, the White House said.

The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey.

Mr Flynn was forced to step down from his White House post in February after it was learned that he had misrepresented to Vice President Mike Pence conversations he had with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition period.

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That resignation, however, came nearly three weeks after former acting attorney general Sally Yates warned the Trump administration that Mr Flynn might be compromised by Russians. Ms Yates was later fired from her post.

It was later found that Mr Flynn had neglected to report income coming from Russian and other foreign sources when he applied for security clearances in the White House.

Read more

Israel 'was source of classified information' Trump shared with Russia

The memo seems to contradict statements made just last week to the Senate by acting FBI director Andrew G McCabe. Mr McCabe told senators then that "there has been no effort to impede our investigation to date."

Mr Comey was fired suddenly from his post as the FBI director last week, a move that drew bipartisan criticism and concern that the President made the decision in order to stop or impede investigations into his campaign's connection to the Russian government.

The White House initially said that Mr Trump made his decision based up on the counsel of the Justice Department but the President later said on national television that he had considered the Russia investigation when deciding if he wanted to fire Mr Comey and that he would have fired him with or without the advice of the Justice Department to do so.

http://players.brightcove.net/624246174001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5435930422001

Kellyanne Conway 'secretly hates Donald Trump and said she had to shower after defending him'

The former FBI director reportedly made similar memos - some of which are classified  after every single phone call and meeting he had with the President. Mr Comey shared the memos with close associates and senior FBI officials.

The memos bring back into light a Twitter posting by Mr Trump, who tweeted last week that Mr Comey "better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!"

It is unclear if tapes like those exist and the White House has refused to confirm or deny their existence since.
Donald Trump didn't need to add angry face emojis to his tweet, for people to realise that he was seething.

I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community, he wrote.

This was the morning after the Washington Post had revealed, in an article by its leading national security correspondent, the President had, in an apparent breach of known precedent, shared sensitive intelligence material with the Russians.

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Fox News host say there are no Republicans willing to defend Trump on TV

The next day, the New York Times reported that according to a memo written by then FBI Director James Comey, Trump had asked him to drop an investigation into his sacked national security advisor Michael Flynn. Three months later, Trump fired Comey.

HR McMaster, Flynns successor and one of the few people in the White House able to maintain the same narrative for more than 12 hours, held a press conference to claim the leaks behind the articles were a threat to national security.

I think the real issue - and I think that I would like to see really debated more - is our national security has been put at risk by those violating confidentiality and those releasing information to the press, he said.

If this is true, and McMasters claim may be difficult to prove, then Trump and his cohorts in the White House can hardly be surprised. Since wining the election last November, Trump has repeatedly condemned the US intelligence services, accusing them of handing fake news to the media.

For months, he appeared to reject their assertion that Russia had sought to influence the 2016 election, dismissing their claims as coming from the same people who said, wrongly, that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.

At one point, he even found himself likening the people within the 17 US intelligence services, to the Nazis. This was something that earned a rebuke from Barack Obamas CIA Director, John Brennan.

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James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017

What I do find outrageous is equating an intelligence community with Nazi Germany, he said. I do take great umbrage at that, and there is no basis for Mr Trump to point fingers at the intelligence community for leaking information that was already available publicly.

Has the worm now turned? It appears so. This week, as the Post and the Times published their blockbusters, US media noted how quickly other outlets were able to confirm the claims. The suggestion was that that there were an awful lot of people out there willing to dish the dirt.

The mood among many in the intelligence community may have been summed up by Leon Panetta, who served as both Defence Secretary and CIA Director. Trump, he told CNN, was a loose cannon.

Hes got to have some lines here, said Panetta. Hes got to have some guardrails. The president of the United States cannot just do or say or speak whatever the hell he wants.

During the election campaign, Trump got his way by his bullying and bluster. He attacked everyone and anyone he wanted, from the Pope to Ted Cruz's father, and appeared to get away with it. But in attacking the intelligence services - the people who know, so to speak - where all the bodies are buried - he has committed a fatal error.

Two points need to be made.

Firstly, Trump is a long way from being impeached, if indeed he ever is. Despite the mounting clamour from those who hate him, and despite the claims of those who say he has broken his oath of office, the President has, based on the evidence that is publicly available, committed no criminal offence. Whether he had broken his oath of office is moot, and an issue that would be decided by the House Judiciary Committee.

Impeachment is about politics, not justice. At the moment, the Republicans control both the House and the Senate.

I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community.....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017

The only scenario in which they could decide to turn on Trump, would be if they calculated having him in the White House undermined their own reelection prospects in the 2018 midterms. Many members, in districts where Trumps support is strong, would have to weigh up the fish of his voters abandoning them.

It may be that the Democrats ride such a wave of anti-Trump disgust that they take control of the House at that point, but is 18 months away.

Secondly, if Trump is eventually toppled by leaks from the intelligence services, this should give everyone cause to stop and think

Trumps supporters have been was mocked for their references to the USs so-called deep state. But there is no doubt that Americas intelligence and military complex is alive and powerful.

Intelligence officials, from Brennan to James Clapper, Obamas Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, have all been given repeated platforms, both before Congressional committees and on 24-hour cable news, to denounce Trump and his actions.

Yet, whatever one thinks about Trump, about his haplessness, his bigotry, his apparent inadequacy to do the job, the New York tycoon was elected, by more than 60m of the American people. Clapper and Brennan were not.

Nobody who thinks Donald Trump is a danger to American democracy, should cheer if he is brought down by unelected forces.
Donald Trump said his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was "successful," in terms of discussing a joint effort to fight terror group Isis.

He was giving a joint statement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan when posed a question by the press regarding a Washington Post report that Mr Trump allegedly leaked "highly classified" information from a US ally to Mr Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak during that particular Oval Office meeting.

Read more

Trump 'decided to share secret information to Russia himself'

The meeting took place just one day after Mr Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who led the investigation into purported ties between Mr Trump's campaign team and Russia as well as their possible interference into the 2016 US election.

This is code-word information, one US official told the newspaper, a reference to one of the highest classification levels used by the American intelligence agencies, adding that Mr Trump had revealed more to Russia than the US does to some allies.

National Security Advisor HR McMaster said that at no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed and no military operations were disclosed that were not already known publicly.

Mr McMaster said he was in the room and "it didn't happen."

However, the Washington Post report did not include any information about "sources and methods," causing some to speculate why Mr McMaster would deny something that was not reported.

He briefed the press today again in a somewhat heated exchange, saying that Mr Trump's conversation with Mr Lavrov and Mr Kislyak was "wholly appropriate" and that what was shared could have been learned from open sources.

The New York Times later reported that the intelligence Mr Trump shared came from Israel, an ally of the US. Mr Trump also had a call with King Abdullah of Jordan earlier today, another US ally in the Middle East.

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However, Mr McMaster said Mr Trump "wasn't even aware of where this information came from" at the time of the meeting with Russian officials. He had not been briefed on it according to the national security advisor.

In fact, he said the president made the decision to share the information "in the context of the conversation." In other words, Mr Trump decided spontaneously to share the sensitive information.
Donald Trumps alleged divulgence of highly classified information to Russia's foreign minister and ambassador, has confirmed Israels worst fears, an intelligence official from the Middle Eastern state has reportedly said.

The US President is said to have spontaneously told Sergey Lavrov and Sergei Kislyak top secret information about Isis at a meeting in the White House last week, according to The Washington Post.

It is thought the information came from Israel through a sensitive intelligence sharing arrangement and White House officials took steps to contain the damage after the meeting, placing calls to the CIA and National Security Agency.

Now an Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Buzzfeed News, has said the President's leak confirmed his country's "worst fears".

Video not available for syndication

National Security Advisor HR McMaster says Trump's conversations with Russian officials were 'wholly appropriate'

"We have an arrangement with America which is unique to the world of intelligence sharing," said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We do not have this relationship with any other country,"

To know that this intelligence is shared with others, without our prior knowledge?" he added. "That is, for us, our worst fears confirmed.

Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot reported in January that US intelligence agents had warned Israels officials against sharing sensitive information with Mr Trump's administration.

Israeli intelligence agents were concerned that information given to Russia could be passed on to Iran, it reported.

Moscow and Tehran have formed alliances in conflicts such as in Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. Iran severed all diplomatic ties with Israel following the 1979 revolution in the country.

The White House initially denied reports about Mr Trump's cooments.

The story that came out tonight as reported is false, HR McMaster, The US's National Security Adviser, told reporters.

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He added that the leaders reviewed a range of common threats including to civil aviation.

At no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed," he said. "The President did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known... I was in the room. It didn't happen."

Read more

McCain says Trump's scandals reaching 'Watergate size and scale'

However, in an early morning tweet, Mr Trump said he had the "absolute right" to share facts pertaining to terrorism.

Under current US law, the president has the power to declassify information as he or she sees fit.

In an off-camera briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer appeared to confirm intelligence was passed on by Mr Trump.

Asked whether the US had reached out to the ally that provided the information, he replied: I'm not going to comment on specifically where it came from.

He added: My understanding is the President, of course, has classification authorityso the President can always discuss common threats or common issues with other heads of government or other government officials as he deems appropriate to tackle the threats our country faces.
Donald Trump and the White House have sought to brush off the controversy over his sharing of highly sensitive material with Russia, as concerns grew that nations may decide to stop their intelligence cooperation.

As it was reported that Israel was the source of the information about an Isis terror plot that Mr Trump passed to the Russian Foreign Minister, the White House tried to insist the President had every right to act as he did.

Mr Trump, who had apparently spontaneously decided to share the information with Russia, said he believed his actions would help in the fight against terrorism.

Video not available for syndication

National Security Advisor HR McMaster says Trump's conversations with Russian officials were 'wholly appropriate'

We had a very, very successful meeting with the foreign minister of Russia, Mr Trump said of his meeting in the Oval Office last week, with Sergei Lavrov and the Russian Ambassador to Washington.

We want to get as many to help fight terrorism as possible. And thats one of the beautiful things that's happening with Turkey.

Yet few people shared Mr Trumps view. While much of of the public criticism was muted, in private there appeared to widespread concern about the potential damage the President had done. One senior European official, told the Associated Press, they may decide to stop intelligence sharing with the US, if it transpired Mr Trump had passed on classified information.

There could be a risk for our sources, said the official.

Legal experts, along with the White House, said that in his position as president, Mr Trump had it in his executive powers to declassify material, and to share it, in a way that would represent a breach of the law if it was done by anyone else.

As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017

National security advisor HR McMaster told reporters in Washington he had been as the meeting with the Russian officials and had witnessed anything amiss.

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Asked directly if Mr Trump had handed over classified information, Mr McMaster refused to answer.

We dont say what is classified, what it not classified, he said. What the president shared was wholly appropriate.

As you know, its wholly appropriate for the president to share information he decides is needed to advance the security of the American people.

When he was pressed about when the decision was made to share the information - reportedly details of an Isis threat to use explosives in laptops - he said: He made the decision in the context of the conversation, which was wholly appropriate.

He also said that Mr Trump had not been briefed on the source of the material.

On Capitol Hill, Democrats sought to seize on Mr Trumps actions. The Senate Intelligence Committee asked the White House for more information about what information was passed on.

Senior Republican John McCain, a senator from Arizona, said the report of Mr Trump sharing the information with Russia was deeply disturbing.

Regrettably, the time President Trump spent sharing sensitive information with the Russians, was time he did not spend focussing on Russias aggressive behaviour, including its interference in American and European elections, its illegal invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, he said.

Republicans watch in despair as even McMaster now surrenders his credibility in service of an incompetent boss https://t.co/YaYFRLmKkH pic.twitter.com/NtUt9XM7cS  David Usborne (@dusborne) May 16, 2017

The fact that Israel - one of Americas closest allies - was the source of the information passed on to Russia, will complicate Mr Trumps first trip, on which he is due to embark this week. The first two stops are due to be Saudi Arabia and Israel.

In January, Israeli media reported that American officials had warned their Israeli counterparts to be careful what they told Mr Trump, as they feared it could be passed on to Russia. Israel will be particularity concerned that the details could make their way to Iran, a regional ally of Russia, but the nation Israel considers its main threat.

Israel has declined to confirm it was the source source of the information that Mr. Trump shared. In a statement published by the New York Times, Ron Dermer, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, said: Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under President Trump.

Yet, Mr Trump will struggle to throw off the impression of amateurism and his unwillingness or inability to deal with sensitive information, or difficult circumstances.

John Pike, a strategic and military analyst with the Washington-based GlobalSecurity.org, told The Independent, Mr Trump appeared unable not to blurt out information. The main damage is to functioning of the American government, and its statecraft, he said.
President Trump has run on a platform of reducing regulations, including rolling back Dodd-Frank for the financial services industry.

CEOs like JP Morgans (JPM) Jamie Dimon and Goldman Sachs (GS) Lloyd Blankfein say regulation has gone too far, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said she wholeheartedly disagrees.

Right now, I guarantee you, we dont have too much regulation, Warren said. Bank profitability, bank lending is at an all-time high. The banks are doing just great. And internationally theyre cleaning the clocks of the guys overseas.

So dont tell me that regulation is a problem, she added. What the giant banks want is what they had back in the late 1990s and into the 2000s They want the chance to run wild, to write their own rules, to take the cop off the beat.

She added shes not surprised thats what theyre after.

They learned a big lesson in 2008, Warren said. They get all the profits on the upside, and if the whole thing crashes, the American taxpayer bails them out. And heres the best part, the bank CEOs dont even lose their jobs. That was the lesson of 2008.

Every time Jamie Dimon or Lloyd Blankfein or anyone else stands up and says, Oh, too much regulation, Im reminded that those are people whose banks were bailed out by the American taxpayers and they held onto their jobs; they still rake in a bazillion dollars, Warren said. And what do they want? They want to go back to the world where they crashed the economy the last time. They want a chance to do it again cause it worked out really well for them. It just didnt work out so well for everyone else in this country.

Demonstrators stand outside the Citigroup headquarters during a rally in support of Senator Warrens message for the need to break up the big banks. December 18, 2014. (REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)

Glass-Steagall

Warren has also been a proponent of bringing back Glass-Steagall, the Depression era legislation that separated investment and commercial banking activities, which was repealed in 1999.

While there are mixed views on whether the legislation would have prevented the 2008 crisis, White House economic adviser and Goldman alum Gary Cohn is also on board with bringing it back.

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Warren said bringing back the legislation is important for the competitiveness of smaller banks.

Here in the United States, we say to our banks, You get out there and compete  But think about what its like to be one of the smaller banks, Warren said. The smaller investment banks dont get access to the cheap money in savings accounts and checking accounts. And the small banks dont get to juice their profits with investment banking activities and risk taking.

Glass-Steagall would bring more competition for the smaller institutions, Warren explained.

One of the things that would be likely to happen if we had a good Glass-Steagall in place is youd see more competition and a chance for some of the smaller and mid-sized financial institutions on both sides of the wall to get out there and compete against a handful of giants whove locked it up by being able to play both sides of the fence.

Nicole Sinclair is markets correspondent at Yahoo Finance.

Please also see:

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White House unveils Trumps tax reform plan

Citigroup CEO on Trumps policies: Its a matter of when and not if
If you know a teen, or are one, youve probably heard of the latest toy trend: fidget spinners. The small handheld toys are making their way onto social media and into the hands of kids, teens and even adults looking to destress. The toys are simple and small. They feature center bearings that have prongs sticking out that easily spin.

The fidget spinners are marketed as toys that can reduce anxiety and help reduce symptoms of attention disorders and even autism. Descriptions of the toys online say they can help keep fidgety kids keep busy and reduce behaviors like nail biting, leg shaking or other attention challenges.

Teachers and occupational therapists have been utilizing sensory-motor strategies to improve focus and learning for years, Lisa Nowinski, director of clinical psychology services at the Massachusetts General Hospital Lurie Center for Autism, told International Business Times.

Read: Fidget Spinner: Tricks, Where To Buy, Who Made It And What We Know About The Latest Toy Trend

The fidget toys arent the first to promote this kind of a solution, think of stress balls or even students who knit during college lectures to keep their hands busy or to focus.

There is evidence to suggest that children with attentional challenges showed improved concentration when they are allowed to move, Nowinski said. While the fidget spinners making the rounds now havent been studied, other tools used in classroom settings have been shown to help students. But as with most approaches to improving attention or learning, nothing is a one size fits all solution.

Theres no consistent activity that works for everybody. A lot of times its trial and error, where a child and their family, and their school staff or their therapist, may help them find something that provides a good outlet for them but also isnt bothering other people, Dr. Carolyn Bridgemohan, co-director of the Autism Spectrum Center at Boston Childrens Hospital, told IBT.

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Nowinski also emphasized the importance of an individual approach. It is important to understand the unique learning needs of each child in a classroom in order to determine what supports may actually facilitate their learning and participation, she said.

Read: Coding Autism Startup Working To Reduce Unemployment Rates Among Adults With Disorder

So fidget spinners may help some people focus or feel less anxiety but theyre just one tool that can be used. The goal with using one of these fidget tools or materials is to help the fidgety person adjust or adapt their behavior, Bridgemohan said.

The whole approach of treating certain kinds of behavior that often occur in kids that are anxious, like nail biting and other kinds of habits, is really based on structured behavior principles of replacing a behavior, Bridgemohan said. So you use cognitive strategies to recognize when youre doing the behavior and try to use other ways to calm or cope and not do the behavior.

Essentially the goal is to replace an unacceptable behavior that can disrupt others, like pen clicking, nail biting or even throat clearing, with a more acceptable one that doesnt cause any disruption.

But whether or not the spinners are acceptable replacements for other behaviors is up for debate in schools across the country. Some schools have banned fidget spinners on the grounds that the popular toy actually distracts students and those around them. Such bans prompted the Fidget Spinner Association to announce it would be fighting bans on the toys. The spinners have become such a phenomenon that teens are even doing tricks with them, and timing how long they can spin on one push.

But the devices need to be used for anxiety and focusing carefully. If using one of these tools helps someone feel less anxious or helps them focus without distracting others, Bridgemohan said she sees no need for that person to see a specialist. But if a child is having a hard time functioning in school, working with a school specialist to figure out why the child is struggling and how to address it is the best move.

Theres no one fidget that is necessary or required for anybody, Bridgemohan said. So I think when things cost money theres always things that could be adapted that are much lower cost, or no cost, and thats where working with the school team, perhaps their occupational therapist or other specialist could be appropriate.

Related Articles
By Julia Edwards Ainsley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration's search for a new FBI director hit roadblocks on Tuesday when two high-profile potential candidates, a moderate judge and a conservative senator, signaled they did not want the job.

Advisers to Judge Merrick Garland and U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas told Reuters they discouraged them from leading the Federal Bureau of Investigation, cautioning that they would be leaving important, secure jobs for one fraught with politics and controversy.

The advisers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the new FBI director would have little job security and heightened scrutiny by political observers following President Donald Trump's abrupt firing of James Comey on May 9.

Garland and Cornyn distancing themselves from the selection process just three days before Trump has said he may make a decision, points to the difficulties the White House has in filling the FBI post amid turmoil in the administration.

Trump's firing of Comey, the man in charge of an investigation into possible collusion between 2016 election campaign associates and the Russian government, outraged many lawmakers, including some Republicans.

Garland, the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, "loves his job and is not interested in leaving the judiciary," said one source familiar with the judge's thinking.

Cornyn said in a statement that he had informed the White House that "the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate."

White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on Tuesday that an announcement on FBI director was still possible before Trump leaves on his first foreign trip on Friday. He said the U.S. Department of Justice was still interviewing candidates.

Several Republican senators had promoted Garland even though they had refused to give him a hearing when Republican Trump's predecessor President Barack Obama, a Democrat, nominated Garland last year for a then-vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. The Republicans' reasoning appeared to be that Garland would be accepted by Democrats and help restore faith in the FBI as a nonpartisan agency.

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In an interview on Bloomberg Television, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell referred to Garland, a former federal prosecutor, as "an apolitical professional."

A second Garland acquaintance who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Garland sought advice from those who told him he would be leaving his life-long position on the federal bench to take a job that could be terminated by Trump overnight.

A Republican Senate aide said Cornyn's staff also worried that the third-term Texas Senator could cut his- and their own- careers short by going to the FBI.

An adviser to another candidate on the White House short-list, former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, 75, said Kelly is also being persuaded to step out of the running.

Kelly has not said that he would not consider the job, but so far he has not been interviewed.

Republican Representative Trey Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor whose name had been floated, said on Monday he was not interested in the director position.

The difficulty in filling key administration jobs is not just limited to the FBI director post.

Trumps habits of contradicting his top aides, demanding personal loyalty and punishing officials who contradict him in public has discouraged a number of experienced people from pursuing jobs, said three people who declined to discuss possible positions with administration officials.

"Its becoming increasingly difficult to attract good people to work in this administration," said one senior official. "In other cases, veteran people with expertise are leaving or seeking posts overseas and away from this White House."

Related:

Watch news, TV and more Yahoo View, available on iOS and Android.

(Reporting by Julia Edwards Ainsley, additional reporting by Lawrence Hurley, Mark Hosenball, Richard Cowan and Steve Holland; editing by Grant McCool)
The former head of Mossads intelligence directorate has contradicted Donald Trumps claim that he has the absolute right to share secret information with foreign officials.

Israel is believed to be the source of classified intelligence on Isis allegedly passed by the President to Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador Sergey Kislyak in a closed-door meeting last week.

There are fears the reported disclosure of information gained under an intelligence sharing agreement could damage global security cooperation with the US.

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Brigadier General Amnon Sofrin, a retired senior official in Israels foreign intelligence agency, said such agreements are subject to unwritten rules observed for decades.

They say that you [the US] cannot make any use of sensitive information without any coordination or without asking my [Israels] permission, he told journalists in a call organised by The Israel Project, a pro-Israel advocacy group.

For every use you want to make use of this information, firstly you have to ask my permission and second you have to take in consideration the sensitivity of the source.

Brigadier General Sofrin said restrictions do not always apply to heads of state, who have the ability and mandate to use classified information according to political considerations.

But nevertheless the leader should ask his people about the sensitivity of the information, or consult at least with senior intelligence officers on its uses, he added.

We dont know what was transferred between Mr Trump and Mr Lavrovit may cause big problems for us because it can put sources at risk and damage our activities.

Brigadier General Sofrin said any complaint by Mossad would normally be made directly to the CIA, to understand what information was passed over and try to mitigate any risks.

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He does not believe the scandal will cause lasting damage to the very intimate security relationship between the US and Israel, adding: None of us in the Israeli intelligence community like this event but I think it can be put aside and allow Mr Trumps visit to be successful.

The allegations broke just days before Mr Trump visits Israel during his first foreign tour, which has already been beset by disagreements over a planned trip to the Western Wall, which sits in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israelis ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, said it has full confidence in our intelligence sharing relationship with the United States, while Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said a deep, meaningful and unprecedented security relationship would continue.

jerusalem.jpg

The White House has reportedly refused to allow Benjamin Netanyahu to accompany Mr Trump on a trip to Jerusalem's Old City (Getty)

But the claims have sparked disquiet following a series of apparently contradictory statements from the White House and Mr Trump.

Hours after top officials claimed the original Washington Post report on disclosures was false, the President tweeted that he had the absolute right to share facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety with Russia.

The information appears to be related to the basis for a ban imposed by the US and UK in March on laptops and tablets from being taken in hand luggage from 10 airports in Muslim-majority countries, which could be expanded to Europe.

Aides have maintained that no inappropriate information was shared but repeatedly failed to deny the intelligence passed on was classified.

HR McMaster, the national security adviser, claimed the real threat to national security was leakers "releasing information to the press."

In an off-camera briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer repeatedly refused to comment on specific allegations but at one point appeared to confirm intelligence was passed on.

When a journalist asked whether the US had reached out to the ally that provided the information, he replied: I'm not going to comment on specifically where it came from.

He added: My understanding is the President, of course, has classification authorityso the President can always discuss common threats or common issues with other heads of government or other government officials as he deems appropriate to tackle the threats our country faces.

The fact the information reportedly went to Russia during investigations into alleged links between Mr Trumps campaign team and the Kremlin has generated alarm, as well as Moscows ties with Iran, China and the Syrian government.

Vladimir Putin told a press conference Mr Trump did not pass secrets to his foreign minister and claimed he was prepared to provide a transcript of talks to prove it.

The Russian President dismissed the scandal as a symptom of political schizophrenia in the US but did not elaborate on the source of transcript.

His announcement on Wednesday followed security fears over revelations American media were barred from the White House meeting but a photographer from a Russian state news agency was allowed inside after officials were apparently misled over his role.
A senior German politician has called Donald Trump a security risk to the Western world amid reports the US President disclosed classified information from a vital ally to Russia.

Burkhard Lischka, who sits on the Bundestags intelligence oversight committee, said: If it proves to be true that the American president passed on internal intelligence matters that would be highly worrying."

Noting that Mr Trump has access to exclusive and highly sensitive information including in the area of combating terrorism the Social Democratic Party (SDP) politician said that if the President passes this information to other governments at will, then Trump becomes a security risk for the entire western world.

Mr Lischkas party is part of Germanys governing coalition led by Angela Merkels conservatives.

The Chancellor visited the White House in March, where Mr Trump  already a hugely unpopular figure in Germany - appeared to refuse to shake her hand during an awkward joint press conference.

Counter-terror operations were among the issues discussed by the two leaders, with Germany standing as Nato and intelligence partner.

Video not available for syndication

National Security Advisor HR McMaster says Trump's conversations with Russian officials were 'wholly appropriate'

Having led Germany under three presidents, Ms Merkel has also negotiated extensively with Vladimir Putin, who is expected to meet Mr Trump for the first time at Julys G20 summit hosted by the German Chancellor in Hamburg.

Allegations that the President passed Russian officials classified intelligence on Isis threats relating to a widening laptop ban on passenger aircraft have threatened to damage the US relationship with allies.

The information reportedly shared in last weeks closed-door meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador Sergey Kislyak is said to have been received under an intelligence sharing agreement with Israel.

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The scandal comes days before Mr Trump visits the country on his first foreign trip, with the Israeli ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, saying it has full confidence in our intelligence sharing relationship with the United States.

The claims have sparked condemnation by both Republicans and Democrats following a series of apparently contradictory statements from the White House and Mr Trump.

Hours after top officials claimed the original Washington Post report on disclosures was false, the President tweeted that he had the absolute right to share facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety with Russia.

trump-lavrov-kislyak.jpg

A Russian foreign ministry photo showing Donald Trump with Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during their meeting in the White House on 10 May (EPA)

The information appears to be related to the basis for a ban imposed by the US and UK in March on laptops and tablets from being taken in hand luggage from 10 airports in Muslim-majority countries, which could be expanded to Europe.

Aides have maintained that no inappropriate information was shared but repeatedly failed to deny the intelligence passed on was classified.

HR McMaster, the national security adviser, claimed the real threat to national security was leakers releasing information to the press".

In an off-camera briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer repeatedly refused to comment on specific allegations but at one point appeared to confirm intelligence was passed on.

When a journalist asked whether the US had reached out to the ally that provided the information, he replied: I'm not going to comment on specifically where it came from.

He added: My understanding is the President, of course, has classification authorityso the President can always discuss common threats or common issues with other heads of government or other government officials as he deems appropriate to tackle the threats our country faces.

Before disclosing intelligence to another country, there would normally be an evaluation of costs and benefits, close consultation with American agencies and detailed consideration of how to mitigate risks.

The US has several intelligence-sharing agreements with allies, including the Five Eyes programme with Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The fact the information reportedly went to Russia during investigations into alleged links between Mr Trumps campaign team and the Kremlin has generated alarm, as well as Moscows ties with Iran, China and the Syrian government.

John McCain, the Republican former presidential candidate and Senate Armed Services Committee chairman said the reports were deeply disturbing.

He said the claims sent a troubling signal to American partners around the world, and that if the information was shared without an allys knowledge, other countries could be from sharing intelligence in the future.

Regrettably, the time President Trump spent sharing sensitive information with the Russians was time he did not spend focusing on Russias aggressive behaviour, including its interference in American and European elections, its illegal invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, its other destabilising activities across Europe, and the slaughter of innocent civilians and targeting of hospitals in Syria, Mr McCain added.

Steny Hoyer, one of the most senior Democrats in the House of Representatives, said Mr Trumps presidency was dangerous and the claims were the latest example a White House riven by incompetence, chaos and conflicts of interest.

I think there is an erosion of confidence among the American people and an erosion of confidence of the international community, he added.

Mr Hoyer added that it was too early to consider impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump, but that it is time for Republicans to say, 'enough.

Additional reporting by AP
Aaron Hernandezs suicide  combined with a little-known legal provision that clears him off all his charges in the 2013 Odin Lloyd murder case for which he had been serving life in prison  could mean the New England Patriots owes the ex-NFL player an estimated $6.5 million.

While the legal process surrounding Hernandez continues, his fiancee Shayanna Jenkins addressed the question of who gets his money in an interview with Dr. Phil McGraw on Tuesdays episode of "Dr. Phil."

Did he leave a will? McGraw asks Jenkins in a preview clip for Tuesday's episode obtained by People magazine. He did not, to my knowledge, she replies. The host later asked if the couples 4-year daughter, Avielle Janelle Jenkins-Hernandez was "entitled to that estate, in your opinion?

Jenkins answered, "My thought is that she should be," adding that "as her mother" she should serve as the trustee of the estate because I dont think theres anyone better.

Read: Shayanna Jenkins Raises Doubts Over Aaron Hernandez's Suicide Notes After Hinting At Foul Play

Later, McGraw asked: Did Aaron kill himself so you could collect $6.5 million from the New England Patriots?

The exclusive two-part interview on Dr. Phil will continue Tuesday where Jenkins is expected to answer the lingering question surrounding Hernandez's money and also the mystery behind his suicide death.

Hernandez was found hanging from his prison cell window April 19 at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts. His suicide came just days after he was acquitted of the 2012 double murder of Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado.

Before he was arrested in June 2013, Hernandez had signed a $40 million contract with the Patriots in 2012. His net worth before his arrest was estimated at $8 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, but perhaps due to legal fees, Hernandez left behind little to no money for his fiancee and daughter when he died.

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In April, attorney William Kennedy told Boston's CBS affiliate that the Patriots might need to hand over the $3.5 million in bonus money that Hernandez lost after his 2013 arrest, along with an additional $2.5 million in base salary also lost at the time.

During the first public appearance since Hernandez death, Jenkins raised doubts over the circumstances surrounding his suicide, hinting at foul play despite authorities confirming the cause of death.

Read: Aaron Hernandez Cited For 78 Disciplinary Offenses In Prison, Records Reveal

During her Dr. Phil appearance, Jenkins said she believed the letter left behind by Hernandez "was a note of love," but the way he addressed her in his final letter was unusual.

"I did see that it was addressed to Shay instead of you know babe or bae, the way he would refer me as - that was a little odd to me. But as far as the content, he seemed to be his loving self," she said. When asked if the handwriting on the note belonged to Hernandez, Jenkins said: "(It) was similar, but I feel like, again, you have nothing but time in there so I feel like it's easily duplicated or could be."

After Hernandez's death, three handwritten notes were found next to a Bible in his cell. The notes were written to his fiancee Jenkins, his daughter Avielle and the last to his attorney Jose Baez.

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The latest whirlwind of news about Trump, Comey and Russia has again stoked the chorus for impeachment. Heres how it might happen

Around midday on Monday, Congressman Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, held a press conference to call for the impeachment of Donald Trump. The firing of FBI director James Comey, Green said, was an obstruction of justice falling clearly into that basket of high crimes and misdemeanors prescribed in the constitution as grounds for impeachment.

Green should have waited a day. Because by the time the sun went down on Tuesday , advocates for Trumps impeachment had a lot more to work with.

On Tuesday evening, the New York Times reported that Trump asked former FBI director James Comey to drop an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, Trump said to Comey, according to Comeys notes on the meeting. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

The White House denied the report, which was subsequently confirmed by numerous media outlets.

The Comey news broke before Washington had a chance to catch its breath from Mondays shocking revelation. Late on Monday afternoon, the Washington Post reported that Trump had divulged highly classified material to Russian diplomats in an Oval Office meeting last week  material so sensitive that homeland security officials scrambled to place calls to US intelligence agencies afterwards to warn them that the information had leaked, via the presidents mouth, to Moscow.

Trump told Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and ambassador Sergey Kislyak about spying by an unnamed US partner that had revealed an alleged Islamic State plot involving laptop computers and airplanes, the Post reported.

The White House trotted out national security adviser HR McMaster on Monday evening to call the Post report false  but then the president, on Tuesday morning, as much as confirmed it on Twitter, although he did not specify the information was classified.

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As president I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled WH meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining  to terrorism and airline flight safety, Trump wrote. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against Isis and terrorism.

The episodes have once again stoked the chorus calling for the impeachment of Trump, a chorus that has steadily built over the four months of the Trump presidency.

Some Democratic lawmakers immediately questioned the legality of Trumps alleged statements to Comey, with Senator Dick Durbin saying it again appears to cross the line into the obstruction of justice. Elijah Cummings, a top congressional Democrat, said, clearly weve got a smoking gun and a lot of dark smoke.

As for Mondays bombshell, legal analysts say that Trump is correct in noting his absolute right, as president, to share information as he pleases. The presidents discretion overrides any categorical classification, and there has been no assertion that Trump broke a law by allegedly sharing the information.

The president may, however, have broken his oath of office, according to analysis at Lawfareblog, whose top six analysts joined in a byline to write: Its very hard to argue that carelessly giving away highly sensitive material to an adversary foreign power constitutes a faithful execution of the office of president.

The blog notes that allegations of oath violations have been central to every previous case of impeachment or near impeachment.

Lets not minimize it, legal scholar Alan Dershowitz said on CNN late Monday. Comey is in the wastebasket of history. Everything else is off the table. This is the most serious charge ever made against a sitting president of the United States. Lets not underestimate it.

The case against Trump was, to some minds, already strong. A campaign is under way to impeach Trump for allegedly violating constitutional bans on receiving certain gifts. Others have argued for an arcane application of constitutional law under which the vice-president and cabinet together might declare the president unfit to serve.

Green was not alone in seeing the firing of Comey as the last straw. As FBI director, Comey was leading an investigation into alleged ties between the Trump presidential campaign and Russian operatives. Trump told interviewer Lester Holt last week that the Russian investigation was on his mind when he fired Comey.

And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, its an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won, Trump said.

To many ears, the lines were a blank admission of obstruction of justice a la Nixon. In a Saturday Night Live parody of the scene, Holt, played by Michael Che, stops the interview to ask his production team: So  did I get him? Is this all over? Holt listens to his earpiece. No, I didnt? Nothing matters? Absolutely nothing matters any more?

Who has been impeached before?

Two presidents, Bill Clinton (1998) and Andrew Johnson (1868). (Congress may also impeach judges.) Articles of impeachment were passed against Richard Nixon by a congressional committee, but Nixon resigned before the House of Representatives could vote on the matter, meaning that technically he was not impeached.

Impeachment does not mean expulsion from office. Under the constitution, impeachment happens in the House of Representatives if a majority approves articles of impeachment previously approved in committee. Then impeachment goes to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote is required to convict the president, upon which he would be removed from office.

Both Johnson and Clinton were impeached in the House but then acquitted in the Senate and remained in office.

What can a president be impeached for?

Treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors, the constitution says. Needless to say, theres debate over what all those terms mean.

Johnson was charged with breaking the law by removing the US secretary of war, which, in the aftermath of the civil war, was not his decision as president to make. Clinton was charged with obstruction of justice and with perjury, for allegedly lying under oath to a federal grand jury about his affair with Monica Lewinsky.

Had Nixon not resigned, he might have been convicted in the Senate on one of three charges: obstruction of justice, abuse of power or defiance of subpoenas. In any case, Gerald Ford, who was Nixons vice-president and who succeeded him, pardoned Nixon of any crimes a month after Nixon resigned.

Can a president be removed apart from through impeachment?

Theoretically, yes, under the aforementioned 25th amendment, which was ratified relatively recently, in 1967, to clear up succession issues made painfully urgent by the assassination of John F Kennedy.

The 25th amendment describes a process by which a president may give away power owing to his or her own disability, and a separate process by which power may be taken from a president owing to disability or inability.

The key players in the second case are the vice-president and the top 15 members of the cabinet. If the former and a majority of the latter decide the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, they submit that information in writing to the House speaker (currently Paul Ryan) and Senate president pro tempore (currently the Utah Republican senator Orrin Hatch) and just like that, the vice-president would be acting president.

The president may challenge such a decision, at which point a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress would be required to stop the president from regaining power.

Its conceivable that Trump would not go quietly if his cabinet and vice-president Mike Pence were to gang up on him.

How long do impeachment proceedings take?

There isnt much precedent to say, but the Clinton case proceeded through Congress relatively quickly, in about three months. That example may be misleading, however, owing to the years-long investigation of Bill and Hillary Clinton, including the Lewinsky affair, by the special prosecutor Kenneth Starr, which preceded it. Starr handed his report and research to the House judiciary committee, which therefore had no need to conduct a time-consuming investigation of its own.

Richard Nixon waves goodbye from the steps of his helicopter as he leaves the White House following a farewell address to his staff on 9 August 1974. Photograph: Chick Harrity/AP

Whos saying Trump should be impeached?

About 46% of Americans who responded to a Public Policy Polling survey in February, for starters. Public opinion matters because for impeachment to happen, Congress must act, and elected officials sometimes hang their principles on opinion polls.

Its notable that Nixon, a Republican, faced impeachment in a Congress controlled by Democrats, and Clinton was impeached by a Republican-controlled Congress. For Trump to be impeached, members of his own party would have to turn on him.

Thats why Republican base approval of Trump is so important. If Republican voters do not abandon the president, Republican members of Congress are not likely to.

On the other hand, the Republican Congress might conceivably be enticed into action by the prospect of dumping Trump in exchange for someone they are far more comfortable with: Pence, himself a former congressman and a much more predictable traditional conservative.

Several congressional Democrats have called for impeachment proceedings of some kind. Representative Mark Pocan of Wisconsin said on the House floor in February that if Trump did not divest business holdings and take other actions, then well have to take other actions, including legislative directives, resolutions of disapproval and even explore the power of impeachment.

What might Trump be charged with?

Bonifaz, of the Impeach Trump Now group, argues that Trumps failure to divest from his businesses has already produced frequent violations of constitutional rules for emoluments, or gifts. Investigations into associations with Russia by Trump or his proxies could conceivably produce some kind of disloyalty charge. If Trump has to testify at some point about any of this, he could face a Clinton-style perjury charge. Abuse of power? Obstruction of justice? It seems as if, should Congress get to the point of charging Trump, they may have a buffet of potential charges to choose from.

What would it take in practice to trigger enough Republicans into action?

Republicans had promised to impeach Hillary Clinton as soon as she took office. But what they might not have remembered is that two-thirds of the Senate is required to convict a president of impeachable offenses. The Democrats are in the minority, but they do have 48 Senate seats out of 100.

The most important factor for Republicans in deciding whether to go after Trump would seem to be the disposition of Republican voters. If the people turn on the president, Congress may follow.

Might Trump resign before hes impeached if theres a smoking gun, as Nixon did?

What kind of mood does Pence seem to be in? Is he implicated? In the scenario of a Pence succession, it would be up to the current vice-president to pardon Trump or not. Maybe Trump would be more likely to get out of the way and avoid all or some impeachment proceedings  in this truly hypothetical scenario  if Trump felt reassured that Pence, upon acceding to power, would pardon him.

Could he refuse to comply with proceedings?

Only two months into the Trump presidency, weve already heard warnings, issued by members of Congress, about this or that constitutional crisis being afoot: Trump impugns judges; Trump overrides legislated regulations; courts block executive actions. There are many opportunities for further constitutional crises during the Trump years, and a Trump refusal to go along with prospective impeachment proceedings is certainly easy to imagine. In which case: who controls the military?

Could he refuse to step down if hes found guilty?

See above.

Would Pence go down with him?

Not likely. Theres a school of thought that says a key reason the Republican congressional majority would assent to a Trump impeachment is because then they would get the president they really want, Pence. The closest historical precedent to a double whammy of this kind is the resignation in a bribery scandal of Nixons vice-president, Spiro Agnew, in 1973, a year before Nixon went down. But the alleged crimes were unrelated.

Elections have consequences. Is this all actually just a fantasy for liberals and conservative purists who cannot accept that Trump won?

Reasons this might not be true include the fact of Trumps historically low popularity rating at the two-month mark. Trump sits at 38% approval, according to Gallup, 20-some points behind the historical average for first-term presidents. Additionally, Trump seems to be flying unusually close to the sun, in terms of his conduct as an elected official. During his campaign he refused to release his tax returns on the grounds that the usual rules did not apply to him. His refusal to divest from his businesses as president, on similar grounds, could lead him into legal hazards that other presidents have avoided. And the investigations into his campaigns ties to Russia continue. Finally, Trump is truly a Washington outsider, which could increase his vulnerability to acts of bureaucratic infighting or hidden treachery, as evidenced by the incredible number of leaks from the intelligence community so far.

On the other hand, the election of Trump has been a particularly painful blow to the progressive psyche, more so even perhaps than the re-election of Bush as the atrocities of the Iraq war mounted in 2004. Republicans suffered for eight years from what some of their critics called Obama derangement syndrome, becoming so wrapped up in their opposition to the president that any sense of greater purpose seemed sometimes to be lost. Are progressives and conservative purists suffering from Trump derangement syndrome? Its possible. Well find out.

Julia Carrie Wong contributed reporting to this story
DUBAI/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced the heated rhetoric of Iran's presidential election campaign on Wednesday as "unworthy", a thinly-veiled rebuke of pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani's attacks on his main conservative challenger. The withdrawal of other conservative candidates has turned Friday's election into an unexpectedly tight two-horse race between Rouhani, 68, and hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, a 56-year-old protege of the supreme leader. Khamenei's intervention could help sway the vote by signaling dissatisfaction with Rouhani's conduct. "In the election debates, some remarks were made that were unworthy of the Iranian nation. But the (wide) participation of the people will erase all of that," Khamenei told an audience on Wednesday, according to his own website. The two main rivals have traded charges of graft and brutality on live television with an open vehemence unseen in the near 40-year history of the Islamic Republic. Separately, Rouhani on Wednesday warned the Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran's most powerful military force, and the Basij militia that it commands not to meddle in the election. "We just have one request: for the Basij and the Revolutionary Guards to stay in their own place for their own work," Rouhani said in a campaign speech in the city of Mashhad, according to the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA). Rouhani quoted the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, who he said had warned the armed forces against interfering in politics. PUSHING LIMITS OF DEBATE While Khamenei did not mention any candidate by name, his criticism appeared aimed in particular at Rouhani, who during a debate last week went beyond what is normally considered permissible to cast his foes as power-hungry pawns of the security forces. "Mr. Raisi, you can slander me as much you wish. As a judge of the clerical court, you can even issue an arrest order. But please don't abuse religion for power," Rouhani said at one point. At another point he said to Raisi: "Some security and revolutionary groups are bussing people to your campaign rallies ... Who finances them?" For his part, Raisi, a long-serving member of the judiciary who was one of four judges who sentenced thousands of political prisoners to death in the 1980s, attacked Rouhani for failing to deliver promised improvements to the economy. Under Iran's ruling system, Khamenei, who is 77 and has been in office since 1989, has more authority than the elected president but is traditionally expected to remain above the fray of day-to-day politics. He has generally limited his comments about the election to calling for a strong turnout. THOSE WHO CUT OUT TONGUES Rouhani came to power four years ago with more than three times as many votes as his nearest rival, on promises to reduce Iran's international isolation and grant more freedoms at home. His main achievement has been a deal with global powers to lift economic sanctions on Iran in return for curbs to its nuclear program. But widespread economic improvement has yet to materialize, and hardliners accuse him of selling out Iran's interests too cheaply to the West. The main obstacle to Rouhani's bid for a second term is apathy from reformist voters, many of whom now say they are disappointed by the slow pace of change. Normally known as a mild-mannered pragmatist rather than a gung-ho reformer, Rouhani has tried to fire up the pro-reform camp with speeches that break taboos by making open references to human rights abuse by the authorities. He alluded to hardliners last week as "those who cut out tongues and sewed mouths shut". If no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote on Friday, a run-off will be held a week later. Although the unelected supreme leader holds ultimate authority in Iran and all candidates must be vetted by a hardline clerical body, elections are nevertheless hotly contested and have the power to deliver change within a system of government overseen by Shi'ite Muslim religious authorities. In 2009, hundreds of people died and thousands were arrested in protests after reformists disputed the electoral victory of hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The two main reformist candidates from that vote remain under house arrest. Tehran residents said police deployments appeared to have been beefed up in some areas of the capital, a normal practice ahead of national polls in Iran, to prevent unrest. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom, William Maclean, Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Samia Nakhoul and Peter Graff)
Tehran (AFP) - Iran's reformist first vice president, Eshaq Jahangiri, on Tuesday pulled out of this week's presidential election and endorsed the incumbent, Hassan Rouhani, ISNA news agency reported.

"I will vote for Mr Rouhani in the presidential election," Jahangiri said as he announced he was withdrawing his candidacy.

"I have completed my historic duty and, together with you, I will vote for Rouhani to help continue on the path to progress for this country," he told a crowd of several thousand people gathered in the southern city of Shiraz.

"Vote for Rouhani because he is the man for difficult situations... I ran as candidate to make the voice of reformists heard," said Jahangiri.

His decision comes one day after Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf withdrew from the race, paving the way for a head-to-head battle between Rouhani and conservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi.

Jahangiri, a 60-year-old confidante of the moderate president, was a surprise last-minute entry for Friday's election.

It was assumed Jahangiri ran to back up Rouhani in pre-election debates and he said at his registration that he stood "side-by-side" with the president who is seeking a second four-year mandate.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel sought Wednesday to contain the fallout from Donald Trump's sharing of its intelligence with Russia after the move cast a further shadow over the US president's visit to the country next week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump spoke by phone on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesman for the premier's office said, while stressing that they only discussed next week's trip during the 20-minute conversation.

But as the news emerged that Israel was the initial source of the intelligence provided to Russia, other Israeli officials spoke of their commitment to continuing security cooperation between their country and Washington.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said security ties would continue to be "unprecedented" in scope.

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But he made no mention of Trump divulging intelligence to Russia that a US administration official said had originally come from Israel.

"The security relationship between Israel & our greatest ally the United States, is deep, significant & unprecedented in volume," Lieberman wrote on his Twitter account.

The relationship "is unprecedented in its contribution to our strength. This is how it has been & how it will continue to be," he added.

Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said he had "complete confidence in the American intelligence community".

Netanyahu's office had not responded to requests for comment on the intelligence sharing.

- 'Chilling effect' -

The United States is Israel's most important ally, providing it with more than $3 billion in defence aid each year.

The story grabbed the front pages of every major Israeli newspaper, with the exception of the pro-Netanyahu freesheet Israel Hayom.

The Washington Post reported late Monday that Trump revealed what it said was highly classified information on the Islamic State group during a meeting last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Moscow's Washington ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

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It said that Trump told Lavrov about a specific Islamic State group bomb threat.

A US administration official confirmed to AFP on condition of anonymity that the original intelligence came from Israel, which was initially reported by the New York Times.

Trump took to Twitter to insist he had the "absolute right" to share "facts pertaining... to terrorism and airline flight safety" with Russia.

But the intelligence scandal could corrode trust among allies who shared classified information with the United States on the understanding that it will go no further.

"There's no question that the Israeli confidence has been shaken that some of the most sensitive information they share with us will be properly safeguarded," Dan Shapiro, US ambassador to Israel under Barack Obama and now a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies think tank in Tel Aviv, told AFP.

"The relationship's too important to both sides for that sharing to end, but I expect it to have a chilling effect in the short-term on what the Israelis will share until their confidence has been restored that it will be properly safeguarded."

Amnon Sofrin, a former senior official in Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, said "if this really happened and there is some reflection about the source... it can put into risk the source and may cause some damage to our activities."

However, he said "I don't believe that such an event will cause any big damage," adding that it would not be "a disaster".

- Jerusalem controversy -

Israel's top-selling newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported in January that Israeli intelligence officials had been told in a meeting with US colleagues that "Israeli intelligence information, methods of operation and sources" could leak from a Trump administration seen as having close ties to the Kremlin.

The paper said the fears were compounded by Russia's links with Israel's arch-foe Iran.

"The Israelis who attended the meeting said that the Americans advised them not to expose any sensitive sources to members of the Trump administration, lest that information reach Iranian hands, until it becomes clear that Trump does not have a compromised relationship with Russia," the paper reported at the time.

Controversy also erupted over US policy toward Israel earlier in the week over the White House's approach to the ultra-sensitive status of Jerusalem.

Debate over whether the United States should move its Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem again flared, while a separate row over whether the city's Western Wall -- the holiest site where Jews can pray -- belongs to Israel also caused waves.

Both issues provoked criticism of Trump's White House in Israel as preparations intensified for his visit to the country and the Palestinian territories on May 22 and 23.
Israel was reportedly the source of highly sensitive information that Donald Trump gave to Russia.

In a meeting at the White House last week, according to the Washington Post, Mr Trump disclosed intelligence about an Isis terrorist plot to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Some of the information that the US has about the plot came from the Israelis, the New York Times reported, citing a current and a former American official.

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Trump insists Russia meeting was 'very successful'

There is now question over whether Mr Trump's disclosure of Israel's sensitive information could damage diplomatic relations between the two countries. Mr Trump departs on Friday for his first trip abroad as president, during which he is expected to visit Israel.

In a statement to the New York Times, Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer reaffirmed that Israel has full confidence in its intelligence-sharing relationship with the US.

During a White House press briefing, US National Security Adviser HR McMaster said that the president "wasnt even aware where this information came from" and "wasnt briefed on the sources and methods".

The revelation that Mr Trump revealed classified details to the Russians has drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike, but Mr McMaster defended the president.

What the president discussed with the foreign minister was wholly appropriate to that conversation and is consistent with the routine sharing of information between the president and any leaders with whom hes engaged, Mr McMaster said.

In an early morning tweet, Mr Trump said he had the "absolute right" to share facts pertaining to terrorism.

Under current US law, the president has the power to declassify information as he or she sees fit.
Reports of former FBI Director James Comey recording the conversations between him and President Donald Trump regarding the Bureaus investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn surfaced Tuesday. Following the reports, House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chafettz demanded that Andrew G. McCabe, acting FBI director, hand over all the memos that might suggest the president or any other government official interfered in FBIs probe into Flynn possibly colluding with Russia.

A letter seeking Comeys memos was sent to the FBI headquarters by the Oversight Committee following the report that Trump told Comey I hope you can let this go, after intelligence regarding Flynns collusion with the Russians surfaced, as reported by the New York Times. Comey, on the other hand, did not immediately agree or disagree with the presidents request, choosing to only comment on Flynns character, saying: I agree he is a good guy.

Read: Will Donald Trump Be Impeached? Approval Rating Drops Again After Comey Firing

The Times report also said Comey documented every conversation he had with Trump in detailed memos, including the presidents request to drop the investigation on Flynn. The memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings the House demanded to see first-hand will answer questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBI, Chafettz said in the letter.

As to whether the committee has the right to make such demand, Chafettz added a footnote which said it was the principle oversight committee of the House of Representatives, and may at any time investigate any matter as set forth in House Rule X.

Regarding the unique powers of the oversight committee, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said in November that no government employee was exempt from being investigated by the committee, including the president, the Hill reported.

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Read: 6 Times When President Donald Trump Praised Ex-FBI Director James Comey

Oversight is oversight. And I want Oversight to hold me accountable, too, he added. Its not based upon [whether its] Donald; its based upon what is the role of your jobs, carry out your jobs and put blinders on.

Jason Chafettz

Photo: Getty Images/Alex Wong

Based on the ethical responsibilities of the committee, the Democrats wanted Chafettz to push the president to release his tax returns, something that hasnt seen the light of the day till now.

However, there has been a long history of FBI agents rough drafts being presented as serious evidence in court cases in the past, according to the Times report.

If Chafettz manages to get his hands on the Comey memos and the committee discovers incriminating evidence proving that Trump did, in fact, try to influence FBIs probe into Flynns connection to Russia, the president may face charges of obstruction of justice.

The White House issued a statement denying the contents of the memos, saying Trump never tried to get Comey to drop the investigation, the Times reported.

The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey, the statement said.

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Former Vice President Joe Biden would beat President Donald Trump in a hypothetical 2020 presidential race, a new poll from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling says.

Mr Biden  who was active on the 2016 campaign trail supporting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  would blow Mr Trump out of the water, beating him by 14 points in a hypothetical head-to-head race, the poll shows.

Hes not the only one, either. Senator Bernie Sanders, who ran a strong campaign against Ms Clinton for the Democratic nomination, would be the President by 13 points. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Al Franken, and Cory Booker would also beat Mr Trump in hypothetical matchups, according to the poll.

Read more

Barack Obama is 'ready' to return to politics, Joe Biden says

The former vice president has been somewhat coy on the potential for a 2020 run since leaving office, but he has already paid a visit to the key primary state New Hampshire. That move  visiting the state that will kick off the 2020 primaries  fueled rumors that he was feeling out the possibility of one last run for the White House.

Mr Biden has already made it clear why he thinks Mr Trump was able to pull off his upset victory in November. Democrats, he has said, failed to tell and convince Americans that they understand the hopelessness that is plaguing disadvantaged parts of the country.

Trump was pretty smart. He made it all personal, Mr Biden said when he visited New Hampshire. Ms Clinton could have won, but too many Democrats weren't enthused and stayed home, he said.

Im positive they wanted to be with us. But we have to prove again we understand that hopelessness, he continued.

Mr Biden has insisted hes not running (he told the audience in New Hampshire, Guys, Im not running!) but his long tenure in public office has been praised and his particular narrative could help him with voters in rural areas that ditched Democrats in 2016. Mr Biden, who grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania - a working class industrial town that has come on hard times - was frequently dispatched on the 2016 campaign trail to talk to those types of voters. His brand  an authentic guy with working class roots  has led many to speculate that he would be a good choice to take on Mr Trump in 2020.
The controversy engulfing Donald Trump has is reaching a Watergate size and scale, according to one of the most senior figures within the Republican Party.

Amid mounting concern among Republicans about the presidents recent actions - concern that has so be been markedly muted in public - Senator John McCain of Arizona, said it was unacceptable for Mr Trump to have invited Russias foreign into the Oval Office and then share sensitive intelligence material with him.

I think weve seen this movie before. I think its reaching the point where its of Watergate size and scale, and a couple of other scandals weve seen, said at a dinner in Washington organised by the International Republican Institute, and where he was interviewed on stage by CBS contributor Bob Schieffer.

Its a centipede and the shoe continues to drop. Every couple of days theres a new aspect.

The 82-year-old year made his remarks after it was reported Mr Trump had asked then FBI Director James Comey to drop his investigation into the presidents former national security advisor, Michael Flynn. Mr Comey reportedly kept a memo of the interaction with Mr Trump, but did not respond to his alleged request to drop the probe.

Last week, Mr Trump abruptly fired Mr Comey, initially citing his handing of the investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server. He subsequently admitted that the ongoing FBI probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russias alleged effort to interfere in the 2016 election.

When I decided to [fire Comey], I said to myself, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story, he said.

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Vladimir Putin 'willing to provide recording' of Donald Trump meeting with Russians

In Washington, there have been an steady uptick in whispered conversations as to whether Mr Trump had crossed a line by allegedly seeking to terminate the investigation into Mr Flynn. Some suggested he had broken his oath of office, opening the way for possible impeachment. Other said he had obstructed justice,

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But Republicans control both houses of Congress. Mr Trump would only likely to be impeached if the party decided it had to try and get rid of him before the 2018 midterm elections, something that would depend on their calculation about whether his presence in the White House would wreck their own chances of reelection.

So far, as a number of commentators have pointed out, the party has been notable for its subdued response. Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the senate, simply said he wished there was less drama emerging from the White House. Many have accused the Republicans of being spineless.

Republican House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman, Congressman Jason Chaffetz, on Tuesday night asked Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, to provide any records documenting communication between Mr Trump and Mr Comey.

Meanwhile, all 33 Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee asked their Republican chairmen for a full investigation into the president and his top White House aides.

Asked what Mr Trump should do at this point, Mr McCain, who has long had a difficult and complicated relationship with Mr Trump, referred once again to the Nixon presidency and said, get it all out before the public, no matter what it is.

Same thing that you and others advised Richard Nixon, he said. Its not going to be over until every aspect of it is thoroughly examined and the American people have made a judgment, and the longer you delay, the longer its going to last.

He said that no matter what views about Mr Trump, people had, the chaos was not good for the American people.

I have to say to my Republican friends, I dont think you can say that the confirmation of Judge Grouch is enough of a record to stand before the American people in 2018.


Following reports that White House press secretary Sean Spicer might be on the outs, Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle emerged as a possible contender for the position. Though theres been no official word out of the White House regarding either Spicer or Guilfoyles future in the administration, Guilfoyle herself said she would find the job fascinating.

Im a patriot and it would be an honor to serve the country, she told the Bay Area News Group Monday night. I think itd be a fascinating job, its a challenging job, and you need someone really determined and focused, a great communicator in there with deep knowledge to be able to handle the position.

Read: 5 Reasons White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer Might Be Fired

Guilfoyle, who was originally considered for press secretary before Spicer was given the position, told the Bay Area News Group that the idea of her getting a role in the White House was raised by a number of people.

Currently a co-host on Fox News The Five on weeknights, Guilfoyle was formerly an assistant district attorney in the San Francisco and Los Angeles District Attorneys offices as well as a legal analyst for ABC News. She joined Fox News as a legal analyst in 2006.

Following the firing of FBI Director James Comey, current press secretary Spicer was notoriously absent for a number of days from White House press briefings. Standing in for him was principal deputy press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, fueling speculation that he might be next in line to be fired by President Donald Trump. Citing officials, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal both reported that Spicer might be let go.

Trump was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the performance of his communications department, including Spicer, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and communications director Michael Dubke, the New York Times reported Saturday. Trump reportedly was not satisfied by the communications team handling of the fallout that came after he fired Comey.

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At one point, he threatened to get rid of press briefings altogether.

The Fake Media is working overtime today! Trump tweeted Friday. As a very active President with lots of things happening, it is not possible for my surrogates to stand at podium with perfect accuracy. Maybe the best thing to do would be to cancel all future press briefings and hand out written responses for the sake of accuracy.

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Photo: Getty Images

Guilfoyle mentioned on her show last week that she thought Trumps press team was lacking, though she did not mention herself.

If you want to be successful and do communications with President Trump, you have to be someone who he actually wants to spend a little bit of time with, she said on the show. Youve got to insist on getting in front of POTUS, talk to him, and have like, fix, six minutes with him before you go out there and take the podium and otherwise youre driving blind.

Guilfoyle herself has known the Trump family for more than 10 years after meeting at a charity event after she moved to New York in 2004.

It has to be somebody with a very close relationship, where theres trust there, theres inherent loyalty, someone whos been there from the beginning, she said on her show. I think I have a very good relationship with the president. I think I enjoy a very straightforward and authentic, very genuine relationship, one thats built on trust and integrity, and I think thats imperative for success in that position.

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Photo: Getty Images

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Youve probably asked yourself: what is Trump thinking? Youre not alone. Lawyers and judges, too, are taking an interest in just this question

In this topsy-turvy world, how do we deal with legal rules that consider state of mind? Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trumps campaign of presidential sabotage accelerates with each passing day. Recent casualties include James Comey (lost his job), Rod Rosenstein (lost his credibility) and some top-secret intelligence (lost to the Russians). Not to mention some pretty important principles, like the rule of law and respect for apolitical law enforcement.

Youve probably asked yourself: What is Trump thinking? Youre not alone. Lawyers and judges, too, have started probing the basis for Trumps latest acts of constitutional arson. While they have plenty of raw material, they face a major obstacle: to study Trumps mind is to enter a strange new world where laws of grammar, logic and meaning are always up for grabs and retroactively adjustable.

Moreover, on some vital issues, the very concept of intent may not really apply to Trumps outbursts. As David Brooks notes, we appear to be dealing with a man whose thoughts are often just six fireflies beeping randomly in a jar.

Which raises an important question: in this topsy-turvy world, how do we deal with legal rules that consider state of mind?

This quandary presents itself in many contexts. Did firing Comey involve obstruction of justice  an offense that turns on a corrupt state of mind? Did Trump truly plan to withhold funds from sanctuary cities, creating an imminent threat that justified judicial action? Has he treated any foreign powers differently as a result of  or in exchange for  private financial benefits to the Trump Organization? When he leaked secrets to Russia, did he do so deliberately (and if so, why?)

On Monday, a panel of the ninth circuit court of appeals asked about Trumps motive for yet another disputed policy: the revised entry ban (aka the Muslim ban). Throughout this argument, the judges and advocates often referred back to Trumps many anti-Muslim remarks, debating to consider them in a constitutional analysis (and if so, how).

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As he did last week before the fourth circuit, acting solicitor general Jeffrey Wall argued that courts should not consider these statements at all. But even if Trumps remarks could be examined, he insisted, both respect for a coordinate branch and the presumption of regularity would require not reading them  in the light most hostile and least favorable to the president. That is, any ambiguity must be viewed in Trumps favor and against a finding of anti-Muslim animus.

In general, courts are loath to second guess the presidents motives. But these days, to presume regularity in the White House is to blink reality. Crisis and scandal are standard fare in Trumpland. So are open declarations of bad faith. Lets be real: formal presumptions can only go so far in squeezing lemonade from Trumps hit parade of hateful comments.

Interestingly, Neal Katyal  challenging the Muslim ban  didnt argue that Trump acted with an illegal purpose. (Full disclosure: I did make that argument in a brief I filed on behalf of 50 constitutional law scholars.) Instead, relying on a distinct line of precedent, Katyal argued that the ban is invalid because an objective observer reasonably acquainted with its context would think that it disparaged Islam. This approach, Katyal observed, avoided any need to psychoanalyze Trump.

Katyals presentation was powerful: Our constitution and laws are better than this, he declared. But it was striking that time and again, he dodged invitations to question Trumps motive, instead advancing arguments about what an objective observer of Trumps policy would think.

Probing subjective intent is always challenging, and probing the presidents intent is triply so. Presidents act on the basis of complex and often hidden motives. Moreover, they may act in consultation with many cabinet officers, state leaders, and legislators, and their acts may be supported or compelled by a diverse array of reasons. Accordingly, courts typically prefer to avoid the minefield of presidential intent, especially in security cases  and, one might expect, especially when dealing with a man whose intent is unstable and ephemeral, at best.

That may explain why Katyal stuck to his objective observer script. As some have warned, we face a creeping risk of intent fatigue, in which an endless flood of cases built around Trumps state of mind sparks a judicial backlash. Federal courts have no interest in parsing every last Trump tweet for signs of illegality. When push comes to shove, some may prefer to pull up the drawbridge entirely, rather than pursue an expedition into Trumps motive for the latest doubtful executive order.

If that occurs, there are several potential responses. One is to rely on doctrines, like the establishment clause objective observer test, that evade any need to consider subjective intent. Another route is to invoke rules like the foreign emoluments clause, which prophylactically bars a whole category of transactions to prevent any need for case-by-case analysis of corrupt intent. A third path is to present intent-based arguments to Congress and other actors, in hopes that they will intervene either publicly or behind the scenes.

But ultimately, questions about intent will remain unavoidable during the Trump presidency. He loves his Twitter account  and his lengthy, wacky interviews  far too much to cease arming his opponents. Whats more, Trumps disregard for prosecutorial independence means he likely will continue to brush up against crimes  for example, obstruction of justice and treason  that include a mens rea (intent) element. Eventually, investigators are likely to take a close look at that conduct.

Most important, if courts bury their heads in the sand, the gap between lived reality and our constitutional law will grow intolerably vast. For the sake of their own legitimacy, federal courts cannot invent a parallel reality in which Trump is judged without reference to relevant statements broadcast on a global stage. Judicial decisions upholding or invalidating Trumps acts will reverberate through American life without any such precious limitations. And those rulings will shape what we think the constitution means in our own lives.

If the Muslim ban is upheld, for instance, the vast majority of people in this Nation will understand  regardless of what the courts say  that Trump was finally able to follow through on his oft-repeated campaign promise to exclude Muslims from America. They will understand that this promise was part of his larger assault on the dignity of Muslims and the validity of their faith. And they will comprehend that the constitution, as interpreted by federal courts, allowed that terrible injustice.

At Mondays argument, Judge Richard Paez asked, There is no case like this, is there? Not yet, perhaps. But there will be more. Federal courts cannot wish them away. Instead, their duty is to vindicate the constitution, even when that means asking tough questions about Trumps true motives.
Miley Cyrus came in like a wrecking ball on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon when she interrupted Fallon's opening monologue. Judging by the volume of the crowd, they did mind one bit. It turned out Miley was hard at twerk and there on The Tonight Show to promote her brand new single, "Malibu." Miley said "I'm going to be popping up on a bunch of different NBC shows here in New York." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My2FRPA3Gf8 Cyrus told Billboard Magazine that "Malibu" is a love song about her fiance, Liam Hemsworth. Cyrus and Hemsworth share a Malibu property together and the breezy song about her Mali-boo is a departure from her more heavy handed work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My2FRPA3Gf8 Fans of Cyrus will be excited to know that "Malibu" is out now and is the first single off an as yet untitled album coming out later this year.
Miley Cyrus came in like a wrecking ball on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon when she interrupted Fallons opening monologue. Judging by the volume of the crowd, they did not mind one bit. It turned out Cyrus was hard at twerk and there to promote her brand-new single, Malibu. Cyrus said, Im going to be popping up on a bunch of different NBC shows here in New York.

Cyrus told Billboard that Malibu is a love song about her fiance, Liam Hemsworth. Cyrus and Hemsworth share a Malibu property, and the breezy song about her Mali-boo is a departure from her more heavy-handed work.

Fans of Miley Cyrus will be excited to know that Malibu is out now and is the first single off an as-yet-untitled album coming out later this year.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on NBC.

Watch: Miley Cyrus has emotional elimination night on The Voice

Read more from Yahoo TV:

Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Erica Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
The newly-crowned Miss USA has created controversy with her comment that healthcare in the US is a privilege rather than a right, as argued by many Americans amid the debate on Obamacare.

Kara McCullough, representing Washington, DC, is a scientist at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the nations capital.

During the question-and-answer portion of the competition, Ms McCullough was asked about the hot-button issue of healthcare: Do you think affordable health care for all US citizens is a right or a privilege, and why?

Read more

Trumpcare v Obamacare: How they compare

Republicans in the House of Representatives chalked up a victory for Donald Trump recently by passing a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. It does not contain the same provisions of guaranteed coverage and many critics say the new plan will increase premiums if implemented.

The plan still has to be reviewed and approved by the Senate.

Im definitely going to say its a privilege, Ms McCullough said. As a government employee, I am granted health care. And I see firsthand that for one to have health care, you need to have jobs.

Ms McCullough said that the US needs to continue to cultivate this environment where were given the opportunities for jobs and healthcare.

Social media reacted instantly, some people, with praise and many others with criticism.

Do not take your political advice from this #MissUSA. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. https://t.co/O7nnQw8IqV  deray mckesson (@deray) May 15, 2017

@MissUSA You do realize that even if someone has a job, that doesn't guarantee health care because of pre-existing conditions? #MissUSA  BarryBeingBarry (@barrybeingbarry) May 15, 2017

The thing about Miss DC is she's correct--healthcare IS still a privilege, not a right. It's just that that's what's wrong with our system.  maura quint (@behindyourback) May 15, 2017

For those that think that Healthcare should be a "Right", I don't see them making a lot of effort to amend the Constitution.  #MissUSA pic.twitter.com/qAK1ZinkvY  David Burke (@ConservativeTht) May 15, 2017

Other contestants were asked about teenage suicide, how the US should be viewed by the rest of the world, and womens rights.

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Ms McCullough also said that "as a woman scientist in the government, I'd like to lately transpose the word 'feminism' to 'equalism,'" adding that women and and men are equal in the work place.

Her healthcare answer proved to be controversial, but also the winner of the competition - marking the second consecutive year Washington, DC has won the crown.
On the heels of allegations that President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian officials, more Americans think he should be impeached than think he shouldn't. Forty-eight percent of respondents said they would support Trump getting impeached, while 41 percent said they would oppose it, according to a survey released Tuesday by Public Policy Polling.

Trumps approval rating also dropped yet again, to 38 percent, according to a Gallup poll released Monday. Its the lowest approval rating for the president since April, though his all-time low came in March when his approval dropped to 35 percent.

Read: Bernie Sanders Slams Trump For Allegedly Revealing Classified Information To Russia

Compared to other presidents approval ratings measured on their 115th day, Trump had the lowest rating of the last four who were in office. President Barack Obama had a 64 percent approval rating at the same point, while President George W. Bush had a 56 percent approval rating and President Bill Clinton had a 45 percent approval rating.

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Photo: Getty Images

Trumps recent dip in approval rating came after reports emerged that he shared highly classified information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a meeting at the White House last week. The information pertained to an ISIS plot involving laptops on airplanes and came from a secret intelligence source.

Critics said Trumps sharing of the information potentially undermined the relationship with an indispensable information source. National security adviser H.R. McMaster said he was present during the meeting and that no classified information was revealed.

The president and the foreign minister reviewed common threats from terrorist organizations to include threats to aviation, said McMaster. At no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed and no military operations were disclosed that were not known publicly.

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Trump himself, however, said he had an absolute right to share facts with Russian officials.

As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety, Trump posted on Twitter.

Trumps approval rating has ranged from the high 30s and high 40s since he took office, the lowest overall approval of any president since Gallup began conducting surveys in 1953.

Read: Trump's Approval Rating Drops After Firing FBI Director James Comey

Speculation over whether Trump would resign or be impeached was also fueled after he fired FBI Director James Comey on May 9. Only 29 percent of Americans said they approved of his firing, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Sunday.

Allan Lichtman, a professor at American University who predicted Trump would become president, said he now believed Trump would be impeached before his term was officially over.

Justice today will be realized in todays America not through revolution, but by the Constitutions peaceful remedy of impeachment, Lichtman wrote in his new book, The Case for Impeachment.

But only if the people demand it.

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Photo: Getty Images

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One of the most notorious murderers in world history, Ian Brady, died Monday at the age of 79, reports said. From 1963 to 1965, Brady along with his then-girlfriend Myra Hindley, killed five children aged between 10 and 17 years after sexually assaulting them and then buried the bodies at Yorkshire moors in England.

Brady, who was called "Moors murderer" breathed his last at Merseysides Ashworth Hospital in England, a high-security facility where he was held since 1985, BBC reported.

Ian Brady

Photo: Reuters

Read: 'Angel Of Death' Serial Killer, Donald Harvey, Dies In Ohio Prison

Brady, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, was jailed at Chester Assizes 51 years ago for murders of 12-year-old John Kilbride, 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey and 17-year-old Edward Evans. In 1985, Brady also confessed to murdering 16-year-old Pauline Reade and 12-year-old Keith Bennett.

Akin to Brady's Moors murders that shocked the world in the 1960s, there have been other serial killers who have shocked the world with their crimes. Here's a list of seven of the most notorious serial killers in the world:

1. Pedro Alonzo Lopez

One of the most infamous serial killers in world, Pedro Alonzo Lopez was from Colombia. Known as "the Monster of the Andes," in 1980, he led police to the graves of 53 of his victims in Ecuador, all girls aged between nine and 12 years old. He admitted to killing 110 children in 1983 and claimed to have been responsible for around 200 more deaths in the neighboring countries of Peru and Colombia, according to his biography.

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2. Daniel Camargo Barbosa

Between 1970s and 1980s, Daniel Camargo Barbosa raped, murdered and dismembered over 150 young girls in Colombia and Ecuador. He was known as "the Sadist of El Charquito" for his brutal way of killing his victims with a machete. While Barbosa was suspected in the deaths of 80 women, he was eventually arrested in Columbia for rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl. Although, he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in jail on May 3, 1974, he escaped in 1984 and continued his heinous crimes of butchering 70 more people. He was again arrested and sentenced to 16 years in prison. However, he never made his way out of the prison as he was killed by a fellow inmate in 1994, according to Rolling Stone.

3. Kampatimar Shankariya

An Indian serial killer, Kampatimar Shankariya's motive behind his killings was pure pleasure. He killed 70 people with just a hammer between 1977 and 1978. He was executed by hanging at Jaipur in Rajasthan district on May 16, 1979. His last words were: I have murdered in vain. Nobody should become like me."

4. Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy was an U.S. serial killer, kidnapper, rapist and a necrophile. He targeted his victims from various states. He had admitted to having killed 30 women, even though his lawyer had revealed in 1980s that he had slaughtered more than 100 women. He decapitated at least 12 victims and kept their heads as trophies in his apartment. On Jan. 24, 1989, Bundy met his fate at Florida state prison where he was put to death in the morning in an electric chair sometimes known as "Old Sparky" according to his biography.

5. Alexander Pichushkin

Also known as "the Chessboard Killer", Russsian-origin Alexander Pichushkin killed more than 50 people in southwest Moscow's Bitsa Park between 1992 and 2006. When police searched Alexander Pichushkin's Moscow apartment in June 2006, they found a chessboard with numbers on 61 of the 64 squares, each number denoting a murder by him. Hence, he was named "the Chessboard Killer," by the press.

"He dreamed of surpassing Chikatilo and going down in history," Moscow prosecutor Yury Syomin had said during Pichushkin's trial, referring to Andrei Chikatilo, Russia's most infamous serial killer, who was convicted in 1992 of killing and mutilating 52 people.

6. Luis Alfredo Garavito

Luis Alfredo Garavito has been known by many names  La Bestia (the Beast), Goofy, El Loco or the Priest. In 1999, he admitted to raping, torturing and murdering 147 young boys in the 1990s in Colombia. He would approach his victims in different disguises, such as a beggar, a cripple or as a monk. His victims were found with their throats slit, and according to a court session held in 1999, prosecutor Alfonso Gomez said that the victims' bodies have showed signs of being tied up and mutilitated. Gomez had said during the hearing: "This has no precedent in Colombia," the Guardian had reported.

7. Charles Edmund Cullen

Charles Edmund Cullen is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history and was called as "the Angel Of Death." He was handed down six life sentences in 2006 after he admitted to poisoning at least 40 people in New Jersey and Pennsylvania during his 16-year nursing career. He said he wanted to end sufferings of his patients, despite many of them being in good health when killed by Cullen.

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Our closest neighboring star, Proxima Centauri, lies 4.2 light-years away, and thanks to the Kepler telescope, astronomers discovered in August 2016 the exoplanet Proxima B orbiting the star, making it the closest planetary body discovered outside our solar system. The star itself has since been found to be more sun-like than previously thought, and the planet too is thought to be of a similar size as Earth.

Immediately after its discovery, speculation began about the existence of life on Proxima B, or at least the possibility of it, and scientists began trying to gather and analyze data to find an answer. There are theories that say the planet could be covered in liquid water oceans, and those that call it inhabitable due to the effect of stellar eruptions. And a new study of the planet says Proxima B could have a stable climate and be potentially habitable.

Read: Study Improves Chances Of Habitability Of Proxima B

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Photo: Reuters

To be published Tuesday in the journal Astronomy & Astrophyics, the study used the Met Office Unified Model, a numerical forecasting model used by the United Kingdoms meteorological department for studying Earth's climate. The model was fed data to simulate the climate of Proxima B if its atmospheric composition was the same as Earths, as well as variations including a nitrogen-heavy atmosphere with traces of carbon dioxide and changes to the planets orbit.

Lead author of the paper Ian Boutle, from the University of Exeter and the Met Office, explained in a statement: Our research team looked at a number of different scenarios for the planets likely orbital configuration using a set of simulations. As well as examining how the climate would behave if the planet was tidally-locked (where one day is the same length as one year), we also looked at how an orbit similar to Mercury, which rotates three times on its axis for every two orbits around the sun (a 3:2 resonance), would affect the environment.

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The researchers found the planet to have regions that could have liquid water under both the tidally-locked and 3:2 resonance configuration simulation scenarios, with the latter scenario bringing a larger area of the planet within the suitable temperature range. Also, if the orbit of the planet was considered to be eccentric, it increased Proxima Bs habitability further.

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Photo: Reuters

Read: NASA Looks For Alien Life, Starting In Chiles Atacama Desert

James Manners, another author on the paper and from the university, added in the statement: One of the main features that distinguishes this planet from Earth is that the light from its star is mostly in the near infra-red. These frequencies of light interact much more strongly with water vapor and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which affects the climate that emerges in our model.

The study is far from conclusive proof of Proxima Bs habitability, let alone the existence of life on the planet. The research team called it their first, tentative steps to explore the potential climate of the exoplanet towards the longer term goal of revealing whether it has the potential to support life. The researchers added: Much more work must be done to truly understand whether this planet can support, or indeed does support life of some form.

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Nine people were wounded during a protest outside the Turkish Embassy located on Washington, D.C.s Embassy Row while President Donald Trump was meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House, Tuesday, according to reports.

Around two dozen demonstrators were protesting against Erdogans policies outside the embassy. The injured were taken to George Washington University Hospital. According to a Washington Post report, the exact conditions of the wounded could not be determined; however, at least one was in serious condition.

Read: Turkey News: Erdogan Wins Referendum On Changing Government

One of the protestors named Flint Arthur, who was from Baltimore, Maryland told CNN: We are protesting (Erdogan's) policies in Turkey, in Syria and in Iraq.

Arthur said that supporters of the Turkish president broke police lines and attacked protestors at least thrice. Videos of the scene on Twitter showed several protestors bleeding after being hit continuously.

"They think they can engage in the same sort of suppression of protest and free speech that they engage in Turkey," Arthur said. "They stopped us for a few minutes ... but we still stayed and continued to protest Erdogan's tyrannical regime, he added.

D.C. police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said that the authorities arrested two people outside the Turkish ambassadors residence on Sheridan Circle, during the protests. Tuesdays protests began with a march to the embassy from the 2500 block of Massachusetts Avenue.

The demonstrations came as Trump hosted Erdogan at the White House for the first time. The Turkish leader had a strained relationship with the U.S. during former President Barack Obama's administration and his reputation has mostly placed him in midst of controversies.

"We've had a great relationship and we will make it even better," Trump said during their meeting in the Oval Office as he sat beside Erdogan. "We look forward to having very strong and solid discussions."

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Although Erdogan expressed his support for Trump when he ordered the firing of tomahawk missiles at a Syrian base in retaliation to a chemical weapons attack on the citizens, the two countries are in conflict over Trump's decision to arm Kurdish militias that are helping in the fight to drive out the Islamic State group (ISIS) from its Syrian stronghold in Raqqa. Turkey considers these militias as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party called Peoples Protection Units, which has been labeled as a terrorist group by Europe, Turkey and the U.S.

Read: Is Turkey Safe? Dutch Warn Citizens Over Turkey Travel Amid Erdogan Nazi Comments

Turkey, a NATO member has been a major ally to the U.S. in the fight against ISIS given its proximity to Syria and Iraq.

"We support Turkey in the... fight against terror and terror groups like ISIS and the PKK, and ensure they have no safe quarter, the terror groups," Trump said during their White House meeting.

"We also appreciate Turkey's leadership in seeking an end to the horrific killing in Syria, he added.

Erdogan also agreed with Trump and praised him for the legendary triumph he had achieved in the election and mentioned that his first meeting with the new president would be a historical turn of tide in the relationship between the two countries.

We are committed to fighting all forms of terrorism, without any discrimination whatsoever, that impose a clear and a present threat upon our future, the Turkish president said.

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Former President Barack Obama apparently thinks current President Donald Trump is a bullshitter, sources told People Magazine Wednesday. The POTUS found himself in hot water Tuesday, for what seemed like the millionth time, after the Washington Post reported Trump leaked classified information to Russian officials. The week before, he was scrutinized after he fired FBI director James Comey. Though Obama never publicly criticized his successor, hes supposedly not pleased with the New York billionaire.

Hes nothing but a bullshitter, Obama told two friends early last November. The comment was made after Trump told Obama he had respect and admiration for Obama after the businessman was elected. Previously, the former reality star openly criticized Obama and his administration for years.

READ: Donald Trump Vows To Improve US-Turkey Relations Amid Protests Outside Turkish Embassy

Former First Lady Michelle Obama isnt Trumps biggest fan, either. She campaigned against Trump when he was running for president in the fall and joked about wearing mourning clothes after he was elected. Im going all black for the next couple of years, she supposedly joked.

Its been three months since Trump has taken off and Obamas opinion hasnt changed much. Well, one of the sources told People Magazine, it hasnt gotten any better.

While Obama isnt happy with the way Trump is running the country, hes hopeful citizens will take control by getting involved in local government. Hes deeply concerned with what hes seen. But hes also optimistic and heartened that citizens arent just watching it happen but engaging with neighbors and elected representatives at town halls, a third source said.

Obama might not approve of Trumps presidency behind closed doors, but hes been vigilant about not calling him out publicly. Hes very respectful of the appropriate role of a former president and that ex-presidents should not be looking over the shoulder of their successors and commenting on every decision, David Axelrod, who is now the director of the University of Chicagos Institute of Politics, told People Magazine.

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President Obamas predecessor didnt do that, Axelrod, who is a long-time friend of Obama, added. Obviously, this now is a unique set of circumstances, but my sense is that hes going to try and respect that tradition while reserving the right to speak out in given moments when things rise to that level.

As for Trump, his latest tweets focused on him having the right to share facts with Russia.

As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism, he tweeted Tuesday. I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community.

READ: Is Trump Guilty Of Obstructing Justice? Bill Clinton And Richard Nixon Also Part Of Similar Controversies

When it comes to what Trump will do next, the White House is reportedly on edge. Nobody knows where this really goes from here, a White House official told Politico Wednesday. Everyone is walking around saying, What is next?

Another official added: We are kind of helpless.

Barack Obama

Photo: Getty Images

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Hours after reports surfaced stating President Donald Trump disclosed highly classified information to Russia, the New York Times, in its report, Tuesday, cited a memo by former FBI Director James Comey. The memo underlined a conversation between Comey and Trump in February, where the president had asked the former director to shut down the federal investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Soon after the memo was released, the phrase "obstructing justice" became ubiquitous in major publications.

This isn't the first time a president has been linked to obstructing justice. Former President Richard Nixon was also charged with the first three articles of impeachment for obstruction of justice in 1974 after he refused to release White House tape recordings containing important information regarding the Watergate scandal.

Read: Did Trump Influence Michael Flynn FBI Investigation?

In June 1972, several burglars had been caught for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. The criminals were connected to Nixon's reelection campaign and were caught while attempting to wire trap phones and steal classified documents. Historians remained uncertain whether Nixon knew about the Watergate espionage operation from before, but he ensured to cover it up. He reportedly bribed the burglars, tried to stop the FBI from investigating the robbery, destroyed all evidence, and fired uncooperative staff members as well. In 1974, his role in Watergate conspiracy was out and he had to step down.

In 1998, President Bill Clinton was impeached on two charges  perjury and obstruction of justice. According to the impeachment proceedings, there were 11 possible grounds for Clinton's impeachment. Regarding Clinton's sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern, the proceedings stated: "President Clinton lied under oath in his civil deposition about his discussions with Ms. Lewinsky concerning her involvement in the Jones case."

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And about Clinton's relationship with Paula Jones, a former Arkansas state employee, the proceedings stated: "During the Jones case, the President obstructed justice and had an understanding with Ms. Lewinsky to jointly conceal the truth about their relationship by concealing gifts subpoenaed by Ms. Jones's attorneys."

Obstruction of justice refers to a crime committed in order to intentionally impede official investigations. Some illegal ways to threaten the justice system include killing a witness or destroying evidence. There can be broader definitions of obstruction of justice such as Sections 1503, 1505 and 1512 of Title 18, which contains variants of language, making it a crime if someone corruptly obstructs, influences or impedes any official proceeding," according to the New York Times.

Analysts are still debating whether Trump actually obstructed justice by asking Comey to drop investigations into Flynn.

"Obstruction of justice is not a black-and-white offense, so reasonable minds may well disagree about whether asking Comey to go easy on Flynn rises to the level of what federal law prohibits," said Steve Vladeck, CNN legal analyst and professor of law at the University of Texas School of Law.

He added: "But whether the President's conduct is or is not within the letter of the law is irrelevant; there's a really good reason why, for generations, presidents from across the ideological spectrum have respected the principle of not interfering in federal criminal investigations. That President Trump seems wholly indifferent to this principle, or the potentially devastating consequences of its demise, is the real scandal here."

Andrew McCarthy, a former federal prosecutor who writes for the National Review, said: "A prosecutor wouldn't make a decision on the basis of one hearsay line in a memo that has not been publicly available and that no one knows the context of."

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House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday that people are trying to harm President Trump and that Congress would continue to gather facts.

We need the facts, said Ryan at his weekly press conference. It is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president. But we have an obligation to carry out our oversight regardless of which party is in the White House. And that means before rushing to judgment, we get all pertinent information.

Ryan also said suggested that former FBI Director James Comey should have come forward immediately if Trump had asked him to end the agencys investigation into then-national security adviser Michael Flynn, as was reported by multiple media outlets Tuesday night.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is appropriately [requesting] this memo, said Ryan, and Im sure were going to go on to hear from Mr. Comey about why if this happens as he allegedly describes, why didnt he take action at the time?

Over the past nine days, Trump has fired Comey in the middle of an FBI investigation into potential Russian ties to the 2016 Republican campaign and revealed previously classified information to Russian officials in the Oval Office. Legal analysts have said that if reports that Trump attempted to pressure Comey to drop the Flynn investigation during a February meeting are true, then the president could potentially be charged with obstruction of justice.

Ryan pointed out that there are already three ongoing investigations  by the FBI, the House and the Senate  but made no mention of the call from some legislators for a special prosecutor to look into potential ties between the White House and Russia.

There are a lot of unanswered questions, said Ryan. What I told our members is now is the time to gather the pertinent information. Our job is to be responsible, sober and focused only on gathering the facts. Thats what Congress does in conducting oversight of the executive branch.
The most powerful Republican on Capitol Hill has called for further investigation into shocking allegations against President Donald Trump, as scandals continue to mount around the White House.

"We need the facts," Speaker of the House Paul Ryan declared at a press conference. "It is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president, but we have an obligation to carry out our oversight regardless of which party is in the White House."

The Republican majority leader spoke amid reports that Mr Trump had asked his then-FBI director, James Comey to drop an investigation into former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn. The president fired Mr Comey not three months later.

"We're going to want to hear from Mr Comey," Mr Ryan said on Wednesday.

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Trump 'asked James Comey to shut down Michael Flynn investigation'

According to memos reportedly written by Mr Comey, and obtained by the New York Times, Mr Trump asked the FBI director in a private meeting to "let [the Flynn investigation] go". Mr Flynn had been ousted from his White House role the day before for misrepresenting his conversations with the Russian ambassador.

The FBI is now investigating possible ties between Russia and Mr Flynn  and the Trump campaign as a whole.

I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, Mr. Trump allegedly told Mr. Comey. He is a good guy."

The reports sent shock waves through Washington, leading some to suggest Mr Trump had committed obstruction of justice  a federal crime, and possibly an impeachable offence.

But Mr Ryan on Wednesday urged caution, telling reporters that Congress needed "all the pertinent information" before " rushing to judgement".

"Our job is to be responsible, sober, and focus only on gathering the facts," Mr Ryan said.

He noted that the House Oversight Committee had demanded the memo, a move he called "appropriate".

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The chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Jason Chaffetz, tweeted on Tuesday: " I have my subpoena pen ready."

.@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.  Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) May 16, 2017

Democrats, meanwhile, pushed for a special prosecutor in the Russia investigation  something they have wanted ever since Mr Trump fired his FBI director last Tuesday. Congress members warned the surprising dismissal had marred the independence of the FBI investigation.

These calls only escalated after the Washington Post reported that Mr Trump had revealed highly classified intelligence to Russian officials in a White House meeting.

The White House would not confirm whether Mr Trump had revealed the information in question, but said he "did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known".

"At no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed," National Security Adviser HR McMaster said at a press conference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that he was "ready" to submit a transcript of the meeting to the US Senate and Congress.

BREAKING: Putin says "political schizophrenia" has gripped US; Russia ready to provide transcript of Trump-Lavrov meeting to Congress.  Lucian Kim (@Lucian_Kim) May 17, 2017

Many Republicans hesitated to denounce Mr Trump following the Washington Post report, claiming they needed more information. The revelation of the Mr Comey's memo, however, has sent some over the edge.

"If recent allegations are true, they mark the beginning of a new and very sad chapter of scandal and controversy in our country," said Representative Carlos Curbelo, a Republican from Florida.

Senator John McCain said the White House's involvement in the Russia investigation is reaching "Watergate size and scale".

At least seven Republicans in Congress have called on Mr Comey to testify.

The White House has denied the New York Times account of the meeting, saying Mr Trump "has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn".
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The Japanese emperors granddaughter, 25-year old Princess Mako, is set to marry a commoner  specifically, according to the Associated Press (and every online dating profile ever), an ocean-loving legal assistant who can ski, play the violin and cook.

Once Mako marries Kei Komuro, the legal assistant in question, shell become a mere commoner, as female royals must after getting married in Japan. Conservatives fear that changing the law to allow women to remain royal after marriage might lead the Japanese down the slippery slope toward allowing women to inherit the throne (there actually have been Japanese empresses, but conservatives argue their reigns were temporary and not a reason to allow a woman on the throne, as was made official in the 1889 Imperial House Law).

But Japan could be looking at something of a succession headache as it is.

In January, a government panel gave parliament the green light to allow Makos grandfather, Emperor Akihito, 83, to abdicate the throne. Japans cabinet is expected to approve a bill allowing him to do so this Friday. Akihito, whose tenure was marked by an effort to come to terms with Japans role in World War II  he visited battlefields and memorials, bearing witnesses to the ravages of war in Asia  would be replaced by his son, the Crown Prince Naruhito, Makos uncle.

But Naruhito and his wife are in their 50s. That leaves a thin bench. His brother, Makos father, next in line to the throne after Naruhito, and mother are in their 50s, too. Akihito has a brother, who is in his 80s, and Mako has a younger brother who is also in line for the throne  but he is only 10. Akihitos other three grandchildren, including Mako, are female, and therefore ineligible.

Japan could, of course, take steps to ensure a robust pipeline of future royals, and the continuance of the 1500-year old throne, by allowing Akihitos eldest granddaughter to remain a royal after marriage, and let her one day inherit the throne.

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But the Japanese themselves arent even close to considering the idea of an empress.

On Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters, There is no change in our view to proceed with consideration of steps to ensure stable imperial succession.

Photo credit: MARVIN RECINOS/AFP/Getty Images
The Duchess of Cambridge shared a photo of Charlotte taken in April to celebrate her second birthday. The Duke and Duchess are very pleased to share this photograph as they celebrate Princess Charlottes second birthday, the caption on the Instagram from @kensingtonroyal reads. Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank everyone for all of the lovely messages they have received, and hope that everyone enjoys this photograph of Princess Charlotte as much as they do. (Photo: @KensingtonRoyal/Instagram)

Like her mother, everything Princess Charlotte wears turns to gold. Thats why Brand Finance Group, a British valuation and strategy company, estimates her net worth at a whopping $4.1 billion.

The 2-year-old is reportedly worth more than her older brother, who is third in line to the throne. At 3, Prince George has an estimate net worth of $3.1 billion.

Brand Finances marketing and communications director Robert Haigh says theres a simple explanation for the wage gap. This is actually as simple as the relative size of the mens and womens fashion markets, by which I mean that Charlottes endorsement effect will likely be felt across a much broader range of products and brands or types of clothing than will Georges, allowing a greater scope for the monetization of her brand and hence a higher value.

Like the Duchesss Kate effect, the little princess now lends to her own Charlotte effect. It became apparent moments after birth when the GH Hurt & Sons shawl she was wrapped in sold out in minutes.

The young royal still has a long way to go before she surpasses her mom. According to Brand Finance, the Duchess of Cambridge has a fashion influence worth a more than $6.1 billion.

Read more from Yahoo Style + Beauty:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyle and @YahooBeauty.




Protesters, including many journalists, gathered in Culiacan on May 16, at the spot where award-winning journalist Javier Valdez was slain one day earlier.

The protesters then marched to the Sinaloa state building to demand a meeting with Governor Quirino Ordaz Coppel, pushing for an end to violence against journalists, and a fair investigation into Valdezs death.

Coppel organized an impromptu press conference, during which he denounced the murder of Valdez, whom he called a friend, according to Animal Politico. Coppel also proposed a citizen committee, comprised of journalists, to oversee the investigation, El Universal reported.

Valdez was fatally shot in Culiacan, in the northwest Mexican state of Sinaloa on Monday, May 15. Valdez was the fifth journalist killed in Mexico in 2017, according to El Pais. Credit: Twitter/Ferritortola via Storyful
Heres a look at some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

Its official, Ford (F) is getting ready to hand out pink slips. The automaker plans to slash 1,400 salaried jobs. About two-thirds of the planned cuts are in North America and the rest are in Asia.

Disney (DIS) shares are under pressure this morning. Macquarie downgraded the media giant to neutral from from outperform. The firm cites the companys cable exposure and declining subscribers at its ESPN network.

The battle between Qualcomm (QCOM) and Apple (AAPL) is escalating. The graphics chipmaker is now suing Foxconn and three other iPhone manufacturers for refusing to pay royalties for technology it says it owns.

Investors are winding up shares of Jack in the Box (JACK) this morning. The stock is popping in early trading following better-than-expected quarterly earnings and revenue. The company is also looking at potential alternatives for its Qdoba Mexican restaurant chain.

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) may also be putting out a for sale sign. The stock is higher in early trading after the New York Post reported that CEO Ian Cook signaled at a recent meeting with institutional investors that he would be open to selling the company for $100 a share. Thats above Colgates closing price yesterday of $71.58 a share.
A second consecutive day of bombshell stories sent the Trump administration scrambling after the New York Times reported Tuesday that President Trump implored FBI Director James Comey to drop the bureaus investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynns ties to Russia at a February meeting.

The White House issued a response minutes after the story posted to the Times website, denying the president ever made such a request.

According to the Times report, which has since been confirmed by multiple news outlets, Trump broached the subject of the investigation into Flynns ties with Russia and asked Comey to let this go.

From the Times:

I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey, according to the memo. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey that Mr. Flynn had done nothing wrong, according to the memo.

Mr. Comey did not say anything to Mr. Trump about curtailing the investigation, only replying: I agree he is a good guy.

The president abruptly fired Comey last week, citing his handling of the FBIs investigation into Hillary Clintons emails as the trigger for the surprise move.

The White House, in its swiftly issued response to the Times report on Flynn, denied the account, stating Trump never asked the FBI to drop its probe.

President Donald Trump, James Comey and Michael Flynn. (Photos: Michael Reynolds/Getty Images, Mark Wilson/Getty Images, Win McNamee/Getty Images)

While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, read the statement, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn. The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey.

The Washington Post confirmed the report, saying that Comey felt the conversation was improper. From the Posts report:

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Comeys description of the event make clear his understanding of the conversation was that the president was seeking to impede the investigation, according to people who have read the account or had it read to them, these people said. Comey felt the conversation was improper and decided to keep the details of the conversations away from the case agents working on the Russia probe.

Cable news pundits and social media were quick to suggest that, if true, the allegations would come close to constituting obstruction of justice.

Richard Painter, who served as White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, tweeted after the initial report was published that an express or implied threat to fire Comey if he did not drop the Flynn investigation would have been obstruction of justice.

Lawmakers also swiftly reacted to the stunning news.

I think the burden is on the New York Times, if theyre reporting it and theyve got somebody whos got the document, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., told reporters Tuesday evening. They need to get the document and get it released.

The country is being tested in unprecedented ways, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on the floor Tuesday evening. I say to all my colleagues in the Senate: History is watching.

Enough is enough, said Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. Congress needs to get to the bottom of this.

It was the second time in as many days the White House was forced to scramble, following Mondays Washington Post report that Trump had divulged previously classified intelligence to Russian officials at the White House last week.

NBC News intelligence and national security reporter Ken Dilanian said he had a source confirm the line I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. Flynns lawyer, Robert Kelner, declined to comment on the story.

Read more from Yahoo News:
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President Donald Trump pushed FBI Director James Comey to halt the bureaus investigation of the presidents disgraced national security adviser, Michael Flynn, according to a memo authored by the FBI chief and disclosed by the New York Times.

He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go, Trump told Comey, according to the memo, which was read to a Times reporter.

The revelation adds to a disastrous week for a Trump White House already under siege by reports that the president revealed classified information in an Oval Office meeting with top Russian officials. The conversation between Comey and Flynn represents the first evidence that Trump attempted to directly intervene in an FBI investigation targeting his aides and their possible links to Russia.

The White House denied the report. The president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, the White House said in a statement to the Times.

While the exact scope of the FBI inquiry into Flynn remains unclear, agents are likely examining conversations between the retired lieutenant general and senior Russian officials before Trump took office. Trump fired Flynn after less than a month on the job, allegedly because Flynn lied to Vice President Mike Pence about whether he discussed sanctions during conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

FBI agents may also be examining Flynns work as a lobbyist. As part of a lucrative contract with a businessman close to the Turkish government, Flynn failed to register as a foreign agent under lobbying rules. Flynn registered retroactively in March.

As part of a sprawling inquiry into Russias campaign to influence the outcome of the U.S. election in Trumps favor, the FBI is investigating whether any of the presidents lieutenants conspired with the Kremlin.

Comey has long been known to document the content of conversations, and the memos described by the Times present a portrait of a president desperate to control the flow of information out of the White House and to inoculate himself from scandal. In addition to encouraging Comey to squash the Flynn investigation, Trump suggested the FBI director should imprison journalists for publishing classified information.

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Despite his firing last week, Comeys conversations with Trump do not appear to have impacted the bureaus investigation of Russian election meddling. Last week, a Virginia grand jury issued subpoenas targeting Flynn. Last week, the FBIs acting director, Andrew McCabe, said the bureaus Russia investigation had not been obstructed so far.

Comeys firing has raised questions about the continued independence of the FBI under Trump, who first claimed to have dismissed him at the recommendation of Justice Department officials. Trump later contradicted that justification in an interview with NBC. Regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Comey, Trump told anchor Lester Holt. When I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story.

Photo by Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images
In familiar chain of events, Republicans largely mum in response to reports Trump provided classified information to Russian officials

Mitch McConnell voiced frustration with drama in the White House. Photograph: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Republicans on Capitol Hill have decried the drama emanating from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue but remained characteristically tight-lipped in response to the reports that Donald Trump divulged highly classified information to senior Russian officials. Its a chain of reaction that has now grown routine within the party that controls the three branches of the US government.

Hours after Trump defended his right as president to share facts with Russia, which he said pertained to terrorism and airline safety, lawmakers on Capitol Hill sought more details from the White House  with some calling for the release of transcripts or a briefing before Congress by senior administration officials.

But while condemnation poured in from Democrats and a handful of Trumps familiar critics within his own party, most Republicans had resigned themselves to accept the perpetual state of chaos at the White House.

Certainly its less than ideal, but it is what it is, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida told reporters.

Jeff Flake, a senator from Arizona, said it would be nice to have a drama-free week.

But I suppose its going to continue, he added, so well have to get used to it.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, repeated his wish for a little less drama emanating from the White House, amplifying the frustration among Republican leaders who feel their policy agenda has been continuously thwarted by Trumps penchant for controversy.

These are daily  not daily, hopefully, but it seems like lately daily  distractions, and you just have to manage around it, Senator John Thune, a Republican of South Dakota, told reporters after the conference. I think our job is to try and stay focused on the things that we want to accomplish.

In a clear sign of contrast between the parties, Senate Republican leaders spent the majority of their weekly press conference speaking about healthcare before taking a handful of questions that McConnell mostly responded to with a one-word answer.

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Asked if he had any concerns about the presidents ability to handle classified information, McConnell took a lengthy pause, before replying: No.

Democratic leaders, speaking directly after the Republicans, used their weekly press conference to sharpen their demands.

The president should make full, unedited transcripts available immediately ... no ifs, no ands, no buts, said Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader. It may have put national security and our intelligence operation at risk. Congress has the right to know.

Schumer appealed to Republicans as patriots and implored them to join the effort to get the transcripts from the Oval Office meeting between Trump and the Russian foreign minister and ambassador.

According to the Washington Post report, there are internal memos and a full transcript from Trumps meeting with the Russians. McConnell on Tuesday said he had confidence that the Senate intelligence committee would obtain any additional information it found pertaining to its inquiry into Russias meddling in the US election.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, said the Senate should subpoena all transcripts related to Trumps meeting with the Russian officials, as well as any tapes the White House may have of the presidents conversation with the former FBI director James Comey, who was fired last week amid the agencys investigation into potential ties between Trump and Russia.

Prosecuting 101: if you think evidence exists, put a subpoena on it, Blumenthal told reporters. If the party says it doesnt exist, and in fact it turns out later it does, there are criminal penalties.

Senator Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee, said the episode underscored the need for an independent panel to investigate potential links between Trump and Russia.

Every day theres more questions that need to be answered, including this week, and it really cries out for an independent commission to report to Congress and the American people, Cardin told reporters.

The Washington Post reported on Monday that Trump had shared details of intelligence gathered about an Islamic State threat with the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the Russian ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak, during a private meeting in the Oval Office last week. The report, which alleged that Trumps disclosure had to do with an Isis plot involving the use of laptops onboard passenger aircraft, was subsequently confirmed by several news outlets.

Most Republicans said they were struggling to understand what had transpired, citing the conflicting statements from Trumps national security adviser HR McMaster and the allegations contained within the Washington Post report that broke the story. McMaster would not say on Tuesday whether Trump had shared classified information with the Russians, emphasizing instead that what the president had said was wholly appropriate.

Rubio told reporters as he stepped onto an elevator: These were important allegations that were made, but I need to know the truth.

The Republican senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who noted the volume of calls to his office were up slightly as a result of the news, said: I think we have so much more to discern about what actually happened.

There are currently three separate investigations, by the FBI and the Senate and House intelligence committees, into alleged Russian interference in the November presidential election that the US government has said was designed to boost Trumps candidacy.

Republicans have so far resisted calls for a special prosecutor or independent commission, despite nearly 80% of Americans backing such action. In light of Trumps latest Russia-related controversy, some Republicans agreed it would be useful to have tapes or transcripts made available to members of Congress  but others threw their unwavering support behind the White House.

I have a lot of confidence in the existing infrastructure on [the] foreign relations committee, a bipartisan group, and our deputy attorney general Rosenstein, Senator Luther Strange of Alabama told reporters. I have a lot of confidence in those guys, so well just wait and hear what comes out.

Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi said: Im not concerned.

Those who have broken with the administration on a number of issues were more forthcoming in their criticism. Senator John McCain, a Republican of Arizona and chair of the Senate armed services committee, said in a statement on Tuesday: Reports that this information was provided by a US ally and shared without its knowledge sends a troubling signal to Americas allies and partners around the world and may impair their willingness to share intelligence with us in the future.

Senator Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, had said the White House was in a downward spiral when the reports first surfaced Monday evening. On Tuesday, he tempered his response, telling reporters: Theres some alignments that need to take place over there, and I think theyre fully aware of that.

For now, Republicans contended with what has become the new normal: awaiting answers from the White House while gleaning information from the media.

If its true this information was shared with the Russian ambassador, said Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, it seems to me itd be ok to share with the US Senate.
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The problem with writing about Donald Trump is that the outrages come so fast and furious that its hard to keep up. The political world is now buzzing over the Washington Posts blockbuster report on Monday night that Trump divulged code-word secrets  in other words, some of the most highly classified information that the U.S. government possesses  to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador during an Oval Office meeting. Yes, thats important. But dont lose sight of the firing of James Comey, which is, on balance, an even bigger scandal.

Two days after dismissing Comey, after all, Trump went on NBC and destroyed his own administrations cover story that the firing was based on the FBI directors out-of-school public statements about the Hillary Clinton email investigation. In fact, when I decided to just do it, the president told Lester Holt, I said to myself, I said, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. Its an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.

In that same interview, Trump confirmed that he had asked Comey on at least three separate occasions whether he was a target of the investigation into Russian tampering with the U.S. election. It subsequently emerged that in January, Trump had dinner with Comey and demanded his loyalty, holding out the implicit threat that if he didnt deliver he wouldnt be able to stay on the job. Trump denied to Fox News that he had asked for personal loyalty from the head of the Russia investigation but then undercut his protestations by saying that it would not be inappropriate to do so.

As if that werent enough, Trump threatened the former FBI director in the manner of a mob boss warning an underling who is thinking of going into the witness protection program. James Comey better hope that there are no tapes of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press! Trump tweeted on May 12.

Donald Trump is not the first U.S. president to obstruct justice. But he is the first to boast about it in public.

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It no longer matters whether it can be shown that Trump illicitly colluded with the Kremlin to affect the course of the election  something that would be difficult to prove and even more difficult to prosecute, as David Frum notes in the Atlantic. Trump has now committed obstruction of justice and witness intimidation in plain sight  and as Laurence Tribe, one of the nations foremost constitutional law scholars, argues, that should now lead to impeachment proceedings. To say that this does not in itself rise to the level of obstruction of justice, he writes, is to empty that concept of all meaning.

One could imagine another charge being added to the bill of impeachment if Trump did indeed disclose code-word secrets to Russias representatives. Such an action is criminal if anyone other than the president does it; in the presidents case it is potentially impeachable.

Yet there is no chance of an impeachment inquiry being launched for the simple reason that few if any members of the ruling political party in Washington agree with Tribes analysis. In the week that has elapsed after the most serious abuse of presidential authority since Watergate, not a single member of the Trump administration has resigned in protest. Far from it: U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley took to ABC News to falsely claim: The president is the CEO of the country. He can hire and fire whomever he wants. Haley might want to reread the Constitution, which does not mention anything about a CEO but does charge the president to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

Even Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who was duped into serving as a cover for Comeys firing, neither resigned nor appointed a special counsel. He apparently doesnt much mind having his professional reputation shredded by the conniving commander in chief.

On Capitol Hill, roughly 40 Republicans out of 290 have raised questions about the Comey firing, but only six have called for an independent investigation and only one for a special counsel. Far from criticizing Trump, many Republicans are high-fiving him. Rep. Liz Cheney, for example, posted Trumps disingenuous and shameful letter firing Comey with this gleeful Twitter comment: Best. Termination. Letter. Ever.

Even outside government, it is hard to point to a single prominent Trump defender who has now switched to criticizing Trump. Bizarrely enough, the libertarian law professor Richard Epstein, who in February was suggesting that Trump should resign, is now defending his termination of Comey. So is William Barr, the attorney general under President George H.W. Bush. Also Kenneth Starr, the former Whitewater independent counsel. He tried to get Bill Clinton impeached for lying about a sexual affair but now claims that there is no cause to appoint a special counsel to look into whether Trump tried to stop the FBI from probing suspected collusion with a hostile foreign power to influence a presidential election.

One thing unites all of these pro-Trump arguments: They are based entirely on a fiction. To wit, the claim that Comey was fired for being mean to Crooked Hillary. This is the cover story advanced by the White House in the 24 hours after Comeys firing and then just as swiftly discarded. But apparently Trumps defenders havent gotten the message: They are acting as if Comey really was let go for the acts that Trump praised him for last year.

To the extent that any of them acknowledge reality  that Trump canned Comey to bring the Russia investigation to its conclusion, as White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders acknowledged  these Republican enablers claim its no big deal, because Trump may not get his desire. They act confident that the Russia probe will continue full speed ahead, even though its just as likely that Comeys successor, hand-picked by Trump, will allow the investigation to languish and eventually to die. Certainly anyone in the Justice Department or FBI intent on pursuing the investigation wherever it may lead will now know that he or she is in danger of dismissal  and that Attorney General Jeff Sessions will not hesitate to drop the axe in spite of his transparently false pledge to have recused himself from the Kremlingate probe.

But even if Trumps defenders are right, and his firing of Comey does not impede the investigation as intended, how is that a defense? Its like saying Richard Nixons dismissal of Archibald Cox was no big deal because it didnt stop the Watergate investigation. Is the standard now that obstruction of justice has to be successful in order to be a crime? Simply trying and failing is just fine?

Independent, nonpartisan observers like former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper can see whats happening. On CNN, he said Sunday that our institutions are under assault internally from President Trump. But Republicans are acting deaf, dumb, and blind  or, even worse, acting as cheerleaders  while this slow-motion assault on the rule of law unfolds. As Fareed Zakaria said in a trenchant commentary, [I]t appears that the Republican Party is losing any resemblance to a traditional Western political party, instead simply turning into something more commonly found in the developing world: a platform to support the ego, appetites and interests of one man and his family.

Given the unwillingness of Republicans to act as a check on Trumps abuse of power, the only remedy that I can see lies in the 2018 midterm elections. It pains me to say this as someone who spent 30 years as a loyal Republican  I re-registered as an independent on Nov. 9  but I agree with Mark Salter, Sen. John McCains former chief of staff, who tweeted: Words I thought Id never say: the security of the United States might now depend on electing a Democratic Congress in 2018.

Photo credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
Republicans are struggling to navigate through the latest Trump-Russia scandal, with several demanding that the White House provide more information about the highly sensitive intelligence that Donald Trump divulged during a meeting with Russians.

Senators on Tuesday continued to be bombarded with questions by the press over the Washington Posts report  which was quickly confirmed by other news outlets  that Mr Trump had revealed classified information about an Isis terrorist plot to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, who has been mostly quiet on Mr Trumps increasing number of scandals involving Russia, told Bloomberg Television: I think we could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so that we can focus on our agenda.

Read more

John Oliver demands Congress intervene after Trump fires James Comey

Later, during a news conference, when asked if he had concerns about Mr Trumps ability to handle classified information, Mr McConnell only replied: No.

The revelation that Mr Trump revealed classified details to the Russians has drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike.

Once again we are faced with inexplicable stories coming from the White House that are highly troubling, said Republican congresswoman Barbara Comstock in a statement.

We need to have immediate classified briefings on what occurred at this meeting so that Congress can at least know as much as Russian leaders and know the impact on our national security, our allies, and our men and women protecting our country.

Other Republican senators said they wanted to wait for more information from the White House before commenting further on the press reports.

The dust is still settling, Republican senator Jeff Flake told reporters.

Were still waiting to make sure the reporting is accurate, and well wait for more statements, Mr Flake said.

Republican senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he would not discuss Mr Trumps conduct until Congress is briefed by the CIA and the intelligence committee.

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Democrats are also calling for more information, with many pushing for access to transcripts of Mr Trumps meeting with the Russians.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said Congress should issue subpoenas for the transcripts if the White House won't provide them.

The only way to know reliably whether there are such transcripts or tapes is to issue a subpoena, Mr Blumenthal told the Today show.
By Babak Dehghanpisheh BEIRUT (Reuters) - President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday urged Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards and the Basij militia under its control not to meddle in Friday's presidential election, in a rare warning that underscored rising political tensions. The Guards, who oversee an economic empire worth billions of dollars, are seldom criticized in public, but the pragmatist Rouhani is locked in an unexpectedly tight race against hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, who is believed to have their support. "We just have one request: for the Basij and the Revolutionary Guards to stay in their own place for their own work," Rouhani said in a campaign speech in the city of Mashad, according to the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA). Rouhani reinforced his appeal by quoting the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, who he said had warned the armed forces against interfering in politics. Suspicions that the Guards and Basij falsified election results in favor of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to nationwide protests in 2009. Dozens of people were killed and hundreds were arrested, according to human rights groups, in the largest unrest in the history of the Islamic Republic. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, said on Wednesday that maintaining security was a top concern for the election. He also denounced the heated rhetoric of the campaign as "unworthy", in a thinly-veiled rebuke of Rouhani, who is seeking a second four-year term. ACCUSATIONS Rouhani, 68, and Raisi, a 56-year-old protege of the supreme leader, have traded charges of graft and brutality on live television with an open vehemence unseen in the near-40-year history of the Islamic Republic. Raisi has accused Rouhani of being corrupt and of mismanaging the economy. Rouhani, who wants to open up Iran to the West and ease social restrictions within the country, has responded by accusing Raisi, who served on the judiciary for several years, of human rights violations. Both men deny the other's accusations. Raisi developed a close relationship with senior members of the Revolutionary Guards while at the judiciary and has their backing, according to Mohsen Sazegara, a founding member of the Revolutionary Guards who is now a U.S.-based dissident. "Raisi is the Revolutionary Guards' candidate," he said. The Guards are looking beyond Friday's election and see Raisi as a possible candidate to be the next supreme leader, analysts say. Although Khamenei, 77, is guarded about his political preferences, he also appears to back Raisi both as a presidential candidate and possible successor. (Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Gareth Jones)
The Senate Intelligence Committee has formally asked former FBI Director James Comey to turn over any and all memos pertaining to his conversations with Donald Trump.

Chairman Senator Richard Burr and Vice-Chairman Senator Mark Warner have also asked that Mr Comey appears before them in both open and closed sessions.

The have also requested Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe any notes or memos prepared by Mr Comey "regarding any communications he may have had with any senior White House or Department of Justice officials."

Read more

Do Trump's actions on Comey constitute obstruction of justice?

According to the New York Times, Mr Comey had a habit of drafting these memos after any conversations with the president. Since his departure, the documents are now the property of the federal government, not Mr Comey's personal communications.

Mr Comey had responded to the committee's initial request to hold a closed session after his 9 May firing by saying he would testify but would prefer to do so publicly.

Normally, senior government officials at Mr Comey's level are given an opportunity to resign from their high-level posts as a sign of respect for their decades of public service. Mr Trump minced no words in his final letter to Mr Comey, however, saying that the FBI Director had eroded public trust and was no longer effective in his position.

The purpose of a closed session is likely so Mr Comey may share classified information regarding the ongoing investigation into alleged ties between Russia and Mr Trump's campaign team as well as Russia's possible interference into the 2016 US election.

The New York Times reported that Mr Trump had, during one of their conversations, asked Mr Comey to "let it go" when it came to the investigation into alleged ties between Russia and former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn.

The House is running a parallel investigation and has made a similar request for Mr Comey's memos. It is important to note that the Flynn investigation is a separate matter from the investigation into Mr Trump's campaign team, though both involve alleged ties to Russian officials.

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There is no word yet whether Mr McCabe will also be asked to appear before the committee to discuss the investigation.

Mr Trump met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Ambassador to Russia Sergei Kislyak, at the White House, just one day after he fired Mr Comey. The Washington Post later reported that Mr Trump divulged "highly classified" information from a US ally to the Russian officials.

The report, which cited a confidential source within the administration, set off a firestorm.

This is code-word information, one US official told the newspaper, a reference to one of the highest classification levels used by the American intelligence agencies, adding that Mr Trump had revealed more to Russia than the US does to some allies.

National Security Advisor HR McMaster said that at no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed and no military operations were disclosed that were not already known publicly.

Mr McMaster said he was in the room and "it didn't happen."

However, the Washington Post report did not include any information about "sources and methods," causing some to speculate why Mr McMaster would deny something that was not reported.

Later, he said that the conversation was "wholly appropriate" and that what was shared could have been learned from open sources.

What worried many in Washington was that Mr Trump "wasn't even aware of where this information came from" at the time of the meeting with Russian officials. He had not been briefed on it according to the national security advisor.

In fact, Mr McMaster said the president made the decision to share the information "in the context of the conversation." In other words, Mr Trump decided spontaneously to share the sensitive information.

Russian President Vladimir Putin then responded, saying that no classified information had been shared with his officials. This begs the question, how would they know if a piece of information was classified or not and would they admit it if they learned classified information.

Congressman Al Green became the first person to call for Mr Trump's impeachment on the House floor. Maxine Waters, the representative from California, has been saying there were grounds for possible impeachment in the media for months but never took to the floor for a formal statement.

Republican Chair of the House Oversight Committee Jason Chaffetz said the House needs to see the memos Mr Comey wrote in order to determine if Mr Trump did in fact obstruct justice by calling for the end of the Flynn investigation. House Speaker Paul Ryan supported the request, however neither have asked for a hearing with Mr Comey or McCabe as yet.

Another New York Times report revealed that the US ally from whom the information Mr Trump shared originated was Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not responded to the report but depending on the information shared, it could put lives of US and ally intelligence officers in the Middle East at risk according to some experts.

Mr Trump also had a call with regional ally Jordan the day after the report.

Thus far, the White House and Mr Trump's Twitter account have continued to take the stance that Mr Trump did not share any classified information.

He is scheduled for his foreign visit as president on 18 May, travelling to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Vatican including stops in Italy for the group of seven meeting.
WASHINGTON  The Senate Intelligence Committee requested testimony from former FBI Director James Comey about his conversations with President Trump before his firing, and asked the FBI to turn over all Comeys memos detailing his communications with senior White House officials about the investigation into Russian meddling in the election Wednesday afternoon.

The Senate Judiciary Committee also sent a bipartisan letter Wednesday requesting the memos within the week, and the House Oversight Committee requested Comeys presence for a hearing next week.

The requests are intended to answer mounting questions over the bombshell New York Times report Tuesday that President Donald Trump asked Comey in a private Oval Office conversation to lay off investigating his former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Comey reportedly described the conversation in a memo, and similarly created a paper trail for every conversation he had with Trump about the Russia investigation.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., told reporters Tuesday that it was up to the New York Times to produce the memo to prove the story. But less than 24 hours later, he and his committee changed course and requested the documents.

The existence of the Comey memo was the third bombshell to explode on the Trump administration this week. Trump earlier tweeted that Comey better hope that there are no tapes of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press, inviting questions about whether he bugged the Oval Office. The White House has not answered reporters questions about whether such tapes exist. Congressional Democrats have also demanded the White House release transcripts or recordings of Trumps private Oval Office meeting with top Russian officials, during which the president divulged previously classified information about an ISIS plot that the United States had not shared with some of its top allies.

Ive got questions about the presidents comments about tapes, secret tapes, said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee. Weve got questions about transcripts from the meeting with the Russians. And we have questions about former Director Comeys memo. And its just Wednesday.

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Warner said he expected a reply from Comey about whether he would testify early next week.

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Senate Intelligence Committee, after a meeting to discuss recent revelations about classified information being shared with the Russians, May, 16, 2017. (Photo: Bill OLeary/Washington Post via Getty Images)

Republicans are likely to ask Comey why he did not resign if he thought the president was attempting to obstruct justice and impede an FBI investigation. An emerging talking point from the White House and Trump allies is that the president was not pressuring Comey when he asked him to lay off Flynn  in one version, the remark was meant as a joke.

No matter what Comey says in his testimony, the scandal swirling around the White House has already sidelined Republicans congressional agenda and led to chaos in the Capitol.

Sen. John McCain said Tuesday night that he believed the questions swirling around the White House had reached Watergate-level proportions. Talking to reporters Wednesday, he said a better comparison was the Iran-Contra scandal during Ronald Reagans presidency.

We got it investigated, we got all of it resolved and the president went on national television and we moved on and he became one of the greatest presidents, in my view, of the 20th century, McCain said.

The senator is one of just a handful of Senate Republicans who wants a select committee in Congress to investigate the Russia allegations, separately from the Intelligence Committee. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have also said they believe an independent prosecutor or independent commission could be necessary.

McCain said the Senates agenda will likely be sidelined until the issue is fully investigated and resolved.

Things are tough right now, McCain said of the mood among Senate Republicans. We all know that. What do you think this is, a joy ride?

Many Republicans were visibly annoyed at the distraction Wednesday. I think people in America turn on the TV and think this is all thats happening, this is all that were doing, said House Speaker Paul Ryan. Ryan and his House leadership deputies started their press conference talking about tax reform, before being barraged with Russia and Comey questions from the press corps.

House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, May 17, 2017. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday that he could do with less drama from the White House. The Senates work on a health care bill has fallen from the headlines.

While some Republican lawmakers have minimized or downplayed the scandals (Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah., called them overblown), Warner said the investigation into Russian election interference and the Trump campaign remains bipartisan.

I dont know any member, publicly or privately, Democrat or Republican, that doesnt think that Jim Comey deserves to tell his side of the story, Warner said.

I would love to have the memo, I would love for him to testify and I would love to have an open discussion about this as well, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., told reporters Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the House are attempting to pressure their Republican colleagues into supporting a bill to create an independent commission to investigate Russian interference. The lawmakers introduced a discharge petition calling for the formation of the independent commission Wednesday. The discharge petition is a procedural tool to bypass the Republican-controlled committee process and force a floor vote on the matter.

Republicans are not doing their job to hold the Republican president accountable, so its our job to do so, said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. Cummings, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, noted that the House committee investigating Russian interference had not issued a single subpoena in their investigation. Speaker Ryan has shown he has zero, zero, zero appetite for any investigation of President Trump, he said.

_____
President Trumps tax blueprint released last month by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn includes a significant cut in the corporate tax rate to 15% from 35%, which is the highest rate among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.

But Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) says the total tax revenue from corporations is too low and needs to be higher.

There have been long-standing efforts from both sides of the aisle to reduce corporate taxes, including from President Barack Obama, particularly since the US has not shifted its tax system in 30 years while countries around the world have. But Warren said its about corporations paying their fair share.

Somebodys going to have to pay the bills to keep the government running, Warren said. A generation ago, corporations paid 30% of what it costs to run the federal government. Today, corporations pay less than 10%.

Source: Tax Policy Center, US Government Publishing Office

That means it falls on everyone else. All of those expenses then fall on working families, Warren said. The way I see it, taxes and the whole debate around taxes is ultimately going to be about who pays a fair share to keep this government running and thats the question we need to look at on the corporate side and on the individual side.

The Republicans, along with many economists, however, have pointed to disadvantages in competitiveness and disincentives to hold cash domestically. The 35% rate is the highest among OECD countries.

Source: Tax Policy Center, Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development

Cohn said the US has not kept up with the rest of the world in tax policy, hurting competitiveness. In the 30 years since the last major tax reform in the US (the Reform Act of 1986), other countries have responded to dramatic world economy changes, including globalization and digitization. But the US tax system has largely remained unchanged.

The US tax system has become a significant competitiveness problem given dramatic changes abroad and inaction at home, Michael Porter wrote in a recent Harvard Business School report, highlighting, in particular, the US statutory rate standing 10 percentage points higher than the average OECD rate.

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The forces of globalization have amplified the inefficiencies and complexities of the current tax system and demand that reform make the US less of an outlier in key tax policy areasparticularly corporate tax policy, Porter added.

That said, a decrease to the 15% level sets up a face-off with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), a deficit hawk who has called for the tax plan to pay for itself.

The Ryan-backed House GOP plan, released in June, called for replacing the 35% corporate tax rate with 20%. Ryans plan also adds a border-adjustment tax (BAT) proposal, which the Trump plan does not include.

The plan also includes a shift to a territorial system of taxation (taxation of income within ones borders) that countries around the world have embraced and a move away from the worldwide system (taxation of income no matter where its earned) currently used by the US.

This has caused US multinational companies to hold large sums of cash abroad. These companies have used tax inversions and cross-border M&A that favor foreign acquirers, and corporations have actively shifted income around the world to avoid high tax rates.

NOTE: An earlier version of this story had the headline Senator Warren: The corporate tax rate is not too high. It has been changed to Sen. Warren says the total tax revenue from corporations is too low and needs to be higher.



Nicole Sinclair is markets correspondent at Yahoo Finance.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Republican voters in South Carolina's 5th Congressional District runoff election face a stark contrast in deciding which candidate they should choose to try and hang on to the seat given up when Mick Mulvaney resigned earlier this year to become White House Budget director.

Tommy Pope was the top vote-getter in the party primary May 2. Ralph Norman trailed him by less than 1 percent in the first round. But despite similarities between the two, some GOP voters say if their candidate doesn't win Tuesday, they may not back the winner, even against a Democrat, in the general election on June 20.

Pope is backed by business groups with mainstream appeal, while Norman has gathered support from more hard-right groups. Norman had Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in the district on Monday campaigning for him.

The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Archie Parnell in the June 20 general election. Parnell is a former staff attorney for the House Ways & Means Committee and the Department of Justice. He has attracted enough support to try and make the race competitive by taking advantage of divisions in the GOP and using the same playbook seen in congressional races in Kansas and Georgia.

South Carolina's 5th Congressional District spans 11 mostly rural counties, but also includes the growing suburbs south of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Republicans dominate after state GOP leaders changed the district boundaries to draw it more safely under their party's control, but it had been in Democratic hands for more than 100 years until Mulvaney's victory in 2010.

Both Pope and Norman voiced support for some of President Donald Trump's policies in TV ads and campaign planks, including a border wall with Mexico and efforts to loosen regulations on businesses. Both also pledged to get rid of President Barack Obama's health care law.

The main difference is their backers. Pope, an attorney from York and the No. 2 in South Carolina's House, has the support of several high-profile state Republicans, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and dozens of law enforcement leaders, including fellow former prosecutor U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy.

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Norman, a real estate developer, former state House member and major backer of former Gov. Nikki Haley, counts on support from the party's right flank, including the Club For Growth's political arm; Jim DeMint, a former U.S. senator from South Carolina and a former director of the Heritage Foundation; and Cruz.

Any hint of working with centrists is precisely what one Norman supporter doesn't want in Congress.

"You can work with the far left, you can work with the far right, but you can't work with the middle because you don't know how they are going to vote," voter Margarett Blackwell told The Associated Press Monday, quoting advice she said she got from Mulvaney himself.

Mike Barrow, a 71-year-old Army veteran, said he supports Pope because Norman's endorsements from Washington personalities like Cruz and DeMint go against his desire to be represented by outsiders.
Do you sense a disturbance in the Force? Maybe thats because May 25 will be the 40th anniversary of the original release of Star Wars in theaters. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, well be posting Star Wars stories all month, including choice vintage interviews, original videos, and some of our favorite pieces from years past, like this one, a version of which was originally published in 2015. Just keep coming back here all month to see whats happening in our galaxy.

By Gwynne Watkins and Jordan Zakarin, Yahoo Movies

What do you do after watching the original Star Wars trilogy for the millionth time? How about watching the scenes that didnt make it into that beloved series of films?

As with most movies, George Lucas and his collaborators shot a whole lot more than what ended up on screen, eventually leaving everything from silly digressions to major characters and plot points on the cutting-room floor. For years, many of those lost scenes were just legend, while others wound up being repurposed for story books or such non-canon fodder as The Star Wars Holiday Special. But recent Blu-ray and digital box sets have collected many of these moments for your viewing pleasure. And to help you navigate this bonus content, weve created this guide to the best (and goofiest) scenes that never graced the big screen.

Luke and His Binoculars

Movie: A New Hope

The scene: Luke Skywalker copes with his dull life on Tatooine by keeping his eyes on the skies  even when hes supposed to be repairing his uncles moisture vaporators. This scene, in which Luke watches distant spaceships through his binoculars, was originally supposed to be the audiences introduction to A New Hopes protagonist. It was cut to make room for C-3PO and R2-D2s opening escapades  but alas, the pretty light-show effect of the space battle doesnt appear elsewhere in the film.

Biggs Darklighter and Friends

Movie: A New Hope

The Scene: When Luke Skywalker tells his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru that his friends had left for the Imperial Naval Academy, he was telling the truth: In a long sequence of scenes that were ultimately cut from the film, we see Luke palling around Tatooine with his friends Biggs Darklighter, Laze Loneozner, and Camie Loneozner. Biggs was Lukes mentor, BFF, and frequent racing opponent. According to Lucas himself, the scenes were written and filmed after he was told by multiple people that his film wasnt human enough, but the footage just didnt seem to work in the final cut. Darklighter shows up later, though, as part of the Rebellion, and gives his life in the Battle of Yavin.

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C-3PO Drives the Speeder

Movie: A New Hope

The Scene: Soon after Luke buys C-3PO and R2-D2 from the Jawas, little Artoo slips out of Uncle Owens shed to continue his search for old Ben Kenobi. Once Luke discovers that Artoo has gone missing, he and C-3PO hop in a land speeder to search for him across the barren terrain of Tatooine. The scene, as it appears in the final version of the film, gives us our first glimpse at Lukes piloting skills; in the cut version of the scene above, its C-3PO driving the speeder, taking Luke on a bumpy ride against a backdrop.

The Giant at Mos Eisley

Movie: A New Hope

The scene: Jim Henson never formally got involved in the Star Wars films  his colleague Frank Oz created and controlled Yoda, at Hensons recommendation  but youd be forgiven for thinking that Big Bird made a cameo after seeing this deleted seen at the Mos Eisley Cantina. The wretched hive of scum and villainy was filled with all sorts of odd creatures, and apparently, being able to fit into the frame was a requirement for making it into the final cut.

Wampas on the Loose

Movie: The Empire Strikes Back

The scene: Hoths furry people-eaters, the Wampas, invade the Rebel base in a mini-subplot that was left on the cutting room floor. In close-up, the Wampas look more like nightmarish, freezer-burned teddy bears than alien creatures, which is probably why this scene got the axe. However, the big pay-off moment  in which C-3PO removes a warning sign on a door, leading Imperial troops straight into a Wampa trap  gives the normally pragmatic protocol droid a hint of calculating menace.

The Almost-Kiss

Movie: The Empire Strikes Back

The scene: This infamous deleted scene contains a painfully prolonged moment of sexual tension between Luke and Leia. While recovering from his Wampa encounter on Hoth, a battle-scarred Luke starts to tell Leia that he loves her, and they come thisclose to kissing before C-3P0 blessedly interrupts. Of course, viewers didnt know they were siblings at this point, and whether George Lucas himself knew has been hotly debated. But unlike the kiss that did make the cut  which is clearly for Han Solos benefit  this scene suggests that Leia has genuine romantic feelings for Luke. Fortunately, director Irvin Kershner made the decision to play down the Luke-Leia-Han love triangle, so fans didnt have to retro-actively scrub this particular moment from their brains until now. Here, watch it in GIF form, as many times as you want!

Lobot gets captured

Movie: The Empire Strikes Back

The scene: Sad news for all of you fans of Lando Calrissians lobotomized administrative assistant: Turns out he did not survive Darth Vaders take-over of Cloud City. In the scene above, Lobot is captured by Stormtroopers, and in another scene cut from Empire, hes critically injured. But Lucas and Co. decided to remove the scene just in case they wanted to bring Lobot backwhich never happened.

Lukes New Lightsaber

Movie: Return of the Jedi

The scene: The original opening sequence of Jedi showed Luke constructing his green lightsaber in a cave with R2-D2, who then joins C-3PO for a lengthy exposition session. (Sample C-3PO dialogue: What about Master Luke? I thought he was going to rescue Captain Solo! You mean were going to that horrible fortress alone?) Its all extremely unnecessary, and the final film benefits from Lukes dramatic, unexplained entrance at Jabbas palace. However, its cool to see the lightsaber taking shape, and the scene gives context to Darth Vader telling Luke, I see you have constructed a new lightsaber. Your skills are complete. 

Han, Leia, and Luke Walk Through a Sandstorm

Movie: Return of the Jedi

The scene: Han has been saved and Jabbas massive ship has been destroyed, but our heroes still need to cross Tatooine in a horrible standstorm to get to their vehicles. The good news is that Han Solos sense of humor survived the deep carbonite freeze. The bad news: His quip didnt make it into the film.

Luke explains why hes going back to Dagobah

Movie: Return of the Jedi

The scene: Right after our heroes find shelter from the Tatooine sandstorm in the hangar, Luke declines Hans offer of a ride on the Millennium Falcon. Before he returns to the Rebel fleet, Luke needs to go visit an old friend on Dagobah. That friend? Yoda, of course. Even though this scene got deleted, the line was reused  Luke tells R2 instead while aboard his X-wing fighter. And we do see Luke go visit his old Jedi master for the last time.

Han leads the way through the Empires base

Movie: Return of the Jedi

The scene: The Battle of Endor was a hard-won fight  and there were even more casualties than we previously knew. In this deleted scene, Han leads Chewie and some rebels through the Empires base, though its unclear how they were able to take down five Stormtroopers with just three blaster shots. Perhaps thats why it was taken out  that or time constraints, either one.

Darth Vader vs. Jerjerrod

Movie: Return of the Jedi

The scene: Poor Moff Jerjerrod, just couldnt catch a break. First, he gets stuck with an understaffed Death Star construction crew, then he gets ignored by a visiting Emperor Palpatine. And when he finally decides to stand up to Darth Vader, he suffers the fate of so many other Empire officers. Side note: Maybe The Empire lost because their best leaders kept getting choked to death?

Read more from Yahoo Movies:
Khartoum (AFP) - Sudan said Wednesday that President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for genocide, will appear at the same summit in Saudi Arabia as Donald Trump, but the United States indicated it opposes his attendance.

"I can confirm President Bashir will go ... to Saudi Arabia," Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in Geneva. "We look forward (to) normalisation of our relations with the US."

But the US embassy in Khartoum said in a statement it opposes "invitations, facilitation, or support for travel by any person subject to outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants, including President Bashir".

Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the ICC in 2009 for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Darfur that has killed tens of thousands.

He denies the charges.

The Saudi-hosted summit of Arab and Muslim leaders is expected to include top level talks on Sunday.

Trump is scheduled to be in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, from Saturday on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

Asked ifBashir expected to shake hands with the US president, Ghandour said it was impossible to predict, but added that "a handshake doesn't mean a lot if relations are not (good)".

Khartoum has said it is keen to improve relations with Washington under Trump.

"Sudan renews its commitment to continue a bilateral dialogue in order to reach full and normal relations between the two countries in the interests of their peoples," its foreign ministry said on March 7.

That was despite Sudan's inclusion on an executive order signed by Trump in March to temporarily close US borders to nationals from six Muslim-majority countries.

The travel ban has since been blocked by a US judge.

After signing of the order, however, Sudan voiced "deep regret and discontent" over the move.

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- 'Partner in fighting terror' -

It condemned the ban, saying it came despite Khartoum engaging in talks with Washington on fighting terrorism.

"These negotiations confirmed that Sudan plays a big role as a partner in fighting terrorism that endangers people of both countries and of the world," the foreign ministry said at the time.

Before leaving office, president Barack Obama eased decades-old US sanctions against Sudan, but kept Khartoum on the blacklist.

Sudan was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993 and has been subject to a US trade embargo since 1997 over its alleged support for Islamist groups.

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was based in Khartoum from 1992 to 1996.

Washington believes Khartoum's terror ties have ebbed, but has kept sanctions in place because of the scorched-earth tactics it has used against ethnic minority rebels in Darfur.

In its statement on Wednesday, the US embassy said there has been "no change to Sudan's inclusion on the United States' State Sponsor of Terrorism list".

"We have been quite clear with the government of Sudan on the steps that need to be taken for us to consider delisting, as well as what would be required to make progress in easing economic sanctions."

An end to fighting in Sudan's hotspots -- Blue Nile and South Kordofan states as well as the Darfur region -- had been set as a precondition for sanctions being lifted.

According to the United Nations, 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced since the Darfur conflict erupted in 2003.

South Africa came under fire for failing to arrest Bashir in 2015 when he attended an African Union summit in Johannesburg.

It insisted he had "head of state immunity" after letting him slip out of the country under shadowy circumstances.

Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the Rome Statute under which the ICC was founded, while Sudan and the United States have not ratified the statute of the Hague-based court.
Stop me if you've heard this one: The U.S. shouldn't act to cut its planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions because it would harm the economy while China and India are building coal plants and emitting whatever they want.

That is an argument that opponents of climate action, mainly in the Republican Party, have used for decades in order to oppose measures to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

It's one that President Donald Trump himself has made, as has his Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Scott Pruitt, in recent months. But increasingly, it's not based in reality.

SEE ALSO: 9-year-old girl seeks clean air for her generation, sues Indian government over pollution

Two new reports show that China and India are moving faster than expected to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and pollution woes, while scaling up renewable energy resources.

The speed and extent of the actions in these two developing nations are hugely consequential for what happens to global emissions during Trump's presidency, since the U.S. is backing away from its leadership position on this issue.

According to an analysis released at a round of United Nations climate talks in Bonn on Monday, China and India could more than compensate for the United States' failure to meet its proposed emissions cuts under the Paris Climate Agreement.

An Indian security guard walks amid a rooftop solar plant in Gandhinagar, India.

Image: Ajit Solanki/AP/REX/Shutterstock

What's changing is China and India's coal use. Experts from Climate Analytics, Ecofys, and the New Climate Institute, which together run the Climate Action Tracker, say that global carbon emissions are likely to be about 2 to 3 billion tonnes lower in 2030 compared to previous forecasts.

This could offset Trump's climate change rollbacks, such as killing the EPA's Clean Power Plan and trying to revive the moribund coal sector. The Trump effect on the climate would only cause an uptick in carbon emissions of about 0.4 billion tonnes of carbon, the group found.

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The highly adverse rollbacks of U.S. climate policies by the Trump Administration, if fully implemented and not compensated by other actors, are projected to flatten US emissions instead of continuing on a downward trend, said Niklas Hohne, of NewClimate Institute, in a press release.

According to the Tracker, which keeps tabs on countries' commitments and whether they are living up to them, Chinas coal consumption decreased from 2013 through 2016, with a slow decline expected to continue. This is partly related to an economic slowdown, in addition to policies put in place by the central government in Beijing.

Coal is one of the dirtiest forms of energy, pumping huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Burning less coal has the benefit of lowering carbon emissions.

In India, plans for more coal-fired power plants may be canceled since the country is making headway at dramatically expanding its solar power capacity.

Five years ago, the idea of either China or India stopping  or even slowing  coal use was considered an insurmountable hurdle, as coal-fired power plants were thought by many to be necessary to satisfy the energy demands of these countries, said Bill Hare of Climate Analytics, in a statement.

Recent observations show they are now on the way toward overcoming this challenge.

While the U.S. remains undecided on whether it will remain a part of the Paris Agreement, the global energy market is still moving quickly ahead, favoring renewable energy to such an extent that in more areas it is cost competitive with coal and other fossil fuel sources. This has played a role in slowing and even reversing coal's expansion in China and India.

The results of the Climate Action Tracker's report are bolstered by findings from a Center for American Progress analysis of China's coal consumption. The report makes clear that the argument that China's emissions would outweigh any progress made in the U.S. is, at best, outdated, and more accurately a zombie argument.

As David Roberts writes at Vox, China is taking on coal head on by shutting down older, more heavily polluting plants in favor of newer, more efficient facilities and renewables. It is also planning for a non-coal future based on renewables.

"In short, while the US dithers along in a cosmically stupid dispute over whether science is real, China is tackling climate change with all guns blazing. The US, not China, is the laggard in this relationship," Roberts wrote.

It's unclear if anyone will be able to successfully convince Trump and his team that China is beating the U.S. on transitioning to a cleaner, more efficient future early enough for the administration to decide to remain part of the Paris Agreement. It's more likely that for now, at least, the mantle of climate change leadership has been passed to Asia.
One of the challenges that frequently confront young directors is the dreaded sophomore slump  the second film thats neither as creatively, nor as financially, successful as their first feature. Guy Ritchie neatly danced around that particular pitfall with Snatch, his widely liked follow-up to his well-received 1998 debut, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. But the British filmmaker met with a very different reaction when he released his third feature, 2002s Swept Away. An English-language remake of a 1974 Italian film, the movie starred Ritchies then-wife, Madonna, as a wealthy woman stranded on a deserted island with a rugged sailor (Adriano Giannini). With their marriage already very much in the public eye, Ritchie faced intense scrutiny from the moment he called Action, and that continued up through the films release. The experience of Swept Away was quite a painful one, and it was a trial by fire, Ritchie tells Yahoo Movies in a candid interview. (Watch the video above.)

Fifteen years removed from Swept Away, the director has clearly been able to gain some perspective on the experience. There were a couple of issues, he remarks. One was making it with my ex-wife, and two was making it on the back of my previous films. Certainly, in the wake of Lock, Stock and Snatch, Ritchie had legitimate concerns about being pegged as a crime movie director and wanted to expand his cinematic horizons. That was the first time I jumped out of my familiar territory, and boy, did I get punished for it! he says with a wry smile. Still, looking back, Ritchie claims that he genuinely enjoyed the experience of making Swept Away. I didnt enjoy the experience of releasing it!

Ritchies latest movie, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, is in theaters now.

Read more from Yahoo Movies:
Geneva (AFP) - Rival Syrian delegations on Wednesday weighed a UN proposal on developing a new constitution for the war-ravaged country, as a new round of peace talks entered a second day.

The sixth round of UN-backed negotiations in Geneva is the latest drive to bring a political solution to the conflict which has claimed more than 320,000 lives since 2011.

The talks opened with tensions high over a US charge that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government was using a prison crematorium to hide evidence of thousands of murdered detainees.

Syria's government delegation, led by Bashar al-Jaafari, returned to UN headquarters Wednesday afternoon for a meeting with talks mediator Staffan de Mistura.

They were expected to discuss his proposal to create a "consultative" committee of civil society activists and technocrats tasked with setting a roadmap to a new constitution.

The team would begin work immediately on "specific options for constitutional drafting" in order to "prevent a constitutional or legal vacuum at any point during the political transition process being negotiated," according to a copy of the document seen by AFP.

Syrian government officials did not respond to requests for comment, but a source close to the delegation confirmed they had received the document.

The opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) has said it has "reservations" about the draft, which it are expected to discuss with de Mistura later Wednesday.

An opposition source told AFP that the HNC had submitted a list of questions on the document to the UN, including on what "prerogatives" the new committee would have.

- 'No more committees' -

"This paper was a surprise -- it was not expected in the first place," the HNC's Munzer Makhos told AFP.

"We don't know what the aim is or how it will be implemented. We don't want there to be more committees outside of our control."

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The UN-backed talks are expected to focus on four separate "baskets": governance, a new constitution, elections and combating "terrorism" in the war-ravaged country.

While the HNC has insisted on Assad's ouster as part of any political transition, the government sees this demand as a nonstarter.

The back-to-back meetings on Tuesday were brief, in line with de Mistura's pledge to keep the talks "rather business-like, rather short".

Hopes for a breakthrough remain dim, particularly after US claims of new regime atrocities at the notorious Saydnaya prison near Damascus.

Satellite images released by the US State Department appeared to support earlier claims by rights groups that Saydnaya is an execution centre, a claim Damascus rejected.

Relatives of detained Syrians -- some of them imprisoned in Saydanaya -- gathered outside the UN in Geneva Wednesday, carrying portraits of their missing loved ones and tearfully writing their names on long strips of paper.

- 'Different role for Russia' -

The HNC has said Washington's accusations about Saydnaya demand a response from the United States and other friendly nations, but also called on Russia to take action.

"For us, we need to see a different role for Russia -- not only helping Assad commit crimes. We need to see Russia help Syrians decide their fate and their destiny," said HNC spokesman Salem al-Meslet.

He told journalists that members of the HNC would meet with Russian officials later in the day.

The UN meanwhile confirmed that de Misura met earlier Wednesday with Russia's deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov. Jaafari met Gatilov in Geneva on Tuesday.

Longtime regime ally Moscow has become a key player in Syria's crisis, launching an air war in support of Assad in 2015 and brokering several agreements aimed at ending the war.

The latest effort is a tripartite agreement between Russia, fellow Assad ally Iran, and rebel backer Turkey to create four "de-escalation" zones across some of Syria's bloodiest battlegrounds.

It was signed on May 4 in the Kazakh capital Astana as part of parallel negotiations.

De Mistura has dismissed suggestions that the Astana talks are competing with the Geneva track, saying they were "working in tandem".
Tre Boston said a man at a gas station convinced him to sign with the Chargers. (AP)

Tre Boston had a random encounter with a man at a gas station asking for money, and the ensuing conversation convinced Boston to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The story Boston told isnt exactly a homeless man telling Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam to draft Johnny Manziel, but Bostons reason for picking the Chargers in free agency is unusual.

Boston, a safety, was a free agent after the Carolina Panthers cut him. Boston said he couldnt decide between the Chargers and Buffalo Bills. He was back home in Charlotte, and cut across two lanes of traffic to hit a gas station because the price there had dropped from $3.29 to $3.10 a gallon. And as he was pumping gas, a man with three kids approached him asking for change. Boston said he gave him a $20.

He says, Thank you so much, and hes telling me God put me in his life for a reason, and in my mind Im saying, Youre here for a reason too,' Boston said when he met with Chargers reporters.

Boston said he was contemplating asking the stranger, L.A. or Buffalo?

Before I could say it, my man told me, Thank you so much, there [arent many] people like you in this world. Gods children. He said, My name is Mike Daniels, but people call me L.A.' Boston said.

When he said L.A., honestly I started crying.

Boston said he went to his car for a tissue, and then he saw a card that said Jesus saves on a pillar at the gas station.

So now Im like, You know what, if I didnt think it was Jesus now, I know this is God, Boston said.

Boston said he ended up speaking with Daniels for a half hour and ended up giving Daniels $100 because he said Daniels changed his life. Boston thought the chance encounter wasnt random. Boston not only cut across two lanes to the cheap gas station when he still had half a tank, it turned out Daniels unknowingly pulled into a pump that was out of service and next to Boston. You can see why Boston would think this meeting was divine intervention.

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Honestly, thats the reason Im here, Boston said. It didnt matter how much money was given to me. It didnt matter really who was on the team, it just happened to be a great fit. But God told me come here. Thats my testimony, and Im here.

      

Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!



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The following material contains mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.

Marijuana has sometimes been described as a gateway drug that encourages hard-drug use. But one new treatment facility is treating it as an exit drug instead. Can pot really help addicts get off other drugs?

So few people seek treatment, and we do need as many tools in the arsenal as possible, notes ER Physician Dr. Travis Stork. How did you even begin to think lets use marijuana, not as a gateway into drugs, but a gateway away from them?

Watch: Marijuana Gum for IBS?

High Sobriety founder Dr. Joe Schrank says that this can provide a point of entry into treatment for those who find the idea of detox overwhelming. People find it an easier way to start, he explains. My hope is, especially for the younger people, that they do move on to cessation of all drug use. But even for those who dont move on to giving up drugs altogether, marijuana may be less hazardous than their current addictions  Nobodys finding recovery if theyre dead, he adds.

Psychiatrist and addiction specialist Dr. Mike Dow doesnt recommend this approach. The most successful way I can treat somebody is by helping them to lead a productive life, he says. Ive also seen that marijuana, just like heroin, prevents people. Dr. Schrank disagrees, Heroin and cannabis are not the same.

Dr. Schrank adds that High Sobriety is one of the few treatment programs that has a full-time researcher, We want to know what this is doing as much as anybody else. But research is difficult because the U.S. still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug and its forbidden to use it in clinical trials.

Watch: Smart Kids More Likely to Smoke Pot?

Thats a great point. We do need more research, Dr. Dow agrees. However, he has another concern about the program  its name. High Sobriety is sending a message to addicts? he asks.

The Doctors are also concerned that, unlike methadone clinics that treat heroin addicts, marijuana is widely available without regulation or medical oversight  even in California, which hasnt yet legalized recreational pot, You can go to Venice Beach and get a card for $40, Rosie Mercado points out. We dont want people to abuse it either, Dr. Schrank responds. His program is very selective about who they accept.

I would rather someone be addicted to marijuana than be addicted to heroin, Dr. Stork. And if 90 percent of the people out there who are addicted to something arent seeking treatment, we need to get that number up. Asking for help is the first and most important step.
The timing of Trumps meeting with Russian officials raised eyebrows. As it turned out, what the president told them would cause the real storm

The roots of the latest White House crisis lie in Rex Tillersons recent trip to Moscow. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trumps entanglements with Russia date back to the 1980s but the immediate origins of the latest White House crisis lie in a trip secretary of state Rex Tillerson made just over a month ago to Moscow.

It was the first visit by a senior Trump administration official to the Russian capital and it was weighed down with baggage. Like his president, Tillerson was under scrutiny for his past ties to the Russian government.

As the CEO of ExxonMobil, Tillerson had extensive dealings with the Kremlin, including with Vladimir Putin, who had personally awarded him Russias Order of Friendship. But since Tillerson had taken office, the anticipated reset with Moscow had failed to happen.

Sanctions had not been lifted, and six days before Tillerson arrived, on 6 April, the US had carried out a missile strike on a Syrian airbase, suspected of being the launching pad for a chemical weapons attack, and where Russian troops were stationed.

As usual, the Kremlin left it until the last moment before confirming that Tillerson would be granted an audience with Putin, but the meeting  which took place late in the day  was described by the secretary of state as productive despite a low level of trust between our two countries.

What that meeting did produce was an ill-fated reciprocal visit by Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, to the White House, on 10 May. Lavrov had not been in Washington for four years, since before US-imposed sanctions for Russian annexation of Crimea and covert military action in eastern Ukraine.

A television screen inside the West Wing on 15 May, after the Washington Post reported the president had revealed highly classified information to Russias foreign minister and ambassador. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

It would have been normal for a Russian foreign minister to meet the US president. Lavrov had previously met Barack Obama at the White House. But these were not normal times. The night before, Trump had fired James Comey, the FBI director, at a time when the bureau was investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

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Having the first public meeting, within hours of such an extraordinary move, with a senior Russian official reflected a complete lack of concern of how it would look, irrespective of its substance. But US officials pointed to the Tillerson meeting in the Kremlin and the need for reciprocity. That did not explain, however, the presence of the Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, who had become a central figure in the Russia investigation. His contacts with Trumps first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had ultimately led to Flynns resignation.

Flynns successor, HR McMaster, his deputy, Dina Powell, and Tillerson were also at the Oval Office meeting. The US press was barred but not their Russian counterparts. The Russian state agency Tass quickly posted pictures that have since become infamous, of Trump, Lavrov and Kislyak smiling and apparently sharing jokes, at a time when Russia had been accused by US intelligence of interfering in the US election, and  a few days before the White House meeting  the French presidential election too. White House officials would later claim they had been misled by the Russian delegation and they did not know that Lavrovs official photographer was also working for Tass.

Trumps meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov (left) and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Photograph: ddp USA/Rex/Shutterstock

As soon as the pictures emerged, former intelligence officials raised concerns that Russians had been allowed into the Oval Office with electronic equipment, potentially making it vulnerable to bugs. As it turned out, it was what the president voluntarily shared with the Russians that would cause the real storm.

On Monday evening, the Washington Post reported that Trump had discussed highly secret information that had been provided by the intelligence agency of a US ally about an Islamic State (Isis) terrorist threat involving the use of laptop computers on aircraft.

For intelligence and counter-terrorist officials in the room, the disclosure immediately raised a bright red flag. The presidents counter-terrorism adviser, Tom Bossert, quickly called the NSA and CIA to alert them, acting, McMaster said, out of an abundance of caution.

Both McMaster and Tillerson were sent out by the White House to rebut the report, insisting that the president did not discuss sources, methods or military operations.

Reporters at the White House on Monday night reported hearing heated arguments behind closed doors, as senior staff went into damage-control mode once more.

By Tuesday morning, however, Trump made all the efforts at pushback by his staff utterly redundant with a pair of tweets just after 7am.

As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled WH meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining ... to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism, the president said.

The extraordinary confirmation of the report triggered a new round of moderation from the White House. McMaster was sent out once more to face questions over how his denial of the story the night before squared with the presidents admission.

It was the premise of the story that was false, he argued, because the president had a right to share what he wanted to, and his disclosures were appropriate to the conversation. McMaster focused on the national security damage caused by the leaks, but in so doing he did not dispute key elements of the Washington Post story  the sharing of the information, the fact that it came from a foreign agency, the Bossert call to the NSA and CIA, and that Trump disclosed the city in which the original intelligence had been collected, potentially putting a covert source at risk.

Once more, attempts by partially briefed and uneasy officials to put out the fire caused by Trumps relationship with Moscow had added even more fuel.
Washington (AFP) - Presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood side by side at the White House on Tuesday and promised to work through strained ties despite the Turkish leader's stern warning about Washington's arming of a Kurdish militia.

Fresh from securing his grip on Turkey with a referendum to enhance his powers, Erdogan came to Washington with a list of complaints about US support for Kurdish fighters and its harboring of the alleged mastermind of a failed coup.

But both leaders also wanted to put a brave face on their differences and to renew a key alliance between NATO's leading power and its biggest Muslim member, partners in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.

"It is absolutely unacceptable to take the YPG-PYD into consideration as partners in the region, and it's going against a global agreement we reached," Erdogan said, referring to the the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) in Syria.

"In the same way, we should never allow those groups who want to change the ethnic or religious structures in the region to use terrorism as a pretext," he added, suggesting that the Kurds are using the anti-IS fight as cover for separatist nationalism.

Trump was one of the first leaders to congratulate Erdogan on winning the April 16 vote to strengthen his office, and his Turkish counterpart repaid the compliment on Tuesday by hailing his host's "legendary victory" in the US presidential race.

"Of course Mr Trump's victory has led to an awakening of new expectations for Turkey and the region it is in. We know the new US administration will not let these hopes be in vain," Erdogan said.

The US leader paid tribute to Turkey's historical contributions to the Western alliance's Cold War battles and promised: "Today we face a new enemy in the fight against terrorism and again we seek to face this threat together."

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- Attempted coup -

Washington and Ankara are bitterly at odds over US support for the YPG, a Syrian armed faction that acts as the main ground force in the Pentagon's plan to defeat the Islamic State group but that Turkey deems a front for the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

And Erdogan remains angry that the United States continues to host Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, a former ally who chose exile in Pennsylvania and who has now been accused of masterminding last year's bloody attempted coup in his homeland.

While the pair shared warm words at their joint public appearance, Erdogan again made it clear that he would never accept an autonomous YPG-led Kurdish area in Syria, and that he had "frankly communicated" his expectation that Washington hand over Gulen.

After their appearance, the pair headed into meetings and a working lunch with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to dig deeper in to the issues.

"We look forward to having a long and productive discussion," Trump said. "We've had a great relationship and we will make it even better."

Trump hopes to secure at least grudging Turkish agreement not to oppose the US-led drive by YPG fighters to oust the Islamic State from their Syrian stronghold of Raqa.

- Sinjar offensive -

In return, Trump will have to give Erdogan assurances that Gulen will be closely monitored while the US courts examine an extradition request and that Washington will eventually endorse a Turkish offensive against PKK bases in Sinjar, northern Iraq.

"That's the main ask," said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish research program at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy. "He's going to want US support for a Turkish operation against Sinjar."

Turkish officials had spoken enthusiastically about Trump's election as a chance to turn a new page.

But hopes could have been dashed last week when the Pentagon confirmed that it has increased its support for the YPG by directly arming its fighters ahead of the battle to oust the Islamic State from its de facto capital in Syria.

Ankara regards the YPG as simply the Syrian arm of the "terrorist" PKK, which has waged a deadly insurgency inside Turkey since 1984, and Erdogan is worried his deadly enemy will find itself in charge of a US-armed statelet on his southern frontier.
An artist named Robin Bell projected a series of anti-Trump messages on the Trump Hotel in 12th Street, New York, at 9.15 a.m. Monday morning to remind America that President Donald Trump might be in violation of the Emoluments Clause.

The Trump Hotel was briefly vandalized when Bell, perched in his van in front of the hotel, flashed in a bluish light, the words EMOLUMENTS WELCOME and PAY TRUMP BRIBES HERE, onto the building of Trump Hotel International, New York Daily News reports.

Among the projection was the entire text of the Emoluments Clause, under Article 1 of the constitution, for people who might not be aware of it: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Bells efforts lasted around 10 minutes before a security guard walked up to his van and stood in front of his projector, blocking the feed. By then, it had already been noticed by many.

Read: John Legend Thinks President Won't Last A Term As Approval Ratings Fall

We had a couple great moments. A tour bus pulled up, people started clapping and taking photos, Bell told the Daily News. Everyone on the street, except for the security guard, seemed really happy.

This was not the first time Bell and his clan of protesters had attempted something like this. After just a fortnight of Trump becoming the president, the words EXPERTS AGREE: TRUMP IS A PIG was projected onto the door of the same hotel, again, by Bell.

The Emoluments Clause in the U.S. constitution has stirred up trouble for Trump multiple times since he was sworn in as president. Back in January, a liberal watch group called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed a lawsuit demanding Trump stopped conducting personal business with foreign government.

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This cannot be allowed, the group wrote in the complaint filed, the Washington Post reported. Even though Trump called the case totally without merit, it did open up the path for people, who want to get the president impeached, to take up the same issue in the future.

Read: Should Trump Be Impeached? New Poll Shows 47% Of Americans Think He Violated The Constitution

Even though the particular clause was included in the constitution more as a precautionary measure, to prevent American leaders from getting swayed by expensive gifts and donations from foreign governments, it seems to pose serious repercussions for Trumps presidency.

Emoluments

Photo: Getty Images/ZACH GIBSON

The main debate surrounding the clause is whether it prohibits the POTUS from receiving not just gifts, but also payments for services rendered. If the latter is proved true, reports indicate Trump could possibly be held liable if any of his hotels rent out a room to a foreign embassy or decks out a room in the Trump Tower for a foreign bank to use.

However, Trumps attorneys have time and again contested the idea of the president being in violation of the Emoluments Clause because, Paying for a hotel room is not a gift or a present, they argued.

Nevertheless, it becomes clear from Bells stunt the American people still think Trump might be in contempt of the clause as his hotels and several other businesses he owns, accept foreign payments.

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President Trump complained Wednesday that the press has treated him more unfairly than any other politician in history.

Trump made this claim while delivering the commencement address to the U.S. Coast Guard Academys Class of 2017.

Look at the way Ive been treated lately, especially by the media. No politician in history  and I say this with great surety  has been treated worse or more unfairly, he told the graduates in New London, Conn.

Trump was imparting life advice about how things are not always fair and that things happen to you that you do not deserve.

The presidents comments were the first public statements he has made since the New York Times published a ground-shaking report alleging that Trump had asked then FBI Director James Comey to intervene in the investigation of his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. He also encouraged Comey to consider bringing charges against journalists who publish classified information, according to the report.

You cant let them get you down. You cant let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams, Trump told the graduates, drawing applause. I guess thats why I won.

President Trump pumps his fist as he addresses the graduating class of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy during commencement ceremonies in New London, Conn., on May 17, 2017. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Trump said that adversity makes one stronger, and he encouraged the students to never back down or stop doing what they know is right. He said opposition mounts in relation to how righteous ones fight is.

Ive accomplished a tremendous amount in a very short time as president, Trump said, before going on to outline a series of actions that he considers accomplishments in relation to his campaign promises to slash environmental regulations, support veterans, protect the Second Amendment, build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and restructure U.S. health care.

He said the American people understand why he has taken certain actions  even if it confounds and outrages the press.

I didnt get elected to serve the Washington media or special interests, Trump said. I got elected to serve the forgotten men and women of our country, and thats what Im doing.

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Former President Barack Obamas speechwriter Jon Favreau was not impressed that Trump was complaining about unfair media treatment while addressing the Coast Guard graduates.

Commander-in-Chief whines about his hard life to a class that has volunteered to risk their lives for their country, Favreau tweeted. Hes a pathetic child.

Dan Pfeiffer, the former senior advisor to Obama, chimed in with, Is incurable narcissism grounds for removal under the 25th Amendment?

Others pointed out that many other politicians throughout history have been killed as result of popular uprisings or assassinations, though Trumps complaint was primarily directed at the press.

Mussolini was shot dead and hung upside down in public. Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife were executed. But you have been treated worse, one person wrote on Twitter.

Read more from Yahoo News:
Given how much the media has hampered his administration, Trumps goal seems to be to snuff it out any way possible

Given how much the media has hampered his administration, Trumps goal seems to be to snuff it out any way possible. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

By now, everyone has heard the blockbuster news that Trump allegedly asked the FBI director, James Comey, to drop the Michael Flynn investigation. But buried deep inside in the the New York Times story was another bombshell that was just as important: Trump reportedly urged Comey to jail journalists who publish classified information.

Tied to this disturbing news was another story that didnt get enough attention last week amongst the chaos: the Washington Post reported multiple times that part of the reason Trump fired Comey was that he was incensed that the FBI was not being more aggressive in investigating leaks coming out of his administration. Apparently, Trump was even insisting at one point that the FBI needed to go after leaks about non-classified information (which is not a crime by anyones standards).

Since before he took office, Trump has been obsessed with leaks, and you can see why: almost on a daily basis, his administration is painted as chaotic, corrupt and unhinged in the papers  even by the people who work in the White House. He has had to fire Flynn due to leaks showing he lied, multiple policies have been stopped in their tracks because of leaks and even the threat of war with Iran was tamped down because of official secrets that were reported by journalists.

Its bad enough for press freedom that Trump is so determined to go after whistleblowers and sources within his administration who are attempting to get the truth to the American public. When their sources are investigated, journalists face the prospect of surveillance or subpoenas to testify and it can inhibit important investigative reporting. But directly prosecuting journalists is an unprecedented step that should send a chill down the spine of any American who values the first amendment  no matter their political persuasion.

Given how much the media has hampered his administration, Trumps goal seems to be to snuff it out any way possible. In retrospect, its almost amusing that so much ink was spilled on Trumps now notorious contention he was going to open up libel laws to sue newspapers that wrote stories about him he didnt like. This was always a red herring. After all, there are no federal libel laws to open up.

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The real danger, which got far less attention, was that Trump might use the draconian 100-year-old Espionage Act to target reporters with prosecution for publishing classified information. Less than six months into his presidency, we now have reason to believe this is a distinct possibility.

The Espionage Act is blatantly unconstitutional, which is part of the reason why every justice department in modern history has avoided reaching the point of prosecution against a newspaper. But it has long been a specter hanging over journalists: if you read just the text of the law, it is being violated almost daily by reporters at every major paper in the country. (And its not just journalists: the law is so wildly broad that just by reading the New York Times, you are arguably guilty.)

Many lawyers have believed the law would be struck down if a prosecution ever took place, but its not exactly a chance anyone wants to take. Just by bringing a prosecution without conviction, Trump can surely halt an untold number of stories that come right up to the line.

The good news is, at least so far, the Trump administrations obsession with leaks has only emboldened more people to come forward, and journalists to push even harder behind the scenes. There are almost too many examples to count of the administration admonishing employees not to leak behind closed doors, only to see their warnings promptly leaked to the press.

Ironically, Trump firing Comey  in part for not being aggressive enough in leak investigations  has opened the floodgates to more leaks on what his administration was doing to potentially obstruct justice.

The Times reported that there were multiple Comey memos detailing every interaction that he had with Trump before he was fired, including some that were classified. One has to wonder how many of those who  during the long-gone Obama years  called for Edward Snowden to be prosecuted are now secretly hoping that there is another Snowden somewhere in the FBI or justice department.
President Trump has taken to Twitter to admit he gave classified intelligence to Russian officials during a meeting in the Oval Office last week, defending his actions as his "absolute right."

His morning tweetstorm came the day after a bombshell report in The Washington Post Monday described how Trump gave intel about America's plans in the fight against ISIS to Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, and Russian ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak.

Read: Speculation Grows About Sean Spicer's Ouster After Melissa McCarthy Reprises Role on 'SNL'

The president took to his favorite social media platform and said he had an absolute right to declassify the information to the two Russian officials.

As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017

...to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017

I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community.....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017

Trumps tweets were a stark contradiction to denials by his surrogates, who bashed the report and discredited the newspaper Monday evening after the story went live.

"The story that came out tonight as reported is false. The president and the foreign minister reviewed a range of common threats to our two countries including threats to civil aviation," National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said. "At no time, at no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed. And the president did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known."

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McMaster then added: I was in the room, it didn't happen."

Trump met with Lavrov and Kislyak Wednesday, the day after he fired FBI Director James Comey, who was investigating the Trump campaign's ties to Russia.

During the meeting with Lavrov and Kislyak, Trump did not permit American media to attend the conference. However, Russian state media was allowed into the event.

Read: Sean Spicer in the Hot Seat as Trump Fumes Over Comey Backlash: Report

On Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin told CNN that The Washington Post intel story is "nonsense."

We don't want to comment on nonsense fakes, Dimitry Peskov said.

When further pressed by CNN on the intel-sharing and whether the Kremlin preferred "a more predictable partner," Peskov replied, I think weve said more than enough on this.

Watch: Putin Comments on Comey Firing in Full Hockey Gear: 'We Have Nothing to Do With That'

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Donald Trump proved something important by winning the presidential election last year: An outsider really can win the highest office in the land, relying on experience gained in the business sector rather than a lifetime in politics.

But Trump is not governing like a CEO. Hes not making pragmatic decisions based on getting the best return on scarce resources. The continual controversy he courts interferes directly with his bottom line, which is the ability to get legislation passed and new policies put into place. If anything, his political operation is like a wackadoodle startup burning its funding on distractions while trying to figure out what its core competency is.

Understanding the kind of company Trump ran might explain why. He inherited his fathers business and built it into the Trump Organization, a notable real-estate developer but one that was always private and closely held by the family. There were no shareholders. No public filings. No public scrutiny by Wall Street analysts. Trump made decisions with a small coterie of family members and close advisers. What happened in Trumpland stayed in Trumpland. There were no leaks or embarrassing revelationsexcept when various casinos had to declare bankruptcybecause Trump could count on loyalty from a tiny group of people he had known for years.

The federal government is nothing like a privately owned company. If anything, its the oppositemessy, inefficient, overstaffed and stuffed to the gills with people who will bark to the press if things dont go their way. Practicing oversight, like a board of directors, is the maddening institution known as the US Congress. The press, protected by the Constitution, stands as a ready partner to every leaker who wants to gum things up.

Trump seems astonished by this. He complains constantly of leakers, as if hes the first president to deal with such an affront. He whispers, buddy-buddy, to the FBI director about dropping a high-stakes investigation into a top national-security official, as if asking a favor of his private bankerthen seems aghast when word gets out. He threatens to disrupt intelligence-gathering operations in some faraway hellhole, then acts indignant when the people who do such work for a living go bananas. This is a business leader who has never had to face an activist investor who demands a higher share price or buy-side analysts who think your strategy is failing.

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There are other types of business leaders much better prepared for the hothouse inside the Beltway. The CEOs of public companies can be imperious, but they generally dont survive if theyre thin-skinned and blame every problem they create on somebody else. In fact, those types of people rarely make it past VP. Good CEOs know they get credit or blame for what happens on their watch, and their job is to deal with circumstances as they find them, not as they wish things would be. Leaks? Surely no company leaks as much as Congress does, but in business, this kind of thing is just another exogenous factor you have to deal with, along with bad weather if youre a retailer, Mideast wars if youre an energy company or deadly competition from Silicon Valley if youre an aging dinosaur.

Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of Exxon Mobil whos now Secretary of State, seems to be learning quickly on the job, and performing competently so far. Former Goldman Sachs president Gary Cohn, head of Trumps National Economic Council, seems to be rolling with the punches and mustering an economic agenda for Trump, even as crisis swirls. Both men have learned to thrive amid the glare of critics. Trump hasnt, and may never.

Theres speculation that other business leaders may follow Trumps lead in 2020, and run for the White House, including Disney CEO Bob Iger and Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz. Both earned their spurs in public companies that are also consumer brands, answerable to unpredictable trends, the ever-present threat of boycotts and the merciless trolls on social media. It would be interesting to see how a public-company CEO fares in the White House. Compared with one not accustomed to such accountability.

Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com

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Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.
Washington (AFP) - Donald Trump's youngest son Barron will attend a private school in Maryland after he and his mother move into the White House this summer, the first lady announced Monday.

The announcement will likely save New York tens of thousands of dollars a day in police costs incurred by 11-year-old Barron and his mother Melania remaining in Manhattan while he finishes the semester at his current school.

While it was still not immediately clear when the president's wife and youngest son would relocate to Washington, the school year at St Andrew's starts September 5. The current school term is due to end next month.

In making the announcement, the first lady said St Andrew's Episcopal School, 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the White House, was noted for "its diverse community and commitment to academic excellence."

"The mission of St Andrew's is 'to know and inspire each child in an inclusive community dedicated to exceptional teaching, learning and service,' all of which appealed to our family," she said.

Barron Trump is the first presidential child to attend the school, where fees start at $23,490 for pre-Kindergarten through $40,650 for grades nine to 12.

Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, the two previous US presidents with school-age children in the White House, instead chose the private Sidwell Friends School in Washington.

St Andrew's has 580 students, with an average student-teacher ratio of seven to one, according to its website.

The costs of protecting the first lady and her son have been hugely unpopular in New York, a largely Democratic-voting city.

Officials estimate it costs $127,000 to $146,000 a day to protect Trump's family, which includes his eldest sons Donald Jr and Eric, who run the family business.

More than half a million people signed a petition demanding the first lady move into the White House or foot the expense of living in New York herself.
By Sue Horton LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An hour before dawn on May 11, a team of 10 officers for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began assembling outside a coffee shop in the Southern California beach community of San Clemente. The officers were about to embark on a targeted enforcement action, aiming to pick up five men believed to be in violation of U.S. immigration laws. The men had all been convicted of crimes, ranging from drunk driving to attempted murder, making them high priority targets for deportation. The first stop was an apartment building not far from the coffee shop, where the armed agents arrested a 35-year-old immigrant from Iran who had served a year in jail on an attempted murder conviction. Although he was not a citizen, the man was living in the United States with a so-called green card that allowed him legal residence and a path to eventual citizenship. Such legal residents can have their status revoked and be deported if they commit certain types of crimes. It was still early morning when the officers pulled up to a waterfront home about 30 miles away in Newport Beach, where they found Adalberto Magana-Gonzalez, who had been hired to work on a boat docked behind the house. The native of Mexico said in an interview with reporters after his arrest that he had expected ICE to come one day. By his estimate, he had illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border seven times, and he had been previously deported. Recently, he had served time in a U.S. jail for burglary and domestic violence. Magana-Gonzalez said he knew his prior deportation and criminal conviction made him a target for ICE, but he had hoped to stay until my daughters 18th birthday. He offered few details about his family. By morning's end, the agents had arrested three of the men for whom they were looking. Two others could not be found. About 90 percent of the immigrants apprehended by ICE in the Los Angeles area have committed crimes, according to agency data that goes through April 29. Taking them off the streets is protecting everybody, said David Marin, director of enforcement and removal operations for the Los Angeles field office. Since President Donald Trump took office, Marin said, some policies have changed. In the past administration, there were classes of aliens that were exempt from being arrested, he said. Trump has reversed some Obama immigration policies and has said that anyone who is in the United States illegally could face deportation. The policy shift, Marin said, has given officers "more pride in their job," but has not really changed things operationally in Southern California, where the focus is still on deporting criminals. ICE announced on Wednesday that nationwide arrests were up nearly 40 percent over last year, but in Los Angeles, they have remained at about the same level, according to ICE data. ICE critics note that not all regional offices are as selective about whom they arrest. Since Trump took office, about one-third of those picked up nationally by the agencys enforcement and removal operations do not have criminal records, according to ICE data. That represents a sharp uptick over 2015 and 2016, but it is about the same percentage as 2014 of arrests of non-criminals. Immigrants with criminal records arrested by ICE usually "understand that what we are doing is just a byproduct of the acts they committed, said Jorge Field, acting deputy director of enforcement and removal operations for ICE in Los Angeles. Their criminal acts made them removable. Since Magana-Gonzalezs arrest, his case has been accepted for prosecution by the U.S. attorneys office, and he will face federal criminal charges for felony re-entry after deportation. Magana-Gonzalez said he does not resent the agents for doing their job, but he does have regrets. To other immigrants in his situation, he had three words of advice: Dont make trouble. (To see a related photo essay, click here: http://reut.rs/2reCDIy) (Reporting by Sue Horton; Editing by Leslie Adler)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has evidence Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government has built a crematorium at a large military prison outside the capital Damascus, a State Department official said on Monday. Stuart Jones, acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, said U.S. officials believe the crematorium could be used to dispose of bodies at a prison where they believe Assad's government authorized the mass hangings of thousands of inmates during Syria's six-year-old civil war. "Credible sources have believed that many of the bodies have been disposed in mass graves," Jones told reporters. During the briefing, he showed aerial images of what he said was a crematorium. "We now believe that the Syrian regime has installed a crematorium in the Sednaya prison complex which could dispose of detainees' remains with little evidence." Amnesty International reported in February that an average of 20 to 50 people were hanged each week at the Sednaya military prison north of Damascus. Between 5,000 and 13,000 people were executed at Sednaya in the four years since a popular uprising descended into war, it said. Jones also said he was not optimistic about a Russia-brokered deal to set up "de-escalation zones" inside Syria. The deal was reached with support from Iran and Turkey during ceasefire talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana earlier this month. Jones attended the talks. "In light of the failures of the past ceasefire agreements, we have reason to be skeptical," Jones said. Jones said Assad's government had carried out air strikes, chemical attacks, extrajudicial killings, starvation, and other measures to target civilians and its opponents. He criticized Russia and Iran for maintaining their support for Assad despite those tactics. "These atrocities have been carried out seemingly with the unconditional support from Russia and Iran," Jones said. "The (Assad) regime must stop all attacks on civilian and opposition forces. And Russia must bear responsibility to ensure regime compliance." He did not say what measures the United States might take if Russia does not change its stance. Tensions between the United States and Russia heightened after President Donald Trump ordered a cruise missile strike in April against a Syrian air base that the United States said had been used to launch a poison gas attack on civilians. Jones said he had not yet presented the evidence to Russian officials. He said he hoped Russia would help pressure the Assad government. (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Bernadette Baum and David Gregorio)
US President Donald Trumps administration has reportedly refused to allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accompany him to to one of the holiest Jewish sites in the region during a visit next week.

While Mr Trump is set to become the first serving US president to visit Jerusalems Western Wall, Mr Netanyahu will not be present, the White House said on Tuesday.

The two leaders will meet for talks and dinner but the US president will visit the place of prayer accompanied by the Western Walls rabbi before going to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Holocaust Museum and the Israel museum, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters.

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Israels Channel 2 news reported Monday that the Israeli authorities had asked whether Mr Netanyahu could accompany the president and whether Israeli news would be allowed to film there, but were rudely told by a member of the US consulate in Jerusalem: What are you talking about? Its none of your business. Its not even part of your responsibility. Its not your territory. Its part of the West Bank.

The Western Wall runs along the perimeter of one side of Jerusalems holy Temple Mount, as it is known in Judaism, or Haram al-Sharif, as it is called in Islam.

The neighbouring al-Aqsa mosque compound is currently reserved for and administered by Muslims, but Jewish worshippers have the right to visit and pray at the Wall.

The comments about the Western Wall were not authorised communication and they do not represent the position of the United States and certainly not of the president, a senior administration official later clarified to the The Times of Israel.

In Tuesdays White House briefing Mr McMaster refused to clarify whether the administration considers the Western Wall to be a part of Israel or not.

The presidents intention is to visit these religious sites to highlight the need for unity among three of the worlds great religions, unity in confronting a very grave threat to all of civilisation, and unity in embracing an agenda of tolerance, he said.

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Mr Trump is also due to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem in the West Bank - their second meeting in the space of a month.

Benjamin Netanyahu invited his American counterpart to visit following his own trip to Washington DC in February.

The new US president has repeatedly stressed that a lasting peace deal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the top goals of his administration.

His upcoming trip to the Vatican, Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia - Mr Trumps first as president - is being overshadowed by accusations that he shared classified information concerning an Isis plot with visiting Russian diplomats last week.

Several foreign intelligence agencies have condemned the reports, which they say pose a risk for future intel gathering and sharing. German politician Burkhard Lischka told the AP it would be highly worrying if the story was true, adding such behaviour would make Mr Trump a security risk for the entire world".

The New York Times and NBC news reported that Israel was the intelligence partner compromised in the alleged leak.

In a statement on Tuesday, Israeli ambassador to the US Ron Dermer reaffirmed that Israel has full confidence in its intelligence-sharing relationship with the US.
Washington (AFP) - House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday warned against "rushing to judgment" over embattled President Donald Trump, stressing that US lawmakers need to establish the facts before considering next steps.

Ryan, the top Republican in Congress, said that while he has confidence in Trump, he wants members to dutifully exercise their role as congressional investigators.

"We need the facts," Ryan told reporters after Republicans huddled on Capitol Hill following explosive reports that Trump shared intelligence secrets with Russian officials, and that he pressured the director of the FBI to drop an ongoing investigation.

"It is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president. But we have an obligation to carry out our oversight regardless of which party is in the White House," Ryan added.

"And that means, before rushing to judgment, we get all the pertinent information."

Citing unnamed sources, The Washington Post reported that Trump had shared highly classified intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov regarding an Islamic State group terror threat.

The New York Times reported that before firing FBI chief James Comey, Trump asked him to drop an investigation into his national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Democrats have seized on the reports to bolster their claims that Trump is unfit to serve in the Oval Office.

Ryan declined to wade into whether Trump obstructed justice -- a crime under US law.

"We can't deal with speculation and innuendo, and there's clearly politics being played. Our job is to get the facts and be sober about doing that," he said.

Several Republicans took a similar approach Wednesday, but others called for Comey to testify and to produce the memo he reportedly wrote detailing his discussion with Trump about the Flynn investigation.

"I hope director Comey will come before Congress, under oath," House Republican Tom Cole said of Comey. "If he's got a charge to make, he needs to make it."
Caracas (AFP) - Thousands of Venezuelans blocked roads in a seventh week of anti-government demonstrations, vowing not to budge all day in protest at a deadly, deepening political and economic crisis.

An 18-year-old died during a protest in the western state of Tachira after being shot by gunfire in the thorax, prosecutors said, bringing to at least 39 the number of people killed since April 1.

Local media reports said clashes broke out and opposition members were arrested at protests in six states in the latest unrest in the oil-rich country.

In the capital Caracas, crowds sat playing cards and tunes on the guitar as they blocked a major highway, while a small group of hooded protesters mounted barricades.

Near daily clashes have lasted more than six weeks during protests against moves to strengthen President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power and his refusal to hold early elections.

The center-right opposition blames socialist leader Maduro for an economic crisis that has caused severe shortages of food and medicine.

"My father died because of a lack of medicine. There is no food and when you do find some, it is very expensive," said demonstrator Katty Biagioni, 43, who sat reading in a tent in Caracas.

- 'Resistance' or 'insurgency'? -

A senior opposition lawmaker, Freddy Guevara, told reporters the rally was held for 12 hours until 2300 GMT.

He said 50 roadblocks were planned across the country, with the aim of generating a state of "ungovernability" to pressure Maduro.

"This is a day of resistance, of endurance, of showing that we are organized and firm," Guevara said at the rally.

He repeated the opposition's claim that Maduro was installing a "dictatorship."

Maduro has vowed general elections will take place as scheduled in late 2018 but not before.

He has accused the opposition of mounting an "armed insurgency" and "terrorist acts" against him with US backing.

Story continues

His Social Movements minister Aristobulo Isturiz said Monday that protesters were "demanding the impossible" by seeking early elections.

"That is why they are intensifying their violence with the support of the international oligarchy and imperialism," he said.

- 'Keep protesting' -

Maduro has set no date for postponed regional polls or for mayoral elections due this year.

The opposition has called on the armed forces to abandon Maduro, but so far he still has the public backing of the high command.

The government and the opposition have accused each other of sending armed groups to sow violence in the protests.

Police have fired tear gas and protesters have hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails in a near-daily series of clashes.

Analysts say street protests are one of the few means the opposition has left to pressure Maduro.

"We are going to stay in the street as long as our strength lasts, demanding that Maduro leave," said teacher Alberto Barrios, 28.

"He is driving the country further and further into the ground."

- History of coups -

Venezuela has seen three attempted military coups since 1992.

Clashes at anti-government protests in 2014 left 43 people dead.

The current unrest erupted after the Supreme Court seized power from the National Assembly legislature -- the only state authority controlled by the opposition.

The court reversed that move after an international outcry. But Maduro further fanned protests when he announced plans to reform the constitution.

That was seen by his opponents as a bid to dodge elections and cling to power.

The European Union urged all sides to refrain from violence and seek a political solution.
Photo credit: Boeing

From Popular Mechanics

The two jumbo jets designated specifically for presidential transport have now been in service for more than a quarter century. Although these two modified Boeing 747-200Bs, known as VC-25s, are a couple of the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world, with encrypted communications and electromagnetic pulse defenses, they are aging. It's time to start working on the replacement jets for Air Force One.

"It's going to cost me money in the long run," General Carlton D. Everhart, commander of Air Mobility Command, said of continuing to fly the VC-25s. "It's not as efficient as a newer aircraft would be." Everhart recently talked with Popular Mechanics about the future of Air Force One, why the next AF1 will be a 747, and how you go about turning an ordinary airframe into a plane fit for the president.

Alternate AF1?

Air Force One is not a specific plane, but the call sign for any USAF aircraft with a sitting U.S. president on board. The VC-25s that do the job today entered service during George H.W. Bush's administration. In January 2015, the Air Force announced that new Boeing 747-8s would replace the VC-25s, and the long and complicated work to select and modify two of Boeing's largest 747 models began. After all, it's not easy to outfit one of the largest planes in the world for the President of the United States. The job is so extensive that the current administration is unlikely to ever get a chance to fly in the new airplanes. The Air Force understands this, and they have been gearing up for the project, working with Boeing far in advance to select the specific airframes to buy and test.

Then, in December 2016, the newly-elected Donald Trump tweeted this:

Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order! - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2016

Trump's criticism of the plan to acquire new presidential aircraft threw the 747-8's future as Air Force One into doubt. Aircraft manufacturers and aerospace analysts were quick to put forth ideas for different AF1 options, including one particularly bold report that suggested the future B-21 bomber as a presidential transport.

Story continues

More realistic studies suggested using the Boeing 737, a reliable aircraft that is already used by the U.S. Navy and USAF. Converting a 737 for presidential use would be cheaper and easier than doing so with the hulking 747-8, considering military aircraft based on the 737-like the P-8 Poseidon and C-40 Clipper-already have many of the communication and defense systems that Air Force One will need. But using a 737 over the new 747-8 would require the Air Force to abandon two of its primary requirements for AF1: that it has four engines and room for at least 70 passengers.

The Four-Engine Future

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force

The Air Force is researching ways to make development of Air Force One cheaper, but General Everhart says that moving away from the 747-8 is almost certainly not going to happen. Everhart, who is responsible for shuttling the president, told Popular Mechanics the 747-8 is essentially set in stone "just by default." For one thing, Boeing is the only American plane manufacturer building large four-engine airliners.

"As I look at the requirements, there are three things that we have to support the president with," Everhart says. "We have to support him as our Commander-in-Chief, also as our Chief Diplomat, and also our Chief Executive. ... I have to have a flying, alternate White House to keep the continuity of government and continuity of operations."

Conducting the business of the Executive Branch while in flight requires a lot more than just safely transporting the POTUS. It means making a large number of staff members available, keeping lines open to government officials in the U.S. and elsewhere, and providing all the resources the President of the United States needs to run the country. The need to power such a plane drove the Air Force's requirement of a four-engine jet, but that's not all. There's also the question of redundancy and safety.

"It just makes sense because if I lose a motor on takeoff or... say, a shot was taken, a surface-to-air missile, and took out a motor," says Everhart. "Some of the places the president goes to, the next base may be 500, 600 miles away."

"Does that mean that a two-engine airplane in the future may be able to fit that bill? Sure. Right now the way the requirements are set about, it's going to require a four-engine aircraft," says Everhart. So long as those requirements stay, the 747-8 is really the only logical choice.

Years to Come

The Air Force acquisition office and Boeing are still in a negotiation phase to select the specific airframes to buy. After the Air Force acquires the new jets, initial testing will need to be completed before modifications are made, says Everhart.

Those modifications are extensive. Ultimately, Air Force One will need encrypted communications systems, aerial refueling capabilities, and defenses against both conventional and electromagnetic pulse weapons. The two-tiered, four-engine wide-body airliner will need structural modifications as well, dividing the cabins into offices and conference rooms and sleeping quarters. Even the stairs, traditionally on the left side of Air Force One, will likely need to be swapped over from the right side where Boeing currently installs them.

"Where do we put the press, Secret Service, the galley, medical, his quarters?" asks Everhart. "Those are the modifications that will be done to support the president."

It's going to be many years before we see a new pair of Air Force One jets take to the skies. The president who will fly aboard them may be an obscure or little-known politician at this point (or perhaps not yet a politician at all). But one thing is clear: The future Air Force One will almost certainly be a 747-8.

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Barry Goldwater had had enough. It was Aug. 6, 1974. The day before, after months of stonewalling, the Nixon White House had released a smoking gun tape revealing Richard Nixon had ordered a cover-up in the Watergate burglary. Two miserable years of White House denials had been rendered meaningless. At a luncheon conference with his fellow Republican senators, Goldwaters anger boiled over. There are only so many lies you can take, he said, and now there has been one too many. Nixon should get his ass out of the White House  today! The next day, Goldwater traveled to the White House with the Republicans House and Senate floor leaders, John Rhodes and Hugh Scott, to deliver a similar message to the president himself. Two days later, Nixon was gone.

Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., center, accompanied by Senate Republican leader Hugh Scott, R-Pa., left, and House GOP leader John Rhodes, R-Ariz., right, speaks to reporters after meeting with President Nixon at the White House in 1974 to discuss Nixons decision on resigning. (Photo: AP)

Slideshow: Democracys darkest moment: the Watergate conspiracy >>>

In recent days, many who are disturbed by the Trump White Houses descent into Nixonian tactics have recalled Goldwaters actions with sad longing. So many of the events surrounding the firing of FBI Director James Comey echo Watergate: the meddling with the FBI, the allegations of obstruction of justice, the whispers of a White House taping system and the crisis of credibility surrounding the president. Whats missing, it seems, are the Republicans of conscience. Where is todays Elliot Richardson, the attorney general who resigned in defiance of Nixons order to fire the Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox? Where is todays Howard Baker, the Republican senator from Tennessee, who helped lead the Senates Watergate hearings with judicious balance and a desire for the truth? Where is todays Goldwater, a Republican of stature who can stand up and put the countrys interest first?

Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tenn., vice chairman of the Senate Watergate Investigating Committee, questions witness James McCord during hearing in Washington, D.C., in 1973. (Photo: AP)

The stakes are greater than mere historical symmetry. Republicans in the Watergate era, after all, were the minority party in both the House and Senate. As the revelations of Nixons misconduct grew, the Democrats used their control of Congress to keep the Watergate inquiry alive through the Senate hearings and through impeachment proceedings in the House. Today, it is the Republicans who control Capitol Hill. A full and fearless inquiry into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 election is unlikely to proceed unless it has the blessing of the GOP. Since the New York Times reported the stunning news that Trump may have pressured Comey to end the FBIs investigation into Michael Flynn, even some of Trumps Republican defenders have begun to admit there are grave questions surrounding the presidents conduct. The future of the his presidency could hinge on where his party goes from here. If Republicans fail to find their inner Goldwater, any further Nixonian power grabs from Trump may well go unchecked.

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Yet the Watergate of popular memory, a plain morality tale in which the villain Nixon was stopped by a line of white-hatted heroes, ignores the more messy realities of political scandal. It took two years for the truth to come out in Watergate. Along the way, politicians in both parties behaved as politicians tend to act in times of scandal  keeping an eye on the national good, yes, but also tracking public opinion and guarding their own self-interest. The story of the Watergate-era GOP is the story of public figures agonizing over the conflicting loyalties to party and country. And it is the story of a few human beings, blindly fumbling their way through crowds of cowardice and calculation to find a true, historic, courage.

President Richard Nixon tells Republican campaign contributors in 1973 in Washington that he will get to the bottom of the Watergate scandal and not let it keep him from making the next four years better than the last four years. (Photo: John Duricka/AP)

Congressional Republicans began the Watergate saga by hoping it would simply go away. Official Washington greeted news of the botched burglary at the Democratic National headquarters at the Watergate on June 17, 1972, with a yawn. Few in the GOP saw the stuff of real scandal that summer, even after the Washington Post revealed that funds earmarked for Nixons Committee for the Re-Election of the President had made its way into the bank account of one of the Watergate burglars. A broad Watergate conspiracy was easy for Republicans to reason away. Nixon was cruising toward easy victory over Democrat George McGovern, one of the weakest general election candidates in modern history. Why would he bother with dirty tricks?

As the fall campaign heated up, the Nixon campaign looked to fellow Republicans to help dispense with the scandal once and for all. In September, the Republican leaders in the House and Senate, Congressman Gerald Ford of Michigan and Sen. Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania emerged from a meeting with Nixon and assured reporters that Watergate was a nothing issue. After a Democrat scorched the Nixon White House on the Senate floor a few days later, Scott rose to object. Although the Democrats, he said, might think they had piled up an impressive litany of charges against the White House, we know what theyve really piled up.

Clark MacGregor, left, chairman of the Committee to Re-Elect the President, and Sen. Robert Dole, chairman of the Republican National Committee, hold a news conference following a closed campaign strategy meeting of the GOP National Committee. (Photo: Bettmann/Getty Images)

Some in the GOP even saw the scandal as a chance to fire up the Republican base. Decades before fake news, Republicans proclaimed the real story in Watergate to be the sins of the liberal media. Among the most acid critics of the early scandal coverage was Robert Dole, a 49-year-old Kansas senator serving as chairman of the Republican National Committee. Dole took particular umbrage with the Washington Posts coverage, a reflection, he said of Post publisher Katharine Grahams peculiar hatred for Nixon. The greatest political scandal of this campaign, Dole said, is the brazen manner in which, without benefit of clergy, the Washington Post has set up housekeeping with the McGovern campaign. In October, Wright Patman, the Democratic chair of the House Banking and Currency Committee, failed in an attempt open an inquiry into the Watergate money trail when 14 of the committees 15 Republicans joined six Democrats to block him. The next month, Nixon won reelection with 49 out of 50 states. Congressional Republicans fell over each other in proclaiming their allegiance to the Commander-in-Chief.

In private, their enthusiasm quickly cooled. In the early spring of 1973, evidence emerged linking White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman and White House counsel John W. Dean to the planning of the burglary. Soon, Haldeman and Ehrlichman were out, along with Attorney General Richard Kleindienst, and Dean was cooperating with the Senates Watergate committee. Most Republican senators were appalled by the arrogance and deception of the Nixon team. Some let their frustration show. Oregons Republican Sen. Robert Packwood called the scandal the most odious issue since the Teapot Dome and Charles Percy, a moderate Republican senator from Illinois, demanded the appointment of a special prosecutor. Even Scott, the Republicans floor leader, urged the White House to get the facts out so the country could move on.

But most in the party were unsure how to proceed, aware that something was rotten in the Nixon White House but not yet convinced that the rot extended all the way to the top. After the election, Nixon replaced Dole at the RNC with an attractive Texan by the name of George H.W. Bush. The future president was startled when he learned of Nixons White House taping system in the summer of 1973. He thought about leaving the RNC job where he would have to be a Nixon defender but concluded, his biographer Jon Meacham writes, that duty required him to stay put. Its not a time to jump sideways, he wrote a friend in the fall of 1973, its not a time for me to wring my hands on the sidelines.

Republican Party chairman George Bush calls a meeting of the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., in 1973. (Photo: Bob Daugherty/AP)

As the scandal raged, Nixon and his circle were cheered that Howard Baker, a courtly Republican senator from Tennessee, would be the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Campaign Activities  the Watergate committee. Baker, they assumed, would look out for their interests. In January 1973, Baker met with Nixon and said he would do what he could to keep the committees witnesses from producing an embarrassing spectacle. Even the lines that would define Baker for history were initially intended to help not hurt Nixon. What did the president know and when did he know it? Baker asked in the televised hearing, intending to cast a cloud over Deans testimony of a presidential plot. Dean, however, proved a devastatingly effective witness. As the summer wore on, the hearings became a national soap opera and Baker, an honest broker who was committed to following the truth wherever it led, quickly became a phenomenon. His honesty and quick wit, wrote one columnist, not to mention his obvious sex appeal, are capturing the attention of many a housewife programmed to daytime television. He appeared in the pages of W with the caption Senator Howard Baker Watergate Super Star.

A breaking point for the party came with the Saturday Night Massacre of Oct. 20, 1973, when Nixons attorney general Elliot Richardson and his deputy, William Ruckelshaus, resigned rather than follow Nixons order to fire Cox (eventually, the No. 3 man at the Justice Department, Solicitor General Robert Bork, carried out the order). Beyond the constitutional crisis, the massacre was a visible rupture within the GOP. Though history remembers his public service, Richardson proudly thought of himself as a politician and one with a bright future in the national GOP. In defying Nixon, the man who had elevated his national profile by granting him three cabinet appointments, Richardson had far more to lose than Rod Rosenstein, the government-lawyer-turned-deputy Attorney General who aided the presidents plot to oust Comey. Still, Richardson concluded that he had no choice but to defy Nixons will.

Former White House aide John Dean III is sworn in by Senate Watergate Committee Chairman Sam Ervin, D-N.C., in 1973. (Photo: AP)

The massacre shocked the nation and an array of congressmen  including several Republicans  suggested Nixon could be impeached for his acts. On Meet the Press, Percy flatly declared that Nixon could restore confidence only with total and complete disclosure of everything relating to the possibility of criminal activity. Yet even as Nixons popularity plunged, most Republicans resisted a complete break. I dont know what other choice the president had, Dole said the day after the massacre. Its a question of whos the president, Nixon or Cox. By then, a pattern for Watergate crises had emerged. Nixon would abuse his power. His fellow Republicans would express grave concern in public and request that the administration take fast steps to remedy the situation. Nixons White House staff, more inclined than Trumps to appear sensitive to critics concerns, would pledge greater transparency and cooperation going forward. Then they would continue to stonewall and all sides would settle for the stalemate until the next crisis arose.

An unspoken reason for many Republicans intransigence: fear of the GOP base. By then, Watergate had bled into the raging current of cultural resentment that was reshaping the party. Since Goldwaters 1964 presidential campaign, the GOP had spoken to the alienation white voters in the South felt over racial integration and the illicit agendas of the Eastern media and the radical Left. For many Republican voters, the furor over Watergate was another symptom of the problem. In early 1974, the New York Times reported on calls to an Alabama congressmans office: A local leader of the anti-black Citizens Council [a white supremacist organization] called to complain that Watergate had been invented by the media. A woman called to say that the news media is just looking for bad things to say about our President. There was no Fox News then to validate these voters, no Breitbart to counter any juicy new Watergate reporting with a set of alternative facts. But Nixons true believers could connect their own dots. The liberal media was telling them they had to be outraged by Nixons behavior, just like it told them they had to accept forced integration, the sexual revolution and unrest in the streets. It felt like an incursion on their freedom and it made them as mad as hell.

Ambitious politicians could see that this resentment had a future in the Republican Party and they shaped their behavior accordingly. In 1972, the year of Nixons landslide, two young Mississippians, Trent Lott and Thad Cochran were elected to the House, the second and third Republican congressmen elected in the state since Reconstruction. (Nixon won an astonishing 78 percent of the states vote.) Shortly after the Saturday Night Massacre, Lott defended Nixon: Cox is a known liberal, pro-Kennedy Democrat, he said. I do not have high regard for Richardson or Ruckelshaus. Visiting Mississippi a few weeks later, California Gov. Ronald Reagan, who was scoping out a run for the presidency in 1976, railed against a concerted effort in Washington to undermine [Nixon] and make it appear he is not fit to govern. Decent Americans, he said, could not stand silently by while the mob tries to reverse the mandate the country gave in 1972.

Rep. Trent Lott, R-Miss., offers his views on the impeachment question before the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., in 1974. (Photo: AP)

Even in more moderate locales, the politics of the scandal were muddled and hard to parse. Members of Congress were struck by the chasm separating Washington from the outside world. Inside the Beltway, people lay awake in the early morning, listening for the thud of that days Post on the doorstep, bringing a fresh batch of revelations. Back home, meanwhile, legislators found the scandal rarely came up on lists of voters top concerns. As late as June 1974, the Gallup poll showed a slim majority of Americans who believed the scandal had gotten too much attention. Lawrence Hogan, a Republican member of the Judiciary Committee, went incognito as a taxi driver in his district, hoping to get a more accurate sense of a typical voters mindset. Watergate rarely came up in the cab. When he raised the topic, his fares usually responded with Im sick of hearing about it.

In this uncertain moment, the smart politics was to say as little as possible, to keep calm and see where the facts would lead. But a few public figures were driven by conscience to make another choice. In March, James L. Buckley, the conservative senator from New York and brother of William F. Buckley, the flamboyant editor of the National Review, announced that he had come to the conclusion that Nixon owed it to the country to voluntarily resign. His speech shocked the capital and prompted negative reactions  telegraphs to his office, Buckley reported, were negative by a factor of 3 to 1. One Republican New York county chairman was succinct in his response: Dumb, dumb, dumb.

By then, though, there was a ticking time bomb on the Nixon presidency in the form of the secret White House tapes. It went off in late July after the Supreme Court ordered the release of the full recordings. Shortly thereafter, the House Judiciary voted to send three articles of impeachment to the Senate. Seven of the committees 17 Republicans voted for at least one of the charges, but only one, Hogan, voted for all three. M. Caldwell Butler, a freshman Republican congressman from Virginia, wept after announced his vote for impeachment. For years, we Republicans have campaigned against corruption and misconduct, he said. But Watergate is our shame. As a Southerner, Butler had a lot to lose. Butlers own mother warned him that breaking with his partys president would threaten his career. You are probably right, he told her in a letter. However I feel that my loyalty to the Republican Party does not relieve me of the obligation which I have.

President Richard M. Nixon points to the transcripts of the White House tapes in Washington, D.C., in 1974, after he announced on television that he would turn over the transcripts to House impeachment investigators. (Photo: AP)

On August 7, Goldwater, Scott and Rhodes made their fateful visit to Nixon at the White House. In The Final Days, their second book about Watergate, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein described the president quizzing his fellow Republicans about his chances in the Senate:

How many would you say would be with me  a half dozen?

More than that, Goldwater said, maybe 16 to 18.

Hugh, the President said, turning to his right, do you agree with that?

Id say maybe 15, Scott said. But its grim, he added, and theyre not very firm.

Damn grim, the President shot back.

Nixon, himself a veteran of the Hill, knew that he could not go on.

That fall, with the president gone, his old defenders in the party looked for cover anywhere they could find it. Even in Kansas, an ancient GOP stronghold, Dole faced an alarmingly close fight for reelection in November. He had long since grown disillusioned with the Nixon White House but struggled to explain his reversal on the stump. Its an impossible dilemma, he told the Times. One guy gives me hell for betraying Nixon, the next comes up to me and says, Im for you Bob, but youve got to get Nixon off your back. Dole survived in Kansas but elsewhere in 1974, voters doled out harsh punishment to the party that given Nixon safe harbor. Republicans lost 49 seats in the House that year, and four in the Senate, giving the Democrats a majority of 60 votes.

Viewed from a certain angle, the tortured path of the Watergate-era GOP can offer hope for those despairing over the conduct of the Trump-era GOP. By the timetable of Watergate, after all, the Trump-Russia investigations are still in their early days. If there is really more to learn about Trump and Russia, there will be plenty of chances for a courageous Republican crusader to emerge.

But the fact remains that the truth came out in Watergate, in part, because the Congress, under Democratic control, wanted to see it pursued. And sadly, todays Republicans have even less political incentive than their Watergate predecessors had to do the right thing. In the Nixon years, the party was still learning how to stoke white resentment and paranoia for maximum political gain. Today, those forces are the partys governing id  just look at the commander-in-chief. A handful of Republicans in Washington were able to follow their consciences in 1973 and 1974, despite opposition from their partys base. But today, the base has means for displaying its ire in more immediate and intimidating ways than it had in Watergate. A contemporary M. Caldwell Butler would see his tears mocked in endless loop on Fox News. Today, as a prize for hearings conducted with judicious balance, a modern Howard Baker would be greeted with an army of Internet racists, calling him cuck.

But shouldnt Trumps defenders also worry about their political future? Maybe not. There is little in post-Watergate history to suggest that ambitious young Republicans in todays Washington  like House Speaker Paul Ryan or Senate Intelligence Committee members Marco Rubio and Tom Cotton  will be hurt for their early-stage indifference to Trumps conduct. Lott, the young congressman from Mississippi, served on the Judiciary Committee during the impeachment hearings. There, in a move familiar to Devin Nunes and Trey Gowdy, he complained about anti-Nixon leaks. He voted against all three articles of impeachment. He went on to rise through the partys ranks, eventually replacing Dole as the partys Republican leader in the Senate. After Nixons resignation, the partys next four nominees for the presidency were all men who had prominently defended Nixon  Ford, Reagan, Bush and Dole.

Meanwhile, Buckley lost his bid for reelection in 1976. Richardson, who in the immediate aftermath of Watergate was one of the most popular public figures in the country, never won elected office again. Among the courageous Republicans, only Baker had a happy future in the party, rising to be Senate leader in the 1980s. When Reagans White House was roiled the Iran-Contra scandal, he turned to Baker, with his Watergate-earned reputation for honesty and integrity, to right the ship as his chief of staff.

For those concerned about the fragility of our constitutional order in the Trump era, Watergate offers both consolation and chilling caution. It is historys best evidence that the system designed by the founders works. When presented with an overreaching executive, the press, the courts and the Congress all did their jobs and the rule of law was preserved. But if it is to work in our present crisis, all of those parties must again rise to the call. That means the Republicans who control Congress will have to step up. Neither political necessity nor short-term pragmatism will be enough to move them. Rather, a few noble Republicans will have to simply listen to their consciences. They will have to come to Goldwaters conclusion, that there comes a time when you choose patriotism over party. And that there are only so many lies you can take.

_____

Jonathan Darman is the author of Landslide: LBJ and Ronald Reagan at the Dawn of a New America. (Random House, 2014)
Elizabeth Goldenberg had just graduated with honors from the University of Miami, and was planning on moving to New York to pursue an acting career.

But the very next day, she was killed in a boat crash in the Everglades, where she was celebrating her musical theater degree with her family.

Read: Father and Daughter Drown as Strangers Try to Save Them After Van Plunges Into Canal

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Its a terrible tragedy, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Robert Klepper told InsideEdition.com on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old woman, who family and friends called Ellie, was ejected from an airboat Saturday in the Everglades Wildlife Management Area.

She was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Three family members were also thrown from the flat-bottomed vessel with a rear-mounted engine  a popular means of traveling Floridas expanses of marshy wilderness.

Read: Marlins Star Jose Fernandez Killed in Boat Crash Days After Announcing Girlfriend's Pregnancy

Goldenbergs younger sister, Dana, 20, sustained minor injuries in the crash. Parents Renee Flaxx-Goldenberg and David Goldenberg, both 54, were not hurt.

The Pennsylvania family had flown in to attend Elizabeths commencement services Friday. The theater arts major graduated magna cum laude.

She also received one of the universitys top acting awards for her talent and unlimited potential onstage, according to the schools theater department.

Born in Israel, Goldenberg spent a year studying there after high school.

I will always remember her big hair, her big voice, and most of all her big heart," her classmate and co-star Branden Holzer, told campus newspaper The Miami Hurricane. "She was not only my mentor; she was my best friend,

Watch: 3 Teenage Boys Rescued From Capsized Boat in Florida Keys

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Adylkuzz is believed to have infected more computers than WannaCry, using the same vulnerabilities (AFP Photo/Damien MEYER) (AFP/File)

Paris (AFP) - Another large-scale, stealthy cyberattack is underway on a scale that could dwarf last week's assault on computers worldwide, a global cybersecurity firm told AFP on Wednesday.

The new attack targets the same vulnerabilities the WannaCry ransomware worm exploited but, rather than freeze files, uses the hundreds of thousands of computers believed to have been infected to mine virtual currency.

Following the detection of the WannaCry attack on Friday, researchers at Proofpoint discovered a new attack linked to WannaCry called Adylkuzz, said Nicolas Godier, a researcher at the computer security firm.

"It uses the hacking tools recently disclosed by the NSA and which have since been fixed by Microsoft in a more stealthy manner and for a different purpose," he said.

Instead of completely disabling an infected computer by encrypting data and seeking a ransom payment, Adylkuzz uses the machines it infects to "mine" in a background task a virtual currency, Monero, and transfer the money created to the authors of the virus.

Virtual currencies such as Monero and Bitcoin use the computers of volunteers to record transactions. They are said to "mine" for the currency and are occasionally rewarded with a piece of it.

Proofpoint said in a blog that symptoms of the attack include loss of access to shared Windows resources and degradation of PC and server performance, effects which some users may not notice immediately.

"As it is silent and doesn't trouble the user, the Adylkuzz attack is much more profitable for the cyber criminals. It transforms the infected users into unwitting financial supporters of their attackers," said Godier.

Proofpoint said it has detected infected machines that have transferred several thousand dollars worth of Monero to the creators of the virus.

The firm believes Adylkuzz has been on the loose since at least May 2, and perhaps even since April 24, but due to its stealthy nature was not immediately detected.

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"We don't know how big it is" but "it's much bigger than WannaCry", Proofpoint's vice president for email products, Robert Holmes, told AFP.

A US official on Tuesday put the number of computers infected by WannaCry at over 300,000.

"We have seen that before -- malwares mining cryptocurrency -- but not this scale," said Holmes.

The WannaCry attack has sparked havoc in computer systems worldwide.

Britain's National Health Service, US package delivery giant FedEx, Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica and Germany's Deutsche Bahn rail network were among those hit.

While the rate of new infections has slowed, researchers at cybersecurity firm Check Point said the malware continues to spread rapidly.

And another expert added that despite a quick breakthrough that WannaCry to be slowed down, researchers don't fully understand it.

"The problem is that we're still not certain about the origin of the infections" as contrary to many previous attacks it wasn't via emails which deceive users into installing the virus, said the expert on condition of anonymity.

More attacks could be soon be underway as the hacker group TheShadowBrokers that leaked the vulnerabilities used by WannaCry and Adylkuzz has threatened to publish more.

It said in a post it would begin providing information monthly by subscription in June, saying that in addition to Windows 10 vulnerabilities it would include "compromised network data from Russian, Chinese, Iranian, or North Korean nukes and missile programs".
This newly released book celebrates the worlds very best drone photography.

Dronescapes, released May 9, features stunning imagery of famous landmarks, breathtaking landscapes and out-of-the-ordinary scenes. That means a collection of 250 images that range from the Golden Gate Bridge and the Statue of Liberty to flying eagles and free divers.

The book, published by Thames & Hudson, is made up of photographs that were sourced from Dronestagram, a popular drone photography site, which has seen more than 60,000 images posted since 2014.

These photographs were selected by Ayperi Karabuda Ecer  previously the vice president of pictures at Reuters  who believes that a good drone photograph is one shot at a distance that only aerial vehicles can manage. Ayperi said: I was looking at finding imagery which would not point to seen from the sky, but more at drones as companions in our daily life, through innovative angles.

Eagles chasing drones, nude photography shot by a drone, never-seen shadows and patterns, breathtaking closeness to monuments, reporting on climate, and also a selection of dronies, the drone version of a selfie.

As drone availability and popularity have increased in recent years, so, too, has the number of images being posted online  the hashtag Dronestagram, for example, has more than 900,000 postings on Instagram alone. Guillaume Jarret, Dronestagrams managing director, believes that such interest in drone photography comes from the ever-present human fascination with flying.

A good drone photo, he said, is one that is immediately identifiable as having been taken by that medium, such as low altitude, near the target of the picture, and impossible to take had it not been for the drone.

Guillaume said: Just look at people in an airplane, stuck on the window seat looking down.

With satellite images, and apps like Google Earth, we are now used to seeing Earth from above.

But drone photos bring a new way of seeing the world, at low altitude, near landscapes and buildings, like a bird would do.

See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr.
Humans are just the worst, at least as far as the wellbeing of the Earth is concerned. Weve done plenty of horrible things to this planet, but perhaps our worst misstep was inventing plastic. That water bottle you drank from this morning will outlive you, along with all the other plastic crap youve ever thrown away, and if its not properly recycled it just kind of lingers on in dumps, landfills, or, if its lucky (I guess?) this once pristine tropical island in the South Pacific.

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Henderson Island, a small dot of dry land surrounded by long stretches of water in ever direction, is covered in plastic garbage. At just over three miles wide, its so small that its uninhabited, but it still bares the signs of humanitys remarkable trash-making prowess. A recent visit by University of Tasmania research scientist Dr. Jennifer Lavers revealed just how much junk has piled up there, and its absolutely astounding.

During the expedition, Dr. Lavers and her team tallied a truly insane 38 million individual pieces of trash spread across the entirety of the islands beaches. They found everything from cigarette lighters and toothbrushes to plastic forks, bottles, and bags. Dr. Lavers reported her teams findings in a new paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Its estimated that 17 tons of plastic waste currently covers the islands beaches, with over 3,500 new pieces of garbage finding their way to its shores every single day. Please recycle your crap. Seriously.

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See the original version of this article on BGR.com
The Google Home's design.

Google (GOOG, GOOGL) upped the ante in its battle with Amazon (AMZN) for AI assistant supremacy at its I/O conference in Mountain View, California on Wednesday with a slew of announcements that push its Assistant past Amazons Alexa in some meaningful ways.

During the show, Googles VP of engineering for Assistant, Scott Huffman, showed how the voice assistant can understand context better than its previous iteration. You can, for example, translate text using Googles new Lens app, which has Assistant built in, and then ask a question about the text without specifically mentioning it.

Okay, Google. Get me food

In a stage demonstration, Huffmans stage assistant showed how you could use Lens to translate Japanese on a board outside of a restaurant. Lens translated the characters on the board to show they listed octopus dumplings. Huffman then asked Assistant what they look like, and without him having to mentioning octopus dumplings specifically, Assistant pulled up photos of the dumplings.

Googles product manager for Assistant, Valerie Nygaard, then took the stage to show off how the app can now perform transactions from start to finish. Nygaard asked Assistant to get her an order from Panera. After she told the app what she wanted, it placed an order by scanning her fingerprint.

Nygaards address and payment information came from her existing Google account, which Assistant then used to place her order.

Getting proactive

Assistant will also soon get proactive reminders for things like upcoming meetings, traffic problems on your way to work or changes to an upcoming flight. If youve got to get somewhere and traffic is backed up on the way, Google Home will light up. When you activate the device it will read off your notifications.

Google has also added hands-free calling to the Home, but curiously only mentioned that it will place free calls to landlines. That sounds like an odd choice considering tech savvy people with a Google Home probably dont have landlines.

Story continues

Hi, Mom!

And because Assistant can recognize your voice, if you tell it to call Mom it will call your mother. If someone else in your home asks Assistant to call mom, the app will call their mother, not yours.

Googles timing comes a few days after Amazon announced that its Alexa voice assistant and Echo speaker will be able to make hands-free calls to other Echoe devices.

Google Home and Assistant will also soon work with your Chromecast, so youll be able to tell it to play a music video on your TV or live shows through YouTube TV.

Amazons got skills

Amazons Alexa still has its more than 10,000 skills that make it incredibly useful, and the company recently announced two additional versions of its Echo with the camera-equipped Echo look and Echo Show with a built-in display for video chat capabilities.

Googles new Assistant and Home offerings are certainly interesting, but well have to try them ourselves before we can say whether they are as useful as Alexas features. Stay tuned.

More from Dan:

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Barry launches a Tomahawk cruise missile on March 29, 2011. (image: U.S. Navy)

Last week a malicious computer worm dubbed WannaCry 2.0 began attacking older, unpatched versions of Microsoft operating systems, infecting hundreds of thousands of systems with ransomware that held user data hostage in exchange for Bitcoin payments.

The cyberattack used code from a powerful National Security Agency tool called EternalBlue, which a mysterious group of hackers known as The Shadow Brokers leaked earlier this year. Tech companies have been quick to blame the NSA for finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in commercial products like Windows, to say nothing of losing them.

On Sunday, Brad Smith, Microsofts (MSFT) president and chief legal officer, argued that an equivalent scenario with conventional weapons would be the U.S. military having some of its Tomahawk missiles stolen.

The next day, Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, speaking via video chat to the K(NO)W Identity Conference in Washington D.C. from an undisclosed location in Russia, repeated Smiths argument.

An equivalent scenario to what were seeing happening today would be conventional weapons, produced and held by the U.S. military, being stolen, such as Tomahawk missiles, Snowden said while describing Smiths letter to a crowd less than a mile from the White House.

Edward Snowden speaking via video chat from Russia at the K(NO)W Identity Conference in Washington, D.C. on May 15. (image: One World Identity)

U.S. officials acknowledge that the NSA deserves scrutiny about protecting tools it develops to collect foreign intelligence. Theyve absolutely got to do a better job protecting [the hacking tools], General Keith Alexander, head of the NSA from 2005 to 2014, told The Washington Post. You cant argue against that.

However, the Tomahawk analogy may be a stretch. Dave Aitel, a former NSA research scientist and CEO of the cybersecurity company Immunity, explained why hacking tools are not like bombs.

The very first thing is you can steal a Tomahawk missile from me, but you cannot steal it from me without me knowing youve stolen it, Aitel said. And of course, you can steal an exploit or other intellectual property from me and I may never find out. Another is that two people can have [the same exploit] at the same time.

Story continues

Aitel, who specializes in the offensive side of cybersecurity, added that deep down, the biggest difference is that you have to learn a lot about exploits to protect yourself, and I dont really have to learn a lot about Tomahawk missiles to protect myself from Tomahawk missiles.

This is the screen youll see if your computer is infected with the WannaCry 2.0 ransomware.

Nevertheless, the analogy has been relatively well received. Travis Jarae, CEO and Founder of One World Identity, which hosted the conference in Washington, and paid a speakers bureau to digitally host Snowden, said that the Tomahawk analogy is not wrong given the contemporary threat environment.

Warfare is digital, explained Jarae, who was previously Global Head of Identity Verification at Google. We spy on people digitally  I thought it was a little aggressive to compare it to a missile, but [government hacking] is very damaging.

Aitel noted that it makes sense why Smith and others in the tech business would make that argument.

[Brad Smiths] job is to create favorable economic conditions for Microsoft at a strategic level, and if he pressure governments to stop using exploits, then that helps him from a PR perspective, Aitel said. It doesnt help the users because people are still going to have exploits. Thats always going to be true.

Microsoft president and chief legal officer Brad Smith speaks at a Microsoft tech gathering in Dublin, Ireland October 3, 2016. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Snowden also echoed Smiths criticisms of the U.S. governments decision to develop secret software exploits, telling the audience at the K(NO)W Identity Conference that secret government exploits are a problem, and the NSA should have voluntarily revealed the EternalBlue exploit long ago.

But other former NSA officials have pushed back against that idea, telling the Washington Post that EternalBlue netted an unreal foreign intelligence haul that was like fishing with dynamite.

Edward Snowden knows full well the value of the signals intelligence program  and that includes the NSAs hacking  to our national security, Aitel said. This is not for play. Theyre not building exploits for fun. Its not a hobby. Its for distinct and important national security needs.

So when he says Give up your exploits, he essentially is saying, We dont need signals intelligence, which we do.

Ultimately, according to Aitel, companies like Microsoft placing the blame on the NSA with crude analogies equating NSA hacking tools to U.S. cruise missiles only serves to muddy the larger debate.

The bigger issue is Brad Smith and Microsoft, who continue to insist that everything fall their way in terms of how vulnerabilities are handled, which I dont think helps the conversation around cybersecurity, Aitel said. There are a lot of very interesting things in cybersecurity that dont involve Microsofts bottom line, and those are worth talking about.

READ MORE:

The simple reason so many companies were hit by the WannaCry 2.0 ransomware

As tensions rise with Russia, U.S. colleges still pay for Snowden speeches

No, your Apple computer isnt immune from ransomware

Risk director discusses the tragedy of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks
After a tense few weeks of North Korea shouting at the world, launching things into the air, and many other countries subsequently shouting back, it doesnt seem like things are going to be quieting down any time soon. The reclusive nation spent the weekend showing the entire world just how close it is to becoming a real problem by sending its new ballistic missile skyward. Reports of the launch flooded the internet shortly after it took place, but now the country itself has released a short video of the test so you can see it for yourself.

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The missile, which was identified as the countrys new Hwasong-12, performed better than any of its predecessors. It reached an altitude of nearly 1,250 miles, which is a showcase of how North Koreas missile program is maturing, but it was also quite well-behaved, splashing down less than 500 miles away from the launch site.

It didnt pose a threat to neighboring countries thanks to its trajectory, but many military analysts are calling it a sizable leap in terms of North Koreas weapons technology. The country has since said that the missile is capable of toting a nuclear warhead.

The successful launch comes after a significant embarrassment for North Koreas military in April, when a missile test ended in the destruction of the entire weapon shortly after takeoff. The Hwasong-12s launch has drawn the usual criticism from all the major global players, including Russia, whose coastal waters were nearest to the missiles eventually splashdown.

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See the original version of this article on BGR.com
- A witness has stated that Alhaji Imoro stole money from the NSS for the NDC party

- The former NSS boss is standing trial over allegations that he stole over GH80 million through ghost names

- Get more news on trending and current issues in Ghana here on YEN.com.gh

New information available to YEN from the ongoing trial of previous officials of the National Service Secretariat (NSS) shows that GH280,000 was paid to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) illegally.

READ ALSO: There is no money to meet your demands - Nana Addo tells striking workers

This was revealed by a witness of the prosecution, named Silas Ewontuma.

Former NSS boss, Alhaji Alhassan Imoro

According to his accounts, the former NSS boss Alhaji Alhassan Mohammad Imoro, had confided in him that the GH280,000 was paid to the NDC.

The witness, the third to have been called by the prosecution, also revealed that the NSS paid a monthly amount of GH280,000 to the private accounts of Alhaji lmoro.

These monies, paid out illegally, were supposedly taken from the the ghost names on the National Voluntary Programme.

In cross examination, the counsel for Alhaji Imoro asked the witness to provide documentary proof to buttress his reports, however Ewontuma maintained his account.

According to a report by MyJoyOnline.com, the witness retorted, if it were an authorised transaction and legal transaction between me and Alhaji Imoro, I would have demanded a receipt".

His response caused a ripple of laughter to erupt across the courtroom

The defense for Alhaji Imoro quizzed Ewontuma on how much, he had stolen from the scheme for himself.

The witness stated that he stole a total of GH266,000 within the period under investigations 2013/ 14 service year, but was quick to add that he had struck a deal with the state to refund the money.

The defence lawyers were seeking to prove that the witness was compromised and could not give credible accounts in court.

In 2015, Alhaji Alhassan Mohammed Imoro was charged with stealing by an Accra Fast Track High Court.

The former NSS boss is standing trial over allegations that he had, from the month of September 2013 to July 2014, at the NSS headquarters in Accra, stolen GH86.9 million belonging to the Government of Ghana through the payment of ghost or non-existent service personnel.

READ ALSO: Anas-like undercover agent helped exposed fraud at National Service Scheme

Do you have a similar experience, or a completely different one? Reach out via YENs Facebook or contact us via info@yen.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh
By Ruth Anderah

Buganda Road Court has charged and remanded to Luzira prison a Chinese national for allegedly selling sub-standard second hand under wear.

35 year old Zhang Keliang was arrested on 27th/April 2017 from his shop at Kafumbe Mukasa road with 17 bales of clothes containing sub-standard bras and other under garments.

Zhang was arrested after inspection of Chinese shops carried out by Uganda National Bureau of Standard officials.

He has appeared before grade one magistrate Marion Mangeni and pleaded not guilty to 2 counts of selling and being in possession of second hand clothes which are not in conformity with the code of practice for inspection and acceptance criteria for used textile products.

He returns to court in Monday next week for bail application hearing.
ALBION  A bench trial that was scheduled for today for a man arrested following Noble Countys largest-ever methamphetamine bust has been delayed until August.

Mark C. Morr, 48, had his trial before Noble Superior Court 1 Judge Robert Kirsch rescheduled for Aug. 29.

Morr faces four felony charges, including a Level 2 felony count for dealing methamphetamine, after the Dec. 29 bust at his home in the 11400 block of North S.R. 5, Ligonier.

Police reportedly recovered 18 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 100 pounds of marijuana, more than 60 firearms and large amounts of cash from the home in the early-morning raid.

Earlier this year, the judge denied Morrs motion to suppress evidence collected during the raid. His attorney argued that police had rushed efforts to get a search warrant without corroborating information gathered from an informant and failed to list pertinent details in their warrant request.

Kirsch  the judge who originally granted the search warrant  said in his decision on the suppression motion that police had presented probable cause for wanting the search and acted in good faith.

Morr requested a bench trial. Hes expected to go forward with it in order to maintain his ability to appeal later if he is convicted.

In Indiana, defendants must waive their right to appeal in order to plead guilty to charges.

Three other defendants also are facing felony charges stemming from the Ligonier bust, although Morrs charges are the most serious of the group.

Sherry Morr is scheduled for a change of plea hearing May 25. Justin Morr has a pretrial hearing set for May 25, and Vanessa Salas has a hearing set for June 1.
INDIANAPOLIS  The 62nd State Convention of Tri Kappa was recently held at Indianapolis Marriott East. Council President, Diane Trout-Cummins of Franklin, presided. Members of Franklin Zeta Chapter were hostesses.

Representing Albion Eta Theta Chapter were Vicki Jellison, delegate, and Jalyssa Jellison, alternate.

Several business sessions and educational workshops were held during the three day meeting. There were informative and historical exhibits demonstrating Tri Kappas work throughout the state. The Fine Arts winners from Province Conventions were on display.

Tri Kappas Philanthropy Committee began a new journey with Riley Hospital, a journey that supported the Riley Childrens Foundation, Riley Cheer Guild and the HANDS in Autism program. Representatives from each of these organizations gave a brief overview of their services. More than $45,000 was given to Riley Hospital.

The Scholarship Committee reported that local, province, and state scholarships total nearly $500,000 annually for Indiana Students.

The Mental Health Committee has donated $10,250 to organizations to promote mental health needs of children and adults. Donations were made to the following organizations: Alzheimers Association, Best Buddies, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Junior Mental Health Association, Mental Health America Indiana, Prevent Child Abuse, National Alliance on Mental Health and Special Olympics.

The Fine Arts Committee has been actively involved in the Hoosier Salon since it was organized in 1926. The Tri Kappa Art collection is on display at the Logan Library at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute. The committee also presents art and music scholarships every spring.

The Gifted and Talented Committee has donated $7,000 to Purdue University, Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Indiana Academy at Ball State University for their gifted and talented programs. We The People enrichment program also receives funding. This program is designed to engage high school students in a rigorous six-week study of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The Friday night dinner guests were entertained with a humorous skit by the Province Officers as well as chapters were recognized with membership awards. On Saturday evening, all enjoyed the musical sounds provided by Hit Locker from Indianapolis.

Tri Kappa is a statewide philanthropic organization known for its work in charity, culture, and education. It has nearly 8,500 members in 145 Active and 110 Associate Chapters throughout the state of Indiana. The Albion Chapter was established in 1983.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
(Editors Note: La Crescent Police Department Chief Doug Stavenau has recently began to include traffic stops and verbal warnings issued by La Crescent officers in his weekly report. See the editorial section for his reasons why.)

Friday, May 5

7:28 a.m. Shore Acres Bypass opened for oversize residential contractor vehicle. Shore Acres Road.

8:18 a.m. Fast traffic complaint on Spruce Drive. Believed to be students on the way to school, extra attention given. Spruce Drive.

9:17 a.m. Damage to property complaint. Subject identified and is paying for replacement costs. Lancer Boulevard.

11:15 a.m. Minor property damage motor vehicle crash reported. Hwy. 16.

11:59 a.m. Assisted Houston County Sheriffs Office with a trouble with party complaint. Townhall Road.

2:37 p.m. Threatening message received. After investigation it was determined there was no viable public threat. Lancer Boulevard.

3:25 p.m. Train blocking public crossing in excess of Minnesota statute. Officer contacted CP Rail and made contact with engineer. Main Street.

3:51 p.m. Mailboxes damagedDamage was minor and believed to have been from a vehicle that left the area. 4th Street.

4:59 p.m. La Crescent resident requested a live trap. Main Street.

8:14 p.m. Abandoned bicyclepicked up for safe keeping. Third Street.

Saturday, May 6

9:44 a.m. Assisted Houston County Sheriffs Office with traffic stop. Driver and passenger arrested for various violations. Hwy. 16.

2 p.m. Lost dog reported. Later found and returned to owner. Spruce Drive.

2:28 p.m. Trouble between two juvenile boys and officer intervened. 14th Street.

5:33 p.m. A 32-year-old La Crescent woman cited for assault and disorderly conduct. Sycamore Street.

7:04 p.m. Assisted Winona County Sheriffs Office and the Minnesota DNR with boaters having engine trouble at Lock and Dam 7Subjects in boat were rescued before boat passed through dam. Hwy. 61.

8:03 p.m. Trouble with party related to arrest of 45-year-old La Crescent man for disorderly conduct. Crescent Avenue.

8:37 p.m. A 45-year-old La Crescent man arrested for disorderly conduct. Janell Avenue.

9:57 p.m. Fireworks complaint. Fourth Street.

10:19 p.m. Concern for welfare of subject walking along highwaySubject was given a ride to La Crosse without incident. Industrial Drive.

10:28 p.m. Dispatch Error. State Road 16.

10:34 p.m. Traffic stop. Verbal warning given for expired registration. Fourth Street.

10:41 p.m. Traffic stopWarning given for equipment violation. Lancer Boulevard.

Sunday, May 7

12:03 a.m. Traffic stop. Verbal warning given for speed.

1:07 a.m. Report of a verbal domestic incident. Hill Street.

8:29 a.m. Records request by the FBI. Clarksburg, W.V.

11:46 a.m. Trespassing complaint. Oak Street.

7:48 p.m. Traffic stop. Verbal warning given for speed. Kistler Drive.

9:25 p.m. A 35-year-old La Crescent man cited for allowing dog to bark excessively. Jonathan Lane.

9:55 p.m. Emergency medical. Second Street.

10:50 p.m. A 33-year-old Spring Valley man cited for driving after revocation and no proof of insurance. Hwy. 14/61.

Monday, May 8

8:19 a.m. Shore Acres Bypass opened for oversize residential contractor vehicle. Shore Acres Road.

9:53 a.m. Motorist assist with a stalled vehicle. Hwy. 16.

10:33 a.m. Written correspondence received. Main Street.

11:15 a.m. Shore Acres Bypass opened for oversize residential service vehicle. Shore Acres Road.

12:29 p.m. Driving complaint. County Road 6.

12:35 p.m. 911 hang up determined to be a pocket dial. Redwood Street.

1:56 p.m. Assisted the Houston County Sheriffs Office and medical personnel with an accidental firearm discharge with injury call for service. Pfeffer Valley Road.

1:58 p.m. Concern for welfare related to the dissolution of a relationship. 12th Street.

2:31 p.m. Emergency medical. Poplar Street.

2:36 p.m. La Crescent resident requested a live trap. County Road 21.

4:25 p.m. Assisted Winona County Sheriffs Officer serving a papersubject of service is known to be hostile to law enforcement. Riverview Drive.

8:08 p.m. Traffic stopverbal warning given for speed. Twilite Street.

8:11 p.m. A 50-year-old Winneconne, Wis., man arrested for Assault and Disorderly Conduct regarding a fight at a local business. 3rd Street.

Tuesday, May 9

3:38 a.m. Assisted Houston County Sheriffs Office with active burglary. Subject was inside a residence and seen by homeowner. Subject fled before being tracked and arrested. Crescent Hills Drive.

7:58 a.m. Dog running at large and taken to La Crescent Animal Rescue. Owner identified and returned. Walnut Street.

8:23 a.m. Opened Shore Acres Bypass for tree trimming business. Shore Acres Road.

9:04 a.m. Trouble with party. Jonathan Lane.

10:08 a.m. La Crosse resident reported a person wanted in Minnesota. Main Street.

10:50 a.m. La Crescent resident applied for a permit to purchase a firearm. Jonathan Lane.

Noon Opened Shore Acres Bypass for oversize construction vehicle. Shore Acres Road.

12:23 p.m. Assisted Shelby Police Department with a juvenile matter. Main Street.

12:52 p.m. La Crescent resident reported being called by a person identifying themselves as a Texas attorney and a relative was in legal trouble. Call determined to be a scam. Birch Street.

3:59 p.m. Welfare concern. Chestnut Street.

4:33 p.m. Driving record request. Main Street.

5:23 p.m. A 53-year-old La Crescent man cited for theftsuspect was observed using the electrical service from a business after hours and without permission. Chestnut Street.

5:30 p.m. Emergency medical. 14th Street.

9:59 p.m. Traffic stopverbal warning given for speed. Hillview Boulevard.

10:26 p.m. Traffic stopverbal warning given for speed. Twilite Road.

11:11 p.m. Suspicious activity reported. Sycamore Street.

Wednesday, May 10

1:28 a.m. Assisted Winona County Sheriffs Office in arresting a man with an active arrest warrant. Subject was parked on the Winona County 1 Overlook in a recreational vehicle and refused contact with deputies and at one point was on the roof of the vehicle taunting deputies. Subject was left a citation under the windshield wiper for camping in the park. Shortly thereafter the man exited the vehicle to retrieve the ticket believing law enforcement had left the area and was arrested by a deputy who was left behind waiting for the subject to exit. County 1.

4:31 a.m. Barking dog complaint. First Street.

9:19 a.m. Shore Acres Bypass opened for oversize residential delivery vehicle. Shore Acres Road.

9:43 a.m. Escort request for a fundraiser motorcycle event coming through the city on June 3. Chestnut Street.

11:14 a.m. Report of a man carrying a hammer and asking people for workBehavior and demeanor were reported as out of the ordinary. Main Street.

12:47 p.m. HCSO background check for permit to carry for La Crescent resident. McIntosh Road.

12:49 p.m. HCSO background check for permit to carry for La Crescent resident. Juniper Street.

3:01 p.m. Road rage incident. Both drivers had pulled to the side of the road and a situation ensued before intervention by an officer. Main Street.

4:18 p.m. Lost cellular phone reported. Fourth Street.

7:43 p.m. La Crescent Fire Department paged for a vehicle fire. Hwy. 14/61.

Thursday, May 11

1:25 a.m. Emergency medical. Fireside Drive.

7:42 a.m. Officers rode bicycles to school with students as part of a sponsored Green Step community program.

8:54 a.m. Emergency medical. 14th Street.

Noon Driving record request. Main Street.

1:06 p.m. Lost cat. Animal later located. Oak Street.

2:46 p.m. Attempt to locate an individual for La Crosse Police Department. Fourth Street.

2:57 p.m. A window was broken and entry was gained to a secure property, no items stolen. 1st Street.

3 p.m. Abandoned bicycle picked up for safekeeping. 2nd Street.

3:51 p.m. La Crescent resident found a used syringe in shared area of apartment complex. Item properly disposed of.

5:14 p.m. Project lifesaver. Replaced broken device. Regent Drive.

5:32 p.m. Motorcycle driving complaint. Twilite Road.
It may not be the media capital of the world, but the future leaders of journalism could be sitting in a Black River Falls classroom.

The Student Reporting Lab is a class that partners with PBS News Hour to give kids an experience in the world of journalism.

The class started in 2013 in BRF after Julie Tiedens, who teaches the class, was signed up as a teacher for the lab.

PBS provides prompts and curriculum for the students with a more national focus, with the students providing a more local angle.

Sometimes some of the pieces we send out or that other classes send out ends up on the News Hour broadcast which is really cool for the kids, Tiedens said.

Students from all over the country that participate in these classes have the opportunity to then participate in a week-long workshop in Washington, D.C. and get some real journalism experience.

There are students from as far away as Hawaii attending, and Black River Falls will be sending one of its own to represent the Tigers in the nations capital.

Kim Leadholm made a video pitch and was selected as one of twenty other students.

She really put in a lot of hard work, said Tiedens.

The students will be put together into groups and given a topic to work on during their workshop in the capital to give them some hands-on experience.

I really hope this will give me more insight and help me decide on a career, Leadholm said.

Insight shouldnt be hard to come by in a group of people who are all interested in the field of journalism like Leadholm.

Leadholm came into the class after being recommended to join it by another teacher and decided to give it a chance.

Not knowing if it would be something she would be interested in, she said she really started to enjoy the class the more she participated.

Leadholm said the day she was selected for the workshop she was full of nerves.

I was really nervous the whole day cause I knew I was going to find out and I really wanted it, Leadholm said.

Tiedens pulled her into class to let her know that she was selected, which came as a big relief to Leadholm.

I was so super excited because I knew she was going to be excited, Tiedens said recalling the feeling she had when receiving the notice that one of her students was selected.

As a teacher, Tiedens is especially excited at the opportunity. Its an all expenses paid trip with people who have been in the industry a long time, a real unique experience for any student.

Im really excited for the opportunity to meet all these people who have so much information and knowledge that I can come back and use here in the classroom or in the future, Leadholm said.

A workshop like this helps surround a student with like-minded people who are interested in the field, which allows them to really dive into it.

Plus the skills they learn in the workshop and in the class at BRF help create more active and engaged citizens even if they dont go into the field of journalism.

The Student Reporting Lab at BRF also partners with Wisconsin Public Television to bring in mentors who can provide students with their experience and help guide them in their careers.
The River Valley Media Group will have a new publisher June 1.

Bob Fleck will take over as publisher of the River Valley Media Group, which includes the Jackson County Chronicle, La Crosse Tribune, Winona Daily News and Chippewa Herald, and several other weekly newspapers and specialty publications.

Fleck, 54, joined the Tribunes parent company, Lee Enterprises Inc., as vice president of business development in May 2016 and was named the companys vice president of sales and marketing in January.

Fleck said Thursday after an announcement at the Tribune that he is excited about moving to La Crosse and about the potential of the River Valley Media Group.

I truly believe this is a mission-driven operation that plays an important role in the community, Fleck said.

Before joining Lee, Fleck was general manager and publisher for the Suburban Media Group, a division of the Chicago Tribune Media Group. He was executive vice president of sales for Tribune Publishing in 2013 and 2014.

Kevin Mowbray, Lees president and chief executive officer, said Fleck will remain a member of the companys CEO team and will continue to contribute to the companys sales strategies and objectives.

Since joining Lee, Bob has proven himself as a strong leader and talented executive, Mowbray said. His skill and experience will serve the readers and businesses in the River Valley group well and help drive strong results for our company.

Fleck is the 14th publisher in the Tribunes 113-year history. He grew up in Schaumburg, Ill., and is a graduate of Elmhurst (Ill.) College, where he earned a bachelors degree in business administration. Fleck and his wife, Jeri, have three children.

I am eager to get started in this new role, Fleck said. River Valley is an outstanding group of communities and a vital set of markets for Lee.

Davenport, Iowa-based Lee Enterprises publishes 46 daily newspapers, with a joint interest in two others, along with rapidly growing digital products and almost 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 21 states.

Lees newspapers have circulation of 900,000 daily and 1.4 million Sunday, reaching more than 3 million readers daily. Lees digital sites attract more than 25 million unique visits monthly.

Outgoing Tribune publisher Mike Burns is leaving the company, having accepted a position as chief revenue officer for Oregonian Media Group.
Congressman Ron Kind hosted a listening session of about 25 people Wednesday, May 10 in Black River Falls and covered a wide range of topics including the inability of the federal government to work together, health care and yes, even yoga.

Just a couple of weeks ago I had a chance to go over to Europe with Speaker Paul Ryan and the chair of the Armed Services Committee, Mac Thornberry. It was a NATO trip to reaffirm our commitment and our support of the NATO alliance, Kind said responding to a question about whether Democrats and Republicans work together. A little personal secret, but Paul Ryan and I are a part of this yoga cult class first thing in the morning at 6 oclock.

Kind has also been leading the call for more moderate Republicans and Democrats to come together.

Part of the key is trying to get people in the same room so you can talk to each other and find out where there are areas of common agreement and overlap. I have been leading this group called the New Democratic Coalition. We are 61 right now, about one-third of the democratic caucus. More moderate and centrist, but I have been calling for a policy lunch with the more pragmatic group of Republicans called The Tuesday Group. There are about 50 of them, just to get the two groups together. Just to talk to them whether it is health care, infrastructure or the farm bill coming up, otherwise we are so siloed in our approach. Its like you get to Washington and you are supposed to go to your respective corners, Kind said. Every time we have that lunch, leadership in both parties go crazy.

People in attendance recognized that Kind has worked to reach across the aisle and represent the people in his district.

I hope behind closed doors you guys are having conversations, Peter Buschman from the audience said. Your office has been really good on some issues we have had here locally, so I appreciate the fact that I think you are really taking care of us in the area.

Besides the gridlock in Washington, D.C., Kind also fielded questions about the recent firing of FBI director James Comey and Russias involvement with the U.S. elections last fall.

I hope we get to the bottom of these investigations, I really do because they are very serious. I hope there is a showing that there was no collusion between the Trump associates and the Russian government because if there was, that is a major, major problem, Kind said. We dont know where the facts will ultimately lead and that is why it is so important to have an independent investigator to make these tough calls and follow the evidence wherever that may lead and hopefully they wont be obstructed by either party or the person in the oval office.

Kind also addressed questions about the new health care bill that recently passed the house, which he said was rushed.

I hope the Senate takes a fresh look at things. I think they said that they want to. Clearly we have trouble on the individual market and the small group market. Its not working very well. Costs are rising, Kind said.

Questions about the health care bill also prompted questions about Kinds support of funding organizations that perform abortions, specifically Planned Parenthood.

I support Planned Parenthood funding. I know what type of work that they do. The type of preventive services that they provide. The type of testing and screening that they provide for women in our communities, Kind said. I think it would be a terrible mistake if that would be eliminated.

Planned Parenthood and any organization that performs abortions cannot use federal funding for abortions, he said.

Money is still coming down for Planned Parenthood, contested Bonnie Pfaff. It [federal funding] is also going towards organizations and money is fungible where if you use your money for this, the federal funding makes more money available.

Other topics during the listening session included issues with staffing shortages for federal programs, concerns about water supply, the possibility of federal funding being cut for low-income food programs, the importance of advanced directives and the drug issues facing Wisconsin.
This past weekend, I attended two college graduations.

One for my wife who got her Masters Degree in Social Work from IUPUI and the other for my sister who got her Bachelors Degree in Life Sciences Communication from UW-Madison.

I was proud of both of them for accomplishing this great feat, especially my wife because I know exactly what she had to give up to accomplish this goal. How much homework she had and how many hours she had to stew over it while still working a full-time job.

As I sat at the ceremonies, I was reminded of the Wisconsin Idea.

The UW System was founded on the Wisconsin Idea, which originated from the former UW-Madison president Charles Van Hise who said in 1905, I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the university reaches every family of the state.

Since then, the Wisconsin Idea has been the guiding principle of the entire UW System.

The Wisconsin Idea is why we have programs like UW-Extension, which aims to bring research and programs from the UW System to every county in the state of Wisconsin.

Even though there are these great resources, I think there is a huge disconnect between higher education and the rest of the state.

I think higher education has a huge perception problem. They have all of these flashy buildings and well-paid professors studying things that to some people are not very useful.

The graduations this weekend were just another example of such.

The entire college graduation ceremonies were filled with pomp and circumstance and steeped in tradition. All of the graduates wore caps and gowns and all of the Deans of the colleges sit on the stage in fun-colored regalia.

One of the most time-honored traditions is hooding those that received Doctorate Degrees. This is a process where the recipient hands a sash-type garment to another person that has a Doctorate Degree and then they place the sash over the recipients head. It reminded me of knighting a knight.

As I sat through this elaborate process, I had this really weird feeling. Almost like I was inferior to those that were getting hooded. It was weird to sit through that process.

Yes, I realize that these 100 people that were getting recognized had accomplished a lot, but it still gave me a pit in my stomach.

This entire part of the graduation ceremony gave the impression to me that they were better than everyone else. And more importantly, that they were unapproachable.

I find it hard sometimes to talk to professors and those with Ph.Ds. It is incredibly intimidating and quite honestly I just feel dumb standing next to them.

Sometimes I wonder if this perception is what has led to people rejecting science, whether GMOs or climate change.

I think this is sad because I think rejecting science is a huge mistake. While yes, some professors and scientists can talk way over our heads, they are still very important to us and the world. They are on the front lines of innovation and will help solve our problems as a nation.

While it may not seem like it sometimes, I think the Wisconsin Idea is at work in every corner of the state. There are professors and researchers working right now on how to spurn economic growth in rural communities. There are others working right now on how to provide better medical care to those that live in rural communities and are far from an emergency room.

Science is a great thing and we shouldnt ignore it. Even though Universities may do a lot of weird things we dont always agree with, they also do a lot of good things we can definitely stand behind.
TOMAH  Robert Bob Raese, 75, of Tomah died Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Tomah Healthcare Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Burial with full military honors will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. to time of service Friday at the funeral home.
A day after announcing that it would buy grocery stores in Portage and West Baraboo, Festival Foods submitted plans Wednesday with the city of Verona for a nearly 68,000-square-foot grocery store on the citys northeast side.

If approved, it would become the second store in Dane County for the Onalaska-based retailer and offer direct competition to downtown Veronas Miller & Sons, the only other full-service grocery store in the fast-growing city of more than 12,000 people.

Verona conducted a market analysis about two years ago and it showed that there was a need for more grocery opportunities within the city, said planning director Adam Sayre.

It showed a lot of dollars leaving the city and going elsewhere, Sayre said. It showed people buying groceries, but not in Verona, so the market is obviously reacting to what customers are doing and they obviously want to capture those dollars.

The proposal includes 252 surface parking stalls in front of the building on East Verona Avenue, just east of Farm & Fleet. Sayre said the proposal would go to the citys Plan Commission on June 5 and be reviewed by the City Council on June 12. Ground could be broken in 2018 with the store opening in 2019, Sayre said.

Carl Miller, whose great-grandfather founded in 1902 what has become a 52,000-square-foot Miller & Sons, said Festival representatives contacted him months ago to tell him of their plans to enter the city.

Miller, however, sees room in the marketplace for Festival as well as larger stores like Hy-Vee, Pick n Save and Woodmans all less than 5 miles away.

Ill just keep plugging away and doing my thing, said Miller, 64, who in 2009 purchased Kalscheurs Fine Foods in Mount Horeb before building a 44,000-square-foot store on Mount Horebs east side in 2013. The Woodmans and the Wal-Marts and the big guys have left the market open for us guys. They dont do deli, and the meat departments are all going away. Our bakeries and delis are doing quite well.

Festival officials had little comment on their Verona proposal.

There is nothing concrete here yet, said Brian Stenzel, a company spokesman. We regularly consider sites in many locations. We are considering a site in Verona, but have much work to do before we know a store is even possible.

With the conversion of Pierces Markets stores in West Baraboo and Portage to the Festival brand next month, the company, founded in 1946, will have 28 locations. In 2014, Festival purchased Vos Sentry in Fort Atkinson and a year later opened a 78,000-square-foot store at 2233 Humes Road in Janesville. In 2016, Festival opened a 55,000-square-foot store on the ground floor of Gebhardt Developments $65 million Galaxie building in the 800 block of East Washington Avenue in Madison.
The number of bicyclists and pedestrians hit along La Crosses West Avenue has jumped 36 percent since the state rebuilt the roadway with the goal of improving safety.

Thats one of the findings of a new study by the La Crosse Area Planning Committee that identified West Avenue as one of six problem corridors for nonmotorized traffic in the La Crosse metro area.

The study, presented Wednesday to the LAPCs policy board, examined 381 crashes reported between 2011 and 2015 in La Crosse and Houston counties, most of which occurred along six corridors in the city of La Crosse.

West Avenue stood out for the sheer number of crashes.

That one just jumps to the top of the pack, said author Jackie Eastwood, a transportation planner with the LAPC.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation rebuilt West Avenue in 2008, turning it into a four-lane divided highway north of Adams Street. The stated goals were reducing crashes and congestion. The department has proposed similar designs for South Avenue, which is scheduled for reconstruction in 2022.

Vehicle crashes on West Avenue are down 11 percent compared to the five years preceding the project, but the study found the new configuration is more dangerous for those not in cars.

There were 49 bicyclists and pedestrians struck on West Ave between La Crosse and Jackson streets during the five-year time span of the study. That includes two pedestrians who were killed crossing the street  a third of all pedestrian fatalities in the two-county region.

In the five years prior to reconstruction, there were 36 bike and pedestrian crashes on West Avenue.

Its not a surprise, said Carolyn Dvorak, Southwest region director for the Wisconsin Bike Fed and a member of the LAPCs transit, bike and pedestrian committee. I think we have a responsibility to note this is a really dangerous corridor and there are lots of people crossing there in their daily lives. We have a responsibility to allow them to cross there and make it a safer place to travel.

Eastwood said part of the problem is intersections designed for wider turns with crosswalks set back from the sidewalk. She notes that many drivers making right turns only look left as then approach.

People dont slow down, she said. Youve got people that are driving right up through the crosswalk, especially when they want to turn right on red.

Other problems noted in the study are traffic signals that dont change often enough  which can lead frustrated pedestrians to jaywalk  and that dont give pedestrians time to cross.

Traffic signals provide only 17 to 18 seconds for people to get across West Avenue, which requires walking considerably faster than national design standards recommend. And those crossing West must push a button to activate the walk signal. Otherwise the light turns yellow before they have time to fully cross.

I hardly ever saw someone push the button, Eastwood said.

High bicycle and pedestrian traffic near campus accounts for some of West Avenues large number of crashes.

James Longhurst, an associate professor of history at UW-L, said West Avenue was a top concern among students he surveyed for a 2016 campus safety study and noted many students cross multiple times per day.

Students have said this is something they talk about with their parents, and it factors into their considerations in coming to La Crosse, he said.

Eastwood said high density housing along the corridor coupled with popular destinations such as the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus contribute to the large number of people crossing the road. But she also notes that the heavy traffic serves as a deterrent, noting several residents who live several blocks from the YMCA but dont feel safe crossing the street.

They drive from their homes over to the Y, she said.

Yet traffic volume appears to have declined. At the time of the reconstruction, West Avenue carried about 28,000 vehicles per day, which the DOT projected would grow to 36,000 by 2026. As of 2014, the average daily traffic had fallen to just over 20,000 vehicles per day.

Another factor is speed.

The posted limit is 25 mph, though the study found actual speeds exceed 30 mph and concludes that speeding may have been a factor in five of the six fatalities, which occurred in 25-mph zones.

The faster you go, the greater the risk of a fatality,Eastwood said. We just shouldnt be accepting any fatalities.

The study comes as La Crosse officials look to encourage walking and riding to work  among other alternatives  in an effort to head off additional north-south lanes that the DOT says will be necessary to alleviate future congestion.

It recommends shrinking West Avenue from four lanes to three, reducing vehicle speeds, adjusting signal timing, enhancing crosswalks and installing bike lanes.

Thats in line with what Livable Neighborhoods president Charley Weeth argued for a decade ago, when he said separating traffic and making wider turns would lead to higher average speeds.

By taking out the conflicts you essentially make it easier for cars to drive faster, Weeth said. On the positive side we have a lot of pedestrians, and drivers are doing a better job of stopping for pedestrians. Pedestrians, especially with their noses in their phones, could do a better job of paying attention when they cross the street.

Problems on Third, Cass and Losey

While focusing on West Avenue, the study also detailed other problem roadways, including Third Street in the downtown tavern district, Cass Street, and the intersection of Losey Boulevard and State Road.

Though it receives little foot traffic, Losey and State had the highest crash rate of the intersections studied when measured in terms of annual average crashes compared to pedestrian-vehicle interactions. While the angle of the intersection makes it challenging for pedestrians, the report says better signal timing, high visibility crosswalks and pedestrian countdown signals could improve safety, as could reducing State Road to three lanes with buffered bike lanes to encourage cyclists to use the road instead of the sidewalk.

Recommendations for Third Street, where many of the crashes were attributed to alcohol use by motorists and pedestrians, include high visibility crosswalks, bike lanes to take cyclists off the sidewalks and increased foot patrols.

Other findings:

Of crashes in the problem areas, 90 percent of cyclists were riding on sidewalks or crosswalks. Of five cases in which cyclists were seriously injured while riding in the street, four failed to yield.

Children accounted for 16 percent of those struck by vehicles.

Alcohol use (by all involved) was a factor in 8.4 percent of crashes.

Citations were issued in just over half of all incidents: to 139 drivers of motor vehicles, 34 bicyclists, and 25 pedestrians.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. still doesnt do a good job of tracking how many jobs it creates and the agency struggles in other areas  even as it has improved how it hands out state taxpayer dollars  according to a new legislative audit.

The Legislative Audit Bureau reported Wednesday:

The six-year-old job-creation agency cannot be certain about the number of jobs it has created or retained and must improve the accuracy of the numbers reported in its online database.

The agencys uncollectable loan balance has grown from $1.3 million in December 2014 to $11 million as of December 2016, a sign of the agencys early problems not properly vetting companies to which it awarded taxpayer loans and the tab that is now coming due.

The agency failed to comply with state law by not independently verifying jobs-related information submitted by tax credit recipients.

WEDC held on to $5.3 million in repaid tax credits from companies until March 2017, after auditors notified the agency the money was supposed to go to the Department of Administration.

The agency has implemented all of the LABs previous audit recommendations regarding how it administers its 34 grant, loan and tax credit programs.

Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, co-chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, said in response to the audit that a cloud will continue (to) remain over the agency until they can accurately verify data being received from award recipients.

While WEDC has significantly improved in several areas relating to the administration of its programs, Wisconsin needs to have a precise understanding as to which programs are most beneficial to our economy, Cowles said.

WEDC was hastily created in mid-2011 as a quasi-public agency to help Gov. Scott Walker achieve his campaign goal of creating 250,000 jobs in his first term. He missed that mark by more than half.

The agency has been beset by problems with how it has awarded taxpayer dollars and for many years struggled with high employee turnover.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported in 2015 on several problematic agency awards, including a $500,000 loan to a struggling Milwaukee company whose owner made false statements on his application. The reporting prompted a subsequent agency review that found more than 120 awards totaling $126 million that had been given out without proper documentation.

CEO plans to act on recommendations

CEO Mark Hogan is the agencys third top executive, and critics of the agency have said the former banker has provided stability.

Hogan said he planned to implement the audits recommendations, just as we have with the recommendations in LABs prior audits.

I absolutely agree with LAB that we need to find a way we can verify the information that is being received from the individual companies, Hogan told reporters.

WEDC spokesman Mark Maley said the agency now receives detailed employee information during the underwriting stage and the annual verification process for tax credits, and it reviews the information on an employee-by-employee basis.

The agency also hired an independent company last year to verify its performance reports, requires tax credit award recipients to provide payroll information as part of their annual performance reports and requires a company official to sign a form attesting to the accuracy of the employment information.

The audit raised concerns about the agencys job-verification process, noting the consultant wasnt verifying any grants and was not using the statutorily required threshold that only jobs paying 150 percent of the minimum wage be counted. It also recommends using the Department of Workforce Developments quarterly job report data to supplement information WEDC receives from companies, a suggestion Hogan welcomed but said would require better coordination with DWD.

Maley noted of the $11 million in loans past due for more than 90 days as of December, $4.5 million were for two companies  Green Box Green Bay LLC and Kestrel Aircraft. Another $2.3 million was either forgiven or paid off prior to March 31 and all of them were initiated prior to May 2015.

The amount of delinquent loans totals 14 percent of the $78.5 million outstanding loan balance as of December. The agencys goal is to keep that rate below 7.5 percent.

Regarding the $5.3 million in tax credit refunds it didnt turn over to the state, Hogan said the agency planned on turning them over by June 30. State law requires agencies that receive funds must do so within a week, but WEDC as a public-private entity is not affected by that law.

Previous audits also found problems

The Legislative Audit Bureau is required by law to conduct a financial and program evaluation audit of WEDC every two years.

The 2013 LAB audit found the agency failed to follow its own policies and state law in awarding taxpayer dollars to companies. In some cases, it made awards to ineligible recipients for ineligible projects.

The 2013 audit also found recipients of 12 out of 14 awards above $100,000 failed to provide required financial statements, nearly $1 million in tax credits were given to companies for jobs created before the contract was executed, and poor record-keeping of credit card expenses.

The 2015 audit found the agency didnt properly track the number of jobs created, it didnt require award recipients to submit information showing jobs were actually created and didnt attempt to verify information submitted by companies.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said he was disappointed that the 2015 and 2017 audits point out identical problems with verifying job creation.

WEDC must take immediate steps as the governor has not been willing to correct these problems as part of his budget, Barca said. Taxpayers deserve to know that they are getting the biggest bang for their hard-earned bucks.

The agency also decreased its outstanding loan balance by $4.2 million by writing off, amending or forgiving certain loans, according to the 2015 audit. The agency wrote off or amended $3.4 million worth of loans in 2015 and 2016, according to the latest audit.

In response, Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature phased out the agencys loan program in the 2015-17 budget.

Last week, the Joint Finance Committee agreed with Walkers recommendation to reinstate the loan program in the 2017-19 budget. Hogan said the loan program helps keep companies from relocating to other states.

Democrats asked the budget committee to further review WEDCs budget after the audit came out, but Republicans voted to end debate and move on to other topics.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said the committee should revisit WEDC to take up two recommended changes in state law  including that WEDC turn over all repaid tax credits to the state within one week  and discuss whether other recommendations should be adopted by the Legislature.
VIROQUA  Hanna Agar is a conceptual photographer who not only does her own fine art photography but also commercial photography with a fine art flair.

Art lovers will have an opportunity to see and purchase Agars work when they visit her Viroqua studio during the second annual Winding Roads Art Tour next weekend. The self-guided art tour will take people to nine studios in Viroqua and 12 more within a 20-mile radius of the city  and a total of 37 artists.

When its time for her to create images for a client, Agars first step is to go into a quiet room with a blank piece of paper. If Agar is going to photograph a musician, for example, shell listen to the music and jot down ideas and sketches for the photo shoot.

When I sit down and do it, it is a meditation on my client, she said. I think about their idea and what comes to mind. I really enjoy that part.

With my personal work, the fine art photography, sometimes an image will pop in my mind, Agar said. Sometimes if I see a random prop it sparks interest.

Agar said that during photo shoots for clients she plans as much as possible.

Spontaneity may happen, and often are my favorite images. Planning helps you get 75 percent there, and then I let them play. People feel more comfortable, and you get a true moment for them. Thats fun and exciting.

Her professional images have not only been for musicians, but also for variety entertainers like jugglers.

Its all about them, Agar said. Ill theatricalize them and bring in humor and narrative. Its not just a head shot, theres a theatricality to it. I like to bring out the character within each person, so its like a picture from a storybook.

Her professional photography also includes images for advertising.

In addition to her commercial and personal fine art work, Agar retouches images by other photographers.

Agar also retouches her own images. The image I take is a background sketch and I add layers of integrity to it. I bring in more color and add (images).

I try to keep it simple while still going over the top, and then I subtract. Its building, building and then I step back a bit. Its a fine point and at the end, then thats it  thats done  and thats exciting, Agar said.

As she layers the images and colors in her own work, she creates images that are surreal and others that have a fun, silly quality to them.

A 2003 Westby High School graduate and a 2009 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Agar moved back to Vernon County with her husband, Brendan Karlstad, a year ago. She spent five years in Brooklyn, N.Y., working and learning from photographers.

Since she has returned to the area, she has started working with more local businesses and artists.

In New York City, theres such a concentration of everybody, she said. There was lots of work and there were interesting people. Theres a perceived prestige.

Agar said she is happy to be back in the Midwest and hopes to bring more attention to people who choose to live in small cities.

There are musicians and other people who do interesting things and value that environment (of a small city), she said. I appreciate all of the interesting work around here.

Agar said an art tour is important for both artists and the public because of the exposure it provides.

Even though Im part of the arts community, Im still surprised by how many artists and studios there are in the area, she said. Not everyone realizes the concentration and variety of artists in the area. Its valuable to see an artists space and see the creating in progress and see the effort and love going into each piece.

Another benefit of the tour, she said, is seeing the Vernon County landscape while visiting artists studios in the country.

Amy Arnold and her husband, Kelsey Sauber Olds, work collaboratively on carved wood sculptures in their rural Viroqua studio. Their studio was open during last years tour. It was really great, she said. This year, Arnolds friend Leah Evans will be in their studio with her map-inspired textiles.

Like Agar, Arnold likes how a tour exposes people to area artists.

You can see what the process is and who made it, Arnold said. Artists can share that and its rewarding. Its a great thing for the community and the artist.
A few days after marking its first 100 days in office, the Trump administration closed in on another milestone: $300 billion. Thats the total value of goods that crossed U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico between Inauguration Day and April 29.

President Trump was presented with a similar data point before he tacked away from a decision to terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement. According to the Washington Post, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross showed the president a map indicating areas of the United States that would be harmed by the collapse of NAFTA, including many that are home to the presidents core supporters.

Canada is the No. 1 destination for U.S. exports. Trade with Mexico supports 6 million American jobs, from corn farmers in Iowa to auto workers in South Carolina. With integrated manufacturing, its more accurate to speak of a North American auto industry than a strictly American one.

After the briefing, and phone calls with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, Trump announced that hed defer termination in favor of renegotiation. This is encouraging news. Not only did Trump avoid a crisis that would have hit U.S. manufacturing, services, farming and consumers, he also recognized a central, underlying truth about the much-maligned trade deal: It is wiring that connects and provides power to large parts of the American economy.

But it needs an update. We each endeavored during the Clinton and Obama administrations to improve the NAFTA agreement to better serve American workers and consumers. We see an opportunity to seize this challenging political moment and grow the U.S. economy in ways that benefit more Americans, including those whove rallied behind Trumps anti-free-trade message, by modernizing NAFTA.

U.S. negotiators should not throw up barriers to trade or impose border taxes, which will inflict collateral damage on millions of American workers and consumers. Rather, they should write rules for economic areas not included in the original agreement a quarter century ago, including energy, digital trade and e-commerce. There is also room to strengthen enforcement of labor and environmental standards and increase the domestic content required for cars and other products; indeed, rules of origin for NAFTA are tweaked on a regular basis. These updates, handled carefully, should make the United States more competitive globally, not less.

The administration can further use negotiations to advance American interests in areas such as regional security and immigration. Of course these topics are already under discussion. Over the last four years, the U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue has, among other things, established a shared, data-based framework for identifying new border infrastructure needs, developed a common agenda for smoothing business regulations and promoted the seamless flow of energy across the border.

NAFTA has always been a means to an end larger than trade. It cemented ties with our neighbor to the north. It was instrumental in helping the United States and Mexico climb out of a deep hole of mutual distrust and hostility. Both of us have made many official trips to Mexico. Weve witnessed the breathtaking shift in the image of the United States from negative to positive. NAFTA deserves much of the credit for transforming North America from a region characterized by suspicion into one where together we can confront transnational security and economic threats.

Any upcoming renegotiation of NAFTA with our neighbors also provides an opening for self-examination. Many Americans feel left behind by the global economy. The great challenge of our time is how to address this critical issue  not with an insufficient Trade Adjustment Assistance package tacked onto a free trade agreement, but holistically. We must develop a robust, independent strategy to arm American workers with the skills they need to adapt not only to globalization but also to technological advances.

Trumps campaign placed concerns about NAFTA front and center. He now leads a nation  and an administration  that is deeply divided over its approach to trade. As he learns more about the realities of NAFTA, he has an opportunity to improve it. At the same time, our nation must develop a robust domestic job training strategy and strengthen the safety net for American workers. Thats what winning on trade requires.
The Jackson County Home and Community Education organization gathered various items needed for people in the country of Nicaragua this year.

On May 2, at the Spring meeting of the Jackson County HCE, a representative of Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas, the organization through which the items were donated, presented to the group and thanked the organization for their donations.

A slide show told of the workings of the Partners as well as of the various ways the donations were put to use. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the world after Haiti.

After the presentation, all were invited to check out the display of items hand-crafted by Nicaraguan women. Everything from doll dresses, woven pine needle baskets and wooden bowls. It all spoke of true craftsmanship and pride in their work.

Continued donations of items, new or used but in good condition, were encouraged. They will be gathered up and delivered to Stevens Point to make their way to Nicaragua in July.

If you have items to donate that you think may be of use and suitable, call the UW Extension office at 715-284-4257 for more information.
As an elected official, I must face the voters every two years to see if you all approve of the laws weve put into place. This accountability is what keeps my colleagues and me grounded when making decisions in Madison. I strive to run an accessible office and I welcome feedback on every vote I cast.

Wisconsins economy is seeing steady, lasting growth. Our unemployment rate is at its lowest point since 2000. We were named the 10th best state for business by Chief Executive magazine, up from 41st before Republicans took back control of state government in 2011. Wisconsin families are seeing their personal income growth continue to rise. Theres little question: Wisconsin workers are reaping the benefits of conservative leadership and reforms.

As we continue to prioritize an atmosphere in Wisconsin that is conducive to job creation and business growth, it has become increasingly clear that our regulatory environment is in need of some changes.

Wisconsins regulatory environment is heavily impacted by state agencies, such as the Department of Transportation or the Department of Natural Resources. In many ways, these agencies have the ability to create regulations that carry the same weight as laws passed by the Legislature. The obvious problem with this model is, unlike elected public officials, these agencies and bureaucrats have no accountability to the people of Wisconsin to guide their rule-making process.

This problem has prompted the REINS  Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny  Act, which will make several changes that will improve the transparency of the administrative rulemaking process. This bill was approved by the Senate earlier this month, and as the majority leader of the state Assembly, Im committed to bringing it to the floor for a vote in June. The REINS Act will provide critical legislative oversight to agency rules as the Legislature will now be able to vote on costly regulations. It also puts into place mechanisms to allow the Legislature to hit the pause button, or even block a rule if its determined a proposed regulation is too costly or simply a bad deal for taxpayers.

This is a good starting point. The next logical step is to look at the volumes upon volumes of regulations that already exist here in Wisconsin. As a state, we not only need reform for how rules and regulations are created, but we also need to have the ability to go back and review the rules already on the books.

If you can believe it, the current structure allows bureaucrats to set rules that can be in place forever, with limited public input. Wisconsins regulations need to be reviewed from time to time to ensure they are not over-burdensome and that they are doing what they were intended for. Many states provide a sunset provisions on rules, requiring legislative action for the rule to continue after a set amount of time. If a rule does what it is supposed to do and costs what it is supposed to cost, it can easily be renewed any number of times. I think its time for Wisconsin to start exploring a review process similar to other states.

By returning some of the responsibility of rule-making back to elected officials, I believe Wisconsins regulations will more closely align with the needs of our constituents rather than whims of individuals within state agencies. Ridding our state of excessive red tape will inevitably result in a stronger climate in which our economy can grow. All levels of government, and especially all laws, should get routine inspections by the general public to make sure they are, in fact, working for you.
Andrew is the best hired man Ive ever had, said Dad, speaking of Andrew Kvigne, a Norwegian immigrant who had worked on our farm for several summers.

Prior to Andrew, my father had employed several other men, including Glen, John, Henry, and Anton. Admittedly, each had been a good hired man who had pleased my father while working for him. So why did my father singled out Andrew as the best hired man? I can think of three reasons.

First, Andrew was always cheerful. He lived in town but had no car, so he walked a mile to our farm every morning. At about 8:00 oclock he would stride up our driveway, his arms swinging in a joyous cadence. Smiling from ear to ear he would greet us with a cheery God morgen, displaying his eagerness to start the days work.

Andrews good cheer never flagged throughout the day, no matter how hot the weather or how difficult the work. We never heard him complain. I recall one of the previous hired men complaining about how hard it was to spread hay in the hot mow, but Andrew would do it without a syllable of complaint.

At meal times Andrew carried his buoyant spirit into the house, voicing a happy greeting to my mother as he entered the kitchen. Often, as we ate, he entertained us with lighthearted, interesting stories from Norway. At the end of each meal he expressed a hearty tusen takk (thousand thanks) to my mother.

The other hired men also had been pleasant fellows, but Andrews cheerfulness had a depth that was hard to equal.

Not only was this best-of-all hired man cheerful, he also was conscientious. Blessed with great strength, he strived to use that strength for his employers benefit. I especially enjoyed watching him pitch hay onto the hay wagon.

After mowing the hay, we would let it dry for a day, rake it into windrows, then pile it in cone-shaped haycocks. As we had no hay loader at that time, when these haycocks were dry enough we would pitch them onto the hay wagon and haul them to the barn,

Poised next to the hay wagon, and sporting a broad grin, Andrew would call to me in his thick Norwegian brogue, Einar, see how strong I am! He would vigorously rub his hands together, then grab the pitchfork and jab it deep into the haycock.

A slight grimace broke Andrews smile as he strained to lift that heavy haycock onto the hay rack. As he stepped toward the next haycock he would glance at me with a boyish smile. (When I grew strong enough to pitch haycocks I found I couldnt lift as much as Andrew did.)

Andrew was just as impressive at milking time. As a boy I marveled at how fast my parents each could milk a cow. Andrew, however, seemed to fill the milk bucket in less time than they did. He prided himself in doing his best in whatever he did, and he desired to please his employer.

In addition to his cheerfulness and conscientiousness, Andrew was candid, always frank and honest. Once, at the dinner table, he told us about his former life in Sogn, Norway. He described the beauty of its mountains and its large fjord, as well as the fine hotel his parents had owned.

Then Andrew said sadly, I could have had it good if I had stayed in Norway, I could have taken over the hotel. But I was foolish. I wanted to go to America. Seemingly without guile, he opened his heart to us, thus deepening the bond between him and my parents.

Andrew also was candid with me, though a young boy. One day he said to me with great seriousness, Einar, theres one thing you must never do. You must never get married. Its the dumbest thing I ever did. Im glad to say that his marriage relationship eventually improved. And Im also glad I didnt take his advice to never marry.

The turnabout in the Kvignes marriage was due, in large part, to a Methodist pastor from Norway who moved into a house next to theirs. This kind pastor guided Andrew to find peace, both with God and with his wife. Thus the later years of my fathers best hired man became happy years.

When Andrew passed away, my father was one of the six men chosen to carry Andrews body to its final resting place. For Dad it was a fitting gesture, a chance to honor a man who had served him faithfully, who had exemplified all that a hired man should be.

Andrew Kvigne was the best. So today I am pleased to honor him as well. Tusen tak, Andrew.
This last weekend Ellen and I were in Oshkosh visiting our friends Pat and Lana Kolbe (and Brynley and Ryan) and I attended the better part of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress Convention. We had a great lasagna dinner with the Kolbes on Thursday night and got to spend some time getting to know their little ones. On Friday, the Kolbes were off to work, so at their suggestion, El and I had breakfast at the Delta Diner. Good stuff.

After breakfast, I registered at the convention at the Oshkosh Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel and Convention Center just in time to take my seat with the Vernon County contingent of Jason Weis and Sam White. After a roll call of counties and the presentation of colors by the DNR Color Guard and singing of the national anthem by warden Clark Delzer, we recognized memorial resolutions for congress members who passed in the last year including one for longtime congress member from Westby, Fred Constalie.

The group was welcomed by first-year WCC chairman Larry Bonde. Oshkosh Mayor Steve Kummins also welcomed us and shared some Oshkosh history and highlights. We were heard from the leadership of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Assistant DNR Secretary Kurt Thiede shared information about the last year andfuture plans including the R3 plan on recruit, retain, and reconnect with sportsmen. Thiede said the Learn to Hunt program has had about a 40 percent success rate on retaining new fishermen and hunters and trappers. WCC Bear Committee Chair Mike Rogers introduced this years Learn To Hunt Bear Tag recipient. Gov. Scott Walker addressed the group.

ChairmanBonde lead the assembly through a sometimes raucous discussion and voting on this years WCC Advisory Questions. Eric Lobner of DNR Wildlife spoke about his ambitious list of Wildlife plans and initiatives, not the least the R3-Recruitment and Retention and Reactivation of hunters and fishermen and shooters. We went through the DNR Spring Hearing results, Wildlife Program updates, a Fisheries Program update, Law Enforcement Program update, a Recreational Opportunities analysis, a DNR Parks and Recreation update, a Forestry Program update, a Science Services Program update, Proposed Code of Procedure Changes, Angler Education, Years of Service Awards for Delegates, some of the rule suggestions that citizens voted on on April 10 and before, whats new in Fish and Wildlife in Wisconsin, and news from the Natural Resources Board.

As far as I am concerned, there was good news and there was bad news. The good was that Bill Howe of Crawford County was inducted into the Conservation Congress Hall of Fame. Howe is the longest-serving congress member with 60 years under his belt. Bill knows more about the congress and the river and the outdoors than most of the rest of us combined. I am proud to know him.

The bad news is twofold in that no one, including Scott Walker, mentioned any movement on the onerous railroad trespass law. The other bad news is, for some reason the WCC Board pulled question 51 off the discussion table. Question 51 is in regard to allowing online voting on the spring hearing questions. As far as I and many other congress members I talked to are concerned, the Conservation Congress may as well pack up its tent and go home if online voting on the spring hearing questions become DNR policy. According to one longtime Grant County congress member, some in the Legislature have wanted to be rid of the Conservation Congress since the 80s. Online voting may just accomplish removing the up to now relatively powerful citizens advisory group.

The Kolbes took us out for an Oshkosh fish fry on Friday night at TJs Harbor Restaurant. We got a table on the patio with Lake Winnebago in the background; one of Pats former students was our waiter. The old fashions were excellent and the fried cheese curds were hot and seasoned to perfection and served with ranch dressing. Pat and I had fried perch and waffle fries. El had a rotisserie chicken wrap with veggies and basil aioli, while Lana had a Po Boy shrimp wrap. Anyway, it was great. Afterward we took a walk along the pier.

El and I went fishing with Pat on Lake Winnebago on Saturday. We had a nice boat ride on the big water jigging crawlers here and there. We had lots of hits, but only Pat caught a fish.

On the way home, El and I stopped to look at flowers and bedding plants at Coon Valley and Chaseburg.

Until next time, get out  on Sunday morning, we rolled down the river to Cassville to see my mom. El and I put up the bird feeder I made for Mom and then we feasted on brunch at J&Js Sandbar. Good stuff. We came home to Grouse Hollow to celebrate Mothers Day by mowing lawn, followed by drinks with Scout on the porch. Oh yeah, I was mowing on the tractor and listening to the Brewers and Mets. I turned off my headset when Milwaukee fell behind 7-1. Duh. Milwaukee won. 11- 9! How bout dem Brewers? My plan is to be heading out into the turkey woods in the morning  maybe. Enjoy.
Hanna Agar is a conceptual photographer who not only does fine art photography, but also commercial photography with a fine art flair.

Art lovers will have an opportunity to see and purchase Agars work when they visit her Viroqua studio during the second annual Winding Roads Art Tour, Saturday, May 20, and Sunday May 21. The self-guided art tour will take people to nine studios in Viroqua and 12 more within a 20-mile radius of the city.

When its time for her to formulate images for a client, Agars first step is to go into a quiet room with a blank piece of paper. If Agar is going to photograph a musician, for example, shell listen to their music and jot down ideas and sketches for the photo shoot.

When I sit down and do it, it is a meditation on my client, she said. I think about their idea and what comes to mind. I really enjoy that part.

With my personal work, the fine art photography, sometimes an image will pop in my mind, Agar said. Sometimes if I see a random prop it sparks interest.

Agar said that during photo shoots she plans as much as possible.

Spontaneity may happen, and often are my favorite images. Planning helps you get 75 percent there and then I let them play, she said. People feel more comfortable and you get a true moment for them; thats fun and exciting.

Her professional images have not only been for musicians, but also for variety entertainers like jugglers.

Its all about them, Agar said. Ill theatricalize them and bring in humor and narrative. Its not just a head shot, theres a theatricality to it. I like to bring out the character within each person, so its like a picture from a storybook.

Her professional photography also includes images for advertising.

In addition to her commercial and personal fine art work, Agar retouches images from other photographers.

She works on the tone and color of others images and removes such things as wrinkles and fly-away hair.

Agar also retouches her images. The image I take is a background sketch and I add layers of integrity to it. I bring in more color and add (images).

I try to keep it simple while still going over the top, and then I subtract. Its building, building and then I step back a bit. Its a fine point and at the end, then thats it  thats done  and thats exciting, Agar said.

As she layers the images and colors in her own work, she creates images that are surreal and others that have a fun, silly quality.

Agar, a 2003 Westby High School graduate and a 2009 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, moved back to Vernon County with her husband, Brendan Karlstad, a year ago. She spent five years in Brooklyn, New York, working and learning from photographers.

Since she has returned to the area, she has started working with more local businesses and artists.

In New York City, theres such a concentration of everybody, she said. There was lots of work and there were interesting people. Theres a perceived prestige in New York City.

Agar said she is happy to be back in the Midwest and hopes to bring more attention to people who choose to live in small city.

There are musicians and other people who do interesting things and value that environment (of a small city), she said. I appreciate all of the interesting work around here...

Agar said an art tour is important for artists and the public because of the exposure it provides.

Even though Im part of the arts community, Im still surprised by how many artists and studios there are in the area, she said. Not everyone realizes the concentration and variety of artists in the area. Its valuable to seen an artists space and see the creating in progress and see the effort and love going into each piece.

She said seeing art behind the scenes can be inspiring and valuable. You can find out why they do what they do. I find that interesting.

The invitation of a tour is giving an invitation to approach the artist, Agar said. It allows you to pick your favorites and check them out.

Another benefit of the tour, she said, is seeing the Vernon County landscape.

Amy Arnold and her husband, Kelsey Sauber Olds, work collaboratively on carved wood sculptures in their rural Viroqua studio. Their studio was open during last years tour. It was really great, she said. This year, Arnolds friend Leah Evans will be in their studio with her map-inspired textiles.

Like Agar, Arnold likes how a tour exposes people to area artists.

You can see what the process is and who made it, Arnold said. Artists can share that and its rewarding. Its a great thing for the community and the artist.

She said the potential for a tour to bring in people and money to an area is huge.
The seeds of Jaia Wilbour and Raina Gravatts musical partnership go way back, back to when they met in kindergarten at the Waldorf School in Viroqua. We became friends right away, Wilbour said. Weve just been best friends forever.

It took some time for their music to bloom, with each taking her own independent path at first, playing at open mic nights at The Root Note in La Crosse until their paths brought them together in high school to form a musical duo, Anima. The name is taken from the Latin root from which animal comes from, and Anima is a word that for them carries deep meanings: soul, spirit, life, breath. Its supposed to be pronounced ah-nim-uh, though people have come up with a lot of their own alternatives.

One big turning point for the two came when they started singing in harmony. The first time they ever tried it in public was during an Ed Sheeran song, Give Me Love, on The Root Note stage, feet away from where they are conducting an interview about their soon-to-be-released debut album, Out in the Woods. The reaction to the way their voices blended was strong and encouraging.

We were getting a lot of crazy good feedback from our families, Gravatt said, noting that just every time theyd get together theyd be asked to sing.

It just kind of worked. We didnt even really think about it very much, Wilbour added. At that point, I dont think we even thought of ourselves as a real band. It was just an opportunity to make music together.

After playing an open mic session hosted by Shawn Neary of Cloud Cult, they got another boost when they came to the attention of Driftless Books and Music owner Eddy Nix, who was just starting to book live music at the store.

Anima got a chance to open for a lot of touring acts at Driftless. That gave them the opportunity to hone their performances in a close-to-home, friendly environment, and now, at the tender age of 19, Wilbour and Gravatt already have had a chance to play with Barefoot Movement, Dead Horses, Natty Nation, TUGG, Rucksack Revolution, Eddie Danger, Auralai and many more.

They had done some casual recording over the years, but they connected with Auralais Nate Lehner and got a chance in February to spend four days working in his recording studio in Oshkosh. Until that point, the songs theyve written have been presented by the two of them, both of them guitar players, with Gravatt sometimes adding keyboards. The chance to flesh out the songs with more instrumental colors and layers was exciting and a little scary.

It was like a big jump, kind of an adjustment, Gravatt said.

Wilbour added that it took a leap of faith to open songs that had been theirs alone up to contributions from Lehner on guitar, Auralai cellist Stephanie Tcshech and other guest musicians (including Gravatts brother, Lucas, who plays bass on all the tracks). We really enjoyed hearing what they could bring to the songs, Wilbour said. The more that time went on, the more we came to love them.

The two were very impressed with everything Lehner brought to the project, which included photography and videography in addition to his musical and recording production skills. Hes a very multitalented human being, Wilbour said.

The five contemplative pop-folk songs on Out in the Woods all feature Wilbour on lead vocals, though Gravatt also takes lead on a good share of the bands tunes in live performances. The lyrics dig deep into weighty topics  human nature, healing, relationships, persistence in the face of difficulty  all through a lens that emphasizes connections to the natural world.

Animas core mission is world improvement, and the duo figures the best way to do that is through art. I really just want people to find meaning in it, whatever meaning they need at the time, Gravatt said of the new album. Meaning that inspires them to make the world a better place. That personal meaning is important.

We really need that in the world right now, Wilbour added, to be inspired and hopeful and helping each other out.

Anima will play a series of concerts celebrating the release of Out in the Woods starting with a rooftop show Saturday at La Crosses Charmant Hotel and a Sunday show at Driftless Books and Music, at which Gravatt and Wilbour will be joined Auralais Lehner and Tcshech. On bass guitar for both shows this weekend will be Gravatts brother, Lucas, who was her first musical partner and a big influence on her. He explosively emits art constantly, Gravatt said of Lucas.

In June and July, Anima will perform in Winona, Minneapolis, Oshkosh and Madison before taking a swing out west to play in Colorado, Oregon and California.

Wilbour and Gravatt both are committed to pursuing music as a career and are contemplating possible expansion of their band to include other musicians. Theyre looking forward already to their next chance to get in the recording studio and are determined to continually improve their musicianship and songcraft.

Though theyre serious about their music, they laugh when asked whether Anima could become a household name. I find it hard to believe that would happen with the right pronunciation, but that would be cool, Gravatt said.
Longtime Westby Area School District Board of Education President David Eggen stepped down from the position at the district organizational meeting on Monday, May 8, swapping seats with Board of Education Vice President Gerry Roethel.

Eggen nominated Roethel for the position, which passed unanimously among board members present. Representative Dan Kotek couldnt attend the meeting.

Eggen said after the meeting he had held the position for 12 years, mostly because no board members showed interest in the post. When he learned Roethel was prepared to step into the position he wanted an easy transition and nominated him.

The other positions remained the same: Dan Kotek, treasurer and Robert Kerska, clerk. The board members are Cary Joholski, Andy Lipski and Eric Thunstedt.
Free fun is on tap June 3 and 4 for everyone in Wisconsins great outdoors.

On these two days, Wisconsin residents and visitors can fish for free, hike or bike state trails for free, enjoy free admission to state parks and forests and ride public ATV trails for free.

Free fun weekend is for Wisconsin residents and visitors alike:

No fishing license is needed to fish any waters. This includes inland trout and Great Lakes trout and salmon fishing, which normally would require a trout stamp in addition to a license. Fishing rules such as limits on the size and species of fish that can be kept do apply, however.

All state trail pass fees on all DNR-owned state trails are waived and cooperatively-run state trails also may waive fees.

All state park vehicle admission sticker fees on all DNR-owned properties are waived.

ATV registration and trail pass fees are waived.

More information about free fun weekend in Wisconsins outdoors is available on DNRs website. Go to dnr.wi.gov and search free fun.
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The most expensive school board race in U.S. history concluded Tuesday with two Los Angeles Unified School District board seats in play, and incumbent LAUSD Board President Steve Zimmer conceding early in the night to charter-friendly challenger Nick Melvoin. Tonight's election results could define the future of LAUSD: if Kelly Gonez also emerges victorious, LAUSD will have a pro-charter majority for the first time in its history. With about 20% of the LAUSD vote reporting, Gonez currently has a 3.69% lead over her opponent, Imelda Padilla.

Big news->> likely nation's second largest school district will be run by majority pro-charter board.  Madeleine Brand (@TheMadBrand) May 17, 2017

District 4 (which encompasses much of the westside and the southwestern part of the valley), saw incumbent School Board president Steve Zimmer pitted against attorney and LMU adjunct professor Nick Melvoin. Addressing a crowd of his supporters, Zimmer called the loss devastating and said he'd never run for office again, according to the L.A Times.

That I am a teacher, who is engaged in this fight for years and Im trying to support our teachers and give parents more support in making good decisions with their kids, Melvoin told CBS LA.

Melvoin has been painted by the teachers unions as a supporter of President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's for-profit charter school vision, notes Ballotpedia. Melvoin has denied these claims, citing his work with the Hillary Clinton campaign and his lifelong affiliation with the Democratic party as a counter-point.

Both teacher tenure and seniority-based hiring/firing systems need reform, Melvoin has said of his run for the District 4 seat. As a teacher in Watts, I had firsthand experience with these policies and fought for their revision. I remain concerned about the inherent inequities in how layoffs affect students as well as teachers.

Zimmer, meanwhile, has come out saying he is not against charter schools. According to the Los Angeles Times, however, he has noted that he prefers to limit charter school expansion until high quality education has been ensured throughout the district.

Zimmer has seen some $2.35 million contributed to his re-election campaign, mainly through unions. Melvoin has seen nearly double that amount contributed ($5.59 million) via such donors as Michael Bloomberg, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Richard Riordan, and the Walton family.

In District 6 (spanning most of the eastern San Fernando Valley) a similar race played out. Here, an open school board seat, saw Imelda Padilla, a community organizer, garner the support of labor unions, and Kelly Gonez, a teacher, curry the favor of charter school advocates.

"A lot of people are upset that I have unapologetically made myself out to be the labor candidate," Padilla told KPCC. "My narrative was, 'I am not anti-charter, it just happens that CCSA [California Charter School Association] is anti-collective bargaining.'"

According to the Los Angeles Times, Gonez has stated that there should be no caps on charter school growth, rather we must ensure that schools are only being opened when there is a real, significant need in the community and that we are being conscientious of potential saturation and over-proliferation.

Update [12:30 a.m.]: With almost 58% of precincts reporting and Gonez's slight lead holding (she's currently at 51.62% to Padilla's 48.37%), the candidate has declared victory, according to L.A. Times education reporter Joy Resmovits:

Kelly Gonez just declared victory for #LAUSD board, an advisor says. If results hold, say hello to L.A.'s new charter school majority.  Joy (@Joy_Resmovits) May 17, 2017

Based on the results we're seeing, I feel confident that the voters of BD6 have voted to make me your next member of the Board of Education.  Kelly Gonez (@KellyGonez) May 17, 2017

With additional reporting by Julia Wick.
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Donald Trumps first foreign trip as U.S. president will not be in neighboring Canada or Mexico like all other American presidents since Ronald Reagan.

Trump will go first to Saudi Arabia, where he will be welcomed by King Salman. The Saudi leader is organizing a greeting committee of as many 20 other heads of state representing a large percentage of the worlds 1.5 billion Sunni Muslims.

Robert Satloff is head of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He thinks the trip will show how Trumps policies on the Middle East are different from those of former president Barack Obama.

The most useful way to look at President Trumps strategy is to see him as the anti-Obama, Satloff says.

Satloff also says Obama made a purposeful effort to talk directly to the people. His first trip to the Middle East included speeches not to national assemblies and parliaments but to universities where he could talk over the heads of the leaders. He wanted to create a new balance in the Arab world, characterized by speaking to people rather than leaders. Trump wants to undo all that.

Trumps aides believe his visit to Riyadh is a chance for him to improve relations with Muslims. During the 2016 election campaign, Trump made critical comments about Muslims. And he began his presidency with an announcement of a temporary ban on Muslim refugees and visas for people from several Muslim-majority countries.

Human rights groups are not surprised that Trump has chosen to meet with the Saudi king.

Its certainly a consistent choice, given the parade of dictators whove been welcomed at the White House, said Andrea Presow of Human Rights Watch.

This week, Trump meets at the White House with several autocratic Muslim leaders, including Egypts Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

Richard LeBaron of the Atlantic Council was the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait. He says expectations are low. The travel ban didnt come as a shock to Muslims. They had built it into their expectations about Trump.

National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters that the president would tell Sunni leaders to fight radical Islam. Trump has called it an ideology that uses a perverted interpretation of religion to justify crimes against all humanity.

McMaster said the president will encourage our Arab and Muslim partners to take bold, new steps to promote peace and to confront those, from ISIS to al Qaida to Iran to the Assad regime, who perpetuate (the) chaos and violence that has inflicted so much suffering throughout the Muslim world and beyond.

That message is likely to be welcomed by Sunni Muslim leaders. They worried about Obamas attempts to improve relations with Iran, a country they blame for much of the trouble in the Middle East.

Ali Shihabi is a Saudi Arabian citizen and the head of the Arabia Institute, a Washington-based research organization. He said Trumps visit to Saudi Arabia sends a message that he understands that Americas Muslim allies are the first line of defense in the fight against terrorism.

Trump to visit other cities

Trump's nine-day overseas trip begins on Friday. Besides Riyadh, the trip will include stops in Jerusalem, the Vatican, Brussels and Sicily.

McMaster called this a historic trip. He said, No president has ever visited the homelands and holy sites of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths all on one trip.

Trump's trip, however, has been overshadowed by continuing questions on Trumps sharing of intelligence on ISIS with Russian visitors and his recent firing of FBI Director James Comey.

VOA White House Correspondent Peter Heinlein reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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Words in This Story

strategy  n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time

characterized by  expression to be a typical feature or quality of (someone or something)

autocrat  n. a person who rules with total power

ideology  n. the set of ideas and beliefs of a group or political party

pervert  v. to change (something good) so that it is no longer what it was or should be

interpretation  n. the act or result of explaining or interpreting something; the way something is explained or understood

perpetuate  v. to cause (something that should be stopped, such as a mistaken idea or a bad situation) to continue

inflict  v. to cause someone to experience or be affected by (something unpleasant or harmful)
Three months ago, the top commander of United States and international forces in Afghanistan met with a U.S. Senate committee.

Army General John Nicholson spoke about military operations against the Taliban. Nicholson said he needed a few thousand more troops to end what he called a stalemate in Afghanistan.

Since then, spring has returned to the country. In recent years, the warmer weather has linked to new fighting between Taliban and international forces.

Yet the U.S. administration has yet to announce its plans for Afghanistan.

Sean Spicer is a spokesman for President Donald Trump.

No decision has been made, so lets not get ahead of what that ultimate policy will be.

U.S. military officials tell VOA that the Trump administrations policy could include sending a few thousand more international troops to Afghanistan.

American and international military leaders have sent additional troops to the country in the past to fight Taliban forces. But experts say any additional troops sent in the future will be deployed differently.

Thomas Spoehr is a retired lieutenant general. He currently directs the Washington-based Heritage Foundation National Defense Center.

This time we are directly enabling the Afghan army, so were trying to make that army more powerful, so its a different thrust than what we did in the past.

Officials say the administrations policy will be directed more on the needs of the international force than the number of troops. They think the administration could provide support for increased Afghan air power and special-forces.

Some experts do not believe an increase in the number of coalition troops will have an immediate effect.

Daniel Coats is the U.S. Director of National Intelligence.

The intelligence community assesses that the political and security situation in Afghanistan will almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in military assistance by the United States and its partners.

The Taliban now controls more territory in Afghanistan than at any time since 2001. But more military pressure could be a way to force the Taliban to begin negotiating with the Afghan government.

Officials tell VOA that Afghan forces have a goal of slow, but continuing progress over the next few years, not a fast defeat of the Taliban.

Some have criticized the Afghan militarys stalemate with the Taliban. But American generals say the anti-terrorism operation has been successful.

General Raymond Thomas is the head of the U.S. Special Forces Command.

The one objective we had for why we went there in the first place that -- that weve accomplished over the last 15-and-a-half years -- is the avoidance of another attack from that area, and that certainly is an accomplishment and something that we need to reinforce going forward.

The importance of the anti-terrorism operation has increased since Islamic State fighters moved to Afghanistan. Their arrival and the decision to support a long-term fight against the Taliban lead many experts to think that Trump will not seek to remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan anytime soon.

Im Jonathan Evans.

VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

stalemate  n. a contest, dispute, competition, etc., in which neither side can gain an advantage or win

ultimate  adj. happening or coming at the end of a process, series of events, etc.

thrust  n. the main point or meaning of something

assess  v. to make a judgment about (something)

deteriorate  v. to become worse as time passes

modest  adj. not very large in size or amount

accomplishment  n. something done, achieved or accomplished successfully

reinforce  v. to encourage or give support to (an idea, behavior, feeling, etc.)






From father to son

The blood runs thin

See faces frozen still

Against the wind



The seam is split

The coal face cracked

The lines are long

There's no going back

Through hands of steel

And heart of stone

Our labor day

Has come and gone



Yeah you leave me holding on

In Red Hill town

See lights go down, I'm



Hanging on

You're all that's left to hold on to

I'm still waiting

I'm hanging on

You're all that's left to hold on to



The glass is cut

The bottle run dry

Our love runs cold

In the caverns of the night

We're wounded by fear

Injured in doubt

I can lose myself

You I can't live without



Yeah you keep me holding on

In Red Hill town

See the lights go down on

I'm hanging on

You're all that's left to hold on to

I'm still waiting

Hanging on

You're all that's left to hold on to, on to



We'll scorch the earth

Set fire to the sky

We stoop so low, to reach so high

A link is lost

The chain undone

We wait all day

For night to come

And it comes

Like a hunter child



I'm hanging on

You're all that's left to hold on to

I'm still waiting

I'm hanging on

You're all that's left to hold on to



Love, slowly stripped away

Love, has seen its better day



- lyrics by U2


Kenneth Lloyd Kring, 87, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at Cozad Care & Rehabilitation Center in Cozad.

Funeral Service will be Monday, May 22, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Lexington with the Rev. Anne Gahn officiating. Masonic Rites will also be held.

Visitation will be held Sunday, May 21, 2017, from 2-4 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Chapel in Lexington.

Cremation will then take place. Inurnment will be held Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at Robb Cemetery with Military Honors.

Ken was born Oct. 20, 1929, in Lexington to Lloyd Kanton and Gladys Mabel (Orthman) Kring. He attended school in Lexington, and instead of graduating with his class, which would have been in 1947, he joined the United States Navy. He would later earn his GED.

He was united in marriage to Marilyn Wallace on Jan. 18, 1953, at N.A.S., North Island, San Diego, Calif. Two daughters were blessed to this marriage, Lori and Kathy. The family would travel the country with Ken as he served in the Navy.

Ken served in various areas throughout the world, such as Korea, Japan, Maryland, San Diego, Calif., Midway Island and Moffett Field in Mountain View, Calif., Adak, Alaska and Pensacola, Fla., as well as other places, until his honorable discharge in 1969. Upon his discharge, the family returned to Lexington where he worked 21 plus years for N.P.P.D., retiring in 1991. He then drove for Reynolds-Love Funeral Home, along with Marilyn, and their furry friend, Chloe.

Upon retirement, Ken enjoyed spending time at the Grand Generation Center, traveling to meet his Navy buddies, and their families, at the yearly U.S.S. Boxer Reunions. The couple visited all 50 states.

Ken was a member of First United Methodist Church, Mercury Club, Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, and VFW.

Ken was one-of-a-kind! He could tell a joke, make a friend, be the biggest teaser you ever saw, and had the biggest heart of anyone you ever met. You will be missed Ken and Thank you from all of us for your service to our country.

Ken is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marilyn of Lexington; his daughters, Lori (Richard) Cumpston of Lexington and Kathy Kring of Henderson, Nev.; one brother, Duane (Stonelle) Kring of Tyler, Texas; sister, Elaine Cantrell of Lexington; brother-in-law, Bob (Susan) Wallace of Kearney; also surviving are nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jim; and brothers-in-law, John Wallace, and Bob Cantrell, and sister-in-law and husband, C.J. and Margaret (Wallace) Graves.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. To share online condolences, please visit: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.
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The Legislative Assembly debated the recruitment issues related to public departments yesterday. The matter concerns workers recruited by the government through irregular contracts, such as the controversial recruitment system that has been in use for the past few years by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), lead the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture to initiate disciplinary procedures against the former IC president, Ung Vai Meng, along with the two IC vice presidents during Ungs tenure.

The debate was proposed by lawmaker Leong Veng Chai, who in his opening remarks noted that these specific irregular contracts indicated the affected employees were not temporary, since the work performed by civil servants was regulated in the same way as that of standard contract workers.

In addition, these outsourced employees could obtain salaries corresponding to civil servants wages or even higher.

Leong declared that the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Sonia Chan, must supervise public services especially related to this area.

Sonia Chan began by stating that there are still around 10 people who were hired through irregular contract arrangements working in government departments. She added that those people do not include the ones working for the IC. According to Sonia Chan, the government is trying to solve the problems surrounding these workers.

Some of them will not see their contracts renewed after their employment contracts come to an end; some will be dealt with through normal recruitment methods.

Some people were employed by the government through task contracts, lawmaker Leong Veng Chai mentioned.

According to Sonia Chan, currently task contracts do not exist in government departments following a Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) report that triggered the IC case.

The secretary noted that problematic recruitment was not a consequence of the recruitment policy of the citys public departments, deeming that the recruitment system itself is not a mistake.

Sonia Chan believes that the key lies in how the government uses the system.

Further, she believes that, after CCACs persuasion, the involved government departments should gain enough insight on how to use the system properly.

Despite this, all lawmakers who voiced their opinion during the AL plenary meeting yesterday agreed that some government departments have problematic recruitment procedures. Lawmaker Melinda Chan commented that firing the people hired through contracts would be unfair to them.

The secretary responded by saying that putting an end to the employment contracts will lead to some of the people involved becoming unemployed.

However, she informed that these workers knew in the first place that the government departments were signing temporary contracts with them, whereby there is no unfairness.

In addition, Sonia Chan refuted claims made by lawmaker Leong Veng Chai, who said that the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ) holds many employees hired through problematic contracts.

Lawmaker Mak Soi Kun told Sonia Chan it does not seem that you are debating with us. You have the responsibility to supervise. He explained that Chans department has the responsibility to supervise departments with the aim of simplifying their administration procedures and reducing the number of workers.

Mak pointed out that the departments under Sonia Chans responsibility should have a system in place to supervise themselves in order to help her departments form a simpler administration.

Sonia Chan told Mak that her departments have indeed been reviewing and supervising themselves.

Lawmaker Leong Veng Chai then seized a chance to reply to her. Leong informed that a few civil servants from the DSAJ had reported that their bureau was employing many workers hired through irregular contracts.

It is a little bit funny that you ask me to provide evidence, Leong said, adding that the lawmakers also reported the issues to the government but the government did not care.

You paid attention when the CCAC brought out a report. I hope that you could comprehend when lawmakers give opinions, Leong argued.

Secretary Sonia Chan acknowledged her responsibilities in supervising irregular recruitment, although she denied that the DSAJ had hired people through task contracts.

Lawmaker Zheng Anting pointed out that nobody has been punished in light of the irregular recruitments.

Moreover, Zheng wondered whether corruption was involved in these cases. He also noted that some departments have more employees than necessary, while others do not have enough employees.

Sonia Chan clarified that the leadership within these departments will review all cases as to figure out if illegal behaviour was involved in the recruitment process.

Chan also said that, currently, her departments are controlling the total number of employees.

Lawmaker Au Kam San said that bureaucracy is like this; if no incidents happen, they [department leaders] will keep sitting in their positions.

Sonia Chan, in reply to several lawmakers, claimed that her departments hope to come up with an accountability system by June, and that the said system will be implemented within the year.

In her conclusion, Sonia Chan said that the fourth SAR government pays importance to the construction and reform of the civil servants system.

Through the reform of the civil servants system, government departments can implement policies according to the law, she added.

CCAC reports are a very good reminder to several of our departments, she said, adding that the administration and justice fields will construct systems according to their rights and will also enhance the training of civil servants.
When the sister of President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner promoted investment in her familys new skyscraper from a Beijing hotel ballroom stage earlier this month, she was pitching a controversial American visa program thats proven irresistible to tens of thousands of Chinese.

More than 100,000 Chinese have poured at least USD24 billion in the last decade into golden visa programs across the world that offer residence in exchange for investment, an Associated Press analysis has found. Nowhere is Chinese demand greater than in the United States, which has taken in at least $7.7 billion and issued more than 40,000 visas to Chinese investors and their families in the past decade, the AP found.

The Chinese investors flocking to these programs are people like Jenny Liu, a doctoral student in the eastern city of Nanjing, who sold her apartment two years ago and moved in with her parents. She used the money from the sale to invest $500,000 in a hotel project in the United States. If the project creates enough jobs in two years, shell get a prized green card and a pathway for a less stressful education for her 9-year-old son.

My son has a lot of homework to do every day, but I dont think he has learned a lot from school, Liu said. I hope he can actually pick up some useful knowledge or skills rather than only learn how to pass tests.

The flood of investors reflects how Chinas rise has catapulted tens of millions of families into the middle class. But at the same time, it shows how these families are increasingly becoming restless as cities remain choked by smog, home prices multiply and schools impose ever-greater pressure on children. They also feel insecure about being able to protect their property and savings.

Their money goes toward government bonds, businesses, mountain ski resorts, new schools and real estate projects, including a Trump-

branded tower in New Jersey built by the Kushner Companies, once run by Jared Kushner, now a White House senior adviser. But the industry is murky, loosely regulated and sometimes fraud-ridden  in the U.S., federal regulators have linked the EB-5 visa program to fraud cases involving more than $1 billion in investment in the last four years.

The EB-5 program and many others like it market heavily in China.

Chinas golden visa investors are part of a wave characterized not by poverty, persecution or war, but by people with steady jobs and homes who are pursuing happiness thats eluded them in their homeland.

Key to their spending power is Chinas real estate boom. Real estate prices in Chinas largest cities have more than tripled in the last decade, with prices in Beijing rising by an average of 25 percent a year during that time. Since late 2015 alone, Beijings home prices have jumped 63 percent, making a 1,300 square-foot (120 square-meter) apartment worth more than $1 million.

A family that gained ownership of an ordinary apartment more than a decade ago can now sell it for the price of a golden visa. And as their dissatisfaction with Chinas problems grows, more families are choosing to do so.

The AP obtained data from officials in 13 countries on how many Chinese have used their investor programs since 2007. To estimate money spent, the AP multiplied the numbers of Chinese investors in each country by the minimum investment required, making the APs figures for each country an undercount.

The market leader is the United States EB-5 program, which gives green cards to anyone who invests $500,000 in a business that creates or saves at least 10 jobs. But Portugal has drawn $1.7 billion over four years from Chinese investors willing to buy property to support its faltering real estate market. Spain and Greece offer similar programs. Chinese have bought the most visas in all three countries.

The EB-5 program has been heavily criticized by government watchdogs and targeted by lawmakers of both parties in Congress, who say it promotes fraud and helps developers building megaprojects more than struggling communities. Defenders of EB-5 say it creates jobs and provides vital funding for projects across the United States, from massive developments in New York to hotels, restaurants and small businesses in the Midwest and on the West Coast.

Nicole Meyer, Kushners sister, appeared this month at events in Beijing and Shanghai to promote One Journal Square, a New Jersey tower project planned by the Kushner family that would be partially funded through EB-5 investment. The presentation included a photo of Trump and vague promises that the project had government support and was founded by celebrity developers.

The company later apologized for any implication that her brother was supporting the project, and Meyer pulled out of a scheduled presentation in China this past weekend. The White House said Kushner would follow conflict of interest policies and that Trump and Congress would review all the various visa programs in due course.

Many Chinese are well aware of the risks involved, but invest anyway.

Du Juan attended a seminar in Beijing held by an investment group pitching ski resorts and other projects. Her primary focus is getting her 10-year-old daughter enrolled soon in an American school.

I dont worry about the $500,000, but I worry about the loss of time, Du said. I am afraid that well be unable to get the visa when we need it. Nomaan Merchant, AP

Chinas favorite programs

Consulting firms in Chinas biggest cities hawk investor visa programs in weekly sessions at hotels and on social media. The market leader is the United States, as urban Chinese are widely familiar with American schools and culture. Here are the five countries with the most visas issued to Chinese investors in the last decade:
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stopped by in Hong Kong late last week where he addressed his compatriots at a meeting, before heading to the two-day Belt and Road Summit in Beijing that concluded on Monday.

The Philippine community in the neighboring SAR welcomed the visit of the popular president, who spoke for over an hour at the Regal Airport Hotel on Saturday afternoon. Members of the audience chanted his name with fists in the air as he approached the podium to make his address.

Duterte asked his supporters and compatriotrs to give him just three to four years [to get things done].

Just give me time to stop corruption, he pleaded.

According to the South China Morning Post, Rex Aguado, the chairman of the Philippine Association of Hong Kong, said that the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong had invited community organizations to join the meeting, which was attended by around 1,000 people.

Its an honor for us that its the presidents first time dropping by Hong Kong, said Aguado, as cited by the SCMP. Lots of Filipino businesses in Hong Kong still dont have a clear direction of the Philippines role in the Belt and Road Initiative.

He said that he hoped the president would provide some insight into how his country can fit into the initiative.

Around 200,000 Philippine nationals are currently based in Hong Kong, according to the SCMP, most of whom work as foreign domestic helpers.

According to the 2016 by-census conducted in Macau, the MSAR is home to nearly 29,000 Philippine nationals. Accordingly, the Philippines is one of just four countries with a consulate-general based in Macau  as opposed to Hong Kong  alongside Portugal, Angola and Mozambique. DB
The Mozambican President asked international organizations and countries that contribute financially to the State Budget to resume this support so that the government can consolidate the countrys development efforts, Mozambican newspaper Noticias reported.

Filipe Nyusis statements in Angoche at the end of a three-day visit to Nampula province were the first official response to the delivery of the international audit report on the loans contracted by three public companies with the support of the Mozambican state.

The report, drawn up by Kroll Associates UK, was delivered last Friday to the Attorney Generals Office, which is leading the investigation into the loans and the final destination of more than USD2 billion.

The progress made in restoring effective peace and the ongoing macroeconomic correction measures in the country are key to restoring confidence among partners and investors, said Nyusi, thanking the Swedish government for its support in paying for the audit.

The President also noted the willingness of the government to provide the necessary support for the conclusion of this process conducted by the Attorney Generals Office. MDT/Macauhub
The pageantry permeating Beijing this week showed that Chinas expansive vision for a new global economic order had another goal: Boosting President Xi Jinpings grip on power at home.

From fawning state media campaigns to the words of the man himself, the so-called Belt and Road Forum repeatedly stressed Xis centrality to infrastructure-and-trade initiative that brought about 30 world leaders to Beijing, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Communist Party chief claimed personal credit for the project of the century, unusual in a political system that stresses collective leadership.

This is the initiative I proposed in 2013, Xi said at a round table discussion Monday featuring the leaders of the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. This initiative stemmed from my observations and thoughts about the worlds situation.

Greater prestige may help Xi put supportive officials in place during a twice-a-decade leadership reshuffle that will determine his ability to enact a politically fraught economic overhaul. Xi has already become Chinas most powerful leader since at least Deng Xiaoping in the 1990s, and the next few years will shape his legacy for decades to come.

In a year of power transition, if you can score a domestic policy or diplomatic victory, it is a political bonus, said Zhang Jian, an associate political science professor at Peking University. The Belt and Road Initiative is a large-scale project that links the domestic economy with diplomacy  its his most important and legacy-defining policy.

Since Xi first outlined plans in 2013 to recreate ancient Silk Road trading routes between Asia and Europe, the program has repeatedly changed names and been elevated to a top national strategy spanning the globe. On Sunday, Xi pledged 540 billion yuan (USD78 billion) in financing and encouraged banks to contribute another 300 billion yuan in overseas capital to support his project.

Meanwhile, breathless state-run coverage portrayed the Belt and Road Initiative as having near limitless potential to remake the world, with China  and Xi  at its center. State television showed Xi and his celebrity wife, Peng Liyuan, receiving Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other heads of state, while top diplomats such as U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond paraded on stage to praise the presidents program.

Thanks to him, more and more people are interested in todays China, a video about the forum by the partys Peoples Daily newspaper said of Xi. Under his leadership, Chinas circle of friends is growing bigger and bigger.

Beijings notorious pollution even dissipated as Chinas state machinery snapped into action to make Xi look good. The brilliant blue skies, which authorities often engineer for high-profile events by shuttering factories and taking cars off roads, provided a symbolic backdrop for a leader seeking to show hes in control.

Even before the event got under way, some diplomats in Beijing were complaining the Chinese hadnt allowed sufficient time for input while preparing the events final communique, according to people familiar with the process. The draft combined commitments to open international markets with endorsements of Chinas diplomatic goals, the people said.

The final communique emphasized dialogue, consultation and cooperation between participant nations. Signatories to the almost 2,200-word document pledged to oppose all forms of protectionism, including in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative while promoting a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system. MDT/Bloomberg
Following new policies announced by Beijing this month at a Portuguese-speaking countries culture forum held in the Chinese capital, investors and analysts in the two SARs say they see an opportunity for Macau and Hong Kong to step up their role in the exchange of goods and services between China and lusophone countries.

Among the areas for development outlined during the culture forum are aviation links with Macau International Airport and the maturity of the MSAR as a platform for food and wine products from countries such as Portugal and Brazil.

Popular products from Portuguese-

speaking countries include food products such as fish and olive oil, as well as alcoholic beverages like wine and port. Meanwhile, Angola is prized for its export of commodities such as oil, gas and diamonds.

According to Reuters estimates, acquisition deals involving Hong Kong, mainland China and Portugal and Brazil totaled over USD219 billion in 2016, almost double that recorded in the previous year.

However, the value of trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries continued its decline in that same year, contracting 7.7 percent to around USD90.8 billion.

Of this total, nearly three-quarters was accounted for by trade solely between China and Brazil, while Angola and Portugal  the next two largest traders among Portuguese-

speaking countries  represented around 17 percent and 6 percent of the trade value respectively.

The president of the Hong Kong-

based group for Macanese people Club Lusitano, Daniel Rozario, told the South China Morning Post this week that the new policy will help Macau develop as a trading platform to import food and wine and other products from Portugal and Brazil.

Rozario, whose family is from Macau, also said that Hong Kong has a crucial role to play in the development of China-Lusophone trade facilitation. While Macau has been designated the responsibility of developing the platform, the citys lack of human resources means it is likely to require assistance from Hong Kongs experience as an Asian center of finance and trade.

Macau does not have many accounting or legal professionals and its banking network is not nearly as international as Hong Kongs, Rozario told the SCMP. This is how Hong Kong firms can contribute to its [Macaus] trade relationships. DB
Israeli officials yesterday sought to downplay any damage caused by President Donald Trumps disclosure of classified information to senior Russian officials that was provided by Israel, and lauded the robust security cooperation with the United States just days before the president is due to arrive for a state visit.

Despite fears that the leak could endanger a valuable Israeli intelligence asset within the Islamic State group, officials stressed that nothing would change as a result of the extraordinary breach.

The security relationship between Israel and our great ally the United States is deep, meaningful and unprecedented in its scope and contribution to our strength, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman tweeted. That is how it has been and that is how it will continue to be.

Israel has yet to acknowledge claims from U.S. officials that it was the source of the highly classified information about an Islamic State plot that Trump divulged to Russian diplomats.

Trump appears to have shared the information without Israels consent, which would mark a severe violation of the confidentiality of their intelligence-sharing agreement. Even more remarkable is that Trump chose to confide in representatives of an adversary, who could relay the information to its allies Iran and Syria, bitter enemies of Israel, and potentially find the source.

Trump is due to arrive in Israel next week as part of his first overseas trip as president. Israel has looked to Trump as a close ally but there has been growing apprehension over his unpredictability.

Trump has already walked back on some campaign promises that were favored by the Israeli government. He has expressed interest in brokering a peace deal with the Palestinians since becoming president, but its unclear what kind of demands he could make on Israel, if any, during his daylong visit next week. Conflicting comments from administration officials regarding Israels sovereignty over Jerusalems Western Wall have only added to the concerns.

The intelligence breach is the latest drama leading up to the visit. American officials say Trump shared details about an Islamic State terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak. The disclosure apparently came as Trump boasted about his access to classified intelligence.

Avi Dichter, a lawmaker in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party and a former head of the Shin Bet security service, said that even if what was reported was true it did not deliver a damaging blow.

The current president has been serving for slightly over 100 days. This is not enough time to accumulate experience that is as bad as it is described by the media, he told Israels Army Radio.

I am familiar with a few other cases over the years in other countries where they made use of materials  perhaps even in a more scandalous manner than was described by the media in this case.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said he had complete confidence in the American intelligence community. Intelligence cooperation between Israel and the United States regarding the threats posed by Iran and its proxies and ISIS and its affiliates will continue and deepen, he said, using an acronym for the IS group. Aron Heller, Jerusalem, AP
The Samsung brand is best known for its smartphones and wide-screen TVs. Yet behind the scenes, the conglomerate is also making a name as a contract manufacturer of complex medicines to treat diseases like cancer.

On a piece of reclaimed land along the western coast of South Korea, Samsung BioLogics Co. is building a USD740 million factory that will give it the capacity to become the No. 1 producer by volume of a class of drugs called biologics, many of which are derived from mammal cells.

The Samsung group diversified into the pharmaceutical sector in 2011. Now, its mobilizing its expertise in semiconductor making and engineering know-how to make the way biologics are produced on behalf of Big Pharma more efficient. The market for biologic medicines, which are used for everything from cancer to arthritis, is projected to exceed $223.7 billion by 2021, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence analysis.

Being a force in biologics is crucial to Samsung  and South Korea. Galaxy smartphones and other consumer electronics face intense competition from Apple Inc. and Chinese brands such as Huawei Technologies Co., and the chaebol is grappling with the arrest of de facto leader Jay Y. Lee in a scandal that brought down the countrys former president. Meanwhile, the broader economy needs new industries as shipbuilding and heavy manufacturing slow.

If the past 40 years of global economic growth were fueled by technology, said Kim Tae-han, chief executive officer of Samsung BioLogics, the next will be fueled by where that converges with health care.

Biologic drugs are grown from cells. That necessitates a more complex manufacturing process than typical pills  a mixture of chemicals  but makes biologics more effective and capable of being targeted toward certain diseases.

Samsung already is a contract manufacturer for some blockbuster drugs, including for Switzerlands Roche Holding AG and the U.S.s Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. It will take three years for the factory to ramp up to full capacity after being completed this year and opening at the end of 2018.

Globally, the drug industry produces 4 million liters of biologic drugs a year, and thats projected to double by 2030. With its new plant, Samsung BioLogics is positioning itself to double its market share. Shares are up 24 percent this year to 187,000 won. That compares with a 13 percent increase in the benchmark Kospi index.

Samsung and other companies in the sector have benefited from the Korean governments support of biopharmaceutical businesses. The Incheon Free Economic Zone offered Samsung BioLogics the factory land for 50 years without rent, the company said. New President Moon Jae-in railed against the chaebol during his campaign, but Samsung said in an email it expected him to boost the biopharmaceutical and health-care industries.

Nevertheless, Samsung faces some formidable competitors, who are also expanding. Switzerlands Lonza Group AG and Germanys Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH have long histories in the biologics contract manufacturing business, and Japans Fujifilm Holdings Corp. also entered the business. MDT/Bloomberg
Scientist Olga Sin, born and raised in Macau, recently won one of the largest competitions for scientific communication worldwide, the German finale of FameLab.

Currently conducting her research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind human brain diseases such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease, Sin secured first place and won the Audience Award in the German finale of FameLab.

Following her win, the researcher is slated to represent Germany in the international FameLab finale to be held in Cheltenham, England in June.

The scientist  who lived in Macau for 13 years  studied in Portugal and the Netherlands.

Presently based in Germany, Sin is a researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, as well as a member at the Young Academy of the Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence.

In particular, Sin is currently studying a phenomenon called protein aggregation, where certain proteins clump together.

Her current project focuses on how protein production is linked to neurodegenerative diseases.

Speaking with the Times, the scientist recalled that she discovered her passion for science over time.

I felt drawn to go in the science field because I liked the idea of scientific methods  how clear and objective it was, she explained.

Sin admitted that it was challenging to enter the renowned competition, which is now held in more than 30 countries, due to language barriers and the fact that the presentation on the complex scientific processes is three- minutes-long.

Asked whether she had thought of winning before entering the competition, the scientist recalled, not at all, due to the language barriers.

Although the competition acknowledges English speakers, it would be more favorable for the jury and guests for the presentation to be held in German.

I was already aware that I would face a language barrier that I can never overcome but I just went for it anyway to test myself and see whether I could break down complicated terms to simpler terms.

Sin defined her winning moment as a big surprise, adding that there were 8 finalists all of whom she considered outstanding.

Sin also shared that it is her passion to remove the boundary between people within science and people external to it.

According to her, she wishes to make science easy and understandable for everyone, which caused her to look for ways she could present her research.

However, the scholar admitted that research is a competitive field and unfortunately the system is slightly unforgiving.

It pressures scientists to publish a lot and in high-impact journals, sometimes at the expense of good quality research. One needs to have a good publication record in order to get funding for his or her research, Sin explained.

Consequently, one needs to have funding so he or she can continue publishing papers. This cycle makes the life of a scientist a bit unpredictable and unstable, so you have to be prepared to embrace uncertainty and take risks, she continued.

Yet the researcher considers herself lucky to conduct research, as she was awarded two postdoctoral fellowships: one from the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research and one from the European Commission for her current research project.

Asked what advice she would give to the local youngsters who wish to pursue a career in science, Sin responded, Go abroad, travel, go to international scientific conferences and show your works.

She also advised that it is important to be engaged in other activities that will allow youngsters to develop transferable skills.

For example, be an active member of your local student association and organize scientific meetings by inviting top-notch scientists to Macau, she added.

I would just like to say that I would be so proud to see young talents from Macau succeed in science and put Macau in the scientific landscape, the scholar concluded.
KETCHUM  As mining towns go, Boulder City scraped the top of Idahos sky.

Perched at 10,000 feet in a 500-acre cirque of rust-orange shale and Kelly green mountain meadows, this mining ghost town was about as high as you could go in a quest for gold and other precious minerals.

Gold was discovered here  on a mountaintop about 12 miles north of Ketchum  in 1879 by miners who had fanned south from the Bonanza-Custer area combing every mountainside and creek bed in search of fortune.

These driven men worked their way south along the East Fork of the Salmon River, climbing over the 11,300-foot Boulder Peak divide that sits 1,600 feet above the mining site. You can still see a faint trail line etched into the talus slopes.

They removed $1 million worth of ore from the shale-covered mountainsides before 1900. And between 1900 and the mid-1980s, miners removed another 110,000 ounces of silver, 610 ounces of gold and 1.3 million pounds of lead.

Today Boulder City, founded in 1881 as the second city in the Wood River Valley, ranks among one of the best preserved mining towns in south-central Idaho, though heavy winter snows continue to take their toll year after year.

This makes it an excellent destination for adventurers  hardy adventurers.

The ghost town lies about seven miles off Idaho 75 up a rocky, narrow, winding road that can be reached by four-wheel drive, ATV or horseback but is most often accessed on foot.

Those driving regular vehicles will definitely want to stop driving by the time they reach the first creek crossing. Hikers can cross it via a ragtag bridge constructed of log beams with lumber and tree branches laid on top.

From here, youll gain 2,300 feet of elevation as you trudge up a road that is covered by shale and a thin layer of water in some spots. But theres plenty to see along the way, including a couple of cabins, a beautiful waterfall that spills over green moss on Boulder Creek and vast mountainsides of rock colored in shades of rust by the minerals.

Ben Black, a young Hailey carpenter, examined the dovetail fittings in the cabins along the way.

The craftsmanship is pretty remarkable, he said.

Fireweed lines one side of the road, while lavender lupine and penstemon dot the other side. And everywhere are mountain scenes with evidence of mining activity that will take your breath away.

Its fascinating  a real walk back into history, said Hailey resident Mila Lyon. Just walking the road, were transported to a different place and time. The stories that could be told!

At the top hikers emerge into a different world  a wide meadow surrounded by mountains.

Past an old wooden rocker  used to separate gold from rock  is the town, which once boasted 80 buildings, including a store, a post office, a saloon and a 12-foot-square Swedish bathhouse that served as a sauna. The ore-processing mill looms over the rest, its tattered lumber standing over a rusted steam engine.

The century-old Boulder City hotel still stands, although bowed to the ravages of time and nature.

Also visible are the remnants of a 1,200-foot double cable that miners used to haul ore out of the Sorenson mine.

At the end of the day, miners would leave a 4-foot-tall metal bucket loaded with ore at the top of the cable. Then theyd ride up to the mine in a bucket powered by the weight of the ore coming down.

Dark holes in the rocks above represent the mouths of mining tunnels that stretched anywhere from a quarter-mile to 15.

The rock is so hard and solid that miners didnt need to shore it up as they do many mines.

Miners hauled their take out via donkeys over the 11,000-foot pass north to the Challis area for the first two years. Then in 1883, when the railroad came to Ketchum, they began hauling it in wagons down the narrow, winding road along Boulder Creek, chaining trees to the backs of wagons to slow them down.

Some mining towns virtually shut down in winter, but miners here continued to work even when 20 feet of snow had settled in the valley below.

The Swedish sauna and a whiskey still were the miners concessions to comfort in a winter environment where avalanches snapped pines like toothpicks, the nearby fishless lakes froze solid and mountain goats were the only things that moved, history buff Doug Money said.

Mining ceased in the 1980s, but some speculate theres still a lot of gold left.

If you go

You can visit Boulder City for yourself. Drive 12 miles north of Ketchum on Idaho 75 and turn east on Boulder Creek Road.

The road can be driven by four-wheel-drive vehicles, but its rocky, narrow and winding. Expect to drive 5 mph. It's better to take an ATV. Or hike 5.5 miles to the city from the first ford.

Hikers can park anywhere along the road in its first two miles. There are unmaintained camping areas under trees along the way.
TWIN FALLS  Alex Jones, the founder of the far-right conspiracy website InfoWars, has retracted accusations he made linking Chobani to a Twin Falls sexual assault and a rise in crime and disease in the city connected to hiring refugees.

The statement essentially acts as a settlement between Jones and the Greek-yogurt giant after Chobani filed a defamation suit against Jones and two of his companies last month.

"During the week of April 10, 2017, certain statements were made on the InfoWars Twitter feed and YouTube channel regarding Chobani, LLC, that I now understand to be wrong, Jones said. The tweets and video have now been retracted, and will not be reposted. On behalf of InfoWars, I regret that we mischaracterized Chobani, its employees and the people of Twin Falls, Idaho, the way we did."

The statement is a far cry from Jones initial public response to the lawsuit, when he doubled-down by calling Chobani CEO and founder Hamdi Ulukaya an Islamist who infiltrated the United States with the clear backing of Turkey.

In that 17-minute anti-Islamic rant, Jones said he would fight the suit. In another video posted that week, he vowed to come to Idaho to expose Ulukayas Islamacist agenda.

You want a fight? Jones asked during the second response video. You better believe, baby, youve got one.

But instead of fighting, Jones has rolled over. He and his companies had 21 days to fight the suit from the time he received a summons. Its unclear exactly when he received his summons, but Monday had marked 21 days since the lawsuit was filed.

The video statement has been added to the "corrections" section on the InfoWars website.

According to Chobani, the case has been resolved. Court records show no motions for dismissal were filed Wednesday.

The statement and the retraction of the stories amount to exactly what Chobani had asked for before filing its lawsuit. In the lawsuit, the companys lawyers said Jones and InfoWars have declined to remove the defamatory statements or publish a retraction despite multiple written demands.

Under the threat of the lawsuit though, Jones has removed the statements and published his retraction.

The lawsuit

The video that sparked the controversy was published April 11 and reported a direct connection between Chobani and the assault at the Fawnbrook Apartments, in which three refugee boys pleaded guilty to assaulting a 5-year-old girl. County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said theres no connection between the yogurt factory, which employs some refugees, and the assault.

The video was published on InfoWars and The Alex Jones Channel on YouTube and shared by Jones on Twitter. It purports to describe Chobanis practice of hiring refugees and an assault unrelated to Chobani, the lawsuit said.

In the video, two InfoWars personalities discuss the Fawnbrook case, with one of them saying, It was pulled into the political argument, of course, because of that refugee program. Chobani, whose factory employs many refugees, was another target of this anti-refugee anger.

As the presenters discuss the Fawnbrook assault and continually reference its connection to Chobani, B-roll video plays behind them showing Chobani owner Hamdi Ulukaya.

The background of the video repeatedly depicts, and in doing so misrepresents, Chobanis owner and Chobanis products, the lawsuit said. Jones and InfoWars knowingly misrepresented the facts and made the false and misleading statements to harm Chobanis business and reputation.

The defendants conduct in this matter was extreme, outrageous, and warrants punitive damages, the lawsuit said. The defendants publicly communicated the defamatory statements to a wide audience of subscribers and other online viewers causing significant damages to (Chobani). As a result of the conduct of the Defendants, (Chobani) has suffered and continues to suffer substantial damages in an amount to be proven at trial.

The many conspiracies of Alex Jones

The native Texan is no stranger to controversy. He specializes in provocative conspiracy theories, calling himself the founding father of 9/11 conspiracies, saying the terrorist attacks were an inside job by the U.S. government.

Jones has also claimed the December 2012 shooting that killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn., was completely faked and manufactured.

The Southern Poverty Law Center described Mr. Jones as almost certainly the most prolific conspiracy theorist in contemporary America, according to the lawsuit.

Jones was also an early supporter of President Donald Trumps campaign, and during an appearance on Jones show, then-candidate Trump told Jones, Your reputation is amazing. I will not let you down.

Though Jones is rarely apologetic, he did make a correction earlier this year similar to the Chobani retraction. In that instance, Jones offered a correction and quasi-apology for InfoWars coverage of PizzaGate, a far-right conspiracy that accused Democratic officials of running a child sex-slave ring out of Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant. InfoWars removed several PizzaGate stories from its website.
TWIN FALLS  A Dominos employee who tearfully reported being robbed at gunpoint just hours after the Super Bowl was tearful again Monday as she admitted her role in planning the fake robbery and stealing from her employer.

Katelyne Nicole Plaster, 20, of Twin Falls pleaded guilty to felony counts of burglary, grand theft and burglary conspiracy, becoming the second of three suspects to plead in the case. She admitted that she left a door unlocked so her fiances relative, Nicholas Anthony Slane, could enter the pizzeria and take money from her at gunpoint.

Slane, 35, of Twin Falls already pleaded guilty to burglary and grand theft charges last month. Plasters fiance, Dustin Camryn Farnworth, 22, of Twin Falls is set to enter a plea next week.

Plaster and Slane admitted they planned the Feb. 6 theft to look like a robbery, with Farnworth driving Slane to Dominos about 2 a.m., just hours after the end of the Super Bowl, typically one of the busiest days for pizzerias.

Slane, wearing a mask and wielding a gun, entered the side door Plaster left unlocked, then demanded cash. Plaster handed over $1,833 and called police but was hyperventilating and hysterical when they arrived, so shaken she couldnt give a statement until the next day.

But detectives later learned the stick-up was faked and pressed Plaster about inconsistencies in her story. She and Farnworth admitted the robbery was staged.

Plaster originally signed a plea agreement in which she pleaded to only two felonies, but that agreement included a stipulated sentence, her attorney said Monday. Instead, Plaster, who has no apparent criminal record in Idaho, ended up pleading guilty to all three felonies, but will be able to argue for a lighter sentence than the one she initially agreed to.

Slane will also be able to argue for any sentence he and his lawyer see fit, though he has a criminal history and pleaded guilty to unrelated drug charges at his hearing last month. Hes set to be sentenced June 19.

Farnworth is due to enter a plea May 22, and Plaster is scheduled for sentencing July 24.
TWIN FALLS  Voters gave a thumbs up Tuesday to newcomer Todd Hubbard for a four-year term on the Twin Falls school board.

Hubbard received 79 votes  62.7 percent of the total. Hell replace Liyah Babayan, who was appointed to the board in August 2014 to fill a vacancy.

She was a write-in candidate for Tuesdays election, and received 47 votes or 37.3 percent.

Hubbard, 33, a civil engineer, will fill the zone 3 seat, which covers mostly northwest Twin Falls.

Im excited to serve on the school board, he said Tuesday night. I think I bring a unique experience to the board.

Hubbard said it will be good to see the vision of the new superintendent, Brady Dickinson, who starts July 1, and work with him to better the school district.

Babayan said Tuesday night the election results leave her feeling optimistic, considering she was a write-in candidate.

Im pretty thankful for the support from the voters, she said.

Babayan said shell explore other avenues when it comes to civic duties and serving the community. I will continue to champion causes that affect children in the community.

She said she wants to encourage parents to get involved in their childrens education.

Hubbard doesnt have previous political experience. In a Times-News candidate questionnaire, he wrote the biggest challenge facing the Twin Falls School District is recruiting and retaining quality staff.

With the state of Idaho facing a teacher shortage, the challenge will affect each school district and make this goal increasingly difficult as competition for the best teachers increases, he wrote.

One goal to address this will be to provide an environment in which each teacher can succeed by offering excellent training opportunities and providing skills teachers will want to use in the classroom.

The district also needs to provide competitive wages for employees, he wrote.

The Twin Falls school board had one other seat up for election this year. But incumbent Bryan Matsuoka ran unopposed for zone 1, so an election wasnt held.
WASHINGTON  In the wake of recent controversy surrounding President Donald Trumps reported disclosure of classified material to Russian officials, Idaho Sen. Jim Risch made the rounds to several national broadcast news stations to defend the presidents actions.

Risch sits on both the foreign relations and intelligence committees in the Senate. In interviews with CNNs Wolf Blitzer, PBSs John Yang and Fox News Martha MacCallum on Tuesday, Risch spoke staunchly in support of Trumps decisions. He repeated the stance that, as president, Trump has both the legal authority and moral obligation to declassify information in the best interest of the American people.

What difference does it make if he did it knowingly or unknowingly? It was a fact that he wanted to discuss with the Russians that would improve airline safety .... He has the legal right and the obligation to do that, Risch told Blitzer.

Blitzer conceded that Trumps actions were legal but questioned whether the disclosure was the right thing to do. Risch met that query with an emphatic yes.

Risch also added that Trumps actions were not unusual. He claimed that former President Barack Obama also declassified information in conversations with Russian officials last year by telling them that the U.S. had reason to suspect Russia was interfering in U.S. elections.

Still, Risch told newscasters that he didnt find the situation entirely blameless.

You got to remember, it was not the president of the U.S. that caused this. It was some traitor thats in the chain of command below the president that actually disclosed this, Risch told CNN, referring to unnamed sources that spoke with the Washington Post and New York Times.

He went on to call the source a weasel and called for punitive action against the individual, though he told Blitzer he doesnt know who that person is.

But when they find that person they ought to be treated appropriately, he told Blitzer.

This is a person who is a traitor. They betrayed their own country, they betrayed their families and their neighbors. And when you disclose ... classified conversations that you have access to, it is an act of treason, Risch added to PBSs Yang.

On Fox News, he told MacCallum that the leaker is unAmerican and repeated claims that the medias handling of the situation is partially to blame.

Its part of this anti-Trump fervor that the national media has to try to make him look bad every time he turns around. This was a good act that he did, not a bad act that he did, Risch told Yang.

Risch said on PBS Newshour that he has no knowledge of a memo released by former FBI director James Comey that claims Trump asked Comey to drop an investigation against former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

On Foxs program, Risch demurred on the possibility of assigning a special prosecutor to handle an investigation into ties between the Trump administration and Russia.

Youve got to have a crime first, he told MacCallum.

Some in Idaho didnt take kindly to Rischs comments. Idaho Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, on Facebook called it a dark day for Idaho. Others tweeted criticisms of the senator, claiming his support of Trumps comments were part of plans to further advance his own political career.
Opinion: Gov. Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature are asking you to approve an advisory question about tax cuts and school budgets on the Nov. 8 ballot. Tell them what they want to hear. Vote yes  even grudgingly.
BURLEY  Voters in Cassia County School Districts board elections for Zones 3 and 4 opted to replace incumbents on May 16.

Darin Moon, who challenged incumbent Linda Petersen for the seat in Zone 3, won 130 votes to Petersens 47 votes.

I first want to thank Linda for her years of unparalleled service in the community, Moon said.

Moon said he has two goals he is looking forward to tackling. The first is dealing with the financial shortage from the construction bond that will leave schools unfinished and the second is to establish more financial accountability in the district.

In Zone 4 challenger Bruce Thompson won his seat with 132 votes. Challengers Robert Silcock received 106 votes, incumbent Kathryn Millar, 56, Kristina Haymore, 53, and Randy Winn, who pulled out of the race for the seat prior to the election, won 35 votes.

I know its going to be a big job, Thompson said. I know there are things that Im not going to know. But, Im looking forward to learning.

Thompson said he is eager to get to know the other board members and district staff better and then begin working to chart a better future for the districts schools.

During a candidate forum last month patrons expressed lingering concerns over board accountability after the district fell short $15 million due to miscalculations when it passed a $37 million bond issue to build new schools and renovate others. Voters struck down a district proposal to pass a $15 million bond issue to make up the difference. Patrons also expressed a desire for more transparency in the district and better communication between the public and the board. Other top concerns focused on district transparency and public perception that patrons voices are not being heard.

Moon said he would like to canvass the district to establish what teachers and schools need and then open the books to determine how those shortages can be met.

Moon said the district has many outstanding employees and people who are dedicated to the educational system.

I dont ever want to suggest that people in the district are not doing their jobs, he said. Im really talking about establishing trust in the system.

Moon said hes grateful for the opportunity to try to change that.

He was born and raised on a Heyburn family farm and credits his business success to the work ethic he learned there.

Moon started Redox Chemicals, LLC and has received several patents.

Thompson said he wants to pay more attention to the physical facilities in the district and make sure they are well maintained.

He was born and raised in Jerome, and after serving a mission for his church he served in the U.S. Army, earning both a Silver Star and Purple Heart in Vietnam.

He has a bachelors degree in psychology and spent his early career working with special needs individuals as a rehabilitation manager. He also taught industrial arts at community college and worked for more than 30 years in management and facilities management.
TWIN FALLS  With two blocks of Main Avenue torn up for reconstruction, the Urban Renewal Agency is already shifting its attention to another part of downtown.

The historic warehouse district once played a big part in the storage and transportation of Magic Valley agricultural products such as seeds, beans and potatoes. Over time, that role has changed: A mill, a poultry hatchery and grocery supply store have long since gone, and different businesses have given new life to the district.

Now, the URA wants to take it a step further  exploring the possibility of bringing small manufacturing into some of the unused historic buildings. And, farther south, it hopes to allow for new multifamily housing near the rim of Rock Creek Canyon.

We were looking to see how we could generate some buzz and create some opportunities down here, Executive Director Nathan Murray said.  We want to show people that theres potential.

The URA has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration that will bring in professional expertise from Smart Growth America. A team is scheduled to arrive in Twin Falls next month and begin discussions with community and industry leaders, and the College of Southern Idaho.

The group will then conduct a study to help the URA develop a strategy to recruit or promote small-scale manufacturing using existing resources in the historic warehouse district.

This is an outside look at our community to see what other opportunities exist within the realm of manufacturing, Murray said.

Which doesnt mean bringing in the Jaycos of the world, he added. Instead, these employers would be on a much smaller scale, but still help the Magic Valley diversify from food manufacturing.

Revitalizing a

historic district

The historic warehouse district is in two parts. Some of it stretches north and south of Sixth Avenue West from Eden Street West to Gooding Street West. But the biggest portion of the district is between Second Avenue South and Minidoka Avenue East, southeast of Shoshone Street.

The URA owns several parcels there (such as parking lots) that could strategically become part of a larger development project, Murray said.

Building improvements within the historic warehouse district have to follow a set of guidelines created by the Historic Preservation Commission. There are plenty of examples of historic buildings that have been successfully converted to new businesses over the past five years: Jacob Caval renovated a Coca-Cola warehouse to house his construction business and a law office. Treasure Valley Coffee Co. remodeled a warehouse that was formerly a bean elevator. And Stone House and Co. renovated a 1910 wholesale grocery supply building into an event center.

Mike Jordan, general manager of Treasure Valley Coffee at 301 Fourth Ave. S., said he is excited about the rejuvenation of historic buildings.

Thats part of our heritage in Twin Falls, Jordan said. And I think we should keep that going.

But not all businesses in the district agree that manufacturing is the best use of those structures.

Its a shame to put a manufacturing facility into an old building, said Adair Johnson, owner of Stone House and Co. at 330 Fourth Ave S.

Johnson would like to see businesses make use of the buildings unique, historic characteristics. Hed also like the city to develop better curbs, gutters and street lighting in that part of town.

Still, a new building under construction could brighten up and draw interest to the area: The Gemstone Climbing Center.

Meanwhile, the city is still determining just what the future of this area will look like. Historic Preservation Commission Chairwoman Nancy Taylor said a recent grant will pay for a master plan for all of Twin Falls historic districts.

Its coming alive, Taylor said about the warehouse district. But its still not to the point where I think it could be.

Multifamily housing along Rock Creek Canyon

Immediately south of the railroad tracks might not seem like an ideal location for an apartment complex  but the URA wants to make it an option.

At Murrays request, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted May 9 to recommend a zoning ordinance change that would allow for multifamily housing in a stretch of town south of the historic warehouse district. Current code does not allow any new residential development within that zone.

I think it will enhance the area, and higher value uses will come in naturally, Commissioner Tom Frank said.

The ordinance still has to come before the City Council for approval.

We believe housing is appropriate there, long-term, Murray said.

Despite the nearby stockyards and trains passing through, the right kind of person may want to live in the area simply for its easy access to Rock Creek Canyon. And developers will know the market, Murray said.

It seems like we ignored that canyon for a lot of years, he said. Theres some intrigue to that area.

The URA has already had conversations with potential developers for housing in several areas of downtown. Murray hopes that soon, people will stop kicking tires and start taking it for a test drive. A zoning ordinance change may just help as the URA seeks proposals for some of its properties.
This editorial appeared in Tuesdays online edition of The Washington Post:

President Donald Trumps disclosure of highly classified information to senior Russian officials was the most disturbing demonstration yet that he is dangerously unprepared to handle sensitive national security matters. On Tuesday, Trump essentially confirmed a Washington Post report that he provided details of the Islamic States plotting of airline attacks to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in an Oval Office meeting last week. The Post reported that the information could allow Moscow to identify the source of the intelligence, which came through a foreign government with which U.S. spy agencies have a fragile relationship.

The consequences of the presidents lapse could be far-reaching. In addition to disrupting a vital flow of intelligence and possibly endangering agents on the ground, Trump has let the world know that he and his administration cannot be trusted with sensitive information. Governments that share their secrets with the CIA, from Britain to Israel to Australia, may feel compelled to recalibrate their cooperation. Those that dont have a cooperative relationship, such as Russia and China, will try to use their access to Trump to extract more indiscretions.

The administrations attempts to defend the leak only underlined the continuing chaos in the White House. When the Post story first appeared Monday, national security adviser H.R. McMaster and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued Nixonian non-denial denials; McMaster said the story, as reported, is false. Trump then undercut them by confirming on Twitter that he provided the Russians with facts pertaining . . . to terrorism and airline flight safety, which, he said, I have the absolute right to do.

In fact, everything about Trumps engagement with the Russian officials reflected the gross inadequacy of his knowledge of foreign affairs as well as the weakness of the staff and processes he has put in place to aid him. His decision to meet with the chronically dishonest Lavrov and with Kislyak, who already had several questionable contacts with senior administration officials, itself reflected poor judgement; the Obama administration had refused to give Lavrov an Oval Office meeting since 2013. As the meeting began, U.S. journalists were banned from the room, while a Russian news-agency photographer was invited in, producing embarrassing photos and raising the possibility of a security breach.

Trumps subsequent disclosures appeared to flow from two of his deepest flaws, vanity and an obtuseness about the regime of Vladimir Putin. As The Post reported it, he appeared childishly boastful about his great intel. And as the president subsequently described it, he was hoping the Russians would respond to the leak with greater cooperation with U.S. operations against the Islamic State, as opposed to using it to undermine them.

That was a naive and dangerous conclusion, as any CIA briefer would have told the president. Unfortunately, Trump doesnt pay much heed to intelligence professionals, even as he misuses their materials, endangers their operations and impugns their professionalism. The processes in place to ready the president for interactions with foreign leaders are shockingly attenuated: A lot of the spade work is done by his inexperienced son-in-law, Jared Kushner, while key positions at the National Security Council and State Department remain unfilled. As the president prepares for his first trip abroad later this week, including meetings with key Middle Eastern and European allies, the potential for further gaffesand damage to key U.S. alliancesis alarmingly high.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., aptly described Trumps presidency on Monday as in a downward spiral. Arresting the fall would require a thorough revamping of White House staffing and function, one that replaces disorder and ignorance with discipline and competence. That, in turn, would require corrective action by Trumpfor which the nation can only hope.
Taiwan has postponed the implementation of visa-free entry policy for Filipinos as it has to complete relevant administrative procedures and inter-agency coordination, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila said Wednesday.

For the time being, prior to the full implementation of the visa-free arrangements, Filipinos should still follow the existing visa regulations and procedures to obtain visa(s) before travel to Taiwan, TECO said in its advisory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China will release the full details of the implementation of the said visa-free arrangements including the exact date of the commencement of implementing the visa-free treatment and its requirements either in September 2017 or at an appropriate date in due course.

The visa-free entry policy for Filipinos was supposed to start from June to September2017, but due to relevant administrative procedures and inter-agency coordination, it was postponed to September this year.

The Taiwanese government announced last April of the free-visa policy for Filipinos as part of its New Southbound Policy that aims to enhance bilateral ties and multifaceted cooperation between their country and nations in the South and the Southeast.

The postponement was simply for smooth operations, more effective immigration procedure, and the safeguard of security for all passengers. Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin, representative of Taiwan to the Philippines, said.

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However, TECO said the Philippines still remained in Taiwans e-visa program list for Filipinos who wish to visit Taiwan for a short stay. Filipinos who have been issued with an ROC (Taiwan) visa (labor visas with remarks FL or X are excluded) over the recent 10 years may also apply for the said TAC, no need to pay any fee. The TAC allows multiple-entries to Taiwan, valid for 90 days with every stay up to 30 days, the advisory added. The Philippines is considered as an important partner of Taiwan, so we are really making efforts to welcome more Filipino visitors to visit Taiwan, and the postponement of the visa-free arrangements is only intended to conduct seamless operations, facilitate the entry to Taiwan, and enhance security and safety for everyone,Lin said.

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The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Tuesday allowed detained former Senator Jinggoy Estrada to undergo a medical check-up for his aching right shoulder.

The court granted Estradas motion that the former senator be brought to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Thursday to undergo a medical procedure after he experienced extreme pain in his right shoulder in the late afternoon of May 11. They said Estrada had been in pain since last April 2016.

The court gave Estrada at least six hours to undergo MRI and X-ray at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., or until the procedures are finished on Thursday.

The anti-graft court granted Estradas motion provided that he may only ben brought to the hospital and no other place not earlier than one hour before the appointment time and leave for his detention cell as soon as the medical checkup is done.

The court also directed the Philippine National Police to provide escorts and security measures for Estrada and control his use of communication and electronic gadgets.

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Estradas lawyers also said Estrada was diagnosed to have frozen shoulder in November 2014, prompting the court to allow him to undergo therapy sessions at Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

Estrada was accused of pocketing P183 million in commissions from the pork barrel scam allegedly engineered by Janet Napoles.

He is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Meanwhile, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the one-month suspension of Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao Mayor Datu Umbra Bayam Dilangalen for simple neglect of duty.

The Ombudsman found inconsistencies in Dilangalens Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth from 2009 to 2010.

Based on the investigation, Dilangalen failed to declare in his 2009 SALN a house in Cotabato City acquired in 2000, another house in Kabuntalan, a parcel of land in Cotabato City, two cars acquired in 2004 valued at P1million, liabilities representing loans obtained from the Government Service Insurance System and Land Bank of the Philippines, and car loans.

The Ombudsman said Dilangalen failed to declare his house in Cotabato City and an agricultural land in Kapimpilan-Kabuntalan in his 2010 SALN.

These omissions became palpable when respondent declared the existence of the very same properties and liabilities in his SALN for the immediately following year, Morales said.

The respondents failure to pay attention to the details of his SALN had resulted in the inaccuracy of crucial information therein, making him liable for simple neglect of duty, the decision read.

Rio N. Araja

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The Swiss giant food company Tuesday unveiled a new factory in the United Arab Emirates as part of its regional expansion plans.

The factory, a culinary and coffee plant is located in Jebel Ali free zone area, in Dubai, the company said in a press release.

The Al-Maha factory underlines our commitment to our customers, our willingness to invest and create jobs, and our ambition to minimize our environmental impact, said Marco Settembri, Executive Vice President Nestle SA and Head of Zone Europe, Middle East and North Africa.

This 530 Million Dirhams ($145 million) investment is Nestles 18th production site in the Middle East and another milestone in our more than 80 years in this region. It shows our confidence in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates as a dynamic, stable and competitive business hub, and our long-term commitment to the people of the Middle East.

The new factory creates 340 new jobs. Nestle already operates two other factories in Dubai, producing bottled water, chocolates and milk powder products.

Nestle Al-Maha is yet another way for us to meet our commitment to the Middle East, said Yves Manghardt, Chairman and CEO Nestle Middle East FZE, adding that the project meets the groups regional expansion plans.

Manufacturing locally enables us to source locally, invest locally, make tailored products to better meet local needs, and serve communities in the region more rapidly and more effectively, he said.

The company is also present in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and Iran.

Ranked as the worlds largest food company, Nestle recorded a decrease in its 2016 net profit.
US President Donald Trump Wednesday vowed fidelity to ties with Turkey saying that Washington will remain on the side of Ankara against outlawed Kurdish groups.

President Trump was speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was at the White House to seek American clarification on plans to arm Syrian Kurds seen by Ankara as a continuity of banned Kurdish Workers Party PKK group blacklisted as terrorist group by the US and Europe.

Such groups will have no safe quarter, Trump said.

Erdogan who just secured sweeping powers following last month referendum, last week grilled Washington following decision by the Trump administration to arm the Syrian Kurdish fighters; Kurdish Peoples Protection Unit (YPG) considered by Washington among best partners in the fight against Daech in Syria but vomited by Ankara as an extension of outlawed PKK.

If our alliance is going to be overshadowed, then we should take care of ourselves. We cant allow this alliance to be taken over by policies against Turkey, Erdogan said.

Both NATO allies are engaged in the fight against the global terrorist group in Syria.

Ankara and US also remain at odds over the presence in the United State of Erdogans arch enemy, Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who lives in exile in Pennsylvania. Ankara accuses him of funding terrorism.

Ankara has issued an extradition request for Gulens alleged endorsement of the failed military coup against Erdogan last year, but the request is still under study by the US judiciary.
A Saudi soldier was killed Tuesday in an attack carried out by Shia militants in Al-Masoura; a town in the Eastern Province of Qatif as soldiers were patrolling the area to counter insurgency.

The militants fired RPG rocket against the patrol, killing one soldier and wounding five others who were taken to hospital, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The assailants used explosive devices and land mines to obstruct work at a development project in Al-Masoura neighborhood, attacking security personnel and project workers, the ministry said.

The attack came few days after gunmen launched another attack in the same town last Friday, killing a Saudi child and a Pakistani builder.

Authorities said that the gunmen assaulted construction workers at the site of an urban rehabilitation project in Al-Masoura. Terrorists were trying to oppose the destruction of an old building used for drug and arms trade, Saudi officials said.

Qatif is largely dominated by Shia Saudis who often mount protests against the Sunni crown for more rights.

The Province has also become a scene of protest since January last year following the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr Al Nimr.
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.
Cameroons public hospitals are almost at a standstill as thousands of doctors nationwide downed their tools on Monday, demanding a pay rise and better medical facilities.

The doctors union SYMEC, led by Dr. Pierre Yves Bassong, called on doctors nationwide to observe the two-day strike action, which is the second since April that left patients without critical care in hospitals across the central African nation.

The doctors are demanding a review of their salaries and bonuses, insurance allowance, speedy integration into the public service and increase in retirement age from 55 to 65 years.

The government had threatened to fire the strikers and has already transferred the leaders of the doctors union to rural communities in the countrys remote northern region.

In a Facebook live Broadcasting on Sunday night, SYMEC leaders said all appointments and consultations should be cancelled and laboratory tests and medical examinations should be suspended during the sit-in strike.

Doctors standing up for Cameroon, we must stand with them!  Its essential for us citizens to support doctors in this initiative for a better health system in Cameroon, political activist Kah Walla tweeted on Sunday.

A local source confirmed to medafricatimes.com that some emergency services are still functioning in some areas and some hospitals have skeleton staffing this Monday morning.
Christian minority militia fighters in Central African Republic have attacked a U.N. base twice last week, a U.N. official said on Sunday.

The attack killed six peacekeepers, two Moroccans and four Cambodians, at the south-eastern border of the war-torn nation.

The armed elements continue to systematically and deliberately attack the MINUSCA base with heavy weaponry to impede the peacekeepers from doing their extremely vital task of protecting the civilian population and to divert them from their primary vocation of saving lives, the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the country, known by the French acronym MINUSCA, said in a statement.

After the ambush of last May 8 that cost the life of five peacekeepers, one Moroccan and four Cambodians, the Mission said that members of a wide coalition, including anti-Balaka elements, Saturday attacked civilian populations overnight, targeting in particular Muslims, in the Tokoyo neighborhood of Bangassou.

An armed group opened fire on civilians overnight killing an undisclosed number and at least one UN peacekeeper of the Moroccan contingent, who died from gunshot injuries, the MINUSCA said.

According to Radio France International, 30 civilians were killed during the attack.

MINUSCA is sending reinforcements to Bangassou to secure the town and protect civilians and also working with humanitarian partners to ensure the safety of displaced civilians.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday he was outraged by the attacks on the 13,000-strong mission, saying that such raids on peacekeepers amount to war crimes.

The Security Council, France, Spain and the African Union also condemned the attacks and urged authorities of the Central African Republic to bring the perpetrators of these crimes before justice.

CAR Prime Minister Simplice Sarandji also condemned the attacks in a statement on Sunday and said those responsible would be brought to justice.

The Central African Republic has been in crisis since late 2012, when mostly Muslim Seleka rebels began a military campaign against the government of Francois Bozize, seizing the capital, Bangui, in March 2013.

In mid-2013, the Christian and animist anti-balaka militia organized to fight the Seleka.
The United Nations human rights chief Tuesday expressed grave alarm over the spread of violence by armed groups against the civilian population in several parts of the Central African Republic in recent months, as well as attacks against UN peacekeepers in the countrys southeast.

Violence and rising tensions are spreading to areas of the Central African Republic that had previously been spared the kinds of terrifying violence seen in some other parts of the country  this is highly worrying and should set off loud alarm bells, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein, in a news release from his Office (OHCHR).

The hard-earned relative calm in Bangui and some of the bigger towns in CAR risks being eclipsed by the descent of some rural areas into increasing sectarian violence, with defenceless civilians  as usual  paying the highest price, he added.

The latest in a series of attacks was an incident this weekend in Bangassou, in which armed men used heavy weapons to attack the base of the UN mission in CAR, known by its French acronym MINUSCA, killing an element of the Moroccan contingent. The armed men also attacked the Muslim neighbourhood of Tokoyo where numerous civilians were killed and others wounded.

Investigations by MINUSCAs Human Rights Division suggest that between March and May 2017 more than 121 civilians and six peacekeepers were killed, excluding figures in the two latest incidents.

Mr. Zeid also noted the fact that the Special Criminal Court is preparing to start its work is a strong signal by the authorities and the international community that the continued climate of impunity is unacceptable.

Meanwhile, the Security Council issued a statement to the press overnight, strongly condemning the violence by anti-Balaka elements in Bangassou on May 13 and 14 that targeted MINUSCAs field office, civilian populations from particular communities, as well as humanitarian personnel.

The 15-member body reiterated that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.

These attacks resulted in one Moroccan peacekeeper killed and one Moroccan peacekeeper injured, as well as civilian casualties and significant population displacement.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of the peacekeeper killed, and their deepest sympathy to the family of the peacekeeper injured, as well as to Morocco, and to MINUSCA.

The Council called on the CAR Government to swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The May 13 took place just hours after the UN held a memorial ceremony to honor five peacekeepers, four Cambodians and one Moroccan, killed on May 8 in a nearby village of Yogofongo.

The deadly attack was perpetrated by suspected anti-Balaka elements. Ten peacekeepers, 9 Moroccan and a Cambodian, were injured in this attack.

CAR is emerging from civil conflict, which began in 2013, with clashes between the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition and anti-Balaka militia, which are mostly Christian.
Members of the Zambian United Party for National Development (UPND) have been gathering across the Southern-African nation to pray for opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, who is facing treason charges for allegedly plotting a coup detat against president Edgar Lungu.

In capital Lusaka, prayers were held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Hichilemas wife, Mutinta, shed tears during the prayers for peace and unity.

Hakainde Hichilema has been on remand since April 11 for allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungus motorcade on a main road, according to police.

The charges were strongly condemned by Rights groups and the NGOs Coordinating Council, an umbrella body of Zambian action groups.

The Lusaka court trying the case adjourned the treason case to May 22.

Treason is a non-bailable offense in Zambia, with a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of the death penalty. If convicted, Hichilema will be sentenced to death by hanging or slapped imprisonment.

Hichilema, an economist and wealthy businessman has said he does not recognize former opponent Edgar Lungu as the legitimate president of Zambia after August 2016 election.

His party challenged the results in the Constitutional Court, which did not hear the case after the 14-day period allowed for the petition lapsed before it could even begin.

The 54-year old opposition leader was last arrested in October over allegations of unlawful assembly. He has been detained at least 16 times over the past five years.
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BUILDING THE LA RAZA 'The Race' WELFARE STATE ON MIDDLE AMERICAS' BACKS: Months ago, the Biden administration publicly defended their proposal to begin providing federal identification cards to border crossers and illegal aliens who they plan to release into American communities. The goal of the proposal is to make securing public benefits easier.
@MaryEllenKlas

Gov. Rick Scott's pick for his next secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection will be Noah Valenstein, the executive director of the Suwannee Water Management District and a former environmental policy aide in the governor's office, staff announced at a meeting of the Cabinet aides on Wednesday.

Valenstein will be the only candidate interviewed by the governor and Cabinet at the May 23 meeting and, if approved, he will replace interim secretary Ryan Matthews, who was given the temporary promotion upon the resignation of Jon Steverson in January. Steverson left to join the law firm of Foley & Lardner.

Valenstein served as Scott's executive office environmental policy coordinator from 2012 to 2015 and in October 2015 was appointed to head the Suwannee WMD. He worked for the Everglades Foundation as director of legislative affairs from November 2010 to December 2012. He has a law degree from Florida State University law school and a graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in environmental policy.

Eric Draper, director of Audubon of Florida, commended the appointment and believes that Valentine will help shift the direction of the agency to restore the focus on water planning and land acquisition.

"I think he'll help move it back to the direction to make sure we have a good plan for water and more oversight of the water management districts so they are making good decisions,'' Draper said.

Photo: Eckerd College marine science professor David Hastings, left, speaks to Gov. Scott, right, and his aide, Noah Valenstein, during an Aug. 20, 2014, meeting about why Florida should act to offset the impact of climate change. Credit: Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald.


@PatriciaMazzei

Miami Rep. Carlos Curbelo appears to have been the first Republican member of Congress to publicly suggest it might rise to an impeachable offense  obstruction of justice  if President Donald Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to stop investigating former National Security Adviser Michael Flynns Russia ties.

Curbelo acknowledged the possibility of impeachment when speaking to Capitol Hill reporters Tuesday afternoon, and later repeated it Tuesday night on CNN.

I was just being honest, Curbelo said Wednesday in an interview with the Miami Herald, in which he called impeachment still premature. Any effort to impede or interfere with a federal investigation is by definition obstruction of justice, and theres precedent for the House to consider obstruction of justice an impeachable offense.

The distinction of being the first Republican to raise impeachment didnt come up until Michigan Rep. Justin Amash made similar comments Wednesday.

The Hill, a Washington publication, identified Amash as the first Republican to mention impeachment after the New York Times reported Tuesday about a Comey memo recounting Trumps request.

I hope you can let this go, Trump told Comey, according to Comeys notes recounted to the Times.

Curbelos office had to point out to The Hill that the Miami congressman had actually beat Amash to it. That prompted an update to The Hills story  and a correction in a Mother Jones story that had cited The Hill.

Photo credit: Cliff Owen, Associated Press
@NewsbySmiley and @harrisalexc

Miami's GOP mayor has asked President Donald Trump to extend temporary protected status for Haitians living in the U.S. rather than return them to "dangerous and unlivable conditions."

With a July 22 expiration date looming, Tomas Regalado wrote a letter Tuesday encouraging the president to "keep immigrant families together." The TPS immigration designation, granted by the Obama administration after the 2010 earthquake that left more than 300,000 dead, 300,000 injured and 1.5 million homeless, allows Haitians to live and work freely in the United States.

Miami is home to the largest community of Haitian immigrants in the country.

If the designation were to be revoked, the 58,000 members of the program would be deported back to a nation where more than 40,000 people live in makeshift shelters and tent homes. Haiti also faces severe housing and food shortages after Hurricane Matthew wiped out homes and farmland last year.

Regalado wrote his letter just days after Haitians rallied in Miami to fight for a TPS extension.

To read the letter, click Download TPS letter


@PatriciaMazzei

Sen. Bill Nelson asked the Trump administration Wednesday to extend a temporary protected status, or TPS, for nearly 60,000 Haitians living in the U.S. following the 2010 earthquake.

"I understand that the Government of Haiti is working on a plan to further rebuild and develop the country so that its people can make their lives there," Nelson wrote in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. "To allow for successful implementation of its plan, the Government requests that you extend TPS for Haitian nationals for another 18 months."

Paul Altidor, the Haitian ambassador to the U.S., told the Florida Democrat that the country is still trying to recover from the earthquake and a 2016 hurricane, according to Nelson's office.

Last month, following reports that the White House might seek to end TPS, Nelson asked Kelly and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to extend the protection.

Here's the text of Nelson's latest letter:
BUTTE  On a food trip to Italy in early March, sponsored by the Italian Trade Agency, a group of us American food journalists were treated to dinner at the Michelin three star restaurant Da Vittorio, in Brusaporto, Italy, not too far from the bustling metropolis of Milan. The seven-course menu featured two dishes that included the cheese Grana Padano, a sort of sister cheese, or cousin, to the more widely known, Parmigiano Reggiano.

Both cheeses are classified as Denominazione di Origine Protetta, protected designation of origin, or D.O.P. Both cheeses, made in the Po Valley, possess a grainy consistency and are aged for lengthy periods. So whats the difference between the two? Grana Padano is produced from skimmed milk, whereas Reggiano Parmigiano is made from a combination of skimmed and full fat milk.

There are other differences too, including the length of time the cheeses are aged. We tasted Grana Padano aged for 14, 17, and 24 months, and each had a distinctive flavor. The 14-month cheese was mild and had an almost creamy texture, the 17-month old cheese felt grainy on the tongue and had a slight sharpness, and the 24-month old cheese, the papa of the group, was decidedly sharp and quite grainy.

The 14-month-old cheese, we learned later, was featured in a tomato sauce served at our dinner with a pasta called paccheri (pronounced PAH-care-ee), a large gauge tubular pasta about 1 inch wide and almost 2 inches long. I was not familiar with it, and I was surprised to see it served with a lot of tomato sauce. Typically Italian pasta dishes are napped with just enough sauce to coat the pasta.

When I bit into the paccheri I thought it underdone and too firm to the bite. I expressed my feeling at the table, and an Italian food critic told me the pasta was cooked just right so that it would contrast with the sauce. But, I protested, To me the pasta is underdone. Trying again to set me straight, he said: Firm pasta needs lots of sauce, and paccheri is always served this way. I had lived in Naples, Italy, for a year and had eaten many forms of pasta in many different restaurants. I thought I knew what al dente meant, and so while the food critic had presented his opinion quite forcefully, I didnt quite buy it.

Al dente means firm to the tooth. So no matter what type of pasta youre eating, it should always present some resistance when you bite into it. Its all about contrast. Risotto is served the same way, al dente.

I decided to buy a box of paccheri at Peck, a venerable deli in Milan, and cook it at home with a facsimile of the tomato sauce that dressed the pasta at Da Vittorio. That sauce was finished with an enrichment of Grana Padano and butter, giving it a silky smoothness.

It took almost 20 minutes for the paccheri to reach an al dente that was firmer than I would have liked, so I disobeyed the Italian food critic and cooked the pasta for an additional 15 seconds. After draining and saucing the pasta I took a bite. The chew was perfect: just a tad more than al dente, but the extra sauce brought everything together. Mmmm, I sighed. I felt as though Id won some sort of pasta war.

Paccheri with Tomato Sauce and Cheese

and Butter Enrichment

Makes 4 servings

My friend, Julia della Croce, who was on the trip to Milan, has graciously allowed me to use her excellent tomato sauce recipe. For the paccheri, I pass the sauce through a food mill, but for any other pasta, you can omit this step and serve the sauce slightly chunky.

Julias Fruity Tomato Sauce

One can (28 ounces), peeled plum tomatoes in juice (D.O.P San Marzanos are preferred.)

4 tablespoons high quality extra virgin olive oil, or more, to taste

2 large cloves garlic, crushed

1 small red or yellow onion, minced

1 medium celery stalk, including leaves, minced

1 small carrot minced

2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, minced

2 tablespoons tomato paste

Small handful of chopped fresh basil

Scant  teaspoon salt, or to taste

Freshly ground black or white pepper

1. Drain the tomatoes in a colander, reserving their juice; remove any residual tomato skin, chop the tomatoes, and set them aside.

2. In a medium to large saucepan over medium-low heat, warm 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Stir in the garlic, onion, celery, carrot and parsley, and saute until the vegetables are completely soft, about 12 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir until its coppery-colored, about 3 minutes. Then add the tomatoes and their juice, cover partially, and simmer over very low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 45 minutes. Stir in the basil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and cool a few minutes.

3. Pass the sauce through a food mill with fine holes set over a mixing bowldo not use a food processor or blender because theyll break up the tomato seeds. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil if using the sauce that day.

Ahead-of-time note: The sauce can be made 4 to 5 days in advance of use and stored tightly covered in the refrigerator, or it can be frozen for up to 3 months. Whether storing it in the refrigerator or freezer, leave out the last 1 tablespoon olive oil. Stir it into the sauce after reheating.

Prepare the butter and cheese enrichment and cook the pasta.

Cheese and Butter Enrichment

3 tablespoons softened butter

 cup packed finely grated Grana Padano or Parmigiana Reggiano

For the butter and cheese enrichment, mash together the softened butter and finely grated cheese to make a paste.

The Pasta

14 ounces paccheri or rigatoni, plus a few extra pieces for testing

Bring about 4 quarts of water to the boil in a large pot and add 1 tablespoon salt. Drop in the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente. For this dish the paccheri or rigatoni should be cooked until the pasta still feels slightly firm to the bite, but not raw. Paccheri may take 17 to 20 minutes to reach this stage, rigatoni about 5 to 6 minutes less. Be sure to test the pasta frequently during the last third of cooking. Reserve  cup pasta water and drain pasta in a colander. Transfer pasta to a large heated bowl.

Just before serving, reheat the tomato sauce over medium heat and bring to the simmer, stirring often. Add the cheese and butter paste and stir until melted and incorporated. Adjust consistency of pasta sauce  it should only be slightly thick  with small additions of reserved pasta water. Taste carefully and adjust seasoning if needed.

4. To serve, pour on the tomato sauce and fold into the pasta gently using two large wooden spoons or rubber spatulas. Divide among 4 heated serving bowls making sure to use all the tomato sauce. Serve at once and pass extra cheese at the table, if desired.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Natural Resources Department announces the development of an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) website. The website address is csktnomussssels.org.

This website is designed to provide public education and share information about the science, prevention about the risk of AIS in the water bodies of the Flathead Reservation.

The csktnomussels.org website is designed to provide updated news and information from the CSKT Natural Resources Department and the AIS Technical Team in an easily searchable format.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes began extensive public education and rulemaking to prevent the spread of invasive quagga and zebra mussels into the Flathead Basin. Invasive mussels were detected in Montana in 2016.

The website includes 2017 CSKT Regulations for Watercraft on the Flathead Indian Reservation. The website also includes information on prevention of the spread of AIS.

There are downloadable brochures, a fact sheet and news releases in the Latest News and Resources section of the website menu. The website will be updated as new information becomes available and is distributed to local media.

For more information regarding upcoming meetings, contact Germaine White, Tom McDonald, Paula Webster or Georgia Smies at 406-675-2700.
Hal Stearns fervor for all things Montana and the photographic eyes of Rick and Susie Graetz will be paired Sunday in a special venue to raise money for A Carousel for Missoula.

A two-hour program called This is Montana starts at 3:30 p.m. at the University of Montana presidents residence at 1325 Gerald Ave.

Stearns, a retired teacher, historian and public humanities presenter, is married to Sheila Stearns, the interim president at UM. Guests at the fundraiser can also tour the 2-story home built in 1928 by Nels Lennes, head of the UM math department. Its 16 rooms replicated those of his wife Harriets family home in Chicago. It became the UM presidents house in 1974.

Stearns said for Sundays event a collection of 20 Montana paintings and photos from the Montana Museum of Art and Culture will be displayed in the house. They are the works of the likes of Edgar S. Paxson, Karl Bodmer and George Catlin, as well as modern Missoula artists such as Walter Hook, Monte Dolack and Mary Beth Percival.

While Sheila Stearns doesnt live in the presidents house, she and Hal have hosted official UM events there since she assumed the helm in December.

For some people whove never been in the house, itll be nice for them to see it, Hal Stearns said. This might be the one time the presidents house is the official domain for us.

Theresa Cox, executive director for the Carousel, described the afternoon event as an armchair journey through Montana.

The Graetzes will divide the state into seven regions and show and describe photos from each. Hal Stearns will follow with impromptu stories.

Graetz, who founded Montana Magazine in 1970, is a geography lecturer at UM and director of UMs Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone Initiative. Susie Graetz is managing editor of the University of Montana Press. Their photo essay was featured in last Sundays Territory section of the Missoulian.

Sundays fundraiser is a follow-up to last springs Let Me Tell You a Story About a Horse at Caffe Dolce, when Stearns and other luminaries from the area told their own stories.

Cox said while that one was deemed a success, it didnt raise as much money as we would have liked. It was rather expensive to put on.

The $100-a-seat event featured a full dinner. This years event will serve fine wines and light provisions. Theres room for only about 50 people at a time.

If it turns out we get more than 50, well do two seatings and run through the program at 3:30 while half the people wander through the house, then switch and do a second seating after that, Cox said.

Reservations are $60 per person and are available by calling the Carousel at 406-549-8382 or visiting its gift shop in Caras Park.
Knife River will begin a weeklong mill-and-fill project for the Montana Department of Transportation on Mullan Road west of Missoula starting Friday, May 19.

Work will start on the west end of the project and head east roughly five miles toward Missoula. It begins at milepost 10.1 on the Missoula side of the railroad tracks at the former Smurfit-Stone mill and will end at Deschamps Lane.

Final paving is expected to be completed by noon Friday, May 26, but may be done by Wednesday, said Mike Eichner of Knife River. Traffic will be restricted to single lane with a pilot car around the construction area. Truck traffic will be on Mullan Road and Pulp Mill Road (Highway 474). Trucks will turn around at Deschamps Lane.

Travelers are urged to follow posted speed limits and keep an eye out for the construction crews.
The University of Montana Foundation named interim president and CEO Cindy Williams to the permanent post, according to a news release Tuesday.

In February, Williams was tapped to temporarily head UM's fundraising nonprofit after former CEO Shane Giese and the foundation announced his retirement after his absence of several weeks. She will begin her official tenure as president and CEO on June 1.

At the foundation since 2006, Williams has been a leader on the development team for more than 10 years and will oversee an operating budget of $7 million and staff of 57, according to the foundation.

"I am delighted and honored to lead the dynamic, committed team here at the UM Foundation," Williams said in a statement. "Our mission  securing private support for the University of Montana to ensure access and opportunity  has never been more important."

In February, the foundation announced it would conduct a national search for a new president and CEO. Tuesday, spokeswoman Kate Stober said the board interviewed one candidate for the job.

"After the board defined the job description, they asked Cindy to interview," Stober said in an email. "They were impressed by her vision for the foundation's future as well as her decade of successful fundraising and leadership here."

In a statement, board chair Mary Olson praised Williams as the right person for the job with a history of the organization: "After launching our search, we came to the conclusion that the best candidate was already here. Cindy brings a combination of vision for the future and contextual understanding of where we've been."

A recruitment is underway for a permanent president for UM, with finalists' slated to visit campus in the fall; former Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns is serving in the interim position. Provost Beverly Edmond is serving in an interim capacity as well; a search for provost was suspended until a president is named.

At the foundation, Williams earlier served as director of development and alumni relations for UM's School of Business Administration and was eventually promoted to serve as vice president for development. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Walla Walla University and is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the Association of Governing Boards.
How does a leading neo-Nazi website that has railed against Hispanic immigrants expand its audience beyond a loyal base of U.S. white supremacists? By publishing a Spanish-language edition, of course.

The Daily Stormer  infamous for orchestrating internet harassment campaigns by its "Troll Army" of readers  recently launched El Daily Stormer as a "news portal" tailoring its racist, anti-Semitic content for readers in Spain and Latin America.

Andrew Auernheimer, a notorious computer hacker and internet troll who writes for the English-language site, says the Spanish edition fits their mission to spread Hitlerism across the world.

"We want our message to reach millions more people," he said in a telephone interview.

Hate sites have realized that the U.S. has no monopoly on white nationalists and other far-right extremists, says Heidi Beirich, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project. Others, such as Stormfront, already created multilingual forums.

"The white supremacist movement has really viewed itself as past borders, reaching out to white people in other countries," Beirich said.

The law center represents a Montana real estate agent who sued The Daily Stormer's founder, Andrew Anglin, last month for unleashing an anti-Semitic "campaign of terror" against her family.

Anonymous trolls bombarded Tanya Gersh's family with hateful and threatening messages after Anglin published the family's personal information in a December post that accused Gersh and other Jewish residents of Whitefish, Montana, of engaging in an "extortion racket" against the mother of white nationalist Richard Spencer.

Anglin's site takes its name from Der Sturmer, a newspaper that published Nazi propaganda. It includes sections called "Jewish Problem" and "Race War."

El Daily Stormer titles its anti-Semitic section "Judiadas," an offensive term with roots in medieval Spain, where it was invoked to justify genocidal attacks on Jews.

The Spanish site also includes appeals for donations and unpaid articles, and a forum where people complain about Chile and Argentina filling up with "negros," referring to people from Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay.

Auernheimer, known online as "weev," said a team of volunteers is writing original content for the Spanish-language site. The site's appeal for unpaid collaborators says being a dissident "has never been a lucrative activity," and that it is looking for writers "willing to risk everything for the survival of our race."

"We have a big Spanish-speaking population on our forums, so it was an easy direction to branch out into," he said.

About 40 percent of The Daily Stormer's 3.2 million unique monthly visitors are in the U.S.; the Spanish edition has added fewer than 10,000 since its recent launch, Auernheimer said.

Surpassing Stormfront as the top U.S. hate site hasn't been a financial boon for The Daily Stormer, which calls itself "100 percent reader-supported." Anglin complained in January that a Ukrainian advertising company had banned them, leaving an Australian electrician as the site's only advertiser.

"We don't have revenue commensurate with a publication of our size," Auernheimer said.

___

Associated Press writer Mike Warren in Atlanta contributed to this report.
HELENA  Broadwater County Sheriff Wynn Meehan received a call from dispatch around 3 a.m. Tuesday informing him one of his deputies was in a pursuit near Three Forks.

"They called a couple minutes later to say they couldn't reach him," Meehan said.

The sheriff was about halfway between Townsend and the scene when he heard another call. This one requested a coroner.

Broadwater County Deputy Mason Moore was found dead outside Three Forks. The two men suspected of playing a role in his death are in custody in Missoula.

Moore, who had 15 years in law enforcement, signed on with the department based in Townsend three years ago.

"I lost a good hand," Meehan said. "It's going to be very difficult to try and replace him.

"Our deputy died protecting the citizens of our county and displayed remarkable courage until the very end. His actions will never be forgotten.

Moore, a husband and father of three, including twin teenage boys, moved to Montana from South Carolina, where he served as an investigator in major crimes. Prior to serving as a sheriff's deputy, he worked a couple of years as an officer with the motor carrier division in Rocker.

By Tuesday afternoon, Meehan was spent. He, along with the bulk of his 12-person operation, escorted Moore's body to Billings, where an autopsy was to be performed.

"I don't even know what the stop was for," Meehan said in a phone interview. He said it started as a traffic stop and the vehicle fled.

"It feels like three weeks have gone by and it's only been 14 hours," he added.

Through his devastation and exhaustion, Meehan also felt thankful for the outpouring of support Moore and his department received throughout the day. On the drive from Three Forks to Billings, a 170-mile trek, the 40 law enforcement vehicles in the procession guiding Moore's body were met with salutes and other displays.

"Every town we came through had fire trucks and flags hanging down," he said. "It was remarkable."

The law enforcement community has stepped up in another way as well, Meehan said. From covering patrols to offering detention officers for the jail to sending in dispatchers, Meehan said he was amazed by the rallying displayed.

"So many have offered to give us a hand," he said. "We need to lean on each other and take care of each other."

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, who responded to the scene early Tuesday morning and later joined the procession, said in difficult times like these the extended law enforcement family is vital.

"We have been working to take care of them and cover their county, along with Gallatin County," Dutton said.

"Montana is not that big of a state, and we all feel the loss," he added.

State Attorney General Tim Fox noted the timing of the shooting.

"Its cruel irony that a law enforcement officer was shot and killed the day after Peace Officers Memorial Day. Tragic incidents like this should serve as a reminder to all of us to be thankful every day for those in uniform who serve and protect our communities," Fox said in a statement.

The suspects also fired at officers during a subsequent chase after the shooting.

"We are saddened by Deputy Moore's death, but we are also relieved that no other law enforcement officers were killed in the apprehension of the suspects," Dutton said.

Back in Townsend, a local therapist worked with county employees grieving the loss of Moore, who is remembered as a quiet yet intensely funny man. When asked to describe Moore, many county workers responded that "he was a good guy."

Moore didn't say much, but when he did, it was worth the wait, Meehan said.

"He had an interesting sense of humor," he added.

Laura Obert, county commissioner, said Moore will be remembered as a smart and compassionate man.

"He had a quiet confidence about him," Obert said. "He truly cared about people and what they thought."

"He was just one of those genuine souls."

Debbie Kelley, accounting manager for the county, said she found Moore impressive as an officer. On his off time, he served with the Three Forks Volunteer Fire Department.

"I think the biggest thing is to help the family," Kelley said. "That's the hard part."

Kelley said Moore was well-liked and a good match for the sheriff's office.

"It's been kind of quiet here today," she said.

"It's too close to home for things like this. It does make it personal."

Officials said a vigil or service will be held to remember Moore. Details will be announced later.

"Even though he's gone, he will always be a part of us," Obert said.

Montana law enforcement agencies have voiced their condolences on social media:
GREAT FALLS  Police in north-central Montana are investigating a homicide at a motel on the southwest side of Great Falls.

Deputy Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki told KFBB-TV (bit.ly/2qsmm1O) on Wednesday that a person of interest is in custody and there is no further threat to the community.
The direction of our country will be decided in the coming months and Im committed to making sure Montanas voice is heard in Washington. Im running to be Montanas next congressman because Montanans deserve a champion who will stand strong for our values and our way of life.

Im thankful to have built a life, started a small business, and raised a family in Montana.

I fell in love with Montana more than 40 years ago on a class trip backpacking in the Beartooth Mountains. Twenty-four years ago, my wife Susan and I chose Montana to raise our four children hunting, fishing and backpacking on Montanas public lands. And, when we sat down at our kitchen table to start our company, RightNow Technologies, we chose Montana. At the time, people told us building a global high-tech business in Montana was impossible. Well, we took on the big corporations in one of the fiercest markets, and Montana won. In fact, we created over 500 high-paying Montana jobs.

Im not a government insider. I spent my entire career creating jobs in the private sector  from mowing lawns as a teenager to founding five different start-up companies.

Im not afraid to step up and take on a challenge. Thats why in Congress, you can count on me to stand up to the special interests and help drain the swamp. Ill always put hardworking Montana families first and will fight to bring accountability and integrity to Washington, D.C.

In the last year and a half, Ive traveled over 80,000 miles across Montana, visiting all 56 counties multiple times, listening to your concerns. I understand the issues Montanans are facing and my commitment is to ensure your voice is always heard in Washington.

In Congress, Ill fight back against any tax increases. Ill work to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare. Ill protect the promises our country made to our veterans. Ill fight for our coal and timber jobs and push back against excessive Washington regulations.

Ill fight to repeal and replace Obamacare with real solutions that lower premiums, preserve rural access and protect Montanans with pre-existing conditions.

Ill always defend Montanans right to hunt, fish and recreate on our public lands because we must keep our public lands in public hands.

Ill always defend the Second Amendment and stand in strong opposition to any attempts to create a national gun registry.

Ill fight to strengthen our military to defend our interests and destroy ISIS.

Ill protect and defend our bordernot allow Montana to become a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes.

Ill support term limits and a ban to end members of Congress from becoming lobbyists. And, Ill hold the politicians accountableif they cant balance the budget, they shouldnt get paid. No balanced budget, no paycheck.

My word and bond to you is that if elected, I will always be on Montanas side.

I humbly ask for your vote, so that I can be your voice.
I grew up in the Flathead Valley in the '50s. I often tired of explaining to my friends that yes, my father was a lawyer, but we were not rich. When I railed at our conservative lifestyle, my fathers response was always the same. He said anyone could make millions. They did not need to be smart. They needed only to be totally focused on making lots of money.

Some voters in Montana are impressed with Greg Gianfortes money. My father would remind you of the kinds of things people have to do in order to accrue billions of dollars. He would vote for Rob Quist and so will I.

I dont care how many years Gianforte has lived in Montana. His vast wealth has insulated him from real Montana and he cannot know what it is like to live here on $25,000 a year or even $50,000 or $100,000. He does not understand what public lands access means to Montanans because he buys whatever he wants. He does not worry about minimum wage, health insurance, Medicare or Social Security, so how can he be expected to understand these things are vital to the average person in Montana?

Loraine K. Measure,

Bigfork
The April 30 LA Times article about the Flathead Valley debate over Montana refugee settlement falsely polarized it between those who care about people outside their borders vs those who dont, filling the article with false presuppositions to promote this falsehood.

The first false presupposition was that those who promote burgeoning entry of unvetted refugees have a corner on the market regarding compassion, generosity, charity.

Second false presupposition: those who oppose illegal immigration and unvetted refugees are fearful, knuckle-dragging anachronisms from backwoods Montana.

Third and fourth false presuppositions: it is the duty of Christians and the U.S. government to take in all refugees. Truth is, national sovereignty is God ordained and how Christians help their neighbor is individual. Government-mandated giving (taxes used for social programs) has no scriptural basis.

Kalispells Liberty Fellowship Pastor Chuck Baldwin (libertyfellowshipmt.com to view online) has a message on The Biblical Standards of Government, (this nations foundation) describing the proper role of government: to respect and promote the God-given natural laws/rights of those within the jurisdiction of that sovereign state. Please watch it, pass it on. Overcoming the woeful citizenry ignorance regarding the proper role of government is essential in this debate and in saving this republic.

Annie Bukacek,

Kalispell
Recently, the House of Representatives passed their version of a "health care" bill. This bill (which we all know is really just phase one of a huge tax break for the very wealthy) will spell pain and suffering for Montanans if it sticks.

It takes $800 billion away from Medicaid funding, and gives over $600 billion of those dollars directly to the wealthy. It will result in sky-high premiums for anyone older than 50. Anyone with a pre-existing condition will find it difficult to impossible to buy insurance. It will cause rural hospitals to shut down and will defund special education. It hurts veterans, and will eliminate thousands of jobs in the medical field.

This bill will now go to the Senate. Eventually, they will send some version back to the House.

So ask yourself this: when that day arrives, do you want Rob Quist representing Montana, or Greg Gianforte? Which candidate knows the hardships of healthcare debt? Which candidate cares deeply about all Montanans? And which candidate is an east coast billionaire, with vicious ads funded by dark money? Montanans are smart and independent. We know who is on our side. Vote for Rob Quist.

Linda Whittlesey,

Clinton
I don't believe it is a requirement that a newspaper endorse any candidate for elective office. Hence I do not understand why one would, if they have "strong reservations" about a candidate, as the Missoulian did in the Sunday, May 14 edition.

The one thing we know about Greg Gianforte is that he has vowed to support the agenda of President Donald Trump. That alone should have given the editors of the Missoulian reason not to endorse him. Trump's agenda is not in tune with the values of most Montanans.

Having veered so far from what I believe the Missoulian should stand for, I am tempted to cancel my subscription. However, the value of its primary use, for starting the morning fire, has not been compromised.

Lash Ashmore,

Seeley Lake
Ace Hardware and Ranchland Properties LLC will ask for use variances from the Buttes zoning board Thursday night that could allow the companies to expand their footprint in the Mining City.

Hardware store owners Tom Shellenberg and Matt Dowdell  who also own Ace locations in Anaconda and Livingston  are submitting a proposal that could more than double the size of the stores retail floor and initially create more than 10 jobs.

Meanwhile, Ranchland wants to use the building at Excelsior and Caledonia on Butte's North Side for a small meat shop and processing site. The company plans to make products like sausages at the location.

According to the Ace Hardware application, the duo wants to move the Butte Ace Hardware from its current building at 1839 Harrison Ave. to a new location at the southwest corner of Busch and Harvard, near AutoZone and the Holiday Inn Express.

The project involves building a new 24,800-square-foot building, 20,800 of which would be used as retail space, and a 68-stall parking lot.

Shellenberg and Dowdell need the variance because the new building will reside in an area thats normally reserved for single-family homes. The parking lot, meanwhile, will be in front of the building to the east in a commercial zone.

Among potential nuisances studied by zoning board staff were the impacts of increased traffic, noise and light pollution.

The analysis notes that signage in the parking lot will encourage visitors to enter along Amherst Avenue, a street running parallel to Harvard Avenue where there are no residences. But preliminary site plans also include an entrance at the northwest corner of the property, directly across the street from residences on Harvard Avenue. Zoning staff said residents could potentially be disturbed by light pollution from this entrance and are therefore recommending that the entrance be axed from the plan.

Staff also said lights in the parking lot should be placed at a sufficient distance away from residents and pointed downward. Staff said they are recommending that Ace only be granted the variance if its owners agree to limit the lights height to 16 feet.

Plans for the building also include a freight zone along the west side of the building, but staff said the zone should be moved to the south or southwest side of the property so that it faces commercial operations and not residences.

If these and other conditions are met, the staff said, theyre going to recommend approval of the new Ace location.

The move would mean the Butte location, which boasts about 10,000-square-feet of retail space, would grow by 108 percent in the area that serves customers.

Dowdell told The Montana Standard that the business has been looking to move for about two-and-a-half years.

We think the (Butte) market is underserved for what we do, said Dowdell, noting that expansion will allow store to feature more products and better meet demand. We think theres room to grow and that it would be good for the city.

Dowdell added that expansion initially could result in 10 to 12 new jobs. Currently the store employs 20 people full time and four part-time, including seasonal workers, the Livingston resident said.

ON EXCELSIOR

Also on Thursdays agenda is a proposal from Ranchland Properties LLC  which owns Ranchland Packing Co. in Butte  to locate a meat-processing store at 422 N. Excelsior Ave.

Although the property, which resides in a residential zone, has always served as a commercial building, the company needs a variance because one granted to a previous owner has expired.

The building was once home to Trimbos Pizza and a series of butcher shops and grocers. Ranchland wants to bring a butcher shop once again to the Excelsior Avenue location by opening a meat market. There the company plans to do final-stage processing, such as, for example, creating sausage links, in addition to wholesale and retail operations The retail portion of the store would include meat and small amounts of other products like milk and eggs.

Staff said in their analysis that the parking situation is not the optimum, noting that the building has a small parking lot thats able to accommodate only two vehicles, whose drivers would have to back out onto Excelsior Avenue. However, staff added that residential parking would not be impacted because the building would be used mostly for processing and wholesale operations, and the retail component would consist of only 500 square feet.

Staff recommended approval of Ranchlands application with several conditions, including that the retail component be limited to 500 square feet.
Police reports

Bail jumper with gun resists arrest

Butte police were called to the Town Pump, Montana and Platinum, around 2:18 p.m. Monday on a report of a wanted man in a car. When officers arrived, they saw Gary Mattix, 29, and two others sitting in the vehicle. Police said when Mattix was told he was under arrest, he tried to flee but was tackled to the ground. During a pat down, police said Mattix told them he a had a pistol and knife, which police found along with a glass meth pipe and a scale.

Mattix was booked into jail for felony bail jumping, felony criminal contempt, carrying a concealed weapon, resisting arrest, and possession of drug paraphernalia. One of the other two people in the car, Arthur Kane, was arrested on a Montana Highway Patrol warrant.

Pedaling away

A Butte man wanted for violating parole in Missoula County took off on a bicycle when police spotted him near Majors and Massachusetts on Wednesday afternoon.

Police say James Jean Evans, 39, jumped off the bike and tried to climb a fence when officers got to him. They say they found a syringe filled with a brown liquid inside his backpack as well as prescription drugs that were not his and a small amount of marijuana.

He was arrested on felony complaints of violating parole and possessing dangerous drugs and misdemeanor complaints of obstructing a peace officer, possessing drug paraphernalia, and having drugs.

He was being held Thursday pending $5,000 bond.

Man accused of strangling

Police arrested a Butte man for allegedly strangling a woman as her three children locked themselves in a bathroom.

Officers were called to a disturbance in the 1400 block of Sampson Street late Wednesday afternoon, where a woman told police that Ricardo Valenzuela, 31, had come in drunk. She said she and one of her daughters asked him to leave, and he angrily approached the girl.

The woman said she intervened, and Valenzuela grabbed her by the throat and began strangling her. She appeared injured when police arrived, and they found the three kids locked in the bathroom.

Valenzuela was arrested for partner/family member assault and was jailed with no bond set.
A federal jury in Butte Wednesday returned a $37,343 verdict against a Bozeman landlord for charging a tenant with physical and psychiatric disabilities $1,000 to have a service animal, the Justice Department announced.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Butte, alleged that Jaclyn Katz, the owner and manager of rental properties in Bozeman, discriminated against Kristen Newman, a tenant with physical and psychiatric disabilities, by charging her a $1,000 deposit as a condition for allowing her to keep her service dog, Riley.

According to a news release from the Department of Justice:

At trial, Newman, her treating therapist and an independent expert testified that Riley assisted Newman in living with the symptoms of her disabilities, including providing emotional support, helping to predict migraines, and reducing suicidal thoughts. Newman also testified that she repeatedly informed Katz that charging a deposit for a service animal was illegal and that Newman understood that she would have to pay for any actual damage caused by her service dog. Nevertheless, Katz continued to levy this charge and, at one point, even threatened to terminate Newmans tenancy. The case arose out of a complaint filed by Newman with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The verdict includes $11,043 in compensatory damages for Newman, $20,000 in punitive damages for Newman, and $6,300 for Montana Fair Housing, Inc., which assisted Newman with her fair housing complaint.

Persons with disabilities have the right to live in and enjoy their communities, just as all families do throughout our nation, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Tom Wheeler of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. We commend the jury for recognizing that the Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from discriminating against persons with disabilities, and we will continue to work to eliminate discriminatory barriers in housing for persons with disabilities.

Many people with disabilities require the assistance of an animal to carry out major daily activities, said General Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryan Greene of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Complaints alleging disability discrimination now account for the majority of the complaints HUD receives. HUD will continue to enforce the law and educate the public on the rights of people with disabilities in housing.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Persons who believe that they have experienced unlawful housing discrimination may contact the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743, or by e-mail at fairhousing@usdoj.gov.
HELENA  With a little over a week before election day, a federal political action committee has filed a complaint against the Republican seeking to fill Montana's empty U.S. House seat.

The committee, called End Citizens United, is alleging Greg Gianforte could have used the Gianforte Victory Fund to circumvent federal contribution limits in a complaint it says was filed with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday. The Gianforte campaign has not received notice that the complaint was filed.

Gianforte is a Republican businessman from Bozeman who is running against Democrat Rob Quist, a musician from Creston. Libertarian Mark Wicks, an Inverness rancher, is also in the race.

The complaint stems from a call May 4, first reported by the New York Times, in which Gianforte told potential donors "if someone wanted to support through a PAC, our victory fund allows that money to go to all the get-out-the-vote efforts."

The Gianforte Victory Fund is a a joint fundraising committee that includes Greg For Montana (the candidate's group), the Montana Republican State Central Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee.

Joint fundraising committees are a legal way to solicit money for multiple campaigns or committees at a time. They make reports to the FEC listing their contributors and are bound by the same campaign finance laws that cap donations at $2,700 per person to a candidate.

The joint fundraising committees collect money and then disburse it to the groups that are a member of it. If a contributor has reached their limit on contributions to one member committee, the money is given to the next member or reimbursed.

In the case of this special election, the other groups that would get money from contributors who have maxed out on giving directly to Greg for Montana only have one candidate to spend the money to help in this election -- Gianforte.

That's why End Citizens United claims the joint fundraising committee is a way to circumvent limits, even though no one group has taken in more than the law allows, because all the money will still be spent just on efforts to get Gianforte elected since there are no other Republicans on the ballot.

However, the Quist campaign is in the same boat. That campaign also has a joint fundraising committee, the Quist Victory Fund, of which the only members are the Quist campaign and the Montana Democratic Party. That means any contributions the Quist Victory Fund receives -- whether given directly to him or to the Montana Democratic Party -- would only benefit Quist since he's the party's only candidate on the ballot this May.

Gianforte's campaign strongly rebutted the complaint Tuesday.

"This group is a sham and the complaint is bogus. This is a 100 percent phony complaint filed by a shady partisan PAC that has endorsed, supports and is backing Rob Quist. This isnt a valid complaint, it's laughable," said spokesman Brock Lowrance.

The Gianforte Victory Fund filed a statement of organization with the FEC on March 17 but has not yet filed any finance reports.

"The Commission should investigate this matter promptly to determine whether Greg for Montana received excessive contributions," the complaint said.

A candidate may accept up to $5,000 from a PAC and $2,700 from an individual in this election. A person can also contribute to a political committee as long as the contributor "does not give with the knowledge that a substantial portion will be contributed to, or expended on behalf of, that candidate for the same election."

In this case, End Citizens United says that since Gianforte is the only Republican candidate on the ballot this May, it is clear all donations to the Gianforte Victory Fund or the Montana Republican State Central Committee will support his campaign.

According to the complaint, a Gianforte campaign spokesperson said "Greg was simply stating that they can support the party if they want" and that Gianforte was not referring to the Gianforte Victory Fund but the state central committee.

End Citizens United says that doesn't change anything. If Gianforte is directing donors to contribute funds to the Montana Republican State Central Committee, it would still circumvent finance limits.

Both Quist and Gianforte swore off PAC money, though not from all types of PACs.

For example, End Citizens United, which has endorsed Quist, is a PAC that has donated $5,000 to Quist's campaign, which has said it will take money from ideological and labor PACs, according to a report from Roll Call. The same report said Gianforte's campaign will take money from "political party and leadership PACs."

Taking money from PACs is not illegal, but has been frowned upon in Montana politics.

According to its website, the FEC reviews every complaint on a case-by-case basis. If a violation has occurred, the outcome can range from a letter to a fine.

While the complaint raises questions about the possibility of circumventing federal contribution limits, it does not offer evidence of it happening, only explaining a situation under which it could occur.

Lowrence called the complaint a political move without merit.

"This fake complaint is nothing more than campaign activity for Rob Quist,'' he said. "Quist's campaign has become so desperate they are now using allies to file fake complaints to try and distract Montanans from the fact that Rob Quist has been caught trying to dodge property taxes and lying about his income on federal documents."
MISSOULA  Congressional candidate Rob Quist declined Tuesday to discuss his support for decriminalizing marijuana usage after a revelation in court records that, at least at one point, he had smoked it two or three times a month.

The Creston Democrat stopped in Missoula on Tuesday as part of a final campaign push leading up to the May 25 special election to fill Montanas sole U.S. House seat, vacated when Republican Ryan Zinke was appointed Secretary of the Interior.

An hour before the events start at Great Burn Brewing, a national conservative media site posted and wrote about public court records from a 20-year old malpractice lawsuit Quist had filed against a doctor who cut the wrong duct during a gallbladder surgery.

The documents included discussion of some sensitive personal medical information and whether those details would be admissible in court for that case, including an intake form where Quist said he occasionally used marijuana and had tested positive for a tuberculosis-causing bacteria since grade school.

It is unclear how long Quist smoked mairjuana, for what purpose, and if he continues to do so today. It is also unclear what the positive TB tine tests mentioned in the lawsuit might mean for his current health.

Some people test positive on those tests without having ever personally contracted the illness and some who carry the bacteria that causes the disease never will become sick themselves.

Quist has previously stated that he supports legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, or at minimum decriminalizing its use. His opponent, Republican Greg Gianforte of Bozeman, has said he supports limited medical use but not recreational use, calling it a gateway drug.

Quist campaign spokeswoman Tina Olechowski canceled the interview after she learned it would include questions about his marijuana platform and other health issues highlighted in the post about the court records. She insisted the reasons for the cancellation be off the record.

Olechowski promised to provide an emailed statement about Quists marijuana policy platform, how his personal use has shaped that stance and whether he had comments about his medical history becoming public, among other questions.

"Like most Montanans, Rob Quist believes a family's medical history should be private. It is unfortunate Lee Newspapers disagrees," Olechowski said in an email that pivoted instead to criticize the Affordable Health Care Act, the Affordable Care Act replacement plan passed by U.S. House Republicans, and a leaked phone call in which Gianforte said he supported the appeal of the existing policy.

Quist is far from the first person holding or seeking public office known to have smoked marijuana.

Fellow Democrats include presidential candidate Al Gore who said it was infrequent and rare when he inhaled the smoke, and former president Barack Obama, who wrote in one of his memoirs about smoking with a group of teenage friends in Hawaii that jokingly called themselves the Choom Gang.

Republicans include former presidential candidates Rick Santorum, who described his college pot smoking as something that Im not proud of, and Jeb Bush, who copped to past use during a 2015 debate and apologized to his mom for embarrassing her with the admission.
The Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff's Department is warning people of a scam concerning a fake fundraising effort for a deputy killed in Montana Tuesday.

Sheriff Ed Lester, in a news release, said the Deer Lodge Police Department has received complaints of a male who is calling residents by phone and attempting to get their credit card information.

The male is apparently advising people that he is raising money for Broadwater County Deputy Mason Moore, who was killed in the line of duty on May 16.

The male, who has a foreign accent, says that he is from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and that he is accepting credit card donations.

This is a scam, the sheriff said.

The Montana Law Enforcement Academy is not soliciting donations for Deputy Moore.

The Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association is accepting donations for Deputy Moores family. However, that group is not soliciting donations by phone.

"Do not provide your credit card information to this individual,'' Lester said.
President Donald Trump personally appealed to FBI Director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to notes, disclosed late Tuesday, that Comey wrote after the meeting.

The White House issued a furious denial near the end of a tumultuous day that Trump officials spent beating back potentially disastrous news reports from dawn to dusk.

Earlier, officials staunchly defended Trump's disclosure of classified information to senior Russian officials. The White House played down the importance and secrecy of the information, supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement, and Trump himself said he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia. Yet U.S. allies and some members of Congress expressed concern bordering on alarm.

As for Comey, who Trump fired last week, the FBI director wrote in a memo after a February meeting at the White House that the new president had asked him to shut down the FBI's investigation of Flynn and his Russian contacts, said a person who had read the memo. The Flynn investigation was part of a broader probe into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.

The person who described the memo was not authorized to discuss it by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The existence of the memo was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times.

The White House vigorously denied the report. "While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House statement said.

Trump fired Flynn on Feb. 13.

The bombshell Comey news came as the beleaguered Trump administration was still struggling mightily to explain Monday's revelation that the president had revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and the country's ambassador to the United States. And the administration is still reeling from Trump's abrupt firing of Comey.

The intensifying drama comes as Trump is set to embark Friday on his first foreign trip, which had been optimistically viewed by some aides as an opportunity to reset an administration floundering under an inexperienced president.

When Trump fired Comey, he said he did so based on Comey's very public handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe and how it affected his leadership of the FBI. But the White House has provided differing accounts of the firing. And lawmakers have alleged that the sudden ouster was an attempt to stifle the bureau's investigation into Trump associates' ties to Russia's meddling in the campaign.

Comey's memo detailing his conversation with Trump would be the clearest evidence to date that the president has tried to influence that investigation. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee, said he was ready to subpoena the memo, which was an apparent effort to create a paper trail of Comey's contacts with the White House.

Other lawmakers also demanded strong action.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said Comey needs to come to Capitol Hill and testify. Other lawmakers agreed, and said it must be soon.

Mark Warner of Virginia, top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said he would ask Comey for additional material as part of the panel's investigation. "Memos, transcripts, tapes  the list keeps getting longer," he said.

Republicans were more circumspect but also clearly upset.

John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Trump-Russia reports were "deeply disturbing" and said they could impede allies' willingness to share intelligence with the U.S.

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said he was not losing confidence in Trump as president but added, "It would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the White House."

According to the Times, Comey wrote in the February memo that Trump told him Flynn had done nothing wrong. But Comey said he did not say anything to Trump about limiting the investigation, replying simply, "I agree he is a good guy."

The newspaper said Comey was in the Oval Office that day with other national security officials for a terrorism threat briefing. When that ended, Trump asked everyone to leave except Comey, and he eventually turned the conversation to Flynn.

The administration spent the first half of Tuesday defending Trump's disclosure of classified information to senior Russian officials. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said the president's comments were "wholly appropriate." He used that phrase nine times in his briefing to reporters.

The highly classified information about an Islamic State plot was collected by Israel, a crucial source of intelligence and close partner in the fight against some of the America's fiercest threats in the Middle East. Trump's disclosure of the information threatened to fray that partnership and piled pressure on the White House to explain the apparently on-the-spot decision to reveal the information to Russian diplomats in the Oval Office.

A U.S. official who confirmed the disclosure to The Associated Press said the revelation potentially put the source at risk.

In a statement, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, said the partnership between the U.S and Israel was solid.

___

AP writers Vivian Salama and Jill Pace contributed.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump is decidedly premature in claiming everyone's convinced his presidential campaign and Russia did not collude before the election. Investigations into contacts between Russians and people with the Trump campaign are still going on, so there's no exoneration to be found.

Over the past week, Trump stretched a variety of facts on trade, taxes and economic theory. But his firing of FBI Director James Comey was far and away the source of the most tumult. Contradictions cascaded from the White House.

Here are some statements by the president and his spokespeople on the FBI, Russia, economics and more:

JUMPING TO CONCLUSION

TRUMP, on whether people in his campaign and Russian officials were in any way in cahoots: "Clapper is convinced, other people are convinced ... Everybody's convinced. ... They're all saying, there's no collusion. There is no collusion."  Fox interview broadcast Friday

THE FACTS: That's untrue both generally and with respect to James Clapper, the director of national intelligence until Trump took office Jan. 20. Clapper has not said he's satisfied there was no wrongdoing. In a report published at the end of the Obama administration, Clapper said no coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia had been established from a review of evidence available to him by that point. But his report focused on what was known by then about Russia's cyber actions and propaganda against Hillary Clinton, not about contacts between Trump associates and Russia.

Clapper expanded on that point Sunday, saying he did not know at the time that the FBI was digging deeply into "potential political collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians," and he was unaware of what the bureau might have found.

"There was no evidence of any collusion included in that report," he told ABC's "This Week," meaning his report. "That's not to say there wasn't evidence."

More broadly, it's obvious on its face that not everyone is convinced that Trump and his people are vindicated in the matter. Senate and House investigations continue, as does the FBI's, which Comey wanted to intensify before his dismissal last week. Acting FBI chief Andrew McCabe said the probe remains a high priority for the agency.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is not convinced of anything in his panel's inquiry, except that "boy, oh, boy, there's an awful lot of smoke. I'm not saying there's fire at this point, but we're going to follow the facts wherever they lead."

WHY FIRE COMEY?

KELLYANNE CONWAY, White House counselor, on the reason for firing Comey: "This has nothing to do with Russia."  Tuesday on CNN

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, White House spokeswoman, on the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government: "We want this to come to its conclusion, we want it to come to its conclusion with integrity ... and we think that we've actually, by removing Director Comey, taken steps to make that happen."  Thursday White House briefing

THE FACTS: The initial White House explanation for the firing, that Comey had bungled the FBI's investigation of Hillary Clinton's email practices, persuaded no one. Trump was delighted with Comey's disclosures about the Clinton investigation during the campaign and praised him.

Sanders, though, acknowledged in general terms what was obvious  that by firing Comey, the White House hoped to hasten the conclusion of an aggressive FBI investigation.

WHO INITIATED THE DISMISSAL?

TRUMP, in letter firing the FBI chief Tuesday: "I ... concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau."

WHITE HOUSE statement Tuesday: "President Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions."

SEAN SPICER, White House spokesman, laying the impetus for the firing on Rosenstein and his memo building the case against Comey: "It was all him. No one from the White House. That was a DOJ decision."  Tuesday

SANDERS, Wednesday: "People in the Justice Department made a very strong recommendation, the president followed it and he made a quick and decisive action to fire James Comey."  MSNBC interview

TRUMP, Thursday: "Oh, I was going fire regardless of recommendation."  NBC interview

THE FACTS: The early attempts to deflect responsibility on to others were a diversion; Rosenstein had been asked by the White House to put the memo together. Trump's unvarnished assertion that he wanted Comey gone has the ring of truth, even without the whole story known.

He appeared to consider himself his own best spokesman in a tweet Friday that raised the prospect of discontinuing the long White House tradition of daily press briefings.

"As a very active President with lots of things happening, it is not possible for my surrogates to stand at podium with perfect accuracy!" Trump tweeted. "Maybe the best thing to do would be to cancel all future 'press briefings' and hand out written responses for the sake of accuracy???"

...Maybe the best thing to do would be to cancel all future "press briefings" and hand out written responses for the sake of accuracy???  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017

TRUMP UNDER FBI INVESTIGATION?

TRUMP: "First of all, when you're under investigation you're giving all sorts of documents and everything. I knew I wasn't under and I heard it was stated at the committee, at some committee level, that I wasn't."  NBC interview

THE FACTS: An absence of document requests can't be read as an indication that he isn't under investigation, as Trump suggests. Investigations begin with interviews and document searches that are steps removed from the subject of the probe. Direct contact with the subject wouldn't become known to that person until late in the process.

TRUMP's letter to Comey: "I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation." In an NBC interview Thursday the president elaborated, saying Comey had told him this at a dinner and in two separate phone calls. "I said, if it's possible would you let me know, 'Am I under investigation?' He said, 'You are not under investigation'."

THE FACTS: Comey hasn't responded publicly to Trump's claims. But even if he did make such assurances, those answers months or weeks ago would be ephemeral because the investigation into Russia's meddling in U.S. presidential election continues and hasn't reached conclusions.

That's why investigators make it a practice not to circumscribe a probe in that fashion. It would also breach protocol for an FBI chief and president to discuss an investigation bearing on the president. Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe told senators Thursday it's not standard practice for the FBI to tell people they're excluded from an investigation.

In congressional testimony March 20, Comey refused to say whether Trump himself was under investigation when asked directly. "I'm not gonna answer that," he told the House Intelligence Committee. "I'm not gonna answer about anybody, in this forum." He added that he had privately briefed the top Republican and Democrat on the committee "in great detail on the subjects of the investigation and what we're doing."

Publicly, he said, he would not identify those being investigated "so we don't end up smearing people" who may end up not being prosecuted. But he described casting a wide net, "investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts."

COLLEGE DAZE

TRUMP: "The Electoral College is almost impossible for a Republican to win. Very hard."  NBC interview

THE FACTS: History disagrees. Over the past century, the party victory split is dead even: 13 for Democrats, 13 for Republicans. If you add the total electoral votes amassed by the candidates of each party over that time, Republicans actually come out ahead  7,159 to 6,607.

TAX TALK

TRUMP: "We're the highest-taxed nation in the world."  interview with The Economist magazine

THE FACTS: Trump has repeatedly made variations on this false claim. The overall U.S. tax burden is actually one of the lowest among the 32 developed and large emerging-market economies tracked by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Taxes made up 26.4 percent of the total U.S. economy in 2015, according to the OECD. That's far below Denmark's tax burden of 46.6 percent, Britain's 32.5 percent or Germany's 36.9 percent. Just four OECD countries had a lower tax bite than the U.S.: South Korea, Ireland, Chile and Mexico.

Trump qualified his claim later in the interview by saying the top marginal corporate tax rate, specifically, is higher than in similar industrialized countries. That's more or less true, although the higher rate is moderated by tax breaks not available in some of those other countries.

TRADING PLACES

TRUMP: "Right now the United States has ... about a $15 billion trade deficit with Canada."  Economist interiew

THE FACTS: His numbers are upside down. The United States actually ran an $8.1 billion trade surplus with Canada last year, according to the latest numbers available from the Census Bureau. A $24.6 billion U.S. surplus with Canada in the trade of services, including tourism and software, outweighed a $16.5 billion deficit in the trade of goods, including autos and oil.

Trump, who regularly decries the loss of American manufacturing jobs, tends to emphasize trade in goods and ignore trade in services. His comment about Canada came as his administration seeks a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.

The U.S. last year ran a deficit of $750 billion in goods with the rest of the world but recorded a $249 billion surplus in services.

ECON LINGO

TRUMP: "You understand the expression 'prime the pump'? ... I came up with it a couple of days ago and I thought it was good. It's what you have to do. We have to prime the pump."  Economist interview

The phrase 'priming the pump' dates to the early 19th century.  Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) May 11, 2017

THE FACTS: He didn't coin that phrase. It's a well-worn metaphor for generating faster growth, first made popular as an economic analogy more than 80 years ago during the Great Depression.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary people quickly tweeted that the phrase "priming the pump" has been around since the early 1800s. Literally, it's about pouring water into a pump to allow it to create suction. The phrase was commonly used by mining publications during the 1920s, but it took on new significance after the economy cratered during the Depression.

By 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had promoted the idea of flushing money into the economy to stimulate stronger growth with his New Deal policies. Such policies rankled Roosevelt's predecessor, Herbert Hoover. "One of the ideas in these spendings is to prime the economic pump," Hoover said in a 1935 post-presidential speech. "We might abandon this idea also, for it dries up the well of enterprise."

WEEKENDS AWAY

TRUMP tweets, concerning his May 5-7 weekend: "Rather than causing a big disruption in N.Y.C., I will be working out of my home in Bedminster, N.J. this weekend. Also saves country money!" ''The reason I am staying in Bedminster, N.J., a beautiful community, is that staying in NYC is much more expensive and disruptive. Meetings!"

THE FACTS: True, less disruption in the New Jersey countryside than in the metropolis and almost certainly less cost to taxpayers.

But his weekends away, whether at his Florida resort or in New Jersey, are much more expensive than weekends at the White House, where security is already in place.

The White House doesn't make it easy for taxpayers to know anything about these costs. The administration is mum when asked for an accounting, and past attempts by government auditors to gauge the costs of presidential travel are sketchy, fragmentary or outdated.

A law Trump signed provides nearly $120 million to reimburse law enforcement agencies for their costs of protecting his homes outside Washington and to house Secret Service agents in New York and Florida through September.

Bedminster town officials estimate local costs of $12,000 a day for heightened security when Trump stays there. Palm Beach County, Florida, spends more than $60,000 a day when the president visits, mostly for law enforcement overtime. The New York City Police Department has said it spends up to $146,000 a day to protect first lady Melania Trump and son, Barron, living at Trump Tower until the school year ends. That cost at least doubles when the president is there.

Those comparisons are inexact but they suggest a Manhattan weekend would be pricier to taxpayers.

Local enforcement is only one segment of costs, though. It costs roughly $200,000 an hour to fly Air Force One, the president's armored limousine is flown separately to his destinations, and the Secret Service faces multiple other expenses associated with his travel. Trump has spent about half his weekends away since becoming president.

___

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Paul Wiseman, Josh Boak, Jill Colvin and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
As a 28-year registered nurse, I can tell you that I have been intimately involved in the outcomes of peoples lives. Their physical, mental and spiritual health is a tremendous responsibility that deserves thoughtful attention, knowledge and expertise, and a genuine commitment to protect patients, nurture their healing, and advocate for them at all costs  and do no harm.

Recently, members of Congress passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), more commonly referred to as Trumpcare; 217 Republicans voted in favor of passage and 213 voted against, including 193 Democrats and 20 Republicans.

The Montana Nurses Association opposes the ACHA, as it would dismantle important health care benefits of the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, the ACHA was opposed by almost all the national healthcare groups, including the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association and the American Hospital Association.

The ACHA bill was not scored before the House voted on it. No thoughtful review of financial impact or health coverage impact had been completed. Montana just passed Medicaid expansion in 2015 covering over 70,000 Montana citizens. Now, to roll this back and compromise the lives of approximately 142,000 Montanans is reckless and unacceptable. Lawmakers rushed to vote on this bill, even though they lacked the responsible level of knowledge on how it would impact the lives of millions. It was an uninformed decision.

When I ponder what would drive such inappropriate conduct, it occurs to me that unlike many healthcare professionals, these congressmen have no idea what its like to beg the parent of a small child to continue treatment because without it, the parent will die. They have no idea what its like to tell cancer patients they need more treatment only to have them refuse because it will cost their family too much. These congressmen never had to tell a patient that death was imminent because care wasnt received early enough due to lack of access and affordability. They have no idea what it is like to cut pills in half to make them last longer, to skip medical tests to avoid unaffordable bills, or to lose their dignity and self-worth under the weight of mounting medical debt. Those hurried 217 congressmen will never have to choose between buying food or insulin. They will never be driven to bankruptcy over medical debt. They have no idea what it is like for patients to choose death over life. This should never be a choice for Americans because of affordability or access to health care.

Nurses believe in using our knowledge and skills for good. We believe in being ethical, compassionate, dedicated and most importantly, educated. We believe others, making decisions in this capacity, should be demonstrating those same ethics.

Montana had no representative in this U.S. House decision because our seat is currently vacant. On May 25, in a special election, well elect our congressman to speak for us on health care and other issues. Please do your research and make sure the candidate who receives your vote is deserving of your trust and will honor the lives and healthcare needs of our families and communities. Make sure its someone who will improve our healthcare system and not rush to tear it apart.

The week of May 6 was National Nurses Week and what nurses want is the ability to provide quality care and promote health. This year, please thank a nurse and help us elect and hold accountable a Montana congressman who will be a champion for human life, wellness and access to affordable quality healthcare for all.
MISSOULA  Forums in Missoula and Helena this week will focus on the number of kids using electronic cigarettes and on preventing a generation of nicotine addicts.

Wednesday's public forum at Sentinel High in Missoula, put on in partnership with the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program, will include a panel of expert to discuss the dangers of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco. Another forum is scheduled Thursday in Helena.

Parents have a lot of questions and they are getting different answers depending on who they talk to, said Nicole Aune, manager for the program run by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

About 60 percent of Montanas 2015 high school seniors reported having tried e-cigarettes, with 36 percent reporting using the product within 30 days of taking 2015 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

An e-cigarette is made with liquid nicotine, which is derived from tobacco. When heated, the liquid produces a vapor that is then inhaled by the user. The vapor is said to contain nicotine, flavorings and either glycerol or propylene glycol, or both, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

The journal has also found evidence of formaldehyde  a carcinogen  in the vapor produced by e-cigarettes.

The long-term effects of these products on adult health are still unknown, said Stacy Campbell, section supervisor for the prevention program. But nicotine in any form is dangerous to kids because their brains are still developing, Campbell said.

It might be safer. We dont know because it is so new, but its not safe, Campbell said.

Montana joined a lawsuit against tobacco companies in 1997, which resulted in a master settlement agreement between states and tobacco companies. The settlement prohibited advertisements targeting kids in advertising. Montana law was updated in 2015 to prevent people under 18 from buying e-cigarettes. But, there are no laws preventing companies from marketing e-cigarettes to kids.

Tobacco company ads tout e-cigarettes as an alternative to, or for people trying to quit, traditional cigarettes. But Campbell and her team are concerned the companies are targeting kids.

The electronic vapor cigarettes come in flavors like bubblegum, cotton candy and gummy bear. The organization Tobacco Free Kids calls this the flavor trap, a strategy used by tobacco companies to make their products appealing to kids. While the sale of flavored cigarettes is illegal under federal law, with the exception of menthol, e-cigarettes flavors are not banned.

Blu eCig, an e-cigarette manufacturer owned by Lorillard Tobacco Co., which owns cigarette brands like Newport and Old Gold, has created a character named Mr. Cool who acts as a cartoon pitchman for the e-cigarette company. Mr. Cool is comparable to Joe Camel, a cartoon character who effectively marketed cigarettes to kids in the 1990s," according to a presentation by Brian King, the deputy director for research translation in the Centers for Disease Controls Office on Smoking and Health.

King cites research that e-cigarettes may help to reduce the number of cigarette users, but marketers have found ways to advertise nicotine replacement therapies, like the nicotine patch, without making the products appeal to youth. Blu eCig advertisements include sponsorship of music festivals and commercials by actress Jenny McCarthy.

The industry has to replace their users, because the product will kill you, Campbell said. So they are always seeking out replacement customers.

E-cigarettes are "so scary because it feels like we are reliving the past," she said.

The Montana Attorney Generals office supported the age restrictions on the sale of e-cigarettes, but the regulation of these products is up to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said Eric Sell, office spokesman.

In May 2016, the FDA issued new regulations over vape pens, refillable vaporizers and e-juices. The new rules made it illegal to sell the products to minors, banned free samples and required warning labels.

Scott Gottlieb, confirmed last week as the new head of the FDA, will take charge of regulating the e-cigarette industry. Gottlieb served for more than a year as a board member for a company that sold vaping products.

The state prevention program focuses how tobacco companies target kids so parents can better educate their children, Campbell said.

The program wants kids to know how marketers try to manipulate them into buying the product. Local communities can also advocate for keeping these products behind shelves to limit kids' exposure, she said.

The Missoula forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Sentinel High School Auditorium, 901 South Ave. W.

The Helena forum is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday at Capital High School Auditorium, 100 Valley Drive.
"They called a couple minutes later to say they couldn't reach him," Meehan said.

The sheriff was about halfway between Townsend and the scene when he heard another call. This one requested a coroner.

Broadwater County deputy Mason Moore was found dead outside Three Forks. The two men suspected of playing a role in his death are in custody in Missoula.

Moore, who had 15 years in law enforcement, signed on with the department based in Townsend three years ago.

"I lost a good hand," Meehan said. "It's going to be very difficult to try and replace him."

"Our deputy died protecting the citizens of our county and displayed remarkable courage until the very end. His actions will never be forgotten.

Moore, a husband and father of three, including twin teenage boys, moved to Montana from South Carolina, where he served as an investigator in major crimes. Prior to serving as a sheriff's deputy, he worked a couple years as an officer with the motor carrier division in Rocker.

By Tuesday afternoon, Meehan was spent. He, alongside the bulk of his 12-person operation, escorted Moore's body to Billings, where an autopsy was to be performed.

"I don't even know what the stop was for," Meehan said in a phone interview. He said it started as a traffic stop and the vehicle fled.

"It feels like three weeks have gone by, and it's only been 14 hours," he added.

Through his devastation and exhaustion, Meehan also felt thankful for the outpouring of support Moore and his department received throughout the day. On the drive from Three Forks to Billings, a 170-mile trek, the 40 law enforcement vehicles in the procession guiding Moore's body were met with salutes and other displays.

"Every town we came through had fire trucks and flags hanging down," he said. "It was remarkable."

The law enforcement community has stepped up in an awesome way as well, Meehan said. From covering patrols to offering detention officers for the jail to sending in dispatchers, Meehan said he was amazed by the rallying displayed.

"So many have offered to give us a hand," he said. "We need to lean on each other and take care of each other."

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, who responded to the scene early Tuesday morning and later joined the procession, said in difficult times like these the extended law enforcement family is vital.

"We have been working to take care of them and cover their county, along with Gallatin County," Dutton said.

"Montana is not that big of a state, and we all feel the loss," he added.

State Attorney General Tim Fox noted the timing of the shooting.

"Its cruel irony that a law enforcement officer was shot and killed the day after Peace Officers Memorial Day. Tragic incidents like this should serve as a reminder to all of us to be thankful every day for those in uniform who serve and protect our communities," Fox said in a statement.

The suspects also fired at officers during a subsequent chase after the shooting.

"We are saddened by deputy Moore's death, but we are also relieved that no other law enforcement officers were killed in the apprehension of the suspects," Dutton said.

Back in Townsend, a local therapist worked with county employees grieving the loss of Moore, who is remembered as a quiet yet intensely funny man. When asked to describe Moore, many county workers responded "he was a good guy."

Moore didn't say much, but when he did, it was worth the wait, Meehan said.

"He had an interesting sense of humor," he added.

Laura Obert, county commissioner, said Moore will be remembered as a smart and compassionate man.

"He had a quiet confidence about him," Obert said. "He truly cared about people and what they thought."

"He was just one of those genuine souls."

Debbie Kelley, accounting manager for the county, said she found Moore impressive as an officer. On his off time, he served with the Three Forks Volunteer Fire Department.

"I think the biggest thing is to help the family," Kelley said. "That's the hard part."

Kelley said Moore was well-liked and a good match for the sheriff's office.

"It's been kind of quiet here today," she said.

"It's too close to home for things like this. It does make it personal."

Officials said a vigil or service will be held to remember Moore. Details will be announced later.

"Even though he's gone, he will always be a part of us," Obert said.
MISSOULA  One of the men allegedly involved in the killing of a Broadwater County deputy sheriff Tuesday morning triggered a massive standoff involving more than 100 officers in California 17 years ago, according to news reports at the time and confirmed Wednesday by law enforcement.

Lloyd Barrus, 61, was ordered held on $2 million bail Wednesday in his initial appearance in Missoula County Justice Court on 14 counts of attempted deliberate homicide and two of accountability for attempted deliberate homicide.

His son Marshall Barrus, 38, who was shot by law enforcement after firing at officers at the end of a high-speed chase Tuesday, died in the hospital on Wednesday, according to the Missoula County Sheriff's Office.

In March 2000, Lloyd Barrus, another son Jeffrey Barrus and a woman named Cheryl Maarteuse were arrested following an armed standoff in Death Valley that lasted more than 18 hours, according to multiple news reports of the incident.

Although the spelling of Barrus last name differed in the stories about the 2000 incident, authorities in Inyo County, California, Wednesday confirmed that the same 61-year-old Lloyd Barrus who was arrested east of Missoula on Tuesday was involved in that standoff.

In the 2000 incident, the three fled from a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper who attempted to stop them about 60 miles north of Las Vegas, and shot at officers during the 70-mile chase. After their vehicle broke down, the three ran, eventually hiding in a gully and starting the standoff, according to stories from the Washington Post and CBS.

During the standoff, the three reportedly damaged a California Highway Patrol helicopter to the point it was forced to land, but did not injure any officers before they were arrested.

Inyo County, California, District Attorney Tom Hardy, who prosecuted the criminal case resulting from the standoff, said Lloyd Barrus eventually pleaded guilty to a felony for assault on a peace officer. He was sentenced in July 2002 to 15 years in prison with credit for time already served.

Jeffrey Barrus, who was believed to have been the primary shooter, also pleaded guilty to a similar felony and received a 25-year prison sentence that he is still serving, said Hardy. Maarteuse was eventually sentenced to a year in jail for her minor role in the standoff.

Hardy offered his condolences to Montana law enforcement. I just cant imagine how horrible that must have been, he said.

On Wednesday, Deputy Missoula County Attorney Brian Lowney said Barrus mentioned the California standoff in an interview with officers. "He portrayed

Broadwater County Deputy Sheriff Mason Moore, 42, was found shot to death early Tuesday morning after he stopped responding to dispatchers after calling in a chase near Three Forks around 2:30 a.m. An officer sent to assist him found his body.

The vehicle Moore was pursuing was spotted by Butte-Silver Bow County sheriffs deputies near Anaconda around 3:30 a.m., starting a chase that led all the way to the Rock Creek area near mile marker 129 on Interstate 90. Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff Ed Lester said both men in the SUV fired at officers during the chase.

Marshall Barrus was shot in the head after he got out of the passenger seat of the SUV and began firing at officers, according to multiple agencies. He was taken to the hospital, where he died Wednesday.

According to a court affidavit, Lloyd Barrus also left the SUV when it stopped at the end of the chase, and fired a 9 mm handgun at officers. He allegedly said in interviews after his arrest that he was attempting to force a suicide by cop.

Lloyd Barrus posts on his Facebook page includes images and links to stories on conspiracy theory websites including Infowars  the website run by Alex Jones, who has claimed the government conducted the Oklahoma City bombing and that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was staged.

Last fall, Barrus made a post that read The FBI & ATF killed more children at Waco then were killed at Sandy Hook. Where was the outrage then?

He has also posted several photos of the book The Vigilantes of Montana, of which he appears to own multiple editions, as well as photos seemingly linking the CIA to alien spacecraft.

Earlier in May, he posted images of pages from the Book of Daniel in the Bible where the word sheriffs had been highlighted.

The Broadwater County Sheriffs Office said a donation fund has been set up at Opportunity Bank in Townsend.

An online GoFundMe page has also been set up to support Moores family.

But law enforcement is warning people about a phone scam related to his death. (See related story on this page.)

Police in Deer Lodge said they have received a complaint about residents getting calls from a person claiming to be raising money for Moore on behalf of the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and asking for credit card information.

Those calls are a scam. The MLEA is not soliciting donations, and while the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association is taking donations for Moores family, they are not soliciting them by phone.
MISSOULA  A Broadwater County Sheriff's deputy with only three years on the job and a wife and three children at home was shot and killed early Tuesday while trying to make a traffic stop.

The shooting touched off a search that resulted in a pre-dawn chase covering more than 140 miles in southwest Montana and ending in a shoot-out that sent one suspect to the hospital and his father to jail.

Mason Moore, 42, was slain near Three Forks, less than two miles from where a state Highway Patrol trooper was shot and killed in 2010.

"It's difficult to adequately describe how devastating it feels to lose one of our own in the line of duty," said Broadwater Sheriff Wynn Meehan. "Our deputy died protecting the citizens of our county and displayed remarkable courage until the very end."

Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin said the incident began Tuesday morning when Moore was pursuing a white SUV near Three Forks shortly before 3 a.m.

Gootkin said dispatchers lost contact with Moore. When a Gallatin deputy arrived at the scene, he found Moore lying dead near the side of the road. The deputy reviewed the dash camera video in the slain officer's car and identified the SUV.

Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff Ed Lester said his department's officers spotted the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban at 3:27 a.m. heading west on I-90 near the Continental Drive interchange. As they were chasing it, he said the passenger, Marshall Barrus, fired a semi-automatic .308-caliber rifle through the SUV's missing back window.

The sheriff said both suspects in the SUV were firing at deputies near the end of the chase.

"There's probably a special place in hell for those individuals, and that's where they belong," Lester said of the suspects.

The pursuit reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Butte-Silver Bow officers continued to pursue the vehicle westbound on I-90 through Deer Lodge County and Powell County and into Granite County.

Although its tires were punctured by a spike strip in Powell County, the SUV kept going on its rims until it reached the Rock Creek area. There, Barrus got out of the SUV and began firing at officers. Three Butte-Silver Bow sheriff's vehicles were hit by gunfire, two of them seriously enough to be disabled.

Deputies returned fire, hitting Marshall Barrus in the head. He was taken to the hospital where his condition was not available.

His father and the SUV's driver, 61-year-old Lloyd Barrus, was arrested and booked into the Missoula County jail on suspicion of deliberate homicide.

A section of westbound I-90 was closed Tuesday morning while investigators collected evidence. Lester said the investigation of the slaying and chase is being conducted by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the Missoula County Sheriffs Office.

The men and women of the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department extend our sincerest condolences to Sheriff Meehan, the Broadwater County Sheriffs Department, and the family of the fallen deputy,'' Lester said, echoing condolence messages that poured in Tuesday from law enforcement and elected officials across Montana.

Officers from numerous agencies joined a procession at mid-day Tuesday to transfer Moore's body from Three Forks to Billings for an autopsy. The body arrived in Billings in the afternoon, where firefighters raised a large American flag from a ladder truck.

Moore is the 129th Montana law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty since 1878, just before Montana became a state.

According to the state's Public Safety Officer Standards and Training office, Moore had previously worked for the Department of Transportation's Motor Carrier Services from 2012 to 2015 before joining the Broadwater sheriff's office.

Marshall Barrus has a criminal history in the Bozeman area, including being arrested in November by police in Belgrade. According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, in that incident Barrus allegedly broke into a couples home, assaulted a woman and threatened to kill a man. He was awaiting trial for felony burglary.

This story contains information from the Associated Press.
Work could begin next week on a long-planned project to reconstruct a decades-old retaining wall that has kept a Montana Street hillside from crumbling into the west side of Butte-Silver Bow Courthouse.

Commissioners gave an OK Wednesday night to have Montana Street closed to traffic from Granite Street to Quartz Street for six weeks and maybe more, depending on how smoothly work goes to remove the existing stone wall and build a new one.

Vehicles traveling north on Montana will be rerouted west onto Granite Street, then north onto Idaho and then east on Quartz back to Montana. The same detour will apply to motorists going south on Montana.

Matt Moore, the countys Metro operations manager who is overseeing the $300,000 project, said officials had considered keeping the one-block stretch of Montana Street open during construction work but decided it was too risky to work crews.

Excavating the old wall must be done carefully, he said, because it includes solid rocks and possibly decomposed granite in between.

They will be using heavy equipment, too, so it can be parked in or near the blocked-off area instead of having it moved each night. Those factors outweighed the slight inconvenience of having motorists drive around that block to continue on Montana Street, he said.

Need for the work was identified years ago.

Large swaths of the wall have sloughed off, sending crumbled granite and concrete onto the deteriorating deck and walkway. The problems have gotten worse in recent years, prompting the county to put money aside for its repair.

Rocks and material for the new wall will be kept on parcels directly behind the courthouse that are owned by Harp and Esther Cote. They have agreed to let the county use the spot as a staging area and commissioners approved a short-term lease agreement for liability purposes.

Water and sewer lines in the immediate area will be relocated temporarily, Moore said, and an entirely new wall will be constructed parallel to the courthouse. The project will free up more space on the west side of the building and new decking will be put down.

Buildings Director Pat Holland helped plan the project but he commended Moore and others with Public Works for spearheading it.
WILTON  The Iowa Agricultural Development Division will be hosting a free Beginning Farmer Workshop from 8:30-11 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, at Muscatine Community College at the Wilton Community Center Auditorium, 1215 Cypress St. The workshop is open to anyone interested in learning about beginning farmer programs in Iowa. The event is free, but registration is required at IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/IADD

The agenda includes an overview of USDA-Farm Service Agency and Iowa Finance Authority Beginning Farmer Programs, as well as an ag lender panel discussion that will cover how to enhance your relationship with an ag lender, tips for preparing financial statements, cash flows and loan applications, as well as how to improve your credit score.
MUSCATINE  A hearing in Muscatine District Court has been set for May 24 to determine if Diana Broderson can remain in the office of mayor while her appeal works through the courts.

Broderson filed a motion Tuesday that would stay the Muscatine City Council's vote to remove her from office. The petition ultimately asks the court to overturn the City Council's removal of the mayor.

Broderson said she will argue her case for staying in office at the hearing next Wednesday.

"It is very awkward because this is unprecedented what they have done," Broderson said. "I think that it's best for me to stay in office while this action is being looked at in court because its the will of the people."

Broderson said if she is not allowed to stay in office, the council "will never make things right."

"I was voted in by the people of Muscatine to be their mayor, and to take away their voice and their power is a travesty," she said. "If I'm not allowed to stay in office and the judge overturns this, how could [voters] ever be made whole again? How could I ever be made whole again?"

Broderson said even if the impeachment is overturned, it will likely not be decided until after the election in November.

Asked Broderson, "how could that time ever be paid back?"

In the Motion for Stay, Broderson's lawyer William Sueppel wrote "due to the timing of the hearings, the judicial court calendar, the nature of legal proceedings and the timing of the next election, a Stay is the only way to ensure" rights of Muscatine residents are protected.

He argued the City Council acted "illegally and in excess of their jurisdiction" and violated Broderson's due process rights. He said the council acted as "investigator, initiated the prosecution...and were involved throughout the prosecution case."

Sueppel said council members should not have acted as both judge and jury, and also claimed City Attorney Matt Brick "intermingled various functions" by advising the council, and "did not fully rescue himself or his firm from proceedings."

Sueppel also said the manner in which the council removed the mayor was illegal under Iowa law, as the evidence did not meet the standards for removal.

Alderman Santos Saucedo, At-Large Representative, said he believes Broderson was given a fair trial.

"I don't know how the judge will rule in this moving forward but I feel we've done due process and that it was done fairly," Saucedo said. "We know that the mayor did have a fair hearing, in my opinion, because everything we went through was included in the information we were provided with."

Saucedo said he cannot speak for the entire City Council, but he personally feels frustrated by misinformation surrounding in the case. He added he knows it has been a difficult time for Muscatine residents, and hopes the Council will be able to move forward quickly and focus on new projects.

"I want to see the city continue to grow and thrive," he said. "It's something I'm hopeful that will happen in the next six months as we move through the process."

Wednesday morning City Administrator Gregg Mandsager said he has not yet received a copy of the appeal and "the City has not been served to date."

Sueppel said the only precedent in Iowa to support Broderson's right to stay in office can be found in Burke v. City Council of City of Lansing, in which the Lansing City Council voted to remove Alderman William Burke.

The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled this year "a City Council that is involved in prosecuting, investigating, and deciding a removal case is an example of a clear intermingling of functions" and amounts to a violation under due process laws.

The ruling was made after the district court in Lansing denied Burke's petition, in which he challenged his removal from the Lansing City Council.

Because Broderson's case has not been heard in a court, Sueppel said the "only available remedy is through Writ of Certiorari proceedings."

Broderson will appear at the Muscatine County Courthouse on May 24 at 3:30 p.m.
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 price of basic commodities, most importantly unga, has dominated presidential campaigns and was surely set to feature highly in the next 2 and a half months.

In recent weeks, the price of a 2kg packet of maize flour has been retailing at upwards of Sh150 an all time high. Though many Kenyans have been skeptical about their explanation, the government has continued to blame drought on the recent shortage of maize.

Also affected in this price hike is sugar and horticultural goods like potatoes, onions and tomatoes.

Some time back, treasury promised that prices would drop to between Sh115 and Sh125 per 2kg packet. CS Henry Rotich gave it two weeks, but that never came to pass.

The government has now made serious steps to calm the country, by subsidizing prices to Sh90. They will buy grains from the National Cereals and Produce Board and sell to millers at a loss.

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Agriculture CS Willy Bett on Tuesday told journalists that the government resolved to source and sell maize to millers at an average cost of Sh2,300 per 90kg bag. As a result a 2kg packet of maize flour will retail at Sh90. This is will be effected from tomorrow (Wednesday) This is just a temporary intervention until the product stabilises and stocks normalise.

30,000 metric tonnes of maize from Mexico (through South Africa) arrived in the country a few days ago and is already in millers stores. Millers have bought this grain at Sh2,900 per 90-kilogramme bag. A similar quantity is going for between Sh4,200 and Sh4,500 in the local market.

With the opposition led Unga Revolution starting to pick pace, Jubilee may have bought itself a few days or weeks, but it remains to be seen whether this is sustainable.

But its clear that for Jubilee to resuscitate their quickly dwindling chance of returning to power, the 90bob unga must quickly hit shelves across the country and stay there until August 8th.
Well, nothing.

They shaked hands, posed for the camera and exchanged a few words.

The Kiambu governor has come just short of blaming Deputy President William Ruto for rigging him out of the Kiambu gubernatorial race.

In his famous concession speech on nomination night, Kabogo blamed top people at Jubilee who were not comfortable with somethings he may have said. Everyone interpreted it to mean Ruto, since Kabogo has in the past said something in regard to Central votes not being automatic for Ruto in 2022.

Kabogo continued to make similar claims, including this week when he announced his independent candidature. He said that he personally informed Ruto of planned malpractice in some polling stations, but the party did nothing.

Now last night, whether by coincidence or design, the two were being hosted in the same premises. Kabogo was scheduled to be interviewed on Inooro TV, while Anne Kiguta was hosting Ruto on The Big Question.

Watch that Interview.

From pictures posted by Kabogo on Facebook, the two were quite happy to see each other.

Just bumped into my friend H.E William Samoei Ruto at Royal Media studio ahead of my interview with Inooro TV shortly. Stay Tuned. he wrote.

Some photos.
The fake news problem that has plagued the country has struck once again, this time targeting Raila Odingas daughter Rosemary Odinga.

Yesterday, an article by a malicious blog reported that Rosemary was found dead in the morning while receiving treatment in hospital.

Ms Odinga, who has been receiving treatment in South Africa for a mild stroke she suffered in February, is, however, safe, sound and back in the country.

Nairobi Wire has learned that Ms Odinga arrived home on Saturday evening aboard a Kenya Airways plane accompanied by her mother Ida Odinga.

She was received by a number of Nasa woman aspirants and women groups from Kibra Constituency.

A photo showed her in high spirits as she was being mobbed by her fans and followers at the airport.

Rosemary had her eyes set on the Kibra Parliamentary seat before her illness. She announced last month that she had dropped out of the race on medical grounds.

She also revealed that she will continue serving the people but in a different capacity.

Over the past 30 years I have fallen in love with the people of Kibra. You have walked hand in hand with my family, we have laughed together, and we have mourned together. I must say, the past two years have been the honour of my life getting to engage in the place known as the Heart Beat of Kenyan politics, not only as a voter but also as a competitor. The spirit of the people of Kibra and their passion for justice has always inspired us as a family to champion their interests both in and out of parliament, Rosemary said.

It is following my doctors advice, that for the time being, I will continue serving my community in other capacities and regrettably bow out of the race for Member of Parliament. I would like to thank each and every person that supported my bid and the people of Kibra for opening their hearts and homes to me. I will forever cherish your outpouring love and prayers.
Delays have become the defining characteristic for The Village at Vintage Ranch luxury apartments project, which has postponed its appeal to the City Council.

Having had its request for more time to complete permits denied by the American Canyon Planning Commission, The Villages developer appealed to the City Council for help.

Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) filed its appeal on Monday, May 8. Council staff then scheduled ABS to appear at the councils next meeting on Tuesday, May 16.

But the day after they filed their appeal, ABS asked to postpone its appeal hearing.

ABS partner Seth Nobmann informed the city in a May 9 email that they were unavailable to attend the May 16 meeting. They asked for a continuance until the next available meeting.

On Tuesday, council members obliged ABSs request, postponing the appeal to a future date. Councilmember Mark Joseph asked staff to prepare a report for the next meeting explaining the implications if the council does not push back the deadline.

What are the consequences to the developer if we dont extend, asked Joseph.

The delay was the just the latest in a long line of stops and starts that have characterized The Village since it was first approved by the city in 2005-2006.

The project, consisting of 159 rental townhomes, didnt start construction before the Great Recession hit last decade.

It lay dormant until 2013, when ABS bought the project from the previous developer, Standard Pacific Homes.

City staff said they informed ABS in 2013 they had four years  until July 27, 2017  to get their design permit and tentative subdivision map approved, or they would expire, which could effectively kill the project.

ABS President Chris Scerri acknowledged the implications of possibly missing the July 27 deadline when he appealed to the Planning Commission on April 27. He said The Village might become lost if the design permit and tentative map werent approved in time.

Scerri said approvals from PG&E and other third parties were holding things up.

Additionally, ABS put the onus on the Planning Commission and staff, saying they had caused delays that hampered the developers ability to finish submitting its permits.

While we have been diligently working with city staff to move this project forward, we have encountered some hurdles, which have compromised our ability to realistically satisfy the July 27, 2017 deadline, wrote Nobmann in March. ABS was asking for a six-month extension that would have pushed the deadline back to Jan. 27 of next year.

Planning commissioners rejected ABSs request, finding no fault with their own or staffs actions as they related to The Village.

Community Development Director Brent Cooper has noted in reports to the Planning Commission and City Council that The Village has had its design permit deadline extended already  five times in fact since 2007.

In submitting its appeal to the City Council, ABS continued to cite third-party delays and decisions by the Planning Commission that slowed down their ability to complete all necessary paperwork.

The need for the extension is based solely on the need to secure actions by third parties that are outside the control of the applicants, ABS wrote.

The company further stated the extension is based in part on requests by the Planning Commission or its staff that ABS conduct neighborhood meetings which consumed at least a couple of months.

Cooper said ABS and city staff met with one resident at City Hall on Jan. 11, and there was one community meeting on Jan. 19.

Those meetings benefited the City as there has been no opposition or concerns expressed regarding the project, according to ABSs appeal.

Residents did raise concerns at a December meeting of the Planning Commission, questioning whether The Village would impact traffic on local streets. Commissioner Richard Peterson also asked if the project would produce school-age children and add to attendance at the neighboring school, Canyon Oaks Elementary.

It was these concerns that prompted the Planning Commission to ask ABS to hold the Jan. 19 community meeting. Staff reported that 10 people attended.
CALISTOGA  The city is purchasing a quarter-acre vacant parcel and setting it aside for an undecided affordable housing project, the council agreed on Tuesday.

The city will pay the owners  Mark Wilkinson, his sister Carolynne Clair and her husband Howard Clair  $472,000 for the property on Earl Street in the lower Washington area where a low-income senior housing complex will be built.

The city is using funds from the affordable housing impact fee  money set aside to be used for projects related to affordable housing  to pay for the land, said Dylan Feik, city manager.

The most pressing (housing need) is workforce housing, said Mayor Chris Canning.

Referring to other affordable housing projects built in the city, but not on city-owned land, Canning said, If we dont own the land, we dont have a say of what goes on it.

Vice Mayor Michael Dunsford, who co-owns Calistoga Inn Restaurant and Brewery, has been a vocal proponent of actively seeking a solution to the housing shortage. He cites two new resorts currently under construction  Silver Rose and Calistoga Hills  that are expected to create about 500 additional jobs in Calistoga, most of which will be in the lower income bracket.

Dunsford and other employers in Calistoga have expressed frustration about the difficulties they face in finding qualified, reliable employees. An oft-repeated obstacle is finding employees who can afford to live in, or near, Calistoga.
A witness who saw an ICON A5 amphibious light sport aircraft just before it crashed at Lake Berryessa last week said he heard the plane rev up and saw it pitch upward before the crash.

The information comes from a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about the 9:08 a.m. May 8 crash that killed two people.

Representatives from ICON Aircraft Inc. of Vacaville said the pilot, Jon Murray Karkow, was conducting a new employee familiarization flight with passenger Cagri Sever.

The flight left the Nut Tree Airport in Vacaville at 8:52 a.m. and flew to Lake Berryessa, according to the NTSB report issued Friday.

The unnamed witness was in a boat and saw the plane flying about 30 to 50 feet above the water at what seemed a low speed, according to the report.

The witness heard the engine rev up as it drifted to the right side of a cove, pitched upward and entered a left turn as it flew out of sight. The witness heard the impact shortly thereafter.

The plane landed upright in the northern area of Little Portuguese Canyon, at the eastern end of Lake Berryessa between Pleasure Cove Marina and Markley Cove Resort.

Some parts of the plane were found on an almost vertical embankment on the shoreline and some parts were partially under water, according to the report. The pilot did not file a flight plan and visibility was 10 miles, according to the report. The plane was scheduled to return to Vacaville after the training session.

Were unsure why the plane flew into such a narrow canyon that had no outlet, Shane Sullivan, ICONs director of flight, said in a statement Tuesday.

The company declined to comment further about the crash until after the NTSB investigation is completed.

Karkow, 55, was ICONs chief test pilot. Sever, 41, had joined ICON as director of engineering a week before the accident.

The May 8 flight was Severs first in the A5 and was to be his introduction to the product hed work on at ICON, said a company news release.

This was a devastating personal loss for the ICON team, said Kirk Hawkins, ICONs CEO and founder. We didnt just lose employees; we lost family members. Jon and Cagri were both passionate engineers who were inspired by the mission to make personal flying more accessible.

ICON initially suspended all flight operations of the A5 fleet immediately after the accident. Flight operations have now resumed following the NTSB preliminary report.

The company is working closely with the NTSB, said Brian Manning, ICON Aircraft spokesman.

The plane that crashed was a two-seat, single-engine aircraft. According to the ICON website, the price for the plane is listed as $189,000.

According to Peter Knudson, an NTSB spokesman, the NTSB will review three key components within the crash: the pilot, the plane and the operating environment.

First, the investigator will document the wreckage and evidence on scene. The recording device will also be examined for any kind of saved data. Aircraft maintenance records, a flight plan, pilot certifications and ratings and medical records will be reviewed.

The investigator will also determine the pilots activities in the 72 hours before the accident.

This is very standard part of an accident investigation, Knudson said.

Other than the flight data recorder, the NTSB investigator did not recover any electronic devices such as iPhones or tablets at the accident site that would be useful to the investigation.

On Tuesday, Knudson said photos from the crash could be released when the investigation is completed. That can take up to a year, especially when fatalities are involved.

It was certainly a sad day for us, said Margaret Bailey, the Bureau of Reclamations lake manager. While we didnt know the individuals, we work with representatives from ICON. We share in their grief.

According to Bailey, seaplane landings are permitted at the lake. No notice is required. The company had landed planes on the lake dozens of times over past six months, she said.

ICON had only recently begun commercial operations at the lake and had submitted a draft of a request for a permit. A permit would include safety controls and procedures that the Bureau of Reclamation would require, she said.

In the past, certain lanes were designated for seaplane landings, but those have been eliminated, she said. The entire surface of the lake is open for seaplane landings.

ICON is the first aircraft company to use the lake in such a way, and would be the first to receive such a use permit. The ICON permit process will continue, she said.

We will work with ICON in the future to make sure that their operations on the lake are safe, she said.

Bailey said she didnt know of the last time when a plane crashed at the lake.

According to the Lake Berryessa News, ICON was a bidder for the former Berryessa Marina operations. The bid was reportedly rejected.

Jeff Wise, who lives in New York City, is a private pilot, aviation journalist and former CNN aviation analyst.

Until the accident investigators do their work, its too early to say what happened, Wise said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

From the preliminary report, its possible that Karkow flew to the edge of the lake and tried to climb, but stalled instead, leading to the crash, Wise speculated.

The ICON plane has gotten a lot of attention, he said. Its very cool looking; its very sexy.

The company got glowing coverage on CNN and NBC and publications like Popular Mechanics, Popular Science and Robb Report.

These things sold like hotcakes, said Wise.

Like many startups, they had big ambitions, but they had set a high bar for themselves and were struggling to meet it.

In 2016, ICON CEO Kirk Hawkins announced that ICON had an overly aggressive production schedule.

We are working hard to find the balance between high-rate production and our exacting standards. We need to improve manufacturability, Hawkins said.

The company had plans to produce 175 planes in 2016. After preparing to make the first 30, weve learned that our production process and parts of our supply chain are not yet ready for high-rate production, said ICON Vice President of Manufacturing Thomas Wieners at that time.

Customers were told to expect a one-year delay in delivery dates. Temporary workforce reductions were announced.

According to an ICON YouTube video, The A5 was designed with a tremendous safety advancement that can significantly reduce accidents from plane stalls.

If true, that could encourage people to push the envelope, which can possibly lead to accidents, said Wise.

This accident could spell trouble for the company, said Wise. Its almost impossible to start a new aircraft company, especially selling small recreational planes, he said. Its an expensive hobby and the number of pilots has declined as those inspired by World War II flying have passed away.

I think what they were trying to do was get people excited about flying and the thrill of being in the air, said Wise. This obviously hurts that. It will be a challenge to the survival of the company.

However, according to Manning, the company closed a deal in April for more than $50 million in new capital.

That money has already started to come in, and we are accelerating A5 production accordingly, Manning wrote on Tuesday. Overall, our investors remain extremely excited about the company, its mission and the financial opportunity.

According to his obituary, Karkow was described as a legendary test pilot and aeronautical engineer. Before working at ICON, he worked on SpaceShipTwo, the spacecraft developed for Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic.

Karkow was ICONs leading aeronautical engineer, responsible for the configuration of the planes special wing and under water surfaces and other design features, said the obituary.

Bay City News contributed to this story.

This story has been altered since first posting to more accurately reflect information about the ICON plane provided by the company's YouTube video.
Heroes walk among us, and Cesar Duarte is grateful for that.

Duarte stood in a quiet corner in the main hall at Black Stallion Winery in Napa on Tuesday, sipping a glass of wine and scanning the crowd. He would soon come face to face with his heroes at the annual Napa County Emergency Medical Services Survivors Reunion.

I feel like a million bucks compared to that day, Duarte said. Im so grateful for my life, and I am looking forward to thanking the men and women who are responsible for me being here today.

Duarte, a San Rafael resident, describes his story as incredible. For years, he commuted from Notavo to Suisun City, traveling Highway 37 to get to Highway 29. But for reasons still unknown to him, on June 7, 2016, he decided to take Highway 37 to Highway 121 instead.

I was driving along when I felt a pain in my chest, Duarte said. I thought to myself, Man, you need to quit smoking, but I didnt think too much of the pain, until it became worse, like a ton of brick on my chest. As I approached the intersection to turn left onto Highway 12, I decided to turn right toward the Napa airport because I knew there was a fire station there. I wasnt sure what was going on, but I knew I needed help.

Duarte remembers pulling into the Cal Fire station parking lot and getting out of his vehicle. He remembers feeling dizzy as he stumbled toward the station. He remembers seeing a man coming out of a rear door to the fire station and calling out to him. He remembers losing his hearing and then feeling a calm sensation as the pain miraculously disappeared. Then he remembers nothing.

I passed out, Duarte said. Im sure this all happened within seconds, but it all felt like it was in slow motion at the time. The next thing I know, I am on the ground, lying on my back and there are all these faces huddled over me.

Survivors Reunion host Dr. Andrew Nothmann, chief of staff at Queen of the Valley Medical Center, helped fill in the blanks as he described Duartes story to the crowd during the reunion reception.

Cal Fire crew members ran to Duartes aid. He had no pulse, so they began CPR. They brought out the defibrillator, but Duarte had no shockable rhythm, which is a bad sign, according to Nothmann.

Duarte was put in the care of American Medical Response (AMR) as a crew drove him to Queen of the Valley, where he was tended to by emergency room staff. Durate had two major blockages in his aorta and was rushed to surgery to have stents inserted into his heart.

The timing of it, whatever made me decide to go that way (taking Highway 121), I can only describe it as a miracle. If I had taken Highway 37, with the traffic on that road, they (emergency crews) never would have gotten to me in time. And if that firefighter hadnt seen me, no one would have found me - alive anyway.

As Duartes story was shared with the audience, members of the Cal Fire team, AMR crew and Queen of the Valley staff who aided Duarte met him on the stage to shake his hand and offer hugs.

Duarte said the ordeal convinced him to finally quit smoking, and he now has a greater appreciation for life.

These are my heroes, Duarte said. From the firefighters, to the guys in the ambulance, to the team at the hospital  they all took care of me. I feel very lucky to be here.

Duartes story was the first of five to be shared at the event. Larry Tsujihara also suffered a heart attack. He was riding his bike with friends when the widowmaker struck.

Despite being an active older adult, Tsujihara suffered the type of heart attack that most people do not survive. Fortunately for Tsujihara, bystander David Straface happened to be a doctor and with quick action from Cal Fire, the Napa County Sheriffs Office, AMR and Queen of the Valley, Tsujihara was able to meet those who came to his aid.

Patrick Smith didnt suffer a heart attack. Smith was struck by a vehicle that crossed into his lane as he rode his motorcycle in a rural area of Pope Valley. Bystanders rushed to his aid and offered to pray for him because there was no cell service in the area.

One of the witnesses found a roadside call box and dialed 911. Smith would ultimately be airlifted to Queen of the Valley for treatment for his injuries, which included fractures in his arms and legs. Nothmann said Smith likely wouldnt have been at the days event if he hadnt been wearing a helmet and protective riding gear.

Smith said hes decided to give up motorcycle riding because he doesnt want to put his wife and family through a similar situation again. Smith thanked his wife for being the strongest person he knows and being a vital supporter during his recovery process.

Ed Ousley traveled the greatest distance for Tuesdays event. The Georgia resident was vacationing in Napa late last year. He decided to go for a morning jog on Dec. 31, but he never made it out of the hotel. He collapsed just outside the dining area.

Members of the survivors reunion audience wiped tears from their eyes as 911 audio from that morning was played. The audience listened as Napa Central Dispatcher Rebecca Spiers could be heard instructing a bystander, known only as Fredo, to continue CPR.

Ousley joked that he and his wife enjoyed Napa so much they extended their vacation by five days so he could recover at the hospital.

Owen Duron was visiting Napa Valley from Sacramento. He and his friends were headed toward the Culinary Institute of America  Greystone in St. Helena when Duron noticed his car had a flat tire after they arrived in the parking lot. He decided to change the tire before joining his friends inside, but he passed out unexpectedly. Fortunately, there were others in the parking lot who saw Duron collapse and came to help. The 911 audio from that day was also played.

Duron woke up at St. Helena Hospital with a newly installed pacemaker in his chest. Members of St. Helena Fire, who responded to the call, were kind enough to change Durons tire.

As each story was shared and survivors greeted their heroes, the audience clapped and cheered in celebration.

Napas Robert Parker was honored at last years event and came back this year to show his continued gratitude for the Napa Valley emergency medical service members.

This event is a real tearjerker, but these are tears of joy, Parker said. You credit these men and women for helping you survive the unthinkable. I wish we could have more events like this. These people save lives every day. Its an honor to live in a community with such amazing people and quality services.
Sonoma County sheriff's deputies arrested a Rio Nido man Monday on suspicion of assaulting two men over a dispute about the ownership of a dog.

Jacob Haynes, 31, who also lives in Corning in Tehama County, allegedly punched a 40-year-old Forestville man in Rio Nido during the argument about the dog.

The Forestville man went to the sheriff's office's substation in Guerneville and identified Haynes in a photo lineup as the assailant, sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

Deputies went to a residence in the 20200 block of River Boulevard in Monte Rio, where they expected Haynes would go to confront a 58-year-old man who allegedly owned the dog, Crum said.

Haynes was there when deputies arrived and he fled on foot. The man who lived at the house on River Boulevard said Haynes struck him in the arm with a claw hammer and with a 5-gallon propane tank, Crum said.

Haynes swam across the Russian River and climbed several hills, and the sheriff's office used its helicopter and canines to search for him in the densely wooded area, Crum said.

A sheriff's deputy found Haynes around 6 p.m. hiding in a small hollowed-out burrow in the area of Old Monte Rio Road and Sunny Drive in Monte Rio about a half-mile from the house on River Boulevard, Crum said.

Haynes was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, battery and resisting arrest. He posted $30,000 bail and was released, Crum said.
The Marin County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting deaths of two elderly residents in unincorporated Novato as a possible murder-suicide, a sheriff's lieutenant said.

The sheriff's office received a call around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday from people who came to visit the residents of 611 Bugeia Lane off of Atherton Avenue, Lt. Doug Pittman said.

The visitors found both residents dead and called 911. Sheriff's deputies confirmed the man and woman in their mid-70s died of gunshot wounds, Pittman said.

Deputies secured the house and property and sought a search warrant to go back in the house. They will be at the scene throughout the day, Pittman said.

The names of the man and woman will be released by the Marin County coroner's office, Pittman said.
Sarah Parker is resigning from the St. Helena Planning Commission, resulting in three seats that will be up for grabs in June.

Parker is moving to Boston for a new job. She had served on the commission since January 2011, and served as chair from 2014 to 2016.

This has been such an experience, to be able to get involved in St. Helena on a real nitty-gritty basis, Parker said at Tuesdays meeting, which was her last.

The terms of Commissioners Bobbi Monnette and Tracy Sweeney are expiring at the end of June, creating a total of three vacancies. Two are for four-year terms ending in June 2021, and the third (Parkers seat) is for a partial term ending in June 2020.

Applications are due June 2, and are available at cityofsthelena.org. The City Council is scheduled to make appointments on June 27.

For more information about applying, contact City Clerk Cindy Black at 968-2742 or email cblack@cityofsthelena.org.
Yearly rituals like graduation, Auction Napa Valley and that moment when one realizes that Main Street traffic is truly horrendous are fast-approaching, Dear Readers. The year is zipping by. The word summer even makes a cameo appearance in my first item 

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Rep. Mike Thompson is holding a Summer Reading Challenge, encouraging kids in grades pre-K through 8 to read as many of the books as they can from the Library of Congress and American Library Associations Summer Reading List. The list of 100 books is divided into four age groups, with 25 books per category. Sign up at mikethompson.house.gov. Some of the highlights of the list, in my opinion? Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz, Duck, Duck, Dinosaur by Kallie George, Makoons by Louise Erdrich, and One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes.

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Remember the St. Helena Public Librarys March exhibit honoring RAD Women? The library is hosting a special talk by Kate Schatz, the author who inspired that exhibit, at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25. In Rad American Women A-Z and the recently published Rad Women Worldwide, Schatz pairs inspiring biographical tales and expressive portraits of notable women, from the Egyptian pharoah Hatshepsut to young activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzi. Schatz appearance is sponsored by the Friends & Foundation, St. Helena Public Library.

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Hats off to Weston Staid, a sixth-grader at RLS Middle School whose engineering project won first-prize at last weekends Napa County Science Fair. Well done, Weston! Im sure your science teacher Ngu Pham is thrilled.

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Congratulations also to Hal Huffsmith, senior vice president at Trinchero Family Estates, for being honored for his 26 years of service to the American Vineyard Foundation. He served on the foundations Executive Committee, as a technical reviewer on a research review committee, and as board chairman from 2006 through 2010.

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Chalk up another win for Napa Countys rural values. The Napa Valley Vintners have matched vintner Warren Winiarskis $25,000 challenge grant for the Napa County Parks & Open Space District. The 11-year-old Open Space District manages operations at Bothe Napa Valley State Park, the Bale Grist Mill, the Oat Hill Mine Trail and other public treasures. The latest donations will support education, volunteer involvement and outreach to promote the preservation of open space.

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Kids dont really need a reason to get outside and enjoy such splendid weather. But if theyre looking for something to do, tell them to sign up for Festival Napa Valleys third annual SunRun on July 15. It starts in the center of Yountville and winds through picturesque residential neighborhoods and vineyards. Theres a 5K and a 10K, with all proceeds supporting the Arts Council Napa Valley Education Alliance, which promotes art education in local schools. Register at FestivalNapaValley.org.

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Did I just violate my self-imposed edict of sticking to Upvalley events, Dear Readers? In other words, is Yountville considered part of the Upvalley? Where does one draw that boundary? A sure-fire discussion topic at dinner tonight, especially if you invite guests from Napa, who may have a different view than you do.
I welcome President Ivanovs decision to grant Mr. Zaevs parliamentary majority a mandate to form a new government. This is a step in the right direction, and the right thing to do. I encourage the swift formation of a new government, a timely confirmation vote in parliament and a constructive attitude by all parties. It is important the country can start to focus on its urgently needed reforms. I urge all those concerned to continue their efforts to advance the countrys Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
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BENGALURU: Global healthcare solutions provider Indegene and Microsoft on Tuesday joined hands to deliver the next generation of commercial cloud applications to life sciences.

Microsoft "Dynamics 365 for Sales" will combine with the "Indegene Omnipresence" platform to create a modern, mobile and multi-channel customer relationship management (CRM) solution, specifically for sales and medical representatives to better engage healthcare practitioners.

The solution will help simplify digital content development and management as well as provide in-line analytics and optimisation to support the representatives and improve the customer experience.

"We are excited to combine Indegene's Omnipresence solution and extensive life sciences expertise with our Dynamics 365 customer engagement platform," said Jujhar Singh, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Dynamics 365.

The availability of the solution is expected by July this year, with global deployments to follow.

Indegene and Microsoft will focus on addressing the specific challenges faced by life science manufacturers.

Robust analytics, complete with machine learning, will be built directly into everyday tasks and workflows, creating seamless, data-driven recommendations with predictive and prescriptive insights.

"Together with Microsoft, we are building the new global standard for life sciences commercial clouds," said Sanjay Virmani, EVP of Indegene.

"Our joint customers will benefit from a solution built with improved business outcomes in mind," he added.

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San Francisco: Enterprise application software major SAP on Monday announced "Cloud Trust Centre", a public website that offers real-time information on the current operations of Cloud solutions from SAP.

By making this information public, SAP aims to promote transparency and high-delivery standards.

"With the launch of SAP 'Cloud Trust Centre', we are giving everyone exposure to key aspects of how we run our cloud environment to continue building their trust and confidence in our capabilities," said Michael Kleinemeier, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, SAP Digital Business Services, SAP.

Visitors to the website will be able to see some of the planned maintenance schedules, four weeks of historical data, real-time availability, security and data privacy so that they can make the best decisions for their critical business processes.

The site features a transparent view of how SAP delivers security, cybersecurity and data centre security for Cloud services.

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Dunn announces two additional chancellor finalists

CARBONDALE, Ill.  SIU System President Randy Dunn today (Tuesday) announced the names of two additional finalists who will be considered for the position of chancellor of SIU Carbondale.

They are: Rodney Scott Hanley, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., and Carlo Montemagno, professor of engineering, chemical and materials engineering at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and founding director of the Ingenuity Lab for the Province of Alberta.

Dunns office is in the process of scheduling one-day campus visits for Hanley and Montemagno. Those would include an open forum and as many of the other meetings as possible that reflect the itineraries of the first-round finalists, Interim SIU Carbondale Chancellor Brad Colwell, and George Hynd, president of Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. The campus visits will take place prior to SIU Board of Trustees interviews with the four finalists.

Finalist Carl Pinkert, vice president for research and economic development at the University of Alabama, withdrew from consideration.

During a special meeting on May 10, the SIU Board tabled the agenda item regarding the selection of a permanent chancellor for SIU Carbondale.

After a three-hour closed session, board members decided that because of continuing differences of opinion surrounding the recommendation for chancellor, they will personally interview Colwell and Hynd, who did campus visits in April, along with the newly added finalists.

The curriculum vita for each finalist is available here.
However, scotching all speculation, a MNS official claimed that it was a mere 'courtesy visit' as Ramdev was in Mumbai.

The two, who were together for about half an hour, reportedly discussed their interests - yoga and politics - in their cordial meeting before emerging for smiling photo ops before the waiting media.

"It is great meeting Baba Ramdev. He is the biggest global evangelist of Hindu traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda that India has seen," Thackeray said, who earlier received the guru with a warm hug at his doorstep.

Incidentally, in the past the MNS chief has been critical of Ramdev, who is in the process of expanding his Patanjali empire in Maharashtra.

--IANS qn/in

( 147 Words)

2017-05-17-12:10:17 (IANS)
Both products will be available on Flipkart and Lenovo India official e-store www.thedostore.com and pre-bookings open on May 19.

While Legion Y520 starts at Rs 92,490, Legion Y720 will cost Rs 149,990.

"Gaming continues to be our strategic focus area and the new brand further enhances the Y series portfolio in India. The new Lenovo Legion laptops address every gamer's demand for a superior and immersive experience with VR and outstanding audio capabilities," Bhaskar Choudhuri, Marketing Director, Lenovo India, said in a statement.

Designed for portability seekers, Legion Y520 has an aluminum-brushed body and weighs less than 2.5 kg.

The device allows gamers to custom tune audio with the 2x2W Harman speakers and "Dolby Audio Premium" for an enhanced audio quality even without headphones.

The laptop comes with up to 128GB of PCIe SSD storage or 1TB of HDD storage.

Legion Y720 laptop is the world's first Dolby Atmos Windows based PC bringing an enhanced sense of depth and detail to the overall gaming experience.

With NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics, Y720 is the India's first Oculus certified VR-ready machine and comes with Thunderbolt 3 port.

--IANS anuj/na/mr

( 240 Words)

2017-05-17-13:58:18 (IANS)
The Supreme Court will today continue the hearing on the triple talaq matter. All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) counsel Kapil Sibal yesterday said the apex court should not decide or interfere in one's faith and belief. To this Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, one of the five judges constituting the bench asked, if they should not hear the matter at all. "Yes, you should not hear," replied Sibal. Earlier, Sibal asked the top court as to how a 1400-year-old practice be branded 'unconstitutional'. "Triple talaq is going on since 1400 years, how can you say it is unconstitutional?" Sibal asked the apex court. Sibal further argued that just like the Hindus' faith about Rama's birth at Ayodhya cannot be questioned, similarly Triple Talaq which is also a matter of faith for Muslims should not be questioned. Meanwhile, the bench also questioned the AIMPLB on the position of e-divorce given on WhatsApp in Islam. The Centre, during the earlier hearing, assured the apex court that it would come out with a law to regulate marriage and divorce among Muslims if Triple Talaq is upheld as invalid. "The government will come out with law to regulate marriage and divorce among Muslims if court holds Triple Talaq as invalid," Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the bench. Rohatgi also conveyed to the apex court bench that Triple Talaq violates Muslim women's right to equality within the community, and also within the country Earlier in the hearing, the apex court refused to hear all the three cases of Polygamy, Nikah and Halala at once, saying it will focus on one matter at a time. The Attorney General and top law officers representing the Central government arguing in front of the five judge Constitution bench said the apex court should hear other cases also, besides Triple Talaq. However, the top court said that they have limited time, so all the matters could not be covered at present. On the second day of the hearing, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who is the amicus curiae in the matter, said before the Supreme Court that the controversial Islamic divorce system cannot be justified whatsoever. Citing examples, Khurshid told the court that the Triple Talaq practice cannot be validated constitutionally. "There was a discussion that whether Triple Talaq is valid constitutionally. Substantiating my view with reasons and examples, I asserted that it cannot be justified and cannot be given law's validation," Khurshid said during the hearing. The Centre, earlier on May 11, told the apex court that it opposes the triple talaq practice and wants to fight for women equality and gender justice. However, AIMPLB counsel Kapil Sibal told the apex court that Triple Talaq is a matter that comes under the Muslim board and therefore, in his opinion, the top court should not interfere in it. "The Central Government makes rules but in my opinion the apex court should not interfere into it," Sibal said. While hearing several pleas filed by Muslim women challenging the practice of triple talaq, the apex court observed that it would examine whether the issue is fundamental to religion or not. A five-judge bench of the apex court further observed that it would not hear polygamy issue along with the triple talaq case. (ANI)
Earlier today, Shopian's two villages - Heff and Shirmal were on lock down as security forces swept through the area for untoward elements.

Around 1,000 army personnel and police force had been deployed for the operation, which began at midnight yesterday.

Meanwhile, repetitive ceasefire violations by Pakistan still continue, wherein yesterday itself the Pakistan Army initiated ceasefire violation in Balakot sector here.

The Indian troops gave a befitting reply to Islamabad's attack.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pakistan Army, earlier on Sunday, instigated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars along the Line of Control (LoC) in Chiti Bakri area of Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Army also retaliated to the unprovoked act strongly and effectively.

At least two civilians including a minor girl were killed and nine people, including four soldiers were injured in the unprovoked firing by Pakistan in Rajouri district.

Earlier on Saturday, two civilians were killed as Pakistan Army continued its unprovoked firing in state's Nowshera sector.

Later in the day, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat will on Wednesday review the security situation and take stock of counter-terror operations in the Valley, which has been rocked with soaring turbulence recently besides the steady stream of ceasefire violations.

Jaitley is visiting Srinagar today and the Army Chief is already in the valley.

The visit comes in the wake of beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani Army in Poonch district earlier this month which was termed "barbaric" by India. (ANI)
The whole 'airport look' things has been in the news for quite some time now. While some show interest towards it, some are still ignorant about it; and one such person is author Amish Tripathi. During the trailer launch of his second book of the Ramachandra series, 'Sita- Warrior of Mithila', yesterday, with Alia Bhatt, he questioned the latter, "Don't laugh while I ask this. What is an airport look?" To which, the 'Dear Zindagi' star easily defined, "Airport look is your look while you are going to the airport. It has to be both comfortable and fashionable." Explaining it further, the actress said, "When you are walking down the airport, it is almost like you are walking on the ramp. So, why shouldn't you be fashionable? This is all the airport look is about." However, making fun of the whole ongoing 'look' trend, she added, "But now, it has gone to another spectrum altogether. It is no more only the airport look. It is 'coming out of the restaurant' look , 'going into the gym' look, it's 'coming out of house' look and so on. So, basically, there always has to be a look." Speaking at the book's trailer launch, Alia said, "It was great to have met Amish for the first time for his new book Sita - Warrior of Mithila's trailer launch! And I am glad that our first meeting was so special. I have read the Immortals of Meluha and loved it. I think Amish has a knack of expressing our mythology in a very contemporary modern way. He is bold and brave and I like that about his books! His books are not just books... They are an experience!" In 'Sita - Warrior of Mithila,' Amish showcases Lady Sita in a completely different avatar, unlike anything we have seen or heard in modern times. In Amish's book, Lady Sita will be depicted as a strong and independent woman, which is truer to many ancient versions of the Ramayan like the Valmiki Ramayan and Adbhut Ramayan. This unique portrayal of Lady Sita has raised anticipation for the book and the new trailer further creates excitement for the readers. Commenting on the trailer for his book, Amish said, 'I am delighted to have launched this trailer, to give an audio-visual image of Lady Sita the way She is in my book. And I am equally delighted that Alia, a strong woman achiever who has balanced commercial cinema with social messages, graced this event to launch the trailer.' The much-awaited book 'Sita - Warrior of Mithila,' will release on May 29. Here's the trailer of the book:(ANI)


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Beware! A study finds that youngsters, who have positive attitude or desire to take up smoking hookah for socialising and relaxing, are twice as likely to start up hookah smoking in future. The findings of University of Pittsburgh's schools of the health sciences indicated that the participants, who initially reported that they intended to smoke tobacco from a hookah at some point in the future had seven times greater odds to start smoking from a hookah, compared to those who had no plans to use a hookah. According to researchers, the prevention efforts are likely to be more successful, if they work to counter the image of hookah tobacco smoking as a fun activity for socialising and relaxing. "What this study showed us is that young adults who take up hookah tobacco smoking do so because they think it's cool and attractive, and they weren't dissuaded by the health dangers of smoking," said lead author Jaime E. Sidani. "We need to find an effective way to combat those positive attitudes. That might include regulations on advertising and flavorings, coupled with solid counter-messages and educational programs encouraging young adults to think critically about marketing," E. Sidani added. They analysed data from 1,785 adults ages 18 to 30, who reported on their hookah tobacco smoking habits, knowledge and attitudes in 2013 and again 18 months later in 2014. Forty-three percent reported having an education level of high school or less, making this study even more notable, as most hookah-related studies focus on college students due to the prevalence of hookah bars near university campuses. Initially, 69 percent of the participants reported never smoking tobacco from a hookah, also known as a waterpipe and 25 percent reported having smoked from a hookah at least once. After 18 months, seven percent of people who reported never smoking hookah had transitioned to having smoked at least once, while four percent of those who reported ever smoking had transitioned to current users. The research appeared in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. (ANI)
After returning from a great vacation in Sicily in Italy with her French boyfriend, Cyrille Auxenfans, Mallika Sherawat is all set to walk the Red Carpet at the Cannes 2017, the spokesperson for the actress said today. Mallika will be at Cannes to support "Free A Girl", an International organization that is dedicated to raise awareness about sexual exploitation against children and human trafficking. She would be wearing her favourite designer Georges Hobeika this year as well. Apart from Mallika, Bollywood diva Deepika Padukone will also be attending the Cannes film festival this year.UNI AR SB 1353 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-897062.Xml
An elderly person, who raped a minor girl, was arrested from Mahua police station area in Vaishali district today. Police said here that Ramlal Mahto (58), a toddy seller, raped the minor girl from Sadapur locality in Mahua Nagar Panchayat when she had gone to ease herself on a bank of Baya river late last evening. Police arrested the outlaw after an FIR was lodged against him on the statement of the victim girl`s father. The girl has been admitted to Hajipur Sadar Hospital after her preliminary treatment at Mahua primary health centre, police added.UNI XC-DH AKM 1339 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-897073.Xml
'Posto', the family drama produced jointly by Eros International and Windows, has witnessed a historic opening of Rs 1 crore in just four days since its release in Bengal on May 12, officials at Eros international said today.'Posto' stars Padma Bhushan awardee Soumitra Chatterjee, Lily Chakraborty, Jisshu Sengupta, Mimi Chakraborty, Paran Bandopadhyay among others.Following consecutive successes of their previous films'Belaseshe' and 'Praktan'director duo Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Ray continue the legacy of creating blockbuster films known for their mass appeal. 'Posto' has opened to packed theatres and continues to receive accolades from audience. Eros is releasing the film in an approximate 100 screens nationally (outside of Kolkata), including newer markets, on May 19 which marks the biggest Bengali film release till date. Commenting on the pan India release, Nandu Ahuja, Senior VP, India Theatrical, Eros International Media Ltd, said, ''History repeats itself as Posto, our third film with Shiboprosad and Nandita, is well on its way to become another blockbuster after Belaseshe and Praktan. We are happy with the response the film has received in Kolkata and hope the film will similarly woo audiences across the country.''Speaking about the response for the film, Shiboprosad Mukherjee said, ''We are overwhelmed by the response we have received from our audience in Bengal. We are glad that people are being able to relate to the story as their own and hope that the national audience will also like the film as much.''UNI AR RSA ADG 1445 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-897128.Xml
Launching a fresh attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, axed Delhi minister Kapil Mishra today alleged that the former had gone to his office twice in last year. "I was wondering when was is it that the Chief Minister last visited his office. Delhiites do not even know that Mr Kejriwal had hardly gone to his office for two days in the last one year," the suspended Aam Aadmi Party leader said in a twitter post. He also alleged that Mr Kejriwal is one of the least working Chief Ministers of the country as he takes maximum offs and asked him whether he has the courage to present his ''performance report'' before the public. "Soon he (Kejriwal) will be the one with maximum number of corruption cases," the Karawal Nagar MLA asserted. Mr Mishra, who has been levelling allegations of 'irregularities' against the Chief Minister since his removal from the Cabinet, yesterday had gone to the Central Bureau of Investigation and submitted documents in connection with hawala and money laundering against Mr Kejriwal. Earlier, the suspended AAP leader had also given information to the Anti-Corruption Bureau on alleged role of Mr Kejriwal and two of his associates in the tanker scam, which took place during the rein of the then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Meanwhile, Mr Mishra in a tweet said that he would go to Central Board of Direct Taxes this afternoon. UNI DS RSA ADG 1448 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-897108.Xml
Police said here that nearly 400 cartons of foreign liquor were seized from the truck following a specific intelligence input. Three peddlers including the liner identified as Anil Kumar from Muzaffarpur district and two others-Paramhans and co-driver of the truck Vikas Kumar from Haryana were arrested from the spot.

The truck driver escaped after his vehicle got stuck on an unmetalled road near Mahindbara village.

An intensive interrogation of nabbed peddlers is on to nab other members of their gang, police added. UNI DH AKM 1421

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-897142.Xml
Advocating reopening of cinema halls, main opposition National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said the Kashmir valley is probably the only place in the world where people watch films on television. Cinema halls, wine shops and beauty parlours were closed in the Kashmir valley in early 90s in the wake of eruption of militancy. However, Dr Abdullah headed government after 1996 assembly polls provided financial assistance to some cinema houses which later reopened in high security Cantonment area and near civil secretariat. Both the cinema houses were later closed after militant attacks and threat. Dr Abdullah advocated reopening of all closed cinema halls in the valley so that people could watch movies. ''When cinema houses are functioning in our neighbours, including Pakistan, why not in Kashmir ? '' he told reporters at premier show of " Sarghoshiyan"(conspiracy), a film based on Kashmir at S K International Convention Complex (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake last evening. Sarghoshiyan made under the banner of " Imran Khan Productions" is the first Bollywood film premier show of which was organised in Kashmir. Dr Abdullah urged people from across the country and abroad to visit the valley to see the hospitality of local people. Appreciating Producer and Director of the film Imran Khan for making the film, he said it (film) presents Kashmir and its people in a very different and positive way. Tourists should come here and see that there is no threat to their life, Dr Abdullah said, adding that people of Kashmir have enough love for tourists and other people of the country. However, former Chief Minister and MP from Srinagar constituency admitted that there was political uncertainty in the valley which is one part of the Kashmir while the film will definitely remove the misconception about the situation here. He said tourists have been visiting Kashmir even during the turmoil but not a single guest was harmed and in fact locals helped them and assisted them. ''We have very good weather in Kashmir when it is very hot in other parts of the Valley,'' Dr Abdullah said, adding that let people come and enjoy pleasant weather. He recalled that majority films were being made in the Kashmir valley until eruption of militancy in early 90s, when all cinema halls, wine shops and beauty parlours were closed because of terror threat. Three cinemasBroadway in Cantonment area and Neelam near Civil secretariat and Regal cinema in the civil linesreopened after government provided them some financial help. However, Regal Cinema was closed immediately after a grenade attack after a show. Later, Broadway and Neelam cinemas were also closed because of threat and due to very less reopening. Majority other cinema houses were occupied by Security Forces, including Shiraz, Palladium and Shah Cinema.Khayam cinema has been converted into hospital while security forces has withdrawn from Firdous cinema in the downtown.UNI ABS RSA ADG 1431 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0059-897330.Xml
Police arrested a human trafficker and rescued six child workers at Gaya railway station here today. Rail police said here that police rescued child workers when the middleman was loitering around with them at the railway station. The middleman identified as Mohammed Kamruddin, a native of Atari Bazar in the district, was taking child workers to Jaipur for employing them in a factory. The rescued children in the age group of 10 to 14 are natives of Bhindas village under Wazirganj police station area in the district, police added.UNI XC-DH AKM 1505 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-897228.Xml
To prevent the division of anti-left vote, BJP today made an open call to all the sitting nine opposition MLAs of Tripura to join the party by May 31 next to fight against the Left Front. State BJP president Biplab Kumar Deb said, each of the nine opposition MLAs had already made individual contacts with them-including the BJP's all India president Amit Shah, general secretary Ram Madhav and convener of Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Hemanta Biswa Sharma expressing their willingness to join in BJP. "The matter was discussed at several levels in past few months and we have also examined the pros and cons of their participation in BJP. After holding meeting at Guwahati yesterday with party leaders now it is decided to accept them," Deb told UNI over phone from Guwahati. However, the party has only two conditions of accepting six Trinamool Congress and three Congress MLAs in BJP - they would have to join before May 31 and none of them would be assured of 'leadership' in BJP. "After May 31 next, none from the Opposition MLAs would be accepted and party would decide it's poll strategies alone to fight against left front in all 60 constituencies," Deb said adding that the 'deadline' for the opposition legislators' joining was fixed as the BJP would 'finalise its candidates' for the nine seats presently held by the opposition parties. The open call to the opposition MLAs was actually intended for TMC leader and MLA Sudip Roy Barman's entry into its fold along with five other MLAs who had deserted from Congress last year while Congress MLA Ratan Lal Nath had already shown all indications that he would join the BJP when his departure would not invite anti-defection axe on him, two other Congress legislators- Gopal Roy and Birajit Sinha (present state chief of the party) were indicated to remain in Congress. Deb further stated that BJP chief already made it clear that in next assembly election would be one on one fight between the BJP and CPI(M) and accepting Trinamool Congress and Congress MLAs in BJP means total abolition their party signboards. UNI BB AKM 1521 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-897253.Xml
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved the proposal of Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) / Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) scheme of the establishment of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)- Assam with hundred per cent outlay of central government on 587 acres of land provided by the Assam Government. ''Also, the proposal for 98 positions has been approved,'' Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said here at media briefing on Cabinet decisions. According to Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh, IARI-Assam would be a Post-Graduate Institute of higher learning in Agricultural Education and it will have all the hallmark identities of IARI in New Delhi including all sectors of agriculture like field crops, horticulture crops, agroforestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, piggery, silk rearing and honey production. More UNI NY RSA 1646 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0099-897415.Xml
The security personnel deployed there forcefully removed the protesting women after they tried to stop Mr Kejriwal's car when it came out of the house.

The women alleged that they were fired from the job four months back without citing any reason and whenever they wanted to meet the Chief Minister, they were stopped from doing so.

Talking to reporters here, they said that Mr Kejriwal is least bothered about their problems as he was not even ready to talk to them.

"In such a situation, we are very confused and worried about our future," the agitating women asserted.

So far it is not known why the women have been expelled from the job.

UNI DS RSA ADG 1619

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-897317.Xml
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today gave its ex-post facto approval to the Faculty Exchange Agreement signed between the National Defence College, New Delhi and National Defence College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said. The objective of the Agreement is to institutionalise regular exchange programmes and establish sustainable mechanisms between the two National Defence Colleges with an aim to enhancing mutual cooperation in the field of national security, development and strategic studies, Mr Goyal said while addressing reporters here. Given the geographical and cultural closeness between the two countries, there are many common challenges like countering terrorism that needs joint action. Hence, there is a need for better coordination and cooperation among the armed forces. The exchange of faculty members of the premier institutes will help to bring symmetry in the capacities of the armed forces and contribute to countering and managing common threats and challenges much better. The Agreement establishes the framework for enhanced cooperation in the field of military education concerning strategic and operational studies. UNI AR RSA 1725 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-897487.Xml
Mr Kumar was questioned at the ACB office here on alleged Rs 400 crore tanker scam, sources said, adding that he reached at the office this morning to join the probe.

The anti-graft body has summoned the private secretary last week over the matter.

Earlier, suspended AAP leader Kapil Mishra, who has been firing 'salvo' against Mr Kejriwal since his removal from the Delhi Cabinet had given information to the ACB on alleged role of Chief Minister Arvind and two of his associates in the tanker scam.

He had also accused the AAP chief of shielding former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the tanker scam.

The scam had taken place during the tenure of Ms Dikshit's Congress Government in 2012. The irregularities of Rs 400-crore came to the fore after the AAP Government constituted a five-member fact-finding committee in 2015 to probe the scam.UNI DS RSA ADG 1750

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-897481.Xml
The opposition Mizo National Front today submitted a letter to Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla imploring him to call in the CBI to probe the scams of state lottery and Mizo Carbon Product Pvt Ltd. As the chief minister was away, the letter was handed over to deputy secretary and PS to CM, Alexander V Chawngthu. Mr Lal Thanhawla on Friday challenged the MNF to initiate a CBI probe into the alleged corruption in the Mizoram state lottery and the Mizo Carbon Product Pvt Ltd in which the opposition party implicated the chief minister and some ministers. "As you are in a position to call in the CBI, we request you to do so. You may endorse our letter to the chief secretary who would in turn do the needful to call in the CBI. We would like to have a copy of that letter to make sure that your instructions are followed," the MNF letter said. It might be recalled that the Comptroller Auditor General of India, in its report tabled in the state Assembly last December, found a host of anomaliesin the way the Mizoram government handled the state lotteries that eventuallyresulted in a staggering loss of Rs 11,808.77 crores, which is much more than the state's annual budget. According to the CAG report, the Mizoram government allowed the distributors to evade income tax by using a loophole. The Income Tax Act 1961 demands that 10 per cent of commissions payable to the distributorsbe deducted as income tax at source by the state government. But this was never done because the state never collected the sales proceeds. The MNF suspected that Mr Lal Thanhawla and finance minister Lalsawta were involved in the anomalies. The Mizo Carbon Products, at the Industrial Growth Centre at Luangmual locality in Aizawl, had allegedly availed more than Rs 3 crore of central subsidies through recommendations by the state government. However, the firm is nothing more than empty buildings, rusting machinery, surrounded by tall grasses and a lone caretaker who claimed he had not been paid for months. The fact that the firm's co-owner is the sister-in-law of Mizoram Cabinet minister Zodintluanga has enlarged the controversy. Even though the Mizo Carbon Product Pvt Ltd is being investigated by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau since last year, the slow process of the investigation has been slammed and two social activists have earlier separately demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI.UNI ZS KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-897652.Xml
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said to improve the rural healthcare doctors would be appointed soon and they would also be provided 20 per cent additional incentives. Addressing the people after inaugurating the multi level parking, stadium and mechanised laundry at RIMS, Ranchi, he said that BS Community Health Course is being launched and once the student completes it they would be posted in rural areas and would work at the primary health care centers. A separate rules and regulations would also be framed for creating the posts of community health assistant. The Chief Minister said that launch of mechanised laundry was a big step towards cleanliness as patients would be getting bed sheets, blankets, towels and gowns. On the occasion the Chief Minister also handed over 20ambulances which have been provided by power grid to be given to the medical colleges and community health care centers. He said that people from Bihar, Odisha and Chattissgarh visit RIMS and for them a dormitory with an investment of Rs 5 crore would be soon constructed where people would also get food at cheaper rates. He said nursing courses would commence in Sadar Hospitals where it would help to provide jobs to the girls and also there would be no lack of health care workers. The Chief Minister said many steps still needed to be taken to make a Healthy Jharkhand. He said the cabinet has approved Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme which would benefit 80 per cent population of the state and asked the officials of the department to create awareness among the people regarding the scheme. Mr Das who also distributed appointment letters to the doctors said they should work with dedication as negligence would not be tolerated in the work. To curb female foeticide, he asked the civil surgeons to undertake registration of ultrasound machines in their areas. He also asked the people, health workers and officials to maintain cleanliness in the hospital premises and asked the people to give direct suggestions so that the facilities in thegovernment hospitals can be brought at par with the private hospitals. Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi was also present on the occasion.UNI AK KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-897745.Xml
A single-judge bench of Calcutta High Court today rejected the plea of Congress to suspend results of three municipalities in West Bengal following alleged violence and electoral malpractices on the polling day. Elections to the three municipalities Pujali, Raigunj and Domkal washeld on May 14. Justice Debangshu Basak turned down the petition after hearingcounsels of the petitioner, state election commission and thegovernment pleaders. Congress, the petitioner, alleged that Trinamool Congress-backed rowdies had indulged in widespread electoral malpractices forcing itscandidates midway to the polling process in the three municipalities. In the petition, it was also stated that the party was not allowed tosubmit a deputation to the state election commission with accusationsof violence , threat and intimiditation.UNI XC KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-897768.Xml
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has objected to the Centre's alleged move for commercial cultivation of Genetically Modified (GM) mustard in the country. In his letter to Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Anil Madhav Dave yesterday, the chief minister urged Mr Dave to reject the proposal for commercial cultivation of GM mustards as according to a newspaper report, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) had accorded regulatory clearance to it. "I strongly urge you that this GM mustard application must be rejected instantaneously. Further, no decision on GM crops should be taken in haste which can harm the interests of farmers and people of India at large," Mr Kumar said in the letter, which was released to the media today. Earlier, Mr Kumar had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointing out how the state governments would be forced to bear the adverse consequences of the GM technology if the Centre approved such GMOs for cultivation when agriculture was a state subject. "Our concerns and objection to this proposal for GM food crop cultivation remain unresolved," he added. He said that technology was likely to be commercialised by the multinational seed companies, which would be highly monopolistic and would leave millions of farmers in the hands of seed companies. "The present Seed Act does not have adequate provision for liability and compensation if such risky technologies fail and cause innumerable damage to farmers and environment, " he pointed out further. Besides, the issue is still pending in the Supreme Court which has given status quo orders on GM mustard's approval by the Central government, he said, adding that the Central government has to address the issues and make its submission to the apex court before taking final decision.UNI DH AD2005 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-897948.Xml
Bihar chief minister and national president of the JD(U) Nitish Kumar today said that he was surprised that a non-tribal was selected to become the chief minister of the state after the assembly polls of 2014. Mr Kumar while addressing a rally at Morabadi grounds organised by 'Adivasi Sengel Abhiyaan' against the amendments in the CNT/SPT Acts said, however, there is no such provision in the law that only a tribal should become the chief minister. "But when a non tribal had to be made the Chief Minister than why was a separate state of Jharkhand formed?" he asked. Mr Kumar said he does not have any ill feelings or conflicts with the present chief minister. He said he also had supported the demand of a separate state of Jharkhand but now it appears that deliberate attempts werebeing made to change the identity of the state. He said changes have been made intentionally in the Chottanagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Acts, both of them are related with the security of the tribals. The Bihar chief minister said after the struggle and martyrdoom of Tilkamanjhi, Sido-Kanhu, Sheikh Bikhari-- the Britishers framed these two acts. He said that he whole heartedly supported the fight against amendments in the CNT and SPT Acts. He said that a struggle based on non-violence always wins at the last and assured his commitment towards the fight for the cause of the tribals. Raising the issue of liqour ban he said that the people's response was tremendous towards the decision of the Bihar government. He said that even the tribals no longer wanted to consume liqour. Flaying the issue of revenue loss, he said all such talks were baseless and said that the liqour ban had been imposed for the good health of the people. The rally was organised by convener of the Adivasi Sengal Abhiyaan and former MP Salkhan Murmu.UNI AK KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-897803.Xml
The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) held its first day of camp sitting cum open hearing for the States of Assam and Meghalaya on various issues relating to atrocities and problems faced by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes here today. The full Commission comprising the Chairperson, Justice Shri H L Dattu, Justice D Murugesan, Member S C Sinha, Member Jyotika Kalra, Satyanarayan Mohanty, Secretary General of the NHRC, heard petitions of cases in the presence of senior civil and police officials concerned of both the State Governments. Earlier in the day, NHRC Chairperson Justice Dattu inaugurated the two-day camp sitting and open hearing by lighting the ceremonial lamp, an official release said here. Speaking on the occasion, Justice Dattu said, "Since its establishment, the NHRC has consistently worked towards promoting a culture of human rights in the country and to this end has gradually expanded its scope of activity to embrace newer human rights challenges and concerns. From its focus on civil and political rights themselves like prisons, custodial death, detention, juvenile justice homes etc., the Commission has increasingly focused on addressing issues on economic and social justice." He added that among its various monitoring mechanisms which the Commission has developed for more effective human rights protection and promotion are its camp sittings and open hearings which the NHRC is holding across the Country to ensure speedy disposal of pending cases, keeping track with the government officials, civil society, NGOs and the media to understand the key human rights concerns within the States. During the day the Commission took up 43 cases for hearing and disposed numerous cases. On the second day tomorrow, the Commission will interact with the NGOs of Assam & Meghalaya and with senior officials of both the States and with the media. VK Pipersenia, Chief Secretary, Assam, also spoke on the occasion while Hemanta Narzary, Principal Secretary, Home & Political Department, delivered the welcome address earlier in the day. UNI SG KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-897820.Xml
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President D D Lapang today said that the party will examine the merit of the case after a complaint was lodged against Power Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar for his alleged anti-party activities. Mr Dhar has been accused of indulging in anti-party activities by projecting his own candidates from Jowai constituency against Deputy Chief Minister R C Laloo. "This is a fit case for the party to take strong and necessary action by dropping this Minister (Dhar) immediately from the cabinet and withdrawn all party posts he is holding," Jowai Block Congress leader Andrew A Shullai said. However, Mr Lapang said that he is yet to go through the complaint, but said that the party will go according to the procedures. Whether showcause has been served against the minister, Lapang said that (issuing showcause) is one of the procedures. "Anybody from the highest to the lowest who indulges in anti-party activities would be show caused," he warned. Asked if the party would recommend Mr Dhar be dropped from the Cabinet, Mr Lapang said, "It is too early to answer the question. We will go according to the merit of the case. I have to exercise through the reports we received." Meanwhile, Mr Dhar said there is nothing wrong in seeking party ticket from any constituency including those constituencies were the Congress party have its own sitting legislators. "As of today, the party is yet to announce the official candidates for the upcoming Assembly election. There is nothing wrong in seeking party ticket from any constituency including those constituencies we already have our sitting MLAs," he said. "It is upto the party to decide who should get the ticket. The beauty in the Congress party is that, it always considers win-ability as one of the factors while deciding the ticket," Mr Dhar said. UNI RRK AD2130 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-898078.Xml
The personnel of Assam Rifles apprehended an arms dealer along with huge cache of arms in Zunheboto town, a statement said today. The Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North) said that the troops of 5 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters IGAR (North) apprehended one arms dealer from the DC Colony of Zunheboto town, the district headquarters, on Sunday last along with warlike stores. The apprehended was aged 38 years, a resident of Ashukhomi village under Zunheboto district. He along with the recovered items was handed over to Zunheboto Police Station on May 14. UNI AS AD2148 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-898091.Xml
In the continuing drive against smuggling of liquor into 'dry' Bihar, police seized huge consignments of liquor in Samastipur and Sitamarhi districts today. A Samastipur report said that police seized nearly 7000 bottles of foreign liquor from Bhagwanpur Desua village under Ujiyarpur police station area in the district. Police said here that the liquor bottles neatly stacked in 299 cartons were recovered from the village following a specific intelligence input. Altogether 11 peddlers were arrested from the spot. A Sitamarhi report said police had arrested three peddlers with huge consignment of foreign liquor being smuggled from Haryana on a pulse-laden truck near Mahindbara village under Runn Saidpur police station area in the district. Nearly 400 cartons of foreign liquor were seized by police from the truck following a tip off. Three peddlers, including the liner identified as Anil Kumar from Muzaffarpur district and two others-Paramhans and co-driver of the truck Vikas Kumar from Haryana, were arrested from the spot. The driver of the 12-wheeler truck escaped after the vehicle got stuck on an unmetalled road near Mahindbara village. An intensive interrogation of the nabbed peddlers is on to trace other members of their gang, police added.UNI DH AD2152 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-898098.Xml
Congress party today slammed the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre for failing in ensuing safety of the border residents of Jammu and Kashmir.AICC observer and party PRO for Jammu and Kashmir, Hussain Dalwai, MP Rajya Sabha, today regretted that the BJP-led NDA Government has miserably failed to check the Pak designs and to ensure security and safety of the border residents of Jammu and Kashmir."Certain measures are essential to ensure safety and security of the border area people,'' Mr Dalwai said during his visit to Border Migrant Camps in Nowshera tehsil of Rajouri district."It is most unfortunate that the present Government is busy in praising itself for completing three years in power without knowing the facts on ground,'' he rued.He also expressed shock over loss of lives and property of border migrants who have been targeted time and again.JKPCC President GA Mir, who accompanied him, criticised both State and Central Government for their failure to provide bunkers and safe shelters, as promised by the Modi Government during three years of its rule.He said that the border area people are the unarmed soldiers guarding the nation who face the first bullet of the enemy.He demanded long-term policy for the people of border area including construction of concrete bunkers in their areas, besides providing plots and shelters in safer zones, provision of education, medical and other civic facilities at the time of their migration.Congress leaders assured the people residing in the camps that they would submit their report to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-president Rahul Gandhi for taking up the matter both inside and outside Parliament.UNI VBH SNU 2230 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0098-898020.Xml
Jammu and Kashmir Police today busted inter-state narcotic smugglers gang and seized 55.5-kg of poppy straw in Udhampur district. Police while frequently checking the vehicles at Jakheni Naka on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway intercepted one truck, which was on way from Srinagar towards Jammu, official spokesman here said. He said that while checking of the truck, police recovered 52 Kg of poppy straw and the accused narcotic smugglers namely Avtar Singh and his associate Baljinder Singh, both residents of Punjab were arrested on the spot and vehicle seized. Meanwhile, a case under Section 8/15 of the NDPS Act was registered. Earlier, a Police Party from Chenani during surprise checking intercepted one truck, which was on its way from Srinagar towards Jammu and during checking 3.5 kg poppy straw was recovered from the truck. The accused, identified as Sukhvinder Singh of Dabhur Roopnagar, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab was also arrested and case registered.UNI VBH RJ 2208 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0098-898106.Xml
Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister Shrikant Sharma and state Director General of Police (DGP) Sulkhan Singh today met the traders association and assured of forwarding all security to the family members of the victims, as well as to other traders.They also claimed to have given three days times to police to work out the case. In-charge of the Holygate police outpost, along with two constables, were also placed under suspension after finding their laxity in the incident.Both Mr Sharma and Mr Singh reached the temple city on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and visited the houses of both the victims Vikas Agarwal and Medh Agarwal and assured that all help will be given to the family. Later after meeting the traders association, Mr Sharma informed the media that sleuths of the STF, along with the cops of Mathura and Agra police, are on the job and they will soon arrest the culprits. The incident has rocked both the Houses of the State legislature.Even after assurance by Mr Adityanath of stern action and also directing DGP Sulkhan Singh, to make a personal visit to Mathura to review the law and order situation and ensure early arrest of criminals involved in killing of two leading jewelers in the district on Monday night, the agitated traders closed their establishments to protest the sensational killing of their colleagues. They kept the bodies of the victims and staged a huge demonstration last afternoon. They accused the law enforcing agencies for failing to initiate any action in the matter and demanded that the accused be arrested soon.Over half a dozen armed miscreants raided the jewellery shop 'Mayank Chain' at Koylewali Gali in Gate Bazar area of Mathura on Monday night. Owner Mayank Agarwal, along with his younger brother Vikas Agarwal, were discussing business with another Delhi-based jeweler Megh Agarwal, who accompanied one of his gold smiths, identified as Ashok. The miscreants suddenly opened fire, critically injuring all the four. Taking other staff members at gun point, they looted ornaments and cash worth several crores of rupees and escaped with the booty. The fellow traders, who were shocked with the incident, rushed to the shop, only to find Vikas and Delhi-based trader Megh Agarwal already dead, while they rushed the three injured, including Mayank and Ashok to a nearby hospital, where they were battling for their lives.UNI MB RJ 2232 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0098-898119.Xml
Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTAPCCI) President , Ravindra Modi, today expressed confidence that South African Consulate General (Consul-Economic) Mr Phillip Mtsweni's visit to the state, will further expand the economic ties between the two countries. Speaking at a interactive Meet on Economy and Business Opportunities in South Africa here, Ravindra said that India and South Africa stand to mutually gain from our bilateral trade relations, particularly in these competitive arena across the globe. He assured the South African Consulate that they will have the fullest support of the FTAPCCI in strengthening their respective business engagements. The series of visits of South African diplomats and interactions have created enormous interest among the trade and industry about the importance and potential for enhancing the trade between the two countries especially with the two States. South Africa's vast resources have long stirred up commercial interest throughout the world. Besides oil and gas, it has huge deposits of gold, silver, copper, iron, uranium and diamonds. India and South Africa shares the same historical background and now the burgeoning trade and investment growth is taking this relationship to a new directions. There is significant untapped potential for services industry between India and South Africa particularly, business travel and tourism. It is still relatively under exploited by the growing number of international travelers from India. South Africa is the largest export market in the African continent for India, accounts for over 22 per cent of India's merchandise goods, he said India's exports to South Africa include vehicles and components thereof, transport equipment, drugs and pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, footwear, dyes and intermediates, chemicals, textiles, rice, and gems and jewellery. India's imports include gold, steam coal, copper ores & concentrates, phosphoric acid, manganese ore, aluminum ingots & other minerals. Today, South African Indian origin community numbers around 1.5 million and constitutes about 3 percent of South Africa's total population. About 80 per cent of the Indian community lives in the province of KwaZulu Natal, about 15 per cent in the Gauteng (previously Transvaal) area and the remaining 5 per cent in Cape Town. South Africans of Indian origin are well-represented in Government, business, media, legal and other professions, he added.UNI KNR RJ 2301 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0098-898135.Xml
"I will use all my power to support Rouhani and to support his programmes," Jahanigiri said in a statement, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Jahanigiri, the reformist hopeful, urged all his supporters to vote for Rouhani, said the report.

He further expressed hope that Rouhani will win the election by a landslide so he could improve the country's future.

Concerns over "democracy, freedom, economy and the country's progress" will enable officials to overcome difficulties, he added.

On Monday, Tehran's conservative Mayor, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, also said that he withdrew from the presidential race to back another conservative candidate, Ebrahim Raisi.

On April 21, of the 1,636 registered candidates, six qualified, including three principalists, better known as conservatives, as well as two centrists and one reformist, to compete for the four-year presidential term.

Raisi is Rouhani's sole major conservative rival who hopes not to lose his current sovereignty.

Over 56 million Iranians are eligible electorates for the May 19 election.

--IANS ahm/

( 201 Words)

2017-05-17-03:50:09 (IANS)
It has emerged that the classified intelligence that U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the White House was provided by Israel. The New York Times said citing a current and a former American official familiar with how the United States obtained the information that Israel had provided Washington with the highly classified information about the Islamic State. Israel is one of the United States' most important allies and a major intelligence collector in the Middle East and the revelation of Israel's most sensitive information to the Russians could damage the relationship between the two countries. Israeli officials, however, did not confirm that they were the source of the information. In a statement Israeli ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer reaffirmed that the two countries would maintain a close counterterrorism relationship. "Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under President Trump," Dermer said. After the Washington Post reported that President Trump revealed some classified information about ISIS to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a recent meeting, White House officials denounced the accusations. "I was in the room. It didn't happen," National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said in a statement as he called the report false. However, Trump said on Tuesday on Twitter that he had an "absolute right" to share information in the interest of fighting terrorism and called it a "very, very successful meeting" (ANI)
The meeting will come after Trump's meeting with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem and will convey his administration's eagerness to facilitate an agreement that ends the conflict, said Trump's National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster here at a White House briefing.

The White House said early last week that Trump will express his support for Palestinian self-determination.

However, it remains unknown whether Trump will publicly express his support for a two-state solution, a longstanding US stance on the issue.

Before Trump's trip to Israel and the West Bank, he will visit Saudi Arabia, where he and Saudi leaders will sign several agreements "that will solidify US-Saudi security and economic cooperation," said McMaster.

Also in Saudi, Trump will address leaders from over 50 Muslim countries in a speech "on the need to confront radical ideology and his hope for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world," McMaster added.

--IANS ahm/

( 194 Words)

2017-05-17-07:12:09 (IANS)
Treasury benches opposed the passage of the bill moved by the Pakistan People's Party-Parliamentarians (PPPP).

The Panama Papers Inquiries Bill 2016 was moved by PPPP lawmaker Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho. The bill is aimed at constituting a commission to inquire the revelations made in the Panama Papers, reports the Express Tribune.

Defending his party's stance, Minister for Law Zahid Hamid said, "The bill, formulated by the opposition, is discriminatory in nature and is designed against the prime minister."

Hamid said the Supreme Court had already given its decision over the issue.

He said the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Bill, 2016, passed by both the houses, will look into the investigation of other persons named in the Panama Papers. (ANI)
An Ethiopian court has convicted an opposition politician of encouraging terrorist acts after he criticised the government's response to protests in Facebook posts.Rights group Amnesty International said the case of Yonatan Tesfaye, a former spokesperson for the opposition Semayawi Party who was arrested in 2015, was a miscarriage of justice.Yonatan was charged with "encouragement of terrorism" in May 2016 in relation to comments made on the social media site in 2015 in which he said the government had used excessive force against protesters.The charges were brought under a 2009 law that prescribes jail terms of between 10 and 20 years for anyone convicted of publishing information that could induce readers to commit acts of terrorism."This is not a crime, yet he now faces up to 20 years in jail under this draconian and deeply-flawed law," Michelle Kagari, Amnesty's Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes, said in a statement."This ruling is a shameful affront to people's right to express themselves and further entrenches repression in Ethiopia."Yonatan will be sentenced on May 25. His lawyer Shibiru Belete told Reuters they will lodge an appeal.Ethiopia's 547-seat parliament does not have a single opposition politician and opposition groups accuse the government of constant harassment and intimidation.The Horn of Africa country declared six months of emergency rule in October after more than a year of violent protests in its Oromiya and Amhara regions, where demonstrators say the government has trampled on their political rights.The state of emergency has since been extended by four months.REUTERS SV 1359 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0103-897111.Xml
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, the first Indian-American to hold a cabinet rank, pledged that the US plans to "tighten the screws" on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. "We are going to send a very strong, unified message to North Korea," Haley said on Tuesday. Haley's comments at the UN, alongside ambassadors from Japan and South Korea, came days after North Korea tested another ballistic missile. In her remarks, Hailey warned nations around the world not to economically assist the nation, CNN reported. "If you are supporting North Korea, you are against the rest of the international community," Haley said. Haley said the international community wants to be able to support North Korea, but as long as it continues trying to grow its nuclear programme with missile tests, North Korea would remain an "island". Haley said a plan is still in the works between the US, Japan, South Korea and China -- North Korea's only major ostensible ally -- to halt North Korea's progress on nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Any country that did not look at putting new sanctions on North Korea was, in effect, helping the isolated nation, she said. Haley also criticised Moscow, after Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to North Korea's latest missile launch by saying that while his country opposed Pyongyang's nuclear programme, it was unacceptable for countries to intimidate North Korea. "What about North Korea intimidating us?" Haley said, adding that Russia had it "all wrong". When asked what the US would do if it was confirmed that North Korea had been behind the major ransomware attack plaguing computer systems across the globe, Haley said: "Sadly, it wouldn't be a surprise". --IANS soni/vt ( 290 Words) 2017-05-17-14:06:19 (IANS)
Armed militants have reportedly stormed in to the compound of National Radio Television in Afghanistan (RTA) in Jalalabad. Eyewitnesses reported the attack that started about 10 am local time, on Wednesday morning. Tolo reported that shops in the area were quickly shut downed as people heard shots fired. The RTA compound is located close to the governor's compound.(ANI)
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will attend a gathering in Saudi Arabia on Saturday where Donald Trump will also be present but it is uncertain whether he will meet the US president, Sudan's foreign minister said today.Bashir is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and is shunned by Western leaders, so direct contact between him and Trump would be a diplomatic bombshell, despite a thawing of relations between Washington and Khartoum in recent months."On the question of the Trump-Bashir handshake, nobody can pretend anything, but anyway President Bashir has been invited by the Saudis to be in that conference," Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in Geneva."We hope that everything will go through as it has been planned, and we look forward for normalisation of our relations with the US," Ghandour said, adding that he would travel with Bashir to Riyadh on Friday.Asked if he hoped to see the two leaders shake hands, Ghandour said: "I don't have dreams but I have hopes, and I hope they will be materialised."Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday is the first stop on his maiden international trip as president that will also take him to Israel and Europe.Bashir, who came to power in Sudan in a 1989 Islamist and military-backed coup, was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in 2008. He denies all the charges and has continued to travel abroad, trailed by human rights activists and shunned by Western diplomats.In January, Trump's predecessor in the White House, Barack Obama, ordered the lifting of a 20-year U.S. trade embargo and financial sanctions after 180 days, provided that Khartoum acts further to improve human rights.Ghandour dismissed the ICC as a "political tool" used against Sudan, and said Khartoum wanted to open up to trade and was supportive of international efforts to combat Islamist militants in the wider region.He also urged the United States to play a stronger role in peacemaking in Syria and in Yemen. Sudanese troops are part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and are helping to train the Yemeni army.Ghandour denied reports that Sudan was involved militarily in Libya and that it had helped to supply portable anti-aircraft missiles to rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria. REUTERS RJ 2100 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0098-898058.Xml
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-16 20:41:48|Editor: ZD

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The Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation opens in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- During the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that ended Monday, China showed willingness to share its development experience for the benefit of all in need.

From the long list of outcomes of the forum, it is not difficult to see that China is sharing what has proved effective, and that China knows the the Belt and Road means concerted efforts.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

The Chinese government knows better than anyone the importance of investing in infrastructure if economic growth is to be sustained. Furthermore, it knows that the only purpose of growth is to improve people's lives.

In the first four months of this year, infrastructure investment rose 23.3 percent, faster than an 8.9 percent growth for overall fixed-asset investment, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.

China's transportation network has been constantly growing, with the world's longest stretches of high-speed rail, superhighways and urban railways in operation.

That is part of priority of the Belt and Road Initiative. Connectivity removes the bottlenecks that hamper development. Connectivity is crucial for the development momentum that improves people's lives.

Participants in the forum agreed that cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative should make connectivity the priority and be driven by major projects and programs.

They agreed to advance cooperation in areas such as roads, railways, ports, aviation, oil and gas pipelines, electricity and telecommunications to build interconnected networks.

China had signed more than 130 bilateral and regional transportation agreements with countries involved in the Belt and Road over the past three years, all in the name of improved connectivity, the Ministry of Transport said in mid-April.

The list of deliverables released Monday included 14 new outcomes in connectivity.

STREAMLINING APPROVAL

China has done all it can to streamline administrative approval and delegate power to lower levels, reducing institutional transaction costs, and plans to do more

In 2016 alone, the government canceled 165 items, overhauled and standardized 192 items, and removed 220 items of approval and accreditations for professional qualifications.

More than 100 countries and international organizations will surely encounter differences in policy and approval procedures, which will hinder investment and trade cooperation. That is part of the reason why policy coordination and trade connectivity are the priorities of the initiative.

Chinese customs signed cooperation documents with Kazakhstan, the Netherlands and Poland on exchange of information, recognition of inspection results and assistance in law enforcement.

CAPACITY COOPERATION

After decades of development, China has advantages in capacity, technology and equipment in many industrial areas.

In pushing forward the initiative, international cooperation on industrial capacity has been important to all involved.

From 2013 to 2016, Chinese companies invested more than 60 billion U.S. dollars in countries along the Belt and Road. with capacity cooperation among more than 30 countries.

By the end of last year, Chinese companies had built 56 economic and trade cooperation zones along the Belt and Road, with total output of more than 50 billion dollars, generating more than 1.1 billion dollars in tax revenue and creating 180,000 local jobs.

High-speed trains, electricity and electronics equipment, construction machinery and Chinese ships have become the hallmarks of China's manufacturing sector in international capacity cooperation.

Attendees of the forum's Leaders Roundtable agreed to build economic corridors, economic cooperation zones and industrial parks.

Advancing cooperation on industrial capacity and equipment manufacture will bring better, faster growth to the real economy.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 11:14:45|Editor: ZD

A Canadian built single seat electric car is displayed during the "Made in Canada" exhibition held at Science World in Vancouver, Canada, May 16, 2017. The "Made in Canada" exhibition is a science invention exhibition that allows the visitors to learn about some famous and not-so-famous, but super neat Canadian inventions in 19th and 20th centuries, and also showcases the country's latest innovations to public. (Xinhua/Liang Sen)
File photo shows sacks of maize donated by China are displayed at a warehouse of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Mogadishu, Somalia, Oct. 12, 2011. (Xinhua/Faisal Isse)

NAIROBI, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday welcomed China's five-million-U.S. dollar contribution to support 420,000 refugees living in camps in northern Kenya.

WFP's Country Director and Representative for Kenya Annalisa Conte said the funds from China and other countries will allow the UN food agency to resume full food rations to refugees from April to July.

"It is important that our donors continue to support this much-needed assistance for the refugees, especially when they are also vulnerable to the effects of the severe drought affecting the country," Conte said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

She lauded the critical contribution from China, saying WFP has struggled to provide adequate food to refugees living in camps in food-insecure northern Kenya due to insufficient funds.

WFP was in December 2016 forced to make new cuts by 50 percent in food rations for refugees in Kenya amid a severe funding shortage as the UN agency rapidly ran out of resources to feed mainly Somali and South Sudan refugees in the two camps.

However, WFP said in April that new contributions from Canada which provided 2.2 million dollars, China (5 million dollars), Germany (2.7 million dollars as part of a multi-year contribution), Japan (2.2 million dollars), Sweden (1 million dollars), and Britain 5.1 million dollars as part of a multi-year contribution) enabled it to resume full rations.

According to Kenyan laws, refugees cannot work outside the refugee camps and with limited sources of income, they are heavily dependent on WFP for food.

Refugees collect a general food ration from WFP of cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, and a nutrient-enriched flour made from soya and maize every month.

The Chinese contribution has enabled WFP to buy 9,000 metric tonnes of cereals, the main staple in the food basket.

Chinese Ambassador in Kenya Liu Xianfa said Beijing has responded quickly to the appeals of the international community for support to all those affected by drought in Kenya and other African countries.

"We have provided relief materials or cash aid as needed," Liu said, adding that China has within its capacity rendered support to the assistance programs initiated by multilateral development organizations, and has exchanged experience in an increasingly open-minded manner.
CAPE TOWN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday urged the nation to unite against the killing and attacks on women and children.

This followed separate gruesome killings of women and children in some parts of the country.

"We are outraged and seriously concerned about the reports of the abuse and killing of women and children in some parts of the country. We are especially extremely concerned that in most cases, these attacks occur in the hands of family members or in the case of women, their intimate partners," Zuma said in a statement.

South Africa has been shocked by 10 murders of women and girls in the past month.

In the most recent case this weekend, the body of a three-year-old girl was found in an open field in Cape Town. The girl was believed to be killed by a man who lived with her family as a tenant for two years.

In April, Karabo Mokoena, a teenage girl, was murdered by her boyfriend in Johannesburg after a heated argument.

South Africa has among the highest rates in the world for the rape and murder of women.

According to the SA Medical Research Council, 56 percent of female killings are committed by intimate partners.

Zuma said the nation must forge a united front with the law enforcement authorities, the government and all sectors of society in fighting this appalling scourge and isolate these criminals in society but within the ambit of the law.

"We must unite in fighting these scourges and attacks on the most vulnerable members of our society, our women and children," Zuma said.

The SA government has declared violence against women and children as a priority crime and set up a 24-hour Gender Based Violence Command Centre hotline intended for victims to report attacks, including those by family members or partners.

"Many perpetrators were being caught and are given long jail terms because of the cooperation of the public by coming forward with information," Zuma said.

The president further urged victims of violence not to be intimidated and to report the perpetrators to the police to ensure that the law takes its swift course.

"Victims should not turn a blind eye to violence in their intimate relationships, at home work or at school but should immediately report perpetrators incidents to authorities before such abuse intensifies and leads to murder," said Zuma.
U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster fields questions from reporters during a press briefing at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, May 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said on Tuesday that it was "wholly appropriate" for President Donald Trump to share classified information with Russian officials during their meeting in the Oval Office last week.

Trump decided to mention the information in the "context of the conversation" with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, McMaster told reporters in the White House, calling it "wholly appropriate to that conversation" and "consistent with the routine sharing of information between the president and any leader with whom he's engaged."

During those conversations, Trump disclosed the city from which the intelligence was derived, McMaster confirmed.

However, McMaster did not make clear if the information was highly classified as The Washington Post reported one day earlier.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump tweeted that he has "the absolute right" to share certain information with Russia.

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism," he said in a pair of tweets Tuesday morning.

But the president also didn't specifically say whether he spilled highly classified information to Russian officials.

Trump reportedly relayed information from a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria when meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. The related information-sharing arrangement was considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the U.S. government, according to the Post report.

In response, McMaster, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell all issued statements later on Monday, claiming such reports are wrong.

Powell said in a statement, "This story is false. The president only discussed the common threats that both countries faced."

"At no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed, and no military operations were disclosed that were not already known publicly," said McMaster, who participated in the meeting.

The Post report said Trump appeared to be boasting of the "great intel" he receives when he described a looming terror threat, citing an official with knowledge of the exchange.

The information was provided by a U.S. partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement. The partner did not give the United States permission to share the information with Russia, the Post said.

Following the meeting, the White House contacted the CIA and National Security Agency to contain the damage, according to the Post.

As U.S. president, Trump has broad authority to declassify government secrets, making it unlikely that such disclosures broke the law. However, he is facing a deepening trust crisis as a new poll released Tuesday finds nearly half of U.S. voters (48 percent) said they would support Trump's impeachment, while only 41 percent would oppose such charges.

The White House is in a "downward spiral" and needs to do something to get "under control," Republican Senator Bob Corker said following the Post report.

Trump's approval ratings have been hovering in the high 30s and 40s. According to Gallup, Trump has the lowest approval of any new president since the surveys began in 1953.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 06:44:43|Editor: Liangyu

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BERLIN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- A refugee was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a German court on Tuesday for sexually assaulting two female Chinese students last year, local media reported.

The defendant was arrested by police last December after having been identified by one victim's friend and recorded by camera, the DPA news agency reported.

The 32-year-old defendant came to Germany as an asylum seeker at the end of 2015 with his wife and children.

He confessed his sexual assaults on two Chinese students in the western city of Bochum last August and November, the report said.

Following his arrest last December, Chinese Consulate General in Dusseldorf had issued a statement and urged lawful and just investigation and trial from German authorities.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 07:34:17|Editor: Liangyu

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SAN FRANCISCO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Researchers have taken advantage of a rare orbital alignment between two of Jupiter's moons, namely Io and Europa, and obtained an exceptionally detailed map of the largest lava lake on Io.

On March 8, 2015, Europa passed in front of Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system, gradually blocking out light from the volcanic moon. Because Europa's surface is coated in water ice, it reflects very little sunlight at infrared wavelengths, allowing researchers to accurately isolate the heat emanating from volcanoes on Io's surface.

The infrared data showed that the surface temperature of Io's massive molten lake steadily increased from one end to the other, suggesting that the lava had overturned in two waves that each swept from west to east at about a kilometer, or 3,300 feet, per day.

Overturning lava is a popular explanation for the periodic brightening and dimming of the hot spot, called Loki Patera after the Norse god. The most active volcanic site on Io, Loki Patera is about 200 kilometers, or 127 miles, across. The hot region of the patera, a bowl-shaped volcanic crater, has a surface area of 21,500 square kilometers.

Astronomers first noticed Io's changing brightness in the 1970s, but only when the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) flew by in 1979 did it become clear that this was because of volcanic eruptions on the surface.

Despite highly detailed images from NASA's Galileo mission in the late 1990s and early 2000s, astronomers continue to debate whether the brightenings at Loki Patera, which occur every 400 to 600 days, are due to overturning lava in a massive lava lake, or periodic eruptions that spread lava flows over a large area.

"If Loki Patera is a sea of lava, it encompasses an area more than a million times that of a typical lava lake on Earth," said Katherine de Kleer, a University of California, Berkeley, graduate student and the lead author of a study published in the journal Nature. "In this scenario, portions of cool crust sink, exposing the incandescent magma underneath and causing a brightening in the infrared."

The images leading to the new findings were obtained by the twin 8.4-meter, or 27.6-foot, mirrors of the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory in the mountains of southeast Arizona, a state in the southwestern United States, linked together as an interferometer using advanced adaptive optics to remove atmospheric blurring. The facility is operated by an international consortium headquartered at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

"This is the first useful map of the entire patera," co-author Ashley Davies, of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Southern California, was quoted as saying in a UC Berkeley news release. "It shows not one but two resurfacing waves sweeping around the patera. This is much more complex than what was previously thought."

"This is a step forward in trying to understand volcanism on Io, which we have been observing for more than 15 years, and in particular the volcanic activity at Loki Patera," noted Imke de Pater, a UC Berkeley professor of astronomy.
CANBERRA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has confirmed that it is considering approving a "laptop travel ban" similar to those in the United States and Britain, with aviation experts saying it might not have the intended effect of keeping flights safe.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday that his government was "looking very closely" at a potential laptop travel ban due to the threat posed by combustible lithium batteries found in personal computers.

But on Wednesday, a chorus of Australian experts have questioned the reasoning behind the potential ban.

Aviation journalist and expert Geoffrey Thomas told the Seven Network that if Australia was to follow the lead of the current British ban (which prohibits laptops on flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and Saudi Arabia), it wouldn't affect flights to and from Australia because no airlines serve those destinations directly.

"If we follow the British ban, this is where it gets complicated because Britain has not banned laptop of flights from Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai, whereas the United States has," Thomas said.

"If we do follow the British ban, in actual fact there won't be a ban, because the only non-stop flights (to Australia) from that part of the world are from those (Middle Eastern) airports.

"But if we follow the American lead, then all flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha would be impacted and that would be Qantas, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.

"Unfortunately the inconsistencies of this ban has led to confusion in the travel market and until we get more information from the government, it's very hard to tell what will be banned and from where."

Meanwhile, John Coyne, a national security analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), told Fairfax Media that the government should only introduce a similar ban if the risk level is deemed to be sufficient.

"If there is no specific threat or risk, then they've got to carefully examine it -- the measure just going to cost hundreds of millions of dollars and not have any fundamental additional impact on security?" Coyne said.

While speaking to the press on Tuesday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia was considering a ban of some form.

"We're working very closely with our partners and, in due course, any announcements will be made formally through the Transport Minister," Turnbull said at the time.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 10:11:59|Editor: ZD

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WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday slapped sanctions on five individuals and five entities linked to the Syrian government for providing support to the government.

"The designated individuals and entities have provided support or services to the government of Syria, or are owned or controlled by or are acting for or on behalf of designated individuals or entities," said the U.S. Treasury Department in a statement.

Among those being sanctioned were relatives of Rami Makhluf, a powerful businessman in Syria and a cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned Muhammed Bin-Muhammed Faris Quwaydir, contracts director of Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), for acting for or on behalf of SSRC, the Syrian government agency responsible for developing and producing non-conventional weapons and the means to deliver them.

Last month, the United States slapped sanctions on 271 employees of the SSRC in response to the Syrian government's alleged use of chemical weapons.

The sanctions are part of Washington's response to what it believed was the April 4 sarin attack on innocent civilians in Khan Sheikhoun in east Syria by the Syrian government.

Two days after the alleged chemical attack, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airbase to neutralize its chemical weapon arsenal.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 10:27:25|Editor: Liangyu

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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, May 17 (Xinhua) -- One civilian was killed and one dozen people wounded after a twin blasts rocked Kandahar city, capital of Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar Tuesday night, the provincial government spokesman said on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 10:53:07|Editor: Hou Qiang

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BANGKOK, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The construction of Thailand-China railway project from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, which will be further extended to Nong Khai on the Thai-Lao border in the future, will start in 2017 for sure, Chatchai Thipsunaree, Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Ministry of Transport, said on Tuesday.

"We (Thailand and China) are almost done with the contract, 90 percent I will say, the construction will start in this year for sure," Chatchai told Xinhua after a press conference of the Transport Ministry.

Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith also mentioned the railway project at the press conference, saying it is a project of great importance to the kingdom, as it will connect Thailand with neighboring countries.

The current project, 252 km high speed railway from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, will be extended another 355 km to Nong Khai on the Thai-Lao border, connecting with China-Lao railway from Vientiane to Kunming in China's southern Yunnan Province, according to Arkhom.

The railway is also to be extended to the south, to Kuala Lumpur and finally Singapore, Arkhom said.

The Thai government also plans to build a public-private partnership high-speed rail from Bangkok to Rayong to connect with the Thailand-China railway project.

Several Thai experts told Xinhua earlier that they want the railway plan to be implemented in a faster way.

Aksornsri Phanishsarn, director of Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Centre, National Research Council, told Xinhua that she hopes that China can help to push the Thailand-China railway project for it to become a "successful case" of cooperation between countries.

Swai Visavanant, senior researcher at Chulalongkorn University's China Study Center, urged the Thai government to quickly move toward the implementation of the railway project, otherwise, Thailand may lose a good chance in its development.

According to Arkhom, China and Thailand still need to agree on three things, such as materials for the construction, consulting fee and whether it is necessary for Chinese engineers to get Thai engineering certifications before they come to work in the kingdom.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 10:57:35|Editor: xuxin

Afghan security personnel inspect the site of a blast in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, May 16, 2017. One civilian was killed and one dozen people wounded after a twin blasts rocked Kandahar city, capital of Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar Tuesday night, the provincial government spokesman said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Sanaullah Seiam)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, May 17 (Xinhua) -- One civilian was killed and one dozen people wounded after a twin blasts rocked Kandahar city, capital of Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar Tuesday night, the provincial government spokesman said on Wednesday.

"The first blast came in Chaok-e-Madad locality roughly at 8:30 p.m. local time Tuesday and the second explosion occurred minutes later when responding police was inspecting the site," spokesman Samim Khpalwak told Xinhua.

The injured, included three police officers and nine civilians, were shifted to Mirwais Hospital in the city, 450 km south of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Security situation has been improving in Kandahar, the stronghold of Taliban, over the last months, as security forces have conducted several search and cordon operations across the province.

So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Taliban militant group has launched similar attacks in the past.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since April 28 when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country, which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

The Taliban urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants and warned people not to support the government.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 11:03:39|Editor: Hou Qiang

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BANGKOK, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Thailand should give more importance to roads and railways to be a part of the great change to human history under the Belt and Road Initiative, Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said Tuesday.

"Under the Belt and Road Initiative, if we give more importance to road and rail, we will be a part of great change in humankind's history", Arkhom said at a press conference.

The minister noted that Thailand has to do that as the country is situated right in the center of ASEAN and shares thousands of kilometers of borderline with neighboring countries.

During the press conference, Arkhom, who just came back from Beijing after attending the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, summarized what he heard and said during the forum.

He thanked China for putting forward the visionary Belt and Road Initiative which promotes cooperation, infrastructure development among countries along Belt and Road, and advocates green development.

For the Thailand-China railway project, Arkhom reiterated that Thailand will support the construction of the railway linking Kunming and Bangkok, as "Thailand will be in charge of the construction of railway from Bangkok to Nong Khai on Thai-Lao border."

He pointed out that the railway project from Bangkok to Nong Khai is of great importance as it will connect Thailand with Laos and China, and also to Malaysia and Singapore in the future.

Meanwhile, a public-private partnership high-speed rail project from Bangkok to Rayong will also be linked with the railway project to connect Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a planned manufacturing center and transport hub of Indochina Peninsular, with China.

"Once the railway extends to the EEC, it will help us in developing targeted industries," the minister said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 12:45:54|Editor: Hou Qiang

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by Nemanja Cabric, Wang Huijuan

NOVI SAD, Serbia, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Riding a wave of the Belt and Road Initiative and fast-developing China-Serbia partnership, dozens of Chinese companies are eyeing the Serbian market.

More than 40 Chinese companies are showcasing their products at an agriculture exhibition in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, which was officially opened on Tuesday.

The exhibition, Premium Agricultural Brands of China in Serbia 2017, is part of the International Agriculture Fair.

Speaking of the just-concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Chen Zhou, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, promised to create more platforms to promote bilateral cooperation and to create conditions for trade and investment, information exchange as well as more legal services in trade.

"This will create new opportunities for cooperation between Chinese and Serbian companies and contribute to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries," he told the opening ceremony.

Tian Yishu, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, said China is a large agricultural manufacturer and a big consumer of agricultural and food products, while Serbia is rich in natural resources and its agricultural products and meat are of very high quality.

Zeljko Radosevic, state secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Serbia, said China has granted Serbia certificate to export lamb, adding that conditions are being created for Serbia to get certificate from China to export beef and pork, dairy products as well as food products of plant origin.

Radosevic said agriculture ministers of the two countries signed a memorandum on joint trade and investment in agriculture at the Belt and Road forum in Beijing, which "provided a basis for an increased exchange of agricultural and food products and organic products and created conditions for direct investment of China in Serbian agriculture and food industry."

"An important goal for us is to attract Chinese investment in food processing industry and to implement modern technologies and know-how, especially in new products and production lines in the areas of fruit and vegetable processing," he said.

Companies from China and Serbia should use the opportunity to achieve new breakthroughs in agriculture either by starting joint production or exporting agricultural products to third markets, suggested Tian from the Chinese Embassy.

He said that within the framework of their comprehensive strategic partnership, the two countries have achieved fruitful results in the areas of infrastructure, construction, energy, telecommunications, education and culture.

The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 with an aim to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 13:01:01|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The just-concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing has attracted worldwide attention as the Belt and Road Initiative itself takes the world's concern -- inter-connectivity and shared prosperity -- as one of its major targets.

The following are some quotes from high-profile world officials on the significance of the initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 with an aim to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde:

-- The Belt and Road Initiative aims to connect economies, communities, and people. It holds great potential to bring benefits in terms of high-quality infrastructure, inclusiveness, and economic cooperation.

The IMF can help in this effort by providing policy advice, financial support as appropriate, and hands-on training and capacity building -- so that economies can maximize the benefits of more investment, trade, and financial connectivity, while maintaining economic and financial stability.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak:

-- With the vision of shared prosperity and win-win situation, I believe Malaysia and other countries will realize the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The initiative as one that can stimulate development among different sectors and industries via better infrastructure, in turn will facilitate world transportation and logistics, so all countries can access to larger markets.

Serbian Prime Minister and President-elect Aleksandar Vucic:

-- Serbia is China's staunch friend and reliable partner. Serbia has benefited enormously from participating in the Belt and Road forum. Key projects of the Belt and Road Initiative have yielded positive results.

Serbia expects to deepen cooperation with China in a host of areas, including the economy and trade, mining, infrastructure, finance, aviation and tourism.

Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo:

-- The China-proposed initiative is a way to unite global economies for trade in a new era. The initiative is about maximizing opportunities so as to promote growth and development on the Belt and Road routes.

Australia would only benefit by embracing the Belt and Road Initiative, as it would allow the Australian government to take advantage of new opportunities to help grow the local economy.

Alicia Barcena, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC):

-- The Belt and Road Initiative represents a renewal and a profound commitment with the fundamental values of our global social and economic well-being: interconnection, deeper commercial and investment links, transparency and opening-up, and the need to ensure economic growth goes hand-in-hand with social progress.

This is a speech concerning a change of era, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a very innovative proposal, with a panoramic perspective bringing together the objectives of all the countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 14:17:03|Editor: Liangyu

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HANOI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's largest dairy firm Vinamilk has got the green-light to officially export its milk products to China, the company told Xinhua on Wednesday.

"During the president's Chinese visit, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese firms to supply the products in the neighboring market," Vinamilk's spokesperson said.

Agreements on facilitating imports of Vietnamese farm products, including milk, is an important achievement of President Tran Dai Quang's visit to China from May 11 to May 15, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung told local media earlier this week.

"We are eager to serve the Chinese customers with our finest products," a representative of Vinamilk's external affairs department told Xinhua.

With Vinamilk's granted access, General Secretary of the Vietnamese Dairy Association Vu Ngoc Quynh optimistically viewed that more firms can achieve the same success.

"Now the long-awaited door has opened, it's time for local enterprises to strive toward Chinese market entrance criteria," said Quynh.

Vinamilk is Vietnamese's No. 1 dairy firm and one of the world's 50 largest milk companies in terms of revenue. In 2016, its export turnover stood at some 258 million U.S. dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 14:32:47|Editor: xuxin

A person unlocks the oBike's bicycle in Bangkok, Thailand, May 15, 2017. A Singaporean start-up, oBike, launched station-less bike sharing service in Bangkok earlier this month in a bid to transform the traffic-clogged city though they are facing challenges here. (Xinhua/Li Mangmang)

BANGKOK, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A Singaporean start-up, oBike, launched station-less bike sharing service in Bangkok earlier this month in a bid to transform the traffic-clogged city though they are facing challenges here.

Nowadays, noticeable fleet of orange bicycles can be easily found around metro, skytrain stations in Bangkok, a city where few cyclists can be seen on streets.

These orange bicycles, unlike others around the city, are of a sharing scheme started in China as they can be picked up and left anywhere.

Riders can find the bicycles, unlock the bicycles and lock them again after riding by using a mobile app and scanning a QR code on the frame.

Payment is done via credit card. To use the service at the first time, one has to pay a deposit of 899 baht (26 U.S. dollars) and the service costs about 10 baht (0.3 dollars) per 15 minutes, while oBike told Xinhua that they may adjust the fee in the future.

We launched the station-less bike sharing service here last Tuesday, Ric Ye from OBike's business expansion told Xinhua recently, adding that the service is still in a trial period here.

oBike said they have put "some, not much," bicycles along the Sukhumvit Road, a main commercial street, often congested, in Bangkok, around Chulalongkorn university and Lumpini Park, and will increase the amount of bicycles in the future according their data.

Ye said roads are narrow here, not sufficient for bicycle parking, and Bangkok is by no means a bicycle-friendly city but the severe congestion gives them a chance.

We think we still have chance in this city because there is demand here for 1 km and 2 km short distances transportation as the roads are congested, skytrains are crowed. Ye said, adding that it also acts as a greener solution for inter city movement.

You dont roll out the service, you dont have any data, it is difficult to judge whether the bike sharing scheme is feasible here, he said, adding that they are optimistic but dont expect a boom in Bangkok like the craze for bike-sharing in Chinas major cities and in Singapore.

Jerry Liu, a Chinese living in Bangkok, told Xinhua Tuesday that he was so excited that he could finally try the station-less bike-sharing, which his friends back in China have used a lot.

I tried it and I like it though the weather is hot here, Liu said,.I think they should deploy more bicycles around the city while talking with the Thai government to make it safer for people to ride as the bicycle lanes are usually occupied by motorcycles.
KABUL, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A group of armed militants penetrated into the office of Nangarhar provincial governor, a police station and a television building in Jalalabad city on Wednesday morning, triggering gun battles, Tolo television channel reported.

According to the TV channel, suicide bombers entered the building of the national television station in the city and gunshots have forced many local residents to leave the area.

Officials are tightlipped to make comment on the situation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 15:12:32|Editor: xuxin

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KABUL, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A group of armed militants penetrated into the office of Nangarhar provincial governor, a police station and a television building in Jalalabad city on Wednesday morning, triggering gun battles, Tolo television channel reported.

According to the TV channel, suicide bombers entered the building of the national television station in the city and gunshots have forced many local residents to leave the area.

However, spokesman for Nangarhar provincial governor Attaullah Khogiani told Xinhua that three suicide bombers entered the building of national television channel and two of them have already been killed in their blasts while the remaining one is fighting against security forces deployed around.

Security personnel have cordoned off the area and do not allow journalists to get access to the site of the incident.
Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs the Leaders' Roundtable Summit at the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation at Yanqi Lake International Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The just-concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing has attracted worldwide attention as the Belt and Road Initiative itself takes the world's concern -- inter-connectivity and shared prosperity -- as one of its major targets.

The following are some quotes from high-profile world officials on the significance of the initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 with an aim to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde:

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan welcome Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and her husband before a banquet for the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

-- The Belt and Road Initiative aims to connect economies, communities, and people. It holds great potential to bring benefits in terms of high-quality infrastructure, inclusiveness, and economic cooperation.

The IMF can help in this effort by providing policy advice, financial support as appropriate, and hands-on training and capacity building -- so that economies can maximize the benefits of more investment, trade, and financial connectivity, while maintaining economic and financial stability.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak:

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak speaks at the Leaders' Roundtable Summit of the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation at Yanqi Lake International Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

-- With the vision of shared prosperity and win-win situation, I believe Malaysia and other countries will realize the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The initiative as one that can stimulate development among different sectors and industries via better infrastructure, in turn will facilitate world transportation and logistics, so all countries can access to larger markets.

Serbian Prime Minister and President-elect Aleksandar Vucic:

Chinese President Xi Jinping(R) welcomes Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic before the Leaders' Roundtable Summit of the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation at Yanqi Lake International Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

-- Serbia is China's staunch friend and reliable partner. Serbia has benefited enormously from participating in the Belt and Road forum. Key projects of the Belt and Road Initiative have yielded positive results.

Serbia expects to deepen cooperation with China in a host of areas, including the economy and trade, mining, infrastructure, finance, aviation and tourism.

Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo:

Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific Steve Ciobo addresses the "ChAFTA (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement) Melbourne Night" in Melbourne, Australia, Sept. 29, 2015. (Xinhua/Gui Qing)

-- The China-proposed initiative is a way to unite global economies for trade in a new era. The initiative is about maximizing opportunities so as to promote growth and development on the Belt and Road routes.

Australia would only benefit by embracing the Belt and Road Initiative, as it would allow the Australian government to take advantage of new opportunities to help grow the local economy.

Alicia Barcena, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC):

Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Alicia Barcena, takes part in a meeting of the 36th session of the ECLAC, in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on May 27, 2016. (Xinhua/Alejandro Ayala)

-- The Belt and Road Initiative represents a renewal and a profound commitment with the fundamental values of our global social and economic well-being: interconnection, deeper commercial and investment links, transparency and opening-up, and the need to ensure economic growth goes hand-in-hand with social progress.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 16:08:00|Editor: xuxin

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ANKARA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) struck outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq on Tuesday, killing 11 militants, the Turkish General Staff statement said on Wednesday.

The statement said the airstrikes hit PKK targets in Zap and Matina regions of northern Iraq, destroying shelters, caves, bases, weapons and machine gun emplacements.

The PKK militants were allegedly preparing to attack Turkish security stations along the border, the statement added.

The Turkish air forces have been conducting regular airstrikes on PKK facilities in both northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey since July 2015, and becoming more frequent since the constitutional referendum in April.

Founded in 1978, the PKK, which is listed as terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the Europe Union, resumed its armed campaign in July 2015 after a brief reconciliation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 16:23:07|Editor: xuxin

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RIYADH, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia is read to receive the leaders of more than 56 countries to take part in two summits to in Riyadh with U.S. President Donald trump, Okaz local newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Trump is expected to arrive here on May 20 in his first foreign visit as a president, in which the invitees will attend the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-US Summit, as well as the Arab, Islamic and US Summit in Riyadh.

These summits will discuss various topics, especially counterterrorism efforts.

Meanwhile the news report highlighted the drawing up of tight security plan to host the U.S. leaders and other leaders.

The GCC foreign ministers will hold meeting on Wednesday in Riyadh to discuss topics that will be reviewed at the summit.

Saudi Arabia launched on Tuesday an official website that includes information on the Saudi-US summit, the GCC-U.S. summit and the Arab-Islamic-U.S. summit.

And the website highlights the importance of the summits in promoting global security, deep-rooted economic partnerships and constructive political and cultural cooperation as well as consolidation of views to combat terrorism.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 16:43:22|Editor: xuxin

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JAKARTA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The governments of Indonesia and Lithuania agreed on Wednesday to step up cooperation on trade and investment.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite met at the State Palace and witnessed the signing of deals on bilateral cooperation on renewable energy development and energy conservation, and transportation.

"We agreed to strengthen cooperation on trade and investment. And we also expect the negotiation on the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Partnership Agreement can be concluded soon," Widodo said after their meeting.

Under the agreement, Indonesia aims to increase shipments of products and services to Europe.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 16:58:31|Editor: xuxin

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MOGADISHU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A car loaded with explosives blew up at a checkpoint in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu on Wednesday in the latest attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militants.

The police and witnesses said the huge explosion occurred at Wadajir district and the deafening sound could be heard from a distance followed by multiple sounds of gunfire.

Witnesses said the vehicle blew up soon after it was stopped and seized by the police at the checkpoint.

No group has claimed responsibility so far. However, the Al-Shabaab militant group has carried out frequent deadly attacks targeting the government and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) bases.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 17:09:14|Editor: liuxin

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HOUSTON, May 17 (Xinhua)-- China and the United States are highly complementary with great potential for deepening cooperation in the field of technology innovation, government officials and entrepreneurs said here on Tuesday.

The 2nd U.S.-China Innovation and Investment Summit (UCIS) kicked off in Houston on Tuesday with the participation of senior officials and entrepreneurs from the two countries.

Li Qiangmin, the Chinese consul general in Houston, said at the summit that innovation has become a new engine for the cooperation between China and the United States.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said "we have about 18 billion dollars worth of business with China, and that is between the city of Houston and China on the annual basis. It is my hope that I am going to do everything I can to increase that relationship between the two."

U.S.-China Innovation Alliance President Bernard Harris told Xinhua that the summit is important for the companies in the two countries.

"I think everything is important in this conference, and it provides a platform where U.S and Chinese companies can come together," he said.

In a congratulatory letter to the summit, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said decades of relations between Texas and China have brought advantages to both, in the forms of mutually beneficial trade and valuable cultural exchange.

"In the decades to come, this relationship will continue to be one of the world's most significant as the United States and China work toward common goals of prosperity, strength and peace," he said.

According to Chen Hongsheng, the consul at the Chinese Consulate General in Houston, the UCIS, which was jointly organized by China Science and Technology Exchange Center and U.S.-China Innovation Alliance, provides a unique opportunity for U.S.-based technology companies to connect with investors, strategic partners, leading incubators/accelerators, and professional services firms from China.

"It is an excellent platform for companies to leverage significant resources from China to accelerate their growth and to expand their market potential," he said.

The UCIS aims to facilitate collaboration between innovative technology companies, venture capitalists, private equity, startup accelerators and incubators.

It is also expected to help Chinese investors access and invest in the best-in-class technologies and products located in the U.S., as well as help U.S.-based technology companies source investors and partners who can help them to access the Chinese market.

This year's summit brought together more than 500 participants, including about 150 representatives of technology companies, 200 investors from China, and 150 representatives of innovative technologies companies from the U.S., who are seeking cross-border opportunities across a range of focused industries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 17:09:16|Editor: liuxin

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Beijing, capital of China, May 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged on Wednesday to enhance practical cooperation with Cambodia and implement plans and projects to promote the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi told visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that China attaches great importance to ties with Cambodia and stands ready to enhance the comprehensive strategic cooperation and contribute to regional peace and prosperity.

Next year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties of China and Cambodia, an opportunity to further promote bilateral relations.

Xi called on both sides to enhance practical cooperation and implement plans and projects to promote Belt and Road Initiative construction, especially in capacity cooperation and investment.

Both countries should strengthen links between their economies and cooperate on trade, law enforcement, security, anti-terrorism and combating cyber crime, while developing people-to-people exchanges in tourism, culture and education, Xi said.

For his part, Hun Sen said Cambodia is ready to work with China to consolidate the traditional friendship and on the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

He called on the two countries to expand practical cooperation in development, poverty reduction, health, security, and combating transnational crime, and to strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs.

Later in the day, China and Cambodia issued a joint press communique.

In the communique, the two sides expected bilateral trade to reach 6 billion U.S. dollars by 2020.

On the South China Sea issue, both agreed it should be solved through dialogue and coordination by countries directly involved.

China is willing to implement the Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea with ASEAN members including Cambodia, and promote the negotiations on the code of conduct on the South China Sea, the communique said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 17:34:06|Editor: xuxin

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JAKARTA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia plans to send missions to Chinese cities of Shanghai and Chengdu, aimed to woo more foreign visitor arrivals, a senior official at the Indonesian tourism ministry said here on Wednesday.

Gde Pitana, the official, said the missions were assigned to facilitate meetings between potential Chinese buyers and Indonesian tour agencies in the two cities.

The meetings in Shanghai would be held during the Indonesia Week, an event to promote Indonesia-China ties in trade, investment and tourism sectors, initiated by the Indonesian consulate general office.

The meeting will run from May 20 to May 26, Pitana said.

The ministry would bring eight tour agencies from Jakarta, Bali, Yogyakarta and Surabaya in its upcoming tour sales missions.

Indonesia has set a target to see the arrival of foreign visitors from China at 2,435,000 this year.

Indonesia is upbeat to attract more potential visitors from China. Besides the most-favored Bali, Indonesia has other destinations that can be offered for Chinese visitors, said the official.
A Yemeni child, suspected of being infected with cholera, receives treatment at a hospital in Sanaa on May 15, 2017. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

SANAA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The cholera outbreak in Yemen has so far infected 14,000 people, with at least 186 related deaths since April 27, according to the statement tweeted by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday on its official Twitter account.

Most cases were reported from the capital Sanaa, reported the WHO.

The fresh statistics come 24 hours following the public health emergency state declared by Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population in its capital Sanaa, after the death of 115 cholera victims and the numbers of suspected cases reached 2,567, according to Yemen's state news agency Saba.

"This declaration came after the cholera epidemic spread across the capital's districts and neighborhoods," said Yemen's health ministry, calling for international organizations to help Yemeni hospitals cope with the "unprecedented humanitarian disaster."

The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that Yemen's hospitals are struggling to cope with increasing patient numbers.

The first wave of cholera outbreak in Yemen was announced on Oct. 6, 2016 by Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population.

The WHO warned that Yemen's healthcare system is on the verge of collapse as several hospitals have shut down due to the ongoing conflict.

It said only 45 percent of Yemen's hospitals are currently operational, yet they face a shortage of supplies and staff.

Yemen, an impoverished Arab country along the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, has been involved in a civil war for the past two years.

The war has set the Iranian-allied dominant Houthi movement, backed by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, against their Saudi-backed government foe loyal to President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Sanaa and most of the northern provinces are controlled by Houthi rebels.

The civil war thus far has killed over 10,000 people, half of them civilians, and displaced over 2 million others, according to humanitarian agencies.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 18:20:11|Editor: liuxin

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Net foreign exchange (forex) sales by Chinese banks rose slightly in April while capital outflow remained tame, official data showed Wednesday.

Banks bought 121 billion U.S. dollars worth of foreign currencies and sold 136 billion dollars, resulting in net sales of 15 billion dollars last month, down 37 percent year on year, according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE).

The deficit was up from March's 12 billion dollars and February's 10 billion dollars, but lower than the 19 billion dollars in January.

In the January-April period, banks' net forex sales stood at 56 billion U.S. dollars, up from 41 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter.

The SAFE said in a statement that forex demand and supply were basically balanced in April, noting that cross-border fund flow had improved.

There had been rising concerns about capital flight since the second half of 2016, when the economy was facing downward pressure and the Chinese yuan declining against the U.S. dollar.

The yuan has gradually recovered in recent months, as the economy started 2017 on a firmer footing, indicated by a string of economic data including factory activity, foreign trade and fixed-asset investment.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 18:34:36|Editor: xuxin

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TOKYO, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A document has surfaced that may implicate Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a government decision to approve the heavily-subsidized opening of a new department in a university run by one of his friends.

Okayama University of Science was chosen to open a veterinary medicine school in Ehime Prefecture, in one of Japan's national strategic special economic zones, which has far more relaxed regulations to boost growth in the area, as part of Abe's overall growth strategy.

The university itself is operated by Kake Educational Institution, which is headed by a friend of Abe, Democratic Party lawmaker Yuichiro Tamaki said at a lower house committee meeting on Wednesday.

Tamaki said an education ministry advisory panel is currently assessing an application to open the school and the ministry has prepared a document stating that the Cabinet Office said Abe backs the plan.

Tamaki said Wednesday that the document suggests that the education ministry was told by the Cabinet Office that the choice for the new department "was heard to have been the prime minister's wish."

Tamaki added that he is in possession of the document and asked Education Minister Hirokazu Matsuno whether he had knowledge of the document or the situation.

Matsuno said he will confirm the matter, but maintained that neither Abe nor his office had given him instructions regarding the new school to be opened.

Matsuno also said he had not received a report from the Cabinet Office suggesting the prime minister had approved the plan to open the school.

But Tamaki maintains the document shows that negotiations had taken place between the ministry and the Cabinet Office regarding the timeframe for opening the new department at the university.

The latest claim follows Abe, his wife and other ministers being embroiled in an as yet unresolved cut-price state land deal with another private school operator in Osaka.

Moritomo Gakuen, the operator of a nationalist school in Osaka, said it had received a donation and the backing of Abe to open a new school on a piece of land owned by the government and sold to the operator for just a fraction of its appraisal value.

As the Moritomo Gakuen scandal continues to rumble on, the government's top spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, on Wednesday distanced Abe and the education ministry from the new scandal brewing, saying that there was no truth to the matter.

"It is not known who wrote this. The government would not provide an answer to such a nonsensical thing," Suga said with reference to the document.

However, after Kake Educational Institution was selected for the project in a meeting held between the central and local governments in the special strategic zone in Ehime in January, the local city assembly opted to provide the land to the institution to build the new department for free.

In addition, they provided 9.6 billion yen (85.2 million U..S. dollars) as a subsidy for construction costs.

Imabari, the second-largest city in Ehime, had initially acquired the land for some 3.68 billion yen (32 million U.S. dollars), informed sources said.

The new veterinary medicine department is planned to be a part of the Okayama University of Science which itself is run by the Kake Educational Institution.

The chairman of the institution is a known acquaintance of the prime minister.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 18:39:38|Editor: xuxin

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MANILA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines Wednesday claimed to have reduced the strength of the Abu Sayyaf by about a half, from a high of 500 men, since January when the military waged an intensified campaign against the group.

"Before the campaign started in January this year, we started going after more than 500 Abu Sayyaf members," said Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, commander of the military's Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City.

Previous military estimates placed the strength of the Abu Sayyaf at about 300 to 400 men, mostly based in their bailiwick province of Sulu. The group is notorious for kidnapping, beheading and bombings.

"With the support we are receiving from the local officials, and other stakeholders, including the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), we have strong reasons to believe that we are only confronting less than half the number of the bandits right now," said Galvez.

Government forces launched relentless operations against the Abu Sayyaf in January after Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Ano set a new deadline of six months to defeat the Abu Sayyaf.

"Our forces are in full throttle doing both lethal and non-lethal approaches. It will just be a matter of time that we will defeat the entire group," said Galvez.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 18:54:48|Editor: xuxin

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HARARE, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The dualization of Zimbabwe's main trunk roads, the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu highway, will begin following the commissioning of the project by President Robert Mugabe on Thursday.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at Chaka Business Center, which is 222 km from Harare on the Masvingo highway and just a stone throw away from the site where 31 people died after a bus crashed with a truck in April.

A press invitation from the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services on Wednesday said that the ceremony would take place Thursday morning.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo told The Herald newspaper that work will be confined to the Beitbridge-Harare component of the road.

"We are happy that the dualization will finally start and though it may not end road accidents along the highway, we believe for those drivers who are careful, the number of accidents will go down," he said.

An announcement would be made in due course on when work on the Harare-Chirundu highway stretch would begin, he added.

China-domiciled Austrian firm Geiger International will upgrade the Beitbridge-Harare segment at a cost of 998 million U.S. dollars under a 25-year Build, Operate and Transfer model.

It will be done over three years and will have at least 37 new two lane bridges and eight tollgates.

The Harare-Chirundu segment, including the Harare Drive ring road, will be done under a loan financing model and private sector investment contributed by China Harbour Engineering Company.

The highway starts in Beitbridge in the south on the border with South Africa, passes through Masvingo (290 km) and Harare (290 km), and extends to Chirundu to the north on the border with Zambia (352 km).

Some truckers travelling between Zimbabwe and South Africa are now taking alternative but longer routes to their destinations as sections of highway, particularly between Harare and Masvingo, have become dangerous to motorists.

Many accidents have occurred on the highway, especially on the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge legs, with at least 150 people killed in those involving buses between 2014 and 2016.

The highway was built between 1953 and 1963. The 55-year-old road has outlived its design life of 20 years twice over.

It provides landlocked Zambia with access to the Indian Ocean ports of Durban and Richards Bay in South Africa.

Equipment and goods sourced from South Africa to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are also transported on the highway which used to be called the Great North Road in the 1950s.

Years of poor maintenance have rendered the highway rugged and pothole-ridden with many areas not having shoulders.

Plans to upgrade the highway have been on ice for more than 13 years following a legal dispute emanating from the government's cancellation of a tender for the project, which had been won by a consortium running under the banner ZimHighway Consortium.

Work has now been allowed to continue following an out of court settlement between the government and the consortium.

At least 40 percent of the value of the project will be subcontracted to Zimbabwean companies.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 19:20:04|Editor: Hou Qiang

Armed police board an aircraft to fight a forest fire in Hulunbuir City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 17, 2017. More than 800 people and two aircraft are fighting a forest fire that broke out Wednesday in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to local authorities. (Xinhua/Mao Yatuan)

HOHHOT, May 17 (Xinhua) -- More than 800 people and two aircraft are fighting a forest fire that broke out Wednesday in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to local authorities.

The fire started around noon in a forest in Chenbarerhu Banner in the city of Hulunbuir.

The fire has burned through around 300 hectares.

No casualties have been reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 19:36:00|Editor: xuxin

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by Keren Setten

JERUSALEM, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of a much-anticipated visit by the U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself in the middle of two conflicting interests.

With his political survival at stake, Netanyahu must also find a way to keep his American ally satisfied.

Just days before Trump's visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, anticipation is replaced by tension.

In the run-up to the visit of U.S. President Trump to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, it seems tensions are running higher than expected.

Days before his arrival, a diplomatic row between the two countries arose after an American official was quoted as questioning Israel's claim to one of Judaism's holy sites in Jerusalem.

While the two countries will probably be able to overcome this disagreement, the spat highlighted the growing gap between the expectations the Israeli government has of Trump and how the relationship will actually play out.

Gideon Meir, a former senior Israeli diplomat, believes Israel needs to realize Trump is no longer a candidate on the campaign trail but an American president with a different perspective.

"Israel has to come back to reality and to deal with President Trump, the president who sits in the Oval Office, not in the Trump Tower in New York -- it's different," said Meir.

Throughout his campaign, Trump said he would move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as part of their future state.

But as he settled into the White House, he becomes less decisive on the matter.

Israel annexed East Jerusalem after capturing it in the 1967 Mideast War. While it considers the united city it's capital, the annexation has never been recognized by the international community.

Moving the U.S. embassy to the city would be a highly controversial move that may result in an upsurge in violence in the region.

Netanyahu heads a right-wing coalition with partners that are more hard-line than him. A senior partner, leader of the Jewish Home party, Naftali Bennett, has been vocal against a Palestinian state. His party has demanded Netanyahu make similar statements in front of Trump.

Netanyahu has frequently stated publicly he is in favor of an independent Palestinian state as a result of bilateral negotiations with Israel.

Meir says Netanyahu may publicly demand the move of the embassy in order to appease his coalition and buy himself political stability.

"He wants President Trump to move the embassy to Jerusalem and to try to get to a status quo between Israel and the Palestinians, to continue settlements. He will not insist on a two-state solution, maybe publicly as a lip service he will do it but in reality he wants to survive as Prime Minister. This is his first goal."

On the campaign trail, Trump also said he did not see Israeli settlements in the West Bank as an obstacle to peace between the two rivals.

Palestinians see settlements as a severe impediment to statehood.

After meeting Netanyahu in the White House, Trump moderated his opinion. At a press briefing with the Israeli leader in Washington, the American president told him "to hold off on settlements a little bit."

For Israel's right wing, who thought the new American administration would at the very least turn a blind eye to settlement expansion, the request was the equivalent to a slap in the face.

For the Israeli Prime Minister it was a wake-up call, Trump was not going to make his political life easy.

Netanyahu will be wary to upset his ally during his visit.

The Israeli Prime Minister is coming to realize that Trump's seemingly pro-Israeli stance may actually be a hindrance to his political goal of managing the conflict with the Palestinians without really needing to solve it.

As opposed to the strenuous relationship Netanyahu had with former U.S. President Barack Obama, the Israeli government can no longer say they do not have a sympathetic ally in the White House.

"Netanyahu will do everything in his power not to go into tension with this President," adds Meir.

Ben Caspit, an Israeli political commentator, wrote that such a deal is "nothing short of a nightmare" for the prime minister.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 19:41:13|Editor: xuxin

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BERLIN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Unfolding daily events are continuing to contribute to the rising tensions between Germany and Turkey, German newspaper Bild reported on Wednesday.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim gave Berlin an ultimatum to choose between alliance with Turkey and support for the rebels on Tuesday. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned that if Turkey continues to "blackmail" Germany, a tolerance level will be eventually reached.

Bild reports said that Germany has put in motion concrete plans to start moving their military facility in Turkey to Jordan. German troops will inspect the Jordanian airbase Muffawak Salti on Wednesday to ascertain how quickly the move can occur.

The heated exchanges come in the wake of rising tensions between the two governments. Last week, Germany accepted asylum claims from former high-ranking Turkish generals, who were also former NATO officials. Turkey claimed that these generals had a direct hand in the failed coup attempt in July 2016. But Germany accepted the asylum by the Turkish officers for fear that they would not receive a fair trial in Turkey.

Turkey subsequently refused German members of parliament access to German staff at a military facility on Monday. The refusal prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her CDU party to seriously consider the possibility of moving the army from Incirlik airbase in Turkey.

NATO has also released a statement to confirm that it does not get involved in alliance activities but that it could have an effect on NATO if the tensions continue to escalate.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 19:55:41|Editor: liuxin

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NANJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Around 100 posters created by international designers will be displayed at an exhibition to commemorate the Nanjing Massacre, the Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre in east China's Jiangsu Province announced Wednesday.

The 2017 International Poster Biennale Exhibition for Peace Nanjing is part of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre, in which more than 300,000 Chinese lives were taken by Japanese invaders when they occupied Nanjing from Dec. 13, 1937.

The hall will collect submissions of more than 2,000 posters, with the dual themes of "remember" and "future,"from designers and agencies worldwide, about 100 of which will displayed in the exhibition.

The submission process begins Wednesday and runs until October 15.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 20:00:45|Editor: liuxin

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by Zhang Jianhua

VIENTIANE, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Enjoying a bright sunset while standing in his own landmark five-star hotel and watching the Mekong River with Thailand on the other side, Yao Bin was thinking about the China-Laos railway that he had been waiting for for more than 10 years which is currently under construction.

Having made a name for himself in industry over the past 10 years, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Laos and Chairman of Kritaphong Group Co., Ltd., Yao Bin has led the Kritaphong Group through the early stages of promoting the prospects including the socio-economic benefits of the China-Laos railway project.

"We were very excited when we heard that the two countries wanted to build a railway," Yao told Xinhua in an exclusive interview in Vientiane.

"Being overseas Chinese residents, we are the 'bridges' that help link the friendship between the two countries," he said, adding that in over 10 years of all-out efforts for the bilateral friendship between China and Laos, overseas Chinese residents like him have always been maximizing long-term exchanges between the two governments, to promote the early implementation of the China-Laos railway project.

Having worked in Laos since the early 1990s, Yao has witnessed the increased development of economic cooperation between China and Laos. From his first success of trading in Laos in 1990, Yao has expanded his business to include construction and engineering.

According to Yao, the China-Laos railway is a very important project for Laos, as to some extent it will contribute to turning Laos from a "land-locked" to "land-linked" country.

It will also boost the development of the southwest area of China and connect China with Thailand, thus establishing a large export platform. The China-Laos railway is also very good news for business people and Chinese people who have been staying long-term in Laos.

"As for Laos, the country is in need of large amounts of such kinds of investment. I think overseas Chinese people can be a new kind of 'bridge' to connect the Chinese resources with outside needs," Yao said.

The completion of the China-Laos railway will bring new roles for overseas Chinese and their roles as bridges will be raised to become "two-way bridges," he said.

The China-Laos railway has a total length of 414.332 km with over 62.7 percent of bridges and tunnels, linking Mohan-Boten border gate in northern Laos and capital Vientiane.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 20:06:31|Editor: xuxin

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RAMALLAH, West Bank, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Palestinians protested Wednesday in front of the UN Ramallah Common Premises, the UN Headquarters in West Bank, protesting its "silence over the situation of striking Palestinian detainees."

Protestors stood in front of the UN office for hours, banning employees from entering the building, while they raised photos of detainees in Israeli jails and slogans reading "closed by order of striking prisoners since 31 days."

The activists said in a press statement that they hold the UN legally responsible for the lives of the striking detainees, as it is the body that is in charge of safeguarding human rights based on international humanitarian law and international law.

They called on the UN to intervene immediately to save the lives of the striking detainees and forming an international investigation committee into the "crimes" carried out by Israel against detainees in Israeli jails, especially those on hunger strike to force them to break their strike.

The statement urged the UN to hold Israel accountable to it's "violations of Geneva conventions and international laws" and oblige it to deal with Palestinian detainees under the third and fourth Geneva Conventions.

In addition, they called on the UN Humanitarian Coordinator to denounce administrative detention and "make a clear stance," as it is regarded as "a war crime and a crime against humanity."

Over 1,500 Palestinian detainees have started an open ended hunger strike on April 17, which marks national Prisoners Day, with an overwhelming majority of strikers belonging to Fateh Party, which is led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The demands of the detainees include ending solitary confinement, ending administrative arrest, improving living conditions and enhancing medical treatment.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 20:10:57|Editor: xuxin

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GAZA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Near East Operation in Gaza, Bo Schack, warned Wednesday a "serious dramatic deterioration" of crisis of the blockaded Gaza Strip.

Schack said in a press conference held in Gaza city that "a dramatic deterioration has hit the situation in Gaza Strip in the past months that has led to a very severe humanitarian situation."

"We are speaking here about the problem of electricity outage for long hours, lack of drinking water, and pumping wastewater to the sea in addition to decreasing salaries of public sector employees in Gaza," explained Schack, while he warned that "the situation for youth is very difficult and may lead to lack of hope, which could also lead to serious dramatic consequences that must be taken into consideration."

The coastal Gaza enclave has been under a strict blockade since the Islamic Hamas movement took control of the Strip in mid 2007, after days of infighting between Hamas members and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party members.

The decade long blockade has lead to a series of crises in the Gaza Strip including lack of basic services and high unemployment rates that reached up to 41.7 percent end of 2016, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

In the past two months, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which covers the payroll of public servants in both Gaza and West Bank, has been deducting parts of the Gaza employees salaries by nearly 30 percent.

Additionally, the Hamas run Energy Authority in Gaza announced early in April that it will stop the only power plant in Gaza until further notice, saying it cannot keep it running while "The Ramallah based government continues to impose taxes in fuel."

The Ramallah based National Unity Government accused Hamas of not allowing it to work in Gaza Strip, and therefore has held the Islamic movement responsible for the electricity crisis in Gaza.
Xiangyanghong 09, the mother ship of China's manned submersible Jiaolong, is ready to depart from a port in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

Hi, here's what you need to know about China today:

BEIJING -- China has signed cooperation agreements with 14 international organizations on aid programs proposed at the just-concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the country's Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.

Yu Jianhua, vice minister of commerce, met with the heads of international organizations, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on Monday and signed agreements with them on behalf of the Chinese government. xhne.ws/xMiKJ

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BEIJING -- The 13th round of China-European Union (EU) bilateral investment treaty (BIT) negotiations began Monday in Beijing, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced Tuesday.

This round is scheduled to last five days.xhne.ws/6qEtT

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BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday suggested docking the Belt and Road Initiative with the European Investment Plan in order to inject new momentum into China-EU ties.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni after the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation ended on Monday in Beijing. xhne.ws/uvIlQ

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ABOARD SHIP XIANGYANGHONG 09 -- China's manned submersible Jiaolong departed from south China's Shenzhen for deep-sea dives in northwestern Pacific Ocean Tuesday.

The ship Xiangyanghong 09 set sail for the Yap and Mariana trenches, with Jiaolong and 96 scientists aboard, marking the beginning of the third stage of China's 38th oceanic expedition. xhne.ws/197q7

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DALIAN -- A team of 190 officers and soldiers Tuesday departed from northeast China's Dalian for a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali.

The team is part of China's 395-strong fifth peacekeeping force to Mali, which consists of security personnel, military engineers, and medical staff. xhne.ws/9laei

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NAIROBI -- The World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday welcomed China's five-million-U.S. dollar contribution to support 420,000 refugees living in camps in northern Kenya.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 20:21:05|Editor: Yamei

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying (Photo source: fmprc.gov.cn)

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday denounced the name change of a Taiwan organization responsible for handling ties with Japan, urging Japan to abide by the one-China policy and not disturb China-Japan ties.

A ceremony was held in Taiwan Wednesday announcing the change of name from the Association of East Asian Relations to Taiwan-Japan Relations Association. Head of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Mikio Numata, who is also Japan's chief representative to the island, attended the ceremony.

"There is only one China and Taiwan is a part of China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

"We firmly oppose any countries that have forged diplomatic ties with China maintaining official relations with Taiwan in any form," Hua said.

She said the move attempts to raise the level of relations between Taiwan and Japan, with which China voices strong dissatisfaction.

Japan should abide by the principles set in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and its commitments to China in sticking to the one-China principle, Hua said.

"Japan should take concrete measures to redress this negative move, stop sending incorrect messages to Taiwan and the international community and not create new disturbance to China-Japan ties," said Hua.

"We also warn the Taiwan authorities that any attempts to establish 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan' will fail," she said.

China has repeatedly said the one-China principle is the foundation of its relations with foreign countries and that no country should maintain official ties with Taiwan.

Earlier this year, Japan's Interchange Association, responsible for maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan, changed its name to Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, a move which drew strong criticism from China.

China and Japan forged diplomatic ties on Sept. 29, 1972. In December 1972, Tokyo established the Interchange Association while Taiwan set up the Association of East Asian Relations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 20:21:07|Editor: xuxin

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DAMASCUS, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A car bomb exploded in a Syrian refugee camp near Jordan on Wednesday, causing heavy casualties, activists said.

The blast hit the Rukban camp in southern Syria near the northern Jordanian frontier, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, without elaborating on the death toll.

Activists said the blast is the second this week, as at least 10 people were killed and tens of others wounded in a blast on Monday in the exact same area.

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for Tuesday's bombing.

Rukban camp shelters around 100,000 civilians who fled the violence in areas under IS control.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 20:46:21|Editor: liuxin

Vice President of China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation Yang Baohua (L, front) gives a satellite model to Indonesian Informatics and Communications Minister Rudiantara (R, front) in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 17, 2017. Senior officials of Chinese firm China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) and Indonesian firm Palapa Satelit Nusa Sejahtera (PSNS) Wednesday signed a purchase contract for the latter's satellite system, namely PALAPA-N1, scheduled to orbit in first half of 2020. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

JAKARTA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials of Chinese firm China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) and Indonesian firm Palapa Satelit Nusa Sejahtera (PSNS) Wednesday signed a purchase contract for the latter's satellite system, namely PALAPA-N1, scheduled to orbit in first half of 2020.

PALAPA-N1 communication satellite project is the first communication satellite of Indonesia that is produced by China.

PSNS is a joint venture enterprise of prominent telecommunication firm operating in Indonesia, Indosat Ooredoo, and Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN).

Under the contract, CGWIC is responsible for in orbit delivery of the PALAPA N1. CGWIC shall provide a package solution with the products and services to its Indonesian client, including the satellite, the rocket launching service, ground system, insurance and financing support.

The PALAPA-N1 satellite, which is designed to replace the PALAPA D, will be launched to its orbit slot at 113E in the geostationary arc by Long March 3B launch vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China.

PALAPA-N1 will provide the latest technology of High Throughput Satellite for broadcast and broadband telecommunications.

Speaking on the sideline of the signing ceremony, Indosat Ooredoo CEO Alexander Rusli said the new satellite would greatly help broadband penetration among the society in Indonesia.

"It would also help accelerating the creation of digital society in Indonesia, support the government's plan to make Indonesia the largest digital state in Southeast Asia," he added.

The contract signing was witnessed by Indonesian Informatics and Communications Minister Rudiantara, Chinese Embassy Charge d'Affaires Sun Weide and Vice President of China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation (CASC), the parent firm of CGWIC, Yang Baohua.

CGWIC President Yin Liming said the satellite would significantly improve the broadcast and broadband in Indonesia.

"It would also be an embodiment of friendship between Chinese and Indonesian people," he said in a statement.

CGWIC won the contract after undergoing a strict auction process considering technical, manufacturing period and cost efficiency. It brushed competitors from Europe and the United States to get the contract.

The PALAPA-N1 satellite is developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a subsidiary of CASC.

The PALAPA-N1's satellite system is designed to have lifetime of more than 16 years, to be equipped with a total of 42 transponders.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 20:46:22|Editor: xuxin

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MOGADISHU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- An estimated number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in Somalia has increased to 6.7 million, more than half the population of the country, the UN said on Wednesday.

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate despite the rains, which are below average in all areas.

The OCHA said in its latest report on drought situation in Somalia that the ongoing drought also increases risk of famine-induced displacement in the region.

Since November 2016, more than 683,000 people in Somalia have been internally displaced by drought, including more than 377,000 displaced during the first quarter of 2017.

"The humanitarian situation in Somalia has deteriorated further and an elevated risk of famine in 2017 persists in some parts. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased to 6.7 million people, up from 6.2 million," said the UN agency.

According to the OCHA, a total of 3.2 million people are expected to face "crisis and emergency levels" of food insecurity through June.

The prolonged drought has led to a lack of water and the largest outbreak of cholera Somalia has seen in the last five years with nearly 38,000 cases and almost 683 deaths so far in 2017, according to World Health Organization (WHO).

"With the beginning of the rainy season and projected flooding, these numbers are expected to increase to 50,000 cases by the end of June," said the OCHA.

Cases of measles are also on the rise with over 7,600 cases reported this year, 65 percent of them affecting children under five.

The Gu rainfall started two weeks later than normal this year and has been below average in all areas, except in the northeast where rainfall totals have been near average.

To respond to the growing needs, humanitarian partners in Somalia have revised the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2017.

The revised HRP presented at the London Somalia Conference on May 11 seeks 1.5 billion U.S. dollars to reach 5.5 million people with life-saving assistance in 2017.

In response to the early alarm that Somalia is at risk of famine at the beginning of the year, donors at the London conference provided 634 million dollars since the beginning of the year. The remaining gap is of 875 million dollars.
Marcel Boekhoorn (R), owner of Ouwehands Zoo celebrates upon the arrival of pandas at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on April 12, 2017. (Xinhua/Gong Bing)

THE HAGUE, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The two giant pandas living at Ouwehands Zoo in the Dutch city of Rhehen will be seen by public for the first time on May 30, the zoo announced on Tuesday.

This comes after they spent six weeks in quarantine since their arrival on April 12.

"Following a 16-year period of consultations and preparations, the two pandas Xing Ya and Wu Wen, who were symbolically gifted to the Netherlands by China during the state visit of our Dutch Royal Couple in October 2015, can finally be admired by visitors from the day following the opening," the zoo said.

Wu Wen, or "Beautiful Powerful Cloud" the female and Xing Ya "Elegant Star" the male, both three-and-a-half-year-old, will stay at Ouwenhands for 15 years. The Netherlands is the seventh European country that hosts this endangered animal.

The Dutch zoo has built a special enclosure called Pandasia for these two lovely mammals whose species symbolizes the efforts at protecting endangered animals. The whole area, built in traditional Chinese style, covers about 9,000 sqm, of which 3,400 sqm is designated for the giant panda enclosure.

The enclosure consists of two sections, a separate indoor and outdoor enclosure for the male and the female, several night accommodations, a nursery, a cold store for bamboo, a veterinary clinic and a keepers' area.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 20:51:24|Editor: liuxin

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Altogether 14,405 workplace accidents occurred in China in the first four months of 2017, down 25.4 percent from the same period last year, official data showed on Wednesday.

No "extremely severe accidents" occurred, which in China refers to those that cause more than 30 deaths, leave more than 100 severely injured or result in more than 100 million yuan (about 15 million U.S. dollars) in direct economic losses.

By the end of April, authorities had sent out 37 teams to inspect safety at over 400 businesses in 21 provinces and regions, according to the State Administration of Work Safety.

The inspections found more than 2,000 safety issues, and over 20 companies were ordered to halt business.

Despite regular calls by the government for more focus on work safety, tragedies still occur. A lack of safety awareness, poor regulation and lax implementation of safety measures are among the factors leading to accidents.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 21:06:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong and Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Liu Qibao attend a celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing, capital of China, May 17, 2017. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a letter of congratulations to CASS on the 40th anniversary of its founding. The letter was read by Liu Yandong at the celebration held by CASS Wednesday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday sent a letter of congratulations to Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) on the 40th anniversary of its founding.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, praised the academy's work in serving the decision-making of the Party and the nation, boosting the sinicization of Marxism and developing Chinese philosophy and social sciences.

Xi asked CASS staff and the country's philosophers and social scientists to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics while sticking to the guiding status of Marxism.

He said they should study issues concerning the country's reform, development and stability, as well as promote the global influence of Chinese philosophy and social sciences.

The letter was read by Vice Premier Liu Yandong at a celebration held by CASS Wednesday.

Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and called for efforts to implement the CPC Central Committee's guideline on developing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 21:06:31|Editor: xuxin

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TOKYO, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Japan and New Zealand pledged on Wednesday to carry forward the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact despite the withdrawal of the United States.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English affirmed at a summit here that they will remain committed to "maintaining the unity among the signatories and early entry into force of the TPP agreement."

The two leaders also agreed to continue to cooperate and push forward the ongoing negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free trade agreement that involves 16 Asia-Pacific countries but excludes the United States.

The TPP deal involved Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. It was formally signed by ministers from these 12 countries in February after more than five years' negotiation.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed in January an executive order to officially withdraw the U.S., the largest signatory of the TPP, from the trade pact, leaving chances dim for the TPP pact coming into force.

Japan and New Zealand are currently the only two signatories that have ratified the TPP pact. New Zealand ratified the TPP pact last Thursday, while Japan completed domestic procedures for ratifying the trade pact in December last year.

Bill English is currently in Japan for a three-day visit. He will leave for China's Hong Kong on Thursday.
The photo shows Freda Smith (L) with Professor Dame Jacqueline Wilson (R), chancellor of the University of Roehampton. (Photo courtesy of University of Roehampton)

LONDON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A retired teacher unable to afford to complete her higher education degree four decades ago has finally received her degree at the age of 98.

Freda Smith from Ipswich, who worked for 44 years as a teacher becoming head teacher at one school, has been given an honorary degree by the University of Roehampton in London.

She left college two years into her degree course because her parents could not afford to keep her at college.

Receiving the degree, which enables her to use the letters B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) after her name, Smith said it was an honor and a lovely occasion.

Smith, who started her college training in 1936, explained: "I always wanted to be a school teacher. In those days, teachers' certificates took two years. But because I went to London, I wasn't given any grants from Sheffield (where she lived at the time), but my parents mortgaged their house to pay for me to go."

To get a Bachelor of Education degree, a third year of studies was required, but her family did not have the funds for her to complete the final year.

Smiling as she collected her degree at a university ceremony Monday at London's Royal Festival Hall, Smith said: "I must admit, I do consider it to be an honor. When I apply for my next job, I shall be able to say Freda Smith, BEd. It's absolutely wonderful to celebrate a degree like this at my age."

A spokeswoman for the University of Roehampton said: "It was such a nice day for Freda. She was a star of the show with so many people congratulating her. She even brought along a thesis on geography she had written in 1938."

During a career spanning more than four decades, she only had a handful of days from her classrooms through sickness.

Professor Paul O'Prey, vice-chancellor at the University of Roehampton, said the event recognized the hard work and dedication of women and men who have made significant contributions to education and teaching across the world.

The graduation ceremony was part of university's 175th anniversary since it welcomed its first cohort of students.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 22:02:39|Editor: xuxin

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TEHRAN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran received the first batch of 4 passenger planes that it has purchased from French-Italian ATR company, Iran Daily reported on Wednesday.

Four ATR 72-600 turboprop planes landed in Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport on a direct flight from the French city of Toulouse and were officially handed over to the country's national flag-carrier airline Iran Air.

Iran expects to receive five more ATRs by the end of 2017.

In April, it was announced that Iran signed a contract with the ATR to purchase 20 passenger planes.

In February, Iranian Deputy Road and Urban Development Minister, Asqar Fakhriyeh Kashan, announced that the deal with ATR valued at 400 million U.S. dollars.

In December 2016, Iran sealed a contract with Airbus to buy 100 aircraft worth over 18 billion dollars.

Also in December, Iran Air finalized another agreement with the U.S. Boeing to purchase 80 commercial planes.

The agreement envisages the purchase of 50 twinjet narrow-body Boeing 737 planes and 30 long-range wide-body 777 aircraft with a total value of 16.6 billion dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 22:07:44|Editor: liuxin

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese law enforcement agencies are required to provide education on laws for staff and the general public.

Those who enforce the law must bear the responsibility of education on the law, according to a document issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council Wednesday.

Law enforcement agencies should explain the laws and regulations to the public while handling present issues in education, environmental protection, food safety and healthcare, said the document.

It asked such agencies to give professional responses to current issues and discussions on the Internet.

Authorities should solicit public opinion while drafting new regulations and explain them in plain language when adopted, it said.

It also specified the responsibilities of the legislature, judicial authorities and other public institutions in disseminating the laws.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 22:28:34|Editor: xuxin

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MANDERA, Kenya, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A Kenyan official was killed on Wednesday after a vehicle he was traveling in ran over an improvised explosive device in Elwak area near Kenya-Somalia border.

Mandera East divisional police commander Timothy Muasya said the explosive device was buried on the ground by unknown people. The driver survived with serious injuries after the 1 p.m. incident.

He said the deceased government engineer was travelling from Kombo area in Elwak when his vehicle ran over the IED blowing the driver cabinet.

"We are investigating the incident as at this moment we can not link it to anybody as our officers from the Anti-Terror Police Unit have carried the debris for analysis," Muasya said.

He said the deceased worked for a local construction company. Muasya said the police have been dispatched to the area for surveillance as it is a hot spot area where security vehicles had been attacked in the past.

"Our buses plying the route remain heavily guarded by armed police escort to prevent attacks by the Al-Shabaab," he said. Police said the IED was targeting government vehicles using the Wajir-Mandera road.

Witnesses said the affected vehicle was traveling from Wajir to Mandera carrying the workers of a road construction company when the incident happened.

The incident is the latest in a series that have been happening in the last two weeks targeting government vehicles. Police have blamed the attacks on Al-Shabaab militants who are operating in the area.

Mandera County has been scene of vicious attacks since 2014 where dozens of non-locals were killed in commuter busses and at a quarry site.

The county and other parts of northern Kenya have been subjected to successive explosive attacks by Al-Shabaab operatives in the country following the onslaught by Kenyan soldiers on the Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia.

At least four people were killed on Tuesday after a vehicle they were traveling in ran over an IED in Liboi area, Garissa County.

On Monday night, the militants raided a home of a chief in Omar Jillo in Mandera and killed him.
BRUSSELS, May 17 (Xinhua) -- NATO will hold talks on weapons of mass destruction non-proliferation and arms control in Finland, the bloc said Wednesday.

This is one of NATO's largest outreach activities. NATO partner Finland will host the 13th annual NATO conference from May 29 to 30 in Helsinki, according to a NATO press release.

More than 100 participants from nearly 50 NATO and partner countries and international organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union will gather together for this informal event.

The conference will address topical issues in view of a changing international security environment, such as the multilateral non-proliferation regimes and regional proliferation challenges. Discussions on non-proliferation in Syria and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will also be on the agenda.

The conference will be opened by Timo Soini, minister for foreign affairs of Finland. A statement will be delivered by NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 22:54:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Hummam Sheikh Ali

HOMS, Syria, May 17 (Xinhua) -- As rebels are evacuating from their last remaining stronghold in Syria's central city of Homs, people there are breathing a sigh of relief, hoping to resume their normal lives once the last batch of rebels leaves soon.

The rebels and their families as well as sympathizers have been evacuating the al-Waer neighborhood in batches toward rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib as well as the northern province of Aleppo since March of this year.

The evacuation comes following a deal struck with the government to grant them safe passage toward rebel-held areas in northern Syria in 2015.

Several hurdles faced the full implementation of the deal before its reactivation last March.

Since March, 10 batches of rebels and their relatives have left al-Waer, with the total number of evacuees estimated at 18,000 people, including rebels and civilians.

Sources familiar with the evacuation told Xinhua on Wednesday that the last batch of rebels and civilians will evacuate the neighborhood on Saturday, with government institutions waiting for the last rebel to evacuate in order to claim control over the neighborhood.

However, although government institutions haven't entered the neighborhood yet, civilians who have fled the area when the rebels took control over it five years ago, have started returning to their neighborhood.

"It's very important for people to return to their homes and relax because the situation was extremely bad, mainly on the humanitarian level, but now everything has changed for the better," Rana Daghistani, one of the residents who stayed in her home in Waer, told Xinhua at the neighborhood's entrance.

She said she refused to leave her house because she had no other place to go to and because she doesn't want to be humiliated throughout the displacement process.

Daghistani said people there are now enjoying a tranquility they have for long missed.

"It's calm now, and everyone is now thinking how to fix his house, either those who stayed or others who are returning, because they have suffered a lot with high rents in other parts of the city," she added.

Other residents spoke of overwhelming happiness to have a normal life back in the city and to the al-Waer neighborhood in particular.

"It's a priceless happiness that Homs is back to peace and stability and we, the residents of al-Waer, welcome anyone who wants to come to our neighborhood, whether from al-Waer or any other part of the city, our homes are open for them," Mahmoud Mahamid, a resident of al-Waer, told Xinhua.

Mahamid fled his home in 2012 when the rebels took over and has now returned to put his life back together in his neighborhood, along with the thousands of people who have started returning.

Homs authorities have afforded several facilities for returning civilians, despite the presence of some rebels still inside.

All those returning simply need to register their names before entering the neighborhood, and can then remain inside or just enter to check on their homes and belongings and leave.

Masoud, a schoolteacher, told Xinhua that it's about time people in Homs enjoy some happiness after all the losses they had suffered.

"We have lost family members, friends and neighbors in this war and this step to secure the neighborhood is a positive one, and, despite the war and crisis, we, the Syrian people, are united and we should stand together to restore peace to our country hand in hand," he said.

Al-Waer is a sprawling neighborhood in Homs.

Previous statistics indicated that al-Wair used to home 300,000 people before the six-year-old war erupted in Syria, and that those number then decreased down to 75,000 civilians remaining in al-Wair, which has been besieged by government forces since 2014.

A military officer at the entrance of al-Waer told Xinhua that the neighborhood will soon be free of any rebel presence, adding that government institutions will enter the area and start providing full services for people.

For the government, regaining the neighborhood is significant progress which will enable them to regain full control of Homs, Syria's third largest city.

It's also the heart of Syria due to its location in the central part of the country.

Homs is also one of Syria's most important industrial centers, boasting the country's largest oil refinery and key oil and gas fields in its eastern countryside.

The city is also a hub connecting major Syrian cities together, and gaining full control over the city will be an important step for the government to have full control over Syria's other major five cities of Damascus, Homs, Latakia, Aleppo and Hama.

For the rebels, losing their last stronghold in Homs is a major blow, following the huge defeat they suffered when government forces recaptured the entire city of Aleppo in December of last year, after the rebels' evacuation from the eastern part of that key city in northern Syria.

Rebels called Homs the "Capital of Revolution," as it was one of the first cities to join the anti-government movement in Syria in mid-March 2011.

By mid 2012, up to a fifth of the city was under control of the opposition.

In the same year government forces unleashed an offensive to capture the fallen areas.

In late 2014, rebels in the old city of Homs accepted a deal for their evacuation from the city, which has been largely obliterated due to the military campaign in the city.

In 2015, the deal for al-Wair was reached, similar to that of the of old city, before being reactivated on March 14, 2017.

Following the full evacuation of the rebels from al-Wair, government efforts will focus on achieving similar deals in the northern countryside of Homs, where rebels still hold some areas.
BUJUMBURA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian police on Tuesday afternoon arrested a priest over rape accusations, the country's police spokesman told a press conference on Wednesday.

"Abbot Jean Marie Ciza working in Gitega Archdiocese was arrested yesterday afternoon in Gitega town. The prosecutor who ordered his arrest accuses him of having raped a school girl," Burundian Police Spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said.

Nkurikiye indicated that the arrested priest was the private secretary of the Archbishop of Gitega, adding that he had recently escaped from France where he had committed rape.

Meanwhile the priest's family said that they were worried about his health as he had recently come from Europe where he had a surgical operation.
LISBON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Portugal placed a total of 1.5 billion euros in six- and 12-month treasury bills on Wednesday at more negative average yields than previous comparable auctions, the Portuguese Treasure and Debt Management Agecy (IGCP) announced.

Portugal placed 1 billion euros in 12-month bills at an average yield minus 0.153 percent against minus 0.112 percent in a similar auction on March 15 this year.

The country also auctioned 500 million euros in six-month bills at an average yield of minus 0.210 percent against minus 0.158 percent in a similar auction on the same day.

Portugal's Socialist government, which came to power in November 2015, has been reversing austerity measures imposed by the previous administration following a 78-billion-euro (84.76 billion U.S. dollars) bailout in 2011.

The Portuguese economy grew 1.2 percent of GDP last year and public debt surpassed 130 percent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 23:09:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, awards a certificate to an author whose work is collected in "national achievements library of philosophy and social sciences" during a symposium on the formation of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics in Beijing, capital of China, May 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- While China is increasingly confident in its dazzling economic growth in past decades, the country is placing urgency on building more basic and lasting confidence -- to generate its own great minds in philosophy and social sciences.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has recently pledged to step up building "philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics," a system including various fields such as history, economics, politics, culture, society, ecology and the military.

People in these fields must shoulder their responsibilities, consolidate confidence in Chinese culture and enhance innovation in their field, said Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, at a high-level seminar held on Wednesday to promote the project.

The remarks came just one year after Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made a speech at a symposium on the development of philosophy and social sciences.

The speech, ranging from Marxism and the CPC leadership to talent cultivation and innovation, was regarded by academics and officials as a guiding thought on developing these fields.

A country without advanced development of the natural sciences could not possibly be a leading nation, and neither can a country without booming achievements in philosophy and the social sciences, Xi said at the symposium held on May 17 last year.

NEED OF THE TIME

Academics believe present day China requires great theory and great minds.

As the country is undergoing the most profound and widespread social reform in its history, the nation's drive is expected to generate power and broad space for developing theory, said Professor Xie Chuntao with the CPC Central Committee Party School.

He noted that China's performance in philosophy and social sciences has not kept up with its progress in reform and opening up, and efforts are needed to better sum up and analyze the country's successful endeavors.

Academics must work harder to generate theories to support future development, Xie said.

Chinese academics are finding it more difficult to use Western theories to interpret Chinese practices in the economy, politics and society. They are also not being understood by their Western colleagues when explaining what China is doing now.

"As Chinese people have more engagement with the outside world, we have a deeper need for confidence," said Professor Wang Yiwei with Renmin University of China. "If we cannot build our own guiding ideology, discourses and academic systems of philosophy and social sciences, we will never gain confidence in our path and socialist system."

INNOVATION

At Wednesday's seminar, Liu stressed innovation is a key focus in developing China's philosophy and social sciences.

The study should focus on contemporary China. Chinese theories need to interpret China's progress while the later needs to enrich the theories, he said.

His remarks echoed a guideline issued Tuesday by the CPC Central Committee to promote the development of China's philosophy and social sciences.

Academics are encouraged to combine the achievements of the country's traditional culture with foreign theories and innovate in knowledge, theories and methods, according to the guideline.

As part of the innovation efforts, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) has set up 19 think tanks focusing primarily on Marxism, economics and finance, international relations, society and culture as well as border areas. By the end of 2016, the academy had completed almost 13,000 written studies, over 147,000 papers and more than 27,000 research reports.

NEW THOUGHT

Stressing Marxism is the "soul and advantage" of China's philosophy and social sciences, Liu urged increasing the sinicization of Marxism.

Studying new theories developed since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 is a priority, he said.

Liu called on studies of Xi Jinping's speeches as well as new concepts, ideas and strategies of state governance, understand the Marxist stance, views and methods behind them, and apply the correct political directions and values in philosophy and social sciences.

Xi's speeches are rich in content and deep in thought, including the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the "two centenary goals", overall arrangement of economic, political, cultural, social and ecological development, the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation and the "four comprehensives."

They also include the "new normal" theory, supply-side structural reform, democratic politics with Chinese characteristics, people-oriented development, ideological building, poverty eradication, a community of shared future, Party building, comprehensive state security and military strengthening.

To better interpret Xi's speeches and thought, CASS has compiled 12 volumes of the studies answering major questions concerning the development of the Party and the country in the new era, said CASS President Wang Weiguang.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 23:14:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TIANJIN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities have warned computer users of a new ransomware virus detected abroad.

The National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center (CVERC) and software company AsiaInfo Wednesday detected the "UIWIX" virus, which is spreading in a similar the way to the "WannaCry" ransomware.

"The new virus uses a bug in the Windows operating system, and infects computers by renaming files after encryption," said Chen Jianmin, standing deputy head of the CVERC. "The renamed files usually carry the extension '.UIWIX'."

No infections have been confirmed in China so far, and the CVERC is undertaking technical analysis on the virus, while keeping an eye on possible infections.

Microsoft has issued a security update to address the vulnerability,Chen said.
A farmer checks the growth of wheat in Linyi, east China's Shandong Province, May 5, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Chunlei)

by Nemanja Cabric, Wang Huijuan

NOVI SAD, Serbia, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Riding a wave of the Belt and Road Initiative and fast-developing China-Serbia partnership, dozens of Chinese companies are eyeing the Serbian market.

More than 40 Chinese companies are showcasing their products at an agriculture exhibition in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, which was officially opened on Tuesday.

The exhibition, Premium Agricultural Brands of China in Serbia 2017, is part of the International Agriculture Fair.

Speaking of the just-concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Chen Zhou, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, promised to create more platforms to promote bilateral cooperation and to create conditions for trade and investment, information exchange as well as more legal services in trade.

"This will create new opportunities for cooperation between Chinese and Serbian companies and contribute to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries," he told the opening ceremony.

Tian Yishu, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, said China is a large agricultural manufacturer and a big consumer of agricultural and food products, while Serbia is rich in natural resources and its agricultural products and meat are of very high quality.

Zeljko Radosevic, state secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Serbia, said China has granted Serbia certificate to export lamb, adding that conditions are being created for Serbia to get certificate from China to export beef and pork, dairy products as well as food products of plant origin.

Radosevic said agriculture ministers of the two countries signed a memorandum on joint trade and investment in agriculture at the Belt and Road forum in Beijing, which "provided a basis for an increased exchange of agricultural and food products and organic products and created conditions for direct investment of China in Serbian agriculture and food industry."

"An important goal for us is to attract Chinese investment in food processing industry and to implement modern technologies and know-how, especially in new products and production lines in the areas of fruit and vegetable processing," he said.

Companies from China and Serbia should use the opportunity to achieve new breakthroughs in agriculture either by starting joint production or exporting agricultural products to third markets, suggested Tian from the Chinese Embassy.

He said that within the framework of their comprehensive strategic partnership, the two countries have achieved fruitful results in the areas of infrastructure, construction, energy, telecommunications, education and culture.

The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 with an aim to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 23:28:45|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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PARIS, May 17 Xinhua) -- French new President Emmanuel Macron's government was announced on Wednesday with 11 women took ministerial posts.

The following are major names in the new cabinet headed by right-wing Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.

-- Gerard Collomb, Interior Minister

-- Francois Bayrou, Minister of Justice

-- Nicolas Hulot, Minister for Ecology Transition

-- Sylvie Goulard, Defense Minister

-- Jean-Yves Le Drian, Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister

-- Richard Ferrand, Minister for Territorial Coherence

-- Agnes Buzyn, Solidarity and Health

-- Francoise Nyssen, Minister for Culture

-- Bruno Le Maire, Economy Minister

-- Murielle Penicaud, Labor Minister

-- Jean-Michel Blanquert, Minister for National Education

-- Jacques Mezard, Minister of Agriculture and Food

-- Gerald Darmanin, Minister of Action and Public Accounts

-- Frederique Vidal, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation

-- Annick Girardin, Overseas Minister

-- Laura Flessel, Sports Minsiter

-- Elisabeth Borne, Transport Minister

-- Marielle de Sarnez, Minister in charge of European Affairs.

JUNIOR MINISTERS

-- Christophe Castaner, in charge of relations with parliament and government spokesperson

-- Marlene Schiappa, in charge of gender equality

-- Sophie Cluzel, in charge of handicapped people

-- Mounir Mahjoubi, in charge of digital sector.

The government will hold first meeting on Thursday at 11:00 local time (0900GMT).
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 23:33:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MOSCOW, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Italy pledged to boost cooperation in various fields besides their close business ties, leaders of the two countries said Wednesday in Sochi, Russia.

"We discussed in detail the whole range of cooperation and outlined concrete plans for its further development. Priority attention was paid to promising areas of economic development," Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a joint press conference with visiting Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

Russia and Italy agreed to further develop cooperation in various promising areas, including in the energy sector, as Russia provides 43 percent of Italy's needs for natural gas, Putin said.

"We have always supported the confidence of Italian companies in the Russian market and society. Our companies had always trusted this country," Gentiloni said, adding that there are some 600 Italian companies operating in Russia.

A package of deals were signed between the two sides in Sochi on Wednesday.

Russia's state-owned Rosneft oil company and Italy's Eni S.p.A. signed an agreement on expanding cooperation in oil extraction, processing, marketing and trading.

In addition, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Italy's leading road management company ANAS, and Avtodor State Company announced the creation of a consortium targeting Russia's highway infrastructure projects.
STOCKHOLM, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Swedish Government on Wednesday proposed a three-month weapons amnesty in the spring of 2018, according to a statement issued on the government's website.

"We must use all possible tools to reduce the number of illegal firearms in society. Earlier weapons amnesties have been effective, and therefore the government wants to go ahead with a new amnesty," Minister for Home Affairs Anders Ygeman said in the statement.

The bill proposes a temporary law that will allow people in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition to hand in their weapons to police without risk of being prosecuted.

The freedom from liability would be in effect from February to April 2018. Anyone who hands in a weapon can remain anonymous. The state will then destroy and dispose of the weapons.

There have been three weapons amnesties in Sweden before. More than 15,000 weapons and 36 tons of ammunition were turned in to police during the last amnesty in 2013, Radio Sweden reported.
RIGA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics met his visiting Montenegrin counterpart Srdjan Darmanovic on Wednesday, discussing issues including NATO membership and seurity in the western Balkans.

Rinkevics said at a joint news conference that the hard work Montenegro had done to become a NATO member paid off and that no third country had the authority to prevent other countries from joining NATO.

"It is important that security and stability is boosted in the western Balkans. Montenegro is situated in a strategic location and might play a major role for the Alliance's overall security," the Latvian foreign minister said.

He also pointed out that Montenegro's membership in NATO will allow the security improvement of the whole alliance, which is especially important because the situation in the western Balkans has not been showing improvement lately. Montenegro's membership in NATO will create another support point of stability in the Balkans, said Rinkevics.

Darmanovic told reporters that even though Montenegro's armed forces are small, its membership in NATO will enable the alliance to control practically all the northern coast of the Mediterranean. Montenegro's neighbors will also see the hard work paid off with goals achieved, the Montenegrin minister said.

As Montenegro is also an EU candidate, Darmanovic said his visit to Latvia was an opportunity to gain experience as Latvia and other Baltic states have achieved great progress as EU members.

During his visit to Latvia, from Monday to Thursday, the Montenegrin foreign minister is scheduled to meet with Latvian Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis, parliament foreign affairs committee chairman Ojars Eriks Kalnins and Janis Sarts, the head of the Riga-based NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-17 23:59:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China will focus on smart manufacturing by integrating the strategy of "Made in China 2025" with the Internet Plus Initiative as well as entrepreneurship and innovation to upgrade the country's traditional industries and help advance economic restructuring.

The decision was made at a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday when a report on the strategy's implementation was delivered to participants.

Since implementing the strategy in 2015, the country has seen a steady progress in industrial capabilities, smart manufacturing, innovation, and product quality and branding. A recent case in point was the passenger jet C919 that took its first test flight earlier this month.

The meeting decided to focus on smart manufacturing and further deploy new technologies such as the industrial internet to make manufacturing a smarter and greener sector that offers better services and products.

Average productivity was up by 38 percent for China's first 109 pilot projects of smart manufacturing, while operating costs dropped by 21 percent, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The premier said "Made in China 2025", as a crucial part of the supply-side structural reform, is vital to moving the country's economy up the value chain. The key is to exploiting advantages of China's domestic market and human resources, as well as further promotion of basic research and innovations, he said.

"Implementation of the strategy has introduced strength to the real economy, especially the equipment manufacturing. However, we should also keep aware of our weak links as much of the industry is at the medium and lower end of global supply," Li said.

"Made in China 2025" was first unveiled in the Government Work Report in March 2015. Two months later, the State Council released a guideline, which focused on five key projects, including smart manufacturing, and 10 key fields such as new materials.

Key technologies will be on top of agenda, including independent research and development. Innovative development in fields such as new materials and robots will be accelerated.

As of Wednesday, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has approved pilot regions for the strategy, namely 12 cities such as Ningbo in Zhejiang province and three city clusters in provinces such as Jiangsu. Some of them will be designated as the country's demonstration areas, which will get favorable policies in investment, financing and other fields.

The premier urged to establish demonstration areas, where small and medium-sized enterprises can develop with large companies for collaborated growth and greater global competitiveness.

The meeting also decided to cultivate a new model of incorporating the manufacturing sector with the Internet Plus Initiative. The country will strengthen cooperation with other countries to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

The country will introduce advanced management, raise quality standards and guide companies to put quality as their top priorities. More efforts will be made to attract and recruit talents from home and abroad. More items for governmental approvals will be streamlined with lower threshold for market access and improved oversights to nurture an excellent business environment. Greater financing supports will be given to the real economy to increase resources for industrial upgrading. Intellectual property rights will also be given greater emphasis to safeguard legitimate rights of market entities.
BERLIN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere announced a plan to introduce controls at German borders during the upcoming G20 summit, German newspaper Die Welt reported Wednesday.

A ministry spokesperson confirmed that Germany's Schengen Area borders would be controlled "based on the increased security requirements."

Heads of state and government will confer at the G20 summit in Hamburg on July 7 and 8.

The ministry has not disclosed the timing and extent of the border controls, which will be announced directly before the operations for "police tactical reasons." The controls will be adapted flexibly as needed and aim to prevent perpetrators of violence from entering Germany and interfering with the summit.

De Maiziere already informed the European Council, the European Commission, EU-member states, the conference of interior ministers, and the city of Hamburg in a letter. The letter stated that border controls were required for the summit in light of the "tense security situation characterized by terrorism."

Security experts have voiced their concern that potentially violent, left-wing extremists from, for example, Denmark or Italy, would travel to Hamburg, according to the Welt report.

The introduction of border controls would also help shed light on migration patterns, according to internal affair experts. The federal police recorded a significant decline in unauthorized entries while over 10,000 refugees still apply for asylum each month.
ISLAMABAD, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Afghan envoy and lodged protest over the "detention" of two Pakistani embassy diplomats in Kabul, the foreign ministry said.

Pakistani sources in Kabul earlier told local media in Islamabad that the two embassy members were "forcibly" taken by Afghan security officials when they had gone for shopping. Both were later released.

"The Afghan Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) was summoned to the Foreign Office to lodge Pakistan's strong protest over the incident in which two diplomatic officials in Kabul were detained today, reportedly by Afghan security agencies," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The Afghan DHM was conveyed that the incident was a clear violation of the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations and against the spirit of the brotherly relations between the two countries, the statement said.

"It was emphasized that such incidents undermined the constructive engagement which the two countries envisaged for strengthening of bilateral ties," it added.

The foreign ministry urged the Afghan government to take immediate steps to ensure the security and safety of Pakistani diplomatic personnel and premises and to ensure that such incident will not take place in future.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-18 00:19:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SHANGHAI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai and Prague have inked a deal to cooperate in the fields of film and television as China's Belt and Road Initiative gains steam.

The deal, signed Wednesday in Shanghai, will see Shanghai Media Group and Medea Group from the Czech Republic work together in the making, broadcast and promotion of films and television programs about the Belt and Road Initiative. Medea Group is the biggest private media group in the Czech Republic, owning TV stations, TV program-making departments and 11 magazines.

Czech President Milos Zeman said that cooperation with Beijing and Shanghai will contribute to Czech-China relations under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Several Shanghai hospitals also signed agreements Wednesday to cooperate with their counterparts in Prague in the fields of aviation medical rescue and medical staff training.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-18 00:29:31|Editor: Hou Qiang

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Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong meets with Anthony Lake, chief of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China is eyeing increased cooperation with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to Vice Premier Liu Yandong.

Liu made the remarks Tuesday when separately meeting with UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake and UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin, both of whom attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing from May 14 to 15.

The Belt and Road Initiative is conducive to developing the regional and world economies, facilitating countries along the routes to share the opportunities created by China's development, and achieve common prosperity, Liu said.

Liu also acknowledged the long-term pragmatic cooperation between China and the two UN agencies.

Hailing China's remarkable achievement in children's rights and population development, and congratulating China on the fruitful outcomes of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, both Lake and Osotimehin expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation with China within the initiative, and achieve success in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
File photo shows two suicide attacks hit Somalia's Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in the capital city of Mogadishu on July 31, 2016. (Xinhua/Faisal Isse)

MOGADISHU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- At least three Somali security forces and a bomber were killed when a car loaded with explosive blew up as the security officers tried to intercept it at a checkpoint in Mogadishu on Wednesday, police said.

A police source told Xinhua two of the forces killed in the Al-Shabaab attack were from the police while the third was a soldier from National Intelligence Agency (NISA).

The driver of the vehicle was also killed as he drove into a police check point in Wadajir district, the officer said.

"We killed the driver of the car as it approached the checkpoint but the explosives went off shortly as the forces tried to detonate," a senior police officer at the scene Mohamed Dahir told Xinhua.

Police sources said the soldier from the bomb disposal unit died in the blast while trying to demobilize the bombs loaded in the vehicle.

The police officer said two occupants of the car fled the scene. The militant group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility.

The officer said no arrest has been made but a major manhunt for the two attackers who fled the scene is underway.

The Al-Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility. The militants have stepped up their onslaught on the government after being forced out of the capital and other major urban areas in Somalia by national and Africa Union forces

Their targets have included hotels, military checkpoints, and the presidential palace.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-18 00:44:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Wednesday that 1,274 missing children had been found over the past year following the launch of an app in May 2016.

During the period, 1,317 updates on missing children were posted on the app, and the children found include 40 who had been abducted, 750 who had run away from home, 192 who had been lost, 75 who died by drowning, as well as 29 who were murdered, according to the MPS.

The app helps to ensure efficient sharing of information and collaboration between police in different regions, and encourages witnesses to report the whereabouts of missing or trafficked children, the MPS said.

Users near the site where a child disappeared receive push notifications, including photos and descriptions. The scope of these push notifications will be expanded over time.

An updated version of the platform that went live on Wednesday has expanded its reach through cooperation with seven other media platforms, such as an emergency broadcasting center under China National Radio, a news app from Tencent and Yidao Yongche.

So far, the MPS app has formed a cooperative partnership with 40 new media and mobile applications, including Taobao, Baidu and QQ.
LISBON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Wednesday that Portugal's 1.5 billion euros (1.67 billion U.S. dollars) in treasure bill auction earlier in the day at even more negative yields confirms a turning point in the country's economy.

"It's good news, confirming the turning point that I spoke of yesterday in the Portuguese economy. The markets are feeling the financial soundness in Portugal," Rebelo de Sousa told the reporters in Lisbon.

Portuguese Treasure and Debt Management Agency (IGCP) announced that Portugal placed a total of 1.5 billion euros in six- and 12-month treasury bills earlier on Wednesday at more negative average yields than previous comparable auctions.

Portugal placed 1 billion euros in 12 month bills at the average yield minus 0.153 percent against minus 0.112 percent in a similar auction on March 15 this year.

The country also auctioned 500 million euros in six-month bills at an average yield of minus 0.210 percent against minus 0.158 percent in a similar auction on the same day.

Portugal's Socialist government, which came to power in November 2015, has been reversing austerity measures imposed by the previous administration following a 78-billion-euro (84.76 billion U.S. dollars) bailout in 2011.

Portugal has been on track for a slow economic recovery since it exited the bailout in 2014 after three years of harsh austerity. Its economy grew 1.2 percent of GDP last year and public debt surpassed 130 percent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-18 00:54:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang delivers a keynote speech at Expo Central China 2017 in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, May 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Guo Chen)

HEFEI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang Wednesday called for a more open environment for foreign investment in central China.

Opening to the outside world is one of the most important practices of promoting the development in central China, Wang said in the keynote speech at the tenth Central China Investment and Trade Exposition.

In the past decade, central China has seen its economy grow substantially, its industrial structure optimized and its market more accessible to foreign investment. These changes have led to coordinated development in the region's economy, offering tremendous business opportunities for foreign enterprises, according to Wang.

"More efforts should be made to nurture enterprises that have overseas business and to build pilot free trade zones and economic and technological development zones," Wang said.

Wang also stressed creating a business environment which is international, convenient and ruled by law.

Wang said foreign investment is an integral part of the Chinese economy. No matter how the international situation changes, China remains steadfast in its strategies of opening up to foreign capital, safeguarding the legal rights and interests of foreign investors and providing better services for them.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-18 00:59:47|Editor: Hou Qiang

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Fan Changlong (R), vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, meets with Minister of State for Defense of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed Al-Bowardi in Beijing, capital of China, May 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Fang)

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Fan Changlong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, and Chang Wanquan, Chinese defense minister and state councilor, Wednesday met separately with Mohammed Al-Bowardi, Minister of State for Defense of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Fan Changlong said the UAE is a strategic partner of China in the Gulf area. He hailed the smooth development of bilateral military relations and expressed his wish to further advance the relations.

Bowardi said the UAE is willing to enhance cooperation and communication with China to further expand the depth and width of bilateral military cooperation.

Noting the good momentum of development in military relations, Chang Wanquan said China is willing to work with the UAE to deepen exchange and cooperation in various fields.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-18 01:04:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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STRASBOURG, May 17 (Xinhua) -- In a Wednesday debate in Strasbourg, Members of European Parliament discussed upcoming Brexit negotiations, praising the European Council for its speed and unity, while calling for reform of the European Union.

European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and Chief Brexit Negotiation for the European Union Michel Barnier travelled to Strasbourg to present and discuss with the Parliament new negotiation guidelines that were adopted by the European Council during its April 29 meeting, its first meeting as 27 member states since the Brexit referendum result in June 2016.

"What was and remains most important for me is that our conduct in these talks will show the European Union at its best, in terms of unity, political solidarity and fairness towards the United Kingdom," European Council President Tusk confided to Members of European Parliament (MEPs), and thanked the parliamentarians for their guidance and assistance in the negotiation preparations.

The guidelines set out the need for a "phased approach" to Brexit negotiations, establishing three priorities that must be addressed in a first stage of talks: the fate of nearly EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in Europe, estimated at 4 million people; an agreement on financial commitments undertaken by the UK while still a member of the EU 28; and measures to preserve peace in Northern Ireland, including ensuring there will not be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as set out in the Good Friday Agreements.

"Only once there is sufficient progress on these priorities can we proceed to the next phase of the negotiations about our future relations," Tusk insisted, adding "and it will be for the European Council of 27 to decide if and when we have achieved sufficient progress."

Jean-Claude Juncker praised the European Council President for the speed of the guidelines being agreed, before complimenting EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnes for being "up and running across Europe to make sure every voice is heard."

"The process shows how united and prepared the European Union will be; it underlines how deep our commitment to transparency already is," the European Commission President declared.

Responding to the EU leaders, MEPs underlined the importance of maintaining the unity found in preparation for Brexit negotiations.

"We are determined to remain united, we are resolute, and I think we can be very proud of what the EU 27 has done hitherto," exclaimed Manfred Weber (Germany), on behalf of the European People's Party, praising the consistent and clear message the EU has been able to communicate for its upcoming negotiations.

"We can see that the engine room of the European Union is functioning strongly, we can see that we have good priorities, sound priorities for the future of Europe," he asserted.

Weber's point of view was shared by his Italian colleague, Roberto Gualtieri, speaking on behalf of the Socialists and Democrats: "Those who would have thought that we would be split got it wrong. We now have a clear, balanced, fair line as far as Brexit is concerned and an excellent negotiator who we fully back."

Despite the strong welcome of European unity, however, many MEPs insisted that Europeans still expected change, and that the divorce proceedings should be seen as an opportunity for reform.

"We are now seeing a fresh impetus that the winds of change are blowing through Europe and we need to capitalize on this, we need to make the absolute most of this," Manfred Weber appealed to the Strasbourg hemicycle.

Raffaele Fitto (Italy), speaking on behalf of the European Conservatives and Reformer's group, thought the negotiations "should be based on creating a relationship with the UK which allows us to review the way that the EU works and to understand why the British people thought they would be better off outside the EU than in it."

"It's about taking this opportunity of these negotiations between London and Brussels to actually reflect about ourselves, to discuss about ourselves, and about where the EU is going," he stressed.

Guy Verhofstadt (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Belgium), lead Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament, thought it would be a mistake to concentrate all energy on Brexit, at the expense of reform.

"It's really time to use this Brexit negotiation for a new vision and for a new future for Europe, a future that our young people want," Verhofstadt declared. "Look to what is happening throughout Europe, in more than 100 cities, over all in Europe in the squares, young people are coming together asking for more and a democratic European Union."

Michel Barnier, responding to MEPs, thanked the Parliament and the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission, for putting trust in him as lead Brexit negotiator for the EU.

Promising transparency, Barnier promised to be available to MEPs, and to hold discussions with the European Parliament and other institutions before each round of Brexit negotiations.

"Our aim is to achieve an agreement; I certainly don't intend to have no agreement, no deal or a bad deal," assured the chief negotiator.

He also insisted that he saw no reason to punish the UK for its choice to leave the EU, but that the phased approach was intended to help solve urgent problems, removing uncertainty as quickly as possible.

"We want to conclude a deal with the UK, not against the UK," he stressed, before adding: "I would very much appreciate if on the side of the UK you could have the same spirit, to reach a deal with the EU, not against the EU."

A set of negotiating directives, proposed by Michel Barnier and based on the adopted guidelines, are expected to be adopted by the European Council on May 22. European leaders have agreed that Brexit negotiations should begin as quickly as possible following British general elections on June 8.
File photo taken on April 23, 2017 shows Emmanuel Macron, then French presidential candidate for the On the Move (En Marche) movement, greeting his supporters at a rally after the first round of French presidential election in Paris,France. (Xinhua/Jose Rodriguez)

PARIS, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The formation of the new French government to be headed by conservative lawmaker Edouard Philippe, appointed Monday after Emmanuel Macron was sworn in as France's new president, was announced Wednesday by the president's office.

In his first cabinet line-up, the new head of state mixed profiles unknown to the public with others coming from the political mainstream to end decades of right-left divide.

Socialist veteran Gerard Collomb, who is mayor of Lyon, was named as interior minister, while centrist politician Francois Bayrou was appointed to take the charge of the justice portfolio. The two men were supporters of Macron during his election campaign.

From the outgoing Socialist government, Jean-Yves Le Drian, ex-defense minister and a close ally of former president Francois Hollande was the sole survivor. He took the position of leading European and foreign affairs.

From the right-wing, Bruno Le Maire, a pro-European, was picked as economy minister. Nicolas Hulot, an ecologist activist, was named as ecology minister.

Several women are in the list, which includes 18 ministers and four junior ministers. It's a fulfillment of Macron's campaign promise to deliver on gender parity.

On the list was Sylvie Goulard, a centrist EU lawmaker, in charge of defense affairs, Agnes Buzyn, solidarity and health minister and Muriel Penicaud, the minister in charge of managing the thorny employment issue.

Wednesday's cabinet could be changed depending on parliamentary election results next month that will decide whether it would be necessary to form a coalition to implement the president's reforms.

The new cabinet is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Thursday morning.
MADRID, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday gave a public vote of confidence to Justice Minister, Rafael Catala, Attorney General, Jose Manuel Maza and the Chief Anti-Corruption Prosecutor, Manuel Moix.

Rajoy's support for the trio came in a televised control session in the Spanish Congress on Wednesday morning which followed the vote taken by Congress on Wednesday to "reproach" Catala for his "direct political responsibility," in the recently uncovered 'Lezo' corruption scandal, which indicates further illegal financing of Rajoy's People's Party (PP).

The Lezo scandal has seen the former President of the Madrid Autonomous Community, Ignacio Gonzalez, sent to prison on corruption charges, while taped phone conversations show how he and associates knew in advance and expressed satisfaction that Moix was to be made Anti-Corruption Prosecutor.

Tuesday's motion criticized Catala for appointing both Maza and Moix to their posts as "part of a strategy to defend the corrupt people in the PP."

The vote was passed with the support of every party represented in Congress, with just the PP voting against it. Even the center-right formation "Ciudadanos" whose support allowed Rajoy to form his minority government at the end of October 2016, voted in favor of the measure.

However, despite being highly symbolic, Tuesday's vote was non-binding and on Wednesday, Rajoy made it clear he was not going to follow the wishes of Congress.

When asked by Socialist Party (PSOE) Antonio Hernandez over what he intended to do, the Prime Minister, insisted he had "full confidence," in Catala, Maza and Moix and despite accusations from Hernandez that the trio were "stopping the avalanche of corruption cases," he said the government's aim was to "prevent, pursue and discover," corruption cases and then to "punish," those responsible.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-18 02:30:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SAN FRANCISCO, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A new study blames people throughout the spectrum of the narcotics trade purchasing enormous amounts of land to launder their illegal profits for deforestation in Central America.

The findings, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, point to an underlying cause of the fact that tropical forests in Central America are beginning to disappear at an alarming rate, threatening the livelihood of indigenous peoples there and endangering some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in North America.

The problem is not the cultivation of the coca plant, which is processed into cocaine, that is leading to "narco-deforestation."

"Starting in the early 2000s, the United States-led drug enforcement in the Caribbean and Mexico pushed drug traffickers into places that were harder to patrol, like the large, forested areas of central America," explained David Wrathall, an Oregon State University (OSU) geographer and co-author on the study. "It turns out that one of the best ways to launder illegal drug money is to fence off huge parcels of forest, cut down the trees, and build yourself a cattle ranch. It is a major, unrecognized driver of tropical deforestation in Central America."

Using data from the Global Forest Change program estimating deforestation, the researchers identified irregular or abnormal deforestation from 2001-2014 that did not fit previously identified spatial or temporal patterns caused by more typical forms of land settlement or frontier colonization; and then using a set of 15 metrics developed from the data to determine the rate, timing and extent of deforestation, they estimated the degree to which narcotics trafficking contributes to forest loss.

The results were compared to data from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which has been considered the best source for estimating cocaine flow through the Central American corridor.

The researchers estimate that cocaine trafficking may account for up to 30 percent of the total forest loss in Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua over the past decade, and a total of 30 to 60 percent of the forest losses occurred within nationally and internationally designated protected areas.

"Imagine the cloud of carbon dioxide from all of that burning forest," Wrathall was quoted as saying in a news release from OSU. "The most explosive change in land use happened in areas where land ownership isn't clear -- in forested, remote areas of Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, where the question of who owns the land is murky."

The authors believe the solutions include de-escalating and demilitarizing the war on drugs; strengthening the position of indigenous peoples and traditional forest communities to be stewards of the remaining forest lands; and developing regional awareness of the issue. "Ending the illegal drug trade would be the best solution, but that isn't going to happen," Wrathall noted. "In fact, when drug enforcement efforts are successful, they often push the activity into remote areas that haven't had issues before, such as remote biodiversity hotspots."
by Bosun Awoniyi

LAGOS, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The two years of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's administration has been result-oriented, though challenging, top cabinet members has said.

At a special Town Hall Meeting held in Abuja, the nation's capital on Tuesday, nine ministers appointed by the president gave reports of performances of their ministries and governance in general.

The event was organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, headed by Lai Mohammed.

President Buhari would deliver on its promises of tackling corruption, restoring security, and fixing the depressed economy, said the ministers, adding that the President has remained irrevocably committed to keeping these promises.

ECONOMY

Okechukwu Enelamah, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment told his audience that his ministry had recorded some achievements, though there had been challenges occasioned by the battered economy inherited from the previous administration.

The minister said part of the vision of the ministry, was to champion the course of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the implementation of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan, in line with the aspirations of the government.

He said the ministry was also working on an executive order on "Ease of Doing Business," adding that the idea was to make Nigeria one of the most attractive destinations for investment in Africa.

According to him, his ministry was leveraging on its comparative advantage by collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to make the country competitive in food production.

He said the administration had set up an industrial council with a mandate of bringing about government-private sector synergy in the interest of the country.

Enelamah said the ministry had already attained local sugar production proficiency in Niger and Adamawa states and had started the establishment and upgrading of existing industrial parks across the geopolitical zones.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Babatunde Fashola, the Minister in charge of Power, Works and Housing said it has created 193,469 jobs, with 40,429 direct and 153,040 indirect jobs, within the two years of Buhari's administration.

He said the construction of roads, power project, housing project and macro impact on jobs is gradually increasing the purchasing power and money in the economy.

TRANSPORTATION

In his accounts, Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi said the ministry has awarded three contracts which are Lagos-Ibadan rail, Kano-Kaduna rail and Port Harcourt-Calabar, which were based on the loan collected from the China EXIM bank.

The minister added that China EXIM bank has approved 1.2 billion U.S. dollars, while the government has released its own counterpart funding for Lagos-Ibadan rail, which be completed in December 2018.

Amaechi said the ministry would introduce the single window which is between Nigerian Customs and Nigeria Ports Authority to move goods within 48 hours.

BUDGET AND PLANNING

Udoma Udo Udoma, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, said his ministry had empowered no fewer than 174,160 youths out of 200,000 selected for N-power program in the country.

The N-Power program recruits and trains young unemployed graduates as teachers, agricultural extension workers and health support workers, etc.

He said all beneficiaries from 36 states had been engaged and had started receiving payments as part of the implementation of the N-power program.

The minister said the N-power was implemented under the Social Investment Programs as promised by President Buhari during his campaigns to help the poor and vulnerable people.

ANTI-CORRUPTION FIGHT

Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed told the gathering that the anti-corruption fight of the government is yielding fruits, contrary to opinions in certain quarters that it is failing.

Mohammed, the host minister who gave the overview of government performance, said that government had successfully taken on corruption at its core, contrary to what many may want to believe.

Mohammed, however, said: "there are more prosecutions and there will be more convictions for public sector corruption than Nigeria has ever seen."

The minister recalled that before Buhari took over, corruption level in the society and the brazenness and impunity of those involved had become completely unacceptable.

According to him, the government is restoring the sanctity of the judicial system and implementing Economic Recovery and Growth Plan designed to reset the economy.

Mohammed said the administration had also achieved a lot in its agenda of economic recovery and restoring security to the entire country and the North-East in particular.

RECESSION

Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun said the government was taking measures that would get the country out of recession, adding that Nigeria would come out stronger.

The minister said "the whistle-blowing policy has made every Nigerian a detective" and many of them were not even requesting for any compensation.

According to Adeosun, the government has gotten more than 2,500 tips that they are working on that will lead to the recovery of looted funds and blocking of leakages.

Adeosun said the anti corruption fight was not only yielding fruit but had become acceptable among Nigerians.
HARARE, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Central Emergency Fund (CERF) on Wednesday handed over 1.6 million U.S. dollars to assist over 32,000 people who were affected by floods in Zimbabwe this year.

The funding will assist the flood victims with life-saving shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene and protection in 20 districts in the country, said United Nations Resident Coordinator Bishow Parajuli at the handover ceremony.

"The CERF fund is a critical resource that guarantees life-saving interventions in support of affected communities and I believe it will help meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable particularly those who are still living in temporary camps in the southern parts of Zimbabwe," Parajuli said.

The CERF will be implemented by UNICEF, IOM and UNFPA together with Zimbabwean government ministries, local authorities and non-governmental organizations.

Parajuli said the fund will provide life-saving interventions to over 23,800 people with water, sanitation and hygiene, over 12,500 pupils with emergency education materials while over 2,600 households will be provided with emergency shelter.

Over 1,000 vulnerable families will receive non-food items and 2,500 women will be provided with dignity and reproductive health kits, said the UN resident coordinator.

The support, Parajuli said, will be complemented with the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health and Child Care health program which has strategically pre-positioned essential drugs, kits and personnel to contain any water- borne disease in all provinces, including in the affected areas.

Receiving the donation, Zimbabwean local government minister Saviour Kasukuwere thanked the UN for the assistance which he said was a true testimony of the UN's commitment to the people of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on March 2 declared a State of Flood Disaster, leading to the launching of a domestic and international appeal for nearly 189 million dollars to address the immediate, medium and long term impact of the flood disaster.

In March, the Chinese government donated 1 million U.S. dollars in cash transfer to help the flood victims.

The United Nations and partners, in close consultation with the government estimate that out of the total 189 million dollars, over 20 million dollars is needed for immediate emergency humanitarian response.

The Zimbabwe government has since committed 35 million dollars from the Treasury for the emergency, the majority of which has been assigned to infrastructure development as many parts of the country remain cut off due to damaged roads and collapsed bridges.

Noting the large gap on resources in rebuilding roads and bridges damaged by flooding, the UN Resident Coordinator appealed to friends of Zimbabwe for more support in the ongoing rehabilitation efforts.
CAIRO, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and King Abdullah II of Jordan stressed the importance of fostering international efforts to fight terrorism in the region during a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday, state-run Ahram Online reported.

Abdullah arrived in Cairo earlier Wednesday for a short visit to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional issues, including the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, according to Ahram.

During the meeting at the presidential palace in Cairo, the two leaders praised the level of cooperation between the two countries in the face of regional challenges.

President Sisi discussed ongoing development projects in Egypt, including the construction of the new administrative capital, as the two leaders discussed means of cooperation in infrastructure projects.

On regional issues, Sisi and Abdullah stressed the importance of direct peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis based on the two-state solution, given the current momentum to reach peace created by the expressed desire of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

On the Syrian crisis, the two Arab leaders praised the latest agreement reached in Kazakhstan's capital Astana between Russia, Turkey, and Iran to set up four safe zones in Syria in an attempt to reduce violence in the war-torn country.

They also vowed to intensify support for international efforts to end the suffering of the Syrian people by reaching a political solution to the crisis that preserves the unity of Syrian territories, Ahram reported.
ACCRA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The maiden edition of the China Trade Week opened in Ghana's capital on Wednesday.

The event is designed to create a platform for Ghanaian businesses and entrepreneurs to engage Chinese manufacturers of diverse backgrounds here in Ghana.

The two-day exhibition assembled around 50 exhibitors representing Chinese companies drawn from various industries who are here to explore partnership opportunities with Ghanaian traders.

China and Ghana have enjoyed fruitful cooperation in the economic and trade fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 57 years ago.

Ghana is an important development partner of China in Africa.

Last year, China-Ghana trade volume registered 5.976 billion U.S. dollars, making Ghana the seventh largest trading partner in Africa.

The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Sun Baohong, called on both sides to entrench the concept of win-win cooperation for common development and work together to promote trade and investment facilitation and oppose protectionism.

"I am very confident that as long as we display sincerity and solidarity, and conduct cooperation from a long term and strategic perspective, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Ghana will be promoted a notch higher and create a more brilliant chapter," she said.

The Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Center, Yoofi Grant, described China's Belt and Road Initiative, an economic and diplomatic program that could transform global trade, as a very significant and bold move.

He said the plan of the new government was to bring Chinese investors to set up in Ghana and also to open up the regional market for them.

"Indeed, like I said, Ghana is positioning as the hub for West Africa. If China wants to access the free zones of West Africa and the intended continental free trade area of Africa, Ghana is the place that we think you should start," said Grant.

Both exhibitors and visitors see the trade exhibition as an opportunity to explore business links.

Nash, an importer of building and construction materials to Ghana, said he wanted to see how this China trade week would develop and get his company better sourcing from China.

Another visitor, Favour, said the trade exhibition would help Ghanaians learn more about trading with the Chinese.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) shakes hands with his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni during a joint news conference in Rome, Italy, on Dec. 11, 2015. (Xinhua/Jin Yu)

MOSCOW, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Italy pledged to boost cooperation in various fields besides their close business ties, leaders of the two countries said Wednesday in Sochi, Russia.

"We discussed in detail the whole range of cooperation and outlined concrete plans for its further development. Priority attention was paid to promising areas of economic development," Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a joint press conference with visiting Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

Russia and Italy agreed to further develop cooperation in various promising areas, including in the energy sector, as Russia provides 43 percent of Italy's needs for natural gas, Putin said.

"We have always supported the confidence of Italian companies in the Russian market and society. Our companies had always trusted this country," Gentiloni said, adding that there are some 600 Italian companies operating in Russia.

A package of deals were signed between the two sides in Sochi on Wednesday.

Russia's state-owned Rosneft oil company and Italy's Eni S.p.A. signed an agreement on expanding cooperation in oil extraction, processing, marketing and trading.

In addition, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Italy's leading road management company ANAS, and Avtodor State Company announced the creation of a consortium targeting Russia's highway infrastructure projects.
KIEV, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of the European Parliament and the European Council on Wednesday have signed an agreement finally approving a long-delayed liberalization of visa regime for Ukraine.

Without a doubt, the new travel rules, which will come into force in mid-June, will bring new opportunities for the Ukrainian people, but some experts believe that the new travel rules also may pose challenges.

NEW TRAVEL RULES

Under the liberalized visa regime, negotiations have been started since 2008, Ukrainians who hold biometric passports will be able to enter the European Union (EU) without a visa for 90 days in any 180-day period.

The new rules apply to all EU countries, except Ireland and the UK. Ukrainians will also be able to access non-EU countries -- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland without a visa.

The eased travel requirements would benefit around 3 million of Ukrainian biometric passport holders and nearly one million of other Ukrainians, who plan to receive the documents in the nearest future.

The visa waiver will exempt the holidaymakers from difficulties associated with receiving the visa, such as travelling to another city to get the travel permission or standing in large queues in the embassies.

Besides, it would save the money for Ukrainians, who now obliged to pay a visa fee of 35 Euros (about 39 U.S. dollars) per a Schengen visa and additional service fees charged by the travel agencies or visa application centers.

However, the visa liberalization does not mean the unhampered travel. After the introduction of the new regime, Ukrainian citizens would have to present a set of supporting documents to the border guards to enter the EU.

Local experts suggested that low level of awareness among Ukrainians about the needed documents may provoke cases of refusal of entry into the EU at the border checkpoints.

"We believe that under the visa-free regime, the rate of refusals in the entry may increase, primarily because some Ukrainians are not fully aware of the visa-free rules," said Ekaterina Kulchytska, an analyst at the non-government organization "Europe without barriers."

TRAVEL MARKET RESHAPE

Despite the widespread view that the Ukrainian tourism sector will reap huge benefits from the liberalized visa regime, some local experts believe that the new rules would just reshape the travel market.

Shortly after the visa waiver announcement last month, travel companies have recorded a robust growth in the bookings to Europe. However, the increased demand was recorded primarily in the low-price segment.

"The demand has increased mostly for inexpensive package tours, in particular, excursion bus tours to Europe, where visa fees represent a large percentage of the price. Also, we expect a high demand for last-minute tours, where a valid visa is a prerequisite," said Julianna Jovbak, the head of "Voyage" travel agency.

The liberalization of the visa regime will also spur the demand for affordable summer beach destinations, such as Bulgaria and Romania, she said.

In the same time, Jovbak said the middle-class Ukrainian tourists, who used to travel to Croatia, Spain and Greece, will abandon the services of travel agencies after the introduction of the visa-free travel.

"Previously, they booked tours in the travel agencies, because they didn't want to bother about preparing visa documents. Now, they will buy tickets and make reservations online. Only large tour operators (working in the segment) will survive, small ones will close," said the head of the travel agency.

She suggested that luxury segment of the Ukrainian tourism market will not be significantly affected by the visa waiver.

IMPACT ON ECONOMY

The visa liberalization will also affect the Ukrainian economy, with positive effects on certain areas and negative on others.

First of all, the abolition of visas will make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to search for partners in the EU countries, participate in the exhibitions and business forums in Europe.

In addition, it will spur the domestic demand, leaving about 60 million dollars annually spent by Ukrainians on paying visa fees inside the country.

The revitalization of the transport sector is another benefit from the visa liberalization, experts believe.

"Visa-free regime means the elimination of transport barriers and cheaper tickets. Right now, there is an active process of European low-cost airlines entering Ukraine," said Olexandr Sushko, a research director at Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation.

According to local experts, Ukrainian bus transportation market would grow by between 10 percent and 20 percent once the visa-free regime takes effect.

However, there are businesses, which would fall victims to the new travel rules. First of all, it concerns dozens of the visa application centers across Ukraine providing intermediary services in obtaining visas.

Besides, the visa-free entry to the EU may affect the sector of domestic tourism -- many Ukrainian holidaymakers would choose travelling to Europe instead of spending in their home country.
HARARE, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Woes continue to mount for national airline Air Zimbabwe after the European Union (EU) banned it from flying over its skies on Tuesday due to safety concerns.

Although Air Zimbabwe has not been plying commercial routes into the European Union due to financial constraints, President Robert Mugabe often charters planes from the airline during some of his international visits.

The European Commission, in its latest update of the EU Air Safety List, where it places non-European airlines that it says do not meet international safety standards, blacklisted Air Zimbabwe and other airlines from Nigeria, Ukraine and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

"The airlines Med-View (Nigeria), Mustique Airways (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), aviation company Urga (Ukraine) and Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe) were added to the list due to unaddressed safety deficiencies that were detected by the European Aviation Safety Agency during the assessment for a third country operator authorisation," local news agency New Ziana quoted the European Commission saying.

The number of airlines on the EU blacklist is now 181 and affects 16 nations including Africa's Angola, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Liberia, Libya, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Sudan.

Airlines from Benin and Mozambique had earlier restrictions lifted.

The European Commission said the EU Air Safety List not only helped "maintain high levels of safety in the EU, but it also helps affected countries to improve their levels of safety, in order to eventually allow them to operate flights to and from airports in the European Union."

Air Zimbabwe announced in 2015 that it would seek European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification as part of its ambitious plans to widen its revenue streams by establishing an aircraft maintenance centre for regional and international carriers.

Transport Minister and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo told international media that the EU informed airline management and government officials in a meeting recently about its safety violations.

"On the 26th and 27th of April we were called to go and explain to the European Union Commission on Safety what the situation was with Air Zimbabwe, which we did. We were not the only one," he said.

He said Zimbabwe was pleased to note that it had been given some time to correct its mistakes, adding that Air Zimbabwe had also condemned for not computerizing its records.

Air Zimbabwe is saddled with a debt of over 300 million U.S. dollars, once culminating in cancellation of operations in 2005.

Efforts to secure strategic partners to steer it on a growth path have so far been fruitless.

During its heyday in the 1990s, the airline plied about 25 routes locally, regionally and internationally including the United Kingdom, Cyprus, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa and Swaziland.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-18 04:01:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIRUT, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced Wednesday that he would consider his government a "failure" if its parties do not manage to agree on a new electoral law.

Hariri made the remarks during a cabinet session that was held at the Grand Serail.

"There is insistence that the government should reach an electoral law," Information Minister Melhem Riachi announced after the session.

The political leaders have been trying to reach consensus over a new electoral law, a matter that President Michel Aoun insists on achieving, and was an essential clause of the ministerial statement.

However, disagreement about the nature of the new law whether it would adopt proportionality or remains on majority basis, as well as the distribution of the seats over the electoral districts, remains a major obstacle.

The current parliament term is to end on June 21 after being extended two times.

Asked about the proposed extension of Lebanon's Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, Riachi said the issue was not discussed.

Salameh had held a meeting earlier in the day with President Michel Aoun. Talks focused on Lebanon's financial and monetary situation, according to the National News Agency (NNA).

The meeting comes amid requests demanding the extension of the governor's term for another six years.

Salameh has been the central bank's governor since August 1, 1993. He was reappointed three times in 1999, 2005 and 2011, each for six years.

The cabinet meanwhile approved the recruitment of 2,000 army soldiers, and a meeting will be held between the ministers of finance and defense to agree on the process, Riachi added.
LUSAKA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Wednesday said it will continue implementing business reforms in order to attract more investment.

Inonge Wina, the country's vice president, said the government was collaborating with other stakeholders such as the World Bank and the private sector on implementing business reforms aimed at easing doing business in the country.

In remarks delivered in the southern city of Livingstone at the start of the 2017 Ease of Doing Business Initiative Conference, the Zambian vice president said the government has come up with a number of reforms aimed at addressing constraints faced by the private and that it will continue with the reforms, according to state broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe said during the same occasion that the country's global position on the Ease of Doing Business Index was an indication that the country needed to do more to undertake more business reforms.

She said the country's overall ranking on the Ease of Doing Business for 2017 stood at 98 out of 190 countries.

The country is ranked ninth in Africa seventh in sub-Saharan Africa and fifth in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) regional bloc.

World Bank Country Manager for Zambia Ina Ruthenberg said sub-Saharan has improved to become the top business reform globally and that doing business in Africa was becoming more affordable, predictable and efficient.

The conference, which is being held under the theme "Business Reforms for Industrialization, Value Addition and Job Creation," has attracted about 400 delegates.
A local resident of Sierra Leone is injected with the China-developed Ebola vaccine at Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, some 30 kilometres from Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone, on Oct. 10, 2015. (Xinhua/Wu Shibo)

Moscow, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia will provide Guinea with over 1,000 doses of the vaccine against the Ebola virus within one month and half, Russian Health Ministry said Wednesday.

"Gamaleya Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, the developer of the Russian vaccine against the Ebola virus, has produced the full amount of the vaccine, which will be handed over to the Republic of Guinea as assistance in prevention of outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever," the ministry's press service said in a statement.

Agreements on the delivery of the vaccine (named Gam-Evak-Kombi) were previously reached by the Russian and Guinean sides, according to the center.

Simultaneously with the introduction of the vaccine in Guinea, Russian and Guinean scientists will begin to analyze the progress of the vaccine's use, the document added.

The Gam-Evac Combi vaccine is the world' s first officially authorized and approved for clinical use vaccine against diseases caused by the Ebola virus, and it surpasses existing foreign analogues in a range of parameters, the press service said.
RABAT, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Morocco has received a loan of 350 million U.S. dollars from the World Bank to support wide-ranging financial reforms, local media reported on Wednesday.

The loan will support new sources of financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while improving the regulatory oversight of the banking sector, the Moroccan news site said.

The operation will also support capital market development by broadening the range of instruments and strengthening the protection of Moroccan investors, it noted, adding that the loan will also address the financial sustainability of the civil service pension fund, thereby preserving its role as a major institutional investor.

Citing Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, World Bank Maghreb Country Director, the Moroccan news site said "Morocco has made significant progress over the past two decades in modernizing its financial system and creating an environment conducive to private sector development."

"Global experience shows that private initiative is the engine of job creation, and better access to finance for SMEs, along with other financial inclusion efforts while safeguarding financial stability, will help unlock the immense potential of Morocco's youth and women," it added.
DAR ES SALAAM, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday Tanzania could attain the middle income status by 2015 if the east African nation made growth more inclusive.

Tao Zhang, the IMF Deputy Managing Director, said the private sector should take center stage in driving the economy coupled with increased investments in energy to attract investors.

In his public address to academicians, investors, private sector and economists from the east African region, Tao also advised Tanzania to strengthen the judicial sector for fair resolution of disputes.

Giving more tips on how to attain the middle income status, Tao said the Tanzanian government should also make its decision-making process more transparent and predictable across a range of rules and regulations.

"The government should also ensure that businesses have a say in policy making," he told his audience from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

Tao emphasized the need for Tanzania to continue pushing for sound economic management and commitment to economic reforms that unlocked its potential.

"First, it is essential to increase investment in an effective way to address key bottlenecks in the economy and create more jobs," he told the meeting themed: Achieving Tanzania's Goal of Middle Income Status.

He added: "Second, it is prudent to take concrete steps to strengthen the role of the private sector in the economy to help drive future growth."

Tao said a strong private sector could foster economic diversification, expand trade and deepen Tanzania's integration into global value chains.

On the East African Community (EAC) integration, Tao said deepening economic integration could encourage dynamism of over 150 million people across the region as it opened doors to expand trade and investment.

"Despite the progress the country and the EAC has made more needs to be done including non-tariff barriers, tax administration and harmonization, automation and trade procedures and labor mobility. If these can be addressed, the EAC can emerge as a true source of economic growth," he said.
by Justice Lee Adoboe

ACCRA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaians speaking to Xinhua here on Wednesday believed the China Trade Week is a very good initiative that will bring bilateral relations between their two countries to another level.

Incoming Ghana Ambassador to China, Edward Boateng, said it was good time for Ghana to have the China Trade Week held here.

"It is a good start; as you can see, there are about 40 Chinese companies represented and Ghana is a growing hub for business in West Africa. I think next year we expect to see more companies. I can only see the China Trade Week in Ghana getting better."

He said the time was ripe for Ghana to seek support and expertise from China to meet the developmental aspirations of the citizens.

"I think, as you know, one of our key campaign promises is that every district in this country we are going to provide them with one factory. It is something that is very important for us and which better country to go to at this time than China which has done it.

"Most countries, including the western countries, are going to China for this sort of partnership. So we are not only looking to China for trade, but we are also looking to China for manufacturing and production partnerships," he added.

Businessman Erick Bertin Houadjeto lauded the initiative, asking for subsequent ones in Ghana to be extended over a longer period.

"We saw this advert and we thought it was a brilliant idea. Ghana and China have had good bilateral relations and we thought this was a step in forwarding these ties. And I think the display of goods, there are goods that are important for our current developmental stage, especially when we look at the area of the solar paneling; when we look at irrigation projects for our agriculture and there are a lot of things even for event management, the tents and other logistics," the businessman added.

There were approximately 50 Chinese companies selected from various sectors, including power energy, lighting, home electronics, construction, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), clothing and textiles as well as personal care participating in the two-day exhibition.

Immediate past Ghana Ambassador to China, Anani Demuyakor, singled out the Belt and Road Initiative by the Chinese government as one of the things Ghana had a lot to learn from China to achieve its developmental aspirations.

"Let's go out, let's learn from outsiders and let's take our civilization and our culture outside. So Ghanaians, we have to understand there are a lot of benefits and we have to sit down and plan and plug in where we can benefit as a nation," he urged.

Nash, a Ghanaian who imports from China, expressed appreciation to the organizers of the China Trade Week, saying it would bring Chinese manufacturers closer to importers in Ghana.

"Most of the materials and goods in Ghana, like 80 percent of them, come from China so we want to see how this China trade week will develop and get us better sourcing from China," he added.
DURBAN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa engaged industry actors in Durban on Wednesday to share her vision for the sector.

Xasa explained the "I Do Tourism"(IDT) vision. This is the country's initiative to encourage South Africans to take part and be advocates for the country and for tourism.

The initiative also encourages the South Africans to develop a culture of visiting to promote the sector. The vision was launched during the Africa Travel Indaba which is underway in Durban.

The minister called for stakeholders in the tourism sector to work together to promote the industry. Xasa said, "We appreciate the work that the industry is doing, and it has contributed positively to the GDP and creating employment opportunities. We are looking at diversifying the sector and creating an environment that is conducive for the growth of the sector and inclusive for the creation of an economy enabling new entrants."

The South African government is currently crafting the National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS). Xasa asked the tourism players with inputs to turn the economy around. She also thanked the tourism sector for embracing the initiatives the government puts forward to turn around the sector and make it inclusive and sustainable.

Tito Mboweni, former Reserve Bank of South Africa Governor and now chairperson of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) welcomed the Minister's willingness to engage the sector.

He said they would like to meet the Tourism Minister in future for further engagement on how to improve the tourism in the country.

"Tourism is a robust and exciting industry that drives economic activity. We need to take full advantage of this and ensure that issues pertaining to safety and security, tax levies and government regulations that infringe on how the industry does its work are addressed," said Mboweni.

The CEO of Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), Mmatsatsi Ramawela also praised the Tourism Minister for the continuous engagement with role players in the sector. She said they are willing to work with government to make the industry big and viable.

"I reaffirm our commitment to support you as you fulfill your mandate as the Tourism Minister. We rally behind the 'I do Tourism' campaign, and look forward to further engagements with you as we grow tourism," said Ramawela.

South African Tourism CEO Sisa Ntshona said South African needs to be reminded about the importance and the impact of tourism in the country. He said Tourism affects other sector in the country positively and could be negative if it performs badly.

"As South Africans we all have something to gain from the growth and development of our tourism industry that is why our involvement in rallying behind tourism is vitally important. The continued success of tourism benefits us all," said Ntshona.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-18 07:21:39|Editor: ying

Soldiers take part in the "Eager Lion" military exercise in Eshidiya desert near Jordan's border with Saudi Arabia, on May 17, 2017. "Eager Lion" is an annual joint exercise that has been held in Jordan since 2011. For this year, it focused on current military operational and field priorities, anti-terrorism, and modern war techniques. (Xinhua/Mohammad Abu Ghosh)
TTMA concerned about property tax

The TTMA is also recommending that Government consider creation of a sub-classification within the industrial property tier, for the manufacturing sector separate and apart from larger enterprises such as that which exists in the energy industry, and exempting plant and machinery from the property tax framework.

The TTMA partnered with Ernst and Young to host a seminar yesterday on the implementation of the tax. Over 100 TTMA members attended. They expressed concerns and asked questions about ambiguities and the manner of implementation of the tax. The objective of the seminar was to help TTMA members understand the implementation of the tax as it applies to the category of manufacturers in the industrial property tier of the schedule.

Gregory Hannays, director of tax services, Ernst and Young was the facilitator. Objecting to the implementation of the tax at this time, members felt the current economic scenario was challenging.

This was compounded with increased payments to the business levy, Green Fund and the increased price of diesel fuel, within the last 18 months.
Mom begs for abducted son

All I want is for my son to come back home alive. Give me my son please, I am begging. Freeport mother Kamlawtie Siew, 52, made this plea yesterday, two days after occupants in car abducted her first-born son Ravi Anthony, 34.

The whereabouts of Anthony, who was on his way home from seeking employment on Sunday, remained a mystery up to last evening.

Siew, a mother of 14, lives with her son at Commonwealth Drive off Nelson Road in Freeport.

Reports are that on Sunday at about 11 pm, Anthony and his cousin Kevin Mahabir, were walking to their respective homes when the driver of car pulled alongside them at Lime Fruit Road.

The report added that the male occupants exited the car and the cousins started to run.

The occupants snatched Anthony, threw him in the car and sped off. Mahabir escaped unhurt and since then the family has not heard from Anthony.

Wiping away tears, Anthonys mother said she must undergo an operation for kidney problems at month end and he is the one to care for her.

He is the one to take me to the doctor.

Ravi is staying here to see about me. No one called us or anything.

Every day we are calling the phone and we are not getting an answer.

It is going straight to voice mail. I know he is alive. I got hiccup and when I called his name, it stopped, the mother said.

A relative, who asked not to be identified, said that the cousins went to seek employment in the area where a house is under construction.

On their return, they drank some beers and were returning when the incident occurred.

Relatives reported the matter to the Freeport police. Anthony was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and grey long pants.
Double murder in John John

According to reports, Tyrique Roberts, 19, and Hakeem Anderson, 21, were working at an apartment complex at the Canada Heights Housing Development complex in John John, Laventille shortly after midday, when they were approached by a group of men consisting of several gang members who demanded work at the site, but were turned away.

It is believed that the killers returned at 2.45 pm to the construction site and without warning, opened fire on the workers, striking both Thomas and Anderson several times. One of them died instantly, his body bent over some scaffolding while the other ran a short distance before collapsing in a rubbish-filled drain near the construction site.

Police were alerted and officers of the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigations Department (CID) as well as the Homicide Investigations Bureau and the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) visited the scene. On arriving, officers claimed they were met with gunfire and hurriedly took cover. When the gunfire subsided, crime scene officers processed the area. Officers led by Snr Supt Radcliff Boxill, ASP Ajith Persad and others spoke to residents trying to ascertain what had happened.

Relatives described Roberts as a hard-working young man who steered clear of trouble and could not understand why someone would want him dead. Newsday understands that police sources were able to get descriptions of the assailants from eyewitnesses and will be carrying out exercises to flush out the suspects.

And last night, a 21-year-old El Socorro man who went to visit his girlfriend at an apartment in Duncan Street in Port-of-Spain was shot dead following an argument with the woman. Hayman Sooknanan was seen arguing with the woman at 6.50 pm. A short while later, gunshots were heard and Sooknanan was seen on the ground.

Police visited the scene and the body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James. The murder toll up to press time stood at 196
Murder accused has no lawyer

Yesterday, Mitchell and Richard Chaitoo reappeared in the San Fernando High Court before Justice Malcolm Holdip who was told by attorney Stedson Jack that he cannot represent Mitchell, due to a hectic work schedule. Chaitoo was 13 and Mitchell, 11, when they were charged for the murder. Attorney Keith Scotland is representing Chaitoo but was absent yesterday.

Jack told Justice Holdip he has written to the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority to have another attorney assigned to his case. The issue was discussed at the last hearing in April 2016, before Justice Carla Brown-Antoine. On a date in March 2006, Luke was playing outside his house when he suddenly went missing. Days later his body was discovered in a clump of cane at the back of his home.

In 2008 Mitchell and Chaitoo were committed to stand trial after a Couva Magistrates so ruled at the end of the preliminary inquiry.

Chaitoo is from Carapichaima and Mitchell from Laventille.

State Attorney Stacy Lallo-Chong yesterday declared the prosecutions readiness to start the trial. Attorney Jack told the court that his instructing attorney could not locate the deposition.

Mitchell, standing in the dock with co-accused Chaitoo, raised a hand and began to speak to the judge. Sir, I could offer a next way.

Mr Mario Merritt after making complaints and pleas to people, he seems fit to help me. Mr Mario says on the next date, he will like to start.

He has an interest in the matter.

Yesterday was my birthday. Justice Holdip wished Mitchell a happy belated birthday and asked him if the prison had offered him anything special. Mitchell was once represented by attorney Wayne Sturge who was instructed by Shawn Teekasingh. He was then represented by attorney Jason Jackson.

These attorneys were appointed by the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority, but all withdrew their representation. Justice Holdip adjourned the case to June 13 when a Case Management Conference would be held to iron out the issue regarding Mitchells legal repesentation.
No Duprey, so no meeting

However despite being disappointed about this development, Policyholder Group chairman Peter Permell was confident that Clico policyholders and shareholders will, come together. Speaking outside the Cascadia Hotel in St Anns where the meeting was supposed to take place, Permell said his group was advised by Dupreys representative Kerry Ramjag, that Duprey had to postpone the meeting because an issue had arisen with another shareholders group.

Permell said once that issue is resolved, the meeting with Duprey should take place.

Reiterating that personalities and past events are irrelevant now, Permell said it policyholders and shareholders must unite because the incumbent Peoples National Movement (PNM) administration and its Peoples Partnership (PP) predecessor had slammed the door in their faces.

While insisting that policyholders and shareholders must receive what is respectively due to them, Permell said, We want to make sure the taxpayers get back their money first. Referring to statements made by Finance Minister Colm Imbert when he presented the Mid-Year Review in Parliament last Wednesday, Permell said meeting with Duprey represents the last best hope for liquidated, this could be a fire sale where those assets are undervalued.

Permell warned, This Clico issue is far from over as far as we are concerned.

I see no resolution in sight. Saying there is no shareholders agreement in effect, Permell claimed that the Government is making decisions without consulting the shareholders.

Last Wednesday, Imbert said the repayment plan for Clico will protect policyholders and depositors, reduce the public debt and improve Governments fiscal options. He said Government will work assiduously on the Clico Resolution Plan within the legal constraints and in accordance with guidelines ordered by the High Court
Morvants wrath for water, work

They set fire to tyres and pieces of logs which they used to block the Eastern Main Road leading into the capital near Angostura; on the Lady Young Road near Massy Motors; and near the office of their Member of Parliament, Adrian Leonce.

We are people too! Why we cant be treated as other citizens from other communities who have access to basic utilities? We need work! Look how long we have no water in the village, a resident shouted. There were reports that when police arrived on the scene to maintain law and order, they were greeted by gunshots.

The fires were set as early as five in the morning at the main entrance to Lady Young Road from the Eastern Main Road. A resident, who gave his name as Nyron, said the residents had had enough and warned government not to assume that come the next general election, Morvant will automatically be red and ready, alluding to the PNMs campaign slogan in the 2015 election.

The protest caused a massive pile-up of traffic on the Eastern Main Road for several hours leading the Works and Transport Ministry to open the Priority Bus Route (PBR) to regular traffic from the Abattoir to Morvant Junction near Toyota, to ease congestion.

THIS IS JUST THE START In an interview on Radio i95.5FM, Morvant community activist Garth Christopher warned that the protest action was only the beginning as for too long, residents have been ignored.

He said the water woes and lack of employment opportunities were only part of the myriad of problems facing Morvant.

We are the only community in our country that have been neglected consistently. This is the big picture. Specifically, we have water problems, we have drainage problems, we have unemployment problems, we have infrastructure and underdevelopment...

The government is spending money all over the place, saying they dont have, but yet still they spending money all over the place.

It is time the government start taking we the people of Morvant, Laventille and Laventille East and the East/West Corridor seriously. On the same radio station, MP Leonce said he was currently working with government to address the concerns and bring relief to residents.

Some of the young guys are upset that they cant get jobs.

Over the weekend we had a walk with the Minister of Works and there are going to be some opportunities with employment. If we bring in some small projects, the small contractors in the area can get some work, rather than the large projects where a few people can be employed, Leonce said.

A TT Police Service release stated officers from the North Eastern Division Task Force; PoS Division, Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force and Traffic Branch responded to reports of the protest at 5 am.

Debris was strewn across Lady Young Road, Lady Young Avenue, Coconut Drive, Seventh Avenue, Malick and Second Caledonia, the police said. Police were able to quell the protest, allowing the Fire Services and personnel from the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation to clear the roadways. Ag Snr Supt Surendra Sagramsingh of North Eastern Division denied earlier reports of shots fired when police arrived.

XXX Rape
Duke: The Snail coming soon to seabridge

Duke, while speaking at a media conference at the Public Services Associations (PSA) Scarborough office yesterday, hinted to a new cargo vessel from Venezuela has been sought to service the interisland cargo route and which is expected to be added to the current complement.

Stop defying the cries of Tobagonians, stop defying the cries of truckers, stop defying the cries of commerce or even that of the economic sector in Tobago.

I have received information that a particular person is about to bring a boat to serve the Tobago and Trinidad route, a boat known as the MV La Caracola. It is now in Venezuela and it has a Spanish name which when translated in English means, the snail, Duke said.

The Minority leader pointed to the boat which was manufactured in 1985, as he noted it travels twice times slower than the Atlantic Provider.

The boat is as old as 32 years which means it should not have been in service because for a cargo boat the maximum age is 30 years.

The boat, based on my information, would have been scrapped last year by its European counterparts, however the Venezuelan Authorities would have bought the boat.

Why it is referred to as the snail is that it has the capacity to travel twice as slow as the MV Provider.

It is travelling between six and seven knots, when compared to the Superfast Galicia which was travelling at twenty one knots, you could understand the pain and suffering that sea-fearers will have to undergo, hence it is living up to its name, he said.

Duke said that the new vessel has the capacity to carry 100 trucks, but only 12 passengers, while the draught he said, also poses some issues.

The draught, which is like the keel is about 4 metres deep and based on the open seas, the longer the draught, the steadier the boat will maneuver the high waters.

With such a short draught, chances are that it would be very unsteady in the open waters.

We are saying enough is enough, the time has come for Tobagonians to be treated with dignity and if we are saying side by side we stand then let us live side by side with each other and not place us at a disadvantageous position.

I am asking those who are trying to hurl insults and add more insult to injury, by introducing a boat that would take no less than sixteen hours to travel between Trinidad and Tobago to stop it.

Enough is enough, this needs to stop right now, the Minority Leader said. Additionally, with both the Trinity Transporter and the Atlantic Provider being kept on the sea route, Duke is now questioning the cost of keeping all the vessels daily.
Tobago man goes missing

At the time he went missing Joseph wore a black long sleeve jersey with the American Eagle logo, a blue three quarters jeans pants and a gray and black slippers on his feet. The family reported him missing to the Moriah Police Station. Relatives reported that a week before he went missing Joseph was assaulted in an incident and received scars on his back, arm and knees.

Relatives say he has never gone missing before. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Mackice Joseph please contact Moriah Police Station at 660- 0029/0100 or his relatives at 740- 9708.
Nurses reminded, show compassion

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Deputy Chairman of the SWRHA Valerie Alleyne-Rawlins reminded nurses of the grave importance of their role. We are most times the first and the last person seen by the patient on entering and leaving the world. As such, nurses require more than mere academic intelligence which they all proved to have by way of being accepted into the profession.

Nurses also require emotional intelligence, a skill which is synonymous with nursing yet somehow in todays world we seem to have now made it optional. But thankfully, emotional intelligence is a skill that can be learned, said Alleyne-Rawlins and the workshop was held to facilitate just that.

Economist Dr Stephen Pilgrim kicked off the presentations by introducing the topic of emotional intelligence.

Pilgrim told a story of a mother who, upon losing half of her twin children in childbirth, was told by a medical professional, at least you still have one. The tendency to treat with peoples trauma by trying to find the silver lining with terms like, at least, he said, is a sign of weak emotional intelligence that should not be part of the medical profession.

Pilgrim helped nurses discover their Emotional Quotient (EQ or level of emotional intelligence) by first teaching them the components of the skill and then leading them through a lengthy self-assessment questionaire.

Dr Cletus Kennedy Bertin closed off the days proceedings by showing those gathered ways in which they could apply the knowledge in real life situations.
Residents vow to fight on

The group, through residents Patricia Bryan and Marlene Guy, both of Champs Elysees Road in Maraval, challenged the decision of former planning minister Bhoe Tewarie to grant planning permission to the schools, which are run by EDFAM.

In an oral ruling yesterday, Justice Mira Dean-Armorer held that the then minister balanced considerations of both the schools administrators and the residents.

She also held that no promises were made to residents, pointing to evidence that they were consulted before conditional approval was granted. The judge said revoking the permission at this stage would be, beating a dead horse. The dispute began in August 2014, when EDFAM announced plans to move the schools from St Clair. Residents of lower Maraval complained about the impact this move would have on the already dire traffic situation in the area during peak hours.

Bryan and Guy are members of the Lower Maraval Residents Association which also claimed the schools lacked necessary approvals from the Diego Martin Regional Corporation, the Town and Country Planning Division and the Ministry of Education.

The corporation took EDFAM to court over the proposed moved, but lost its case as the schools received permission from Tewarie, while the lawsuit was still pending.

In that case, High Court judge Devindra Rampersad ruled that the corporation acted irrationally and unreasonably in rejecting EDFAMs application for building permission. He said the approval of the schools traffic plan was not a requirement for the corporation to grant approval under Section 170 (1) of the Municipal Corporation Act. The schools eventually opened in September 2015.

In their lawsuit, the residents contended that Tewaries decision in February 2015 was unfair and should be reversed. Bryan and Guy were represented by Vivek Lakhan-Joseph, Kiel Tacklalsingh and Rajiv Rickhi. Director of EDFAM, Kirk De Souza said it was an unfortunate situation and one the schools administrators did not set out to cause. It is all about the children, he said.
Teacher wins discrimination suit

Homeward teaches at the Speyside High School. In their ruling, the appellate court judges found that Homeward was a victim of discrimination.

The court granted a declaration that her constitutional right to equality of treatment was violated.

It ordered that compensation for the breaches to her rights be assessed by a Master of the High Court.

Homeward was represented by a legal team led by Anand Ramlogan SC, Jayanti Lutchmedial and Chelsea Stewart. The State was represented by Senior State Counsel Linda Khan. Homewards had complained of the failure of the Ministry of Education to recognise her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Andrews University.

She graduated with the degree in August 2001 and was asked to assume duty at the Cascade School for the Deaf to teach computer studies. She wrote the Ministry of Education seeking to have her position reassessed and upgraded to a Teacher III in light of the fact that she now had a degree. The Ministry asked that she pursue further courses at the UWI. She visited the ministrys Couva office and was given conflicting information that the highest position someone with a degree from Andrews University could be given was a Teacher II.

Homewards attorneys obtained the relevant certification from the Accreditation Council which stated that her degree from Andrews was a recognised degree program and was on par with any other similar degree being offered by other institutions. Homeward filed her constitutional claim on March 29, 2010, contending she was a victim of discrimination and unfair treatment as many of her other colleagues who had graduated with the same degree had been reassessed and upgraded to the position of Teacher III. She provided names of several teachers who were upgraded.

Homewards case was dismissed by Justice Ventour on February 6, 2014. Ventour retired in 2012 without delivering judgement in several cases. He was subsequently appointed Deputy Chairman of the Integrity Commission but following a public outcry and at least one lawsuit, Ventour resigned from the Integrity Commission and was reappointed a judge for one day to deliver his outstanding judgments.

He was then reappointed to the Commission as deputy chairman.

Concerns had been raised about the decision reappoint Ventour and Chief Justice Ivor Archie, as head of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, was criticised for the move.

Speaking on the outcome of her case, Homeward said while she was relieved she was extremely hurt, frustrated, worried and disappointed when my case was at its end and the trial judge retired without giving his judgement.
Shamfa dismisses Christlyn

In her contribution to debate on the Finance Bill 2017 in the Senate Monday night, Moore claimed that a $59,000 cellphone bill over a four day period reflected wastefulness on Cudjoes part.

However, Cudjoe who is also Tobago West MP, dismissed Moores allegations.

I assure you that I exercise fiscal prudence in all my affairs, Cudjoe told Newsday.

Cudjoe said that between January 29 and February 3, she was on government business attending a Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) ministers meeting in the Bahamas.

The minister said she always does her best to save cost, wherever she could. Cudjoe explained that while she was attending the conference, she limited her calls and did most of her communication through WhatsApp. Cudjoe said she communicated with her ministry and constituency office, while she was in the Bahamas.

Upon her return home, Cudjoe said she was very surprised to see charges on her cell phone bill. She said those charges included $1,111.06 (calls); $50,616.61 (data roaming) and $6,652.13 (Value Added Tax). This meant Cudjoes total bill was $58,379.80, during her time at the CTO conference.

The minister said she consulted with officials at TSTT who advised her that it had no control over data roaming charges on other networks.

Cudjoe reiterated there is no basis for any of the claims which Moore made against her, stating, I have nothing to hid
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Japanese carrier KDDI (News - Alert) and Nokia recently came together to test the ability of 28GHz spectrum to deliver high-speed connections in developed areas.





The Fujimino City test employed a Nokia (News - Alert) AirScale radio. And it yielded 1gbps speeds over a 100-meter stretch connecting a KDDI research building and an apartment complex.

Future 5G networks are expected to rely in part on 28GHz spectrum.

Thats why AT&T (News - Alert) and Verizon were recently fighting over Straight Path, which holds both 28GHz and 39GHz band spectrum licenses. (Verizon ultimately won that battle with an all-stock offer of $3 billion).

AT&T has been exploring 5G coverage on 28GHz, as well as 39GHz and sub 6GHz, in its 5G testbeds in Austin, Texas. And Koreas SK Telecom (News - Alert) and, separately, Japans Softbank also have recently conducted 28GHz testing with infrastructure giant Ericsson.

But while many industry experts believe that 28GHz holds great potential for 5G, a recent study by Joe Madden, principal analyst of Mobile Experts, notes some concerns about the suitability of this spectrum.

"Link distance is a key factor in the pre-5G business case at 28GHz, he says. We've conducted some in-depth link budget calculations and compared our results to trial results reported by Samsung (News - Alert), Ericsson, Intel, and others. Based on this deep technical work, we have some concerns about the power, linearity, and heat dissipation in pre-5G infrastructure. The laws of physics will limit these pre-5G networks."

Madden refers to pre-5G networks, because the 3GPP is still working on 5G standards, which will go to the ITU review after they are frozen by 3GPP. Parts of the initial 3GPP work on 5G, called Release 15, are expected to be delivered in December. Release 15 in total is expected to be frozen by June 2018. Release 16 of 5G should come out 15 months after that.

5G is expected to deliver connectivity of up to 10 gigabits per second. It will also have the ability to support a very large number of devices. And it will enable ultra reliable low latency communications, which will be important for select IoT applications such as connect car.

Edited by Maurice Nagle
Food security has been a salient feature of Moroccos cooperation in Africa as evidenced with the agreements signed by the Kingdom and several African countries notably in the fields of Agriculture and fertilizer production. This endeavor to boost food security on the continent has been materialized notably by Moroccos state-owned phosphates company (OCP), which sealed agreements to build large-scale fertilizer production factories in two of Africas most populated countries: Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Recently in Rabat additional agreements were signed by Morocco and Nigeria during a ceremony attended by King Mohammed VI and Nigerias foreign minister Geoffrey Onyeama. Under the agreements, Morocco will offer know-how and expertise in the field of fertilizer production, storage and transport to help Nigeria achieve its food security goals.

Recognizing the urgent need to improve agricultural production in the continent, King Mohammed VI underscored agriculture along with training, energy and security as being all priority cooperation areas that several African countries are looking forward to develop.

As part of projects aimed at improving agricultural productivity and promoting food security and rural development, fertilizer production plants have been set up with both Ethiopia and Nigeria. These projects will benefit the continent as a whole, King Mohammed VI said in his address to the African heads of state attending the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa last Januray.

Besides helping Nigeria unleash its agricultural potential and mitigate the food security threat facing some of its northern regions, the agreements signed between the OCP and Nigerian authorities put 11 blending plants into production and helped create jobs.

The Moroccans have already supplied a cargo of phosphate, which has been delivered to various blending plants across the country. Already, eleven blending plants have come into production because of the supply, Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru told local Nigerian media.

I am happy to inform you that this development has translated to the creation of about 50,000 jobs and led to the production of about 1.3million tons of fertilizer in the country, Baru added.

In Ethiopia, the second most populous African country after Nigeria, Moroccos OCP will build a 2.4 billion dollar fertilizer plant. The first phase of this investment will enable the production of 2.5 million tons of fertilizer per year through 2022, rendering Ethiopia self-sufficient in fertilizer and creating opportunities for exports.

The plant, named Dire Dawa Fertilizer Complex, will produce fertilizer made from Ethiopian potash and ammonia gas, as well as OCPs phosphoric acid, taking full advantage of both countries complementary natural resources.

In addition to Nigeria and Ethiopia, the OCP is planning to establish13 subsidiaries in the countries of Cote dIvoire, Senegal, Cameroun, Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Ghana and Ethiopia.

The new companies are part of OCP Africa, which operates in the field of agricultural development in the continent. Through this largescale investment, the OCP group aims at boosting economic ties with African countries in tandem with Moroccos endeavor to promote its diplomatic influence in the continent, a strategy spearheaded by King Mohammed VI.

Agriculture and food security in Africa also featured prominently in Moroccos actions during the UN Climate Summit COP22 last November in Marrakech through the launch of the initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture, known as the Triple A Initiative.

The triple A initiative was designed to provide more significant funding for the adaptation of small-scale African agriculture and to support the structuring and acceleration of agricultural projects in Africa.

By offering its expertise and know-how coupled with large-scale investments in fertilizer production, Morocco is leading in terms of efforts to address food insecurity, which remains one of the continents most pressing issues.
David Clarke, nominated for assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Words like fascist and authoritarian get thrown around too promiscuously. But there is no other way to describe David Clarke, who today announced that he was named assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. (The Department has not confirmed Clarkes appointment.) Clarke occupies the extremist, anti-democratic fringe of far-right officials, even by the standards of the Trump administration.

Clarke, a Milwaukee sheriff, rocketed into national prominence as a conservative provocateur by virtue of his rabid opposition to Black Lives Matter. Clarke is African-American, which has given him broader license to attack protesters in unbridled terms that thrill Republicans. He calls the group Black Lies Matter, or black slime, railing against its members as dangerous thugs. Clarke argues that not only does BLM go too far in its advocacy of criminal-justice reform, but that the cause itself is categorically illegitimate. He has lectured protesters to stop trying to fix the police, fix the ghetto.

Clarkes ironfisted beliefs about criminal justice can be explained in part by his own career. He oversees a prison that is notoriously brutal. Four people have died of mistreatment and torture in his custody. One newborn baby died while its mother was shackled during childbirth; another prisoner died of dehydration, after the water in his cell was shut off for seven days. In 2013, one of his deputies ran a traffic light and T-boned the car of a civilian driver, who was badly injured. Clarkes department charged the driver, who was actually sober, with drunk driving in order to cover up its own culpability.

It is not surprising that Clarke rejects out of hand any criticism of police misconduct. But his disdain for criminal-justice reform is not merely avocational. Clarkes mind is organized around a worship of the virtues of physical force, combined with a seething intolerance for democratic dissent. In his book, Clarke proposes that the Department of Homeland Security  the department that he has been nominated to serve  assume police-state powers to round up internal enemies. I suggest that our commander in chief ought to utilize Article I, Section 9 and take all of these individuals that are suspected, these ones on the internet spewing jihadi rhetoric  to scoop them up, charge them with treason and, under habeas corpus, detain them indefinitely at Gitmo, he writes. Clarke estimates that the number of people to be rounded up in such fashion runs into hundreds of thousands, or maybe a million. Clarke is clear in his belief that the legal principles that have served as a bedrock against state abuse for centuries should be discarded. He would hold them indefinitely under a suspension of habeas corpus because [b]old and aggressive action is needed.

It is important to understand that these policies, even as extreme as they are, cannot be understood even merely as a radical extension of anti-terror policies, or misplaced fear of the terrorist threat. Clarkes understanding of domestic terrorism runs far beyond radical jihadists. He has predicted that Black Lives Matter will join forces with ISIS, and on multiple occasions described the group as a terror organization. The protesters do not care about black lives. They care about their own radical ideology of terrorism: anarchy. Clarke insists Black Lives Matter needs to be crushed.

And while Black Lives Matter occupies a special place in his paranoid ideology, Clarke has increasingly applied his fervor for crushing dissent to any of Donald Trumps critics. Attacking protesters who appeared at Trump rallies during the campaign, he told Tucker Carlson:

They only understand one thing, Tucker. And that is force. And I am talking about reasonable force by law enforcement. But Im also talking about law-abiding citizens standing up for their constitutional right and not have their constitutional right trampled on at these rallies. Im not encouraging them to start the fight, but Im one of those that comes from the school, if the fight is inevitable, hit first, and hit hard.

After the initial, throat-clearing about reasonable force, Clarke explains that he believes that one must hit first if the a confrontation is inevitable, which  in his mind  is the natural state of political life. When protests broke out in New York and other cities after Trumps election, Clarke raged that temper tantrums from these radical anarchists must be quelled.

In early October, when Trump appeared to be bound for defeat, he denounced the political system as rigged, while either literally or symbolically calling for insurrection. Its incredible that our institutions of gov, WH, Congress, DOJ, and big media are corrupt & all we do is bitch. Pitchforks and torches time. The seeming contradiction between his extreme intolerance of political dissent and attribution of insurrectionary motives to his political opponents, along with his own use of revolutionary discourse, is well-explained by Clarkes own thinking. Fascists view politics as an inevitably violent struggle in which normal bargaining and compromise are impossible.

That one of our major political parties allows a figure like Clarke to exist comfortably within it at all is deeply disturbing. That he would even be considered for a position at a security agency, where he would presumably work to implement his fascistic beliefs, is one of the most disturbing signs yet of the Trump administrations increasingly evident disregard for democratic norms.
Joementum. Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

Former senator Joe Lieberman is among four final candidates who will be interviewed for FBI director, the White House announced Wednesday.

The Democratic nominee for vice-president in 2000, Lieberman turned independent in 2006 before endorsing Senator John McCain for president in 2008. Now hes senior counsel with Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman, a law firm that has often represented Trump in defamation suits. The other three candidates are former Oklahoma governor Frank Keating, former FBI official Richard McFeely, and the current acting FBI director Andrew McCabe.

This isnt the first time the former Democrat has popped up on the radar in recent months. In January, he introduced Betsy DeVos at her Senate confirmation hearing for education secretary, lauding her with praise while criticizing the education establishment.

Still, Lieberman told CNN, the interview was not sought after or expected.

Lieberman already has the support of one of his former colleagues. Texas Senator John Cornyn, who pulled his own name out of the running for FBI director, told Politico that hes a brilliant selection.

I think he would get 100 votes, Cornyn said. Everybody loves Joe Lieberman. People know hes going to shoot straight no matter what happens, and I think its a pretty brilliant selection if thats what he does.

Still, its hard to imagine Trump considers Lieberman a viable candidate for the job. This is a man who was giving speeches on behalf of Hillary Clinton two weeks before the election and thats not the kind of thing Trump forgets.
Police secure the street outside the Turkish embassy during a visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 16, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Photo: DAVE CLARK/AFP/Getty Images

Hours after President Trump met with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Tuesday, a bloody brawl broke out at a protest outside the Turkish Embassy on Washingtons Embassy Row. Eleven people were injured, including one police officer; nine of the victims were hospitalized, according to the New York Times.



The brawl broke out between protesters and supporters of President Erdogan, including some of his bodyguards, NBC News confirmed with U.S. officials. The Metropolitan Police Department had initially suggested that the fighting broke out between opposing groups of demonstrators. Department spokesperson Dustin Sternbeck said two people were arrested, including one who was charged with assaulting a police officer.

DC police chief said police involvement was "dicey" at Turkish/Kurd protest because many of the men beating the protestors were armed  Perry Stein (@PerryStein) May 17, 2017

Video of the incident shows a man with a bullhorn being kicked in the head repeatedly by several men in dark suits and others kicking a woman lying on the ground, with police using batons to drive off the attackers.

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement that the United States was concerned by the violent incident between the protesters and members of Turkish security. The U.S. is responding, according to the statement, by communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms.

JUST IN: US State Dept. says "concerned by the violent incidents involving protesters and Turkish security personnel" in Washington, DC. pic.twitter.com/18ekQsg7pN  NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) May 17, 2017

Metropolitan police chief Peter Newsham called it a a brutal attack on peaceful protests, and added that the the police department is working with the State Department and Secret Service on the matter.

Flint Arthur of Baltimore, Maryland, told CNN that he was with a group protesting (Erdogans) policies in Turkey, in Syria and in Iraq. He accused Erdogan supporters of crossing police lines to attack protesters at least three times.

They think they can engage in the same sort of suppression of protest and free speech that they engage in in Turkey, Arthur said. They stopped us for a few minutes  but we still stayed and continued to protest Erdogans tyrannical regime.

Voice of America was one of the first to report that some of the people involved in the brawl were Erdogans guards. A year ago, Turkish journalists said they were physically attacked by Erdogan supporters and his guards in D.C. as they attempted to cover the presidents speech at the Brookings Institution.

Following a coup attempt last year, Erdogan launched a crackdown on dissenters, arresting nearly 50,000 people, including police officers, military officials, journalists, prosecutors, judges, and civil servants. Last month, Erdogan won a referendum granting him vast new powers, which was seen as taking Turkey further down the path from democracy to authoritarian rule.

Trump responded to the vote with a congratulatory phone call to Erdogan, and he was greeted warmly at the White House on Tuesday, though there is tension between the two countries. Erdogan opposes the Trump administrations decision to arm Syrian Kurds to aid in the fight against ISIS, because Turkey believes the militias are tied to the PKK, which both Washington and Ankara consider a terrorist group.

The leaders did not delve into the issue in their public remarks. Weve had a great relationship and we will make it even better, Trump said during his Oval Office meeting with Erdogan. We look forward to having very strong and solid discussions.

This post has been updated throughout.
Glad you could stop by. Photo: Alexander Shcherbak/Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

Russian president Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of being in the grips of political schizophrenia following the revelation that Donald Trump revealed highly classified intel to Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, reports the Washington Post. Putin has denied that Trump divulged secret information, and now says Moscow will give lawmakers the transcripts (but not audio recordings) of the sitdown between Trump and Lavrov  but only if the White House gives the okay.

Putins latest offering comes after more details emerged about exactly how Trump ended up welcoming Lavrov to the White House. After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the Obama administration refused to meet with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office, as it would suggest relations between the two countries were back to normal. The Russians were begging us for years to do that, a former official told Politico last week. They were constantly pushing for it and we were constantly saying no.

Just a few months into the Trump administration, the Russians wish was granted  possibly because the president didnt quite understand what he was agreeing to.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that when Russian President Vladimir Putin asked Trump to meet with Lavrov, he suggested hed already be in the neighborhood, and wanted to drop by to talk Syria:

On May 2, eight days before Lavrov showed up at the White House, Russian President Vladimir Putin was on the phone with Trump and made a request. Putin had new ideas about stopping the civil war carnage in Syria, according to a senior U.S. official, and noted that his top diplomat, Lavrov, would soon be visiting the United States for a previously scheduled meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.



Will you see him? Putin asked Trump, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private talks.



Yes, Trump replied.

Putin didnt mention that Lavrov was actually scheduled to meet Tillerson during a meeting of the Arctic Council, which was taking place in Fairbanks, Alaska  4,100 miles from Washington. Once Trump agreed to the meeting, Lavrov rearranged his plans to fly to D.C. first.

Its possible that Trump would have met Lavrov in the Oval Office even if he understood that what he was agreeing to was a significant policy shift, which had nothing to do with the Tillerson meeting.

Last Wednesday, a White House spokesman said Trump chose to meet with Lavrov because Putin asked him to, and Trump confirmed this in his interview with NBCs Lester Holt the next day. When I spoke with Putin he asked me whether or not I would see Lavrov, Trump said. Now, should I say no, Im not going to see him? I said, I will see him.

Why Trump met with the Russians: Putin asked him to pic.twitter.com/eVXpDjqpiA  Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 16, 2017

Trump was arguing that meeting with foreign leaders, including Russians, is just part of his job. All signs suggest he was not aware of the complex diplomatic etiquette behind the decision, but the Post noted that Trump was probably already obligated to meet with Lavrov:

After Putin received Tillerson in Moscow last month  meeting privately with the secretary of state for two hours at the Kremlin  the United States owed reciprocity to Russia in the form of an audience with Trump for Tillersons Russian counterpart, Lavrov. Rejecting Putins request for a Trump-Lavrov meeting would have represented a breach in diplomatic tradition.

Since scoring a meeting was much easier than expected, its not surprising that the Russians thought they could mislead the White House about the photographer they brought with them. But, of course, now there are much bigger concerns about what took place during Trumps chat with Lavrov.
If presidential adviser and speechwriter Stephen Miller is not an Islamophobe, he has sure flirted with that prejudice for a long time. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

There are two ways to look at the fact that President Trump is leaving Friday for a nine-day trip to five countries. The good news for him is that he will get away from a siege atmosphere in Washington, in which guesswork about when his key legislative goals might be accomplished is rapidly being replaced by talk of obstruction of justice and even impeachment. Richard Nixon, after all, decamped on an overseas trip featuring American flagwaving crowds at the depths of the Watergate scandal. The bad news is that if Trumps amazing propensity for verbal indiscipline strikes again, it could have diplomatic repercussions.

Then, when considering odds of that latter outcome, keep in mind that Trump will be making a speech on Islam in Saudi Arabia, before an audience of representatives of more than 50 Muslim countries.

Yes, thats right: The president, a man who has espoused openly Islamophobic views and is known for his less-than-subtle thinking and speaking, will go to the birthplace of the religion, as a guest of a regime whose entire legitimacy derives from its role as the guardian of Islams Holy Places, and presume to lecture Muslims on their obligation to fight radical Islam.

What could possibly go wrong?

Before answering, one should be aware of another fact about this speech: It is reportedly being written by Senior Policy Adviser Stephen Miller, who has a record of Muslim-baiting as long as your arm. He is the close White House ally of former Breitbart executive Stephen Bannon and former Breitbart writer Julia Hahn, two people who appear to believe Muslim refugees are an existential threat to America. Miller did not let his lack of legal training get in the way of drafting the Trump travel-ban order that caused horrific chaos before being stopped by the courts. His own casual words identifying the travel ban with Trumps call for an unconstitutional Muslim ban during the campaign became a central part of the rationale for said judicial intervention.

Perhaps there are wiser advisers looking over Millers shoulder and keeping him constantly aware of the extreme sensitivity of Saudi Arabias Wahhabi Muslims toward pronouncements on Islam by infidels, even the most well-intentioned, and tutoring him on the intricacies of intra-Muslim affairs, and the constant risk of blundering into deadly insults that would take decades to erase. Maybe Trump will stay close to a cautious shift, and avoid setting back U.S.-Middle Eastern relations decisively. But this is the Trump White House we are talking about, where even the most basic guidelines are often ignored for reasons ranging from understaffing to byzantine rivalries to paranoia.

Trump is already, according to Politico, in danger of blundering into what it calls a Saudi Game of Thrones between two princely aspirants to the succession of aging King Salman. Tossing pronouncements on religion into that tinderbox could be a very bad idea.

Isnt there a domestic-policy issue (supposedly his specialty) Miller should be attending to? Or perhaps a pro-Trump rally where he could be shouting and cavorting and whipping up the crowds like he did during the campaign? Trump should stay a thousand miles away from pontificating on Islam, and Miller a thousand miles beyond that.
Regardless of his motivations, his recent actions have serious consequences. Photo: Alexander Shcherbak/Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

Every one of Donald Trumps national security mishaps prompts a version of the same question: is it incompetence or malice? Are we watching real-life Veep or House of Cards? Often the answer is unclear. When he reportedly tried to stop the FBIs investigation Michael Flynn and his collusion with Russian agents, for example, was it out of criminal, conspiratorial intent or some combination of personal loyalty and indifference to basic democratic norms? At this point, its hard to say.

Then, going back a single day, theres his disclosure of highly sensitive intelligence in a meeting with Russian officials, potentially imperiling the original source and infuriating the foreign spies, apparently Israeli, that acquired the information and shared it with their American counterparts in the first place. Malice would explain little, given that the intelligence in question pertains to Trumps central international objective, the defeat of ISIS. Yet lack of malice is no cause for comfort. In foreign policy, Trumps incompetence may have considerably more dire consequences than a deliberate action on his part, no matter how malicious, possibly could.

When Trump shared code-word intelligence about ISIS efforts to place a laptop-bomb on an airplane, as The Washington Post reported yesterday, it may have been granular enough that foreign governments would have little trouble zeroing in on the specific source. (Code word refers to the most closely held intelligence in the system, restricted to a specifically designated circle even among those with the highest-level security clearance.) In a carefully hedged semi-denial, National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster insisted that Trump could not possibly have revealed specific sources, because no one had shared source information with him in the first place  a statement that is disquieting precisely because it is so momentarily reassuring. On background, however, other officials countered that its far worse than what has already been reported. And by this morning, Trump had made liars of some of the most respected members of his National Security Council, tweeting about why he had done what they claimed he had not. His advocates are left pointing out, correctly, that Trump, as president, can legally share whatever information he wants.

That the disclosure came in a meeting with Russias foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and ambassador to Washington, Sergey Kislyak, adds a conspiratorial overtone to the entire episode. Suspicious interactions with Kisylak, after all, have already gotten Jeff Sessions and the untouchable Jared Kushner into trouble, and could land former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn in jail, despite Trumps efforts to block the FBI investigation. Trump, one administration official told the press, revealed more information to the Russian ambassador than we have shared with our own allies. But the impulse behind Trumps loose talk may go no deeper than a desire to impress the guests he had just smilingly welcomed into the Oval Office. NBCs Richard Engel quoted an intelligence officials explanation that Trump was eager to show the Russians how cooperative he wants to be with them.

Yet none of that allays the seriousness of the consequences. The first, and most immediate, is damage to the specific intelligence operation Trump bragged about. If the recent laptop ban on flights from the Middle East to the United States, and the administrations accompanying explanations, are any indication, the source of the information was both sufficiently trusted and sufficiently well placed that it was acted on immediately. Now, the ongoing effort to track that threat is imperiled. A sources life may be in danger. At a minimum, the flow of further information is hampered, if not destroyed entirely. This means that some guy working on a laptop bomb relocates and is no longer in the orbit of these sources, notes Daniel Benjamin, a senior Obama administration counterterrorism official now at Dartmouth.

The disclosure also adds to already significant doubts among foreign intelligence services about the trustworthiness of the American government. Before Trumps inauguration, there were reports that American intelligence officials were warning foreign counterparts to be careful about what they shared with the new administration, out of fear of where it might go from there. For foreign intelligence officials, yesterdays news came as a chilling reminder of what could happen with information passed to Washington. There may be little in the way of overt complaints or explicit prohibitions against future sharing, since other governments still need as much, or more, intelligence help from us as we need from them. But they will think twice before divulging anything that might reveal key human sources, unique technical capabilities, or ongoing operations that could be upended by indiscreet boasting in the Oval Office or al fresco crisis-management at Mar-a-Lago.

In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, a lack of information sharing and coordination with other governments was highlighted as one of our vulnerabilities. The U.S. government cannot meet its own obligations to the American people to prevent the entry of terrorists without a major effort to collaborate with other governments, concluded the 9/11 Commission Report, which called for doing more to exchange terrorist information with trusted allies. It took years of careful diplomacy to build smoothly functioning relationships with foreign intelligence services, and the success of that effort is one important reason why not a single American has died in a foreign terrorist attack in the United States since 9/11. Foreign partners can develop sources that Americans cant; they can operate in cultures and places where Americans struggle to operate. Now, the trust essential to those partnerships is eroding much more quickly than it can be restored. And even a degree of hesitation in sharing real-time information will make it harder to identify and stop threats.

Finally, the Oval Office disclosure fuels another round in the ongoing war between Trump and his own intelligence community. Intelligence officials have long seen Trumps general recklessness and blithe disregard for facts as a threat to their ability to do their work (and also a mortal threat to the foreign sources they ask to take risks for the sake of the United States). He has disparaged them repeatedly (Are we living in Nazi Germany? he tweeted about them in January), and his firing of James Comey and meddling in FBI Russia investigations were additional affronts (the FBI is part of the intelligence community). Whether or not intelligence sources were behind the original Washington Post story, the fact that well-placed intelligence figures rushed to confirm it reflects their total lack of confidence in the Commander-in-Chief. If they havent already, they will start routing the most sensitive information away from the Oval Office. And Trump, infuriated by the leaks, wounded by the disrespect, will lash out with even more contempt and suspicion, driving the vicious cycle forward.

At a certain point, incompetence becomes so unstinting, so impervious to correction, so aggrieved and outraged in the face of criticism, that it becomes its own kind of malice. He thinks that because were the United States, no one would ever mess with us, a career official currently serving in a senior foreign-policy position said of Trump yesterday. He thinks well get away with anything. Its hubris, and its scary.
A man who may soon get his wish. Photo: Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Donald Trumps remarkable ability to persevere in the face of seemingly ruinous scandal may be at risk this week, as the uproar over his firing of James Comey gets louder by the day. Now, with the revelation that Trump directly asked Comey to end the probe of Mike Flynn and that Comey documented this request in a memo, the presidents chances of being impeached are surging on betting markets.

On the New Zealandbased PredictIt, Trumps odds of impeachment hit 30 percent Tuesday night after news of Comeys memo broke.

The Irish broker Paddy Power was providing much better odds on a Trump impeachment Wednesday, putting the likelihood at 60 percent. Paddy Power customers have been lumping on Trump to come undone, a spokesman told Politico.

Those customers will be happy today if they turn their eyes to the House, where more and more members of Congress are uttering the I-word.

Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California, has been talking about impeaching Trump for weeks, but others have been reluctant to join her. Now, many House members are suggesting that impeachment is coming and saying that if Trump is guilty of obstruction of justice, proceedings should begin. On Wednesday, one of Waterss Democratic colleagues, Al Green of Texas, joined her in officially calling for Trumps impeachment. The Houston congressman took to the House floor Wednesday to make his case.

CLIP: @RepAlGreen: "I rise today...to call for the impeachment of the President of the United States of America for obstruction of justice." pic.twitter.com/k3OMGcZbEF  CSPAN (@cspan) May 17, 2017

More significant than any Democrats call for impeachment, though, would be a Republican joining their ranks. And while that hasnt happened, the topic was broached by Michigans Justin Amash on Wednesday, which seems like kind of a big deal.
House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Republican Congress has surrounded the Trump administration with a protective wall. The majority party has denied Democratic demands for independent investigations, quashed bills to force President Trump to release his tax returns, and avoided any serious effort at oversight. Hours after the New York Times reported that James Comey has memos describing Donald Trump attempting to steer him away from the Russia investigation, that wall began to crack.

Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and heretofore a staunch Trump defender, has subpoenaed all records of Comeys meetings with the president. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, the fourth-ranking House Republican, endorsed the request, followed within hours by House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Opening up Comeys trove of evidence is hardly a radical step. But it paves the way for a series of revelations that are extremely likely to depict the president as having committed an impeachable offense. The implication of the next step is apparent to many Republicans. Senator John McCain says the charges have reached Watergate size and scale. Dana Bash reports that Congressional Republicans are discussing an independent prosecutor or an independent commission  two steps the party has avoided so far.

While Fox News personalities, like ex-journalist Tucker Carlson, filled their time either defending Trump or frantically distracting from the scandal, the network reported it had difficulty rounding up Republican members of Congress to toe the administration line. It is not clear the administration has formulated any line of defense yet. At least some of its staffers, who have created the leakiest administration in history, understand what lies ahead of them. One senior Trump administration official, and campaign veteran, tells the Daily Beast, I dont see how Trump isnt completely fucked.

Congress is far, far away from the majority of the House, and two-thirds of the Senate, necessary to impeach and remove a president of their own party. But the policy of shutting down all oversight or investigation is no longer tenable. And once the apparatus for producing evidence against Trump begins to churn, there is no telling where it will end. A few days ago, impeachment and removal seemed inconceivable. Suddenly, it isnt.
Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

Whole Foods used to be my idea of grocery heaven. Once upon a time, I shopped at the California Street location in San Francisco  it was light and airy with produce for miles. I knew the cheesemonger. I had philosophical conversations with the butcher. I stared longingly at the Le Creuset bakeware. The soap aisle smelled like lavender. Heaven.

But eventually, I fell out of love. Or, to be more specific, I changed my mind about organic food after reading the research: It turns out organic isnt more nutritious or even necessarily better for the planet. So I pretty much stopped shopping at Whole Foods altogether.

Im not the only one. Whole Foods may have once revolutionized the organic-food industry, but its no longer the only game in town. These days, many consumers are now buying their organic groceries at less expensive stores, including Costco and Walmart. Whole Foods sales are on the decline, driving many observers and even their own investors to suggest that in order to survive, the chain has to make a drastic change.

Well. I have a suggestion as to what that change might be. Its pretty drastic, but, hear me out, Whole Foods. This could be good for both of us. Here it is: Why not revolutionize grocery shopping all over again? Only this time, the revolution should be powered by science and agronomy, and not misleading marketing.

Heres my first problem. Labels like organic and conventional are too broad, and too black and white, to really be all that helpful. A more specific, more informative approach could fix this: If Whole Foods listed all of the pesticides used on every fruit and vegetable, whether natural or synthetic, consumers might begin to understand that both conventional and organic produce are grown with pesticides, and what matters more is the toxicity of the pesticide used. Copper sulfate, for example, a pesticide allowed in organic produce in the U.S., is more toxic than some conventional pesticides. Chlorpyrifos, an insecticide used in conventional agriculture, is more toxic than glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup. Its worth noting that Whole Foods took a step in this direction once before with its Responsibly Grown program, which recognized that conventional produce can be more sustainable than organic, but organic farmers loudly objected and the company eventually undercut those standards. Its time to bring them back.

This new science-based labeling system should also make it crystal clear that trace pesticide residues arent dangerous for consumers  as long as the residues measure below the tolerance levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (and they do, year after year), then they arent a cause for concern. If there is a concern about a pesticides toxicity, its the health risk to farm workers and their families, and thats something to consider before buying those perfect-looking strawberries.

Well also want to know the pesticides environmental impact, like how it affects the bees or the surrounding water supply. Many people believe pesticides alone are killing off the countrys bee population, but if you dig a little deeper, you discover that pesticides arent actually the biggest culprit. Iida Ruishalme, a biologist who writes the blog Thoughtscapism, has published several in-depth posts examining the different hazards to bee health. She says even though neonicotinoid [pesticides] steal most of the thunder, there are graver threats to be concerned with: The Varroa mite, disease, habitat loss, and invasive species (such as the European honey bee itself) play a far greater role.

But pesticides are only one piece of the broader sustainability puzzle. Consumers should also be able to know whether the farmer who grew their produce uses practices like cover-cropping and conservation tillage, two things that improve soil health and mitigate the impact of climate change by increasing the sequestration of carbon in the soil. Both organic and conventional farmers can and do incorporate these methods.

Antibiotics are another area where more precise language would be helpful. If Whole Foods moved beyond labels like antibiotic free and provided more specific information about how their conventional farmers use antibiotics, it could encourage more strategic and sparing use of these drugs. And when it comes to organic meat, let consumers know which organic farmers responsibly treat their sick animals with antibiotics and remove them from the herd, and discourage the use of unproven and ineffective homeopathic remedies.

And while were at it, reward the farmers who pay their farm workers a decent wage and ensure good working conditions. Its a standard that would at least achieve something real and tangible  unlike the non-GMO food label thats so ubiquitous in Whole Foods stores. The Non-GMO Projects butterfly seal of sanctity, slapped on products throughout the store, is a symbol of the issues that drove me away from Whole Foods in the first place: The Non-GMO project is (a) misleading, and (b) not backed by science. Products like non-GMO tomatoes are really just a trick on the consumer because all tomatoes fit that description; there are no genetically modified tomatoes currently on the market. And despite the fear over genetically modified foods, there has never been a proven case of illness attributed to a GMO. The overwhelming, well-documented scientific consensus is that these foods are safe (or, to be precise, just as safe as other types of food).

But what people really need to understand  and what Whole Foods has the power to show them  is that there really is no such thing as a GMO. Its a breeding method, not an ingredient. Rather than label something non-GMO, label each modified crop by its particular enhancement, so that consumers can evaluate each genetically modified food by its own merits. Customers could choose from disease-resistant papaya, inoculated against the papaya ringspot virus, or food made with Bt corn, modified to include the same toxin that other farmers have to apply in a separate pesticide application, often in larger amounts. Crops modified to be Roundup Ready, like soy and canola, allow farmers to apply the herbicide Roundup without affecting the actual crop. Lets also include foods like seedless watermelon and ruby-red grapefruit  these fruits may have been created by non-GMO breeding methods, but theyre genetically modified all the same.

True, all of this may sound like a lot of information. But food labels are already jam-packed with information these days  its just that most of that info is vague and unhelpful (what does natural really mean, anyway?). If Whole Foods could get consumers to focus on agricultural measures that matter, I just might fall in love with the store all over again. So, lets do this, Whole Foods. Tell the cheesemonger Im on my way.
After seven years in a military prison, and out of brutalizing solitary confinement following multiple suicide attempts, pardoned whistle-blower Chelsea Manning finally walked out of prison today. And then she did what free, normal people do everywhere: She posted to Instagram.

Shes already posted two photos, and theyre, by a long shot, the most cheering and positive things on the internet in months. Even just the sheer, boring normalcy of them is more gratifying than one might expect. The first is of her [f]irst steps of freedom!! .

The other is of a slice of pizza.

Maybe most gratifying of all are the uniformly positive, congratulatory comments. Its just really nice.
A shot from AllSaints I Love Mexico City project. Photo: Courtesy of AllSaints

The DNA of British brand AllSaints is fairly synonymous with that of its creative director, Wil Beedle. Having been with the brand for 14 years after studying at Cambridge and moving to Paris, Beedle is now spearheading global creative initiatives in addition to ad campaigns. Its a moniker that only a career creative would think of, but Beedles premise is fairly simple: Rather than producing a campaign, AllSaints is spotlighting artists in cities around the world through street-cast projects, ranging from photo shoots to short films. As a self-described creative junkie, Beedle told the Cut he was searching for a noncorporate, ungentrified vibe  or he put it, the real deal and f****** chaos.

His vision took the AllSaints team to Mexico City for a week in March. What started off as just a quick trip rapidly expanded into a larger community collaboration to cast, shoot, and print a look book, shoot a film, and throw a party, all in seven days. Over 500 people gathered for the projects launch party at the end of the week, partying to music by local DJs. AllSaints filmed their night together and scenes throughout the city. They left with the brands new short film, I Love Mexico City, premiering May 18 on its website. The film comes with a look book of images shot by Beedle of the launch event in Mexico City.

Talking to Beedle, its clear that AllSaints focus, even possibly above the leather jackets the brand is so well known for, is venturing into new forms of expression. The creative director, who looks like he could have hung around Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren in 1970s London, says he was immediately taken with Mexico Citys authentic creative energy. He recalled meeting with a local artist named Scarlett, who told him that Mexico City is the modern-day equivalent of downtown Manhattan in the 70 or 80s, that kind of mythical scene that everyone now fetishizes. Its cheap here, theres space to work and live, theres a proper community of us across the city, and its chaotic and edgy and has spirit. Its like nowhere else in the world.

To capture that energy, AllSaints commissioned graphic designers, models, and other broadly classified creatives to create the special look book, organize the party, and produce the video set in Mexico City. Beedle credits the quick seven-day turnaround to the amount of help the brand received from Mexico Citys artists network. Everyone we met was like, Oh my roommate can help or My ex-girlfriend knows a graphics designer, he says.

While its not exactly new for designers to look West or to street style for inspiration (see the rise of social-media influencers or Dior Cruise 2018) the look book doesnt feel like a glossy tome. The styles are more muted, the photos more intimate. Casting Polaroids show couples together, tattoos, and attitude.

Click ahead to see photos exclusively shared with the Cut  of melted ice creams, toy cars, and fringed jackets from the look book, previously only seen at the launch party. Watch the trailer of the film below.

Photo: Courtesy of AllSaints

Photo: Courtesy of AllSaints

Photo: Courtesy of AllSaints

Photo: Courtesy of AllSaints

Photo: Courtesy of AllSaints

Photo: Courtesy of AllSaints

Photo: Courtesy of AllSaints
Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, and Elizabeth Warren all spoke at the Center for American Progresss Ideas conference Tuesday.

Less than a month after Donald Trump was elected president, the lists came out: Thirteen Women Who Should Think About Running for President in 2020; 11 Democrats Who Could Defeat President Trump in 2020; Which Democrats Will Run for President in 2020?. And although each list was compiled by a different publication, they all had certain names in common: Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris.

In the weeks after Donald Trump was sworn in as president, many of those same women spoke out against him. And on Tuesday, while Gillibrand focused on her family-leave bill, Warren, Klobuchar, and Harris tested loosely bipartisan messages in front of a friendly crowd at the Center for American Progresss Ideas conference in Washington, D.C.  a gathering thats been seen as a testing ground for 2020 hopefuls, despite CAP President Neera Tandens insistence that its not a 2020 event.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar was the first of the four to address the large audience in the ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel. And as previews of the conference had suggested, she came prepared with a substantive economic proposal, which she tested on Jennifer Palmieri, Hillary Clintons former director of communications. Having an economic agenda that includes everyone is going to be very important in the coming elections, she said, before discussing her package of infrastructure that would address things like Wi-Fi access in rural areas.

Like others who would speak that day, she also angled to address parts of the country Democrats have been accused of overlooking in 2016. I think when, as Democrats, we go into areas and say, Everyone needs a four-year degree, thats just not true, she said. As a Democratic party, I think its important we stand up for the simple idea that not all paths are the same. And I think thats one way to reach [across] all kinds of divides.

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also drilled down on a pet issue: her Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, which guarantees workers up to 12 weeks paid leave at at least two-thirds pay, and which she recently reintroduced under Trump. Gillibrand has said on the record that shes not about to make a bid for the presidency, and perhaps as a consequence, her speech devoted just a few sentences to Trump.

Last nights reporting has created a whole new level of abnormal, she began, referring to the Washington Post story alleging Trump shared highly classified information with the Russian ambassador and foreign minister. But we also cannot let Donald Trump distract us from our work, and [from] fighting for everyday working families.

California Senator Kamala Harris spoke just before Elizabeth Warren, and like Klobuchar she stuck to her strengths, using her time on stage to criticize Attorney General Jeff Sessionss recent order to double down on drug crimes. She called the order outdated and out-of-touch before mimicking Klobuchar and expanding her message to include Democrats and Republicans alike: Instead of going after drug cartels and violent crime, hes calling for a new focus on neighborhood, street-level drug deals, she said. I believe we have to stop this. And when I say We, guys, I dont mean just progressives, I mean everyone. Because drug addiction is color-blind; it doesnt see red or blue.

I believe theres an opportunity here, she added, referring to stats suggesting that Trump voters and progressives have similar views on criminal-justice reform. Theres a real opportunity to reach parts of America that feel overlooked and dont realize how much they have in common with people who look very different.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke right after Harris, and her message was familiar: get the money out of politics, and hold those in power accountable. She proposed several ways to do this (pass her Conflicts of Interest Act, require presidents to release their tax returns, upgrade the Office of Government Ethics), and she peppered her speech with one-liners like, Goldman Sachs now has enough people in the White House to open a branch office, and, Do you get the feeling that, if Bernie Madoff werent in prison, hed been charge of the SEC right now?

She ended her speech with an energetic spiel against Trump in an oratory style that could be called presidential. It is time to resist, it is time to fight back, and it is time to be clear about what we believe in, she said, adding, I have news for Donald Trump: No matter how much he might admire Vladimir Putins Russia, here in America, we will embrace and defend democracy, and we do that by demanding that everyone in our government is held accountable, even the president of the United States. She was met with a standing ovation, and her wave of acknowledgement wouldnt have looked out of place on the campaign trail.

But when she followed up her speech with a question-and-answer session, she too mentioned reaching a common understanding with Republicans  and would-be swing voters. An audience member asked about charging Trump with obstruction of justice, and Warren said that an investigation should come first. We start by making sure we have documented the facts  and I want to be clear about this  in a nonpartisan way, she answered. This is not a point of Democrats versus Republicans. Every American should care about the integrity of our democratic process. And thats how I think we have to do this.

Of course, there were also speakers like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who strayed from bipartisan language and called the current state of affairs an all-out war on [Democratic] values (although even she acknowledged that Democrats should make sure people know were not just having a Washington conversation that doesnt connect to their lives when it comes to Russia), and Representative Maxine Waters, who said the word impeachment about 16 times during her almost-20-minute speech. In the final analysis, [youre going to say] Maxine Waters was right, she told the crowd. Youve got to impeach him.
New Hampshire state representative Robert Fisher resigned Wednesday. Photo: Elise Amendola/AP

New Hampshire state representative Robert Fisher resigned Wednesday just after a committee voted not to punish him for creating Reddits infamous /r/TheRedPill subreddit. For those blissfully unaware, the subreddit is where mens rights activists (MRAs), pickup artists (PUAs), and other misogynistic groups go to discuss things like how the real goal of feminism is to repress men.

In April, reporters at the Daily Beast revealed Fishers identity by piecing together his online pseudonyms, several of which had promoted his band, of which hes the only member. At the time, Fisher denied knowing what the Red Pill forum was. (He later admitted to creating it.) Then, hours later, several of the online accounts associated with him were deleted and made private.

After the reveal, Fisher penned an entire column in his own defense, in which he called taping sex, the best, or only, form of protection for men to prevent false rape accusations, and lamented being the victim of manufactured moral outrage.

Despite the column, lawmakers formed a formal legislative committee to look into Fishers actions online. At a hearing before the committee, he told them, he never hated women, and that some of his online comments are certainly not reflective of what I stand for or what I have done in my time here in Concord.

Republican House Speaker Shawn Jasper seemed disappointed in Fishers decision, calling his resignation unfortunate. I hope that we can now move forward with our important legislative agenda, he said.
So excited to show you what Ive been working on for the past few months. The first trailer for #TheAlienist is here! #TurnerUpfront pic.twitter.com/8TkfUlPC4v  Luke Evans (@TheRealLukevans) May 17, 2017

is an upcoming American drama television series based on the Caleb Carr novel of the same name.

The psychological thriller drama is set in 1896, when a series of gruesome murders of boy prostitutes has gripped the city. Newly appointed top cop Teddy Roosevelt calls upon Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a criminal psychologist -- aka alienist -- and newspaper illustrator John Moore to conduct the investigation in secret. Joining them in the probe is Sara Howard, a headstrong secretary at Police Headquarters. Starring Daniel Bruhl as Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, Luke Evans as John Moore, and Dakota Fanning as Sara Howard.

Luke Evans shared the trailer for his new show THE ALIENIST, premiering soon on TNT.
Despite harsh campaign rhetoric, including accusations of currency manipulation, the Trump Administrations recent trade deal with China represents a shift towards improving relations. One big winner from the deal is American energy exports, particularly liquefied natural gas.

Despite garnering some mixed feelings following its announcement last week, the deal has been hailed as an opportunity to dramatically expand U.S. access to one of the biggest energy export markets in the world. It could mark the turning point for U.S. LNG production and an American future as a major energy exporter, a future which is widely anticipated as American production of oil and natural gas continues to grow.

The actual article of the recent trade deal referring to energy exports is rather vague, amounting to a 100-day action plan. It invites Chinese companies to negotiate long-term contracts for LNG shipments from American suppliers. The invitation is nevertheless a clear indication that China can obtain favorable terms from U.S. companies, and Wood Mackenzie estimates Chinese demand could amount to $26 billion a year by 2030.

China is already the number-one buyer of American crude oil. In February, Chinese purchases of imported U.S. light crude surpassed Canada, hitherto the chief consumer of U.S. crude oil exports.

Yet much of the new U.S. product destined for China under the new deal would be LNG, which for now is exported from Chenieres Sabine Pass export terminal. China has grown into a major LNG export market. In 2016, the country imported 26.1 million tons of LNG, a 32.6 percent year on year increase, according to the IHS. WoodMac believes Chinese demand will triple by 2030, reaching 75 million tons a year, as the countrys economy attempts to shift away from relying on coal and domestic oil and natural gas production continues to decline. Related: Iraq Agrees With Deal Extension, But Boosts Oil Exports To Record Levels

Right now, China depends on Australia and Qatar for 65 percent of its LNG imports. Only a few U.S. cargoes made it to China last year, amounting to 1 percent of total imports. The new deal constitutes an opportunity for U.S. suppliers to increase their stake in China. And the market took note: shares in Cheniere, currently the countrys only LNG exporter, rose by 3.3 percent after the deal was announced.

The deal is a vague acknowledgement of greater cooperation on trade: it doesnt stipulate anything specific. American companies will have to approve long-term contracts with Chinese importers or sell on the spot-market as Cheniere has done. Bargaining with the Chinese, currently being wooed by Malaysia, Qatar, Australia, Iran and other potential LNG suppliers, may be difficult.

Theres also Chinas other economic initiative, the Belt and Road program, which anticipates enormous infrastructure and trade expansion throughout Eurasia, and includes billions in pledged development spending. The plan is being touted as Chinas effort at realizing its role as a potential global leader, a clear message that it seeks to supplant the United States. American complicity in Chinas expansion, coming in the form of providing for Chinas domestic energy needs, could have complications for U.S. foreign policy, which still confronts Chinas ambitions in the South China Sea and its perceived aggression against traditional U.S. allies like Japan and the Philippines.

These geopolitical concerns bubble beneath the surface, but for U.S. energy exports the enthusiasm is there and the deal represents a major opportunity to access the worlds fastest-growing LNG market. Nevertheless, it will be a struggle to realize the deals potential. Major increases in global supply, including the United States, has created an LNG glut. Current major market players like Qatar, Australia and Malaysia are well-positioned to feed East Asian LNG demand, while consumers in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan signaled this year they are prepared to radically overhaul the ways in which LNG is sold worldwide, allowing for more flexibility. WoodMacs estimates of U.S. LNG growth potential depend heavily on American competitiveness vis-a-vis regional suppliers. Related: Russia Reemerges As Chinas Top Crude Supplier

Four new export terminals are under construction in the U.S. and are slated to come on line in 2021, while many more have been proposed and are awaiting approval. Yet the successful mass export of LNG will require increased investment in infrastructure, particularly pipelines, and higher prices. The current glut in LNG supply isnt expected to fall away until after 2020, with new supply capacity exceeding demand by as much as 50 percent.

There is strong political and economic appeal to embrace LNG exports: it could raise prices, support U.S. allies in East Asia, provide jobs and prosperity to the U.S. economy and support a global transition from coal-firing to gas-firing power plants for electricity generation. This would support the argument that the Trump Administration, which has already indicated its friendliness to the U.S. energy sector and its desire to support energy production, is determined to support U.S. LNG sales abroad, particularly when it can help ease tensions with China, arguably the most important geopolitical player.

The deal is certainly good politics and an encouraging sign for advocates of increased U.S. energy exports. But realizing its potential will depend just as much on changes in the market as it will on government policy, despite the clear benefits for the U.S. energy sector.

By Gregory Brew for Oilprice.com

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A conservative win at the polls in Iran could set in motion a response from Washington that puts billions of dollars of Asian and European oil money at risk.

Iranians took to the polls four years ago to elect moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who promised to negotiate a deal with the United States and allied western powers on the countrys controversial nuclear program. Now Iran is back in the global oil market, and foreign companies are eyeing lucrative projectsbut this Friday could undo everything.

Three years of international sanctions had crippled the countrys oil-based economy, prompting the swift ousting of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a political figured long-reviled by the West for his anti-Americanism, anti-Israel posturing, and alleged Holocaust denial.

In two days, Iranians are once again due at the polls.

Last month, the Guardian Council picked six candidates out of the 1,636 who registered for a chance to run. The incumbent, Rouhani, and his current vice president, Eshaq Jahangiri, showed up on the short list, as well as the mayor of Tehran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Ahmadinejad and his former VP had also put their names in the hat, despite being explicitly told not to run by Ayatollah Khamenei earlier this year. Both were disqualified. Related: Russia Reemerges As Chinas Top Crude Supplier

The past couple of days have seen two major dropouts and subsequent endorsements. Ghalibaf, who has lost presidential races twice before, withdrew on Monday, publishing a letter that admonished Rouhani and his administration for being pseudo-revolutionary opportunists. The mayor then endorsed cleric Ebrahim Raisi for the top political position.

Ghalibafs measure of ideological fitness for office reflects a preference for leaders who stand firmly against the U.S. for its historical backing of the unpopular Reza Shah, who was forced into exile in 1979 to allow for the return of Ayatollah Khomeini for the construction of a new Islamic regime. To strict conservatives, Rouhanis deal with western powers, which allows international observers to regularly visit Iranian nuclear facilities, represents a cozying up to hostile powers that contradicts the principles of the revolution.

And then yesterday, Jahangiri dropped out, urging people to vote for Rouhani in order to ensure the full and continued adherence to the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Irans reentry into global oil markets has stabilized the value of the rial, paving the way for the nation to compete economically once again, the VP argued.

We need to become developed in order to accomplish a better life, he said. So far, all candidates have agreed to abide by the terms of the JCPOA, if elected.

Since restrictions were lifted last January, Iran has mostly recovered its oil output to pre-sanctions levels. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) recent deal to cut output by 1.2 million barrels per day represents Tehrans biggest roadblock in increasing production even further, although the 90,000 bpd increase that was allowed by the bloc was still celebrated as an overall diplomatic victory.

Still, the biggest risk to Irans status quo rests on the tone that Tehran conveys to the international community regarding the nations willingness to share the Middle East with Saudi Arabia and Israel.

"Raisi would likely support the provocative military and regional policies that are already imperiling the nuclear agreement and are leading to increasing calls in Washington to reinstate extra-territorial sanctions," Helima Croft of RBC Capital Markets wrote in a note to investors earlier this week. The consequences of this stance could lead to more "ballistic missile tests, arms shipments to the Houthi rebels and Syrian President Assad, and aggressive naval maneuvers in the Straits of Hormuz.

Related: Oil Prices Edge Higher As U.S. Oil Inventories Fall Again

Does Irans Foreign Politics Affect its Role in the Global Oil Market?

The JCPOA do not directly tie in Irans behavior in regional disputes to participation in global oil markets. The two are separate issues. But further geopolitical distance from American or western foreign policy could cause U.S. President Donald Trumps failure to certify to Congress that Iran remains compliant with the JCPOA, as he must do every 90 days.

In April, the State Department accepted Irans compliance, but added that the deal, as a whole, was under review. An official thumbs-down to the agreement from the White House would have little to no economic consequences for the U.S. because sanctions still prevent American oil majors, such as Chevron and ExxonMobil, from pursuing deals in the Middle Eastern country.

But billions of dollars in investments by Asian and European countries would stand on unstable ground if Trumps certification falls through the cracks.

In Raisis eyes, Trumps misadventure in denying Iran due certification for compliance to the deal would embolden conservative anti-American elements in Tehran. The economic hit of failed contracts would be deadly, but would Russia and China stand by the U.S. break from a meticulously negotiated deal? Unlikely.

By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com

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Tullow Oil has announced a find in the Emekuya-1 oil well in the South Lokichar basin in the northwestern part of the country. The exploration well was drilled in the Block 13T, which the UK-based, Africa-focused company operates with a 50-percent interest in partnership with Maersk Oil and Africa Oil Corporation, both with 25-percent stakes.

The well revealed a net paythe vertical height of the rock formation that holds oil and gasof 75 meters, which is much better than an earlier find in the same block, at the Erut-1 well, which revealed a net pay of 25 meters.

Kenya is a newcomer on the global oil scene, but has big hopes for its hydrocarbon reserves. In 2013, Tullow Oil and Africa Oil of Canada estimated the reserves in the countrys Great Rift Valley at up to 10 billion barrels. Of this, some 750 million barrels of commercially recoverable crude are estimated to be contained in Block 13T and Block 10BB.

The partners, which have been exploring the area since 2012, had plans to start pumping 2,000 bpd from the fields and store them in Mombasa. Once there is enough oil in storage, exports were planned to begin this month.



Related: Artificial Intelligence Is Crucial For The Energy Industry

There are already 60,000 barrels stored at a facility operated by Kenya petroleum Refineries Ltd. This, however is not enough to launch exports, and transportation of further amounts produced from test wells has been delayed by the government, which has not yet selected the company that will supply the trucktainers to be used for the transportation and the logistics company to take charge of this.

Buyers are also unclear. Earlier this year, Petroleum Principal Secretary Andrew Kamau said that Kenyas first export-bound crude will be shipped to European refineries, but in April, he said the buyers are Indian and Chinese refiners.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Quote

"Experts often refuse to speak truth to power. After policy actions, they try hard to endorse the decisions already taken. As a result, we in the government do not really benefit from their wisdom"

Chief Economic Advisor, Arvind Subramanian



Nod for Snapdeal Sale





Japan's SoftBank is reported to have got approval from Nexus Venture Partners for sale of Snapdeal to Flipkart. SoftBank, which is the largest shareholder in Snapdeal, had secured the go-ahead from the founders last month. However, Nexus had problems with the valuation.

Essar-Rosneft Deal in Trouble?





Russia's oil firm Rosneft is finding it tough to close its $12.9 billion acquisition of Essar Oil Ltd, according to media reports. Six of Essar's Indian creditors are yet to approve the deal, they said. The deal is important for Essar's plan to reduce its massive debt that is threatening its ability to pay banks.

$800 Billion





This is the market cap of Apple Inc. after a 30 per cent rise in its stock price this year. This is more than the combined market cap of Sensex companies. Only 16 countries have a higher GDP

India adds 9.1 million taxpayers

India added 9.1 million taxpayers in 2016/17, a feat most likely linked to demonetisation and the crackdown on black money. This number is at least 80 per cent more than the average addition of taxpayers in a year. India had only 55.9 million individual taxpayers at the end of 2015/16.

RInfra Gets Rs 2,950 cr relief





Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Ltd (DAMEPL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, has been awarded a Rs 2,950 crore compensation by an Arbitral Tribunal nominated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation or DMRC. The tribunal held the termination of the agreement for the airport metro line to be valid. DAMEPL had terminated the concession agreement with the DMRC for the metro line on October 8, 2012.
PLM-N rejected PPP-sponsored bill demanding inquiry into Panama Papers

ISLAMABAD: The PML-N-led majority legislators in the National Assembly on Tuesday rejected a PPP-sponsored bill demanding an inquiry into every Pakistani named in the Panama Papers, saying there was no need for such proceedings as the matter had already been taken up by the Supreme Court.



Federal Minister for Law Zahid Hamid strongly opposed the bill tabled by PPPs Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, saying, Supreme Court has already ruled on the matter there is no need for this bill anymore.



He said that the bill formulated by the opposition was discriminatory in nature and was designed against the prime minister. He said that Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Bill had already been passed by the both the houses which would look into investigation of other persons named in Panama Papers.



Naveed Qamar maintained that the bill should not be rejected merely because the words Panama Papers have been used in it. Court case deals only with one family while this bill will open the doors of inquiry into everyone named in the Panama Papers, he said, adding the Panama Papers contained the names of at least 300 Pakistanis who have not be pursued by NAB or the FIA so far.



The bill was rejected after a vast majority in the National Assembly voted against it.



Although the PPP had succeeded in getting the bill passed from the Upper House of the parliament, it failed to get it cleared by the Lower House as PML-N strongly opposed their move. Interestingly, the PPP enjoyed the support of main opposition party PTI over the bill.



The Panama Papers Inquiries Bill, 2016, was passed by Senate in December last year.



On points of order, opposition members demanded that inquiry report into Dawn Leaks should be presented before parliament. They said that parliament was the supreme institution and all the matters should be discussed in it.



PTI leader Shireen Mazari said that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had termed the matter against national security and put all the blame on Tariq Fatemi. She said Tariq Fatemi has already rejected allegations leveled against him.



Mazari said issues pertaining to national security were settled behind the curtains and nobody knows about the details. She said if it was not the matter of national security then corps commanders and the interior minister should withdraw from their stand. She asked if Dawns story was fake then who had planted it.



PTIs Asad Umar said that decision on Dawn Leaks issue should be taken in parliament as the report has defamed the countrys name at international level.



The House witnessed introduction of 12 Private Members bills which were forwarded to the relevant committees for further deliberations.



Five bills were deferred and as many were rejected while three bills were withdrawn by their respective movers and one was dropped due to movers absence.



The National Assembly also passed a resolution strongly condemning the recent killings in Gwadar and Kharan. The resolution moved by Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch expressed heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved families. It urged the federal and provincial governments to use all available resources to trace the culprits and bring them to justice.



Earlier, responding to a calling attention notice, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said that a survey is being carried out in Islamabad to assess the requirement of new schools in the capital territory.
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When you are a young reporter sent into situations that can get dicey, like a court proceeding in a serious case, you can get a bit intimidated by the people in charge. Judges, with the esteem they hold, can be chief among them.

Twenty-plus years ago, I got sent to a late-night murder arraignment before Lake George Town Justice James Corkland, and met a judge who commanded respect.

But I also figured out over the years that followed that Judge Corkland was as nice a man as you will find. He always took time to chat whenever I had to cover a case in his court, and was always happy to help anyone who asked. When he was the victim of serious crime himself several years ago, the crime hit local law enforcement particularly hard because of their affinity for him as well.

I was saddened to learn that Judge Corkland died earlier this year in Florida at the age of 94. Local calling hours and services were held for him this week.

Corkland retired from the Lake George town bench at the end of 2005, capping 35 years as a jurist that came after stints as a teacher and as an infantryman in World War II. He was named the town and village of Lake George's "citizen of the year" in 2015.

The affable judge performed a lot of weddings over the years, and Corkland's family recently learned that the judge had saved marriage licenses from every ceremony he performed.

That amounted to 1,136 licenses, which the judge's family recently turned over to the town of Lake George.

-- Don Lehman
Voters in the Putnam Central School District narrowly rejected a proposed $2.525 million school budget on Tuesday by a 92-90 vote.

Putnam was the only school budget in the region that did not pass.

The proposed budget for the tiny school district at the north end of Washington County was within the tax cap, increasing spending by $26,000, or 1.03 percent.

In another indication of voter discontent in Putnam, incumbent school board member Gerald Gendron narrowly withstood a write-in challenge from Irving Cummings.

Gendron received 96 votes and Cummings received 92 write-in votes.

School Superintendent Matt Boucher said there has been pushback about property taxes from a lake association and there have been misconceptions in the community about the proposed budget.

Our community needs to understand that our taxes were going to be $5.37, from $5.33 per $1,000 of assessed value, he said. Consistently, its the same tax rate today that it was almost 10 years ago.

Boucher said a little education for the public and some facts will be necessary moving forward.

The board will be discussing what they want to do about the budget. That will happen in next few days to a week, he said.

The $62.8 million Queensbury Union Free School District budget passed by a vote of 829-246.

It was great to see so many of our residents come out. Im grateful for the confidence our community places in their schools, said Queensbury School Superintendent Douglas Huntley.

The Queensbury budget reduced five staff positions through attrition.

The $4.6 million Abraham Wing school budget in Glens Falls passed by a 57-2 vote.

The $43.05 million Glens Falls Central School budget passed by a vote of 1,108 to 260.

It was a year of minimal controversy over budgets, as no school districts in the area had budgets exceeding the states tax cap, but 13 districts had budgets right at the tax cap.

The average tax levy increase of 30 school districts in the region is 1.5 percent, according to a Post-Star analysis.

Budgets also passed by wide margins in South Glens Falls, Salem, Hartford, Ticonderoga, Hadley-Luzerne, Warrensburg, Schroon Lake, Lake George, Cambridge, Argyle, Greenwich, Granville, Whitehall, Corinth, North Warren, Long Lake, Indian Lake, Minerva, Fort Edward, Fort Ann, Johnsburg, Schuylerville and Newcomb.

The school budget in Bolton passed by a comfortable margin.

In Warren County, there was one contested school board race.

In North Warren, incumbents Mike Erickson and John Maday and newcomer Cortney Swan were elected with 270, 349 and 345 votes, respectively, and incumbent Frank Hill lost with 227 votes.

Incumbent Frank Hill, who received 227 votes, was defeated.

In Washington County, there were four contested races in three districts.

In Fort Edward, challenger Ella Collins, with 205 votes, defeated incumbent Lisa Norton-Greene, with 44 votes, for a five-year term. Challenger Christopher Miles, with 192 votes, defeated incumbent James Grumley, with 59 votes, for a one-year term.

In Whitehall, incumbent Christopher Dudley won re-election to a four-year term with 232 votes.

Challenger Richard LaChapelle, with 225 votes, and incumbent James Brooks, with 208 votes, won election to two three-year terms.

Challenger Jason Hoagland, with 147 votes, won election to a two-year term, and challengers Michelle Redmond and Roxanne Waters, with 140 votes each, were tied for a separate two-year term. A runoff election for the seat will be scheduled.

Incumbent Virginia Rivette was defeated.

In Granville, five candidates sought three seats in an at-large race.

Incumbent Suzanne McEachron, with 308 votes, and challenger Susan Perry, with 286 votes, were elected.

J. Murray McHugh defeated Philip Berke for the third and final spot on the board by a narrow margin of 263-262. Both were challengers.

Challenger Kim OLeary-Cartmell was defeated.
FORT EDWARD -- A Ticonderoga woman has been sentenced to probation after her guilty plea to a felony charge for unemployment fraud.

Melissa S. Card, 33, pleaded guilty to grand larceny in connection with an arrest last year for collecting more than $18,000 in unemployment insurance when she was ineligible between 2011 and 2015. Police said she lived in Whitehall at the time.

Washington County Judge Kelly McKeighan sentenced her to probation and directed she make restitution.

Card was arrested last December after an investigation by State Police and the state Department of Labor.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, is committed to finding out the facts in the ongoing investigation of ties between President Trumps administration and Russia, said Tom Flanagin, the congresswomans spokesman.

Flanagin said Wednesday in a statement that Stefanik strongly supports House Speaker Paul Ryans position that it is appropriate for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to request to review a memo recently fired FBI Director James Comey wrote summarizing a meeting in February with President Donald Trump.

In the memo, Comey wrote that Trump had asked him to abandon the bureaus investigation of National Security Adviser National Flynn in connection with possible Russian interference in last years presidential election, according to the Associated Press.

Congress should review this (memo) as soon as possible, Flanagin said. Additionally, as a member of the House Intelligence Committee, Congresswoman Stefanik is part of the bipartisan Russia investigation, and will follow the facts where ever they lead.

Flanagin was responding to a press release Democratic congressional candidate Patrick Nelson issued earlier on Wednesday suggesting Stefanik should call for an independent special prosecutor to investigate the firing of Comey and related developments.

We need an independent special prosecutor to determine what, if any veracity there is to these claims that are out there, Nelson said in a press release issued prior to a late Wednesday afternoon announcement of the appointment, by the Justice Department, of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation.

Flanagin did not specifically say if Stefanik supports appointing a special prosecutor.

Previously on May 10, Stefanik said she had concern about the timing and appearance of the decision to dismiss Comey.

Nelson, of Stillwater, a political activist and Bernie Sanders delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Stefanik in 2018.
PLATTSBURGH  The heat remains on North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik since her vote in favor of the American Health Care Act two weeks ago, and she is responding.

But not everyone is buying her explanations.

Im not comfortable with it because there are so many different health-care experts who deal with this issue every day who do not support it (AHCA), Clinton County Democratic Party Chairwoman Sara Rowden said.

That tells me something.

Stefanik put out a statement this week addressing what she says are myths about the American Health Care Act being spread by opponents.

Her campaign staff also got involved by posting a statement on her campaign Facebook page asking those who support her to sign a petition.

The post said: Help Elise FIGHT BACK!

Her response was spurred by opponents of the Republican health-insurance plan who have criticized her on social media and in person.

About 200 people gathered at Mountain Lake Public Television last week to protest as Stefanik, R-Willsboro, appeared at a televised town-hall-style meeting with an audience of 100 people chosen by lottery.

Many protesters outside the studio carried signs and shouted comments against Stefanik and her vote.

Her Facebook and Twitter feeds have been bombarded by comments critical of her vote and of her politics.

Reprehensible

Stefaniks campaign staff posted a statement, aimed at Facebook news feeds, saying that some of the comments and attacks from the radical left were reprehensible.

The statement, which has a picture of Stefanik, urged followers to sign a petition in support of her position, which was, in part, that the Affordable Care Act under former President Barack Obama was driving up premiums for too many Americans and needed to be fixed.

The post sparked numerous strong responses against her.

A campaign spokesman said their post on Facebook news feeds was in reaction to photographs of the Mountain Lake protest, some of which featured graphic attacks against Stefanik.

One protest sign was of the congresswoman depicted as the Grim Reaper, calling her Angel of Death.

Another was of a coffin with a label reading pre-existing conditions, signifying that some people could lose coverage and then die under the plan she supported.

Another sign asked Stefanik to soft shoe when she dances on their grave.

Bipartisan recognition

Lenny Alcivar, a campaign spokesman, said Stefanik has been recognized as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress since she entered in 2015.

She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to transparency, government accountability and to increased civic engagement, he said.

The congresswoman is proud of her long, proven record of encouraging open, respectful dialogue with each and every one of her constituents, even those who disagree with her policy positions.

The post simply referred to the unfortunate characterizations of the congresswoman that greatly differed from the robust, civil exchange of policy views during (the) televised town hall.

Congress not exempt

On Monday, Stefanik said a lot of misinformation about the AHCA is being circulated.

I wanted to take the opportunity to set the record straight on a few of the false claims that my office is hearing and help explain this important bill to fix our broken health-care system, she wrote on the website Medium.

Set out in myth and fact format, Stefanik said:

Myth: Members of Congress are exempt from the American Health Care Act.

Fact: This claim is false. In fact, I was proud to co-author legislation that passed the House unanimously to ensure that, if the AHCA becomes law, members of Congress and our staff would abide by the same rules as everyone else.

Congress should live by the same laws it passes onto the rest of the nation. This is why I currently receive my health care through the Obamacare exchanges, though I decline the congressional subsidy.

I was proud to help lead this effort to ensure that members of Congress do not receive any special treatment.

Pre-existing conditions

Myth: The American Health Care Act does not protect those with pre-existing conditions, the Stefanik release reads.

Fact: This is also false. A core commitment of mine throughout this process was to ensure those with pre-existing conditions are protected.

Under this legislation, insurance companies are prohibited from denying coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition; they are banned from rescinding coverage based on a pre-existing condition and prevented from raising premiums on individuals with pre-existing conditions who maintain continuous coverage.

The bottom line is that this legislation protects those with pre-existing conditions, and New York state regulations further protect them.

Medicaid changes

Myth: The American Health Care Act will take away coverage for those on Medicaid, Stefanik wrote.

Fact: Again, this is a false claim that is often reported in the media. One of my top priorities in any Obamacare replacement package was to ensure that no one had the rug pulled out from under them.

The American Health Care Act makes NO changes to Medicaid until 2020. After 2020, anyone currently on Medicaid will still keep their coverage.

The American Health Care Act allows New York state to decide if they want to continue their expanded Medicaid program at a reduced federal reimbursement rate.

Additionally, after 2020, advanceable tax credits will be made available for people to purchase high-quality private insurance plans. These changes to Medicaid allow states to target funding for this important program towards those who need it most.

House passage of the American Health Care Act is the first step in a long legislative process, she said.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to continue to improve this legislation and build a health-care system that lowers costs, improves quality and increases access for North Country families.

Loopholes

Her explanations were not convincing some.

Rowden said she is concerned about the pre-existing-condition aspect of the bill, saying that those who change coverage could find incredibly steep premiums when they get new insurance.

I see a big loophole there, and I am concerned about that, she said.

Rowden also said those who are concerned about the Republican plan are not the radical left but rather average Americans.

Health care is so very personal, and it affects people in so many different ways, she said.

We are not the radical left. We are people who are just deeply, deeply concerned.

Opponent weighs in

Patrick Nelson, a Democrat from Stillwater who wants to run against Stefanik next year, said the Republican plan that Stefanik supported is not the answer.

We are all in the same boat, and the boat is filling with water, Nelson said.

And the Republicans answer is to drill more holes in the boat.

Nelson said that while those in New York might not be in jeopardy of losing health coverage over a pre-existing condition because of state laws, the bill will impact others around the nation.

As a member of Congress, I wouldnt want to be voting for something that will hurt any Americans, he said.

Nelson said the bill will also be harmful to those on Medicaid, despite Stefaniks claims that it wont.

This feels like double-talk to me or she doesnt understand the economics of health care, which is possible, he said.

Nobody supports this, and it seems like a boondoggle tax break for those who are already wealthy.

Nelson said that being called reprehensible for opposing Stefaniks vote was a compliment.

Real reform

Matt Funiciello, a Glens Falls businessman who lives in Hudson Falls, who ran unsuccessfully against Stefanik in 2014 and 2016 as a Green Party candidate and is considering another run next year, said Americans need to ask themselves a few questions.

Why do we not have Medicare for all in this country? HR 676 (potential bill) would save us between $600 billion and a $1 trillion a year over what we already spend in public money, and a very clear majority of Americans surveyed want this, he said.

Now, why is Elise Stefanik making excuses for either the ACA or the AHCA, both of which are anti-worker cash grabs by big pharma and the insurance companies?

Funiciello said now is the time for some real health-care reform.

Why, if the Democrats are actually a force of opposition to the GOP, havent their progressive leaders (like Bernie Sanders) released a Senate single-payer bill? he said.

Wouldnt this be the perfect time?
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McCarthy made the comments to House Speaker Paul Ryan and other party leaders in Washington on June 15, 2016  a month before Trump clinched the Republican nomination, and just after news reports surfaced that Russia had hacked into the Democratic National Committee.

"Theres two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump," McCarthy said, the Post reported, citing a recording it obtained of the conversation. Dana Rohrabacher is a Republican congressman from California known for his staunchly pro-Russia views.

When some of his audience laughed at the comments, McCarthy added: "Swear to God," the Post reported.

Ryan reportedly ended the conversation and insisted those present to not discuss it with the press.

"This is an off the record," Ryan told staffers, laughing. "NO LEAKS...alright?! This is how we know we're a real family here."

Rep. Steve Scalise, the majority whip, chimed in: "That's how you know that we're tight."

"What's said in the family stays in the family," Ryan said.

The full transcript can be read here.

Spokespeople for both Ryan and McCarthy initially denied the conversation ever took place. But when the Post told them that there was a recording of the conversation, they said McCarthy's comments were a joke.
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Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein made the appointment amid calls for a special counsel after multiple revelations in recent days threatened to derail the investigation.

"My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted," Rosenstein said in the Department of Justice statement. "I have made no such determination. What I have determined is that based upon the unique circumstances, the public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command."

Multiple government bodies have been conducting inquiries into Russia's meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and potential instances of collusion between the Kremlin and Trump associates. The FBI's investigation is now in the hands of Mueller, who led the bureau for 12 years under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

The appointment received bipartisan support Wednesday.

"Mueller is a good choice for this investigation," said Scott Olson, a recently retired FBI agent who spent more than three decades at the bureau. "Not only is he a seasoned prosecutor, he has a good level of experience in national security investigations and issues. I think we can expect him to focus on developing a solid understanding of the facts  what actually happened  and then follow with a thoughtful recommendation regarding who, if anyone, should be held accountable."

"I cannot think about a better choice," Kathryn Ruemmler, a former prosecutor and White House counsel under Obama told The New York Times. "He will just do a completely thorough investigation without regard to public pressure or political pressure."

Trump said in a statement shortly after the announcement: "As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know  there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity. I look forward to this matter concluding quickly. In the meantime, I will never stop fighting for the people and the issues that matter most to the future of our country."

House Speaker Paul Ryan said he welcomed Mueller as special counsel and said the House Intelligence Committee's investigation would also continue.

As special counsel, Mueller is given increased autonomy to run the investigation, though he will ultimately report to Rosenstein at the Justice Department, The Times reported.

Though Rosenstein is second-in-command at the DOJ, he has the authority to make the special-counsel appointment because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from all Russia-related investigative matters; that was due to his campaign-trail meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak that he failed to disclose during confirmation hearings for his role as attorney general.

The appointment comes after numerous blips that appeared to damage the integrity of the Russia investigation  including Trump's firing of the FBI director, James Comey, last week. At the time, Rosenstein had expressed some hesitation about appointing a special counsel, but his action Wednesday suggests the fallout from Comey's firing had some effect on the decision.

Following Comey's dismissal on May 9, multiple news outlets reported that Trump had sought a pledge of loyalty from the director  which Comey declined  and that Comey created memos of his conversations with Trump. Among those memos was a note that Trump had asked Comey to drop the FBI's investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Flynn is among several high-profile associates and former associates of Trump who have been implicated in the Russia investigation.
He mentioned this to journalists at a stakeholders forum on education in Kumasi.

He explained that the return of the schools to the various religious bodies is a 2016 New Patriotic Party (NPP) manifesto pledge which they will do their best to fulfil.

READ ALSO: Students Unions write to minister to reconsider closure of School of Survey

Even though he did not give a timeline, Dr Opoku Prempeh said a contract is will be signed between the government and religious bodies to formalise the hand-over.

He explained that the nature of the return is going to be the a similar one used in the health sector where mission hospitals remain under the control of churches and mosques.

The state will still pay salaries of teachers in mission schools just as it pays that of doctors and nurses in mission hospitals.

READ ALSO: School feeding caterers embark on strike over unpaid arrears

If the NPP government fulfils this promise, most religious bodies will be happy.

The Christian Council of Ghana has been advocating for the reversal of a 1984 take-over of their schools set up during colonial rule to provide Christian education.
The inability of the SHSs to admit all students on the re-opening day, May 4, 2017, was as a result of the non-payment of three-and-half terms feeding subsidies owed them by the government.

However, the government has release GH106,697,628 for the settlement of feeding grant arrears for second cycle schools in the three regions of northern Ghana.

CHASS in a statement said "All students must report to their various schools and be present for roll call at 5pm. All students who still owe school and PTA fees must come along with the money to settle their indebtedness."

Below is CHASS full statement:

RE-OPENING OF SECOND CYCLE INSTITUTIONS IN THE THREE NORTHERN REGIONS

We wish to inform all students, parents and guardians of all Senior High Schools and Technical Institutes in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions that the Schools will re-open on Monday,22nd May 2017 for the third term of the 2016/2017 academic year.

All students must report to their various schools and be present for roll call at 5pm. All students who still owe school and PTA fees must come along with the money to settle their indebtedness.
Dubbed the Man It Up edition, the two-day event will gather the best of Africas creative designers in the mens wear and accessories market for what promises to be an unforgettable experience for fashion lovers.

Over 20 designers from Ghana, Togo, Gambia, Benin, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, among others will present their latest collections to fashion lovers, media, and the general public while paying homage to the continents diverse fashion styles.

Also featuring are over forty (40) male model from across the continent strutting in creations by Yaw Bako Clothing, Nayak Afrik, Abrantie The Gentleman, Ekitino, Totally Ethnik, Bushai Weave Collection, Larry Jay Couture, Bri Wiredua, Marie Val Hagan, Nicoline Gh, Faust Designs, Moutapha Traore, Paja, Wanted Collection, Barros Coulibaly and more.

The fashion is scheduled to take place at the Lifestyle Gallery Africa premises on the Spintex Road (next to the Regimanuel traffic light) in Accra at 7 pm each night.

There will be special prizes for Best Must Watch, Emerging and Established designers and models participating in the 2017 edition of the show.
The defendants, Ayodele Joseph, 39, Michael Jacob, 28, both former staff of Euphoria Press Ltd, Kaduna, were first arraigned in May 2016.

Both men are facing trial a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the Presiding Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, ordered that they be remanded in prison, pending the conclusion of police investigation.

Seeking discontinuation of the case, Counsel to the first defendant, Miss Mercy Ojene, told the court that from the first day of arraignment, the prosecution had not appeared in court, neither produced any witness.

The prosecution will only bring letters after the court had sat just to pick a date, but never appeared for once, Ojene said.

She urged the court to struck out the matter for want of diligent prosecution, as the case suffered many adjournments.

Counsel for the second defendant, Mr Suleiman Umoru, also prayed the court to strike out the matter as the prosecution shown lack of diligent prosecution.

I align myself with the submission of the first defence counsel.

The defendants were arraigned since May last year. Its been 11 months and two weeks today and the prosecution has failed to prosecute this matter.

I humbly urge My Lord to strike out this matter in the interest of justice until when the prosecution is ready, as the defendants are public servants.

After quoting relevant sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA, 2015), Kagarko discharged the defendants.

The Prosecutor, Fidelis Ogbobe, had earlier told the court that the defendants conspired and deceived the security guard of Euphoria Press Ltd., Kaduna, as if they were being sent by the chairman of the company.

They told the security on duty that they were sent by the chairman to confirm if there was any Certificate of Road Worthiness for delivery at Abuja V.I.O office.

After being granted access to the building, the two stole 13 rolls of Certificate of Road Worthiness containing 113 booklets.
The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, however, gave the convict N10,000 option of fine.

Sadiq warned him to desist from committing crimes, adding that the sentence would serve as deterrent to other would be offenders.

Yusuf, a resident of Tipper Garage, 3rd Avenue Gwarimpa, Abuja, was convicted on a count charge of theft.

The convict prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that he wanted to use the battery to replace his own that was stolen.

Prosecutor Florence Auhioboh, had told the court that one Bashir Yusuf of same address with the convict, reported the matter at the Gwarimpa Police Station, on May 11.

Auhioboh said that the complainant said the convict stole his tricycle battery valued at N20, 000.
The partnership is forged to enhance the Vodafone call centre (health line 255) increased access to free medical consultation, effectiveness in providing expert medical advice to people in need of quality healthcare at just a touch of the button. The centre operates a daily schedule from 4pm to 10pm; and has so far provided medical advice, information and guidance to over 350,000 Ghanaians.

Commenting on the objective of this partnership, the Group Head, Corporate Affairs & Marketing of GLICO GROUP, Nana Efua Rockson, stated that GLICO HEALTHCARE is passionate about supporting all Ghanaians live a healthy-wealthy life.

READ ALSO: GLICO recognized for contributing to the development of Ghana

This partnership with Vodafone affords us the platform to provide expert and preventative medical advice to all. In so doing, we are bringing health insurance to the ears of every Ghanaian in fulfilling our commitment of cushioning for Life.

We are excited about this partnership with Vodafone Ghana and we urge all Ghanaians to patronize the call centre and seek expert advice.

Speaking on the partnership also, Gayheart Mensah, Director of External Affairs and Legal at Vodafone Ghana noted that the call facility has played a critical role in healthcare delivery in Ghana over the past five years.

This partnership is a confirmation of Vodafones commitment to the total wellbeing of Ghanaians. As a caring brand, we are challenged to always take our services a step further and we hope that Ghanaians will continue to access and enjoy the quality advice the centre offers on a daily basis. Our commitment is to touch all lives irrespective of geographic location or socio-economic backgrounds.

The Vodafone medical call-centre is the first of its kind in Ghana and the partnership between GLICO HEALTHCARE and Vodafone Ghana is also a collaborative effort between two lovable brands to offer Ghanaians value. The call-centre is run by expert clinical staff and has become the reference point for awareness creation on several health misconceptions, self-medication and early diagnosis treatment.

As the first private health insurance company in Ghana, GLICO HEALTHCARE is committed to providing bespoke healthcare services to its cherished clients. It recently was awarded with the prestigious International Arch of Europe Award for quality and technology, Gold category. An award conferred for their immeasurable contribution to the business world and for high standards and professionalism demonstrated in their business performance.
According to Eric Amponsah, Asia Huang printed over fifty thousand campaign shirts for the party and further gave large sums of money to some regional executives of the party that frequented her residence in Kumasi.

Eric also bitterly recounted how the Chinese woman fired him as her house help because he voted for the then opposition New Patriotic Party as against her wish of retaining the NDC in power.

READ ALSO: Here is evidence that Chinese galamsey woman was manipulating authorities

The former house help was speaking in exclusive interview with host of Abusua Nkommo, Kwame Adinkrah as he shared his experience while working with the Chinese illegal miner.

Asia Huang is said to be the powerful Chinese woman behind the booming illegal mining (galamsey) in the Ashanti, Western and Eastern Regions.

Asia is said to have a strong influence, links and network in the security services as well as the officials of the past and current administrations.

She has been arrested on three occasions and has been released on all occasions, he said.

Eric Amponsah says, Asia printed plenty t-shirts for the NDCshe printed some of the shirts around KTI junction and printed some at other places, I even went to collect them from the print houses.

She even gave them moneyso much money for their campaigns. Some leaders of the NDC at regional and national levels even visited her in her house to take money and other items, he further alleged.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry of Information.

The statement argued that that the Principal State Attorney in the case did not consult the Attorney General before dropping the charges against the accused.

READ ALSO: Attorney General drops case against eight Delta Force members

According to the statement, the Attorney Generals Department has launched an investigation into the matter.

It said the action by the State Attorney may amount to a breach of internal procedures on matters of this nature.

A Kumasi Circuit court presided over by Her Honour, Patricia Amponsah was forced to discharge the accused persons and dismissed the case of the Delta Force members.

Explaining their decision the prosecutor, ACP Okyere Darko, said they did not have enough evidence to support the charges levelled against the accused persons. He added that he had orders from the Attorney General Gloria Akufo to drop the charges against them.

However, the Ministry of Information said the prosecutor took the decision on his own.

READ ALSO: EU Ambassador tells Ghanaians to stop begging

The eight members of Delta Force were standing trial after they besieged the Kumasi Circuit Court and freed their members who were facing charges for attacking the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Agyei.

The statement finally said that the Nana Addo-led government will ensure that the supremacy of the rule of law is applied in this matter.

Read the ministrys full statement below:

The Attorney Generals department is investigating circumstances under which a Principal State Attorney in Kumasi decided without recourse to advice from higher authority on a matter of high public interest of this nature to drop charges against persons arrested in connection with disturbances in a Kumasi Magistrates court in April this year.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the decision was taken without recourse even to the Director of Public Prosecution and may amount to a breach of internal procedures on matters of this nature.

While the department awaits the full results of this investigation we will like to reiterate our commitment to ensuring that the rule of law is applied at all times and persons found culpable of any breaches that bring the work and commitment of the department into disrepute will be sanctioned and the appropriate remedies adopted in the interest of the Republic.

Signed
The boys we see working in the pits that we think are causing environmental damage, see them in one way as victims of a dishonest system. They themselves dont know what they are doing. It is the victimizers that we should search for those victimizers responsible for creating these victims and thereby destroying our future.

He made the comments at a forum about illegal mining organised by Accra-based Citi FM and the non-governmental group, WACAM Ghana.
This was after the Comptroller General of the Ghana Immigration Service asked the EU for more help after they have donated vehicles, IT equipment and other items worth about GHc 2.3 million.

These items are to help manage the countrys borders more effectively, under the EU-funded Ghana Integrated Migration Management Approach project.

The Comptroller General of Immigration Kwame Asuah Takyi said The GIS is very grateful for the continuous support we receive from the European Union and its member countries. But like Oliver Twist, we shall be grateful for more, particularly in the development of our border infrastructure and systems.

However, his Oliver Twist request did not go well with the EU Ambassador to Ghana, William Hanna.

He urged Ghanaian leaders to desist from always asking for more and follow President Nana Akufo-Addos path of creating a self-sufficient country.

READ ALSO: Nana Yaa Jantuah resigns

I am thinking that in a country, where the President is talking about moving beyond aid, we should maybe move away from the Oliver twist references and reference Great Expectations, another book by Dickens.

He also spoke about an oncoming summit in Abidjan for European Leaders and African leader to debate the question of youth and job creation.
The victim, Christiana Ohenewaa Anim, a mother of three was purportedly killed following a misunderstanding between her and the suspect.

Rex is currently in the custody of the Labadi police assisting in investigation.

He said "I am satisfied that she is dead and I dont regret killing her. Now the police can do whatever they want to do with me."

The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for preservation.

According to reports, Chief Superintendent Oduro Anning, La District Police Commander, said on May 11, 2017, at about 12pm, a woman rushed to the police station to report that a man had butchered his wife in a house close to her restaurant.

Police proceeded to the scene but were told the victim had been rushed to the La General Hospital for treatment.

He said when police followed up at the hospital, they were told the victim had died and so the body had been conveyed to the Police Hospital.

Rex Kpanor, who is the father of the three children, was later identified as the person who butchered the woman

The family of the deceased was asked to help apprehend the suspect who had gone into hiding after allegedly committing the act.
The protest turned bloody when fighting erupted between Erdogan supporters and Armenian demonstrators, according to the Associated Press. Video shows demonstrators, men in suits, and local police officers entering the fray.

Samantha Power, who served as the US ambassador to the UN under President Barack Obama, said of the violence on Tuesday: "Clearly Erdogan's guards feel complete impunity, drawing on tools of repression they use at home & knowing he has their back, no matter what." It was not immediately clear whether anyone directly associated with Erdogan was involved.

Dustin Sternbeck with the Metropolitan Police Department told USA Today that two people were arrested and one was charged with assaulting a police officer.

A Turkish affiliate of the news organization Voice of America posted video of the fighting on its Facebook page.

Watch a portion of the fighting below:

The demonstrations happened under the specter of strained relations between the US and its NATO ally Turkey because the Trump administration wants to arm Syrian Kurdish fighters in the battle against the Islamic State terrorist group, the Associated Press reported.

Though previous White House administrations have sought similar arrangements, the Trump administration made clear its intention to arm the Kurds, citing an effort to recapture Syrian territory controlled by ISIS.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Jonathan Schanzer at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies said the Turks saw Trump's plans as "a crisis in the relationship."
The hip hop legend has been rumoured to be working on a show, reportedly called "Vital Signs", since last February, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

And it makes sense to assume the show's going to be hosted on Apple Music.

Iovine, who cofounded Interscope in 1989 and Beats with Dr. Dre in 2006, is now responsible for the growth of Apple's steaming service Apple Music, along with software chief Eddy Cue.

In an interview with Music Business Worldwide, he talked about the challenges Apple faces making its paid streaming service more appealing than free options.

Part of that will involve adding exclusive video, like Dr. Dre's show. He said: "It's only when you can integrate tech and liberal arts on one platform  and do it well  that the wire will be tripped."

"The show Dre's doing is really gonna move the needle. Its so unique."

Iovine also said Apple Music was becoming a "cultural platform" with "storytelling" to try and gain an edge on free services.

It's not totally clear what he means by "cultural platform." But he recounts a meeting with a child who, instead of handing him a demo CD like other would-be artists, showed him something on his iPad. According to Iovine, it was an animation of an African American family, accompanied by music and a plot.

"And I thought: 'Oh sh-t. This reminds me of the beginning of hip-hop; young, talented kids are realising that the money is in visual'," he said.

Iovine argues that people need to start paying for music again. Apple charges 9.99 a month for its subscription service, while rivals like Spotify offer free tiers. The trouble is, he said, they're so good that artists are getting "screwed."

"The fact is that 'free' in music streaming is so technically good and ubiquitous that it's stunting the growth of paid streaming," he said.

"Two things have to happen: free has to become more difficult or restricted, and the paid services have to get better."

There's another reason Apple is moving to exclusive video  it has tried exclusive album releases, and they don't really work.

"We tried it," he told Music Business Worldwide. "We'll still do some stuff with the occasional artist. The labels don't seem to like it and ultimately it's their content."

Take the Frank Ocean fiasco, where Ocean released an album on his label, Universal's Def Jam, to fulfil his contractual obligations. The album was a long, conceptual music video that some people treated as a puzzle, and even a joke. A day later, Ocean released a more conventional pop album exclusively to Apple Music through his own label, Boys Don't Cry. Universal's chairman, Lucian Grainge, subsequently sent a letter to his company banning platform exclusives, according to multiple reports.
The actress' husband who was released after fulfilling his bail condition has accused the Nigerian government of neglecting those in prison and focusing on other things.

He took to Instagram on May 17, 2017,

"Like I have said earlier in have something to tell the world due to my fresh experience at the medium prison,(Kiri Kiri papa)but firstly I'll like to glorify the Almighty God for his grace upon my life.....

At this moment I would say @realmercyaigbe's effort sending me to jail was another privilege to see, say about all which is going on over there.I think this place should be a rehabilitation centre and not a dumping ground,7days and 7night at d medium prison look like have spent a whole year in there..y?

Just because our government has a lot to do over there and nothing has been done over there...over 3600 prisoners, where we are meant to have just 1500prisoners.prisoners are now more or less like beggars.

I have been there not that am being told people die every blessed day..am here to tell the world to please let's fight this out with our government because I see no reason why tax are being collected and nothing has been produced and provided through all this payment, is it that they've forgotten these people are still Nigerian citizens?

If I may ask .government shouldn't leave what they ought to do and start involving themselves over (domestic violence)...I won't say more than this tonight..but more to come every night.I mean no harm to no one but to whom it may concern.

Government shouldn't leave its primary responsibilities and start getting involved in cases of domestic violence."

The Hotelier was remanded in Kirikiri prisons on Tuesday, May 9, after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting his Nollywood actress wife.

Gentry was arraigned at an Ogba Magistrate Court 1 sitting at Ogba, Ikeja, on three count charges under the State Criminal law 2011.

He was reportedly granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 as well as the provision of tax verification and two sureties, one of whom must own property in Lagos State, but was remanded in jail for failure to perfect his bail conditions before the end of the day.

According to earlier reports, Aigbe reported the alleged attack to the Lagos State Government through the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team.

Gentry was subsequently slammed with a restraining order that keeps him no less than one mile of Mercy Aigbes location at all times.
Punch reports that the decision to make Kalu who has been in custody since the murder of Oladipupo at the NAF base in Makurdi, Benue State, to face the court-martial came at the conclusion of investigations.

It was gathered that after the court-martial, Kalu would be handed over to the appropriate security agency for prosecution.

Recall that Kalu had, on Sunday, March 12, 2017, shot dead Oladipupo who was also known as Shomzy, in her apartment at the base following allegations that she was cheating on him.

The aircraftman who met the lady at a parade ground some months before the incident had afterward left a suicide note where he before he was arrested by the NAF.

The air force authorities had thereafter taken Kalu for psychiatric tests in the course of their investigation.

A top NAF source who spoke on the condition of anonymity disclosed that the delay in Kalus prosecution was because he was attached to the Logistics Command, Ikeja, Lagos State, but served in Makurdi.

The suspect is still in NAF custody. Everything has been going step-by-step. He will be court-martialled on Friday and by next week, he will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.

He is only serving physically in Makurdi, but his command is in Lagos State. So, the correspondence has taken some time too.

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, also confirmed the court-martial, saying it would take place very soon.

We have a procedure in the military and we dont jump the process. There is a disciplinary committee which goes through investigations, boards of inquiry, summary of evidence and so on.

The last stage is the convening of the court-martial. From all indications, we are at that stage now and it will take place between this week and next week.
The names of the accused are; Femi Babatunde, also known as Scorpion, Dele Akanmu, Biodun Asogba, Afeez Akeem and Ibrahim Mohammed, all adults.

Abdulmaleek separately adjourned the cases till June 7 for presentation of facts against the accused persons.

Mr Raphael Himinkaiye, counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, said the accused persons were arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on unlawful dealing in Indian Hemp.

According to the prosecutor, the accused persons deal in 22.170 kg of Indian hemp.

He stated that the offence contravened Section 11 (C ) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Law of the Federation 2004.

However, Babatunde, who was arrested with 3.5 kg of Indian Hemp, pleaded not guilty while the other four pleaded guilty to the offence.

Akanmu was apprehended with 170 grammes, Asogban with 13 kg, Akeem with 1.5 kg and Mohammed with 4.5 kg of Indian hemp respectively.
The accused (name with held), who resides in Agege, a suburb of Lagos is charged with burglary and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Raphael Donny, told the court that the offences were committed on April 10, 2017, at 6, Oloko Lane, Agege, Lagos.

Donny said that the accused burgled the residence of late Alhaja Afusat Amao to steal.

The accused stole half bag of rice and gold jewellery all valued at N275, 000, property of the late woman, who died few weeks ago."

The accused was apprehended by the members of the vigilance group in the area and he was brought to the police station, he said.

He told the court that the offences contravened Sections 278 and 307 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Davies Abegunde, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100, 000, with two sureties in like sum.
Idems, a resident of Abule-Egba area of Lagos, pleaded not guilty to a five -count charge of conspiracy, stealing, obtaining under false pretences, forgery and presumption as to false pretences under certain circumstances.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Mike Unah, told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 2, 2016at Agidingbi area of Ikeja.

Unah alleged that the accused, with others now at large, fraudulently obtained N6.8 million from one Olabisi Shittu on the pretext of assisting her to transfer the money to her customer in China.

He said that the complainant, who had no idea that Idems had been sacked at the bank, transferred N6.8 million to him.

Unah said that the accused converted the money to his own personal use and forged a telex transfer form showing that he had paid the money to the complainants customer.

The prosecutor said that Idems gave the forged document to Shittu, who had no idea it was fake.

Unah said that Shittu did not know she had been duped until she received a call from her customer in China, who claimed he had not received the money.

Shittu quickly rushed to the bank to report the accused to the head of operations, only to discover that Idems had been sacked from the bank months ago for another offence."

The complainant said that when she called the accused on phone to demand for her money, he started making up flimsy excuses."

She said that after so much persistence on her part, Idems gave her a Zenith bank cheque of N6.8 million."

Shittu said that when she presented the cheque at the bank it was dishonoured due to insufficient funds in the accuseds account."

The complainant reported the case to the police and the accused was apprehended and taken to the policestation for further questioning, Unah said.

The offences contravened Sections 285, 312, 319, 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused risks a 15-year jail term on conviction for obtaining by false pretences, according to the provisions of the Criminal Law.

The Magistrate, Mrs A.O Gbajumo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.
The accused, whose address is unknown, is being tried for assault. Police Prosecutor Akpan Ikem told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 9 at No. 6, Eze-Obi Etegbin in Ajangbadi in Badagry council area.

The accused and the complainant (Blessing) had a heated argument over two loaves of bread; the accused wanted to buy the two loaves but Blessing objected to it.

"He started beating the woman and he even removed one of her teeth. It was onlookers that saved the complainant from more harm, he said.

The offence contravened Section 243 of the Criminal law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section provides seven years for offenders.

The accused pleaded innocence of the offence and was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties who must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Idowu Ayenimo, convicted Ehioghae, as he admitted committing the offence.

He was docked on a count charge of stealing.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Bankole Olasunkanmi, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on May 5, at about 3:00p.m. at Km. 4, Iworoko Road, Ado-Ekiti.

He said that the convict was a driver at a bakery owned by one Owolabi Adebowale.

He put the valued of the vehicle at N3.6million.

He also told the court that the convict disappeared with 150 loaves of bread, valued at N70,000, also belonging to Adebowale.

The offence contravened the provisions of Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 (9 and 10A) of the Criminal Code Cap C16 Vol.1 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
Lento Nigeria Plc. is a developer and the owner of Classic Estate, Piakasa, Abuja.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Stephen Lawan said his client was asked to make an initial payment of N5 million out of the total sum of N8 million for a three bed room bungalow in the estate.

He said that after paying the money, he was told that the house would be completed in 20 weeks but Lento failed to complete the house as promised when his client checked the site.

The plaintiffs counsel said that Lento told his client that it had reviewed its price and he must pay additional fee to enable the company complete the house.

The plaintiff said Lento made an offer of N5 million to be paid by my client with a promise that the house will be completed before paying the balance of N3 million.

Wenank, who was in the witness box said an offer was made to him for part payment of N5 million and he applied to the Board of Federal Civil Service for the loan, which was paid on his behalf.

He said that Lento later breached the agreement by asking him to pay N12 million, adding that the price review negated the agreement they both entered.

He said that he was told to raise additional money if the house must be completed as agreed, which he said he refused.

Mr Earnest Nwoye, the Counsel to the defendant, said the plaintiff was requested to pay the balance of N7 million within three months of completion but turned it down.

He said that the plaintiff signed an agreement of price review, which he also reneged.

Justice Angela Otaluka of the FCT High Court, Lugbe after listening to both parties for cross examination, asked the witness to take his leave.
A native doctor also confirmed the spirit marriage but said to set her free from the sea god, there must be sacrifices to be made.

Read her story here:

"My name is Angela, a 38-year-old unfortunate woman. I see myself as unfortunate because I have had to live in pains and anguish following two marriages that ended in disaster.

I got married when I was 24 to a young medical doctor from my town. The marriage was just six months old when my husband was involved in a ghastly motor accident while going for a medical conference in Abuja.

was the only one that died in the accident though others sustained different degrees of the accident. His death was so painful because I love Tim with all my heart and I did not see how I could face life without him.

After mourning Tim for three years, I decided to try out another relationship. I met through a friend and right from the first day we met, he made known his intention of wanting to marry me.

Even after hearing how I lost my first husband, Steve was not deterred in his determination to marry me. He told me it was just unfortunate that Tim died and assured me he would help me overcome the pains of losing my husband.

A year after we got married, Steve was struck by a strange ailment that defied all medical attention. Despite carrying out several tests, the doctors could not find anything wrong with him. His family decided to take him home to seek alternative medicine and that was when they were told he was attacked spiritually.

The native doctor recommended some sacrifices to be carried out for Steve to be cured but before the sacrifices could be carried out, Steve gave up the ghost in my arms.

I was devastated and almost ran mad. I kept asking God why he should allow me to go through the pains of losing another husband. The most painful thing was that we were yet to have a child to bear his name.

After Steve died, my family and friends took me to many places to find out what the problem was. I was taken to churches, healing homes and herbalists with each of them saying I was under a bondage that needed a serious spiritual battle but they all failed.

It was after my best friend took me to a man of God that the revelation came that I was married to a very powerful and jealous water god who was out to destroy any mortal that had sex with me or marry me.

The prophet told me that it was my grandmother who initiated me in the marine world and got me married to the water god and that it would be a serious battle to nullify his powers.

At first, I did not want to believe such an absurdity but when I reflected on the fact that there was this particular man that came to make love to me in my dreams every other night, I had to accept the fact.

But it seems he is so powerful that even the man of God has not been able to stop him from tormenting me. The strange man keeps coming to make love to me in my dreams and whenever I wake up in the morning, I will see semen dripping out of my private parts.

I am dying slowly as there seems to be no stopping the marine god. Is there anyone out there who can help me?

Angela."

How Nigeria voted:

Only a powerful man of God can help to deliver her - 39%

She should go to a powerful native doctor for a sacrifice - 6%

Angela should take all her troubles to God - 56%
The judge, Hassan Ishaq, also ordered the defendant to produce a reliable surety in like sum.

He said the surety must live within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case until July 11 for hearing.Omoruyi was arraigned on a count charge of dishonestly receiving stolen property, punishable under Section 317 of the Penal Code.

Earlier the prosecutor, Mamud Ismail, had told the court that one Musa Lawal, a resident of Mararaba in Nasarawa State, reported the matter at Karu Police Station on May 14.

Ismail said that the accused dishonestly purchased four cartons of dried fish from one Isa Muritala.

According to him, Muritala who was arraigned before a court, broke into a shop at Karu Market, Abuja, and stole the four cartons of dried fish valued at N 120,000.

He said that the defendant went ahead to purchase the said dried fish knowing well that they were stolen items.
Adeosun said this on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at a town hall meeting in Abuja organised to showcase the achievements of the Buhari administration.

The minister also said not all the whistle-blowers want rewards, adding that some volunteered information as a patriotic act.

She also revealed that the government has blocked various financial leakages.

Adeosun said On the other measures we are using to fight corruption, apart from the TSA (Treasury Single Account), you all know about the whistle-blower policy, which has helped to make every Nigerian a detective. As we know, the policy says if you know something, say something and patriotic Nigerians are now saying a lot of things.

We have over 2,500 tips from various quarters. They are not just the big monies that we see in the papers, but the other monies, like someone diverting the money of a university. We go in there and we stop it. I think the fight against corruption is the peoples fight.

Note that not all the whistle-blowers are looking for rewards. Some are just patriotic citizens. Now that everyone has embraced the policy, this has become a national fight against corruption.

ALSO READ:7 things you should know if you want to be a whistleblower

On the issue of ghost workers, we are removing dead people from the payroll every week. We are blocking loopholes such that people taking the salaries of 10 or 20 people can no longer do that. We have also been able to create more employment by flushing out the ghost workers.
Army spokesman Sani Usman said the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, had been told some officers and soldiers had been approached "for undisclosed political reasons".

"On the basis of that, he has warned such persons to desist from these acts," Brigadier General Usman said in an emailed statement, without elaborating.

"He also reminded them that (the) Nigerian Army is a thorough professional, disciplined, loyal and apolitical institution that has clear constitutional roles and responsibilities."

Anyone wanting to get involved in politics should leave the army and any soldier "found to be hobnobbing with such elements or engaged in unprofessional conduct such as politicking would have himself or herself to blame".

He added: "The Nigerian Army will remain apolitical and respect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

Nigeria has had six successful military coups since it gained independence from Britain in 1960, leading to decades of army rule that blighted development and fostered large-scale corruption.

ALSO READ: Buratai salutes soldiers for defeating Boko Haram

The current President Muhammadu Buhari is a former army general who ousted the civilian leader in December 1983 and headed a military government for some 20 months.

Civilian rule was restored in 1999.

Buhari, now 74 and describing himself as a "converted democrat", is currently on medical leave in London for treatment to an undisclosed condition.

No date has been set for his return, fuelling speculation about the seriousness of his illness.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has been made acting president in his absence in line with the constitution.

Buratai put out a statement shortly after Buhari returned from a previous round of treatment in London in June last year and at a time of heightened tensions with oil rebels in the south.
Dasuki , a former National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of N13.6 billion.

He is being tried alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former NNPC Executive Director and two others.

At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, all other defendants were present in court, except Dasuki and at the last sitting; the trial was adjourned until May 16, May 17 and May 18.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that he contacted the Director Legal, DSS on Tuesday for Dasuki to be brought to court.

 I am surprised that he is not here today, I also contacted DSS again today, I was told that Dasuki said that he was indisposed.

Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN) Dasuki s counsel, said from all indications , it is an interdepartmental issue , it should be on record that we were in court on Tuesday and Wednesday."

He described what was happening as regrettable, adding  the court has given an order and does not even know where the defendant is kept, even if it does, there is nothing it can do he said.

Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), Shuaibu Salisus, counsel, said it was the responsibility of the DSS to produce Dasuki.

 Those keeping him should know that it is their responsibility to produce him in court, they should ensure that they bring him at the next adjourned date, he said.

The judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, said that court proceedings should be taken seriously and extraneous considerations should not be allowed to interfere.
Raising a point of order on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, Senator Melaye noted that President Buhari appointed the director-general of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Adolphus Ekpe without the approval of the Senate.

Melaye said the executive submitted names of chairman of National Electrical Regulatory Commission, Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission and others were forwarded to the Senate for confirmation while Ekpe was selected.

When President Muhammadu Buhari took over power at exactly 12:04 hours 29th May 2015, What the president and my party promised Nigerians is the respect for the rule of law and also to combat the monster called corruption," Melaye said.

I want to bring to your attention of the Senate chamber, quoting from the national lottery Act specifically section 8 (1) of that Act reads as follows 'there shall be a commission and a director-general whom shall be appointed by the President and subject to the confirmation of the senate'.

It is sad to note this morning that a new director-general of the national lottery commission has not only been appointed by the President, he has assumed office and have started signing documents carrying out the functions of the office of the director-general of the national lottery commission without referral or confirmation of the Nigerian senate.

This country is not a banana republic and the executive arm of government cannot choose the laws to obey and the one not to obey.

ALSO READ: Dino Melaye: 9 Times senator has completely lost it

As I speak to you this morning we have chairman of national electrical regulatory Commission for confirmation, we have for confirmation the board of the NDDC and some others. Why will there be selective respect for the rule of law.

Mr President, at the end of the day the rule of law is to be respected. It is safer to be loyal to the people of the federal republic of Nigeria than to be afraid of the wrath of the EFCC or the executive. The truth is the truth and this chamber will stand on the truth and the rule of law must be respected and we must communicate this misbehaviour and rascality with great concern," he added.
The National President of NUT, Mr Michael Olukoya, gave the commendation at a news conference in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

The Ogun government had sacked 34 teachers, including the NUT state chairman, Mr Dare Ilekoya, after accusing them of playing unethical roles during the 2016 World Teachers Day celebration on Oct. 5, 2016.

Following the intervention of the national leadership of NUT, the government in December, 2016, recalled 31 out of the 34 teachers while the cases of three others remained undecided.

The NUT had intensified efforts at resolving the issue by enlisting the support of monarchs and prominent citizens of the state.

Amosun, on May 1 during the Workers Day celebration, commuted the sack of the three remaining teachers to compulsory retirement with full benefits.

Ilekoya, who expressed gratitude over the pardon, described Amosuns gesture as a special gift of the year.

This pardon has brought to an end months of impasse, pains and agonies suffered by the 34 teachers since November, 2016."

Our joy knows no bound as we felt honoured by the governors pronouncement of the pardon."

The national leadership of NUT therefore feels morally obliged to express thanks and appreciation of the entire teachers of Nigeria to the governor for heeding to our plea for mercy, he said.

He also expressed gratitude to traditional rulers as well as well meaning Nigerians for their intervention in the teachers appeal for pardon.

The NUT president pledged teachers support to the state governments determination to revamp the education sector in Ogun.

He said that the newly elected leaders of NUT in the state were matured labour leaders who would engage the government in constructive dialogue and negotiation to address issues.

Ilekoya, however, appealed to the state government to pay the outstanding check-off dues of the union and other unremitted deductions from salaries of teachers.
The Coroner, Olusegun Ayilara, issued the threat following the absence of the Divisional Police Officer of Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo, at the panels sitting.

Also absent at the panels sitting was the Officer in charge of Homicide.

Ayilara said: The OC homicide and DPO are expected tomorrow.

 They need to come and I want to say this that nobody is on trial here.

 This is not a criminal proceeding. I am not going to stop anybody from going back to his or her house and I wont force anybody to say what he doesnt want to say.

We need facts from police officers, medical doctors and other relevant bodies involved in the autopsy exercise, most importantly the DPO of Dugbe police Station and OC Homicide.

By the virtue of the coroners law, everyone involved in this exercise must appear to give testimony. And as such, I need the police officer and others to be able to explain to the court that they identified the corpse, that is what we need.

 For this reason, failure to appear before this coroner inquest panel would be interpreted otherwise because if they dont come, I will assume that they are deliberately frustrating our efforts.

We are constrained and we have a limited time of three weeks and this is the second week.

 We want to take all evidence by the end of this week so that I can use the last week to put things together.

We issued the summon yesterday and they have 48 hours to answer.

That is why I will fix tomorrow for them. As a matter of fact, if the necessary parties are not here tomorrow, we will issue bench warrant against them."

ALSO READ: How Senator

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at Mondays sitting, the CMD of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital where Adelekes corpse was taken to for autopsy, Prof. Akeem Lasisi, had said the late politician was given an overdose of banned injections.

This submission, he said, was proven by the empty ampoules of injections brought by a family member.

Lasisi said the DPO of Dugbe Police Station, OC Homicide and the pathologists had in their care the empty ampoules of injection administered on Adeleke, inaddition to the pictures which they took.
Shettima had promised to return IDPs to liberated communities by May 29, 2017.

However on Tuesday, the governor announced a change of plan when he inaugurated 12 public infrastructure rebuilt by Borno Government in Bama with N360 million provided by the Victims Support Fund (VSF).The fund, established in 2014 with public donations, has retired Lt.-Gen. Theophilus .Y Danjuma as Chairman.

The governor said: Our goal was for our people to be able to return to Bama before this Ramadan.

Unfortunately, this is not feasible because the military is still carrying out operations in some areas around the Sambisa as part of mop up exercise in the yet to be concluded fight against Boko Haram.

We will continue to work with security agencies to review situations. Our number one priority is the security and safety of our people.

We will not allow any IDP return to any community that has not regained 100 per cent safety.

When IDPS return to communities, they will still need to go to their farms, markets and to travel for economic and social purposes.

We must be sure that farms are safe and routes are safe before we allow our people to return. But even while we do the reviews, we will continue with our aggressive reconstruction works.We will not wait till eternity.

We are very optimistic that very soon, the entire Borno will be safe enough for full habitation. We look forward to Borno reclaiming peace, security and progress," he added.

Shettima said the government was laying emphasis on Bama but paying attention to all parts of the state.

He said For the purpose of setting records straight, I think I should use this opportunity to once again explain that our focus is on all parts of Borno not just on Bama.

Our reconstruction works actually started in northern Borno where we rebuilt numerous public and private infrastructure in Kaga Local Government Area.

We are currently working in 14 local government areas but there is special emphasis on Bama, Mobbar and Gwoza.

He said Bama was getting the highest attention because it was adjudged the worst hit by the insurgency in the Northeast.

He said the Post Insurgency Recovery and Peace Building Assessment conducted on the Northeast by the World Bank, the European Union, the Presidency and State Government in the northeast indicated so.

More than 80 per cent of public and private infrastructure were destroyed by Boko Haram during their occupation.

The Boko Haram as we all know, also occupied Gwoza but they did not destroy Gwoza as much as they destroyed Bama.

So, our idea of facing Bama is to confront the most difficult challenge in a bold manner so that our task becomes less," he added.

Shettima said next to Bama in terms of massive destruction was Mobbar.

We are currently working in Mobbar. We have deployed so much resources so that we also confront the rebuilding challenge he said.In his remarks, Danjuma, represented by Vice- Chairman of VSF, Tijjani Tumsah, said the fund decided to intervene in Bama because it was impressed by the efforts of the Borno Government.
Osinbajo expressed displeasure at the development via a statement released by his spokesman, Laolu Akande.

The statement reads:

The Federal Government of Nigeria wishes to condemn in strong terms the recent developments in Cote dIvoire in which a small fraction of the countrys Armed Forces mutinied against the Government.

Nigeria expresses strong and unflinching support for the Government of President Allassane Ouattara and welcomes ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis.

In this context, the Federal Government urges the parties to the crisis to exercise maximum restraint, remain calm and continue with dialogue and negotiations with the Government of President Ouattara.

The Federal Government further urges the people of Cote dIvoire to remain steadfast in their support for the Government and to refrain from giving support to the mutineers in the overall interest of peace, tranquility, good order and prosperity of the country.

ALSO READ: Army Chief warns troops to stay away from politicians
The ministers, Stephen Ocheni and Suleiman Hassan were confirmed by the Senate on May 3.

Osinbajo was expected to swear the duo in during Wednesdays Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, but he did not do so.

The Acting President also failed to inaugurate Ocheni and Hassan during the FEC meeting of May 10, which he presided over.

No reason or explanation has been given for the delay in swearing in the new ministers.

Osinbajo is acting as president due to Buharis absence from the country for health reasons.
Osinbajo gave the order after receiving the SIP update report, a statement by the Vice Presidential Spokesman, Laolu Akande, said on Tuesday.

Akande said about N41 billion has so far been spent on the SIPs with no fewer than 25 million meals served under the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme.

He said 1,051,619 primary school pupils were fed across the seven states of Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Zamfara state engaging about 11,847 cooks.

Altogether 8,587 schools are involved in the affected states.

The spokesman said more meals would be served as Delta and Abia States were now to come on the programme later in the week.

Delta state is expected to receive more than N63.3 million to start the feeding of 90, 523 pupils, while Abia is to receive N42.9 million.

Besides, Kaduna State has now been repaid N3.4 billion for its past expenses in implementing the food programme ahead of FGs roll-out, he added.

A breakdown of the over N41 billion so far spent on the SIPs, showed that N-Power, which is the job programme for unemployed graduates, received N26.418 billion, the single largest spending item of the four social investment programmes under the 2016 Appropriation.

He said the Home Grown School Feeding (HGSFP) received N7.092 billion, Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) N800 million and Government Enterprises Entrepreneurship Programme (GEEP) N7.301 billion.

For instance, under the N-Power job scheme for unemployed graduates now running in 36 States and FCT, 162,024 unemployed graduates have been effectively enrolled and validated.

This means that the enrollees have been cleared to be receiving the N30,000 monthly stipends, out of the 200,000 originally engaged late last year, he said.

Akande said an additional number had just been added to the list of those receiving their pay in the last several weeks noting that effort was being made to validate others.

This, he said, was to ensure that the 200,000 places provided for in the first batch of the programme were effectively enrolled as provided for under the first phase of the programme.

He said a date for the reopening of the portal to receive more applications under the programme would be announced soon.

Under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, Akande said that 26,942 beneficiaries in nine states and 84 local government areas were being funded as at April with the monthly N5,000 stipend.

The states are Borno, Cross River, Niger, Kwara, Ekiti, Kogi, Oyo, Osun and Bauchi.

He said based on the recent directive of the Acting President, the number was expected to rise up to about 400,000 beneficiaries covering more states in the next few months.

The spokesman said 57,234 interest free loans were disbursed under the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP), designed to empower market women, traders and artisans.

So far, women participation has been remarkable with 56 per cent of loans so far disbursed to women beneficiaries in 28 States and FCT.

Directives have also been given to scale up the loan disbursement to 150,000 by end of next month, he added.
The resolution was sequel to a motion by Deputy Senate leader, Bala NaAllah on Wednesday, May 17, 2017.

The Senate expressed displeasure over the failure of government agencies, corporations and agencies to submit their budget for approval  a move which contradicts Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The agencies include: Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASEI), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), National Maritime Authority (NMA), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Nigerian Postal Service (NPS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), National Communications Commission (NCC), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Others are: National Insurance Commission (NIC), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Radio Nigeria, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB), Federal Mortgage Bank, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), as well as Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGZFA)
The series which is about firefighters will be scripted by Stacy McKee, who will also serve as an executive producer alongside Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers.

Set in Seattle, the firefighter series will focus on brave men and women as they risk their lives and their hearts both in the line of duty and off the clock.

This marks the second spin-off of the medical drama. The first was "Private Practise," which followed Addison Montgomery's move from Seattle to Los Angeles to help run a private medical practice.

"Private Practise" ended in 2013, after six seasons.

The spin-off series which debuts in 2018, is most likely to launch out of an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" this season - the "Grey's Anatomy" season 13 finale is set to feature an explosion at the hospital.
Pwajok, who represents the Jos South/East Federal Constituency, joined the APC after dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His defection was officially announced via a letter read by Speaker, Yakubu Dogara on the House floor.

Pwajok explained that he decided to leave the PDP due to the division in that party.

Meanwhile, Lalong said more lawmakers would soon defect to the APC.

Edward has opened the gate, very soon you will see more of them, Lalong said.

From the way things are going, before the end of the year, we may not have a substantial minority in Nigeria, he added.

The PDP has witnessed a flurry of defections due to a leadership crisis which has split it into two factions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day workshop opened on May 16, to end on May 18.

ACE is a World Bank Project for African Universities with a focus on Agriculture, Health, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

According to Blom, the project is meant to give the nations tertiary institutions a facelift, so that they could become internationally-recognised.

Nigeria is the biggest country in African and has ten centres out of the twenty-two centres in Africa."

The country has strong universities but they are not well-recognised internationally."

So the quality needs to be raised with the assistance of the ongoing programme, he said.

Blom noted that Nigerians spent huge funds on education outside the country but said that all the funds could be harnessed locally, if the standard of education was improved.

We need better universities; we need very good teachers curriculum and laboratories so that Nigerian talents can stay in Nigeria and work in country, he said.

Also speaking, Prof Anthony Anwukah, Minister of State for Education, said the Federal Government was satisfied with the progress made so far on the ACE project.

Anwukah, however, commended the universities and the National Universities Commission for their cooperation toward the success of the programme.

The Federal Government through the NUC, has allowed all Nigerian Universities, irrespective of proprietorship, to participate in the project, he said.

The minister reiterated the Federal Governments desire to continue to sustain the project beyond its initial life cycle.

The World Banks Board of Executive Directors in 2014 approved US$150 million to finance 19 university-based Centers of Excellence in seven countries in West and Central Africa.

These competitively selected centres will receive funding for advanced specialised studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related disciplines, as well as in agriculture and health.

This landmark Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) project, which will equip young Africans with new scientific and technical skills, will be financed through IDA credits to the governments of Nigeria (US$70 million), Ghana (US$24 million), Senegal (US$16 million), Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Togo (US$8 million each).

The Gambia will also receive a US $2 million credit and a US$1 million grant to provide higher education, including short-term training, to students, faculty and civil servants through the 19 ACEs.

The World Banks International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the worlds poorest countries by providing loans (called credits) and grants for projects and programmes that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor peoples lives.

IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the worlds 81 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change for 2.5 billion people living on less than $2 a day.
The South Africa-based company has still not fully recovered from the $3.1 billion fine slammed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2015, now its Rwandan arm is facing an $8.5 million fine from that countrys regulator.

According to a report by South African website MyBroadband, the Rwandan Utilities Regulatory Authority is hitting MTN Rwanda with this fine because it failed to comply with the regulators directive prohibiting the inclusion of MTN Rwanda in the MTN South and East Africa (SEA) IT hub based in Uganda.

MTN has been engaging with the regulator on this matter over the past four months. MTN Rwanda is currently studying the official notification and will continue to engage with the regulator on this matter, MTN says in a statement, according to the report.

This comes off the bat of several struggles for MTN across the continent as well as a terrible 2016, financially speaking. The company is the largest mobile network operator on the continent and its health speaks volumes about the industry at large.
On Wednesday, Manning will leave the prison barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas -- the only maximum-security facility run by the Pentagon -- thanks to a commutation of her sentence by president Barack Obama before he left office.

Without Obama's parting gift, Manning, who served as an intelligence official in Iraq, would have remained behind bars until 2045, after serving a 35-year sentence.

Supporters of Manning -- who attempted suicide twice last year alone -- said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her transition as a free, openly transgender woman.

"Two more days until the freedom of civilian life," Manning tweeted Monday. "Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans."

Manning, now 29, also went on a hunger strike during her detention to denounce the disciplinary measures to which she was subjected -- including stints in solitary confinement.

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world," she wrote last week.

Quiet release

Manning's defense team is intent on protecting her.

The Oklahoma native had a difficult childhood. After her parents' divorce, Manning moved with her mother to Wales, where she repressed her sexuality and was mocked for her effeminate ways.

The military is therefore keen on keeping her release low-key. No press conference is planned and media massing at the military installation may be hard-pressed to even catch a glimpse of Manning.

"To ensure the privacy and security of Inmate Manning, no further information concerning the release will be provided," US Army spokesman Dave Foster said in a statement.

Manning, of whom few photographs are publicly available, could find refuge at an aunt's home in the Washington region.

Unwanted fame

Virtually unknown at the time of her arrest, Manning today is a well-known figure around the world.

Labeled a traitor by President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She wasn't able to flee abroad like Edward Snowden, who in 2013 released documents showing that the NSA was sweeping up US citizens' communications metadata.

Ahead of Manning's release, a group of musicians released a compilation album with all proceeds to go to the former soldier as she starts a new life.

"Hugs for Chelsea," a digital album available for a $25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left-wing activism including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.

Trans icon

Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists.

"The first thing Chelsea always says when we talk about her freedom is that she wants to give back to the trans community," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who is himself transgender.

Manning was able to start hormonal treatment in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her "right to exist."

While Manning's sentence was commuted, her conviction remains intact. Manning, who will turn 30 in December, has appealed.

She is also still employed by the army, and retains its insurance coverage.
The Paris Agreement struck in 2015 to limit warming by capping emissions from burning coal, oil and gas, is "our lifeline", pleaded the Climate Vulnerable Forum.

The grouping represents the interests at UN climate negotiations of over a billion people in nearly 50 countries on five continents.

"As long there is a chance to stop global warming at a level that lets humanity survive and thrive, we should seize it," CVF representative Emmanuel De Guzman, a climate commissioner from the Philippines, said on the sidelines of UN talks under way in Bonn.

"This is why we continue to advance the call for world leaders to keep to the 1.5 goal and to recalibrate climate finance" for poorer countries to build less polluting infrastructure and raise their defences against climate impacts.

The Paris Agreement set a limit of two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) limit for average global warming over pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

Also underwritten is an aspirational lower target of 1.5 C, which the CVF considers says is key to the survival of millions of its people.

Trump has yet to announce whether or not he intends to execute his threats to withdraw America from the pact which his predecessor, Barack Obama, was instrumental in pushing through.

"We really believe that right now without increased climate action no country can ever be great again," said De Guzman, referring to Trump's campaign slogan: "Make America great again."

'Complicit'

The American president may also opt to abandon the US' pledge to reduce emissions by 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

The new administration has already said it intends to cut funding for the Green Climate Fund and related fora, including the UN climate secretariat under whose auspices the 196-nation Paris Agreement was negotiated.

"There should be no backsliding on existing commitments," said a CVF statement, which warned that "inaction is a serious threat to global cooperation."

Trump is only expected to make his announcement after returning from a meeting of the G7 rich nations in Sicily on May 26 and 27, where many are hoping America's peers will put pressure on Trump to stay in the deal.

The other six, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, "must make a strong case for action," argued climate activist Mohamed Adow of Christian Aid, which advocates for poor country causes at the UN forum.

"Like witnesses to a violent assault, they will be complicit in the suffering of the worlds poor if they refuse to try and steer America back towards the right path."
Dos Santos's influential daughter Isabel this week moved to deny rumours the president had died in Spain, where he was confirmed to have travelled by state media on May 2.

"We are all concerned about the lack of official information on the health of the president,"Rafael Savimbi, a senior figure in UNITA, the main opposition party, told AFP.

Agostinho dos Santos, a political analyst close to the opposition, said "serious and clear explanations" were needed after reports of the president's health troubles and rumours of his death.

Opposition news website Maka Angola said that the president was "between life and death in a private clinic in Barcelona."

President dos Santos has been in power since 1979 and has announced that he will not contest elections due in August, marking a historic change in the oil-rich country.

Isabel dos Santos, a billionaire businesswoman, this week criticised rumours about her father's health.

"Someone has gone so low as to invent information about the death of a man in order to create confusion and turmoil in Angolan politics," she said on her Instagram account.

The president oversaw the end of the country's civil war in 2002, but has been regularly accused of crushing dissent and allowing his family and associates to enrich themselves as most Angolans endure extreme poverty.

Joao Lourenco, the current defence minister, has emerged as Dos Santos' chosen successor and is on course to take power after the elections.

The MPLA party has ruled since independence from Portugal in 1975, and authorities suppress opposition activity.

"We must remain calm and not disseminate irresponsible information,"Bento Kangamba dos Santos, a senior member of the MPLA, told local media.

Dos Santos has reportedly received cancer treatment in Barcelona over several years.

Late last year the MPLA issued a statement denying reports that he was ill and criticising social media messages.
At least two people were killed and 14 others wounded in the ongoing assault, which underscores the growing dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan.

No insurgent group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid in Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State jihadists, where the US military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb last month in an unprecedented attack.

"Four attackers entered the RTA (Radio Television Afghanistan) building this morning. Two blew themselves up and two others are still resisting," government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP. He had earlier said there were three attackers.

"At least two civilians have been killed and 14 others wounded so far," Kohgyani said, with a health worker telling AFP that many of those brought to hospital suffered gunshot wounds.

An RTA photographer said he fled the building as soon as the gunfight erupted, but many of his colleagues were still stuck inside.

Islamic State insurgents are active in Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital.

The US military last month dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- on IS positions in Nangarhar, killing dozens of jihadists.

The bombing triggered global shock waves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban.

According to the US Forces-Afghanistan, defections and recent battlefield losses have reduced the local IS presence from a peak of as many as 3,000 fighters to a maximum of 800.

Deadly country for media

The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan to break the deadlocked fight against the Taliban.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, who also mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.

Afghanistan suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists in 2016, according to the Afghan Journalists' Safety Committee (AJSC), adding that the country is the second most dangerous for reporters in the world after Syria.

As least 13 journalists were killed last year, AJSC said, claiming that the Taliban was behind at least ten of the deaths.

In January last year, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 and spotlighted the dangers faced by journalists as the security situation worsens.

Dan Coats, the head of US intelligence agencies, warned last week that the security situation "will also almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in the military assistance by the US".
He was speaking at the presentation of a report based on a series of hearings which have seen NGOs accused of encouraging the mass influx of migrants to Italy by providing a 'taxi pick-up' service for packed rickety boats that traffickers effectively only need to get out of Libyan territorial waters.

NGOs poured cold water on the idea of allowing police to travel with them.

"We have a humanitarian mandate and we want to maintain a clear distinction between that and any military or police intervention," one organisation, SOS Mediterranee, said in a statement. "This is crucial for our independence."

In its report, the commission also recommended a system of registering NGO's active in search and rescue operations in order to ensure full transparency about their financing.

Charity boats have this year been responsible for rescuing around one third of the thousands of migrants picked up in waters off Libya. That is up from around a quarter last year.

Italy has taken in more than half a million migrants rescued in this way since the start of 2014.

The defence commission's recommendations follow a row over claims by a prosecutor based in Sicily that some NGO boats could be being financed by the traffickers themselves to make their job of getting mostly African migrants into Europe in return for payments.

A more subtle version of the argument suggests the charity boats have helped to create a 'pull' factor by decreasing the risks involved in trying to make the Mediterranean crossing.
"We have found a basis for agreement. We are returning to barracks,"Sergeant Cisse Fousseni told AFP as others said all their demands had been met.

The government offered an immediate payment of five million CFA francs (7,500 euros) and an extra two million to be paid next month, source among the mutineers said.

Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi announced late Monday that an agreement had been struck with the mutineers, but disgruntled troops had continued to fire their weapons into the air in a display of scepticism.

The four-day mutiny, which spread to barracks across the west African nation, was the latest in a string of protests by angry troops, most of them former rebels who had been integrated into the army.

After a mutiny in January, the government agreed to pay the ex-rebels bonuses of 12 million CFA francs (18,000 euros) each.
"The four Malian workers of the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) were released Monday afternoon by their kidnappers. No ransom was paid," the local official said Monday on condition of anonymity.

"They are all in good health".

According to another official who saw the workers after they were freed, "the fact that they are all originally from the region is what probably facilitated their release".

"Our colleagues abducted in the region of Mopti have just been set free without conditions," ICRC tweeted a little after 8pm (2000 GMT) Monday. "Thank you to all who supported us to make this happen".

The Red Cross, which had briefly suspended operations in the northern city of Kidal following a burglary at its offices last month, has suffered kidnappings of its staff in the past by jihadist groups.

In April 2016, three Red Cross workers were taken hostage by Islamist group Ansar Dine in northeastern Mali, but were released days later.

However it is unclear who exactly was behind this weekend's kidnapping.

A foreign security source in Mali's north said the two kidnappers claimed "extremist" ties. A Malian security source had previously told AFP that the kidnappers were "probably Islamists".

The workers targeted in the kidnapping were "conducting a survey of the humanitarian situation" on Sunday around 7 pm "when unidentified and armed individuals said they had to come with them," the Red Cross had posted on Facebook Sunday.

Armed men abducted five Malian workers, the Malian security source had said, including one woman who "was immediately let go".

Northern Mali fell to jihadist 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.
Jihadists seized key northern cities in Mali in March 2012, and though they were driven out by a French-led military intervention, Islamist groups continue to make their presence felt with frequent attacks on domestic and foreign forces.

"The Islamists dug two holes where they put the man and the woman who lived maritally without being married," said a local official. "They were stoned to death."

The Tuesday stoning happened in Taghlit, close to Aguelhok in the Kidal region, and the same source told AFP that members of the public were invited to take part.

"Four people threw stones at them until they died," they said.

Another local official said the Islamists had accused the unmarried couple of violating "Islamic law", which requires punishment by stoning.

During their brief control of key towns in the vast north, jihadist groups imposed a version of Sharia law which forced women to wear veils and set whipping and stoning as punishment for transgressions.

In July 2012, the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine group stoned a couple in public in Aguelhok who they accused of having children outside marriage.

The Malian Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AMDH) described Tuesday's stoning as "cowardly murder".

"This is barbaric. The people who did this should be arrested and put on trial," said Oumar Diakite, an AMDH official.

The stoning comes on the eve of an expected visit to Mali by French President Emmanuel Macron, who is due to meet French troops stationed there on Thursday or Friday.
Looting and attacks against security installations erupted overnight in the state of Tachira, which borders Colombia, authorities said. The state prosecution service said on Twitter the boy was killed "during a demonstration" there.

"I have ordered the transfer of 2,000 guards and 600 special operations troops" to Tachira, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on state television channel VTV.

Authorities said in a report on Wednesday that in Tachira some 20 shops, restaurants and a school were looted, two police stations set on fire and a military outpost attacked with firebombs over the previous night.

One military commander was hurt, it said.

Fernanda Carvalho, 53, told AFP virtually all the food was stolen from her bakery in San Cristobal.

"It felt like my world was falling in. There go years of work and investment," she said.

Deadly clashes

Clashes have erupted across the country during protests in anger at aduro's handling of an economic and political crisis.

The unrest has left 43 people dead since April 1, prosecutors say. Two of those people died in Tachira on Monday.

Protesters blame Maduro for an economic crisis that has caused shortages of food and medicine. They are demanding early elections and accuse him of trying to cling to power.

Maduro has accused the opposition of plotting a coup against him with US backing.

"We cannot call these demonstrations. These are subversive actions... which are now verging on armed insurgency," said Padrino, who as well as defense minister is also commander of the armed forces.

He accused the opposition of trying to start a civil war and wanting "to turn Venezuela into another Syria."

"We will not let the homeland fall into chaos," he said.

'Humanitarian crisis'

The UN Security Council was due to discuss the unrest in Venezuela on Wednesday, at the request of the United States.

"In Venezuela, we are on the verge of humanitarian crisis," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement ahead of the meeting.

"For the sake of the Venezuelan people, and the security of the region, we must work together to ensure Maduro ends this violence and oppression and restores democracy to the people."

Migrants expected

Brazil is making contingency plans for a possible influx of Venezuelan migrants, Brazilian Defense Minister Raul Jungmann told reporters Wednesday.

But he said that "as a gesture of good will" Brazil would send back its ambassador to Venezuela. The envoy was withdrawn last year in a political row.

"We cannot lose any opportunity to help mediate" in Venezuela's current crisis, Jungmann said.

Street protests

The government and the opposition have accused each other of sending armed groups to sow violence in the protests.

Police have fired tear gas and protesters have hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails in near-daily clashes.

Analysts say street protests are one of the few means the opposition has left to pressure Maduro.

Doctors and nurses in white overalls demonstrated in Caracas on Wednesday to denounce a crisis that has left hospitals desperately undersupplied.

"We don't want weapons! We want medicine!" they yelled.

Maduro fired health minister Antonieta Caporale last week after her ministry released figures showing infant deaths soared 30 percent last year.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested Iran's foes would be deterred from pursuing regime change if they saw voters flock to the ballot boxes in Friday's poll.

"American, European officials and those of the Zionist regime are watching our elections to see the level of participation," he said in quotes carried on his Telegram messenger account.

"The Iranian nation has enemies. Faced with the enemy, the people should show its determination and calm," he said.

But on the campaign trail, two starkly different visions of how that system will evolve have been on display.

President Hassan Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric, defended his international outreach, which included a nuclear deal with world powers that ended many sanctions in exchange for curbs to Iran's atomic programme.

Rouhani told his hardline opponents they were not equipped to continue his diplomatic efforts.

"You say you want to negotiate with the world, but you don't know how to speak the global language. You don't even know how to speak the language of your own people," he said at a rally in the northern town of Ardebil.

His hardline opponent, 56-year-old cleric Ebrahim Raisi, has vowed to stick by the nuclear deal, but said the government had made too many concessions to the West and failed to "cash the cheque" offered by the accord.

"A diplomacy of supplication will not solve our problems. We need a diplomacy of strength," he told supporters in Tehran, according to ISNA news agency.

Raisi said Iran's continued exclusion from international banking, despite the nuclear deal, was proof that Rouhani's diplomacy had failed.

"Some people say that if we're elected, the sanctions will return," said Raisi.

"But in what measure have the sanctions been lifted? The banking sanctions that were the most important are still in place."

Campaigning will draw to a close on Thursday morning, 24 hours before polls open.

Rouhani is still seen as the front-runner, though polling is unreliable in Iran.

Early election results are expected on Saturday.

The conservative-dominated Guardian Council selected six candidates to stand in the election but two have dropped out, effectively creating a two-horse race between Raisi and Rouhani.
The prosecutor's office said Wednesday that officials would "talk about the ongoing case," without providing further details.

The first press conference since September comes ahead of the Stockholm district court's examination of a demand by Assange's lawyers that Sweden drop his European arrest warrant.

Assange has been holed up inside the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012 trying to avoid extradition to Sweden to face the charges, which he denies and has called politically motivated.

He fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States to face trial for leaking hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents that first gained attention in 2010.

He has made numerous appeals to Swedish courts, including the Supreme Court, but has lost eight bids to cancel the arrest warrant.
Leigh Turner, London's envoy since August, has revealed that walking earlier this month in woods near Vienna he was chased by a "massive" specimen and sustained minor injuries.

Turning a corner, Turner found himself face-to-face with a group of "four or five hulking adults and countless piglets". He turned and walked slowly away.

"Moments later I hear a noise behind me like galloping horse, and turn to see a massive wild boar, head down, charging straight at me," Turner recounted on his blog on Monday.

Breaking into a run, Turner tried to escape by climbing a pile of tree trunks, but slipped on the wet wood, scratching and bruising himself in the process.

"By the time I turned round, the boar (no doubt thinking 'that's got rid of that swine') had trotted back to join the rest of the group, which was melting back into the forest," he said.

"All my minor injuries were self-inflicted: the boar never made contact."
The International Centre for Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East, known by the acronym SESAME, "is the first research centre of its kind in the region," said the royal court.

SESAME council president Chris Llewellyn Smith said the centre, located in Balqa province just northwest of Amman, was "the fulfilment of many hopes and dreams".

"The opening is an occasion to look forward to the science that SESAME will produce, using photons provided by what will soon be the world's first accelerator powered solely by renewable energy."

SESAME was set up on the model of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) -- Europe's top physics laboratory -- and construction work on the $100 million centre started in 2003.

It was developed under the auspices of UNESCO and officially came into existence in April 2004.

Jordan was chosen from among five countries for the project, which was funded mostly by the member countries and the European Union.

The project's website says that SESAME is a "third-generation" synchrotron light source aimed at promoting "scientific and technological excellence in the Middle East".

Its mission is to "prevent or reverse the brain drain by enabling world-class scientific research in subjects ranging from biology, archaeology and medical sciences."

SESAME also seeks to "build scientific and cultural bridges between diverse societies, and contribute to a culture of peace through international cooperation in science," the website says.

Among the project's members are arch-rivals Israel and Iran, in addition to Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority.

Despite their deep hostilities, experts from Israel and Iran have served two-year terms as vice presidents of the SESAME council.

In 2010, one Iranian member of SESAME, Majid Shahriari, was killed in Tehran, with Iran accusing Israel of assassinating the nuclear scientist.

Seyed Mahmoud Reza Aghamiri served as vice president from December 2011 to May 2014 when Eliezer Rabinovici, a physics professor at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, replaced him.

Members Cyprus and Turkey also do not have diplomatic relations, like Iran and Israel.

The centre also has 17 observers, who have an advisory role and include the European Union, China and the United States.

The Jordanian king was given a tour of the facility on Tuesday and was briefed on the technology used there, the royal court said in a statement.

Synchrotron uses a high-resolution X-ray to delve below the surface and identify minute details.

The centre has three accelerators that can propel electrons up to 2.5 billion electron volts.
The grant, to be doled out over five years through a combination of cash and services, is aimed at helping the rights office aggregate and analyse data on global abuses.

But the UN office also made clear that it wants to ramp up private sector donations to help fill perpetual funding gaps as support from member-states becomes increasingly uncertain, especially as major donor Washington is threatening deep cuts.

"I hope this is just the beginning of something much bigger," UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

The rights office has historically received almost no private support, a far cry from larger UN bodies like the children's agency UNICEF.

Deepening ties with major corporations like Microsoft could bring a series of conflicts for the rights office, as it is often compelled to speak out on issues like labour rights and data privacy.

But Peggy Hicks, the director of thematic engagement at the UN agency said it would never remain silent in order to preserve a financial relationship.
Russell Construction is proposing plans to build a new corporate headquarters for another Quad-City company on the vacant site adjacent to Western Illinois University's campus on the Moline riverfront.

The proposed plan by the Davenport-based construction firm calls for a modern headquarters on the 8-acre, undeveloped parcel owned by the city of Moline. It was unveiled Tuesday to Renew Moline's Project Management Team, or PMT, by Caitlin Russell, the company's project developer.

"The tenant wants to keep quiet for now," she said, declining to identify the client except to say it is an existing Quad-City company with 300 employees. She added the client hopes to break ground in the spring 2018 after completing negotiations with the city. It would move into the building in 2019.

Ray Forsythe, the city's planning and development director, told the PMT board that Russell Construction was the only company to respond to the city's request for proposal for a master developer for the site. He said that under the proposal, the corporate headquarters would occupy the remainder of the former industrial property that is city-owned.

"We had a lot of people call," he said, adding that he suspects that since the state's financial situation has slowed growth of the new Western Illinois campus, other developers may have turned away.

"But the one response we got is really exciting,'' he said. "Our focus has been on keeping downtown diversified. We don't want to be all residential, office or bars. Then, as the economy changes, you're not so reliant on one sector."

Russell said the project, still in the conceptual stage, includes one 60,000-80,000 square-foot building. "It is going to be contemporary and have a lot of amenities for their business, such as a fitness center, cafe, and be pedestrian-friendly. They want it to be something cool and know it's important to their employees."

She added that the client considered other locations across the Quad-Cities before deciding on the Moline site.

"There's a lot of development and growth going on in downtown Moline and it's awesome to see growth on the other side of I-74," Russell said.

According to Forsythe, another headquarters and the influx of 300 workers would benefit the downtown's existing restaurants, bars and retail tenants. "We think this is a great fit," he said. It would join Deere & Co., Kone's North American headquarters, and United Health Care as a major downtown employer.

In addition, he said Russell Construction already is an active developer in downtown Moline with a number of projects underway.

Caitlin Russell said the firm, founded by her father Jim Russell, currently is the contractor on The Element Hotel being developed by The Amin Group. It also is partnering with The Amin Group on the renovation of the former Chase Building into new housing, and is developing the new Overlook Village, a retirement living project in partnership with Dial Cos. and Harrison Street atop the hill that once was home to Moline Public and Lutheran hospitals. Russell Construction also owns the Avadyne Health offices that it built last year on Avenue of the Cities in Moline.

Forsythe said the new proposal differs widely from those of Three Corners Development, the original master developer. The Orland Park, Illinois-based developer had plans for a $100 million mixed-use project, that included student housing, a grocery store, and other retail.

But he said Three Corners and the city could not come to an agreement on a parking deck. "Moline already has three parking decks and the city council couldn't see taking on the responsibility of a fourth parking deck," he said.

The company did build the Mills at Riverbend Commons, a student housing and retail development, as it promised in Phase I, Forsythe added. It still owns adjacent property where it has had plans to build additional housing.
The Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded Churches United of the Quad-City Area a $2,000 grant to support community service programs. With grant funding, Churches United will continue to provide critical services relating to hunger, shelter and financial assistance to those in need.
A Rock Island man accused of killing Eleanor and Steve Conwell Sunday night made his first appearance on the charges Wednesday at the Rock Island County Justice Center.

John Patrick Conwell, 39, dressed in yellow jail garb and handcuffed at the wrists and ankles, asked Judge Norma Kauzlarich several times about getting his $5 million cash-only bond reduced.

At one point during the brief hearing, he asked if he could be released on his own recognizance.

Never in a million years, Mr. Conwell, the judge said.

Conwell is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Eleanor, his grandmother, and Steve, his uncle.

Police were called at 7:54 p.m. Sunday to the 1200 block of 29th Street for a welfare check and found the bodies of the Conwells.

Prosecutors allege in charging documents that John Conwell "knowingly and without justification" struck Eleanor and Steve Conwell, 90 and 69 respectively, in the head and cut their throats.

Their deaths resulted from "exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty," according to the documents.

Preliminary results of an autopsy conducted in Dixon, Illinois, Tuesday reveal that the Conwells died from blunt trauma to the head and stab wounds to the neck, Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson said.

John Conwell was arrested Monday afternoon in the area of 2nd and Ripley streets in Davenport. He waived extradition Tuesday and was taken to the Rock Island County Jail.

John Conwell faces life in prison if convicted.

When asked by Kauzlarich Wednesday if he understood the charges and the penalties he faced, John Conwell said, I dont agree with it.

The judge appointed a public defender to represent Conwell, who said he had not worked for two months.

He will be back in court May 30 for a preliminary hearing.
Bettendorf's bus ridership continues to drop, and with public transit becoming costlier, the City Council has elected to make changes to its current route structure to make the system more efficient.

Public Works Director Brian Schmidt presented the City Council with a recommendation Tuesday night after being tasked to evaluate existing ridership and improvements to what worked and failed under the current system, which was last changed in September 2015.

"It was evident we have not seen the increase in ridership that we expected," Schmidt said. "Over the past three fiscal years, we've seen a decline of 41 percent in our ridership data across the board."

The changes, which aldermen unanimously backed, include consolidating route five frequencies to operate on one-hour cycles versus a half-hour as well as combining route two and route three into a single route.

Schmidt said based on Bettendorf's proposed route changes, pending construction of the new Interstate 74 bridge as well as ridership data, MetroLINK, the Illinois Quad-City transit provider, has chosen not fund the additional bridge route.

That decision reduces the number of fixed routes from five to three in Bettendorf's system.

Bettendorf held two public meetings May 11 at which 20 people made comments regarding potential changes.

Besides riding on the bus, Schmidt said he used that information to tweak the time points on routes.

Lisa and Todd Collins, who submitted comments regarding the changes, asked the City Council to hold off because of the impact it would have on riders.

Lisa Collins said that based on the changes, she would have to leave her home around 6 a.m. to reach her job in Rock Island before 8 a.m.

"I would urge you to consider if there are other riders that are going to endure similar hardships in order to maintain their livelihood," Collins said.

Collins said her fear was that while the city tries to mitigate lost ridership, its new routes would exacerbate the problem by making it harder for residents to ride the bus.

Instead, she asked the city to look at a loop service with the city of Davenport and MetroLINK to hit the major stops.

Schmidt said that the three parties were already cooperating to provide such a service.

"I can assure you that myself, Davenport and MetroLINK are working together to get federal funding through the bridge from the (Department of Transportation) so that we can provide a shuttle service," Schmidt said.

While Bettendorf is open to the partnership, City Administrator Decker Ploehn said during the five years Bettendorf served as the lead when a loop system existed, ridership never reached a third of what it was expected to reach.

"While it may be unfortunate that these folks are not in the circumstance to be able to ride the bus in the system, numbers are not reflective of what's happening in the marketplace," Ploehn said. "It's not the direction the City Council gave us in goal setting, not the direction you gave us in budget and not the direction you should pursue."
The appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russias interference in the 2016 presidential election brought praise from Democrats in Congress, while a top Republican from Iowa whod previously expressed reservations about a special prosecutor nonetheless praised the selection of former FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Congressional Democrats representing the Quad-Cities have been calling for special counsel for weeks. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on Wednesday evening called it a critical step, but said he would withhold judgment pending its progress. Meanwhile, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., called the appointment a positive step to help protect our democracy.

Wednesday was a fast moving day of developments in the aftermath of disclosures that fired FBI Director James Comey had written memos detailing conversations with President Donald Trump.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, requested that the FBI turn over memos written by Comey relating to conversations he had with the president, as well as any memos pertaining to conversations with former President Obama.

The committee also asked the White House to provide any recordings, if they exist, detailing interactions with Comey that relate to the FBI's investigation into Russias role in the election  or Clinton email scandal.

Grassley and the committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, along with two other senators on the committee, made the requests in separate letters to the FBI and the White House.

The letters come on the heels of a New York Times report that Comey had written a memo detailing a conversation with the president in which Trump allegedly asked him to stop the inquiry into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Some Trump critics say the conversation with Comey was tantamount to obstruction of the FBI's investigation.

In a conference call with Iowa reporters on Wednesday, Grassley said he will exercise the committee's oversight responsibilities. "And as Ive said so often, we need to get the facts out in the open. We cant just rely upon selective leaks and reports."

Grassley also told reporters that if there was interference, "then it seems to me Comey should have taken action on that interference. Other Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, have questioned why Comey did not act on the issue.

Grassley added it was likely the Judiciary Committee would hold a hearing on the matter.

After the news of the appointment of the special counsel, Grassleys office issued a statement praising Mueller as a man with a strong reputation for independence. The Iowa Republican had earlier said that a special counsel would slow other investigations.

In his statement Wednesday evening, the senator said Congress would still have a role to play in bringing transparency to the American people.

In addition to the Judiciary Committee asking for evidence relating to Comey's interactions with the two presidents, the committee also asked for information on contacts with Justice Department officials in both administrations.

Democrats have seized on the revelations about Trump in the aftermath of his firing of Comey. Republicans, meanwhile, have continued asking questions about the FBI's investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server last year.

The Senate Intelligence Committee had already requested the Comey memos.

The Judiciary Committee letter to the White House, citing the Times article, said it "alleged that Mr. Comey had memorialized a conversation with the President in which the President made statements that have been interpreted as asking the FBI to clear Mr. Flynn of alleged wrongdoing. The article noted that Mr. Comey was known among his closest advisers to document conversations that he believed would later be called into question. Last week, the President tweeted a message implying that the White House may have audio recordings of interactions with Mr. Comey."

Ever since the tweet, Democrats and members of the news media have asking about the existence of such recordings, but the White House has not confirmed they exist.

Grassley and Feinstein asked for the information by next Wednesday. They were joined in the letters by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, who lead Judiciary's subcommittee on crime and terrorism.
Take two.

A month after putting up cameras on Davenport's Washington Street, technical issues prevented them from capturing footage of a reported shooting near the 1400 block of Washington Street last Wednesday.

Clay Merritt, capital budget analyst with the city of Davenport, confirmed the cameras were not functioning optimally Monday night during the Historic Washington Street Business Association meeting.

"All of the hardware and software components of the project have been completed and the footage is recording; however, it is not the usable quality that we are looking for due to circuit issues," Merritt said. "We are contracted with a vendor to provide the circuit/internet service and we are working with them to fix the issue."

No timetable was given for when the work will be completed.

While there were no reports of injury or property damage, the Davenport Police Department has made progress regarding the case.

Neighbors have been discussing rumors about what and how the shooting happened, so Lt. Kevin Smull gave the neighborhood an update.

"We have developed  the police department  suspects and appropriate charges should be coming through at a later time," Smull said. "I can assure you that the people involved in that incident were not from the neighborhood.

"Unfortunately, they met in traffic and that's what these individuals do when they don't like each other. Wherever they are it, when they have an opportunity, that's when they engage their confrontation."

After one of the meeting's attendees brought up another recent incident of a man waving a gun, Smull reminded the residents that despite the placement of cameras, the best course of action is to always contact the police.

"We will get up here as fast as we can," Smull said. "I'd rather have you call me wrong than not call me when right. The quickest way is always 911."

Anyone with information about criminal incidents can call the Davenport police anonymously at 563-326-6125, or submit a tip via the mobile app "CityConnect Davenport, IA."
Two federal lawsuits, both filed by parties trying to recover money lost in the failure of Valley Bank, formerly headquartered in Moline, have been dismissed.

However, a lawsuit alleging fraud and violations of Florida state securities laws is expected to move forward in Florida against River Valley Bancorp, the now-defunct bank holding company, and Larry C. Henson, former CEO of both the holding company and the bank.

Valley Bank, with offices in the Quad-Cities and elsewhere in Iowa and Florida, was shut down by federal regulators on June 20, 2014, because of its "critically deficient capital condition." The FDIC stepped in as receiver to protect depositors and arranged for Great Southern Bank to take over.

In the first of the lawsuits, a group of Florida businessmen claimed Henson induced them into a fraudulent investment scheme involving Valley Bank Florida in which they lost $1.85 million.

A federal judge ruled last month that the businessmen, identified as the Fernandez Group, had failed to prove federal securities violations, and dismissed that portion of the suit, remanding state securities laws violations back to state court.

In the second, bank holding company investors Brian Tugana, of Clinton, and Russell Weaver, formerly of Galesburg, Illinois, now living in The Villages of Florida, filed suit against the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., alleging the agency's negligence led to the bank's failure and their loss of investment.

They filed their suit in October 2016, about two months after the FDIC Office of the Inspector General issued a review critical of the FDIC's handling of Valley Bank.

Contacted by a reporter, Tugana said he knew that, "realistically, the lawsuit had a very slim chance  you can't touch the government."

The purpose was more about shedding light on what he calls "sloppy work" for which employees are not held accountable.

"Attention has to be drawn to this," Tugana said. "You see it in the VA (Veterans Administration) and the IRS. There needs to be reform. There needs to be accountability."

Here is a closer look at the cases:

Florida businessmen

The Fernandez Group claimed that in late 2012, CEO Henson approached them with a fraudulent scheme to raise $2.5 million.

Henson was desperate to sell the Florida bank, but in order to do so, he had to improve its appearance to potential suitors and financial regulators, according to the suit. He told the businessmen that the Florida bank's problems would be solved with a $4 million equity infusion, and he asked them for a little more than half of that in exchange for stock.

Once the sale/merger of the Florida bank went through, the men would get a "healthy return," Henson told them.

The investors ultimately agreed to a stock offering, financing it by mortgaging a piece of real estate in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to court documents. "Indeed, they agreed  as Henson had proposed  to secure a $2.5 million mortgage from Valley Illinois, River Valley Bancorp's other banking subsidiary," the judge's order states.

After the banks failed, the FDIC called in the mortgage, and the Fernandez group had to pay $1.85 million to get their property back, which is the amount of their claimed loss.

U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen M. Williams ruled last month that the Fernandez Group had failed to prove their federal claim.

"In federal securities litigation, courts universally acknowledge the truth that all securities frauds are bad deals, but not all bad deals amount to securities fraud. This case falls into the latter category," she wrote in her order.

She also noted that "a close examination of the ... allegations and the RVBC offering documents ... demonstrates that the (Fernandez Group) are not, in fact, complaining about the plan ... rather, (they) are complaining that their plan did not succeed."

She found that written documents explaining the stock offering warned of risks, including a statement printed in bold, capital letters that "the merits of the shares have not been passed upon by the SEC, Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC or any other federal or state agency."

She also noted that the group was familiar with the bank's problems and knew it was under "cease and desist" orders from the FDIC.

One investor in the Fernandez group, in fact, "served as a board director for seven years leading up to, and including, the events in this litigation and was well aware of Valley Florida's consent orders, capital requirements, and the fact that Valley Florida was subject to regular regulatory examinations," the judge wrote.

Contacted by a reporter, Jorge L. Guerra, attorney for the Fernandez Group, said he and his clients "are very happy being back in state court" where they hope to use the "same facts, the same claims, the same damages" to argue their case before a state jury.

Guerra filed a motion on Monday for a status conference to "set a schedule for moving the case forward."

Craig Sherman, a Florida lawyer representing River Valley Bancorp, said "we'll just have to see" what becomes of alleged state securities violations. "We've been successful so far."

Investors Tugana and Weaver

Tugana and Weaver alleged in their suit that the FDIC should be held accountable for the men's investment losses because it did not sufficiently rein in bank CEO Henson, whose risky business decisions led to the bank's failure.

Claiming negligence by the FDIC in allowing Henson to serve as CEO even though he had previously been convicted of a misdemeanor involving lending, the men asked for a judgment covering their losses of $4,838,500 and $2 million, respectively.

The issues of their case were not addressed by U.S. District Court Judge Sara Darrow, Rock Island, who dismissed the suit Friday, citing lack of jurisdiction.

The investors should have named the United States of America, not the FDIC, in their lawsuit, she wrote.

"A claim against a federal agency or employee as opposed to the United States itself must be dismissed for want of jurisdiction," she wrote, quoting case law. "Describing the FDIC as an agent of the United States does not make the United States a defendant."

She also ruled that time has expired to file a correct claim.

The FDIC does not comment on litigation, David Barr, FDIC representative, said.
The Iowa Department of Transportation said Wednesday that it has awarded the contract to build the new Interstate-74 bridge to Wisconsin-based Lunda Construction Co.

The DOT said the contract is for about $322.1 million. The next lowest bid was at $357.8 million.

It's not clear yet precisely when work on the bridge will begin. Sam Shea, a transportation planner for the Iowa DOT, said Wednesday he had not seen a schedule yet, but that work likely would begin in the Mississippi River by sometime next month. "I imagine they'll have quite a bit of staging to do," he said. Most of it will be in downtown Bettendorf.

Shea said people will likely see barges in the river fairly quickly, but that as far as anything being erected in the water, that is likely a few months away.

Construction of the bridge is expected to take three years. Much of the impact to traffic will be in 2019 and 2020. The project consists of two bridges, each about 3,400 in length, with two 795-foot basket handle arches over the Mississippi River navigational channel.

Selecting a contractor is a key milepost in the Interstate-74 corridor project, which has been in the planning stages for years.

Lunda, which is based in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday afternoon. But the company's web site cited work it's done on a number of bridges in Wisconsin and Minnesota, including in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Lunda was founded in 1938. It's now a subsidiary of Tutor Perini, a large construction firm based in the Los Angeles area.

The $322 million bid came in significantly less than the DOT had anticipated. It had estimated that the I-74 project would cost between $400 million and $450 million, which included a viaduct and off-ramp over downtown Bettendorf estimated at about $30 million. A contract for that work has not been announced yet, Shea said.

Despite the savings, the project still is the largest contract the state DOT has ever awarded, Shea said. He added the local share of the contract's cost came in somewhat higher than expected, but he did not have a figure available Wednesday afternoon. The cities of Moline and Bettendorf are responsible for those costs.

Bettendorf City Administrator Decker Ploehn said Wednesday the city was expecting to pay $14 million for its share. "I think this is up a couple hundred thousand over that," he said.

Ploehn said he didn't consider it a major problem, but that the city is talking to the DOT about why it happened and is hoping to lower the amount.

Wednesday's award is the first of a number of I-74 related contracts that will be handed out this summer.

The state of Illinois is expected to award a contract in June for work from the river to 7th Avenue in Moline, which will include the viaduct over downtown and street improvements to accommodate the interchanges. That's estimated at $120 million. Then, probably in September, contracts will be awarded for work on the interstate from 7th Avenue to just south of Avenue of the Cities, as well as street improvements, including reconstruction of 19th Street. That work has been estimated at $128 million.
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SIOUX FALLS | Authorities have captured a state prison inmate who escaped after leaving a minimum-security facility in Rapid City without authorization earlier this month, but another inmate remains on the loose.

Corrections officials say Calvin McCloskey and Dylan Fast Horse went missing from the Rapid City Community Work Center on May 7. McCloskey was apprehended in Minnehaha County on Tuesday, but Fast Horse remained at large Wednesday.

Separately, the American News reports that the Brown County Sheriff's Office also was looking for an inmate. Twenty-year-old Joseph Pahl didn't return from a treatment program Monday evening.
PIERRE | State governments new panel that oversees teacher salaries in South Dakotas public schools decided Tuesday to revisit one piece of a package of proposed rules.

The School Finance Accountability Board met by teleconference, in response to action May 1 by the Legislatures Rules Review Committee. That day, legislators, on a 3-2 vote, told the board to try again.

The committees lawyers  Sen. Lance Russell, R-Hot Springs; Rep. Steven Haugaard, R-Sioux Falls; and Sen. Craig Kennedy, D-Yankton  want "appeal" better defined.

Board member Patrick Weber volunteered Tuesday to speak with the committees leaders. Weber, an aide to the governor and a lawyer, wants to understand why the rules got hung up.

Im a little concerned we dont have enough clarity, Weber said.

The consensus among board members Tuesday became that the state education secretary would decide appeals. I just dont know where wed send it otherwise, said Eric Stroeder, a board member from Mobridge.

The five board members agreed they would hold a public hearing at 1 p.m. June 29.

Weber said his conversations with legislators would include fact finding. I want to have some more clarity from them if thats the solution they seek, Weber said about the proposal to assign appeals to the secretary.

Tami Darnall, the fiscal officer for the department, asked that she or another person from the department be part of any conversation that Weber has with a legislator.

Melody Schopp currently is secretary. She has served in that role since December 2010, when then Gov.-elect Dennis Daugaard appointed her as an interim replacement for Tom Oster, who wasnt retained.

Schopp was deputy secretary when Daugaard appointed her. Daugaard also named an advisory panel to assist in the search for a permanent secretary. He ultimately chose her.

The Legislature created the School Finance Accountability Board in 2016, as part of the package of changes that raised South Dakotas sales and use tax to 4.5 percent and dedicated some of the money for raising teacher compensation.

The rules proposed by the board this year include a process for school districts to submit waiver requests to the department. A waiver would grant an exemption to a school district from one or more of the salary-increase requirements.

The waiver requests would go to the board for its recommendations. The boards recommendations would then be transmitted to the Legislatures appropriations committee for approval or denial.

Those decisions by legislators would be final, according to the proposed rule.

But the lawyers on the legislative Rules Review Committee wondered whether the appropriators decisions could still be appealed to circuit court. State law provides court appeals for many administrative decisions.

One question, raised in this instance, is whether legislators on the appropriations committee would be acting on the waiver requests in an administrative role or in their constitutional authority as legislators.

A related question is whether the appropriations committee could speak for the full Legislature. The appropriations committee has nine senators and nine representatives. The Legislature has separate chambers with 35 senators and 70 representatives.

Also unclear is timing of when the education secretary would get the waiver requests.

Schopp, a former elementary teacher and school board member for nine years at Lemmon, worked her way to the top during the 18 years shes been at the state Department of Education.

She began as a roving tech chick that went town to town, teaching school personnel to use new computer and video-conferencing systems, during then-Gov. Bill Janklows late-1990s-era wiring program.

She kept rising during the subsequent administration of then-Gov. Mike Rounds from 2003 through 2010. She eventually reached division director for the departments office of accreditation and teacher quality, and then became deputy secretary.
What? Again?

Last week, Gov. Daugaard ordered immediate cuts in state agency budgets because tax receipts this year have come up short by 10-15 million bucks. In his typical caretaker-like fashion, the governor is being reactive when what we need is pro-active leadership.

The chronic problem with the falloff in sales tax receipts in this state isn't likely to get solved by doing nothing but cutting overhead, or, more to the point, by standing around and crossing our fingers that grain and livestock prices will reverse course, go significantly higher and pull enough revenue into this state to get cash streams flowing again.

This rather calcified process that masquerades as policy has been the bane of the Daugaard administration for years now. In 2014, state forecasts for sales taxes fell significantly short of estimates  much as they have this year  with no relief in sight in 2017 beyond the hope of a strong tourist season bringing in a surge of cash to help state government pay its bills.

Even should this occur, we're continuing to rely on broad economic and market forces beyond our control to determine our state's fiscal destiny. Twice now in the past three years forecasters have gotten it wrong and there's no reason to expect their crystal balls will get any more prescient.

Meantime, our sales tax revenue fluctuates with the whims of the commodity markets, which seems amazingly inefficient considering that taxation based on personal income would probably be a much more stable alternative. The agriculture sector in South Dakota now has 76 percent less money to spend than it did in 2011  to the tune of around $3 billion. That debacle, as noted by our elected officials, is probably most responsible for our sales tax woes.

Meantime, I was startled to discover in a report from the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis that our personal income  derived from a wide array of non-ag related businesses in South Dakota  during the decade from 2006-2016 grew at a compound annual rate of 4.2 percent, substantially faster than the U.S. rate of 3.5 percent.

We're too self-fixated on our status as a state with no income taxes, as I often hear. But I think some comprehensive tax reform that reduces sales taxes, puts a freeze on property taxes with strict limitations on annual increases, and initiates a progressive tax on income, both personal and corporate, merits consideration.

Ideally, it would result in a tax shift, not a tax increase. Using U.S. Census Bureau data, the financial information website 24/7 Wall Street reports that income growth in South Dakota households from 2011-2015 ranged from 5 percent in the middle levels to nearly 10 percent in the upper.

The story lists South Dakota as one of the nine states in the country where the middle class is being left behind, income growth (subject of another column) disparity being a good reason why. Given the trend, a graduated income tax seems like a reasonable way to expect people making good money here to bear their share of the burden, which they now escape given our regressive and bumpy sales tax-dependent system.

The dots between tax fairness and smoother government revenue streams look connectable to me.
The fate of a long-delayed $11 million project to pave a gravel road in the central Black Hills may finally be decided next month.

The Pennington County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday to hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. June 7 to decide whether to continue the project or scrap it altogether. Commissioners Lloyd LaCroix and Deb Hadcock cast "nay" votes after saying they preferred it be held May 24.

The meeting, which will take place in the Commission Chambers within the County Administration Building at 130 Kansas City St., is open to the public.

Residents will have the chance to weigh in on the proposed pavement project, which would stretch for nearly 11 miles between the intersections of Rochford and North Rochford roads and South Rochford Road and North Shore Trailhead.

It has been in the works since 2005, when the county received a federal grant to fund it.

If the commission decides to move forward, the county must be in the midst of right-of-way land acquisition  buying the land where the work will be done  by December 2018, according to the federal grants stipulations.

On the other hand, if commissioners nix it the county would be responsible for repaying about $1.26 million to the federal government that it has already spent on the project. Pennington County was originally awarded $8.1 million through a federal highway bill for the project.

At Tuesdays meeting, Thomas Wilsey, highway superintendent for Pennington County, notified the commission that the county would not be able to repurpose the federal funds for another project in the area.

The commission had raised that idea at its April 18 meeting and voted to send a letter to the states U.S. congressional delegation requesting that the county be allowed to keep the federal money for a separate project.

Wilsey, in a May 16 memo to the commissioners, said the 2017 Appropriations Act, which recently passed through Congress, stipulated that less than 10 percent of the earmarked money must be spent on the project to be eligible for repurposing. To date, 15.5 percent of the funds have been spent on the project.

Moments later, Mark Haugen, a field representative for U.S. Sen. John Thunes office, said he had been notified that there was still a way to repurpose the funds.

Your options are still open, Haugen said. The federal highway administration has come up with a work-around to allow states to essentially pay back this money, do the additional work, (and then) repurpose.

Commissioner Ron Buskerud, who called the decision to move forward with the project a foregone conclusion after hearing Wilseys explanation of the Appropriations Act stipulations, said Haugens new information completely changed things in his mind.

Commissioner George Ferebee agreed.

This is a huge, huge decision for the county, Ferebee said. I think before we take that fork in the road, we have to get Mr. Jundt to come lay out specifically at this point in time what our options are.

Joel Jundt is the deputy secretary of the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

A few people who live or own property near the proposed project said the commission needs to hear the voices of its constituents before making a decision.

I dont think it changes the position that the residents should be able to speak for or against the road, Sue Schwaneke, who owns property along South Rochford Road, told the commission.

I think the commission needs to be able to hear what the people in the area want. Its only fair to the residents that they be given the opportunity to speak for a project that was promised 13 years ago.

The road," she later added, "is in horrible condition.
Russian government approves list of facilities protected by National Guard

MOSCOW, May 17 (RAPSI)  The government has approved a list of facilities which are subject to protection of the Russian National Guard.

The relevant decree signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has been published on the official website of legal information.

The list includes buildings of Russias Supreme Court, the Moscow City Court, the Supreme Court of Crimea and Sevastopol City Court. The National Guard is also ordered to protect facilities of the Prosecutor Generals Office, the Investigative Committee, the Foreign Ministry, election commissions of Russias subjects in Crimea, Sevastopol and Republic of Chechnya. Residence of Presidential Envoy to the North Caucasian Federal District has been also added to the protection list.

Under the order, the Russian National Guard is obliged to protect objects of financial organizations including Bank of Russia, VTB and Vnesheconombank, the Audit Chambers building, facilities belonging to the Russian Academy of Sciences, international airports of the North Caucasian Federal District and airport in Simferopol.

Moreover, a range of cultural objects including Novodevichy Convent, state museums and libraries will be put under the National Guards protection.

The federal law on the Russian National Guard was signed by President Vladimir Putin on July 4, 2016.
The 13th annual Media Arts Festival is a celebration of the excellent media created by MAPS students on Saturday, May 20, at the Pharaohplex Theatre in Hamilton.

The program is also celebrating Awards of Excellence nominations from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, North West.

The family-friendly Media Arts Festival is free, open to the public and the celebration of another successful year of the MAPS After School Program.

MAPS Executive Director Clare Ann Harff said the festival is a showcase event.

It is empowering for the student directors and editors to present their work on the big screen with a captive audience, Harff said. The festival is a professional opportunity for MAPS students to present their creative media productions to their families, friends and the entire community.

MAPS students learn the media arts skills of graphic design, filmmaking, music production, technology and entrepreneurship but also learn the soft skills that are needed for success in life like how to be dependable, communicate ideas, develop creative skills and practice collaboration. Students gain skills and self-confidence.

MAPS directly served over 130 Ravalli County students in their afterschool programming this school year. Additional students were served through classroom visits and collaborative projects with individual teachers like workshops with Hamilton Middle School Gifted and Talented class. Indirectly, MAPS reaches thousands of students via student projects.

The MAPS program has received many awards for its creative educational programming and productions.

This year MAPS has received five Awards of Excellence nominations from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, North West. MAPS is the only program representing Montana in the Pacific Northwest competition this year. The winners of these nominations will be announced in June.

According to Harff five nominations is an impressive accomplishment.

These honors are the equivalent of student EMMY awards, Harff said. What make these accolades somewhat extraordinary is that MAPS students are competing with young filmmakers from much larger and better funded states like Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

MAPS film instructor Dru Carr said he is proud of the students for receiving the nominations.

Our priority goals are for the students are to tap into their creative potentials, learn how to work with others, problem-solve and, most of all, to have fun, Carr said. Our secondary goal is to make excellent media art. These nominations tell us were all doing our jobs and making films with artistic and social value. Thats incredibly rewarding for students and our entire organization.

The nominated productions are a documentary about the St. Marys Mission and the 175th Founders Day Anniversary (by Lucas Laparra and Josephine Lang), a music video called Everybody needs Love (by Lucas Laparra and Galen Brush) and three public service announcements  MAPS Recruitment Film (by Whitney Wyche and Nick West), Hamilton Farmers Market (by Lucas Laparra) and MAPS Recruitment Photo Montage (by Sebastian Johnson).

The MAPS Media Institute faced hardship this year when Peter Rosten, who founded the program in 2004, passed away mid-April.

Montana Governor Steve Bullock posthumously awarded Rosten the 2017 Montana Ambassador Outreach Ambassador of the Year Award. Montana Ambassadors are leaders in business, education and government dedicated to living and doing business in Montana and furthering the best interests of the state. Rosten joined the non-profit organization of volunteers two years ago.

Peter Rosten was always willing to share his talents to make the world around him a better place, Governor Bullock said. From fighting childhood hunger to fostering a brighter future for Montana kids by opening doors of imagination and possibility, Peters impact on Montana will be felt far into our future.

Last September, Rosten called MAPS the most fulfilling professional experience of his life.

I had a very good career for 35 years in Hollywood, he said. It does not come close to what MAPS delivers every day in personal satisfaction.

The MAPS program continues strong under the leadership of Harff.

As the afterschool programming comes to a conclusion this week the program staff is gearing up for the four-week summer program that runs July 10 - August 4. For more information about the summer program call 406-381-7230 or visit mapsmediainstitute.com.

Help celebrate and further media arts learning by attending the Media Festival this Saturday at the Pharaohplex Theatre, 582 Old Corvallis Rd, Corvallis. The doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the films will roll noon to 1 p.m. The event concludes with a pie potluck at the MAPS campus at 515 Madison Street in Hamilton.
Somewhere around the 25th floor, air becomes precious.

Thats about when I start fighting for every breath, said Hamilton Fire Chief Brad Mohn. The masks deprive you of air and it really starts to hurt.

Its not unlike the struggles those afflicted with cystic fibrosis face in their battle against the life-threatening disease.

For the fourth year in a row, Mohn will join a crew of four Hamilton volunteer firefighters to take part in the annual Portland Firefighter Stairclimb that raises funds to pay for research seeking a cure.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive disease that causes persistent infections in the lungs and limits a persons ability to breathe over time.

The Portland Stairclimb is one of several Cystic Fibrosis climbs held all over the country to raise money to pay for research.

Unlike most, the climb in Portland is limited to current and retired firefighters who race up the 40 flights and 800 stairs of the U.S. Bancorp Tower building. Each firefighter is outfitted in about 70 pounds of gear, including the self-contained breath apparatus commonly used in the line of duty.

The Portland Stairclimb was founded by a retired firefighter named Wes Loucks after both of his grandsons were born with cystic fibrosis.

Since 2009, the event has raised over $900,000.

Mohns daughter, Brittany, was 17 years old when she died from complications of the disease.

After several years of grieving, Mohn said he decided he wanted to be part of finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.

Since that day, other Hamilton firefighters have stepped forward to train and participate in the strenuous stair climb with him. They dedicate their climb to someone in the community fighting their own battle with cystic fibrosis.

Every year, we try to pick someone in the valley and we climb for them, Mohn said.

This year, theyll honor six-year-old Piper Heinz of Victor.

Pipers mother, Virginia, said its hard to find the right words to show her familys appreciation for what the firefighters plan to do.

I guess the closest word that I can find to describe them is family or hero, Heinz said. I consider every one of these incredible people as family. I am forever grateful for the fight they give, not only for our community, but also to the special ones like my daughter and others who are fighting a battle for life.

One day, because of them, there will be a cure that will save our little girl and so many others with cystic fibrosis, Heinz said. You are all heroes and now family to us.

This years team from Hamilton consists of Mohn, Tony Sisson, Scott Turner and Jeff Burrows.

The Portland event will be held on Sept. 24th.

Before that, the firefighters will host two local fundraising events.

On June 22, the fourth annual pint night will be held at the Higher Ground Brewery in Hamilton from 4 to 8 p.m. The event includes an auction.

On July 29, the second annual firefighters dodgeball tournament will be held at Red Sox Field in Hamilton.

Firefighters from all the different fire departments in the Bitterroot Valley compete dressed in their full firefighting gear. Last year, the Ravalli County Sheriffs Office also fielded a team dressed in their riot gear.

People can also donate directly to each of the participating firefighters by going to the Hamilton Fire Departments Facebook page and clicking on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation link.

Last year, the team raised nearly $15,000 for the cause.

Every year, we seem to raise a little bit more, Mohn said. The community has always been very supportive. We appreciate that.
Superintendent Lance Pearson said Victor School District is making cuts after the failure of a proposed $196,000 general fund operating levy May 2.

Teachers will be impacted in the form of higher insurance deductibles, Pearson said.

Certified staff will take a significant reduction in their insurance benefits which amounted to about a $60,000 change, Pearson said. That helps us and there are some smaller changes were going to make and with that we are going to be able to balance our budget.

The day after the levy failure Pearson predicted that students would feel the impact with less staff and fewer programs but the teachers said they did not want to see any positions cut and made the sacrifice.

Thats based on the fact that they want the best education for the kids at Victor, he said. When you start cutting positions it doesnt make for a well rounded education and we want our kids to have access to art, music and all the bells and whistles.

Victor has seen two years of declining enrollment and increased insurance costs. The enrollment numbers is the basis for funding from the Montana legislature. Victor remains at the 80 percent adequate funding with no additional tax monies from local landowners.

For the last two years the Victor school has made staff reductions by not replacing retiring teachers.

No program or staff cuts will be made this year thanks to the willingness of teachers to take the personal loss it is a cost difference of $1,000 deductible verses now $2,600 deductible making it similar to across the board pay cuts.

This is a huge shout-out to all our teachers for choosing this, Pearson said.

Programs will remain strong and changes will get the school through the reduction of funding for the coming school year.

Pearson said he hopes enrollment numbers bounce back.

We had a big year with our high school. We had quite a few kids come in to the high school this year and that helps, he said. We could have a big kindergarten class come in. We value every student.

Pearson encourages parents to register their students to attend Victor school.
BILLINGS  A Crow Agency woman admitted she stored, distributed and helped launder money for a cartel that brought pounds of methamphetamine from California to Montana.

Mary Rock Big Man, 36, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Billings on Wednesday to two counts in an indictment. She admitted to possession with intent to distribute meth and to conspiracy to launder money.

Rock Big Man is the fourth of nine defendants indicted to admit charges in which prosecutors said drug traffickers conspired to bring meth to Billings, Lockwood and Crow Agency for redistribution from about 2014 until 2016.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan McCarthy said an investigation by state and federal drug task force officers identified Rock Big Man as a local dealer for others who were transporting multi-pound quantities of meth from San Jose, California.

Law enforcement arrested Rock Big Man in September 2016 on an outstanding warrant and found meth on her person, McCarthy said. Co-defendant Kevin Torres-Ochoa also was present when she was arrested.

Rock Big Man admitted she had been distributing meth for the cartel and identified a leader, McCarthy said.

About a month later, agents executed a search warrant at Rock Big Mans residence and found digital scales. She and Torres-Ochoa both were present.

Rock Big Man told agents in an interview that she had met Torres-Ochoa, with whom she had a relationship, through a friend and that Torres-Ochoa had introduced her to two other men who were dealing meth.

Rock Big Man started getting small amounts of meth from the men, then began distributing, storing and packaging the drug. She also allowed the men to store a safe containing meth at a storage unit business in Hardin where she worked, McCarthy said. She estimated she helped in storing five pounds of meth for the organization.

In addition, Rock Big Man admitted to trying to wire $3,500 in cash proceeds to a person in the organization but was unsuccessful. She then opened an account at Wells Fargo Bank so the money could be transferred, he said.

Rock Big Man faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine on the drug count. She also faces the forfeiture of firearms recovered from her residence.

Others convicted in the case include Tomi Leah Gray, Christina Kamran-Kohnjani and Sadey Kust-Myers. Co-defendants who have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial include Jonary David Santos-Antunez, Torres-Ochoa, Joshua Lee Hagan, Jason Earl Nelson and Marisa Ann Lyman.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan said he would recommend that Rock Big Mans guilty plea be accepted by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters. Watters will set a sentencing date. Rock Big Man remains in custody.
Mrs. Pelosi. To her right is Alanna Teplitz, the US Ambassador. Judging by the shape of the table, this was on US turf, not Nepali. Mrs. Pelosi is continuing the USA emphasis on Human Rights and inclusiveness.

Last week, a U.S. bipartisan Congressional delegation, led by Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, visited Nepal, its PM and the Dalai Lama at his headquarters in Dharmsala, India. The delegation visited Nepal, India, Belgium and Germany, with a focus on bilateral and multilateral relations, global economy, human rights and national security.

On May 4th, Delegation leader, Nancy Pelosi stated; Our bipartisan delegation travels at a vital time in the U.S. relationship with India, Nepal and our NATO partners. The delegation through its meetings looked 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.

Nepal will hold elections in two phases May 14th and June 14th. The visit took place at a time when Nepal and the US are marking the 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. The visit also marks the importance the US attaches to its relations to Nepal, a senior foreign ministry official said.

Delegation members visited Karkhana Entrepreneurship, a USAID-supported facility that offers educational opportunities for girls and young women who are seeking to become Nepals next generation of entrepreneurs. The Delegation also championed bilateral trade & political stability with the President, Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister in Nepal. The visit to Dharmsala with the 81 year old Dalai Lama sends a strong message to the Tibetan people that the United States care deeply about Tibet, and it also reminds China that as long as the Tibetan issue remains unresolved, the international community will continue to put the spotlight on it.

Our bipartisan delegation visited His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in a spirit of faith and peace. They came to be inspired by His Holiness and demonstrate our commitment to the Tibetan people, to their faith, their culture and their language. While Chinese officials and citizens can freely travel to the United States, American citizens wishing to visit Tibet do not enjoy a similar access. The premise of the bill is if China continues to deny access to American citizens into Tibet.

Upon return, delegation leader Pelosi shared their trip was one that revealed certain truths, to us. I considered the trip constructive, bridge-building, and we want to continue building that bridge through reconciliation and clearer understanding. Other highlights include:

US Ambassador in Nepal

Ambassador Teplitz is a career diplomat with the State Department, having been in Afghanistan prior to this current posting. Alaina B. Teplitz, a career Foreign Service officer, was nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to Nepal in March, 2015. Teplitz went on to Georgetown University where she earned a B.A. in Foreign Service and joined the State Department in 1991.

Her first overseas assignment was as the first economic office in the U.S. embassy in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Other early postings include Tirana, Albania; and Sydney, Australia.

Much of Teplitzs career has been in administration, including stints as special assistant to the assistant secretary for administration and as a program analyst in the Bureau of Administration.

She was also a management counselor at the embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh and was deputy director of the Joint Administrative Services for three U.S. missionsthe U.S. mission to NATO, the U.S. mission to the European Union, and the embassy in Brussels, Belgium.

In August 2007, Teplitz began passing on her expertise to others as she made director of the Management Training Division of the Foreign Service Institute. She gained more experience with South Asia beginning in 2009 as deputy executive director of the joint executive office of the Near East and South and Central Asia Bureaus with responsibility for South and Central Asia, including Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Like most other Foreign Service officers, she had a tour in Afghanistan, beginning in 2011 as minister counselor for management in the U.S. embassy in Kabul. She returned home in the fall of 2012 and was made director of the Office of Management Policy, Rightsizing and Innovation.

Much of her work was with information technology systems, getting IT policies in international outposts to mesh with those prescribed by Washington, and other efforts at standardization to make the systems more efficient. Part of her mandate was also to look for cost-savings by contracting out some jobs and ensuring that missions were not overstaffed.
Guwahati : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday expressed happiness over the opening of prestigious National Film and Television Institute and Animation (NFTIA), Arunachal that has started teaching courses on film making since yesterday.

The institute, which is a sister branch of Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata has begun its classes from its temporary campus in Itanagar that has 25 students enrolled who are pursuing an initial ten-week course named as 'Journey to Cinema'.

This was informed by the SFRTI Director, Dr. Debamitra Mitra when she called on Chief Minister at his office to discuss on the newly functional institute in Arunachal accompanied by IPR Director, Obang Tayeng.

The Arunachal Pradesh CM had informed that the basic course involves cinematography, editing, sound designing and direction.

Khandu said the ambience in Arunachal provides best shooting spot and suggested the Director of SFRTI who is on her first visit to Arunachal to take more such visits to know Arunachal more.

He suggested the institute official to enroll as many students from Arunachal who are naturally gifted with creativity and felt that such institute would act as a catalyst to promote talent in different aspects of film making.

To help such youths who wants to explore in the field of creativity such as film making, Khandu informed that state government has come up with Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Swalamban Yojana to support funding for such projects.

Discussing on institute's permanent campus proposed at Jote, the Arunachal Pradesh CM informed that the construction work would start before September and meanwhile assured full support of the state government for efficient functioning of the temporary campus.

He also assured support for the institute in obtaining affiliation from a UGC recognized university for its degree courses and post graduate diploma course, which will be a value addition for the students.

Khandu emphatically said the film institute in Arunachal Pradesh is a very prestigious project for the state as it was announced in the budget 2017 and assured to extend all possible help from the state.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Guwahati : Assam Health and Family Welfare department on Tuesday ordered a probe against the persons who spreading rumours about a vaccine that could lead to infertility on social media which triggered panic among the people in many districts in lower Assam in past two days.

In past 48 hours, students of several government run schools in remote areas of Kamrup, Barpeta, Nalbari districts of lower Assam left school and taken away by their parents after the rumours.

Apart from the these districts, the rumours also triggered in Guwahati.

On Tuesday, students of a government run school at Notboma in the capital city of Assam left school following the rumours.

Following the incident, Assam Health department had ordered a high level probe into the issue.

Commissioner and Secretary of Assam Health department Samir Sinha said that, the state government has taken the matter very seriously and initiated a probe.

"The state government will take stern action against the persons who spreading the rumours among the people," Samir Sinha said.

"The state health department has already sent a letter to the DGP regarding this matter," Sinha said.

The state health department is carrying out a vaccination drive against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Morigaon, Nalbari, Bongaigaon and Cachar districts from April 30 to May 20.

There is no specific vaccination drives being carried out in schools, but the rumours triggered panic among the people specially in minority-dominated areas in the lower Assam districts.

Assam witnessed 779 deaths in JE between 2010 and 2016 and recorded 3391 positive JE cases during the period.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi

Rajbiraj, Nepal: The government has not only declared martyrs to those who were killed during clash with police in Rajbiraj of Saptari district but also provided cash incentive to their kith and kin.

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi handed over Rs 1 million each to kith and kin of five victims of Saptari incident, amid a program in Rajbiraj on Wednesday.

Continuing the tendency of declaring martyrs and handing over 1 million to the victims, who generally breathe their last during the course of clash with police no matter the violence would have motivated with vested interest of any political parties or groups, the government had already decided to declared the Saptari victims as a martyrs.

The government decision would pave the way to reach on consensus with the agitating Madhes based parties to take them into confidence to participate in the second phase of local level elections. But, such a tendency of declaring martyrs and distributing 1 million is highly criticized from different sectors.

Interestingly, the government has also announced to provide 1 million declaring them as martyrs even though who had died during the clash with police mobilized to mention security during elections.

Five persons were killed after police had opened fire at the protesters supporting United Democratic Madhesi Front. The police had opened fire after the protesters had tried to disrupt the CPN-UMLs function in Maleth VDC near Rajbiraj on March 6.
Chief Election Commissioner (ECE) Dr. Ayodhee Prasad Yadav

Kathmandu, Nepal: Chief Election Commissioner (ECE) Dr. Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has claimed that all the results of the first phase of local level elections would be finalized within a week.

CEC Yadav has made the claim while speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters Club Nepal in the Capital on Wednesday.

The claim of the CEC Yadav has come in the mean time when there are widespread criticisms for the snail pace vote counting process, which has not only irritated the voters to know about the results but also fueled various suspicions.

I am also highly concerned over the delay on the vote counting, so would like to assure all that the Election Commission (EC) would publish all the results of the first phase of local elections within a week, Yadav said.

There is possibility to publish results within a week as EC has already counted the ballot papers of 25 districts and managed additional staffers to expedite the vote counting process, Yadav said.

During the function CEC Yadav also urged all to hold patience for at least a week to know the results of the first phase of local polls.
China has installed rocket launchers on a disputed reef in the South China Sea to ward off Vietnamese military combat divers, according to a state-run newspaper, offering new details on China's ongoing military build-up.



China has said military construction on the islands it controls in the South China Sea will be limited to necessary defensive requirements, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory.



The United States has criticised what it has called China's militarisation of its maritime outposts and stressed the need for freedom of navigation by conducting periodic air and naval patrols near them that have angered Beijing.



The state-run Defence Times newspaper, in a Tuesday report on its WeChat account, said Norinco CS/AR-1 55mm anti-frogman rocket launcher defence systems with the capability to discover, identify and attack enemy combat divers had been installed on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands.



Fiery Cross Reef is administered by China but also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.



The report did not say when the defence system was installed, but said it was part of a response that began in May 2014, when Vietnamese divers installed large numbers of fishing nets in the Paracel Islands.



China has conducted extensive land reclamation work at Fiery Cross Reef, including building an airport, one of several Chinese-controlled features in the South China Sea where China has carried out such work.



More than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped through the South China Sea every year. Besides China's territorial claims in the area, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.

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Greetings! I am a political scientist , specializing in International Relations , my research and teaching focus on ethnic conflict and civil-military relations . I watch way too much TV, and I like movies as well so I tend to write about both and find IR stuff in pop culture. I rant alot about American politics and sometimes about Canadian politics. I like to take ideas I once learned a long time ago and apply them to whatever strikes my fancy.


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Starting with press secretary Sean Spicer insisting inaccurately that President Donald Trump drew record-setting inauguration crowds, top presidential advisers have provided information that is provably false or contradicted by others in the White House, including Trump himself. A look at some of the most credibility-damaging episodes:
Long Arm of the Law  1984

Coming a number of years before gritty action thrillers A Better Tomorrow (1986), City on Fire (1987) and Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (1993) to name a few. Long Arm of the Law (1984) would bring a more realistic view of criminal life to Hong Kong cinema screens and pave the way for celebrated filmmakers like Ringo Lam, John Woo and Kirk Wong.

The plot focuses on a gang of mainland thieves who have taken up temporary residence in Hong Kong to plot a robbery on a jewellery store. Each one of them plans on taking their ill gotten gains back to the mainland and living the life of rich men.

The majority of the cast is mainly made up bit players and amateur actors. The leader of the group is played by the excellent Lin Wei, who at this time was mainly a stunt performer with the odd small role thrown in.

The film gave him a chance to prove how capable an actor he could be if given the opportunity. He never went on to be a major star but did get a number of larger roles of the back of Long Arm of the Law and can be seen in a major supporting role in Project A 2 (1987), acting alongside Andy Lau in Bloody Brotherhood (1989) and a rare lead role in the low budget Chinese Cop Out (1989).

The remainder of the gang are made up bit players, who surprisingly give raw and realistic performances that betray their lack of experience. The likes of Chan Ging can be spotted in a good deal of Hong films throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the most famous of these being the likes of Dragons Forever (1988) and Tiger Cage (1988), although in comparison to Long Arm of the Law his screen time is limited.

The same is true of Sum Wai who has fared slightly better, with his career spanning 4 decades, appearing in a number of Hong classics like Hong Kong Godfather (1985), Yes Madam (1986) and A Bloody Fight (1988). He even went on to have a small lived career as a director. The best of his films as director would have to be Triad Story (1990), an early Chow Sing Chi vehicle, which features the actor in a purely dramatic role.

Long Arm of the Law would mark the first, and to date only film to be directed by prolific producer Johnny Mak. At this point in his career he had already produced Crimson Street (1982), Lonely Fifteen (1982) and Possessed (1983), all from director David Lai.

He also produced Happy Sixteen (1982) and Everlasting Love (1984) during this time, both directed by his brother Michael Mak, who would eventually take over directing duties on the remainder of the Long Arm of the Law series.

Johnny Mak directs the on screen action in mainly realistic fashion. Even though the films employs the expertise of ace action director Billy Chan as well as the Sammo Hung Stuntmens Association, the violence in Long Arm of the Law is hard hitting and is far removed from the usual over the top action style of many Hong Kong action movies.

Considering the great performances he gets from his cast and how well he handles the on screen action, it is a surprise that Johnny Mak would not go on to further his career as a director, with him favouring the producers role.

In regards to producing, Johnny Mak would also produce the film along with Hong Kong superstar Sammo Hung. The film is far removed from the other films Hung worked on in this year, such as Pom Pom (1984) its sequel Return of Pom Pom (1984), Hocus Pocus (1984) and The Owl and Dumbo (1984). The only other film Hung was involved in at this time that comes close to this type of drama would be Hong Kong 1941 (1984), an early Chow Yun Fat vehicle set during the Second World War.

The overall plot of Long Arm of the Law may not be original, but the film has a lot to say about Hong Kong of the time and its residents. The script is a-credited to Philip Chan, an accomplished actor in his own right. Westerns fans of Hong Kong cinema would probably know him best as Inspector Tequilas boss from Hard Boiled (1992).

Chan has also worked as a director, with his most enjoyable features being the second part of the popular Pom Pom series, Return of Pom Pom, the Sammo Hung vehicle Wheres Officer Tuba (1986) and the comedy Inspector Chocolate (1986), starring comedy star Michael Hui, which Chan also wrote the script for,

As a script Writer, Long Arm of the Law is without doubt his best work, although his scripts for the likes of Night Caller (1985), Long Arm of the Law 2 (1987) and Edge of Darkness (1988) shouldnt be overlooked.

Long Arm of the Law 2  1987

Coming three years after the award winning original, Long Arm of the Law 2 is thematically a sequel, with no returning characters or plot points from the first film. It is every bit as violent and action packed as its predecessor, although it takes a more commercial approach to proceedings. The realistic action of the first film is now replaced with the more hyper-realised action of the many heroic bloodshed films that came in the wake of A Better Tomorrow.

The film is still an excellent Hong Kong action thriller, but does pale slightly to the original, with the social commentary of the first film being mainly absent this time round and more of a focus on comedy.

It also has more clearly defined good guys and bad guys, with the plot focusing on three police officers from the mainland who are coerced into becoming undercover cops. There is a recognisable rise in crime by illegal immigrants from the mainland, and it is up to our undercover agents to uncover who the mastermind is behind these crimes. However loyalties are tested and it is unclear who our heroes should really trust. This-results in an incredibly violent climax that no-one walks away from unscathed.

As mentioned previously, director Michael Mak would take over the series at this point. Although keeping a lot of the elements that made the original so successful, he does move the series more towards the mainstream, especially with the inclusion of several silly comedic moments and then the, admittedly excellent, over the top action.

Surprisingly, Long Arm of the Law 2 fared better financially than the original, although it wasnt awarded the same critical success.

Unlike the first film, the sequel would cast recognisable faces as the leads, who may not have been leading men at the time, but still appeared in their fare share of feature films. With this, the sequel does have one contributing factor that helps make it as worthwhile as the original, and that is its choice of leading man in Elvis Tsui Kam Kong.

Elvis Tsui should be recognisable to most Hong Kong cinema fans, with his most memorable films outside of the Long Arm of the Law series being Kirk Wongs Gunmen (1988), Taylor Wongs Sentenced to Hang (1989) and Prison on Fire 2 (1991).

Long Arm of the Law 2 would be one of Tsuis first leading roles, which was down to him meeting Michael Mak earlier and being offered a role in the film. Tsui has went on record, stating that this was the most important meeting of his career.

Tsui doesnt disappoint, giving a commanding performance, as well as performing well in the films action scenes. He would continue to work with both director Michael Mak and his brother Johnny throughout his career, with the most famous of these being erotic comedy Sex and Zen (1991).

As well as Tsui, the film features a supporting turn from Alex Man, who gives a typically great performance. Both he and Tsui create an affecting on screen relationship, which helps move the plot forward. At the time of production, Man would have been the more established actor, with him already appearing in over 20 films at this point in his career, dating back to the last 1970s.

Martial Artist Ben lam had appeared in the first Long Arm of the Law, although he plays a different character this time round. His character is one of the most affecting of the film, with him seemingly having a future to move on to when the mission is done. He also equips himself well in the violent action, with his physicality becoming evident as the scenes progress.

Original director Johnny Mak was still involved with the film, this time as one of the films producers. In addition to Long Arm of the Law 2, he would produce director Taylor Wongs gangster epics Rich and Famous (1987) and its sequel Tragic Hero (1987) in the same year.

His fellow producer on the film was Stephen Shiu Yeuk-Yuen, a long time associate of the Mak brothers, working with them on multiple occasions on such films as Moon, Star, Sun (1988), Sentenced to Hang (1989) and Sex and Zen (1991). He was also involved in the remainder of the Long Arm of the Law series.

Philip Chan is back again as script writer, creating a number of memorable characters and relationships throughout, and the plot certainly puts our characters through the ringer. Unlike the first film, the script can be guilty of drifting into cliche at certain points but still gets the job done, albeit in a slightly less successful manner than the original film.

Action director Chin Yuet-Sang is one of the lesser known action directors of the Hong Kong film industry, but his work in Long Arm of the Law 2 is excellent and ranks amongst the best to come from the likes of Tung Wai or Dion Lam.

He had done sold work the year previously on John Woos Heroes Shed No Tears (1986), which has a similar style of action to his work in Long Arm of the Law 2. His last credited film as action director was on the forgettable comedy horror Devils Vendetta (1991).

The horror/fantasy genre must have been where he felt most comfortable, as of the five films he was director, four of them were based around the supernatural. The best of these is the fun Hocus Pocus (1984), which has a starring role from the late, great Lam Ching Ying and features action direction from the Sammo Hung Stuntmens Association.

Long Arm of the Law 3  1989

Release two years after part 2, Long Arm of the Law 3 (1989) is another in name only sequel, with no characters or plot elements carried over from the previous films. Like the first two films in the series, Long Arm of the Law 3 does not skimp on violent action although overall it is the most commercial entry in the series.

Unlike the first two films in the series which mainly used character actors and amateurs, Long Arm of the Law 3 is filled with recognisable faces, most notably Andy Lau, who may not have been the superstar he was to become but still had a good number of starring roles under his belt by the time Long Arm of the Law 3 came his way.

The plot this time focuses on an ex police officer from the mainland played by Andy Lau. Lau has been sentenced to death after being set up for a crime he didnt do. He manages to escape and makes his way to Hong Kong, with him meeting love interest Elizabeth Lee on the way.

After the two of them make it to Hong Kong their relationship develops. Of course everything ends up going to shit when an evil gang leader, played by director Kirk Wong decides to kidnap Lee to force Lau to carry out a robbery in exchange for his life. Luckily Lau has the assistance of loyal friend Max Mok to help him out.

As well as having to deal with Kirk Wong, Lau also has to contend with mainland cop Elvis Tsui, who has made it his mission to capture Lau.

Michael Mak is once again in the directors chair, directing in a slightly more flashy style than part 2, possibly due to what seems like a larger budget. Like the first two films, there is no shortage of gritty violence and ballistic action, with the third entry clearly having the best action scenes of the entire series. The only drawback of the film is Maks decision to include some gratuitous rape scenes that serve no purpose to the plot.

Unlike the first two films, the heroes and villains this time are pretty clear cut. Andy Lau may be an escaped prisoner, but he is clearly the hero, with his character being set up for a crime he didnt do then later on forced into criminal activities in order to save the women he loves. The same is true of Kirk Wongs villain who is beyond redemption, with his character being the type of evil that only seems to exist in Hong Kong movies.

The only character that has any ambiguity is Elvis Tsuis mainland cop, who at some points in the film could be viewed as the villain of the piece, although ultimately he believes in justice and is doing what he thinks is right.

As mentioned earlier, Andy Lau is the films lead, with him putting in his usual good work. He equips himself especially well in the films many action scenes. During this time of his career, Lau would find himself in multiple films based around the Triad lifestyle. The year previously he had starred in one of his most well known Triad dramas, As Tears Go By (1988), which also marked the directorial debut of Wong Kar Wai. In the same year he would also star in such films as Dragon Family (1988), Walk on Fire (1988) and In the Blood (1988), all very similar films based around Triads.

The year he made Long Arm of the Law 3 would be no different, with Lau going on to star in Bloody Brotherhood (1989), Casino Raiders (1989) and Runaway Blues (1989). At least he would manage to vary things slightly by co-starring in the smash hit comedy God of Gamblers (1989), but even here he was playing a low level gangster, albeit playing it for laughs.

Luckily it hasnt all been gangster roles for Lau, with him managing to move into other genres throughout his career which has enabled him to become one of the biggest stars in Chinese cinema. Lau would return to work with director Mak year later, starring in the crime Thriller Island of Greed (1997).

Supporting Lau is actress Elizabeth Lee. She isnt terrible in the film, but isnt given a lot to do other than be the put upon victim. At certain points of the film she is used more as a means of moving the plot forward than a proper character.

Lee had worked with Lau the year previously on director Wong Jings The Romancing Star 2 (1988), a decidedly more light hearted film than Long Arm of the Law 3. In addition to this she also worked with co-star Kirk Wong on his excellent directorial effort Gunmen (1988).

She would work yet again with Andy Lau the following year in Return Engagement (1990), a heroic bloodshed film headlined by Alan Tang. Lau only really plays a supporting role in the film, showing up towards the end of the film to help Tang defeat the comic book villainy of Simon Yam.

In 1993 she would work with her Long Arm of the Law 3 co-star Kirk Wong again, this time with Wong in a producing capacity. Love to Kill (1993) stars Lee as an abused wife, terrorised by crazed husband Anthony Wong. The film was given a Category 3 rating in Hong Kong, and its not hard to see why with Lee being involved in multiple scenes of abuse, both physical and sexual.

Lee is excellent in the role, giving possibly her best performance. She is matched by Wong, who can do crazed killers in his sleep. In addition, Danny Lee is on the scene to help lighten the mood when needed.

Lee would go on to work with Kirk Wong, Anthony Wong and Danny Lee again the following year, this time playing a smaller role in Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (1994), a great crime thriller which Kirk Wong directed.

Lees film career seems to take a stop during the mid 1990s, with her last film appearance being in the drama Thunderstorm (1996) from actor/director Kelvin Wong.

Max Mok gets to make somewhat of a better impression than Elizabeth Lee, with his character coming across as a bit silly but ultimately likeable, which seems to be the default setting for Max Mok in most films. He usually is utilised best in supporting roles, such as his work here or the same years Pedicab Driver (1989).

He has been the lead in a number of films, most memorably the gangster drama Hero of Tomorrow (1988) from director Poon Man-Kit, which was made as a cash grab after the success of John Woos A Better Tomorrow.

Mok, like Elizabeth Lee had also worked with both Wong Jing and Andy Lau previous to Long Arm of the Law 3, with Mok having a supporting role in the crazy sci-fi Magic Crystal (1986) which also featured supporting roles from Richard Norton and Cynthia Rothrock.

Mok is probably best known to Western viewers for his role as Leung Foon in the Once Upon a Time in China series, a role originally portrayed by Yuen Biao in the first film of the series. He would continue in the role throughout the majority of the series, even starring in the television series spin-off. He would only miss out the last part, Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997), although judging by the completed film this was perhaps for the best.

Throughout the 1990s, Mok would star in a good deal of low budget features, most of them beneath his talents. There would be the odd mainstream film, such as Star Runner (2003) and Run Papa Run (2008), but he is nowhere close to being as prolific as he was in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Series stalwart Elvis Tsui returns yet again to steal the film, playing the unstoppable cop on the trail of Lau. Due to his height, Tsui cuts quite an intimidating figure, something which director Mak fully utilises. Although not primarily a villain, Tsui does some morally compromising things during his quest to capture Lau, and can be just as ruthless as the films criminals.

Rounding out the cast is a great villainous turn from Kirk Wong. Better known as the director of such classics as Crime Story (1993) and Rock N Roll Cop (1994), Wong has still managed to rack up a good number of acting roles during his career. Long Arm of the Law 3 is one of his better roles, although he would also play a great bad guy in the Jackie Chan action comedy Twin Dragons (1992).

As well as working with co-star Elizabeth Lee previously, Wong had previously directed Elvis Tsui on Health Warning (1983) as well as Gunmen before they would collaborate on Long Arm of the Law 3.

Stephen Shiu Yeuk-Yuen once again returned to produce the film. As well as producing he would co-write the screenplay with the first films director Johnny Mak. As mentioned previously the characters in the film arent as well developed as the first two films, although the script gets the job done, and doesnt feel like just an excuse to get to the next action scene. It is still better written than some of the similar product that was coming from Hong Kong at the time.

Replacing previous action director Chin Yuet-Sang is the great Tony Leung Siu-Hung, who not only choreographs the best action of the series but some of the best of his career.

Leung had worked on similar films before, even working with Andy Lau previously on Walk on Fire (1988), a typically disposable action drama that is saved from obscurity by featuring some excellent hard hitting action scenes from Leung.

In the same year he would also work on another Triad drama, My Heart is That Eternal Rose (1989). Directed by Patrick Kam, the film takes a more art house approach to proceedings, but still manages to fit in some hard hitting action, with the finale being especially memorable.

As well as countless Hong Kong films Leung has also worked on a number of American movies, directing No Retreat, No Surrender 3 (1989), King of the Kickboxers (1990), Superfights (1995) and Bloodmoon (1997). The films are of varying quality but it cant be denied that they all include some excellent action sequences.

Underground Express: Long Arm of the 4 (1990)

Coming only a year after Long Arm of the Law 3, Underground Express (1990) would prove to be the last entry to date in the series. Due to what seems like a rushed production with lower production values, Underground Express unfortunately doesnt reach the highs of its three predecessors, with this clearly being the weakest of the four films.

This isnt to say Underground Express doesnt have it merits with it still being an enjoyable crime thriller in its own right. With good performances, a relevant for its time plot and well done action scenes, there is enough to keep Hong Kong cinema fans happy. The action is slightly spoiled by some choppy editing that has been made to satisfy the censors. It is clear that the producers wanted to stay clear of the dreaded Category 3 rating.

Although paling in comparison, Underground Express harkens back to the style of the grittier first two films than the more stylised third entry, with the violence being more grounded and realistic than what action specialist Tony Leung Siu-Hung brought to part 3.

The film has similar themes as the rest in the series, with the film focusing on gangsters going up against the police, with both sides being morally grey. Like the other films in the series, the writer takes inspiration from true life events. Underground Express is based on Students from the Chinese Democracy Movements attempts to be smuggled out of China at the end of the 1980s.

Underground Express takes this as a basis and creates a fictional story around it, with a local Triad gang assisting the Student Activists to escape after the Tiananmen Square protests. They try to make the China/Hong Kong border whilst at the same time trying to evade both the Hong Kong Police as well as Chinas security forces.

As is the norm for the series, this culminates in a number of violent confrontations, climaxing in an especially bleak fashion.

Director Michael Mak reigns himself in from the more over the top aspects of the third part, opting for a more standard directing style. This is probably down to the film being more rushed and having less of a budget. Mak still handles the action and drama scenes well, and gets good performances from his solid cast.

After Underground Express, Mak would go on to direct the infamous Sex and Zen (1991), an enjoyable enough sex comedy which is unfortunately one of his best known works, overshadowing a lot of his other more deserving works.

Mak would only make another six films as director after Sex and Zen, although none of them reach the heights of the Long Arm of the Law series, with only perhaps The Island of Greed coming close.

One factor Underground Express has in its favour is returning Elvis Tsui to leading man status after his supporting turn in the third part. Tsui doesnt disappoint, giving his usual sterling performance. Tsui would continue to work with director Mak after Underground Express, with him having notable supporting roles in Sex and Zen, The Shootout (1992) and Butterfly and Sword (1993).

Also returning to the series is Chan Ging who had a featured role in Long Arm of the Law, as well as a smaller role in the sequel. Ging is one of those actors that are the backbone of the Hong Kong film industry, being a solid character actor that is sadly overlooked for more famous faces like Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau etc.

Ging had worked with Mak the previous year on The Truth  Final Episode (1989), a crime drama that was headlined by Long Arm of the Law 3 leading man Andy Lau.

The remainder of the supporting roles are made up of the likes of Frankie Chan, probably best known to Western audiences for his supporting role in Ringo Lams Full Contact (1992) or the same years Operation Scorpio (1992) and Story of Ricky (1992). Chan has appeared in other memorable Hong Kong films since, with such films as Herman Yaus Walk In (1997) and Tsui Harks Time and Tide (2000).

As well as Chan, the film features a supporting turn from Ronny Ching, with this being only his second film role after a long break after his first film High Price (1980). Ching isnt the best actor around but does well enough. He would follow up Underground Express with Lord of East China Sea (1993) and its sequel, both of which were produced by Long Arm of the Law producer Johnny Mak.

The Long Arm of the Law series has never really features strong female characters, and this final entry is no different, with the only main female role being portrayed by Ng Suet-Man. Although Man doesnt get to play a great character, Underground Express is still better than some of her later work in films like Gigolp and Whore 2 (1992) and Female Internment Camp (1993).

Underground express was yet again produced by Stephen Shiu Yeuk-Yuen, with him also co-writing the film with Presenter Johnny Mak. This isnt exactly their strongest script of the series but is given points for making the film politically and culturally relevant of the time it was made.

Stephen Shiu Yeuk-Yuen would continue to both produce and write scripts for Johnny Mak productions, with him writing the scripts for To Be Number One (1991), Sword of Many Lovers (1993), Lord of East China Sea (1993) and its sequel Lord of East China Sea 2 (1993). Co-incidentally all these films were directed by Poon Man-Kit.

To carry out action duties, the film makers went back to Chin Yuet-Sang who had carried out action choreography on the second entry in the series. As mentioned previously, the action in Underground Express is well done, only let down by some obtrusive editing.

Chin Yuet-Sang last work behind the camera was as director on the supernatural thriller Ghost Lover (1992), a shot on video B movie starring a slumming it Chin Siu Ho.
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 Is it unconstitutional for a state to allow judges to increase sentences because a felony was committed by someone illegally present in the US who had been previously deported? | Main | In last-minute appeal, condemned Georgia inmate urges extension of bar on juve capital punishment to those under 21 

May 16, 2017

New lifetime GPS tracking for old sex offenders raising concerns in Missouri

This lengthy local article, headlined "Hundreds of Missouri sex offenders now required to wear GPS monitoring devices for life," reports on a new sex offender monitoring law that is causing consternation. Here are excerpts:

A sex offender from St. Charles County thought he had moved on with his life after successfully completing five years of probation for sending webcam photographs of his genitals to an undercover police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl. Now hes among hundreds of people in Missouri who are learning they must attach GPS monitoring systems to their ankles for life, even though such a requirement wasnt part of their sentencing agreement. The devices send out alerts if an offender lingers near a school or a park. Cut the wide black strap and the waterproof device will tell on them. It beeps to prompt a verbal command from state officials, say to make a payment or report to probation officers immediately. The retroactive requirements are part of a revised state criminal code that went into effect Jan. 1. Offenders either found guilty or who pleaded guilty to 13 various sex crimes in question based on an act committed on or after Aug. 28, 2006, are subject to the added security measures. Previously, the monitoring technology was used for a more limited class of high-risk offenders. The St. Charles man is among several sex offenders who are suing and challenging the state. In the lawsuit, in which he is named only as D.G., the 40-year-old argues that the law didnt exist when he pleaded guilty. He claims hes no longer legally subject to the jurisdiction of state prison authorities. He argues that he shouldnt be required to pay monthly supervision fees for decades, nor have travel or residency restricted for life. I dont think a lawyer can make a straight-faced argument that its constitutional, said Clayton-based attorney Matt Fry, who is suing the state on behalf of D.G. and has many other plaintiffs in the wings. A March 29 Dear Sir/Madam letter from chief state supervisor Julie Kempker lays out the law, including threat of a class D felony if conditions are violated. We understand that this change may be unexpected, Kempker said in the letter. Rather than being detracted by the lifetime supervision requirements, you are encouraged to remain focused on your daily supervision responsibilities and to do those things that improve your life and positively impact your family and the community in which you live. Many sex offenders panicked and started calling lawyers. Some are confused: for instance, those no longer on supervision who moved away from Missouri. A 41-year-old sex offender from south St. Louis County said he sees the changes as unlawful, too costly and ineffective. Lifetime. For the rest of your life. I cant even comprehend it, said the man, who didnt want to be identified to avoid bringing more unwanted attention to himself. According to court records, he pleaded guilty in 2012 to first-degree child molestation for touching the genitalia of a friends 7-year-old daughter. The first-time offender was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He spent four months behind bars before he was let out to undergo treatment in the community. So long as he did well, hed be done with state supervision after five years on probation, not including registering as a sex offender for life. But during a monthly visit to his probation officer in April, he found out about being subject to the added layer of oversight. He said he argued that lifetime GPS monitoring wasnt part of his sentencing agreement. Still, the device was attached April 26. Hes still getting used to wearing it. He said the device puts his job stocking snack machines in jeopardy and that hes too embarrassed to wear shorts in public . He said it seemed like extra punishment added after the fact. Kim Kilgore, the St. Louis County prosecutor who handled his case, disagreed. Its a collateral consequence of his plea, Kilgore said. The legislature has spoken that, in the interest to the public, he should be required to wear this. Mind you, his victim was 7 years old. She said sex offenses are a public health issue and should be handled accordingly, similar to people with a contagious disease who are quarantined. Think of the burden that my victim suffers every day of her life for something he chose to do, she said. Officials have tried to notify at least 432 sex offenders like the man from south St. Louis County about the new monitoring requirements, according to the Department of Corrections, which oversees the division of probation and parole. At the end of April, 364 of them had been placed on GPS monitoring. They were already on state supervision. About 800 prison inmates are on deck. So are 500 people who already completed their sentences and are considered free.

May 16, 2017 at 11:03 PM | Permalink

Comments

What an illegal crock of shit. Sorry my response would be simple.

"Soory but I see too choices for you and the other little Nazis who passed this illegal law. That your GPS and shove it some where the Don don't shine or I can take it and beat you till you get a clue with it"

Posted by: rodsmith3510 | May 17, 2017 2:30:12 AM

My Nissan has a black box. It now transmits data continuously. The black box does not have to be opened, to know everything about my operation of the car. Those data will be shared with government officials where appropriate, and not with a subpoena, Nissan legal told me.

My cell phone can be located at any time.

My son in law mentioned a product in a living room conversation. Now he is getting ads for it from Google. The likely snitch was his Samsung smart tv waiting for his verbal instructions.

Little Jessica was taken by a registered sex offender from her bedroom across his trailer. She was in his closet, alive, when the police visited him. These laws were named after her, but would not have helped her. Only incapacitation of the sex offender would have.

If I were forced to wear a GPS unit, I would be trying to force an official to track my every location, and to initial any printout of the list of my locations, next to each and every location. Otherwise, the wearing is quackery, since no one knows where I am anyway. I understand a building inspector does not need a warrant nor evidence of a crime to enter my building against my will. His intrusion is civil, not criminal. It benefits my tenants, and ultimately me by giving confidence to my tenants about the quality of my place. So, monitoring helps the offender know he is being watched, and to not break the law. Well, then every location should be read and acknowledged by a government official. I should be able to dispute the readings, the way I may dispute the civil findings of a building inspector. I should be able to demand the official look at my cell phone locations in the case of a dispute, or to get all the locations of my Nissan. Let's get transcripts of all my Samsung TV recordings.

Posted by: David Behar | May 17, 2017 5:44:52 AM

Monitoring individuals who are a danger to society makes sense right? So let's go down the list of those citizens who are a danger to society and consequently should be monitored in order to create a perfectly safe society:

1) Those convicted of a dui/dwi.

2) Those who purchase glock pistols and/or assault rifles.

3) Those who purchase body armor.

4) Those who are convicted of a drug offense.

5) Those who have been diagnosed with a mental impairment.

6) Those who have engaged in online trolling.

7) Those who have made racist remarks.

8) Those who have been convicted of reckless driving/speeding, etc...

Sex is a messy business! Many citizens need help, therapy in order to normalize their sexual lives. As an example, just look up the history of Josh Duggar's sexual development.





Posted by: tommyc | May 17, 2017 8:49:32 AM

The county prosecutor says sex offenses are a "public health issue" and should be handled accordingly, "similar to people with a contagious disease who are quarantined".

Perhaps she'd like to see public dunking and witch-trials too!

She needs a reality check, big time.

Posted by: kat | May 17, 2017 11:09:31 AM

Former sex offenders who have paid their debt should raise hell against this law, especially if it is retroactive. If law suits don't work, than direct street action might be necessary, protests and all!

Posted by: william r. delzell | May 17, 2017 11:54:50 AM

Our "Judicial System" has overreached its purpose and corruption is running rampant.

Posted by: LC in Texas | May 17, 2017 12:07:11 PM

Sure this registration requirement is ridiculous but lets not forget the insanity of the underlying offense.

"pleaded guilty in 2012 to first-degree child molestation for touching the genitalia of a friends 7-year-old daughter. The first-time offender was sentenced to 10 years in prison. "

He was sentenced to ten years in prison for touching a little girl on her pee pee. For his first offense. Our lives are so comfortable, the world is filled with some many rainbows and frolicking puppy dogs, that this is the only evil we can find to combat. Crazy. Insane.

Posted by: Daniel | May 17, 2017 12:53:51 PM

Tommy. Take it easy with that monitoring for on line trolling.

Posted by: David Behar | May 17, 2017 1:43:51 PM

I don't think that, if I were ruler of the world, I would impose lifetime SO registry for that crime. But it wouldn't bother me too much. What does bother me---the monitor requirement IS punishment.

Joe lauded my comments about this a while back---I thought we should junk the whole civil/criminal in purpose test and make a qualitative assessment of the liberty restriction/interest at issue. The ankle monitor is like a scarlet letter, and while not "disfiguring"--it's a virtual scar and impacts the wearer in the very same manner as a distinctive mark. (And this is not to get into the very real privacy interest that a free man, and someone who has completed their sentence is a free man, has with respect to the government.)

What is truly depressing--this really isn't hard. No one here would mistake me for a bleeding heart--but one thing that is vitally important is that our freedoms should not be subject to the vicissitudes of the passions of society. In other words, if judges can look at this and incant "civil" then what liberty interest is sacrosanct? There is just certain stuff you just can't do, and coming up to someone who has served his sentence (particularly if he pled guilty_ and say, oh by the way, you gotta wear this ankle monitor.

This isn't hard. That's what is so depressing.

Posted by: federalist | May 17, 2017 8:17:21 PM

And Joe, this is not a start of a mutual admiration society.

Posted by: federalist | May 17, 2017 8:18:08 PM

This was during our Governor Nixon era. The recodification was over due granted, but it was ginormous and would have driven a think tank group to drink. A couple of things have already been "fixed" that were in the recodification debacle. Pure and simple regarding this issue the media does a great job of fear mongering in their "journalism" or "reporting" which prompts the public to contact their legislators wanting more laws to keep their families safe. If a legislator votes their conscience they will be committing "political suicide." I have seen it. So, what should or registrant families and advocates do? One suggestion is to begin educating the public.....

Posted by: Vicki Henry | May 17, 2017 9:17:57 PM

"And Joe, this is not a start of a mutual admiration society."

duly noted

Posted by: Joe | May 17, 2017 10:27:17 PM

The line between "civil" and "criminal" is a bit hazy but does seem that the law provides different tests in various cases. But, that doesn't mean a "civil" provision should be put to a weak test. Infringement of the freedom of speech, e.g., should only be done with strict guidelines. This is so even if merely "civil" regulations are at stake.

The line is even more hazy when it is put on top of a criminal punishment.

Posted by: Joe | May 17, 2017 10:31:32 PM

I would love to see the people affected by this murder the legislators who approved it. Little would make me happier.

Messages need to be sent. Every single day. War is the answer. There is no need to respect these criminal regimes, their "legal" systems, or their law enforcement. All criminals.

Posted by: FRegistryTerrorists | May 18, 2017 5:58:02 AM

Not keen to see cheerleading for murder, FRegistryTerrorists, but I assume this is meant just a sharp rhetoric as we sometimes hear from others in this space. But please know calls for criminal violence in this space is not appreciated.

Posted by: Doug B. | May 18, 2017 8:39:12 AM

FReg. I oppose murdering the lawyers in the legislature. They will be replaced by grateful competitors. These may be worse. I also oppose violent revolution, since none has ever been successful in history. That includes that cataclysmic lawyer mistake, the American Revolution. Without it, slavery would have ended in 1833, not 1863. It would have ended by law, not by the deaths of 850,000 people.

I do support primary challenges to dirtbag lawyers ruining our country. I do support endless litigation against laws, even though judicial review is prohibited by our constitution. For example, I sued my state. I lost, but the practice I opposed has never recurred, not even one time, since my lawsuit. That practice was detrimental to thousands of doctors and to millions of patients. Gone.

I have not given any legal thinking to registries. But I do have a legal doctrine for you. Regulatory Quackery. If registries cannot be shown to increase the safety of sex crime victims, with the burden on the state, they are fraudulent. The registrants should file an aggregate claim, and seek punitive damages to deter the unlawful conduct of the state.

I do support repeal of the Eleventh Amendment, since government is so awful, and must be deterred. Our awful government is a wholly owned subsidiary of the lawyer profession, and must be stopped.

Posted by: David Behar | May 18, 2017 9:06:22 AM

"...as we sometimes hear from others in this space."

What? If you are referring to me, there is some misunderstanding. I have called for the enforcement of the law prohibiting insurrection against our constitution. That would take the form of arrests, one hour fair trials, and summary executions of the lawyer hierarchy. The sole evidence at those trials would be the legal utterances of the defendants, with no collateral corruption gotchas. I support the enforcement of this important law. I hope you come to join me in opposing the rampant law breaking going on in your profession. To deter.

Posted by: David Behar | May 18, 2017 9:15:12 AM

Doug B. as much as I agree with you, and as much as I would rather not comment on FResistryTerrorist murder thoughts, I feel I have no choice. Omar Mateen was questioned by the FBI on at least three separate occasions. The FBI ultimately decided that the government would be infringing on his first amendment rights if they were to incriminate him in any way. As you know he is now our nation's greatest mass murderer. This is a chilling example of our nation's misplaced priorities. Our citizens who are convicted of possession of child pornography but have not abused anyone, and have not paid for this vile material are sentenced daily to 5+ years of incarceration. Yes, these individuals possess BAD thoughts. Yes, these these citizens need therapy, and indeed, are most amenable to rehabilitation. I don't buy into this being a crime of exploitation when this material is on the internet for free, without any warnings of any kind and the abusers who are uploading this crap on the internet are rarely caught. Another example of misplaced priorities!

Posted by: tommyc | May 18, 2017 9:17:51 AM

Joe, the issue should be a qualitative assessment of the liberty interest being affected. A "scarlet letter" in all but name cannot be imposed ex post facto (and that's not getting into the privacy issues) . . . .

Your post is typical mealy-mouth Joe.

Posted by: federalist | May 18, 2017 5:48:47 PM

Lol nope he is probably talking about me.

Posted by: rodsmith3510 | May 18, 2017 6:34:53 PM

Doug B. | May 18, 2017 8:39:12 AM:

I'm definitely not calling for criminal violence but I would lying like the government if I said that it wouldn't make me happy. I would be ecstatic if every time a politician (or anyone else, really) said "s*x offender" that they were immediately murdered. I would celebrate every one of those. But I'm certainly not going to do it or ask anyone else to. I'm a very kind person who loves other people and takes care of them. I'm not a "s*x offender" blabbing politician P.O.S.

I will say that 2+ decades of idiotic harassment and attacks on my family from big government have completely radicalized me. They are my enemies. People who support them are my enemies. And I am completely serious and dedicated to making them pay for it. I have had a large effect and it's going to continue.

Every time big government looks at me, they are committing an act of war.

Posted by: FRegistryTerrorists | May 19, 2017 11:43:51 AM

David Behar | May 18, 2017 9:06:22 AM:

Endless litigation is a great idea. The criminal regimes must be contained all the time. Congratulations on your successes.

Posted by: FRegistryTerrorists | May 19, 2017 11:45:00 AM

tommyc | May 18, 2017 9:17:51 AM:

There is no doubt that punishment for s*x offenses is well outside the bounds of any intelligence or in consideration of dangerousness. I don't think a person who looks at CP needs "therapy" nearly as much as a person who shoots another person with a gun. But apparently people seem to think shooting people is fairly normal and not particularly dangerous.

Posted by: FRegistryTerrorists | May 19, 2017 11:46:15 AM

Joe, the issue should be a qualitative assessment of the liberty interest being affected. A "scarlet letter" in all but name cannot be imposed ex post facto (and that's not getting into the privacy issues) . . . .

Your post is typical mealy-mouth Joe.

As I said, citing freedom of speech as an example, "civil" or "criminal," the denial of liberty might be strong enough that it doesn't really matter in the end. That is, the person will be protected regardless. What "should be" the test is an interesting question, but in real life, the maximum position is not necessary and often not taken. For the person being denied liberty here, therefore, it is of limited use to be a purist.

The ex post facto issue is, of course, covered in Art. 1, sec. 10. The application to a criminal case would be clear; somewhat less so in a civil case, but such labels as you say very well might miss the forest for the trees.

Calling me "mealy-mouth" aside, not really seeing you really negating anything I said. Perhaps, federalist felt upset that he was "too soft" on me earlier. If so, welcome back.

Posted by: Joe | May 19, 2017 2:44:16 PM

I do not agree with this law. It is unconstitutional. I believe the person suffered enough while incarcerated. I'm currently dating a guy who is a sex offender. He is a first time offender. At the time, he was intoxicated when the offense happened. He and the victim explained to me that nothing happened because he couldn't go through with it. Even today he still talk to the victim because she is not afraid of him. She said she was a little shaken up after it happened, but it has never happened before so she knew he wasn't in his right mind. He can't even see his daughter graduate from 8th grade because it's at a school. It breaks his heart and hers. Not only does he suffer but those around him. I really don't think it's fair for first time offenders. We're trying our hardest to fight it. It is also unfair for him to have to pay a monthly fee for something that the courts require him to have.

Posted by: Sade Gray | Jun 2, 2017 5:33:05 PM

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 In last-minute appeal, condemned Georgia inmate urges extension of bar on juve capital punishment to those under 21 | Main | Terrific effort to sort out "How Many Drug Offenders Benefited From the Holder Memo That Sessions Rescinded?" 

May 17, 2017

Progressive defense attorney wins key primary and now seems poised to become Philadelphia District Attorney

As reported in this local article, a notable and unlikely figure won a Democratic primary and seems poised now to become the most remarkable of modern big city prosecutors. Here are the basics:

Larry Krasner was the unlikeliest of candidates for district attorney in Philadelphia. That turned out to be just the ticket for victory in the unlikeliest of Democratic primary elections Tuesday. Progressive voters demanded reform for an office currently held by a man under federal indictment. And the local race was nationalized by a growing sense of resistance among many Democrats in the city to President Trumps every move. Krasner, 56, easily defeated six other contenders Tuesday, in a campaign that went from low-key to high-profile last month with a $1.45 million investment from billionaire George Soros in a pro-Krasner independent political action committee. With nearly 98 percent of the vote tallied Tuesday night, Krasner held nearly an 18-point lead on his closest Democratic rival. Krasner will face in the Nov. 7 general election Beth Grossman, the lone Republican in her partys primary Tuesday. Krasner, a defense attorney for three decades best known for taking on civil rights cases for Black Lives Matter and Occupy Philadelphia members, AIDS activists and protesters arrested at political conventions, has never served a day in his career as a prosecutor. That became his pitch -- that he was more likely to reform the District Attorneys Office because he had no ties to the institution, unlike most of the other Democrats in the race. That message appealed to several hundred people who filled the John C. Anderson Apartments community room and an outdoor courtyard in Center City on Tuesday night for Krasners victory party. It got a little rowdy as the results rolled in. Chants of "No good cops in a racist system" and against the Fraternal Order of Police were quickly shut down by Krasner campaign staffers. Krasner, who lives in West Mount Airy, told the crowd they shared a vision of a criminal justice system that makes things better, that is just, that is based on preventing crime and is based on building up society rather than tearing it apart." And he reached out to the office he hopes to lead. "To the good people of the District Attorney's Office, I want you to know, you could have made more doing something else, but you became district attorneys because you wanted justice, he said. You know what I want? I want what you want. I want justice." Krasner had a remarkable impact on the primary, pulling the field to the left, leading that movement with a pledge to stop seeking death-penalty sentences if elected. He joked Tuesday night that his position on capital punishment had been described as political suicide. As he ended his speech, the crowd launched into a booming chant of "This is what democracy looks like." Krasners primary victory is certain to set off rumblings of uncertainty in the District Attorneys Office. He has described it as a place with a mad zeal for the highest charge, for the highest level of conviction, a culture that can find no flaw in police misconduct, that is drunk on the death penalty. Krasner has also sued law enforcement agencies or the government more than 75 times. His rise prompted a group of two dozen former District Attorneys Office employees to endorse former city and federal prosecutor Joe Khan on Friday. Khan finished second in the race, followed by former city Managing Director Rich Negrin, former First Assistant District Attorney Tariq El-Shabazz, former city and state prosecutor Michael Untermeyer, former assistant district attorney Jack ONeill, and former Municipal Court Judge Teresa Carr Deni. Krasner, the son of a crime-fiction author and an evangelical Christian minister, grew up in St. Louis and graduated from Stanford Law School, starting his career as a federal public defender before launching his own firm in 1993. He is married to Common Pleas Court Judge Lisa M. Rau. Krasners victory was fueled by biographical television commercials paid for with Soros cash. That helped him far outpace Untermeyer, who invested $1.3 million of his own money in the race, and Khan, who outperformed all the other candidates in fund-raising from individual donors.

May 17, 2017 at 06:04 AM | Permalink

Comments

I believe in the Laughable Law of Political Opposites. If you want to go after criminals, elect a hot headed, anti-police, pro-criminal, Soros funded, extremist, defense attorney.

There is also a Twilight Zone thing going here. A lawyer who made every involuntary commitment hearing a Trial of the Century, traveled 5000 miles to Israel to teach their lawyers her methods. She was stabbed on a bus, not by an Arab terrorist, but by an Arab paranoid schizophrenic, likely set free by her Israeli equivalent. She then died a few days later. Interviewed in her ICU bed in Israel, she still defended the rights of the attacker. I asked her friends at dinner, about her deal. She really thought she was defending the constitution. So, she died for a good cause, at the hand of a client. I expect another such irony with this guy.

Posted by: David Behar | May 17, 2017 8:56:23 AM

We all commit three federal crimes a day, especially if productive. So, a predicate crime should be found or concocted, and the assets of George Soros should be seized in civil forfeiture.

Posted by: David Behar | May 17, 2017 9:34:27 AM

The voters of Philadelphia will pay a high price for their political correctness.

I gave a speech at a wedding. I proposed to build a wall on City Live Avenue, dividing Philadelphia from a suburb, and to make Philadelphia pay for it. It would keep those Yuppie undesirables from streaming over into the areas of decent folks, and making those areas unrecognizable to the old timers. My speech got booed by a bunch of Yuppie scum.

As crime soars under Krasner, they will be trying to escape like rats off a sinking ship.

Posted by: David Behar | May 18, 2017 4:19:08 PM

Bill grew up in those Philadelphia suburbs. I would propose his name as City Line Avenue Wall czar. I did not say that in my speech. I did not want to get killed.

Posted by: David Behar | May 18, 2017 4:23:00 PM

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Bees are big business, especially as their numbers are dwindling and their colonies are threatened by various toxins. And since a lot of farmers around California, especially almond growers, now pay big bucks to rent bees for the pollination season, we have a new brand of crime to report on: bee theft. One enterprising Sacramento area man, 51-year-old Pavel Tveretinov, was arrested in Fresno Tuesday on suspicion of stealing an estimated $875,000 worth of other peoples' bees, which he was then renting out for profit, as CBS 5 reports.

According to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, the investigation into the pilfered bees began a couple weeks ago, on April 28, when detective arrived at an orchard to find 100 hives that were allegedly stolen from a beekeeper in Madera County. They promptly arrested a man in a protective suit who was tending to the bees, who was identified as Tveretinov.

Central Valley man accused of stealing nearly $1 million in bees, beehives: https://t.co/uA5twM8rr3 pic.twitter.com/wHUdUZj14O  KPIX 5 (@CBSSF) May 17, 2017

Investigators then followed Tveretinov's trail elsewhere in Fresno County where they found thousands of other hives, 2,500 in all, and they believe he's been stealing hives and renting them for his own profit for as long as three years, and his crimes spanned at least six California counties. One Montana beekeeper said that all of her bees had been stolen, telling CBS affiliate KGPE, "Every colony of bees that I owned except for one. So I basically at the age of 56 had to start over from scratch. They totally put me out of business."

Now some beekeepers are having to hire private security to watch over their precious pollinators. And a special Fresno County prosecutor assigned to agriculture cases will be taking on the case.

Tveretinov is currently free on $10,000 bail, and its unclear whether all the bees are making their way back to their rightful owners.

Previously: New Study Suggests Bee Colony Collapses Triggered By Fungicides
For two days in July, visitors to one of San Francisco's most notorious tourist areas will have a thrilling new anecdote to share with the folks back at home: Out there, in craaaazy San Francisco, they have an actual rat cafe.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, Fisherman's Wharf's San Francisco Dungeon tourist whatever you want to call it thingamajig will on July 1 and 8 be home to a pop-up "Rat Cafe."

According to Dungeon spokesperson Matthew Clarkson, the rats will be there to provide a frighteningly funny encounter." Drinking coffee while a rat is on the loose? Thats not for the faint of heart.

The cafe is in collaboration with Rattie Ratz, a Bay Area nonprofit that seeks to "improve the lives of domestic pet rats and their guardians by promoting value and respect for all animal life" to "promote domestic pet rats as valuable companions." So Clarkson's is perhaps not the ideal attitude to demonstrate for a rat adoption event, but I get it  he's got tickets to sell. And the tickets to the pop-up event aren't cheap: $49.99, to be exact, which allows you access to the Dungeon's various attractions, "coffee or tea plus pastry," and "15 minutes of rodent interaction."

Hey, I have an idea! Instead of waiting until July and dropping a Grant, how about you just check out Rattie Ratz' adoptable rats here (San Francisco Animal Care & Control also shows off their adoptable rodents here)? Then you can use the SF Department of Public Health's restaurant score page to find a coffee shop near you that's been dinged for rodent violations.

You'll save, like, 45 bucks, you might get a cool little pal, and you won't have to go to the hellmouth that is Wharf! You're welcome.

Related: An 'Escape Alcatraz' Ride Just Opened At Fisherman's Wharf
SIOUX CITY | At a restaurant featuring a Medieval theme, it is only natural to expect a few '"Camelot"-inspired creations.

For instance, Castle Pub & Grill is best known for such "royal" burgers as the King Arthur -- a one-half pound Black Angus patty topped with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and a fried egg doused with a sweet, savory Excalibur sauce -- as well as the Dragon Slayer -- a burger patty that is stuffed with cheese and diced jalapeno while topped with crispy onions and Swiss cheese.

Beyond that, the eatery's adherence to the Renaissance becomes a bit quirkier.

After all, would you actually order something called the Village Idiot burger?

"You'd be surprise the Village Idiot has quickly become one of our most popular burgers," owner Domingo Torres speculated inside of his 4400 Singing Hills Blvd., restaurant. "People may order the burger for its memorable name but they end up loving how it tastes."

Torres said the burger comes from the creative mind of Kenny Crampton, Castle Pub's head cook for the past year.

A Toledo, Ohio, native who has been working in the restaurant kitchen for nearly 30 years, Crampton has cooked everywhere from small diners to big chains in addition to a stint as an assistant for LeBron James' personal chef.

Along the way, he has picked up culinary tricks of the trade from each experience.

That includes the genesis of the Village Idiot, which he said was named after a popular Ohio restaurant.

"If you're naming menu items after royalty, you also need to mention the Village Idiot," Crampton said of the burger that features a one-half pound Black Angus patty, topped with fries, sauce and plenty of gooey Mozzarella sauce. "You can't name everything after kings and queens."

Indeed, one of Crampton's favorite concoctions is neither named after royalty nor any court jester. The Boar Burger -- served with a slab of ham, Swiss cheese, grilled onions and a fried egg -- is arguably Castle Pub's messiest menu item.

"It's fun eating a burger with an egg on top and the Boar seems to fit the bill," he said.

Crampton's playfulness can also be found in many of Castle Pub's appetizers. Diners have a choice between ordering a plate of Dragon Balls -- lightly-breaded, deep-fried chicken tender nuggets tossed in a variety of sauces -- or Shaved Dragon Balls -- which features deep-fried chicken nuggets that haven't been breaded.

"When I was interviewing Kenny for the job of head cook, I asked him what gives him the most satisfaction," Torres said. "He told me that looking into a dining room where diners were grinning from ear-to-ear after taking a bite of food was very satisfying.

"That's when I knew Kenny would be a perfect fit for us. We want to have a menu full of creative foods that tastes good but we also want to have fun."

In fact, this has always been Crampton's personal philosophy.

"A fun name may get a customer's attention but he still wants a quality meal," Crampton said. "We take our food more seriously than we take ourselves."
Despite the different spellings and expressions of wine styles, as far as one universally beloved wine grape is concerned, all roads lead to the sea. Im talking about the renowned white grape variety albarino, known as alvarinho in Portugal. Glancing at a standard computer keyboard, one might wonder if the divergence was simply due to the lackadaisical work of a fat-fingered typist long ago. Look at where the b and v are, and then where the n and h are. Just saying.

Really, if you want to geek out a little, b and v represent the same phoneme in northern Portugal and Spain (which is to say, they make roughly the same sound), and the h is a silent interloper  nh is a common digraph, two successive letters that amount to a single sound, in Portuguese. But lets not get too caught up in linguistics when were talking about good wine. Also, dont spend too much time trying to get to the bottom of whether albarino hails from the autonomous region of Galicia in Spain, or across the border in northern Portugal. One thing you would be well served to log in your memory, though, is that albarino is one of the best wines on earth for seafood.

When you daydream of chilled, saltwater-kissed raw oysters on the half-shell, spindly crab legs, curvy tentacles or perfectly cooked portions of flaky white fish, save room in that dream for a glass of fragrant, fruity and dry albarino. Considering the grapes two most-successful areas, both of them near the Atlantic Ocean, is the first clue that this prized white grape variety might be a good match for the fruits of the sea.

The albarino grape is thick-skinned  not as in the quality that keeps tech support workers from hanging up on angry callers, but literally. This skin translates to expressive aromatics, and even before those aromatics show up, before the grapes are turned into wine, those formidable outer layers protect the grapes from the rainy weather conditions of northwestern Spain and northern Portugal. Regardless of what side of the border the grape variety was born on, this general region is most certainly its ancestral home. It is a rugged land of lush greenness and an abundance of precipitation.

When the grape is called albarino and made into a varietal wine in the Galician wine region of Rias Baixas, it can offer pleasant briny evidence of the nearby Atlantic, along with varying combinations of floral notes, citrus, stone and tropical fruits, apple, pear, minerality, a touch of bitterness or nuttiness, plus zingy acidity and mouth-filling medium body. This is not a wimpy wine by anyones definition; in addition to the abundance of aromas and flavors, albarinos can routinely reach 12.5 percent alcohol or more.

Albarino is sometimes blended with loureiro or treixadura, and can be bottle-ageable, often for several years or more. The downside? There really isnt one, except maybe that prices have crept up. Even so, its not too hard to find good albarino that wont put you behind on your utilities.

The Spaniards like to splash the word albarino across their labels. This, of course, is a departure from the more usual Old World tradition of listing only the place where the wine is from, rather than a varietal name or a varietal name and a place name, on labels. It is a welcome departure for those of us who live on this side of the Atlantic, since it makes it easier for us to find the wine we want, especially when its time to plan a seafood feast.

Across the border, in northern Portugal, alvarinho is the major player in the light, tangy, fresh and often slightly effervescent wine named for the Vinho Verde region. This wine is meant to be drunk young, as an aperitif or (naturally) with seafood. Its name translates to green wine, but that has nothing to do with alvarinhos color. In fact, most Vinho Verde has little or no color. Here, green refers to the wines youthfulness. In Vinho Verde, alvarinho can be blended with avesso, azal, arinto, loureiro and trajadura (which is treixadura in Spain).

Most Vinho Verdes land somewhere between 9 and 12 percent alcohol, but some can easily inch up beyond that. So be careful if you are guzzling one of those bottlings as you chase a ball around in the sun. Because, in case you werent aware, Vinho Verde is definitely guzzle-able. And that fizz that some of them have? Its not from fermentation; its from a shot of carbon dioxide. Even when the fizz is there, though, its often so subtle that you might not even take notice of it.

Some other parts of the world have caught up to the green fertile regions of the Atlantic-coastal regions of the Iberian peninsula, at least where an interest in albarino is concerned. Once not commonly grown outside of Spain and Portugal, albarino can now be found in Washington, Oregon, California and New Zealand, among other places. Besides being well-suited to damp cool weather, albarino can also stand a little heat.

Regardless of where it comes from or how it is spelled, count on albarino being a lively, tangy wine that makes for a great apertif. Its natural palate-cleansing acidity ensures that you will continue to be zinged and refreshed all through your pre-dinner hour, until the very first bites of food come out. And it almost goes without repeating  almost  that in its best possible use, albarino is a beautiful food wine, destined for great flavor synergy with just about anything that once called the sea home.
Is there any more unsung hero in the kitchen than the humble onion, or its equally unheralded BFF, the garlic clove?

These cheap and versatile veggies are the culinary worlds workhorses, playing a supporting role in so many dishes in so many cultures. Even the dual threats of bad breath and a teary-cutting experience cant diminish their universal appeal. Alliums, as they are known collectively, are one of the worlds oldest cultivated plants and have been used to flavor food since at least 5000 B.C.

So howd they become the Rodney Dangerfield of vegetables?

We take them for granted, says Kate Winslow, who grew up in Pittsburgh and worked as an editor at Gourmet. So you kind of forget, and think theyre just for seasoning.

Yet its only with the aromatic addition of alliums that a clever cook can build something perfectly delicious to eat, she says. And to prove her point, she and her photographer husband Guy Ambrosino spent six straight months devising the ultimate guide to cooking with leeks, scallions, garlic, shallots and every other sort of onion.

Onions Etcetera: The Essential Allium Cookbook is bound to blow you away with its gorgeous photos and mouthwatering collection of recipes. Winslows prose also is delectable, with breezy tales of the couples cooking life interspersed with practical tips on how to, say, clean leeks or peel pearl onions. You also find bits of onion history (revered in French cooking, shallots originated near Palestine), and memories of where certain dishes were first tasted and how/why they were replicated.

When it comes to Ambrosinos great-aunt Aggies fried water soup, its hard not to spring out of bed and sprint to the kitchen to make it. Ditto with the beer-battered onion rings. Youll feel the same way, too, about many of the books 100-plus recipes, which are arranged according to color and/or season.

First come the keepers, or the yellow, white and red storage onions one always has on hand. There also are chapters devoted to sweet onions; scallions and chives; shallots and leeks; pearl onions and button-shaped cipollini; and the fleeting early bird ramps, spring onions and green garlic/garlic scapes.

Some of the recipes use alliums in supporting roles, such as the leeks that team up with fresh dill and feta in a creamy spring tart. Others allow onions to boldly headline  for instance, grilled as a taco filling or fried with a bit of chili, curry and cassava flour into a golden, crispy fritter.

These are recipes that we love and that mean something to us, that resonate deeply on an emotional and historical level, Winslow writes. Turns out we, like everyone else, come from a long line of onion eaters.

How did she go from amateur eater to cookbook author? Her parents both were teachers, so it wasnt a reach to consider a career in journalism when she graduated from the University of Virginia in the mid-1990s; her degree in womens history included a thesis on womens newspaper pages during the Great Depression. But specializing in food? Not exactly a life goal.

Not that she didnt have a deep connection to all things culinary: She grew up in a family that loved to cook and entertain. Their annual open house on New Years Day in Edgewood (and the traditional German meal that followed) was epic, complete with bloody marys, spinach dip in a bread bowl and platters of smoked sausages.

She took a summer job after college as a cook at a ranch in the wilds of Wyoming, but that was more for fun than professional development. It wasnt until she followed some fellow UVAers to Santa Fe, N.M., that she turned to writing.

Her friends eventually all moved away, but Winslow stayed on, taking a job as an arts editor with a weekly newspaper. Ambrosino, who grew up in a big Italian family in New Jersey, just happened to be the staff photographer, and well, you know where that goes. As Winslows job duties expanded to include a food column, so grew their love affair, fanned by the many meandering conversations that took place around the kitchen table. And that is still one of our favorite places to be, she writes. We have always loved to bring people together, especially over food.

In 2003, the couple headed back East, first to Philly and later to New York City, where Winslow took a job as a book editor at Gourmet magazine and her husband set up a photo studio. All the while, she says, they explored various cuisines, gathering recipes like taste souvenirs.

After helping to edit and write the head notes for Gourmets big yellow cookbook, Winslow switched over to the magazine as an editor writing copy for recipes. Working for Ruth Reichl was a bizarre dream come true, she recalls, not to mention a delicious education.

As their family expanded to include a son, the excitement of Big City living wore off. So in 2009, they packed up their tiny apartment in Brooklyn and headed for Sicily. A six-week sabatical stretched into a months-long visit during which both ended up working at a cooking school. The experience proved tasty fodder for their first cookbook in 2012, Coming Home to Sicily.

One food in particular bubbled in the back of the couples heads upon their return to New Jersey in 2010  onions. In particular it was Italys sweet and famous cipolla di Tropea, a red variety that grows along the coast in the Calabria region. In Sicily, Winslow recalls, everything begins with red onions, and we got into that habit. To this day, she has a soft spot for red onions.

It was during a visit to the Strip District in the fall of 2014 that the seeds for Onions Etcetera first were sown. Walking on Smallman Street, Winslow happened to peek into one of the 19th century produce warehouses and saw that it was filled with bags and bags of onions. The image stuck with her. A few months later, when a publisher theyd done a few projects with, asked for some new ideas, a second cookbook on alliums proved to be the answer.

Winslow says she hopes the recipes she and her husband have gathered will serve as an inspiration for meals instead of an aspiration. I want it to be super useful, so people can dive in and make dinner from it.

That said, the book does include some project-oriented dishes, including one for onion bialys and another for pierogies that replicates the pillowy, butter-slicked dumplings her Polish great-great aunt from Morningside fed her as a child.

Youll also find pastes and sauces, such as homemade harissa and chermoula, that can live in your fridge for a long time, just waiting for the opportunity to serve as building blocks for a quick and flavorful dinner.

For such a common vegetable, theres so many things you can do with it, she says.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY | Big Ox Energy will contest at least one of the citations it has received from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an OSHA spokesman said Tuesday.

The renewable energy company has filed a motion to contest a citation received April 17 following a six-month investigation into its South Sioux City facility. The citation outlined six violations, all designated as "serious," with penalties totaling $50,703.

OSHA spokesman Scott Allen said the company has elected to contest the citation rather than appear for a previously planned informal conference, where it would have discussed the citation with the OSHA Region 7 area director and possibly reached a settlement.

The next step in the contestation process is typically for the citation to go before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, a process Allen said can take up to a year.

The six serious violations in question stem from a six-month investigation into the plant that began in mid-October, when a hired contractor at the plant was exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas.

The 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.

The hired contractor's company, Clean Water Technology, also received a citation for the incident.

Big Ox Energy last week received two additional citations from OSHA outlining nine more serious violations. Those investigations detailed separate incidents at the plant occurring Jan. 8 and Dec. 14. The citations spelled out nine additional violations totaling $50,704 in penalties.

Regarding the two new citations, the company has 15 business days to either request a conference to discuss the citations or file a motion to contest them.

In an emailed statement, Big Ox Energy director of economic development Kevin Bradley said the company decided to make the move through discussions with OSHA in order to give it time to discuss all the citations at one time.

"We discussed with OSHA, and OSHA agreed, that it would be in everyone's best interest for the company to contest the first citation, so that the parties would have time to meet and resolve everything at one time," he said in the statement.
PONCA, Neb. | An Emerson, Nebraska, man who alerted authorities to a "possible attempted murder" for an incident with his girlfriend faces several felony charges.

Dixon County Attorney Leland Miner on Friday charged Joe Saufley with first-degree assault, first-degree sexual assault, strangulation with serious bodily injury, first-degree domestic assault and disturbing the peace. Saufley's preliminary hearing was set for June 9 in Dixon County Court.

According to court documents, Saufley, 22, called authorities at 12:20 a.m. May 7 and requested police and an ambulance to come to his home in the 1100 block of Logan Street in Emerson because he had murdered his girlfriend. When police arrived at the scene, Saufley was standing in the street with blood dripping from his hand. He turned around and placed his hands behind his back and was arrested, court documents said.

The victim came out of the house, court documents said, covered in blood and had injuries over her face, head and body. She was taken to Pender Community Hospital and then transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Officers observed blood throughout the house and found several knives inside, court documents said.
Jeremy Hoffman, 29, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Hoffman and others sold meth from 2014 through October, and Hoffman was personally involved in the sale of at least 1.3 kilograms, selling as much as half a pound to a single customer each week.
SIOUX CITY | A Morningside gas leak forced occupants in 17 homes and a dental business to evacuate Tuesday.

The leak was caused after a third-party contractor struck a 4-inch gas line while boring beneath the intersection of South Lakeport Street and Lincoln Way around noon.

Sioux City Fire Rescue spokesman Joe Rodriguez said Tuesday evening all the evacuations were precautionary and no injuries were reported.

MidAmerican Energy communications director Tina Potthoff said eight customers in the area were without gas service. Electricity also was turned off to 26 customers as a precaution. Potthoff expected repairs to be completed and services restored Tuesday night.

Firefighters went house to house to check homes for the presence of gas when the leak was first reported. The displaced residents who had nowhere else to stay were encouraged to go to the food court at the nearby Southern Hills Mall, where officials gave them updates. The gas was contained at 5 p.m. The residents were then allowed to meet with rescue personnel to take them back if their house was secure.

Crews blocked off South Lakeport from Ravine Park Drive to Sergeant Road and the artery roads to South Lakeport for the majority of the day. MidAmerican and the fire department reopened Lincoln Way and South Lakeport Tuesday evening. All but the outer southbound lane of South Lakeport have been reopened while repairs are being made.

Nodland Elementary School and East High School were east of the affected area and were not in danger, a press release said.

Staff and customers of Lakeport Dental Care, 3434 South Lakeport St., were evacuated as a precaution.
SIOUX CITY  The National Weather Service Office in Sioux Falls issued a flood warning this weekend for low-lying areas near the Big Sioux and Little Sioux rivers in Northwest Iowa.

What we are looking at is the lower portion of the Big Sioux say north of Hawarden downstream to Akron  does not include Sioux City  we are looking at some minor flooding there at the end of the week after these rains come through today/tonight, NWS hydrologist Mike Gillispie said Wednesday afternoon.

Gillispie said that particular portion of the Big Sioux River is about a foot above the flood stage, but only expects it to impact low-lying ag land near the Missouri River tributary.

He also projects that upper portions of the Little Sioux River, from about Spencer to almost near Cherokee, would flood over the weekend.

It doesnt look like any roads or anything like that is going to be impacted, again, primarily that lower lying agricultural land next to the river," Gillispie said.

Gillispie projected rainfall from Wednesday combined with Tuesdays rains, which were measured in at slightly more than an inch in some parts of the region, are the causation for the minor swelling in the rivers.

Once these rains get through tonight, we are going to see the rivers continuing to rise  looks like most areas are going to be cresting Friday and Sunday, depending on where youre at on the rivers there, he said.
SIOUX CITY | An early morning storm packing winds reaching speeds more than 80 mph caused widespread tree and building damage in at least two Northwest Iowa counties.

The storm struck between 4 and 5:30 a.m. and was the result of a heat burst, National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Ferguson said. The rare atmospheric phenomena is when a thunderstorm begins to die, air sinks quickly and warms up, leading to gusty, damaging winds.

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls reported a wind gust of 83 mph in Lake Park, Iowa, early Tuesday that caused tree damage in that Dickinson County community.

Dickinson County emergency management coordinator Mike Ehret said storm damage was limited to the western quarter of the county, where winds gusted in excess of 80 mph. Ehret said that by the time the storm moved through the Spirit Lake area, winds were down to 40 mph.

A steel shed two miles west of Lake Park was damaged, and two Lake Park businesses had tin sheets blown off of their roofs.

The O'Brien County Sheriff's Office reported numerous trees down in Sheldon and in the Hartley and Sanborn areas. There were also reports of a couple of gravel roads in rural areas blocked by downed trees.

No injuries have been reported.

MidAmerican Energy worked to restore power to 36 customers in the Ritter area north of Sheldon. High winds blew down power lines, and tree limbs had fallen on other lines.

Sheldon public works director Todd Uhl said the city had some minor power outages after the storm. He said trees and limbs were down in the city, but there was no major damage.

"It's not horrendous by any means," Uhl said.

Hartley city administrator Patty Anderson said school started two hours late this morning as the storm knocked out the city's electric substation. Several trees were blown down in town, Anderson said, and she had reports of at least two cars being struck by falling trees and a trampoline being blown through the side of the owner's house.

Sioux City escaped the brunt of the storm, receiving 0.11 of an inch of rain and wind gusts of 40-50 mph.

Sioux City experienced humid conditions Tuesday with a high in the 80s.

The region was issued a severe thunderstorm watch Tuesday evening until midnight Wednesday. Thunderstorms containing hail and damaging winds are possible before 4 a.m., the weather service said.

More showers and scattered storms are forecast for Wednesday into Thursday morning, with high temperatures cooling into the 70s on Wednesday and 60s on Thursday. Friday also is expected to be cool and rainy with a high of 57 degrees. Ferguson said Sioux City could receive up to 1.50 inches of rain from now through Thursday.
SIOUX CITY | After the abrupt resignation of an employee after one week on the job, the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved hiring Nia Key as the new jail alternative coordinator for a three-county entity.

"We had a start and a stop with a person who didn't go through with relocation," Woodbury County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor said at a board meeting.

Woodbury County since July 2014 has partnered with Plymouth and Sioux counties to create the Sioux Rivers Regional Mental Health and Disability Services group, in a reorganized state mental health system to serve low-income residents with mental, intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In recent months, Sioux Rivers and Woodbury County officials have been pleased to work toward creating the jail alternative coordinator job, in order to address jail inmates who have mental illness issues. The goal is to take such people out of the jails and get them health providers for their issues.

As they launched the new position, officials of the counties and Sioux Rivers hired Jason Franklin on May 1. However, after working one week, Franklin turned in his resignation, Woodbury County Human Resources Department Director Ed Gilliland said in an interview.

That was a surprising development, since Franklin was only the second person to quit so quickly over the years Gilliland has been director. He said Franklin had resided and worked in the Quad Cities, Iowa, area most of his life, and "realized he would not deal well with leaving his lifelong home."

Key was not at the meeting. She will be paid the same salary as Franklin agreed to, $53,000.

Gilliland said Key is highly qualified, having a master's in social work from Temple University and extensive work experience with programs in the Detroit and Philadelphia areas.

"She will be a great addition," Taylor said.

Gilliland added, "The purpose of this position is to help transition people from a jail setting to one in which they are productive members of society."
SPENCER, Iowa  A Spencer man surrendered early Wednesday morning after a nearly seven-hour standoff with authorities after allegedly threatening a neighbor while displaying a crossbow.

At 7:54 p.m. Tuesday, the Spencer Police Department dispatched to 500 E. First St. in regards to a threat complaint, according to a department release.

When officers arrived, they determined Todd Norgaard allegedly had threatened some neighbors while displaying a crossbow.

Witnesses indicated that the 56-year-old had retreated inside his residence immediately following the incident. Officers attempted to make contact with Norgaard at his residence but were unsuccessful.

The High Risk Entry and Arrest Team was activated. A standoff ensued and through negotiations, Norgaard voluntarily turned himself over to authorities at 2:26 a.m.

Norgaard was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class C felony, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor, and harassment second degree, which is a serious misdemeanor.
SIOUX CITY | Wilson, Sadia and Doreen are on their way to recovery.

The three were the lone survivors of a school bus crash in Tanzania that killed 33 other seventh graders, two teachers and the bus driver on May 6.

Three medical volunteers with Siouxland Tanzania Educational Medical Ministries (STEMM), were among the first people to come across the crash, which occurred in the east African nation's northern region.

With perseverance and outstanding donations, STEMM was able to arrange to have the survivors flown to Sioux City to get proper medical care. The children with their mothers and two Tanzanian doctors landed in Sioux City Monday.

STEMM president Dr. Steve Meyer said Tuesday the surgeries are going "incredibly well."

"Their incredible resilience and positive attitudes on these kids is humbling," said the Dakota Dunes-based surgeon. "One of the little girls had just flown 48 hours from Tanzania -- including a 12-hour stop in Charlotte -- to get here. She had major hip surgery, shoulder surgery and her face was reconstructed. And I went in to see her at 7 a.m. this morning and she gave me this little grin with her jaw wired shut and a thumbs up. It was amazing."

Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City agreed to donate tens of thousands of dollars in medical care to treat the kids, who sustained multiple fractures in the crash. A team of local doctors also will be donating their services to treat the three children. Sioux City's Ronald McDonald House will also house the three children's parents for the two to three months the treatment is expected to take.

A second child had surgery Tuesday morning to put in place an elbow and an arm. Meyer said their other elbow had to be opened up so pins and wires could be planted to fix the fractures. The same child also had a severe femur fracture and a rod was placed into their thigh. Meyer said doctors also worked more than seven hours Tuesday afternoon putting together bones in the arms and legs of the third child.

Meyer expects this to be the last bout of surgeries for two of the three children. The other child will have a major surgery on a "very severe" upper back fracture Thursday. The crash broke four vertebrae in her spine and she is relatively paralyzed from the waist down.

"She can only wiggle her toes a little bit on the left side," Meyer said. "Hopefully this surgery and God's providence and healing will bring her neurological function back."

Meyer praised the three STEMM members -- Kevin Negaard, Jennifer Milby and Manda Volker -- who provided medical care at the scene of the crash as "American heroes" for their efforts.

STEMM is a local humanitarian organization which sends aid and volunteers to Tanzania a few times every year.
SIOUX CITY | Seven bridge projects in rural Woodbury County will be delayed by one year each, as county officials juggle projects in order to add a new repair to a bridge just north of Moville, Iowa, in 2018.

Woodbury County Engineer Mark Nahra on Tuesday told the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors he figured out the repair timeline changes needed to undertake a $750,000 repair to a damaged bridge on Haskell Avenue north of Moville.

Nahra said there is a trickle-down effect to undertake the Haskell repair, a project he had recommended against pursuing. He said he looked at the bridge inspection reports for the bridges currently in the five-year plan set for 2018-2022, to determine which had similar estimated repair costs and could be pushed back.

"We bumped the (bridges) that have the best life expectancy," Nahra said.

No bridges planned for the 2017-18 fiscal year, which begins July 1, could be delayed, since all those are well underway for design.

No supervisors spoke against Nahra's plan.

The bridges delayed from fiscal year 2019 to 2020 are on Jewell Avenue four miles southeast of Moville and on 240th Street east of Anthon near the Ida County line. Those delayed from 2020 to 2021 are on Taylor Avenue south of Cushing and Lenox Avenue east of Pierson.

Bridges delayed from fiscal year 2021 to 2022 include one on 150th Street two miles southwest of Pierson and another on 335th Street three miles west of Danbury. Lastly, one bridge was moved out of the five-year plan, and presumably to fiscal year 2023, with a structure east of Pierson on Minnesota Avenue.

The supervisors heard from eight concerned people from Moville in an April 18 public hearing, who wanted to continue to use Haskell as a "short cut" to reach north of town toward Le Mars and other places. The supervisors then voted 4-1 to pursue the Haskell bridge repair.

The Haskell Avenue bridge is now barricaded, after being damaged by flooding from severe rains in 2014 and 2016. Nahra said permanently closing Haskell would mean a drive of one-half mile longer, something that might cost drivers a minute or two.

Many Moville people choose Haskell Avenue as the quicker way to reach County Road K64 to the north than going via Iowa Highway 140. Those three roads essentially form a triangle, with Haskell as the shorter option than Highway 140.

"It makes very little sense to close this bridge," County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor said in April, citing safety concerns and since an estimated 200 vehicles cross the bridge daily.

Supervisor Keith Radig cast the sole vote against the repair in April. Radig instead argued that the county should improve safety at the K64 and Highway 140 intersection by moving the K64 connection a bit farther south. Radig and Nahra roughly estimated that could cost $250,000.
Iowa lawmakers should be commended this year for not only protecting the state's medical marijuana law, but for improving it.

As a result, more Iowans will have access to relief for conditions from which they suffer.

In 2014, the Legislature took an important first step on the issue of medical marijuana. Lawmakers passed a bill through which patients afflicted by epilepsy could possess an anti-seizure medicine derived from cannabis. Because we have compassion for these Iowans and because we have faith and confidence in Iowa's medical community and believe physicians should have, within a proper framework, the legal option to write a prescription for medical marijuana, we supported the bill.

At the time, in fact, we stated our support for future debate about extending Iowa's medical marijuana program to illnesses other than epilepsy. Last year, we encouraged lawmakers to legalize production and distribution of cannabidiol in Iowa, at least for use by epilepsy patients. This, in response to reasonable concerns expressed by Iowans about the fact the 2014 bill didn't address production and distribution of the drug within the state. In other words, the legislation allowed an Iowan to legally possess the drug for treatment of epilepsy, but it remained illegal in the state to produce or distribute it.

The bill passed by the Legislature this year addressed expansion as well as production and distribution.

The bill:

- Allows for the production of cannabis oil at two locations.

- Legalizes the use of cannabis oil for additional conditions. In addition to seizures from epilepsy, the conditions covered in the expanded medical marijuana program include: cancer; multiple sclerosis; HIV or AIDS; Crohn's disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Parkinson's disease; and any terminal illness with a life expectancy of under a year.

- Creates an advisory board to review medical evidence and make recommendations to the state's Board of Medicine on what conditions should be added to the list of conditions and whether a tetrahydrocannabinol level of more than 3 percent should be allowed for certain conditions. The bill passed this year limits the amount of THC allowed in cannabis oil to 3 percent, which critics say limits the oil's potential to help individuals who suffer from conditions other than epilepsy seizures.

We understand some medical marijuana proponents do not believe the bill passed this year goes far enough, but we give credit to lawmakers for taking another step in the right direction on this issue.

We encourage more dialogue about ways to improve the state's medical marijuana program in future years.
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.
Check out the latest in bisexual, lesbian and transgender news!

Get Out Producer to Make Black Lesbian Horror Movie

(SFGN) Producer Jordan Blum of Get Out and filmmaker Dee Rees of Bessie and Mudbound are collaborating on a new project. The yet untitled films protagonists will be black lesbians living in the suburbs. Rees said the movie is based on her own experiences, the New York Times reports.

"Youve got me and my wife, two black lesbians, and when we first moved in, we fought every day over all these little things: Why is this over there? Did you move that?' Maybe it was a ghost. Or maybe it was some other forcelike us not wanting to be there or fitting in." Anyway, thats my horror-movie pitch, Rees said.

It almost makes me nervous, Blum said, then leaned back and looked up. The idea of working with you. He paused. But anything you want to do, Im in. Im in, Im in, Im in.

Although the project is still in development, Rees told the Times shes optimistic working with Blum to take on a film of this content and genre. I cant tell you how rare it is that people mean what they say in this business, she said. Hes just letting me make the best possible version of what I want to make.

Alia Shawkat: How Being Bisexual Helped Me as an Actor

(SFGN) Alia Shawkat, known for her roles in Arrested Development and Broad City stars in the new thriller Paint it Black. In an interview with Out magazine Shawkat talked about how shes identified with and grown in each role.

(Out) Youve also taken on more explicitly queer roles, like when you played Ilana Glazers look-alike lover on an episode of Broad City. What was that like?

(AS) Id been mistaken for Ilana a lot, and Id heard from her friend that shed been mistaken for me too. Next thing I know, Im on a group text with the girls. Then I had a script. Ive been recognized so much since. A guy in New York pulled up and said, Hey, you Ilanas lover, huh?!

How do you identify with these characters?

I was a tomboy growing up, and I remember my mom asking me when I was 10, Are you attracted to boys or girls? I said I dont know. Now I consider myself bisexual, and I think balancing my male and female energies has been a big part of me growing as an actor.

How do you feel in the current climate, moving forward as a queer artist?

I co-wrote and star in a new film called Duck Butter, which opens later this year. I love that it was written for a man and a woman, but we couldnt find the right guy, so now it happens to star two women [as lovers]. I used to be less outspoken. But as a woman, an Arab-American, and a member of the LGBTQ community, I have to use whatever voice I have. Theres no more delicacy in being quiet.

Argentina's First Transgender Police Chief on Duty

(AP) Analia Pasantino served in Argentina's federal police as a man for 20 years, then she came out as a transgender woman and was forced to resign.

She is smiling these days, though, beaming with pride to be wearing a police badge again. And the sign on her office door reads: "Chief."

Nearly a decade after psychiatric reports said Pasantino suffered from an "irreconcilable" illness that made her unfit to serve, she was welcomed back to the police force this week and appointed deputy police commissioner in the judicial communications department.

"This is a milestone," Pasantino, 49, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "I'm the first transgender police chief in Latin America. It's an unprecedented and important step to show Latin America and the world that we are an open institution."

Argentina became a world leader in transgender rights in 2012 when it gave people the freedom to change their legal and physical gender identity simply because they want to, without having to undergo judicial, psychiatric and medical procedures. The government also legalized gay marriage in 2010.

"The world has changed," Pasantino said. "You can live a life of gender identity and it's no longer necessary to live a double life."
Surrounded by death, Father Bill Collins embraces life. Confronted by anger, he preaches forgiveness.

And faced with an ending inevitable from the very start, he encourages acceptance and faith and most of all, love.

From a Sun-Sentinel article about, December 11, 1994

Quietly, and in a hospice not unlike the many he served, a titan passed in our community this past week.

For many of you, Father Bill Collins was the smiling priest who shared time with you at Sawgrass Lanes during a bowling tournament. But this was a man who spent a large part of his life holding the hand of the dying.

Sometimes, we forget what AIDS was, when. Let us not today.

Poverello and Father Bill opened their doors to Broward County three decades ago in Pompano Beach. Overcoming all obstacles and bucking the tides so marshalled against him, Father Bill created and forged a food bank and nutritional facility, now cemented and anchored in Wilton Manors.

Poverellos inviting website talks positively of the thousands of people they have served over the decades. Most assuredly, they have, and still do. Indeed, I hope you will all join and support them at their June 12 anniversary party.

The website shares Poverellos missions and goals simply, explaining they are providing nutritious food with understanding, respect and love for individuals living with critical and chronic illnesses.

Poverello now has a full-time staff, generous volunteers and a mission to reach out to so many. Lets remember that it started with one mans vision to do so. Father Bill became the inspiration, and his words and deeds have led to a mission that is now an institution; forever a part of our lives,

But there was a time when AIDS was a death sentence, and Father Bill a lonely messenger. There was a day when HIV patients were lepers. There was a moment, in our nations history, when concern did not exist, care was not there, and outreach unheard of. Then there was Father Bill.

Patients living with AIDS, lucky enough to leave a hospital, needed help, food, clothing, nutrition, assistance. In the 1980s, and again in the 1990s, Father Bill was there, often alone, so much so that it would not be unusual for him to preside over four funerals in a single day.

By the year 2000, he had presided over 2000 of them. In July of 1994, the Diocese of Miami freed him from his duties as a parish priest, and he came to us. He came to Poverello, and he never left, remaining a robed warrior for justice.

At the time, he told a reporter, Michael Young, that "We're given such a magnificent opportunity, those of us at Poverello, to be able to be caring personsand if we do that, then we can pick up the spark that filled these lives and bring the flame together and make this a better world. It's a challenge, a simple challenge of life. If you accept, it's wonderful. And if you don't, how sad."

A man who suffered his first heart attack in 1962, at age 31, and went on to smoke too many packs of Benson & Hedges daily, Father Bill became a voice for the LGBT community and AIDS patients when we had no voices, an unsung hero who would soon be recognized by many.

Father Bill, a long way from his home in Canada, found that his work gained public acclaim and local recognition. The organization he gave life to under the name of the poor little one became the little train that could. He saw illness, and sought to end it. He saw health, and tried to inspire it.

Yes, he had been a priest at St. Coleman Parrish in Pompano. Yes, he had been the chaplain at Imperial Point Medical Center. But Father Bills life would change directions with Florida AIDS walks and bowling tournaments to fight hunger. He emerged as a local hero, honored by everyone from Toastmasters groups to our Pride Center. In fact, he was the 1999 recipient of the Pride Centers Lifetime Achievement Award.

Father Bill would win many more accolades in his lifetime, including the Sun Sentinel Publishers Award for outstanding community service, in 1995. Said Jim Smith, their vice president at the time, Father Bill has persevered and accomplished great things. It does our souls good to be reminded that such things are possible."

Father Bill, my friends, did indeed do great things, and he was solemnly laid to rest in a moving ceremony this past Monday afternoon at Assumption Catholic Church in Lauderdale by the Sea.

Mark down that day, for Father Bill was not just a part of the gay community history of South Florida. He helped make and shape it. He did so with dignity and grace, and leaves us with a treasure forever etched into the soul of our community.
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



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




We can't seem to find the page you are looking for.

You may have typed the address incorrectly or you may have used an outdated link.
Post Time with Mike and Mike, presented by BetAmerica, is proud to announce its Thursday morning line-up. The show will start at 10:30 a.m.

The director of racing at The Raceway at Western Fair District, Greg Blanchard, will join the show to talk about the upcoming 2017 Molson Pace. The race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting that the track has seen, and the show will be there to cover the live racing action.

The invitees for the $150,000 Betsy Ross, Maxie Lee, and Ben Stafford Jr. Invitationals at Harrah's Philadelphia will be announced on this weeks show. The race weekend is sure to be a fantastic one at the track.

Dale Decker will join the show to talk about his champion older pacer Night Pro, who will be starting his 2017 stakes season in the Molson Pace. He will talk about the struggles he went through and how he got his pacer back into top form.

Aaron Lambert will discuss his star filly Agent Q, who was a winner in her division of the PASS and will next race at Yonkers in the Lismore.

Christen Me N recently made his first North American start at Harrah's Philadelphia, and, after a troubled start that caused a recall, he put in a monster winning effort. Joanne Looney-King will join the show to discuss the star and where he may be headed next.

The shows weekly segment with Pompano Park Director of Racing and Announcer Gabe Prewitt will continue, as he will discuss the happenings at the south Florida track.

Post Time can be heard on posttimewithmikeandmike.com or on the archive at betamerica.com/BARN.

(With files from Post Time)
Judicial Watch: Obama Travel Totals Nearly $100 Million

Judicial Watch Sues for Obama Post-White House Travel Records



Contact: Jill Farrell, Judicial Watch, 202-646-5172



WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- Judicial Watch announced that it obtained records from the Secret Service and the Air Force in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests that show Obama family travel cost taxpayers a grand total of $99,714,527.82.



The new Obama White House era travel records show:

The March 2014 trip to Key Largo during Spring Break  where the First Family stayed at the exclusive Ocean Reef Club  cost the Secret Service $247,827.50: $182,120.33 for hotels and $65,707.17 in travel expenses. The total cost of that trip with previously released $885,683 in flight costs from the Air Force is $1,133,510.50.



Other documents show that Michelle Obama's February 2015 Aspen vacation cost the Secret Service a total of $64,807.41: $47,109.28 for hotels, $3,559.43 in rental cars and $14,138.70 in other travel expenses. The total cost of the trip with $57,068.80 in flight costs from previously released Air Force records is $121,876.21.



Judicial Watch released documents from the Air Force concerning the 2016-2017 Obama family Christmas trip to Honolulu showing 17.9 hours flying at $142,380 per hour, bringing the total flight cost to $2,548,602.

Judicial Watch also announced today that it has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Secret Service records associated with President Obama's movements, schedule and activities since his departure from the White House. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (No. 1:17-cv-00928))



The suit was filed after the Secret Service failed to respond to a March 24, 2017, FOIA request seeking:

All records of former President Barack Obama's movements, schedule, activities, and/or meeting for January 21, 2017 through March 21, 2017. Such records include, but are not limited to, U.S. Secret Service schedules and activity reports.

Although Obama is no longer in office, he continues to receive Secret Service protection at taxpayer expense. In January, the Obama family traveled to Palm Springs, CA. The former president also spent a few weeks in French Polynesia.



"For eight long years, the Obamas spent our tax dollars for a lavish jet-setting lifestyle," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "Many in the media would only focus on President Trump's travel, but Barack Obama continues to cost taxpayers with his luxury travel and we aim to get the facts."



Judicial Watch is actively tracking the travel expenses of President Trump. On May 4, Judicial Watch released records from the Department of the Air Force in response to FOIA requests that show President Trump's flights to Mar-a-Lago for two weekends (in February and March) cost $1,281,420.00.



MORE: www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-obama-travel-totals-nearly-100-million
Thirty New Zealand Defence Force personnel and a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules strategic airlift aircraft are supporting New Zealand, Australian and coalition operations in the Middle East.

Leading the air transport mission is Squadron Leader Brad Scott, from the northern Waikato town of Taupiri, who was encouraged by his parents to sign up for the Air Force and train as a pilot 11 years ago.

I look forward to the opportunity and the challenges of commanding the mission. This is the first time I will be leading a deployment and the positive reaction from my peers has been encouraging, says Squadron Leader Scott.

The aircraft and the supporting detachment are being deployed until mid-June at the request of the Australian Defence Force and will operate as part of their Air Mobility Task Group.

The Hercules primary task is to transport people, equipment and supplies in support of New Zealand and Australian operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan and the Sinai Peninsula. It may also support coalition operations in these countries, says General Tim Gall, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand.

Thirty New Zealand Defence Force personnel and one of the Royal New Zealand Air Forces C-130 Hercules strategic airlift aircraft left this morning to support New Zealand, Australian and coalition operations in the Middle East.

He says the short-term deployment aimed to provide additional capacity during a period of high operational tempo.

The upcoming mission also marks our latest contribution to security and stability in the Middle East and affirms our longstanding commitment in the region, says Major General Gall.

This is the second time an RNZAF air transport team has been deployed to the Middle East in the past 12 months. A Hercules aircraft and a 32-member detachment were sent to the Middle East in May 2016 to provide logistics support to coalition operations for six months.

The detachment includes aircraft technicians, logistics specialists, maintenance personnel, and an Air Movements Load Team to support coalition aircraft in the region.

A pilot and flying instructor for the C-130 aircraft, Squadron Leader Scott joined the Air Force in January 2006. During his last year at Hamilton Boys High School, he thought about becoming a field engineer in the New Zealand Army after attending a leadership programme at Waiouru camp.

Before handing in his application to for the Armys Officer Cadet School, he sought advice from his parents, who suggested that he consider the other Services.

My recruiter, who was an Air Force C-130 pilot, came to my parents farm and over coffee, convinced us that joining the Air Force was a pretty good career choice, he recalls.

Squadron Leader Scott has previously been deployed to the Middle East, the Solomon Islands, the Philippines and Timor-Leste.
Play at the new site will be free and first come, first served through the...
Kelso City Councilman Jim Hill knows hes treading on sacred territory.

Hill is organizing a petition to limit the sale, possession, and use of fireworks in Cowlitz County to only the days of July 3-5 and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Hill said he understands that promoting an anti-firework law is an uphill battle in this fireworks-fanatic community, but he still believes its an important cause.

This (proposed law) isnt to ban fireworks, thats not going to happen, Hill said in an interview Tuesday. Fireworks are really ingrained in our culture, and thats fine. But five weeks of fireworks is just ridiculous, and theres no controls on the size of these things.

Some cities in the county already have limits on use and sale of fireworks, but Hill said he favors a countywide ordinance and stronger enforcement of existing fireworks laws. Hes concerned about the impact of fireworks on pets and worries that they can trigger post-traumatic stress reactions in veterans.

The councilman has organized a group of eight people so far and would like to recruit as many 50 organizers to distribute petitions and pressure the commissioners about his cause.

Hill has spoken in front of the county commissioners many times, including Tuesday, when commissioners Dennis Weber and Joe Gardner listened politely to the councilman and said little. Still, Hill said his cause will eventually grab their attention.

Their feeling is there hasnt been an organized groundswell of protests, and that needs to be corrected and will be corrected, Hill said. We are in the early stages of organizing folks throughout the county.

Longview police reported receiving 57 fireworks-related calls between June 28 and July 5 last summer. The Longview Fire Department said the 10-year average of injuries reported at St. John Hospital Emergency Department was six per July 4th holiday period.

Hills effort will collide with social service groups and other organizations who use fireworks sales to raise money.

Longview Councilman Scott Vydra, who is a member of the Longview-Kelso Kiwanis Club, said Kiwanis and eight other organizations are licensed to sell fireworks in Longview to generate money for scholarships each Independence Day season. He said Kiwanis alone raised $8,000 and estimated that the nine groups total take may exceed $100,000.

Vydra also stated that police simply arent able to answer every fireworks complaint, and enforcing firework rules more strongly would be extremely difficult.

Do they try to? Yes. Are they able to? No, the councilman said. Will this reduce the number by 10 percent? Probably, but those people that are shooting them off after legal hours, theyre not going to stop.

A number of Washington cities have banned fireworks completely, including Vancouver, Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane. For a complete list of Washington cities that have banned or restricted firework sales and use, visit the State Fire Marshals website.

Fellow Longview City Councilman Mike Wallin said he hasnt heard from his constituents about a need for more enforcement of firework laws, although hes open to changing things if citizens demanded it.

If the residents truly wanted some kind of action or change, then Im completely for that, and Im open for having the discussion, Wallin said. But I think most people are a little more realistic and pragmatic.
A 29-year-old Longview man pleaded guilty to 14 sex crimes against children Tuesday and was immediately taken into custody.

Brett Lee McCord pleaded guilty to four counts of forcible indecent liberties, four counts of first-degree possession of child pornography and six counts of voyeurism.

McCord will be sentenced at 3 p.m. June 27 in Cowlitz Superior Court.

In September 2015, an FBI special agent asked the Vancouver Police Department for help with a federal search warrant relating to child pornography for a home in Longview.

The FBI investigation led them to an Internet server that hosted a website known for sharing, viewing and downloading child pornography. With a federal court order, the FBI continued to operate the website undercover to gather information on the websites users and material, according to court records.

During the investigation, the FBI gathered users Internet Protocol addresses, computer names and other identifying information. The username forbucky44 registered an account on the website on Oct. 13, 2014. Between that date and March 2, 2015, the user logged in for 15 hours and 32 minutes, according to court records.

During those five months, the user accessed posts and images of both young boys and girls naked bodies, as well as the children engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexually explicit conduct, according to court records. The username forbucky44 was determined to belong to McCord, according to court records.

When FBI and police searched McCords house in September 2015, digital evidence was seized from him, including the device used for accessing the website. An FBI agent found McCord had accessed the website using those devices and also had child erotica and child pornography files, according to court records.

The agent found 34 videos and 2,045 images that depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct or that appear to be part of an overall child abuse series, according to court records.

At least one of the videos and at least 196 photos included a child abuse victim identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to court records.

McCord also had numerous photos and videos that depicted at least three females being sexually molested/assaulted while they slept, according to court records. The females appear to be in their late teens and are seen on couches identified to be in McCords residence. The victims were friends or acquaintances of McCord.

In the photos and videos, McCord pulled clothing off the females and took intimate photos of their naked bodies.

He also made videos of himself digitally assaulting and engaging in other sexual contact with the women, according to court records.
One summer night in 2015, Michelle Giles couldnt sleep. She kept envisioning images of tunic dresses, cropped jackets and gathered skirts. So Giles did what many creative types with a bout of insomnia do: She sketched out her ideas on paper.

The Toledo natives late-night inspirations eventually turned into a womens clothing brand, Shay & Coco, a brand that is now on the verge of selling nationwide.

Giles launched the company with two friends, sisters Sarah Layton and Stephanie Miller, last fall.

Shay & Cocos first line sold at more than 40 boutiques across the West Coast. It now has morphed into an at-home boutique experience where saleswomen, called style mavens, host parties with friends who try on clothes and order from the comfort of their living rooms.

Right now there are style mavens selling Shay & Coco in multiple cities in California, Washington and Ohio, and the company is expanding to other states way beyond Giles roots in the Northwest.

Toledo isnt an epicenter for fashion, but Giles said she was always obsessed with clothing.

Clothes are a passion of mine. Fashion is passion of mine, and it always will be. I love dressing women and making them feel good and look good, said Giles, 38, who now lives in Kirkland and also has another full-time job in marketing at Southcenter mall in Seattle.

After graduating with a marketing degree from Washington State University in 2001, Giles moved to Los Angeles where she studied visual communications at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. She went on to marketing in the retail and coffee industries, but it wasnt until recently that she finally launched her own fashion firm.

Im non-conventional. ... Ive never been able to put myself in a box. ... Once I get something in my head that Im going to do something, its really hard to detour, Giles said.

It wasnt long before Giles and Layton, 37, founded Shay & Coco. Miller, 36, then joined to handle warehousing and shipping.

On evenings and weekends, Giles often drives to Toledo to meet with the sisters to review designs and talk business.

The owners say they want to make comfy sexy with a host of contemporary and classic looks geared toward women in their 30s to late 50s. The fabrics and patterns are reminiscent of those at Nordstrom or Anthropologie, but at lower prices.

We believe you should be able to have fun with fashion, make it your own, individualize it and get creative and mix things up, Giles said. So thats part of what were trying to do: teach women how to style for their everyday lives, not only work and play but also date nights, Sunday brunches and girls nights.

The three entrepreneurs  all working moms  try to design Shay & Cocos pieces for functionality and versatility. For example, a wrap skirt can be worn as a maxi skirt in the office or switched as cover up at the beach.

They also avoid mass-producing their clothing to ensure customers get something unique. Typically each item is produced only about 250 times and is never made again. Some patterns, such a green floral romper in this springs collection, are exclusive to the Shay & Coco brand.

Usually Giles sketches out an idea and has a friend create a prototype that a real model can try. The business partners tweak the style, fit and pattern until theyre satisfied.

Their first collection was produced in the U.S. However, to reduce prices the clothing is now manufactured in China, Giles said. But as their business grows they hope to make more products in the U.S., she said.

Their clothes are by no means fast fashion either the kind of clothes you might find at discount stores that favor trendiness and low prices. For Giles, sourcing comfortable, quality fabrics is a must, so prices arent bottom-of-the-barrel but theyre not as expensive as some designer boutiques or department stores either. A blouse, for instance, can be anywhere from $40 to $68.

A salesperson or style maven earns 20 to 25 percent commission, plus other perks. Shay & Coco maintains an inventory and takes care of the shipping and distribution.

The at-home model proved to be so successful that the owners decided to make it the main focus of their business instead of selling through boutiques. Now Shay & Coco is sold in only two boutiques (one in Seattle and one in Longview: Posh on Commerce). The business model is similar to Stella & Dot jewelry as well as Cabi and LuLaRoe clothing companies.

Layton was the first to host a style session for Shay & Coco because she already had experience with a similar model through LuLaRoe. Two years ago, Layton took her daughter Grace to a style session and was amazed to see how the young girl with a chronic medical condition blossomed while wearing new kids clothing. Grace, 6, fell in love with fashion, and Layton began selling the brand as a fun project with her daughter to help build her self-confidence. Now Layton hopes to continue the project with Shay & Coco.

The owners say they hope their entrepreneurial example can inspire their own daughters and other girls in the area to be brave enough to break out of the mold of whats expected for young females from small towns.

When we grew up it was common for you to be pushed into college to become very (normal) like a teacher, a nurse. And so for me with my three little girls, I want them to .. know its okay to try follow their passions and dreams and (make) that the new normal, Layton said.

Giles and her partners say they want to make comfy sexy with a host of contemporary and classic looks geared toward women in their 30s to late 50s.
tech2 News Staff

Just weeks after the Jammu and Kashmir government imposed a ban on social media in the valley, a 16-year old boy launched his very own social network called 'KashBook'. Zeyan Shafiq, who recently passed his class 10 exams, had already developed KashBook back in 2013 but it was the recent ban that brought it into the spotlight.

The Times of India reports that Zeyan, along with his 19 year-old friend Uzair Jan, decided to relaunch KashBook as an app on 2 May in the light of the social media ban.

Their idea behind the same was to simply keep the valley connected.

Thanks to the ban, the app has attracted over a thousand users and most of them seem satisfied with its features.

While the 'KashBook' name gives it a local Kashmiri touch, the app also offers something special with the option to communicate in the local Kashmiri language.

The 16 year-old was just 11 when he started learning HTML tags by himself. Soon enough he learned C++ and then Java.

Many in the Valley have turned to virtual private networks (VPN) in order to overcome the ban and access social media websites. Zeyan however, has plans for his booming social network. The 16 year-old has plans to promote goods and services that are made in Kashmir on his website in the future.

Those interested in trying out this home-brewed social network can download the app from the Google Play Store by clicking here.
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Twitter Inc co-founder Biz Stone said on Tuesday he would be returning full time to the microblogging service in an unspecified role. "My top focus will be to guide the company culture, that energy, that feeling," Stone said in a blog post, adding he would not be replacing anyone at Twitter when he joins the company in a couple of weeks.

Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey had asked him to come back to work at the company, Stone said in the post. "Excited to have Biz's energy and heart back at Twitter! #BizIsBack," Dorsey tweeted on Tuesday. Stone returns to Twitter at a time when the company is doubling down in its efforts to boost user growth.

He was one of the co-founders of Twitter along with Dorsey, Ev Williams and Noah Glass. Stone left Twitter in 2011 and went on to co-found online publishing platform Medium and search engine company Jelly, which was acquired by Pinterest in March.

"The (Pinterest) deal did not require me to work at the company we sold to, but I'm the type of person who has to keep working," Stone said. Twitter shares were up 2.4 percent at $19.65.

Reuters
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The world's biggest ransomware attack levelled off in Europe on Monday thanks to a pushback by cyber security officials after causing havoc in 150 countries, as Microsoft urged governments to heed the "wake-up call". The cross-border police agency Europol said the situation was "stable", easing fears that attacks that struck computers in British hospital wards, European car factories and Russian banks would spread further at the start of the working week.

"The number of victims appears not to have gone up and so far the situation seems stable in Europe, which is a success," senior spokesman for Europol, Jan Op Gen Oorth, told AFP. "It seems that a lot of internet security guys over the weekend did their homework and ran the security software updates," he said. The indiscriminate attack was unleashed Friday, striking hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide by exploiting known vulnerabilities in older Microsoft computer operating systems.

Like stealing missiles

rad Smith, Microsoft's president and chief legal officer, said in a blog post Sunday that it was in fact the NSA that developed the code being used in the attack. He warned governments against stockpiling such vulnerabilities and said instead they should report them to manufacturers -- not sell, store or exploit them, lest they fall into the wrong hands. "An equivalent scenario with conventional weapons would be the US military having some of its Tomahawk missiles stolen," Smith wrote.

"The governments of the world should treat this attack as a wake up call." US package delivery giant FedEx, Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica and Germany's Deutsche Bahn rail network were among those hit in the attacks, which demanded money to allow users to unblock their computers. In China, "hundreds of thousands" of computers were affected, including petrol stations, cash machines and universities, according to Qihoo 360, one of China's largest providers of antivirus software.

French carmaker Renault said its Douai plant, one of its biggest sites in France employing 5,500 people, would be shut on Monday as systems were upgraded.

Europol executive director Rob Wainwright told Britain's ITV television on Sunday that the attack had been "unprecedented". "We've never seen anything like this," he said.

'Ooops' message, $300 ransom

The attack blocks computers and puts up images on victims' screens demanding payment of $300 (275 euros) in the virtual currency Bitcoin, saying: "Ooops, your files have been encrypted!" Payment is demanded within three days or the price is doubled, and if none is received within seven days the locked files will be deleted, according to the screen message. Bitcoin, the world's most-used virtual currency, allows anonymous transactions via heavily encrypted codes.

Experts and governments alike warn against ceding to the demands and Wainwright said few victims so far had been paying up. Security firm Digital Shadows said on Sunday that transactions totalling $32,000 had taken place through Bitcoin addresses used by the ransomware. The culprits used a digital code believed to have been developed by the US National Security Agency -- and subsequently leaked as part of a document dump, according to researchers at the Moscow-based computer security firm Kaspersky Lab.

A hacking group called Shadow Brokers released the malware in April, claiming to have discovered the flaw from the NSA, Kaspersky said. The attack is unique, according to Europol, because it combines ransomware with a worm function, meaning once one machine is infected, the entire internal network is scanned and other vulnerable machines are infected. The attack therefore spread faster than previous, smaller-scale ransomware attacks.

AFP
tech2 News Staff

Google's annual I/O developer conference returns this year as it kicks off from 17 May and goes on for another 2 days. As usual, the event will be held at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California.

The event will likely see Google CEO Sundar Pichai addressing audience with a the keynote speech, along with a developer keynote later on, which should give an insight into what Google is planning for the coming year. Of course, there won't be any hardware product launches, but mostly we will see announcements around software development, machine learning, VR (Virtual Reality) and of course, the next version of Android.

Here is a quick summary of what you can expect to be announced at this year's I/O.

Android O

The most obvious and probably the most exciting announcement will be the next iteration of Android. We already know that it will be called Android O, but what exactly does it stand for? Oreo, maybe? Google has already rolled out developer previews for Android O, and we might finally get to see the OS in action and get an idea as to the features that will make the final cut.

We've already know some of the features that debuted on Android O preview, including updates to notifications, battery life improvements, picture in picture mode and more. You can check out all the new features over here.

Google Assistant and Home

The new voice assistant AI was launched last year exclusively to Pixel devices. But today, it is slowly growing to more Android phones. We are expecting some new announcement around the Google Assistant and the biggest one that we have heard is that it will make its debut on the iPhone. Of course, it will run as an app, but jumping on to the iOS platform is going to give Google a lot of hits. Apart from iOS, there is a high possibility that greater Android device support will be announced.

Then there is the Google Home speaker which is still limited to certain markets. Hopefully, Google will expand the availability of its smart speaker, considering that Amazon's Echo products are gaining a lot attention and that recently, Microsoft announced that it will be putting Cortana on speakers too. Apple is also expected to debut a Siri speaker this year.

Expect new updates to the Assistant itself as Google needs to set a benchmark, specially when Samsung and HTC have launched their AI assistants.

VR

Google's Daydream project was announced last year, and it should see some expansion this year as well. Apart from the Pixel there are just a few handsets that support the platform, which means Google could take some drastic measures. There has also been a report that Google is working on a standalone headset like the Oculus and HTC Vive, which doesn't require it to be hooked onto a smartphone.

Allo and Duo

We saw two new communications apps from Google last year and while they hit it off really well, they seem to have seen a decline. Both Duo and Allo are expected to get minor updates. We recently found a tear-down of Allo v11 and found some of the upcoming features including integration with Duo where users can make calls right from the app. Apart from that we could also see what Google is going to do with Hangouts.

There will be a lot more on the conference and we will be updating you with all the latest announcements. Stay tuned.

Be sure to check back in with us at 10.30 pm, which is when we will begin a live blog covering Google I/O and the subsequent announcements.
IANS

The government has installed necessary security in batches to protect its key networks from the cyber attack by ransomware virus 'WannaCrypt', Information Technology Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said on Tuesday. "On ransomware, since March, the government of India has been on high alert. We have already installed the necessary security in batches as far as the government key networks are concerned," said Sundararajan at the inaugural session here of Broadband India Forum.

"We have not got any reports of widespread infection. There have been very few isolated instances and we continue to be on watch," she added. Sundararajan said that apart from five or six isolated instances, there are no reports of any significant damage in the country. "CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) which is the national agency which monitors and tracks this activity, has affirmed that in India, there were five or six isolated instances, one of about 18 computers of the police in Andhra, as well as about five odd instances, one in Kerala where one of the Panchayat computers were affected," she told reporters here.

"Apart from that, there have been very small fragmented, isolated machines, standalone machines which have been affected. Overall, there was no report on any kind of substansive scale to indicate that Indian systems have actually been affected." The IT Secretary added that a multi-agency monitoring team is already continously monitoring and assessing the situation on a round-the-clock basis. Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday had said the cyber attack by ransomware virus 'WannaCrypt' had nearly zero impact in India.

"We are strengthening our cyber security. After talking to Microsoft, we had asked people to install patch system in March. This ongoing attack not only had minimum, but nearly zero per cent impact, in India. We are strengthening our areas," the Minister had said. Speaking about the IT sector, Sundararajan said: "It (the IT sector) is continuing to grow at 7-8 per cent, it is forecast to grow at that rate. It has created five lakh jobs in the last two years."

"There may be some changes in the profile of work or the profile of verticles within the IT sector because that is a dynamic sector. But we have it on categoric record from the industry that large scale job losses have not hampered at all. There is nothing unusual in the pattern of the employment scenario as far as the IT sector is concerned," she said.
IANS

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday blamed the US for the global cyber attack that hit 150 countries since Friday and has crippled computer systems around the world. Putin, who is currently in Beijing for the two-day Belt and Road Forum, said intelligence services should beware of creating software that can later be used for malicious means, Daily Mail reported.

"As regards the source of these threats, I believe that the leadership of Microsoft have announced this plainly, that the initial source of the virus is the intelligence services of the US," Putin said. "Once they are let out of the lamp, genies of this kind, especially those created by intelligence services, can later do damage to their authors and creators," he told reporters in Beijing. Putin claimed there was no significant damage to Russian institutions, including its banking and healthcare systems, from the computer worm. "But as a whole it is worrying, there's nothing good about it, it is a source of concern."

He added that global leaders needed to discuss cyber security at a "serious political level" and said the US has backed away from signing a cyber security agreement with Russia. The initial attack, known as WannaCry, paralysed British National Health Services (NHC) computers, Germany's national railway and scores of other companies and government agencies around the world.

In China, universities and other educational institutions were among the hardest hit, with about 15 per cent of the internet protocol addresses attacked, according to Xinhua News Agency.
tech2 News Staff

Stunning new details have emerged about the soon to be opened Apple Park facility after Wired reporter Steven Levy got an exclusive tour of the campus. The building is meant to be more open than the current Apple HQ at Infinity Loop, and is designed to encourage collaboration.

There is just one restaurant in the whole facility, to make sure that employees bump into each other. The restaurant has four story high glass doors to let the weather in when it is well behaved. The sliding doors weigh 200,000 kg each  that's about the weight of 40 asian elephants or a Boeing 787  and are moved by noiseless mechanisms hidden underground.

The building is environmentally friendly, with rooftop solar panels providing for all the energy needs of the facility. There are trees both inside and outside the ring-shaped main structure. Apple plans to plant over 9,000 trees at the campus. Steve Jobs spent hours in meetings with architects, going over the most minute details of the building. He wanted the wood used in the walls to be cut in a particular way, and in winter, so as to have the least amount of sap and sugar content.

According to the requirements by Jobs, the facility is one of the largest naturally ventilated buildings in the world, and does not require heating or air conditioning for nine months in a year. The ring breathes in through the undersides of the canopies and hot air is moved out by shafts that act like chimneys. The architects and engineers consulted experts who optimise the airflow in F1 cars to come up with the design for the breathing building.

The ring is built to withstand earthquakes and has steel base isolators that allows the entire facility to move up to four and a half feet in any direction. The mechanism allows the building to be functional after an earthquake, and is not just a safety feature. There is a 100,000 square foot fitness center for the employees, with a two story Yoga room that has stones sourced from a quarry in Kansas. The stones have been weathered, to give an appearance of pre-use.

Steve Jobs introduced the campus in a presentation to the Cupertino council on 7 June, 2011, and was it one of his most ambitious projects towards the end of his life.

The end result is a building that has been crafted with as much attention to detail as the consumer electronics products made by Apple. According to reports, Apple's design chief, Jony Ive, may have actually spent more of his time and energy in deciding the details of the campus, than on the newer iPhones.
IANS

The West Bengal government on Tuesday said it has been able to "contain" the ransomware attack, a day after a section of computers of the state's power distributor were hit by the global malware. "We have seen that in Bengal the magnitude of the problem is not that serious. Our computers have been attacked but it was nothing very serious. We have contained the attacks," state Power Minister Shovandeb Chattopadhyay told the media in Kolkata.

On Monday, of the 500 customer care centres of the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL), around 30 centres fell prey to the malware "WannaCrypt" that crippled computers from hospitals in Britain to police stations in India, with hackers demanding hundreds of dollars from the users for them to regain control over their data.

"Only a few computer systems at these centres were attacked but it has not affected the services. Government has issued specific directives which are being followed. As of now, we are equipped to handle such cyber attack," he said. The Minister claimed customer data is safe in the central server system.

Officials at WBSEDCL claimed there were no fresh attacks. Kolkata Municipal Corporation mayor Sovan Chatterjee said there were attempts by hackers to steal money from his wife's bank account.
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Trump says he has right to share info with Russia

Reuters :

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his decision to disclose information to Russian officials during a White House meeting last week, saying he had an "absolute right" to share "facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety."

The president took to Twitter to counter a torrent of criticism, including from his fellow Republicans, after reports that he had revealed highly classified information about a planned Islamic State operation.

Two U.S. officials said Trump shared the intelligence, supplied by a U.S. ally in the fight against the militant group, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak during a meeting last Wednesday.

The disclosures late on Monday roiled the administration as it struggled to move past the backlash over Trump's abrupt firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was investigating the president's ties to Russia.

The turmoil overshadowed Republican legislative priorities such as healthcare and tax reform and laid bare sharp divisions between the White House and U.S. intelligence agencies, which concluded late last year that Russia had tried to influence the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor.Russia has denied such meddling, and Trump bristles at any suggestion he owed his Nov. 8 victory to Moscow.

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety," Trump said on Twitter. "Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism."

Trump weighed in personally the morning after his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, and national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, issued statements saying no sources, methods or military operations were discussed at the Russian meeting.

McMaster said the story, initially reported by the Washington Post, was false.

The U.S. officials told Reuters that while the president has the authority to disclose even the most highly classified information at will, in this case he did so without consulting the ally that provided it, which threatens to jeopardize a long-standing intelligence-sharing agreement.

Bob Corker, the Republican head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the allegations "very, very troubling." "Obviously, they're in a downward spiral right now," he said on Monday, "and they've got to come to grips with all that's happening."


US will resume defence ties with Turkey, Trump tells Erdogan

US President Donald Trump shaking hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after speaking to the press at the White House on Tuesday.

AP, Washington :

The presidents of the United States and Turkey vowed on Tuesday to repair a relationship battered by years of disputes over Syria's civil war and its various fighting groups, even as they broached a new disagreement over US plans to arm Kurdish fighters.

Delivering a statement alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Donald Trump said the US would re-establish its military and economic partnership with Turkey. He committed to backing Turkey's fight against the militant Islamic State group and a Kurdish insurgency known as the PKK, which the US, the European Union and Turkey all consider a terrorist organisation.

Such groups will "have no safe quarter," Trump said in the White House's historic Roosevelt Room, where he also commended Turkey's "leadership in seeking an end to the horrific killing in Syria."

Erdogan issued a statement afterwards, congratulated Trump for his presidential election victory. While Erdogan called for the extradition of a Pennsylvania-based cleric he blames for a failed coup in Turkey last summer, there was little tension.

The biggest dispute between the two Nato allies in recent days has been the US plans to arm Kurdish Syrian militants to help them fight IS. Turkey has been pressuring the US to drop support for the militants and doesn't want them spearheading an operation to retake IS' self-declared capital of Raqqa.

Turkey believes the Kurds in Syria are linked to the PKK. The US sees the Syrian Kurds as their best battlefield partner on the ground in northern Syria.

Last month, the Turkish military bombed Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq, in one case with American forces only about 10 kilometres away. Erdogan's government also has insisted it may attack Syrian Kurdish fighters again. The US, whose forces are sometimes embedded with the Kurds, has much to fear.

In his statement to reporters, Trump did not directly address his decision to arm the Kurds. But he asserted the US and Turkey's mutual commitment to ending Syria's conflict.

The meeting took place with a White House still responding to what a senior US official said was Trump's disclosure of classified information about an Islamic State terror threat involving laptop computers on aircraft.

Trump shared the threat in a meeting with Russia's foreign minister and ambassador in the Oval Office last week, according to the official, who wasn't authorised to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.
Reports keep emerging that US-backed forces are executing ISIS fighters in Mosul

Iraqi special operations forces arresting a person suspected of belonging to ISIS in western Mosul, Iraq.

Business Insider :

As US-backed forces stand on the brink of retaking Mosul, Iraq, reports continue to emerge that they are summarily executing captured fighters from the Islamic State, the terrorist group also known as ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh.

ISIS fighters are sometimes executed at the front lines, while others are executed after being interrogated, a Mosul-based commander told Integrated Regional Information Networks, a nonprofit media site that focuses on conflict zones.

Extrajudicial killings of ISIS fighters have been emerging pretty much since the fight for Mosul began about seven months ago.

In late 2016, a video appeared showing Iraqi soldiers dragging a suspected ISIS fighter along the ground, then crushing him with a tank before shooting him. In January, another video emerged showing Iraqi troops dragging and beating three ISIS fighters as they begged for their lives. The three were then shot dead and trampled.

Many more such incidents have been reported and alleged.

The barbarity of ISIS fighters, who have repeatedly executed Mosul residents accused of collaborating with Iraq's army, seems to have done them no favors. They are viewed with disgust and hatred by the US-backed forces.

Still, "killing captured combatants or civilians is a war crime, as is the mutilation of corpses," Belkis Wille, Human Rights Watch's senior researcher in Iraq, told IRIN.

But investigating abuse is not a priority in Iraq at the moment. Some executions are apparently being overseen - or at least condoned - by senior military personnel.

The Iraqi Army is also accused of mutilating and taking selfies with dead ISIS fighters. A Human Rights Watch report in March said 1,269 ISIS prisoners were held without charge in "horrendous" and "degrading" conditions in three jails near Mosul.

Reuters adds: Iraqi forces have dislodged Islamic State from all but 12 square km of Mosul, a military spokesman said on Tuesday, after planes dropped leaflets into the city telling civilians the battle was nearly won.
Amu urges Huawei to invest more in telecom sector

Economic Reporter :

Minister of Industries Amir Hossain Amu urged Huawei authorities to increase its investment in Telecom and Information and Communication Technology sectors in Bangladesh.

He made the call request while speaking at a meeting held at Huawei Research and Development Centre in Beijing yesterday, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.

The minister is now visiting China on the occasion of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF).

Amu said the world renowned telecom giant could support for sustainable development of the ICT sector further to build 'Better Connected Bangladesh'.

At the meeting, State Ministers for Finance and Planning and ICT MA Mannan and Zunaid Ahmed Palak were present respectively.

Officials of the Huwaei Telecom informed the meeting that they had been working in Bangladesh since 1998 for development of the ICT sector and it was also working with Teletalk, BTCL, GrameenPhone, Robi, Banglalink.

Earlier, the minister visited Huawei factory and witnessed its latest innovations.
Body of unidentified man recovered

Chittagong Bureau :

Police recovered an unidentified body from Agrabad area in the port city yesterday morning.

The body found near Bangladesh Betar centre and the approximate age was 55 yrs. Double Morring thana police sources said the man wearing lungi and blue shirt and apprehends that he was killed by the hijakcers . A number of stabbing detected in his body. Police sent the body to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.


TCB starts selling essentials

Chittagong Bureau :

Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has started the sale of essentials in open market in the port city Chittagong from today. A total of 10 trucks of TCB are selling the essentials at the open market under the Open Market Sales (OMS) program here in the port city.

According to the sources, OMS of rice and other essentials has started in the port city from today (May 15). Under the OMS program, rice and other essentials including oil, flour, sugar etc are being sold in the 10 spots of the city.

A total of 10 trucks in different areas of the city including Andarkilla, Chhotopool, Newmarket, Agrabad, Press Club, New Market and Bahaddarhat are distributing the rice and other essentials in low price today.

District Food Controller of Chittagong sources said, "People will be able to buy a maximum of five kgs from 30 trucks every day, except Fridays and Tuesdays. Each truck will contain four tons of rice."

Chief of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) in Chittagong Jamal Ahamed said, "the TCB has started open sell of essentials under OMS programme from May 15. The TCB is selling essentials by trucks in 10 spots in the port city before Ramadan which will continue till the holly month of Ramjan.

The consumers can buy essentials including rice, sugar, oil etc from the TCB sell centres with low price." He also said that a total of 10 dealers have already been appointed for selling the essentials by truck in the port city to control the price hike in the holly Ramadan. Sources said, prices of essentials hiked in the current month at the ahead of Ramadan in the port city. The retailers are hiking prices slowly now as the monitoring teams of the district administration and other concerned authorities including the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) are yet to be active. But, the consumers alleged that the prices of essentials have hiked since the last week of the April for upcoming Ramadan.
Leaders of Bangladesh Awami League and its associate bodies greeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganobhaban on the occasion of her 37th Homecoming Day yesterday morning.
NGOs not free from conflicts of interest

Tamar Kogman :

Imagine the EU commissioning Volkswagen to lead the implementation of its emission policy, while also paying it to help introduce future testing technologies and draft regulations accordingly. After all, the car manufacturer is an expert with on the ground experience.

The absurdity is glaring, not only because of the emission scandal involving Volkswagen. Such a selection by the EU would completely evade government responsibility for initiating appropriate checks and balances regarding invested parties. Governments must be able to prevent the regulated from dictating official regulations, and not turn a blind eye to bias and conflicts of interest.

As in the example above, it is unacceptable for government bodies to rely on the accounts of stakeholders or to act without independent reviews. The same holds true regarding major government funding for organisations to provide information and analysis on issues in which they have a vested interest.

While such conflicts are clearly unacceptable for businesses, unions, and other lobbies, they are a matter of course for non-governmental organisations (NGOs). European governments provide hundreds of millions of euros to NGOs, with little oversight. German CDU lawmaker Markus Pieper (EPP) recently took up this issue, commissioning a study on democratic accountability and budgetary control of EU-funded NGOs and subsequently drafting a report calling for stricter funding regulations.

Pieper's report was immediately met with vehement opposition, a recurring argument being that the report unjustifiably singles out NGOs. Belgian Green MEP Bart Staes argued that the report implies that NGOs are problematic. Valentina Caimi, a policy adviser for Social Platform, bristled at the notion that NGOs should be regarded as lobbyists since they are often funded for the provision of specific services.

These two points fail to acknowledge that many EU-funded NGOs do, in fact, carry out lobbying activities, and some are funded for the explicit purpose of lobbying the EU's own institutions - a dimension that is, in fact, very specific to NGOs. A clear example is Caimi's own Social Platform, an EU-funded NGO network with stated objectives of influencing EU policies and legislation.

Another example of this phenomenon is the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), a network of NGOs with the explicit objective of obtaining increases in EU grants for peacebuilding activities.

Not only is EPLO EU-funded, it has also established a Civil Society Dialogue Network, linking members of civil society with EU policymakers. The Network is co-financed by the European Union (Instrument for Stability) and EPLO, and managed by EPLO in co-operation with the European Commission (EC) and the European External Action Service (EEAS).

EPLO member organisations include Oxfam International and Cordaid. Together, these two NGOs received 67 million in 2015 for the implementation of EU projects, according to the EU's Financial Transparency System.

In other words, an EU-funded network lobbies the EU for more money and preferred policies, and its members receive major amounts in a lucrative cycle.

Additional criticism of Pieper's report focuses on a paragraph that prevents funding to groups that spread falsehoods and with objectives that run contrary to EU values of democracy, human rights and the strategic objectives of European Union institutions. As argued by Caimi, imposing such limitations on funding to NGOs is inconsistent with an article of the EU Treaty, which explains that institutions are required to give citizens the opportunity to exchange opinions and perspectives on areas concerning the EU.

According to Caimi's reasoning, giving EU citizens and groups the opportunity to express themselves is equivalent to funding them. If that is the case, the EU is institutionally discriminating against all persons and groups not currently receiving EU funds.

Interestingly, those who condemn Pieper's report do not take issue with the EU's code of conduct for lobbying, which requires of stakeholders to do their best to ensure that the information they provide is not biased or incomplete. An EP library briefing notes that breaching this code can result in sanctions.

The dissonance, perhaps, is because NGOs are not considered parties that are liable to conflicts of interest, and therefore the EU's code of conduct does not apply to them. As argued by MEP Staes, 95% of NGOs work for the common good and are not involved in lobbying. According to such logic, NGOs are unequivocally good for everyone, and there is no reason to scrutinise their claims or hold them accountable - even when they are entrusted with taxpayer money. Unfortunately, this is not the case as many NGOs abuse this optimistic misconception and use it for their own self-interested financial and political gain.

In fact, NGOs are currently given astounding leeway in comparison to other interest groups, all while being funded excessively without appropriate accountability. Addressing this anomaly does not single out NGOs. But systematically ignoring it does.

If the EU wants to support a thriving, diverse, and actively participant civil society, it should keep its engagement with powerful interest groups in check - and NGOs must not be an exception.



(Tamar Kogman is an associate researcher at NGO Monitor).


Gold market reform must be high on card

CUSTOMS Intelligence and Investigations Directorate (CIID) officials said three owners of Apan Jewelers who are facing investigation following the Banani rape incident by a member of their family have failed to produce valid documents of all gold and diamonds held from their stocks in four city markets. The CIID is looking into the sources of the 286kg gold and 61 grammes of diamonds it confiscated from these outlets and trying to ascertain how these entered the country and whether or not they have paid taxes.



The Banani rape case involving two private university students has taken to the fore the gold smuggling business of the family which made them wealthy to engage in multi-million dollar illegal business and criminal activities. The CIID disclosure suggests they do not have valid documents for the gold and that they have brought it using illegal channels such as smuggling through airports. It also gives the hindsight that big people who don't dare to break law are engaging in gold smuggling and powerful people are protecting their business.



Gold business in the country, as it appears lacks transparency as it mainly enters the country misusing 'baggage rules' to bring in gold ornaments and gold bars. Jewelers said the prevailing policy to import gold is complex and costly. They have been asking the government for long to facilitate them to import and sell gold legally, but things haven't worked out so far pushing a section of wealthy people to resort to smuggling. .



Why not the government is allowing formal import of gold has no good answer. It is as if we are deliberately making people criminals for going into gold businessmen. Of around 30 gold smuggling syndicates involved, 23 operate inside Bangladesh and the rest from outside. The gold is smuggled through airports as the intelligence agency reports said.



Eleven of the 23 syndicates in Bangladesh are directly involved in gold smuggling and others smuggle gold operating money exchange houses as cover to their illegal business. Political leaders and other influential persons patronize them while a section of intelligence officers, police officials and Border Guard Bangladesh are also helping them to run the business in exchange of huge financial benefits. It partly explains why it can't be stopped despite periodic seizure of huge gold at Dhaka and other airports.



In neighbouring India, the central bank sells gold through its authorized agents. The gold sellers in Bangladesh are demanding for such arrangement for the past 20 years, but the government has not paid them any heed. Like most institutions, the improper regulatory framework in the gold market prevents merchants from buying it legally and run the business with full transparency. So they are resorting to illegal practices.



It is unfortunate that a rape had to occur for the government to shine light into the chaotic gold market, but it must carry out reforms so that there is no need for illegal smuggling to make people criminals and flourish.
Another rape accused Nayeem Ashraf held

Staff Reporter :

Police arrested Nayeem Ashraf alias Abdul Halim alias Hasan Mahmud, one of the key accused in the Banani Hotel rape case, from Louhajang upazila of Munshiganj district on Wednesday.

A team from the Police Headquarters conducted a drive there and nabbed Nayeem, said Suheli Ferdous, Assistant Inspector General (Media and PR) of the Police Headquarters.

Nayeem is a friend of the prime accused Ahmed Shafat, who was arrested in Sylhet along with another accused Sadman Sakif on Thursday.

Nayeem's uncle Moazzem Hossain, said, "His real name is Abdul Halim. He is the son of my brother Amzad Hossain from the village of Gandail. Amzad is a farmer."

Law enforcers arrested two others of the five accused - Shafat's bodyguard Rahmat Ali and driver Billal Hossain - from two places of the capital on Monday.

According to Police sources, from 2004 to 2017, Nayeem had built up connections with politicians, media personalities, athletes, models and police officers.

Nayeem Ashraf presented Shafat Ahmed with flowers on March 28, the night when they allegedly raped the two private university girls at The Raintree Hotel in Banani.

Sometimes, he also introduced himself as the vice president of Awami Swechhasebak League's Kazipara unit. He managed to acquire stakes in restaurants and event management firms.

Invited to Shafat's birthday party on March 28, the two girls went to the Raintree hotel in Banani around 9:00pm. After the party ended around midnight, Shafat and Nayem raped them in two rooms, alleged one of the two girls who filed the case.

The driver filmed the rape, the bodyguard intimidated the victims while Sakif refrained from informing the hotel authorities about the incident that night.
Ash waste to create toxicity around Sundarbans: Study

Special Correspondent :

The Rampal Thermal Power Plant will produce over 38 million tonnes of ash even if it remains operational at 90 per cent for sixty years affecting adversely on the animals' breeding and making a financial loss of US$10 million, a study finds.

Not only that, a huge quantity of fish worth about US$ 100 million will die due to the pollution stemming from the ash-waste, it further said.

The study report was released by the National Committee to Protect Sundarbans at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city's Segun Bagicha on Wednesday.

"As per ash management plan, a portion of only coal-burnt ashes will be used in the brick fields and concrete factories. That means, the tank for storing the ash-waste will be filled up within 12 years though half of the total ashes are used in manufacturing cement and bricks. The quantity of the unused ashes will be 20 million tonnes," Dr Badrul Imam, Professor of Geology, Dhaka University, said.

He was representing a written speech marking the release of the report prepared by American pollution researcher A Danish Lamely evaluating the environmental danger or risk of coal-ash removal and its management. Danish Lamely expressed his views over the adverse impact taking part in the DRU programme through skype.

Of the total ash-waste, one crore 80 lakh tonnes of ash will be used in different works. The rest 2 crore tonnes of ash will be stored in an open place. It can be spread anytime being driven away by storm or flood. If this will happen, there will be severe environmental disaster in the entire area from Sundarbans to Khulna, the researcher said in his report. According to Lamley, the ash-wastes of Rampal plant will be mainly fly ash, bottom ash and boiler slag where there will be some heavy metals such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead and mercury. These metals will create toxicity on animals and aquatic creatures.

Besides, the proposed ash removal process will pollute the environment very much. It will endanger the lives of wildlife around the Sundarbans, he noted.

"If the coal is imported for the plant from Indonesia, Australia and South Africa, the quantity of ash will be about 15 per cent. But if the coal is imported from India, the quantity of ash will be 25 per cent to 45 per cent," Lamley said.

"If a tank is dug on 500 hectares of land to store the ash-waste, it will be filled up within six years. It's a matter of grave concern that the tendency of storm and flood is cooperatively higher in Rampal area. So, the ash will be spread out in the river and waterbodies around the Sundarbans," he added. DU Professor Dr Abdul Aziz, Agricultural University Professor Anowar Hossain, among others, took part in the discussion over the research paper while covenor of National Committee to Protect Sundarbans and former advisor to a caretaker government Sultana Kamal was in the chair.

According to environmentalists, a coal-based power plant produces electricity by burning coal in a boiler to heat water to produce steam. The steam, at tremendous pressure, flows into a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity. The steam is cooled, condensed back into water, and returned to the boiler to start the process over.

In that case, a typical 500-megawatt coal power plant creates more than 125,000 tonnes of ash and 193,000 tonnes of sludge from the smokestack scrubber each year. Generally, more than 75 per cent of this waste is disposed of inunlined, unmonitored onsite landfills and surface impoundments, they said.


Dirty money and jewellery found linked

If anyone arrests me, all jewellery businessmen should be arrested: Dildar: Raintree owner reports sick

Apan Jewellers owner Dildar Ahmed appears at the office of Customs Intelligence and Investigations Directorate in compliance with its earlier order on Wednesday for interrogation.

Md Joynal Abedin Khan :

The owner of Apan Jewellers Dildar Ahmed and his two brothers have appeared before the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate to face charges over 'unexplained' stocks of gold and diamonds.



Raintree Hotel's Managing Director HM Adnan Haroon, however, failed to appear before the CIID to answer accusations of illegally keeping alcohol and evading import duties. The lawyers of HM Adnan Haroon, however, asked for more time saying he is sick and not in a position to appear now.



Dildar Ahmed and his two brothers Gulzar Ahmed and Azad Ahmed arrived at the CIID headquarters around 12:00 pm on Wednesday. The media did not get a chance to speak with them.



"Our director formed a team. This team interrogated the Apan Jewellers owners," CIID Deputy Director Shafiur Rahman told the media.



Advocates Jahangir Kabir and Riaz Ahmed filed a petition with CIID on behalf of Raintree Hotel's MD, asking for time for one month.



Haroon could not answer the questions after 'a sudden rise in blood pressure' on Wednesday morning, said Jahangir Kabir.



"We petitioned for more time over the matter. They set May 23 for the new date."No medical documents concerning Adnan, who had appeared at a Raintree Hotel press conference on Tuesday, had been submitted.



In the meantime, the CIID Director General Dr Moinul Khan said that the owners of the jewellers could not show any legal documents against 13.5 maunds (about 498 Kg) of seized gold and 427 grams of diamond to the customs officials.



They have been asked to show the legal documents again on May 23, the CIID chief said.



The clients of Apan Jewellers have been asked to withdraw their gold and ornaments' from the concerned jewellry shops by showing receipts and papers.



We have primarily found link between the dirty money and jewellery business, he said.



But Dildar Ahmed told the journalists that their business was going on in legal process.



"If anybody tries to arrest me in money laundering case, then all jewellery businessmen should be arrested," he opined.



On the other hand, customs and RAJUk officials claimed that the Raintree Hotel has no permission to run commercially in Banan residential area in the city.



RAJUK-4 authorized officer Alimuzaaman said,There is no chance to approve any commercial building in Banani residential area, and the Raintree Hotel authorities did not take any permission for establishing a hotel for commercial purpose."



The investigation is likely to be finished soon as the investigators already have gathered vital information from the arrested accused, a detective official said.



The arrested four accused might have given their confessional statement to the court, the police official said.



The law enforcers meanwhile arrested Nayem Ashraf , another accused in the Banani case, he said.



Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Wednesday asked the Gulshan Police to ensure the security of the Banani two rape victims.



Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Laskar Hakim Sohel Rana on Wednesday passed the order after considering the appeal of two lawyers of the two rape victims.



On March 28, two private university girls were raped during birthday party at the Raintree Hotel in Banani.
Ex-diplomat Faruq Ahmed Chy passes away

UNB, Dhaka :

Former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador Faruq Ahmed Choudhury passed away at a city hospital early Wednesday. He was 83.

Faruq Ahmed breathed his last at Square Hospitals Ltd around 4:30am, one of his colleagues told UNB.

His body was brought to the Foreign Ministry at 12:45pm where his first namaz-e-janaza was held after Zohr prayers.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque, former diplomats and senior officials of the Foreign Ministry attended the janaza. Both the ministers recalled his role as a diplomat.

Tofail Ahmed said Faruq Ahmed joined Awami League as a member of its Advisory Council after his retirement.

He recalled that the diplomat visited many countries with Bangabandhu after the independence of Bangladesh.

The Commerce Minister said Faruq Ahmed translated into English the Bangla speech delivered by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the UN in 1974. "He was a big-hearted person and a brilliant diplomat," Tofail said.

Faruq Ahmed's body was then taken to his city residence. He was buried at Azimpur Graveyard after his 2nd janaza at Baitul Aman Mosque at Dhanmondi-7 after Asr prayers.

He is survived by wife, one daughter, one son and a host of relatives and admirers.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of Faruq Ahmed.

In a condolence message, President Hamid prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to his bereaved family members.

In her condolence message, Sheikh Hasina recalled his invaluable contributions to the field of diplomacy.

She prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Besides, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and officials of the ministry condoled his demise.

Born in 1934, Faruq Ahmed entered the Pakistan Foreign Service in 1956 and subsequently held various positions at the Pakistan Foreign Office and missions abroad.

After the emergence of Bangladesh, he was appointed the first Chief of Protocol of Bangladesh in 1972.

He served as Bangladesh's Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1972 to 1976. During this period, he was involved with the final phase of negotiations leading to Bangladesh's entry into the Commonwealth.

From 1976 to 1978, Faruq Ahmed was the Ambassador to the UAE and Bahrain. He was also the Ambassador to EEC and Benelux countries from 1978 to 1982.

In 1982, he became the Chief Coordinator of the 13th OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Dhaka in 1983. He was the Additional Foreign Secretary at the ministry from 1983 to 1984. Faruq Ahmed became the Foreign Secretary in 1984 and held the position till 1986. He then served as Bangladesh High Commissioner to India from 1986 to 1992.

After retirement in 1992, Choudhury associated himself with social works, and authored a number of books. He also served at Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), one of the world's largest NGOs, in different capacities.
I don`t care about conspiracies: PM

UNB, Dhaka :

Reiterating that Ziaur Rahman was also involved in the plot to assassinate Bangabandhu, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said she cares little about conspiracies and vowed afresh to take Bangladesh to its desired goal.

"I've been observing conspiracies since my childhood ... I don't care. I believe we can reach our desired goal as long as the Almighty Allah, people and the blessings of my parents are with me," she said.

The Prime Minister said this when leaders of Awami League and its associate bodies went to her official residence Ganobhaban to greet her on the occasion of her homecoming day.

On this day in 1981, Sheikh Hasina returned home after six years in exile following the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation and the architect of independent Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15, 1975.

Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana escaped the carnage as they were in Germany at that time.

Earlier, the leaders of AL and its associate bodies greeted the Prime Minister by

presenting bouquets and chanting slogans.

Referring to the killing of Bangabandhu along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975, Hasina said, "I don't want anyone to lose all of one's near and dear ones in a single day like us because it's very hard to express such pain." Alleging that then AL leaders and Bangabandhu's Cabinet member Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed and some others had been involved in the killing conspiracy, she said, "Own enemies are dangerous. Outsiders cannot get any chance to cause any harm unless one's own people betray."

Ziaur Rahman had a part in the conspiracy although Bangabandhu had resolved his family problem and created a post for him and appointed Zia there, the Prime Minister said.

She went on saying, "Zia along with her wife (Khaleda Zia) used to go to the Dhanmondi 32 house almost every week. There's no warmth among them and their goal was only to hatch conspiracy which we couldn't perceive as we're always very open minded."

Hasina said, the motive behind the August 15 killing was to completely change the history of Bangladesh, play ducks and drakes with the fate of the country's people and make the victory in the War of Liberation meaningless.

Mentioning that it was Mushtaq who made Ziaur Rahman the Army chief, she said it proves that they had the linkage and had been involved in the conspiracy. Recalling the unforgettable days of August in 1975, the Prime Minister said just before 15 days of the August 15 massacre, she and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana went abroad on a short visit, but that 'black day' of 1975 snatched everything from their lives as well as voting rights of the country's people.

The emotion-choked Prime Minister said, "He (Bangabandhu) had devoted his entire life towards changing people's fate alongside bringing the long-cherished independence before the nation. But, he was killed in our independent country which he had never imagined."

She alleged that the disgruntled army officers not only attacked their Dhanmondi 32 house, but also that of her two paternal aunts and killed near and dear ones one after another on that day.

Hasina said, she and her younger sister Rehana reached Delhi on August 24 and later met then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who extended cooperation in many ways to them.

She alleged Ziaur Rahman had directed not to allow them in Bangladesh and he even did not allow Rehana to renew her passport. Hasina said she returned home in 1981 for ensuring people's rights to vote and food. "After losing all near and dear ones, I came to the country for my love for people and building a hunger and poverty-free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu."


3 children among five drown

UNB, Dhaka :

At least five people, including three children, have drowned in Chittagong and Tangail districts.

In Chittagong, three children of a family drowned in a pond at Bha Fakirer Mazar area in Boalkhali upazila on Wednesday.

Md Ali, a member of Sripur-Kharandwip union parishad, said Sanam and Sher-three-years-old daughters of expatriate Harun, and their cousin Anju, 3, daughter of Harun's brother Farukh, met the watery burial while playing near the pond around 3 pm.

Seeing the children floating in the pond, locals took them to Boalkhali Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared them

dead. In Tangail, two teenage boys were found dead at a water body at Deula in the district town on Wednesday. The deceased-Amanullah Saikat, 11, son of Mohammd Ataullah of Shakhipur upazila, and Nahin Al Nur, 10, son of Shahinur Rahman of Jordhighi village in Madhupur upazila, remained missing since Tuesday night. Locals spotted the bodies of Saikat and Nahin in the water body today and informed police who recovered those around 1 pm.


Well, I'm back. What an adventure.

Forgive the off-topic post, but I can't help sharing my happiness...my son Alexander H. Johnston, my only kid, was awarded his Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Business program last Saturday, with honors in marketing. Dad was high in the bleachers smiling on the inside and the outside. They say graduations are for parents, and sure enough. I've seldom spent a happier day.

Xander was not a good student in high school and had little interest in academics, or even reading (my kid!?!), so I decided not to push him to go to college. He worked as a waiter his senior year, then took a series of blue-collar jobs out of high schoola friend helped him get a job changing oil at Valvoline sixty hours a week, and then he unloaded trucks for Target in the middle of the night (he got fired for being late too many timeswe all need "the firing experience," the sooner the better), and after that he worked a machine that made tiny little springs at a company called Wisconsin Coil. I remember he came home from Valvoline one day saying, "Dad, there are 40-year-old guys working with us at Valvoline, and they think they're our peers!" I told him to get used to it, because those guys were his peershe was an adult, just like them, and they made their living changing oil, just like he did. The only difference was that a little more time had passed since those guys started. Probably right out of high school. Like him.

Making 1,600 springs a day gave him a repetitive stress injury, and he had to quit that last job. That happened at the beginning of Summer, and he settled in at home to recuperatewhich very soon morphed into old Summer vacation habits. By July I felt it necessary to take him out to dinner and tell him gently that I wasn't in a position to stake him to a life of perpetual Summer vacationhe was grown, and it was either school full time or a full-time job, one or the other. He made his own decision, looked at his options realistically, and strategized his applicationsOshkosh, where his girlfriend was a sophomore, was his first choice; then community college, then vocational school.

You can do anything for your kids except motivate them. But his two years of working manual-labor jobs and his own determination not to have to change oil for the rest of his life supplied that. Xander is very quick, and great with people, but not a natural student, and he had to work hard at Oshkosh. So his high grade point averagehe was in the top 10% of marketing majorsdidn't come easy.

He worked as an intern his senior year for a great company called U.S. Venture, and they wanted to hire him after he graduated. Remember that job at Target, unloading trucks in the middle of the night? He also interviewed at several other companies, including for a great job in a management training program...at Target Corporation! Of course he 'fessed up to his earlier experience with them right at the beginning of the interview process. (Honesty is a Xander traitI never caught him lying to me as a kid, and after a while never even worried about it. His great-uncle Bill, on his mother's side, was like that.) He starts in June with the title of Executive Team Lead with a very generous salary, outstanding benefits, and three and a half weeks a year of paid vacation.

Meanwhile, back on the Dad front, I was finally making some money by the time he decided to go to college (thanks!). My coffers are pretty well depleted right now (I'm sure a lot of you can sympathize with that as well), but my son will graduate with zero debt. So he gets to start his new career with a clean slate. I did my bit.

So Xander loved Oshkosh and had a great time in school, made lots of friends, did well, and got a great first post-college job. And I could pay the bills. I wish I could say I planned it all out on purpose, but I can't. However it happened, though, it could not have worked out any better. Sitting in the bleachers watching him walk for his diploma was a good day, a very good day.

Congratulations Xander!

Dad

Original contents copyright 2017 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

What a long road it's been

Give Mike a Like or Buy yourself something nice

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)

Featured Comments from:

Jim: "Congratulations to Xander and he is so fortunate to graduate without student debt. I used to live in Oshkosh and worked summers of '61 and '62 at Oshkosh Manufacturing Co. I remember that at the end of my second summer there the boss tried to talk me into staying and not going back to college. I had to laugh, as it was because of that work that I knew I had to go to college.

"It is because of my education that I was able to retire early and spend the last 15 years traveling the world taking photographs. By the way the house we lived in when I was a kid was later torn down to build the dorm for the college. I stayed in that dorm years ago when I used to fly back to Oshkosh for the EAA fly-in."

Dave Karp: "Congratulations to both of you! As a college professor, I can tell you that Commencement is a high point of each year. Probably the highest. It is great to see the students finishing one experience and heading on to all of the rest of them! Ours is tomorrow night and I am really looking forward to it."

Jim Christie: "Congratulations Xander! Same to you Mikeas one who is also raising a boy alone, I've followed your occasional posts about him with interest. You've done such a fantastic job guiding him. Kudos to you both."

Mike replies: And back to you.

Josh Hawkins: "In my head he's still five, and for some reason there's a kid running around behind the counter. Why is there a kid behind the counter? Congrats to him, and you. I fully support his decision not to take a straight path, but a path filled with experience. Well done...(can I still call him little guy?)...Xander."

[As a late-teenager and early-twentysomething, Josh was a clerk and then the Store Manager at the old Oak Park Camera in Oak Park, Illinois, when Xander was little. I'd go in there all the time to look at all the used gear and shoot the breeze with the guys, starting when Xander was still an infant in his car seat basket. As he grew and became mobile, they let him have the run of the store when I came inbehind the counters, back to the staff area. He would motor around shooting rubberbands at the indulgent employees.

Josh now has his own family plus many years of experience as a photojournalist. When last heard from he lives in Las Vegas (still true, Josh?). MJ]

Yvonne Cunnington: "Well done Xander and Mike! I still wish you would write that memoir about raising your son as a single dad."

Mike replies: It's been swirling around in my head for about a year now. I have the basic outline, the story arc, the "modus operandi" or mode, and I've done some research on similar books. I do have to get down to doing the work, though. It's funny, but basically the pursuit of writing can be summed up in the clipped phrase "get to work."
A retired Illinois State Police captain will discuss his new crime thriller at the Harrisburg Public Library at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20.

Ed Traylor, who spent 29 years with the ISP, is the author of "The Crossing," a novel that details a sweeping terror attack that originates from the U.S.-Mexican border. The novel earned second place at the Public Safety Writers Association conference in Las Vegas in July 2015.

Traylor will sign copies of his book and discuss some of the investigations and cases that he was involved in during his career.

Much of the novel, including several characters, is based in Illinois.

The Harrisburg Public Library is located at 2 W. Walnut St. For more information on the book signing, call the library at 618-252-1239. "The Crossing" is also available for sale at edtraylorbooks.com.

 The Southern
HARRISBURG  The city of Harrisburg will hold a town hall meeting next week to address the recent surge of violent crime that has marked the city.

I am asking residents to get involved, Mayor John McPeek said. I would like the whole town to show up at this meeting, regardless of their neighborhood, economic status or religious affiliation.

McPeek said he grew up in Harrisburg and that this latest wave of violence is surprising.

We used to have certain areas that were considered problem areas, but things have shifted and we are seeing more issues in residential neighborhoods, he said.

McPeek says he is asking the community to gather at 6 p.m. Monday, May 22, at City Hall to help facilitate a plan of action that will work for their neighborhoods.

The most recent wave of violence began Feb. 3, with a report of shots fired at the Los Amigos Bar at the corner of Mill and Raymond streets, a residential neighborhood a few blocks off Commercial Streets busy flow of traffic.

No one was hurt in that incident, but a little less than a year prior, neighbors were asking for the bars liquor license to be revoked after a shooting in the parking lot left one man wounded.

On April 28, police arrested 18-year-old Dalton G. Williams of Evansville, Indiana after interviewing a gunshot victim in Harrisburg Hospital. While interviewing the victim, Saline County Sheriff's Office received a call about a disturbance near the Southeastern Illinois College area.

A deputy found Williams, suspected in the initial shooting, and after questioning, charged him with attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated battery with a firearm. Williams also had an arrest warrant for fleeing police, reckless driving and ID theft.

Other news reports indicated there were shooting incidents in Harrisburg on Feb. 25 and April 21, and a stabbing on May 8, but Harrisburg Police Department did not confirm those incidents to The Southern before press time Tuesday.

McPeek said he wants the public to know that he is deeply concerned about this recent wave of violence.

We need our citizens to help us stand up to those who have decided they can act against the community of Harrisburg in a way that endangers our safety. We need everyone to say enough is enough.

He also said the town hall meeting will have a few special guests who will help facilitate the evening, such as local resident Marc Hodge.

We want this to be a proactive community response. I encourage people to bring their ideas. Ill be there to listen, McPeek said.

Harrisburg does not currently have a neighborhood watch group, McPeek said, but he would like citizens to attend the town hall open to new ideas like creating such an alliance.

Harrisburg does have a Crime Stoppers Facebook page, created in 2014 by Curt Hustedde, a detective for the Harrisburg Police Department.

According to the page, the group was set up to share information between the public and the Harrisburg Police Department. The police are the public and the public are the police.

The page accepts private messages so citizens can share information and remain anonymous from the public at large.

Additionally, citizens can call the Saline County Sheriffs Office at 618-252-8661. Residents may speak with someone directly, or leave an anonymous tip.

City hall is located at 110 E. Locust St., in Harrisburg.
WOLF LAKE  Jamie Nash-Mayberry, social sciences teacher at Shawnee High School, is passionate about her job and the students who come with it. It is that passion that led to Nash-Mayberry being named the Smart/Maher Veterans of Foreign Wars Illinois Citizenship Education Teacher.

She was sponsored by Auxiliary of VFW Carroll P. Foster Post 3455 of Anna. The letter nominating Nash-Mayberry talked about her contributions to school, including creating a student government league, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance daily, helping with an annual Veterans Day program, leading student efforts to create a memorial for veterans, awareness campaigns for specific diseases and child abuse, mock elections and coordinating efforts to assist during flooding and strengthen levees.

All current classroom teachers are eligible for the award if they spend at least half the school day in the classroom. Previous national winners and home school teachers are not eligible.

John Metzger, VFW District 15 commander, said Nash-Mayberry secured the district prize and then won the Department of Illinois, a statewide award, for high school teachers. Then, she was entered into national competition, where she did not win.

She is the first state teacher winner for the 15th district.

I just was notified today that she did not win the national award. I thought she might. She does so much work with the students down there, Metzger said. She is dedicated to the idea of helping the kids learn about what citizenship and community is all about.

Nash-Mayberry will soon finish her eighth year of teaching. The graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale teaches about 75 students per day, some more than one day at the time.

I had wonderful teachers at Cobden. When I gave my Valedictorian address, I said I wanted to be back there teaching one day, Nash-Mayberry said.

While her career has not taken her back to Cobden, she is quite happy with her position at Shawnee. She believes that the support of her colleagues and administrators have helped make her a better teacher by giving her the freedom to try new things in her classrooms.

I credit Shawnee for allowing me to explore new ideas, like our levee project or building a wall with veteran names, she said.

For Nash-Mayberry, volunteering and helping others is a family tradition. Her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles have always been about volunteering and giving back.

So she asked her students to do the same thing through student government league, which was created with the idea students could help improve their school.

Along with that, we reinstated saying the pledge every day, and we say it in honor of a veteran, Nash-Mayberry said.

When the district combined schools, Nash-Mayberry and her students had the opportunity to help with a Veterans Day ceremony hosted by the elementary school. The idea for a wall to honor veterans grew from that.

The wall will include the names of veterans living within the school district. Beta Club members walked the cemeteries and created a list of veterans. Nash-Mayberry hopes to have something up by the end of 2017.

For the students in the district, as well as the school itself, levees on the Big Muddy and Mississippi rivers are important. Nash-Mayberry leads her students in advocating for improved levees to protect their homes and school. After teaching them about the levees and issues surrounding them, the students become activists by writing letters, meeting with to legislators and officials, testifying before Illinois House and Senate, host informational meetings and fill sandbags as needed.

The project has become so popular with students, she often has younger students asking to join their efforts.

Students love participating in things like the levee project," Nash-Mayberry said. "Its almost like they are waiting for that torch to be passed down."

Nash-Mayberry said it is nice to receive that recognition, especially from a group she respects so much, because it shows others appreciate the work and time she puts in, but she already knows the students appreciate it.

She quickly shifts back to thinking of her students, especially this years seniors. She has been involved with them since they were fifth graders and will miss them very much. The class has given five different levee presentation.

I am going to be very sad to see them go, and I hope future classes will take as much pride in civics projects as this one has, Nash-Mayberry said.
SPRINGFIELD,  Major portions of what is supposed to be the bipartisan "grand bargain" budget compromise won Illinois Senate approval Wednesday in a largely partisan manner, setting off more maneuvering as lawmakers attempt to avoid a third consecutive year without a budget and with the 2018 race for governor heating up. e.

Majority Democrats proclaimed progress in approving overhauls of a deficit-laden state pension system, an antiquated and unfair means of financing public schools, a measure to encourage consolidating the most local government bodies of any state in the nation and even a $36.5 billion budget plan for the coming year.

"Do ya think it's going to get any better, seriously?" Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago challenged Republicans during floor debate.

But it was done largely without the help of Republicans, and the results were uneven, at best. While the majority put votes on a budget plan initiated by the GOP and which spends $1 billion less than the one floated by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, the body failed to garner enough "ayes" to OK legislation to authorize its implementation or the $3.6 billion in cuts Democrats crowed about.

And that is to say nothing of the other measures that have yet to be settled  lynchpins of Rauner's agenda. They include a two-year freeze on the nation's second-highest property taxes, which was voted on and defeated, and a measure Cullerton didn't call for a vote which covers cost-saving changes in workers' compensation program which Rauner claims is driving business out of the state. Nor did he call a vote on increasing the personal income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent. It's part of the GOP budget plan but they won't support it without all the structural changes they seek.

Deputy Minority Leader Bill Brady of Bloomington, the Republican who authored the budget outline that was adopted, started the day alongside colleagues pleading for more time. They have claimed for weeks they're close to full compromise with the Democrats.

"There are people in here who want to wait until these are unanimous roll calls, and they never will be," Sen. Toi Hutchinson, an Olympia Fields Democrat, said during debate.

The state's fiscal problems are legend. It will end the budget year June 30 nearly $6 billion in debt, and on Wednesday, the state's total of overdue bills hit $14.3 billion, a record high.

Brady repeated GOP concerns Wednesday that sending pieces of the grand bargain to the House without consensus on all of it would hamstring its chances. Later, Assistant Republican Leader Jason Barickman of Bloomington derided the "political show orchestrated by Democrats who are trying to portray agreement that does not yet exist."

Cullerton said lawmakers are close to a bipartisan deal on workers' comp changes, and he would call that bill Thursday. But he said it would be economic disaster for schools and other local governments to freeze property taxes for more than two years. Rauner wants a permanent freeze and Senate Republicans have proposed a four-year freeze.
CRAINVILLE  Theres good news for drivers traveling Illinois 13 at the Wolf Creek interchange in Williamson County, according to Illinois Department of Transportation construction engineer Doug Helfrich.

Within two weeks, the ramps and the overpass structure itself will be open to the public, Helfrich said.

Workers are currently putting finishing touches on the system, like striping the pavement and installing wiring for overhead lights. The Wolf Creek interchange will be open in one and a half to two weeks, weather permitting, he said.

After that, the contractor will move to Illinois 13 and start improving the roadway, which will include finishing the third lane in each direction and paving the highway, as well as improving the intersections at Briggs and Samuel roads and Main Street.

This phase of the project will be completed by the end of September.

Helfrich also said that the next phase of the Illinois 13 improvement project will be from Giant City Road to Reed Station Road. It will include bridge work and an additional lane in each direction.

However, the start date for this part of the project has not been determined.

IDOT has another big project underway in Southern Illinois  the Interstate 57 project. Improvements are being made on I-57 from Marion to just south of the junction with Interstate 24 in Johnson County.

The plan is for work on the southbound lanes to be completed by Memorial Day. Then, the contractor will begin working on the northbound lanes.

That will take most of construction season, probably to November to complete, Helfrich said.

Helfrich added that IDOT will have directional signs leading people to alternate routes, real-time information about delays and alternate routes displayed on message boards.

Also, he reminded drivers that they will do some nighttime patching on I-57 later this summer, from Williamson County to Jefferson County. Drivers should remain vigilant throughout the construction season.

For more information on roads in Illinois, including construction zones and road closures, visit www.idot.illinois.gov.
In April, I joined with prosecutors, police chiefs and sheriffs from throughout Illinois to meet with the governor and legislative leaders in Springfield. Our message was pretty straightforward  investing in evidence-based programs for kids will cut crime. But the budget impasse has curtailed these programs, and were concerned kids, communities, and taxpayers will pay the price.

Those of us in law enforcement see how children who are abused and neglected then end up behind in school, move on to juvenile delinquency, and finally end up across from us in criminal court.

We see this vicious cycle repeated far too often.

This cycle costs taxpayers tremendously. State taxpayers spend about $1.3 billion annually on arrest, prosecution and incarceration.

The good news is that we know what we need to do to break this cycle. Investing in at-risk young children, youth and their families make it more likely they will enter school ready to learn, do better in school, graduate from high school, and be gainfully employed, while avoiding juvenile crime and violence.

I sincerely wish that I could report that our state leaders exuded optimism that they would adjourn in a few weeks with a comprehensive budget agreement.

However, we left Springfield concerned about just the opposite.

For months now, we've seen the growing and alarming impact of the lack of a state budget. Hundreds of nonprofit agencies across Illinois have been forced to cut back significantly on staffing and important services, and many have already closed their doors.

Included are many programs that law enforcement leaders consider key to protecting public safety.

Redeploy Illinois, which has proven to be far more effective than juvenile prison in cutting recidivism with our juvenile offenders at a fraction of the cost, has seen 24 counties drop out of the program entirely.

Without a full-year budget, well see 15,000 at-risk youths lose access to Teen REACH after-school programs which provide safe and educational alternatives to the streets.

Nearly 30 percent fewer pregnant women and families with young children are receiving voluntary home visiting services, which reduce child abuse and neglect and boost other health outcomes.

Child care assistance helps working families pay for child care, but reduced eligibility has cut tens of thousands of children from the program. These cuts forced many parents to make some unfortunate decisions  quit their jobs or place their children in less than ideal child care while they are at work.

Even programs that have been spared cutbacks during the impasse are now suffering the consequences. State-funded preschool providers have seen significant increases in support over the last two years. However, long payment delays from the state are destabilizing preschool programs (like the Williamson County Early Childhood Cooperative we read about on these pages last week), prompting some to consider shutting-down and displacing young learners.

As the clock winds down on another legislative session, I strongly urge our state leaders to set aside their political differences for another day and do whats needed to pass a comprehensive fully funded budget. Our communities and public safety can wait no longer.
The terms 50-year and 100-year flood have become obsolete.

We, Southern Illinoisans, are now dealing with annual flooding.

Thats really not hyperbole. After torrential rains doused Southern Illinois earlier this month, both the Big Muddy and the Mississippi rivers posted near-record crests. The Big Muddy crested at 40.5 feet, just below the record set in 2011. In the meantime, the Mississippi crested at 45.99 feet, the sixth highest level on record. The record was set last year.

During 2011, a levee in Missouri was purposely breached in order to save Cairo from devastating floods.

So, for those keeping score at home, that would be four 100-year floods in the past six years.

And, thats just the west side of our region.

Lets not forget the 2011 Ohio River flood that submerged most of Gallatin County.

Whats more, scientists tell us to expect the trend to continue.

The National Climate Assessment compiled in 2014 indicates precipitation has increased by about 20 percent in the past century. The rainfall that drenched the region this spring certainly verifies that data.

Flooding is normally a two-fold problem.

First, flash flooding occurs when drainage systems become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of rain that falls in a brief time. Since much of the region received 10 to 12 inches over a period of four days or less, some flash flooding is to be expected.

Fortunately, that water tends to subside quickly.

Then, there is wide-scale flooding of major rivers. With two of the largest rivers in the world, the Ohio and Mississippi, surrounding us, and the formidable Big Muddy running through the heart of Southern Illinois, the region is particularly vulnerable to devastating flooding.

Despite that reality, Southern Illinois finds itself virtually helpless against the elements.

Controlling a major river is a dicey proposition under the best of circumstances. But, the condition of our levees have exacerbated the situation.

The flood of 2016 breached the Len Small Levee in Alexander County, inundating thousands of acres. The flooding was so severe it scoured topsoil in some areas, and left several feet of sand in its wake in other spots. The mile-long breach in the levee was never repaired, resulting in about 20,000 acres being flooded again.

Residents of the area arent sure if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will ever repair the levee. The estimated cost to repair the levee is 200 times the yearly allotment the levee district receives in taxes. When youre dealing with the federal governments cost-benefit analysis, those figures dont add up.

In the meantime, residents of Grand Tower in Jackson County have been working since the 2011 flood to shore up the Big Muddy and Mississippi levees.

Bottom line, repairs to the Len Small Levee are in limbo and officials seem to be treading water concerning the Grand Tower levees.

Compounding the problem, most of the levees in the region are rated unsatisfactory, making it impossible for residents to purchase flood insurance.

Its an untenable situation.

There was a time when officials might have felt there was time to consider the best options  100-year floods were a rarity. Thats no longer the case.

Flooding in the last six years has caused millions of dollars of damage. So far, the region has been lucky that residents havent been washed away completely.

Someone in the chain of command has to make tough decisions, and make them now.

The federal government has to decide whether to rebuild the levees, or to purchase the land adjacent to the rivers and re-establish the historic flood plain. The latter is something area residents dont want to hear  neither do we.

On the other hand, given the severe nature of the annual flooding, the status quo is no long acceptable.
Listening and learning will make you a better leader, South Carolina Technical College System President Dr. Tim Hardee told the graduating class of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Tuesday evening.

Even though the term lifelong learner sounds a bit cliche, its actually true, he said.

You should always be learning, he said. You learn from others, you learn from yourself and you also learn from your mistakes.

Hardee spoke to hundreds of students receiving degrees during OCtechs spring commencement exercises at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on the campus of South Carolina State University.

He used music lyrics to illustrate his advice to the class of 2017.

As John Michael Montgomery puts it, Life is a dance, you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow,' " Hardee said.

He said you have to also be aware of when its time to, stand up and lead and when its time to sit back and follow.

Its important to realize that you dont always have to be at the head of the pack, charging forward, he said. Listening, observing and taking away nuggets of knowledge will help you to prepare for when its your time to lead.

Quoting from Michael Jacksons Man in the Mirror, Hardee said, Im starting with the man in the mirror. Im asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer: If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.

All effective change has to start from within, he said.

How many times has it been proven over your lifetime? he said. Maybe your parents hounded you about making good grades. Maybe all your friends started working out, eating healthy, pestered you to do the same. Maybe a teacher encouraged you to go to college.

Well, when did it actually happen? When you decided you wanted it for yourself, when deep inside you decided it was time to make a change.

Looking out into the crowd, Hardee said that he observed a wide variety of people present.

Addressing them, he quoted Bob Dylans Forever Young: May God bless and keep you always, make all your wishes come true. May you always do for others and may others do for you. May you build a ladder to the stars, climb on every rung. May you stay forever young.

Hardee told the graduates to remember as they leave OCtech that there will be other mountains to climb.

Take it one rung at a time until you reach the top of the mountain, he said. We all want and need to be forever young, not just in age, but in how we approach life.

Try new adventures, meet new people, set new goals for yourself and make sure you hang on to your enthusiasm for life.

Each graduate will have opportunities to achieve other goals, Hardee said.

Invest little portions of time over a long period to gradually build toward your goal, he said.

A bright and successful future comes from committing the time necessary to reach those goals, he said.

He told the students, youve accomplished a lot, but theres still more to do.

Quoting from Beyonces song I Was Here, he said, I want to leave my footprints on the sands of time, know there was something that meant something that I left behind. When I leave this world, I leave no regrets, leave something to remember so they wont forget.

Hardee said, So thats my challenge for you today: Make an impact. Mean something to someones life. You can achieve small, great things that make a huge difference.

He encouraged the graduates to be remarkable.

Because thats what I see  a room full of potential, a room full of greatness, a room that will represent Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College well and actually, a room that will represent the state of South Carolina well, he said.
The final suspect in the 2015 burglary of Norway Town Hall has pleaded guilty to the crime and will serve time in prison.

Jamar Rakeem Tyler, 24, of 221 Winchester Ave., Norway, pleaded guilty last week to violent second-degree burglary.

Circuit Judge Ed Dickson sentenced him to 15 years in prison. Once Tyler serves four years, the balance will be suspended to four years of probation.

Dickson gave Tyler credit for the time hes served at the Orangeburg County Detention Center since Jan. 28, 2016.

Tyler is also required to try to obtain his GED.

Prosecutors dismissed the charges of unlawful possession of a rifle and receiving stolen goods.

Tyler is the last of the three suspects to plead guilty in the March 24, 2015 break-in of Norway Town Hall.

On July 22, 2016, Jamirre Daron Singleton, 23, of 128 Sutton Road, Norway, pleaded guilty to violent second-degree burglary.

Dickson sentenced him under the Youthful Offender Act to no more than six years.

Chad Lovell Williams Jr., 23, of 125 Palm Harbor Drive, Orangeburg, also pleaded guilty to violent second-degree burglary.

Dickson sentenced him on Aug. 3, 2016 to 15 years in prison, suspended to eight years with two years of probation.

The burglars gained access through a window and ripped out electric and phone wires, ransacked the office and vandalized a police vehicle. Authorities said the men stole numerous items, including a 12-gauge shotgun and a police radio.

The S.C. Law Enforcement Division investigated the break-in at the towns request.
A fundraiser is planned for May 20 in St. Matthews for a man with Calhoun County ties who is James PowellCalhoun County has Becker muscular dystrophy, which attacks the heart as well as other muscles.

He has had the condition since he was 7 years old but received no medical help until he was married and in college, missing out on aid that could have helped him live a near-normal life.

An Idaho native with a mechanical engineering degree, he worked for Conoco Oil Co. in Midland, Texas, but lost his job when the oil industry experienced a slowdown. After that, he moved to Houston in hopes of another job. But his medical condition worsened, which prevented his returning to work. His wife Alicia is a stay-at-home mom. They have two boys, ages 2 and 5.

In early December 2016, Powell suffered a stroke and spent two-and-a-half months in the hospital. He is now unable to walk and is dependent on lifts and electric wheelchairs and needs a handicap van to leave his home and get to appointments.

Family and community members have purchased a used van and are seeking assistance to pay for it. A takeout spaghetti dinner fundraiser will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. May 20 at the Main Street Cafe in St. Matthews. Takeout will be at the back door.
The Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation will hold a public hearing on plans to consolidate the countys three school districts into one on Monday.

The hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Orangeburg County Council Chambers at the County Administrative Centre, located at 1437 Amelia St.

Lawmakers are tol return to Columbia on Tuesday, the day after the hearing, to consider the state budget.

While there, legislators can finish up work on the consolidation bill. It needs one additional reading in the House. Then differing House and Senate versions of the bill would have to be reconciled.

If the bill passes, the countys three school districts would be abolished effective July 1, 2019, to form one single district known as the Orangeburg County School District.

The Senate version of the bill calls for the new school district to be governed by a nine-member school board. The bill divides the county into nine single-member districts.

The House version sets up seven single-member districts that follow the lines of the county council districts. There would also be two at-large members.

The Senate version of the plan states that no elementary or middle school can be closed until two public hearings are held at least two weeks apart within a particular attendance area.

A high school may not be closed without holding the same public hearings. Also, voters in the attendance area have to approve the closing of a high school by a referendum.

The House version of the consolidation bill requires three public hearings and a referendum in the attendance area for all school closings, not just high schools.

The House version also suspends 2017 school board elections.
Their messages are different, but two South Carolinians are again spot on regarding some of the weightiest national issues of the day.

The stature of U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham continues to rise.

While President Donald Trump nor anyone else from his team took to the air Sunday regarding a tumultuous week in Washington, Haley was out front regarding the president and his dismissal of FBI Director James Comey.

On ABC News This Week, the former S.C. governor defended Trumps decision to fire Comey, saying, "The president is the CEO of the country. He can hire and fire whoever he wants.

She continued, Thats his right. Whether you agree with it or not, its the truth.  Were there better ways he could have done that? Thats for everybody else to decide.

While others criticize Trump as erratic and unpredictable, Haley offered a different take.

Trump makes some people uncomfortable because he acts. He doesnt talk with a bunch of people about it before, he just acts. Trump is not one thats going to sit there and talk for too long. If he sees something wrong, hes going to deal with it.

While Graham may agree with Haley on Trump being quick to act, his message on NBCs Meet the Press was that key questions facing the president cannot be erased no matter how much Trump is angered and wants to move on to other issues.

Trump needs to "back off to help "clear the air" on Comey's firing, stories about a dinner meeting between the FBI director and the president in January, and the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, Graham said. "I think it requires somebody like me, a Republican, to call Comey before the Judiciary Committee to let him explain that conversation.

Frequently portrayed as anti-Trump, Graham made clear, based on no evidence being produced to date, that he agrees with the president on the contention there was no campaign collusion with Russia. He said there is no legitimate reason to appoint a special prosecutor and/or a special commission to investigate because the Senate will fulfill its duty in probing the matter.

Importantly, there was more from both Haley and Graham. And since the president reportedly spends a lot of time watching television, heres hoping he got the message from both.

Graham urged the president specifically to stop tweeting about the aforementioned matters.

Social media messages such as the one alluding to "tapes" of Trumps conversation with Comey are counterproductive, Graham said. "Right now, I do not believe President Trump is a target or subject of any investigation regarding collusion with the Russians. That's what I believe. But this tweet has to be answered.

"I would advise the president not to tweet or comment about the investigation as we go forward.  The president needs to back off and let the investigation go forward. We need to call Comey and get to the bottom of all of this."

Haley, a Bamberg County native, did not elaborate on the Trump tweet about any electronic records of the Comey meeting, but she spelled out the reality of 2017: "I assume I'm being taped everywhere, so I dont worry about that."
HOLLY HILL -- Cheers erupted at the Orangeburg Consolidated School District Three Board of Trustees meeting on May 9, when members voted unanimously to waive the additional days they added to the calendar after Hurricane Matthew.

The change means that the school year will end on June 2, as originally planned prior to last years storm.

We ended up having to make up nine days, eight because of Hurricane Matthew and one additional day, Superintendent Jesulon Gibbs-Brown said. We did not utilize the three days that the board can waive. We held onto those days, not knowing what the remainder of the winter was going to bring.

So, we put together a proposal where we would utilize those three days that (the board can) waive, she said. That would be waiving June 7, 8 and 9.

Were proposing to actually have school on Memorial Day, Gibbs-Brown said. That would take care of June 6 and, as of right now, June 2 is considered a teacher work day.

Having school on June 2 would account for June 5, and all school activities will conclude on June 2, the superintendent said.

In addition, board members voted to approve the first reading of the district's preliminary 2017-18 budget totaling $27,240,731. Board members will give the budget a second reading at its work session at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 22.

Trustees also passed a draft resolution authorizing issuance and sale of General Obligation Bonds not to exceed $ 2 million. Proceeds from the bonds would be used to renovate and repair school buildings and facilities, update the districts technology infrastructure, purchase new computers and related software and acquire SMART boards and projectors for use in classrooms throughout the district.

Board members then approved six field trip requests from Lake Marion High School. Two requests came from the LMHS Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Participating students will visit Carowinds on a Saturday in the near future.

In addition, the board approved field trips for:

Members of the LMHS Senior Class of 2017 to go to Carowinds.

Participants in the Future Farmers of America program in grades 10-12 to attend the state convention at Clemson University.

LMHS football players to attend summer football camp at Clemson University.

FFA program participants in grades 10-12 to attend the state leadership conference in North Myrtle Beach this summer.

Select 11th and 12th grade students to travel to Anaheim, Calif.

Board members also talked more about the proposed measure to consolidate Orangeburg County's three school districts into a single entity. Gibbs-Brown has made a concerted effort to keep board members informed about the contents of the bill and its progress in the legislature.

We had our special called board meeting last week to review information that was being cited as a basis for the proposed consolidation, particularly the efficiency study conducted by the South Carolina Department of Education on districts that are involved in the Abbeville lawsuit," Gibbs-Brown said.

I would say theres a strong possibility that (consolidation) is going to happen, she said. If its going to happen, it will happen a lot better if we all communicate and know whats going on up front.

The OCSD3 Board of Trustees will hold its next regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8.
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In Alexandria, VA, May 16, 2017 - Governor Terry McAullife signs Executive Directive 11: REDUCING CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM ELECTRIC POWER FACILITIES AND GROWING VIRGINIAS CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY - Image: Michael White

Virginia Governor Takes Climate Action

Posted 17 May 2017 by Carol Brighton

Touted as a "Clean Energy Initiative," Governor Terry McAuliffe issued an executive order on Tuesday, May 16 to cut carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Referring to climate change, the Governor notes that, "as the federal government abdicates its role on this important issue, it is critical for states to fill the void. ... Virginia will lead the way to cut carbon and lean in on the clean energy future." Executive Directive 11 calls for the promulgation of a regulation for the State Air Pollution Control Boards's consideration that will control carbon dioxide emissions from the main source, electric utilities, by December 31, 2017.

In the Directive the governor recognizes the unfair burden coastal communities face as the climate changes. With over 10,000 miles of tidal shoreline, more than any of the lower 48 states, Virginia residents sit on the frontline of climate change related sea level rise. The Governor reports that "rising storm surges and flooding could impact as many as 420,000 properties along Virginias coast that would require $92 billion of reconstruction costs. The challenges and costs of bolstering resilience and minimizing risk are too great for any locality to bear alone. While the impacts are significant, there are technologies in the clean energy sector that could help mitigate these impacts while simultaneously creating jobs in twenty-first century industries."

Due to demand for clean energy, the solar industry is experiencing rapid expansion in the Commonwealth. The working group report cites Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy data indicating 1800 MW of solar energy are currently in operation or under development in Virginia (much of that number must be in development). As a result, solar jobs increased 65% in 2016 over that of 2015. Image: 80 MW Amazon Solar Farm East in Accomack, VA developed by Community Energy Solar

The Directive is based on the recommendations of a working group established by the governor in June of 2016. Members included heads of state offices including Natural Resources, Commerce and Trade, Mines, Minerals and Energy, and Environmental Quality. The group's mandate was to facilitate clean energy job creation and reduce polluting carbon emissions. After monthly public meetings with stakeholders, a final report was released by the group on May 12, 2017. The groups number 1 action item listed is carbon dioxide emission limits.

According to an opinion issued by the state Attorney General, Mark Herring, the Air Pollution Control Board does indeed have broad authority to regulate green house gas pollution from electric facilities. He states that "the board is authorized to regulate "air pollution," which is defined as "the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more substances which are or may be harmful or injurious to human health, welfare or safety, to animal or plant life, or to property, or which unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment by the people of life or property." He adds that "it is well settled that GHGs fall within this definition and goes on to conclude that"the Board also has the authority to establish a cap on green house gas emissions for all new and existing fossil fuel electric generating plants."

The Governor's order will remain in force unless amended or rescinded by a future executive directive. With a gubernatorial election this year, an amendment or recision is certainly possible. In order to keep Virginia on a clean energy path and enjoy the climate and economic benefits thereof, the people need to voice their opinions at the ballot box in November.

Read More Tidewater Renewable Energy Posts HERE

Prior Climate related features include:

The Climate Cure: Balancing Earth's Carbon Equilibrium by Transforming a Liability into a Commodity

Designing a Coastal Future in the Face of Sea Level Rise

Adapting the Built Environment for Sea Level Rise
President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

The order says that May 28,, 2018 will mark the centenary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first parliamentary republic in the East.

The President instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to draw up a plan of action on the celebration of the centenary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

On May 28, 1918, Azerbaijan declared its independence establishing the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which became the first secular parliamentary democracy in the Muslim World and recognized by other democratic nations, including the United States of America.

During the short period of independence Azerbaijan granted all people the rights to vote regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, and religion, becoming the first Muslim nation to give women equal political rights with men, an accomplishment preceding the United States. Azerbaijans independence was interrupted in 1920, when it was invaded by Bolshevists, and forcefully incorporated into the USSR in 1922 to restore its independence only in 1991.
Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) said its large-scale housing complex for staff working on Saadiyat Island projects, has been named as best and happiest workers village in the UAE.



The Best and Happiest Workers and Accommodation Village in the UAE award was given to Saadiyat Accommodation Village at a ceremony held during the Labour happiness event in Abu Dhabi.



Fuad Mashal, the chief executive of Al Barakah Holding, the operating company for Saadiyat Accommodation Village, received the top honours in front of a large gathering in Saadiyat Island.



The award comes in recognition for TDICs commitment to the welfare of workers, stated Mashal.



The Abu Dhabi firm has over the years invested in top quality living quarters and sustainable initiatives that enhance the safety, welfare and social wellbeing of residents within the community, he added.



Opened in 2009 on Saadiyat Island, the accommodation village offers an array of social, recreational and educational facilities for its residents, including multilingual libraries, grocery stores, computer rooms with internet access, sporting facilities and a range of additional conveniences.-TradeArabia News Service
Aldar Academies, the education arm of Abu Dhabi property developer Aldar, has been appointed by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) to operate four of its schools in the UAE emirate.



The Adnoc schools, which deliver an American curriculum education to 7,000 KG-G12 students, are located across the Al Dhafra region in Sas Al Nakhl Campus, Ruwais Campus, Madinat Zayed Campus, and Ghayathi Campus.



As per the contract, Aldar Academies will start managing these four campuses from the start of the new academic year, in September, following a transition period. It will share the best practice experience, knowledge, innovation, and operational excellence.



The agreement reinforces Adnocs commitment to delivering the highest quality education across all its schools, stated Ghannam Al Mazrouei, the chairman of the Adnoc Schools board of trustees, after signing the deal with Mohammed Al Mubarak, CEO of Aldar and chairman of Aldar Academies.



"We are committed to delivering a world-class education - one that enriches the economic and social fabric of the emirate - and which builds on the achievements of our schools since their establishment in 2008," said Al Mazrouei.



"Today marks an important milestone in the Adnoc Schools journey as we prepare our students to reach their highest potential and also create new professional development opportunities for our cadre of teaching staff," he added.



Al Mubarak said Aldar's collaboration with Adnoc opens a new chapter in the companys vision to deliver the best education opportunities.



"We are proud to support the achievements of Adnoc Schools as we work together to provide their students with a strong academic curriculum and provide pastoral care that puts the needs of students, teachers and parents first as we achieve our shared ambition to deliver educational excellence," he stated.



Aldar Academies currently operates seven leading private schools in the UAE.-TradeArabia News Service
Laticrete, a leading manufacturer of premium installation and finishing systems for the building industry, will be showcasing its construction solutions at the upcoming Middle East Stone Show 2017 in Dubai, UAE.



The company boasts a wide range of high-strength shock- and weather-resistant tile and stone installation systems, waterproofing systems, construction chemicals, floor coatings and surface care products.



At the upcoming event, Laticrete will be highlighting construction solutions and products developed specifically for builders, remarked Sujit Singh, its managing director for Middle East and Africa.



"In any form of application, tile, stone, marble, glass, brick and even large and heavy tile installation solutions, Laticrete adhesive and mortar products offer major advantages in terms of speed and productivity over the competition," he stated.



"Laticrete adhesives and mortars are made to ensure installations go faster, easier, and with predictable results, time after time. Our adhesives and mortars have re-set the standard for industry performance," explained Singh.



"Take our high-strength construction epoxy adhesive or our thinset and thick bed mortars, Laticrete adhesives are custom-formulated to deliver speed and efficiency on the entire range of applications," he stated.



Our thinset adhesives and mortars feature unique wetting characteristics wherein the products are reinforced with special ingredients for unmatched non-sag performance, achieving longer open times, and are built with antimicrobial protection to inhibit the growth of stain-causing mold and mildew," he added.

According to him, Laticrete ME will be playing a vital role by exclusively sponsoring the CPD (Continuing Professional Development) workshop at this year's show.



"At Laticrete we believe in continually looking for ways to better our products and services, through technology and innovation. The CPD workshop is a great way to keep oneself in tune with the relevant changes in the industry," he stated.



The company will be represented at the workshop by Ranen Beaver, from Laticrete International. He will elaborate on the A-Z guide to installing stone flooring and address the myriad of associated technical challenges. His session will be held on Day 3 from 3 to 4 pm at the CPD Workshop, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
More than 1,300 exhibitors will showcase and discuss latest developments at the upcoming 5th edition of the Chengdu International Urban Modern Agricultural Expo (also known as Agro Chengdu) taking place in Chengdu, China, next month.



The expo, a complete event for agricultural products and technology, will take place from June 30 to July 3.



The expo aims to stage a professional exchange platform for both domestic and foreign agricultural enterprises to establish their brands, expand market reach and promote cross-border trade cooperation, said a statement from the organisers.



Chengdu is an important city in China's Belt and Road initiative and also one that the Chinese Government has heavily invested in. The operation of China-Europe block train railway has become a great artery for Chengdu's economic development and contributes significantly to a higher level of international cooperation, with its impact extending to the agricultural sector, it said.



Every year, agricultural institutions, business associations, and enterprise representatives from more than 10 countries and regions convene at Agro Chengdu to trade and exchange.



Amir Laty, consul general of Israel in Chengdu, after attending the 4th Agro Chengdu, provided very positive feedback on the show and considered Chengdu as having a great potential for cooperation with many countries with Israel being one of them.



This year, the event will cover an exhibition floor of 55,000 sq m and attending exhibitors will demonstrate agricultural products and technology covering the entire agricultural supply chain -- from modern agricultural technologies, special agricultural products, materials used for agriculture, agricultural machineries, agricultural products cold chain logistics and packaging, to modern agricultural comprehensive service and others, said a statement.



It is worth mentioning that the expo has also added a cooperation pavilion dedicated to the "Belt and Road" initiative, which focuses on displaying agricultural products, technological equipment and cooperation projects brought by various countries and cities participating in the grand Initiative.



Enterprises from 11 countries including Russia, Israel, France, Malaysia, Australia, Spain, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, and Nepal have confirmed that they will attend the exhibition, and participation of more countries can be expected, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Dubai-based CPI Business is set to host a half-day conference entitled Cashflow, Cost management and Change, an event aimed at tackling the different aspects of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) finance, tomorrow (May 18) in Dubai, UAE.



The event is taking place at the Taj Hotel, and will be held in collaboration with Etisalat.



The conference will bring in the likes of Al Ramz Capital, NImai Management Consultants, Lumina Advisers, EY Finance, SAP, Kaplan Genesis, AKI Group, UWI, Beehive and TBWA RAAD to discuss how to confront these dynamics to shape a better future for business, said a statement.



Recent economic developments across the region underscore three critical areas every business owner needs to assess to survive - they are cashflow, cost and change. This conference looks to dissect these three elements and help companies craft fresh strategies to combat the growing challenges, it said.



The conference will feature three sessions; the first one is entitled, Tomorrows finance leaders: navigating change which will provide a snapshot of the current landscape and then give an overview of financial strategies companies require for a changing business climate.



This is followed by the second session, Building your finance function, allowing participants to engage in practical discussions about tools and tips to improve their finances.



The third and last session is entitled, Beyond Finance, which is expected to give participants a better understanding of how finance is transforming in a digital era and will look at the world of alternative financing.



Gina OHara Larsen, chief operating officer and co-founder, CPI Business, said: At a time when cashflow is perhaps the most important priority for a business owner, we felt it was necessary to tackle the subject.



Through the insights shared by our experts, we hope to answer questions such as how to use data to improve financial control and how to manage your debt. In our regular interactions with business owners, we understand that these are the key issues they are currently faced with. The focal point of this event is taking rapid change and making economic sense out of it, she added.



Cashflow, cost management and change is also being brought in part by Etihad Airways, BUPA Global, Dubai South  The Business Park, Zawdeh, SAP, Orient Planet Research and UTalenta.com, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies, the sole authorised dealer of Ford and Lincoln vehicles in Saudi Arabia, has opened the worlds largest Ford dealer showroom in Riyadh branch of Al Jazirah Vehicles, located on Khurais road.



The latest showroom, inaugurated by Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Riyadh, saw attendance of a number of officials, diplomats, businessmen, partners, local and regional media representatives; and an elite group of Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies customers and top executives of Ford Motor Company, during the opening ceremony, said a statement from the company.



This opening is a part of the Al Jazirah vehicles strategic expansion plan, which aims to enhance its visibility, have an access and provide the best services to its customers, it said.



The showroom features advanced equipment and supported with state-of-the-art technologies to showcase Ford and Lincoln vehicles. This facility is worlds largest Ford showroom after Jeddah and Dammam showrooms located within a branch spreading over an area of more than 23,000 sq m, and includes an integrated car service centre equipped with the latest technologies and a warehouse for spare parts.



The new giant branch will be added to Al Jazirah vehicles portfolio that consists of more than 200 facilities across Saudi Arabia.



Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Al Kraidees, chairman of Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co, said: In this special occasion, we emphasise our confidence in the Saudi economy and our commitment to develop our business in this blessed nation that offers numerous promising investment opportunities.



These opportunities are set to increase with the ambitious Vision 2030, which we believe it will bring good to all of us. Now, we are working to align business development strategy to this vision. Being here today in this giant facility will make us more determined to boost our investment in development and planning in order to open more facilities including showrooms as well as service and spare parts centres, he said.



These facilities would create many jobs for Saudi youth, which is our responsibility and priority. We will continue to develop the skills of our employees in order to provide the best customer service, he added.



Jacques Brent, president of Ford Middle East and Africa, said: Saudi Arabia is a critical market for us and our partnership with Al Jazirah Vehicles is absolutely integral to our success.



We also recognise the wider impact Al Jazirah Vehicles leadership has made in growing the Ford and Lincoln retail footprint right across the kingdom with their continued investments. Despite challenging times our industry is currently witnessing, their commitment to grow the business by delivering world-class products and after sales services through a network of world-class dealership facilities is unwavering thirty years into the business, he said.



Were delighted that this partnership continues to go from strength to strength and testament to this is the state-of-the-art facility we are standing in. This facility promises to deliver higher levels of customer satisfaction and experience for both the Ford and Lincoln brands, he added.



During the ceremony, HRH Emir of Riyadh and the audience watched a documentary film on to mark the 30th Anniversary of Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co., after that he went in tour to see some of Ford classic and modern cars with the chairman of Al Jazirah Vehicles, said a statement.



The new branch is featured by its capacity. Being the worlds largest Fords dealer showroom, the new branch has a service department with a large reception capacity, in addition to other areas allocated for spare parts and for accommodating cars, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Samena Telecommunications Council has announced global technology leader Nokia as the newest addition to its membership.



Nokia, the leading provider of state-of-the-art end-to-end telecom infrastructure solutions, has unparalleled credentials in enabling infrastructure for next generation mobile as well as fixed broadband networks including 5G and the Internet of Things.



Nokia is focused on developing solutions that expands the human possibilities of the connected world by leveraging the emerging trends in virtual reality and digital health, etc.



In the Samena region, Nokia serves communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and end users, with the industry's most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, solutions and licensing services.



Bocar A BA, chief executive officer of Samena Council, extended his welcome to Nokia on joining the council and emphasised the significance of leading technology providers, like Nokia, in the telecommunications sector in the region.



At Samena Council, we are constantly seeking to explore possibilities of collaboration with key industry stakeholders, and Nokia's participation will further help in voicing key perspectives on industry developments and requirements. We are pleased to see Nokia among us and we congratulate Nokia for choosing to become a part of Samena Council, he added.



Bernard Najm, head of the Middle East Market Unit at Nokia, said: We are delighted to be a member of Samena Council that has extensive geographic reach and a strong track record of enabling multi-stakeholder dialogue and collaboration. We look forward to take part in the council activities and working groups, in order to address and align on key policy and regulatory matters that are shaping our industry. - TradeArabia News Service


At least one person was killed in a fire that broke out on a ship carrying petroleum products docked at a port in Sharjah, UAE, on Saturday, said a report.



Four people have been injured in the fire that was brought under control by the Sharjah Civil Defence personnel by the afternoon with the help of the Coast Guards, and the management of Al Hamriyah Port, according to a statement issued by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau.



They safely evacuated 16 workers from the ship and also controlled the diesel from spilling into the sea and preventing any further pollution, it stated.



The cause of the fire, which broke out early morning on the ship bearing a Panama flag, remained unknown, said senior Sharjah Civil Defence personnel.



The efforts of the Sharjah Civil Defence personnel, the Coast Guards, and the management of Al Hamriyah Port were united in successfully controlling the fire, said Colonel Sami Al Naqbi, the director-general of Sharjah Civil Defence.



The firefighters, skillfully and professionally contained the fire within 40 minutes, he stated.

Col Al Naqbi also lauded the efforts of civil defences of Ajman and Umm Al Quwain who joined their Sharjah counterparts in controlling the fire.



The injured workers have been transferred to a hospital, where they were reported to be stable, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Shell Aviation is currently celebrating 50 years of operations in the emirate of Dubai, a milestone which reflects the transformation of a quiet airfield into Dubai International (DXB), the busiest airport for international passenger traffic in the world.



Shell began supplying fuel to Dubai in the late 1960s and quickly recognised its potential, relocating its Middle East regional headquarters to the emirate in 1971. In 1985, Shell built a pipeline to transport aviation fuel to DXB, replacing transportation by road.



Today, Shell Aviation provides aviation fuels, lubricants and services at both DXB and Dubais newest airport, Dubai World Central (DWC), refuelling more than 2,600 aircraft a month.



The tremendous growth of DXB is such a great story of success, and we are proud to have been a part of this journey. We would like to thank Dubai Airports and all our partners for this long-term collaboration, said Richard Pereira, Shell Aviations incoming general manager for Asia and the Middle East.



We are committed to continually supporting the progress of Dubais aviation industry, creating outstanding value for our customers and growing our cooperation.



Pereira was speaking during the Global Airport Leaders Forum, which was held as part of the Airport Show at the Dubai International Conference and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) between May 15 and 17.



To mark the 50-year anniversary, Pereira presented Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, with a commemorative plaque.



Shell Aviation has been a long-trusted partner of Dubai Airports. We share an uncompromising commitment to safety, customer focus and a passion for the work we do, Griffiths said. We look forward to many more years of continued and valued collaboration.



To support Dubais transformation into one of the worlds most important aviation hubs, Shell has built up a local team of aviation experts and invested in pipelines and storage capacity expansion. Shell extended operations to Dubai World Central (DWC) when that airport opened in 2010. Airlines and other operators can also access Shell Aviations high quality AeroShell lubricants portfolio through Shells distributor network.



In 2016, Shell Aviation reached the 12th anniversary of the implementation of its Goal Zero safety standard at DXB. Goal Zero is a company-wide initiative targeting no harm to people and no leaks.



Shell also supplied its bitumen products to pave two runways at DXB in 2014. With Dubai airports surpassing 70 million airline passengers during that year, the project was a major logistics challenge.  TradeArabia News Service


LONGVIEW, Wash.  BNSF Railway has appealed an environmental review of a coal-export terminal in Washington state, arguing it miscalculated or overstated the risk of cancer for some residents.

Millennium Bulk Terminal-Longview has long wanted to build a facility along the Columbia River near the city of Longview to handle up to 44 million tons of coal a year. Trains would carry the coal from Montana, Wyoming and other states, which would be loaded onto ships headed to Asia.

The environmental study, by the state Department of Ecology and Cowlitz County, found diesel particulate emissions from trains serving the terminal would cause an unavoidable increase in the cancer risk rate for residents in one neighborhood.

But BNSF spokeswoman Courtney Wallace says there are no credible scientific studies suggesting that locomotive diesel emissions increase cancer risks.

There is no basis to say that. So its concerning for us to have that out there in the public domain, Wallace said Friday.

Camille St. Onge, spokeswoman for the Department of Ecology, said the focus of the study was to evaluate the potential impact to the local community and not intended to be a statewide report. She added that the review is not a permit decision but a scientific study aimed at informing agencies responsible for permitting the terminal, which would add 16 train trips a day through the Longview industrial area.

The appeal was filed with Cowlitz County. County officials who co-wrote the environmental study could not be reached for comment Friday, the newspaper reported.

Agencies will use the review to decide more than 20 permits needed before the coal terminal can be built.

The environmental review by the state and county, which was released last month, found that the project would make rail accidents more likely and add millions of metric tons of climate-changing greenhouse gas globally every year.

Millennium Bulk Terminals said it does not expect BNSFs appeal to delay its permitting process.

Meanwhile, the company is appealing the states denial of a key aquatic lands lease for the project. Before leaving office in January, Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark rejected a request from Northwest Alloys to sublease state aquatic lands to Millennium for the coal-export project. The case is pending in state court.
Enrollment at the University of Wyoming could increase this fall by nearly 200 freshmen, officials said, creating the largest incoming class in the schools 130-year history.

The projections, presented to the universitys board of trustees last week, reverse a drop of nearly 150 freshmen at a time when the school is implementing cuts, layoffs and reorganizations across campus. The school also expects the number of transfer students to increase by about 100.

Mary Aguayo, the interim associate vice president for enrollment management, attributed the boost to university outreach. Staff members were in three-quarters of the states high schools on May 1 on signing day, when students officially committed to attending UW. The school has also worked to release scholarship notices faster and put faculty in touch with admitted or interested students.

We really have been working hard to be really engaged with the students in a newer and different way, she said.

UW wants to increase its freshman enrollment by 2 percent each year and its transfer enrollment, which include a large share from Wyoming community colleges, by 5 percent annually.

University leaders have been talking about the importance of enrollment increases for months. In December, UW President Laurie Nichols told lawmakers that it was the schools top priority. Gov. Matt Mead attempted to set aside $475,000 in one-time funds for the school to boost its enrollment, but the money was ultimately not approved by lawmakers.

UW hired a Chicago-based consultant group to work with administrators and build a five-year strategic enrollment management plan, which identified short-, middle- and long-term objectives for the university. Among other things, it calls for strengthening ties with community colleges, expanding the time of day when courses are offered and increasing financial aid communications.

Notably, the university announced earlier this year that it was dismantling its Outreach School, which, among other things, handles UWs partnerships with community colleges and the universitys distance education.

Officials have said that reorganization is partly geared at making it easier for students to transfer to the main campus.

Asked whether the Outreach Schools elimination will hinder UWs enrollment efforts, Aguayo said there will be a continued commitment to the university. She added that a goal of the reorganization is to meet the needs of students, wherever they may be.

Still, though the incoming numbers appear to be strong, Aguayo pointed out that declines in the past meant that the influx of students would essentially leave the universitys overall enrollment flat. Fewer students are already on the universitys books, and this new wave will serve to bump the student population into more familiar territory.

She attributed last falls enrollment decline to the bust in the energy economy and to people who may have left Wyoming as a result of the downturn. College officials across the state have seen declines in recent years, which some have said is difficult to fully explain.

For instance, economic troubles typically mean increased enrollment at institutions of higher learning, but education officials here have speculated that Wyomings bust is unique in that people who may have lost their jobs uprooted to find work elsewhere, rather than stay here, go back to school and find a new career in the Cowboy State.

The downturn has had an impact on the university. The institution has lost more than $41 million in state funding. In response, its eliminated more than 300 positions and, earlier this week, began laying off 37 employees. UWs board last week also voted to eliminate five degree programs.

Asked whether staff layoffs, faculty buyouts and program elimination would have an adverse affect on enrollment, Aguayo maintained that commitment to students remained strong. The downturn had hurt, she acknowledged, but the student experience would remain a good one.
Enrollment at the University of Wyoming could increase this fall by nearly 200 freshmen, officials said, creating the largest incoming class in the schools 130-year history.

The projections, presented to the universitys board of trustees last week, reverse a drop of nearly 150 freshmen at a time when the school is implementing cuts, layoffs and reorganizations across campus. The school also expects the number of transfer students to increase by about 100.

Mary Aguayo, the interim associate vice president for enrollment management, attributed the boost to university outreach. Staff members were in three-quarters of the states high schools on May 1 on signing day, when students officially committed to attending UW. The school has also worked to release scholarship notices faster and put faculty in touch with admitted or interested students.

We really have been working hard to be really engaged with the students in a newer and different way, she said.

UW wants to increase its freshman enrollment by 2 percent each year and its transfer enrollment, which include a large share from Wyoming community colleges, by 5 percent annually.

University leaders have been talking about the importance of enrollment increases for months. In December, UW President Laurie Nichols told lawmakers that it was the schools top priority. Gov. Matt Mead attempted to set aside $475,000 in one-time funds for the school to boost its enrollment, but the money was ultimately not approved by lawmakers.

UW hired a Chicago-based consultant group to work with administrators and build a five-year strategic enrollment management plan, which identified short-, middle- and long-term objectives for the university. Among other things, it calls for strengthening ties with community colleges, expanding the time of day when courses are offered and increasing financial aid communications.

Notably, the university announced earlier this year that it was dismantling its Outreach School, which, among other things, handles UWs partnerships with community colleges and the universitys distance education. Officials have said that reorganization is partly geared at making it easier for students to transfer to the main campus.

Asked whether the Outreach Schools elimination will hinder UWs enrollment efforts, Aguayo said there will be a continued commitment to the university. She added that a goal of the reorganization is to meet the needs of students, wherever they may be.

Still, though the incoming numbers appear to be strong, Aguayo pointed out that declines in the past meant that the influx of students would essentially leave the universitys overall enrollment flat. Fewer students are already on the universitys books, and this new wave will serve to bump the student population into more familiar territory.
A group of Wyomingites is pushing for campaign finance reform in the state and nationally through a ballot initiative  including a former legislative candidate who believes a liberal dark money group that supported him actually interfered in his race.

Wyoming Promise members want an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would repeal a number of U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have loosened limits on how much people and groups spend in races. One decision is Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, in which justices decided corporate and union political action committees could raise and spend an unlimited amount of money for and against candidates, as long as the PACs work independently of candidates, said Shelby Shadwell of Laramie, Wyoming Promises treasurer.

On Monday, the Wyoming Secretary of States office announced that Wyoming Promise could begin the process of collecting signatures from the states residents to get an initiative on the ballot. It must collect at least 38,818 signatures, a number based on a percentage of votes cast in the 2016 general election.

The organization hopes to get the initiative on the November 2018 ballot and has 18 months to collect signatures. If members dont gather enough names before the 2018 election, the initiative still has a chance for the 2020 ballot, Shadwell said.

Wyoming Promise is mirroring the goals of American Promise, on which former Republican U.S. Sen. Al Simpson serves as an adviser, Shadwell said.

Wyoming Promise and others believe the rich and powerful have more control over politicians than ordinary people because of the amount of money they spend on their campaigns, Shadwell said.

We need to end legalized bribery and regulate and have campaign finance reform, he said.

The chairman of Wyoming Promise is Kenneth Chestek, of Laramie, who ran for the Legislature in 2016 as a Democrat against Rep. Bill Haley, R-Centennial.

The Wyoming Hunters and Anglers Alliance sent mail to residents in House District 46 accusing Haley of wanting the federal government to turn public lands over to the state for selloff to private people and companies.

Chestek, a law professor at the University of Wyoming, said the mailings were upsetting to him. He didnt agree with them, he said.

Thats part of why Im involved in this effort, he said. Ive always hated the Citizens United decision. When it impacted my race for the Legislature, it got me upset enough to take this action.

Amending the U.S. Constitution is the only way the state Legislatures and Congress can reform campaign finance laws, he said.

The identities of the people backing the hunters group are not entirely known. Such groups on the left and right are called dark money.

If the initiative makes it to the ballot box, a statement will say the U.S. Constitution needs an amendment to ensure spending in Wyoming and at the federal level is free and fair.

Based on the American values of fair play, leveling the playing field and ensuring that all citizens, regardless of wealth, have an opportunity for their political views to be heard, there is a compelling reason to regulate political spending so that the voices of natural persons are not overwhelmed by corporate spending, the proposed initiative states.

There are two ways to amend the Constitution, Shadwell said.

Congress can propose an amendment that voters in at least three-fourths of the states can ratify. Or two-thirds of the states can pass ballot measures calling for a constitutional convention in which representatives of each state meet to draft an amendment. The states would have to ratify the amendment, Shadwell said.

Eighteen states thus far have passed resolutions calling on Congress to draft the amendment to regulate political spending.

About five have called for a Constitutional convention, he said.

Wyoming Promises proposed initiative states either way of amending the Constitution is suitable, Shadwell said.

The Wyoming group, as with the national organization, aims to be bipartisan, he said.

A 28th amendment to the Constitution is the only way to overturn the (Citizens United) decision, he said. We cant limit the amount of dark money and unlimited political spending in the system, which is a huge problem no matter what side of the political spectrum youre on. Republicans dont like it. Democrats dont like their politicians being bought off, either.
CHEYENNE  Winter storm warnings and watches were posted for parts of Wyoming as a late spring snowstorm took aim at the state on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming and the Snowy, Sierra Madre and Laramie ranges in the southeast part of the state. Up to 2 feet of snow is possible in the mountains.

Laramie could receive 4 to 8 inches of snow Thursday with gusts up to 45 miles per hour. Another 7 to 11 inches could fall Thursday night.

Rain was expected to change to snow at elevations as low as 6,000 feet Wednesday night.

The rain will add to runoff that is already swelling local streams and causing localized flooding. A flood watch is posted for parts of northern and east-central Wyoming.

The rain and snow could cause more landslides along roads, particularly in the Wind River Canyon.

In Casper, temperatures will reach into only the low 40s on Thursday and the 30s on Thursday night. One to 2 inches of snow could fall Thursday, with another 2 to 4 inches Thursday night. A mix of rain and snow was predicted for Friday. Skies were expected to clear by Saturday.
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some May 17 papers in history. With a subscription to newspapers.com you can search the Arizona Daily Star and many other newspapers using keywords or dates, and download articles or pages.
Five child welfare workers fired in the wake of a scandal about uninvestigated abuse complaints will not be getting their jobs back.

Without comment, the Arizona Supreme Court refused to disturb a 2016 ruling by the Court of Appeals which concluded that the employees were all supervisors. What that means, the appellate court said, is that they were "at will" employees who, under state law could be fired for no reason at all.

The order, issued Monday, is likely the last gasp in the effort by Terry Woods, their attorney, to seek reinstatement or compensation for his clients who he said were made "scapegoats" for decisions made by upper management.

The case has its roots in the finding in late 2013 that almost one of every 12 child abuse complaints reported to Child Protective Services that year was not investigated. Clarence Carter, whose Department of Economic Security at the time had purview over CPS, said his top investigator had found there had been an unofficial policy at the agency of marking certain complaints as "not investigated" even before any further inquiry was done.

Carter said the process started as a way to prioritize cases to deal with limited resources. But he said it had accelerated to a point where nearly half of those 6,000 cases designated "NI" since 2009 occurred in 2013 despite state law that there be at least some investigation of every complaint that meets certain criteria.

An inquiry by the Department of Public Safety concluded that the five employees  Deborah Harper, Tracey Everitt, Janet Sabol, Michelle Parker and Jana Leineweber  were part of a special team charged with handling the backlog of CPS complaints. More to the point, Charles Flanagan, head of the newly created Division of Child Safety and Family Services, said they were instrumental in crafting the policy that resulted in ignoring the laws on mandatory investigation.

Flanagan said, though, the DPS report showed no evidence of malicious intent.

"It appears what they were trying to do is take some of the workload off the field," he said, with abuse and neglect complaints coming in faster than caseworkers could handle them. And Flanagan said all that was complicated by cuts in the CPS budget.

But in the end, the five, who had been put on leave, were subsequently fired.

Woods, in filing suit in 2014, said the report which led to their termination was essentially a pre-determined fix.

"The conclusion was reached before the investigation was done," he said of the DPS inquiry. He said once it became clear that many complaints had been marked as not investigated, a decision was made that someone had to be blamed.

"I think there's a really good chance that a decision was made somewhere up the chain that some heads had to roll and that was the way this thing was going to end," Woods said.

But the appellate judges said the only thing that matters is what Arizona law says about the rights of workers.

Appellate Judge Andrew Gould, writing for the court, said employees are considered to be "at will" and can be fired at any time unless there is an actual contract to the contrary. That's not at issue here.

There are exceptions, he said, like when a firing violates a state law or runs afoul of public policy as set forth in statute. And Gould said people who are fired for refusing to violate a state law also have legal remedies.

But the judge rejected the claim by the fired workers that it is contrary to public policy to fire them because they were competently performing their jobs. He said all were supervisors who were not covered by state personnel rules then in effect.

The workers separately said they were directed by supervisors to use the "NI" designation on files. And they said if they had disobeyed that direction they would have been guilty of the crime of knowingly failing to perform a duty "which is required by law."

Gould was unimpressed.

"No law required CPS, plaintiffs or their supervisors to designate abuse and neglect reports as 'NI,' " he wrote. "As a result, plaintiffs would not have violated (the law) by refusing to apply the 'NI' designation, because the supervisor's orders to use the 'NI' designation did not have the force of law."

Woods did not dispute that conclusion. But he said the appellate judges should have determined that, as a matter of common law, it was wrong for the state to fire people who were basically doing what they were told to do.

He said much of the reason they were dismissed was because of the bad press over that "NI" designation.

"It was nothing new," he said, and had been used off and on for a decade. And Woods insisted that the complaints were not just written off summarily but that they had been subject to a "triage" screening, with the supervisors deciding that further inquiry by caseworkers was not appropriate.

But what stuck in the public mind, he said, was marking cases as "NI."

It read terrible in the newspaper," Woods said.

Also getting the ax in 2014 was Sharon Sergent who was their supervisor and who in turn reported to Carter, director of the Department of Economic Security. She never sued.

Flanagan said there was no evidence that Carter knew of the unofficial policy. He would not answer, though, whether he thought Carter should have been aware of what was going on at the agency.

Carter submitted his resignation to Gov. Doug Ducey shortly after he took office in January 2015. His resignation letter made no mention of the scandal.

A month later Ducey fired Flanagan, saying he wanted a change in the "broken" child-welfare system.
You want to know why the Jan. 8 memorial should be built?

Look no further than some seemingly unconnected events of the last couple of months.

The bill that would have funded construction of the memorial flew through the state House, then died without a hearing in the Senate, thanks in part to gun politics.

Then last week, the FBI arrested a Tucson man it said threatened to kill U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, who won the seat in Congress that Gabrielle Giffords occupied until she was disabled by the Jan. 8, 2011, mass shooting.

We need a place like this, that celebrates civic participation in government while memorializing those who were killed and wounded six years ago.

State Rep. Todd Clodfelter, a Tucson Republican, sponsored the bill, which would have given the project $500,000 in state money for five years, and got it rolling admirably. With auto dealer Jim Click supporting him, Clodfelter won a unanimous vote in favor of the bill in the House Appropriations committee on Feb. 22 and a 49-11 vote in favor by the whole House the next day.

Then Feb. 28 it hit the Senate with a thud.

What was most important in killing the bill is unclear, but several factors are well recognized, and one has not been discussed much publicly but seems crucial. In the years since the shooting, Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, have become advocates for stricter gun laws and founded a national organization, Americans for Responsible Solutions, to work on that agenda.

On March 16, they took their campaign to Phoenix and launched the Arizona Coalition for Common Sense. They were not subtle about their intentions  to possibly launch an initiative campaign to end the gun-show loophole and to throw out of office legislators who wont act on gun laws.

Noting their national group has an annual budget of about $15 million, Kelly said, And we spend a lot of that money around election time of November of even years.

For the Jan. 8 memorial bill, that was not good timing.

Sen. Gail Griffin, the Hereford Republican who has taken heat for not giving the bill a hearing, denies that Giffords gun-law stance was the reason for her own rejection of the bill. She said she heard from constituents who didnt want state money going to the memorial. Also, some people pointed out that the Pima County bond issue that had included funding for the memorial, Prop. 427, lost by 66 to 34 percent in November 2015.

But you really cant untangle some peoples feelings about the Jan. 8 memorial from the course that Kelly and Giffords have plotted in recent years.

I dont think their tone went over well with some of the conservatives, Clodfelter acknowledged Tuesday. Bad timing, I guess is what youd say.

Ron Barber, who was Giffords district director and succeeded her in office, told me an email sent to Senate leaders also turned them against the bill.

A guy from Tucson sent an email to the leadership in the Senate making wild accusations about what this is really all about. He said it was about gun control, which it really was not. Unfortunately, the damage was done.

Barber has made the memorial his top priority and is working hard to raise the money. I asked him whether Giffords and Kelly are involved.

They havent been involved in fundraising for the memorial. Theyve obviously put this (Americans for Responsible Solutions) as Priority 1 in their lives. Thats separate from what we do. We want to keep it separate, entirely. I dont want anyone to think this is about gun control. Its not.

Now, Clodfelter probably didnt dig as deeply into his legislative bag of tricks as he could have. Some Republicans withheld support for the agreed-on state budget until they could get their priorities taken care of.

The so-called Freedom Schools at the UA and ASU, which research and promote free-market economics and politics, got $2 million because of a GOP holdout. Clodfelter probably couldve played the same game, withholding his support till he got the measly $500,000 per year into the budget.

I suppose I could have, Clodfelter told me. Being the new guy, Im less informed on that sort of aggressive tactic.

Sen. Steve Farley argued for the appropriation during the budget debate, but to no avail.

In the end that may be all right. The price of the designed memorial, which will be outside the west side of the Old Pima County Courthouse, is steep at $5 million. But it is not out of sight. Tucsons Jan. 8 Memorial Foundation has already raised $1 million, and it has Click as one of its key supporters and potential fundraisers. It has also started a GoFundMe campaign online.

More important, it should be done, and the threats to McSally show why. A Tucson man, Steve Martan, is accused of leaving threatening messages for McSally that said, among other things, Be careful when you come back to Tucson cause we hate you here, OK? Cant wait to (expletive) pull the trigger (expletive).

McSally needs to be back in Tucson, and she needs to be able to mix with her constituents, as Giffords was doing when a madman pulled the trigger in 2011.

The memorial remembers the people who were killed (four of the six were Republicans) and injured while engaging with their member of Congress. Events keep reminding us why thats a good and precious thing.
A Sheriffs Department investigation into an inmate accused of killing his cellmate has revealed that a sock full of batteries was found in the mans bunk.

Branden Roth, 24, was found dead in his cell at the Pima County jail the morning of April 19, with trauma to his head and face and defensive wounds to his hands, according to Pima County Sheriff Departments investigative report released Tuesday.

His cellmate, King Yates, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Roths death, according to Pima County Superior Court records.

Yates, who was being held on $1 million bond at the time, was already facing second-degree murder charges in the Nov. 20 shooting death of his wife, Cassandra, for which he has an upcoming trial.

Corrections officers found Roth in his cell shortly after 9 a.m., covered in blood, with cuts on his face and head and bruises on his neck. Several guards noted there was a large amount of blood throughout the floor, the report said.

The guards immediately called for medical assistance and ordered Yates, who was lying on the bottom bunk with his back to the door, to leave the cell. Yates ignored the first two commands and on the third, calmly got up, walked out of the cell and stepped outside, the report said.

Yates did not have any kind of expression on his face. He did not appear to be upset or scared, the report said. Inmates who saw Yates being escorted from the unit said he was smiling.

Detectives noted blood spatter on the floor of the cell, the wall, the desk and all over the bunk, including the sheets. While inspecting Yates bunk, detectives found a pair of red socks, one balled up inside of the other with batteries inside. The reports do not mentioned how Roth was killed or if a weapon was used.

Roths autopsy results are still pending.

Crime scene technicians found blood on the sink and noted what appeared to be blood on Yates clothes.

The detective who told Yates that he was under arrest for the slaying wrote in his report, Yates looked at me and said, Oh yeah ... as if he was agreeing with me.

Inmates who knew or previously shared a cell with Yates said he had a problem with most of the other inmates, initiated fights and paid others to beat up people he had a problem with, the report said.

One inmate, who said he has known Yates since he was 5 years old, said Yates was not right in the head, the report said. The inmate told detectives that every time he saw Yates go into a room with someone, he would worry for the persons safety.

None of the inmates said they heard anything the morning of Roths death until corrections officers started calling for help, saying the man was dead.

Roth was in jail awaiting sentencing next month after pleading guilty to a felony count of trafficking in stolen property less than two weeks before, according to court records.

He was facing a maximum sentence of seven years in prison for stealing an engine diagnostic tool worth $10,000 from a Brakemax in Oro Valley. Roth pawned the item days later for $200, records show.

The charges against Roth were dismissed days after his death.

The Sheriffs Department did not immediately respond to request for comment regarding policies for determining cellmate assignments.
The Pima County Sheriffs Department has two deputies living and working on Mount Lemmon year-round for a total annual cost of about $278,000.

Because so much of their patrol work occurs on Coronado National Forest land, the Forest Service chips in to help cover those costs. However, those contributions have been declining in recent years, and now the county supervisors say the arrangement needs to be renegotiated.

On Tuesday, Pima County supervisors unanimously approved a $19,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for law enforcement costs but extended the intergovernmental agreement for only six months, at the end of which they hope what County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry called a more equitable revenue sharing agreement takes its place.

As recently as fiscal year 2012, the Forest Service paid the county more than $42,000. The $19,000 payment represents roughly 7 percent of estimated costs, though more than 75 percent of calls occur on USFS land, according to a May 5 memo from Sheriffs Department Bureau Chief Karl Woolridge.

I have real concerns that this is costing us, Supervisor Sharon Bronson said of the agreement.

In 2016, sheriffs deputies responded to 771 calls, 153 of which were in Summerhaven, which is a part of the departments jurisdiction, according to Woolridges memo. The remainder of calls were on Forest Service land.

While smaller than what county officials say is fair, the payment is larger than last years $18,400.

A Coronado National Forest spokeswoman was not able to provide comments by deadline because of a wildfire.

Support for Ironwood Forest

On Tuesday, the supervisors also approved a resolution supporting the Ironwood Forest National Monument and raising concerns about President Trumps April executive order that called for a review of a number of monument designations since 1996.

Among other things, the presidents order directs Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to consider whether designated lands are appropriately classified.

Ironwood, 129,000 acres of protected desert about 15 miles west of Marana that is home to many species of plants and animals, is one of four Arizona monuments being reviewed as a result of the order.

In a memo to the board, Huckelberry notes that the order itself does not rescind existing national monuments, but it does make them vulnerable to elimination or reduction in size.

Should the Ironwood Forest National Monument be eliminated or reduced in size, Pima County could expect less tourism based on outdoor recreation, fewer visitors, diminished economic benefits, and less in state and local tax receipts and benefits to the local economy, the resolution reads.

The resolution was approved 3-2, over the objections of Supervisors Ally Miller and Steve Christy.

Christy described the resolution as inflammatory and a swipe at the Trump administration.

He also questioned whether the order actually makes Ironwood and other monuments vulnerable, and argued that there is nothing wrong with reviewing. Miller agreed, adding that the resolution is crying foul before youre harmed.

Supervisor Richard Elias countered that the resolution was a well-deserved swipe at the current administration.

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense, Bronson said in defense of the resolution.
The massive ransomware computer attack that disrupted businesses and government agencies around the world has so far spared Pima County.

Thats according to a county response to a records request from the Star regarding the so-called WannaCry worm, which has infected several hundred thousand computers in 150 countries since late last week. Among the more high-profile victims was Englands National Health Service, which saw significant disruption.

Ransomware blocks users access to files and threatens to destroy them unless the attackers are paid, in this case in the digital currency, bitcoin.

Our client anti-malware software blocks this malware and our servers have also been patched for WannaCry and the eternalblue exploit, county IT director Jesse Rodriguez told the Star . Eternalblue is a computer vulnerability found in the operating system that was infected by WannaCry malware.

While the attackers, whose identity is unknown, had no luck with the county, previous attacks have successfully infected county computers, though no ransoms were paid .

In February, a health department employee opened an email from an external host, which is against county policy. The ransomware locked 75,000 files, which were all restored from backup.

We do backups multiple times a day, so we have an option of which backup to go back to, Rodriguez said, adding later that there are over 20,000 attempted computer attacks on the county daily.

A similar incident occurred in Pima County Superior Court, which has its own IT system, in February 2016, and the affected files were also restored. The Star previously reported the attack temporarily disrupted some court work, though information about whether payments were made was not provided. On Tuesday, a court spokeswoman confirmed no ransom was paid.

Related story, Page A16.
Facing a $659,000 budget shortfall, South Tucson has asked for help policing its streets and putting out fires.

South Tucson City Manager Sixto Molina formally approached the city of Tucson this week, specifically asking Tucson to provide daily police services from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. and take over South Tucsons fire and emergency medical services.

South Tucson officials believe they can save between $200,000 and $300,000 by outsourcing at least some services. The city finds itself in the red as sales-tax revenues continue to fall while costs to maintain existing services continue to rise.

In a memo to the Tucson City Council, City Manager Michael Ortega said the city would address the request but he outlined a number of financial risks that come with such an arrangement.

In terms of policing the 1.2-square-mile city, Ortega said Tucson would need to hire additional officers to patrol South Tucson streets for the four-hour shift. He said it would also be a logistical problem as officers would have to carve out time to put evidence in storage and make court appearances.

On the Fire Department side, Ortega immediately ruled out Tucson providing any kind of EMS service. In the memo, he hinted that South Tucson has other options when it comes to medical calls.

He later confirmed that Molina told him South Tucson has been approached by a private vendor for EMS services.

Molina confirmed he is discussing contracting for EMS services with some private companies, but declined to elaborate as the talks are continuing.

In terms of responding to fire calls, Ortega said Tucson could provide a fee for service to respond to calls but it would require hiring more firefighters.

An existing agreement between the two cities requires the Tucson Fire Department to respond to structures fires in South Tucson, so it is unclear how this arrangement would change if the Tucson City Council signed off on expanding the agreement.

The agreement, a common practice in smaller communities, was put in place to protect the lives of South Tucson firefighters, as a fully engulfed structure fire could easily be too much for the number of firefighters on duty.

Officials said the number of structure-fire calls requiring the city of Tucson to respond are relatively few, averaging less than 12 a year.

Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik was skeptical of any agreement, saying Tucson needs to fully staff its police and fire departments before responding to calls in neighboring communities.

The projected budget deficit has the South Tucson City Council considering laying off all of its firefighters and possibly some police officers.

The South Tucson Police Department has three open vacancies for patrol officers and the Fire Department has just three full-time employees, with more than two dozen part-time employees.
OPINION: "Let's keep our heads for the next few weeks. It could be chaotic, but we'll get through it. When the dust settles, we'll get to work figuring out if we still have a functioning democracy in Arizona," writes Curt Prendergast, the Star's opinion editor.
Help India!

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

BJP state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan has been booked for allegedly posting fake video on his Twitter handle against CPIM. The Kannur policeon Wednesday registered a case against him on various charges of promoting enmity between groups under IPC Section 153 (a). A petition was filed against Rajasekharan by SFI Kannur district president Muhammad Siraj.

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Kummanam, through a video, had claimed that CPM activists were celebrating over the killing of an RSS activist Biju in Payyannur. He also claimed that CPM workers celebrated Bijus death in at least 14 places in Kerala.

Siraj, in his complaint, alleged that the video was fake and Kummanam was trying to defame CPM, instigate RSS workers and create tension between the activists of both the parties.

Meanwhile, state police chief TP Senkumar has directed the Kannur district police chief to investigate and verify the authenticity of the video.

Kummanam said that he was willing to be arrested and go to jail. Meanwhile, BJP Thiruvananthapuram district president S Suresh was on Tuesday booked for hate speech against political rivals. He threatened CPM saying the peace in Kerala was RSS generosity adding that we will go after the hands and heads of those who attack us.

Suresh was addressing a protest march in front of the Neyyattinkara DSP office against an attack on RSS workers at a village Anavoor in Thiruvananthapuram.He was charged by Neyyattinkara police under Section 295 (A) of IPC.
Help India!

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

Aligarh: Newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University Professor Tariq Mansoor has revoked the suspension order of Professor Mustafa Zaidi on Wednesday. On his second day in office, Mansoor in exercise of the powers vested in him under section 19 (3) of the AMU Amendment Act revoked the suspension and reinstated Mustafa Zaidi on his post with immediate effect.

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The Vice Chancellor has taken this decision considering the observations made by honorable High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in writ petition number, 9487 of 2017 in its judgment dated, April 6, 2017.

Former AMU VC Zameeruddin Shah suspended Mustafa Zaidi for dereliction of duty and absence from his teaching assignment.

In a show cause letter issued by the Registrar, Dr. Asfar Ali Khan after a special meeting of the Executive Council on October 20, 2015, it was pointed out that Zaidi was found absent from his class during the Vice Chancellors visit to the Department of Library and Information Science onOctober 13.

Later on, Chairman of the Department Prof. S. Shabahat Husain informed that Mr. Zaidi had not submitted any leave application for that day.

Unsatisfied with the reply of Zaidi, the then AMU VC decided that Zaidi was wrongly justifying his absence from teaching assignment. Zaidi was allegedly misquoting the rules of leave. In addition, the Vice Chancellor was of the opinion that Zaidi had indulged in misbehaviour towards him during the meeting in his office.

Following this, Zaidi was suspended from all charges of the office on October 23, 2015.

But all the necessary administrative action against Zaidi was seemed to be more of a drama, when people alleged that Zaidi was suspended because he sat on Dharna against AMU VC on the same day of October 13.

AMU Teachers Association AMUTA, whose Secretary post Zaidi was holding at the time, sat on Dharna against AMU VC Zameeruddin Shah seeking a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in admissions.

University sources inform that Zameeruddin Shah took the same opportunity to sack Zaidi, thus by trying to lower the protesting voices.

With the revoking of the suspension order, Zaidi will be considered on duty for all purposes from October 26, 2015 till the date of issuance of this order. Zaidi will be paid full salary and allowances for the period; he remained under suspension from October 26, 2015 till date, except the salary already paid to him by way of subsistence allowance.

The order has further made it clear that the charge-sheet served upon Zaidi is withdrawn and disciplinary proceedings against him be treated as closed.
The current state of self-employment is far from what it once was. Today you are just as likely to see a blue collar worker who is defined as self-employed as you are a skilled contractor. The number of workers now considered self-employed reflects this shift: 4.8 million now fall into the category. A study from the Office of National Statistics found that part-time self-Employment grew by 88% between 2001 and 2015, whilst full-time self-employment grew by 25% in the same period.

The changing face of employment

For some, these figures show a desire from UK employees to take back control of their working schedules and to control their own earnings.

Unfortunately, those earnings dont make for particularly encouraging reading: according to Accounting Technician magazine, 2014-15 saw self-employed people earn on average 240-a-week; thats 60 less than their counterparts were earning in 1994-95.

The shift, therefore, appears to have been towards low end or unskilled work. As Accounting Technician magazine comments, "more businesses have sprung up that take advantage of self-employed contractors." Through the use of contractors, businesses avoid having to pay the national insurance (NI) contributions they would if the worker was contractually registered with the company. The more self-employed workers you have, the more money you save through avoided NI contributions.

An investigation by the Guardian, however, demonstrated that this new model of employment is also being used in academia. While university tuition fees rise up to 9,000-per-year, the richest Russell Group institutions are relying most heavily on gig academics. Contrary to the thoughts of Ian Brinkley (chief economist at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), white collar professions are also starting to see a level of instability in their self-employed positions.

Could court cases decide the fate of the self-employed?

As this is a relatively new form of payment for employment, the rules are still being formulated, often through court battles. Uber, Deliveroo and Pimlico Plumbers have all faced legal challenges from their contractors. The results of the Court Cases could very well determine the rights of self-employed workers for years to come.

If the workload is balanced correctly and tax calculations are planned accordingly, self-employment can offer a real alternative to traditional contract employment. Those who are savvy with taxing will also recognise the host of deduction possibilities available to self-employed workers.

Those interested in learning how to benefit from the full tax deductions that come with being self-employed should get in contact with the UK College of Business and Computing today. The UKCBC offers Association of Accounting Technician (AAT) qualifications from in and around the London area.
It is a pity that in 2015, the then business secretary, Sajid Javid, did not legislate for tougher laws against the unions which would have ended Unite's influence over the Labour Party. It was added to a long list of abrupt u-turns Cameron's governments became notorious for. Yet if the Conservatives return to power with an increased majority, they should use it to their advantage to end the unions' influence over Labour once and for all.

Some argue it is not fair that the Conservatives receive generous donations from wealthy businessmen, but it is this same group of people who are renowned for contributing towards Labour's coffers, with Harry Potter author J.K.

Rowling being one of them. But the centre-left party is bankrolled by Unite and other unions. When people join a union, they do not want to be indoctrinated by Labour Party ideals or provided with the option to vote in the party's leadership elections if they are not centre-left themselves (which many union members are not). It is for this reason that a Conservative called Spencer Pitfield created the Tory Workers and Trade Unionists to ensure the Tories are fairly represented in unions.

Margaret Thatcher achieved significant progress by ending the unions' stranglehold over the economy, whilst Kinnock, Smith and Blair worked hard in the 1980s and 1990s to reduce their influence over Labour leadership elections.

A trade union should not be geared towards supporting one political party in modern day Britain. Let us hope the Conservatives are just as brave as their predecessors from the 1980s in ending the unfair advantage union barons have in British society once and for all after June 8th.
According to a report in Tuesday's New York Times, President Trump urged Comey to close down the investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. In notes from a meeting between the two men, Comey recalled Trump's words:

"He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

The #Comey memo may form the basis for proof that President Trump directly tried to influence and curtail the FBI Russian investigation. Politicians from all sides have reacted with disbelief, with the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Senator Jason Chaffetz, urging the FBI to present "memoranda, notes, summaries and recording", in a letter sent on Tuesday night.

A former federal judge joins me at 7:35-AM to discuss NYT report. Meanwhile, Rep. Chaffetz letter to acting FBI Dir McCabe pic.twitter.com/fhikP3g4ov  MikeDubberlyGDA (@MikeDubberlyGDA) May 17, 2017

It has been reported that #Comey wrote the memo following the meeting he held with Donald Trump the day after Michael Flynn resigned. This was Comey's attempt to document what he reportedly felt were "improper efforts by the President to influence an investigation." Interestingly, the contemporaneous notes of an FBI agent can be used in court as credible evidence of conversations.

While the New York Times has not seen the memo, one of Mr. Comey's associates read out a part of the memo to one of their reporters.

White House refutes Comey memo content

The White House was quick to rush out and deny that Donald Trump had tried to shut down the investigation and emphasised, the President had simply spoken of his regard for Michael Flynn. The statement further outlined Trump's respect for the law: "The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies and all investigations," and described the memo as "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr.

Comey."

Russian investigation continues despite Comey dismissal

While the FBI has until 24 May to hand over relevant documentation on these matters, the investigation into Flynn has been continuing. The FBI has not given any indication of how long it will take.

Even though the White House initially denied that Comey's dismissal was connected to this investigation, Donald Trump himself admitted in a TV interview that "the Russian thing" was one of the reasons, but stated that it was "a made-up story".

There is a growing sense of unease that simply won't go away until all these matters have been properly investigated. Democrats, as well as some Republicans, have been calling for Mr Comey to testify to Congress about his conversations with the President. The seriousness of these matters has been reiterated time and time again, with many seeing it as a serious threat to Donald Trump's presidency.
With the 8 June general election looming and his job on the line, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has landed himself in hot water as his behind-the-scenes antics have come to light and hes been falling out with Prime Minister Theresa May meaning his job is hanging in the balance.

Hammond dismisses the allegations against him as tittle-tattle

When asked about his alleged angry, curse-filled rants and arguments with Mays aides regarding tax policy, which made the front page of the Times when they came about last week, Hammond shrugged them off three times as being tittle-tattle by the media.

When you have to deny something three times whilst tugging on your collar like a nervous cartoon character, perhaps there is in fact some truth to what youre denying.

I dont recognise any of this stuff, said Hammond. Ah, dont recognise, the classic British government term used to play an accusation or a controversy without lying and saying definitively that it isnt true. Hammond went on to explain that he works extremely closely with Theresa (first name terms) and her aides. Good plan, Phil, just say what cant be denied as the truth.

The interviewer said that Hammonds claim, Im not going to say Ive never occasionally sworn, suggested that there was a bit of truth to the allegations, but then Hammond said yet again that these stories were tittle-tattle. One source claims that there was a lot of swearing and angry phone calls from Hammond to Mays aides.
Current British Prime Minister Theresa May and Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond are the tippy-top Tories of the UK Government, but that could all change very soon as the relationship between Mays team on Downing Street and Hammonds people in the Treasury is starting to show cracks and signs of a potential split as today, May has refused to confirm that she will keep Hammond on as Chancellor if she wins the general election on 8 June.

May and Hammond gave a joint press conference

Things seemed sour between May and Hammond at a joint press conference today.

The two have worked together pretty well during Mays time as Prime Minister, but it appears to be going downhill. Hammond isnt showing signs of this, but May sure is.

See, Hammond was quick to shrug up rumours of his relationship with May faltering as tittle-tattle from the media (hes been saying that word tittle-tattle a lot today), but then May refused to confirm whether or not Hammonds job was safe. Two separate times she had to confirm shed be keeping him on as Chancellor in the event that she wins the General Election, and both times she failed to do so, leading to speculation that she second she wins the election, hell be getting the sack. And this was all while she was standing right next to the guy.

Amid the rumblings and the possible controversy with Hammond falling out with May or her staff, reporters have gotten the Chancellor to admit to occasionally swearing at Mays aides. Well surely get more and more on that as it unfolds and he reveals more and more under pressure from the media.

Mays kinder words about Hammond sound like a nice firing

May said that she would be very happy to endorse Hammond, but didnt confirm that she would actually want to continue working with him. This sounds like a nice firing, like shed be happy to give his next employer a letter of recommendation.

May sounded worried about how the press might twist her words when speaking about her history with Hammond.

She said, Weve worked together over the years for many years, longer than we could care to identify. Thats an age-related comment, nothing else, just in case you try and relate anything into that. But while shes explaining how long shes been working with Hammond, shes not saying whether or not shes enjoyed it.

Hammond added that he and May work very well together as a team. It seemed that Hammond was more enthusiastic about working with May than she was about working with him, since hes now grovelling to keep his job in the case that the Conservatives win the election on 8 June. These rumours of a split between May and Hammond came about after the Conservatives very immediately pivoted their position on Hammonds proposal to raise National Insurance figures for the self-employed almost instantly after delivering his budget for the year.

It landed him in some hot water.

Hammond has swallowed his pride

Hammond, in a self-proclaimed candid manner, refused to deny the rumours that he cussed at Nick Timothy, one of Theresa Mays highest-ranking aides. Refusing to deny something, by the way, is the same thing as saying yes when youre a politician. He added, proudly, that his family will confirm that he tends to occasionally swear. He also clarified later that these comments were not in reference to any particular conversation.

So, weve managed to get Hammond to confess that one small piece of the puzzle is true. Expect the rest to follow  Theresa May and Philip Hammond are falling out, and theres a good chance he wont continue as Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Conservatives win on 8 June.
From the moment he descended into the basement of Manhattans Trump Tower to announce his intention to run for president, Donald Trump has defied political belief.

At any other time, his candidacy would have been dead in the water with his inaugural speech, which accused Mexico of sending drug-takers, criminals and rapists over the border and taking American jobs in return.

A great, great wall on our Southern border, which the Mexicans would be impelled to stump up for, would put paid to this problem, he told us. Political commentators slept soundly in their beds that night in the belief that none of this would ever be put to the test by the absurdity of Donald being in the top job come November 2016.

More followed to further entrench them in their expert views. A proposed Muslim ban, climate change denial, a row with a Gold Star family, besmirching a former Miss Universe on Twitter, pussy-gate, musings about how the Second Amendment people might tackle the Hillary problem. None of this suggested a man equipped for high office, they told us, and voters would react accordingly.

Any sign this was not the case was dismissed as right-wing bias.

Public dissatisfaction

But now we know that Trump had tapped into a public dissatisfaction like few others who have peddled a similar message before him. The political experts were so busy listening in on the Echo Chamber of their own opinion that they were blind to the affect Donalds jobs-creating message was having on crowds all over the country, from Florida to Michigan, Arizona to Pennsylvania.

The opinion polls, let it be said, were largely correct (either in correctly predicting the popular vote or factoring in that three million people would vote illegally, depending on who you believe), but Americas electoral college is a rival for the United Kingdoms first past the post system in failing to deliver the will of the people in percentage terms.

Further on, 100-plus days into the Trump presidency and it would appear that the experts who told us he was incapable of political leadership may have been on to something.

With his firing of FBI chief James Comey and follow-up admittance, in contradiction to the white house line, that it had something to do with this Russia thing, the spilling of top secret, Israeli-grown beans to Russian guests, and the possible existence of a memo written by Comey in which the president is alleged to have wondered aloud if he could see to it to let the investigation into Michael Flynn go, which is denied by the White House, Donald Trump is starting to look like one of the hapless project managers on The Apprentice gameshow.

In that his inability to perform the job he has been tasked with.

Wishful thinking

Its the latter, the hotly-contested memo that is the most serious allegation against him. Chaos and crisis have been a feature of Trumps four months in office so far but the almost daily call from Liberals and Democrat supporters to impeach him can be dismissed as wishful thinking. Or is it?

Even someone with no knowledge of American law can see that an attempt to impede or influence a federal investigation is worthy of further investigation in itself. If that investigation turfs up definitive proof, the trickle of Republicans who expressed concern about the Presidents behaviour on the steps of Congress last night will surely become a flood, or at least a fast-running flow powerful enough to force him from office.

Its not the first time Republicans have been urged to dump Trump, far from it, but on previous occasions during the protracted Presidential campaign they faced the prospect of handing the keys of the White House to Hillary if they did so. Now theyd get Mike Pence and a year and a half to push their agenda before having to answer to the electorate at the midterm elections in November 2018.

For a steadily increasing number that might not seem nearly as unpalatable as continuing on the chaotic course being set for them by their leader in the White House.

Of course, the experts may be wrong again. Trump's assertion that he could shoot a man on Fifth Avenue and it wouldn't affect his standing with the American public may hold for another day, although whether he'd avoid FBI charges for the offence on those grounds is debatable.

But having arrived in Washington promising to drain the swamp, Donald Trump increasingly looks like hes drowning in it.
On Monday, South Carolina coroner Gary Watts confirmed during a news conference that 16-year-old Davis Allen Cripe collapsed and passed away after consuming a massive amount of Caffeine. The South Carolina teenager collapsed at Spring Hill High School after drinking a latte from McDonald's, a large Mountain Dew, and an energy drink all within the time span of two hours.

His heart fell out of rhythm

After collapsing at school, Davis Allen Cripe was taken to Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital where he later died. His doctors revealed his heart fell out of rhythm thanks to the extreme amount of caffeine the South Carolina teenager consumed within a two-hour window.

Davis Allen Cripes official death was ruled as a caffeine-induced arrhythmia. As the name suggests, the caffeine caused the teenager to experience an irregular heartbeat.

During the news conference, the coroner noted Davis Allen Cripe died because of a totally legal substance. It was revealed that the 16-year-old from South Carolina was completely against both alcohol and drugs. Gary Watts noted that he has taken the time to tell his friends and family members how dangerous these caffeine beverages can be and how people shouldnt be consuming them.

Teen are consuming it now more than ever

A recent study confirmed teenagers in the ninth and 10th grade are consuming caffeine more now than they ever had before.

Statistically, 44.6 percent of teenagers consume a caffeinated beverage between one to six times a week and 11.4 percent consume one every day. It is less than 5 percent of teenagers that never touch caffeine.

Why is it that teenagers are so drawn to caffeine? Well, it is mostly because they have to feel more alert and need to study harder and for more hours.

Caffeine allows a person to stay away by blocking off the molecules in the body that tell your brain you are tired. Caffeine can also increase bowel movements, cause mood swings, and make it difficult to sleep properly.

Caffeine is a drug

The South Carolina coroner revealed that Cripe was a healthy 16-year-old who didnt have any medical history to suggest caffeine consumption would impact him so negatively.

However, it is important to keep in mind everyone metabolizes caffeine differently. More importantly, medical experts want parents to know children should not consume caffeine. Drinking caffeine as a child can cause problems for the growth and development of cardiovascular and neurological systems.

The most important thing medical experts and the coroner want parents  and teenagers  to take away from this terrible news story is the fact that caffeine is nothing more than an addictive drug. It is something that should only be consumed in small, controlled amounts. Ideally, caffeine isnt something a child should ever consume. The only exception being if a doctor recommends caffeine for medical reasons.

For example, it is not uncommon for a doctor to suggest drinking a cup of black coffee for children who have ADHD. This is a recommendation because  in some cases  it can work as a downer instead of an upper. It is important to make sure you have a doctor giving you this recommendation before you just try to use this piece of advice yourself.
Over the weekend, thousands of protesters took to the streets in various cities across the county while demanding the release of Donald Trump's tax returns. In response, Presidential Counsel Kellyanne Conway is desperately calling on Democrats to stop the protesters.

Conway on protesters

Ever since the early days of the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump has been feeling the pressure to release his tax returns. Due to the former host of "The Apprentice" being a well-known billionaire, many have questioned the potential conflict of interest between Trump being in the White House.

Despite the push back, Trump has refused to release his financial information, citing a current audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). While the IRS has come forward to confirm that an audit doesn't prevent an individual from releasing their returns, Trump is sticking with his excuse, which was doubled down on by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer during a recent press conference. After the aforementioned "Tax March" took place over the weekend, and with another altercation taking place between supporters and critics of the president at UC Berkeley, the White House is now speaking out. During a April 17 edition of "Fox & Friends" on Fox News, Kellyanne Conway is begging on Democratic leadership to call of the protesters.

(Conway's comments start at 3:30 in the above video.)

Joining Fox News on Monday morning during the White House Easter Egg Roll was Kellyanne Conway, as she elaborated on her thoughts on the recent protests. "Six months after Donald Trump won 306 electoral votes, you have people still trying to make it go away," Conway said of the "Tax March." Conway then called out DNC Chairman Tom Perez, Bernie Sanders and Hilary Clinton for not speaking out.

"I would love to hear them come forward as leaders of the Democratic Party and tell the people to stop," Conway noted, before adding, "They have a right to express their First Amendment beliefs but at the same time, violence is not going to get us anywhere."

.@AinsleyEarhardt & I from WH South Lawn this morn. Calling on Dem leaders to use "unity" tour to protests less, foster bipartisan support https://t.co/cgzrUXhZh5  Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) April 17, 2017

Double down

Hours after the interview, Kellyanne Conway took to Twitter to continue her call for Democrats to stop the protesting against Donald Trump.

"Ainsley Earhardt & I from WH South Lawn this morn. Calling on Dem leaders to use 'unity' tour to protests less, foster bipartisan support," she tweeted out. As of press time, the Democrats have not yet responded to the comments made by Conway, but have defended the protesters right to voice their first Amendment right.
In another unprecedented turn of events, the Pentagon had successfully signed a defense deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to allow US troops in the Middle Eastern country. This agreement is said to replace the previous defense deal made in 1994 after the first gulf war. The Pentagon revealed that the new deal was already signed by both parties last May 8.

What does the new US defense deal with the UAE entails?

According to the White House, the new defense deal will allow the presence of US troop in the country. It will also increase American influence in the Middle East, especially in the Persian gulf.

The United States is actively placing pressure on Iran as it grows weary of the radical policy changes that may happen now that Trump is in office.

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates or territories held and ruled over by an emir. Since the first gulf war, US presence in the area is crucial for establishing a command in the Persian gulf. The Pentagon is placing importance in increasing US dominance in the area, especially with the fight against ISIS and the nursing the precarious government of Iraq, which is vulnerable to terrorist takeovers.

How will the new deal in favor for the UAE and for U.S. interests in the Middle East?

After the meeting between Defense secretary James Mattis and Prince Mohammed, the deal focuses on defense cooperation of the two countries against terrorism, finding a resolution to the conflicts in Yemen and Syria and checking Iran's growing influence in the area.

It is important to remember that the UAE is predominantly Sunni Muslims, which is belligerent to Iran, a Shia nation. This divergence of basic Islamic principles has fueled the religious tension in the Middle East for more than a thousand years. The UAE is welcome to embrace U.S. assistance to just halt the Shia influence of Iran.

The United States can capital on this religious feud, as finding regional allies against threats like Iran is not that hard to accomplish.

President Trump will be visiting Saudi Arabia later this week in hopes to jump start a union of priorities between the three major religions in the area. Trump will meet with the crown prince of Saudi and bring a $100 billion arms deal with Riyadh.

After the Saudi visit, Trump will head to Israel and meet with its Prime minister and offer a prayer at the Western wall. Immediately after the visit in Israel, Trump will head for the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis, who is openly opposed to many of Trump's radical policy against immigration.
The Prime Minister of Canada isn't shy when it comes to his thoughts about climate change. Act now, he tells Canadians, while it is still a choice.

The causes of climate change -- CO2 rise is a reality

The cause of climate change, the potential effects of climate change, and combating climate change are debated often, but the rising CO2 levels are a reality. And so are the rising flood waters which accompany global warming. Scientists are aware of multiple potential causes of global warming and while the arguments continue, tempers are rising as fast as the flood waters!

Even worse than wrong assumptions, are those factions that try to ram their own opinions down the throats of skeptics with threats and violence.

CO2 levels continue to rise while politicians and business interests debate the expense of battling climate change. The focus is on the spike in CO2 levels and the increase in global temperatures accompanying it. Some advocates, of climate change, blame the Industrial Revolution. However, by looking into the past, much farther than the Industrial Revolution, we see patterns in the earth's temperature fluctuations indicating an eventual cataclysmic probability.

NASA reports that CO2 levels are on the rise at an unprecedented rate. From 1950 until now, this spike has been almost vertical.

This trend seems to have followed the fossil fuel industry's growth. It is convenient to draw the conclusion that the spike in global CO2 is caused by fossil fuel combustion. This is substantiated by many studies. It is pretty obvious that the beginning of the dramatic rise in CO2 levels coincides with the Industrial Revolution.

However, it is an assumption that the current phenomena, which we see in the atmosphere, it is created by ourselves.

Our planet's future deserves more than an assumption

There is enough scientific data available to substantiate other possible causes of the global warming effect. Climate research has demonstrated a wide array of fluctuations in the earth's temperature, throughout its history.

Of course, there was the demise of the dinosaurs, which was likely the result of a large comet strike, and the ensuing saturation of the atmosphere with megatons of debris, which took thousands of years to settle. This happened about 65 million years ago. But there have been many changes in our atmosphere, both before and after, the mass extinction of the dinosaurs. There have been hundreds of spikes, both up and down, during the history of the earth. And, if climate change proves to be other than the result of emissions from our own making, we should start acting on that information now.

Are we prepared? Scientists are warning that a temperature rise of only 2 will result in the water levels rising and engulfing coastal towns and cities.

And, if we look back at the past 1 million years, there have been temperature spikes of 10 to 12 degrees. Are we prepared for the current spike to continue? Often, this increase lasts for 1000 years or more before returning to the current levels. The evolutionary theorist, Charles Darwin, based his theories around the ability of creatures to adapt to the changing environment. We are able, but are we prepared to adapt to our new changing environment?

Canada's proactive Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is telling his citizens to prepare now for bigger floods and worse storms, with higher frequency! Al Gore agrees that now is the time to act. A group connected with him is raising funds to fight climate change outside the political arena.

This world could be a very different place for our grandchildren to live in if we fail to protect them.

The implications of climate change and the potential effects are the most important issues facing mankind, today. The popular environmentalist, Wendell Berry, wrote in his book, "The Unforeseen Wilderness" in 1971, "The world is not given by our fathers, but borrowed from our children." What are we leaving behind us?
Last week, Donald Trump made yet another controversial move in regards to foreign policy. After the president decided to drop the largest non-nuclear bomb in history on ISIS in Afghanistan, the reaction from Fox News was overwhelmingly positive.

Oliver on Fox News

After two and a half months in the White House that has been dominated by the ongoing Russian scandal, controversial executive orders, and in-fighting in his own administration and Republican Party, Donald Trump turned his attention to issues of foreign policy to start the month of April.

It first started with his reaction to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launching a chemical attack on his own people that resulted in close to 100 deaths, including innocent women and children. Within 48 hours, the former host of "The Apprentice" ordered the United States military to send 59 tomahawk cruise missiles to strike an airbase in Syrian. Just a week later, the military dropped the aforementioned bomb on ISIS, which is known as the "MOAB," or "Mother of all bombs." In response, many of the hosts on Fox News were thrilled, including Geraldo Rivera who cheered the bombing during a recent edition of "Fox & Friends." These issues were discussed during the April 17 edition of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" on HBO.

(Oliver's comments on Fox News start at 8:50 in the above video.)

On the Easter episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," host John Oliver made sure to highlight the reaction of Fox News to Donald Trump ordering the bomb in Afghanistan. Oliver showed a clip from "Fox & Friends," who played a video of the bombing while setting it to the tune of country music star Toby Keith.

One host praised the attack, stating, "this is what freedom looks like," before Geraldo Rivera chimed in with his own thoughts.

Today we learned that Geraldo Rivera's favorite thing about working for Fox is watching bombs kill people https://t.co/BvdhtFvDgC  Andy Campbell (@AndyBCampbell) April 14, 2017

"Well, one of my favorite things in the 16 years I've been here at Fox News is watching bombs drop on bad guys," Geraldo Rivera said.

John Oliver reacted, stating, "That's a coincidence because one of my favorite things in four season on this show is looking directly into the camera and say, 'F**k you, Geraldo, I hope your mustache gets caught in a box fan!" The show then returned to the previous Rivera response, where the Fox News host went on to compare Donald Trump to a bully named "Richie" he once had to deal with back in high school, praising the president for being unpredictable and explaining that he was happy terrorists saw the commander in chief as a bully.

F*ck you, Geraldo: John Oliver torches Fox and Friends crew for their MOAB war-gasm https://t.co/r8Ei9adx4O pic.twitter.com/NZ4ty0vPwM  Raw Story (@RawStory) April 17, 2017

Bully praise

"Holy sh*t," John Oliver said, before noting, "this is why bullying never works." "If you have a bully in school, there is a good chance he is turning some kid into the next Geraldo Rivera." "If you have a bully in the White House, he does violence and things that seem to be inching us closer to, among other things, potential war with North Korea."
The United States has released images of a prison in Syria where there is a crematory which is believed to have been installed to dispose of the bodies of prisoners executed in the civil war that has been raging in the country. Nikki R. Haley, the American ambassador to the United Nations, has described it as a cover up of mass murders committed by the forces of Bashar al-Assad in prison.

The ongoing conflict in Syria

New York Times reports that the conflict in Syria is into its seventh year and human rights groups have accused the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and their allies of killing thousands of prisoners and disposing of their bodies in mass graves or via cremation.

The Trump administration has now brought forth evidence in support of that. It has accused the Syrian government of systematically incinerating the corpses of executed inmates at the Sednaya prison complex north of Damascus to wipe out tell-tale proof that could be used to prosecute war crimes.

The intention of the United States to highlight the information to the international community was to pressurize the regime because the United Nations will be holding a fresh round of Syria peace talks in Geneva and the accusations are meant to put pressure on Russia, the main foreign ally of Syria, to maintain a distance from Assad.

As Nikki R. Haley remarked, The rest of the world recognizes the horrors of the Syrian regime, it is time for Russia to join us."

Will Russia fall in line?

The reactions of Russia and Syria are not new.

President Bashar al-Assad continues to deny any misdeeds, and he treats the unrest as a struggle against terrorism that was created by his Western and Arab enemies. As to the evidence of satellite photographs of the crematory inside a prison that were revealed by the United States, some of the human rights groups believe that they were not concrete proof because some of them have been there for a pretty long time and cannot be considered conclusive evidence.

Stuart E. Jones, the acting assistant secretary of state, has admitted that the United States had not yet given the satellite images to the Russians. However, the failure of Russia to condemn atrocities committed by Syria is always on the agenda for discussion. The civil unrest in Syria has displaced thousands of families who have migrated to neighboring countries as refugees.

Thousands more have been killed in the violence and while trying to escape to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea route. The survivors in Syria are compelled to lead miserable lives with little or no food, medicine or basic facilities.
Zhang Juncheng shows the letter of admission issued to him by Peking University. [Photo/Beijing News]

As head of a secondary vocational school, Zhang Juncheng does not avoid to tell his students that he used to be a security guard when he was a young man.

The 41-year-old from Changzhi, North China's Shanxi province, believes a person's position in society is not decided by others, but their own efforts.

Back in 1995, Zhang, who had just graduated from a junior middle school in Changzhi, tried different jobs before being hired as a security guard at Peking University.

Standing at the gate of the prestigious university, Zhang was content at first.

"I was ignorant then," recalled the man.

He only changed his mind after he read a story from an ancient book. The story is about the cart driver for Yan Ying, a famous politician from the State of Qi in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). The car driver was arrogant because he worked for such a big name like Yan.

One day when the driver returned home, his wife told him she wanted a divorce. The woman said her husband was so arrogant whereas Yan Ying, a high-ranking official, was modest. The driver then realized his shortcoming and became a modest person.

Another thing also left a deep impression on Zhang's mind. One day on duty, he saw an elderly man riding a bicycle towards the gate. When the man went by him, he nodded and said to Zhang "Thanks for your hard work."

Zhang did not expect such a respect from the man and was amazed to later find out that the man was the president of the school.

At Peking University, Zhang embarked on his road of learning thanks to the help from several teachers.

Zhang's permit for English class at Peking University. [Photo/Beijing News]

Zhang Yushu, a foreign language professor, liked talking about philosophy with the young security guard and recommended lots of good books.

Another professor called Zhang Xuecheng encouraged him to read more and "make a plan for his life".

Under the guidance of teachers like them, Zhang started reading diligently. He liked reading literary, philosophy and history books. When he got off work, he read books, transcribed books, and wrote a diary. When the dormitory's lights went out, he continued to read by torchlight under his quilt.

The head of the security guard team later extended the time of lighting in the meeting room so that Zhang and several other co-workers could read at night.

Another incident at the university struck Zhang.

One day, Zhang blocked seven foreign students from entering campus because they didn't have the right ID cards. Not knowing each other's language, both parties refused to give in. Later, the foreign students left, gesturing to Zhang thumbs-down to show their anger.

Upset at the way things had gone, Zhang reflected on the incident, determining that it was because he did not understand English that the incident had got ugly. So, he started teaching himself the language.

He used his spare time on duty to read and his efforts were spotted by Cao Yan, an English professor at the school. The teacher gave him permits for English class and encouraged him to sit for the national college entrance exam for adults.

Zhang has the habit of keeping a diary. [Photo/Beijing News]

Moved by the good intentions of the teacher, Zhang started attending English class. He shuttled between the classroom and the sentry box every day. He left his post 10 minutes earlier than scheduled to change the uniform as he "felt a bit inferior wearing the security guard uniform in the classroom."

In the autumn of 1995, Zhang attended the national college entrance examination for adults and was enrolled in the law department of Peking University.

As a security guard-turned college student, Zhang shot to fame in the school and was invited to lecture other students.

Zhang said over the past two decades, he has kept doing two things: keeping a diary and getting up early in the morning.

He said he keeps a diary and reading notes, habits he developed as a university student. Even after rising to school headmaster, Zhang gets up at about 6 am everyday to go to the school's playground.

Zhang's story has inspired more people to change their lives. According to media reports, more than 500 security guards at Peking University alone had passed the test of the national college entrance examination for adults, with some even obtaining master's degrees.

After graduating from the university in 1998, Zhang returned to his hometown and worked at several vocational schools, before he establishing a secondary vocational school in 2015 along with four friends.

Zhang goes to the playground at 6 am every day to supervise the exercise of students. [Photo/Beijing News]

Zhang introduced a military-style management in the school because many of the students used to be poor in academic study and indulged in bad habits such as smoking, drinking and fighting. The system is designed to correct their bad behaviors.

Speaking about his reasons for working in vocational education, Zhang said: "At 15 or 16, kids who graduate from junior middle school are too young to enter society and should continue their study. With their mental conditions not yet shaped, they are prone to bad habits."

He intends to build his vocational school into an exemplary one in the city in the short term, and also aims to build the first privately-run university in Changzhi within a decade.
Mother's Day, the widely celebrated American holiday, in recent years has become so popular in China that it's almost a household term. An increasing number of Chinese families now observe the Western holiday, and, of course, in a Chinese way.

The theme of a Mother's Day celebration among the Chinese doesn't differ much from that in the West: we honor the beauty, sacrifice, courage and unconditional love of motherhood. Children express gratitude to mothers for their companionship, protection and guidance, especially when they are vulnerable and weak.

On a Mother's Day gathering of more than 100 guests in San Francisco on May 13, Qiao Li, wife of China's Consul General in San Francisco Luo Linquan, greeted her guests from all walks of life by calling them "outstanding representatives of mothers and women in America."

Chinese-American women have been playing key roles in immigrant families in supporting their spouses and children, all the while assimilating to a foreign environment themselves, said Qiao. "No matter how many hardships you have encountered, you conquer them with grace, perseverance and resilience, as the wife, and as the mother," she said.

There are several reasons why this holiday has caught on in China.

On the one hand, the essence of Mother's Day coincides with traditional values of Chinese culture, especially the deep-rooted virtue of filial piety.

About 2,500 years ago, Confucius, China's most well-known philosopher and educator, proposed that filial piety was the one virtue to be held above all others. He emphasized the responsibility of offspring to care for, respect and obey their parents.

Confucius said there were three degrees of filial piety: "The highest is being an honor to our parents, the second is not disgracing them and the most basic is being able to simply support them."

Observance of a holiday like Mother's Day is in sync with China's national effort to tackle the problems associated with an aging population.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs in China, at the end of 2015, more than 222 million people in China - about 16 percent of the population - were age 60 or older, this as the average life expectancy has risen to 76 years.

The China National Working Commission on Aging predicts that by 2033, the country will be home to 400 million people age 60 or older, and the number will grow at a rate of 10 million a year. In other words, senior citizens are likely to account for more than one-third of the population by 2050.

In 2013, China passed a law to protect the rights and interests of parents aged 60 and above, and to promote the virtue of filial piety.

For those who don't live with their parents, they should visit, and check on the well-being of their elderly on a regular basis - if not, they risk facing fines or detention.

Indoctrination in filial piety among Chinese children starts at an early age. China's National Association for Ethical Studies announced in 2016 that they would train a million children between the ages of 4 and 6 in the basics of filial piety.

"The programs were originally well-intentioned, but I doubt how much influence they will have on children," said He Konghua, chairwomen of Greater China Women's Association in San Francisco.

"I'm still often saddened to see how fiercely mothers confront their children as so-called tiger moms' and how spoiled children take for granted everything their mothers have done for them."

Contact the writer at junechang@chinadailyusa.com.
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, West Bank next week during his trip to the Middle East, a senior US official said on Tuesday.

The meeting will come after Trump's meeting with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem and will convey his administration's eagerness to facilitate an agreement that ends the conflict, said Trump's national security adviser H.R. McMaster here at a White House briefing.

The White House said early last week that Trump will express his support for Palestinian self-determination.

However, it remains unknown whether Trump will publicly express his support for a two-state solution, a longstanding US stance on the issue.

Before Trump's trip to Israel and the West Bank, he will visit Saudi Arabia, where he and Saudi leaders will sign several agreements "that will solidify US-Saudi security and economic cooperation," said McMaster.

Also in Saudi, Trump will address leaders from over 50 Muslim countries in a speech "on the need to confront radical ideology and his hope for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world," McMaster added.
BERLIN - A refugee was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a German court on Tuesday for sexually assaulting two female Chinese students last year, local media reported.

The defendant was arrested by police last December after having been identified by one victim's friend and recorded by camera, the DPA news agency reported.

The 32-year-old defendant came to Germany as an asylum seeker at the end of 2015 with his wife and children.

He confessed his sexual assaults on two Chinese students in the western city of Bochum last August and November, the report said.

Following his arrest last December, Chinese Consulate General in Dusseldorf had issued a statement and urged lawful and just investigation and trial from German authorities.
iStock/Thinkstock(CAMBRIDGE, Mass.)  Millennials are more interested in dating or hanging out with friends than having casual sex, according to a new Harvard University report that looks into the "hook-up culture" of young adults.



In the report, entitled "The Talk," researchers from Harvard's Graduate School of Education spoke to over 2,000 18-to-25-year-old's from across the U.S. about their romantic and sexual experiences.



The report stated that many young adults and teenagers "tend to greatly overestimate the size of the "hook-up culture" and these misconceptions can be detrimental to young people."



The researchers also found that a "large number of teens and young adults are unprepared for caring, lasting romantic relationships and are anxious about developing them."



Richard Weissbourd, the lead author of the report and a psychologist at Harvard Graduate School of Education, told ABC News that the report "is about two pervasive problems."



"One is, we are failing ... miserably to prepare young people for romantic love, probably the most important thing they will do in life," Weissbourd said. "The second is that there are very high rates of misogyny and sexual harassment."



Weissbourd added that they found that among 18-to-25-year-old's, "people wildly overestimate the percent of people who are casually dating, or ... having casual sex."



Weissbourd said that these misunderstandings can be detrimental because "these overestimations of the size of the hook-up culture can cause young people to have sex or to hook up when they're not really interested, and they're not really ready."



Researchers also examined instances of sexual harassment faced by millennials, including everything from being cat-called to being touched without permission by a stranger. The report suggested that the more women succeed in school and life, it seems the harder it is for men to respect them.



Weissbourd told ABC News that a lot of adults can be "passive" about instances of sexual harassment.



"They don't say anything, even when sexual harassment is right in their midst," Weissbourd said. "And many tell us ... they don't say anything because they don't know what to say. And they fear that they won't be effective, or they fear they will be written off."



ABC News spoke to a group of millennials, and chose to use only their first names for privacy, about the report and their own experiences.



Yemisi, 20, told ABC News how conflicted she felt when witnessing certain instances of sexual harassment.



"There's this borderline between harassment and throwing someone a compliment...when people harass you, it's like, oh that's a compliment," Yemi said. "If we just let them say it, and even though we're walking by, and we might just keep our head high and keep going on, but, like, by not saying anything is making it okay."



Weissbourd added that some of the positive findings that came out of the report are that a lot of young people want guidance about how to have a healthy relationship.



"One thing young people want guidance about are, what are the markers of a healthy relationship? What do they look like? When do I know when I'm in a toxic relationship, or a relationship that's going to be harmful in some way?" Weissbour said. "They really want guidance on these kinda topics from parents and educators."



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks after giving testimony to federal judge Sergio Moro in Curitiba, Brazil, May 10, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

BRASILIA - The defense team of former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Tuesday they would lodge a new complaint with the UN's Committee on Human Rights, saying that Lula has been suffering politically motivated judicial persecution.

Since July 2016, lawyers Cristiano Zanin Martins and Roberto Teixeira have accused Sergio Moro, the judge overseeing Operation Car Wash anti-corruption investigation, of not being impartial toward Lula and of putting his rights in danger.

In October, the UN agreed to evaluate the case but has provided no opinion regarding Lula so far. Such investigations are confidential and can take up to two years.

Since then, Lula's lawyers have regularly provided new documents to the Committee on Human Rights to back up their claim.

The UN could decide not to accept the case, or could send recommendations to the Brazilian government on the operation of its judicial system.

This week, Lula's chief lawyer, British human rights expert Geoffrey Robertson, will hold a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, to explain the situation to the international press.

Last week, Lula was interrogated by Moro and said the charges against him were "a farce."

Lula is accused of being guilty of passive corruption and money laundering for having received assets from the construction company OAS worth a total of 3.7 million reais (1.15 million US dollars), in exchange for favoring the company with public contracts.

In total, the former president is facing five separate legal cases, which could stop him from running in the 2018 presidential elections.
China signed 13 cooperation documents with Cambodia on Tuesday in areas such as infrastructure, finance, maritime research and tourism as the two countries moved forward to build the Belt and Road.

Witnessed by Premier Li Keqiang and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the plans, agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed in Beijing. Hun Sen is on a five-day official visit to China, during which he attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

During the talks, Li highlighted the China-Cambodia friendship cultivated over time by leaders of both nations. President Xi Jinping's state visit to Cambodia last year helped develop the two countries' friendship under the new global politics and economic status, Li said.

Noting that China is dedicated to upgrading the level of cooperation with Cambodia, Li expressed a willingness to connect development strategies and improve the quality and quantity of trade between the two countries.

China would like to cooperate with Cambodia on key projects related to production capacity, investment and agriculture, which would help Cambodia develop its economy and improve the people's livelihoods, Li said.

The premier also proposed enhancing defense and law-enforcement cooperation and strengthening exchanges in areas including education, tourism, protection of historical relics, medicine and health.

China supports Cambodia playing a positive role through regional and subregional platforms to establish a stable, peaceful and prosperous communities of shared destiny, Li said.

Next year marks the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN strategic partnership, and Cambodia will host the second meeting of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation initiative.

Calling Hun Sen "an old friend of the Chinese people", Li said Hun Sen's official visit is expected to inject new impetus to China-Cambodia relations.

Cambodia cherishes the traditional friendship with China, Hun Sen said, adding that Cambodia would like to implement all the agreements reached by the leaders of the both sides.

The two countries should keep high-level exchanges and enhance cooperation in areas including trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, water projects, science and technology, tourism, law enforcement and security, Hun Sen said.

The Cambodian prime minister offered congratulations on the success of the Belt and Road Forum.

Cambodia is willing to push forward the development of China-ASEAN relations and enhance the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation initiative, Hun Sen said.

Liu Zhenmin, vice-foreign minister, said the Cambodian prime minister's visit is "fruitful and of great significance" as the two side reached wide consensus on jointly building the Belt and Road, infrastructure, maritime cooperation, tourism and trade.

Mentioning that the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone in Cambodia, constructed by China, is developing well, Liu said that Chinese companies will expand investment in Cambodia.

Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
The organization behind the ACT college entrance examination has teamed up with a large Chinese commercial testing service provider to offer a preparation program for Chinese students who will take the test that many American colleges and universities require in the admission process.

Ed Colby, a spokesman for ACT in Iowa, said the "student journey" package from ACT and ATA Online (Beijing) Education Technology Co Ltd is an individualized program designed to help students understand their academic strengths and weaknesses and how they can make improvements.

Students will begin by answering individual practice questions in each of the four subjects in an ACT exam - math, science, reading, and English. The students determine their areas of focus from this first step.

The goal is to help Chinese students identify gaps in their ACT-tested knowledge via diagnostic online assessments.

"ATA will also offer a full mock ACT experience where the student literally practices taking the exam in an assessment center under the same conditions as the ACT - proctored, timed, (lasting) 3-4 hours in duration," Colby wrote in an email Tuesday.

Cheating on exams like the ACT or its rival SAT has been reported in Asia and in other countries. Students feel pressure to do well on the tests that are important components of their applications to US colleges and universities.

In 2016, SAT exams were canceled at 45 testing sites across the Chinese mainland and Macao because test-takers received test materials for the exams. In 2015, prosecutors in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia charged 15 Chinese citizens over a conspiracy to have impostors take SAT and other college entrance exams for other students for payment of up to $6,000. Most of the defendants pleaded guilty and were deported from the US.

Last year, ACT was forced to cancel its exam in South Korea and Hong Kong due to widespread security breaches.

Colby said ACT does not release information about test security incidents.

"ACT takes test security very seriously. We use layers of security measures and procedures to deter and detect cheating attempts. Our test security measures are constantly evolving in response to emerging threats," he said.

paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 05/17/2017 page2)
When Chinese investors came to Houston's second annual US China Innovation and Investment Summit (USCIS), they found more than 100 innovative technologies eager to find money and a market in China.

A home system to grow organic vegetables in your kitchen, a machine to extract water from air and medicine that reduces the need for insulin doses from four to one a day are just a few of the highlights of the summit InnoStars competition.

Hosted by the Houston US China Innovation Alliance (USCIA) and China Science and Technology Exchange Center with additional support from organizers and organizations, the three-day event began on Monday with close to 70 US companies pitching their innovative technologies to Chinese investors.

Roughly 50 technologies were selected to embark on a sponsored China tour, allowing the ideas to be directly pitched to multiple Chinese companies, later this year.

Benjamin Blumenthal, CEO of SunToWater Technologies, said that his company's products extract water from air at 8 cents a gallon. They are not only looking to enter the China market, they also want China to be their gateway to Asia.

China also offers the opportunity to evolve his technology. "We can add another unit to purify the air before pushing the air out," he said. "Cities like Beijing and Shanghai could definitely benefit from such technology."

Mike Moradi, CEO of Sensulin, which develops advanced medicine to combat diabetes, said that with his family members suffering from the disease, he is on a personal mission.

Moradi said that there are more diabetics in China than in any other country, so there is a big market for his products.

"I want people in China to have access to modern medicine. With this technology we can do things faster, better and cheaper. And I love Chinese culture and people. I have a weakness for Sichuan hotpot," said Moradi.

Andrew Dewey, CEO of Organiponic, said that China has only about 7 percent of the arable land in the world yet needs to feed 20 percent of the world's population. That's a big challenge he thinks his company's home agriculture system can help solve.

Chinese companies are looking for more than just technology, Liu Yi, president of Guangcai Group, told the US business people. His investment company has 10 billion RMB in medical funding alone.

"I am here to look for opportunities in the medical, environmental and AI manufacturing fields, but Chinese companies need more than technologies to succeed," said Liu.

Liu said that due to the inertia of the conventional way of running businesses, many Chinese companies lack sustainability.

"Little has been invested in developing new technology and products, and most of their marketing models are traditional. You need to bring new management models and new business ideas also to help Chinese companies succeed in the long run," Liu said.

mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com
The mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina returned from a trip to China impressed by two cities' environmental approach along with some prospects for clean energy business for her state.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts, the third Charlotte mayor to visit China this decade, led a delegation of 12 on a 10-day trip to five Chinese cities in March.

They visited Baoding, Charlotte's sister city since 1987, and Shenzhen and Nanning, which are partner cities with Charlotte, as well as Beijing and Hong Kong.

"Nanning has consciously planted beautiful trees, bushes and flowers along the major highways. It's better for the air quality, for people's attitude about being in a big city," Roberts said.

In Shenzhen, Roberts was impressed to learn that within a year, all 16,000 city buses will be electric.

"We were very impressed with their commitment to clean energy, their commitment to reducing carbon and pollution," Roberts said.

In Baoding, Roberts helped celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Charlotte-Baoding sister city relationship.

"The mayor in Baoding was very excited having us there," Roberts said.

Another result of the trip is that Chinese companies interested in visiting Charlotte.

"There was a lot of interest in renewable energy, technology and fintech (financial technology)," Roberts said.

"We're very pleased that Charlotte now is in the focus of Chinese business people and researchers and those who are looking at overseas investment and opportunities for growth," she said.

Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina, the second-largest city in the southeastern US, and the second-largest finance center in the US.

"Charlotte, and (US) cities in general, is going to be very dynamic in promoting trade and business connections with China. That's because the growth in our economy is happening in our cities. And Charlotte, as the second fastest-growing city, is at the center of that growth," Roberts said.

Roberts said that when the Trump administration sees how cities are connected to China, how they have trade, business, research and cultural connections, "that will help inform US trade policy in general. It'll take our business leaders advocating to keep those trading doors open and to keep those exchanges going.

"The foundation of business is trust," she said. "The more Charlotteans go and visit China, see the innovation and see the flexibility, the more we'll establish trust as well."

Roberts expects more Chinese companies to come to Charlotte. She also said that there will be some announcements along those lines in the next six months.

Eight years ago, there were only four Chinese-owned firms in Charlotte.

"Now we have 43. That number will probably double in eight more years," Roberts said.

Roberts also said she would put Xiongan on the itinerary for her next trip to China.

On April 1, the Chinese government announced it would establish the Xiongan New Area in Hebei province, as part of a plan to advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

The New Area, about 100 km southwest of downtown Beijing, will span three counties at the center of the triangular area formed by Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei's provincial capital Shijiazhuang. The move will help phase out functions from Beijing that are not related to the capital.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

leshuodong@chinadailyusa.com
In early 2015 it was announced that we would serve as the next co-chairs of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. Today we announce that we are stepping down. Our term will end in July.

When we began, we saw four key goals. First, to help steward ALEPH through the complex aftermath of the death of Reb Zalman zl, whose third yahrzeit soon approaches. Second, to offer hundreds of people around the world ways to express hopes, dreams and longings  and bring their hearts and ideas back to ALEPH for integration. Third, to support in tangible ways the continuing flow of Jewish Renewal for today and tomorrow. Fourth, to model a stewardship that saw our roles as temporary and sought our successors quickly.

We did much that we came to do. Along with Board colleagues and staff, we spent 15 months on the ALEPH / Jewish Renewal Listening Tour, taking stock of who and where ALEPH and Renewal are -- how the renewal of Judaism has spread and matured, what is cherished, what should change and what must never change. It was a tremendous blessing to journey into those deep places together. We took hundreds of pages of notes, and brought what we learned back to ALEPH, the Ordination Program and OHALAH (the association of Jewish Renewal clergy). Some of those ideas are starting to take root now.

Behind the scenes, ALEPH evolved a new governance system aspiring to be more inclusive. We established an Advisory Council to harness the wisdom of elders, teachers and visionaries across the Jewish landscape to support Judaisms ongoing renewal. ALEPH laid the foundation for a Communities Council so that ALEPH Network members -- communities, organizations, and individuals -- could help set a new bottom-up agenda for how to support ALEPH communities in the future. ALEPH began strategic planning with Reverend Bill Kondrath, a consultant specializing in midwifing faith-based organizations through major transitions, including and especially the death of a charismatic founder.

In the public realm, the magic of the 2016 Kallah happened at Colorado State University: 37% of attendees were first-timers, and brought the joy and juice of Jewish Renewal home with them. ALEPH began planning the 2018 Kallah. (Stay tuned for more information soon.) New spiritual communities joined ALEPH  both new ones (started from scratch), and existing ones rooted in Reform and Conservative denominational contexts. New programs and projects sought ALEPH affiliation. ALEPH was featured in a variety of publications and podcasts. ALEPH began developing new initiatives, including Clergy Camp and Tikshoret (an education platform to bring tastes of Jewish Renewal to a broad online audience), while also better supporting beloved ALEPH stalwart programs and initiatives. Finances improved, and funds were invested wisely and securely.

Perhaps most importantly, as co-chairs, we said from the start that we wanted to model stewardship that flows in ways we learned from our teachers. We created a Nominations Circle, on which we did not serve, and asked that it immediately seek successors for the Board and its leadership. We felt that, especially in this era after Reb Zalmans life on this plane, it would be important for many reasons to fulfill this intention to serve with all our hearts while making way for the next turning. The time for that next turning has now come.

For the confidence, volunteerism, and support ALEPH received during our time of service, we are grateful beyond measure: these are tremendous gifts, and we thank you for them. We are especially grateful to ALEPHs executive director Shoshanna Schechter-Shaffin, ALEPHs deputy directors Tamy Jacobs and Steve Weinberg, their predecessor David Brown, Lynda Simons, and Ming Shem-Lu, who have nourished ALEPH and have done the very hard work of bringing ideas and relationships to life. They are ALEPHs unsung heroes, and they deserve wild applause for their dedication and hard work. We are grateful to our teachers, and their teachers, and their students, and the students of their students  both within and beyond ALEPH  for so very much that has come through them over the years.

The work of renewing Judaism, by its nature, is never complete (Pirkei Avot has something to say about that). The next phase of this ongoing journey now is for our successors, to keep that flame burning bright in ways that perhaps today can scarcely be imagined. We wish them every success and blessing as they dream and lead forward.

With blessings on this Omer day of chesed sheba yesod (lovingkindness in foundation),

Rachel and David

(Cross-posted to David's website and to Kol ALEPH.)
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HCM CITY  Can Tho plans to open more domestic and international flights to the city by giving subsidies to airlines, with a maximum subsidy of VN8.5 billion (US$375,000) a year, said a city official.

Vo Thanh Thong, chairman of Can Tho Peoples Committee, said the city had worked with the Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam (CAAV) to open new routes to Hai Phong, Cam Ranh and Bangkok by the end of this year.

Can Tho is drafting policies to provide support to airlines that open flights to the delta city, including initial support for office rentals, promotions, ground service fees and financial aid for vacant seats.

Airlines opening new routes to and from Can Tho will enjoy incentives such as 12 months of office rental at a maximum subsidy of VN15 million ($660) per month per company.

Ground service fees will be halved in the first year for domestic flights, while international flights will receive an additional 30 per cent discount in the following year.

The city will also subsidise the first years losses for the airlines, at a maximum of VN5 billion for domestic flights per year, and a maximum of VN8.5 billion for international flights per year.

To promote tourism development, the city has asked competent agencies to encourage travel firms to offer preferential prices for tourists traveling by air to the city.

Can Tho International Airport has domestic flights to Ha Noi, Phu Quoc, Con ao and a Nang.

Meanwhile, routes connecting the city with a Lat and Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) have been suspended due to losses.

For international routes, flights from the city to Taipei are only operated during Lunar New Year holiday, while chartered flights to Bangkok have been suspended.

The city plans to open three new domestic flights to Vinh, a Lat and Cam Ranh and five new international flights to Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo by 2020, according to Thong.

Airlines reaction

In response, airlines do not appear to be interested in the move, saying flights to Can Tho are not attractive due to low demand. Opening new flights, they said, would not recover capital unless the rate of occupancy of seats reached 70 per cent.

A representative of the budget airline Vietjet said flights to Can Tho were not an attractive route compared to other domestic routes.

Meanwhile, a representative of Jetstar Pacific, said that if there was demand, it would run a new flight without needing a subsidy.

The airline opened a flight from Ha Noi to Can Tho in 2009, but it was suspended due to low demand.

Economist Bui Quang Tin said it was not rational to use the State budget to subsidise new flights to Can Tho.

Many airlines want to open flights in Viet Nam. Why do we have to use the State budget to subsidise flights while the budget is now limited, Tin said.

Vo Huy Cuong, deputy head of the CAAV, said the city must study the demand and potential of the new flights to Can Tho before making a decision.

If there is a potential, the new flights to Can Tho would help ease the burden for Tan Son Nhat international airport, which is now seriously overloaded, he said.

Last year, the number of visitors to Can Tho grew 14 per cent year-on-year to reach 5.3 million, including more than 590,000 foreign visitors.

Total tourism revenue reached VN1,826 billion ($80 million), a rise of 5 per cent over the previous year.  VNS
HCM CITY The Asia-Pacific Screen Printing and Graphic Imaging Associations exhibition held in HCM City from May 18 to 20 comes to Viet Nam for the first time.

Screen printing, speciality printing, digital inkjet, textile printing equipment and related products will be showcased at the three-day Viet Nam International Screen Printing & Digital Printing Technology Exhibition.

To be held at the Saigon Exhibition Conference Centre, it has attracted more than 200 exhibitors from Japan, Vietnam, China, India, Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

Digital textile printing is seeing tremendous growth in applications like window displays, upholstery, and apparel, Johnny Shell, deputy president of the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association, said.

Industrial applications are a new frontier for screen and digital printing technologies, he told a press meeting on May 15.

Direct to garment inkjet, dye sublimation, and heat transfer technologies have all seen tremendous growth in recent times.

Digital package printing technology for a wide range of applications is beginning to come to the market, and this would also be a new opportunity for the corrugate and folding carton markets, he said.

New systems are also being developed for flexible packaging, he added.

ASGA, founded in 1994, represents 11 country members: Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Philippines, Viet Nam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Australia.

Since 2001 ASGA has organised industrial exhibitions to popularise new technologies in screen printing, speciality printing and digital printing in the Asia-Pacific and to learn and exchange information with related industries and foster trade co-operation globally. VNS
HCM CITY  Viet Nams leading online shopping website Zalora and Robins - Fashion and Beauty chain stores, both belonging to Central Group Vietnam, have announced they will merge to give customers the best shopping experience.

Zalora is the largest fashion shopping website in Viet Nam, offering collections from more than 700 well-known fashion brands in Viet Nam and around the world.

According to a release from Zalora, after five years in Viet Nam it has been recognised as a leader with a professional stylist team, excellent customer service and attractive promotion programmes from a variety of brands and offering a reliable and fast e-commerce experience.

Robins Fashion and Beauty chain stores, with nearly 200 brands in seven different categories, is a popular shopping destination for many families in Ha Noi and HCM City.

Understanding that consumers are always eager to find more convenient and selective online and offline shopping experiences, starting in May this year the two brands have teamed up to maximise their strengths.

From May 17 Zalora will carry the Robins name.

Zalora has reasserted its core activities will remain that of a leading online shopping platform through a current list of fashion brands, attractive promotions and professional customer service team.

This can be considered the first step in Zalora Vietnam and Robins sharing an ambition of becoming the ultimate retail destination in Viet Nam, the release says.  VNS
Delegates are discussing at the 2017 Vietnam eTrade Conference (VETC) was held on Tuesday by the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM) in cooperation with the Vietnam Export Support Alliance (VESA) to help exporting firms and organisations improve their e-commerce activities.  Photo VECOM

HA NOI  The 2017 Vietnam eTrade Conference (VETC) was held on Tuesday by the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM) in cooperation with the Vietnam Export Support Alliance (VESA) to help exporting firms and organisations improve their e-commerce activities.

This is the first event of its kind in Viet Nam, which focuses on online export trends, the benefits of online exchanges and international retail trends, said Nguyen Ky Minh, Deputy Director of the E-commerce Development Centre under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) at the conference.

Multiple Vietnamese businesses are applying e-commerce technology in export, according to Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the MoITs Import-Export Department. In fact, the number of Vietnamese enterprises participating in online export programs and training in online export skills in 2016 showed a 34 per cent increase from 2015, as reported by the VECOM in its 2017 e-Business Index.

Hai also confirmed that in addition to accessing online public service such as e-customs, online certificates of origin and other export-related services, businesses in Viet Nam have been using the internet to look for foreign trade partners and sign contracts online.

E-commerce is considered an effective way to help business enhance efficiency in dealing with market research, contract signing, payment, customs regulations and bureaucratic legislations.

E-commerce is also believed to be a cost-cutting and time-saving solution to "unofficial fees" in the export process, according to VECOMs Chairman Nguyen Thanh Hung.

Meanwhile, the number of consumers buying directly from international retailers is rising rapidly, which further emphasises the potential of e-commerce as a means to manage complicated import and export activities.

The conference is not only a chance for businesses to learn about e-trade exchange and the trend of online retail to foreign customers, but also for them to propose that the State provide online public services for import and export, said Hung.

The 2017 VETC was divided into three sessions focusing on the three main pillars of online export and import activities: online public services between government and business; export opportunities based on online exchange and the business to business model (B2B); B2B development trends aimed directly towards end consumers.

This years conference also marked VESAs introduction as a unit jointly created by OSB Investment and Technology Jsc, the Vietnam Prosperity JointStock Bank, the Telecommunication Joint Stock Insurance Corporation and the T&M Forwarding Ltd. Business members of VESA are entitled to better support from this e-commerce, logistics and insurance trio.  VNS
Xuan Huong

BINH PHUOC  Binh Phuoc Province wants to strengthen co-operation with other provinces and cities as well as foreign countries to aid its industrial development, especially its cashew processing industry, according to its leader.

Speaking at an international clients conference in the cashew industry held in the south-eastern province yesterday, Nguyen Van Tram, chairman of its Peoples Committee, said the province had some 143,000 hectares under cashew, accounting for nearly 50 per cent of the countrys total, which yield 150,000 tonnes a year.

Earnings from cashew exports were worth US$500 million last year, or nearly a third of the provinces total export income, he said.

The province is home to more than 200 enterprises and establishments involved in cashew processing, providing jobs for more than 50,000 people.

Despite having the largest cashew cultivation area in the country, its products lack diversification, and are mainly semi-processed products with low value addition.

A majority of the processing firms are small and their technologies are not uniformly modern, which limits the competitiveness of the industry, he said.

Climate change too has caused difficulties for the industry, he said.

Therefore, through this conference, Binh Phuoc calls for and wants co-operation with provinces and cities and international friends.

Nguyen Anh Hoang, director of the local Department of Industry and Trade, said the province was seeking domestic and foreign partners to invest or co-operate in producing more diversified products and expanding consumption both in domestic and foreign markets.

We are also calling for international support to help businesses in the province improve their management capacity in terms of nutrition and food safety to enable more cashew products from the province to penetrate your [foreign] markets.

Improve quality

Attendees said to enable sustainable development of the sector, enterprises would need to pay more attention to product quality.

Tjasse Pieter Dijksterhuis from the Netherlandss Decamerone BV said major customers in Europe and the US were increasingly demanding mandatory quality testing, and so companies must ensure specification compliance when exporting.

The USs food safety regulations are now stricter, with more inspections of suppliers facilities, to shift the focus from responding to preventing contamination, according to delegates.

Vu Thai Son, general director of Long Son Joint Stock Company, the worlds second largest cashew exporter, said a new law in the US shifted inspection of imported goods from the US to production chains in countries exporting to the US.

"US importers also require their suppliers to ensure corporate social responsibility, and so Vietnamese cashew exporters should learn more about such regulations to ensure that they meet requirements," he said.

Nguyen uc Thanh, chairman of the Viet Nam Cashew Association, said many cashew producers and processors, acknowledging that hygiene and food safety requirements are increasing in the global market, focused on producing clean cashew nuts and ensuring consistent quality.

Enterprises have shifted from competition in prices to competition in quality, with many firms investing in modern technologies to add value to their products.

Small and medium-sized firms could face financial difficulties in this regard and should co-operate with large firms, he said.

Nguyen Anh Hoang, director of the province Department of Industry and Trade, said: We have made great strides in improving product quality at all stages from planting to processing based on stringent hygiene and food safety standards.

The French Government is sponsoring the provinces efforts to obtain geographical indication certification for Binh Phuoc Cashew.

Hoang said this would be a good foundation for the province to promote its best cashew products around the world.

Huynh Thi Hang, deputy chairwoman of the province Peoples Committee and head of the conference organisation board, said the event provided an opportunity for cashew farmers, processors and traders to exchange information and explore business opportunities with local and foreign partners.

The event would also help local cashew farmers and processors and exporters to get updated on global market information and understand customers needs, she said.

Viet Nam exported 79,000 tonnes of cashew worth $735 million in the first four months of this year, a 13.1 per cent fall in volume but an increase of 7 per cent in value year-on-year, with the US, China and the Netherlands being the largest importers.  VNS
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Han Myoung-Sup, General Director of Samsung Vietnam at a meeting in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

HA NOI  Foreign-invested enterprises, including Samsung Complex Vietnam (Samsung Vietnam) of the Republic of Korea (RoK), are an important component of Viet Nams economy, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told Han Myoung-Sup, General Director of Samsung Vietnam at a meeting in Ha Noi yesterday.

PM Phuc highlighted Samsungs significant contributions to Viet Nams export turnover and job generation.

Applauding Samsungs investment expansion in the country, the leader suggested the group support Viet Nam in training and technology transfer, thus enabling local support industry firms--especially small and medium-sized ones--to enhance links and join the supply of materials and components, tourism service and other services for Samsung.

He asked the group to accelerate the implementation of the Samsung Research and Development (R&D) centre in line with pledged progress in order to help promote R&D activities in electricity and electronics in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam would continue supporting Samsungs investment expansion in the country, thus maintaining and boosting the export of Samsungs products manufactured in Viet Nam, Phuc affirmed. He called on the group to make more efforts toward its stable and constant contribution to the countrys economic development.

For his part, Han Myoung-Sup briefed the host on Samsungs recent developments in Viet Nam, saying that the firms export and revenue recovered in the first months of this year after the Galaxy Note 7 incident. Its export was expected to hit US$11 billion in the second quarter.

Samsung Display Vietnam (SDV), a subsidiary of Samsung Vietnam with a total investment of $6.5 billion, was striving to expand its investment, he said.

Samsung Vietnam is set to rake in $60 billion in revenue and $50 billion in export turnover in 2017, he noted.

According to the general director, as many as 107,000 Vietnamese are working at Samsung Vietnam factories. The group plans to recruit more local workers to serve its future production expansion schemes.

He said he hoped that the Vietnamese Government, ministries and sectors would create favourable conditions for Samsung Vietnam in general and SDV in particular to effectively operate in the country. VNS




HA NOI  Japan has become the largest market for Vietnamese shrimps, accounting for 21.9 per cent of the countrys shrimp export value in the first quarter of 2017.

The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) reported that in the first three months of this year, Viet Nams shrimp exports to Japan reached US$135.4 million, a year-on-year increase of 29.6 per cent. The significant growth is because of the rise of the yen, which has encouraged Japanese enterprises to move to imported shrimp.

Also, Japanese consumers tend to switch to cheaper seafood, which has increased the demand for shrimp as they are more affordable than other seafood such as tuna, salmon and squid.

In the high-end market segment, the demand for giant tiger prawns and shrimps with head on is also rising.

Earlier this year, the average price of Vietnamese shrimp exported to Japan was $12 per kilo, while Indonesias rate was $11 and Thailands $10.

Although Viet Nams average price is higher than that of competitors in the region, exports to Japan saw significant growth, higher than both Thailand (13.9 per cent) and Indonesia (2.4 per cent).

The VASEP said that in the first quarter of 2017, Viet Nam exported shrimp to 68 markets. The top 10 markets include Japan, EU, US, China, South Korea, Canada, Australia, ASEAN, Taiwan and Switzerland, which together account for 95.4 per cent of Viet Nams shrimp exports.

There is a change in the position of the top 10 shrimp importers, with Japan replacing the US to become the largest importer, the EU holding its previous position at No 2, and the US taking the third position.  VNS
A NANG  The central citys Peoples Court rejected poacher Nguyen Van Lys appeal of a three-year conviction at a hearing on Monday.

Ly was sentenced by Son Tra district peoples court last year for killing two Red-Shanked Doucs in the Son Tra Nature Reserve.

The court said Ly had violated regulations on hunting and killing endangered species under the list of protected animals of the Governmental Decree No 32.

Ly, 29, along with his wife, his father and two other accomplices, hunted illegally in the Son Tra Nature Reserve in a Nang for one month in 2015.

The group killed five wild animals, including two endangered Red-Shanked Doucs (Pygathryx nemaeus)  a kind of langur that was declared endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2013, and the Red Book of Viet Nam.

Rangers from the Son Tra-Ngu Hanh Sons Forest Protection Department caught them with 100 traps and 3.11kg of dried meat, bone, skin and fur of the wild animal at their shelters in forest.

The meat and bones were identified at the Viet Nam Science Academy as having belonged to a Red-Shanked Doucs.

At the first trial, the Son Tra districts court on July 13, 2016, fined poarcher Vi Van Son to three years in prison, and Vi Van Hoang to two-year and six months.

The districts court then gave Ly three years for killing the endangered langurs, and his father Nguyen Van Hoi a two-year imprisonment.

Lys wife, Le Thi Lan was given two years, but she then was given a suspension.

Ly then appealed for a reduction of the sentence.

The Son Tra Nature Reserve in a Nang, known for its rich biodiversity, is home to 300 Red-Shanked Doucs.

However, poaching, logging and the construction of houses and villas have caused an alarming drop in the population over the past decade.

In 2015, an area of 11ha forest in the Nature Reserve was destroyed by illegal loggers for building a tourism site.

More than 2,000 traps have been dismantled by rangers and volunteers.

About 20 restaurants, 68 houses and villas have been built in the reserve.  VNS
MEKONG DELTA  Deputy Prime Minister Trinh inh Dung on Monday spoke with provincial authorities and government agencies about the need for urgent action to prevent landslides in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

Speaking at the meeting in An Giang Province, the deputy PM praised the efforts of localities in preventing and controlling natural disasters.

In recent years, climate change in the area has caused droughts, saline intrusion and extensive erosion.

He said that provincial leaders should draw up sustainable development policies and new growth models to cope with climate change.

The deputy PM also urged authorities to quickly relocate households living near dangerous landslides to safe places.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment should work with agencies to annually survey river flows, river beds and alluvium volume on the Tien and Hau rivers.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, he added, should thoroughly inspect sand mining activities and issue licences for sand mining.

In addition, the Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Planning and Investment as well as the Ministry of Finance should provide funds for localities to implement necessary measures to prevent erosion, he said.

Tran Quang Hoai, deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments Irrigation Department, said the delta had over 500 landslide spots, mostly along riverbanks and coastal areas.

The hardest-hit areas are in the provinces of An Giang, ong Thap, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.

The landslides have occurred because of illegal sand mining, deforestation, rising sea levels, groundwater exploitation, changing river channels, imbalance of mud and sand, and even geologic surveys.

Hoai said the localities should use advanced technology to manage sand mining activities and strictly fine violators. He asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to monitor sand mining activities and report to the Prime Minister.

In April, in An Giang Province, 14 houses fell into the river after a landslide, leaving 107 households and one factory in urgent need of relocation.

Vuong Binh Thanh, chairman of An Giangs Peoples Committee, asked the government for VN116 billion (US$5million) to repair landslide-affected areas and build a resettlement area.

The same situation has occurred in ong Thap Province, where eroded areas of a total 5,924sq.m have affected more than 200 households living along riverbanks.

Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy chairman of ong Thaps Peoples Committee, said the province had asked the government for VN245billion ($10.8million) to build construction works to prevent landslides.

Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Can Tho authorities said that delta provinces had been losing hundreds of hectares of land along riverbanks and the coast each year, but that forecasting and evaluation of the impact of natural disasters was still limited.

Serious erosion

Serious landslides have eroded 150km of coastline in Ca Mau Province, which has been affected by climate change and rising sea levels.

The landslides have threatened thousands of people living in coastal areas, according to the provinces Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

To Quoc Nam, deputy director of the department said that landslides along the provinces eastern and western coasts were caused by rising tides and a northeast monsoon.

Along the provinces western coast, erosion has been worsening, with a total length of 114km, increasing a risk of breaches.

The eastern coast has about 48km of seriously eroded areas and 24.5km at high risk of landslides.

In addition, the province has lost about 10km of forest cover, affecting aquaculture farms and infrastructure along the coast.

Previously, the province upgraded over 23.6km of high-risk landslide areas at a total cost of more than VN650 billion ($28.8million).

However, the work failed to prevent serious landslides.

The province has asked the central government for about VN200 billion ($8.8million) to build 10 kilometres of sea dykes along its forested eastern coast.

It is also seeking about VN1.4 trillion ($62million) to relocate nearly 4,800 households living in high-risk areas along rivers and the coast.

According to the department, the southernmost province of Ca Mau has been losing about 450ha on average of coastal land each year, including 20-25 metres of land along the western coast and about 45-50 metres of land along the eastern coast.

Landslides have the potential to affect 100,000 hectares of aquaculture farms and more than 260,000 households in the delta.  VNS
Doctor Chua Soo Pong from Singapore is directing a work entitled Duoi Bong a Huyen Thoai (The Legendary Banyan Tree) for Viet Nams Tuong Theatre. The performance will be staged at Pohang International Performing Arts Festival in Pohang, South Korea in August.

Dr Chua completed his masters and doctorate in anthropology and ethnomusicology in the UK.

His works have been performed on nearly 80 international stages in the world. He has attended international stage competitions as juror, performer and chairman in many countries such as Turkey, Iran, India, Indonesia, Japan, Finland, Italy, Denmark, Russia, the US, and Viet Nam.

In recent years, he has worked with the Viet Nam National Drama Theatre staging The Mouse Daughters Marriage, which was performed at Malaysias George Town Festival in August, 2015.

He also led the theatre to perform in China, Japan, South Korea and Bangladesh.

Culture Vulture interviews Dr Chua about Vietnamese traditional tuong classical drama and his efforts to popularise Vietnamese art in the world.

When did you begin to study Vietnamese traditional tuong in general, and Viet Nams Tuong Theatre, in particular?

Tuong Theatre is one of Asias traditional theatres that has a long history, rich repertoire and complex performing aesthetics. I first saw tuong when I came to Viet Nam as a senior specialist of the SEAMEO SPAFA Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts, to organise a seminar on documentation of performing arts in Southeast Asia.

Our partner is the Ha Noi Academy of Cinema and Theatre. I met Le ang Thuc, the director of the academy at that time. During the visit, I saw tuong, cheo (traditional opera) and cai luong (reformed drama). I was most impressed by these beautiful theatrical genres of Viet Nam.

I also met Le Tien Tho, a prominent tuong artist, and we became good friends immediately as we share the passion of promoting traditional theatre as cultural heritage. I watched many more tuong performances on my subsequent visits.

I also invited the Tuong Theatre to participate in a Traditional Theatre at the Park and Seminar on Asian Traditional Festival I organised in 1988. Later, I facilitated the visit of Tuong Theatre in China (I was then the Chief Adviser of the CHINA-ASEAN Theatre Week, in Nanning) and South Korea (Wonju),

Could you tell us more about the co-operation with the Tuong Theatre?

It is a great honour to be invited by the Viet Nam Tuong Theatres director Pham Ngoc Tuan to direct The Legendary Banyan Tree. It was a rewarding experience to work with distinguished artists like Peoples Artist Hong Khiem, Peoples Artist Anh Duong and Meritorious Artist Minh Tam after watching their performances for many years.

I really did not encounter any difficulty as the Tuong Theatre has a wonderful team of artists who are dedicated and willing to put in extra hard work to achieve artistic excellence. Tuong shares many aesthetic principles of traditional theatre genres that I have worked with, like Chinese opera, Japanese kabuki, and Indonesian wayang wong. When I demonstrate the movements desired for a particular scene, they immediately understand the quality of movements needed. And we refine them together.

Traditional art festivals have been held annually in Viet Nam. Have you had chance to attend a tuong festival?

I was honoured and privileged to be invited by artist Tho to the Tuong Festival to commemorate playwright Tong Phuoc Pho. The festival was organised by the municipal Peoples Committee of a Nang and the Viet Nam Stage Artists Association. The festival was an excellent showcase of the passion and dedication of the hundreds of artists who are devoted to one of the traditional art forms of Viet Nam.

Playwright Pho was one of the most prolific and respected playwrights who contributed to the development of tuong. He was bestowed posthumously with the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts in 1996, the highest award for such endeavors.

The festival gave me a rare opportunity to study his works and to view the works of six professional and 14 amateur tuong theatre companies from different parts of Viet Nam. It was also an opportunity to visit a Nangs Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Museum and Theatre at 155 Phan Chau Trinh Street, which hosted the 11-day festival.

What most impressed you at the festival?

I had many impressions of the festival. The Viet Nam Stage Artists Association plays a key role in the promotion and protection of the tuong theatrical genre. The event provides an opportunity for the Tuong Theatre to present its works at a national level.

It is an honour for the amateur groups and an affirmation of their hard work and achievement in practicing the art form that does not attract young audiences.

The quality of productions varies as some lack resources and consistent training as seen from their simple props; inability to print brochures and make attractive costumes; and their lower level of performing skills.

The professional groups generally produce better shows supported by good orchestras, strong acting and singing. These productions are enhanced by good stage designs, too. There are also some outstanding actors and actresses among the amateur groups.

There are clear regional differences among the tuong groups in musical styles. For example, I notice that the percussion of An Tu Cong Chua (Princess An Tu) by the HCM Tuong Theatre was markedly different from the Viet Nam Tuong Theatre of Ha Noi. The songs and music are not the same as those from northern Viet Nam.

The two productions from the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, Lam Sanh-Xuan Nuong and Ngo Vuong Quyen (King Ngo Quyen) too, have distinctive musical styles.

There are the two types of repertoire including indigenous stories like Ngon Lua Hong Son (Hong Son Flame) and Son Hau that have similar themes about loyalty, honesty, justice and perseverance in the traditional theatre of other Asian countries, like the Chinese opera traditional theatre, Indonesian wayong wong or khon of Thailand. These stories reflect the historical perspective of Vietnamese artists and the social issues with which they were concerned, as well as their cultural values.  VNS
HCM CITY  After five years of working in the theatre, director Le Hoang has completed his latest film project on child sexual abuse, which is expected to be released in HCM City this summer.

The 100-minute film, S.O.S. Soi Trang (S.O.S. White Wolf), focuses on the tragedies of children who were victims of child molestation.

Hoang told the local media that he had decided to make a film about a sensitive subject because he thought it was a hot-button issue after a number of molestations were reported on social platforms recently.

I believe those who are silent about sexual abuse of children support the crime, he said. We have failed to act. We chose to stay silent, a behaviour which comes from traditional culture: fear of talking about sex. As a result, no offenders have been punished.

Hoang said he worked hard on the films screenplay.

The director and his producer, Bo Thuy Linh, have kept their film a secret from the media, but they have promised it will provide lessons about a serious issue that many youth know little about.

We hope our production will bring evil deeds to light, said Hoang, who has more than 20 years of experience in the industry.

"I think the film will be a hit phenomenon with both teenagers and adults because the film is about something we want to talk about, said Nguyen Vu Quynh Chi, a 10th-grade student from Binh Thanh District.

I watched the teaser trailer of Hoangs film online. It left a very strong impression on viewers, she added.

Chi said that Hoang should tailor the film to children and teenagers, who must be equipped with enough information about sexual harassment to know how to protect themselves.

In the 1980s and 90s, Hoang worked for the Giai Phong (Liberation) Film Studio, one of the regions leading State-owned film companies.

He reached fame with dozens of quality films, including award-winning works Luong Tam Be Bong (Little Conscience) and Luoi Dao (The Knife) presented by the Viet Nam Cinematography Department.

In 2001, his blockbuster, Gai Nhay (Bar Girl) earned more than VN12 billion (US$660,000 at that time), which launched the commercial film-making trend in Viet Nam.

Post-production of S.O.S Soi Trang will be completed this week.

Distributed by Thien Ngan (Galaxy), the film will be in cinemas on June 16.  VNS
President Tran ai Quang recevies speaker of Myanmars Parliament and House of Nationalities Mahn Win Khaing Than in Ha Noi yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

HA NOI  Viet Nam and Myanmar should step up co-operation in fields of their strengths for mutual development, said President Tran ai Quang.

He greeted visiting Speaker of Myanmars Parliament and House of Nationalities Mahn Win Khaing Than in Ha Noi yesterday.

Viet Nam values friendship and co-operation with Myanmar, he stressed, noting that thriving diplomatic ties and productive economic relations allow the countries to expand their partnership.

Quang said he supported the two lawmaking bodies boosting their cooperation given as this lays a foundation for bilateral friendship to grow further.

He stressed the need to maintain existing co-operative mechanisms, increase visit exchanges and improve relations between localities and people.

Vietnamese businesses are keen to invest in Myanmar, Quang said, asking the ASEAN peer to support Vietnamese investors in banking, aviation, telecommunication, mining, tourism, agriculture and consumer goods.

He took the occasion to thank Myanmar for backing Viet Nam at regional and international forums and hoped the countries would hold more political consultations and support each other at international organisations to which both are members, especially ASEAN and the UN.

The Myanmar Speaker said he was impressed with Viet Nams development achievements and realised that Myanmar could learn from Viet Nams experience.

He detailed the activities of the Myanmar Parliament, noting that his country is working to revise the law on foreign investment and the law on foreign companies to lure more foreign investors.

Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than is currently on a week-long official visit to Viet Nam, starting from May 15.

He held talks with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. VNS
Top lawmakers urged for fuller engagement with voters opinions yesterday, in response to a report on voters proposals to the 14th National Assemblys second session as well as the upcoming third session.  VNA/VNS Photo Doan Tan

HA NOI  Top lawmakers urged for fuller engagement with voters opinions yesterday, in response to a report on voters proposals to the 14th National Assemblys second session as well as the upcoming third session.

According to the report, presented at the second day of the 10th meeting of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee yesterday, more than 3,300 petitions from the people have been transferred to relevant agencies and organisations as the result of 2,073 meetings between NA deputies and voters nationwide before and after the second session of the 14th NA meeting in November last year.

Voters petitions addressed all aspects of social and economic life - from specific issues that directly affected their daily lives to issues related to guidelines and policies of the Party and the State.

The report showed some legislative shortcomings, including the constantly-adjusted 2017 law building framework and the lack of legal document consistency.

All 3,119 petitions submitted to the Government, ministries and sectors were responded to. Ninety-four legal documents were enacted immediately between the second and third session of the 14th NA to promptly resolve issues about which voters in many localities were concerned.

Along with resolving and responding to voters second session petitions, the ministries and sectors also reviewed and resolved 69 out of 142 outstanding petitions from previous sessions, mainly in the form of amending, supplementing or promulgating of some documents.

Chairman of the NA Committee for Ethnic Affairs, Ha Ngoc Chien, stressed on the need to strengthen voter meeting organisation.

He proposed a report to clarify whether authority responses had come to the voters in time and in a satisfactory manner.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan suggested the NAs Peoples Aspiration Committee analyse and further clarify the reports details on solving the outstanding petitions of voters. She proposed to clarify the 133 remaining petitions.

Meanwhile, another draft report at the meeting showed that there had been more than 2,900 citizen comments and suggestions sent to the third session of the 14th NA, which is scheduled from May 22 to June 20.

The opinions and recommendations focus on six specific contexts: production and business; resource management and environmental protection; health and food safety; education, training and vocational training; fighting corruption and waste; security and social security.

Vo Trong Viet, Chairman of the NAs National Defence and Security Committee, proposed adding a number of constituencies around the issue of exploitation in the form of destruction of marine resources, how to ensure the aquatic and marine environment, and the problem of smuggling gasoline and cigarettes.

The NA Standing Committee will discuss the preparation of the upcoming third session of the 14th NA and a draft resolution on solving credit organisations bad debts.  VNS
HA NOI  The outlook for Asia Pacific remains the strongest globally, but its prospects in the near future are weighed down by challenges and uncertainties, hence economies must promote multilateral co-operation.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son made this comment in Ha Noi on Wednesday during his speech at the official opening of the APEC 2017 Second Senior Officials Meeting (SOM2), which he is presiding.

Son, who was citing the International Monetary Fund (IMF)s latest World Economic Outlook, pointed out that since the first Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) and other related meetings, both the regional and global economies have shown positive signs.

According to the IMF, the world economy is achieving the desired growth rate, and this growth will be sustained, owing to the strong recovery of developed economies, and the significant growth in emerging markets and developing economies. The report supports growth while promoting structural reforms, increasing resilience and coverage.

In the past nine days, Son said, there have been around 50 meetings, seminars and conferences organised between the APEC committees and working groups to provide core content at SOM2.

As a result, representatives of the APEC member economies have continued the process of implementing the adopted priorities, promoting new initiatives, preparing for the 23rd Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, and have begun shaping the agenda and identifying the contents of the APEC Leaders Summit, to be held in a Nang City this November.

During the two-day SOM2, delegates are expected to discuss this years priorities and action plans of the APEC Economic Committee, APEC Trade and Investment Committee, the APEC Economic Policy Report 2017 in human resources development and structural reform; the process of building the APEC framework for cross-border economic promotion; the recent development of free trade agreements in the region; and the implementation of Lima Joint Declaration on the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area.  VNS
HA NOI  The third session of the National Assembly (NA) is scheduled to take place on May 22 and end on June 21, said Nguyen Hanh Phuc, Chairman of NA Office on Wednesday.

Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, NA Chairman said the NA Standing Committee will report to the NA on the dismissal of Vo Kim Cu, a deputy from Ha Tinh Province, where the Taiwanese steelmaker Formosa Hung Nghiep caused mass fish deaths last April by dumping polluted wastewater.

The NASC adopted a resolution on Cus dismissal by a majority vote during a closed meeting on Monday afternoon.

The 60-year-old NA deputy was found to have personally signed several illegal documents related to Formosa activities in Ha Tinh Province and was "mainly responsible for wrongdoings" from 2008-2016 that resulted in the largest-ever environmental disaster in Viet Nam.

At the request of many deputies and voters, the time for the question and answer session will be raised to 3 days instead of 2.5 days as usual, Ngan said.

During the session, a deputy Prime Minister, will answer questions raised by NA deputies and voters on behalf of the Government, she said. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc may also attend and clarify some issues.

Preparations for the third session of the National Assembly have been basically completed, the chairman of NA Office Phuc said.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam plans to more than triple the number of enterprises owned and run by ethnic minority groups by next year in a bid to tap into the full potential of these groups and reduce poverty.

The plan to increase the number of enterprises run by ethnic minority groups from the current 30 to 100 was unveiled yesterday by the Committee for Ethnic Affairs.

We (Committee for Ethnic Affairs) are determined that poverty reduction and sustainable growth in mountainous and ethnic minority areas rely on the internal power of ethnic minority communities, said o Van Chien, Minister- Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Affairs at a forum on ethnic minority development.

The plan is a start-up model expected to develop into a startup eco-system nationwide. its goal is to ensure that No one is left behind, said forum organisers.

Mountainous and ethnic minority areas, with a diversity of natural resources, local produce and culture, should be considered areas of development opportunities, especially in agriculture, animal husbandry, herbal medicine and tourism, Chien said.

The forum agreed that making use of local knowledge is the foundation that must be tapped to harness the full potential of ethnic minority start-ups.

Nguyen Thi Huyen, National Programme Coordinator of the International Labor Organisation (ILO) suggested offering business skill training to ethnic communities, helping them access capital sources. Ethnic minority people should be regarded as creative partners, she said, adding that it is necessary to maintain their traditional identities while developing businesses.

Local products of nearly 30 ethnic minority start-ups were on display at the forum, linking enterprises, local authorities and non-governmental organizations.

Sam Thi Bich, leader of Hoa Tien Brocade Cooperative in Quy Chau District of the central province of Nghe An, said that with the support from authorities and NGOs, she and other members of the village can further develop product design and access to market to promote their products at local and international fairs.

Bichs co-operative is a typical model for start-ups of ethnic minority groups in Vietnamese mountainous areas. She has restored the traditional weaving craft, provides training in weaving skills, and helps group members obtain material and equipment to improve their livelihood.  VNS
HCM CITY  HCM City police have released their investigation report on a suspected case of sexual harassment of a girl student at a primary school in Thu uc District.

The police said there was no evidence the girl had been sexually abused.

The case occurred in February this year. On the 15th of the month, the students mother reported to the districts police that her daughter had been sexually abused in class the previous day.

Test results by the forensic centre of the citys Health Department, however, revealed that her virginity was intact, although there were some bruises and scratches on her vulva. Further, there was no sperm found in her vagina, just some male cells.

The girls aunt, owner of a hairdresser shop, who was in charge of picking her niece from school, told the police she had bathed the girl and dried her with a towel used by her male clients.

While bathing her niece, she said had not found any abnormal signs on her body. Moreover, upon talking with the girls father, the police were told the man washed his daughters clothes with the clothes of other family members.

They believed this was the reason male cells were found in the girls vagina. The police said this was scientifically possible.

Investigating why a camera in class was not working, the police said the school cleaner had switched off the power inadvertently.

However, there were six other cameras operating, so if a stranger had entered the school or the girls class, the cameras would have recorded the same.

Earlier, the girls mother had accused a man of abusing her daughter, but the man was not in school that day. His appearance too was different from what she had described.

Therefore, the police concluded there was no evidence of the girl being sexually abused.  VNS
HA NOI  Some 1,900 computers in Viet Nam have been attacked by WannaCry virus  one of the largest-ever cyber-attacks affecting computers across the globe.

The affected computers included 1,600 computers in agencies and businesses and 300 private computers.

The data was revealed on Tuesday afternoon by BKAV Corporation, the largest internet security firm in Viet Nam.

A representative from the corporation said the WannaCry virus had yet to spread in Viet Nam, however, four million computers in Viet Nam were discovered to suffer from a Windows vulnerability codenamed EternalBlue.

It meant the virus could hit the computers at any time and the number of affected computers could rapidly increase, he said.

Vu Ngoc Son, deputy head of the corporations anti-malware department, said, The WannaCry ransomware attack may just be the tip of the iceberg.

The US National Security Agency was suspected to be using the vulnerability in its spy programme. There was also a possibility that a spy agency of another country was also secretly exploiting the vulnerability, installing spy software locally to carry out APT (advanced persistent threat) attacks, he said.

Meanwhile, in a related move, BKAV has upgraded and freely offered a tool to help computer users in scanning and patching the vulnerability. Users can access to Bkav.com.vn/Tool/CheckWanCry.exe to download the tool.

Previously, the Ministry of Information and Communication said the ransomware was extremely dangerous as it was capable of stealing information and decrypting the entire system that had been infected.

Once the computers data was encrypted or "locked down," a message would appear saying the users files were no longer accessible. To retrieve data, users were asked to pay large sums of money to get a decryption key. The longer the users waited, the higher the ransom money. The hackers behind WannaCry only accepted ransom paid via BitCoin, a digital currency that ensures the transaction cannot be traced.

According to AFP, security researchers on Monday reported signs of a potential North Korea link to the massive cyberattack campaign that sparked havoc in computer systems worldwide.

Following days of disruptions affecting networks worldwide, a top US official said the number of computers affected had reached 300,000, but that infection rate had slowed.  VNS
HA NOI  In a move to sustain its sweeping "sidewalk clean-up" campaign, the capital citys leader said the head of each local division will be held accountable if public space violations reoccur.

The campaign, which originated in HCM City, is aimed at "reclaiming" sidewalks for their rightful users  pedestrians  from various parties encroaching upon public space for different purposes -- from parking of vehicles to exhibition of goods as well as one of Viet Nams charm - street food stalls.

Hoang Trung Hai, secretary of Ha Nois Party Committee, in a working session held yesterday with Ha Nois National Assembly delegates, said after three months, the maintenance of public order and prevention of sidewalk encroachment have not been as forceful as expected.

Hai said five working groups will be established and sent to every district in the city to handle violations and monitor the commitment of local officials. He warned that strict disciplinary measures will be applied should the working groups find a lack of oversight on the part of the officials, adding that, this is a necessary step to ensure local officials carry out their responsibility dutifully.

The municipal Peoples Committee said that, so far, the sidewalk reclamation campaign has involved the engagement of a total of 22,700 public servants. Some 111,000 "open letters" were sent out, resulting in thousands of households signing a commitment to not violate public space.

However, the municipal authorities also admitted that at certain areas, local governments carried out the restoration of public order rather hastily and recklessly, evidenced by the breaking up of household ramps that protrude onto the pavements, the questionable felling of trees, or the parking boundary markers that do not provide sufficient parking space, among others, which were counter-productive and led to public ire.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Ha Anh Tuan, head of urban management of ong a District  one of the main districts of Ha Noi  said the district has set up a hotline to receive public reports on any sidewalk encroachment. Tuan also said the district is mulling the installation of a camera system in its jurisdiction to monitor the sidewalks.

Pham Tuan Long, deputy head of the Hoan Kiem District Peoples Committee, told online newspaper VnExpress that around the Sword Lake  one of the citys main tourist attractions  street vendors continue to loiter, but those are just exceptions, not due to lax oversight.

Households in these two districts have received support from the district authorities to switch jobs or to relocate their businesses to organised localities (the walking streets or established markets).

In the future, city authorities said they would establish market areas for street vendors and other sidewalk vendors to operate. However, it takes time to find a suitable location, and in the meantime, street vendors have been urged to voluntarily turn to other jobs.  VNS
WASHINGTON  Donald Trumps beleaguered White House was rocked Tuesday by a pair of explosive allegations -- that he personally tried to quash an FBI investigation, and that he disclosed highly classified information to top Russian officials.

The Republican billionaires administration, now just barely four months old, was left reeling by the one-two punch, which sparked instant outrage from Democrats demanding a full explanation.

Either claim on its own -- that he divulged top-secret information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during an Oval Office meeting, or that he pressed FBI director James Comey to drop a probe into ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn -- would plunge any White House into serious crisis.

But the reports -- both rebutted by Trumps team -- add to a mounting perception of an administration in a perpetual state of chaos.

As overwhelmed White House staff struggled to explain Trumps decision to tell Lavrov about a specific Islamic State bomb threat gleaned by Israeli intelligence, the New York Times dropped another bombshell.

The paper -- citing two people who read notes written by Comey  reported that when Comey met Trump the day after Flynn resigned, the president tried to halt any FBI investigation.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump is accused of telling Comey, according to a memo written by the former FBI chief, who was sacked last week.

"He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

In a letter to acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, the Senate Oversight Committee demanded that all memos and other documents or recordings relating to communications between Trump and Comey be turned over by May 24.

"If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBIs investigation as it relates to Lieutenant General Flynn," wrote committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, a Republican.

Absolute right to share intel

The White House quickly denied any suggestion that Trump was trying to obstruct justice -- a criminal offense -- in his dealings with Comey.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation," a US official said on condition of anonymity.

"The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr Comey."

Trump spent much of the day trying to put to rest separate allegations that he revealed sensitive information to Lavrov and Moscows ambassador to Washington, arguing he acted within the law.

White House aides refused to say whether the information pertaining to the groups bombmaking capabilities was classified.

But the president took to Twitter to insist he had the "absolute right" to share "facts pertaining... to terrorism and airline flight safety" with Russia.

America being tested

Both allegations fueled calls for a special prosecutor to investigate Trumps ties to Russia and even raised questions about whether he could face impeachment proceedings.

"The country is being tested in unprecedented ways. I say to all of my colleagues in the Senate, history is watching," said top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer.

The partys number two in the Senate, Dick Durbin, said it was "one of the most serious allegations you can make against a leader -- that theyre in some way trying to delay or obstruct the administration of justice."

And veteran Republican Senator John McCain called the allegations about the Trump-Lavrov meeting "deeply disturbing."

"The time President Trump spent sharing sensitive information with the Russians was time he did not spend focusing on Russias aggressive behavior," McCain said.

The Russian intelligence scandal also threatens to corrode trust among allies who shared classified information with the United States on the understanding it would be handled within the usual guidelines.

An administration official confirmed to AFP on condition of anonymity that the original intelligence came from Israel.

Trump is scheduled to visit Israel next week -- a trip that White House officials indicated would still go ahead.

"Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under President Trump," said Israels ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer.

No security lapse with Russia

Earlier in the day, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster denied Trump had caused a "lapse in national security," saying it was "wholly appropriate for the president to share whatever information he thinks is necessary to advance the security of the American people."

McMaster also indicated that Trump could not have revealed sensitive sources or methods.

"The president wasnt even aware where this information came from," he said. "He wasnt briefed on the source or method of the information either."

Trump, himself, appeared ready to weather the storm.

"We had a very successful meeting with the foreign minister of Russia," he told reporters firing a hail of questions at him.

"Were going to have a lot of great success over the next coming years and we want to get as many to help fight terrorism as possible."

Trumps meeting with top Russian diplomats last week came one day after he took the rare step of firing Comey.

Comey had been overseeing investigations into the Trump campaigns possible collusion with Russia to tilt the 2016 election in his favor.

"On a day when we thought things couldnt get any worse, they have," Schumer said.  AFP
Gioi quan sat cho rang Trung Quoc co the la nhan to khien Trump giam su cung ran khi Trieu Tien thu ten lua moi hom 14/5.

Tong thong My Donald Trump. Anh: MSNBC

Truoc viec Trieu Tien tien hanh thu ten lua moi, bat chap nhung canh bao cung ran cua My va cac ong minh, Tong thong My hom cuoi tuan chi len an va keu goi cac nuoc "ap dung cac bien phap trung phat manh me hon". Ten lua cua Trieu Tien a bay khoang 700 km roi roi xuong bien Nhat Ban.

"Ong Trump nhieu kha nang a xuong thang vi nhan ra cai gia cua xung ot quan su voi Trieu Tien la rat lon. No tiem an kha nang roi khoi tam kiem soat theo dang xoan oc, rui ro voi My va ong minh Han Quoc va Nhat Ban la khong the tuong tuong noi", ong Karl Friedhoff, nghien cuu sinh tai Hoi ong cac van e quoc te Chicago, My, anh gia khi trao oi voi VnExpress.

Chuyen gia nay luu y cuoc xung ot giua Washington voi Binh Nhuong khong on gian la cuoc khong kich nhu mot cu 'cham kim' ma My a tien hanh voi Syria hoi au thang 4.

Ngoai ra, theo ong Friedhoff, Tong thong My khong phan ung manh voi Trieu Tien co the do chinh quyen Trump tin rang Trung Quoc cuoi cung a san sang thuc hien cac buoc i thuc su e ep Trieu Tien phi hat nhan hoa.

"Neu ay la mot nguyen nhan thi chinh quyen cua ong Trump muon e Trung Quoc co them thoi gian thuc hien cac buoc i tiep theo", ong Friedhoff nhan inh.

Tuy nhien chuyen gia cua Hoi ong cac van e quoc te Chicago nhan manh ca nhan ong van nghi ngo cam ket cua Bac Kinh trong viec buoc Binh Nhuong tu bo hat nhan.

Giao su cua UC Berkeley luu y bien phap trung phat ma quoc te a ap dung voi Trieu Tien khong co nhieu tac ong. Trung Quoc van chua cat ut giao thuong va au tu voi Trieu Tien, giup Binh Nhuong tranh uoc cac bien phap trung phat toi te nhat ma My va Lien Hop Quoc ua ra. Trong khi o Trieu Tien van tang cuong nang luc, cung co suc manh quan su e ngan chan cac vu tan cong cua My hoac cac nuoc khac.

"My thuc su khong lam uoc gi nhieu e ap tra cac vu thu ten lua va hat nhan cua Trieu Tien", ong Pempel cho hay.

Giao su T. J. Pempel, Khoa Chinh tri, ai hoc California tai Berkeley (UC Berkeley), My, cho rang hanh ong duy nhat co the khien Trieu Tien dung cac vu thu hat nhan va ten lua la bien phap trung phat nham vao ngan hang, ngat ket noi cua Binh Nhuong voi he thong ngan hang quoc te.

"Bien phap o a phat huy tac dung voi Iran, tuy nhien My van chua san sang e thuc hien, vi lo Trung Quoc buc minh. Cac bien phap nay se gay anh huong toi cac ngan hang Trung Quoc ang co giao dich voi Trieu Tien", ong Pempel noi.

Tien si Jae H. Ku, Giam oc Vien nghien cuu My - Han, ai hoc Johns Hopkins, tin rang Trieu Tien se tiep tuc tien hanh cac vu thu ten lua vi "chi co thu moi hoan thien uoc he thong phong". Binh Nhuong khong quan tam en viec tam ngung thu va phat trien en khi co u so luong he thong phong ten lua hoan hao. ong tinh voi quan iem nay, chuyen gia Friedhoff cho biet Trieu Tien ang nang cao nang luc qua cac vu thu ten lua. Ke ca khi nhung vu thu that bai, cac nha nghien cuu cua Binh Nhuong van co co hoi trau doi.

Chuyen gia Friedhoff trong oi My se gia tang cac bien phap trung phat on phuong va a phuong voi Trieu Tien, trong o co cac bien phap trung phat phu, nham vao cac thuc the kinh doanh o cac nuoc thu ba, ac biet la o Trung Quoc, co quan he lam an voi Trieu Tien.

"Khi cac quan chuc cua chinh quyen Trump noi rang ho nghi Trung Quoc ang khoi ong viec hop tac ay u hon ve Trieu Tien, va ang hy vong co nhieu hop tac hon trong tuong lai, toi khong nghi cac bien phap trung phat moi se uoc nhanh chong ap dung", ong Friedhoff noi.

Khanh Lynh
A new research center to tackle the threat of lifestyle diseases  medical conditions such as obesity that are caused or aggravated by a persons own behavior  will be established at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute (VTCRI) in the heart of the Roanoke Innovation District.

Scientists and clinicians throughout Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic will join forces at the new VTCRI Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors in a strategic effort to protect the health of people in Virginia and the United States, according to Michael J. Friedlander, Virginia Techs vice president for health sciences and technology and the executive director of the research institute.

The initiative will be led by two authorities in lifestyle disease research  Warren Bickel, the Virginia Tech Carilion Behavioral Health Research Professor, and Matthew Hulver, the head of the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.



As medical science improves and the diseases caused by biological problems diminish, the proportion of diseases associated with behaviors we do to ourselves  overeating, doing drugs, not following medical advice  are going to be comparatively larger, said Bickel, who also directs VTCRIs Addiction Recovery Research Center. We think the future of health care is in fact understanding and promoting healthy behavior.



Ultimately, the university intends to amass the talent and resources to compete to become a federally funded National Center of Excellence in translational research in the context of health behaviors and lifestyle-related diseases.



We all know someone who is dealing with a weight problem, we all know someone who has type 2 diabetes, and we all have witnessed the negative health ramifications of lifestyle-related disease, Hulver said. By bringing together VTCRI and Virginia Tech faculty and working with Carilion Clinic and other partners, we can make a real difference and impact the trajectory of lifestyle-related disease.



Most of the health care costs in the United States are associated with risky health behavior and poor choices characteristic of lifestyle-related diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



New treatments for individual diseases from diabetes to addiction emerge every day from research labs across the globe, Friedlander said. In comparison, the science to address problems when habits or poor judgment get in the way of health is minimal. This center will unite interdisciplinary researchers and clinical experts to understand behavioral, social, molecular, and metabolic processes associated with lifestyle diseases to protect the health of our citizens and reduce financial pressure on the health care system.



The VTCRI Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors is the first major biomedical research collaboration to emerge from the recently established Virginia Tech Carilion Health Sciences and Technology Campus.



The center was chartered through Virginia Techs Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation and will comprise the health behavior research programs led by Bickel at the VTCRI and research programs initiated under the Fralin Translational Obesity Research Center.



Initially, the center will involve faculty from VTCRI, the College of Science, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Kevin Davy, a former co-director of the Fralin Translational Obesity Research Center and a professor of human nutrition, foods, and exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will continue his work with the new center and continue to direct Virginia Techs Translational Obesity Research Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program.



With the global population swelling by an additional 2 billion people in the next 30 years, our college is anticipating and responding to important challenges and creating partnerships that will make a difference in Virginia and around the globe, said Alan Grant, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Working alongside Virginia Cooperative Extension, we protect and preserve human health while seeking to understand food choices, food security, obesity, lack of physical activity, and lifestyle-related diseases.



Along with faculty from VTCRI and Carilion Clinic, faculty from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and additional Virginia Tech colleges, including the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, will be encouraged to complement lifestyle-disease research at the new center.



We have long recognized the importance of partnerships in addressing the problem of unhealthy lifestyles and related diseases, said Michael P. Jeremiah, chair of the department of family and community medicine at Carilion Clinic and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and senior medical director of population health with Carilion Clinic. This type of innovative research has the potential to unlock new ways of helping people overcome their own individual health challenges, and we look forward to continuing to improve health in the communities we serve by integrating our work with the new centers plans.



Beyond creating interactions with health care providers and researchers, center programs will leverage Virginia Cooperative Extension in efforts to modifying health behaviors and the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases.



Next steps for the new center include organizing space on the Virginia Tech Carilion Health Sciences and Technology campus and aligning faculty and staff for optimum research success, the center directors said.


DAVENPORT - The report President Donald Trump revealed classified information to Russian officials last week drew condemnation from Democrats on Tuesday as they renewed their call for a special prosecutor.

However, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, while saying he hadn't been briefed on the matter, pointed to the administration's defense of the president and said Congress' intelligence committees are best suited to look into the matter.

The Washington Post reported Monday Trump revealed classified information to top Russian diplomats in a meeting at the White House last week.

"Russia is not our friend, yet President Trump seems extraordinarily comfortable inviting Russian agents into the Oval Office and sharing with them highly classified intelligence thats too sensitive to even share with our allies," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, said.

She and U.S. Reps. Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois, and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, called for a special counsel to look into Trump ties to Russia. Meanwhile, Bustos and Loebsack said the revelations are focusing attention on "national security risks," as Loebsack put it, rather than on the economy.

"This latest international incident underscores the importance of having a truly independent investigation led by a special prosecutor to uncover the full extent of President Trumps ties to the Putin regime," Bustos said Tuesday.

Grassley said he didn't know himself whether the disclosures were problematic. But he pointed to National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster's defense of the revelations and noted the president has "the authority to declassify and share information he deems necessary in the interest of our national security."

McMaster said the president's remarks to the Russian ambassador and foreign minister last week were "wholly appropriate."

A spokesperson for Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said: "Senator Ernst has questions about what information was shared and hopes to learn more from the administration soon. As she has made clear, Russia is not our friend, and the U.S. must be extremely cautious in our engagement with them."
CEDAR FALLS  The display of a traveling version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial has been delayed due to severe weather concerns.

A semi truck carrying The Wall that Heals arrived at Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49 late Wednesday morning and volunteers were prepared to assemble it. But storm predictions that included the possibility of damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes caused organizers to rethink their plans.

Everything has been switched over to tomorrow (Thursday), said Wayne Heiselman of Fredericksburg, second vice commander of the Cedar Falls AMVETS Post. We just cant take a chance on the bad weather. Im just worried about the visitors.

The stormy weather is expected to be over by today, when setup will begin at 6:30 a.m.

Opening ceremonies will be at 1:30 p.m. on the AMVETS grounds at 1934 Irving St. Speakers are planned with participation by various veterans organizations. More than 200 volunteers will staff the exhibit through Sunday.

Motorcycle and bicycle rides benefiting veterans will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, starting and ending at the post. The ride will raise funds for and awareness of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Closing ceremonies will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

The half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., bears the name of the 58,000 Americans who died in the war. It is displayed in communities across the country.
Despite a bipartisan effort to reduce the U.S. prison population, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions wants to increase the nations leadership in incarceration instead.

In an address to the New York City police union Friday during National Police Week, Sessions ordered federal prosecutors to pursue the toughest penalties possible against criminal defendants, although with discretion to avoid sentences that would result in an injustice.

Sessions called it a key part of President Trumps promise to keep America safe. While violent crime has declined over the past 30 years, it started spiking in some major cities in 2015.

The murder rate has surged 10 percent nationwide, the largest increase in murder since 1968, and we know that drugs and crime go hand in hand. They just do. The facts prove thats so, Sessions said.

As a senator from Alabama, Sessions backed legislation to make a second conviction for marijuana trafficking a capital offense, possibly including the death penalty.

Sessions reversed a policy Obama administration U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder initiated in 2013 that prosecutors avoid charging certain defendants with offenses triggering long mandatory minimum sentences. Among other criteria, those defendants could not belong to a large-scale drug trafficking organization.

Holder called Sessions policy dumb on crime. It is an ideologically motivated, cookie-cutter approach that has only been proven to generate unfairly long sentences that are often applied indiscriminately and do little to achieve long-term public safety.

The U.S. has 4.4 percent of the global population, but nearly a fifth of its inmates  nearly 2.3 million of the 11 million behind bars in 2016.

Sessions policy wont put a huge dent in the overall prison population because federal incarcerations are only 197,000 of the total, topped by drug offenses (97,000), according to Prison Policy Initiative.

Another 1.33 million people are in state prisons, while 630,000 languish in local jails, including 443,000 awaiting trial. The inability of low-income people to make bail  even at $500  accounts for the disproportionate of the latter number, according to the PPI.

The U.S. prison population began to soar in the 1980s following a drug epidemic that prompted passage of legislation for mandatory minimums and three-strikes-and-youre-out sentences that often resulted in either prolonged or life terms for nonviolent crimes. States followed suit.

The bill for federal, state and local incarcerations is $80 million annually. Housing a federal inmate cost $31,977.65 in 2015, according to the Federal Register. States have attempted to reduce their prison populations by diverting lower-risk offenders to community-based programs and reclassifying high- and low-risk offenders to reduce their time behind bars.

Lawrence Leiser, president of the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, praised Sessions for restoring the tools that Congress intended assistant U.S. attorneys to have at their disposal to prosecute drug traffickers and dismantle drug trafficking enterprises.

But groups from the American Civil Liberties Union on the left to organizations funded by the Koch brothers on the right saw it differently.

Jeff Sessions is pushing federal prosecutors to reverse progress and repeat a failed experiment  the War on Drugs  that has devastated the lives and rights of millions of Americans, ripping apart families and communities and setting millions, particularly black people and other people of color, on a vicious cycle of incarceration, stated Udi Ofer, director of the ACLUs Campaign for Smart Justice.

We favor a different approach, which requires changing some of the existing federal laws, said Mark Holden, chairman of the Kochs Freedom Partners. There are less costly and more effective ways to help low-level offenders who arent a threat to public safety other than incarceration.

A year ago, it seemed a bipartisan group of senators had majority support to reduce mandatory minimum sentences for first-time and nonviolent offenders and establish new programs to enable offenders to adjust to life after prison.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, a co-author of the SAFE (Safe, Accountable, Fair, Effective) Justice Act, said, Theres no doubt that drug and human trafficking and gang-related crimes continue to persist and poison the well of civic life, endangering public safety daily. And yet, theres room for sensible reforms that improve the criminal justice system so that its fair and just to victims, the accused and taxpayers. The right policy mix of reforms can give low-level offenders who have paid their debts to society a second chance to rejoin their families and find employment in their communities.

Sessions helped keep the bill from coming to the floor. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called him the number one opponent of the bipartisan effort.

Grassley is correct reforms are needed, particularly with low-level offenders who pose little threat to society and whose incarceration unnecessarily boosts taxpayers bills. Unfortunately, Sessions seems intent on sticking a stake into the heart of that bipartisan approach.
INDEPENDENCE  Reality TV star Chris Soules has filed a formal not-guilty plea in connection with a fatal crash in April.

Soules, 35, waived his right to appear at an arraignment in court and instead opted to file a written arraignment and not-guilty plea to a felony charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He also demanded a speedy trial.

The plea was filed Tuesday in Buchanan County District Court.

Soules, a rural Arlington resident who starred in The Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars, was arrested following an April 24 crash that killed 66-year-old Kenneth Mosher north of Aurora. Prosecutors allege he left the scene before law enforcement arrived and refused to come out of his house until authorities had obtained a search warrant.

On Monday, a district court judge turned down a motion to throw out charges.

Attorneys for Soules had asked the court to dismiss the charge because Soules had called 911 to notify authorities about the collision and remained on the scene for more than five minutes.

In an order issued Monday, Judge Kellyann Lekar declared the motion moot on procedural grounds because a trial information  a formal charging document  had been filed in the case.

The trial information and minutes of testimony  an outline of the evidence  were filed May 7 and were reviewed by Lekar, who found sufficient evidence to allow the charge to proceed at that time, according to court records.

In response, the defense on Tuesday filed a motion asking the state to provide specific details about the evidence in order to prepare for trial. In the motion, defense attorney Gina Messamer argued the minutes of testimony dont provide enough information to back the charge.

Messamer also asked the state to provide the specific time and location Mosher was pronounced dead, arguing the charge is worded to apply only if a person has died before the surviving driver leaves the crash scene.

The phrase surviving driver is used twice in the last sentence of Iowa Code 321.263(2), again indicating the requirements of that sentence apply only if an individual has died while the surviving driver is on scene, she wrote in the motion.

Until there is a fatality, a person involved in an accident has no obligation to remain at the scene, return to the scene or inform law enforcement of his or her location, Messamer wrote.

Woman gets prison for arson

WATERLOO  A Waterloo woman has been sentenced to prison for dousing a vehicle containing children with gasoline in March.

Traynetta Brisha Monique Ford, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree arson, reduced from first-degree arson, Friday as part of a plea agreement. She was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Authorities allege Ford was carrying a plastic soda bottle with gasoline when she approached a relative, Yoshida Thomas, in the Logan Avenue Convenience Store around 9:30 a.m. March 21. Ford poured gas on Thomas and threatened to ignite her with a lighter, court records state.

She allegedly left the store and poured gas on Thomass Dodge Durango, which held her children, before Thomas chased her away, according to court records.

Police officers who responded to the call soon learned Ford was posting messages to Facebook, including information she was hiding in the back of a truck not far from the store, court records state.

As a patrol officer drove by a Dodge pickup parked near an alley off of Harrison Street, Fords head popped up from the bed, records state. She was detained while talking on her cell phone, records state.

Officers searched the area and found two bottles that smelled of gas under a trailer in the alley.
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Joshua Malbin has been birding in Brooklyn, NY for more than 10 of his 15-plus years doing it so far. Hes been working as a writer and editor for almost 20, and has contributed fiction and nonfiction to more than a dozen online and print journals. He cohosts the independent comics review podcast Comics for Grownups and has self-published a novel about water wars in the western U.S. Another is in the works.

A New York City Parks Department contractor just wiped out a breeding population of sparrows in tons of trouble already, on land owned by the parks department that was supposed to be protected as Forever Wild. Heres a short video of the damage.

It looks to me like they drove a crane straight through this section of whats called Four Sparrow Marsh. Any destruction like this of a wetland would be bad, of course. What makes it particularly egregious in this case is that the scar you can see in the video goes straight through what was a breeding habitat for Saltmarsh Sparrows. Heres a map showing all the Saltmarsh Sparrow nests counted between 2012 and 2015, right in this one spot, by a biologist working with this population.

In 2016, the DOT started rebuilding a bridge on the highway next to Four Sparrow Marsh, and maybe because of the noise, maybe because of the removal of some buffer plants, the sparrows did not breed that year. I got a landscape architect to review the construction plans, though, and it looked to him like in the long term the marsh should be okay. The last time I checked on it in the summer of 2016, the marsh still looked like the picture below, taken in March 2016, only greener. There was still hope that the sparrows might return. Not anymore.

Instead, a contractor removing debris from from the other side of the marsh from the DOT project tore up and destroyed the habitat.

Saltmarsh Sparrows are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. They breed only in salt marshes along the Atlantic coast from Delaware to Maine, and their habitat keeps getting destroyed, developed, and fragmented. Their population is currently only 53,000 individuals and declining at a staggering 9 percent a year, a rate that will make them extinct within 50 years. Four Sparrow Marsh is one of two patches of original saltmarsh on the north shore of Jamaica Bay, and until 2015, it hosted one of the only two breeding populations of Saltmarsh Sparrows in New York City.

The Department of Environmental Conservation has been alerted. It is going to review the situation and decide what to do. I have no idea what the range of possibilities is. The best outcome I can think of, though, is that the contractor will be forced to pay for some restoration in the marsh. But even if they are, restored marshes are never quite as good as the original, and it could take years before the grasses grow back enough to be sparrow habitat. By then it could be too late. These sparrows have an unusual, communal breeding system, so its not clear to me that it would be enough for just one or two to find the spot. Still, I think we New York birders need to push for it. This species is in too much trouble to throw away a breeding ground.
NORTHEAST, KY, May 17, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- High-paying jobs are coming to Northeast Kentucky and the Appalachian region. Aluminum company Braidy Industries is constructing the first aluminum rolling mill to be built in the United States for more than three decades. This $1.3 billion investment will create 1,000 construction jobs, 550 permanent jobs and more than 1,000 jobs in supporting industries. This is the most significant project for the economy of Northeast Kentucky and Appalachia in decades and will be an incredible economic boost for the region.



Governor Bevin said, "The arrival of Braidy Industries is the single-most important event to date in our efforts to breathe new life into the Eastern Kentucky region and to provide jobs for a skilled workforce ready for new opportunities."



The new facility will be 2.5-million-square-feet and groundbreaking is expected to be in first quarter of 2018. Braidy Industries will be implementing nano-crystaline technology and other technological advancements to make this state-of-the-art facility highly efficient. Through the construction of a state-of-the-art facility and location in Northeast Kentucky, it is projected that Braidy Industries will be 20 - 25 percent more competitive.



Stakeholders from throughout the State of Kentucky worked to make it easy for Braidy Industries to locate there. Tim Gibbs, President and CEO of Ashland Alliance, said, "This was one of the smoothest and fastest billion-dollar projects to ever be brought to market. It worked because we had the data, certified science, and workforce Braidy Industries required to make their decision. With strong partnerships at every level, we could provide the information required to fully assess the opportunity for them to locate in Northeast Kentucky. We have a story to tell for why businesses should locate here and the data to back it up. We were ready for this."



As the second largest aerospace exporter in the nation, Northeast Kentucky is the country's best kept secret. As a Right to Work State with low power and water costs, companies locating here can realize significant savings. Geographically, the region is less than an eight-hour drive from more than half of the country's population and 60 percent of manufacturing, while being in the middle of automotive and aerospace manufacturing. Unparalleled logistical transportation options with convenient access to rail, barge, and major truck routes, make it easy for companies like Braidy Industries to transport goods throughout the country.



Additionally, Northeast Kentucky has eight times the number of highly-skilled metal fabrication workers than elsewhere in the country. For companies seeking metal workers, it is possible to open a facility and be fully staffed within days. These are people who want to live in their community of choice and are willing to commute up to two hours for work in order to do so, giving companies numerous options for who to hire.



During an interview of Fox News, Braidy Industries Chairman and CEO Craig Bouchard said, "... we have low energy prices, and we have labor force that is under employed that we can benefit from. This is the best time to invest in 50 years."



Ashland Alliance is here to assist other companies looking to ride the wave of momentum that is sweeping Northeast Kentucky. As a dual chamber of commerce and economic development organization, they have been helping businesses for 100 years. Ashland Alliance can assist by making important connections and pulling everything together for businesses and projects to succeed.



For more information, contact:



Tim Gibbs

Ashland Alliance

606-324-5111 office

606-207-0042 cell

[email protected]



OR



Amanda Clark

Vice President of Operations

Ashland Alliance

606-324-5111 office

606-831-2963 cell

[email protected]



# # #
May 17, 2017 | By Julia

A Dutch ship manufacturer is making waves with a new focus on 3D printed parts. Earlier today, Damen Shipyards Group announced its newest venture: the development of a 3D printed, class approved propellor for its Damen Stan Tug 1606 model.

The first class approved 3D printed ship propellor in the world, the WAAMpeller (as its been dubbed) is the outcome of a new partnership between Damen, RAMLAB, Promarin, Autodesk and Bureau Veritas (BV).

According to Kees Custers, Project Engineer in Damens Research and Development department, the project began to pique Damens interest a little over a year ago, thanks to one of the companys in-house student research programs. Three students from Delft Technical University were investigating the potential of 3D printing for us. They brought us into contact with the other members of the consortium, Custers said.

What is quite unique about this group of five companies is that, while we have joint interests, we also have individual aims. This leads to a very productive and cooperative atmosphere in what is a very exciting project, he added.

Specifically, RAMLAB from the Port of Rotterdam will be manufacturing the WAAMpeller from a bronze alloy, using a 3D printing process known as Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). Autodesk software will be used in this process. BV, on the other hand, will be involved in classing the propellor.

The WAAMpeller will be modelled after a Promarin design commonly seen on Damens Stan Tug 1606s. Measuring 1,300mm in diameter, the propellor should weigh roughly 180kg.

As the first ever application of a metal printed object in the maritime industry, Damen is clear that no stone will go unturned during the upcoming full scale trials.

We will be performing a comprehensive programme that will include bollard pull and crash test scenarios. Our ambition is to demonstrate that the research phase for 3D printing in the maritime sector is over, and that it can now be effectively applied in operations, Custers said.

The first propellor is expected to be 3D printed this summer. As Damen reps are quick to note, this project will hopefully be the first of many. As a part of its long term research program, the firm is working toward producing the next generation of maritime components for future vessels, Damen execs said in a statement.

The company has reported it is currently investigating the possibility of supplying parts to clients on demand. With a network of printers established, Damen says it will soon be possible to deliver parts anywhere in the world in a matter of mere days.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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EvgenyNN wrote at 5/23/2017 5:33:18 PM:What the price of one propeller will be?mr bloody annoyed at the hype wrote at 5/22/2017 6:33:42 PM:So this hasn't actual happened AT ALL. it is not the first of anything - as it HASN'T HAPPENED. it is aspiration and may not work AT all.




May 17, 2017 | By Tess

A team of researchers from Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine and the McCormick School of Engineering has successfully implanted 3D bioprinted prosthetic ovaries into a number of infertile mice. Amazingly, the mice who received the bioprinted implants have now given birth to healthy litters.

The study, which was recently published in the journal Nature Communications, marks a breakthrough for fertility research, as the researchers believe their process could one day help women whose fertility has been affected by cancer treatments to give birth.

To make the prosthetic ovaries, the researchers used a 3D bioprinting method to build up porous scaffolds from a liquid gelatin ink (a biocompatible hydrogel made from broken down collagen).

Once printed, the scaffolds were then filled with ovarian follicles. For those not overly familiar with reproductive anatomies, ovarian follicles are the fluid-filled sacs that each contain an oocyte, or immature egg. The structure and porosity of the printed scaffold not only house the follicles, but also allow for them to grow and for the hosts blood vessels to infiltrate the implant.

A macroscopic view of the five-layered scaffold 3D printed using a 100 m nozzle

To test the 3D bioprinted ovary implants, the research team implanted a number of them into mice whose ovaries had been surgically removed, making them infertile. Within a week of the implantation, the prosthetic ovaries were already being integrated into the bodies of the mice, and the follicles started to mature and eventually ovulate.

After mating naturally, three of the seven mice implanted with the 3D printed ovaries actually gave birth to pups (at least two each). Once born, the pups were reportedly healthy and were able to feed from their mothers milk.

Follicles in the 3D bioprinted scaffold structure

Our hope is that one day this ovarian bioprosthesis is really the ovary of the future, commented Teresa Woodruff, from Northwestern University in Chicago. The goal of the project is to be able to restore fertility and endocrine health to young cancer patients who have been sterilized by their cancer treatment.

Indeed, many women who undergo cancer treatments can see their fertility affected, as chemotherapy has been known to trigger sterility and early menopause, and other treatments can cause damage to the eggs. And while a number of other fertility preservation methods are being explored, Northwesterns bioprinted ovaries could be a promising approach.

After the success of the mice ovary implants, the research team is now working on scaling up the project, to make bigger scaffolds to be tested on larger animals and, hopefully one day, humans.

One researcher, Ramille Shah, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering at McCormick School of Engineering, told the press that she hoped a bioprinted ovary prosthetic for humans would be implanted within the next five years. Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done on that front.

The full research paper, entitled A bioprosthetic ovary created using 3D printed microporous scaffolds restores ovarian function in sterilized mice, can be found here.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Atanas G. Atanasov wrote at 5/18/2017 9:50:38 AM:Very interesting study I have featured it in my new post on Health and Science Portal: http://healthandscienceportal.blogspot.com/2017/05/3d-printed-artificial-ovaries-display.htmlAnonymous wrote at 5/17/2017 7:20:07 PM:Can we please be more careful about the terms used? The term "bioprinted" is not used in the published research article (except in the titles of the references), probably because the researchers did not consider this bioprinting. Many would not consider this bioprinting because it does not involve the deposition of cells by the 3D printer. This is a 3D printed scaffold.




May 17, 2017 | By Benedict

Sigma Labs, the New Mexico-based quality assurance company behind PrintRite3D, has posted its financial results for the first quarter of 2017. Total revenue was $150,203, down on the same period last year. CEO Mark Cola says he is pleased with the progress of the company.

The first quarter of 2017 marked a busy period for Sigma Labs, with the New Mexico company making serious plans with Morf3D, announcing a contract with Aerojet Rocketdyne, and partnering with Jaguar Precision Machine.

During the First Quarter of 2017, we made additional, significant progress in our further establishing the requisites for Sigma Labs and our partners to provide market leading, end-to-end 3D advanced manufacturing ecosystem capabilities, commented Mark Cola, President & CEO of Sigma Labs.

During the three months that ended March 31, 2017, total revenue for Sigma Labs was $150,203, as compared to $358,455 in revenue during the same period in 2016.

The company explained this decrease by pointing to the completion of the GEA America Makes Program and DARPA Phase II project in 2016, both of which provided three months of revenue in 2016 but no revenue in 2017.

Net loss for Q1 increased over the prior year and totaled $943,965 as compared to $470,667 for the same period in 2016. Sigma Labs attributed this to decreased revenue and higher expenses in the quarter.

For Cola, however, the results provide more reason for optimism than the bare figures might suggest. We are very pleased with the progress we have achieved in our client and OEM partner growthand we hope to realize increased revenue from our diversified channel growth strategies, he said.

These strategies include PrintRite3D system sales, engineering consulting services including the Aerojet Rocketdyne Booster Propulsion program and Honeywell Aerospace for the DARPA Period 3 efforts, and activities from our strategic alliance and potential business combination with Morf3D.

According to Cola, the Morf3D deal represents a big opportunity for Sigma Labs. In a conference call organized to discuss these financial results, the CEO said the potential merger could help us achieve our goal of becoming a fully integrated business able to charge for material selection, design and manufacturing and in-process quality assurance.

Sigma Labs appointed its new Board of Directors in the first quarter 2017 and appointed John Rice Chairman in April 2017.

The company also sent representatives to last weeks RAPID + TCT event in Pittsburgh, PA, where the company unveiled its new PrintRite3D INSPECT V.2.0 quality assurance software.

Posted in 3D Printer Company

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May 17, 2017 | By Tess

Prodways Group (PWG), the France-based industrial 3D printing company, has announced that its recent IPO listing was a huge success. The company, which recently went public on the Euronext Paris securities exchange, reportedly raised 50.7 million after the full exercise of the Extension Clause and before the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The amount has the potential of raising up to 66 million if the Over-allotment Option is exercised.

According to a Prodways press release from the day before the May 12 listing, the IPO price was set at 4.80 per share, on the higher end of the indicative price range. To the companys pleasure, the IPO initial offer was oversubscribed by almost six times and saw a market capitalization of around 232 million on the day of listing.

Groupe Gorge, Prodways parent company, has remained the majority share holder of the 3D printing company, retaining 67.38% of shares. Before the exercise of the Olver-allotment Option, a total of 10,570,192 shares were made available.

Raphael Gorge, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Prodways, said: We are delighted with the very high level of investor interest, both in France and outside of France, and the outstanding success of our IPO, and would like to warmly thank all the investors who have joined us.

We now have the financial means to accelerate our R&D investments and business development, as well as to finance our targeted acquisitions in the 3D printing sector. We will continue to seek out performing companies offering high added value, be it in terms of their complementary technologies or because they will allow us to make inroads into new markets.

In being listed on Euronext Paris, Prodways Group has joined some 330 technology companies that are listed on the Euronext market. Impressively, the companys listing broke participation records for small and mid-cap companies. The company drew particular attention from retail investors, who reportedly invested about 51 million into the company.

Raphael Gorge, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Prodways

Prodways Group, known for its 3D printing solutionsincluding its materials, ProMaker 3D printers, and MOVINGLight DLP 3D printing technologyalso recently signed an agreement with French aircraft engineering company Safran, through which the latter acquired a stake in the former.

Prodways has all of the necessary attributes to continue its growth trajectory," concluded Raphael Gorge. "Already uniquely positioned as an integrated European player, our ambition is now to see our Company become a global leader in industrial 3D printing.

Posted in 3D Printer Company

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Quarterly Trading Update Ending 31 March 2017

Hong Kong, May 17, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - China Dairy Corporation Limited ( ASX:CDC ) (the "Company") expects long term performance and competitiveness to be driven by herd optimisation. The Company is continuing to work on its initiatives to optimise the structure of the herd to primarily increase the proportion of milkable cows. As outlined in the table below, the Company has continued to make improvements over FY2017 Q3, with milkable cows reaching 63.37% of total cows owned by the Company.



- Cash holdings are strong as of 31 March 17 at US$32.4m (approx. A$42.4m)



- Net Tangible Assets at 31 March 17 are A$0.33 per share



- Revenues stable for FY2017 Q3 at US$29.3m (approx. A$38.7m) vs US$29.6m (approx. A$39.4m) for the previous quarter



- Gross Profit for FY2017 Q3 was US$11.4m (approx. A$15.1m) representing a 2.45% increase over the previous quarter



- FY2017 Q3 Operating Expenses decreased by 5.28% to US$1.2m (approx. A$ 1.6m) when compared to the previous quarter



- EPS for FY2017 Q3 of A$0.021



Highlights

--------------------------------------------------------------------- Period ending Milkable cows as a percentage of total cows (Company-owned only) 31-Mar-16 55.83% 30-Jun-16 57.42% 30-Sep-16 58.44% 31-Dec-16 61.24% 31-Mar-17 63.37% ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Herd growth will be supported both organically and by acquisition, management expect to complete the purchase of between 1,000 and 2,000 adult dairy cows over the short term.



As of March 2017, the Company has invested over A$1.15m in the research and development segment of the company, focusing on new products and fodder feed. Investment in R&D of fodder feed increases the health of dairy cows and contributes to increased production of raw milk. The Company is currently exploring the acquisition of new pastural lands required specifically for the development of new product lines, including a specialised children's milk product. The Company's continuing focus is on herd development and the increase in milkable cows as is evidenced by the increase in both herd size and proportion of milkable cows.



Outlook



Management will continue to develop and optimise herd size and operations in line with the Company's strategic objectives. As scale of operations expands and the herd shifts toward greater milk production, the Company has the option to engage additional raw milk contracts. Management will continue to update investors as operations scale towards greater raw milk production.





About China Dairy Corp Ltd





China Dairy Corporation Limited (ASX:CDC) is a company primarily engaged in the production and wholesale of raw milk and the rearing, breeding and sale of dairy cows in Heilongjiang province, China.

CDC generates revenue through two primary business models:

- the sale of raw milk from cows that are owned by the company; and

- milk sale commissions on the sale of raw milk from cows the company has sold to farmers.

As at 31 March 2017, CDC owned 31,877 cows and partnered with farmers with an additional 20,927 cows from which CDC makes a sales commission on the milk sold.
FY17 $20.3m and Cash Flow Positive



FY17 Cash Revenue Guidance Update

Sydney, May 17, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Big Un Limited ( ASX:BIG ) ('the Company') is pleased to provide a guidance update on cash receipts anticipated for FY17 of $19.5m excluding receipts from BHA Media Ltd (BHA). Receipts from BHA are anticipated to be in excess of $0.8m and provide the Company with combined results for full FY17 of $20.3m (an increase of 399% on FY16 of $4.1m). This represents a material increase in the forecast numbers. Prior guidance for FY17 was given as $15.5m excluding BHA.



The Company is also pleased to advise that it anticipates remaining cash flow positive.



Customer Retention

Growth in Revenue Generated from Existing Customers



BIG has been approaching existing customers over the past 12 months to offer them renewals and upgrades to new products and can now publish the consolidated results of this exercise.



- The Company has focussed resources on approaching bigger SMEs within the customer database and presenting higher value video products in order to realise the most efficient and effective outcome for the Company.



- Cash revenue for Q3 FY17 totalled $5.6m of which $1.01m was from existing customers. This compares with a total Company video cash revenue for the same period in the prior year Q3 FY16 of $1.03m or a notional revenue churn of only 3% from the same period in the prior year.



- For the past 12 months, cash revenue from existing customers was $2.65m compared with a total company video revenue over the corresponding prior year of $2.22m representing an increase in cash revenue of 19% (or a negative churn)



- The Company is also experiencing significant contract renewal rates from Australian Not for Profit organisations who are purchasing repeat Big Cares packages following completion of their initial 12 month contracts.



Company Outlook



Strong pillar one revenue from video technology continues with robust customer retention levels and increased ARPU. BIG is continuing to invest in the focussed expansion of the sales resources and operations to meet local and international market demand. Commenting on the outlook for the business Richard Evertz says " As we see the demand for video grow and the BIG business model mature, it is extremely comforting to see good customer retention figures and subscribers who are spending increased amounts with us. We expect to remain cash flow positive and to exceed our previous guidance for FY17. Further, from the acquisition of BHA we now have a direct relationship with over 50,000 businesses and are expecting these strong trends to continue going forward".



To view figures, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/D5U3A2GN





About Big Un Ltd





Big Un Ltd (ASX:BIG) is the parent company of Big Review TV Ltd. Big Review TV are innovative disruptors in the online video space delivering subscription based video technology products and services. The Company has operations across Australia and in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vancouver and was listed on the ASX in December 2014.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa was a great opportunity for Government officials, business and NGO leaders to discuss the economic future of Africa.

Government officials, business and NGO leaders and a host of others gathered at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa 2017 in Durban Kwazulu-Natal, to discuss the economic future of the continent, focusing on how growth can be fostered and more equitably spread.

The city of Durban became Africas Davos recently as it hosted the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa 2017, from the 3rd to the 5th of May.

Against a backdrop of slowing economic growth, rising food insecurity and a demographic shift, debate centered around youth, jobs, governance, inequality and education.

In addition, stakeholders had an opportunity to engage, facilitated the germination of ideas and initiatives that can shape the future of the global economy and its related systems. One of its 14 initiatives was on financial and monetary systems that affect the banking sector.

It is more than eight years since the 2008 global financial crisis plunged the world economy into turmoil and triggered policy reactions that continue to have a profound effect today. The theme of the recent WEF Africa meeting  "Achieving inclusive growth"  provided an opportunity to reflect on the regulatory changes put in place since then and what they mean for the future.

Africas youth population is expected to double by 2035 to more than 830 million, leaving a huge gap between the number of young people entering the workforce and jobs created to absorb them. Already today, only 3 million formal jobs are created each year while 10 to 12 million youth enter the workforce.



Businesses and governments spoke of working together, at scale, to build the environments and make the investments that will lead to more employment opportunities. The could mean everything from regional trade agreements to large scale infrastructure investments to improving education and agriculture.

Governance and growth



Tackling inequality will require government action and leadership, speakers throughout the summit emphasized. They did so with heads of state, including Zimbabwes President Robert Mugabe, South Africas President Jacob Zuma and Ugandas President Yoweri Museveni in attendance. Mugabe and Museveni have been in office for 30 and 31 years, respectively, while Zuma has faced intense criticism for numerous scandals for misusing government funds and questionable decision-making throughout his presidency.



That juxtaposition was not lost on the audience, both in person and online. Zimbabweans on Twitter reacted fiercely after Mugabe, sitting on a panel about fragile states, declared that his country was one of the most developed in Africa.



Winnie Byanyima, the CEO of Oxfam International, who was a chair of the event and an outspoken voice throughout the conference, didnt pass up the opportunity to call out some of the leaders directly.



You have people with power in the capital who rule us because they have the radio and the guns but have no legitimacy, because they dont have empowered people and empowered communities, she said in a plenary session, seated next to Mugabe. Responsible leadership, she said, means retiring and leaving office to give others an opportunity to lead.



Educating the future



Yet other challenges require more than just government leadership. Education, for example, is increasingly leaning on the private sector for support and innovation. A report released at WEF found that nearly one in five children in Africa goes to a private school. That represents an investment opportunity for businesses, as well as a challenge to policymakers to work with private schools as a regulator or even a funder.



In Liberia, Education Minister George Werner described his countrys experiment in bringing in private institutions to help run public schools through the Partnership Schools for Liberia program. He told Devex he felt he had to try the new approach, rather than waiting decades for Liberias decimated education system to be revived. I believe if we do nothing it is a crime against humanity, he said.



Discussions exposed a tension between advocates focusing on ensuring basic education access and others who would like to see the emphasis placed on skills training to ensure youth have employable skills in demand from companies.



What is clear, however, is that small, one-off initiatives probably wont be enough. Business and government need to find what works and scale it rapidly. Several job initiatives are underway: the African Development Bank aims to create 25 million jobs and impact 50 million youth by 2025 through its Jobs for Youth in Africa strategy. McKinsey runs a skills training program in five countries globally, including Kenya, focused on matching participants with jobs and training them accordingly.



There is too much focus on training, not just putting people in jobs, said Acha Leke, a senior partner in McKinseys Johannesburg office, during a press conference at WEF Africa. She argued that education and training programs are often not effectively linked to private sector demands.



Leapfrogging challenges



The need for skills and education also presents an opportunity, several people said during the conference: it allows systems to be designed with the digital economy in mind, leapfrogging directly into the high-tech economy.



Innovation will require better networks and more local capacity among entrepreneurs and scientists, according to several speakers. If you look at history, innovation around the world doesnt happen in isolated places, said Rodger Voorhies, the executive director of global development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, during a discussion at WEF Africa.



The Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust sought to raise awareness for a new initiative bringing together philanthropists, governments and academics  the Coalition for African Research and Innovation  which will aim to improve research capacity, boost investment, enable career pathways for scientists and help countries meet the African Union target of spending 1 percent of gross domestic product on research and development.



Food production is one area ripe for innovation on the continent. The famine in South Sudan and near famines in northern Nigeria and Somalia were mentioned throughout the conference.



Yet while research and planning could help  particularly in Somalia where a drought has fueled the conditions  famine is often an outward manifestation of failed political leadership, several speakers said.



Action ahead?



WEF Africa was a somber meeting, the challenges looming large over discussions. Despite a push to elicit specific recommendations from panelists, discussions may result in little action. Relatively few concrete, specific proposals or commitments emerged at the conference, though perhaps they will in the months ahead.



At this moment of great urgency, however, there isnt time to waste. A year from now leaders shouldnt be gathered discussing the same issues, Nachilala Nkombo, the interim Africa executive director for the ONE Campaign, said at a press conference.



As African stakeholders we can sit and wait for crisis  or we can take a proactive role to ensure action she said. We cannot treat the demographic transition as business as usual.
Jail authorities to probe VIP facilities being offered to Chhagan and Sameer Bhujbal after Anjali Damania filed a complaint with them.

After activist Anjali Damania had filed a complaint with Maharashtras Additional Director General (Prisons) Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay pertaining to luxurious facilities being offered to former Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal the Maharashtra prisons department has called for a probe into this matter. The investigation will be held under the leadership of DIG prisons Swathi Sathe.

Upadhyay has ordered for inquiry into the allegations made by Damania. He said, We had registered the complaints filed by Anjali Damania. We had taken necessary actions pertaining to the complaints lodged earlier. DIG Prison Swati Sathe has been deputed to conduct an inquiry about the preferential treatment being offered to Bhujbal. Necessary legal action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.

Earlier Anjali Damania had alleged that Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer were being offered several facilities in the prison which other accused may not be entitled to. In the complaint filed by Damania she mentioned, A television set was being installed in the cell and Bhujbal used to watch programmes. He was offered non-vegetarian food and fruits were also being provided to him every two hours. Even Vodka was being offered to Sameer mixed with coconut water in the prison. These incidents have been happening since January. Sameer Bhujbal also had access to mobile phones in the prison and he used to speak for three hours using it. Even mobile jammer was being snapped inside the prison for allowing Sameer to use phones.

The Enforcement Directorate had arrested Bhujbal and Sameer on March 2016 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Currently both are lodged in the Arthur Road jail.

Is he the only one getting these perks or there could be many more such VIPs/VVIPs in our prisons enjoying such luxuries. This is thanks to the rampant corruption in the jails. It is clearly the connivance of the Jail Authorities, Police department and the staff of government hospitals, said Anjali Damania.

Anjali had called for CCTV cameras to be installed in the prison for monitoring the activities of prisoners. The activist has requested Upadhyay to restrict and monitor the people meeting such prisoners in hospital.

There were reports that Bhujbal met a lot of people, including those from the political class, when he visits the court. This was widely covered by the media. But this was repeated. But, unfortunately no action has been taken and no lesson has been learnt?, reads the complaint.

Chhagan Bhujbals lawyer R.B.Mokashi said, ADG Bhusan Kumar Upadhayay is looking into the complaint filed by Anjali Damania. We are waiting for the arrival of probe report.

This is not the first instance where reports about preferential treatment offered to Chhagan and Sameer Bhujbal were published in media. Earlier, Damania had filed a contempt petition against Dr TP Lahane, the dean of JJ Hospital, for permitting Bhujbal to extend his stay at a private hospital in Mumbai on the pretext of offering medical treatment.
Carrying the Salvation Army flag, Maj. David Phelps of the Aiken Salvation Army begins his north-to-south walk across town Tuesday to bring awareness during National Salvation Army Week.
Qantas Freight has won a new contract to fly airmail between China and the US on behalf of China Post.

The airmail, which is managed by China Post and Australia Post joint venture Sai Cheng Logistics, will be airlifted from the mail giants hubs of Shanghai and Hong Kong to various points in the US by Qantas Freight using its Boeing 747-400 freighter network from Shanghai and belly capacity out of Hong Kong via Australia.

Qantas Freight currently operates four freighter services per week from Shanghai to the US, including stops in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and Dallas Fort Worth.

General Manager of Sai Cheng Jonathan Qiao said: We collect more than fifty tonnes of airmail each week across China bound for the US.

Our customers seek a fast and reliable service and Qantas service frequency and freight network to the US allows us to deliver just that.

With thirteen warehouses spread across eight cities in China, this partnership will strengthen our growing network, connecting Chinese consumers with the world."

Qantas Freight executive manager Alison Webster added: The uplift of China Post airmail is a welcome addition to our network and reinforces that the routing we operate is aligned to our customer needs

Weve been flying freight between China and the US for the past 14 years with a triangular freighter route that operates four times per week between Australia  China  the US  Australia.

The variety of freight we carry on this freighter network is extensive  including medical equipment, fresh produce, online shopping, mining equipment, racehorses and even the occasional helicopter.

Sai Cheng provides an integrated logistics solution for Chinese customers to overseas markets including Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the US, Europe and South America.

The new agreement builds on the longstanding Australia Post and Qantas relationship, which includes contracts for the transport of Australian international outbound mail as well as a dedicated domestic air freighter network.

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The release of a Precision Guided Munition (PGM) from an F/A18 Hornet aircraft occurs in the blink of an eye, but the work done prior to achieve that moment involves long, complex and thorough preparation.





Commander - Air Task Group, Air Commodore (AIRCDRE) Mike Kitcher said the process undertaken at the coalitions Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) to conduct a strike involves many agencies and processes to deliver munitions where they will achieve their best effect.

Hours prior to jets arriving on-station in West Mosul, the CAOC team begin liaison with coalition strike cells and review intelligence reporting of the area, to identify potential target areas, AIRCDRE Kitcher said.

Prior to the Hornets launching, Ground Liaison personnel from the Australian Army will brief the aircrew on the situation they can expect on the ground in West Mosul, including expected friendly positions and planned schemes of manoeuvre.

After air to air refuelling our Hornets approach West Mosul and dynamic target requests will be made to the CAOC team.

These will come from the Iraqi Security Forces and coalition support personnel who are on the ground in or near to West Mosul.

They will request support when they are coming under enemy fire or if they identify Daesh targets that are impeding their advance.

ISF and supporting coalition personnel will use a combination of direct observation and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance resources to pinpoint enemy targets.

This includes Full Motion Video (FMV) feeds from Remotely Piloted Aircraft overhead West Mosul, to refine targets, assess for legality and proportionality, ensure Iraqi government approval and minimise the risk to civilians before making a strike request.

Australian Hornets carry a variety of weapons, including Low Collateral Damage weapons, referred to as LOCO by the airmen, to ensure maximum flexibility when destroying valid targets while minimising the risk of harming civilians and property.

Our weapons are very precise, AIRCDRE Kitcher said.

We use a range of weapons and in West Mosul a lot of those have been LOCO bombs because of the nature of the terrain.

There are lots of old buildings very close together there.

To date the Air Task Group have dropped in excess of 1,860 munitions from approximately 2,300 Hornet sorties, ably supported by 990 KC-30A tanker sorties transferring over 75 million pounds of fuel and 340 E-7A-Wedgetail sorties conducting control of all air operations in the battlespace.

Number 1 Squadron and their Super Hornets have recently taken over from Number 77 Squadron in the strike role.

This sees the Super Hornets return to theatre for the second time since 2015 and the completion of more than two years of successful continuous operations from the Classic Hornets from Number 3, 75 and 77 Squadrons.



(Source: RAAF)
May 17, 2017

Algerias governing coalition won the majority of parliament seats in the recent election and, amid the countrys economic crisis, the Islamist Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP) earned enough seats to return to the political scene.

The ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) retained power in the oil-rich country in the May 4 legislative elections. Despite the sensitive timing of the vote, which coincided with tough economic cutbacks aimed at making up for decreasing oil prices, the FLN and its ally, the National Rally for Democracy (RND), secured 261 votes out of 462.

The RND obtained 97 seats, which helped save the FLN from losing the majority after winning only 164 seats  about one-quarter less than it won in 2012. The RND and FLN had formed a coalition to fend off rising challengers such as the MSP.

Voter turnout was low. During Friday prayers the week before, the Algerian minister of justice called for eligible citizens to participate in elections, yet only 37% voted, compared with 43% in 2012. The ministers lack of impact merely reaffirmed the peoples lack of interest in the elections.

Journalist Jalal Boutti lives in Algiers and covered the election for Chaab newspaper. Voter apathy and 2.7 million invalid or canceled ballots contributed to the low turnout percentage, but Jalal told Al-Monitor he also believes it was due in part to a boycott by voters to express their discontent.

According to Boutti, many parliament members are only concerned with the perks, money and legal immunity they receive. The poor turnout, he said, shows people have lost confidence in parliament.

The people felt they were let down by their representatives, who approved increasing [domestic] oil and food prices for the 2017 budget, which was the drop that made the cup overflow, Boutti said.

After the domestic oil price increases, Algeria also announced tax hikes to compensate for falling revenues. Those controversial moves seemed to open the door for the Islamist coalition MSP to re-enter Algerias political arena, where it came in third, winning 33 seats to become the strongest opposition party in parliament. (There are about three dozen parties.)

This gives the Algerian Muslim Brotherhood branch, which is affiliated with the MSP, some influence over the other dominant parties, such as the FLN.

Perhaps this explains the decision by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal to invite MSP leader Abderrazak Makri to participate in the choosing of Cabinet members.

I think the [MSP] could make a comeback thanks to the strength of its candidates.  The party is considered among the most powerful in the country, Boutti told Al-Monitor.

However, Makri said no decision has been made to accept the invitation. He noted the election results are being appealed.

I assured the prime minister that our participation in the government is up to our National Advisory Council, after the Constitutional Councils decision on the presented appeals, Makri wrote in a Facebook post.

Boutti sees several reasons why the Islamists have gained strength. The Islamists strength lies in the weakness of leftist and secular parties, which suffered major defections. Some of them even boycotted the elections. Therefore, the Islamist parties thrived because they also presented well-experienced candidates.

The Islamists could field a candidate in the next presidential elections. If Bouteflika runs for president again, the Islamists might not present a candidate. But if he does not, they will surely seek the presidency, Boutti told Al-Monitor. Bouteflika, 80, suffered a stroke in 2013.

Bouteflika has been president since 1999 and helped bring an end to 10 years of civil war. The former foreign minister is known for the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation. The countrys economy enjoyed massive growth during his term before the oil market crash in 2014, which still overshadows peoples lives. Algeria depends on oil to keep its economic wheels turning.

Unlike its neighbors, Algeria hasnt yet taken advantage of its tourism industry. While the country has beautiful coastal resorts in Oran and the charming desert of Adrar, this sector has not attracted enough investors or tourists to boost Algerias economy. Morocco and Tunisia, on the other hand, have focused on tourism for decades.

One out of three young Algerians is unemployed. This bitter fact could eventually help the Islamists in parliament continue their bid to take power. But this effort is likely to be blocked by the governing coalition, and the MSP could even find itself isolated in a direct confrontation with the FLN and RND in the 2019 presidential elections.
May 15, 2017

The Egyptian government plans to expand its religious tourism map by adding the route that Jesus, Mary and Joseph are believed to have traveled after they fled Palestine. The move comes in an effort to boost an industry that has been hit hard since the 2011 revolution. Tourism Minister Yehia Rashed flew to Rome on May 9 to discuss promotional opportunities involving the holy family's journey with Vatican tourism officials.

In a May 11 statement, Rashed said that eight of 25 historical sites to be included in the tour are ready to receive visitors. The sites include the Church of St. Sergius and the Hanging Church in Old Cairo, St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Convent in Maadi, the three monasteries of Wadi al-Natrun, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Jabal al-Tair near Minya, Muharraq Monastery at Mount Koskam and the Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Monastery at Mount Durunka in Assiut governorate. According to legend, the holy family made stops or had stays at these places or locations during their exile.

Shortly before Rashids trip to Rome, Pope Francis had made a landmark visit to Egypt, April 28-29. Rashid said in a statement, The popes visit, the photos [of it] and the content of the visit will contribute significantly to boosting Egypts tourism industry, especially in the markets interested in religious tourism.

The Gospel of Matthew says Mary, Joseph and Jesus fled to Egypt to escape the clutches of King Herod, who feared losing his throne after the Magi proclaimed Jesus the new king of the Jews. To stave off that possibility, Herod sought to kill Jesus. God visited Joseph in a dream, telling him to escort the baby Jesus and his mother to Egypt, where they would find refuge until Herod's death and receive his message to return to Palestine.

Many Egyptians hope that spotlighting Egypt's religious heritage will attract a large number of visitors from around the world. In 2005, the Tourism Ministry developed a plan to feature the holy family's connection and journey to Egypt to boost religious tourism. The plan never got off the ground, however, largely due to the political turbulence caused by the revolution and continuing through the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi. A ministerial committee was established last year to revive the plan, but little has been accomplished on the ground.

Rasheds visit to Rome is a good step toward promoting the journey abroad, especially after Pope Francis visit to the country and his statements on the sanctity of the journey, Adel Saleh Nagi, who owns a tourism company, told Al-Monitor. The pope invoked the journey, remarking, I am truly happy to be coming as a friend, as a messenger of peace, and a pilgrim to the country that, over 2,000 years ago, gave refuge and hospitality to the holy family as they fled the threats of King Herod. I am honored to visit the land visited by the holy family! In terms of rolling out a tourism campaign around the holy family, Nagi noted that it would have been better had it coincided with Francis visit, rather than taking place after it.

In a speech at a gathering organized by Al-Azhar University, Sunni Islams highest institution of learning, Francis said, For us, Egypt has been a sign of hope, refuge and help. When that part of the world suffered famine, Jacob and his sons went there. Then when Jesus was persecuted, he went there.  Egypt, for us, is that sign of hope both in history and for today, this brotherhood.

Nagi said that it is important that the Egyptian government and the Coptic Church sign protocols of cooperation with the Vatican, the spiritual guide for more than 1.2 billion Christians worldwide, and the Catholic Church in Europe to promote Jesus' flight into Egypt. He also noted that the government has to increase spending on security measures as well as on infrastructure to be able to accommodate a large number of Christian tourists.

Hotels near religious sites have to be given a facelift and provided with trained staff, Nagi said. Roads should be paved, garbage should be removed and slums have to be destroyed, with inhabitants relocated, so tourists will go back to their countries with a positive image of Egypt.

Tourism has long been a major source of income for Egypt. Before the January 25 Revolution, more than one in 10 workers were employed in the tourism industry, which generated approximately $12.5 billion in revenue. Egypt welcomed nearly 15 million tourists annually. By 2013, however, that number had fallen by a third, to under 10 million.

The situation further deteriorated after the downing of a Russian plane filled with tourists in Sinai in October 2015. According to the Tourism Ministry, Egypt has incurred monthly losses of 3.2 billion pounds ($178 million) directly and indirectly since the incident, which took the lives of 224 people. The Sinai affiliate of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to local media, Rashed anticipates a massive recovery in the tourism sector this year, with foreign airlines from major markets, including Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany, expected to resume flights to Egyptian tourist destinations. Revenue from these three markets, the minister said, represented more than 40% of total tourism flows to Egypt in the past two years.
May 17, 2017

Oops, they did it again. In a repeat of their scandalous behavior outside the Brookings Institution last year, Recep Tayyip Erdogans thuggish security guards managed to literally leave a bloody mark behind the Turkish presidents lightning trip to Washington May 16, beating up protesters in the heart of the capital.

Footage of bloodied men and women wandering dazedly around Sheridan Circle just outside the Turkish ambassadors residence, where Erdogan was holding court with assorted former US officials, think tankers and business types, has provoked widespread outrage and a sense of despair among protesters, who said they felt that Turkeys culture of impunity had been carried to American soil.

Eyewitnesses said the brawl erupted when Erdogans security detail attacked protesters carrying pennants of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), who are the United States top ally in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria.

Lucy Usoyan is a Yazidi-American volunteer at the Washington office of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) and also does fundraising for the Yazidi Relief Fund. She told Al-Monitor, I was exercising my democratic rights, chanting slogans peacefully when Erdogans guards attacked me. Usoyan said she fell to the ground and they began kicking me in the head and on my back and then I lost consciousness. I cant understand why they kept hitting me after I fell to the ground.

The 34-year-old was hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital for head trauma injuries and told Al-Monitor today that she still suffers dizzy spells. She has throbbing headaches and trouble standing up. At least eight other demonstrators were injured.

The guards Usoyan referred to are clearly visible in footage posted online In identical green shirts and cargo pants. They are attacking the handful of mainly Kurdish protesters together with pro-Erdogan picketers who can be heard shouting obscenities at them. Usoyan, who is wearing red trousers, is easily identified among the victims. Two people were arrested in connection with the affair, including one for assaulting a police officer.

The Daily Caller's Chuck Ross reported, "Halil Mutlu, a cousin of Erdogan's and a board member of the Turkish American Steering Committee, was spotted on the sidelines of the fray. At one point he was seen leading a pro-Erdogan chant aimed at government critics."

The HDPs Washington representative, Mehmet Yuksel, told Al-Monitor, If they treat us like this here, you can only imagine how they treat the Kurds back in Turkey. It's an absolute disgrace.

The scenes were a repeat of the violence instigated by Erdogans security detail outside Brookings in March 2016 as the Turkish president delivered a speech inside.

This time, another pair of think tanks, the Atlantic Council and Turkeys SETA were co-hosting Erdogan at the residence of the Turkish ambassador, Serdar Kilic. Once again, Erdogans security detail had no qualms about setting upon peaceful demonstrators.

Max Hoffman, the associate director on the National Security & International Policy team at the Center for American Progress, closely follows Turkey. He told Al-Monitor, This behavior is outrageous and unacceptable, and the US government should publicly condemn it." Hoffman continued, While the Trump administration may not care to hold Erdogan accountable for his abuses of human rights and democracy in Turkey, they must at least enforce US laws on US soil.

In the first official comment from the administration, Jonathan Cohen, the deputy assistant secretary of state for Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, suggested the actions of the Turkish security detail were unnaceptable during a panel at the Middle East Institute. "There is no place for violence in our society," he said.

Just as Cohen was delivering his remarks, the DC police put out an unusually tough statement and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

President Donald Trump was apparently unfazed by it all. It was a great honor to welcome the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the @WhiteHouse today! he exclaimed in a tweet posted after the commotion outside the residence.

Turkeys pro-government media put its own positive spin on events. The pro-government daily Yeni Safak claimed that Erdogans guards had intervened to help the US police whose forces had proven inadequate to handle the illegal demonstration by the PYD and the PKK.

The PKK  Kurdistan Workers Party  is listed as a terror group by the United States. It is fighting for Kurdish self-rule inside Turkey and is closely linked with the YPG. Erdogans main goal during his meeting with Trump yesterday was to persuade him to ditch the alliance with the YPG on the grounds that the group poses a grave security threat to Turkey.

The other was to extract pledges for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based Sunni preacher who is accused of engineering last years botched coup against Erdogan. Early indications are that he failed on both counts. A senior Turkish official who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said, If [Erdogan] had succeeded, I think we would have all heard about it by now."

Editor's note: This article has been updated since its initial publication.
May 16, 2017

The last time Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to Washington was in March last year to attend the Nuclear Security Summit, and things went horribly wrong. Erdogan delivered a speech at the Brookings Institution. What most people remember is not what he said there but what happened outside the think tanks Massachusetts Avenue premises. News that Erdogans notoriously thuggish security detail set upon protesters and reporters, physically assaulting and hurling insults at them, made international headlines.

It has therefore been a matter of intense speculation whether any think tank would dare to invite Erdogan during his brief stint in the capital to meet with President Donald Trump today. Turkish think tank SETA and the Atlantic Council have stepped up to the plate. Erdogan will speak at a closed session co-hosted by them at the Turkish ambassadors residence after his noon encounter with Trump, and tongues are wagging.

Its hardly unusual that SETA would make room for the Turkish leader. The outfit has been long mentored by Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) and before the governments recent free fall into authoritarianism, SETA was well-respected for its high quality if occasionally ideologically tinged output.

The Atlantic Councils alleged cozying up to the Erdogan regime is another matter. The incestuous relations between some Washington think tanks and foreign governments that are said to be greased by plenty of dollars is well-covered ground. Still, allegations that the Atlantic Council had bowed to Turkish pressure and excluded speakers, including a member of its own staff, at its yearly energy summit held in Istanbul in April have left some think tankers clutching their stomachs.

Turkish government-linked and pro-government conglomerates were among sponsors of the summit, themed Strengthening Transatlantic Engagement with a Turbulent Region. They included the state-owned Halkbank, whose deputy general manager is sitting in a New York jail over his alleged connections to money laundering for Iran, and construction giants Limak, Calik and MNG holding. Erdogan was the star draw of the event.

In separate conversations with Al-Monitor, four sources with intimate knowledge of the summits arrangements asserted that the claims of Turkish government meddling were true. On condition of anonymity, they said the alleged targets of Turkish objections were both Turks  and women.

One was the highly respected Turkish journalist Asli Aydintasbas, who writes for the opposition daily Cumhuriyet and is a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. The other was the Atlantic Councils own Naz Durakoglu, a former State Department staffer under the Obama administration.

A draft program of the summit seen by Al-Monitor billed Aydintasbas as a speaker at a luncheon titled Regional Security Outlook. She was to be joined, among others, by former US national security adviser James L. Jones and Stephen J. Hadley, who held the same position under President George W. Bush.

All of the sources claimed that Aydintasbas was taken off the panel after the office of presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin vetoed her presence, intervening directly. Kalin was apparently slated to speak at the same session, though his name doesnt appear in the draft program. Aydintasbas was put on a different panel.

A separate source disputed this version of events, saying, "A low-level Turkish official expressed displeasure with a couple names," but that the Atlantic Council had not removed any speakers from the summit.

A similar fate befell Durakoglu, who is widely lauded as a cool-headed and fair judge of Turkish affairs and currently a senior fellow and strategist at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Lab. She apparently drew the Turkish governments wrath because of her mildly critical remarks during an April 5 House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Turkeys withering democracy.

Durakoglu was supposed to address a strategy roundtable discussion on Turkey and the West with Hadley, Jones and Peter Westmacott, a former British ambassador to the United States and Turkey. She was removed from the panel. Neither of them was reportedly given convincing explanations as to why they had been reshuffled. Aydintasbas is believed to have been offered the opportunity to take part in an afternoon session with no format or featured speakers. She wasnt spotted there.

The women were subsequently asked to participate in an Atlantic Council teleconference call about the Trump-Erdogan meeting. Durakoglu accepted. Aydintasbas declined.

Several sources told Al-Monitor that Berat Albayrak, the Turkish energy minister and Erdogans son-in-law, had also aired his views about the speakers shortly before the summit. Several attendees who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition that they not be identified claimed there was no discussion throughout the summit about Turkey's unchecked descent into one-man rule.

Apparently unruffled by the alleged pressure, the Atlantic Council leadership is enthusiastically pursuing its relations with the Turkish government and reportedly drew up a detailed memo for Erdogan offering advice on how to handle his meeting with Trump. The broader objective is supposedly to develop a track-two effort between the United States and Turkey.

A list of the Atlantic Councils proposed invitees for todays closed-door meeting at the Turkish ambassadors residence includes two former US secretaries of defense, William Cohen and Chuck Hagel, former CIA Director David Petraeus and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

In an emailed statement responding to Al-Monitor's request for comment and in a separate telephone conversation, Atlantic Council President and CEO Fred Kempe categorically denied all the allegations of censorship. Kempe said, "It is untrue that the Atlantic Council removed any speakers from participation in any of the Summit's sessions at the request of the Turkish government. The Atlantic Council did not list speakers in the agenda for the off-the-record Summit sessions, but the two individuals you mentioned were invited to speak at those sessions.
May 17, 2017

Iranian presidential candidates are wrapping up their final days of campaigning as the May 19 vote draws near. The economy has taken center stage this year, in contrast to the 2013 election, when the presidential debates focused on foreign policy and nuclear negotiations.

Indeed, none of the three televised debates in recent weeks were devoted to foreign policy. Instead, the candidates discussed foreign policy alongside domestic policy and cultural issues in the second debate, which aired May 5 on Iranian state television. The candidates have also seemed uninterested in foreign policy matters in their broader campaigning. Apart from incumbent Hassan Rouhani, whose four-year report card is a clear indication of his foreign policy performance, his key rival Ebrahim Raisi, the custodian of the holy shrine of the eighth Shiite Imam, appears lost in this field.

During the 2013 presidential election, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf  then a presidential candidate and now a Raisi ally  made a campaign appearance on Iranian state TV and said: What part of the law permits me to say what I think in terms of foreign policy? Foreign policy is something the establishment decides on. Of course, the president also has a key and influential role in it, but the law does not give the president the whole share [and say] in foreign policy. No one can say that they will change [the countrys] foreign policy in [the span of] four years. Anyone who says they will make massive changes if elected is making false promises and voicing a [mere] slogan.

However, this time around, Ghalibaf, who stepped aside in favor of Raisi on May 15, had a different approach toward foreign policy and entered the election with a revised view. In the May 5 presidential debate, he said, In diplomacy, we need to consider both diplomacy of power and negotiation as well as general and economic diplomacy. If today the government truly says that it has been successful in foreign policy, it is because we were first successful in power diplomacy. Today we need to pursue economic diplomacy. My plan is to have a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and [a Ministry of] International Trade whose priority will be economic diplomacy [focused] on [our] neighbors and regional countries. There is a 400-million [-strong] market in the region that we need to pay attention to. We have to change our approach. Ghalibaf, however, did not elaborate further. Indeed, his campaign focused on the economy and tackling unemployment.

Alireza Samoudi, a professor of international relations at Qom University, told Al-Monitor, Ghalibaf only sufficed to [express] some generalizations and said that relations with neighboring countries must improve. But this is not an issue that can be solved with talks; this is not to mention that unless we have close relations with Europe, it will not be possible to solve differences with our neighboring countries either.

Commenting on foreign policy issues during the May 5 debate, Raisi, Rouhani's main conservative rival, said, We must ask the Foreign Ministry to place economic issues  [especially] those related to the Resistance Economy  on its agenda in order to provide export markets for Irans products. Raisi also criticized the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the Rouhani administrations performance in regard to the nuclear deal. The main critique that can be made about the government regarding the nuclear issue is that it portrayed itself as empty-handed during the [nuclear] talks," he said. "Given the weakness the [Rouhani] administration has shown the other side, there is no way it can cash the JCPOA check.

It seems as if Raisis key foreign policy adviser is Saeed Jalili, Irans former chief nuclear negotiator from 2007-2013. Jalili met with Raisi on April 22, and one day later he announced his support for the conservative cleric. Jalili has consistently opposed the nuclear negotiations that took place under the Rouhani administration  both before and after the July 2015 deal was signed. In this vein, some speculate that if Raisi is elected president, Jalili will be his top choice to head the Foreign Ministry. The former nuclear negotiator does not appear to believe in alleviating tensions with the outside world; rather, he seeks to challenge the current world order. In a live presidential debate in June 2013, then-candidate Jalili said, One of the key debates in foreign policy is that we do not accept hegemony in the world and want to challenge it. The Islamic Revolution is in fact based on this principle.

Jalili further stated in the 2013 debate, Drifting between right and wrong does not mean moderation or moving away from extremes. When something is invalid [wrong], it is wrong for people to walk in the middle and say they are taking the path of moderation." (Moderation was the key campaign slogan of Rouhani.)

Nosratollah Tajik, Irans former ambassador to Jordan, said a Raisi victory would "take our foreign policy back" to the era of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In the 2013 presidential election, he said, "Foreign policy was a hot topic for discussion. However, this time, with the good measures that Rouhani has taken [in foreign policy], the candidates have not even felt a need to present a foreign policy agenda during their campaigns and have only spoken about diplomacy. Echoing Tajiks remarks, Samoudi told Al-Monitor that the revival of past policies is on the table if Raisi is elected, since he is surrounded by forces from Ahmadinejads foreign policy team.

If Raisi is elected, Iran's foreign policy agenda will likely be very different from what it is today. In particular, the issue of whether to seek closer relations with Europe will be seriously challenged. The Rouhani administrations foreign policy successes  coupled with the popularity of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif among the Iranian public  have prompted conservative rivals to avoid broaching a subject that is seen as a strong point for the government, preferring to attack the government on the economic front.
May 17, 2017

TEHRAN, Iran  A group of students in Iran and the United States has launched an initiative  with apparent backing from conservative Iranian lawmakers  to evaluate the originality of Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis doctoral thesis. Rouhani submitted his thesis, titled The Flexibility of Sharia With Reference to the Iranian Experience, to Glasgow Caledonian University in 1998.

In 2013, following Rouhanis election as president, a London-based Iranian writer claimed that parts of the thesis had been copied from a book by Afghan academic Mohammad Hashim Kamali.

The claim soon made its way into some foreign media outlets and led Glasgow Caledonian to release two abstracts from Rouhanis master's and doctoral theses, though the Scottish university failed to publish the works as a whole.

Four years later, as Rouhani is running for a second term, a group of students is further pursuing the claims of plagiarism. The Rouhani Thesis campaign reports its findings on its website and on Twitter. The group says it has so far found that chapters 1 through 4 of Rouhanis thesis have been respectively at least 39%, 43%, 40% and 82% plagiarized.

Al-Monitor spoke with two members of the Rouhani Thesis initiative to find out more about the nature of their work. Iowa-based Keyvan Ebrahimi confirmed that members of the collaborative seek both political and academic objectives in their campaign, adding, It is a joint project conducted by over a dozen students from various universities in Tehran as well as the US who prefer to remain anonymous in fear of retribution.

According to Ebrahimi, We were after this story for about three years, but what prevented us from examining Rouhanis thesis sooner was the fact that it was not accessible until recently when the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of Iran made the text available via a search engine at the website of the Research Institute for Information, Science and Technology.

Ebrahimi explained to Al-Monitor, We used powerful plagiarism detection tool iThenticate to analyze Rouhanis thesis. Considering the fact that his dissertation dates back to 1998 and the iThenticate database lacks some books as old as [published in the] 1960s or before [which were referenced in the thesis], we sometimes have to buy old books to personally compare them with the main text. It is a difficult task, and we have dedicated much time and energy to it.

The nongovernmental organization Justice and Transparency Watch (JTW) is described on the campaign's website as the backer of the Rouhani Thesis initiative. JTW was established in 2015 by a group of then-parliamentarians and conservative political figures. A look at its founding members suggests that lawmaker Mohammad Dehghan is one of its board members. Dehghan was the campaign chief of Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who stepped aside in favor of conservative presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi on May 15.

When challenged by Al-Monitor about the JTWs political leanings, Ebrahimi said, We decided to accept the NGOs support because we were worried about being targeted by Irans security apparatus in the future.

Another member of the Rouhani Thesis initiative, who only spoke on condition of anonymity and went by "Mahdyar," told Al-Monitor that their work is totally voluntary and no one has paid them a penny to cover their costs. Both Ebrahimi and Mahdyar strongly deny having any links with Ghalibafs campaign team.

Mahdyar also expressed amazement at the seeming lack of coverage of the campaign. Although we informed the Iranian online community of our work, President Rouhanis rivals and their media outlets covered the story briefly.

Since the first accusations of plagiarism, Rouhanis only response has been a short video clip published on his YouTube account in July 2013. The 30-second footage depicts Rouhani receiving his doctoral degree from Glasgow Caledonian University.

In 2013, Iranian academic Seyed Mohsen Amin, who supervised Rouhanis doctoral research, rejected the allegations against his former student and told BBC Persian that there is no doubt about the authenticity of the thesis.

Al-Monitor spoke with Tehran University professor Sadegh Zibakalam about the Rouhani Thesis campaign. Zibakalam believes that the level of name-calling and finger-pointing in this year's election campaign is unprecedented in Iran. He accuses Rouhanis rivals of politicizing the matter of his doctorate, saying, If [members of the campaign and their backers] claim to be ethical, nonpolitical people, why didnt they go after [plagiarism claims] before and [why did they only begin] to spread their accusations right before the election?

According to Zibakalam, Those who are behind the campaign want to create doubts in peoples minds ahead of the election in an effort to make voters believe that Rouhani is dishonest. He added, Machiavelli should make a trip to Iran and learn Machiavellian principles from these people [Iranian conservatives].

Human rights lawyer and then-associate fellow at the University of Oxford, Kaveh Moussavi, told the Telegraph, I do not know if Mr. Rouhani has engaged in plagiarism or not. What I do know is Glasgow Caledonian is not an obvious place for a Ph.D. in a subject dealing with Shia jurisprudence or Iranian politics.

Al-Monitor contacted senior presidential aide Hesam al-Din Ashna for comment but received no response.

Events took a new turn when the representative of Fars Province in the Assembly of Experts, Ayatollah Ali Akbar Kalantari, stated in an open letter that major segments of chapter 4 of Rouhanis thesis have been translated from one of his books and used without any reference to the original text or the name of the author. The senior cleric thus called on the science and technology minister and the head of the parliamentary higher education committee to pursue the allegations of plagiarism.

Al-Monitor asked Ebrahimi and Mahdyar what the Rouhani Thesis initiative's next move will be if the incumbent is re-elected May 19.

Mahdyar said he hopes that the results of this analysis lead to the creation of a neutral, independent panel to investigate the allegations and authenticate what they have found as evidence of Rouhanis plagiarism. Ebrahimi concluded, Expecting President Rouhani to apologize for having plagiarized other peoples work is a big dream that is unlikely to come true, but we hope to at least see him stripped of his doctoral degree.

The two young men are also hopeful that their campaign will pioneer an anti-plagiarism movement in Iran and prevent future cases of plagiarism that have tarnished the names of Iranian scientific institutions and academics in recent years.
May 17, 2017

WASHINGTON  The Donald Trump administration is expected to waive relevant sanctions on Iran today, as called for under the landmark nuclear deal, a US official tells Al-Monitor.

Notification of the waivers is expected to be made in statements from the State and Treasury Departments. The administration is still conducting a broader National Security Council-led interagency review of its policy to Iran, however, including determining whether the deal negotiated under President Barack Obama is in the national interest.

US officials said that until the review is completed, the administration will continue to adhere to the terms of the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

We are continuing to review the JCPOA, a State Department official speaking not for attribution told Al-Monitor. While that review in underway, we continue to implement our commitments."

"The Trump administration has made clear that at least until this review is completed, we will adhere to the JCPOA and will ensure that Iran is held strictly accountable to its requirements," the State Department official said. Once we have finalized our conclusions, we will meet the challenges Iran poses with clarity and conviction.

US officials have declined to offer a timeline for when the reviews will be completed.

Al-Monitor first reported on Sunday that the waivers would likely be issued this week. The announcement is expected to be made after White House spokesman Sean Spicer gaggles with the press on the flight en route to Groton, Connecticut this morning. Trump is traveling there to deliver the commencement address at the US Coast Guard Academy just after 11 a.m.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson certified in an April 18 letter to Congress that Iran was adhering to the nuclear deal. The agreement went into effect in January 2016, after years of negotiations.

Addressing reporters a day later, however, Tillerson harshly denounced Irans support for terrorism and proxy groups accused of destabilizing countries in the region. The Trump administration intends to pursue a comprehensive policy toward Iran that addresses those malign behaviors, he said.

Issuing the waivers would be a sign of the Trump administrations begrudging inclination to go along with the nuclear deal, at least for now, even as it huddles with Sunni allies and Israel to devise a strategy to push back against Iranian expansionism in the region. The move comes just days before the president heads to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy and Brussels on his first foreign trip as president, and on the eve of Iranian presidential elections on May 19.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has made reaching the Iran nuclear deal with six world powers a centerpiece of his re-election bid. He has come under criticism from political rivals who say Iranians have not felt the economic benefits from sanctions relief that the deal promised.

Rouhani, in the final days of the campaign, has said if he is re-elected, he would seek to get non-nuclear sanctions on Iran removed, implying he would pursue talks with the United States on a broader range of concerns between the two countries. Speaking at a campaign rally in Esfahan on May 14, Rouhani said he would put his foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on the task.

With the nuclear deal, We established a bridge between Iran and the world, Rouhani said at the event. If the Iranian people allow it, if the supreme leader supports and guides it, with Dr. Zarif, the rest of the sanctions can be removed.
May 17, 2017

BAGHDAD  On May 8, in al-Batawin area in central Baghdad, gunmen stormed into the apartment of civil activists who have been advocating for political reform for two years. The gunmen captured seven activists, mostly students, and took them to an unknown location. The increase of armed groups' attacks on civilians has sparked fear in Iraqi society, and activists are calling on the government to work on releasing their colleagues immediately and to arrest the kidnappers.

The activists were indeed released two days after their abduction, but the perpetrators have yet to be arrested. The Iraqi government and the Ministry of Interior remain silent on the identity of the criminals. Yet the minister of interior announced the release of the kidnapped activists himself, and his media adviser talked about intensive operations by the minister to return the kidnapped to their homes. The adviser, however, did not name the perpetrators, saying that they will be identified later on. This has yet to happen.

This incident raised once again concerns about the ease of movement of armed groups in Iraq's cities and questioned the ability of the security forces within residential areas to protect Iraqis.

In another incident, the security forces wrongly arrested five young men in Karbala governorate on charges of hanging around  an offense that is not found in the Iraqi law. One of the arrested men was killed in the detention center on May 5, and the victims family accused the police of Karbala of torture. The police denied the charges.

Social media users have made a link between the two incidents, accusing the security forces of being unable to capture the true culprits who are terrorizing Iraqi cities, while arresting young men on petty charges such as congregating in small groups.

Kidnapping activists and social workers is not something new in Iraq. In December 2016, journalist Afrah Shawqi was kidnapped for a week and then released. While the Ministry of Interior said it had leads on the culprits, it was unable to identify and capture the kidnappers.

Since September 2015, the whereabouts and fate of activist Jalal al-Shahmani, who was abducted from the Waziriya district in Baghdad, are still unknown. The government and the security forces ignored the Shahmani case.

On May 11, the seven released activists, along with a group of other civil activists, held a press conference, calling upon Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to assure the civil community and the Iraqis in general that the government and its security apparatuses are able to protect their people, restrict the loose armed groups and take strict measures to limit the weapons in the hands of the state.

They also called on the interior minister and the Baghdad Operations Command to bring the kidnappers to justice, put an end to all armed groups inside the cities and deal with kidnapping crimes as major terrorist crimes.

Activists also called upon the president, prime minister, speaker of the parliament and all political forces in the country to denounce the systematic campaign led by extremists to target activists.

Indeed, activists and journalists feel they are facing a systematic campaign aimed at silencing them and preventing them from calling for reform of the Iraqi situation, which is suffering from security and economic deterioration, and hit by a major political imbalance represented by the sectarian quotas management system in the countrys political institutions.

Ziad al-Ajili, the head of Baghdad's Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, told Al-Monitor, There are attempts to intimidate journalists in Iraq." He said that kidnappings and the failure to prosecute perpetrators will inevitably lead to intimidation of journalists and make them fear for their lives.

Ajili added, The Iraqi government has yet to prove its seriousness in pursuing those who harm or intimidate journalists, and this exacerbates the threat to freedom of expression in Iraq."

The reason why activists and key figures are being attacked and who is behind these kidnapping operations or intimidation campaigns remains unclear.

Parliaments Security and Defense Committee member Majid al-Gharawi told Al-Monitor, Some kidnapping operations are politically motivated, especially those targeting civilian activists.

Gharawi said, "Those who carry out these acts are backed by political parties that do not want the truth to be heard. They want to muzzle and silence all those who demand reform of the political process, criticize the government and combat corruption.

In a confident tone, he added, "Anyone who criticizes these parties, trying to implement corruption projects, is likely to be kidnapped or threatened. Civil movements in particular do not have armored vehicles or armed factions that protect them against threats.

In fact, not only members of the Security and Defense Committee are accusing political parties of being behind the abduction of activists and journalists. Prime Minister Abadi has hinted more than once that political parties or armed groups are behind the kidnappings.

This happened precisely when he denounced the abduction of Shawqi and the seven activists. However, Abadi did not name the parties behind these operations.

Gharawi also pointed out that the Security and Defense Committee did not obtain "any names of those accused of the kidnappings of civilians, although it asked the executive authorities and the security forces about these entities," noting that the committee sought to get these details, but to no avail.

The executive and legislative branches in Iraq are suggesting that political parties are behind the kidnappings and intimidation campaigns, yet they remain silent and this heightens and legitimizes the fear of the civil activists and their concerns over public freedoms in the country.
May 17, 2017

Trump is coming to Palestine. Ever since the announcement of the American presidents upcoming visit to the region May 20-23, top Palestinian Authority (PA) officials keep repeating these few words to themselves in disbelief. Their wonderment is not simply at another visit by a US president to PA territory, but also at the diplomatic victory achieved by their proper preparations, admirable diplomatic sophistication and, especially, hard work.

While the Israeli right wing was celebrating Donald Trumps election as heralding the arrival of the Messiah and starting to draw up plans for annexing most of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and accelerating construction in the Israeli settlements there, the Palestinians were busy brainstorming. They sought to decipher the Trump code and recorded achievements far exceeding expectations.

As reported here several days following the Nov. 8 US presidential elections, right after Trump was elected, the Palestinian leadership set up a steering committee of scholars of the United States, aided by experts on US governance, academics and politicians. The role of this team was to advise Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on how to establish channels of communication with a White House perceived as the most pro-Israel, anti-Muslim ever.

Palestinian diplomacy has since recorded several impressive achievements: blocking the initiative to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, despite Trumps campaign pledge; an administration warning to Israel regarding continued construction in the settlements; and Trumps hosting of Abbas at the White House on May 3. Now comes the decisive stage of the Palestinian relationship with the Trump administration. The goal is to persuade the Americans that the Palestinian leadership, like Israel, is a strategic defense asset in the Middle East. What appeared in the initial period after the US elections as a pipe dream is now seemingly a realistic and feasible scenario.

Team Trump has been working day and night to prepare for the presidents May 23 visit to the West Bank town of Bethlehem. It is counting on the presidents first visit to the Church of the Nativity  an event that will be aired live throughout the world  to prove internationally that the site sacred to Christians is in good hands. And right after that, the Palestinians will get down to brass tacks. Palestinian aides have prepared a presentation designed to show the president and his entourage how the PA rehabilitated the areas under its control since the end of the second intifada against Israel in 2005. The presentation aims to prove that the PA has built efficient security forces with American help, strong political mechanisms and institutions that enforce law and order as in any civilized country in the world. This was all achieved, they would argue, thanks to Abbas determination and even before a Palestinian state has been established.

A Palestinian source who is kept abreast of the preparations for the Trump visit told Al-Monitor that the PA aspires to convince the American administration and the president especially that it is a vital component of the Arab defense triangle alongside Jordan and Egypt. It is with this triangle that all defense and diplomacy-related matters in the region have to be coordinated, in return for which it will provide the Americans with strong support against radical Islam, which Trump perceives as a threat to the security of American citizens.

In order to make Trump appreciate its importance, the PA will have to show him the successful counterterrorism cooperation of the Palestinian security forces with Israel. There are virtually no Salafi [jihadist] terror cells in the territory of the Palestinian Authority because the Palestinian security forces dealt with them efficiently and speedily, and often in cooperation with Israel, the Palestinian source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A crackdown by Palestinian security agencies on activity by armed Palestinian groups targeting Israel is not a foregone conclusion by much of the Palestinian public, which views terror attacks against Israeli military or civilian targets as legitimate action against the occupation in a bid to hasten the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The Palestinian security agencies, for their part, tell West Bank residents that it is in the Palestinian interest to keep the weapons and power under full control of the PA, and to ban any extramural armed organizations, even if they are ostensibly embarked on a noble task, such as an end to the Israeli occupation.

The Palestinians will explain to Trump that they pay a high price for this position. Often, they will argue, Palestinian police officers are accused of serving the Israeli occupation and betraying the national cause of the Palestinian public. The Ramallah leadership hopes for Trump to understand that under Abbas, the PA maintains public order in its territory, and as such is also vital to the security of its neighbor, Israel. This understanding would offer the Palestinians a good chance of getting their way and being considered part of the Jordanian-Egyptian alliance.

Since assuming office, Trump has been heeding the advice of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordans King Abdullah II on the Palestinian issue. The two implored him to avoid shaking up the fabric of the complex relations between Israel and the Palestinians, which could affect the entire Middle East. Trump heard them out and took their advice; the Palestinians would like to achieve comparable status in Trumps eyes, as well as recognition of their role in the fight against the Islamic State. They think such a scenario is possible. The price will be continued, effective security cooperation with Israel.
May 17, 2017

As President Donald Trump's May 22 arrival in Israel approaches, everything that can go wrong in the relationship between the White House and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office seems to be going wrong. Until recently, both parties had kept their dirty laundry indoors. In the last two days, however, more and more problems have come to light, turning into a very public feud.

There was the president's packed schedule during his upcoming visit, the US refusal to allow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accompany Trump to the Western Wall and elusive responses from the US administration about its position on the Western Wall's status and whether it falls under Israeli sovereignty. Each made headlines in Israel over the past few days, but suddenly disappeared when it was reported on May 16 that the source of the intelligence that Trump had shared with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was none other than Israel.

Since the Washington Post's May 15 report that Trump had shared intelligence with Russia, every effort has been made by the United States and Israel to minimize the damage and coordinate positions. It was obvious to both sides that this was a hydrogen bomb for the media and that the more specific claim that Trump had shared particularly sensitive Israeli intelligence with Russia  a close ally of Iran in the Middle East  would eventually leak to the press. The claim did, in fact, leak to The New York Times and NBC. As soon as it reached the Times, Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador in Washington, released a statement to the paper affirming that Israel and the United States would continue to maintain close ties in all matters pertaining to the war against terror. He also said, Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States.

At the time of this writing, Israel has not officially responded to the possibility that Trump shared Israeli intelligence with Russia. At the same time, Dermer's statement reduced tensions between the two countries, at least publicly. It is still reasonable to assume that the real fire is burning out of control behind closed doors, especially in the various branches of Israeli intelligence.

Even before it was reported that Trump had shared information with Lavrov, some senior Israeli intelligence officials already believed that Israel should think twice before sharing sensitive intelligence with the United States, given concerns that Trump or certain members of his administration had ties of some sort to Russia. Israel is very sensitive about the intelligence it obtains, especially when it has worked hard to gather it, or in other words, when the intelligence involves sensitive sources. The Israeli intelligence establishment has been burned several times already when sources were revealed due to excessive use of their intelligence material or reckless sharing.

If the US president actually is close to the Russian government, which, in turn, is particularly close to the Iranian and Syrian regimes, this presents a real strategic problem. Until just a day ago, this possibility had been in some back drawer, reserved for the most extreme scenarios. Then, according to reports, it just happened: The president gave the Russian foreign minister especially sensitive clandestine intelligence about the Islamic State's plans for a terrorist attack. According to foreign news sources, this intelligence was behind the US decision to ban laptop computers in the cabins of flights to the United States from a long list of Middle Eastern countries. It is safe to assume that Israel is praying that Trump did not hint to Lavrov about the identity or nature of its sources.

All of this is unfolding at a time when intelligence cooperation between Israel and the United States is closer and more comprehensive than ever. It reached this level during President Barack Obama's administration despite the poor personal relationship between the countries' two leaders. The rise of Trump should have invigorated and intensified this golden age of intelligence cooperation, but then Trump proved that in his administration, nothing can be taken for granted.

The Americans have really benefited from the material we shared with them over the past few years, one top Israeli intelligence official told Al-Monitor just a few weeks ago, speaking on the condition of anonymity. They regularly receive valuable intelligence in real time, allowing them to conduct precision operations in the region. This contributes to the fight against the Islamic State and the prevention of jihadist terror.

As all intelligence operatives in the West know, Israel has long provided the highest quality intelligence about the war in Syria and Iranian activity in the Middle East. The question now is what will Israel do with that intelligence? Will it keep especially sensitive information to itself and refrain from sharing it with Israel's closest ally, the United States?

Only one person in Israel can make that decision: Netanyahu, who is also the direct commander of Mossad. The Israel Defense Forces' Military Intelligence Directorate falls under the chief of staff, who is, in turn, under the minister of defense, but even then, the prime minister is the final authority on issues of this sort. The crisis is unfolding during the most sensitive period in the two countries' relationship, with Netanyahu trying to figure out what Trump actually wants from him, what his diplomatic agenda is and what happened to all of the pro-Israel statements from his presidential campaign.

There can be no doubt that the issue of intelligence sharing will be raised in talks between the two leaders when Trump visits Israel, but these talks will take place behind closed doors. There can be no doubt that the issue will also be raised in ongoing, intimate talks between the heads of the US and Israeli intelligence agencies, who have an especially close relationship and share unprecedented trust. Yossi Cohen, the director of Mossad, and Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi, the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, will certainly be considering how to handle such a sensitive issue. Their American colleagues are under the direct authority of the commander in chief, making it impossible to suggest to them that they should keep particularly sensitive information  or at the very least, the sources of that information  from him.

Israel will have to weigh the importance of its close relationship with the United States on matters of intelligence against protecting its strategic sources of information and its vital security interests. As strange and unprecedented as it may be, when it comes to its important relationship with the United States, Israel currently finds itself in the position of being the responsible adult.
May 17, 2017

Jordan is anxiously watching military and security developments along its northern border with war-torn Syria, according to a number of Jordanian military and strategic analysts with whom Al-Monitor recently spoke amid heightened tensions between Amman and Damascus. Since King Abdullah IIs April 5 visit to Washington, there have been conflicting reports about a sizeable military buildup of US and British troops on the Jordanian side of the border with Syria, raising questions about a possible joint incursion into southern Syria, apparently to pre-empt and confront Islamic State (IS) expansion in the vast Badia region.

Speculation about an imminent operation inside Syria from Jordan prompted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in an April 21 Sputnik interview, to lambast the kingdom, accusing it of being part of an American plan to deploy troops on Syrian territory. That triggered a war of words between Jordan and Syria, with a government spokesman in Amman, Mohammad al-Momani, on the same day issuing a statement rejecting Assads fabricated allegations. On April 26, Abdullah told local media figures that the kingdom will defend itself from any threats without the need to have a role for the [Jordanian] army inside Syria.

That should have put the matter to bed, but Syria viewed Eager Lion, the 24-nation war games held annually in Jordan, this year starting May 7, as a provocation and cover for an alleged invasion of southern Syria. Foreign Minister Walid Moallem held a press conference on May 8 in Damascus, warning Amman that although Syria is not in confrontation with Jordan, If the Jordanian forces entered without coordination with the Syrian government they will be considered hostile forces. Jordanian officials did not respond, but it became clear that the regime in Damascus was getting ready to take the initiative in southern Syria, and on May 15, it did.

Reports, based on information from rebel group in the south, spoke of the Syrian regime moving government troops supported by Iran-backed militias to the region near its border with Iraq and Jordan. This was the same desert area that US-backed rebels had taken control of after IS fighters withdrew. A few days later, the rebel forces appeared to have consolidated their hold on a number of villages in that region. The Syrian move coincided with an agreement reached in Astana by Russia, Turkey and Iran to designate four de-escalation zones in Syria, including one in Daraa, in the south.

Jordan and the United States have supported, as well as armed, so-called moderate rebel groups and local tribal fighters in southern Syria as a proxy force to prevent IS militants from infiltrating the region. The New Syrian Army, as the force is called, had participated in a fierce battle, along with US, British and possibly Jordanian special forces on April 10, to ward off an IS attack on the Tanf base on the Syrian side of the Jordanian-Iraqi border. It is believed that as IS militants are defeated in Mosul and soon in Raqqa, the vast region extending from Deir ez-Zor to Sweida, in eastern and southern Syria, will witness a major power struggle that will include the Syrian army, US-backed Syrian Kurds, New Syrian Army fighters and fleeing IS militants.

From the US perspective, extending the allied presence in that area would serve two major objectives: enable a pincer maneuver to encircle IS militants, and sever the land link between Iraq and Syria that Iranian-backed militias depend on for arms and men. The recent regime push toward the east and south is an attempt to derail such plans.

Southern Syria presents a complex security challenge for Jordan. While Amman has no intention of clashing with regular Syrian army troops in the south, it is particularly anxious about the presence of what Abdullah called nonstate actors in an April 5 interview with the Washington Post, referring to IS but also to Hezbollah and Iranian militias, including the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp. On May 12, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi told his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, that Jordan does not want terrorist groups or sectarian militias on its northern borders. He reportedly requested Russian intervention in that regard.

Jordan's northern borders remain tense. On May 11, Amman announced that its air force had shot down an unidentified drone near the border with Syria. Four days later, two car bombs exploded in the makeshift Rukban refugee camp close to the Jordanian border, killing at least six civilians. Jordan had repeatedly warned that the camp, with nearly 100,000 refugees, has been infiltrated by IS militants.

The southeastern Syrian desert aside, Jordan continues to monitor the presence of the so-called Khaled Ibn al-Walid Army in the Yarmouk River basin as a danger that is too close to comfort. The heavily armed IS proxy group, numbering about 5,000, is vying for control of parts of the Daraa governorate with another radical foe, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), which has overcome most government troops in the old city of Daraa. The close proximity of these al-Qaeda loyalists is another security headache for Jordan.

In the absence of a clear US strategy on Syria, Jordan has tried its best to sustain its precarious balancing act in anticipation of a possible breakthrough in the tumultuous political process in Geneva. It is also keeping its cards close to its chest, with the military option, in the form of special commando operations in southern Syria, very much on the table.

So far Amman has opted not to take part in the latest Astana free-zone agreement, but as retired military analyst Fayez al-Duwairi told Al-Monitor, the kingdom is expecting military confrontations between various parties in southern Syria  including Hezbollah, IS and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham  which remains Ammans biggest concern. Duwairi asserted, Eventually, Jordan may want to take part as a monitor of the de-escalation zone, especially if that involves the repatriation of refugees.

Political analyst Amer al-Sabayleh told Al-Monitor that although Jordan does not want to venture into Syria, it is keen to support local groups that can serve as a buffer against the infiltration of terrorist groups, especially after the battles against IS in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor.

These assertions do not clarify whether Jordan will come, or is coming, under US pressure to engage in a military operation in southern Syria. Fear of an Iranian land corridor extending from Tehran to Beirut through Iraq and Syria is shared by Amman and Washington, not to mention Riyadh and Tel Aviv. Can Jordan reconcile its own security calculations with those of the United States under President Donald Trump? That remains an open-ended question.
May 17, 2017

On May 16, the prominent grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini threw his weight behind President Hassan Rouhani's re-election bid.

Seyed Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, announced his support for the moderate Rouhani, who is seeking a second term in the May 19 election. Such an endorsement is unprecedented for the Khomeini family.

Khomeini is increasingly popular among young people due to his moderate views on politics and Islam.

In a video message, Khomeini asked people to once again trust Rouhani, arguing that the moderate government has been successful in managing the economy.

It is also noteworthy that Khomeini registered to run in the Assembly of Experts election in February 2016, but was barred from running by the Guardian Council, which is tasked with vetting candidates.

On May 15, Seyed Mohammad Khatami, the former Reformist president (1997-2005) who is considered to be one of the most popular figures in Iran, released a video message urging people to cast their votes and support Rouhani.

Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, a moderate conservative, also has stepped forward to back Rouhani publicly. On May 16, Nategh Nouri, who is currently the head of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis Inspection Office, also called on people to vote for Rouhani and declared him to be the most fit among the presidential candidates.

These three prominent figures have effectively formed a trio in an attempt to fill the void left by Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president who died in January. Rafsanjani enjoyed great political influence and was the main supporter of Rouhani, who was considered to be his protege. The trio appears to be trying to persuade the so-called gray voters to cast their ballots. In the Iranian political lexicon, gray voters are those who usually dont vote but swing votes whenever they do participate in elections  such as in 2013, when Rouhani was elected.

It should also be noted that neither Nategh Nouri nor Khomeini explicitly and publicly backed Rouhani when Rafsanjani was alive. As such, their decision to enter the fray will most likely help the incumbent among conservative and religious voters.

In another development, First Vice President and presidential candidate Eshagh Jahangiri said May 16 that his mission has ended and he is ready to withdraw in favor of Rouhani. I ask you [the people] to help the president and the government through your effective presence [on the political stage] and participation in the elections, Jahangiri said in a statement.

On the same day, Rouhani, who was on a campaign visit to the city of Ardebil in the northwest of Iran, thanked Jahangiri for his sacrifice. Rouhani said that his deputy had come forward as a candidate to expose the lies of the governments conservative rivals.

Meanwhile, the supreme leader gave a speech about the presidential elections two days ahead of the May 19 vote. Look at the countries of the region; where can you find a place where there is no insecurity? Among this insecure collection of countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran is busy preparing for elections in peace and security. We have only two days left until Election Day. All praise is due to God. This peaceful and calm environment is invaluable, Khamenei said.
May 17, 2017

The Donald Trump administration waived nuclear-related sanctions on Iran today in accordance with the landmark nuclear deal while ripping the country over its ballistic missile program and human rights record.

In a sign of the presidents deep ambivalence toward the nuclear accord and Iran more broadly, the Treasury Department slapped sanctions on seven entities allegedly tied to the missile program, including senior Iranian defense officials and a China-based entity. Simultaneously, the State Department released a congressionally mandated semi-annual report on human rights abuses.

The nuclear sanctions waiver was widely expected after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson certified last month that Iran was complying with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated under President Barack Obama. As Al-Monitor first predicted May 14, however, the waiver was accompanied by harsh foot stomping meant to convey the message that Trump is determined to keep the pressure on Iran for non-nuclear-related malfeasance.

Tellingly, news of the nuclear sanctions waiver was only mentioned in the fourth paragraph of a State Department media note titled US State Department Issues Report on Human Rights Sanctions on Iran. Rather than quoting Tillerson, the note quotes the departments top Middle East envoy, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Stuart Jones, who has reportedly told colleagues this week that he plans to resign.

The Trump administration is conducting an interagency review of US policy to Iran and whether the nuclear deal advances US national security interests, Jones said.

As we continue to closely scrutinize Irans commitment to the JCPOA and develop a comprehensive Iran policy, we will continue to hold Iran accountable for its human rights abuses with new actions, Jones said in a press release. The US and its partners will continue to apply pressure on Iran to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms for everyone in Iran, he continued in the statement, which also called on Iran to release US citizens wrongfully detained or missing in Iran.

In addition to the actions taken today, we are communicating to the US Congress that the United States continues to waive sanctions as required to continue implementing US sanctions-lifting commitments in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the statement said.

This ongoing review does not diminish the United States resolve to continue countering Irans destabilizing activity in the region, whether it be supporting the Assad regime, backing terrorist organizations like Hezbollah or supporting violent militias that undermine governments in Iraq and Yemen, Jones said. Above all, the United States will never allow the regime in Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Proponents of the deal, including members of the arms control community and former Obama administration officials who helped negotiate it, praised the Trump administrations decision to extend, however grudgingly, the sanctions relief required under the deal. They said abiding by the deal while enforcing sanctions over Irans ballistic missile program and criticizing Irans human rights abuses is consistent with the previous administrations approach.

There is no material difference between what Treasury has done today  and missile designations that took place multiple times under the Obama administration, said Richard Nephew, a former member of the US-Iran nuclear-negotiating team. Nephew made the remarks in a call hosted by Diplomacy Works, a new organization of former US diplomats and policymakers, mostly Democrats, formed to defend the deal.

These are the kind of sanctions the Obama administration always intended would continue to be enforced, said Nephew, who is now with the Brookings Institution. This is not a major indication of a policy change. It is more of a status quo/continuation of what Obama was doing.

The Trump administration's decision to issue sanctions waivers today, as required by the nuclear deal with Iran, is a welcome and necessary step, Kelsey Davenport, of the Arms Control Association, said in a statement.

"As long as Iran abides by its commitments, it is in the best interest of US national security [for the US] to continue [to] meet its obligations under the deal and refrain from steps that undermine the agreement, Davenport said. She went on to warn against passage of pending sanctions legislation, S. 722, co-authored by Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), ranking member Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and committee member Robert Menendez (D-N.J.).

I oppose this legislation. Categorically, former Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman  who led the US negotiating team at the Iran nuclear talks  said at a panel hosted by the Cato Institute on Tuesday, which included this reporter. Why risk the JCPOA for a bill that does nothing that is going to arguably undermine the JCPOA? It is just not worth it.

Advocates said that deal proponents should not be complacent just because the Trump administration issued these waivers.

Regarding the review of Iran policy and the JCPOA that the Trump administration is conducting, former nuclear negotiator Nephew said he understands that it is very much still underway.

My understanding is that it is supposed to be a top to bottom review, including on the utility of the JCPOA to manage Irans regional behavior, Nephew said. There is no agreement as of yet, whats in and out, up to and including the JCPOA.

US officials have declined to give a timeline for when the Iran review would be complete.
May 16, 2017

Turkey was once considered by the West to be a positive force in a turbulent part of the world. Just a few years ago, it provided a model for the Middle East with its secular and modern outlook, parliamentary democracy and rapidly developing liberal economy.

It failed, however, to live up to these expectations. It has also failed to produce a positive and proactive foreign policy that complements its strategic importance. Turkey is currently at odds on key regional issues with almost all of the major stakeholders, starting with the United States, Russia and Europe.

It also has tense relations with key regional players such as Iran and Egypt, while Jordan looks upon it with suspicion. Ankaras seemingly good ties with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, on the other hand, are not sufficient to give it the clout needed for a proactive contribution to regional developments. President Recep Tayyip Erdogans one-dimensional and generally abrasive approach to foreign policy has left Ankara rowing against strong currents it has no ability to chart on its own.

Erdogans approach is perhaps favored by his domestic support base, but this has done little to enhance Turkeys influence abroad. As a diplomat noted recently during a private conversation, there seems to be a reverse correlation between Erdogan's getting stronger at home and Turkey's becoming weaker internationally.

This has forced Ankara to backpedal on more than one occasion, for example in its ties with Israel and Russia.

After Israeli commandos killed nine Turks on the Mavi Marmara aid ship in May 2010 as it tried to break the Gaza blockade, Turkey all but severed its ties with Israel. It demanded an apology, compensation and, most significantly for Erdogans Islamist supporters, the raising of the Gaza blockade before it would normalize ties.

The first two demands were met, but the third one was not, even though Ankara insisted for some time that this condition had to be met also. Today, however, Turkey and Israel have restored full diplomatic ties and are discussing major joint projects. Ankara also reduced its open contacts with Hamas, while the blockade of Gaza continues.

The recent verbal spat between the two countries over the Palestinian issue, on the other hand, is not expected to undermine relations.

Many wonder why ties with Israel were allowed to hit rock bottom if nothing significant was ultimately gained.

Turkish-Russian ties also came to a standstill after Turkey downed a Russian jet in November 2015 as it strayed into Turkish airspace while conducting a mission against Turkish-supported opposition fighters in northern Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately imposed damaging sanctions against Turkey. This happened when Erdogan was trying to develop good ties with him in order to counterbalance his deteriorating ties with the West. It left many confused as to Ankaras intentions.

In the end, Turkey could not bear the pressure from Russia, forcing Erdogan to apologize to Putin for the mistake involving the jet, even though the prime minister of the day, Ahmet Davutoglu, said he had ordered any fighter jet violating Turkish airspace near Syria to be downed.

Serious differences between the two countries over Syria have not been overcome, though. Ankara remains displeased with Russias support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its cooperation with the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in Syria, which Turkey says are Kurdish terrorist organizations.

Erdogan has no means, however, to convince Moscow to change tack on these issues. He is also unwilling to risk a new crisis with Russia, giving Moscow the upper hand.

Turkeys co-sponsoring of a new track in Syria (Astana process) with Russia and Iran appears to have put Ankara back at center stage, but it is evident that this process is driven more by Moscow and Tehran than Ankara.

Because of suspicions regarding its ultimate intentions, Turkey was also excluded from the liberation of Mosul in Iraq from the Islamic State, despite Erdogans angry but ultimately hollow ripostes that no one could prevent Turkeys participation.

Turkeys ties with the United States also remain on the brink over issues that are also unlikely to be resolved according to Ankaras demands. These include Turkish requests that Washington ditch the YPG in Syria and that Washington facilitate the extradition of Fethullah Gulen to Turkey to stand trial for masterminding the failed coup attempt.

Erdogan, who is currently in Washington, told reporters in Beijing last week that he would be discussing these issues face to face with President Donald Trump. We will arrive at our final decision after that. If we are strategic allies, then we have to decide within the context of this alliance. If a shadow is cast over this alliance, then we have to attend to our needs on our own, he said.

Few expect him to return from Washington with much. What he will do in that case is not clear. Any steps he takes that escalate Turkish-US tensions will likely leave Turkey even more isolated in Syria.

Erdogan also has to contend with the fact that Washington and Moscow both support the PYD and YPG, and they believe the Syrian Kurds should be represented at the peace talks. They also agree that the Syrian Kurds can be given cultural autonomy.

Ankara says it will prevent this, but it is not clear how Erdogan can do this without harming Turkeys long-term interests.

Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq is taking steps toward independence. This leaves Ankara in another quandary because it has close ties with Erbil and tense ties with Baghdad, but it is opposed to an independent Kurdistan anywhere.

Erdogan is also unable to find a common language with Europe, which is accusing him of becoming dictatorial. He has responded by blasting Europe with insults, threats and accusations  even calling European leaders Nazis and fascists.

This may be welcomed by his domestic support base, but it leaves Turkey on a collision course with Europe also. All of this gives the impression of a beleaguered Turkey that is losing ground on almost all fronts. Ankara needs a new language and approach to reach out, not just to the West, but also to its region.

Pointing out that Turkey has been unable to create a positive agenda in foreign policy these past few years, retired Ambassador Unal Cevikoz argued in his column in the daily Hurriyet recently that the problematic geography Turkey is located in is often blamed for its troubles.

Seeing as it is not possible to change geography, it seems there is no choice but to alter the parameters of the thinking process being used, he said. Erdogan has given no indication, however, that he will move toward a more realistic course in foreign policy. The concern then is that Turkey will continue to lose ground.

Retired Ambassador Oguz Demiralp said countries are usually expected to use their strategic importance for positive contributions to international relations, and thus add value to their strategic importance.

The opposite can also happen. Countries may use their capacity to influence international ties in a negative way, Demiralp wrote in an article. Sometimes a need may arise to use this capacity. But if it gains continuity, then the way the international community views you will change. It will factor in the damage you are capable of doing, and take the appropriate measures, he added.

This essential point appears lost on Ankara at the present time.
May 17, 2017

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is talking with the US administration to keep US troops in Iraq after the fight against the Islamic State (IS) is over, the Associated Press (AP) cited Iraqi and US officials as saying on May 5. US officials confirmed to the AP on condition of anonymity that the United States and Iraq agreed on the need for a long-term US presence aimed at warding off the threat of another armed rebellion. However, the growing polarization in the region and the tightening policy of regional rivalries are hindering the conclusion of such an agreement.

Commenting on these reports, the military media office of Saraya al-Salam, the military wing of the Sadrist movement, told Al-Monitor, His Eminence, Commander Muqtada al-Sadr absolutely rejects the presence of any occupation forces  be they Americans or not. Sadr, the leader of the Sadrist movement, had demanded in February that all foreign troops leave Iraq.

Similarly, Naim Aboudi, a spokesman for Asaib Ahl al-Haq, stressed that his faction rejects the US presence in Iraq. He told Al-Monitor, The victories achieved by our heroic army and the Popular Mobilization Units [PMU] have given further power to the Iraqi state. And Iraq can use this power to ward off any foreign threat. Iraq does not need any foreign power at the moment. Self-reliance is the best way to maintain the sovereignty of Iraq.

Asked about the possible targeting of US forces by Asaib Ahl al-Haq in the event that there is a decision to extend their stay in Iraq, Aboudi did not respond. However, the military media office of Saraya al-Salam threatened US forces and stressed that all options are on the table.

In an attempt to calm this atmosphere, the Iraqi prime minister's office issued a statement May 5 confirming that the Iraqi government did not agree with any state about any military role following the decisive victory over terrorism.

However, Saad al-Hadithi, a spokesman for the prime ministers office, confirmed in a TV interview on the same day the Iraqi governments intention to reach an agreement to keep the American troops in Iraq. We want sustained cooperation with these countries in the coming period in order to meet the security challenges, he said.

We certainly need a number of these trainers, experts and advisers, and we hope to develop an integrated coordination system in the coming period, not only with the United States but also with many other countries in the world in a bid to upgrade the Iraqi forces' capabilities and readiness.

The prime minister's office reiterated, There are no foreign combat forces on Iraqi soil. But since the arrival of Donald Trump in Washington and the start of the operations to liberate west Mosul, US forces have stepped up their military role and have been operating closer to the front lines.

Kurdish photojournalist Rebin Rozhbayane accompanied the US forces that were getting ready to launch an attack on the July 17 district in Mosul on May 2 and filmed a large US military convoy on its way to the battlefront. Rozhbayane told Al-Monitor that he counted 50 US military vehicles, noting that the US forces backed the Iraqi forces in these operations during the day. But they participated directly in evening attacks on IS areas.

Former Iraqi Ambassador to the United States Lukman Faily does not agree with the Asaib Ahl al-Haq spokesman who believes Iraq does not need the US forces. Faily told Al-Monitor, Iraq does not have the needed components to protect its borders. To reach political and security stability, it needs to develop the capacities of its army through US sponsorship and aid, especially in training, preparation and equipment.

One of the main challenges for the upcoming phase is to control the long Iraqi borders with Syria after IS is eliminated. Since 2003, Iraq has failed to secure these borders, and it does not have well-trained forces and necessary technology to halt the infiltration of IS forces from the borders, especially as IS controls eastern Syria. Iraq needs satellites, military air force and helicopters as well as strong logistic effort to achieve this mission. This must happen without alienating the locals  the Sunni Arabs. Thus, the task must be entrusted to the Iraqi official forces. Shiite factions from the PMU are also trying to reach the borders.

Besides, Iraq needs to build a strong intelligence service that is up to the security challenge. Previous experience and new reports indicate that IS and al-Qaeda will conduct terrorist operations in the coming phase.

Iraqs needs are not limited to the security and military sectors. The high cost of the war amid falling oil prices necessitates that Iraq ask for help from the international community in which the United States is a key player.

Many Iraqi parties, especially the Shiite ones, believe that the American presence in Iraq aims at supporting the enemy, i.e., Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Israel, at the expense of Iran and its allies. Faily asserted that the situation is complicated, saying, "Iraq is now at a crossroad. Different polarization fronts are at play, and they will increase pressure on Abadi.

Ultimately, the balances in the region will play a pivotal role in Iraqs future. Any decision that Abadi makes might put Iraq in the eye of the storm again.
Ladies and gentlemen: Choza in the main terminal will start boarding for Baja, Mexico. Please have your passes ready.



Attention: All passengers are now welcome aboard Tropicaleo, your non-stop flight to Puerto Rico.



Flight No. 2027 from Ethiopa has arrived in the northwest terminal.

Pizitz food hall has become a culinary destination since its food stands and full-service restaurants started opening in March on the first floor of the newly-renovated Pizitz building.

Popular in Europe, the food hall trend hit the United States in 2010, when Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich opened a branch of Eataly in New York City. Since then, the trend only has continued to grow. More than two dozen food halls have popped up across the country just in the last two years.

The concept updates the mall food court and takes it upscale, often with internationally-themed cuisine and trendy beverages. Food halls are portals to cooking normally not available at home.

Think of Pizitz Food Hall as an international airport with a great bar. Each stall is a gate with passengers bound for different locales. Food flights from Pizitz go to Asia, Africa, India, Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Hawaii.

But no passport is required at Pizitz. There's no TSA hassle or jet lag. Even parking is free, if you don't linger too long.

So meet your fellow travelers under the restored Pizitz clock. Slide over to The Louis, the bar at the heart of the food hall, for a craft cocktail, local beer, hand-spun milkshake, or Buffalo Rock soda. Then pick a dining excursion and

take flight.

In the spirit of travel books like Fodor's, Birmingham magazine offers its tasty-planet culinary travel guide to several destinations accessible via the Pizitz Food Hall.

Choza Taqueria (Mexico)

Designed to evoke a beachside hut on Mexico's Baja peninsula, Choza Taqueria offers street food like tacos ($8) and burritos ($9).

Choza's filling choices cover many taco-stand staples: chicken, slow-cooked steak (barbacoa), braised pork shoulder (carnitas), and spicy Mexican sausage (chorizo). Each meat is paired with its own salsa. Garbanzo y Hongas, a creative vegetarian option, blends chickpeas, mushrooms, avocado, special salsa, and Mexican crema.

Grab-and-go options, such as south-of-the-border salads and bowls ($9.50 each), are an easy option for busy downtown workers. Both come with a choice of protein.

Do not overlook Choza's take on the torta ($8.75), Mexico's greatest contribution to the art of sandwich-making. Choza's version appeals to both the eyes and taste buds, even if the sandwich can get a little messy from the chile crema sauce.

The foundation is Mexican telera bread. Its soft interior soaks up flavors from savory fillings, while the crusty exterior holds it all together. Refried beans and guacamole add creaminess. Pickled carrots and onions provide color and crunch.

Try it with Choza's carnitas, created by Chef Akhtar Nawab, who started the taqueria with restaurateur Matt Wagman. The pork is infused with aromatic spices and sour flavors including tamarind.

Choza has four locations in New York City, including one at the Gotham West Market food hall. Choza's stall at Pizitz Food Hall is its first outside New York. Local artist and chef Roscoe Hall II is the operations manager for Choza, The Louis bar, and Fero Italian restaurant (coming soon).

Tropicaleo (Puerto Rico)

Tropicaleo has exposed many in Birmingham to los sabores de Puerto Rico--the flavors of Puerto Rico. First in pop-ups and now in a temporary gig at Pizitz, wife-and-husband team Maria Isabel Medina and Gabriel Marrero have food lovers trekking across town for their mofongo ($15).

A Puerto Rican favorite with African and Caribbean influences, mofongo is flavorful stewed meat or vegetables paired with belly-filling starch.

In Africa, the starch in similar dishes comes from tuberous root vegetables like cassava. Mofongo's starch is green plantain, which is seasoned, mashed, and mounded.

At Tropicaleo, the choice of stewed pork, chicken, or vegetables adds flavor and moisture to the plantain. The addition of cilantro-flecked rice makes for a filling meal (or two).

Lighter options include sandwiches ($10) made with Morovis bread, a locally-baked variation on a uniquely Puerto Rican loaf named for the town of Morovis.

Most menu items at Tropicaleo are gluten-free, including sandwiches called jibaritos that substitute fried and smashed plantain for the bread. Several dishes are vegan.

Tropicaleo is midway through its stint as the first tenant at Pizitz's Reveal Kitchen, a short-term incubator for new restaurants. This summer, Tropicaleo expects to open a location in Avondale.

Ghion Cultural Hall (Ethiopia)

Tables made from colorful woven baskets are the first indication that Ghion Cultural Hall is not like the other restaurants in town.

Then you notice diners' orders are delivered to their tables communally on one platter, atop of round pancake-like bread. Nobody's using utensils. Everybody's eating with their hands, scooping up food with more of that spongy bread.

A trip to Alabama's first Ethiopian restaurant is an exotic culinary experience. Ghion Cultural Hall, which has a restaurant in Atlanta, is one of two full-service eateries planned for Pizitz Food Hall.

The bread, called injera, is central to Ethiopian cuisine. Injera is made from teff, a nutritious, low-gluten grain that imparts a dark hue to the bread.

It is a sourdough, and the ambient yeast that ferments injera also leaves tiny craters on one side (the other is flat from cooking on a griddle). The porous surface is perfect for scooping entrees (most $14.99) like Ye-Beg Tibs, Dorowot, Quanta Firfir, and Shiro.

Any seasoned traveler knows it pays to learn a few key words or phrases. On Ethiopian menus, Alicha means the dish is mild. Wot means it is made spicy by the addition of berbere, a mix of dried red chile and spices. Tibs means the meat is fried. Gomen dishes contain collard greens or kale. Firfir stews are spicy with bits of added injera. Shiro dishes feature porridge made from ground dried chickpeas.

The Half and Half entree, with Kitfo and a choice of beef, lamb, or vegan Tibs, is one of the few combination dishes that Ghion Cultural Hall offers. Kitfo is chopped beef seasoned with berbere and cardamom-spiked butter. Ye-Beg Tibs is chunks of fried lamb with onion, garlic, rosemary, and sliced jalapeno.

Baskets with cylinders of rolled injera accompany the communal serving plate. Tear off some injera and use that to scoop the food. The bread under the stews will soak up their flavors.

Another Ethiopian word to learn is Buna. It means coffee, which was first cultivated in that area of east Africa. Ghion Cultural Hall offers an exotic coffee service for two using a clay pot called a jebena.

Ichicoro Imoto (Japan)

In Japan, ramen is revered. Forget about college dorm-room ramen, the cheap packages of fried noodles with powdered soup base. Real ramen is a carefully composed bowl of contrasting flavors and textures in which the rich, long-simmered broth--not the noodle--is the real star.

Ichicoro Imoto at Pizitz Food Hall is the sister outpost for the Tampa-based restaurant Ichicoro Ramen. Imoto means "little sister" in Japanese.

Founding chefs Noel Cruz and Masaru Takaku fuse traditional Japanese ramen with flavors more common to Tampa's Latino communities. The pork belly served in the Tonkotsu ($14) and Shoyu ($13) ramen bowls is marinated in citrus before being broiled. Charred onions accompany the Miso ($13) ramen bowl.

Imoto's menu is simple, four ramen bowls with eight potential additions such as pork belly ($3), fresh bamboo shoots ($2), slow poached egg ($1), and toasted seaweed ($1). Ramune, a carbonated soft drink from Japan, is one of four

beverage options at Ichicoro Imoto.

The umami-rich broth in Tonkotsu is seafood-based and slightly spicy. The fresh noodles are pleasantly chewy, long strands that are properly slurped up.

The pork belly is a maze of sweet, tart, and savory flavors. Slivers of pickled red ginger, fresh bamboo shoot, green onion, garlic, and sesame also pack the Tonkotsu bowl. Ajitama, cured egg, is a pleasant surprise. Halved before it is added to the ramen, the sweet yolk is soft, yet retains its shape in the solid

egg white.

Ono Poke (Hawaii)

Honolulu and Tokyo are nearly 4,000 miles apart, but locals in both places share a love for raw tuna. Hawaii's favorite is poke, tuna marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, and other seasonings.

Poke (rhymes with OK), like the kind served at Ono Poke, is as ubiquitous in the Hawaiian Islands as hot dogs are on the mainland. Even gas stations sell it. Variations with different fish and marinades are endless. No Hawaiian celebration is complete without at least one kind of poke.

Vinh Tran, who was born in Vietnam and lived briefly in Hawaii, owns Ono Poke. He uses poke as the centerpiece for an array of bowls that include a base of rice or greens, plus options including vegetables, fruits, sauces, and seasonings. A 16-ounce "Big" is $10.50; the 24-ounce "Kahuna" size is $14.50.

Pick a size and base for your bowl. In addition to traditional chunks of marinated sashimi-grade tuna, protein options at Ono Poke include tofu, shrimp, salmon, and spicy tuna.

Then, choose among four "creations," standards like the Lava Bowl with seaweed, soy beans, jalapeno, ginger, flying fish roe, and sauce. Or build your own from 11 available additions and five sauces.

Like pizza toppings, a more minimal approach works best when creating bowls at Ono Poke. Think in terms of a few contrasting flavors, like cucumber, scallion, and seaweed. Tobiko, the flying fish roe, adds color, crunch, and salt. Ponzu, a citrus sauce commonly used in Japanese cuisine, is pleasantly tart.

Mo:mo (Nepal)

This flight has a layover in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City before connecting to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. Banh mi and dumplings will be served.

Mo:mo is Abhi Sainju's showcase for Vietnamese sandwiches, and momos, pleated and dome-shaped dumplings popular in Nepal.

Sainju featured both at Bamboo on 2nd, where he was the executive chef until leaving to open his own restaurant, called Abhi--at the Summit shopping

center--and the stall at Pizitz Food Hall.

Like Mexico's torta, Vietnam's banh mi is one of the world's great sandwiches. Both feature French-inspired bread; banh mi's loaf is made with wheat and rice flours.Sainju's bahn mi ($6-$11) is multicultural, from its smear of French pate to the Southeast Asian-style pickled carrot. Cucumber, cilantro, and filling choices that include pork belly, lemongrass chicken, or vegetables complete the sandwich.

Most countries seem to have their own version of dumplings, small pieces of pasta encasing meat, cheese, or vegetables, and then steamed or fried. In Nepal, it's the momo.

Momos are believed to have been introduced by Tibetan traders, who adapted their version to local ingredients and bestowed a Nepalese nickname. Usually served steamed, momos in Nepal traditionally are made with fatty minced meat like water buffalo.

Sainju, who was born in Nepal and spent part of his youth in India, uses ground turkey and vegetables to lighten the load for his momos ($8 for 5; $15 for 10). He floats them in a tart and slightly spicy sauce made with Alabama tomatoes, a nod to his new home.

Eli's Jerusalem Grill (Israel)

Fans of Mediterranean food will find familiar dishes at Eli's Jerusalem Grill, even if some have unfamiliar names.

Take, for example, shawarma. It's a cousin to the gyro, a sandwich of pita bread stuffed with meat cut from a vertical rotisserie. But the thinly-sliced chicken ($7.99 sandwich) that Eli's stacks and slow-roasts for shawarma is organically raised. The lamb-and-beef combo ($9.25 sandwich) on Eli's other shawarma rotisserie is grass-fed meat.

Husband-and-wife team Eli Markshtein and Laurel Wurthmann-Markshtein are obsessed with the quality of the food they serve at their Pizitz stall and their flagship restaurant on U.S. 280 near Inverness.

Produce comes from Owls Hollow Farm near Gadsden, Alabama. Rice and pearls of Israeli couscous are organic. The restaurant makes its own pita.

Look for kabobs, schnitzel, hummus, falafel, and Tabouli salad made with quinoa instead of the usual bulgur wheat.

Sandwiches and kabobs are available solo or as a plate with a side dish and dipping sauces including S'rug, a pepper-herb blend developed by Yemeni Jews.

Other destinations at Pizitz Food Hall:

* Busy Corner Cheese and Provisions

* Alabama Biscuit Co.

* Waffle Works

* The Standard (burgers and hot dogs)

* Fero (Italian; full-service restaurant)

* Lichita's (Mexican pops and ice cream)

* Revelator Coffee

--Photos by Major Colbert

This story appears in Birmingham magazine's May 2017 issue. Subscribe today!
Miriah Brink with her daughter, Ellis, who was born in November. (Courtesy)

Adam and Miriah Brink didn't know how their 2-month-old baby would behave in February at the Alabama Launchpad competition in Tuscumbia.

The couple, who run a baby swaddle blanket company in Florence, was competing for a share of funding in the inaugural Shoals Alabama Launchpad Regional Competition.

During the first round of the "Shark Tank" style event, the Brinks were without family and had to bring Ellis with them.

"Our plan was to swaddle her and take her up on stage with us, partly because we had to, but also because we wanted to show just how well the swaddles worked," Miriah said. "It was terrifying because we knew if she would just relax and fall asleep like she usually did when swaddled that it would be so good for our pitch, but we also knew that she might get up on stage and throw a fit and make it look like our product didn't work at all."

Fortunately, Ellis was a "dream baby" and slept peacefully while they were on stage. She was so quiet that Miriah said one of the judges thought Ellis was a baby doll.

Southern Swaddle went on to win $26,000 from Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.

"We know if it wasn't for her making our swaddles look so good, we probably wouldn't have walked away with such big winnings," Miriah said. "She's the reason we started the company, and she's continued to help us be successful!"

We caught up with the Brinks to discuss their business and what the future holds.

Q. What have you been doing with your Launchpad winnings?



Adam: Part of our journey through Launchpad involved developing a budget of how we would use the funds. This was an excellent exercise for us, and it also ensures that contestants use the funding appropriately. Each contestant's budget was split into "milestones" or certain measurable events. We received funding for four milestones: to have our first batch of inventory manufactured, and attend three key trade shows.

For the first milestone, we have purchased legal labels (garment labels required by law), fabric, and retail packaging. We are finishing up production this week, and should have them in time for our grand launch Saturday, May 20.

The trade shows we will be participating in are in Mobile; Tampa, Fla., and Las Vegas. Without these funds, we would still be making swaddles at home. It would be very difficult to jump to having them manufactured without a boost in capital.

Miriah: It's helped us propel our business by at least a year. We've been very adamant that we wouldn't put Southern Swaddle into debt, because we know we can build the company we want through slow growth. The funds have enabled us to go to trade shows this year that would have initially been put off for at least another year or two. We are also able to put together our idea of the perfect swaddle now, and not have to delay going to a manufacturer, which has opened up more time for us to pursue other important issues like marketing and sales.

Q. You have secured a partnership with Florence-based OnPoint Manufacturing, which produces garments for Performance Scrubs. What can you tell us about that?

Miriah: We have an agreement where they will make our large batch of swaddles. They are the perfect fit for what we need right now and are close enough to home that we have been able to check on the process as often as we like. They have done an incredible job with the swaddles, and I am so proud to show off the work that they have done for us.

Q. Can you describe the process of making the blankets? I understand they're made in Alabama with materials produced in the USA.

Adam: We order our fabric and labels from the Northeast and our packaging from California. We have everything shipped to OnPoint, who fashions them into perfect, finished products for us. Several of their employees involved in making our swaddles are moms that live locally. They have an amazing, innovative manufacturing process, and we are very lucky that they are located in the Shoals.

Miriah: We have gone through a painstaking process of making sure everything is made in the USA. The fabric is sourced and dyed in the United States, the thread we sew them with is from the United States, and even our tags are made here in the United States. Even the T-shirts we are giving away as promotional items are made here and printed by a local business. It's something that we are really proud of.

Q. What has the response been like from customers? Are you seeing an increase in orders?

Adam: Upon winning Launchpad, we stopped selling online and focused on implementing our plan crafted throughout the Launchpad process. While we haven't had an increase in sales, yet, our reach on social media has increased by 700 percent. Our swaddles are currently sold at The Baby's Room in Florence, and we have two more local retailers waiting on our new swaddles.

Miriah: Jumping off of Adam's post, while we haven't had an increase in sales yet, we have had a huge increase in recognition. We meet people all of the time who have heard of us in one way or another. It's been so amazing to see the support we have been receiving through the community. People have been so generous to share our story and product with others and really help us build up our brand!

Q. Last year, you all hoped to someday expand Southern Swaddle to include bedding, infant sleeping products, and a showroom to display the items. Is that still a goal of the company?

Adam: The mission of Southern Swaddle is to create the best infant sleeping experience through research and innovation. We still stand behind this. The current long-term goal of our company is to be the leader in the product category we call the "sleeping experience." This includes products such as crib sheets, pajamas, other types of swaddles, and products that don't even exist yet. We want to create functional, sensible products that truly help mom and baby. We do still want to have a showroom and research facility, as well. We would like have it in downtown Florence. We think our infant niche will fit in well with the modern feel of the stores located there.

Miriah: A larger product line and showroom has always been part of the long term goal for us. First, we wanted to focus on making sure our first product was as perfect as we could make it. We have put a lot of hard work into it, and I think we have succeeded in what we set out to do with it. Our next venture is to make a swaddle that is competitive with other company's "smart swaddles." Adam has helped sketch some designs for it and we have a lot of good ideas for what we want it to be. From there, we plan to expand into the other areas such as bedding and pajamas. My goal is to really just talk with other moms and make something they would want as well. It's really about being a company for the people, and not just one for profit.

Q. You all have gotten behind the new Baby Box program. Why did you decide to support this initiative?

Adam: Finland rolled out the Baby Box program in 1938 to low income families. It was changed to include all families about a decade later. Soon after the program was implemented, Finland saw a drop in their infant mortality rate. That drop continues to this day. I'm sure there were a few other factors that contributed, but national healthcare did not exist until 1960. We support baby boxes in the hopes that they can turn Alabama's infant mortality rate around. Alabama bounces between the first and third worst state for infant mortality. We know that the baby box isn't the end-all be-all, but it is a step in the right direction. It gives infants a safe place to sleep, and provides a few of the basic necessities.

Miriah: I have read about the Baby Box project before, but I was not fully aware of the benefits of it until Adam and I sat down and talked to Jessica Thompson of Safer Birth in Bama. We have partnered with her organization to help lower the infant mortality rate in Alabama. She had lots of research that backed up the amazing benefits of the Baby Boxes and we knew right away that we wanted to help bring them to Alabama. Alabama has one of the worst infant mortality rates in the country and we believe that the mothers of Alabama deserve better. We also support the Alabama Birth Coalition and their fight to decriminalize midwifery here in Alabama as well. We believe, and know through research and facts, that bringing midwives to the rural parts of Alabama would mean safer births for mothers and babies. We have contacted senators and been to Montgomery several times over the last few months to support both of these causes. We are just two people and a baby, but we do what we can to stand behind our mission.

__________

Southern Swaddle will host its grand launch event May 20 at the Baby's Room in Florence, where they will be selling swaddles and giving away stickers, T-shirts, swaddles, and a stuffed diaper bag.

Click here for more information about the company.
Alabama's automotive and aerospace industries continued their expansion in 2016, as a new report shows more than 400 companies committed about $4.2 billion in capital investment across a wide range of projects.

That's according to a new report from the Alabama Department of Commerce, out today. In all, companies announced plans for more than 14,700 jobs last year.

That's less than last year's tally of 19,000 jobs and $7 billion in investment, but as Commerce Department Secretary Greg Canfield noted, it's pretty solid for a presidential election year when may companies "hit the pause button" on investment and expansion plans.

In a statement, Gov. Kay Ivey said the numbers show that Alabama "continues to be one of the most attractive locations for companies from around the world, thanks to a highly engaged workforce and an overall pro-business climate."

"The investments made by these companies mean jobs for the citizens of our state, and I'm committed to creating an environment where opportunity flourishes across Alabama," Ivey said.

Montgomery, Madison and Jefferson counties led the state in job announcements, all with numbers of more than 1,000, and Baldwin just under that threshold.

Montgomery County - 1,704.

Madison County - 1,548.

Jefferson County - 1,459.

Baldwin County - 961.

Marshall County - 721.

In terms of new investment, Jefferson County had $505.6 million, with projects ranging from $131 million from Gestamp North America to the $11 million Voestalpine Automotive Body Parts plant.

Calhoun County finished second with $398.2 million, largely due to the expansion of Kronospan in Oxford.

Other top counties were Baldwin with $394 million, Montgomery with $371.3 million and Mobile with $333.3 million.

In terms of international investment, foreign firms accounted for almost $1.6 billion in new capital. That's about 40 percent of the state's total.

Austria was the top source of foreign investment last year, with more than $666 million, largely from the Kronospan expansion and Mobile's Lenzing fiber project.

Canfield said the state remains committed to building global partnerships with companies who plan to stay and expand in Alabama.

Since 2012, the state's economic development efforts have resulted in $24.5 billion in investment and nearly 90,000 jobs, according to the Commerce Department.
The Sheffield Group is expecting to move into its new headquarters off U.S. 280 by the middle of next year.

Company officials gathered for a groundbreaking at the site in Meadow Brook Corporate Park recently.

The approximately 40,000-square-foot building, designed by Turner Batson, is described as a blend of modern architecture with natural materials. The general contractor is Johnson Kreis Construction.

The Sheffield Group is a multi-generational company operating as one of the premier workers' compensation providers in Alabama. Currently, its employees are split between two buildings.

Company officials said the building will bring all employees together under one roof in a comfortable and collaborative work environment.

The new headquarters will double the space employees have, and add health and wellness amenities such as an on-site chef, indoor and outdoor dining areas and a fitness center. It will also have other features, such as covered terraces and balconies and patios with views of the adjacent lake and park.

"This building celebrates the legacy that my husband set in place through his hard work and dedication," said Ann Capps, wife of Don Capps, one of the Group's founders. "It will allow us to bring all employees back together again and continue expanding for years to come. God has blessed us, and we give Him all the glory."
Master of None Alabama Aziz Ansari.jpg

Aziz Ansari, above, stars in "Master of None." Season two is now available to stream on Netflix. (Netflix)

Aziz Ansari's

popular Netflix series

"Master of None"

made a random reference to a controversial incident in Alabama that likely took its residents and fans of the show by surprise last week.

Of course, they would had to make it deep into episode eight of the recently released season two to catch it, but those of us who binged as soon as it went up managed to do so.

Ansari plays Dev, a New York-based actor looking for love in the Big Apple. It follows his escapades along with his pals like Denise, with whom we learn he has spent each Thanksgiving for many years.

The episode shows us a series of Thanksgiving dinners from the 1990s to the present, as Denise settles into her sexuality and faces the challenge of coming out to her family.

About 22 minutes into the episode during a scene set at a Thanksgiving dinner in 2016, they bring up the incident in which an older Indian man was beaten by police in Alabama.

Denise's family typically discuss serious topics in national news, but her superficial girlfriend manages to crash the party.

Switching topics from the Sandra Bland incident, Denise asks Dev to shed light on "the Indian grandpa."

He proceeds to tell the story about the takedown of 57-year-old Sureshbahi Patel in Madison in February 2015.

On the morning of Feb. 6, a neighbor had called police to complain of a "skinny black guy" who is "just kind of walking around close to the garage." Police found Patel walking along the sidewalk. But Patel could not answer questions and the confused encounter ended with Patel in an ambulance.

One character asks, "I think I know the answer to this question, but did anything happen to the cops?"

Dev explains that nothing happened, and that the violence was ruled as "a justified use of force."

In January 2016, Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala threw out the case against Madison police officer Eric Parker, who faced up to 10 years in prison for excessive force in the sidewalk stop of an Indian citizen.

Denise's girlfriend then chimes in to share her own recently seen piece of news the table might find interesting.

"So I was watching the news the other day, and apparently there's this bulldog that set a world record for skateboarding through 30 people's legs," she says, as Denise tells her it wasn't so much the news as it was "World Star Hip-Hop" before her girlfriend implores her to take a selfie at the table.

We reckon the point here is to show how Denise's shallow new girlfriend thwart's the family's effort to engage in their annual serious conversations during Thanksgiving, causing them to wish her ex back into the picture.

As AL.com reported in January 2016, the case drew international interest, drawing Indian diplomats to Madison and prompting Gov. Robert Bentley to issue a letter apologizing to Patel and to India.

Both seasons of "Master of None" are currently available to stream on Netflix.

Ansari also recently cracked a joke on Alabama

. When someone asks "What makes South Carolina barbecue different?," Ansari responds, "It's a little less racist than Alabama barbecue."
Gavel.PNG

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A week after a Jefferson County circuit judge struck down Alabama's Workers' Compensation Act, the same judge issued a further order today staying it indefinitely until the Alabama Legislature can act.

Circuit Judge Pat Ballard on May 8 found two provisions, the $220 a week cap in compensation and the 15 percent cap on attorneys fees, unconstitutional. However, because one or more provisions were found unconstitutional, the entire act is nullified.

Ballard's order, issued in the case of Nora Clower v. CVS Caremark Corp., came after considering the Legislature's schedule and "in light of some of the public remarks regarding" last weeks' order.

The original order was stayed 120 days to allow the Legislature to act in light of the "magnitude" of Ballard's ruling. As the Legislature is set to adjourn later this month, it seems unlikely it will take action.

"No one argues the point that the legislature is equipped to make, answer, and provide a comprehensive solution which fairly protects current and future workers' compensation claimants and their employers and insurers," he wrote.

The case that sparked the ruling dates back to November 2013. Clower stated she had injured her back on the job and was entitled to workers' compensation benefits.

Under the current law, workers hurt while on the job are eligible for $220 a week in compensation for a disability once their condition has stabilized. Lawyers for the plaintiff argued that the law dated to 1987, and $220 per week was above minimum wage level and the poverty level at that time. However, living costs and wages far exceed that number now. Attorneys argued a similar cap would total just under $500 today.

Ballard, in his order today, said the earlier findings against the act remain.

"This Court is ...very aware of the substantial interest and concerns that have arisen as a result of that Order as it relates to the practical impact...on the administration and handling of pending workers' compensation claims in the state," Ballard wrote.

He went to say he would continue to administer pending workers' compensation cases "in accordance with the current" workers' comp law.

However, Ballard wrote that any further orders could come following any action from the Legislature or any party, or if the court determines that the Legislature is "either unwilling or unable to take legislative action on these issues..." A further order would be entered at least 30 days ahead of any action.

Lawrence King, who also represented the plaintiff in the case, said he agreed with the judge's decision.

"We think Judge Ballard's deeper consideration of the legislative calendar, before formally implementing his ruling, is a wise and important step in permitting the opportunity for the various interests to gather and find areas of common ground, such that our Legislature can be well-prepared to consider meaningful update to a system of laws important to all Alabamians," King said.

The last major action on Alabama's workers' compensation law was in 1992. Subsequent attempts to amend it have failed in the Legislature over the past few years.

It was also unclear how far Ballard's earlier order extended, as some said last week that other courts were not obligated to disregard the existing workers' compensation law.
A 44-year-old murder suspect is back behind bars at the same jail from which he escaped nearly 19 years ago.

Donnovan Johnson, who has been on the run since 1998, was returned to the Greene County Jail Tuesday evening. He was captured Friday in Chicago.

Johnson and his co-defendant, Eric Edwards, were charged in a 1996 shooting that killed one man - 29-year-old Ollie Carpenter - and wounded three other people. He was awaiting trial when, in June of 1998, he escaped custody.

Both men had been charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder and receiving stolen property, said Greene County sheriff's Chief Deputy Jeremy Rancher.

The deadly shooting happened in June of 1996, and Johnson was arrested two months later - on Aug. 12, 1996. Edwards, court records show, pleaded guilty to the charges in 1997 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

While Johnson was on the run, Edwards served his time and already has completed his prison sentence.

Rancher said Tuesday that the sheriff's office received an anonymous tip one week ago of Johnson's possible whereabouts. "Based on the information from this tip, we were able to determine that there was a high probability that this tip was credible,'' Rancher said.

They launched an investigation and learned that Johnson was living in Chicago under the alias of Phillip Thomas. About 3:30 p.m. on May 12, the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force took Johnson into custody.

Rancher and Alabama Law Enforcement agents returned Johnson to Alabama on Tuesday. He was in the Greene County Jail undergoing questioning by Rancher on Tuesday night.

The details of his 1996 escape weren't immediately available, but Greene County District Attorney Greg Griggers said Johnson now faces a second-degree escape charge, which indicates he was not armed at the time of his escape and didn't harm any jailers when he did so.

The murder, attempted murder and receiving stolen property charges against him were withdrawn in 2006, court records show, but were reinstated this week. Rancher said he informed the victim's family of the arrest on Monday. "I didn't want all of this to be a shock to them,'' he said.

Rancher held a press conference at the jail in Eutaw Tuesday evening, and some of Carpenter's family members attended. "They're happy, they're satisfied, they have some relief,'' Rancher said.

He declined to elaborate on the life Johnson was leading in Chicago, saying that will likely be part of the criminal trial. "It's been 19 years,'' Rancher said. "I don't want to do anything to compromise (Carpenter's) family getting justice."

Rancher thanked the following for supporting and helping in the probe to get Johnson back into custody and back to Alabama: Gov. Kay Ivey, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, District Attorney Greg Griggers, ALEA's State Bureau of Investigation's Major Crimes Unit, Latent Print Unit and Aviation Unit, the Alabama Fusion Center, the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force, the Cook County Sheriff's Office in Illinois, the Chicago Police Department and the Illinois State Police.

"This is a prime example of what can be achieved when we work together as a team,'' Rancher said. "It's all about the effort you put into it."
Del Marsh on Aug 24.jpg

Sen. Del Marsh of Anniston has been leader of the Alabama Senate since 2010.

((Mike Cason/mcason@al.com))

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh announced this morning he would not seek the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Jeff Sessions.

Marsh, a Republican from Anniston who has led the state Senate since 2010, said he seriously considered entering the race but said he can provide the state needed stability in his current position.

"It's been a hard decision," Marsh said. "I've thought about it and talked to a lot of people. My wife and I talked last night. And it came down to the wire.

"But quite honestly, I probably had really made this decision about a week ago but wanted to make sure I was fully convinced that was what was best for the state. And I think it is, I really do."

Announced

are Sen. Luther Strange, who has held the seat since his appointment by former Gov. Robert Bentley in February, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks of Huntsville, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, state Rep. Ed Henry of Hartselle, Christian Coalition of Alabama President Randy Brinson, Hoover businessman Dominic Gentile and business executive Bryan Peeples of Birmingham.

Two other candidates - Mary Maxwell and Joseph F. Breault - have also qualified, according to the Alabama Republican Party.

On the Democratic side, candidates include: Michael Hansen - Hansen, executive director of Alabama environmental advocacy group Gasp; Doug Jones, a former U.S. Attorney who is now in private practice; Robert Kennedy Jr., who lives in Mobile, according to the paperwork he filed with the State Democratic party; and Jason Fisher, of Orange Beach, the vice president and senior consultant at Ruffalo Noel Levitz, a direct marketing company.

In the past few weeks, there has been much speculation Marsh would enter the race.

Marsh earlier this month said he met with officials with the National Republican Senatorial Committee and was told they would work to protect Strange as the incumbent.

"I don't consider Gov. Bentley's hand-chosen senator to be the incumbent. I think the people will choose that in an election cycle," Marsh said he told the NRSC officials.

Qualifying for the race ends today at 5 p.m. The primary is set for August 15. A runoff - if needed - will be held Sept. 26 with the general election on Dec. 12.

Marsh was asked if his decision not to enter the Senate race clears the way for him to run for governor next year. He repeated what he had previously said, that he would not be inclined to run against Gov. Kay Ivey is she seeks a rull term. Ivey has not announced her plans.

"Anything is possible, Marsh said. "Let me say this, I fully support Gov. Ivey. My first inclination would be that if she chooses to seek that office I think I would be supportive.

"But that's her choice. But should she not, then it's obviously probably something I would look at because the timing would be better than the situation with the U.S. Senate."
Iris Rinke-Hammer class.JPG

Iris Rinke-Hammer teaches a creative writing class at Alabama School of Fine Arts. She has taught at the specialized, public school in downtown Birmingham for 27 years. (Contributed)

Iris Rinke-Hammer

Creative writing teacher Iris Rinke-Hammer pushes her students to find their voice.

"I force them to come out of their shell. I challenge them to face themselves," said Rinke-Hammer, who teaches at Alabama School of Fine Arts in downtown Birmingham.

When Rinke-Hammer critiques her students' writing, she said she looks for that "spark" that shows they have gone beyond their "comfort zone.

"Suddenly, they get into something that's really their voice - a very personal thing, something outside the boundaries, that's out of the box," she said. "When you see that as the teacher, you can pinpoint to it, and you can say, 'Here in these lines, I hear some spark. See if you can develop that further.'"

Rinke-Hammer's style of teaching, including 10 minutes of meditation at the start of each class, has inspired many during her long tenure specialized public high school.

Because of her work, Rinke-Hammer was recently named a Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher. She was one of 10 honorees from across the country. The honor included a $10,000 award.

The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards were created in 2010 in honor of the renowned musical theatre composer and lyricist's 80th birthday.

Rinke-Hammer was nominated by 2015 ASFA alumna Adriane Tharp.

Tharp, a presidential scholar and published author, wrote in her nomination essay that Rinke-Hammer "nudged stories" out of her.

Rinke-Hammer found Tharp's spark.

"In 11th grade, I turned in an essay about my mother's bipolar disorder. Rinke-Hammer pulled me aside after class. 'I don't cry at just anything,' she said. 'You've really got something here. You've found your voice.' She proceeded to tell me about mental illness in her own family, and I felt something shift. This is what I wanted my writing to do. I wanted to start conversations, I wanted to comfort. I wanted to relate."

Rinke-Hammer is modest about the influence she has on her students.

She said she was surprised and humbled by the award. She laughs it off, though, saying teachers "are supposed to be inspiring."

A native of Germany, Rinke-Hammer first came to the United States in 1975 after falling in love with an American man she met in Switzerland and traveled with in Paris, France.

Rinke-Hammer fell in love with the "melting pot" of America. She later earned her master's degree in linguistics from Georgetown University.

She moved to Alabama when her husband, the poet Adam Hammer, could teach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He died in a car crash in 1984.

Rinke-Hammer started teaching Russian and German at ASFA in 1989. She also taught French and Spanish before transferring to the creative writing department about a dozen or so years ago.

Almost nothing is off limits in Rinke-Hammer's classroom. She tells students about her life and travels. It causes the students to respond, in turn, she said.

"I think I am damn honest. I think maybe that is something they respect and respond to," she said.

Rinke-Hammer said she feels it is important for her students, especially the artists, to hear that she loves living in Alabama. She said that has some "resonance" for the students who are from here.

That openness had an impact on Tharp.

"Rinke-Hammer loaned me stacks of books," she said in her nomination letter. "She told me stories of her youth--as a child in Germany, as an immigrant to the United States, as a globe-traveler--as if I deserved to hear them."

Rinke-Hammer said her students inspire her just as much she inspires them. "Their energy inspires me," she said.

Though, she is in her 60s now, Rinke-Hammer isn't thinking of retiring anytime soon. "I love it too much," she said, of teaching.

"This is brain food and heart food for me," she said. "It is very fulfilling."
A Camp Hill man was killed early Wednesday in a single-vehicle crash in Tallapoosa County.

The Alabama State Troopers identified the victim as Eric Matthew Mann. He was 24.

Trooper Corporal Jess Thornton said the accident happened on Alabama 49, about a half mile north of Reeltown. Mann was driving a 2011 Hyundai Genesis when he left the road, struck a sign and a tree before overturning.

He was pronounced dead on the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
HudsonAlpha slide

A HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology technician holds a slide used to hold genetic material for scanning in the institute's DNA reading machines. (File)

A tragic cluster of Alzheimer's cases in a South American family is drawing intense interest from medical researchers, including some in Alabama, and could lead to breakthroughs in fighting the mind-destroying disease.

The family lives in Medellin, Colombia and surrounding villages. Many members didn't know they were distantly related, but they all share a genetic mutation. When they reach about age 45, a researcher said, "They will inevitably get Alzheimer's."

Explaining the cluster discovery in Alabama recently was Dr. Ken Kosik of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Kosik is one of the scientists working in Colombia, and he has now partnered with Huntsville's HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology to broaden the investigation into Alzheimer's.

"Because we know that their disease comes from this one mutation, and they get it so early, and they get it like clockwork in their '40s, they become almost like a living laboratory," Kosik said.

Delay the onset

Pharmaceutical companies are in Colombia doing research and trying possible drugs that might delay Alzheimer's onset. "It's something the people living there are very pleased about - the scientific interest in their plight," Kosik said. "They have had great anxiety about this for generations, and now the world is showing some interest. They're feeling a great sense of relief and some hope."

HudsonAlpha will now use its high-speed gene sequencers to read the DNA code of other Colombian families that do not have the identified gene, but also show signs of early-onset brain degeneration.

Alzheimer's researcher Dr. Kenneth Kosick discusses his new partnership with Huntsville's HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology as HudsonAlpha President and Science Director Dr. Richard Myers looks on. (Contributed photo)

That suggests another genetic cause, HudsonAlpha researcher Dr. Nicholas Cochran said, "So, by sequencing them, we're likely to discover new genetic variants associated with Alzheimer's."

Fate isn't sealed

Finding out we are at genetic risk for Alzheimer's doesn't mean our fate is fixed, Kosik said. "Most of us carry some risk genes for Alzheimer's," he said, "but because genes interact with the environment, we have ways to beat our genes."

The more we know about genetic risk and the environment's role in the disease, Kosik said, the more likely we can decrease that risk. Kosik has written a book on the subject.

"There have been a lot of clinical trials in Alzheimer's, and so far they've all failed," he said. "And the reason is, the trial starts after the person has Alzheimer's. If you treat somebody after they have Alzheimer's, a lot of their brain cells have already died. What we have to do in this field is to start to treat Alzheimer's before it strikes."

How do we know?

How can we know who will get Alzheimer's? The question is what makes Colombia so valuable. Scientists working there do know in this family's case, and they may know even more when HudsonAlpha's research is complete.

"That's very interesting to people who do clinical trials and drug companies who can start treating them before they get the disease," he said. "And that's what's happening there now. It's been going on for 2 1/2 years and has another 2 1/2 years before we get the results."

The goal is to delay onset or reduce symptoms in people with certain genes linked to Alzheimer's. "If the people on the drug don't get symptoms until 10 years later, we're gold," Kosik said.

Incredible technology

Kosik said he is "very enthusiastic about the collaboration we're setting up" with HudsonAlpha. "The incredible technology, skill set and personnel here are going to enhance our investigation of genes in Colombia a lot."

"This is a goldmine in terms of understanding this disease," said HudsonAlpha President and Science Director Dr. Rick Myers. "I do want to emphasize, you don't just go into a community and exploit them and take their genetic information. They may benefit before anyone else."

"I think it's remarkable how a family living in such a remote area of Colombia can help the entire world with this problem," Myers said.

There's one more bitter irony to this Alzheimer's story. The Alzheimer's gene mutation wasn't part of the family's original genetic makeup.

"We were curious about the origin of this gene," Kosik said. "We were able to figure out through some various types of genetic analysis that the gene most likely came from a Spanish conquistador. One person gave rise to this very large family. The evidence is very strong there was one individual who came over very shortly after Christopher Columbus with this gene."
SLS test stand topped out

This aerial view shows NASA Test Stand 4693 under construction in the West Test Area of Marshall Space Flight Center. (Marty Sellers / SellersPhoto.com)

(Lee Roop lroop@al.com)

Federal auditors say NASA had to spend $35.5 million it hadn't planned to in order to finish two large Space Launch System test stands at Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.

Further, the auditors said NASA didn't take a real look at alternative locations for the test stands and might have built them cheaper elsewhere.

The inspector general's audit released today focused on test stands 4693 and 4697 at Marshall. NASA built them to test the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks that are part of the core of the agency's new Space Launch System.

NASA contracted with the Army Corps of Engineers in 2013 to build the two tanks. That deal quickly needed a cash injection.

"In an attempt to meet a 2017 launch date for the SLS, NASA expedited construction ... and paid the contractor a premium of approximately $7.6 million to complete construction on a compressed timetable," the auditors said.

NASA technicians lift a test part for the Space Launch System onto a Marshall Space Flight Center test stand in Huntsville, Ala., on Thursday Nov. 17, 2016. The stand to the right, the liquid oxygen tank test stand, is now the subject of NASA auditor scrutiny. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@AL.com)

But there was another problem. The stands were designed based on "preliminary testing specifications" because the real requirements "were not fully understood when the construction contract was awarded," the auditors said.

As NASA got deeper into SLS design, its modifications added $20.3 million to the contract price. NASA didn't have that in reserve and had to ask Congress for a total of $35.5 million more than the planned budget.

NASA still can't be sure it built the stands in the right place, the auditors said, because the agency "did not adequately consider alternative locations before choosing Marshall."

That question arose at Marshall this week when the space agency invited media to see a major SLS test part arrive after a 1,240-mile barge ride from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. In their report, auditors said each one of those trips costs approximately $500,000.

"You've got to look at your resources, the people, all of your moving equipment," Tim Flores, SLS core stage integration manager, told reporters. "It was much cheaper to just barge the equipment here and have these stands built here where we are actually a center of excellence for structural engineering."

Flores said NASA relied on numerous studies made during the Constellation program to reach that conclusion. And auditors agree that Marshall is the testing site "for many of NASA's iconic space programs" and has "a comprehensive set of structural and environmental testing facilities ... a full range of engineering support capabilities ... and test planning support...."

The two stands are finished now, and they are awaiting test oxygen and hydrogen tanks to arrive beginning later this year.

The inspector general's office made several recommendations that boiled down to: Do better project reviews and planning. NASA basically agreed with the two of the auditors' three findings and proposed new ways of preventing the problems from happening again.

On the third recommendation to improve its method of deciding whether new facilities are needed or old ones can be modified, NASA said the question is part of its program management requirements. The auditors disagreed, saying the requirements NASA cites existed but didn't prevent the problems with these test stands and don't ensure the issues won't rise again. The agency and auditors are still discussing the finding.
BrittneyStiles.jpg

Brittney Stiles, 22, was killed in a domestic-violence situation that ended with a murder-suicide on Tuesday in Russellville. Her 2-year-old daughter, Mary Jane, was in the car next to where her mother died.

(gofundme)

The look of fear in 22-year-old shooting victim Brittney Stiles' eyes is something her sister said she never will forget.

"When you see your sister get gunned down and you can't do nothing, that's something people will never understand," said Stiles' sister, Amber West.

Stiles was shot multiple times outside her Russellville home Tuesday in what police say was a domestic-violence incident that ended with a murder-suicide. Stiles' 30-year-old husband, Joshua, is believed to have fatally shot himself at the end of a police chase after he fled the scene of the killing.

"I will never forget that look of hate he had when he shot her. The look of fear in her eyes when he drew the gun on her, I'll never forget it," West said.

Police said Brittney Stiles was killed in front of her home on College Avenue. Other family members, including West and Stiles' mother, also live in the house.

The couple's 2-year-old daughter, Mary Jane, was in the car next to where her mother died. The child was unharmed and is now being cared for by family.

"She said, 'Help me, help me,' West told AL.com about the moments after her sister was shot. "She died in my arms gasping for air and nobody will every truly know how that feels."

Russellville police Chief Chris Hargett said the murder-suicide was the result of an ongoing domestic situation that began weeks ago with arguing between Brittney and Joshua Stiles.

Brittney and Joshua Stiles' relationship had experienced verbal abuse and some conflict, West said.

"But he never put his hands on my sister," West told AL.com. "Until yesterday, things never got physical. There can be no signs of domestic violence and this still happen to somebody wonderful."

Court records do not reflect any prior criminal charges or domestic-related cases for Brittney or Joshua Stiles.

Brittney Stiles' family is raising money to pay for her funeral through an online gofundme account. Contributions also can be made directly to Wilson Brothers Funeral Home in Carbon Hill. Funeral arrangements have not yet been scheduled because her body was taken for autopsy.

"There was some comments about us just being out for pity and it's not like that," West said. "I've cried so much I can't even hardly talk. Keep praying for us. We'll take it one day at a time."

Joshua Stiles was found dead from a gunshot wound in his truck on Alabama 247 in neighboring Colbert County after leading lawmen from multiple agencies on a chase. Authorities have said they found a gun in the truck after the 30-year-old hit a tree just off the highway.

Hargett said police also found documents that show Joshua Stiles had been honorably discharged from the military in January 2016. Details about his military service weren't immediately available.

Brittney Stiles was born in Jasper, her sister said. The 22-year-old was a graduate of Curry High School in Walker County, according to West.

West said the family has experienced tragedy in the past, including the death of her 6-year-old brother who succumbed to cancer in 2003.

"I really want to ask people to pray for us -- especially my mom," West said. "This isn't the first child she's lost, and she's still in shock."

West said she hopes her sister's death will raise awareness of the volatile nature of domestic violence.

"I still can't wrap my head around why this happened," West said. "Mary Jane will never know how wonderful her mom was except us telling her."
Jason Fisher, a south Alabama Democrat, today announced a bid for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by former state Attorney General Luther Strange.

Fisher, of Orange Beach, is the vice president and senior consultant at Ruffalo Noel Levitz, a direct marketing company specializing in education-based philanthropy and enrollment management services.

"The people of Alabama have lost confidence in their elected officials," Fisher said in a news release announcing his candidacy. "The continued political scandals and government corruption have damaged the reputation of our state.

"We do not need another senator who provides a rubber stamp to the proposed policies and actions of the executive branch," the announcement continues. "We need a leader who will listen to all citizens of our state and be responsive to the challenges faced by those who do not have a powerful lobby advocating for them in Washington."

Also seeking the seat is Rebublican incumbent Strange, who was appointed by ousted Gov. Robert Bentley to replace Jeff Sessions when he joined President Donald Trump's administration as U.S. Attorney General.

Republican Challengers include U.S. Congressman Mo Brooks, of Huntsville, State Rep. Ed Henry, of Hartselle, former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, businessman Dom Gentile and Dr. Randy Brinson, former president of the Christian Coalition of Alabama.

Other Democrats seeking the Senate seat include former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones, medical marijuana activist Ron Crumpton and Mobile's Robert Kennedy Jr.

"Alabamians need effective policies that once again open economic opportunity to the middle class, secure the availability of quality, affordable health care for every citizen and promote real family values," Fisher's announcement states. "We must protect our most vulnerable citizens from discriminatory insurance practices, particularly those with pre-existing conditions, disabilities and our seniors."

"In this critical time, we cannot afford to let our politicians divide us into groups and subgroups for the sole purpose of winning elections," Fisher said in the news release. "We need a leader with vision who inspires our state with real solutions to the problems we face instead of using the same tired rhetoric of slash and burn politics."

Fisher is a 45-year-old single father of Mackenzie, a young girl with special needs. After six years of marriage, Fisher's wife died following an unexpected illness in 2012.

Fisher holds a master's degree in public service from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. He obtained a bachelor's degree in business and political science from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,

Fisher has worked in both the nonprofit and private sectors. He formerly was executive director and vice president of public relations for The Chromosome 18 Registry and Research Society, an advocacy and genetic research organization.
Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell wants a "full account" of former FBI Director James Comey's meeting with President Donald Trump to determine whether the nation's commander-in-chief obstructed an investigation into a national security matter.

In response to today's news that President Trump reportedly appealed to Comey to stop investigating National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Sewell released a statement saying she will work with other House Intelligence Committee members to ensure a full investigation.

"If true, James Comey's reported allegations suggest that our President may have tried to obstruct the FBI's investigation into a matter of national security," Sewell, of Birmingham, said in a statement. "The House Intelligence Committee has a responsibility to get to the bottom of these claims, and I will work with members on both sides of the aisle to bring Comey back to the Committee to gather more information."

Comey, whom Trump fired last week, wrote in a memo after a February meeting at the White House that Trump asked him to stop the FBI's investigation of Flynn and his Russian contacts, according to a person who had read the memo. The Flynn investigation was part of the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Comey's memo, an apparent effort to create a paper trail of his contacts with the White House, would be the clearest evidence to date that the president has tried to influence the investigation, the Associated Press reported.

The White House issued a furious denial near the end of a tumultuous day spent beating back potentially disastrous news reports from dawn to dusk, AP reported.

The Comey news came as the administration was working to explain Monday's revelation that the president had disclosed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and the country's ambassador to the United States.

"The American public is tired of attempts to derail, dismiss, and devalue this investigation, and I will settle for nothing less than a full account of Comey's meeting with President Trump," Sewell said in a statement. "The independence of our law enforcement agencies from the reach of the White House is a fundamental feature of the rule of law in our country."
Pvt. Chelsea Manning, the soldier who was sentenced to 35 years in a military prison for giving classified materials to WikiLeaks, said Wednesday that she's excited about what lies ahead, just hours after she walked free after serving seven years behind bars.

"I'm figuring things out right now -- which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me," Manning said in an emailed statement. She tweeted a picture of her feet in tennis shoes -- with the caption "First steps of freedom!!" -- after walking away from the Fort Leavenworth lockup in Kansas.

Manning's immediate plans, including living arrangements, remained unclear. Manning tweeted after then-President Barack Obama granted her clemency in January that she planned to move to Maryland, where she has an aunt. Manning originally comes from Crescent, Oklahoma.

"After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived," Manning said in Wednesday's statement. "I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me is far more important than the past."

Manning, who is transgender and was known as Bradley Manning before she transitioned in prison, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, has acknowledged leaking the materials, which included battlefield video. She said she wanted to expose what she considered to be the U.S. military's disregard of the effects of war on civilians and that she released information that she didn't believe would harm the U.S.

Critics said the leaks laid bare some of the nation's most-sensitive secrets and endangered information sources, prompting the State Department to help some of those people move to protect their safety. Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.

Manning, who was arrested in 2010, filed a transgender rights lawsuit in prison and attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers.

"We can all finally truly celebrate the strength and heroism she has shown in surviving and sharing her truth and life with all of us," Chase Strangio, Manning's attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in Wednesday's statement that included Manning's post-release comments.

"Through extended periods of solitary confinement and up against the government's insistence on denying her medical care and existence as a woman, Chelsea has emerged with grace, resilience, and an inspiring amount of love for others," Strangio added. "I am humbled to fight alongside such a fierce advocate for justice."

Obama's decision to commute Manning's sentence to about seven years, including the time she spent locked up before being convicted, drew strong criticism from members of Congress and others, with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan calling the move "just outrageous."

In a statement last week -- her first public comments since Obama intervened -- Manning thanked that former president and said that letters of support from veterans and fellow transgender people inspired her "to work toward making life better for others."

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea," she said. "I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world. Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine."

Her attorneys have said Manning was subjected to violence in prison and argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison, restricting her physical and mental health care and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut.

The Department of Defense has repeatedly declined to discuss Manning's treatment in prison.

The Army said Tuesday that Manning would remain on active duty in a special, unpaid status that will legally entitle her to military medical care, along with commissary privileges. An Army spokeswoman, Lt. Col. Jennifer Johnson, said Manning will be on "excess leave" while her court-martial conviction is under appellate review.
A Texas Congressman said he plans to take the House floor this morning and call for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday morning, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, tweeted:

Today on the floor of the Congress of the United States of America, I will call for the Impeachment of the President between 9am & 10am CST.  Congressman Al Green (@RepAlGreen) May 17, 2017

Green's comments were just the latest in a series of criticism directed at the president amid reports he asked former FBI Director James Comey to drop an investigation into ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn. Trump was already under scrutiny for the firing of Comey, who was investigating the administration's ties to Russia.

At the same time, the Washington Post reported Trump revealed top secret information to Russia during a White House meeting. The information, according to the Post, came from Israel and had to do with a laptop ban on some flights.

Trump maintains he did nothing wrong in sharing the information.

In a statement, Green said the president has "committed an impeachable act and must be charged" with obstruction of justice relation to the investigation.

"If the President is not above the law, he should be charged, by way of impeachment, by the U.S. House of Representatives," Green added. "Whether he is guilty is a separate action for the U.S. Senate to decide.

"Our mantra should be "I. T. N. - Impeach Trump Now."
Childcare costs eat up a huge portion of many Alabama families' budgets.

Just how big? That's what a new report from the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee ventured to find out. The report shows a typical U.S. family will spend more than 15 percent of its total income on infant child care alone.

In Alabama, the average family with an infant spends $5,644 a year for childcare. With a median income of $53,146, that means roughly 11 percent of the family's income goes towards childcare. The yearly cost drops slightly - to $4,877 - once a child reaches four-years-old.

Single Alabama mothers - who have a median income of $19,634 - spend 29 percent of their income on childcare.

While both percentages are high, they are exceptionally low on the national scale. The percentage of income for infant care is the second-lowest in the country, beat out only by South Dakota at 9.6 percent.

Nationally, the average childcare cost is $10,476 a year for an infant and $8,469 a year for a 4-year-old child. With the U.S. median income of $68,260, that makes the average share of income spent on infant care almost 15 percent. Among single mothers, who have a median income of $25,274, childcare eats up a whopping 42 percent of income.

The benefits of affordable, high-quality childcare are many, the study showed. Mothers whose children participate in childcare programs are more likely to seek post-secondary education and, for low income mothers, that can mean as much as $90,000 in increased earnings over the course of their careers.

Children who receive high-quality early education do better on math and reading tests and are more likely to attend and graduate from college.

Welcome to Wednesday's Wake Up Call. Let's see what's going on:

Playboy model loses court case over body shaming

A former Playboy model is headed to trial over a locker room photo of a nude 70-year-old woman that she shared on social media.

Dani Mathers has sought to have the charges against her dismissed. A judge denied that request and a motion to continue the trial.

Mathers pleaded not guilty in November 2016 to misdemeanor charges related to invasion of privacy over the photo she shared in July 2016. The image posted to social media had a caption: "If I can't unsee this then you can't either."

If convicted, Mathers could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Former President George H.W. Bush off to Maine

Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, are headed back to Maine.

A spokesperson for the former first couple confirmed the Bushes will keep their traditional summer plans and travel to Maine this summer. The 92-year-old former president was released from the hospital last month after being treated for pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.

Bush has spent every summer in Kennebunkport, Maine, except for time during World War II, when he was a naval aviator.

Amazon building permanent homeless shelter at HQ

Amazon is donating almost 50,000 square feet of space within its Seattle headquarters as a permanent location to house homeless people.

Amazon is partnering with local nonprofit Mary's Place to create 65 rooms, which will house as many as 200 homeless people every night. The shelter is set to open in early 2020.

The shelter will also have a resource center with more than 40 local nonprofits and volunteers on hand to work with people to obtain employment and permanent housing.

Until tomorrow.
Updated at 11:28 p.m. CST to show U.S. Supreme Court had not ruled on request for stay more than five hours after scheduled execution time.

The U.S. Supreme Court had not ruled on J.W. "Boy" Ledford Jr.'s request for a stay of execution after midnight Eastern time, the Associated Press reported. The execution had been scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, but as of early Wednesday, Ledford had not been put to death, according to a report by AP's Kate Brumback, who is expected to witness the execution.

Original story continues below:

Lawyers for convicted Georgia killer J.W. "Boy" Ledford Jr. are trying to halt the inmate's execution tonight by arguing it was wrong for a 20-year-old to be sentenced to death.

Ledford, now-45, is scheduled to be the first inmate put to death in Georgia this year. He was sentenced to death with he was 20 years old for the killing of a doctor who gave him a ride. Dr. Harry Johnston, Ledford's neighbor, was fatally stabbed in Murray County in 1992. Ledford also went to the victim's home, tied up and robbed Johnston's wife.

Ledford's execution was scheduled for 7 p.m. But, his lawyers have filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court arguing an offender younger than 21 years old should not be sentenced to die, NBC News reports.

Earlier today, the Georgia Supreme Court denied a request to halt the execution, according to NBC. A request for stay was denied by a federal appeals court on Monday.

Ledford has requested a firing squad as the method of execution, but a federal judge denied his plea. Ledford's lawyers argued the state's lethal injection drug will cause him unconstitutional suffering because of another prescription medication he's been taking for more than a decade.

A U.S. District Judge wrote Friday that Ledford's lawyers had failed to show that execution by pentobarbital would be "sure or very likely" to cause him extreme pain as required by U.S. Supreme Court precedent. The judge also said that Ledford chose to wait until just a few days before his execution date, which he said suggests a stalling tactic.

Ledford requested a last meal of filet Mignon wrapped in bacon with pepper jack cheese, large french fries,10 chicken tenders with sauce, fried pork chop, blooming onion, pecan pie with vanilla ice cream, sherbet and Sprite, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections.

The execution is set to happen at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, about 45 minutes south of Atlanta off Interstate 75.

There have been 68 men and one woman executed in Georgia since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. If executed, Ledford will be the 47th inmate put to death by lethal injection. There are presently 57 men under death sentence in Georgia, according to the DOC.

This story will be updated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sen. Luther Strange wants sanctuary cities to help foot the bill for a wall at the U.S./Mexico border.

Strange, R-AL, and Georgia Senator David Perdue introduced the Securing the Border and Protecting Our Communities Act earlier this week. The bill would prohibit some transportation grant funding from going to so-called sanctuary cities that don't cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws. In turn, the grant funding would be reallocated towards building a wall at the U.S./Mexico border, a major - and potentially costly - provision of President Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Strange said the act will "restore the rule of law" in sanctuary cities.

"The American people spoke out loud and clear last year in support of one of President Trump's most important promises - to finish building the wall on our Southern border," Strange said. "I introduced this bill to make it clear that cities do not get to play games with the safety of their people or ignore clear federal statutes.

"They can either follow the law or fund the wall."

There are more than 100 sanctuary cities and counties around the country, including major places such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The bill would also make provisions for withholding funds from cities that punish businesses bidding to do work on the border wall.

Last month, California lawmakers passed measure that prohibits the state from awarding contracts to any company involved in the wall's construction. Similar measures have been introduced or considered in New York, Rhode Island, and San Francisco and the city of Berkley, California adopted a "black list" to cut off any funds to companies or contractors that seeking work to build the border wall.

"Penalizing businesses for joining in this critical national security effort is beyond the pale," Strange said.
As the whistle-blower prepares to leave prison, her lawyer and advocates discuss what awaits her now.

New York, US  Chelsea Manning is set to leave military prison this week.

The transgender whistle-blower is counting down the days to her release from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on May 17. She will regain her liberty and the right, long denied, to grow her hair long.

In a statement, the 29-year-old said she will start living as the person who I am.

Manning will also rejoin a society that has swung right under President Donald Trump, who branded her an ungrateful TRAITOR in a tweet. America, it seems, is more hostile to whistle-blowers and transgender people now than when she was locked up seven years ago.

WATCH: Bradley Manning vs the US military

No whistle-blower comes out whole

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mannings lawyer and anti-secrecy activists lauded the detainees early release, but warned that returning to civilian life and coming to terms with her treatment at the hands of Pentagon lawyers will be a struggle.

Ann Wright, a retired US Army Reserve colonel and former state department staffer, who controversially resigned in protest against the invasion of Iraq in 2003, spoke of unyielding pressure on those who oppose the US government.

There will be plenty of detractors who continue to berate her, call her a traitor and try every tactic to demean her and work on her psychologically, Wright, now an anti-war activist, told Al Jazeera.

If you do something like that, you will pay the rest of your life. There is virtually no whistle-blower who has come out of these things whole.

Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer (ACLU) for Manning, said his client wanted to put years of drudgery and administrative violence behind her. She needs time spent healing and taking care of herself back in Maryland, he added.

Shes survived so many traumas and been physically removed from society for so long. But, at the same time as these risks, fears and concerns, theres unbelievable hope and joy that finally she can celebrate her life outside prison, Strangio told Al Jazeera.

Upon release, Manning will get access to more than $130,000 via thousands of small donations to a crowd-funding site. Manning will not sit for interviews, and will continue pushing for a more open government and LGBTQ rights, added ACLUs Strangio.

There is ample evidence of hardship for anti-secrecy activists.

Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who downloaded thousands of files revealing mass public surveillance schemes and shared them with journalists, has ended up in Russia, where he was granted asylum.

Julian Assange, the founder of anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks, which published Mannings documents, has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since 2012, after taking shelter there to avoid extradition to Sweden over rape allegations, which he denies.

WATCH: Digital dissidents  what it means to be a whistle-blower

Their heads were put on sticks

Whistle-blowing will not go away any time soon. Huge numbers of files can be easily copied to USB sticks in near-secrecy nowadays. A recent global ransomware attack, using a hacked and leaked US government-made spy code, amply demonstrated the reach of technology experts.

According to Peter Van Buren, a 24-year state department veteran, officials abuse their power and bully leakers to scare people off.

Manning, along with Snowden and others who were prosecuted by [former president Barack] Obamas administration, were designed as sacrifices, Buren, who served in the same Iraqi base as Manning, told Al Jazeera.

Their heads were put on sticks as a warning to other federal employees that the government would come after you and punish you well beyond what the law requires.

Buren, who grew jaded with post-war reconstruction in Iraq and fell out acrimoniously with his bosses, lost his security clearance and faced other penalties from bosses for his criticism of reconstruction schemes, he says. In 2011, he published his warts-and-all account: We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People.

Obama, a Democrat, declined to pardon Snowden. While Trump, a Republican, praised WikiLeaks for releasing emails between top Democrats during the 2016 election, his administration has since turned on Assange.

Last month, CIA Director Mike Pompeo called WikiLeaks a hostile intelligence service and denounced leakers that plague the US government. Attorney General Jeff Sessions later said arresting Assange was a priority for Washington.

Obama went after whistle-blowers, the sources, themselves. If the Trump administration decides to prosecute Assange, thats going up a notch, moving away from the primary source and after someone in the chain of journalism, said Buren.

Matthew Hoh, a former state department official who served in Iraq and resigned from his post in Afghanistan in 2009 in protest at US policy there, said he feared the Trump administration would pay little heed to diplomatic niceties.

We really have someone here who would violate the diplomatic standing of the Ecuadorian Embassy and send in the police to yank out Assange and drag him to a secret prison for ever, Hoh told Al Jazeera. Were in a very dangerous place.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Amnesty International warns that leakers and rights campaigners take ever-greater risks nowadays. The UK-based rights groups report, Human Rights Defenders Under Threat, found that some 281 activists were killed globally in 2016, up from 156 in 2015.

Salil Shetty, Amnestys secretary-general, praised the bravery of Manning and Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani education activist who was shot by a Taliban gunman in 2012, and others. He lauded ordinary people who refused to accept the status quo and stood for what is right.

READ MORE: Asylum seekers pay price for sheltering Edward Snowden

Longest sentence for a US whistle-blower

Manning has served nearly seven years behind bars after being convicted of leaking more than 700,000 classified documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks in 2010, the biggest such breach in US history.

Among those files was video footage of an Apache helicopter killing 12 civilians in Baghdad in 2007, along with sensitive US diplomatic cables, intelligence assessments of Guantanamo detainees being held without trial and files from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The disclosures embarrassed the US and hurt ties with allies, prompting Obamas White House to crack down on leaks and prosecute more whistle-blowers than were tried under all of his predecessors administrations combined.

Manning, formerly known as US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, said she leaked the files in the interests of transparency and accountability. She was jailed for 35 years in 2013  the longest ever sentence for a US whistle-blower.

The former US Private was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identified as a woman. In jail, she described suffering in solitary confinement and being forced to keep short hair in line with the rules of an all-male lockup.

Last year, she twice attempted suicide and also went on a hunger strike, which she ended after the military agreed to provide her with transition treatment to assist her with gender-related stresses.

Her case became a focus of debate over state secrecy, transgender rights and mental health in prison.

OPINION: Justice in a Nation of Laws: The Manning verdict

I dont think you can ever forgive the government

Critics said Mannings leaks hurt the US and exposed its global web of spies and informants to arrest and assassination.

But some 117,000 people petitioned the White House for her release. Obama granted Manning clemency in January, saying she had taken responsibility for her crime and her sentence was disproportionate to those received by other leakers.

Republicans criticised the commutation as a dangerous precedent. House Speaker Paul Ryan called it outrageous. Senator John McCain said the decision was a grave mistake that I fear will encourage further acts of espionage.

Anti-secrecy campaigners say Manning will continue to struggle with such critics. For Buren, disillusioned government and military staff who rebel against bosses must be prepared for emotional and financial upheaval.

I liken it to a divorce, Buren said.

The worst that happened to me was I lost my job. But for people who went to prison, were driven into substance abuse, broken marriages or thoughts of taking their own life, they cant ever get past it. I dont think you can ever forgive the government for what they did to you.

For Wright, there is a route back. Whistle-blowers always have a whistle to toot.

People around the world want to hear from whistle-blowers and if Manning wants to speak, she will not have a moment to herself, said Wright. She has become an international figure on national security and transgender rights. Her voice will be very important.

Follow James Reinl on Twitter: @jamesreinl








CAGEs Muhammad Rabbani is standing up for the privacy of us all by refusing to hand over his passwords to authorities.

Those making a journey to the UK, whether for work, holiday or study purposes may be asked to hand over the passwords to all their devices by police at ports of entry, even if there is no suspicion of a crime. This is the reach of Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, which now compels individuals to hand over the keys to their digital worlds upon police request.

This development has startling implications for lawyers, doctors, teachers, human rights defenders and NGO workers, who all carry information entrusted to them by their clients.

It is also alarming to any individual who values their privacy. Our digital devices are doorways, not only to our world but to the lives of countless others as well. They hold all of our personal information, from intimate family photos to confidential work documents.

READ MORE: Cage activist faces charges for not giving up passwords

Now, a pending legal challenge involving Muhammed Rabbani, a director of CAGE, an advocacy organisation that campaigns against the abuses of the War on Terror, aims to challenge the broad reach of Schedule 7 and stand up for the right to privacy.

Government data shows that some 20,000 people were detained under Schedule 7 upon entry into the UK last year, 88.4 percent of them non-white. A massive 99.98 percent of people were not charged with any offences but still had to undergo the hassle and trauma of being detained.

Data collection on a massive scale





Detention at entry under Schedule 7 means an individual is taken into a secluded room to be interrogated and to have all their personal belongings searched. They must answer questions, hand over all their electronic devices, and divulge their passwords. There is no right to remain silent and no right to refuse.

Questions centre on you as an individual, your work, what time you finish work, which cafes you visit, and what organisations you are involved with. There are questions about your political views, for example, what you think about the Iraq War or Palestine.

What these stops amount to is data collection on a massive scale and an intrusive attempt under the banner of the War on Terror to monitor and record the beliefs of large numbers of people. The legislation is so broad in its scope that it allows for any political view or belief system that falls foul of the state-sanctioned one, to be incorporated into the police line of questioning.

Questions abound about what happens to this data once it is confiscated. Where is all this data being stored? With who is it being shared, what other security services? How does one remove oneself from these databases once you are marked at a port of entry?

Privacy advocates and civil liberties groups including Liberty and Privacy International have spoken out against the broad reach of Schedule 7 and now Rabbani, with the support of CAGE, is taking action to challenge the law.

OPINION: UKs most extreme surveillance law

Rabbanis case is made all the more compelling and important because when he was detained at Heathrow airport in November last year and asked to hand over his passwords, he refused because he was carrying crucial testimony, evidence of torture that implicates high-ranking officials.

He said it was a split second decision he made, something that any reasonable person in his position would have done to protect his client, especially if the client was a torture survivor. When he took this principled stance, even though he cited client confidentiality as his reason, he was arrested.

Rabbani reports to police in London on Wednesday to find out whether they will pursue terrorism charges against him. His position comes with the support of the Open Rights Group and the Courage Foundation, as well as CAGEs many followers.

If the case moves to trial, it will be a landmark one for privacy advocates. However, we must not lose sight of another critical element of this case, namely that Rabbani was protecting crucial evidence in the course of representing his client and being forced to disclose such evidence would be a gross miscarriage of justice.

Karen Jayes is the award-winning author of the 2003 novel For the Mercy of Water (Penguin SA). She worked as a journalist for various publications in South Africa and the UK. She is the spokesperson for CAGE Africa, a branch of CAGE advocacy group in the UK.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Chinas trading partners are concerned that the new Silk Road project may get them stuck in a debt-trap diplomacy.

As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, so a wise man adapts himself to circumstances, Chinese philosopher Confucius once advised. As the West, led by no less than the United States, succumbs to bouts of protectionism, China (the worlds largest trading nation) has found itself in a precarious situation.

Amid a slowing economy, the Chinese leaders are deeply worried about losing easy access to overseas consumer markets, which fuelled the countrys turbo-charged industrialisation in recent decades. Latest data show that global trade has actually stagnated.

In response, China has launched an ambitious mega-infrastructure project aimed at reviving the ancient Silk Road with 21st-century technology. In a strange twist of events, China, led by a self-described communist regime, has suddenly emerged as an unlikely vanguard of globalisation.





On May 14, Beijing launched the so-called One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, better known as the New Silk Road project, during a summit of global leaders. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who led the opening ceremony as the keynote speaker, hosted the leaders of 28 nations, who were more than eager to benefit from Beijings grand ambitions and largesse.

The New Capitalists

Earlier this year, Xi became the first Chinese head of state to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, an annual gathering of the global liberal elite. More shocking than his mere attendance at the event was his full-hearted endorsement of a liberal economic order.

Just blaming economic globalisation for the worlds problems is inconsistent with reality, declared Xi in an implicit rebuke of protectionist rhetoric deployed by the likes of US President Donald Trump. The leader of the worlds largest communist nation described globalisation as a big ocean that you cannot escape from, while criticising protectionism as locking oneself in a dark room.

OPINION: When Xi Jinping met Donald Trump

Xis surreal endorsement of values that run counter to communist dogma was grounded in a sound calculation of Chinese national interest. As the worlds leading trading nation, the country desperately needs the wheels of globalisation to grind on. Thus, China is willing to commit huge resources to fulfill that outcome.

Under the OBOR initiative, China is expected to invest up to $1.3 trillion in infrastructure projects, which will connect Chinas industrial heartland to Western Europe via both land-based as well as maritime transportation and communication networks.

The belt refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt, which runs through Central Asia, Iran, Turkey and Eastern Europe, while the road refers to Maritime Silk Road, which runs through Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean. They both end in Western Europe, the terminus of the ancient Silk Road, which connected China to Rome via the Middle East.

Economic Rebalancing

Chinese state-owned banks as well as China-led international financial institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank are expected the shoulder much of the cost of this ambitious plan. China has already set up an initial $40bn Silk Road Fund, while the AIIB is allocating an additional $50bn. More than 60 countries have expressed interest in joining along.

On the surface, the project makes perfect economic sense, since it allows China to overcome excessive infrastructure overcapacity at home, while more fruitfully channelling its huge savings. There are simply too many highways, airports, and ghost towns across China, while Beijing is eager to divest from low-interest US treasury bills.

Funding big-ticket infrastructure projects overseas allows China to hit four birds with one stone. First of all, it prevents massive layoffs in and aids the survival of major state-owned enterprises and affiliated companies, which are running out of lucrative projects at home.

Moreover, it allows China to expand its supply chains beyond Pearl River Delta and East Asia by incorporating untapped labour markets overseas. Improving the infrastructure of trading partners also facilitates Chinese exports owing to reduced transaction costs.

Geopolitical Anxieties





Above all, however, it allows China to lock in precious mineral resources and transform nations across the Eurasian land mass and Indian Ocean into long-term debtors. A leading credit rating agency recently warned that the OBOR is driven primarily by Chinas efforts to extend its global influence, where genuine infrastructure needs and commercial logic might be secondary to political motivations.

The result is what one observer aptly described as debt-trap diplomacy, since some nations end up piling up unsustainable debts to China. This is particularly the case in small developing nations such as Sri Lanka, which has been forced to make huge economic and geopolitical concessions as it struggled to payback for Chinese projects.

Meanwhile, larger nations such as India have raised concerns over Chinas geopolitical intensions, since the project runs through the disputed Kashmir region.

Other countries, from Indonesia to the Philippines and Nigeria, have raised concerns over the quality of Chinese infrastructure investments, their compliance with good governance and environmental regulations, and Beijings tendency to employ not only Chinese technology and engineers, but also Chinese labourers for overseas projects.

Ultimately, many are concerned about a One Road, One Way outcome, where China keeps on exporting, while others are stuck as importers. Nonetheless, most developing nations have cautiously welcomed the modern Silk Road initiative, since, as one Asian diplomat bluntly put it, Everyone wants to be Chinas friend now with Trump in office.

Richard Javad Heydarian is a specialist in Asian geopolitical/economic affairs and author of Asias New Battlefield: The USA, China, and the Struggle for the Western Pacific.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
A US decision to boost troop numbers in Afghanistan would be welcome, but there is need for a more robust engagement.

Omar Samad is a former Afghan ambassador to France and Canada and worked as an adviser to Afghanistan's chief executive.

Over the next few days, US government agencies with the task of reviewing and assessing the next phase of the military mission in Afghanistan will submit a set of recommendations drafted by the military brass to President Donald Trump, in which they are expected to call for a mini-boost in the US train, advice and assist operation under way since 2015.

Odds are that the tactical proposal to expand the American militarys footprint in Afghanistan will be approved before the next NATO Summit to be held in Brussels at the end of May.





Under the banner of the NATO-led operation dubbed Resolute Support, it is also expected that other members of the alliance will follow suit and contribute to the multinational contingent to bolster the current presence.

This tactical adjustment, if approved, is meant to break what the American commander in the region calls a stalemate, as Taliban Islamist militants continue to put pressure on government forces, resulting in loss of territory and record numbers of casualties on all sides, especially among civilians.

Unlike the previous adjustments made under the Obama administration in 2015-16, this new approach is not time-bound, and promises to give more latitude to commanders on the ground to call the shots.

That is all good given the overall deteriorating security situation, but other questions arise: what is the strategy when the stalemate is fractured? Can the next stage  a hurting stalemate  be reached given the current configurations? What other non-kinetic factors are needed to assure a Taliban reversal followed by authoritative talks and a possible political settlement acceptable to all sides?

A complex environment

Given the complex multidimensional nature of the Afghan conflict, the military component will face serious challenges if it is not complemented by renewed vigour and serious effort through hardened regional diplomacy aimed at creating synergy for peace, as well as new measures to heal growing internal political rifts within the Afghan political structure, and address governance and reform shortcomings.

READ MORE: US considers boosting troop presence in Afghanistan

The forthcoming decision will be critical to the success of the mission at a very sensitive time. American/NATO planners will need to take four factors into consideration: shifting geopolitical dynamics, as seen with renewed engagement by Russia, Pakistan, Iran, China and India; producing sustainable results on the ground in terms of denying terrorists territory and infrastructure; turning the tide against the Taliban and their regional backers; and assuring Afghan political stability through strengthened inclusivity, systemic reforms and a much-needed economic recovery to stem loss of jobs and a youth exodus.

A changed country in a state of flux

More than 15 years of international engagement, with an estimated cost of close to $1 trillion, has changed Afghanistan  not always for the better. Efforts to paint a rosy and hopeful picture are short-lived as security, loss of livelihoods and political fragility continue to haunt the war-torn nation.





The Taliban are seen as the biggest obstacle to achieving lasting peace and prosperity. Their raison detre has changed from being a neo-madrasa-produced Islamist movement wanting to impose their non-traditional draconian rule over the country in the 1990s, to becoming an opportunistic and fractured militant outfit, partly run by a collection of conglomerate-style bosses at the top, and manned by dissatisfied and/or wronged fighters in the lower ranks.

The Talibans continued reliance on Pakistani sanctuaries and strategic advice has irreversibly hurt their image with most Afghans. On the other hand, the governments inability to strengthen political trust, and improve governance and accountability, is hampering the reform agenda. Lately, intra-government tensions, the presidential palaces cliquish and monopolising intrigues, and petty rivalries have given rise to ethnic tensions, and the erosion of public confidence. If not checked, this trend could become politically untenable.

Evolving geo-politics and regional engagement

Many Afghans believe that Pakistans role in Afganistans conflict should be checked. Their decades-long argument that India and Afghanistan are colluding, or the claim that Pakistan has diminished leverage over the Taliban, have few buyers outside Pakistan.

Not only is Afghanistan the weakest link in regional realignments currently under way, but it is in danger of, once again, becoming a new Cold War battleground. by

The Iranians, driven by rivalry with Saudi Arabia and fear of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) encroachment, prefer to avoid escalation on their eastern border. They, alongside with the Russians, are accused of back-channel talks with the Taliban, who are seen by Moscow and Tehran as a possible counterweight to ISIL threats.

Although the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week denied providing arms to the Taliban, American generals see the Russians as a new complicating factor and detractors of US efforts in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, China, eager to build land and sea economic corridors through regional investments, remains concerned about the rise of Cold War rhetoric between Russia and the US.

Not only is Afghanistan the weakest link in regional realignments currently under way, but it is in danger of, once again, becoming a new Cold War battleground. To avoid such a dire scenario from taking shape, there is a need for heightened diplomatic efforts aimed at agreeing on threats and targets that need to be prioritised. All sides  at least nominally  agree that the spread of ISIL-like cells in the region is detrimental to their interests. This could form the basis for their engagement.

Next, the question of the Taliban and its future role  if any  inside an expanded Afghan political structure should be addressed. So far it is the extreme wing of the Taliban leadership that has balked at engaging in talks. Their immediate aim is either state collapse or domination of the political outcome. The result is the stalemate that is haemorrhaging Afghanistan. It is imperative that the bleeding be brought under control, and the momentum shift in the opposite direction before progress is made on the political front.

Meanwhile, renewed efforts are needed to safely engage and nurture the vulnerable and softer wing of the Taliban through a carrot-and-stick approach using trusted intermediaries. The Taliban is a fractured organisation in which supporters of peace are under pressure from those who are mostly beholden to a non-Afghan and Jihadi vision.

Need for a more robust engagement

As the newly formulated American decision demonstrates, the Afghan conflict is about to enter a new phase. There are domestic fault lines such as terrorism, corruption and injustice that feed the ranks on all sides. The emergence of ISIL-type cells, continued presence of traditional terror groups such as al-Qaeda, drug and smuggling mafias, and shifting geo-political alignments, raise fears that the Afghan cauldron could cause spillovers.

OPINION: Afghanistan  A pawn in major power rivalry?

In this context, the US mini-boost is a better, and much-needed, short-term option compared with maintaining the status quo or a premature disengagement. It will boost morale and help Afghan forces to gain tactical advantage.

However, there is a need to follow up this mini-boost with a more robust strategic rethink on the geo-political and diplomatic fronts outside Afghanistan, and on improving political and governance conditions inside the country, if the new commitment is to have a constructive and lasting effect.

Omar Samad is a former Afghan Ambassador to France and Canada, and is a former adviser to Afghanistans Chief Executive. He is currently CEO of Silkroad Consulting LLC, and a member of the Board of the Afghan-American Research and Advocacy Center, Virginia/USA.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
CAGE activist facing charges for not giving his passwords to the police says everyones right to privacy is at risk.

In November I was arbitrarily detained in Londons Heathrow airport. The police asked me to hand over the passwords to all my electronic devices. Not wanting to breach client confidentiality, I declined.

This was not the first time that I have been stopped at an airport. On previous occasions, I had not given my passwords and had been permitted to go on my way. So after refusing to give my passwords, I was expecting the police to let me go. I thought I was operating within the law and in line with my rights to privacy.

But this time I wasnt allowed to go on my way. I am now facing three months in prison if found guilty of an offence under a counterterrorism power called Schedule 7.

READ MORE: CAGE activist faces charges for not giving up passwords

On the day that I was stopped in Heathrow airport, I was placed in a very difficult position: I was either going to hand over passwords to my devices or I was going to risk ending up in prison.

I decided to risk ending up in prison.

At the time, there were two reasons behind my decision. First, if I handed over my passwords I knew that I would be in breach of client confidentiality. Everyone recognises the need for trust in professional relationships between doctors and patients, lawyers and clients, teachers and students. My professional relationship with my clients also requires trust and confidentiality.





Had I been asked to disclose my personal information only, I could have made a different decision. However, I was being asked to surrender information that may be related to others  many of whom are vulnerable people seeking legal remedies to abuses they may have suffered. I felt I couldnt agree to hand over information about my clients without their consent.

Second, if I had handed over my passwords, it would have resulted in a breach of confidence in a particularly sensitive case that my organisation, CAGE, is currently investigating.

This case can lead to the prosecution of perpetrators of torture and link a number of authorities with abuses. By confiscating my devices, the police have already interfered with this ongoing investigation and if this is not resolved, it could lead to the suppression of crucial information that could bring accountability in torture cases.

Schedule 7 needs to be challenged

Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 is a draconian legislative measure implemented at UK airports, where individuals are stopped, searched and questioned about their lives and views, in an exercise designed to gather intelligence on them.

Though it is currently applied in the framework of the so-called War on Terror, its reach can easily be expanded more broadly, as we have witnessed through the David Miranda case.

What is clear from my experience is that authorities are trying to get a sense of an individuals beliefs. Not only is this a violation of the fundamental right to freedom of thought and belief, but there is no link between an individuals political and religious views and terrorism. Yet this information is recorded and connections are drawn.

OPINION: The activist taking on the UKs invasive terror laws

There is no transparency at all about how the information gathered under Schedule 7 will be used. We dont know if it will be used to profile certain communities, or to design and develop policies, or to assist the state in criminal trials, or as secret evidence. We also do not know whether this information is shared with other agencies. For this reason, and because the powers given to the police under Schedule 7 lead to situations that resemble an interrogation and detention-without-charge, this legislative measure is a violation of the rule of law and our basic rights.

When the rule of law is disregarded or applied selectively to only a few, we need to ask ourselves what we are willing to risk for a more equal and just society  for the sake of all. by

Schedule 7 is one law in a broader web of counter-terrorism measures that complement one another to criminalise ordinary people, and which can, owing to the broad language used in these texts, also be used to criminalise innocent people beyond the Muslim community.

The evidence threshold for the implementation of Schedule 7 is so low that it gives police the right to stop you without having any reason to be suspicious of you. The wording of the measure is vague and broad  for example, it doesnt say you can be stopped if you are suspected of terrorism. It doesnt even say if you are involved with terrorism, it says you can be stopped and interrogated under this act if you are someone who appears to be a person who is or has been concerned in terrorism (pdf).

Now concern  what does that word mean in this context? I mean, I could be an academic studying conflict, and I could be concerned in terrorism. I could be a journalist investigating some sort of a crime and I could be concerned in terrorism. I could be anybody.

During a Schedule 7 detainment a person may be shown photographs of other individuals and asked to give information about them. They often have to face unfounded, fearful allegations of being linked to terrorism. It is nothing short of injustice and intimidation. This has broad implications for people who need to protect their data

This case is not only about me or CAGE. If I give in, this has broad implications for others who want to protect similar relationships and ethics in the face of an encroaching security state. For this reason, my case will set a crucial precedent not just for Muslims, but for all society.

READ MORE: UK court to investigate rights group surveillance

But beyond the effects on the individual, it is astonishing that this law has been in power, with little challenge, for 15 years. Authorities have been gathering data on individuals for this long, at the rate of between 20,000 and 50,000 people a year. Such excessive surveillance and intimidation must be challenged. This is affecting the lives of thousands and thousands of people.

The presumption of innocence is a basic right and Schedule 7 needs to be brought in line with the rule of law. I am disappointed that not more has been done. Sometimes the right thing to do is to say the law is wrong. Therefore the only correct thing to do is to resist.

The importance of privacy





Privacy is something that lies close to my heart. As a Muslim, I know that privacy is much valued in Islam and we are commanded not to spy on others. The presumption of innocence before guilt is also a founding principle of my religion.

With everything digitalised now, and with increasing threats to individual rights around the world, we have a right to demand and protect our privacy, especially responsible for protecting the rights of others in the face of oppressive authority. This notion goes to the heart of British values. Yet, it is those values that are being destroyed.

We have to ask ourselves how much we value these principles. This is about taking a risk to protect the rule of law. This is everything I have learned from CAGE.

CAGE is built on the principle that the rule of law should apply to everybody. This is a central theme of our work. When it comes to the fight against terrorism, this has been hijacked and the dialogue has been twisted so people dont think the rule of law is necessary.

Equal laws for all?

The 20th-century philosopher John Rawls imagined a scene in his book, A Theory of Justice, where a group of people would be required to design laws for the benefit of a future society  the catch being that they would die at the end of the process and be woken up not knowing what their position in the new society would be.

The reality of counterterrorism policy is that the people who are making the laws would never allow for themselves to be subjected to the same treatment  no one would wish to wake up one day with all the suspicion that accompanies being a Muslim.

READ MORE: Prevent  UK anti-terror plan harms childrens rights

I mentioned earlier that I refused to give my passwords to the police for two reasons: to protect my clients confidentiality and to protect a torture survivor. Those were the two things in my mind when I was arrested. Now, after having gone through the experience of being treated like a criminal, I feel differently.

The experience has made me think that the problem is more fundamental than that: password protection should be a basic right and no one should be required to reveal their passwords if they have not been formally accused or charged with a crime.

I hope by taking this stand, I will inspire others to follow my lead. When the rule of law is disregarded or applied selectively to only a few, we need to ask ourselves what we are willing to risk for a more equal and just society  for the sake of all.

Muhammad Rabbani is the international director of the campaign group CAGE.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Militia fighting spreads in rural areas of Central African Republic, with UN official calling it highly worrying.

As many as 100 people were killed last week in militia violence in southern Central African Republic, the United Nations has said, expressing grave alarm over the spread of fighting fuelled by ethnic and religious rivalries.

Among the victims were six UN peacekeepers, marking the deadliest month for the UN mission MINUSCA since it began in 2014.





The violence represents a new escalation in a conflict that began in 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka fighters seized power and ousted then-president Francois Bozize, prompting reprisal killings from Christian anti-Balaka militias.

The UN high commissioner for human rights warned on Tuesday the violence in areas previously spared major bloodshed was highly worrying.

The hard-earned relative calm in [the capital] Bangui and some of the bigger towns in CAR risks being eclipsed by the descent of some rural areas into increasing sectarian violence, with defenceless civilians  as usual  paying the highest price, Zeid Raad al-Hussein said.

Clashes intensified on Monday in the town of Bria, forcing about 1,000 civilians to seek shelter near the UN base, Secretary-General Antonio Guterress spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said on Tuesday.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital in Bria received 24 wounded people early on Tuesday as fighting continued, Frederic Lai Manantsoa, MSFs head of mission in the capital Bangui, said.

Casualty counts have been difficult to confirm because of the ongoing violence and remoteness of the locations.

I dont know exactly how many but some were wounded and others died, one Bria resident said.

In a statement, Dujarric said unverifiable figures indicate up to 100 people may have been killed in three days of clashes from May 7-9 in the town of Alindao between anti-Balaka fighters and an ex-Seleka group.

Up to 8,500 people were displaced in the fighting, he said, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs plans to lead an inter-agency fact-finding mission there.

Meanwhile, the UN peacekeeper mission said the situation in Bangassou, a town at the border with Democratic Republic of Congo, was under control after an attack by Christian militiamen at the weekend killed nearly 30 people and forced thousands to flee.

MINUSCA troops captured strategic sites after air strikes on Monday, the mission said. A total of 26 bodies have so far been identified there after fighting.

OPINION: Chasing ghosts in the Central African Republic

The worst is over, the missions top General Balla Keita told reporters in the capital. We are holding the terrain and our men are going to continue search-and-sweep operations.

According to the UN refugee agency, the violence in Bangassou sent an estimated 2,750 refugees fleeing across the border into Congo over the weekend.

In Bangui, hundreds marched to demand that the perpetrators of attacks face justice after years of impunity.

We notice, unfortunately, that the violence continues to claim victims, said Evodie Ndemade, vice president of a victims association. Justice must be done now.
Four employees of state broadcaster and four attackers among the dead in siege in eastern city of Jalalabad.

At least six people have been killed by assailants wearing suicide vests who stormed a national television and radio station in the city of Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan, government officials say.

The attackers were carrying AK-47s when they entered Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) on Wednesday in the latest assault on news media workers in the country.

The raid on the RTA state broadcaster was carried out by four attackers, one of whom had detonated a suicide bomb at the entrance to the compound, said Gulab Mangal, governor of Nangarhar.

As the attack unfolded, heavy gunfire was heard from around the RTA building, which is close to the governors compound.

The three others were killed by security forces in the gun battle, Mangal said.

OPINION: What should the US next move be in Afghanistan?

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group claimed responsibility for the attack that comes over a week after the leader of ISIL in Afghanistan was killed in a US drone attack.

Al Jazeeras John Hendren, reporting from Kabul, said that at least 16 people, including journalists, were wounded in the attack, which took place in central Jalalabad close to the provincial governors office and a busy square.

Among the dead were four RTA employees, including a driver, a guard, and two technical personnel, as well as two policemen, according to Mangal.





ISIL has established a stronghold in Nangarhar, of which Jalalabad is capital, where it fights both the Taliban and Afghan government forces.

Last month, the US military dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, dubbed the Mother Of All Bombs, on ISIL positions in Nangarhar, killing dozens of fighters.

The bombing was criticised by many in Afghanistan and abroad, saying that it amounted to using the country as a testing ground for the weapon.

Wednesdays attack underscores the growing dangers faced by news media workers in Afghanistan as the security situation worsens.

Dangerous for reporters

The country suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists in 2016, according to the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC), adding that the country is the second most dangerous for reporters in the world after Syria.

As least 13 journalists were killed last year, AJSC said, claiming the Taliban was behind at least 10 of the deaths.

In January 2016, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of fighters, were killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul in what the Taliban said was revenge for spreading propaganda against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were toppled from power in 2001.

Dan Coats, head of US intelligence agencies, said last week that the security and political situation in Afghanistan will also almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in the military assistance by the US.

US-led forces have been fighting in Afghanistan for almost 16 years, making it the US longest war.
iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- For the second consecutive day Tuesday, the White House pushed back on a breaking news report, this time that President Donald Trump requested in February that then-FBI Director James Comey drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.



Comey described the conversation with Trump in a memo he shared with top FBI officials, according to sources who described the memo's contents to ABC News.



The story follows a Washington Post report Monday that Trump revealed classified information to Russian officials during a White House meeting last week.



In the aftermath of the news, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle called for the memo to be seen and for Comey to testify.



Here's what lawmakers are saying about the latest report:



Republicans

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.

Congress needs to see the Comey memo.  Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) May 17, 2017

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah

.@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.  Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) May 16, 2017

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.

These serious allegations effect our nat'l security & they carry very real consequences. It's time for Comey to testify before Congress.  Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) May 16, 2017

Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla.

Director Comey's public testimony before Congress is an absolute necessity. We must get to the bottom of all of these alegations forthwith.  Rep. Carlos Curbelo (@RepCurbelo) May 16, 2017

Rep. Leonard Lance, R-N.J.

Director Comey should testify publicly before Congress as soon as possible.  L.L. https://t.co/C4jrYnYeei  Rep. Leonard Lance (@RepLanceNJ7) May 16, 2017

Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J.

American people deserve to hear all facts. Country must have answers. It is clear former FBI Director Comey should testify before Congress.  Frank LoBiondo (@RepLoBiondo) May 16, 2017

Democrats

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The country is being tested in unprecedented ways. I say to all my colleagues in the Senate, history is watching.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 16, 2017

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.

Reason #98 for a special prosecutor https://t.co/9U8Nk9Wdgx  Senator Tim Kaine (@timkaine) May 16, 2017

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.

I eagerly await the White Houses 2nd, 5th and 9th explanations for this one https://t.co/XW8s84sVT1  Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) May 16, 2017

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

Stunning news of how POTUS tried to influence the FBIs Russia investigation. We need answers and an independent special prosecutor. https://t.co/H1cERABkk6  Sen. Debbie Stabenow (@SenStabenow) May 16, 2017

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

All of the evidence  including transcripts, tapes, memos, and other documents  must be subpoenaed immediately.  Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) May 16, 2017

Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii

For my GOP colleagues. Try it. It will feel good. I promise. pic.twitter.com/N0ktb7ehRj  Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) May 16, 2017

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii

The word outrageous has become a cliche with this administration. What next? Need independent investigation/special prosecutor NOW.  Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) May 16, 2017

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.



If these reports are true, the Presidents brazen attempt to shut down the FBIs investigation of Michael Flynn is an assault on the rule of law that is fundamental to our democracy. At best, President Trump has committed a grave abuse of executive power. At worst, he has obstructed justice.



With each passing day, the Presidents actions give greater and greater urgency to the need for a full and independent investigation of the Trump-Russia connection. Tomorrow, Democrats will file a discharge petition to demand a vote on the bipartisan bill to establish an independent, outside commission to investigate Trumps ties to Russia. Soon, Democrats will also introduce legislation to create an independent counsel to get the facts free of President Trumps meddling.



If the President has nothing to hide, then he should welcome independent investigations to remove all doubt of a cover-up. The American people deserve to know what President Trump is so desperate to keep hidden.



Independents

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Now more than ever we need a special prosecutor to determine whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. https://t.co/F6jvy4SBmQ  Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 16, 2017



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The provision, part of a larger integration package, means those wearing the veil in public will be fined $166.

Austrian members of parliament have approved a new bill which bans garments that fully cover the face of women  the latest restriction for the countrys Muslim population.





The provision, adopted on Tuesday night, was backed by both ruling parties and means that people wearing full-face veils in public will be subject to 150-euro ($166) fines starting in October.

The measure was first announced by Austrias coalition government in January as part of wider proposals aimed at countering the rise of the far-right, anti-Islam Freedom Party.

Farid Hafez, political scientist at the University of Salzburg and editor of The European Islamophobia Report, said the ban was just the latest move imposing restrictions on Muslims. In 2015, Austria, home to some 600,000 Muslims, passed a bill requiring imams to be able to speak German.

This is another example of the far right becoming the hegemonic force in the public discourse, he told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: What the hijab means to me

The ban is part of a larger package which also forbids the distribution of the Quran and requires all migrants in Austria to participate in an integration year during which they take classes to learn German and ethics considered customary in Austria.

That measure is targeted at refugees and asylum seekers viewed as having a good chance of remaining in Austria.

It will definitely empower people who have just arrived here to get acquainted with society more, Hafez said.

But at the end of the day, what is needed is access to the labour market. Austria has one of the most restrictive labour markets in Europe and this has not fundamentally been changed.

So it sounds good, but the real improvement is still lacking, he said.

Asylum seekers are also expected to perform unpaid public work under the new law  a proposal, supporters say, that is designed to make migrants better suited for the Austrian labour market.

Migrants refusing to take part in the integration courses or public work will see their welfare benefits cut.

The nationwide ban on full-face veils comes on the heels of a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in March, which stated that employers are entitled to ban staff from wearing visible religious symbols, a decision Muslims said was a direct attack on women wearing hijabs at work.

The court could and should have seized the opportunity to put a halt to the multiple discriminations faced by Muslim women and protect their fundamental rights, but they chose not to, Kim Lecoyer, president of Belgium-based Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera in reaction to the ECJ ruling.

Additional reporting by Jenna Belhumeur
Separatist cult leader and about 50 other inmates freed after supporters attack prison in the capital Kinshasa.

Supporters of a jailed Christian sect leader on Wednesday attacked the prison holding him in the Democratic Republic of Congos (DRC) capital, Kinshasa, freeing him and about 50 other inmates, according to officials.

Ne Muanda Nsemi  a self-styled prophet and leader of the Bundu dia Kongo movement  was arrested in March after a series of deadly clashes between his supporters and police.

Witnesses told the Reuters news agency that gunfire was heard coming from near Makala prison in Kinshasa at around 4am local time (03:00 GMT), and that they saw prisoners wearing blue shirts with yellow collars in the streets.

Soldiers were also stopping young men for questioning near Nsemis house in the Kinshasa district of Ngaliema and arrested some of them.

Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe told a local radio station that, aside from Nsemi, the prisons most prominent prisoners had not managed to escape.

Nsemi has a strong following in southwestern DRC and wants to revive the Kongo kingdom, which flourished for centuries around the mouth of the Congo River.
Resolution urges inquiry into the state of democracy and the serious deterioration in Hungarys human rights.

The European Parliament has voted on a resolution that demands action against Hungary, a member state, amid deep concerns about the deterioration in human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The European Parliaments resolution, backed by 393 deputies for to 221 against, sends a strong signal to Hungary that its actions are being closely monitored.

Wednesdays condemnation of the serious deterioration in the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary could start a process that could theoretically lead to Hungary losing its EU voting rights.





Recent developments in Hungary have led to a serious deterioration in the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights which is testing the EUs ability to defend its founding values, the parliament said in a statement.

But the EUs rule of unanimity means the nationalist-minded government of Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister, is unlikely to be stripped of its voting rights as its ally Poland could veto such a move.

Since taking office in 2010, Orban has eliminated checks on his power by taking control of much of Hungarys news media, curbing the powers of the constitutional court and placing loyalists in top positions at public institutions.

The resolution specifically talks about the right of expression, academic freedom, rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees as well as the right to peaceful gatherings.

It also demands the creation of a procedure to examine whether the laws are in serious breach of EU values.

Shame on leftists

One key aspect that concerns the EU legislative is the independence of the judiciary and worrying alleged cases of corruption, said the statement.

Hungarys ruling party Fidesz reacted to Wednesdays vote by saying it was a shame that Hungarian leftist MPs also voted for the resolution under alleged orders from US billionaire George Soros.

Soros, the Hungarian-born investor and philanthropist, is accused by Orban of allegedly attempting to destabilise the state via NGOs that receive financing from his foundation.

Hungarys ruling party was the target of heavy criticism in Europe because of a law that threatens to close the Central European University in Budapest that was founded by Soros and is considered one of the countrys leading universities.
Questions swirl whether Tel Aviv was involved in peddling aviation-threat intelligence on ISIL  and motives behind it.

US news reports say Israel was the source of intelligence that President Donald Trump disclosed to the Russians during a White House meeting last week, igniting further controversy for the beleaguered administration.

According to a New York Times report on Tuesday,Israel was the source that shared with US spy agencies sensitive intelligence materials that Trump is said to have disclosed with the Russians.

The content of the Israeli intelligence is reportedly about an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) bomb plot targeting airliners using laptop computers.

National Security Advisor HR McMaster denied that Trump had disclosed any sources or methods to the Russians, saying the Washington Post report that first broke the story was false.

A CIA spokesperson declined to comment on the report and referred al Jazeera to the US National Security CounciL,NSC.

Trump confirmed later he shared information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.





Several US media organisations confirmed with their own sources the Times report that Israel was the source of the information.

In a statement, Israels Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer said Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States.

But he did not comment specifically on the veracity of the Times report.

The purported Israeli intelligence in question reportedly concerns ISILs newly acquired capability to hide sophisticated bombs inside laptop computers.

This information is said to have led the US government declaring the ban last March on all large electronic devices on board airlines coming to the US from eight Muslim-majority nations.

READ MORE: Trump disclosed secrets to Russia: Washington Post

The ban affects nine companies: Royal Jordanian Airlines, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad Airways.

All of these airlines have direct flights to the United States and pose strong competition to American aviation companies, especially during the busy summer season.

Former CIA case officer John Kiriakou expressed scepticism about Israels ability to obtain highly sensitive intelligence of this nature about ISIL.

If it was the Jordanians or the Turkish intelligences services who have done that, it might make more sense because these organisations have a long history of dealing with groups like ISIL, Kiriakou told Al Jazeera on Tuesday.

I wont be surprised if it turned out that Israel acted in its own interests to disrupt the Middle Eastern airlines business by throwing its own wrench into the whole thing, he said.

READ MORE: Donald Trump defends sharing facts with Russia

CNN reported on Tuesday it withheld reporting on the intelligence that led to the laptop ban after US intelligence officials made urgent requests to hold off for a March 31 story, citing national security concerns.

What US officials told CNN in late March was that publishing certain information  including a city where some of the intelligence was collected  could tip off adversaries about the sources and methods used to gather the intelligence, the American network said.

Other pundits challenged the entire narrative of Trumps discussions with the Russians.

Washington DC-based analyst Peter Roff blamed the media for hyping Trumps sharing of intelligence with Lavrov and Kislyak in stories based solely on anonymous sources.

There is nothing wrong with the president sharing intelligence with the Russians as a goodwill gesture, given that both nations are fighting ISIL, Roff told Al Jazeera.

Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @ali_reports
An estimated 80,000 Bedouins live in unrecognised villages in the Negev region without basic infrastructure or services.

Israeli police forces have destroyed a Palestinian village in the Negev region of the countrys south for the 113th time since 2010, displacing its residents and flattening its few still-standing structures.

Heavily armed officers as well as riot police forces raided the village on Wednesday morning, and bulldozers destroyed the makeshift homes locals had been living in, local Palestinian media outlets reported.

The Adalah Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights, a Haifa-based advocacy group, estimates that 22 families made up of 110 people live in Araqib. The villagers return and rebuild after each demolition.

Al-Araqib is one of more than 35 unrecognised villages across the desertous Negev region, considered illegal by the government owing to their lack of building permits.

An estimated 80,000 Bedouin Palestinians who carry Israeli citizenship live in the unrecognised communities, which are often denied state services including water, electricity, rubbish pick-up and education facilities, according to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI).

Contacted by Al Jazeera, Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said he was not familiar with the incident. The local police department did not reply to requests for a comment.

OPINION: Land Day 2017  Israels relentless land grab continues

Israel plans to move residents of unrecognised villages to planned townships. In villages such as Umm al-Hiran, the government plans to move Jewish-Israeli citizens on to the lands and change the communities names.

The Israeli government is incapable of dealing correctly with the Arab Bedouin population and the Arab population at large, Sana Ibn Bari, a lawyer for ACRI, told Al Jazeera.

Our living spaces are being reduced ever since the establishment of Israel and the policy has been to concentrate most of the population into the small settlements.

Our living spaces are being reduced ever since the establishment of Israel and the policy has been to concentrate most of the population into the small settlements. by Sana Ibn Bari, lawyer, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel

Recently, Israels Agricultural Minister Uri Ariel introduced a five-year socioeconomic development plan for the Negev to the tune of three billion Israeli shekels ($787m). Unrecognised villages will be ineligible for funding and infrastructure.

The minister has also spoken of plans to revive the Prawer Plan, a legislation that was shelved in 2013 owing to large-scale protests across the country. That bill was designed to forcibly relocate residents of unrecognised villages to planned townships.

Earlier this year, parts of a revision draft version, dubbed Prawer II, were leaked in local media.

Although considered unrecognised, many of these villages predate the establishment of the state of Israel, while others entail Bedouins living on land they were moved to by the Israeli military after being displaced during and after the Nakba in 1948.

In a recent position paper, Adalah called on the European Union and its member states to intervene and pressure Israel to abandon efforts to demolish unrecognised villages.

The legal centre argues that Israeli policies such as those previewed in Prawer II will entail mass evacuations and destruction of villages, deny Bedouin citizens land ownership rights and violate their constitutional protections.

A diverse community of Muslims, Christians, and Druze, an estimated 1.7 million Palestinians carry Israeli citizenship and live in communities across the country. Adalah has documented more than 50 discriminatory laws that target Palestinian citizens of Israel by stifling their political expression and limiting their access to state resources, notably land.

READ MORE: They want to uproot me and bring a Jewish citizen

Nadim Nashif, director of the Haifa-based Palestinian advocacy group Baladna, argued that the ongoing efforts to demolish Bedouin homes in the Negev are part of a broader plan to displace as many Palestinians as possible on to the smallest amount of land.

Palestinian citizens of Israel, who constitute roughly 20 percent of the population, live on around three percent of the countrys land, Nashif told Al Jazeera.

Even though were the indigenous population, theres no land and our villages dont have master plans, he said. Its a conflict over land in the end.

Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita praises the role of French troops in West African country beset by violence and ethnic strife.

Mali will keep fighting terrorist groups in the country until they engage in serious peace talks, the countrys President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has said.

Despite continued French troop deployments, a UN peacekeeping mission comprising 11,000 soldiers and years of peace talks, Mali remains beset by political unrest and ethnic strife.

Keita told Al Jazeeras Bila Hudood (Without Limits) programme that he will keep fighting as these groups are still not serious about stopping their attacks.

However, he said he is willing to extend the hand of friendship in an effort to have peace and prosperity for his people.

While we are trying to have peace talks with them, they conduct these attacks against us, said Keita.





Keita, Malis president since 2013, has indicated he would be running for a second term in 2018.

In April 2012, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (NMLA), a nomadic armed group, seized control of an area larger than the size of France before being toppled by al-Qaeda-linked groups who imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law on the local population.

In January the following year France launched a military intervention in its former West African colony to stop the fighters southward offensive.

Keita said while there are no US troops in his country, his government is cooperating with the US military and sharing intelligence.

The Malian military and the Americans are conducting joint drills every now and then and we have military officials in countries that are considered to be part of the Eastern camp, he said.

Keita also denied claims that French troops were killing innocent civilians and praised France as a friend of Mali.

The terrorists are the ones killing the innocent people on a daily basis, not the French forces, he said.

While saying billions had been invested in development projects in the north of the country, Keita said his government is waging a war against corruption and bribery as well.
Scientific project will use cutting-edge technology while promoting diplomacy in the Middle East.

The Middle Easts first particle accelerator has officially been inaugurated in Allan, Jordan, in a ceremony attended by King Abdullah II and Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO.

According to UNESCOs press release on Tuesday, the official name of the facility is Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East, or SESAME  the password used in Ali Babas time to open the gates to unimaginable treasures.

The $90m laboratorys mission is: Enabling world-class research in its members in subjects ranging from biology and medical sciences through materials science, physics and chemistry to archaeology.

It aims to build scientific and cultural bridges between neighbouring countries, promoting mutual understanding and tolerance through international cooperation, and fostering a regional community of scientific users who will work together.

SESAME is located 35km north of Jordans capital, Amman, and was built emulating the institutional structure of CERN  the worlds largest particle accelerator in Switzerland.

The project aims to provide state-of-the-art technological equipment to researchers in the region, helping stem brain drain to northern countries.

The need for an international synchrotron light source was first identified in the 1980s by renowned scientists such as Nobel Laureate Professor Abdus Salam. In 1995, the Middle East Scientific Cooperation group (MESC) started organising meetings and advocate for the cooperation project.

In 1997, MESC took up one proposal from scientist German Gustav-Adolf Voss, who suggested using components from a facility in Berlin that would soon be decommissioned in order to start a project in the Middle East. The German government agreed under the condition of UNESCO patronage.

SESAME was formally founded in 2004 and today the project has eight full member states and 17 observers.
Human rights groups and asylum seekers fear violence as PNG prepares for the closure of the detention centre.

Asylum seekers and human rights groups say Papua New Guineas decision to relocate hundreds of people held in an Australian-run detention centre at Manus Island to a remote town will expose them to violence and inadequate medical care.

We are concerned that these men are being moved to a place with even higher security risks than Manus Island and one that has inadequate facilities to deal with people who require medical treatment, said Kate Schuetze, Pacific researcher for Amnesty International.

PNG Immigration officials told asylum seekers on Monday that part of the controversial Manus Island camp, north of the PNG mainland, would close on May 28, with the rest of the compound to shut on June 30, Reuters news agency reported.

PNG officials could not be reached immediately for comment.

The relocation of detainees comes as PNG prepares to close the centre at the end of October when the contract of the camp operator Ferrovial ends.

The centre, which is currently home to more than 800 people, was deemed illegal by PNGs Supreme Court last year.

The centre wont close drop dead on October 31. They will start to decommission parts of the centre in the run up, Peter Dutton, Australias Immigration Minister, told 3AW radio in the Australian city of Melbourne.

READ MORE: Papua New Guinea to close Australian refugee centre

The 700 men found to be genuine refugees have been told that they have the option of temporarily relocating to a transit centre near the town of Lorengau, settling in the PNG community or returning to their countries of origin, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

Those whose claims have been rejected have been told to return to their countries of origin before the end of August, when a 20,000 Australian dollars ($14,842) cash incentive to return home will cease.

Manus prison is full of tension

Those held on Manus Island are allowed to travel to Lorengau during the day but nearly all choose to remain in the detention centre amid allegations of assaults and threats against them by residents.

Detainees waiting to be accepted by the US in a refugee resettlement deal, which US President Donald Trump described as dumb, will be settled in a remote area near Lorengau  a major town in the island.

The deal to take asylum seekers from Manus Island and Nauru to the US was reached between the Australian government and the administration of former US President Barack Obama.





Behrouz Boochani, a Kurdish Iranian who has been in detention for four years said via his Twitter account that Manus prison is full of tension.

I am sure the refugees will resist and they will have to use force. I think there will be a big riot, Boochani told ABC.

Funded by Australia, the two remote camps in Nauru and Manus Island were set up in 2013 to detain asylum seekers indefinitely, who arrive by boat.

Under Australias controversial immigration laws, anyone intercepted while trying to reach the country by boat is sent for processing to these camps. They are never eligible to be resettled in Australia.

Manus Island and Nauru asylum centres have been condemned by human rights groups and the United Nations for cramped conditions, violence and inadequate medical facilities.
Rights groups accuse Mexican authorities of failing to prosecute those who kill journalists covering drug gangs.

Media and rights groups have demanded the Mexican government catch the killers of the fifth and most high-profile journalist murdered this year in the country.

Javier Valdez, 50, was shot dead in broad daylight on Monday in northwestern Sinaloa state. The awarding-winning journalist was one of the most prominent reporters on Mexicos deadly drug war.

On Tuesday, the front pages of the countrys major newspapers carried pictures of Valdez as journalists demonstrated in the centre of the capital, Mexico City.

President Enrique Pena Nieto said he had ordered an investigation of this outrageous crime. He vowed to defend press freedom, fundamental for our democracy.





Press rights group Articulo 19 said that was the first time Pena Nieto had reacted publicly to one of the recent wave of journalists killings, which they consider a sign of rising pressure on the president.

But the killing fanned a wave of anger at the authorities, with rights groups saying corrupt officials are preventing journalists killers from being punished.

How long will there be killings without pity and with impunity? said Valdezs own weekly publication, Riodoce.

Murderous impunity, ran the headline of an editorial in La Jornada, the national daily for which Valdez worked as Sinaloa correspondent.

Just hours after Valdezs assassination on Monday, in Autlan, gunmen opened fire on Sonia Cordova, an executive at the Semanario Costeno weekly magazine, and her son.

Cordova was wounded and taken to hospital and her adult son was killed in the attack, the state prosecutors office said.

A state police source said her son, Jonathan Rodriguez Cordova, worked as a reporter at the family-run magazine, which publishes local news that includes some crime reporting, Reuters news agency said.

In a 2017 report titled No Excuse, journalist Adela Navarro Bello wrote for the New-York based Committee to Protect Journalists that covering corruption in Mexico means living with impunity.

Between 2006 and 2016, 21 journalists were murdered with complete impunity in Mexico, putting the country sixth on CPJs annual index that measures cases where perpetrators remain unpunished, Bello wrote.

The system seems to be corrupt down to its very foundation; either that or its simply incapable of achieving justice.

Valdez was due to be cremated on Tuesday, his family said.





Journalists unions said they planned demonstrations in homage to Valdez, including one outside government headquarters in Mexico City and one in his home town of Culiacan, where he was shot.

Some media in Sinaloa cancelled their Tuesday editions in protest.

This wave of violence shows the state of emergency in which Mexican journalists are living, said Emmanuel Colombie, Latin American director of Reporters Without Borders.

The Mexican government must take action proportionate to the seriousness of the situation and strengthen protection for journalists as soon as possible.

Numerous media and human rights organisations including Amnesty International have called for an impartial investigation.

They accused the authorities of failing to prosecute those who kill journalists covering the drug gangs in broad daylight, sometimes in front of their families.

Articulo 19 says 105 journalists have been murdered and a further 23 have disappeared since 2000.

Of those cases, 99.7 percent remain unsolved, meaning the culprits have gone unpunished, it says.
Oscar Lopez Rivera, a Puerto Rican nationalist and one of the longest-serving political prisoners in US history, has been released from house arrest in Puerto Rico.

Lopez Rivera was sentenced to 55 years in prison in 1981 for his involvement with FALN, a Puerto Rican group that claimed responsibility for dozens of bombings in New York, Chicago, Washington and Puerto Rico in the 1970s and 1980s, which caused few injuries. He was never tied to specific bombings.

Thousands of supporters are expected to cheer Lopez Riveras release later on Wednesday at a celebration in Puerto Rico.

Supporters of the 74-year-old, who spent 35 years in prison, are also expected to honour him next month in New York Citys massive Puerto Rican Day parade.

Lopez Rivera was placed under house arrest after former US President Barack Obama commuted his sentence before leaving office in January. There has been a campaign to free Lopez Rivera over the years, drawing support from Pope Francis, former President Jimmy Carter and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

We have to thank him for giving his life for our island, Nelson Cortes, a New York-based waiter who supports Puerto Rican independence, told the Associated Press news agency. Its exactly what we need right now.

But others were less enthusiastic.

Ive had long hours in the middle of the night trying to figure out what I am missing, why he has all this support, said Diane Berger Ettenson, 70, who was six months pregnant when her husband, Alex Berger, was killed in a still-unsolved 1975 explosion that killed four people and wounded 60 at Fraunces Tavern, a restaurant in New Yorks financial district.

RELATED: Chelsea Mannings release: Life beyond whistle-blowing

Following celebrations in Puerto Rico, Lopez Rivera is set to go to Chicago, where he spent some time growing up as a child, on Thursday.

According to AP, Lopez Rivera has said that upon returning to Puerto Rico, he wants to spend time with family, and create a think-tank to work on issues, including climate change, the economy and the islands political status.

In an interview with the Puerto Rican daily El Nuevo Dia, Lopez Rivera said: I want to enjoy Puerto Rico, my family. But I like to work. I have some skills  organising, helping young people  that I want to share with people.

Lopez Rivera and about a dozen FALN members were convicted in 1981 of seditious conspiracy to overthrow the government of the United States in Puerto Rico by force, armed robbery and lesser charges.

Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States and thus the Puerto Rican people have a right to fight for independence, using all means possible, Rivera said during the trial.

He served more than a decade in solitary confinement after a second conviction for attempting to escape.

In 1999, US President Bill Clinton offered Lopez clemency, but he rejected the offer because it excluded two associates who have since been released.

Along with Chelsea Manning, who is also set to be released on Wednesday, Lopez Rivera was among 209 commutations granted by Obama.

After Obamas order, Lopez Rivera was released from prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, and arrived in Puerto Rico to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

He has been staying with his daughter at her home in the capital of San Juan.

The US seized Puerto Rico from Spain during the Spanish-American War. The islands 3.5 million residents are US citizens and can serve in the military.

The island, considered a commonwealth, receives billions in federal funds, but Puerto Ricans cannot vote for president and have no vote in Congress. Those seeking independence remain a small group, with the option garnering less than 6 percent of the vote in four referendums that Puerto Rico has held on its political status
Kremlin offer comes amid row over US presidents disclosure of ISIL-related information to top Russian diplomats.

Vladimir Putin has said that his government could provide a recording of the exchange between Sergey Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, and Donald Trump that has stirred up a political storm in Washington, DC.

The Russian presidents comments on Wednesday were the first since accusations surfaced that the US president had shared secrets while meeting Lavrov at the White House.

The Washington Post newspaper has reported that Trump shared intelligence with Lavrov regarding an ISIL threat related to the use of laptop computers on aeroplanes.

The controversy comes amid existing investigations into whether Trumps aides colluded with Russia during the election campaign.





Putin said he was pleased with Lavrovs visit to the US capital last week but mocked the idea that Trump had shared secrets during the meeting on May 10, calling the allegations political schizophrenia and saying people spreading them are either dumb or corrupt.

We can see that political schizophrenia is developing in the United States, Putin said after talks with Paolo Gentiloni, Italian prime minister, in the southern Russian city of Sochi on Wednesday.

I cannot otherwise explain the accusations of the president that he handed Lavrov some sort of secrets.

If the US administration finds it possible, we are ready to provide a recording of the conversation between Lavrov and Trump to the US Congress and Senate.

Al Jazeeras Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said: Its basically power projecting from Putin.

He is projecting it to Donald Trump, the US Congress and the wider political establishment there. Vladimir Putin is having a lot of fun at the moment.

Putin used the Russian word for audio recording at the press conference, but Yuri Ushakov, his foreign policy aide, said that audio is not made at meetings like the one at the Oval Office.

There is a recording kept by a special person present at conversations, Ushakov clarified to Russian news agencies.

Democrats demand

Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, Democrats are calling on Republicans to join them in calling for an independent investigation, said Al Jazeeras Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington, DC.

For Democrats, but also for some moderate Republicans, there is growing concern that the Trump White House refused to hand over transcripts or tapes, with three separate congressional investigations ongoing into Russian meddling or ties between Russian officials and Trumps staff, she said.

According to sources cited in the report, the intelligence that Trump reportedly leaked came from a US ally which had not authorised the US to pass it on to Russia.

WATCH: Donald Trumps first 100 days in office

The New York Times reported later that Israel was the source that shared with US spy agencies the sensitive intelligence materials.

A US administration official confirmed to AFP news agency on condition of anonymity that the original intelligence came from Israel.

However, HR McMaster, Trumps national security adviser, denied that Trump caused any security lapses.

Trump himself insisted he had the absolute right to share facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety with Russia.
American envoy to the UN says direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang are possible if it stops firing missiles.

The United States would consider talks with North Korea if it halts all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Washingtons envoy to the United Nations said on Tuesday, as the UN Security Council weighed new sanctions on Pyongyang.

We are willing to talk but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there, the US envoy Nikki Haley told reporters ahead of a closed-door Security Council meeting.

Washington and Beijing  the Norths sole diplomatic and military ally  are working on a new resolution targeting Pyongyang, she added.

Thats what we are working on now. We dont have it done yet, she said. Absolutely, sanctions is something that we are looking at and we are going to continue to see where that takes us.

READ MORE: North Korea says new rocket can carry nuclear warhead

On Sunday, North Korea launched what appeared to be the longest-range missile it has ever successfully tested, sparking global alarm.

Pyongyang said the missile, the Hwasong-12, was capable of carrying a heavy nuclear warhead.





The reclusive North, which has defied all calls to rein in its weapons programmes  even from China  said the missile test was a legitimate defence against US hostility.

Under UN resolutions, North Korea is barred from developing nuclear and missile technology and the Security Council has repeatedly described Pyongyangs actions as provocative and a threat to global peace.

The missile, launched on an unusually high trajectory, flew to an altitude of 2,111.5km, and travelled 787km before landing in the Sea of Japan.

That suggests a range of 4,500km or more if flown for maximum distance, analysts said.

North Koreas missile programme is progressing faster than expected, South Koreas defence minister said on Tuesday.

Han Min-koo told South Koreas parliament the test-launch had been detected by the controversial American THAAD anti-missile system, whose deployment in the South has infuriated China.

Han said Sundays test-launch was successful in flight.

READ MORE: North Korea open to US talks under right conditions

It is considered an IRBM [intermediate range ballistic missile] of enhanced caliber compared to Musudan missiles that have continually failed, he said, referring to a class of missile designed to travel up to 3,000km to 4,000km.

Asked if North Koreas missile programme was developing faster than the South had expected, he said: Yes.

The test-launch was a legitimate act of self-defence and US criticism was a wanton violation of the sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK, a North Korean diplomat told the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Tuesday, using the initials for the countrys official name, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

US President Donald Trump warned in an interview with Reuters news agency this month a major, major conflict with North Korea was possible. In a show of force, the United States sent an aircraft carrier strike group, led by the Carl Vinson, to waters off the Korean peninsula to conduct drills with South Korea and Japan.
Scores of bodies discovered in border town where 26 people were previously reported dead, aid group says.

Red Cross on Wednesday said its workers had found 115 bodies in the Central African Republics (CAR) border town of Bangassou after several days of militia attacks, raising by more than four times a previously reported death toll.

Antoine Mbao Bogo, the president of the aid groups local branch, told the Reuters news agency that those killed had died in various ways, including from knives, clubs and bullet wounds.

We found 115 bodies and 34 have been buried, he said from the capital, Bangui.

A senior UN official had previously reported 26 civilian deaths.

READ MORE: As many as 100 killed in CAR fighting

According to the UN refugee agency, the situation in Bangassou sent an estimated 2,750 refugees fleeing across the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the weekend.

The violence represents a new escalation in a conflict that began in 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka fighters seized power and removed then-president Francois Bozize, prompting reprisal killings from Christian anti-Balaka militias.

The UN high commissioner for human rights warned on Tuesday the violence in areas previously spared major bloodshed was highly worrying.

The hard-earned relative calm in [the capital] Bangui and some of the bigger towns in CAR risks being eclipsed by the descent of some rural areas into increasing sectarian violence, with defenceless civilians  as usual  paying the highest price, Zeid Raad al-Hussein said.

In a statement on Tuesday, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, also said unverifiable figures indicate up to 100 people may have been killed in three days of clashes from May 7 to 9 in the town of Alindao between anti-Balaka fighters and an ex-Seleka group.
FBI head sacked by President Trump invited by panel investigating possible Russian interference in US elections.

A US Senate panel investigating possible Russian interference in US elections and possible collusion with President Donald Trumps campaign team has requested that James Comey, the sacked FBI director, testify before its members.

The Senate Intelligence Committees Republican chairman and Democratic vice chairman sent a letter to Comey seeking his appearance before the [committee] in both open and closed sessions, the panel said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement also said the panel had asked Andrew McCabe, acting FBI director, to send any notes or other memos prepared by Comey about communications he may have had with senior White House and Department of Justice officials in relation to the investigation into Russia and the 2016 election.





Democratic Senator Mark Warner told US media he believed the American people will get a chance to hear from Comey shortly.

Warner would not say if Comey accepted the invitation.

On Tuesday, the House Intelligence Committee also requested similar documents from the FBI.

The decision came hours after a report by the New York Times that claimed Trump asked Comey to end the agencys investigation into ties between Michael Flynn, former White House national security adviser, and Russia.

It had already been a week of tumult at the White House after Trump dismissed Comey and then discussed sensitive national security information about the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group with Sergey Lavrov, Russias foreign minister.

In another development on Wednesday, Democratic Representative Al Green called for Trumps impeachment.

This is about what I believe. And this is where I stand. I will not be moved. The president must be impeached, said Green who is the first member of Congress to officially request levelling charges against the president.

With news of the Comey memo, Democrats have increased their talks about impeaching Trump.

READ MORE: Donald Trump and James Comey  A timeline

This, however, requires the support of a majority of members of the House of Representatives. To date, no Republican has publicly voiced support for impeachment. The Comey memo is likely to raise questions about whether Trump tried to interfere with a federal investigation. Comey wrote the memo after he met in the Oval Office with Trump, the day after the president fired Flynn on February 14 for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of his conversations last year with Sergey Kislyak, Russias ambassador in Washington, DC. The White House denied the report, and released a statement saying the president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn. The White House said it was not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr Comey.
S Korean announcement appears to indicate a softer position as UN Security Council weighs new sanctions on Pyongyang.

South Korea says it wants to re-establish lines of communication with North Korea, as new President Moon Jae-in seeks a two-track policy involving sanctions and dialogue with its reclusive neighbour to rein in its nuclear and missile programmes.

The two countries are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North has ignored calls to curb its weapons programmes, defending them as necessary to counter US hostility.





Its latest ballistic missile launch, in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, was on Sunday which it said was a test of its capability to carry a large-size heavy nuclear warhead.

Our most basic stance is that communication lines between South and North Korea should open, Lee Duk-haeng, a spokesman for the Souths unification ministry, told reporters on Wednesday.

The unification ministry has considered options on this internally but nothing has been decided yet.

Communications were severed by the North last year, Lee said, in the wake of new sanctions following North Koreas last nuclear test and Pyongyangs decision to shut down a joint industrial zone operated inside the North.

There was no immediate response from Pyongyang.

Softer position

Al Jazeeras Andrew Thomas, reporting from the Souths capital, Seoul, said Lees statement refers effectively to a hotline.

There is a room on the South Korean side of the border, and a room on the North Korean side of the border, and a physical line between the two which has been there since the 1970s and is used to relay messages of emergencies, he said.

But since February 2016, the North has not been picking up  that communication has been effectively obsolete.

INFOGRAPHIC: What is the reach of N Koreas missiles?

Thomas said Seouls announcement appeared to indicate a softer position compared with the rhetoric at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where the Security Council weighed new sanctions on Pyongyang.

This is very different from dialogue, or talks, or anything approaching what might come down the line  but at its most basic it is a sign that the Souths new government is trying to be more reconciliatory towards the North despite Sundays successful test on Sunday and Washingtons talks of sanctions at the UN, Thomas said.

The US said on Tuesday it believed it could persuade China to impose new sanctions on North Korea and warned that it would also target and call out countries supporting Pyongyang.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Security Council meeting, Nikki Haley, Washingtons envoy to the UN, said that the US would talk to North Korea only once it halted its nuclear programme.

Talks in the US

Moon won an election last week campaigning on a more moderate approach to the North and said after taking office that he wants to pursue dialogue as well as pressure to stop the Norths weapons programmes.

Moons envoy to the US, South Korean media mogul Hong Seok-hyun, left for Washington early on Wednesday. Hong said he would discuss North Korea with high-ranking US officials.

Hong said South Korea had not yet received official word from Washington on whether it should pay for an anti-missile US radar system that has been deployed outside Seoul.

US President Donald Trump has said he wants South Korea to pay for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system which detected Sundays launch.

China has strongly opposed THAAD, saying it can spy into its territory, and South Korean companies have been hit in China by a nationalist backlash over the deployment.
Children among those killed in separate unclaimed bombings in Kapisa and Kandahar provinces.

At least three civilians, including two children, were killed on Tuesday in separate bomb blasts in Afghanistan, officials said on Wednesday.





One of the explosions took place in Dar-e-Tapa village in the Nijrab district of Kapisa province, in an area where children were walking, provincial police chief Mohammad Razaq Yaqoubi told Al Jazeera.

The roadside mine killed two children and wounded another two.

The wounded children were taken to hospital and now they are in stable condition, Yaqoubi said.

In a separate incident, one civilian was killed and 10 people wounded, including three policemen, in a double bombing in Kandahar city, capital of the synonymous province.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either bombing.

Afghan army advances in Kunduz

Separately, the Afghan military on Tuesday regained control of a district in northern Kunduz province that had fallen to Taliban fighters earlier this month as part of their so-called spring offensive, security officials said.

The armys advance came after Afghan forces launched a major operation against Taliban positions to retake the Qala-e-Zal district.

The governors building, police headquarters and several key areas are cleared of terrorists, but the operation is still ongoing in other insecure areas of the district, the interior ministry said in a statement.

READ MORE: Is Afghanistan new battlefield for traditional rivals?

Speaking to AFP news agency, Assadullah Sadat, a member of the Kunduz provincial council, said: Around 2,000 families have been displaced with most relocating in Kunduz city. Some have fled to other nearby districts.

The Taliban had taken full control of the district on May 6.

The groups so-called spring offensive normally marks the start of the fighting season, though the Taliban had continued to battle government forces through this past winter. An attack on a military base in the nearby city of Mazar-i-Sharif last month killed at least 135 security forces.

Kunduz is among the most violence-wracked provinces in northern Afghanistan. Although the city centre itself is in government hands, the Taliban control most of the surrounding districts.

Security forces have been struggling to open the main highway into the city after it was blocked with mines and improvised roadside bombs.

Thousands of residents are reported to have fled their homes to avoid the fighting.

According to US estimates, the Afghan government controls only about 60 percent of the country, with the rest under Taliban control or contested by armed groups.
Almost 18,000 people take to the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki against new round of cuts in pension and tax break.

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki to express anger at new pension and tax-break cuts forced on Greece by its EU-IMF creditors in return for bailout funds.

Wednesdays walkout cut off maritime traffic for a second day while dozens of flights had to be cancelled or rescheduled and hospitals ran on emergency staff.

Nearly 12,000 people turned up for the protests in Athens and another 6,000 in Thessaloniki, according to police, a day before the measures were to be approved by parliament.





Police used tear gas on a small group of youth that threw petrol bombs and fired flares in Athens.

Nearby, police officers who were part of the protest blocked the entrance to a finance ministry building.

Police unionists displayed a giant banner on the side of Lycabettus Hill in the centre of Athens, with a slogan in German and Greek reading How much is the life of a Greek policeman worth?

The bill, to be approved on Thursday night, entails $5.4bn in cuts from 2018 to 2021, Greek state agency ANA reported.

Unless bailout funds are unlocked, Greece would once more struggle to meet an increase in debt repayments due this summer and face another possibility of bankruptcy.

Greece hopes that the new loan payment will be approved by a meeting of euro zone finance ministers on May 22.

In parliament, legislators were debating the measures that include additional pension cuts in 2019 and higher income tax from 2020.

The government, which originally came to power in 2015 promising to repeal previous austerity measures, has emphasised it will also take other measures to relieve poverty.

On Tuesday, Alexis Tsipras, Greek prime minister, spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country has been the single largest contributor to the Greek bailouts, and discussed the issue of Greeces debt, his office said.

While Greeces finances have improved under the rescue plans, the austerity has led to a rise in poverty.

Unemployment, while down from highs of above 27 percent, hovers at around 23 percent.
Officials allege Comey memo shows US president pressed former FBI director to shut down probe into Russia ties.

US President Donald Trump asked then FBI Director James Comey to end the agencys investigation into ties between former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia, according to a source who has seen a memo written by Comey.

The explosive new development on Tuesday followed a week of tumult at the White House after Trump fired Comey and then discussed sensitive national security information about Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

READ MORE: Donald Trump and James Comey  A timeline





The Comey memo, first reported by The New York Times, is likely to raise questions about whether Trump tried to interfere with a federal investigation.

Comey wrote the memo after he met in the Oval Office with Trump, the day after the president fired Flynn on February 14 for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of his conversations last year with Russias ambassador, Sergey Kislyak.

I hope you can let this go, Trump told Comey, according to a source familiar with the contents of the memo.

The White House denied the report. The president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, it said in a statement.

Al Jazeeras Mike Hanna, reporting from Washington, DC, noted the significance of the information being written down in a memorandum, which would be admissible in a court of law.

READ MORE: FBI head James Comey confirms Russia election probe

This is a very serious matter indeed. Why this is so serious  if indeed it is proved to be true  is that this is a clearly illegal act  attempting to halt or obstruct an FBI investigation, said Hanna.

What we are going to see in the coming days from the House and the Senate is growing momentum for James Comey to clarify whether or not President Trump actively attempted to interfere with the investigation into Michael Flynn. This could have massive ramifications.

The New York Times said that during the Oval Office meeting, Trump condemned a series of government leaks to the news media and said the FBI director should consider prosecuting reporters for publishing classified information.

The White House added it was not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr Comey.
He called it the worst deal ever while campaigning, but Donald Trump will extend nuclear deal at least 120 more days.

Washington, DC  US President Donald Trump passed up a chance to derail the nuclear deal with Iran on Wednesday, a move analysts said reflected business interests at home and diplomatic relations abroad.

During Trumps election campaign he vowed to rip up the nuclear agreement with Tehran if elected, calling it the worst deal ever.

Trump had until Thursday to extend a sanctions waiver on Iran, and the US state department announced a day earlier it would be signed, meaning old sanctions wouldnt be re-imposed and the nuclear deal will continue  at least for now.

We are communicating to the US Congress that the United States continues to waive sanctions as required to continue implementing US sanctions-lifting commitments, a State Department statement said.

READ MORE: Analysis: What does the Iran nuclear deal mean?

However, the department also announced the imposition of new unrelated sanctions against Iranian defence officials and an Iranian entity. It also pledged to continue reviewing the nuclear deal with withdrawal still possible.





This ongoing review does not diminish the United States resolve to continue countering Irans destabilising activity in the region, whether it be supporting the Assad regime [in Syria], backing terrorist organisations like Hezbollah [in Lebanon], or supporting violent militias that undermine governments in Iraq and Yemen.

And above all, the United States will never allow the regime in Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, the statement said.

Iran agreed under the 2015 nuclear deal to curtail its nuclear programme in exchange for a lifting of sanctions that had crippled its economy.

Along with the P5+1 (five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany), the Obama administration touted the nuclear deal as a crucial move towards detente with Iran and regional peace.

The US president must review and sign the sanctions relief waiver every 120 days. After taking office in January, Thursday was Trumps first opportunity to roll it back.

OPINION: What will Trump do with the Iran nuclear deal?

Lawrence Korb, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former US assistant secretary of defence, said the Trump administrations continuation of the nuclear deal is similar to the situation with China.

Trump slammed Chinas unfair trade policies throughout his election campaign, but once in office he quickly smoothed things over with Chinese President Xi Jinping.





On Iran, Korb noted the importance of the $6bn Boeing deal with Tehran that could mean the creation of 18,000 American jobs.

Trump is a businessman after all, Korb told Al Jazeera. Again its rhetoric verses policy. I was the assistant secretary of defence under Ronald Reagan who denounced the evil Soviet Empire  and then was ready to give up our nuclear weapons.

Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Washington DC-based Institute for Policy Studies, said the danger threatening the nuclear deal is the imposition of new sanctions and the US governments belligerent language towards Iran.

That kind of language fuels the hardliners. It is a gift to the hardline elements in the Iranian political scene, Bennis told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Obama: Abandoning Iran nuclear deal could mean war

Europes leaders are quickly moving forward on economic normalisation with Iran, and scuttling the nuclear deal would have wide-ranging diplomatic repercussions with major allies, she said.

No question Europe would be furious. This is not a bilateral deal between Tehran and Washington, its with five other countries along with the US So this kind of unilateralism will infuriate every European country, said Bennis.

Since its implementation, the nuclear deal has brought positive results, she added.

It has reduced the threat of war  and it improves the lives of Iranians by reducing at least some of the economic sanctions that have crippled so much of the countrys economy.
Muhammad Rabbani of CAGE refused to give passwords to police after arrest at Heathrow airport, says campaign group.

British police have charged the UK director of the campaign group CAGE after his arrest at Londons Heathrow airport in November last year.

Muhammad Rabbani, 36, faces three months in prison and a fine of $3,200 for alleged wilful obstruction and frustration of a search.

In a statement, CAGE said Rabbani was formally informed of the charges at Bethnal Green police station in east London on Wednesday.

It alleges Rabbani was asked to hand over passwords to devices he was carrying at the time of his arrest.

Rabbani was unable to hand over the passwords to his devices as he was carrying crucial evidence taken from a torture survivor and did not have permission from the client to share the information, the statement by CAGE said.

Rabbani has taken a principled stance to protect the right to privacy in an ongoing case of torture that implicates high-ranking officials.

A statement by the Metropolitan Police, which covers the London area, confirmed that Rabbani was charged on Wednesday.

Stop and search

Rabbani was held at the airport under Schedule 7 powers which allow authorities at ports of entry to stop and search individuals without grounds for suspicion.

Anything carried by a person when stopped, such as electronic devices and data storage drives, can be searched and seized by the authorities if they deem it necessary.

Failure to comply with requests made by officers carrying out a search can result in criminal charges under the British Terrorism Act.

Rabbani said he was justified in his response to the request to hand over the passwords.

I do believe I am doing what any reasonable person would do under the circumstances in order to protect the privacy of a client.

CAGE, which was founded in 2003, is an NGO that advocates for individuals affected by British terror legislation both within the country and abroad.

Rabbani is currently on bail and due to appear before magistrates on June 20.
Ex-US army private who leaked 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks is set to leave jail.

Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, was released from a military prison on Wednesday after nearly seven years behind bars.





In July 2010, Manning  then a male soldier known as Bradley  was arrested over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via the anti-secrecy website, WikiLeaks.

Al Jazeeras Shihab Rattansi, reporting from Quantico, Virginia, where Manning was detained at a US Marines base for three years, said her leaks revealed the normality of lies and brutality by the US government.

In the end, it was Manning who was punished, not those at the highest levels of the US government whose actions were exposed, Rattansi said.

READ MORE: Chelsea Mannings release  Life beyond whistle-blowing

On Wednesday, Manning left the prison barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas  the only maximum-security facility run by the Pentagon  thanks to a commutation of her sentence by former President Barack Obama before he left office.

Without Obamas parting gift, Manning, who served as an intelligence official in Iraq, would have remained behind bars until 2045 to serve her 35-year sentence.

Supporters of Manning  who attempted suicide twice last year alone  said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her gender transition as a free, openly transgender woman.

Two more days until the freedom of civilian life, Manning tweeted on Monday. Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans.

Manning, now 29, also went on a hunger strike during her detention to denounce the disciplinary measures to which she was subjected  including stints in solitary confinement.

For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world, she wrote last week.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Chase Strangio, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, said: Chelsea Manning is just this exceptional human being who continued to see the goodness even in the face of horrible evidence to the contrary.

Mannings defence team is intent on protecting her, while the military is keen on keeping her release low-key. No press conference is planned and media massing at the military installation may be hard-pressed to even catch a glimpse of Manning.

To ensure the privacy and security of Inmate Manning, no further information concerning the release will be provided, US Army spokesman Dave Foster said in a statement.

OPINION: Commuting Chelsea Mannings sentence is not enough

Virtually unknown at the time of her arrest, Manning today is a well-known figure around the world.

Labelled a traitor by right-wing President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She was not able to flee abroad like Edward Snowden, who in 2013 released documents showing that the NSA was sweeping up US citizens communications metadata.

In the lead up to Mannings release, a group of musicians released a compilation album, pledging all proceeds to help the former soldier as she starts a new life.

Hugs for Chelsea, a digital album available for a $25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left-wing activism, including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.

Transitioning behind bars

Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists.

She was able to start hormone therapy in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her right to exist.

While Mannings sentence was commuted, her conviction remains intact. Manning, who will turn 30 in December, has appealed.

She is also still employed by the army and retains its insurance coverage.

READ MORE: Chelsea Manning  targeted for her her public persona?

Manning is statutorily entitled to medical care while on excess leave in an active duty status, pending final appellate review, said Foster, the army spokesman.

Chase Madar, Mannings biographer, argued that she carried out an act of public service by leaking the documents, adding that none of the information leaked by Manning was top secret.

One disturbing thing is just how few people leaked, Madar told Al Jazeera. Why was Chelsea Manning the first one? If hundreds of thousands of people had access to the material  no one had the guts?
It has been a month since more than 1,300 Palestinian prisoners started their hunger strike in Israeli jails.

Its been a full month of self-imposed starvation for more than 1,300 Palestinian prisoners.

They are taking part in a hunger strike to demand better conditions inside Israeli jails.

The prisoners also want more visits from their family and an end to solitary confinement.

Although Israeli representatives have repeatedly met the Palestinian Authority, negotiations to end the hunger strike have yet to begin.

So, how far are the prisoners willing to go?

Presenter: Peter Dobbie

Guests:

Akiva Eldar  Senior Columnist at Al Monitor Israel Pulse

Majed Bamya  Diplomat and Member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the state of Palestine

Akram Alayasa  Head of InternatIonal Relations at the Commission of Detainees and a former political prisoner
The African Union Foundation (AUF), the institution charged with promoting domestic resource mobilisation for African development has received a donation of 300 head of cattle from H.E. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. The donation was pledged by President Mugabe during his tenure as the AU Chairperson during the 25th AU Summit, held in Johannesburg, South []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
Modern society glides around on a cushion of the cyberworld with nary a thought. We have assimilated computer technology and all its many advantages into our lives to the point where we cannot conceive being without it. Then comes something like the massive global cyberattack on May 12 that affected over 200,000 computer terminals. This only goes to show, yet again, how vulnerable our computer dependent systems and data bases are to attack, theft, and disruption.

For the longest time now, the consensus of cybersecurity experts has been that it's only a matter of time for a cyber 9/11 to be carried out, such as a massive attack on America's electrical grid, our transportation systems or financial infrastructure.

Right now all the focus is on cyberattacks, But there is another new technology that advances every day, one that might even be less controlled than what is found in cyberspace. This is the realm of bioengineering.

Drew Miller, writing in the American Interest, says the world is entering the age of bioengineered viral pandemics (BVP). What he means is that due to rapid advances in bioengineering and genetic manipulation, it has become increasingly easier to modify an existing pathogen to make it more lethal and/or transmissible. As Miller writes:

Now it is possible to accelerate genetic change, creating viruses and bacteria that never existed before. with newer techniques, a simple cheap lab (perhaps in a neighbor's garage) can generate millions of recombinants in minutes. Through bioengineering, a lone terrorist or a Revolutionary guard lab in Iran can intentionally create a human-to-human transmissible version of avian flu, or modify a lethal virus to have a longer latency period, which would facilitate its undetected spread.

To put just the avian influenza into perspective, recall that this virus kills about 60 percent of its victims. Compare that to the Spanish flu of 1918, from which an estimated 50 million died worldwide. It had a mortality rate of just 2 percent.

Or take smallpox. It is estimated to have killed 500 million people in the 20th Century. A smallpox outbreak today could even take a greater toll. Society's immunity has expired and our populations are far more vulnerable given how interconnected the world is today.

Sanford Professor Dr. Nathan Wolfe warns that, 'if terrorists ever got their hands on one of the few remaining vials of smallpox, the results would be devastating.'

Here's the problem. Given the rapid advances in DNA-manipulation technology, cheap lab equipment, and information posted on the internet, a single determined person might well come up with an artificial smallpox.... or something worse. The problem here is that there is no need for a national program, an elaborate laboratory or even specialized expertise to have a good chance of developing a BVP pathogen. One study estimated the cost to weaponize a bioagent to be as low as $250,000. And if a new lethal virus was to be developed, there would likely be no vaccine for it, making its killing effect greater.

Society's control of the misuse of bioengineering is extremely weak. It's not even on the radar of the public or even most national security officials. And maybe this malevolent genie is already out of the bottle and cannot be put back in again.

A BVP would be what Nassim Taleb described as a black swan event in his book of the same title. Taleb defined a black swan as an event that seemingly comes out of the blue and has an extraordinarily high impact on the way things are, but in retrospect could have been predicted. It sounds like a BVP would fit that description.

To sum up, the tools and information required for genetic modification of microorganism are readily available worldwide. This is why experts in the field feel that a BVP attack is inevitable. As for motive, there are many envy-driven entities and individuals in the world today who would love nothing better than to see America brought low. Think of Iran, North Korea, and the bevy of Islamic terrorist groups from the Middle East. Bioengineering a lethal and a contagious virus or bacteria could be an inexpensive way to hurt the U.S. with a good chance of avoiding detection. That's not a pleasant thought, but is one should be on the table for discussion nonetheless.
The liberal media rejoiced at the news that Donald Trumps border wall received precious little money from the recent omnibus spending bill -- thanks to a combination of anti-wall Republicans, Democrats, and shady dealings -- but this is hardly a time for conservatives to abandon ourselves to despair. This message goes out especially to Ann Coulter, who lamented to Tucker Carlson that Trump is failing to act like the bull in the china shop she was hoping for. While Ann thinks not building the wall would be the end of America, this attitude completely misses the point.

Even if the brick and mortar wall wont be going to be built any time soon, the country is making strides towards building what many call the other border wall." Made up of improved and more widely deployed biometrics entry-exit screening systems, this long-delayed virtual wall will be indispensable for national security once finally put into place. Trump has already made a first step towards implementing it as part of his executive order on immigration -- or as the liberals call it, the Muslim ban. Although the courts have suspended parts of it, the section relating to the Expedited Completion of the Biometric Entry-Exit Tracking System has stayed in place.

A bit of context first: one of the main problems plaguing our nations immigration policies has long been the authorities inability to verify whether those who are supposed to leave are in fact doing so. Just as difficult is the task of ensuring those who are legally in the country abide by its rules. Roughly half of illegal immigrants (5-6 million people) are people currently in the U.S. who entered the country lawfully but failed to leave when their permission to remain in the country expired. A biometric exit system will help to collect and access individual data and make identity fraud impossible. You can steal someones ID, but you cant take their fingerprints.

This is not a new idea, and it wasnt even a Republican who initially signed biometrics into law. Back in 1996, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act signed by Bill Clinton called for an automated entry-exit process, but it was never implemented. Even the nonpartisan 9/11 report in 2004 recommended that a comprehensive biometric entry and exit screening system be put into place. Par for the course for government efficiency, the government missed two implementation deadlines in 2006 and 2009. Since then, the issue has gone quiet.

Thanks to Trumps renewed push to crack down on immigration, the screws have been put on the Department of Homeland Security to finally enact a law that should have been put in place 21 years ago. While Congress appropriated only half of Trumps requested $3 billion for the Department, the extra funds are specifically earmarked for enhanced border security efforts for FY2017, specifically for maintenance, infrastructure and technology for the existing wall. Its no coincidence that DHS head John Kelly emphasized the need to harness technology during his confirmation hearings, suggesting he would work closer with the private sector to develop new solutions.

Thanks in large part to that two-decade delay, the U.S. is now merely following in the footsteps of other countries afflicted by unsustainable levels of immigration. Europes border agency Frontex, rattled to the core by a seemingly endless refugee crisis and terror spree, has tasked tech companies to come up with ways to track and control the flow of people trying to reach the continent before they get there. It has also earmarked 30 million Euros to upgrade facial recognition systems and improve data storage in order to help authorities track irregulars.

On the other side of the globe, Australia has also taken significant steps towards curbing the uncontrolled entry of refugees and immigrants. The countrys Immigration Department was awarded a $95.4 million budget boost for 2017 to introduce technologies for processing traveler visas and assessing security risks.

The worlds frontrunner on biometrics system, though, remains Israel, a country that is locked in a constant battle with terrorism like no other. The government has plans to make biometric ID cards linked to a database mandatory for Israeli citizens. That way, identity theft is made more difficult, making it harder for terrorists to pose as Israelis and carry out devastating attacks in large population centers. Similarly, in order to bolster the security of its travel documents, Peru hired Frances Imprimerie Nationale to develop a new biometric passport -- a passport which then helped the country get visa free access to the European Union.

So as long as Homeland Security gets its act together and puts biometric requirements into place, theres no need to bemoan the suspension of the border wall. Besides, the wall would do nothing to address the millions of illegal immigrants already in the country. The biometric entry-exit tracking system, on the other hand, will have a drastic effect and will eventually be more important for national security. Now all we need is for somebody to tell Ann.
The current debate on health care has been framed largely in terms of policy, with disagreements focusing mostly on whether the details of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) or the details of the American Health Care Act (the bill that was recently passed by Republicans in the House of Representatives) are bad or good. But these are secondary points. The primary (often deliberately overlooked) point is that, under the Constitution, the federal government does not have the power to adopt any law, bad or good, regarding this kind of health care.

Overall, the Constitution is structured in a way that protects the rights of the people from being violated by the federal government. And the rights of the people -- since the beginning of U.S. history -- have been defined as the natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

In the Founding Era, it was fully understood that governments deprive people of life, liberty, and property not only by taking life, liberty, and property, but also by controlling life, liberty, and property with laws and regulations. Consequently, the Constitution only provides the federal government with a small number of powers, and it does not provide the federal government with any power whatsoever in many areas.

The regulation of health care is a state issue. In short, if the people of any one state want the government to provide them with health insurance, they have the power to adopt a state law that does so; likewise, if the people of a different state favor a different policy, they have the power to implement the favored policy in that state.

However, for decades, the Supreme Court has been reinterpreting the Constitution, expanding federal power and enabling the federal government to impose progressive-liberal ideology on the entire nation. The Court relied on its own previous reinterpretation of the Constitution's taxing clause to uphold Obamacare, and the Court has reinterpreted many of the Constitution's other clauses to, among other things, expand the federal government's spending power, commerce power, and monetary power.

The federal government's use of these expanded powers has repeatedly had a devastating impact on not only the rights of the people, but also the economy of the nation. Indeed, past events provide a clear picture of what the future holds regarding the federal government's use of its expanded power over health care.

In particular, the Great Depression offers lessons that have been ignored (typically for ideological reasons) by politicians and government officials from every generation since. To review, government intervention caused a stock market crash in 1929, and government intervention following the crash not only caused an economic depression, but also impeded the economy's recovery.

The distinguished economist Murray Rothbard explained that "any governmental interference with the depression process can only prolong it, thus making things worse from almost everyone's point of view. Since the depression process is the recovery process, any halting or slowing down of the process impedes the advent of recovery."

Moreover, as Rothbard also explained, a depression is not the cause of the economic trouble. Rather, distortions of the economy, accompanied by wasteful investments, are the causes of the economic trouble. And these distortions and wasteful investments both occur before a depression, during a boom stage of the economic cycle. Later, during the depression process (which, to repeat, is the recovery process), the distortions and wasteful investments are eliminated.

Basically, the federal government's policies (most significantly, the Federal Reserve's policy of increasing the money supply) distorted the economy and tempted people to make wasteful investments during the 1920s, "the Roaring Twenties" (a boom stage), which made the stock market crash inevitable. Next, the federal government's increased control of economic activities (with massive amounts of taxing, spending, and regulation) following the crash made the depression inevitable. Finally, the federal government's interference with the depression process, year after year, prolonged the misery for over a decade. Notably, both Republican and Democratic presidents held power, and engaged in government intervention, during this period.

More recently, the Recession of the late 2000s, also known as the Great Recession, showed that politicians and government officials have refused to learn from prior mistakes. The federal government's policies (including, but not limited to, its "affordable housing" policy in the 1990s and 2000s that required financial institutions to accept risky mortgages) distorted the economy and tempted people to make wasteful investments, which made a financial crisis inevitable (when risky mortgages defaulted in large numbers and financial institutions suffered deep losses). And the federal government's increased control of economic activities (with even more spending and even more regulation) during the crisis made a severe and prolonged recession inevitable. Once again, both Republican and Democratic presidents held power, and engaged in government intervention, during this period.

Now, in 2017, if the Republican-controlled Senate accepts the health care bill passed by the Republican-controlled House, or if the Senate and House (and president) agree to changes that do not fully repeal Obamacare, but still have the federal government involved with this kind of health care, the consequences will be profound.

The regulation of health care by the federal government will be further entrenched into law with the support of both major political parties. And health care spending represents a substantial part of the American economy; presently, 17 percent of the nation's GDP. The damage to the economy that the federal government will (not might, but will) eventually inflict as it exercises increased control of health care realistically could make both the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Recession of the late 2000s appear trivial in comparison; the possible federal policies on health care that could radically distort the economy and tempt (or require) wasteful investments are innumerable.

Nevertheless, some conservatives have been arguing in favor of the House bill as the first step of an incremental approach to repealing Obamacare. However, while appropriate in some instances, an incremental approach to changing a law is not an adequate approach for Obamacare under the circumstances that exist today.

As one former president long ago said, "I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution." This would be a better approach (but without the "stringent" part) for conservatives in Congress to follow since there are not enough Republicans willing to fully repeal Obamacare; simply let the law continue to implode. At the very least, conservatives in Congress would be ensuring that opposition to federal regulation of health care remains constant from one of the major political parties.

The argument that Republicans have a duty to "fix" health care is a logical fallacy based on the demonstrably false assumption that health care is a federal responsibility. Under the Constitution, the correct "fix" would involve the federal government returning the regulation of health care (including health insurance) back to each state.

Yet the members of Congress are in the process of violating the Constitution and the nation's fundamental principles. Again. For an encore, perhaps they will repeal and replace "In God We Trust" with a motto that seemingly reflects their personal beliefs more accurately, such as "In Government We Trust."

Paul Pauker is the author of Morality and Law in America. He also runs a site dedicated to advancing the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and property.
The NATO alliance, first created in 1949, is the longest alliance in history. The creation of this alliance came about with the gradual realization that Stalins Soviet Union had superseded Hitlers Das Dritte Reich. With the creation of NATO, should Stalin or one of his successors have decided to drive west all the way to the Atlantic, creating Orwells Eurasia, he would have encountered stiff resistance and possibly defeat. As such, NATO was ipso facto anti-communist and anti-Soviet. Predictably, it was condemned in the West by fellow travelers, although the anti-communist George Kennan admittedly made a good case against its formation.

But NATO also had several unforeseen benefits. For one thing, it kept the peace in Europe between its otherwise belligerent members for 68 years. In a continent that used to go into civil war almost every decade, that was a major achievement. This came about by unintentionally creating an undeniable feeling of cohesion (which the creation of the uber-bureaucratic European Union has undermined). After all, it is kind of embarrassing to go to war with a country that is your ally, no matter how obnoxious that ally may be (yes, I am talking about France). To be sure, Greeces perpetually infantile, regressive, hostility towards Turkey came close to doing that in 1974, but the allies ordered them to stand down.

Another benefit was that it rehabilitated West Germany. After the Second World War, the Germans were unfairly blamed as being Europes eternal warmonger, conveniently forgetting the bloodsoaked histories of France, Austria, Britain, Russia, Sweden and Spain. It came very close to being permanently dismembered.Germany, like it or not, was now their ally and although it took time for bitter memories to fade, later generations have felt no knee-jerk hatred towards Germans.

Throughout, the backbone of NATO was always acknowledged to be America and by the late 1970s the unofficial attitude of Europeans was To defend Europe to the last American. To a large extent this attitude persists and is the reason for those countries not contributing their fair share to collective defense and was the basis for President Trumps and President Obamas criticism of member states. Trumps position is simply that Americas benevolence will no longer be taken advantage of. His position has resulted in the usual hysterical attacks by the American media---on anything and everything that he says (which, ironically, is exactly what conservatives used to do with anything and everything that Obama proposed).

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a golden opportunity for perpetual European peace and Russian democracy was lost. First, following all bureaucracies innate characteristic to endlessly expand like a cancer, NATO membership started expanding eastward. This was an understandable reaction by the Soviet Unions former slave states, as they craved protection from future Russian imperialistic ambitions, particularly by Poland, but it should have come to a screeching halt in central Europe with Czechoslovakia and Poland. When it continued to expand into the Balkans and the Baltic states---Estonia is a stones throw from St. Petersburg---Russias chronic paranoia understandably hit the roof. Including Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia into NATO contributed next to nothing to European defense---it could be characterized as only a truck with a flat tire---and exacerbated friction with Russia (at the time of this writing tiny Montenegro is set to join NATO, in spite of Putins foiled assassination attempt of the countrys prime minister; one can only speculate that in case of a European war, Montenegros contribution to stop invading tanks will be to throw a rock at them. Now, it remains to be seen whether Andorra or Vatican City will also be included in NATO).

But the real opportunity was lost when Boris Yeltsin made the logical suggestion that with the defeat of communism, with its expansionistic philosophy, Russia should be admitted into NATO. This was a truly golden opportunity that was rebuffed by the fossilized minds of Europe and America. Had NATO welcomed Russia with open arms---with the proviso that it dissolved that branch of political repression and mass murder, the KGB---there would be no tensions today with Russia, there would be no Putin with his dreams of Sudetenlands, and Russia would have remained democratic. There would also not have been the increase in paranoia by including the Baltic States. Instead, we have Putins aggression with Georgia, Ukraine (and more to come). It was stupidity, sheer criminal stupidity, unforgivable, on the part of Western leaders.

There is a postscript: many Swedes and Finns (and Georgians and Ukrainians) have justifiably become alarmed at Putins militarization and aggression and have debated to join NATO. Time will tell. But the inclusion of further countries encircling Russia into NATO can have no beneficial effects whatsoever to the alliance and only justifiably increase Russian paranoia to go through the roof. Americans, who have an infuriating, bottomless, ignorance of other countries, their histories and their cultures, would do well to learn that Russia has been repeatedly invaded again and again over the centuries. From the east. From the west. From the north. From the south. They may be unquestionably paranoid, but their paranoia has a historical basis.

Donald Trump appears to have realized that since Russia is no longer globalist-expansionistic as was the case with a Soviet Russia, it holds no direct threat to the United States. True, Putin has attempted to have closer ties with authoritarian regimes that are hostile to the United States, like Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and China, but realistically most of these countries can have no direct serious threat to the United States and some of them are moribund, anyway. Furthermore an American president who has expressed respect---not admiration---for Putin (which he desperately craves) can only result in a lessening of hostility. This is not to deny, of course, that Putin is authoritarian with an inferiority complex who has committed crimes.

Besides, the world is full of murderous dictators and authoritarian leaders.

As such, simply because Russia has an increased presence in Syria does not mean that America has to automatically counter that Russian presence. So what if it does? Who cares? This is not a race, nor a competition, nor is American security, nor NATO security, at stake. Besides, Russia has had long close ties with the country, for over half a century. To have the sense of urgency that we have seen this past year, or panic in the media, because Russia is propping up the Assad regime in Syria, should mean nothing to America or NATO and such psychology is the product of minds petrified in time back to the Cold War era. Anyone who heard Hillary Clintons serious proposal of a no-fly zone over Syria, which would have meant shooting down Russian planes---that was the time to truly have a sense of panic.

Having said that, it would nevertheless be a catastrophic mistake for the United States to leave NATO, not only because NATO might unravel and cohesion among its members lost, but because the future is unforeseen and no one knows what lunacy may crawl up as a result of America leaving the alliance. We might even revert back to another European civil war. And, as usual, we would be dragged back in. Besides, in any situation, it is always wise to have allies rather than stand alone. We just simply have to insist that they carry their own weight.

Armando Simon is a retired college professor and is the author of A Cuban from Kansas, Very Peculiar Stories and The U.
President Trumps firing of FBI director James Comey has been pretty big news, and there will be no dearth of continued commentary about what it means. But what rings hollowest in all the commentary surrounding it have been the nearly uniform claims among the left that his firing represents a constitutional crisis.

Does the left now care about the United States Constitution? Because that would certainly be newsworthy. This is the same left which, as David Harsanyi of The Federalist reminds us, didnt utter a peep of disapproval about President Obamas efforts to unilaterally legalize millions of people without Congress. What about the constitutionality of the federal government forcing people to purchase health insurance, forcing private health insurance companies to cap prices for higher-risk clients, setting school lunch menus, peculiarly targeting conservative groups for tax audits, or executive directives to ignore federal immigration law? The left didnt care about constitutionality when all of those things happened during Obamas presidency, but now are shouting from the pulpit that Donald Trumps firing of the current FBI director, whose direct role is to serve at the pleasure of the president, is somehow some incredible affront to the liberty guaranteed by the Constitution?

The lefts hypocrisy here is certainly stark, but in a way, it is evidence that the term constitutional crisis has been thrown around in so many pithy accusations over the years by the left and right that the phrase no longer has any meaning relative to the actual Constitution of the United States.

Consider that Princeton political scientist Keith Whittington suggests that [c]onstitutional crises arise out of the failure, or strong risk of failure, of a constitution to perform its central functions.

The central function of our Constitution has always been to limit the authority of the federal government, and to clearly enumerate the few and defined powers of the federal government to be held in contrast to the numerous and indefinite power of state governments, as James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 45.

Yet today, a great many of the things that we consider to be within the federal governments purview are absolute affronts to the Constitution, and particularly the Tenth Amendment, which Thomas Jefferson held to be the foundation of the Constitution:

I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground: That all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited to it by the States, are reserved to the States and the People. To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specifically drawn around Congress is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible of any definition.

How can we define our nation to be one of limited federal authority when, every day, we see that the restrictions of our Constitution have become meaningless? And if the limitations of the Constitution (again, its central function) have largely become meaningless, how can it be denied that we have long existed in a state of constitutional crisis?

A federal Department of Education (DoE), for example, has absolutely no right to exist in the scope of the Constitution. Congress was beyond its tether when it allowed for this executive institution to have been born. Yet billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars have been thrust into this federal institution to regulate our childrens education, and few ever consider the question as to whether there was the right, in the first place, of the federal government to create such an institution with the immeasurable power it has.

Tell me, where in the Constitution can you find any evidence that the federal government has the right to confiscate wealth from Americans, and then to grant or withhold payment to states based upon this federal agencys evaluation of their adequate adoption of Common Core curricula? And when you cannot find any such evidence that the federal government has such a right granted by the Constitution, wouldnt you have to admit that the Obama administrations having done precisely that is in direct violation of the Tenth Amendment, and thus represents a constitutional crisis?

Take a look at the Department of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, or the Department of Transportation. There is equally no allowance given to the federal government, by the Constitution, to regulate these spheres of assumed jurisdiction. All of these agencies, including the DoE, more embody the planks of Communism found in Marxs Manifesto than our own Constitution. And yet the mere fact that these federal now agencies exist is enough to give us, with our modern sensibilities, the presupposition that the federal government must have a right to exert its influence in said areas of life, however cumbersome or costly they may be, and however absent any validation for that assumed power might be in our nations Constitution.

The reality is that very little of anything Washington considers its day-to-day business today has anything to do with the Constitution. Our constitutional crisis is, and for quite some time has been, that the Constitution no longer matters in our political discourse. Our national conversation about whether a thing is right or wrong tends to be a matter of preference and partisan interest. Yes, the Constitution can be opportunistically invoked by either side as substantiation for any outrage. But it is generally an argumentative substrate of convenience, and rarely of principle.

The left is currently demonstrating this with the furor over Comeys firing, but I sincerely hope that when conservatives talk about draining the swamp in D.C., they are suggesting a return to constitutional principles of limited federal authority, because this thing works both ways.

After all, if Ivanka Trump pushes for a $500 billion federal childcare bill (as shes doing) because its her preferred cause du jour, and Congress indeed acts to provide single mothers with taxpayer dollars for childcare, wouldnt it be very much like the federal overreach that we once claimed Obamacare represented, and thus be a true constitutional crisis? Where does the Constitution define that the role of the federal government to seize wealth from taxpayers to provide childcare for American mothers?

If you happen to like this idea so much, you are free to petition your state to enact such a law with your states money to subsidize the payments. I believe it would still be wrong, but this is how federalism works, and how the Constitution was intended to work.

We can only make American great again by again making America what the Constitution intended it to be. And we can only do that by working to rein the federal government back within the boundaries that the Constitution defines.

William Sullivan blogs at Political Palaver and can be followed on Twitter.
There was a joke going around thirty years ago, a not very good joke but like any two-edged sword it cut either way, that said that Israel was a one disk country. The meaning was that everyone copied stuff from their friends and didnt pay for it.

At that time there was not much worry about computers or security, there were no smartphones (the Blackberry was just emerging), and the Internet was there but not the gargantuan edifice it is today.

But copying at that time was mostly a problem for the music industry, and as computer processors, storage and memory improved, it also became a worry for film producers who feared losing revenue. But still we were in early days.

Today much of the fraud in the computer business is illegally copied software. Big American companies, and probably big companies in Europe and some in Asia, are careful to use only licensed software because of the fear they might get caught pirating software from commercial vendors. But smaller companies are less inclined to worry about such things and, in some countries, stealing commercial software is quite common, even for major industries including banking.

That is why it is so interesting that Russia and China experienced a large number of ransomware attacks recently, part of the WannaCry exploit. In Russia, there are a large number of users (including probably some in government agencies) who use pirated software. One of the problems of pirated software is that you cannot easily keep the software up to date. Thats because in most cases to do so requires that you go with your registered and authenticated copy to the software manufacturer for updates. If yours is illegal, you dont do that, or perhaps you try to figure out what the patch or update is, and install it yourself. By and large this left computers in Russia heavily exposed to the ransomware attack, which angered Vladimir Putin who, partly correctly, blamed NSA in the United States for his troubles.

It is not just Russia, of course. There are four reasons why WannaCry became such a threat. These are:

The underlying exploit was developed by the NSA and WannaCry was built on top of the NSA spyware. For some time NSA most likely used the exploit for spying or other special cyber-activist operations. At this point, all was secret. But after Snowden, the NSA should have realized that many of their treasured software spyware systems were exposed. They should have quietly got the vendors such as Microsoft to build patches. But they delayed some seven or eight months, leaving the door open to hacker threats. Microsoft indeed did work out a patch, but did not update older software, especially Windows XT which runs on many servers worldwide. It is quite true that Microsoft had told its customers a year or two ago they would no longer support Windows XP. But the meaning of this for consumers was they would have to go out and buy an upgraded version of Windows and, perhaps, also have to upgrade all their other software, especially custom software they built around XT. So they didnt. Microsoft could have, alternatively, charged for patching XT as a way to compensate for lost revenues in continuing to support XT, but perhaps they were not interested in that business model. In any case, XT users were left in the lurch. While patches were available, one of the continuing problems facing computer users is keeping them up to date. Unfortunately, when you buy a computer operating system or any other software program, you think it is built to stand up to security threats. But the opposite is true. Not only is most software likely to be full of holes just off the shelf, but the problems rapidly multiply as hackers probe for hidden vulnerabilities. In software, there is no real warranty: even the support a vendor gives to his software is highly voluntary. Just read the lawyers statement stuck in the software box with so many disclaimers that the bottom line is you are on your own. To add to the problem, IT staffs are not always so diligent in maintaining systems, since much of their time is spent fixing bugs on workstations and crashes on the server. Unlike desktop or laptop machines that can benefit from automatic updates (if the user opts to allow them), servers generally have to be shut down for patches to be applied, disrupting workflow. Thus, computer work often goes on when the rest of the organization is shut down, provided of course that it gets done at all. To all this one can add that even automated updates pose security problems, especially for government but also for industry too. Essentially you invite the software vendor into your machine in an entirely laissez faire manner: what happens next you dont know, but tons of information could potentially be lifted from your server. This alone makes automatic updating very dangerous. Finally, there is a lot of software running on machines that wasnt exactly paid for. It could be, though it is by no means certain, that the WannaCry ransomware has the biggest impact outside the United States (where resort to pirated software seems to have diminished). It would be interesting to be able to prove this point (I cannot). But one suspects that, like Russia and China, WannaCry exposed many not-so-legal implementations even in good-sized businesses and organizations around the world.

So what are the lessons (if any)? I suggest the following:

NSA and other government agencies proactively using cyber intrusions for national security reasons must put in place rules to better protect against discovery of their operations, including how to mitigate any threat resulting from their operations, especially to the critical infrastructure. Clearly, NSA was laggard and mindless in protecting the public at large and, even worse, leaving the nation exposed to real danger. They can and must do better in future. Because software is not designed for security -- at best it is an afterthought -- the vulnerabilities and risks pile up, and while vendors may try to fix things as they go along, in many cases they are late to the party. For critical infrastructure applications this is a risk too far. As I have been advocating, the time has come for the U.S. government to sponsor a form of classified operating system and user software suites built from the ground up for security and available only to critical infrastructure operators. Doing this is well within the reach of technology, but it requires leadership. Because Washington almost always bows in the direction of the big software and hardware companies, progress has so far been retarded, or there has been no progress whatever. WannaCry demonstrates that Washington has been disregarding all the warning signs and has merrily spent billions on security that does not work, trying to retain the use of commercial off-the-shelf software that is a security nightmare. If it is not changed soon, Washington could leave our entire governmental, banking, communications, food supply, and military systems at risk of attack and instant meltdown. If you are looking for a cyber Pearl Harbor, here it is.

International enforcement regarding cyber intrusions is weak and in many cases nonexistent. Probably no one will catch the WannaCry cyberthugs, not because they dont want to, but because they are protected by interests that are bigger than the hacker's themselves. In the case of WannaCry the betting is on North Korea as the ultimate culprit. So what can you do? One could certainly proactively hit the North Koreans with a MOACA (Mother of All Cyber Attacks), but we wont. That is because Washington isnt so interested, except to complain, and our allies are worse. If the Russians got mad at the North Koreans instead of the NSA, maybe something would happen to discourage the North Koreans from these reckless attacks. But that also did not happen. Most analysts have felt, for some time now that there is, as yet, no punishment that fits the crime (to crib indecently from Gilbert and Sullivan). Considerable work needs to be done so we can strike back at the perpetrators and their sponsors and do so in real time.
By constantly whipping up hysteria over imagined misconduct (remember the phony story, thoroughly debunked under oath, that President Trump fired James Comey after he requested more resources for the Russia investigation?), the media and their hyperventilating Democrat allies are driving insane the more unstable elements of their coalition. The entirely predictable consequences include violent attacks on Trump supporters and eventually could lead to a wave of political assassinations.

Think I am exaggerating? These are just the most recent incidents of political violence form individual leftists:

Jonathan Tobin reported yesterday in NRO:

[E]arlier this month ... a Tennessee woman began chasing Representative David Kustoff as he drove away from an appearance. Fearing for his safety as the woman tried to force his car off the road, the GOP congressman pulled off and was then confronted by 35-year-old Wendi Wright, who struck his vehicle and then reached into a window, all the while expressing her anger about his vote on the Obamacare repeal-and-replace bill. She was ultimately charged with felony reckless endangerment but only after she had bragged on Facebook about running Kustoff to ground and giving him a piece of her mind. Publicly acknowledging and bragging about the crime is a symptom of the immunity that leftists feel they enjoy thanks to the blanket implicit endorsement of violence that rhetoric about treason and imputed nefariousness suggests. When a segment of the public believes that violent attacks will have no consequences, that is a danger sign of a tidal wave of violence ahead.

Legal Insurrection reported yesterday on another incident and the media minimization that followed.

Consider how a potentially dangerous situation in North Dakota was described by the Washington Post: 'I was out of my mind with anger,' man says after berating congressman at raucous town hall For the record, Mike Quinn would like to apologize for "putting hands" on a U.S. congressman. "I was out of my mind with anger for a few moments there," the retired 68-year-old from Hazen, N.D.., told The Washington Post. Quinn tried to stuff a wad of cash into the blue blazer of Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) on Thursday afternoon in what quickly became the most climactic moment of a fiery town hall meeting at the Mandan Eagles Club in Mandan, N.D. The genesis of the cash-stuffing  as well as the mind-altering anger  was an ongoing debate over the Affordable Care Act, a dispute that continues to turn formerly boring town halls into raucous clashes between power brokers and ordinary people terrified of losing their health care At some point, in the swirl of angry exchanges between constituent and representative, Quinn approached Cramer and attempted to aggressively shove money into his jacket before turning and walking away. It was theatrical and mildly frightening, but Cramer maintained his composure throughout.

"Putting hands on" is a euphemism for a violent attack that would qualify as assault or, at a minimum, battery.

The third violent political attack reported yesterday is potentially the most serious of all. Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit reports:

Violent Democrat Steve Martan was arrested in Tucson after threatening to assault and murder Representative Martha McSally in several phone calls. (snip) Tucson.com reported: The FBI arrested a TUSD employee on suspicion of threatening U.S. Rep. Martha McSally. FBI agents arrested Steve Martan, 58, in connection with three messages left on the congressional office voicemail on May 2 and May 10, according to a criminal complaint filed May 12 in U.S.

District Court in Tucson. Martan is a campus monitor at Miles Exploratory Learning Center in the Tucson Unified School District. He was placed on home assignment and told not to come into work as the district investigates the allegations. The voicemails contained threats to McSally, including that she should "be careful" when she returns to Tucson and that her days "were numbered." He threatened to shoot her in one of the expletive-filled messages. The complaint stated Martan told agents he was venting frustrations with McSally's congressional votes in support of the president of the United States. Martan was accused of threatening to assault and murder a United States official with intent to impede the official's duties and to retaliate against an official for the performance of the official's duties, according to the complaint. There appear to be no responsible adults on the left willing to come out and denounce violence as a political tactic. A comparison of the level of violence now with the very few minor incidents involving the Tea Party 6 years ago is fascinating. At that time, condemnation was almost universal, with nobody on the respectable right defending violence, and huge amounts of publicity.

The silence of the shams today is deafening. Those who don't stand up and denounce this accelerating wave of violence are setting themselves up to profit from it.
Democrats acted in close collusion with the Soviet Union when Lenin, Stalin, and all the other Red totalitarians were in power. In some cases, leftists betrayed U.S. national security secrets to the Soviets, the most famous being the atom bomb secrets. Today, Democrats are accusing Donald Trump of plotting with Vladimir Putin to steal an election. They have convinced themselves that Trump is giving away national security secrets, right in the Oval Office.

This is, in fact, what Bill Clinton did by re-classifying U.S. missile launching secrets to become non-secrets, allowing them to be sold to China. It is also what Hillary may have been doing with Huma Abedin (from the Muslim Brotherhood family) and letting her email server be so easily hacked that any knowledgeable foreign power could get the U.S. SecState's confidential information. Hillary took Muslim Brotherhood money through the Clinton Foundation, and now we know that Bill and Hillary were both involved in a Russian buyout of 25% of U.S. uranium sources.

During the Cold War, when conservatives criticized Soviet Russia, they were viciously slandered by liberals. Americans in the Cold War always had two great enemies: the Soviet Empire and the domestic left. If you doubt it, look back at Vietnam, Korea, and other big flare-ups in the Cold War. The left was always 100% predictable.

If Democrats had a conscience, it would sink them from their weight of guilt. Fortunately, their media dominance can block out a whole century of pro-totalitarian agitation and propaganda. The left is utterly deaf, dumb, and blind, most of all to their own guilty collusion with Marxist totalitarianism wherever it spread.

So be it.

But now that Trump and Putin are seeking a way to work together to defeat today's greatest dangers, the North Korean-Iranian Axis of Evil, the Dems are accusing the president of ratting to the Russians.

Weird, isn't it?

Ego defenses are very simple. Let's say you hate Donald Trump with a deadly passion and have wishful dreams of murdering him, along with Ivanka and the rest of the family. But you believe you're a loving peacenik, so you can't actually admit your hatred to yourself.

So you end up believing:

1. I don't hate Trump. I just think he is an idiot who will sell us out to the Russians. My hatred is righteous anger.

2. I don't hate Trump. I just think he's guilty of firing the FBI director to cover up his criminal collusion in stealing the election with Putin's help.

More righteous anger.

3. I don't hate Trump. I just think Trump hates women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, militant atheists, and me. (Projection.)

All the defense mechanisms are lies. They distort our feelings in different ways. The more you distort your feelings, the more primitive and infantile your defenses are.

Obama has pretty primitive defenses, which is why he keeps tossing out blatant lies to the public and praising himself. Narcissists start with infantile grandiosity and sometimes hatred for others, because deep inside, they are extremely insecure and self-critical.

When Obama did his "blame America" bowing trip eight years ago, he never, ever blamed himself. Or the left. Even though the left killed 100 million people in the 20th century, according to Marxist historians.

Obama seems to be utterly incapable of saying, "I was wrong. I'm sorry I ordered the disastrous invasion of Libya, for no reason whatsoever."

He will never apologize to Egypt's President Sisi for overthrowing his predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, and installing an M.B. stooge instead.

Today, Sisi is still in a civil war with the M.B.s in the Sinai Desert and Gaza.

Obama took the side of the Moobers against Sisi, and in Syria and Libya, he took the side of al-Qaeda.

If you're having trouble understanding the twisting party line of the left, just take a look at Wikipedia's article on ego defenses, and you can pretty much put a check mark next to whichever one they are using today.

It's sad. I wish they would grow up.

But so far they are stuck in denial and infantile rage.

When Communism first swept European universities, a wise man remarked, "These people think they are physicians to society, when they are only the disease."

It's their only playbook, and they never stop following it.

Conservatives haven't fought the left nearly hard enough, because we keep thinking they will change and be open to reason. But they haven't. When they were discredited after the 1940s and '50s, they just went into hiding to come back in the 1960s. They are a stubborn virus, and they prey especially on the young and historically ignorant. They have turned our universities upside-down with malice aforethought.

Nobody in Russia and China seriously wants to bring leftism back. They are still suffering from the effects. But in many Western universities, the toxic doctrine of violent utopianism is being preached, along with violent jihadism (which is another utopian cult belief).

We failed to stop them when the virus was still controllable. Let's hope the administration can appoint enough constitutionalist judges to help us return to a free and open society.
Just after Turkey's strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the president at the White House yesterday, a massive brawl broke out outside the residence of the Turkish ambassador, leaving nine people injured. Protesters had gathered to demonstrate against Erdogan's recent power-grab and his crackdown on the political opposition.

Erdogan's bodyguards, some dressed in business suits and others in more casual attire, appeared to attack some of the protesters as police tried to keep order.

Daily Caller:

Protesters critical of the Turkish government claimed that Erdogan's bodyguards or security staffers working for the Turkish embassy launched the attack. Video of the fight showed men in suits kicking people, some while they were on the ground. The footage shows some victims covered in blood. Aram Suren Hamparian, the president of the Armenian National Committee in America, filmed some of the incident and says he believes that the instigators were Erdogan bodyguards or security personnel working for the Turkish ambassador. "They just literally broke through the line, crossed the street, and stopped the protesters," Hamparian told The Daily Caller by phone. Hamparian, who is highly critical of Erdogan, said that two dozen anti-Erdogan protesters, mostly Armenian and Kurdish, were protesting peacefully across the street from the residence. He said that the onslaught broke out suddenly. He says the videos show that the pro-Erdogan fighters appeared to be professionals of some sort. He also said they outnumbered the protesters. "It all took place at once. It was by very capable people. It felt to me, it looked to me like a highly orchestrated attack," he added. Hamparian said that some Erdogan supporters were not violent. He said that he spent most of the night at the hospital with some victims of the attack. One man who Hamparian helped received between 10 and 15 stitches, he said. Another woman underwent a CT scan. Halil Mutlu, a cousin of Erdogan's and a board member of the Turkish American Steering Committee, was spotted on the sidelines of the fray. At one point he was seen leading a pro-Erdogan chant aimed at the government critics.

Washington, D.C. police are experienced in dealing with protests of this kind and are usually able to keep them in check. But it appears that Erdogan's thugs made things exponentially worse by wading into the crowd and beating people.

The Trump-Erdogan meeting was overshadowed by the Comey controversies, so it hasn't received much play in the media. But if Erdogan is willing to countenance this sort of thuggery away from home, imagine what his tactics are when the demonstrators are in the streets of Ankara.
Relating to President Trump's alleged disclosure of classified information to the Russian ambassador, on May 15, Aaron Blake of the Washington Post writes:

We see ... top national security aides saying Monday night that The Washington Post's reporting [that Trump divulged classified info] was wrong, and then Trump tacitly acknowledging it was accurate first thing Tuesday morning.

What is this "tacit acknowledgement"? While the article provided several other links, to this key point it provided no link, nor any quotation. As to what this "tacit acknowledgement" actually was, readers are left to guess.

But, based on other sources, we can deduce that the Post must be speaking of President Trump's May 16 tweet, which reads as follows:

As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.

This is a general statement of purpose, made in the wake of the allegation of harmful disclosure of classified material. How is this a "tacit acknowledgment" of such a disclosure? To say that it is is a bit comical, for it casts Trump as some subtle, lawyerly type, where he speaks obliquely, and we are to read between the lines.

Trump says: "facts pertaining to terrorism, and air flight safety. Humanitarian reasons[.]" From this carefully constructed series of words, we are to deduce that Trump is subtly referring to classified information, which  we are to read between the lines  he wrongly disclosed. This is a little absurd, if only because it assumes that Donald Trump  Donald Trump!  communicates in such a clever, indirect, and suggestive way. Apparently, the Post thinks he does.

Trump states a generality, and the Post fills in the specifics. It could (if the Post had previously alleged it) have as easily seen such words as a tacit acknowledgment that Trump was planning to invade Saudi Arabia.

It seems far more likely that, in the wake of being charged with something he did not (he says) do, Trump is doing exactly what he seems to be doing, which is explaining what he did in fact do at the meeting. Yet the Post will have none of it  not from him or from anyone else at the meeting with an actual name, such as national security adviser H.R. McMaster, who states:

I was in the room, the secretary of state was in the room, as you know, the deputy adviser for national security, Dina Powell, for strategy was in the room. And none of us felt in any way that that conversation was inappropriate.

So even if there was a "blunder," as the Post's anonymous source contends, it was shared by three top-level officials, including two with extensive experience in such matters  that is, McMaster and Powell. Yet, in a headline, the Post identifies the alleged disclosure not as McMaster's or Powell's error, but "Trump's Russia-classified info blunder." But McMaster and Powell are the advisers on such matters; protection against such error is part of what they are there for. So, assuming that such disclosure was in fact made, and the Post is really concerned about it, why isn't it going after them?

This isn't fake news. Fake news is when something important is happening and, because of a political agenda, the media talks about something else. This is different. Here, using the word "tacitly" (and not including a link or quote to put it in context), the Post is saying Trump said something he did not say, but only something that  through extreme and selective speculation  Trump can be thought of possibly having said ("said," that is, "tacitly," without actually saying it). To put it another way, the Post could have, at best, said (perhaps) that Trump "conceivably tacitly acknowledged" such disclosure, but in no way could it say he in fact did. But, in fact, the Post did falsely assert that Trump did, and used that false assertion to declare the issue of fact on this matter settled  and settled in a way harmful to Trump.

The Post should explain its basis for its "interpretation" of the tweet, with allowance for a point-by-point rebuttal. Or it should retract its claim. If the Post refuses to take such measures to clarify its dubious interpretation and speculation, then there is arguably a proof of malice  of, if nothing else, a reckless disregard for the truth, which is, even for a public figure, sufficient to bring charge of libel against the alleged offender  that is to say, in this case, against the Washington Post.
Israel's much touted economic miracle, given official sanction when the country joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2010, has brought a slew of first-world injuries. Similar to the unfortunate phenomenon of henna-covered millennials sustaining concussions after walking into dumpsters while tweeting on their Samsung Galaxy S8s, the Jewish state is currently being wracked by a variety of strange ailments that are only experienced by privileged individuals in wealthy countries.

First, there's the curious case of that iconic American rock and roll band, Aerosmith. One telltale sign that a country has graduated from "developing" to "developed" status is its citizens' standard of living. Since 2011, per capita growth has increased in Israel's GDP by a cumulative 14.2%, and private consumption has risen by a total of 25.2%.

As a result, Israelis are ready, willing, and able to shell out hundreds, even thousands, of shekels to see the world's greatest artists, live and frequently in Tel Aviv's Park HaYarkon.

However, the downside is that those sclerotic "Bad Boys from Boston," who performed on Wednesday night to a sold out crowd, brought a highly contagious strain of rampant consumerism to the Land of Milk and Honey.

The band landed at Ben Gurion Airport with a bizarre list of demands that included but wasn't limited to organic cashews, washed blueberries, four pink lady apples, non-alcoholic German beer, 12 pillows, gluten-free pretzels, and three small packets of peanut M&M's.

What effect will this mega-dose of affluenza have on the Israeli public? Only time will tell. For now, we bid a fond Aero-vederci, baby! to Steven, Joe, Joey, Tom, and Brad, who honored Israel by kicking off the first of their many farewell tours here.

Yes, the good times in Israel are rolling  so much so that even jailed murderers want to get in on the growing bonhomie. Similar to Aerosmith, imprisoned Palestinian leader and convicted Fatah terrorist Marwan Barghouti has published a list of demands  for ending the hunger strike he kicked off on April 17.

What's interesting isn't so much what Barghouti and his fellow "security prisoners" are asking for in order to improve prison conditions; it's what they're not asking for that's most revealing. The list of demands does not include any requests to stop torturing, raping, or otherwise physically abusing incarcerated Palestinians. Neither are the prisoners claiming that their lawyer-client relationships are being heavily restricted by Israeli prison authorities.

No, dear reader  Barghouti, serving five life terms for multiple murders and an additional 40 years for attempted murder, isn't claiming that Israel is violating international standards for how prisoners are to be treated. Rather, he is attempting to extort the Israeli government into providing the over 6,000 Palestinian terrorists serving time in Israeli prisons with more television channels, books, magazines, and air conditioning. He wants a greater selection of items available for purchase in the canteen, family visits, the restarting of open university studies, and public telephone use. No country in the world, except Israel, would ever be expected to enter into negotiations with such prisoners over such over-the-top demands.

Moreover, if you're a convicted murderer, there are few more hospitable places to spend the rest of your natural-born life than in an Israeli prison. If life is so unbearable for Marwan Barghouti, perhaps he should submit a request to be transferred to Russia's Vladimir Central Prison, where inmates are forced to beat each other, or Kenya's Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, where epidemics of malnutrition, cholera, and ulcers are normal occurrences.

Convicted terrorists bellyaching about not having Showtime, with the aim of smearing Israel in front of the international community, brings to mind a classic Aerosmith song, from 1974's Get your Wings album: "Same Old Song and Dance."

Rock on, Aerosmith!

Barghouti, dream on.

Gidon Ben-Zvi is a Jerusalem-based freelance writer, editor, translator, and contributor.
On his radio show on Tuesday , conservative talk show host Mark Levin alternated between defending Trump against charges of obstruction of justice and attacking Trump for stabbing Israel in the back. It was a curious counterpoint, like two disparate themes in one piece of music.

When Trump ran for office, he explicitly said he was going to move the American embassy to Jerusalem. Now, Levin says, it seems pretty clear that this will not happen.

Trump lied.

But what's worse, Trump will not even state that the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism, is part of Israel. Mark played clips showing Sean Spicer, who as of this writing is still the president's press spokesman, equivocating over whether the Western Wall is part of Israel.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer reiterated the administration's confusing position in a press conference. The Western Wall is "clearly in Jerusalem," Spicer said, stating the obvious geographic location of the wall, but refusing to state in what country it resides.

National Security Advisor McMaster baited Israel by saying that when Trump comes to visit the Western Wall, he will not permit Israeli officials to accompany him, because it would imply Israeli sovereignty over the Western Wall.

McMaster was asked twice by reporters whether the Western Wall is in Israel. Deflecting the question, he said : "No Israeli leaders will join President Trump to the Western Wall." "He's going to the Western Wall mainly in connection with the theme to connect with three of the world's great religions[.]"

Really? What connection does Islam or Christianity have with the Western Wall? It's the outer wall of a Jewish temple. McMaster is putting the ownership of Israel's holiest site up for debate! How humiliating is it for Israel leaders to be forbidden from accompanying Trump to their holiest site when the president visits?

We've gone from a president who promised to move our embassy to Jerusalem to a president who is stabbing our best ally in the back, giving Arabs propaganda to lay their own claim to Judaism's holiest site.

Meanwhile, Levin noted that while Trump is eager to confront Israel on this topic, he has done nothing to scrap or modify the deal with Iran, which Trump promised to do. He has not fought for a penny to build a wall on our border. He never even submitted a plan to repeal Obamacare. He still hasn't submitted a detailed tax plan. In short, Trump has not carried out some of his most important promises.

Some people would call that lying. I don't find it at all surprising that Trump has stabbed Israel in the back, the same way he has stabbed the American people in the back by keeping Obama's illegal "DREAMer" amnesty in place and not lifted a finger to fight for a penny to build a border wall in the one-trillion-dollar appropriations bill he signed.

Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com.
One of the criticisms of President Trump's new immigration policy was that the U.S. can't deport illegals if their original countries won't take them back.

After several months of negotiations, the Department of Homeland Security has successfully reduced the list of countries who refused U.S. deportees from 20 to 12.

Washington Times:

Between cajoling, threats and actual punishments, Homeland Security has managed to drastically cut the number of countries that habitually refuse to take back immigrants whom the U.S. is trying to deport, officials said Tuesday, notching an early immigration success for President Trump. The number of recalcitrant countries has dropped from 20 to 12 over the months since the presidential election, and some longtime offenders  including Iraq and Somalia  have earned their way off the naughty list. The list of countries is the shortest this decade. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials couldn't immediately say how many people have been deported because of the changes, but Somalia has taken back 259 just seven months into the fiscal year. That is far more than the 198 it took back in all of 2016 and the 17 it took in 2015. Marlen Pineiro, assistant director for removal operations at ICE, said the efforts began under the Obama administration but that Mr. Trump has created a determined focus at the Homeland Security and State departments, which are both involved in speeding up deportations. "The wind being at our wings is really driving us forward," she said. In many cases, that means criminals who otherwise would have been released onto the streets are now being sent to their home countries. Recalcitrant countries have long been among the serious issues that didn't get much attention, though the consequences can be extreme. In one notorious case, Haiti refused to take back an illegal immigrant who had served time for attempted murder, and U.S. officials were forced to release him. He killed a young woman in Connecticut just months after his release. Another illegal immigrant, Thong Vang, was released from prison in 2014 after serving time for rape convictions, and his home country of Laos refused to take him back. He was sent to a California prison last year and shot two guards, police said. Armed with those kinds of cases, Mr. Trump made recalcitrant countries a part of his presidential campaign. He vowed to begin putting pressure on countries to take back their deportees.

One of the president's first executive orders instructed DHS to ramp up pressure on these recalcitrant countries and force them to take back their own citizens. That the administration has achieved this surprising level of success shows what happens when Washington actually tries to do something about the problem, rather than throw up its hands and claim that nothing can be done.

Two of the biggest offenders are still on the list: China and Cuba. The Cubans have agreed to begin taking back criminal illegals, but there is a backlog of 35,000 that they refuse to deal with. And there are 1,900 Chinese citizens who have been ordered deported that Beijing refuses to repatriate.

Other countries still on the recalcitrant list are Burma, Cambodia, Eritrea, Guinea, Iran, Laos, Morocco, South Sudan and Vietnam. Hong Kong was added into the list this month because its repatriation policy is controlled by China. The countries that dropped off the list, in addition to Somalia and Iraq, were Afghanistan, Algeria, Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Iraq earned its way off the list after it promised better cooperation in the wake of Mr. Trump's first extreme vetting executive order.

Given the administration's early success in getting countries to repatriate deportees, we can expect that "naughty" list to shrink even more.
We have an understanding in U.S. politics that has contributed to our political stability. It goes like this: the loser concedes, offers his support to the new or re-elected president, and then disappears.

Do you recall Governor Romney saying he was on his way to winning until that hurricane hit the Mid-Atlantic region? Or Senator McCain arguing that the banking crisis cost him the job?

It looks as though those rules do not apply to Hillary Clinton, or the woman who will not go away, as Adrianna Cohen wrote this week:

They resist riding their horse into the proverbial sunset despite two crushing losses. First to a mostly unknown freshman senator from Chicago, Barack Obama, and then to businessman Donald Trump. During both presidential contests, Hillary Clinton had millions of dollars at her disposal, strong name recognition, decades of political experience and the mainstream media in the palm of her hand. Rigged left-wing media avoided investigating or covering all the serious scandals plaguing her campaign from the shady dealings of the Clinton Foundation to her reckless handling of classified information while secretary of state or the four dead Americans in Benghazi she callously hung out to dry. Yet despite virtually every advantage afforded to a political candidate, American voters  including Democrats  told Hillary Clinton to take a hike. Not once, but twice. But instead of picking up on social cues  and polls that found the majority of Americans dont trust her  she has now launched a new PAC called Onward Together. Which really should be named "Blowing Billions and Elections Together." And then blaming Russia.

Both Clintons are such slaves of politics that they can't enjoy their time off. Bill Clinton couldn't retire. Instead, he flew all over looking for money. Hillary Clinton can't go home and play with the grandchildren.

I will let Dr. Krauthammer play psychiatrist, but it's fair to say Mrs. Clinton never considered a life without politics. She does not know what to do with herself and that's why she will have to be pushed away.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk), (YouTube) and follow me on Twitter.
South Korea's new president, Moon Jae-in, said that there was a "high possibility" of conflict with North Korea while also indicating that he wishes to begin direct talks with the regime of Kim Jong-un.

Reuters:

"The reality is that there is a high possibility of a military conflict at the NLL (Northern Limit Line) and military demarcation line," Moon was quoted as saying by the presidential Blue House. He also said the North's nuclear and missile capabilities seem to have advanced rapidly recently but that the South was ready and capable of striking back should the North attack. Moon won an election last week campaigning on a more moderate approach towards the North and said after taking office that he wants to pursue dialogue as well as pressure. But he has said the North must change its attitude of insisting on pressing ahead with its arms development before dialogue is possible. South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Lee Duk-haeng told reporters the government's most basic stance is that communication lines between South and North Korea should reopen. "The Unification Ministry has considered options on this internally but nothing has been decided yet," said Lee.

Pursuing a "dual track" policy of dialogue and sanctions sounds like a recipe for failure. How is Kim to interpret such a policy? A demonstration of weakness? If so, Moon makes miscalculation and war more inevitable.

Moon is also demonstrating ambivalence about the U.S. anti-missile system, THAAD:

Communications were severed by the North last year, Lee said, in the wake of new sanctions following North Korea's fifth nuclear test and Pyongyang's decision to shut down a joint industrial zone operated inside the North. North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North defends its weapons programs as necessary to counter U.S. hostility and regularly threatens to destroy the United States. Moon's envoy to the United States, South Korean media mogul Hong Seok-hyun, left for Washington on Wednesday. Hong said South Korea had not yet received official word from the United States on whether Seoul should pay for an anti-missile U.S. radar system that has been deployed outside Seoul. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants South Korea to pay for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system which detected Sunday's test launch. China has strongly opposed THAAD, saying it can spy into its territory, and South Korean companies have been hit in China by a nationalist backlash over the deployment.

Moon's dilemma is that he has to successfully work with the U.S. while satisfying China and keeping the North at bay. It's a three-headed monster that, if he fails with any of them, could lead to conflict. He was elected on a platform of edging away from his American ally, engaging the North, and playing nice with China. In this context, his "dual track" policy may make some sense.

But if push comes to shove, you have to wonder if he's prepared to fully support American military action to take out the North's nuclear infrastructure and missile program. No doubt Moon would advise against such an attack, but if President Trump feels it necessary to protect America and our other friends in Asia by striking the North's WMD programs, retaliation by the North might take the issue out of his hands entirely.
The Pymatuning Reservoir in Crawford County, in the US state of Pennsylvania, was once a very large swamp. The Shenango River flowed through this ancient swamp and provided sustenance to industries located downstream in the Beaver and Shenango valleys. But when a devastating flood hit the valleys in 1913, the need to tame the river was felt.

In 1934, a dam and a reservoir was built to conserve waters entering the swamp and to regulate the flow of water in the Shenango and Beaver rivers. A concrete spillway bowl was also built to allow independent regulation of the upper reservoir. The flow of water over the bowl brings a constant supply of natural food into the area, including plant material, insect larvae, crayfish and other invertebrates, drawing a large number of fish to this structure. As soon as this phenomenon was discovered, the Linesville spillway became an impromptu tourists attraction.

Photo credit: Frankmiklos/Panoramio

Thousands of oversized carps gather at the edge of the spillway writhing in thickets, with gaping mouth waiting to tear apart loaves of bread that tourists throw into the water. The frenzied feeding scene has been described by some as ugly and fearsome. "If you threw a child in there, they'd eat it," said another.

At times the fish are so thick that mallard ducks, competing for a morsel of food, can effortlessly hop and jump on the fish's backs to snatch a slice of bread.

This fantastical scene has become the basis for much of the local tourist industry.

Linesvilles motto, as seen on signs when entering the borough, is Where the Ducks Walk on Fishes. The local volunteer fire department and the regional sewer authority use logos of a duck standing on the back of a fish.

The bread throwing ritual has been troubling environmentalists because bread, and other food items such as donuts, bagels, popcorn and cake that people throw into the spillway arent healthy for the fish. In 2008, officials wanted to ban the practice of tossing bread to the carp. However, given the cultural, historical and tourism value of the spillway, the ban was not enforced.

Today, the Linesville spillway boasts of being Pennsylvanias second most popular tourist attraction, after the Liberty Bell, bringing as many as 500,000 visitors every year.

Photo credit: David Kanzeg/Panoramio

Photo credit: David Fulmer/Flickr

Photo credit: David Fulmer/Flickr

Photo credit: David Fulmer/Flickr

Sources: NY Times / Wikipedia / Ashtabulacurrent.com / Roadside America / www.dcnr.state.pa.u
At the Perryville Community Park in Perryville, in the US state of Maryland, not far from the Perry Point Veteran's Medical Center, is a group of about a hundred trees with cryptic messages carved into their barks. The trees sit on land that was once part of the Perry Point Veterans Administration Medical Center before becoming the Perryville Park. The Medical Center is a psychiatric hospital, and many of its patients are U.S. military veterans. During their stay at the psychiatric hospital and rehabilitation center, some of the patients visited the grounds and left their mark for modern-day explorers to discover.

Photo credit: Patch.com

Many of the carvings are brief, one-worded statements with dark undertones, such as "Help", "Murder" and "Police". Others contain religious rhetoric and political statements:

King of King and Lord of Lords

Battle of Armageddon

All authority is given unto He in Heaven and Earth

"Christ said to police there was no Second World War"

Some messages contain jarring confessional statements:

Monks didnt want to murder Taylor Holly.

Eddie Kenny did not want to murder George Norris but St. Ignatius made him.

Many of the trees contain the engraving "Nelson Jochnou" and it is possible that was the name of one of the engravers.

The carvings were done a long time ago, yet very few Perryville residents are aware of their existence, according to Cecil Daily.

The Perry Point was originally a general hospital that provided care for patients with various disabilities before it became a psychiatric ward in the 1920s. The Veterans Administration came into being in 1930.

Photo credit: Patch.com

Photo credit: Patch.com

Photo credit: Patch.com

Sources: Cecil Daily / Wikipedia
iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for two adults and two young children after their small plane mysteriously disappeared from radar while flying over the infamous Bermuda Triangle on Monday.



The Coast Guard said it recovered debris and parts of an MU-2B aircraft -- the plane type the group was traveling in -- 15 miles east of Eleuthera, Bahamas, during the search.

#Update @USCG image of debris, confirmed components of an MU-2B aircraft recovered 15 miles E of Eleuthera, Bahamas; search continues. pic.twitter.com/lP0lSX0bld  USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 17, 2017

On board the flight was 40-year-old Jennifer Blumin from New York and her two sons, ages 3 and 4, as well as 52-year-old Nathan Ulrich from New Hampshire. Blumin is the CEO of a prominent New York City event planning firm, Skylight Group.



The plane was scheduled to fly from Puerto Rico to central Florida, but never arrived at its destination, according to the Coast Guard.



Miami Air Traffic Control reported that it lost radar and radio contact with the airplane just three hours into the flight, the Coast Guard added in a statement.



The Royal Bahamas Defense Force and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are assisting with the search efforts, according to authorities.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Indonesia whips two consenting adult men 85 times for having gay sex

To Indonesias Aceh province where the court has sentenced two men (ages: 20 and 23) to 85 lashes for having sex with each other. The Associated Press reports:

The couple were arrested in late March after neighborhood vigilantes in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, suspected them of being gay and set out to catch them having sex. Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia to practice Islamic law, or sharia, which was a concession made by the national government in 2006 to end a years-long war with separatists. It implemented an expanded sharia code two years ago.

How how dies the UK view Indonesia?

British Embassy Jakarta UK and Indonesia enjoy a close relationship, with many common interests and values. We are partners in challenges like terrorism and global warming, and work together closely within the G20. We are also here to support and protect UK interests in Timor Leste.

Global warning takes precedence over whipping consenting adults for being gay. Who owns your body?

Anorak

Posted: 17th, May 2017 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
(ANSA) - Rome, May 17 - Statistics agency ISTAT has drafted a new socio-economic map of Italy in its annual report, dividing the country into nine groups, not just on the basis of profession, but also according to income, educational qualifications and citizenship. The two most numerous groups are office-worker families, with 4.6 households for a total of 12.2 people, who belong to the prosperous segment; and the families of retired manual workers, 5.8 million households for over 10.5 million people, who are in the average income segment. Social inequality in Italy is rising and is "no longer just the distance between the various classes" ISTAT said in its annual report on Wednesday. "The growing complexity of the current world of world has increased diversity, not just between professions, but also within the same professional roles, intensifying the inequalities between social classes and within them".

Italy had around 3.59 million jobless households in 2016 - those in which no member is in employment or draws a work pension, ISTAT said. The agency said the jobless households accounted for 13.9% of the total, although this went up to 22.2% in Italy's less prosperous southern regions. The number of jobless households in 2008 was 3.172 million - 13.2 of the total ISTAT President Giorgio Alleva said that Italy's economic recovery was not yet strong enough to benefit the weakest sections of society as he presented the report to parliament. "Due to the insufficient intensity of economic growth, the recovery is struggling to have the same positive effects on the whole population," Alleva said. "Italy has consolidated the recovery process that started in 2015... in the current phase, the process of growth is still struggling to fully express itself".


ROME - The fourth edition of Arab Fashion Week opened in Dubai on Tuesday with a programme of catwalk shows of work by over 20 designers from all over the world.

Italy is represented by Antonio Marras and Renato Balestra.

The four-day event sponsored by Mbm Investment of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum is expected to draw over 15,000 visitors.

In addition to runway shows, the programme also includes meetings and workshiops organised in partnership with the industrial and academic communities and a gala dinner at the end. One of the guests is British actress and designer Georgina Chapman, founder of the maison Marchesa inspired by the figure of the late Italian noblewoman and art collector Luisa Casati. "We highly reognize their work (of the Arab Fashion Council, ed.) and offer ourfullsupport to continue fostering the growth of regional talent and create a genuine fashion infrastructure in the Middle East," Mesed Alhattawi, head of government relations at the Private office of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, said. "Today is an important milestone in the history of the Arab Fashion Council and we are honoured to receive such recognition from the office of his highness," CEO Jacob Abrian replied.

Established in London in 2014 by a group of regional fashion pioneers, the Arab Fashion Council works in partnership with international experts to promote what is the only fashion week to promote the ready-to-wear and pre-collections that define international haute couture in Dubai and the Arab world.
STRASBOURG - For Europe, the migrant crisis would have been manageable from the very beginning if it had been dealt with by all member states with a sense of solidarity, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday in a press conference at the European Parliament. He added that refugees account for only 2% of the population in Europe, compared with countries like Lebanon, where they are a whopping ''one-third of the population''. Guterres did not want to discuss the mechanism for the redistribution of refugee quotas among EU countries. The migration crisis is a serious problem for Europe, he added, saying he was aware of the fact that Italy is the country under the most pressure from it. He went on to praise the work of the Italian Financial Police and the Italian Coast Guard, which have saved thousands of lives.
US envoy meets with anti-ISIS Raqqa op leaders in Syria To take stock of Kurdish-led operation

(ANSAmed) - ROME, MAY 17 - US special envoy for the global coalition to counter Islamic State (ISIS) Brett McGurk travelled on Wednesday into northeastern Syria, in the area in which US-backed Kurdish-led militias have control near the country's borders with Iraq and Turkey. McGurk met with the leaders of anti-ISIS armed groups led by Syrian Kurdish militias, reported Arabic-language media, saying that one of the objectives of the mission was to take stock of the ongoing offensive against ISIS in Raqqa. The US envoy has in recent days also travelled to Mosul in northern Iraq, where the fight against ISIS continues as well.



(ANSAmed).




Bilbao and Valencia launch logistics partnership Accord to improve competitivity of the two ports

(ANSAmed) - NAPLES, MAY 17 - The Spanish ports of Bilbao and Valencia have signed a cooperation agreement on the themes of intermodality and logistics, it emerged on Wednesday.



The accord sets out to improve the competitivity of the two Spanish ports by strengthening the transport chain and extending their respective areas of influence.



"The Basque port is a model for positive experiences in the port-industry link-up," Valencia port president Aurelio Martinez told "El Economista".



Collaboration will involve the exchange of experience particularly in the planning and management of intermodal transport and a joint push for investment in rail links particularly with the Mediterranean and Atlantic corridors. The overall aim is to create an integrated supply of intermodal services and better connections between the respective inland areas. (ANSAmed).




TUNIS - The Tunisian authorities have launched a new campaign aiming to control food prices during the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to Minister for Commerce and Trade Ziad Laadhari.

In total 52 squads comprising members of the police force and national guard will be deployed to monitor the transparency of transactions, combat contraband and control the price of raw materials. The initiative "aims to consolidate a path embarked upon in recent weeks that has already had a positive impact on prices, a trend that should continue especially during the holy mobth of Ramadan," Laadhari said. The minister also invited consumers to control prices themselves by buying only certified products.

In addition, he announced the injection into the domestic market of 1,400 tonnes of vegetable oil to meet the spike in demand during Ramadan. This year the Muslim month of fasting from sunrise to sunset is predicted to begin on May 27.
Italy left alone on migrant relocation says Merkel Very deplorable for EU. Libya camps' conditions 'frightful'

(ANSAmed) - BERLIN, MAY 17 - Italy has been left "very alone" on the issue of migrant relocation, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday. Speaking at the Labour 20 meeting of the G20, she said "Germany has pledged to take in 500 refugees every month, we're trying to do our bit." She said thousands of refugees were reaching Italian shores every day, "for the EU it is very deplorable that we do not have a joint system of redistribution and that Italy is left very alone with this issue". Merkel also said more should be done to help Italy on migrant repatriations. "We must help Italy also to make sure that the refugees who are not entitled to stay may return to their countries of origin", she said.



Merkel added that conditions in migrant camps in Libya were "frightful".



Frontex said Tuesday that 37,200 migrants arrived in Italy through the Central Mediterranean route in the first four months of 2017, up 33% with respect to the same period last year.



(ANSAmed)
TRIESTE- Taking in asylum seekers would "certainly be worse" than receiving sanctions from the European Union, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said Wednesday in an interview with Radio Poland. "Let's keep in mind what has happened in western Europe," said Blaszczak in reply to a question concerning the EU threat of sanctions against Poland and Hungary if they do not take in asylum seekers under the EU-mandated relocation scheme by June. "Unfortunately terrorist attacks are a fact in the biggest EU countries," he continued. "We recall that they started with relatively small Muslim communities, which are now very big," added the minister.
Trump calls for 'Arab NATO' against terrorism and Iran Tour begins 20/5 in Riyadh, large arms-sale deal to be announced

(ANSAmed) - WASHINGTON, MAY 17 - US president Donald Trump ''will lay out his vision for a new regional security architecture White House officials call an 'Arab NATO', to guide the fight against terrorism and push back against Iran'', reported the Washington Post on Wednesday.



''As a cornerstone of the plan, Trump will also announce one of the largest arms-sales deals in history,'' it added.



A central role will be played by Saudi Arabia. Riyadh will be the first stop on a foreign tour for the US president and will be where the plan will be announced, reports the newspaper. The US president will travel to five countries in eight days, from May 19 to 27. Riyadh will be followed by Israel, the Vatican, and the NATO summit in Brussels and will end in Taomina for the G7. Trump will be bringing his closest advisors with him, encompassing almost the entire West Wing: from his daughter Ivana and son-in-law Jared Kushner to his strategist Steve Bannon and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, as well as national security advisor H.R. McMaster, economic advisor Gary Cohn, political advisor Stephen Miller and White House spokesman Sean Spicer. (ANSAmed).




Trump speaks to Netanyahu about upcoming ME visit - media Details of 20' conversation not released

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, MAY 17 - US President Donald Trump spoke by telephone with Israeli Premier Benyamin Netanyahu for around 20 minutes on Tuesday, Netanyahu's office said.



The details of the conversation were not released. However, Haaretz reports that the leaders discussed Trump's upcoming visit to the Middle East. (ANSAmed)
New trade and growth data offer positive signs for Asia-Pacific economies but greater coordinated action to address the unintended effects of globalization will be needed to sustain it and deliver the benefits more widely and equitably to the regions people, according to a new report.

The latest APEC Regional Trends Analysis launched alongside a key policy development meeting of APEC Senior Officials in Ha Noi on Wednesday forecasts 3.8 per cent growth for the 21 APEC economies in 2017 and 2018, and 3.7 per cent in 2019. This is up from 3.5 per cent in 2016 and marginally higher than global growth projections.

The improved economic outlook for the APEC region, which accounts for half of global trade and 60 per cent of world GDP, is supported by a recovery in its trade performance. APEC economies merchandise exports contracted 4.1 per cent in 2016, down from 8.7 per cent the previous year and in-line with a rebound in world trade.

The outlook for APEC economies remains one of the strongest in the world and momentum is picking up, said Ambassador Bui Thanh Son, Viet Nams Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and 2017 Chair of APEC Senior Officials. It is imperative that we continue to work together to keep us all headed in the right direction and ensure that all corners of our societies flourish.

Senior Officials are focused on the next steps for market integration and trade in the region. This includes the development of measures to better position labor forces and businesses to take advantage of new economic opportunities it creates as well as help those displaced by competitive and technological change.

Greater clarity, transparency and consistency of trade and economic policies will shape the magnitude and direction of growth in the region near-term, noted Dr Denis Hew, Director of the APEC Policy Support Unit, which authored the report. Structural reforms that promote innovation, economic participation and social safety nets are needed beyond that.

The report underscores the need for trade-related adjustments including lifelong access to skills training, temporary support for households affected by structural unemployment, and access to credit and digital networks to enable startups and small business participation in international production and supply chains.

It also calls for the introduction of rules-based trade policies that promote secure market access and limit destabilizing trade distortions, as well as voluntary policy declarations in areas such as labor and environmental standards to ensure fair competition.

Globalization alone will not lead to a fairer or more equal society, Dr Hew concluded. Maximizing the benefits requires complementary policies that will ensure economic inclusiveness and sustainability.

The Second APEC Senior Officials Meeting will be followed by a news conference on Thursday on the outcomes led by Ambassador Bui. It will set the stage for the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting here this weekend to take further action.

View the APEC Regional Trends Analysis: Globalization  The Good, the Bad and the Role of Policy

Video: Insights on APEC Regional Trends

See APECs new globalization infographic

# # #

For further details, or to arrange possible media interviews, please contact:

David Hendrickson (in Ha Noi) +65 9137 3886 at [email protected]

Michael Chapnick (in Ha Noi) +84 122 7280 513 at [email protected]

More on APEC meetings, events, projects and publications can be found on www.apec.org. You can also follow APEC on Twitter and join us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Maintaining the quality of the aviation fuel supply and the supporting infrastructure and operations is vital to the safe and efficient functioning of the air transport industry. This MoU, covering all airport fuel storage and handling, puts forward an industry-level program for application of standards and a single global reference for airline inspections. This is a great step forward in further promoting global safety and efficiency, said Hemant Mistry, IATAs Director for Global Airport Infrastructure and Fuel.

Through the programme IATA, JIG and A4A will seek to encourage the gradual standardisation of aviation fuel processes by facilitating compliance with current industry standards and best practices, and by establishing high quality common inspection processes to ensure that the aviation fuel is delivered clean, dry and on-specification. This is expected to facilitate a reduction in the number of required inspections at a given location, while increasing the scope of coverage across the globe and the reduction of cost.

JIGs vision is to work with industry partners to establish and enhance standards for the safe handling and quality control of aviation fuels globally. By partnering with IATA and A4A we will be able to more effectively support the industry by strengthening the implementation of our standards and providing a framework for the development of an industry Quality Assurance Scheme. This will form the foundation of a global inspection process that is supported by airlines, said John Buxton, chairman of the JIG Council.

A key goal for the aviation industry is alignment of standards and best practices across different regions. The three organisations have agreed to work together to eliminate regional variations in this regard.

A4A is committed to ensuring that the quality of its members fuel is safeguarded throughout the supply chainfrom the refinery to when it is delivered into the aircraft. The MoU with IATA and JIG will help achieve this. We are delighted to be expanding our partnerships in this area and work towards eliminating regional variations in standards in fuelling, said Amy Carico, Director Fuel Services and Technical Standards, A4A.

Im very pleased the three main stakeholders have been able to reach this landmark agreement. It will help ensure the industry maintains sufficient expert resource. The fact that all parties agree to participate in each others relevant committees, and to work on joint training and technical assistance, can only strengthen the industry, said Thorsten Lange, Lufthansas Director of Fuel Purchasing, and Chairman of IATAs Commercial Fuel Group.

This cooperation between the three major aviation parties is showing the right way forward for airlines and suppliers, which will greatly help coordinate global inspections programs of both JIG and the IATA Fuel Quality Pool, said Michel Baljet, IATAs Head of Fuel Services.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. Experts on Arabic studies attach importance to the visit of President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to the State of Qatar, stating that deepening the economic and political ties with one of the most influential countries of the Persian Gulf and the Arab world in general are very important for Armenia.

Expert on Arabic studies Armen Petrosyan told Armenpress that this visit must be viewed from two perspectives. Firstly, one of the priorities of Armenias foreign policy is intensification of relations with the Arab countries, and secondly, the visit is very important in terms of strengthening ties between the Diaspora and Armenia. Armen Petrosyan attaches importance to deepening the economic ties with the State of Qatar. I think Armenia should intensify the relations, especially with the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, which we witness. At least within two months the President visited twice this region. If I am not mistaken, the President visited the United Arab Emirates in March, and now the State of Qatar. This is very important since those countries have major political and economic impact in the whole region and the Arab world in general. The intensification of ties with the Arab countries is important from political perspective, given those countries influence in the Islamic world. From economic perspective, this visit is also important since those countries have quite developed economy, great capital in the forms of regional programs and in case of active cooperation it is possible to bring those programs to Armenia. We see that over the past years Armenia plays an active role in terms of connecting the Middle East with the EAEU member states and Europe and takes serious steps on this path, the expert said.

He also talked about the opportunities of the Armenian community of Qatar. According to him, the Armenian communities in the countries of the Persian Gulf are relatively new and were mainly formed as a result of Armenian Diasporas movements in the Arab countries. Those communities are established enough from professional perspective. They have unique specialists of various fields, and in this sense intensifying the ties with the community are very important in terms of using the opportunities of those specialists for the benefit of Armenias development, he concluded.

Expert on Arabic studies Sargis Grigoryan also attached great significance to the Presidents visit to Qatar, highlighting the role of Qatar in world processes, as well as its influence in the Arab and Muslim world. Qatar is the country with which the establishment of close economic and political ties is very important. Intensifying ties with Qatar will enable Armenia to better perceive and understand the issues of the Middle East and the Arab world in general and correctly assess various situations.

Sargis Grigoryan welcomes the Armenian leaderships steps aimed at intensifying the ties with the Arab countries, adding that there is an indissoluble historical-cultural link between the Armenian people and the Arab world and it must further strengthen. It is obvious that we need to intensify the relations with the key countries of the Arab world. Moreover, the Arab world is close to us, quite serious processes are taking place there where we should ensure our presence as a regional country. In general, we need to be active in those processes. We have our interests in the Arab world, we have community, historical-cultural heritage in the Arab countries, diplomatic representations, the expert said.

On May 14 President Serzh Sargsyan arrived in the State of Qatar on official visit. The President of Armenia met with the Emir of the State of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Executive Director of Qatar Airways Akbar Al Baker, Qatar business community and the representatives of the Armenian community in the capital Doha.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Army of Artsakh responded to the lies of the Azerbaijani propaganda machine, which said the Artsakhi side wanted to down the helicopter of Azerbaijans defense minister.

Senor Hasratyan, spokesman of the Defense Army of Artsakh, released a statement on Facebook in response to Azerbaijans disinformation.

Azerbaijans another propaganda fiction stating that the Armenian side wanted to shoot down the helicopter of the countrys defense minister, was also commented on by the military agitprop with a typical primitivism, serving the personal interests of Hasanov. This unfounded disinformation, which has nothing to do with reality, is simply aimed at solving two tasks  first of all to justify the aggression against a military unit of the Defense Army on May 15, and second of all to increase the image of Hasanov in the Azerbaijani society, to show in what kind of dangerous conditions the former deserter, who turned defense minister from an ordinary commissar, is operating, Hasratyan said.

The spokesperson also reminded that the same agitprop used efforts to present Zakir Hasanov as personally coordinating the operations against Armenian sabotage units in the frontline, the best manifestation of whom was his brilliant success in the direction of Martuni overnight February 24-25.

It was on this very day when as result of a special operation designed by personally Hasanov, the Azerbaijani sabotage units crawled back to their initial positions, leaving five casualties on the battlefield, and then, according to his habit, asked for the international organizations mediation for recovering their own bodies. This is the real Hasanov, and there is no necessity of downing a helicopter transporting him, yet, Hasratyan said.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. The political forces which ensured seats in the newly elected parliament of Armenia clarify their steps ahead of the first session.

The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), which comprised majority based on the April 2 parliamentary election results, will make a final decision on the candidates for the posts of Speaker and Vice-Speakers of the Parliament on May 17. The party will hold an Executive Body session on May 17, at 18:00, and then the Board session at 19:00. During the Executive Body session a decision will be adopted over the candidates of Speaker and Vice-Speakers of the Parliament which will be presented to the partys Board members.

On May 17 the newly elected MPs of Tsarukyan bloc will meet with Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan. The meeting will take place at 15:00 in the partys central headquarters. During the meeting it will be decided whose candidacy will be nominated for the post of opposition Vice-Speaker of the Parliament.

Yelk bloc will discuss the issue of posts of faction head and secretary in the Parliament on May 17. Yelk blocs newly elected MP Edmon Marukyan told Armenpress that on May 17 they will discuss who are going to be the faction head and secretary in the Parliament and will report about their decision.

The ARF faction has already clarified who will be the faction head and secretary in the Parliament. MP Aghvan Vardanyan told Armenpress that the faction will be headed by Armen Rustamyan, and he will be the secretary.

The first session of the newly elected Parliament will be held on May 18.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. American ContourGlobal company wants to make new investments in various fields of Armenia, reports Armenpress.

Currently the issue on making investments in wind, solar energy fields is being discussed, Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources told reporters on the sidelines of conference on renewable energy prospects in Yerevan.

The fact that this company sponsored this event, that they always actively participate in our events, shows that they are satisfied from the cooperation with us. I think this is another guarantee of success that they entered the market with another program, and now they want to continue, he said.

The Deputy Minister informed that the investment program worth 70 million USD will be directed to completely replacing the hydropower equipment.

We have devices that operate for more than 30 years, its time to replace them. After the implementation of this investment program we will have a completely new system of Vorotan hydropower plants. This year the works should launch. The program will last for at least 2-3 years, the Deputy Minister said.

Hayk Harutyunyan said the ongoing reforms, the investment programs received such a reaction that the American companies arrived in Armenia to get acquainted with the situation and make investments in the renewable energy field.

They have concrete programs to present. I want to state that the tender for construction of 55 megawatts solar power plant is already launched: it is at the pre-qualification stage. Given the packages they bought for participation, we can state that we are going to have an active competition, we will have large number of participants from various parts of the world, including the US, Hayk Harutyunyan said.

He added that the energy field is very attractive for foreign investors since there is a predictable regulation field, already financially stable energy system, concrete investment programs, as well as guarantees set by law for the market.

If the market is guaranteed for at least 15-20 years, and the resource is very good, the regulation field is good, the legislative mechanisms have a place of investment protection, it can said conditions are perfect, the Deputy Minister said.

The conference was organized by the US Embassy and jointly with the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources and ContourGlobal.

The conference brought together 70 Armenian companies and several leading American renewable energy companies, which will present their development experience and technologies of green energy and smart-electric devices.

Seven companies arrived in Armenia for the conference  Honeywell Building Solutions, General Electric, Contour Global and others.
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is ready to provide records of the recent meeting between US leader Donald Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to dispel the "political schizophrenia" around the allegations that state secrets were leaked, RT reports.

"If the US administration deems it possible, we are ready to provide the Senate and Congress with the transcript of the conversation between Lavrov and Trump," Putin said at a press conference, following a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Wednesday.

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov followed up on Putin's statement with a clarification that there was no audio recording at the Trump-Lavrov meeting, and the only form of record available is a transcript.

It comes after the Washington Post claimed that Trump had revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister [Sergey Lavrov] and ambassador in a White House meeting on May 10.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova issued a mocking response to the claims, posting on Facebook: Have you guys been reading American newspapers again? Dont read them. They can be used in many different ways, but one shouldnt read them  recently it has become not only harmful, but dangerous.

"We are seeing in the US a developing political schizophrenia," Putin said.
YEREVAN, 17 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 17 May, USD exchange rate down by 0.16 drams to 483.86 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.34 drams to 536.84 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.06 drams to 8.52 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.65 drams to 626.36 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 7.66 drams to 19199.78 drams. Silver price up by 1.93 drams to 260.1 drams. Platinum price up by 26.29 drams to 14607.51 drams.
Ive been out to the Getty twice in recent months, both times to see (and review) interesting, ambitious exhibitionsone piece, about Eyewitness Views: Making History in Eighteenth-Century Europe, will be in tomorrows Wall Street Journal (and is online, in its slightly longer version, now), and the other, for Shimmer of Gold: Giovanni di Paolo in Renaissance Siena, ran last October.

And of course, Ive been watching from afar as the museum presents exhibitions, makes acquisitions and plans programs. Without jinxing it, I hope, Im glad to say that the Getty Trusts messy structure, which has often caused problems in the past, particularly between the Trusts president and the museums director, seems to be working well now.

I was among the skeptics several years ago. When James Wood, the president, died unexpectedly, not long after troubles erupted between and the then-museum director Michael Brand, who left, I felt the Trusts structure needed to change. It had frequently been a source of frictiongenerally between those two officialsand possibly the cause of its under-performance over the years. Somehow, the research, conservation and foundation heads got along with the Trusts president, and it should have been okay for the museum director, tooin theorybut somehow it never had been. I therefore thought the trustees might take the opportunity to restructure.

I did, however, say, when Timothy Potts was appointed as museum directorfollowing the appointment of James Cuno as Trust president, that

whether it works or not has always depended on the personalities involved. It remains to be seen whether the five people now in place, James Cuno at the trust, and the heads of four divisions will work together nicely.

Enough years have passedPotts took the job in 2012to make an assessment. So, I say now, maybe the structure is finethe errors in the past really were mostly about personality. I hope I havent missed signs of turmoil.

But back to Eyewitness Viewsa show of view paintings that chronicle events, festivals, ceremonies, etc. in history. They served to record the commissioners view of that history for contemporaries and for generations that came later.

The exhibit includes pictures youve probably never seen before, at least not on these shores. Certainly, not every one is a masterpiecebut they are, the exhibition arguesthe best of the vedute paintings because they were (in my words) bids by the painters to vault themselves into the ranks of history painters, who occupied the highest rung of the art historical hierarchy at the time. Their other view pictures, which lacked the historical content of these works, were disdained as souvenirs by the academy.

Interestingly, to me, you and I have probably walked past these paintings at museums and on to other, nearby works that seem more interesting. But at the Getty show they somehow become more visible, more interesting, surrounded by like works.

Even if you cant go, the Gettylike an increasing number of museums these daysis making it easier for people to get a glimpse of what they are missing. If you go to this link, you will see parts of the exhibition and its themes. Go to this link, and you can hear the audio guide. I rarely take the audio guide, but I did listen to this one once I returned home to New York, because the curator, Peter Bjorn Kerber, had told me that the Getty had used real archival descriptions of the events in some of the paintings, read by actors, in the guide. Very interesting. And not too long.

Photo Credits: Courtesy of the Getty, top to bottom:


The staff is still sorting through the profusion of responses to our query about what music Rifftides readers are putting on their CD players and turntables these days. You are an eclectic bunch, witness this batch of responses.

Peter Straub, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Miles Davis Quintet LIVE in Europe 1967 presents the second great quintet of Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams playing music of great intelligence, spontaneity, and sophistication as they make their way from Antwerp to Copenhagen to Paris.

Roger Brenes, San Diego, California, USA

My musical tastes are somewhat eclectic, with a strong leaning toward jazz between the 1920s thru the mid 1960s. Having lived in San Diego all my life, I was exposed to West Coast jazz in the 1950s and it is still one of my preferred styles. From that genre some of my favorite artists are Mulligan, Pepper, early Konitz, Baker, Sims, Shank, Rogers, and Desmond. At home I listen to music from my collection of vinyl and cds. Elsewhere its KSDS-FM, San Diegos 24/7 jazz station.

Dave Bernard, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA

Have been paying a lot of attention to brass and wind quintets. My interest pretty much started with the compositions of Alec Wilder. There are so many interesting CDs in that genre, such as Chicago Moves by the Gaudete Brass on the Cedille label.

Peter-Cornell Richter, Freiburg, Germany

Ellington Uptown is always anywhere on my table. It reminds me of long-gone nights when I listened to the unique voice of Willis Conover. I am just listening to Gil Evans Tokyo Concert from 1976. Alongside my Epson printer (I am a Photographer) there are CDs from Erroll Garner (Ready Take One), Rhoda Scott (Paris-New York) and Buddy Rich (Mercy Mercy). But most of all I like Thelonious Monk. Living on the other side of the earth, I enjoy Rifftides. Many thanks!

Ken Wilson, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

Tomeka Reid, Tomeka Reid Quartet

Dave Douglas, Brazen Heart Live at the Jazz Standard

Murray, Allen & Carrington Power Trio, both the record and this great video from Winter Jazzfest 2015.

Don Nelles, Somewhere In The USA

For years I have been listening to a bootlegged tape of a Dave Brubeck Quartet concert recorded in the late 50s. I am still hoping to get permission from someone, anyone, to allow me to put together a CD that can be marketed under the title Jazz goes to Gonzaga. Given the hoops success of the school, the CD is sure to be a best seller.

Peter Sanger, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Carol and I are currently listening on our home system to CDs by Scott Hamilton with the Jeff Hamilton Trio, Mimi Fox, Ken Peplowski, and The Berlin Philharmonic playing Ravels Daphnis and Chloe; in the car, Terry Gibbs Dream Band. There is always music in our lives one way or another. Its great to read your posts daily, and the Desmond bio.
The changes are not limited to the exterior only but are in the interiors as well.

Honda launched the 2017 City at the beginning of this year, and now the Japanese automaker has revealed the 2017 facelift of the Jazz hatchback in its home country, Japan. It is likely to be introduced in the Indian market in the near future. The new Jazz features a set of bumpers and LED lights just like the 2017 City. The changes are not limited to the exterior only but are in the interiors as well.

Spot The Difference

Changes to the facelift Honda Fit, or the Jazz (in the Indian market), are not exactly of the blink-and-youll-miss-it variety, but you need to have observed the current Jazz carefully to determine the changes. Luckily, my job (and my hobby) demands I look carefully at cars and therefore I can tell you that the new model has a more muscular bumper with prominent mass towards the ends. The fog lamp housing  although it retains its shape  gets added cladding in order to make it look more chunky. Completing the change is a new grille which is slimmer with an identical-looking headlamp cluster with LED lamps and DRLs (similar look to the Honda City's). These changes make the car look a bit more striking than the current model, which now, after having a look at the facelift, looks even blander.

From the side, the hatchback retains the older shape with the strong body line entering from the tail lamp and extending till the front wheel arch. Wheels for the international model are 16-inchers and the Indian version will also get this size.

Though the rear pics are out yet, we expect the difference to be minimal, with a chiselled bumper and LEDs in the tail lamp cluster.

Interiors

The Jazz facelift continues with the same interior setup as the current model, but Honda could give it a different upholstery option and the new Android-based 7.0-inch Digipad touchscreen unit which graces the City and WR-V as well. Also, the boot space of 354-litres and the magic seats functionality are expected to remain the same.

Under The Hood

Powering the Jazz facelift will be the same set of engines  a 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol mated to the 5-speed manual or CVT automatic with paddle shifters and the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel bolted to the 6-speed manual. Powers figures are 88PS/110Nm for the petrol and 100PS/200Nm for the diesel.

Key Changes

- New Front Bumper

- LED Headlamps

- LED DRLs

- LED Fog Lamps

- LED Tail lamps

- 16-Inch wheels (possibility)

- Android-Based 7.0-inch Digipad Touchscreen

These changes will make the Honda Jazz remain in competition till the next generation hatchback arrives later in the future. The facelift will arrive in international markets in June but an Indian launch won't happen until at least the festive season. It will still compete with the MarutiBaleno and the Hyundai i20 but, looking at the City, the top-end model (which could be the ZX) could very well be considerably costlier than the rivals.

Source: Zigwheels.com
IT sector will continue to hire and has added five lakh jobs in the last 2.5 years.

IT companies have assured that there is "nothing unusual" this year and decision to not renew some contracts were part of the annual appraisal process.

New Delhi: The government today sought to allay fears of large scale layoffs by tech firms in India saying the IT sector remains "robust" and is, in fact, moving beyond plain-vanilla back office services to highly skilled jobs.

IT Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said the IT companies have assured that there is "nothing unusual" this year and decision to not renew some contracts were part of the annual appraisal process.

"Some of the companies which have been named (as undertaking job cuts) have clarified that there is nothing big this year," she said on the sidelines of Broadband India Forum event. Over the past few weeks, there have been reports of layoffs across the IT sector.

Tech majors like Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant, and, more recently, Tech Mahindra have initiated annual performance reviews, a process that weeds out bottom performers or non performers. This has added to fears that thousands of employees in the sector could be shown the door over the next few weeks.

"As part of annual appraisals, they may not be renewing contract of some people but it is absolutely incorrect to assume that suddenly this year a large number of jobs are being shed," Sundararajan said.

Stating that the Indian IT sector will grow at 8-9 per cent this year, the IT Secretary exuded confidence that the industry will continue to hire in large numbers as new technologies like digital payments, cyber security, big data and cloud gain traction.

"Any report that is interpreting this change as a large scale loss of jobs in the IT sector would be factually misleading and incorrect," she said.

The IT Ministry's views echo with that of industry body Nasscom, which has been on an overdrive to assure the tech fraternity that the sector continues to be a "net hirer" with over 1.5 lakh people being employed on net basis every year.

In a statement issued last week, Nasscom had said that reports of mass layoffs were incorrect, and that workforce realignment, linked to performance appraisal processes, were a regular feature every year. Sundararajan today said that the IT sector will continue to hire and has added five lakh jobs in the last 2.5 years.

The issue needed to be looked at "holistically", she noted. The reports of large scale layoffs have compounded the worry in the industry, as the sector is already battling challenges in the business environment and stricter work permit regime in countries like the US, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) has received the final licence from the RBI and would commence its operations on May 23.

New Delhi: After months of delay, Paytm is now set to commence its payments bank operations from May 23, having received the final approval from the Reserve Bank of India.

The digital payments and commerce firm has named Renu Satti as its new CEO, following the departure of Shinjini Kumar. "Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) has received the final licence from the RBI and would commence its operations on May 23, 2017," it said in a public notice.

A Paytm spokesperson said: "We recently received approval from RBI for Renu Satti to be the CEO." Satti had joined Paytm in 2006 as manager human resources and over the years, has been involved with various departments at the company. Most recently, she was heading the movie ticketing business as vice president.

Before Paytm, she has worked with Mother Dairy and Manpower group. Meanwhile, in a tweet, former CEO Shinjini Kumar said: Everyone n their #farrago on my leaving #Paytm, living in Mum and working in NOIDA did not work for me? Big deal! Best wishes @vijayshekhar." Paytm was earlier slated to begin its payments bank operations around Diwali last year after getting an in- principle approval from RBI in 2015.

Payments banks can accept deposits from individuals and small businesses up to Rs 1 lakh per account. While 11 entities were given approval for payments banks, three entities -- Tech Mahindra, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company and a consortium of Dilip Shanghvi, IDFC Bank and Telenor Financial Services -- backed out.

Airtel and India Post are the only players to have started Payments Bank operations. Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank is expected to launch services soon.

Paytm, in a public notice, has said it will transfer its wallet business, which has over 218 million mobile wallet users, to the newly incorporated entity -- PPBL, after May 23. In case consumers do not wish for that, they have to inform Paytm, which will in turn transfer the wallet balance to the consumer's bank account once such details are shared.

Such communication will have to be made before May 23. In case the wallet has been inactive with no activity in the last six months, the transfer to PPBL will only happen once the consumer gives specific consent.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma -- founder of One97 Communications that runs Paytm -- holds the majority share in the payments bank arm. The rest of the shareholding is with Alibaba-backed One97 Communications.

However, the Chinese entity will not have a direct shareholding in the payments bank. Post the government's announcement of scrapping old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in November last year, Paytm has emerged as one of the main gainers as a huge number of people move towards digital currency. Wallet companies like Paytm and Mobikwik have registered spike in user base as well as the number of transactions.
Around Nov 8 last year, there were 5 crore taxpayers in country who now stand at 5.91 crore.

Mumbai: At the time of demonetisation on November 8 last year, there were 5 crore taxpayers in country. More than six months after the 'abrupt' recall of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes, the number now stands at 5.91 crore. It means India has added 91 lakh more taxpayers to its kitty.

The Narendra Modi government withdrew legal tender status of Old High Denomination or OHD currency notes as part of its massive crackdown against black money, tax evaders and counterfeiting of Indian currency notes. In recent years, the menace has plagued the Indian economy drastically.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday listed out benefits of note ban that had caused hardships to common men in its initial days of implementation last year. He further reiterated government's commitment towards transforming India to a fully tax compliant society from a non-tax compliant one.

Jaitly said that income tax department has issued some 2-3 lakh new permanent account number or PAN cards everyday since anti-black money drive was started on November 8 last year. I-T department issued only 1 lakh PAN cards everyday before note ban.

The government has also started Operation Clean Money website that wants to expose tax offenders in different avatars. OCM was launched to drag hidden, unccounted or illegal wealth back to the economic system and to start punitive actions against tax offenders.

Finance Minister Jaitley added tax department managed to identify 18 lakh people through a deeper scrutiny of bank deposits made after high value notes were banned.

Apart from that the government has also singled out transactions that were done post notes ban and that do not match with cash profile of taxpayers. All the details like raids by income tax department, names of tax offenders and black money hoarders would be put online.
While fans trolled him, some emphasised how marks in English have got nothing to with proficiency in the language.

Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan has showcased his brilliant English-speaking skills at various international platforms and there is no doubt that the superstar is among the most proficient in English in Bollywood.

We caught a glimpse of that recently at the Ted Talks event held in Vancouver where the superstar impressed the audiences with his trademark, witty one-liners.

However, Shah Rukh Khan was not the brightest of students in the subject of English during his college days and in fact, scored the lowest among the other subjects.

A portal related to the Delhi University, DU Times, has shared the admission form of Shah Rukh Khan on Facebook which is going viral now.





His scoring just 51/100 in English has been the topic of discussion since then, with Facebook users commenting on how difficult it is to get admission to colleges with such marks and trolling him for his English marks.

However, some of them did stand up against the trolling and highlighted how proficiency in English has got nothing to do with how someone scores in the subject of English.

Some current students from Delhi University also commented on his marks.

I got better marks than Shah Rukh and still could not crack a college in North Campus. With marks like him, it is now difficult to get admission in any college of Delhi University. What has changed in all these years if the courses and colleges are the same? Mayank Aggarwal, a third year student of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College told Hindustan Times.

Viraj Shokeen, a second year student of Hans Raj College, said, If marks actually dont matter, why does the system of cut-offs exist? A direct interview with the panel should be the entry criteria . Ab itne marks main Hans Raj kya, Aurobindo college bhi nahi milega. (With these marks, one would not be able to crack Aurobindo College, let alone Hans Raj in todays time.)

Rishab Suri, a third year student of Kirori Mal College, says, Marks dont define anyone. After a point, it is about how you present yourself. One can score a 95 in English and still not able to speak fluently! Coming to SRK, he just delivered the most amazing TED talk in Vancouver. Try beating that!
Salman's character of a man-child is seen dancing excitedly with the locals of the region in the song.

Mumbai: After successfully keeping the plot of the film under wraps, the teaser of 'Tubelight' finally unveiled the story of Salman Khan's character of a man-child beautifully.

The teaser of the Eid release went viral as soon as it released and grossed almost 20 million views in a span of a week.

There are a lot of expectations from the music of the film, too, with the makers teasing the audiences by sharing a still from the first song, Radio Song. The team even held a special screening of the song for select media few days ago and Salman Khan, along with the director Kabir Khan, launched the song in Dubai on Tuesday and also released it on social media for the audiences.

The film is set during the period of the Indo-China war of 1962 when radio was the main medium of communication and this song aptly sees Salman excitedly singing lines about playing the radio and performing steps of tuning it as he dances his heart out along with the locals of the hilly region.

Veteran actor Om Puri, who passed away earlier this year, can also be seen in the song as Salman gives him a hug.

The song, composed by Pritam and penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya, is crooned by Kamaal Khan and Amit Mishra, is definitely catchy and will definitely be a hit with the fans of the superstar.

Watch the song here:

Tubelight is based on the film Little Boy and is scheduled to release on June 25.
Talking to media, Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that a principal has been appointed who will take care of admissions.

Fearing harassment, a group of female students of a government high school in Haryana's Rewari have been sitting on a hunger strike for five consecutive days, demanding upgradation of their school. (Photo: Twitter | ANI)

Chandigarh (Punjab): Forced to act following the massive agitation by school girls in Rewari, the Haryana Government on Wednesday announced that they have taken the decision to up-grade the school.

Talking to media over here, Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that a principal has been appointed who will take care of admissions.

"We have upgraded the school. We have also deputed a principal there who will commence the admission procedure from tomorrow," said Sharma.

Fearing harassment, a group of female students of a government high school in Haryana's Rewari have been sitting on a hunger strike for five consecutive days, demanding upgradation of their school.

The girls said that they would be molested if they travel to a senior secondary school located in a different village for higher studies.

The district education authorities said that they would put the demand of the girls before the higher officials and would also seek Education minister's intervention.

The protesting girls said that they would not stop until the government accepted their demand.

Earlier in the day, around 10 girls were taken to the hospital as they fell unconscious during their hunger strike.
Terming the incident in Mathura as a 'serious issue', Adityanath said that he had instructed the police to take stern action.

Lucknow: Criminals will not enjoy political patronage and strict action will be taken against them, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told the UP Assembly on Tuesday where Opposition parties attacked the government claiming that the law and order situation had worsened.

Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary (SP) alleged the state was "burning" as the Opposition parties cited the gunning down of two jewellers in Mathura yesterday and other incidents to attack the BJP-led government.

Terming the incident in Mathura as a "serious issue", Adityanath said that he had instructed the police to take stern action. The DGP will will visit Mathura tomorrow, the chief minister said during the Zero Hour.

"There will be no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and religion on the law and order front....A time frame has been set for solving the cases," he said.

Taking offence at Chaudhary's remarks, Adityanath said it was unbecoming of him to claim that the state was burning.

"There is no such thing as what you are saying," he said, reminding Chaudhary the Jawaharbagh case in Mathura during SP rule in which several people had died.

Referring to the recent caste clashes in Saharanpur, the Chief Minister said that some groups involved in it had been identified.

"The name of a former MLA of a political party has also cropped up....The government has decided that there will be no relaxation of rules while dealing with criminals," he said.

This led to another skirmish as BSP Legislature Party leader Lalji Verma protested claiming a former MLA had been framed.

Earlier, when House met for the day,Opposition members wanted to know the fate of their adjournment notices on the law and order issue. Speaker Hridaya Narain Dixit said he had rejected the notices, as they were not in order.

Claiming that murder, dacoity and loot had become the order of the day, SP leader Chaudhary demanded admission of the notices for a discussion on law and order issue. Congress and BSP MLAs joined him.

Dixit pleaded that the Question Hour proceedings be allowed.

Referring to the chaos in the House yesterday, when Governor Ram Naik was bombarded with paper balls during his address, the Speaker said people were unhappy over the conduct of the MLAs.

Opposition members however continued with their demand even as Dixit rebuked them saying they should not hold the House to ransom.

After a while, the members relented and questions were taken up even as the Congress members staged a walkout.

Adityanath also appealed to the members to allow the Question Hour to be taken up first and said that no criminal will enjoy any political patronage in UP.

However, a query on law and order again figured during the Question Hour.

"Everyone in the state knows that there is improvement in law and order," Adityanath said replying to the question by SP member Nitin Agarwal.

"No one will be allowed to commit crime under political patronage and those committing crime will be treated as criminals. There will be no discrimination," he said.

When asked by BSP leader Verma about number of incidents of murder, rape, dacoity and loot in the past two months,

Adityanath said, "Give us one year. You might not accept here due to political reasons but you and your family must be feeling the change".

However, dissatisfied, the BSP members staged a walkout. SP Legislature Party leader Chaudhary alleged that there was a spurt in crime after the BJP came to power.

"When a child has polio after birth it's difficult to cure," Chaudhary said apparently referring to fact that the BJP government was elected recently.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna countered saying that in the earlier regime, it was not a part but the entire body that was aflicted and said the present regime would now cure it.

Chaudhary and other SP members too staged a walk-out claiming that the ministers were not giving correct replies.

The law and order issue was again raised by opposition members during the Zero Hour.
The TMC won a decisive majority in Domkal, Raigunj and Pujali in the plains and Mirik in the hill area.

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday swept the municipal polls in Bengal, capturing four of seven civic bodies and breaking the 10-year-old hold of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the hills.

The TMC won a decisive majority in Domkal, Raigunj and Pujali in the plains and Mirik in the hill area.

"The hills are smiling," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted. "Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again & again putting their trust in us," the Trinamool leader said in another tweet.

The GJM maintained its supremacy in the hills winning three municipalities -- Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

In Domkal in Murshidabad district, the TMC captured 18 of the 21 wards. The Congress won two, and the CPI(M) one.

The civic poll results underline Banerjee's continuing hold over the state, with the two main Opposition parties -- the Left and the Congress -- together winning only six seats.

The BJP, which has its eyes set on Bengal where it hopes to take the Trinamool on in the next assembly election, also failed to make a dent -- winning just three seats.

"We all know that the TMC has used money and muscle power to win the elections. Democracy was brutally murdered in this elections," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.

The BJP won one seat in the Raigunj municipality of North Dinajpur district and two seats in Pujali in South 24 Paraganas.

The TMC captured 24 of the 27 wards in Raigunj, while the Congress bagged two.

Banerjee's party won 12 of the 16 wards in the Pujali municipality, while the Congress and an Independent won one seat each.

Although the GJM managed to retain three civic bodies in the hills, the TMC put up a creditable performance by winning six of the nine seats in Mirik. The rest went to the GJM, which maintained its supremacy in the other civic bodies in the hill areas.

The Morcha virtually made a clean sweep in Darjeeling winning 31 of its 32 seats, while the TMC managed to win one. In Kurseong municipality, the GJM won 17 wards and the TMC the remaining three.

The Gorkha front won 19 of the 23 seats in Kalimpong, while the TMC bagged two.

The Jan Andolan Party of Harka Bahadur Chetri, a former GJM leader, managed to win only two seats in Kalimpong.

"Congratulations to my brothers/sisters in hill areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik for participating in the democratic process. Special thanks to Mirik for reposing faith in us. We will work sincerely for you. After so many decades we begin a new era in the hills," Banerjee tweeted.

The opposition called the civic election a "farce", with Ghosh stressing that it was "not a real reflection" of the people's mandate.

State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury described the Trinamool regime as an "autocratic" rule.

"What is the use of conducting election in Bengal? The TMC doesn't allow free and fair elections. If an opposition candidate manages to win, they poach on him," he said.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty echoed his views. GJM supremo Bimal Gurung hailed the victory of his party in the hill areas and accused the TMC of misusing administrative and money power in certain pockets including Mirik, where the TMC registered a victory.

TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee dismissed the allegations as a "reflection of the political frustrations of the opposition".
Jadhav, a former naval officer, has been sentenced to death after being convicted of espionage by a Pakistani military court.

New Delhi: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague on Thursday will pronounce its verdict on India's appeal against Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence in Pakistan. According to government sources, the international court will give its verdict around 3.30 pm (IST).

"The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will deliver its Order on the request for the indication of provisional measures made by India in the Jadhav Case (India v. Pakistan), tomorrow on Thursday 18 May 2017.

"A public sitting will take place at 12 noon at the Peace Palace in The Hague, during which Judge Ronny Abraham, President of the Court, will read the court's decision," the international court said in a release today.

On Monday, ICJ saw both countries go hammer and tongs at each other, Pakistan raked up the alleged passport of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to argue that India had deliberately given him a passport with a Muslim name (Hussein Mubarak Patel) to facilitate covert and illegal terror operations in Balochistan, adding that the Vienna Convention provisions on consular access were not intended for a spy involved in terror activities.

New Delhi argued before the court earlier in the day that India had not even been given consular access to Jadhav by Pakistan despite repeated requests in violation of the Vienna Convention and that the Pakistani military courts verdict sentencing him to death had no credibility.

Accusing New Delhi of using the ICJ as a stage for political theatre and claiming that Islamabad will not respond in kind, Pakistan maintained India was wrong in invoking the jurisdiction of this court, arguing that Indias application was unnecessary and misconceived and must be dismissed.

But New Delhi, in a strong plea earlier in the day, demanded the immediate suspension of the death sentence given to Jadhav by the Pakistani military court. After hearing both parties, the ICJ said it would announce its order in a public hearing, the date of which will be publicly communicated.

The Indian delegation included joint secretary (dealing with Pakistan-related issues) in the ministry of external affairs (MEA) Deepak Mittal and eminent lawyer Harish Salve, both of whom addressed the court while the Pakistani representatives got their turn a few hours later. India presented its case in about 90 minutes while the Pakistanis wrapped up their arguments in less than an hour.

The graver the charges, the greater the need for continued adherence of the Vienna Convention. Jadhav has been in judicial custody without any communication with his family, Salve said.

Describing the situation as grave and urgent, India said it had not been given the copy of the charges filed against Jadhav. India sought relief from the ICJ including immediate suspension of the death sentence awarded to Jadhav, and restraining Pakistan from giving effect to the sentence awarded by the military court, and directing it to take steps to annul the decision of the military court. India has accused Pakistan of egregious violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (hereinafter the Vienna Convention) in the matter of the detention and trial of Jadhav.

While New Delhi said Pakistan had attached conditionalities in return for consideration of consular access which was unacceptable, Islamabad however claimed that it had been prepared to grant consular access with reference to a bilateral agreement in 2008 between the two sides. While India had expressed fears that Pakistan could execute Jadhav even before the hearing was over, Islamabad said it was false that Pakistan would execute Jadhav immediately since he was entitled to a clemency period of 150 days (5 months) provided to him. Islamabad also advocated an expedited hearing which would dispel any suggestion for the need for provisional measures, adding that Pakistan would be content for the court to list the application of India for hearing within six weeks. India sought relief from the ICJ by way of immediate suspension of the sentence of death awarded to Jadhav.

Interestingly, ICJ denied permission to Pakistan to play the purported confessional video of the retired Navy officer at the public hearing, but Pakistani representatives at the ICJ claimed the Court was aware of the contents. India has said the so-called confession was obtained from Jadhav by Pakistan in military captivity and that it has no credibility.

Pakistans lawyer Khawar Qureshi claimed India has not proved that Jadhav is its national and that consular access cannot be given. Qureshi said, The Vienna convention article 36 which adopted to set up standards of conduct particularly concerning communications and contact with nationals of the sending state which would contribute to the development of the friendly relations among nations... The observation we made immediately is this is unlikely to apply in the context of a spy, terrorist sent by a state to engage in acts of terror.

But, the MEAs joint secretary Deepak Mittal told the court in opening remarks, Jadhav has not got the right to get proper legal assistance and the right to consular access. There is an immediate threat to him to be executed even before a decision is passed.

The execution of the death sentence cannot be done while this court is hearing the appeal. Else, it will be a violation of the Vienna Convention, Harish Salve said. He said India cannot be hostage to demands by Pakistan for joining the investigation without even granting consular access.

India has said Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, where he was carrying on business after retiring from the Indian Navy, and was then shown to have been arrested in Balochistan on 3 March 2016.
Israel is already extending support to the state government in the field of water conservation in Bundelkhand.

Lucknow: Israel on Tuesday evinced interest in providing assistance to Uttar Pradesh in its implementation of 'Namami Gange Programme' - the Narendra Modi government's ambitious programme to clean and rejuvenate the river Ganga.

Israel's Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon who met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the latter's official residence here also expressed Israel's desire to cooperate with the state in various other sectors.

"Uttar Pradesh may be given assistance by Israel on the Namami Gange Programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that has been started for rejuvenation of Ganga," said Carmon.

"Strengthening of bilateral ties with India is one of the priorities of the Israeli government," the envoy said.

On his part, Adityanath said that the state government was interested in using Israel's expertise in development of agriculture, irrigation, horticulture, energy, science and technology, smart cities and other sectors.

The chief minister told the visiting envoy that owing to the depleting ground water, many regions have been declared dark zones in the state.

"In these areas, techniques developed by Israel to augment the ground water level can prove to be effective and a great help," he said.

Israel is already extending support to the state government in the field of water conservation in Bundelkhand.
Nearly 1700 people have already been evacuated from the LoC hamlets hit by shelling from Pakistani side and shifted to relief camps.

Jammu: The Indian Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) are conducting search operations in 2 villages - Heff and Shirmal - in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian.

Around 1,000 army personnel and police force have been deployed for the operation, which began at midnight on Tuesday.

The operations began after reports emerged of terrorist presence in the area, said NDTV.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire again on Wednesday by firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector of Jammu of Kashmir.

"Pakistan army resorted to firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector from 0050 hours today," a defence spokesman said.

Pakistan troops also fired on forward posts and civilian areas last night along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. The firing continued till 0130 hours, the spokesman said.

He said the Pakistan army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 1830 hours last night along the LoC in Nowshera sector.

The firing continued till 2100 hours yesterday.

The Pakistan Rangers fired shells on the intervening night of May 15 and 16 on forward areas and civilian belts along the LoC in three belts of Rajouri district.

The firing and shelling from across the border has affected over 10,000 people.

Civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera sector were pounded with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three others.

On May 13, Pakistani troops had pounded civilian areas and forward posts in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three.

On May 15, Pak troops resorted to fresh ceasefire violation along the LoC in Nowshera sector since 1600 hours till late night. Four villages in Nowshera have come under small arms fire from across the LOC in Nowshera.

"Shelling started in Ans Bhandhaar areas of Nowshera in Rajouri at 2255 hours night of May 15 and 16. Lam and Kalsian areas were also affected," Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

"Interdepartmental teams deputed by District Administration for damage assessment reported small arms firing begins at 4 PM on May 15 in village Sarya followed by villages Khamba, Anwas and Bhandar," Choudhary said.

Nearly 1700 people have already been evacuated from the LoC hamlets hit by shelling from Pakistani side and shifted to relief camps.

Around 10,042 people from over 2,694 families have been affected by the continued shelling from across the border, the DC said.

The district administration has provided an immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the dead and financial assistance to the injured, he said.

Choudhary said the administration is prepared to make more relief camps as more than 25 buildings have been earmarked.

He added that students' classes will be resumed this week to ensure that education doesn't suffer.

"Six ambulances have been pressed into action for shifting of injured and treatment. One mobile medical unit was stationed at Nowshera and another deputed to forward areas," he said.

According to a Home Ministry reply to an RTI, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) 449 times in 2016 as compared to 405 violations in 2015. 23 security personnel were killed in the two-year period.
Air India pilot S Sabu asserted that a rule should be stitched for politicians who 'recklessly switch sides causing political instability'.

The Government of India in its wisdom has decided that airline pilots should serve a minimum notice period of 1 year if they wish to resign from the service of their employer. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: In a sardonic attack, an Air India pilot on Wednesday urged the government to come up with a law which would bind politicians belonging to political parties registered with the Election Commission to give a notice of at least 1 year, before they switch their allegiance for gains and cause pandemonium.

Air India pilot S Sabu asserted and said that akin the rule for airline pilots where in they have to serve a minimum notice period of 1 year if they wish to resign from the service of their employer, a similar rule should be stitched for the politicians who "recklessly switch sides and the government topples causing political instability and costs to the public exchequer dear in terms of election expenses associated with fresh elections."

"The Government of India in its wisdom has decided that airline pilots should serve a minimum notice period of 1 year if they wish to resign from the service of their employer. Apparently this has been done in public interest to avoid delays and cancellations which might be caused if pilots resigns their jobs. This move should not only be welcomed by one and all but we should also urge the Government of India to apply the same to our elected representatives, the MPs and MLAs," wrote Sabu in his Facebook post.

"Very often we witness governments being toppled by unscrupulous politicians who jump from one party to another. If we have to think of public interest there can be nothing more important than having stable governments. Therefore it is requested that the Government of India along with implementing the Rule requiring 1 year's notice for pilots, also enact an Act of Parliament whereby which politicians belonging to political parties registered with the Election Commission give a notice of at least 1 year before they switch their allegiance," he added.

The pilot also asserted that the rule should also apply for bureaucrats as the rule will serve as a deterrent to those who put in their papers when superseded by their juniors.

"It will also be beneficial for the citizens of this country if the bureaucrats also are required to serve a notice of 1 year when they desire to resign from service," he said.

In a dramatic move, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued notice to aviation pilots mandating a notice period of one year for commanders and six months notice period for co-pilots before resignation.

The announcement was made through a statement by Director General of Civil Aviation B.S Bhullar.

The DGCA observed incidents of last moment resignations and mass resignations amongst pilots.

Such resignations have been deemed against the public interest by the authorities and amendments have been made to the civil aviation requirements to avoid inconveniences for the airlines.

"Sometimes such an abrupt action on the part of the pilots is in the form of a concerted move, which is tantamount to holding the airline to ransom and leaving the travelling public stranded. This is a highly undesirable practice and goes against the public interest," read the statement.

The order exempts the pilots from their notice period only if circumstances of change in their terms of employment put them in a disadvantage or the air transport undertaking provides a No Objection certificate.
Indigenous 700MW reactors to generate Rs 70,000 crore orders for industry.

New Delhi: In a boost to the countrys nuclear power production, the Centre on Wednesday cleared the proposal to build 10 atomic reactors indigenously, that are expected to ensure orders worth Rs 70,000 crores for domestic industry.

The Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) will be developed by the department of atomic energy and will have an individual capacity of 700 MW each. The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It also approved a new coal linkage policy under which fuel supply to the power sector will be either through the auction route or power purchase pact via competitive bidding of tariffs. The move may ease stress on account of non-availability of linkages to power sector projects.

India now has installed nuclear power capacity of 6,780 MW from 22 operational plants. Another 6,700 MW of nuclear power is expected to be added by 2021-22, when under-construction projects go onstream in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

The 10 reactors will be at Mahi Banswara (Rajasthan), Chutka (Madhya Pradesh), Kaiga (Karnataka) and Gorakhpur (Haryana).

As the government marks three years of its nation- and people-centric governance, in a first-of-its-kind project for Indias nuclear power sector, the 10 new units will come up in fleet mode as a fully homegrown initiative. It would be one of the flagship Make in India projects in this sector, an official statement said.

The building of these reactors indigenously is likely to ensure manufacturing orders worth about Rs 70,000 crores for domestic companies. Also, the project is expected to help transform Indias nuclear industry and generate over 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment, minister of state for power and coal Piyush Goyal told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The Cabinets decision reflects the governments commitment to prioritise the use of clean power in Indias energy mix, as part of low-carbon growth strategy and to ensure long-term base load requirement for the nations industrialisation, he said.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs headed by the Prime Minister also cleared the coal linkage policy.

In this adequate coal availability scenario, the present policy proposes a fading away of the old linkage allocation policy and emergence of a new linkage policy based on transparent and objective criteria for the optimal utilisation of the natural resources, an official statement said.

Allocation of linkages for the power sector will be based on auction of linkages or through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) based on competitive bidding of tariffs except for state and the Central power generating firms and exceptions provided in Tariff Policy 2016, it added.

The PPA is a contract between two parties, one which generates electricity and one which will purchase it.
India approached the ICJ on May 8, accusing Pakistan of conducting a 'farcical trial' following which the court stayed the execution.

File photo of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of 'espionage'. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will pronounce its verdict in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case on Thursday, 10 days after India approached it demanding immediate suspension of the death sentence given to its former Navy officer by a Pakistan military court.

A public sitting will take place at 12 noon at the Peace Palace in The Hague, during which Judge Ronny Abraham, President of the Court, will read the courts dec-ision, the international court said in a release.

India approached the ICJ on May 8, accusing Pakistan of conducting a farcical trial following which the court stayed the execution.

The Centre expressed confidence about the judgment, saying that it would be pronounced in India's favour.

"We have hope with the ICJ. We are confident that the verdict will come in our favour," Union Minister PP Choudhary told media.

Echoing the same, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nalin Kohli said the central government has argued the matter forcefully in the ICJ and hence the verdict would come in India s favour.

"The matter has been argued as forcefully as it could have been argued by the government Pakistan has not presented the credible answers with regard to the critical question that were being asked. We all are hopeful and we hope that the judgment will come in our favour," he said.
IG, Lucknow range, J.N. Singh, said the primary examination suggested that Tiwari died of a heart attack.

Lucknow: An IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Lucknow, which also happened to be his birthday.

The body of the 35-year-old officer, Anurag Tiwari, was found in Hazratganj near a guesthouse. There were injury marks on his chin after which, the police suspect, he might have collapsed. Tiwari was posted as the commissioner of the food civil supplies and consumer affairs department in Bengaluru.

IG, Lucknow range, J.N. Singh, said the primary examination suggested that Tiwari died of a heart attack. He said a team of forensic experts from the state forensic science laboratory will examine the body to ascertain the exact cause of his death.

Meanwhile, deceaseds father B.N. Tiwari and his brother Alok told reporters that they suspect foul play in the death as he had exposed corruption in Karnataka. Some of his batchmates said Tiwari was under depression after he separated from his wife a few months ago.

The deceased officer was staying at Meera Bai guest house in Hazratganj for the last two days with his batch mate Prabhu Narain Singh.

The two officers came to Lucknow after attending a mid-career training programme at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie.

The IG said Tiwari was found lying dead 10metre from the guest house entrance in his sleepwear. He said the Singh and Tiwari had dinner together on Tuesday. Tiwari went for a walk at around 6 a.m while Singh went to play badminton at the BBD Badminton Academy in Gomti Nagar. He said the UP100, an emergency response centre, received a call at around 6.40 am about a dead body lying outside the guest house. Tiwari was identified from an ID card recovered from his belongings.

Officials claimed that a cardiac arrest may have led to his death. Detailed autopsy reports are, however, awaited.
Nitish keeps all guessing, to meet Opposition leaders today.

New Delhi/Patna: Keeping an eye on the 2019 elections, the Opposition parties led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi intend to send a signal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP by sharing a dais on August 27 in Patna.

Mrs Gandhi confirmed on Wednesday that she and her son Rahul, the Congress vice-president, will be a part of the RJDs BJP bhagao-desh bachao rally in Patna that day. Besides the Congress leaders, Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has also confirmed that she will be there.

The Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD has also been holding parleys with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Sama-jwadi Party, BSP president Mayawati and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal over joining the rally. So far none of these leaders have confirmed their participation. Also, the JD(U), which runs Bihars grand secular alliance government with the RJD and the Congress, has not yet confirmed that it will be participating.

JD(U) national spokesman K.C. Tyagi, when contacted, said that a decision will shortly be taken. However, JD(U) president and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had said on Monday that he would attend the rally if he was formally invited. Mr Kumar will, meanwhile, arrive in New Delhi on Thursday to meet the Opposition leaders and senior JD(U) leaders, including Sharad Yadav and Mr Tyagi.

While Mr Kumar has not yet taken a call on the rally, he has also refused to conduct any probe against the RJD chief and his family members over the income-tax raids that were conducted at several locations on Tuesday. On Tuesday, when asked about the raids, he said: If they (Centre) have the documents regarding the alleged scam, they should take legal recourse to prove their accusations. This is not an issue that falls in the domain of the state government.

Despite the corruption charges and income-tax raids on premises linked to Mr Lalu Yadav and his family, the Opposition intends to rally around him. On Tuesday, as the raids were on, Ms Mamata Banerjee expressed solidarity with the beleagured RJD chief and tweeted: Lalu Ji we accept your invitation to be there on August 27. The tweet was in response to Mr Lalu Yadavs tweet on Sunday in which he accused the BJP of conspiring against him.

With the Narendra Modi juggernaut appearing to be unstoppable, the Opposition led by the Congress has been trying to come under one umbrella for the 2019 general election. At this juncture, given the political scenario, the BJP seems all set to return to power in Gujarat and could give the Congress a run for its money in Karnataka. While the Gujarat Assembly elections will be held by the end of this year, Karnataka will go to polls early next year.
The name for Jharkhand chief ministers programme or its frequency is yet to finalised.

New Delhi: Taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modis monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das is soon likely to have a similar version on airwaves where he will interact with people on range of issues.

Sources stated that the Jharkhand government is in advanced stage of negotiations with All-India Radio for a programme featuring the chief minister in which he is expected to raise issues related to the state and reach out to the masses. The name for Jharkhand chief ministers programme or its frequency is yet to finalised.

Mr Das is also following in the footsteps his BJP colleague and CM of neighbouring state of Chhattisgarh in this attempt at reaching out to the predominantly tribal population of the state.

A radio programme Raman Ke Goth (Raman talks) by Chhattisgarh CM is being aired by AIR in the state since September 2015. In the programme, the Chhat-tisgarh CM uses a mix of Hindi and Chhattisgarhi dialect to reach out to residents of his state. Over the past few months, several other states have also tried to use the popular medium for reaching out to the masses.

It is learnt that the Jharkhand government is soon likely to sign an MoU with the national broadcasters, Doordarshan and All-India Radio, for developing programmes and content specially for the state.

Union information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiah Naidu is understood to have held detailed and intensive talks with the Jharkhand administration in Ranchi wherein a separate 24X7 satellite Doordarshan channel for Jharkhand has also been proposed. The proposal was cleared after the state government requested a separate exclusive 24x7 channel for the state.

Currently, the state has two terrestrial channels, DD Ranchi and DD Daltonganj. The programmes of DD Ranchi will be aired on the satellite channel DD Bihar till the new channel is launched. All-India Radio and Doordarshan are run by public broadcaster Prasar Bharati.
The maid, Rajani Rai, informed the family that she found the house in total disarray upon her visit next day.

New Delhi: A gang of burglars struck at an empty house in Shanti Niketan belonging to a French diplomat. The diplomat, Ms Anne-Laure Desjonqueres, head of the Press Section in French embassy in the national capital, learnt about the theft on last Tuesday when the family returned from Nepal.

Mr Paul Desjonqueres, the husband of the French diplomat, said in his complaint to the police that they learnt about the theft on their return on May 4. The family had been on vacation in Nepal between April 28 and May 5.

The maid, Rajani Rai, informed the family that she found the house in total disarray upon her visit next day. The kitchen window as well as the bedroom windows had been forced open. There were clear footprints on the kitchen floor. Several of the other doors had been unlocked. The chest of drawers and cupboards were ransacked. In particular, the main bedroom had been thoroughly turned over. Surprisingly though, no valuable items were found missing.

Based on the fact that there was a break in, Mr Desjonqueres has filed the police complaint.

Delhi police is probing the matter. We are investigating the matter and will solve the case as soon as possible, said a senior police official.
The court noted that the woman had earlier too lodged three FIRs against other persons for alleged offences of rape and molestation.

New Delhi: A special court on Wednesday dismissed the bail plea of a woman lawyer, accused of honey-trapping and blackmailing BJP MP from Gujarat, K C Patel.

"Considering the facts and circumstances, I do not deem it fit to grant bail to the accused (woman) at this stage and the application is accordingly rejected," Special Judge Hemani Malhotra said.

The court noted that the woman had earlier too lodged three FIRs against other persons for alleged offences of rape, molestation and criminal intimidation in which she had later

either turned hostile or had resiled in her statement recorded before a magistrate.

The woman, who is in judicial custody till May 26, had sought bail on the ground that she was a victim of rape and since the complainant MP was an influential person, he had lodged the FIR against her to avoid any action.

The woman's counsel claimed she was practicing as a lawyer in the Supreme Court. He also alleged that the MP had promised to introduce her to top BJP leaders but had failed to do so and repeatedly raped her. When she realised his intentions, she made a video, he claimed.

The bail plea was vehemently opposed by public prosecutor Atul Shrivastava, who said the woman was a habitual complainant who after ensnarling influential persons in her

honey-trap has been extorting money by filing complaints of sexual harassment against them.

He contended that after extorting money, she used to turn hostile in the matters. He also alleged that her modus operandi was to prepare videos of her victims through hidden

cameras with the help of one Ajay Pal, a co-conspirator who is yet to be arrested.

Shrivastava said the woman should not be released on bail as the prosecution has to unearth the entire conspiracy and her voice sample was yet to be taken.

On the woman's claim that she had given a complaint at North Avenue Police Station against the MP but no action was taken, the court said the document in the police file revealed that it was the accused who had insisted to keep her complaint pending and also said that her medical examination would be conducted the nexy day.

"However, she did not come (to police) the next day and therefore, neither her medical examination could be conducted, nor her statement before a magistrate could be recorded," the court noted.

It said the airline boarding pass of the MP annexed in the police file showed that he was travelling to Surat in Gujarat on March 3 and had attended an official function there

which was also reported in the media.

The woman was arrested on May 2 by the Delhi Police from her Ghaziabad house.

Patel, the MP from Valsad in Gujarat, had filed a police complaint alleging that he was drugged by the woman at her Ghaziabad house, who had then shot obscene videos and photographs.
In December last year, Titwala saw a rail-roko after the municipal body carried out demolition about 1km away from the station.

The RPF has now drawn up a list of headquarters so that the next time such a situation arises, action can be taken swiftly. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: This monsoon, the central railways (CR) railway police force (RPF) will ask off-duty staff to help out by coming to the railway stations they stay close to. The aim being to ensure that when on-duty staff is stuck in trains due to disruption caused by rain and cannot reach the railway station where there may be a protest underway, back-up manpower is available to do so.

In December last year, Titwala saw a rail-roko after the municipal body carried out demolition about one kilometre away from the station. At the time, RPF officials were unable to reach the spot to pacify the mob.

An official said, At the time of the Titwala incident, even though we had staff travelling in trains from Kalyan to Titwala, they could not reach the spot as the trains were at a standstill.

The RPF has now drawn up a list of headquarters so that the next time such a situation arises, action can be taken swiftly. We have come to realise that there are 50 o

four officers and constables at Titwala out of which 30 to 40 per cent may be at home during such an incident, the official said.

Other stations that have seen similar protests include Badlapur, Dombivali, Mankhurd and Kalyan.
This years first H1N1 death in the city was reported on April 28.

Over 3,776 people belonging to 750 families in Kurla have been screened by health officials.

Mumbai: Swine flu has claimed its second victim in the city; a 72-year-old woman staying in Kurla. This takes the H1N1 death toll across the state to 196, said health department officials.

The woman died at privately-run Kohinoor Hospital, Kurla, on Friday although her report was awaited for confirmation of H1N1 infection. She was suffering from high blood pressure and Ischemia (a condition that affects blood supply to the heart). As her condition worsened, she was rushed to the hospital at 3am. However, doctors at the hospital pronounced her dead within six hours of treatment.

Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, BMC, said, We have started our screening procedure and spreading awareness in our outpatient department (OPD). Over 3,776 people belonging to 750 families in Kurla, especially in the deceaseds locality, have been screened by our health officials.

Currently, there are a few residents diagnosed with fever and symptoms of flu in the same locality and their treatment has been started, Dr Keskar said.

This years first H1N1 death in the city was reported on April 28, when an 18-month-old boy from Malad succumbed to H1N1 infection. Civic health officials said that six cases of swine flu infection were reported this month in the city. BMC has started putting up posters to spread awareness about swine flu in civic-run hospitals.

Dr Om Srivastava, city-based infectious diseases specialist, told The Asian Age, The symptoms of swine flu or H1N1 are the same as any influenza virus. It can affect anyone, especially senior citizens, small children and pregnant women. Diabetics and cardiac patients too face high risk.

People need to be more cautious and avoid outside food. Any person with symptoms of flu must take treatment under the supervision of a doctor. And, avoid self-medication. Earlier the detection, lesser the chances of infection spreading further, he said.
The meeting took place at Raj Thackerays residence Krishna Kunj in Dadar at around 9.30am.

Mumbai: Yoga guru Ramdev met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai on Wednesday morning in Mumbai. Although the meeting was termed as a courtesy visit, it has managed to raise a few eyebrows in the political circles because of Baba Ramdevs proximity with top Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) leadership.

The details of the discussion between Mr Thackeray and Baba Ramdev are not known. But the photos released by the MNS shows that Baba Ramdev met Raj Thackeray and his son Amit Thackeray, who has recently shown a keen interest in politics. After the meeting, Mr Thackeray hailed Baba Ramdev as the biggest global evangelist of the Hindu traditions of yoga and ayurveda.

The MNS chief also praised Baba Ramdevs efforts to promote yoga and also ayurveda globally, through his FMCG firm Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.The meeting took place at Raj Thackerays residence Krishna Kunj in Dadar at around 9.30am.

The yoga guru has become a household name after launching various products under his biggest Ayurveda brand Patanjali. In the past three years, Baba Ramdev shared the stage with many political heavyweights including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It was great meeting with Baba Ramdev. He is the biggest global evangelist of Hindu traditions of yoga and ayurveda that India has seen, Mr Thackeray told reporters after the meeting.

However, Baba Ramdev and his company did not release any official statement about the meeting. Baba Ramdev was given about 600 acre of land in Vidarbha region to set up his Patanjali plant recently.
Nitish Thakur is wanted in a money-laundering case and has been on the run since 2013 and he is suspected to be holed-up in Nepal.

His assets were found to be over Rs 200 crore, while his income was only Rs 28,000. (Photo:PTI)

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested Nilesh Thakur, brother of suspended Mhada deputy collector Nitish Thakur, for aiding and abetting the latter in laundering his illicit money to the tune of Rs 280 crore using his bank accounts.

Nitish Thakur is wanted in a money-laundering case and has been on the run since 2013 and he is suspected to be holed-up in Nepal. He was arrested by the Thane Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in March 2012 and had jumped bail in April 2013.

Investigators said that Nilesh was arrested for assisting Nitish in laundering several crore of illicit money using his bank accounts.

Sources in the ED said that Nitesh Thakur had floated a construction company in the name of his brother Nilesh, which was used as a front to launder the money. The transactions were conducted through multiple bank accounts in the name of Nilesh.

Nilesh was the director of the construction company that was floated and he is the only family member named in our case for abetting Nitish. He was also not traceable in the case, said a senior ED officer, requesting anonymity.

A Mumbai court had issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Nilesh and had asked the agency to track him down and produce him before the court by May 16. The officials tracked down him in Mumbai and he was produced before the court on Wednesday. He has been sent to judicial custody till May 31.

The ED probe was preceded by an ACB probe in March 2012 when it accused him of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

His assets were found to be over Rs 200 crore, while his income was only Rs 28,000.

The ACB had booked his mother, wife and brother for abetting Thakur in their case.
The student met the RJ after she won a contest on her show in Mumbai

The RJ spoke about Nikita on her show and money started pouring in from listeners and now enough money has been raised for her education and hostel fee. (Photo: Twitter)

There are a lot of people out there who need help but seldom do individuals go out of their daily routine to lend a helping hand to the needy. A radio jockey in Mumbai however decided to help a helpless girl after meeting her through her job in the city.

According to a media report, Radio Citys RJ Sucharita Tyagi has gone beyond her job to help fund a visually-impaired law student Nikita Shuklas course. The girl who won a radio contest went to collect her prize at the radio station office when she decided to meet the radio jockey. The aspiring lawyer mentioned to Sucharita about her struggle and how her parents threw her out of the house when she told them she didnt want to get married.

While she has been able to manage with donations from a few other students and professors, the money isnt sufficient for her to get regular meals and has been only surviving on dinner for three years. The RJ spoke about Nikita on her show and money started pouring in from listeners and now enough money has been raised for her education and hostel fee.
Jihadi terrorism continues unabated even inside Pakistan and practically every day in Kashmir.

The argument made by Pakistans interior ministry before a judicial review board in that country recently that Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, whose ideological outfit has spawned the terror group Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, is spreading terrorism in the name of jihad, is the undiluted truth, but it has been made as a part of deception, and is a case of expediency rather than a matter of conviction.

When the JuD chief was detained on January 30, India called it a case of tokenism. While this was not a strong enough description, it did fit the facts of the case.

The house arrest of the guru of terrorists came after the Trump administration, which had just begun its term in the United States, warned Pakistan that it was in danger of being placed in a list of countries whose nationals would be denied visas to enter America for the next three months. Thus, by apprehending the JuD progenitor, and placing him under house arrest, Islamabad was taking evasive action.

At the end of the first three months of detention, the government extended the period of restraint for another three months when the matter came before the judicial review board. A government official told the board that Mr Saeed was detained following pressure from the United Nations and international organisations, broadly indicating that temporary fetters put on the JuD leader and four of his associates was a matter of compulsion for the Nawaz Sharif government. It was evidently also a way for the Nawaz government to curry favour with both the LeT and the Army, to which the LeT and JuD are considered very close.

We should be amply clear that the pseudo-punishment given to Mr Saeed and his associates is by no stretch of the imagination proper action in response to the 26/11 attack on Mumbai in 2008. In that matter the Pakistani authorities are continuing to stonewall. The JuD chief has only been placed under preventive detention and not been arrested for committing any criminal offence, leave alone terrorism.

No criminal case has been lodged against the JuD quintet and no investigations against them are ongoing. The preventive detention game has also been played by Pakistan in the case of another terror mastermind, Masood Azhar, of Jaish-e-Mohammad. When the immediate danger of being called out by the US or the UN passes, preventive detention is quietly ended.

Pakistan is a state internationally recognised as a sponsor of terrorism. As such, it frequently plays a cat-and-mouse game with international opinion. It should also be clear that when restraint is placed on high-profile leaders terror outfit chiefs, their followers by no means go underground or cease criminal activities. Jihadi terrorism continues unabated even inside Pakistan and practically every day in Kashmir.
Antonio Guterress spokesperson Stephane Dujarric asserted that the Secretary General is not reluctant to focus on the issue.

United Nations: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is watching the rising tensions between India and Pakistan very closely and reiterates the need for the South Asian neighbours to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue.

Guterress spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, responding to a question at the daily press briefing on Tuesday, asserted that the Secretary General is not reluctant to focus on the issue.

I dont think its a matter of reluctance. As I said, hes obviously watching the situation very closely and reiterates his need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue, Dujarric said.

The Secretary-General, a student of history, knows what has happened, Dujarric said referring to similar tense and volatile situations in the world.

Dujarric has repeatedly said that Guterres is following the situation in Kashmir amid escalating tensions at the border between India and Pakistan.

The UN chief has not made any direct intervention to resolve the issue and his spokesperson has repeatedly said the UN chief reiterates his call for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue.
No insurgent group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack in Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State jihadists.

Jalalabad, Afghanistan: Suicide bombers stormed the national television station in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city on Wednesday, killing six people as gunfights and explosions rocked the building with journalists trapped inside, officials and eyewitnesses said.

At least 17 others were left wounded in the four-hour assault on Radio Television Afghanistan, which marks the latest in a string of assaults on media workers in the conflict-torn country.

No insurgent group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid in eastern Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State jihadists, where the US military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb last month in an unprecedented attack.

"There were four attackers -- one blew himself up at the gate, killing the guard. Three others entered the building but were killed after our security forces fought them for four hours," Nangarhar Governor Gulab Mangal told reporters.

"Six people, including four civilians and two policemen, were killed and 17 others wounded," he added, blaming IS for the attack. A health worker said that many of those brought to the hospital suffered gunshot wounds.

An RTA photographer said he fled the building as soon as the gunfight erupted, but many of his colleagues were stuck inside until the assailants were killed.

Islamic State insurgents are active in Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital. The US military last month dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- on IS positions in Nangarhar, killing dozens of jihadists.

The bombing triggered global shock waves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban.

According to the US Forces-Afghanistan, defections and recent battlefield losses have reduced the local IS presence from a peak of as many as 3,000 fighters to a maximum of 800.

The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to send thousands of more troops to Afghanistan to break the deadlocked fight against the Taliban.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, who also mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.

Wednesday's attack underscores the growing dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan as the security situation worsens.

The country suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists in 2016, according to the Afghan Journalists' Safety Committee (AJSC), adding that the country is the second most dangerous for reporters in the world after Syria.

As least 13 journalists were killed last year, AJSC said, claiming that the Taliban was behind at least ten of the deaths.

In January last year, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.

Dan Coats, the head of US intelligence agencies, warned last week that the security and political situation in Afghanistan "will also almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in the military assistance by the US".

US-led forces have been fighting in Afghanistan for almost 16 years, making it America's longest war.
Emmanuel Macron's office will announce govt lineup Wednesday afternoon, after a delay to dig deeper into proposed ministers' tax records.

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron is meeting with the European Union President as both try to keep the bloc from falling apart.

Macron, who will also verify his choices for government ministers, is hosting Donald Tusk in the Elysee Palace in a sign of the new French president's determination to shore up European unity.

Macron wants European militaries to work together more, and for eurozone countries to share a budget and tax rules. He has also promised a tough line on Britain as it negotiates its departure from the EU.

Macron's office will announce the government lineup Wednesday afternoon, after a delay to dig deeper into proposed ministers' tax records and potential conflicts of interest. A series of tax evasion and other scandals hit the previous government.
The Security Council, which has imposed six rounds of sanctions on the North, was expected to discuss further action at Tuesday's meeting.

United Nations: US Ambassador Nikki Haley accused North Korea on Tuesday of intimidating the entire international community with its nuclear program, military ability and cyberattacks, and said any country that doesn't implement UN sanctions is supporting Pyongyang's actions.

"No one is immune to the threat of North Korea," she told reporters before emergency closed-door consultations by the UN Security Council on the North's weekend ballistic missile launch, which experts said demonstrated a significant technological jump with the rocket flying higher and for a longer period of time.

Haley said the US and China have been working on "a unified plan" on how to approach North Korea that would include tougher new sanctions.

She indicated Washington and Beijing had agreed they would take action if a new test looked to be long range and leaning toward an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the United States.

The latest launch appeared to fulfill both criteria, Haley said, "so I believe that China will stay true to that and that we'll come together on how we're going to do that."

"We're not going to continue to just say go ahead and test as often as you want," Haley said, flanked by the South Korean and Japanese ambassadors. "This is a true threat to every country in the world. ... We're going to make sure we put the pressure on them economically, diplomatically, politically and internationally."

The Security Council, which has imposed six rounds of sanctions on the North, was expected to discuss further action at Tuesday's meeting.

Haley previously indicated that new sanctions could target oil, a critical import for North Korea mainly from China, and she said Tuesday the US also wants sanctions on organizations and businesses in third countries that are helping Pyongyang.

Haley was asked about comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Monday who called North Korea's nuclear and missile tests "unacceptable" but also said the United States should stop intimidating Pyongyang.

"We need to return to dialogue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, stop intimidating it and find ways to solve these problems peacefully. Is it possible or not? I think it is possible," Putin was quoted as saying, using North Korea's official name.

Haley answered Putin and others who have made similar comments about the United Nations: "What about North Korea intimidating us? They're intimidating the entire international community. They're trying to strengthen their muscle with no cause. There is no reason for North Korea to be having these actions outside of the fact they just choose to do so."

Haley said Russia is "all wrong." She said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is "paranoid" and thinks that the US is trying to promote regime change and that there are people trying to assassinate him. "We're not trying to do any of those things," she said.

"It is actually North Korea trying to intimidate the international community," Haley said, "and Russia itself should be concerned because that ballistic missile test was a signal to South Korea for their new elections, it was a signal to Russia in how close it got, it was a signal to Japan being in the region, and it was a signal to us."

The US ambassador said Russia has the same decision to make as the rest of the international community: "You either support North Korea or you don't, but you have to choose. You have to pick a side."

As for talks with North Korea, Haley reiterated the Trump administration's policy: "We are willing to talk but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any tests there."
President Putin also slammed critics who spread allegations about Donald Trump's ties with Russia.

Vladimir Putin mocked the idea that Trump went off-script to share secrets with the Russians, saying he could issue a 'reprimand' to Lavrov since he hasn't passed on the information. (Photo: AP)

Sochi (Russia): Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow could provide a recording of the exchange between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US President Donald Trump, who is accused of sharing classified intelligence.

"If the US administration finds it possible, we are ready to provide a recording of the conversation between Lavrov and Trump to the US Congress and Senate," Putin said during a press conference.

He mocked the idea that Trump went off-script to share secrets with the Russians, saying he could issue a "reprimand" to Lavrov since he hasn't passed on the information.

"(Lavrov) didn't share these secrets with us - neither with me nor with the representatives of the Russian security services. That is very bad of him," Putin said to sniggers from the audience as he answered questions after talks with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

Citing unnamed sources, The Washington Post reported that Trump had shared intelligence with Lavrov regarding an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aeroplanes.

According to sources cited in the report, that intelligence came from a US ally who had not authorised Washington to pass it on to Moscow.

Putin slammed critics who spread allegations about Trump's ties with Russia. "What else will the people generating such drivel and nonsense think of next?" he said. "They are shaking up their internal politics while using anti-Russian slogans."

"They either don't understand that they are hurting their own country, and then they are simply dumb, or they understand everything and then they are dangerous and corrupt," Putin added.
Monkey Business/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON)  Nine people were injured and two were arrested on Tuesday after violent protests broke out at the Turkish ambassador's home in Washington, D.C., where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited earlier, authorities said.



DC Fire and EMS spokesman Doug Buchanan told ABC News that two people were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, while seven others were walking wounded and headed to the hospital via the mass casualty medical bus. He did not elaborate on the circumstances of the fight.



The altercation occurred Tuesday afternoon as supporters and opponents of the visiting president clashed at the residence, which is located about half a mile away from the Turkish Embassy in the U.S. capital, authorities said.



Graphic video captured by Turkish media network VOA showed pro-Erdogan forces rushing a police line and beating human rights protesters in front of the ambassador's residence.

Transported 9 patients from Mass Casualty Incident at Sheridan Circle, NW - 1 priority one - 1 priority two - & 7 priority 3 patients. pic.twitter.com/4usxDHsZrA  DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) May 16, 2017

Other footage captured by ABC affiliate WJLA shows Erdogan being pulled away from the chaotic scene. Erdogan visited the residence shortly after he met with President Donald Trump at the White House.



Witnesses said at least two opposing demonstrations were taking place at the home; one included Erdogan supporters from Turkey; the other consisted of Kurds and Armenians who oppose his human rights record.



Authorities were keeping the demonstrators apart until people began to cross the police-enforced buffer zone, according to WJLA.

The scene as President Erdogan of Turkey just pulled away from the Turkish ambassador's residence. pic.twitter.com/oP75dKBcgA  Tom Roussey (@tomrousseyABC7) May 16, 2017

"All of the sudden they just ran towards us," Yazidi Kurd demonstrator Lucy Usoyan told WJLA on Tuesday.



Usoyan was taken to George Washington University Hospital, where she was being treated for a head injury.



"Someone was beating me in the head nonstop," she told WJLA. "And I thought, 'OK Im on the ground already, what is the purpose to beat me?'"



Pro-Erdogan demonstrators, meanwhile, blamed supporters of the Kurdish militia group YPG for Tuesdays violence.



"One of the YPG supporters ran across, picked up a megaphone, and hit a Turkish citizen with it," pro-Erdogan demonstrator Busra Eren told WJLA.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
'Vote for Rouhani because he is the man for difficult situations', Jahangiri said as he announced he was withdrawing his candidacy.

Teheran: Iran's reformist first vice president, Eshaq Jahangiri, on Tuesday pulled out of this week's presidential election and endorsed the incumbent, Hassan Rouhani, ISNA news agency reported.

"I will vote for Mr Rouhani in the presidential election," Jahangiri said as he announced he was withdrawing his candidacy.

"I have completed my historic duty and, together with you, I will vote for Rouhani to help continue on the path to progress for this country," he told a crowd of several thousand people gathered in the southern city of Shiraz.

"Vote for Rouhani because he is the man for difficult situations... I ran as candidate to make the voice of reformists heard," said Jahangiri.

His decision comes one day after Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf withdrew from the race, paving the way for a head-to-head battle between Rouhani and conservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi.

Jahangiri, a 60-year-old confidante of the moderate president, was a surprise last-minute entry for Friday's election.

It was assumed Jahangiri ran to back up Rouhani in pre-election debates and he said at his registration that he stood "side-by-side" with the president who is seeking a second four-year mandate.
The World Health Organization said last month that fewer than 45 percent of health facilities in Yemen are now fully functioning.

United Nations: The UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen said a cholera outbreak has killed 124 people over the past two weeks.

Jamie McGoldrick told reporters Monday that another 11,100 people were believed to have been infected, and that medicine was arriving. But he also urged donor countries to fulfil more than $1 billion in aid pledges made in Geneva last month.

A Saudi-led coalition has been battling Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015, in a war that has killed more than 10,000 civilians.

The World Health Organization said last month that fewer than 45 percent of health facilities in Yemen are now fully functioning, and that the flow of essential medicines has fallen by nearly 70 percent.

The cholera outbreak in Yemen was announced by Yemens Ministry of Public Health and Population on Oct. 6, 2016.

Yemen, the impoverished Arab country in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, has been involved in a civil war since two years ago.

The war pits Iranian-allied dominant Houthi movement, backed by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, against their foe of Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
China said Washington had no 'credible evidence' to support bans on Chinese tech firms in the United States following the attack.

Chinas cyber authorities have repeatedly pushed for what they call a more 'equitable' balance in global cyber governance, criticising US dominance. (Photo: Representational/AP)

Beijing: Chinese state media on Wednesday criticised the United States for hindering efforts to stop global cyber threats in the wake of the WannaCry ransomware attack that has infected more than 300,000 computers worldwide in recent days.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) should shoulder some blame for the attack, which targets vulnerabilities in Microsoft Corp systems and has infected some 30,000 Chinese organisations as of Saturday, the China Daily said.

Concerted efforts to tackle cyber crimes have been hindered by the actions of the United States, it said, adding that Washington had no credible evidence to support bans on Chinese tech firms in the United States following the attack.

The malware attack, which began on Friday and has been linked by some researchers to previous hits by a North Korean-run hacking operation, leveraged a tool built by the NSA that leaked online in April, Microsoft says.

It comes as China prepares to enforce a wide-reaching cyber security law that U.S. business groups say will threaten the operations of foreign firms in China with strict local data storage laws and stringent surveillance requirements.

Chinas cyber authorities have repeatedly pushed for what they call a more equitable balance in global cyber governance, criticising US dominance.

The China Daily pointed to the US ban on Chinese telecommunication provider Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, saying the curbs were hypocritical given the NSA leak.

Beijing has previously said the proliferation of fake news on U.S. social media sites, which are largely banned in China, is a reason to tighten global cyber governance.

The newspaper said that the role of the US security apparatus in the attack should instill greater urgency in Chinas mission to replace foreign technology with its own.

The state-run Peoples Daily compared the cyber attack to the terrorist hacking depicted in the US film Die Hard 4, warning that Chinas role in global trade and internet connectivity opened it to increased risks from overseas.

The fast-spreading cyber extortion campaign eased for second day on Tuesday, but the identity and motive of its creators remain unknown.
The daily said that maintaining relations with its neighbours will be a challenge for India, in its quest to lead.

Beijing: Sino-Indian relations are likely to remain complicated as India's "longing" for great power status will be a challenge for China, a state-run daily said on Wednesday.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India may seek to establish closer ties with the US, Japan, Australia and other countries so that it can play a more important role than earlier, an article in the Global Times said.

"The Modi administration will not greatly adjust the current diplomatic strategy, which could be generalised as going beyond the regional vision and pursuing great power status; striking a diplomatic balance among big powers but giving top priority to the US; creating peripheral security while putting its focus mainly on China and Pakistan; developing more partners and prioritising Japan and Australia; and promoting Indian products," it said.

By joining international organisations such as the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) India wants to gain more international influence, it said. "However, in the process of becoming a leading force in the international security arena, finding out how to better handle relations with Pakistan, China and other neighbouring countries will be a major challenge for India, it added.

The daily said India's foreign policy is a continuation of Modi and his team's "political ambition and self-confidence", while also showing India's "longing for great power status".

"This is both an opportunity and a challenge for China in its relations with India, which have experienced a series of setbacks and disturbances recently." For a long period of time in the future, working out how to get along well with an ambitious but sensitive neighbour, as well as finding out how to efficiently cooperate with this friend and reduce mutual contradictions and disputes will be worthy of consideration for China," the paper said.
On 13 May 2005, at least 700 people died. The government described them as armed terrorists, persecuting witnesses in subsequent years. On the anniversary each year, police held back the participants. This year, the new President Shavkat Mirzyaev sends a signal of openness.

Tashkent (AsiaNews/Fergana)  Activists with the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan (PAU) held the traditional demonstration at the foot of the Courage monument to commemorate the hundreds of Andijan residents shot to death 12 years ago.

On 13 May 2005, a mass demonstration broke out in Andijan, eastern Uzbekistan, as a result of tensions that had built up over growing poverty and government repression.

According to the official version of events, protesters seized government buildings and a prison. Uzbek troops intervened to put an end to the uprising, killing 187 people.

Activists have disputed this version, claiming that at least 700 people died, mostly peaceful demonstrators, including women and children, as well as passers-by.

Subsequently, at least 358 people were sentenced to long prison sentences in "secretive" trials. No one, activists or relatives, has been able to read the sentences.

Surprisingly, this year the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Security Service (SNB) did not intervene to stop the commemoration. The ceremony took place without interference. Activists laid flowers and toys at the foot of the monument, and unfolded posters denouncing "war crimes".

This year's rally was organised by PAU leader Elena Urlaeva, who in the past had complained of police abuses.

In previous years, the police and the SNB detained demonstrators, who were heavily fined by a local court. Police also intervened when activists did not raise any banners, but just held only flowers and children's toys.

Sometimes the authorities stopped potential participants from leaving home on 13 May. In 2008, some NGOs complained of witness harassment.

The place for the annual commemoration is not by chance. The Courage monument was erected on 20 May 1970 in memory of the devastating earthquake that hit Tashkent in 1966.

According to Ms Urlaeva, this monument is directly connected to the courage of the Uzbek people. For human rights activists it is also the embodiment of the heroism of Andijan residents, who were not afraid to complain en masse against the infringement of their rights and were brutally shot for it.

Uzbek authorities and media chose not to remember the Andijan tragedy. Not even a visit by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein led to any media coverage of the memorial.

In a message at the end of his visit (10-12 May), Mr Al Hussein said, On Saturday, we will mark the 12th anniversary of the terrible events that took place in Andijan on 13 May 2005. While it is important to look forward, it also important [for Uzbek authorities] to come to terms with past events and ensure that victims are not forgotten and their grievances are addressed.

Since he took office in early December, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirzyaev has moved the country towards a "more tolerant" direction with the release of activists and journalists.

The visit by the UN Commissioner is itself a sign of change. Since 2005, Uzbek authorities had refused to cooperate with UN human rights agencies.
by Santosh Digal

Sister Manjula Bars belongs to the Congregation of the Servants of Mary. Sundargargh District has become a regular place for human trafficking. Tribal women and girls lured with promises of jobs end up sold as brides or into the human flesh market. For the nun, "Our biggest challenge and task is to network with government, Church and society.

Rourkela (AsiaNews)  Sr Manjula Bars, a member of the Servants of Mary (Servites), works to improve the condition of women in Odisha (Orissa), a state in eastern India. "Christ's love drives me to rescue tribal women from human trafficking," she told AsiaNews.

Women trafficking in the Indian state "is becoming a real threat", she said. Women are lured with the promise of a good job but end up sold for a pittance. For this reason, the diocese of Rourkela, where she works, "has tackled for the past two years the problem of tribal women, saving them, and giving them back their freedom."

Sr Manjula explains that tribal women are often "lured by human trafficking syndicates that bring them to big cities across India on the pretext of low-paying, easy to find jobs. Instead, some of the tribal girls and women are sold as brides to poor peasants, whilst others end up in the human flesh trade."

Sundargargh district, which is in the diocese of Rourkela, "has become over the past few decades a regular place for human trafficking. Hundreds of women are sold in cities and this puts the victims, their families and the whole of society in grave danger."

The situation has prompted the diocese to look for ways to help the women. Together with her group and police, the missionary saves women and girls before they are moved to other cities.

After rescuing them, she provides psychological counselling as well as vocational training so that they can be motivated to live a dignified life and earn a living.

"Our biggest challenge and task, she explains, is to network with government agencies, civil society groups, Church authorities, ordinary Catholics, and all people of good will" in order to raise awareness of human trafficking and propose steps to eliminate it altogether".

According to the nun, "our apostolic religious vocation encourages us to work together to build a world of justice and love in response to the needs of the Church and society. Our priorities are the poor, the oppressed and the marginalised."
The Turkish leader confirms his hostility towards Kurdish militias, which he terms "terrorist organizations". For Washington, they represent a key ally in the struggle against the Islamic State. The Turkish leader renews request for extradition of the Islamic preacher Gulen, considered mastermind of a coup.

Washington (AsiaNews / Agencies) - "There is no place for terrorist organizations in the future of our region." With these words, pronounced at the end of the meeting with his US counterpart Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed the distances with Washington over the Kurdish question. At the end of face to face talks yesterday, the Ankara leader stressed that he would "never accept" an alliance of the United States with the Kurdish forces fighting in Syria.

President Erdogan was referring to the Kurdish YGP militias (Peoples Protection Unit), which the United States recently decided to supply with a new load of weapons. Washington sees the Kurdish fighters as a key ally in the struggle against the Islamic State (IS) in north-east Syria.

In spite of remaining distances over the Kurds, the two leaders have confirmed the will to strengthen bilateral relations and strategic alliance within NATO. "We have had great relations in the past - said Trump - and they will be even better in the future." The aim is to expand bilateral cooperation between the two countries and "work together to counter terrorism in all its forms".

Erdogan insisted on the Kurdish question, defining the definition of the YGP militia as a regional partner as absolutely unacceptable" and in direct contrast "with the global agreement".

Ankara considers the YGP militias an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an outlawed group that has been fighting for independence in the southeast of the country for years. Instead the United States' view that Kurdish militias as separate to the Pkk and a fundamental ally in the war against the Syrian jihadists.

During the meeting yesterday, the Turkish leader also dealt with the issue of Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulenin exile in Pennsylvania (United States). According to President Erdogan and the leaders of government he is the mastermind of the coup in Turkey, in which 270 people died, and thousands were injured. Ankara, which launched a massive campaign of internal repression with hundreds of thousands of arrests and detentions, calls for Gulen's extradition. For his part the Islamic preacher has always rejected allegations of having framed the failed coup.
The Senates Standing Committee on Religious Affairs passes the Ehtram-e-Ramazan (Amendment) Bill 2017. Hotel owners who break the law could get fines of up to US$ 240. Cinemas and TV stations could get fines up to US$ 4,800. For the daughter of the late Benazir Bhutto, the law is ridiculous.

Islamabad (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Anyone caught drinking, eating or smoking during the sacred month of Ramadan faces financial sanctions and up to three months in jail.

Last week, the Standing Committee on Religious Affairs of the Senate of Pakistan approved a motion to that effect presented by Senator Tanveer Khan in January.

The decision has triggered comments and criticisms on social media. One comes from Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, daughter of the late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari, who is known for taking strong positions on the country's hot issues.

[P]eople [a]r[e] going 2 die from heat stroke &dehydration with this ridiculous law. Not every1 is able. This is not Islam, she wrote on Tweeter.

On 11 May, the Committee passed Ehtram-and-Ramazan (Amendment) Bill 2017, which punishes hotel owners who break the law with fines ranging from 500 to 25,000 rupees (US$ 4.8 to US$ 240). Anyone who eats during the sacred fasting period for Muslims will pay a fine of 500 rupees and may be jailed.

Under the previous law, the Ehtram-e-Ramazan Ordinance 1981, eating and drinking in public for Muslims was banned during Ramadan daytime hours, although Islamic experts allowed vulnerable groups of the population to break the fast during hot hours.

Now everyone will be punished, including cinemas and television channels that could be forced to pay up to 500,000 rupees (almost US$ 4,800).

But not every1 in  will be fasting -children in school/elderly/people with medical problems. Should we arrest them 4 drinking water, Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari said on tweeter.
South Koreas new president differs from Donald Trump, who wants tighter sanctions. Seoul does not want to pay for the US THAAD anti-missile radar system. Since the latter can monitor Chinese territory, China has imposed economic sanctions on South Korean companies.

Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies)  South Korea said that it wants to renew the dialogue with North Korea over the nuclear issue.

Our most basic stance is that communication lines between South and North Korea should open, Lee Duk-haeng, a spokesman for the Souths Unification Ministry, told reporters.

Communications were severed last year ago in the wake of new sanctions following North Koreas last nuclear test and its decision to shut down a joint North-South industrial zone operated inside the North.

South Korea has not given up pressures to stop North Korea's weapons programme, and does not intend to pay for the US High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system. US President Donald Trump has said that he wants South Korea to pay for it.

China has strongly opposed THAAD, saying it can spy into its territory, and has sanctioned South Korean companies over the deployment.

The position of Democratic President Moon Jae-in, a Catholic, is consistent with the commitments he made during the electoral campaign in favour of a more moderate approach to the North than that of his predecessor.

With respect to Kim Jong-un, Moon Jae-in said he wants a two-track involving possible sanctions and dialogue.

North Korea has made no secret of the fact that it is working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the US mainland and has ignored calls to rein in its nuclear and missile programmes, even from China, its lone major ally.

Pyongyangs latest ballistic missile launch, in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, took place on Sunday. The test, which was to evaluate its capability of carrying a large-size heavy nuclear warhead, drew Security Council condemnation.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a closed-door UN Security Council meeting, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the US and China have been working on a unified plan on how to approach North Korea that would include tougher new sanctions.

She indicated that Washington and Beijing had agreed to take action if a new test looked to be long range and leaning toward an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the United States.

The latest launch appeared to fulfil both criteria, Haley said, so I believe that China will stay true to that and that well come together on how were going to do that.

This is a true threat to every country in the world. . . . Were going to make sure we put the pressure on them [North Korea] economically, diplomatically, politically and internationally.

Asked about comments made by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Monday who called North Koreas nuclear and missile tests unacceptable but also said the United States should stop intimidating Pyongyang, Haley said that Putin and others who have made similar comments should ask themselves: What about North Korea intimidating us? Theyre intimidating the entire international community.

For Moon Jae-in, this confrontation can only be solved through renewed dialogue with South Korea playing the role of mediator.
by Alberto Ortega Martin

In a letter to Patriarch Sako, Mgr Ortega Martin says that cooperation between Churches is a "strong show of communion in the face of persecution and violence. The prelate notes that it is everyone's responsibility to favour the return of refugees to their homes. He praises refugees who "after losing everything, held on to their faith." Christ "is your strength", he tells them.

Baghdad (AsiaNews)  Mgr Alberto Ortega Martin, apostolic nuncio to Jordan and Iraq, wrote a letter to the Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako. In it, he says that cooperation among Churches, Chaldeans, Syro-Catholics and Syriac-Orthodox is a show of greater unity and constitutes a strong testimony of communion.

Going home is a right and therefore a responsibility of all Christians and members of other groups, who have had to leave in 2014 their homes and lands in Mosul and the Nineveh Plain in such unjust ways, following the rise of the Islamic State group.

In his letter, the prelate notes that reconstruction has started (AsiaNews has contributed with its Adopt a Christian in Mosul campaign) and some families have already returned to Telleskof and other towns on the Nineveh Plain. This fills him with "joy and hope".

The Vatican diplomat encourages Christians in Mosul and the Nineveh Plain who,"after losing everything, have born witness, held onto their faith and not denied the Lord Jesus Christ. To them I say: Your testimony of faith is a treasure for the whole Church. As Pope Francis put it, I encourage all Christians not to let others steal your hopes and remain attached to the Lord Jesus who is your strength."

Here is the letter from the apostolic nuncio in Iraq to Patriarch Sako, sent to AsiaNews for wider circulation:

Your Beatitude,

I was recently informed of the official launch of reconstruction work in some liberated Christian villages, which will be done with the help of various entities, in particular the organisation Aid to the Church in Need. This information, along with the news about many Christian families going back to Telleskof and other villages, filled me with joy and hope.

The initiative to rebuild the villages, which has been in the works for a few months, is commendable. It is such a beautiful thing that various Churches present in the Plain of Nineveh, in particular the Chaldean Church, the Syriac Catholic Church and the Syriac Orthodox Church are involved. Their representatives sit on the Reconstruction Committee. I also note with satisfaction that the collaboration among the various Churches, in addition to strenghtenng their unity, is also a strong show of communion, which is a great gift and at the same time a task entrusted to us by the Lord.

I hope that the happily started massive reconstruction enterprise can go on as hoped and that several local and international institutions can be gradually brought on board. In this regard, it is worth pointing out that going home is a right and therefore a responsibility of all Christians and members of other groups, who have had to leave their homes and lands in such unjust ways.

I am grateful for the opportunity to express a word of encouragement to the many Christians in Mosul and the Nineveh Plain who, after losing everything, have born witness, held onto their faith and not denied the Lord Jesus Christ. To them I say: Your testimony of faith is a treasure for the whole Church. As Pope Francis put it, I encourage all Christians not to let others steal your hopes and remain attached to the Lord Jesus who is your strength.

For those of you who have been displaced for a long time, often in very precarious conditions, I wish you a speedy return to your homes and villages. You know that your presence in the country is crucial. You are the presence of Christ. You have a good mission that no one can do in your place. I urge you to remain in your homeland to continue contributing to the good of society. With you I continue to pray for peace and reconciliation in the country.

I assure you that you are not alone: the Church, starting with the Holy Father, whom you know loves you and remembers you in his prayers, is close to you. Signs of this closeness are all the help that have come from so many institutions and so many people. The initiative, sponsored by Aid to the Church in Need, is a precious and concrete act expressing such concern. I am very grateful to those who are committed to making this good deed possible to which I wish all the best.

In order to carry out the reconstruction work, you will need a lot of material help, which I trust will come. However, you will also need above all courage, motivation, and work moved by the faith of each one of you. In this respect, the role of leaders is crucial. Your Beatitude is called to play a leading role; the same goes for the bishops of other Churches, as well as priests, men and women religious. In this regard, the unity of intent and collaboration are paramount, especially among priests and their bishops. At a moment in which the future of Christians in the country is at stake, such unity and communion are of primordial importance. The faithful are watching and expect from you, priests and bishops, this testimony of unity. They want to see priests together with their bishops working for the good of the faithful and therefore for the good of the Church and society as a whole.

On my part, I can assure you of my prayers and my commitment to further as much as possible this important work of reconstruction. I entrust you to Our Lady of Fatima, and I send you my blessing.

In communicating to you that I thought it appropriate to send a similar message to His Excellency, Mgr Youhanna Boutros Moshe, archbishop of Mosul of the Syriac Catholic Church, I take the opportunity to confirm to you, Most Reverend Beatitude, my deepest respect.

(Bishop Alberto Ortega, apostolic nuncio to Jordan and Iraq)
It is the Church of Berea "River of Life" in Fujian. They reportedly opened a theological research institute and various places of worship. Pressure for greater openness in regulations governing religious freedom. Domestic churches do not "disturb the social order". Repression towards Christians is leading many faithful to choose the "outlawed" path of underground practice outside official channels.

Beijing (AsiaNews / CP) - A protestant domestic church has been declared outlawed in Fujian Province and accused of "establishing religious sites" and "collaborating with South Korea."

The news was published yesterday on the Christian Post. The authorities accused the Church of Berea [a Protestant denomination] "River of Life" for having opened a theology institute, supported by money from Korea, and having set up several places of worship. They also seized 1,346 yuan (about US $ 200) of donations, as "illegal revenue".

The "River of Life" community was founded eight years ago and has gathered dozens of faithful every Sunday.

Tens of millions of Protestant Christians prefer to practice their faith in the so-called "domestic churches", which are not registered with the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This makes them illegal. But in the Protestant world there is growing pressure to widen religious freedom even to unregistered communities, provided they are not "evil cults", with negative consequences on the population and government.

An attorney who is studying the case of the "River of Life" Church states that "it is ridiculous to arrest someone because he participates in Christian meetings at home. The government often uses the excuse that Christians' disturb the social order 'to persecute them.'

In the case of the outlawed community, there is also a link with a foreign country that, according to government regulations, should be monitored and avoided as much as possible to create "national and patriotic" communities. Pastor Zhang, interviewed by China Aid notes: "Since religions are founded in different countries, the people are unavoidably collaborating with foreign powers when they choose a religious belief. Jesus himself was a foreigner. This logic is ridiculous. Our government has armed itself to the teeth in order to control peoples minds.

Last month Doug Bandow, of the Cato Institute, said that "President Xi Jinpings China is becoming more and more fearful," as the government continues to suppress all dissent and contacts with the West.

For Bandow, the growing persecution in China shows that "the Communist god who has failed, fears competition [with other religions]".

In a commentary published in the Japan Times, Bandow notes that despite religious persecution, economic reforms undertaken by China "have enlarged the space for the expression of faith" and that "freedom cannot be easily narrowed."

Badow cites a recent report by Freedom House (a USA body for Religious Freedom), in which it is noted that repression against Christians in China rather than checking religions natural expansion and keeping it under political control, has essentially created an enormous black market, forcing many believers to operate outside the law and to view the regime as unreasonable, unjust, or illegitimate.
They had accused the authorities of human rights violations. Releasing public confessions on television. In 2014 a decree issued prohibiting online criticism of government and the party. Internet users forced to use their real name for accounts.

Vientiane (AsiaNews / Rfa) - Three Laotian workers arrested last year for criticizing their government on Facebook while working in Thailand have been handed down long prison sentences. The relative of one of the three has reported the news, provoking the condemnation of human rights movements, demanding their immediate release.

Families and friends reported that Somphone Phimmasone, 29, his girlfriend Lod Thammavong, 30, and Soukane Chaithad, 32, disappeared in March 2016 after they returned to Laos to renew their passports.

While working in Thailand, the three had harshly criticized the Laos government on the Internet, accusing it of human rights violations. Later, the three appeared on Laotian television, releasing public confessions for what they called the mistake of protesting against the policies of the country.

Another relative of one of the workers reported that he had recently contacted a detention center official asking for permission to visit his family member. During the interview, he was told that the three "were sentenced last month".

The official told the relative that Lod Thammavong, Soukane Chaithad and Somphone Phimmasone were sentenced to 12, 18 and 20 years in prison respectively. He added that the three were transferred to Xam Khe prison in the capital Vientiane, the largest detention facility in the country.

In 2014, the Laos government issued a decree prohibiting online criticism from the government and the Laos Peoples Revolutionary Party of (LPRP). The law provides strict sanctions for Internet service providers and users who violate government controls and also requires netizens to use their real names when setting up social media and other online accounts.
By Florence Hwang

In Mansoor Ladhas new book, Memoirs of a Muhindi: Fleeing East Africa for the West, he contrasts life in Africa to Canada, and how a persons skin colour can make a difference. He writes about his journey from Zanzibar, Tanzania to Canada and the adjustments he had to make along the way. He hopes his book helps people deal with the problems and issues that immigrants encounter. He also hopes these problems and issues can be avoided.

Employers have to be reasonable and fair in hiring immigrants and not demanding Canadian experience as a prerequisite, says Ladha, who is a freelance journalist.

It was amazing that employers demanded Canadian experience from South Asians from East Africa because here was a community which was educated, westernized, spoke English well and believed in western values, he added.

The book spans from Ladhas childhood to adulthood. He was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania, brought up in Lindi, southern Tanzania and worked in Dar es Salaam as a copy and features editor of The Standard, the largest circulating English daily in the capital city. He says his experiences have made him a better person and better equipped to tackle problems.

I have gone through problems of discrimination, displacement, acceptance and search for a home. With hard work and with the grace of God, I have been able to surmount these, he says.

He now considers Canada his home and is quite comfortable living here as there are less political tensions that are prevalent in Africa, which is still undergoing political maturity and economic uncertainties.

He left Tanzania in 1972 when Ugandan president Idi Amin expelled Africans of Indian descent, which caused a massive exodus from the region. At that time, Ladha was living in Nairobi when he decided to leave and come to Canada.

His book is available on amazon.ca
Free range egg shoppers care more about taste than welfare





Australian consumers who purchase free-range eggs are more concerned about the taste of their eggs than the welfare of the chickens a new study has found.

Conducted by University of Adelaide researchers, the study discovered the most often reported motivations for buying free-range are the belief these eggs are better quality, more nutritious, safer to eat and allow them to avoid industrialised food.

Study participants described cage-egg production as cruel but did not tend to emphasis welfare as a critical reason for their purchase decision.

Surveyed participants however believe free-range chickens are happier and hence produce better quality eggs.

Inconsistency with meat product

The researchers also found that consumers who purchase free-range eggs do not necessarily also purchase meat products making ethical claims. This was partly attributed to consumers believing they only had to pay a small amount extra for free range eggs, whereas ethical meat was far costlier.

Study focus

The study was based off focus groups and shopping mall interviews conducted with 73 participants of mixed age and gender.

Lead researcher, Dr Heather Bray, said taste and quality are strong motivations for purchasing and this may be why people are prepared to pay more.

More importantly, these findings suggest consumers think about animal welfare in a much broader way than we previously thought, and in particular they believe that better welfare is connected to a better quality product, she said.

The study has been published online today by the Anthrozoos journal.

Australias mandatory free-range egg standards

In March 2016, Australia introduced mandatory free-range egg standards, defining free-range eggs as those coming from farms that have 10, 000 birds per hectare or less. The birds must also have meaningful access to outdoor space.

Australian consumer advocacy group, CHOICE, has however been advocating against the standard since its introduction, saying the definition of free-range should only 1, 500 birds per hectare or less.

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Inghams expands WA operations to meet demand





Poultry producer, Inghams, will be expanding its Western Australian operations, opening a new feedmill near Perth.

Inghams said that in line with its planned business strategy, it will be growing its farming, milling and processing volumes over the next three years to help meet local demand.

Inghams a public company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

The new feedmill will be located at Muchea, near Perth, and is expected to be built by 2020. All existing facilities at Inghams Wanneroo facility will be re-located to the new Muchea feedmill.

A new hatchery will also be built at a new yet to be decided on site.

Inghams and contracted partners will invest more than AUD $70 million in the expansion and an estimated 400 new jobs should be created.

Chief Commercial Officer of Inghams, Quinton Hildebrand, said to support the expansion Inghams will sell off its Wanneroo facility.

Leaseback arrangements will be part of the sale conditions to cover the construction period of our new facilities, he said.

In making the announcement, Hildebrand said he was encouraged by the support Inghams has received from all levels of government in initiating its growth plan.

Inghams looks forward to continuing to work closely with stakeholders to support our continued investment in WA and ensure that our operations in Wanneroo have minimum impact on the community for our remaining period there, he said.

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Primo ad complaint dismissed by ASB





A complaint about a Primo bacon television advertisement has been dismissed by the Advertising Standards Board (ASB).

The ad in question features the line Australias favourite bacon, a statement the complainant said inferred Primo bacon is made from Australian pork.

In responding to the complaint, Primo said that it respectfully disagrees that the statement infers its bacon is Australian.

Primo said that it believes most of those watching the ad would understand Australias favourite bacon means most Australians prefer Primo bacon over other bacon, not that it is made from Australian ingredients.

Primo submits that the plain meaning and common usage of Australias favourite as would be understood by the market audience is to make a preference claim, in this case to the effect that more Australians prefer Primo to any other brand of bacon, Primo said to the Board.

The Advertising Standards Board dismissed the complaint saying the complainants interpretation of the ad was unlikely to be shared by the broader community.

The Board considered that the advertisement did not depict material which was misleading or deceptive and determined that the advertisement did not breach Section .1 of the Food Code, the Board said in its case report.

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(Markus Mainka/Bigstock.com) (Markus Mainka/Bigstock.com)

The Australian Government has signalled that it will get tough with refugees given visas who then return for visits to the country where they have claimed they would be persecuted.They could be deported if they have fled for safety and security reasons but then return for holidays and family events such as weddings.Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has revealed that he cancelled visas for six Iranians who returned to their homeland after claiming it was unsafe to do so but his decision was overturned on appeal.He reiterated that being granted a visa for Australia is a privilege and refuges should respect that along with all other visa holders. He also said that those who take holidays in countries where they claimed to fear persecution can expect to have their visas taken away.In the case mentioned by the Minister, all six were allowed to stay in Australia after they successfully appealed to a court that hears public complaints about Government decisions.'If you're claiming that you came to our country to flee persecution from country X, and then you're heading back there to get married or heading back there for a family vacation, then really there is no validity to your claim,' Dutton told Adelaide Radio FiveAA.It comes as reports indicate that one Iranian claimed to have been on an Iranian wanted list and who fled that country on a fake passport and was accepted as a refugee then applied for an Iranian passport and used it to fly back to his homeland.Another Iranian returned to Iran three times after becoming a refugee in Australia, once to marry, and an Iranian couple claimed in their protection visa application that they had no identity documents, but later returned to Iran on Iranian passports.Dutton's office confirmed that the newspaper reports of the six Iranians' circumstances were accurate. They paid smugglers to bring them from Indonesia to Australia before the Government introduced a tough policy in 2013 that prevents any refugees who arrive by boat from ever settling in Australia.However, The Refugee Council of Australia, warned against a tough stance without checking the circumstances of refugees and said that certain safeguards are needed to ensure that rejected asylum seekers were not returned to danger or death.'The vast majority of people who have arrived in Australia have been found to have a well-founded fear of persecution and have proven to be refugees, over the last 40 years this number is in excess of 80%, said Paul Power, the council's chief executive.
Godlewski

NGVAmerica has appointed a new chairman and interim executive director, as well as set up a search committee to find a new president, who resigned in April.

NGVAmerica appointed Mitchell Pratt as chair of its board of directors to replace the departing Gordon Excel, the vice president and general manager of heavy duty trucking with Westport Fuel Systems, the association announced May 10.

Pratt, the chief operating officer of Clean Energy Fuels Corp., has been serving as a board member and executive committee member with NGVAmerica. He has more than 30 years of experience in the natural gas industry.

The group's president, Matthew Godlewski, is stepping down this month to take a position with Ford Motor Co. He announced his departure in April. The organization has formed a search committee to identify a replacement.

The board has also appointed Kathryn Clay as its interim executive director effective on May 15. Clay serves as vice president for policy at the American Gas Association (AGA). Clay will lead the day-to-day oversight of the organization during the transition period to a new president, while continuing in her role with AGA. Clay was also recently appointed to the NGVAmerica board and executive committee.
Photo courtesy of Hertz

Hertz Global Holdings has announced that its Hertz Gold Plus Rewards loyalty program received top honors in the 2017 FlyerTalk Awards.



Hertz Gold Plus Rewards was voted the Best Rewards Program in the Drive category across every geographic region in the world  the Americas, Europe/Africa and Middle East/Asia/Oceana  for the sixth consecutive year.



Hertz also earned a FlyerTalk Award for Outstanding Benefit in the Drive category for its Five-Star and President's Circle Gold Plus Rewards elite membership tiers in Europe/Africa and Middle East/Asia/Oceana, according to the company.



"We are honored that Hertz Gold Plus Rewards earned top recognition in the FlyerTalk Awards," said Kathryn Marinello, Hertzs president and CEO. "The FlyerTalk community represents many of our loyal customers and we thank them for choosing Gold Plus Rewards as their favorite car rental rewards program every year since the Awards debuted in 2012."



The FlyerTalk Awards are held annually and determined by members of FlyerTalk, an online community comprised of more than 675,000 frequent travelers. FlyerTalk members share knowledge of airline, hotel, and car rental affinity programs and vote once a year for the best ones within the Fly, Stay, and Drive categories.



Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is free to join and offers a variety of benefits, including the ability to earn points and redeem for rental days or in exchange for other frequent traveler program rewards, according to the company.
UPDATE: 11:30 a.m. - St. Petersburg Police arrested Denzel Tarver, 26, Saturday morning around 10:30 a.m., who is wanted for second-degree murder.

ORIGINAL REPORT: The St. Petersburg Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for a man wanted for second degree murder.

Police issue arrest warrant for Denzel Tarver, 26

Tarver accused of shooting, killing Timothy Davis, 34

Tarver considered armed and dangerous

Police are asking for the public's help in locating Denzel Rashad Tarver, 26.

Tarver is accused of shooting and killing Timothy Karl Davis, 34, on May 15 at 11th Avenue South and 23rd Street.

Officials said officers arrived on scene--after Tarver had fled--about 90 seconds after receiving calls of gunshots being fired.

The officers administered CPR to Davis until medical personnel arrived, but he died from his injuries.

Officials said Tarver is 5'2" and weighs 140 lbs. He is considered armed and dangerous.

If anyone has information on his whereabouts, you are asked to call 727-893-7780.
Donald Trump will give a speech on combatting radical Islam to a group of Muslim

leaders

in Saudi Arabia during his first trip abroad as US President.





Mr Trump will speak to around 50 Muslim leaders and will take part in opening a centre there which is dedicated to promote moderate Islam, said national

security

adviser H R McMaster.





The President will will deliver an inspiring but direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and the presidents hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world, Mr McMaster said.





The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilization and to demonstrate Americas commitment to our Muslim partners, Mr McMaster added.





Saudi Arabia will be the first country Mr Trump will visit since his Inauguration.





Although Mr Trumps itinerary might mirror that of former President Barack Obamas

, where he spoke of violent extremism and tensions between the communities, it is likely the style and substance of Mr Trumps speech will be significantly different.





The week-long trip abroad will include discussing selling $100 billion worth of weapons to the Saudis, followed by a visit with the Pope.





The address to Muslim leaders comes after a rise in the number of terrorist bombings and deadly attacks across Europe, including in Turkey, the UK, France and Germany.





Saudi Arabia was accused of producing the terrorists who flew into Manhattans Twin Towers in 2001 and killed close to 3,000 people, but it was not on the list of seven Muslim-majority countries affected by the Presidents immigration and refugee suspension.





His executive order was later struck down by federal courts.





There has also been a rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes and bias incidents, particularly in the US. The FBI reported a spike in such incidents of 67 per cent in 2015.





Mr Trump was accused by critics of stoking this wave of attacks by engaging in anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

-
A Hernando County surgeon is back home after his third volunteer trip to India to share his knowledge with fellow medical professionals.

Dr. William Jason has private practice in Brooksville

Jason has made multiple trips to India to lecture, attend conferences

Face of healthcare changing in India, surrounding nations

Board certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Jason is a Harvard and Colombia Alumnus. He has a private practice in Brooksville.



Over the past three years hes been taking his knowledge to India.



When I first went there three years ago they estimated 5 percent of people had health insurance," said Jason. "It's mostly private pay, and in three years 20 percent now have health insurance."



Jason just got back from Jaipur, where he described witnessing healthcare in India evolve.



It's all changing, and some of the hospitals are getting bigger," Jason explained. "But the need is big because a billion in a half people just in India -- not including the surrounding countries there -- have had very little access to healthcare and very little faith in it."



While in India, Jason was a key note speaker, attended multiple conferences in different cities, gave lectures, and preformed surgeries.



They have patients who have been screened and volunteered, they wanted to have an American surgeon operating on them, said Jason. So I did live surgeries that were broadcast while answering questions."



His wife Rebecca proudly watched Jason's work from back home.



It's amazing when you see the banners and hear the stories about people lining up, one patient wanted him to do his other knee, the stories are just unbelievable," said Rebecca.



Jason said he plans to return next year.


The 60-year-old man pulled out of a burning triplex in Tampa overnight has died.

Man, 60, died from injuries in East Tampa fire

Flames swept through triplex on North 41st Street

Fire under investigation

According to Tampa police, Timothy Dewitt Williams died at an area hospital Wednesday morning.

Williams was sleeping in his unit at 4515 North 41st Street when a fire broke out just before 10 p.m., officials said.

Firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the wood frame home when they arrived.

Authorities said five people when in the triplex when the fire broke out. One resident said he barely made it out of the home. In fact, two people who lived in the front of the structure said the residents of the back unit ran out of the home and did not alert them to the flames.

Officials said the fire was under control shortly after 10 p.m.

"If the people in this neighborhood didnt come, me and this dude here might be dead cause the people in the back  they just left," said resident Rudy Thompson. "They didnt even tell us. They left, left this man in there, (he) was in the bed."

Thompson said he was the second to last to get out of the structure. Tompson's neighbor, Williams, a veteran, was sleeping when the fire broke out and had to be pulled out of the fire.

While extinguishing the flames, firefighters found Williams inside with fire-related injuries.

"They smashed the window here," Thompson said of his escape from the fire. "My roommate, he jumped out and then I jumped out. The front door was engulfed."

The initial investigation indicates there were no signs of foul play, police said.

The fire remains under investigation.
In a move likely to be hailed by government transparency advocates as a step forward, Beaumont police will begin equipping its officers with body cameras by the end of the summer, though gaining access to the recordings could be difficult for the public.

Beaumont City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to authorize the department to purchase 141 body cameras for officers.

Assistant Chief Jim Clay said the city expects to have the cameras installed and running by the end of this summer.

The cameras will cost $162,880, most of which will come from a state grant the department received last year, Clay said.

Under the grant's requirements, the city will pay 20 percent of the cameras' cost, about $32,500.

In the wake of increased attention on police shootings, activists have called for the use of body cameras as a way of increasing accountability.

According to the Washington Post, 367 people were shot and killed by police in 2016.

Clay said the department wanted to get the cameras to "protect both the officers and the community."

But public information laws could make it challenging for the public to gain access to the footage.

Law enforcement agencies can deny the requests for a number of reasons.

"There is a limit on what we can release for privacy. People think they can see everything, but that's not the case." he said.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday rejected Bartholomew Granger's final state appeal of his death penalty conviction in the 2012 Beaumont courthouse shoting.

In December, Gretchen Sween and Benjamin B. Wolff, with the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs in Austin, filed objections with court, arguing that trial lawyers Sonny Cribbs and James Makin failed to present relevant evidence in 2013.
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Beaumont ISD's board of managers rejected Bevil Oaks' residents request to leave the district Tuesday night, leaving the city one short of the necessary two approvals to join Hardin-Jefferson ISD and setting up a lengthy appeals process.

H-JISD voted to allow the city to join their district Monday night, but Beaumont's board cited a different interpretation of the Texas Education Code and claimed they were not legally able to release the property.

"I'm disappointed, but not surprised," said Becky Ford, mayor of Bevil Oaks. She said she wasn't optimistic about BISD's decision before the meeting, based on "past history."

The petitioners plan to appeal the decision to the Texas Education Commissioner within the next 45 days.

Hardin-Jefferson ISD superintendent Shannon Holmes said Monday that the appeals process is expected to take between 9 and 12 months.

"It's really disheartening," said Bevil Oaks resident Nancy LaRousse. Like Ford, she "wasn't feeling very positive" before BISD's decision, but said she's optimistic about the appeal.

BISD announced that Bevil Oaks students would be re-zoned immediately for 2017-18, with students living west of Keith Road becoming dual-zoned for Vincent Middle School and Marshall Middle School.

Students will be automatically assigned to Vincent, but can fill out a declaration at the beginning of the school year to attend Marshall, and must be allowed to attend either school.

Currently, the students are zoned to Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, about 14 miles from Bevil Oaks.

Read more in today's print edition of The Enterprise.

Click here to have the daily eEdition delivered straight to your inbox.
A Newton County family will be turning over materials to the Houston Bomb Squad "for training purposes" after they were reported for possibly making a bomb.

The Newton County Sheriff's Office responded to a lake house in the Toledo Village area in northern Newton County Monday afternoon when a relative reported that "he had discovered possible bomb making materials," NCSO said in a press release.
Benjamin Poehling, former UnitedHealth Group official, said insurance companies have been working the system and taking billion of dollars from the Medicare Advantage system, in an interview with The New York Times.

Here are seven takeaways:

1. He said UnitedHealth and other insurance companies would game the system by having their financial directors run projects that made patients appear sick than they were. These directors would look over patients' EHRs and look at ways they could alter the diagnosis codes.

2. By making patients appear sicker, payers would obtain more money from Medicare Advantage. Mr. Poehling said to NYT, "They've set up a perfect scheme. It was rigged so there was no way they could lose."

3. Mr. Poehling filed a lawsuit under the False Claims Act against UnitedHealth and 14 other companies for these practices, which a federal judge unsealed in February. Mr. Poehling is attempting to recover money for CMS, of which he will receive a portion.

4. Mr. Poehling filed the suit in 2011 and left the company at the end of 2012. NYT reports the lawsuit could speak to why payers participate in the MA program during a time when countless payers are withdrawing their ACA plans.

5. NYT reports the lawsuit's validity rests in whether payers were violating CMS regulations as the government gives payers more money to cover Americans with more serious health problems.

6. A UnitedHealth spokesperson said to NYT, "We are confident our company and our employees complied with the government's Medicare Advantage program rules, and we have been transparent with CMS about our approach under its murky policies."

7. The Justice Department has been investigating various whistleblower cases involving payers like Aetna, Humana, Health new and Bravo Health, a Cigna affiliate. CMS did not comment to the NYT regarding this article.
The digital age of healthcare presents endless opportunities for providers to improve care, but all this information is useless if providers can't use the data to drive clinical decisions.

Natalie Pageler, MD, CMIO of Stanford (Calif.) Children's Health and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, highlights how her practice has employed technology to give providers the right information at the right time.

Question: What makes analytics actionable to your physicians?

Dr. Natalie Pageler: The key to making analytics actionable to physicians is turning large amounts of data into meaningful information, and presenting that to providers at the right time and place in their workflow. Much of our advanced analytics work has focused specifically on embedding actionable information directly into clinical decision support tools to help physicians and other clinicians make the right decision at the right time.

For example, we developed a decision support tool called GluVue to help our diabetes doctors act on large amounts of patient-generated data that was collected from home glucose monitoring devices. The data itself isn't useful because it's so overwhelming, but using an EMR-integrated web-based visualization tool presents it in a meaningful way for the management of individual patients, and analytics reports support the management of our population of diabetic patients.



Q: Do you have programs using analytics to improve clinical decision making?

NP: As I mentioned above, we have focused many of our advanced analytics projects specifically on improving clinical decision making by embedding the information derived from advanced analytics directly into clinical decision support tools.

Another area where we have recently made progress is personalized dosing, which involves getting the right dose to the right patient. In pediatrics, this is especially challenging as there are large variations in dosing across difference ages. To help address this challenge, one of our pediatricians, Adam Frymoyer, MD, has collaborated with a Bay Area start-up company, InsightRx, which provides a personalized dosing platform for neonates, infants and children for several narrow therapeutic index drugs including vancomycin. The approach leverages patient-specific clinical and laboratory data within our EMR including drug concentration history to individualize the vancomycin dosing strategy for each patient (using advanced mathematical modeling and simulation techniques). The platform delivers this technology in the form of an easy-to-use clinical decision support tool that has been integrated within our EMR to help guide vancomycin treatment decision-making at the point of care. By personalizing the vancomycin dose for each patient, the treatment benefit can be maximized and toxicity minimized.



Q: What are some of the challenges using analytics?

NP: One of the major challenges in analytics is making meaning of the rapidly growing amounts of health data made accessible from many different sources. These sources range from patient-generated health data via home monitoring devices to massive amounts of genetic sequencing data coming from the Stanford Clinical Genomics service.



Q: What has been the progress you've made?

NP: We've made tremendous progress by identifying specific information gaps or areas where the amount of data has been overwhelming, and then partnering with data scientists across Stanford University and around the Bay Area to derive information that directly benefits our children and families.

In addition to the examples above, one of our recently graduated Clinical Informatics Fellows, Veena Goel, MD, partnered with Sarah Poole, a PhD student in the Stanford Biomedical Informatics Program, to evaluate several years' worth of pediatric vital sign data and develop more appropriate pediatric alarm limits to improve monitoring of children in our hospital. Additionally, David Scheinker, PhD, a data scientist in our hospital has been leading collaborations with Stanford School of Engineering students to help our pediatric surgeons more effectively predict surgical times and optimize surgical scheduling. This can be incredibly important to patients and families because the information helps decrease wait times before surgery, and helps provide families with more accurate information about what to expect throughout the process.
Brad M. Picha, MD, joined Laser Spine Institute's Cleveland ambulatory surgery center.

Here are five things to know:

1. Dr. Picha is an Ohio native who completed medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He underwent a residency at Wright State University Department of Medicine and a fellowship at OrthoIndy in Indianapolis.

2. A member of Dr. Picha's family underwent treatment at one of Laser Spine Institute's centers, which inspired him to join the practice. He underwent additional fellowship training at Laser Spine Institute, which is required of all new surgeons joining the group.

3. In 2010, Dr. Picha was among the volunteers traveling with InterVol, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health, to aid victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

4. At Laser Spine Institute, Dr. Picha will treat a variety of conditions with minimally invasive spine procedures.

5. He is a member of the Ohio State Medical Association and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Cleveland-based MetroHealth plans to convert medical offices in Cleveland Heights and Parma, Ohio, into community hospitals.

The planned community hospitals will be geared toward patients who require shorter hospital stays. The current medical offices  which were formerly HealthSpan urgent care sites and medical offices  already contain emergency departments, as well as lab, pharmacy and radiology services.

MetroHealth plans to add 12 single-occupancy patient rooms at the Cleveland Heights facility and 16 rooms at the Parma location. Patients requiring more intensive specialty care can access MetroHealth's main hospital campus, which is less than 12 miles away from both facilities.

The addition of the community hospitals means 80 percent of residents in Cuyahoga County will be within a 15-minute drive of a MetroHealth Hospital.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2017, and the facilities will begin treating patients in January.
A 70-year-old woman from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, said she was held at San Javier Riviera Nayarit hospital in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, for four days due to her inability to pay tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills, The Spokesman-Review reports.

Vikki Moormann said she was admitted to San Javier Riviera Nayarit May 4 due to nausea. Physicians diagnosed her with diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication associated with diabetes.

Physicians originally told Ms. Moormann's son, Ryen Moormann, his mother could leave the hospital within five days, according to the report. However, Ms. Moormann alleged armed officials barred her from leaving San Javier Riviera Nayarit on May 8 because she had not paid her bill.

The hospital required full payment of Ms. Moormann's more than $30,000 medical bill before she could be discharged, according to a May 9 Facebook video of a phone call between Mr. Moormann and a hospital representative. The representative said the decision was hospital 'procedure.'

The story quickly spread among online news outlets and gained the attention of state and U.S. legislators. The hospital allowed Ms. Moormann to leave May 12 after her son paid $5,000 toward the bill in addition to $1,000 Ms. Moormann had paid the hospital in cash, along with thousands of dollars she charged to her credit card.

Ms. Moormann and her son have yet to receive the final bill from the hospital, The Spokesman-Review reports.
The top three vendors hospitals use to attest to the meaningful use program are Cerner, Meditech and Epic, according to June 2016 ONC data.

Here are 17 hospitals and health systems that posted job listings seeking EHR and IT expertise in the past two weeks.

Editor's note: This is not an exhaustive list. Job listings were compiled from job seeker websites.

Cerner

1. Canyon Vista Medical Center (Sierra Vista, Ariz.): Seeks a clinical analyst

2. Community Health Systems (Franklin, Tenn.): Seeks a director of patient access

3. Shriners Hospitals For Children (Tampa, Fla.): Seeks a clinical analyst for applications

4. Stony Brook (N.Y.) Medicine: Seeks a senior orders programmer analyst and application specialist

5. Virginia Mason (Seattle): Seeks a manager of information systems

Meditech

1. Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System (Sulphur Springs, Texas): Seeks a health information management clerk

2. Eastside Medical Center (Snellville, Ga.): Seeks a division clinical specialist

3. Montrose (Colo.) Memorial Hospital: Seeks an office clerk for health information management

4. Reading Health System (West Reading, Pa.): Seeks a managed care analyst

5. South Bay Hospital (Sun City Center, Fla.): Seeks a clinical applications nurse coordinator

Epic

1. Martin Health System (Stuart, Fla.): Seeks a clinical applications analyst

2. Orange Regional Medical Center (Middletown, N.Y.): Seeks an ambulatory analyst

3. Sutter Health (Sacramento, Calif.): Seeks an application analyst for Epic MyChart

4. Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital: Seeks an Epic trainer

5. The University of Chicago Medicine: Seeks a senior business systems analyst

6. UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland (Calif.): Seeks an Epic application analyst

7. UW Health University Hospital (Madison, Wis.): Seeks a data coordination and analysis manager
Integra Connect may have officially launched in Orlando, Fla., at HIMSS17 this past February, but its leadership team has been laying the foundation since the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act passed in 2015.

Founder Raj Mantena  who previously co-founded ventures like P4 Healthcare and ION  tapped a management team of industry experts to help him build the company. One such expert is now Integra Connect's CEO: Charles Saunders, MD. Dr. Saunders previously served as CEO of Aetna's population health division, Healthagen.

The West Palm Beach, Fla.-based team has developed a suite of cloud-based tools to help providers improve care quality and efficiency. The startup's mission focuses on supporting specialty practices to succeed under new value-based care models, despite treating patients with complex  and often costly  health conditions.

"When MACRA passed, it marked a fundamental shift in our healthcare system toward value-based reimbursement," Dr. Saunders says. "We have quickly purpose-built a comprehensive solution to help specialty practices manage value-based care requirements and engaged with a number of large provider organizations who share our vision for a new 'clinical operating system' for healthcare, post-MACRA."

Today, Integra Connect boasts more than 1,400 employees. Becker's Hospital Review caught up with Dr. Saunders to discuss the company's background, challenges and advice for other health IT vendors.

Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Question: How was Integra Connect founded?

Dr. Charles Saunders: I joined with Raj in 2015 as CEO, and with the management team, we brought together deep roots in specialty practice management, specialty pharma, population health and technology. We believed specialists would need to transform their practices to successfully assume holistic responsibility for the quality and cost of populations with chronic conditions under new Alternative Payment Models  and that no existing vendor had the technologies or services to support them.

Q: What are some barriers specialty practices face when delivering value-based care?

CS: Value-based care for practices draws from the medical home concept, and requires practice transformation. This is new to specialists, who are not used to managing populations, and education is needed for them to understand the new jobs to be done, their obligations under the new APMs and the execution requirements. They are understandably reluctant to make significant investments in people and technology and are challenged by the cultural changes needed. Also, some legacy software vendors, in order to remain relevant, are marketing incremental "band-aid" approaches within their applications as a complete solution.

Q: What challenges has Integra Connect faced since it began operations in 2015?

CS: Our vision and solution have been highly resonant. However, MACRA is transformational, and it takes time to educate the provider market about the requirements of OCM [Oncology Care Model] and MIPS [Merit-based Incentive Payment System], the execution paths to success and the necessary changes in technology, people and processes. Also, integrating with legacy software vendors always takes effort, particularly if the vendors are not eager to work with third-party innovators, which has been a well-known and continuing industry problem.



Q: What advice do you have for other health IT companies working on value-based care solutions?

CS: With value-based care and accountability for populations shifting to providers, there are new jobs they must do. This will invite an explosion in technical and business model innovation. Legacy technology vendors should embrace this change in their own product life cycles and be willing to integrate with emerging innovators. Locking providers into the status quo or blocking innovators and data liquidity will be a failed strategy. It will also hasten providers' motivation to re-platform  or worse  invite new regulation, which is often a double-edged sword.

Q: What are some of your goals for Integra Connect in the next year?

CS: First and foremost, we want to help deliver groundbreaking clinical and financial results for customers  many of whom are in oncology or urology today  while broadening and deepening our solution and the breadth of specialties we serve.

In addition, we intend to continue to be thought leaders and evangelists for the advancement of value-based care itself. That means sharing best practices we learn broadly in the market, as well as partnering with diverse stakeholders to design, deliver and realize innovative APMs that benefit patients. For our employees, we also want to grow while continuing to provide an exciting and rewarding place to work.
Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Hospital will be the first institution to offer on-the-job training to workers under Maryland's recently approved apprenticeship for environmental care supervisors, according to The Baltimore Sun.

The apprenticeship program helps job seekers gaining experience as environmental care supervisors  who staff surgical rooms and other hospital cleaning areas  without needing a college degree. Participants will receive technical education through the Community College of Baltimore County in Catonsville, Md., coupled with on-site training at Baltimore hospitals.

The program will match apprentices with hospital mentors and offer pay increases as apprentices meet job proficiency metrics, the report states.

The program is partially funded by a $2 million federal grant and is sponsored by the Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare, a nonprofit that addresses unemployment and healthcare work shortages in Baltimore.
New York state is one step closer to having a single-payer health plan after the state assembly passed the New York Health Act on Tuesday, according to a Times Union report.

The measure, which still needs to pass the state Senate, proposes covering state residents without taking into account income, age or health status. Residents who enroll in the single-payer plan would have access to physicians and other healthcare providers, as well as inpatient and outpatient care, primary and preventative care, prescription drugs, behavioral health services, laboratory testing and rehabilitative care, the release states. Dental, vision and hearing care are also among the included benefits.

Residents who receive publicly funded coverage through the single-payer plan also would not have network restrictions, deductibles or copays, the release states. Lawmakers said funding would instead be based on a shared 80/20 employer/employee contribution system.

Assembly Health Committee Chairman and bill sponsor Richard Gottfried, D-Manhattan, said in a news release support for the plan "is growing with the public and in the state Senate, where we now have 30 co-sponsors including all the mainstream Democrats and Independent Democratic Conference."

State and federal monies would create the New York Health Trust Fund. The state would also seek federal waivers to fold Medicare, Medicaid and Child Health Plus programs into New York Health, according to the release. The single-payer system could cost the state $91 billion in revenues, but it could save residents $45 billion in healthcare costs, Mr. Gottfried said, reports Times Union.

But not everyone is on board with the plan.

"Beyond affordability questions, a single-payer system would impose government price control on all healthcare services, eliminating any vestige of market competition in a major sector of the state economy," Bill Hammond, with the Empire Center for Public Policy, an Albany, N.Y.-based fiscally conservative think tank, wrote last year after the Assembly passed the same bill, according to the Times Union. "It would also channel billions more dollars through New York's notoriously dysfunctional state capital, multiplying opportunities for favoritism and corruption."
Physicians are warning patients about the harmful effects of excessive amounts of caffeine following the death of a South Carolina teenager April 26, reports WJZ-TV.

Over the course of two hours, 16-year-old David Cripe, drank a large soda, a latte and an energy drink. Richland County Coroner Gary Watts told The Washington Post Mr. Cripe's sudden death was caused by a "caffeine-induced cardiac event causing a probable arrhythmia."

In the wake of the teenager's death, physicians urge people to drink caffeine in moderation, according to WJZ-TV. And Louis Kovacs, MD, who works at Baltimore-based Union Memorial Hospital, told the TV station when it comes to how much caffeine is enough, it is best to listen to your body.

"Headaches, dizziness, sweatiness, that general sense that something is not right," Dr. Kovacs said.

The Palmetto Poison Center in Columbia, S.C., put out a caffeine use warning Tuesday, citing The Food and Drug Administration's recommendations that adults consume no more than 400 mg of caffeine per daily, which amounts to approximately four to five cups of coffee. The caffeine use warning also cites the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations that children and adolescents do not ingest any caffeine.
SeaSpine Orthopedic Institute, based in Orlando, filed a complaint against USAA General Indemnity Co. for breach of contract, according to a Florida Record report.

Here are five things to know:

1. The practice filed the complaint as an assignee of Michael James, a patient who received care at the practice after an auto accident injury. Mr. James was assigned Personal Independence Payment benefits, but the USAA General Indemnity Co. did not pay in full for the treatment deemed medically necessary.

2. SeaSpine Orthopedic now holds the payer responsible because USAA General Indemnity Co. didn't pay the claim in full within 30 days of receipt.

3. The insurer did not establish a lack of responsibility for paying the benefits, according to the report.

4. SeaSpine Orthopedic is seeking payment for the benefits with interest, costs, attorney's fees and "further relief as the court deems just."

5. Shuster & Saben LLC in Satellite Beach is representing the practice.
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Singapores Changi airport resumed normal flight operations on Wednesday after a fire at Terminal 2 disrupted flights and operations. Changi Airport Group on Tuesday reportedly said Terminal 2 remained closed after it was evacuated due to a fire. The airport administration apologised for the inconvenience caused and thanked passengers for their patience.
Brian Conlon with (left) Steve Orr of Catalyst Inc and Ian Sheppard of Bank of Ireland

The chief executive of Newry financial software company First Derivatives has said it hopes to benefit from the "down draft" of cost-cutting actions by banking clients following Brexit.

Brian Conlon spoke as the AIM-listed firm beat its own predictions with a 30% leap in sales in the last year to 151.7m.

He said the company had already benefited from a decision by a major Japanese bank to move a function from London and outsource it to First Derivatives staff in Newry.

This week banking giant JP Morgan announced it had bought an office in Dublin as part of its Brexit planning.

Mr Conlon said: "What we are seeing is that banking clients in the wake of Brexit are looking at new locations, as JP Morgan has done with the purchase of new offices in Dublin.

"But they are also looking at cost-cutting where possible, and one Japanese bank has already moved a function from London to us in Newry to save costs."

He said 30 First Derivatives staff were now working on the function and that the company was bidding to increase the size of the team working on the function to 90.

Mr Conlon said he expected more banking clients to make similar moves in future. He said First Derivatives was continuing work on seeking out new vertical markets for its Kx technology, which allows for the analysis of fast-flowing data.

Teams have been hired to analyse Kx's uses in retail and utilities. But Mr Conlon would not reveal how far First Derivatives was from making an announcement of a deal for Kx use in the sectors. "I'll have to plead the fifth on that," he said.

Revenue at the listed company in the year to the end of February was up from 117m over the same period a year earlier - and surpassed the company's own expectation of a rise of 23%.

Pre-tax profits were also up 20% to 12.5m.

The company, founded by Newry-born Mr Conlon, employs around 1,700 people around the world. It provides consulting services as well as software.

So far it has adapted its Kx technology into new markets, including precision engineering and the defence sector.

It has signed a contract with a Fortune 500 precision engineering manufacturer for the use of Kx to analyse sensor data.

And it is collaborating with Airbus Defence and Space to use Kx as a platform to analyse Earth observation data.

First Derivatives has offices in London, New York, Stockholm, Philadelphia and other global locations, while maintaining headquarters in Newry.

Chairman Seamus Keating said: "During the year we made strong progress on our strategic objectives, while delivering a solid financial performance.

"Our increasing scale is leading to larger, longer-term managed services and consulting engagements, and we are confident this trend will continue as we develop our service capabilities.

"Demand for the ultra-high analytics processing Kx delivers continues to grow, and this is reflected in a strong pipeline of opportunities across the business."

The company said it had also had a strong start to the present financial year.

Gerry Hennigan, analyst at Goodbody Stockbrokers, said: "We see little in the outcome to dissuade us from the growth potential to be derived from the apparent opportunities both within its traditional financial services franchise and via extension into 'new verticals'."
BP has dodged another shareholder revolt over director pay as it gained backing for a slimmed down remuneration package for chief executive Bob Dudley.

Provisional results from a proxy shareholder vote at its annual general meeting (AGM) showed that 97.09% backed the oil giant's remuneration report, while 2.91% of votes were cast against.

The remuneration policy - which outlines pay plans for the coming years - also received significant support from proxy voters with 97.32% voting in favour, and only 2.68% of votes cast in opposition.

It comes after BP slashed Mr Dudley's pay package by 40% for 2016 and his maximum earnings by 3.7 million US dollars (3 million) over the next three years in hopes of seeing off a fresh shareholder rebellion.

Nearly 60% of BP shareholders voted against a 20% hike in Mr Dudley's pay to nearly 20 million US dollars (16 million) at last year's AGM after the group posted its largest annual loss for at least 20 years and axed thousands of jobs worldwide.

Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said that the oil giant had made "appropriate" changes following the investor revolt.

"At our meeting last year, you, our shareholders, sent us a very clear message on how we approached paying our executive directors.

"We said we would listen and come back to you with a renewed policy for remuneration. You will have seen the steps we have taken this year and which we are proposing for the future."

He added: "The remuneration committee have worked throughout the year, thoroughly to review our practices. This work has involved all of the board."

The group's latest annual report revealed that Mr Dudley's pay package was cut to 11.6 million US dollars (9.3 million) last year.

Under the new pay proposals, Mr Dudley's total potential annual earnings for the next three years, excluding pension payments, have been cut from 19 million US dollars (15.2 million) to 15.3 million US dollars (12.3 million).

This is largely after BP reduced his maximum payouts under the long-term incentive plan from a staggering seven times basic salary to five times, while targets for the annual bonus have also been made more stretching.

BP's climbdown comes after it remained in the red for a second year in a row in 2016, posting replacement cost losses of 999 million US dollars (802 million) for 2016 as oil prices languished at a 12-year low of 44 US dollars a barrel.

Mr Svanberg said: "I believe that our approach is appropriate, that it is responsive and that it is balanced. I am pleased to see that we do have support for these new proposals."

The changes have been welcomed by shareholder Royal London Asset Management (RLAM), which holds a 0.73% stake in BP worth 670 million.

RLAM corporate governance manager Ashley Hamilton Claxton said: "BP's remuneration committee has made the right decision to significantly reduce the total pay that Mr Dudley will be awarded going forward, proactively responding to last year's shareholder revolt.

"Against the backdrop of a season of annual general meetings where companies have been doing the bare minimum to gain shareholder approval in 2017, BP has led the way and applied discretion to override the formulaic outcome of the pay policy."
House prices have fallen across Northern Ireland for the first time in four years, with declines of up to 3% in some areas over recent months.

The latest Northern Ireland House Price Index shows overall prices here dropped by 0.8% between the last quarter of 2016 and the first three months of this year.

It is the first time prices have slumped here since the start of 2013.

The average cost of a home is now 124,007.

One economist said the quarterly fall was a "blip" as prices in the first quarter were 4.3% up on the same period last year.

A total of 4,379 properties sold during the first quarter of the year.

The majority of council areas showed a decrease in prices quarter-on-quarter.

However, the cost of buying a home increased in Armagh city, Banbridge and Craigavon, Derry city and Strabane, Mid Ulster, and Newry, Mourne and Down.

The biggest fall was recorded in Mid and East Antrim, with prices dropping by 3.1%. Prices in Belfast dropped by 2.3%, falling to an average of 115,686.

Ulster Bank chief economist Richard Ramsey said: "Following an unprecedented house price correction (-57%) between Q3 2007 and Q1 2013, Northern Ireland house prices have been on the rise.

"However, the latest figures for Q1 2017 reveal the first quarterly decline in four years, a period which witnessed a 28% cumulative rise in house prices.

"Northern Ireland's standardised house price fell by 0.8% to 124,007 in the first quarter. This follows a marginal rise in Q4 2016.

"Despite this decline, local house prices are still 4.3% above the corresponding period a year ago. This was broadly in line with the UK average and compares with an annual average of 6.5% for 2016."

He said the average house price remained 45% below the boom period in the third quarter of 2007.

Across Northern Ireland, semi-detached properties were the only type of homes not to post quarterly falls in the first three months of the year.

It was apartments that saw the steepest quarterly drop, down by 4.5%. That was followed by 0.7% for terrace properties and 0.6% for detached.

"The overall fall in house prices conceals a divergence between new dwellings and second-hand or existing homes," Mr Ramsey said.

"New dwellings fell by 4.5% in Q1 2017, but this followed an increase of one-third in just over three years. Meanwhile, prices of the existing or resale market have been broadly flat for the last two quarters, rising by 0.2% in the latest survey."

He said Northern Ireland's annual rate of house price growth had halved from 8.7% at the end of 2014, to 4.3% at the start of 2017.
Ikea said the retail roles will see the total number of staff employed in the UK rise to 11,700

Ikea is to create 1,300 new British jobs by the end of 2018 as it opens three new outlets in Sheffield, Exeter and London.

The Swedish flat pack furniture giant said the retail roles will see the total number of staff employed in the UK rise to 11,700.

A total of 350 jobs will be created in Exeter and 500 in Greenwich, where new stores are slated to open next year.

Another 480 roles will be created in Sheffield, where Ikea will set up shop this summer.

Speaking at a "groundbreaking" ceremony in Exeter, Ikea's UK boss Gillian Drakeford said: "As we continue to expand, we're delighted to bring investment to new areas across the country and create new opportunities for local communities.

"This year we are celebrating Ikea's 30th anniversary in the UK, and we are seeing more demand from customers for more stores in areas closer to where they live."

In November, Ikea said that UK revenues rose 8.9% to 1.72 billion in the year ending August 31, its fifth consecutive year of sales growth.

Once opened, the new stores will leave Ikea with 22 outlets in the UK. The retailer also has four smaller format stores.

Last year Ikea reiterated its commitment to investing in Britain following the Brexit vote, with Ms Drakeford saying at the time : "We believe there is a lot of opportunity in the UK.

"We've been evaluating our newest stores and formats and yes, absolutely, there will be more stores. We will continue to invest in the UK."
Maxine Peake stars in Three Girls, the BBC's dramatisation of the 2012 Rochdale sex trafficking case. The actress tells James Rampton why she believes telling this story was so important.

Maxine Peake is at the peak of her powers. It seems there is almost nothing she cannot do. To reinforce the point, in 2014 she became the first actress since Frances de la Tour nearly 40 years ago to take on the role of Hamlet when she played the part to great critical acclaim and full houses at the Royal Exchange in Manchester.

She is terrifically versatile, having portrayed everyone from Rebekah Brooks in The Comic Strip's Red Top and Stephen Hawking's second wife Elaine in The Theory of Everything to Myra Hindley in See No Evil: The Moors Murders and the cyclist Beryl Burton in Beryl: A Love Story on Two Wheels (which, for good measure, Peake also wrote).

But the actress, who has also enjoyed starring roles in Dinnerladies, Shameless, Silk and The Village, has surely never tackled anything quite as emotionally draining as her latest drama.

Three Girls tells the harrowing story of three victims of the 2012 Rochdale grooming and sex trafficking case.

The trial resulted in the conviction of nine men for sex trafficking crimes against at least 47 girls, between 2008 and 2012.

Written by Nicole Taylor (The C Word) after three years of meticulous research, Three Girls focuses on a trio of youngsters, Holly (an astounding Molly Williams), Amber (Ria Zmitrowicz) and Ruby (Liv Hill).

They endure the most appalling abuse at the hands of a gang of British-Asian men who have assiduously groomed them with vodka, cigarettes and takeaways.

The drama is made with the full co-operation of the victims and their families. It is an urgent, astonishingly moving piece. It is also one of the most tear-jerking dramas you are ever likely to see.

Peake plays Sara Rowbotham, a real-life sexual health worker in Rochdale. After years of being ignored by the police, she is finally taken seriously by the new detective assigned to the case, DC Margaret Oliver (Lesley Sharp of Scott and Bailey).

Rowbotham's evidence proves crucial in the trial of the nine men.

Elegantly dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, 42-year-old Peake is serious about her work. But at the same time, she exudes that quality summed up by the name of her character in Dinnerladies: Twinkle. Audiences can relate to Peake. And therein lies the secret of her success - viewers see themselves in her. Peake manifests the trait we treasure above all others: self-deprecation.

There have been several dramas about real-life tragedies in recent times - think of The Moorside, Little Boy Blue and Damilola, Our Loved Boy (which won the Best Single Drama Bafta on Sunday night) - and they have all made a big impact.

They might be tough to watch, but they are never prurient. They also play a vital role in alerting the public to stories that may otherwise have escaped their notice.

Peake explains why it is so important that these dramas continue to be produced. "Doing stories like this in a dramatised form engages a bigger audience," she says. "Sometimes people can be slightly cautious about documentaries. So it's getting it into more homes and getting the story to the widest possible audience for people to understand.

"I thought this was a story that needed to be told. This is about a swathe of society that has constantly been ignored, bullied, and shipped off to one side."

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You might have imagined that working on such a devastating true story would leave you feeling traumatised. But Peake says that, conversely, the cast and crew felt glad to have the opportunity to recount the girls' stories: "It empowers you in a way, because you feel you're doing something that you feel very rarely in acting - you're part of something really important that might have an effect.

"Knowing that a lot of those young girls we've spoken to are now getting on with their lives, it was encouraging."

But this tale has a sting. Even though evidence Rowbotham collected on hundreds of abused girls as long ago as 2003 is still being used to prosecute cases, she was made redundant in 2014.

Peake got to know and like Rowbotham during the production. "We hit it off immediately," she says. "As soon as I walked into the room to meet her for the first time, I thought, 'This is someone I have to play'.

"Sara was frustrated and angry over the injustice that was happening to these young girls.

"You start to think you're going mad because the powers that be are not helping, they're shutting doors. No one seemed interested in helping these girls, who were in desperate situations.

"These were really vulnerable young women and the lack of care, I felt, was mind-blowing.

"They were dreadfully let down by the very people who should have been looking after them."
St Patricks Primary School in Drumgreenagh, Co Down have been practicing hard in case they make it through to the live semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent.

The junior choir wowed the BGT judges with their stunning rendition of Keane's Somewhere Only We Know during their original audition.

"Loved it, loved it, loved it!" judge Simon Cowell told them. "You can't ask for much better than that!"

The choir earned themselves a standing ovation from the judges and the audience, as well as a pass through to the next round of the competition.

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"After receiving four yes votes from the judges, we are through to the next round where we await word on whether we have made it through to the live semi-finals," said principal Mrs Sorcha Lyness.

"We are remaining very hopefully as the judges' comments were so incredibly positive. We are keeping everything crossed!"

The date of the semi-finals have not yet been confirmed by ITV, but they are expected to air at the end of this month.

If they do make it through to the live shows, Mrs Lyness is urging everyone to vote and support St Patrick's Junior Choir.
This years BBC Proms in the Park will be held at Castle Coole outside Enniskillen. (William Cherry)

This years BBC Proms in the Park will be held at Castle Coole outside Enniskillen. (William Cherry)

This years BBC Proms in the Park will be held at Castle Coole outside Enniskillen. (William Cherry)

This years BBC Proms in the Park will be held at Castle Coole outside Enniskillen. (William Cherry)

This years BBC Proms in the Park will be held at Castle Coole outside Enniskillen. (William Cherry)

This years BBC Proms in the Park will be held at Castle Coole outside Enniskillen. (William Cherry)

This years BBC Proms in the Park will be held at Castle Coole outside Enniskillen. (William Cherry)

Co Fermanagh will host the BBC Northern Ireland's Proms in the Park for the first time, it has been announced.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the event at Castle Coole in Enniskillen on September 9, 2017.

The concert - which is now in its 16th year in Northern Ireland - was held at Belfast's Titanic Slipways in 2016.

The Ulster Orchestra, led by David Brophy, as well as a number of acclaimed musicians will perform at this year's event, which will be hosted by Claire McCollum and Noel Thompson.

The show will be broadcast live on on BBC Radio Ulster, with moments transmitting live on BBC television and a highlights programme shown at a later date.

The venue announcement has been welcomed by DUP Leader Arlene Foster.

She said: I am delighted that Proms in the Park will this year be coming from Enniskillen. The Last Night of the Proms is a national institution and it is fantastic to see Proms in the Park coming to the west of Northern Ireland for the first time.

"I have long been asking the BBC to consider bringing the event to County Fermanagh and Castle Coole is a wonderful choice of venue.

A spokesperson for the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council added: "The Council is confident that Castle Coole will prove to be an inspired choice of venue to mark BBC Northern Irelands contribution to the closing night of the worlds largest classical music festival.

"Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is delighted to be associated with this years event and looks forward to welcoming visitors to the district to join in what promises to be a wonderful evening."

More than 90 concerts will take place across the UK as part of this year's Proms festival.
Doctors have told TV presenter Eamonn Holmes they are 'delighted' with his progress one year after he underwent a double hip operation.

The Belfast man had the surgery in 2016 after suffering what he described as "25 years of agony".

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Eamonn (57) told his followers: "Just had my year on review for my hip Replacements.

"Everyone delighted with my progress and healing - esp me! Now it's time to use them."

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At the time of his operation Eamonn was still presenting the Sunrise programme on Sky News as well as his Friday stint on This Morning with wife Ruth Langsford.

He took a 10 week break from the front of the camera following the surgery in order to recover, but he and Ruth kept fans updated on his progress throughout.

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The star had been suffering from hip pains from as early as his 20s.

Following the operation, he said: "I stand straighter, am an inch taller, can touch my toes and sit without pain."
NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE (including any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-editorial use including, for example, calendars, books and supplements). This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. All other requests for use should be directed to the Press Office at Kensington Palace in writing. Handout photo, taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, of Prince George on his first day at the Westacre Montessori nursery school near Sandringham in Norfolk. Interest in Montessori nurseries has soared thanks to the Prince George effect, with parents keen on signing up their children to the same education as the future king.

Pippa acting as bridesmaid to William and Kate

Centre of attention: Pippa at the wedding of her sister Kate

Pippa Middleton (33) is set to wed her partner James Matthews (40) this weekend in what is expected to be the biggest society wedding since... well, since her big sister Kate's - so here's everything you need to know.

When will the wedding take place?

Pippa Middleton and her hedge fund manager fiance James Matthews will tie the knot on Saturday, May 20.

The pair have been together since 2012, with James popping the question in July 2016.

Where will they get married?

The wedding ceremony will take place at Pippa's local church, St Mark's, in Englefield, Berkshire.

The 12th Century building is located just six miles away from the Middleton family home in Bucklebury.

How many guests are invited?

Reports have suggested around 150 guests will attend on Saturday.

Will Prince George and Princess Charlotte be involved?

Of course. Prince George will take on the role of page boy, while Princess Charlotte will be acting as bridesmaid/flower girl.

Although some reports claim that the Duchess of Cambridge is a little worried about how the children will behave on the day.

Will Kate be the maid of honour?

While this hasn't been officially confirmed, it is expected that Kate will be maid of honour for Pippa, if only to get her own back for Pippa stealing her thunder in that dress on her wedding day.

Which is completely fair enough, if you ask us.

Who is the best man?

That would be James' brother Spencer.

Isn't that the fella from Made In Chelsea who always cheats on his girlfriends?

The very one! We suspect Spencer will be on his best behaviour though, what with royalty being present.

Although we can't help but wish the wedding would be aired MIC style on TV, complete with awkward pauses and side-eyed glances.

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Will Prince Harry be attending?

When has Prince Harry ever missed a good party? Although it remains to be seen if he will be attending with his actress girlfriend Meghan Markle in tow.

Where is the wedding reception being held?

The after-do will take place at Pippa's parent's 6 million home, which is located nearby.

Kate had hers at Buckingham Palace. It's not a competition ladies...

What do we know about the dress?

Obviously it's all very hush, hush - but a few designer names such as Amanda Wakeley and Jenny Packman have been thrown about.

Either way, Pippa will no doubt look stunning.
The DUP is under renewed pressure to reveal the source of a major donation received during last June's EU referendum campaign.

The sum of 435,000 was given by the Constitutional Research Council, a little-known Great Britain-based group of pro-Union business figures.

Part of it was used to buy a four-page supplement in the Metro freesheet publication in London and other British cities urging readers to vote Leave.

Sinn Fein Assembly member Mairtin O Muilleoir said: "The Constitutional Research Council has no legal status, publishes no membership list, has no public presence and has failed to make public where it got the money.

"The DUP has refused to identify their dealing with the Constitutional Research Council and where the dark money came from.

"Voters have a right to know from the DUP where the actual source of the donation is."

Political gifts here are kept confidential for fear of identifying donors in a legacy of the Troubles.

DUP leader Arlene Foster has defended her handling of questions around the donation and accused the media of not subjecting other parties to the same examination of their finances.

Mr O Muilleoir said the 282,000 cost of the advert was more than three times the amount spent by the DUP in last May's Stormont elections.

A statement from the Electoral Commission said: "We have consistently called for increased transparency on how political parties are funded in Northern Ireland. Such a move will only help to increase public confidence in the democratic process."

Meanwhile, the Alliance Party said a second referendum should be held on the terms of the UK's exit from the EU.

South Belfast General Election candidate Paula Bradshaw stated: "We recognise Article 50 has been triggered.

"However, people's attitudes have markedly changed as the truth about Brexit and just how harsh it will be for our economy and public finances, as well provision of health services and education, becomes clear."
Social media comments by an SDLP election candidate on women drivers have been branded "sexist, silly and immature".

The tweets by the nationalist party's North Belfast standard-bearer Martin McAuley were made when he last stood for election, as an independent, in 2010.

Mr McAuley was Northern Ireland's youngest Westminster candidate, aged 19, when he tweeted: "If the women don't like it, I say take away their right to drive. That'll give the feminists something to whinge about."

He added in another tweet: "I said I would be tough on women drivers last year.

"I'm gradually trying to become less chauvinistic towards them. Baby steps."

The Alliance Party, whose candidate Sam Nelson is opposing Mr McAuley in the constituency, strongly criticised the tweets.

"They are sexist, silly and immature," he said.

"We would hope he now realises that and they don't reflect his current views on women as a parliamentary candidate in 2017."

Mr McAuley said he had been responding to spoof posters and admitted he was not the best driver himself.

He added: "The tweets were absolutely meant sarcastically, in reference to the spoof posters that people had mocked up with my face on them.

"I have a fair skillset, but driving isn't high up there, so I'm not in a position to criticise anyone else's ability.

"Diversity in public life is something I'm passionate about, and I've worked with the Commissioner for Public Appointments to make sure more women, young people and people from minority communities are represented in decision making."

One woman who re-posted the tweets later added: "A vote for Martin McAuley in North Belfast is a vote for a progressive candidate."

Meanwhile, the row between the DUP and Sinn Fein over Arlene Foster referring to northern leader Michelle O'Neill as an "attractive blonde" has continued to simmer.

Sinn Fein activists accused East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell of "distraction politics" after he said that if republicans were interested in consideration for women, they should start with Disappeared victim Jean McConville.

The west Belfast mother-of-10 was abducted from her home in front of her children in November 1972 by the IRA and later shot dead.

On Twitter, Mr Campbell dismissed Sinn Fein's demands for an apology as "nonsense" and also mentioned the widow of Patsy Gillespie as another example of how the republican movement treated women.

Mr Gillespie was a civilian cook in a Londonderry Army base who was strapped into a van loaded with explosives and forced to drive to a checkpoint on the Donegal border where the bomb was detonated.

In response, a SF spokesman said: "Gregory's tweet is clearly a crass attempt to engage in distraction politics."
Local priest Fr Lawrence Dawson, who paid tribute to Connie and said she was cut down in her prime

A disabled man, who was injured as he tried to protect his mother who was killed in a murder-suicide in Maguiresbridge, has said he wants to carry his mother's coffin.

Connie Leonard died after a frenzied attack carried out by her ex- partner Peadar Phair - who not only killed her but also tried to murder her disabled son before taking his own life.

Conor was injured as he tried to save his mother from her 55-year-old killer and is set to be released from hospital on Wednesday.

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The 30-year-old who has Down's syndrome was hailed a hero for struggling with Phair before he was stabbed by his mother's estranged partner in the stomach.

It's understood that Phair attempted to kill himself but was still alive after Conor managed to raise the alarm - though paramedics were later unable to save the killer.

Parish priest Father Lawrence Dawson of St Mary's Catholic Church in Brookeborough, told BBC Talkback that Conor wants to carry the coffin at her funeral.

He also revealed that Connie's father told him "we have to accept what God sends us".

Fr Dawson said: "Conor, he was a very bubbly lad and worked in a local supermarket packing shelves.

"He was injured and he's getting out of hospital today (Wednesday) and said he wants to carry the coffin.

"With the help of family and community I'm sure he'll be able to cope.

"It brings out the best in people in a sense that people are rallying around the family and offering every possible support.

"In a small rural community everyone knows everyone else.

"The faith dimension is very important. Connie's father said last night 'we have to accept what god sends us'.

"The ability to accept this tragedy with faith and courage."
The 53-year-old, of Old Westland Road in the city, was in a car stopped near Sprucefield in Lisburn on Tuesday.

A grandfather was remanded in custody on Wednesday after police seized 40,000 worth of cannabis and up to 34,000 in cash.

Eamon McGrath appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court to face money laundering and drugs trafficking charges following his arrest on the M1 motorway.

The 53-year-old, of Old Westland Road in the city, was in a car stopped near Sprucefield in Lisburn on Tuesday.

Searches of the vehicle led to the recovery of a bag said to contain 34,000, a judge was told.

McGrath allegedly informed police he was taking the cash to Armagh to purchase catering equipment on behalf of one of his sons.

An investigating detective revealed that 2kg of suspected herbal cannabis were found during trawls of the accused's address and a neighbouring property.

The drugs, located in a wheelie bin adjacent to McGrath's property, have an estimated street value of 40,000, the court heard.

Opposing bail, the detective said: "Police believe this seizure of cash and drugs represents the disruption of a supply network."

She claimed the defendant could interfere with evidence and ongoing attempts to track down others as part of the investigation.

McGrath is charged with possessing criminal property, conspiracy to supply and conspiracy to possess cannabis with intent.

Defence lawyer Fergal MacElhatton argued that his client had voluntarily disclosed the presence of the cash in the car when he was stopped.

The money was to buy equipment for a son's restaurant and takeaway renovation business, it was claimed.

Mr MacElhhaton insisted nothing was being concealed in the car, and contended that no evidence links McGrath to drugs he had never seen before.

Referring to the accused as a father of six and grandfather to nine, the solicitor added: "This is a side show... a weak prosecution case."

But refusing bail, District Judge Fiona Bagnall cited the risk of re-offending and interference with evidence.

"Pulling all the strands together, as outlined by the detective constable, I don't see this as weak a case as you do Mr MacElhatton," she said.

McGrath was remanded in custody to appear again by video-link on June 14.
The mother and father of three primary school children who didn't send them to school for prolonged periods of time over the last two years have been fined

The mother and father of three primary school children who didn't send them to school for prolonged periods of time over the last two years have been fined.

The parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were fined 3,000 at the Youth Court in Londonderry yesterday.

District Judge Barney McElholm said the parents had given him no option but to impose the fine.

He said he was fining each of the parents 500 per child and gave them 12 weeks to pay the penalty.

An educational welfare officer told the District Judge that the children's parents had failed to attend court hearings in recent months and had failed to engage with the education authorities.

The officer said the parents had also failed to co-operate with the relevant school and with the various other agencies in an effort to address the issue of their children's prolonged absence from school.
The car which was seized by a PSNI NPT in Derry. [Photo: PSNI]

Police in Northern Ireland have recovered drugs, cigarettes and money following searches in Belfast, Newtownabbey and Londonderry on Tuesday, May 16.

A 53-year-old man was arrested yesterday at Sprucefield, Lisburn following a search of a vehicle. He is being held on suspicion of money laundering and possession with intent to supply cannabis and is due to appear at a Belfast court today.

In Derry on Tuesday, Ballyarnett Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) charged a man for numerous drugs offences. The arrest followed a four month long investigation.

When a car was seized during this operation, a man initially denied owning it, PSNI Derry City and Strabane tweeted.

He soon realised however, that he needed items in the car, including his favourite coat.

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Also on on Tuesday, detectives from PSNIs Reactive and Organised Crime Branch assisted HMRC officials in searching five commercial premises in Belfast and and one in the Newtownabbey area.

Detective Inspector Pete Mullan said the search was "in relation to organised criminal activity" and 6,000 cigarettes, nearly 2kg of tobacco and a substantial sum of money were seized.

In Derry on Sunday evening, police carried out a search of a property in the Carnhill area of the city.

A number of items including suspected Class A and B controlled drugs, prescription medicines and drugs paraphernalia, as well as a number of electronic storage devices were seized for further examination.

Officers came under attack from stone-throwing youths in the area and a number of police vehicles were damaged as a result, a PSNI spokesperson stated.

Detective Inspector Tom McClure from Reactive and Organised Crime Branch appealed to the public for information.

He said: This investigation is ongoing. We are committed to tackling illegal drugs and keeping communities safe.

"I would continue to appeal to members of the public to come forward with any information about the supply or use of illegal drugs by contacting police on the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Police dealt with a record high 30,000 reports of domestic abuse in the past year, new figures reveal.

The number of sexual assaults also reached a peak level for the first time since new reporting was introduced almost 20 years ago.

The PSNI published its annual crime statistics on Wednesday which showed overall crime was at its lowest since the first report in 1999.

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Overall in the 2016/17 financial year there were 98,076 crimes recorded by the PSNI, a drop of 6.6% on the 105,023 incidents investigated the previous year and the lowest number recorded since the 1998/99 year.

However, the number of sexual offences and paramilitary style attacks increased.

Reports of sexual offences is at its highest recorded level since the first report rising by 4% to 3,158 reports on the previous year.

Police dealt with just over 30,000 incidents of domestic abuse in the year - the highest recorded level.

Chief executive of Nexus NI, a sexual abuse counselling organisation, Cara Cash said many incidents were never reported to police, but she was encouraged people were turning to the law when they became victims of domestic abuse.

"There is a gross under-reporting across Northern Ireland," she told the Belfast Telegraph, "These figures are only representative of those that are reported."

Cara said the impact of the violence stays with victims for years and they can blame themselves.

"They will say it's their fault. It impacts on every aspect of the life. When individuals are trying to come to terms with that the fact crimes have happened.

Societally there are still barriers about having conversations and there are societal taboos about coming forward. We are trying to campaign to break the silence so that even more victims do come forward and seek support. Cara Cash chief executive Nexus NI

Cara said that every victim is different and they will process and deal with the crime in their own way.

She continued: "The organisation has seen an increase in our referrals. We welcome more people coming forward and trying to deal with the trauma. In terms of our clients around 79% are female and 21% are male.

"There are even more barriers for male victims of violent crime.

"I would hope that people are made more aware that this is happening. I would hope that people out there who feel alone and feel they are the only person, will take comfort that we are here and want to support victims. And that they aren't on their own.

"It starts conversations and breaks the silence on sexual violence the more we talk about it the more we empower our victims to talk about it, the easier it will be to get them support."

Noelle Collins Women's Aid team leader in Belfast and Lisburn said the domestic abuse figures painted an "absolutely horrific picture".

She said: "There is so much still going on in society here in Northern Ireland. The recent murder [ of Concepta Leonard] really says it is not going away.

"We need to change our culture completely.

If this was an illness we'd have an epidemic. Noelle Collins Women's Aid team leader

She added: "Our own helpline shows there is a greater awareness and it's not only from the victims but also from families and friends who are giving that information out that there is help. Especially women who are the overall victims here and that they would be listened to and believed.

"It's a very slow process sometimes because of the perpetrator mostly telling women that no-one will believe them and women are threatened in relation to their children."

Noelle also acknowledged that men are also victims of domestic abuse.

"It is horrendous that in a society we have gone through The Troubles and we are now looking at social problems in the high numbers that they are, it's rdiculous.

She added: "I would ask anyone who finds herself in this situation and feels there isn't an avenue out of the abuse, we are just a phonecall away. We have a helpline open 24 hours, it's free and women can ring that.

"No-one has to suffer this. This is power and control - having power over another."

Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris said: I would continue to encourage anyone who is a victim of domestic abuse to come forward and report it to police.

If you need help or know of someone who is suffering contact:
The mystery of how thieves are apparently stealing Belfast bikes from their docks with ease appears to have been solved.

Cyclists believe the 'hack' allowing criminals to make off with bikes within seconds may be spreading on social media, helping to spark a huge surge in vandalism. Posting on the website Reddit, a user named 'NoZb2k' said he had watched from a window as a thief laid the bike on its side with its wheel at an angle, lifted it off the lock mechanism and then made off.

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"If these bikes are so easy to steal, its not a wonder they are suffering from so many stolen and out of action bikes," he wrote. "I didn't even have time to pull my camera out to record it,"

Last week, this newspaper revealed that the cost of theft and vandalism to the scheme had risen 10-fold in one year to almost 20,000.

Belfast City Council is considering installing CCTV or dummy cameras near bike stations and has already removed bikes from some docks overnight after they were identified as crime hotspots.

The witness who saw the thief in action said: "I'm not even exaggerating when I say three seconds because that's literally how long it took."

Another cyclist added: "It seems ridiculously easy for these bikes to be stolen and I can imagine via social media etc this 'hack' spreads like wildfire and that probably explains why there's been such an increase in vandalism."

Nextbike UK, which installed the public bike sharing scheme, said on Twitter that it had been running such schemes since 2004 in 120 cities and had never had such problems. A spokesman told this newspaper: "We are well aware of the issues affecting the bikes in Belfast, and we keep in close contact with the local service providers in Belfast as well as the team in Germany to provide know-how and other support in order to resolve the issues."

Nextbike UK added that it would investigate the issue reported on Reddit and had "already passed it onto our colleagues".

A spokesman for Belfast City Council said it was carrying out a strategic review that includes an independent quality assessment of equipment and technology.

"Whilst no major failings in respect of the equipment and technology were identified, recommendations for improvement were identified and these are being examined and rolled out," the spokesman added.

"We are also working with partners on a technology project to help reduce vandalism and theft and assist in the recovery of bikes not returned to docking stations."
Tributes to Enda Kenny have ranged from supporters heralding him as an outstanding leader to opponents praising his years of service.

Fine Gael deputy leader Dr James Reilly said: " I think Enda Kenny has proved himself to be one of the outstanding politicians of this century and the last."

Leo Varadkar, Social Protection Minister and the favourite to replace Mr Kenny, said the outgoing Taoiseach is owed a debt of gratitude.

"Enda gave hope to a battered and bruised Ireland in 2011. His dedication and determination gave Fine Gael a landslide in that year's general election," he said.

"But more importantly he brought this country back from the brink of economic collapse, and offered politically stability when countries across Europe were staring into the abyss."

Micheal Martin, whose Fianna Fail party has propped up Mr Kenny in government since last year's election, described his rival as decent.

"One of the fundamental tenets of our democracy is a commitment to public service and the Taoiseach has more than fulfilled that obligation. He has worked diligently for his county, party and country over a long period of time," he said.

"While over the years we have had our differences on many political and policy issues, I have always appreciated Enda's decency, good humour and approachability."

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said he believes Mr Kenny did his best from his perspective.

"This is a do-nothing government courtesy of the confidence and supply arrangement with the government's partner in Fianna Fail," Mr Adams said.

"The reality is that so-called new politics, led by Mr Kenny and Micheal Martin, isn't new at all.

"As a result, there is a deep paralysis in the body politic.

"The reality is that Fine Gael, no matter who leads them, are firmly wedded to the policies that cause so much hardship in the daily lives of ordinary people."

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan TD called for a new Taoiseach to be in place before June 22 when the next European Council meeting takes place.

"Whoever attends this council meeting must do so with the mandate of Dail Eireann," he said.

"Whoever attends must do so with their administration up and running as fully as possible. Ireland is facing a time of huge uncertainty and historic challenges - Enda Kenny's successor must begin to tackle them as early as possible."

Housing Minister Simon Coveney said Mr Kenny has been a towering figure in modern Irish history and will be recognised as such.

"His record in Government since 2011 will be viewed very positively by historians, not least how he led the restoration of our economic financial independence over that period, which was a landmark event," he said.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin said: "I believe that Enda Kenny will be remembered as Taoiseach of the Government that brought our country back from the brink.

"The period from 2011 to 2016 was a difficult time to hold public office in Ireland. But regardless of the challenges we faced, Enda Kenny took them on with humour, grace, and determination."
Enda Kenny revealed his decision to stand down at a private meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party

Ireland will have a new Taoiseach in June after Enda Kenny quit as leader of his party.

Mr Kenny stood down from the helm of Fine Gael at an emotionally-charged meeting of party colleagues in Leinster House in Dublin after delaying the announcement for several months.

The veteran politician, from Castlebar, Co Mayo, led the party for 15 years and has been at the head of two governments for more than six years.

Nominations for the contest to replace him close on Saturday with the successor due to be elected by June 2 and the Dail due to vote in the new leader as taoiseach in the following days.

Mr Kenny made his announcement at a brief parliamentary party meeting where some supporters were said to have been visibly upset at his long-awaited plans for departure.

"I want to assure people that throughout this internal process, I will continue to carry out my duties and responsibilities as Taoiseach in full," he said.

One party figure described how Mr Kenny's voice quivered as he finished his address to colleagues before making a swift exit rather than waiting for questions or commendations.

Another senior member said: "The body language of some of his loyal supporters said it all, there were a few teary eyes."

Mr Kenny was said to have been composed, making the announcement on his own terms.

"I would like to stress the huge honour and privilege that it has been for me to lead our party for the past 15 years, in opposition and into government on two successive occasions," Mr Kenny said in a statement.

"I thank all our members, past and present, for that privilege."

Mr Kenny paid tribute to constituents and supporters in Mayo who he has represented since 1975.

He thanked his personal staff and gave a special mention to his wife Fionnuala and their children and extended families "for their understanding of my work, and indeed for accepting the many intrusions of politics into family life in the interest of building our country".

Mr Kenny added: "I could not have engaged as I did without that base."

The father of the Dail leaves a legacy of steering the Republic out of a crippling recession, albeit with an agenda of austerity.

Aside from the economics, his achievements will include gay marriage rights, an apparent determination to stand up to the Vatican and legislating for abortion in limited circumstances.

Failures will list his inability to convince the public on water-metering and charges, painful tax hikes, unprecedented homelessness and a myriad of police corruption and negligence crises.

Fine Gael party chairman Martin Heydon described Mr Kenny as a "compassionate, pragmatic and inclusive" leader.

"Having inherited a country and an economy that was decimated by mismanagement, Enda's strong leadership and ability to make hard decisions was recognised both at home and abroad and saw our international reputation restored and strengthened," Mr Heydon said.

The front-runners to replace Mr Kenny as Fine Gael leader and subsequently as taoiseach are Leo Varadkar, Social Protection Minister, and Simon Coveney, Housing Minister.

Mr Varadkar, a doctor from Dublin and the favourite for the job, is the first openly gay member of cabinet.

In recent weeks his campaign to clamp down on welfare cheats has been fiercely criticised in some quarters, including by a former social welfare inspector, and opponents who questioned the level of fraud in the system.

Mr Coveney, from Cork, has also held a number of ministries but faces weekly criticism of his efforts to tackle the country's unprecedented housing and homelessness crisis.

He set himself a deadline of the end of June to end the practice of putting up thousands of families who need emergency accommodation in hotels and B&Bs.

Other outsiders include Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Education Minister Richard Bruton, who launched a failed bid to oust Mr Kenny back in 2010.

The contest is decided by an electoral college that gives the parliamentary party, made up of TDs, senators and MEPs, 65% of the vote.

The rank-and-file members of the party have 25% and councillors 10%.

Mr Kenny delayed his resignation on a number of occasions this year.

He asked colleagues for time to visit the US for the annual St Patrick's Day celebrations and to meet President Donald Trump, continuing the unique tradition Ireland has of access to the White House every March 17.

He stayed on to attend the European Council summit in Brussels at the end of April where the priorities for the Brexit negotiations were agreed.

Last week his role on the international stage continued when he held talks with EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier at Government Buildings in Dublin.

Among Mr Kenny's final official overseas engagements will be a two-day trade mission to Chicago and the centenary commemoration of the start of the First World War Battle of Messines.
The promise to stop using the hospitality sector for long-term stays for parents and their children was made last July by Housing Minister Simon Coveney

About 600 homeless families remain in emergency hotel or B&B accommodation six weeks out from a deadline to end the practice.

The promise to stop using the hospitality sector for long-term stays for parents and their children was made last July by Housing Minister Simon Coveney.

About 39 million euro was spent booking bedrooms for the homeless in guest houses, B&Bs and hotels in Dublin in 2016 - more than double the cost of the previous year.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it is a challenge to meet the looming deadline.

But he added: "My information from the Housing Department is that you will see a very substantial drop in that by the end of June.

"It's always a very difficult challenge to meet because it's been exceptionally ambitious, but they are really focused on moving this along here now."

The Dail was also told that there are 28,000 vacant homes in the Dublin suburbs, including 750 in the Finglas area alone.

Mr Coveney recommitted last month to meet his July deadline to end the use of hotels for the homeless as official figures revealed that 3,299 adults and 2,134 children were homeless.

He said the practice would stop unless the circumstances are exceptional.

Joan Collins, Independents 4 Change TD, dismissed the Government's claims.

"This target will not be reached despite the minister's most recent assurances," she said.

Ms Collins said the Government's initiative to create 10 hubs in Dublin to deal with the homeless crisis would not be ready by July 1, and she claimed they are a form of "temporary emergency accommodation".

"Moving families from one form of temporary emergency to another form of temporary emergency accommodation often miles away from schools their children attend is not a solution," she said.

Focus Ireland said it was concerned the Government's plans for "family hubs" for homeless parents and their children will become a long-term accommodation.

Spokesman for the charity Roughan Mac Namara said: "Focus Ireland does not believe whether the minister meets the deadline to end the use of commercial hotels is the key issue in terms of tackling and ending this crisis.

"The deadline we are most interested in is for the minister, and the Government as a whole, to set a clear deadline that no family will be allowed to remain homeless for longer than six month after losing their homes.

"We need to make sure the drive and focus is firmly on securing long-term homes for families and any individuals who are homeless."

Focus Ireland pointed to the most recent Government figures on homelessness which recorded 7,472 people homeless in Ireland.
A Tory councillor who wrote a tweet during the Eurovision Song Contest in which he referred to Irish people as "gypsies" has resigned.

Nick Harrington, who sat on Warwick District Council, stood down from his position after being suspended for six months by the Conservative group.

He had already quit his role as a magistrate and has since deleted his Twitter account.

In a statement Mr Harrington apologised "unreservedly" for causing "considerable offence to both members of the traveller community and to those of Irish heritage".

He drew widespread criticism after sending the offensive tweet during Saturday's Eurovision, in which he said: "#Eurovision2017 thanks Ireland. You can keep your f***** gypsies! Hard border coming folks!"

The content appeared to refer to Ireland having given the UK no points in the jury voting round, and implied there will be hard border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit.

Mr Harrington also acknowledged he had been wrong to make "ill-judged" comments about athlete Christine Ohuruogu on Facebook last year, in which he reportedly likened her to a black scarecrow.

Meet @nickjharrington, @Conservatives councillor @Warwick_DC. Here is what he felt was a good thing to tweet during #Eurovision2017 pic.twitter.com/LwdM9gIia2  Dr Tanja Bueltmann (@cliodiaspora) May 14, 2017

Conceding his tweets were "foolish" and "thoughtless" he said: "I am devastated that I have caused these events and apologise unreservedly to all constituents of Stoneleigh and Cubbington ward and to the wider public for the offence I have caused."

Andrew Mobbs, leader of Warwick District Council, said he believed Mr Harrington had also resigned from his role on Weston Under Wetherley parish council.

He said: "I believe his resignation to be entirely appropriate.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Ireland's Brendan Murray performs the song "Dying to Try" during the second semi-final dress rehearsal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 on May 10, 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / Sergei SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images KIEV, UKRAINE - MAY 11: Claudia Faniello representing Malta performs the song "Breathlessly" during the rehearsal for the second semi final of the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest at International Exhibition Centre (IEC) on May 11, 2017 in Kiev, Ukraine. The final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest will be aired on May 13, 2017. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Getty Images KIEV, UKRAINE - MAY 11: Volodymur Ostapchuk and Oleksandr Skichko perform on stage during the second semi final of the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest at International Exhibition Centre (IEC) on May 11, 2017 in Kiev, Ukraine. The final of this years Eurovision Song Contest will be aired on May 13, 2017. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Getty Images KIEV, UKRAINE - MAY 11: Jacques Houdek representing Croatia performs the song 'My Friend' during the second semi final of the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest at International Exhibition Centre (IEC) on May 11, 2017 in Kiev, Ukraine. The final of this years Eurovision Song Contest will be aired on May 13, 2017. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Getty Images Jacques Houdek of Croatia performs with the song My Friend during the Second Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images KIEV, UKRAINE - MAY 11: JOWST representing Norway performs the song 'Grab The Moment' during the second semi final of the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest at International Exhibition Centre (IEC) on May 11, 2017 in Kiev, Ukraine. The final of this years Eurovision Song Contest will be aired on May 13, 2017. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Getty Images Naviband representing Belarus perform the song 'Story of My Life' during the second semi final of the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest (Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Getty Images Naviband of Belarus performs with the song Story of My Life during the Second Semi-Final of Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Serbia's Tijana Bogicevic performs the song "In Too Deep" during the second semi-final dress rehearsal of Eurovision Song Contest 2017 on May 10, 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / Sergei SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images KIEV, UKRAINE - MAY 11: IMRI representing Israel performs the song 'I Feel Alive' during the second semi final of the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest at International Exhibition Centre (IEC) on May 11, 2017 in Kiev, Ukraine. The final of this years Eurovision Song Contest will be aired on May 13, 2017. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Getty Images Nathan Trent of Austria performs with the song "Running On Air" during the Second Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Nathan Trent of Austria performs with the song "Running On Air" during the Second Semi-Final of Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / Sergei SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Ilinca ft. Alex Florea of Romania perform with the song Yodel It during the Second Semi-Final of Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Joci Papai of Hungary performs with the song "Origo" during the Second Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Fusedmarc of Lithuania performs with the song Rain Of Revolution during the Second Semi-Final of Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Koit Toome and Laura perform with the song Verona during the Second Semi-Final of Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Brendan Murray of Ireland performs with the song "Dying to Try" during the Second Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / Sergei SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Brendan Murray of Ireland performs with the song "Dying to Try" during the Second Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / Sergei SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson of San Marino perform with the song "Spirit of the Night" during the Second Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Timebelle of Switzerland performs with the song Apollo during the second Semi-Final of Eurovision Song Contest 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev on May 11, 2017. The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 finals will be held May 13. / AFP PHOTO / Sergei SUPINSKYSERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images KIEV, UKRAINE - MAY 11: Koit Toome & Laura representing Estonia perform the song 'Verona'during the second semi final of the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest at International Exhibition Centre (IEC) on May 11, 2017 in Kiev, Ukraine. The final of this years Eurovision Song Contest will be aired on May 13, 2017. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Getty Images United Kingdom's Lucie Jones performs the song "Never Give Up on You" during rehearsals for the Eurovision Song Contest, in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 8, 2017. The first semi final of The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 will be held on May 9. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) AP Norway"s JOWST performs the song "Grab the Moment" during rehearsals for the Eurovision Song Contest, in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 6, 2017. The first semi final of The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 will be held on May 9. 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"He is, however, still under investigation by the police who will no doubt update us as soon as they have made their report.

"I am very disappointed that his comment was made in the first place and by the reaction it generated towards the district council on social media.

"Nick Harrington was not an employee of Warwick District Council and so I would like to add that his attitude and comments are in no way supported by the district council, or are in any way a reflection on the progressive and dedicated staff that work for the council."

Someone just sent me this posted by Tory Councillor Nick Harrington who was sacked last night following racist comments. #nothisfirsttime pic.twitter.com/xVPkAvilLa  Christine Ohuruogu (@chrissyohuruogu) May 14, 2017

Warwickshire Police said it is investigating reports of a tweet posted on Saturday evening.

A spokesman said: "Officers are aware of other tweets, posted on this account, which may have caused concern; these will be considered during the investigation."
Boris Johnson has reportedly been admonished by a Sikh woman after discussing the export of Scotch whisky during a visit to a temple.

The Foreign Secretary used alcohol as an example of the benefits of a trade deal between the UK and India during a Conservative Party visit to the temple in Bristol.

Some Sikh teachings consider alcohol to be prohibited.

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A BBC reporter attending the event at the Siri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in St George reported that the unnamed Sikh woman told Mr Johnson she had experienced alcohol problems in her family.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: He was simply making the point that a free trade deal with, for example, India could be huge for both sides.

He pointed out that in India billions of litres of whisky are consumed every year but there is a 120% (customs duty) on imports of Scotch whisky and wouldnt it be great if we could have free trade.
In March, pro-Remain Labour MP Stephen Kinnock called on the Electoral Commission to investigate allegations that Leave.EU had not declared the role of the firm, Cambridge Analytica (CA), in its campaign

A formal investigation into the political use of private data has been opened by the Information Commissioner.

Elizabeth Denham announced there would be a review into the use of data analytics for political ends amid concerns over allegations involving an analytics firm linked to a Brexit campaign.

In March, pro-Remain Labour MP Stephen Kinnock called on the Electoral Commission to investigate allegations that Leave.EU had not declared the role of the firm, Cambridge Analytica (CA), in its campaign.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) then announced it was assessing how data analytics was being used.

Announcing the plans, Ms Denham said: "Having considered the evidence we have already gathered I have decided to open a formal investigation into the use of data analytics for political purposes.

"This will involve deepening our current activity to explore practices deployed during the UK's EU referendum campaign but potentially also in other campaigns."

Ms Denham said it was "understandable" that "political campaigns are exploring the potential of advanced data analysis tools to help win votes", but said the "public have the right to expect that this takes place in accordance with the law".

She added: "This is a complex and rapidly evolving area of activity and the level of awareness among the public about how data analytics works, and how their personal data is collected, shared and used through such tools, is low.

"What is clear is that these tools have a significant potential impact on individuals' privacy. It is important that there is greater and genuine transparency about the use of such techniques to ensure that people have control over their own data and the law is upheld."

Ms Denham said the investigation was a "high priority for her team" and that she was "conscious" that it coincides with the General Election campaign.

Commenting on the investigation, a Conservative Party spokesman said: "The Conservative Party fully complies with all the requirements of electoral and information law.

"Digital campaigning techniques help ensure that the public are informed, and will drive up democratic participation across society."

Leave.EU's head of communications Andy Wigmore said there was "nothing to investigate".

He told the Press Association the Information Commissioner was under "political pressure ... based on stories which are completely false and a total misunderstanding of what really goes on and a total misunderstanding of the short period, and a total misunderstanding of the Electoral Commission's rules".

He said Leave.EU "had nothing to hide and never had anything to hide ... Cambridge Analytica did zero work for us".

Mr Wigmore added: "This is just another example of political pressure from the Remainers to try and justify why they lost - they lost, get over it."

Ms Denham later told BBC Radio 4's The Media Show: "We have been in touch with Cambridge Analytica.

"We've been in touch with a company called Aggregate IQ, which is based in Canada.

"We've been in touch with political campaigns and other data analytics companies.

"What we're trying to do is shine the light on the use of personal data of voters to target them in some way during political campaigns.

"I think it's important the public understands how their data may be used."

Ms Denham added: "The important part of our investigation is there's been allegations, there's been a lot of trade and analysis of people's digital trails online that then allows political campaigns to serve up ads that are micro-targeted to individuals."

Ms Denham also said the investigation will examine how parties use data in the current election, with data protection guidance refreshed last week.
Theresa May has said Britain still has confidence in its special relationship with the US, amid a series of concerns linked to Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister did not give a direct endorsement of the US president when asked if she had full confidence in him, instead focusing on the relationship between the two countries.

She added the UK will continue to share intelligence with the US after it emerged Mr Trump disclosed classified information to senior Russian officials.

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Mr Trump said he had an absolute right to share facts pertaining to terrorism and airline safety with Russia, with the information, relating to a plot by terror group Islamic State, having been supplied to the US by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement.

The White House has also denied reports that Mr Trump personally appealed to then-FBI director James Comey to abandon the bureaus investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and his Russian contacts.

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Mrs May told a press conference in east London: We have a very special relationship, as you know, with the United States of America.

This is the most important defence and security relationship that we have around the world.

I was very pleased that when I went to the United States shortly after President Trumps inauguration he was able to commit to his 100% commitment to Nato, which is an important bedrock of our security and the bedrock of the security of Europe.

We continue to work together and we have confidence in that relationship between us and the United States that it helps to keep us all safer.

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Decisions about what President Trump discusses with anybody he has in the White House is a matter for President Trump.

We continue to work with the United States and continue to share intelligence with the United States, as we do with others around the world, because we are all working together to deal with the threat that we face.

The key threat, of course, being the threat of terrorism  predominantly from Daesh (Islamic State), but we must never forget al Qaida is still out there.

So working with the United States and others to deal with that terrorist threat is an important part of maintaining our national security and we will continue to do so.
The US Justice Department on has appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election.

The appointment came amid a growing Democratic outcry for someone outside the Justice Department to handle the politically charged investigation.

It followed the revelation on Tuesday that fired FBI director James Comey had written in a memo that Mr Trump, in a February meeting in the Oval Office, had asked him to end an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. The White House has denied that account.

Mr Mueller was appointed FBI director in 2001 and led the FBI through the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks. He retired in 2013.

The Justice Department said Mr Mueller has resigned from his job at a private law firm to take the job of special counsel.

The Justice Department declined to explain the decision-making involved in the appointment.

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In a week when Sinn Fein were still refusing to take their seats in the Westminster parliament, purportedly because of the oath of allegiance to the monarch, it was reassuring to see that party leader Gerry Adams was still able to greet Prince Charles, the future heir to the throne in Dublin, without blushing, or having to brush aside any suggestion of double standards.

The visit of Prince Charles to Ireland as a whole, though not unprecedented, was a reaffirmation of the very obvious affection that he has for all the people of Ireland. His tireless message of reconciliation between Britain and Ireland is something that Irish politicians should emulate in their own roles, whether it be in the Assembly or Dail Eireann.

The fact that he could, once again, greet with goodwill and ease of manner Gerry Adams is an enormous act of generosity, given the cruel murder by the IRA of his uncle, the Earl Mountbatten, in Co Sligo in 1979. The cowardly murder of Mountbatten was, without doubt, a grave personal blow to Prince Charles. That he could meet and exchange pleasantries with someone so closely associated with the IRA is a truly remarkable continuing act of public forgiveness.

Symbolically important though that Royal visit was, the visit to Ireland of Michel Barnier, also last week, was even more important in political terms. Barnier is the chief negotiator for the EU with the UK in the Brexit negotiations and came to Ireland to see and hear from a wide range of people the unique problems for this island associated with Britain's disastrous decision to leave the European Union.

What he was seeking was advice on how to assist getting Ireland and the EU through one of the most difficult processes in our modern history.

Barnier is an experienced politician and does not regard himself as a mere European civil servant. He is a doer, not a theorist, and is intent on trying to achieve practical solutions to the damaging and complex consequences of Brexit, not least the re-emerged issue of the land border between north and south, as well as the sea border between Ireland and Britain.

One possible solution is that Britain remains part of the EU customs union, though leaves the single market. While this could address the problem of free access of goods and services, it would not solve the problem of the free movement of people - especially migrants - which is conditional on Britain continuing to be a member of the single market.

While this would not solve all the problems of Brexit, it could mitigate a number of them and remove the need for a hard border.

Whether the problem of the border arising from Brexit is solved or not, one obvious and negative political consequence is the re-emergence of the border in itself as a separate issue in bold and disturbing terms.

The recreation of a physical border, soft or hard, on this island has reawakened the slumbering giant that has been tranquillised for the past 25 years, since the establishment of the European single market in 1993.

With the ending of the disastrous IRA campaign in 1994, the residual physical 'security' border became redundant and a seamless and invisible border appeared.

People got used to this and were content. Tourists visiting here would remark on how difficult it was for them to determine whether they had entered the north, or the south. Both nationalist and unionist sensitivities were appeased.

But the re-imposition of the border as a physical divide will simply not be tolerated and any such attempt to do so will provoke great outrage among border communities and beyond.

It will be a constant pressure point in our politics and yet another undesirable destabilising factor.

Imaginative technological solutions will need to be found to mitigate the emergence of any new physical border.

A hard border would be akin to a contemporary repartition of the island, a hugely backward and provocative step to take.

In a timely and authoritative intervention last week, the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, was absolutely right to point out in his address to a European People's Party conference in Wicklow that a hard border would be a disaster and should be avoided.

His call for Northern Ireland to be treated as a special case within the EU and to make sure that the common travel area is kept so that people can move freely across the border, was a weighty contribution to the continuing Brexit debate and is to be welcomed.

So, when you're voting in the forthcoming General Election, carefully scrutinise your candidates to see what they will do to advance the establishment of special status for Northern Ireland within the EU to safeguard our uncertain future.
A defendant identified as M.T. (right) hears the verdict and sentencing in his trial on charges of engaging in homosexual relations, in Sharia court in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, May 17, 2017.

Updated at 5 p.m. ET on 2017-05-17

In an unprecedented case, a court in Indonesias only province that enforces Islamic law convicted two gay men on Wednesday for having sexual relations and ordered that they each receive 85 lashes of the cane, despite pleas for leniency.

The defendants, whose full identities were withheld, are expected to be caned in public next week in Aceh province, before the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Lighten my punishment, one of the defendants, identified as 24-year-old M.T., said as he covered his face with both hands after a judge at the Sharia court in the provincial capital Banda Aceh asked if he accepted the sentence.

The judge heading the panel, Khairil Jamal, said the defendant could appeal.

In a separate trial on Wednesday, the other defendant, M.H., received the same verdict and sentencing.

The punishment of 85 lashes for engaging in homosexual sex was harsher than the 80 lashes the prosecution had requested for each man.

Wednesdays verdicts marked the first cases in which gay people were convicted in Aceh for homosexual sex acts since the province passed strict anti-gay laws in 2014, which came into effect a year later.

While the judges said the defendants could be represented at trial, neither appeared with an attorney in court.

Weve been trying to find a lawyer, but no one is willing to be our legal counsel, M.H., 20, told BenarNews from behind the prison bar after the verdict was announced.

The mens families were not seen in court on Wednesday.

He is a quiet and good boy, who performs Salat (Islamic prayers) diligently. Prior coming to Banda Aceh to attend college two years ago, he lived in a pesantren (Islamic boarding school), the father of one of the men told reporters last week.

Defendant M.H. sits as he hears his verdict and sentence, May 17, 2017. (Nurdin Hasan/BenarNews)

Vigilante raid

The men were arrested on March 28 after vigilantes broke into their house and found them in bed together.

The witness peered through the wall when M.H. and M.T. were committing gay sex and then called other witnesses and the neighbors. After seeing what happened, the community decided to break in the door of the defendants room, the judge said.

Using a camera phone, the vigilantes filmed the raid. The video, which circulated on social media but was not presented as evidence, showed vigilantes insulting the pair while one tried to call someone for help.

The verdicts state that M.T. and M.H. had been legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing gay sex (liwath), which can be punished with a maximum of 100 lashes, 100 months in jail or a fine of 1,000 grams of gold. The prosecutor had asked that they receive 80 lashes, but the judges added five lashes to the punishment for each defendant.

The judges said the defendants as Muslims should uphold the values of Islam being enforced in Aceh.

The defendants committed the act repeatedly and it could disturb the community because they can influence others to do the same.

Chief prosecutor Gulmaini Wardani said she would immediately coordinate with Wilayatul Hisbah (sharia police) to determine the time of the caning.

Barbaric act

Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized the ruling, stating, the verdict is a barbaric act.

This is a low point, once again for Aceh, and for Indonesia, HRW Indonesian researcher Andreas Harsono told BenarNews on Wednesday.

He said Acehs Islamic criminal code is discriminatory, violates the Convention on Civil and Political Rights, Indonesias 1945 Constitution and the equality of citizens, as agreed by the Free Aceh Movement when it signed the Helsinki agreement with the Government of Indonesia in 2005 to end the 30 years of armed conflict in Aceh.

Indonesia often claims that it is a moderate Islamic country. How do you explain moderate when there is a caning punishment a la the Taliban in Aceh? Harsono asked.

The chairman of Acehs House of Representatives, Muharruddin, disagreed, saying Sharia law in Aceh had gone through a long process at local and national levels before being enacted.

If it is a violation of human rights  the caning punishment would be impossible to be imposed, he said.

The verdicts were handed down in Aceh on May 17, the same day that the United Nations and LGBT communities worldwide were marking the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

It is unacceptable that LGBTI people face violence and discrimination just because of who they are and who they love, said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe, referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

They are our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our friends and colleagues. LGBTI rights are human rights. We must challenge prejudice wherever we are, Sidibe added in a statement.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo delivers his opening remarks at a meeting of the Movement of Indonesian Islamic Students in Palu, Central Sulawesi, May 16, 2017.

Two men killed in a firefight with security forces in Sulawesi have been identified as members of the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT) militant group, local officials said Tuesday.

The gunbattle took place a day earlier when soldiers on a routine patrol encounted armed men in a mountainous area of Poso regency so remote that civilians can reach it only after a four-day walk from the nearest village, officials said.

Two were shot dead while the other men escaped, said Arif Darmawan, head of the Central Sulawesi Police Mobile Brigade Unit. One soldier was wounded, he said.

Central Sulawesi police chief Rudy Sufahriadi on Tuesday identified the two dead men as MIT members Barok, 38, and Askar, 30, of Bima, West Nusa Tenggara.

They were identified by MIT members who were captured in recent months, police said, and their bodies were taken to Bhayangkara Hospital in Palu, where DNA samples would be taken in hopes of locating their relatives.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo, who was in Palu on Tuesday to open a congress of the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement, instructed security forces to find the members of the banned outfit still at large.

Hundreds of security personnel have been on the ground in Poso regency since January 2015 in two joint army-police operations code-named Camar Maleo and Tinombala.

(The president) expressed appreciation for the personnel of Tinombala Task Force and communicated that we should focus on finding the remaining (suspects), Rudy told reporters in the provincial capital.

More than a dozen MIT members, including its leader, Santoso, were killed as a result of the operations in 2016, officials said. Santoso swore allegiance to the Islamic State terror group in an audio recording released by the MIT in July 2014.

Analysts had described MIT as a remnant of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the al-Qaeda-linked network responsible for the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings that killed hundreds.
Philippine Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano answers questions during a meeting of the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, May 8, 2017.

A senator who defended Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes deadly war on drugs before the United Nations was confirmed by fellow lawmakers Wednesday as the countrys new chief diplomat.

The Commission on Appointments, a joint congressional body, took less than five minutes to endorse the appointment of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who despite losing the vice presidency as Duterte's running mate last year, has acted as his top defender in international forums. In the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected separately.

In a brief acceptance speech, Cayetano vowed to keep helping Duterte achieve his pledge of keeping the countrys national interests, such as territorial integrity and national security, as his top concerns.

Cayetano said he would introduce initiatives aimed at advocating and pushing for our national interest, strengthening our bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries and organizations around the world, and of course the protection, welfare and comfort of our Filipinos overseas, particularly our modern-day heroes.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senates foreign relations committee, noted that Cayetanos confirmation was probably the shortest hearing held to recommend a Duterte cabinet official.

It came following the bodys highly divisive confirmation hearings that led to the sacking of Gina Lopez as head of the environment portfolio early this month. Lopez caught many by surprise when she moved to shut down many mining firms, some of which were backed by political families.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Cayetano was a welcome addition to the presidents official family.

Secretary Cayetanos experience and legal acumen shall enrich the leadership of the Department of Foreign Affairs and promote and enhance our international relations with the countries of the world, Abella said.

Cayetanos appointment also came amid territorial wrangling in the South China Sea, following reports Beijing was carrying on with expansion programs to militarize islands it controls.

Duterte has made it a point to appease China, and has even promised not to raise Manilas victory last year at an international arbitration court that rejected Beijings expansive claims in the sea region. In exchange, Beijing has promised millions in loans and other financial assistance to the Philippines.

Cayetano, however, on Wednesday did not state his position on the South China Sea dispute, despite a report from a Chinese state-run newspaper that its military had installed a rocket-launcher system on a reef it occupies in the Spratly Islands.

The reef, called Fiery Cross and located west of the Philippines, is also claimed by Manila, Vietnam and Chinas rival Taiwan.

Elite background

Cayetano, a 46-year-old lawyer, comes from one of the Philippines well-entrenched political families.

His sister is a congresswoman and he has been in public office for more than half his life, serving as a town mayor before becoming a congressman and senator.

Last year, he campaigned as Dutertes running mate, but lost. Adept at public speaking, Cayetano has been accompanying the president in his travels abroad since Duterte took power last year and has acted as an unofficial spokesman.

The trips, Cayetano said, had given him a chance to meet some of the 10 million Filipino expatriates, whom he said were hungry for change, rehashing Dutertes campaign slogan.

Cayetano also led a delegation of Filipino officials in explaining Dutertes war on drugs to the Universal Periodic Review carried out by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Switzerland.

In the U.N. review, he blasted local and international media for reporting alternative facts related to Dutertes anti-drug campaign, which has killed thousands since last year.

Contrary to what has appeared on the news, he said, Dutertes government has placed human rights in high regard.

Cayetano also questioned U.N. special rapporteur Agnes Callamards surprise visit to the Philippines this month. While the U.N. official said that she undertook the trip in her private capacity, the government contended it was meant to signal that she was biased against the Duterte administration.

Officials have reported this month that 2,692 suspected drug users and dealers have been shot dead in police operations since Duterte came to power 10 months ago.

About 5,700 other drug-related killings were being investigated, many of them carried out by unknown vigilantes. Rights groups said the killings were sanctioned by police, a claim denied by Duterte.
BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a Philippine navy frigate, is anchored near Thitu island during Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzanas visit to the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, April 21, 2017.

Updated at 12:45 p.m. ET on 2017-05-17

The Philippines is ready to deepen cooperation with China, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday as the two countries prepared to open talks in Beijing on Friday over overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Duterte returned to the Philippines from the Chinese capital on Tuesday, where he had attended a two-day international conference at which China laid out its ambitious One Belt, One Road (OBOR) plan to build a network of ports, roads railways and other infrastructure stretching from its shores through Southeast Asia, South Asia and across the Indian Ocean.

The bilateral consultation mechanism  the official name for inaugural talks set for May 19 and aimed at managing territorial tensions between the two nations  could help speed up integration efforts in the diverse region hobbled by conflicting claims to the South China Sea, Duterte told reporters.

This is one step forward in peacefully managing disputes, Duterte said.

Overlapping claims on the Spratlys Islands in particular  a chain in the South China Sea claimed in whole or part by China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan  have been cited as a potential flash point for conflict in the region.

The OBOR, according to Duterte, could complement integration efforts being espoused by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, which also includes some countries that are active claimants of the mineral-rich sea region.

OBOR can be a parallel program or platform for growth in the region. We can use it to stimulate growth and improve market access as it facilitates connectivity and provides much-needed funding, Duterte said.

He said that while in Beijing, he had the opportunity to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

We renewed our resolve to strengthen our friendship and mutually beneficial partnership on a broad range of areas. We resolved to fully use the mechanisms we have established to dialogue openly, monitor progress and ensure implementation of projects, Duterte said.

He emphasized that the Philippines could not risk antagonizing China, which has been expanding and improving facilities in Chinese-held territories in the sea region despite pledging to refrain from actions that could heighten tensions in the area.

Manila frankly cannot afford it and China cannot afford it also at this time, Duterte said. It will destroy us both.

He said he had agreed with both Chinese leaders that they would not discuss an international courts arbitration ruling last year that invalidated Chinas claims to almost all the sea region.

There is a time for me to ask about the arbitral ruling but it is not now, Duterte said. We have to have an agenda, the structure of the meeting and the way how to present our case to them first.

The Philippines, under Duterte, has been trying to placate China after it lost the arbitration ruling last year. And the president has made it a point to distance the Philippines from its traditional defense ally, the United States, while developing warmer relations with Beijing.

His perceived pro-China stance has worried some analysts, who point out that Dutertes moves are a departure from the previous governments strong nationalist stance.

The China trip, however, came as the Philippines was preparing to rehabilitate its facilities on Pag-asa, the largest of nine islands it occupies in the Spratlys chain.

An earlier version contained wrong information about when the international arbitration ruling took place.
Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of Thailands National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, talks to reporters about Facebook access, May 16, 2017.

Thailands military government on Tuesday toned down threats to block online access to Facebook, saying the social networking giant has cooperated in removing thousands of website links to content deemed as violating the nations strict royal defamation law.

Last week Thai broadcast regulators gave Facebook a Tuesday deadline to take down more than 130 posts on its network that were seen as breaches of the so-called Lese-Majeste law and Thailands Computer Crimes Act, or face legal action that could lead to Facebook being banned in the country.

But the government instead will provide Facebook with court orders, and it expects the company to comply, the secretary-general of Thailands National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) told reporters on Tuesday.

Facebook closed over 6,300 URLs in the past three years.  Facebook was very cooperative, Takorn Tantasith said after visiting the Thai Internet Service Providers Association to monitor how Facebook had handled the governments requests.

He expressed confidence that Facebook, after receiving court orders, would shut down the 131 prohibited pages and other content items that are still accessible.

Facebook has a Thai law firm to help translate court orders. Once they are translated and authenticated, Facebook will close the implicated websites, Takorn said.

When government officials believe that an Internet posting violates their countrys laws, they may ask the company to restrict access to that content, said Clare Wareing, a Singapore-based spokeswoman for Facebook.

When we receive such a request, we review it to determine if it puts us on notice of unlawful content, Wareing told BenarNews in an emailed statement. If we determine that it does, then we make it unavailable in the relevant country or territory and notify people who try to access it why it is restricted.

Also on Tuesday, Morakot Kulthamyothin, president of the Thai Internet Service Providers Association, said that Facebook representatives had informed her earlier that they needed original court orders as supporting evidence before they could respond to requests to shut down the web links. She said the 131 links remained accessible.

Constantly looking over their shoulder

Rights advocacy groups view Thailands looming threat to shut down Facebook as the newest effort by the junta to restrict online speech and free expression.

The threat against Facebook means that users will be constantly looking over their shoulder in fear that they could be sent to jail for posting or sharing commentary about the monarchy, Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said in a statement Tuesday.

Last month, the government banned Thais from interacting online with three outspoken critics of the monarchy.

The royal defamation law carries a maximum jail term of 15 years. It forbids anyone from making insults against the king and members of his family.

Since the military seized power in a coup on May 22, 2014, Thai authorities have arrested at least 79 people on suspicion of defaming the royalty, and only bailed out 18 of them, according to local NGO iLaw.

When Thai authorities slap Facebook with shutdown threat, it becomes clear that they are willing to take extreme measures to clamp down on any speech they arbitrarily deem is critical of the monarchy, Adams said.
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As part of Afghanistans four-year road map to double its 17,000-strong special forces unit and bolster the Afghan Air Force, the U.S. will provide Afghanistan with 159 refurbished UH-60A Black Hawks to replace its aging fleet of Russian Mi-17 transport helicopters, according to Afghan and U.S. defense officials.





Ahmad Shah Katawazai, defense liaison and security expert at the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C., told Military Times that the addition of Black Hawks to the Afghan fleet is vital for giving the security forces leverage needed to end the stalemate.





We are in the midst of an insurgency where the enemy is getting tacit support from neighboring countries. Our security forces are under immense pressure as they are fighting each day, on several fronts, with more than 20 terrorist organizations.





The development comes after Gen. John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, testified before the Senate Armed Forces Committee in February that more U.S. troops were needed to help break the "stalemate" against terrorists groups fighting there.





However, the 159 Black Hawks nearly doubles the Afghan Air Force's current fleet of 78 Mi-17s, calling into question whether Afghanistan has the capability to maintain such a large fleet of U.S.-made helicopters. And not everyone agrees that the UH-60 is a good fit for Afghanistan.





Given that it takes substantial U.S. support to maintain the airframes that the Afghan Air Force has already, it doesn't seem feasible that they would be able to support that many Black Hawks without a significant contribution from NATO, Dr. Matthew Archibald, an independent researcher and consultant on South Asian issues, told Military Times.




by

It is common today to hear people talk about a God of love, often connected with the idea that all religions teach about a God of love. In a recent panel Q&A, I was asked Can we call Allah a God of love? My brief answer was no, since he is not portrayed that way in the Quran. For example, in the book God of Justice: A Study in the Ethical Doctrine of the Quran, Daud Rahbar, the late Professor Emeritus of Comparative Religions at Boston University, argues that the primary motivation for ethics given by the Quran is fear of Gods stern justice.

Though it is common to see fear as the essential motive for ethical behavior in Islam, it is uncommon to see that fear directed towards stern justice. It is a fact well-recognized in scientific scholarship that Fear of God is the dominant sentiment in Quranic morality. But that the roots of this sentiment are in Gods stern justice and not in the preponderant malignance of the arbitrary will of a capricious sovereign is a fact scarcely recognized (5). Thus, Rahbar sets out to demonstrate that the conception of God in the Quran is not of a capricious God, but of a God who enacts certain justice.

Though I am unconvinced that Rahbar conclusively destroys the idea of a capricious God in Islam, I did find his discussion on the absence of love in the Quran and the prominence of love in the Bible fascinating.

Nowhere [in the Quran] do we find the idea that God loves mankind. Gods love is conditional (172). In Christianity Love becomes the essential motive principle of virtuous conduct. Why? The answer is simple. In Christianity God is, before anything else, the Father. His Love transencds His Justice. In Quranic thought Fear of God becomes the essential motive-principle of virtuous conduct. Why? The answer to why fear-motive prevails in the Quran is that Qurans God is, before anything else, a strict judge. His justice is unrelaxing. He will forgive none but those who believe in Him and obey commandments. The relationship of love is a reciprocal one. The Quran never enjoins love for God. This is because God Himself loves only the strictly pious. To love God one must presuppose that God is reciprocating the sentiment. And to presuppose that is to presume that one is perfectly pious. Such presumption the Quran never allows. Even the most virtuous men as prophets are constantly reminded that they are sinful creatures who must ask forgiveness of smallest sins whether they are aware of them or not. Side by side with such a conception of Gods unrelaxing justice love for God would certainly be out of place (17980). In the Bible [the] central notion is Gods Fatherhood and his love for mankind. And so it is love between man and God on which all Christian morality rests. In the Quran the corresponding central notion is Gods strict justice. And so on fear of Gods strict justice of the judgement day depends the fulfilling of the law and the whole moral value of Quranic duty (2234).

I agree that love is a central notion in the Bible, but I disagree that the Christian Gods love transcends His justice. Rather, His love leads Him to remain just while providing a way for unjust sinners to become just in His sight. God makes believers perfectly just. Thats why the Christian God performed the greatest act of love possible, and Christians in turn love God.
For Immediate Release, May 17, 2017 Contact: Randi Spivak, (310) 779-4894, rspivak@biologicaldiversity.org

Haley McKey, (202) 772-0247, hmckey@defenders.org 150 Groups Urge Senate to Reject 'Walking Conflict of Interest' Bernhardt for Top Interior Post WASHINGTON One-hundred and fifty conservation groups sent a letter today urging U.S. senators to oppose the nomination of energy lobbyist David Bernhardt as top deputy in the Interior Department, citing his efforts to enrich corporations at the expense of the environment. Bernhardt's confirmation hearing is set for Thursday before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Today's letter says Bernhardt's conflicts of interest, industry ties and questionable judgment make him ill suited to lead the Department. If confirmed as the chief deputy to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Bernhardt would play a key role in directing the management of hundreds of millions of acres of national parks, monuments, forests and refuges as well as wildlife, including endangered species. Bernhardt has been called a walking conflict of interest' for good reason. He represents everything that's wrong with the Trump administration and the revolving door of politics, said Randi Spivak, the Center for Biological Diversity's public lands director. It's clear he'll put the interests of oil, mining and agribusiness above the interests of the American people, public lands and wildlife. From Scott Pruitt to Ryan Zinke, and now David Bernhardt, Trump has assembled the most anti-environmental administration in history. Over the past 20 years, Bernhardt has taken full advantage of the revolving door between industry and government  including a stint as Interior's top lawyer under the George W. Bush administration. At the law firm of Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck he represented big agriculture, oil and gas, and mining companies. If confirmed he will oversee the agencies that decide whether or not to allow mining, fossil fuel and other extractive projects on public lands to proceed. Bernhardt's lobbying firm has a significant financial stake in the Cadiz project, which would pump groundwater beneath California's fragile desert and sell it to Southern California urban water agencies. Pumping would dry up the springs that feed Mojave National Preserve and Mojave Trails National Monument and harm bighorn sheep, bobcats and other wildlife. Bernhardt's lobbying firm couldgain millions of dollars in additional stock if the Interior Department approves the permits necessary for Cadiz to move forward. David Bernhardt is absolutely the wrong choice for deputy secretary of the Interior. All you have to do is look at his record, said Defenders of Wildlife Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs Bob Dreher. His work for the oil and gas industry and western water interests presents irresolvable conflicts with his responsibilities as deputy secretary, and casts doubt on his commitment to stewardship of the nation's lands, resources and wildlife. His past tenure at the Department of the Interior demonstrates a similar disregard for acting in the public interest to protect our shared natural heritage. We urge Congress to reject this nomination. Another former client of Berhardt's is pushing to develop a massive open-pit copper mine in the scenic Santa Rita Mountains in Arizona. The Rosemont copper mine, now owned by Hudbay Minerals, would bury parts of the Coronado National Forest in toxic mine tailings. Bernhardt has also represented Cobalt International Energy, which was sued in 2014 for bribing foreign officials to obtain oil concessions. When Bernhardt represented the Westlands Water District, he lobbied for legislation that would weaken water quality in the California Bay Delta to benefit large agribusiness interests in California and harm endangered species, including steelhead, salmon and the critically endangered Delta smelt. If confirmed Bernhardt would be in a unique position to undermine the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts to follow the best available science and implement proper conservation measures. During Bernhardt's tenure as Interior's top lawyer in charge of ethics and legal compliance, the Department was rocked by a series of high-profile scandals. Department staff interfered with the scientific integrity of the Endangered Species Act, and others were caught using cocaine and having sexual relations with members of the oil and gas industry. In addition, during that time a high-ranking department official was convicted of lying to the Senate regarding former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In addition to the Center and Defenders of Wildlife, other groups opposing Bernhardt's nomination include the Natural Resources Defense Council, Union of Concerned Scientists and the Sierra Club. Collectively these groups represent millions of supporters. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. For more information, visit: www.biologicaldiversity.org and follow us on Twitter @CenterForBioDiv



Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With nearly 1.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org and follow us on Twitter @DefendersNews.
For Immediate Release, May 17, 2017 Contact: Patrick Donnelly, (702) 483-0449, pdonnelly@biologicaldiversity.org Nevada Legislature Affirms Support for National Monuments, Antiquities Act CARSON CITY, Nev. In a rebuke of the Trump administration's review of national monuments, the Nevada Senate today affirmed the state's strong support for protecting its monuments and the Antiquities Act that created them. The Nevada Assembly recently passed an identical resolution, which will now be sent to President Trump. Nevada's Gold Butte and Basin and Range national monuments are among the 27 monuments created since 1996 that Trump ordered to be reviewed and potentially revoked. The Trump administration is out of touch with reality and with the people of Nevada, said Patrick Donnelly, a Nevada wildlife advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. Nevada has demonstrated that we won't stand idly by while our irreplaceable cultural and natural landscapes are under attack. Today's resolution, sponsored by Assemblywoman Heidi Swank (D-Las Vegas), states that the Nevada Legislature wants the monuments to remain protected and supports the enactment and use of the Antiquities Act as a critical tool for protecting the public good by authorizing the designation of national monuments. It also points out that outdoor recreation in Nevada generates about $15 billion in consumer spending and brings in roughly $1 billion in state and local tax revenue. Both measures passed on party-line votes. A 2017 poll showed the vast majority of Nevadans support keeping existing national monuments in place. Gold Butte National Monument protects nearly 300,000 acres of the Mojave Desert, rich with wildlife including bighorn sheep and desert tortoise. It is a sacred and historic landscape to the Moapa and Las Vegas Paiute Indians, who were instrumental in its designation. Basin and Range National Monument protects some 700,000 acres of jagged, rocky ridges and expansive valleys in the transition zone between the Mojave and Great Basin deserts. Home to bighorn sheep, elk and deer, and famed for its Indian rock art, it is a destination for sportsmen, hikers and archaeologists. Nevadans have spoken loud and clear: We love our national monuments and we will put up a fierce fight to save them, Donnelly said. Congress passed the Antiquities Act in 1906 authorizing the president to designate national monuments on federally owned land to protect natural and cultural resources. Over the past century, national monument designations have protected some of the country's most iconic natural and cultural landmarks. About half of the nation's national parks first received protection as national monuments, including the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Grand Teton. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
For Immediate Release, May 17, 2017 Contact: Jamie Pang, (202) 347-3737, jpang@biologicaldiversity.org Senate Advances Legislation to Undercut Environmental Protections Bills Would Let Special Interests Veto Vital Safeguards WASHINGTON The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today marked up and approved two harmful deregulation bills that would make it harder to protect people and imperiled wildlife from environmentally destructive practices. The Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA) and the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (REINS) would significantly change how federal agencies develop rules to promote the public good, including environmental protection. If these bills become law, every federal rule would have to go through elaborate cost-benefit analysis designed to favor industry over the environment, effectively giving powerful corporate interests like pesticide companies and the oil industry veto power over new regulations. This is a disturbing and deceptive attack on core environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act, said Jamie Pang, endangered species campaigner and policy specialist with the Center for Biological Diversity. Republicans know conservation laws are popular, so they use cynical bills with misleading titles to confuse the public. Their real goal is to make it almost impossible to create new protections for our air, water and imperiled wildlife. The RAA would impose 53 new requirements in the rulemaking process, including a mandate that all major rules with an economic impact of $100 million or more go through a burdensome cost-benefit assessment and a requirement that agencies adopt the least burdensome approach to addressing an environmental problem. The REINS Act seeks to transfer authority from the executive branch to Congress by giving lawmakers the final say on major regulations with an economic impact over $100 million. There's a good reason we have laws in place to protect people and the environment, said Pang. If these bills become law, the consequences to human health, the environment and our endangered species will be severe. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
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MARRAKECH, Morocco - The African Cristal Festival 2017 was held in Marrakech, Morocco over the weekend, where Ogilvy Africa was named the continents' Agency and Network of the Year after winning 39 awards.

The Most Eligible Bachelor campaign from Ogilvy Africa for OL Pejeta Conservancy.

The African Cristals are the premier awards programme for the Pan-African marketing and communications community, and recognise the best creative work across the continent. In addition to Ogilvy Africas wins, the latest African Cristal Festival rankings include: Initiative Morocco as Digital Media Agency of the Year; WPP is Holding of the Year; and OL Pejeta Conservancy is Advertiser of the Year.

The Nairobi-headquartered Ogilvy Africa won seven out of a possible 12 Grand Prix awards, including the Festival Grand Prix, the Leadership Grand Prix, the Media Grand Prix, Digital Grand Prix and the Mobile Grand Prix. It also bagged 21 Gold, eight silver and three bronze awards, to emerge top of the table in the continental showcase.

The Most Eligible Bachelor, a global campaign to raise funds for the conservation of the Northern White rhino species, was the most remarkable win, with 30 awards during the festival that rewards the best advertising campaigns created and broadcasted over the African continent, on any media. The Northern White rhino is critically endangered, with only three of its kind left in the world, living at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Madaraka Day, a campaign for Airtel networks won seven awards including three Gold, while King Condoms won two silver awards.

This is a very proud occasion for Ogilvy Africa. The awards are testament that with deep insights, persistence and quality collaborative work, we have what it takes to produce some of the most remarkable work in the continent, said Nadja Bellan-White, chief executive officer, Ogilvy Africa.

Relevant

Dunkin Donuts by BBDO Cape Town.

BBDO Cape Town also scooped an impressive haul at the African Cristals. The agency was awarded the coveted Grand Cristal, which is best of show in Promo & Direct, for the launch of Dunkin Donuts as well as three Cristal awards (Gold) and three Sapphire awards (Silver) for the Dunkin Donuts campaign and a provocative press freedom campaign for media house, Times Media.

BBDO Cape Town managing director Adrian Varkel said that being recognised at the African Cristals with a Grand Prix win is testament to the agencys goal of innovative, integrated and relevant African work.

When it came to Dunkin Donuts, we knew it would be tough to launch an American brand in a saturated and proudly South African market, says BBDO Cape Town ECD Alexis Beckett. This challenge sparked the idea of giving the brand to the South African people who then influenced when the launch happened through social channels, to spur on engagement. Each successful interaction made the store launch move sooner.

According to BBDO group CEO, Boniswa Pezisa, the Dunkin Donuts work highlights the need for strategically insightful and relevant work in a tough market. This means small budgets, limited above-the-line, quick turn-around and reliance on social media and activations. Testament to the success of this approach was the longest queue in Dunkin history and unprecedented demand, leading to our client running out of donuts on launch day.

BBDO Cape Towns Media Freedom campaign picked up two Sapphires in the outdoor category. Were very proud of this work which is in direct response to current scepticism about everything we see in the media, says Beckett. This campaign relied on various contributors and collaborators and in keeping with the theme we gave designers an open brief to express their freedom of speech.

Digital innovation

Liquorice, a DigitasLBi company and digital agency, won nine awards at the prestigious Cristals. The agencys varied expertise was awarded accolades across multiple categories, including website, integrated campaign, viral film, mobile and digital innovation.

Liquorices Dinner on Demand campaign for Knorr, South Africas first recipe chat bot, won two silver awards for both digital innovation and within the food and drink digital category. The campaign is yet another award winning element of Liquorices groundbreaking Whatsfordinner? programme that the agency has been running for nine years across Africa for Unilevers largest food brand, Knorr.

The agency also picked up silver Cristals for OMO Fast Kids and Unilevers Perfect Sishebo iFlava, while scooping bronze Cristals for SA Home Loans House Rules, Hellmanns #RockYourBurger and the Nederburg wine website.

Miles Murphy, founder and CEO of Liquorice, commented, As the African Cristal Awards continue to grow in scale, they are becoming the landmark awards for the growth of creativity in Africa. We are honoured to be the agency that is driving digital innovation for brands across the continent.

Commenting further, Mathieu Plassard, Ogilvy Africa managing director, said, It is humbling that this recognition comes just weeks after Ogilvy Africa won the Africa Sabre for its Public Relations work on Coke Studio, adding to an already colourful cabinet of medals won over the last two years. We are indeed telling Africas brands story, the African way.
Stakeholders forming part of the broader shopping centre and retail industries are gathering at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton today for the annual South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) Research Conference. Sponsored by Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate, this year's event boasts a stellar line-up of speakers seeking to highlight, dissect and analyse industry trends affecting business's bottom line.

Topics on the agenda cover trends in food and beverage, the value of loyalty programmes, an economic and consumer outlook, tenant management and content marketing, to name a few.

SACSC CEO Amanda Stops gave us the lowdown on the importance of the conference to the sector, how the event has grown since inception, and her top retail trends to watch.

Amanda Stops

Describe what the South African Council of Shopping Centres does and the role it plays in the broader retail industry.

The South African Council of Shopping Centres is a non-profit company focusing on enhancing and nurturing the shopping centre and retail industry in the country. We are a membership-driven entity and currently have over 2,000 members representing more than 1,000 different companies in South Africa. Our main aim is to provide up-to-date research, education and provide a platform for our members to network and exchange ideas among each other.

What is the purpose of the annual SACSC Research Conference?

The annual SASCSC Research Conference is an event where important trends and industry information are brought to light for those who attend. The main purpose of this event is to ensure that each and every one who is in attendance is kept abreast of critical information and trends in a dynamic and fast-paced industry. The event focuses on three main areas being the consumer, technology and trends, with an array of speakers covering numerous topics.

How has the event changed since its inception?

The event has definitely grown over the years. When we decided to embark on this project in 2010, our main purpose was to provide a platform for industry leaders to share their research with each other. We initially had a few speakers and afforded attendees an opportunity to share their suggestions and ideas.

Fast forward to current day, we now have even more speakers who will touch on everything from the economy to technology, food to trends. The SACSC Research Conference is about case studies and practical examples that showcase the latest information on consumers, trends and technology in the shopping centre and retail environment.

In your opinion, what are the top retail trends to watch over the next few years?

Various technology trends are definitely top of mind, including paperless invoice apps, drone delivery, etc. However for me, the most relevant and important is the focus on the consumer. Understanding the consumer in a lot more detail, not in generic terms and not by traditional demographics. I think this is going to become even more important going forward.

Then trends linked to food and/or experience. Customers are looking for new, for innovation, for different... and I think SA and the shopping centre industry will embrace these trends to meet the needs of the customer now and in years to come.

What are you most looking forward to on this years programme?

It is honestly hard to answer because I am genuinely looking forward to the entire event as each segment or speaker raises a new issue or brings to light new trends and information. However, to answer your question, I am looking forward to the feedback from our delegates. They are the ones who these events are tailored for and we use their views on the event to construct and improve on the next one.
Cape Town has joined the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global effort to build healthier cities by pursuing a specific policy to reduce non-communicable diseases and injuries by 2018.

In his role as World Health Organization (WHO) global ambassador for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is engaging city leaders to beat NCDs and injuries with smart, proven policies that will advance health and strengthen economies.

NCDs including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and injuries caused by road traffic crashes are the often ignored killers of 44-million people globally each year.

CT focus on diabetes

"In South Africa, 52% of deaths every year are attributable to non-communicable diseases and injuries. We must take bold steps to help our citizens live healthier, longer lives and reduce the economic toll these NCDs and injuries take on our city. In Cape Town, our focus will be on diabetes which is a silent killer and can be prevented and treated effectively through proper nutrition and adopting a healthy lifestyle. I am pleased to join Mayor Bloomberg in this global effort and believe it will allow Cape Town to lead by example, promoting change in both our communities and around the world," said executive mayor Alderman Patricia de Lille.

In low- and middle-income countries, NCDs account for 67% of deaths, but only 1% of health funding addresses them. With the majority of the worlds population now living in urban settings, cities are uniquely positioned to transform the fight against diseases and injuries by implementing policies to significantly reduce exposure to risk factors.

"Injuries and non-communicable diseases are responsible for eight in 10 deaths globally, but small changes at community levels can save many of those lives," said Bloomberg.

Immediate support to cities

"The Partnership for Healthy Cities brings immediate support to cities whose mayors are committed to healthier lives for their citizens and to leading the charge globally to reduce NCDs and injuries. The actions of these mayors can prevent millions of needless deaths and protect the health of generations to come," he added.

Over the next 18 months, Cape Town will work with Bloomberg Philanthropies and implementing partners to reduce diabetes. To support efforts, participating cities will receive technical assistance as needed. As part of the partnership, Cape Town has access to a global network of mayors and the WHO Healthy Cities networks, which will improve collaboration and the sharing of good practices and lessons learned.

Bloomberg Philanthropies is committing $5m to the Healthy Cities Partnership efforts and Cape Town will benefit from this assistance which will contribute towards the finalisation of the City of Cape Towns Diabetes Prevention and Treatment Programme.

For more information, go to https://partnershipforhealthycities.bloomberg.org.
With more than 1 million South Africans between the ages of 20 and 50 affected by adult ADHD, these guidelines will greatly assist those suffering from the illness to receive the necessary treatment and offering patients bargaining power when confronting medical aids on the issue of chronic medication.

Compiled by psychiatrists drs Renata Schoeman and Rykie Liebenberg of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) Special Interest Group (SIG) for adult ADHD, the guidelines include assessment procedures, drug treatment options and the treatment plan for long-term health.

They have been peer reviewed and scrutinised by fellow psychiatrists, and has been ratified and approved by the SASOP adult ADHD SIG, as well as the boards of the South African Society for Psychiatrists and the Psychiatry Management Group (PsychMG).

Schoeman says despite the known efficacy of treatment and the substantial costs of untreated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), access to healthcare and treatment is not a given for many patients in South Africa.

Comprehensive assessment is not possible during the average 15-minute general practitioner consultation, and it is therefore strongly advised that the diagnosis of adult ADHD and treatment initiation should be made by a psychiatrist well versed in the complexities of ADHD and the comorbidity thereof.

If left untreated or misdiagnosed, Schoeman says the consequences of adult ADHD can be detrimental to the long-term health and quality of life of those affected.
Richemont, the luxury goods conglomerate controlled by the Rupert family, hiked its dividend for the year to March despite a crimping in operating margins from 18.6% to 16.6%.

Van Cleef & Arpels forms part of the Richemont brand stable. Ken Wolter via 123RF

Richemont's shares were under pressure immediately after the release of the results, slumping more than 6% in early trading. However, the share recovered slightly to close 5.09% down at R108.34.

On Friday Richemont chairman Johann Rupert stressed the company still had strong cash flows and a robust balance sheet. "I am confident we will deliver proper returns for all shareholders in the medium to the long term. We've been through these [difficult trading] phases before."

Sales dipped by 4% at actual and constant rates to 10.6bn, with operating profits dipping 14% to 1.76bn. But Richemont reported the net cash position improved 8% to 5.8bn.

In the divisional breakdown, Richemont reported a strong performance from its jewellery arm, with sales up 7% to 4.2bn. Rupert said jewellery now made up close to 40% of Richemonts sales. Operating profit in the jewellery segment decreased 11% to 1.7bn, but showed a slight increase if the effects of stock buybacks were excluded.

The specialist watchmaking segment struggled, with sales down 15% to 4.4bn. The operating profit line showed a drop of more than 50% to 226m with the margin (including the cost of watch buybacks) more than halving to 7.8%.

Leather goods increased sales 11% to 779m, while writing instruments (mainly Montblanc pens) lifted sales 5% to 396m. Richemonts clothing segment endured another shabby trading period with sales down 6% to 417m.

Richemont reported strong growth in mainland China, South Korea and in the UK. The group's executives described the past financial period as a challenging but productive year.

"Significant measures were taken, which weighed on short-term performance."

Speaking to analysts at an investor presentation, Rupert maintained the company  which owns luxury brands such as Cartier, Baume & Mercier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels and Piaget  still owned great businesses.

He suggested it would make a big difference to Richemont's profitability if two or three underperforming Maisons could be turned around in the same manner the Van Cleef & Arpels Maison was resuscitated.

He singled out Dunhill as a persistent underperformer. "It is highly embarrassing for me ... at a personal level as everyone wants to know when it will be fixed," said Rupert.

He said a number of bold decisions had been taken at Dunhill and that similar actions should be expected at other underperforming Maisons.

Despite Richemont's strong balance sheet, Rupert discounted the possibility of making acquisitions, adding that the company had not pursued a potential deal with luxury watch brand Breitling.

He intimated it was not the time for Richemont to make acquisitions, reminding analysts that the company had recently retrenched 300 employees in Switzerland.

"Show me a great company that we can buy and run better [than the existing owners]. You must be bloody egotistical to pay a premium for a third-party business and think you can run it better," Rupert said.

Source: BDpro
On Tuesday, 16 May 2017, market research company, Ask Afrika, revealed the top brands in South Africa's townships, with 36 Ask Afrika Kasi Star Brands and 59 potential Kasi Star Brands emerging from the study.

The overall 2017/2018 Kasi Star Brands winner and favourite township brand is Coca-Cola, with KFC in second place, Kiwi shoe polish third, Koo beans fourth and Mageu No 1 fifth. Coca-Cola has been the top township brand for two years running.

Ask Afrika Kasi Star Brands are defined as brands that are used most loyally by South African township consumers. These brands encapsulate a common experience and Kasi consumers are committed to them. The Ask Afrika Kasi Star Brands benchmark is a powerful tool for brand owners to measure return on investment (ROI) in the township market.

The researchers conducted a comprehensive nationwide survey with a sample that is representative of the township population comparing brand usage across 144 product categories and ranking 2,996 brands.

Top brands

The 36 Ask Afrika Kasi Star Brands 2017/2018 are:

Brand loyalty drivers in the Kasi

The Kasi market largely remains a price sensitive market. Its consumers are excellent with budgets and they are receptive to special offers. They live in an unreliable and in many cases an unsafe environment, an investment in high quality brands provides a sense of reliability and assurance to the Kasi household.

The top line trends of the Ask Afrika Kasi Star Brands survey reveal a number of loyalty drivers that brand owners and marketers should bear in mind when targeting this market.

1. Brands are a cheap price for aspiration

Overall, Kasi consumers spend money more carefully than they used to and say that it is worth spending more money for quality goods. The Kasi shoppers always look out for special offers, but if they like a product, they will buy it regardless of price. They are open to trying new brands to see if they like the product, but once they find a brand that they like, they tend to stick to it. Kasi consumers however, will try out a different brand if it is on special offer.

An investment in brands is seen as a cheap price for aspiration. It is important for Kasi consumers that they care for themselves and the people in their household by giving them the best their money can buy.

Kasi consumers expect quality and usually have a brand repertoire within their loyalty spectrum, which they will compare in terms of price points and special offers. They understand the advantage of choice and will choose the best their money can buy. If a brand consistently delivers quality at the right price point, it will be used by Kasi households, says Dr Amelia Richards, account director at Ask Afrika.

2. Proudly South African

Coca-Cola, the international giant, is continuing to enable a customised approach for its brand. The ability of a global brand such as Coke to merge local vernacular with a personal intimate occasion between two potential lovers, is the ideal recipe for loyal consumption of Coca-Cola to celebrate special moments.

Coca-Cola, favourite Kasi brand

Kasi consumers are proudly South African and opt to buy goods that are produced locally, believing that South African products are usually of high quality. They think that it is important that brands act ethically and refuse to buy products from a company that they disapprove of. Kasi consumers support brands that empower previously disadvantaged South Africans.

The Target Group Index (TGI) data has shown that Kasi consumers are very loyal to South African heritage. Tradition and community is important in the Kasi where people take care of one other. They expect the same from brands that they pay money for, says Richards. There is a misconception amongst those that dont know the market that when Kasi consumers become more affluent they become westernised.

According to GG Alcock, this is not the case, greater affluence does contribute to modernisation, yet township residents often stay close to their cultural and local South African heritage  they become Afropolitan. Brands that want to be successful in this space must first understand the culture and then contribute towards it in a meaningful way.

3. Never underestimate the Kasi consumer

eKasi was once a swear word, a place to be feared, but is now a place where life is shared with brands and people that inspire hope, celebrate a multitude of entrepreneurs, community leaders, responsible proactive citizens of both the Kasi and the Emalalini, the rural villages. (GG Alcock 2015)

Living and doing business in African market places require an ethos and connection to the informal, invisible and intangible. It is vital that marketers targeting this market have an in-depth understanding of this continually changing environment and lifestyle. It is important to talk to aspiration, yet to remain within reach. Many Kasi consumers travel into the cities for work and see the way that brands are being advertised there. It is vital not to denigrate the Kasi consumer through inconsistent brand messaging and tone of voice in cities versus townships.

4. Sharing and CSI

Brands that share what they achieve in empowering and uplifting disadvantaged communities through their CSI initiatives will garner loyalty from the Kasi consumer.

Not only did the KFC Add Hope campaign feed 5 million children during World Hunger month, but it feeds 110,000 children every day. In 2016, the KFC initiative included the unveiling of the wall mural on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, increasing awareness for the campaign. The residents can collect seeds from the tree mural on the wall encouraging them to grow their own vegetables and fruit.

Brands that connect and identify with the language, the culture and local style will win over the hearts of Kasi consumers. Respect is inherent in the Kasi culture as are ethics, caring for the past and present, hope and a belief that we will all build a better future, as a collective  brands are expected to be part of this ethos, concludes Richards.
Uganda's Minister of Water and Environment Sam Cheptoris kicked off proceedings in the Water track on the first day of this year's African Utility Week. The first session's focus was on water scarcity in Africa.

The minister said that as an essential resource that cannot be replaced, water must be managed appropriately. He described some of the water-related challenges experienced in Uganda and how various spatial and temporal variables render certain areas of the country water-stressed over long periods of time.

Uganda Minister of Water and Environment Sam Cheptoris

"The country has experienced increasing episodes of dry and hot spells over the last decades and the spread of areas affected have been increasing, where some areas have experienced water shortages, and we have had to deal with them through water rationing," he said.

Mitigating impacts of climate change

"Water scarcity is a real crisis, therefore there is need for actors at country, regional and international level to initiate climate resilient initiatives through innovative water management practices and infrastructure development aimed at mitigating negative impacts of climate change on water resources."

Cheptoris believes that in order to address water scarcity and achieve sustainable development, collective and collaborative partnerships are needed, with particular efforts involving social mobilisation, innovation, knowledge-sharing, as well as active partnerships among all the various stakeholders.

Water-energy-food nexus

Paul Yilla, a research scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria, and chair of the session, delved into the water-energy-food nexus and how silo-based management in the water sector needs to be broken down and discouraged.

When you talk about the nexus, it goes beyond just water, energy and food and could include aspects of population growth, environmental pressures and geopolitical conflicts and how these affect the trade of these resources and the security of these resources within borders, he said.

Paul Yilla, research scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria

Looking beyond borders, many African countries are net importers of food and energy, and even in the case of water, examining how much water goes into the production of commodities, countries are either net exporters or net importers. Policy decisions on these resources have to be made within country borders but influence comes from outside these borders, explained Yilla.

Transboundary management of water resources

Effective management of shared water resources is important for water-stressed regions in Africa. Yilla used the example of the Ruzizi River where cooperation between Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi has seen the development and management of hydroelectric dams, all three of which share in the socioeconomic benefits.

In his presentation, Yilla listed the pillars for transboundary water cooperation, elements of which are found in the tri-national agreement in the Ruzizi project:

Pursuing an integrated approach for shared benefits,

Sound legal instruments at all levels of governance,

Institutional structures and capacity development,

Information exchange - joint monitoring and assessment,

Participatory approach - public participation is key,

Benefits and cost sharing in an agreed and fair manner, and

Sustained financing - usually from multiple sources.

"Most of the time, when people talk about transboundary water management, they talk about conflicts, said Yilla, but there is a lot of potential to move away from conflict to cooperation potential. He concluded his discussion by pointing out that there is far more cooperation around shared water basins than there is conflict, even in history.

The 2017 African Utility Week took place at the CTICC in Cape Town, 16-18 May. For more info, go to www.african-utility-week.com.
Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has stressed the need to urgently maintain infrastructure, repair leaks rapidly and to operate water systems more efficiently in South Africa, if the country wants to curb losing R7bn annually to water losses.

Addressing the Western Cape Water Indaba at Goudini Spa near Worcester on Tuesday, 16 May, Mokonyane painted a grim picture of the countrys water resources, while urging for joint action to look after its water infrastructure.

The situation in the (Western Cape) province is dire and as a department working with the province we are committed to accelerating the Berg River-Voelvlei (Phase 1) augmentation scheme to allow us to divert surplus winter water into the Voelvlei Dam, the Table Mountain Group Aquifer, the promotion of water re-use technologies, rain water harvesting and importantly, draw on our experiences in commissioning the Richards Bay desalination plant to consider possible similar solutions for the Western Cape, she said.

Multi-stakeholder inputs

The indaba, a joint meeting between the national and provincial governments, is expected to provide multi-stakeholder inputs on the current drought gripping the province and to provide professional inputs into the solutions necessary to create a sustainable water future for the province.

Mokonyane said the indaba follows a meeting held in March between the provincial and national governments in an attempt to assess the Western Cape drought situation and to map out interventions necessary to guarantee the current and future water supply of the province in the midst of extreme drought that has affected the province.

Dam levels in the province are at 20.1% with an unoptimistic weather outlook noting that the winter rainfall season may not yield enough rain to immediately improve the dire water situation of the province, she added.

Highlighting the need for behavioural change, Mokonyane stressed that taking a shower is not the same thing as being in a recording studio, get in and get out, she said.

Fast-tracking solutions

Mokonyane said a team comprising officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation, the National Disaster Management Committee working with the province and local government has been actively engaged in ensuring that short- to medium-term solutions are fast-tracked to guarantee the water security of the province in the long-term.

The minister also encouraged municipalities to intensify their operations and maintenance work on water and sanitation infrastructure in the province. Currently as a country we lose over R7bn in water losses and must improve our ability to maintain our infrastructure, to repair leaks rapidly and to operate our water systems efficiently to ensure we save what we have and use it wisely, the minister said.

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille said, in turn, that the water crisis creates an opportunity for the country to emerge as the fastest growing water economy in the world.

She stressed that the current water crisis must be handled in the exact same way as the electricity crisis was handled, and encouraged the different spheres of government, businesses and other stakeholders to work together to find innovative solutions.

Drought and SA economy

Highlighting the impact of the drought on South Africas economy, and especially the Western Capes agricultural sector, Zille said the agricultural sector has been hard hit with 200,000-tonnes of wheat lost in the 2015 winter, and a 15% decrease in fruit production in 2015/16.

Some 30,000 animals have also been sold due to farmers battling to feed their livestock.

Agricultural economists are projecting a R112m decrease in gross value added in the sector, and a possible drop of 1,728 in the number of available seasonal work opportunities, the premier added.

Zille highlighted crucial interventions which required cooperation across all spheres of government.

These included the maintenance and replacement of bulk infrastructure, extension of the Voelvlei and Clanwilliam dam walls; behaviour change; and dual water systems allowing non-potable water to be used for flushing in new developments.

There is no doubt that we are in a race against time but with the right policies and implementation, we will emerge with the necessary solutions and prevent a possible disaster going forward, she said.
The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has beefed up its transfer fund division to stop multinational companies shifting their profits out of the country to more tax-friendly jurisdictions.

Base erosion and profit shifting

So now medium and large businesses with multinational ties will have to supply the revenue service with more detailed reports of their relationships and transactions with entities residing in other countries. This is part of an the international initiative to stop base erosion and profit shifting by multinational companies.

Not only does SARS want to stop this from happening in South Africa, it also wants to stop South African companies from doing the same in other countries," says Di Seccombe, Mazars SA head of national tax training.

A very common way that multinational companies are doing this, is by having their subsidiaries pay them a substantial 'management fee'. The subsidiary can of course deduct this fee from its own income tax, and that money is effectively taken out of the country before there is a chance to tax that profit, she says.

New requirements for SA companies

The Davis Tax Committee has stated that this is one of the main issues of lost tax revenue in South Africa, and has estimated that the amount of money being bled out of the country totals billions of rand each year. Seccombe points out that South African companies will need to take note of a number of new requirements this year, if their tax returns are to remain compliant.

Firstly, the South African Tax Administration Act requires that a master file, which contains high level information of the entire multinational groups operations in a single document available to all tax authorities where the multinational group has operations, and a local file, which contains information regarding the jurisdictional activities of the multinational entities available to local tax authorities within the jurisdiction, is submitted with corporate tax returns.

Transfer pricing audit

Secondly, in the event of a Sars transfer pricing audit additional mandatory transfer pricing documentation has to be kept in terms of the record keeping provisions as set out in the Act and the regulations issued on 28 October 2016. The regulation requires that specific information is kept where the cross-border related party transactions are in excess of R100m or reasonably expected to exceed the R100m for a transfer pricing audit. Other transaction specific information should also be kept for cross-border transactions in excess of R5m that are included in the R100m, Seccombe adds.

Multinational companies, trusts and individuals in South Africa should consider all transactions whether transacted at arms length or not, she says.

Seccombe adds that companies that are part of a multinational group may have their transactions within the group scrutinised by Sars.

Country by country reporting

Another thing to take note of is that the South African regulation for CbCR (country by country reporting) requires multinational groups with a consolidated revenue in excess of R10bn to submit a report as set out in the regulation to Sars on an annual basis for years of assessment 1 January 2016 going forward Seccombe says. The parent entity usually files the report in the parent country, but South African subsidiaries with parent companies in other jurisdictions are still obligated to notify Sars in writing which entity would be filing the CbCR and in which jurisdiction.

South African companies that form part of a multinational group will need to make sure to understand its group structure and its CbCR reporting obligations and get the new paperwork in order by 31 December 2017, concludes Seccombe.
No region of the world has ever moved to industrialised economy status without a transformation of the agricultural sector. Agriculture, which contributes 16.2% of the GDP of Africa, and gives some form of employment to over 60% of the population, holds the key to accelerated growth, diversification and job creation for African economies.

But the performance of the sector has historically been low. Cereal yields are significantly below the global average. Modern farm inputs, including improved seeds, mechanisation, and irrigation, are severely limited.

Tim Hester via 123RF

In the past, agriculture was seen as the domain of the humanitarian development sector, as a way to manage poverty. It was not seen as a business sector for wealth creation. Yet Africa has huge potential in agriculture  and with it huge investment potential. Some 65% of all the uncultivated arable land left in the world lies in Africa. When Africa manages to feed itself, as  within a generation  it will, it will also be able to feed the nine billion people who will inhabit the planet in 2050.

However, Africa is wasting vast amounts of money and resources by underrating its agriculture sector. For example, it spends $35 billion in foreign currency annually importing food, a figure that is set to rise to over $100 billion per year by 2030. In so doing, Africa is choking its own economic future. It is importing the food that it should be growing itself. It is exporting, often to developed countries, the jobs it needs to keep and nurture. It also has to pay inflated prices resulting from global commodity supply fluctuations.

The food and agribusiness sector is projected to grow from $330 billion today to $1 trillion by 2030, and remember that there will also be two billion people looking for food and clothing. African enterprises and investors need to convert this opportunity and unlock this potential for Africa and Africans.

Agriculture as business

Africa must start by treating agriculture as a business. It must learn fast from experiences elsewhere, for example in south-east Asia, where agriculture has been the foundation for fast-paced economic growth, built on a strong food processing and agro-industrial manufacturing base.

This is the transformation formula: agriculture allied with industry, manufacturing and processing capability equals strong and sustainable economic development, which creates wealth throughout the economy. Africa must not miss opportunities for such linkages whenever and wherever they occur. We must reduce food system losses all along the food chain, from the farm, storage, transport, processing and retail marketing.

To drive agro-industrialisation, we must be able to finance the sector. Doing so will help unlock the potential of agriculture as a business on the continent. Under its Feed Africa strategy, the African Development Bank will invest $24 billion in agriculture and agribusiness over the next ten years. This is a 400% increase in financing, from the current levels of $600 million per year.

A key component will be providing $700 million to a flagship programme known as Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation for the scaling up of agricultural technologies to reach millions of farmers in Africa in the next ten years.

Finance and farming have not always been easy partners in Africa. Another pillar of the Banks strategy is to accelerate commercial financing for agriculture. Despite its importance, the agriculture sector receives less than 3% of the overall industry financing provided by the banking sector. Risk sharing instruments may resolve this, by sharing the risk of lending by commercial banks to the agriculture sector. Development finance institutions and multilateral development banks should be setting up national risk-sharing facilities in every African country to leverage agricultural finance. And the African Development Bank is setting the pace based on a very successful risk-sharing scheme that I promoted while Agriculture Minister in Nigeria.

Infrastructure

Rural infrastructure development is critical for the transformation of the agriculture sector, including electricity, water, roads and rail to transport finished agricultural and processed foods.

The lack of this infrastructure drives up the cost of doing business and has discouraged food manufacturing companies from getting established in rural areas. Governments should provide fiscal and infrastructure incentives for food manufacturing companies to move into rural areas, closer to zones of production than consumption.

This can be achieved by developing agro-industrial zones and staple crop processing zones in rural areas. These zones, supported with consolidated infrastructure, including roads, water, electricity and perhaps suitable accommodation, will drive down the cost of doing business for private food and agribusiness firms.

They will create new markets for farmers, boosting economic opportunities in rural areas, stimulating jobs and attracting higher domestic and foreign investments into the rural areas. This will drive down the cost of doing business, as well as significantly reduce the high level of African post-harvest losses. As agricultural income rises, neglected rural areas will become zones of economic prosperity.

Our goal is simple: to support massive agro-industrial development all across Africa. When that happens, Africa will have taken its rightful place as a global powerhouse in food production. It could well also be feeding the world. At this point, the economic transformation that we are all working for will be complete.
In Mahlangu v Minister of Police, the employer laid charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm against Mahlangu, which resulted in his suspension for approximately four months pending an investigation. The charges were subsequently withdrawn.

In Mahlangu v Minister of Police, the employer laid charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm against Mahlangu, which resulted in his suspension for approximately four months pending an investigation. The charges were subsequently withdrawn.

Ordinarily, this would be the end of the matter and the employee would return to work with no disciplinary record. However, this was not the case for Mahlangu, who claimed that the dubious charges proffered against him by his employer constituted malicious prosecution and instituted a claim for damages against the employer in the High Court for compensation of R625,000.

There is no automatic right to claim compensation in a malicious prosecution claim in South African law. The claimant is first required to prove the damages suffered before any right to claim compensation accrues. Prior to dealing with the merits of the claim, however, the parties agreed that the Court must first determine whether a claim of malicious prosecution may arise from internal disciplinary proceedings or whether such a claim is limited to civil or criminal proceedings instituted in a court of law.

English case law not accepted

The employer, relying on English case law, argued that internal disciplinary proceedings are excluded from the law of malicious prosecution and such a claim is limited to malicious criminal or civil proceedings. However, the Court indicated that while foreign law may have a persuasive value, courts should avoid an uncritical adoption of foreign law principles.

In dismissing the English law relied upon by the employer, the Court focused its analysis on the requirements of the South African law of delict, its flexibility and the South African Constitutional order. In doing so, the Court held that the fact that these proceedings were not instituted in a court of law should not be a decisive factor and that South African law adopts a flexible approach in this regard.

The Court went on to state that the charge against Mahlangu, albeit in the forum of internal disciplinary proceedings, nevertheless impaired the good name and dignity of Mahlangu and, according to the Court, it was difficult to see how this type of harm could only manifest itself in the form of criminal proceedings.

Charged under regulations

The Court, therefore, ruled that the charges proffered against Mahlangu constituted a cause of action for malicious prosecution. However, what is crucial is the Courts comments and seeming differentiation regarding the fact that Mahlangu was charged under regulations promulgated in terms of the South African Police Services Act, No 68 of 1995, which governed the disciplinary procedures of the employer.

The Court held the following: There can be no doubt that the plaintiff was charged departmentally in terms of a (statutory) law promulgated in the form of subordinate legislation as opposed to, for instance, a domestic code of conduct which came into existence by agreement only.

Caution needed even in civil cases

The Courts focus on this differentiation leaves us with a level of uncertainty regarding the position of non-state, private employers whose disciplinary proceedings are not regulated under statute. The Court essentially stated that it is dependent on the facts of each case.

The Court held: It is important to bear in mind that not all disciplinary proceedings are of a similar nature. It should, therefore, be pointed out that I have attempted to apply the law as it is found to be, or should be, in the case before me, without suggesting that it should necessarily also apply to all other cases of disciplinary proceedings.

Employers with disciplinary procedures regulated by statute/regulations therefore, may be subjected to malicious prosecution claims, depending on the circumstances of each case.

Where non-state, private employers are concerned, the Courts position is unclear and as such, it seems that it may also be possible for these employers to similarly be exposed to claims for malicious prosecution.

Accordingly, both state and private employers are advised, as should always be the case, to first ensure that any disciplinary proceedings instituted against employees are founded upon reasonable and probable cause, along with the necessary evidence, in order to avoid the risk of malicious prosecution claims.
There has been payroll confusion, since the Minister of Labour announced on 17 March an amendment to the scale of benefits' described in the Unemployment Insurance Act 2001, which had to be implemented from 1 April 2017.

The question is, If the benefits have changed, should the contributions payable by employees increase in step with the new targets?

Problem analysed

Firstly, the wording is misleading. The announcement uses the term scale of benefits. However, the figures mentioned are actually the limits of benefits to which UIF applicants are entitled, ie they cannot claim amounts above this ceiling. The scale of benefits refers to brackets of income previously earned by a beneficiary and the corresponding percentage of that income they may claim at each level. These brackets might not even be affected and the articulation of the change could have been clearer.

Secondly, UIF benefits are perceived to be closely associated with UIF contributions. Therefore, payroll practitioners assume that changes to the first will have a direct impact on the latter. To compound the confusion, changes to both have historically been implemented together on 1 April and the updating of payroll systems is a given. Therefore, many practitioners were led to believe that contributions must be included when, in fact, payroll is not affected at all.

Contributions fall within the ambit of the National Treasury and are governed by the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act of 2002. Benefits, however, are distributed by the Department of Labour and are regulated by the Unemployment Insurance Act of 2001. While each law sets brackets against which contributions must be deducted or benefits paid, these tables need not correlate. This can be seen in a 2015 draft bill raised by then Finance Minister, Nhlanhla Nene, which proposed a reduction in UIF contributions.

Government Notice 187 of March 2015 assures the reader that The proposed contributions reduction would not reduce the unemployment insurance benefits payable to beneficiaries. Although the bill never passed, the notice highlights that contributions ceilings need not match benefits ceilings.

Thirdly, since a different Minister manages each function, an amendment by one Minister does not constitute an amendment by the other. By law, each Minister must announce any changes separately by way of government gazette.

Still, amendments by the Minister of Finance regarding UIF contributions must be made in consultation with the Minister of Labour and the UIF Commissioner and vice versa. This suggests a high level of collaboration and correspondence between the two offices. Surely, at such close quarters, consideration should be given to communicating the status of each law in regards to the other. In other words, the confusion should have been anticipated and addressed as part of the legislative rollout.

Source of confusion

It is the payroll practitioners duty to understand the laws governing their function. However, by the number of queries received by SAPA from parties across the industry, it is obvious that the change was not communicated effectively enough to clarify its scope and implications.

SAPA representatives contacted the UIF in an attempt to offer its members an official response. Surprisingly, the UIF representatives with whom it corresponded assured the organisation that the amendment was applicable to both contributions and benefits.

However, when pressed to provide a gazetted announcement by the Minister of Finance, they were unable to do so.

Currently, the matter is under investigation with the UIF and the organisation has received no further information.

It seems obvious that the source of confusion is a lack of coordination between the relevant lawmakers and their departments, and poor communication to the public in general.

What should you do?

First, do not jump to any conclusions. Last year it was reported that the UIF had amassed a R99-billion surplus. Therefore, they might be in no hurry to increase contributions until they have to. SARS seems to confirm SAPAs thinking, with the existing limits still displayed on its UIF web page at the time of writing.

Next, obey the law. Until the Minister of Finance gazettes any changes to the UIF contribution structure in accordance with the Act, it should be business as usual. Do not update your payroll softwares tables or deduct higher contributions from employees because, without official notification, this could prove illegal.

SAPA will continue to pursue this matter and keep its members abreast of developments. For more information, go to www.sapayroll.co.za.
After the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA) raised some concerns about the implications of the proposed Liquor Amendment Bill, the association has called on the National Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to communicate openly with the hospitality industry around the status of the Bill.

Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, FEDHASA CEO

Speaking at the Food and Hospitality Africa Seminar in Johannesburg last week, FEDHASA CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa said the industry is concerned about the unfavourable implications the amendment bill will have on the industry. He said FEDHASA has also not yet heard back from the DTI after the association highlighted the implications the bill is likely to have on the hospitality industry and the associations suggested recommendations. As it is we dont know where we stand and we need answers, says Tshivhengwa.

The DTI has proposed changes to the National Liquor Act, in a bid to address the high level of alcohol abuse in the country. Its believed South Africa has one of the highest rates of foetal alcohol syndrome and that alcohol abuse contributes to around 130 road deaths every day. The amendment bill seeks to prohibit liquor advertising on TV and radio between 6am and 7pm daily, proposes raising the legal liquor consumption age from 18 to 21 and seeks to prevent the sale of alcohol near schools, places of worship and rehabilitation and treatment centres.

Bill is "un-pragmatic"

But Tshivhengwa described the amendment bill as un-pragmatic and not well thought-out. He said its list of changes, especially the one that relates to raising the legal alcohol consumption limit, will specifically affect hospitality establishments in towns with universities. And if passed, it also means many hotels, guest houses and B&Bs close to a park, beach or promenade and liquor stores in close proximity to a church or mosque would all be unable to secure a liquor licence. According to Tshivhengwa, the proposed bill will be tabled during a cabinet meeting in August.

He said FEDHASA recommended that the DTI implements a single national liquor act, a single provincial liquor act and a single bylaw that provides for the trading days and hours of on-and-off consumption liquor licenced establishments, which can be enforced by all municipalities.

FEDHASA represents the interest of over 10,000 direct and associate members in the South African hospitality industry including hotels, B&Bs, guest houses, game lodges, restaurants, pubs, taverns, shebeens, conferences centres and casinos. The passing of this bill, as it stands will be monumentally disruptive to the industry. And at this stage feedback from the DTI is important, said Tshivhengwa.
SYDNEY, Australia: Australia revealed details of a massive shipbuilding strategy on Tuesday, its largest peacetime naval investment, with plans to construct dozens of new submarines and frigates to shore up its defence capabilities.

 sorincolac via 123RF

Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said the Aus$89 billion (US$66 billion) package -- first flagged in 2015 to replace its ageing fleets - would boost local industry, with up to 5,000 jobs created in shipbuilding directly and double that in the supply chain.

"We will transform our naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry here in Australia, with Australian workers, in Australian shipyards, using Australian resources," he said as he officially released the plan.

"This is a plan for jobs, a plan for security, a plan for the opportunity that investment in our defence industry brings not just today and tomorrow, but for generations to come."

Nine frigates, 12 offshore patrol vessels

The program will produce nine frigates and 12 offshore patrol vessels, along with 19 Pacific patrol boats for neighbouring countries.

It also includes 12 new submarines at a cost of Aus$50 billion, with French naval contractor DCNS last year selected to design and build them at an Adelaide yard, beating off competition from Japan and Germany.

While no specific threat was cited, defence minister Marise Payne said the program was designed to ensure "we have the most capable, agile and potent Australian Defence Force that we are able to achieve".

"The future frigates, the offshore patrol vessels, the future submarines -- these are platforms that will deliver... the capability that we need to ensure we are protecting Australia and our interests."

Better able to "detect, track and, if required, destroy"

Under the plan, Australia's current ANZAC and Adelaide class frigates will be replaced with new ships better able to "detect, track and, if required, destroy enemy submarines".

Its Armidale offshore patrol vessels, designed for border protection, will also be renewed, along with its diesel and electric-powered Collins Class submarine fleet.

Turnbull said more than Aus$1.3 billion would be injected to modernise facilities in South Australia and Western Australia states so the work could go-ahead.

A shipbuilding college would also be established to train workers.

Construction of the patrol boats is slated to start in 2018 with the frigates beginning two years later and the submarine build getting underway around 2022.

Source: AFP
Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has disputed rumours that he is planning to privatise or hand over the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to the bank.

There is absolutely no intention to privatise or hand over NSFAS to the banks. For as long as I am the Minister, no such will happen, contrary to some malicious rumours in this regard. I call upon all stakeholders to engage meaningfully with the discussion document, said Minister Nzimande.

Presenting his departments Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister Nzimande said despite the cynicism of critics, since 2013 to date, more than two million students studying at South Africas public Universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges have been funded by NSFAS.

Since its inception as the Tertiary Education Fund of South Africa (TEFSA) in 1991, NSFAS has awarded about R72 billion in loans and bursaries. A total of 194 353 University students have thus far been supported in the 2017 academic year, with 78 413 covering first time entrances and 115 940 returning students.

Similarly, 123 332 TVET college students have already received support this year. NSFAS is one of the most significant success stories in the history of a democratic South Africa, Minister Nzimande said.

However, the Minister said the department is also acutely aware of the administrative challenges facing NSFAS and is working together with the board to address them as a matter of urgency.

While significant additional amounts of funding have been injected into NSFAS, there is still insufficient funding to support all students who require financial aid and who meet the requisite academic requirements at universities, he said.

Scheme for missing middle

Minister Nzimande invited all stakeholders to engage with the department in a piloting scheme for the missing middle, which is not yet a final product.

He expressed his appreciation for the contribution of the private sector in the pilot, which donated a total of R138 million, and committed to supporting the students until they finish, irrespective of whether government accepts this model or not.

He also reiterated that government remains committed to finding the resources to support students from poor, working class and missing middle families in their quest to access higher education and training, and better their lives.
CEO and shareholder of Jamie's Italian South Africa, Stephen Gersowsky, is one of a group of passionate individuals, with a flare for developing the restaurant industry and young chefs, who brought this renowned chef's brand to South Africa.

Stephen Gersowsky, CEO, Jamie's Italian SA

Gersowsky has worked in the food and hospitality industry for close to 24 years, both as a restaurateur entrepreneur and also a developer and motivator for many brands we all know and have come to love. During the early days of his career, Gersowsky worked closely with the Panarottis franchise, as the regional operations manager for Gauteng before becoming chief operations director for a small restaurant group based in Johannesburg - which saw him handling between 40 to 50 restaurants.

An international taste of the business

Seeking new adventure and an international taste of the business, Gersowsky set his eyes on London where he landed up working for a contemporary Belgium restaurant group which saw him assisting in the opening of a host of restaurants and contributing to their brand development. After a few years in the UK, Gersowsky came back home and opened a restaurant called Zero 932, which was a high-end contemporary Belgium restaurant, similar to what he had worked on in the UK.

Setting his eyes on bigger plans, Gersowsky along with his brother took over La Cuccina restaurant located in Hout Bay, eight years ago, while simultaneously starting a hospitality consulting group with strategic alliances in Singapore, Sydney, and Dubai, primarily working on restaurants and cafes. The aim was to take brands from SA and Australia and develop them in the Middle East.

When asked who he admires Gersowsky, replied: Mentorship comes in different guises. The key thing is to keep learning. I draw inspiration, leadership, and mentorship from a whole host of people from all industries. I look up to people who can grow and develop my ability to lead, to inspire and to give purpose to myself and in turn provide purpose to others. My 10-year-old is probably more of a role model to me than anyone else.

It's more than a restaurant, it's a persona

Gersowsky explains, Jamies Italian is more than a restaurant to me. Its about the persona of the brand. Its about the culture and food ethos that encompasses this restaurant. I love the ideology, integrity, and philosophy of Jamies Italian. At Jamies we are able to work with seasonal produce, smaller farmers, trace the origins of products, organic and free range, and truly understand the originality of Italian cuisine and its flexibility, explains Gersowsky.
At Indaba 2017, Cape Town Tourism will reveal how visitor expectations, trends, and developments are all contributing to dramatic long-term changes in the tourism industry. Building on a multifaceted narrative to be shared by participants at the event, Cape Town Tourism will highlight three areas that will dramatically alter the face of tourism in the years to come:

Enver Duminy, CEO, Cape Town Tourism

Halaal-friendly tourism

According to the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index, Muslim visitor arrivals at destinations (globally) were estimated to be 117 million in 2015, and are projected to grow to 168 million by 2020. South Africa is ideally positioned to attract a higher share of this segment. Cape Town Tourism is engaging with CrescentRating and HalalTrip to tap into this lucrative market, given that Cape Town, with its substantial Muslim community, is well-placed to encourage this.

The rise of the SMME

It is estimated that within 20 years, 90 percent of all companies in SA will be SMMEs. Within the tourism sector, this is encouraging for emerging entrepreneurs, particularly those from an informal business environment. Smaller operators are able to act in agile response to niche demands, providing a fresh take on tourism for visitors. More than tourism, these SMMEs are often community-driven, so the benefits are direct rather than trickling down. This will revolutionise how visitors encounter destinations all year round, helping to counteract seasonality, a rapidly diminishing concept in a country where the gap between winter and summer seems to be narrowing.

Large developments and investor confidence

The opening of Zeitz MOCAA in the Silo District of the V&A Waterfront in the latter part of 2017 gives a hint of things to come. The grand vision that has resulted in this development has shown that great ideas, vision and investor confidence will all aid in driving tourism, through the creation of attractions and experiences that add value to an already rich foundation. The snowball of investment: as the demand increases, so hotels are developed and infrastructure is improved, allowing for greater capacity for more visitors, over and over.

Enver Duminy, CEO, Cape Town Tourism says: The tourism landscape is changing, new interests are emerging and were coming of age into an exciting world where visions are becoming reality. As destinations reinvent themselves to stay relevant, were providing value upon added value for visitors, ensuring that growth in the sector continues. What you see and experience this year in destinations will be completely different from what you see and how you experience it in twenty years time.
Durban will host the Tourism Indaba for the next five years. President Jacob Zuma made the announcement when he opened this year's Indaba - one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African calendar - at Durban's International Convention Centre yesterday.

oldeani0 via pixabay

The annual tourism trade show, which attracts more than 7,000 delegates, showcases the widest variety of Southern Africa's best tourism products and attracts buyers and media from across the world.

Zuma said tourism bodies wanted to attract five million more international arrivals and domestic tourists in the next five years.

"Tourism continues to reform and perform strongly and the future is positive.

"South Africa experienced a 13% increase in international visitors to Africa. We are happy with this growth because tourism has substantial potential for changing people's lives for the better, especially during these economic times.

"Tourism also provides job creation and opportunities for entrepreneurship," Zuma said.

The president said tourism in Africa was growing at twice the global average. "More and more global travellers are discovering our continent.

"They see its value as an exceptional destination for holiday and business.

"We are determined to move Africa forward in this business of tourism," he said.

Source: The Times
In what is the largest transaction Vodacom has done to date, the mobile telecoms group will buy most of its parent, Vodafone's, interest in Kenya's Safaricom in a share-swap deal valued at R35bn.

The deal, which involves Vodacom acquiring 35% in Kenya's largest mobile network operator, is seen as a vote of confidence in Vodacom's management and is part of Vodafone's strategy to consolidate some of its African businesses under the umbrella of its subsidiary.

Vodafone is also likely to sell its majority holding in Vodafone Ghana to Vodacom in future while retaining ownership of the North African assets. This move would give Vodafone a single entry point into sub-Saharan Africa.

Diversifying Vodacom's earnings

The deal also diversifies Vodacom's earnings and reduces its reliance on the South African market, which has a 146% mobile penetration rate.

Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao said in April the group was looking at "improving the cohesion of different operations".

Vodafone will retain a 5% stake in Safaricom but may sell it in future, while the Kenyan government owns 35%. The rest of the company - about 25% - is held by the public.

The transaction will be settled through the issuing of new shares to Vodafone, which will increase its stake in Vodacom to 69.6% from 65%.

"Access to a high growth"

Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub said that acquiring a strategic stake in Safaricom would provide shareholders with "access to a high growth, high margin, high cash generation business operating in a high growth market".

"In addition to producing mutually beneficial opportunities for growth, it will create further incremental value through the close co-operation between the two businesses, particularly in driving M-Pesa adoption across our operations," he said.

He also saw an opportunity for Vodacom to expand its big data and machine-to-machine services in Kenya. While there had been no negotiations regarding the Ghana assets, Joosub said Vodacom would consider it at the right price.

Peter Takaendesa, portfolio manager at Mergence Investment Managers, said Safaricom had a solid business model and could still deliver better growth than Vodacom over the medium term. "It will also give Vodacom better diversification as it will lift earnings from outside SA to over 30%."

But he said the transaction would have been more attractive if Vodacom had entered Safaricom a couple of years ago when the Kenyan telecoms market was undergoing price transformation and "valuation was much more reasonable compared to current levels".

Fits with current Africa portfolio

Chief investment officer at Falcon Crest Asset Manager, Farai Mapfinya, said Safaricom was "high quality and fits perfectly with Vodacom's current Africa portfolio".

"Valuation-wise, the deal appears full to us and only at a marginal discount to market but overall positive and value accretive in the long term," he said.

Also on Monday, Vodacom reported a 4.5% increase in headline earnings a share [for the year to March] to 923c.

Total revenue was up 1.5% to R81.2bn. It declared a dividend of 435c a share taking the total dividend for the year to 830c.

Data driven

In SA, Vodacom added 3-million subscribers taking its total customer base to 37.1-million. Mapfinya said the results were good and generally in line with expectations. There were no surprises on the voice side and the investment thesis continued to be data driven.

While the data traffic surged, prices declined sharply and this was expected to continue.

Vodacom is targeting service revenue growth of a mid-single digit on the back of general improvement in the market.

Source: Business Day
Nampo is not a word unfamiliar to me. As a student at NWU, my friends and I used to frequent this (then not-so-big) agri festival almost every year, funnily enough. For platsak students, it meant easy odd jobs and easy money, with a vetkoek and koeksister thrown in the mix.

This year, however, my trip to Nampo looked a little bit different. Firstly, I didnt arrive in a 1989 light blue Toyota Corolla (don't judge the student car), but instead, in a sexy all-new Nissan Navara. And secondly, I couldn't find a koeksister...

I wont go on about the new Navara too much since I think you already know how I feel about it. However, I felt right at home behind the wheel as we set off to Bothaville.

A trip in this rugged redefined 4x4 pickup - especially the automatic - truly is a dream. The ride is smooth and it was great to give it a go on a different terrain such as the wide-open spaces of North-West and Free State - without hitting a pothole I might add.

The Woodstock of the farming community

Bothaville is, if you don't know, considered one of the top agricultural areas in South Africa. I couldn't help but gasp at the amount of bakkies and trucks parked on the festival grounds. This agri fest has surely tripled in size since I last attended. It's basically the Woodstock of the farming community - bakkies, trucks, tractors, and hundreds of other machines with wheels and engines as far as the eye could see. 70,000 visitors frequent this festival over a span of three days, to give you a better idea.

Driving straight past the festival grounds, we made our way to the airfield where we swapped our Navaras for some spunky Datsun GOs. Even though a little bit tin-like inside, the Datsun GO is small yet incredibly spacious. What also stood out was its impressive ground clearance. I love that it's a simple, uncomplicated, nippy little car and such a fun drive!

Arriving at Nampo in our Datsun GOs, we were met by the Nissan team who escorted us to the stand where we were shown a remarkable display of the NP200, NP300 Hardbody, and the all-new Navara pickup range and related accessories.

Also on the stand, was a full-sized model of the Navaras award-winning chassis. We could inspect the five-link coil-sprung independent rear suspension and the twin-turbo diesel engine, as well as see its design and operation. I'd rather not ask how they got that colossal thing there without a trace of a scratch or mark. Absolutely impeccable.

After seeing Nissan's comprehensive vehicle accessory range and, more specifically, the fully accessorised Navara looking all cool and rugged, I was ready for an off-road trip to the bush.

According to Xavier Gobille, director of sales, marketing and aftersales at Nissan Group of Africa, the all-new Navara was launched with 67 different Africa-tested and approved accessories including cattle rails and heavy duty off-road replacement bumpers, to name but a few.

Cool classics

From here, we make our way to the Bothaville Nissan Museum where we met Freek de Kock and marvelled at his legendary collection of over 80 perfectly restored classic Datsun and Nissan cars and pickups. Also on display was an example of every generation of GT-R and Fairlady Z models to date.

A charter flight back to Lanseria took us over the festival grounds, just to show me the full extent of bakkies, trucks, and agricultural equipment from above... It's truly a sight to see.
OFM, the sound of your life in Central South Africa, is once again leading the way in arts and culture development by partnering with three of South Africa's largest arts festivals - the Free State Arts Festival in Bloemfontein, Gariep Arts Festival in Kimberley and Aardklop Arts Festival in Potchefstroom.

OFM will be the official media partner of all three festivals and will entertain listeners with live broadcasts from the festival grounds at all three.

At the Free State Arts Festival from 18-22 July 2017, OFM will be hosting numerous stage shows at the Albert Wessels Auditorium. At the Gariep Arts Festival from 31 August-3 September OFM will host a number of shows and blue-chip events and at the Aardklop National Arts Festival, from 2-8 October, OFM will sponsor prizes for the best director and actor at the awards function.

Says Nick Efstathiou, OFMs general manager: OFM cares deeply about the arts and we are honoured to be involved at these prestigious events. All three festivals have proven themselves to be quality events that seek to promote current and upcoming artists and to further the arts. We look forward to being part of the strong arts and culture community in Central South Africa.

To find out more about the three arts festivals, stay tuned to OFM for interviews leading up to and during the events as well as ticket giveaways.




The deadline to enter the Loeries has been extended to 31 May, giving marketers and agencies an extra two weeks to be part of Africa and the Middle East's biggest creative awards.

With entry categories that include all spheres of the brand communication landscape from film and video, to architecture and design, PR, digital and even shared value and service design - the Loeries anticipates over 3000 entries from more than twenty countries that will be judged by industry experts and global thought leaders.

This year the Loeries have introduced a number of new awards including the SANBS Public Service Award and the Facebook Challenge in the Student Awards category.

Said Loeries CEO, Andrew Human, this is the last opportunity for brands to showcase their best work and be recognised across our region. All work produced up to 31 May can be entered.

For more information and how to enter go to loeries.com

Loeries Creative Week takes place in Durban from 14  20 August 2017, with the awards ceremonies on Saturday, 19 August and Sunday, 20 August.

About Loeries Africa Middle East

The Loeries, a non-profit company, is Africa and the Middle Easts premiere initiative that recognises, rewards, inspires and fosters creative excellence in the brand communication industry. As the highest accolade for creativity and innovation across our region, the Loeries promotes and supports creativity by helping marketers, agencies and consumers appreciate the value of ideas and fresh thinking.

Culminating in the biggest creative gathering in Africa and the Middle East, Loeries Creative Week Durban brings together the best innovative minds from our industry for a festival of networking, inspiring minds and recognising great work.

Our region's creative economy is world-class and has great potential to grow and to offer employment to our talented youth. The growth occurring throughout Africa and the Middle East is very exciting, and a major focus of the Loeries is to increase the standard of brand communication in the region.

Major partners of the Loeries 2017

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN), the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, KwaZulu-Natal Province (EDTEA), eThekwini Municipality  Durban Tourism, DStv Media Sales, Gearhouse Group

Category partners

AB InBev, Accenture, Channel O, Facebook, Gagasi FM, Google, JCDecaux, SANBS, The Times, Unilever South Africa, Woolworths

Additional partners and official suppliers

AAA School of Advertising, Antalis South Africa, Aon South Africa, Association of Practitioners in Advertising, Backsberg, BEE Online, Circus Circus Beach Cafe, DDB South Africa, First Source, Fresh RSVP Guest Logistics, Funk Productions, Gallo Images, Graphica, Grid Worldwide, HelloCrowd, Hetzner, Multiprint Litho, Newsclip, Paygate, Paul Shiakallis Photography, Rocketseed, Scan Display, Shift Social Development, South African Airways, Total Exposure, Tsogo Sun, Vega School, VQI

Official media partners

Between 10and5, Bizcommunity.com, Book of Swag, Campaign Middle East, CliffCentral.com, Coloribus Advertising Archive, Film & Event Media, Goliath and Goliath, iDidTht.com, Leading Architecture and Design, Marketing Edge Nigeria, Marketing Africa, Media Update, The Redzone, YouTube








To sustain a population of 9.7 billion people by 2050, the world is going to need innovations that make careful use of the available resources, human and environmental. Key industry sectors such as energy, water, agriculture and transport are already under pressure to move to more sustainable methods of production and consumption. However, there are barriers in the way.

One of these lies in how the world manages the creation and ownership of inventions and ideas. A protectionist approach to intellectual property is designed to protect and prolong the lifecycle of existing technologies, and allow innovators to capture the profits from their creations. In a paper published with colleagues from universities in Germany and India, we examined how this also makes it harder for new and more sustainable technologies to be developed and adopted. That explains why there are now other approaches being used to move key sectors to more sustainable systems and end this status quo.

Electric car manufacturer Tesla, has been doing just that. Tesla CEO Elon Musk shocked the world in 2014 when he announced that his company was joining the open source movement and giving away its patents for free.

It is important to understand the rationale here. Why would a company that had worked so hard to develop and protect its technology from its global car manufacturer competitors suddenly give its technology away for free?

Switching track

Tesla initially developed a patent portfolio to protect its technology. However, Teslas concern that it would be overwhelmed once established car makers ramped up their production of electric cars never came to pass.

Instead, it saw the electric car market stagnate at less than 1% of total vehicle sales. So Tesla changed its strategy from trying to prevent others from building electric cars to trying to encourage them into the market.

Part of the reasoning here is that if more electric cars are built, then more battery recharging stations will be built too. This would make electric cars become more visible, and a more conventional choice. Tesla believes that an open intellectual property strategy can strengthen rather than diminish its position by building the size of the electric car market, and as a result, build its own share of the total automotive market.

This kind of careful management of intellectual property at company level, supported by policy-level awareness, can be a powerful way to support the same kinds of transitions to more sustainable technologies in other industries too.

Chiu Ho-yang/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA

Energy supply faces an array of difficulties: the depletion of natural resources; air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions; nuclear risks; and security of supply. The water supply sector is restricted by water scarcity, pollutants, extreme environmental events such as flooding and costs associated with supplying water to communities in poor countries and remote communities. The agri-food sector, meanwhile, is under pressure to sustainably produce more food and to address malnutrition in poor countries.

For these industries to navigate a path around these problems, new knowledge and the innovations that follow will be essential. And in knowledge economies, intellectual property can either be an enabler or an inhibitor.

Taking the medicine

If the ownership of intellectual property is fragmented in an industry, it can slow down technology innovation and uptake, such as in the electronics industry where multiple players own complementary patents. However, firms can instead open up their innovation processes and move away from jealously guarded, internal cultures, where intellectual property is used to protect and prolong lifecycles. This change may see knowledge sharing that leads to accelerated innovation cycles and a more rapid uptake of sustainable alternatives throughout a sector: just what Tesla was hoping for in electric vehicles.

This approach to intellectual property, so-called open IP, is well advanced and mature in the software industry and healthcare. It has given access to life-saving medicines to millions of people, particularly in developing countries through patent pools, such as the Medicine Patent Pool. This kind of project relies on multinational pharmaceutical companies sharing their intellectual property, but small companies can also play a strategic roles in creating these new, more sustainable systems, and its not all about open IP.

DFID /Flickr, CC BY

As progress in technology is cumulative, there will always be phases of closed IP for small companies to build up their portfolio. This can also be a strategy designed to make a social impact. Take Nutriset, which manufacturers food for famine relief. It protects both its invention, PlumpyNut, and its entire business model by patents. PlumpyNut is a peanut-based paste for the treatment of severe malnutrition and can be administered at home rather than through a supervised hospital treatment. As a result it can treat more patients.

Nutriset says that it uses patents to enable the development of local production plants for PlumpyNut and to protect those in emerging nations from being taken over by global manufacturing sites in more developed countries. The local production of PlumpyNut helps with creating skills and employment in the regions where Nutrisets product is most needed.

An open approach to intellectual property has clear advantages in popularising and establishing new and widespread sustainable technologies, but there is a rationale in some cases for sticking to the more traditional approach. The trick now is to discover when and where different sectors and innovators deploy each strategy. The grand open IP gestures in the mould of Tesla can force through rapid structural advances; a small peanut paste supplier shows that patent protection can still help put the building blocks in place.
As from 17 May 2017, Brendan Seery will be taking up the post of acting deputy editor at The Citizen. He will be tasked with assisting in the running of the news operation.



Seery will no longer run his Orchids and Onions column, Weekend Wheels motoring writing and travel pieces in the Saturday Star, however, Seery's previous works and Urban Worrier column will be on offer in The Citizen.
The 225-megawatt Myingyan gas-fired power plant in Mandalay is scheduled for completion in May 2018. Singapores Sembcorp Industries signed a 22-year, built-operate-transfer contract for the project in January.

According to a statement from Sembcorp, under the power purchase agreement signed in March 2016, the plants entire power output will be sold to the Electric Power Generation Enterprise.

The plant joins two others in Thaungtha township: 90-megawatt gas-fired plant built by Agrico Company and a 133-megawatt gas-fired plant built by V-power Company.

Sembcorps US$300 million Myingyan plant will be powered by Shwe natural gas from Rakhine State.

U Chan Myae Aung, an electrical engineer from Kyaukphyu township, said on a daily basis 100 million cubic feet from Shwe Natural Gas will be split between an 80-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Kyaukse township, the three power plants in Thaungtha township and a gas-fired power plant in Kyaukphyu township.

Power is currently distributed to ten wards in Kyaukphyu ... Two more villages were recently added so it is now being distributed to 47 villages, he told Narinjara News.



Translated by Thida Linn

Edited Laignee Barron
The 24-bed, Taw Naw Teaching Hospital will train local healthcare practitioners and help boost local public health services, according to Global Neighbors Canada Inc.

Padoh Saw Eh Klu Shwe Oo, head of Karen States Department of Health and Welfare, said the Taw Naw Teaching Hospital in Kawkareik township is the first hospital to open since the KNU and the government signed a ceasefire in 2015.

There are over 60 clinics in our Karen area. This hospital was opened to provide medical training to health staff from these clinics, he said at the May 13 opening ceremony.

The launch was attended by Saw Thamain Htun, a central executive committee member from the KNU, as well as U Aung Lwin, State Minister of Security and Border Affairs. State government representatives, Karen State police officers and members of local civil society organizations were also present.

[The hospital] will help ensure the health of local residents. We are very happy, said local Saw Mya Aye.

At the launch event, the Karen State Police set up a crime education booth displaying information about murder, robbery, kidnapping, rape and theft cases from the states seven townships. The police also provided information about vehicle licensing and road safety.

Another training hospital is under construction in Nyaunglebin District, where the state health department is planning to train both nurses and health assistants.



Translated by Thida Linn

Edited by Laignee Barron
The township administrator sued area farmers in January for trespassing on the disputed 77 acres, while the farmers claim to have long tilled the plot, unaware of any plan to put up government offices.

Loikaw Township Administrator U Kyaw Moe told the Kantarawaddy Times that the process of measuring the land and preparing to build will continue to move forward despite the opposition, as he is confidant the land was already allocated for the project years ago.

The town plan was written in 2013. This land has been allocated for 34 government buildings, he said.

Kayah (Karenni) State Farmer Tar Moi said that the farmers working the land were never informed about the office arrangements.

Some of the local residents said the government incorrectly identified plot 154 as field 166, which they claim has caused the confusion.

Another local resident, Saw Lu Ku, said a portion of the disputed acreage is owned by the Peoples Militia (Hoya area), formerly known as the Karenni National People's Liberation Front (KNPLF), and their family members.

He said the military government had previously confiscated the land for alleged security reasons.

But U Aung Phyo Thaw, head of the Loikaw Township Farmland and Land Records Department, refuted the farmers accounts. He said the 77 acres were registered as field number 166 in the official records.

The Loikaw District Administrator claims to have invited the farmers to negotiate an agreeable resolution to the land issue in December 2015. But the in July 2016, the Loikaw Township General Administration Department posted a notice warning against trespassing on the land, which it said was allocated for the slated government offices. The department announced that action would be taken against any violators under Section 188 of the Penal Code.

On May 9, the farmers reported the land dispute to the State Counsellors Office.



Translated by Thida Linn

Edited Laignee Barron
The Myanmar delegation was led by former Myanmar ambassador to India U Wunn Lwin and member of MISIS and academics and researchers while the Chinese side was led by Mr He Zukun who is President and Secretary of the CPC Committee of YASS/Chinese Academy of South and Southeast Asian Studies (Kunming).

More than a hundred academics, researchers, media representatives, civil society representatives, and non-governmental organizations from Myanmar and China participated in the forum.

The delegates made presentations and offered perspectives on a range of issues from historical ties and cultural exchanges between Myanmar and China, and the economic cooperation of both countries, to China-Myanmar political relations and foreign policy.

During the forum, the Myanmar delegation also visited the border points 61 and 71 of Myanmar and China as well as visited the site in Mangshi where the Friendship Tree was plated by former Prime Minister of Burma U Ba Swe and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in 1956.
On April 11, more than 4,000 Mong Kungs residents staged a protest against the coalmine operations. Two days later, company representatives met with local community leaders and pledged to cease all mining activities.

They didnt keep to the agreement. They are still there, said Sao Ekka Sina, a Buddhist monk who was one of the demonstration organizers. They now have RCSS soldiers guarding the site.

Speaking to Shan Herald today by telephone, he said, So, yesterday we went to meet their manager, Okka Kyaw Thu, to discuss this issue. He simply told us that they will not move out.

Now they have erected fences, which have warnings written in both Shan and Burmese languages, saying: Outsiders may not enter.

General Yawd Serk, the chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), spoke out on the matter during a Shan National Day speech on February 7, saying that for any such operation to proceed, it needs the support of the local people.



Coal-mining site in Mong Kung Township, southern Shan State

Monk and protest organizer Sao Ekka Sina said that if the two mining firms insist on continuing their operations, the residents of Mong Kung will continue protesting and holding demonstrations.

He said that the next rally will be huge, with youth groups from across Shan State invited to attend.

We will continue to protest, he said. If we dont, all our paddy fields near the mining site will be destroyed.

Sai Long, an MP from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) representing Mong Kung Township Constituency No. 2, said he is following the situation closely.

The monks are investigating the case, and if the order [to continue mining operations] came from local authorities, the protesters will talk with them, he said. If the order is from [RCSS headquarters] Loi Tai Leng, they will go and talk to the leader there.

The Pyae Aung Hein and Hein Mitter companies were granted permission by the central government in Naypyidaw in 2014 to launch coal-mining projects in Mong Kung Township, which is in Loilem district, southern Shan State. But the mines were soon suspended after growing opposition from local residents. They restarted operations again in January this year.

The coal-mining operations would cause irreparable damage to 2,000 acres of land, including conifer forests, mountains and farmland, said local sources.

By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
Our people had to abandon their homes because of the fighting, said Nang Jarm Hom, an MP from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) representing Namtu Township Constituency No. 2. Around 300 fled to Namtu town on May 11 from Zaikhao tract.

They are now staying at Shwe Minta Temple, she added.

The only thing we can do now is use the food that was previously donated to take care of them, Nang Jarm Hom told Shan Herald. But we need humanitarian support because the villagers who fled fighting in Mantong Township last year are still here. Now more refugees are pouring in. They need help. They need supplies.

The TNLA recently posted on its News and Information Department website that fighting broke out in Namtu, Mongmit, Kutkai and Mantong Township between its troops, the Burmese army and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA).

The TNLA, also known as the Palaung Army, was among six armed groups  alongside the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA); Arakan Army (AA); Lahu Democratic Union (LDU); Arakan National Congress (ANC); and Wa National Organization (WNO)  that was excluded from signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in 2015 with the then ruling government led by President Thein Sein.

According to Myanmar Peace Monitor, in 2016 a total of 309 clashes broke out between the Burmese armed forces and TNLA troops in northern Shan State.

On April 10, Shan Herald reported that three villagers were reportedly killed amid fighting between the TNLA and government forces in Kyaukme Township. And earlier this month, an old woman was shot dead and three others injured in Namkham Township. Both incidents occurred in northern Shan State.

We cant do anything with this fighting going on, said Shan lawmaker Nang Jarm Hom. We are helping the villagers as much as we can. But what we really need is an end to these hostilities.

By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
PR Newswire

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from the outside, with its high minarets and bulbous Mughal-style dome, the Wilmersdorf mosque, located on Brienner Street in southwest Berlin, looks much the same as it did when it was built in the 1920s. But the institution, just like the city around it, has changed.





Today, the mosque is a quiet place. It mainly serves as an information center: School children sometimes visit on field trips; it hosts interfaith brunches. A small community of Muslims regularly show up for Friday prayer. Its all a far cry from the days when the Wilmersdorf mosque was the lively center of a spiritual countercultural movement in the Weimar Republic.

T

he Ahmadiyya missionaries from British Indias Punjab region who built the mosque attracted a varied crowd in 1920s Berlin, hosting lectures that tapped into the philosophical questions of the day. Topics included the growing gap between life and doctrine; the future of Europe; and the future of humanity as a whole. Germans of all ages, wrestling with their profound disillusionment in Christian civilization in the wake of World War I and seeking a religious alternative that was modern and rational, as well as spiritual, attended these lectures, and many of them ultimately converted to Islam.





Its an odd scene to imagine in todays Germany, where the right-wing Alternative for Germany party has called for a ban on burqas and minarets, and more than half of Germans say they view Islam as a threat. But in the interwar period, Berlin boasted a thriving Muslim intelligentsia comprising not only immigrants and students from South Asia and the Middle East but German converts from all walks of life. Islam, at the time, represented a countercultural, even exotic, form of spirituality for forward-thinking leftists: Think Buddhism, in 1970s California.





Germans were no exception in displaying this kind of openness and even fascination with Islam. The early 20th century saw the emergence of the first Muslim communities and institutions in Western Europe and, with them, came converts in Britain and the Netherlands, as well. Its a virtually forgotten period of history  but one of particular relevance today, as the relationship between Islam and Europe is increasingly marked by wariness and at times outright hostility.





Even the more nuanced discussions about Islam in Europe  those that take into account the structural factors that have marginalized the continents Muslim populations  still, for the most part, treat the presence of the religion as a new and thorny phenomenon, something foreign to European cultural and political life as we know it. But a look back at the early 20th century  primarily the period after the first wave of Muslim immigration to Europe in the wake of World War I  shows that not so long ago Western Europe and Islam had a very different relationship, one characterized by curiosity on the part of citizens and almost a sort of favoritism on the part of governments. At the same time that European citizens were experimenting with an exotic eastern religion, European governments were providing special treatment for Muslim citizens and catering to them in ways that might at first glance seem surprising: The secular French government spent lavishly on ostentatious mosques, while Germany sought to demonstrate its superior treatment of Muslims, when compared to France and Britain. Examining this past serves as a reminder that not only is this not a new encounter, but the relationship between Western Europe and Islam was not always what it is today and may not always look this way in the future.





The history of Muslims and Islam in Western Europe is both older and more entangled than many think, and acknowledging this helps us imagine a future in which Muslims can be seen as an integral and equal part of European public life, rather than timeless or threatening outsiders.

-

Before the continent started banning hijab, European aristocrats used to change their names to Abdullah and Muhammad, and going to the local mosque was the latest trend.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/05/2017 (2002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Police Service honoured some of its best in blue on Tuesday, including Const. Marc DeDecker, who managed to subdue a suspect despite being stabbed several times in November, 2015.

DeDecker was stabbed by William Jonathan Mini with a paring knife seven times  twice in the torso through his protective vest, and five times in his upper leg on Nov. 30, 2015. DeDecker initially caught up to Mini outside of Brandon University following a report that a man had set fires inside his suite at the Uturn 3 building.

During the arrest, Mini fought and stabbed DeDecker who was still able to complete the arrest before going to hospital to be treated.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Const. Russ Paterson is congratulated by Brandon Police Service Chief Ian Grant while receiving a Distinguished Service Medal during Tuesdays ceremony. Patterson was recognized for 12 years of service.

Mini has since received seven years for his part.

Yesterday, the afternoon event honoured DeDecker and several other BPS officers. It also recognized several citizens who have worked to assist the police.

We are particularly proud of the Brandon Police Service, Mayor Rick Chrest said greeting the crowd. All of their members, all of the civilian employees, and all of the people in the community who either volunteer, or take part in all aspects of helping Brandon Police Service carry out their role of keeping us protected.

Doug Hunt was one of many who were honoured with an award after he caught a suspect breaking into a vehicle on Grassland Crescent. Hunt chased and detained the suspect until police arrived and the man was taken into custody. It was also discovered that the man had broken into numerous other vehicles and was in possession of hundreds of dollars worth of stolen property.

Brock Ludwig, Joe Hamilton, and Randall Thiessen were honoured for the role they played in helping save a woman who was about to jump from the Eighth Street bridge.

Shay Boeve received an award for noticing a woman preparing to jump from the First Street bridge. According to the report, Boeve began talking with the woman, while Peter Boeve and Miranda Sadler directed traffic away from the scene to keep officers and civilians safe. Boeve, with the assistance of BPS officers, was able to get the woman back over the railing to safety. Const. Karen Raga and Const. Myran Hamm were also singled out for their role in the incident.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) Licensed practical nurse Krista Andronick receives a Citizen Recognition Award from Brandon Police Service Chief Ian Grant during Tuesday's ceremony afternoon. Andronick received the award for assisting with CPR at the scene of a car accident.

Krista Andronick was honoured after she helped police officers  Const. Myriam Lumgair, Const. Denis Dufault and Const. Yaroslav Trokhym  who were called to scene of a car accident where a man was not breathing and in need of medical attention. Officers began CPR and shortly after were approached by Andronick, who is a nurse. Andronick performed CPR until emergency services attended. The man regained consciousness as a result of the aid.

I didnt realize (he was OK) until about 45 minutes after, Andronick said. The police officer actually called me and told me that he was alive. You dont even know how to feel until after.

Lumgair, Dufault and Trokhym were also honoured for performing CPR.

Correctional officers Colin Calcut and Derek Little were honoured after the pair was able to identify a suspect, who, earlier this spring, took part in several armed robberies, one of which resulted in life-threatening injuries to a victim. The correctional officers identified the man in a video clip obtained by police from a local business.

Const. Earl Preston was honoured for the role he played after finding two robbery suspects fighting in Brandon. Preston, who was off-duty at the time, was able to get control of the suspects who were detained outside a convenience store on 10th Street. He also directed bystanders until the suspects were taken into custody.

Sgt. Brian Partridge, Const. Chris James, Const. Rob Gale and Const. Bruce Verhelst were honoured for 20 years of service with a Canadian police agency; while Const. Neil Bradshaw, Const. Russ Paterson, and Const. Lucien Ethier were recognized for 12 years of service.

Brock Ludwig of Brandon has his photo taken with Brandon Police Service Chief Ian Grant during Tuesday's ceremony. Ludwig received a Citizen Recognition Award for helping to save a woman who was about to jump from the Eighth Street bridge.

The award ceremony was part of Police Week which runs from May 15-21. Police Week is recognized nationally, with police and RCMP detachments from across Canada taking part in a number of activities with the public.

 The Brandon Sun
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When police confronted a man suspected of having some stolen cash that included old Canadian bills, he didn't want to "show them the money."

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/05/2017 (2002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One of Brandons busiest intersections will get a major overhaul this summer, resulting in a safer area for pedestrians and motorists alike, according to Manitoba Infrastructure.

As Brandon continues to grow, more pressure is being put on the intersection of Victoria Avenue and 34th Street, which has prompted the improvements.

Manitoba Infrastructure officials presented the proposed plan to city council earlier this week. The biggest issue identified are the left-turn lanes.

Manitoba Infrastructure Major upgrades are planned for one of Brandon's busiest intersections  34th Street and Victoria Avenue. This map provided by Manitoba Infrastructure shows the slotted left-turn lanes, which will make navigating through the intersection much safer. Plans also include more pedestrian-friendly features.

The existing intersection is substandard, its very narrow. Anytime youre making a left turn off of 34th Street onto Victoria, you cant see whats happening the other way, its way too tight, said MI regional director Herb Mahood.

There is a small island on the southeast corner of the intersection, which means a pedestrian can have traffic going by on all three sides.

You can imagine what its like if youre there with a stroller, or you have a mobility device, said Denise Jubenvill, technical services engineer with MI. It doesnt really provide you that feeling of safety.

A traffic count, conducted in 2013, found that roughly 11,000 vehicles travel through the intersection on Victoria Avenue per day, with a similar number on 34th Street.

There are a number of improvements planned, including the creation of slot left-turn lanes on Victoria. This type of lane can also be found at First Street and Kirkcaldy Drive.

On both the south and north sides of the intersection, there will be a left-turn bay.

Were going to move them so theyre offset from each other, so when you are sitting there and want to make a left turn, you can see the oncoming traffic, Jubenvill said.

A left-turn bay will be added south of the intersection, on the southbound lane of 34th Street, for vehicles turning into Sunset Square. There will also be one north of the intersection, for vehicles turning left into WestVic Common.

The island will be removed, to ensure vehicles come to a complete stop. There will be countdown timers installed for pedestrians as well. The plan also proposes a new intersection at Victoria Avenue and 36th Street. A four-lane divided road will continue to 38th Street.

Coun. Barry Cullen (Victoria) said he is pleased to see the project moving forward, as he sees the safety concerns first-hand.

Its an extremely busy intersection, he said. Its nice to see that were going to have proper turning lanes, and the whole area is  going to be more pedestrian-friendly.

The project will go to tender by the end of this month, with a goal of having a contractor in place to start the project in early July. It will be cost-shared 50/50 by the city and province. A provincial spokesperson said an estimated cost will not be determined until after the tender is awarded. The goal is to have the project completed by the fall.

 jaustin@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @jillianaustin
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/05/2017 (2002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The federal government is investing close to $6 million in infrastructure funding for Riding Mountain National Park, according to the Minister responsible for Parks Canada Catherine McKenna.

The funding will support the restoration of at least a dozen iconic heritage buildings, including the East Gate National Historic Site, the bandstand on the shores of Clear Lake and Grey Owls Cabin. In addition, the exhibits, lobby and theatre of the Visitors Centre will be completely renewed.

These improvements will ensure that more Canadians, including youth and newcomers, can learn about our environment and cultural heritage, while experiencing the natural wonder of Riding Mountain, the government said in a press release.

Submitted The East Gate entrance to Riding Mountain National Park is a national historic site. Federal funding will support the restoration of at least a dozen heritage buildings at the park, including this entrance.

As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the government of Canada is proud to invest in the protection and conservation of our national parks and historic sites, McKenna said. Through infrastructure investments at Parks Canada places, we are supporting local economies and contributing to growth in the tourism sector, while ensuring high-quality and meaningful visitor experiences for years to come. I encourage Canadians to visit our national treasures, like Riding Mountain National Park, as part of their Canada 150 celebrations.

Investments in visitor infrastructure  such as trails, visitor centres and campgrounds, as well as highways, parkways and bridges  will ensure the quality and reliability of visitor facilities and continue to allow Canadians to connect with nature. These infrastructure investments are vital to creating middle class jobs and sustained economic growth, the release stated. Additionally, Parks Canadas destinations form important cornerstones for the tourism industry that is such an important part of our economy and employs so many across the country.

Canadas national parks and national historic sites enable Canadians to experience their rich history and heritage in a special way and will play a big part in the celebration of Canada 150, Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr said. Our government is committed to preserving and protecting our national parks and this investment is further confirmation of that. This funding will go a long way to ensuring that all Canadians can experience Riding Mountain National Park to its fullest.

There will be free admission for all visitors to national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas in 2017.

 The Brandon Sun
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/05/2017 (2002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MIAMI, Fla.  The race for Mexicos 2018 presidential elections has drawn zero interest in the United States so far, but it should be in the headlines. Thanks to U.S. President Donald Trumps fake claims about Mexico, the country may soon elect its first populist leftist president in recent memory.

The latest polls show that Trumps Mexico-bashing has had the predictable effect of creating a nationalist backlash in Mexico, which is helping leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador climb steadily in the polls for the July 1, 2018, election.

According to a May 6 poll by BGC Associates and the daily Excelsior, Lopez Obrador  a former Mexico City mayor  is leading the race with 26 per cent of voters saying they would cast ballots for him, followed by centre-right candidate Margarita Zavala with 21 per cent and ruling party hopeful Miguel Angel Osorio Chong with 19 per cent.

But the most interesting part of the poll is a chart with Mexicos voting trends over the past 12 months. It shows a steady rise by Lopez Obrador and his Morena party, especially after the U.S. elections last November.

Trumps false claims about an alleged upsurge in illegal immigration from Mexico  in fact, the number of undocumented Mexicans in the U.S. has fallen to 5.6 million in 2016 from 6.4 million in 2009, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center  and other untrue assertions about Mexico have given Lopez Obrador the perfect ammunition to cast himself as the only one who can save Mexico from its aggressive northern neighbour.

Curious about Lopez Obradors rise in the polls, I asked former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castaneda whether its too early to predict a Lopez Obrador victory. After all, Lopez Obrador had also led in the polls at various times in the campaigns for the 2006 and 2012 elections, but didnt win.

Castaneda responded that there is a serious chance that, unless something unexpected happens, Lopez Obrador will win.

Several things are converging to help Lopez Obradors candidacy, Castaneda told me.

Trumps constant Mexico-bashing, Mexicos lackluster economic performance  in part due to a halt in investments while Trump decides what to do about his campaign pledge to scrap or renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement  and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietos low popularity rates because of corruption scandals and rising violence are creating a perfect storm that is working in Lopez Obradors favour, he said.

What Trump and his people dont seem to understand is that, at the end of the day, the overriding U.S. interest in Mexico for the past 100 years has been Mexicos stability. The United States has had the extraordinary luxury of not having to worry about its southern neighbour since the days of Pancho Villa, Castaneda said. Trump may now change all of that by helping elect Lopez Obrador.

Lopez Obrador told me in an interview several years ago that he had never met with late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez nor with Cubas Fidel Castro. But Lopez Obrador sounds exactly like Chavez did when he ran for office. Lopez Obrador lashes out against corruption, vows to reverse what he calls the privatization of Mexicos oil resources and wants to revert to Mexicos old nationalist foreign policy.

Earlier this week, when Lopez Obrador was asked in an interview on Imagen television about the anti-government protests that have already left at least 37 dead in Venezuela, he echoed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros line of blaming opposition leaders for the deaths. Lopez Obrador called on opposition leaders to stop sacrificing people.

Asked about Mexicos decision to join all major Latin American countries in officially asking Maduro to call free elections and restore Venezuelas democratic rule, Lopez Obrador called on Mexicos government to pursue a policy of non-intervention and respect for peoples self-determination  code words used by dictatorships across the world to defend themselves from foreign criticism.

My opinion: its time for Trump to retract his fake claims about Mexico, and to deactivate the political time bomb now ticking in that country, partly thanks to him. Otherwise, Trump will be responsible for helping elect an anti-American, leftist president in Mexico whose populist policies will scare away investors, make the country poorer and produce more illegal immigration and more drug trafficking across the U.S. border.

 Andres Oppenheimer is a columnist for the Miami Herald. His column recently appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press.

 Tribune Content Agency
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/05/2017 (2002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Any proposed inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women was never going to be an easy project to complete. But in our opinion, it was necessary for the federal government to use its authority and move such an inquiry ahead  for the good of our indigenous communities, and for the good of the country as a whole.

There has been so much death and pain and heartache for aboriginal families who live both on reserves and in our cities. There remain many unsolved cases of indigenous women who have either disappeared or been found dead across the country, leaving family members to their grief and disillusionment, grasping for answers that never come.

Yet the inquirys mandate, when it was announced in late 2015, was perhaps overly ambitious as it sought to examine the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women, girls and members of the LGBTQ2S community in Canada.

And in the last few weeks, aboriginal leaders and organizations have sounded alarm bells over the pace of the inquiry, and its progress to date, suggesting that it appears to be in serious trouble. And for an inquiry this big to fail, would not only be a huge embarrassment to the government, but also a major blow for aboriginal people.

The inquiry, as The Canadian Press reports, is expected to take two years at a cost of $53.8 million, and is being conducted by Marion Buller, the first female First Nations judge in B.C., and four other commissioners. In the wake of the Harper governments official apology back in 2008 to indigenous people in Canada, this national inquiry is supposed to be a key part of the Liberal governments reconciliation efforts.

But it has been plagued with delays and staffing issues. The first public hearing is set to take place on May 29 in Whitehorse, but other community meetings have been postponed indefinitely. And there remains no confirmed dates for additional hearings.

Last week, the commission said that only 294 families have reached out to the inquiry expressing a desire to participate. And thats an extremely low number, considering that, as Macleans magazine reported earlier this month, the RCMP found 1,181 police-reported homicides and missing-persons cases involving indigenous women and girls between 1980 and 2012 alone.

Meanwhile, aboriginal groups like the Native Womens Association of Canada, as well as signatories to a letter sent to the inquirys chief commissioner  including activists and indigenous leaders  have called out the inquiry for being secretive, and showing a lack of communication with the very families for whom the inquiry is intended to help.

We are deeply concerned with the continued lack of communication that is causing anxiety, frustration and confusion, and with disappointment in this long-awaited process, reads the text of the letter, as reported by the CBC on Monday. We request that you, as leader of this inquiry, substantially rework your approach in order to regain trust and ensure that families are no longer feeling retraumatized in this process.

For those conducting the inquiry, they are caught between a rock and a hard place  how do you show transparency in the process and yet respect the privacy of affected families?

Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennet said yesterday outside the House of Commons that its very important that the commission explain what is going on, and the plan going forward.

When the families have concerns, I have concerns.

Whatever is preventing members of the inquiry from moving more swiftly, and being more communicative with indigenous families across the country needs to be addressed immediately, before more money is spent on a growing boondoggle. It also needs to address a seeming reluctance from indigenous families to engage with the commission, to ensure a more complete and fair report finds its way into the hands of our federal government.

No matter the fact that the inquiry operates at arms length from the federal government, it will be the Liberals who hold the blame should the inquiry fail to complete the task it was handed.
All HSE systems are due back online later after the WannaCry virus.

It was confirmed yesterday that damage in Ireland was limited - with just one isolated incident involving a group funded by the HSE.

It comes as NUI Galway begins a new national research initiative in digital security today.

Dr Michael Madden said they are working with colleagues around Ireland.

What we are trying to do is to draw together research that is already taking place across Ireland in universities around digital security.

There are a lot of different dimensions to digital security, from protecting private individuals and their data to protecting societal infrastructure from disruption.

However people are being warned to still be careful when opening emails from an unknown sender, with Dr Madden saying it may not be possible to be fully protected all the time.

There's always trade-offs involved. If you want to connect to other people and have your computers exchange data across networks, there is going to be some level of risk involved.

All we can do is balance risks versus benefits as widely as possible
The Government has vowed to pressure the next British Prime Minister to agree to let a judge inspect classified security files linked to the worst day of atrocities in the Troubles.

Thirty-three people were killed, including a pregnant woman at full term, when loyalist paramilitaries detonated four no-warning bombs in Dublin and Monaghan on May 17 1974.

The Justice for the Forgotten group has fought a long-running campaign for an open inquiry into allegations that British security agents colluded with the terrorists to plot the co-ordinated and sophisticated attacks.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan laid a wreath at a ceremony organised by the group at the site of one of the bombings on Dublin's Talbot Street.

"I know that the pain of families and of survivors continues to endure. That pain is compounded by the absence - after more than four decades - of the full truth of what happened," he said.

Minister @CharlieFlanagan representing government today at the 43rd anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings: https://t.co/H98YE33ER3 pic.twitter.com/RuAw9uO869  Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) May 17, 2017

Mr Flanagan said the Government was determined to "continue, and to complete" efforts to uncover the truth about the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.

He said he had pursued the British Government over the last 12 months to give an independent international judge access to all original documents on the atrocities.

"We will continue to do so, proactively and at the highest level, including with the next British government, so that the questions around the attacks will finally be answered," he said.

As well as the Talbot Street bomb, two others were detonated in Dublin on Parnell Street and South Leinster Street. The attacks were co-ordinated in the middle of the evening rush hour.

About an hour and a half later the fourth bomb was set off in Monaghan town. The atrocities were blamed on the Ulster Volunteer Force.
Three units of Dublin Fire Brigade are at the scene of a serious blaze on Three Rock Mountain tonight.

The Gorse and tree fire in south county Dublin is being described as significant with over 100 emergency calls received from as far away as Howth head.
Gardai were ordered to leave a water charges protest because some of them were armed, the trial of seven men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton has heard.

Solidarity TD Paul Murphy (34) along with South Dublin Councillors Michael Murphy (53) and Kieran Mahon (39) and four other men have pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her advisor Karen O'Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014.

The two women were attending a graduation ceremony at An Cosan adult education centre when demonstrations broke out around them. The jury has heard evidence that they were held in two vehicles for around three hours.

On day 14 of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Brian O'Connor testified that he took up a position around the unmarked patrol car the women were sitting in which was surrounded by protesters.

He said he saw eggs and water balloons being thrown and said he was being pulled and dragged by people who were trying to get him out of the way so they could bang on the car.

He later told Conor McKenna BL, defending Paul Murphy, that this took place around six times while he was at the car.

Mr McKenna put it to him that in his official statement Gda O'Connor had said he constantly had people dragging and pulling out of me and that this was incorrect.

Counsel said: I put it to you that not only was it not constant, it didn't happen. The witness said it did happen, and said he wouldn't be giving it in evidence if it didn't.

He also described how gardai formed a human cordon from the car to escort the women to a nearby Garda Jeep. He said that when the women began moving through this cordon around 50 protesters ran towards it.

It was highly aggressive. They were running in and pulling at us. I was hit. They were trying to remove the two lines, in my opinion, he said. It took around 30 seconds to get the women into the Jeep, he added.

He said that as protesters surrounded the Jeep it became chaotic.

You were being pushed around. You couldn't stand still. I was being punched continually. It was from behind so I couldn't see who was doing it, he testified.

He said he left around this time because an order was issued to all plain clothes gardai to leave the scene. He said the reason for this was because there were some armed gardai present.

He said later that evening there was a giving out or venting session by gardai in a conference room at the Plaza hotel in Tallaght.

He said he himself wasn't impressed by what had happened on the day and said he felt that garda members weren't protected enough.

He told Michael O'Higgins SC, defending Ken Purcell, that he couldn't remember exactly what was said but it was possible that somebody criticised how gardai had managed the situation.

We were covered with water, eggs, we were out there for three hours taking serious abuse, he said.

Paul Murphy of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran Mahon of Holbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise, Tallaght; Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown Green, Tallaght; Michael Banks (46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght and Scott Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght have denied the charges.

The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.
The Justice Minister says it is up to the independent judge who monitors the use of phone tapping to decide if claims that have emerged should be investigated.

It has been suggested that tapping by the force took place in the early 2000's for 'political purposes'.
Ibrahim Halawa's trial has been adjourned for the 24th time today.

Mr Halawa has now spent 45 months in prison.

Amnesty International has declared Ibrahim a Prisoner of Conscience, based on its own eye-witness evidence that he could not have carried out the acts he is accused of.

Todays hearing reportedly went ahead but witnesses who were called failed to appear.

The court today agreed on a list of 18 witnesses who will be called at the next hearing which is scheduled for 4 July 2017.

It is not envisaged that any further witnesses will be called by the prosecution when their testimony is completed.

Amnesty International this afternoon hosted a public demonstration to highlight Ibrahims case and call on the Egyptian authorities to drop all charges against Ibrahim and order his immediate and unconditional release.

The demonstration which was held this afternoon outside the Egyptian Embassy, included representatives from Union of Students in Ireland (USI), the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), SIPTU, UpLift and members of the Halawa family.
Two men were sentenced to life in prison today after being found guilty of murdering a man at a house party that descended into violence.

Dylan Hayes (aged 22) of The Crescent, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, Co Limerick. was found guilty of the murder of Shane Murphy at The Grove, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick on April 30, 2015 by unanimous verdict. Ger Hogan (aged 34) of Raheen Square, Ballinacurra Weston was found guilty of the same offence by a 10-to-two majority.

Mr Murphy's family hugged one another and cried once the verdicts were revealed and the deceased's sister, Tracey Murphy, told the court: "We are doing a life sentence ever since Shane was cruelly taken away from us."

She said Shane, the "baby brother", was the youngest of eight kids and a happy go lucky boy who grew up to be a loving and caring uncle to his many nieces and nephews.

"He was always laughing and joking," she said. "The family tries to remember the times he made them laugh but they have struggled to come to terms with learning that he died in such a horrible and violent manner, suffering and in pain.

"Our world came crashing down," she said when they received the phone call telling them he had been murdered.

After hearing the statement from Ms Murphy, Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the mandatory life sentence on Hogan and Hayes who were immediately led away by prison officers.

During the 12-day trial the court heard that a group of people, including Ger Hogan and Shane Murphy, were drinking at a house in Pallasgreen on Thursday April 30, 2015. The house belonged to Sharon Kelly, the girlfriend of the deceased, who was the only one who was not drinking. Also there were Ailish Flood and Jodie Byrnes.

Hayes had a relationship with Jodie Byrnes for some years and even after they split up the previous year, they remained in contact. On the day Shane died, Ms Byrnes phoned Dylan Hayes and told him that a man had tried to rape her in the house in Pallasgreen the previous night. She told him that she woke up with the man, named only as Wayne in the trial, beside her in bed and her trousers and underwear around her knees.

When Hayes arrived at Pallasgreen he was angry. He told Jodie he was going to get the "rapist bastard" but Sharon Kelly told the trial that she didn't believe Jodie Byrnes's claim that a man attempted to rape her and she told Hayes that Jodie was lying.

She said Shane Murphy also told Hayes that Jodie was lying. As tempers flared Hayes confronted Shane Murphy, asking him: "Did you call me a junkie?"

Hayes believed that Shane had been talking about him, saying that he was doing heroin, or "goofing off", at the house in Pallasgreen earlier the same week.

According to Sharon Kelly, being called a junkie is one of the worst and most inflammatory insults that could be used among the circle of people she knows.

Hayes told gardai that Murphy responded: "Yeah, I did. What are you going to do about it?"

It was at this point, according to Hayes's statements to gardai, that he went to the kitchen, grabbed a knife and came back to the sitting room where he began stabbing Shane Murphy repeatedly in the chest, stomach, arms and legs.

Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan said one of the stab wounds pierced Shane's heart while others had damaged both lungs and the liver. Defensive wounds to his hands suggested that he had tried to protect himself as Hayes wielded the knife.

The prosecution case in relation to Ger Hogan was that he was involved in a joint enterprise with Hayes to murder Mr Murphy. According to witnesses, including Sharon Kelly and Jodie Byrnes, Hogan and Murphy had got on well but the atmosphere changed when Hayes arrived. As Sharon and the deceased tried to get Hayes and Hogan out of the house, Mr Murphy headbutted Ger Hogan.

It was around this time that Dylan Hayes entered the row and began arguing with Mr Murphy. Sharon Kelly said she saw Hogan attack and stab Shane Murphy with Dylan Hayes. She also said that Hogan and Hayes were saying "get him, get him" as they egged each other on.

Justice Patrick McCarthy had told the jury of seven men and five women that they could find the accused men guilty of murder if the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that they had formed a joint intention to kill or cause serious injury to Mr Murphy.
A lecturer who claimed he was defamed in a letter sent by his college authorities to around 100 students has settled his High Court action, writes Ann O'Loughlin. .

Keith Maycock, a computer science lecturer, sued the National College of Ireland (NCI), IFSC, Dublin.

He claimed the February 2015 letter which stated a course module he had designed was inappropriate was defamatory because if effectively meant he could not do his job.

The NCI denied his claims and said the letter was written in good faith.

The settlement came midway through cross-examination of a witness for Mr Maycock on the third day of the action before a judge and jury.

Following talks after lunchtime, John O'Donnell SC For Mr Maycock, told Mr Justice Bernard Barton he was happy to say the time given for talks had been put to very good use and the case had been resolved. The terms were confidential save for an order in terms of costs.

Mr Justice Barton discharged the jury and excused them from jury duty for five years.

Just before the settlement talks, Brian Gillespie, a lecturer in a number of colleges who worked for the NCI between 2011 and 2015, told the court he had marked a paper, at Mr Maycock's request, in the run-up to what the court heard became the "grade inflation controversy" in 2013.

This controversy, Mr Maycock said, led to him being sidelined by the college management which culminated in the allegedly defamatory letter 14 months later.

Mr Maycock had concerns in 2013 that some eight dissertations in a Masters programme had achieved very high marks which were not deserved. The college decided to impose a 10% across the board cut to all the papers which Mr Maycock saw as grade inflation.

Mr Gillespie told the court when he marked the paper given to him by Mr Maycock, he graded it as 26%, "a clear fail". He learned later it had been graded by the actual examiner at 73%, a first class honours.

Under cross-examination by Shane English BL, for the NCI, Mr Gillespie said he did not know this was an industry-based dissertation as distinct from a research-based paper. The industry-based paper usually meant it was subject to non-disclosure.

Mr Gillespie said he could not recall any detailed discussion with Mr Maycock about the paper he was being asked to grade but it was not necessary to know the background when one is asked to do what is known as a "third reading" of a paper. He agreed it was unusual for someone outside a course to be asked to do so.

Earlier, another NCI lecturer, told the court he saw Mr Maycock as "very brave" and "standing up for his academic beliefs".

Johnathan Lambert, NCI mathematics support and development officer, who is also a SIPTU representative in the college, said Mr Maycock is held in very high regard by colleagues and students.

He believed in high standards and quality and was highly motivated, Mr Lambert told John O'Donnell SC for Mr Maycock.

While he worked very well in the collaborative college environment, his relationship with management had however become toxic, he said.

As a result however of standing up for his beliefs, things had become very hard for him, Mr Lambert said.
A forensic psychiatrist has told Eric Locke's murder trial that the accused fits the criteria for the defence of diminished responsibility.

Mr. Locke, who is from St. Johns Park East in Clondalkin in Dublin, admits killing his ex-girlfriend but claims he was suffering from a mental disorder.

When Dr. Richard Bunn examined Eric Locke in Cloverhill prison last month, he said he was aware the accused had already been diagnosed with Pervasive Development Disorder.

He said he was also aware that Mr. Locke had reported being abused as a child and had a deformed penis that led to relationship difficulties.

He said he spoke about the argument that led to his break up with Sonia Blount in January 2014 and the total collapse of his mental state of mind in the lead up to her killing at the Plaza hotel the following month.

Following his arrest, Mr. Locke told Gardai he just panicked and strangled her when she started screaming after seeing some items be brought including an air gun and cable ties.

He told Dr. Bunn he just wanted to talk to her.

Dr. Bunn told the court he didn't accept that Mr. Locke was having an out of body experience, but in his opinion, he said he fulfilled the criteria for the defence of diminished responsibility.
Some 385 suspected offenders have been linked to crimes since the state's national DNA database was launched, it has been revealed.

In the first 15 months that Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) has operated the directory it linked suspects to two murders, five sexual assaults, 42 robberies or thefts and 295 burglaries.

The agency uploaded 9,048 DNA profiles on to the database last year and it is currently adding another 1,000 a month.

Under laws brought in two years ago, genetic samples can be collected from crime scenes and stored indefinitely by the FSI and other samples can also be taken from sex offenders, prisoners and suspects arrested for crimes which carry a prison sentence of five years or more.

The FSI can also hold samples from relatives of missing people to aid in the investigation of unidentified remains.

Dr Sheila Willis, director of the agency, said: "The fact that the database has been operating for just over a year and yet it is already linking one in every five crime scene samples to individuals is really encouraging. It identified 428 hits in 2016 which assisted 625 cases.

"The database really is proving itself to be a very valuable crime intelligence tool."

The lab highlighted the case of a suspected sex offender who was found in the first three months that the database was operational after he was detained over a traffic offence and his genetic make-up was found to match traces of semen found on a 15-year-old girl.

The FSI said it put significant resources into operations linked to the bloody feud involving the Kinahan-Hutch groups following the Regency Hotel gun attack in early 2016.

Dr Sheila Willis speaking at the Forensic Science Ireland Annual Report 2016 launch today at Farmleigh House pic.twitter.com/wzo4b9ZhlU  FSI (@ForensicSci_Ire) May 17, 2017

It said its staff worked on urgent analysis of a wide range of exhibits following raids by the Garda's organised crime units and drugs squad, including guns, clothes and drugs.

The FSI lab also said its scientists detected or identified 27 new recreational drugs in Ireland last year.

They included four benzodiazepine psychoactive types, 12 stimulants under the cathinone bracket which are chemically similar to the active ingredient in the khat plant and another three known as tryptamines which cause hallucinations. It found three lab-created synthetic cannabis drugs and three fentanyl or opiate-type chemicals.

The lab also identified the lethal 25I-NBOMe, which has the street name N-Bomb.

It is a powerful synthetic hallucinogen which Alex Ryan, 18, from Liscahane, Millstreet, Cork, was said to have taken at a house party four days before he died in hospital.

The FSI said the drug had only been seen six times in Ireland and commonly appeared as soaked blotter paper.

It said the partygoers had taken highly toxic quantities of the drug in white powder form. They thought they were taking a different drug and took 100 times the normal dose, it said.

Dr Willis said: "The speed with which new highly toxic synthetic drugs and psychoactive substances are being created overseas and made available for sale online is presenting new challenges for our scientists because these drugs are so new and unpredictable.

"They are up to 100 times more toxic than regular substances and so are highly dangerous.

"Our scientists are working closely with our international colleagues to ensure that we can quickly identify these new substances and help the gardai in their efforts to secure convictions against guilty parties."

Other major breakthroughs involving analysis at the FSI lab included identifying Kenneth O'Brien from Clondalkin, Dublin, whose dismembered remains were found in bags in the Grand Canal in early 2016.

Work on the FSI's new 60 million laboratory in Co Kildare is to begin later this year.
The Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority has rounded on the Vintners Federation of Ireland over proposed new drink driving laws.

Transport Minister Shane Ross is introducing an automatic three-month ban for those caught between 50 and 80 milligrammes - currently they only get penalty points and a fine.
The World Health Organisation is warning young people's health is being harmed by a dramatic rise in social media and computer games.

Data shows children as young as 11 are spending increasing amounts of time on PCs, smartphones and tablets.
Disney are on the lookout for a young Irish actor to play the role of Artemis Fowl in the movie adaptation of Irish author Eoin Colfers novel of the same name.

The successful applicant can be of any ethnicity but must be between nine and 12 years old.
Update 6.07pm: Private Manning later said that she is uncertain where her life will take her after serving seven years in jail.

She said in a statement that "whatever is ahead ... is far more important than the past", and that she is "figuring things out right now".
Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks, is due to be released from a Kansas military prison on Wednesday after serving seven years of her 35-year sentence.

President Barack Obama granted Ms Manning clemency in his final days in office in January. Though she is set to be released from Fort Leavenworth, Ms Manning's lawyers and the Army have refused to say when and how she will be freed due to potential security concerns.

Ms Manning, who was known as Bradley Manning before transitioning in prison, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

The Crescent, Oklahoma, native tweeted after being granted clemency that she plans to move to Maryland. Neither she nor her attorneys explained why, but she has an aunt who lives there.

Ms Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, has acknowledged leaking the materials, which included battlefield video. She said she wanted to expose what she considered to be the US military's disregard of the effects of war on civilians and that she released information that she did not believe would harm the US.

Critics said the leaks laid bare some of the nation's most-sensitive secrets and endangered information sources, prompting the State Department to help some of those people move to protect their safety. Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.

Ms Manning, who was arrested in 2010, filed a transgender rights lawsuit in prison and attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers.

Mr Obama's decision to commute Ms Manning's sentence to about seven years, including the time she spent locked up before being convicted, drew strong criticism from members of Congress and others, with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan calling the move "just outrageous".

In a statement last week - her first public comments since Mr Obama intervened - Ms Manning thanked that former president and said that letters of support from veterans and fellow transgender people inspired her "to work toward making life better for others".

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea," she said. "I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world. Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine."

Two more days until the freedom of civilian life ^_^ Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans =P  Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) May 15, 2017

Her attorneys have said Ms Manning was subjected to violence in prison and argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison, restricting her physical and mental health care and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut.

The Department of Defence has repeatedly declined to discuss Ms Manning's treatment in prison.

The Army said on Tuesday that Ms Manning would remain on active duty in a special, unpaid status that will legally entitle her to military medical care, along with commissary privileges. An Army spokeswoman, Lieutenant colonel Jennifer Johnson, said Ms Manning will be on "excess leave" while her court-martial conviction is under appellate review.

AP
President Donald Trump personally appealed to FBI director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to reports.

The White House issued a furious denial near the end of a tumultuous day. Earlier officials staunchly defended Mr Trump's disclosure of classified information to senior Russian officials.

The White House played down the importance and secrecy of the information, supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement, and Mr Trump himself said he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia.

As for Mr Comey, who Mr Trump fired last week, the FBI director wrote in a memo after a February meeting at the White House that the new president had asked him to shut down the FBI's investigation of Mr Flynn and his Russian contacts, said a person who had read the memo.

The Flynn investigation was part of a broader probe into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.

Michael Flynn.

The existence of the memo was first reported on Tuesday by The New York Times.

The White House vigorously denied the report. "While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House statement said.

Mr Trump fired Mr Flynn on February 13.

When Mr Trump fired Comey, he said he did so based on Mr Comey's very public handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe and how it affected his leadership of the FBI.

Representative Jason Chaffetz, Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee, said he was ready to subpoena the memo, which was an apparent effort to create a paper trail of Mr Comey's contacts with the White House.

Other politicians also demanded strong action.

James Comey.

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California said Mr Comey needs to come to Capitol Hill and testify.

Mark Warner of Virginia, top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said he would ask Mr Comey for additional material as part of the panel's investigation. "Memos, transcripts, tapes - the list keeps getting longer," he said.

John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Trump-Russia reports were "deeply disturbing" and said they could impede allies' willingness to share intelligence with the US

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said he was not losing confidence in Mr Trump as president but added, "It would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the White House."

According to the Times, Mr Comey wrote in the February memo that Mr Trump told him Mr Flynn had done nothing wrong. But Mr Comey said he did not say anything to Mr Trump about limiting the investigation, replying simply, "I agree he is a good guy."

The newspaper said Mr Comey was in the Oval Office that day with other national security officials for a terrorism threat briefing. When that ended, Mr Trump asked everyone to leave except Mr Comey, and he eventually turned the conversation to Mr Flynn.

The administration spent the first half of Tuesday defending Mr Trump's disclosure of classified information to senior Russian officials. National Security Adviser HR McMaster said the president's comments were "wholly appropriate". He used that phrase nine times in his briefing to reporters.

The highly classified information about an Islamic State plot was collected by Israel, a crucial source of intelligence and close partner in the fight against some of the America's fiercest threats in the Middle East.

Mr Trump's disclosure of the information threatened to fray that partnership and piled pressure on the White House to explain the apparently on-the-spot decision to reveal the information to Russian diplomats in the Oval Office.

In a statement, Israel's ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, said the partnership between the U.S and Israel was solid.

AP
Rolf Harris was nicknamed "Groper Rolf" by a woman who claims he molested her at a celebrity sporting event when she was a teenager, a court has heard.

The woman told the 87-year-old entertainer's indecent assault trial that he twice grabbed her breast and told her she was "a little bit irresistible" during a recording of Star Games in 1978, before running his hand between her upper legs in a taxi.

She said that when the Australian-born entertainer touched her leg over her jeans , she pushed him away saying "f*** off and leave me alone".

Upset by what had happened at the event in Cambridge, when she was 16, she went home and told her father Harris was a "dirty old man" who had touched her, she told the court.

She said her father told her she should not have worn a tight-fitting top to the event.

She told Southwark Crown Court: "I was confused. This was Rolf Harris, my sister and I adored him. I watched him on television and I had had one of those xylophone things a few Christmases before.

"I was shocked and confused. I did feel a bit dirty but I didn't feel it was my fault. I didn't flirt with him. He was old enough to be my grandfather.

"Until very recently I had not talked about it in any detail. But he was called Groper Rolf in our house."

She said she did not alert authorities at the time, adding: "It was 1978. He wasn't the only middle-aged man to have a go at me and my friends.

"If my father's reaction had been a bit dismissive, what would someone who didn't love me say?"

Animal Hospital host Harris is on trial accused of indecently assaulting three teenage girls in the 1970s and 1980s.

He is alleged to have put his hand up the skirt of a 14-year-old when she asked for an autograph at a music event in London in 1971.

He is also alleged to have touched a 13-year-old's breast after filming a children's TV programme in 1983, and to have asked her: "Do you often get molested on a Saturday morning?"

He denies four charges of indecent assault.

The woman said Harris left her "confused" when he first touched her breast as he put his arm around her.

She told the jury that "when a man touched your breast accidentally they apologised, even then", but Harris had not.

She went on: "The second time I remember him coming towards me again and I really didn't want him to do it.

"The second time it was never in doubt that he had done it deliberately.

"He squeezed my breast really hard and it hurt.

"Then he said really quietly to me, 'you are a little bit irresistible'. I don't think anyone else could have heard it, right in my ear."

Stephen Vullo QC, defending Harris, said he disputes that there were any taxis at the site on the day in question.

He asked the woman: "Do you agree you are manipulative? You have manipulated people around you to give evidence to support your claim."

She replied: "Why would I ask people that I love and care for to go through this? It's horrible."

The trial, which is due to last three weeks, continues.
Detectives investigating an unprovoked attack on a Tottenham Hotspur fan after the FA Cup semi-final between Spurs and Chelsea have released an e-fit of the suspect.

Michael Voller, 23, was punched in the face, suffering a broken cheekbone, jaw, eye socket and skull, after the match at Wembley on Saturday April 22.

It is thought the attack was carried out by a fellow Spurs supporter who may have mistaken him for a Chelsea fan near the north London stadium.

Officers have previously released images of Mr Voller's serious injuries and on Wednesday produced an e-fit of the man they wish to identify in the hope that either the public, or Tottenham fans, will be able to name him.

Mr Voller, a former Tottenham groundsman, was admitted to hospital with serious facial injuries and continues to undergo a schedule of surgery and treatment.

The suspect is described as a white man in his early 20s, around 5ft 10ins tall. At the time of the attack he was wearing a black hooded top or jacket.

Investigating officer Detective Constable James Robb said: "This unprovoked and cowardly attack has resulted in injuries that could affect the rest of a young man's life.

"There is no place for this kind of violence in football or anywhere else. Someone knows who committed this unprovoked attack and I sincerely hope they do the right thing and help us place this violent individual before the courts.

"All information that we receive is treated in the strictest confidence, but you can also remain completely anonymous by calling Crimestoppers."

E-fit of suspect.

Officers said the incident took place outside the Moore Spice Restaurant on Engineers Way at around 7.30pm, when the victim was identified and targeted by another group of Tottenham fans walking in the opposite direction.

It is believed that one of the group mistook Mr Voller for a Chelsea supporter and punched him in the face.

A 21-year-old man was arrested on on suspicion of grievous bodily harm on May 9 but has been released with no further action.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Brent CID on 020 8733 3737 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

PA
Private Chelsea Manning, the soldier who was sentenced to 35 years in a military prison for giving classified materials to WikiLeaks, says she is excited about what lies ahead.

"I'm figuring things out right now - which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me," Pvt Manning said in an emailed statement.

She tweeted a picture of her feet in trainers - with the caption "First steps of freedom!!" - after walking away from the Fort Leavenworth lock-up in Kansas having spent seven years behind bars.

Pvt Manning's immediate plans, including living arrangements, remained unclear.

She tweeted after then-President Barack Obama granted her clemency in January that she planned to move to Maryland, where she has an aunt.

Pvt Manning originally comes from Crescent, Oklahoma.

"After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived," Ms Manning said in Wednesday's statement.

"I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me is far more important than the past."

Ms Manning, who is transgender and was known as Bradley Manning before she transitioned in prison, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud.

She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

Pvt Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, has acknowledged leaking the materials, which included battlefield video.

"It became overwhelming to see the sheer number of people dying." Today American hero Chelsea Manning is finally free! pic.twitter.com/skNpTY5dF8  Amnesty International (@amnesty) May 17, 2017

She said she wanted to expose what she considered to be the US military's disregard of the effects of war on civilians and that she released information that she did not believe would harm the US.

Critics said the leaks laid bare some of the nation's most-sensitive secrets and endangered information sources, prompting the State Department to help some of those people move to protect their safety.

Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.

Pvt Manning, who was arrested in 2010, filed a transgender rights lawsuit in prison and attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers.

"We can all finally truly celebrate the strength and heroism she has shown in surviving and sharing her truth and life with all of us," Chase Strangio, Ms Manning's attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in Wednesday's statement that included her post-release comments.

"Through extended periods of solitary confinement and up against the government's insistence on denying her medical care and existence as a woman, Chelsea has emerged with grace, resilience, and an inspiring amount of love for others," Mr Strangio added.

"I am humbled to fight alongside such a fierce advocate for justice."

President Obama's decision to commute Pvt Manning's sentence to about seven years, including the time she spent locked up before being convicted, drew strong criticism from members of Congress and others, with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan calling the move "just outrageous."

In a statement last week - her first public comments since Mr Obama intervened - Ms Manning thanked that former president and said that letters of support from veterans and fellow transgender people inspired her "to work toward making life better for others".

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea," she said.

"I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world. Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine."

Her lawyers have said that Ms Manning was subjected to violence in prison and argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison, restricting her physical and mental health care and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut.

The Department of Defence has repeatedly declined to discuss Pvt Manning's treatment in prison.

The Army said that Pvt Manning would remain on active duty in a special, unpaid status that will legally entitle her to military medical care, along with commissary privileges.

An Army spokeswoman, Lt Col Jennifer Johnson, said Ms Manning will be on "excess leave" while her court-martial conviction is under appellate review.

AP
Nine people were hurt and two arrests were made during an altercation at the Turkish ambassador's residence in the US capital Washington DC, authorities say.

Doug Buchanan, a DC Fire and EMS spokesman, says two of those hurt were seriously injured and were taken to hospitals by ambulance.
Puerto Rico nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera has been freed from house arrest after decades in custody.

His case transformed him into a martyr for supporters, but outraged those who lost loved ones in a string of bombings.

Wearing black jeans and a shirt decorated with a Puerto Rican flag badge, the 74-year-old grinned and waved to cheering supporters through a fence at his daughter's San Juan home before getting into a Jeep.

Escorted by the mayor of Puerto Rico's capital and other backers, he was scheduled to stop at a federal building to return electronic tags that monitored his movements during his home confinement.

Roughly 50 people congregated in the streets outside the apartment building in San Juan's Santurce district holding flowers, some embracing in tears and chanting: "Free at last."

A group of singers from University of Puerto Rico's choir harmonised as Lopez drove past.

A street celebration was expected to draw thousands of supporters later in the day.

Through a fence, Lopez told El Vocero newspaper: "If we love this country, we have an obligation to defend it."

Lopez was considered a top leader of the Armed Forces of National Liberation, or FALN, an ultra-nationalist Puerto Rican group that claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at government buildings, department stores, banks and restaurants in New York, Chicago, Washington and Puerto Rico during the 1970s and early 1980s.

The FBI classified the Marxist-Leninist group as a terrorist organisation.

The most famous bombing was the still-unsolved 1975 explosion that killed four people and wounded 60 at Fraunces Tavern, a landmark restaurant in New York's financial district.

Lopez, a Vietnam War veteran who moved from Puerto Rico to Chicago as a child, was not convicted of any role in the bombings that killed six people and injured scores, but those who lost loved ones hold him responsible.

"This guy was convicted of leading the FALN that murdered people," said Joseph Connor, whose father, Frank, was killed in the Fraunces Tavern attack.

While many Puerto Ricans supported Lopez as a sort of patriot and political prisoner, those seeking independence remain a small group.

The option garnered less than 6% of the vote in four referendums that Puerto Rico has held on its political status.

Puerto Rico has been under US jurisdiction since 1898, and its people have been US citizens since 1917.

The island is home to numerous military veterans, yet Puerto Ricans cannot vote for president, and their representative in Congress cannot vote either.

They pay Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes, but not federal income tax.

A campaign to free the Puerto Rican independence figure over the years has drawn support from Pope Francis, former President Jimmy Carter and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

"He has his champions and his critics, but this much is true: He served a lifetime in prison, including 12 years in solitary confinement. Don Oscar will spend his twilight years on the island for which he sought independence, and this feels fitting," Miranda said in an email, referring to Lopez with the Spanish honorific of don.

Lopez is expected to be celebrated in Chicago later this week. Supporters also plan to honour him at the June 11 Puerto Rican Day parade along New York's Fifth Avenue.

Lopez was sentenced to 55 years in prison in 1981 after he was found guilty of seditious conspiracy, armed robbery, a weapons violation and four counts of interstate transportation of stolen vehicles.

A federal judge termed him an "unreconstructed revolutionary" and Lopez said Puerto Ricans should fight for their island's independence "by any means necessary".

He later faced an additional 15 years in jail after he was convicted of conspiring to escape from prison in Leavenworth, Kansas.

In 1999, President Bill Clinton offered Lopez clemency but the inmate rejected the offer because it excluded two associates who have since been released. Then in 2011, the US Parole Commission denied his request for an early release.

President Barack Obama commuted his sentence in his final days in office, along with clemency for others including Chelsea Manning, the transgender Army intelligence analyst who leaked more than 700,000 US documents.

Lopez was released from prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, and arrived in Puerto Rico in February to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

He had been staying with his daughter at her home in the capital of San Juan.

He has said that upon returning to Puerto Rico he wanted to spend time with family and create a think tank to work on issues including climate change, the economy and the island's political status.

AP
Vladimir Putin has dismissed the ongoing scandal around President Donald Trump sharing classified intelligence with Russian officials as "political schizophrenia."

Mr Trump came under fire earlier this week after it was revealed that he shared the sensitive intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak.

Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting Italian prime minister on Wednesday, the Russian president said he had "no other explanation" as to why President Trump came under attack other than "political schizophrenia".

Mr Putin even suggested that Russia share the records of last week's talks between Mr Trump and Mr Lavrov with the US Congress, if the White House approved.

President Putin joked that that he would reprimand Mr Lavrov because "he hasn't shared those secrets with us".

President Putin also lashed out at US politicians whipping up what he described as "anti-Russian sentiment" for being either "stupid" or "dangerous".

Mr Putin said that Moscow initially found debates about Russia's meddling in US politics "funny", but said Moscow is now "concerned because it is hard to imagine what the people who produce such nonsense can come up with next".

President Putin dismissed the US politicians, whom he did not identify, as either being "stupid" or "dangerous and unscrupulous", who are wittingly "causing the damage to their own country".

Asked what he thinks of the Trump presidency, Mr Putin said it is up to the American people to judge but his performance can only be rated "only when he's allowed to work at full capacity", implying that someone is hampering President Trump's efforts.

- AP
Russia President Vladimir Putin has offered to turn over to Congress records of President Donald Trump's discussions with Russian diplomats in which Mr Trump is said to have disclosed classified information.

Mr Putin's remarks come as Washington was reeling over revelations late on Tuesday that President Trump personally appealed to FBI Director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

The White House issued a furious denial after Mr Comey's notes detailed Mr Trump's request.

The White House has played down the importance and secrecy of the information President Trump gave to the Russians, which had been supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement.

Mr Trump himself said he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia.

Yet US allies and some members of Congress expressed concern bordering on alarm.

President Putin told a news conference that he would be willing to turn over notes of Mr Trump's meeting with the Russian diplomats if the White House agreed.

He dismissed outrage over President Trump's disclosures as US politicians whipping up "anti-Russian sentiment".

Asked what he thinks of the Trump presidency, Mr Putin said it is up to the American people to judge but his performance can only be rated "only when he's allowed to work at full capacity," implying that someone is hampering President Trump's efforts.

As for Mr Comey, whom President Trump fired last week, the FBI director wrote in a memo after a February meeting at the White House that the new president had asked him to shut down the FBI's investigation of Mr Flynn and his Russian contacts, said a person who had read the memo.

The Flynn investigation was part of a broader probe into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.

Mr Comey's memo, an apparent effort to create a paper trail of his contacts with the White House, would be the clearest evidence to date that the president has tried to influence the investigation.

Rep Jason Chaffetz, Republican chairman of the House oversight committee, sent a letter to the FBI on Tuesday requesting that it turn over all documents and recordings that detail communications between Mr Comey and President Trump.

He said he would give the FBI a week and then "if we need a subpoena, we'll do it".

The panel's top Democrat, Elijah Cummings of Maryland, a constant Trump critic, called the allegation of Trump pressure on Mr Comey "explosive" and said "it appears like a textbook case of criminal obstruction of justice".

John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said late on Tuesday that the developments had reached "Watergate size and scale".

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said simply: "It would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the White House."

The White House vigorously denied it all.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House statement said.

President Trump fired Gen Flynn on February 13, on grounds that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russians.

The intensifying drama comes as President Trump is set to embark on his first foreign trip, which had been optimistically viewed by some aides as an opportunity to reset an administration floundering under an inexperienced president.

When Mr Trump fired Mr Comey, he said he did so based on Mr Comey's very public handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe and how it affected his leadership of the FBI.

But the White House has provided differing accounts of the firing. And politicians have alleged that the sudden ousting was an attempt to stifle the bureau's investigation into Trump associates' ties to Russia's meddling in the campaign.

Mark Warner of Virginia, top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said he would ask Mr Comey for additional material as part of that panel's investigation. "Memos, transcripts, tapes - the list keeps getting longer," he said.

According to the Times, Mr Comey wrote in the February memo that President Trump told him Gen Flynn had done nothing wrong.

Mr Comey said he replied that "I agree he is a good guy" but said nothing to President Trump about limiting the investigation.

The newspaper said Mr Comey was in the Oval Office that day with other national security officials for a terrorism threat briefing.

When that ended, President Trump asked everyone to leave except Mr Comey, and he eventually turned the conversation to Gen Flynn.

The administration spent the first half of Tuesday defending President Trump's disclosure of classified information to senior Russian officials.

National Security Adviser HR McMaster said the president's comments were "wholly appropriate".

He used that phrase nine times in his briefing to reporters.

The highly classified information about an Islamic State plot was collected by Israel, a crucial source of intelligence and close partner in the fight against some of the America's fiercest threats in the Middle East.

President Trump's disclosure of the information threatened to fray that partnership and piled pressure on the White House to explain the apparently on-the-spot decision to reveal the information to Russian diplomats in the Oval Office.

AP
Theresa May has said Britain still has confidence in its special relationship with the US, amid a series of concerns linked to Donald Trump.

The UK Prime Minister did not give a direct endorsement of the US president when asked if she had full confidence in him, instead focusing on the relationship between the two countries.

She added the UK will continue to share intelligence with the US after it emerged Mr Trump disclosed classified information to senior Russian officials.

Mr Trump said he had "an absolute right" to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline with safety with Russia, with the information, relating to a plot by terror group Islamic State, having been supplied to the US by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement.

The White House has also denied reports that Mr Trump personally appealed to then-FBI director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and his Russian contacts.

Mrs May told a press conference in east London: "We have a very special relationship, as you know, with the United States of America.

"This is the most important defence and security relationship that we have around the world.

"I was very pleased that when I went to the United States shortly after President Trump's inauguration he was able to commit to his 100% commitment to Nato, which is an important bedrock of our security and the bedrock of the security of Europe.

"We continue to work together and we have confidence in that relationship between us and the United States that it helps to keep us all safer.

"Decisions about what President Trump discusses with anybody he has in the White House is a matter for President Trump.

"We continue to work with the United States and continue to share intelligence with the United States, as we do with others around the world, because we are all working together to deal with the threat that we face.

"The key threat, of course, being the threat of terrorism - predominantly from Daesh (Islamic State), but we must never forget al Qaida is still out there.

"So working with the United States and others to deal with that terrorist threat is an important part of maintaining our national security and we will continue to do so."

PA
The owner of The Gods Cafe and Bar at the Australian National University says he will not leave the campus without a court order or a $650,000 payout.

Owner Jaye Min has been told to clear out by July 3 despite signing a lease for his current site until 2018 with the option to extend to 2023.

Jaye Min, owner of The Gods Cafe. Credit:Jamila Toderas

The popular coffee stop has been marked for demolition as part of the multi-million dollar Union Court redevelopment.

Mr Min's lawyers wrote to the ANU earlier this month arguing its demands were invalid as he was not given the legally required six months' notice ahead of the termination of his lease.
The federal government's former chief legal adviser has warned the country has more work to do to guard its most vulnerable citizens against "excessive" use of state power.

Justin Gleeson, SC, said the community should demand public officials with sweeping powers brought "high standards of conscience to bear" in decisions affecting a person's freedom or security that would likely not be scrutinised by the court system.

Former solicitor-general Justin Gleeson says public officials need to be held to account. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Gleeson resigned his post as solicitor-general last November after a bitter public stoush with Attorney-General George Brandis, sparked by his decision to prevent ministers seeking expert legal advice without his written approval.

He did not comment on the drawn-out row, but spoke more broadly on Law, Morality and the Public Trust as he delivered the annual Blackburn Lecture at the Australian National University to mark Law Week.
An alarming number of young Canberra workers have been bullied, harassed or exposed to unsafe working conditions on the job, Unions ACT claims.

According to a survey of 263 workers aged 15 to 25, seven out of 10 workers felt bullied or harassed at work while one in two felt they had been forced to work in an unsafe environment.

Young workers in Canberra have reported being bullied or harassed. Credit:Louie Dovis

Unions ACT secretary Alex White said "unscrupulous" employers were taking advantage of the naivety of younger staff who were unaware of their rights in the workplace.

"It's a very alarming figure and we suspect it's concentrated amongst particular groups so young women and people who are same-sex attracted are particularly exposed to bullying and harassment at work," Mr White said.
When a Sydney unit block found its gas bills had increased more than 10,000 per cent - from $97 to $10,377 - in one year, the building's chairman described it as "the biggest scam in NSW".

Michael Heaney's declaration, in February this year, came almost three years after he first began scrutinising the estimated gas billing methods at his building Maestri Towers, on Sydney's Sussex and Kent streets.

He says the "catastrophic mess" is the result of repeatedly incorrect estimated meter readings and a "total lack of communication" between customers, the retailer, AGL, and the infrastructure company that owns the gas pipelines, Jemena.

Now AGL has launched proceedings against Jemena in the Supreme Court, alleging a failure to provide timely meter readings over the past two years for customers across the NSW gas distribution network that Jemena manages.
No matter how often you invoke a certain internet search engine's name when doing online research, its parent company Alphabet still owns the brand.

That's the upshot of a US Federal Appeals Court's decision on Tuesday rejecting the argument that Google has become so popular as a verb that it should lose its status as a protected trademark.

Has the word Google become so synonymous with online searches that the brand should lose its status as a protected trademark? Credit:Bloomberg

Genericide, as it's known, is the curse of companies whose brands gain such strong currency in the marketplace that they morph into product categories. Think of aspirin, escalator or yo-yo, but not coke.

The fight over whether one of the world's most valuable brands should be declared generic started when a man named Chris Gillespie in 2012 acquired 763 internet domain names that included the word "google."
Joe Andon knows the ups and downs of business in Brisbane, which comes with the territory in his line of work.

Mr Andon founded Vuly Trampolines, one of Australia's leading trampoline manufacturers, when he was just 19 years old.

A new Lord Mayor's Business Awards category honours small businesses

Within eight years of founding what is now an international business, he received his home town's tick of approval when he was awarded Brisbane's Business Person of the Year at last year's Lord Mayor's Business Awards.

Almost 12 months on and Mr Andon is using his award to further his business internationally.
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Duluxgroup says it isn't worried that a slowing housing market could hurt its business as most new homes are painted with cheaper paint made by competitors.

The company, whose iconic paint brands date back to the 1930s, was trading at an all-time on the ASX on Monday after handing down a strong half-year earnings result.

Duluxgroup is betting demand from existing home owners will buffet it from a construction downturn. Credit:Viki Lascaris

Dulux chief executive Patrick Houlihan said the paint maker was not at the mercy of Australia's housing market because home renovators were its core customers, and they would continue to paint their "greatest financial and emotional asset" even through a housing downturn.

"Who knows what paint or quality fittings, or lack of quality fittings, might be put on some of these houses before they're sold," he said after handing down the result.
Imagine the courage it takes for a rape survivor to put up their hand and ask for help.

Yet across the country, university students who have been raped or sexually assaulted on campus are being told they must wait up to four weeks for a university counselling appointment. Others who have dropped out of their degrees following an assault are being refused service all together on the basis they are no longer enrolled and are therefore ineligible for support from university services.

Students who have been sexually assaulted on campus are being told they must wait weeks for university counselling. Credit:Joe Armao

One student who was seeing her university counselling service following an alleged rape involving a staff member, was cut off from the service after she dropped out of her degree with just one semester of study to go, because of PTSD.

To make matters more difficult, in August this year the Australian Human Rights Commission will release the results of a national survey into sexual assault at universities. When this occurs, it is expected the attending media coverage will stir up dormant trauma in university communities, triggering a deluge in disclosure, as was witnessed last year when the survey was first launched.
Australia's five major banks have been told they must sign non-disclosure agreements before the Turnbull government hands over details of its new $6.2 billion bank levy.

In a move that underscores how concerned Treasurer Scott Morrison's office is about the politically sensitive tax on the major banks, Treasury has told the big five  Commonwealth, Westpac, ANZ, NAB and Macquarie Group  they must promise not to release any details of the draft legislation publicly.

Fairfax Media has confirmed banking officials are furious with the government's secretive approach to the new laws.

But Mr Morrison hit back late Wednesday, promising once the new laws were finalised they would be introduced and "open to the full scrutiny of the Australian Parliament" in the next sitting fortnight.
Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have "respectfully declined" an invitation to attend next week's historic Indigenous constitution convention at Uluru, wary that their presence could reduce the prospects of a successful outcome.

The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader were invited to the closing ceremony of the four-day convention a fortnight ago, but told the Referendum Council on Wednesday they would not be coming.

Mr Turnbull and Mr Shorten discussed their attendance last week and decided it risked being interpreted as an attempt to influence the outcome.

"This is the first time an Indigenous designed and led constitution convention has been run and both leaders are very conscious about respecting that process," a spokesperson for Mr Turnbull said.
Former Howard government adviser Chris Parker has been named as the man to lead the pesticide authority's forced move from Canberra to Armidale.

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority boss Kareena Arthy quit last month at the height of accusations of political pork barrelling by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who is relocating the agency to his own electorate of New England.

Interim Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority chief executive Chris Parker Credit:The Land

Mr Joyce announced the former farmer and experienced public servant would serve as interim chief executive, weeks after a temporary office was opened in the same building as Armidale's Centrelink offices.

Dr Parker was a senior political adviser in the agriculture portfolio during the Howard government and is currently assistant secretary for plant export operations at the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
The venom of a brown snake transforms as it gets older, Queensland's "venom doctor" has found.

University of Queensland associate professor Bryan Fry and his team found the venom of young brown snakes targetted the nervous system of its prey compared to adult brown snakes, whose venom attacked its prey's circulatory system.

The adult brown snake's venom targets the circulatory system of it's prey.

Associate Professor Fry said the variation in venom was likely due to the change of prey from reptile to mammal as the snake got older.

"Logically because the prey type is so different, there should be a difference in the venom and that is exactly what we found," he said.
Clive Palmer has boasted about his wealth in the Federal Court, shortly after complaining rich Australians receive better access to justice.

The businessman had an unnamed staff member read out a statement decrying the high costs of legal representation as he arrived at court in Brisbane to be grilled over the collapse of Queensland Nickel.

"How can they have this and how can justice be served when one party is able to fund expensive litigation while another can't afford any representation to all?" the statement said.

"The government of Australia needs to act to ensure justice is available, not just justice for the few who can afford it but the many who need it."
A major proposed cruise ship terminal for the Gold Coast has cleared its biggest hurdle with federal environmental approval, according to Mayor Tom Tate.

The terminal would allow ships to berth off the coast for several days, providing refuelling and sewerage facilities for a planned 150 cruise ship visits a year.

The proposal was larger and more complex than the plans taken to the March 2016 council elections but Cr Tate said the council was leaning toward a simpler initial design, with scope to increase in the future.

"We went in with the worst case scenario and the federal government has given us the tick to go ahead," he said.
Businessman Clive Palmer has boasted about amassing wealth and collecting assets before claiming he lived a frugal life at the hands of his financially controlling wife.

The former MP's braggadocio also came after Mr Palmer had an unnamed staff member read out a statement lambasting the high price of legal representation as he arrived at the Federal Court in Brisbane to be grilled over the collapse of Queensland Nickel.

Clive Palmer arrives at the Federal Court in Brisbane to face a hearing into the collapse of Queensland Nickel. Credit:Nine News

"How can they have this and how can justice be served when one party is able to fund expensive litigation while another can't afford any representation at all?" the statement said.

"The government of Australia needs to act to ensure justice is available, not just justice for the few who can afford it, but the many who need it."
A 51-year-old man has been charged with raping a Brazilian teenager on the Gold Coast almost 10 years ago.

Police charged the man on Tuesday over the assault of the 16-year-old Brazilian student in a Mermaid Waters car park in December 2007.

He is facing two counts of sexual assault and one count each of rape, deprivation of liberty and going armed so as to cause fear and will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

AAP
The Palaszczuk government is looking to reinstate the drug court in Queensland and considering whether to extend it to people whose offending is related to alcohol use.

In 2012, the Newman government stopped funding the Murri, special circumstances and drug courts, saving $35.7 million over four years.

The Queensland government is considering whether to extend a revamped drug court to alcohol-related offenders. Credit:iStock

At the time, community legal groups such as the Queensland Law Society and Sisters Inside decried the move.

But then-attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie said the decisions were not easy but were necessary to return Queensland to a stronger fiscal position.
Smokers are significantly more likely to develop skin cancer, a Queensland study has found.

Researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute spent three years monitoring the development of skin cancers in almost 19,000 Queenslanders and found those who currently smoked were more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

A Queensland study has found a link between smoking and skin cancer. Credit:Tamara Voninski

But the good news is that the risk of developing the cancer drops off as soon someone quits smoking.

"We found that current smokers were at significantly higher risk of SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) than former smokers or people who had never smoked," Professor David Whiteman said.
The demise of Australia's dirtiest power plant has triggered the greatest use of expensive gas-fired generators in Victoria in a decade, causing a significant jump in wholesale electricity prices.

The closure of the Hazelwood power station at the end of March has also been a boon for the owners of the Latrobe Valley's three remaining brown coal-fired generators, which have increased output by about a third.

While a recent fall in electricity use to the lowest level in five years makes it difficult to generalise yet about the impact of Hazelwood shutting, its short-term ramifications have been spelt out by market analysts UBS.

They include:
A woman needed to be sedated in hospital after she was tied up with a phone cord and brutally bashed during a daylight home invasion in Melbourne's north-west.

Marisa Bonacci, 55, was in her pyjamas when two intruders used a screwdriver to enter her Hillside home about 11am on Tuesday.

Her daughter, Sarah, said the thugs dragged her mother into the garage, where they tied her up with a phone cord, taped her mouth shut and beat her.

The offenders then fled in Ms Bonacci's car.
Two men were heard arguing on the street before shots were fired on the fringe of Melbourne's CBD near Crown casino.

Victoria Police Southbank Senior Sergeant Steve Bills said witnesses reported hearing an argument before one man is believed to have pulled out a handgun and shot at the other man at least four times.

Shots were fired outside Crown casino on May 18. Credit:Channel 7

Police said both men then fled on foot in opposite directions down Queensbury Street.

The gunman remains on the loose.
A new national report has found Western Australian rentals are still unaffordable for people on low incomes.

National Shelter, Community Sector Banking and SGS Economics and Planning released the rental affordability index (RAI) report on Wednesday, and found the average income of a Western Australian household was often incompatible with average rental prices in the state.

A snapshot of a low income average Australian household's experience in Perth. Credit:SGS Rental

Shelter WA spokesman Stephen Hall said while there had been a marked improvement over a two year period, low income earners were still being consistently priced out of the market.

"The RAI is based on Western Australian households with an income of $85,000, and it is a much different picture for those people living under those incomes," he said.
A man has been charged after a police officer was injured trying to stop occupants in a car allegedly involved in a number of offences in Yokine on Tuesday afternoon.

The officer became seriously injured after she was pinned between two cars after approaching a vehicle on foot on Morley Drive and Flinders Street around 1pm.

"Police officers were attempting to stop the occupants of a vehicle," a police spokesman said.

"The vehicle became stuck in traffic in the vicinity of Morley Drive and Flinders Street, Yokine, when an officer approached the vehicle on foot.
New London, Connecticut: President Donald Trump offered a robust defence of his presidency on Wednesday, arguing that he has been treated unfairly by the Washington media amid a series of deepening scandals that have engulfed his administration.

In a commencement ceremony at the Coast Guard Academy, Mr Trump said "no politician in history ... has been treated worse or more unfairly. You can't let them get you down, can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams."

President Donald Trump gives the commencement address at the US Coast Guard Academy. Credit:AP

Mr Trump did not directly address news reports this week that he revealed highly classified information to Russian government officials and that he had asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end an investigation into his campaign's ties to Russia. But the president was clearly eager to address the controversies, using the second half of his commencement address to express his frustration in rhetoric just loosely cloaked as "advice" for the new cadets.

"Over the course of your life, you'll find things are not always fair," he said. "Things happen to you that you do not deserve and are not always warranted, but you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight. Never, ever give up. Things will work out just fine."
Washington: The US Justice Department has decided to appoint a special counsel to investigate possible co-ordination between Donald Trump's associates and Russian officials seeking to meddle in last year's election, according to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Robert Mueller, a former prosecutor who served as the FBI director from 2001 to 2013, has agreed to serve in the role, Rosenstein said.

The move marks a concession by the Trump administration to Democratic demands for the investigation to be run independently of the Justice Department.
Beijing: The Australian government is backing the right of Taiwan to attend a global health summit in Geneva next week, after China blocked Taiwan's invitation.

Taiwan's annual participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) has been its most important symbol of international participation for the past nine years.

But a worsening diplomatic spat with China has resulted in the World Health Organisation stating that its director-general, Margaret Chan, is unable to issue an invitation to Taiwan for the first time in almost a decade.

Fairfax Media has learnt that Australia is among a group of countries who have made representations to the WHO in recent days in support of Taiwan attending the Geneva meeting on May 22.
Jakarta: An Indonesian man gasped in horror after learning he and another man had been sentenced to 85 lashes for gay sex in the first conviction for homosexuality in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province.

The punishment - imposed under a new sharia-inspired code implemented in the province two years ago - is five lashes more than demanded by the prosecution.

One of the two men found guilty of gay sex gasps in shock after being sentenced to 85 lashes of the cane in a Banda Aceh court. Credit:Raihal Fajri

Presiding Judge Khairul Jamal told the Banda Aceh Sharia Court the couple had been found convincingly guilty of liwath, which means sexual intercourse between two men.

The two men, who are in their early 20s, will be publicly caned on May 23, before the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
Sochi: Russian President Vladimir Putin says US President Donald Trump did not divulge any secrets during a meeting with Russian officials in Washington last week, and offered to prove it by supplying Congress with a transcript.

But a leading US Republican politician said he would have little faith in any notes Mr Putin might supply.

Two US officials said on Monday that Mr Trump had disclosed classified information about a planned Islamic State operation to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov when they met last week, plunging the White House into a fresh controversy just four months into Mr Trump's tenure.

Mr Trump, whose administration has been dogged by allegations that Russia helped him win the race to the White House and that he and his allies are too cosy with Moscow, has defended his decision to discuss intelligence with the Russians after media reports of the meeting alarmed some US and foreign politicians.
Latest News AFG appoints three new managers Aggregator's move to boost broker recruitment, support

Tech partnership offers end-to-end lending solution Product designed to help lenders keep costs down

Broader powers by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to oversee the non-bank sector will have a positive effect on the residential mortgage market, said analysts from global ratings agency Moodys.The measures, announced in last weeks Federal Budget, could see APRA regulating lending by non-bank financial institutions.This policy, if passed by the Australian government, would help curb riskier mortgage lending in the non-bank sector and thereby reduce any risks found in Australian residential mortgage back securities (RMBS).Non-bank lenders have significantly increased their origination of riskier housing investments and interest only mortgages over the past two years, a period over which APRA has introduced measures aimed at limiting growth of such loans by banks and other authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs), analysts wrote in an article for Moodys Credit Outlook.APRA currently regulates banks and other ADIs, but does not regulate lending by non-bank financial institutions. Instead, regulatory oversight of the non-bank sector is presently the responsibility of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which enforces responsible lending but does not have the power to implement macro-prudential policy measures.By extending APRAs powers into the non-bank sector, the regulator would be able to set specific limits and ensure loan quality remains comparable to that of banks and other ADIs, Moodys said. These broader powers would fall on top of the regulators March 2017 policy to monitor warehouse facilities that banks use to fund non-bank lenders.In 2016, housing investment loans issued by non-bank lenders make up for 36% of all mortgages found in Australian RMBS, a large increase from the 16% found in 2015.In a similar manner, interest-only loans accounted for 46% of all mortgages banking RMBS by the non-banks in 2016, compared to 21% in 2015.Non-bank lenders write 6% of the total housing loans in Australia.
Latest News AFG appoints three new managers Aggregator's move to boost broker recruitment, support

Tech partnership offers end-to-end lending solution Product designed to help lenders keep costs down

HSBC has announced a return to the Australian mortgage broking space after a 10-year absence, partnering with Aussie Home Loans.Were excited to partner with Aussie. Aussie has a strong network of brokers and is a well regarded member of the broking industry," said Alice Del Vecchio, head of mortgages and third party distribution at HSBC Australia.Our mortgage book has grown significantly over the past few years and now were ready to stretch it beyond the geography of our branch network with mortgage brokers. HSBC has a range of competitive products that we believe will be well-received by customers and brokers, she added.Aussie CEO James Symond said: Our link with the HSBC brand in Australia brings together two leading brands focused on delivering greater competition to the home loan market, backed by premium customer service."Our HSBC partnership will now provide Aussies customers with a greater choice of mortgage products, while giving our brokers access to consumers attracted to the strong HSBC offering, the majority of whom are high-net worth, he added.
Latest News AFG appoints three new managers Aggregator's move to boost broker recruitment, support

Tech partnership offers end-to-end lending solution Product designed to help lenders keep costs down

National Australian Bank ( NAB ) has launched a new digital tool aimed at enhancing the broker-customer experience.The Instant Pricing Tool for Brokers will be accessible via nabbroker.com, providing a faster, simpler method for brokers to find a competitive home loan rate for their clients.Offering an on the spot price while enhancing the loan application process, the technology is an example of how NAB is listening to brokers and improving its services, said general manager of broker distribution, Steve Kane.The NAB Instant Pricing Tool transforms what was previously a manual, and sometimes time intensive process, to be a far more efficient and streamlined, he said.NAB wants to continue to provide a strong broker-customer experience, so anything that helps brokers give their customers a more seamless experience, and saves time in the day-to-day running of their business, is incredibly valuable.The major is also continuing to offer 350,000 NAB Rewards points when brokers help customers take out an eligible NAB Home Loan and Banking Bundle.This program allows customers to redeem points on over 1,500 goods and services. Alternatively, points can be redeemed for $1,400 cashback.Were committed to continually improving and enhancing our offer for brokers and their customers, Kane said.
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Retired Bishop Thomas Daily, the Bishop Emeritus of the Brooklyn Archdiocese, whose legacy included fund-raising triumphs, a highly publicized clash with a governor over abortion, and the taint of pedophile priest scandals in two dioceses, died on May 15 at age 89.

Daily died at the Bishop Mugavero Residence  named for Bishop Francis Mugavero, whom Daily replaced in 1990  at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, Queens.

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Daily spent much of his career as a parish priest and administrator in Boston before leading archdioceses in Palm Beach, Fla., and Brooklyn.

He was ordained a priest in 1952 by the Archdiocese of Boston, and served the first eight years of his ministry at St. Anns Church in the Boston suburb of Quincy.

Daily left St. Anns in 1960 for South America, where he spent five years doing missionary work with the poor in Lima, Peru. He returned to St. Anns in 1965, served as assistant pastor there until 1971; was named an auxiliary bishop, in 1975, then a vicar general, in 1976, of the Boston Archdiocese, before being named the first bishop of the new Diocese of Palm Beach in 1984.

Daily was appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1990 as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, home to about 1.5 million Catholics. At the time he took the helm, the diocese was in dire straits financially, but Daily implemented an aggressive program of parish consolidation and reorganization, as well as a capital investment campaign that raised $67 million to pay for much-needed repairs to churches and schools across both boroughs.

But along with success came controversy and, later, infamy.

In his first news conference as Brooklyn Archbishop, Daily started a firestorm by saying in response to a reporters question that he would bar then-Gov. Mario Cuomo from speaking at parish churches in the diocese, which included Cuomos home borough of Queens, because of his position on abortion. Cuomo, a Catholic, had said that while he privately opposed abortion, he publicly supported abortion rights and public funding for abortions for the poor.

I find that a contradiction, the bishop said. Politicians have to be consistent, especially when it comes to the life issue.

And in 2002, Daily became embroiled in a pedophile priest scandal in Boston, that had begun brewing while he was serving in that archdiocese under Cardinals Humberto Medeiros and Bernard Law. Daily was named as a defendant in dozens of suits filed by people who claimed that the Rev. John J. Geoghan had molested them in his three decades as a priest.

It was Daily who allowed Geoghan to take a brief sabbatical to Italy, then placed him back into the same parish near a family Geoghan was found to have traumatized. Daily never informed local law enforcement or the parish priest of the allegations against Geoghan. Later, the Boston archdiocese settled the Geoghan lawsuits for millions of dollars.

The Brooklyn diocese was also tarnished by the scandal; in Dailys final years there, the diocese and the bishop were named in a class action lawsuit by 42 people who claimed to have been abused by priests in Brooklyn and Queens.

A 2003 report released by the Massachusetts attorney general blamed Daily for failing to thoroughly investigate the abuse allegations, preferring to quietly move priests accused of abuse to other parishes than remove them for good. The report also criticized him for not going to the police with violations.

Asked later why he didnt investigate the allegations against Geoghan more, Daily said: Im not a policeman. I am a shepherd. I am a pastor who has to go after the Lords sheep and find them and bring them back to the fold.

Daily retired at the mandatory age of 75, and was replaced by current Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who called his predecessor a man who personified the Second Vatican Councils call for a preferential option for the poor. He never acted out of malice or to further his own self-interest. At heart he was a missionary. I suspect he wished he could have remained in the missions his entire life.
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Theyre baaaaa-ck!*

Brooklyns Backyard celebrated the grand return of its four cloven-footed weed munchers on May 10, when a herd of goats who the Prospect Park Alliance hired to snack the summer away on grass, weeds, and even poison ivy returned to Prospect Park.

The furry weed whackers are highly effective, non-toxic, and always come to work on time, according to Prospect Park Alliance Forestry Technician Alexandra Kerr.

The goats, theyre pretty productive, Kerr said. Thats why we brought them back this year.

Last year, the alliance hired a whopping eight goats to munch on unwanted plant stuff, and the four-legged lawn mowers proved so effective, park managers sent them back to the farm for fear theyd start gnawing on more attractive leafy greens the park would rather keep undigested, according to Kerr.

This year, they decided on hiring roughly half the number of seasonal laborers, including a New Zealand kiko goat named Max  who stands out thanks to his black coat and curly horns  and three Swiss Tauernsheck goats named Unicorn, Swirl, and Cinnamon.

Max is the only goat returning from last years job, and hes also the most active in trying to escape the goats hilly enclosure in the Vale of Kashmere, said Kerr, who hinted that he may coming up with a plan to break out.

Hes the one brushing up while we open the gate, and I think hes studying how we put the fences together, she said.

Max is also very affectionate, according to Kerr, although she said her favorite is the other man of the herd, Unicorn.

Max is definitely the one who comes up to me more, but I really like Unicorn, she said. Hes very sweet and docile.

The goats will munch away on weeds in the Vale of Kashmere for a few weeks, before park managers send them over to Lookout Hill, where theyll continue their important mission of filling their 16 bellies  each goat has four  with undesirable plants.

Meanwhile, park workers will be shoring up the hill at Vale of Kashmere against erosion, as they plant more-welcome species of shrubs and ground cover as part of a federally funded restoration project.

Its unclear exactly how long the goats will be in the park, and while Kerr suspects theyll be there until September, their stay is dependent in part on how hungry they are and how quickly they chew through Prospect Parks less welcome plants.

Of course, not all goat grazing stories end well. In 2014, animals used to clear unwanted green in Dumbo where loaded into a butchers van and sent to their doom.

The Prospect Park Alliance is inviting park patrons to get up close and personal with their four-legged employees at Prospects Lefferts Historic House [452 Flatbush Ave. near Ocean Avenue in Prospect Park] May 21, 14 pm. Free.

*Yes, we understand they are goat and not sheep. But we figured we could get away with it.
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...
Families need help: Donate and Give a Christmas

During the holiday season, in partnership with NJ 211, we are pleased to offer the Give a Christmas program to Burlington County residents.
A tripartite meeting between Cognizant Technology Solutions, group of employees and State Labour Department was held in Chennai on Wednesday raising speculation that an IT union is slowly taking shape in the state.

This is the second such meeting held by the state with Cognizant and employees who were asked to leave from the company. Last week a conciliation meeting was held in Hyderabad, with the company seeking two weeks to respond.
An Apple Inc. manufacturer has completed a trial run of the first-ever iPhones assembled in India, in an important step in the U.S. tech giants push into the fast-growing South Asian market.

The manufacturing of Apples cheapest iPhone model, the SE, was handled earlier this month by Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron Corp., which has an assembling unit in the southern state of Karnataka, a state official with direct knowledge of the matter told The Wall Street Journal.

Apple said in a statement that it has begun initial production of a small number of iPhone SE handsets in Bangalore and will begin shipping the Indian-made devices to domestic customers this month. The first devices could hit stores as early as this week or next, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A Wistron spokeswoman said the company doesnt comment on market rumors or speculation.



With sales cooling in Chinalong an engine for Apples growththe Cupertino, Calif., company has been looking for new ways to build its brand in India. Apple has sought concessions on the taxes it pays to import some components, government officials say.

It is unclear how much the model might cost. Some Indian resellers already offer the iPhone SE for around $320, less than the $399 Apple charges in the U.S. Indian government officials hope the new price could be as much as $100 lower than the current $320. But Apple prefers to keep prices roughly consistent world-wide and aims to preserve its gross margins, a closely watched measure of profitability that reflects the percentage of revenue that remains after manufacturing costs.

Even though the SE, which has a 4-inch (10 cm) screen size, is Apples least expensive model, it is still out of reach of most Indians. Bringing its price down below $250 would help make it more affordable, analysts say, though it would still be well above the average smartphone price in India which research firm IDC says is around $150.

Apple is likely to sell a good number of iPhones if it prices them so aggressively, said Faisal Kawoosa, principal analyst at research firm CMR. In three to five years, these users will be able to graduate to a standard-priced iPhone.



Smartphone shipments in India grew 18% last year compared with just 3% globally, according to Counterpoint Research.
Hyderabad-based and Resorts said it would be signing a term-sheet with a Singapore-based Private Equity firm to raise $5 million for its plans of business expansion outside India. The term-sheet would be signed on June 8, said the company while adding that it is also in talks with another private equity firm to raise a similar amount that will help the resturaunt chain add a couple of international locations to its kitty.
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An inter-ministerial panel has been constituted to suggest policy reforms for the telecom sector, which is reeling under severe financial stress.

The panel, comprising senior officials from the ministries of finance and telecom, will examine the "systemic issues affecting viability and repayment capacity in the and furnish recommendations for resolution of stressed assets at the earliest".

The panel will also recommend policy reforms and strategic interventions for the which has a staggering debt of Rs 4.6 lakh crore.

The eight-member group is also authorised to invite nominees from the and financial institutions and co-opt any other member, according to an office memorandum of the Department of Telecom (DoT).

The group has been constituted at a time when the telecom sector - despite a burgeoning subscriber base - is facing severe financial pressure, compounded by the entry of aggressive Reliance Jio.

In September 2016, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's venture Jio stormed into the Indian telecom market with free voice and data services, forcing established operators to slash rates to protect their turf.

This put revenue and profitability of all telcos under stress, although subscribers benefited from cheap data and voice packs.

Even after launching its paid services post-March 2017, Jio continues to be aggressive, offering data at rock-bottom prices while voice calls are free.

The latest earnings season has further deepened the worry lines - India's largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel recently reported its lowest quarterly profit in four years as net earnings fell 72 per cent in January-March.

Smaller rival Idea Cellular posted a loss of Rs 325.6 crore in the three-month period ended on March 31, 2017.

Airtel, in a post-earnings investor call last week, hoped that the government panel would take a "prudent view" of the industry's demands, including the one on deferred payment for spectrum.

The intense competition has not just squeezed the margins of telecom companies but has also raised fears of defaults on loans taken from banks.

The Reserve Bank, last month, has asked banks to review their exposure to telecom and make higher provisions to safeguard their business against any future stress.
As Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) sets about its goal of turning into a global brand in the farm equipment category, the home-grown auto major is aiming to cater to the entire value chain by going beyond tractors. The company is targeting a $150-billion global farm equipment market, of which the non-tractor segment is worth $90 billion.
Anxious to get back on a growth track, regain consumer confidence and revive the brand, real estate developer Supertech says it plans to spend Rs 1,500 crore in the current financial year, to expedite project completion.
Last month, Korean car major Kia announced plans to enter the Indian market with an investment of $1.1 billion in a manufacturing in Andhra Pradesh, which is slated to begin production in 2019.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought an explanation from the Aditya Birla Group-promoted Idea Cellular over its proposed merger with Vodafone Plcs Indian arm.
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday raided 16 properties linked to Karti P Chidambaram, son of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Gurugram. The raids are related to foreign investment clearances approved by the Centres Foreign Investment Promotion Board to media firms in 2007 during the United Progressive Alliance rule.
As the Income Tax (I-T) department raided various properties linked to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief in Capital Region (NCR) on the charges of alleged benami deals, the former Chief Minister and his family tried to show it is business as usual.
The Case Concerning the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations or the Jadhav Case is the fourth instance of a dispute between India and Pakistan finding its way to the International Court of Justice.

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard.
Security forces on Wednesday launched a cordon and search operation in south Kashmir's Shopian district following information about presence of militants but their efforts were being hampered by a mob pelting stones at them.

The search operation was launched in Heff village falling under Zainapora area in Shopian, an army official said.

He said a large number of security forces are involved in the search operation, which started in the early hours today.

However, the operation was being hampered by local residents who are pelting stones at security forces, a police official said.

He said additional security force personnel have been rushed to the area to chase away the stone-pelters.

So far, no casualties have been reported in the clashes between stone pelters and security forces, he said, adding the operation was in progress.

The search operation comes two weeks after a similar, though on a much larger scale, was launched in Shopian district to flush out militants.

While the security forces did not find anything in the day-long search operation on May 4 spanning nearly two dozen villages and involving more than 4000 troops, the militants attacked an army patrol while retreating from the operations that day, leading to death of a cab driver and injury to several security personnel.

Operations in south have been intensified in the wake of videos of large groups of militants -- in some cases as many as 30 -- surfacing on social media, despite ban imposed by authorities on 22 such sites and applications.

Security agencies believe that these videos were shot in south area, especially Shopian district.
Prime Minister will undertake a three-nation tour of Germany, Spain and Russia from May 29 to consolidate relations with these countries and invite investments to India.
Researchers have found that regular exercise may help decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, characterised by progressive neurodegeneration that results in memory loss, compromised physical ability and loss of independence.

In a study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, the team of researchers also confirmed that regular physical activity may improve the performance of daily activities for people afflicted with Alzheimer's.

"As there is no current cure for Alzheimer's, there is an urgent need for interventions to reduce the risk of developing it and to help manage the symptoms," said the study's first author Kathleen Martin Ginis, Professor at University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus in Canada.

"After evaluating all the research available, our panel agrees that physical activity is a practical, economical and accessible intervention for both the prevention and management of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias," Martin Ginis said.

The researchers reviewed data from more than 150 research articles about the impact of physical activity on people with Alzheimer's.

Some of the research work explored how physical activity improves the patient's quality of life while the others examined the risk of developing Alzheimer's based on the amount of activity in which an individual participated.

The panel concluded that regular physical activity improves daily living and mobility in older adults with Alzheimer's and may improve general cognition and balance.

They also established that older adults not diagnosed with Alzheimer's who are physically active, were significantly less likely to develop the disease compared to people who were inactive.

Calling the work "exciting", Ginis also said, "We were able to prepare a consensus statement and messaging which not only has community backing, but is also evidence-based. Now we have the tool to promote the protective benefit of physical activity to older adults. I'm hopeful this will move the needle on this major concern."
If you are happy with your citys cleanliness and want it to be recognised, it might be a good idea to begin by downloading a government mobile phone application.

Citizen engagement appears to be driving cleanliness rankings more than municipal claims and independent verifications, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of 20 cities in the 2017 Swachh Survekshan (Cleanliness Survey) report released by the ministry of urban development (MoUD).

The government evaluated cities performance on citizen engagement through a mobile application Swachhata-MoUDwhich can be downloaded from the Google Play Storefor a maximum of 150 points of the total 600 points for citizen engagement.
Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd, also known as the Times of India Group, has filed a criminal complaint against Arnab Goswami, the former editor-in-chief of the group's Times Now channel and anchor of the popular Newshour that runs on it.
The historic fast track special hearing in the Supreme Court on instant  as practiced amongst Sunni Muslims in India  has already exposed the double standard and irrational audacity of the Muslim clergy that is being represented by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). That the instant is not one of fundamentals of the faith and without it being in practice, the lives of the Muslim believers shall be no less meaningful, is the moot point on which the entire case turns.
A 69-year-old British landlord who instructed agents not to let his properties to people from India and Pakistan is facing legal action, UK's human rights watchdog said in London.

Fergus Wilson, one of the UK's biggest buy-to-let landlords, banned "coloured" people from renting his properties as they cooked curry and left behind lingering smell.

The UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) confirmed it had applied for an injunction against Wilson at the Central London County Court.

"We have asked the court if it agrees with us that Mr Wilson's lettings policy contains unlawful criteria and, if so, to issue an injunction," said EHRC Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Hilsenrath.

"As this is now formal legal action we will release further information at a later date," she said.

However, Wilson remained defiant over his policy, which he justifies on economic grounds to save costs on re-carpeting homes that smell of Indian cooking once tenants have left.

"Given that I have not had any Indian or Pakistani person apply for a house during the past five years, I am not sure what the EHRC seeks to achieve," he said.

"It is not the colour of their skin, but the smell of the curry. A person is quite entitled not to purchase a house that smells of curry but to purchase the house next door which does not smell of curry. The EHRC appears to be saying that the purchaser then must let the house to someone who does cook curry," he added.

The former boxer, whose property empire in Kent includes around 1,000 homes in the Ashford and Maidstone areas of southeast England, denied he was being racist.

"There has been much support for the stance I have taken. I do not apologise for it. Faced with the same circumstances, I would do it again," he said.

The EHRC had demanded a written assurance from Wilson that he would not refuse to let a property based on race, colour, nationality or origins.

It said it would now begin an investigation into his policy on women as it emerged his lettings criteria also covers a ban on single parents, "battered wives", parents with children under 18.

His stand had emerged as an email to his agents was leaked to the media earlier this year.

"No coloured people because of the curry smell at the end of the tenancy," it read.

According to the UK's Citizens Advice Bureau, refusing to rent or let a property based on race is unlawful.
While preference for cow milk has been growing (driven primarily by consumer demand) in the past few decades, bringing the share of cow milk in India's overall milk production to around 45 per cent at the moment, dairy insiders feel that it is soon likely to shift in favour of buffalos.
Hundreds of ATMs across India's tech hub remained shut for the second day due to possible virus attack by WannaCry ransomware and cash crunch, said a bank official on Tuesday.

"Ransomware attack appears to be causing glitches at many ATMs that work on Random Access Memory (RAM). Old ATMs are affected by the malware," State Bank of India Officers' Association Secretary General R. Ramesh told IANS here.

New Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) with Microsoft's Windows 10, however, were not affected by the ransomware.

Cash crunch at treasury offices of state-run banks also forced the security staff to display 'No Cash' or 'Out of Order' signboards at their ATMs across the city and shut them from operating.

"My mother returned from an SBI ATM without drawing cash as it remained shut with 'No Cash' sign board on the machine," lamented S. Ramya, a college student.

Of the 18,000 ATMs across Karnataka, about 10,000 are in Bengaluru alone.

"Our engineers are trying to fix the problem so that ATMs could resume dispensing cash from Wednesday," said Ramesh.

All-India Bank Officers Confederation Secretary S.K. Srinivas said the auto-shutdown of ATMs would be rectified soon.

"There is enough cash with the banks for withdrawals through the counters. Customers need not worry about their security of their money," reiterated Srinivas.

Bank officials, however advised customers to avoid online transactions till further notice due to uncertainty over the impact of ransomware on internet banking.

--IANS

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Government think-tank National Institution for Transforming India (Niti) Aayog on Wednesday said it will team up with premier educational and policy research institutions across the country to pursue Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a New India by 2022.

The held the first meeting of the National Steering Group and other knowledge partners in New Delhi on Wednesday, bringing together 32 premier educational and policy research institutions.

"This is the first-ever initiative to bring a large number of institutions cutting across diverse domain themes to deliberate together on the way forward for the inclusive development of the country," said in a statement.

The meeting was aimed at catalysing the development process, and enhancing institutional capacity development and a field-level interface with the community for New India 2022, it added.

The meeting witnessed the signing of memorandum of understandings (MoUs) between and major think-tanks across the country to create a network of evidence-based policy research.

"This network will enable efficient knowledge sharing and information exchange among all partners to fulfil their role in transformative policy reform so as to achieve a sustainable and more inclusive development in line with the National Development Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals as well as the 15-year vision, 7-year strategy, and 3-year action plan," the statement said.

Co-chaired by Niti Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant and Principal Adviser Ratan P Watal, the meeting was also attended by representatives of four state governments including Kerala, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

During the meeting, Kant made a presentation on the initiatives taken by Niti and how the participating institutions can collaborate for overall development of the country.

Watal emphasised the role that India's premier institutions can play in the country's development through a collaborative approach.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked the bankers to improve their performance and change their work culture as the state government aims for higher growth rate after the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is scheduled for July 1.



Kumar, while addressing the diamond jubilee meeting of State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) on Wednesday, told the banks to invest in improving banking infrastructure, so that public can get better service.



" is a land of opportunities... The banks have been sitting on huge pile of deposits, but their credit outflow is still very low. I have been pushing you (the bankers) to improve the Credit-Deposit (CD) Ratio for a decade now, still it's been hovering around 43 to 44 per cent. In fact, it has come down this year, which means there is limited flow of credit in the state. It affects our growth prospects," Kumar told the bankers.



He noted that while is suffering poor credit flow, some of the developed states in the country have a CD ratio of more than 100 per cent. "Despite all the limitations, we have been growing in double digits. After the GST, our speed will only increase. Bihar consists 8.2 per cent of India's population, whereas our share in country's GDP is only 3.2 per cent. We want match our share in GDP with our share in country's population. We need your support to get their," CM told the bankers.



As some bankers raised concerns over the security of the currency chest in Bihar, the Chief Minister announced that the state government has decided to raise two battalions of State Industrial Security Force. He said, "You raised concerns about the security. We have completed the paperworks to raise two battalions of SISF, which will be based in Begusarai and Buxar districts. We are ready to help you in every context."



The Chief Minister, however, expressed deep dismay over poor performance of the banks in government schemes. He asked senior officials of the financial institutions to invest in improving banking infrastructure.



"Bankers have to improve their performances, especially at the branch level... We have encountered cases where electronic money transfers in the social schemes have been held up by the banks for months. Our Student Credit Card scheme has not taken off because banks have not shown interest in it. It's unacceptable as it fails the basic objectives of such schemes," he added.



"You also need to look into improving banking infrastructure. The state is suffering from huge shortage of bank branches and I have been pointing towards it for a long time now. The RBI had ordered banks to open at least 1,680 bank branches in the state in previous financial year, but only 183 were opened. At least open one branch at Panchayat level. You can open them at our Panchayat Bhawans," said the Chief Minister.
Prime Minister will undertake a three-nation tour of Germany, Spain and Russia from May 29 with an aim of consolidating the relations with these countries and invite investments to India.

The visit to Germany and Spain will be bilateral in nature while the trip to St Petersburg in Russia is in connection with the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) to be held from June 1-3, sources told PTI here on Wednesday.

The SPIEF, which will be attended by thousands of business leaders from across the globe, will provide Modi an opportunity to invite investments in India.

On the sidelines of the SPIEF, the Prime Minister is expected to have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to review the state of bilateral relations and ways to push the ties further, the sources said.

Matters related to trade and investment, defence and nuclear cooperation are expected to figure in the talks.

India and Russia are currently in talks over finalisation of the General Framework Agreement (GFA) for units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu but it is not clear yet whether it would be signed during the visit.

In Germany, the first stopover of the five-day three-nation tour, the Prime Minister will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel and discuss ways to take the Strategic Relations to the next level by mainly enhancing the business ties.

This will be his second visit to Germany in two years. Earlier, he had paid an official visit to the country in April 2015 when India was the 'Partner Country' in the annual Hannover Fair.

Merkel had subsequently visited India in October in the same year.

On May 31, the Prime Minister will be in Spain where his focus will be on seeking cooperation in sectors like infrastructure and energy, the sources said.

After return from the three-nation tour, Modi will be travelling to Kazakhstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet to be held in Astana on June 7-8.

Significantly, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is also expected to attend the Summit of the SCO, a grouping which includes Russia, China, Kazakshstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

He will also be travelling to the US and Israel, for which dates are being finalised.
The recent ransomware attack has renewed a long-running debate about the dangers of digital currency. For those who are not yet aware, a malicious malware attacked almost 150 countries. The concept of the attack was simple: Your computer gets infected with a virus that encrypts your files until you pay a ransom.
DBS is one of the many financial services groups in Asia. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, the company has a growing presence in the region. One of the most important prongs of its ambitions is the banks digital strategyits determination to embrace technology, reimagine the customer journey, and make the banks culture more entrepreneurial.
Cabinet approves four laning of Porbandar-Dwarka Section of NH-8E in Gujarat

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the development of four laning of Porbandar-Dwarka Section of NH-8E in Gujarat.

The cost is estimated to be Rs.1958.88 crore including cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. The total length of the road to be developed is approximately 118 kms.

This work will be done under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase IV on Hybrid Annuity Mode.

The project will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in Gujarat and in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Porbandar-Dwarka section.

The development of this stretch will also help in uplifting the socio-economic condition of this region in the State.

It would also increase employment potential for local labourers for project activities. It has been estimated that a total number of 4,076 mandays are required for construction of one kilometre of highway. As such, employment potential of 4,80,000 (approx.) mandays will be generated locally during the construction period of this stretch.
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. The Convention is an outcome of the OECD / G20 BEPS Project to tackle base erosion and profit shifting through tax planning strategies that exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules to artificially shift profits to low or no-tax locations where there is little or no economic activity, resulting in little or no overall corporate tax being paid. .

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The Final BEPS Project identified 15 actions to address BEPS in a comprehensive manner. Implementation of the Final BEPS Package requires changes to more than 3000 bilateral tax treaties which will be burdensome and time consuming. In view of the same, the Convention was conceived as a Multilateral instrument which would swiftly modify all covered bilateral tax treaties (Covered Tax Agreements / CTA) to implement BEPS measures. For this purpose, formation of an Ad-hoc Group for the development of such multilateral instrument was endorsed by the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in February 2015. .

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Background: .

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India was part of the Ad Hoc Group of more than 100 countries and jurisdictions from G20, OECD, BEPS associates and other interested countries, which worked on an equal footing on the finalization of the text of the Multilateral Convention, starting May 2015. The text of the Convention and the accompanying Explanatory Statement was adopted by the Ad hoc Group on 24 November 2016. .

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The Convention implements two minimum standards relating to prevention of treaty abuse and dispute resolution through Mutual Agreement Procedure. The Convention will not function in the same way as an Amending Protocol to a single existing treaty, which would directly amend the text of the Covered Tax Agreements. Instead, it will be applied alongside existing tax treaties, modifying their application in order to implement the BEPS measures. The Convention ensures consistency and certainty in the implementation of the BEPS Project in a multilateral context. The Convention also provides flexibility to exclude a specific tax treaty and to opt out of provisions or parts of provisions through making of reservations. .

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The Convention has been opened for signature as on 31st December 2016 and a first joint signing ceremony is scheduled to be held in Paris on 7th June, 2017. Signature is the first step in the process of expressing consent to be bound by the Convention, which will become binding only upon ratification. A list of Covered Tax Agreements as well as a list of reservations and options chosen by a country are required to be made at the time of signature or when depositing the instrument of ratification. .

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Cabinet approval has been sought for the signing of the Convention by India. It is also proposed to make a provisional list of Covered Tax Agreements and a provisional list of reservations at the time of signature in June, 2017. Final lists for both will be submitted by India at the time of submission of instrument of ratification. .

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Signing of the Multilateral Convention will enable the application of BEPS outcomes through modification of existing tax treaties of India in a swift manner. It is also in India's interest to ensure that all its treaty partners adopt the BEPS anti-abuse outcomes. Signing of the Convention will enable curbing of revenue loss through treaty abuse and base erosion and profit shifting strategies by ensuring that profits are taxed where substantive economic activities generating the profits are carried out and where value is created. .

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The textile and clothing industry is aiming to increase its exports to Japan, complying with quality requirements of the Japanese Market. In this regard, it was decided to extend helping hands to the Indian Textile Trade and Industry, for better understanding of quality culture in Japan, particularly concerning Textiles and Apparels. Therefore, it was decided by the Government of India to enter into an MoU with Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Centre (QTEC) through the Textiles Committee, with a view to jointly establish and encourage quality compliance activities. In this context, Industry Capacity Building Programme" is being organized at nine major textile centres in India. The capacity building programme was held in New Delhi today, at Hotel Le Meridien.
Japan has officially offered support for various ongoing as well as upcoming development and infrastructure projects in the North-Eastern region. .

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The Ambassador of Japan to India, Mr Kenji Hiramatsu officially met 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 and conveyed his governments inclination to invest in Northeast and also offer any other feasible support for new ventures. He said, the North-Eastern region of India has immense potential and with the kind of priority being given to the region by the Government of India and the Government of Japan looks forward to engage itself as a partner at different levels, both financially and otherwise. .

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According to Mr Kenji, the preferred States which the Government of Japan looks forward to invest in Northeast are Assam, followed by Manipur and Nagaland. He said, besides the trade and entrepreneurship interest, the Government of Japan also has a historic emotional link with the region because it was in the area around Manipur and Nagaland that during the Second World War, around 30,000 Japanese soldiers had got killed while fighting jointly with the British Army against the allied forces. .

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Dr Jitendra Singh appreciated the offer made by the Government of Japan and said, while the Ministry of DoNER will look forward to engagement of Japanese resources in the making of roads and bridges in the North-Eastern region, the Japanese partnership could also be utilized in the recent initiative of developing inland waterways transport along River Brahmaputra down to Bay of Bengal as well as supplementing the Venture Fund announced by DoNER Ministry for "Start-Ups" in Northeast. .

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KSD/PK/MKV
In pursuance of the Prime Ministers call for a New India 2022, the first meeting of the National Steering Group and other knowledge partners was held in NITI Aayog on 17th May 2017 under the co-chairmanship of Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO and Shri Ratan P Watal, Principal Adviser, NITI Aayog. The meeting was aimed at bringing together 32 premier educational and policy research institutions to catalyse the development process, enhance institutional capacity development and a field level interface with the community for New India 2022. The meeting witnessed signing of Memoranda of Understands (MoUs) between NITI Aayog and major think tanks across the country to create an ecosphere of evidence based policy research. This network will enable efficient knowledge sharing and information exchange among all partners to fulfil their role in transformative policy reform so as to achieve a sustainable and more inclusive development in line with the National Development Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals as well as the 15 year Vision, 7 year strategy and 3 year action plan. The meeting was also attended by representatives of four State Governments viz. Kerala, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. .

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Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog made a presentation before the knowledge and research institutions on the initiatives taken by NITI and how the institutions can collaborate for overall development of the country. Shri Ratan P Watal, Principal Adviser, NITI Aayog emphasized upon the role that Indias premier institutions can play in countrys development through a collaborative approach. This is the first ever initiative taken in the country to bring the large number of institutions cutting across diverse domain themes to deliberate together on the way forward for inclusive development of the country. As part of Samavesh initiative, a new link on NITIs website was launched on the occasion which would eventually emerge as a major repository of knowledge based reports and case studies across different sectors of the economy. .

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Speech by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the banquet hosted in honour of h. e. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine .

Your Excellency Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, .

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Distinguished guests, .

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Ladies and gentlemen, .

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It is with great pleasure that I extend a very warm welcome to you, Mr. President and the distinguished members of your delegation. .

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Excellency, I recall, with pleasure, my own visit to your beautiful country in October, 2015. The warmth of the friendly people of Palestine throughout my visit has made a lasting impression on me. I am happy that your State Visit has given me the opportunity of receiving you once again in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. .

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Mr. President, .

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India attaches high value to her long standing friendship and close co-operation with Palestine. Over the years, our bilateral relationship has expanded - to encompass many more areas of common interest. India remains firmly committed to assist the Palestinian people in achieving their developmental goals. .

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Excellency, India has been unwavering in its support for the aspiration of the Palestinian people to have their own country and, themselves, be the masters of their destiny. In 1938, Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation voiced our countrys rejection of the partition of Palestine and the creation of a state based on religion. .

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Later in 1947, India voted against the partition of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly. India was the first Non-Arab State to recognize PLO as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in 1974 and one of the first to recognize the State of Palestine in 1988. .

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We were delighted when the UNGA voted on November 29, 2012 to upgrade Palestines status to non-member observer state" and in favour of the installation of Palestinian flag at the UN premises along with the flags of other observer states in April, 2015. .

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Consistent with these efforts, India has expressed support for the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Road Map. We have persistently advocated for the implementation of relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and its Security Council. We were happy to have participated in the Middle East Peace Process Conference held in Paris in January, 2017. .

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Now, we earnestly hope for early resumption of talks between Palestine and Israel leading to the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine. We wish that the creation of a Palestinian State - that is a full member of the comity of nations, becomes your lasting personal legacy to your people. .

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Excellency, .

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India has been happy to contribute to Palestines nation-building endeavour through technical and financial assistance. I am glad to note that most of the projects announced during my State Visit to Palestine are making good progress. I am also happy to learn that the foundation stone has been laid for the US$ 12 million Palestine India Techno Park which had been announced during my visit. .

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Mr. President, both our Governments recognize the indispensability of investing in human resources for building the strong foundation of a modern nation. My Government is pleased to have hosted over 700 Palestinian nationals in training programmes offered under the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation programme. .

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Going forward, it is a matter of satisfaction that our Governments have agreed to intensify our mutual co-operation in the fields of security, information and communications technology, agriculture, education, culture, healthcare and sports. The youth exchange programme initiated by our Governments will help in forging a partnership between our future leaders for enhancing the mutual understanding between our peoples. .

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Excellency, this is a time of unprecedented global challenges. The scourge of terrorism is, unfortunately, one of the biggest threats faced by the international community. India believes that there can be no justification, whatsoever for terrorism. Its use as an instrument of state policy is perilous and reprehensible. We believe that closer co-ordination and concerted efforts by the international community are necessary to tackle this menace effectively. .

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I am confident that your State Visit will be an occasion for our Governments to review, together, all aspects of our co-operation and decide the next steps that we will take to further enhance it. India looks forward to the outcomes of our joint efforts. .

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With these few words, Mr. President, I once again welcome you and wish you a very successful visit to India. .

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Ladies and Gentlemen, .

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I invite you to join me in raising a toast : .

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to the health and well-being of President Abbas; .

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to the enduring friendship between India and Palestine and; .

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to peace in this region and the continued progress and prosperity of the people of the State of Palestine. .

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The 18th Session of India-Sweden Joint Commission for Economic, Industrial and Scientific Cooperation .

The Eighteenth Session of India-Sweden Joint Commission for Economic, Industrial and Scientific Cooperation (JCEC) was held in New Delhi on 17 May, 2017. The Indian delegation was led by Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister. The Sweden delegation was led by by Ms. Ann Linde, Minister for Trade and EU Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs. .

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Both sides expressed their satisfaction that considerable substance and contents had been added to bilateral relations during the last 2 years and reiterated their mutual desire and commitment to further strengthen the existing trade and investment relations and all-round bilateral cooperation. .

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The deliberations at the JCEC meeting provided an excellent opportunity to review the current state of ongoing cooperation in diverse fields such as Trade and Investment, Sustainable Urban development, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Environment, Education, Health, Renewable Energy, Science & Technology, etc. .

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The two sides also identified Telecommunications, Sustainable Urban transport and road safety, traditional medicine and Food Science & technology as other areas where potential for cooperation exists. .

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Some of the highlights of this JCEC are: .

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The two sides are working towards a Memorandum of Understanding in order to strengthen the cooperation in the field of Intellectual Property. It was also agreed to expedite the finalization of other bilateral agreements currently under discussion. .

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Both sides expressed interest on promoting innovation partnerships between the two countries. .

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The two sides agreed to establish mechanisms for Swedish/Indian companies to facilitate their investments and business in India and Sweden. The two sides further agreed for regular meetings between Indian and Swedish Governments/ businesses for facilitating the same. .

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Both sides agreed to have mid-term reviews on the progress of achievements in Sweden and India, alternatively. .

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This landmark legislation has brought the issue of CSR from back rooms of corporates to their Board rooms .

The Minister of State (MoS) for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, says Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is getting mainstreamed through the Companies Act 2013 .

The Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal said that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is getting mainstreamed through the Companies Act 2013. While highlighting that CSR has been a traditional part of the Indian culture, he said that historical struggle of Mewar was greatly supported by contributions of Bhama Shah. He underscored that paying back has now been given a formal shape through the Companies Act. Shri Meghwal was speaking on the occasion of Valedictory Ceremony of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) Certified Professional in CSR course organised at the campus of IICA, Manesar, Gurugram here today. He was addressing a gathering of CSR experts, corporate leaders and development practitioners and academicians. .

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Speaking on the occasion, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal said that with corruption free governance, endorsement and over-whelming support of all the citizens and corporates, and demographic dividend, India will be leading the comity of nations in the coming century. He also inaugurated a portal for effective communication amongst participants of the course and other stakeholders. .

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Referring to the process of responsible corporate governance through CSR as enshrined in the Companies Act 2013, Shri Meghwal underlined the Governments desire to formally involve the corporate sector in the social development agenda of the country. .

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He also said that the provisions of this landmark legislation are most significant in the realm of business conduct, with CSR now being held as an integral measure of good and responsible corporate governance. It has also, for the first time, brought the issue of Corporate Social Responsibility from back rooms of corporates to their Board rooms. .

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During his speech, the Minister of State also complimented the 130 IICA certified professionals of Batch II on their course completion and exhorted the young students to contribute actively in their dedicated work of nation building through the skills and expertise developed through this course. Shri Meghwal gave away certificates to the students who successfully completed this prestigious course. .

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Addressing the gathering Shri Pritam Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs highlighted that corporate governance is fast evolving in India. The core idea behind setting up IICA to provide training and policy support to corporate and Government is now coming to fruition. .

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In his address, DG & CEO, IICA, Shri Sunil Arora underscored that a new paradigm brought by Companies Act 2013 is now taking shape of a movement. He further added that IICA by providing high quality training and research support in the multi-disciplinary area of corporate affairs is seeking to widen, broaden and deepen its engagement with CSR". This is a leap of faith and not a step in dark as far as IICAs current efforts are concerned", he further added. .

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Ms. Gayatri Subramaniam, Chief Programme Executive and Convener, National Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility (NFCSR) welcomed the guests at todays event and Shri Mukesh Kumar, Chief Programme Executive, NFCSR proposed a vote of thanks in the programme. .

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The days programme included an interactive panel discussion, chaired by Dr. Madhukar Gupta, Additional Secretary, Department of Public Enterprise, on the role of CSR professionals in delivering impactful CSR with participation drawn from ONGC, Bharat Electronics Limited, Charities Aid Foundation, SRF Foundation, IBM, Dalmia Bharat Foundation and HDFC Life. .

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The brand is best known for its smartphones and wide-screen TVs. Yet behind the scenes, the conglomerate is also making a name as a contract manufacturer of complex medicines to treat diseases like cancer.
South Korea has the potential to give Silicon Valley and China a run for its money. The country has ranked as the most innovative economy by Bloomberg, dominating international charts in R&D intensity, value-added manufacturing, and patent activity.
BANGKOK - The construction of Thailand-China railway project from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, which will be further extended to Nong Khai on the Thai-Lao border in the future, will start in 2017 for sure, Chatchai Thipsunaree, Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Ministry of Transport, said on Tuesday.

"We (Thailand and China) are almost done with the contract, 90 percent I will say, the construction will start in this year for sure," Chatchai told Xinhua after a press conference of the Transport Ministry.

Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith also mentioned the railway project at the press conference, saying it is a project of great importance to the kingdom, as it will connect Thailand with neighboring countries.

The current project, 252 km high speed railway from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, will be extended another 355 km to Nong Khai on the Thai-Lao border, connecting with China-Lao railway from Vientiane to Kunming in China's southern Yunnan province, according to Arkhom.

The railway is also to be extended to the south, to Kuala Lumpur and finally Singapore, Arkhom said.

The Thai government also plans to build a public-private partnership high-speed rail from Bangkok to Rayong to connect with the Thailand-China railway project.

Several Thai experts told Xinhua earlier that they want the railway plan to be implemented in a faster way.

Aksornsri Phanishsarn, director of Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Centre, National Research Council, told Xinhua that she hopes that China can help to push the Thailand-China railway project for it to become a "successful case" of cooperation between countries.

Swai Visavanant, senior researcher at Chulalongkorn University's China Study Center, urged the Thai government to quickly move toward the implementation of the railway project, otherwise, Thailand may lose a good chance in its development.

According to Arkhom, China and Thailand still need to agree on three things, such as materials for the construction, consulting fee and whether it is necessary for Chinese engineers to get Thai engineering certifications before they come to work in the kingdom.
Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a multifaceted economic, diplomatic and geopolitical undertaking that has morphed through various iterations, from the New Silk Road to One Belt One Road.
Why has President Trump failed to convince anyone other than his ardent supporters that he was justified in firing FBI Director Even more, why did he fail to realize that the firing would call up strong objections, not only from Democrats, but from many Republicans?
US President had asked sacked FBI director James Comey to end the agency's investigation into ties between his former national security adviser Mike Flynn and Russia, according to a media report.

The latest crisis to beset Trump came just 24 hours after another report accused him of sharing classified intelligence with Russia during Oval Office talks with Russian officials.

The New York Times said yesterday that Trump asked Comey to end the investigation against Flynn.

"He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go," Trump is quoted as telling Comey.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump told Comey, according to the former FBI chief's record of the meeting, as reported by the Times.

Comey was abruptly fired by Trump at a time when he was leading an investigation into whether Trump's election campaign had links with Russia's alleged interference in the US polls.

Sourcing its story based on two people who read the memo, the daily claimed that Comey wrote the memo detailing his conversation with Trump immediately after the meeting, which took place a day after Flynn resigned.

A day earlier, The Washington Post also published a report which alleged that Trump shared "highly classified" information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a White House meeting last week.

The White House swung into action after the latest revelations and strongly refuted the latest report.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the resident has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House official said.

"The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr Comey," the official said.

Trump's team accused an "unelected bureaucracy" of sabotaging his presidency by spreading such information.

The Trump administration accused the media of putting national security at risk by publishing stories based on leaks.

"Our national security has been put at risk by those violating confidentiality, and those releasing information to the press that could be used, connected with other information available, to make American citizens and more vulnerable," US National Security Advisor Lt Gen H R McMaster told reporters.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democrats demanded an investigation into the allegations and Trump's relations with Russia.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said he was shaken by the report in the New York Times.

"And we are only one day removed from stunning allegations that the president may have divulged classified information to a known adversary. Concerns about our national security, the rule of law, the independence of our nation's highest law enforcement agencies are mounting," he said on the Senate floor.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said if the reports are true, the Trump's brazen attempt to shut down the FBI investigation is an "assault on the rule of law" that is fundamental to the American democracy.

Pelosi said the Democrats will file a discharge petition to demand a vote on the bipartisan bill to establish an independent, outside commission to investigate the president's ties with Russia.

Indian-American Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi termed the revelations as "a serious breach of the law".

"Today we learnt that former FBI Director James Comey documented his conversations with President Trump in a series of memos. In one memo, Mr Comey claims that after clearing the room, President Trump asked him to end the investigation of General Michael Flynn. If true, this would be a serious breach of the law," he said.

Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley said this is a "blatant abuse of power", and demanded a thorough, independent and bipartisan investigation into the matter.
As if there wasnt enough controversy surrounding Sergey Kislyak. The Russian ambassador to the US at the centre of the Trump national security storm appears likely, diplomatic sources tell me, to become the United Nations head of counter-terrorism, probably at Under Secretary-General level. The irony seems to have been lost on most of the worlds media, with near-total silence about what looks set to be one of the UNs most contentious appointments in recent years.
The White House appears to be in disarray after The Washington Post alleged that President Donald Trump revealed highly classified intelligence about Islamic State to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russias ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak.

And then, the next day, The New York Times reported new allegations that Trump asked James Comey, whom he later sacked as director of the FBI, to close the investigation into contacts between the presidents then national security adviser, Mike Flynn, and Russia.
It is rare that a large-cap scrip jumps by eight per cent or more in a day. The stock did so on Wednesday when it closed at Rs 493.40. In the past five years, there have been only four such instances.
Armed militants have reportedly stormed in to the compound of National Radio Television in Afghanistan (RTA) in Jalalabad.

Eyewitnesses reported the attack that started about 10 am local time, on Wednesday morning.

Tolo reported that shops in the area were quickly shut downed as people heard shots fired.

The RTA compound is located close to the governor's compound.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Scores of people took to the streets to protest, demanding death penalty to the culprits who allegedly raped a girl and murdered her later.

Women and men holding placards and banners gathered, raising slogan and demanding death penalty.

Earlier, six people, all likely minors, were arrested on charges of allegedly raping and murdering a 21-year-old woman.

The accused allegedly raped and killed the girl when she was returning from a cultural programme and her body was found hanging from a tree.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thousands of devotees made a beeline for the famous Kamakhya Temple here in Assam on Tuesday, but what drew everyone's attention was drawn to the presence of a 200-member Azerbaijan group.

The citizens of Azerbaijan were extremely happy to be the focus of attention.

One elderly woman told ANI that about 200 of them are on a visit to India. "North East and Brahmaputra River, we learnt, are excitingly beautiful and that is why we are here," she added.

However, another pitched in to add: How could we afford to miss visiting this temple to see the goddess?"

Meanwhile, preparations have begun for the four-day annual Ambubachi Mela, scheduled to be held from June 22 in this temple.

It is also believed that during the monsoon rains the creative and nurturing power of the 'menses' of Mother Earth becomes accessible to devotees at this site during the mela.

There is no idol of the presiding deity but she is worshipped in the form of a yoni (Vagina)-like stone instead over which a natural spring flows, Joi Pandit, one of the senior priests, said.

This mela is also known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival since it is closely associated with Tantric Shakti cult prevalent in eastern parts of India.

Even some Tantric babas make their public appearances only during these four days. The rest of the year, they remain in seclusion. Some babas are seen displaying their psychic powers like putting their heads in a pit and stand upright on it, standing on one leg for hours at a stretch, he added.

About 10 lakh devotees throng the temple during Ambubachi, according to temple record. However, with a plan to give a boost to tourism sector Assam government Tourism Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma flagged off a bike rally at the temple entrance as to propagate the event throughout India.

Responding to questions from journalists, Sharma said that the 37-day rally aims at promoting the divinity of this land and tourism of North East India.

Tourist counters would be set up in the airport and railway station to facilitate tourist passes and keep track of total number of visitors coming for Ambubachi, he said, adding there would be provision for providing guides too, accommodation will be arranged for convenient stay of numerous guests but safety, security and sanitation would be given top most priority.

The temple doors will remain closed for devotees for three days as a ritual practice.

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An Assistant Commandment in the Border Security Forces (BSF) was grateful to Union Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi when she redressed the problem put forward by him regarding his sister.

Nabeel Ahmed Wani, hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, had written to Maneka regarding security of her sister studying in Chandigarh.

Due to security threats received by army personnel and their families, the BSF personnel urged the Minister to ask his sister's college to let her stay in her hostel.

In a mail written to Maneka, Nabeel had mentioned:

"My sister is studying in SVIET College Bamur, Chandigarh as a hosteller. These days officers like me are who are from Jammu and Kashmir are under threat of attack by militants as well as our family. College has ordered to leave hostel from this month. My sister could not leave hostel as she is under threat and for security purpose it is very risky." (sic)

After receiving the e-mail, Maneka assured that his problem is acknowledged.

"In this case, I received an e-mail from him. First, we called him. I sent instructions to grievance redressal team asking them to talk to hostel. The hostel immediately agreed and then Nabeel thanked me. He also said that the hope of the girls of Kashmir are very much with you," Maneka said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rubbishing the Congress accusation that P. Chidambaram is being targeted for his critical views about the government, the Centre on Wednesday said that it does not indulge in any kind of 'revenge politics' and that, the law of the country is absolutely impartial.

"Congress has nothing to say that is why they are making such statements. Our government does not endorse revenge politics. It is baseless allegation," Union Minister Ram Kripal told ANI.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sambit Patra said the political leaders first challenge the government to launch a probe against them and once the investigating agency initiates a raid then they would start playing 'vindictive politics agenda'.

"As far as opposition is concerned this is a classic way of reacting by the opposition parties. First they will tease you that if the investigating agency has any kind of evidences against us then why don't they come and catch us and once the law take its own course the very person start playing vindictive politics agenda. They start saying 'ye to badle ki rajneeti hai' (politics of revenge)," Patra told ANI.

Asserting that the law and judiciary department of the country is absolutely impartial, he further said that if Chidambaram feels that he has nothing to do with corruption then he should come up and explain to the concerned authorities rather than playing rhetoric.

Dubbing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid at P. Chidambaram's residence as a "political vendetta," the Congress said the former union minister has been targeted for his critical views about the central government.

"The way these raids are being publicized it clearly shows that the Centre is trying to take political advantage out of it. It is a political vendetta. Chidambaram has been targeted for his critical views about the government. This is not right. He has been raising questions over government's economic and political policies which made the latter to take this step," Congress leader P.L. Punia told ANI.

Commenting on the same, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government is trying to suppress their voice by involving in 'politics of revenge'.

"Revenge and registration of false cases has become the DNA of the BJP government. Congress party will not be deterred. We will not bow down. We will continue to fight for the people of this country. Congress leaders will continue to raise their voices on issues and policies where the government has failed India," Surjewala told ANI.

CBI officials yesterday raided the residence of senior Congress leader Chidambaram and his son Karti in Chennai in connection with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in several cases.

Reacting to the raids, Chidambaram said, there were no allegations against him in giving permissions during his tenure as the Union Finance Minister under the UPA government.

The senior Congress leader lashed out at the Centre, accusing it of using agencies to target his son.

"The government, using the CBI and other agencies, is targeting my son and his friends. The government's aim is to silence my voice and stop me from writing, as it has tried to do in the cases of leaders of Opposition parties, journalists, columnists, NGOs and civil society organizations. All I will say is, I shall continue to speak and write," the senior Congress leader added.

The raids were conducted at around 14 different locations in Chennai and also in the capital in connection with the criminal misconduct in grant of FIPB approval.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Wednesday spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and assured all kind of medical assistance, including a team of doctors for Char Dham yatra pilgrims.

Around 16 of 17 pilgrims who died during the pilgrimage in past 19 days, have reportedly lost their life due to cardiac arrest.

Devotees have blamed state government for the lack of cardiologists in health facilities set up on the yatra route for the rise in the number of cases.

The number of pilgrims for the annual 'Char Dham Yatra' has significantly increased in 2017.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chelsea Manning has been released from a military prison in Kansas after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence for leaking a vast trove of U.S. state secrets to Wikileaks.

She was arrested in May 2010 outside a U.S. army base on the outskirts of Baghdad.

Manning was convicted for leaking hundreds of thousands of documents and videos downloaded from intelligence databases to WikiLeaks.

"After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived. I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me, is far more important than the past, The Guardian quoted Manning, as saying.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama granted Manning Clemency in his final days in office in January. In commuting to time served her 35-year sentence-the longest ever penalty dished out in the U.S. to an official leaker.

Manning was convicted in 2013 of 20 charges, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud, but was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

The diplomatic cables and military files she passed to WikiLeaks includes secret documents on the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, civilian deaths in Afghanistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 14th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) will be convened on Thursday in Guiyang in China's Guizhou Province.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and senior diplomatic officials from ASEAN countries will attend the meeting, reports Xinhua news agency.

"China and ASEAN countries will continue with their discussion on implementing the DOC, pushing forward maritime practical cooperation and issues related to the negotiation on the code of conduct in the South China Sea (COC)," said the spokesperson.

She added that China and the Philippines will convene the first meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea issue in Guiyang on May 19, when the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Sta. Romana will attend the meeting to discuss the South China Sea issue.

China expects and believes that the two countries will consolidate consensus, enhance trust, and clarify misunderstandings through bilateral talks, while properly handling differences and promoting maritime cooperation, to create conditions for solving relevant disputes, said Hua.

The DOC, signed in 2002 by China and ASEAN countries, outlines the most important principles in the management of disputes on the South China Sea, and consultations for the COC were launched by the two sides in 2013.

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Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday branded the clash between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and BJP workers as total disrespect of democracy on the RJD's part.

"This shows the condition of law and order in the state. No matter what, we will expose Lalu in front of people," Yadav told ANI.

He blamed the Bihar Government for this incident and asserted that people in power cannot take the law in their hands.

Earlier, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad called for serious action to be taken by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the matter.

"This kind of gherao is clearly not acceptable. Nitish Kumar is surviving because of the support of Lalu Prasad," he said.

The scuffle between the workers of the two parties took place after some activists surrounded the BJP party office.

The clash took place a day after the Income Tax department conducted raids at 22 locations in Delhi linked to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The raids were reportedly conducted on charges of illegal (benami) land deals worth Rs. 1,000 crores.

Lalu Yadav is already under scanner in connection with mid- 1990s fodder scam case.

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The Gurugram Police on Wednesday announced a reward of Rs. 2 lakh for information about the perpetrators involved in the rape of a 22-year old woman.

"This is to inform everyone that a Reward of Rs 2 Lakh has been announced for information leading to the apprehension of the criminals involved in the reported rape of a victim, case regarding which was recently registered in PS Sec 18, Gurugram," read the official statement.

A case has been registered in Gurugram Sec-18 Police Station.

Earlier on Monday, Commissioner Gurugram said that the police has registered the complaint of the 22-year-old victim who was allegedly gang-raped by three men in a moving car in Gurugram and have formed a SIT to investigate the matter.

Commissioner Gurugram Sandeep Khirwar said that the police has registered the case and will try to nab the accused as soon as possible.

"A woman who was living in Gurugram has registered a complaint, that on the intervening night of Friday while she was returning to her PG, few men dragged her and took her into a car, raped her and then left her in some area of Delhi," said Khirwar.

Khirwar further said that the police is also trying to figure out about the lapse where it was not able to prevent the crime from happening.

"We are investigating the whole matter, and will also work to gauge the lapse from the side of the police," he said.

In yet another incident of sexual assault, a 22-year old woman belonging to the north-eastern state of Sikkim was allegedly gang-raped by three men in a moving car in Gurugram, and thrown out on a Delhi road later.

According to reports, at around 2 pm, as she neared her house, she was dragged by three men into their vehicle - a Swift car. They then took turns to rape her in the moving vehicle while heading to Najafgarh in the capital.

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With the aim to improve the quality of education and also to make India a hub of world class universities, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has taken a slew of measures to overhaul the education system in the country. It has finalised the guidelines to setup 20 world class universities.

The HRD Ministry has finalised the guidelines to setup 20 world class universities- 10 in private and 10 in public Sector.

Under the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN), renowned professors from 58 countries have conducted 640 courses in 2016-17 and 800 faculties are likely to visit India in 2017-18 to conduct courses.

The ministry has not only optimised the school and higher level education but also adopted new innovative approach to change the country's education model.

For example, in the backdrop of reports of many sub standard teaching staff in the government schools; the ministry reformed teacher education in the county. The government took affidavits from more than 7,000 teacher education colleges that they have passed only competent students to become teachers.

The government has decided not to sanction new Bachelor of Education ( B.Ed) and Diploma in Education ( D.Ed) colleges in 2017-18. Instead, the ministry is focused on completely revamping pre-service and in-service teacher education. Under the Shikshak Manthan, four workshops in Raipur, Pune, Guwahati, and Bengaluru have already been conducted and next will be conducted in Chandigarh. The aim of these workshops is innovation in pedagogy, teaching, learning and improvement of quality.

The ministry has also been imparting electoral, financial, and legal literacy to adults.

Under Swayam, an initiative to provide any time learning (ATL) and any where learning (AWL), pilot run of 300 courses has already been started.

The non- profit Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) will be raising Rs. 20,000 crore to create world class research facilities in India.

Under the Uchchatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY), industry funded proposals for 92 research projects have been accepted and 300 faculty and students are working on these projects.

Academic and research audit of 11 central universities is in progress which will improve the academic and research quality.

Phase III of Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) has been launched with Rs. 2,600 crore funding from World Bank and Government of India. Its focus is on most backward regions, north-east and hilly states. Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and north eastern states, Andaman & Nicobar Island, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Rajasthan have already been covered.

The HRD Ministry has also allocated Rs 595 crore for 258 projects under Impacting Research Innovation & Technology (IMPRINT), a unique initiative to fund research projects in 10 domains with most social relevance.

The ministry has supported more than 600 start-ups and IIT Madras Research Park is fully functional with 20 Lakh square-feet research area.

The Digital Library has 66 lakh books and documents online and currently there are three lakh registered users.

The ministry has setup Academic Depository to store educational certificates in digital format from this year. The Testing Agency, an autonomous, self-sustaining premier testing organization, will be conducting all entrance examinations. This would free Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), All (India Council for Technical Education) AICTE, etcetera so that they can focus more on academics.

The process of reforming two Regulators of Higher Education - UGC & AICTE- is in progress.

A Bill is pending in Parliament to grant complete autonomy to Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Accreditation and Assessment procedures have been further revised to benchmark quality of an Institute.

In the school education sector, the HRD records show that in the last three years 59 Kendriya Vidyalayas were started and 50 new are sanctioned.

Sixty-two new Jawahar Navodaya Vidylayas have been sanctioned of which 27 will be operational from this academic year.

A HRD official says that "9,567 Navodaya Vidyalaya students appeared for JEE and 3,567 cracked JEE Mains. And, 481 students were admitted to IITs last year".

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), upper primary residential schools for girls, have been providing education to girls from SC, ST, OBC and other minority/ disadvantaged sections of society.

There are currently 3,703 KGBVs functional across India. 94 new KGBVs sanctioned in 2017-18.

The ministry has also provided Rs. 2,290 crore in the last three years as interest subsidy on education loans to 4,39,818 economically weaker section (EWS) students.

Under the higher education in the last three years, seven new IIMs at Sirmaur, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Amritsar, Bodhgaya, Jammu and Vishakapatnam have been started. Six new IITS were established in Jammu, Bhilai, Dharward, Goa, Palakkad and Tirupati.

One new Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM) has been established at Kurnool (Temporary campus at Kancheepuram).

Under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), Rs. 4816 crore has been sanctioned for 1366 Institutes to improve infrastructure. Central assistance provided for 16 Universities through upgradation of autonomous colleges and clustering of colleges.

The HRD Ministry has notified the learning outcomes under the Right to Education (RTE) RTEAct to benchmark competency to be achieved by students in each standard.

This will create accountability across all stakeholders, teachers, parents and students, says the HRD Ministry official.

"Quality Initiatives by many States have succeeded in attracting students from Private Schools to Government Schools. Shikshan Manthan will ensure more States to follow on this route. All efforts are being taken to improve Quality of Education in Government Schools."

The HRD Ministry has also taken an important step to change in No Detention Policy and has authorised states to detain students in V and/or VIII standard after giving two chances.

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The Hyderabad Police on Wednesday detained three persons suspected to be members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The terrorists were exposed by a television channel yesterday.

An investigation has been initiated and the suspects are being interrogated.

"Once we receive the tape we will investigate the matter," Central Crime Station Deputy Commissioner of Police Avinash Mohanty said.

In April, Delhi Police's Special cell arrested three ISIS suspects from Jalandhar, Mumbai and Bijnor in a joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad said it received information of a group being readied for terror activities.

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The International Court of Justice at The Hague will pronounce its verdict on Thursday over the death sentence awarded to former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistani military court.

India has dragged Pakistan to the International Court of Justice over Kulbhushan Jadhav's case after Islamabad two star military court framed concocted charges against Jadhav.

India has accused Pakistan of not following diplomatic norms and dragged Pakistan to the ICJ on May 8 for violating the Vienna Convention by refusing New Delhi's 16 requests of consular access to Jadhav and denying him the right to defend himself.

Arguing before the 11-judge bench at the ICJ,which included former Supreme Court Judge Dalveer Bhandari,India's counsel Harish Salve stressed that not granting consular access and not giving legal representation of Jadhav's choosing amounted to a "miscarriage of justice" and a "violation of his right" to defend himself from concocted charges in a "farcical trial".

India told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that immediate steps must be taken to stop Pakistan's from carrying out the death sentence of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Noted lawyer Harish Salve had told the court that India couldn't arrange for Jadhav's defence due to denial of consular access by Pakistan.

He said India made innumerable requests for consular access, but Pakistan refused to provide documents relating to the case and consular access to him.

Pakistan is deliberately executing Indians in the military courts where there is no scope for any arguments even in military courts and the charges are mostly fabricated and concocted which are outside the jurisdiction of civil courts.

Pakistan raised the confession statement of Jadhav as a base of its argument and accused India of using the ICJ for its political theatrics. India termed that the confession of Jadhav was forcibly taken by the military while in captivity and he was tried by a military court in Pakistan.

Pakistan's counsel Khawar Qureshi while presenting Islamabad's stance in the ICJ on death sentence handed to Jadhav said that the former naval officer entered Islamabad through Iran using a fake passport.

He told the court that Pakistan had given India all information regarding Jadhav's investigation, but didn't receive any response from New Delhi.

Jadhav,a former Indian Navy officer ,was given the death sentence by a military court in Pakistan on April 10 for alleged "espionage and subversive activities".

To which Pakistan stated that the Vienna Convention provisions did not apply to a spy involved in terror activities. Also the International Court of Justice (ICJ) denied permission to Pakistan to play a six-minute"confessional" video of Jadhav which India terms as a statement taken forcible in captivity.

India demanded immediate suspension of Jhadav's death sentence but Pakistan presented the Kulbhushan Jadhav case as a matter of national security and ICJ's decision would not apply to "matters related to the national security of Pakistan.

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In a series of tweets,Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Kolkata, Ma Zhanwu on Wednesday said Beijing's position on the Kashmir issue is consistent and clear and it is irrelevant to link One Belt One Road with it.

Acknowledging India's concerns, Zhanwu said Kashmir is a bilateral dispute between India and Pakistan and it's up to them to negotiate.

He further added, "While Pakistan-Economic -Corridor is between Islamabad and Beijing and we suggest India no to drag Kashmir into it."

"The CPEC project is between China and Pakistan. As far as India and Pakistan dispute is concerned, we suggest them to overcome it with dialogues," Ma Zhanwu said.

Zhanwu reiterated in a tweet that a bilateral dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad should be the way forward in resolving the Kashmir issue.

On Dalai Lama's Arunchal visit, Ma Zhanwu tweeted China has been opposing the Tibetan Leader's visit to disputed areas and had informed India too.

On the issue that India boycotted One Belt One Road summit, Zhanwu said "One Belt One Road forum was opened to all and its India who decided not to be a part of it . We have extended invitation to Indian leaders in China corridor."

The Counsul General of China even said that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was invited and Beijing still look forward to her visit to China in coming months or later.

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It has emerged that the classified intelligence that U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the White House was provided by Israel.

The New York Times said citing a current and a former American official familiar with how the United States obtained the information that Israel had provided Washington with the highly classified information about the Islamic State.

Israel is one of the United States' most important allies and a major intelligence collector in the Middle East and the revelation of Israel's most sensitive information to the Russians could damage the relationship between the two countries.

Israeli officials, however, did not confirm that they were the source of the information. In a statement Israeli ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer reaffirmed that the two countries would maintain a close counterterrorism relationship.

"Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under President Trump," Dermer said.

After the Washington Post reported that President Trump revealed some classified information about ISIS to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a recent meeting, White House officials denounced the accusations.

"I was in the room. It didn't happen," National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said in a statement as he called the report false.

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Following the Income Tax raid on companies and people associated with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday cornered the Centre saying that the raid was a "political gimmick" to defame the opposition leaders.

"The Income Tax department, CBI, DRI, are the organizations which work at the behest of the central government. Time will tell that the raid conducted by these agencies was because of any irregularities or it was just a political gimmick," JD(U) leader K.C. Tyagi told ANI.

Asserting that the Centre was adopting such trick to defame the opposition leaders, he noted that the raid has been conducted at a time when the opposition parties are uniting.

Echoing the same, JD(U) leader Ajay Alok said, "This is mere a legal procedure. The IT raid is common but what will be the outcome of raid is important. What was the motive behind the raid is also important. We will talk about it after any substantial thing comes to light."

Raids were conducted by the IT department at the 22 locations in Delhi, Gurugram on companies and people associated with Lalu yesterday.

A team of about 100 tax department officials and police personnel reportedly carried out the raids.

As per sources, the raids were conducted on the charges of illegal (benami) land deals worth Rs. 1,000 crores.

Lalu's advocate Chitranjan Sinha, however, denied the allegations, saying that the RJD chief doesn't even have 22 residences in Delhi.

The RJD supremo also refuted the charges asserting that he is not afraid of the onslaught against him.

Lalu took to his Twitter page to slam the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying the saffron party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are trying to pressurise him, knowing that he will expose their "lies, loot and jumlas."

Challenging the Centre to reveal the names of the 22 places raided, the former Bihar chief minister said, "At least tell which 22 places were raided, you illiterates. Lalu is not scared of BJP-backed media and government puppets."

Lalu further said that the BJP lacks courage to suppress his voice and if they try to do so, then million more Lalus will emerge all across India.

He also cautioned the BJP, saying, "I am not scared of the BJP. There is a lot more to be done by bringing together all the parties sharing the same ideology."

Reacting to the RJD chief's assertion, the Centre said that if Lalu is innocent, then he should prove it to the IT department.

"The raids are being conducted as per procedure. We have no intention to intimidate anyone. There have been reports of the massive property owned by his son and daughter in both Bihar and Delhi. Why has there been no clarification? A profit worth 1000 crores is questionable, and hence he is under the scanner," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told ANI.
The Senate, the upper house of Italy's Parliament on Wednesday approved a controversial bill introducing the crime of torture with 195 votes in favour ,eight against and 34 abstentions.

The bill was amended with respect to the version approved by the Lower House in April 2015 and now returns to the lower house of Parliament for final approval.

Urging the Chamber of Deputies to vote the bill into law without delay, "It filled a very grave gap in Italian legislation," local media quoted Italian Justice Minister Andrea Orlando, as saying.

Before the vote, Luigi Manconi, President of the Senate Human Rights Committee and the bill's first signatory, said he would not take part in protest at the way his original draft had been "turned upside down .

"On the first day of the current parliament, March 15, 2013, I presented a bill on torture. Over the following years the text, which followed the deep spirit that animated the Conventions and international treaties on this subject, has been turned upside down," he added.

Italy is required to introduce the crime of torture under the terms of the 1984 UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, which was ratified by the Italian parliament in 1988.

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The Indian Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) are conducting search operations in Shopian's two villages - Heff and Shirmal.

Around 1,000 army personnel and police force have been deployed for the operation, which began at midnight yesterday.

Meanwhile, repetitive ceasefire violations by Pakistan still continue, wherein yesterday itself the Pakistan Army initiated ceasefire violation in Balakot sector here.

The Indian troops gave a befitting reply to Islamabad's attack.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pakistan Army, earlier on Sunday, instigated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars along the Line of Control (LoC) in Chiti Bakri area of Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Army also retaliated to the unprovoked act strongly and effectively.

At least two civilians including a minor girl were killed and nine people, including four soldiers were injured in the unprovoked firing by Pakistan in Rajouri district.

Earlier on Saturday, two civilians were killed as Pakistan Army continued its unprovoked firing in state's Nowshera sector.

Later in the day, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat will on Wednesday review the security situation and take stock of counter-terror operations in the Valley, which has been rocked with soaring turbulence recently besides the steady stream of ceasefire violations.

Jaitley is visiting Srinagar today and the Army Chief is already in the valley.

The visit comes in the wake of beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani Army in Poonch district earlier this month which was termed "barbaric" by India.

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The Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday pulled up the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in connection with the alleged harassment of students during the Eligibility/Entrance Test on May 7 in Kannur, Kerala.

The NHRC issued a notice to the chairman of CBSE in the regard, asking to submit a detailed report pertaining to the incident in four weeks.

The NHRC issued a notice against a complaint filed by Joseph M Puthusserry, ex-MLA and state general Secretary, Kerala Congress (M) who demanded the Commission's intervention, saying the incident was a gross violation of human rights and privacy of the candidates.

In the complaint, it was stated in order to adhere to the rigorous CBSE guidelines the students were humiliated at the examination center.

The CBSE had suspended four teachers for violating rights as female candidates appearing for the Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test center in north Kerala's Kannur district were asked to strip off innerwear to abide by the dress code.

The CBSE has since issued a statement regretting the incident and has issued the suspension of the four teachers involved in the incident for one month.

The harrowing experience came as the metal detector went off when the candidate was entering the center due to the steel buckles of the innerwear. The move was a part of making sure that cheating and irregularities decreased. Physical frisking, strict dress codes are all part of the stringent measures.

Female students were not the only ones suffering humiliation.

Many male and female students reported alike that their sleeves were cut since long sleeves were not allowed. Some students reported that their parents had to go and buy clothes which suited the invigilators' rules. Many students were also asked to dump their shoes.

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An AirAsia flight, in which Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was supposed to board, encountered a technical snag on Wednesday while taking off from Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

"Flight i5 549 from Kolkata to Ranchi onward to Delhi encountered a technical glitch after takeoff. Prioritising the safety of guests and crew members on board, the Captain in command took a call to return back to base. As an airline that adheres to safety and security procedures at all times, we fully support the decision made by the Captain," an AirAsia India spokesperson said in a statement.

"Our team is putting in their best efforts to take care of guests at the Airport while we work towards resolving the issue at the earliest," the statement added.

However, the cause of the glitch is yet to be ascertained.

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Soon after West Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Parvesh Verma and BJP- SAD MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa accosted Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal for an appointment to discuss water scarcity issue in the capital, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while condemning their 'unfortunate' behaviour said such an approach is not good for democracy.

Speaking to media here post her party's stupendous lead in the recent civic polls, Banerjee asserted that this kind of behaviour will not be accepted, adding that any internal matter between the two state governments should be resolved through official dialogue.

"It is a matter of pity to see an MP and MLA behave like this. Every state has its problems. It should be discussed internally, not in this manner. If they are so concerned, why they are not approaching the Haryana government?" she asked.

Mamata further stated that the AAP convener has clarified the matter and water will be available, starting tomorrow.

"I have also had water problems in the state. But it is not meant to be dealt like this," added Mamata.

Earlier this evening, the two politicians approached Kejriwal seeking a solution on the ongoing water scarcity in the capital, when the latter allegedly 'ran away' upon confrontation.

Subsequently, the enraged duo while speaking to media alleged that the Chief Minister is disagreeing to meet Delhi parliamentarians on account of having to clarify the charges of corruption levied against him.

"We came to ask for water, not for his resignation," said Sirsa satirically.

Carrying the allegations forward, Parvesh Verma questioned Kejriwal saying he is accountable to the people of Delhi and cannot run away for long.

"His interest lies in unwanted politics. How long is he going to run away? We will not leave him; he cannot escape from the back door all the time. He has time to meet the West Bengal Chief Minister, but not his own cabinet MLAs and representatives," he said.

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After winning the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election with majority of votes from here, Cabinet Minister Shrikant Sharma will visit his constituency for the first time today.

Sharma will address the problems of people at the state headquarter here.

State vice-president Baburam Nishad and Minister Shankar Shankar Giri will also be present.

This comes after two jewelers were shot dead here on Tuesday, as armed robbers barged into a shop.

The incident was caught on CCTV that seized the attention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who ordered the state police chief to investigate why there have been no arrests so far.

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Nine protesters were injured outside the residence of the Turkish Ambassador here on Tuesday.

According to a report by News.com.au, a brawl took place between the Turkish president's security detail and the protesters who were carrying the flag of the Kurdish PYD outside the ambassador's residence.

The protest took place hours after US President Donald Trump welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The protesters condemned suppression in Turkey, and Erdogan's policies in Syria and Iraq.

The victims are admitted in the George Washington University Hospital.

Meanwhile President Trump has praised Turkey's efforts in the war against ISIS. He emphasised that Washington would "offer support to Ankara" in its fight against terrorism and "reinvigorate trade and commercial ties.

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The Pakistan Foreign Office on Wednesday summoned Afghan envoy to lodge a protest over the detention of two Pakistani diplomatic officials in Kabul.

"The Afghan Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) was summoned to the Foreign Office today to lodge Pakistan's strong protest over the incident in which two diplomatic officials in Kabul were detained, reportedly by Afghan security agencies," said a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The statement said that the Afghan DHM was conveyed that the incident was a clear violation of the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations (1961) and against the spirit of relations between the two countries.

It added that the Afghan Government was urged to take immediate steps to ensure the security and safety of Pakistani diplomatic personnel and premises as well as to ensure that such incident do not take place in future.

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A 28-year-old Pakistani has been charged by German prosecutors for joining the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to fight Indian forces in India-held Kashmir.

The federal prosecutor's office in Berlin was quoted by the Dawn, as saying that Muhammad Aafaq I., whose last name wasn't given in accordance with privacy regulations, joined the militant group in 2008 to fight against Indian rule over the disputed Himalayan region.

Prosecutors alleged that he trained with the group in Pakistan, learning to use weapons like assault rifles and rocket launchers before becoming a trainer of new recruits.

They claimed that he fled the group in 2011 and was fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan, "contradictory to his motivation". They didn't say how he got to Germany.

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Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary, has rejected the prevailing global view that his country is a major hub for terrorists.

Addressing the Affairs Council earlier this week, Ambassador Chaudhary said this perception held by many, especially in the United States, is out of date.

"Now, there is a national consensus against these extremists in Pakistan, but this consensus does not reflect in the US narrative," he added.

Reflecting on his nation's ties with India, the Pakistan envoy admitted that there is a need for better diplomatic relations with New Delhi, but added that the onus was on the latter to restart the dialogue it had stopped.

He also said that Pakistan remains consistent in its stand on providing support to the Kashmiris' right for self-determination.

On Afghanistan, he said Islamabad does not accept Kabul's view that Pakistan is promoting terrorism, militancy and insurgency in Afghanistan; but rather is working towards ensuring peace in the neighboring nation.

Ambassador Chaudhary also discussed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its prospects for Pakistan and other nations.

Chaudhary said the large Pakistani diaspora in the United States is an indicator of the positive ties both nations promote and enjoy.

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Branding the clash between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers outside BJP office in Patna as 'shameful', Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday called for serious action by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar into the matter.

"The attack by the RJD workers and supporters in BJP office in Patna is shameful, it is reprehensible and I condemn it. Nitish Kumar must take action. he must owe it to the country that he is running a government in which daily issue of corruption comes of illegal datafication and accusation of property," Prasad told ANI.

"This kind of gherao is clearly not acceptable. Nitish Kumar is surviving because of the support of Lalu Prasad," he added.

A day after the Income-Tax department conducted raids in Delhi NCR in connection with alleged benami lands deals involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad, his party workers today clashed with members of the BJP in Patna.

The raids came days after the Supreme Court order of May 8 restored the charge of criminal conspiracy against the RJD leader in all four fodder scam cases against him in which he would now stand trial.

Reacting to the searches, RJD chief Prasad posted on his official Twitter account that he was "not scared at all" and will continue to fight against "fascist forces".

"BJP mein himmat nahin hai ki Lalu ki awaz ko daba sake. Lalu ki awaz dabayenge to desh bhar me karoron Lalu khade ho jayenge.(BJP does not have the courage to stifle my voice. If it tries to silence one Lalu, crores of Lalus will rise across the country)," he wrote in a series of tweets.

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Mumbai has always been numero uno when it comes the premieres of Bollywood movies. Now, breaking with tradition, filmmaker Imran Khan has preferred to premiere his film 'Sargoshiyan' at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convocation center (SKICC) in Srinagar.

Imran, started shooting 'Sargoshiyan' in 2015 with the full support of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank and the Department of Tourism.

The movie, which has been extensively shot in Kashmir, drew huge crowds and applause during its premiere.

'Sargoshiyan' will be the first Bollywood film to be premiered in Srinagar and claims to have captured the soul and culture of Kashmir.

The film will be released on May 19 and will be screened in around 500 theatres across India.

The flick is based on Kashmiri culture and brotherhood.

Kashmir at present has no cinema halls and it is only after decades that Kashmiris have got a chance to see a Bollywood movie on screen at the SKICC.

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The Supreme Court is likely to hear a plea challenging the central government's notification to make Aadhaar mandatory in order to avail various government schemes.

The apex court, earlier on Friday, agreed to grant an urgent hearing over the issue after senior lawyer Shyam Divan mentioned the matter before it.

The apex court agreed to Divan's plea and said the matter is likely to be heard on May 17th.

Earlier on May 4, the top court reserved its order on whether to make Aadhaar mandatory for getting a Permanent Account Number (PAN) and to file tax returns.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi informed the apex court that Aadhaar is unique and could not be duplicated.

Lawyers appearing for various petitioners, however, argued that the system is not full proof and can be duplicated.

Rohatgi defended the Centre's decision, citing that it was done to curb the use of fake PAN cards across the country.

Rohatgi said the Centre was entitled to have identification and people couldn't claim immunity from it.

"There are safeguards for privacy under the Aadhar Act. Under the act the authority shall ensure security, confidentiality of data," Rohatgi said.

The Attorney General argued the matter on the point of Section 139AA, inserted in the Income Tax Act under the Finance Act, 2017.

Earlier, the apex court had rapped the government for making Aadhaar compulsory for filing Income Tax returns.

It referred to its order in 2015 when the apex court had made the Aadhaar optional.

Referring to this, the court said, "How can you make Aadhaar card mandatory when we have passed an order to make it optional?"

The Attorney General argued that mandatory Aadhaar was the only way to check black money.

The court earlier on March 27 specified that the Aadhaar card should not be made mandatory for availing governmental schemes.

In a violation of the apex court's order, the Centre introduced last-minute amendments to the Finance Bill 2017, making Aadhaar mandatory for filing taxes.

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Slamming Kiran Bedi's 'Beti Bachao Apni Apni' remark, social activists demanded Puducherry Lieutenant Governor's resignation while saying that politics has changed her.

"Such a statement from Kiran Bedi, who was an IPS officer, was no expected. Being a senior post holder, if she gives such statement and slogan, then it doesn't suit her. Does a political party change a person's language to this extent that he/she forgets moral principle? She should resign on the ground of morality," social activist Mariya Alam Umar told ANI.

Women activist Heena Jahir said Bedi's statement implies that government is not concerned about women's safety and therefore parents have to take care of their daughters.

"What Kiran Bedi wants to say? Does she want to say that it is not government's duty to provide protection to women and therefore parents should take care of their children? Will such slogans help protecting the women?" she told ANI.

Condemning the gruesome Rohtak gangrape Kiran Bedi yesterday urged parents across the nation to keep an eye on their boys while saying that instead of 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,' the nation should raised 'Beti Bachao Apni Apni' slogan .

"Haryana kind of brutal murder with rape and gang rapes will not go away till parents realise their responsibility of careful and watchful nurturance," said Bedi.

Taking a dig at the hapless situation of the nation in connection with women security Bedi said that instead of "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao", the new slogan for the nation should be "Beti Bachao Apni Apni."

On May 9, a woman was brutally gang-raped and murdered, wherein later her mutilated body was found in an empty plot in Haryana's Rohtak.

The incident came to light when the victim's body was found in the city's IMT area.

The victim had allegedly refused a marriage proposal, following which the accused reached her home with his friends and allegedly raped and murdered her.

The Haryana District court sent the two accused to seven days in police remand.

The accused will be produced before the Sonipat District court next on May 22.

Earlier, assuring speedy justice by fast track courts, Haryana Chief Minister M.L. Khattar said the culprits involved in the brutal crime will not be spared.

"Two of the culprits have been nabbed. The police is actively investigating the matter. Culprits involved in such ghastly acts won't be spared, will ensure speedy justice by fast track courts," Khattar told the media here.

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South Korea's ruling Democratic Party's leader on Wednesday said Seoul is considering sending back the recently installed THAAD missile system to the United States.

"Seoul will have to look into issues, including the possibility of sending back THAAD, if it has not properly undergone parliamentary approvals," Sputnik quoted Woo Won-shik,the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, as saying .

The Korean parliamentarian also reiterated that the deployment of THAAD battery to South Korea required proper parliamentary approval for reasons of national security .

South Korea appears to have responded this way after President Donald Trump informed Seoul in April that "it would be appropriate if they paid" for the deployment of a U.S. THAAD system.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has criticized the previous government for allowing the installation of the THAAD system and stressed that there is a need to forge a public consensus over a crucial national defence decision.

The THAAD system was deployed after Washington and Seoul in July 2016 reached an agreement on placing a U.S. THAAD system in South Korean territory in the wake of the North Korean provocations of testing missiles. But China and Russia has opposed the installation of the missile defence system.

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Additional Solicitor General (ASG), Pinky Anand on Wednesday said that the issue of triple talaq is related to women empowerment and human dignity, adding that a secular nation must fight for establishment of fundamental rights for all.

"The entire issue is related to women empowerment and human dignity. A secular nation must fight for establishment of fundamental rights for all. The Supreme Court is examining the constitutional validity," Anand told the media.

She further said that there is no question on faith as every religious practice is subjected to fundamental rights.

"If there is any part of religion which is essential that is protected. As it is being said that triple talaq is an optional therefore there won't be any legitimacy of essential practice on that," she added.

Anand said that the Supreme Court has already clarified that others aspects will not be included in the hearing.

"There were many such practices in the society like Sati and Devdasi but all were abolished as people realized it was against human equality. The Centre has only one point that the issue is related to intra-community and here women are being suppressed which is not acceptable," she asserted.

Anand added that because of triple talaq there is no economic independence left neither there is any progress in the society.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi today told the apex court that the issue of triple talaq should not be seen as discrimination between majority and minority communities.

"It is an issue of minority community and that of women within the community," Rohatgi said in the court.

The Attorney General today told the apex court that if the practice is not present in 25 Islamic countries then it can't be said it is essential to Islam.

"Rights given by Article 25 of the Constitution are not absolute rights," he said.

Responding to Chief Justice of India (CJI) J. S. Khehar's question on which old tradition of Hinduism was set aside by the courts, Rohatgi submitted that once Sati and Devdasi etc were part of Hinduism.

Rohatgi added that if the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) itself says that triple talaq is optional, sinful and undesirable then how can it be integral to Islam.

"A Secular Constitution has to rise above such things," the Attorney General said in the court.

He further questioned that will the community decide that triple talaq is violative of fundamental rights or the court?

The arguments in the triple talaq case, which was inconclusive today, would continue tomorrow.

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U.S. President Donald Trump extended his support to Ankara for its fight against terrorism as he recalled the valour of Turkish soldiers in the Korean War.

He said in a joint statement with visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip, "Turkish soldiers fought bravely alongside of American soldiers in the Korean War, and we haven't forgotten what they did. Today we face a new enemy in the fight against terrorism, and again we seek to face this threat together."

"We support Turkey in the first fight against terror and terror groups like ISIS and the PKK, and ensure they have no safe quarter, the terror groups. We also appreciate Turkey's leadership in seeking an end to the horrific killing in Syria," he added.

He said that he is discussing with his Turkish counterpart to reinvigorate trade and commercial ties.

On his part, the Turkish leader said that it is important to forge a close solidarity and cooperation to fight terrorism, primarily with Daesh.

"Taking YPG (Popular Protection Units) and PYD (Democratic Union Party) in the region -- taking them into consideration in the region, it will never be accepted, and it is going to be against a global agreement that we have reached. And we should never allow those groups to manipulate the religious structure and the ethnic structure of the region making terrorism as a pretext or an excuse," he added.

Erdogan also said that that he has been communicating his expectations with regard to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO), which Ankara blames for last year's failed coup.

The meeting comes amid strong disagreements between the U.S. and Turkey regarding Washington's support for the YPG as Turkey views the group as the Syrian offshoot of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) organization.

The Pentagon said last week that the U.S. would begin directly arming the YPG.

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U.S. President Donald Trump is likely to spread a message of peace during his first foreign trip as President to Saudi Arabia, the Vatican and Jerusalem.

The White House has informed that President Trump will be addressing Muslim leaders on a peaceful vision of Islam.

The Trump Administration has said it intends to unite the Muslim against common enemies and demonstrate America's commitment to its Muslim partners.

National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster confirmed the itinerary.

President Trump will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas to convey "his administration's eagerness to facilitate an agreement that ends" the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

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The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday said the panel's Republican chairman has extended an invitation to fired FBI director James Comey to testify publicly before the panel.

Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat said that the invitation signed by chairman Richard Burr, has been sent to Comey.

It is most likely that Comey will testify before Congress about his meetings and interactions with Trump and also on the Moscow's meddling in U.S. Presidential election and the links of Trump campaign officials with Russian officials.

Comey had testified exactly 10 years ago in the Senate about his famous hospital-room showdown with former U.S. President George W. Bush's White House aides at John Ashcroft's bedside, CNN reported.

The White House has denied a media report suggesting that President Donald Trump had asked the sacked FBI chief James Comey to end the investigation against former national security adviser Michael T. Flynn.

"President has never asked Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn. The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Comey," said a White House official.

President Trump fired Comey last week following which the administration officials provided multiple, conflicting accounts of the reasoning behind the dismissal.

The White House said at the time that Comey was fired based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

In a separate letter, Rosenstein argued that it was his transgressions over the Clinton email investigation that were the cause of his dismissal, while laying out the reasons for Comey's firing.

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British Prime Minister Theresa May visited the Nishkam Primary School in Birmingham on Tuesday, where she interacted with pupils, staff and the community who are closely involved with the pioneering free school.

Prime Minister May spent time in the classroom with eight-year-old pupils who demonstrated their knowledge of an artist, Henri Rousseau, and discussed J K Rowling's Harry Potter books with her.

Talking to Dr. Brinder Singh Mahon, Chief Executive of the Nishkam School Trust, the multi-academy trust operating the school, the Prime Minister commented that she was inspired by the strong values education upon which the school is based and by the warm, family-like atmosphere within the school.

Dr. Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, who is the patron and visionary behind

Nishkam School Trust, said, "We are living in new global contexts, with new global challenges. These require a mind-set centered on values and virtues, along with a keen sense of shared responsibility. Our vision at Nishkam School Trust is to help nurture such a mindset, enabling our future society to advance and flourish for the benefit of all."

Terry Green, Chair of Directors of Nishkam School Trust, said, "On behalf of pupils, parents, staff and the entire community behind Nishkam School Trust, may I thank the Prime Minister for recognising the contribution our multi-faith Sikh ethos school is making to the educational and spiritual life of pupils in this part of Birmingham."

Head Teacher Ruby Kundi said, "We are very grateful for government policy which has allowed the Department for Education to give us this opportunity and responsibility to make a difference to each and every pupil in all of our schools."

The Nishkam Primary School Birmingham (NPSB) is located in Handsworth, northwest Birmingham, and opened in September 2011 as part of the country's first wave of free schools.

The school is part of a cluster of developments serving to regenerate the local area by combining social innovation with heritage conservation.

The Nishkam Primary School Birmingham is currently judged to be 'Outstanding' in all categories by OFSTED.

The school educates 420 pupils at present and is oversubscribed. Nishkam School Trust operates four free schools; two in Birmingham; one in

Isleworth, London; and a fourth in Wolverhampton. At present, three of these schools are judged to be 'outstanding' by Ofsted in every judgement category.

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Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more powers have been delegated to state governments and that the spirit of cooperative federalism has been upheld. He was speaking to media after a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Central flagship schemes.

Naidu informed Amarinder about the recent initiative of conducting review meetings across the country to take first hand report on all issues and to evaluate the status of various programs and initiatives related to his ministries.

Both also discussed areas of collaboration to facilitate the effective implementation of these flagship schemes.

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All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed happiness after the over whelming lead of his party in the municipal corporation's polls in seven hilly area of West Bengal.

Banerjee took to Twitter to congratulate her party workers.

"Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again & again putting their trust in us. We are honored, privileged & humbled #VerdictOfBengal ," she tweeted.

"Congratulations to my brothers/sisters in hill areas of Darjeeling Kurseong Kalimpong Mirik for participating in the democratic process," she added.

She even thanked the people of Mirik for reposing faith on her party and asserted that her party will work sincerely for their development.

"Special thanks to Mirik for reposing faith in us. We will work sincerely for you. After so many decades we begin a new era in the hills," she tweeted.

"The hills are smiling #VerdictOfBengal," she added.

TMC is leading in all seven municipal corporations where civic polls were held in West Bengal.

TMC won 18 out of 21 wards in Domkal Municipality under Murshidabad district. Congress won 1 and CPI(M) won 3, all of the three joined TMC later.

In Raijang TMC is leading with 24, followed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 1, Congress and CPI(M) with 2.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) bagged 31 seats from Darjeerling, followed by TMC with 1.

In Kerseong GJM is leading with 17 seats and TMC succeeded in getting 3 seats.

GJM is ahead in Kalimpong with 18 seats and TMC has yet secured 2 seats.

Earlier, the BJP had won two Lok Sabha seats from Bengal in 2014. The Trinamool had won 34 of the state's 40 parliament seats.

Last year, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's party swept the assembly elections sealing her for a second term for her as Chief Minister.

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All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) is leading in all seven municipal corporations where civic polls were held in West Bengal.

TMC won 18 out of 21 wards in Domkal Municipality under Murshidabad district. Congress won 1 and CPI(M) won 3, all of the three joined TMC later.

In Raijang TMC is leading with 24, followed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 1, Congress and CPI(M) with 2.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) bagged 31 seats from Darjeerling, followed by TMC with 1.

In Kerseong GJM is leading with 17 seats and TMC succeeded in getting 3 seats.

GJM is ahead in Kalimpong with 18 seats and TMC has yet secured 2 seats.

Earlier, the BJP had won two Lok Sabha seats from Bengal in 2014. The Trinamool had won 34 of the state's 40 parliament seats.

Last year, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's party swept the assembly elections sealing her for a second term for her as Chief Minister.
Tom Alter, who is known for great acting skills and his off-beat choice of movies, believes there is no place more beautiful than Gulmarg and that it is way beyond heaven.

The 66-year-old-actor, while talking to ANI said, "After 60 years, I came back to Gulmarg. I was six when I first came here. Yeh Jannat nahi, Jannat se aage hai. We have masjid, temple, gurudwara and church in one village. This is not just Kashmiriyat, this is Hindustaniyat."

The actor, who is a part of the movie, feels that people will get to see such beauty of Kashmir in 'Sargoshiyan,' which people might not have seen earlier.

When asked if he would come again to work in Kashmir, Tom shared, "For sure, I will come back to Kashmir. I hope we could work more in Kashmir and I feel many doors will open through this movie. The way Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Department of Tourism and the people of Kashmir have supported us, I don't think we could have shot so easily in any other state. It feels really amazing."

'Sargoshiyan' is the first Bollywood film to be premiered in Srinagar and claims to have captured the soul and culture of Kashmir.

Imran, started shooting 'Sargoshiyan' in 2015 with the full support of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank and the Department of Tourism.

The movie, which has been extensively shot in Kashmir, drew huge crowds and applause during its premiere.

The film will be released on May 19 and will be screened in around 500 theatres across India.

The flick is based on Kashmiri culture and brotherhood.

Kashmir at present has no cinema halls and it is only after decades that Kashmiris have got a chance to see a Bollywood movie on screen at the SKICC.

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Of Rs 2.5 per share

JK Tyre & Industries announced that the Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on 15 May 2017, inter alia, have recommended the final dividend of Rs 2.5 per equity Share (i.e. 125%) , subject to the approval of the shareholders.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Faculty Exchange Agreement signed between the National Defence College, New Delhi and National Defence College, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The objective of the Agreement is to institutionalize regular exchange programs and establish sustainable mechanisms between the two National Defence Colleges with an aim to enhancing mutual cooperation in the field of national security, development and strategic studies.

Given the geographical and cultural closeness between the two countries, there are many common challenges like countering terrorism that needs joint action.

Hence, there is a need for better coordination and cooperation among the armed forces. The exchange of faculty members of the premier institutes will help to bring symmetry in the capacities of the armed forces and contribute to countering and managing common threats and challenges much better.

The Agreement establishes the framework for enhanced cooperation in the field of military education concerning strategic and operational studies.

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) with the Letter of Assurance (LoA) holders. Allocation of linkages for power sector shall be based on auction of linkages or through Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) based on competitive bidding of tariffs except for the State and the Central Power Generating companies and the exceptions provided in Tariff Policy, 2016. Coal drawal will be permitted against valid Long Term PPAs and to be concluded Medium Term PPAs.

The approved framework ensures that all projects with linkages are supplied coal as per their entitlement. This will ensure the rights of coal supplies for FSA holders and signing of FSA with LoA holders.

Allocation of linkages in future will be transparent and bidding based, barring some exceptions as per Tariff Policy. Future allocation/grant of linkages will be based on auction and/or tariff based bidding. It attempts to make optimal allocation of the vital natural resource across the power units.

The salient features of the SHAKTI are as follows:

i. TPPs having LoA shall be eligible to sign FSA after ensuring that the plants are commissioned, respective milestones met, all specified conditions of the LoA fulfilled within specified timeframe and where nothing adverse is detected against the LoA holders and the TPPs are commissioned before 31.03.22.

ii. TPPs, part of 78000 MW, that could not be commissioned by 31.03.15 shall now be eligible for coal drawal if the plants are commissioned before 31.03.22.

iii. Actual coal supplies to all TPPs shall be to the extent of long term PPAs or medium term PPAs to be concluded in future.

iv. Future coal linkages shall be granted as per the following provisions:

a) To Central and State Gencos, on recommendations of Ministry of Power (MoP).

b) Coal linkages shall be granted on auction basis for Independent Power producers (IPPs) with PPA based on domestic coal. The IPPs participating in auction will bid for discount on the existing tariff. The discount on tariff would be adjusted from the gross amount of bill at the time of billing.

c) The future coal linkages for supply of coal to IPPs without PPA shall be on the basis of auction where bidding for linkage shall be done over the Notified Price of Coal Company.

The LoA shall be issued to the successful bidders and FSA signed after meeting the terms of LoA.

d) Linkages shall be earmarked to the States where any linkage quantity unutilized for two years shall lapse. States may indicate the earmarked linkages to the DISCOMs/SDAs, who may:

Undertake tariff based competitive bidding on long-term and medium-term PPAs and allot these linkages to the successful bidder; or

Assign these linkages to capacities that are covered under exceptions and proviso clauses of para 5.2 of the Tariff Policy dated 28.01.16.

e) Power requirement of group of States can be aggregated and procurement of power on tariff based bidding shall be made by a designated agency. Coal linkages shall be earmarked for such agency.

f) Linkages, for full normative quantity, shall be granted for setting up Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPP).

g) Coal linkages, for IPPs having PPA based on imported coal, shall be made available through a transparent bidding process.

Policy directions will be issued by the Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Power and will be implemented by CIL (Coal India Ltd.) / SCCL (Singareni Collieries Company Ltd.) and different power entities of the State and Central Government.

Background:

The coal supply to the TPPs has been made as per the provisions of the New Coal Distribution Policy (NCDP), 2007. Till 2010, CIL had issued LoA for approximately 1,08,000 MW capacity and no new LoAs were issued thereafter due to the prevailing scarcity scenario. The CCEA decision of 21.06.13 directed CIL to sign FSA with TPPs of about 78,000 MW capacity. The coal availability scenario has, now, emerged from scarcity to adequacy. In this adequate coal availability scenario, the present policy proposes a fading away of the old linkage allocation policy and emergence of a new linkage allocation policy based on transparent and objective criteria for the optimal utilisation of the natural resources.

Coal linkage to the power sector is governed by provisions of the NCDP, 2007. Under the NCDP, a system of issuance of LoA was introduced wherein requests for Linkage/LoA are forwarded to MoP for its recommendations. These recommendations are placed before the Standing Linkage Committee (SLCLT) which authorizes issue of LoA.

POLICY HIGHLIGHTS

I. Existing Regime

FSA to be signed with the existing LoA holders

-About 28,000 MW

-Plants have to be commissioned within 31.03.2022

-Respective milestones are met

-All LoA conditions fulfilled in specified time frame

-Nothing adverse is detected

TPPs which are part of 78000 MW, to get coal if commissioned within 31.03.2022

TPPs to get coal at existing rate (@75% of ACQ)

Coal supply to increase on coal availability

II. New Regime (SHAKTI, 2017)

State/Central Gencos & their JVs to get coal linkages as per MoP recommendations

Coal Linkage on auction basis for IPPs:

-Having PPA based on Domestic Coal

Bid for discount in existing tariff (paise/unit)

A minimum discount in tariff to be determined

Discount to be adjusted from gross amount at time of billing

-Without PPA

Bid for linkages over CIL notified price

PPA to be submitted within 2 years

-Having PPA based on Imported Coal

Transparent bidding process of linkages

Methodology to be formulated by MoC & MoP

Future Medium Term PPAs also to be eligible for linkage coal

Coal linkages for full normative quantity of UMPPs on tariff based competitive bidding

Coal linkages to be earmarked to States for

- Tariff based competitive bidding for PPA; OR

-Grant to capacities covered under exceptions in Tariff Policy dated 28.01.16, namely,

One time capacity addition of up to 100% of existing capacity

Plant set up under a notified policy of State Government for investment promotion (maximum 35% can be procured by State Discom)

-State to decide from above two, in public interest and requirement

-Linkage quantity unutilised for 2 years to lapse

Power requirement of group of States can be aggregated

- Linkage to agency designated by MoP/States

-Agency to undertake tariff based competitive bidding

III. Benefits of the Policy

Coal available to all Power Plants in transparent and objective manner

Auction to be made the basis of linkage allocations to IPPs; cheaper and affordable POWER FOR ALL

The Stress on account of non-availability of linkages to Power Sector Projects shall be overcome. Good for the Infrastructure and banking Sector

PPA holders to reduce tariff for linkage; Direct benefit of reduced tariff to Discom/consumers

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Sangam (India) rose 5.83% to Rs 285.95 at 14:28 IST on BSE after the company said it is witnessing an upsurge in exports sales in FY 2018.

The announcement was made during market hours today, 17 May 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 79.85 points or 0.26% at 30,662.45. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 6.38 points or 0.04% at 15,703.21.

On the BSE, 6,658 shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 15,496 shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 292.85 and a low of Rs 276.45 so far during the day.

The stock had hit a record high of Rs 325 on 1 November 2016 and a 52-week low of Rs 225 on 21 November 2016. It had underperformed the market over the past one month till 16 May 2017, declining 2.44% compared with the Sensex's 3.81% rise. The scrip had also underperformed the market over the past one quarter, advancing 1.94% as against the Sensex's 8.06% rise.

The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 39.42 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Sangam (India) said it has bagged new orders amounting Rs 31.22 crore in the last 30 days for polyester-viscose fabrics and denim. The company has orders worth Rs 240.63 crore on hand, including export orders worth Rs 125.60 crore. The company is targeting export revenue of Rs 450 crore in FY 2018.

Sangam (India)'s net profit fell 71.5% to Rs 4.43 crore on 1.5% decline in net sales to Rs 349.36 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2015.

Sangam (India) is one of the largest manufacturers of polyester dyed yarn in India. The company also has strong presence in the Indian synthetic blended fabric segment with brands like Anmol and Sangam.

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At least 18 civilians were killed on Wednesday by an airstrike carried out by the Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition in southwestern Yemen, according to officials from the popular resistance militias.

The bombing took place in the district of Mawza' in the Yemeni province of Taiz, where the planes mistakenly targeted a truck carrying the victims, Efe news agency quoted officials as saying.

The civilians, including women and children, were returning from a market in the region of al-Barh, located in the same province.

Mawza has been the scene of fierce fighting between Houthi rebels and popular resistance militias, loyal to the government of president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is supported by the Arab coalition.

--IANS

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Rabat, May 17 (IANS/MAP) The African Development Bank (AfDB) is the leading donor in Morocco's water sector, with installations financed by it ensuring sustainable supply of drinking water in several cities.

The programmes financed by the AfDB have improved the water supply and distribution systems in 30 Moroccan cities (more than 2/3 of the country's population).

This has improved access to drinking water in urban areas, which is around 100 per cent.

In rural areas, the access to drinking water has improved from 14 per cent in 1990 to 94 per cent now, said the report on Wednesday.

The major structuring projects under implementation financed by the AfDB cost 300 million euros.

They include strengthening and improving the quantity and quality of drinking water supply on the Rabat-Casablanca axis for about five million people.

They also secure the supply of drinking water for about two million people in the Marrakech, Al Haouz and Al Kelaa zones and improve water quality at the Bouregreg system and the performance of existing drinking water systems.

As part of its next cooperation strategy with Morocco for the period 2017-2021, the AfDB wishes to continue its work in the water sector.

The bank seeks to consolidate its relationship with its main partner, the National Electricity Authority and to accompany the Moroccan government in the realisation of major structuring projects in this sector of prime importance.

--IANS

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Tamil Actor Rajinikanth on Wednesday yet again refused to clear doubts whether he was taking a plunge into .

"What I want to say I have already conveyed two days ago. I have nothing more to say for the present," Rajinikanth told reporters when asked if he has decided to join . He was reacting to media questions during the photo sessions with his fans.

Asked about Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan inviting him to join the BJP, he said: "No comment."

After meeting his fans on Monday, the actor said that if he enters politics, he will be truthful and will not entertain people who want to make money.

"God decides what we have to do in life. Right now, he wants me to be an actor and I'm fulfilling my responsibility. If God wills, I will enter tomorrow. If I enter, I will be very truthful and will not entertain people who are in this to make money. I won't work with such people," Rajinikanth told his fans, who had gathered at Raghavendra Mandapam in Chennai.

One of his die-hard fans said: "If Rajinikanth sir becomes a politician, he will be the best."

Another fan said: "Thalaiva should announce his own party and clean up Tamil Nadu. He is the only one who can save Tamil Nadu and take it forward again."
With over 70 eminent authors and thinkers, the British Library here will be transformed into a literary platform as it hosts the first edition of ZEE JLF @The British Library this weekend.

To be held on May 20-21, the event would showcase South Asia's unique multilingual literary heritage and highlight the festival's global appeal.

ZEE JLF@The British Library is also the first of five cultural strands which form part of the Year of UK-India of Culture in 2017, celebrating the deep cultural ties and exchange between the two countries.

ZEE JLF@The British Library has unveiled the final list of authors who will grace the event which includes prominent writers and thinkers Arundhathi Subramaniam, Mihir S. Sharma, Prajwal Parajuly, Meghnad Desai, Neel Madhav along with director Karan Johar and scientist Sharad Paul,

Writer and historian Roy Moxham and Indian MP Shashi Tharoor will debate colonialism's claims of benefit and development in "The Theft of the Raj: The British Empire in India."

Sunny Singh, will be in conversation with Laura Susijn, and Wei Ming Kam to discuss the challenges of a dominant mono-cultural literary landscape in "Jhalak: Glimpses of Diversity."

Previously announced programme highlights include Oscar-winning British director Stephen Frears, who would be in conversation with journalist and writer Shrabani Basu to discuss her book 'Victoria and Abdul'.

Writer, playwright and music historian Philip Norman would be seen in conversation with leading Indian journalist Ajoy Bose in a fascinating session that explores the magic and mystery of The Beatles in India.

Namita Gokhale would be in conversation with panelists - Tahmima Anam, Sarvat Hasin, Amit Chaudhuri and Kunal Basu as they share their insights on the art of the novel in "The Reading Room: Shaping the Novel".

Literary exiles and migrants Amit Chaudhuri, Meera Syal, Prajwal Parajuly and Lila Azam Zanganeh would be seen comparing notes on whether emigration positively affects the writing of an author in "Migrant Words."

While Swapan Dasgupta and Shashi Tharoor discuss the enduring mystery of India's fascination with PG Wodehouse, festival co-director William Dalrymple and Anita Anand will discuss their book - Kohinoor.

Namita Gokhale, author and ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival Co-Director, said: "Delighted that the fourth edition of JLF in London will be hosted by the British Library. London is a uniquely cosmopolitan and literary city, and we look forward to celebrating diversity through a series of vibrant sessions that reflect the special spirit of Jaipur."

"Our collaboration with the British Library is reflective of the shared history between the sub-continent and UK. The Festival will continue to be a platform for diverse voices and will celebrate 70 years of India's independence," said Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts and producers of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival in a statement.

Jamie Andrews, Head of Culture and Learning at the British Library also mentioned that the British Library is delighted to host the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival this year to mark the celebration of the UK-India Year of Culture.

--IANS

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A Bangladesh court on Wednesday sentenced to death 23 persons, including a Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader, for the murder of four activists of the Awami League and its student organisation in 2002, a media report said.

Additional Public Prosecutor Jasmin Ahmed confirmed the verdict and said that it was pronounced by Narayanganj Second Additional District and Sessions Court judge, Kamrunnahar.

Of the 23 sentenced to death, 19 persons including, BNP leader Abul Bashar Kashu, were present in the court, while the remaining four were absconding.

Awami league is a political party of which Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the president.

According to the prosecution, Kashu and others tortured the four activists, after picking them up from their houses on March 12, 2002, and later burnt them to death, bdnews24 reported.

One of the four murdered persons belonged to Awami League's student organisation, Chhatra League.

Jasmin said he was satisfied with the judgment.

--IANS

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Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Wednesday said the ruling BJP in Gujarat will win only around 80 seats in the forthcoming assembly elections.

"The youth, women, Dalits, tribals, Patels and farmers are up against the BJP this time," he told the media.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party would find it difficult to achieve their target of winning 150 of the 182 seats in the assembly.

State elections are scheduled by the end of this year.

At present, the BJP has 123 seats in the Assembly, with the Congress having 57 representatives.

The 23-year-old leader, at the same time, said this would not mean the Congress would win by default since there are only two major political parties in the state.

"They should not think that the 'laddoo' (sweet) will fall in their mouth because of the Patel agitation," Hardik Patel said.

"If they too do not make their stand clear and get their act together, the people may be forced to look somewhere else for a completely new alternative," he added.

Hardik Patel's statement comes soon after a meeting between a delegation of PAAS and Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki last week.

He reiterated his demand that the state Government should set up a Patidar Commission to look into the quota demands of Patels in government jobs and educational institutions.

"If they are serious, why is there a delay? They do not want to give anything to Patels but are misleading the community."

Hardik Patel was replying to Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel's statement that the government was ready to hold talks with Patidars.

"But, why should we meet you? To have your tea? We are not going to meet you till you make your stand clear on various demands that we put before you four months ago, including reservations for Patidar community."

Hardik Patel said the statements from government functionaries were primarily to preempt any protests during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day state visit beginning May 22.

"Fifty-one youths, including me, will take a march with tonsured heads in protest on May 21. We have keep 51 target but any number of Patidar youths can join us in this protest."

His organization Patidaar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) has plans to hold two major programmes in Botad and Bhavnagar.

--IANS

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The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of 10 indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) for nuclear power generation.

"The cabinet has approved to install 10 indigenously built PWHRs," Union Minister Piyush Goyal said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Goyal, who is Union Power and Coal Minister, said the new PWHRs will generate 7,000 MW power. At present India generates 6,780 MW from nuclear power.

Goyal also said that nuclear reactors, which will produce 6,700 MW, are under implementation and these are expected to be completed by 2021-22.

--IANS

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved four-laning of the Porbandar-Dwarka section of the National Highway-8E in Gujarat, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said.

The decision was taken at the CCEA meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Talking to reporters here after the meeting, Goyal said the project would involve around 117 km of road and would cost around Rs 1,958.88 crore.

This includes cost for land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities.

The Minister said the project would not only expedite the pace of socio-economic development in the region, but was also crucial from the point of view of tourism.

"It would also increase employment potential for local labourers for project activities."

Goyal said the project is estimated to generate around 4,80,000 man-days of employment potential during the construction period, with each kilometre of the highway estimated to require 4,076 man-days.

"The project will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in Gujarat and in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Porbandar-Dwarka section," a statement from the Road Transport and Highway Ministry said.

--IANS

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Nepal's main opposition CPN-UML was a little ahead of the ruling Nepali Congress as results of the first phase of the local polls trickled in from three provinces.

These provinces come under hill region where the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) was considered stronger.

According to Nepal's Election Commission, the Nepali Congress is little far behind the CPN-UML followed by the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre.

As of Wednesday evening, UML has won 48 seats and was leading in 57 while the Nepali Congress had won 42 seats and was leading in 51.

Leading in all four metropolitan cities - Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Pokhara and Bharatpur, the CPN-UML has bagged a majority of seats in cities and villages on a proportional basis while Nepali Congress is winning mostly in rural areas.

In the first phase, polls were held in 283 of the 744 local level units. Nepal is holding second round of local polls including in the Terai on June 31 but Madhes-based parties have been warning they will not participate unless the Constitutional amendment takes place.

There is anger among the public due to delay in vote count and result announcement. Chief Election Commissioned Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said that it will take another a week to announce the final results.

--IANS

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After facing a massive "WannaCrypt" ransomware attack that exploited a vulnerability in a Microsoft software and hit 150 countries, the same Windows vulnerability (MS17-010) has also been exploited to spread another type of malware that is quietly but fast generating digital cash from machines it has infected.

According to a report in The Registrar on Wednesday, tens of thousands of computers globally have been affected by the "Adylkuzz attack" that target machines, let them operate and only slows those down to generate digital cash or "Monero" cryptocurrency in the background.

"Monero" -- being popularised by North Korea-linked hackers -- is an open-source cryptocurrency created in April 2014 that focuses on privacy, decentralisation and scalability.

It is an alternative to Bitcoin and is being used for trading in drugs, stolen credit cards and counterfeit goods.

"Initial statistics suggest that this attack may be larger in scale than WannaCry[pt], because this attack shuts down SMB networking to prevent further infections with other malware (including the WannaCry[pt] worm) via that same vulnerability," US-based cyber security firm Proofpoint researchers were quoted as saying in the report.

This is how a cryptocurrency attack works.

The hackers need to mine cryptocurrency using computers/computing devices (IoT included).

"Mining of cryptocurrency simply means solving complex cryptography problems designed within the algorithm of a cyber-currency that requires a lot of computing," Saket Modi, CEO and Co-founder of Delhi-based IT risk assessments provider Lucideus, told IANS.

To draw a parallel, there can only be 21 million Bitcoins that can be mined out of which 16 million have already been mined, informed Modi.

"Monero", on the other side, is slightly different than Bitcoin but for simplification's sake, it can be assumed that it follows a similar architecture and similar mining process.

"Hence, there is a new wave of cyber attacks where the hacker is least interested in the personal information of the victim and instead his only motivation is to gain access to the CPU of the victim's computer/mobile/IoT device so that they can use it to mine more currencies (and correspondingly make more money)," Modi told IANS.

This looks like something more dangerous than "WannaCrypt" as the victim doesn't come to know that they have been hacked, but, on the other side, "the good part is that the hacker here is not interested in the victim's personal data," Modi told IANS.

To achieve this, the hackers find a vulnerability in one of the servers in the targeted organisation or they would infect a website which employees of a targeted organisation often visit.

"They would then infect the IT infrastructure of the target with malware and would identify where a server running SWIFT software is installed. They would download additional malware to interact with SWIFT software and would try to drain the organisation's accounts," Altaf Halde, Managing Director of Kaspersky Lab (South Asia), told IANS.

According to Proofpoint, the "Adylkuzz" attack is still growing.

"Once infected through use of the 'EternalBlue' exploit, the cryptocurrency miner 'Adylkuzz' is installed and used to generate cybercash for the attackers," Robert Holmes, Vice President of products at Proofpoint, was quoted as saying.

According to experts, the "Adylkuzz" began its attack on or before May 2, more than a week before "WannaCrypt" arrived and hit 150 countries, including India.

"Indications are that the crooks behind 'Adylkuzz' have generated a lot more money than the 'WannaCrypt' ransomware fiends," The Registrar report noted.

According to cyberscoop.com, "Monero" doubled in price over the last month to around $23 while other digital currencies, including bitcoin, saw a mixed month.

"Cybercriminals intrigued by the currency's promises of greater anonymity are using it more often on black markets." it said.

This is how organisations can save themselves from such cryptocurrency attacks.

"If your organisation has software tools for conducting money transactions like SWIFT software, invest into additional protection and regular security assessment in addition to standard protection measures implemented on all other parts of the organization's network," Halde informed.

Protect backup servers as they contain information that can be of use for attackers: passwords, logins, and authentication tokens.

"When deploying specialised software for money processing follow recommendations and best security practices from your software vendor and security professionals," Halde added.

In case of suspicion of intrusion, request for professional assistance with incident response.

--IANS

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart Donald Trump met for the first time on Tuesday at the White House amid frictions on how to fight the Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

During a joint press conference, Trump brushed aside tensions between the two NATO allies and praised Turkey's fight against terrorism, Xinhua news agency reported.

He was particularly keen on supporting Ankara's long-time struggle against the military insurgency inside Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), without mentioning the Syrian Kurdish militia the People's Protection Units (YPG).

The Trump administration has decided recently to supply arms to YPG fighters against the IS, causing tensions with Turkey, which says the Syrian Kurds are allied with the PKK, considered as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and EU.

Turkey is also staunchly seeking, without any tangible success, the extradition of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen living in Pennsylvania, who is accused by Turkey of masterminding a failed coup last summer.

None of these thorny issues were mentioned during the press conference.

Erdogan praised the US president for his "legendary triumph" in the election but also warned his administration not to make "any discrimination whatsoever" between terrorist groups, in a clear message vis-a-vis the YPG which Turkey considers as one terror group.

He also called on the Trump administration not to repeat "errors of the past concerning the fight against terrorist groups."

The Turkish leader has expressed readiness to open a "new chapter" with the new US administration after severe difficulties with the previous one led by President Barack Obama.

Turkish officials including Erdogan himself qualified as "unacceptable" US weapon supply to Kurdish units in Syria, fearing that those arms will fall into PKK rebels hands.

The Pentagon on the other hand said the YPG, a key factor of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is the only force on the ground that can successfully seize the IS stronghold Raqqa in the near future.

Despite no apparent agreements, experts think that is nevertheless a "good start" for mending ailing ties between the two allies, on the brink of a potential breakdown.

"Yes, the two leaders are still divided on the YPG issue but the fact that they exchanged warm messages towards each other and on the importance of the partnership is still somewhat of a good start," commented journalist Serkan Demirtas.

Erdogan's tone was different and uncompromising before heading towards Washington that "we are either strategic allies and decide together, or we are not, and then we have to go our separate ways."

A source from his entourage said that "this is a beginning and we have to wait and see how things evolve. We have explained them our grievances," adding that for the moment there was no development on Gulen's extradition to Turkey where he is facing lifetime imprisonment.

Ibrahim Kalin, Turkish presidential spokesman, said in a communique that the issue, crucial and a priority for the Erdogan administration who recently won a referendum on granting executive powers to the president, has been mentioned during a working dinner at the White House.

Soner Cagaptay, Director of the Turkish programme at the Washington Institute, said that "Erdogan got half of what he wanted already, which was to be invited to Washington" after his narrow and contested referendum win.

"Erdogan was aching to get a western leader who would invite to affirm his victory" in the aftermath of the April 16 referendum that transformed Turkey from a parliamentary system to a presidential one, argued the analyst.

Some 49 per cent of Turks voted against the constitutional changes while 51 percent in favor in a divisive electoral process.

According to Cagaptay, the Turkish president might have also got "some concessions" from the Trump administration on the Kurdish issue.

"I think that the deal President Trump offered to President Erdogan is that the US wants Turkey to look the other way as Washington arms the Syria Kurds to take Raqqa from IS, in return Washington is willing to look the other way as Turkey fights the PKK in Iraq and elsewhere where it has strongholds" , added Cagapatay.

--IANS

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Four persons, including two attackers, were killed as militants attacked the state-owned national TV building in Afghanistan's eastern city of Jalalabad on Wednesday.

Four people, including two of the attackers, have been confirmed dead and six others were injured, authorities told Xinhua news agency.

A group of suicide bombers targeted government offices, including the Governor's house, a police station and the TV station in Jalalabad, triggering gun battles between security forces and the insurgents.

According to Tolo News, the attack started at 10 a.m. Witnesses said one attacker detonated explosives to enable the others to gain access into the compound of Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA).

An RTA employee said at least 40 people work in the compound and many managed to escape but some were still trapped inside.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

--IANS

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The Ghaziabad District Magistrate has ordered the deduction of a day's salary of the Chief Medical Officer for not being present during her inspection of a hospital on Wednesday.

Chief Medical Officer Ajay Agrawal of the Government MMG Hospital was missing when District Magistrate S. Nayyar inspected it despite being told about her visit a day earlier, official sources said.

When officials telephoned Agrawal to request him to reach the hospital, there was no response.

During her inspection, Nayyar found poor infrastructural facilities and hygiene. Many patients were seated on the ground. Cleanliness of washrooms was pathetic.

Some patients complained to the District Magistrate that the sanitation staff misbehaved with them.

Agarwal has been the Chief Medical Officer of Ghaziabad since July 2011 as his elder brother is a senior IAS officer in Lucknow.

"The DM instructed the Chief Medical Superintendent to improve the services in the absence of the Chief Medical Officer," said Additional District Magistrate Preeti Jaiswal.

--IANS

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will announce on Thursday its verdict on India's appeal seeking revocation of the death sentence awarded by a Pakistani court to alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

In a statement, the court announced that it will "deliver its order on the request for the indication of provisional

measures made by India in the Jadhav Case (India v. Pakistan), on Thursday" at noon (3.30 p.m. IST) in a public sitting.

Judge Ronny Abraham, President of the court, will read the decision, it said.

The decision comes after India on Monday sought the court's intervention for an immediate suspension of Jadhav's death sentence, fearing that the Indian national may be executed even before the ICJ decided the case.

Indian lawyer Harish Salve alleged that the trial of Jadhav, a former navy officer, was held under "farcical" circumstances in violation of the Vienna Convention.

The lawyer told the court that Jadhav was kidnapped in 2016 from Iran where he was pursuing his business after retiring from the Indian Navy, brought to Pakistan and was shown to have been arrested in Balochistan and presented as an alleged Indian spy.

His alleged confession admitting he worked for India's external spy agency R&AW and his involvement in terror activities was extracted in a military custody, Salve said.

He urged the court to direct Pakistan to see that Jadhav was not executed and "no action is taken that might prejudice the rights of India or Jadhav with respect to any decision the court may render on the merits of the case".

Jadhav was awarded the death sentence by a Pakistani military court last month, a year after he was arrested on espionage charges. Islamabad has rejected 16 Indian requests for consular access to Jadhav, held at an unknown prison in Pakistan.

Salve demanded that Pakistan should annul Jadhav's death sentence as he was not even given a chance to defend himself.

Pakistan, however, rejected the plea on the ground that India had no right to invoke the jurisdiction of the UN's highest court because the Vienna Convention does not provide for matters relating to spies, terrorists and those who indulge in espionage.

Islamabad also asked the court to reject India's plea for provisional measure in the case.

India approached the ICJ on May 8, accusing Pakistan of "egregious violations" of the Vienna Convention in the matter of the detention and trial of Jadhav.

Denying the charges, Pakistan has maintained that it had requested an Indian assistance in the investigation of Jadhav's alleged "involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan", which it said New Delhi did not provide.

The face-off over Jadhav has brought relations between the two rival neighbours to a new low.

--IANS

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The International Court of Justice will announce its verdict on Thursday on India's appeal against the death sentence awarded by a Pakistani court to alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

The verdict is set to be announced at 3.30 p.m. IST.

The verdict comes after India and Pakistan clashed on Monday at the ICJ over Jadhav with New Delhi invoking the court's jurisdiction to see that the death sentence against him is annulled immediately.

Pakistan has said that India had no right to invoke the jurisdiction of the court because the Vienna Convention does not provide for matters relating to spies, terrorists and those who indulge in espionage.

--IANS

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India has turned out to be the best performing market for South Africa, with a growth of 21 per cent in 2016, against the average increase of 13 per cent for the country as a whole, Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa has said.

"South Africa is a melting pot of cultures, so the tourists feel very comfortable here. Our rich culture and history makes us a destination for India, especially because the relations between our two nations are very close," said Xasa at the INDABA tourism fair here.

There is a very large Indian population in South Africa, dating to over 150 years ago, Xasa said.

INDABA, by far the largest tourism fair in the African continent, was inaugurated by President Zacob Zuma on Tuesday.

Besides South Africa, tourism professionals from 21 other African countries were participating in the fair that attracts buyers and leading travel companies, as well as media, from around the world. It will go on till May 19.

"We had already doubled our market in India between 2009 and 2013. In 2014, we lost a bit of ground due to air connectivity and visa backlog, but now we are back in force," added Hanneli Slabber, CEO of South Africa Tourism in India.

South Africa is also looking for lucrative segments like MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and business travel in the Indian market.

"There is a lot more potential in the Indian market. Our common culture and heritage is of course a strong point... I think we can do much more in small and medium enterprise segment and also vis a vis women in business. We want to partner more and learn more in these areas," the minister said.

The CEO of South Africa Tourism in India said the country has rapidly adapted to the Indian expectations.

"Seven years ago, one of our major drawbacks and barriers for travel from India was about food... Today, in South Africa, you will not find a restaurant that does not have vegetarian food on its menu. It is freely available now not only in metro cities but also small towns in the countryside," Hanneli Slabber said.

Tourism Minister Xasa said China is another focus market for South Africa.

Promoting tourism to Africa has not been without its challenges, though. Crime figures high on the list.

Along with other African nations, South Africa is also perceived as dangerous. But Slabber said that the reality on the ground is different.

"What we have done incredibly badly is how we have marketed South Africa after 1994. Earlier, we did have a problem of crime. But we have not managed to do is to communicate how the country has moved from 1994 to 2017," Slabber said.

"To reassure our tourists, we have also had for a while a unique telephone number for tourist safety where the tourists can be facilitated in terms of lost passports and documents, pretty much like India has done now."

Slabber said South Africa also suffers from incidents that happen in other African nations. One such case was the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which dampened the traffic from India.

"Indians don't realise that we in South Africa were very far from the Ebola-affected areas," she said.

Another drawback is the air connectivity as South African Airways has still not re-started its direct flights to India.

"We are trying to come up with solution as far as the air connectivity is concerned. There is no direct flight and looking at a huge country like India, it is a major concern. But, there are a few airlines who adapted their timings in order to facilitate travel to South Africa," Slabber said.

She said that the country have collaborated with Rwanda Airlines that has started a first direct flight from Mumbai to Kigali and from there to Cape Town.

"The fares are extremely attractive, about Rs 25,000, including taxes. We are also collaborating with Etihad and Abu Dhabi to have improved connectivity with India," said Slabber.

Slabber said to promote cultural tourism, South Africa has developed new options like home stays.

"We have developed home stays, because people want to experience South Africa like a local, eat like a local, live like a local."

President Zuma urged other African nations to leverage their tourism potential from source markets such as India, just as his nation has done.

"Africa is investing in infrastructure development projects that will help us promote tourism. One of the key goals is to work towards a seamless travel experience across the continent," he said.

(Christine Nayagam can be contacted at c.nayagam@mediaindia.eu)

--IANS

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In a major decision to fast-track Indias domestic nuclear power programme, the union cabinet on Wednesday approved construction of 10 units of indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR).

"The cabinet has approved installation of 10 indigenously built PWHRs of 700 MW each," Union Minister Piyush Goyal said at a media briefing after meeting of the Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Goyal, who is union Minister for Power and Coal, said the decision will result in significant augmentation of the country's nuclear power generation capacity.

He said India's installed nuclear power capacity is 6,780 MW from 22 operational plants, and another 6,700 MW is expected to to be generated by 2021-22 through projects under construction.

The government had in July 2014 set a target of taking nuclear power capacity to over 14,000 MW by 2024.

The decision on construction 10 PHWRs comes days before the Modi government completes three years in office.

Goyal said the move will give manufacturing orders to domestic industry to the tune of nearly Rs 70,000 crore and is expected to generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment.

"As the government marks three years of its people centric-governance, in a first of its kind project for India's nuclear power sector, the 10 new units will come up as a fully homegrown initiative," Goyal said.

He said it would be one of the flagship "Make in India" projects in the nuclear power sector.

The Minister said the project will help transform the Indian nuclear industry by linking the goal of a strong nuclear power sector with the country's indigenous industrial capacities in high-end technologies.

"With manufacturing orders to domestic industry, it will be a major step towards strengthening India's credentials as a major nuclear manufacturing powerhouse," Goyal said.

He also linked the decision to the government's clean energy goals and low-carbon growth strategy.

"It supports India's commitment to sustainable development, energy self-sufficiency and bolsters global efforts to combat climate change," he said.

An official release later said that the project will bring about substantial economies of scale and maximise cost and time efficiencies by adopting fleet mode for execution.

It said the 10 reactors will be part of India's latest design of 700 MW PHWR fleet and will have state-of-art technology that will meet the highest standards of safety.

The release said the approval marks a statement of strong belief in the capability of "India's scientific community to build our technological capacities".

"It underscores the mastery our nuclear scientists have attained over all aspects of indigenous PHWR technology. India's record of building and operating PHWR reactors over the last nearly 40 years is globally acclaimed," the release said.

--IANS

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An Islamic court in Indonesia's Aceh province on Wednesday sentenced two gay men to be caned in public after they were found guilty of breaking strict Sharia regulations against homosexuality.

A panel of three judges found the pair guilty of performing homosexual activities together and sentenced them to 85 lashes with a cane, Efe news reported.

In a previous court session last week, the judges heard testimony from witnesses who allegedly saw the men engaging in sexual acts together.

The prosecutors had asked that the men receive 80 lashes as punishment but the judges on Wednesday added five more to the sentence.

The pair will be punished in public next week.

--IANS

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Israel will maintain strong military ties with the US, the country's Defense Minister said on Wednesday.

The statement was the first Israeli comment following US President Donald Trump's alleged intelligence leak reports, Xinhua news agency reported.

The relationship with the US "is unprecedented in its contribution to our strength. This is how it has been and how it will continue to be", Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

He said the US had been Israel's closest ally and this alliance "is deep, significant and unprecedented in volume".

The Washington Post reported on Monday that Trump leaked "highly classified information" regarding the Islamic State in Syria to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as well as Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak during a White House meeting last week.

According to reports, US officials said the alleged leak endangered the life of a spy planted within the IS by Israel.

Trump defended his right to share anti-terrorist information with Russia. However, he did not tell whether it was highly classified.

Trump is expected to arrive in Israel on May 22 for his first official visit to the country.

--IANS

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Sochi (Russia), May 17 (IANS/AKI) Italy and Russia need to join forces in battling terrorism and in ending regional crises in the Middle East and elsewhere, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Wednesday.

"There are areas where Italy and Russia can and must cooperate: in the fight against terrorism and in resolving regional crises in Libya, Syria and Afghanistan," Gentiloni said during a one-day visit to this Russian coastal city where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We have common threats to which we must respond jointly," he said at the joint press conference after the meeting.

Putin underlined his country's "important" ties with Rome.

"Italy is an important partner for Russia. It is one of our key trading partners.

"I want to stress the importance of today's meeting with Premier Paolo Gentiloni. We discussed many issues," he said.

Meanwhile, Italy's energy giant Eni and Russia's Rosneft signed an agreement to broaden their cooperation.

The accord covers hydrocarbon exploration and production, refining, trading logistics, marketing and sales, petrochemicals, technology and innovation, Eni and Rosneft said.

Rosneft said the agreement included possible joint oil product supplies to Egypt and covered the massive Zohr natural gasfield - the largest-ever found in the Mediterranean.

The accord was signed by Eni and Rosnefts CEOs, Claudio Descalzi and Igor Sechin respectively in the presence of Putin and Gentiloni.

Production at Zohr is due to begin by the end of 2017 and the gas extracted is expected to be sold for domestic consumption in Egypt.

Eni controls 50 percent of the Zohr offshore project, while Rosneft owns up to 35 percent and BP - up to 15 percent.

--IANS/AKI

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Rome, May 17 (IANS/AKI) The Senate, the upper house of Italy's parliament, on Wednesday approved a bill introducing the crime of torture with 195 votes in favour, 8 against and 34 abstentions.

The bill now returns to the lower house of parliament for final approval.

Italian Justice Minister Andrea Orlando urged the Chamber of Deputies to vote the bill into law without delay, saying it filled "a very grave gap in Italian legislation".

Italy is required to introduce the crime of torture under the 1984 UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, ratified by the Italian parliament in 1988.

Luigi Manconi, the Italian Senator who presented the torture bill, refused to take part in Wednesday's vote, claiming that a series of amendments made to the draft law had "turned it upside down" since the original version was approved by parliament's lower house in April 2015.

The Council of Europe rights watchdog has repeatedly urged Italy to pass a torture law to punish episodes of brutality such as the infamous police raid against anti-globalisation protesters at the Genoa G8 summit in July 2001.

Eighty-two people were wounded, 61 of them seriously and three critically in the raid by masked anti-riot police at Genoa's Armando Diaz school, where protesters were sleeping. A British journalist attacked by police was left in a coma with rib and spinal injuries and many people were beaten senseless and had bones broken during the raid.

The Italian government has agreed to pay six victims of police brutality at the Genoa G8 summit 45,000 euros each in compensation, the European Court of Human Rights said in April.

In 2012, 25 Italian police officers were found guilty of falsifying evidence concerning the Armando Diaz raid but none served jail time, due to the expiry of Italy's statute of limitations.

The national police chief at the time of the Genoa G8 summit, Gianni De Gennaro, was acquitted at the end of the appeals process.

--IANS/AKI

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) legislator on hunger strike since Sunday demanding a CBI probe into the "surrender" of Maoist commander Kundan Pahan, ended his fast after the state government promised to look into the issues raised by him.

Jharkhand Home Secretary S.K.G. Rahate and Additional Director General of Police (Operations) R.K. Mallik on Wednesday reached Morabadi ground on Wednesday noon and held a dialogue with legislator Vikas Munda.

Both had gone as representatives of Chief Minister Raghubar Das.

Munda had sat on hunger strike on Sunday demanding a CBI probe into the surrender of Kundan Pahan. He also demanded that Pahan should be hanged.

The AJSU legislator said there are many families whose relatives have been killed by Pahan and they have not been paid compensation. He demanded a fair probe into the killing of his father and former Minister Ramesh Singh Munda, in which Pahan is an accused.

Pahan surrendered before Jharkhand police on Sunday. He was carrying a Rs 15 lakh reward. He is facing 128 cases in the state and is accused of killing of former Minister Ramesh Singh Munda, beheading special branch Police Inspector Francis Induwar, looting of Rs 5 crore from the ICICI. He has killed more than 70 people, including policemen.

The Jharkhand High Court has also taken cognisance of the issue and asked the state government to file a written reply in the matter.

--IANS

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Riding high on Jio wave, Reliance Industries Limited's (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani has entered the Light Reading's 'Hall of Fame 2017'.

Ray Le Maistre, International Group Editor, 'Light Reading', announced Mukesh Ambani entering the 'Hall of Fame 2017' that recognises individuals for their contribution to the global communications industry.

"What makes Mukesh Ambani an entrant into the 'Hall of Fame' is not that he is the richest Indian and indeed one of the wealthiest people in the world," says Light Reading, "Why he has been given the honour is for shaking up one of the world's largest communications market."

"Light Reading" is a global telecommunications industry information company based in New York. Its activities include publishing, data analysis, market research and events management.

Light Reading said: "Mukesh Ambani has been the driving force behind India's new 4G entrant Reliance Jio, which was launched in September 2016, following years of planning and billions of dollars of investment."

Apart from Ambani, others who have entered "Hall of Fame" this year are Reed Hastings, founder and CEO of Netflix; Tony Werner, President of Technology, Comcast Cable, and networking innovator Nick Mc Keown.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 95-year-old and biggest museum in Mumbai, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), will celebrate a 'day out' on wheels to mark the International Museum Day on Thursday, an official said here on Wednesday.

This year, in an unique initiative, the Citi-CSMVS Museum on Wheels will travel around a special bus in Mumbai and park at key locations for people to walk in and view the exhibits.

The exhibition on the bus will be titled 'As It Happened', a literal translation of the Sanskrit word 'Itihas', or history.

Accordingly, the Museum on Wheels will be available for public viewing for four hours at each major location like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Lower Parel, Girgaum Chowpatty and other plACEs to enable people soak in the rich culture and heritage through the expo.

The add-ons at Lower Parel would include fun, arts and craft activities for young and old to participate and enjoy the travelling museum experience, said CSMVS education officer Bilwa Kulkarni.

According to Kulkarni, every year around 4,000 visitors throng the CSMVS for the global event, but this year year it will be a double celebrations as the Museum on Wheels will go around the city in the midst of the people.

Besides the city tour, a host of activities like Shibori Tye and Dye, Islamic Tile Making, Khokhloma, Egyptian Jewellery Making, Torma Making, Making Miniature Painting, Trade Route Quiz and Story-Telling Sessions will also be held to mark the day.

Ranked among the most premier such institutions in the country, the CSMVS museum houses a collection of over 60,000 multicultural collection of artefacts from Asia and Europe.

--IANS

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra on Wednesday said that his mother never wanted security cover and its removal will help prevent unnecessary inconvenience to her.

"My mother never asked for this provision, and I am sure its removal will at least save her from the embarrassment and discomfort she always felt over the unnecessary inconvenience they sometimes caused to others despite her requests not to do so," Vadra said in a Facebook post.

He also accused sections of media of a "tirade" on the issue.

"There are more civilised ways of changing things than running a media tirade, in which a senior citizen is hounded and the media is informed even before the people concerned are regarding security arrangements for them."

"I reiterate...pls don't take your fight with me, to my mother at least," he added.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday removed the security cover of Vadra's mother, Maureen Vadra, a senior police official told IANS.

--IANS

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North Korea has justified its latest long-, medium-range ballistic missile test-firing as "routine work to raise nuclear capability for self-defence", rejecting the UN Security Council's condemnation.

"The successful test-fire of Hwasong-12 is of special significance in ensuring peace and stability in the Korean peninsula, and it is the greatest victory of the Korean people," Xinhau news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying on Tuesday.

North Korea is also stepping up diplomatic actions to seek support and understanding from other countries over its missile launch.

The Foreign Ministry on Monday briefed envoys of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-states on the present situation.

North Korean officials accused the US of pressuring other countries into severing or degrading diplomatic ties with it by misusing "sanction resolutions" against it.

They were referring to a recent meeting between US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Asean officials in Washington, during which Tillerson called on Asean countries to degrade diplomatic ties and cut interactions with North Korea.

"Such pressure by use of 'sanction resolutions' devoid of legality, morality and impartiality is a blatant infringement on the independence of a sovereign state and act of interference in others' internal affairs," said a senior North Korean diplomat.

North Korea on Sunday test-fired a ballistic missile, which "accurately hit" the targeted open waters 787 km away after flying to a maximum altitude of 2,111.5 km.

Both the UN Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday slammed the missile launches.

The UN Security Council "strongly condemned the most recent ballistic missile launches" conducted by North Korea on April 28 and May 13, the 15-nation UN body said in a statement.

--IANS

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Nepal's Transport Minister Ramesh Lekhak, on a visit to China, has proposed that the two countries set up cross-border road and rail connectivity, a media report said.

Chinese Transport Minister Li Xiaopeng has accepted the request of his Nepalese counterpart, according to Lekhak's personal secretary, Janak Bhatta, The Kathmandu Post reported.

The two countries have also appointed a person each for facilitating Chinese investment in these mega projects.

The proposal comes as Nepal last week joined China's ambitious One Road One Belt project, which aims to improve land and marine connectivity among Asian countries, Africa, and Europe.

Xiaopeng told Lekhak that a new age has begun in Nepal's economic development after becoming a part of OBOR.

Nepali Ambassador to China Leelamani Paudyal and the general manager of International Department of China's Transport Ministry have been named as the focal persons for facilitating Chinese investment in mega projects, the daily said.

Former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had agreed to cooperate in several areas, including the transportation sector, during the former's visit to Beijing in March 2016.

Chinese President Xi Jinping had also given assurance to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal that the Chinese government is ready to begin construction work on the cross-border railway link and boost trade and connectivity.

--IANS

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The Ministry of Communications has set up an inter-ministerial group (IMG) to look at the "stressed balance sheets" of various telecom companies and suggest solutions.

According to an office memorandum circulated on Tuesday, a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) from the Department of Telecom (DoT) in the ministry had discussed the issue relating to 'Stress in balance sheet in select sector' at its meeting on March 29.

Following the meeting, the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) approved the constitution of the group of officials from DoT and the Ministry of Finance.

The telecom sector is reeling under debt of nearly Rs 800,000 crore, according to industry sources.

The annual interest payment of telecom companies is around Rs 78,000 crore. Sources attributed the cause behind the bleeding balance sheets of the telecom companies to the high-priced spectrum auctions which took place in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Last month, the Reserve Bank of India also expressed its concern over stressed assets in the telecom sector.

The main tasks of the IMG will be to examine systemic issues affecting viability and repayment capacity in telecom sector and furnish recommendations for resolution of stressed assets at the earliest.

It was also called upon to suggest policy reforms and strategic intervention for the telecom sector. The IMG is authorised to invite nominees from telecom sector and financial institutions and co-opt any other member.

The group has been asked to submit its recommendations within three months.

--IANS

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Indian actress Priyanka Chopra will appear on the "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" American talk show.

Priyanka on Wednesday took to Instagram, where she shared a photograph of herself looking out through a window of a car.

"Back to my NYC...Mumbai-NYC-Africa-LA-Miami-NYC in 15 days! Phew... Another two weeks of many time zones coming up. Watch me live on 'Watch What Happens live' Tonight! 'Baywatch' May 25," Priyanka captioned the image.

Priyanka appeared on the show along with actress Amy Brenneman. She says it was fun to "hang out" with the international star.

"It was so much fun to meet you and hang out Amy Brenneman you are as amazing as the work you do. Much love."

"Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" is an American pop culture-based late-night talk show hosted by Andy Cohen. It features network channel Bravo's own reality programming in the manner of an after show, and celebrities' recent news.

Priyanka is currently busy promoting her maiden international film "Baywatch", which also stars Dwyane Johnson and Zac Efron.

Set to release on May 25, "Baywatch" is adapted from the popular 1990's show of the same name, which featured actress Pamela Anderson in a key role.

The "Bajirao Mastani" star will be seen essaying a negative role named Victoria Leeds in the forthcoming film.

--IANS

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At least half a dozen persons were injured in a violent clash between RJD and BJP workers in the Bihar capital on Wednesday, a day after IT raids in connection with alleged "benami" property deals involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family.

"RJD and BJP workers clashed violently by attacking each other with bamboo sticks and pelted stones at each other in which some of them were injured. They also shouted slogans with abusive language against top leaders of the rival party," a police official said.

The clash took place in front of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state headquarters office on the busy Birchand Patel Marg near the IT square in the heart of Patna.

"The two sides clashed for nearly half an hour in the presence of police officials, who hardly intervened initially and did not use force to control the situation. The police became active only after the situation went out of control," an eyewitness, who owns a pavement tea shop, said.

After police dispersed the Rashtriya Janata Dal workers, hundreds of angry BJP workers staged a protest by blocking the Birchand Patel Marg, demanding action against RJD workers.

The protest started when a group of Chatra (student) RJD workers, holding an "Akrosh march" to protest against the IT department raids on 22 locations involving Lalu Prasad, reached near the BJP office. They shouted slogans against the BJP and their leaders. In response, some BJP workers came out of their office and shouted counter slogans.

The RJD workers expressed their anger against senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who has addressed several press conferences in the past one month accusing Lalu and his family of "benami" property and corruption.

Later a group of BJP workers tried to attack the RJD office, located not far away from the BJP office, but police dispersed them.

RJD workers shouted slogans like 'BJP Ki goondagardi nahi chaalegi, Sampardayik aur Fascistwadi BJP hai hai'.

But when BJP workers started shouting slogans like "Lalu Chor hai" "Charaa Chor hai", "Lalu ko jail bhejo", the RJD workers got angry. Some RJD workers pelted stones, as alleged by BJP workers, after which both sides indulged in a free-for-all with bamboo sticks, bricks and stones.

Hundreds of armed police officials were deployed to control the situation, a senior police official said.

Reacting to the violence, Sushil Modi said that RJD goons had attacked the BJP office.

"It clearly shows the desperation of the RJD and its top leaders Lalu and his two sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, both ministers in the Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar," he said.

However, the RJD leaders claimed that a "silent" march of RJD workers was attacked by the BJP near its office.

--IANS

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SriLankan Airlines on Wednesday announced that it will be adding three southern Indian cities -- Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Visakhapatnam -- to its network from July this year.

This move by national carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the One World airline alliance is part of its efforts to strengthen its network in India.

The new connections are expected to bridge the demand of both Indians and Sri Lankans who have been looking for seamless connections across the region for work and leisure purposes, in Sri Lanka, India and onward destinations, it said.

The introduction of these new routes, along with the scheduled frequency increases in its Delhi and Mumbai services, will see SriLankan Airlines operating over 120 flights a week to 14 cities, thus becoming the carrier that serves the highest number of points in India.

The flights to three southern cities will commence from July 8. Hyderabad-Colombo flight will depart from Hyderabad at 9.50 a.m. and arrive in Colombo at 11.45 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The flights between Coimbatore and Colombo will be operated every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

Visakhapatnam-Colombo flight will run over Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

"India has been a vital part of our strategic expansion where we will continue to explore potential to consolidate our presence. At a time the industry observes consistently developing travel movements around tier two cities as opposed to the traditional hubs, it is timely to offer these connectivity options to our valued passengers.

"The new routes also reinforces our commitment to strengthen the deep commercial and bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka," said SriLankan Airlines Chief Commercial Officer, Siva Ramachandran.

Currently serving key Indian cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Tiruchirappalli, Trivandrum, Cochin, Madurai, Varanasi and Bodh Gaya, SriLankan Airlines will be introducing four additional frequencies to its daily services from Delhi and Mumbai in July this year.

--IANS

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The Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd (BCCL), which owns TimesNow TV channel, has lodged a police complaint against new rival channel Republic TV alleging infringement of Intellectual Property Rights and other charges, a spokesperson said here on Wednesday.

The complaint was lodged on Tuesday against Republic TV Chief Editor Arnab Goswami, who is the Managing Director of Messrs ARG Outlier Asianet News Pvt. Ltd., and his colleague, reporter Prema Sridevi, additionally accusing them of "theft, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of property".

When contacted, Goswami virtually laughed off the charges saying "it's interesting to see them get so nervous".

"I think they instinctively know they (TimesNow) have lost their audience (to Republic TV)," Goswami told IANS.

"It's amusing to see them get paranoid. Goliath is down to his knees, crying," guffawed Goswami.

In its complaint to the Senior Inspector of Police, Azad Maidan Police Station, the BCCL has referred to two news exposes on Republic TV on May 6 and May 8, by Goswami and Sridevi, both former staffers of TimesNow TV.

The BCCL has contended that both the exposes -- the Lalu Prasad Yadav tapes of May 6 and the late Sunanda Pushkar (Tharoor) tapes - were procured and accessed while Goswami and Sridevi were employees of TimesNow and "clearly pointed out" in an internal probe.

The 25-page complaint said that Goswami and Sridevi have admitted on Republic TV that the audio conversation in the Sunanda Pushkar case was in their possession since two years, when they were part of TimesNow.

"Goswami and Sridevi have wilfully, deliberately and with knowledge converted for their benefit and used the aforesaid intellectual property of 'TimesNow' and thereby dishonestly misappropriated the said intellectual property, thereby committing the offence of criminal misappropriation punishable under the laws," the BCCL complaint said.

It pointed out that TimesNow owns several intellectual assets in the form of stories, audio-video content, documents, tapes, etc., gathered by its team of reporters and journalists during its newsgathering and broadcasting operations, and has therefore initiated steps to protect its intellectual properties against misuse.

--IANS

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Delhi Police arrested two drug suppliers of an inter-state cartel in south Delhi and seized 22.5 kg of party drug ephedrine, valued Rs 22 crore, which was meant for supply to a foreign national in Dwarka, police said on Wednesday.

The two men would supply drugs to rave parties in posh areas of Delhi, Chandigarh and other states.

Police said Ashok Kumar, 45, and Lalmuankima, 29, residents of Adarsh Nagar in Delhi and Mizoram respectively, were arrested on a tip-off on Monday night when Kumar came in his car to hand over the ephedrine to Lalmuankima in Pochanpur village of Dwarka.

"They disclosed that they used to prepare ecstasy (party drug) with the help of ephedrine which they supplied to rave parties in posh areas of Delhi and Chandigarh, Mizoram and northeast states and parts of Punjab," Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said.

"Kumar earlier used to work in a pharmaceutical company in Delhi and supply drugs collected from pharma companies to various parties. He gathered knowledge about the illicit use of ephedrine in preparing party drug tablets," Yadav said.

"This drug is widely used by party revellers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The ephedrine tablets are also mixed with drinks and consumed in rave parties," the officer added.

"Lalmuankima said that he is working for Aizawl and Mizoram -based drug traffickers and had come to Delhi to collect the drug consignment from Kumar in order to deliver it to a foreign national living in Dwarka," he added.

--IANS

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Beijing, May 17 (IANS/WAM) Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE's Minister of State for Defence Affairs, and Vice Chairman of Central Military Commission of China General Fan Changlong discussed military ties between the two countries at a meeting here on Wednesday.

The officials exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest, including international counter-terrorism efforts as well as boosting stability and peace.

The Chinese official welcomed Al Bowardi's visit to China, stressing that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an important strategic partner of China in the Gulf region.

Al Bowardi also met Chinese Defence Minister General Chang Wanquan.

The two meetings were attended by a number of senior officers from the UAE'S General Command of Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence.

On the Chinese side, the meetings were attended by several military officials.

--IANS

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Neighbouring Haryana has commenced releasing water for Delhi and supply in the national capital would return to normal by Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said.

"Haryana has started releasing water. Production likely to be normal by tommorow (Thursday) morning and distribution by tomorrow (Thursday) evening. We are constantly monitoring the situation," Kejriwal tweeted on Wednesday.

Water supply in the national capital was hit after Haryana on Monday evening reduced water supply to the city.

On Tuesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government asked Delhi's Lt. Governor Anil Baijal to request Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to intervene on the water-release issue.

The national capital faces shortage of water every summer and engages in a tussle with Haryana.

--IANS

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Chelsea Manning, the transgender US soldier convicted of espionage for providing national security secrets to Wikileaks, was released from a military prison on Wednesday.

Manning, behind one of the largest classified information leaks in US history, left Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas in the morning, Lt. Col. Jennifer Johnson told CNN.

Manning was convicted in 2013 of stealing 750,000 pages of documents and videos pertaining to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as sensitive State Department cables before leaking them to WikiLeaks.

Manning  earlier known as Bradley Manning  was sentenced to 35 years in prison on 20 counts, including violations of the Espionage Act.

After the 2013 sentencing, the ex-intelligence agent changed the name to Chelsea Manning and became a transgender woman.

In January, former US President Barack Obama commuted Manning's sentence, thereby giving her an early release date.

Amnesty International, which had campaigned for Manning's release, was quick to applaud the decision.

"... We will continue to call for an independent investigation into the potential human rights violations Manning exposed, and for protections to be put in place to ensure whistleblowers like Chelsea are never again subjected to such appalling treatment," a statement by Amnesty said.

Last week, Manning tweeted her excitement about her impending release: "Freedom was only a dream, and hard to imagine. Now it's here! You kept me alive <3"

Manning had to serve her sentence in an all-male military prison despite a request to transfer to a civilian prison, said the report.

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world," she said in a written statement.

Manning remains on active duty status pending the conclusion of her appeals. As such, she may be entitled to military benefits, including healthcare.

Manning was one of the first service members to access transgender health care benefits under new policy and the first to be approved for gender reassignment surgery in military prison.
Bigger television screens have always been much sought after. With a surge in consumers' disposable incomes, the demand for Smart Televisions has shot up, contributing around 18-20 per cent to sales in India's electronics sector, industry experts say.

Availability of at par with normal televisions has helped them become one of the preferred mainstream products not just in larger metros but also in smaller towns and tier II cities.

A Smart TV is at times also referred as connected TV or hybrid TV. These are televisions equipped with the ability to interact with the Internet, giving consumers access to a plethora of online content.

Akshay Dhoot, Head of Technology and Innovation, Videocon, said the country's middle class population, growing at nine per cent and with higher disposable incomes, has provided the necessary boost in the demand for .

Also a 12-15 per cent dip in prices of as compared to two to three years ago, has led to a surge in sales.

The price of Smart TVs depends on the screen size. Panasonic India says its 32-inch Smart TVs start at around Rs 30,000, while the 4K Smart TV starts from around Rs 70,000 and goes up to Rs 3 lakh.

Speaking about the impact of Smart TVs on the overall industry, Dhoot said: "The contribution of Smart TVs to overall sales has gone up to 18-20 per cent from 12-14 per cent last year and the share is expected to move up significantly. Also, with increasing innovation and technological improvements in the consumer electronics industry, the cost of Smart TVs is expected to see a downward trend in future as well.

"Factoring these, we can say that Smart TVs are well on their way to becoming one of the preferred mainstream products in India."

Industry experts were of the view that complementing India's growing internet-readiness and faster digitalisation, TVs are turning smarter with no requirement of any peripheral devices to communicate and relay information, leaving the conventional TV sets far behind, which offer only linear viewing.

"The contribution of Smart TVs has gone up to 30 per cent in the Indian scenario," Neeraj Bahl, Business Head - Consumer Electronics, Panasonic India, told IANS.

"If we talk globally, people have already shifted to 'smart' as a technology and penetration in developed countries is almost 100 per cent. With the development of data network, we will also see a boom in the Indian market," he added.

According to an India Brand Equity Foundation report on the electronics sector, India's television industry is expected to expand to $16.8 billion by 2020 from $9.4 billion in 2016.

But what is keeping consumers away from adopting Smart TVs on a larger scale?

"Lack of awareness from users and retailers, erratic supply of electricity in tier-II and III cities as well as rural areas and cost-to-utility are some of the basic parameters keeping the average Indian consumer away from Smart TVs," said Jagdish Rajpurohit, founder of CloudWalker, a tech start-up which has a smart TV range under the brand name Cloud TV.

"Currently, Indian manufacturers have no incentive to produce Smart TVs as the demand is too low for the production to be feasible. However, with increased Internet networks, explosive growth of OTT (over-the-top) content services and availability of VoD (video on demand) content platforms, users are now realising the multi-utility of Smart TVs and are getting inclined towards its purchase," Rajpurohit told IANS.

"With continuous innovations, the technology is becoming affordable every year. Urban India is ready to endorse this product. Soon, rural India will also be ready with further increase of Internet penetration in the country," Bahl added.
The First World Telugu Conference will be held here in October instead of June as decided earlier, the Telangana Government announced on Wednesday.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said the inaugural function of the first World Telugu Conference will be held on the auspicious Vijayadasami day on September 30, while the conference will be held from October 22 to 28.

It was earlier decided that the inaugural ceremony would be held on June 2, the state's Formation day.

But as the date falls under 'Ashtami' and weather may not be conducive, the state government's Advisor for Cultural Affairs K. V Ramanachary and other literary personalities requested the CM for the change of dates, said a statement from the CMO.

They said they require some time to invite delegates from India and abroad and to organise the conference on a large scale.

--IANS

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Awarding air traffic rights has always been a contentious issue in India. The government of the day has to maintain a fine balance between the demands of foreign airlines, which see India as a huge market, and the requirement of local airlines. Then there are legacy issues and a Comptroller and Auditor General report, which have said that successive governments have given away traffic rights hurting the interests of national carrier Air India. When asked if the government was planning to grant more rights to Dubai, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju didnt give a straight answer. Miya biwi raazi toh kya karega kaazi (When man and wife have agreed, what can a third party do in that case), he asked, perhaps suggesting that the government is willing to exchange traffic rights as airlines from both the countries have made demands for a revision.
With reference to S L Raos article, Just the beginning (May 17), as the Narendra Modi government completed three years in office, the Indian corporate sector gave it a thumbs up. It will not be an exaggeration to suggest that this government is on the right track to achieve what it had promised when it took over.
In a scathing attack on the two-month-old Congress government in Punjab, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stated that 42 farmers have committed suicide allegedly because of the chief ministers failure to fulfil his pre-poll promise of waiving farmer loans.
Very few people are aware that you are allowed to withdraw money from your Employee Provident Fund (EPF) account to pay for the purchase of a house property or for repaying a home loan. Its such a well-kept secret that even well-heeled financial planners arent aware of it.
The Punjab police has arrested two Nigerian nationals from Delhi for allegedly supplying drugs in the state.

Austin and Edeh were arrested from Vikaspuri in New Delhi, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Ludhiana, Virinder Singh Hayer said today.

He said the two Nigerians were arrested on the basis of details revealed during interrogation by a man named Balbir Singh, who had been arrested on May 4, for allegedly supplying heroin.

During interrogation, the arrested Nigerians disclosed that one packet containing one kg heroin was buried at a deserted place near a brick klin Chowkiman and another packet had been hidden near the railway platform in Mullanpur, the DIG claimed.

"Police have recovered the heroin from the two places," he said.

Hayer said that the drugs were being supplied to them from "across the border" and were delivered as per the instructions received from their mastermind.

Austin had come to India five years back on a business visa and married an Indian citizen woman, who hails from Manipur, the DIG said.

A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against both the accused.

"The accused covered their illegal acts by presenting themselves as businessmen dealing in spare parts of vehicles. A car has also been recovered from them," the DIG said.

Police has identified the drug supply chain and are now looking for the drug-dealers who delivered bigger consignments and are trying to track the masterminds behind them, he added.

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Disappointed with the "hollow" Maoist ideology, 21Naxalites, three of them carrying cash reward on their heads, todaysurrenderedin Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, the police said.

The cadres, including a woman, surrendered to Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Vivekanand Sinha, DIG (Dantewada range) Sundarraj P and Bastar Collector Amit Kataria at Jagdalpur, Bastar Superintendent of Police Sheikh Arif Hussain told PTI.

Among the ultras who turned themselves in wasLakshman Madkami. He was active as a member of military platoon number 26 of Maoists and was carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head.

Bharsuram Mandali, a janmilitia commander, and Arjun Kashyap, a member of the Kutul local organisation squad, were carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh each, the SP said.

A woman cadre identified as Mangli Markam, a member of the Chentna Natya Mandali (CNM) -- a cultural outfit of Maoists, was among the other 18 lower-rung cadres who surrendered.

In their statement, they all expressed disappointment with the "hollow" ideology of the outlawedNaxalmovement, the SP said.

The provision ofsurrenderand the rehabilitation policy of the state government also compelled them to join the mainstream, he added.

Rs 10,000 in cash was also given to each of thesurrenderedrebels as "encouragement money", the SP said.

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The city Crime Branch today arrested 25 engineering students, including three women, who were found writing exam paper in the house of a Shiv Sena corporator.

All the students belonged to the same institute in the city and are studying in the third year. They were writing exam paper which was previously conducted on May 2.

"Acting on a tip-off that some students were writing exam papers at the residence of Sena corporator Sitaram Surey in Surewadi locality of Harsul region, the team raided the place," Crime Branch Inspector Madhukar Sawant said.

"The students were writing paper of Building Construction of General Civil Engineering and few other subjects," he said.

They had solved only one question at the exam centre and left the answer-sheet blank in order to write it here, said police.

Surey, meanwhile, said he had no idea that exam papers were being written in his house.

According to the engineering faculty members, the answer sheets are to be submitted to the examination department of the university on the same day but it is not clear as to why these papers were not submitted.

The university's director of examination and evaluation could not be contacted for reaction as his phone was switched off.

The university administration said that a meeting would be conducted and further action would be decided later.

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Maharashtra minister Pandurang Fundkar today said the recent foreign study tour undertaken by some state ministers, including himself, was "productive", which taught them the need to promote mechanisation in farming for enhanced productivity.

A delegation of ministers and government officials, led by state Legislative Council chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, recently visited Australia, New Zealand and Singapore as part of the study tour.

However, the 14-member Commonwealth Parliamentary Affairs (CPA) tour, had drawn flak not only from the opposition Congress and NCP, but also from the ruling ally Shiv Sena.

When asked whether his priority was the tour or the crisis surrounding the tur dal procurement, Fundkar said, "We were on a tour organised by the CPA and the delegates had been selected by its chairman. We had taken permission from the Chief Minister and only after he assured that there are other ministers to handle the tur dal issue, we had proceeded."



Sena minister Ramdas Kadam and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had demanded that Fundkar and minister for food and civil supplies, Girish Bapat, should return mid-way saying that the state was witnessing an unprecedented agrarian crisis with excess tur production.

"Even after I went on the tour, the procurement of tur dal didn't stop, on the contrary it went up. There was no additional problem whatsoever in my absence," he added.

Fundkar said that a crisis-like situation had been on since the beginning of tur production season.

"Agriculture department's role is to increase production and purchases, while the sales part is looked after by the marketing department," he said.

When asked why families of official invitees accompanied on the study tour, Fundkar said, "The expenses of family members were borne by the legislators and not by the government."



Giving details of the tour, Fundkar said, "We visited Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Land holding of each farmer in Australia is more than 500 acres. Advanced machinery is the major source of labour and they do not hire more than 4-5 labourers to take care of 1,000-acres land."



He said all farm works- from sowing to reaping- is done by machines only.

"We learnt from this tour to promote mechanism in farming to increase productivity and I will do it on a priority-basis in Maharashtra," Fundkar said.

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Markets regulator Sebi today exempted the government from making an open offer pursuant to to its acquisition of additional 8.5 per cent stake in Andhra Bank under a capital infusion plan.

The exemption granted is subject to few conditions such as the acquisition should be in compliance with the Companies Act and any other applicable law.

The government already holds 61.26 per cent shares in Andhra Bank. Post acquisition, its stake will go up to 69.76 per cent.

"The proposed acquisition is necessitated on account of the Government of India's objective that all Public Sector Banks are adequately capitalized for ensuring compliance with Basel III norms," Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said.

As per Sebi's Takeover regulations, no entity can acquire more than five per cent of the additional shares or voting rights within any financial year unless the acquirer makes a public announcement of an open offer for acquiring shares of the target company.

Granting exemption, Sebi said there will be no change in control of Andhra Bank pursuant to the acquisition as the change will only be in the manner of holding the shares by the government.

Further, there will be no change in the number of equity shares held in the bank, by the public shareholders, pursuant to the proposed transactions, it added.

The government, in March, had proposed capital infusion of Rs 1,100 crore in Andhra Bank in lieu of a proposed preferential allotment of over 19.16 crore equity shares.

This was subsequently approved by the board of directors of the bank.

The infusion of additional capital by the government will enable the bank to maintain a capital over and above the minimum requirement mandated under Basel III norms and will also provide the bank with additional leverage for raising further equity capital at a later date, as and when the need arises, Sebi said.

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The United States has warned at the United Nations that Venezuela's crisis was worsening and could escalate into a major conflict similar to Syria or South Sudan.

At least 43 people have died during weeks of clashes between government forces and opposition demonstrators angry at President Nicolas Maduro's handling of an economic and political crisis.

"This isn't getting better, it's getting worse, and what we are trying to say is the international community needs to say 'respect the human rights of your people' or this is going to go in the direction we've seen so many others go," US Ambassador Nikki Haley told reporters yesterday following Security Council talks.

The United States requested the closed-door consultations on Venezuela despite objections from some council members who insisted the crisis was not a threat to international security.

Haley said the US decision to raise Venezuela at the Security Council was aimed at conflict prevention and to ensure that the top UN body was paying attention to the crisis.

"We've been down this road -- with Syria, with North Korea, with South Sudan, with Burundi, with Burma. We've been down this road," Haley said.

"Why not get in front of this? Why not try to stop a problem before it starts?"



Opposition demonstrators have held daily protests since April 1, angry at what they see as moves to strengthen Maduro's hold on power.

Rejecting the US action at United Nations, Venezuela accused the United States of meddling in its domestic affairs.

"Venezuela will resolve its own internal problems. We will do it ourselves," Ambassador Rafael Ramirez told reporters after the meeting. "We will not accept interference."



Earlier, Haley said in a statement that Venezuela was "on the verge of a humanitarian crisis" and urged the international community to work together "to ensure Maduro ends this violence and oppression and restores democracy to the people."



Uruguay's Ambassador Elbio Rosselli, who holds the council presidency this month, said the Organization of American States (OAS) and other regional bodies were best- placed to help address the crisis.

The Caracas government however has decided to pull out of the OAS, which is due to hold a ministerial meeting on Venezuela on May 31.

Speaking at a conference in Strasbourg, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed "great concern" over the "extremely difficult situation" in Venezuela and said he was in contact with regional leaders.

Making his first public remarks on the crisis, Guterres said mediation was "indispensable" to resolve the crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 33-year-old Bangladesh national was arrested for trying to fly to Dubai allegedly on a fake Indian passport from the international airport here, police said today.

Kabir Ahmed was scheduled to fly to Dubai on May 11 from the international airport. Based on suspicion, immigration authorities detained Ahmed, who was found in possession with a fake Indian passport, a senior police official said.

The authorities later handed Ahmed to the Sahar police, after which he was arrested, he said.

A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Passport Act and Rules was registered, he said, adding a probe was on.

A court in Mumbai has remanded the accused in police custody till Friday, added the official.

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The parliament in Belgium's Wallonia region today banned the slaughter of animals without first stunning them despite opposition from Jewish and Muslim communities defending their rituals.

With 66 votes for and three abstentions, the parliament in Namur, the main city of southern French-speaking Wallonia, adopted a ban that will generally take effect in June 2018, though ritual slaughter will be exempted until September 2019.

The ban on slaughter without first stunning or anaesthetising the animals does not apply to imports of kosher or halal meat into the Wallonia region.

Animal rights activists from groups like GAIA pushed for the ban which violates both kosher and halal ritual slaughter where the animals are required to be conscious when their throats are slit.

The three abstentions were from the radical leftist PTB party, according to a vote tally on the parliament's website.

Brussels-based European Jewish Association spokesman Alex Benjamin told AFP just before the vote that the Wallon parliament's adoption of the legislation plays "into certain hands" at a time of a rising populist right.

"Either unwittingly or wittingly, it has a negative effect. It sends a signal to the Jewish population here... that we don't really respect you or your practices."



He said there is no scientific evidence that kosher slaughter is less humane than other practices.

"There's no nice way of taking an animal's life," Benjamin said.

Belgium's Jewish population is estimated at 40,000 people, with most in the port city of Antwerp and few in southern Wallonia.

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Former Maharashtra PWD Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal today said he would take legal action against the activist Anjali Damania for making false allegations that he was getting illegal facilities in the Arthur Road jail here.

Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal are in jail after the Enforcement Directorate arrested them last year in money laundering cases.

Prison authorities had said yesterday that they had ordered inquiry upon Damania's complaint that Bhujbals were getting TV, non-vegetarian food in the jail and they could even use mobile phone.

Chhagan Bhujbal said in his statement, issued from the prison today, that these allegations were baseless, and Damania only wanted to malign their image and influence the judicial process.

The prison has jammers and CCTV cameras, and there was no question of using a mobile phone, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP today sought to corner Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after RJD workers clashed with its functionaries in Patna, and asked him to break his silence and identify the "corrupt", a reference to his ally and RJD president Lalu Prasad.

"These who opposed demonetisation are today found to have black money. One should not forget that people will progress only when democracy becomes corruption-free. Nitish Kumar should answer as to who is corrupt. Why is he silent?" BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav asked.

Yadav, who is in-charge of his party's affairs in Bihar, accused the RJD of resorting to violence in response to legal action against corruption.

"Is this a democratic way of protests that its workers remove their clothes and wield lathi at the office of a political party?" he asked in a statement.

At least six persons were injured in a clash between BJP and stone-pelting RJD workers outside the BJP office here, a day after Income Tax (I-T) raids in connection with alleged benami property deals involving Prasad.

The saffron party has been asking Kumar, its one-time ally, to come out against Prasad following a Supreme Court order that he would stand trial in more fodder scam cases and then the I-T raids.

Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had even suggested that his party may consider supporting Kumar if he breaks his ties with Prasad. The central leader has, however, refrained from making any overtures to him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma and party MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa today protested outside the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the "water crisis" in the city.

The two leaders along with party workers reached Kejriwal's Civil Lines residence demanding a meeting with him. The officials at the CM's house, however, turned down their request, citing his "busy" schedule.

Verma and Sirsa then broke pitchers outside the chief minister's house as a mark of protest and accused Kejriwal of "holidaying" on a working day.

"We were trying to meet the chief minister for the last two days but an appointment was refused. His officials made us wait for two hours and later said he was busy. We decided to meet him at his residence but he went away through the back door," they told reporters.

Later, they tried to meet Kejriwal at South Avenue where he had gone for a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee.

They were, however, stopped at a barricade erected by the police near the venue of the meeting.

Sirsa accused Kejriwal of "pursuing his political agenda" and "evading" a meeting with public representatives who wanted to raise a genuine issue before him.

He said a letter was written to Kejriwal a few days ago, apprising him of the "alarming" water crisis but no steps were taken to meet the challenge.

"We have received thousands of complaints from residents of West Delhi in the last few days regarding the acute water shortage," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At the Union Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government decided to set up the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in of worth Rs. 155 crore to promote agri-education and realize second green revolution in the northeastern region.



"The work to set up an IARI in Ranchi (Jharkhand) has started. The IARI- was delayed as the previous government did not give land. The current (Sarbananda) Sonowal government has given 587 acres of land and work will start," Union Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters after the meeting.



The Cabinet has approved the agriculture ministry's proposal to set up an IARI in Dhemaji district in . It has also approved 98 positions, an official statement said.



The IARI-Assam would focus more on research activities and will teach 67 MSc students and 106 Ph.D. students, Goyal said, adding that it will promote research in agriculture and benefit eight north eastern states.



Development of north eastern region is a priority for the government and has the potential to bring second green revolution, he added.



"IARI-Assam would work on the agrarian challenges and complexities of North Eastern India in coordination with all existing central and state government research and development Institutions and private sector enterprises," the statement said.



It will be off-campus of IARI, New Delhi, and undertake integrated multi-disciplinary research through Schools of Crop Sciences, Natural Resource Management, and Animal Sciences and Fisheries, it added.
Top officials of the central and state governments today discussed issues related to monsoon preparedness, including disaster managements plans, and emphasised on greater co-ordination among various agencies.

State relief commissioners and secretaries of disaster management department of the states and Union territories were present at the meeting chaired by Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.

Early warning systems, flood relief measures, checking the readiness of equipment and communication systems, advance procurement of necessary relief material, community based disaster management and coordinated approach for disaster response at the district level were highlighted at the meeting, an official statement said.

During the discussions, it was noted that concerted efforts of all concerned have helped in minimising the loss of precious human lives.

The need for coordination among all the central and state government agencies was re-emphasised by the officials, the statement said.

The conference was convened primarily to review the status of preparedness for dealing with any natural disaster that may occur due to the south-west monsoon this year.

Representatives of 28 states, two Union territories, national disaster response force (NDRF), central ministries, central armed police forces (CAPFs), India meteorological department (IMD) and central water commission (CWC) were present.

Officials of DRDO, GSI, ISRO and other scientific organisations, along with representatives of armed forces also participated in the conference.

The IMD, the national disaster management authority (NDMA), CWC, NDRF, snow & avalanches study establishment (SASE), ministry of defence, and ISRO, department of space made presentations on their respective field.

These were related to forecasting, warning and dissemination mechanism and future plans for enhancing capability in the field of disaster management.

The conference also discussed measures and good practices being adopted by the state governments and government of India to address disaster management related issues in the country.

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A 31-year-old Chinese crew member with injuries on his right hand has been evacuated from Motor Tanker (MT) Sea Dragon by an Indian Coast Guard Ship, 25 km off Mangaluru coast.

Sea Dragon, a Liberia-registered 230-metre long LPG carrier, was cruising from Singapore to Fujairah, UAE, yesterday when it reported that boilerman, Hong Jiangyu had suffered an injury on the index finger of his right hand and needed immediate evacuation.

On receiving the information, Coast Guard Karnataka Headquarters at Mangaluru diverted ICGS 'Savitribai Phule', to render assistance, a Coast Guard release said.

The ship, commanded by Commandant Manish Kumar, dispatched its medical team which found that Hong had a serious injury on the index finger of his right hand.

After providing first aid, he was shifted to the coast guard vessel safely, the release said.

The Coast Guard ship returned to New Mangalore harbour with the injured crew member for rendering further medical assistance to him.

Expressing satisfaction over the swift medical evacuation, Deputy Inspector General S S Dasila, Commander, Coast Guard Karnataka, said every life was precious and all efforts would be made to safeguard life and property at sea.

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Chinese metal scientists have developed a plow using a new steel alloy.

Plow was initially used in China over 2,000 years ago, centuries earlier than in Europe.

However, Chinese farmers nowadays would rather pay over the odds for imported plows because of their better quality and durability. The situation may soon change, thanks to the new research.

Yan Desheng, of the Institute of Metal Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the new metal was developed on the basis of boron steel, with micro-alloying elements and fine carbide added, so as to increase its hardness while keeping its high ductility.

The new material has been used to make over 1,000 farming tools, such as moldboard plows and rotary blades.

These tools have been used in farms in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Jiangsu for tests and evaluation since 2012, Yan told state-run Xinhua agency earlier this week.

"The new material has at least doubled the durability of plows compared with the traditional home-made ones, at only half the price of imported ones," he said.

The edge of the plow has a better ground-breaking angle and has helped reduce abrasion and fuel consumption, according to a technician with a Hulun Buir-based farm in Inner Mongolia, which has tried the tools.

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Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari has urged Lt Governor Anil Baijal to intervene to help the people facing power cuts and water shortage in many areas of the city, alleging that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had "no time" to attend to these grievances.

In a letter to the Lt Governor, Tiwari has asked for a high-level meeting of officials of departments concerned to find a solution to the power and water issues.

Tiwari alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has "no time" to address these grievances as he is busy in "power games" to retain his office.

"It is tragic that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has no time to attend to power and water shortage problems of Delhiites or to frame the mandatory summer plan of power and water supply as he is busy in power games to retain his office."



Tiwari claimed that there is neither shortage of raw water inflow from Haryana or Uttarakhand nor there is any drop in supply from power grids but despite that people in almost all areas of Delhi are facing "poor" water and power supply.

In his letter, he alleged that residents in east, north east, north west, south, south west and rural parts in Delhi were facing "daily power cuts of two to three hours".

Areas such as Greater Kailash, Malviya Nagar, Shalimar Bagh, Patparganj and Patel Nagar have been affected by volatage fluctuations and unannounced power cuts in the midnight, he complained.

The Delhi Jal Board water is "very filthy" and people are "forced" to buy bottled water and install water purifiers due to water borne diseases, he alleged.

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A public welfare trust has urged Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to immediately intervene in order to stop "collection of huge funds" by NGOs through school students in the name of cancer patients here.

In a letter to the chief minister, Ajai Srivastava, chairman of the Umang Foundation, alleged that this fraud was being done in connivance with the administration of schools here.

Claiming that a number of government and private schools were using innocent children for ulterior motives, Srivastava demanded that a high-level inquiry be conducted against the erring schools and an FIR be lodged against the NGOs since they have collected crores of rupees by using children.

Srivastava said that atleast four NGOs registered in other states were operating in Himachal Pradesh in the name of cancer patients.

He claimed that three class XI students of local government senior secondary school, came to his house asking for donations for cancer patients on behalf of one NGO 'Cancer Aid Society, Lucknow'.

When questioned why they were collecting the funds, they said that their English teacher had assigned them the task to collect funds for the NGO.

They also said the NGO has promised them to give prizes if they collect a handsome amount. They said that hundreds of students of that school have been engaged in collection of funds for the NGO by their teachers.

When Ajai Srivastava contacted the NGO at their Lucknow number to seek financial assistance for a 3-year-old girl who was suffering from blood cancer and admitted at IGMC Shimla, the said "NGO's official refused to extend any help".

The said NGO has two offices in Lucknow, one at Delhi, apart from offices in other big cities like Bangalore, Ahmadabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad etc.

An official of the NGO apparently said that they collect funds for creating awareness about cancer in the society and usually do not give assistance to individual patients.

Srivastava said that inquiries made by Umang Foundation brought to the fore that at least four NGOs are "aggressively collecting money through school students in different districts of the state and no receipts were provided to donors".

When Umang Foundation asked the Director of high education in this regard, he "expressed ignorance and said that no such permission had been given to anybody".

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A congress and a CPI(M) councillor of Domkol municipality today joined the Trinamool Congress, just hours after the results of election to the civic body were declared.

The election results of the Domkol municipality in Murshidabad district was declared today with the TMC capturing 18 of the 21 wards. The Congress won two and the CPI(M) one.

After the Congress and CPI(M) councillors joined the TMC, its tally reached 20.

Tbe councillors, Congress' Asad Ul Islam from ward no 9 and a CPI(M) councillor Islam Md Rafiqul from ward no 20, claimed that they were "inspired by the development programmes of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee".

"After being elected from their respective wards, the two contacted me and said they want to be part of TMC and Mamata Banerjee's team for developing Bengal," TMC leader Shamik Hossain told PTI.

The CPI(M) and the Congress termed it as TMC's attempt to poach on elected representatives of the opposition parties.

"What is the use of election if they want to take away all the opposition representatives either by using money power or muscle power? If such thing goes on, then there is no need for elections," CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) today swept the municipal polls in Bengal, capturing four of seven civic bodies and breaking the 10-year-old hold of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the hills.

The TMC won a decisive majority in Domkal, Raigunj and Pujali in the plains and Mirik in the hill area.

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A special court today dismissed the bail plea of a woman lawyer, accused of honey-trapping and blackmailing BJP MP from Gujarat, K C Patel.

"Considering the facts and circumstances, I do not deem it fit to grant bail to the accused (woman) at this stage and the application is accordingly rejected," Special Judge Hemani Malhotra said.

The court noted that the woman had earlier too lodged three FIRs against other persons for alleged offences of rape, molestation and criminal intimidation in which she had later either turned hostile or had resiled in her statement recorded before a magistrate.

The woman, who is in judicial custody till May 26, had sought bail on the ground that she was a victim of rape and since the complainant MP was an influential person, he had lodged the FIR against her to avoid any action.

The woman's counsel claimed she was practicing as a lawyer in the Supreme Court. He also alleged that the MP had promised to introduce her to top BJP leaders but had failed to do so and repeatedly raped her. When she realised his intentions, she made a video, he claimed.

The bail plea was vehemently opposed by public prosecutor Atul Shrivastava, who said the woman was a habitual complainant who after ensnarling influential persons in her honey-trap has been extorting money by filing complaints of sexual harassment against them.

He contended that after extorting money, she used to turn hostile in the matters. He also alleged that her modus operandi was to prepare videos of her victims through hidden cameras with the help of one Ajay Pal, a co-conspirator who is yet to be arrested.

Shrivastava said the woman should not be released on bail as the prosecution has to unearth the entire conspiracy and her voice sample was yet to be taken.

On the woman's claim that she had given a complaint at North Avenue Police Station against the MP but no action was taken, the court said the document in the police file revealed that it was the accused who had insisted to keep her complaint pending and also said that her medical examination would be conducted the nexy day.

"However, she did not come (to police) the next day and therefore, neither her medical examination could be conducted, nor her statement before a magistrate could be recorded," the court noted.

It said the airline boarding pass of the MP annexed in the police file showed that he was travelling to Surat in Gujarat on March 3 and had attended an official function there which was also reported in the media.

The woman was arrested on May 2 by the Delhi Police from her Ghaziabad house.

Patel, the MP from Valsad in Gujarat, had filed a police complaint alleging that he was drugged by the woman at her Ghaziabad house, who had then shot obscene videos and photographs.

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Egypt, famous for its pyramids and the Great Sphinx, is expecting more than 50 per cent growth in tourist arrivals from India this year at over 1.2 lakh visitors.

During 2016, Egypt received 80,000 travellers from India, according to data from the Egyptian Tourism Authority.

"We see huge potential of 3-4 lakh tourists from India and are working towards achieving this goal. Looking at the current growth rate in the first quarter, we expect over 50 per cent growth in 2017, which will be over 1.2 lakh travellers from India," Egyptian Tourism Counselor - Regional Director India and Far East Ismail A Hamid Amer told PTI here.

Egypt is being promoted as an premium and exotic destination in India and it expects to reach the potential of 3-4 lakh tourists by 2019, he added.

Further, he said, even as the tourists numbers from India currently is not big. However, looking at the growth trends it is likely to be among the top 10 source markets for Egypt in a 2-3 years.

The top source markets for Egypt are Europe, which constitutes 70 per cent of its tourism traffic, followed by the Arab nations constituting 26 per cent, he said.

"We are promoting Egypt for all age groups with different packages to suit everyone. We have special products like Nile cruise, history and culture for the elderly travellers and many adventure activities for the youth. We also have products that will suit the family," Amer said.

Egypt, he said, is focusing on family, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE), Bollywood, honeymooners and pilgrimage (for Christians and Muslims) among others, he said.

Indians, Amer said, are big spenders and add value to the tourism industry of Egypt.

Currently, Egypt is targeting travellers from big cities in India and but will slowly penetrate to Tier II and III cities, Amer said.

"We have conducted road shows in cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. Little by little we will reach out to Tier II and III cities as well," he said.

Talking about direct connectivity, he said, at present there is four weekly flights from Mumbai and by the end of this year, there might be more connecting 1-2 cities of India to Egypt.

"We have one direct flight which flies four times weekly from Mumbai. We also have several connecting flights from India as well. We are hoping for more direct flights from India connecting with 1-2 cities by December this year," Amer added.

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The European Union today set a June deadline for Poland and Hungary to start admitting their share of migrants from overstretched Italy and Greece or risk sanctions.

Eastern European countries like Hungary and Poland have opposed an EU plan adopted in 2015 to take in 160,000 Syrian, Eritrean and Iraq asylum seekers from Greece and Italy.

"I call on Poland and Hungary who have not relocated a single person... To start doing so right now," EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos told reporters.

"If no action is taken by them before the next (Commission) report in June, the Commission will not hesitate to make use of its powers under the treaties and to open infringement procedures," he said.

Avramopoulos said a total of 18,418 asylum seekers have been relocated to other EU countries from the two Mediterranean states.

Under so-called EU "infringement proceedings" Brussels sends a letter to national governments to demand legal explanations over certain issues, before possibly referring them to the European Court of Justice.

EU states can eventually face stiff financial penalties if they fail to comply.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and other EU officials have long expressed frustration with the slow pace of relocation of asylum seekers aimed at tackling the worst migration crisis since World War II.

More than one million migrants have poured into the bloc in the last two years.

The relocation plan was launched to help people fleeing the mainly Muslim war-torn countries of Syria and Iraq as well as the repressive east African state of Eritrea.

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Students, farmers' unions and environmental activists today protested outside the Ministry of Environment demanding immediate rollback of the approval for commercial use of .

The activists alleged that the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a ministry body that had given the approval on May 11, was functioning "unscientifically" and "irregularly" and asked for its dissolution.

"We are asking for dissolution of GEAC as the body is discredited and its functions are always secretive," said Kavitha Kuruganti of Sarson Satyagraha.

The protesters promised to organise a nationwide stir if their demand was not met. They also challenged the ministry to an open debate on the use of genetically modified crops.

"GM crops affect farmers as it makes them rely on companies which supply the seeds and gives no scope for reproduction of seeds," said an India-based German-native associated with an urban farming company, who wished to remain anonymous.

Another activist who did not want to be named said, "When several mustard-growing states and various politicians are against the use of such crops, why does the environment ministry have to hurry in using such poisoned crops."



The protesters were not allowed to enter the ministry to submit a memorandum to the Union Minister Anil Madhav Dave on this.
Telangana government has asked the fisheries department to make available one lakh fish as the famous 'fish prasadam' of Battini family, believed to cure asthma, would be dispensed here on June 8.

Telangana Animal Husbandry Minister T Srinivas Yadav held a meeting with government officials today on arrangements for the annual event.

He asked the fisheries department to make available one lakh fish for the event, a government release said.

Telangana State Road Transport Corporation would operate special services for the benefit of those coming from outside the city.

The event would be held at Exhibition Grounds in Nampally area.

Hyderabad-based Battini Goud family has been dispensing the 'fish prasadam' every year for several decades. The patients are made to swallow a small live fish stuffed with a herbal paste; it is claimed that it cures asthma.

While the annual event attracts lakhs of people from all parts of India, rationalist groups in the past have questioned the efficacy of the so-called medicine.

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After Chennai and Hyderabad, IT workers' union FITE has now decided to approach the labour commission in Bengaluru to submit a petition to stop the alleged "illegal terminations" happening at Cognizant.

Forum for IT Employees, or FITE, is a representative body of employees working in IT and call centres.

The body has already approached labour commissions in Chennai and Hyderabad, alleging that the US-based firm is illegally terminating thousands of employees by forcing them to resign.

"We are all set to approach the labour commission in Bengaluru to submit a petition to stop illegal terminations happening in Cognizant," FITE Vice President Vasumathi told PTI.

FITE also plans to approach labour commissions in Kolkata and Pune.

Cognizant had rolled out a voluntary separation programme for directors, associate VPs and senior VPs, offering them 6-9 months of salary.

While Cognizant maintains that performance reviews are done to ensure that it has the right employee skill sets, FITE is alleging that the highly-paid experienced professionals are being replaced by those with lesser experience and lower pay.

Indian IT players including Infosys and Wipro have initiated performance reviews, a move that could see thousands of workers being shown the door.

While IT have been one of the largest recruiters in the country, increasing automation of processes is expected to lead to reduction in hiring in coming years.

Vasumathi said that depending on the outcome of conciliation meetings, a decision would be taken on whether or not to approach the court to solve the vexed issue.

She said FITE plans to hold a protest rally in Bengaluru, for which she is galvanising support from affected employees through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge had earlier asked the affected IT employees to lodge a complaint with the labour department.

In an interview with PTI recently, Kharge had said the government would look into the matter and provide legal assistance if the affected or laid off employees approached it like their counterparts had in Tamil Nadu.

The labour commissions approached so far, have promised to take action, Vasumathi claimed.

After the Hyderabad meeting on May 11, Cognizant had sought two weeks' time from the Telangana labour department to come up with a reply on the said issue.

Vasumathi alleged that there is no transparency in the hiring and appraisal activities of the IT industry.

"IT firms must be asked to submit white papers on these processes to the government and to the public periodically," she said demanding that a tribunal be set up for knowledge- based industries.
In less than two weeks, security forces today conducted the second major cordon-and-search operation in Kashmir's Shopian district but called it off after hours as no militant could be found but not before stone-pelting mobs hampered it.

The search operation, in which a large number of security forces were involved, was launched in Heff village in the Zainapora area following information about presence of militants there, an Army official said.

The operation, which started in the early hours, was hampered by local residents who pelted the forces with stones, a police official said.

The official said additional security force personnel were sent to the area to disperse the stone-pelters.

No casualties were reported in stone-pelting, he said.

The forces did not find any militant or hideouts and as a result, the operation was called off, the official said.

The search operation was carried out two weeks after a similar but larger operation was undertaken in Shopian district which has witnessed a spurt in militant activities recently.

In the operation conducted on May 4, about 4,000 troops scanned two dozen villages of Shopian district for a day but could not find any militant.

However, while the troops were returning on that day, militants attacked an Army patrol, resulting in the death of a taxi driver and injuries to several security personnel.

Six days after that operation, a young Kashmiri Army officer Lt Ummer Fayaz, who was on leave and unarmed, was abducted and shot dead by militants in the same district where he had gone to attend a family wedding.

Major General B S Raju, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of Victor Force which is responsible for security in south Kashmir, had said on Saturday lat that more than 100 militants are active in that region.

"I am aware of the presence of the militants in the area (south Kashmir) and I must tell you that because of the high vegetation that is there, they are having slight amount of freedom but we are doing operations in a way to restrict their movement and subsequently neutralize them," he had said.

Operations in south Kashmir have been intensified in the wake of videos of large groups of militants -- in some cases as many as 30 -- surfacing on the social media, despite a ban imposed by authorities on 22 such sites and applications.

Security agencies believed the videos had been shot in the south Kashmir area, mostly in the Shopian district.

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HealthCare Global Enterprises (HCG) today said it has opened a cancer care services centre in Kanpur.

The new centre is located at HCG Regency Oncology Centre, which is operated by HCG Regency Oncology Healthcare -- a joint venture between HCG and Regency Hospitals Ltd, HCG said in a BSE filing.

Commenting on the development, HCG Enterprises Chairman BS Ajaikumar said: "We see a huge potential unmet demand for advanced cancer care in the region served by this centre. This is a major step forward in our mission to make high quality cancer care accessible to all."



The 90-bed new centre will offer advanced radiation therapy supported by a multi-disciplinary team of oncologists. It will also hae facilities for bone marrow transplant.

"We have a large number of cancer patients coming to our hospitals across the state and with this new centre we can now offer the best in cancer care to them in one place," Regency Hospitals Chairman Atul Kapoor said.

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Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao today warned private medical colleges in the Union Territory of "stern action" if they didn't admit students selected by Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) for PG courses under government quota owing to the fee issue.

He was replying to questions raised by ruling and opposition blocks in the Assembly today on the "predicament of students in the wake of the private colleges in Puducherry declining to admit them for the 2017-2018 session on the ground that the interim fee fixed by the government is not acceptable to the managements."



Opposition AIADMK (Amma) Legislator A Anbalagan, who raised the issue, said students were denied seats by colleges on the ground that the interim fee fixed by the government for PG courses was not acceptable to the respective managements.

Anbalagan alleged that the colleges were demanding around Rs 40 lakh for a seat while the government had fixed an interim fee of Rs three lakh.

The last date to pay the fee was round the corner and the government should take action in the matter, he said.

Members belonging to the ruling Congress also said that CENTAC had finalised a list of 76 students for admission into various colleges under government quota in PG courses.

However, the managements were embarrassing the aspirants by insisting on payment of Rs 35 lakh to Rs 40 lakh, Anbalagan alleged.

The members also said till the batch of students selected now were admitted, the second round of counselling by CENTAC for medical courses should not be held.

Responding to the members' concerns, Rao said the fee now fixed was only an interim arrangement and in line with the system in neighbouring Tamilnadu.

The chairman of the Fees Committee for Puducherry was indisposed and hence an interim arrangement had been made on the fee pattern.

Rao said that the interests of 76 students selected through CENTAC under government quota in the private colleges would be protected.

He said if the colleges turned away the students the government would not hesitate to withdraw the "No Objection Certificate" given to them.

Rao further said he would have a meeting with the Union Health Minister and Health Secretary in New Delhi tomorrow during which he would take up this issue with them.

The House was adjourned to meet on May 24.

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Heated exchanges were witnessed between Union Minister Arun Jaitley and senior advocate Ram Jethmalani in the Delhi High Court today during the former's cross-examination in a defamation case against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The recording of Jaitley's statement in a civil defamation suit of Rs 10 crore filed by him against Kejriwal and other AAP functionaries could not continue as the Minister objected to the use of a word against him by the veteran lawyer representing the Chief Minister.

The Finance Minister, who appeared before Joint Registrar Deepali Sharma, lost his cool and asked Jethmalani whether the word was used as per instructions from Kejriwal.

"If this is so, I would aggravate the charges against the defendant (Kejriwal)," Jaitley said, adding that there was a limit to personal malice.

Senior advocates Rajiv Nayar and Sandeep Sethi, who were representing Jaitley, also said that Jethmalani was putting scandalous questions and should restrain himself from asking irrelevant ones "as this matter is Arun Jaitley versus Arvind Kejriwal and not Ram Jethmalani versus Arun Jaitley".

To this, Jethmalani said he used the word on the instruction of Kejriwal.

However, Anupam Srivastav, advocate on record for Kejriwal since the beginning of the suit, submitted that he had no instruction on the use of the word.

A group of lawyers including Jethmalani who were defending the AAP leaders also maintained that Jaitley was not entitled to a claim of Rs 10 crore on account of his alleged defamation.

Jaitley has filed the civil defamation suit seeking Rs 10 crore damages from Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders -- Raghav Chadha, Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh and Deepak Bajpai -- for accusing him of financial irregularities in the DDCA of which he was the President from 2000 to 2013.

The verbal exchange between Jethmalani and Jaitley started when the former asked a question alleging that his article on irregularities in DDCA could not get published in a weekly magazine at the instance of the Finance Minister.

Jethmalani also alleged that the article pertained to the corruption in DDCA during the period when Jaitley was its President.

The question, however, was disallowed by Joint Registrar observing that she had already termed the article irrelevant on day of recording of the statement on the ground that it was not connected with the instant case. Jethmalani, however, insisted that it was.

He also alleged that Jaitley was "deceiving the people by concealing his guilt of crime."



The counsel representing the Finance Minister vehemently opposed the choice of words by Jethmalani saying he must stop insulting the minister.

However, as Jethmalani continued his attack, the Joint Registrar objected to it and said the senior lawyer and other advocates were crossing the limit and should allow the court to proceed in the matter.

The court listed the matter for further cross-examination on July 28 and July 31 after Kejriwal's counsel asked the court to defer it.

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The Karnataka government has sent its two senior officials to Lucknow to get details of the death of state-cadre IAS officer Anurag Tiwari, mysteriously found dead beside a road in Lucknow today morning.

"To get complete details about Anurag Tiwari's death,the chief minister has sent IAS officers Abhiram Shankar and Pankaj Kumar Pandey to Lucknow," CMO officials said.

Tiwari, a 2007 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer, serving as Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department's commissioner was found dead under mysterious circumstances beside a road in Hazratganj area of Lucknow today morning.

The officer was staying at a guest house in Hazratganj for the last two days.

Condoling Tiwari's death, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also tweeted about deputing two officers to Lucknow andsaid he is in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government.

Earlier, he told reporters that "he (Tiwari)had gone to his native place, don't know what happened. His death is accidental... He was of young age. It should not have happened."



The chief minister also recalled that Tiwari had served as deputy commissioner in Bidar and Kodagudistricts before being transferred to the Food and Civil Supplies Department.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader said in April end, Tiwari had sought permission for IAS training, and had again sought extension on May 10.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje termed the death as "suspicious" and said she has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, seeking a thorough probe into it.

"What makes this tragic event look murkier is the fact that even before the probe commenced, the media has been putting out a story that the officer in question had afight with his wife," she said in her letter.

"I strongly feel that there is something morethan what meets the eye in this episode. Only a thoroughenquiry can bring out the truth," she said.

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The Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) has successfully created the country's first smart grid project, which will generate power from renewable sources of energy.

The project will soon be inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee, IIEST Director Prof Ajoy Kumar Roy told PTI.

"The smart grid will be synchronised to generate power from solar, wind and vegetable waste resources, depending on the weather conditions and availability of waste products. It is the first of its kind in the country," Roy said.

"The power to be generated from solar energy depends on the availability of sunlight while wind energy will be produced during nor'wester and tropical storm. The power from biogas will be generated from vegetable waste collected from the campus kitchen and outside markets," the professor said.

"In the integrated project, by the Centre for Excellence for Green Energy Systems (CEGESS) of the institute, we are aiming to generate 32 kw of power from whichever resource available and synchronise the smart grid to take the power in the system for use. Thus we will not be depending on one resource," Roy said.

Roy added that the world will be faced with serious situation with the depletion of hydrocarbon source.

"Since coal-hydrocarbon based energy technology leads to environmental degradation, the future lies in renewable energy based technology," he said.

The eminent scientist said, this being the age of smart technology, the institute needed to look forward.

"The government planners and academicians should be involved in big way as technology is changing very very fast.

"The next 50 years will witness unimaginable change in technology, which cannot be static," he added.

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The Union Cabinet today approved the signing and ratifying of an agreement between India and Tajikistan on cooperation and sharing of intelligence in the area of Customs.

The agreement will help in availability of information for the prevention and investigation of Customs offences, an official statement said.

It is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between the countries.

The statement said the pact will provide a legal framework for sharing of information and intelligence between the Customs authorities of the two countries.

Besides, it said, it will help in proper application of Customs laws, prevention and investigation of Customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade.

The agreement takes care of Indian Customs' concerns and requirements, particularly in the area of exchange of information on the correctness of the Customs value declared, origin of goods and the tariff classification of the goods traded between the two countries, it said.

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A 20-year-old woman, who had married a man of another caste, allegedly committed suicide at her father's house in Telangana a day after she was summoned by the Hyderabad High Court to tell it about his husband, who is missing since early this month.

The woman, T Swati, who had married 24-year-old A Naresh in March this year after eloping with him to Mumbai, hanged herself yesterday from the ceiling in the bathroom of her parents' house at Atmakur of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district of the state, the police said today.

After marrying Naresh, Swati, however, had returned to her parents along with Naresh on May 2 on being called back by her father T Srinivas, but Naresh went missing within days after leaving her with her parents.

And Naresh's father moved court on May 15 suspecting some foul play by Swati's father in her son's disappearance, following which the high court had asked the girl to appear before it tomorrow.

After Swati was allegedly found hanging yesterday in her parent's house, her family members shifted her to a hospital where the doctors declared her brought dead, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Bhongir) P Yadagiri said.

Swati and Naresh, both belonging to different castes, had married after a love affair, the DCP said adding that they had "eloped" in March this year to Mumbai where they had a registered marriage.

As Swati eloped to Mumbai, her father Srinivas Reddy had lodged a complaint with Atmakur police station alleging her daughter had gone missing.

The couple later appeared before Atmakur police station with their marriage and age certificates and after confirming the same, the police closed the case, the DCP said.

"Both of them went back to Mumbai and on May 2 they came to Yadadri after Srinivas called up Swati. He took his daughter to his house while Naresh went back," he said.

On May 6, Naresh's father A Venkataiah lodged a complaint with police stating that his son has gone missing.

"Following the complaint, we registered a missing case... it is under investigation," Yadagiri told PTI over phone.

On May 15, Venkataiah moved the Hyderabad High Court alleging foul play by Srinivas in connection with the disappearance of his son. He urged the court to direct the police to produce his missing son.

A vacation bench of the high court then directed the police to file a detailed affidavit on the missing person (Naresh) and to produce Swati before the court on May 18.

However, the woman allegedly committed suicide before her appearance in the court.

The DCP said, "We will submit tomorrow the documents and postmortem report on Swati's death, which says she committed suicide by hanging."



Following Swati's death, police registered a case under IPC section 304-B (dowry death) against Naresh and his family based on a complaint of Srinivas.

In the complaint, Srinivas accused Naresh and Swati's in-laws of harassing her for dowry. He also alleged that Swati committed suicide due to the "harassment," the DCP said.

On Venkataiah's complaint about his son's disappearance and the high court's directions on the same, the DCP said, "Special teams have been formed and sent to Mumbai and Hyderabad to trace Naresh."



"We are verifying the CDR (call records) details... We are investigating and efforts are on to trace him. Based on the search, a report will be filed (in the high court) tomorrow," he said.

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An Israeli military court today sentenced to 25 years in jail a Palestinian who had stabbed four Israelis in 2015, the army said.

Imad Tardeh was found guilty of attempted murder, the army said in a statement.

The court also ordered him to pay compensation to his victims totalling 220,000 shekels (USD 60,000, 55,000 euros).

Tardeh was 19 when he stabbed the four Israelis in the central city of Rishon LeTzion, near Tel Aviv, in November 2015, wounding three, one of them seriously, before being arrested by police.

Israeli media said that the West Bank resident struck a deal with authorities and made a full confession.

A wave of unrest that broke out in October 2015 has claimed the lives of 263 Palestinians, 41 Israelis, two Americans, two Jordanians, an Eritrean, a Sudanese and a Briton, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, the Israeli authorities say.

Others were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

The violence has subsided in recent months.

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Israel sought today to contain the fallout from Donald Trump's sharing of its intelligence with Russia after the move cast a further shadow over the US president's visit to the country next week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump spoke by phone yesterday afternoon, a spokesman for the premier's office said, while stressing that they only discussed next week's trip during the 20-minute conversation.

But as the emerged that Israel was the initial source of the intelligence provided to Russia, other Israeli officials spoke of their commitment to continuing security cooperation between their country and Washington.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said security ties would continue to be "unprecedented" in scope.

But he made no mention of Trump divulging intelligence to Russia that a US administration official said had originally come from Israel.

"The security relationship between Israel & our greatest ally the United States, is deep, significant & unprecedented in volume," Lieberman wrote on his Twitter account.

The relationship "is unprecedented in its contribution to our strength. This is how it has been & how it will continue to be," he added.

Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said he had "complete confidence in the American intelligence community".

Netanyahu's office had not responded to requests for comment on the intelligence sharing.

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Amid opposition efforts to put up a consensus presidential candidate, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today met his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee here.

Kejriwal, accompanied by AAP leader Raghav Chadha, met Banerjee at the official residence of her nephew Abishek Banerjee, who is a Lok Sabha member from Bengal, at South Avenue.

When asked whether the issue of a joint presidential candidate featured in the meeting, Banerjee said: "When two political leaders meet, obviously they will discuss political situation."



The AAP leaders, who did not want to be named, also maintained the same.

Both Kejriwal and Banerjee share an adversarial relationship with the BJP-led Centre. The two have time and again accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of indulging in "political vendetta" against their state governments.

Meanwhile, the meeting, that lasted for over 30 minutes, came within a day of Banerjee meeting Congress President Sonia Gandhi, following which the Trinamool Congress supremo had pitched for a consensus Opposition candidate.

Incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee's tenure ends in July and Banerjee had met him last night. There are also talks of him getting a second term.

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In what the police claimed to be a crucial achievement, a key Maoist cadrewho was allegedly involvedin the deadly attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel last month has surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

According to police, the surrendered ultra has admitted to have arranged meeting between New Delhi-basedsocial activists and Maoist leaders in Sukma.

"Podiyam Pandu alias Panda (45) had surrendered on May 9 at Sukma district headquarters and was presented before media today," Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI.

Panda, a janmilitia deputy commander of Maoists, was allegedly involvedin the attack on CRPF patrolling party on April 24 last inBurkapalarea under Chintagufa police station limits wherein 25 personnel were killed, he added.

He had earlier served as Sarpanch of Chintagufa village while his wife is the incumbent sarpanch of the village. The ultra was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head.

During interrogation, he revealed that Naxals were keeping an eye on the activities of security forces in Burkapal and Chintagufa axis since April 15 before executing the attack, the SP said.

According to Panda, on April 24, lower rung cadres had tipped off about the movement of paramilitary forces from their camp, to armed ultras who were stationed at Kasalpada village, around 7-8 kms away from the spot, he said.

Subsequently, the rebels laid the ambush within an hour at a targeted location and launched the attack at around 11:30 am.

Armed with Insas rifle, Panda was also among the attackers, the SP claimed.

After the encounter, Panda and his associates shifted their injured colleagues and the dead body of Naxal commander Anil towards Kasalpada. He came back to his house the same evening after returning his rifle to Maoist commander Arjun, he added.

Panda had contacted Chintagufa police on May 7 expressing his desire to join the mainstream and later brought to Sukma where he finally turned himself in on May 9, the SP said.

A native of Chintagufa, Panda has been associated with senior Maoist leaders, including Ramanna, Hidma, Maddana, Paparao and Situ since 1997, and acting as a courier for them for transporting various commodities after procuring it from cities, the SP said.

In 2014, he left his native place and shifted to nearby Minpa village where he started working with Duled Janatana Sarkar squad which was being headed by commander Aayta. Later in 2016, he was elevated as militia deputy commander, he said.

He was a key cadre in the region and has been instrumental in executing several deadly attacks in south Bastar, including Tadmetla attack wherein 76 troopers were killed (2010) and Kasalpada attack in which 14 CRPF personnel were killed (December 2014), he added.

Besides, Panda was also part of the Naxals squad that had kept then Sukma Collector Alex Pual Menon in its captivity in 2012, he added.

Panda also revealed that he had arranged meetings of activists from Delhi with Maoist leaders like Ramanna and Hidma several times in the interior villages of Sukma, the SP said, adding that his surrender is an important achievement for the cops.

According to police sources, Panda was also familiar with urban network of Maoists and played a crucial role in arranging meetings of Maoist sympathisers from the town with ultras in jungles.

His interrogation may facilitate the arrest of Maoist supporters in urban areas, sources added.

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With barely a fortnight to go for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key pact on units five and six of awaits clearance from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The General Framework Agreement (GFA) for units 5 and 6 of the plant in Tamil Nadu has already been cleared by an inter-ministerial group and is with the PMO for its nod, government sources said, suggesting that no final assurance has been given to the Russian side so far on whether the pact will be inked during Modi-Putin meeting in St Petersburg on June 1.

A GFA is the final agreement before a project can commence.

"After its evaluation by the inter-ministerial group, the proposal has now been sent to the PMO and is awaiting its green signal," a top government source said.

Significantly, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin was here last week to prepare the ground for the bilateral meet between the two leaders.

He co-chaired an inter-governmental commission meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj where the two sides agreed to take forward collaborative projects in a range of sectors, including nuclear energy, and joint projects in third countries.

According to an October 2015 joint statement after a meeting between Modi and Putin, the two sides "reaffirmed" their intention to conclude the GFA and the Credit Protocol for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) units 5 and 6 by the end of 2016.

Government sources said the GFA between India and Russia was to be signed by December 2016. They also added that it was pending because the two sides had disagreement over credit protocol.

The delay also comes in the backdrop of concerns in India over growing proximity between Moscow and Islamabad. India also wants Russia to make more efforts to get New Delhi into the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

A part of the KKNPP project, units 5 and 6, with a capacity of 1000 MW each, are being built with Russian collaboration.

Unit 1 and 2 of the KKNPP are already operational.

In August 2016, Modi and Putin jointly dedicated Unit 2 of the plant to "India-Russia Friendship and Cooperation" and witnessed the laying of foundation concrete for Kudankulam units 3 and 4 through video-link.
Asserting that defeating the BJP in Gujarat is his prime aim, quota agitation leader Hardik Patel today hinted that he may consider supporting the Congress in the Assembly polls to reach the goal.

The 23-year-old quota agitation spearhead accused the state government of dilly-dallying on the issue of granting reservation to the Patel community under OBC quota.

Hardik, who leads the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), said he would work to defeat the BJP in the state Assembly polls due later this year, if the state government does not come up with a firm assurance over the quota issue at the earliest.

"Despite making numerous representations regarding our demands, including for reservation, during the last two years, the BJP government has not given any assurance," Hardik told mediapersons here today.

"We want the government to make its stand clear on reservation at the earliest," he said.

"I want to tell them that our agitation is still very much alive and it will gain momentum in the days to come. We are now planning to make sure that the party, which is dreaming of winning 150 seats, does not go beyond 80 seats in the polls," Hardik said.

Of the total 182 seats in state assembly, the BJP presently has a majority with 121 seats while the main Opposition party, the Congress, has 57 seats.

"These polls will not be a battle between just the BJP and the Congress. It will be an election wherein farmers, youths, women, Patels and Dalits will fight the BJP.

"We have also kept our options open to supporting the Congress if they promise to fulfil our demands after winning the polls," he said.

The demands include reservation to the Patels under the OBC quota, formation of Patidar Commission, compensation to the families of at least 10 Patel youths who died during the quota violence in 2015 and withdrawal of FIRs against the agitators.

Divulging his plans to defeat the BJP, Hardik said a mega gathering of PAAS workers has been planned on June 11 in the city.

"Around 50,000 PAAS workers from over 7,000 villages will converge here on June 11. During that gathering, they will be briefed about carrying out a campaign across Gujarat against the BJP for the next six months," he said.

To raise the issue of "injustice to the community" by the ruling BJP, Hardik also announced holding a rally, 'Nyay Yatra', from Botad to neighbouring Bhavnagar town on May 20 and May 21.

"This yatra, which would commence from Botad on May 20, would pass through nearly 50 villages and converge at Bhavnagar on May 21. Our aim is to raise the issue of injustice to our community, farmers and women," Hardik said.

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Organised wholesaler Metro Cash & Carry India today added its fourth wholesale warehouse in Hyderabad.

The new outlet will bolster the German wholesaler's position in the city by augmenting the existing base of nearly two lakh business customers, it said in a statement.

"We've witnessed fast growth in this market since 2006, and there's still plenty opportunity for growth and expansion," Arvind Mediratta, Managing Director & CEO, METRO Cash & Carry India said.

The store is spread over approximately 55,000 sq feet, and will help create over 350 jobs for the local economy, it added.

Metro India caters to over 11 lakh dedicated customers across the country, which includes small and mid-sized kiranas, hotels, restaurants, caterers and self-employed professionals.

Continuing with the corporate philosophy of supporting local businesses, the new Metro outlet will source at least 20 per cent of its assortment from regional suppliers, helping them connect to national and international markets.

Metro has 23 stores in India, and plans to expand to 50 stores by 2020, the company had earlier said.

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Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann may have invented LSD, and Timothy Leary was clearly its most prominent frontman.

But it was a self-taught chemist and obscure-by-choice figure named Nicholas Sand who was the true wizard behind the curtain, the man who launched tens of millions of acid trips across generations by producing the best, most pure, highest- quality acid ever consumed.

Sand, who with fellow chemist Tim Scully created the legendary version of LSD known as "Orange Sunshine" that first hit the streets of San Francisco in 1967, died April 24 at his home in the Northern California community of Lagunitas.

He was 75 and had spoken just the day before at a "Psychedelic Science Conference" in Oakland where the film "The Sunshine Makers" was screened.

"Nick had commented to some friends afterward that it was like the best weekend of his life, and then he went home and died in his sleep, so I guess he went out on top," said longtime friend Lorenzo Hagerty, host of the internet program "The Psychedelic Podcast."



Born in Brooklyn on May 10, 1941, Sand was the son of prominent chemist Clarence Hiskey, who had worked on the top- secret Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb until authorities caught him spying for the Soviet Union. After Hiskey's wife, Marcia, divorced him she restored her maiden name and gave it to her son.

Nicholas Francis Sand would earn a degree in anthropology and sociology from Brooklyn College in 1966, but by then he had already begun to chart a different path.

Two years before, when LSD was still legal, the longtime devotee of yoga had sat naked in the lotus position in front of a roaring fire at a farmhouse in upstate New York and taken his first hit of LSD.

"I was floating in this immense black space," he would recall years later. "I said, 'What am I doing here?' And suddenly a voice came through my body, and it said, 'Your job on this planet is to make psychedelics and turn on the world.'



"If we could turn on everyone in the world," he added, "then maybe we'd have a new world of peace and love."



Sand had been invited to that farmhouse by former Harvard University professor Richard Alpert, who soon would be better known as psychedelic guru Baba Ram Dass. Alpert's former Harvard colleague Timothy Leary had formed the League for Spiritual Discovery (LSD) there.

A year later, Sand's reputation as a drug chemist had spread to San Francisco, where another self-taught chemist, Owsley Stanley, was cranking out millions of doses of LSD. Stanley introduced Sand to yet another self-taught chemist, Tim Scully, and they began cranking out Orange Sunshine doses.

They had produced about four million when the government, which had outlawed LSD in 1966, busted them.

Sentenced to prison, Sand vanished into Canada, living on the run for the next 20 years while cranking out LSD hits by the millions.

He claimed to have distributed them to US soldiers in Vietnam in an effort to stop the war, given them to jail inmates, even taken them to India after becoming a follower of the Indian guru Shree Rajneesh. When authorities finally raided his lab in 1996 he boasted that they seized enough doses to turn on every Canadian citizen twice.

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A geology professor and head of the Environment Sciences department Nitin Karmalkar has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU).

Karmalkar will succeed Wasudev Gade, whose five-year term ended on May 15, a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said today.

The 55-year-old academician has completed his MSc in Geology and PhD in the same subject from SPPU and has two post-doctoral research, one in Macquarie University, Australia and another in Max-Plank Institute for Geo-Chemistry at Mainz, Germany, to his credit.

"I was the student of this university and I have worked in various capacities, be it academics or administrative, so I am very much accustomed with the work of varsity," the newly-appointed VC told PTI.

He said rankings are important for any universities, however, for him, rankings are secondary as his main priority will be students and their employability.

"They (students) are the real brand ambassadors of this university, so my first priority will be students as it is the students who make the perception of any university," he said.

Karmalkar has completed six major research projects and has mobilised research funding for the department.

He has 34 research publications and has published 1 book, 3 abstract volumes, and 3 technical reports. He is also a reviewer for national and international journals in Geology.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today expressed dissatisfaction over banks opening new branches much below the target set which has been hampering the state's development.

Addressing the 60th Platinum jubilee meeting of state level Bankers Committee here, Kumar also pointed to low CD (Cash Deposit ratio) in the state at 43.94 per cent in 2016-17 financial year which was 100 per cent in developed states.

Kumar said that State Industrial Security Force (SISF) is being created in the state for safely transfering money from one bank branch to another.

"Decision has already been taken to set up two such battalions at Begusarai and Dumroan in Buxar district for providing security to banks in cash transactions," he said.

State Finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Agriculture minister Ramvichar Rai, Urban development minister Maheshwar Hazari, Rural Development minister Shrawan Kumar and representatives of RBI, State Bank of India aqnd Nabard were present among others.

On slow pace of opening bank branches, the CM said against a target to open 1640 new branches in 2016-17, only 139 new branches were started which is too less.

Banks have a policy to open a new branch in a place having a population of 5000.

"You should open bank branch in every Panchayat of Bihar whose population is over 10,000," he added.

He said panchayat bhawans have been built by the state government in which space would be provided to banks to open new branches.

The Bihar CM also regretted the low CD ratio in the state.

"The CD ratio has gone only upto 44 per cent by now whereas it is 100 per cent in developed states. People of Bihar deposit their income but if they do not get loan for developmental works, the growth is impacted," he said.

"Today there are only a few islands of prosperity in the country and this is the reason behind fluctuation in growth rate," he said and added inclusive growth of all the states is needed for faster progress of the country.

Kumar stressed that for promoting digital transaction in the country, banks have to improve their infrastructure.

"For promoting digital transactions there is a need to popularise Rupay card among people," he added.

The CM made reference to the state government launching student credit card scheme providing interest free loan to youths for pursuing higher education and asked the banks to promptly accept application made under the programme.

He said the state government is taking guarantee for loan under student credit card scheme so there was no cause for the banks to fear for the loans.

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Pakistan Army today lodged a protest before UN military observers against "unprovoked" Indian firing on civilians from across the Line of Control.

Army said in a statement that UN military observers were also apprised about the latest situation along LoC.

"United Nations Military Observers at UNMOGIP were invited to GHQ to register a protest over unprovoked Ceasefire Violations and targeting of civilian population by Indian Army on 10, 13 and 16 May," it said.

The statement claimed that the Indian Army used small arms, automatic and heavy caliber weapons, heavy mortar and field artillery in Sabzkot, Baroh, Tandar, Khuiratta, Kot Koterra and Karela Sectors to target Pakistani villages.

The UN observers were also told that one civilian was killed and 15 others injured, including women and children, the statement added.

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A PIL has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to government to grant Rs ten lakh compensation to families of those who died in a recent fire at a multi-storeyed building here and deduct the amount from salaries of officials concerned and from the house owner.

The plea was filed by social activist 'Traffic' Ramaswamy.

The vacation bench, comprising Justice R. Mahadevan and Justice M. Govindaraj, issued notice to the state government and adjourned the matter by two weeks to enable the goverment pleader M.K.Subramanian to get instructions from authorities.

The petitioner alleged, quoting media reports, that the building had been sealed for violations last year and wanted to know what made authorities to open the seal.

He alleged that it was due to the utter negligence of Chennai Metropolitan Department Authority officials concerned that the accident happened and four lives were lost.

Referring to government's compensation of Rs 1 lakh for next of kin of each deceased, the petitioner sought a direction to government to grant Rs.10 lakh and deduct the same from the salaries of the officials concerned and from the house owner.

Four persons, including two children, died while five persons were injured after a fire broke out at an apartment complex in the busy Vadapalani locality on May 8.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his birthday greetings to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami, the state government said today.

In a letter written in Tamil, Modi wished the chief minister good health and happiness "to serve the people," an official release here said.

The chief minister had turned 63 on May 12.

"I am happy to extend my hearty greetings to you on your birthday.. Let the Almighty bless you with good health and happiness to serve the people," the release quoted Modi as saying.

The chief minister, in return, expressed delight over receiving birthday greetings from Modi in Tamil, it said.

"I am delighted to receive your good wishes on the occasion of my birthday, and that too in Tamil. This reflects your personal touch, which I deeply appreciate."



"It was very gracious of you to have remembered my birthday and conveyed your greetings to me," the release quoted the chief minister as saying.

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A proposed agreement with Russia for setting up of two more units of Kudankulam Nuclear Plant in Tamil Nadu remains in the realm of suspense ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to that country a fortnight from now.

Modi will be travelling to St Petersburg on June 1 to attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

On the sidelines, he is expected to have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to review the state of bilateral relations and ways to push the ties further.

However, it is not clear whether the General Framework Agreement (GFA) for setting up of units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) will be signed during the Prime Minister's visit.

The GFA, which is the final pact before a project can commence, has been cleared by an inter-ministerial group and is with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for its nod, a top government source said.

"After its evaluation by the inter-ministerial group, the proposal has now been sent to the PMO and is awaiting its green signal," the source said.

The issue related to the GFA had figured in the talks between the two countries last week when Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin was here to prepare the ground for the bilateral meet between Modi and Putin.

Rogozin had co-chaired an inter-governmental commission meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj where the two sides agreed to take forward collaborative projects in a range of sectors, including nuclear energy, and joint projects in third countries.

According to an October 2015 joint statement issued after a meeting between Modi and Putin, the two sides had "reaffirmed" their intention to conclude the GFA and the Credit Protocol for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) units 5 and 6 by the end of 2016.

Government sources said the GFA between India and Russia was to be signed by December last year but it has been pending because of disagreement between the two sides over credit protocol.

The delay also comes against the backdrop of concerns in India over Russia's growing proximity with Pakistan. India also wants Russia to make more efforts to get it into the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

A part of the KKNPP project, units 5 and 6, with a capacity of 1000 MW each, are being built with Russian collaboration.

Unit 1 and 2 of the KKNPP are already operational.

In August 2016, Modi and Putin jointly dedicated Unit 2 of the plant to "India-Russia Friendship and Cooperation" and witnessed the laying of foundation concrete for KKNPP units 3 and 4 through video-link.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Lakshadweep in November, BJP president Amit Shah, who is on a three-day visit to the islands, said.

He said Kavaratti will be included in the Smart city project of the Centre and thrust would be given for development of infrastructure in the inhabited islands of Lakshadweep.

Also, steps will be taken to provide drinking water to all the 10 inhabited islands -- Agatti, Amini, Androth, Bitra, Kadamath, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Minicoy and Chetlat -- within two years, the BJP chief said.

"The prime minister will visit the island territory on November-end and will stay the whole day," Shah said at a public meeting here last night.

The BJP president said after returning to Delhi he would prepare a project for the 10 islands of Lakshadweep and more cargo vessels, cold storage facilities and 4G connectivity would be provided.

He also interacted with members of the BJP's Lakshadweep state committee here.

In a tweet yesterday, Shah had said, "Reached Lakshadweep for my 3-day booth pravas.. Different states, different people, different cultures but same passion and support for BJP.

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President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive here on a two day visit tomorrow to attend a few programmes.

The President will inaugurate the Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences at Sonarpur tomorrow.

Later he will receive the first copy of the book "Metaphysics, Morals and Politics" from Prof Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay, former Principal of the former Presidency College, now a university.

On Friday, the President will inaugurate the Integrated Renewable Energy Smart Micro Grid Centre and also lay the foundation stone of Rabindranath Tagore Academic Complex at Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur, Howrah.

Besides, the President will also present Dr Malati Allen Noble Award and will receive first copy of the book "Jnan, Ajnan O Bigyan" before leaving for New Delhi in the afternoon.

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Yoga guru Ramdev today met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at his residence here.

Though it was not known what they discussed during the meeting, Thackeray hailed Ramdev as "the biggest global evangelist of the Hindu traditions of yoga and ayurveda."



The MNS leader also lauded Ramdev's efforts to promote yoga and also ayurveda globally, through his FMCG firm Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.

The meeting took place at Thackeray's residence 'Krishna Kunj' in Dadar at around 9.30 am.

"It was great meeting Baba Ramdev. He is the biggest global evangelist of Hindu traditions of yoga and ayurveda that India has seen," Thackeray told reporters.

No statement was issued by Ramdev or Patanjali about the meeting.

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The picturesque Raneh waterfall near Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh has been awarded the Best Holiday Award-2017.

The award was given to Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation by the country's well-known Travel and Information Portal Holiday IQ at a ceremony in New Delhi on May 15, a public relation department official said today.

Raneh-waterfall is situated about 20 km away from world famous heritage site Khajuraho.

"Foreign tourists, who visit Khajuraho, have compared the Raneh waterfall to North America's famous Canyon. Tourists from the all over the country and abroad come here every year to enjoy the natural beauty," the official said.

The waterfall is also close to Panna Tiger Reserve and Ken crocodile sanctuary, he added.

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At least six people were injured in a violent clash between RJD and workers outside the office in Patna on Wednesday, a day after IT raided in connection with alleged "benami" property deals involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family.



Hundreds of bare-bodied RJD youth wing workers marched towards the state headquarters, to protest against senior BJP leader Sushil Modi's "continuous attack" on the RJD chief and his family.



Carrying RJD flags and shouting "Lalu Zindabad", the workers turned violent and pelted stones at the BJP office at Beer Chand Patel Marg, eyewitnesses said.



The BJP workers came out of the office with sticks to retaliate.



During the battle, at least six people were hit by stones and windscreens of vehicles parked outside the BJP office were damaged.



"It was unprovoked violence. Police intervened timely to separate the clashing workers of both the parties," Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told PTI.



Additional police force has been deployed to maintain peace, the SSP said.



Similar scenes were witnessed in Muzzafarpur where RJD workers surrounded the BJP office but timely intervention by the police prevented an outbreak of violence.



The unpleasant event drew sharp political comments.



Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi, who is sitting on a dharna at Gardanibagh with state chief Nityanand Rai and others against Lalu Prasad's alleged benami properties, said the attack was "shameful" and alleged it was orchestrated by the state government to "gag" the voice of the opposition.



"BJP office is located in a prohibited area and due to this, we were not given permission to hold our protest dharna today in front of our party office. Then how were hundreds of RJD goons allowed to stage the protest and throw stones at us?" he asked.

"When the violence was happening at the BJP office, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was sitting in a state-level bankers committee meeting at a short distance," he told PTI.



His colleague Nand Kishore Yadav described the RJD attack on the BJP office as a mark of their "hatasha and nirasha" (dejection) for being out of power.



"Is this 'Sushasan" (good governance)?" he asked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.



RJD spokesman Mritunjay Tiwari blamed the BJP for the violence. "RJD workers were peacefully protesting when BJP workers threw stones and glass bottles at them," Tiwari told PTI.



He said BJP leader Sushil Modi has been leveling "unsubstantiated" allegations against Lalu Prasad and his family for which the youth wing workers of the party were protesting.



Sushil Modi, former Deputy Chief Minister of the state, has leveled series of charges against Lalu Prasad, his two minister sons and daughter Misa Bharti, who is a Rajya Sabha MP.
When US President Donald Trump travels to Saudi Arabia to address the Muslim world this week, participating leaders would be asked to sign a pledge to make it "illegal" in their country to fund outfits that promote extremism and terrorism.

Leaders of more than 50 mostly-Muslim countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan from India's neighbourhood, are scheduled to attend the meeting convened by Saudi Arabia.

Trump would addressed the gathering on Sunday.

Such a pledge would have a far-reaching implications on countries like Pakistan, where fundraising for terrorist organisations is common and at times supported by the ruling establishment.

While the pledge would be legally non-binding, it would be used for making these countries accountable by the Trump administration, which has made the fight against terrorism a priority, a senior administration official said.

"One of the other things (we are) doing on this trip is to get a lot of countries to sign a pledge to make it illegal in their countries to fund organisations that promote extremism and terrorism. Once we have that we are going to try to figure out where the grey is," an administration official said.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that White House has been working "very hard" on this.

"Because we want the countries to make a choice, do you want to be good, do you want to be gray or do you want to be bad? We are not going to allow people not to choose their destinations. I am not saying that check this box. (But) we intend to go to these countries and say look you told us that you would do these things then these are the things that we see you doing to the contrary, are you going to stop them or now?" the official said.

According to the official, many of these countries are doing what they are doing because of the circumstances they are in.

"What we find that a lot of these countries find in the gray because the people next to them, ...Compete with them... playing in the gray and they are scared to jump. And we feel that if we can get all of them to commit to doing that, we would have a real chance of making progress," the official said.

The official, who has been part of the planning of Trump's maiden overseas trip, acknowledged that a lot of people would say that such a pledge is destined to fail.

But, he added, there's no harm in trying.

"A lot of these countries are saying that they want to be on the good side and cooperate with America. So our job is to take that and then really verify and hold them accountable to them not doing that, and be very honest with them," the official said.

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In-form Shiv Kapur will lead a huge Indian contingent of 13 Indians at the USD 300,000 Thailand Open, which gets underway on Thursday.

Kapur recently ended his long title drought at the Yeangder Heritage little over a fortnight ago.

Kapur, who is playing well, will also carry excellent memories of the Thai Country Club, which is where he won his maiden Asian Tour title way back in 2005.

After that his next Asian Tour title came late last month in Taiwan.

"It is always great to carry some good form into a fresh tournament," said Kapur, who will play in the afternoon wave with Gavin Green and Scott Hend, two other marquee names in the field.

While two-time Hero Indian Open winner, SSP Chawrasia has skipped the event, the Indian challenge is very strong with Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shubhankar Sharma, Jeev Milkha Singh, S Chikkarangappa, Chiragh Kumar, Rahil Gangjee, Himmat Rai, Sujjan Singh, Shankar Das, Honey Baisoya, Khalin Joshi and Arjun Prasad also featuring in the field.

Korean-American David Lipsky, who leads the Order of Merit ahead of Chawrasia, hopes to stretch his lead by putting on a strong showing at the US$300,000 event.

A victory at the Thai Country Club this week will move Lipsky closer towards his goal of becoming only the fourth multiple Order of Merit winner on the Asian Tour.

He was previously crowned the Order of Merit champion in 2014. Lipsky, who is making his debut appearance in the historic event, will be vying for honours alongside Thai stars Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Prayad Marksaeng, Thaworn Wiratchant and reigning Order of Merit winner Hend of Australia in the storied event.

Hend will be looking to continue his affinity with Thailand after claiming three victories in the Kingdom, including two in 2016. He is chasing for a 10th Asian Tour title this week.

Singaporean Mardan Mamat marked another career milestone by playing in his 400th Asian Tour event at the Thailand Open. He is only the second player after Thaworn to achieve this feat.

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Six persons were injured in a clash between workers of the BJP and the RJD outside the BJP state headquarters here, a day after IT raids in connection with alleged benami property deals involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

Carrying RJD flags and shouting 'Lalu Zindabad', hundreds of bare-bodied RJD youth wing workers marched towards the BJP office at Beer Chand Patel Marg protesting against senior BJP leader Sushil Modi's "continuous attack" on Prasad and his family.

As they turned violent and "threw stones" at the BJP office, the party's workers came out of the office with sticks to retaliate.

In the melee at least six persons were allegedly hit by stones and many vehicles parked outside the BJP office were damaged.

"It was unprovoked violence. Police intervened timely to separate the clashing workers of both the parties," Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told PTI.

Additional police force has been deployed to maintain peace, the SSP said.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Muzzafarpur where the RJD workers gheraoed the BJP office but timely intervention by police prevented an outbreak of violence.

An FIR was lodged by BJP office in-charge Lalit Kumar Yadav with town police station here in the incident, which he alleged was "provoked" by Prasad and his two minister sons.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Shibli Naumani confirmed to PTI the registration of the FIR.

Later, a BJP delegation comprising senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, state party chief Nityanand Rai and party chief whip in the assembly, Arun Sinha met Director General of Police P K Thakur and submitted a memorandum seeking action against the RJD.

Sushil Modi told reporters that they drew attention of the DGP to the use of empty liquor bottles by the RJD while attacking the BJP office.

There is total prohibition in Bihar since last year.

Rai alleged that the police acted as "mute spectators" while the RJD workers were indulging in violence.

A month ago Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav had taken out a procession riding a horse driven chariot here and was followed by more than 200 motorcycles in the prohibited area and the police stood helpless.

The two parties blamed each other for the clash.

Sushil Modi, who sat on a dharna at Gardanibagh with Rai and others, said the attack was "shameful" and alleged it was "orchestrated" by the state government to "gag" the voice of the opposition.

"BJP office is located in a prohibited area and due to this we were not given permission to hold our protest dharna today in front of our party office. Then how were hundreds of RJD goons allowed to stage protest and throw stones at us?" he asked.

"When the violence was happening at the BJP office, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was sitting in a state-level bankers' committee meeting a short distance away," he told PTI.

His party colleague Nand Kishore Yadav described the RJD attack on the BJP office as a mark of their "dejection".

"Is this 'sushasan" (good governance)?" he asked.

RJD national spokesman Manoj Jha held a press conference in which he paraded a few party workers with their heads bandaged and blamed the BJP for the violence.

"RJD workers were peacefully protesting when the BJP workers threw stones and glass bottles at them," the party's spokesman Mritunjay Tiwari told PTI.

He said Sushil Modi has been levelling "unsubstantiated" allegations against Lalu Prasad and his family for which the youth wing workers of the party were protesting.

Sushil Modi has levelled a series of charges against Lalu Prasad, his two minister sons - Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav and daughter Misa Bharti, who is a Rajya Sabha MP of the RJD.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A technical snag in an Air Asia plane left Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stranded at Birsa Munda airport here for some hours.

Air Asia's Delhi-bound flight i5 549 from Kolkata via Ranchi was scheduled to depart from here at 5.20 pm but a technical glitch led to a delay.

The flight took off from Kolkata at 3.50 pm but "encountered a technical glitch after take off", according to Air Asia.

Sources said Kumar later took another flight to Delhi.

The airline did not share the number of passengers on board.

"Our team is putting in their best efforts to take care of guests at the airport while we work towards resolving the issue at the earliest," said Air Asia in a statement.

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Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi has taken over the city-based Islamic International School (IIS), run by controversial preacher Zakir Naik's banned Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).

The controversy surrounding Naik had put a question mark over the fate of around 200 students studying in IIS. The school, which conducts classes from nursery to class X, was staring at a shutdown.

Now, it will be run by Azmi's Niyaz Minority Education and Welfare Trust and will be renamed Avicenna International School.

Confirming the development, Azmi said, "I was pained to see that the future of almost 200 children studying in this school was hanging in the balance. All of them belonged to good families and deserved proper protection. So I decided to take care of their future and take over the management of the school in Mazgaon. I have taken over the school by completing the procedural formalities."



"Now, the school will be run by a trust called Niyaz Minority, Education and Welfare Trust and it will be renamed as Avicenna International School, in memory of a well-known scientist," he said.

Azmi, who represents Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency in Mumbai, had set up the Niyaz welfare trust in memory of his father.

Last year, Azmi had requested the Maharashtra government not to close down the IRF-run school saying doing so will jeopardise the future of students enrolled there. Azmi had made the request to state Education Minister Vinod Tawde.

Azmi has decided to continue with the same school staff and not change the syllabus and timeline of the academic sessions.

"Owing to the controversy and the ban on IRF, some students have left the school and currently only 135 are left. But we are going to bounce back and hope to get the students back. We are not going to bring any major changes in the teaching staff and the curriculum. The school will function as it was doing earlier, except that we would be doing periodic appraisals of the teaching staff," the SP leader said.

In November last year, the IRF was banned by the Union Home Ministry for five years under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for its alleged involvement in terror acts.

The Delhi High Court had recently upheld the decision to immediately ban IRF saying the organisation and its president and members were indulging in "unlawful activity."



Besides the IRF, Naik is also the founding trustee of the IRF Educational Trust and the Islamic Dimensions Trust. The speeches of Naik are banned in the UK, Canada and Malaysia.

Naik has rejected all allegations of involvement in terror-related activities and opposed the ban on the IRF.

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Suicide bombers stormed the national television station in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad today, triggering gunfights and explosions with journalists trapped inside the building, officials and eyewitnesses said.

At least two people were killed and 16 others wounded in the nearly four-hour assault on Radio Television Afghanistan, which marks the latest in a string of assaults on media workers in Afghanistan.

No insurgent group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid in Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State jihadists, where the US military dropped its largest non- nuclear bomb last month in an unprecedented attack.

"Four attackers, who entered the RTA building this morning, have been killed," government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP after the attack ended.

"At least two civilians, including an RTA guard, were killed and 16 others wounded," Kohgyani said, with a health worker telling AFP that many of those brought to hospital suffered gunshot wounds.

An RTA photographer said he fled the building as soon as the gunfight erupted, but many of his colleagues were stuck inside until the assailants were killed.

Islamic State insurgents are active in Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital.

The US military last month dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- on IS positions in Nangarhar, killing dozens of jihadists.

The bombing triggered global shock waves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban.

According to the US Forces-Afghanistan, defections and recent battlefield losses have reduced the local IS presence from a peak of as many as 3,000 fighters to a maximum of 800.

The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan to break the deadlocked fight against the Taliban.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, who also mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.

Today's attack marks the latest militant assault on an Afghan media organisation.

Afghanistan suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists in 2016, according to the Afghan Journalists' Safety Committee (AJSC), adding that the country is the second most dangerous for reporters in the world after Syria.

At least 13 journalists were killed last year, AJSC said, claiming that the Taliban was behind at least ten of the deaths.

In January last year, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 and spotlighted the dangers faced by journalists as the security situation worsens.

Dan Coats, the head of US intelligence agencies, warned last week that the security situation "will also almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in the military assistance by the US".

US-led forces have been fighting in Afghanistan for almost 16 years, making it America's longest war.

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The Delhi High Court today directed the police to take action against the culprits behind the violence at Ramjas College here in February.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar issued notice to the Delhi government and the police seeking a status report regarding the investigation carried out so far in the matter.

"You (police) must do something. If you know the culprits, you must take action. Law has to take its own course," the court said while listing the matter for further hearing on September 11.

The order came on a plea by three Ramjas College students seeking setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) of independent officers to probe the incident of violence which took place on February 21 this year.

The petition has demanded constitution of an independent SIT claiming that the police have not taken any action against the culprits behind the incident despite availability of photographs and video clippings identifying them.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioners, argued that only an FIR with regard to a scuffle has been lodged and that there has been no progress with regard to the investigation.

The petition has also sought a direction to the colleges where the "culprit" students are enrolled to suspend or rusticate them.

It has also sought action against the police personnel on duty at the time of the incident for allegedly not taking any preventive action.

The plea also asked for a direction to the Delhi government to pay Rs five lakh to each of the assault victims.

Advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for Delhi Police, countered the submissions of Gonsalves saying that the investigation was proceeding along the right lines and all efforts were being made to identify and trace the culprits.

He also said that the four police officers who were on duty at the place of the incident have been suspended.

The court noted his submission that a panel of senior police officers has been set up to look into the matter and the investigation has already been transferred to the Crime Branch.

Delhi university's Ramjas College had witnessed large- scale violence allegedly involving members of the Left- affiliated All India Students Association (AISA) and the student body of the RSS, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The genesis of the clash was an invite to JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid to address a seminar on 'Culture of Protests' which was withdrawn by the college authorities following opposition by the ABVP.

Earlier, a law student had moved a PIL seeking action against the police personnel who had allegedly assaulted students and scribes during the incident.

The petition was disposed of after the police had told the court that a panel of senior officers has been set up after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sought the police response regarding the alleged assault on a complaint filed before it.

The PIL had also sought lodging of an FIR under various sections of the IPC, including assaulting a woman with an intent to outrage her modesty, action against the police personnel and others who allegedly harassed and assaulted women students and journalists during the protest.

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The Trinamool Congress (TMC) today swept the municipal polls in Bengal, capturing four of seven civic bodies and breaking the 10-year-old hold of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the hills.

The TMC won a decisive majority in Domkal, Raigunj and Pujali in the plains and Mirik in the hill area.

"The hills are smiling," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted. "Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again & again putting their trust in us," the Trinamool leader said in another tweet.

The GJM maintained its supremacy in the hills winning three municipalities -- Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

In Domkal in Murshidabad district, the TMC captured 18 of the 21 wards. The Congress won two, and the CPI(M) one.

The civic poll results underline Banerjee's continuing hold over the state, with the two main Opposition parties -- the Left and the Congress -- together winning only six seats.

The BJP, which has its eyes set on Bengal where it hopes to take the Trinamool on in the next assembly election, also failed to make a dent -- winning just three seats.

"We all know that the TMC has used money and muscle power to win the elections. Democracy was brutally murdered in this elections," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.

The BJP won one seat in the Raigunj municipality of North Dinajpur district and two seats in Pujali in South 24 Paraganas.

The TMC captured 24 of the 27 wards in Raigunj, while the Congress bagged two.

Banerjee's party won 12 of the 16 wards in the Pujali municipality, while the Congress and an Independent won one seat each.

Although the GJM manged to retain three civic bodies in the hills, the TMC put up a creditable performance by winning six of the nine seats in Mirik.

The rest went to the GJM, which maintained its supremacy in the other civic bodies in the hill areas.

The Morcha virtually made a clean sweep in Darjeeling winning 31 of its 32 seats, while the TMC managed to win one.

In Kurseong municipality, the GJM won 17 wards and the TMC the remaining three.

The Gorkha front won 19 of the 23 seats in Kalimpong, while the TMC bagged two.

The Jan Andolan Party of Harka Bahadur Chetri, a former GJM leader, managed to win only two seats in Kalimpong.

"Congratulations to my brothers/sisters in hill areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik for participating in the democratic process. Special thanks to Mirik for reposing faith in us. We will work sincerely for you. After so many decades we begin a new era in the hills," Banerjee tweeted.

The opposition called the civic election a "farce", with Ghosh stressing that it was "not a real reflection" of the people's mandate.

State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury described the Trinamool regime as an "autocratic" rule.

"What is the use of conducting election in Bengal? The TMC doesn't allow free and fair elections. If an opposition candidate manages to win, they poach on him," he said.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty echoed his views.

GJM supremo Bimal Gurung hailed the victory of his party in the hill areas and accused the TMC of misusing administrative and money power in certain pockets including Mirik, where the TMC registered a victory.

TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee dismissed the allegations as a "reflection of the political frustrations of the opposition".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
is neither integral to Islam nor a "majority versus minority" issue but rather an "intra-community tussle" between Muslim men and deprived women, the Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, in his rebuttal to the arguments favouring the 1,400 year-old practice of triple talaq, made a strong pitch for judicial scrutiny on grounds including violation of fundamental rights like right to equality and gender justice and said that the apex court cannot shy away.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar, asked the Centre as to why it did not legislate to regulate marriages and divorce among Muslims.

"You (Centre) said if court quashes then you will make a law but why the government did not make a law for last 60 years?" the bench, also comprising justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman, U U Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, asked.

Rohatgi replied that the hallmark of a secular court was to reform without waiting for a legislation, when such matters come to it.

"I will do what I have to do but the question is what will you (court) do? I have given statement on instruction. I speak for the government and can't speak for Parliament," he said reiterating that the top court was guardian of fundamental rights and has to see whether there was any violation of such rights.

Earlier during the day, the bench asked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) whether a woman can be given an option of saying 'no' to at the time of execution of 'nikahnama' (marriage contract).

"Can it be made possible to give an option to a wife that she can say that she was agreeable to or not agreeable to it (triple talaq)?

"Is it possible to pass a resolution to all 'qazis' to include this condition (giving right to woman to say 'no' to triple talaq) in 'nikahnama'? Give an option to wife to say 'no' to triple talaq," the bench said.

Former Union minister and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the AIMPLB, said that he will respond to after talking to all the board members.

Rohatgi, responding to Sibal and a battery of senior lawyers favouring triple talaq, said even the core of religion has to be tested on the touchstone of fundamental rights.

Referring to the responses of the AIMPLB, he said that even they say that triple talaq was "undesirable", "sinful" but yet valid and wondered "then how it can be said to be integral to religion".

He further said this time, Muslim women have questioned the centuries-old "hegemony suffered by them at the hands of their male counterparts" of the community.

"The prism through which you see the case is not like majority versus minority but this is a case where it is an intra-community tussle between Muslim men and women.

"This time Muslim women have questioned the centuries-old hegemony suffered by them at the hands of their male counterparts," Rohatgi said, adding that the practice of triple talaq is a tussle between the "haves and have-nots" inside the community.

He said this fight is between men of Muslim community, who are more powerful, empowered and educated and women, not so powerful, not empowered and uneducated.

The court can fill up the void by judicial pronouncements if there is no law on a particular issue, Rohatgi said, adding the guidelines on sexual harassment at work place were framed by it in the Vishakha case.

Rohatgi referred to practises 'sati', infanticide, 'devdasi' and untouchability among Hindus and said that they have been done away with.

"Did courts do it? These were abolished by legislations," the bench asked.

"Then why do the court goes into issues like Vishaka. The court can't say that it is helpless and it cannot step in. It is the guardian of fundamental right," Rohatgi replied.

He said that India is "secular country with a secular constitution" which has kept core of all religions intact but they are subject to fundamental rights.

"We had several religions after partition. There were people from over 600 princely states and tribes practising different faiths and religions. The core of every religion was kept but they were made subject to fundamental rights," he said.

He said under Article 25 (right to practice religion) of Constitution, even the core component of a religion can be tested on the grounds of fundamental rights.

"Rights given under Article 25 of Constitution cannot be considered as absolute", he said, adding the court has to look into these aspects as a community cannot decide what is their fundamental rights.

Comparing practices in Islamic countries, Rohatgi said that in 25 nations, religion continued to strive even after abolishing triple talaq and hence, this cannot be termed as "integral part of Islam".

"What is optional cannot be under Article 25 and it cannot be considered as an essential part of religion. If it had been integral part of religion then the religion will not remain religion in its original form but if it is optional then even if it is taken out, the religion will remain the same," he said.

He said that if the right to religion went against the fundamental rights, then it is the Constitution which will prevail over practices like triple talaq.

Sibal, who started arguments today, referred to a Delhi High Court judgement and said that it was wrong in holding that all schools of thought termed 'triple talaq' as "sinful".

The Supreme Court cannot be called upon to decide as to what was wrong or right with the practice and belief, he said.

Referring to a judgement, he went to the extent of saying that the personal law is a legitimate basis of discrimination.

AIMPLB also said that the court should not venture into the issue on its own as no one has approached it.

"Some persons have come to this court," the bench said.

Sibal said challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq, being practised by a small portion of community, may revive the practice which is dying.

He said if a secular court like the Supreme Court decides to undertake suo motu (on its own) scrutiny of the issue with the Centre seeking a ban then, the community may take a tough stand.

The Muslim community is like small birds on which golden eagle preys, he said, adding "the community's nests must have the Supreme Court protection."

Sibal said it is that faith with which the community is before the court today seeking protection of its personal law customs and practices.

"Our faith in this court for last 67 years is fundamental and with that faith we have come here," he said.

Today was the fifth day of the hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging triple talaq, polygamy and 'nikah halala' which is going on before a bench comprising members of different religious communities including Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim.

Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for Jamiat

Ulama-I-Hind Maharashtra, said that issues raised in the petition were matters of legislative policy and ought not to be addressed by the court.

He referred to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and said India had made an express reservation with regard to its policy of non-interference in the personal affairs of any community without its initiative and consent.

"The constitutional validity of personal law in our country cannot be tested on the oasis of enacted legislation of other countries," he said in his written submissions while questioning the arguments of the Centre and petitioners that triple talaq has been abolished in Islamic countries.

He said practice of triple talaq is considered a valid form of divorce by four out of the five Sunni schools.

"Even if this practice is undesirable, my school tells me to do this," Ramachandran said.

During the hearing, the bench asked Ramachandran, "By registering a marriage under the Special Marriage Act, a Muslim man opts out of polygamy. Is that not un-Islamic?"

Responding to the query, he said, "To opt out of polygamy is not un-Islamic. It (polygamy) is only an option which is available. This is not compulsory".

Senior advocate V Giri, representing Jamiat-ulama-I-Hind, said that Shariat was the law applicable to Muslims prior to the enactment of the Shariat Act.

"The Shariat has not been subsumed by the statute nor has the Shariat Act codified the Muslim personal law. The Shariat Act has only statutorily declared that the Muslim personal law as a set of rules would govern the Muslims in India and that it is the Muslim personal law that would have overriding effect over any usage or custom to the contrary," he said in his written submission.

Giri, however, said that rights and duties of Muslims in India continue to be governed by the Muslim personal law and the Shariat Act has not substituted it nor has it provided for a different set of rights and obligations.

"The right under Article 25(1) to freely profess practice and propagate religion is a universal right that is guaranteed to every citizen to act in affirmation of his own faith. This is the core of the secular nature of the Indian Constitution," he said.

The senior counsel also said it his written submission that it was "fallacious" for the petitioners to say or suggest that Talaq-i-Biddat does not have sanction of the holy Quran.

Meanwhile, one of the counsel opposing the practice of triple talaq said the matter pending before the court was about women rights and to ensure gender justice.

The counsel said that consequential aspect of divorce also relates to the economic right of women and the court would have the consider it also.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for one of the petitioners, told the bench that there were no Sharia courts in India as it is a secular country.

"The impact of divorce is civil and not a religious impact. We are concerned with what the law is since 1950. We are not concerned about the past 1400 years," she said.

She also argued that once the state says this practice was discriminatory, "this brings it under the ambit of court".

Referring to Article 14 of the Constitution, she said it provides for equality before law and this right is binding on even the "non-state actors".

"Sharia does not give equal protection of law to Muslim men and Muslim women," she said.

Jaising also questioned the arguments that the matter was not within the jurisdiction of the court to decide.

"If personal law is not outside the jurisdiction of the state, how it can be said that it is outside the jurisdiction of the court," she said, adding, "the matter was about supremacy of the Constitution."

She said personal laws of any community can be challenged on the ground of violation of fundamental rights and every such challenge has to be tested on Constitution.
President Donald Trump risked the life of an Israeli spy embedded in the ISIS by sharing classified information with Russia, former US and Israeli officials believe.

"The spy provided intelligence involving an active ISIS plot to bring down a passenger jet en route to the United States, with a bomb hidden in a laptop that US officials believe can get through airport screening machines undetected," ABC reported.

"The information was reliable enough that the US is considering a ban on laptops on all flights from Europe to the United States," it said.

The president's disclosure put the operative for one of the US' closest allies at risk and jeopardised future operations by sharing the information with Russia.

"The real risk is not just this source, but future sources of information about plots against us," Matt Olsen, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told ABC.

Many in the counter-terrorism community also feel that what the president did was a mistake as Russia is not the part of a coalition fighting against the Islamic State (ISIS).

"They are not our partner".

Dan Shapiro, the former US ambassador to Israel, now a senior visiting fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, called the president and his team "careless". He said that the reported disclosures demonstrate a "poor understanding of how to guard sensitive information".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump would begin his maiden foreign trip with a visit to Saudi Arabia later this week where he would pitch for the need to tackle radical Islam ideology.

"He (Trump) will meet and have lunch with leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries where he will deliver an inspiring, yet direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and his hopes, the president hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world," US National Security Advisor H R McMaster told reporters during at the White House yesterday.

"The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against the common enemies of all civilisation and to demonstrate America's commitment to our Muslim partners," he said while giving details of Trump's itinerary for his visit.

The US president will be welcomed Saudi King Salman.

Mc Master said Trump will participate in a signing ceremony of several agreements that will further solidify US-Saudi security and economic cooperation.

The president and the first lady will also join members of the Saudi royal family for an official dinner.

Bilateral meeting are scheduled between Trump and Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, besides meetings with Gulf state leaders, he said.

Trump will also inaugurate a new center intended to fight radicalism and promote moderation.

"By establishing and operating this center, our Muslim friends, including Saudi Arabia, are taking a firm stand against extremism and those who use a perverted interpretation of religion to advance their criminal and political agendas," the NSA said.

From Saudi Arabia, Trump would travel to Jerusalem, where he will meet Israeli President Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and lay a wreath at Yad Vashem.

The next day, he would meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem and convey America's interest to facilitate an agreement that ends the conflict in the region.

"He will urge Palestinian leaders to take steps that will help lead to peace. He will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and say a prayer at the Western Wall," McMaster said.

The next destination would Rome and the Vatican, where Trump will meet the Pope.

"He looks forward to celebrating the rich contributions of Catholics to America and to the world, and to discussing a range of issues of mutual concern," he said.

From Rome, Trump would fly to to Brussels to meet leaders of the European Union and of the European Council.

From Brussels, Trump would travel to Sicily for the G-7.

"Throughout the summit, he will meet bilaterally with leaders, including the Italian prime minister. In the formal meetings, he will press America's economic agenda and call for greater security cooperation," Mc Master said.

On the first night of the summit, he will also attend a concert performed by the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a leaders' dinner hosted by the president of Italy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Scandals within the Trump administration are reaching the "size and scale" of Watergate, prominent Republican leader John McCain, a staunch critic of the US President Donald Trump, has said.

"I think we've seen this movie before. I think it appears at a point where it's of Watergate size and scale... The shoes continue to drop, and every couple days there's a new aspect," Senator McCain, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee told an audience at a Republican event yesterday.

McCain, a former Republican presidential candidate who lost to Barack Obama in 2008 elections, made the comment at a dinner where he received the Republican Institute's Freedom Award.

"I've known this guy (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei) Lavrov for 30 years, he's an old KGB apparatchik stooge, and Putin is a murderer and a thug," McCain was quoted as saying by the Daily Beast.

"And to have Lavrov in the Oval Office and be friendly with the guy whose boss... Sent aircraft with precision weapons to attack hospitals in Aleppo, I just think it's unacceptable," said McCain.

Several other Republican lawmakers too expressed concerns over the developments inside the White House.

"Less drama from the other end of Pennsylvania would be a good thing," Senator John Thune told reporters.

"Can we have a crisis-free day?" asked Senator Susan Collins, another Republican Senator.

"I think we could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so that we can focus on our agenda, which is deregulations, tax reform and repealing and replacing ObamaCare," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Bloomberg.



Watergate was a major political scandal that occurred in the US in the 1970s, which ended in resignation of the then president Richard Nixon.

Trump has been lambasted with accusations over the past week. Last week, he abruptly fired former FBI Director James Comey, which concerned some because of the agency's investigation into Russia and his campaign.

On Monday, a report stated Trump shared highly classified national security information with Russian government officials.

Yesterday, another report surfaced claiming Trump told Comey to end the FBI investigation into former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has urged Donald Trump to cancel daily White House press briefings, accusing the media of being a "corrupt institution" and "dishonest opponents" of the US president.

"I am personally offended by the American media. I think it is destructive and disgusting. It is a danger to the country right now," Gingrich, a staunch supporter of Trump, was quoted as saying by Politico.

Gingrich said the press should be banished to a nearby Starbucks and that the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer should take questions from the American people.

Gingrich said Trump should treat media as "dishonest opponents pretending to be reporters," Politico reported.

"Just say to the American people, you get to choose," he said.

Gingrich asserted that Trump as the US President has a right "to declassify anything he wants to," and that Presidents for centuries have disclosed sensitive information in chats with foreign officials.

Closing the press briefing room would send a message to the country "that the media is a corrupt institution and he is tired of being harassed by people whose only interest is making him look bad."



He also said that reporters shouldn't print information they couldn't attach a name to, the report said.

"You guys are nuts," he said as he described the Trump's communication team as one of the best.

"There are people here who read this crap and thinks we should be afraid. You have a national defence team of Mattis, Kelly and Tillerson. This is the best team since Eisenhower," he said.

"These people around the world read you as though you're real. The damage the media is doing to the United States is despicable," Gingrich said.

Trump has previously accused news media of being "the enemy of the American people," which journalists have rejected.

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) on Friday pushed back on Trump's threat to cancel future White House briefings, noting that "White House briefings and press conferences provide substantive and symbolic opportunities for journalists to pose questions to officials at the highest levels of the US government."



"Doing away with briefings would reduce accountability, transparency, and the opportunity for Americans to see that, in the US system, no political figure is above being questioned," Jeff Mason, WHCA president said in a statement.

"The White House Correspondents' Association would object to any move that would threaten those constitutionally- protected principles.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Turkish government and Washington's mayor traded blame today for violence outside Turkey's embassy, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's security staff broke up an anti-government protest.

The protesters were chanting anti-Erdogan slogans as he entered the embassy yesterday after meeting with President Donald Trump, Turkey's official Anadolu agency reported.

Because "police did not heed Turkish demands to intervene," Erdogan's security team and Turkish citizens moved in and "dispersed them," the agency said.

"What we saw yesterday - a violent attack on a peaceful demonstration - is an affront to DC values and our rights as Americans," DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement Wednesday.

A Voice of America video showed police officers struggling to protect a small group of protesters across the street from the embassy from being kicked and beaten bloody by a group of men in dark suits who repeatedly refused their orders to stay away.

"This is the United States of America. We do not do this here," Sen. John McCain commented while retweeting the video. "There is no excuse for this kind of thuggish behavior."



Sen Patrick Leahy also tweeted about it, saying "We've got to come back to American values."



The clash left nine people injured. Two men were arrested at the scene, and police intend to pursue charges against others involved as well, the Metropolitan Police Department said today.

"The actions seen outside the Turkish Embassy yesterday in Washington, D.C. Stand in contrast to the First Amendment rights and principles we work tirelessly to protect each and every day," the police statement said.

"We will continue to work with our partners at the United States State Department and United States Secret Service to identify and hold all subjects accountable for their involvement in the altercation."



There may be issues with diplomatic immunity, Police Chief Peter Newsham said at a conference today. He said police were examining video to identify those responsible. The background of the two men arrested wasn't immediately clear.

Ayten Necmi, 49, of Woodside, New York, was charged with aggravated assault, police said, after a woman who was thrown to the ground and kicked identified Necmi as her attacker.

Jalal Kheirabaoi, 42, of Fairfax, Virginia, is charged with assaulting a police officer, who refused treatment for lacerations to his face.

The biggest dispute between Turkey and the US recently has been the Trump administration's plans to arm Kurdish Syrian militants fighting the Islamic State group.

The US sees the Syrian Kurds as their best battlefield partner on the ground in northern Syria. Turkey insists that these YPG militants and their PYD political party are tied to the Kurdish insurgency in Turkey known as the PKK, which the US, the European Union and Turkey all consider a terrorist organisation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The data system of the government-run City Hospital at Berhampur in Odisha's Ganjam district was allegedly attacked by WannaCry ransomeware virus, as the crime branch of the state police decided to probe the attack.

The Crime Branch has taken over investigation of the case relating to the virus attack in Berhampur City Hospital for which a three-member team has been formed, Special Director General of Police (Crime Branch), B K Sharma said.

The team of cyber crime cell would take up the probe from Berhampur Town Police which had initially registered the case about the attack following an FIR lodged by Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO), Ganjam, Saroj Mishra.

As per the FIR filed by the ADMO, who is also in-charge of the City Hospital, the virus attack has encrypted the data of e-Aushadhi portal and Hospital Information Management System (HMIS).

A case has been registered on the basis of the ADMO's report under various sections of the IT Act and IPC at Berhampur Town police station, said Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Berhampur, Shantanu Das.

State's IT minister Chandra Sarathi Behera told reporters in Bhubaneswar that a technical team was sent to the Berhampur City Hospital.

He said the IT department had already issued an advisory and asked all government departments as well as district collectors to remain alert. The advisory included guidelines for taking precautionary measures, he said.

The minister, who held a review meeting in Bhubaneswar after the cyber attack, said a joint team of IIIT, NIC and OCAC would also visit Berhampur City Hospital soon. The meeting was attended by experts from National Informatics Centre (NIC), OCAC, IIIT and senior State government officials.

He also held discussion on the virus attack with district collectors via videoconferencing, officials said.

Following the incident, two experts from Information and Technology (IT) Department visited the hospital to investigate into the powerful virus attack.

Meanwhile, another computer of Community Heath Center (CHC) at Purushottampur in Ganjam district was feared to have been hit by the WannaCry ransomware cyber attack. "We have sought a report from the concerned medical officer," said a senior medical officer.

Though the IT expert has verified the computer system in City Hospital which was allegedly hacked on Tuesday, they declined to disclose the exact reason of data encryption. "The experts will submit their report to the department," the ADMO said.

The alleged hacker had demanded payment of a ransom of USD 300 to restore the old files of the system, he said adding that the message threatened that the data in the system would be destroyed if there was undue delay in payment.

Though some medical programes of the state government like Niramaya were affected due to the cyber attack, medical officers claimed these would be restored soon. The system of the City Hospital is managed by the National Informatics Center (NIC), officials said.

The crime branch of Odisha police on Monday had issued an advisory for net users.

Over two lakh computers in at least 150 countries are said to have been infected, according to Europol, the European Union's law enforcement agency.

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Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, was released from a military prison today after seven years behind bars.

The 29-year-old walked free from a maximum-security facility in Kansas thanks to a commutation of her sentence by president Barack Obama before he left office.

Manning "has been released from the United States Disciplinary Barracks" at Fort Leavenworth, US Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a brief statement.

In July 2010, Manning - then a male soldier known as Bradley - was arrested over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks.

Without Obama's parting gift, the army private, who served as an intelligence official in Iraq, would have remained behind bars until 2045, after serving a 35-year sentence.

Supporters of Manning - who attempted suicide twice last year alone - said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her transition as a free, openly transgender woman.

"Two more days until the freedom of civilian life," Manning tweeted Monday. "Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans."



Manning went on a hunger strike during her detention to denounce the disciplinary measures to which she was subjected -- including stints in solitary confinement.

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world," she wrote last week.

Manning's defense team is intent on protecting her.

The Oklahoma native had a difficult childhood. After her parents' divorce, Manning moved with her mother to Wales, where she repressed her sexuality and was mocked for her effeminate ways.

The military was therefore keen on keeping her release low-key. No press conference is planned and media massed at the military installation caught no glimpse of Manning as she was released.

Manning, of whom few photographs are publicly available, could find refuge at an aunt's home in the Washington region.

Virtually unknown at the time of her arrest, Manning today is a well-known figure around the world.

Labeled a traitor by President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She wasn't able to flee abroad like Edward Snowden, who in 2013 released documents showing that the NSA was sweeping up US citizens' communications metadata.

Ahead of Manning's release, a group of musicians released a compilation album with all proceeds to go to the former soldier as she starts a new life.

"Hugs for Chelsea," a digital album available for a USD 25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left- wing activism including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.

Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists.

"The first thing Chelsea always says when we talk about her freedom is that she wants to give back to the trans community," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who is himself transgender.

Manning was able to start hormonal treatment in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her "right to exist."



While Manning's sentence was commuted, her conviction remains intact. Manning, who will turn 30 in December, has appealed.

She is also still employed by the army, and retains its insurance coverage.

"Manning is statutorily entitled to medical care while on excess leave in an active duty status, pending final appellate review," said Foster, the Army spokesman.

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Upping the ante on the Sutlej- Yamuna Link (SYL) issue, Haryana's principal opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) said today that it will fight a do- or-die battle if the Centre fails to take up the construction of the canal by July 10.

Senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala said party workers will stop Punjab Roadways buses and other government vehicles from the neighbouring state in Ambala on July 10 as a symbolic protest, if the demand was not met.

The Supreme Court has made it clear that the canal has to be constructed and Punjab must give the due share of water to Haryana, said Chautala, the Leader of Opposition in Haryana Assembly.

INLD workers are sitting on 'dharnas' at sub-divisional levels in their respective assembly constituencies in Haryana and have been submitting memoranda to their respective deputy commissioners on the SYL issue, he told reporters.

Chautala said that last year, the Supreme Court had held as unconstitutional, the 2004 law passed by Punjab to terminate the SYL canal water sharing agreement.

He also alleged that the BJP government in Haryana had failed to exert enough pressure on the Centre to take up the canal's construction.

"Today, 60 per cent of Haryana, which also includes areas other than the southern part, is in the dark zone. Water table has fallen to alarming levels. We will start a massive stir and fight a do-or-die battle if Centre does not take up the construction of the SYL canal by July 10," Chautala said.

He said if the state failed its share of water despite the Apex Court verdict, then vast swathes of land will turn barren and farmers will be forced to migrate to other states.

"In July, we will intensify our stir which will then be like a war, and we can go to any extent to protect Haryana's rights. We can sacrifices our lives for the cause of SYL, which is our lifeline," Chautala said.

Hitting out at BJP government in the State, he said it had failed to properly plead Haryana's case.

"The Chief Minister even failed to get a proper hearing from the Prime Minister on the crucial issue. When we met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, we told him that the Centre must immediately take up the canal's construction as the court verdict is clearly in our favour," he said.

He said Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had failed to effectively put Haryana's case on SYL during the North Zone Council meeting held here last week and was chaired by Singh.

In that meeting, we should have snubbed Punjab and rejected its offer of dialogue between the two states on the SYL issue as the verdict is clearly in Haryana's favour, he said.

The INLD leader also hit out at the Punjab unit of the BJP for throwing its weight behind the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government on the SYL issue.

He also hit out at the Congress, saying when they were in power for ten years in Haryana, but had failed to do much on the SYL issue.

He said that all parties in Haryana must rise above petty politics and join hands to put pressure on the Centre on the issue.

Chautala had over two months back tried to march to Punjab from near Shambhu barrier on the Haryana-Punjab border to undertake the digging of the SYL canal. He was arrested for breaching prohibitory orders.

However, he and other INLD leaders were later released by the Punjab Police.

Around two months back, hundreds of INLD supporters from Haryana had flooded the Parliament Street in the heart of the national capital to protest over the SYL canal issue.

Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966 after which the water-sharing agreement came into being in 1981.

For effective allocation of water, the SYL canal link was conceptualised and both the states were required to construct portions within their territories.

Haryana constructed its portion of SYL canal but Punjab, after the initial phase, stopped the work, leading to a spate of litigations.

In 2004, the Congress government in the state came out with the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act with an intention to terminate the 1981 agreement and all other pacts relating to sharing of waters of rivers Ravi and Beas.

The apex court had first decreed the suit of Haryana in 2002 asking Punjab to honour its commitments with regard to water sharing.

Punjab had challenged the verdict by filing an original suit that was rejected in 2004 by the Supreme Court which asked the Centre to take over the remaining infrastructural work of the SYL canal project.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Lloyds Chief Executive Antonio Horta-Osorio travelled at the front of the British Airways plane last week, enjoying the extra leg room in the business section on his way from London to the bank's annual meeting in Edinburgh.

On the same flight in the economy section were RBS board members and other staff on their way to attend their own shareholder meeting in the Scottish capital being held on the same day a few miles away, people on the flight told Reuters.

"This is what happens when your bank makes money," said one person on the flight, who asked not to be named.

The journey illustrates the diverging fortunes of the two British lenders bailed out by the government during the financial crisis with more than 66 billion pounds ($85.2 billion) of taxpayers' money almost a decade ago.

Lloyds and RBS declined to comment on their travel arrangements for the annual meetings.

Lloyds said on Wednesday that Britain had sold its last remaining stake in the bank, making the lender the first to re-emerge from British state ownership in a symbolic step for the country's recovering banking sector.

In 2011, Lloyds had made a bigger loss than RBS as it was forced to compensate customers for the mis-selling of payment protection insurance and was more exposed to what became Britain's costliest consumer scandal.

But six years on, Lloyds, which at one point was 43 percent owned by the government, has emerged as the type of bank RBS is striving to be -- a UK lender focused on retail and corporate banking.

At Lloyds when Portugal's Horta-Osorio took over in 2011 he made an early decision to reduce the bank's dependence on short-term funding and scaled back the bank's global reach from 30 countries to six.

Lloyds's plan now is to diversify away from an over-reliance on mortgage lending, by growing other business lines such as credit cards. The bank bought the MBNA UK credit card business from Bank of America for 1.9 billion pounds in December.

In contrast, the government still owns more than 70 percent of RBS and the Treasury recently said it has not budgeted to sell any shares in the bank for the next five years.

HIGH-RISK STRATEGY

Although RBS always had a bigger challenge in rebuilding after the crisis, the two banks faced similar tasks in reducing their global footprint, cutting costs and disposing of businesses to comply with state-aid rules.

One senior British banking executive said he thought six years ago that RBS was more likely to escape first from government ownership.

RBS's recovery was slowed because the bank originally tried to trade its way out of crisis via its investment bank, according to Peter Hahn, a professor at The London Institute of Banking & .

Stephen Hester, who took over as chief executive of RBS after the bailout, believed that it should continue as a large universal bank, with worldwide investment banking operations, which were then benefiting from post-crisis stimulus measures by governments around the world.

Hahn said over the following years its profits from investment banking began to slump and the long-shot strategy failed.

"It went for the Hail Mary pass. That delayed a lot of the recovery," he said.

In 2013, the government ousted Hester and ordered the bank to focus on lending to British households and businesses and to maintain only a smaller investment banking business to service corporate clients.

There is still work to be done. In February, RBS booked losses of almost 7 billion pounds for 2016, its ninth straight annual loss.

HOLDING ON

Laith Khalaf, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said the government also made a mistake by paying too much for RBS shares initially and then holding on to for too long in the hope that that it could meet its original intention of selling the shares at a profit.

He said the government would have been better selling the shares at a loss because almost a decade of government involvement has been bad for the bank.

"If the government sold at a loss it wouldn't make particularly pleasant headlines for the Treasury, but they seem to be coming round to acceptance that they may have to do that," he said.

As recently as 2015 the government was still predicting that it would make a profit on its bailout from the banks.

British minister Philip Hammond acknowledged last month that this was unlikely. He explicitly said for the first time that he may choose to sell the government's majority stake in RBS at a loss.

One of RBS's biggest mistakes compared with Lloyds was in how it handled its obligations under EU state aid rules, analysts said.

While Lloyds spun off its TSB branches in 2015 to Sabadell bank, paying 450 million pounds to the Spanish lender to fund a new IT system, RBS opted for a more ambitious path of trying to create a standalone lender called Williams & Glyn with its own IT system.

RBS abandoned the costly project this year and is now applying to the EU with an alternative set of proposals to meet the state aid obligations.

"That was one of RBS's biggest mistakes, spending two billion pounds on an abandoned standalone project, it defies belief both before and after the event that they took that route," said Ian Gordon, an analyst at Investec in London.
By Thomas Escritt

BERLIN (Reuters) - Everything from just-in-time auto supply chains to the free movement of workers and even their pet cats and dogs will be thrown into question by Britain's exit from the European Union, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

She told a G20 trade union event in Berlin on Wednesday that, while Britain would be free to change rules to its own advantage after leaving the bloc, it would pay a price if the EU had to take steps in response to preserve a level playing field.

"If the British government ends the free movement of people, that will have its price," the centre-right chancellor said.

"That's not malice," she added. "(One) cannot expect to have all the good sides and then say there will be an upper limit of 100,000 or 200,000 EU citizens, no more, or just researchers, but please nobody else. This will not work."

The fact that so many areas of policy have for decades operated under EU rules meant that the disruption following Brexit could extend into wholly unexpected parts, she said in response to a question from a British trade union official.

"Currently, the 250,000 pets, cats and dogs that travel from Britain to the continent or the other way around each year are managed within an EU framework," she said. "Now they'll need hygiene certificates - things we don't even remember."

The EU would "naturally" consider the interests of the 48 percent of Britons who had voted against Brexit, she said, but it was for trade unions to push for a level playing field between Britain and the bloc to be preserved to minimise disruption to British employers and employees.

"The British auto industry lives on supplies from continental European countries," she said. "It is up to the British side, who are expressing the wish to have the fewest possible distortions."

Most European governments say preserving the integrity of the EU is their priority in the negotiations, but some economists and businesses have urged efforts to avoid a precipitous exit.

The council of advisers to the German economy ministry called on economy minister Brigitte Zypries on Wednesday to push for Britain to join the European Free Trade Association on its exit from the bloc, the Frankfurter Allgemeine reported.

The newspaper said the advisory council had warned there was little chance of a sufficiently deep agreement being concluded by the planned 2019 exit date. Joining EFTA, a bloc including Norway and Iceland which Britain quit on joining the EU in 1973, would minimise disruption, they were quoted as saying.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt and Michael Nienaber; Editing by Tom Heneghan)

(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.)
(Reuters) - Chipmaker Qualcomm Inc filed a lawsuit against four Apple Inc contract manufacturers, including Foxconn Technology Group, for not paying royalties, as its legal battle with the iPhone maker intensifies.

The other manufacturers listed in the filing by Qualcomm were Pegatron Corp, Wistron Corp and Compal Electronics Inc.

Qualcomm said in its complaint that Apple had advised the contract manufacturers to withhold royalty payments and agreed to indemnify them against any damages resulting from the breach of their agreements with Qualcomm.

In the complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Qualcomm did not disclose the quantum of royalty owed to it by the manufacturers.

San Diego-based Qualcomm said last month that Apple had decided to withhold royalty payments to its contract manufacturers that are owed to the chipmaker, for sales made in the first quarter of 2017, until the dispute is resolved in court.

"While not disputing their contractual obligations to pay for the use of Qualcomm's inventions, the manufacturers say they must follow Apple's instructions not to pay," Qualcomm said on Wednesday.

Qualcomm, the largest maker of chips used in smartphones, added in the filing that Apple is trying to force the company to agree to a "unreasonable demand for a below-market direct license".

Apple reiterated that it had been trying to reach a licensing agreement with Qualcomm for more than five years but the company has refused to negotiate fair terms.

Qualcomm said it sought an order that would require the manufacturers to comply with their long-standing contractual obligations to the company, as well as declaratory relief and damages.

Apple sued Qualcomm in January, accusing it of overcharging for chips and refusing to pay some $1 billion in promised rebates.

The chipmaker slashed its current-quarter profit and revenue forecasts last month, saying it excluded revenue receivable from the four contract manufacturers.

Qualcomm is a major supplier to Apple and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd for modem chips that connect phones to wireless networks.

Foxconn Technology Group is the trading name of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, the main assembler of Apple devices.

Qualcomm's shares were marginally lower at $55.82 in midday trading, while Apple's shares fell 2.3 percent to $151.85.

(Reporting by Narottam Medhora and Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Maju Samuel)

(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.)
By John Miller and Rupert Pretterklieber

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss voters will on Sunday determine the fate of a law proposing billions of dollars in subsidies for renewable energy, a ban on new nuclear plants and a partial utilities bailout.

Polling so far suggests the law will be approved in the binding referendum, but support has slipped. A survey this month by research institute gfs.bern for state broadcaster SRG showed 56 percent of voters backed the law, down from 61 percent.

The Swiss initiative mirrors efforts elsewhere in Europe to reduce dependence on nuclear power, partly sparked by Japan's Fukushima disaster in 2011. Neighbouring Germany aims to phase out nuclear power by 2022. Nearby Austria banned it decades ago.

Debate on Switzerland's "Energy Strategy 2050" has focused on what customers and taxpayers will pay for the measures and whether a four-fold rise in solar and wind power by 2035, as envisaged in the law, can deliver reliable supplies.

Critics say a family of four would pay 3,200 Swiss francs ($3,257) in extra annual costs and say more intermittent wind and solar energy would mean a greater reliance on imported electricity. Switzerland was a net power importer in 2016.

"This law will lead to massive increases to the price of energy while leaving Switzerland without adequate, reliable power," said Toni Brunner, leader of the opposition Swiss People's Party (SVP) which helped force the referendum.

Opposition posters show a woman shivering under a cold shower, suggesting this is what voters face if they say "yes".

Energy Minister Doris Leuthard, whose government proposed the law, dismisses opposition estimates as highly inflated. She said the package would cost the average family 40 francs more a year, based on a higher grid surcharge to fund renewable subsidies.

"The SVP is including costs related to a second phase of the Energy Strategy that is not up for a vote," she said in a television interview.

COUNTING THE COST

The price tag row largely hinges on whether costs are based on the surcharge alone or also include future expenses related to managing the reduction of fossil fuel use and emissions. The SVP puts the broader costs at about 200 billion francs.

The law would raise 480 million francs a year from electricity users to fund investment in wind, solar and hydro power, while 450 million francs would be earmarked from an existing fossil fuels tax to help cut energy use in buildings by 43 percent by 2035 compared to 2000 levels.

Solar and wind now account for under 5 percent of output, compared with 60 percent for hydro and 35 percent for nuclear. Under the law, power from solar, wind, biomass and geothermal sources would rise to at least 11,400 gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2035 from 2,831 GWh now.

Swissmem, the electrical and mechanical engineering industry lobby, has urged a "no" vote, citing the variability of renewable supply. "Even limited interruptions in our electricity supply can cause massive costs," said spokesman Ivo Zimmermann.

The law will ban building new nuclear plants. Switzerland has five plants, with the first slated to close in 2019. Voters have not set a firm deadline for the rest, allowing them run as long as they meet safety standards.

Supporters say the law would help utilities which rely on hydropower, whose costs exceed Europe's wholesale prices.

Alpiq, BKW, AXPO and other utilities would share a 120 million franc annual subsidy to help close the gap between production costs and market prices. Other funds would help build new dams or refurbish old ones.

About 38,000 renewable projects, mostly small roof-top solar installations, await approval as a national fund to support them has insufficient funds. Supporters say the new law would help end the logjam.

($1 = 0.9824 Swiss francs)

(Editing by Nina Chestney and Edmund Blair)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With an endowment of $39.6 billion, and an annual grant support of about $4 billion, US-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) is one of the leading private foundations globally. With presence in over 100 countries, India being one of its key geographies, the foundation aims to help find solutions to reduce extreme poverty and improve health.

In an exclusive interaction, Nachiket Mor, Country Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, India, talks about the foundation's work in India. Edited excerpts:

Global funds are often criticised for pushing new vaccines that are perhaps non-essential. What is your approach to vaccine development?

All the vaccines that are globally available have already been fully approved for use in India quite a while ago and are already available in the private sector for those who can pay for them, so there is no question of pushing medicines that are not already locally available.

The real debate is about the feasibility of making these vaccines available through the public system for free to all the people of India.

This issue certainly needs careful thought before public funds are deployed, and it is for this very reason that the government of India has a well-structured process for making these decisions with very eminent scientists and administrators involved, who carefully weigh all the available evidence before making any recommendations.

Cost is only one of the many considerations. There are several other factors, too. Our support is provided to Indian partners only at the explicit request of the government and is designed to ensure that the best of the data and analysis is made available to Indian decision makers.



The government seems to be slightly critical of overseas funding. Is it true that the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) is reportedly distancing itself from BMGF, too?

NTAGI comprises a group of eminent India scientists and administrators, and has never been funded by our foundation or for that matter by any external donor, nor was there ever a plan to do so.

A government-appointed expert committee (the Mavalankar Committee) had recommended the formation of a technical support unit for immunisation, to support the work of the Ministry and NTAGI. Following this recommendation, the government decided that the technical support unit is needed to help with the technical analyses around supply, development of technical guidelines, and planning the roll-out, so that the data is available to the decision-making group at the Ministry of Health.

The Public Health Foundation of India, a joint effort of the government of India and other donors, was asked to set this up. They, in turn, approached us to provide them with some financial support and, at the request of the government, we gave them a $6.9-million grant for three and a half years to set up the Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) to work with the Ministry.

While we remain committed to supporting the Indian immunisation program, it is our hope that over time larger and larger components of it will be funded entirely by the ministry, just like the Secretariat to NTAGI which was supported by ITSU will now be moved to National Institute of Health and Family Welfare under the Ministry of Health.



Are there any conditions or strings attached to the support you give?

In all our programs, our strong desire is to act as a catalyst and not an operator. We examine the issue of local context and need, sustainability, longer-term domestic funding and government ownership very carefully before we make our grants.

One of the major criticisms against international foundations in general is that their influence is highly disproportionate to the money they contribute. Do you agree?

I feel a statement like that is deeply disrespectful to us as Indians. It is as if we still have the colonial mentality and are afraid of outsiders because we are so gullible that we can be easily made to do whatever is being told to us by them. That is certainly not the case. We Indians have the full capacity to decide for ourselves what is in our best interests, and to accept or reject advice no matter what its source. And, while outsiders are welcome to help where they can, there is no dependency on any of them.

How has the decade-long journey of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in India been?

The foundation started its operations in India 13 years ago. For a decade, it had a small office, and the focus was on a few specific disease categories in the health sector such as HIV and polio. Over the years, the range of activities has expanded to include additional health and non-health areas, but health remains one of the priorities. Agriculture, digital financial inclusion and sanitation are the non-health sectors in which we are engaged.

Gender is an issue whose impact cuts across all our work and is an area of increasing interest to us as a foundation globally as well as in India. And, if our initial approach towards solutions to health problems was much more product-focused, in the last five years we are engaging much more on the delivery end of these problems.

What has been the foundation's contribution to India's fight against HIV?

Our investments were focused on prevention in India - through targeted prevention interventions in the states with the highest HIV prevalence and among populations that are most at risk. Our India AIDS Initiative, called Avahan (call to action), worked closely with NACO and was a part of the broader National AIDS prevention response.

Our goals were to run an HIV prevention model at scale in India, encourage others, including government and communities to take over, replicate the model and foster and disseminate lessons learned within India and worldwide.

At its peak, the Avahan programme provided monthly prevention services to more than 220,000 female sex workers, 80,000 high-risk men who have sex with men and transgender people, 18,000 injecting drug users, and five million men at risk along the nation's major trucking routes.

An external evaluation estimated that Avahan has prevented about 600,000 new infections in the parts of India hardest hit by the HIV epidemic, indicating that such prevention programs that target key populations can reduce HIV rates in the broader population.

We also demonstrated a scalable model where over ~80 per cent of these populations sought HIV prevention services in the worst hit areas of India in a short period of three years. Our upstream focus, however, remains on discovery and development of biomedical prophylaxis for global application.

These are the various ways in which we contribute, but it is important to bear in mind that none of these activities are performed by us acting alone; we collaborate with both domestic and global partners to deliver the impact that is needed.

How much money is needed for vaccine procurement (for universal immunisation programmes) and HIV medicines?

The exact number will have to be computed, but it's my understanding that an estimated Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 crore, annually, should be sufficient to pay for the entire vaccine program. This amount within the Rs 16 lakh-crore annual budget should be entirely feasible for the government to find.

How receptive is the current government given the swadeshi influence it is perceived to have?

Our experience in India has consistently been that governments, both at the central and state levels, have a deep interest in the health and well-being of their people. They are willing to accept any offer of help from technical and a-political organisations like ours. This has been our experience not just in India, but all over the world.

How much money do you spend on health? How big is your presence in agriculture and finance?

About 60 to 70 per cent of our allocations within India are in health-related projects across maternal, neo-natal, and child health, family planning, malnutrition, and infectious diseases. I am unable to tell you the exact amounts that come into India as they come from various sources since we fund several global agencies which, in turn, fund programmes here. The foundation spends about $4 billion per year on all its programs globally.

In recent years, our engagement in agriculture in India has gone up considerably, where we work to strengthen programs that improve farmers' access to knowledge, tools and markets, to increase crop productivity, nutrition and their profitability.

There is also a surge of activities in sanitation because of the Prime Minister's Swachh Bharat programme. In digital financial services, we are involved in many projects where we can add value. We are also learning a lot from India and seeking to make that knowledge available to other countries around the world, particularly in Africa.
Six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi scrapped old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, there is still no information on when the Reserve Bank of India will issue new Rs 1000 notes. While the central bank has remained mum on the issuance of new thousand notes, there were many reports right after demonetisation that said the RBI and the government would launch a new series of Rs 1000 notes.

Also read: Reserve Bank of India to issue new Rs 10 notes with enhanced security features

The government issued Rs 500 notes bringing relief to people who were struggling to make transactions with high-value new Rs 2000 notes the Modi government had issued after note ban. However, the absence of Rs 1000 notes continue to create problems for shopkeepers and customers while exchanging Rs 2000 notes at retail outlets as customers often take out high-value note to make small payments.

High value currency-change problem at retail shops is real. Narrating an incident where a customer had to drop his stuff after shopkeepers denied him change, a Delhi-based resident Sarvjeet Singh said:"Recently I visited a grocery store where I made a purchase of Rs 160. When I gave Rs 2000 note, the shopkeeper expressed his inability to change it. Eventually, I had to leave the packets there."

When asked as to why he did not pay Rs 500 notes or through digital wallets, Singh said: "Most of the time I get only Rs 2000 notes from ATMs and as far as digital wallet is concerned, I was ready to pay through Paytm but the shopkeeper's daily limit was over."

Even though many traders and shopkeepers had started accepting online payments through Paytm and other service providers immediately after the note ban, many of them have stopped it now as they prefer to deal in cash. This has made the absence of Rs 1000 notes all the more painful for many people.

Earlier in February, the Indian Express reported that the RBI had already started production of the new Rs 1000 note. According to the report, the new currency was scheduled to come in January, however, it was delayed due to the pressing need to supply Rs 500 notes.

This wasn't the first media report on new Rs 1000 currency notes. Two days after the demonetisation, the Hindu had reported that the RBI would issue fresh currency notes in denominations of Rs 1000 with new designs, specifications and enhanced security features.

The report quoted no less than Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das who said: "In due course, Rs 1000 notes will come back in the market with new dimensions, new design and new colour." Shaktikanta Das was speaking at the Economic Editors' Conference.

Now that the situation has normalized and cash-flow in the economy is adequate, it remains to be seen if the central bank will come up with new Rs 1000 currency notes. However, no official word or confirmation from the government or the central bank has come so far.

Meanwhile, here's a list of currency-related announcements that RBI made after demonetisation:



Dec 29, 2016: Issue of Rs 20 banknotes without inset letter

The RBI said that it will issue Rs 20 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005, without inset letter in both the number panels, bearing signature of RBI Governor Dr Urjit Patel and the year of printing '2016' printed on the reverse of the banknote. The design and security features of these banknotes to be issued now is similar to the old Rs 20 banknotes with the ascending size of numerals in the number panels, without intaglio printing, without latent image, and without identification mark.

Feb 03, 2017: Issue of Rs 100 banknotes with the inset letter 'R'

The central bank said that it will shortly issue Rs 100 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005, with the inset letter 'R' in both the number panels, bearing the signature of Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr Urjit R Patel, and the year of printing '2017' printed on the reverse of the banknote. The design of these banknotes to be issued now are similar in all respects to the Rs 100 banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series- 2005 issued earlier .

Mar 09, 2017: Issue of Rs 10 banknotes with improved security features

The RBI announced that it would issue Rs 10 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005 with inset letter 'L' in both the number panels, bearing the signature of Dr Urjit R Patel, and the year of printing '2017' printed on the reverse of the banknote. The numerals in both the number panels of these banknotes were in the ascending size from left to right while the first three alpha-numeric characters (prefix) remained constant in size.
India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country's official weather forecaster, has predicted that monsoon will reach Kerala on May 30, two days before the schedule.

Monsoon's date with Kerala is crucial as it signals the beginning of the rainy season, which advances northwards in the following days and covers the entire country. As 54 per cent of the gross cropped area in India is rain-fed, monsoon rainfall is critical to Indian agriculture.

IMD's prediction also strengthens the stand it had taken a month earlier, when its first-stage long-range (June-September) forecast stated that this year's monsoon could be normal (96 per cent with a model error of +/- 5). The department will come up with its second forecast in June.

The technical predictors used to predict the onset of monsoon in Kerala include minimum temperatures over north-west India, pre-monsoon rainfall peak over south peninsula, outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR) over South China Sea, lower tropospheric zonal wind over southeast Indian Ocean, upper tropospheric zonal wind over the east equatorial Indian Ocean and outgoing OLR over the south-west Pacific region.

Meanwhile, the long-range forecasts are prepared using the state-of-the-art statistical ensemble forecasting system (SEFS). Since 2012, IMD has been using the dynamical global climate forecasting system (CFS), which was developed under the Monsoon Mission. The original, coupled with the ocean-atmospheric model framework of CFS, was adopted from the US's National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The CFS model was further modified to provide improved rainfall forecasts for the Indian monsoon region through research efforts taken up under the Monsoon Mission. The forecast for 2017 southwest monsoon rainfall over the country as a whole is based on both SEFS and the Monsoon Mission CFS (MMCFS).

According to IMD estimates, the pre-monsoon rainfall has been normal or excessive in south and north-east India during March 1-May 10, 2017.

The prediction seems to be on track. A normal monsoon helps farmers reap good crops, but that does not ensure better livelihoods. There should be more predictability in terms of agricultural products prices that will help farmers choose their crops for this Kharif season.

What's more, Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has requested state governments to lift the stock limit restrictions on pulses. Creating a level playing field will do away with supply bottlenecks and ensure better, predicable price realisation.

The government's move has to sync with IMD predictions to benefit farmers.
Faced with a two-front war scenario against Pakistan and China, the Indian Air Force is going to deploy its latest Rafale combat aircraft at Ambala in Haryana and Hasimara in West Bengal.

In September 2016, India signed a deal with French Dassault Aviation to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets for close to Rs 60,000 crore to arrest the fall of combat squadrons and meet urgent requirements on the eastern and western fronts.

"One squadron (comprising 18 aircraft) would be based in Ambala, while the other would be deployed at Hashimara. These would cater to requirements on both the fronts," a government official told MAIL TODAY.

After aggressive patrolling by the Chinese on the eastern and northern borders and its increasing defence ties with Pakistan, the Indian military has been preparing itself for a two-front war and developing infrastructure on both sides.

The earlier plan was to deploy one squadron at Sarsawa air base in Uttar Pradesh, but that did not work out due to land acquisition issues, after which Ambala was chosen. The Ambala base has some jaguar aircraft squadrons catering to the western front.

On the eastern front, the Hasimara air base close to the China border would see Rafale planes replacing the exisiting MiG 27 squadrons, which are on their way out of the air force.

In presentations given to the Prime Minister's Office before the acquisition was finalised, the service had stressed that on the China front, it would require a plane like Rafale due to its long range capabilities. The Air Force has rated Rafale planes higher than Su-30 MKIs, 272 0f which have been ordered by India from Russia.

On the Chinese front, the PLA Air Force bases are deep inside the Tibetan plateau with the nearest base being over 150 km away from the Indian border. Sources said the French aircraft manufacturer has already started the process of building the aircraft, and they are supposed to be delivered from September 2019 onwards. "We are requesting the French to advance the deliveries to meet our requirements and hope to get a positive reply," the official added.

The process of developing the infrastructure at air force bases has also started and they would be ready by the time the aircraft fly in for operational service. The Air Force has already started the process of replacing its ageing fleet of MiG series planes on the eastern and western fronts, as it has been replacing the old MiG-21 variants with Sukhoi-30s acquired from Russia.

On the eastern front, where aircraft with long range capability are required, the IAF has already based Su-30MKIs at Tezpur and Chhabua air fields, while it has deployed them close to the Pakistan front in Sirsa (Haryana), Halwara (Punjab) and Jodhpur (Rajasthan). The planes also operate from Leh, bordering both Pakistan and China and are capable of swift deployment in no time.

In association with Mail Today


To get Aadhaar card or not is no longer a question. And linking it to one's Permanent Account Number or PAN card is no longer a choice. Through the Finance Act 2017, the government has set July 1, 2017, as the deadline to link one's PAN with the Aadhaar number. Failing to do so may lead to invalidation of your PAN card. If that happens, your PAN card will cease to serve as an identity proof, debarring you from transactions that cannot be carried out without quoting PAN. For instance, you may not be able to file your tax returns this year, since quoting Aadhaar and PAN numbers has been made compulsory. Similarly, without a valid PAN card, buying property worth more than Rs 10 lakh will not be permissible. The list is long.

PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric number issued by the Income Tax Department used for tracking financial transactions, including big spending. Aadhaar is a 12-digit number code issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), used for establishing identity on the basis of demographic and biometric information. The main purpose is to create a unique, universal identity for Indian citizens that would negate the need for different documents to avail of certain services. It serves as both identity and address proof anywhere in India. It is a step ahead of other identity proofs, such as voting ID card, passport and driving licence, because every Aadhaar card is linked to an individual's biometrics. However, it is far from being perfect. There have been reports of Aadhaar being pilfered. Archit Gupta, Founder & CEO, ClearTax.com, says the government will have to ensure an individual's Aadhaar identity is not compromised for it to be effective. "Since Aadhaar will be used by several agencies, it may be prone to data breach. This requires the government to exercise extreme caution."

The government has also mandated that bank accounts be linked with PAN by June 30, 2017. In case an individual does not have a PAN card, he/ she needs to fill Form 60.

The Supreme Court is hearing petitions challenging the government's decision to link PAN with Aadhaar.

Although the judgment is awaited, here's a low-down on how to link your PAN card with Aadhaar:

Register on the e-Filing portal of the Income Tax Department, www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in

Enter log-in ID, password and date of birth

After logging in, go to your profile setting which has the option of linking your Aadhaar Card. Generally, a pop-up window appears, prompting you to link your PAN card with Aadhaar card.

Check if the details such as name, date of birth and gender appearing on screen match with those on your Aadhaar card.

Enter your Aadhaar card number and click on the 'link now' button. If details on both the cards match, your card will be linked instantly.









WHAT IT MEANS...

Amit Maheshwari, Partner, Ashok Maheshwary & Associates LLP, says, "As the bank accounts of the person would already have PAN as his/her KYC requirement, once Aadhaar is linked with PAN, it will certainly lead to automatic link with the bank accounts as well." Hence, the interconnection of PAN card, Aadhaar and bank accounts, implies that the government will be able to keep a track of your financial transactions.

With this linkage, the government is also trying to solve the problem of people having multiple PAN cards and filing tax returns with those. So, effective July 1, 2017, only tax returns linked to an Aadhaar number will be accepted. "Since Aadhaar is based on biometrics, the chances of duplication are much less as compared to PAN, which is not based on biometrics," Maheshwari adds.

Several banks are asking customers to link their bank accounts with Aadhaar. However, Sanjay Silas, President & Head, Branch Banking, Axis Bank, informs that there is no notification from the Reserve Bank of India to mandatorily link a bank account with Aadhaar number. "The government has come out with a requirement of quoting the Aadhaar number for applying for a PAN card or filing of income tax returns. As a bank, we are guided by RBI's KYC/PML guidelines which stipulate acceptance of one of the six official documents required for opening of an account, of which PAN card and Aadhaar are a part. There is no requirement for an individual to produce both the documents for opening of a bank account."

Non-resident Indians (NRIs), however, are not required to quote Aadhaar number while filing income tax returns back home.

According to the latest data, there are more than 24.37 crore PANs registered in the country, while Aadhaar card has been issued to 113 crore people. Against this, only 2.87 crore individuals filed income tax returns (in the assessment year 2012-2013), out of which 1.62 crore did not pay any tax - leaving the number of taxpayers at just one per cent of the country's total population. Given the abysmally low number of tax payers in the country, the government intends to keep a close watch on tax evaders with this move.







WATCH OUT FOR...

One should be careful that there is no mismatch in basic details like name, date of birth, father's name and address, which are common to Aadhaar and PAN. If both do not read the same, there can be procedural hurdles while linking the two. Kamala Radhakrishnan, VP (Business Development) at CAMS, empanelled by the National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) for PAN applications, informs that the number of applications submitted for correction of names in PAN cards has seen a significant jump in recent weeks. This is because people who do not have a consistent style of spelling their names are facing problems in linking their PAN cards with Aadhaar cards.

Maheshwari says, "If the details in PAN are incorrect, the person is advised to submit a PAN correction form at designated centres of NSDL with necessary evidences. Similarly, if the details in Aadhaar are to be corrected, the person should visit the designated centres with necessary evidences to get it rectified." One can also rectify the mistake online by uploading the scanned copy (if the mobile number is registered with Aadhaar) on the website of UIDAI.

Soon, the Income Tax Department is expected to allow linking the two even if there is a mismatch in the names, as long as the date of birth is matching. Gupta of ClearTax.com says, "The government plans to include an online functionality on the official website of the tax department where Aadhaar can be linked via OTP which will be generated in case of a name mismatch scenario." The OTP will be delivered through a text message on the registered mobile number of the taxpayer. After entering the OTP on the portal, Aadhaar and PAN card will be linked. The government is expected to release a detailed notification to this effect soon.

It is always advised that when writing name on important documents - be it while opening a bank account or applying for a PAN card - one should always maintain a consistent style and spelling of one's name. If you choose to use initials in your name, the pattern should be the same across documents.

The rising prominence of Aadhaar speaks of the government's intention to exercise greater control, resulting in transparency in financial transactions across the country.


Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has said Air India's books are "bad", and "business as usual" is not going to help it, but the government wants the airline to survive. Air India is grappling with "legacy" issues, he added.

The minister's remarks came against the backdrop of Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani stating in a Facebook post earlier this week that the massive debt on Air India's books is the root-cause of all its woes.



Lohani termed the over Rs 48,000 crore debt as "insurmountable" and blamed the policies of the erstwhile UPA government for its precarious finances.

"Air India is a lovely airline. It has all legacy issues. Its finances are very bad...The books are so bad that the business as usual is not going to help it," Raju told reporters in Mumbai, after inaugurating Integrated Operational Office Complex building of the AAI, DGCA and the BCAS.

"It is a nice airline, and I would like it to survive," he said, adding that he is "open" to suggestions from any quarters for the airline's turnaround.

"Of course there are people who praise it, there are people who bash it. I am not one of the bashers. But I am also not a blind praiser," he added.

Air India, which is surviving on a Rs 30,000 crore bail-out package spread over 10 years announced by the Manmohan Singh government in 2012, is working on ways to improve its financial position.

In the 2015-16, the airline posted operational profit of Rs 105 crore on account of low fuel prices and increased passenger numbers. Currently, its debt is estimated to be a little over 48,000 crore, with nearly a third of borrowings on account of the aircraft acquisition.

A consortium of 19 lenders has extended loans to the national carrier. It is looking to re-jig debt of Rs 10,000 crore under the scheme for sustainable restructuring of bad assets floated by the Reserve Bank.
With over two billion active Android users across the world, Google acknowledged that there are more Android users in India than the United States of America.

The company took the stage to announce 'Android Go', a new platform designed for extremely affordable, underpowered Android devices for developing countries such as India and Indonesia.

Google believes that low-cost Android hardware has been available for some time now but the experience can be enhanced with an operating system that has been optimized for the low-end hardware.

Hence, Android Go will be focused mainly on three things - operating system, rebuilt apps and Play Store. The Andorid GO is an optimized version of the latest Android release to run smoothly on the entry-level devices starting Android O.

Google has also rebuilt the Google apps that will use less memory, less storage and consume less mobile data. Google has also created an API that shows how much mobile data has been left and one will also be able to top it from the same page.

Third is the version of the Play store that will contain the whole app catalogue but will also highlights the apps by the developer partners designed for Android Go platform. For instance, The YouTube Go is an app designed for users with limited mobile data.

Any Android O devices with 1GB RAM or less will ship with the Android Go configuration. And going forward, every Android release will have a 'Go' configuration. The first devices on Android Go will ship in 2018.

Android Go is Google's another shot at Budget phones. In 2014, Google has announced Android One, which wasn't a huge success. Google aims to reach the next billion of users with this new initiative called Android Go.

According to the blog post by Dave Burke, VP OF Engineering, "The goal is to get computing into the hands of more people by creating a great smartphone experience on all Android devices with 1GB or less of memory. Android Go is designed with features relevant for people who have limited data connectivity and speak multiple languages."
| BY Ricki Green |

Australian digital agency Be Media has announced the appointment of Michael Teasdale (left) to its team in the role of director of growth in Sydney, and to lead its national expansion plans.

Be Media is a full-service digital marketing agency with a focus on business growth and client return.

Teasdale joins Be Media following a successful sales and business development career in digital within Australia, Hong Kong, China and Singapore. Teasdale relocated back to Sydney last year after heading up Hong Kongs premiere digital marketing agency, First Page for 4 years and being pivotal in its market success.

Says Teasdale: It was a case of perfect timing; teaming up with Jordan [CEO, Be Media] and his team was an easy decision. Their digital maturity, in-house resources, company culture and huge focus on client success was eye opening. We will not be just another digital agency in Sydney, absolutely no chance of that  we are thinking a lot bigger and smarter for this partnership and our east coast expansion.

Teasdale brings with him over 10 years experience in building high performing teams within the digital marketing space, and teaming up with agencies looking to scale and expand. Teasdale thrives in a working culture that values personal development and pushing boundaries. This positions him as a highly qualified addition to lead Be Medias growth plans in becoming Australias digital marketing agency of choice.

Be Media established its Sydney office in late 2016 following a growing eastern states client base, thanks to its focus on client success and return.
| BY Ricki Green |

David Morgan has been appointed chairman of Shopper Media Group. Shopper Media Group was recently listed as one of Westpacs 200 Businesses of Tomorrow, having demonstrated high growth potential and capabilities to meet the challenges of the future.

CEO and founder of Shopper Media Group, Ben Walker, said Mr Morgans appointment would provide critical strategic guidance in navigating the companys rapid growth in delivering innovative technology and outstanding value to brands and shopping centres. Shopper Media Group is committed to doubling its national footprint of Smartlite panels in shopping centres by the end of 2018.

Says Walker: David Morgan is a talented heavy hitter and his marketing and business acumen will ensure we continue to develop successful, innovative marketing solutions for brands and our ever- growing portfolio of shopping centres.

Morgan has more than 30 years experience in inspired marketing and brand development, currently consulting to some of Australias largest companies with MacMorgan. Morgan has previously worked as executive director marketing and corporate at Nestle and global chief marketing office at Samsung, BankWest and Standard Chartered. His familiarity with the industry and marketing nous will continue to drive Shopper Media Groups benchmark of excellence.

Says Morgan: Its a real privilege to be invited by Ben to work on such a high quality business with such an impressive team, and with such a great start. Im very much looking forward to helping them determine and deliver the growth potential they have. The future of marketing is the future of engaged personalisation  Shopper Media Group, are leading their industry in transforming to the best model for marketers, client partners, and their valued customers.
| BY Ricki Green |

Independent Australian advertising agency The Royals has partnered up with Deakin University to launch a new research and prototyping lab, Y2.

The labs program will explore the fields of creative and communication technology that are driving contemporary interfaces and experiences.

Inspired by the commercial and critical success of MITs Media Lab, The Y2 lab will offer a series of programs for clients and researchers to explore their thinking with rapid prototyping in the fields of creative and communication technology. Initial research areas of focus include artificial intelligence, conversational experiences, mixed reality, and the future of journalism, narrative and storytelling.

A prototype or die philosophy guides the Y2 approach, as researchers from a range of fields are given space for creative invention that brings their traditional disciplines to contemporary problems and opportunities. This cross-disciplinary, prototype-driven approach has produced large numbers of technologies overseas that have become products and services over the past 30 years.

Says Dave King (left), director of Y2: Through our many years of experience we have seen the power of a prototype to apply pure research and enliven hypotheses about the near future. Creating this dedicated space and program where expert teams can collaboratively design, build and test their ideas is something we believe is crucial to developing and exporting world-leading product development from Melbourne.

As the founding research and development partner, Deakin University will have the opportunity to put forward potential candidates for the lab as well as research resources for Y2 projects.

Matthew Allen, Deakins professor of internet studies, is very positive about Y2 and the partnership with the Royals: Y2 is a place where we can invent the future and bring the positive benefits of well designed, human-centred technologies more quickly into being. Collaborating with a partner like the Royals, with its track record in successful creativity,

communications and technology, allows Deakin to be more agile, more disruptive, and prototype the inventive solutions we need for everyday problems.

Applications for the first Y2 Research Residency are now open, click here for more information.
| BY Ricki Green |

The Australian ad industry will be saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Paul Priday, who died yesterday, after losing his battle with Cancer.

Pridays family are raising donations for the Unicorn Foundation in his memory.

A celebration of Pauls life will be held in The Refectory in the new Business School at Sydney Uni towards the end of June. The family is not able to set precise dates and times until the end of this month when key people return from overseas commitments.

Priday began his career in advertising in 1965 at JWT, London. He moved to Australia in 1968 where he worked as a copywriter at Melbournes Masius and JWT, and as a senior freelance copywriter with Lintas.



In the 80s he co-founded the agency Begg, Dow Priday.



Priday has served as chairman of AWARD, was a teacher of Marketing Communications at Sydney University and taught Copywriting at AWARD School.



For the last twenty years he was marketing advisor to King Furniture and its principal, David King.

Says friend David Morris, retired adman and former principal of Weekes Morris Osborn and Morris & Partners: Paul was a multi-talent. He successfully combined a love of good creative, an understanding of client needs  underpinned by a strong sense of strategic discipline.

Unusual for the ad industry he was also an academic. He attained a Bachelor degree (H1) majoring in Sociology from the University of New England in 2010 and in 2016 he was awarded his Doctorate from Sydney University.



Since 2011 Paul had been a Gender and Cultural Researcher, and in 2016 published his thesis Obsession with Brilliance: Masculinities and Creativity In Transnational Advertising Agencies. This caused quite a stir within the ad industry as it challenged the gender issue within ad agencies. But for Paul I think it was a wonderful way of combining his love of advertising with an intellectual rigour that challenged many of our industry assumptions and unquestioning acceptances of our largely masculine biases and gender imbalances, particularly in the creative department.



Such was the respect he had in advertising circles he was given an open door invitation to research his thesis and interview st

aff at M&C Saatchi Sydney, McCanns Sydney and Delhi, and Ogilvy Shanghai.


| BY Kim Shaw |

How will Asia Pacific perform at Cannes this year? In the lead up to the Festival, Campaign Brief will be showcasing the work we hope will impress the judges

Everyone is an amazing book

Amazon

McCann Shanghai As China is a mobile-first country, consumers prefer mobile apps for news and literature over physical books. Books have fallen behind in peoples attention. Amazon, therefore, launched an interactive mobile game, Everyone is an amazing book!, using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test of 16 personalities to match players with 16 must-read book titles. Each choice the player makes during the game reveals more about them, enabling Amazon to match the player with a unique book title and a personalized poster, inspiring the player to learn more about themselves, purchase a new book and enjoy it immediately.
| BY Lynchy |

Dentsu Aegis Network China has launched V-R Lab, to inspire and actualise innovative marketing solutions using new technologies. Located in Shanghai, China a market shaping up to be one of the largest markets for Virtual Reality (VR), the lab is designed to provide clients with VR solutions to deepen the connection between brands and consumers by offering clients the opportunity to experience, explore, evaluate and expand their understanding of VR.

A virtual environment for marketers, Dentsu Aegis Network V-R Lab is divided into three main areas: the VR Bar, VR Experience Zone, and VR Lab. The VR Bar houses the latest VR devices, among them are air  the dominant player in casual VR developed by Dentsu Science Jam, and BVRAIN  the worlds first airVR goggles that customises games based on human brain activities developed by Isobar China Group. The VR Experience Zone showcases content from different VR platforms, while the VR Lab supports development and exploration of an immersive and interactive VR experience by allowing marketers to try out the various technology.

Collectively, the lab will integrate technology, creativity, content, production and measurement to foster more intimate, direct and personal relationships with consumers. Equipped with market-leading VR facilities and technical support, the lab allows people to experience first-hand VR-related knowledge and case studies. It also serves as an ideas exchange platform where industry experts can explore the potential of the latest VR applications in marketing, leading to early access to real consumer VR experiences.

Commenting on the launch, Motohiro Yamagishi, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network China (pictured above right), said, Innovation is the cornerstone of Dentsu Aegis Networks growth, and innovating with clients is our way forward. The Dentsu Aegis Network V-R Lab will allow us to use the latest technologies to optimise brand interaction with consumers. Using the VR technology as a launch pad, the lab will expand its research and development to other upcoming technologies for consumer communications and brand marketing.

The launch of the lab is a very positive step towards effectively enabling our clients to develop the most appropriate creative ideas and solutions in the digital environment, Yamagishi added.

On the significance of VR technology for creative incubation, Tony Chen, Chief Innovation Officer of Dentsu Aegis Network China (above left), said, For the past few years, Dentsu Aegis Network China has collaborated and partnered with leading industry service and technology providers to create one-stop service to marketers that integrates offerings across the value chain. With a dedicated space, our partners can continue to incubate and try out ideas using industrys latest cutting-edge technologies.
| BY Lynchy |

Facebook has announced that Will Easton will be returning to the role of Managing Director of its ANZ business, effective September. Easton (pictured) was previously Facebooks Head of Emerging Markets for Asia Pacific, based in Singapore, for two years. In that role, he oversaw some of the biggest markets in Asia Pacific.

Prior to that, he was based in Sydney as MD of Australia and New Zealand for two years. Before joining Facebook, he was MD of Mobile (Asia Pacific) for Google.

Says Dan Neary, VP (APAC) for Facebook: Will is a highly respected leader within Facebook, having previously led our AUNZ business and more recently, successfully scaling our operations in some of our biggest markets across South East Asia and India. I couldnt be more excited with the announcement that Will Easton will be taking on the role of Managing Director for ANZ. Australia and New Zealand continue to be very important priorities for Facebook and I am very confident through Wills leadership and the partnership and support of the local team, that we will continue to add significant incremental value to our users, community and partners.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 3:33PM

Apple is launching the Today at Apple initiative that is is the collection of new, free programs launching in all 495 Apple stores on topics from photo and video to music, coding, art and design and more. The hands-on sessions will be led by highly-trained team members, and in select cities world-class artists, photographers and musicians, teaching sessions from basics and how-to lessons to professional-level programs.



- The new programs and sessions focus on the features of Apple products customers love most, across all skill levels and ages, and begin on May 17.



- To celebrate the first weekend of new programs on Saturday, May 20 every Apple Store around the world will host a Photo Walk and Kids Hour. These new sessions will be offered every week! In some stores Photo Walks will be led local photographers. Our Sainte-Catherine store will feature a local photographer to lead the photo tour  let me know if youd like more details about her.






Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 10:47PM

You may or may not know Hank Green. And if you dont, one easy association is his famous brother/author John Green. The duo make up the YouTube channel vlogbrothers. Hank has also started other famous YouTube channels like SciShow and Crash Course. He also created VidCon, an annual gathering of big YouTube and Vine personalities and other online video fans and enthusiasts. Now, hes taking a stab at creating a same convention but for podcasts and aptly calling it PodCon.

The event is now being crowdfunded on Indieogogo and has raised US$30,456 of its $300,000 goal. If it gets the funding it needs, PodCon will be held in Seattle, Washington this December and will have things like workshops, panels, and live podcast recordings. Obviously, there arent that many concrete plans for the event yet. But Green partnered with Welcome to Nightvales Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor as well as Travis McElroy, who is best known for co-hosting advice show My Brother, My Brother and Me. There are a number of tiers to back so you can choose which one works for you. If you donate $90 or more, you get admission to the convention.

Source: The Verge
"Once these images are released publicly they can't be taken back. It's a cause for shame and embarrassment that's often used as a means to bully, harass and abuse people and that is an offence that should be recognised in a court.
The non-disclosure agreements have to be signed by each individual who needs to see the legislation  which could be as many as 30 or 40 people across the country and around the world - which would curtail the external advice banks can receive on the proposed laws in the 24-hour time frame.
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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You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
The India Today Rankings has released the list of top 25 engineering colleges in India for the engineering stream. The source of research for the ranking survey, as mentioned by the surveyor are the internet, published reports and the Association of Indian Universities handbook. Around 3000 colleges have been taken in the sample size for the survey before picking out the best.

The parameters used to rank were

college reputation

quality of academic input

student care

infrastructure

job prospects

Here is the list of top 25 engineering colleges in India:
Its been a couple of years since news about Delphi Automotive hit our desks but the company has been continuing to test autonomous prototypes in California and has just announced a significant partnership for the industry.



On Tuesday, the company confirmed that it has joined BMW, Intel and Mobileye as a development partner for the companies automated vehicle effort.

In a statement, Delphi says it will act as the groups systems integrator in creating an autonomous-driving system that can be used by a large number of OEMs, not just BMW.

From the very beginning we designed our cooperation on a non-exclusive platform for this technology of the future. With the onboarding of Delphi we significantly strengthen our development of the automated driving and do a future step in spreading this technology across the industry, stated Klaus Frohlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG for Development.

Speaking about the partnership, president and chief executive of Delphi Kevin Clark said This is a great opportunity for Delphi to use its technical depth and experience in automated driving and electrical architecture to help the cooperation partners develop and deploy at scale. Our close working relationship with all three partners serves as a solid foundation for a success.

News of Delphis combined effort with BMW, Intel and Mobileye perfectly shows that partnerships are the future of autonomous vehicle development. Waymo is working with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and may soon join forces with Honda. VW and Audi have both teamed up with Nvidia, Chevrolet is working alongside Lyft, Volvo and Uber are collaborating and both Toyota and Bosch are developing self-driving technologies with Nvidia.

PHOTO GALLERY
The European Union intends on launching legal action against Italy for how it handled alleged Fiat Chrysler emissions-test cheating.



According to Automotive News, officials from the EU believe the Italian government may have colluded with the automaker and has yet to convince regulators that FCAs use of a device to control emissions was justified.

They (Italian authorities) still need to provide additional information that would convince us that the devices used in Fiat models are justified and can therefore be considered legal, an EU source told the publication.

In February, a report from Italys transport ministry revealed that FCA was permitted to skip a selection of key tests as part of the countrys emissions-cheating investigation. All of the tests in question had been designed to uncover defeat devices and had to be performed by the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Ford, BMW and Volkswagen.

FCA, like a number of other European automakers, asserts that it is permitted to use emissions control devices under an exemption that allows such systems in order to protect engines or for safety purposes.

PHOTO GALLERY
Just a few days ago we brought you the unfortunate news that a Koenigsegg Agera RS had crashed during shakedown testing in Sweden. Now were happy to report on its resolution.



The vehicle in question, as suspected, was indeed the Gryphon edition commissioned by Manny Khoshbin of California and displayed at the Geneva Motor Show this past March.

The automaker reports that it discussed the various options with Khoshbin and came to a favorable resolution. The factory will rebuild the crashed car and keep it in-house as its own demo vehicle, and is building Khoshbin a completely new one instead. Theres no telling how long that will take, though, or what it might mean for the other customers on the waiting list.

According to Koenigseggs post on Instagram, work has already begun with @mannykhoshbin to spec an all-new Agera RS that will blow everyones mind. Considering that the existing hypercar was already blinged out with 24-carat gold trim, and that the same owners McLaren has a color-shifting chameleon paintjob, well be interested to see what his new Agera will come out like.
Electric vehicles have come a long way in the past few years but one key problem remains: long recharging times.



Faster chargers have improved things significantly but theyre nowhere near as fast as simply refueling a car with gasoline or diesel. However, StoreDot recently demonstrated an ultra-fast-charge battery at the CUBE Tech Fair in Berlin.

Designed to allow vehicles to be fully recharged in just five minutes, StoreDots FlashBattery uses a combination of gradient layers of nano materials and proprietary organic compounds. The battery also eschews graphite, which is common in lithium-ion batteries, because it is unable to sustain fast charging power.

The exact details remain a mystery but the FlashBattery consists of multiple pouches which make up a charging module. 40 modules are combined together to create a battery pack which is then connected to a battery management system.

The battery promises to deliver a range of up to 300 miles (482 km) and is currently in the advanced stages of development. If everything goes according to plan, it could be integrated into electric vehicles within the next three years.

In a statement, StoreDot CEO Dr. Doron Myersdorf said The currently available battery technology dictates long charging times which makes the EV form of transportation inadequate for the public at large. Were exploring options with a few strategic partners in the auto space to help us boost the production process in Asia and reach mass production as soon as possible.

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Photo: Contributed

Suicide is a preventable tragedy, the worst outcome of mental illness and something we need to talk more openly about.

According to statistics on the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention website, 11 people in Canada end their lives by suicide each day and an additional 210 attempt suicide.

That adds up to more than 4,000 lives lost each year in our country alone.

Suicide is most prevalent among older, white males and is associated with mental or other medical illness, loss, poor social support and functional impairment.

Suicide is also relatively common among seniors with 12 in every 100,000 people over the age of 65 dying from suicide each year.

More than 90 per cent of suicide victims are known to have one or more psychiatric disorders at the time of their death. Suicides may be preventable if psychiatric illnesses are managed properly and if supports are in place.

A 2015 European study examined 2,811 depressed individuals and found that 40 per cent of patients who attempted suicide experienced mixed state depression rather than depression alone.

The term "mixed state" is used to describe a patient who meets the full clinical criteria for depression, but also exhibits some of the hallmarks of mild mania.

In this study, researchers found a risk of attempting suicide is at least 50 per cent higher if a depressed patient presents with risky or impulsive behaviour or psychomotor agitation (such as pacing, hand wringing etc).

Sometimes when focusing on symptoms of depression, health-care professionals may not pay enough attention to these behaviours and could miss identifying a mixed state.

A mixed state may require the reduction or cessation of anti-depressants, the addition of an anti-psychotic or mood stabilizer and should probably be under the supervision of a psychiatrist.

Early identification and proper management of mixed states could make a big difference in suicide prevention.

Reducing stigma around mental-health issues, improving access to services, dealing with the social determinants of health such as poverty, and addressing substance abuse are other important ways we can all work to prevent suicide.

If you or a loved one are feeling overwhelming helplessness or despair or are feeling suicidal for any reason, seek help.

Talk to someone you trust and enlist the aid of a professional.

There are people in the community trained to help find solutions and who will work through these issues with you.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: Contributed

The timing may seem a little odd, but the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource has issued fire restrictions for the Kamloops Fire Centre, including Vernon and the North Okanagan.

With all the recent rains, most people are not too concerned about forest fires, but the rain will stop eventually and the hills will dry out as the sun returns to the Valley.

Effective at noon on May 19, the size of open fires will be restricted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.

Anyone conducting Category 2 or Category 3 open burns in these areas must extinguish those fires by noon on May 19. This prohibition will remain in effect until Oct. 15, or until further notice.

Specifically, prohibited Category 2 and category 3 burning activities will include:

the burning of more than two open fires of any size at the same time

stubble or grass fires of any size over any area

the use of fireworks or burning barrels of any size or description

the use of binary exploding targets

The prohibition does not ban campfires that are smaller than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

The prohibition covers all B.C. parks, Crown lands and private lands in these areas, but it does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire protection bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department.

The fires will be prohibited in the following areas:

* Kamloops Fire Zone, North Prohibition Area (below 1,200 metres)

* Kamloops Fire Zone, South Prohibition Area (all elevations)

* Vernon Fire Zone (below 1,200 metres)

* Merritt Fire Zone (all elevations)

* Lillooet Fire Zone (all elevations)

A map of the affected areas can be found here.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150 or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail.

If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

Anyone who sees flames or smoke should call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on a cellphone.
Photo: Google Street View Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.

Kamloops RCMP are looking for a man who drove a shooting victim to the hospital.

Cpl. Jodi Shelkie said two men arrived at the Royal Inland Hospital emergency department Tuesday morning and one of the men had sustained a gunshot wound.

It is unknown at this time how the male received the gunshot wound, said Shelkie.

Police are asking for the publics assistance in identifying a concerned citizen who drove the two men to the hospital this morning between approximately 6:156:45 am. The citizen is described as a Caucasian male, middle aged, and driving a brown truck. He picked up the two men in the downtown area and said he was on his way to work.

Police have urged anyone with information on who the Good Samaritan is to contact the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.

Anyone with information on the circumstances of how the male sustained the gunshot wound is asked contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
Photo: Contributed

BC Hydro officials are keeping a close eye on water levels in the Columbia River system, but say forecasts show there shouldnt be any flooding in the Kootenays this year.

However, that doesnt mean there wont be some close calls if the weather doesnt co-operate.

On the Columbia and Kootenay, there is certainly a heightened concern this year because the snowpack is way higher, says Gillian Kong, operations planner for BC Hydro.

Officials gave a media briefing Tuesday forecasting water management for the next two months as the snowpack melts in the Columbia Basin drainage area.

They say while everything had looked like it was going to be an average or even below-normal year, things changed quickly in March with heavy spring rains. Precipitation and snowpack levels put the water supply from below-normal to as much as 138 per cent above.

All that rain went to building snow in the higher elevations, says Kong. That snow is now melting, pushing river and lake levels to new highs.

Kong says officials are keeping an especially close eye on water levels on Kootenay and Arrow Lakes, where water could go above flood levels.

On Kootenay Lake, officials are draining the system as fast as possible, but the record precipitation has created unprecedented water flows. Runoff into the lake is 128 per cent of normal, and it's sitting at about three feet below flood level.

Arrow Lake may have to be filled to capacity  and beyond  to help manage water levels downstream. Current measurements show the lake is about 24 feet below full capacity, but it's expected to peak at two feet below capacity in mid-late July.

Hydro is working closely with the US Army Corps of Engineers, who operate the Libby Dam on the American side of the Columbia, upstream from Kootenay Lake.

The Columbia River system drains an area about the size of France. Four dams control the water flow in Canada for both power generation and flood control and are managed under the Columbia River Treaty.
Photo: CTV Donnelly Rose Eaglestick, left, was mauled to death by dogs.

As leaders on a northern Manitoba First Nation plan a cull of stray dogs, some rescue groups and veterinarians in the province say there should be more spay and neuter clinics in remote areas.

The issue has taken on new urgency after the mauling death of a 24-year-old woman last weekend in Little Grand Rapids, a fly-in settlement 300 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

The body of Donnelly Rose Eaglestick was found surrounded by about 30 dogs.

Several media outlets are reporting that the chief of the reserve is now offering a $25 a head bounty on strays as part of an organized cull.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jonas Watson of the Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association says a review is underway of a rule saying any temporary spay and neuter clinic has to notify all vets within 250 kilometres at least 10 weeks in advance.

Some argue the rule is an obstacle to setting up clinics and taking action in crisis situations.

"I think that the mandate and the focus that we can have collectively as Manitobans is looking at public safety and animal welfare and making decisions based on that," says Colleen Holloway of Manitoba Underdogs Rescue, which has been lobbying to change the rule.

Although the 250-kilometre rule would not have prevented a spay and neuter clinic from being held in Little Grand Rapids, Watson says the association is actively working to make the provision of veterinary medical and surgical services more available.

Stray dogs have long been a problem on remote reserves across the Prairies and there have been other deaths. In 2007, a five-year-old boy died after being attacked outside his home on the Cumberland House reserve in northeastern Saskatchewan.
Photo: The Canadian Press In Ontario, 14 per cent of the population was prescribed opioids between 2015 and 2016.

Almost two million Ontarians  or 14 per cent of the province's population  filled prescriptions for opioids in fiscal year 2015-2016, says a new report, suggesting that patients continued to be given the potent narcotics despite efforts to curtail what's been called a national epidemic of overuse.

The report by Health Quality Ontario, released Wednesday, found that more than nine million prescriptions for the powerful painkillers were filled between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016, the most recent fiscal year for which data is available. That figure represents an increase of 450,000 prescriptions over the same period three years earlier.

Not only did the number of prescriptions spiral upward, but there was also a trend toward doctors choosing more potent versions of the drugs, as well as a spike in the number of patients receiving the medications, said Dr. Joshua Tepper, president and CEO of the provincial agency.

"Despite people (being) aware of the significant impact and danger of opioids, we continue to see a steady increase in the number of prescriptions being written," said Tepper.

The report found there had been a shift to doctors prescribing stronger opioids over time. For instance, 29 per cent more patients received hydromorphone in 2015-16 than in 2013-14. The drug is five times more potent than morphine, the drug used in prescribing guidelines as a baseline standard for comparing the strengths of different opioids.

"Hydromorphone was a drug that a few years ago was very rarely used and now is being much more commonly prescribed," he said. "You may see greater dependency over time developing with lower-potency (drugs) and people shifting (to it) to deal with the tolerance that developed."

"So to the degree that we understand there is a role for short-term opioids, that's not typically how we're seeing them prescribed," said Tepper, who is also a practising family physician. "That chronicity starts to lead into real issues of dependency."

Benedikt Fischer, a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, said it's been known for well over a decade that opioids posed risks of dependence or addiction and that prescribing in Canada was disproportionate to their benefits for relieving chronic, non-cancer pain. Canadians are the second-highest per capita consumers of opioids in the world, lagging only behind the U.S.

"This report puts a bit of a more refined picture on that state of affairs. It describes a lot of important details," Fischer said Tuesday.

"What it doesn't tell us is: are the people who are getting these prescriptions  should they be getting these prescriptions or not? That's the next critical question that we really need to answer."
Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to pitch Canada's technology sector at Microsoft CEO Summit in Redmond, Wash.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to pitch major multinational companies on investing in Canada's technology sector on Wednesday, joining top business leaders inside the closed-door Microsoft CEO Summit in Redmond, Wash.

Trudeau's visit comes as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration poses both challenges and opportunities for Canada's high-tech industry. Trump's "America First" rhetoric and his plans to slash corporate taxes could mean more investment flows south of the border, but his restrictive approach to immigration could draw talent north, experts say.

Trudeau is the first sitting head of government or state to be invited to address the annual gathering of CEOs, his office said.

"The prime minister's participation in the summit is an important opportunity to encourage innovation, promote investment in the technology sector, and draw global talent to Canada," said press secretary Andree-Lyne Halle in a statement.

"The PM will showcase Canada's skilled, hard-working, creative, and diverse workforce. It is an ideal venue to remind decision makers and investors that Canada is recognized as a world leader in research and development in many areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and 3D programming."

The summit, under the theme "The CEO Agenda: Navigating Change," will bring together more than 150 executives to Redmond, just outside of Seattle. Trudeau will meet with investors to discuss what Canada has to offer and hear their perspectives, ideas and advice, Halle said.
Photo: The Canadian Press Ford plans to cut 10 per cent of its salaried jobs in North America and the Asia Pacific.

Ford Motor Co. has confirmed it plans to cut 10 per cent of its salaried jobs in North America and Asia Pacific this year in an effort to boost profits.

The company says it will offer voluntary early retirement and separation packages to its workers. It expects 1,400 positions to be affected by the end of September.

Ford says its European and South American operations have already cut workers and won't be affected.

The company says it will release more details to employees in June.

Ford's stock price has fallen nearly 40 per cent over the last three years as investors worry that U.S. sales are peaking. Ford is also spending heavily on future technology, like self-driving and fully electric cars.
Photo: Twitter

Vale Canada Ltd. is confirming that operations will be suspended at a nickel mine in Thompson, Man.

Earlier on Tuesday, the United Steelworkers union announced the Birchtree Mine would be shifting to "care and maintenance" and will no longer produce nickel starting Oct. 1.

The union says that will result in the layoff of 150 workers at the mine.

Vale Canada confirms that number in a news release and adds another 50 jobs in downstream processing, service and support functions will also be affected.

Vale says it will do all that it can to mitigate the number of people adversely affected.

Les Ellsworth, president of Local 6166, tells CTV News the news came as a shock.

People are scared," he says. "There are no other jobs they are going to get in town. If they were, they are going to be low-paying jobs that would not support their families. Theyve bought homes, theyve bought vehicles based on these high-paying jobs, so it would be very difficult for them."
Photo: Contributed

A dog has been found dead, its legs wrapped by twine, in a Newfoundland pond.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says a resident found the dog's remains in a saltwater pond in Kelligrews, N.L., on Sunday.

The carcass was recovered with the help of the Conception Bay South Fire Department.

The RNC says it is investigating it as a case of animal cruelty.

The remains are being examined by the office of the province's Chief Veterinarian.
Photo: Cenovus

Sales of Crown drilling rights in Alberta and B.C. have already delivered more money to provincial treasuries this year than last year, when they generated record low returns.

Oil and gas producers in Alberta have paid out a total of $138 million in drilling rights auctions so far this year, more than the $137 million they spent in all of 2016.

In British Columbia, they've spent $63 million, more than quadruple the $15 million last year.

The figures illustrate growing oilpatch confidence in light of stronger commodity prices this year as well as burgeoning production from Western Canadian shale oil and gas wells.

TD Securities analyst Juan Jarrah says in a report that the Alberta sales are being driven by companies exploring the west-central part of the province where they've discovered a shallower and more oil-rich leg of the extensive Duvernay shale formation.

The Kaybob Duvernay, located farther north, has attracted most of the investment in the play so far and was considered the driving force behind Alberta's record-setting $3.5 billion in drilling rights sales in 2011.

The best year for drilling rights sales in B.C. was 2008, when the province raised $2.7 billion.
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
FOLD, the Festival of Literary Diversity, tweeted out the names of several Indigenous authors you should know. Many readers got in the spirit and shared their own recommendations. We've highlighted their suggestions here.

Here are 108 Indigenous writers to check out.

1. An Honest Woman by Jonina Kirton (Recommended by: @Ayelet Tsabari)

2. Arctic Dreams and Nightmares by Alootook Ipellie (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

3. Bad Endings by Carleigh Baker (Recommended by: @Ayelet Tsabari)

4. Badger by Daniel Heath Justice (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

5. Bearskin Diary by Carol Rose Daniels (Recommended by: @feralplaywright)

6. Beautiful Razor by Al Hunter (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

7. Calling Down the Sky by Rosanna Deerchild (Recommended by: @elainecorden, @concrete_poet)

8. Creating Space by Verna J. Kirkness (Recommended by: @jodysmiling)

9. Digital Ogichida by Jordan Wheeler (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

10. Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes (Recommended by: @missoliviaanne)

11. Fire Starters by Jen Storm, illustrated by Scott B. Henderson (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

12. Firewater by Harold R. Johnson (Recommended by: @kevimrie)

13. Flint and Feather by E. Pauline Johnson (Recommended by: @fillingstation)

14. Gabriel's Beach by Neal McLeod (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie, @kevimrie)

15. Half-Breed by Maria Campbell (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

16. Halfling Spring by Joanne Arnott (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

17. Huff & Stitch by Cliff Cardinal (Recommended by: @maritadachsel)

18. I Am Woman by Lee Maracle (Recommended by: @MarkAbbott604)

19. Indigenous Writes by Chelsea Vowel (Recommended by: @N_StPierre)

20. In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Mosionier (Recommended by: @Katiewtweet)

21. In the Silhouette of Your Silences by David Groulx (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

22. Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson Highway (Recommended by: @elainecorden)

23. I Want by Joseph A. Dandurand (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

24. "kiwetinotahk pimacihowin  northern journeys" by Andrea Ledding (Recommended by: @feralplaywright)

25. Lake of the Prairies by Warren Cariou (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie, @N_StPierre)

26. Life Among the Qallunaat by Mini Aodla Freeman (Recommended by: @sciencebanshee)

27. Lightfinder by Aaron Paquette (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

28. Lnu and Indians We're Called by Rita Joe (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

29. Invisible Victims by Katherine McCarthy (Recommended by: @RealRJParker)

30. Moose Meat & Wild Rice by Basil Johnston (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

31. nakamowin sa for the seasons by Rita Bouvier (Recommended by: @LawandLit)

32. Night Moves by Richard Van Camp (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie, @sarafdavidson)

33. nipe wanin: my way back by Mika Lafond (Recommended by: @feralplaywright)

34. Owls See Clearly At Night by Julie Flett (Recommended by: @N_StPierre)

35. Poems for a New World by Connie Fife (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

36. Red: A Haida Manga by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (Recommended by: @fillingstation)

37. Running on the March Wind by Lenore Keeshig (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

38. Salt Baby by Falen Johnson (Recommended by: @maritadachsel)

39. Sanaaqby Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk, translated by Bernard Saladin d'Anglure (Recommended by: @elainecorden)

40. Seasons of Hope by James Bartleman (Recommended by: @eleanor70001)

41. Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga (Recommended by: @JaelRichardson)

42. she walks for days inside a thousand eyes by Sharron Proulx-Turner (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

43. Slash by Jeannette Armstrong (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie, @CarrieTerbasket)

44. Spirit of the Wolf by Duncan Mercredi (Recommended by: @kevimrie)

45. Still No Word by Shannon Webb-Campbell (Recommended by: @N_StPierre)

46. Sugar Falls by David Alexander Robertson, illustrated by Scott B. Henderson (Recommended by: @sarafdavidson)

47. Taqralik Partridge (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

48. The Break by Katherena Vermette (Recommended by: @macpherson_a)

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50. The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew (Recommended by: @evilscumbag)

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52. The Stone Collection by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm (Recommended by: @concrete_poet)

53. The Wound is a World by Billy-Ray Belcourt (Recommended by: @concrete_poet)

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55. Tombs of the Vanishing Indian by Marie Clements (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

56. Totem Poles and Railroads by Janet Rogers (Recommended by: @LawandLit, @Skink00ts)

57. Un/inhabited by Jordan Abel (Recommended by: @fillingstation, @maritadachsel, @N_StPierre)

58. Witness, I Am by Gregory Scofield (Recommended by: @elainecorden)

59. Wrist by Nathan Adler (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie, @JaelRichardson)

60. Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson (Recommended by: @theborrower, @shellenepaull, @CoyoteDreams)

61. Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese (Recommended by: @shellenepaull, @maggiem_chinook, @GillEllis51, @ejmspoelstra, @celmslie1, Junior de Lima & Lisa Laing)

62. The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King (Recommended by: Gerry Rogers, @celmslie1, @Danielle_Author)

63. Birdie by Tracey Lindberg (Recommended by: @GillEllis51, @Danielle_Author, Kent Wakely)

64. From the Barren Lands by Leonard Flett (Recommended by: @nothinglin, Kimberly Laliberty, Marguerite Flett, Frank Flett & Horace Flett)

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67. Motorcycles and Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor (Recommended by: @maggiem_chinook, @TheFOLD_)

68. Skin Like Mine by Garry Gottfriedson (Recommended by: @theborrower)

69. Kuessipan by Naomi Fontaine (Recommended by: @theborrower)

70. Blood Red Summer by Wayne Arthurson (Recommended by: @peggy_blair, @MinisterFaust)

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72. Up Ghost River by Edmund Metatawabin with Alexandra Shimo (Recommended by: @susanhimel)

73. The Chief and Her Sister by Andrew Genaille (Recommended by: @rvgenaille)

74. Walking in Your Power by Barbara M. Derrick (Recommended by: @nativestudioart)

75. My Silent Drum by Ovide Mercredi (Recommended by: @paurrod)

76. Shadows Cast by Stars by Catherine Knutsson (Recommended by: @CoyoteDreams)

77. Bird Child by Nan Forler, illustrated by Francois Thisdale (Recommended by: @CoyoteDreams)

78. Art of Peace by Elizabeth Doxtater (Recommended by: @VMcNaughton)

79. Nationhood Interrupted by Sylvia McAdam (Saysewahum) (Recommended by: @SteveCowleyNYC)

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81. Abstract Love by Bevann Fox (Recommended by: @SteveCowleyNYC)

82. We Are All Treaty People by Maurice Switzer, illustrated by Charley Herbert (Recommended by: @AnishNation)

83. The Stone Gift by Deborah L. Delaronde (Recommended by: @RoxShuttleworth)

84. Annie Mae's Movement by Yvette Nolan (Recommended by: @ladyblerd, @TheFOLD_)

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86. Voices in the Waterfall by Beth Cuthand (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

87. Porcupines and China Dolls by Robert Arthur Alexie (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

88. Seven Deer Dancing by Rolland Nadjiwon (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie)

89. This Accident of Being Lostby Leanne Simpson (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie, @TheFOLD_, Stephanie Lynn)

90. Burning in This Midnight Dream by Louise Bernice Halfe (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie, @TheFOLD_)

91. Kagagi by Jay Odjick & Patrick Tenascon (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

92. Cafe Daughter by Kenneth T. Williams (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

93. The Right to Be Cold by Sheila Watt-Cloutier (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

94. Full-Metal Indigiqueer by Joshua Whitehead (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

95. Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont (Recommended by: Stephanie Strain, @TheFOLD_)

96. A Gentle Habit by Cherie Dimaline (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

97. They Called Me Number One by Bev Sellars (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

98. Alicia Elliott (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

99. A Two-Spirit Journey by Ma-Nee Chacaby,with Mary Louisa Plummer (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

100. Legacy by Waubgeshig Rice (Recommended by: @KateriAkiwenzie, @TheFOLD_)

101. Moe Clark (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

102. Jesse Wente (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

103. The Outside Circle by Patti LaBoucane-Benson, illustrated by Kelly Mellings (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)

104. The Plains of Aamjiwnaang by David D. Plain (Recommended by: Lee Anne Matheson)

105. Travelling Mother by David Seven Deers (Recommended by: Jill Webb Veitch)

106. Infinite Citizen of the Shaking Tent by Liz Howard (Recommended by: @fillingstation, @bookgaga)

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108. Ryan McMahon (Recommended by: @TheFOLD_)
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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
They appeared to be very successful in using the media, calling press conferences in major cities and towns to draw attention to their cause.

He was with Ekere Embago, an illiterate pastor from Koroba in the Southern Highlands, and they were speaking to church congregations from the east to the west coasts appealing for funds to do more missionary work in the jungles of Papua New Guinea which, they claimed, were still inhabited by missionary eating cannibal tribes.

IN September 1991, while visiting the United States, I refused to meet Pastor Peter Halliman in Cleveland, Ohio, after a damaging article appeared in a major American newspaper.

Many years on, I wonder if Halliman was a soldier or a pastor. Or if he left missionary work to establish the Lawrence Aviation and Security Group, the employer of the six mercenaries who over the last few days have caused so much consternation in Port Moresby.

According to Papua New Guineas police commissioner Gari Baki, Hallimans firm LAS is an American based company that offers high-end security solutions to global customers, including the United States government. It is staffed by former American military and police personnel.

I was approached by the president of the company, Mr Peter Halliman, around July last year. He was offering his companys services to the RPNGC, Baki said.

Mr Halliman is an American citizen but he was born in Bulolo in 1961 and grew up in the Lake Kopiago-Koroba area of the Hela Province. His parents were Baptist missionaries.

As the commissioner of police and commander of the APEC 2018 joint task force, I have been concerned at our response capability should we be faced with serious security threats such as a hostage situation for instance.

I invited Laurence Aviation and Security Group to come to PNG in February this year to do a presentation for the senior police hierarchy on what they can offer to the RPNGC in terms of training.

Back on 14 September 1991, I had refused to meet Pastor Peter Halliman in Cleveland because I did not like an article concerning cannibalism he had published in the local newspaper.

I felt his story damaged PNGs reputation as a tourist destination and I felt personally hurt because I was an Alfred Friendly Press Fellow on attachment to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the newspaper that had published the story.

Did my fellow journalists see me as a cannibal, I wondered.

The other night, 26 years later, I saw his face on EMTV news as principal of Lawrence Aviation and Security Group.

This was the same Pastor Peter Halliman who had told a press conference in Cleveland that Papua New Guineans still practised cannibalism - and that he had visited cannibalistic tribes on several occasions in the hope of converting them to Christianity.

At that time, he was quoted as saying: They say human meat is better tasting than any other. Mostly they kill their enemies and eat them. They use skulls to decorate their houses. Other tribes are careful about going to their areas.

Two months before that article, I had read another shocking Halliman story in Weekly World News. It was about a brave missionary and his family of four who had been eaten alive by wild eyed Tuarie tribesman as soon as they arrived at the tribal camp in the steamy jungles of New Guinea.

I just couldnt believe that an honest missionary could tell the American public that Papua New Guineans were still living in the stone-age and practising cannibalism. Halliman was born in PNG and had worked for eight years as a Baptist pastor before going to America to raise funds.

Of course, he could have made clear that certain tribes practised cannibalism in olden times. But these practices had been outlawed by the Australian colonial administration and implemented by the kiaps and through the hard work of early missionaries.

My 300,000 Engan tribesman never practised cannibalism. Nor did Ekere Embagos Huli people. We are the Huli-Opone people of the central highlands - a proud people, culturally linked to a common ancestor.

Im sure Embago wouldnt have discussed cannibalism with American journalists because he didnt know anything about it. He couldnt have understood what Halliman told journalists as he spoke only Tok Pisin and his own local Huli language.

Embago was upset when eventually I got to tell him how he was like a circus animal exhibited to congregations right across America in order to collect money. Anyway, at the time, I didnt get to see him or Peter Halliman because their story in the Plain Dealer had hurt me so much.

I had wanted to meet my fellow countryman as I was homesick after being away from PNG for three months but, over the phone, I refused to do that, explaining I was very upset.

You sound so harsh, a Christian lady told me. Peter loves your country. He showed us some good pictures.

But the country depends on tourism, and visitors could be scared away, I replied.

Now Peter Hallimans armed security personal have alarmed Port Moresby residents giving credence to last years disclosures by PNG Blogs that a private security operation was functioning in the country with the support of the ONeill government.

I dont think Gari Baki knows what he is doing or who he is dealing with. How can he take Halliman at face value?

I believe police commissioner Gari Baki was conned. He should suspend these mercenary operations and, as Sir Mekere Morauta has said, allow an independent investigation into this sinister security deal on the ever of PNGs national elections next month.
A former 40 year Atheist analyzes Atheism, without resorting to theism, deism, or fantasy.

***

If You Don't Value Truth, Then What DO You Value?

***

If we say that the sane can be coaxed and persuaded to rationality, and we say that rationality presupposes logic, then what can we say of those who actively reject logic?

***

Atheists have an obligation to give reasons in the form of logic and evidence for rejecting Theist theories.
After being incorrectly listed as a committee chair and slated to receive a $12,500 stipend, state Sen. Pam Helming said she wouldn't accept the payment. As of Monday, she was exploring ways to return the checks she's received.

The state comptroller's office outlined how Helming, R-Canandaigua, can return the money she's received after being designated in Senate records as chair of the chamber's Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee  a position she doesn't hold. She's the vice chair of the committee.

According to a spokesperson for state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Helming would obtain a form from the state Senate payroll office. She would complete the form and return it to the payroll office, which would then submit it to the comptroller's office.

Once that form is processed, it enables Helming to return the funds to the state.

Questions have been raised about the Senate's practices related to how stipends are allocated. Helming is one of seven senators who are slated to receive payments for positions they don't hold.

A spokesman for the Senate Republican Conference said the documents provided by the Senate detailing the stipends was a payment schedule. They disputed claims that the Senate submitted false information to the comptroller's office.

The Senate GOP and Independent Democratic Conference have insisted that the arrangements are legal. Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins has called for an investigation into "obvious violations of state law."

Of the seven senators who are receiving payments for posts they don't hold, Helming is the only one who has committed to returning the money.

"I have never represented myself as the chair of Crimes and Corrections because I'm not. I'm not the chair," she told The Citizen Monday. "And while it may be legal to issue a check to me, I'm not comfortable with it and I won't accept it."

Other senators, including state Sen. Tom O'Mara, have defended the practice. O'Mara, R-Big Flats, is listed as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. He's actually the vice chair of the panel.

The chair of the Senate Transportation Committee receives an annual $15,000 stipend.

Unlike Helming, O'Mara already chairs a Senate committee. He heads the Environmental Conservation panel. The chair of that committee receives a $12,500 stipend.

David Lewis, counsel to Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, issued an opinion over the weekend. His conclusion: the payments are "proper under the authority of the New York State Constitution."

"The Legislature's allocation of institutional resources to its own members, a classic example of internal administrative prerogatives is properly left to the Legislature to make, in furtherance of the duties particular to that body, without interference from the other two branches of government," he wrote.
When Northwestern Engineering's Erik Luijten met Zbigniew Rozynek, they immediately became united by a mystery.

Presenting at a conference in Norway, Rozynek, a researcher at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland, demonstrated something that looked almost like magic. When he poked a needle-shaped electrode into a mixture of micron-sized, spherical metal particles dispersed in silicone oil, a sphere stuck to its end. As Rozynek pulled the electrode out of the dispersion, another sphere attached to the first sphere, and then another to the second sphere, and so on, until a long chain formed.

"The spheres behaved like magnetic beads, except no magnetism was involved," said Luijten, professor of materials science and engineering and of engineering and applied mathematics at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering. "The particles have no tendency to cluster. I realized that something more complicated was happening."

Rozynek, along with his collaborators Filip Dutka, Piotr Garstecki, and Arkadiusz Jozefczak, and Luijten joined their teams to understand the phenomenon that caused these chains to form. Their resulting discovery could lead to a new generation of electronic devices and a fast, simple method to write two-dimensional electronic circuits.

"Our scientific results could open up other areas for future research -- both fundamental and applied," Rozynek said. "We are already working on follow-up projects based on our discovery."

Supported by the Foundation for Polish Science, Polish National Science Centre, and the US National Science Foundation, the research was published today in the journal Nature Communications. Rozynek and Luijten are co-corresponding authors. Rozynek is also co-first author with Ming Han, a PhD student in Luijten's Computational Soft Matter Lab.

Rozynek and Han performed multiple calculations, showing how the electrode's electric field changed the particles' properties. When the electrode is dipped into the colloidal solution, its charged tip polarizes each sphere. These induced dipolar interactions cause the spheres to link together. A resulting chain could contain hundreds of thousands of spheres, reaching up to 30 centimeters in length.

After the team solved the mystery of how the chains formed, it had a second mystery to tackle. "Another fascinating part is that once we pulled the chain out of the liquid, we no longer had to apply an electric field to hold the chain's structure," Han said. "After the field was turned off, the stable particle chain remained stable."

Following months of investigation, Luijten and Rozynek's teams discovered that the chains maintained their structures due to liquid "bridges" between adjacent particles. As researchers pulled the chain out of the liquid, silicone oil clung to the sides of each particle, forming a case around the entire chain and keeping it intact.

"Surface tension plays a big role here," Han said. "The liquid bridge made the particles stick together. The physics here is really interesting. Most people would think that if you wanted to hold the structure, then you would need to apply the electric field. But that is not needed in our system."

Once the flexible chain is pulled out of the liquid, it can be immediately dragged along a surface and deposited to create a pattern. The researchers believe this method could be used as an alternative way to create simple, two-dimensional electronic circuits. If molten wax is used instead of silicone oil, then the method could also be used to build three-dimensional structures that hold their shapes when the wax cools and hardens.

"Though simple, our method for fabricating colloidal structures is very elegant and can be used for many applications," Rozynek said, "including fabrication of conductive paths on different substrates to be used, for example, in electronic applications."

Luijten and Rozynek believe that solving this mystery could potentially open the door for applications that they cannot predict today. By understanding how the method works, they can better assess how different types of fluids or voltage levels could affect the chains and change the outcome.

"Understanding how it works makes it so much easier to manipulate and optimize," Luijten said. "We can say if the method will work better or worse if the particles are larger or if the electric field is stronger. That's only possible because we understand it. Otherwise, you would have to examine an endless set of combinations."
25 years after the beginnings in Hanau, the relocation of the Elementar headquarters to Langenselbold stands for the start of a new era. This new chapter in the company's history was celebrated by the manufacturer of analytical instruments together with 80 invited guests, among them representatives from politics and commerce, partners from the building project, association members, neighbors and local partners.

In only 14 months the new Elementar headquarters evolved in the industrial zone Am Nesselbusch in Langenselbold near Frankfurt, Germany. With the relocation, the company sets the course for the future and secures the manufacturing of increasing product numbers. After the rapid develoment of the company - the business volume increased tenfold in the last 25 years - the location in Hanau has become too small", said Elementar's Managing Director Dr. Hans-Peter Sieper.

Since September 13th 2016, the company already operates from its new location, and from November 2016 on, the main entrace is accessible via the Elementar-Strae. The naming of the street according to the company is a good indication for the good relationship between the city of Langenselbold and Elementar.

Managing Director Dr. Sieper emphasized that the new location was deliberately chosen: good transport connection, the proximity to Frankfurt airport, the attractiveness of the Rhine-Main area for qualified employees and the proximity to suppliers speak for the new location. District Administrator Erich Pipa also promoted the region as well as the brand "Made in Main-Kinzig-Kreis". Langenselbold's Mayor Jorg Muth looked back to the beginning of the good collaboration between the company and the city and pointed out that the new building adds to upgrading the city entrance.

During the following panel discussion, the building project and the design of the new building were discussed by the building owners, architects, construction manager, consultant and artist. The program was completed by a Science Slam: three young scientists presented their research projects in only ten minutes - as simple and entertaining as possible.

The festive day was closed by a guided tour throughout the transparent factory. Here the guests discovered how development, manufacturing, quality control, administration and sales converge effectively in one location.
Five Minutes With Damien Geter Audio Article Vocalist, composer and Richmond Symphony artist in residence Damien Geters musical roots sprouted when he was a boy in the Matoaca District of Chesterfield County, where he was raised and...
U.S. Rep. John Katko said that he's "glad" congressional leaders are working to obtain former FBI Director James Comey's memos following a New York Times story Tuesday that revealed President Donald Trump asked Comey to end an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

"It is critical that we quickly learn all the facts," Katko, R-Camillus, said in a statement released Wednesday. "As I have previously stated, the FBI must remain focused on doing its job to keep our country safe."

One memo, according to the New York Times report, refers to a meeting between Comey and Trump in February. Comey wrote after the meeting that Trump said, "I hope you can let this go."

Trump was referring to the federal investigation into Flynn, who resigned from his post a day before Comey met with the president.

The chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, wants the FBI to turn over Comey's memos. The Senate Intelligence Committee has asked Comey, who was fired by Trump last week, to testify.

The revelation surrounding the memos led to more calls for an independent investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians.

But Comey's memos raise more questions about Trump's conduct and whether he obstructed an ongoing investigation.

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, a Michigan Republican, said if the Comey memo is accurate, it could be grounds for impeachment.

Katko has previously said that he'll support the appointment of a special prosecutor for the Trump-Russia investigation if congressional leaders determine that action is necessary.
Andres Quiroz, an installer for Stellar Solar, carries a solar panel during installation at a home in California. More than half of all venture capital investment in U.S. clean tech has been concentrated in San Francisco, San Jose, Boston and Los Angeles from 2011-2016, according to a Brookings analysis. (Sam Hodgson / Bloomberg)

Venture capital investment in clean tech is dropping nationally, and Chicago ranks 10th among metropolitan areas for its share of the dwindling pool, a Brookings analysis has found.

Between 2011 and 2016, venture capital investment in U.S. clean tech declined from $7.5 billion to $5.2 billion, a drop of 30 percent, according to Brookings. Additionally, more than half of all clean-tech investment was concentrated in San Francisco, San Jose, Boston and Los Angeles.

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Ben Gaddy, director of technology development for the Chicago-based Clean Energy Trust, said regulatory uncertainty makes the clean-tech market an unpredictable one. Gaddy joined Clean Energy Trust more than a year ago and previously held a fellowship position with the U.S. Department of Energy.

"When you look at the funding bubble heading into 2008, certainly a portion of that was driven by a belief we would have a carbon tax or some sort of cap-and-trade system implemented," he said. "Today that policy landscape is very uncertain."

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Chicago's investment tally fell well below California's major tech centers.

About $614 million in venture capital investment has gone to Chicago-area clean-tech firms since 2011, according to Brookings. In comparison, clean-tech firms in the No. 1-ranked San Francisco area have received about $8 billion in venture capital investment.

Similar to its geographic concentration, clean-tech venture capital investment is also disproportionately concentrated in just a few technology categories. Combined, the categories of energy efficiency, transportation, solar and bioenergy drew more than two-thirds of clean-tech venture capital investment from 2011 to 2016, according to Brookings.

Robert Holly is a freelance writer.

Twitter @RobertWadeHolly





More top Blue Sky Innovation stories:

Chicago Connectory, a new Internet of Things incubator, opens at Merchandise Mart

Peapod moving headquarters from Skokie to Chicago, exec says

Grubhub wants to feed your office. Will it eat Fooda's lunch?

Amazon's new Echo Show assistant adds a screen, video calling
The company worked with architecture and engineering firm Shive-Hattery to design the space. (Keri Wiginton / Blue Sky)

Grubhub is teaming up with Oracle Hospitality to give restaurants a more streamlined way to manage in-house and delivery orders, the companies announced Wednesday.

Restaurants using Oracle Hospitality tools will be able to manage orders from all customers on a single device. Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) also offers restaurants a dedicated tablet solution called "Grubhub for Restaurants" to manage incoming orders from the platform.

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More than 200,000 restaurants use Oracle Hospitality technology, which includes hardware and software, a spokesman for Oracle Hospitality said. He declined to share how many restaurants use MICROS POS, the terminal in which Grubhub will be integrated.

The companies said the integration would simplify operations in restaurants, free up counter space and provide more business insights. Grubhub also integrates with the Upserve Breadcrumb point-of-sale (POS) system, and plans to integrate with the Toast POS in the future, according to its website.

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Grubhub, the online food ordering and delivery platform based in Chicago, is turning to integrations as competitors including Uber amp up their food delivery services. On Wednesday morning, McDonald's announced an expanded delivery partnership with UberEats. Earlier this month, Grubhub announced a partnership with TripAdvisor that gives users of the travel planning site and app a way to order from Grubhub's restaurant partners in 1,100 cities.

aelahi@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @aminamania
Doctor Gary Steinberg, center, and Nisha Kumar, left, talk with patients at the University of Chicago Medicine's Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine. U. of C. and Google are teaming up to research ways to use machine learning to predict medical events. (Vincent D. Johnson / Chicago Tribune)

As a patient, your electronic medical record contains a wealth of information about you: vital signs, notes from physicians and medications.

Doctors use that information to track your medical history and keep tabs on you in the hospital  but what if they could also use it to predict your future health?

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It's an idea inching closer to reality.

On Wednesday, Google announced it's teaming up with University of Chicago Medicine to research ways to use machine learning to predict medical events  such as whether someone will be hospitalized, how long that hospitalization will last and whether a patient's health is deteriorating. Google has formed similar partnerships with Stanford Medicine and the University of California at San Francisco.

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Google and university researchers will try to discover patterns in patients' medical records but the records used in the research will be stripped of personally identifiable information to protect patient privacy.

"There's so much health care data, especially with electronic health records being adopted over the last 10 years," said Katherine Chou, who's leading the project for Google Research. "The potential for using that data for predictions, people haven't really figured out how to harness it."

University of Chicago Medicine has spent years working on ways to use data to predict health events. Researchers developed an algorithm called eCART that uses patient data to predict cardiac arrest, and if a patient is high-risk, nurses will perform extra checks on the patient. University of Chicago already uses eCART on its adult patients.

Dr. Michael Howell, the medical center's chief quality officer, said he's confident eCART has helped reduce instances of cardiac arrest, but he said researchers are still collecting data on its effectiveness.

The partnership with Google will help expand on such work, said Dr. Samuel Volchenboum, director of the Center for Research Informatics at University of Chicago Medicine.

Chou said Google team members met the University of Chicago's Howell at a Harvard Univeristy medical training program, and Google saw how its ability to organize data and make it accessible could apply in health care.

It's too early to tell whether Google could potentially develop a product or service using the technology, Google spokesman Jason Freidenfelds said in an email. At this point, Google is focused on demonstrating that the approach can improve patient care, he said.

Chicago company Quant HC has already commercialized eCART, selling it to hospitals, including Amita Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center, said Dr. Dana Edelson, who helped develop eCART at the University of Chicago and is now CEO of Quant.

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"If you do more preventative care, then you have a win-win situation," Chou said.

lschencker@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lschencker
Union members hold signs and fly a U.S. flag as shareholders leave the annual meeting for Mondelez International in Lincolnshire on May 17, 2017. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

It was deja vu all over again at the annual shareholder meeting Wednesday for Mondelez International, a global snack food company known for brands like Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers.

Outside, union protesters again chanted their opposition to the Deerfield-based company's decision to slash hundreds of jobs from the longtime Nabisco plant on Chicago's Southwest Side last year and move some production lines to Mexico.

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And inside, CEO Irene Rosenfeld again fielded pointed questions from some union members and shareholders about the wisdom of that decision as it relates to the company's long-term plans for sustainable growth. As she has in the past, Rosenfeld emphasized that Mondelez is a global company facing challenging economic conditions and said it needed to increase the efficiency of its supply chain in order to compete.

One key difference from last year's meeting: the collective understanding that it could be Rosenfeld's last turn at the lectern. But she downplayed news reports that emerged in April that the company hired the Chicago-based recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles to find her replacement.

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"I start by quoting Mark Twain, which is to suggest, the news of my demise is greatly exaggerated," Rosenfeld said to laughter. "Succession planning is an ongoing process and, in fact, an obligation for our board (of directors). And I can assure you they are actively engaged in my succession, as well as the succession of my key management team."

Rosenfeld is also the chairman of the board of directors.

Generally speaking, Mondelez has increased its profit margins in recent years through cost-cutting and supply chain changes, but revenues have declined. The company reported $25.9 billion in net revenue last year, down from $29.6 billion the previous year. Like other processed food companies such as Kraft Heinz and Conagra Brands, Mondelez has been challenged by growing consumer appetite for food considered natural and healthy.

Beyond speculation about Rosenfeld's imminent departure, there have been changes at the top of Mondelez. In April, two top executives left the company, Chief Marketing Officer Dana Anderson and North America President Roberto Marques.

Jethro Head, regional vice president for the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers union, introduced a shareholder proposal to require Mondelez to create a new committee to prepare a report on the community impact of Mondelez closing factories and laying off workers.

In the past couple of years, Mondelez closed a factory in northeast Philadelphia and laid off workers from its Chicago bakery, in both cases shifting jobs from mostly poor, African-American communities to Mexico, Head said.

"These communities have been stripped bare of decent-paying manufacturing jobs in recent years," Head said.

The proposal was defeated.

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gtrotter@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GregTrotterTrib
Vinyl wraps can be an effective way to change the paint color of a car like this 2015 Ford Mustang while still maintaining and protecting the original color. (Ford Motor Co.)

Q: I'm looking to get my Mustang repainted. Not sure whether to go for a regular paint job or a vinyl wrap for the car. It would be in a solid color. Don't know how the wrap would hold up as far as getting dings or scratches on it. Also, don't know if it would fade much from the sun. I would welcome your response as opposed to someone trying to sell me the vinyl wrap.

 T.B., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

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A: We think that vinyl wraps are way cool. At the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn., we helped wrap a BMW with a carbon fiber look and it was awesome. Wraps actually protect the original paint and make sense on new as well as used cars. When you get weary of it, the wrap is easily removed, reverting to your original paint. Wraps are durable and provide the graphics for many commercial vehicles.

Q: I have a 2015 Subaru Forester with the continuously variable transmission. The owner's manual says to inspect the fluid every 30,000 miles. Various dealers have said either the transmission is sealed and needs no service for the life of the transmission or I can change the fluid if I want. Inspection of the fluid costs $200 as does the changing of the fluid. Past vehicles I have owned had regular automatic transmissions and I change the fluid every 30,000 miles. I have concerns about not changing the fluid in the CVT. What do you think I should do?

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 K.B., Elinda, Ohio

A: We suggest you follow the advice in your owner's manual. The CVT in your vehicle is expected to need no service for life unless you punish it by towing a yacht. It has a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty that just might be voided if a shop does a bad job of changing the fluid. Actually, there is more risk of damage from contamination during a fluid change than there is from leaving things alone.

Q: I have a 2005 Honda Odyssey with 83,000 miles. The dealer recommended changing the timing belt, tensioner and water pump at a cost of around $925. My manual says to change it at 90,000 miles. What to do?

 J.W., Warminster, Pa.

A: Changing the timing belt sooner rather than later could avoid expensive engine damage. Sure, you may be able to extend the service out to 100,000 miles, but it would be a false economy. Bite the bullet and have the job done.

Q: I have a 1997 4WD Suzuki Sidekick with 99,000 miles. Looks new and runs well. The owner's manual and door decal indicate tire pressure be set at 23 psi. Mechanics I have spoken to say the tire pressure should be 32 psi. I have compromised and set it at 28 psi. What is the correct pressure for the vehicle?

 P.L., Northbrook

A: The manufacturer would not waste money printing door jamb stickers if it didn't want you to fill the tires to that pressure.

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Send questions along with name and town to Motormouth, Rides, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Fourth Floor, Chicago, IL 60611 or motormouth.tribune@gmail.com.
Most couples I know wouldn't consider sharing a studio apartment. When my partner and I decided to move in together, we weighed the options of my centrally located studio versus his slightly distant one-bedroom. We ultimately decided on the latter, thinking that the lack of walls and personal space would be a dealbreaker.

Other cohabiting city couples have similar concerns. "What if we're in a fight? What if you get food poisoning?!" They find comfort in having a wall.

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But then, Instagram and Pinterest are full of the dreamy depictions of happy couples who  by choice!  live in quirky dwellings gone miniature: house boats, #vanlife and tiny houses. In particular, the tiny-house movement has stretched its legs since its initial boom. Not just for HGTV-happy hipsters anymore, couples and families who have made these tight quarters work.

So what can the intimacy-fearing and space-obsessed learn from couples who embrace a tiny-house lifestyle? I wasn't sure. So I asked some.

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You lose private space, material possessions, separate bathrooms and full-size appliances. But what do you gain?

For the most part, the tiny-house owners I spoke to found that the financial freedom they found from moving into smaller quarters directly benefited their relationships. And for the lack of sectioned space and stairways, they seemed pretty happy.

"I really think the biggest thing is that we've found that we've been able to have a balance, of that time of alone and together," said Emily Gerde, 32, who lives in a 325-square-foot home with her husband, Justin, 32, and their 3-year-old son Ryan, a dog and four cats. About a year ago, the family traded a four-bedroom home for their tiny house in southern Minnesota. In return, they now have more time to spend with each other rather than spending it on cleaning and maintaining their larger home.

"In the big house, (we were) frantically trying to get by. I never had alone time, because there always was something to do," Emily said. "The tiny house has given us freedom and has helped our relationship get closer. (Justin's) commute was 45 minutes one way. You double that, times it by five days, four weeks a month, and you get a couple days back. It's been a huge blessing. We have both self-care and together time now."

In the past year, they've moved their tiny house twice to plots of land closer to Justin's workplace. "To follow our dream jobs, it would take us literally a day to move," Gerde explained. "You don't even have to pack up."

OK, but what if you need alone time? Everyone needs alone time, even happy healthy couples.

"I think there have been those occasions where I'm so angry that it frustrates me to hear him doing stuff in the house," admitted Alexis Stephens, 33, who lives in a 130-square-foot tiny house with her romantic and filmmaking partner, 41-year-old Christian Parsons. "Some sulking has happened, but it's a good time to encourage going outside the house for a walk. The outdoors is the biggest room available."

Stephens and Parsons traveled with their tiny house across 27 states working on their documentary, "Tiny House Expedition," adding a constant change of scenery to the mix, which has also aided in conflict resolution. That kind of anger "doesn't happen a ton," Parsons added. "But it feels like we talk it out more because you can't hide in this house."

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"Quicker conflict resolution through less stewing," Stephens agreed. In the tiny house "you can get away from each other a little bit - you could go in a loft or outside - but for me, it affects the energy of the whole house. We've gotten to a point where we know something is up and it's better for us to talk about it to resolve quickly."

How do you make the small space conducive to you as a couple?

Gerde is currently working on a book about minimalist living and home-schools their son, so custom workspace and storage were built-in to tuck their school supplies away after-hours. A length-spanning bench was also custom-made to inspire family time. "Lots of tiny houses have a love seat, but we can't fit all four of us on there."

The couple's tiny house is designed based on their life plans  a factor that she said is very telling. "A lot of couples have trouble (with tiny-house living) because they didn't think about the future. But we designed ours with a family in mind," Gerde explained. "We wanted it to accommodate pets and another kid, and meet our needs specifically."

For AJ Zamora, 43, who lives in a Napa, California, tiny house with her wife, China Rose, 38, keeping their spare time rituals alive was imperative to their design. Rather than lofting their European queen-size bed, they built a mechanical bed that lowers down from the ceiling and rests on top of kitchen counters so they could enjoy weekend lounging.

"We knew we loved relaxing together and we felt (a loft bed) could mean feeling cramped in your own space and not wanting to spend time in it," China Rose explained.

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What about not-so-alone time? You know what I mean.

"We always get the question, and we just giggle," Gerde laughed. "You just find space like any other house. The lofts we have use blackout shades. It's not just to (block) light (from getting) in, but it also provides privacy."

But what if the relationship doesn't work out?

Tiny houses aren't exempt from breakups. Filmmakers Merete Mueller and Christopher Carson Smith decided to build a 124-square-foot house in Colorado in 2011 and made a documentary about it called, "Tiny: A Story About Living Small." The film and tiny house were both relative successes - the documentary hit the indie circuit, the house still stands strong today  but Mueller moved to New York after a month, and the couple broke up a year later.

"We started working on the film, and we both were super invested in and it occupied both of our lives," said Mueller, now 32. " And for me, I was just excited by the prospect of seeing a house come together from scratch. I was curious about his process: his figuring out where he wanted to be, settling down in a home for both of us, talking about our relationship. It wasn't until the house was almost done that I was like: I don't know if I can live in this space with another person. I wasn't one of the people who was drawn to it because I was so excited about the lifestyle. It was something I fell into through him."

After Mueller moved to New York, Smith moved his tiny house to a more permanent plot of land in Boulder, Colorado, as the couple attempted to make the distance work. He eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he pursued a full-time career in film. But after it all, Mueller still said the unique tiny-house experience helped the pair to maintain a friendship after the moves.

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"Even though Christopher and I didn't stay together, it was going through those challenges that informed our friendship," she explained. "I can't imagine not having him as part of my life after those experiences. Even if you're ultimately not the right people, those (experiences) are really important to draw on. No one else can really relate to those things often."

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1) Go cocoa-nuts at Chocolate Fest

Indulge your sweet tooth in northwestern suburb Long Grove by taking part in the three-day-long Chocolate Fest. The event will be a mess of sticky fingers and faces, with s'mores on a stick, chocolate-covered fruit and even chocolate beer. New this year is an "experience tent," crammed with demonstrations and a chocolate fountain; returning favorites include classic carnival rides, a scavenger hunt and live music. $5; free for children younger than 12. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, May 19; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 20; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at 308 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove, www.longgrove.org.

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2) Drink your way through Andersonville

Twenty-six Andersonville businesses are getting together to toast to the neighborhood this weekend with the return of the annual Wine Walk. New this year will be two routes, going north and south, with 13 businesses represented in each. Wine from local distributors H2Vino, Cream, Heritage, Candid and more will be poured, curated by sponsor In Fine Spirits. A ticket gets you admission, wine tastings and a commemorative glass, with all proceeds supporting programming of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. $40. 3-6 p.m. Sunday; check-in begins 1 p.m. at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St., www.andersonville.org/winewalk.

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3) Celebrate a Little Village institution

Moreno's Liquors, the Little Village shop known for its extensive collection of Mexican spirits, celebrates its 40th anniversary with events to thank the community. On Friday, the family-owned shop hosts a "Craft Night Out," with tastings, live music and food from the Bruges Brothers food truck. Celebrations continue Saturday, with an all-day block party, complete with mariachis, Cuban jazz and food from Fat Shallot and Los Comales. Admission is free both days, with proceeds from food and drink benefiting the Little Village Chamber of Commerce. 4-8 p.m. Friday, May 19; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at Moreno's Liquors, 3724 W. 26th St., 773-277-7737, www.morenosliquors.com.

4) Try Pappy 20-year

This one's for you, whiskey chasers. Logan Square cocktail bar The Whistler is serving super-rare Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20-Year bourbon this Sunday, and it's first come, first served, limited to just one 1-ounce pour per guest. This is a chance to boast to your bourbon buddies that you got to taste the good stuff. $5.66 for 1 ounce. 5 p.m. until supplies run out Sunday, May 21, at 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-227-3530, www.whistlerchicago.com.

5) Grab brunch at Ella Elli

New brunch alert: Ella Elli, the recent opening in the Southport Corridor, will begin offering brunch Sunday. Tuck into the bakery board, a starter plate for carb lovers featuring a croissant, house-made everything bagel, assorted pastries and preserves ($10), before moving on to the chocolate-stuffed brioche French toast ($12) or eggs Benedict with harissa hollandaise ($13). For groups, the mimosa bottle service ($42) features Prosecco and a variety of juices. Keep an eye out for the new patio, slated to open in June. Brunch launches Sunday, May 21, and will run every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Ella Elli, 1349 W. Cornelia Ave., 773-935-3552, www.ellaellichicago.com.

jbhernandez@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @joeybear85
When it came to toasting craft beer, an 11-day week was just too long.

This year's Chicago Craft Beer Week will therefore be a trimmer version of itself, shrinking to eight days that begin Thursday with the usual kickoff event, Beer Under Glass.

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"It's a 'craft beer week,' and we're trying to get back to what was originally intended," said Danielle D'Alessandro, executive director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild.

D'Alessandro was sort of joking, but sort of not.

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The advantage of the 11-day "week" was that bars and breweries had two weekends to stage events. The disadvantage: Eleven days made for more events than most people could handle, bars and breweries included.

"This is a way to not fatigue our brewers with 11 days of nonstop events," D'Alessandro said.

Though a shortened Craft Beer Week means it won't close with the customary festival in Welles Park, that event is not disappearing; it will instead be pushed back to Aug. 5., when brewers and beer drinkers are, in theory, ready for another major festival. Tickets, which will cost $50, go on sale next month.

To keep beer drinkers engaged all summer, the Brewers Guild will launch a passport program at Beer Under Glass. Collecting at least 20 stamps from more than 100 breweries across the state will get a passport holder an extra hour at the Welles Park festival, plus prizes. Passports will also be available Craft Beer Week sponsors, including Half Acre Beer Co., Lagunitas Brewing and Goose Island Beer Co. Passports can also be redeemed without buying a ticket to the Welles Park festival.

Until then, however, there is a craft beer week to navigate. With a more manageable eight days beginning Thursday, here are my day-by-day picks for a dream week of celebrating craft beer. More information for all events can be found at www.chibeerweek.com.

THURSDAY

Beer Under Glass: The signature event remains one of the city's best beer-drinking evenings, if for no other reason than the scope (100-plus breweries) and the scenery (the lush greenery of Garfield Park Conservatory). Beer Under Glass once sold out almost as soon as tickets went on sale, but no longer; the rise of craft beer as a year-round force has slowed sales. That's good news, though, for procrastinators and last-minute planners. As of Wednesday afternoon, tickets remained available. $60. Garfield Park Conservatory, 6:30 p.m.; 5:30 for VIP

FRIDAY

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Unicornucopia 5: The much-loved Pipeworks Brewing is hosting a limited-run "taproom," called Pipedream, at Emporium Arcade Bar, that lasts from Thursday until May 27. Throughout the 10 days, Pipeworks will have a rotating selection of 45 beers on the 12 taps. Among the signature events will be Unicornucopia, which includes snacks, a paella dinner, Dark Matter coffee to go, arcade tokens (naturally) and five tickets for Pipeworks beers, among which will be a new collaboration  a coffee kolsch  between Pipeworks and Dark Matter Coffee. $60 for Unicornucopia, though entry to Pipedream for the rest of the 10 days is free. 2367 N. Milwaukee Ave.

SATURDAY

Ultra Fresh II: Chicago beer website The Hop Review hosts close to 25 local breweries with a twist: All will be pouring from kegs that have been packaged within the previous five days. Tickets include a just-canned welcome beer from Revolution Brewing at the door plus a sample of "ultra-fresh" beer from each participating brewery. Styles on hand will range wildly, from session pale ale to lager to gose to a New England-style IPA  or six. (Yes, six New England-style IPAs will be on hand. What's a New-England style IPA? Keep reading.) $35. Right Way Signs, 2333 N. Seeley Ave., 4-8 p.m.

SUNDAY

Sour Beer Fest: Delilah's is largely known as one of the city's essential whiskey bars, but it is just as important on the beer front. The evidence is its annual tasting of lambic and sour beers. Beers will be poured from more than a dozen legendary Belgian breweries, including multiple vintages of Drie Fonteinen Gueuze and a variety of fruit lambics. $20 for 20 sample tickets. 2771 N. Lincoln Ave., noon to 5 p.m.

MONDAY

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Saisonathon: If you love IPAs (raises hand) but still have IPA fatigue (raises hand), here is the event for you: 12 locally made and varying takes on one of beer's most beautiful styles. Among the offerings will be a black saison (Maplewood Brewery), a dry-hopped saison (Mikerphone Brewing), a coffee saison (Noon Whistle Brewing), a saison featuring Brettanomyces yeast (Hopewell Brewing) and a saision aged in cabernet barrels with blueberries and plums (Whiner Beer Co). Maybe the most fascinating event of the week. Pub Royale, 2049 W. Division St., 5 p.m.

TUESDAY

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

The Suburbs! It's easy for city folk to ignore the suburban breweries, but good news: The suburbs are coming to the city. Even better news: The suburbs make some darn fine beer. Beermiscuous hosts a tap takeover with multiple taps each from 18th Street Brewery (Hammond, Ind.), BBGB Brewery and Hop Farm (North Aurora), Noon Whistle Brewing (Lombard), Penrose Brewing (Geneva), Temperance Beer Co. (Evanston) and Ten Ninety (Glenview). Beermiscuous, 2812 N. Lincoln Ave., 6-9 p.m.

MAY 24

Stout Tap Takeover: An ambitious lineup of rare stouts  so ambitious it's almost too good to be believed  includes AleSmith Brewing's Vietnamese Coffee Speedway Stout, Desthil Brewing's Dosvidanya, 2016 and 2017 vintages of Founders Brewing's Kentucky Breakfast Stout, Perennial Artisan Ales' Abraxas, Surly Brewing's 2015 vintage of Darkness and Goose Island Beer Co.'s 2016 vintage of Proprietor's Bourbon County Brand Stout. Among others. Hopsmith Tavern, 15 W. Division St., 5 p.m.

MAY 25

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New Era IPA Tap Takeover: End Chicago Craft Beer Week with a head-first dive into the hottest thing in craft beer  for the moment, anyway  hazy, sweet IPAs with very low bitterness. Typically called New England-style IPAs, Forbidden Root is going with the term "new era IPAs" for this event, which will feature a dozen local takes on the style. Among those pouring: Sketchbook Brewing, Mikerphone Brewing, Lake Effect Brewing, Mars Community Brewing and a return of Stay Lit, a collaboration between Forbidden Root and Three Floyds Brewing. Forbidden Root, 1746 W. Chicago Ave., 6 p.m.

jbnoel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @joshnoel
"The Blacklist" star Harry Lennix comes home to Chicago so often he joked that he wants to rent rooms at O'Hare International Airport. He said he frequently visits South Shore, where he grew up, though it's "heartbreaking" to see how the neighborhood has become a "barren wasteland."

"It's destitute, it's barren, it's urban blight. It's all but dead. It's undead is what it is," Lennix recently told the Tribune by phone. "It didn't used to be that way. I know it didn't used to be that way. And it's a beautiful neighborhood. The architecture there is stunning. Famous people come from there. ("Homeland" star) Mandy Patinkin, for example. ... But now it looks like a barren wasteland because it is barren. There's no industry there except for fast food and liquor, you know these things that populate all sorts of underserved neighborhoods."

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Lennix, 52, is scheduled to be back in town again this weekend. He's hosting a fundraiser Sunday for the Pegasus Theatre at Picante Taqueria in Wicker Park. He was also here two weeks ago for the Piven Theatre Workshop gala in the West Loop.

He is an alumnus of both theater companies and Northwestern University. After stints in various movies and television shows, including "ER" and the Ray Charles biopic "Ray," Lennix landed his longest TV job to date as FBI honcho Harold Cooper on "The Blacklist," which was renewed last week for a fifth season.

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Harry Lennix stars on "The Blacklist." (William Hart / NBC)

The NBC drama follows government-agent-turned-fugitive Raymond "Red" Reddington (played by James Spader), who turns himself in to the FBI to help the agency catch his "blacklist" of mobsters, spies and international terrorists. The two-hour Season 4 finale is set to air 8 p.m. Thursday.

Lennix also recently shot the indie drama "Canal Street" in Chicago with "Empire" star Bryshere Gray and "Chicago Justice" star Jon Seda. The film follows the drama of a family's move from the South Side to Winnetka.

"It's about young people dealing with race and law enforcement, legalities and all sorts of things. It's very interesting. It also could be described as a faith-based project, at least it discusses the role of faith in day-to-day life," said Lennix, who also starred in Spike Lee's "Chi-Raq."

"I like it because it's now, it's topical, it is relevant to our time, and I think that uniquely it offers solutions and hope. And so you know whenever I see that kind of story, I'm going to be interested in that because I think we're sorely in need of solutions and of hope."

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
When the British attacked again, they were desperate and fierce.

As more patriots joined the Americans, Burgoyne found himself outnumbered and nearly out of supplies. He refused to retreat to Ticonderoga, but Gates and the Americans stood between him and Albany.

So, on October 7, 1777, he attacked. Once again, the fighting lasted until it was too dark to see, but, while the first battle had seemed like a tie, the second was clearly an American victory.

The next morning, Luke hitched up David and Jonathan and began the grim task of gathering up the wounded in the wagon and bringing them to where doctors could do their best.

Among the wounded who had lain on the battlefield all night, he found his father, his leg broken by a musket ball. John Van Gelder had dragged himself to a tree and was sitting up, but was grateful to get a drink from Lukes canteen.

After Luke brought that wagonload of men to the top of the hill, he went by the militia camp to let Sylvie know, so she could come and sit up with their father while Luke continued to bring in wounded men.

The Americans waited that day and the next to see if Burgoyne would attack again, but the British pulled back to the banks of the Hudson and began to plan a retreat to Fort Edward.

That plan could never work.

The Americans had them surrounded, and Morgans men followed along in the brush nearby, firing on anyone who left the British camp. Burgoyne was trapped, and, even if he could sneak his troops past the Americans, he did not have enough food for the march to Ticonderoga.

So it was that, on October 17, the Van Gelders stood with the New York militia and watched as nearly 6,000 soldiers marched past, unarmed, prisoners who would eventually be sent back to England or Germany.

Both armies behaved with dignity: The British and Germans marched along the road in proper military order, and, as they passed, the Americans stood in their formations respectfully, though an American fife and drum corps did play Yankee Doodle, the song with which the British had once teased them.

Then there were quick good-byes to their friends from Virginia, as Morgans Rifles headed south, their work in New York done, now ordered to join General Washington, who was about to make his winter quarters in Pennsylvania at a place called Valley Forge.

John Van Gelders leg was splinted, and hed made himself a crutch, but climbed into the cart with other wounded militia members from Fort Ann and Fort Edward, as Luke and Sylvie walked alongside the horses.

Two days later, they arrived home.

Sylvie built a fire in the fireplace to take the chill off the empty house, then went to the barn where, sure enough, the rooster and his small flock of hens had survived on scraps.

She selected one of the hens and began to ready it to go into the pot with the last of their army rations.

Meanwhile, John Van Gelder sent Luke to the sawmill to dig into the pile of sawdust and chips near the back door. There, Luke found two large sacks of oats hidden away. He reburied one and brought the other back to the house.

Feed the horses, John said, but not too much. We dont want them getting bloat after going on hay and promises for so long.

But what are we going to do, Pa? Luke asked. This is only two or three weeks worth of oats for the horses and, if we eat those chickens, well be out of meat just as winters coming on.

His father nodded. This is going to be a very hard winter for many of our neighbors, he agreed. But that old sow and her pigs may still be out there in the woods. Even one of them would be enough.

Then he continued: Give the horses two days rest, then go down to Schenectady to fetch home your grandfather, your mother and the little ones. Ill give you some of my militia pay and you can see what supplies you can get down there. You and your grandfather will have to run the mill until Im back on my feet, but that will bring in something. People wont have money, but we can barter for goods.

I was paid, too, Luke said, but his father cut him off.

You save that money, he ordered. Were supposed to get land in exchange for our service, and the day may come when youll want to set out on your own. A little land, a little money will make a good start.

Then he turned to Sylvie. As for you, young lady, what are your plans for the future?

Sylvie looked surprised, and her father laughed. A certain young man asked my permission to write to you.

Tim? she asked.

Well, I thought he was the one youd want to hear from, her father laughed again. I told him he could start writing in March, when you turn seventeen, but only if he promised to leave the army when this war is over. Id be proud to have a blacksmith come courting, even from far Virginia. But I think youve followed the gun enough for one lifetime.

Then he looked at both children. I think we all have.
President Donald Trump, left, at the White House in Washington on March 13, 2017 and filmmaker Michael Moore at the 20th Annual Webby Awards in New York on May 16, 2016. (AP)

Michael Moore was one of few liberals who predicted Donald Trump's victory last November, and since then he's returned to his crystal ball to add a few other prophecies. Shortly after the election, he told the hosts of "Morning Joe" that Trump wouldn't last a term - he'd be impeached or resign first. Then, last month, during the Tribeca Film Festival, Moore slightly amended that forecast, saying that, in fact, Trump would get booted during his second term.

Moore isn't done, though. He's making another prognostication and this time he's actively working to make it come true.

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"I'm making a movie to get us out of this mess," the filmmaker wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday. "'Fahrenheit 11/9.' I've f---- had it."

That title is a callback to the 2004 documentary he made about George W. Bush and the Iraq War, "Fahrenheit 9/11," which is still the highest-grossing documentary of all time after pulling in more than $220 million worldwide. The 11/9 of the new title refers to Nov. 9, the date that Trump was declared winner of the presidential election.

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In a statement, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who acquired the movie, said the film may be the "key in dissolving Trump's 'Teflon' shield and, in turn, his presidency."

For his part, Moore added, "No matter what you throw at him, it hasn't worked. No matter what is revealed, he remains standing. Facts, reality, brains cannot defeat him. Even when he commits a self-inflicted wound, he gets up the next morning and keeps going and tweeting. That all ends with this movie."

That's quite a prediction.

The film is still in production and Moore isn't divulging details, so it's hard to say what his team has dug up that's giving him so much confidence.

But the question remains: Is Moore really the guy who's going to take down a president? Because, let's not forget, he's tried before.

Moore made no secret of his motivations with "Fahrenheit 9/11 back in 2004. After all, it was a movie critical of the Bush administration that debuted during an election year.

"I would like to see Mr. Bush removed from the White House," Moore said on "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" that year. In a USA Today interview around the movie's debut, he added, "This may be the first time a film has this kind of impact."

Getting the movie to theaters before the ballots were cast, however, was a bit of a mad dash. The release of "Fahrenheit 9/11 was initially stymied by a disagreement between the Weinstein's production company, Miramax, and its parent company, Disney, whose CEO, Michael Eisner, didn't want to release the film. But time was of the essence, so Moore opened up to the New York Times and the resulting story, with the headline "Disney Is Blocking Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush," did the trick. About six weeks after the story ran, "Fahrenheit" hit theaters.

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(The kerfuffle led to the Weinsteins leaving Miramax, a company they founded, and there still may be some sour grapes. Back to the brothers' statement: "When we had the opportunity to work with (Moore) on 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' we were so persistent that we ultimately had to part ways from Disney and we lost our beloved Miramax, named after our parents, because we believed so strongly in the message.")

The rush to release "Fahrenheit" made sense considering the subject matter. Moore wanted the American people to see that Bush had hastily led the U.S. into a misguided war. Then voters would have all the facts by the time the election rolled around in November. It worked, to some extent; a lot of people went to see what conservative pundits at the time labeled anti-Bush propaganda.

And yet Bush was elected to a second term, beating John Kerry.

Will Moore be thwarted again? Maybe, but the filmmaker can rest easy knowing he's done everything he can to take down a man he's called a racist, misogynist authoritarian.

This isn't the first movie Moore made about Trump. In October, he released "TrumpLand," which was basically a filmed monologue. In a review of the movie, Washington Post critic Ann Hornaday wrote, "although Moore clearly perceives 'TrumpLand' to be his own version of an October surprise, it's less game-changing than reassuring, especially to left-leaning voters, some of whom may still be having trouble casting a vote for a candidate they see as fatally centrist, corporation-friendly and untrustworthy."

That critique echoes why Moore's 2004 film also failed to alter the election results.

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"'Fahrenheit 9/11' may very well be the best political commercial in history," wrote political science professor Costas Panagopoulos in 2004. "But like most political commercials, even really good ones, 'Fahrenheit 9/11 is unlikely to change enough voters' minds to alter the outcome of the election."

Anyone arguing that there's a limit to what Moore's movies can accomplish should know that the documentarian isn't stopping with films. Aside from copious interviews and a "10-point plan" to stop Trump, he'll be directing and starring in a new TNT show, "Live From the Apocalypse," about contemporary politics. He also announced earlier this month that he'd be performing on Broadway this summer, doing a show about - what else? - the commander in chief. It's called "The Terms of My Surrender" and the tagline reads, "Can a Broadway show take down a sitting President?"

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Marchers make their way down the route of the 1987 Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade. At the Chicago History Museums From New Town to Boys Town to Lakeview event, panelists will talk about the evolution of the nations first officially recognized gay village. (Chicago History Museum)

We sat down with Out at CHM committee member and Center on Halsted founder and Executive Director Modesto Tico Valle to discuss the program, the center's involvement and the necessary education about the decades of on-the-ground activism that led to the evolution of the city's LGBTQ enclave.

Chicago Tribune: For many people, Lakeview and Boystown have been traditionally seen as a "safe space" in the city where people look out for each other and organize around prevention, education and community-building. This program convened by the Center on Halsted and the Chicago History Museum singles out that history of LGBTQ communities in the city, but is also part of a larger annual umbrella program of offerings.

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Modesto Tico Valle: The Out at CHM history program really was a vision over 10 years ago. So, the Center on Halsted was being born, the vision for creating this community center was happening and we wanted to start getting the community used to the center being more than social service, but serving the whole person. So we partnered with the History Museum on LGBTQ programming. Now the leadership at the History Museum was also very progressive and cutting-edge because when you think about the History Museum  or any institution  doing programming about LGBTQ almost 12 years ago, it wasn't heard of. They really led the way in terms of partnering with LGBTQ institutions and honoring the history of our community. That partnership started way back then and continues today.

Q: How do you decide on the programs over the year and how did this specific program addressing the history of Boystown come about being staged at the center instead of at the History Museum as with past programs?

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A: We have a committee made up of a lot of community members, a lot of historians, a lot of academics and the center serves on that committee, myself. We do three programs a year. We've always wanted to do satellite programming and because we're celebrating 10 years of the center, we thought this topic was a quite important one and pivotal around our history, so we decided to move this program to the center.

Q: What's the format of the New Town to Boystown program?

A: It's an interview with a few of those who lived through the gentrification and experienced Boystown, and some Q&A along with a reception beforehand.

Q: So much of that is tied in with Chicago history in general, with its history of "community bars," where at one time only Irish were allowed, or black and brown people, places that have since morphed into "safe spaces" where diversity is welcomed. That's also part of a national history of safe spaces specifically for the LGBTQ community, for instance, with the Pulse nightclub. And there's been some backlash against LGBTQ visibility given the nationalist tenor of our politics lately. Why is it important to discuss these specific histories now?

A: Well, one I think it's always important to honor and remember our history because it informs our direction as leaders in our community and oftentimes many young people who move into Lakeview after college forget that there were roots in Lakeview. The LGBTQ community moved from the Gold Coast to Old Town to New Town, which then later became Boystown and New Town became the focus on Broadway because you never wandered over onto Halsted Street because it was not an area that was very desirable at the time. But there were three pioneer bars: Little Jim's, Buck's Saloon and Sidetrack who really invested in the community and a lot more bars began to open up on the strip, and gentrify.

It is the first community where a lot of bar owners and community members bought their real estate because so many of us would come in, clean up the neighborhoods and then the rents would go up and we couldn't afford to stay and we'd move further north. Hence, that's why we're scattered along the lakefront from Gold Coast to Lincoln Park to Lakeview to Uptown, Andersonville, Edgewater and so on and so on. And so our political clout grew because, because when you think of Lakeview, it has an out and proud alderman and so does Uptown and that is part of our history too as we fought for our rights and made claim to a neighborhood. This neighborhood also became part of an anchor because our mayor at the time, Mayor (Richard M.) Daley, very much wanted to anchor Lakeview as the LGBTQ community. It is where a lot of activists, protests and bars were raided and when you think of the center's history, where the center currently exists, life ended at Addison and there was the police station on the corner and now that police station belongs to the community and is our senior center for the LGBTQ community. So, there have been many changes over the course 30-40 years now.

ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @chitribent

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When: Thursday, 5:30 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. program

Where: Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., 3rd floor

Tickets: $20, $15 members; 312-642-4600 or www.chicagohistory.org

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
In today's global political and social environment, where various ethnicities, faiths and cultures find themselves marginalized and viewed with suspicion if not actually discriminated against, music can be a powerful counterforce for understanding.

The four members of Chicago's Civitas Ensemble agree wholeheartedly.

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A classical chamber group whose central mission from its founding in 2011 has been community and humanitarian outreach, the Civitas has entered into a unique collaboration with an ensemble from the Czech Republic designed to combat prejudices and stereotypes about Gypsy (Romani) culture.

The Civitas Ensemble partners with the Gipsy Way Ensemble of the Czech Republic for a concert of works laden with the distinctively exuberant rhythms and riotous colors of Romani-inspired music. This one-time-only event by the Civitas, with major support from the MacArthur Foundation, will take place Sunday afternoon at the Merit School of Music in downtown Chicago.

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Civitas violinist Yuan-Qing Yu, an assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the project's organizer, says she hopes this collaboration will help to banish whatever stigma may be attached to the word "Gypsy" in the U.S., where there are more than 1 million Romani residents, according to the most recent estimate.

"I feel this project is a perfect way to use music to celebrate the rich Romani culture and the uniqueness of their heritage," the violinist says. "It gives us a chance to connect with a culture classical musicians don't often encounter. I hope it will make classical music lovers realize that Gypsy music can be as beautiful and (should be) as highly regarded as traditional classical pieces."

Sunday's program  a U.S. first, according to Yu  will have various Civitas musicians performing solo or in various combinations. Her colleagues are Kenneth Olsen, CSO assistant principal cello; clarinetist J. Lawrie Bloom; and pianist Winston Choi, head of the piano department at Roosevelt University's College of the Performing Arts.

The bulk of the concert will amount to a "Gypsy jam" by the Chicago quartet in tandem with the Gipsy Way Ensemble (violin, viola, double bass and cimbalom, a hammered dulcimer common to Gypsy ensembles), treating the audience to original works and arrangements of classical favorites  with a Gypsy flavor  by Enescu, Brahms and others.

Plans are for the world-famed Romanian Gypsy cimbalom virtuoso Nicolae Feraru, a former Chicagoan who recently moved back to Romania, to sit in as special guest.

While the Gipsy Way group is in town, the ensembles will conduct a classical music workshop with students from the Merit and People's Music schools, and a Gypsy jazz workshop with members of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Yu's counterpart at the Gipsy Way is its founder, Pavel Sporcl, a classically trained violin virtuoso based in Prague. They are longtime colleagues, having struck up a friendship more than 20 years ago at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where they attended a violin studio together. They kept in touch over the years, and Yu sat in with his chamber group whenever her travels with the CSO took her to Europe.

When she learned several years ago that the MacArthur Foundation was offering grants to U.S. classical ensembles seeking international cultural exchanges, the idea of a Civitas-Gipsy Way collaboration immediately struck up a Hungarian czardas in her mind. She applied for a grant and the foundation approved her application.

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An initial joint concert by the Civitas and Gipsy Way groups in January in Prague, presented at the invitation of the Czech Touches of Music International Music Festival, amounted to a dry run for Sunday's program here. The audience ate it up, and the Czech players had a ball partnering their American confreres, according to Sporcl.

So what do the Czech visitors hope to accomplish with this celebration of Romani music?

"I want to show the Chicago audience that Gypsy musicians are professionals who play not only their own music but also classical compositions," writes Sporcl via email. "It's unique for a classically trained violinist like me to have his own Gypsy ensemble. I founded it five years ago and since then we have played many concerts in Europe. In my own career I concentrate on playing classical music, but this is a wonderful way to free myself and my mind.

"We are happy to be making music together (with the Civitas Ensemble) and are eager to see where this project will develop."

One immediate development is a planned recording by Chicago's Cedille Records. Also in the works is a documentary film about the project, tentatively set for release next year. Yu says she is already mulling further cross-cultural collaborations with other groups.

Sunday's program, say Civitas members, should appeal to classical music fans as well as lovers of traditional Gypsy music and Gypsy jazz, exposing listeners to repertory and playing styles a world apart from what they are accustomed to hearing.

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"You just are pulled out of your chair when you hear this music," says Civitas clarinetist Bloom. "It's just so much fun!"

The Civitas Ensemble and Gipsy Way Ensemble will perform classical and Romani-inspired music at 3 p.m. Sunday in Gottlieb Hall, Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria St.; $30, free for students with online reservation; 773-231-7740, www.civitasensemble.org.

Spektral throws a new-music disco party

The Spektral Quartet likes to put on performances that are not so much concerts as high-energy thrill rides for musically inquisitive listeners. The operative question behind all of them is: What makes a contemporary classical string quartet contemporary? The answers are many and varied, designed to provoke as often as delight.

So it was over the weekend at Constellation, where the virtuosic Chicago foursome presented a program of new and cutting-edge contemporary pieces, including world premieres by Charlie Sdraulic and Andrew McManus. The club was packed with Spektral groupies who were given instruction in how to dance the hustle following the performance.

The most mainstream and most rewarding of the four pieces was Chicago composer Augusta Read Thomas' "CHI" (2017), which the Spektral had premiered only a fortnight before at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel.

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Taking its title from the Chinese word for the life-force, the piece's four succinct sections  two of them fast, two slow  found the Spektral musicians trading energized rhythmic cells as if in a manic relay-race. Sequences of spiraling rhythmic cells darted from player to player, with movements of soft luminosity providing expressive contrast.

McManus, another composer associated with the University of Chicago, seized the listener's imagination, albeit at prolonged duration, with his "Neurosonics 1" for electronic playback (2015), heard for the first time in tandem with a second part, "Pathways, Bursting (Neurosonics 2)," for quartet and electronics (2017).

The electronic portions  including complex rhythmic pulses and waves of white noise  derive from lab studies of the electrical patterns of rat neurons, conducted in collaboration with a U. of C. neuroscientist. The layers of acoustical and synthesized sound operate independently of each other; the acoustical portions were all over the stylistic map, from frenzied group exertions to airy waves of arpeggios. Violinists Clara Lyon and Maeve Feinberg, violist Doyle Armbrust and cellist Russell Rolen threw themselves into the dense thickets of notes with a nervosity and concentration that was nothing short of astonishing.

More performance art than music, Draulic's "scan," for amplified quartet (2016-17), turned what the composer calls "the strange ritual" of the concert experience on its head. As if constrained by unseen forces, three players mimed the act of performing without making any sounds. The only noises breaking the silence were faint crunches from the violist. The major sonic event was the unscripted scrape of a folding chair.

The program began with Simon Steen-Andersen's "Study for String Instrument #1" (2007), essentially a series of wailing, descending glissandos for four instruments moving in lockstep. At six minutes, it was enough.

The program closed a Spektral season marked by the premieres of 30 new works and the addition of Feinberg to the roster. The quartet is planning a Schoenberg cycle for next season, along with a three-concert series at Constellation that will incorporate composer conversations. Its busy touring schedule reminds us that the quartet is the only group currently representing Chicago new music outside the city.

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Sharps and flats

 Broadcasts of Lyric Opera's 2016-17 season will air locally on WFMT-FM 98.7, nationally and internationally on the WFMT Radio Network, beginning Saturday and continuing through July 22. All Chicago-area broadcasts will begin at noon. Wagner's "Das Rheingold" will open the current series.

 Attention, CD and LP collectors: The 30th anniversary Midwest Classical Record Show will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at its usual location, the Northshore Holiday Inn, 5300 W. Touhy Ave., Skokie. Admission is $3.

John von Rhein is a Tribune critic.

jvonrhein@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jvonrhein

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Every year in private homes across Chicago, plays are performed for the public as a part of the Chicago Home Theater Festival. As he has since the start, Bill Ayers this year again will host a performance at his Hyde Park home. We sat down with the author, former University of Illinois professor and co-founder of the Weather Underground to discuss the radical hospitality of the home theater movement.

Chicago Tribune: So how did you first get involved in the Home Theater Festival?

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A: I've been in it since the beginning, I was in the initial (2012) class. I hang out in a couple of overlapping spheres  well, there may be three overlapping worlds that are relevant. I think the most relevant thing is I'm a father and a grandfather and very involved in a lot of kids' stuff, so I did a lot of kids' theater. But I'm involved in  as an academic at the University of Illinois at Chicago for a long time  I'm a lifelong activist, peace and justice person and then the arts have always been important to me and more so, I think, since I've been in Chicago. More active engagement, not as an artist, but as an admirer of the arts.

Q: So this whole experience with kids' theater has been hugely influential on your interest in it.

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A: You know, what they get interested in then has a huge influence on what you're interested in, and I was an early childhood teacher, so stories and drama were always a part of it. But I think coming to Chicago I just had these overlapping circles. So how did I find the Home Theater Festival? Some people around the Jane Addams Hull House were the ones putting it together. Irina (Zadov) and others, they said to me, "Hey, we're doing this crazy thing that started in California, theater in a home, would you like to do it?" and I thought the idea was thrilling.

So when they approached us, I thought, "Sure!" ... My son ... a playwright and a professor at Northwestern ... a couple of years ago he had a play that was commissioned by the American Theater Company, they had 25 playwrights and they had 25 years, and they gave them each a year and they had to write a five-minute play with music for that year. And Zayd was given 1989, so of course the soundtrack of his play was Public Enemy's (music from) "Do the Right Thing" and the play itself, in terms of its performance  I've seen it before at ATC  but our house, the play took place on our front steps. One of the things about home theater is you go on a tour of the neighborhood with a tour guide and then you return to the home. As the folks were returning to the home, unbeknownst to them, the play was being performed, and it drew our attention but it actually just seemed like a couple talking.

Q: So this is the audience's first encounter of it.

A: Right, it's their first encounter of it. You don't know anything, that it's a play. You come back to our house, whatever it is, 45 or 60 people, they get herded back to our house and sitting on the front steps next to us, really close because we live in this kind of row house, is this African-American couple, and they're having an argument and you're drawn to it because it's both an argument and a seduction and you can't quite make it out, but they're arguing because they'd just seen "Do the Right Thing" and they're debating whether it was any good and what it meant. And as the play evolves you realize, I mean there's a seduction part of it in the sense that he says to her, "I didn't know this was a date, I thought I was just taking out my mentor at the law firm," and she says, "Well, if it wasn't a date, why'd you put your hand on my leg?" and you know, blah blah blah this is all going on and she's taking the position that Malcolm (X) is right in the "Do the Right Thing" scenario and he's taking the position that (Martin Luther) King is right and they're having this debate and there's a little bit of action I won't bother you with but you slowly realize that it's Barack and Michelle's (Obama) first date. And it's true. That was their first date, they went to see "Do the Right Thing" right in our neighborhood.

Q: That's hilarious. It's a microplay about their first date.

A: It's adorable. So I've been thrilled about the fact that we can have our house be a venue not only for art and community-building, and this is something special about Chicago, but also that Zayd could play a role in it. It's pretty cool.

The Chicago Home Theater Festival is running through May 29 at various homes throughout Chicago. For a complete list of dates and locations, visit www.chicagohtf.org.

Michael Workman is a freelance writer.

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ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @chitribent

When: 6 p.m. Thursday (other locations through May 29)

Where: Address available with ticket purchase

Tickets: $15-$65 members; www.chicagohtf.org

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It takes as much nerve as inspiration for a veteran writer to depart the setting in which he or she has achieved great success. But with no small amount of risk, that's what two of Chicago's prized novelists, Scott Turow and Sara Paretsky, have done with their new thrillers.

Thirty years after rocketing up the charts with his gorgeously written courtroom thriller, "Presumed Innocent," Turow takes leave of Kindle County  a fictional stand-in for Chicago  for the Netherlands in "Testimony." And in "Fallout," her 18th V.I. Warshawski novel, Paretsky has her beloved detective conduct an investigation outside of Chicago for the first time  in small-town Kansas, which some followers of the series might find as unlikely as setting Sam Spade loose in cheese country.

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And if you consider the great Dennis Lehane's noir-soaked return to contemporary Boston in "Since We Fell," the setting of his literary masterpiece, "Mystic River," but a significant shift after the Florida settings of his recent "Given Day" trilogy, we've got three of our best crime novelists simultaneously venturing into fresh territory  and making those moves pay off.

"Presumed Innocent" raised the bar for legal thrillers so high that no one has quite reached it  including Turow. Drawing on his experience as a prosecutor, he has turned out some sturdy sequels, but nothing as gripping as his obsessive meltdown classic. In "Testimony," seeking a break from his personal and career problems, 54-four-year-old Kindle County prosecutor Bill Ten Boom (the name is Dutch) takes a job with an international war crimes tribunal in The Hague. He is in charge of investigating the apparent massacre of 400 Roma refugees in 2004, nine years after the Bosnian war officially ended.

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Were the Roma slaughtered for assisting the U.S. Army in its attempt to capture Laza Kajevic, monstrous leader of the Bosnian Serbs? Did the Americans participate in the elimination of the Roma for aiding the still-at-large Kajevic? All possibilities flash before Boom's eyes when his life is threatened. Is the sole survivor of the massacre to be trusted as a witness? What about the disgraced American general who is so eager to be his dining companion? And, most crucially to his mental well-being, what about the female barrister, Esma, who seeks his company in a more intimate setting?

It's a compelling story, told with Turow's usual ease, authority and understated humor. But after all these years, he can't escape the shadow of "Presumed Innocent"  nor, for all the distance his protagonist travels, does he seem to want to. Boom's ill-advised affair with the sexually charged Esma can't help but recall the far more incendiary illicit romance between Rusty Sabich (played by Harrison Ford in the movie adaptation) and Carolyn Polhemus. Perhaps if Boom were less straight-laced, the affair would heat up the pages. As it is, it's rather lukewarm in a by-the-numbers kind of way.

In the epic "Fallout," V.I. "Vic" Warshawski traipses to Lawrence, Kan.  where Paretsky, daughter of a University of Kansas biologist, grew up  to find August Veriden, a black film student. He disappeared from Chicago with Emerald Ferring, a faded actress who once starred in a "Jeffersons"-like sitcom.

Nearly 35 years after a fiery demonstration on a missile base outside of town, Lawrence is still "festering with secrets" and racial tensions. While investigating a series of mysterious deaths, past and present, Warshawski saves the life of a local woman who has been overmedicated to keep her from spilling some of those secrets. Vic also discovers that the tainted soil surrounding the giant food company now occupying the former Air Force base site may be making people sick.

Threatened by cops and cursed by town elders, Warshawski pushes back, fueled on cortados and accompanied by her inquisitive dog, Peppy. You won't find Alan Banks or Rebus, the fictional detectives to whom Vic gives shoutouts, focusing on how messy their appearance is or how bad their feet smell. But when you can dish like Vic can, you can be as image-conscious as you want. Told by a crusty old man not to get insolent with him, she fires back, "Or what? You'll cut off my allowance and shoot me full of lithium?"

Lehane's wicked-smart "Since We Fell" begins with what looks like a conclusion: "On a Tuesday in May, in her thirty-seventh year, Rachel shot her husband dead." As you might expect, the book then flashes back to events that lay out the secrets and lies leading up to the shooting  which, I hasten to add, ends with the victim mouthing the words "I love you." But Lehane so completely defies expectations, you get the feeling he's as interested in fooling his characters as he is in fooling us.

Raised in western Massachusetts by a best-selling self-help author who cruelly manipulated her by withholding the name of her long-vanished father, Rachel has overcome panic attacks to make a name for herself as a journalist in Boston. But while in Haiti reporting on an earthquake, unsettled by people's indifference toward the rape and disappearance of young girls, she has an on-camera breakdown that torpedoes her career. Her anxiety becomes so intense that she is unable to leave her apartment.

Enter Brian, a swell guy who draws her out of her shell. But after they get married, Rachel discovers he isn't going on business trips as he says he is. She becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth. If this were a Hitchcock film, the shooting might put a sardonic cap on the drama. But there is another act left in "Since We Fell" that considers the nature of love and the limits of forgiveness. Free of the period demands of his excellent recent novels, Lehane is in feisty form, channeling classic noir with cutting irony. As ever, he has you falling for his seemingly effortless command as a writer and the ease with which he sinks his hooks into you.

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Lloyd Sachs regularly reviews crime fiction for the Tribune.

'Testimony'

By Scott Turow, Grand Central, 483 pages, $29

'Fallout'

By Sara Paretsky, William Morrow, 448 pages, $27.99

'Since We Fell'

By Dennis Lehane, Ecco, 418 pages, $27.99






The 31st annual Alexian Brothers Ball de Fleur was held at Morgan Manufacturing on May 6. Guests entered the Fulton Market venue through a lighted tunnel  a nod to the theme "Lighting the Way"  to support patients recovering from behavioral health issues and substance use disorders at AMITA Health and Alexian Brothers Health System.

Hosted by the Alexian Brothers Foundation, WGN-TV's Jane Monzures served as master of ceremonies for the event, which took place on two levels at the 32,000 square-foot industrial space. A reception on the second floor offered the 450 guests a variety of cocktail stations, while the first floor featured a silent auction.

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Attendees were invited to light a candle and write a message for a loved one, especially those touched by addiction and mental illness. Throughout the venue, 10-foot-high lighted boxes displayed quotes and images from individuals and families who have been served by the nonprofit. Small lighted boxes on the tables conveyed similar messages.

Terry Graber, president and CEO of Power Construction, offered a toast and introduced Michael Benoit, Alexian Brothers Foundation board chair, who gave an invocation.

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Clay Ciha, president and CEO of AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, told the crowd, "We can't do it without you, and our work isn't done. In just one day, I counted 1,645 encounters among our team who touch those affected by mental health and substance use disorders. That adds up to at least 500,000 throughout the course of a year."

Mark Frey, president and CEO of AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Health System, shared news of the recent opening of the Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment Center, which he said is the first-of-its-kind facility in Illinois to treat adults with anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder or chemical dependency.

"Much of this illness, oftentimes, is spent in darkness, and it's a long, long journey back to the light," he said. Frey then acknowledged Alexian Brothers in attendance, Daniel McCormick, Patrick McCabe and Steve Fogt. The Alexian Brothers is a healing ministry dating to the 13th century.

Dr. Patrick McGrath, clinical director at the Center for Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and assistant vice president of residential services, shared a virtual reality experience with guests during the reception. With the use of an Oculus headset, attendees experienced firsthand the therapy used for patients with a fear of flying.

The event also featured a video profiling two young patients who had overcome substance use disorders with support from the nonprofit's behavioral health programs. Family members of one patient discussed how they became aware of his problem. "The phone calls came less frequently, the conversations were one-sided and he didn't seem to be interested in anything going on with us or the family."

The evening raised nearly $400,000.

Freelance writer Candace Jordan is involved with many local organizations, including some whose events she covers.

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Find more photos and events at www.chicagotribune.com/candidcandace. Visit Candid Candace's website at www.candidcandace.com or follow her on Twitter @CandidCandace.

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Moonlighting during residency in the intensive care unit of a community hospital, I was summoned to the emergency department to evaluate a feverish, septic young woman. In his book "Blink," Malcolm Gladwell describes the reflexive first impression we make before our "thinking" brain starts getting in the way of those initial thoughts.

Walking into the ER bay, all the mental warning bells were ringing. The mottling of her skin told me she was in shock. The visible, rapid rise and fall of her chest told me she was working hard to blow off the accumulating acids in her blood and body. Her eyes told me she was afraid, and rightfully so. The blinking red numbers on the monitor told me how rapid her pulse and how critically low her blood pressure were. She looked sick, but the reality was much worse. I had known her now all of 10 seconds. But I didn't know she was dead. Not just yet.

A couple of quick questions followed, as I tried to piece together some context for her critically ill state. Fever for two days, chills and rigors. No obvious source of infection. No cough or pain in the belly. But then, the next critical piece of information. The one bit of information that took this from the realm of critical illness to literally life and death.

She had no spleen.

I forgot the reason she didn't have a spleen; it made no difference how. Its absence was the crucial part.

The spleen is a funny organ. It's basically a big bag of blood that we can do without. But it does play a crucial role in our immune system, acting as a giant filter or sieve for our blood supply, screening for invaders. Bacteria that have somehow breached our first line of defense and gotten access to the blood supply can, unabated by a spleen, use the high-speed highways of blood vessels to travel and infect, almost instantaneously and simultaneously, any part of the body.

As medical students and young doctors, we are trained to be cautious with overuse of antibiotics. In most people with an intact immune system, the pace of a bacterial infection is slow enough to temper the need to have antibiotics given reflexively for any random fever. But one of the first exceptions to that rule is when a patient has no spleen. Antibiotics are to be given early and quickly. Within hours. Treat first and think later.

She had had a fever for more than 48 hours.

Forty-eight hours. Two days for this infection to have run amok, unabated. Two days' head start with her kidneys failing, her circulation failing, her breathing failing. Bloodstream infections can be life-threatening all on their own. Compound that with one arm of the immune system tied behind its back and a two-day head start without antibiotic reinforcement, and she was gravely ill.

Truth be told, there was no time to think much about what to say. There was work to be done. She needed a tube placed in her lungs to breathe for her. She needed a large IV in her neck to replace the fluids that were leaking out of her blood vessels. She needed a dialysis catheter in her groin to help with her electrolytes and acidic blood. She needed medicine to support her heart. She needed powerful antibiotics to start fighting the infection. As I told her and her father all this in the tiny little ER bay, this young woman, through her labored breath, asked me whether she could talk with her fiance first, before we put the breathing tube in her.

Did I forget to mention that she was engaged? Her fiance was in the waiting room.

I will admit I did not know for sure whether she was going to die that night. I know I was scared. Scared for her. Scared of her. Scared I wouldn't know the right things to do. Not so much by what needed to be done medically. But I was overwhelmed with the responsibility of what to tell this 25-year-old woman, my patient for all of 15 minutes, with her dad beside her. A few minutes away from life support, and along with it, a drug-induced sleep from which she would probably never awaken.

Do I tell her she might die? While truthful, it kind of understates the risk at the moment. Do I tell her she is more likely than not to die? More accurate. But do I need to add to the immense stress and worry that she and her family are already under? Does she even want to know? She has potentially five minutes left to be awake and cognizant in the world. Not much she can do, right? But what would she say? To her dad? To her fiance? Are there things that have been left unsaid? Wrongs to apologize for or to be forgiven? Words of love assumed but not spoken? Five minutes could mean everything. . . . But who was I to make this decision for her?

I was her doctor. A doctor moonlighting in his last year of residency. A doctor whose brain was filled with a growing body of practical knowledge but still short on experience and wisdom. But there I was, and without the luxury of time, I started talking, more by feel than design.

"Let's get your fiance in here. You're pretty sick."

The young man came into the room and held her cool, dusky hand. I talked to the three of them as another doctor walked in to place the breathing tube.

"You are critically ill. Probably from a life-threatening blood infection. Your spleen being gone is part of the problem making your immune system weak. Your organs are shutting down. You need to go on life support." And then . . .

"You may die from this."

Those words hung in the air for a long moment. Only to crash down all around them under the weight of their meaning. I am not sure how much was understood even with the tone of my voice and concern in my face reinforcing those words.

What do you do when you know someone is going to die? They do not teach you this in medical school, and no simulation or role-playing can prepare you for this. I don't know whether I made the right choice that night. I did what felt right in those few minutes I had to talk to her and her family. It felt honest. It felt as though I balanced the gravity of the situation without depriving them of any hope. I felt she would use those minutes with her family knowing that her next few words might be her last.

Thankfully, there were not many questions. A hug for dad. A tearful kiss and embrace with her fiance. Quiet words were spoken. What was shared was only for them to know. The two men tearfully left the room.

We placed a breathing tube. We used a respirator to breathe for her. We moved her to the intensive care unit. We gave her medicine to make her sleep. We placed large IVs. We gave powerful antibiotics. We gave her medicine to make her heart and blood pressure stronger. We tried dialysis, but she was too sick. We did compressions on her heart when it stopped the first time. We did compressions on her heart when it stopped the second time, her fiance and father never more than a few feet away.

She died before the sun rose the next morning.

Topin is a critical-care physician who blogs at Balance. This was first published at www.kevinmd.com
In sixth grade, Marsha Pinto's teacher wanted her to talk more loudly and more often, repeatedly telling Pinto that she would never succeed if she didn't participate in class discussions and group work. The teacher may have had good intentions, but she called on Pinto daily, and when Pinto was bullied, the teacher suggested it was because she didn't stand up for herself.

"She even said if I didn't participate, I would fail," says Pinto, a recent college graduate who now lives in New York City.

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Pinto was quiet, often slumped in her seat and kept her head down. She easily got lost in books and tended to spend recess alone, generally by choice. The cluster seating and collaborative work that teacher preferred made Pinto feel detached and more awkward. Those feelings were exacerbated when the teacher called on her. The pressure from the teacher, along with bullying by a group of girls who regularly teased Pinto about being "weird," took its toll.

"I came home crying a lot, never wanting to go back to school," says Pinto, now 21.

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Pinto was, and is, an introvert. Linda Silverman, director of the Gifted Development Center in Denver and author of "Upside-Down Brilliance," says extroverts get energy primarily from others, while introverts can become overloaded or drained by the outside world and sometimes just don't need or care about it. It's somewhat different from shyness, which can be a debilitating discomfort around others, often despite a strong desire to be more social.

There is greater understanding of introverts, and their talents, now than there was even 10 years ago. Even with all of the internet memes celebrating introversion, though, we still live in a culture that champions outgoing leadership, vocal collaboration and visible performance. That can make it tough for introverts to feel as though they fit in.

But Pinto's parents were supportive of her natural tendencies. Instead of pushing her to be more extroverted, they appreciated her as she was and advocated for others to do the same. They found the sweet spot that experts recommend between supporting and understanding Pinto, while encouraging her to get involved in small after-school groups.

"We felt that pushing her into activities and forcing her to speak would make her feel that she was lacking in something, and that could affect her confidence," says Pinto's father, Melwyn Pinto. "We only encouraged and supported her when she wanted to pursue things."

That gentle encouragement helped her discover strengths, including public speaking. She became the star of the student morning broadcasts in middle school and tried to participate in class more. Marsha Pinto thrived in classes with teachers who appreciated her quiet involvement, often because her parents clued them in to her natural tendencies. Now, she works as an advocate and spokeswoman for young introverts.

By the time Marsha Pinto was in high school, increased public awareness about introverts, fueled by books, Ted Talks, support groups and advocates, helped. But she says it was her parents' support that was most critical to her success.

"I just got a message from a parent worried about her child not having friends," says Marsha Pinto, who is completing an internship in speech and language therapy. "I told her if her child seems happy, it's fine. Make your child feel valued because unfortunately in our society, the quiet ones often aren't. Mine looked at my strengths instead of judging me, and encouraged me to do things I liked and was good at."

Silverman agrees that parents of introverts need to relax and embrace their child's strengths.

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"Parents and teachers aren't working overtime turning extroverts into introverts," Silverman says, "but they do try to remake introverts into extroverts. And they don't need to."

Research shows that introverts are less impulsive and better able to avoid risks and are often more creative and get better grades than extroverts, Silverman says. Some research shows that they are more attractive to others and have better relationships. They may even live longer and are often comfortable being alone or with just a few friends with similar interests.

"Introverts think before they act, digest information thoroughly, stay on task longer, give up less easily and work more accurately," says Susan Cain, author of "Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts." She says extroverts, like dandelions, can thrive in any circumstances, while introverted "orchid children" need a bit more care but "become a flower of unusual delicacy and beauty."

Here are suggestions, from Silverman and other experts, on how parents can help their introverts thrive.

- Nudge, but be patient. Accepting your child's introversion doesn't mean you shouldn't gently push them to expand their comfort zone.

John Zelenski, a psychology professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, has studied introversion extensively. His research shows that with more engagement, introverts can refine their social skills and increase their confidence. Children also change, and over time may become more interested in socializing or even leadership roles, and then could regret not having developed those skills, he says.

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Cain agrees, saying that "parents shouldn't shelter them from difficult social situations" and should "show them that they understand and sympathize and want to help."

Silverman says parents who pay attention will "intuitively understand when and how to encourage their children to stretch themselves beyond their comfort zone."

- Provide practice. Give your child safe places to try being more outgoing, and allow them to get comfortable with it. Encourage them carefully, Cain says. Ask an introverted child to explain an interest to a familiar adult, for example, or suggest they order their own food at a restaurant and pay the cashier. Have an older child write the teacher a note about an unfair grade or a friend about a confusing encounter - and, perhaps, have them ask for time to talk.

At home you can also create scenarios and have a child talk through or act out responses. What will they do when they have to choose a seat at lunch?

- Help them find a niche. Cain suggests parents should help introverts find activities they enjoy and are successful at, even if they seem to contradict the child's quiet nature. Actors and other performers often are introverts. Pinto found she was comfortable as a speaker when the words were provided and she had a captive audience.

Others, however, may be more comfortable behind the scenes as the editor of the school literary magazine or newspaper. A tech-savvy high school junior may shine explaining the workings of a robot to middle school students after school, and a good musician might give basic piano lessons. Provide options and encourage, or even require, participation in one.

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- Carefully plan encounters. Cain notes that introverts might feel more comfortable if they arrive early for a birthday party or go with a friend. Allow them to join activities slowly or stay on the outskirts and plan for a break if they get overwhelmed. Always have an exit strategy, Cain says. Even if they don't intend to use it, knowing it's there can ease their mind.

"Escapes and backup plans are essential so the child doesn't feel trapped," says Silverman. "Parents tell me, however, that once they participate, they enjoy it. If that's your child's pattern, remind them of how much fun it was last time."

- Build in structure. At home, give your introverted child quiet time, but have normal expectations for chores, homework and keeping to a regular schedule. Introverts, warns Sophia Dembling, author of "The Introvert's Way," can get lost in a book or a movie, so that structure is important.

Work with them to develop a plan for the evenings. Include time reading or on the computer, but also a chore that requires thought beyond their private world and perhaps social interaction. Dembling's parents asked her not to read at the table, and she is happy they did.

She notes, however, that "a completely unstructured day once a week might be very good, too, for an introverted kid."

- Teach mindfulness. Yes, it's trendy and can help pretty much everyone. But some research shows that introverts benefit from mindfulness and relaxation techniques more than extroverts because their brains are more easily aroused, which causes them to avoid stimulation and feel better when they calm it down, according to Peter O'Connor, a professor at Queensland University of Technology in Australia who has studied therapies to help shy and introverted people. He recommends children's yoga, simple breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation exercises for five to 10 minutes.

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Zelenski also suggests they that they may be happier if they consciously try to improve their mood by thinking more positively.

And being patient while gently encouraging your introvert can pay off.

Marsha Pinto's parents remember when she told them that she planned to participate in a speech competition.

"She spoke about her shyness, and she won it," Melwyn Pinto says. "This quiet, introverted kid won the public-speaking competition. The stone the builders rejected suddenly became the cornerstone."







Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 In 1987, Mayor Harold Washington ordered the design of a new central library. The breathtaking Winter Garden on the ninth floor is a quiet locale, perfect for logging some hours. (Stevegeer/iStock)
A little boy tries to take the vice Presidential seal from the lectern as Vice President Mike Pence speaks May 9, 2017, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington. The event recognized National Military Appreciation Month and National Military Spouse Appreciation Day. ( Carolyn Kaster/AP )

Are you ready for President Mike Pence?

There's enough out there now about President Donald Trump that mentioning a President Pence isn't all that unreasonable.

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There's a drumbeat now, sending tingles up and down Democratic legs  and Republican Never-Trumper legs  and other sensations through America's turgid Twitter thumbs.

The New York Times is all but accusing Trump of obstruction of justice in the FBI investigation of former National Security adviser Michael Flynn, with Democrats calling for impeachment proceedings.

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The Washington Post has tagged Trump at best a bumbler, impulsively dishing out classified information on ISIS to the Russians.

Trump's credibility is in tatters just as he planned to make his first foreign trip, and now Washington is a hot mess, amplified by the social media echo chamber and the ravenous appetites of cable news.

Given Trump's animosity toward the Washington establishment, and their absolute loathing of Trump and his working-class voters, there's also the smell of blood on the floor.

But with all the shrieking and screaming, and partisan dancing, I'd like to suggest something:

Take a few steps back, America. That's right. Take a few steps back.

Get yourself a pocket copy of the Constitution and hold on.

It might be comforting to blow it all off as partisan politics, or run with your partisan pack and howl at the orange moon. Politics is at play, yes, and agendas are everywhere, and hypocrisy is the water of life in Washington, but these are serious stories that are draped across Trump's neck.

Allegations of obstruction of justice are serious, and compulsively giving up classified intelligence is also quite serious. And they deserve your serious consideration.

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But whether you voted for him or you hate him, and tens of millions of Americans did one or the other in November, remember this about the president.

Trump won't be hanged by the morning.

He might even make it to next week.

Still, The New York Times story about former FBI Director James Comey and Trump is the kind of thing that bleeds an administration dry.

The Times, through sources, reports on a memo Comey apparently wrote before Trump fired him, about a conversation he had with the president in the Oval Office in February.

It was about Michael Flynn, Trump's national security adviser, who is under investigation by the FBI.

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"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump told Comey, according to the Times story on the memo. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

There's only one thing wrong with the story far as I can tell. The New York Times didn't print a copy of the Comey memo.

It has sources who read the memo. These could be other FBI agents or Comey himself, or his lawyers. And given it comes out of Washington, is it possible there could be a political agenda here?

We really don't know what Comey said or wrote or thought. We know the Trump White House denies it all. But that's today. The president might tweet out something else in the morning.

You can make the beginnings of an obstruction of justice case with that one. Trump helped the Democratic narrative with his recent interview with NBC about his decision to fire Comey.

"Regardless of recommendation I was going to fire Comey, knowing, there was no good time to do it," Trump told NBC. "And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won."

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The Russians didn't cost Hillary Clinton the election. Hillary was doomed months before any alleged Russian interference or hacking of Democratic email.

She was the establishment candidate in the year of insurgency, and the Democrats, the party of the state, still can't deal with it.

"The White House said it didn't happen and I think they need to come forward with whatever evidence they have," said Sen. Angus King, of Maine, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.

"If it's a tape, now's the time," King told CNN. "If it's contemporaneous notes, if there was someone else in the room that took notes, if the president wrote a memo afterward about what was said in that meeting, we need to have that before us."

He's absolutely correct. But my guess is that Trump doesn't write memos after he leverages somebody to do what he wants done. It's all muscle with him.

And memos are a Washington thing, something that clerks and lawyers do to cover their flanks. And apparently, Comey's flanks are covered, but until we actually read the memo, until Comey testifies under oath as to the nature of their conversation, we just don't know.

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"There's a reason why newspaper articles are not admissible in any courtroom in the United States, Republican U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy said on Fox News. "I'm not knocking the reporter. The reporter does good work. But we're a long ways from a conviction, the fact that we simply have a headline in The New York Times."

Comey will, and should, testify before Congress. And every American should be able to read the memo and hear his testimony.

But headlines do have a way of driving a herd, don't they?

Listen to "The Chicago Way" podcast, with John Kass and Jeff Carlin, at www.wgnradio.com/category/wgn-plus/category/thechicagoway.

jskass@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @John_Kass
West Aurora School District Superintendent Jeff Craig is going to Springfield Wednesday to discuss the states budget impasse.| Sean King - The Beacon-New ( Sean King/The Beacon-News )

West Aurora School District Superintendent Jeff Craig is heading to Springfield Wednesday to meet with lawmakers about ending the state budget impasse.

Joining Craig will be Karen Sullivan, superintendent of Indian Prairie School District 204; Elgin School District U46 CEO Tony Sanders; and Jennifer Garrison, superintendent of Sandoval School District 501.

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Craig Monday night said although four educators are going downstate, collectively their voices represent 438 superintendents across the state calling for lawmakers to pass a budget.

Craig said the superintendents have arranged to meet with the four leaders of the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives as well as Gov. Bruce Rauner Wednesday in the state capitol. Craig said their first two meetings will be with House Republican Leader James Durkin (82nd District) and Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno (41st District).

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That session will be followed by a one-on-one meeting with Rauner. The educators will then meet with Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago). Their final meeting will be with House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).

A couple of weeks ago a coalition of superintendents announced a campaign to encourage lawmakers to pass a budget. The marquees on school campuses in each of the districts urged a settlement to the budget stalemate.

"Our impetus is to end the budget impasse, create a consensus where we can improve the school funding formula and find a way to fund mandated categorical payments promised to us. They still owe approximately three payments to each district in the state," Craig told the West Aurora School Board Monday night. "We are not going down there to come up with a bright idea. There are already lots of great ideas on the table.

"We are trying to encourage the elected officials to reach a compromise on a solution," he said. "They are intelligent and competent people but for some reason are unable to come together to reach a compromise."

He said the trip to Springfield is a bipartisan approach to end the impasse prior to the end of the spring legislative session scheduled for May 31. Anything after that, he said, changes the voting paradigm in Springfield and makes it much more difficult to pass legislation.

"Wednesday will be an important day for us," the superintendent said. "They have all heard of our initiative. We hope that we can bring some change along and get them to move forward."

West Aurora School Board member Allyson Herget said she wished state elected officials could have seen how the School Board recognized students that recently represented District 129 in regional and national academic contests.

"I wonder if they could see the great accomplishments that our kids in this district do by working well together. It might inspire them to do great things by working well together," Herget said.

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School Board member Amie Thompson thanked Craig for his efforts to take the campaign for school funding down to Springfield.

"It's so sad that it's actually come this far. Hopefully we will actually be able to make a difference," Thompson said.

Craig is hopeful the school leaders can make an impact in Springfield.

"Our objective is to try and depoliticize (the budget issue). We are nonpartisan," Craig said. "This isn't a Republican or Democrat issue. This is a state of Illinois issue - it's about our students."

Craig said school funding changes and mandated categorical payments depend on the passage of a budget.

Recently, state Comptroller Susana Mendoza said she could not guarantee districts would receive another quarterly categorical payment before the end of the fiscal year, spokesman Abdon Pallasch said. She made the comments at an appropriations hearing May 9, he said.

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Categoricals  payments for services such as special education and transportation  are typically paid quarterly but districts only recently received their payments for the first quarter this year, which were supposed to come in September, Pallasch said.

"It's not like we're sitting on money and deciding not to pay," he said. "There is no money in the coffers."

The state was able to make one categorical payment in April because more revenue was coming in with taxes due, Pallasch said. But May and June are "not looking good for much more money coming in."

Craig said the first step is to get a budget passed.

"We cannot continue to go down the road with no budget," he said. "It will be detrimental to our district. That's the impression we want to make."

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News

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Beacon-News reporter Sarah Freishtat contributed.
Cipriano "Cip" Siete Sr. became Elgin's first Hispanic police officer in the late 1950s and later worked as a deputy sheriff for 12 years at Kane County's courthouse.

"He had a vision of his police work as including outreach in the community and especially in the Hispanic community, to bring them into the mainstream and encourage participation in civic matters," said retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Manny Barbosa, a longtime friend.

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Siete, 86, died of congestive heart failure April 21 at Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin, said his wife, Linda. A longtime Elgin resident, Siete also had Parkinson's disease.

Born in Elgin, Siete graduated from St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin. He served for four years in the Air Force and was trained as a military police officer.

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In 1958, Siete became Elgin's first Hispanic police officer. He was promoted to become a detective and later a sergeant before retiring in 1981. Siete was known for handing out lollipops to local children.

"As a small boy, he would always wave to police officers when he would see the car go by and especially as he did that and as he was growing up poor, as he looked at other careers, he looked at that to say that, 'Maybe someday, that could be me,' " Siete's wife said. "And once he became a police officer, that was the proudest day of his life."

While working on Elgin's police force, Siete took law enforcement courses at Northern Illinois University.

After retiring from Elgin's police force, Siete worked as the head of security for the Sears store at the Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee. In 1993, he took a job in the Kane County sheriff's office, helping to oversee security at the courthouse in Geneva.

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"Cip was a wonderful addition to the courthouse security staff," said retired Kane County Circuit Court Chief Judge Judy Brawka. "Cip was not only good at his job, which was court security and helping to keep people safe and working with the prisoners, but he also respected the people who came to court to watch cases."

One of Siete's trademarks was to bring birthday cakes to work from Herb's Bakery in Elgin to help celebrate judges' and lawyers' birthdays.

After suffering a ministroke, Siete decided to retire from his courthouse job in 2005, his wife said.

In 1977, the Elgin-based Club Guadalupano, a Hispanic nonprofit group that recognizes high school graduates for academic achievements and community involvement, gave Siete its first award for community service.

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Two previous marriages ended in divorce. In addition to his wife, Siete is survived by five daughters, Rebecca Zimmermann, Cathy, Alice Nevel, Stephanie and Sarah Filardo; two sons, Cip Jr. and Dennis; a stepdaughter, Lindsay Jensen; a sister, Rafaela Perez; a brother, Joseph; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services were held.

Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.
The Chicago Tribune participated Tuesday in the fourth annual On the Table, an initiative of the Chicago Community Trust.

For our part, we had a group of 15 people  a mix of journalists and people from the community, some of them representing organizations. Jean Westrick, the trust's director of civic engagement, told us that 3,500 such conversations were planned for the day. That translates into more than 50,000 people.

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The aim is to connect individuals and communities of diverse perspectives, which played out in our discussions. Jen Brown, an avid reader and longtime subscriber, articulated a theme early on: Language matters, and we have to be careful about letting code phrases define our perspectives. Others followed up on that thread, noting that in Chicago, we sometimes say South Side when describing violence, and yet there are many neighborhoods in that broad area where people live middle-class, everyday lives.

Andrew Kang, legal director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago, said that people in this city are letting others on the outside define our city's story and control the narrative, particularly the Trump administration, which has repeatedly singled out Chicago.

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"The success story about Chicago relates to immigration, and that needs to be told," he said. It's also important, he noted, for different racial groups and ethnic groups to reach out to "un-silo" their life experiences  and connect with other groups. He spoke about a group for young Asian students who met with African-American students, and how much they learned from one another.

Roch J. Shipley, a Tribune subscriber who lives in Naperville, considers himself a South Sider and grew up in the Homewood-Flossmoor area. "When you get to know people" who have different life experiences and perspectives, he said, "that breaks down the barriers."

The Community Trust's website is www.cct.org, and it is using the hashtag #OnTheTable2017 for social media posts across Chicago.

 Margaret Holt, standards editor
WASHINGTON  Two key GOP lawmakers are crafting a multi-billion dollar bill that would punish sanctuary cities, force parents of undocumented teens to wear electronic ankle monitors so their children don't skip deportation hearings, and establish five-year minimum prison sentences for immigrants who illegally reenter the United States after having been deported, according to a congressional aide and a draft of the legislation obtained by The Washington Post.

The bill by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, which was still being reworked on Monday, also would increase detention space and boost the number of immigration judges on the border to speed deportations.

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It calls for increased criminal prosecutions of immigrants who cross the border illegally, and would reimburse governors who deploy their state's National Guard to help patrol the U.S. border, according to a congressional aide with direct knowledge of the bill.

The White House declined to comment on the bill late Monday.

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The wide-ranging proposal, which is being refined with input from the Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security, aims to boost border security and immigration enforcement in the interior of the United States.

But hardline anti-immigration groups who have seen drafts of the legislation say it falls short by failing to provide for Trump's long-promised border wall, sanctions against businesses that hire illegal immigrants, or E-verify, the employment-verification system that has been a staple of previous immigration talks on Capitol Hill.

These critics say that even if the bill passed the House, it is unlikely to pass the Senate, where Democrats have signaled that they would be unwilling to compromise on legislation unless it includes a path to legal residency for the country's 11 million undocumented immigrants.

"There's not a single thing about worksite enforcement or anything at all against employers," said Jessica Vaughan, the director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, who has seen a draft of the bill. "It's tinkering around the margins."

The proposal comes after a string of court challenges by Democrats and civil-liberties groups that have temporarily paralyzed many of President Donald Trump's efforts to crack down on undocumented immigrants and sanctuary cities, among other provisions.

Trump has also run into trouble securing financing from Congress for a bigger wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Regardless of whether it advances in Congress, the legislation could have implications for Cornyn and McCaul, who reportedly have ambitions of their own that extend beyond their current jobs.

Cornyn is in the running to succeed fired FBI director James Comey, while McCaul is a long-rumored future U.S. Senate candidate who might run for Cornyn's seat if it came open.

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Cornyn chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on border security and immigration, while McCaul heads the House Homeland Security Committee. Both lawmakers have questioned proposals to build a border wall, especially as border apprehensions have declined, resistance that has earned the congressman the nickname "No wall-McCaul."

The most recent draft of their bill seeks to punish sanctuary jurisdictions by dramatically expanding the pool of federal grant money that could be denied to cities and towns that prohibit or limit cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's deportation agents.

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A federal judge in California last month temporarily blocked Trump's plans to strip a more limited amount of grant funding from sanctuary cities. But the reasoning the judge gave was that only Congress can impose conditions on federal funds.

There are currently more than 100 sanctuary cities that refuse to turn over immigrants they have arrested for state or local crimes to ICE for civil deportation proceedings.

Vaughan said the Cornyn-McCaul measure combines separate proposals that could perhaps pass on their own, including a bill known as "Kate's Law," named for Kathryn Steinle, who was shot and killed in 2015 in San Francisco, allegedly by a Mexican national who had been deported several times, but returned to the United States. There is also a proposal that mirrors legislation from Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., that would prod sanctuary cities to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

Earlier this year, Cornyn said he was working with other members of Congress and the Trump administration on legislation that would secure the border.

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"I've said it before, and I'll say it again that border security is really a question of political will," he said. "The last administration did not have it, and I know this administration does have the political will to get it done, so we are trying to work together to demonstrate to them what we think the means to achieve that goal should look like."

Robert Law, director of government relations for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said the draft proposals contain some useful tools for enforcing immigration law, but in general, "still keeps missing the mark."

"It's the same failed attempt every single Congress," said Law, whose group favors slashing legal immigration in addition to stepping up deportations. "New Congress, and nothing changes in actually securing the border."
After coming to the U.S. from Colombia in 1999, Armando Paez raised his family in northern Indiana, working as a server and at a packaging company in Elkhart to put his three children through college. When the residents of Elkhart learned that he might be deported, they collected over 10,000 signatures in support of his stay. Despite these efforts, Paez was scheduled to be deported on May 17, 2017. Because of a document delay, he rescheduled his flight out of South Bend for the following day. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune) (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

ELKHART, Ind.  Election results alone might paint this small town as no more than another conservative bastion that helped elevate Donald Trump to the presidency.

Its residents say they value Trump's businessman approach to politics, especially those who struggled during the recession, when Elkhart County had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

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It would seem an unlikely place for a groundswell of support to rise up for an immigrant who is in the country illegally and scheduled for deportation Wednesday. But politics here aren't black and white.

Get to know Elkhart's residents, and they'll say it's a town of entrepreneurs and RV industry workers who believe that anyone, with the right amount of hard work and resolve, can climb the economic ladder. It's a place of "multimillionaires with eighth-grade educations," where people don't care if you didn't finish high school or college. At local bars, regulars gripe about politics like anywhere else, but bartenders say they rarely bring up immigration.

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Armando Paez was the affable waiter at Antonio's Italian Ristorante, one of the most frequented restaurants in town, where it wasn't uncommon for patrons to request him as their server. They knew Paez, 58, worked a second job at a packaging company so he could pay for college for his three children. In a town where just 13 percent of people over 25 hold bachelor's degrees, it was something people admired.

So when residents found out that Paez, a Colombian immigrant who has been in the U.S. for 18 years, was scheduled for deportation, some were infuriated: This was a man who juggled jobs and worked 18-hour days to provide for a family he rarely saw. If working hard to move up the ladder is the "Elkhart way," residents said, Paez was the standard.

The deportation order was issued last fall under the Obama administration even as the Trump campaign was escalating its anti-immigration rhetoric. Mary Whitt, a 55-year-old resident and Antonio's patron, started a petition to send to Paez's immigration case officer. But she and many others who signed it went on to vote for Trump.

In Elkhart County, Trump won 63 percent of the vote; in Indiana, about 57 percent of the population voted for him. Whitt said she voted for Trump believing him to be relatable, and, like her, a good businessperson. As for his immigration stance, she hoped his administration would be "more logical" in deciding who to deport. "Not so rules-for-the-sake-of-rules," she said.

Other residents said they voted for Trump hoping he'd tighten immigration enforcement, adding that they didn't mind the anti-immigrant rhetoric of his campaign. But they said they never imagined "criminal aliens" would include people like Paez  honest, kind-hearted people with families. In 2000, a year after Paez came to America, he was charged with a misdemeanor DUI, a circumstance that likely made him a higher priority for deportation.

Since the petition was launched, it has been circulated online and throughout Elkhart businesses to "help Armando Paez stay in America with his family and become a U.S. citizen," garnering more than 10,000 signatures, many from people in Northwest Indiana. It was sent to local politicians, the Department of Homeland Security and Trump.

"To see the community around us be Trump supporters, personally for me, it's understandable. You have your opinion and things like that," said Paez's 24-year-old daughter, Maria. She was brought to the U.S. with her siblings as a young child.

She said she cried when Trump was elected. But she couldn't be upset with her community, she said, because of how gracious its residents have been to her family.

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"In my opinion, they've helped our family. They've written letters. They've been there to support us. I'm very thankful for that, and for that reason I can't really say anything else but, simply, thank you."

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 20 Armando Paez reflects on his life in Indiana and the possibility of leaving behind his family in Granger, Ind., on May 11, 2017. He is due to be deported May 17. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

'RV capital'

Elkhart is a majority-white town of about 52,000 people, 15 miles east of South Bend and 110 miles east of Chicago. It sits on two rivers, the St. Joseph and the Elkhart. Its main roads are lined with family restaurants and used-car dealerships, its quiet residential streets with trees.

The cream-colored concrete Main Street Memorial Bridge arches over the St. Joseph River, leading to the downtown cluster of historic buildings and quaint antique shops. On a sunny day last week, posters for a 5k Fun Run hung from lampposts.

Elkhart is sometimes referred to as the "RV Capital of the World," with an economy that depends on the recreation vehicle industry, which employs thousands in the area and brings in tourists from across the country looking to service their RVs. In 2009, during the recession, Elkhart County's unemployment rate reached 20 percent, and the RV industry, which relies on low fuel prices, shed jobs and struggled to survive.

It's since recovered, and as of March, Elkhart's unemployment rate was down to 3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But residents still perked their ears to Trump's promises of job growth and further economic recovery, eager for a non-politician to shake up Washington.

Some say they saw potential in his unabashed demeanor. Others viewed him as the "lesser of two evils," and a better choice than Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric didn't necessarily resonate, they say, but they thought perhaps his immigration campaign promises wouldn't turn into a reality.

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That hasn't been the case. Soon after his inauguration, Trump directed the federal government to enforce the nation's immigration laws more aggressively. In January, he signed an executive order expanding the list of deportation priorities, which now includes any noncitizen who is charged with a criminal offense of any kind or who is suspected of committing criminal acts.

Several Elkhart residents who spoke with the Tribune mentioned they were upset by the deportation of restaurant owner Roberto Beristain, of nearby Mishawaka, in April. His story drew national attention after media outlets reported Beristain's wife voted for Trump. She had hoped he'd help the economy. Beristain, according to media reports, had no criminal record.

Brandon Stanley, the owner of New Paradigm Brewing Co. in Elkhart, didn't vote for Trump but knows plenty of people who did. He said Elkhart has residents who've voted Republican their entire lives  "Like NASCAR fans, they're brand-loyal," he said  and younger residents who voted for Trump because of frustrations with the Obama administration.

Stanley doesn't know Paez but signed the petition online after learning his story. He said the petition was circulated around his bar, too, and most patrons signed.

"Naturally, if someone is found to be a criminal and they're an illegal immigrant, then people want justice to be carried out properly. But I don't think you have people going out on headhunting missions by any stretch of the imagination," he said.

"There's so many jobs in this area that without immigrants, the work wouldn't be getting done," he said. "We all understand that around here."

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Scott Welch, the president and CEO of Welch Packaging, hired Paez to work for his company a few years ago, and quickly noticed his potential. He moved him to the graphics department of the box manufacturing company after Paez spent two years working on the production floor. He said Paez had an admirable work ethic, and was the kind of person "you want to see build your culture."

"Is there a lot of illegals (in Elkhart)? I'm sure there are," he said. "But I don't think they're looked upon in any negative way. I think people just get up, go to work and accept people for who they are. Which I really value."

Brandon Stanley, an Elkhart business owner, says Armando Paez epitomizes what American immigrants should be. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

A moment to be happy

A week before his deportation, Paez couldn't give much thought to what might happen after May 17, the date on his plane ticket.

His daughter Ana's wedding was Saturday. His other daughter, Maria, was graduating from Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis. He and his wife, Marta, forced themselves to focus on these celebrations  not what would happen after.

"That day we're gonna forget about everything going on with my dad and my family," said Ana, 27, about her wedding. "I just want my dad to be happy in that moment."

Paez, who doesn't want his wife or children to go back to Colombia with him, said he sacrificed too much to give them the best life they could have in the U.S. His wife and children came to the United States legally but overstayed their visas. The children are for now protected from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, immigration policy.

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Paez raised his family in a little house in the neighboring town of Granger, working tirelessly to make sure his children were educated. His son, Juan, just finished his first year of college.

"Always being responsible, buying our little house, investing here  it was all for nothing," he said. "Besides my family, I know that there are many, many other families that are in worse situations, but there has to be someone with a heart that can stop this situation in this country.

"This is the best country in the world, but it has too many inhumane problems. That's the word  too inhumane."

Juan Paez, left, and his father Armando, second from left, watch as sister Maria and mother Marta pose for a photo after Maria's college graduation in Indianapolis on May 14, 2017. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

A matter of fairness

Hans von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said no matter how "nice" they are, no one living in the country illegally has the right to stay, as it's unfair to the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who immigrate to the U.S. legally each year.

"What makes this country different is we are a country based on rule of law. We don't treat people differently under rule of law because we like them or because one guy is a blue-collar worker or one guy is a white-collar worker in a big Wall Street firm," he said.

"If this guy is such a great guy, why didn't he apply to come here like the 1 million (people) a year we're bringing into the country legally?"

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Paez had been granted permission to stay in the U.S. during Immigration and Customs Enforcement check-ins in previous years, but in October he was denied. Officers agreed to let him stay in the country until May 17 so he could attend the wedding and graduation. He was told to purchase a plane ticket for that day.

Marta, Paez's wife, is also fearful about her future in the U.S.

"Because today I'm thinking I'm here, I see my kids, and I say to myself, 'Tomorrow, what? Tomorrow, what?' What is going to happen to me tomorrow, because it's an uncertainty that kills slowly," she said.

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With Paez's deportation imminent, the community is trying to come to terms with the fact that little can be done. Whitt, who started the petition in late October when Paez and his family first learned there was a chance he'd be deported, met Paez at least 15 years ago at Antonio's.

She posted an update on the online petition over the weekend. Time is running out, she wrote. "5/17/17 is only days away and we are going to lose a great man that has worked hard to achieve the American dream." She urged people to call Chicago's ICE office. Comments of support flooded in through Tuesday.

The family is grateful for the community's support. But when Paez leaves, they'll have to find a way to get by without him, and that will take some time.

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"He's kind of like the captain of the ship," said Paez's son, Juan. "Pretty much without him we don't know what to do. Where to go. We've always had him for support. Him always kind of leading the way, creating the path for us.

"Without him it's kind of like, what do we do now?"

meltagouri@chicagotribune.com

twitter @marwaeltagouri
A man found dead in a Burnside neighborhood home earlier this week was stabbed to death, authorities said Wednesday.

Antonio P. Vaughn, Sr., 60, died from multiple sharp force injuries, the Cook County medical examiner's office determined in an autopsy Tuesday whose results were released Wednesday. Vaughn had been pronounced dead at 1:22 p.m. in the 500 block of East 92nd Street, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

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Vaughn was found in a home's bedroom about 11:20 a.m. Monday by an owner of the 92nd Street property, who called police about noon that day, said Officer Jose Estrada, a police spokesman.

Police found the man face-down in the bedroom, with what appeared to be puncture wounds to his beck and chest, police said.

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The medical examiner's office said Vaughn's home address was listed as being in the 9500 block of South Emerald Avenue.

Area South detectives were investigating, but no one was in custody.
Chicago police officials on Wednesday announced policy changes intended to cut back on questionable shootings and other uses of force that have haunted the department for years.

The changes, made after months of back-and-forth revisions, will tighten department rules that experts and advocates have criticized as too permissive of unnecessary uses of force.

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The policy changes  expected to take effect this fall  represent a milestone for a department upended nearly 18 months ago by the release of video of a white officer shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times.

The revised rules, however, do not go as far in some respects as the rules proposed by police Superintendent Eddie Johnson in October, when the department and Mayor Rahm Emanuel faced more intense federal scrutiny amid the immediate fallout over the video.

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The final version of the department's main use-of-force policy substantially resembles the scaled-back proposal Johnson made in March after rank-and-file police complained that his first proposal was too extreme.

In one key change, the policy holds that an officer can't shoot a fleeing person unless that person presents an imminent threat to police or others. The rule that has been in place says an officer can shoot any person fleeing after committing or trying to commit a felony using force.

The new policy also calls on officers to use their new de-escalation training to try to defuse incidents. The adopted language is less strict than Johnson's first proposal, though. Officers have to try de-escalation only "when it is safe and feasible to do so."

Johnson announced the new rules at an event at police headquarters designed to show unity among his command staff, rank-and-file officers and residents. Johnson spoke to a crowd of officers as he was flanked by Ald. Ariel Reboyras, 30th, an Emanuel ally who lauded the new rules in both English and Spanish.

Johnson was also joined by activist William Calloway, who helped force the release of the McDonald video. Onstage during questioning by the media, Calloway greeted Johnson with a handshake and "What's up, Supe?" He credited the protests over the McDonald shooting with creating change in the department.

"This is a big win for us, that our voices were heard," Calloway said.

But he added the caution that it won't be clear how effective the rules are until they are in place.

The policies are yet another point of disagreement between top department officials and the Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents rank-and-file officers and whose contract with the city expires this year.

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Kevin Graham, elected FOP president last month, released a statement Wednesday decrying the "anti-law enforcement climate" in Chicago. Graham has opposed the idea that the department needs outside oversight or tougher discipline.

"Three Chicago police officers have been shot in the last two weeks. The reality is that many offenders do not want to go to jail and they become resistant or combative with officers. These violators determine the level of response by officers," Graham said in a written statement.

"For these reasons, we do not believe that extensive changes should made to the current use of force policy. Nevertheless, we are always willing to discuss new measures with the superintendent that insure the safety of our officers and those of the public," the statement read.

Johnson, meanwhile, said the department can't compromise on either officer safety or residents' rights.

"I'm not naive. I know that there will be some who will think that these policies are too restrictive for officers to do their jobs, and there will be some who think it isn't restrictive enough," he said.

"However, I do believe that the set of policies we are releasing today is in the best interest of everyone," he said.

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In a break from tradition for a department that has done little to train officers on policy changes, all of the approximately 12,000 officers will receive both computerized and in-person training on the new force rules, Johnson announced.

The rules are expected to take effect this fall after officers have each received four hours of in-person training. That will be followed by eight more hours of training next year.

Department rules can be more than symbolic  they set boundaries that officers can face punishment for breaking.

Officer discipline has been rare and often light in Chicago, and oversight officials aiming to strengthen accountability have sought changes to use-of-force policies widely criticized as too permissive. More specific rules could give disciplinary authorities stricter standards to apply to officers who use force in questionable circumstances.

Sharon Fairley, who runs the city's main police oversight agency and will head the city's revamped Civilian Office of Police Accountability when it begins operations this year, lauded the new rules.

"We believe these new policies incorporate new concepts that are essential to fair and effective policing," she said in a statement.

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The department's force policies drew intense focus after Emanuel was forced in November 2015 to release video of Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald as the teen walked away from police with a knife in his hand.

Furious protests followed, and the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into the department. Emanuel, meanwhile, made changes aimed at getting ahead of federal authorities. One of his early moves was to propose new rules on the use of force.

Johnson, appointed to lead the department as the crisis deepened, first proposed new force rules in October that were markedly more restrictive than the rules in place. Some officers said the draft policy was too exacting for cops making split-second decisions under pressure.

Months after Johnson put that proposal out for public comment, the Justice Department finalized a report that concluded officers used force too aggressively, often against minorities and with limited fear of repercussions.

But President Donald Trump's election and his appointment of Jeff Sessions as attorney general upended the political discussion about police reform. Sessions has signaled that he is unlikely to seek court enforcement of reforms, and the lack of federal pressure would leave Emanuel largely in control.

Emanuel, for his part, is trying to boost officer morale and tamp down surging violence on the South and West sides, which some blame on officers scaling back activity to avoid trouble.

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Emanuel and Johnson have both vowed to continue pursuing reforms, but experts have voiced skepticism that meaningful change will come without federal pressure.

In March, Johnson scaled back and tweaked his proposal from October on the department's main use-of-force guidelines.

The final version of the main force policy resembles the one Johnson proposed in March.

Like past revisions of the rules proposed by Johnson, the final policy begins with a symbolic statement of the department's commitment to protecting human life.

Beyond rhetoric, certain changes are aimed at addressing long-standing issues in the department, including the new rule that an officer can only shoot a fleeing person who poses an imminent threat to an officer or other person. The rules that have been in place allow an officer to shoot a fleeing person who has committed a felony using force.

A database compiled by the Tribune last year showed that foot chases played a role in more than a third of the 235 police shootings from 2010 through 2015 that ended with someone wounded or killed.

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The new policy expands on the comparatively bare-bones one that has been in place, which focuses largely on whether a use of force is reasonable. The department's new overarching rule on using force emphasizes that it must be objectively reasonable, necessary and proportional to the threat.

The new rules also require officers to intervene verbally or by other means when another officer uses excessive force. Johnson's original proposal suggested officers could physically intervene when colleagues use excessive force, inspiring ridicule from observers who suggested it could call for a cop to shoot his partner. The final version calls on an officer to intervene, but it does not specify that the intervention could be physical.

The final rules also closely resemble Johnson's scaled-back proposal on officers giving medical attention. The earliest proposal mandated that officers give medical care to the wounded, but the final rules say officers may do so if they are properly trained.

Experts and reform advocates had little time Wednesday to digest the extensive new rules, but attorney Jon Loevy, who has often sued the department over uses of force, said he was pleased with the more specific rules.

"I'm not afraid to criticize the Chicago Police Department, but this is something that I think they deserve credit for," he said.

dhinkel@chicagotribune.com

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Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks at a naturalization ceremony on May 5, 2017. As Chicago Public Schools officials search for solutions on how to payits pension fund, Emanuel 's top finance officials last week said CPS has the cash it needs to complete the school year but lacks funds to pay the bulk of a more than $700 million contribution owed the pension fund by June 30. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

Chicago Public Schools has backed out of the public presentation the district planned to give to the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund board later this week, a fund spokeswoman said Tuesday, as city and CPS officials continue to meet over a financial rescue plan for the school system.

CPS did not respond to a question on why it canceled the presentation. Last week, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's top finance officials said CPS has the cash it needs to complete the school year but lacks funds to pay the bulk of a more than $700 million contribution owed the pension fund by June 30.

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Chicago Chief Financial Officer Carole Brown acknowledged officials discussed the possibility of withholding hundreds of millions of dollars for the pension contribution as they tested school budget fixes with bond rating agencies to see which would do the least additional harm to the district and city's low credit ratings.

Fund officials said the district had asked to deliver a presentation Thursday to the pension fund's board but then followed up with an email to pension fund Executive Director Chuck Burbridge to say district officials would not be attending.

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Emanuel's administration has canceled briefings for aldermen on how the mayor plans to find local cash to fund CPS, and the mayor this week said he wants to see how education funding proposals fare through the rest of the spring legislative session.

A group of top district officials and allies plans to converge on Springfield on Thursday to press lawmakers who have not made substantive progress on a budget or education funding.

The district did not respond to a question about the amount of cash it needs to both close the school year on schedule and make the bulk of the pension contribution.

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Officials have said the CPS budget this year is short $129 million  even after the district made late-year spending cuts in the wake of Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of $215 million in pension funding.

The district says about $467 million in state aid payments has been held up by the state's ongoing budget logjam.

Without short-term borrowing or some other rapid cash delivery, officials said the district will fall far short of making the pension contribution. Burbridge and others say that could have negative consequences for the district's teetering reputation in the financial sector.

At the same time, the state pension code doesn't specify what course of action the fund could take in the event CPS doesn't make the full payment. Burbridge has said the fund's board would have to meet "and determine the appropriate course of action."

CPS owes the fund roughly $716 million, though the district is expected to pay a little less than $470 million of that tab by the end of June. The rest of the money will be payable after an estimated quarter-billion dollars in revenue from a new property tax devoted to teacher pensions arrives later in the summer.

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jjperez@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @PerezJr
A friend of the victim cries as Chicago police investigate the shooting of a teenage girl in the 4700 block of West Gladys Avenue in Chicago on May 17, 2017. She was taken in serious to critical condition to Stroger Hospital, Langford said. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Two people were killed and 10 people, including a 17-year-old girl, were wounded in shootings in Chicago on Wednesday and Thursday morning, authorities said.

In the first fatal shooting, an off-duty Cook County sheriff's deputy fatally shot a 17-year-old robbery suspect at an Englewood hair salon about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday. The boy was pronounced dead at the South Side scene in the 100 block of West 69th Street.

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In the second shooting that left someone dead, a 26-year-old man was killed on the Far South Side after a gunman exited a car in the Fernwood neighborhood and shot him multiple times about 8:05 p.m. in the 10200 block of South State Street. The man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead.

In other shootings:

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On the Southwest Side about 12:05 a.m. Thursday, a 24-year-old man was shot while sitting in a parked vehicle in the Brighton Park neighborhood. A gunman in a dark colored sedan fired shots in the 4300 block of South Drake Avenue. The victim was shot in the head and neck, authorities said. He was taken to Mount Sinai in serious condition.

On the South Side about 10:55 p.m. Wednesday, two men, ages 24 and 30, were shot while standing on the sidewalk in 7900 block of South Lafayette Avenue in the West Chatham neighborhood. The 24-year-old was shot in the right foot and taken to St. Bernards Hospital, where his condition was stabilized. The 30-year-old was shot in the left arm and left side and taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.

About 10:30 p.m. on the South Side, a 24-year-old man was shot while walking in the Back of the Yards neighborhood Three men got out of a dark colored minivan and fired shots in the 5000 block of South Bishop Street. The man was shot in the right leg, back and pelvis area, authorities said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital.

About 8:45 p.m. on the West Side, an 18-year-old man was shot in the East Garfield Park neighborhood after someone approached him on foot in the 700 block of North Ridgeway Avenue and opened fire. The victim was shot in the head and body and taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

About 8 p.m. on the South Side, a 19-year-old was shot in the hand while he was a passenger in a car in Englewood in the 6800 block of South May Street. He was shot in the right hand and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where his condition had stabilized.

About 2:15 p.m. on the West Side, a 17-year-old girl, who officials earlier said was 15, was shot in the 4700 block of West Gladys Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, according to police and Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. She was standing outside when someone in a passing gray or silver car fired shots, hitting her multiple times in the torso, police said. She was taken in serious to critical condition to Stroger Hospital, Langford said.

About 12:20 p.m. on the South Side, an 18-year-old man was shot in the 8000 block of South Avalon Avenue in the Avalon Park neighborhood, police said. The man was shot in both legs and was taken to Jackson Park Hospital, where he was in good condition.

About 11:15 a.m. on the West Side, two 16-year-old boys were wounded in the Lawndale neighborhood. They were shot in the 3800 block of West Roosevelt Road, according to police. One boy was shot in the back and went to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was in serious condition. The other boy was shot in the left shoulder and taken by ambulance to the same hospital, where he was in good condition. Police did not release any information about the circumstances of the shooting.

At the scene, police cordoned off an area near 13th Street and Avers Avenue. Several women who said they were related to one of the victims were on scene for a time before leaving, apparently headed to the hospital.

The Chicago Tribune's Nancy Stone contributed.
A 1-month-old boy was taken to a hospital after he was injured during a domestic disturbance Wednesday morning in the Gresham neighborhood.

The incident took place sometime Wednesday morning in the 7900 block of South Bishop Street, according to police.

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A domestic disturbance involving adults who were fighting erupted at a home at the Bishop Street address and the child was injured.

He was taken in serious condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to police.

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Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances under which he was hurt.

No one has been arrested.
A man has been charged with murder after beating another man with a liquor bottle outside a CTA station in Englewood last year, prosecutors said.



At least one bystander took cellphone video of Antwan McNutt, 33, slamming the bottle against the head of Charles Johnson, 41, in the middle of the street on Nov. 28, Assistant State's Attorney Craig Taczy said in court.



"People were taping this?" asked Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil. "Please don't tell me this went on Facebook as well."



"It did, your honor," Taczy said.



The judge sighed.



McNutt was looking for Johnson that day as he left the Green Line "L" station at 63rd Street and Ashland Avenue, prosecutors said. He was not carrying anything as he came out of the station, but at some point picked up a 1.75-liter liquor bottle, Taczy said.



He found Johnson and began to smash him in the head with the bottle, continuing as Johnson was spread out motionless on the street, Taczy said.



"The victim's head was bouncing off of the cement with each strike," Taczy said.



Officers were called to the 1500 block of West 63rd Street around 6:35 p.m. Johnson, of the 7300 block of South Kedzie Avenue, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later at 7:13 p.m., according to the medical examiner's office.



Prosecutors said McNutt's motive for attacking Johnson was not clear. Video of the attack is still viewable on Facebook.

Antwan McNutt (Chicago police)

McNutt's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Brett Balmer, said in court that McNutt is not believed to have taken video of the attack or posted it online.



A warrant for McNutt's arrest was issued in January and he was later located in Madison, Wis., attorneys said.



He initially refused extradition and was brought back to Illinois after a governor's warrant was issued for him earlier this month, according to prosecutors.
Communications professor Laura Kipnis, shown here on Thursday, June 4, 2015, recently was investigated for complaints that she violated the federal Title IX law against gender discrimination with her essay Sexual Paranoia Strikes Academe. (Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune)

A Northwestern University graduate student is suing a professor at the campus for defamation, the latest twist in a long-running controversy that already has involved discrimination and sexual harassment investigations, multiple lawsuits and the exit of a prominent philosophy professor.

The student identified only in court papers as "Jane Doe" alleges professor Laura Kipnis and HarperCollins Publishers invaded her privacy and defamed her by printing false and intimate details about those investigations and her life in Kipnis' new book, "Unwanted Advances: Sexual Paranoia Comes to Campus."

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Kipnis is a professor in Northwestern's department of radio, television and film.

Jane Doe, a doctoral candidate in Northwestern's philosophy department, was one of two students who accused former Northwestern professor Peter Ludlow of sexual harassment. A Northwestern internal investigation concluded Ludlow indeed had engaged in harassment and moved to fire him. Ludlow resigned in November 2015 before the dismissal proceedings could be completed.

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"Unwanted Advances" was published last month. Jane Doe's attorneys allege in the federal lawsuit Kipnis deliberately misrepresented the details of Doe's experiences in her book, published private text messages she obtained through Ludlow, detailed a relationship Doe allegedly had with a married professor at a different school and disclosed information from Northwestern's Title IX investigation records on Ludlow that should have remained confidential.

Doe's attorneys also allege that Kipnis and HarperCollins did little to protect Doe's identity, using an easily decoded pseudonym for her, listing her physical attributes and using Ludlow's real name.

One of Doe's attorneys, Jennifer Salvatore, said her client was "devastated" and "horrified" when she read Kipnis' book. The lawsuit, filed this week in U.S. District Court in Chicago, accuses Kipnis and HarperCollins of publicly disclosing private facts, invasion of privacy, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

"This was not a situation in which Defendants made just one or two false statements that incidentally affected Plaintiff," the lawsuit states. "This was no minor insult or annoyance. Rather, (Kipnis) wrote and (HarperCollins) published an entire book that  page after page  exposes extremely private and painful parts of Plaintiff's life, makes false statements about her conduct, brands her a vengeful liar, and turns this promising young graduate student's life upside down for the entire world to see."

Kipnis and a representative for HarperCollins declined comment Wednesday. Northwestern University and Ludlow, neither a party to the lawsuit, also declined comment.

The controversy at the center of the lawsuit dates back several years.

The first allegation against Ludlow came from an undergraduate student who said the professor had gotten her drunk and sexually attacked her during an outing in February 2012. A flurry of lawsuits followed in 2014, involving the student, Ludlow and the university.

Also in 2014, Doe filed a complaint against Ludlow, alleging the professor had unwanted sexual intercourse with her while she was intoxicated in late 2011, according to the lawsuit.

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The school's Title IX investigator concluded Ludlow had harassed both students, but the investigator stopped short of substantiating their claims of unwanted sexual conduct.

Prior to his exit, Ludlow had not taught any classes since March 2014.

In the midst of the Ludlow inquiry, Kipnis penned a controversial essay in The Chronicle of Higher Education about how college campuses police relationships between faculty and students. As part of the fallout, Kipnis herself became the subject of investigations alleging that essay, "Sexual Paranoia Strikes Academe," violated Title IX federal law protecting against gender discrimination.

"Jane Doe" was one of the students who filed the Title IX complaint against Kipnis. Northwestern cleared Kipnis of wrongdoing in May 2015.

In her book, Kipnis uses the backdrop of the Northwestern controversies to further explore the idea that "the stifling sense of sexual danger sweeping American campuses doesn't empower women, it impedes the fight for gender equality," according to a promotion from HarperCollins.

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A review in The New York Times states that Kipnis spends much of her 245-page book analyzing the Ludlow case.

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"She devotes roughly half the book to readjudicating it, going through each of his accusers' stories frame by frame, trying to determine if there's another way to read them," the review reads. "She decides there is  and that it is inseparable from the way universities now think about women and sex."

Salvatore said she felt Kipnis' account was an act of revenge against Doe and an attempt to restore Ludlow's reputation.

"Clearly she has an ax to grind against our client," Salvatore said. "The motivation for doing this was to get back at our client."

Chicago Tribune's Steve Schmadeke contributed

drhodes@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @rhodes_dawn
Attorney Richard Fenbert speaks about client Matthew DeLeon, who was charged with punching a River North condo building security guard. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

A uniformed female security guard had twice offered to help the 23-year-old man who was slumped over and vomiting outside a River North building before he hauled off and punched her in the eye, Cook County prosecutors said Wednesday.

The guard, who suffered extensive fractures to her face, stayed to clean up Matthew DeLeon's vomit before going to the hospital, authorities said.

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The attack was captured on surveillance video that quickly went viral.

DeLeon, of the 4900 block of West Eddy Street, turned himself in to Chicago police late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, as soon as he saw the footage, according to his attorney, Richard Fenbert.

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Fenbert said DeLeon has been in the Army for five years and is currently on active duty. He served nine months in Afghanistan and was scheduled to report to Hawaii early next month, the lawyer said.

At a bond hearing Wednesday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered DeLeon held on $250,000 bond on three counts of aggravated battery.

Prosecutors said DeLeon had been arrested for DUI in California in July 2010.

The attack occurred about 2:15 a.m. Sunday outside a residential building in the River North neighborhood, prosecutors said.

Matthew DeLeon, 23, is accused of punching a River North security guard in the face, according to police. (Chicago Police Department)

The security guard, 46-year-old Zoa Stigler, saw DeLeon lying down outside the building where she works, said Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti. She offered to call police or an ambulance but told him he could not stay, according to the prosecutor.

Stigler went back inside, then came out again, but DeLeon was still there, Antonietti said. She called police, the prosecutor said.

DeLeon's wife arrived, and DeLeon sat up, Antonietti said. Stigler then heard vomiting. Stigler can be seen on the video bringing out a bucket to clean up.

By this time, DeLeon's sister-in-law and her boyfriend had also shown up.

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Stigler told all four to move along so she could clean up.

"They didn't want to," Stigler said in an interview with the Tribune.

Stigler said she insisted. "Move over," she recalled telling them.

Before she knew it, the man began walking toward her, Stigler said.

The man threw a water bottle at her and then dropped the bottle and punched her in the face, according to the video and the prosecutor's account.

Stigler said she fell backward.

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"Oh my God, he just hit me in my eye," Stigler said she thought to herself. "I'm in a daze, my vision is blurry, the left side of my face hurt."

The four then walked away.

"He wasn't stumbling when he walked away," Stigler said. "He was steady. Like, no remorse, no nothing."

Prosecutors said she suffered nasal and orbital fractures and that her follow-up treatment will involve a plastic surgeon and an ophthalmologist.

Fenbert, DeLeon's attorney, said his client expressed "deep remorse" when he turned himself earlier this week.

"He's going to do whatever he can to make this right for the victim," Fenbert told reporters after the court hearing.

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The family of Matthew DeLeon, 23, who appeared in Cook County Bond Court, leaves the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago on May 17, 2017. He is charged with three felony counts of aggravated battery charges for allegedly punching Zoa Stigler, a security guard at a River North condo building that wascaught on surveillance video. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

DeLeon's family members who were in attendance at the bond hearing Wednesday declined to speak with reporters and walked past TV cameras inside the courthouse lobby while wearing sunglasses.

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Assad Khan, the president of the condo association at the building where the attack took place, started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Stigler's expenses. The initial goal was $5,000, but donations poured in  and by Wednesday morning, more than $18,600 had been raised.

Khan said Stigler began working there about two months ago.

"She needs surgery on her eye,'' Khan said. "He fractured her right eye socket and the bridge of her nose."

On Tuesday afternoon, Stigler had picked out a photo of DeLeon at the Area Central police station.

"I was surprised because I didn't think I could," she said.

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Talent agent Ari Emanuel, brother of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, talks to actress Charlize Theron as they attend the womens and mens finals during day fourteen of the BNP Paribas Open at the at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 19, 2017 in Indian Wells, Calif. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

Hollywood superagent Ari Emanuel is a reliable Democratic campaign donor, including with a recent maximum contribution to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. But there's one Democratic politician he's yet to give money  his own brother, Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Ari Emanuel's $4,950 check to de Blasio, who is up for re-election in November, surfaced in a campaign finance report released this week. And a review of federal campaign records shows Ari Emanuel has contributed more than $300,000 to various Democratic candidates and committees at the national level.

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But in Chicago, none of the $42.6 million Rahm Emanuel has raised since he first ran for mayor has come directly from his brother's wallet.

Emanuel also did not receive any political contributions from his brother during his time as a North Side congressman, records show. Ari Emanuel also did not give to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee or U.S. House candidates when his brother ran that successful campaign apparatus ahead of the 2006 election. The West Coast-based Emanuel stuck to Democratic Senate candidates instead.

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While Ari Emanuel has hosted at least one Southern California fundraiser for the mayor and has deep ties to Hollywood's elite donors, exactly why he has steered clear of contributing directly to his older brother's campaigns is unclear. Spokesmen for Rahm Emanuel's campaign and Ari Emanuel's talent agency WME-IMG did not respond to requests for comment.

Records show Ari Emanuel's contribution to de Blasio was recorded March 24, a few weeks after the New York mayor made a fundraising trip to Los Angeles. During that multicity junket, de Blasio also made a local stop where he met with Mayor Emanuel at City Hall and later defended him against attacks from President Donald Trump during a speech to the City Club of Chicago.

He may have never cut his brother a campaign check, but Ari Emanuel's Hollywood connections certainly haven't hurt, as the mayor has demonstrated a reliable California donor base in both of his bids to run City Hall.

All told, the mayor has collected more than 380 political donations from California donors totaling nearly $2.7 million. That includes contributions from Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, media mogul Haim Saban, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David and music executive David Geffen, among many others.

During Emanuel's first run for mayor, his younger brother hosted a November 2010 Hollywood fundraiser along with Geffen, Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger and former Fox head Peter Chernin.

In 2015, Trump  then a reality TV star and real estate magnate  told the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board he cut the mayor a $50,000 check because Ari Emanuel asked him to do so. The high-profile agent once represented Trump in his television endeavors, and both Emanuel brothers met separately with Trump before he took office in January.

"I gave him a contribution because his brother is a great friend of mine  Ari, king of Hollywood," Trump said at the time. "I love Ari. And Ari asked me to give him a contribution. I like Rahm very much."

Since Trump took office, however, Mayor Emanuel frequently has criticized the president for his position on immigration while Trump frequently has sent barbs Chicago's way by criticizing the city's struggles with violent crime.

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As for Ari Emanuel, the Hollywood executive has shown signs of ramping up his political involvement. Variety reported this year that he and WME-IMG co-CEO Patrick Whitesell were planning to set up a super political action committee so workers at the talent agency could "engage in the political process."

bruthhart@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @BillRuthhart
Billionaire hedge fund founder Ken Griffin contributed $20 million Tuesday to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner 's re-election campaign, an early escalation in a big-money 2018 contest expected to shatter previous spending records.

The contribution by Illinois' wealthiest individual is believed to be the largest contribution ever given to a campaign by a noncandidate in the state.

"Gov. Rauner cares deeply about the future of our state and making it a better place to live and work," Griffin said in a statement. "He has the winning plan to create jobs, improve our schools and put Illinois on the right path forward."

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Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel, has been Rauner's largest donor outside of the governor himself. The latest contribution brings to nearly $33.6 million the amount of money and services Griffin has contributed to the governor's political fund since Rauner began running for office in 2013.

Rauner, a former private equity investor, has put in $95 million of his own money. That includes $50 million last December, a contribution campaign aides said was only a down payment toward next year's race.

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Griffin is worth an estimated $8 billion and is ranked 60th on Forbes' list of the 400 wealthiest Americans. Griffin's donation gives Rauner's re-election account nearly $71 million, virtually all of it from the two men.

Ken Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel, on Nov. 5, 2014. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

The eye-popping contribution comes as Rauner faces a host of potential Democratic challengers. They include billionaire J.B. Pritzker , who already has put $7.2 million of his own money into his primary campaign, and businessman Chris Kennedy of the iconic political family, who lifted the donation limits in the race by putting $250,100 of his own money into his bid.

Other, less wealthy candidates seeking the Democratic nomination include Evanston state Sen. Daniel Biss , Northwest Side Ald. Ameya Pawar and Madison County regional schools Superintendent Bob Daiber.

Pritzker, worth an estimated $3.4 billion and ranked 208th on Forbes' list, has indicated he is willing to self-fund his campaign. If he wins the March primary election, his wealth combined with that of Rauner and his allies could set off the most expensive political contest in state history.

In a statement, Pritzker's campaign blasted what it called "Ken Griffin and the Rauner- Trump agenda," and said the Republican governor's "special interest friends are back to bail him out."

"Before once again dumping money into Rauner's campaign, Ken Griffin donated $100,000 to Donald Trump's inaugural," said Pritzker spokeswoman Galia Slayen. "It's clear that Ken Griffin and Rauner's special interest allies want to force the Rauner-Trump agenda on our state, which attacks our working families and is decimating our economy."

Pritzker's wealth has become an issue in the Democratic campaign, with his rivals urging the party not to merely seek a candidate who can go toe-to-toe on a dollar basis with Rauner.

Kennedy's campaign released a statement warning that "Democrats should not fall into the trap of replacing one billionaire for another. Party insiders might think that is the best way to beat Bruce Rauner, but voters know we can't afford more of the status quo."

On Monday, Kennedy pushed back against unnamed Democratic Party "political insiders" who he said are trying to silence his bid for the governor's office, saying he won't be intimidated by those defending the status quo.

"I think there are elements within the Democratic Party that would like to have someone fight their battle for them. I'm not among them. I believe you look back at the great history of the United States and the progress that's been made, it always occurred when people fought for themselves," Kennedy told reporters.

Pawar, a two-term alderman who has raised almost $300,000, criticized Rauner and Griffin for pushing a "Trump-aligned" agenda, and later used the Griffin donation in a fundraising appeal to supporters.

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"This billionaire class wants to buy Illinois for themselves. Don't think for a moment these wealthy people have anyone's interests but their own at heart," Pawar said in a statement. ""We have to to stop worshiping wealth, get big money out of politics, and unite as a state around an agenda that invests in communities and people."

Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, also has come under attack from Republicans this week for receiving a lowered property tax assessment after purchasing a home next to his Gold Coast mansion and then contending it was "uninhabitable."

Pritzker has said criticism from the Rauner camp shows the governor's team believes he is a threat to re-election. But the Rauner-subsidized Illinois Republican Party used the property tax break issue to launch a new digital ad, seeking to link Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan , who also is a property tax appeals lawyer, and Pritzker as part of the "same corrupt political system."

Trying to shift away from days of criticism over the property-tax issue, Pritzker on Tuesday turned to Washington with a call for the U.S. House "to begin the impeachment process based on credible reports that President Donald Trump has obstructed justice in the investigation of the Russian hacking of our democracy."

"I understand that calling for impeachment is not something done lightly, but it is an action that I believe is necessary to protect our country's national security and preserve our democracy," said Pritzker, who like his rivals are seeking to portray themselves as progressives.

Also Tuesday, State Solutions, an affiliate of the Republican Governors Association that does not have to disclose its donors, launched the newest version of its TV ads featuring Rauner.

Unlike previous spots, which have been airing continuously since the end of March, the newest commercial goes after Democrats. It displays pictures of imprisoned ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and former Gov. Pat Quinn surrounding a picture of Speaker Madigan  and dubs them the "Duct Tape Dynasty."

Rauner defeated Quinn in 2014, and the Republican has sought to vilify Madigan as the source of the state's problems with millions of dollars worth of advertising. The governor and speaker are waging an ideological and political war that has led to Illinois' historic budget impasse.

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Rauner has said he'll sign off on a budget-balancing tax hike only if he gets "structural reforms" that have included changes in collective bargaining and prevailing wage laws affecting unions and alterations to workers' compensation opposed by civil trial attorneys. Democrats, who receive major campaign contributions from organized labor and trial attorneys, are opposed.

In the new ad, a narrator says: "For decades, the duct-tape dynasty has ruled Springfield. Mike Madigan's taped over Illinois' problems and stopped reform, because the broken system works for him, not us."

The ad shows the Illinois Statehouse dome cracking and taped over as the cupola falls off. The ad then shifts to Rauner, once again inside a pristine workshop.

"We need real reform, not the same old broken ideas that got us into this mess," he says in the ad. "Our balanced budget plan fixes Springfield with important reforms that grow jobs. It supports the middle class, not the political class. They broke Illinois but we can fix it, together."

The ads have been airing extensively all over the state, but a Rauner political aide said the governor has not given money to State Solutions, a tax-exempt organization that does not have to disclose where it gets its money.

During the 2016 election cycle, Griffin's Citadel LLC and Citadel Investments each gave $500,000 to State Solution's parent, the Republican Governors Association, according to the Center for Responsive Politics' "open secrets" database.

In last year's races for state comptroller and the General Assembly , Griffin made more than $11.1 million in donations. That included $5 million to appointed Republican comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger, who was defeated by Democrat Susana Mendoza , and $5 million to House Republican leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs.

rap30@aol.com

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Ald. Howard Brookins on Wednesday continued his war on rats and squirrels that gnaw on city garbage carts, with a little help from City Council Finance Committee Chairman Ed Burke.

Burke, 14th, presided over a debate about the problem that featured talk of mesh that could force many a rodent into starvation from a damaged palate, coatings like hot sauce that would repel rats and squirrels and the fleeting preventive effects of coyote urine.

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Brookins first raised the issue of "aggressive squirrels" devouring garbage cans at last year's budget hearings. Weeks later, he was out riding his bicycle on the Cal-Sag Trail when a squirrel got lodged in the front wheel of his bike, sending him flying over the handlebars.

Brookins suffered a broken nose and lost teeth, and is still undergoing treatment as a result. "I can think of no other reason for this squirrel's actions than that it was like a suicide bomber, getting revenge," he told a Tribune columnist at the time.

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On Wednesday, there were no immediate answers to the problem, which affects thousands of garbage carts each year and results in trash-strewn streets. Brookins, 21st, who called for the hearing on an issue he's been pressing for many months now, said after the Finance Committee meeting that he was trying to "set the stage" for 2018 budget talks later this year.

If a solution could be found, the city could save the cost of repairing or replacing so many carts, and unsightly trash on public ways could be tamed, Brookins said.

During Wednesday's meeting, two people hawked new products to protect carts, one from the 40th Ward who has invented a screen mesh to keep rats and squirrels from getting at garbage in carts, and another who works for a military supply company that has developed a coating to repel rodents. The costs would range from $10 to $40 per cart.

"I think there is a solution out there that's probably much cheaper than either of those guys were telling us about," Brookins said, perhaps by procuring garbage carts with mesh built into them.

Chicago Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Charles Williams said that the city now pays $46.79 per cart. The city gets requests for 60,000 new carts a year, and of those, 37 percent have been damaged, some of them by rodents, department statistics show. More are stolen, Williams said.

"My department is open to any new products that are going to assist us with rodents," Williams said. "It's always a challenge. ... "We're still open to any product that is financially feasible and structurally better than what we have."

The guy who invented the mesh protection lives the North Side ward represented by Ald. Patrick O'Connor, 40th, the mayor's council floor leader. And he got something of an endorsement from the influential alderman.

"It actually makes the cart close more reliably, and it's a pretty neat product," said O'Connor, cautioning that a cost analysis was needed. "I've seen it, and it does work."

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hdardick@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ReporterHal
WASHINGTON  Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger and Illinois Democrats praised former FBI chief Robert Mueller being named special counsel to oversee the federal probe into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Early Wednesday, Kinzinger was alone among Illinois Republicans in Congress in being open to a special prosecutor.

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"Bob Mueller is a well-respected and trusted veteran of the FBI. The American people deserve answers, transparency, and most importantly, the truth," Kinzinger said in a statement. "This special counsel appointment is a step in the right direction on getting answers on the many questions we have with Russian meddling in our election and our democracy."

Kinzinger, appearing on morning news shows, said it was time to "look at" an independent commission or special prosecutor after reports that Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to halt a probe of then-White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

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The comment marked a change of heart for the fourth-term lawmaker from Channahon, who in mid-February said an independent commission to probe possible Trump campaign ties to Russia was "overkill." He said then the Senate Intelligence Committee should examine the matter.

Kinzinger is a pilot with the Air National Guard and a military hawk who has been critical of Trump's overtures to Russia. He represents exurban parts of the Chicago area that make up the 16th Congressional District, which favored Trump in November.

Meanwhile, Illinois Democrats had joined the national chorus in calling for a special prosecutor and praised the move Wednesday.

"Now Congress and the American people will have the opportunity to receive detailed information on the facts of what took place during last year's election cycle," U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush of Chicago said in a statement. "After the firing of the former FBI Director James Comey, there was an outcry from myself, the Democratic Illinois delegation and many more calling for a special counsel."

Flynn briefly served the Trump White House before he was forced to resign after failing to disclose contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. before Trump took office. Trump fired Comey last week.

Earlier Wednesday, Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam said in a statement that Comey should testify before Congress and turn over the memo that reportedly describes his meeting with Trump in which the president reportedly told the FBI chief to halt the bureau's Flynn probe.

"We need to see these documents as soon as possible and former Director Comey needs to testify before Congress as soon as possible," said Roskam of Wheaton. "We must get to the bottom of this  no matter where it leads."

After Mueller was appointed, he called it a "welcome development."

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"Former FBI Director Mueller is a man of the utmost integrity. I have complete confidence in his ability to conduct a thorough investigation, wherever the facts may lead," Roskam said in a statement.

Roskam has faced increasing pressure from Democrats in his district over health care and Trump, and on Wednesday two of his potential 2018 opponents released statements asking him to push for an independent commission to examine the Russian controversies swirling around the White House.

Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren of Plano said before Mueller was appointed: "I am following the situation closely. I continue to support the independent investigative work of the congressional committees in their ongoing efforts to establish the relevant facts involved here."

Kinzinger also was asked on CNN about news reports saying Putin had denied that Trump shared intelligence. Putin has said he would give Congress more information about Trump's conversation with the visiting Russians.

"I don't talk to murderous dictators like Vladimir Putin," Kinzinger replied.

He also called comparisons between the Trump administration controversies and the Watergate scandal that led Richard Nixon to resign "kind of hyperbole."

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"Every new story that comes out about Donald Trump, some on the left make this an 11 on a 10 scale and you hit max freakout immediately," Kinzinger said on CNN. "And some on the right are unwilling to accept that there could be anything at all going on. All we need is answers."

kskiba@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @KatherineSkiba
Mayor Rahm Emanuel arrives for a naturalization ceremony at the Cultural Center in downtown Chicago on May 5. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune)

Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Subscribe here.

Topspin

Mayor Rahm Emanuel was back in Wise Man of Washington mode in an interview released Tuesday, the latest in a national media tour of sorts giving his take on President Donald Trump's America and the state of the Democratic Party.

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This time, the mayor sat for the Politico "Off Message" podcast, calling on reporters in the capital to focus more on Trump's policies and less on political theater, as well as saying Democrats should recruit candidates who reflect the values of voters.

It was an opportunity for him to slip back into a comfortable role as a knowledgeable Beltway player. Since Trump's election, Emanuel has raised his profile, positioning himself at the vanguard of anti-Trump, pro-immigrant mayors and offering Democrats advice on how to find their way out of the wilderness.

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In addition to the podcast appearance, Emanuel has in recent months turned up at the Brookings Institution to discuss the election, and sat for an interview with public radio's "Marketplace." He also embarked on a college tour of sorts, speaking to students at MIT, Harvard, Stanford and the University of Illinois, and he appeared with a Trump administration official to talk infrastructure at a breakfast meeting hosted by The Wall Street Journal.

"Rahm Emanuel is the mayor of Chicago now, but he still looms in people's heads in Washington in a real way," host Edward-Isaac Dovere said during the interview's lead-in, ticking off Emanuel's posts as President Barack Obama's chief of staff and head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

During the interview, the mayor highlighted the unsuccessful ways he has tried to get Trump to change his antagonistic position toward immigrants.

During a discussion with Trump in New York after the election, Emanuel said he pointed out to the president-elect that as a real estate developer, he invested in cities that welcome immigrants because of their dynamism. It's in America's self-interest to invest in welcoming cities, Emanuel said he told Trump.

Did the argument get through to Trump? "Obviously no," he said. "Given the  I thought I was persuasive. I felt really good at the moment."

The mayor enjoys pillorying his former congressional colleagues, playing to his Chicago constituents by referring to Washington as "Disneyland on the Potomac" as he faces problems like crime back home.

Emanuel rattled off many of his favorite talking points about Chicago's recent economic successes, seeking to do as much cheerleading as possible during the interview.

As for the Democratic Party, Emanuel said the battleground is suburban America, arguing for the tactic he used while heading up the DCCC to look for candidates who reflect the moderate values of voters in those districts rather than seeking Democratic purity.

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"Talking to ourselves or persuading ourselves is not going to get us to a majority," he said. (John Byrne)

What's on tap

*Mayor Emanuel's has no public events scheduled.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner has no public events scheduled.

*The Illinois House and Senate meet but could knock off early. They're expected to play their annual softball game.

From the notebook

*Emanuel, Part 2: Mayor Emanuel appears to relish weighing in on national political strategy, both in off-the-cuff chats with reporters and in the formal settings where think tanks and journalists invite him to share his views.

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Emanuel said the press corps is struggling to cover Trump because it's "so stark a break from past administrations of both parties." He said the brewing conflict with North Korea and the bare bones explanation the Trump administration released last week on its massive proposed tax cut would have been much bigger stories if there wasn't so much attention on the extraneous noise from the White House.

"You guys would never have allowed President Obama or President Bush to get away with either one of those things, either one of those," he said. (John Byrne)

*Alderman comes to mayor's defense: A key African-American alderman on Tuesday defended Mayor Emanuel in a Department of Water Management scandal that sources say involved emails containing racist and sexist references.

Ald. Carrie Austin, 34th, the longest-serving African-American member of the City Council, said the mayor should not be held responsible for any alleged failings of former Water Department Commissioner Barrett Murphy.

Austin was asked if the scandal harmed the mayor because Murphy is a friend of the mayor's whose wife, Lynn Lockwood, is the former chairman and treasurer of an Emanuel political fund. And the mayor is still trying to repair his image in the African-American community that was harmed with the late 2015 release of a police dashcam video showing black teen Laquan McDonald being shot 16 times by a police officer.

"How does that harm the mayor?" Austin, 34th, asked, of the Water Department scandal first reported by the Tribune last Friday. "Does he have control of (Murphy's) thinking and his actions?

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"If you are the commissioner and you are the head, you act accordingly, not because you're (a) friend to the mayor or your wife is a friend to the mayor," she said.

Emanuel said Monday he was made aware by Inspector General Joseph Ferguson's office of a problem with "one particular employee" and "in that process, it exposed a culture in the Water Department workplace" that doesn't represent city values.

Emanuel said Murphy, the water commissioner, agreed there should be a reset in the culture at the agency, which is now headed by Randy Conner, who moved over from the Chicago Department of Transportation.

Austin expressed faith that Conner, an African-American man who according to public records is a resident of Austin's South Side ward, will help get rid of "a culture of racism" in the Water Department.

"Randy is not the savior. OK?" Austin said. "But I think he will work in a fashion to make sure that that department is above board. And I don't know him to do anything else, because he's done that in every department that he's been in."

Also defending the mayor was Ald. Patrick O'Connor, 40th, the mayor's council floor leader, who said Emanuel's "response was a very adequate, responsible response." (Hal Dardick)

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*Taxpayer-funded campaigns? The second time was the charm for Democratic governor hopeful Sen. Daniel Biss, who was able to pass legislation Tuesday that would allow for taxpayer funding of political campaigns.

An earlier effort to win approval of the legislation fell flat amid concerns that Illinois could not afford to finance campaigns given larger budget issues.

The measure passed after Biss watered down language to give lawmakers the option to provide money to cover the program instead of making it mandatory. It calls for giving candidates running statewide the option to participate in a matching system for small donors.

"Everyone who is frustrated today by the influence that corporations and billionaires wield over politicians and the policy decisions they make should support the concept of small donor matching," said Biss, from Evanston. (Monique Garcia)

What we're writing

*Rauner, Madigan start annual push to avoid blame for lack of budget (with cameo by special guest star Cullerton).

*Rauner's DCFS chief pledges reform, weighs job offer in Florida.

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*Photo gallery: Protesters march to Springfield for a state budget.

*Alderman on CPS funding: "Take Rauner by his neck and wring it."

*Mel Reynolds says feds dragged his name through mud with sex tape talk.

*CPS to recommend merger of Ogden and Jenner schools.

*And school officials cancel a presentation as they continue talking about a financial rescue plan.

What we're reading

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*Man caught on video punching female security guard apologizes after surrendering.

*Aldi will spend $180 million remodeling most of its Chicago-area stores. You'll still need a quarter to get a cart.

*Knock knock. Who's there? A process server. Conan O'Brien accused of stealing jokes from Winnetka-raised writer in lawsuit.

Follow the money

*Ald. Ed Burke's Burnham Committee reported $71,000 in contributions.

*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

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Beyond Chicago

*Comey memo says Trump asked him to end Flynn investigation, NYT reports.

*Tempers and confusion at the White House as Trump turns against staff.

*Trump, McMaster say the sharing of classified intelligence was appropriate.

*Chelsea Manning will stay on active duty.

*U.S. envoy: North Korea intimidating the entire world.
Five years ago, the tragic case of a young woman in Ireland made headlines around the world. Savita Halappanavar had been 17 weeks pregnant when she entered a hospital in pain. Doctors told her miscarriage was "inevitable." But they also said she had to continue to carry the baby because of the country's abortion ban. Her condition deteriorated, and she died within a week of an infection.

Halappanavar's death sparked numerous protests, investigations and soul-searching. Ireland still is among the strictest countries in the world regarding abortion law. But a study published in the BMJ on Tuesday details how some women can get around the restrictions  through telemedicine.

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Researchers looked at data from Women on Web (WoW), a nonprofit group that provides an online consultation service for women who live in countries where abortion is restricted. Its doctors review the information a woman gives about her pregnancy and provide prescriptions for medical-abortion pills such as mifepristone or misoprostol. A third-party company fills the prescription and sends the pills in the mail.

WoW specialists offer support during and after the abortion process. The service is available for up to 10 weeks' gestation.

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The study sample involved 1,000 women in the Republic of Ireland, where Halappanavar lived, and in Northern Ireland, which has a similar position on abortion although the region is part of the United Kingdom. Between 2010 and 2012, nearly 95 percent of the women reported during follow-up contacts that they ended their pregnancy without surgical intervention.

The rate of complications was similar to that of women using the abortion pill with the help of doctors in traditional, face-to-face office settings in countries were abortion is less restricted, the study found. Still, there were some problems. Ninety-three women were referred for further treatment by local doctors because of more severe symptoms, seven needed a blood transfusion, and 26 had to get antibiotics.

Researcher Abigail Aiken of the University of Texas at Austin and her collaborators in several other countries concluded that "self sourced medical abortions using online telemedicine can be highly effective, and outcomes compare favorably" with clinical protocols.

In an editorial also published in the BMJ on Tuesday, Wendy Norman of the University of British Columbia and Bernard Dickens of the University of Toronto noted that the safety and efficacy of the abortion pill is already known. What the study shows, they said, is that women in Ireland or other places with good access to quality health care may be able to self-assess their symptoms and manage potential complications.

"[F]or the first time in history, women of all social classes in a legally restricted yet high resource setting have equitable access to a reasonable alternative," they wrote.

The study had one major weakness, researchers acknowledged: About a third of the 1,636 women who initially reached out to WoW during the study period did not contact the service again. As such, Norman and Dickens said, the sample size may be too small to detect the true risk associated with the treatment, and the complication rates reported could be an underestimate.
WASHINGTON  As President Donald Trump addressed 195 cadets as they graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday, he offered them some advice.

"Over the course of your life, you will find that things are not always fair," the unsmiling president said, leaning heavily on the lectern with his shoulders scrunched up. "You will find that things happen to you that you do not deserve and that are not always warranted. But you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight. Never, ever, ever give up."

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And in case the cadets wondered if this was really advice for them - or simply a coded defense of himself - the president then made his intentions clear.

"Look at the way I've been treated lately, especially by the media," the president said, opening his arms wide, as if inviting a much-needed hug. "No politician in history - and I say this with great surety - has been treated worse or more unfairly. You can't let them get you down. You can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams."

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It was then that the president received a warm round of applause, the sort that started as he was still speaking rather than as he awkwardly waited for it. And it wasn't just applause - there were also cheers and shouts of encouragement.

In that moment, the embattled president - the one accused of firing the FBI director for political reasons, trying to interfere in a criminal investigation and spilling sensitive intelligence to the Russians - seemed to get a burst of energy. He was reminded that despite the alarming headlines, the scolding from editorial boards and fellow Republicans, the calls for impeachment, the falling poll numbers and the bitter finger-pointing within his White House, there were still supporters out there who agreed that he is really the victim here - that everything has been more difficult for him, that he is right to keep defending himself and fighting.

The president marveled at the applause.

"I guess that's why I won - thank you," he said. "I guess that's why we won."

In the past few days, Trump has largely disappeared from public view. He emerged Saturday morning to deliver a commencement address at Liberty University in Virginia, comparing himself to evangelical Christians who hold tight to their beliefs no matter what the critics say. On Sunday, he retreated to his private golf course in northern Virginia.

On Monday, he addressed a memorial service for fallen law enforcement officers, thanking police for being "the Thin Blue Line between civilization and chaos." The next morning, he fired off a series of defensive tweets that contradicted what top members of his administration had been saying in his defense just hours earlier. Later in the day, he welcomed the Turkish president and delivered a terse statement that sounded as each word was scripted with a period after it.

And Wednesday morning, Trump flew to New London, Connecticut, to address the graduating cadets. The ceremony was outdoors and a strong wind blew, ruffling the president's prized hair. On the campaign trail, Trump would never appear under these circumstances without a campaign hat - but he's the president now and such a look might be deemed inappropriate.

As the president waited for his turn to speak, he sat with his arms tightly crossed and no trace of a smile. CNN commentators noted that it had been more than 21 hours since he had tweeted.

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When it was his turn, the president thanked the crowd, readjusted his jacket, gripped both sides of the lectern and got started with all of the formalities.

He recognized the Class of 2017: "Great job," he said.

And Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly: "You've done, throughout your entire life, an incredible job defending your country."

And Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, D: "I know how busy the governors are nowadays. They're out there fighting. It's never easy. Budgets are a little tight, but we're doing a job. All of us are doing a job, working together."

Trump kept returning to this broad concept - the jobs that people do, the life choices that brought them all together that day.

"I look at your admirals, I look at Gen. Kelly, I look at some of the great people in service, and I want to tell you: They're excited about life. They love what they do," the president said, later turning around to ensure that these officials did, in fact, love what they do.

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Trump never mentioned if he loves his job or if he's excited about the life he's now living. The closest he came was when he told the graduates: "Your devotion and dedication makes me truly proud to be your commander in chief."

Then he riffed on what it means to be a leader.

"You have to act," Trump said. "And you have to act properly, and you have to learn how to act under great, great pressure."

Trump didn't directly mention the pressure he's under these days, but he seemed to allude to it again and again, sometimes with a touch of bitterness. As is tradition at the academy, Trump forgave the cadets' minor violations, like getting a parking ticket, saying that "there are always a few slip-ups from time to time" and that they deserve "to have a clean slate in life." He claimed to have saved everyone money and listed his accomplishments thus far.

"The people understand what I'm doing, and that's the most important thing," Trump said at one point.

The president told the soon-to-be-commissioned officers about his upcoming foreign trip to the G-7 summit with stops at holy sites in Saudi Arabia, Israel and Rome. Even as he pledged to "strengthen old friendships and . . . seek new partners," he added a message to global leaders who are not used to his style: "Get used to it, folks."

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Even as he pledged to "speak with Muslim leaders and challenge them to fight hatred and extremism," he threw in three words that some of his top aides are trying to get him to stop saying: "radical Islamic terrorism."

Trump said that as he travels, he will carry with him the inspiration the young cadets provided that day. He worked through all of the formalities - congratulating the new members of the Coast Guard, calling on God to bless the United States and thanking everyone.

Then, as he prepared to sit back down, the beleaguered president added one final piece of advice: "Enjoy your life!"
WASHINGTON  The United States is on a collision course with its NATO ally Turkey, pushing ahead with arming Syrian Kurds after deciding the immediate objective of defeating Islamic State militants outweighs the potential damage to a partnership vital to U.S. interests in the volatile Middle East.

The Turks are fiercely opposed to the U.S. plans, seeing the Kurdish fighters as terrorists. And when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the White House on Tuesday, the most he and President Donald Trump may be able to do is agree to disagree, and move on.

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"The Turks see this as a crisis in the relationship," said Jonathan Schanzer at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

The challenge is hardly new. Long before Trump took office, U.S. presidents have grappled with the fragility of partnering with Turkey's government and the Kurds to carry out a Middle East agenda.

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Past administrations have sought a delicate balance. Too exuberant in its support for the Kurds, and the U.S. risks pushing ally Turkey toward U.S. geopolitical rivals like Russia or emboldening the Kurds to try to create an independent state  a scenario that would destabilize multiple countries in the region. Too little cooperation with the Kurds risks squandering a battlefield ally with proven effectiveness against extremist threats and who has staunchly supported Washington.

Trump has made his priorities clear.

His administration is arming Syrian Kurdish fighters as part of an effort to recapture the Syrian city of Raqqa, the Islamic State group's self-declared capital. Coupled with the U.S.-backed fight in the Iraqi city of Mosul, Raqqa is seen as a key step toward liberating the remaining territory the militants hold.

Turkey has been pressuring the U.S. to drop support for the Kurdish militants in Syria for years and doesn't want them spearheading the Raqqa effort. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish group, known as the YPG, a terrorist group because of its ties to the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party inside Turkey. The United States, the European Union and Turkey all agree the PKK is a terrorist organization.

The Turks fear any weapons the U.S. provides the Syrian Kurds could well end up with their ethnic brethren in Turkey, who've fought violently as part of a separatist insurgency for more than three decades. As a nod to Turkey's concerns, the Pentagon has promised tight monitoring of all weapons and greater intelligence sharing to help the Turks better watch over their frontiers. Kurds are an ethnic group predominantly concentrated along the borders of four countries  Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

But a face-to-face confrontation on the matter between Trump and Erdogan seems inevitable.

Erdogan and other top Turkish officials have pressed for the U.S. to reverse its strategy, however low the prospects of Trump changing his mind. As a result, experts see Erdogan using the meeting to confront Trump on a host of other Turkish grievances. Those include extraditing the Pennsylvania-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whom Erdogan blames for fomenting a failed coup last summer, and dropping U.S. charges against Reza Zarrab, a Turkish businessman accused of money-laundering and violating U.S. sanctions in Iran.

"I see this trip as a new milestone in Turkey-U.S. relations," Erdogan said, as he prepared to fly to Washington.

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The U.S., too, has a wish list for Turkey. Washington is concerned by rising anti-Americanism in Turkey that Erdogan's government has tolerated since the July coup attempt. The U.S. also has pressed unsuccessfully for the release of Andrew Brunson, an American pastor, and other detained U.S. citizens.

Trump also has much at stake. His willingness to partner with authoritarian rulers and overlook their shortcomings on democracy and human rights have alarmed U.S. lawmakers of both parties. Trump's premise has been that he is focusing on deal-making. That puts added pressure on him to get results.

Trump has gone out of his way to foster a good relationship with Erdogan. After a national referendum last month that strengthened Erdogan's presidential powers, European leaders and rights advocates criticized Turkey for moving closer toward autocratic rule. Trump congratulated Erdogan.

Now, the American leader may try to cash in.

"Trump has prioritized protecting U.S. national security interests over lecturing allies on democratic values or human rights," said James Phillips, a senior research fellow for Middle Eastern affairs at the Heritage Foundation. "I don't think the president will lose any sleep if he is criticized for meeting with President Erdogan, as long as it pays dividends for advancing his foreign policy agenda."

But Erdogan may not be amenable to accepting the U.S. military support for the Kurds in a quid pro quo. Last month, the Turkish military bombed Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq, in one case with American forces only about six miles (10 kilometers) away. His government has insisted it may attack Syrian Kurdish fighters again. The U.S., whose forces are sometimes embedded with the Kurds, has much to fear.

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Barack Aydin of the Washington-based Kurdish Policy Research Center, said the key ought to be a broader peace process between Erdogan's government and Kurdish opponents in Turkey, which would eliminate these problems.

"That would be a very good start," Aydin said.
Another day, another damning news story about President Donald Trump and Russia that Republicans can't immediately (or perhaps ever) defend. And Republicans' frustration with having to deal with this is showing, bigly.

More bombshell news Tuesday night, first reported by the New York Times and later corroborated by The Washington Post, that Trump asked now-fired FBI Director James Comey to lay off the FBI's investigation into now-fired national security adviser Michael Flynn. The White House denies that this conversation between Comey and Trump happened. But that doesn't make Republicans in Congress feel any more at ease.

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Consider the tweet from Politico reporter Rachael Bade:

I just asked @DarrellIssa abt the Comey news and he flicked me off -- literally gave me the middle finger -- and kept walking. Said nothing  Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) May 16, 2017

That's Rep Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who represents a potential swing district in 2018, and is used to tough questions from reporters as the former head of the uber-political House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

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While a politician flipping off a reporter is shocking anywhere, Issa's crude gesture is all the more out of place and unexpected in Congress. Capitol Hill is one of the last places in Washington where reporters can roam relatively freely -- when lawmakers are moving from point A to point B, a credentialed reporter can just walk right up to them and ask them questions.

We should also add that the reporter he flipped off, Politico's Rachael Bade, is an absolute pro who has been stalking the halls of Congress for years.

Issa wasn't the only one trying to avoid being asked about the latest White House turmoil he can't defend.

Tuesday, Sen John McCain, R-Ariz., ducked into an elevator rather than answer reporters' questions about The Washington Post reporting that Trump shared classified information with the Russians.

Here's a telling anecdote from The Post's Elise Viebeck:

McCain, clearly flustered by reporters pressing for answers, walked off the Senate floor and said that he hadn't read the reports, adding, "I can't comment on every breaking news story." So a reporter tried a broader approach: "You wouldn't approve of a government official sharing secrets with the Russians, right?" "No, I would always approve of such a thing," McCain quipped as he boarded an elevator. As the elevator doors closed, Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., told McCain: "You can say that and they'd laugh it off, but if I said it..."

Also on Tuesday, Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., outright said what most Republicans on Capitol Hill are thinking: This isn't fun. This is the opposite of fun.

"It's been frustrating, no question," he told reporters of the recent revelations. "We want this to be moving forward," referring to the GOP agenda.

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This also is not what Republicans had in mind when they campaigned for a Republican president. They hoped they would have a president who would, finally, help them move tax reform, repeal Obamacare, pass a real budget, get tough on abortion and loosen gun laws.

Instead, they have a president who almost daily besieges them with scandals to respond to -- or not respond to.

As Issa's middle finger so fantastically illustrates, this week is a tough one in the Trump-Congress relationship. It marks the first time in Trump's still nascent administration that he has virtually no Republican supporters on Capitol Hill for his latest controversies. A sizable number of Republicans in Congress supported him on his travel bans and his decision to fire Comey (and not immediately fire Flynn). But on the latest revelations, they just can't find a way to justify their president's actions.

And many lawmakers' nerves are frayed just having to respond to this. The unanswered question is: When will the frustration of having a controversy-ridden, unpredictable president start to outweigh the benefits of the fact he's a Republican?
President Donald J. Trump watches as President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan departs after a day of meetings at the White House on May 16, 2017. (Shawn Thew / EPA)

Donald Trump has stepped into an office that brings enormous power, but after two days of bombshell headlines, the growing question is whether he has the judgment and discipline to be entrusted with that authority.

Back-to-back revelations have the White House reeling into the deepest level of disarray yet seen in his chaotic young presidency.

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On Monday, The Washington Post reported that Trump had shared highly classified information with Russian diplomats.

Then, barely 24 hours later, the New York Times reported that the president had asked his now-fired FBI Director, James Comey, to end a probe into Trump's former National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, according to a memo written by Comey at the time of the request in February.

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Flynn was a close political associate of Trump who was being investigated for his ties to Russia. The disclosure of Comey's memo comes a week after Trump dismissed him, a move critics say was improper, given that the FBI chief was leading an investigation of possible Russian interference on Trump's behalf in last year's presidential election.

Even before news of the Comey memo, Republicans on Capitol Hill were struggling to figure out what to make of all the disarray.

"Once again we are faced with inexplicable stories coming from the White House that are highly troubling," said Rep. Barbara Comstock, whose northern Virginia district is a top Democratic target in next year's congressional election.

"We need to have immediate classified briefings on what occurred at this meeting so that Congress can at least know as much as Russian leaders and know the impact on our national security, our allies, and our men and women protecting our country," she added.

It has become the pattern at moments like this: The White House's explanation for a seemingly rash act on the president's part are evolving and colliding.

As happened last week with Comey's firing, each new turn has also brought more damage to the credibility of the hapless aides who are charged with selling a version of the truth, only to see it disintegrate.

When the original report came out about the president sharing intelligence with the Russians, the White House denied its accuracy.

Then, it shifted to insisting that Trump's actions were "wholly appropriate" - a phrase that national security adviser H.R. McMaster used no fewer than nine times in a midday briefing Tuesday.

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And in between, the president himself tweeted: "As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining . . . to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism."

Others, however, have a different view of a longtime adversary.

"It's not helpful that this was with the Russians," Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said on MSNBC. "This is just weird. We and the Russians do not have aligned interests. They want to exacerbate our internal distrust of each other, they want to fracture NATO. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is an enemy of the freedom of the press, speech and assembly, which is the beating heart of what America means."

A strong posture on national security has long been considered one of the Republicans' greatest political strengths. One of Trump's campaign ads last year ended with the tag line: "Donald Trump will protect you. He is the only one who can."

The news that Trump offered intelligence to the Russians "breaks against the Trump brand," said conservative commentator Charlie Sykes, a frequent critic of the president. "Not only are you appeasing an international adversary, but you're doing it in a reckless, thoughtless way."

"If Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama had done it," Sykes added, "Republicans would have had their hair on fire. This would have been 24/7 outrage, and a sign of weakness, and a sign of unfitness for office."

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Trump's allies on Capitol Hill are becoming exasperated.

"We could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so we can focus on our agenda," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

"Can we have a crisis-free day?" asked Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. "That's all I'm asking."

Democrats, meanwhile, say the latest crisis is forcing a reckoning with some fundamental truths about Trump himself.

"At some point, the Republican leadership is going to have to stop just looking at their shows, and come to grips with the fact that the [White House] is dysfunctional, and that he is erratic and impulsive," said John Podesta, who was chief of staff in Bill Clinton's White House and later chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign.

"They're getting nervous about whether he can actually do the job," Podesta added.

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Any efforts that his party might make to defend him are undercut by the countless times that Republicans last year declared Democratic nominee Clinton unfit to be commander in chief, because she had put sensitive material on a private email server when she was secretary of state.

"She was entrusted with some of our nation's most important secrets, and she betrayed that trust by carelessly mishandling highly classified information," House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said last July.

At Trump rallies, his supporters regularly chanted: "Lock her up!"

But in Clinton's case, the dangers of her reckless email practices were largely theoretical. There is no evidence that any sensitive material made it from her server into the hands of an adversary.

Trump actually volunteered information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

"This isn't a question of legal propriety, but more a judgment with respect to the handling of sensitive information," said Alexander Vershbow, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and NATO. "It does look like sources and methods were at least put at risk."

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This was not the first instance in which the president has shown a disregard for security in dealing with confidential material.

When North Korea conducted a ballistic missile test in February, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed it in full view of patrons in the open-air dining area of Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Photos of the two national leaders reviewing documents by the light of an aide's cellphone quickly made it onto social media.

"There's no excuse for letting an international crisis play out in front of a bunch of country club members like dinner theater," Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Calif., the leader of House Democrats, complained in a tweet.

On Friday, a sharp-eyed Washington Post reader noted a photograph of Trump and bodyguard Keith Schiller in which a sticky note was visible on the outside of a stack of papers in Schiller's hand. It said "Jim, Mad Dog, Mattis" and contained what turned out to be al private number for the defense secretary. (The Post removed the photo from its website.)

Meanwhile, more concerns about Trump's judgment were raised last week at the mere presence of the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in the Oval Office - concerns that escalated when it became clear that a photographer from the Russia's government-run news agency Tass was there as well.

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The meeting occurred the day after Trump fired Comey.
What are Chicago's suburbs seeing that the city is not?

Over a dozen suburbs have recently opted out of Cook County's incoming $13 minimum wage and paid sick leave requirements. These include Arlington Heights, Barrington, Bartlett, Elk Grove, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Mount Prospect, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Palatine, Palos Park, River Forest, Rolling Meadows, Rosemont, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Tinley Park and Wheeling. Others are considering following suit before the July 1 deadline.

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This is welcome news for youth in Chicago suburbs like mine looking for summer jobs. The current youth unemployment rate in Greater Chicago is nearly 20 percent. Putting up additional employment barriers with a 58 percent starter wage increase would only worsen the summer job employment prospects.

Local minimum wage proponents dispute this logic. "These are arguments we have fought for 150 years and every time people say they can't raise pay because it will hurt the businesses and so forth," says Cook County Clerk David Orr. "The truth is, it doesn't."

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In the real world, the "truth" isn't on Orr's side. Hundreds of small businesses across the country have had to reduce hours, lay off employees or even close altogether as a result of the costs associated with dramatic starter wage increases at the state and local levels. (Specific stories can be found at Facesof15.com.)

In Chicago, which passed a $13 minimum wage two years before Cook County, restaurants like Cantina 1910 and a Panera Bread have closed partially because of the hike. Home Run Inn pizza cited the wage hike for its decision to cancel the opening of a new location in the city, and Original Rainbow Cone ice cream has had to cut student summer employees by half. Other employees in the city have seen their hours reduced in response to the wage hike.

"If you look at the expenses on the payroll, it's mind-blowing the difference from what it used to be," Aly Udartseva, owner of a cafe in Wicker Park, told the Tribune last summer. She was forced to dramatically raise prices to compensate.

For Chicago's youth, who seem to have no escape from the incoming wage floor, the consequences may be especially pronounced. According to the most recent Census Bureau data, several Chicago neighborhoods, including East Garfield Park, Chatham, Auburn Gresham and Englewood, have youth unemployment rates exceeding 60 percent. It's safe to assume that if these youngsters can't get a summer job at 19, they won't get one at 20.

The consequences of jobless summers extend beyond just the loss of a paycheck. A growing research consensus suggests there may be a connection between Chicago's lack of youth employment and its out-of-control crime.

A recent study published in Science found that Chicago youth who had summer jobs committed violent crime at nearly half the rate of their counterparts. The study assigned teens to jobs at random, suggesting the role employment plays is a causative one rather than just a correlation. Other researchers claim to have identified such a causal link between youth unemployment and crime.

As the former president of McDonald's, I've seen firsthand how entry-level jobs socialize young people  especially those whose families and schools have failed them  by providing them with teamwork and customer service skills. This is especially important in Chicago, where a disproportionate number of children are raised in single-parent homes and attend failing schools. At a recent speech in Washington, D.C., Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen highlighted research that demonstrates how entry-level jobs improve attitudes toward communities.

Yet despite efforts by suburbs to avoid the employment and social consequences that seem to be exacerbated by the city's minimum wage increase, the state may force their hand. A bill before the state legislature proposes to raise the state's minimum wage to $15. This would only compound the damage that suburbs are trying to alleviate.

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Ed Rensi is the former president and CEO of McDonald's.
When things are going bad in Washington, it is almost always a good idea to get out of town. As the Trump administration knows all too well, when you have a lot of staff talking to reporters, a president whose tweets cannot be contained and a press with an insatiable need to pounce on and criticize the president, it creates a fragile environment, and the result is often nothing less than chaos. But presidential trips overseas can leave some problems behind and begin a reset even if relief is only temporary.

When President Donald Trump departs Washington on Friday for a nine-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Vatican, Brussels and Italy, most of his staff will be left behind and the traveling press corps will be more tightly managed by the foreign host. International visits also limit opportunities for the president to stray off-message.

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Considering the host country's leaders have a vested interest in everything going smoothly, they try to script nearly every aspect of the American delegation's trip. And from the White House's perspective, Trump's remarks will have been prepared days, if not weeks, ahead of time. That means it will be easier for the administration's communication strategy to be coordinated and executed in unison.

I am sure Trump's staff will find comfort and some confidence in knowing that his nonstop travel will be filled with plenty of photo ops, pleasantries and handshakes to dilute the stories plaguing the administration at home. U.S. and foreign reporters will ask for comment on the stressful, topical issues, but it is up to the president to remain on message, sure-footed, poised and in control of his words.

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In the event that he adds a new dimension to the Russia investigation or the alleged revealing of classified information, the press will smell blood. News reporters want the White House to overreact and sidetrack the message designed for the visit. But it will actually be easier to handle most problems while the president's core staff is together on Air Force One, where there is usually a more collaborative vibe than when staffers are spread out and hunkered down in their individual White House offices taking phone calls from whoever. When the president travels abroad, decision-makers are in close proximity to each other, the president is readily available and the distractions of a constantly ringing phone and endless meetings are lessened.

In general, the American people respond positively to seeing their president meeting with world leaders, reassuring them of our leadership abroad, and coming to agreements on matters of global importance. Trump's meetings in Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican are opportune settings for this administration to make a bold statement to the world that the United States is stronger and more committed than ever to leading. And in Brussels and Italy, where Trump will meet with world leaders at the NATO and Group of 7 summits, the administration can reaffirm the notion, as national security adviser H.R. McMaster argued recently, that "President Trump understands that America First does not mean America alone."

Anyway, when the president takes off from Washington on Friday, it will be just him and his most senior council of aides and advisers. Opportunities for chaos-inducing leaks will be reduced, and the White House should be able to implement a classic communications plan of having the president's picture in the news match the narrative of his day-to-day itinerary. That is assuming, of course, that he sticks to the script all the while remembering that the media want him to do anything but that.

Given all that is going on in Washington right now, perhaps Trump will show the world a side of himself that we have not seen enough of  one that is more polished, in control and reliably predictable. And a successful trip will show the White House staff in a positive light. A lot of people are pulling for them.

Republicans' shoulders are slumping a little right now. Monday, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, asked reporters, "Can we have a crisis-free day?" A solid, drama-free and serious overseas trip is just what the doctor ordered. Good luck.

Washington Post

Ed Rogers is a longtime Republican strategist and chairman of the lobbying and communications firm BGR Group.
Auditor General Frank Mautino is seen here when he was a legislator in Springfield in 2013. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Add another fiasco to the "Only in Illinois" file: For failing to comply with state laws that govern campaign fundraising, the state's top auditor will pay a meager $5,000 fine.

Actually, he probably won't. The campaign committee that would pay the fine dissolved in 2015 when Auditor General Frank Mautino left his job as a state lawmaker to become the state's top auditor. At the time, lawmakers who overwhelmingly voted to promote him probably didn't know that questionable expenditures in his lawmaker campaign account would provoke a federal investigation. That probe is ongoing.

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In the meantime, the toothless-by-design Illinois State Board of Elections fined Mautino's now-defunct committee for failing to explain some $380,000 in spending. The board could have taken the additional step of forwarding the full case to Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office for possible prosecution, but board members declined due to the ongoing federal investigation.

It took the work of a small citizen-driven group called Edgar County Watchdogs to bring Mautino's case this far. The group began to raise questions about heavy spending from his campaign account at a gas station in his district and odd payments to a local bank. The gas station spending, purportedly for campaign-related driving and repairs, seemed extremely high for a local representative who rarely faced a serious opponent.

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And a Mautino staff member testified in the case that she routinely wrote checks from the campaign account to a local bank for cash, making the accounting of how that money was spent nearly impossible. Innocent mistake or a deliberate way for someone to muddy up campaign spending vs. personal spending?

Candidates and elected officials who raise and spend money are required to file reports that are supposed to detail where every penny went. The reason is to ensure that donors give money to support candidates' election efforts, not to bribe them with new beach condos in return for favors.

We know. This is Illinois. It's a fine line.

Federal election codes are even stricter than Illinois', which is why former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife, former Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson, served time in prison for fudging campaign records to hide lavish spending on personal items.

But historically, unless an Illinois politician grabs the attention of federal prosecutors, personal use of campaign funds goes unchecked. Think of it as an honor system for not-always-honorable officials. The politicians file the paperwork, and the board of elections has little authority to audit them. The board's main job is to make sure filing deadlines are met.

Lawmakers could give the elections board more authority to scrutinize their fund-raising activities. But you know how that story ends. A weak elections board suits the pols just fine, thank you very much.

So Mautino, despite his role as a statewide auditor who demands financial records from agencies and groups that spend taxpayer money, can escape his own sloppy-at-best bookkeeping with this slap on the wrist. That is, unless federal prosecutors find something beefy in their investigation. We won't know that unless or until it happens.

As is, Mautino has not been charged with any wrongdoing. And he has refused to answer questions or provide more complete paperwork to the state elections board.

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In December, this page called on Mautino to step down from his post until the federal probe is complete. Let the professional accountants in the auditor general's office run it until his case is resolved.

That was five months ago. Because it appears Mautino has no intention of doing so, today we call on lawmakers to quit looking the other way. They have to file spending reports. They know how how the system is supposed to apply equally to everyone. They should pressure their leadership to put Mautino's continuation as auditor general up for a vote. A proposal filed by Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville, to remove Mautino sits in House Speaker Michael Madigan's Rules Committee.

Madigan can keep protecting his pal Mautino by not calling the resolution for a vote. Or he can quit playing God and allow the House to vote Mautino up or down. Make a case for him or send him packing.

Only in Illinois would this be debatable.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.

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President Donald Trump listens during his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on May 16, 2017. (Evan Vucci / AP)

The best Donald Trump can hope for over time is that "10 days in May" becomes shorthand for the darkest period of his presidency, when hubris, incompetence and scandal damaged but did not engulf him.

In this theoretical scenario, the Justice Department's appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel Wednesday evening would catch the president's attention: Whoa, this is serious. He would soon acknowledge that he is in crisis. He recognizes he is ill-equipped to manage the political, ethical and legal nuances of governance. He replaces bungling staffers with a more savvy team. He listens. He heeds their advice on issues of substance and style. He focuses on the agenda he was elected to pursue. And in the end he survives the intensifying probe of ties between Russian interests and his campaign.

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That would be the Hollywood version of Trump's recovery from this disaster-movie period in the White House.

The more likely scenario: There will be plenty more catastrophes to come because the president lacks judgment and discipline. If nothing changes, Trump's character flaws eventually will destroy his effectiveness as president. He'll either wither on the job, accomplishing little, or be driven from office.

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Trump's 10 days of disarray began on May 9 with his firing of FBI Director James Comey, whose former agency is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. While Trump had legal authority to dump Comey, the timing made it look like an effort to derail the FBI probe. The White House provided a flimsy cover story in the guise of a Justice Department memo criticizing Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email fiasco. By last Thursday, even Trump admitted he was thinking about "this Russia thing" when he fired Comey.

One day later, with the nation still digesting Comey's dismissal, Trump  improbably  hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office, where they discussed the terrorist threat posed by Islamic State. Here the president's judgment failed him again. He reportedly shared highly classified intelligence with Lavrov without permission from the source, an unidentified U.S. partner believed to be Israel. It was a clumsy mistake by the president and his team that could provide Russia, an adversary, with useful intelligence info and put undercover operatives in danger. Lavrov should not have been in the West Wing, especially with Russia-related scandal in the wind.

Russians-in-the-White House remained Trump's biggest headache of this week  but only until Tuesday afternoon. That's when the saga turned back toward Comey. News broke that, in February, Trump allegedly asked Comey to drop the part of the Russia investigation focused on former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Trump supposedly didn't demand action, but he wheedled for it. Trump said Flynn is "a good guy. I hope you can let this go," Comey wrote in a confidential memo cited by The New York Times. Taken together with his decision to fire Comey, it appears Trump can't grasp why a president must avoid the appearance of meddling in ongoing investigations.

And now, a special counsel.

Mueller is widely respected by Democrats and Republicans in Washington. We expect that he'll essentially oversee the FBI's work, determine where to look for possible wrongdoing and decide whether charges are warranted.

Beyond that probe of possible Russian collusion with Trump associates, House and Senate committees also are investigating. These quests will play out over time. While the appointment of a special counsel always raises the profile of an investigation, it doesn't necessarily change how FBI or other federal agents operate. Whatever their trajectory, Trump had better stay out of the way. That's elemental advice we shouldn't have to provide to a president.

Trump's challenge is that, down to his bones, he is an entrepreneur and sales guy who believes in the big pitch. Details matter less. His skills won the presidency but don't translate to leadership of the country. Democrats are out to get him, but he helps them by making these unforced errors due to his rash temperament and inexperience.

In the White House, he is a captive of his own ego, unable to admit he needs help to manage the immense job of being president. His hastily proposed immigration ban, haphazardly issued during his first week in office, remains hung up in the courts. His Mexican wall is more punch line than possibility. Now the Comey and Russia stories. What goes wrong next? Skepticism like that kills a president's brand.

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These 10 days are squandered time. The arrival of a special counsel will further consume him and his White House. When he's doing damage control, Trump isn't campaigning for tax reform, rethinking the future of America's urban centers or managing the North Korea nuclear threat. And every moment counts: He needs an immediate reboot. He needs new staff, a new perspective and an end to the self-inflicted wounds dragging him down.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.

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Pretrial incarceration has dire consequences for accused individuals, their families, and our city. People lose jobs, housing, and even custody of their children. Their legal rights are also sacrificed: They are more likely to be convicted and also receive longer sentences. Incarcerating people pretrial doesnt make us safer  it actually increases recidivism.

Bond hearings in Cook County generally last less than two minutes and are often as short as 30 seconds. No meaningful determination is made in that time. We are currently incarcerating thousands of people who are presumed innocent based on less than a minutes worth of information, and state Sen. Bill Cunningham wants us to incarcerate even more.

In reality, only a small percentage of people in Cook County Jail with gun charges and high bonds post bond; most remain incarcerated until their cases end. By looking only at people who post bond, these stories mislead the public into thinking more people are being released faster. In fact, the average length of stay in Cook County Jail is increasing, and most people charged with gun crimes are actually staying longer in jail.

Since December 2015, Chicago Community Bond Fund has bonded more than 60 people out of Cook County Jail, including many people charged with violent felonies and several with gun-related charges. To date, no one CCBF bonded out has been rearrested for a violent crime. Instead, they have continued working, going to school, and taking care of their families. We, too, have stories of individuals charged with gun crimes who posted bond: They are succeeding.

Policy decisions should be based on evidence and not anecdotes. Money bond is bad policy, but so is pretrial incarceration. That is why it must be carefully limited, not expanded.

Proposals like Cunninghams bill increase pretrial incarceration without providing any increase in protections for accused people or relief for the people charged with theft referenced in last weeks article. Without additional reforms, such measures do nothing to move us from a wealth-based pretrial justice system to one that truly honors the presumption of innocence.

 Max Suchan, director of operations, Chicago Community Bond Fund
Southwest winds gusting to 40 mph boosted Tuesday afternoon temperatures into the upper 80s and lower 90s  Chicago's official reading at O'Hare topped out at 87 degrees while Midway registered 89 degrees. With perhaps even stronger southwest winds, but a little more cloudiness, Wednesday's highs are forecast to again reach into the mid and upper 80s.

However, an 80- to 90-mph jet stream flow could help trigger lines of strong to severe thunderstorms to our west Wednesday afternoon, with the storms moving into our area later in the afternoon and evening hours.

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The unseasonably high temperatures will most likely come to an end Thursday as a cold front approaches from the north, passing through northeast Illinois into northwest Indiana during the afternoon. Behind the cold front, winds will shift to the northeast, with readings dropping 15 to 20 degrees in a matter of minutes.
In 2016, the Greater Chicago Food Depository distributed 70 million pounds of food to those in need. Every day, the organization provides 160,000 mealsan average of 200,000 pounds of foodto the hungry in the greater Chicago area.

These numbers wouldn't be possible without the help of the volunteers who donate their time (and, sometimes, their unneeded food).

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Volunteers are an essential force in the Food Depositorys response to hunger in Cook County, said Kate Maehr, Food Depository executive director and CEO.

To join the ranks of the 23,594 volunteers, head to the food bank's website to check out the calendar of available opportunities. Volunteers can choose between food repacking, reception at the loading dock, driving a donation vehicle or collecting donations at food industry shows.

Volunteer opportunities are available regularly and on most days of the week, allowing each possible volunteer the chance to find a time slot that works best with their calendar.

Volunteers at the Greater Chicago Food Depository

Volunteer events are open to individuals or groups of up to 30 peoplemeaning you can bring the whole squad along for a day of doing goodand most ages if you have some young'uns you want to give the spirit of service.

"Whether they're repacking produce, sorting food drive donations, advocating for anti-hunger programs or helping at events in the community, they make an incredible impact every day on the lives of our hungry neighbors," Maehr said.

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Later in the year on Sept. 16, the food bank will host its annual Hunger Walk in Jackson Park. Chicagoans looking to expand their efforts to assist the food bank can also host their own food drives through various community venuesthrough work or a local school or business. For every dollar donated to a driveor to the food bank's online sitethe depository can supply three meals for those in need.

@shelbielbostedt | sbostedt@redeyechicago.com
A backyard chicken looks for food and some attention in Joliet. The Oswego Village Board has approved the keeping of up to six hens in the village. (Allen Cunningham/Daily Southtown )

Oswego has decided to allow residents to keep backyard chickens.

Oswego trustees Tuesday night voted 5 to 1 to amend the village's zoning ordinance to permit residents to raise backyard chickens for their eggs. Trustee Joe West voted against the measure.

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The rules permit up to six hens. However, the rules do not apply to those residents in subdivisions where homeowners associations have covenants and restrictions that prohibit chicken coops.

The homeowners association regulations would override the village's ordinance, village officials said. Residents will be required to get letters from their subdivision's governing board verifying that chickens are a permitted use before a permit is issued.

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The ordinance follows similar rules in communities that have approved the raising of backyard chickens.

Hens are required to be in a covered inside enclosure and have an adjacent outside fenced-in area of no less than 32 square feet and set back 30 feet from any nearby residence. Electric service to enclosures cannot be provided by an extension cord.

The village's Environmentally Conscious Commission of Oswego developed a draft ordinance after doing research over the last year of what other communities have done.

The citizen-appointed group tried five years ago to get approval for backyard chickens, but the topic was dropped amid opposition.

At the May 2 Village Board Committee of the Whole discussion, one person spoke against chickens, while five others were in favor.

Tuesday night's focus turned to the potential health risks associated with chickens. A resident shared a story of his sister diagnosed with histoplasmosis, a disease contracted when airborne spores of the fungus histoplasma capsulatum are inhaled into the lungs.

The microscopic fungus, according to the National Eye Institute, is found in river valleys and soil where bird or bat droppings accumulate, then is released into the air when soil is disturbed by farming, or as it applies to backyard chickens, sweeping chicken coops.

Although the disease is typically mild with no serious health symptoms, in some cases it can later cause serious eye disease that can lead to the loss of vision, according to the institute. The man said his sister as a child played near compost comprised of chicken droppings when they lived in Joliet.

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"She's now in her 60s. It hasn't entirely taken her vision but she has lived with the fear of losing her eyesight," he said. "Who wants to put people at that kind of a risk? I understand the appeal to raise chickens, but personally I would never buy a house where the former owners raised chickens."

Village officials said the chicken coops will be required to have the proper ventilation.

Environmentally Conscious Commission member George Stenitzer said they've had these discussions in previous years.

"We have been talking about chickens for five years," he said. "We have done our research on histoplasmosis."

Stenitzer said the disease cannot be transmitted from person-to-person and the ordinance does require proper ventilation to reduce the risks.

Stenitzer said he lives along the Fox River that is a "fly-way" for all kinds of species of birds.

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"This disease can be transmitted by any bird," he said. "The risks cannot be eliminated. People and chickens have coexisted successfully for a long time."

He said the village will have more protections for chickens than household cats and dogs. Village officials said currently there is nothing on the books restricting the number of cats or dogs in a household.

Village Administrator Dan Di Santo said the Illinois Department of Public Health does address issues associated with chickens. For histoplasmosis, the high risk is with the handling of chicken feces, he said.

"The best prevention is education," he said.

The Village Board agreed to provide educational materials on infectious diseases to residents when permits are issued.

Village President Gail Johnson said she has spoken to municipal leaders through the Metro West Council of Government and has not heard of glaring problems in communities that allow hens.

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"There are issues associated with handling cat litter. There are risks with having animals in the home," Johnson said.

Johnson said she does not anticipate a surge of requests for permits. Trustees agreed to have the ordinance go into effect Sept. 1.

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
Beverly resident Amy Kelley, was inspired by her daughter, Avery, to create a program where young girls can learn about science, technology, engineering and math. Kelley will present a girls summer invention camp in July, at Bethany Union Church in Chicago. (Patti Ahern/Daily Southtown )

Amy Kelley is a math teacher, and while she likes to inspire all her students to learn, she especially likes to encourage young girls about learning lessons that incorporate the STEM  science, technology, engineering and math  curriculum.

Kelley, who teaches math at South Suburban College in South Holland, did not start out to be a math teacher. She started in corporate America, in an insurance industry job, but she realized it simply was not her forte. She went back to school, earned a master's degree, and began to teach college level math. She also began to expose her daughter, Avery, who is now nine, to robotics, and other STEM type lessons. Realizing that classes in the STEM curriculum were expensive and far from home, she decided to make something more available to young girls on the South Side, and that's when Take Your Place, Inc. was born.

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Take Your Place is a not-for-profit that Kelley started to make STEM lessons and curriculum available to girls ages six through 12 in the Chicago metropolitan area. Kelley, who lives in the Beverly community of Chicago, began her effort by meeting with the Rev. Lawrence Michael Cameron, pastor of Bethany Union Church, 1750 W. 103rd Street in Chicago. Cameron agreed to Bethany Union presenting this program, and as a result, Kelley will host a girls' summer invention camp at the church from July 10 to 21 at the church.

In an email, Cameron explained his purpose in giving the group a space to meet in Bethany Union.

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"The girls inventor's camp is a much needed service in this community where misogyny is the seemingly norm amidst the religious adherents," Cameron wrote. "Girls need to know and believe that they are not lesser creatures, nor are they inferior in any way no matter what their church tradition may be selling them.

"To invest in the community means to invest in our children. This camp experience will help some of our Chicagoland youth see beyond their own backyard and help them dream the dreams they need to pull us all forward. The particular chrism of Bethany Union Church of Chicago is to sponsor, promote, and offer good, wholesome and compassionate experiences, and programs that can make a difference in the lives of our community. This camp is one of those good ones."

Kelley spoke enthusiastically about Cameron's willingness to help her cause.

"Pastor Larry was fantastic," Kelley said. "He wants to do things for our community, so we are going to explore STEM and access to technology. I just love to be able to offer programs to girls in a safe and comfortable place. This is where they can thrive."

Girls who participate in the camp will learn about inventors, the invention process, and they will also learn how to patent intellectual property. They will also create at least two inventions and they may get to present their invention at an invention convention next spring.

Kelly said she felt especially inspired to begin her Take Your Place organization by her daughter, and the responsibility she felt to create something for her, as well as other young girls.

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"I think my daughter is my biggest cheerleader and inspiration. She makes me feel I can make a difference, and we will do that. We will let these girls have power, and we will let these girls have their place."

The program will have room for 30 girls to participate in lessons about STEM programs. Kelley said she has speakers lined up from a variety of studies; a chemistry doctoral candidate will be one of the leader volunteers, and a patent attorney will be part of the lesson plan as well, to name a few.

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The program will be $199, and this will pay for all the materials students will use, as well as breakfast and lunch. Kelley said that her Take Your Place organization has a goal of providing scholarships to pay for half of this program to 15 of the girls.

"Many programs like these cost $399 to $499," Kelley said. "Our program will run for two weeks, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The nice thing about having it at Bethany Union is that they have a great outdoor space as well, so the kids can explore and get sunshine, too.

"It is the mission of our organization, and the goal of this camp to have young girls find a love for the STEM fields. In STEM we want girls to 'Take Your Place. The World Is Yours.'"

More information is at www.takeyourplacegirls.org or http://www.bethanyunion.com. Kelley can be reached at takeyourplacegirl@gmail.com.

Patti Ahern is a freelance columnist and can be emailed at PattiRMA@aol.com.
The cause of a crash in Oak Forest that killed a 57-year-old Indiana man on Monday remained under investigation, police said.

Joseph C. Heldt, of Dyer, Indiana, was killed when his truck overturned after crashing into the viaduct at 157th Street and Cicero Avenue, Oak Forest Police Chief Tim Kristin said.

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The single-vehicle crash happened at about 3:30 p.m., and closed traffic along a section of Cicero Avenue until 9:30 p.m., Kristin said. Metra trains also were delayed, officials said.

No one else was injured in the incident, he said.

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Kristin said Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating.
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, left, poses for photos after taking the oath of office with his wife, Betty, center, and their daughter, Amanda. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown)

After a campaign that was acrimonious at times and saw the defeat of Orland Park's longtime mayor, the man elected to replace him offered an olive branch after being sworn in Monday.

Elected to public office in his first attempt, Keith Pekau told a standing-room-only crowd gathered at Orland Park's Village Hall to witness him taking the oath of office he realizes he is taking on an "awesome responsibility," but that "I'm up to the task and will not let you down."

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Although working with a board of trustees that had served with incumbent Mayor Dan McLaughlin, who Pekau had slammed over issues such as the village's debt load, the new mayor said he hoped he and the trustees could "find common values" for the benefit of the village and residents.

The owner of a small business who is taking over what is now a full-time job, Pekau said he was "reaching out" to the rest of the board in a "spirit of cooperation and mutual respect."

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Before the start of Monday's Village Board meeting, Pekau took the oath of office from longtime friend Timothy Cole, a U.S. Navy captain who Pekau said had flown in from Washington, D.C., to administer the oath.

He said he and Cole have been friends since 1976 and have remained close despite having differences of opinion on topics such as religion and music. Pekau used his relationship with Cole as an analogy to what he hoped his working relationship with the board might be.

Also sworn in were re-elected trustees Dan Calandriello, Jim Dodge and Kathy Fenton, as well as Clerk John Mehalek, who all ran unopposed on McLaughlin's First Orland ticket. Cook County Circuit Court Judge Thomas O'Hara, an Orland Park resident, administered the oath to the trustees, while Nancy Melinauskas, a notary, administered the oath to Mehalek.

A political newcomer, Pekau , who ran as a Republican in his first stab at winning public office, garnered 54 percent of the vote Tuesday compared with 46 percent for McLaughlin, who was seeking his seventh term, according to unofficial results.

While Pekau ran a largely self-funded campaign, he got a major boost from a political action committee aligned with and funded partly by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Liberty Principles poured about $180,000 into a series of mailers and cable television ads that were highly critical of McLaughlin, although they did not mention Pekau .

The decision last fall by the Village Board to make the mayor's job a full-time position had motivated Pekau , who owns a landscaping and tree-trimming business, to run for mayor.

Now paid $40,000 as mayor, plus another $3,000 a year for serving as liquor commissioner, the mayor will be paid $150,000 and the position expanded to full time, with added responsibilities of being Orland Park's lead person on economic development matters. The jump in pay also would bring a corresponding increase in pension.

Pekau said he will opt out of the pension. As far as the new full-time requirements of the mayor's job, Pekau previously said his business, GroundsKeeper Landscape Care, had "hired someone to run the business" as he launched his mayoral campaign.

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Pekau , 50, served in the U.S. Air Force for more than nine years after receiving his degree in aerospace engineering from Arizona State University, and while in the Air Force earned an MBA from Duke University. After leaving the military in 1998, Pekau worked as a management consultant for Marakon Consulting and LEK Consulting, then in 2003 switched gears and bought a tree service company, which morphed into GroundsKeeper. The business was originally in Lemont and is now headquartered in Mokena.

McLaughlin, 63, ran unopposed four years ago, and in the 2009 municipal race easily defeated Gerald Maher, garnering almost 64 percent of the vote.

Before being elected mayor in 1993, McLaughlin served as a village trustee from 1983 to 1991. He is executive director of the Builders Association, a trade group for the commercial construction industry in the Chicago area.

In a statement McLaughlin read at his final Village Board meeting two weeks ago, he said that his father used to say to always leave a place better than you found it, and that he is "leaving Orland Park much better off than when I came into office 24 years ago."

The development of Orland Park's Main Street Triangle was cited by McLaughlin as one of his many accomplishments during his years in office, saying the downtown area "will be a source of pride for Orland Park residents and a unique attraction that serves as a gathering place and will be an economic engine in it's own right."

mnolan@tribpub.com

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Twitter @mnolan_J
Frankfort's assistant village administrator Rob Piscia has been named interim village administrator to replace Jerry Ducay, who is departing for a job in Texas, officials said.

Piscia, who has been assistant village administrator for seven years, will start the interim post on June 17. Prior to the assistant village administrator job, Piscia was Frankfort's police chief for seven years.

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He began with the police department in 1986, and he and his wife, Leslie, and their three children have lived in Frankfort for 23 years. Piscia has a masters degree in political science and justice studies from Governors State University.

"Rob Piscia will be able to step in with no problem. He knows the town well," said Mayor Jim Holland, who made the appointment at Monday's village board meeting. He said Piscia is "so well qualified," that the village is not in a rush to fill the post.

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While village officials like to promote from within, Holland said they "owe it to the people" to conduct a broader search, but that process may take a few months.

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"We will see what the marketplace has to offer," he said.

Also at Monday's meeting, Police Chief John Burica was named as interim assistant village administrator, to step in when Piscia is absent.

Holland said because of the village's financial issues, he will recommend that the assistant administrator's post be vacated and those duties passed on to another department head.

Ducay served as village administrator in Frankfort for 18 years, and prior to that, served in similar capacities in Crete and Dolton.

"We wish Jerry well with his new career," Holland said.

slafferty@tribpub.com

Twitter @SusanLaff
PHOENIX  The attorney for a Border Patrol agent who shot a teen through the fence is claiming the victim was involved in drug smuggling.

Sean Chapman said he has a witness who would establish that Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez was not only involved in smuggling drugs when he was allegedly throwing rocks at Lonnie Swartz but in fact had been on the U.S. side of the border a few minutes earlier.

Whether he personally transported drugs or acted as a scout is unclear, Chapman wrote in pleadings to U.S. District Court Judge Raner Collins in his bid to take a deposition from an unnamed witness. What is clear is that he was involved in this operation.

Chapman also said the area of the border fence where the 2012 shooting occurred is used exclusively by drug smugglers.

Given its exclusive use for drug smuggling, agents are trained that this is a dangerous area, the attorney wrote. Smugglers are more aggressive, they tend to resist apprehension more strenuously and tend to be more assaultive toward the agents.

Chapman is not disputing that his client, charged with second degree murder, shot Elena Rodriguez through an opening in the border fence. An autopsy concluded 10 shots hit the teen in the back.

But Swartz, on indefinite unpaid suspension, has contended he fired in self-defense, saying the boy was throwing rocks across the border.

The attorney said the evidence from the witness is important to justify Swartz's heightened concerns about this area. And he said what the witness has to offer would provide jurors a complete picture of what happened that night.

That complete picture, according to Chapman, involves a witness found by the government who lives about 50 meters north of the border, close to where the shooting occurred.

According to the lawyer, the witness knew Elena Rodriguez and had seen him in the neighborhood as he was growing up. And Chapman said this witness said in an earlier interview that his or her family  the legal papers even block out the gender of the witness  had disassociated itself from the victim after he bean involved in drug smuggling at an early age.

The witness, Chapman said, saw Elena Rodriguez run by the house south toward the border fence, and later, two Border Patrol agents, with a premonition that something bad was going to happen to Elena Rodriguez.

Chapman said the witness assumed the agents were chasing the teen and heard them say in Spanish they were going to find him. The witness went to bed and a short time later heard gunshots, the shots the witness later learned were related to the incident.

All that, said Chapman is relevant to his defense of Swartz.

The decedent (Elena Rodriguez) was involved in a conspiracy to import drugs into the United States as reflected not only by his efforts to harm agents with rocks, but also by his presence in the United States shortly before the shooting, he wrote.

The reason all this has become public now is that an investigator for the defense concluded the witness was reluctant to testify even being served with a subpoena. There also were comments that someone close to the witness said the person has significant health problems and had a valid medical reason not to appear to testify even if ordered to do so.

What Chapman hopes Collins will grant is permission to question the witness ahead of time to preserve the testimony should that person not be available for trial. Chapman told Collins the testimony is critical to the defense theory of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Beverly Anderson said she could not comment on Chapman's request or any of the legal issues as to whether what Elena Rodriguez may have been doing just ahead of his shooting is legally relevant.

Collins has yet to rule on Chapman's request.

A hearing is set in federal court for June 19 on various outstanding issues, with the trial now set for Oct. 12.

The question of what Elena Rodriguez was doing at the time of the shooting also could come up in the separate civil lawsuit against Swartz  assuming the U.S. Supreme Court allows that case to go forward.

At issue is whether federal courts in this country have jurisdiction to hear the wrongful death complaint because Elena Rodriguez was shot and died in Mexico.

It isn't just Chapman, also representing Swartz in the civil case, who contends his client cannot be sued in federal courts.

Even the U.S. Department of Justice  the agency that is prosecuting Swartz in the criminal case  is asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out the claims of the family. During a hearing last year, Assistant Attorney General Henry Whitaker told the court the location of the shooting, coupled with the boy's lack of contact with this country, means federal courts have no jurisdiction.

The appellate judges, who heard arguments last year, have agreed not to rule until the U.S. Supreme Court decides a similar case out of Texas. In that 2010 incident, a Border Patrol agent shot and killed a Mexican teen playing in a culvert that separates El Paso from Juarez.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled the parents cannot pursue their claim against Jesus Mesa Jr. because the boy, Sergio Hernandez, was a Mexican citizen who was on Mexican soil at the time he was shot.
No state budget. Only unpredictable stop-gap funding.

The last two years have been a state-imposed ordeal for Illinois's smaller regional public universities. But don't let the general pronouncements of doom and gloom drown out an essential point: trustees, faculty, administration, and staff at Governors State University (GSU) and at our sister institutions have demonstrated courage  even heroism  in doing everything possible to protect students and to make sure that they have what students need most: mentoring and preparation for success in life and careers. On Saturday, 1,710 GSU students will receive high quality undergraduate and graduate degrees, representing a first-rate education from an institution that cares.

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As commencement approaches, I have been inspired by ceremonies that signify the high value of GSU degrees. The Student Leadership Awards luncheon honored students of all ages who have demonstrated civic engagement both on and off campus. The Scholarship Fund-Raising Dinner, hosted, pro bono, by Lisa Parker of NBC5, highlighted student experiences: academic achievement overseen by a dedicated faculty; campus governance guided by peers, faculty members, and administrators; and internships leading to high-powered careers. Actually, Parker inspired this essay. She pointed out that despite all the obstacles and unfair publicity, GSU is doing a great job on the things that count the most.

The cording ceremony for Dual Degree Program (DDP) graduates symbolizes our partnership with 17 Chicagoland community colleges to provide a guided, seamless pathway from associate degree to bachelor's degree. At commencement, DDP students will wear cords braiding GSU's colors of black and white with the colors of their community colleges. In the six years of DDP's existence, over 90% of DDP students have either graduated or are on track to graduate. The Kresge Foundation has identified the DDP as a model to be emulated nationwide.

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At the campus reception preceding a concert of the Jazz Philharmonic, orchestra leader Orbert Davis introduced a saxophone solo by musician and Student Senate President Justin Smith. Smith was a member of GSU's first freshman class in 2014 and now looks forward to his 2018 graduation. His individualized major in the business of music is the sort of thing that GSU can do for students, as we guide them to fulfill personal missions.

From freshman year on, we ask students to identify their missions. Faculty members, administrators, and advisers then help students to identify appropriate majors. Career preparation is integrated with classroom work from the first year on. Mentoring  identified by the Gallup Corporation as the single most important factor in student success  is made possible by small classes, where faculty and students get to know each other. Freshman composition is limited to 18 students. Other freshman courses are limited to 30. And all first-year courses are taught by full-time faculty members. That hasn't changed  and won't change. My mother was right: Well begun is half done.

We are already seeing the results as members of our first freshman class complete their junior year and become next year's seniors. With help in identifying their strengths, our students are building on their assets in remarkable ways. We are moved by the growth we have seen.

We find ways for students to gain career experience in a wide range of settings. We show students that they don't have to major in a field that sounds like a job. For example, we help English majors to draw on their skills in writing and research to apply for jobs in business, industry, and government. For on-campus jobs, departments compete for work-study dollars by showing that students will have increasingly responsible professional experiences throughout their four undergraduate years. Students who are working off campus to support themselves in the fast food industry, for example, get help in understanding and translating into action what they are learning on the front lines about customer service and supply chain.

Despite Illinois's ranking 50th in state support of higher education, GSU has maintained its core values in providing students with a first-class education. How have we done it? Through hard choices, grit, and sacrifice. We've cut non-academic areas to unsustainable levels, especially since we have the added burden of complying with innumerable state regulations, all of which have to be monitored.

We know that the supporters of higher education in Springfield are fighting for us. But in the meantime, don't listen to those who say that you can't find quality higher education in Illinois's regional publics. GSU itself is demonstrating the grit and resilience that we inculcate in our students. Even with next year's necessary tuition increase, we still charge the lowest tuition and fees in Chicagoland. More important, you won't find a more caring university anywhere. No matter what the challenge, we put students first.
This past weekend was prom weekend. The neighborhood was filled with limos, red carpets, balloon archways etc.  all paid for by the parents. These are the same parents that months earlier could not afford book fees.

J.K.

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Thank you, James Comey for your service to our country. I apologize for the way you were treated. It is not how the people of the United States are. We unfortunately have a man with money and no class running this country. He fired you with revenge and anger in his heart, yet claims to be a Christian. This is not the Christian way to treat someone. So, again, I apologize for the way you were treated and wish you well in your future endeavors. Missing the dignity with which previous presidents served this country and patiently waiting for impeachment proceedings to begin.

Chicago

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Hooray for Oak Lawn's "opt-out decision." I hope all of Cook's suburban municipalities do the same. I think they alone should be the judge of what's best for their businesses and residents. For decades, everyone in "Crook" has suffered from what they [Chicago] wants. Their stranglehold extends to our entire state and is the only reason we're in our current mess. "Chicago water" is the one option that seems to be beneficial for those who opted for it but we're still paying through the nose for this "great privilege."

Bob, Oak Forest

One of the reasons people are saying that the healthy school lunches championed by Michelle Obama don't work is that kids don't like the food and don't eat it. Newsflash  kids have never eaten most of their lunches at school, whether it is a lunch brought from home or purchased at school. The amount of food that ends up in the garbage is huge, even when the lunch is a hamburger and fries or pizza. Lunch time is more social time than actual eating. Was like that when I was in school and hasn't changed over the years.

Red, Chicago

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Speak Out allows readers to comment on the issues of the day. Email Speak Out at speakout @southtownstar.com or call 312-222-2427. Please limit comments to 30 seconds or about 120 words and give your first name and your hometown.
Sydney, Avery and Aubrey Marino of Crystal Lake climb a tree Saturday at Wahoo Woods in Dundee Township. (Erin Sauder \ Courier-News)

Sydney, Avery and Aubrey Marino of Crystal Lake climb a tree Saturday at Wahoo Woods in Dundee Township. (Erin Sauder \ Courier-News) (Chicago Tribune)

When 3-year-old Aubrey Marino got to Wahoo Woods nature area Saturday, she immediately announced, "I'm going to go play in the mud!"

And that's exactly what Dundee Township officials hoped for when they decided to create the nature play area in a section of the wooded, 50-acre Library Springs behind the Dundee Library.

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For Sue Harney, Saturday's opening of the park was her last official act as Township supervisor.

Before cutting the ribbon, she, along with incoming supervisor Patricia "Trish" Glees and Library Director Roxane Bennett, thanked the dozens of parents and children who attended the event.

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"Many of us grew up rooting around the woods, playing in the mud and imagining a million different things," Harney said. "It was such a backdrop that it seemed impossible to play any other way. Things are different now. There are so many classes and teams and schedules are tight."

Harney said today people have "the dreaded FOMO," the acronym for "fear of missing out."

"But this is a place we can leave that behind," she said. "Come here to fiddle with sticks and bones, to imagine and dream. Bring your children and then step back, let them figure out how to play without your help or direction. Sit back and see what happens."

Geared toward children ages 3 to 8, the free, unstructured Wahoo Woods play area is divided into sections, with climbing stones, a fort building area stocked with sticks, hay bales, loose stones and small branches, art and music areas with hollow logs for drums and rock slabs kids can draw on with chalk, hay bale tunnels, and log and stump balancing.

There is also an area for displaying items found in open space, including bird nests, old bones, odd-shaped rocks and even antlers.

When Glees took the microphone, she told attendees wanted to go over the rules of the park.

"Rule No. 1: There are no rules," she said.

This was met with cheers from the audience.

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"Play is based on your child's imagination," Glees said. "Please step off the paths, climb, jump, touch, explore, build, stack and most of all, get dirty."

Aubrey's mother, Crystal Lake resident Amanda Marino, was only too happy to let the tot, along with her two older siblings, Sydney and Avery, 7, roam free Saturday.

"We're originally from the city and they have a lot of this in the city but not around here surprisingly," she said. "It's very unique out here."

Her daughters enjoy the nature play atmosphere. At Wahoo Woods, Sydney and Avery immediately practiced their balancing skills by traversing the fallen trees and stumps lying in a shallow pond. Then all three kids could be found climbing a tree.

"They'd rather be doing this than going to a regular playground," Marino said.

West Dundee parent Kasia Acevedo attended the park opening with her family.

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"This is awesome," she said. "And it's so close too. We've always wanted to go back here. We never knew what was here."

The Wahoo Woods site was designed by the Woodstock-based Nilco Landscape Solutions. Prime Construction of Hampshire installed the trails and rock climbing features.

The nature play area was funded with tax dollars from Dundee Township and from money derived from the 1997 Open Space Bond Referendum.

Opening day festivities also included a Nature Fair featuring several local organizations such as the Friends of the Fox River, Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, Dundee Township Park District, Boys & Girls Club of Dundee Township, Elgin Public Museum, Artisticology, Jamba Juice and Main Street Bicycles.

Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
The educator leaders of a movement to end the state's budget impasse will get their chance to speak to Gov. Bruce Rauner and General Assembly chamber leaders.

On Wednesday, the four  which include School District U46 CEO Tony Sanders  will meet with Rauner, House Speaker Mike Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno. Sanders confirmed the meetings at Monday's U46 school board meeting.

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The founders of the Pass Illinois' Budget movement will talk about the impact two years without a budget has left on their schools.

Sanders will also take part in Wednesday's rally for education funding outside the Capitol. About 2,000 people are expected for the afternoon gathering, according to a news release from the group Fix the Formula Illinois. Sanders is one of several educators, administrators and legislators expected to give remarks during the rally.

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The state owes District U46 more than $18 million in categorical payments for programs and services in special education, bilingual education and transportation, among others, officials said.

District spokeswoman Mary Fergus said the lack of a budget has hit districts with large populations of bilingual students hard, such as U46. If no payments are made to the state, U46 will finish with a deficit in its operating budget between $10 million and $12 million, she said.

District officials have said that another year without a budget will doom U46 in the upcoming school year, with Sanders saying there is no way schools could open after the Thanksgiving holiday break.

During Monday's board meeting, Sanders added, "We're not saying anybody's to blame, we're just saying you got to get something moving."

Sanders updated the public Monday on the growing number of school district superintendents who have joined Pass Illinois' Budget, which as of Monday night stood at 438.

School marquees across U46 still have the phrase "Pass Illinois' Budget" on them.

The three other superintendents joining Sanders in Springfield Wednesday include West Aurora Superintendent Jeff Craig, Indian Prairie Superintendent Karen Sullivan, and downstate Sandoval Superintendent Jennifer Garrison.

raguerrero@tribpub.com
Former Evanston Fire Department Captain Ron Shulga succumbed to cancer last week, passing away at age 55, fire department officials announced Monday in news release.

Shulga is survived by his wife, Mary Klebba, and daughter. His final services are scheduled for Friday.

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The 29-year fire department veteran was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2000, after battling a transformer fire at the Varsity Theater in downtown Evanston, the release states.

The transformer contained polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chemicals deemed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be likely carcinogens.

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He died May 11, according to the release.

"Captain Shulga was a beloved member of the department who always went above and beyond to make things a little better for the next guy," fire Chief Brian Scott stated in the release. "He was always willing to help move the department forward. His presence will truly be missed by all."

Evanston firefighters credited Shulga with maintaining their department's "self-contained breathing apparatus and radio communications," which kept staff "safe and connected," according to the release.

Officials announced that Shulga will receive full department honors after the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois ruled his death a "job-related/non-traumatic line of duty death," the release states.

Funeral services begin with a wake Thursday at 3 p.m. at Donnellan Funeral Home in Skokie.

A visitation is scheduled for Friday morning at the funeral home.

Following the visitation, the release states, there will be a processional from the funeral home that will travel into Evanston, passing fire stations 5 and 1, on to the church where the funeral Mass will be held.

A funeral Mass for Shulga is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Friday at St. John Brebeuf Catholic Church in Niles.

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In lieu of flowers, Shulga's family has asked that donations be made in his honor to the Evanston Firefighters Local 742 Benevolent Fund.

gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GenevieveBook
Evanston police are investigating a report of an attempted sexual assault and robbery Tuesday of a Northwestern University student in the elevator of a Ridge Avenue apartment building, authorities announced in a news release.

Police said that around 9:37 p.m., the 24-year-old female student saw a man knocking on the entrance door to the building and since she thought he lived there, she let him in the building. She then got on the building elevator and the man followed her on, according to the news release issued Wednesday.

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According to police, once in the elevator, the man began to grope the student and attempted to reach under her clothing.

Police said she screamed for help and at that time the man battered her and threw her to the floor of the elevator.

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When the elevator door opened, the man fled on foot with the woman's wallet and cellular phone, according to the release.

The woman sustained scrapes to her legs from the incident, but refused medical treatment, said police.

Northwestern University officials said the woman is a graduate student there.

An alert is posted on the university's website regarding the incident and NU officials said that campus police are also assisting in the investigation.

"The Northwestern University Police Department advises all community members to be alert when traveling on or off campus, especially at night," the university alert reads.

Officials also reminded students about campus shuttle services and other transportation available nightly.

The alleged suspect is described as being African American, 25-30 years-old, standing 6-feet to 6-feet-4-inches, weighing 190-230 pounds, wearing a dark long sleeve shirt, dark pants and carrying a backpack.

Evanston detectives are currently conducting an investigation into the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Evanston Police Department detective division at (847) 866-5040. Information can also be provided anonymously by utilizing Text-A-Tip by texting CRIMES (274637) and entering EPDTIP in the message line, followed by the information, the release states.

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Brian L. Cox is a freelancer
Laura Eisen is an 18-year resident of Glencoe. She and her husband, Scott, have four children ranging in age from 14 to 19.

Q: How did you arrive in Glencoe in the first place?

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A: We lived in the city and my oldest was a baby, and we decided we wanted to move to the suburbs. I'm from Highland Park and my husband is from Winnetka. We settled on Glencoe because we didn't want to live where either of us had already lived, but we liked the area.

Q: What is a favorite hobby of yours?

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A: I like to exercise and go to the Glencoe Beach. I find it beautiful and peaceful. It looks different every time you see it. It is right there, but it is kind of hidden.

Q: Is there a place outside of Glencoe where you like to exercise?

A: I love to go hiking out in Colorado. I find it very peaceful.

Q: What is the most difficult part of hiking?

A: Coming down, not going up.

Q: What is a type of exercise you have thought about taking up but you never have?

A: Surfing. It would be a challenge and I love the water, and I did it once and it was difficult.

Q: Is there a place where you would like to surf?

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A: Laguna Beach or Hawaii.

Q: What is your favorite TV show on right now?

A: "Veep" because I think it is smart and funny. I liked Julia Louis-Dreyfus in "Seinfeld." I also really liked "Friends" and my kids really like "Friends," so it is funny I have that back in my life. They don't like "Seinfeld" at all. It is funny what does translate from one generation and what doesn't.

Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.

Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
PHOENIX  Five child welfare workers fired in the wake of a scandal about uninvestigated abuse complaints will not be getting their jobs back.

Without comment, the Arizona Supreme Court refused to disturb a 2016 ruling by the Court of Appeals which concluded that the employees were all supervisors. What that means, the appellate court said, is that they were at will employees who, under state law could be fired for no reason at all.

The order, issued Monday, is likely the last gasp in the effort by Terry Woods, their attorney, to seek reinstatement or compensation for his clients who he said were made scapegoats for decisions made by upper management.

The case has its roots in the finding in late 2013 that almost one of every 12 child abuse complaints reported to Child Protective Services that year was not investigated. Clarence Carter, whose Department of Economic Security at the time had purview over CPS, said his top investigator had found there had been an unofficial policy at the agency of marking certain complaints as not investigated even before any further inquiry was done.

Carter said the process started as a way to prioritize cases to deal with limited resources. But he said it had accelerated to a point where nearly half of those 6,000 cases designated NI since 2009 occurred in 2013 despite state law that there be at least some investigation of every complaint that meets certain criteria.

An inquiry by the Department of Public Safety concluded that the five employees  Deborah Harper, Tracey Everitt, Janet Sabol, Michelle Parker and Jana Leineweber  were part of a special team charged with handling the backlog of CPS complaints. More to the point, Charles Flanagan, head of the newly created Division of Child Safety and Family Services, said they were instrumental in crafting the policy that resulted in ignoring the laws on mandatory investigation.

Flanagan said, though, the DPS report showed no evidence of malicious intent.

It appears what they were trying to do is take some of the workload off the field, he said, with abuse and neglect complaints coming in faster than caseworkers could handle them. And Flanagan said all that was complicated by cuts in the CPS budget.

But in the end, the five, who had been put on leave, were subsequently fired.

Woods, in filing suit in 2014, said the report which led to their termination was essentially a pre-determined fix.

The conclusion was reached before the investigation was done, he said of the DPS inquiry. He said once it became clear that many complaints had been marked as not investigated, a decision was made that someone had to be blamed.

I think there's a really good chance that a decision was made somewhere up the chain that some heads had to roll and that was the way this thing was going to end, Woods said.

But the appellate judges said the only thing that matters is what Arizona law says about the rights of workers.

Appellate Judge Andrew Gould, writing for the court, said employees are considered to be at will and can be fired at any time unless there is an actual contract to the contrary. That's not at issue here.

There are exceptions, he said, like when a firing violates a state law or runs afoul of public policy as set forth in statute. And Gould said people who are fired for refusing to violate a state law also have legal remedies.

But the judge rejected the claim by the fired workers is that it is contrary to public policy to fire them because they were competently performing their jobs. He said all were supervisors who were not covered by state personnel rules then in effect.

The workers separately said they were directed by supervisors to use the NI designation on files. And they said if they had disobeyed that direction they would have been guilty of the crime of knowingly failing to perform a duty which is required by law.

Gould was unimpressed.

No law required CPS, plaintiffs or their supervisors to designated abuse and neglect reports as 'NI,'  he wrote. As a result, plaintiffs would not have violated (the law) by refusing to apply the 'NI' designation, because the supervisor's orders to use the 'NI' designation did not have the force of law.

Woods did not dispute that conclusion. But he said the appellate judges should have determined that, as a matter of common law, it was wrong for the state to fire people who were basically doing what they were told to do.

He said much of the reason they were dismissed was because of the bad press over that NI designation.

It was nothing new, he said, and had been used off and on for a decade. And Woods insisted that the complaints were not just written off summarily but that they had been subject to a triage screening, with the supervisors deciding that further inquiry by caseworkers was not appropriate.

But what stuck in the public mind, he said, was marking cases as NI.

It read terrible in the newspaper, Woods said.

Also getting the ax in 2014 was Sharon Sergent who was their supervisor and who in turn reported to Carter, director of the Department of Economic Security. She never sued.

Flanagan said there was no evidence that Carter knew of the unofficial policy. He would not answer, though, whether he thought Carter should have been aware of what was going on at the agency.

Carter submitted his resignation to Gov. Doug Ducey shortly after he took office in January 2015. His resignation letter made no mention of the scandal.

A month later Ducey fired Flanagan, saying he wanted a change in the broken child-welfare system.
College of Lake County student Keri Bush credits summer classes with allowing her to graduate on time this spring and head off to Illinois State University this fall.

More students like her  ones who qualify for federal Pell grants because of financial need  will have that opportunity next summer thanks to a budget deal reached this month by Congress and the White House, CLC officials said.

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The U.S. Department of Education has estimated this change will provide nearly 700,000 students with an additional $1,915 on average to help pay for college, said Nick Kallieris, the College of Lake County's director of resource development and legislative affairs.

In 2010-11, 226 CLC students took advantage of the year-round Pell grant program, which allowed them to earn an additional 1,667 credit hours, Kallieris said in an email. The year before, 141 students earned an additional enrollment of 1,027 credit hours.

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The $1 trillion spending bill, which averted a government shutdown and authorizes federal spending through the end of September, includes the return of year-round eligibility for Pell grants, something that was eliminated in 2012 over cost concerns.

The cut had meant that many students used up their Pell grants after their two regular semesters and didn't have any left over for summer courses.

Bush was lucky.

The psychology major qualified for Pell and the state-funded Monetary Award Program, or MAP grants, she said. Between the two grants, she was able to cover both of her semesters and have some left over.

"The reinstatement of the Year-Round Pell will be an invaluable aid to students seeking to stay in school and progress more rapidly to a credential," Kallieris said in the email. "Research has shown that staying and making progress in school are important for completion. This is especially true for CLC's neediest students."

Bush said she thinks taking summer courses made a big impact on her ability to graduate on time and earn a higher grade-point average.

Her first semester, she took 17 credit hours, she said. She worked less, but it was still very stressful.

She found that taking some of her less rigorous courses over the summer meant she could lower her course load and focus more on her toughest classes, she said. She also had more time to reach out to her professors, go to the tutoring center and meet with other students.

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"I found it keeps us (students) engaged so when we do come back, it's really helpful," she said. "I found I didn't lose any motivation."

She said she likely would have had to stay at the College of Lake County another semester without the summer classes to get all the credits she could for transferring and earn her associate degree.

Another factor was that Bush planned out her two years at CLC to make sure she didn't take courses she didn't need. She took only one class she ended up not needing because she originally planned on going to Western Illinois University.

"It's really hard to stay on track," she said. "A lot of people work, a lot of people who have families, (so) it's really hard to keep on track."

The College of Lake County is trying to make transferring easier for students through guaranteed-transfer agreements signed with a growing number of four-year institutions, said Lorena Killebrew, the college's assistant director of financial aid.

The college will be following those students as they transfer to see how the transition goes, if it was easier and if they finished, she said.

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emcoleman@tribpub.com

Twitter @mekcoleman
Dr. Thomas Rudd (right) and attorney Jed Stone on their way to bond court after Rudd was charged with perjury in February 2017. (Chicago Tribune)

Former Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd faces trial July 10 after a Lake County judge on Tuesday denied a motion to dismiss election-related perjury charges against him.

Rudd was charged with perjury based on allegations that he signed several election petition pages for the 2016 primary without having collected the signatures himself. The motion, filed by defense attorney Jed Stone, sought to dismiss the charges on statutory grounds.

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In a brief hearing and ruling Tuesday afternoon, Circuit Court Judge Victoria Rossetti denied Stone's petitions and his assertions that the charges violated Illinois statutes with regard to perjury.

"We're disappointed with the ruling today, and I'm convinced there are trial issues in this area," Stone said after the hearing. He then repeated his assertion that the charges were motivated by resentment among law enforcement and prosecutors about positions Rudd has taken in the past regarding high-profile criminal cases in Lake County.

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"I don't believe Dr. Rudd is a perjurer," Stone said. "I'm convinced the only reason he was charged is he spoke truth to power, and power responded by slapping him."

Rudd has declined to comment on the case on Stone's advice.

"I'm pleased with the ruling of the court," said Brian Towne with the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor's Office, who is prosecuting the case against Rudd. "I think the judge is well-versed in the law."

Towne was appointed to avoid conflict because Rudd was coroner at the time of the alleged crime. The Lake County State's Attorney's Office represents elected countywide officials while in office.

Stone had argued in his motion and in court that prosecutors should have been barred from charging Rudd because he withdrew from the election after his petitions were challenged in late 2015. He said under Illinois law, someone involved in a trial will not be charged with perjury if they change their testimony to reflect accuracy because the courts want truthful testimony.

Stone said he viewed the period from petition filing through the election as a continuous "trial action."

Towne said the actions of Rudd in preparation for filing election petitions were not part of a trial action in his view, and that he withdrew from the election the night before a hearing on challenges to his petitions after he was "caught with his hands in the proverbial cookie jar."

Rossetti said statutes are clear that the filing of election petitions is a separate action from the election itself, and denied the motion after briefly explaining that.

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Rossetti scheduled June 27 for the hearing of any further pretrial motions, and Rudd's trial remains scheduled for July 10.

A group of supporters have rallied behind Rudd and Stone's assertions of retaliation, and several were present in court Tuesday as they have been at all of Rudd's hearings to date.

During his term in office, Rudd had run-ins with law enforcement officials, particularly in regard to high-profile cases such as that of Melissa Calusinski, the day care worker whose conviction of the murder of a boy in her care has drawn controversy, and the self-inflicted shooting death of Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz.

Rudd was the first county official to publicly suggest that Gliniewicz killed himself while investigators were still calling the case a homicide investigation. In the case against Caluskinski, he has maintained that medical records demonstrate she was not at fault.

Rudd, 70, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of perjury stemming from allegations that he committed perjury by signing election petitions that were collected by others, not himself.

Election law requires that the person who circulates a nominating petition must sign each page to attest that the signatures were witnessed and are valid.

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Rudd withdrew his Democratic candidacy after the allegations surfaced, but well before he was indicted on the charges. He ran unsuccessfully in the general election as a write-in candidate.

Prosecutors and Lake County Sheriff's Office officials have strongly denied that there was anything political about the grand jury indictments against Rudd.

Rudd, free on bond, faces a potential sentencing ranging from probation to five years in prison if he is convicted.

jrnewton@tribpub.com

Twitter @jimnewton5
Land set aside in the 20th century for a proposed Route 120 bypass cuts directly behind homes in Round Lake's Madrona Village subdivision, which was constructed while still waiting for the roadway in the 21st century. (News-Sun )

If you've lived in central Lake County long enough, you've seen the vacant corridors of land set aside  in some cases, directly through subdivisions like Cambridge West in Mundelein  for a Route 53 extension that has never filled, and might never fill, the gaps.

While Route 53's empty promises are conspicuous for motorists driving by them on Route 60/83 or Hawley Street, there's another corridor of highway-wide land that also carves its way through a neighborhood but is more hidden from the general public: The would-be path of the Route 120 bypass through the Madrona Village subdivision in Round Lake.

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Running east-west a little less than a half-mile south of the existing Route 120, this hallway of overgrown grass and dandelions is overseen by the backyards of about 60 homes built in the 21st century, or on the far end of the generational debate over what everyone simply calls "Route 53."

As pointed out previously in this space, it is most accurate to refer to that (officially estimated) $2.3 billion to $2.65 billion proposal as the Route 53/120 project, because it would involve not only a north-south extension of Route 53 from Long Grove to Grayslake but also an east-west bypass for Route 120 from Wildwood to Volo.

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As duly noted by a Chicago Tribune report this month, central Lake County leaders are pushing to do something about Route 120 even if Route 53 really is dead before arrival. If you have ever been on eastbound Route 120 between Cedar Lake Road and Mill Road during the morning rush or westbound between Route 45 and Hainesville Road during the evening rush, you know of what they speak.

And, more importantly, you have to be rooting for some kind of improvement. Any kind of improvement. The only question: Do we go big or go with something doable?

In an Illinois Route 120 Corridor Feasibility Report from 2009, a concept was detailed that would include a four-lane bypass with access to "all major roads" between Almond Road in Wildwood to Fish Lake Road in Volo  and would cost a cool $404.3 million.

That package would also feature "grade separations"  known in the real world as roadway underpasses or overpasses  at Route 137, Route 83 and both the Canadian National Railway tracks in Grayslake and the Metra tracks in Hainesville.

According to the Tribune, a more current package of improvements for Route 120 is estimated at $60.53 million, which would include a grade separation for the CN tracks, which sit just west of the disastrous intersection of Routes 120 and 83.

Considering that a grade separation at the CN tracks a mile-and-a-half up the line at Washington Street cost $35 million in 2015 dollars, we can assume a good chunk of that $60-plus million would be devoted to one task.

As someone who is often stuck on Route 120 on not only weekdays but also perfectly dry weekends, my solution  if money and private-property and wetland concerns were not insurmountable objects  would involve some combination of the following:

Put in a railroad bridge over Route 120 for the CN tracks: Duh, as the Young People have said since at least the 1970s.

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Connect Atkinson Road with Route 83 in Grayslake: Atkinson was extended one whole half-mile from Route 120 to Route 137 in 2013, which is great, but real relief for the Route 120/83 intersection would allow truck traffic to use Atkinson to avoid that crossroad entirely and get to Route 83 south of the CN tracks.

Lake County News Sun Twice-weekly News updates from Lake County delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Connect Lake Street to Alleghany Road in Grayslake: Lake Street is the gateway to the Milwaukee District North Metra station, but it basically dead-ends there, forcing south and westbound traffic to head back to Route 120 or meander through a nearby subdivision. A safe link west to Alleghany would take a chunk of commuter traffic off Route 120.

Extend Hainesville Road south to connect with something other than just Route 120 in Hainesville: As it is, you have a T-intersection that is mobbed with traffic nearly seven days a week.

Extend Townline Road in Round Lake east from Amarias Drive to Alleghany: Three different subdivisions with hundreds if not thousands of cars would have direct, non-Route 120 access to both the Grayslake Metra station or to the Tri-State Tollway via the recently improved Peterson Road on the south.

As for that aforementioned corridor of land in Round Lake that waits in vain to accommodate a bypass, many things have been built near it during the years of waiting, including a K-through-8 school and several parks. Public projects that hesitate can be lost.

Even projects that would have fewer property and environmental hurdles to jump would still have to come up with the funding in a state that is in a bit of a financial pickle. If the Route 53 concept is in the same limbo it's always been in, Route 120 might be right there with it.

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danmoran@tribpub.com

Twitter @NewsSunDanMoran
I recently received an email containing a consumer issue of a slightly different ilk  that of lawyer fees, specifically divorce lawyer fees. Kathleen from Glenview contacted me to share her struggle settling a bill with her divorce lawyer. In the lengthy letter she sent, which was ultimately submitted to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), Kathleen addressed several invoicing issues she felt were excessive and potentially even unlawful.

Following payment of a $7,500 retainer, Kathleen's attorney fees ballooned to over $87,000 for an investigation into whether she should continue to receive alimony from her ex-husband. The ex-husband's claim was ultimately denied, but only following an investigation that took more than a year to conduct. As the bills accumulated, Kathleen told her attorney that legal fees were reaching a point where she could no longer pay and she requested mediation or a decision by the court. In response, she was advised that she should remove money from her retirement account to pay the firm's fees. This would be temporary she was told, because the attorney was confident her fees would be recovered from Kathleen's ex-husband in the final decision.

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Kathleen's letter additionally stated the attorney told her she was adding cushion to her bills to protect against reduced or negotiated final fees, and the difference would not be invoiced to Kathleen. When the judge denied the ex-husband's claim and ruled he must pay two-thirds of Kathleen's legal fees, she was satisfied the payments to her attorney were covered  until she received a $15,000 bill. Kathleen states her attorney submitted an incomplete bill to the court, received the judge's ruling, had Kathleen sign a financial release then added $15,000 to the final invoice.

For guidance on Kathleen's situation, I reached out to Lorraine Murphy, executive director of The Lilac Tree, a nonprofit organization located in Evanston that is dedicated to educating and supporting women through all stages of the divorce process. I advised Kathleen to contact The Lilac Tree as well. Murphy put me in touch with Jay Frank, a Lilac Tree board member and chairman of the family law practice at Aronberg Goldgehn in Chicago.

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After reading Kathleen's letter, Frank agreed that submitting a letter of complaint to the ARDC was a step worth taking. He additionally noted that if there was evidence of a $15,000 fee having been added to her bill following court submission, she would have grounds to file a malpractice suit  which she did.

Frank additionally had proactive advice for anyone hiring a divorce (or other) lawyer.

 Always start by interviewing more than one attorney. Frank recommends speaking with three to five before you make a decision.

 Select an attorney who specializes in your case and check his/her credentials via the following websites: LeadingLawyers.com, SuperLawyers.com, AAML.org (American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers).

 You have the right to have your contract reviewed. If anything in the attorney agreement makes you uncomfortable, take it to another lawyer for review.

 Once you've settled on an attorney, does he or she return your calls, send you documents, provide you candid insights and advise you of next steps? If not, don't feel funny about terminating your relationship and finding new counsel. All documents will transition to the new lawyer and any remaining retainer will be returned.

 Stay out of court if you can. Court cases can drag on. According to Frank, good lawyers charge $400-$500 per hour, and divorce lawyers charge more for court time than office time. Two seasoned lawyers can typically hash out a settlement without the time and cost associated with a trial.

 No one knows the case like you. To save on hourly charges, you can gather documents and highlight important information for your attorney.

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 Thoroughly review each invoice. If something looks out of the ordinary, be sure to question it.

 Most importantly, says Frank, stay involved, be proactive and ask lots of questions.

Need help?

Send your questions, complaints, injustices and column ideas to HelpSquad@pioneerlocal.com.

Cathy Cunningham is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.
The shooting of an Amtrak conductor at the downtown Naperville train station this week is an example of an incident that can't be predicted, a Naperville official said Wednesday while police continued their investigation and held a suspect described as a man in his 70s.

"Sometimes these random situations land in our lap, and we have to deal with them," Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico said Wednesday. "I don't know that this is the type of situation that can be avoided."

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The investigation into the Tuesday shooting of a conductor at the downtown Naperville station was not complete Wednesday evening, but charges could be filed Thursday, Naperville police Cmdr. Lou Cammiso said.

"We're working with the state's attorney's office and continue to investigate the things they need before they would be able to bring the appropriate charges," Cammiso said.

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Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari called the incident unusual, noting that firearms are prohibited as carry-on items. However, they may be stowed as checked luggage with certain restrictions.

Magliari said the railroad does random screening of passengers and their carry-on baggage at both large and small stations. He would not say whether the individual in custody was screened, saying that is part of the ongoing investigation.

"Incidents such as the one that occurred yesterday are uncommon," Magliari said Wednesday. "The fact that sometimes there are passengers who are disruptive is not infrequent, but this level of incident is highly unusual."

The suspect, whose name has not been released, was stopped by passengers after the shooting of the conductor while the train was stopped at the 105 E. Fourth Ave. station. The conductor, a 45-year-old man from Homewood, was shot in the torso after someone fired a gun through a window on the train, police said.

The suspect, a resident of the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, Wis., was headed to Chicago, the next stop after Naperville, Cammiso said. He said he did not know where the man boarded the train.

The conductor was taken to Edward Hospital in Naperville. His injury was not believed to be life-threatening, but a hospital spokesman could not say whether he'd been released Wednesday.

The train had 235 passengers on board during its Naperville stop.

The 4:45 p.m. incident led police to immediately shut down the rail line and block off portions of Fourth and Fifth avenues around the station. Once it was determined there was no further threat to the public, passengers were allowed to exit the train from the north end of the station. Many were transported to other stations by Pace bus or picked up by friends and family. Some waited for train traffic to resume, which happened about 8 p.m.

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Amtrak's security model differs from the kind of screening airlines utilize because not all Amtrak stations are staffed, Magliari said. It is a model more closely aligned with that used for other forms of surface transportation, such as bus service or commuter rail.

Metra Police Chief Joseph Perez and Metra spokesman Michael Gillis concurred with Magliari's assessment of the difficulty in monitoring such things as passengers with guns.

Metra has focused heavily on boosting the number of police officers that ride its trains and increasing passenger awareness that officers are always close by, Perez said.

While he would not say how many of his officers ride on a daily basis, Perez said "it's probably an 80 percent to 90 percent increase" from what the agency had just several years ago.

"We do ride a very random schedule, we do whatever we can to not be predictable," he said. "Because, like every rail police department in the world, we don't have enough cops to put on every train. In addition to that, we've done extensive training with our conductors and staff to recognize suspicious behavior.

"I think like everyone else, we're all working hard to increase our visibility and presence. That's the key, for people to actually see police officers around. And we're working really hard to develop interactions with our ridership. So if our passengers see something, our officers are much more approachable."

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Compounding the problem for police and security workers is the sheer volume of passengers that ride Metra. Gillis said the agency is the second largest commuter railway in the nation in terms of the distance it covers and is one of the largest in terms of ridership, serving 80.4 million passengers in 2016.

In comparison, the most recent study by the Montreal-based Airports Council International showed that in 2015, O'Hare International Airport saw nearly 77 million passengers pass through its gates.

John Henry Behrens III, 23, said he arrived at the Naperville Metra station just after the shooting in an effort to catch the 5:05 p.m. express train from Naperville to Chicago, where he lives.

"When I turned the corner to walk toward the end of the platform, the conductor was lying on the ground, hands over his abdomen," Behrens said. " One of the first responders had shouted out that they had a 'GSW to the abdomen.'"

The injured conductor seemed to be "very responsive" as they transported him into the ambulance, Behrens said.

"I must've gotten there within a minute of the shooting, because there were only a small handful of first responders when I first showed up and police were still running around trying to figure out what was going on," Behrens said.

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Police quickly separated witnesses from people who didn't see the shooting unfold, and built a perimeter around the station, Behrens said.

"I was incredibly confused, and I think everyone was just kind of confused. A lot of people didn't even know where to look," Behrens said. "Most of the people were getting to the platform right as everything was going on."

ehegarty@tribpub.com

ksorensen@tribpub.com

mwalberg@chicagotribune.com
Naperville 203 school board member Mike Jaensch Monday said he plans to step down in June.

Jaensch, who is in the middle of his third term on the board, said he is moving to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The 10-year board veteran said he put in for a job transfer with American Airlines, where he has worked for the last 15 years as a pilot.

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"It's just been a privilege and an honor to be part of such a well-run district," Jaensch said.

Jaensch said he requested the transfer last month, and it was approved faster than he anticipated. He begins his new job in Dallas July 1.

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Jaensch did not tender his resignation Monday, but wanted to make board members aware of his intentions. He plans to formally step down at the June 5 board meeting.

He said the advance notice would give interested candidates in the district a chance to review the position and discuss it with others.

"We're all tremendously sorry to see you go," school board president Kristin Fitzgerald said. "It's been a fantastic tenure you've had both in leadership and as a board member with outstanding contributions to our district."

Jaensch was elected in 2007 and has served as president and vice president of the school board during his tenure. He currently serves on the board's home and school committee.

Fitzgerald said the board will begin looking for a candidate to fill the remainder of Jaensch's term after the June 5 meeting. The board has 45 days after he resigns to fill Jaensch's seat. His term expires in 2019.
Indian Prairie Unit District 204 has named Dr. Karen Sullivan as its new superintendent beginning July 1, 2014. (Indian Prairie School District 204)

Superintendents from four schools districts  including Karen Sullivan from Indian Prairie District 204  are in Springfield Wednesday lobbying legislators and the governor on behalf of schools throughout the state.

Last month more than 400 Illinois school superintendents and educators signed onto a statewide grassroots "Pass Illinois' Budget" campaign, aimed at getting constituents to call their legislators to push for schools to be equitably and adequately funded.

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The superintendents of the four districts who spearheaded the movement  Sullivan, Jeff Craig of West Aurora District 129, Tony Sanders of Elgin District U46 and Jennifer Garrison of Sandoval District 501  will be meeting with the leadership of both the House and Senate as well as Gov. Bruce Rauner. Their plan is to appeal that all involved to end the state budget impasse, pay school districts what they are owed this year and improve the education-funding formula.

"We will continue to push our legislators," Sullivan told the District 204 school board Monday.

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The first two meetings the school leaders scheduled will be with House Republican Leader James Durkin, R-Westchester, and Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno, D-Lemont.

That session will be followed by a meeting with Rauner. The educators will then meet with Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago. Their final meeting will be with House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.

School districts throughout the state are hurting because the state has yet to fund mandated payments earmarked for special education, transportation, bilingual education, state free lunch and breakfast, and early childhood education.

Illinois owes Indian Prairie $15.3 million.

State Comptroller Susana Mendoza has said she can't guarantee the state will make another payment to schools for services such as transportation, special education or other services, comptroller's office spokesman Abdon Pallasch said.

Payments for those services  known as categorical payments  are supposed to come quarterly, but the state only recently made the first quarter payment, which was to be paid at the end of September 2016.

Mendoza made the comments during an appropriations hearing May 9, Pallasch said.

"Just like everything else in state government, they're way behind because we have no budget," Pallasch said.

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State aid payments are scheduled by statute, but categorical payments are not governed by the law or a court order, Pallasch said.

The categoricals, which total $425 million each quarter for all school districts in the state, must go out simultaneously to all districts, he said. The comptroller's office was able to make one payment in April because the state brings in the most money that month, when residents pay taxes, he said. But much more revenue in May and June is "not looking good."

"It's not like we're sitting on money and deciding not to pay," he said. "There is no money in the coffers."

Jay Strang, District 204's chief school business official, said Monday that unless something happens in the next few weeks, the district is projected to have a deficit going into the 2018 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

If the school board wants balanced 2018 budget, traditionally the first cuts are made in maintenance work, such as roof, masonry and parking lot repairs and boiler replacements, Strang said.

The board indicated Monday they would prefer to wait before making any radical cuts.

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"We can't afford to cut anymore," board member Mark Rising said. "I'm OK with us riding with that deficit until the state comes through."

District 204 officials are especially concerned about the tax freeze proposals being floated in Springfield.

Several board members said while the concept of a tax freeze appears great for taxpayers, it will devastate the District 204 schools.

Strang estimated a two-year tax freeze would cost the district $36 million in property tax revenue over the next five years while a permanent freeze would mean a $58 million loss.

Board member Justin Karubas called the state's effort freeze taxes without providing extra revenue for schools "unprecedented."

Board members Susan Taylor-Demming and Laurie Donahue both said the district needs to better explain the impact of a tax freeze to local homeowners.

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subaker@tribpub.com

Twitter @SBakerSun1
Nobody talks about kids with disabilities said Kendra Lopez during an interview in her Flagstaff home.

Its easy to take a heathy child for granted, she explained. But like any loving mother, Lopez only wants whats best for all of her daughters.

We may be different but we want the same things as everyone else. We want to go play at the park, we want to be included. Inclusion matters.

Lopezs youngest daughter, Leanna, is waking up from a morning nap, ready to start the day. Her feeding machine beeps, breakfast is over, and now its time to play. Leanna points out the window and then to her Go Baby Go car. She is ready to go exploring, so her mom helps her into the car.

Like other curious soon-to-be 2-year-olds, Leanna enjoys exploring her surroundings under the spring sunshine. She rides around in her toy car, complete with a Super Girl cape fixed to the back. She listens for neighborhood dogs and tries to go find them.

Shes stopping, looking at trees, looking at flowers, getting to go where she wants to, not just where I take her said Lopez.

MUSCLES DIDN'T WORK

Watching Leanna explore her surroundings, its hard to believe that she hasnt known how to sit up for an entire year yet. Until recently, Leanna was completely dependent on her mother to explore her world because her muscles didnt work at all when she was born.

But that doesnt stop her anymore. Last month, Leanna received a Go Baby Go car that was outfitted for her specific mobility needs.

You could tell her whole world had changed explained Farren Muscarella, Leannas physical therapist.

Now shes a different kid. She wants to go go go! Lopez shared.

And thats just what shes doing, with the help of her car. It seems like simple play, but for Leanna it is so much more. Its physical therapy, its working her muscles, and its allowing her to make her own decisions about where and when to move.

Leanna was one of seven children who received a Go Baby Go car after a building event last month. The purpose of Go Baby Go is to provide mobility to kids under the age of 5 who have mobility issues.

There a heck of a lot you can do with some PVC pipe, a pool noodle, some fabric, and some modest electrical modification,  said Dr. Cole Galloway, the founder of Go Baby Go, in his 2015 TED Talk.

MINDS COME TOGETHER

During the building event, the plastic toys were modified with the help of NAU student engineers, physical and occupational therapists, and the childrens families. Many minds come together to produce these mobility aids, drawing from different fields and experiences to create the best cars possible for each child. Leslie Lamb, NAU Occupational Therapy doctoral student, even organized a group of her peers to attend the event from Phoenix.

Its not something that requires an engineering degree. Its something anyone can do. commented Dustin Branges, an NAU undergraduate mechanical engineering student.

The April build was the second such event in Northern Arizona. However, this build was a little different than the first one in November, 2015. It is the start of something bigger.

Kyle Winfree, assistant professor at NAUs School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, and Farren Muscarella, pediatric physical therapist at Northern Arizona Healthcare, are using the Go Baby Go build as the kickoff for a research study. The study will correlate the use of Go Baby Go cars to functional, cognitive, and social development over an 18-month period. They hope that it will confirm the anecdotes of parents worldwide who say that the cars have helped their children tremendously.

It sounds crazy, but ever since getting it (the car), Leanna has this willingness and desire to do things because now she knows that she can. She is being brave; she wants to participate instead of just watching explains Lopez.

Leannas car is equipped with a data logger, to keep track of how she uses it. The data will be used to back up her developmental progress.

The kids we are looking at arent able to move on their own and independence in movement is so important not only for gross motor skills, but everything else: cognitive skills, social skills, and communication skills explained Muscarella.

[This study] is really important because right now kids don't get a powered wheelchair until theyre 5, and that's based on evidence. We dont have enough evidence to suggest that this $500 alternative to the $25,000 power wheel chair provides the right kinds of benefits at a young age. We sure think it does. The families tell us that it does. But we don't have the evidence Winfree added.

STUDY WITH BIG IMPACT

Flagstaffs Go Baby Go program has modified cars for children as young as 7 months old. Gathering this evidence can have a larger impact on the accessibility of Go Baby Go Cars in the future.

If we do find the evidence we can use that to change legislation so that insurance companies will actually cover this fairly small cost for the families that can actually have a larger impact Winfree explained.

Power wheelchairs are expensive and heavy. They can be well over 100 pounds, compared to the 20 pounds of a Go Baby Go car. And insurance companies generally only cover the cost of the wheelchair, not the accompanying expenses such as the vehicle modifications necessary to get this sort of device into a family car. Dr. Winfree explained that hed like to develop a mobility aid that can go anywhere, that is accessible to anyone.

Northern Arizona is unique in that it has support from Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation for the Go Baby Go project. But while it is now an international program, most children do not have access to this type of innovation.

We get a lot of requests from Tucson and Phoenix but were just not to the stage where we can support them yet, confessed Winfree. The logistics of just supporting children here are tricky enough

Even if we have hundreds of chapters across the country, we still cant service every child added Branges.

But the Go Baby Go volunteers are doing their best to try. And the future of this project doesnt end with only modifying cars.

The cool thing about Go Baby Go is that it can help so many kids with varied abilities, and then you can continue to change it and challenge them as they continue to change and grow explained Muscarella.

TEAM BAM

Currently, a group of NAU undergraduate seniors called Team BAM (Babies are Mobile) are working to develop a Go Baby Go mobile app. The app will allow parents to control the cars from their cell phones. The group aims to enhance the safety of the cars without sacrificing the feeling of independence for the child.

While the innovation of Go Baby Go continues, so do the actions of community members who wish to raise awareness and make Flagstaff a more inclusive place. Kendra Lopez started a support group for families of children with disabilities, called Sunshines Support of Northern Arizona.

Because theyre our little sunshines she said with a smile.

The group provides emotional support for families and helps navigate the various programs and systems for children with special needs. They are also working together to find ways to create change in the community to provide adaptive and inclusive opportunities.

It truly is important that these kids have the same opportunities, but in their own way, to do what ouR other kids do said Lopez.
The owners of the Drake Hotel in Oak Brook are interested in building luxury condominiums on the property. (Chuck Fieldman / Pioneer Press)

The owner of the Drake Hotel in Oak Brook has submitted a permit application to build a parking deck on his property, but hopes it never comes to fruition.

Jim Nagle instead would like to develop luxury condominiums on the hotel property. However, he would need Village Board approval for a planned development for the condos. That is not the case for a hotel expansion and parking deck, which meet requirements of current zoning.

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Nagle's application for a parking deck now was prompted by the Village Board voting April 25 to have the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals consider increasing the required distance from property lines for new parking decks.

"We've been working for over a year to put together a development plan for the condos, but we need to be ready with Plan B," Nagle said, saying that Plan B is a hotel addition and parking deck.

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The five-story parking deck Nagle has proposed requires a 10-foot setback. His plans call for a 100-foot setback.

Plan A for the Drake Hotel owner is a 5-story condominium structure with 40 to 55 units whose residents would have use of hotel amenities and underground parking.

"Everyone on our team expects all of the elected officials to receive our plan with an open mind and to administer a fair and honest hearing for everyone involved," Nagle said Tuesday, noting that he plans to make an application for a planned development within the next 30 days.

Eight homeowners in the York Woods subdivision, next to the Drake Hotel property, hired an attorney to oppose condominium development, citing concerns it could have a negative effect on their property values due to noise and light pollution and the density of the project.

Jim Wagner, the attorney representing the residents, said they are waiting to see a detailed plan for the development.

Village Board member John Baar, who lives in York Woods and initially suggested consideration of the text amendment, offered no opinion on the development of luxury condos on the hotel property.

"I haven't seen any plans yet, so it would be premature for me to comment on that," Baar said.

Board members Michael Manzo and Don Adler both spoke out April 25 against sending the text amendment proposal on for review, saying more discussion was needed. Adler retired from the board May 9.

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Manzo said he was concerned about a letter from Nagle's attorney, Scott Day, stating that it could be considered targeting the Drake Hotel if the text amendment is adopted.

"This text amendment may be very much needed, but for some reason we've given the impression to someone that we're targeting them," Manzo said. "That's unacceptable, and we need to clear it up. "I'm not for or against parking structures; that's not my issue."

Day made a presentation to the Village Board in August 2016 to gauge interest in the development and share some conceptual plans.

Representatives of the Drake held a public meeting about the project Jan. 31, as requested by Bob Kallien, Oak Brook's community development director.

If application is made, it would be reviewed by village staff prior to being sent Oak Brook's Planned Development Commission, which would hold public hearings on the matter and make a recommendation to the Village Board for a final decision. Public comment also could be made to the Village Board.

Nagle and his wife opened the 84-room Drake hotel in 2015. They purchased the 10-acre property for $6.5 million in December 2013 after it had closed in 2009. The hotel originally was built in 1962.

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cfieldman@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @chuckwriting
Workers remove plastic bags and other non-recyclable objects during sorting at the Waste Management's CID Recycling Center in Chicago in 2015. Some Oak Park residents are asking the village to take a stronger stance on taxing single-use grocery bags. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Less than one month after the village adopted a voluntary single-use bag fee pilot program, several Oak Park residents are saying it is not enough.

During the public comment portion of the May 15 village board meeting, nearly one dozen speakers asked the village to reconsider its voluntary pilot program and make it mandatory for larger stores.

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"We strongly object to the board's decision to make the retail plastic bag charge strictly voluntary," resident Jim Babcock said. "We think it makes it totally ineffective. We petition the board to make it mandatory."

On April 17, the board voted 5-1 to approve a voluntary pilot program allowing participating businesses to charge a 10-cent fee per single-use bag requested by customers.

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Babcock and others said they supported the proposal first brought forth by the village's environment and energy commission, which would require any store 5,000 square feet in size and up to issue a single-use bag fee.

"This voluntary measure misses the mark," resident Judy Klem said. "Imagine the impact a store the size of Pete's, Jewel or CVS could have if they compiled with the ordinance. It is our duty to respect and care for [the Earth]. Our expectation is Oak Park will continue to be known as a leader of environmental initiatives."

Rev. Teran Loeppke of Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church also spoke in favor of a stronger ordinance.

"This [current ordinance] positions Oak Park on the side of climate deniers, excuse makers and noisy talkers," Loeppke said. "You going back and figuring out how to make this ordinance right is a legacy for all of our children. We're asking you to get it right."

The original two-year pilot program, which is due to go into effect July 1 for participating businesses, would evenly divide the 10-cent fee between the business and the village.

The 5 cents going back to the village is to be used for marketing participating merchants as "green partner certified," the ordinance said.

Following the lengthy public comment discussion, several trustees said they would be open to reviewing the ordinance once more.

"I would be really interested in the board reconsidering this," Trustee Bob Tucker said. "Similar to our welcoming ordinance, maybe we can do better than Evanston on that."

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Trustee Deno Andrews said a recent family trip to Europe showed him that measures beyond a bag tax should also be considered. He said in Italy, grocery stores were mandated to have plastic bags be compost bags.

"I certainly think, if we look at this, we should look at what European cities are doing because what they're doing is leaps and bounds better than what any American city is doing," Andrews said.

Oak Park's single-use bag fee proposal traces back to May 2014, when the village board asked the village's EEC to review the city of Chicago's original plastic bag ban, which was loosened to become a 7-cent tax on bags earlier this year.

sschering@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @steveschering
Gary became the first municipality in Lake County to become a "Welcoming City" whose government officials would not harass residents whose immigration status is uncertain.

The Common Council engaged in lengthy debate over the issue on Tuesday, before finally taking a 6-3 vote that had the public support of Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson.

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Freeman-Wilson has been supportive of welcoming iniatives through work with the National League of Cities andother cities across the country that oppose local officials becoming involved in federal immigration law enforcement.

The council voted to approve an ordinance sponsored by Councilwoman Rebecca Wyatt, D-1st, with help in drafting it by the Merrillville-based law firm of Burke, Costanza & Carberry, which also is working with municipal officials in East Chicago, Hammond, Highland, Lake Station and Michigan City to get them to approve similar measures.

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Attorney Alfredo Estrada, a Gary native who now lives in Merrillville, said he was pleased his home community was the first in the area to pass such an ordinance. "This shows real leadership by this community," he said.

Under Welcoming City status, cities are supposed to review the information they require people to provide to ensure they're not impinging on a person's citizenship status and whether or not the non-citizens have a valid visa to be in this country.

It also would indicate that Gary police would not be obligated to cooperate with requests from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in their own investigations.

City Attorney Greg Thomas said the fact that Gary has a history of including people of many immigrant groups among its population makes a welcoming ordinance appropriate.

"Gary already is a place where immigrants ought to feel comfortable," he said.

Freeman-Wilson said the ordinance makes sense for Gary.

"We shouldn't be going around asking people to share their (immigration) legal status," she said, adding that local police aren't experienced in nuances of immigration law. "Our officers shouldn't be trying to stand in the shoes of an (Immigration) officer, that's their job."

Despite the support, there were some councilmembers who didn't think much of the ordinance, including council President Ronald Brewer. He said he does not think Gary needed to be first, and added he believes it somehow gives special treatment to non-citizens in dealing with police.

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"I can see why East Chicago (with a slight majority Latino population) would want to be first, we don't need to be first," he said

Councilwoman Carolyn Rogers, D-4th, did not offer reasons why she voted against the measure, while Councilwoman LaVetta Sparks-Wade, D-6th, offered up various reasons during debate, including concerns that this somehow would let non-citizens operate automobiles in Gary with less than a legitimate Indiana driver's license.

She also was not sympathetic to the bureaucratic maze that can complicate a non-citizen's ability to gain a visa that allows them permanent resident status, saying, "if you've been here for 20 years, then you should have begun the path to (U.S.) citizenship."

Councilwoman Ragen Hatcher, D-at large, said she was pleased to see Gary be at the head of the pack locally in taking a stance on immigration.

Gregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
The Porter County Board of Commissioners is taking a stand against a proposed toll road that would be built in tandem with a freight train line running through the southern part of the county, and is asking for public meetings to air environmental concerns about the toll road.

Commissioners presented the letter during their Tuesday meeting, in response to the news that Frank Patton, founder and managing partner of Great Lakes Basin Transportation, also has plans for the toll road. Both entities would be privately funded for a total cost of $8 billion.

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"We find this 'bait and switch' tactic very troubling," commissioners wrote, adding that hundreds, if not thousands, of Lake, Porter and LaPorte county residents prepared and attended environmental impact public meetings on the freight train line.

"The residents were not given the opportunity to discuss or the opportunity to provide feedback on the environmental impacts a 2,000-foot wide transportation corridor, complete with rail and toll road, would inflict."

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County officials learned last March about the freight train line but only became aware of the toll road proposal earlier this month. Commissioners will submit the letter to the federal Surface Transportation Board, the entity considering the rail application.

Residents and officials in communities along the freight train line, which would travel 261 miles from Milton, Wis., into LaPorte County, have expressed concerns about drainage, safety and other woes if the plan were to come to fruition.

Patton has said he had plans for the toll road all along, though he didn't release details about the proposal until the eve of the deadline for the freight train line application with the transportation board. The toll road plan was not included in the application for the freight train line.

Transportation planners and State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, said they were mystified by the toll road, which would stretch 125 miles from Grundy County, Ill., to Michigan City, running parallel to the freight train line and part of the route for the stalled Illiana toll road in Lake County.

They told the Post-Tribune there was no need for the toll road, given the drop off in traffic totals east of Interstate 65, and questioned whether the toll road was even feasible, given recent changes in the state's eminent domain laws and the process by which new roads are created.

The 2,000-foot transportation corridor is much different than plans for a freight train line, said Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, who read the letter into the record and whose Porter Township property would be bisected by the plan.

"I think the letter hits all the main points," said Commissioners President Jeff Good, R-North. "The toll road is now part of the proposal. In my opinion, they should start back at square one. It changes everything."

Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Millions of people know Scott Turow is no slouch when it comes to writing legal thrillers, but fewer, no doubt, know that Turow is in fact still a practicing attorney with a distinguished career.

And far fewer know that he had no clue, early in life, that law would be of any interest. As a matter of fact, 2017 is the 40th anniversary of his first bestseller, the nonfiction "One L," written during his first year at Harvard Law. It also happens to be the 30th anniversary of his first legal thriller, the bestseller "Presumed Innocent." Which is not surprising because he had already established himself, by his mid 20s, as a creative writing faculty member at Stanford, intent on a career as an English professor.

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Turow did hear the call of the law, however, for a variety of reasons he may discuss May 24 at Frugal Muse in Darien or May 25 at Barnes and Noble at Old Orchard, while celebrating the release of "Testimony." His 11th novel is set largely outside his usual fictionalized Chicago setting in the International Criminal Court in The Hague  with an American investigator looking into the disappearance of a refugee camp during the Bosnian War.

We caught up with the 1966 New Trier High School grad for a chat about his writing life, his discovery of the law and the severe challenges facing all but the most successful authors today.

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Q: This is your first book in four years. What accounts for the hiatus?

A: I've been on a three-year rotation that, generally speaking, I've been able to adhere to. But "Testimony" required more research than usual and I had to spend time in Europe to write it. I spent a lot of time researching the Bosnian War, researching the International Criminal Court and researching the Roma community around the world.

Q: What is your writing routine?

A: When I was a writing fellow at Stanford, I was taught by Wallace Stegner and Wally, like a lot of writing teachers, said 'Don't kid yourself; writing a novel is a job and you have to do it every day. You have to put your rear end in a chair every day and try to do it.'

You know, I saw Eric Holder the other day, the former attorney general who's trying to write a book now. And he asked me if I have any writing tips. And I said, 'Well, here's the first one: You've got to do it every day.' I could see his face change when I said that, because he's practicing law and he's got a lot on his plate. But I really think that's the right thing to do. And yes, I try to write every day.

Q: What made you decide to go to law school?

A: Well, the superficial reason is that I wasn't really having great success in my writing career at the time. On the other hand, I was 25, so that shouldn't be very shocking.

There were really two factors. The first was that I was finding life as a writer really hardfor emotional reasons. The other was that my dad was a doctor and my parents had wanted me to be a doctor, but I wanted no part of that. Even though I have immense respect for that profession.

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But my dad hated lawyers. He hated lawyers long before it was common for doctors to hate lawyers. As a result, I didn't know any lawyers and I had no idea what they did. So, when my college roommates marched off as a phalanx to Harvard Law School, I paid no attention until they began to practice. And then I found what they were doing to be really interesting. And, frankly, far more interesting to me as a subject than English criticism.

So it came down to deciding whether to continue with an academic career, teaching English or to do something else. And the far more interesting option was going to law school. Even though it seemed a step backward at the time, having achieved at a very young age whatever status there was in being on the lowest rung of the faculty at Stanford.

Q: You still continue to practice law. Why?

A: There are a variety of answers. One is that I had already found the writing life  doing that and that alone  really difficult. So I was a little afraid to go back to just being a writer when I had the chance. And that continued for many, many years. Also, my partners in the firm have been remarkably generous about making it possible for me to practice part time and accommodating my life as a writer.

Q: Supposedly, since you're allowed to take on so many pro bono cases, that lets you choose the ones that interest you most.

A: That's true. There's not a lot of economic pressure on my law practice. If you're going to practice law, it's really nice not to have to do it for money. Like virtually everything else in life.

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Q: Is it true this is the first time you've set a novel outside of Kindle County  your fictional backdrop for Chicago?

A: It's true, but not entirely. I wrote a book called "Ordinary Heroes" in 2005 that was set almost exclusively in Europe during World War II. So, in point of fact, I've done this before. And with the same kind of setup in the sense that the protagonist in "Ordinary Heroes" was from Kindle County.

Q: Why the change of setting in this case?

A: I've long promised myself I was going to write a book about the International Criminal Court, because I didn't think it had been done before in this genre.

I actually stumbled on it by accident. I was in The Hague in 2000 and there was a reception for me at the American ambassador's house and I had all these American lawyers saying, 'Boy, you should really write a book about this place. There's all this back-corridor intrigue' and so forth. And it did sound really interesting. So I held onto the idea. I've also had a lifelong interest in the Roma and I knew they'd often been the victims of war crimes.

Q: What attracts you to the thriller genre?

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A: Well, you know, I thought I was trying to be the next James Joyce when I was 19 years old. But the books that came out of me. . . The first short story I published was about a rapist, told from the rapist's point of view. The first sustained effort I made at writing a novel, when I was in college, was about two boys in Chicago who witness a murder in New Orleans. A book I wrote while I was at Stanford was about a rent strike on the North Side of Chicago with a massive fraud scheme operating behind the scenes. And yet it wasn't really until I was working as a prosecutor that I was able to look back and say, 'You know, you've been interested in crime all your life.' (Laughs.)

I also had a real, visceral dispute with the literary orthodoxy of my time, in which plot was widely disrespected. I was at Stanford not long after John Hawkes had been there and he's famous for the quote 'The true enemies of the novel are plot, character, setting and theme.' (Laughs) And I thought  and still do think  that was, from a brilliant man, one of the stupidest things I had ever heard.

I thought plot in particular was far more important to what had sustained the novel through the centuries than any avant-gardists or postmodernists wanted to admit. If I give myself credit for anything, it's helping to mainstream plot again in American fiction. The one thing about "Presumed Innocent" was that it was probably the first American mystery that gained significant literary respectability. And that was on my dream list when I was working on the book.

Q: Is there anyone you admire as a thriller writer?

A: Certainly over and above anyone else, Graham Greene, who was someone who valued suspense as the means to power a novel. Also his many inheritors in the British tradition, starting with people like Le Carre, or Ruth Rendell or P.D. James. We had much less of a tradition like that in the U.S., even though there were respected writers like Raymond Chandler. They stayed mainly in the hardboiled genre so their writing was less expressive and less introspective.

Q: You've served twice as president of the Author's Guild. What do you think the future holds for writing as a profession? Some midlist authors who have had long careers fear there may be no place for them anymore because of illegal downloading  and because publishers only want to gamble on potential bestsellers.

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A: I think there's deep and upsetting truth in that. There's an array of factors, including those you mentioned, that are making life very difficult for authors, except the ones in the upper echelon of sales.

You know, I have one kid who's a writer and while she was doing her MFA she said to me, 'Oh, Dad, none of my friends think they'll be able to make a living as a writer.' Now, that was probably true also when I was doing my MA at Stanford  but we didn't know it. And they do.

You can blame the publishers and there's good reason for that. But they too face a shrinking market. And they're facing people like Amazon who are really doing all they can to put the publishers out of business. They'd much rather be the publishers themselves. Amazon's put thousands of bookstores out of business and they're now socking it to the publishers.

You have the whole digital revolution in which everyone is trying to enhance their position at the expense of authors. Institutions like Google, which has the Google Books project, in which they use an entire book, sell advertising every time there's a click on it, and still claim that's fair use within copyright laws. And the courts, amazingly to me, have agreed with them.

There's also the whole tradition of writing for free on the Internet, which to me is just insane. How Arianna Huffington can sell the Huffington Post for hundreds of millions of dollars and not pay her writers is. . . Well, talk about gall.

There are even some librarians  despite the long alliance between librarians and authors  who now think it's a great idea to digitize books and not pay authors or publishers for doing that. There was a proposal last week by an institution called the Internet Archive, competing for a grant for a hundred million bucks from the MacArthur Foundation to digitize four million books, many of which are bound to be in copyright. The librarians and the digitizers are not going to work for free, but somehow they think they don't have to pay the publishers or authors  claiming fair use.

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All of those factors are making it very, very difficult to scratch out a living as a writer. Not for me. I've been economically blessed for longer than I can count now. I've had a wonderful career and gotten rich as a writer, which, God knows, is not something I ever imagined. Ever. But for the midlist author, it's a nightmare.

Q: Would you make an attempt to write your first book in the current publishing climate?

A: Yeah, because I was one of those people who couldn't keep myself from doing it. The passion was that deep. So I would say yes, but that's just because I did a lot of stupid things when I was young and that was one of them.

Scott Turow signing events

What: Q&A and book signing event sponsored by Frugal Muse Books, Music and Video.

When: 6:30 p.m. May 24

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Where: Hollywood Blvd. Cinema, 1001 75th St., Woodridge.

Cost: $32 admission includes a signed book

Tickets: 630-427-1140; www.frugalmusebooks.com

What: Author discussion and book signing. Copies of "Testimony" must be purchased in the store to join the signing line.

When: 7 p.m. May 25

Where: Barnes & Noble, 55 Old Orchard Center, Skokie.

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Information: 847-676-2230; www.barnesandnoble.com and click on stores and events.
Lauren Boebert vs. Adam Frisch: Is the race headed for a recount?

Either candidate in the Colorado 3rd Congressional District race could request a recount, but the race will have to tighten for a mandatory recount.
In Defense of Christians Condemns Turkish Attack on Protestors in Washington

Washington -- On May 16, pro-Erdogan forces and members of his security detail rushed a police line at a peaceful demonstration and brutally beat Kurdish, Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, and Yezidi human rights protesters in front of the Turkish Ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C. IDC stands with our strategic partner, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), and the other groups that took part in the peaceful protest. IDC's Executive Director Philippe Nassif commented: " In our country, in our capital, Turkish Erdogan supporters attacked our friends and allies at a peaceful demonstration. It is atrocious that foreign agents assault women and men on American soil, and demonstrates the unhinged and anti-democratic nature of Turkeys government, long known to our communities as one of the greatest human rights violators in human history." Nassif is asking IDC supporters "not to stand silent and to Contact their local representative now and demand justice for the 1.5 million killed during the genocide." "Civilized nations and peoples condemn this behavior. There is no place for it in the capital of the free world", adds IDC Vice President and Senior Policy Adviser Andrew Doran. In Defense of Christians calls upon the United States, its allies, and NATO to scrutinize every aspect of America's dealings with Turkey. In particular, American leaders should examine Turkey's role in accommodating U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda and affiliates, since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War, and their denial of the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Maronites, Yezidis, and other minorities from 1915-1923.
By Dezan Shira & Associates

Editor: Weining Hu

In an effort to streamline the visa application process for foreigners, the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) has quickened reforms for foreigners to apply for Chinas work visa.

Effective on April 1, 2017, the SAFEA rolled out a unified work permit system nationwide that began to process applications both foreign experts and ordinary foreign nationals, referred to as R visas and Z visas respectively.

The new system uses a points-based, three-tiered classification system to evaluate which candidates qualify for the work permit.

Compared with the old system, the new one requires fewer supporting application materials, provides a more transparent evaluation process, and shortens turnaround time.

On paper, foreign applicants will benefit from this restructure of the foreign work permit system due to its simpler, clearer, and less time-consuming application process.

Two-in-one reform versus old system

A standard procedure for obtaining a foreigners work visa normally involves three critical steps: an application for an employment license, a work visa application at a Chinese embassy, and obtainment of an employment permit.

Under the old system, there were two government entities, the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (HRSS) and the SAFEA, governing the foreign work visa application process.

The HRSS issued the Employment License and Alien Employment Permit to Z-visa applicants, while the SAFEA issued the Foreign Expert License and Foreign Expert Certificate to R-visa applicants.

However, starting from April 1, the SAFEA became solely responsible for processing all foreign work visa applications. In other words, both Z-visa and R-visa applicants need to submit their applications to only the SAFEA without confusion over where to apply.

In addition, the Employment License and Foreign Expert License have been integrated into a single Notification Letter of Foreigners Work Permit, and the Alien Employment Permit and the Foreign Expert Certificate unified into the Foreigners Work Permit ID card. Each Foreigners Work Permit card will have a unique ID number that does not change regardless of permit renewal or change of employer.

Online application

Under the new system, the employer and foreign applicant can complete the application and submit necessary supporting documents electronically.

An online management service system for foreign workers in China (Management Service System) established by the SAFEA will manage the online registration process. Application materials required for submission are reduced by almost half, with submissions like personal CVs and application letters no longer necessary. The following documents are required:

Application form for Foreigners Work Permit;

Verification of past employment;

Verification of education or a verification of professional qualification;

Criminal record certificate;

Physical examination record for foreigner or overseas Chinese;

Copy of the job contract or appointment letter;

Passport;

ID photo; and

Information of accompanying members.

Documents required by applicants employer:

Registration form;

Business license and organization code certificate;

ID information of the employer/agent who is responsible for the registration;

Industry license documents.

Tiered classification

The SAFEA has adopted a point based three-tiered classification system as a primary method to evaluate which candidates qualify for the new work permit.

The classification system divides candidates into three categories: A (above 85 points) for high level talent, B (85  60) for professional personnel, and C (less than 60) for non-technical or service workers hired on a temporary or seasonal basis.

The SAFEA assigns scores to each candidate based on his or her education background, salary level, age, time spent working in China, Chinese language proficiency, employment location, etc.

In addition to the points-based classification system, the SAFEA defines a set of special conditions when a candidate qualifies for A, B, or C level.

The SAFEA explicitly listed all special conditions for each status level in the Classification Standard for Foreign Workers in China (Pilot). If a candidate meets any of those special conditions, the SAFEA will flag a corresponding level to this person without calculating the total score.

For example, A level can automatically be granted to international award recipients, Fortune Global 500 company senior managers or technicians, intellectual property holders of high profile companies, and post-doctoral degree holders under 40 years old. All A level candidates are eligible for service through a green channel, which offers a pre-entry visa, paperless verification, expedited approval, and other facilitation treatment.

RELATED: Payroll and Human Resource Services

Validity of an Employment Permit

While the maximum validity of a Foreigners Employment Permit is five years, in practice five-year permits are rarely granted. First-time applicants are more likely to receive a one-year permit and then renewals for a multi-year work permit.

Although the Beijing Labor Bureau has started to grant more multi-year Employment Permits to first-time applicants, other first-tier cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, grant them far less frequently.

Consider regional variations

As the Management Service System and relative regulating measures are still under testing, regulatory changes could occur in the near future to optimize the new system.

Additionally, new incentives may be implemented first in Chinas Free Trade Zones (FTZs) and later integrated into the national model.

In January this year, a new policy which lowers the application thresholds for foreign masters graduates from Chinese and well known overseas universities is an extension of a scheme piloted in the Shanghai FTZ.

It is therefore recommended that work visa applicants stay up-to-date with both the national scheme and regional policies, as local bureaus have administrative leverage when implementing the national model.

A first hand source who classified themselves as a B level candidate and made an application under the new system has indicated that preparation of necessary documents for application can be an extremely taxing and time consuming task if education and work experience was gathered internationally.

Thus, sufficient preparation and company support is essential to the application process. Companies looking to hire foreign staff should not hesitate to reach out for professional HR guidance to ensure their employees successfully receive China work visas.



About Us China Briefing is published by Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. We produce material for foreign investors throughout Asia, including ASEAN, India, Indonesia, Russia, the Silk Road, and Vietnam. For editorial matters please contact us here, and for a complimentary subscription to our products, please click here. Dezan Shira & Associates is a full service practice in China, providing business intelligence, due diligence, legal, tax, IT, HR, payroll, and advisory services throughout the China and Asian region. For assistance with China business issues or investments into China, please contact us at china@dezshira.com or visit us at www.dezshira.com

Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure

Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide.

An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017

This Dezan Shira & Associates 2017 China guide provides a comprehensive background and details of all aspects of setting up and operating an American business in China, including due diligence and compliance issues, IP protection, corporate establishment options, calculating tax liabilities, as well as discussing on-going operational issues such as managing bookkeeping, accounts, banking, HR, Payroll, annual license renewals, audit, FCPA compliance and consolidation with US standards and Head Office reporting.

Payroll Processing in China: Challenges and Solutions

In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we lay out the challenges presented by Chinas payroll landscape, including its peculiar Dang An and Hu Kou systems. We then explore how companies of all sizes are leveraging IT-enabled solutions to meet their HR and payroll needs, and why outsourcing payroll is the answer for certain company structures. Finally, we consider the potential for China to emerge as Asias premier payroll processing center.

Dezan Shira & Associates
By Alexander Chipman Koty

The Cyberspace Administration of China recently released the Measures for the Security Assessment of Personal Information and Critical Data Leaving the Country (the Measures), which regulates the transfer and storage of personal information and data leaving China. The Measures are part of Chinas expansive Cybersecurity Law (the Law), which will come into effect on June 1.

Although the Measures are designed to aid in the implementation of the Law, they raise fresh concerns for foreign companies in China that store information overseas. In particular, stipulations governing the collection and storage of personal information could pose a challenge for foreign companies that centralize their HR operations for China-based employees outside of the country.

The extent to which the regulations will be enforced in practice remains unclear due to the ambiguity of the Law and how local authorities will interpret it. Nevertheless, companies with employees in China are strongly advised to thoroughly examine their current HR and IT systems and develop contingency plans to restructure them in order to comply with the stringent new requirements.

Companies affected by the Law

The data localization provisions of the Law mainly affect two types of organizations: network operators and critical information infrastructure (CII) operators. Due to the broad definitions of these organizations used in the Law, in practice an wide range of entities could be affected.

Network operators are defined as owners, administrators, and service providers of networks, which are systems comprised of computers and other information terminals and related equipment that gather, store, transmit, and process data.

RELATED: How IT is Changing Payroll Processing and HR Admin in China

While this definition invariably includes telecom companies and internet service providers, companies that have computer networks set up within a single office location and even individuals with multiple computers connected to a network could be considered network operators for the purpose of the Law.

CII operators are given a more narrow definition, but the Law still leaves room for interpretation. CII operators are network operators in sectors that are in Chinas national interest, such as information services, transportation, water resources, and public services.

Businesses could also be deemed CII operators if their operations could affect national security, social or economic well-being, or the public interest if destroyed or breached. The qualification opens the door for a much wider variety of companies to be considered as CII operators. Ultimately, it is at the governments discretion who is and who is not considered a CII operator.

Data localization obligations

The Measures expand the Laws data localization requirements to also include network operators, which in the original only appeared to apply to CII operators.

According Article 37 of the Law, all personal information and other key data produced and gathered by CII operators (and now also network operators) must be stored in servers located in mainland China. To transfer data outside of the country, including to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, operators must receive government permission and undergo a security review.

Personal information is defined as information that can be used to verify an individuals personal identity on its own or alongside other information. Notably, the law refers to personal information as belonging to natural persons rather than just Chinese citizens. The term key data refers to data closely related to national security, economic development, and social and public interests, but is not explicitly defined.

Failure to comply can lead to a warning, possible website shutdown, permit revocation, and fines ranging between RMB 50,000 and RMB 500,000 (about US$7,250 and US$72,500) for businesses or RMB 10,000 and RMB 100,000 (about US$1,450 and US$14,500) for individuals.

RELATED: Information Technology-based Solutions from Dezan Shira & Associates

The Measures also extend the Laws security assessment requirements to all other organizations collecting or generating personal information or critical information within the territory of the Peoples Republic of China. Previously, this provision applied to only network operators, and CII operators by extension.

A commission to be established by the Cyberspace Administration of China will carry out security assessments, which will include a risk assessment covering the organizations collection, storage, processing, and use of data.

Implications for foreign businesses

Given the broad definitions of network and CII operators and that any business with employees in China would store personal information for HR purposes, almost all foreign companies operating in China could potentially be impacted by the data localization requirements.

Foreign businesses that centralize their HR systems overseas may need to alter their systems to comply with the Law by storing data on servers located within mainland China. This could mean establishing a dedicated HR platform for employees in China, or moving the back-end of a system to servers located in China while the international front-end remains integrated for practical use.

On May 15, a coalition of 54 global business groups lobbied the Chinese government to delay the implementation of the Law due to concerns that the Law infringes on Chinas free trade commitments and could jeopardize security of proprietary IP and data. However, it remains to be seen whether Beijing will scale back the law or add more clarity to its implementation.

Regardless, considering the breadth of the Law, its stringent requirements, lack of clarity, and upcoming implementation, any business operating in China should review their IT and HR systems and update them if necessary to ensure compliance with the new regulations.



About Us China Briefing is published by Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. We produce material for foreign investors throughout Asia, including ASEAN, India, Indonesia, Russia, the Silk Road, and Vietnam. For editorial matters please contact us here, and for a complimentary subscription to our products, please click here. Dezan Shira & Associates is a full service practice in China, providing business intelligence, due diligence, legal, tax, IT, HR, payroll, and advisory services throughout the China and Asian region. For assistance with China business issues or investments into China, please contact us at china@dezshira.com or visit us at www.dezshira.com

Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure

Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide.

An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017

This Dezan Shira & Associates 2017 China guide provides a comprehensive background and details of all aspects of setting up and operating an American business in China, including due diligence and compliance issues, IP protection, corporate establishment options, calculating tax liabilities, as well as discussing on-going operational issues such as managing bookkeeping, accounts, banking, HR, Payroll, annual license renewals, audit, FCPA compliance and consolidation with US standards and Head Office reporting.

Payroll Processing in China: Challenges and Solutions

In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we lay out the challenges presented by Chinas payroll landscape, including its peculiar Dang An and Hu Kou systems. We then explore how companies of all sizes are leveraging IT-enabled solutions to meet their HR and payroll needs, and why outsourcing payroll is the answer for certain company structures. Finally, we consider the potential for China to emerge as Asias premier payroll processing center.

Dezan Shira & Associates
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Libya's national antiquities authorities issued a list of national archaeological objects that have been smuggled out of the country, local media reported on Monday.

The list included a sandstone statue and a pharaonic statue made from Black basalt stolen from Tolmeita village in World War II.

Khalid Al-Hadar, director of the office of the anti-archaeological smuggling, said that the list will be circulated to concerned international organizations, including the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as well as Italy's Carabinieri Art squad.

Al-Hadar said all Libyan embassies abroad will also have the list including statues and sculptures stolen during the Second World War.
Young designers find creative ways to make China's ancient heritage both relevant and beautiful.

The prizewinning designs of last year's Yuanliu Campaign competition include tea-bag holders featuring ancient court attire; drawing chalks mimicking Chinese traditional window panels; furniture inspired by Buddhism; lamps made with batik fabrics; and sticky tapes with humorous expressions.[Photo provided to China Daily]

It has been a rather busy time for graduates like Zhen Min, 28, who will soon receive her master's degree at Peking University's school of arts. While she prepares for her thesis defense and further studies abroad, she also makes time to finalize a design with her partner in Shanghai.

Zhen is majoring in art management and creative industry, and is especially interested in how to relate cultural heritage to modern life. She is a member of a designer duo, teaming up with Jia Min, a student of design at East China Normal University. The young women met on a train and found they were both from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Now they are racking their brains to design a group of figurines to be used as tea-bag holders. The hat of each human figure, who wears a different Peking Opera costume and makeup, must be able to cling to the lip of a teacup. The figure's body will be a place to hang the attached string of a tea bag.
Delphi Automotive PLC, an automotive parts manufacturing company, has been accepted to join an alliance for developing self-driving vehicles.

The BMW Group, Intel Corporation and Mobileye N.V. announced Tuesday their intention to onboard Delphi as a development partner and system integrator for their state-of-the-art autonomous driving platform.

While Delphi, headquartered in Gillingham, Kent, United Kingdom, issued a short news release about the move, the other three companies, which joined force in July 2016 to deliver a fully automated driving system for serial production by 2021, released a more detailed statement.

As one of the world's largest automotive parts manufacturers, "Delphi has already provided a prototype compute platform to the BMW Group and is working together with Intel and Mobileye in the areas of perception, sensor fusion and high performance automated driving computing," according to the statement.

BMW, headquartered in Munich, Germany, is the world's leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles with one of four brand names, namely BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad.

Intel Corporation, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, the United States, is the world's leading integrated circuit chipmaker.

Mobileye N.V., headquartered in Jerusalem, is a leader in the development of computer vision and machine learning, data analysis, localization and mapping for advanced driver-assistance systems.

These three companies, as Cooperation Partners, claimed they have developed "a scalable architecture that can be adopted by other automotive developers and carmakers to pursue state-of-the-art designs and create differentiated brands."

System integrators, such as Delphi, are critical for the go-to-market strategy of the joint solution to reach multiple automotive OEMs quickly, they said in the statement. And "a key role for Delphi will be the integration of the solution delivered by BMW Group, Intel and Mobileye into OEM vehicle architectures."

In addition, they expected that Delphi might provide required hardware components such as sensors as well as specific customization efforts and applications for differentiation.

"The partnership between BMW, Intel and Mobileye continues to break new ground in the auto industry," said Intel Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brian Krzanich. "In less than one year the joint teams have made substantial progress to deliver a scalable platform for autonomous driving... Adding Delphi as an integration partner will help to accelerate the introduction of autonomous cars on the streets from multiple carmakers and offer differentiation to customers."

Krzanich said the alliance is "on path to deliver 40 pilot cars in second half of this year."

In his statement, Kevin Clark, president and CEO of Delphi, said his company's "close working relationship with all three partners serves as a solid foundation for a success."

Noting that the engagement between Delphi and the Cooperation Partners is "non-exclusive," BMW, Intel and Mobileye noted they are "in the process of onboarding additional integration and development partners to support future OEM customer needs."

OEM, short for original equipment manufacturer, refers in the auto industry to the manufacturer of the parts assembled during the construction of a new vehicle.
Belarusian government has set a goal to increase the export of goods and services to China to amount of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, the government press service said on Tuesday.

According to the government's plans, the export of Belarusian goods and services to China would reach 653 million U.S. dollars in 2017, 806.6 million U.S. dollars in 2018, 1.06 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, and 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.

The largest contribution should be provided by Minsk Regional Executive Committee, with the amount of exports to China increasing from 390 million U.S. dollars in 2017 to 930 million U.S. dollars by 2020.

In 2016, the trade between Belarus and China amounted to about 2.6 billion U.S. dollars, of which the Belarusian export to China reaching 500 million U.S. dollars.
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More than 30 railway staff from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan attended training on high-speed trains in central China on Tuesday.

The two-day training course in Hubei's capital city Wuhan will lay a foundation for railway projects of the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the organizer.

Wuhan has held similar training sessions before. Last year, about 200 staff from countries such as Thailand and Laos participated in the sessions.
The first private bank in China's rust belt, an industrial area in the northeast, went into operation Tuesday.

Headquartered in Jilin, one of the three northeastern provinces, Yillion Bank was approved in December 2016 by China's banking regulator and was co-sponsored by at least two private capital providers.

The lender mainly attracts deposits from personal consumers and provides financial support to small and micro firms.

"The bank is expected to promote the development of the local private economy, and plays a positive role in rejuvenating the region's economy," said Miao Zhongyou, deputy director of Jilin Province Finance Office.

Over the past two years, the economy of northeast China, which also includes Heilongjiang and Liaoning provinces, has grown more slowly than the rest of the country.

In 2014, China approved a pilot scheme to set up five private banks to give private capital a bigger role in the country's financial system. Nationwide, the number of private banks has reached 17, with nine of them having gone into operation.
An engineer inspects the Tianhe-1 supercomputer at the National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin. [Photo: Xinhua]

China is stepping up research and development of the Tianhe-3 supercomputer, which aims to be 10 times faster than the current world leader, as it strives to meet the country's growing needs for more accurate and efficient computing capabilities.

The Tianhe-3 is designed as the world's first prototype exascale supercomputer, which means it can make a quintillion (1 followed by 18 zeros) calculations per second, and is intended to arm the country's manufacturers and government with greater speed, precision and scope for research.

The supercomputer will be applied in such fields as the analysis of smog distribution, airplane designs, oil surveying and the development of artificial intelligence.

These functions overlap with the nation's existing supercomputers, such as the Sunway TaihuLight, which is currently the world's fastest supercomputer, with a peak speed of 125 quadrillion (1 followed by 15 zeros) calculations per second, said Meng Xiangfei, director of application at the National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin.

"What sets the Tianhe-3 apart from the others is, for example, that it can help design more reliable aircraft by giving a view of its detail at a magnification of up to 10 times," Meng added.

He explained that when forecasting weather on a national scale, the measuring range of the Tianhe-3 can be as accurate as 1 square kilometer. That would be five to 10 times more accurate than other supercomputers.

"I think some weather forecasting applications in smartphones will become more accurate by the time the Tianhe-3 is fully functioning," said Meng, who confirmed the prototype is expected to be finished early next year and become fully operational by 2020.

He said that the development of the Tianhe-3 differs from the Sunway TaihuLight in some quite significant ways.

"To be specific, we are trying to make a 'supercell' which combines calculation, communication, big data and AI, which used to work separately. That is why the National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin has brought in a new batch of AI experts," said Meng.

China is taking its computing power to the next level amid intensifying global competition in this field.

The United States is working on an exascale supercomputer, but its prototype will not appear until 2023. Japan is building a machine that can make 130 quadrillion calculations per second, which could surpass Sunway TaihuLight.

Wang Gang, an associate professor at the College of Computer Science and Technology of Jilin University, said China's supercomputers are chiefly used to assist scientific research, which need to process a huge amount of information within a short time span.

"But as the Tianhe-3 improves AI capabilities, it will not only calculate faster but also smarter. It will therefore have greater potential in terms of commercial application," Wang said.

Wang is working on a deep-learning project for autonomous driving. He has used the Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer to assist his research, and expects the Tianhe-3 to be more helpful.

"China has an edge in hardware, but more efforts are needed to develop tailor-made software for supercomputers, in order to widen its application," Wang said.
Construction of the Laos-China railway is gathering steam with many tunnels being bored despite rainfall, Lao state-run media Vientiane Times on Tuesday quoted officials as saying.

All three tunnels in Lao northern Luang Namtha province, some 360 km northwest of the Lao capital Vientiane, are being bored with the Boten Tunnel having progressed the furthest at more than 50 meters, according to project coordinator for Luang Namtha province Chanthachone Keolakhone.

The Laos-China Friendship Tunnel, which crosses the Laos-China border, has been bored more than 10 meters so far, he added.

In addition, Chinese contractors are preparing to drill the foundations for a bridge connecting Luang Namtha and Oudomxay provinces.

Project coordinator for northern Oudomxay province Phonpadith Phommakit said that about 30 tunnels will be bored in the province.

The railway, which connects Lao capital Vientiane with Chinese border through Lao provinces of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay and Luang Namtha, passes through 75 tunnels.

The Lao and Chinese sides have been working hard to get the tunnels bored before the rainy season so that rainfall will not delay construction, as work can be carried out inside the tunnels during rain.

The China-Laos railway has a total length of 414.332 kilometers with over 62.7 percent of bridges and tunnels, linking Mohan-Boten border gate in northern Laos and capital Vientiane.

Operating speed on the route is designed at 160 km per hour. Construction of the project is scheduled for five years with investment of some 40 billion Chinese yuan (5.8 billion U.S. dollars), 70 percent of which comes from Chinese investment and the rest 30 percent from the Lao side.

China-Laos railway is the first overseas route connecting with the railway system in China, using Chinese technology, equipment and investment.
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Vietnam's largest dairy firm Vinamilk has got the green-light to officially export its milk products to China, the company told Xinhua on Wednesday.

"During the president's Chinese visit, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese firms to supply the products in the neighboring market," Vinamilk's spokesperson said.

Agreements on facilitating imports of Vietnamese farm products, including milk, is an important achievement of President Tran Dai Quang's visit to China from May 11 to May 15, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung told local media earlier this week.

"We are eager to serve the Chinese customers with our finest products," a representative of Vinamilk's external affairs department told Xinhua.

With Vinamilk's granted access, General Secretary of the Vietnamese Dairy Association Vu Ngoc Quynh optimistically viewed that more firms can achieve the same success.

"Now the long-awaited door has opened, it's time for local enterprises to strive toward Chinese market entrance criteria," said Quynh.

Vinamilk is Vietnamese's No. 1 dairy firm and one of the world's 50 largest milk companies in terms of revenue. In 2016, its export turnover stood at some 258 million U.S. dollars.
Over 200 people have been caught for their alleged involvement in an online lottery fraud worth 100 million yuan (14.5 million U.S. dollars), police in northwest China's Shaanxi Province said Tuesday.

Among the 203 arrested, more than 100 will face criminal charges as they were allegedly trained to lure victims in their fake lottery scheme online, said a police officer in the provincial capital Xi'an.

Gang members were asked to develop "clients" via social networking software such as QQ and WeChat as "honey traps," and lure them to buy lottery tickets by sending them fake winning screenshots and promising them high rate of winning.

Police started investigating the case in January, when a victim surnamed Hong said to have paid a total of 45,000 yuan via Alipay or WeChat for the "lottery investment" via a young woman net friend surnamed Li.

After three months' investigation, more than 200 policemen made the arrests in three locations on May 5. More than 200 computers and other equipment were also seized.

Since 2015, the gang had made 50 million yuan from transactions worth of more than 100 million yuan, with victims spread across the country.

Further investigation is under way.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) has pledged to enhance its leadership in developing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.

CPC organizations at various levels should put such studies on their agendas, lead and guide them, according to a guideline issued by the CPC Central Committee, which was made public Tuesday.

Noting that Marxism will remain the guiding theory in philosophy and social sciences in China, it called for more efforts in pushing for the sinicization, modernization and popularization of Marxism, and developing a Marxism that fits into the 21st century and contemporary China.

It also highlighted the study of the Party's new theories developed since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 and the application of them in academic research.

The academic system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics should combine the achievements of the country's traditional culture with foreign theories and innovate in knowledge, theories and methods, said the guideline.

Reforms on fund allocation and human resources were also proposed in the document.
A one-day forum on China-ASEAN relations organized by Beijing Review, Mission of China to ASEAN and the Pangoal Institution, runs on May 15, in Beijing. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Once the combustible center for strife and conflicts, countries allied in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are now fostering a path of peace and prosperity under the framework of multilateral cooperation, among which their partnerships with China are much accentuated.

Dr. AKP Mochtan, deputy secretary general of ASEAN, described the relationship between China and ASEAN as a "red string of fate", a Chinese metaphor for the knot tied by married couples.

"This is not a marriage proposal [in the context of bilateral relations. Nevertheless], it is actually what I believe we have shared and how we are connected," he said.

He made his keynote speech when addressing the "Communication, Cooperation and Common Development Seminar on ASEAN Community Building and China-ASEAN Relations", jointly hosted by the weekly magazine Beijing Review, Mission of China to ASEAN and Beijing-based think tank Pangoal Institution.

China and ASEAN are embracing a promising future with good momentum. Trade between China and Southeast Asia reached US$455.44 billion in 2016 and China has been ASEAN's biggest trade partner since 2009. With a mild fluctuation of bilateral trade and investment last year, China and ASEAN are ushering in an era of cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

In ASEAN, there are 37 cities connected with 52 Chinese cities by means of 5,000 flights. Likewise, about 20 million visitors from China have chosen ASEAN countries as their holiday destinations, an increase of 60.5 percent from two years ago. Meanwhile, the number of ASEAN visitors to China has grown 60 percent to a current 10 million a year.

"I would rather work with a friend in the dark than be alone in the light," Mochtan added.

His remark was echoed by Li Yafang, president of the Beijing Review.

"China and ASEAN are friendly neighbors linked by seas and mountains," Li said, adding that "[ASEAN] countries are the major members of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)and there is an invisible red string of bond [between the two sides] in the jungle."

"China is seeking multilateral cooperation with others, tackling challenges together with ASEAN to achieve common development and prosperity to become a community of common destiny, and contributing to exchanges and cooperation. This is why we are coming today," she said.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN with an involvement of six countries now grown to 10, namely, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. It has evolved into a mechanism of "ASEAN plus six" with the additional participation of China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India, under the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

"The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road of the BRI proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 signals a splendid chapter in China's broadened openness," said Yu Hongjun, honorary president of the Academic Committee of the Pangoal Institution and former vice minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

"It is being wrongly suggested that an emerging power like China will definitely not escape from the historic pattern of overall rule, which is supposed to lead the country to be a new hegemon in the world," said Yu.

"China's BRI is a peaceful cooperation plan with mutual benefits," he stressed.

According to Yu, there is still room for improvement to achieve even better cooperation. Disturbed by a number of complicated reasons, the trade between China and ASEAN, which has dropped slightly, has, nevertheless, challenged the two sides with targeted trade volume expected to hit US$1 trillion by 2020.

However, despite disputes and differences at times, experts in the forum generally agreed that the cooperation between China and ASEAN should be deepened while tackling technological innovation bringing a potential dramatic transformation of the world.

A fundamental change is taking place by the sweeping dominance of social media that is reshaping the way of mass communication and challenging the loss of readership of the media with traditional contents, said Dato Danny Lee Chian Siong, chairman of the Association for Regional Connectivity.

However, despite such challenges, it has also opened a window for opportunities where Facebook and WeChat can play their roles in boosting the diversity of ASEAN countries, he added.

Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of China.org.cn, said, the relation between China and ASEAN dates back many hundreds of years, so the journalists, who may get the chance to represent the friendship carried on in hearts, languages, lives, as well as cultures of the peoples concerned, can tell the stories by using the platform of new media for future information flows on smart phones.
The official Weibo account of the Danish embassy in Beijing on Sunday forwarded a report by the Chengdu Business Daily about a woman from Sichuan who managed to dig up around 150 kilograms of giant oysters along the Danish coast. [Photo: Weibo.com]

The official Weibo account of the Danish embassy in Beijing on Sunday forwarded a report by the Chengdu Business Daily about a woman from Sichuan who managed to dig up around 150 kilograms of giant oysters along the Danish coast.

The Sichuan native, Bian Miaomiao, subsequently put on a massive oyster fry for her family and friends in Denmark, where she has lived with her husband in the past seven years.

Embassy staff was interviewed by Chengdu Business Daily and said they support Bian's oyster fry, as well as welcome more Sichuan people to travel to Denmark and help solve an oyster crisis in the country.

Giant oysters, a much-loved commodity in China, are said to be overrunning Denmark's beaches, causing concern among local fishermen.

Data from China's Zhiyan organization showed Chinese people consumed some 4.5 million tons of oysters in 2015, an annual rise of some 5%.

The Danish embassy in Beijing says it is willing to begin sending their oyster reserves to China, provided they get interested local parties involved.
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Two men who used drones to fly drugs into prisons in London and Hertfordshire, have been jailed for a total of more than ten years, London's Metropolitan Police said Tuesday.

Tomas Natalevicius, 35, was given seven years and eight months in prison for conspiracy to supply prohibited items into London's Pentonville Prison and conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis into a prison in Hertfordshire.

Dalius Zilinskas, 33, was given two years and eight months in prison' imprisonment for conspiracy to supply illegal drugs to the prison in Hertfordshire.

The Met said their police officers were patrolling around Pentonville Prison looking for offenders trying to smuggle illegal items into the prison. They spotted a drone carrying a package towards the prison, but it crash landed, and a car was seen escaping at speed. DNA testing led to Natalevicius being arrested as a suspect.

Police in Hertfordshire spotted another drone flying into The Mount prison, and they arrested Natalevicius and Zilinskas after they were found with a drone control unit.

Prison officers carried out a search of cells at the prison and found drugs and cell phones.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Heatley from the Met said: "The drones carried a substantial amount of drugs and a large quantity of mobile phones into prisons, which we were able to intercept, thanks to the vigilance of officers and the public.

"The message is clear, if you commit a criminal offence such as this you will be caught and prosecuted," Heatley said.
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The controversy over U.S. President Donald Trump's leaking highly classified intelligence to Russia could be a major distraction from Trump's domestic and foreign agendas, U.S. experts said.

The controversy, caused by a Washington Post article, has dominated U.S. headlines over the past two days, raising fears that sensitive information on intel sources and methods has been leaked.

The Post cited an unnamed source as saying that Trump shared intel on terror group Islamic State (IS) during a closed-door meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other Russian officials in the White House last week.

The accusations have sparked outrage from Democrats, who contend that Moscow is no friend of Washington, amid a chill in relations that has gone on for the past few years.

The White House strongly denies charges that any intel sources or methods were disclosed to the Russians. In a press briefing on Tuesday, U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster told reporters that the discussion with Russia was "wholly appropriate."

But whether the charges are true or false, U.S. experts said this and other White House turmoil is creating, at the very least, the sense that the administration is in a state of disorder.

And that could impact Trump's economic, domestic and foreign policy agenda going forward, experts said.

"These allegations are destroying any momentum that his domestic agenda has, as well as distracting from his foreign policy push-especially with his upcoming first major overseas trip," Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency, told Xinhua.

He was referring to Trump's upcoming trip next week to the Middle East, that will take him to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Palestine, Vatican, and Belgium before attending the G7 summit in Italy.

"There already is a narrative about Russia that the White House cannot shake, and each day is more and more about Russia," Mahaffee said.

He expressed concerns about what's going on with the Trump administration.

"In general, I cannot understand why the White House continues to be blind to the public concerns about the relationship with Russia, as well as how these crises - Russia, the Comey firing, and their stalled agenda in Congress - are largely of the President's own making," he said.

He was referring to Trump's controversial firing of James Comey, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Critics said the timing was suspect, as Comey's investigation into Trump's alleged ties with Russian had just picked up steam.

"If the Trump Administration wants to restore any momentum to their agenda, there has to be an end to the drama and self-inflicted damage," Mahaffee said.

Trump has been criticized for outlandish statements made on Twitter, which have gotten him into hot water with critics and mainstream U.S. media.

Pundits said the president needs to exercise more control of his emotions and focus more sharply on his policy agenda.

Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua that Trump clearly "has a blind spot for the Russians and does not understand that the country is not a friend to the United States."

"His views are far out of line even with most legislators within his own party. The United States has nothing to gain from sharing information with Russia and a lot to lose," he said.

"This is something that could destabilize the Republican coalition because leading party members understand this is objectionable behavior and it is not something they want to see repeated from the American president," he added.

Trump strongly defended his action, arguing in a tweet Tuesday that he as the president has "the absolute right" to share certain information with Russia.

McMaster stressed that Trump did not know the source of the intelligence shared. U.S. media reports revealed that Israel, the U.S. ally in the Middle East, is the source of the information on IS.

Many in the U.S. are worried that this leaking controversy could raise concerns among U.S. allies about sharing information with the U.S. in the future.
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A six-year-old girl was found safe and well Tuesday night after a car thief stole her father's car in London, while the child sat on the back seat.

The agony for the family ended when Beatrice Felicia was found by her grandmother, walking alone along a road in the capital's Leyton area.

The drama started when Beatrice's father met with an unknown man at a gas filling station in Leyton High Road with a view to selling his car.

The would-be buyer suddenly jumped into the car, a VW Passat, and sped off, with the young girl still sitting on the back seat.

It started a desperate search for the child after the alarm was raised.

But two and a half hours later Beatrice's family breathed a sigh of relief when her grandmother spotted her.

The Metropolitan Police in London said late Tuesday night that they were still searching for the missing car as well as the driver who took it.

The Met described the man they are hunting as Asian, aged in his 30s, with short dark hair and a dark beard. He was wearing a dark jacket with white fur lining on the hood and green Nike TN trainers.

The child and her grandmother are Romanians.
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A refugee was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a German court on Tuesday for sexually assaulting two female Chinese students last year, local media reported.

The defendant was arrested by police last December after having been identified by one victim's friend and recorded by camera, the DPA news agency reported.

The 32-year-old defendant came to Germany as an asylum seeker at the end of 2015 with his wife and children.

He confessed his sexual assaults on two Chinese students in the western city of Bochum last August and November, the report said.

Following his arrest last December, Chinese Consulate General in Dusseldorf had issued a statement and urged lawful and just investigation and trial from German authorities.
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President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China is willing to continue to provide Myanmar with assistance in its internal peace progress.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing on May 14-15.

He called on the two sides to jointly maintain peace and stability on the border.

Xi noted that the two countries have a deeply rooted friendship and extensive common interests, and the two sides reached important consensus on all-round strategic cooperation in the new era during Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw's visit to China last month.

He said China and Myanmar should boost their ties and advance the construction of key projects, economic corridors, economic zones and infrastructure.

Aung San Suu Kyi commended the Belt and Road Initiative as one that will bring peace, reconciliation and prosperity to the region and the world at large.

She said Myanmar is grateful to China for its efforts in advancing her country's internal peace progress. Myanmar stands ready to work with China on peace and stability on the border.

In a separate meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang urged an early cease-fire in northern Myanmar to ensure peace on the border.

Li said China supports the second meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference to be hosted by Myanmar. The meeting is an inclusive dialogue designed to open to all armed groups.

On joint projects, Li called for steady progress of oil pipelines, ports, and economic zones. He also demanded proper handling of the Myitsone hydro-power station to "guide cooperation expectation and boost confidence."

The project on the Ayeyawaddy River started in December 2009 but was suspended by the previous government in 2011.

With an installed capacity of 6,000 megawatts, the project was designed to yield 29,400 million kilowatt hours a year on completion by 2019.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Aleksandar Vucic,Serbia's prime minister and president-elect (L) in Beijing on May 16 2017. [Photo by Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China is willing to deepen the all-weather friendship with Serbia to boost their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's prime minister and president-elect, who attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on Sunday and Monday in Beijing.

Bilateral ties and political trust between China and Serbia are strengthened, Xi said, reaffirming China's willingness to deepen cooperation with Serbia in all areas.

Xi said that the two countries should accelerate coordination of their development strategies, accommodate each other's major concerns, and keep close communication on global and regional affairs.

Efforts should be made to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and push for cooperation on key projects and people-to-people exchanges.

China supports Serbia in taking a leading role in setting up a China-Central and Eastern Europe transportation infrastructure cooperation center, expecting Serbia to play a greater role in infrastructure, energy, and education.

Regarding the inter-governmental memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road, Xi called for greater efforts to enhance practical cooperation and development strategy alignment to achieve common prosperity.

Vucic said Serbia is China's staunch friend and reliable partner. Serbia has benefited enormously from participating in the Belt and Road forum. Key projects of the Belt and Road Initiative have yielded positive results.

Serbia expects to deepen cooperation with China in a host of areas including the economy and trade, mining, infrastructure, finance, aviation and tourism.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with Vucic Tuesday.

Hailing the Hungary-Serbia railway as an exemplary project in industrial capacity cooperation, Li expected the two sides to seize the good momentum to enhance regional connectivity.

Li applauded Serbia's participation in the "16+1 cooperation" framework, hoping the mechanism would produce win-win benefits for all.

Vucic said Serbia firmly believes China's economic development will benefit other countries. Serbia is willing to enhance bilateral cooperation in industrial capacity, infrastructure and agriculture, and actively advance the "16+1 cooperation."
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A dispute erupted on Tuesday between Israel and the United States over comments by U.S. officials describing the in east Jerusalem's Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, as part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The row erupted a few days before the first official visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to the region.

During a tour to prepare the visit, U.S. diplomats reportedly told Israeli officials that Trump's visit to the Western Wall would be private since Israel has no jurisdiction in the area, according to a report on Israel's Channel 2 TV news.

The diplomats also told the Israelis that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not welcome to join Trump there, Channel 2 reported.

The site resides in annexed East Jerusalem, which Israel seized from Jordan in 1967.

On Tuesday, local media reported that Israel demanded the U.S. to provide explanations for the remarks. "The statement that the Western Wall is in an area in the West Bank was received with shock," an official told the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz.

Israeli officials appear to be increasingly concerned over Trump visit, during which he is expected to attempt to revive the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The last round of talks reached an impasse in April 2014.

Trump voiced pro-Israeli positions during his presidential campaign. He expressed support for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and seemed inclined to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Israel seized East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. Shortly later, it annexed the territory claiming it as part of its "indivisible" capital. The move has never been internationally recognized.
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Ukraine expanded its sanctions to popular Russian media outlets and IT companies on Tuesday, sparking a new round of bitter wrangling between Moscow and pro-West Kiev.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree to blacklist nearly a dozen Russian TV channels and news websites and more than 50 IT companies, according to the presidential press service.

Russian social media networks Vkontakte (the Russian equivalent of Facebook) and Odnoklassniki were banned. The two networks account for 53 percent and 34 percent of Ukraine's daily Internet audience respectively.

The blacklist also includes Russia's largest search engine Yandex, anti-virus company Kaspersky Lab and Mail.ru service.

The sanctions will be in place between one year and three years depending on the company.

It was the first time Kiev restricted popular Russian-language Internet services in Ukraine, which has abroad historical and cultural connections with Russia.

Also on Tuesday, the Ukrainian parliament passed a bill to introduce punishment for the making and wearing of Saint George's Ribbon, which is widely seen as a symbol of the Russian military.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the Ukrainian sanctions a "frank and impudent violation of generally accepted international norms and obligations."

Kiev has so far imposed sanctions against 468 companies and 1,228 individuals, which are mostly Russian, over their alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have soured since 2014 when Crimea rejoined Russia following a referendum, but Ukraine said the peninsula was illegally annexed by Russia and remains a Ukrainian territory.
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U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 16, 2017. (Xinhua / Yin Bogu)

U.S. President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged on Tuesday to repair bilateral relationship fraught with difficulties in the past. However, division between the two sides still run deep.

Speaking at the White House with Erdogan, Trump hailed the Turkish people as "friends and allies for many, many decades" for the United States and pledged support for Turkish fight against the Islamic State (IS) and a Kurdish militant group known as the PKK.

However, the pledge was made as the United States and Turkey were involved in stark disagreement over the Trump administration's recent decision to arm Syrian Kurds, a key force in the fight against the IS in Syria.

Currently, the U.S.-led coalition against the IS is backing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), comprised of mostly the People's Protection Units (YPG) Kurds and some local Arabs.

Also on the eve of Erdogan's meeting with Trump, the Pentagon was reportedly preparing to further arm Syrian Kurds with antitank weapons.

While the antitank weapons could be used to thwart IS' suicide bombing attacks by trucks, the weaponry could also be used to strike Turkish tanks in Syria.

The Turkish government had made clear their objection to U.S. arming of YPG Kurds, whom Ankara has for long regarded as Syrian branch of the outlawed PKK.

Before Erdogan's meeting with Trump, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told his party members the U.S. cooperation with Syrian Kurds "is not something acceptable" for Turkey.

During his joint press conference with Trump, Erdogan stressed that militant groups like the PKK and YPG "will never be accepted."

"We should never allow those groups to manipulate the religious structure and the ethnic structure of the region, making terrorism as a pretext or an excuse," he added.

According to Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, the issue of arming the YPG by the U.S. was among the top priorities on Erdogan's agenda.

"They see this as the United States siding with terrorists and midwifing a terrorist state on Turkey's border," said Cook in a briefing with reporters.

"President Erdogan was hopeful that he could make it clearer to President Trump why this order (to arm Syrian Kurds) that President Trump has signed is wrongheaded," he added.

While it remained unknow whether Trump would change course on arming Syrian Kurds, recent response from the U.S. State Department and the Pentagon indicated that a consensus had been reached across the Trump administration to arm Syrian Kurds in the fight against the IS.
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U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday tweeted that he has "the absolute right" to share certain information with Russia, one night after his top aides strongly denied media reports accusing him of sharing highly classified intelligence with Russian officials in the White House last week.

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism," he said in a pair of tweets Tuesday morning.

Trump also tweeted Tuesday that he had asked former FBI Director James Comey, whom he fired last week, "from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community ..."

However, Trump didn't specifically say whether he spilled highly classified information to Russian officials via Twitter.

The U.S. president reportedly relayed information from a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria when meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office last week.

The Washington Post first reported the disclosure earlier on Monday evening, followed by the New York Times and other nationwide news outlets.

The related information-sharing arrangement was considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the U.S. government, according to the Post report.

In response, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell all issued statements later on Monday, claiming such reports are wrong.

"During President Trump's meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov a broad range of subjects were discussed among which were common efforts and threats regarding counter-terrorism," Tillerson said. "During that exchange the nature of specific threats was discussed, but they did not discuss sources, methods or military operations."

Powell said in a statement, "This story is false. The president only discussed the common threats that both countries faced."

"The president and the foreign minister reviewed common threats from terrorist organizations to include threats to aviation," said McMaster, who participated in the meeting.

"At no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed, and no military operations were disclosed that were not already known publicly," he said in a statement.

The Post report said Trump appeared to be boasting of the "great intel" he receives when he described a looming terror threat, citing an official with knowledge of the exchange.

The information was provided by a U.S. partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement. The partner did not give the United States permission to share the information with Russia, the Post said.

Following the meeting, the White House contacted the CIA and National Security Agency to contain the damage, according to the Post.

The White House is in a "downward spiral" and needs to do something to get "under control," Republican Senator Bob Corker said following the Post report.

As U.S. president, Trump has broad authority to declassify government secrets, making it unlikely that such disclosures broke the law, said the Washington Post and New York Times reports.
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U.S. President Donald Trump is facing a deepening credibility crisis as a new poll released Tuesday finds nearly half of U.S. voters want him to be impeached.

Trump is not currently facing impeachment charges.

Forty-eight percent of respondents said they would support Trump's impeachment, while only 41 percent would oppose such charges, according to a new survey by Public Policy Polling.

The poll results went public following a slew of controversies, including his firing of FBI Director James Comey last week and media reports that he revealed highly classified intelligence to Russian officials in their meeting in Oval Office in the same week.

Meanwhile, the poll found 40 percent approve of the job Trump is doing, and 54 percent disapprove.

Still, 43 percent said Trump will end up serving his full four-year term in office while 45 percent said his presidency won't make it that long.

The poll finds that 77 percent of voters expect the president's spokespeople to tell the truth at all times. Only 14 percent expect otherwise.

So far in his presidency, Trump's approval ratings have been hovering in the high 30s and 40s. According to Gallup, Trump has the lowest approval of any new president since the surveys began in 1953.
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Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak on Tuesday reiterated Kiev's commitment to resolving the conflict in eastern regions through peaceful means, the defense ministry press service said in a statement.

During talks in Berlin with Markus Ederer, state secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office, Poltorak said the key to ending the conflict lies in the political and diplomatic spheres, according to the statement.

The Ukrainian defense chief thanked Germany for its role in helping settle Ukraine's conflict, the statement said.

Germany is a member of the so-called Normandy Four, a diplomatic group also including Ukraine, Russia, and France, which is tasked to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine between government troops and pro-independence rebels. The unrest has claimed about 10,000 lives since April 2014.

Poltorak arrived in Berlin on Monday for an official visit, which marked the Ukrainian defense minister's first official visit to Germany in 10 years.
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There is "ample possibility" for the UN Security Council to impose new sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in response to its missile launch, said council President Elbio Rosselli on Tuesday.

He made the remarks after a closed-door meeting among the 15 council members on the issue of the DPRK. The meeting was convened two days after the DPRK test fired a ballistic missile.

Rosselli, the Uruguayan ambassador to the United Nations, voiced absolute rejection of the continued nuclear tests and missile launches conducted by the DPRK, adding the council will be working on ways to resolve the threat.

There is ample possibility for the council to use sanctions to respond to the current situation without closing other options "through creative, subtle and peaceful diplomacy," Rosselli said.

He said the council emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia at large, while urging the DPRK to show sincere commitment to de-nuclearization immediately.

He also called on all UN member states to honor their obligations under Security Council resolutions on sanctions on the DPRK.

According to previous Security Council resolutions, the DPRK is banned from conducting any launches that use ballistic missile technology, nuclear tests or any other provocation.

The council has already imposed tough sanctions on the DPRK, including banning the sale and transfer of coal, iron and iron ore from the country's territory.
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The World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday welcomed China's five-million-U.S. dollar contribution to support 420,000 refugees living in camps in northern Kenya.

WFP's Country Director and Representative for Kenya Annalisa Conte said the funds from China and other countries will allow the UN food agency to resume full food rations to refugees from April to July.

"It is important that our donors continue to support this much-needed assistance for the refugees, especially when they are also vulnerable to the effects of the severe drought affecting the country," Conte said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

She lauded the critical contribution from China, saying WFP has struggled to provide adequate food to refugees living in camps in food-insecure northern Kenya due to insufficient funds.

WFP was in December 2016 forced to make new cuts by 50 percent in food rations for refugees in Kenya amid a severe funding shortage as the UN agency rapidly ran out of resources to feed mainly Somali and South Sudan refugees in the two camps.

However, WFP said in April that new contributions from Canada which provided 2.2 million dollars, China (5 million dollars), Germany (2.7 million dollars as part of a multi-year contribution), Japan (2.2 million dollars), Sweden (1 million dollars), and Britain 5.1 million dollars as part of a multi-year contribution) enabled it to resume full rations.

According to Kenyan laws, refugees cannot work outside the refugee camps and with limited sources of income, they are heavily dependent on WFP for food.

Refugees collect a general food ration from WFP of cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, and a nutrient-enriched flour made from soya and maize every month.

The Chinese contribution has enabled WFP to buy 9,000 metric tonnes of cereals, the main staple in the food basket.

Chinese Ambassador in Kenya Liu Xianfa said Beijing has responded quickly to the appeals of the international community for support to all those affected by drought in Kenya and other African countries.

"We have provided relief materials or cash aid as needed," Liu said, adding that China has within its capacity rendered support to the assistance programs initiated by multilateral development organizations, and has exchanged experience in an increasingly open-minded manner.
President Xi Jinping called for joint efforts with Cambodia to implement cooperative plans to build the Belt and Road when he talked with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday.

The two countries should focus on the major projects of production capacity and investment cooperation, Xi told Hun Sen at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

The Cambodian prime minister is on a five-day visit to China. He attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held Sunday to Monday.

Xi welcomed Hun Sen's visit and participation in the forum. China attaches great importance to developing relations with Cambodia, Xi said, adding that China would like to deepen bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperation to benefit the people of both sides.

Xi pointed out that the two sides should enhance cooperation in areas such as law enforcement, security, anti-terrorism, fighting internet criminals and hunting for fugitives overseas. The bilateral exchanges on tourism, culture, education and youth should be expanded, he said.

China supports Cambodia to play a bigger role in global and regional affairs, Xi said.

Hun Sen said that Cambodia firmly sticks to the friendly policy toward China, which was set by the late Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk.

He expressed gratitude for China's support and help for his country, saying that Cambodia would like to make joint efforts with China to strengthen traditional friendship.

The Cambodian prime minister called for mutual understanding and support toward issues related to each others' development and major concerns.

The two countries should expand practical cooperation in such areas and economy and trade, development, poverty reduction, health, security and fighting cross-border criminals, he said.
The United States has formed a working group to ramp up the participation of US companies in Belt and Road Initiative projects, a top Trump administration official said at the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing which wrapped up on Monday.

Matthew Pottinger, special assistant to the US President, said the US encouraged all participants to work toward the infrastructure goals of the initiative, and his country's companies were ready to participate in its projects.

"US firms have a long and successful track record in global infrastructure development, and are ready to participate in the Belt and Road projects," said Pottinger.

Pottinger, who is also the senior director for Asia at the National Security Council, told a forum infrastructure session that the American Belt and Road Working Group, formed as a partnership between the US embassy in Beijing and US companies, will serve as "one node" for cooperation on the initiative.

He said the United States has wide experience in global infrastructure development in projects that feature transparency in government procurement, support for institution-building in host countries, and inclusivity and broad participation from the private sector.

The Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 to create a new platform for international cooperation.

Xi said at the opening of the forum on Sunday that infrastructure connectivity is the foundation of development through cooperation.

"We should promote land, maritime, air and cyberspace connectivity, concentrate our efforts on key passageways, cities and projects and connect networks of highways, railways and sea ports," he told the forum.

Xi said that China will allocate an extra 100 billion yuan ($14.5 billion) into the existing Silk Road Fund, 380 billion yuan in loans for infrastructure and development projects, and 60 billion yuan in aid to developing countries and international bodies in economies related to the newly revived trade routes.

Xi also said China will endeavor to build a win-win business partnership with other countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

US companies would be no exception to this.

The New York Times, in an article posted on its website on Monday entitled "US Firms Want in on China's Global 'One Belt, One Road' Spending", cited General Electric as a winner in the initiative.

It said that in 2014, Chinese construction and engineering companies ordered $400 million worth of equipment from GE to install overseas, overwhelmingly in the region that encompasses the Belt and Road Initiative.

Last year, those orders totaled $2.3 billion, the newspaper reported, and GE planned to bid for an additional $7 billion in orders for natural-gas turbines and other power equipment over the next 18 months.

Tian Deyou, economic and commercial minister-counselor at the Chinese embassy in Washington, said that some US think tanks and companies were "negative" about the initiative when it was first raised.

But he added last week that US companies are gradually changing their attitudes and actively want to join the projects.
Dimitry Kumsishvili, first deputy prime minister of Georgia PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

Georgia will see more Chinese investment in its power, financial services, railways and port construction sectors this year, said Dimitry Kumsishvili, the country's first deputy prime minister.

"The opportunities come from growing demand for infrastructure projects, trade and investment channels, tourism activities and financial cooperation brought by the development of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Kumsishvili.

He said the investment will focus on sustainable development in urbanization and industrialization and in the service and communication sectors. It is also about connecting cultures, economies and people. It will add new growth factors by creating infrastructure projects that are based on modern expertise and governance standards.

Located at the crossroads of the Middle East and Eastern Europe, Georgia is seen as one of the most important traffic and logistics hubs in Europe.

The country plans to invest between $7.5 billion and $10 billion to upgrade the East-West highway and the country's freight train network, and build the Anaklia deep sea port mainly for bulk vessels, with an annual handling capacity of 100 million metric tons of cargo.

The Georgian government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Shanghai-based CEFC China Energy Co on Sunday, and the Chinese company plans to set up a commercial bank in the country.

The equity of the bank will be $300 million in the first phase and eventually reach $1 billion to support the country's services, infrastructure, transportation and power project development.

CEFC China acquired a 50 percent share in J&T Finance Group, the second-largest financial group by revenue in the Czech Republic, in March 2016, becoming the first Chinese private company to control a European bank.

Kumsishvili said Chinese companies, including Dongfang Electric Corp and China Tianchen Engineering Corp, are in the process of building a coal-fired power plant and a gas-operated power plant in Georgia.

Kumsishvili hoped more Georgian goods such as wine and agricultural products will be shipped to China through the international railway with a zero tariff rate next year, thanks to the newly signed China-Georgia Free Trade Agreement.

Feng Yaoxiang, spokesman for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said the FTA can further facilitate cooperation in sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, aviation, and railways.
A 3-D printer produces a cup at the China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services. Zhang Wei / For China Daily

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp and several other State-owned enterprises jointly set up a 150-billion-yuan ($21.8 billion) fund on Tuesday, to bolster China's new emerging industries, which will play a key role in the nation's upgrading efforts.

The innovation-focused fund, led by Beijing-based CASTC, will target an array of high-tech sectors, including aerospace, nuclear energy, shipping, high-speed rail, quantum communications, 3-D printing and robotics, CASTC General Manager Wu Yansheng said at the launch ceremony.

Other partners include rolling-stock maker CRRC Corp Ltd, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Postal Savings Bank of China, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and the Beijing municipal government.

The bulk of the capital will be directed to fund industries with a viable business model, huge market potential and the ability to remain globally competitive, Wu said.

China has been revamping its massive State-owned businesses through mergers and acquisitions, industrial upgrading and innovation. In September, the central government launched its largest private equity fund, worth 350 billion yuan, to finance SOE restructuring.

The fund, guided by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, is expected to raise initial capital of 113.9 billion yuan in the first stage.

Lei Fanpei, chairman of CASTC, said the fund's main objective is to fuel innovation in State-owned companies to make breakthroughs in core technologies, and accelerate the development of strategic emerging industries.

In this way, State-run companies will also improve their ability to coordinate their activities and share resources, Lei added.

In addition, the fund will explore partnerships with local governments and bring more vitality to competitive sectors. SOE projects could further integrate into local economies, and meet their growing needs.

Xiao Yaqing, head of the SASAC, said the country's top SOE regulator will continue to underpin the innovation funds.

He also called on related government departments to support the funds aimed at catalyzing SOEs' innovative activities, in order to enhance their product quality, improve operational efficiency and accelerate their transformation and upgrading.
An employee works in a clean room during the etching process of semiconductor wafer production inside the new Robert Bosch GmbH research and development center in Renningen, Germany. BLOOMBERG

The operations in China of a new joint ventureinvolving heat technology and hot water productswill help expand the market presence of Robert Bosch GMbH in the mainland, a senior executive of the German group said on Tuesday.

Bosch Thermotechnology, the European manufacturer of energy-efficient heating and hot water solutions, launched production at its joint venture with Guangdong Vanward New Electric Co, a leading manufacturer of gas appliances in China, in Foshan on Tuesday.

Bosch said the Foshan plant would produce about four million water heaters annually.

"Our Chinese partner has strong hot water heating technologies for the Chinese market," said Uwe Glock, global board chairman of Bosch Thermotechnology.

"The partnership will help boost Bosch's market presence and also bring about new growth opportunities for the Chinese home appliance industry," Glock added.

According to Glock, Bosch will transfer manufacturing lines for electric hot water storage tanks, heat pump water heaters as well as solar thermal collectors from different Bosch sites in China to two existing Vanward facilities in Foshan and Hefei of Anhui province.

"China is the world's biggest market for water heaters and this segment will be a cornerstone in Bosch's hot water business going forward," he said.

"The joint venture allows optimal use of both side's research and development and manufacturing resources, creating the conditions for further growth."

Bosch posted double-digit growth in the Chinese market last year, which meant China remained its second-largest market worldwide, according to company sources.

The German company also invested around 5.4 billion yuan ($782 million) in China in 2016, including the establishment of a research and development facility in Suzhou and another one in Nanjing of Jiangsu province.
China's biggest memory-foam manufacturer Mlily and rival mattress maker King Koil China are set to go head-to-head in the auction for one of the United Kingdom's biggest bed retailers, Dreams, with bids expected in the range of 400 million pounds ($517 million), according to media reports.

Dreams' ownerLondon-based Sun European Partners, the European advisor to US-based private equity firm Sun Capital Partnersput the mattress company up for sale earlier this year and appointed investment bank Rothschild to run the auction.

The two Chinese groups are expected to compete against UK bed maker Silentnight, owned by HIG Capital, according to the Daily Telegraph. Silentnight already supplies mattresses to Dreams.

Both Sun European Partners and Dreams declined to comment on the sale when contacted by China Daily.

Dreams was founded in 1986 under the name Sofa Bed Center in Uxbridge, West London, by Mike and Carol Clare, who used loans and savings of just 16,000 pounds. Mike Clare joined the ranks of the UK's wealthiest people when he sold the company for 200 million pounds to UK-based private equity firm Exponent in 2008, months before that year's global banking crisis.

Exponent battled to keep up with interest payments and Sun European Partners bought Dreams out of administration in 2013.

The new owner closed dozens of stores across the UK and oversaw a successful campaign that encouraged consumers to more regularly replace mattresses. In 2016, Dreams posted pretax profits of 32 million pounds, up 136 percent.

Shanghai-based King Koil China has 250 retail stores in 124 cities throughout China and is a leading player in supplying beds to Chinese luxury hotels, with a 35 percent market share.

Last November, London-based private equity firm Advent International announced it had acquired a majority ownership interest in King Koil.

Mlily is the mattress and pillow brand of Shanghai-based Healthcare Ltd.

Founded in 2003, Mlily has been the largest memory foam manufacturer in China since 2011, with export volumes worth $150 million in 2014, according to the company's website.

The company signed a five-year partnership with English Premier League club Manchester United in October 2016. Mlily mattresses have been installed at the club's Aon Training Complex.
CHANGCHUN - The first private bank in China's rust belt, an industrial area in the northeast, went into operation Tuesday.

Headquartered in Jilin, one of the three northeastern provinces, Yillion Bank was approved in December 2016 by China's banking regulator and was co-sponsored by at least two private capital providers.

The lender mainly attracts deposits from personal consumers and provides financial support to small and micro firms.

"The bank is expected to promote the development of the local private economy, and plays a positive role in rejuvenating the region's economy," said Miao Zhongyou, deputy director of Jilin Province Finance Office.

Over the past two years, the economy of northeast China, which also includes Heilongjiang and Liaoning provinces, has grown more slowly than the rest of the country.

In 2014, China approved a pilot scheme to set up five private banks to give private capital a bigger role in the country's financial system. Nationwide, the number of private banks has reached 17, with nine of them having gone into operation.
ROME - Italian business representatives said Tuesday that the Belt and Road Initiative could benefit the Mediterranean country's economy.

Their comments came at the end of Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni's mission to Beijing, where he led a business delegation to the just-concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for what he said was a "long and cordial talk".

The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 with an aim to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Italy is China's 15th trading partner on the global level and its fourth largest on the European level, according to official statistics agency Istat.

Its prime export sectors to China are industrial machinery, cars, and fashion.

"The margins are there for Italy to intercept the movement of goods from China" once the Belt and Road infrastructure is completed, Alessandro Terzulli, the chief economist at Italian export credit agency SACE, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Terzulli said that the Italian port cities of Ravenna, Venice, and Trieste on the Adriatic Sea have joined with those of Capodistria (Slovenia) and Rijeka (Croatia) will form the North Adriatic Port Association (NAPA).

NAPA has begun working on a 2.2-billion-euro ($2.44 billion) offshore platform off Venice with the capacity to receive large cargo ships coming from the Suez Canal.

While the immediate effects of the Belt and Road Initiative will be on the logistical and ports sector -- in which 160,000 Italian companies worth an estimated 220 billion euros operate - it will inevitably have "a cascade effect" on other types of businesses such as shipbuilding, construction, and transportation manufacturing, said Terzulli.

"It will put a lot of resources into circulation," he said. "If (Italian ports) become strategic, it will make us more competitive."

This will work both ways, with Italian companies having better access to China, he said.

According to SACE, in spite of the economic crisis that began in 2007, Italian exports contributed 4.2 percent to the country's GDP in 2010-2015.

However, the problem for Italy is that many of its businesses are having trouble engaging on the international market.

"In recent years, the best-performing businesses have been those that embraced the opportunities for internationalization," Sergio Razeto, the president of Friuli Venezia Giulia business association, told Xinhua.

The northeastern Friuli Venezia Giulia region includes the port city of Trieste, which will likely become one of the Belt and Road terminals.

"Undeniably, many Italian businesses have difficulty with international markets because they are too small to compete," said Razeto, whose association represents over 400 companies employing a total 27,000 people.

"This is particularly true for far-away destinations whose mindset is different from our own," explained Razeto.

In this context, "having new sources of financing can only be a positive thing" for Italian SMEs, he said of the proposed Sino-Italian investment fund.

The Friuli Venezia Giulia region had overall exports of 13.2 billion euros in 2016, up 6.3 percent over the previous year.

The strongest sectors were shipbuilding (+687 million euros year-on-year) and machine and equipment manufacturing (+188 million euros).

However the region's exports to China - principally industrial equipment - dropped by 18.1 percent in 2016. This was a downward trend that began in 2012, said Razeto.

Also pleased at the outcome of Gentiloni's mission was Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who thanked the premier for backing the role of the lagoon city as a Belt and Road terminal.

"It is a sign of great encouragement" for the Venice port authority and "for the Chinese businesses that are already working with Venice", the mayor's statement said.

"The maritime Silk Road will connect Asia and Europe more and more," Brugnaro said in the statement published in local media.

The 65 Central Asian countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative absorb 27 percent of Italy's world exports, and they have high growth margins.

As their economies expand and diversify, it is possible to imagine a future in which Italian companies, which currently operate in the oil and gas sector in those countries, will move in the short term into mechanical engineering and technological upgrades, and in the medium-to-long term into fashion, furniture, and electrical appliances, according to SACE analysts.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is worth 30 percent of global GDP, covers 38.5 percent of the world and involves 62.3 percent of its population, according to SACE.

The Italian export credit agency operates in 198 countries and supports 25,000 Italian companies to the tune of 87 billion euros in 2016, up from 74 billion in 2011 and 46 billion in 2008.
MINSK - Belarusian government has set a goal to increase the export of goods and services to China to amount of $1.5 billion in 2020, the government press service said on Tuesday.

According to the government's plans, the export of Belarusian goods and services to China would reach $653 million in 2017, $806.6 million in 2018, $1.06 billion in 2019, and $1.5 billion in 2020.

The largest contribution should be provided by Minsk Regional Executive Committee, with the amount of exports to China increasing from $390 million in 2017 to $930 million by 2020.

In 2016, the trade between Belarus and China amounted to about $2.6 billion, of which the Belarusian export to China reaching $500 million.
NOVI SAD, Serbia - Riding a wave of the Belt and Road Initiative and fast-developing China-Serbia partnership, dozens of Chinese companies are eyeing the Serbian market.

More than 40 Chinese companies are showcasing their products at an agriculture exhibition in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, which was officially opened on Tuesday.

The exhibition, Premium Agricultural Brands of China in Serbia 2017, is part of the International Agriculture Fair.

Speaking of the just-concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Chen Zhou, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, promised to create more platforms to promote bilateral cooperation and to create conditions for trade and investment, information exchange as well as more legal services in trade.

"This will create new opportunities for cooperation between Chinese and Serbian companies and contribute to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries," he told the opening ceremony.

Tian Yishu, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, said China is a large agricultural manufacturer and a big consumer of agricultural and food products, while Serbia is rich in natural resources and its agricultural products and meat are of very high quality.

Zeljko Radosevic, state secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Serbia, said China has granted Serbia certificate to export lamb, adding that conditions are being created for Serbia to get certificate from China to export beef and pork, dairy products as well as food products of plant origin.

Radosevic said agriculture ministers of the two countries signed a memorandum on joint trade and investment in agriculture at the Belt and Road forum in Beijing, which "provided a basis for an increased exchange of agricultural and food products and organic products and created conditions for direct investment of China in Serbian agriculture and food industry."

"An important goal for us is to attract Chinese investment in food processing industry and to implement modern technologies and know-how, especially in new products and production lines in the areas of fruit and vegetable processing," he said.

Companies from China and Serbia should use the opportunity to achieve new breakthroughs in agriculture either by starting joint production or exporting agricultural products to third markets, suggested Tian from the Chinese Embassy.

He said that within the framework of their comprehensive strategic partnership, the two countries have achieved fruitful results in the areas of infrastructure, construction, energy, telecommunications, education and culture.

The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 with an aim to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.
TORONTO - More than 150 delegates from Chinese and Canadian governments, companies and research institutes gathered here Tuesday at a forum to discuss cooperation between the two countries on clean technology.

The Pujiang Innovation Forum 2017 - Canada Forum, under the theme of "Forging an Eco-chain for Clean Technology Transfer," was jointly held by the Chinese Science and Technology Ministry, the Shanghai Municipal Government and the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science.

A series of events, including the releasing ceremony of China Cleantech White Paper, the information exchange meeting between Chinese and Canadian innovation companies and a seminar on energy storage technologies, were held at the forum.

The Canadian branch center of Chinese National Eastern Tech-Transfer Center, designed to create more opportunities for cooperation on innovation and technology transfer between Canada and China, was also inaugurated at the forum.
Vinamilk products are displayed for sale at a Fivimart supermarket in Hanoi, Vietnam, October 7, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

HANOI - Vietnam's largest dairy firm Vinamilk has got the green-light to officially export its milk products to China, the company told Xinhua on Wednesday.

"During the president's Chinese visit, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese firms to supply the products in the neighboring market," Vinamilk's spokesperson said.

Agreements on facilitating imports of Vietnamese farm products, including milk, is an important achievement of President Tran Dai Quang's visit to China from May 11 to May 15, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung told local media earlier this week.

"We are eager to serve the Chinese customers with our finest products," a representative of Vinamilk's external affairs department told Xinhua.

With Vinamilk's granted access, General Secretary of the Vietnamese Dairy Association Vu Ngoc Quynh optimistically viewed that more firms can achieve the same success.

"Now the long-awaited door has opened, it's time for local enterprises to strive toward Chinese market entrance criteria," said Quynh.

Vinamilk is Vietnamese's No 1 dairy firm and one of the world's 50 largest milk companies in terms of revenue. In 2016, its export turnover stood at some $258 million.
A visitor at the auto show in Shanghai in April. YIN LIQIN / FOR CHINA DAILY

China's annual output of automobiles is poised to break 50 million, said Dong Yang, executive vice chairman of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Dong made the announcement at the 2017 China Auto Forum held in Shanghai on May 15.

The growth of automobile sales in China in the next few years is expected to be maintained at 7 percent, the vice chairman said. Dong noted that 80 percent of annual production will be domestically oriented, while the rest will be shipped overseas. Previous statistics from the association show that domestic automobile production and sales in 2016 were 28.11 and 28.02 million respectively.

Though market demand has been reduced by purchase and traffic restrictions in some major cities, emerging second-tier cities will help to revitalize the energy of the automobile market, said Zhang Liqun, vice-inspector of the Department of Macroeconomic Research under the Development Research Center of the State Council.

China's domestic automobile brands have performed quite well in recent years, especially buses, trucks, small sport-utility vehicles and small multi-purpose vehicles. Sales of Chinese brands in 2016, which breached the 10-million barrier for the first time ever in that year, accounted for 43.19 percent of total vehicle sales in China. In addition, the country's electric vehicle output reached 500,000 in 2016, accounting for half the world's total production in that year.

The technology behind China's electric vehicles will be updated every two years. Dong believes that in the next five to 10 years, China's electric-vehicle manufacturing will catch up with that of those countries currently ranking at the top.
An engineer inspects the Tianhe-1 supercomputer at the National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin. YUE YUEWEI / XINHUA

China is stepping up research and development of the Tianhe-3 supercomputer, which aims to be 10 times faster than the current world leader, as it strives to meet the country's growing needs for more accurate and efficient computing capabilities.

The Tianhe-3 is designed as the world's first prototype exascale supercomputer, which means it can make a quintillion (1 followed by 18 zeros) calculations per second, and is intended to arm the country's manufacturers and government with greater speed, precision and scope for research.

The supercomputer will be applied in such fields as the analysis of smog distribution, airplane designs, oil surveying and the development of artificial intelligence.

These functions overlap with the nation's existing supercomputers, such as the Sunway TaihuLight, which is currently the world's fastest supercomputer, with a peak speed of 125 quadrillion (1 followed by 15 zeros) calculations per second, said Meng Xiangfei, director of application at the National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin.

"What sets the Tianhe-3 apart from the others is, for example, that it can help design more reliable aircraft by giving a view of its detail at a magnification of up to 10 times," Meng added.

He explained that when forecasting weather on a national scale, the measuring range of the Tianhe-3 can be as accurate as 1 square kilometer. That would be five to 10 times more accurate than other supercomputers.

"I think some weather forecasting applications in smartphones will become more accurate by the time the Tianhe-3 is fully functioning," said Meng, who confirmed the prototype is expected to be finished early next year and become fully operational by 2020.

He said that the development of the Tianhe-3 differs from the Sunway TaihuLight in some quite significant ways.

"To be specific, we are trying to make a 'supercell' which combines calculation, communication, big data and AI, which used to work separately. That is why the National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin has brought in a new batch of AI experts," said Meng.

China is taking its computing power to the next level amid intensifying global competition in this field.

The United States is working on an exascale supercomputer, but its prototype will not appear until 2023. Japan is building a machine that can make 130 quadrillion calculations per second, which could surpass Sunway TaihuLight.

Wang Gang, an associate professor at the College of Computer Science and Technology of Jilin University, said China's supercomputers are chiefly used to assist scientific research, which need to process a huge amount of information within a short time span.

"But as the Tianhe-3 improves AI capabilities, it will not only calculate faster but also smarter. It will therefore have greater potential in terms of commercial application," Wang said.

Wang is working on a deep-learning project for autonomous driving. He has used the Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer to assist his research, and expects the Tianhe-3 to be more helpful.

"China has an edge in hardware, but more efforts are needed to develop tailor-made software for supercomputers, in order to widen its application," Wang said.
A worker adjusts the logo at the stand of Huawei at the CeBIT trade fair in Hanover, March 15, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

SOFIA - China's telecom giant Huawei would help Bulgaria to become a leader in IT services in the European Union (EU), said Guo Ping, the company's rotating and acting CEO on Tuesday.

Next year, Bulgaria will take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU, and furthermore, the country has been selected as one of the two pilot countries for the EU's e-government initiative, Guo said at the opening ceremony of a national summit on cloud computing.

"In this context, our mission is to ensure that Bulgaria will become a leader of the EU in this area," Guo said.

Huawei was also committed to supporting Bulgaria in its strategic efforts to become a regional cloud hub, Guo said.

"This will provide a huge boost to the local IT industry and also give EU companies access to the highest quality cloud services," Guo said.

Speaking about this particular event, jointly organized with the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria and the national telecom giant Vivacom, Guo said it would help to explore the future of cloud services and how the cloud can help Bulgaria enter the intelligent world.

Bulgaria's Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov said in turn that information and communication technologies and outsourcing have been among the leading sectors for attracting investments in his country.

Since 2013, investment projects worth over $1.049 billion have been implemented in these areas, and over 7,400 jobs have been created, Karanikolov said.

The presence in Bulgaria of such a global company like Huawei, spoke well for the country's policies, he added.

Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Haizhou, who also attended the event, said it marked the beginning of a new stage in the development of cloud technologies in Bulgaria.

Huawei Technologies has been present in Bulgaria since 2004, and has been a major supplier for the telecom market in the country.
A man operates a drone to carry out spraying operations over a wheat field in Xinghua, East China's Jiangsu province, April 30, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

BEIJING - China will require civilian drones weighing more than 250 grams to be registered under real names starting from June 1 to improve civil aviation safety, the country's civil aviation regulator announced Tuesday.

Registration of civilian drones is a common international practice and the foundation for better management, and China will launch the registration system on Thursday, according to Zhang Ruiqing, a senior official with Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The government is also working on systems to share and check civilian drone registration data.

Recent cases have indicated that unregulated civilian drones could pose a threat to the safety of civil aviation.

The CAAC will release information of areas surrounding airports that ban the flying of civilian drones and work with local governments and public security authorities to monitor and crack down on unregulated civilian drones.
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A logo of Huawei is seen at a store in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, Nov 13, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

MADRID - Chinese telecom giant Huawei said Tuesday that it committed to helping the digital transformation of transport and smart cities in Spain.

Huawei Spain confirmed in a press communique that Huawei vice president and rotating CEO Guo Ping presented the Spanish Minister for Public Works and Transport, Inigo de la Serna, with the projects it has to help the growth of Spain's digital economy.

Among the projects were schemes for the digital transformation of Spanish railways, ports and airports.

"Spain is a key part of our commitment to the European market. We have over 1,200 employees in the country and we aim to increase our workforce by 50 percent by 2021," said Guo.

"We are working with all of Spain's telecommunications operators and we have over 200 partners in the Spanish market to help us offer services to 30 million users and thousands of companies," he added.

Guo said that Huawei would place an emphasis on employing Spanish workers and "continue investing in programs to feed young minds and attract them to a career in information and communication technology".

"So far, over 20,000 students have participated in our training courses and we are surprised by their technical skills," he said.
A Chinese mobile phone user uses the taxi-hailing app Didi Chuxing on her smartphone. [Photo/Xinhua]

From carpooling to shared phone chargers, China has witnessed explosive growth in its sharing economy, whose market trade volume topped 3.45 trillion yuan ($501 billion) in 2016. That amount is up 103 percent from 2015, a State Information Center (SIC) official revealed.

Specifically, trade volume in skills- and technology-sharing saw the fastest growth rate, at 205 percent, while life service platforms yielded the highest trade volume at 723.3 billion yuan. Investments in the sharing economy have also been on the rise, with total financing reaching 171 billion yuan, according to Zhang Xinhong, director of the Sharing Economy Research Institute under SIC.

"In my opinion, China is indeed a top player [in the sharing economy], whether on a pure scale or when judging by economic innovation," Zhang said at a seminar in Beijing on May 13.

Arun Sundararajan, a professor at New York University and author of "The Sharing Economy," observed at the seminar that this new crowd-based capitalism is thriving all over the world, facilitating an asset-light consumption mode in almost all aspects of life.

Sundararajan pointed out that China, along with many other countries in the world, should enjoy the most profound impact of the transition to a sharing economy. The professor explained that it is easier for Chinese consumers to leap from the previous mode, which valued ownership, straight to the more efficient sharing economy.

Estimates show that over 600 million people were involved in the sharing economy in China in 2016, 100 million more than in 2015. The number of people employed in sharing economy businesses also rose to 60 million in 2016, according to Zhang.

Yang Weiguo, dean of the School of Labor and Human Resources at Renmin University of China, said that the sharing economy can help to reduce discrimination and provide more employment opportunities.

"The sharing economy is becoming a major trend, and eventually everything that can be shared will be shared, as long as it is ethically and legally feasible," Zhang noted.

Lu Wei, secretary general of Internet Society of China, urged sharing economy businesses in China to remain people-oriented and work to serve small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting the national strategy.

Looking to the future, Sundararajan said the sharing economy will further boost overall economic growth, as it brings more efficient allocation of capital and assets. It also provides more diverse products and services to consumers, increasing economic activity.

Regarding China specifically, SIC predicted an annual growth of 40 percent in sharing economy market volume. By 2020, the sharing economy is estimated to account for over 10 percent of China's GDP, according to Zhang.
BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on China and Poland to step up cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, who is in Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, scheduled for May 14-15.
President Xi Jinping meets with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Beijing, May 12, 2017. Hailemariam Desalegn is in Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping on Friday called on China and Ethiopia to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn who is in Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled for May 14 and 15. Xi said the cooperation between China and Ethiopia plays a leading role in China-Africa cooperation.

He proposed the upgrading of bilateral ties to reflect the "strategic aspect and the high level of political mutual trust of the bilateral relations".

Xi asked the two countries to promote cooperation in such areas as connectivity, production capacity, trade and economy, people-to-people exchanges, as well as aviation.

He said China welcomes Ethiopia's participation in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and supports its role as a bridge between the Belt and Road Initiative and Africa's development.

China is willing to deepen all-round cooperation with Ethiopia, a highly influential nation in Africa, in the process of implementing the outcomes of the Johannesburg summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and building the Belt and Road, Xi said.

Hailemariam said, Ethiopia and China have achieved significant improvements in cooperation in areas including trade and economy, investment, industrial capacity and infrastructure construction.

The Belt and Road Initiative is a farsighted initiative with global implications, which will promote connectivity and cooperation in trade and investment. Ethiopia will actively join in the construction of the Belt and Road, he said.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with Hailemariam Desalegn on Friday.

Li said upgrading the China-Ethiopia relationship will help the two countries consolidate political mutual trust, expand cooperation, and advance major China-Africa cooperation plans and production capacity cooperation.

Li expressed his hope that Ethiopia will use passenger and general-purpose aircraft designed and manufactured by China, for the development of Africa's aviation industry.

Hailemariam positively echoed Li's proposal, saying that Ethiopia is building itself into a regional aviation center.

China supports Ethiopia's industrialization and agricultural modernization, and is willing to offer help in areas such as human resources development and finance to assist the independent and sustainable growth of Ethiopia, Li said.

Hailemariam said, the two countries' production capacity cooperation had greatly promoted Ethiopia's industrialization and agricultural modernization causes.

Li and Hailemariam later witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements in such fields as economic and technological cooperation and human resources development.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday met with his Ethiopian counterpart Workneh Gebeyehu in Beijing.

The two sides agreed to enhance communication and coordination in bilateral and international affairs, understand and support each other in significant issues concerning their core interests, and safeguard common interests of themselves and other developing countries.
Xi urges upgrading of free trade agreement with Switzerland

Xinhua | Updated: 2017-05-14 10:58

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday suggested that negotiations with Switzerland on the upgrading of a free trade agreement should begin as soon as possible.



Xi made the remarks when meeting with Swiss President Doris Leuthard, who is in Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled for May 14 to 15.



With the development of bilateral relations since the establishment of China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership in 2016, the two sides should maintain high-level contact, and seek innovation-driven cooperation and exchanges across the board, Xi said.



He urged the two countries to strengthen the alignment of "Made in China 2025" with Switzerland's Industry 4.0 strategies, enhance cooperation in finance, aviation, culture, winter sports, and work closely on China-Switzerland Year of Tourism in 2017.



Noting that Switzerland is a vigorous supporter and participant in the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi said he expects more practical cooperation in key areas.



Leuthard described Xi's state visit to Switzerland in January this year as a complete success, saying that they reached consensus about many issues, especially on the Switzerland-China Year of Tourism, which will significantly boost cultural and economic exchanges.



Leuthard said Switzerland believes the Belt and Road Initiative will bring more investment and benefit more people, stressing that Switzerland will be an enthusiastic supporter of the initiative.



Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli was present at the meeting.
China, Indonesia agree to step up Belt and Road cooperation

Xinhua | Updated: 2017-05-16 10:58

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday stressed Indonesia's special connection with the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, calling on the two countries to strengthen cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.



"I proposed the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road for the first time when I delivered a speech in Indonesia in October 2013. The alignment of the proposal with Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum has enriched bilateral ties," Xi said when meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.



Widodo is in Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on Sunday and Monday.



Xi urged China and Indonesia to maintain high-level exchanges to further promote their comprehensive strategic partnership and consolidate political mutual trust.



Both sides should work to deepen pragmatic cooperation, promote infrastructure projects and ensure balanced growth of bilateral trade, he said.



He identified investment, finance, mining, agriculture and nuclear energy sectors as areas for further cooperation between China and Indonesia, in addition to counter-terrorism, drug control, cyber security and combating transnational crime.



The two countries should also carry out maritime dialogue and cooperation, promote exchanges in tourism, education and cultural sectors, and step up communication and coordination in multilateral organizations, Xi said.



He reaffirmed China's support for the building of the ASEAN community, adding that China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to seek greater progress in China-ASEAN ties and cooperation in East Asia.



For his part, Widodo said Indonesia believes the Belt and Road Initiative will bring about more cooperation opportunities for Indonesia and China.



Indonesia is willing to work with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, to upgrade bilateral trade and investment, he said.



It will also discuss with China the building of an economic connectivity corridor, and work to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.



Indonesia will maintain close communication and coordination with China in international and region affairs and support steady progress in China-ASEAN ties, he added.



A series of cooperation documents was signed after the meeting.


US President Donald Trump's arrival in the White House and Brexit in the United Kingdom have not lessened the appeal of these countries among Chinese students choosing an overseas education destination, according to a new report.

A survey of 6,217 students who plan to study abroad, or their parents, found that the United States remains the top choice, with 50 percent preferring the US, up from 46 percent last year.

It is the third consecutive year the country ranked No 1 in the annual Report on Chinese Students' Overseas Study, the latest of which was released on Tuesday.

The UK, which voted to leave the European Union last year, was the second-most popular destination, as it has been for three years.

The survey, by Vision Overseas Consulting Co and Kantar Millward Brown, was conducted in over 40 cities in February and March.

Some of Trump's policies, including visa restrictions, are thought to have influenced international students and prospective immigrants. In a survey by five US higher education associations in February  covering around 250 US colleges and universities  38 percent reported a drop in foreign applications for the fall 2017 term  Middle Eastern students down the most  The Atlantic reported on Saturday.

Although China was not directly affected by the travel ban, 25 percent of universities saw undergraduate applications from China decline and 32 percent had fewer Chinese graduate student applications, the report said.

According to the Ministry of Education, over 540,000 Chinese students were studying in the US last year, making it one of the largest source countries for international students.

"We have noticed the influence of Trump's policy and conducted an internal survey of our clients months ago," said Sun Tao, executive president of Vision Overseas Consulting.

"We did feel the concerns and worries of parents, but many of them stick to their choices in the US."

In the survey, 51 percent of respondents said international political events did not affect their choices, and only 7 percent said they would change their choices of overseas study countries, Sun said.

The education level, overall national power and national culture have been the main factors in Chinese students' and their parents' choice of destination countries, the survey added.

"In addition, the full effect of the proposed US visa restrictions have not become clearer, but they will raise the threshold for immigrants to stay and work in US," said Yu Zhongqiu, deputy head of Vision Overseas Consulting.

He added that the proposed restrictions require immigration applicants to have an annual income no less than $110,000, "quite difficult for new graduates to meet".

In the survey, 73 percent planned to work in China after graduation, compared with only 57 percent last year.

"More students than before go overseas to broaden their vision and enrich their experiences, and intend to return home," Yu said.
A nurse from the Hospital of Xinjiang Traditional Uyghur Medicine, attends to a mother from Uzbekistan, along with her daughter, who was born in the facility in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.[Photo/Xinhua]

Region plans to expand services for people along Silk Road routes

More patients from Central Asian nations sought medical care in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region last year because of its high quality healthcare and its proximity, according to a senior official.

Foreign patients accessed medical services at hospitals in Urumqi, the regional capital, either in person or via an online diagnosis and consultation platform 8,600 times, an increase of more than 20 percent over 2015, said Liu Chengyuan, deputy mayor of Urumqi.

"We expect to see more foreign patients this year because coming to Urumqi for surgeries and health checks has become a popular trend," he said. "People have been drawn to Xinjiang to seek help from neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons. They are also interested in traditional Chinese and Uygur medicine."

As a core area of the Belt and Road Initiative, Xinjiang plans to become an international medical care center to serve foreign patients, especially those from neighboring countries.

The region borders a number of countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. It is home to 14 diverse peoples, including Uygur, Kazakh and Tajik ethnic groupspeople who speak the same language and have customs similar to neighboring countries.

"The region has natural and cultural advantages of providing medical care to people from countries involved in the initiative," said Peng Yong, deputy director of the Xinjiang Health and Family Planning Commission.

Five major hospitals in Urumqi have provided 500 beds for international patients and are equipped with nurses who can speak Russian and Kazakh. Foreign patients can also receive fast-track services in those hospitals, Peng said, adding that more than 30 hospitals around Xinjiang also plan to launch services for foreigners.

In addition to the public, senior figures from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have visited the region 25 times to receive health checks since 2015, Peng added.

The region's online diagnosis and consultation platform includes 11 top hospitals in China, 17 in Kyrgyzstan, two in Georgia and five in Kazakhstan. Fifteen hospitals in Tajikistan also plan to join the platform, Peng said.

Liu said the platform will eventually include 100 hospitals to provide timely help to foreign patients.

"Medical care is a basic and common need. Providing lifesaving medical care to foreign patients can create mutual trust," Peng said.
Tang Lisha practices Chinese calligraphy in a classroom at Chengdu Normal University.[Provided to China Daily]

Woman sends income from odd jobs to those in need in Chongqing

Tang Lisha, a 21-year-old student at Chengdu Normal University in Sichuan province who comes from a poor family in Chongqing, is helping three students at her alma mater complete their middle school studies.

Tang Zhongqian, 14, is busy preparing for her high school entrance examination, which falls on June 12. As a top student, she is sure to pass the exam, according to Tang Guoming, her teacher at Longxi Middle School in Chongqing's Dazu district.

But he said Tang Zhongqian would not have been able to complete her middle school studies if it had not been for Tang Lisha's financial support.

Tang Lisha studied at the middle school and is neighbors with Tang Zhongqian in Dazu's Zhuxi town.

Tang Zhongqian was brought up by her grandparents as her father went missing and her mother remarried. Her family is poor and she did not know if she would be able to complete middle school. In 2014, she told Tang Lisha, who is an advertisement design major, that she admired her college life.

Tang Lisha promised to help. Her father is a middle school English teacher in Zhuxi earning about 2,000 yuan ($290) a month, according to reporters from Chengdu Economic Daily who visited her home.

To raise money to help Tang Zhongqian, she undertook a number of odd jobs in her spare time, including polishing shoes, selling waste paper and delivering leaflets for restaurants, optical shops, computer dealers and training schools.

On weekends, she would head for railway, bus and subway stations in Chengdu to polish shoes. While shoe polishers in their 50s and 60s tended to elbow out their inexperienced competitors, some clients took pity on her after hearing her story.

"One middle-aged company manager insisted on paying me 100 yuan for polishing a pair of shoes after learning that I needed money to help my neighbor, and some other clients followed suit," she said.

Tang Lisha's father was a self-taught artist who taught her how to paint when she was a child.

As a sophomore, she started running art classes to teach children how to paint.

"I am paid between 80 and 100 yuan for one class of 40 to 50 kids. As I teach at several training schools, it helps me earn much more than a shoe polisher," she said.

Before she began painting classes, she sent 50 to 100 yuan to Tang Zhongqian whenever she made money, but she is now able to send her 1,000 yuan a month.

The cost of living is cheaper in mountainous Dazu, and schools do not charge middle school students tuition fees. A frugal student can cover their living expenses with about 300 yuan a month. The money she sends is used by Tang Zhongqian and two other students to lessen the burden on their families, according to Wang Lianming, a teacher at Longxi Middle School.

Both Tang Guoming and Wang taught Tang Lisha when she studied there. After beginning her studies at the university, she told both teachers about her intention to help students who had financial difficulties, but were eager to learn.

Thanks to their recommendations, she became acquainted with Zhang Miao and Xie Guanghong, two students with good academic records.

Zhang, 14, has a disabled father and a brother who attends preschool. To support the family of four, her mother makes a living from manual work.

Xie Guanghong, 15, lives in an earthen house with his parents, who have heart disease and diabetes.

Thanks to Tang Lisha's financial support, Zhang and Xie will also take the high school entrance examination next month.

Motivated by Tang Lisha, Tang Zhongqian, Zhang and Xie said they would follow in her footsteps and help people in need when they grow up.

Li Ruofeng contributed to this story.
Aviation official says flights can do job faster, cheaper than other modes

China plans to build an air network to better link countries taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative, the country's civil aviation authority said on Tuesday.

Compared with other means of transportation, "construction of civil aviation needs less time and is less affected by geography", said Wang Changyi, director of development planning for the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

"It is also more flexible to operate, and can be put into service before other transport modes," he said.

According to Wang, as of December China had signed bilateral air transportation agreements with 120 countries and regions - including 62 involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Direct flights link China with 43 countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, with about 4,200 flights weekly. Chinese airlines have set up liaison offices in 24 Belt and Road countries.

Airlines have opened more than 100 new international routes to link China with Belt and Road economies since the start of the peak tourist season, which runs from March 26 to Oct 28. Chinese airlines plan to open 70 routes to facilitate travel, while international airlines will open 35 routes, 34 of which will link China with regions involved in the initiative.

"More people are traveling between China and Belt and Road countries," Wang said, adding that 47 percent of international passengers traveled between China and those regions in the first four months of this year. In 2015, the number was about 40 percent.

More small and medium-sized airports in provinces involved in the initiative are also planned, he said.

China hosted the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on Sunday and Monday. Infrastructure connectivity is the foundation of international cooperation and development, President Xi Jinping said in an address at the forum on Monday, emphasizing the importance of promoting infrastructure connectivity.

"We should promote land, sea and air connectivity and the information expressway, concentrate our efforts on key passageways, cities and projects, and build a network of highways, railways and seaports," he said.

During the forum, the government signed a letter of intent with the International Civil Aviation Organization under which the two will deepen cooperation in many ways, including safety and infrastructure construction to promote civil aviation development in Belt and Road countries.

The initiative is in line with the organization's goals and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Plan, according to Liu Fang, secretary-general of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The Belt and Road Initiative may reshape the map of the global economy and become the largest platform of regional cooperation, creating a positive environment for trade and boosting the economy, Liu said.
Drone owners will be required to register their small aircraft under their real names starting June 1, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Tuesday.

Drones that weigh more than 250 grams must be registered, according to Zhang Ruiqing, deputy head of the Office of Air Traffic Regulation of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The preliminary registration system has been completed and online testing will begin on Thursday, he said.

Also on Thursday, the administration will announce protective zones around 155 airports and will develop more technical means, such as electronic fences, to keep drones away from the airports.

"Drones have become a serious hazard in many Chinese cities, and have severely interfered with civil aviation," he said.

On Sunday, more than 6,000 passengers were stranded at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport because of flights that were diverted, returned or canceled because of drone interference.

Since April, eight cases of a drone flying without a permit occurred at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, causing flights to be diverted, returned or canceled. More than 10,000 passengers were stranded in the airport.

Drone hazards also cropped up in other cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Anyone flying drones illegally will be punished in accordance with public security regulations, the authorities have said.
Temperatures in Beijing could rise to more than 35 C from Wednesday to Friday, the city's meteorological center said on Tuesday as it released a yellow alert for high temperatures.

It is the capital's first alert for high temperatures this year. It advised people to take precautions against heat stroke and fire, especially around midday.

Beijing officially entered the summer season on May 7 this year, 12 days earlier than the average date, the center said. Meanwhile, Beijing's spring, which started on March 26, only lasted one and a half months.

The National Meteorological Center forecast that a heat wave will sweep across not only Beijing but also the country's northern region, including Hebei, Henan and Shandong provinces, and Tianjin municipality. These areas will see temperatures as high as 37 C.

Cooler weather is expected to bring a little relief starting on Saturday, the center said. The daily high temperatures in Beijing are expected to drop to below 30 C early next week.

China Daily - Xinhua
Shanghai Jiao Tong University has launched a master's program in engineering for international students that aims to cultivate high-level talent in the field of navigation and remote sensing.

The program, which will start in September, will serve the Belt and Road Initiative, with enrollment mainly targeting students from countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Satellite navigation and remote sensing are key technology projects that China has been actively promoting and developing. BeiDou, for example, the country's satellite navigation system, already covers countries involved in the initiative.

"The program aims to cultivate high-level international talent with comprehensive qualities, practical capabilities and innovative engineering capabilities in the information technology field of navigation and remote sensing," said Yu Wenxian, president of the university's Academy of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, who is in charge of the program.

The Belt and Road Satellite Navigation and Remote Sensing Program is supported by the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Navigation and Location-Based Services and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Recognition. Its three core courses are geographic information systems and applications, navigation technology and remote sensing information processing.

One highlight of the program is its focus on practical training and connections between the academy and enterprises. Students will join companies for six months to a year on internships, which is also related to their final theses.

"This program will provide students with rich training experiences, and help them to become competitive in employment upon graduation," said Xue Yang, CEO of the operator of the China Beidou Technology Innovation West Hongqiao Park in Shanghai. The park is one of the training bases for the master's degree program.

"Our park has attracted a number of companies and organizations," he said. "Many companies have an urgent need for talent during their quick overseas expansion. High-level talent with deep knowledge and better understanding of local conditions is urgently needed."

The two-year program will enroll 40 to 50 students each year, and enrollment is now underway, the school said.

wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn
A helicopter tour service will be launched in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet autonomous region, in August to allow tourists to view the plateau landscape from the sky.

Tourism companies have been considering aerial tours in Lhasa for years, but the Potala Tourism and Culture Group is the first to get approval for flights in a designated airspace.

The airspace covers a part of Lhasa and the Namtso Lake area, 240 kilometers from the capital, according to Dawa Phuntsok, president of the tour group.

The lake, called Heavenly Lake in the Tibetan language, is one of three holy lakes in Tibet.

Tours will be provided by four Eurocopter H125s and two Bell 505s. The first two helicopters will be delivered in June, with the first flight scheduled for August, Dawa Phuntsok said.

Twenty-one pilots from the Tibetan ethnic group - including seven women - along with seven helicopter maintenance specialists, received eight months of training in Jiangsu and Yunnan provinces.

Meanwhile, a general aviation airport covering an area of nearly 4 hectares is under construction in Lhasa's Tsechogling Valley. It will be able to accommodate 30 helicopters and is expected to be operational in late July, he said.

Liu Jie, vice-president of Ruoer General Aviation Development Group - the Nanjing-based company responsible for purchasing the aircraft and arranging pilot training - said helicopter services are necessary in Tibet, as "air tours are more time-efficient and convenient than land transportation".

"Using helicopters for travel services, as well as for medical rescue, is essential for Lhasa to be an international tourism city," Liu said.

Contact the writers at palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn
A waste treatment center where hordes of black soldier flies eat organic waste is playing an important role in handling household garbage in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

Guangzhou Outreach Environmental Technologies, which runs the center, started trial operations in September and currently treats 3 to 4 metric tons of kitchen waste a day, according to Xu Song, the company's vice-president.

"Volume will increase to more than 100 tons a day after official operations start in September," Xu said.

He said the center represents a trend in treating organic waste.

"Eating organic waste is natural for black soldier flies, and we don't destroy the animal's natural instincts," he said.

The waste becomes organic fertilizer after the flies consume and discharge it. The flies themselves eventually become food for fish, birds and other animals after they die.

Black soldier flies usually live between 30 and 35 days. They start to eat waste when they are in the larvae stage.

The center has been designed to handle more than 200 tons of organic garbage a day, making it the largest of its kind on the Chinese mainland. It features a 10,000-square-meter core area for breeding and keeping the flies.

Huang Yanhua, a researcher at the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Institute of Animal Science, said the flies have impeccable credentials for environmental safety.

"Using black soldier flies to treat domestic garbage does not lead to an invasion of the creatures" outside of the treatment area, she said. "Nor do they damage our living environment."

Black soldier flies are afraid of people - that's their biological nature - so they don't invade homes or disrupt people's lives, she said.

Xu said he believes the center has a bright future. A similar facility is expected to be built in Guangzhou later this year, he said. He didn't provide details because negotiations are ongoing.

In addition to a growing number of mainland cities seeking cooperative opportunities - in Hunan and Hainan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region - Xu's company is talking with governments in Singapore, Malaysia and the Macao Special Administrative Region about building waste treatment centers and breeding black soldier flies.

Germany is also negotiating with the company to provide equipment, Xu said.

So far, only South Africa has opened a waste treatment station using the flies. The bugs are mainly used in Western countries to treat cow and pig manure, Xu said.

"Compared with traditional garbage treatment centers, a center that uses black soldier flies has the advantage of low construction and production costs and scant environmental pollution. It also requires less land," he said.

An urban management official in Baiyun district, who asked not to be named, said that while the government would like to see such projects spread, it is difficult to persuade restaurants, hotels and canteens to give up the money they make by selling their waste to companies that use it for animal feed or in recycled products.

"Right now, we offer to buy restaurants' kitchen waste," she said. "But they can make more money by selling it to a private business."

Wang Ting contributed to this story.

zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn
A lamian restaurant owner from Xining, Qinghai province, works in his business in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. Hu Xuejun / Xinhua

XINING - Many families from Qinghai province are casting off poverty using lamian, or hand-pulled noodles, a local specialty.

Qinghai's hand-pulled noodle businesses generated revenue of 18 billion yuan ($2.6 billion) across China last year. Former farmers who became migrant workers earned a combined salary of nearly 4 billion yuan as a result, according to the human resources and social security department in the province.

Most of those engaged in the noodle business are from Haidong, a city with seemingly endless mountains and deep valleys, which also is known for prolonged droughts. It is one of the poorest areas in China.

In recent years, with government support, an increasing number of local farmers have gone to big cities like Beijing and Guangzhou to open noodle restaurants.

"In a poverty-stricken family with fewer than five members, as long as one of them is in the noodle business, all of them can shake off poverty," said Yang Yi, head of the provincial human resources and social security department.

The province has granted loans of 1.12 billion yuan to about 15,000 locals in Haidong in recent years to help them start businesses, Yang said. It has set up about 90 agencies outside Qinghai to help its migrant workers obtain business certificates, get market information and provide for their children's education.

By the end of 2016, Qinghai's erstwhile farmers had opened some 29,000 lamian restaurants in 280 Chinese cities, accounting for about 40 percent of all such noodle businesses in China.

The restaurants employed 182,000 of former Qinghai farmers, and their annual income per capita exceeded 20,000 yuan. Last year, about 4,000 poor ex-farmers newly employed in the business shook off poverty.

"We will continue to provide preferential policies to support business development in order to help people live better lives," Yang said.

Xinhua
A group of Chinese tourists whose luggage and passports were stolen from a bus in Rome just hours after arriving in the Italian capital have yet to decide whether to continue their vacation, according to Ctrip, the online agency they used to book the trip.

Ctrip said on Tuesday it is still waiting for the result of an investigation by the Italian police.

"The group's tour guide immediately reported the theft to the police, but we haven't heard of any progress in the investigation," said Gao Jie, public relations manager of Ctrip.

"The group is still in Rome and we're waiting for them to let us know whether they want to continue the trip or return to Shanghai. The guide has been talking with them and will let us know what they decide," she said.

The group of 16 Chinese and their guide left Shanghai on May 13 and arrived in Rome the next day. They each paid nearly 20,000 yuan ($2,900) for a 13-day tour of Italy, Switzerland and France.

They were picked up at the airport by a minibus from a local travel agency and started the tour in downtown Rome. They were to check in at a hotel at day's end.

But when they gathered as scheduled, they were astonished to hear the driver tell them that all the luggage - more than 20 pieces - on the minibus had been stolen. All of their passports were in the tour guide's luggage.

The driver said he had been away for an hour for lunch. The tourists told Shanghai Morning Post that no evidence of a break-in was found.

Gao said the driver was a full-time employee of a licensed local travel agency, which she declined to name.

"The tour guide took the tourists to the Chinese embassy in Rome and they got temporary passports. He also gave them enough money to buy daily necessities, and arranged for their meals and accommodations," Gao said.

The company has suggested a compensation plan, including 1,300 euros ($1,439) in cash for each tourist, as well as upgraded accommodations and a refund for any skipped events. It said it will work with the police and insurance companies to recover and reimburse losses.

It will also cover application fees for new passports, and will send a representative to Rome to handle medical issues.

"We're talking with the tourists to reach consensus on a sincere and reasonable compensation plan," Gao said.

Some internet users said theft is rampant in some European countries.

"When I was traveling in Europe with a tour group last year, our guide kept our passports in a bag tied to his back to prevent theft," one netizen wrote.

In July, a group of 43 Chinese tourists lost their passports in Sweden. The passports were in the tour guide's purse when it was stolen.

zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn
Over the past eight years, one unfortunate family in Heilongjiang province has seen at least 100 cars crash into their yard, and sometimes even their home - which is placed right in front of a sudden 90-degree turn.

"Ever since 2009, when the road was built in front of our house, we have lived in fear of the rushing cars," said Xu Renxiang, 29, from Dongfeng village.

On Tuesday, Xu said, the Lindian county government provided "a satisfactory solution". But due to the deal they agreed to with the county government, she said she could not reveal more details.

Jia Haiyan, a publicity official of the Lindian Party committee, said the county government will provide the family an apartment in a nearby town.

"The family is still selecting from the options provided. They have moved out of the old home and are living in a temporary residence to ensure their safety," she said.

The family's fear started with the construction of a 7-meter-wide road built as a side road of the Daqing-Qiqihar Expressway. The family estimated that about 6,000 vehicles pass by every day.

"The side road is much busier than the main highway because there is no restriction on the weight or speed of the vehicles," said Xu's husband, He Haijun, 30. "What's more, it's free.

"The turn is really a disgusting design that catches drivers off-guard, especially around midnight without lights. The drivers can hardly see our house."

The couple still remember the first time a vehicle crashed into their yard. In the winter of 2010, they were awakened by a loud sound and found two beams of light shining through the window. The uninvited guest was a car.

In 2011, a warning sign with a Chinese character meaning "slow" was set up in front of the yard, but it has had little effect, they said.

"It has become a billboard covered with various advertisements," a frustrated Xu said. "The most common one is for renting a crane for the stuck cars."

Houses along the road have similar features - all except He's, which has no short trees, stone bridges or European-style fences because they've all been damaged by cars.

After several replacements, the couple started choosing simple repairs.

In the yard, there are now several fortresses - a row of hollow bricks, a pile of coarse sand, a pile of smooth sand and an agricultural vehicle under the window of the house.

"They can't prevent the cars from rushing into the yard, but they can slow them down and stop them before they enter our home," He said.

Now, the couple's biggest fear is the safety of their 7-year-old daughter.

"Every day we tell our daughter to pay attention and be safe. And we don't allow her to play in the yard," Xu said. "She can't even make a snowman in the winter."

In 2010, the couple began petitioning the government to provide a safe place to live, but the problem wasn't solved until it was reported by media, they said.

Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn
Luo Rensheng recently relocated from Changping district in northwest Beijing to Mentougou, 30 km west of the downtown. The move has cut his daily commute from six hours to two.

Born in Qingdao, in the eastern province of Shandong, the 34-year-old book editor moved to Beijing in 2007 after graduating from college.

First, he rented an apartment near his workplace in Shijingshan district on the West Fifth Ring Road. It was a good time; he dated his girlfriend - now his wife - and was free from care and responsibilities.

When the couple married three years ago, they moved into an apartment owned by Luo's father-in-law in Changping, 56 kilometers from his workplace.

"I felt like I didn't see the sun for three years," he said. "I left home at about 6 a.m. to get to work before 9 am."

His journey consisted of a 30-minute, 14-km drive to the nearest subway station, followed by 90 minutes on the subway to Shijingshan. The culmination was a 30-minute walk to his office.

"If I got lucky, the journey took two and a half hours. When the traffic was bad, though, the trip took three hours. I finished work at 5 pm, which meant I didn't get home until 8 pm," he said.

"I was so eager to change the situation. Six hours there and back was killing me. I had no time for myself. Apart from eating and sleeping, I hardly did anything at home."

Even though he was unhappy, Luo was eager to stay in the capital.

"Beijing has attractions my hometown can't provide. Maybe life would be easier if I returned to my hometown. It would be more convenient, but I would lose more than I would gain compared with life here," he said.

He sold an apartment he owned in Qingdao and used the money as a down payment for a 50-square-meter apartment in Mentougou.

Even though he still lives far from the city center, his new home is 18 km from his work, saving him time and effort

"I feel great after the move," he said. "Now, I have more time for my wife and young child."
Yanjiao in Hebei province, 30 kilometers east of Beijing, is home to more than 700,000 people, most of whom work in the capital.

Zhang Yong, born in 1973 in Xi'an in the central province of Shaanxi, used to spend several hours a day commuting by bus and subway.

Since arriving in Beijing in 2008, the high cost of property has forced him to move further and further from the center.

His first apartment in Beijing was near the Liufang Subway Station on the East Second Ring Road, where monthly rents were 2,000 yuan to 3,000 yuan ($290 to $435).

When the rent rose, Zhang moved to Tiantongyuan on the North Sixth Ring Road to save money, but that area quickly became too expensive.

Zhang moved to Yanjiao in 2014 after friends told him that many people who work in Beijing's downtown live there.

"I love Beijing's culture," he said. "The city's history and culture tell me it's the place I should stay."

However, the capital's policies don't help people like him, who don't have Beijing hukou, a household registration permit, which means they are not allowed to buy property.

For several years, Zhang worked as an editor at a small publishing company in the Central Business District near the East Third Ring Road.

Despite not traveling during rush hours, his round trip took four hours, so in 2014 he quit his job and became a full-time writer and translator.

"I made the decision because I was so tired of commuting," he said.

Zhang has published several books, some of which have sold well. The money has improved his financial status a little, but not enough to compensate for the soaring rents in and around the capital.

In the past 10 years, Yanjiao's population has risen from about 30,000 to more than 700,000, and the price of real estate has rocketed from 4,000 yuan per square meter to 30,000 yuan.

The main reason is that a growing number of people who are unable to afford apartments in Beijing have chosen to live in Yanjiao, known locally as "the city of beds".

"I don't like to complain, but the cultural atmosphere in Yanjiao is terrible. There isn't a single library in the city," he said. "As someone who writes about culture and history, I'm saddened by that."

Zhang will continue his writing career and try to save so he can rent an apartment closer to downtown Beijing, the "real" Beijing in his opinion.

"I believe tough environments can create better people. I will work harder to change my life," he said.
President Xi Jinping meets with Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's prime minister and president-elect, who attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on Sunday and Monday, in Beijing, May 16, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China is willing to deepen the all-weather friendship with Serbia to boost their comprehensive strategic partnership.



Xi made the remarks when meeting with Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's prime minister and president-elect, who attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on Sunday and Monday in Beijing.

Bilateral ties and political trust between China and Serbia are strengthened, Xi said, reaffirming China's willingness to deepen cooperation with Serbia in all areas.

Xi said that the two countries should accelerate coordination of their development strategies, accommodate each other's major concerns, and keep close communication on global and regional affairs.

Efforts should be made to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and push for cooperation on key projects and people-to-people exchanges.

China supports Serbia in taking a leading role in setting up a China-Central and Eastern Europe transportation infrastructure cooperation center, expecting Serbia to play a greater role in infrastructure, energy, and education.

Regarding the inter-governmental memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road, Xi called for greater efforts to enhance practical cooperation and development strategy alignment to achieve common prosperity.

Vucic said Serbia is China's staunch friend and reliable partner. Serbia has benefited enormously from participating in the Belt and Road forum. Key projects of the Belt and Road Initiative have yielded positive results.

Serbia expects to deepen cooperation with China in a host of areas including the economy and trade, mining, infrastructure, finance, aviation and tourism.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with Vucic Tuesday. Hailing the Hungary-Serbia railway as an exemplary project in industrial capacity cooperation, Li expected the two sides to seize the good momentum to enhance regional connectivity.

Li applauded Serbia's participation in the "16+1 cooperation" framework, hoping the mechanism would produce win-win benefits for all.

Vucic said Serbia firmly believes China's economic development will benefit other countries.

Serbia is willing to enhance bilateral cooperation in industrial capacity, infrastructure and agriculture, and actively advance the "16+1 cooperation."
Central China's Hunan province plans to encourage people living in poverty to work abroad to achieve its goal of poverty alleviation, according to Xinhua, citing information from the province's poverty relief authorities.

These workers in poverty-stricken families should be aged 18 to 40, in good health and have some skills. As long as they are one of the government designated poverty-stricken families in the province, they can volunteer to be an immigrant worker in another country.

The province aims to send more than 10,000 of these workers abroad in the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), and therefore help more than 10,000 households escape poverty.

The advantages of working abroad are stable life and high income, said an official from the poverty relief authorities.

Hunan has 17 immigrant agents and 42 related service platforms. They send more than 70,000 workers abroad every year. More than 100,000 are currently working in another country, according to data from the province's commerce department.

By 2016, Hunan still had swathes of poverty-stricken areas in Wuling Mountains and Luoxiao Mountains. There are 49 counties designated poor and more than 3.3 million impoverished people.
Guo Weimin, vice minister of the State Council Information Office, meets with Tzachi Hanegbi, Israeli minister of regional cooperation and telecommunications, in Beijing on May 15, 2017. [Photo/China SCIO]

Guo Weimin, vice minister of the State Council Information Office, met with an Israeli delegation headed by Tzachi Hanegbi, minister of regional cooperation and telecommunications, in Beijing on May 15.

The two sides exchanged views on further strengthening China-Israel friendship relations as well as media and cultural cooperation.

Hanegbi was accompanied by Joseph Draznin, the minister-counselor, and Zvi Heifetz, the Israeli ambassador to China.
File photo of Israel Karny. [Photo by ZHANG JINYING / FOR CHINA DAILY]

Although Israel Karny had never been to Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, before this May, Harbin was not foreign to the 79-year-old man from Rishon LeZion, Israel.

His grandfather and father had lived in the city for many years before Karny was born in Tianjin in 1938. In 1949, one year after the founding of Israel, the family returned to their homeland.

Last week, accompanied by a friend, Karny began to search for his Israeli roots in Harbin.

"I still remember my grandfather showed me a picture of his attending a party and told me it was in the Modern Hotel in Harbin," Karny told Modern Evening Times, a local newspaper. "There were a lot of memories for my family in the city."

At that time, an idea had started to form in his mind  he wanted to visit the city where his ancestors had lived. When he went, he chose to stay at Modern Hotel, which he remembered from the picture.

After hearing the old man's story, the hotel staff gave him a book named the Concise Harbin Jewish Dictionary as a gift.

Although he couldn't read Chinese, Karny was still quite interested in the book.

What made him more excited was that he found a picture of his grandfather and his parents' names in the book.

Karny enjoyed the beautiful scenes of the city and the delicious food during his time in Harbin.

Before he left last Saturday, he carefully selected some gifts.

"I want to share the city with my relatives and friends in Israel," he said.
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President Xi Jinping called on the country's scholars and researchers to make more contributions to improving the global influence of China's philosophy and social sciences on Wednesday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a congratulatory message on the 40th anniversary of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In the message, Xi extended wishes to the people who work in philosophy and social sciences nationwide. In the past four decades, the CASS has played the role of a think tank to provide services for decision-making processes of the Party and the government, Xi said.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the CASS has been dedicated to the establishment of an outpost for Marxism theory, Xi said, adding that the CASS has kept up with the times.

The president spoke highly of the contribution that the CASS has made to push forward the Sinicization of Marxism and the development of the country's philosophy and social sciences.

Philosophy and social sciences workers should focus on the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, uphold the guidance of Marxism and do research for the benefit of the people, Xi said.

Studies on the country's reform, development and stability should be set as the main direction for the researchers, Xi said, while encouraging them to develop China's theory on philosophy and social sciences.

Liu Qibao, head of the publicity department of the CPC Central Committee, required the country's scholars and researchers to follow the spirit of Xi's message to develop philosophy and social sciences.

Social sciences research should stick to the guidance of Marxism and focus on the studies of important theories and practical problems, Liu said at the celebration ceremony.
BEIJING -- China on Wednesday denounced the name change of a Taiwan organization responsible for handling ties with Japan, urging Japan to abide by the one-China policy and not disturb China-Japan ties.

A ceremony was held in Taiwan Wednesday announcing the change of name from the Association of East Asian Relations to Taiwan-Japan Relations Association. Head of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Mikio Numata, who is also Japan's chief representative to the island, attended the ceremony.

"There is only one China and Taiwan is a part of China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

"We firmly oppose any countries that have forged diplomatic ties with China maintaining official relations with Taiwan in any form," Hua said.

She said the move attempts to raise the level of relations between Taiwan and Japan, with which China voices strong dissatisfaction.

Japan should abide by the principles set in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and its commitments to China in sticking to the one-China principle, Hua said.

"Japan should take concrete measures to redress this negative move, stop sending incorrect messages to Taiwan and the international community and not create new disturbance to China-Japan ties," said Hua.

"We also warn the Taiwan authorities that any attempts to establish 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan' will fail," she said.

China has repeatedly said the one-China principle is the foundation of its relations with foreign countries and that no country should maintain official ties with Taiwan.

Earlier this year, Japan's Interchange Association, responsible for maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan, changed its name to Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, a move which drew strong criticism from China.

China and Japan forged diplomatic ties on Sept 29, 1972. In December 1972, Tokyo established the Interchange Association while Taiwan set up the Association of East Asian Relations.
In November 2015, the State Council was authorized to launch pilot Marketing Authorization Holder program in 10 provinces and municipalities, providing policy breakthrough and legal basis for biopharma Contract Manufacturing.

The Government Work Report delivered at the annual session of the National People's Congress in 2017 showed that China will fully implement its development plans for strategically important emerging industries, and will facilitate technology research and transformation in the biopharma industry in a bid to enlarge and bolster the industrial cluster.

As the key driver to foster technology research and transformation for biopharma manufacturing, biopharma CMO features an innovative model that helps break the "bottleneck" of manufacturing in the original biopharma industry chain to turn it into a "service platform" in a bid to commercialize and maximize the value of drug candidates. In February 2016, Boehringer Ingelheim was selected as one of the first companies to start biopharma Contract Manufacturing in China.

David Preston, President and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheimmainland of China, Hong Kong and Tai Wan, commented, "Biopharma manufacturing is one of our core businesses in China. It is also clear that we cannot work on our own. In this regard, our partnership with Pudong Government, Shanghai FDA and Zhang Jiang Hi-tech Park was critical to establish the new world-class biotech pilot.

The development of research and innovation platforms like this biological plant will help to facilitate rapid drug discovery, rational drug discovery which will help China to produce radical and affordable treatments and cures. The opening today of this BI biotech pilot allows China and Chinese companies to compete on a global level. It also demonstrates our long-term commitment to investing in China."

An accelerator to bolster the competitiveness of China's biopharma sector

"For the biopharma sector in Zhangjiang and even in China, the launch of the Boehringer Ingelheim China Biopharmaceuticals Site today is a milestone event," said Wang Lanzhong, General Manager of Shanghai Zhangjiang Biotech and Pharmaceutical Base Development Co. "The site will help introduce globally recognized production process, technology, standards and experience into China. It will not only help Boehringer Ingelheim undertake and explore more contract manufacturing projects in China and all over the world, but also foster commercialization of innovation achievement from research-driven companies so as to further shore up the development of China's biopharma industry."

The biopharma industry in China is expected to have broad market prospects and huge potential. In January 2017, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the 13th Five-Year Plan for Development of Biopharmaceutical Industry, which specified the goals and tasks for the next five years. Top priorities include "accelerating innovation, production and industrialization of new medicines," and "constantly upgrading the industrial structure to the middle-to-high end."

Luo Jiali said, "We will team up with more medicine research enterprises and institutions in China to promote clinical research and market debut of innovative products. We will also leverage our advanced global network, manufacturing platform and management expertise to help Chinese enterprises bring their bio-medicines into the global markets and bolster their core competitiveness. With all these efforts, we hope to drive upgrading of the overall structure in China's biopharma sector."
Editor's note: Among the policies China has enacted since Xi Jinping became its leader in 2012 is eradicating poverty in the country by the end of 2020, according to a target set by the Communist Party of China leadership. In the run-up to the 19th CPC National Congress this year, China Daily sent six reporters to villages across the country to live for a month and get a look at how people are working to ensure this plan succeeds.

With the start of the wheat harvest this month, residents of a poverty-stricken village in northwest Anhui province are once again facing the possibility of big problems from the area's terrible infrastructure.

Li Zongyin draws a circle with his finger on a map of Guhe. The circle, which covers about one-third of the map of the village, represents about 133 hectares of wheat fields.

"The wheat in this area will ripen soon and again may rot in the field," said Li, Party chief of the village.

He said some of the wheat had been lost that way in the past two years as a result of heavy rains, which made it difficult for farmers to get to their fields because roads were mud-choked and virtually impassible.

Guhe, with a population of 5,086, is the administrative center for 14 scattered neighborhoods. Li said the wheat fields belong to six neighborhoods, home to about 2,000 people.

"The agricultural authorities have planned four concrete roads to connect the fields, with a combined distance of more than 6 kilometers, but the projects can be started only after the harvest season," Li said, explaining that road work would disrupt the harvest. The projects are expected to be finished in September or October.

Some of the villagers, however, don't want to wait. Li Zhongdao, a cadre in the village's Lishanzhai neighborhood, has been busy trying to persuade its more than 600 residents to donate money to rent heavy equipment to fix their dirt road.

"The road was not listed among the four roads to be repaired by the government," he said and added that each villager has been asked to donate 10 yuan ($1.45) for the repairs. Li Zhongdao acknowledged that his plan would meet only short-term needs and include no materials for construction or materials, such as cement or sand.

Better roads, more income

Li Zhongdao said he is confident of winning support from the villagers, although other cadres have not had a lot of luck with similar proposals.

Guhe is one of 11 villages in Lyuzhai township, "and it is the village with the worst roads", said Yu Haitian, head of the township government. "It's probably the poorest among Lyuzhai's four key villages that are eligible for poverty relief." It was not until late 2015 that a 4-meter-wide concrete road was built to connect the village with the town's center.

The 11 km road connects four villages. Although just 2.5 km passes in the area of Guhe, it has benefited us a lot," Li Zongyin said.

A reliable road has put more money in farmers' pockets, he said, since it allowed them to take their own grain to market, rather than having to depend on buyers who would pay less since they had go out to the village to get it.

"Before completion of the road, each kilogram of wheat could be priced only at about 1.5 yuan, which was about 0.5 yuan lower than the average price," said Li Zongyin.

"The villagers could hardly bring the grain out of the village and had no choice but to rely on the grain dealers for transportation with motorized tricycles."

Sun Tonglu, deputy head of the Lyuzhai government, said, "Each kilometer of (concrete) road requires an investment of about 400,000 yuan, of which 100,000 yuan should be raised from the villagers."

Li Zongyin said money is raised from residents so that more roads can be built with limited government funds. However, he and his colleagues have found it hard to encourage people to contribute.

"Residents in two of Guhe's neighborhoods refused to pay any money for the road because they say they are the residents who are the farthest from the road, even though they would still need the road," Li Zongyin said.

Each village's leadership team, which usually includes eight cadres, is given 50,000 yuan a year to cover office expenditures. The cadres of Guhe contributed 33,000 yuan from their office budget toward the road fund.
President Xi Jinping called on the country's scholars and researchers on Wednesday to make more contributions to improving the global influence of China's philosophy and social sciences.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark in a congratulatory message on the 40th anniversary of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, which was founded in May, 1977.

In the message, Xi extended good wishes to the people who work on philosophy and social sciences nationwide.

In the past four decades, CASS has played the role of a think tank to provide services for the decision-making process of the Party and the government, Xi said.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, CASS has been dedicated to the establishment of a bastion for Marxist theory, Xi said, adding that CASS has kept up with the times.

The president spoke highly of the contribution CASS has made to push forward the Sinicization of Marxism and the development of the country's philosophy and social sciences.

The philosophy and social sciences workers should focus on the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, uphold the guidance of Marxism, and do research for the benefit of the people, Xi said.

Studies on the country's reforms, development and stability should be the main direction for the researchers, Xi said, encouraging them to develop China's theory on philosophy and social sciences.

Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said at a ceremony marking the anniversary that the country's scholars and researchers must follow the spirit of Xi's message to develop philosophy and social sciences.

Social sciences research should stick to the guidance of Marxism and focus on the studies of important theories and practical problems, Liu said.

On Tuesday, the CPC Central Committee issued a guidance document in which the committee pledged to enhance its leadership in developing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.

Noting that Marxism will remain the guiding theory in philosophy and social sciences in China, it called for more efforts in pushing for the Sinicization, modernization and popularization of Marxism, and developing a Marxism that works in the 21st century and contemporary China.
Traditional black and white silver prints by prominent Finnish photographer Pentti Sammallahti. Runs through 6/24.

ABOUT THE EVENT

photo-eye Gallery will host an Opening for the exhibition Friday April 28th from 5 7pm, corresponding with the Railyard Arts Districts Last Friday Art Walk. Warm Regards will remain on view through June 24th, 2017.

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Pentti Sammallahti is a traveler and a visual poet. Endowed with an extraordinary 15-year grant from the Finnish government Sammallahti has travelled widely from his native Scandinavia, across the Soviet Republics through Siberia, to Japan, India, Nepal, Morocco, Turkey, throughout Europe, Great Britain, and South Africa. Meticulously well-seen, Sammallahtis photographs are imbued with a sense of wonder, delight, and reverence for the world at large while reflecting on both beauty and the human condition. He focuses on the people and animals of far off places recording the relationships between them and their environment. A master craftsman, Sammallahti is always in pursuit of the perfect means to communicate his intentions by subtly toning each of his rich silver gelatin prints. Over the years, photo-eye Gallery has had the pleasure to receive Penttis prints in treasured bundles signed with "Warm Regards".

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Inspired by his grandmother Hildur Larsson, a newspaper photographer, and viewing Edward Steichens seminal The Family of Man at Helsinki Art Hall in 1961 Pentti Sammallahti began making images at the age of 11. At 21, Sammallahti was featured in his first solo exhibition marking the beginning of a professional career that would come to influence an entire generation of Finnish photographers. Prior to receiving the Finnish States 15-year artist grant, Sammallahti taught at the Helsinki University of Art and Design, and has released thirteen portfolios and monographs since 1979 including The Russian Way and Here Far Away. In 2003, at the opening of the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation in Paris, France, Pentti was named one of Cartier-Bressons 100 favorite photographers, and works by Sammallahti where exhibited from Cartier-Bressons personal collection. Penttis work can be found at the Museum of Modern Art, the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France, Pushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia, among others, and he has received awards such as the Samuli Paulaharju Prize of the Finnish Literature Society, State Prizes for Photography, Uusimaa Province Art Prize, Daniel Nyblin Prize, and the Finnish Critics Association Annual.
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Performers attend a discussion with audience after the performance of experimental Peking opera "Faust" in Wiesbaden, west Germany, May 15, 2017. Experimental Peking opera "Faust" was staged Monday evening in Wiesbaden, starting its 15-day tour in Germany. [Photo/Xinhua]

Experimental Peking opera "Faust" was staged Monday evening in the western city of Wiesbaden, starting its premiere tour in Germany.

Co-produced by China National Peking Opera Company and Italy's Emilia Romagna Theater Foundation, the play was performed as part of the International May Festival, a world-known traditional theater festival.

The story was based on a breakthrough adaptation of the Western masterpiece "Faust," written by Johann Wolfgang Goethe more than 200 years ago. The play combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.

Since its debut in 2015, the opera has been staged over 70 times,triggering warm responses from audience as it offers a creative blend of Western classic with oriental culture as well as presents a perfect cooperation between Chinese artists and performers from Italy and Germany.

"We have come to the homeland of 'Faust' to examine our three years' efforts," said Xu Mengke, co-director of the opera.

"It was a great performance during which I was touched by the actors' and actresses' deep emotion," a German audience told Xinhua after the play, adding that he could well understand the performers' body language although the Chinese dialogue was difficult to catch.

The opera has been added to this year's German-Chinese cultural program, a national event in Germany featuring the theme "China Today" to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The play will be staged in other cities including Duisburg, Kassel and Saarlouis till the end of May.
The prizewinning designs of last year's Yuanliu Campaign competition include tea-bag holders featuring ancient court attire; drawing chalks mimicking Chinese traditional window panels; furniture inspired by Buddhism; lamps made with batik fabrics; and sticky tapes with humorous expressions.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Young designers find creative ways to make China's ancient heritage both relevant and beautiful. Lin Qi reports.

It has been a rather busy time for graduates like Zhen Min, 28, who will soon receive her master's degree at Peking University's school of arts. While she prepares for her thesis defense and further studies abroad, she also makes time to finalize a design with her partner in Shanghai.

Zhen is majoring in art management and creative industry, and is especially interested in how to relate cultural heritage to modern life. She is a member of a designer duo, teaming up with Jia Min, a student of design at East China Normal University. The young women met on a train and found they were both from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Now they are racking their brains to design a group of figurines to be used as tea-bag holders. The hat of each human figure, who wears a different Peking Opera costume and makeup, must be able to cling to the lip of a teacup. The figure's body will be a place to hang the attached string of a tea bag.
Pantone is the New-Jersey based corporation best known for its Pantone Matching System, which standardises colours in a fan-format book. It was originally developed by founder Lawrence Herbert in 1963 as a tool for graphic designers to communicate colours more easily in the printing process.

Through the Pantone Color Institute, Pantone forecasts up-and-coming colour trends as well as various colour solutions for companies to meet their branding needs. Since 2000, the institute has selected its "Colour of the Year" by researching industries across the realms of fashion, art, film, technology and automobiles. The colour of 2017 has been named Greenery, a revitalising yellow-green shade that's symbolic of nature and new lives.

Pantone also releases its bi-annual Fashion Colour Report for each spring and autumn, launched in conjunction with New York Fashion Week  and for the first time this year, London Fashion Week has been added  to highlight the company's top 10 colours it's forecasting for the upcoming season.

If looks are anything to go by, this autumn's palette is certainly going to be eye-catching. Just look at the leading colours: Grenadine and Flame Scarlet. They're set to rock your wardrobe this autumn, so get ready to dress to impress.

Grenadine

[Photo/Courtesy of Pantone LLC]

Spotted at New York Fashion Week for A/W 2017, Grenadine is pure pomegranate syrup; this colour of passion and sweetness will serve not only your cocktail, but also your pretty autumn garments. Intoxicated by a slightly orange-ish tone, this one is more crystalline than royal red and warmer than scarlet.

Power Set

[Photo/Courtesy of Oscar de la Renta; Max Mara S.r.l./Max Mara Group]

Dress in the same colourtone from head to toe, but mix different textures  from liquid lame to wool, calf and leather. The luxurious profile needn't be understated this autumn.

Half or Partial

[Photo/Courtesy of Adam Selman; Kate Spade]

Pair this statement-making reddish hue with a simple T-shirt or a challenging leopard print  and see how far you'd like to take the look.
International students rehearse shadow-puppet play during a Chinese-language competition held in 2014 in Changsha.[Photo/VCG]

WARSAW - The Chinese language is a bridge for communication, helping more young Europeans who love China and Chinese culture fulfill their "Chinese dream". During the 2017 Chinese Bridge, an international Chinese language competition for students held in Britain in April, Gabriel Mayoral-Galindo, a participant, made a fluent speech in Chinese about China.

"We are very envious of China's infrastructure and development speed. Every time I go to Shanghai, there is a new skyscraper, which is incredible and proves the speed of development in China," he says.

Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador to Britain, said during the competition the fact that "Chinese fever" has continued to heat up in the British Isles is rooted in the richness of the Chinese civilization and the incredible changes in contemporary China. It is also a result of the steady development of Sino-British relations.

As far as young foreigners who study Chinese are concerned, their goals are not limited to mastering Chinese and understanding the Chinese culture, but also to use the language as a tool to take advantage of the Belt and Road cooperation, establish a bridge for communication between China and the outside world, and work together for mutual benefits.

Izabela from Poland is currently pursuing advanced Chinese at South China's Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. She is interested in the cooperation between China and Poland.

"The communication between Poland and China is increasing. I hope that I can master the Chinese language well and have enough abilities to promote friendly business between the two countries. I also hope that more Chinese visitors will travel to Poland."

Giuseppe from Italy works at a community supermarket in London as a cashier. Having studied Chinese at a Confucius Institute, he is able to communicate with the Chinese customers there.

The Chinese people he meets are very friendly, he says, and he hopes to get an opportunity to go to China to live, and to witness the rapid development of the country.

Chen Tongdu, representative of Hanban Europe, says many Chinese language lovers decide to learn the language due to the prospect of opportunities in China, followed by a love of Chinese culture. Many people have already mastered Chinese and gone to China to develop their own businesses.

"In recent years, following further implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, economic and trade cooperation has also led to a more frequent exchange in the fields of education and culture between China and Poland," says He Juan, head of the education department at the Chinese embassy in Poland.

He says a large number of Polish students have gone to China to study.

"The number of Polish students who strive for the possibility to study abroad by applying for various scholarships in China has exceeded 400 this year."

Xinhua
Summit opens to boost ancient Tea Road ( chinadaily.com.cn ) Updated: 2017-05-17

Pingyao, a 2,700-year-old county under the administration of Jinzhong in Shanxi province, has been witnessing international efforts to revive the ancient Tea Road, a trade route similar to the Silk Road, through the fifth China-Mongolia-Russia Mayors' Summit on the "Tea Road" which opened on May 16.

More than 10 themed activities, including seminars, roundtable meetings, and culture and tourism promotion events, are scheduled for the summit so as to enhance cultural and economic ties among Chinese, Mongolian and Russian cities along the 13,000-kilometer land trading route which was pioneered by Shanxi merchants, especially those from Jinzhong.

"The ancient tea road which first appeared in the 17th century is another vital international trade route along with the Silk Road, connecting China and western countries through trade and cultural communication," said Wang Cheng, mayor of Jinzhong, at the opening ceremony.

"Shanxi merchants active from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) to the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) have played a vital role in pioneering and extending the route," he added.

Alena Gubanova, mayor of Astrakhan city in Russia, expressed her view that the "Tea Road" summit within the framework of China's Belt and Road Initiative will bring many development opportunities to related cities.

Government officials from more than 80 cities in China, Mongolia and Russia along the Tea Road, representatives of some 10 domestic and international organizations, experts and businesspeople will discuss boosting tourism and trade along the route and furthering cooperation among cities.

The opening ceremony of the fifth China-Mongolia-Russia Mayors' Summit on the "Tea Road" takes place at Yingxunmen Square in Pingyao county, Shanxi province, May 16. [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]
Premier Li Keqiang presides over a State Council meeting on the anti-corruption campaign, Jan 6, 2017. [Photo by ZHANG DUO / XINHUA]

Over the past few years, the inspection work carried out by the top authorities has covered almost all central Party and government departments and provincial-level organs.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection recently announced on its official website that a similar inspection system has been or will be set up in 335 prefecture-level cities and 2,220 counties nationwide to offer grassroots people a channel to report officials' malpractices.

Since the authorities began their unprecedented crackdown on corruption a few years ago, people have been anticipating it would help purify the political ecology at the grassroots level. Although senior corrupt officials, the so-called tigers, have been brought down, one after another, the pervasive corruption and abuse of power at the grassroots level have caused public grievances as they have not been effectively checked.

Extending the anti-corruption battle to lower level Party and government organs is directly related to whether ordinary people can enjoy a "sense of gain". At the grassroots level, people usually take more interest in one or two corrupt local officials, or flies as they are known, being punished rather than the downfall of a high-ranking corrupt official. So, the authorities can only fully win public trust by tackling grassroots corruption.

Being fully aware of this, the authorities have intensified their crackdown on low-ranking corrupt officials in recent years, while still holding high the anti-corruption sword to strike against high-ranking officials. In 2016, more than 394,000 officials below the township level were punished, an increase of 24 percent from the previous year, of whom 74,000 were Party and administrative officials at the village level, most of whom were involved in the appropriation of funds for poverty alleviation, demolition or land acquisition compensation or other special funds.

It is hoped that extending the inspection work to the grassroots level will further clear away grassroots corruption, purify the grassroots political ecology and enhance people's sense of gain.

--GUANGMING DAILY
The ransomware virus, dubbed WannaCry, can encrypt all the files on a Windows PC and demands $300 worth of bitcoin, an untraceable digital currency widely used online, to unlock a user's data. [Photo/VCG]

The unprecedented global cyberattack that began on Friday has reportedly infected hundreds of thousands of computers in more than 150 countries and regions, including China, where around 30,000 institutions such as universities and gas stations have fallen victim to the WannaCry ransomware, according to Qihoo 360, a leading Chinese internet security company.

The scale of the attack shows that in an increasingly interconnected world, no country should consider itself safe from cyber threats.

So far no clues have been uncovered as to who was behind the malicious software, which locks users' computer files and demands a ransom payment of $300 to $600 to unlock them. However, the US National Security Agency must shoulder some of the blame, because the computer virus is based on one of the hacking tools that the agency created for its own use, which ended up in the hands of cyber criminals.

That an agency tasked with protecting citizens from cyberattacks was itself so vulnerable to hackers shows how serious the problem is.

However, concerted efforts to tackle cyber crimes have been hindered by the actions of the United States.

For many years cyber security has been one of the major frictions in bilateral relations between China and the US, with Washington often pointing an accusing finger at Beijing, claiming it is engaged in state-sponsored cyber espionage, although it has offered no credible evidence to support its accusation. As a result, Chinese companies such as Huawei Technologies have been effectively barred from the US market.

This is hypocritical of the US, to say the least, because no other country has mounted such wide-ranging, costly and long-term surveillance operations in the history of the internet as the NSA's PRISM and other spy programs. Among other things, the latest cyberattack should instill greater urgency in China's efforts to produce its own core technologies, as President Xi Jinping has urged.

It should also prompt the world's two top economies to engage in more meaningful dialogue on cyber security. In fact it is imperative that countries and security agencies around the world work together to better fight cyber crime and other cyber threats as China emphasized in a cyberspace plan of action released in March.

Today, our social and economic activities increasingly rely on the internet, which calls for enhanced coordination and communication around the world to eliminate vulnerabilities and make it more secure.

After all, cyberspace has no borders. Cooperation, rather than confrontation, is the only way out to make the virtual world a safer place for all.
Since last Friday, there have been a total of at least 200,000 victims in 150 countries after the unprecedented spread of a computer virus called "WannaCry".

The ransomware locked up computers connected to the internet, especially the intranets in car factories, hospitals, shops and schools in several countries, encrypting data and demanding bitcoin payments of up to $600 to unlock the computers.

Although computer security agencies have taken measures to respond to the computer virus, it continues to spread.

Experts say that in China, colleges and gas stations have been among the hardest hit. Schools, especially colleges where a lot of students live on campus with their personal computers and laptops connected to the campus intranet, have proved especially vulnerable.

On Monday, some government organizations, such as the Zhuhai Housing Provident Fund Management Center, were forced to suspend operations because their computers were infected with the virus.

The ransomware used the EternalBlue exploit developed by the US National Security Agency that was stolen by the hackers.
N. Oregon Coast History Talks: Tillamook Fire, Beach Bill in Seaside

Published 05/15/2017 at 2:23 AM PDT - Updated 05/15/2017 at 2:43 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Seaside, Oregon)  The hubbub continues for the Oregon Beach Bill anniversary with a special talk in Seaside this month, while the museum in Tillamook looks at a fire that changed the town's history.

The Tillamook County Pioneer Museum presents Out of the Ashes: Tillamooks 1905 Courthouse and the Countys Growth in the Early 20th Century as part of their Great Speaker Series on Saturday, May 20. It starts at 1 p.m. in the Museums Main Gallery. Presented by Dr. Lori Gates, this program will feature photographs and stories from the Oregon coast museums archives.

(At right, the old courthouse in Tillamook in 1910) . From turn-of-the-century political turmoil to the Great Depression, Tillamook Countys second courthouse witnessed the growth of Tillamook County. Tillamook Countys first courthouse burned to the ground due to an unknown cause in 1903. During a turbulent time for county government, plans for a replacement were accompanied by more controversy. This talk will focus on the 1905 Tillamook County Courthouse building, now the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, as it changed through its years as a courthouse (1906-1933) and reflected the changing times for Tillamook.

Suitable for all ages, this program is free and open to the public. For more information call the Pioneer Museum at 503-842-4553.

In Seaside, the dramatic reminiscences of the Oregon Beach Bill continue, with a special presentation by the head of the Cannon Beach History Center on Thursday, May 26.

This year, the 50th anniversary of Oregon's Beach Bill, is the time to celebrate the beautiful  and singularly protected  beaches of the Oregon coast. Enacted in July 1967, the Beach Bill was intended to safeguard beaches from development and provide the public free and uninterrupted use along Oregon's 362 mile-long coastline

For decades Oregonian's enjoyed the beautiful and pristine beaches without a second thought of who might actually own them. It easily could have been a different story. What if Governor Oswald West had not protected them in the early 1900's? Then, decades later, what if the Beach Bill had not passed?

Next in Seaside Museums History & Hops series, Elaine Trucke, Seaside native and executive director of the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, will present For the Love of our Beaches. It's a discussion of the circumstances and history that led to Tom McCalls iconic trip to Cannon Beach and the subsequent legislation that keeps our beaches public.

When first introduced, the bill faced steep opposition. Ultimately Oregonians fought for their beloved beaches. One dramatic display after another led to overwhelming public support for the bill, including a media company that brought the wrath of the state's people upon its politicians with an unprecedented letter-writing campgain. History & Hops will be held on Thursday, May 25 at 6 p.m. at the Seaside Brewing Company, 851 Broadway.

Graduating Cum Laude from Eastern Oregon University with dual degrees in Anthropology and Sociology, Elaine Trucke has served as the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum's director for the past seven years. In that time she has worked with the Smithsonian, provided historical information to OPB, KGW, and KATU. She also contributes a monthly historic article to the Cannon Beach Gazette. Trucke is an avid hiker, historian, mother, and pluviophile. (503) 738-7065. Oregon Coast Lodgings for this event - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

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President Xi Jinping greets Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. Xi said the nations should deepen cooperation.[Photo/Xinhua]

China will continue helping Myanmar achieve peace, President Xi Jinping told Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday as the neighboring nation's peace efforts are gaining momentum.

"China is willing to continue to provide necessary assistance for Myanmar's internal peace process," Xi said, according to a news release issued by the Chinese government.

The two sides should make joint efforts to protect security and stability at the China-Myanmar border, Xi told Suu Kyi, according to the news release.

Suu Kyi said Myanmar appreciates China's support and help, and expects to work with China to maintain peace and stability in the border area.

Myanmar's peace process is heading for the second meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference slated for May 24, an inclusive dialogue designed to open to all ethnic armed groups.

The latest meeting of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee, chaired by Suu Kyi last week, agreed on the unprecedented step of allowing regional or state governments to come up with their own constitutions and pass their own laws, achieving a breakthrough in the political dialogue between the government and armed groups.

Regional constitutions, however, would not be allowed to contradict the country's overall Constitution, ethnic leaders said.

Xi said on Tuesday that China and Myanmar share widespread mutual strategic interests.

He stressed that the two sides should maintain high-level exchanges and strengthen strategic communication.

Xi said that China and Myanmar should deepen pragmatic cooperation and push forward smooth implementation of key cooperation projects and cooperation on economic corridor plans, infrastructure and economic cooperation zones.

The two nations should also expand civilian exchanges and deepen cooperation in areas including tourism, culture and media, and forge solid public opinion support for friendly ties, the president said.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Myanmar under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to increase mutual development and bring more tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.

Suu Kyi congratulated Xi for the success and fruitful results of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The initiative will bring peace, reconciliation and prosperity to the region and the world, she said.

She said that her country attaches great importance to deepening relations with China.

Premier Li Keqiang also met Suu Kyi earlier on Tuesday. They witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents, including a memorandum of understanding on establishing the border economic and technology cooperation zone.

Xinhua and Zhang Yue contributed to the story.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) meets with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, US May 16, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged on Tuesday to repair bilateral relationship fraught with difficulties in the past. However, division between the two sides still run deep.

Speaking at the White House with Erdogan, Trump hailed the Turkish people as "friends and allies for many, many decades" for the United States and pledged support for Turkish fight against the Islamic State (IS) and a Kurdish militant group known as the PKK.

However, the pledge was made as the United States and Turkey were involved in stark disagreement over the Trump administration's recent decision to arm Syrian Kurds, a key force in the fight against the IS in Syria.

Currently, the US-led coalition against the IS is backing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), comprised of mostly the People's Protection Units (YPG) Kurds and some local Arabs.

Also on the eve of Erdogan's meeting with Trump, the Pentagon was reportedly preparing to further arm Syrian Kurds with antitank weapons.

While the antitank weapons could be used to thwart IS' suicide bombing attacks by trucks, the weaponry could also be used to strike Turkish tanks in Syria.

The Turkish government had made clear their objection to US arming of YPG Kurds, whom Ankara has for long regarded as Syrian branch of the outlawed PKK.

Before Erdogan's meeting with Trump, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told his party members the US cooperation with Syrian Kurds "is not something acceptable" for Turkey.

During his joint press conference with Trump, Erdogan stressed that militant groups like the PKK and YPG "will never be accepted."

"We should never allow those groups to manipulate the religious structure and the ethnic structure of the region, making terrorism as a pretext or an excuse," he added.

According to Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, the issue of arming the YPG by the US was among the top priorities on Erdogan's agenda.

"They see this as the United States siding with terrorists and midwifing a terrorist state on Turkey's border," said Cook in a briefing with reporters.

"President Erdogan was hopeful that he could make it clearer to President Trump why this order (to arm Syrian Kurds) that President Trump has signed is wrongheaded," he added.

While it remained unknown whether Trump would change course on arming Syrian Kurds, recent response from the US State Department and the Pentagon indicated that a consensus had been reached across the Trump administration to arm Syrian Kurds in the fight against the IS.
File photo shows European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos addresses a news conference at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, May 4, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

BRUSSELS - An European Union (EU) commissioner on Tuesday lambasted Poland and Hungary for not having relocated "a single person in need of protection", warning that the Commission would open infringement procedures if they are still loath to take action within one month.

Speaking at a press conference on the heels of a meeting of EU Commissioners in Strasburg, France, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos, said:" While the majority of member states are making efforts in a real European spirit, others continue to show no solidarity."

"This is why I call on Poland and Hungary who have not relocated a single person in need of protection to start doing so right now." he added.

"If no action is taken by them before the next report in June, the Commission will not hesitate to make use of its powers under the treaties and open infringement procedures," he warned, referring to the EU's report on relocation and resettlement, the latest edition of which was adopted by the Commission Tuesday.

According to the report, the total number of relocations from overburdened Italy and Greece to other EU member states as of May 12 stood at 18,418, a pace still lagged far behind the bloc's target set in September 2015, when member states pledged to relocate a total of 160,000 migrants within two years.

Apart from Poland and Hungary, the report urged the Czech Republic, which "has not been active in the scheme for almost a year", to "restart relocation without delay."

As for resettlement scheme, the report said that it as a whole remained on track, with 16,163 persons resettled to 21 countries since July 2015, when member states agreed to resettle a total of 22,504 asylum-seekers.
THE HAGUE - The two giant pandas living at Ouwehands Zoo in the Dutch city of Rhehen will be seen by public for the first time on May 30, the zoo announced on Tuesday.

This comes after they spent six weeks in quarantine since their arrival on April 12.

"Following a 16-year period of consultations and preparations, the two pandas Xing Ya and Wu Wen, who were symbolically gifted to the Netherlands by China during the state visit of our Dutch Royal Couple in October 2015, can finally be admired by visitors from the day following the opening," the zoo said.

Wu Wen, or "Beautiful Powerful Cloud" the female and Xing Ya "Elegant Star" the male, both three-and-a-half-year-old, will stay at Ouwenhands for 15 years. The Netherlands is the seventh European country that hosts this endangered animal.

The Dutch zoo has built a special enclosure called Pandasia for these two lovely mammals whose species symbolizes the efforts at protecting endangered animals. The whole area, built in traditional Chinese style, covers about 9,000 square meters, of which 3,400 square meters is designated for the giant panda enclosure.

The enclosure consists of two sections, a separate indoor and outdoor enclosure for the male and the female, several night accommodations, a nursery, a cold store for bamboo, a veterinary clinic and a keepers' area.
Shaesta Waiz, Afghanistan's first female certified civilian pilot and a recent graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, arrives in Montreal, Canada, May 15, 2017 on the third leg of her round-the-world solo flight. She is launching the Dreams Soar solo round-the-world flight to inspire the next generation of women pilots and raise awareness of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. [Photo/VCG]
Chinese and Philippine officials will meet in the southwestern city of Guiyang on Friday to consult for the first time on South China Sea disputes.

Delegations led by Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Philippine Ambassador Jose Santiago Santa Romana will engage in a "friendly dialogue and consultations" on topics related to the South China Sea in the city in Guizhou province, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday.

"The meeting aims to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries in October and establish an institutional dialogue platform," she said at a daily news conference in Beijing.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made his first state visit to China in October, a move that helped repair ties that had been damaged by the previous administration in Manila.

According to Hua, China expects and believes the meeting will help the two countries manage differences, promote maritime cooperation and lead to resolving related disputes and creating a good atmosphere to enhance ties and cooperation in various areas.

Hua said the two leaders again reached consensus on resolving the South China Sea issue through dialogue and negotiations on Monday when President Xi Jinping met with Duterte, who attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

"China appreciates President Duterte for conducting active dialogue and cooperation with China on the issue and jointly safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea," she said.

Before Friday's bilateral meeting, the 14th meeting of senior officials from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regarding the implementation of a code of conduct in the South China Sea will be held in Guiyang on Thursday.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn
US President Donald Trump will hold his first summit with EU leaders next Thursday and will join NATO heads of state and government on the same day, the EU announced.

The President of the European Council Donald Tusk and the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker will meet the President of the United States Donald Trump, European Council announced in a news release

It said the meeting will be held on Thursday (25 May) but did not give a detailed agenda.

Both Tusk and Juncker had invited Trump to Brussels to hold US-EU summit as soon as possible when he won the election last year.

A meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government has already been scheduled starting from early afternoon of next Thursday and lasting until late night that day at the new NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

The EU-US summit is expected to take place in the morning next Thursday at EU headquarters.

After the two summits within one day, Trump and the EU leaders will be flying to Italy to attend the G7 summit, which will be organized in Taormina on 26 and 27 May. They are expected to focus on the global economy, foreign policy, security of citizens, and environmental sustainability at G7 summit.
China Medical City is aiming to build on its success with drug giant AstraZeneca by opening an office in London on Wednesday.

The Taizhou-based life science incubator hosts laboratories, infrastructure, and a dedicated team to aid companies on seeking regulatory approval for their products in China.

Its London venture will initially provide more limited services to the pharmaceutical and medical industry.

Huang Bin, vice-president of AstraZeneca China, which built a $230 million factory inside the Medical City, said the company was attracted by CMC's partnership with China's drug regulating agencies, which helped the company's drugs get approved in China.

To attract more British companies such as AstraZeneca, CMC launched its UK incubator in London. It is CMC's third overseas incubator, after openings in the US and Germany earlier this year.

But unlike its 30 square kilometers Taizhou laboratory-dominated facility, CMC's central London incubator is just a regular office for meetings between Chinese and British life science companies, regulators and investors.

"The UK has unparalleled cutting edge life science technology, highly complementary to China's commercialization and production strength and massive domestic market," said Luke Zhou, director of CMC-UK Incubator.

Built in 2010, CMC hosts around 700 pharmaceutical and life science companies, such as AstraZeneca, Japan's Takeda and Germany's Boehringer-Ingelheim.

Zhou said CMC's key attraction to UK life science companies is its existing collaboration with Chinese regulators, including the Ministry of Health, the China Food and Drug Administration and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

CMC-UK Incubator's establishment comes at a time of strong UK China life science collaboration.

Last December 11 China-UK healthcare deals with a total value exceeding 250 million pounds ($323 million; 300 million euros) were signed in Shanghai during British Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt's visit. In February this year British Minister for Asia and the Pacific Alok Sharma led a delegation of UK healthcare companies to showcase technology across China.

Despite flourishing opportunities, CMC also faces strong competition from many of China's other science parks and incubators. Suzhou Industrial Park, for example, hosts Britain's renowned medical equipment maker Smith & Nephew and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline.

Perhaps what makes CMC more attractive is its "established ecosystem, including its collection of life science companies and talents", said Will Addison, founder of London-based Apta Biosciences.

"We want to first enter China by finding a good partner, and hopefully we can do it at CMC," said Addison, who just returned from a visit to CMC.

However, CMC's lack of a UK-based lab could restrict potential partnerships, said Peter Crane, development officer of the Oxford-based accelerator Innovation Forum.

"Some life science companies may wish to keep their core research and development team together, so CMC could improve their value proposition if they have a physical lab space in the UK where British companies can work with Chinese investors and partners who come to the UK," Crane said.
Large Event at N. Oregon Coast's Oswald West Includes Hikes, Science, BBQ

Published 05/16/2017 at 6:23 AM PDT - Updated 05/16/2017 at 3:23 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Manzanita, Oregon)  UPDATED: to include more event info. The celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Beach Bill begin to reach a fevered pitch, with a shindig on the north Oregon coast that is all about nature. The Surfrider Foundation Portland Chapter and the Friends of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve have together to present an event that focuses on citizen science and a chance to learn all about that which makes up Oswald West State Park and the Cape Falcon Reserve.

It all takes place on May 20 at Oswald West State Park near Manzanita. Called Oswald West Action Day, it boasts a variety of fun and knowledge-filled events, including a barbecue, surfing, a hands across the sand photo shoot and presentations on the monitoring and protection work that goes on at in the area.

This is, after all, the park named for the man who first set into motion the free and accessible beaches of the Oregon coast, by declaring all the beaches public property some 100 years ago.

It all starts at 10 a.m. with a meet-n-greet and an introduction to the day at the lower parking lot at Short Sands. At 10:30 a.m. there will be citizen science adventures at or around Oswald West State Park.

At half past noon it's the Hands Across the Sands (http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/) photo shoot. From 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m. there's the free barbecue with locally-sourced at the picnic area (or possibly a later gathering at Public Coast Brewing in Cannon Beach if the weather is bad).

The citizen science portion is a choose-your-own-adventures concept. You can pick from a variety of hikes, walks by the ocean or a hunt for sea stars. These are:

Seabird Monitoring and hike on the Coastal Edge: Join Audubon Society of Portland and Friends of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve for a fun hike out to Audubons monitoring site at Devils Cauldron in Oswald West State Park. Devils Cauldron is a short (0.25 miles), easy hike open to all ages. Experience the unique story of our coastline, from natural history to ongoing land and ocean conservation activities, including the new Cape Falcon Marine Reserve and Audubon Society of Portlands efforts to monitor seabirds.

If youre up for more, continue on Elk Flats Trail for a 1.5-mile moderate to difficult hike to Short Sands Beach and the rest of the days festivities. The Elk Flats Trail, which leads hikers through a variety of forest structures, stunning old growth trees, and to vistas of the marine reserve, is steep in some sections. Hikers should prepare for slick, muddy trails and to scamper over and under sizable fallen trees. You'll want to wear sturdy shoes, dress for Oregon coast weather, and bring water.

Clean Beaches and Water: Surfrider Foundation and CoastWatch are teaming up at the beautiful Falcon Cove Beach to highlight efforts to keep our waterways and beaches clean. Explore the monitoring sites at Falcon Cove Beach and learn about the Blue Water Task Force program and marine debris monitoring efforts going on coast wide. Discover where the trash on our beaches is coming from, how you can get involved, and all the partners that are contributing from local volunteers to schools to national organizations. If you havent spent time on Falcon Cove Beach, this is a great opportunity to view this remote coastal beach along the Cape Falcon Marine Reserve. Lodging in Manzanita, Wheeler- Where to eat - Map and Virtual Tour

Short Sand Intertidal Exploration Tour: Discover the amazing creatures living along the coastal edge. Hunting for sea stars will be the main objective during this outing highlighting the impacts of Sea Star Wasting Syndrome. Haystack Rock Awareness Program and The Nature Conservancy will team up to take participants on a tour of the rocky intertidal areas at Short Sand beach. These organizations support coast wide and local efforts to monitor sea star populations. Recent surveys have shown a decrease in diseased animals and the first signs of the populations recovering.

Along the way, you never know what you will discover: from dueling anemones, a sea star's patient hunt for its next meal, to predatory snails. Its literally another world.

This event is part of the Explore Nature series of hikes, walks, paddles and outdoor adventures. Explore Nature events are hosted by a consortium of volunteer community and non-profit organizations, and are meaningful nature-based experiences highlight the unique beauty of Tillamook County and the work being done to preserve and conserve the areas natural resources and natural resource-based economy. Learn more at www.explorenaturetillamookcoast.com.

Register for the event on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oswald-west-action-day-citizen-science-extravaganza-tickets-33919489105 - - Lodging in Manzanita, Wheeler- Where to eat - Map and Virtual Tour















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British technology company Dyson has opened a new research and development center in Shanghai, after the vacuum cleaner manufacturer saw Chinese sales leap 200 percent.

Dyson plans to build a team of 50 engineers and support staff during the coming year, charged with marrying software and hardware for its next generation of app connected, smart appliances. Dyson did not disclose investment figures for the new lab.

Company founder Sir James Dyson said: "The future of technology lies in harnessing the power of software and hardware combined. That will be our focus in Dyson's new technology lab as we bring online smart, connected machines ensuring they are suitable to Chinese needs. Focusing on real Chinese homes and real usage, our bright minds in the UK and Singapore with insights from those in China, aim to deliver a pipeline of new technologies in the years ahead."

The move is part of the company's 2.5 billion pound ($3.2 billion) global expansion plan, and is evidence of Dyson's increasingly fruitful dealings in the Asian market.

Dyson  which also manufactures bladeless fans, heaters, and hair and hand dryers  reported profits of 631 million pounds in 2016, up from 367 million pounds the previous year, driven by a 200 percent rise in sales in China, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Dyson makes one of China's best-selling humidifiers, the AM10, and the company benefits from continued sales volume growth for vacuum cleaners in China. Sales for vacuums grew 9 percent last year, according to market research firm Euromonitor, and the market has enormous potential, with a growing middle class and only 5.3 percent of Chinese homes owning a cylinder vacuum cleaner in 2016.

Philips China continued to lead sales in 2016, recording a volume share of 21 percent.

In 2016, Dyson established a new contact and repair center and upgraded to a larger head office in Shanghai with 250 employees.

Jim Rowan, Dyson's chief operating officer said: "As we grow in China, so must our ability to localize apps and software, bringing technology on-line quicker than ever before. As a country, China is right at the forefront of an intelligent machine revolution, so we'll be seeking its brightest minds to join us in shaping the connected Dyson technology of the future."

Jeff Chen, deputy mayor of central Shanghai's Huangpu District, welcomed the development, saying the center would create high value jobs and contribute to China's transition to a "high-skilled knowledge economy".
President Milos Zeman of the Czech Republic visits the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders on Tuesday in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, paying tribute and bowing to the victims. Thousands of victims were buried near the memorial. CHINA DAILY

NANJING - Czech President Milos Zeman Tuesday visited the Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre in East China's Jiangsu province.

Zeman became the first incumbent foreign president, and second foreign head of state following Queen of Denmark Margrethe II in 2014, to visit the hall, which commemorates the more than 300,000 Chinese lives taken by Japanese invaders when they occupied the city from Dec 13, 1937.

Zeman was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

Related story: Czech president, first lady pay respects at Nanjing memorial
Terminating a China-based employee usually requires good cause. A serious breach of employer rules and regulations can be a basis for an employers unilateral termination of an employee, but China employers have other options as well.

A China-based employer may terminate an employment contract if the economic circumstances which formed the basis for the parties signing the employment contract in the first place have changed, causing the employer to be unable to perform under the contract. This sort of termination is permitted only after negotiations between the employer and employee have proven they are unable to reach an agreement on amending the contract. But does this sort of termination really work? As with just about everything related to China employment law, this will depend on whether the employer handled the termination 100% correctly and a bit on the locale as well.

Lets look at an actual case out of Zhejiang province. The employer and employee signed an open-term employment contract for the employee to work in a managerial position in Hangzhou. During the term of employment, the employer decided it needed to shut down the department this employee managed so as to cut costs. The employer provided its shut-down plan to its labor union for comments. The employer then notified the managerial employee in writing of its decision to close down the employees department and directed the employee to report to a new position, with pay and performance standards essentially the same as the employees existing position. The employers notice clearly informed the employee that if he failed to report to his new position within a specified period, the employer would not be able to assign him to a similar position and would instead have to terminate his contract.

The employee refused to cooperate as directed and the employer then prepared a notice to terminate the employees contract and it provided notice to the companys labor union for comments. The notice made clear the basis for the employees termination was the employees failure to abide by the employers new position assignment, coupled with the employers inability to accommodate this employee with another similar position. These circumstances caused the parties to be unable to perform under the existing employment contract and after negotiations, the parties were unable to reach agreement on amending the original contract. The employer tried to serve the employee with his termination notice in person, but the employee refused to accept it, so the employer sent notice to the employees last known contact address by mail. The employer also published the termination notice in the daily newspaper and paid the employee an additional months wage as severance based on his years of service.

The employee sued for unlawful termination and demanded reinstatement of his position.

The courts sided with the employer and ruled as follows. After the employer decided to shut down the employees department and eliminate the employees original position, the employer provided the employee with notice specifying (1) his new position, (2) the new payment standard (which would not reduce his take-home pay one Yuan) and (3) the requirement that he report to his new position or be terminated for failing to cooperate. The employer also repeatedly asked the employee to report to the new position. The court held that the employer had handled the termination correctly and ruled entirely in the employers favor.

This case almost certainly would have turned out very differently had this employer not been so punctilious in following all the procedural requirements for a termination due to economic circumstances. This employer did not go full speed ahead and unilaterally terminate the employee right after it made the decision to eliminate his position. It instead got its labor union to sign off on its plan and then it sought to give the employee a similar position with similar pay.

Keep in mind that terminations because of economic circumstances require the employer pay their terminated employees statutory severance. And as always, it is important to check all the requirements  local as well as national before you terminate an employee.
(Photo : Getty Images) Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shankes hands with Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain (L) at The Great Hall Of The People on September 2, 2015 in Beijing, China.

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China and Pakistan have agreed to oversee and ensure the transparency of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, with a joint agreement signed between the National Accountability Bureau and Beijing.



Qamar Zaman Chaudry, the chairman of NAB, said that the greatest evil being faced in the country is corruption, and it is the bureau's top priority to eradicate it, the Express Tribune reported.



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He also added that NAB had devised standard operating procedures (SOPs) to reorganize workload and timelines, set at a maximum of 10 months to ensure efficient and effective disposal of cases from complain verification to inquiry to investigation and then to reference in the accountability court.



A new system of combined investigation team (CIT) has also been introduced. This will allow investigators to derive benefit from the experience and collective wisdom from senior officials. Such concept aims to not only to ensure the work's quality but also avoid influences in the proceedings.



Chaudhry also noted that Pakistan is the first country to lead the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Anti-Corruption forum and that NAB serves as a role model for the SAARC nations.



He also teamed up with the Higher Education Commission to educate the youth on the ill-effects of corruption. He also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build more than 42,000 Character Building Societies on universities and colleges in the country.



Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has previously said that Pakistan was on track of progress and prosperity under the CPEC program, noting it would prove to be a game-changer in the real sense.



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(Photo : YouTube) India deploys Rafale combat planes to protect twin threats from China and Pakistan.

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India will deploy its Rafale combat aircraft to Ambala in Haryana and Hashimara in West Bengal in a bid to counter future war threats from China and Pakistan.



A government official was quoted saying that an IAF squadron composed of 18 Rafale planes will be deployed to the two regions, India Today reported. The jets were supposed to be sent to Sarsawa air station in Uttar Pradesh, but this could not reportedly be finalized because of issues related to land acquisitions.



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After China aggressively patrolled the eastern and northern borders and its increased defense ties with Pakistan, India is preparing itself for a two-front ware and developing infrastructure on both sides. On the eastern front, the Hasimara air base, which is near China's border, would see Rafale planes replacing the existing MiG 27 squadrons.



Last September, India signed an $8.78 billion contract for 36 Rafale planes from France. Rafale jets feature cutting-edge missiles including the Scalp and Meteor, which is a BVR air-to-air missile with a range more than 150 kilometers. The Indian Air Force has rated Rafale planes higher than Su-30 MKIs.



Meanwhile, India did not attend the two-day One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative summit, which concluded on Monday in Beijing, because of sovereignty concerns.



On Tuesday, reacting to India's spokesperson for External Affairs Gopal Bagley's remarks that China should hold a dialogue on the concerns of the OBOR project, Hua Chunying, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said, "Over the past four years since the project was initiated we have been holding the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits."



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North Korea is the number one country for most severe persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors 2017 World Watch List, but despite the extreme persecution Christians there face, the church is growing, reports a North Korean defector.

The Christian Post reports that Kim Chung-seong was able to escape North Korea right before he was to be killed. He now lives in South Korea and is involved in missions work.

"The one thing that the North Korean regime fears the most, and is afraid of, is the spreading of the Gospel," he said Friday while attending the first annual World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians in Washington, D.C. "Because the Bible and the Gospel speaks the truth. Once the light shines in the dark room, there is light in the room."

"They (the government) will do anything to prevent the spread of the Gospel in North Korea. [But] as you can see, we cannot block the sunlight with our hand," he continued.

He said that Christians in North Korea are forced to hide their faith from the government and sometimes even from their own families in order to avoid persecution.

Surveillance is ever-present and Christians need to be careful not to look like they are praying or engaging in other forms of religious activity.

"Worship of the ruling Kim family is mandated for all citizens, and those who don't comply (including Christians) are arrested, imprisoned, tortured or killed. Entire Christian families are imprisoned in hard labor camps, where unknown numbers die each year from torture, beatings, overexertion and starvation. Those who attempt to flee to South Korea through China risk execution or life imprisonment, and those who stay behind often fare no better," says a report from Christian persecution charity Open Doors.

But despite these obstacles, there are an estimated 300,000 Christians in North Korea. Part of Kims ministry involves broadcasting the Gospel message, Christians music, and world news into the country to reach his countrymen.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/alexkuehni

Publication date: May 17, 2017
Evangelical leaders are praising President Trump for pressing for the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson during Trumps meeting this week with the Turkish president.

This shows the clear and open lines of communication between evangelicals and this White House, said Johnnie Moore, an author and advocate for persecuted Christians.

Brunson, a North Carolina native, has been detained in Turkey since October.

Not only were we able to make the President and Vice President aware that this was a priority of ours, we were pleased that they shared our concern and acted upon it, said Moore, author of Defying ISIS: Preserving Christianity in the Place of Its Birth and in Your Own Backyard, in a statement to RNS.

The White House stated that Trump on Tuesday (May 16), in a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asked that the Turkish Government expeditiously return him to the United States.

Officials in Turkey, which is 99 percent Muslim, have cracked down on opponents and perceived opponents  including some American Protestants  since a failed July coup.

A minister of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Brunson was originally detained in the coastal town of Izmir, where he had lived for two decades, and was later transferred to a prison. The American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative Christian law firm working for Brunsons release, said he has been falsely charged with membership in an armed terrorist organization.

The Turkish president reiterated Tuesday that he believes that organization, identified by Turkish media as a network of U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, was involved in the attempted coup. Gulen has rejected those claims.

A Turkish Protestant official said there is no connection between Brunson and the organization, Slate reported.

Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ, discussed Brunsons case with Trump at a White House meeting days before the presidents meeting with Erdogan.

He called the White Houses attention to the case a major sign of significant progress toward bringing Pastor Andrew home.

The European Centre for Law and Justice, a partner of the ACLJ, previously petitioned the United Nations to intervene for the pastor, saying Turkey was violating its constitution and the U.N. Charter.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Brunsons wife in March when he visited the Turkish capital of Ankara, and a State Department spokesman said in April it had called on Turkey to resolve his case in a timely and fair manner.

Courtesy: Religion News Service

Photo: Pastor Andrew Brunson

Courtesy: Religion News Service

Publication date: May 17, 2017
President Harry Truman was furious. Billy Graham had revealed the content of their private conversation to the media, going so far as to perform a reenactment of their prayer time on the White House lawn at the medias request. It was the first time Truman had invited Graham to the White House, and it would be the last.

Earlier that day, Truman had sought Grahams counsel on calming public hysteria around the Korean War effort. The meeting had gone well, according to Graham. They even discussed creating a National Day of Prayer, something Truman would implement two years later. But Grahams unpolished enthusiasm and lack of experience with public officials cost him the ear of the President that Friday in 1950 and almost cost him his reputation altogether.

Calling the evangelist a fake, the President harshly reprimanded him. All hes interested in is getting his name in the newspaper, Truman said of Graham. He did not speak to him again for years after that.

Grahams meeting with Truman was the first of many encounters with American leaders over a span of more than 50 years. His blazing misstep with Truman, however, was a hard lesson he never forgot: When the world is watching, trust between a president and his spiritual advisors becomes even more fragile.

Billy Grahams Mutual Respect

For Graham, presidential relationships were grounded in mutual respect. After his mishap with Truman, he never shared the details of private meetings he held with public leaders.

Though he did publicly call out President Lyndon B. Johnson on a position during one of his Crusade meetings (as Graham details in his autobiography), they became close during Johnsons time in office. ...

1
I thought a town hall meeting would be the perfect venue to fight for justice. I was oh-so-wrong.

Two months ago I went to a town hall meeting sponsored by our district congressman.

Never have I been the kind of person to do this. Although Ive always had relatives or friends from the zealot-fringe who got frothed up about their party or their cause, I typically rolled my eyes at their Facebook posts and moved on. I am a pastor from a faith tradition that, on the one hand, believes on a theological level that Christians should engage in and redeem the political sphere, but on the other hand, prefers that pastors shut up and stay out of politics when speaking from the pulpit. For 30 years in ministry, I have neglected the former and abided too much by the latter.

Over the last five years, and with special intensity in the last two, things have been changing within me. Things we politely call social issues or justice issuesthe kinds of things which, like the priest and the Levite in the parable of The Good Samaritan, I have passed by on the other sidewell, these things now keep me awake at night. My soul is grinding and churning to make some kind of Christian sense of it all, and I am lurching by fits and starts down a road I have never traveled. I am desperately trying to get it right, and I have the terrible sense that for most of my life I have gotten it wrong.

I am a little preacher serving quiet churches on country roads. But now I feel restless. I want to rise up and do something that matters. Every day I get wrapped up in the news, and I pack and un-pack these things with equally troubled pastors. I have gone to marches and painted signs. Sometimes when I pray, I discover tears in my eyes, and I look down to find my fists are clenched.

And all ...
AUSTIN  Talk about a big blue light special.

Gov. Greg Abbott said the storied Governor's Mansion, an 1854 Greek Revival manse just across the street from the much-younger State Capitol, will be lit in blue on Wednesday to commemorate National Police Week.

SURRENDERED: State senator surrenders to FBI after indicted

Abbott said the event, the second time in a year that the mansion had been lit in a special color, since five Dallas police officers were gunned down last year, will serve "as a shining beacon of respect and remembrance for our peace officers."

In addition, the governor said the unusual display "will serve as a sign of solidarity with the Dallas community, which (Wednesday) honored officers killed in the line of duty, including the victims of the ambush last July."
Heights restaurant Glass Wall, owned and operated by the Studewood Hospitality Group, is closing for retooling after 11 years of business, according to a statement.

"While it is bittersweet to say goodbye to a place that has meant so much to the revitalization of this neighborhood over the past decade, we are confident that when we reopen, we will offer the Heights a fresh concept that better reflects contemporary dining trends as well as the culinary preferences of Houston's red-hot foodie community," SHG's Tim Jones told Culturemap.
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A new reality show is on the horizon of the Heart of Dixie called, Redneck Housewives of Alabama.

The reality show will launch this Fall and Brent Smith, Vice President of the Redneck Housewives of Alabama, told Chron.com the show and producers are looking for "Southern women with a fondness for adventure."

"It's not a traditional housewives show, it's going to be adventure based," said Smith. "We're ready to take on the challenge and portray Alabama in a good, adventurous light. Even the mayor said, 'Make us look good.' And that's what we plan to do."

Not only did the mayor have concern but Smith said that some people are questioning the use of the word 'redneck' in the title and we asked, what does that word mean to him?

REALITY TV: 'Big Fish Texas' reality TV show to star Galveston family

"We are using the word redneck to describe genuine, nice outdoorsy people, true Southerners," explained Smith. "You know, the people that wave to everybody."

Smith went on to explain Huntsville is fast-growing and multiracial. He urges people to wait until the show comes out before passing judgment.

"I'm not on social media," Smith said. "but I've heard the criticism and concern and just hope people will give it a chance. It's a show about five women from Alabama who live the southern life."

Story continues below...

Those wanting to be considered for the show can submit a YouTube video, photo and resume via the official website. You must be ages 21 and up.

HOUSTON ON TV: See more of Houston-area's reality TV stars

Live auditions will be held in Huntsville on August 5.

According to their website cast members will be paid depending on their role and Smith told Chron.com that he wants to create a nonprofit foundation for his late brother, where the proceeds from the show go towards helping women of domestic abuse.
An Alvin photographer was going through photos that her son had taken and to her surprise, she found something special.

Kerri Liles is an Alvin mother to seven children, five from birth and two stepchildren. Her youngest is AAsher. AAsher is 7 years old and was born with Down syndrome. Aasher's parents named this special boy with an extra "A" to reflect his extra chromosome that Kerri told Chron.com he was "blessed" with.

"His name reflects his AAwesomeness. You know when you get an "A" on a paper and how great that is, but when you get an "A+", that's really, really good," Kerri told Chron.com. "That's how we feel about AAsher and how we want others to view him and his diagnosis. Down syndrome is not bad or scary. It's just a different path than we had planned on taking. We really won the lottery!"

GOOD MOMENT: JJ Watt gets in epic snowball fight with children

Kerri posted on her personal Facebook page Monday that on Sunday her family was returning to Houston from Washington and Aasher, who has recently become obsessed with taking pictures, pulled out her cell phone to capture moments in the sky.

"(He) wanted to take some pictures out of the window after I had reached across him to take one myself," Keri wrote on her Facebook page. "After he took a few dozen, I took the phone back and later went through the images to delete since my storage was getting low."

As Kerri was deleting photos, she came across one that was a "pretty incredible image, whatever it may be."

"We've known for a long time that AAsher has a sixth sense about others' needs. Whether it be a hug or a smile. He just seems to gravitate to strangers in need," Kerri said. "He will let us know when he sees something by pointing and flapping his arms like wings. So, we've known he can see angels that surround him."

The image that AAsher captured might have been the image that he needed, and the image we might all need.

"I do believe that he captured his angel out the window that day to bring him comfort in a rather bumpy takeoff," Kerri said.
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It's not every day that royalty touches down in the Lone Star State. Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, was in town for Virtuosi of Houston's gala concert and dinner, so Bayou City socials planned accordingly.

The duchess's jam-packed schedule began with a dinner for 22 guests hosted by Sallymoon Benz and Dr. Alan Bentz, held at the home of Dr. Meherwan and Zarine Boyce.

Donae Cangelosi Chramosta and her daughter, Bella Chramosta, hosted high tea at Tony's the following afternoon for 50 Virtuosi of Houston supporters, including Alicia Maguire Smith, Deborah Duncan, Mandy Kao and Duyen Nguyen.

"The best thing that happened the entire day was when the Duchess, who was seated behind this long head table, crawled underneath the table just so that she could greet everyone," Donae says. "She was wearing this amazing scarf from one of her charities (Key to Freedom). That's what surprised me about her the most -- how warm she was."

The Duchess, or "Fergie" to her friends, got her second taste of Tony's on Friday evening. Brian Teichman and Andrew Cordes opened their residence to a private audience in honor of renowned interiors and perfume authority Clive Christian and his daughter, Victoria Christian, who are fellow Brits and longtime friends of the Duchess. Lynn Wyatt, Carolyn Farb, Bobby and Wezy Dees, Tony Bradfield and Kevin Black and Sylvia Forsythe were included on the intimate guest list.

A thank-you note from the Duchess following the meal read, "I've never eaten such a cheese souffle, ever."

The small, festive, gathering included Teichman's signature flaming baked Alaska, a surprise performance by a Houston Symphony keyboardist, and Richard Flowers' (Events Company) tablescape inspired by the duchess's family crest.

On Saturday night, the main event, Virtuosi of Houston pulled out all the stops at the Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston.

Mini fish and chips, Welsh rarebit, and Scottish salmon (this was a "Celebrating the United Kingdom"-themed soiree, after all) circulated inside the sold-out space. For the program, chairmen Donna Vallone and Staci and Dr. Quang Henderson took turns introducing honorees Margaret Alkek Williams, Monzer Hourani, Andrew Derry, Crispin Ward, the Christians, and the Duchess.

"This is like the Oscars, right? I only have 30 seconds to speak? Well, too bad. I'm a red-head and I do what I want," she joked good-naturedly.

In between prawns, Beef Wellington and a chocolate crown, more than eight musical selections were performed by Virtuosi of Houston's young chamber orchestra instrumentalists.

After the final piece, "A Beatles Symphony," Zarine Boyce proudly announced the organization's record-breaking funds raised: $400,000.

Wyatt hosted a farewell brunch for the Duchess and the Christians on Mother's Day at her River Oaks home. Guests reportedly sipped champagne and chilled asparagus soup before rounds of smoked salmon and apple tartes with creme fraiche.

Who else but our own steel magnolia could orchestrate such a royal sendoff?
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A Memorial Day tribute will be held at the Fallen Soldier Memorial in Champions.

Northwest Houston residents can pay their respects to those who have served or for those who are currently serving in the military on May 29.

There will be a reading of the names of each of the 634 military men and women from Texas who have died during their service from 2003 to now. The names will be read from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. that Monday, on a continuous loop.

In addition, active duty military personnel have been invited to attend the tribute.

"These men and women are still out there fighting," said Cheryl Whitfield, of the National Memorial Ladies, a volunteer service formed at the Houston National Cemetery. "We just can't forget and we have to continually honor and remember their sacrifices - the ones who came home or the ones who didn't get a chance to come home or came home with a U.S. flag draped over them."

The Fallen Soldier Memorial is located at 14500 Cutten Road, between FM 1960 and Texas 249, off Cypresswood Drive.

"The main reason that we built this memorial is to ensure that they're never forgotten," Whitfield said. "The families tell me, 'I don't want my child to be forgotten'. That's the main reason."

The monument is located at the end of the Cy-champ Park nature path and consists of four large granite walls engraved with the names of 634 fallen soldiers. The memorial was complete in 2012.

The names are listed in chronological order with date, rank and branch of service. National Memorial Ladies member Lynn Ruoff, who researched the soldiers to be added to the wall, said the names are listed from the soldiers who were killed first to the most recent.

"This is a passion in my heart that these young men and women are kept in the front of our minds," Whitfield said.

For more information, visit http://fallenwarriorstexas.org
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Last year's Houston Open Air festival offered up a hard rock and metal-heavy lineup although weather concerns scuttled most of the fun.

In a press release Wednesday the organizers announced the festival would return to the Houston area for a two-day event Oct. 14 and 15 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, moving a bit north from last year's NRG Park location.

CONCERT UPDATE: Linkin Park announce Houston concert date at the Toyota Center

A full musical lineup announcement will come on June 12, according to the organizers. Expect plenty loud guitars and big names. Tickets will go on sale June 16.

Last year's lineup included Avenged Sevenfold, Slayer, Anthrax, Deftones, The Cult, Ministry, and many others.

Last year when there was a flap over festival evacuations and postponements due to nasty weather and lightning in the area, organizers vowed to come back under the right circumstances. Festival producers Danny Wimmer Presents seemed to have made good on their promise to a commitment to the Houston area.

LAST YEAR: Houston Open Air organizers answer questions about weekend evacuations, refunds for fans

The liability of holding an outdoor festival of any kind is staggering, according to music industry sources. The threat of legal action in the wake of injuries or death to fans and staff is very real.

"Houston is too good of a rock and roll market, the fans are too good, " talent buyer Gary Spivack with Danny Wimmer Presents said in a radio interview with 94.5 The Buzz in Houston. "We will pick the right time to rock in Houston," Spivack said.

Maybe October will be Rocktober after all.
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About 20 to 40 gallons of oil leaked into the San Jacinto River near Timberline Drive in Riverview at Forest Cove due to a broken line reported at 8:20 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to District 22 Houston Fire Chief Terry Colburn.

Authorities were able to plug the leak, and booms were set up to contain the spill, which Colburn said came from a well no longer producing oil. The well belongs to Noxxe Oil, and owner Steve Shaffer said his initial understanding of the situation is a nearby home owners association hired a contractor to perform work in the area, and the contractor accidentally nicked a line.
Marlene Ford/Getty Images

The city of La Marque has issued a public notice to boil water for parts of the city.

According to a release, city officials are "confident the water quality is satisfactory." However, workers are still monitoring and testing the water west of Interstate 45, between 1764 to 1765, or Saltgrass Crossing to Prairie Knoll.
President Donald Trump asked the FBI director, James B. Comey, to shut down the federal investigation into Trump's former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, in an Oval Office meeting in February, according to a memo that Comey wrote shortly after the meeting.

"I hope you can let this go," the president told Comey, according to the memo.

The documentation of Trump's request is the clearest evidence that the president has tried to directly influence the Justice Department and FBI investigation into links between Trump's associates and Russia. Late Tuesday, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, demanded the FBI turn over all "memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings" of discussions between Trump and Comey.

KEY MOMENTS: Trump-Comey clash and what's come after

Comey wrote the memo detailing his conversation with the president immediately after the meeting, which took place the day after Flynn resigned, according to two people who read the memo. The memo was part of a paper trail Comey created documenting what he perceived as the president's improper efforts to influence an ongoing investigation. An FBI agent's contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations.

Comey shared the existence of the memo with senior FBI officials and close associates. The New York Times has not viewed a copy of the memo, which is unclassified, but one of Comey's associates read parts of the memo to a Times reporter.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump told Comey, according to the memo. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

THE LATEST: McCain compares Trump crises to Watergate

Trump told Comey that Flynn had done nothing wrong, according to the memo.

Comey did not say anything to Trump about curtailing the investigation, only replying: "I agree he is a good guy."

In a statement, the White House denied the version of events in the memo.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that Gen. Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving Gen. Flynn," the statement said. "The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey."

Chaffetz's letter, sent to the acting FBI director, Andrew G. McCabe, set a May 24 deadline for the internal documents to be delivered to the House committee. "If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation as it relates to Lt. Gen. Flynn," Chaffetz wrote.

In testimony to the Senate last week, McCabe said, "There has been no effort to impede our investigation to date."

McCabe was referring to the broad investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. The investigation into Flynn is separate.

A spokesman for the FBI declined to comment.

Comey created similar memos  including some that are classified  about every phone call and meeting he had with the president, the two people said. It is unclear whether Comey told the Justice Department about the conversation or his memos.

Trump fired Comey last week. Trump administration officials have provided multiple, conflicting accounts of the reasoning behind Comey's dismissal. Trump said in a television interview that one of the reasons was because he believed "this Russia thing" was a "made-up story."

The Feb. 14 meeting took place just a day after Flynn was forced out of his job after it was revealed he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of phone conversations he had with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

Despite the conversation between Trump and Comey, the investigation of Flynn has proceeded. In Virginia, a federal grand jury has issued subpoenas in recent weeks for records related to Flynn. Part of the Flynn investigation is centered on his financial ties to Russia and Turkey.

Comey had been in the Oval Office that day with other senior national security officials for a terrorism threat briefing. When the meeting ended, Trump told those present  including Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions  to leave the room except for Comey.

Alone in the Oval Office, Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information, according to one of Comey's associates.

Trump then turned the discussion to Flynn.

After writing up a memo that outlined the meeting, Comey shared it with senior FBI officials. Comey and his aides perceived Trump's comments as an effort to influence the investigation, but they decided that they would try to keep the conversation secret  even from the FBI agents working on the Russia investigation  so the details of the conversation would not affect the investigation.

Comey was known among his closest advisers to document conversations that he believed would later be called into question, according to two former confidants, who said Comey was uncomfortable at times with his relationship with Trump.

Comey's recollection has been bolstered in the past by FBI notes. In 2007, he told Congress about a now-famous showdown with senior White House officials over the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program. The White House disputed Comey's account, but the FBI director at the time, Robert S. Mueller III, kept notes that backed up Comey's story.

The White House has repeatedly crossed lines that other administrations have been reluctant to cross when discussing politically charged criminal investigations. Trump has disparaged the ongoing FBI investigation as a hoax and called for an investigation into his political rivals. His representatives have taken the unusual step of declaring no need for a special prosecutor to investigate the president's associates.

The Oval Office meeting occurred a little more than two weeks after Trump summoned Comey to the White House for a lengthy, one-on-one dinner in the residence. At that dinner, on Jan. 27, Trump asked Comey at least two times for a pledge of loyalty  which Comey declined, according to one of Comey's associates.

In a Twitter posting on Friday, Trump said that "James Comey better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!"

After the meeting, Comey's associates did not believe there was any way to corroborate Trump's statements. But Trump's suggestion last week that he was keeping tapes has made them wonder whether there are tapes that back up Comey's account.

The Jan. 27 dinner came a day after White House officials learned that Flynn had been interviewed by FBI agents about his phone calls with the Russian ambassador, Sergey I. Kislyak. On Jan. 26, Acting Attorney General Sally Q. Yates told the White House counsel about the interview, and said Flynn could be subject to blackmail by the Russians because they knew he had lied about the content of the calls.

Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman contributed reporting.
A Granbury, Texas man on Monday was arrested after sending 911 dozens of texts to report being overserved and overcharged at a bar.

Shaun Taylor, 46, reportedly began texting and sending harassing messages to 911 dispatchers around 8 p.m. that night. He's accused of sending roughly 35 texts to operators and tying them up for hours.
Houston-area gun stores are always a target for burglaries, but one gun store and range in The Woodlands isn't going to let their 700 guns end up on the street.

Thom Bolsch, the owner of Saddle River Range Firearms and Archery, opened his store in November 2015 and he didn't spare any expense in equipping his store with the ultimate security system.

REPEAT OFFENDERS: Burglars smash into pawn shop, get away with guns

Bolsch equipped his 30,000-square-foot business with a wide range of security protocols, including a motion-detected fog machine from FlashFog Security.

The FlashFog machine pours dense fog into the 5,000-square-foot area that houses about 700 guns. Within 45 seconds, it fills the area "to the point you can't see your hand in front of your face," Bolsch told Chron.com. (Check out the FlashFog demonstration in the video above.)

"It's part of a very large comprehensive security plan," Bolsch told Chron.com. We've got gates around the property, bullet-proof glass, over 60 cameras, alarms and lots of lights."

In all, the security at Saddle River Range cost about $250,000 - the FlashFog Security was $10,000 alone, Bolsch says.

Since he's opened in 2015, there hasn't been a single attempted burglary. Though that isn't the case with smaller, family-owned gun stores.

OFFICIALLY TEXAN: Lawmakers wants to make cannon the official gun of Texas

Thefts at firearm dealers are up across the United States. In 2016, there were 58 burglaries and robberies of gun dealers in Texas, up 35 percent from 2015. The burglaries and robberies last year resulted in 790 stolen firearms, also an increase of 35 percent from 2015, according to ATF. Texas outranked every state during 2016 in the total number of stolen firearms reported to ATF.

Several of those burglaries are right in the Houston area. Some gun store owners describe the burglaries as "numbing," according to a Houston Chronicle feature on Houston area gun store robberies.
Coast Guard officials suspended the search effort for a missing tug boat crew member reported missing in Louisiana late Sunday.

About 11:15 p.m., the tugboat "Miss Courtney" notified Coast Guard officials about their missing crew member. The tug was on a stretch of the Mississippi River near Gramercy, La., about halfway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Using helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and boat crews, the Coast Guard and local authorities searched more than 130 square miles of waterway for any sign of the crewman. The search effort lasted for about 15 hours, officials said.

The missing crew member has not been identified.
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The two men and four women who will decide whether Herman and Kathleen Hoffman cruelly treated five of the couple's approximately 200 horses viewed the gruesome photos taken on the couple's ranch in 2015 during the first day of the trial Monday.

The Hoffmans face up to a year in jail if convicted of five Class A misdemeanor charges of cruelty to non-livestock animals. They were arrested in June 2015, accused of neglecting more than 200 horses on their ranch in the 9900 block of League Line Road in Conroe.

Testimony will resume in Judge Dennis Watson's County Court-at-Law 1 at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

In an opening statement Monday, Assistant District Attorney Lora Ciborowski said the horses were once thriving at the ranch before they took a turn for the worst. "The defendants, and the defendants alone, caused these horses to suffer," said Ciborowski, adding that law enforcement reported the horses looked like "walking skeletons."

On the trial's first day of testimony, a barn supervisor with the Houston SPCA testified about what she saw while on the Hoffmans' property the week of June 24, 2015. The supervisor, Jackie Kelsey, said the herd was living in conditions not fit for horses.

"There were a lot of skinny horses," Kelsey said. " It was not a good property."

She said the property had no grass for the horses to eat and little shade, which could cause the horses to overheat. She testified that some of the barn stalls had up to 10 inches of horse feces piled up, causing the horses to sometimes walk in their own waste while in the stable.

The six jurors saw pictures taken by HSPCA investigators on scene that showed many horses with their ribs showing, some of which had open wounds on their protruding hips. One juror shook her head as others grimaced at the gruesome photographs, which sometimes showing open wounds and overgrown hooves.

Prosecutors also showed photographs of horses with rain rot, which happens when horses are exposed to rainy weather and not properly taken care of after. The photos depicted wooden fencing the horses had chewed, likely from having a lack of food or out of boredom, Kelsey said.

Hinting at the Hoffman's defense that the horses were in a natural pecking order, their Emory-based defense attorney, William Power, contended that the conditions Kelsey was describing were ideal for pet horses rather than breeding horses, like those the Hoffmans had on their ranch.

Out of the 207 horses the HSPCA seized as part of a court order, 30 had to be euthanized and three others died of other causes, Kelsey said. Out of the horses that survived, all but 17 have been adopted into better living conditions, she said.

Nine of those 17 left still need rehabilitation until they can be adopted.
It's been 50 years since Texas Southern University exploded in protests and shots fired by police.

The night of May 17, 1967 saw mostly black students protesting, which local and national newspapers described as a riot.
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Houston Methodist researchers discovered an unsettling strain of bacteria among Houstonians they examined: A rare and drug-resistant superbug called Klebsiella pneumoniae.

In a four-year study, researchers found the bacteria in more than one-third of patients staying at various Houston Methodist system hospitals.

In a prepared statement, the study's senior author Dr. James M. Musser said, "Finding the otherwise uncommon strain in our city was a very surprising discovery. Because Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common and important cause of human infections, we urgently need to identify potential vaccine targets or other new treatments, and develop new and rapid diagnostic techniques."

CHOKING HAZARD: Texas mother warns of dangers with spinners after visiting the hospital

K. pneumoniae typically lives inside the intestines but can cause other illnesses if it migrates, "including pneumonia; bloodstream, wound or surgical site infections; meningitis; and urinary tract infections," according to a Houston Methodist news release.

In an interview with NBC, Dr. Musser said there is currently no vaccine available against the superbug and that one is "desperately" needed.

Researchers still do not understand why Klebsiella pneumoniae is so common in Houston.

PUBLIC HEALTH: First human West Nile virus case in state reported in Conroe

Dr. S. Wesley Long, associate director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at Houston Methodist Hospital, told Time magazine, "We are still trying to come to terms with what the implications are. We don't want to alarm anyone, because the local superbug is no more virulent than the other [strains]. There's nothing about it that makes it any worse for patients or requires it to be treated differently."

Click through above to see the highest rated hospitals in the Houston-area.
A former Hudson ISD kindergarten teacher is asking an Angelina County court to reduce her bail of $600,000.

Heather Lee Robertson, 38, is accused of having sex with six different high school students.

In early May, Robertson was charged with six counts of second-degree improper relationship between educator and student and six charges of second-degree sexual assault of a child.

POLICE: Drama teacher caught 'performing sex act on 15-year-old student,' says she was 'mentoring'

One of the students told police the alleged improper sexual relationship with Robertson began by "chatting and sexting" through Snapchat. The student said Robertson eventually invited him to her apartment to have sex. When the student told Robertson he had a friend, she welcomed both boys.

Other students whom Robertson is accused of having sex with on multiple occasions told police they would sneak out their homes and get picked up by Robertson.

Now, according to court documents acquired by KTRE, Robertson's defense attorney is arguing the current bail amount is "excessive, oppressive, and beyond the financial means of Heather Robertson."

KILLEEN: Kindergarten teacher accused of sexual assault of a student

Her defense attorney is also arguing that the bail amount violates Robertson's Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, or constitutional protections for fair due process and against "cruel and unusual punishment."

Click through above to see other notable Houston-area teacher-student sex scandals.
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Two Texas cities are alleged to be the "most dangerous" cities in Texas, according to a ranking of the top 30 cities in America with the highest rates of violent crime and property crime.

The ranking, based on FBI data, was compiled by home security website SafeWise.com.

RELATED: Report: 2 San Antonio-area suburbs ranked among top 25 safest in Texas

Bellmead, Texas, which is located northeast of Waco, was No. 10, with 10.15 violent crimes per 1,000 people and 110.55 property crimes per 1,000.

Humble is No. 12 on the list, with 9.53 violent crimes per 1,000 in population, and 107.54 property crimes per 1,000.

PACKING HEAT: Texas is so heavily armed, people even try to carry guns on planes

And the most dangerous city in America? That dubious title goes to Emeryville, California, with 13.25 violent crimes per 1,000 and 172.92 property crimes per 1,000.

How do these numbers compare to other places in Texas? Click through the slideshow for violent crime rates in 19 other Texas cities.

SafeWise says cities with fewer than 10,000 people are not included in this report.

Those who live in Bellmead and Humble need not worry a great deal, the website says.

"Our ranking of the most dangerous cities in America are based on both violent and property crime per capita. For the most part, the chances of you being the victim of a crime are not high in most communities, even the ones on this list."
An immigrant smuggler who led police on a high-speed chase that injured several people in a small border community was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison.

Jovanni Rodarte, 20, of Rio Bravo pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiring to transport immigrants, causing serious bodily injury. He was sentenced Wednesday in Laredo by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo.
Police have identified the 27-year-old man who was found dead from "unnatural causes" Monday inside a Cibolo business, as well as a suspect in the man's death.

Rand Cameron Vanwert, of Lockhart, was found dead around 11 a.m. inside Jumping For Joy Inflatables in the 400 block of Farm-to-Market Road 78.
Print directory publisher Dex Media is under scrutiny for an ironic misprint in their March 2017 Albuquerque phone book.

Many people don't get phone books anymore, but enough residents in the Albuquerque metro area noticed the error to start a commotion.
WASHINGTON  Houston Democrat Al Green on Wednesday became the first member of Congress to go to the House floor to call for President Donald Trump impeachment, citing last week's firing of FBI Director James Comey in the midst of an investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

"There is a belief in this country that no one is above the law, and that includes the president of the United States of America," Green said. "Our Democracy is at risk... This offense has occurred before our very eyes."

Green, a former NAACP leader in his 12th year in Congress, joins a chorus of Democrats  including California's Maxine Waters  who have talked about Trump's impeachment, but is believed to be the first to urge impeachment on the House floor.

ODD OFFER: Putin says he'll give notes of Trump conversation to Congress

Green's speech  delivered, he said, with a "heavy heart"  also comes a day after Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, suggested on CNN that Trump could be headed for impeachment after allegedly asking Comey to end his inquiry into former national security adviser Mike Flynn.

"I have to say," King said, "simply because obstruction of justice is such a serious offense."

Green also cited obstruction of justice as a grounds for impeaching Trump. "I do not do this for political purposes," he said. "I do this because I believe in the great ideals that this country stands for: Liberty and Justice for all."

While recent revelations about Trump's sacking of the FBI director have alarmed Democrats, actual impeachment proceedings would require the participation of Republicans who control both chambers of Congress.

NEW REVELATION: Comey memo contains bombshell for Trump

While some Republicans have expressed concerns about Trump's response to allegations of collusion between Trump campaign associates and the Russian government, his party has so far defended him.

Green acknowledged that his impeachment call might seem a long shot. "I am a voice in the wilderness," he said. "But I assure you that history will vindicate me."

Scroll through the gallery above to see what it takes to impeach and remove a president from office
WASHINGTON  The classified intelligence that President Donald Trump disclosed in a meeting last week with Russian officials at the White House was provided by Israel, according to a current and a former U.S. official familiar with how the United States obtained the information. The revelation adds a potential diplomatic complication to the episode.

Israel is one of the United States' most important allies and a major intelligence collector in the Middle East. The revelation that Trump boasted about some of Israel's most sensitive information to the Russians could damage the relationship between the two countries. It also raises the possibility that the information could be passed to Iran, Russia's close ally and Israel's main threat in the Middle East.

Israeli officials would not confirm that they were the source of the information that Trump shared. In a statement emailed to The New York Times, Ron Dermer, Israeli ambassador to the United States, reaffirmed that the two countries would maintain a close counterterrorism relationship.

"Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under President Trump," Dermer said.

In the meeting with the Russian ambassador and foreign minister, Trump disclosed intelligence about an Islamic State group terrorist plot. At least some of the details that the United States has about the plot came from the Israelis, the officials said.

The officials, who were not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Israel previously had urged the United States to be careful about the handling of the intelligence that Trump discussed.

Trump said Tuesday on Twitter that he had an "absolute right" to share information in the interest of fighting terrorism and called it a "very, very successful meeting" in a brief appearance later Tuesday at the White House alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster,Trump's national security adviser, told reporters that he was not concerned that information sharing among intelligence partners would stop.

"What the president discussed with the foreign minister was wholly appropriate to that conversation and is consistent with the routine sharing of information between the president and any leaders with whom he's engaged," McMaster said at a White House briefing, seeking to play down the sensitivity of the information Trump disclosed.

McMaster added that the president, who he said was unaware of the source of the information, made a spur-of-the-moment decision to tell the Russians what he knew.

But McMaster also appeared to acknowledge that Thomas P. Bossert, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, had called the CIA and the National Security Agency after the meeting with the Russian officials. Other officials have said that the spy agencies were contacted to help contain the damage from the leak to the Russians.

McMaster would not confirm that Bossert made the calls but suggested that if he did, he was acting "maybe from an overabundance of caution."

"I have not talked to Mr. Bossert about that, about why he reached out," McMaster said.

Former officials said it was not uncommon for presidents to unintentionally say too much in meetings and said that in administrations from both parties, staff members typically established bright lines for their bosses to avoid crossing before such meetings.

Israel's concerns about the Trump White House's handling of classified information were foreshadowed in the Israeli news media earlier this year. Newspapers there reported in January that U.S. officials warned their Israeli counterparts to be careful about what they told the Trump administration because it could be leaked to the Russians, given Trump's openness toward President Vladimir Putin.

"The Russians have the widest intelligence collection mechanism in the world outside of our own. They can put together a good picture with just a few details," said John Sipher, a 28-year veteran of the CIA who served in Moscow in the 1990s and later ran the CIA's Russia program for three years. "They can marry President Trump's comments with their own intelligence, and intelligence from their allies. They can also deploy additional resources to find out details."

The episode could have far-reaching consequences, Democrats warned. Any country that shares intelligence with U.S. officials "could decide it can't trust the United States with information, or worse, that it can't trust the president of the United States with information," said Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

"I have to hope that someone will counsel the president about just what it means to protect closely held information and why this is so dangerous, ultimately, to our national security," Schiff said at a policy conference in Washington sponsored by the Center for American Progress, a liberal group.
Firefighters had a fire in a downstairs Billings apartment on Tuesday night under control within about 10 minutes and no one was injured in the incident, according to Ed Regele, battalion chief with the Billings Fire Department.

The fire occurred shortly before 9 p.m. in a building on the 2400 block of 11th Avenue North.

At least two people were in the upstairs apartment of the building when one of them "heard some kind of, in their words, 'an explosion of some sort,' before the fire," Regele said.

A man in the upstairs apartment went outside after hearing the noise and, looking through a window, could see smoke in the downstairs residence, some of which was coming into his apartment.

No one was in the downstairs apartment, Regele said.

The fire did not manage to penetrate the sheet rock walls of the building, and Regele said that although a fire marshal would have the final decision, there was a good chance the upstairs residents would be allowed back into the building for the night.

Speaking at 11:30 p.m., Regele said the fire's cause was still being investigated.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
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Hyderabad: The inter-state gang of Bahubali-2 pirated directly to Hyderabad and landed bargains with producers. Delhi cyber crime bureau was arrested by the Cyber Crime Police of Hyderabad. All six accused have been arrested in the case, DCCP, Avinash Mahanti said on Tuesday.



Bahubali-2 producers contracted six broadcaster. These include Digital Digital Services. Earlier, in this institution, Mona Ali was working as a software engineer for Akkit Kumar. He realized that the movie will be copied on the server in the theater. So he approached Bihar's Diwakar to catch the bahubali-2 craze. In his theater, the laptop was connected to the server and copied the HD printed version along with the watermark. He informed the Patna-based Chandan to obtain this copy.

Rahul arrives in Hyderabad and consulted ARKA Media. He had a film HD print and demanded to pay Rs.15 lakh per week for the film. He was threatened to put on the Internet immediately after not paying any week. A team led by inspector Chandrabhose who received a complaint has been investigating and found sources. The cyber crime police in Delhi and Bihar have arrested Rahul, Jitender, Taufiq, Ali, Diwakar and Chandan.
Chennai, May 17: On Wednesday, Rajnikanth expressed doubts about whether he was in politics again. "Two days ago I had already said, I do not have to say right now," Rajinikanth told reporters. He is responding to media questions in photo sessions with his fans. Asked about Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan inviting him to join the BJP, he said: "No comment." After meeting his fans on MOnday, the actor said that if he enters politics, he will be truthful and will not entertain people who want to make money.



"God decides what we have to do in life. Right now, he wants me to be an actor and I'm fulfilling my responsibility. If God willing, I will enter politics tomorrow. If I enter, I will be very truthful and will not entertain people who are in this to make money. I won't work with such people," Rajinikanth told his fans, who had gathered at Raghavendra Mandapam here. One of his die hard fans said: "If Rajinikanth becomes a politician, he will be the best person." Another fan said: "Thalaivaa is the only person who can declare his own party and clean Tamil Nadu, save Tamil Nadu and take it forward."
Native American and engineer at Sandia National Laboratories, Sandra Begay, discusses climate change from her unique perspective.

By Sandra Begay, Sandia National Laboratories

Join us for this talk by Sandra Begay. For more than 25 years she has developed natural resources through tribal renewable energy projects and nurtured Native American young people to take on challenges such as climate change and saving the planet.

Sandra Begay is a Principal Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories and leads Sandias technical efforts to assist Native American tribes with their renewable energy developments. She worked at Lawrence Livermore National Labs prior to coming to Sandia. She is a former Regent (Trustee) for UNM, and has been honored with awards for her work. She has been awarded the American Indian Science and Engineering Societys Life-time Achievement Award, UNMs Zia Alumnus Award, UNM School of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award, Stanford University Multicultural Alumni of the Year Award, and was a recipient of the Governors Award for Outstanding Women from the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women. She earned her B.S. in Civil Engineering from UNM and M.S. in Structural Engineering from Stanford University.

Space is limited. Purchase tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/17643 for additional details go to NMnaturalhistory.org or (if seats are available) at the door the night of the event.

Questions: jayne.aubele@state.nm.us or 505-841-2840
The Massachusetts Appeals Court has affirmed a lower courts decision to charge the defendant in a case involving a Boston car accident with motor vehicle insurance fraud. However, the Appeals Court reversed the lower courts decision to also charge the defendant with attempted larceny of property with a value greater than $250.

The ruling in the case, Commonwealth vs. Bryan Driscoll, comes after the defendant obtained compulsory and comprehensive insurance coverage from Commerce Insurance Company for his vehicle in August 2012. In November of that year, a Boston police officer responded to a report of an accident on a country road near Allandale Farm in which the defendants car had been abandoned on the sidewalk after appearing to have crashed into a stone wall.

The defendant filed a single-vehicle accident report with Commerce. Joshua Tucker, a claims adjuster with Commerce, explained that a single-vehicle accident means that a vehicle is damaged and no other vehicles are involved, according to the Appeals Court document.

If that is the case, an insured with collision coverage would be compensated by Commerce for the loss, but a person with only comprehensive coverage, like the defendant, would not be entitled to recover for the loss. However, if the driver strikes an animal and comes to a stop or swerves and goes off the road, the loss would be covered under comprehensive coverage because it involved an animal strike, the Appeals Court document said.

That said, the defendant claimed in his motor vehicle accident report that he hit a bison or moose, which caused him to swerve into a stone wall, and the animal then ran away. No animal was found at the scene, and no hair, fur or blood was found during the inspection of the defendants vehicle, the Appeals Court document stated.

At the time of the accident, Allandale Farm did not have any bison, moose or buffalo, the court document added. The farm had two large Scottish Highland steers, but they did not go missing on the day of the collision. The animals were also examined by a veterinarian who found no evidence that they had been injured. An accident reconstruction expert examined the defendants vehicle and concluded there was no evidence of an animal strike, and the event had not occurred in the way described by the defendant. An appraiser deemed the vehicle a total loss with a value of $5,700.

The Appeals Court determined the lower court jury were warranted in finding the defendant was aware he had comprehensive insurance coverage and not collision coverage on his vehicle, and that he was aware of the differences between these coverages. The Appeals Court ruled it was also reasonable for the jury to infer that prior to the event, the defendant understood if he lost control of his vehicle and struck a wall, his insurance would not cover the loss unless an animal strike was involved.

The defendant was charged by the lower court with one count of motor vehicle insurance fraud and one count of attempted larceny over $250, and the jury found the defendant guilty on both counts. The defendant then appealed.

In order to find a defendant guilty of motor vehicle insurance fraud in Massachusetts, the Commonwealth is required to present evidence proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant, in connection with a claim under a motor vehicle insurance policy issued by an insurer, with the intent to injure, defraud, or deceive such insurer, did knowingly present to it, or aid or abet in or procure the presentation to it, a notice, statement, or proof of loss, knowing that such notice, statement, or proof of loss contained a false or fraudulent statement or representation, of any fact or thing material to such claim, according to Massachusetts law.

The Appeals Court ruled there was sufficient evidence for the jury to prove all of those elements. However, the Commonwealth conceded that the lower court judges instruction on the issue of attempted larceny was insufficient, the Appeals Court document stated. This is because the complaint did not specify the type of attempted larceny charged, and the Commonwealth presented no evidence the defendant took and carried away property.

With that in mind, the Appeals Court affirmed the conviction of insurance fraud but reversed the attempted larceny conviction in the case.
Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance Appoints Paransky EVP and GM of ELM Solutions

Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance, a provider of governance, risk and compliance products to legal and financial professionals, appointed Jonah Paransky to the position of executive vice president and general manager of its ELM Solutions business, which provides enterprise software solutions that facilitate workflow and collaboration across the legal community  connecting corporate legal departments and insurance claims organizations to their trusted law firm partners.

Paransky brings nearly twenty years of experience in B2B software general management, product management and marketing, with a proven record of accomplishment in bringing new products to market. He has held several senior leadership roles with LexisNexis, including vice president and managing director, Product Management of their Business of Law Software Solutions and Managed Technology Services group. Paransky was most recently the CEO of SkyTouch Technology, a Software as a Service (SaaS) provider of property management systems for hotels, where he led the development of the firms comprehensive market, business and sales strategies.

New Kentucky Insurance Commissioner Named

Kentuckys deputy commissioner of the Department of Insurance, a former sales and marketing representative, has been appointed as commissioner of the department.

Nancy G. Atkins worked in the insurance industry for 33 years, both as an agent and employee benefit manager. Before joining the Department of Insurance, she was director of sales and marketing at Bluegrass Family Health Inc.

Atkins is a licensed nurse and also worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kentucky and Advantage Care, Inc.

Former Commissioner Brian Maynard is returning to the private sector.

Hampton Promoted to Assistant Vice President for TPA Alternative Service Concepts

Tenn.-based Alternative Service Concepts (ASC), a national third party claims administrator (TPA), promoted Vickie Hampton to assistant vice president. Hampton is responsible for managing multiple workers compensation and property & casualty claim offices, partnering with several key clients and driving quality and performance through best claim practices. She joined ASC in 2003.

Hampton has more than 20 years experience in the insurance industry. Prior to her AVP appointment, she held the position of claims manager and senior claims adjuster. Her former background includes a position as a litigated indemnity claims adjuster.

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty Announces Key Appointments

Allianz Groups specialist corporate insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) announced several personnel appointments within the Cyber, Engineering and Programs lines of business.

Jenny Soubra has been appointed head of Cyber and Specialty PI (CPI) for the United States. Tim Cook is the new head of Engineering, North America and Tobel Thomas has been promoted to West Zone Programs team leader. For his new role, Cook will relocate from London to New York and both Soubra and Thomas will be based in San Francisco.

Utilizing nearly 20 years of financial lines underwriting experience, Soubra will set the strategy for and lead a team of U.S. underwriters focused on cyber and specialty errors and omissions risks. Most recently, Soubra was the National Practice leader for the CPI team and prior to AGCS, she held a variety of senior underwriting positions with Zurich, CNA, and ACE Group.

As head of Engineering, Cook will be responsible for partnering with brokers to drive new opportunities and growth in this space. Cook joined Allianz over 17 years ago and has filled multiple roles within the organization. Prior to this appointment, he served as head of Engineering for Regional Unit London since 2012. Cook began his career as a claims broker for Sedgwick International and then gained further experience working for a variety of organizations, including Cigna and Assurance General de France in London.

As the team leader of Programs in the West Zone, Thomas will be responsible for developing and implementing growth strategies. At AGCS, programs business is defined as groups of similar clients in search of differentiated products and services. He will also lead a team of experienced underwriters in generating profitable new and renewal business. Tobel joins AGCS from Samsung Fire & Marine where he established and built the Northwest business. Prior to this, he served as Middle Market Sales underwriter for The Hartford, specializing in Multi-line Package and Workers Compensation Production Underwriter for Technology, Life Science and Renewable Energy accounts.
Changes occurring in Washington, D.C., and in local governments  combined with technological advances and shifts in how work is performed  is creating an unprecedented level of uncertainty in the workplace, according to a survey by Littler, a global employment and labor law practice representing management.

The sixth annual Littler Annual Employer Survey, contained responses from 1,229 in-house counsel, human resources professionals and C-suite executives.

Complex Patchwork of State and Local Laws, Deep Uncertainty at Federal Level

The vast majority of employers expect the Trump administration to prioritize reforming healthcare and employee benefits law (89 percent) and immigration policies (85 percent) in 2017. However, for most regulatory issues, the percentage of respondents who anticipate an impact on their workplace over the next year remains relatively unchanged from last years survey. That includes the Affordable Care Act (85 percent in 2016 to 83 percent in 2017) and enforcement by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (78 percent to 76 percent), National Labor Relations Board (56 percent to 55 percent) and Department of Labor (82 percent to 81 percent). Immigration reform was the exception as 63 percent said they expect an impact in 2017, up from 40 percent in 2016.

With the profound changes in Washington, D.C., it may be initially surprising that respondents do not anticipate more of a near-term impact on their businesses, said Michael Lotito, co-chair of Littlers Workplace Policy Institute. However, given the general climate of uncertainty and delays in appointments to government agencies, employers likely expect it to take time before they start to see how the presidents agenda is carried out and personally feel an impact in their workplaces.

The host of new or amended labor and employment requirements at the state and local levels is creating compliance challenges for the majority of respondents (79 percent). In an effort to keep up, employers are updating their policies, handbooks and HR procedures (85 percent); providing additional employee training (54 percent); and conducting internal audits (50 percent).

As states and municipalities continue to propose and enact a dizzying array of rules and regulations, it is no wonder employers are struggling with the increasingly fragmented landscape, said Lotito. With the Trump administration working to reduce federal regulations, employers can expect a growing patchwork of employment regulations as states and municipalities look to fill a perceived void at the federal level.

Of the array of changes at the state and local levels, respondents have been most impacted by paid leave mandates (59 percent), background check restrictions (48 percent) and minimum wage increases (47 percent).

Uncertainty Surrounding Healthcare Reform

Even though survey responses were collected before Republicans withdrew the American Health Care Act in late March, more than a quarter (27 percent) were already uncertain about the impact of repealing the ACAs employer mandate. And another 28 percent said they did not anticipate an impact at all.

Employers face even more questions about the future of the ACA, as well as the extent to which the administrative process can and will be used to change aspects of the law, than when they responded to our survey, said Ilyse Schuman, co-chair of Littlers Workplace Policy Institute. In this environment, employers can continue to expect a certain level of uncertainty surrounding employer-sponsored health coverage in the months ahead.

Only 4 percent of respondents anticipate dropping coverage for some full-time employees if they are relieved of the ACAs employer mandate, but 18 percent said they would allow more employees to work more than 30 hours a week.

The responses indicate that employers are committed to providing health insurance for their full-time employees, said Steven Friedman, co-chair of Littlers Employee Benefits Practice. However, they also suggest that a repeal of the mandate would give employers more flexibility to set work schedules based on the needs of their businesses, without fear of triggering a requirement to provide health insurance.

EEOC Expected to Prioritize Hiring Practices, LGBTQ Rights and Pay Equity

Hiring practices  including the consideration of criminal or credit histories in the hiring process and pre-employment testing or screening practices  was the area where most respondents (51 percent) expected an increase in EEOC workplace discrimination claims over the next year, closely followed by LGBTQ rights (46 percent) and equal pay (46 percent).

The transitions in Washington, D.C., appear to have curtailed employers expectations for EEOC enforcement activity around LGBTQ rights and equal pay, which rose sharply in the 2016 survey, when 74 percent and 61 percent of respondents, respectively, expected increased enforcement around those issues, said Barry Hartstein, co-chair of Littlers EEO & Diversity Practice. Nonetheless employers continue to expect substantial enforcement over the next year as pay equity and discrimination based on sexual orientation remain priorities not only for the EEOC, but for the courts, state and local governments, the plaintiffs bar and the general public.

FMLA Leave Presents Headaches

Among the employee requests that are most difficult to accommodate, leaves of absences under the Family and Medical Leave Act emerged as the presenting the greatest challenges. The majority of respondents indicated difficulty with managing intermittent FMLA leave (65 percent) and leaves that extend beyond FMLA requirements (55 percent), followed by remote or work-from-home arrangements (37 percent) and modified or reduced schedules (36 percent).

Nothing is more disruptive to the operation of a business than unpredictability. When employees are repeatedly and unexpectedly off work, employers have to scramble to cover their responsibilities and manage potential resentment from employees who are inevitably asked to do more, said Hartstein. The increasingly common practice of requesting flexible work arrangements is also creating a whole new layer of legal and practical challenges for employers.

Data Privacy and Breach Prevention Top of Mind

As the volume of data breaches originating with employees continues to grow, 63 percent of respondents said their HR and IT departments are collaborating on information security policies. Just over half (51 percent) said they were providing additional training to employees, and a smaller percentage said they were utilizing cyber-incident response plans (29 percent) and updating employee contracts to cover confidentiality obligations (23 percent).

It is encouraging to see HR collaborating with IT to reduce the risk of data breaches that originate with employees. Information security policies prepared only by IT often focus on technical safeguards, whereas involving HR in the process helps to address the human elements of information security, said Philip Gordon, co-chair of Littlers Privacy and Background Checks Practice. However, our results suggest that employers can take additional steps to guard against and prepare for employee-initiated data breaches, including ensuring all employees are trained on policies and know how to recognize and then report a security incident.

Among respondents from large-cap organizations, the majority (56 percent) said global data privacy was a key area of concern in doing business outside of the U.S. This concern likely stems from the significant restrictions on sharing personal data of employees in Europe and in the many countries that impose stricter rules than the U.S., noted Philip Berkowitz, U.S. co-chair of Littlers International Employment Law Practice.

The survey results were released at Littlers 34th annual Executive Employer Conference held May 10-12, 2017, in Phoenix, Arizona, and attended by many of the employers who completed the survey.

Source: Littler
President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have put the health and rights of women and low-income families in the political cross-hairs. We are facing the worst political attacks on equal health care in a lifetime, from trying to undermine maternity care through the ACA repeal, "defunding" Planned Parenthood, and eliminating protections for Title X family planning.

Now, more than ever, Montanans need elected officials who are going to fight to protect access to healthcare. Yet in interviews with the Independent Record and at the MTN debate, Greg Gianforte, candidate for the U.S. House, said that he would vote to defund Planned Parenthood if elected.

Greg Gianforte doesn't get it. When Gianforte says he wants to "defund" Planned Parenthood, what he's really saying is that he wants to block Montanans covered by Medicaid from accessing basic family planning information, birth control and cancer screenings.

Lets set the record straight: Planned Parenthood funding is not a line item in the federal budget. Just like hospitals and doctor's offices, Planned Parenthood is reimbursed for the care it provides to patients who are covered by Medicaid. And it has nothing to do with abortion. Federal law already prohibits Medicaid taxpayer dollars from paying for abortion services. The services that would be affected by a "defunding" are birth control, life-saving cancer screenings, and access to basic family planning information. Who would lose access to these services?

Low-income families and women who rely on Medicaid.

Unequal access to health care is not a Montana value. "Defunding" Planned Parenthood is not Montana a value. And stripping people of their right to choose the health care provider of their choice is not only against Montana values, it's dangerous for our state.

I want my friends, family and neighbors to have equal access to health care and reliable information on family planning. They provide high-quality, compassionate care with an emphasis on privacy and autonomy. These are Montana values, and I am now the board chairwoman of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana where Im proud advocate for reproductive freedom.

More than half of Planned Parenthood health centers are in rural or medically under-served communities. In 68 percent of counties with a Planned Parenthood health center, Planned Parenthood serves at least half of low-income patients that seek family planning. Taking away Planned Parenthood would leave many of these patients with nowhere else to go for care.

Planned Parenthood in Montana provides over 9,200 STI tests, nearly 3,000 pap tests, over 4,300 breast exams, and over 33,000 birth control visits annually. These are the services that are affected by defunding.

Montanans have a unique opportunity to elect the voice of our state in the U.S. House next week.

The choice is very clear: Rob Quist has been an outspoken champion for Montanans, including women and families. He doesn't want politicians getting involved in women's personal health care decisions nor does he want to increase inequality in health care. He understands that Montanans need more access to health care, not less. And he has promised to fight back in Congress against any attempts to defund Planned Parenthood.

Quality health care should be available to all, regardless of income or gender. Its time we elect a leader who understands that.
An Oklahoma civil appeals court ruled in favor of an employer and its insurer in affirming an order by the Oklahoma Workers Compensation Commission, asserting an employers right to direct the medical treatment of an injured worker where it lacks knowledge of injury.

According to court documents, the claimant was injured at work on September 10,2015. On October 15, 2015, the claimant filed his formal notice of claim alleging injury to the left shoulder and neck. During treatment for the shoulder, the claimant did complain of neck; however, subsequent tests did not show any diagnosis related to the neck. On November 24, 2015, the employer admitted the shoulder injury, but denied the neck injury.

The employer and its insurer, represented by the law firm of Adelson, Testan, Brundo, Novell & Jimenez, relied on an initial diagnosis that didnt reveal one of two job-related injuries (involving the shoulder and neck) sustained by a worker that arose from a single incident.

When a subsequent diagnosis revealed the neck injury, the injured worker sought to choose his own physician for related treatment. An administrative law judge ruled in favor of the employee, but that decision was overturned by the Oklahoma Workers Compensation Commission, which affirmed the employers right to direct the treatment.

The courts analysis relied on the interpretation of Oklahomas Administrative Workers Compensation Act, 85 O.S. 50 (B) In order for an injured worker to be able to choose the physician the following must occur: (1) The employer must have actual knowledge of an injury; (2) The date on which employer has received actual knowledge must be established; and, (3) The actual knowledge date triggers a five day period for employer to provide medical treatment. Then, if the employer fails or neglects to provide medical treatment within five (5) days after actual knowledge is received of an injury, the injured employee may select a physician to provide medical treatment at the expense of the employer.

According to the courts analysis, there was no indication of a neck injury prior to a February 2016 EMG.

In the case before the appellate court, Edward E. Bray, petitioner v. Precofacet Houston, LLC, Travelers Indemnity Co. of America and the Oklahoma Workers Compensation Commission (Docket #115,209), Hon. Keith Rapp ruled in favor of the employer and its insurer.

The Bray decision reinforces the Oklahoma legislatures intent that the employer has the right to choose the injured workers treating physician even when a previously denied injury is found compensable, said Jill Fidelie, managing partner, Adelson, Testan, Brundo, Novell & Jimenez in Oklahoma City.
AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron woman was sentenced to two years of probation for starving four dogs.

Angel Facemire, 52, entered a guilty plea Monday to charges of prohibitions concerning companion animals, Summit County Prosecutor's Office spokesman James Pollack said.

Facemire can not have any kind of animal during the two years of probation, according to the prosecutor's office.

The Humane Society of Greater Akron, which has the four dogs, can check in on Facemire any time during those two years without warning, prosecutors say.

The dogs, ages 2 to 5 years old, are doing well, Humane Society President and CEO Diane Johnson said.

The dogs have been named Austin, Josephine, Pandora and Preston. Austin, Pandora and Preston will be available for adoption when the Humane Society opens its doors at 1 p.m. Thursday, Johnson said. Josephine needs more time before she's ready for adoption, she added.

"She is one of the worst cases we have seen," she said. "She was severely emaciated. Now's she gained more than 35 pounds. She's more than doubled her weight since she's been here."

All the dogs were emaciated, but not as bad as Josephine, Johnson said.

Josephine is now 83 pounds. She was 39 pounds when police found her, prosecutors say. Pandora is 45 pounds after weighing 36.6 pounds at the home. Austin is 75.2 pounds, up from 48.6 pounds. Preston weighs 68 pounds and was 43.4 pounds when picked up.

Officers went to the Facemires' Wilbur Avenue home March 7 searching for Richard Facemire who was wanted on an outstanding drug warrant. Police found a small amount of methamphetamine in his pants pocket when he was arrested, police said.

The dogs didn't have food or water, police said, and it appeared that they were kept in cages for extended periods of time.

Facemire's husband, Richard, was sentenced earlier this month.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section.

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AKRON, Ohio - Investigators working to determine the cause of an Akron house fire that killed two adults and five children expect to have preliminary evidence testing results Wednesday, officials said.

Investigators collected evidence at the scene Monday and Tuesday and sent it to a laboratory for testing. It's unclear whether test results will allow investigators to determine a preliminary cause of the blaze, the Ohio Fire Marshal's Office said.

Officials do not expect to have an update on the fire until Wednesday afternoon at the earliest, fire marshal's spokeswoman Kelly Stincer said. An update on the fire could come sooner if there are any new developments, she said.

Investigators have declined to specify what evidence they collected at the scene of the Monday fire that destroyed a house on Fultz Street near East Avenue. It equaled a 1994 blaze as the deadliest house fire in the city's history, officials said.

Angela Boggs, 38, and her longtime boyfriend Dennis Huggins, 35, were killed along with their children Jered Boggs, 14; Daisia Huggins, 6; Kylle Huggins, 5; Alivia Huggins, 3; and Cameron Huggins, 1. The family's dog also died in the fire, officials said.

Akron Fire Chief Clarence Tucker said Monday that investigators could not "rule out the possibility of arson" due to the severity of the blaze. The Akron Fire Department, Ohio Fire Marshal's Office and police are working to determine its cause.

Authorities took a 47-year-old man into custody as part of the investigation, but he has not been charged in connection with the fire and is not considered a suspect at this time, police said.

The man was arrested on an undisclosed parole violation and remains in custody at the Portage County Jail.

The man has previous convictions for aggravated arson, arson and domestic violence, Portage County Common Pleas Court records show. Angela Boggs obtained a protection order against the man after those charges were filed in 2001, court records show.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohioans like their food.

All over Ohio, different regions tout their specialties and declare themselves the home of a particular treat. You'll even see different cities fight over the title of best in Ohio for the same food (read: ice cream. I'm talking about you Mitchell's, Graeter's and Jeni's).

This week, though, as we contemplate northern Ohio breaking off to create the 51st state of Western Reserve, let's talk about the two big ones. Cleveland's pierogi and Cincinnati's chili have been staples in their cities for years.

So what do you think? Which city has the better staple? Vote in the poll below. And let us know your reasoning in the comments section.

Here in Cleveland the pierogi reigns. Anything from the traditional pierogi to pierogi tacos can be found in Northeast Ohio. And it's not a new phenomenon. Sokolowski's University Inn has been serving the Polish treat for more than 90 years.

Down in the southern part of the state you can find Cincinnati chili, or chili atop spaghetti, in more than 180 chili parlors, well beyond the quintessential Skyline Chili. Which is why Cincinnati has dubbed itself the true chili capital, according to What's Cooking America.

Each Ohio region represents a different ideology, dialect, way of life and political leaning. But the tastiest distinction is cuisine.

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Brecksville will rebuild Royalton Road between Brecksville Road and the city's western border this summer.

(Bob Sandrick, special to cleveland.com)

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - The city will pay Catts Construction Inc., a Cleveland-area contractor, $3.4 million to rebuild Ohio 82 between Brecksville Road and the western municipal border.

City Council approved the contract Tuesday night. Catts had submitted the lowest of seven bids for the job. The second-lowest bid, from Tri-Mor Corp. in Twinsburg, was just $30,800 higher than Catts' price.

Anthony Allega Cement Contractor Inc. in Valley View bid $3.68 million; Karvo Cos. Inc. in Stow bid $3.75 million; Terrace Construction Co. in Cleveland bid $3.77 million; Perk Co. Inc. in Cleveland bid $3.79 million; and Fabrizi Trucking & Paving Co. in Middleburg Heights bid $4 million for the 82 reconstruction.

"I was very happy to see the bids come in at the prices we got," city Engineer Gerald Wise told council Tuesday.

Wise said he hopes the reconstruction project will begin at the end of June.

Earlier this month, council authorized the administration to borrow $4.3 million to pay for the 82-reconstruction project. A $1.2 million grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation will help cover the cost.

The city started planning for the 82 rebuild last summer. At the time, Mayor Jerry Hruby said the road was a bumpy ride for drivers. Storm water has been infiltrating the surface, and when the water freezes and thaws, it breaks up the street.

The reconstruction project will include new curbs and gutters, and workers will replace the median between the eastbound and westbound lanes. The median will have new grass and plants.

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Perry nuclear

The Ohio House Public Utilities Committee has suspended any further hearings on legislation proposed by FirstEnergy to create a special charge to subsidize its nuclear power plant fleet, including the Perry plant in Lake County. The end of hearings means there will be no vote to move the legislation to the full House.

(JOHN KUNTZ)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The chairman of the Ohio House Public Utilities Committee has suspended further hearings -- and a vote -- on a proposed bill allowing FirstEnergy to create a special customer charge to subsidize its nuclear power plant fleet.

"We have heard over 10 hours of testimony on this bill [House Bill 178]. I have given proponents and opponents a chance to make their case," said William Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican who chairs the committee.

"I am not sensing a keen desire on the part of the House members to vote on this and doubt that we will have more hearings in the near future unless something cataclysmic should happen."

Cataclysmic events might include a decision by FirstEnergy Solutions to seek bankruptcy protection from its creditors or a decision by the company to immediately close its four nuclear power plants.

FirstEnergy Solutions, the unregulated subsidiary of FirstEnergy, is legally the owner of all of the company's power plants. FirstEnergy Solutions has been operating with junk bond ratings for some time.

Its parent has tried to distance itself from the company, even creating a separate board of directors, which includes two FirstEnergy employees. But FirstEnergy recently had to guarantee a cash settlement between FirstEnergy Solutions and several railroad companies claiming breach of contract when FirstEnergy Solutions closed coal-fired power plants along Lake Erie and declined further deliveries.

Seitz earlier suggested a compromise -- allowing FirstEnergy's customers to opt out of the nuclear zero emission charge. That's the same provision he included in legislation about the state's renewable energy mandates.

"It seemed to find favor with many of my colleagues but not with FirstEnergy. I think they really need the $300 million," Seitz said, referring to the amount of money the nuclear charge would add to FirstEnergy's annual income. The bill would authorize the extra charge for the next 15 years, raising billions of dollars for the company.

Seitz' decision comes just a day before Chuck Jones, CEO of FirstEnergy, is scheduled to appear before the Ohio Senate Public Utilities Committee. A company spokesman said news of no further hearings is a surprise and that Jones still intends to make an appearance.

Jones is the only witness listed on the Senate committee's website for Thursday. The committee is expected to wait for the House to do its work and send the legislation to the Senate before holding additional hearings.

In an interview Tuesday following the company's annual shareholder meeting in Akron, Jones said he had been talking to the U.S. Department of Energy in an effort to seek a national solution to the plight of nuclear power plants, most of which are not able to generate power as cheaply as new gas turbine plants.

Nearly a dozen gas turbine power plants are planned for or are already under construction in Ohio. They will burn shale gas from Ohio and Pennsylvania. Plant developers say the combined cycle turbines are twice as efficient as coal or nuclear power plants.
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A federal judge sentenced an Akron man to be deported Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to lying about his role in Bosnian war crimes while trying to find refuge in the U.S.

(File photo)

AKRON, Ohio - An Akron man who failed to tell authorities that he was part of a military group that engaged in war crimes in the former Yugoslavia while he was applying for refugee status in the U.S. will be deported.

Ilija Josipovic, 59, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of immigration documents procured by fraud. He was also sentenced to eight months of house arrest, on top of the deportation demand, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Ohio.

In 2002, Josipovic failed to disclose to federal authorities that he served as a member of the Zvornik Infantry Brigade in the army of Republika Srpska from 1992 to 1996, prosecutors said. The omission was made while he applied for refugee status.

Josipovic also made a false claim in 2004 on forms used to get permanent residency status in the U.S., and a permanent residency card - obtained by false means - was used to help him get a driver's license in 2012, the news release states.

The Republika Srpska's leaders targeted Muslims in the early to mid-1990s in an attempt to create an ethnically pure Serbian race. More than 100,000 people died in the conflict between 1992 and 1995.

"This defendant hid the fact that he was a member of a unit involved in atrocities in the former Yugoslavia," said David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. "He does not deserve the protections and rights of a U.S. citizen when his conduct flew in the face of our nation's founding ideals."

Josipovic was the third person from the Akron area charged by federal prosecutors for hiding their involvement in the Bosnian war. Slobodan Mutic, was sentenced to two years in prison in January 2016, and Oliver Dragic of Barberton pleaded not guilty to similar charges after he was arrested in August 2016. The case is still pending.

If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland man who served as a getaway driver during a carjacking in Tremont in 2015 and also testified against two members of the Heartless Felons gang was sentenced Wednesday to 70 months in federal prison.

Calvin Rembert, 24, apologized to U.S. District Judge Patricia Gaughan, saying he felt horrible for taking part in an armed robbery in which a victim was pistol-whipped.

"No one deserves to be treated like that," Rembert said.

Rembert was charged with participating in a carjacking on July 25, 2015. He has said he stayed in the car and that the whole robbery took between two and three minutes.

His 70-month sentence was borne out of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in which he agreed to testify against Kenneth Jackson and Antowine Palmer, two gang members who participated in a series of armed car robberies in July and August 2015 that left the Tremont neighborhood on edge.

Rembert did so last month, implicating Jackson and Palmer for the carjacking in which he participated. Both were convicted and are awaiting sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Galvin said Wednesday that Rembert was the least culpable of the five people charged.

David Grant, Rembert's attorney, characterized his client not as a member of the Felons but rather a "follower" who hung out with the wrong people.

Gaughan told Rembert that she was "absolutely appalled and sickened" by his actions and the actions of his co-defendants, but she thought Rembert was "in a much different position" than the others involved.

Prosecutors said at Jackson and Palmer's trial that the Heartless Felons Broadway sect, of which Jackson and Palmer were members, was feuding with another Heartless Felons group from the Fleet neighborhood and needed new cars to drive after carrying out drive-by shootings against rivals.

The group targeted the Tremont neighborhood because of its ample street parking.

Rembert was one of two who testified against Jackson and Palmer. But unlike his testimony, the time Tervon'tae Taylor spent on the stand did not go as well.

Taylor, who also pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, refused to implicate Jackson and Palmer in any but one of the carjackings. He said he either did them himself or refused to identify who else was involved.

The testimony -- or lack thereof -- forced prosecutors to drop several charges against Jackson and Palmer, a move that clearly displeased Gaughan.

Taylor's plea agreement is now in jeopardy. Gaughan will sentence him June 9.

A fifth co-defendant, D'wan Dillard, was sentenced last week.

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section.

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An investigation found that a Carbon County commissioner took county equipment for his own use and for a friend's business, according to charges filed in April.

Douglas Dean Tucker, 51, was charged with felony theft after he allegedly misled detectives on the use of about $9,000 worth of equipment.

The case was investigated by Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office detectives and will be prosecuted by Deputy Yellowstone County Attorney Christopher Morris.

Tucker is accused of taking trencher and roller attachments for skid steers. Tucker acquired the equipment in 2012 for the county as part of a deal with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Prosecutors say throughout the second half of 2016, Tucker brought the trencher and roller attachments to his neighbor, Jason Stene, who runs JNR Excavating out of Joliet.

When questioned by detectives, Tucker initially said the attachments didn't work on the county skid steer, so he brought them to Stene to test on his skid steer, court documents state.

Multiple witnesses told detectives that the attachments worked on the county skid steer, which is a small, front-end loader.

Stene told investigators that Tucker approached him with the equipment, saying that they needed minor repairs, charges state. According to Stene, Tucker said to "go ahead and use them and we'll share them with our friends if they need to use them," according to court documents.

Even though the equipment was marked with "county," Stene said that he didn't know it was currently owned by Carbon County. Charging documents say Tucker introduced the items as surplus tools.

Stene said he brought the equipment out on two jobs but it wasn't operational.

The equipment was here," he said on Wednesday. "I tried to fix the equipment and it didnt work.

Stene has not been charged in the case.

Another friend of Tucker's told detectives that Tucker offered the equipment to him, but he didn't use them.

Detectives approached Tucker again in March, when he admitted to lending the county equipment for Stene's business, according to charges. He also used the equipment to do work for his fiancee's family, the documents state.

Tucker is the presiding officer on the Carbon County Board of Commissioners. He was last elected in 2014 after he ran unopposed.

Tucker is expected to continue participating in county meetings scheduled for Thursday. His arraignment is scheduled for June 21.
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A lawsuit filed Tuesday says Ohio's internet harassment law is overly broad.

(cleveland.com file photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A liberal blog and conservative group filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday to challenge an Ohio law passed last year that prohibits internet harassment, saying it's overly broad and infringes on the First Amendment.

The law was passed in April 2016 and went into effect in August. It says "no person shall knowingly post a text or audio statement or an image on an internet web site or web page for the purpose of abusing, threatening or harassing another person." A first-time violation of this law is considered a first-degree misdemeanor.

The lawsuit was filed by the liberal blog Plunderbund, the Portage County Tea Party. Also included as plaintiffs are John Spinelli, who frequently writes for Plunderbund, and Tom Zawistowski, head of the Portage County Tea Party.

The plaintiffs claim the law's language is overly broad and prohibits critical speech of public officials. Both groups publish opinions critical of public officials and their court filings say they are not covered under an exception in Ohio law provided for media outlets.

The groups are asking a judge to block the law while the case is pending and to ultimately find the law unconstitutional.

It acknowledges that the groups sometimes put "invective, ridicule and strong language intended to mock, lampoon or call into question the actions, motives and public policy positions of various figures" in its articles. However, that speech is protected and should not be subject to criminal sanctions, the suit says.

"In sum, the Plaintiffs engage in core political expression of a sort squarely within the heartland of what the First Amendment protects, and yet legitimately fear prosecution under the statute based upon the provocative and critical nature of what they publish," the groups state in a filing asking for a preliminary injunction.

The suit, filed by UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh and Cleveland attorney Raymond Vasvari, says the law "criminalizes speech about an unwilling subject."

The lawsuit says it is not challenging the prohibition on threatening statements posted online.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien and Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci are also named as defendants. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi in Akron.

Ohio Attorney General's Office spokesman Dan Tierney said the office has been made aware of the lawsuit and will respond accordingly.

The bill that passed last year was put forth by Rep. Marlene Anielski, a Walton Hills Republican. It was inspired by Broadview Heights resident Lori Siwik, who said she and her family were victims of harassment and stalking in 2005 and 2006.

Siwik said a neighbor created a website to harass her and her husband. Siwik said police told her there was nothing they could do.

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Delores and Isaac Knight, along with two others, were sentenced Wednesday for bilking the federal government out of more than $8 million in a home health-care scheme.

(cleveland.com file photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A mother and son were sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for a multimillion-dollar scheme to fraudulently bill government medical programs through a Northeast Ohio home health-care company.

Delores Knight, 71, of Cleveland Heights was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Isaac Knight, 30, of Macedonia, was given a sentence of more than seven years.

Both were found guilty at trial in January of a scheme that defrauded government programs out of more than $8 million. Prosecutors say the Knights, along with three others, ran Just Like Familee II Inc. and Just Like Familee III Inc., which provided health care services for the elderly and the disabled from their offices in Cleveland Heights, Twinsburg and Mentor.

They collected millions by preparing and submitting forged documents to Medicare, Medicaid and the VA for services they never provided. The paperwork said many clients had received visits, yet those same clients did not receive any care.

Prosecutors said Delores Knight was the ringleader.

Three others were indicted in the scheme following a multi-agency investigation. Sonja Ferrell, the company's nursing director, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in federal prison and Juliet Bonner, the company's bookkeeper, was placed on home detention for eight months.

Both testified against the Knights.

U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent allowed the defendants to report to prison at a later date. He ordered all of the defendants to pay back the more than $8.1 million they fraudulently obtained.

He also ordered the forfeiture of the illegally obtained money, as well as a home Delores Knight owned in Macedonia and a house her daughter purchased in Twinsburg.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Bennett said the group's actions were "affecting our most vulnerable population."

Delores Knight told the judge before her sentencing that she didn't do anything wrong. In a speech in which she got increasingly worked up, she claimed she was not getting rich and she often had to pay business expenses out of her own pocket.

She said she had tried to do the right thing.

"I wouldn't knowingly do anything wrong," Delores Knight said.

Isaac Knight said he did not know about the fraud and that nobody at trial pointed to him at trial as the one giving the orders.

Nugent told the Knights that he is bound by the jury's verdict and must act accordingly.

Theresa Adams, Delores Knight's daughter, was also charged but died of cancer shortly after her indictment.

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - The soon-to-open Edgewater Beach House played a big role in the programming for the 2017 Edgewater Live Thursday evening series.

"The Beach House is a big component; it was really important for us to bring it to life and activate it," says Kelly Manderfield, Cleveland Metroparks chief marketing officer, of the two-story $4.3 million beach house, plaza and trails that the Metroparks have added to Edgewater Park through the winter.

The second level will have an open-air walkway that connects to the West 76th Street tunnel. The facility is slated to open later this month.

Each week, Edgewater Live will kick off at 4:30 p.m. on the Centennial Plaza at the Beach House with performers from the Tri-C Creative Arts Program. The fun will then move over to the RTA Main Stage for the 6 p.m. headliner. The concerts run from June 8 to Aug. 10. See full schedule below.

Though the Beach House will serve food and drinks, each week will also feature a variety of food trucks. Guests will be able to celebrate happy hour on the second floor of the Beach House.

The partnership with Cuyahoga Community College is new this year.

"Tri-C was looking for an activity to highlight their creative arts program," says Manderfield.

The Metroparks were looking to ways to lengthen the evening for what has quickly become one of the biggest summer events in Cleveland. "Cleveland Metroparks is excited to partner with Tri-C, bringing their performing arts program center stage and doubling the entertainment lineup this season," says Manderfield.

Last year, Edgewater Live attracted more than 100,000 fans over nine weeks.

"When we first started planning for it in 2014, we saw it as a new happy hour to target the after-work folks driving home from downtown. But we ended up with something much bigger than that," says Manderfield.

"It really became a community celebration. When we took over the lakefront, special events like this were one of the main points the community asked for."

Another lakefront area taken over by the Metroparks, Euclid Beach, will host a full summer of live music with the Euclid Beach Live Friday night concerts, beginning June 9. These concerts will also feature food trucks.

New this year is a Euclid Beach "Cleveland" script sign -- the larger-than-life letters that have become an iconic visual and selfie station for Clevelanders and visitors alike. Now they can take their "This is CLE" picture from the East Side of downtown.

2017 Edgewater Live Concert Schedule

June 8: Faction (rock/pop)

June 15: Breakfast Club ('80s pop )

June 22: The Caliber Band (country)

June 29:Shout! (Motown)

July 6: Carlos Jones (reggae)

July 13: Welshly Arms (rock)

July 20: Abby Normal & The Detroit Lean (covers)

July 27: Kinsman Dazz Band (R&B)

Aug. 3: Collage (rock)

Aug. 10: The Spazmatics ('80s & '90s)

2017 Euclid Beach Live Concert Schedule

June 9: Disco Inferno ('70s)

June 16: Horns and Things (jazz)

June 23: Sending Up Songs of Praise (gospel)

June 30: Angel P & The Creative Players (R&B)

July 7: Kinsman Dazz Band (R&B)

July 14: Jah Messengers (reggae )

July 21: Prime Time Big Band (Big Band)

July 28: The Williams Project (R&B)

Aug. 4: Spirit Plus Band (R&B )

Aug. 11: Billy Morris and the Sunset Strip (rock)

For weekly event updates, including details of the Tri-C opening act lineup: clevelandmetroparks.com/EdgewaterLIVE and clevelandmetroparks.com/EuclidBeachLIVE.
AKRON, Ohio - If a restaurant's name is fun to say it can't be bad, right? Wally Waffle has moved a bit, from Wallhaven to downtown Akron to a location in the fun Highland Square area. A second location in Tallmadge will be moving soon, too. Here's what to expect:

Locations: We checked out WW in Highland Square - 845 W. Market St., Akron, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. It seats 75 people. There is a second spot in Tallmadge, but it will be moving to a larger location at 100 North Ave., in July.

History: The restaurant started in 1975, with the original location in Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood. The Miletti brothers are the third-generation owners; their grandfather founded the restaurant.

Getting there: The Highland Square spot is on the same side of the street as Mustard Seed Market and Cafe and across from the Highland Theatre. It's 2 miles from downtown Akron.

Artistic touch: The walls boast iconic Akron artist Don Drumm's large, pewter sun-face overlooking diners. His studio is 3 miles from the restaurant.

Eats: Yes, you can get varying sizes of pancake and French Toast stacks, as well as omelets and egg plates. But it's the waffles you come here for. One of the more loaded ones is Better Day, with apples, raisins, carrots, pecans, coconut, pineapple and sliced bananas. Having a sweet tooth doesn't hurt. Try a Turtle Waffle, with chocolate chips and pecans cooked inside the waffle, which is topped with whipped cream and caramel. Or munch on the red-, white- and blue-themed Patriot: Glazed strawberries and blueberries, with whipped cream and bananas.

Don't miss: Can't decide between biscuits and gravy or a classic waffle? Try the alliterative What in the Waffle? It has bacon and sausage gravy in the waffle, and a pair of sunny-side-up eggs blanket the waffle. An all-in-one breakfast.

Price is right: Nothing on the menu, for breakfast or lunch, tops $10.

Add-on: For a buck, you can load up Wally fries with green pepper, onion and cheese.

Parking: There's a lot out back.

Past brunches: Like brunch? Here are other restaurants I have visited:

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to donate.
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Authorities have identified remains found in Brooklyn as Roaa Al-Dhannoon.

(File photo)

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office and Lakewood police said that the remains of a woman found Monday near a Brooklyn ravine belong to Roaa Al-Dhannoon, a 25-year-old Lakewood woman who has been missing since October.

Lakewood police are expected to address her mysterious disappearance at a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday.

Al-Dhannoon was last seen Oct. 16 at her Edgewater Drive apartment in Lakewood. A family member reported her missing Oct. 19. Friends and family members told investigators that they were concerned for her well-being because she had never been away from her 3-year-old son.

No one has been charged in her death.

Her ex-husband, Fahad Mohammed Saeed, faces charges that accuse him of violating a restraining order prior to her disappearance. He is accused of contacting his ex wife and their son in violation of the order, investigators said.

He pleaded guilty in Lakewood Municipal Court, records show. He is currently serving a six-month sentence.

Another man, Ammar Sami, 21, is charged with obstruction of justice in her disappearance. Sami is accused of providing false information to the Lakewood Police Department and the Cleveland Division of the FBI.

He pleaded no contest May 1 and was found guilty, according to court records. He is scheduled to be sentenced at 11 a.m. May 25.

Lakewood police, the Cleveland, FBI and the Medical Examiner's Officer focused on the ravine located along a stretch of Big Creek south of Memphis Avenue and east of Tiedeman Road.

Authorities came across a container with the biological remains. The FBI's Evidence Response Team sifted through dirt near the Big Creek behind Parkview Estate Apartments.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section.

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Authorities have found more than 60 guns at the home of an Ohio man accused of fatally shooting three people, including his former girlfriend and a new police chief on May 12, 2017. (Evan MacDonald, cleveland.com)

NEWARK, Ohio -- Authorities have found more than 60 guns at the home of an Ohio man accused of fatally shooting three people, including his former girlfriend and a new police chief.

The Newark Advocate reports the guns were found Friday at 43-year-old Thomas Hartless' home just hours after he killed Kirkersville Police Chief Steven Eric DiSario, nurse Marlina Medrano and nurse's aide Cindy Krantz at the Pine Kirk Care Center before killing himself.

Authorities say Medrano had obtained civil protection orders against Hartless in connection with domestic violence cases.

Hartless was freed in April after his latest domestic violence case. A judge acknowledges "mistakes were made" and says he will review how similar cases are handled.

Funerals are scheduled Friday for Medrano and Saturday for DiSario. A memorial service is planned Wednesday for Krantz.
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The Ford Ohio Production Plant in Avon Lake and the Ford Engine Plant in Brook Park were spared from a 10 percent near worldwide staff reduction by the Ford Motor Company. (Michael Sangiacomo / Plain Dealer)

AVON LAKE, Ohio - The near-global 10 percent workforce reduction of Ford operations will not affect the Ford plants in Avon Lake or Brook Park.

Ford Spokesman Mike Moran said the Ford Engine Plant in Brook Park and Ford Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake are exempt because "plant manufacturing has its work force levels tied to our production."

Last week, Ford announced a summer layoff of 130 workers at the assembly plant in Avon Lake. The workers were laid off Monday and are expected to return to work Sept. 30 when production of the redesigned F-650 and F-750 trucks for 2018 will begin.

United Auto Workers union officials in Avon Lake and Brook Park did not return calls for comment on the latest news.

In a news release, Moran said the new round of layoffs would affect 1,400 people in North America and the Asia Pacific region as part of an "accelerated attack on costs throughout the business."

"We remain focused on the three strategic priorities that will create value and drive profitable growth, which include fortifying the profit pillars in our core business, transforming traditionally under-performing areas of our core business and investing aggressively, but prudently, in emerging opportunities," the news release said.

"Reducing costs and becoming as lean and efficient as possible also remain part of that work, including plans to reduce 10 percent of our salaried costs and personnel levels in North America and Asia Pacific this year, using voluntary packages."

Moran said the staff reduction would be accomplished voluntarily, offering early retirement and "special separation packages."

They expect the cuts across the nation to occur by the end of September.

Just The Facts:
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Inmates walk the grounds of the Noble Correctional Institution in Caldwell, Ohio.

(Plain Dealer file photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If northern Ohio broke off, the new state of Western Reserve would have a higher rate of murders and other violent crimes than its southern neighbor, statistics show.

And that higher violent crime rate would cause another problem, since most of Ohio's prisoners are incarcerated in the southern part of the state.

The split would also disrupt the federal courts system; cases from more than a dozen northern Ohio counties would likely need to be moved to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

A two-week cleveland.com series is exploring what would happen if northern Ohio formed a new state called Western Reserve, to restore true representative government to the region. For more stories, click here.

The proposed Western Reserve includes large cities such as Cleveland, Akron and Toledo, while the rest of Ohio includes Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton.

Take a look at how the creation of the Western Reserve could affect crime and the criminal justice system, based on the FBI's 2014 Uniform Crime Report, the latest statistics available. The report is voluntary, so municipalities are not required to provide data.

Where will we put Western Reserve prison inmates?

The most notable criminal justice issue related to creating two states might be deciding where and how to house Western Reserve prisoners.

Ohio had 50,362 inmates in its prisons at the start of 2017. Approximately 45 percent -- 22,824 -- were convicted of crimes in Western Reserve municipalities, state Department of Rehabilitation and Correction statistics show.

However, three-quarters of the state's inmates are housed in prisons located in the rest of Ohio. That means roughly 10,000 inmates would need to be moved to prisons we'd need to build here, statistics show.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction transports approximately 50,000 inmates per year, but transfers are a security and logistical challenge, spokeswoman JoEllen Smith said.

The rest of Ohio is home to 19 of the state's 29 correctional institutions. Among them are the Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Ross County, where male death row prisoners are incarcerated, and the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in the Lucasville area of Scioto County, where death row inmates are executed.

Ohio DRC statistics show that 10 prisons located in the proposed Western Reserve housed 14,643 inmates last month. The state's largest facilities all house fewer than 3,000 prisoners, so the Western Reserve would likely need to build at least three additional prisons to house an additional 8,000 inmates.

Gary Mohr, the director of the DRC, is "adamantly opposed" to constructing new prisons, Smith said.

"[Mohr] believes the better alternative is to provide communities with resources to effectively manage low-level, non-violent offenders locally," Smith said in an email.

Ohio lawmakers have recently introduced legislation that could ease the burden on the state's prisons, which are already dealing with overcrowding. Nonviolent offenders who violate parole for missing a meeting or another technical violation could avoid prison, under a bipartisan bill introduced in earlier this year.

What would we do about federal courts?

The federal court system would present another logistical challenge to creating the Western Reserve. Fourteen counties assigned to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio would not be part of the new state.

But those counties -- Allen, Auglaize, Carroll, Defiance, Fulton, Hardin, Henry, Marion, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Tuscarawas, Van Wert and Williams -- have a combined population of 634,000, according to 2016 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

If those 14 counties were moved to the current U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, statistics suggest that court could handle an increased caseload.

The Northern District saw 4,666 cases filed in 2016, with each of its 11 judges being assigned approximately 424 cases. The Southern District saw 3,632 cases filed, with each of its eight judges being assigned approximately 454 cases.

Nationally, U.S. District Court judges heard an average of 573 cases last year, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts statistics show.

The potential U.S. District Court for the rest of Ohio would cover a sizeable area with a population of 6.5 million, but that would not be unprecedented. New Jersey, Arizona and Massachusetts all have higher populations, and each of those states has just one district court.

What are the crime rates?

Violent crimes -- which include murders or non-negligent manslaughters, rapes, robberies and assaults -- were more prevalent in the proposed Western Reserve, according to FBI statistics.

The data includes 341 municipalities in Ohio with a combined population of 6.6 million -- approximately 57 percent of the state's population of 11.6 million. The proposed Western Reserve would include 150 of those municipalities, with a combined population of 2.9 million. The rest of Ohio would include the additional 191 communities, with a combined population of 3.7 million.

Western Reserve municipalities reported 13,842 violent crimes, while the rest of Ohio reported 12,945.

Western Reserve municipalities reported 174 murders or non-negligent manslaughters; Cleveland, which reported 63, accounted for more than one-third of the total. In the rest of Ohio, which reported 215 murders or non-negligent manslaughters, the majority were reported in Columbus (83) and Cincinnati (60).

Western Reserve Rest of Ohio Violent crimes 13,842 12,945 Homicides 174 215 Rapes 1,548 2,022 Robberies 5,791 5,564 Assaults 6,329 5,144

What about property crimes?

Property crimes -- which include burglaries, thefts, car thefts and arsons -- were more prevalent in the rest of Ohio in 2014, statistics show.

Western Reserve municipalities reported 82,703 property crimes -- approximately one for every 35.6 people living in the municipalities that provided data to the FBI. Rest of Ohio municipalities reported 133,680 property crimes -- approximately one for every 27.6 people in communities that provided statistics.

The discrepancy is largely due to the number of thefts.

Western Reserve Rest of Ohio Property crimes 82,703 133,680 Burglaries 26,280 31,141 Thefts 54,950 95,649 Car thefts 7,539 6,902 Arsons 715 853

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As Ohio lawmakers decide how much to spend targeting the state's opioid crisis and balance a shrinking budget, two Democrats in the Senate want to tap the state's rainy day fund to tackle the problem.

Their idea: Take $200 million from the the state's $2 billion rainy day fund to increase treatment options, drug prevention education in schools and collect county-level data to better direct resources to places of most need.

Sens. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman and Kenny Yuko of Richmond Heights introduced legislation Wednesday that would set aside the money to be spent over two years. The bill would also require insurance companies to cover Suboxone, Vivitrol and other medication used to treat drug addiction, as well as "abuse deterrent" prescription opioids that cannot be crushed and snorted or injected.

Ohio had the highest rate of opioid overdose deaths in the country in 2014. A reported 3,050 people died in 2015, and the numbers are expected to be worse for 2016, due to increased use of heroin and fentanyl.

"Just talking about it is not getting the job done," Schiavoni said at a news conference, a not-so-subtle jab at Gov. John Kasich's anti-drug initiative "Start Talking." "We have to put some money behind this."

Schiavoni and Yuko's plan would divvy up the funds through several channels:

$100 million through the state's local government fund formula, earmarked for county Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services boards, law enforcement, child protective services, first responders and creating or expanding drug courts.

$10 million to collect data from every county to better understand the scope of the crisis and allocate sources.

$90 million to increase capacity at treatment facilities.

$4 million to fund opioid prevention education in schools.

House Republicans allocated $170.6 million to the two-year state budget bill for drug addiction prevention and treatment efforts. But Democrats have questioned whether the final revenue projections, expected to be at least $800 million less than initial estimates, will cover the effort.

But Kasich administration officials disagree that the rainy day fund should pay for the effort. Kasich has said the fund should not be used to balance future budgets but to maintain essential services mid-budget cycle in the event of an economic downturn.

"It's never been the intention of that fund to use it for the purpose of budgeting for a specific project," said John Charlton, spokesman for the state Office of Budget and Management.

Kasich spokeswoman Emmalee Kalmbach said the state has developed a comprehensive approach to fighting drug abuse and addiction that spends a collective $1 billion each year. Most of that is through Medicaid, the joint state and federal health insurance for poor and disabled Ohioans.

"Ohio's proposed state budget builds upon our efforts as we continually look for new ideas and approaches to this epidemic," Kalmbach said in an email. "We appreciate the Senators' commitment to join us in this fight."

Ruth Bowdish, a chemical dependency counselor at On Demand Drug Testing and Solutions in Austintown, said reducing the number of prescription opioids has prevented some deaths, but the state needs to address the treatment side as well. Bowdish said professionals on the front lines know medication-assisted treatment and intensive counseling programs work but are sorely underfunded.

"It's not raining; it is pouring, and there is a flood. And more and more people are dying every single day," Bowdish said. "We're in the midst of a health crisis like we've never seen before and all we're asking for is a little help."

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MISSOULA  One of the men allegedly involved in the killing of a Broadwater County deputy sheriff Tuesday morning triggered a massive standoff involving more than 100 officers in California 17 years ago, according to news reports at the time and confirmed Wednesday by law enforcement.

Lloyd Barrus, 61, was ordered held on $2 million bail Wednesday in his initial appearance in Missoula County Justice Court on 14 counts of attempted deliberate homicide and two of accountability for attempted deliberate homicide.

His son Marshall Barrus, 38, who was shot by law enforcement after firing at officers at the end of a high-speed chase Tuesday, died in the hospital Wednesday, according to the Missoula County Sheriff's Office.

In March 2000, Lloyd Barrus, son Jeffrey Barrus and a woman named Cheryl Maarteuse were arrested after an armed standoff in Death Valley that lasted more than 18 hours, according to multiple news reports of the incident.

Although the spelling of Barrus last name differed in the stories about the 2000 incident, authorities in Inyo County, California, confirmed Wednesday that the same 61-year-old Lloyd Barrus who was arrested east of Missoula on Tuesday was involved in that standoff.

In the 2000 incident, the three fled from a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper who attempted to stop them about 60 miles north of Las Vegas. They shot at officers during the 70-mile chase. After their vehicle broke down, the three ran, eventually hiding in a gully and starting the standoff, according to stories from the Washington Post and CBS.

During the standoff, the three reportedly damaged a California Highway Patrol helicopter to the point it was forced to land, but did not injure any officers before they were arrested.

Inyo County, California, District Attorney Tom Hardy, who prosecuted the criminal case resulting from the standoff, said Lloyd Barrus eventually pleaded guilty to a felony for assault on a peace officer. He was sentenced in July 2002 to 15 years in prison with credit for time already served.

Jeffrey Barrus, who was believed to have been the primary shooter, also pleaded guilty to a similar felony and received a 25-year prison sentence that he is still serving, said Hardy. Maarteuse was eventually sentenced to a year in jail for her minor role in the standoff.

Hardy offered his condolences to Montana law enforcement. I just cant imagine how horrible that must have been, he said.

On Wednesday, Deputy Missoula County Attorney Brian Lowney said Barrus mentioned the California standoff in an interview with officers. "He portrayed that in such a way as if he was bragging about it."

Tuesday

Broadwater County Deputy Sheriff Mason Moore, 42, was found shot to death early Tuesday morning. He had stopped responding to dispatchers after calling in a chase near Three Forks around 2:30 a.m. An officer sent to assist him found his body.

The vehicle Moore was pursuing was spotted by Butte-Silver Bow County sheriffs deputies near Anaconda around 3:30 a.m., starting a chase that led all the way to the Rock Creek area near mile marker 129 on Interstate 90. Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff Ed Lester said both men in the SUV fired at officers during the chase.

Marshall Barrus was shot in the head after he got out of the passenger seat of the SUV and began firing at officers, according to multiple agencies. He was taken to a hospital, where he died Wednesday.

According to a court affidavit, Lloyd Barrus also left the SUV when it stopped at the end of the chase, and fired a 9 mm handgun at officers. He said in interviews after his arrest that he was attempting to force a suicide by cop.

Online presence

Lloyd Barrus posts on his Facebook page include images and links to stories on conspiracy theory websites including Infowars  the website run by Alex Jones, who has claimed the government conducted the Oklahoma City bombing and that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was staged.

Last fall, Barrus made a post that read The FBI & ATF killed more children at Waco then were killed at Sandy Hook. Where was the outrage then?

He has also posted several photos of the book The Vigilantes of Montana, of which he appears to own multiple editions, as well as photos seemingly linking the CIA to alien spacecraft.

Earlier in May, he posted images of pages from the Book of Daniel in the Bible where the word sheriffs had been highlighted.

How to give

The Broadwater County Sheriffs Office said a donation fund has been set up at Opportunity Bank in Townsend.

An online GoFundMe page has also been set up to support Moores family.

But law enforcement is warning people about a phone scam related to his death.

Police in Deer Lodge said they have received a complaint about residents getting calls from a person claiming to be raising money for Moore on behalf of the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and asking for credit card information.

Those calls are a scam. The MLEA is not soliciting donations, and while the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association is taking donations for Moores family, they are not soliciting them by phone.

"Do not provide your credit card information to this individual,'' Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester said.
HELENA  Broadwater County Sheriff Wynn Meehan received a call from dispatch around 3 a.m. Tuesday informing him one of his deputies was in a pursuit near Three Forks.

"They called a couple minutes later to say they couldn't reach him," Meehan said.

The sheriff was about halfway between Townsend and the scene when he heard another call. This one requested a coroner.

Broadwater County deputy Mason Moore was found dead outside Three Forks. The two men suspected of playing a role in his death are in custody in Missoula.

Moore, who had been in law enforcement 15 years, signed on with the department based in Townsend three years ago.

"I lost a good hand," Meehan said. "It's going to be very difficult to try and replace him.

"Our deputy died protecting the citizens of our county and displayed remarkable courage until the very end. His actions will never be forgotten.

Moore, a husband and father of three, including twin teenage boys, moved to Montana from South Carolina, where he served as an investigator in major crimes. Prior to serving as a sheriff's deputy, he worked a couple years as an officer with the Department of Transportation's Motor Carrier Services Division in Rocker.

By Tuesday afternoon, Meehan was spent. He, alongside the bulk of his 12-person operation, escorted Moore's body to Billings, where an autopsy was to be performed.

"I don't even know what the stop was for," Meehan said in a phone interview. He said it started as a traffic stop and the vehicle drove off.

"It feels like three weeks have gone by, and it's only been 14 hours," he added.

Through his devastation and exhaustion, Meehan also felt thankful for the outpouring of support Moore and his department received throughout the day. On the drive from Three Forks to Billings, a 170-mile trek, the 40 law enforcement vehicles in the procession guiding Moore's body were met with salutes and other displays.

"Every town we came through had fire trucks and flags hanging down," he said. "It was remarkable."

The law enforcement community has stepped up in an awesome way as well, Meehan said. From covering patrols to offering detention officers for the jail to sending in dispatchers, Meehan said he was amazed by the rallying displayed.

"So many have offered to give us a hand," he said. "We need to lean on each other and take care of each other."

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, who responded to the scene early Tuesday morning and later joined the procession, said in difficult times like these the extended law enforcement family is vital.

"We have been working to take care of them and cover their county, along with Gallatin County," Dutton said.

"Montana is not that big of a state, and we all feel the loss," he added.

State Attorney General Tim Fox noted the timing of the shooting.

"Its cruel irony that a law enforcement officer was shot and killed the day after Peace Officers Memorial Day. Tragic incidents like this should serve as a reminder to all of us to be thankful every day for those in uniform who serve and protect our communities," Fox said in a statement.

The suspects also fired at officers during a subsequent chase after the shooting.

"We are saddened by deputy Moore's death, but we are also relieved that no other law enforcement officers were killed in the apprehension of the suspects," Dutton said.

Back in Townsend, a local therapist worked with county employees grieving the loss of Moore, who is remembered as a quiet yet intensely funny man. When asked to describe Moore, many county workers responded, "he was a good guy."

Moore didn't say much, but when he did, it was worth the wait, Meehan said.

"He had an interesting sense of humor," he added.

Laura Obert, county commissioner, said Moore will be remembered as a smart and compassionate man.

"He had a quiet confidence about him," Obert said. "He truly cared about people and what they thought.

"He was just one of those genuine souls."

Debbie Kelley, accounting manager for the county, said she found Moore impressive as an officer. On his off time, he served with the Three Forks Volunteer Fire Department.

"I think the biggest thing is to help the family," Kelley said. "That's the hard part."

Kelley said Moore was well-liked and a good match for the sheriff's office.

"It's been kind of quiet here today," she said. "It's too close to home for things like this. It does make it personal."

Officials said a vigil or service will be held to remember Moore. Details will be announced later.

"Even though he's gone, he will always be a part of us," Obert said.

Montana law enforcement agencies have voiced their condolences on social media:
WeWork, the New York City-based company that provides shared work spaces for entrepreneurs, freelancers and small start-ups, is now attracting Fortune 500 companies. Late last year the company signed a deal with Microsoft, giving its global and marketing teams access to its own custom-designed space at two WeWork locations in New York City. The move is a nod to the needs of big companies looking for flexible real estate solutions for an ever more mobile and far-flung workforce.

Read More FULL LIST: 2017 DISRUPTOR 50

Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey got the idea for WeWork back in 2010 when they were both working in a partially vacant office building in Brooklyn. Neumann was selling baby clothing, and McKelvey was an architect. They convinced the landlord to let them rent out the empty space as shared work spaces, and the idea for WeWork was hatched.

Today the company says more than 100,000 people in 65 major U.S. cities, as well as 44 international cities, use WeWork's shared office space  ranging in price from $45 to $450 per month, depending on the amenities. WeWork rents its office space from landlords, transforms it into a communal space and then rents it out month to month to individuals and small businesses. Renters are typically younger workers who are attracted to the arcade games, cushy couches and free beer on tap at most locations.

In February the company raised $300 million from Japan's SoftBank, bringing its total funding to nearly $2 billion and giving WeWork a valuation of $18 billion, according to PitchBook.
Drew Dudley John Fisher, 19, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of aggravated sexual abuse alleged to have happened on Dec. 1, 2015, on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Fisher is accused of forcing another person to engage in a sex act.
Work doesn't have to suck. For many people, words like "stressful," "hectic" or even "chaotic" might best describe their typical day. The good news is, you can take small actions every day to improve how you work. This way you not only feel better, but you're also able to focus on your work. More from Thomas Oppong:

It's OK to start over

Make art. You are an artist.

You can't get away with staying comfortable Instead of thinking about all the things that could go wrong today, focus on everything in your power that can contribute to a meaningful day.

William West | Getty Images

1. Get moving the minute you wake up

Your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. Commit to a short gym routine and improve over time. Try workout apps if you can't travel to a gym every morning at the moment. Many of them have dozens of exercises and workouts routines you can customize.

2. Put down your phone and kill the notifications

Your phone distracts you way more than you realize, and it's hurting your productivity. Notifications prompt task-irrelevant thoughts and can disrupt attention performance even if you don't interact with the device.

3. Check emails at specific times

The average person checks email 77 times a day, sends and receives more than 122 email messages a day, and spends 28 percent or more of their workweek managing a constant influx of email. Jocelyn K. Glei, author of "Unsubscribe: How to Kill Email Anxiety, Avoid Distractions and Get Real Work Done" says that while checking emails throughout the day may make you feel productive, the opposite is true. In an interview with The Telegraph, Jocelyn said, "keep work emails short, simple and if something can't be resolved quickly on email, suggest a meeting or simply walk to your colleague's desk to confirm a plan. You'll be rescuing yourself and others from those annoying email threads that drag on for a whole afternoon, interrupting everyone involved." I use the action approach to clear my inbox: When I open an email, I make a quick decision: Delete/archive, act now (if it takes a minute or two) and then reply/archive, send a quick reply (and then archive) or add to my to-do list to do later at a specific time. I keep emails insanely short. Keeping them short means it's quick to reply. Most people tend to check their emails every five to 10 minutes. But if you add up all of the minutes that it takes to continually check your inbox and then reply, it's easy to see why it's such a time waster.

4. Focus on importance and suppress urgency

Resist the tyranny of the urgent. Urgency wrecks productivity. Your ability to distinguish urgent and important tasks has a lot to do with your success. Urgent tasks are tasks that have to be dealt with immediately. Important tasks are things that contribute to your long-term mission, values and goals. Your ability to distinguish urgent and important tasks has a lot to do with your success.

5. Organize your day according to your energy ebbs and flows

You are most productive in the morning, according to science. Make the most of your peak times. Tackle your most important tasks in the morning. Your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. Use them to achieve your goals and accomplish some pretty amazing things. If you win most of your days, the years will take care of themselves.

Willie B. Thomas | Getty Images

6. Your daily tasks should contribute to a meaningful and greater goal

If you can't find a reason why your work matters, the probability of leaving tasks undone until next week will be very high. According to Charles Duhigg, author of "Smarter Faster Better," reminding ourselves of how a small action fits into a bigger objective makes it easier to link our small efforts to more meaningful aspirations.

7. Focus on high-value activities in the morning

Many successful people spend the first hours of each day alone, to reflect, think, meditate, create or read. Find something that motivates you and look forward to it every morning. Time management starts right from the minute you wake up. You are most active and productive in the morning, hence the need to do everything in your power to make the first few hours count.

8. Write it down

If you want to get one thing done at work today, get it on paper. Better still, write it on a sticky note and place it where you can see it, to remind you of the task. David Allen, author of "Getting Things Done", recommends doing what he calls a "core dump". This involves writing down every task, activity and project you need to address.

9. Say no to extra commitments

Your time is your most valuable asset. Put a value on your time. Learn to say "No" and give yourself more time to do the things that make you smarter, better and happier. Don't take on more than you can accomplish. Identify what's important to you every day or week, along with the "perfect day". Once you know what to focus on to be productive, you need to start saying "No" to things that aren't on your important list, and that are standing in the way of the perfect day. Saying "No" is hard, but it pays.

10. Focus on one thing at a time

Start your day by tackling high-value tasks you can complete in the morning. This will keep you motivated to get the next task done in time. In his book, "The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results," Gary Keller said, "Success demands singleness of purpose. You need to be doing fewer things for more effect instead of doing more things with side effects. It is those who concentrate on but one thing at a time who advance in this world."

11. Use MIT to your advantage

Give purpose to your day by determining the three "Most Important Things" (MIT) you can do with your day, and making those a priority. Your MIT is the task you most want or need to get done today. Once you begin each of the tasks, stick with it until it's 100 percent complete. Don't switch tasks in the middle. When distractions come up, jot them down to be dealt with later. Another key: Do your MITs first thing in the morning.

12. Cross it off your list

Write your MITs down. Cross them off your list of things to do when you get them done. Seeing progress can make you more productive. Charles Dickens once said, "I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time."

13. Measurement can improve how you work

Take time to analyze how you work and how productive your strategies have been over the week. Can you do better in fewer hours? What is not working and why is it not working? What are you doing wrong? Do more of what works and less of what steals your time. Reward yourself when you achieve your task as scheduled.

14. Keep meetings lean

Meetings can be vital for discussing goals and establishing a forward vision. Left unchecked, they become bloated affairs, eating up hours (or in extreme cases, even days) of your time without anything important being decided.

15. Clear your desk

From stray papers to books you don't even read, clutter can make you lose focus and curb productivity. De-clutter your immediate environment and you may feel more organized and better able to concentrate on the task at hand.

Photofusion | Getty Images

16. Listen to great music

Several studies have found that listening to music can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress and boost mood. The right music has the power to change your attitude. So create an amazing playlist that will make you focus when you're working. Piano pieces are my best options. As long as you don't blast it (bad for your hearing), this is a safe, healthy way to make your day more enjoyable.

17. Take a break for greater concentration
With a record number of people flying around the world, airlines have made it a little bit tougher for frequent flyers to cash in their miles or points for a free flight. CarTrawler's annual Reward Seat Availability Survey found frequent flyer seats available on 72.4 percent of the flights it checked; that's down from 76.6 percent in last year's survey.

CarTrawler's annual Reward Seat Availability Survey found frequent-flyer seats available on 72.4 percent of the flights it checked; that's down from 76.6 percent in last year's survey.



"The airlines outside of the U.S. are not as healthy as those here in the U.S., and a lot of those foreign carriers would rather sell a seat for cash than offer it to a frequent flyer," said Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorks, which conducted the survey.



As in past years, Southwest Airlines was the top carrier out of 25 ranked in the survey. IdeaWorks found frequent-flyer seats available on every Southwest flight it checked.
Amazon is hiring a business lead to figure out how the company can break into the multibillion-dollar pharmacy market.

For the last few years, Amazon has held at least one annual meeting at its Seattle headquarters to discuss whether it should enter the pharmacy business, says two people familiar with the company's plans.

But this year, with the rise of high-deductible plans and the trend toward consumers paying for health care, it is ready to get more serious.

Two people said that it's not a done deal that Amazon will move into this space, given the complex web of established players. But it is bringing on a new general manager to lead the team and formulate a strategy, and is deep in discussions with industry experts. That hire would sit under the consumables business, the source said.

Another person said Amazon has started to recruit more broadly from the pharmacy space.

The company recently started selling medical supplies and equipment in the U.S. , and is hiring for its "professional health care program" to ensure that the company is meeting regulatory requirements. It also hired Mark Lyons two months ago from Premera Blue Cross. A source said that Lyons is tasked with building an internal pharmacy benefits manager for Amazon employees, which might be later scaled out.

Amazon declined to comment.

Japan Times reported in April that the company expanded its Prime Now delivery service to include drug and cosmetic sales, with the support of local partners. Amazon's category page on its Japanese site now includes "pharmaceuticals," and sells drugs to patients with approval from a pharmacist.
Senate Democrats immediately pounced Tuesday night after a bombshell report that President Donald Trump asked FBI Director James Comey to halt his probe of Mike Flynn, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying that the country "is being tested in unprecedented ways."

Republicans had mixed reactions, with some expressing skepticism about the story, while at least one key GOP lawmaker saying he's concerned.

"In a week full of revelation after revelation  on a day when we thought things couldn't get any worse, they have," Schumer said on the Senate floor. "I say to all of my colleagues in the Senate: History is watching."

More from NBC News:

Hill Republicans Want 'Less Drama' From Trump After Latest Controversy

Poll: 48 Percent Say House GOP Health Care Bill Is a Bad Idea

McMaster Defends Trump's Decision to Give Russia Intel

Trump asked Comey to ease off an investigation into Flynn, Trump's former National Security Adviser, according to a memo that the FBI chief wrote to his own files shortly after speaking with the president, NBC confirmed. The story was first reported by The New York Times.

Sen. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the House Oversight Committee and who recently announced his retirement from Congress, said that "on the surface that seems like an extraordinary use of influence to try to shutdown an investigation."
It's that time again! Jim Cramer rang the lightning round bell, which means he gave his take on caller favorite stocks at rapid speed:

Raytheon : "My view on Raytheon has not changed. I think it's a good stock. There was a takeover rumor today. Do not buy it for a takeover. Buy it for fundamentals, which are quite strong.

Celgene Corporation : "You doubled your money? We sell half, play with the house's money, and let it run, because I think Celgene's prospects are being underestimated by the stock market."

Orbital ATK : "You don't want everything wrapped up in there. I happen to like the stock very much. We've done multiple pieces on it. I think it's terrific. But you have to be your own judge about whether you're diversified enough."

CenturyLink Inc. : "I don't favor this situation. I am in a distinct 'don't buy' situation. I'm a balance sheet guy first, and that balance sheet is still not good enough for me."

Pennsylvania R.E.I.T. : "You know, this is the kind of shopping mall, strip mall thing that everybody's worried about, so I am not going to be able to defend it. This is precisely the kind of thing where people are saying, 'Whoa, I'm nervous,' so therefore I'm nervous because there are some very good people who've looked at these things and think that this kind of mall that they have  and I know some of their malls  [are] not what you want in your portfolio."

Insys Therapeutics Inc. : "Yeah, you know, this one's too speculative for you. It really is. I remember when Ball Corp used to be located in Muncie [the caller's town]. There's a stock that I think you should be thinking about. That's a better one."

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Despite powerful backing for the Right to Try bill, resistance among patient advocacy groups is strong. Dan Kitwood | Getty Images | Cancer Research UK

On the Wednesday evening halfway through the month of May each year, investors, analysts and biotech reporters all sit glued to their computer screens. At 5 p.m. ET on the dot, the American Society of Clinical Oncology will release thousands of data sets ahead of its annual conference on June 2-6 in Chicago. This year it's about 5,020. The "abstract drop" reveals the progress being made in attacking cancer and, inevitably, moves stocks both large and small. Here's what to keep an eye on Wednesday evening and into Thursday:

Immunotherapy

The usual suspects in new drugs that harness the immune system to better target cancer are Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca and Roche. They've developed medicines known as PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors, which essentially reveal cancer cells to our bodies' natural defense systems. They'll each have their own updates, but analysts are also keeping a close eye this year on Incyte, which is developing a medicine that takes a different immunotherapy approach, called an IDO1 inhibitor. The concept is similar: stopping cancer's ability to evade the immune system. And Incyte is testing its drug, called epacadostat , in combination with both Bristol's Opdivo and Merck's Keytruda to see how and where it works best. According to Leerink Research, epacadostat reflects $32 a share, or about 28 percent, of Incyte's valuation. Analyst Michael Schmidt says the stock could swing up or down 10 to 15 percent based on whether the data meet the Street's expectations. NewLink Genetics , Bristol-Myers and Roche's Genentech also have IDO inhibitors in the pipeline.

A subset of immunotherapy, CAR-T stands for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, and it's the focus of a handful of companies' development programs. It involves actually removing a patient's blood cells, genetically modifying them to better identify and attack cancer, multiplying them and then re-infusing them. Novartis , Kite Pharma, Juno Therapeutics and Bluebird Bio are among companies working in the technology, which has produced dramatic results for patients for whom other therapies have stopped working, but has also turned up serious safety issues, including a number of deaths in clinical trials. Analysts are specifically watching Bluebird and Juno in the CAR-T space; Bluebird for updates in its program targeting multiple myeloma, and Juno for its program in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to research from JPMorgan. Both companies are partnered with Celgene .

All the Rest

Analysts are also closely watching Eli Lilly for an update on its experimental breast cancer drug, abemaciclib ; biotech company Epizyme , for an update on its experimental medicine tazemetostat targeting certain genetically defined solid tumors; and another immunotherapy agent from drugmaker Nektar , NKTR-214. Some of the most anticipated data may be revealed in more detail at the actual conference in a few weeks rather than Wednesday evening. The question for the market this week, according to Leerink's Geoff Porges, "is whether investors will follow the usual rule and buy the abstracts and sell the meeting."

WATCH: AI's expanding role in modern medicine
A key House Republican asked the FBI on Tuesday for any records it has on communications between former FBI Director James Comey and President Donald Trump.

The move by House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz follows reports, confirmed by NBC News, that Comey says in a memo that Trump asked him to end the probe into former national national security adviser Michael Flynn.

In a letter to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Chaffetz requested "all memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings referring or relating to" communications between Comey and Trump by May 24. He wrote that the reports Tuesday "raise questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation" related to Flynn.

Trump fired Comey last week. The ouster came as the FBI is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election, including any possible ties between Trump campaign associates and the Kremlin.

The timing of Comey's ouster  and comments Trump later made to NBC News  raised questions about whether the president had tried, or would make an attempt, to impede the probe.

Earlier Tuesday, Chaffetz tweeted that his panel "is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists." The Utah Republican said he has his "subpoena pen ready."

Chaffetz tweet: .@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.

Chaffetz, who has a key role in executive branch oversight, recently announced he would not run for re-election next year. A spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan said that requesting the memo is "appropriate," according to NBC News.

Comey wrote in the February memo that Trump asked him to back off the investigation into Flynn, NBC confirmed Tuesday with multiple sources.

It was written the day after Flynn resigned following revelations that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States, according to NBC.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump told Comey, according to the memo the former FBI director penned soon after the meeting. The existence of the memo was first reported by The New York Times.

In a statement provided to NBC News, a senior White House official pushed back against the reports.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn. The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey," the official said in a statement.
That's why his fintech, commonly known as SoFi, is disrupting the financial services industry, a trend Cagney does not see ending anytime soon.

When it comes to banking, Social Finance Chairman, CEO and co-founder Mike Cagney wants his company's "members"  not customers  to feel like they are part of a community that helps them with everything from their careers to their money to their relationships.

Cagney explained that this alignment with the customer is the key to what makes SoFi so popular with its growing member base.

"I think what's going to happen is the banks are going to move towards our model over time. And so we certainly don't have the hoovers to expect that we're going to change all of banking, but we are going to drag them into a different kind of service model and one that's a lot more aligned to the customer," he told " Mad Money " host Jim Cramer on Tuesday.

The CEO got the idea for the company when he and his fellow co-founders found a huge gap between what the average 35-year-old wanted from a financial services company and what their bank actually provided.

"It's the same community concept," he told Cramer. "For example, one of our members loses their job, we'll put them in unemployment forbearance. We'll actually help them get re-employed. We've done that over 200 times for our members. And it's very different than how a traditional financial services firm would approach banking."

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Cagney said that SoFi's biggest opportunity lies with its members for the simple reason that they love the platform.

Since SoFi added mortgages to its offering, 45 percent of the new customers it attracted were existing members, he said.

The fintech also added life insurance and wealth management businesses to its slate. With the new offerings, Cagney said building brand awareness and educating existing SoFi members about new lines of business is key.

But members works especially well when it comes at an appropriate time in their lives, like introducing life insurance as an option when a member has a child, Cagney added.

"The ability to deliver that contextually to people when it matters, as opposed to just spamming them with it all the time, is a big difference-maker," the CEO said.

As SoFi begins to make competitors aware of its disruptive model, Cagney said that bigger banks could shift to SoFi's model without cutting profit margins.

"If you look at SoFi, we run over 65 percent contribution margin across our three lending businesses. We're the most profitable fintech company in the marketplace. And there's huge opportunity to expand from that, and it comes down to cost of acquisition. If you build really strong brand, really strong evangelism, really strong what I call 'cross-buy,' you can drop that cost of acquisition significantly and that drives margins," Cagney said.
The New York Times delivered a bombshell report  also confirmed by NBC News  on Tuesday evening that revealed that former FBI director James Comey wrote in a memo that President Donald Trump asked him to drop the bureau's investigation into former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Buried in the Times report is a note that Trump asked Comey to consider imprisoning reporters for publishing classified information.

"Alone in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Mr. Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information, according to one of Mr. Comey's associates," The New York Times said.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has since responded to those comments, noting that the "President doesn't get to jail journalists."

It's worth noting that Trump has complained about leaks in the press quite frequently, both while in office and during his time on the campaign trail. His concerns surfaced again earlier this week after another report revealed that Trump discussed highly classified information while Russian diplomats were visiting the White House.

Trump often speaks in hyperbolic language, however, which means he may not have necessarily expected Comey to ever imprison members of the press, despite what sounds like a rather frightening suggestion.

Trump also regularly makes himself available to the press, often speaking to reporters and appearing in televised interviews.

NBC News has verified information from the original New York Times report with two separate sources.
As the first wave of fintechs enter the ADGM Reglab innovation support laboratory in the UAE, applications are being invited for the second cohort. Entries close on 31 July 2017.

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has announced its first batch of financial technology (fintech) regulatory laboratory (Reglab) companies that will go through its new innovation center.

Two local United Arab Emirates (UAE) fintechs, two Indian and one U.S. fintech start-up will go through the Reglab in Abu Dhabi, which aims to encourage start-up fintechs and provide regulatory assistance and advice to support new technology-based developments in financial services.

The first entrants to ADGM's Reglab 'sandbox', which apes the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) sandbox in the U.K. and other such support initiatives around the world, will enter a safe place where they can test innovative fintech products, services or business models, while ensuring appropriate consumer protections are built in. The FCA model has proved so popular in encouraging fintech innovation that it is being replicated around the world.

The idea is to promote competition through encouraging disruptive innovation. The ADGM Reglab is the first such fintech regulatory sandbox and framework in the Middle-east and North Africa (MENA) region.

The five initial participants were selected from a pool of 11 applications. They are:

Now Money - UAE: provides mobile technology to allow low income migrant workers in the UAE to access banking and remittance services, which would otherwise be out of reach. Users get direct access to an account, debit card and remittance capabilities from its smartphone app and service center.





provides mobile technology to allow low income migrant workers in the UAE to access banking and remittance services, which would otherwise be out of reach. Users get direct access to an account, debit card and remittance capabilities from its smartphone app and service center. Titanium Escrow - UAE: This is an automated escrow service that aims to increase trust in counterparties and stabilize the cash cycle for small businesses.





This is an automated escrow service that aims to increase trust in counterparties and stabilize the cash cycle for small businesses. CapitaWorld - India: A one-stop digital platform that automates the entire loan value chain from loan application to credit appraisal and post-disbursement credit monitoring. Rather than needing to physically visit multiple banks to apply for a loan, the CapitaWorld platform allows a borrower to submit a loan application just once online, and its platform will use analytics to carry out verification and credit risk scoring. It will then match the borrower with multiple banks that have signed onto the platform and ensure that the credit risk appetite matches the borrower's profile.





A one-stop digital platform that automates the entire loan value chain from loan application to credit appraisal and post-disbursement credit monitoring. Rather than needing to physically visit multiple banks to apply for a loan, the CapitaWorld platform allows a borrower to submit a loan application just once online, and its platform will use analytics to carry out verification and credit risk scoring. It will then match the borrower with multiple banks that have signed onto the platform and ensure that the credit risk appetite matches the borrower's profile. Rubique - India: Rubique is an online platform that connects banks and fund seekers/borrowers via a smart financing process that links to a range of loan, credit card and financing options that attempt to bridge the gap between lenders and borrowers.





Rubique is an online platform that connects banks and fund seekers/borrowers via a smart financing process that links to a range of loan, credit card and financing options that attempt to bridge the gap between lenders and borrowers. Finalytix -US: This is a robo-advisory platform for wealth management applications that seeks to help clients optimize their holdings, mitigate risks and costs, and identify new investment opportunities. Robo-advisors are online, automated portfolio management services that use artificial intelligence (AI) and computer algorithms to manage client investments at a fraction of the cost of a human financial advisor. They are accessible via mobile phones, tablets or the web.

ADGM is a broad-based international financial center located on Al Maryah Island in the heart of the UAE's capital city of Abu Dhabi. It houses the three local regulatory bodies comprising of the Registration Authority; the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA); and ADGM Courts, which collectively regulate FIs in the country and liaise with international colleagues to ensure best practice.

ADGM is also a free trade zone that aspires to house a range of local, regional and international FIs that can aid the future development of the country. Encouraging fintechs is a part of this strategy.

Commenting on the first cohort in a statement, Richard Teng, CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM, said he was "pleased to welcome our first group," and their "transformational solutions".

"We will support our Reglab participants to focus on sharpening their solutions, while leaning on ADGM and its partners to take them through the develop-test-and-implement journey," he said. "This is also a valuable journey for ADGM and the region as we guide the very first team of fintech companies through the regulatory environment to realize their innovations."

The ADGM Reglab authorizes fintech participants for a period of up to two years to develop and test their propositions in their support program, which should be enough time to get any good ideas into the marketplace.

The second batch of applications has recently opened and applications are invited via the ADGB website before the 31 July 2017 deadline.

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Private equity firm C&C Alpha Group is investing in expedited pilot training programs to fill the 248,000 commercial pilot seats across the Asia-Pacific region within the next two decades.

"They cannot go down the traditional route, which takes a number of years; taking people from the military causes its own issues," Bhanu Choudhrie, C&C Alpha Group's founder, told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

"So this is bringing in new students, young cadets who are aspiring  especially women cadets," he said of the new programs.

According to Boeing's 2016 Pilot and Technician Outlook, 617,000 more commercial pilots will be needed globally by 2035, with Asia Pacific leading that demand. Southeast Asia alone will require 57,000 pilots, which is second only to China's demand for 100,000 of them.

The rise of the middle class in Southeast Asian economies, combined with their increased desire for travel has also driven the growth of low-cost carriers in the region  factors that have all lead to the strong push for more pilots.
A source familiar with the matter said that there has been "huge appetite" for the fundraising round. The company had originally targeted a figure of around $2 billion to $2.5 billion, but this is now closer to $3.5 billion, the source said. CNBC that it could be around $3 billion. The latest figure is higher than this.

The debt is being raised in dollars rather than renminbi so that Ant Financial can fund its aggressive international expansion.

Ant Financial, the payments affiliate of Chinese e-commerce giant , is close to closing a $3.5 billion debt financing round, a figure that was higher than previously expected, a source close to the situation told CNBC on Wednesday.

Raising money in U.S. dollars will help Ant Financial spend money abroad as the Chinese government continues to keep an eye on capital outflows. In December, the government clamped down on the amount of money companies could move out of China, and while those restrictions have eased slightly, moving yuan can still be difficult.

Having dollars ready to spend will also help Ant continue its aggressive expansion path. Ant Financial is behind one of China's most popular payments apps called Alipay which has around 450 million users. The firm has been expanding outside of its home market into Europe and other parts of Asia. In Europe, Ant has like BNP Paribas to help more merchants accept Alipay, mainly for Chinese visitors abroad.

Part of its expansion has meant investing and acquiring companies. Ant has previously invested in Paytm in India and recently . In the U.S., Ant Financial announced it was buying cross-border payment service . The deal is pending.

The debt round could help Ant Financial fund this big acquisition.

Alibaba's financial affiliate has had no problem raising money. Last year it which valued it around $60 billion, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC at the time, making it one of the world's most-valuable private technology companies.

There has been intense speculation about the company's plans to go public. A report by the Financial Times on Monday said that Ant had until the end of next year at the earliest.

But the company said that there has never been a timetable for an IPO.

"Therefore it is wrong to say there has been a delay in our IPO plans  you can't be delayed if you have never set a timetable," an Ant Financial spokesperson told CNBC on Wednesday.

"Our priority is to focus on our business and globalization is an important strategy for Ant Financial and we are making progress to bring equal access to financial services to 2 billion people globally."
With a general election just weeks away, the U.K.'s Electoral Commission has announced it is working with Snapchat to remind users they have only a few days left to register to vote.



As of Wednesday, Snapchat has made a bespoke Geofilter available which will have a voter registration message.

The hope, the Electoral Commission said, is to "encourage engagement and conversation among young people about the election." Geofilters are art overlays that can capture a user's location and their activity in a Snap.

U.K. voters will head to the polls on June 8, with May 22 the deadline for voter registration.

"Anyone who is eligible to vote at the General Election should be able to take part," the Electoral Commission's director of communications, Craig Westwood, said in a statement on Wednesday.

"However, if you're not registered to vote by the deadline of 22 May, then you won't be able to have your say," Westwood added. "We're urging anyone not yet registered to do so as soon as possible."

Westwood went on to state that Snapchat had "a huge audience amongst young adults, a group we know are less likely to be registered to vote. By working with them we can get this important message across in a new way and help ensure fewer people lose the chance to cast their vote."

According to the Electoral Commission, 30 percent of people under 34 are not registered to vote, compared to 4 percent of those older than 55.



This is not the first collaboration between the Electoral Commission and Snapchat. Earlier this year, the two collaborated on a campaign to remind Scottish voters to register for council elections.

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A C919 passenger jet takes off from Pudong International Airport for its maiden flight, on May 5, 2017 in Shanghai, China.

The first time China attempted to build a large passenger jet, it tried  and failed  to reverse-engineer a Boeing 707 that crash-landed in Xinjiang in 1971.

The latest vehicle for China's aviation dream, the Comac C919, has just completed its first test flight after Beijing decided to take a different path: buying parts from European and US aviation companies rather than stealing their technology.

After many mis-steps, the maiden flight of the 158-174 seat aircraft was a big moment for China, economically and politically.

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The government told state-owned Comac in a congratulatory note that the C919 "carries great weight and importance to the country's innovation drive". Seeing it "flying in the blue sky makes generations of Chinese people's dream come true", it added.

The C919 is designed to compete with the workhorses of modern short-haul aviation, the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. It has a ready-made customer base as China is forecast to overtake the US as the world's biggest aviation market in 2024.

Comac has also built a smaller regional jet, called the ARJ21, and is developing a long-haul aircraft alongside Russia's United Aircraft Corp.

China has been trying to build large passenger aircraft since the Mao Zedong era, when Communist officials bridled at the prospect of having to fly overseas on foreign-made aircraft.

President Xi Jinping, who often travels abroad on a Boeing 747 operated by Air China, is unlikely to start flying on the C919 soon, as it will be at least a couple of years before it goes into mass production.

But China's airliner project is still driven by politics as much as policy.

Throughout the sprawling Comac factory in Shanghai, Communist propaganda banners bearing slogans from Mr Xi and others urge workers to knuckle down to achieve the Chinese aviation dream.

"Remember your mission, march forward and win the 'three battles'," says one, referring to the markets for regional, short-haul and long-haul jets.

Mr Xi is keen to show progress on high-profile initiatives such as the C919 ahead of the next five-yearly congress of the Communist party in the autumn, where he will be trying to strengthen his grip on power.

By successfully bringing the C919 into mass production, Comac would join the select club of companies with the technical expertise to build large passenger jets including Boeing of the US, Europe's Airbus, Canada's Bombardier and Russia's Sukhoi and Tupolev.

In addition to prestige, China wants to reduce its reliance on foreign aircraft manufacturers, primarily Boeing and Airbus. But, paradoxically, the C919 has only got this far because of the co-operation of western suppliers.

The wings and the tail are made in China, but many of the most important and most technologically advanced parts are purchased from foreign companies, such as GE and Safran, which provided the engine, and Honeywell, which supplied the wheels and brakes and communication and navigation systems.

Buying components from these industry leaders has helped to speed up the development process. But the C919 is still 10-15 years out of date, compared to the latest versions of the A320 and Boeing 737, meaning it will probably cost more to run.

That need not dent sales of the aircraft as most of China's airlines are state-controlled and they can easily be encouraged to use it. They have already made orders for more than 500 C919s.

If China really wants to prove it can compete with Boeing and Airbus, rather than Tupolev and Sukhoi, it will have to sell its aircraft in developed markets, which will require better technology and hard-to-achieve certification from European and US regulators.

That is where Beijing may well hit the limits of Chinese aviation with western characteristics. Chinese officials have a history of covering up technical problems with domestically produced aircraft and not reporting accidents.

Corruption, political interference and a lack of transparency make western regulators nervous, and undermine the potential for innovation in China.

Derek Levine, who wrote a book on China's aviation ambitions, warns that "unless China learns how to make the most sophisticated elements of a plane, they'll always be a step behind".
White House: Trump did not ask Comey to drop investigation of Flynn 5:51 PM ET Wed, 17 May 2017 | 01:40

Former FBI Director James Comey may have been building a case against President Donald Trump before he was fired, a former Justice Department official said.

News that Comey wrote a memo in February detailing how Trump urged him to stand down on an investigation into fired national security advisor Michael Flynn has stunned the White House, Capitol Hill and much of the public.

But the existence of the document should come as no surprise to those who know the career law enforcement officer, according to Matthew Miller, a former Justice Department spokesman and MSNBC analyst.

In fact, the document may have been more than an afterthought after a troubling Oval Office conversation, he said.

"I think there is a good possibility that Jim Comey continued to have these conversations with the president because he was actually building an obstruction of justice case," Miller told MSNBC on Wednesday.
Investors should look to history before selling their Amazon stock on fears surrounding Donald Trump's presidency, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Wednesday.

Cramer's comment came as U.S. stocks fell sharply on Wednesday as traders became increasingly worried about the political turmoil surrounding Trump.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that former FBI Director James Comey wrote a memo that said Trump had asked him to end his probe of former national security advisor Michael Flynn's connections to Russia. The news prompted questions on whether the president attempted to obstruct justice. Some Democrats called for Trump's impeachment.

Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street" that investors would have regretted selling their stock during former President Bill Clinton's impeachment.

On Dec. 19, 1998, Clinton was impeached by the House on charges of lying under oath about the Monica Lewinsky affair. Clinton was acquitted by the Senate.

Amazon in mid-December 1998 was trading around $47 per share on a split-adjusted basis. The stock has soared more than 1,900 percent since then to more than $950 per share as of Tuesday's close.

"There was always something," Cramer said.

 CNBC's Matthew Belvedere contributed to this report.
There's one problem with the growing drumbeat to oust President Donald Trump from office: it's being led by Democrats. And when one of our major parties is stumping for something big to happen, you can bet the other one will do all it can to stop it.

In that sense, this Democratic Party effort to oust the president is doomed for now.

We've seen this before when it comes to the unique political fortunes of Donald Trump. Even after he ran one of the nastiest primary campaigns in history against a crowded Republican field, those opponents he bashed ended up endorsing him in the general election.

Such is the way of things in American politics. As another very reluctant Trump-backer, House Speaker Paul Ryan, put it last summer: "It's a binary choice... it's either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton." And it turned out almost every Republican hated Hillary Clinton more than they loathed Donald Trump.

It's happening again now. On Wednesday morning Ryan reminded the news media at the very beginning of a news conference that there are a lot of people who, "want to harm the president," and that "clearly, a lot of politics is being played" in these leaks concerning President Trump's meetings with former FBI Director James Comey and his dealings with Russian officials.

Getting back to the Democrats, their entire agenda can now be summed up as: Impeachment, resignation or bust. They've put all their eggs in this basket. And if they fail, a lot of their voters will clearly ask what good the current leadership is if it can't even oust a man so much of the Democratic base sees as nothing short of the devil.
Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

Target  The retailer earned an adjusted $1.21 per share for the first quarter, beating estimates by 30 cents a share. Revenue topped forecasts and same-store sales fell less than expected. Target said it was pleased with its performance, especially in light of a "very choppy" environment.

Walt Disney  The stock was downgraded to "neutral" from "outperform" at Macquarie, with the firm pointing to soft ad sales as well as continuing subscriber declines at ESPN.

Qualcomm  Qualcomm has filed a complaint against manufacturers of Apple's iPhones, saying it was not paid proper royalties for use of Qualcomm technology in iPhones.

Urban Outfitters  The apparel seller earned an adjusted 13 cents per share for its latest quarter, compared to the 16 cent a share consensus estimate. Revenue also fell short and comparable-store sales fell 3.1 percent, more than the 2.7 percent drop expected by analysts.

ConocoPhillips  Jefferies upgraded the energy giant's stock to "buy" from "hold," pointing to a quicker-than-expected repair of the balance sheet through divestitures among other factors.

Jack In The Box  Jack In The Box came in seven cents a share above estimates, with adjusted quarterly profit of 98 cents per share. Revenue matched forecasts. The stock is getting a boost from news that it is considering a spinoff of its Qdoba Mexican restaurant chain.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers  Red Robin earned an adjusted 89 cents per share for its latest quarter, well above the 57 cent a share consensus estimate. Revenue for the restaurant chain was also above forecasts, as is its full-year 2017 outlook. Comparable-store sales at company-owned locations dropped 1.2 percent, but that was less than half the 2.6 percent decline expected by analysts.

Fiat Chrysler  The stock is under pressure for a second day, following a Reuters report that the European Union will start legal action against Italy for not halting alleged emission-test cheating by the automaker.

UnitedHealth Group  The health insurer was sued by the Justice Department, accusing it of taking more than $1 billion from Medicare that the company was not entitled to receive.

CVS Health  CVS agreed to pay $8 million to settle a case involving its Omnicare unit. The federal government and 28 states had claimed that Omnicare's prescription verification system had resulted in the submission of false claims.

McDonald's  McDonald's food delivery is now available in four more cities through Uber's UberEATS service. After being tested in a number of Florida cities, the service is now being offered in Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, and Columbus, Ohio.

Anheuser-Busch InBev  The beer brewer is being accused by Massachusetts regulators of providing nearly $1 million in unlawful giveaways. A report by the state's Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission said a company subsidiary gave out bar equipment to businesses as an incentive to push the company's Budweiser brand. The company said it believes the equipment it provided was done so lawfully and it is working with the commission to resolve the issue.

Colgate-Palmolive - Chief Executive Officer Ian Cook is reportedly willing to sell the company for $100 per share, well above Tuesday's close of $71.58. The New York Post reports that Cook made that comment at a recent meeting with institutional investors. Colgate declined to comment on the story.

Amazon.com - Amazon is taking steps to break into the pharmacy market, according to two people familiar with the company's plans. Sources tell CNBC that although this is not a certainty, the company is hiring people to formulate a strategy for such a move.

Eli Lilly  Eli Lilly was the subject of a cautious note from Bernstein, pointing to an upcoming ruling in a case that challenges the patent on Lilly's Alimta cancer drug. Bernstein said the risk is underappreciated, although it continues to have a long-term "outperform" rating on Lilly.



Pandora  Pandora was removed from the "Conviction Buy" list at Goldman Sachs, although the music streaming service remains "buy" rated. Goldman's move is based on the delayed launch of Pandora's Premium service as well as other execution issues.
A company planning to send the ashes of dead people into orbit said on Tuesday that it will hitch a flight on one of Elon Musk's SpaceX rockets.

San Francisco-based Elysium Space describes itself as a "memorial spaceflight" company made of ex-NASA personnel and funeral experts. The business aims to "change the vision of death from the underground to the celestial."

Each customer who signs up will receive a kit containing a custom ash capsule to collect the cremated remains of their loved one. This is then sent back to Elysium Space and is placed in the company's spacecraft. This will be launched into orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

"For about 2 years, our memorial spacecraft will respectfully and peacefully orbit the Earth," Elysium Space CEO Thomas Civeit, told CNBC by email on Tuesday.

"Eventually, in a last poetic moment, the spacecraft will harmlessly re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, blazing as a shooting star."
The European Union will launch legal action against Italy on Wednesday for failing to police allegations of emissions-test cheating by Fiat Chrysler properly following the Volkswagen dieselgate scandal, EU sources said.

EU officials have become increasingly frustrated with what they see as governments colluding with the powerful car industry and the legal move is the biggest stick the European Commission has available to force nations to clamp down on diesel cars that spew out polluting nitrogen oxide (NOx).

EU regulators say Italy has failed to convince them that the so-called defeat devices used to modulate emissions on its vehicles outside of narrow testing conditions are justified.

"They (Italian authorities) still need to provide additional information that would convince us that the devices used in Fiat models are justified and can therefore be considered legal," one EU source said.

Italy's transport ministry was not immediately available for comment. In February, it said new tests carried out on Fiat Chrysler vehicles found no illegal engine software.

Defeat devices have been illegal under EU law since 2007. Their use has come under renewed scrutiny following Volkswagen's admission that it used software in the United States to mask real-world NOx emissions, which are blamed for respiratory illnesses and early deaths.

European carmakers have argued they are not doing anything wrong, citing an exemption that allows them to turn off emission control systems when necessary for safety or to protect engines.

Last December, the Commission launched cases against five nations, including Germany, Britain and Spain, for failing to police the car industry adequately.

Despite the accusations levelled against its own carmakers, Germany has accused Italy's Fiat Chrysler of using an illegal device to scale back emission controls after 22 minutes - just longer than official tests.

After Italy rejected Germany's allegations of hidden software on the Fiat 500X, Fiat Doblo and Jeep Renegade models, Berlin asked Brussels to mediate in the dispute. That mediation ended without fanfare in March.

Under the current system, which the Commission is trying to overhaul, national regulators approve new cars and alone have the power to police manufacturers. But once a vehicle is approved in one country, it can be sold throughout the bloc.

Wednesday's notice will be the first step in EU infringement procedures, designed to ensure the bloc's 28 member states abide by EU-wide regulations.

If member states fail to respond convincingly, Brussels can take them to the EU court in Luxembourg.
BUTTE  A May snowstorm caused power outages and travel issues in Western Montana and a storm system hovering over Billings brought more than an inch of rain that continued into the night on Wednesday.

The Department of Transportation closed Interstate 90 over Homestake Pass east of Butte for a few hours due to jackknifed semi-trailers and poor travel conditions because of heavy, wet snow.

NorthWestern Energy says about 4,000 customers in the Missoula area lost power when tree limbs fell on power lines. Other scattered outages were reported west of Helena and in Cascade, Ulm and Great Falls.

A storm system moving across western and southwestern Montana on Wednesday brought snow to the higher elevations along the Rocky Mountain Front and heavy rain at lower elevations.

The National Weather Service says 3.5 inches of rain had fallen in Dupuyer, south of Glacier National Park, from Tuesday through noon Wednesday  and it was still raining.

Billings had received just over an inch of rain by about 9 p.m., with between a tenth to a quarter of an inch more likely by Thursday morning, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Joe Lester. Lester said the rain would continue off and on overnight before ending sometime Thursday morning.
European stocks closed sharply lower on Wednesday on reports President Donald Trump asked the former FBI Director James Comey to end a probe into the former national security advisor.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed down 1.2 percent with all sectors and major bourses in negative territory.



Autos were among the worst performing sectors on Wednesday. Fiat Chrysler 's stock fell the most after Reuters reported in the previous session that the European Union would begin legal action against Italy for not policing allegations of emission test cheating by the car maker. Its shares slid nearly 5 percent.

Financial services and banks stocks were also down on concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump may not pursue his pro-growth agenda.



Ubisoft Entertainment , the world's third-biggest entertainment company, posted a jump in profits for the first three months of the year after write-downs were less severe than expected. However, weak guidance appeared to send the firm's shares to the bottom of the European benchmark. Its shares were more than 3.5 percent lower.

Auto Trader Group dropped 3.2 percent after analysts at Berenberg started coverage with a sell recommendation.

In the U.S., markets slumped as investors fretted over the latest news involving President Donald Trump.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost more than 250 points, the S&P 500 slid 1.2 percent and the Nasdaq dropped 1.8 percent.

Politics and Data

Investors appeared increasingly concerned after the latest in a string of crises for the embattled U.S. administration. This has raised further doubts as to Trump's ability to implement an aggressive stimulus program that includes tax cuts and big government spending. The White House has since denied the claims Trump pressed Comey to drop an investigation into former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, over his ties to Russia.

This has sent the dollar to a six-month low and sparked interest for the yen, treasurys and gold.

Meanwhile, euro zone inflation was confirmed at 1.9 percent in April. In the U.K., data showed an increase of 2.1 percent in wages in the first quarter of the year, but real wage growth turned negative.

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Taavet Hinrikus, co-founder and CEO of TransferWise at the the International Fintech Conference in London, U.K., on April 12 2017, where he announced the fintechs intention to set up a new European office away from London due to Brexit.

U.K. financial technology (fintech) firm Transferwise claimed it has achieved its first operational profit six years after it was founded in London by Chief Executive Taavet Hinrikus and his fellow Estonian Kristo Kaarmann.

The global fintech unicorn, which means it is a start-up valued at more than a billion dollars, is a currency exchange that offers a simple user interface and peer-to-peer network that it says matches customers wanting to swap money with each other. This means foreign exchange (FX) rates can be drastically reduced in comparison with bank charges where money is actually moved overseas.

Transferwise says it is currently amassing 8 million a month in revenue and is on target to reach 100 million ($129 million) for the year, placing it in the black on its accounts for the first time.

The online operation presently claims 10 percent of the overseas money transfer market in the U.K. and a growing global presence. It offers deals on 40 currencies and moves over 1 billion every month for more than a million customers, which it expects to double this year as it seeks to replicate its 150 percent growth rate last year. As the fintech expands its growth is likely to slow as it scales up.

In a statement Transferwise CEO, Taavet Hinrikus, said: "To have hit break-even just six years on from launch shows how strong the foundations of our business are. This is just the starting point. With the unique platform we've built, we're looking forward to creating a new kind of financial services for the future."

Brexit

Its future prospects have been clouded by Brexit with the U.K.'s planned exit from the European Union (EU) threatening its access to talented staff from across the continent. The Estonian founders have already stated that they would not have been able to set up in London in 2011 under the threatened Brexit regime, which may deny U.K. firms access to the EU single market and free movement of people, depending upon how negotiations proceed.

Transferwise will move its European headquarters from London to the continent by March 2019, it announced last month, making its displeasure with Brexit clear.

The new European office is due to be established before the end of the two year divorce process between the U.K. and the EU, although the company has refused to say where it will be located yet.

The global headquarters will remain in London, where the company employs around 120 people, because it is already established in the country. But for EU-wide business it intends to set up a different office where the majority of its 700 staff globally will presumably move. The firm has also just launched an Asia-Pacific hub and has nine other small offices around the world.

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Wilson is a partner at Union Square Ventures, an early investor in internet companies like Stripe, Twilio , LendingClub , Etsy , Tumblr, Twitter and Indeed.

"We didn't like each other," Wilson said Wednesday at the Techonomy NYC conference .

Venture capitalist Fred Wilson said he met with Uber boss Travis Kalanick about investing in the ride-hailing company  but it didn't go well.

Uber has been under pressure amid an internal investigation into sexism claims, a trade secret dispute with Alphabet and allegations that the company evaded regulators. Wilson said Uber's "win-at-all-costs" strategy assumed that drivers and consumers would be loyal  rather than adopting multiple platforms to compare prices.

"I think Uber had a strategy that didn't actually work, which was that they were going to run the table on the ride-sharing industry, and they were going to put everybody out of business by raising more money than anybody else," Wilson said. "They thought that they were going to do in ride-sharing what Google has done in search ... and it just didn't work."

Uber's valuation, though, has exploded  it was valued at over $68 billion in its last funding round, according to reports. Union Square Ventures invested in Sidecar Technologies, acquired by General Motors , which collaborates with Uber's rival, Lyft.

But Wilson said because the Kalanick tightly controlled the way the company was financed, most of the money from Uber's business is "only on paper."

"No one has made any money in reality," Wilson said. "Everything that's gone wrong is a function of their strategy to control everything and go very aggressively."

Uber did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Uber has championed one trend that Wilson is watching, the so-called gig economy where full-time employment is less and less common. He referenced his favorite lyric from rapper Jay Z : "I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man."

"That's the future," Wilson said. "If you're measuring the number of companies that are being created or the number of full-time jobs in the economy, you might be measuring the wrong thing."

Wilson noted that trends among young people, like not owning cars, have brought down the cost of living, making it possible for new graduates to take more risks.

"I'm not suggesting that everybody's going to be an entrepreneur, " Wilson said. "The age of being able to go find a job and feel secure? I think that's gone. But you can have a job and not have to be an entrepreneur."

Still, Wilson noted, freelancers and entrepreneurs face challenges, including getting affordable health care  since the American health care system relies heavily on employers.

"The only place, possibly, that is more innovative than the United States is China, and there, you do have a government that's probably more interested in amplifying this than here in the U.S. But other than that I think we are doing OK," Wilson said.
Google just announced that Google Home will offer free calls to phones in the U.S. and Canada.

The feature might sound like something Amazon just added to the Echo  the ability to place calls between Alexa devices  but this lets you call people's actual phones for free. Imagine sitting in your living room, for example, and asking Google Home to call your wife's cell phone. It'll place the call and you'll be able to talk to your wife right through the device.

Google said it will use a private number by default to place the call, but you can change it to your own number if you'd like.

It will be rolling out in the next few months.
Google has spent a decade building servers that can handle billions of web searches a day. The company is now developing chips to deliver the smartest results.

At its annual developer conference on Wednesday, Alphabet introduced the second generation of Google's tensor processing unit (TPU), which is designed for artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. Google unveiled the first version in 2016 and said it had started work on the "stealthy project" a few years earlier.

The upgraded version is the latest indication that Google doesn't want to depend on other companies for core computing infrastructure. It's potentially troubling news for Nvidia , whose graphics processing units (GPUs) have been used by Google for intensive machine learning applications. Nvidia even named Google Cloud as a notable customer in its latest annual report.

Deep learning, a trendy type of AI, typically involves two stages: training artificial neural networks on lots of data, and then directing the networks to make inferences about the new data. Over the past five years, GPUs have become a standard for the training stage of deep learning, which can be used for image recognition, speech recognition and other applications.

While the original TPU was only meant for the inference stage of deep learning, the new version can handle training as well.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD), accompanied by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks with the media after the Senate Republican's weekly policy luncheon on Capitol Hill May 2, 2017 in Washington, DC.

President Donald Trump is the person best positioned to get the Republican agenda back on track, Sen. John Thune told CNBC on Wednesday.

The South Dakota senator's comments came after The New York Times reported that former FBI Director James Comey wrote a memo that said Trump had asked him to end his probe of former national security advisor Michael Flynn's connections with Russia. The news prompted questions on whether the president attempted to obstruct justice.

The Times report came a day after The Washington Post reported Trump divulged highly classified information with Russian officials, and a week after Trump fired Comey.

"Obviously we want to make sure we this train back on the track. The president is the best person positioned to do that. He needs to keep his focus on the things that the American people elected him to do," the third-ranking Republican in the Senate said on "Squawk Box."

"These things end up being a sideshow. They end up being a distraction. Obviously, we want to get to the bottom of it, figure out what the facts are here," he added.

Following the Times report, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, said he will seek copies of FBI documents in its Russia probe, including the memo.

Also on"Squawk Box," Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said he will let the legal experts decide whether Trump obstructed justice, but added he wants to see the information and evidence.

"No one has ever accused me of ever being easy on my own party. I'll follow the trail, I'll follow the truth, I'll follow the facts," he said.
Democrats already skeptical of the impartiality of the Department of Justice's investigation into ties between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign increased their calls for an independent probe following the president's surprise firing of FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday.

While attention now turns to who will oversee the investigation going forward at the FBI, even some Republicans have joined in the calls for independent oversight of the Russia probe.

Here are three avenues Democrats are proposing for an independent investigation:

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The Justice Department Can Appoint a Special Counsel

Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein could appoint a special counsel to oversee the investigation at any time. Rosenstein is leading the Russia probe because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself over his role as a surrogate for Trump's campaign.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Rosenstein assured him ahead of his confirmation that he would appoint a special counsel "if one is required."

"Mr. Rosenstein has the authority to appoint a special prosecutor right now. He needs no Congressional authorization," Schumer said on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, however, dismissed the need for a special prosecutor because it is "counterintelligence" investigation. A prosecutor would only be needed in a criminal investigation, Graham said.

Congress Can Pass Legislation Approving a Special Counsel

If Rosenstein fails to appoint an outside prosecutor, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal said he is prepared to introduce legislation that would give Congress the authority to name one.

"There is a second way, and that was the procedure that was established right after Watergate," Blumenthal said Wednesday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

@Morning_Joe: .@SenBlumenthal explains his call for an independent special prosecutor to investigate Russia ties #morningjoe

The senator said the bill would resemble a previously lapsed law that required the attorney general to petition a three-judge panel to choose a prosecutor. That person could operate independently without the threat of oversight from the president.

The Watergate-era law lapsed in 1999 after the deeply partisan battle over the investigation into President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.

Such a law would require bipartisan support to get through Congress and Trump's signature or two-thirds of Congress voting to override a veto, a long-shot in the current GOP-controlled congress.

Congress Can Form a Special Committee

Other members of Congress have voiced support for a special congressional committee to investigate the Russian intrusions into the election and links to the Trump campaign. This could come in addition to the ongoing House and Senate investigations into the probe.

"I have long called for a special congressional committee to investigate Russia's interference in the 2016 election," Republican Sen. John McCain said following the Comey news. "The president's decision to remove the FBI Director only confirms the need and the urgency of such a committee."

@justinamash: My staff and I are reviewing legislation to establish an independent commission on Russia. The second paragraph of this letter is bizarre.

Republican Rep. Justin Amash tweeted that his staff was also looking into how to establish an independent commission.

Calls to establish an independent commission picked up in March after GOP Rep. Devin Nunes, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, visited the White House to view documents he said could help prove Trump's allegation that President Barack Obama surveilled Trump Tower leading up to the election.

A Congressional committee would have subpoena power and would issue a report. It would be the Department of Justice that decides if criminal charges are brought.
Pilot models of the Uber self-driving car. Angelo Merendino | AFP | Getty Images

At a technology conference in mid-2014, the Google co-founder Sergey Brin presented the company's first prototype for a self-driving car. Watching in the audience was Travis Kalanick, chief executive of Uber, the ride-hailing start-up. Mr. Brin's presentation in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.  including a video of a compact two-seater autonomously doing laps around a parking lot  jolted Mr. Kalanick, according to two people who spoke with him. Google, the search giant  long considered an Uber ally  seemed to be turning on him. And even as Uber was a growing force to be reckoned with, it was lacking in self-driving car technology, an important field of study that might affect the future of transportation. So Mr. Kalanick spent much of 2015 raiding Google's engineering corps. To learn about the technology, he struck up a friendship with Anthony Levandowski, a top autonomous vehicle engineer at "G-co," Mr. Kalanick's pet name for Google. The two men often spoke for hours about the future of driving, meeting at the Ferry Building in San Francisco and walking five miles to the Golden Gate Bridge, according to two people familiar with the executives, who asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, left, and Anthony Levandowski, co-founder of Otto, pose for a photo in the lobby of Uber headquarters, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, in San Francisco. Tony Avelar | AP

The friendship developed into a partnership. Mr. Levandowski left Google last year to form Otto, a self-driving trucking start-up. Uber acquired it months later for nearly $700 million. Mr. Kalanick subsequently appointed Mr. Levandowski to run Uber's autonomous vehicle research. That relationship has since set off a legal morass, with Google's self-driving vehicle business  now called Waymo  accusing Mr. Levandowski of creating Otto as a front to steal trade secrets from Google, then using the findings with Uber's driverless cars. On Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco barred Mr. Levandowski from working on a crucial component of Uber's self-driving car technology for the duration of the case. The implications are set to reverberate far beyond the courtroom. Any setback for Uber will shake up the driverless car industry, which is locked in a bitter race to introduce and commercialize autonomous cars. Silicon Valley tech titans and Detroit automakers are making huge investments  bets that autonomous vehicle technology will usher in a new age of how people get around. For some companies, especially traditional carmakers, their very survival is at stake. While Google has been developing autonomous vehicle technology for more than a decade, others have raced to catch up. General Motors, Ford, Apple, Tesla, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are among those that have jumped in. All are competing  and sometimes cooperating  for a slice of a new market expected to top $77 billion over the next two decades, according to a study from Boston Consulting Group. Uber has been ahead of many others in publicly testing autonomous vehicles. Last year, the company began a pilot program of autonomous cars in Pittsburgh; it has also done testing in San Francisco and Tempe, Ariz. That aggressiveness has spurred an intense rivalry with Waymo. Waymo's legal pursuit of Uber and Mr. Levandowski is out of corporate character; Google has tended to refrain from suing former employees who move to competitors. Many at Google and Waymo are incensed at Mr. Levandowski and how he may have betrayed them for a rich payday, according to current and former employees. That has pushed Waymo to strike back. Beyond suing Uber, Waymo said on Sunday it had teamed up with Lyft, a ride-hailing rival, on driverless car initiatives. "This is a race where every single minute seems to count," said Carl W. Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, who has followed the Waymo-Uber case. Uber and Waymo declined to comment for this article. Uber and Google once considered each other allies. Google's venture capital arm, now known as GV, spotted Uber's potential early and invested more than $200 million in the fledgling ride-hailing network in 2013. David Drummond, then Google's chief legal counsel and an early Uber enthusiast, took a seat on Uber's board. At one point, Google promoted Uber as a transportation option in the Google Maps app, and Uber drivers relied on Google Maps. But the relationship crumbled as the two companies' paths converged. Google began testing its own car-pooling service inside Waze, a mapping app it owns. Uber eventually moved away from relying solely on Google Maps. A week after Uber acquired Mr. Levandowski's start-up last August, Mr. Drummond, who had become chief legal officer of Alphabet, Google's parent company, stepped down from Uber's board. At the same time, Uber ramped up its own driverless car efforts. In 2015, Uber opened the Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh, home to its self-driving work. It hired Brian McClendon, Google's head of maps, and brought on staff members from Carnegie Mellon University. Around then, the friendship between Mr. Levandowski and Mr. Kalanick deepened, according to people close to both men. After "jam sessions" between the two  essentially brainstorming meetings where they would walk and talk over the future of driving  Mr. Kalanick's pedometer would clock in with thousands of steps.

Anthony Levandowski, left, and Lior Ron, the co-founders of Otto, a 90-person start-up focused on developing self-driving truck technology, at the Otto offices in San Francisco, May 16, 2016. Uber has announced it has acquired Otto, a move that is the most recent indication of the company's ambitions for autonomous vehicles that can provide services to both consumers and businesses. Ramin Rahimian | The New York Times
IBM Chairman, President and CEO Ginni Rometty delivers a keynote address at CES 2016 at The Venetian Las Vegas on January 6, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

IBM said it has successfully tested its two most powerful quantum computers ever with both holding processing power far in excess of its famous Watson infrastructure.

Thanks to the more flexible way it can store data, a quantum computer processes faster and uses much less energy than a classical computer.

The processing power of a quantum computer is measured in "qubits" and IBM claim they will soon have computers that are ten times as powerful as their machine in use today.

"The significant engineering improvements announced today will allow IBM to scale future processors to include 50 or more qubits, and demonstrate computational capabilities beyond today's classical computing systems," said Arvind Krishna, senior vice president and director of IBM Research and Hybrid Cloud, in a press release Wednesday

Krishna added that while technologies that currently run on classical computers such as "Watson" can help find patterns and insights buried in data, quantum computers can deliver solutions to problems where, due to a lack of data, patterns cannot be found.

"These powerful upgrades to our quantum systems, delivered via the IBM Cloud, allow us to imagine new applications and new frontiers for discovery that are virtually unattainable using classical computers alone," he added.

The company said future applications for the quantum computers may include providing solutions for complex financial modeling, logistics, chemistry, medicine, artificial intelligence and cloud security.
Shares of Google closed at 100.34 on August 19, 2004, up $15.34 higher than when the market opened. Getty Images

The initial public offering has for decades been the favored means by which fast-growing technology companies have raised their cash and credibility. Yet the relationship between the IPO and the CEOs of today's most-valuable tech start-ups more resembles a frosty glance than a warm embrace. Those who care about financial transparency may want to root for this rocky marriage of Silicon Valley and Wall Street to survive. Whatever may replace the traditional IPO could result in technology investors  even large ones, like hedge funds and giant mutual funds  having even less say in how these inherently risky companies are run. Steep share-price drops that followed high-profile market debuts in recent years have taken some shine off a storied financial instrument that helped make household names of many tech firms. So have the rising costs of being a public firm in the wake of financial regulations that followed the dot-com stock crash of 20002001 and the financial meltdown of 20082009. "There's a lot more liability" to being a public company in the wake of Sarbanes-Oxley reforms, said Max Levchin, founder and CEO of consumer-lending company Affirm, which remains private five years after its founding, even as its grown to 230 employees. The harsh glare of being public is also a disincentive, says Levchin, who sits on an advisory board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and is a former Yahoo board member. "It's a huge distraction," he said.

Signs of a rocky relationship

Signs abound that large, private tech firms have fallen out of love with the IPO: Uber, now in its ninth year, has raised money only in private markets, even as its valuation reached $68 billion. Its rival, ride-provider Lyft, in April said it hit a $7.5 billion valuation courtesy of a $500 million round. A month before, the No. 1 company on the 2017 CNBC Disruptor 50 list Airbnb raised $1 billion in a private financing round that gave it a valuation of $31 billion.

These rounds and valuations are of a size once reserved for public tech firms. Google , for example, raised just under $2 billion and was valued at roughly $23 billion in its 2004 IPO. "When private valuations are this high, there's no pressing need to go public," said Ken Goldman, chief financial officer of Yahoo and a veteran CFO who took three previous tech start-ups through the IPO process. Now the music service Spotify reportedly wants to bypass an IPO altogether, opting instead for a direct listing of shares on a public exchange. Some may see that potential move as one made out of desperation, as much as a distaste for the IPO process, given that Spotify's previous round of financing reportedly required making concessions to investors. And Spotify's business model, which requires making massive royalty payments to keep pace with the music libraries of huge rivals like Apple and Amazon , is perhaps best left to private investors who can better gauge its risks. Even so, Spotify's move is a sign that today's tech start-ups have options that firms like Apple, Microsoft , Oracle and Cisco Systems in their early days did not. "Spotify is evidence of the evolution to new modes of liquidity," said Barrett Cohn, co-founder and managing director of Scenic Advisement, a San Francisco-based investment bank that executes private stock sales for tech companies, their employees and investors. "Sellers want a market price," said Cohn, who previously worked for Lehman Brothers and for Maveron, a venture capital and private-equity firm, and who declined comment on whether Scenic had worked with Spotify. "They don't want to wait for an IPO that might not come."

Vibrant market

Despite the emergence of new alternatives, the IPO market remains vibrant. Even without some of the largest private companies executing IPOs, activity and performance is better than it's been in several years. As of Friday, 56 companies had raised $16.4 billion via U.S. IPOs this year, according to Renaissance Capital. That compares with 22 companies raising just $3.5 billion in the same period a year earlier. The 20 issues that went public in April were the most in that month since 2014, according to Renaissance chairman and co-founder Kathleen Smith.

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Even severe, post-IPO price drops in the shares of Facebook , Twitter and Alibaba  in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively  have yet to cool investors' appetites for big names. Buyers of Snap were similarly whipsawed, with the stock plunging more than 20 percent last Thursday after its first financial report as a public company, then rising more than 8 percent on Monday after it was revealed that some big hedge funds had taken positions in the stock. "Snap will put a chill on some unicorns'" pursuing IPOs, predicts Smith, whose company runs . Even so, IPO shares are up an average of 11 percent in 2017 as of May 12, according to Renaissance. Smith is skeptical of Spotify's rumored plans. IPO buyers are "looking for more transparency, not more product," she said. "It's hard to develop a public market. Someone has to put buyers and sellers together."

The balance of power has shifted
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In an exclusive joint interview with CNBC and Broadcast Satellite Japan this week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered his thoughts on an array of topics from North Korea to his country's demographic challenges. Below are key snippets, translated from Japanese, from the interview.

Enhancing Japan-US ties

Plans are underway to create a framework for an economic dialogue between the U.S. and Japan, Abe said. Following Vice President Mike Pence's April meeting with Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, a second round of meetings on the topic will be held later this year, he added. "We would like to enhance economic activities between Japan and the United States based upon trading and investment rules....In addition, we will have sectoral cooperation approaches in the domains of high speed rail, infrastructure and energy." Economic relations will be boosted in a multifaceted way, the PM noted. "In the past, friction was the word symbolizing the economic relations between the two countries. However, now we are living in the day and age of where no one party will make just a one-sided gain or one-sided losses," he said. "With the cooperation, both parties will be benefit from enhanced economic relations."

Strengthening Japan-China-Korea alliance

Japan's relationships with South Korea and China have been uneasy in recent years amid a territorial dispute in the East China Sea and continued anger over Japan's conduct during World War II. Still, Abe expressed a desire to conduct respective summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and newly-elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the upcoming G-20 summit in Hamburg. He said he hopes to hold a tripartite summit between the three countries in Japan as early as possible now that Seoul's political situation has stabilized, adding that he had spoken to Moon over the phone.

President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump arrive with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe on Air Force One at the Palm Beach International airport on February 10, 2017 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Why Japan isn't joining AIIB

The PM listed several reasons why Tokyo isn't a party to the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). "First of all, there remains the issue of whether impartial governance can be established. Secondly, there is the issue of sustainability of debt servicing on the part of the borrowing countries and whether the societal and environmental impacts are duly considered." As long as these issues remain unresolved, Abe said he did not see his country taking part.

Tech can help Japan's aging problem

A rapidly aging society and a shrinking labor force could cause a 1 percentage point decline in average annual gross domestic product over the next three decades, according to the IMF. "Going forward, with the utilization of artificial intelligence and the internet of things, we want to overcome the challenges coming from an aging society with low fertility," Abe said. "We have already accumulated data and with the use of AI, we will make good use of the big data that we have. Thereby, we can contribute to other countries and regions, which may suffer from the same kind of challenges." Abe refereed to this problem-solving concept as "Society 5.0" and used the medical field as an example: "With the use of big data and AI, we can shift to health management and preventive medical care and encourage those dependent on medical and nursing care to become more self supporting." The use of robots and sensors can also alleviate the caregiver's burden, the PM noted.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) holds a joint press conference with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the East Room at the White House on February 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images

Japan to lead TPP talks

Amid Washington's exit from the international trade deal, Japan must take a leadership role and move Trans-Pacific Partnership discussions forward, Abe stated. While Tokyo strongly wishes for the U.S. to return to the trade pact, the eleven remaining members must not lose momentum and should "capitalize upon the results of long years of efforts," Abe said.

Tokyo appreciates Trump's North Korea stance

The international community has so far failed to convince Pyongyang to abandon nuclear development, so President Donald Trump's approach of "having all options on the table" is welcomed, Abe said. Acknowledging that the rogue nation's nuclear threat had entered a new stage, the PM said Japan would like to resort to diplomatic and peaceful means in resolving the situation. "However, we are not pursuing dialogue for the sake of dialogue. We must firmly and solidly stand upon the principle of action for action," he warned.

Japanese wages will head higher
Britain has sold its last remaining stake in Lloyds Banking Group , making the lender the first to re-emerge from British state ownership in a symbolic step for the country's recovering banking

sector.



The sale draws a line under one of the largest bailouts from the 2007-2009 global financial crisis. This involved Lloyds, Britain's biggest retail lender, being rescued after an ill-fated government-brokered takeover of rival HBOS.



"Six years ago we inherited a business that was in a very fragile financial condition," Lloyds Chief Executive Antonio Horta-Osorio, who joined the bank in 2011, said in a statement on Wednesday.



"Thanks to the hard work of everyone at Lloyds, we've turned the group around."



The takeover of HBOS in 2008 caused Lloyds to suffer more than 25 billion pounds in losses, with the bailout leaving the government with a 43 percent state shareholding.



Lloyds said in a statement that the government will make a profit of about 900 million pounds ($1.16 billion), having spent more than 20 billion pounds rescuing the bank.
Today's oil price structure gives U.S. shale drillers another rock to fling at the market's goliath, OPEC, according to Jeff Currie, head of commodities research at Goldman Sachs.

U.S. companies that rely on expensive drilling methods have become more efficient, frustrating OPEC's two-year effort to end a crude glut by pumping at maximum capacity to wash out high-cost producers. Even after OPEC relented and cut its own production to balance the market this year, resurgent American output has helped push global crude stockpiles to historic highs.

That has kept U.S. oil prices in a band between about $44 and $55 a barrel. Currie believes prices won't break out until investors see "real, observable inventory draws."

While that's the stated goal of OPEC's deal with other exporters to remove a combined 1.8 million barrels a day from the market, Currie thinks the cartel has another aim in mind.

"The big shift  and what I think OPEC is trying to generate  is a shift in the curve to backwardation, where spot prices sit above forward prices," Currie told CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Wednesday.

U.S. crude oil price structure

OPEC wants oil for immediate delivery to trade at a premium to crude sold for future shipment because the current market structure  contango  benefits the cartel's competition.

In contango, today's oil prices are cheaper than prices in the future. That works somewhat in U.S. drillers' favor because they heavily hedge their production, Currie explained, meaning they lock in a future price for delivery.

"OPEC is too big to hedge, so they get the lower spot prices. What they're after is to flip that curve," he said.



OPEC meets next week to decide whether to extend its six-month deal to cut output. Currie said the market has largely priced in an extension through March 2018 floated by Saudi Arabia and Russia earlier this week.

Asked why oil hadn't rallied further on the growing consensus around rolling over the policy, Currie said, "The market has worn thin on patience."

"If you look at what's happened since the beginning of the year, [the market has] tried to trade the OPEC production cuts, the big draws in the U.S. inventories, and it got stung once in April and again in May," he said.

The market could be waiting a while for stockpiles to fall to the five-year average. On Tuesday, the International Energy Agency warned that OPEC might fail to drive down inventories to that level this year.
additivs new investors include Martin Ebners Swiss Patinex investment vehicle, which already has stakes in core banking technology vendors, Avaloq and Temenos.

A Zurich-based Swiss financial technology (fintech) firm, additiv, has today raised CHF21m Swiss Francs ($21.3m) in capital from core investors including BZ Bank, acting on behalf of its clients, and the investment vehicle Patinex.

Patinex is headed up by Martin Ebner, a Swiss investor worth $2.8 billion according to Forbes, who has significant stakes in core banking technology vendors, Avaloq and Temenos.

Additiv provides systems to help with the digitalization of banks, asset managers and insurers. As such it is a longer established fintech firm - the sector existed before it was a hashtag - that works with banks, such as RBS, in order to offer it 'white label' solutions that the financial institution (FI) can use as if they had developed it themselves. This enables FIs to compete with newer, more nimble fintech start-up firms that may want to displace banks, wealth managers, insurers or other incumbent financial services providers.

Additiv's key software product is the Digital Finance Suite (DFS). It has offices in Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as an international network of reselling partners and customers around the world.

This is the first capital investment round secured by the company which was founded in 1998 and has latterly focused on providing robo-advisor services to FIs, which face a possible fintech displacement threat from newcomers such as Nutmeg.

Robo-advisors are online, automated portfolio management services that use artificial intelligence (AI) and computer algorithms to manage client investments at a fraction of the cost of a human financial advisor. They are accessible via mobile phones, tablets or the web.

NatWest's new robo-advice offering for the UK savings and investments market uses additiv's Digital Finance Suite (DFS) as its background operating platform. Coutts, also part of the RBS Group, is another white labeled client.

Commenting on the investment in a statement, Michael Stemmle, founder and CEO of additiv, said: "This funding will finance our international expansion and help strengthen our management team. It will also fuel our production of cutting edge cloud computing-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products that can ensure our clients are ahead of the curve. It really is crunch time for the sector and this funding allows us to be at our best when our clients need us most."

The London, U.K., headquartered merger and acquisition (M&A) firm, Zelig Associates, facilitated Patinex's involvement in the capital fundraising.

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A girl walks on a gas pipeline running through Okrika community near Nigeria's oil hub city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Akintunde Akinleye | Reuters

Rising oil production in Libya and Nigeria is raising concerns about OPEC's ability to boost crude prices, but conflicts in the two nations may still keep a lid on their output. Both OPEC members are exempt from the cartel's deal to remove 1.2 million barrels a day from the oil market in the first six months of this year. But with OPEC poised to extend the agreement at least through the rest of 2017, the conflicts that sidelined Libyan and Nigerian crude supplies appear to be easing. Libya's output rose above 800,000 barrels a day for the first time since 2014, when a second civil war broke out, the country's National Oil Corp. reported last week. Meanwhile, Nigeria is restoring major infrastructure damaged in militant attacks that nearly halved its output last year.

Goldman Sachs said rising Libyan and Nigerian production is one factor that is capping oil price gains, even as top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia push to extend OPEC's output cuts into 2018. "While we remain cautious on factoring in such a recovery in production given the ongoing local tensions, these combined volumes could largely offset the benefit of the extended cuts," the bank said in a research note. The International Energy Agency, a Paris-based energy advisor, issued a similar warning on Tuesday, saying "any significant increase" in Libya and Nigeria production "clearly offsets cutbacks by other OPEC and non-OPEC countries."

Libya: Negotiation, but no peace

The outlook for Libyan supply improved this month after the leader of the country's internationally recognized government and a rival commander whose forces control the country's northeast met to sketch out a power-sharing agreement. In a positive sign, Egypt appears to have pushed its ally General Khalifa Haftar to meet with UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez al Sarraj. This shows Cairo is committed to promoting stability next door, even if a resolution forces Haftar to make concessions, the Eurasia Group said in a briefing.

File photo of firefighters working to put out the fire of a storage oil tank at the port of Es Sider in Ras Lanuf. Oil tanks at Es Sider have been on fire for days after a rocket hit one of them, destroying more than two days of Libyan production Reuters

But the risk consultancy believes it will be difficult to secure a lasting peace deal in the next six months. A bitter dispute over Haftar's role in Libya's political future is one obstacle. Progress is also being hampered by a disjointed diplomatic push by international players and disputes within the United Nations' Libya mission, the Eurasia Group said. As a result, the firm projects oil exports will fluctuate between 500,000 and 700,000 barrels a day for the remainder of 2017. While Haftar's firm grip over oil supplies in Libya's eastern region will limit the risk that output will plummet, funding problems and a shortage of foreign workers at the National Oil Corp. will cap production gains, the Eurasia Group concluded. RBC Capital Markets believes geopolitical risks remain high in Libya, in part because the Islamic State considers it a fallback option as the militant group loses ground in its Syrian and Iraqi strongholds. The CIA said last year that ISIS has 6,000 to 8,000 fighters in Libya.

Nigeria's mysterious militants go radio silent

In Nigeria, a wave of attacks on oil infrastructure claimed by a clandestine group known as the Niger Delta Avengers have ceased, allowing major pipelines to begin pumping crude again. The peace that has taken hold is fragile though, warned Manji Cheto, senior vice president covering West Africa at risk advisory Teneo Intelligence. It rests largely on negotiations between elders in the oil-rich southern delta and Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a southerner who is leading the federal delegation to the impoverished and pollution-ravaged region.

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The militants, who demanded a larger share of the nation's oil wealth for people in the delta, now feel they have a voice in the capitol, Cheto said. Simultaneously, the nonmilitary approach used by Osinbajo, which includes promises of development money, has undercut the case for militancy. But Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been abroad for much of the year receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. That creates a political opportunity for vested interests in Buhari's inner circle, who are uncomfortable with the northern-born president's relatively close relationship with his deputy, Cheto said. This could undermine militants' trust in the capital to the extent Osinbajo is marginalized. In Cheto's worst-case scenario, an ailing Buhari steps down and his aides push out Osinbajo, severing the militants' link to the government and sparking renewed attacks on oil infrastructure. "At the moment it would be very difficult, but not impossible. I can't see a path to that kind of outcome, but this is Nigeria," she said. RBC Capital Markets lists Nigeria at its highest geopolitical risk level, due to "the potential for a turbulent political transition."

Exemptions continue?
There are a few big wins in life where  if you simply get them right  you can grow your wealth by hundreds of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. As a result, you'll never have to worry about minutiae like "Can I afford this appetizer?" or "Should I spend $2.50 on this mocha?" Big wins take just a few hours to do and pay you back for the rest of your life. My team and I have spent the last 10 years searching for these big wins, testing which ones actually work, and teaching them to tens of thousands of students in my courses and to millions of readers on my blog. The best big win for increasing your income is asking for a raise. A one-time salary increase of $5,000  properly invested  adds up to over $1,300,000 by the time you retire. If you don't believe me, just check out this salary calculator to see the difference that one-time pay increase makes over your career. How many lattes is that worth? Talk about a big win. You don't need tired hacks. You don't need feel-good motivational speeches. Yes, we hear woo-woo statements like, "Be yourself!" And we see blog posts that tell us, "Wear your best outfit and smile." No! In this article, I give you five tactics with step-by-step advice and word-by-word scripts that are proven to make your boss loosen the purse strings.

1. Show how you can solve your business' problems with the briefcase technique

It's easy to tell your boss you've done great work and that you deserve a raise. But when you actually prove it  and explain how your work translates into more profit or savings for the company  you'll instantly grab your boss' attention. The secret is show, don't tell. The briefcase technique is an advanced strategy that has helped students negotiate and earn thousands of dollars in raises. With this technique, you literally open your briefcase and give a document to your boss with a clear and compelling rationale for why you deserve a raise. It should show that: You've been blowing things out of the water with your performance.

You understand your boss' and the business' problems.

You have a plan to solve those problems through your role in the company.



2. Use comparables to justify a higher salary

Having comparables quickly gets you and your boss on the same page of what your salary range should be. The ideal is to have multiple real offers on the table that offer a higher salary. The next best option is to find comparable salary ranges for your industry, location, and business type using Payscale.com, Salary.com and Glassdoor.com. Here's a script from a role play that I did with a master negotiator: "Given the success I've been able to have in prior roles, which I believe I will bring to this role as well, I believe I deserve to be at the higher end of that $45,000 - $65,000 range."

3. Prepare your boss to give you a raise in six months

"If my boss thinks I deserve a raise, he'll offer it to me without me asking." Wrong! Here's the brutal truth: Even if your boss appreciates you, he won't pay you more unless you ask. After all, would you pay $110 for something with a $100 price tag? Rather than waiting and praying, you need to let your boss know that you want a raise and pre-agree on what criteria you need to hit in order for that to happen. Before asking, set the right tone. You need to connect with your boss emotionally and make sure the tenor is nice and relaxed. The last thing you want is a defensiveness. Once your boss has agreed to review your salary in six months, you want to agree on an ultra-specific goal. Not things like improve morale or improve customer service. No! Ask specific questions like, "What numbers do I need to hit?" Once you agree on a number, get it in writing.



Next, you need to show that you're working toward that number and executing. Knock it out of the park! Finally, circle back in six months  after you've blown past the numbers  and say, "You said it would take X to get a raise. I've done X and more. I'd like to have a discussion with you about that raise."

4. Know exactly how you'll respond if your boss objects

Before you offer rebuttals, show gratitude for the offer and reiterate your excitement for the opportunity. This will make the conversation collaborative rather than adversarial. Then, use one of the scripts below: Objection: We don't have the money Your response: Focus on the value you bring to the business, no the cost of your salary increase. Objection: Here's a small raise (lower than you want). Your response: Bring up other forms of compensation (i.e., stock options, additional vacation days, bonuses).

5. Know what salary you want

If you walk into a salary negotiation without a number, you're at the mercy of an experienced hiring manager who will simply control the conversation. That's what they do. When you know what you want, not only can you communicate that crisply to the other person, you can demonstrate why  and this forces you to prepare for the negotiation. This single distinction can be worth thousands to you.

Most Americans are terrible at negotiating because they avoid it at all cost. Most would rather pay more rather than feel "weird" while negotiating. That's why Saturn was around for so long. One of the reasons Americans loved Saturn cars was the "no-haggle" policy  which, to an Indian like me, is code for "let's charge these suckers more because they're afraid of negotiating." It's no wonder that most raise conversations go something like this: Us: "It's been awhile since I got more money, and I think I deserve to get a raise. Is that something you can do?" Boss: "There's no room in the budget for that. Maybe next year." Us: "Oh, okay. Thank you." If you actually spend a few hours practicing, two things will happen. You'll be more comfortable, and you'll have a huge advantage with your salary negotiation. The best way to practice is role playing with a competent negotiator. To see what this actually looks like, watch this 14-minute in-depth video to see how a master negotiator responds to tough objections:
A large windfarm off the coast of Liverpool Bay is set to be officially opened later today.

According to DONG Energy, the Burbo Bank Extension is the world's first offshore wind farm to make commercial use of the huge MHI-Vestas V164-8.0 MW wind turbines.

The scale of the turbines is considerable. According to MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, the turbine has 80 meter blades  equivalent to nine double decker London buses  weighing 35 tonnes each.

In a statement on Wednesday, DONG Energy said that just one of the turbines could produce more energy than Vindeby, the world's first offshore windfarm. The Burbo Bank Extension has the capability to meet the electricity demand of more than 230,000 homes, DONG Energy added.

The project is a joint venture between DONG Energy, which has a 50 percent interest, as well as PKA and KIRKBI A/S, who each have a 25 percent interest. KIRKBI A/S is the parent company of the LEGO Group.

In a statement on Wednesday, DONG Energy's chief executive, Henrik Poulsen, said that the Burbo Bank Extension was showcasing "the rapid innovation in the offshore wind industry."

"Less than ten years ago at Burbo Bank, we were the first to install Siemens 3.6MW wind turbines and in this short time, the wind turbines have more than doubled in capacity," Poulsen added.

"Pushing innovation in this way reduces the cost of electricity from offshore wind and will help to advance the offshore wind industry across the world."

Steve Rotheram, metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said that the offshore wind industry had "a huge contribution to make to the growing UK-based supply chain, and utilizing our renewable energy sources is vital to ensuring the Liverpool City Region cements its position as a low carbon leader."

The potential for wind in the United Kingdom is significant. According to RenewableUK, the U.K. is Europe's windiest country and could power itself "several times over" with wind.

Commenting on the Burbo Bank Extension, RenewableUK's executive director, Emma Pinchbeck, described it as "game-changing" and a "testament to the offshore wind industry's strong commitment to relentless innovation."
Qualcomm said on Wednesday it filed a complaint against Foxconn Technology Group and three other contract manufacturers of Apple for not paying royalties.

The other manufacturers listed by Qualcomm were Pegatron Corp., Wistron Corp., and Compal Electronics.

The iPhone maker sued Qualcomm in January, accusing it of overcharging for chips and refusing to pay some $1 billion in promised rebates.

Qualcomm said last month that Apple had decided to withhold royalty payments to its contract manufacturers that are owed to the chipmaker, for sales made in the first quarter of 2017, until the dispute is resolved in court.

"While not disputing their contractual obligations to pay for the use of Qualcomm's inventions, the manufacturers say they must follow Apple's instructions not to pay," the chipmaker said in a statement.

Qualcomm said it sought an order that would require the manufacturers to comply with their long-standing contractual obligations to the company, as well as declaratory relief and damages.

Qualcomm General Counsel Don Rosenberg told CNBC, "We have the rule of law here on our side."

"This has been a strategically designed effort to damage us around the world," he said. "We didn't start this or ask for it, but we will fight back with the tools we have."

The chipmaker slashed its current-quarter profit and revenue forecasts in April, saying it excluded revenue receivable from those contract manufacturers.

Qualcomm, the largest maker of chips used in smartphones, is a major supplier to Apple and Samsung Electronics for modem chips that connect phones to wireless networks.

Foxconn Technology is the trading name of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry, the main assembler of Apple devices.

Qualcomm filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

The company's shares were marginally lower at $55.81 in early trading Wednesday.

CNBC's David Faber contributed to this report.
MISSOULA  A Broadwater County Sheriff's deputy with only three years on the job and a wife and three children at home was shot and killed early Tuesday while trying to make a traffic stop.

The shooting touched off a search that resulted in a pre-dawn chase covering more than 140 miles in southwestern Montana and ending in a shoot-out that sent one suspect to the hospital and his father to jail.

Mason Moore, 42, was slain near Three Forks, less than two miles from where a state Highway Patrol trooper was shot and killed in 2010.

"It's difficult to adequately describe how devastating it feels to lose one of our own in the line of duty," said Broadwater Sheriff Wynn Meehan. "Our deputy died protecting the citizens of our county and displayed remarkable courage until the very end."

Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin said the incident began Tuesday morning when Moore was pursuing a white SUV near Three Forks shortly before 3 a.m.

Gootkin said dispatchers lost contact with Moore. When a Gallatin deputy arrived at the scene, he found Moore lying dead near the side of the road. The deputy reviewed the dash camera video in the slain officer's car and identified the SUV.

Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff Ed Lester said his department's officers spotted the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban at 3:27 a.m. heading west on I-90 near the Continental Drive interchange. As they were chasing it, he said the passenger, Marshall Barrus, fired a semi-automatic .308-caliber rifle through the SUV's missing back window.

The sheriff said both suspects in the SUV were firing at deputies near the end of the chase.

"There's probably a special place in hell for those individuals, and that's where they belong," Lester said of the suspects.

The pursuit reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Butte-Silver Bow officers continued to pursue the SUV westbound on I-90 through Deer Lodge County and Powell County and into Granite County.

Although its tires were punctured by a spike strip in Powell County, the SUV kept going on its rims until it reached the Rock Creek area. There, Barrus got out of the SUV and began firing at officers. Three Butte-Silver Bow sheriff's vehicles were hit by gunfire, two of them seriously enough to be disabled.

Deputies returned fire, hitting Marshall Barrus in the head. He was taken to the hospital where his condition was not available.

His father and the SUV's driver, 61-year-old Lloyd Barrus, was arrested and booked into the Missoula County jail on suspicion of deliberate homicide.

A section of westbound I-90 was closed Tuesday morning while investigators collected evidence. Lester said the investigation of the slaying and chase is being conducted by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the Missoula County Sheriffs Office.

The men and women of the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department extend our sincerest condolences to Sheriff Meehan, the Broadwater County Sheriffs Department, and the family of the fallen deputy,'' Lester said, echoing condolence messages that poured in Tuesday from law enforcement and elected officials across Montana.

Officers from numerous agencies joined a procession at mid-day Tuesday to transfer Moore's body from Three Forks to Billings for an autopsy. The body arrived in Billings in the afternoon, where firefighters raised a large American flag from a ladder truck.

Moore is the 129th Montana law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty since 1878, just before Montana became a state.

Moore was shot less than 2 miles from where Montana Highway Patrol Trooper David DeLaittre was killed near Three Forks in December 2010.

The U.S. marked Peace Officers Memorial Day on Monday.

According to the state's Public Safety Officer Standards and Training office, Moore had previously worked for the Department of Transportation's Motor Carrier Services from 2012 to 2015 before joining the Broadwater sheriff's office.

Marshall Barrus has a criminal history in the Bozeman area, including being arrested in November by police in Belgrade. According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, in that incident Barrus allegedly broke into a couples home, assaulted a woman and threatened to kill a man. He was awaiting trial for felony burglary.
Amazon's ceaseless effort to beat competitors on price is really good for the company and consumers  but ultimately bad for everyone else, NYU Stern Professor Scott Galloway, told CNBC on Wednesday.

"They are inspired with 500 million consumers, fanatical investors that fund this to declare war on brands," said Galloway.

Galloway says Amazon's move into pharmaceuticals is going to drive down prices, making it difficult for anyone else to compete. "Amazon has algorithms that go out and look for the lowest price per ounce ... then demand that their brands offer that same price or better per ounce in any package or within a nano second, or they will kick you off," said Galloway.

"I can't imagine they won't be in this $300 billion sector, and its going to be good for Amazon and shareholders, good for consumers and bad for everyone else in the ecosystem," he said.

This isn't the first time the company has offered pharmaceuticals. Amazon backed Drugstore.com back in the 1990s, the company later sold to Walgreens, which eventually shut it down. But there are still some potential challenges for Amazon as it jumps back into this arena.

"Complexity and regulation typically benefits the people who have figured out the incumbent players. This will be bad for the manufacturers brands of pharmaceuticals. When Amazon comes into a category, you see universal margin pressure across the entire ecosystem," said Galloway.

"Amazon is good at figuring out a complicated problem, and then making a small amount of money taking huge share, growing their share price and have everyone else take a beating," he said.
People missing out on much-needed sleep are not only less appealing to socialize with but are also more likely to be considered less attractive too, new research suggests.

Psychologists found back to back nights without the appropriate rest would be enough to encourage others to stay away.

"If someone looks less healthy, you are more likely to withdraw from them," Tina Sundelin, doctor and lead researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, told The Guardian.

"If you can see someone hasn't slept, you'll have a good idea that they might not be the best person to be around," she added.

The researchers recruited 25 university students, some male and female, to take part in the sleep experiment. All of the paid volunteers were asked to measure their night time movements with specialist equipment each evening.

The volunteers photographed themselves, make-up free, after getting a good night's sleep for two consecutive nights before taking pictures once again after only having four hours sleep for two nights in a row the following week.

The Karolinska Institute then invited 122 strangers from Sweden's capital city to rate the photos of the participants on attractiveness, trustworthiness, health and sleepiness.
For an extra 80 cents, you won't have to worry about your Starbucks coffee getting watered down. If you live in St. Louis, Missouri, or Baltimore, Maryland, that is.

Starbucks is testing coffee ice  frozen Starbucks coffee ice cubes  in about 100 stores for the next 8 weeks.

"As a company, we often test new products, programs and ideas to gather feedback from our customers and partners (employees)," the company told CNBC.

The coffee ice can be added to any iced espresso or brewed coffee beverage that Starbucks serves. Although, you could probably ask for your barista to add the caffeinated ice to your Frappuccino for an extra kick.

One barista posted on Reddit that the coffee taste in the Frappuccino "was stronger and it was a lot smoother" with the coffee ice.

Starbucks is no stranger to beverage tests and innovative food launches.

Most recently, the chain's Unicorn Frappuccino drove significant traffic to chains during its limited run as well as brand awareness and affinity. If the coffee ice proves popular with consumers, we could see a more widespread roll out in the future.
Homegrown militants in the Philippines are increasingly turning their focus to holiday hot-spots, potentially spelling trouble for the tourist-dependent economy.

Tourism makes up around 10 percent of national gross domestic product and the sector is seen as a key growth driver for the country. But Western embassies have issued travel warnings for three of the country's most frequented destinations  resort islands Cebu and Bohol as well as the popular Palawan province  over the past month amid kidnapping risks to foreigners.

Philippine terror network Abu Sayyaf, whose name translates to 'bearer of the sword' in Arabic, is the primary suspect. Around 10 of its armed members infiltrated Bohol last month and unsuccessfully attempted to kidnap tourists, according to reports.

Map courtesy of the National Counterterrorism Center

No militants have been spotted in Palawan yet, and officials said they have deployed all assets to prevent terrorists from entering.

Despite a series of high-profile kidnappings targeting foreigners across its stronghold in the southern provinces, specifically Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, Abu Sayyaf has yet to significantly hurt the number of foreign arrivals  the latest government data showed a 5.36 percent annual increase in visitors for February.

However, the group's recent activity presents a brewing threat to tourism, warned Eufracia Taylor, Asia analyst at political consulting firm Maplecroft. The majority of its ventures are around Mindanao and Sulu so pursuits outside of these regions are significant to the country's broader security environment, she noted.

The foiled raid in Bohol took Philippine officials by surprise, remarked Zachary Abuza, professor at the Washington-based National War College. "It was a shock that they targeted what was otherwise a very safe tourist destination."

If the organization successfully kidnap tourists in favored holiday destinations, tourism would certainly be affected, said Victor Manhit, managing director at the Philippines team of Bower Group Asia.
We need more immigration, not less: Carlos Gutierrez 10:56 AM ET Tue, 9 May 2017 | 02:52

The backlash in Arizona was severe. The ACLU reports that Arizona lost $141 million from canceled conventions in the year following the passing of SB1070. Additionally, the effect from the lost revenues resulted in $250 million in lost economic output, and almost $10 million in lost tax revenue.

Immediately following the passing of SB1070, a coalition of civil rights organizations including the ACLU, the National Immigration Law Center and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, filed a lawsuit against Arizona. In September 2016, Arizona settled the lawsuit and paid $1.4 million in attorney's fees to the organizations and announced that it would no longer require police officers to inquire about a person's immigration status. This is where Texas is headed  millions of dollars lost in revenues from tourism and conventions, millions of taxpayer's dollars wasted in legal battles, and ultimately this racial profiling law will not prevail.

Governor Gregg Abbott needs to look deep into the heart of Texas and recognize the ripple effect he is creating with the passing of this racial profiling law. In the 1990s, Proposition 187 made its way through California. The measure required law enforcement, education and health officials to inquire about a person's immigration status. The law was never enacted after a judge halted the measure. The effect took time, but the political implications were lasting. In 1994, Republicans held half of California's 52 seats in the U.S. House; today, they hold 14 seats.

I believe the Texas that led the country in giving undocumented students an opportunity at higher education, my home state, is the state that will ultimately prevail. Just like Prop187 in California, SB4 might just be the tipping point in Texas.

As Manny Fernandez said in his New York Times essay, "Texas [is] forever, and Republican Texas is [a kind] of temporary occupation."

Commentary by Julissa Arce is author of the book, "My (Underground) American Dream." Arce made national and international headlines when she revealed that she had achieved the American Dream of wealth and status working her way up to vice president at Goldman Sachs by age 27 while being an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. She currently works with the Ascend Educational Fund, a scholarship program for immigrant students in New York City. Follow her on Twitter @julissaarce.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.

Watch: Trump signs executive order on immigration
A window announcing the encryption of data including a requirement to pay appears on an electronic timetable display at the railway station in Chemnitz, eastern Germany, on May 12, 2017.

Earlier this year Aperio won the coveted prize for most innovative start-up at Tel Aviv's Cybertech conference. It positions itself as the "last line of defense" for large industrial systems and says that it, "detects artificial manipulations of industrial process data in real time."

"It's one thing when I tell them: Look at these past examples, it can be done, the technology is not so sophisticated. But it's a different thing when it's on the TV, on the news. It's more convincing," says Shalyt . He's a former head of malware at Israel's major cybersecurity company Check Point and like many of his colleagues a veteran of the army's famed cyber unit 8200.

Aperio protects large industrial systems, such as power companies, by analyzing data quality. And they tend not to panic easily. But Shalyt does acknowledge that there's a spike in business on occasions such as the WannaCry attack.

Whenever there's a headline-grabbing cyberattack, Michael Shalyt , CEO and co-founder of Israeli cybersecurity start-up Aperio Systems, has his sleep interrupted. "People call me in the middle of the night, Michael, should I be afraid?" But that's mostly his friends and family.

Shalyt is not surprised by the WannaCry carnage. He will not comment on clients and specifics but it's clear that Aperio's business model is based exactly on the kind of vulnerability the WannaCry attackers have exploited: a reluctance among many large organizations, including crucial infrastructure companies to update and/or patch their systems.

"This is one of the scarier parts for me in the whole story. The things that we really rely on for electricity, water, gas supply health care, there's very little incentive there most of the time to upgrade the systems," says Shalyt .

"In power generation you see this all the time, they're very scared of touching their SCADA (control and data systems) and in general their networks and their configurations: It was working for ten years, 15 years. Why should I ever touch anything? If I screw something up, I'll have downtime in power. Do you know how much that will cost the company?"

He explains that installing Aperio is therefore completely non-intrusive and doesn't require any downtime. "Otherwise no one would actually do it."

Attacks such as WannaCry and many others are constantly going on, Shalyt notes. And chances are that systems will be breached: "We assume that the digital network will be breached and the latest attack is a good example of that. We don't trust that the systems are really secure either to external hackers or a cyber threat. We believe even a mildly motivated attacker will be able to breach your network."

Deterrence is sorely lacking at the moment, Shalyt points out. The unregulated nature of cyberspace too often makes it easy for attackers to get away with it. "You can reverse engineer their malware, you can understand everything about their activity, you can shut down their operation but still you won't catch the actual guy."

That's why he's in favor of something that Microsoft has mooted, a 'cyber Geneva convention'. There are very few success stories. And when it was successful, it was due to collaboration between different countries, different actors, between the security industry and law enforcement. I was part of one such organization and I know that if there's more collaboration it will really help in scaring off potential hackers."
On Friday, the world was hit by a massive cyberattack, the effects of which are continuing to spread as of this writing.

A piece of ransomware known as "WannaCry" paralyzed businesses, government entities, and Britain's National Health Service, encrypting computer files on infected machines unless the owner paid a $300 ransom. All told, more than 300,000 computers have been knocked offline in an attack that has wound its way through nearly every country on Earth.

The attack exposed major shortcomings in the approach of governments as well as businesses around the world to cybersecurity. And it shows just how inadequate our existing approach to cybersecurity is in the face of the widespread availability of software exploits and the increasing prevalence of malicious actors online.

Britain's National Health Service was hit hard because the cash-strapped hospital system did not upgrade to the most recent versions of the Windows operating system  an outdated system Microsoft long ago stopped supporting.

The malware's spread was slowed Friday in part because Microsoft took the rare step of offering an emergency patch to the old Windows XP systems (something that typically does not happen with unsupported software)and in part because a 22-year-old cybersecurity researcher who calls himself MalwareTech discovered and activated what appears to have been a "kill switch" buried in the malware code. Companies can't count on these types of developments to constrain the next attack.

Like so much of the malicious activity on the internet, the attack took advantage of known vulnerabilities. Back in March, Microsoft had, in fact, pushed out a patch to the vulnerability that the WannaCry ransomware was able to exploit. The problem was that many businesses and institutions hadn't applied the patch  and on a broader level many institutions consistently lag behind in updating their software or continue to use older operating systems that aren't supported by new security updates.

While no set of defenses can be guaranteed to withstand a sustained attack from a sophisticated attacker, they can still go a long ways toward reducing and mitigating risk: According to the Department of Homeland Security, as many as 85% of targeted cyberattacks are preventable through these basic risk-mitigation measures.

So what can businesses do right now?

First, every business should examine what it is doing to protect against phishing attacks (i.e., e-mails from bad guys with malware attached, where clicking introduces the threat to the system). Warning and educating employees about these threats is obviously a good idea  but a more effective tactic is to run a "red team" type test by sending fake phishing emails out to employees and seeing how many people fall for them. Companies can then follow up with better training after they've accurately diagnosed the extent of their vulnerability.

Second, as the WannaCry attack clearly shows, it's imperative for businesses to make sure they are constantly updating their software and installing appropriate security patches. That also means keeping current with the latest operating systems; oftentimes, a patch might only work with the most current system, leaving older ones in a state of ever-worsening security limbo (as has been the case with Windows XP).

And the ransomware attack carries another important, related lesson: The patch that Microsoft had pushed out in March did not have a large red sign next to it that said, "URGENT Patch Needed To Prevent Against Devastating Ransomware Attack." The update was offered quietly without a further description. Whatever the reason for this (and perhaps it was because Microsoft didn't want to alarm users or call attention to the vulnerability), the fact remains that you may not know until it is too late whether an update is a critical cybersecurity measure or whether it just adds some new feature or fixes an obscure bug in the software.

Third and maybe most critically, companies should game out these cyber scenarios and have a plan in place for how to handle them. Every business (whether in the tech sector or not) should consider what its worst-case cyber event would look like and how that event would be handled. What corporate governance structures would kick in  and are there ways to elevate problems directly to the CEO? Does the legal department have the right kind of relationship with the IT people so that the lawyers can understand what's going on? Companies should also consider  in advance  what their policy should be for notifying law enforcement. And, in the event of a ransomware attack, they should consider whether they would heed the FBI's advice not to pay in all cases or would be willing to take some other approach if their business depended on it.

These decisions are complicated, and there is probably no one-size-fits-all set of answers. The legal fallout can also be sprawling  ranging from possible consumer-privacy litigation, to shareholder suits, to cooperating in criminal investigations. The ramifications can even include being drawn into an international incident with a foreign adversary, as was shown by the Sony hack in 2014  and as current reporting is suggesting may be the case here. A business that falls victim to an attack also likely won't know who is behind the attack for some time, and so will be forced to make these decisions with imperfect information about whether it is dealing with ordinary crooks, a hostile nation-state, a terrorist organization, or some combination of these actors working in concert.

Planning for these scenarios and putting safety measures in place may sound expensive and onerous. But as the past weekend has shown, the cost of not preparing for them can be far higher. And unfortunately, businesses cannot count on governments to do this work for them. While federal agencies continue to assess their own vulnerabilities, the private sector must harness its own abilities to adapt and innovate in order to be better prepared for the next attack.

Commentary by John P. Carlin, former Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice's National Security Division (NSD). He currently chairs Morrison & Foerster's global risk and crisis management group and co-chairs its national security group. He is also the chair of the Aspen Institute's Cybersecurity & Technology Program.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
Writing aboutcuisine from the center of the foods primary domain really is like being at the center of a great storm. Its deceivingly calm and satisfying at its center; meanwhile great gusts of enchiladas, squalls of sopaipillas and torrents of tamales circle about in a frenzy that is both fantastic and fearsome, intriguing yet irritating.

As Ive traveled through this towns taco totality, Id more often than not given myself over to the idea that its nearly impossible to do la comida Nuevo Mexicana wrongproducing a chile-soaked rain storm in such a way that it is not drenching seemed impossible me.

After all, I grew up riding in mis padres Chrysler Cordoba between Bacas in Nob Hill and Panchos Mexican Buffet on Wyoming. The two long-gone local eateries represented polar ends of a spectrum that can be described using pithy phrases. Those descriptors ranged from Orale, thats awesome and Ill be back manana (Bacas) to Man, that place is, like, totally fregando, except for the endless baskets of sopapaillas which absolutely rock (Panchos). In other words, there was always a way to justify my continued presence at the best joints while tolerating my return to their lesser counterpartseven if agitation ensued.

But as I got older that changed. My patience waned. Just because this or that place had a killer combination plate or was a restaurant my father fancied didnt do it for me anymore. I mean, if my formerly forgiving sentimientos were in fact la neta, then why didnt I just eat my tortillas and beans out of a goddamned can?

I revisited these ideas as I wrote monthly about New Mexican restaurants but the concept of quality finally came into focus when I visited La Familiar Restaurant late last week.

In the before time, La Familiar was a big deal. Situated on Fourth Street between the new freeway and Downtown was a comfortable, home-like environment that beckoned with authentic New Mexican charm.

Back when local crooner Michael Rey and his wife Luz ran the place, notable New Mexico Food writer Gil Garduno wrote about the eatery in sentimental yet solidly affirmative tones, telling his readers at NM Gastronome that La Familiar, though nondescript on the outside, offered a wondrous red chile that would make grown men swoon.

These days are different, and although La Familiar can still make one swoon, it may not be for reasons that are so dear to an eaters heart.

As I drove by La Familiar, I almost missed it, had to make a u-turn and cussed at the on-coming traffic as I did so. The building its housed in has passed through the nondescript phase Garduno obviously admired and now appears worn. Handmade signs advising potential customers of the rich quality of menudo and caldo withinthat the NM Gastronome photographed four years agowere still in place, untouched by the new owners, but definitely touched by time.

I was the only customer that afternoon. Four women, workers, sat at a table discussing El Chapo. There were old copies of the New York Times Lifestyle Magazine scattered on a couple of tables. I took a copy of the issue about Natalie Portman and her fabulous sweaters and socks and had a seat in the back.

Eventually, the waitress arrived with a menu, while my eyes darted back and forth between the besocked and woolen pictures of Portman and the walls of the restaurant. In case you want to know, the walls had murals painted on them. Some time in the past, someone had laid out gloriously mythic depictions of Mayan and Toltec culture on those walls. Though once obviously bright, they now seemed faded.

I ordered the combination plate ($10.99) with an iced tea ($1.99) and a side of sopaipillas ($1.25). Chips and salsa never made their customary appearance at my table. I believe this is because the server forgot to offer them; she was busy going on and on to the cooks about the suave features and character of El Chapostanding at the doorway to the kitchen talking and laughingwhile my plate was fashioned in the back.

Twenty minutes later my combination plate arrived, but something was wrong. My server looked at me cross-eyed and retreated nervously as my late lonche was served. It looked good enough to eat though, so I dug in.

Immediately, I noticed a spongy texture to the enchilada. Unencumbering it from the sweet, almost sugary red chile that covered it, I unwrapped the corn tortilla to find that it was filled with some sort of organ meat, or what amounted to the stuff thats left over on a bird when everyone else has had their way with it. Profoundly irritated, I set it aside and moved on to the chile relleno. The chile pod was flat and dark, lightly coated in flour. It was overcooked or came from a can. It definitely hadnt been a fresh fruit for a few weeks. Like the enchilada, it was also covered over in an overly sweet red sauce.

Ironically, the beans and rice were very decent and delicious, well-cooked and pleasantly presented. Also, the sopaipillas were substantive: large and crispy, their freshness made me recall my penchant for forgiveness in the case of once grand New Mexican restaurants like Panchos. I ate that part of the meal with gusto and left the remainder.

The next afternoon the waitress who served me before greeted me with a smile. The whole place seemed cleaner and brighter than before; not restored to its former glory mind you, but definitely back on the track that would take the place there. Natalie Portman was on the counter where I left her, modeling winter fashions in the middle of Burques warm, clothes-shedding spring.

This time there was dark meat in the enchilada. It was a higher quality stuffing for sure, a huge improvement over what I had previously experienced. The relleno was still compressed, but more care had been put into stuffing it with a healthy amount of tasty yellow cheese. A taco served on the side was small but rewarding to eat when combined with the piquant green sauce that accompanied it. The beans were still awesome, cheesy and soft; the nutty, tomato-laced rice added a dry and peppery flair to the meal. Of course, the sopaipillas made the amelioration complete.

Taking my leave of La Familiar, I lamented the uncertainty of epicurean life, realizing that nothing is forever, it all passes. While that fact may be a restaurants undoing, it can also lead to reflection and improvement.
Out of all the large non-leveraged U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds, the six worst-performing are all closely tied to oil prices.

This may come as no surprise, as crude oil has declined more than 8 percent so far this year. But some strategists see further downside for the commodity, which could take these funds lower still.

The worst-performing large non-leveraged exchange-traded fund, the VanEck Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH ), has fallen nearly 18 percent so far this year. Behind that is the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP ), which has declined over 15 percent year to date. The sixth-worst performer is the popular XLE fund, which has fallen 10 percent year to date and is composed largely of energy giants Exxon , Chevron and Shlumberger .

The energy sector will likely continue its underperformance relative to the S&P 500, said Ari Wald, Oppenheimer head of technical analysis.

The sector on an absolute basis appears to be in the process of bottoming out, he said, "but we're going to see this very choppy trading maybe over the coming months, the coming quarter, even the coming years. And I think in the process, the energy sector is going to underperform versus a rising S&P 500, and that equities as a whole will do better than the energy sector."

Examining a chart of the sector relative to the broader market, the trend has recently fallen below year-long support, and its underperformance may accelerate.

Shale producers coming online in the U.S. and rising rig counts give Gina Sanchez, Chantico Global CEO, pause about oil prices and equities to which they are closely tethered.

"We're going into the driving season, and so generally, supply usually tends to go down in May, June, July and August. However, the problem is the OPEC nations tend not to stick to their deals," she said.

Even as oil has caught a bid this week as Russia and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement to extend output cuts through next March, Sanchez said the cuts are not as solid as the oil bulls would hope.

"If you look at it, Saudi Arabia is over 100 percent of the compliance, and everybody else is kind of cheating a little," she said. "And that's the story with OPEC  supplies just aren't coming down."

The bigger problem for oil is in the United States, however, where oil production has boomed. U.S. shale production is set to rise for the sixth straight month in June, sending production to its highest level since May 2015, according to a recent Energy Information Administration report.
Chantico Global CEO Gina Sanchez is watching for three key events on Wednesday.

1. Cisco earnings

Cisco is expected to report its quarterly earnings after the closing bell on Wednesday, and Sanchez is expecting positive results.

"If you look at where Cisco is used  cybersecurity , networking  these are areas that are set to grow, and in fact demand is going to be even greater going forward," Sanchez said on CNBC's "Trading Nation."

Analysts are forecasting earnings of 58 cents per share, according to FactSet. Most analysts give Cisco a rating of overweight.

In a report Tuesday, Drexel Hamilton analyst Brian White wrote: "We continue to believe Cisco's stock will receive investor support given the company's rich dividend, attractive valuation, expanding recurring revenue contribution, consistent execution and prime position as a beneficiary of potential revisions in repatriation policies."

He added that "Cisco is heading into its seasonally strongest quarter of the year."

The stock has risen more than 13 percent year to date.

2. Weekly crude oil inventory report

With WTI crude floundering below $50 a barrel, the Energy Information Administration publishes its weekly supply report Wednesday mid-morning. Sanchez is expecting supplies will continue to drop, which may prove bullish for the commodity.

"Oil has been having a rough time going up and down, and supplies have been very, very slow to cut," she said. "We've heard from Saudi Arabia, Russia and now Kuwait that they will extend their OPEC cuts. So this could be good for oil."

Crude oil rallied Monday after Russia and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement to extend output cuts. The commodity then gave back some of those gains on Tuesday, extending its losses after the American Petroleum Institute reported U.S. crude oil stocks rose last week, while gasoline inventories decreased. OPEC members are set to convene in a meeting next week.

3. Mortgage application data

Sanchez was keeping an eye on the Mortgage Bankers' Association's weekly mortgage application report, which said total volume fell 4.1 percent from the previous week.



The report is considered a reliable gauge of housing demand and construction. Ahead of the report, Sanchez said she was expecting a sign that housing was rebounding.

"We saw a big dip in April. However, we've seen some signaling that in fact this number's coming back up. With that we can expect a positive outlook for the housing market," she said.

The housing starts number reported by the Commerce Department on Tuesday morning showed a 2.6 percent decrease in new home construction in the month of April.
Somebody thinks the sword is mightier than the pen.

President Donald Trump's head of Homeland Security joked "use that on the press, sir," after the president was presented with a ceremonial saber during the U.S. Coast Guard Academy commencement Wednesday afternoon.

"Yeah, that's right," Trump laughed in response to Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly's caustic quip about the sword at the New London, Connecticut, campus.

During his commencement speech to graduating Coast Guard cadets, Trump took a verbal swipe at the press.

"Look at the way I have been treated lately, especially by the media," he said. "No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse and more unfairly. You can't let them get you down, you can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams."

Kelly's joke about attacking reporters and Trump's chuckle at it come a day after The New York Times revealed that former FBI Director James Comey had written a memo describing how Trump asked him in February to drop a probe of ousted national security advisor Michael Flynn's ties to Russia.

The Times story also said that "Mr. Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Mr. Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information, according to one of Mr. Comey's associates."

The Times story on Tuesday night was quickly corroborated by a number of other media outlets, including NBC News. The White House has denied the claims.

The bombshell report was just the latest in a weeklong series of media stories that prompted sharp criticism of Trump. Those stories included ones detailing how Trump allegedly gave Russia's foreign minister classified information from Israel about a terror plot by ISIS during a meeting in the Oval Office in the White House.

Trump and his allies have repeatedly complained that he is the victim of "fake news" stories.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bars Congress from, among other things, "abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 48 journalists were murdered around the world in 2016.

One of those murders occurred in the United States, which since 1992 has seen only nine killings of journalists. A freelancer named Jacinto Hernandez Torres was fatally shot last June in a suburb outside Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

La Estrella, the Spanish-languge publication of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, "confirmed that at the time of his death Torres was working on a story about Mexican professionals who had migrated to the United States and were now working in construction, restaurants, and service-sector jobs," according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The committee's website says that since 1992, 80 journalists have been killed in Russia.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of journalists murdered worldwide in 2016, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The correct number is 48.
President Donald Trump initially avoided his administration's scandals at a commencement ceremony Wednesday. But it didn't last long.

Trump pumped up Coast Guard Academy graduates by outlining the "path of service" they chose and their role in bringing "law and order" to the waters around the United States.

Their commander in chief then aimed to teach the graduates lessons about perseverance  through the lens of White House media coverage.

"Look at the way I've been treated lately, especially by the media. No politician in history  and I say this with great surety  has been treated worse or more unfairly," he said in his commencement address in New London, Connecticut.

"You can't let them get you down," Trump said, adding, "I guess that's why we won" the presidential election.

Trump made the comments as his White House struggles with the backlash to his firing of James Comey, who led the FBI as it investigated possible links between Trump campaign associates and the Kremlin. The president faces questions about whether he tried to impede the bureau's investigation.

On Tuesday, reports confirmed by NBC News indicated that a memo Comey wrote in February shows that the president asked him to shut down the FBI investigation into ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn. Key congressional committees are now requesting FBI records on communication between the president and Comey.

Last week, Trump directly contradicted his own spokespeople after they said his decision to fire Comey was prompted by criticism of the FBI director from within the Justice Department. He told NBC News that he would have fired Comey "regardless" of what the Justice Department said.

The president added that he was considering "this Russia thing" when he ousted the FBI director.

In the address Wednesday, Trump defended his first months in office and outlined what he deemed his accomplishments. He cited the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and a boost to military spending in the funding bill he recently signed into law, among other topics.
President Donald Trump has bolstered core support among Republican voters since his inauguration and his style of "white identity politics" should be enough to protect him from impeachment, a professor of international politics told CNBC Wednesday.

"I think President (Donald) Trump seems to be courting crises and at the moment it hasn't really damaged him in regard to the Republican core voters," Inderjeet Parmar, the head of international politics at the U.K.'s City University, said.

"I think that he has welded together a kind of white identity politics which is holding him up pretty strongly," Parmar added.



In the latest of a string of accusations against the White House, Trump allegedly tried to quash an FBI probe. According to the report published Tuesday, the president pressed then-FBI Director James Comey to drop a probe into ex-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn regarding ties to Russia. The U.S. administration has since denied the accusation.

The revelation follows a week after Trump fired Comey and just one day after the president reportedly disclosed highly classified information with Russian officials, another claim that the White House has also denied.

"Unfortunately for anybody else who wants an impeachment any time soon, the fact that the House and the Senate are solidly Republican and that Trump's name still is very popular among voters, and (in turn) has made them more popular  That suggests no major action is going to take place against Trump at the moment," Parmar said.

Parmar pointed out that while Trump's national approval ratings currently languish at around 40 percent; his support among core Republican voters remains strong, ranging between 80 and 96 percent.

Conversely, the City University professor explained while Republican voters are still loyal to Trump, U.S. congressman and senators are finding it difficult to cope with the persistent turmoil. He argued the need for senators and congressman to progress with heavy legislative programs in the face of escalating political pressure is forcing them to consider publically disavowing Trump.
Some of the intelligence President Trump provided to Russian officials is so secret that American news organizations are still being asked not to report it, two U.S. officials told NBC News.

The requests by U.S. intelligence officials cast doubt on the assertion by the president's aides that the sharing was appropriate.

Trump told the Russian foreign minister and the Russian ambassador in the Oval Office that the Islamic State had used stolen airport security equipment to test a bomb that could be hidden in electronic devices and slipped undetected into an airplane cabin, the officials said. And he named the city in ISIS-held Syria in which the intelligence was gathered, the officials added.

More from NBC News:

McMaster defends Trump's decision to give Russia intel

Israel was source of intelligence Trump share with Russia: Sources

ISIS infiltrates the Rukban refugee camp at Jordan-Syria border



U.S. intelligence officials have asked NBC News and other media organizations not to report the type of equipment, where it was stolen, and the name of the city where the intelligence was gathered, because doing so could harm U.S. national security, they say. But Trump told the Russians those things, the U.S. officials said, as he described intelligence that led to the new rules banning electronic devices in the cabins of certain flights.

The information came from Israel, multiple government officials told NBC News  another fact some news organizations had been asked not to disclose, U.S. officials said.

White House counterterrorism adviser Tom Bossert, who was not in the May 10 meeting, learned about what Trump said when he read notes immediately afterward, a U.S. official with direct knowledge told NBC News. He immediately called officials at the CIA and the National Security Agency to report a security breach, the official said.

National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters Tuesday that what Trump shared was "wholly appropriate," and that Bossert acted "maybe from an overabundance of caution."

McMaster, a serving Army general who is not steeped in counterterrorism, did not immediately realize the impact of what Trump had said, the U.S. official recounted.

Many current and former intelligence officials said they were aghast at what they described as a reckless mistake by the president. But behind the scenes, U.S. intelligence officials were divided on the real world impact. Some said it could harm intelligence sharing, while others disagreed. Many pushed back on a news report that the life of an Israeli asset was in danger.

Four U.S. officials told NBC News they did not believe any lives were put at risk. Two said, however, that the Israeli operation, one of the West's best windows into ISIS, was in jeopardy in the wake of the president's disclosure.

McMaster told reporters that Trump had not been aware of the source of the information he conveyed to the Russians, a statement that raised questions about whether the president has been properly briefed on how he should treated classified intelligence.
President Donald Trump plans to meet with four candidates for FBI director on Wednesday, including former Sen. Joe Lieberman and acting FBI chief Andrew McCabe.

The four potential choices Trump will talk to Thursday are McCabe, Lieberman, former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating and former top FBI official Richard McFeely, according to press secretary Sean Spicer.

Trump fired ex-FBI Director James Comey last week as the bureau was investigating alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election, including any possible ties between Trump campaign associates and the Kremlin. His public statements and alleged actions revealed since have raised questions about whether he has tried  or would attempt  to impede the probe.

Lieberman previously served as a Democratic senator from Connecticut and was Al Gore's running mate in the 2000 presidential election. He is now an Independent.

McCabe joined the FBI 20 years ago and became deputy director last year. In congressional testimony last week, he notably said that he has seen "no effort to impede our investigation to date."
The absence of credibility costs presidents dearly. And the bill for Donald Trump's years of falsehoods is now coming due.

Just four months into his presidency, Trump faces a mortal threat to his political survival. Contemporaneous memos kept by James Comey, the FBI director he fired last week, indicate Trump in February requested that he end an investigation into ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn.

If that happened, it could constitute obstruction of justice and fuel efforts to force his removal from office. The president, through a White House aide, said it didn't happen.

But few Americans believe the president's word anymore.

The man who touted "hyperbole" and "exaggeration" in his best-selling business book and seized the political spotlight with fabricated doubts about the President Barack Obama's birthplace, entered the presidency making transparently untrue statements about the size of his inauguration crowds. He holds the weakest reputation for honesty of any recent president.

Last month's NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll makes that clear. Only 25 percent of Americans rate Trump highly for being "honest and trustworthy."

Twice that many  53 percent  give him low marks for honesty. That reflects condemnation of his truthfulness by virtually all Democrats and a solid majority of independents. Only a bare majority of Republicans  53 percent  praise his truthfulness, even though more than 8 in 10 of them voted for him last fall.
"Unless he does make some changes, it's going to make it almost impossible" to get his new policies done at all, or it will take a lot longer to get done, Kovacevich noted.

Trump is unpredictable and puts his foot in his mouth, and that is taking away from many accomplishments, he said in an interview with " Closing Bell ."

It's time for President Donald Trump to reflect on his management style if he wants to right his presidency, former Wells Fargo CEO Dick Kovacevich told CNBC on Wednesday.

The allegations come after a week of big developments in the nation's capital, including the firing of Comey, who was investigating the ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, and reports that Trump revealed highly classified information to Russians in a closed-door meeting.

Kovacevich said while Trump had success on the campaign trail, presiding over a bureaucracy and the world's economies is a completely different process.

"His natural personality helped him in the campaign, and his natural personality is hurting him in becoming a great president," he said.

Kovacevich's comments followed those made by former GE CEO Jack Welch earlier Wednesday, who said Trump has "crappy management practices."

"I give him a D minus, and I'm being an easy grader," Welch said on "Squawk Box."

Don Peebles, CEO of The Peebles Corporation, said newcomers to politics always have a difficult time making the transition.

"What's missing here, I think, is there is no stabilizing veteran of Washington, D.C., who has the respect of the president who can help him shape his message," Peebles told "Closing Bell."

"His communications office has served him poorly right now."

Kovacevich agrees Trump needs to surround himself with a good team.

"In general, I think he appointed some very good people, but I think the ones that aren't working out, he's going to have to make some further changes," he said.

CNBC's Matt Belvedere contributed to this report.
Trump alleged request of Comey was detailed in a memo the former FBI director wrote after Flynn was fired in February. NBC News and other media outlets have not seen the memo, but were read parts of it by an associate of Comey.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, who recently said he won't seek re-election to Congress, asked the FBI for any records the agency has on communications between Comey and Trump. The president fired Comey last week. (CNBC)

Democrats immediately pounced on reports of the Comey memo, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying the country "is being tested in unprecedented ways  in a week full of revelation." Republican lawmakers had mixed reactions. (NBC News)

Buried in the New York Times report that broke the Comey memo story, Trump allegedly asked the former FBI director to consider imprisoning reporters for publishing classified information. It's worth noting that Trump often speaks in hyperbolic language.

Israel was the U.S. ally that collected the highly classified intelligence that Trump reportedly shared in a meeting with Russian officials last week, NBC News confirmed with three government officials with knowledge of the matter.

Chinese state media is criticizing the U.S. over cybersecurity in the wake of the WannaCry attack that started on Friday. The ransomware has been linked a North Korean-run hacking operation, which leveraged a tool built by the NSA. (Reuters)

(AMZN) is taking steps to break into the pharmacy market, according to two people familiar with the company's plans. They told CNBC that although this is not a certainty, Amazon is hiring people to formulate strategy for such a move.

In an answer to Facebook's (FB) Oculus, Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google unit is expected to preview the latest version of its virtual reality headset at its annual developer conference this week. The VR device works without being connected to a smartphone or PC. (Variety)

An Elon Musk-backed artificial intelligence research firm called OpenAI has created a way for robots to learn tasks by giving them a demonstration in virtual reality. OpenAI, a nonprofit with about $1 billion in funding, is also backed by Peter Thiel. (CNBC)

McDonald's (MCD) food is now available in four more cities through Uber's UberEATS food delivery service. After being tested in a number of Florida cities, the service is now being offered in Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, and Columbus, Ohio. (Chicago Tribune)

With a record number of people flying around the world, airlines have made it tougher for frequent flyers to cash in their miles or points for a free flight. A new survey found frequent flyer seats available on 72.4 percent of the flights, down a bit from last year. (CNBC)
CASPER  The 6-year-old boy appeared unfazed as he walked into the courtroom  the first time in almost a year that he would be in the vicinity of the man who allegedly sexually assaulted him.

The boy waved to a woman he knew as he made his way to the witness stand. The man, Joshua Winters, kept his head down as the boy walked to the front of the courtroom, seemingly fixated on the notes he was writing at the defense's table.

The boy  too young to know his left from his right hand when asked to take the oath before testifying  was the first witness to testify on the second day of Winters' trial. Prosecutors charged Winters with kidnapping, first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor in July for allegedly taking the boy from the El-Marko bowling alley and molesting him after crossing the North Platte River near the fairgrounds.

The boy enthusiastically answered questions about his pets and his family, but his voice became quieter as the prosecutor asked him about what happened that July day by the river. His blond head barely reached above the rim of the witness stand as he looked through tiny glasses at the courtroom full of adults staring at him.

"Whose idea was it to go to the river?" Assistant District Attorney Brett Johnson asked.

"His," the boy answered.

"How were you feeling when you were in the river?"

"Scared."

"Why?"

"Because it was so deep and he didn't even know how to swim."

The child became more hesitant as Johnson asked him what happened once he and the man, later identified by police as Winters, reached the other side of the river. The boy said the man took his clothes off but then hesitated when asked to describe what happened next.

"He humped my leg and put his peepee in my..." the boy said, trailing off. The courtroom remained silent.

"Go ahead and say it," Johnson coaxed the boy.

The boy finished his sentence. The courtroom remained otherwise quiet.

By the time Winters' attorney, public defender Rob Oldham, started asking questions, the boy had become increasingly fidgety in his chair, as 6-year-olds are prone to do after long periods of sitting in one place.

The boy told Oldham that he slipped and fell into the river at some point. He said that he didn't want to cross the river. He said the man had done some things that had hurt him.

After about 45 minutes, the boy was released from the witness stand and walked out of the courtroom hand-in-hand with the director of the Victim Witness Unit in the district attorney's office. As he left, the entire back row of men and women from Bikers Against Child Abuse followed.

The trial is scheduled to last all week. Winters is expected to take the stand in his defense later in the proceedings, as are witnesses from the bowling alley and police who aided in the investigation.

If convicted, Winters could face up to life in prison for the kidnapping charge and a total of 70 years for the sexual abuse charges.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump had not passed on any secrets to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Washington last week and that he could prove it.

Speaking at a news conference alongside Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin quipped that Lavrov was remiss for not passing on what he made clear he believed were non-existent secrets.

"I spoke to him (Lavrov) today," said Putin with a smile. "I'll be forced to issue him with a reprimand because he did not share these secrets with us. Not with me, nor with representatives of Russia's intelligence services. It was very bad of him."

Putin, who said Moscow rated Lavrov's meeting with Trump "highly," said Russia was ready to hand a transcript of Trump's meeting with Lavrov over to U.S. lawmakers if that would help reassure them.

A Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, later told reporters that Moscow had in its possession a written record of the conversation, not an audio recording.

Complaining about what he said were signs of "political schizophrenia" in the United States, Putin said Trump was not being allowed to do his job properly.

"It's hard to imagine what else can these people who generate such nonsense and rubbish can dream up next," said Putin.

"What surprises me is that they are shaking up the domestic political situation using anti-Russian slogans. Either they don't understand the damage they're doing to their own country, in which case they are simply stupid, or they understand everything, in which case they are dangerous and corrupt."

Two U.S. officials said on Monday that Trump had disclosed highly classified information to Lavrov about a planned Islamic State operation, plunging the White House into another controversy just months into Trump's short tenure in office.

Russia has repeatedly said that anti-Russian politicians in the United States are using groundless fears of closer ties with Moscow to sabotage any rapprochement and damage Trump in the process.
Friday's cyberattack in more than 150 countries has reminded the world it's important to get the basics of online security right, a chief executive officer of a cybersecurity firm told CNBC.

Kris Hagerman, CEO of security software firm Sophos, said he spends most of its IT budget on online security and it's time for people and companies to re-double their efforts to protect themselves from online attacks.

"When you have an incident like this WannaCry incident you mentioned, it only serves to remind all of us, it is sort of a worldwide wake-up call, that we have to really re-double our efforts to get the basics right in security and how important it is to do that," Hagerman told CNBC on Wednesday.

The U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) was one of the victims of the cyberattack that struck 200,000 machines in 150 countries since Friday. The attack was dubbed by the EU's agency Europol as the "largest ransomware attack observed in history".

Sophos provides the U.K.'s NHS with tools for online security. Hagerman seemed to suggest that some NHS branches did not have enough layers of protection.

"The key thing with the NHS is to first understand, as everyone in Britain knows, the NHS is not one single entity, it's hundreds of individual trusts, they all have their own IT budgets, their own decision-making and their own approaches to protecting themselves," he said.

"We have a whole suite of products and there's multiple layers that effectively prevented against this attack and some of the organizations had one or more of those layers in place and some didn't and that determined the effect they saw of this particular attack," Hagerman said.

On Monday, the U.K's health secretary Jeremy Hunt said that there was no evidence of a feared second wave of cyberattacks onto the NHS.

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President Donald Trump speaks Wednesday at the Coast Guard Academy commencement ceremony.

It comes amid a chaotic stretch for the White House as Trump faces more backlash for his conduct related to ex-FBI Director James Comey. The president may not address his recent troubles in the remarks.

Reports Tuesday indicated that a memo Comey wrote in February shows that the president asked him to shut down the FBI investigation into former national security advisor Michael Flynn. The story was first reported by the New York Times and then corroborated independently by NBC News, the Wall Street Journal and others. House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R.-Utah, demanded that the FBI turn over records related to Trump's conversations with Comey, saying the reports "raise questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation."

Read more:

Trump, Russia and the FBI: A quick summary of the last eight days
With graduation season in full swing, thousands of early 20-somethings are about to get a taste of the real world as they try to figure out what to do with their lives. Daunting as it may be, it's important to remember that even the most successful people have to start somewhere.

Take self-made billionaire Mark Cuban, the outspoken judge on "Shark Tank" and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, as an example. When he was 22 and a recent college graduate, he had to contend with major career setbacks: quitting one job and getting fired from another soon after. Even as a kid, Cuban had a knack for business. At 12, he was selling garbage bags to buy a pair of shoes he liked. A couple years later, he was earning money by selling stamps and coins. After transferring from the University of Pittsburgh at the end of his freshman year, Cuban attended Indiana University because it had the cheapest business school in the top 10. There, he gave dance lessons to help pay for his tuition. "That endeavor soon led him to hosting lavish disco parties at the Bloomington National Guard Armory," according to Biography.com. Cuban graduated in 1981.

In an essay Cuban wrote for Forbes, he recounts moving back to his hometown of Pittsburgh after graduation to get a job at Mellon Bank. "Back then a lot of smaller regional banks still did everything on paper," he writes. "Mellon had a department that went in and converted them to computerized systems. That's what I did." Even then the tech mogul, now 58, didn't want to lead an average life. "A lot of my peers at Mellon were just happy to have a job," explains Cuban. But he wasn't. "I wanted to be more entrepreneurial. I took the initiative," he writes. "I used to send notes to the CEO of the bank. I once cut out a magazine story about how corporations could save money by withholding Social Security and sent it to him. He sent me a thank-you letter back."

I wanted to be more entrepreneurial. I took the initiative. Mark Cuban

Cuban also had a penchant for networking from a young age. "I started something called the 'Rookie Club.' I'd invite senior executives to a happy hour to talk to a group of younger employees in their 20s like me," he says. But Cuban didn't stop there. "Then I went a little further. I started writing a newsletter. I did updates on current projects," he writes. "I tried to inject a little humor. I thought my boss would love me for doing these things." Surprise: He didn't. In fact, Cuban believes his boss felt threatened. "I told him I was trying to help Mellon make more money. He told me I was never to go over him or around him, or he'd crush me," he continues. "I knew then it was time to get out of there."

Mark Cuban Getty Images
Wyomings only Planned Parenthood clinic will close this summer due to financial reasons, the organization confirmed Tuesday.

This is a challenging decision, said Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains official Adrienne Mansanares.

Planned Parenthoods lone health center in Wyoming is in Casper. It opened in 1975 and serves around 500 patients per year, Mansanares said. It will close July 21.

Mansanares said that most Wyoming patients receiving care from Planned Parenthood do so at the organization's Fort Collins location in Colorado.

The Casper clinics closure is one of six across the Rocky Mountain region, which also includes Colorado, New Mexico and southern Nevada.

"We looked at what services we provided," she said. "We also looked at the financial health of the health center."

Wyoming will join North Dakota as the only two states without a Planned Parenthood clinic.

Our No. 1 priority and concern is to ensure that we have coordination of care for our patients, Mansanares said. Well be working really closely with our patients to make sure we get them connected to another provider.

Spokeswoman Whitney Phillips said patients would be referred to three local providers: Cedars Health, Community Health Center of Central Wyoming and Casper-Natrona County Health department. All three take walk-ins and appointments and accept Medicaid, she said.

The fact that Casper had other places for women to receive comprehensive reproductive health care was a factor in the decision to close the Planned Parenthood clinic here, Mansanares said.

The Casper location does not provide abortions. It offers services including birth control, testing for pregnancy and other various diseases and abortion referrals.

It is staffed by a part-time manager and a traveling nurse who visits periodically from northern Colorado.

The manager has been offered work at another Planned Parenthood health center or a very generous severance package, Mansanares said.

She emphasized that Planned Parenthood would continue to have a presence in the state through the Wyoming Abortion Fund, which connects women to abortion providers, and by continuing to offer sexual education resources.

The organization will also continue to work with NARAL Pro-Choice Wyoming on advocacy issues related to womens health.

The political footprint and the education we provide will continue to remain, Mansanares said.

As an abortion provider, Planned Parenthood has long attracted criticism and calls to shut off Medicaid reimbursement for other womens health care offered at its clinics.

While Mansanares said the Casper clinics closure is unrelated to politics, she acknowledged that closing Planned Parenthoods only health center in a very conservative state carried a symbolic weight.

There is always some big hit or big attack out there to close down access to reproductive health care, so that is a constant reality we have to face while focusing internally, she said.

Mansanares expects donors in the state will continue contributing to the Wyoming Abortion Fund and other Planned Parenthood activities.

Their generosity was not in any way tied to us having a sign up on a building that was open three days a week, she said. It's the access to care that our donors care the most about  not having a symbolic building in Casper that serves 480 folks a year.
If you're not ready to start using quantum computing in your enterprise, you should at least be planning how to do so.

Researchers say companies may be less than five to 10 years away from turning to quantum computing to solve big business problems.

Deloitte LLP David Schatsky, managing director, Deloitte LLP

"Quantum computing has the potential to not just do things faster but to allow companies to do things entirely differently," said David Schatsky, managing director of Deloitte LLP, a global consulting and financial advisory company. "If they have certain analytical workloads that could take them weeks to run and they could do it almost instantaneously, how would that change the way they make decisions, or the risks they're willing to take or what products and services they can offer customers?"

That means corporate execs and IT heads should be thinking now about the strategic and operational implications of having quantum computers in their tech toolbox.

There is much buzz around quantum computers because they are expected to surpass even the most powerful classic supercomputers in certain calculations -- especially handling problems that involve sifting through massive amounts of data. Quantum computers, for example, might be able to find distant habitable planets, the cure for cancer and Alzheimer's disease or revamp complex airline flight schedules.

Quantum machines offer a different kind of computing power because instead of relying on ones and zeros - or bits - they use qubits, which can be both ones and zeros.

One of the rules of quantum mechanics is that a quantum system can be in more than one state at the same time, meaning it's not known what a qubit is until it begins to interact with -- or entangle -- other qubits. Unlike classic computers that operate in a linear or orderly fashion, quantum computers gain their power from qubits working with each other, allowing them to calculate all possibilities at the same time, instead of one by one.

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"It's an incredibly promising new paradigm in computing," said William Martin, a math professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass. "We have examples of things a quantum computer can do that we don't know how to do with a normal computer. It's going to be a game-changing phenomenon, if we can actually build it."

Worcester Polytechnic Institute WPI professor William Martin

In a report released late last month, Deloitte noted that quantum computing is close to realizing its promise and having an enormous impact on fields from healthcare to pharmaceuticals, space exploration and manufacturing. As researchers continue work on building powerful, fully functional quantum machines, interest is growing.

The field has attracted $147 million in venture capital in the last three years and $2.2 billion in government funding globally, according to Deloitte.

A little over a year ago, the European Commission announced a $1.13 billion project to develop quantum technologies over the next decade. And the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced last month that it is working to build a quantum computer in the next several years.

The U.S. is considered to be a major investor in quantum computing research, as well as home to quantum-focused companies like IBM, Google and Microsoft. . Google, for instance, is working on quantum processes it can make available to companies over the cloud, while Microsoft said last fall it was ready to go from "research to engineering with its quantum work."

There also are quantum computing startups like Rigetti Computing, 1Qbit, and Cambridge Quantum Computing, that are getting a lot of attention.

They're not all building a large quantum computer. Some are working on software, while others focus on hardware components or quantum-resistant cryptography.

One company now building what its executives say is the first quantum computer is D-Wave Systems, based in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Although many question whether it's a true quantum computer, D-Wave's system is still being tested by the likes of NASA, Google, the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lockheed Martin. That level of interest in testing the D-Wave system - whether it's a true quantum computer or not -- shows how high expectations have gotten around this technology.

Rupak Biswas, director of exploration technology at NASA Ames Research Center, said he oversees 700 employees -- 10 to 12 of whom are now working on quantum computing. Those efforts include testing the D-Wave system.

About $3 million of the agency's research-and-development budget goes to quantum computing.

While NASA is not yet trying to solve real problems - like massive air traffic management issues or scheduling astronaut time on the International Space Station - scientists there are working to figure out the best way to use a quantum computer and understand the underlying physics, as well as the programming that will be needed for it.

Even if the D-Wave system is better at computational-heavy calculations, it's not big enough to handle real problems for NASA. Something that large could be five to 10 years away, Biswas said.

In addition to testing the D-Wave system, NASA is also working with U.C. Berkeley, Google, U.C. Santa Barbara, Rigetti Computing, and Sandia National Labs - all of which are doing quantum research.

"Our focus is how do we use available technology to accelerate our main mission," said Biswas. "Quantum computing is an enabling technology. We're looking now at what it will let us do."

That plan follows the advice Deloitte's Schatsky is giving to large enterprises.

"I'd expect to see some meaningful commercial use in the next 10 years," said Schatsky. "We're not saying that companies will be buying quantum computers in the next 'n' years, but this is a real phenomenon that is progressing rapidly.... Companies should pay attention and should start to think about the strategic and operational implications of having this.

"I don't think it's worth a huge amount of time in the C-suite, but if [a company] is innovative and forward looking, they should be tracking this phenomenon, and if they have an R&D budget, they should allocate a slice of it to this domain," said Schatsky, noting that some banks have invested a few million dollars in quantum R&D. "I think interest is going to grow."

Dario Gil, vice president of Science and Solutions at IBM Research, has been working on quantum computing there for the last five years, though the company itself has been researching it since the 1970s.

A year ago, IBM announced it not only had a 5-qubit processor but was making it available to customers in the cloud.

According to Gil, IBM has had about 45,000 universities and companies running more than 300,000 experiments on the cloud-based quantum system. Those efforts are not designed to solve production problems but to learn how to work with a quantum machine.

"I absolutely agree that now is the right time to start thinking about quantum," said Gil. "Companies already are and they are engaging very seriously on this topic. I think quantum, for any serious company that relies on computing for their business, can't just be something that is out there on the horizon. At least one person in your organization should be thinking about what is this and what does it mean for this organization?"

He added that IBM is focused on trying to make quantum machines that can be, or routinely are, used on real-world problems in the enterprise within the next three to five years.

"We're already in that window of quantum emerging as a technology that has commercial value," said Gil. "If you were thinking about the web in the early 1990s or mobile in the early 2000s, this is analogous. Nobody would look back and say, 'I wish I had slowed down in my thinking about those technolgies. You have to start understanding about what it is and what it can do."
While some people are still fretting about WannaCry ransomware and possible variants of it, hackers are reportedly threatening to release Disneys upcoming Johnny Depp film if Disney doesnt pay a ransom.

Although Disney would not confirm that the stolen film is the fifth in the Pirates franchise, it doesnt intend to bow to extortion. The ransomed movie is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, according to Deadline; it is scheduled to hit theaters on May 26.

News about the ransomed film came about during a town hall meeting in New York, when Disney CEO Bob Iger reportedly told ABC employees that the hackers are demanding an enormous amount of money to be paid in bitcoin.

Citing industry sources, the Hollywood Reporter added that the hackers are threatening to release five minutes of the film at first, and then in 20-minute chunks until their financial demands are met.

Neither how the hackers obtained the film, nor the huge bitcoin ransom has been reported, but Disney reportedly said it refuses to pay and is working with the FBI.

While it may have been a hoax last week when it was reported that a work print of Star Wars: The Last Jedi had been pirated and was being held for ransom, the Hollywood Reporter noted that there have been at least a half-dozen extortion attempts against Hollywood firms over the past six months alone.

At the end of April, The Dark Overlord hacking group tried to extort money from Netflix; the group uploaded the first episode of Orange Is the New Black and threatened to release more if Netflix didnt pay the ransom. The Dark Overlord then followed through with its threats by releasing 10 of 13 episodes from Season 5 when Netflix refused to cough up the ransom.

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After dumping 10 new Orange episodes, the hackers called out others on their hit-list, including ABC, National Geographic, Fox and IFC. The Dark Overlord told Torrent Freak that it had obtained the episodes of Orange by gaining access to third-party production vendor Larson Studios back before Christmas 2016.

Even if the Disney-held-ransom reports are accurate, its unclear how the new Disney film fell into the hands of hackers; some cybersecurity experts suggest it might be similar to what happened with Netflix: stolen via hacking a third party.

Hector Monsegur, Director of Security Assessments for Rhino Security Labs, told Deadline:

All these companies like Disney, Netflix and Discovery may have very good security teams but you have all these vendors and small production companies which dont have great security and probably dont have the budget to focus on their own security so hackers get in pretty easily. Remember back in the day when movies would leak online and they would go to a pirate bay? Now there has been a shift with the advent of ransomware so (these companies) are getting demands to pay for their own IP. Any studio is going to have a problem moving forward protecting their IPs.

Its worth noting, as Engadget pointed out, the details Igor allegedly revealed to ABC employees closely mirror the ransom demands for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The hackers reportedly threatened to release five-minute chunks of the movie until the ransom was paid. That ended up being a hoax.
The sound of "Amazing Grace" played on the bagpipes reverberated through Memorial Hall at the state Capitol as about 100 people remembered North Dakota law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

The annual ceremony held on Wednesday afternoon commemorated those 64 officers, a list that grew by two  Fargo Police Officer Jason Moszer and Rollette County Sheriff's Deputy Colt Allery  since 2016.

Moszer was shot and killed during an hours-long standoff that began as a domestic disturbance in February. Allery was shot and killed by a man driving a stolen vehicle in Rolla in January.

"We mourn as one with the families, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with those that have lost one of their own. Their loss is our loss," said U.S. Attorney Chris Myers.

Myers said there is a "climate of attack" on law enforcement from the media and public, as well as dangerous people. But he encouraged people to forgo resentment.

"It's not us versus them. It's we. We as a community, as a state, as a nation, must fight the forces of evil together and heal together," Myers said, echoing lines told by a faith leader at Allery's funeral. "With unity and forgiveness, there is hope."

Myers also recognized Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier, Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney and North Dakota Highway Patrol Col. Michael Gerhardt for their work during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle said people could honor fallen law enforcement officers by supporting police, training them well, avoiding creating dangerous situations and having good discipline policies that hold officers that do act badly accountable.

"I am not so naive as to believe that these steps will somehow insure against further losses of life for police officers while in the line of duty," VandeWalle said. "I do, however, hope and pray that appropriate equipment, training, discipline and public support and making responsible decisions for our own actions will reduce those deaths."

Rollette County Sheriff Gerald Medrud also spoke at the ceremony.

"I lost a deputy sheriff to a senseless crime of violence," he said of Allery. "As we leave this place today, don't ever forget the stories, the legacies, the memories of our fallen loved ones."

Medrud presented to Allery's father and fiance a copy of the letter of resolution read on the U.S. House floor in his memory.

Allery, who left behind a fiance and five kids, began his career in corrections and was an up-and-coming officer, Medrud said.

"It seems like it was just yesterday for us," Medrud told the Tribune after the ceremony.

He said that the series of ceremonies held this week have been healing for him and his nine-officer department, as they slowly recover from Allery's death.

"When you have a small department like that, everybody is close-knit," he said. "It's been hard on everybody."

But Medrud said he is grateful for support from the community and other law enforcement officers.

"It's an experience I hope no other department in North Dakota has to go through again," he said.

The Bismarck-Mandan area has lost several officers in its history. In 2011, Burleigh County Deputy Sheriff Bryan Sleeper died of a heart attack after an altercation with a subject, and Bismarck Police Sgt. Steven Kenner was fatally shot while responding to a domestic disturbance. Two Mandan officers were killed in the 1926 and 1929, and a Burleigh County Deputy Sheriff died in the 1930.
Migrant Justice activists Zully Palacios (left), 23, from Peru and Enrique Balcazar, 24 from Mexico talk about their experiences being detained during a forum at Unitarian Universalist Church in Concord on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

Migrant Justice activists Zully Palacios, 23, from Peru and Enrique Balcazar, 24 from Mexico speak during a forum at Unitarian Universalist Church in Concord on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

Enrique Balcazar, 24 from Mexico talks about his experiences as a migrant worker during a forum at Unitarian Universalist Church in Concord on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

Migrant Justice activists Zully Palacios (left), 23, from Peru and Enrique Balcazar, 24, from Mexico speak during a forum at Unitarian Universalist Church in Concord on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

After Enrique Balcazar was taken into custody by federal immigration authorities in March, the 24-year-old human rights activist soon found himself locked up in Dover at the Strafford County jail.

Balcazar, who moved from Mexico to Vermont six years ago to work in the dairy industry, said Tuesday there were 16 others forced to sleep on mats in a common room of the overcrowded jail, mostly undocumented workers like him.

Construction workers, restaurant workers, they had been arrested not by ICE, but by state police right here in New Hampshire, he said through a translator at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Concord, using an acronym to refer to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Although his deportation proceedings are still progressing, there was something different about Balcazars stay and that of Zully Palacios, the 23-year-old activist, originally of Peru, who was arrested alongside him. While they were locked up, hundreds of people protested in the streets of Boston and Burlington, Vt., on their behalf, gathering more than 10,000 signatures on a petition and collecting 200 personal letters attesting to their character, he said.

Receiving these communications, a federal immigration judge in Boston reduced Balcazar and Palacioss bail, allowing them to regain their freedom  at least temporarily  nine days after they were surrounded by four immigration agents in three vehicles outside the headquarters of their human rights organization, Migrant Justice, in Burlington.

Still unsure what will happen at their deportation hearings in 10 months, the activists came to Concord on Tuesday to share their stories about the injustices faced by farmworkers and the anxiety of life as an undocumented immigrant under President Donald Trumps administration.

Balcazar learned firsthand the abuses suffered by undocumented farmworkers and began to organize with his peers to make changes through Migrant Justice. He said he found successes in the Vermont Legislature, securing the right to drive for undocumented residents and preventing local law enforcement agents from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

In Vermont, because they did manage to change the law there, the police dont bother them. The police have come to respect them in the community, so they dont bother them, the translator said, summarizing Balcazars Spanish. But ICE agents have really targeted them. In their instance, they had been following them before their arrest undercover.

She added: They are looking for certain people, not just criminals, but people like Zully and (Balcazar), who are leaders. Theyre vocal in their work, and that is what makes them a target for ICE agents.

Neither Balcazar nor Palacios had a criminal record, they said, which would generally make them a low priority for immigration officials.

Its sad the way the new administration is working. All around the country, Trump is attacking the community leaders, Palacios said. He wants to make us go back again into the shadows, but it wont happen. We are going to fight for human rights.

Balcazar, who opined that former President Barack Obamas deportation policies werent much better, said the majority of his cellmates had no criminal records.

Trump is coming after immigrants. It doesnt matter if they have no criminal record. Hes saying its going to make the country safe, but the people that are being arrested are not people who are any danger to the community, he said.

In New Hampshire, undocumented workers have a harder time than in Vermont, he said, because theyre unable to drive and local law enforcement officers will report them to federal immigration authorities.

He says he really likes the motto thats on the license plate, Live Free or Die, the translator said, but he says theres a lot of work that needs to be done here.

Maggie Fogarty, the co-state director of the American Friends Service Committee, who helped bring the speakers to Concord, encouraged the roughly 40 attendees to stand up with our immigrant brothers and sisters and be a part of this movement for human rights and dignity.

She said its important for citizens to listen to the voices of marginalized immigrant communities and emphasize to members of Congress that they need to represent undocumented people, too.

We want to see courage on their behalf, and that means bringing to a grinding halt the machine that detains and deports family members, immigrants, simply for their lack of status, she said, adding, We want our congressional delegation to call for an end to detention for immigration violations, to call for an end to deportation.

(Nick Reid can be reached at 369-3325, nreid@cmonitor.com or on Twitter at

@NickBReid.)
Singapore home to the worlds tallest Car Vending Machine

A country known for its high quality of living and limited real estate space, Singapore brings you a gigantic vending machine that spits out luxury cars like Bentleys, Ferraris and Porches. Autobahn Motors recently opened a 15-storey tower filled with high-end cars.

GT-R vending machine  The famous Autobahn Motors building in Singapore. pic.twitter.com/APK0iO6YyO  Gul Zaidi (@gulzaidii) May 16, 2017

The tower, which looks like a real-life kids toy box, can hold up to 60 cars, and customers can purchase any vehicle when they visit the tower, says the official website of the company.

Touted as the world's largest luxury car vending machine, the tower was created to save space, according to the company that started out selling used vehicles in conventional showrooms.

Visitors to the Autobahn Motors site complete their purchase via a tablet device and customised app instead a regular sales process. Customers can use a touchscreen on the ground floor of the building to browse through cars. They can choose whichever car they are interested in, and it will arrive within one to two minutes. Autobahn Motors staff supervise the full experience.

Photo courtesy: abm.sg

We needed to meet our requirement of storing a lot of cars. At the same time, we wanted to be creative and innovative, Gary Hong, general manager at Autobahn Motors, said in an interview to Reuters.

The Singapore car vending machine isn't the only one of its kind, although its still the world's tallest. These new designs have appeared in the US and Japan over the last several years.

Carvana, an online marketplace for buying used cars in the US, has several car vending machines around the country. Customers can pick up their cars at these vending machines or have them delivered.
US envoy Nikki Haley: North Korea is intimidating the entire world

US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Nikki Haley accused North Korea yesterday of intimidating the entire international community with its nuclear programme, cyber attacks and military ability. The Indian-American said any country that doesnt implement UN sanctions is supporting Pyongyangs actions.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. Photo courtesy: npr.org

No one is immune to the threat of North Korea, she told reporters before emergency closed-door consultations by the UN Security Council on the Norths weekend ballistic missile launch, which experts said demonstrated a significant technological jump with the rocket flying higher and for a longer period of time.

Were not going to continue to just say go ahead and test as often as you want, Haley said, flanked by the South Korean and Japanese ambassadors. This is a true threat to every country in the world Were going to make sure we put the pressure on them economically, diplomatically, politically and internationally.

Photo courtesy: Wikipedia

Haley said the US and China have been working on a unified plan on how to approach North Korea that would include stronger implementation of existing sanctions and tougher new sanctions. She indicated that Washington and Beijing had agreed they would take action if a new test looked to be of a long range device and leaning toward an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the United States.

The latest launch appeared to fulfil both criteria, Haley said, So I believe that China will stay true to that and that well come together on how were going to do that.

Also read: Indian-origin Nikki Haley says Trump is CEO of the country, can fire anyone he wants

The UN Security Council, which has imposed six rounds of sanctions on the North, discussed possible further action in yesterdays meeting. Haley previously indicated that new sanctions could target oil, a critical import for North Korea mainly from China, and she said the US also wants sanctions on organisations and businesses in third countries that are helping Pyongyang.
Cllr James Fredrickson is the Cabinet Member for Public Health on West Berkshire Council.

Lets turn back the clock. Prior to the events of a windy morning on the 18th of April, the key political talking point wasnt the trials and tribulations of a snap election. Rather, politicians and the media were grappling with how to fund the burgeoning demand for social care services. Whilst the March Budgets offer of an extra 2bn was welcome news to local authorities around the country, this offered only a short term reprieve. The reality is that councils continue to face the responsibility of delivering social care, whilst grappling with reductions in their financial support from central government.

To put this into perspective, my own authority, West Berkshire Council, have faced central government funding being reduced from 33m in 2011 to 3.7m in 2017/18. This accounts for roughly one sixth of its overall revenue budget. Whilst the adult social care precept has lessened the impact of this reduction, the public ultimately pay more through council tax for increasingly stretched services. This story is reflected across much of the south of England. In Wokingham and Bracknell, reductions in central government funding have compelled authorities to take full (circa five per cent) council tax increases.

At the same time, the number of people over 65 as a proportion of the population is increasing year on year. In West Berkshire, the population of over 65s is expected to increase by 27 per cent over the next 10 years. This will only increase the demand for adult social care services that are already facing financial pressures.

It is no surprise then that councils are becoming increasingly creative in finding new ways of raising funds. Through their powers of General Competence, authorities are embracing the Governments devolution agenda and looking to generate additional sources of income for themselves. From local lotteries, utility companies, community loans and rental and commercial property portfolios  councils across the country are generating income to protect, deliver and bolster their services. Many of which are funded through the Public Works Loans Board, a Treasury department designed to fund local government capital projects. According to the Sunday Times, this has amounted to 1.3 billion of loans in the last year alone.

Some have criticised this activity, claiming that PWLB loans have contributed to increased competition and ultimately an increase in land values.

However, when we look at the evidence, this doesnt stack up.

As councils look to profit from the difference between the PWLBs low rates and property yields, they can work to lower profit margins than conventional developers, making previously unviable land open for council projects.

Further, rather than developers holding land to inflate value, councils are more concerned with delivering housing and services. Through the PWLB they can then develop their own land into viable housing and infrastructure sites, thereby expanding the supply of land available for investment.

Even where councils are looking to purely generate rental yield, they are still governed by state aid rules, ensuring that they compete with the market fairly. Here revenue is increasingly derived from safer investments, as councils tend to have a longer term view of delivering services, rather than short term risk taking.

Of course, councils must proceed with caution when looking to generate their own income and extra funding alone will not deliver the structural change that care delivery requires. However, necessity is the mother of invention. If councils can be empowered to take matters into their own hands, the governments solution to the future of social care funding may well be staring them in the face.

Once the landscape clears on the 9th of June  councils will still be looking for a route to sustainable social care funding. If the PWLB door remains open, they may be on the right path.
Ever since last years EU referendum, the implications of Brexit for Northern Ireland have thrust the province onto the radars of the mainland press.

Unfortunately, the almost total isolation of Ulster politics from the British national scene  the unfortunate result of combining extensive devolution with an entirely separate party system  means that understanding of it over here remains stubbornly limited, and a lot of the resultant coverage less than illuminating.

Nowhere is this more the case than with the idea that Brexit will lead to the province finally consenting to be subsumed into Sinn Feins Greater Ireland. The imposition of a hard border with the Republic and the loss of EU funds, the thinking goes, will make Northern Irelands position in the UK impossible.

The most striking thing about this line of reasoning is that it takes so little research to dismantle. Lord Bew has magisterially laid out the structural imperatives binding Ulster to the mainland for Policy Exchange. But you can get an idea of the actual logic of Brexit and the border on Northern Irish trade by consulting page one of the latest Northern Irish official statistics, which reveal:

NI exports to the rest of the UK total 13.8 billion

NI exports to the non-EU world total 3.8 billion

Meanwhile

Exports to the Republic of Ireland total 3.4 billion

Exports to the EU (sans Ireland) total 1.9 billion

If youve been counting along, you already know that this means that EU and Irish trade is worth 5.3 billion into the Ulster economy, whilst British and non-EU international trade account for 17.6 billion. Thats more than three times as much.

Not only do many of those writing about the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland fail to mention this statistic but even the staunchest proponents of the nationalist view, such as Kevin Meagher, dont seem to have a ready answer either.

Nor is this the only inconvenient fact of its kind: as Bew points out, those apparently-vital EU funds add up to merely one per cent of the Exchequers expenditure in Northern Ireland  and as a net contributor to Brussels Britain would be able to replace it all anyway.

A description of the solution that Irish legislators are currently considering to that conundrum is worth describing properly:

Northern Irelands fiscal deficit would need to be paid for  and the report finds that the Irish government should not have to pay it. Northern Irelands net fiscal deficit in 2013-14 was 9.3 billion (12 billion). The Oireachtas report states that the current full Northern Ireland deficit should continue to be paid by HM Treasury for a period of 30 years after a vote for unification. This could be a hard one to sell to the British.

Next time you read about the economic imperative of a united Ireland, remember that the closest thing to an official plan for it on the Dublin side involves post-Brexit Britain picking up the tab for three decades.

We saw a similar reaction when the EU announced that Northern Ireland could rejoin the EU by acceding to the Republic. This wasnt surprising (to do else would be to deny Ireland a right already afforded to Germany) yet again was often treated as though that meant that such unification was actually coming.

As Newton Emerson, a unionist commentator, tweeted: The only ominous sign for the union in the EU united Ireland guideline is that almost none of the London media understands it.

In one sentence, he gets to the heart of the real long-term threat to Northern Irelands place in the Union: its political isolation. Contrast the keen interest taken in the apparent Tory surges in Scotland and Wales with the scant attention paid to the general election in Northern Ireland to see what happens when all your MPs, regardless of party, sit with the Others.

The basic case for the Union, especially in economic terms, is overwhelming. But political unionism in the province is in bad shape. The disastrous Stormont elections earlier this year only cast into stark relief how tired old-fashioned, capital-U Unionist politics has become.

A healthy, free-standing Union needs three pillars: support from both communities in Northern Ireland and from the mainland British. At present the Unions standard bearers in Ulster are just about propping up one of the three.

Unionism needs shaking up, and absent fresh thinking from the established local parties (or even absent a devolved Assembly) it will fall on the Conservatives to provide it. The party remains woefully uncompetitive in Ulster politics but there are some reserved areas where it can get on the front foot.

First, the Government should come up with a way to make EU special status for Northern Ireland into a win. As Emerson has pointed out, Brussels isnt averse to case-by-case deals and there will almost certainly be one in this instance.

Instead of allowing it to undermine, or to be portrayed as undermining, the integrity of the UK, London should be pro-active in designing and advocating for a model that serves Northern Ireland, the Union  and Ireland too.

Theres no reason in principle why a special EU deal to keep the border soft couldnt have elements that extended to the Republic too, and as Dublin needs to safeguard its own access to the British market there should be a common interest in such a broader arrangement. These isles are a natural unit, however much nationalists may hate it, and a generous approach to Ireland is in the best traditions of unionism.

Beyond the EU, James Brokenshire should heed Ben Lowrys warnings and oversee a serious re-assessment of the various probes into the legacy of the Troubles, which are consistently and disproportionately targeting the British State and its agents over the terrorists they defeated.

If allowed to proceed a string of prosecutions against British troops and intelligence officers, coming on the heels of Tony Blairs decidedly shady amnesty to their opponents, risks not only creating a false and exaggeratedly negative impression of Britains conduct during the Troubles but undermining the Armed Forces ability to wage that sort of asymmetrical war.

Such moves would ultimately be only a start. Re-connecting Ulster and the mainland will take much, much more, as will finding a way to sell an eminently-saleable Union to voters outside the traditional Unionist coalition.

But if Theresa May and Nick Timothy really are taking inspiration from Joseph Chamberlain, one of the Unions greatest champions, they have no excuse not to do their bit.
Burleigh and Morton residents have another opportunity to visit the new Burleigh Morton County Detention Center from 4:30 to 8 p.m. today. The facility is located at 4100 Apple Creek Road in east Bismarck.

The detention center has been a long time coming and is needed. The jails in both counties are old, crowded and have safety issues. They became mostly a place to house prisoners since they lacked the space to provide rehabilitative services. Both counties, due to the lack of space, have been forced to haul prisoners to jails in other counties. That has cost money in transportation, fees to other counties and taken officers away from other duties.

The $69 million, 525-bed detention center means new opportunities for inmates through work release, re-entry counseling and increased chaplain and Alcoholics Anonymous groups. Last year it cost Burleigh County more than $1.125 million to ship up to 50 inmates nightly to jails around the state. Morton County saw an increase in prisoners because of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests over the last few months.

Morton will still have to transport inmates from Mandan to the Apple Creek Road facility, something that bothers Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier. He sees the trips between the cities taking his officers off the road and away from other duties.

Overall, the new jail should benefit both counties.

The detention center, as described by reporter Caroline Grueskin, has five amphitheater-shaped pods that contain six cellblocks each. Most cellblocks house 16 people, who live in two-inmate rooms around a central dayroom. The pods are classified by security level, meaning people with the most serious offenses and criminal histories will be housed together under the closest supervision. Those with more minor offenses will live in dorms. The jail also has a "special management unit," similar to a solitary confinement unit, for inmates who break rules, have serious health problems or who staff decide need to be separated.

Inmates who qualify can apply for jobs washing dishes, doing laundry and cleaning the facility for $2 an hour. Theres a classroom attached to each pod and Jennifer Rewald, the program director, will be able to offer classes to inmates. She hasnt been able to do that the last few years due to the lack of space.

Instead of transporting prisoners to a courthouse for appearances, they can be handled by video. Another time-saving and safety feature.

It comes at a cost as Burleigh County Sheriff Pat Heinert has added to his staff and expects to ask for more next year. He has a staff of 78 after adding eight members.

The old jails can house 280 inmates and the new detention center can handle 525 with the ability of new construction increasing that to 1,050 prisoners. Hopefully, that wont be necessary.

Recent efforts on the state level have been focused on reducing the number of people being jailed. Sentencing guidelines have been changed and alternatives to jail time have been adopted. It has become a more commonly held belief that we cant keep building jails and prisons to solve our problems. More drug and alcohol programs and other services are needed to keep people from reoffending.

To the Tribune Editorial Board, the most exciting aspect of the new detention center isnt the increase in cells, but the opportunity for corrections officers to work with inmates on straightening out their lives. Burleigh and Morton will need to track the additional costs involved in the jail versus the recidivism rates. We cant afford to see the same people coming back again and again.

There always will be some who dont get it, but hopefully the new jail will allow law enforcement to help the majority. Heinert told Grueskin the new jail will be safest at 60 percent to 75 percent capacity. Over time it would be great if the capacity dropped below 60 percent. That would be success for everyone.
Close

May is also known as meditation month. The women of Vision-David Lynch Foundation recently organized a program last May 9 to teach Transcendental Meditation to women who are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Celebrities Benefited By The Activity

Doing the activity daily gives a better way to lead a beautiful life, as it helps the mind to concentrate on any object, without any disruptions. It also helps one relax when you rest without fear, anxiety, stress and frustration.

Robin Roberts, co-anchor of the program Good morning America of ABC production said that she gets up at 3:15 am, instead of 4 am to practice it before starting her day. George Stephanopoulos, the co-host of Robert also practices transcendental meditation.

As reported by New York Post, it has helped Leonardo DiCaprio conquer his first Oscar. He used to meditate with Lynne Goldberg, in the time he was busy filming The Revenant. Even supermodel Gisele Bundchen meditates whenever she has the time. She even does it at the back seat of a New York City taxi.

Any type of meditation deals with simply observing the respiration and mind for at least 20-30 minutes twice a day, if you are unable to devote more time. Get to know some benefits of the activity.



Benefits Of The Activity On Physical And Mental Health



 Meditation gives a calm mind and increases brain functioning

 Body and mind will be re-energized, metabolism increases, and weight gets balanced

 Free from stress, fear, frustration, and depression

 If practiced for more than two hours twice a day, mainly before going to sleep, the rest will be dreamless, which means a big rest for all stages of mind.

According to a chart of Art of Living, daily practice keeps the meditator fresh, reduces aging, and most importantly, irritation that spoils relationship with others. Vipasyana improves immunity to fight any type of disease.

The activity also helps to improve the physical condition, which lowers high blood pressure and reduces the level of blood lactate. It gives relief from headaches, muscle and joint problems, ulcers and insomnia.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
Last week, the industry was dealt a serious blow when the Senate failed to repeal the BLM Waste Prevention rule. This was not without a lack of effort on behalf of Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., who showed great leadership in the effort and showed their support for the more than 72,000 people whose jobs are supported by the oil and gas industry.

Hoeven and Cramer were not fooled by the artificially named Waste Prevention rule. They saw it for what it was: a tool in the environmental extremists war on the oil and gas industry and efforts to keep it in the ground.

Thats because this rule does not prevent waste. The actual reductions in methane would have been only 0.064 percent. Compare that to industry-led efforts in North Dakota that led to a 54 percent decrease in flaring.

It also wouldnt increase royalties as it pretends to do. In fact, it would have decreased royalties by more than $39.1 million. These are royalties that would have otherwise gone to the state, tribe and private mineral owners.

What this rule will accomplish is the shutting in of wells, potentially impacting as many as 2,780 wells in North Dakota. Every state and its geology is different, and what this one-size-fits-all approach does not consider is the engineering that goes into each well and the unique characteristics that set the Bakken apart as a world-class resource.

Instead, the Senate and specifically Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., should have voted to repeal this rule and to allow the state primacy and regulatory authority. The state already has some of the most stringent rules in the nation, and the industry has invested more than $13 billion in infrastructure to capture more natural gas. This has led to a 54 percent decrease in flaring in just a few short years.

This rule will heap additional duties  duties already successfully being carried out in the state  on an already overburdened staff at the BLM. Already, the BLM is woefully behind in its essential duties, with companies waiting as many as three years for permits. This backlog is preventing the build-out of necessary infrastructure, which is the only effective and feasible way to capture natural gas and prevent waste. The irony is that rather than preventing waste, this rule will encourage it by creating an additional 82,000 hours of paperwork for BLM employees and costing taxpayers $270 million per year to achieve absolutely no benefit, all while the state and industry are already making significant strides in reducing flaring.

Heitkamp had a real opportunity to save the state and federal governments time and taxpayer dollars by voting to repeal this bill and make a larger, more immediate impact on reducing flaring and venting by instead fixing permitting, infrastructure and pipeline delays. Instead, the state and federal government must now dedicate significant time and resources in trying to fix this unworkable rule.

We want to thank Hoeven and Cramer for seeing through the politics and for their steadfast support for the state of North Dakota.
When North Dakota is blessed with natural resources like oil, gas, coal, and wind, the last thing we want to do is waste them.

Thats why I voted against overturning a federal rule that will help limit methane emissions from oil and natural gas wells on public or tribal land  resources that belong to American taxpayers and tribes. We need to harness those resources so they can power homes and businesses across the country, and so taxpayers and tribal communities get royalties they are owed when those resources are extracted from their land. According to Taxpayers for Common Sense, the estimated value of gas lost on federal and tribal lands was $440 million in 2014.

The rule would require oil and gas companies to avoid wasting methane that is flared and much of it is modeled after North Dakotas successful regulations that have helped reduce waste in the state. This rule reinforces the critical work North Dakota has done already to reduce flaring, and will make sure other states follow our lead. It also reduces emissions of one of the most potent greenhouse gases, while supporting a successful energy industry and good jobs.

Over the past several months, I heard from North Dakotans on both sides of this issue and have seriously weighed all of their concerns. Multiple tribes in North Dakota  including MHA Nation whose people live in an area where one-fifth of production in the state occurs  had expressed serious issues with overturning this rule. MHA Nation Tribal Business Council sent a letter against overturning the rule and Standing Rock passed a resolution to uphold the rule.

This rule isnt perfect. It needs to be improved so that it works better for the energy industry, landowners and tribes. Just a few weeks ago, I spoke with U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke about the rule and he said he agreed with 80 to 90 percent of it. I encouraged him to revise it. Zinke already has a variety of tools at his disposal to make the rule better. News reports say he is now in the process of doing just that. I also sent him a letter outlining some of my suggestions to reform the rule so it provides a better return on royalties without preventing a decline of oil production on public and tribal lands. Industry and regulators have legitimate concerns about parts of the rule, but there have always been multiple viable options available to achieve a more workable rule.

If Congress had rescinded the rule, neither this administration nor any future administration would have been able to implement any regulations preventing the waste of methane going forward  with American taxpayers and tribes losing out as a result. Simply put, the vote was a choice between improving a rule or not having any rule to stop waste from flaring in the future.

There have been heated words said about this vote, so also lets be very clear about what this rule does not do.

It wont significantly impact North Dakotas flaring reduction goals because our state has already put in place an aggressive plan to reduce methane waste. It wont impact wells on state or private land  only those on federal or tribal land. And the rule provides wide authority for Zinke and the Bureau of Land Management to waive the rule for wells where it would make production non-economical  reducing the overall impact of the rule on producers even further.

For decades Ive worked to implement rules and laws that support safe, responsible energy development in North Dakota  including working to develop and implement the first flaring rules for North Dakota when I served on the Industrial Commission during my tenure as attorney general. Earlier this year, I voted to overturn a one-size-fits-all rule that would have impacted mining practices in our state. And in 2015, I played a key role in negotiating a bipartisan deal to lift the decades-old ban on exporting oil.

My goal with the rule is simple. Im working to get a revised rule that reduces waste and also works for landowners, states, tribes, American taxpayers and the energy industry.

As the acting assistant secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals said after the vote, The vote today in the Senate doesn't impact the administrations commitment to spurring investment in responsible energy development and ensuring smart regulatory protections. I couldnt agree more.
Editorial

Receivers of stolen property

May 27 marks the 50th anniversary of the national referendum of 1967 which gave the federal government power to legislate on issues relating to Aboriginal people. The referendum was carried by a ten-to-one majority, the largest Yes vote ever carried in an Australian referendum.

The 1967 Referendum was a landmark achievement for Indigenous Australians. Following decades of Indigenous and non-Indigenous activism, over 90 percent of all Australians voted in favour of amending two sections of the Australian Constitution:

Section 51 (xxvi)

The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to: ... The people of any race, other than the aboriginal people in any State, for whom it is necessary to make special laws.

Section 127

In reckoning the numbers of the people of the Commonwealth, or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth, aboriginal natives should not be counted.

These sections were originally included in the Constitution because of the widely held beliefs that:

Aboriginal people were dying out and, hence, would soon cease to be a factor in questions of representation.

Indigenous people were not intellectually worthy of a place in the political system. A Tasmanian Member of Parliament (MP) dismissed the need to include Indigenous people in a national census: There is no scientific evidence that he is a human being at all.

Following the 1967 Referendum, the words  other than the aboriginal people in any State  in section 51(xxvi) and the whole of section 127 were removed, allowing for Indigenous people to be included in the census, and giving federal Parliament the power to make laws in relation to Indigenous people.

Prior to the Referendum, making laws for Indigenous people was the responsibility of the states, and laws varied greatly from state to state. For example, Indigenous Australians could own property in New South Wales and South Australia but not in other states.

Some common misconceptions

The right to vote: Indigenous peoples right to vote in federal elections was secured by changes to the Commonwealth Electoral Act in 1962, not the 1967 Referendum

Citizenship rights: By 1967, Indigenous people were already legally considered citizens, although many experienced discrimination in their everyday lives

Equal rights: Even though the Referendum revealed a desire to extend equal rights to Indigenous people, the referendum did not guarantee equality. The Referendum gave the federal government the power to make laws for Indigenous people, but it did not require that those laws would ensure equality and would not be discriminatory

In 1837 a visiting British Quaker, James Blackhouse, wrote to the Governor of NSW: Aborigines have had wholesale robbery of territory committed upon them by the Government, and settlers have become the receivers of stolen property  In all states Aboriginal people were dispossessed.

In 1839 Mr Chief Justice Stephen described the process of theft: A man passed into the interior and took possession of a tract of country so occupied by himself  was said to be in possession, and he could bring an action against any person who would intrude upon him. He was not bound to show his title.

Possession was not just nine-tenth of the law  it was the law.

More recently, the years of the Howard government were an disaster for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The government led a arrogant rearguard action to deny the reality of the 1788 invasion, to deny the policies of genocide, to refuse to recognise the monstrous history of the Stolen Generations and, above all, to limit, delay and, if possible, scuttle the land claims of Indigenous Australians.

Appealing to racist tendencies and a widespread perception that Aboriginal peoples received special treatment, the Howard government denied the existence of the Stolen Generations and refused to consider an apology for the policies of earlier governments, dramatically reduced spending on Aboriginal affairs, watered down Native Title legislation, and even attempted to interfere in the curriculum of schools and universities and the approach of museums in representing the treatment of indigenous peoples in Australias colonial past.

In June 2005, Howard abolished the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), the only national, democratically elected Indigenous voice.

In June 2007, Howard launched his emergency intervention into the Northern Territory. Two months later the Northern Territory Emergency Response Act was passed, giving the government power to acquire Aboriginal land and hold back 50 percent of all welfare payments for necessary items. The government scrapped the permit system which had enabled Aboriginal communities to control entry into their land and deal with social issues.

Behind the intervention in the Northern Territory was the desire of the corporations to wrest control of Aboriginal lands from the local communities so they could better exploit the mineral wealth below.

A new Aboriginal activism began to develop in response to this onslaught on Aboriginal rights and land ownership.

Central to the fulfilment of Aboriginal rights is the possession by Aboriginal communities of communal and inalienable title to their land, including the minerals and other natural resources on and within it and in adjacent seas.

For the ruling class of capitalist Australia private property is sacred, not concepts of justice or what is right.

The Communist Party of Australia remains committed to the campaign to win recognition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original occupiers and owners of Australian territory and their right to own and control their land and resources.

The Party recognises that the issues confronting Indigenous Australia are complex, resulting from a long history of colonisation, dispossession and injustice and require long-term policy solutions.

More specifically the CPA supports:

Communal and inalienable land rights for Aboriginal communities.

An immediate review of the effectiveness of the Native Title legislation with a view to strengthening the powers of Aboriginal communities wishing to oppose developments such as the Kimberleys natural gas project.

The immediate rescinding of the Northern Territory Intervention and its discriminatory provisions for Aboriginal peoples and the reinstatement of the Racial Discrimination Act in the NT.

The restoration of the Community Development and Employment Program (CDEP) program to all Indigenous communities that request it.

The ongoing campaign for the restoration of unpaid wages to Aboriginal peoples as a result of previous protection policies.

The establishment of a Federal Ombudsman with sole responsibility for investigating complaints by Indigenous people of their treatment by the criminal justice system of the states, territories and Australian governments.

The abolition of the current celebration of Australia Day and its replacement by a more meaningful, respectful and relevant national day that can be celebrated by all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

The introduction of compulsory Aboriginal Studies programs in teacher training courses and in the school curriculum and, where practical and applicable, the introduction of Aboriginal language programs in schools.

Many of the planks of the Partys program would see the Commonwealth finally using the powers given to it in an overwhelming vote by the people of Australia in the Referendum of 1967. Action is needed now.
NO Pasaran!

A call for solidarity with the Bolivarian revolution

The Communist Party of Australia expresses its staunchest solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution, the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the Venezuelan people.

The Bolivarian revolution has been enduring intensified right-wing attacks for a number of months now. The right-wing opposition has resorted to organised violence which has cost the lives of members of the community and the police force. The strategy used by the extremist wealthy opposition has been to incite violence. It has armed small groups to terrorise Chavista supporters and creating the impression of a failed state. Images of violent events are then reproduced by the mass media and broadcast all over the world as part of the counterrevolutionary media campaign.

We condemn the attacks on members of progressive parties, activists and supporters and diplomatic missions of the Bolivarian revolution abroad.

The threats of a US invasion of the country continue alongside the millions of dollars in support of the internal wealthy opposition.

The hoarding of food and other essentials is a violation of the basic human rights of the Venezuelan people with the aim of discrediting the government of President Maduro.

The CPA joins the international community in expressing its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and supports the calls from the Bolivarian government for a dialogue for national reconciliation.

We call on all CPA members and supporters to join emergency rallies in solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution and for the future of the progressive and revolutionary movement founded by Hugo Chavez.

Together with the international community we say the counterrevolution shall not pass!
Agreement appears close on native title

After months of uncertainty and ham-fisted handling by the federal government, it appears that an agreement is close on changes to the Native Title Act. In February, a full bench of the Federal Court struck out an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) between the representatives of the Noongar people, the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC), and the Western Australian government, ruling that the agreement was only valid if it was signed by all named applicants.

The decision, known as McGlade, overturned a 2010 Federal Court ruling, Bygrave No 2, which said if the native title group had given authorisation, then any named applicant could sign off and an ILUA could be registered.

Februarys decision created uncertainty for more than 120 ILUAs registered between 2010 and 2017  and could possibly have even further-reaching consequences.

Following the court ruling, the government moved quickly to introduce changes to the Native Title Act, angering many Indigenous people and groups, who didnt believe there had been sufficient consultation.

After a quick Senate inquiry into the proposed amendments, it looked like Labor would support the governments Bill, with changes suggested by the inquiry.

However, after spending more than eight hours of the most recent Senate sitting, discussing ultimately unsuccessful weakening of the Racial Discrimination Act, Attorney-General George Brandis added more changes to the Native Title Act amendments, leading to Labor withdrawing its support.

To further complicate matters and pouring fuel on an already smouldering fire, Senator Brandis and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull indicated last month that their priority was certainty for Indian mining company Adani  which needs an ILUA for its massive proposed coal mine in Queensland and has been fighting with the Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners Council  rather than the dozens of native title groups affected.

Last month a meeting of native title representative bodies was held in Melbourne, which was initiated after a letter from WA Labor senator Pat Dodson, a Yawuru man, who had previously told the Koori Mail that more Indigenous input was needed before the Native Title Act was changed.

Senator Brandis, Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion, Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, Labors Lingiari MP Warren Snowdon and Senator Dodson all attended the roundtable, in an effort to listen to native title stakeholders and came to a legislative solution.

National Native Title Council chief executive Glen Kelly told the Koori Mail that it was a relief to finally have native title groups, the government and the Opposition all at the table at once.

We were able to really go over in proper depth the ramifications of the decision  what should have happened in the first place before any Bill to change the Native Title Act, he said. The general consensus is that the amendment is very important because a lot of traditional owner groups across the country are really severely affected by the McGlade decision, and in their interests it really needs to be fixed.

The bill is important and should go through the Parliament.

Kelly said the months of uncertainty had been very frustrating for many traditional owners.

The whole discussion got caught up in the middle of the Adani issue but in reality ILUAs and these sorts of agreements dont often deal with mines, theyre more often for pastoral access, and some communities have done ILUAs for infrastructure, he said.

For example, the Dja Dja Wurrung people in Victoria used an ILUA for the settlement of their native title claim (in 2013) so they are really worried that the whole basis for their native title settlement is now shaky.

And there are many others in similar positions so theyre very keen for the situation to be remedied.

Effectively what the amendments do is make sure that the traditional owner group is the authority, so when something is happening that affects the communitys rights and interests, the community is properly empowered to make a decision about it. To me, that makes perfect sense: the community is the principal so it should be the principal decision maker.

The way the Act is written, if the community says yes or no, then theres a second layer  the named applicants, so now, if one doesnt sign or is deceased you cant go forward, even if the community says you should.

Theres a need to re-empower the community and thats why the Act needs to be amended.

Koori Mail
Budget 2017-18

Education smoke and mirrors

In an unprecedented move, the head of NSW public education has been compelled to urgently write to every public school principal in the state, instructing them not to rely upon or trust the funding figures released by the Turnbull government.

Mark Scott, NSW Department of Education Secretary, wrote:

I am aware that the Commonwealth Education Minister has written to you with an estimate of the funding increases that your school will attract from the latest announcement. You should not rely on these figures for future planning or budgeting purposes.

It is now clear that the Turnbull governments funding figures are a smokescreen for huge cuts to public schools, where every child and every school will lose.

The federal president of the Australian Education Union Correna Haythorpe said Malcolm Turnbulls education plan would still see many schools fall short of the minimum resource standard, which means they wouldnt be able to provide their students with all the support they need.

To quote Haythorpe: There is no guarantee that any school will reach minimum resource standards, which means many students will continue to miss out.

She went on to ask. How can Malcolm Turnbull say the full Gonski is not affordable when he wants to spend $48 billion on company tax cuts? The government also has no difficulty in finding $1 trillion over the next 20 years preparing to fight US wars.

But the smoke and mirrors do not stop there. The Coalition has hijacked the unions and ALPs language with constant references, albeit hollow ones, to the disadvantaged and a system based on needs.

Recognising the success of the AEUs I give a Gonski campaign, Turnbull has cunningly appointed businessman David Gonski to carry out another review.

The first 2012 Gonski report was commissioned by the Gillard Labor government and looked into the level of funding for schools.

This new review is to provide advice on how the funding should be invested to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools. Already it signifies a shift away from the concept of funding directly reaching individual students according to needs.

The NSW Teachers Federation reports that NSW public schools will lose $846 million under the Turnbull governments plan for school funding.

The Federation has developed a school-by-school comparison revealing how much each NSW school will lose in 2018 and 2019, if the Turnbull government reneges on the signed NSW Gonski agreement. This analysis compares data from the federal governments School Funding Estimator website, and NSW government data obtained via a GIPA (formerly Freedom of Information) request that details the federal governments funding obligations under the current funding agreement.

Even Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyces electorate, New England, will get 70 percent less funding for its public schools in 2018 and 2019, with a staggering $26.38 million stripped from the area.

This school-by-school data shows the reality behind the deceit of the Turnbull plan. Teachers, principals and parents can see how much funding and support their students will miss out on if the Turnbull government abandons the NSW Gonski agreement, acting Federation president Gary Zadkovich said.

The callousness of the Turnbull plan is evident in the scrapping of the pledge to provide additional Commonwealth funding for students with disability.

North Strathfield Public School, where just last week the Prime Minister and Education Minister promoted their funding plan, will actually lose $513,300 over the next two years.
Lest we forget

There are no absolute freedoms

Since the government announced its intention to amend section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, the proponents of free speech have mounted virulent campaigns against people who made public statements with which they vigorously disagree.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied.

Sydney radio shock jock commentator Andrew Bolt and Murdoch press journalists have attacked Human Rights Commission President, Professor Gillian Triggs, over the prosecution of seven University of Queensland students who lodged a Facebook message about having been asked to leave an Aboriginal students computer room.

The post read: I just got kicked out of the unsigned indigenous computer rooms. QUT stopping segregation with segregation?. Another post referred to niggers, but the court later accepted a statement by one student that the words had been placed by someone else in his name.

The case was not resolved for nearly three years, and the complaint was dismissed. Sydneys Daily Telegraph held Professor Triggs personally responsible for the delays and legal costs, even though she had to proceed with the case because the complainant insisted on her rights.

Professor Triggs was also attacked for the prosecution of the late Bill Leak over his cartoon in The Australian newspaper, in which an inebriated Aboriginal man asks his delinquent son what his name is.

The cartoon was highly offensive to Aboriginal people, one of whom made a complaint to the Commission. In their defence, Leak and The Australian were entitled to formally lodge a claim that the cartoon was published in good faith, which would probably have been accepted as grounds for dismissing the complaint.

The defendants notified the commission that they intended to do so. However, the complainant ceased proceedings before the case reached the courts, so no formal defence claim was lodged. Nevertheless, federal Attorney-General George Brandis attacked Commissioner Triggs because she hadnt ceased the proceedings when informed that the defendants intended to lodge the claim.

Limits to free speech

The Australian constitution contains no reference to free speech, and the nation has no bill of rights.

Freedom of speech is also relative, not absolute. If a person is free to say something, the person to whom the statement is directed is not free from its effects. Where those effects could be damaging, society limits the right to free speech.

Laws against slander are intended to protect people from unfounded attacks on their character, and Clause 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act is intended to protect people from insult, offence, humiliation or intimidation based on their race, colour or national origins. (Clause 18D defines exceptions to 18Cs requirements.)

Some legal experts say 18Cs current wording is not strong enough to deal with cases of discrimination. However, the government proposes to replace insult and offend with harass which would emasculate the Act and negate its original intention.

The current legislation is valued by many communities, including Aboriginal people, Jews and Muslims.

Regarding clauses 18C and 18D, Dr Colin Rubenstein recently noted ... since their inclusion in 1995, organisations monitoring racism have witnessed more circumspection and less harm by openly racist groups in Australia. ... statistics maintained by the Jewish community show ... there was a substantial decline in incidents of anti-Jewish harassment in Tasmania and South Australia following judgements ... under Section 18C.

Naturally, the Racial Discrimination Act doesnt suit those politicians who seek the electoral support of bigots or racists. Government members claim 18C violates their right to free speech, but they themselves strive to suppress statements by others with which they disagree.

For example, immediately after bushfires last year, a government minister told a Greens MP he shouldnt discuss climate change, even though it is associated with an increasing number of bushfires.

A few years ago a member of the audience in an ABC program said the governments anti-terrorism policies were counterproductive and would actually persuade certain young men to become terrorists. It was good advice, but the government suggested that the audience member, who had criminal convictions, was a terrorist himself, and that the ABC should terminate the program.

On Australia Day were encouraged to join in national celebrations, but the government rejects calls for the event to include interpretation of it from the viewpoint of Indigenous Australians.

After Anzac Day ABC commentator Yassmin Abdel-Magied placed a Facebook post that read: Lest. We. Forget. Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine ...).

Bolt and the Murdoch press immediately accused her of an outrageous violation of a sacred institution. Abdel-Magied later removed the words from social media, and publicly apologised.

But the anti-Muslim media hysteria had done its work. Afterwards she was publicly harassed, and received a flood of abusive messages, stating she was an Islamic piece of s*** and a supporter of genital mutilation, that she should be stripped, beaten, sodomised, publicly whipped, stoned in the street, or deported to Yemen, or that she should commit suicide by jumping off a bridge.

So much for freedom of speech!

The real problem with Abdel-Magieds statement is that her implied criticism was spot on. On Anzac Day, rather than simply paying tribute to fallen soldiers, we should discuss ideals of compassion or equality, for example, regarding our treatment of the victims of war, including asylum seekers, and we should certainly question our involvement in wars, past, present and future.

And that includes WW1, the subject of widespread uncritical public reverence. Former ambassador to Japan, John Menadue, recently commented: The most important and just war in which we have fought was WW2, in defence of our own people and land. But WW2 is rated by the Australian War Memorial and so many others as of much less significance. WW1 is the Holy Grail.

Conservative politicians claim Australia came of age in WW1. However, Menadue points out that the nation was by no means united in support of our participation in that war.

Many subjects are taboo for current advocates of free speech. That includes the question of who profits from the wars in which we participate, one of the most important of all public issues. In the struggle for free speech, the issues the government is most reluctant to discuss are the very ones that are most important for the nation to consider.
Crimes of APARTHEID

A UN report which concluded that Israel was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of imposing apartheid policies against Palestinians has predictably drawn a furious response from Israel and its supporters. Under pressure to withdraw it, the UN official behind the report Rima Khalaf, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, refused and preferred to resign from her post. Vijay Prashad considers the implications of the report.

Apartheid is a powerful word, with evocations of the South African experience and with implications of crimes against humanity. The United Nations does not use this word loosely. It rarely enters UN reports and is not heard from the lips of UN officials. But now, in a report released on March 15 in Beirut, Lebanon, the UN has proclaimed that Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid. This is a very significant judgment, one with important ramifications for the UN, for the International Court of Justice and for the international community.

In 2015, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) was charged by its member states  the 18 Arab states in West Asia and North Africa  with studying whether Israel has established an apartheid regime. ESCWA asked two American academics  Richard Falk and Virginia Tilley  to undertake the study. Falk had been the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories from 2008 through 2014. Tilley had served as a Chief Research Specialist in South Africas Human Sciences Research Council, which had produced a study in 2009 showing apartheid-like conditions in Israel and the Palestinian Occupied Territories.

The report that they have now produced makes the grave charge that Israel is guilty of apartheid not only in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem  the Occupied Territories  but also within its own boundaries and against the Palestinian refugees. This is a very sharp report which will be hard for Israel to ignore.

End of two-state consensus?

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington DC recently to meet US President Donald Trump. At that meeting, Trump seemed to disregard the international consensus towards the creation of two states. In fact, as this report and others show, the two-state solution has been long vitiated.

The Israeli governments illegal Jewish settlement project in the West Bank and its virtual annexation of East Jerusalem makes it impossible to imagine the establishment of Palestine in that region. What exists is a one-state, with Israel having exercised its dominion in the entire land west of the Jordan River, but a one-state with an apartheid system, with Israeli Jews in a dominant position over the Palestinians. The new UN report speaks to this disturbing apartheid situation not only in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, but in all of Israel.

One reason the Israeli government is unwilling to consider a one-state solution with equal rights for all Israelis and Palestinians is what they call a demographic threat. If the 12 million Palestinians  exiles and refugees included  would be citizens of this one-state, then they would dwarf the six million Jews in the country. The UN report argues that Israel is a racial regime because its institutions are premised on maintaining a Jewish nation by techniques of suppression and expulsion.

Gross discrimination

Palestinians who have Israeli citizenship (ezrahut) do not have the right to nationality (leum), which means that they can only access inferior social services, face restrictive zoning laws, and find themselves unable freely to buy land. Palestinians in East Jerusalem are reduced to the status of permanent residents, who have to constantly prove that they live in the city and that they do not have any political ambitions.

Palestinians in the West Bank live in ways consistent with apartheid write the authors of the UN report. And those who are exiled to the refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan have absolutely no rights to their homeland. All Palestinians  whether those who live in Haifa (Israel) or in Ain al-Hilweh (Lebanon)  suffer the consequences of Israeli apartheid. This indignity is punctuated with laws that humiliate the Palestinians. The latest law  the Muezzin Bill  imposes limits on the Muslim call to prayer in Israel and East Jerusalem.

Matters would be less grave if the Israeli political system allowed Palestinians rights to make their case against apartheid-like conditions. Article 7(a) of the Basic Law prohibits any political party from considering a challenge to the states Jewish character. Since this description of the Israeli state renders Palestinians as second-class citizens, their voting rights are reduced to merely an affirmation of their subordination.

As the UN report suggests, An analogy would be a system in which slaves have the right to vote but not against slavery. Palestinians inside Israel and in the Occupied Territories, as well as in enforced exile, are forbidden to fight to change the terms of politics in Israel. This roadblock is the reason why the UN report appeals to the international community to live up to its commitments.

Since most of the worlds states have signed the Convention Against Apartheid, they are now obliged to act to punish instances of apartheid. Two recommendations from the report stand out.

First, the authors ask that the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigate the situation in Israel. The ICCs Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened an investigation on Israels 2014 bombing of Gaza and on the illegal settlements in the West Bank. Bensouda has indicated that she is not averse to a full assessment of Israels actions. Whether she will now widen the scope of her investigation to the apartheid nature of the state is a separate matter.

Second, the report asks that member states allow criminal prosecutions of Israeli officials demonstrably connected with the practices of apartheid against the Palestinian people. Earlier this year, former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni cancelled a trip to Brussels when she was alerted that the prosecutors there might arrest her using the principle of universal jurisdiction. Such actions raise the cost to Israel for its apartheid policies.

When the UN Security Council declared late last year that Israels settlements in the Occupied Territories were illegal, there was worry in Israel that Bensouda would accelerate her work. Others in Israel said that there was nothing new in the resolution, which neither used the word grave to describe the situation nor considered Israeli actions to be a war crime. But the new report does both.

If it is acknowledged that Israel is an apartheid state, then this is tantamount to a war crime (in the 1977 Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions) and to a crime against humanity (in the 1973 Apartheid Convention and the 1998 Rome Statute of the ICC).

Indias reaction

To prepare the ground for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis trip to Israel later this year, his Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will soon go to Israel. Word comes from the Ministry of External Affairs that it is likely that Modi will not visit the Occupied Territories, which will be a snub to Palestine.

Indias overall reaction to this report will define Modis attitude towards Israel. The appearance of this report  and its strong conclusions  should give Modi pause before he shreds decades of consensus for Palestine from India. Will India take leadership in upholding international law as it did in the fight against South African apartheid? Or will India back away from high principle and settle for arms deals and empty rhetoric?

Third World Resurgence
Culture & Lfe

A trumped up excuse for war

The April 4 chemical warfare incident at Khan Shaykhun in Syria was instantly blamed on the Bashar al Assad government by the forces trying to oust the popularly elected Syrian government. Those forces are backed  supported, armed, funded and reinforced  by the US, so it was perhaps not surprising that the US President and his administration of right-wing hawks jumped on that bandwagon, embracing war with Syria with remarkable vigour and single-mindedness.

Before the US election, many observers believed that between the candidates, the bigger threat to peace came from Hillary Clinton whose hawkish credentials had been well established in Libya and elsewhere. But Donald Trump, despite his pre-election posture of having good relations with President Putin of Russia and intending to extricate America from unwanted wars in the Middle East, needed to distract attention from the gaffes and missteps that have already marred his for profit Presidency.

The Trump administration seized on the poison gas attack in Syria, despite it being an all-too obvious false flag operation intended to discredit the al Assad government, as the pretext for launching a cruise missile attack on a Syrian air base. Flattening the Syrian air base with 59 Tomahawk missiles served to divert attention at home in the USA from the ongoing investigations into alleged Russian election tampering, as well as from the very public rallies and protests against the new administrations domestic policies.

Even members of the USs own intelligence community have voiced their scepticism about the allegations of a poison gas attack by the Syrian Army. Ray McGovern, a former Army officer and CIA analyst who prepared the presidents daily intelligence brief under the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations, questions the chemical attack seeing it as a case of fixing the intel[ligence] to justify the policy after the fact.

They came up with this embarrassing three-and-a-half pages about the event that dont hold water, and [now] we have an MIT professor totally debunk it. The MIT professor is Ted Postol whose analysis of the event flatly contradicts the assessment issued by the White House.

I think its clear that Donald Trump found it expedient to fire the 59 Tomahawk missiles ... as a way to quell the media frenzy surrounding Russiagate that was causing his approval ratings to tank, Elizabeth Murray, who was formerly the deputy national intelligence officer for the Near East in the National Intelligence Council, told the on-line progressive news journal Truthout. Murray had a 27-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she served as a media and political analyst on Middle Eastern issues.

Murray believes the Trump missile attack violated international law and set a dangerous shoot-from-the-hip tone for US foreign policy under the new administration. Theres little mention of the 13 Syrian civilians who were killed by the US missiles, including four children, which is a clear war crime, she said.

Murray pointed out how the US bombing also took place in the absence of any actual evidence of Syrian government involvement in the preceding attacks, and that, if anything, there are indications that the US-backed Al-Qaeda-affiliated rebels may be responsible.

Philip Giraldi, a former CIA operations officer who worked on counter-terrorism in Europe and the Middle East, also told Truthout that Trump is demonstrating to the public that he can be tough with Americas enemies and that he is also not afraid to offend the Russians. He has been accused of being a de facto Russian agent so it is particularly important that he demonstrate that he is not.

The cruise missile attack is a visceral reaction to show he is not a tool of Putin, and show hes a tough guy and can react immediately, Ray McGovern added.

Giraldi, who is currently executive director of the Council for the National Interest, a think tank focused on Middle East policy, sees the Russia situation becoming increasingly embarrassing for President Trump.

Trump is particularly thin skinned and he reacts to protect his image, in this case doing something quite stupid in Syria to make a point about himself and his administration, Giraldi said.

By giving his generals the green light to launch the missiles, he was able to silence media criticism, appease pro-war neo-conservative elements [neo-cons] and shore up his flagging image, Murray explained. The neo-con-controlled US mainstream media are now referring to Trump as presidential ... so in that sense, it worked.

Despite Trumps pre-election posture, Murray believes that US military activity in Iraq and Syria is being ramped up in a clandestine manner; and since deploying ground troops to these countries is wildly unpopular, the Trump administration has decided to keep the American people in the dark.

McGovern agrees, citing the failings of the media: The transcendent problem is that Americans dont know what is going on in the world. Murray felt similarly, pointing to the silence around the US attacks on Mosul.

It disturbs me that so little is reported about what is taking place in Mosul, Iraq, where thousands of innocent people are dying from US-led coalition air-strikes  one report said more than 2,000 Iraqi civilians died in the month of March alone. But the American people are simply told that Mosul is being liberated, she said.

These kinds of policies will leave us dependent on journalists and whistleblowers willing to risk their lives and livelihoods to tell the truth, Murray added. Meanwhile, weapons manufacturers and Washington, DC-based beltway bandits [the think tanks and contractors servicing the Defence Department and intelligence agencies] will continue to thrive under a foreign policy of endless wars.

Murray had been optimistic about Trumps early statements about seeking a modus vivendi with Russia, cooperating with Moscow to counter ISIS in Syria, and not seeking a Syrian regime change.

But these were just words, she said. As with nearly every other US president, Trump has caved to the pressures brought by neo-conservative elements within the government and the military-corporate complex, otherwise known as the Deep State.

I believe that Trump will now proceed according to the dictates of these powerful groups, which means more wars to support the military machine and the interests of Israel, which wants the overthrow of governments in Iran and Syria, Murray explained. In return, he will see far less media criticism and even receive accolades as with the presidential missile strikes on Syria.
Then, suddenly, the videos stopped. What could have possibly happened in 2015 to cause this sudden and unforeseen blackout? It might have something to do with the fact that all their comment sections are disabled as well.

1 The Amazing al-Qaeda Scares Of The Early 2000s

One of the internet's greatest achievements is that people no longer need own a printing press to spread their ideas. Voicing thoughts is now free. Did we say "free"? We meant "worthless," as evidenced by how long it took before the web became the largest rumor mill ever created.

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That gossip machine's first big payoff came, of course, with 9/11. After the towers fell, the internet went a little mad for a while. Every other website seemed to dedicate itself to propagating a vast number of conspiracy theories concerning Osama bin Laden, the architect of suck. Some were afraid he was planning on taking over all of the U.S. dams. Others feared he was hiding out in Salt Lake City among other polygamists. Some claimed that he was content being the secret owner of Citibank.

The rumor that really broke the dam was the whispers of the 9/11 mastermind planning to launch a terrorist attack on Eminem. This of course triggered the world's vast collection of angry white suburban kids -- key demographics of both the internet and Eminem's music.

eminemweb.com

"Dear Osama, I wrote you but you still ain't callin' ..."

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But the real victim of bin Laden's ever-grinding rumor mill was a fresh young site called snopes.com. Snopes almost killed itself trying to keep up with the myriad of conspiratorial ramblings concerning bin Laden, its husband and wife team working almost around the clock to assure the concerned citizens of the internet that, in fact, bin Laden was not the secret CEO of Snapple.

For more of Cedric Voets' attempts at witticisms or his famous recipes for toilet wine, do follow him on Twitter.
3 Two X-Men Time Travel Stories Casually Reference 9/11 And Hurricane Sandy (Years Before They Happened)

X-Men is a franchise specifically designed to be as confusing as possible to anyone who isn't a veteran comic book reader, so it's not surprising that it involves a lot of time travel. For instance, there's the character Rachel Summers, the future daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey. In a 1984 storyline, Rachel travels to the X-Men's present and finds that her mother somehow died before giving birth to her. Pretty crazy, right?

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Yeah, almost as crazy as the fact that holy fuckballs she remembers 9/11.

Marvel Comics

"The twin towers of the World Trade Center lie in ruins. Thousands are dead. Many more injured."

Again, that comic is from the '80s -- the specific issue has a cover date of January 1985, which means it was published in late 1984 (because nothing in comics makes any sense). And yet Rachel seems exactly as traumatized by the events of September 11, 2001 as anyone who lived through them. Admittedly, the comic doesn't explain how or when the towers fell, implying it was all part of the same future robot holocaust in which the X-Men get killed. However, there is a subtle hint of the cause behind the towers' collapse on that same page:
UPDATE: Australian stars Chris Vermeulen, Troy Bayliss and Casey Stoner all express interest in the Suter 500 two-stroke! See tweets below...

Eskil Suter claims his company's MMX 500 two-stroke would be around tenth place, with the right rider, if it went up against the current grid of MotoGP machines.

Rule changes saw four-strokes enter the premier-class in 2002. The bigger capacity bikes soon dominated the results and filled the grid from the following year. But despite the outright performance and technical superiority of the MotoGP prototypes, many still miss the purity of the extinct 500s.

Enter Eskil Suter, whose company has built chassis for all three of the current grand prix classes. The Swiss ex-racer designed a modern version of the 500, featuring a 576cc V4 engine, producing 195hp at a weight of 127kg and estimated top speed of 310km/h (193mph).

The bike, which also boasts electronic fuel injection and counter-rotating crankshaft, is available to buy for 120,000 Euros. According to Suter, advances in technology mean it is probably quicker than the legendary machines it was built to imitate.

"What you get is pretty much a factory machine," Suter told Crash.net. "20 years ago a machine like that could cost millions, it's all hand built of titanium, some parts hand cast and manually machined.

"It's a bespoke factory bike, in fact I believe that it's even faster than those GP two-strokes.

"It's got 195hp, but the friendly torque curve in combination with the modern chassis and tyres means that if you put an experienced rider on it he could probably match MotoGP times, maybe P10.

"When I was riding it at Jerez I was only about 4.9 seconds off Rossi's 500 lap record and I'm 50 years old and 50kg too heavy. I think if you put Marquez on it he'd do a 1m 39, but I'm sure that Honda wouldn't allow that..."

Rossi's 2001 500cc lap record was a 1m 42.421s lap, while a low 1m 39s would have been good enough for ninth on the grid at the recent Spanish MotoGP.

"It's a really beautiful bike," said Suter, explaining the background to the machine, which also competed in last year's Isle of Man TT. "In 2010 we were sitting around wondering which direction to go in and I still had quite a lot of two-stroke technology from my racing career lying around. We had a chassis and all the bits and pieces and really all we had to do was to make an engine.

"It was just small talk from the caf?, we wanted to do something fun which wasn't necessarily connected to the daily business.

"I thought it was a shame that a bike like that had never been made commercially available, you could only get them produced by racing factories from Japan and if you can't buy one you've got to make it.

"The two-stroke 500s were special and we knew there was a big community of fans for them - including us. We saw that projects like the Ducati Desmosedici had done well, they sold all of them despite the fact that it cost 100,000 Euros, so we felt it wasn't a crazy thing to do.

"There is a market for them and we produce them to order. Believe me, they are a hell of a lot of fun to ride.

"We actually went for a displacement of 580cc just to get a more friendly torque curve. We needed to fill out that 500cc two-stroke torque hole that you get at about 8,000 or 9,000rpm and now the torque curve is beautifully flat and it's great to ride.

"It's still wild but it's really useable and you can just pull it straight through from 500rpm... [We've sold] around 20 or so but it's ongoing and we're preparing the next batch."

Suter is hoping to return to the TT with the MMX 500 in 2018.

That sounds like fun to ride! https://t.co/GyvqZ7DVks-- Chris Vermeulen (@chrisvermeulen7) May 17, 2017

@TroyBaylisstic @McLarenMotoGP We should get a couple TB and go for a spin! -- Chris Vermeulen (@chrisvermeulen7) May 17, 2017

@chrisvermeulen7 Hmmmm I do love 2-strokes!-- Casey Stoner (@Official_CS27) May 18, 2017
Dateline: Nepal

Weve heard of running out of a restaurant to avoid paying a check, but this is ridiculous. A South African adventurer is accused of hiding in a cave on Mount Everest in order to avoid paying the $10,000 permit fee for climbing the worlds highest mountain. Ryan Sean Davy, 43, hiked as far as camp two, which is located at 21,000 feet, before he was stopped by officials. I saw him alone near base camp, so I approached him and he ran away, Gyanendra Shresth, the Nepalese government liaison officer at base camp, told AFP. I followed him with my friend and found him hiding in a cave nearby. Davy had evidently set up camp in the obscure location in order to avoid government officials. Davy later asked for forgiveness on Facebook, saying his Everest expedition had taken a very bad turn. Davy told his Facebook followers that when I arrived at Base Camp it became evident that I didnt have nearly enough money for a solo permit. He also went on to say that even if I did they would have declined it because I had no previous mountaineering experience. The impoverished and inexperienced mountaineer said he was ashamed that I couldnt afford the permit after all the help, preparation and what everybody had done for me during my training. It would have been a total embarrassment to turn around and accept defeat because of a piece of paper. Davy said he decided to attempt a stealth entry onto Everest but unfortunately the system caught up with me because expedition companies have no time for wannabe Everesters with no money so someone turned me in. The trespassing trekkers passport was confiscated and he walked and took a bus to Kathmandu for trial. He could be banned from Nepal for 5 years or face a 10-year ban on climbing in the country. He will also be fined nearly $20,000double the cost of the permit.

Dateline: New Mexico

An Albuquerque man accused of stealing his mothers posole has been cleared of all charges. Back in December 2015 23-year-old Jonathan Carlos Ray and his mother got into an argument, and she ordered him to stay away from her house. According to the criminal complaint, Ray later sent his mom a text message saying he wanted some of her posole. She told him no. The mother later found her gate open and her garage broken into. The pot of traditional holiday stew was missing. According to the police report filed at the time of the original crime, Rays mother stated that she did want to press the burglary charge due to the fact that he did not have her permission to enter the home and take the pot of posole. Ray recently told KOB-4 News he was hungry at the time and did not think police would charge him with a crime. On Friday, May 5, of this year, a state district judge dismissed the burglary charges, saying the only witnesses to the crime were Ray and his mother. Although she kicked him out for a while, Ray is back living with his mother and promised he would do something special for Mothers Day to make up for stealing her posole.

Dateline: Michigan

A former Republican candidate for a Michigan House seat has been sentenced to treatment and probation for engaging in a very unusual sexual fetish. Jordan Haskins, 26, was sentenced on Monday, May 8, on eight felonies in two separate auto incidents in 2016 and 2017. Haskins is a habitual offender with a criminal history of multiple incidents involving a fetish he refers to as cranking, which evidently involves removing a vehicles spark plug wires so that it runs roughly in order to achieve sexual self-gratification. Circuit Judge Robert L. Kaczmarek handed down a sentence of long-term probation with mental health and sex offender treatment. Its something I dont think we understand as attorneys, but hes going to benefit from treatment and counseling, Haskins attorney, James Hession, said in an interview with mlive.com. Back in April, Haskins pleaded guilty to six counts of unlawfully driving away an automobile, one count of malicious destruction of property and one count of breaking and entering into a building with intent to commit unlawfully driving away an automobile. In separate incidents, police say Haskins broke into a Saginaw County-owned maintenance truck and took four vehicles from a Chevrolet body shop.
Years ago it would have been unthinkable to give up control to securing your most valuable assets. But for some companies the risk of handing the security keys to a third party is less than the idea of facing the daily barrage of attacks.

When asked why a company would cede control, many vendors said it depends on the level of staffing that company has. If the expertise is lacking, why take the chance. Or if it is a small to midsize enterprise, maybe there is just not a budget for creating a security staff up to the level needed. Therefore, partnering with a managed security services provider (MSSP) has become almost a must when faced with worries over data theft and the number of mobile devices entering the workplace.

MSSPs are specialists in IT security, said Alertsecs CEO Ebba Blitz, and as they serve several clients they have the capability to be up-to-speed with advanced requests. If a company is big enough to staff its own IT department, with the same capabilities, then theyll most likely do that. However, if you are an SMB and dont have the resources, then an MSSP may prove to be the better choice.

However, Pat Patterson, vice president of strategic architecture at Optiv, wrote recently that choosing an MSSP should not be done simply to throw the security responsibility over the fence. Hopefully the days are gone when security leaders believe they simply can hand their entire security monitoring and incident response programs off to third parties and expect to be successful. Engaging an MSSP will not fix a broken information security process. In fact, it can easily highlight poorly defined processes or areas where no process exists.

Alvaro Hoyos, chief information security officer at OneLogin, said when debating outsourcing security it parallels the SaaS versus on-premise app argument, or the more recent IaaS versus build your own data center. Those two discussions are still being had, but the pendulum for a lot of companies has swung in the direction of cloud service providers.

According to a recent report from Trustwave, for a second consecutive year, the number of respondents reported that their security is installed and maintained entirely by their in-house IT staff and security teams dropped  this year to 67 percent. Twenty-six percent of respondent organizations are involved in a partnership between in-house teams and an MSSP. Another 5 percent delegate the entirety of their security solution set to an MSSP, and 2 percent answered other.

Trustwaves report also stated as to their plans to partner with an MSSP, 43 percent already do, which rose from 39 percent in last years report. That stat is considerably more pronounced in the United States, where 53 percent of respondents already use managed security services  a 14 percent leap from last year. Another 40 percent overall plan to partner with an MSSP in the future, with 17 percent indicating such an arrangement appears unlikely.

Yitzhak (Itzik) Vager, vice president of cyber product management and business development at Verint Systems, said selecting managed security services versus in-house security is a matter of strategy before tactics. Management needs to decide whether it is better to invest in the in-house personnel and tools required to reinforce organizational security and ensure complete control over protection processes, or to invest the same dollars in a company whose sole focus is security, but who will not have the same focus on the business itself. When investing the money in an MSSP, it is important that the MSSP will understand the business risk associated with specific assets within the organization to better prioritize their work.

Amir Jerbi, CTO of container security company Aqua Security, said MSSPs are a at a level of maturity that is often as good as or better than in-house security. The decision of whether to outsource some or all security to an MSSP should be based on several factors, including the level and skills of your own security staff (and whether you can maintain a high enough skill set), the sensitivity and compliance requirements of your systems and data, how strategic security is to your business (e.g., do you consider it to be a core competency), and of course costs.

As a rule of thumb, large enterprises in regulated industries have a large enough and skilled enough in-house team and prefer to manage all aspects of security in-house. As you go down the midmarket and into SMB territory, it becomes a lot more sensible to use an MSSP for all or most of your security needs, Jerbi said. One thing to keep in mind when considering MSSPs is that their expertise is likely to focus on common, well-established areas, leaving emerging technologies such as containers in the hands of the user organizations themselves."

Derek Brost , director of engineering at Bluelock, gave the pros and cons of both ways to attack security. He said for many companies, investing in procuring, developing, integrating, deploying, operating, and supporting security controls may not outweigh the total risk profile of their assets. For this type of organization, using managed security services is far more cost-effective, however, investing in enterprise risk management is still a required, ongoing expenditure. For organizations where in-house security might make sense, they likely have a robust risk management discipline and can forecast the loss potential effectively to demonstrate the value of bringing security activities in-house. This type of organization will have the maturity and discipline required to meet or exceed a managed security service value proposition with internal resources.

In Ciscos annual security report, 21 percent of the survey respondents said they did not outsource any security services in 2014. In 2015, that number dropped to 12 percent. Fifty-three percent said they outsource services because doing so was more cost-efficient, while 49 percent said they outsource services to obtain unbiased insights.

Although a company will want to control their own security program, most cannot afford to run those elements themselves as it would require a 24x7 security operation center (SOC) such as an SEIM or IDS/IPS, said Asher DeMetz, manager, security consultant at Sungard Availability Services. It is vital that companies  of a size and risk profile to need these services  have 24x7 monitoring as attacks can come any time of day or night. An attack at 9 p.m. that is not detected till 9 a.m. when employees come into the office can be disastrous.

Additionally, MSS providers companies with the deep skills and experience needed to know what is a real attack and what is a false positive, DeMetz said.

Carl Herberger, vice president of security solutions at Radware, agrees stating that the speed at which the threat landscape is changing, and the fact that SMBs have become an increasingly frequent target of attacks with 43 percent of all cyber-attacks now focused on small businesses, all make in-house security challenging. For example, a retail ecommerce business might not have the ability to invest in a robust, well-trained security staff to thwart attackers. Managed security services help to bridge the gap and let businesses focus on whats at their core, he said.

The sophistication of the information technology environment, types of devices or controls in place, location and type of data centers, breadth of geographic scope/global footprint, cost, skilled resources, and coverage needed during the week/year should be taken into account when deciding to go with a third party, said Viewposts CSO Chris Pierson.

Your organizations most valuable assets may no longer reside behind your corporate firewall with a network managed by your employees.

Kennet Westby, president and co-founder of Coalfire

It is critical to note that the people who best know the layout and operations of your companys data flows are those people who created the architecture (either network or security) and understand the business processes and product. This ownership is really best achieved by having at least a central core team within the company, he said.

Having managed security be a part of specialized devices that focus on Indicators of Compromise or behavioral forensics is a smart fiscal and operations move, Pierson added.

Kennet Westby, president and co-founder of Coalfire, said outsourcing is happening in other facets of technology such as hosting, cloud services and application service providers. It really is more about understanding the scope of network security you look to third parties for. Your organizations most valuable assets may no longer reside behind your corporate firewall with a network managed by your employees.

He added that making a decision to handle corporate network security in-house or to leverage third parties should be based on a number of important criteria:

Competency/cost  Like most functions in an organization a review of whether a service can be delivered at a higher competency level at a lower cost than can be done internally.

Organizational compatibility - Ensures that you have a partner that will work alongside your IT, security and management teams, and not just deliver vendor services behind an opaque wall of security services.

Trust  This is a critical element of any third party handling sensitive functions but critical for a MSSP. You need to ensure a program for security controls is operating at even higher standards than your internal controls require. You may need to trust their employees more than your own.

Trust is a big issue, said Richard Henderson, global security strategist at Absolute. It can take a lot of trust and convincing to move to that model, but the simple fact that weve seen an incredible explosion in the MSSP space is proof that for those that use it, like it. Any security organization inside a small or midsized company should at the very least evaluate the possibilities of integrating some MSSP offerings into their world.

He also added that there is a reality that security human resources are often hard to find, hard to keep, and hard to keep happy. Many security positions are thankless jobs, and when things go wrong, the amount of stress placed on these employees can be staggering. And if youre a company located in a smaller uncool city, it can be difficult or impossible to recruit top-quality talent.

Ciscos 2017 Security Capabilities Benchmark Study found that most organizations rely on third-party vendors for at least 20 percent of their security, and those who rely most heavily on these resources are most likely to expand their use in the future.

Rod Murchison, vice president of product management at CrowdStrike, said with the increased volume and sophistication of cyber threats that organizations must deal with, there is a value proposition to working with an MSSP, whether for all or part of your security operations. Some MSSPs are able to work with security solution providers through APIs, creating truly unique offerings that unlock real value while minimizing complexity for the end user. This level of sophistication and integration can provide MSSP customers with the perfect combination of capabilities to protect their particular network.

In some cases for companies struggling or for startups, Trish Tobin, FireEye's director of product marketing, said MSSPs can assist security leaders in designing the overall program, building the SOC, training staff and providing incident response. As their security programs evolve, organizations strive to improve threat detection and incident response capabilities. More often than not, they are constrained by a lack of skilled security expertise as well as lack of visibility into new techniques being used by targeted threat actors.

Scottie Cole, network and security administrator at AppRiver, favors a well-trained in-house security team over a managed security service. In-house security teams understand the requirements for both the companys security needs as well as the companys goals. The downside to an in-house security team for many companies is the cost to maintain the team. Well trained, quality talent can be expensive to employ. Another added cost is continuing education for the team, whether it be for trainings, seminars, or re-certification.

If cost is an issue, then a managed security service is the next best thing, Cole adds. There are many companies that offer high quality, well-trained individuals who can come into a clients location and immediately assist with the clients security needs. The plus side to using a managed security service is that the service usually has a larger pool of talent to draw from. Depending on the clients wants or regulatory requirements, the managed service can find an expert or team of experts to support the clients needs.

Boaz Shunami, CEO of Komodo Security Consulting, said one area MSSPs can be an advantage is in red team exercises (real attack scenarios), red vs. blue team exercises. penetration testing, threat intelligence centers and incident response and forensics capabilities. Replacing these with internal employees will usually prove to be less effective, with larger learning curves and, in general, less value over longer periods of time.
The massive scale of the recent WannaCry ransomware attack has exposed some significant weaknesses in global IT systems, and we're likely to see more attacks leveraging similar techniques, and doing even more damage, security experts say.

WannaCry infected hundreds of thousands of machines in more than 150 countries, with direct ransom costs estimated at around $10 million, according to Cyence.

But that's just the start. Business interruption costs will add up to about $8 billion, according to George Ng, co-founder and CTO at Cyence -- up from the company's $4 billion estimate as of Sunday.

And cyberinsurance may or may not cover all of these costs, due to deductibles or coverage limits, he said.

Plus, the next variant of the malware could be worse.

"It doesnt appear that the WannaCry malware is exfiltrating data from infected hosts at this time," he said. "But we do not know if these attacks will be modified over time to have data breach implications triggering notification laws and cyber policies."

Several security experts pointed out that WannaCry wasn't as deadly as it could have been.

"WannaCry is an extremely simple piece of malware, written carelessly -- or purposely! -- with a kill switch," said Alex Vaystikh, CTO at SecBI. "In other words, if the attackers had wanted, they couldve written a very silent, slow-moving malware, and achieved much more."

In addition, the variants of WannaCry that have come out so far haven't made full use of evasion techniques, said Lenny Zeltser, vice president of products at Minerva Labs.

"As a result, baseline antivirus products were generally able to block the malware at the onset of the attack," he said.

In the future, WannaCry variants could include sandbox avoidance, memory injection and other evasive techniques.

The first evolution of WannaCry has already hit, said Brian Hussey, vice president of cyber threat detection and response at Trustwave Holdings. There's a variant out now in the wild without the kill switch.

"If the security researchers identify reliable methods to disable the malware, then expect the attackers to overcome that with a new version," he added.

Attackers have already begun to morph their delivery vectors to evade detection, said Deepen Desai, director of security research at Zscaler.

"Yesterday morning, the Zscaler ThreatLabZ team identified a new attack vector used by WannaCry that utilizes the basic web HTTP protocol to attack systems," he said. "We believe that there is a possibility that these first two variants will combine to produce an attack that will be even more devastating. It could use a combination of standard open ports and protocols such as 80 and 443 which are essential in doing business to initially infect and then move laterally."

Malware writers are also likely to shift towards more "viral by default" attack designs with the potential for massive-scale infections, said Casey Ellis, CEO at Bugcrowd.

"The technique allows hackers to get a bigger payday from minimal effort," he said.

Another area where attackers are likely to improve is the income potential of their attacks.

Wannacry was really focused on mass destruction and less on revenue generation with some major flaws in its tool kit," said Chad Holmes, principal and chief technology, innovation and strategy officer for the cybersecurity practice at Ernst & Young. "Now, since it is open to the public, what we will see in the next few rounds is the removal of these flaws and new versions will be leveraged more broadly for financial gain."

This fast evolution is possible because of the modular nature of WannaCry's design, said Diana Kelley, global executive security adviser at IBM Security.

For example, attackers could expand beyond ransomware, she said. "Other malware operators could borrow pieces of this code to execute other malware -- password stealing, remote monitoring/access, keystroke logging, and more."

Attackers could also build on the self-propagating features of the WannaCry campaign and add on several features designed for maximum business disruption.

That would be a worst-case scenario, said Scott Scheferman, director of consulting at Cylance.

"Imagine the same world-wide spread," he said, "But multiply the business impact and risk to human safety of a worm that effectively locks out every user in the domain over the course of the same weekend, making containment and eradication nearly impossible and also manages to exfiltrate the most sensitive information of each organization, and then exits with a last-hurrah ransom module to make some extra money on the way out."

Tough to fight against

The problem is that it's difficult to instantly patch all vulnerable systems, and we now have more vulnerable systems connected to public or internal networks than ever before, making them targets for self-propagating malware like WannaCry.

"It's very easy to for us to say, go patch your systems, but often the reality is that it's difficult for organizations to do," said said Steven Malone, director of security product management at Mimecast.

In addition to organizational complexity, there are also deeply embedded systems that are hard to update, and regulations that can make updates very onerous for certain industries.

"While it would be great to say that those regulations need to change to accommodate those kinds of security checks, realistically, that's going to be slow moving," he said. "Organizations need to look at how best to segment those machines from the rest of the network and even from human interaction."

Most immediately, enterprises with vulnerable machines need to close the specific ports that WannaCry took advantage of.

"I expect organizations will take a look at internal firewalling off the port 445 which was how the attack propagated," said Chris Wysopal, CTO and cofounder at Veracode. "It should absolutely be firewalled from the internet but organization may take a look at also blocking it between partner networks or within different departments."
We tend to think of cyberattacks in medieval terms: attackers swarm the walls that protect the castle, hammering away with zombie servers strung together like a battering ram of old to execute a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack or ransomware.

This still happens. The difference is that is not just desktop and laptop devices that are vulnerable. There are also thermostats, dishwashers, fire alarms, and even light bulbs, the group of simple devices that, when networked together, comprise what we call the Internet of Things (IoT). Too many of these devices arent protected. Aruba recently surveyed the market and found 84 percent had experienced a breach in their IoT implementations.

What to do?

Rethink security. Instead of building bigger walls, companies need to take a cue from leading security thinkers and implement Active Cyber Defense (ACD), a four-step architecture that emphasizes continuous monitoring to detect and then deal with compromised or malicious users and devices before they do damage.

On the Network, Time Heals No Wounds

Todays targeted attacks are designed to stay under the radar by moving in small, circumspect steps over long periods of time  often with legitimate credentials coopted from a compromised user.

Its no longer a matter of if youll get breached. Its a matter of when, said my colleague, Art Wong, senior vice president and global general manager of enterprise security services for Hewlett Packard Enterprise. IT experts have introduced ACD with this more complex and dangerous threat landscape in mind.

The goal with ACD is to move from being reactive to proactive in dealing with cyber threats while delivering more comprehensive coverage of a constantly-changing IT ecosystem. At its core, ACD defines a four-stage pipeline consisting of sensing, sense making, decision making, and action. The overarching goal is to accelerate the progression through the pipeline and automate the stages as much as possible. The better the intelligence in sensing, sense making, and decision making, the more confident and timely the resulting action can be.

ACD at Work: 4 Steps to Building Intelligent, Real-Time Threat Response

ACD is a systematic, 360-degree approach to providing security for the digital workplace that aims to close open loops and make the entire networked ecosystem more secure. Heres how it works at each stage:

1. Sensing. If properly monitored, the network can act as a massive sensor. Packets, flows, logs, and more provide raw material that good analytics systems (see below) use to detect anomalies. The more insight into the network those analytics have, the more precise and predictive the response architecture can be.

2. Sense-making. This is where giant strides in cybersecurity technology are being made. A new technology called UEBA (User and Entity Behavior Analytics) uses a combination of supervised and unsupervised machine learning models to find and alert against attacks that have evaded real-time defenses. It is only by seeing, aggregating, and interpreting small changes in behavior that these sorts of low-profile attacks get detected before they do damage.

3. Decision-making. With innovative, AI-based analytics raising precision alerts, it is now possible to codify a set of policies that make changes in user and device access to IT infrastructure based on the type of alert and entity affected. This can be as simple as a re-authorization or as aggressive as a quarantine or block. Even modest responses buy time for security analysts, who can then use integrated incident investigation to further diagnose the situation and take further steps.

4. Action. Automated, policy-driven action creates the conditions for closed-loop security. The key is integrating the analytics, sense-making UEBA platforms with programmable systems for implementing policy automatically and responsibly. When done right its the perfect setup for organizations that most need intelligent, proportional, real-time threat response.

The key to Active Cyber Defense is having the right components in position to execute on all four of the stages and this usually entails stringing together many different solutions. The promise has rarely, if ever, been delivered by one vendor in a seamlessly integrated solution.

With HPE Arubas acquisition of Niara, with its advanced machine-learning based UEBA, combined with Arubas market leading ClearPass family of Admission Control, Profiling and Policy Management, the visibility, intelligence and proactive security that ACD envisions are now delivered in an integrated solution.
In the same way that the number of infected organizations continued to grow, the total payout on the WannaCry ransomware has increased since the widespread attack was first reported.

Somewhat. By comparison, the earnings seem meager when looking at the scope of impact. Overall, the low return on investment indicates that either the majority of those affected are getting security right, or they realize that they are up a creek without a paddle and a payout won't get them any closer to shore.

According to research from Udi Yavo, an Israel-based cyber researcher and co-founder of enSilo, the ROI is relatively low. As of late evening on May 12 UK time, we had only seen a total of 11 transactions totaling about $3.5K.

By end of day May 15, those numbers had jumped to approximately $44,316. In only 24 hours, those numbers changed significantly, reaching an approximate total of $74,184 according to the bitcoin wallets being monitored.

13AM4VW2dhxYgXeQepoHkHSQuy6NgaEb94 - 6.9948511 -> 16.14156882 BTC

115p7UMMngoj1pMvkpHijcRdfJNXj6LrLn - 5.17934856 -> 10.83744744 BTC

12t9YDPgwueZ9NyMgw519p7AA8isjr6SMw - 9.24698597 -> 14.98062824 BTC

enSilo said there are three confirmed wallets, and one more that they know of which seems to be related but it didnt change for several days and contains only 3.25249956 BTC.

It's not wholly surprising that the payouts increased, Yavo said. "An uptick--no matter how small--in payouts was inevitable given the large pool of infected machines. Overall, it's a relatively small fraction of overall infected machines."

Still, there are lots of questions that must be mulled over if security practitioners are to learn from this first globally reaching attack. Surely, there are more to come.

Yavo said, "The potential attack size was quite large and, at the end of the day, $74,184.65 is nothing to complain about, but the bigger question is this: How will the next strains of ransomware try to learn from this episode and adjust their tactics to try and scare up more money?"

Finding an answer to that bigger question will hopefully inform security programs to be better prepared so that enterprises aren't scared into paying the ransom.

If the number of payouts is so low, why does this attack matter so much? Yavo said, I do not think the ransomware authors expected to create so much uncontrolled damage. If they did, then I assume that sabotage was the real target, versus payment."

Another possibility is that the global attention worked against the authors as many experts immediately recommended that victims not pay. Yavo said, "While ransomware attacks use strong psychological plays around fear and extortion, no one wants their business or organization to just cave-in.

There are thousands of businesses that, in fact, did not cave in. Given that there are an estimated 200,000+ organizations infected, this payout seems low. I am no math expert, but my calculations show that approximately 250 companies paid. That's a little more than 1 percent.

To me, those numbers suggest that a lot of companies are doing security right. Yavo said the reason for the mismatch of the malware's virulence and the ROI is simple.

"Many security technologies out there are not effective against attacks able to exploit gaps like the Microsoft SMB vulnerability," Yavo said. Unpatched systems remain a massive problem.

"Even organizations that patch more frequently still need to make sure they not only have strong data back-ups but also practice full restoration for affected systems as well. No user can rely on attack prevention technologies, alone, Yavo said.

There are a couple reasons why the ransom payouts appear. First, said Yavo, with so much visibility, no one wants to bend to the attackers demands. Secondly, it is being reported that even users who do pay are not able to recover their files.

The takeaway for those who chose to pay, said Yavo, is to be certain that they have more advanced security solutions for ransomware prevention. "It is always best to have robust backups, period. Backups are useful well beyond facing ransomware attacks, Yavo said.

Backups, though, are not the panacea. They can reduce damage by allowing for a quicker return to production time with lesser losses, but they don't make a company impervious to future attacks.
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.
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To hear one executive at General Electric tell it, no amount of tax breaks would have kept the conglomerate from leaving Fairfield last year.

If you saw where we were in Fairfield County, it was a morgue, Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Bornstein told The Wall Street Journal in an interview this week. Very little activity. I hated it.

GE announced last year it was leaving its Connecticut home of 42 years for Boston, which Bornstein said offers more vitality and a lifestyle with greater appeal for younger workers.

The company first announced it was considering a move in 2015 amid planned state tax increases. Retroactively raising taxes again on Connecticuts residents, businesses and services makes businesses, including our own, and citizens seriously consider whether it makes any sense to continue to be located in this state, a company statement at the time read.

Bornsteins interview, however, again indicates the company was looking to leave regardless of the tax situation.

From the get-go, we knew we wanted to be in a place that was vibrant and entrepreneurial, where you could walk out your door enriched by your environment and your ecosystem, he said. I can walk out my door and visit four startups. In Fairfield, I couldnt even walk out my door and get a sandwich.

Bornstein, who has been with GE for 28 years, said the companys new home did not offer the most robust financial assistance package. Boston didnt offer the most money, not even close, he said of the $145 million package offered by the city and state. There were others that offered more, but we didnt see the same cultural fit and dynamism that we saw in Boston.

Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau said the town is in a good place even after GEs departure.

One of the unique things about Fairfield is you can find a neighborhood where you can walk to the train, walk to downtown and walk to the beach, he said. Thats unique to Connecticut.

Tetreau downplayed GEs effect on the local economy. They sat in their offices and they didnt go outside to get a sandwich because they went to their three dining rooms, he said. They were in the most remote section of Fairfield. You could say they were barely in Fairfield.

Its not the first time a GE executive has unfavorably compared Fairfields pastoral setting with the bustle of its new home. To look out the window (in Connecticut) and see deer running across, I don't care about that, CEO Jeff Immelt told a Boston audience last year. I want some 29-year-old (graduate of) MIT to punch me right in the nose and say all of GEs technologies are wrong and youre about to lose.

Sacred Heart University, which has its main campus a short distance away, purchased GEs 66-acre campus last year for $31.5 million. GE is currently operating out of temporary office space in Boston, with its new $200 million headquarters scheduled to be completed in 2019.

hbailey@ctpost.com; 203-330-6233
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BRIDGEPORT  A sea of people in black clothes lined the sidewalk on East Washington Avenue between Harriet Street and Noble Avenue to pay their respects to 15-year-old Jayson Negron Tuesday evening.

The line stretched around the corner onto the sidewalk on Noble Avenue soon after services began. There was the occasional person in white or color, but dark clothing dominated the sidewalk from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. outside Funeraria Luz de Paz.

Negron, of Bridgeport, was fatally shot last Tuesday by 30-year-old Bridgeport Police Officer James Boulay. The shooting came after what police said was a brief pursuit of a stolen vehicle. Bridgeport resident Julian Fyffe, 21, was a passenger in the car. Fyffe suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder. State police are investigating.

A close friend of Negrons father, Juan Jay NYZ Negron, and Bridgeport resident Michel Martinez said this is a difficult time for the family, and theyre seeking answers.

The family really needs transparency as the investigation goes on, Martinez said. There needs to be transparency and (we have to) let the investigators do their work. If were jumping to judgment, that makes things tough.

Bridgeport resident Charlie Massino came to the funeral home with several friends in support of their friend who is a cousin of Negron.

Its messed up, Massino said about what happened to Negron, shaking his head.

The scene outside was calm and quiet, but inside was a different story, according to Martinez.

Its crazy in there, Martinez said. The show of support, its like Ive never seen before.

Martinez said some people even appeared to faint being inside and others were brought out back and side doors to get some air. He said there was a lot of emotions, a lot of tears.

People attended the wake to pay their respects from as far as Florida, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, Martinez said.

The website for the Funeraria Luz de Paz said all services would be closed casket and reminded those attending that only immediate family and close family friends on the familys list would be allowed to remain inside the facility.

Others who attended and wished to pay respects waited on the line outside and were filed in through the front door.

(We ask) those patiently waiting outside to pay their respects do so in a timely manner, the employee said. Touch his casket, pay your respects, but please keep the line moving.

In regard to an unauthenticated video that surfaced online that appears to show Negron shortly after the shooting, Martinez said he isnt sure if Negrons father has seen it.

I believe he might have seen it already, but I didnt get into details on it, Martinez said. I wouldnt want to add salt in the wound.

For now, the family just needs time.

Its going to take time to heal, he said. The wounds are going to stay fresh for months to come.
The states police chiefs have fired back at criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union about how Bridgeport Police handled the shooting of 15-year-old Jayson Negron last week.

In a letter sent Tuesday morning, John L. Salvatore, president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, decried what he called the current movement to delegitimize police and to divide communities.

On Monday, the ACLU released a statement, calling out the callous disregard that Bridgeport police officers showed for Jayson Negron during his last moments ... Their behavior was outside the realms of human decency and democracy.

Many questions remain about the death of Negron, fatally shot last week by 30-year-old Bridgeport Police Officer James Boulay. The shooting followed what police said was a brief pursuit of a stolen vehicle Negron was reportedly driving. A passenger in the car, Julian Fyffe, 21 of Bridgeport, was shot in the shoulder during the incident. Fyffe is suing the city for $6 million plus attorneys fees.

The shooting, which is under investigation by the state police, has led to an outcry by those who want more information on the circumstances surrounding the incident, and who believe it sheds light on the need for police reform.

However, Salvatores statement claims reform isnt necessary.

We have a statewide civilian complaint process that appears to work, the statement reads. There has been no sustainable incident of anyone wishing to file a complaint against police who has been denied such right. Salvatore conceded that there are times when mistakes are made or inappropriate behavior by a minority of officers occur, but they are addressed and not swept under the rug, as inferred by the ACLU.

The letter also criticized the ACLU for its characterization of the shooting, and said the chiefs association was astonished that the ACLU, an organization which proposes to fight for justice and civil liberties, denies a police officer the same rights while rushing to judge a tragic shooting death in Bridgeport by calling the event police misconduct before the facts are compiled and the independent investigation is completed and reviewed by a states attorney.

ACLU Connecticut executive director David McGuire said the letter from the police chiefs association is disappointing, but not surprising. Community and police relations in Connecticut are incredibly strained and reactions like this exacerbate the problem, because it shows a lack of willingness to engage in a real conversation around this issue, McGuire said.

He added that the ACLU isnt anti-police, and has happily worked with several police departments to improve relationships with the community.

But the statement from the chiefs association said criticism from groups like the ACLU is a disservice to the people of Connecticut who are being selflessly served by the men and women of the police departments of the state.
The Board of Examiners for Nursing on Wednesday disciplined seven nurses, including five for abusing drugs or alcohol.

The board revoked the license of Hester Munyon, a registered nurse from Norwalk, saying her abuse of alcohol and cocaine poses a danger to the public, state records show.

In April 2015, she was hospitalized for alcohol detoxification and was diagnosed with severe alcohol use disorder and severe cocaine use disorder, records show.

Others disciplined included Enrique Lopez of Washington Depot, who had his registered nurse license suspended. The board said, between September and December, while working at Life Spring Home Health Care of Waterbury, Lopez took a drug used to treat panic attacks from patients, records show. He also failed to properly document medical records and falsified one drug record, the statement of charges against him said.

From June to November, he also took an anti-anxiety drug from a patient and offered to pay the patients cable bill in return for the drug, records show. Lopez is also accused of making inappropriate comments or having inappropriate physical contact with a patient, records show.

The board members also recommended that the state Department of Public Health hold a hearing in the case of Mary Howe of Griswold, a registered nurse who has been accused of inappropriate care of an inmate at York Correctional Institution in Niantic. DPH records show that on Nov. 1, 2014, the inmate bumped her head against a wall and fell out of a wheelchair and suffered a serious brain injury while in the prison medical unit. The inmate was hospitalized in critical care until February 2015 and remains in a long-term care facility, records show.

News reports have identified the former inmate as Amy Rolon, then 36, who was being held before trial on misdemeanor charges of sixth-degree larceny and failure to appear in court. She filed a $7.5 million medical-neglect claim against the state Department of Correction in 2016, the Hartford Courant reported.

A conservator for Rolon settled the case for $780,000 on Jan. 26, Hartford Superior Court records show. Gerald Sack of West Hartford, who was representing the conservator, would not comment except to say the claim has been settled.

Howe attended the meeting with her attorney, Richard Brown, who told the board that Howe has had an exemplary record as a nurse. Brown said Howe has received a positive evaluation at her new nursing job, but after the meeting, he declined to say where she is working.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team ( www.c-hit.org ).
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Here's where to honor Veterans Day in the Bridgeport area

NEW LONDON  A defiant Donald Trump got a reprieve Wednesday from the chaos and palace intrigue of Washington, welcoming aboard the newest crop of U.S. Coast Guard officers as commander in chief.

The president gave a 28-minute commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy, a time-honored tradition dating back to Lyndon B. Johnson.

Trumps first visit to Connecticut as president drew protests and cheers in New London, a former whaling city in the southeastern corner of the state.

It coincided with a rocky stretch for Trump, who has faced intense criticism for last weeks firing of FBI director James Comey and new allegations that Trump tried to squash an investigation into Russias interference in the election. And is was announced Wednesday that the Justice Department has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee its investigation of possible Russian collusion.

Trump pivoted in New London from humorous commencement speaker to the blustery campaigner, blaming the media for his growing pains.

No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly, Trump said. You cant let them get you down, you cant let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams.

Trump disputed that his presidency has been bogged down by controversy, from its rollout of the travel ban for Muslim-majority countries to its Kremlin ties.

I have accomplished a tremendous amount in a very short time as president, Trump boomed. Jobs are pouring back into our country. A brand new Supreme Court justice is going to be fantastic for 45 years. A historic investment in our military. Border crossings are down more than 70 percent in just a short period of time, a total record, by the way, by a lot. Weve saved the Second Amendment (and) expanded service for our veterans.

Nod to the governor

Joining Trump on the dais was Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, an unrelenting critic of the president on the Affordable Care Act repeal, deportation rules for undocumented immigrations and the rollback of environmental regulations from the Obama administration. Malloy removed his sunglasses before the two shook hands.

Trump thanked Malloy for participating in the ceremony and briefly alluded to the states budget crisis.

I know how busy the governors are nowadays, Trump said. Youre out there fighting. Its never easy. budgets are a little tight.

Malloy did not speak and left immediately after the ceremony to return to budget negotiations in Hartford.

Connecticuts two U.S. senators, Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, skipped Trumps visit. Both cited the Senate being in session Wednesday, with votes on the calendar.

Murphy took to Twitter Tuesday to assail Trumps conduct as president.

Just leaving Senate floor. Lots of chatter from Ds and Rs about the exact definition of obstruction of justice,  Murphy tweeted.

Air Force One arrived at Groton-New London Airport around 10:35 a.m. From there it was short ride for the presidential limousine, the Beast, and the rest of the motorcade to Cadet Memorial Field, where Trump was flanked by saluting cadets during his entrance. Interstate 95 was briefly shut down for the presidents arrival and departure.

There was a dearth of the ubiquitous Make America Great Again red caps in the capacity crowd  the stadium holds 4,500 people.

Colin Harrington, 21, a Bentley College student from neighboring Waterford, wore one.

Its funny that theres so many protesters in such a small city, Harrington said. No matter what, I will always be supportive of the president.

Harrington said its premature to write-off Trumps presidency and expressed his support for Comeys firing.

From both sides, were getting some fake news, Harrington said. I think Comey had to go. It was time.

Support and protest

Trump posed for photos with each of the 195 newly commissioned Coast Guard officers as they received their diplomas. Some locals said that was a departure from some previous presidents, who skipped out of the ceremony immediately after their speeches.

The military families in the crowd occasionally interrupted Trump with applause and gave him a standing ovation at the end of his remarks.

I guess thats why we won, he said. Adversity makes you stronger. Dont give in, dont back down and never stop doing what you know is right, Trump said.

Outside the main gates of the academy, a demonstrator held up a sign that said, Make Russia Great Again. Another held up a red iron-cross flag like those identified with pre-Nazi Germany.

Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly introduced Trump.

Take care of your people, Kelly advised. Tell the truth.

This was Trumps second graduation speech of his presidency. Last Saturday, he appeared at Liberty University, a Christian college in Lynchburg, Va.

Trumps last foray into Connecticut came last August, when the New York billionaire made a rare general election campaign appearance at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield in triple-digit weather. Temperatures were over 80 degrees Wednesday, and at least two spectators overcome by heat were removed on stretchers.

The first president to do the honors at the Coast Guard commencement was Johnson, in 1964. It wasnt until Ronald Reagan that a sitting president returned. George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama each carried on the tradition, with Obama sending off Coast Guard ensigns in 2011 and 2015. In between, Vice President Joe Biden did the honors in 2013.

Trump overwhelmingly won Connecticuts GOP primary a year ago April over Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. He went on to lose the state and its seven electoral votes in the general election to Hillary Clinton.

Admiral Paul Zukunft, the Coast Guard commandant, boasted that academy outmuscled its military counterparts to land Trump as graduation speaker.

You are going to be military leaders in a world that has storms on many fronts, he said.

nvigdor@hearstmediact.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
UPDATE: According to the state's attorney, the case against Anthony Guillaro was dismissed.

FAIRFIELD  A complaint about loud music on Fairfield Beach Road Monday night led to the arrest of a Ridgefield man.

Police received a report around 9:40 p.m. May 15 about someone blasting music from 1011 Fairfield Beach Road. The officer could hear the music when he got to the 800 block of Fairfield Beach Road, and when he arrived at the home, the officer found the garage door open. He walked to the rear of the property and saw people on the deck drinking.

Anthony Guillaro, 53, came forward, and said he was the property owner. When informed the officer was there because of a noise complaint, Guillaro cited a town ordinance that referenced noise after 11 p.m. on weekends. The officer told Guillaro there is a zero tolerance policy for loud music after 10 p.m., and even though it was not yet 10 p.m., the music coming from the home was unreasonable and creating a disturbance.

The officer asked Guillaro to turn the music down and also asked for his license. According to the report, Guillaro walked inside the home and turned the music up.

Guillaro allegedly told the officer he was going to make a scene because the officer should never have come up on the deck. The officer called for a supervisor and said that Guillaro then put his hand on the officers chest, as if to push the officer off the deck. The officer pushed Guillaros hand away and tried to put him in handcuffs. Guillaro allegedly began flailing his arms around and there was a brief struggle until the officer could get Guillaros hands behind his back. Guillaro then broke away and when the officer grabbed him, another struggle ensued and the two fell, hitting a table and breaking some glasses that were on the table.

Guillaro had a small cut above his eye from the fall, police said. At that point, police said they were willing to issue a misdemeanor summons to Guillaro at the scene, but he refused to sign the summons and was taken into custody, charged with interfering with an officer and disorderly conduct. At headquarters, Guillaro, who lives on HIgh Ridge Avenue in Ridgefield, refused to sign his fingerprint card.

He was released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Bridgeport on May 30.

According to town records, the home is owned by Phoenix at 1011 Fairfield Beach Road Corp., of which Guillaro is the president, director, and agent.
GRAND FORKS -- Sixty-two names were called out Monday afternoon. Each one an officer killed in the line of duty among agencies serving the Upper Red River Valley going back to 1890. After each agencys list was completed, a rose was added to a wreath and a bell was rung.

The ceremony wrapped up the seventh annual Northern Valley Police Week Memorial Service, which drew officers from agencies across North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty.

Fresh in participants memory was the Jan. 18 death of Rolette County Sheriffs Deputy Colt Allery, who was shot and killed after pursuing a stolen vehicle. Allery is among the 48 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2017. Last year, 148 were killed in the United States.

His sheriff, Gerald Medrud, traveled to Grand Forks for Tuesdays ceremony to mourn the deputy lost to an act of senseless violence.

Dont ever forget the stories and legacies of our fallen officers, Medrud said.

Outgoing North Dakota U.S. Attorney Chris Myers called for law enforcement to remain committed to their jobs despite losses or any perceived negativity directed at officers from the media and public. He encouraged the law enforcement community to find the positive in dark times.

Out of tragedy can come strength and hope, Myers said.

He also thanked Canadian officers for coming in force to the ceremony. The Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police sent a delegation and the Winnipeg Police Pipes and Drums Band played Amazing Grace and other pieces on bagpipes during the ceremony.

Law enforcement from another country standing in solidarity gives us hope, Myers said.

Grand Forks Police Deputy Chief Jim Remer called for officers to watch each others backs on and off the job, highlighting statistics that police officers are twice as likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.

We have to notice when a co-worker is struggling in their life, Remer said. Doing nothing is not an option.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., took to the U.S. Senate floor Monday to honor Allery and Fargo Police officer Jason Moszer, who was shot and killed on duty in February 2016, during the Senates declaration of National Police Week. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., co-sponsored a resolution Monday that commemorates Moszer among the 143 officers killed last year. The resolution also notes the 42 who died in 2017, which includes Allery.
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A generation-wide obsession with avocados is apparently what stands between millennials and home ownership, according to one property mogul.

Australian developer Tim Gurner, who is 35 and worth half a billion dollars, chastised the youths of the world on a recent episode of Australia's "60 Minutes."

"When I was buying my first home, I wasn't buying smashed avocado for 19 bucks and four coffees at $4 each," he said.

"I think until this generation realizes that the people that own homes today worked very, very hard for it, saved every dollar, did everything they could to get up the property ladder [they won't get ahead]," Gurner added.

"You might have to buy an investment property first, you might have to share with mum and dad, you might have to buy with a friend, but you've got to get your foot in the door and you've got to slowly get up the ladder."

Gurner began his career in property development when he was given $34,000 by his grandfather at age 19.

"[Millennials] want to eat out every day, they want to travel to Europe every year," Gurner told "60 Minutes." "This generation is watching the Kardashians and thinking that's normal. Thinking that owning a Bentley is normal, that owning a BMW is normal."

A study by HSBC found that the United States has a millennial home ownership rate of 35 percent. Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia all have lower rates, putting the U.S. about in the middle of the pack.

Sixty-nine percent of the 9,000 millennials in nine countries surveyed said they did not have enough money for a deposit.

HSBC did not follow up with questions about whether their average avocado consumption was to blame.
And the beat goes on

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Just take a look at Bridgeport and its governmental and non-governmental institutions.

If you want to see proclamations of major change, just look to City Hall if you want to see real change, look elsewhere.

Where else in Connecticut would a free people vote in a mayor who served time in federal prison for public corruption? And that corruption was in their own town, not in another far away place.

Bridgeport voters wanted change and they sure got it. We wanted change to move the City forward, and we wanted no more of Finch and his cronies.

In the movie, The Last Hurrah, a clergyman opines, I prefer an engaging rogue to a complete fool.

The voters of Bridgeport agreed.

I remember the reluctance of the distinguished folks in the Greater Bridgeport Regional Business Council. Most of them believed that business would suffer and that Bridgeport would never move forward if Mayor Ganim was returned to office.

It is hard to believe that at their recent business luncheon, where people are charged $100 per plate to learn the state of their city, Mayor Ganim was given a standing ovation. No more shunning the leper.!

Ethics and accountability played a critical role in the campaign to re-elect the current mayor.

During the campaign, one of the mayors more visible props was former FBI agent Ed Adams. His claim to fame was that he helped convict Joe Ganim. Adams described himself as the lead investigator of the federal investigation called Operation Hardball, although two of his federal agent colleagues challenged his assertions that he was the lead investigator.

In the end, it did not matter. His presence helped to sanitize a stained and sullied politician in search of a second chance.

Adams reward was a senior advisor position in the mayors office earning close to $100,000. We were told that this former FBI agent, a beacon of light and accountability if there ever was one, would monitor any forces of corruption attempting to sneak back into the city and, with a wave of his powerful law enforcement sword, destroy the evil enemies. The city was in for real change alright.

The re-incarnation of St. George the dragon slayer was now going to have an office in the Mayors suite.

What a change was in store for Bridgeport, a place some have called the capitol of corruption.

However, no sooner did Bridgeports Ethics Czar, assume his position as a city employee, than his duties changed.

Now he is negotiating contracts with private corporations designed to privatize parking meters in the City. He is presiding over meetings with the powerful titans of Bridgeport business and the not-so-powerful tenants of struggling downtown businesses.

How is that for change?

During his first months in office, Mayor Ganim launched Open Bridgeport, an online portal through which the public will be able to search real time city financial information. Ed Adams, the point person, said at the time, Mayor Ganim has pledged an open, honest and transparent city government. . . This initiative. . . will deliver transparency and establish an easily searchable database for the use of all residents.

Looks like somewhere in the months following the launching of this Open Bridgeport portal, something changed again.

Mayor Ganim and his circle of enablers, recently announced that a bridge had been constructed in City Hall. This bridge is accessible to certain highly perched and privileged city personnel. This selective group of city employees are permitted to connect previous years of service with current service. In this way, they increase their pensions and their benefits.

Connecticut Post scribe Brian Lockhart, in an article published on February 24, 2017, reported that he has made many efforts to obtain the written policy for allowing this bridging of services, but the City has not been forthcoming.

Instead, he was provided with a list of high level officials who gained admittance to this bridge. The list includes David Dunn, personnel director, and John Ricci, Director of Public Facilities and of the newly created Parking Division, to name just two.

The list also includes Mayor Ganim, who as it turns out, was accruing time, while he was doing time.

How is that for change?

Where is our ethics czar when we need him?

George Orwell said it best in his classic fable, Animal Farm; All animals are equal, but some (the pigs) are more equal than others.

As I said, the beat goes on.

Carmen Lopez

Bridgeport
Cuba to create 9 joint ventures to build over 4 thousand hotel rooms

Cubanacan group is currently in the process of establishing nine joint ventures with foreign chains, for the construction of four thousand rooms in Santa Maria del Mar and Santa Lucia, beaches located in Havana and Camaguey provinces, respectively.

According to Maria Isabel Gonzalez, Vice President of the company, the portfolio of opportunities includes 12 other projects that will involve the creation of new joint ventures for the development of hotels in Covarrubias (Las Tunas), Havana and Santa Lucia.

According to Gonzalez, they also promote another 12 proposals under the hotel management contracts modality, which is in line with the intention to raise the standards in the presentation of services of Cuban facilities, in alliance with experienced foreign chains.

Yesterday, during the South American Conference of Investment in Hotel and Tourism (SAHIC), which ends today in this capital city, it was known that in the current year, Cubanacan transferred the management of the hotels Copacabana and Tropicoco , in Havana, to the Spanish firms Be Live and Valentin, respectively.

That Cuban group also extended its relationship this month with Spains Iberostar chain, which will manage 650 rooms more in Santiago de Cuba, Jardines del Rey, and the city of Gibara, in Holguin, presented as a tourist destination in the recent International Tourism Fair.

Created in 1987, Cubanacan owns more than 90 hotels in Cuba, some of them operating jointly with prestigious international chains such as Melia, Blau, Iberostar, Breezes and Blue Diamond.

Official data show that there are in Cuba 25 joint ventures in the tourism area and there are 82 hotel management contracts with 19 foreign managers, for a total of 41,000 rooms, which represents 62 percent of the existing ones.
Some 150 Thousand Mexican Vacationers to Visit Cuba in 2017

The tourism representative at the Cuban embassy in Mexico, Xiomara Martinez said on Monday that close to 150 thousand Mexican vacationers will visit the Caribbean island this year.

According to Prensa Latina News Agency, 136 thousand Mexicans visited the island in 2016, representing a 30 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Martinez added that there is a growing interest among Mexican vacationers to visit sun and beach, heritage cities, participate in cultural, educational, sporting, health and tourism events, among others.

She pointed out that there are 63 weekly flights by Cubana Airlines, Interjet and Aero Mexico, from Mexico City, Monterrey, Yucatan and Cancun while Copa Airlines flies from Puebla with more than 76 percent occupancy.

Xiomara Martinez highlighted that Mexico is the third market in air connectivity to Cuba after Canada and the US.

She recalled that Cuban tour operators sold close to 500 reservations for different destination on the island at the recent Outlet Viaja and Vuela Fair held at the Word Center in Mexico City.

The tourism representative also explained that Cuba has international recognition for its infrastructure and organization of events in convention centers, exhibition halls, and high standard hotels with professional personnel.

Martinez mentioned the over 300 programs are organized on the island thanks to Cubas achievements in science, health, culture, tourism, environment and sports.
A lightning strike at a saltwater disposal facility owned by Oasis Petroleum resulted in a produced water spill in Williams County.

The spill occurred on Sunday, about 15 miles northwest of Williston, and was reported Tuesday. Produced water is a byproduct of oil and gas development.

Initial estimates by Oasis indicate about 325 barrels of produced water were released. Of that amount, 245 barrels were contained to the site, and an estimated 80 barrels were released from the site. No surface waters were impacted.

Personnel from the North Dakota Department of Health will be inspecting the site and will work with the company on remediation activities.

For more information, call 701-328-5210.
Opening dates, hours and new policies set for 2022 ski season

A price increase on all day and season passes at Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain ski areas goes into effect on Nov. 20.
How has Labour come to this?

In its first century of existence, the party often made grievous mistakes  and, yes, this paper has long been among its severest critics.

But during its time in office, Labour could also claim solid achievements in improving the lives of working people, the needy and the sick, earning loyalty in its heartlands and a seemingly permanent place in mainstream politics.

Yet under Jeremy Corbyn, elected thanks to Ed Miliband's crass change in the leadership voting system, the party has abandoned its core supporters, becoming little more than a fanatical cult  likened by one of its own politicians to the Moonies.

Under Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour party has abandoned its core supporters

One glance at its 2017 manifesto (if anything, even more extreme, backward-looking and unrealistic than the draft leaked last week) shows how completely Corbyn's Labour has cut itself adrift from the lives and aspirations of families on whose support it could once rely.

Put bluntly, the document is a blueprint for mass unemployment and national ruin. With its commitments to crippling tax increases and a huge expansion of state ownership and union power, it harks back 40 years to a time when similar policies were tried  and failed catastrophically.

The one kind thing that can be said about this manifesto for mayhem is that it correctly identifies many areas in which there are profound public concerns.

Yes, consumers are sick of being exploited by grasping banks, rail and utility firms  many of them foreign owned  whose bosses help themselves to colossal salaries out of all proportion to their performance.

Indisputably, the NHS is in crisis, there's an acute shortage of affordable homes and families are feeling the pinch after the long squeeze on public sector pay.

Indeed, it is not hard to see why yesterday's Marxist confection may appeal to Corbyn groupies, baying for class war.

Put bluntly, the document is a blueprint for mass unemployment and national ruin

But then most of his admirers seem to belong to a generation  drip-fed Left-wing propaganda by the education establishment  too young to remember the appalling inefficiency of nationalised industries. Nor are they wise enough to know that higher taxes can actually lower the yield for the Treasury  with the result that public services suffer and the poor are hit hardest.

As a programme for running a competitive and humane modern economy, yesterday's manifesto makes no sense at all. But what better can anyone expect from a party whose IRA-supporting Shadow Chancellor lists among his recreations in Who's Who: 'Generally fermenting [sic] the overthrow of capitalism'?

In other words, the man who hopes to take control of the Treasury in less than four weeks is dedicated to destroying the system on which all our livelihoods depend. John McDonnell has even been open in his praise of Venezuela  once the richest country in South America, but now reduced by socialism to the poorest.

No wonder traditional Labour supporters, who would never before have dreamed of voting Tory, are turning increasingly to the only party with a realistic programme for leading the UK through Brexit and beyond.

John McDonnell has even been open in his praise of Venezuela  once the richest country in South America, but now reduced by socialism to the poorest

All of which gives Theresa May both a massive opportunity and a dilemma. By abandoning the mainstream, Labour has given her the chance to create a truly One Nation party, painting huge areas blue. The danger is she may move the Conservatives too far to the Left in her bid to achieve this.

Clearly, she is tempted to do so. Indeed this paper, though her greatest admirer, feels somewhat queasy about her promises on the minimum wage and workers' representation on company boards.

This is why we hope her own manifesto will offer authentically Tory solutions to the problems identified by Labour.

History has proved repeatedly that Corbynism doesn't work. This is her chance to show Conservatism does.
The 24-year-old regularly competes in eating competitions around the world

She posted the video online and it's been viewed close to 20,000 times

The New Zealand beauty demolished a one kilogram burrito in just 95 seconds

Former model-turned-competitive eater, Nela Zisser took on a new challenge

Former model-turned-competitive eater, Nela Zisser, has one again managed to scoff down a giant food item.

This time the 24-year-old from New Zealand chose to demolish a one kilogram burrito as part of the fast food chain, Mad Mex's, 2017 burrito challenge.

Posting the video online, the competitive eater stands proudly before the camera in a booth at the restaurant before bracing herself to eat the burrito.

Scroll down for video

Former model-turned-competitive eater, Nela Zisser, has managed to demolish a 1 kilo burrito in 95 seconds

Before: Nela poses with the 1 kilogram burrito before beginning the challenge to eat it

Armed with several glasses of water to help with the giant meal, Ms Zisser jumps right into it.

With a little encouragement from the person recording, she chows down on the burrito, unwrapping the foil wrapper as she goes.

The weight and size of the burrito is apparent as Ms Zisser fumbles to hold it.

The weight and size of the burrito is apparent as Ms Zisser fumbles to hold it

Armed with several glasses of water to help with the giant meal, Ms Zisser jumps right into it

In amazing time, Nela finished the giant meal in just 95 seconds

Ms Zisser crumples the burrito as she eats it, almost rolling it into a ball to fit in her hands.

Taking breaks to wash down the meal with a drink of water, the young competitive eater proves the burrito is no match for her skills.

95 seconds is all it took for Ms Zisser to demolish the meal, finishing off a strong few months of competitive eating.

Water break! A quick gulp of a glass of water to help wash the food down

Barely there! With the burrito almost finished, Nela is down to the bare remains

After: All done, Nela proves she's devoured the giant meal with an open-mouthed check in front of the camera

The New Zealand university student also ate a giant Easter bunny earlier in the year, finishing the chocolate treat in seven minutes.

'It's getting close to Easter so I thought why not take on a massive Easter bunny,' Ms Zisser said at the time.

Ms Zisser has also taken part in challenges such as the 100 cheese burger challenge, in which she managed to eat 45 in just under two hours and also ate 22 Big Macs in just under an hour.

The New Zealand university student also ate a giant Easter bunny earlier in the year

Amazingly, despite all her eating adventures Ms Zisser still fits into a size six

The 24-year-old visited Sydney last year and entered in a burger eating competition at Goodtime Burgers, where she was videoed demolishing an enormous 'man burger' in just 2.55 minutes.

Amazingly, despite all her eating adventures Ms Zisser still fits into a size six.

She has a healthy following of nearly 10,000 on Instagram and her burrito video has been viewed nearly 20,000 times on YouTube.
A single Australian mum-of-three has gone from living on the poverty line to taking her family to Disneyland, thanks to determination and smart saving.

As her eldest daughter turned 14, Queensland mum JodieAnne Harlow, 46, thought there wasn't much time to make her and her siblings childhood dreams come true.

The dream was not without its challenges, Ms Harlow is a single mother on a disability and aged care assessor income, but she was determined to make the dream come true by working as a family and earning the necessary $10,000 together.

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A single Australian mum-of-three has gone from living on the poverty line to taking her family to Disneyland, thanks to determination and smart saving

As her eldest daughter turned 14, Queensland mum JodieAnne Harlow, 46, (pictured) thought there wasn't much time to make her and her siblings childhood dreams come true

She reigned in help from her three children Christine (now 15), Charlotte, 13 and Sam, 8.

'Christine got a job, the other kids started earning money from outside sources and together we researched intensely for good deals,' Ms Harlow told the Courier Mail.

'We went without, and made do with what we had and tried to spend as little money as possible.'

JOS TOP MONEY SAVING TIPS Working as a team 'It meant we all got on board. So my little family, works and operates like a team. This meant two no spend months. Planning and saving Working to get as much value as we could from each dollar. We worked from our budget, worked out where we wanted to go and then worked out what we could do within those boundaries. Staying focused This trip has been in the forefront of our minds for just over a year. Reminders of the family's goal was posted all over the house and Ms Harlow did a daily intention setting. Advertisement

Eldest daughter Christine was able to contribute $1300 from her wages at a cafe where she worked one day a week, while her younger siblings contributed about $500 each doing odd jobs for friends and family.

Writing about her experience on her blog Mentor Mumma, Ms Harlow said she set out two 'no spend' months, where money only went towards rent, set bills, money, food and petrol for the car.

The family also looked at what they had in the freezer and cupboards and worked out meals from what they already had.

'Now we'll not only visit Disneyland, but Universal Studios, Hollywood, Vegas, Santa Monica and the Grand Canyon,' Ms Harlow said.

'Plus we got tickets to a concert of Christine's favourite Youtuber, Todrick Hall, and we even got seats at a Dodgers game!'

Eldest daughter Christine was able to contribute $1300 from her wages at a cafe, while her younger siblings contributed about $500 each doing odd jobs for friends and family

The mum-of-three was able to surprise her hardworking children about the trip to Disneyland Anaheim via a storybook

Ms Harlow said she set out two 'no spend' months, where money only went towards rent, set bills, money, food and petrol for the car

There were some also practical steps the family took to prepare for their holiday.

'My highschoolers went to their teachers, found out when assessments were due and worked with the staff to get ahead on their school work and make sure things were handed in on time or ahead of time, or extensions granted where needed,' Mr Harlow wrote on her blog.

The family began to get fit and accustomed to LA time by getting up early for walks together, which also helped Ms Harlow find and rectify a foot injury.

'I am so very grateful for everything coming together (including the mindsets, the actions, the extra work , and the actual initial thought to do this trip) so we could make this trip happen for ourselves.

'We did it. So proud. So grateful.'
A teenager who hid her alopecia for nine years has finally embraced her condition by revealing her bald spots in a series of stunning modelling shots.

Corinne Labbe, 19, from Montreal, Canada, was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease at 10 years old and within a month was completely bald.

Doctors said her hair would never grow back, leading Corinne to fear people would think she was 'ugly' or look like an 'alien' - hiding beneath a wig and never discussing her alopecia with friends.

Even when her hair miraculously started to regrow two years later, baffling doctors, she continued to hide her secret by styling her thinner hair to hide hairless areas.

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Corinne feared people would think she was 'ugly' or look like an 'alien' - hiding beneath a wig and never discussing her alopecia with friends - but she has now bared all for a photo shoot

After hiding her alopecia for nine years, budding model Corinne has finally embraced her condition by revealing her bald spots in a series of stunning modelling shots

She never told anyone about her condition, until five months ago, when she started embracing her bald patches by showing them off in modelling shots that she shared online.

Now she hopes to empower others with the condition which affects 1 per cent of the world's population.

Corinne, an aspiring model, said: 'A month after being told I had alopecia, I was completely bald and was told by doctors that my hair would never grow back.

'I really struggled to accept what was happening at first, I became a bit of an introvert because of it and never told my friends. I didn't want to be judged because I had alopecia and feared what people would say.

'I missed a week of school because I refused to leave the house before I had a wig. I was pretty depressed, it was like a massive part of what made me a female was gone.'

Corinne was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease at 10 years old and within a month was completely bald. Doctors said her hair would never grow back

Corinne before developing the condition. She said: 'A month after being told I had alopecia, I was completely bald and was told by doctors that my hair would never grow back'

Corinne added: 'I was so afraid to talk about my condition because I was just a kid and I thought people wouldn't love me if they knew I was different.

'So I hid my alopecia from everyone for nine years, I wore wigs and later developed clever skills to hide my bald spots when my hair started to grow back.

'I lied to so many people around me, even my close friends, they never knew that I had alopecia.

'I didn't want people to look at me different like I was an alien or sick, I didn't want their pity. After my hair started to regrow, I still had areas on my head without hair that would come and go.'

Corinne said: 'I was so afraid to talk about my condition because I was just a kid and I thought people wouldn't love me if they knew I was different.

Even when Corinne's hair started to regrow two years later, baffling doctors, she continued to hide her secret by styling her thinner hair to hide hairless areas and wearing wigs (pictured)

She added: 'I still have bald spots now, they can be as small as a coin but other times they can be large like a side plate.

'But now that I'm older I've realised having alopecia makes you unique not ugly and once you explain to people about the condition they are very understanding.

'I'm embracing alopecia now and I hope that proudly showing my bald spots while modelling will help to educate and empower others with the condition.'

Corinne started wearing wigs to hide her scalp and tried numerous treatments but nothing worked.

Brave Corinne never never told anyone about her condition, until five months ago, when she started embracing her bald patches by showing them off in shots that she shared online

Corinne (pictured during a recent photo shoot) now hopes to empower others with the condition - which affects 1 per cent of the world's population

Until, astonishingly, her hair started growing back seven years ago. Corinne said: 'When I was diagnosed with alopecia and doctors looked at my scalp, they told me there weren't any hair follicles left.

'But progressively my hair grew back, it was a miracle and doctors can't fully explain how it was possible, they have no reason why it grew back.

'I continued to wear wigs for another year, because at first it was weak and thin.'

Despite her hair growing back, Corinne develops bald spots that can be as large as side plates and now is proudly showing them off.

She hopes her courage to model, after being signed by Dulcedo Management, showing her condition will encourage others to have conversations about alopecia.

Corinne now represents Models of Diversity - a charity that aims to showcase figures not traditionally shown in the media

Reflecting on her condition, Corinne said: 'I don't want anyone else to feel the way I did, I want children with alopecia to feel beautiful and worthwhile'

She represents Models of Diversity - a charity that aims to showcase figures not traditionally shown in the media.

Corinne said: 'I used to be shy and introverted because of my alopecia, but since growing up I know I don't want to be that person and I'm not ashamed of it any more.

'We need to start talking about the condition as it shouldn't be a taboo topic, it's important and that's what I'm hoping to achieve with my modelling.

'I don't want anyone else to feel the way I did, I want children with alopecia to feel beautiful and worthwhile.'

For more info visit: www.modelsofdiversity.org
They've gone to extreme lengths to shock in the past, burning an 87K G Wagen and flushing an 8K Rolex watch down the toilet.

But now the Rich Kids of London have angered followers with their latest attention grabbing post, which shows someone using a tiny Maltese puppy to polish as Maserati MC12.

The video posted to Instagram claims that the only way to clean the iconic vehicle is 'with 100% natural puppy fur, ensuring a proper polish'.

The creator of the Rich Kids of London account told Femail: 'I only posted this video as a joke and the dog was not harmed in this video as he was happy and the tail was wiggling.'

However, animal lovers were outraged by the footage, which has clocked up more than 34,000 views on Instagram, branding the act 'abusive'.

In the short clip, laughter can be heard as an unidentified individual rubs the puppy's body in a circular motion on the bonnet of the car.

While the tiny dog appears calm and unflustered, many followers were not convinced.

It was described as 'messed up' and abuse of an innocent puppy, while another said that whoever would do this has a 'garbage mind'.

However, others poked fun at the footage, saying: 'Peta will go crazy now'.

The Rich Kids of London Instagram account has been blasted over footage showing an unidentified individual using a Maltese puppy to polish a supercar

The people behind the account denied claims the footage was abusive and insisted the puppy was happy throughout

Only 50 MC12s were ever made between 2004 and 2005 and originally cost around 500K, but their value is likely to have increased over time because of their rarity.

The Instagram account devoted to the exploit of Britain's wealthiest youngsters is certainly not shy of creating controversy.

They're known for sneering at those less fortune, sharing photos such as a flaming bottle of champagne with the caption: 'Molotov cocktail to throw on the peasants.'

The tiny Maltese dog seemed completely still and unruffled during the act of polishing, but animal lovers were concerned

Laughter can be heard in the background as the tiny dog is used as a cleaning device

Their Instagram account was set up by a 24-year-old property broker for super wealthy clients to share photos of the lavish lifestyles of his friends' and acquaintances.

'I know these wealthy people,' he told FEMAIL. 'I have spoken to them and now I hang out with all super rich kids at most exclusive clubs in Mayfair, Knightsbridge and Chelsea.

'People send me their photos and if I think they're good enough then I will post their submission.

'I set it up to motivate everyone to do well and achieve what they want. I get messages every day from people saying my page has made them work very hard to achieve their dream and want to aim for higher.'

Rich Kids of London has previously caused controversy with footage of a G Wagen being set on fire out of boredom
A mother who suffered horrific burns in a fire pit accident has revealed how the injuries left her homeless and out of work.

Courtney Cosper Waldon, from Georgia, was left with third-degree burns to her face and 40 per cent of her body after gasoline was poured on a campfire in September last year.

The 27-year-old was rushed to hospital and placed in a medically induced coma for a month. Two weeks after she woke up, she was dealt another devastating blow when her husband of two months walked out on her and her five-year-old daughter, Caroline.

Unable to work because of her injuries, Courtney and her daughter soon found themselves homeless and the mother-of-one is now trying to rebuild her life.

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Life-changing: Courtney Cosper Waldon with her daughter Caroline before the accident

Recovery: The mother-of-one suffered third-degree burns in a camping accident and was placed in a medically-induced coma for a month. Pictured in hospital, left, and with Caroline

Courtney said: 'I went from being the very pretty girl, just married, had my life in order to barely being able to dress myself and needing help for everything and having to learn how to do things over again.'

The mother-of-one, who spent 51 days in the ICU after the fire, has undergone laser surgery every month since the accident and has had seven skin grafts. She also had to learn how to walk again.

Each laser surgery has cost $11,000, according to a Go Fund Me set up to help cover her medical bills.

The mom will have to undergo about 12 more surgeries in the coming two years, doctors have predicted.

'It was very hard to come to terms with what happened,' she said. 'The first time I saw myself in the mirror I got sick and almost passed out.

'It was awful and so nerve-racking going out. I got so many stares, people looking like they had seen a monster.

'I am doing much better every day, I still get the stares, but I am still adjusting.'

Newlywed: Courtney, pictured before the accident, was left by her husband of two months

Devastating: The 27-year-old, pictured in hospital, has undergone extensive surgery

Courtney said she remembers 'every second' of the moment gasoline was poured on to the fire pit in September last year.

'I remember being on fire,' she said. 'I dropped and rolled, and finally was tackled to the ground. I was crying out call the ambulance.'

As she started her recovery, Courtney's husband told her he was leaving because he 'couldn't handle her'.

Courtney said: 'It was a slap in the face when my husband left me. I tried and begged him to come back, my daughter didn't deserve it.

'There were definitely times I wanted to give up, but I had to think of my daughter. They didn't bring her to the hospital, so the first time I saw her was when I came home. They brought her over and she was very hesitant and very stand-offish.

'Then when she heard my voice, she came over and gave me a hug. She's been amazing. When I was having trouble learning to walk she would tell me to hold her hand.'

Support: Courtney, left, with her mother Karen and five-year-old daughter Caroline

Future: Courtney said it was her daughter Caroline who kept her going in her darkest hours

Hope: Courtney's relatives first tried to acquire an existing house for the mother and her daughter, but when the deal fell through, they opted to build a new one altogether (pictured)

Progress: Thanks to the donations, workers were able to break ground in March, and the house now has walls and a roof. The mother and daughter are staying with family in the meantime

Without an income and with medical bills to pay, Courtney and Caroline have been forced to leave their home. Both are currently staying with Courtney's mother in Tallapoosa, Georgia, until they are able to relocate to a house of their own.

They are now being supported by donations and the local church so they can build a small home on family land. Courtney's relatives first tried to acquire an existing house for the mother and her daughter, but when the deal fell through, they opted to build a new one altogether.

Supporters have rallied online to help Courtney and Caroline, and have donated $12,827 out of a $20,000 goal so far.

Thanks to the donations, workers were able to break ground in March, and the house now has walls and a metal roof. Companies have helped the project by donating their services and providing materials such as concrete, a heating and air conditioning system, and the roof itself, for free.

In addition to financial support, some people have offered to help in any way they can, with one woman offering to welcome them for a visit to London in the UK.

Courtney has regained hope, and believes one day she will be able to lend a helping hand to others in the same situation as her.

'Every day I get more hopefully, I'm here for a reason,' she said. 'I am hopeful in the future, I hope to help others who have been burned.'
It was a family affair for Norway's royals today as they stepped out in traditional dress for the country's National Day.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were joined by their two children Sverre Magnus, 11, and Ingrid Alexandra, 13.

Even the family Labradoodles Milly Kakao and her daughter Muffin Krakebolle - which translates as Muffin Sea Urchin - weren't left out, with both dogs wearing ribbons decorate with the Norwegian flag attached to their collars.

Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Ingrid Alexandra take care of the family dogs as they join their parents Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit on Norway's national day

Prince Sverre Magnus dotes on one of the family's labradoodle after meeting children from the parade

Prince Sverre was on much better behavoiur this year after struggling to hide his boredom at last year's event.

The youngster was seen yawning and picking his nose as his parents smiled from the palace balcony during the 2016 celebrations.

The annual holiday is always celebrated on May 17 where Norwegians celebrate the signing of the constitution declaring Norway an independent kingdom in 1814.

The national celebrations see parades across the country and stop at the palace for the royals to greet the crowds.

The royal children fuss over Muffin Krakebolle - which translates as Muffin Sea Urchin-

The national celebrations see parades across the country and stop at the palace for the royals to greet the crowds

Prince Sverre Magnus stifles another yawn: Last year he amused onlookers by picking his nose and yawning during the celebrations

Both Sverre and his father wore traditional Norwegian costume known as bunads, which includes white shirts, knee socks and splashes of red.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, usually favours a classic and polished style so her long dark skirt and apron was very much a departure from her customary look.

Princess Mette-Marit's older son Marius was not seen with the family for the celebrations.

The Children's Parade passes outside Skaugum, the royals' home on Norway's national day

Mother-of-three Mette Marit chats to her teenage daughter during the festivities

At the time of her wedding to the Crown Prince in 2001, she was a single parent to a four-year-old son, and is now a mother-of-three.

She has since become widely respected for her charity work and has been a special representative for UNAIDS, a branch of the UN that focuses on dealing with HIV and AIDS.

She also joined the Norwegian aid agency NORAD as an intern, and is a patron of several Norwegian charities, including the Oslo International Church Music Festival and the Norwegian Scouting Association.
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The Spanish royal family couldn't have looked prouder as they joined Princess Sofia, 10, for her first Communion at the Asuncion de Nuestra Senora Church in Madrid.

Resplendent in a mint green coat dress, Queen Letizia gazed fondly at her youngest daughter as they posed for photos outside the church on a sunny Wednesday morning.

Like her sister, Princess Leonor, Princess Sofia was taking part in the ceremony alongside her classmates in a parish church - a move that broke with royal tradition.

The Spanish royal family couldn't look prouder as they joined Princess Sofia, 10, for her first communion. L-R: King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain, her grandmother Menchu del Valle, Princess Sofia of Spain, Queen Letizia's mother, Paloma Rocasolano, Konstantin of Bulgaria, Princess Leonor of Spain, King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and Letizia's father, Jesus Jose Ortiz pose for the photographers before the First Communion of Princess Sofia of Spain at the Asuncion de Nuestra Senora Church

A major social occasion for the Spanish crown, royals traditionally take their first Communion alone at the Palacio Real in Madrid, with nobody else receiving the sacrament at the same event.

The Communion was, nevertheless, a family affair with King Felipe, Letizia's grandmother Menchu del Valle, Letizia's mother, Paloma Rocasolano, Konstantin of Bulgaria, Princess Leonor, King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and Letizia's father, Jesus Jose Ortiz, all joining the young lady on her big day.

Princess Sofia proudly wore her school uniform, whilst her big sister, who is heir to the throne and was a guest on her sister's big day, looked chic in a pleated pastel blue dress and matching Pretty Ballerinas blue pumps.

Queen Letizia, who never puts a sartorial foot wrong, looked chic in an embroidered coat dress, which her husband matched his tie to.

Meanwhile, the Queen's glamorous mother, Paloma, displayed her trim figure in a fitted white suit offset with silver heels.

The two young girls co-ordinated their hairstyles, plumping for half-up, half-down braided 'dos - a look their mother often favours.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia were certainly proud parents as they joined their daughters outside the church on Wednesday

Queen Letizia and her two daughters were three of a kind as they left the church following the service

Queen Letizia stunned in a green coatdress with lace embellishment and her daughters proved their fast growing up to resemble their mother

The Princesses greeted one of their youngest fans, who had made her way to the front of the crowds to shake hands with the famous young royals

Meeting their fans! Princess Leonor of Spain, Princess Sofia of Spain and Queen Letizia shake hands with wellwishers after the First Communion of Princess Sofia

The young ladies, who wore their hair in chic plaits, greeted their fans - old and young - after the service

The young ladies were all smiles as they left the service, which was attended by other members of Princess Sofia's school

Queen Letizia played the doting mother as she waited with her daughters outside the church. The two girls are just a year apart in age and are very much best friends

Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia posed with Queen Letizia's mother Paloma Rocasolano attended the First Communion

Princess Sofia looked smart in her school uniform, whilst her sister looked chic in a blue dress worn with matching blue Pretty Ballerinas pumps

Like her sister, Princess Leonor, right, Princess Sofia, left, was taking part in the ceremony alongside her classmates in a parish church

Royals traditionally take their first communion alone at the Palacio Real in Madrid but the royal daughters have broken with tradition

Princess Sofia proudly wore her school uniform, right, and her sister looked chic in a pleated pastel blue dress

WHAT IS COMMUNION? There are seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. There are three that initiate an individual and welcome him or her into the family of Christ  Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation. Baptism is the foundation of the Sacrament of initiation and frees one from original sin. Confirmation is the second Sacrament of initiation and is a ritual that signifies strengthening of ones faith. Communion is the third and in this Catholics partake the Body and Blood of Christ to be a part of his sacrifice. These three Sacraments serve to confirm, strengthen, and increase ones faith and closeness with the community of Christ. Taken from beau-coup.com Advertisement

The family was last seen together when they celebrated Easter mass in Mallorca last month.

It is one of the biggest celebrations in the Catholic calendar and the Spanish Royal Family kept up their tradition of spending the Easter holiday on the island of Mallorca.

King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters, Princess Sofia and Princess Leonor, made for the picture-perfect family as they arrived at Palma cathedral on the Balearic isle along with Queen Sofia.

It was the first time that Princess Leonor, 11, and Princess Sofia, nine, have been spotted at a public engagement for several months; they are on the island for the family's annual holiday at the Marivent Palace royal holiday residence.

Hundreds of well-wishers were keen to catch a glimpse of the young princesses as they clambered over each other to snap a photo of the young royals on their camera phones.

Before that, the two girls were last pictured together as a family for their annual Christmas card in December.

Fair-haired Leonor, who is first-in-line to the throne, was seen in a grey jumper adorned with reindeer and snowflakes, as she clutches her father's hand, while her younger sister wore a cable-knit cardigan.

Queen Letizia posed next to King Juan Carlos as the pair exchanged a few jokes during the photocall outside the church

Like mother, like daughter! Queen Letizia's mother, Paloma Rocasolano, looked chic in a fitted white suit and silver heels. The stylish grandmother looked young beyond her years

Queen Letizia showed off a youthful and radiant glow with subtly rosy cheeks and a neutral lipstick. It appears that the mother and daughters all visited the same hairdresser ahead of the event, right, all opting for chic plaited 'dos

It seems that Princess Leonor, who is heir to the throne, is following in her mother's sartorial footsteps, opting for a chic pleated dress

Queen Letizia was resplendent in a mint green coat dress and stilettos, whilst her husband was dapper in a suit and coordinating tie

The family-of-four arrived ahead of everyone else and pose for snaps with their daughters

L-R: Queen Letizia poses for a snap with Juan Carlos; the royal shows off her youthful and radiant glow; Queen Letizia proves she has plenty in common with her father-in-law as they share a joke

The girls haven't made a public appearance since Easter, when hundreds of well-wishers were keen to catch a glimpse of the young princesses as they clambered over each other to snap a photo of the young royals on their camera phones

King Felipe sported his signature silver beard as he left the church with his well-dressed family

Paloma proved to be a proud grandmother as she smiled widely at her youngest granddaughter on the momentous day

King Juan Carlos and Queen Letizia of Spain were in fine spirits as they attended the First Communion of Princess Sofia at the Asuncion de Nuestra Senora
Bristol Palin's newborn daughter Atlee Bay is only a week old, but she is already sharing in her mom's love of shopping.

The 26-year-old mom took her youngest child to Magnolia Market, Chip and Joanna Gaines' home goods store in Waco, Texas, on Tuesday, and she seems thrilled to have another daughter to share her interests with.

'Girls day to @magnolia today,' she captioned the Instagram image, which sees her holding Atlee's car seat in the crook of her arm.

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Look of love: Bristol Palin took her one-week-old daughter Atlee Bay shopping at Chip and Joanna Gaines' home goods store in Waco, Texas, on Tuesday

Little angel: The 26-year-old mom said she is in 'heaven with another girl' in the family

Despite only giving birth last week, Bristol looks well-rested and relaxed in a gray cotton dress and a green cargo jacket.

The mom's hair is piled on top of her head in a messy knot, and she accessorized her casual shopping outfit with aviator sunglasses and white slip-on sneakers.

Bristol couldn't resist posting another close-up up image of Atlee sleeping on her Instagram Stories, writing: 'In heaven with another girl.'

The image sees Atlee fast asleep in her car seat with a headband featuring a bow on her head.

Bristol's husband Dakota Meyer, 28, also took to his Instagram page to share a photo of Atlee sleeping in her car seat.

'Such a big miracle in such a little girl,' he captioned the precious picture.

Dakota went on to share a snapshot of himself cuddled up with his youngest daughter, writing 'Dad life' on Instagram Stories.

Sound asleep: Bristol's husband Dakota shared this photo of Atlee Bay on Instagram

Doting dad: The 28-year-old father noted that Atlee is 'such a big miracle in such a little girl'

'Dad life': Dakota also posted this image of himself holding Atlee on his Instagram stories

Bristol celebrated her newborn daughter turning one week old on Monday by penning a candid blog post about Atlee Bay's birth and her family's move to Texas.

The mother-of-three confirmed in a post on her Patheos blog that she and Dakota welcomed their youngest daughter on May 8, while revealing the family has permanently moved to a suburb outside of Austin, Texas.

'My littlest baby is a week old today!' she wrote on Monday. 'I feel like its flown by  but also feel like shes been here all along. She was born May 8th, weighing 7 lbs and 4 oz, measuring 20 [inches] long with a lot of dark hair!'

Bristol is also mom to one-year-old Sailor Grace, her eldest daughter with Dakota, and eight-year-old Tripp, her only child with her high school boyfriend and former fiance Levi Johnston.

And she insists that delivering her third child was actually very easy on her thanks to how much support she got from her husband and the hospital staff.

'Her birth was a breeze, we had the best doctor/nurses imaginable, and Dakota did amazing!' she explained. 'He held my hand, took care  and encouraged me the entire time, I could not have a more supportive husband.

'My girls!' Bristol shared a photo of Atlee Bay with her one-year-old sister Sailor Grace on Monday

Happy family: Bristol spent Mother's Day with Dakota, their daughters Sailor and Atlee, and her son Tripp, her only child with her former fiance Levi Johnston

'This pregnancy has strengthen our bond and made our relationship stand even firmer on the foundation that we have proudly built up for our little family.

Bristol went on to admit that she had been wanting to write an update about her life for months before explaining that she and her family had moved from her home in Wasilla, Alaska, where her parents, Sarah and Todd Palin, and her four siblings still live.

'When Dakota and I got married, we both agreed that we would meet in the middle and move somewhere to dig our roots in a mutual, new, place,' she explained. 'We decided on Texas, and I couldnt be happier!

'The kids love it too. The new house is just in time for Dakota and me to celebrate our wedding anniversary,' she added.

Bristol and Dakota said 'I do' in a secret ceremony before they announced their marriage last June, and according to the mom, life has never been better.

'I feel like my life has never been this normal. Its been so wonderful and I give all the thanks to my husband,' she wrote. 'He has shown me really what the definition of love truly is.

Having a blast: Bristol and her family have been living in a suburb outside of Austin, Texas, since March, and she recently confirmed that they are staying there permanently

Cooling off: Both Bristol and Dakota have been sharing plenty of photos and videos of their children enjoying the warm Texas weather

'He really is the most selfless man  and has been my rock through everything this past year.'

At the end of her post, Bristol detailed how welcoming her third child has changed the 'whole dynamic' of their family,

'Our baby girl (Sailor) is not a baby anymore!' she noted. 'I feel like it was just overnight  she went from our baby girl  to a toddler!

'It is so sad how fast life goes by, but so fun to see her growing up at the same time. She loves her little sister and just wants to help us with everything

And while she admitted that Sailor is 'still a little rough' with her baby sister, she insisted 'it is all out of love'. However, she gushed that Tripp is fantastic with his half-sister.

'Tripp has always been the best big brother, he has a heart of gold. He has become a pro at this point, this is his 4th little sister,' Bristol wrote, explaining that his father Levi has two daughter, Breeze Beretta and Indy Rae, with his wife Sunny Oglesby.

Doting aunt: Piper, who was visiting from Alaska, spent time in the pool with Sailor Grace

Auntie! Piper met baby Atlee for the first time during her second visit to Bristol's new home

She added: 'He loves our new addition just like I knew he would! I am so thankful for the babies God chose me to mother. It has been the best title I couldve ever been given.'

On Monday, Bristol also took to Instagram to share darling photos of her daughters, including one of Atlee sleeping in her stroller.

'First shopping trip with mom and @piper.p,' Bristol captioned the image, which sees the little girl fast asleep.

Another image sees someone holding a sleeping Atlee in front of Sailor, who is sticking her tongue out while sitting in her high chair.

Bristol wrote, 'lol I love this pic - my girls,' before prompting her followers to check out her latest blog post.

It has been a whirlwind week for the mother-of-three, who celebrated Mother's Day with her husband, her children, and her 16-year-old sister Piper Palin on Sunday.
On Foxs hit show Empire, Taraji P. Hensons character Cookie Lyon is known for her larger-than-life personality. Secretly-filmed videos show that her wild antics continue off-screen, too.

In a video compilation posted to YouTube, Hensons Empire co-stars Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Y. Gray can be seen secretly filming Henson, 46. The clip, which has 2.7 million views, is comprised of videos originally posted to Smollett and Gray's Twitter accounts. The two capture her rapping, dancing, and even catching some shut-eye on set.

When Henson realizes she is being recorded, she springs into action and demands that her co-stars stop filming. I hate you! she screams, either tackling the cameraman or storming off in a huff.

Just playing! Jussie Smollett (left) has repeatedly pranked his Empire co-star Taraji P. Henson by secretly filming her when she's least expecting it

In on the joke: Bryshere Y. Gray, another Empire star, has also pulled similar pranks on Henson

The video, which was originally posted in 2015, was recently trending on YouTube once more - perhaps in anticipation of the two-part season three finale, which will air on Wednesday night.

Smollett and Gray both play Henson's sons on Empire, and clearly they prank her just as though she were their real mother.

In one scene from the video, Smollett records Henson from afar while she and a friend listen to music on a pair of headphones.

Henson appears deeply involved in the music, dancing and singing along to every word, while Smollett grins into the camera, awaiting the fateful moment when Henson looks up and sees his phone recording.

The second Henson catches wind of her co-stars prank, she rips the headphones out of her ears and can be heard asking her friend to, hold this, hold this, before storming through the crowd and attacking her co-star, leaving the camera swirling before eventually shutting off.

Another hilarious scene shows a glammed-up Henson as she readies for the 2015 Emmy Awards in a luxurious bathroom.

The moment of truth: In the clips, Henson is unaware she is being filmed - but the second she realizes what is happening, she springs into action

Scene-stealer: Henson has won numerous accolades for her role as the feisty and glamorous Cookie Lyon on the hit show Empire

She's got the moves! Henson can be seen singing, dancing, and rapping before she realizes she is being filmed

While the camera rolls, Henson lets loose in front of the mirror, rapping along to the 1985 Doug E. Fresh classic La Di Da Di.

When Henson finally realizes her antics are being caught on camera, she stands up straight and promptly shuts the bathroom door without another word, leaving the unseen cameraman on the other side of the room howling with laughter.

One clip even shows Henson relaxing on set. In full hair and makeup, Henson appears to be napping while the Empire crew bustles around her.

Smollett, ever-ready with the camera, film the spaced-out Henson. When she blinks her eyes open, there's a moment of confusion as she takes in the scene.

Then, without warning, she springs forward. 'I hate you! No!' she shouts. Smollett can only laugh as she scrambles for his phone.

In on the joke: Though the clips show Henson reaction angrily to being secretly filmed, the prank appears to be all in good fun

A knowing smile: Smollett can't help but beam as he pranks Henson, who plays his on-screen mother, as he knows her hilarious reaction is about to come at any second

The rumor mill: The Empire set seems to be one of the most drama-filled in Hollywood, with rumors flying about off-screen feuds and rivalries

The recurring prank appears to be all in good fun, though, with Henson laughing through her demands that her co-stars turn their cameras off.

Since the show's debut in 2015, the cast of Empire has become notorious for their behind-the-scenes antics. Creator and writer Lee Daniels told the Hollywood Reporter that things get bats*** crazy' on set.

Most recently, rumors swirled that Henson and guest actress Nia Long were feuding on set  so much so that the crew had to film their scenes separately. However, a representative for Henson has completely denied the claims. Still, the backstage drama only fuels the high-stakes stories that Empire has become so famous for.

Whether it be co-star drama, or just some good old-fashioned pranking, Empire certainly seems to be one of television's liveliest sets.
High street clothing company Pull & Bear has come under fire from its customers after equating a UK size ten to a large dress size.

The controversy was noticed by Twitter user Hollie who was browsing the ASOS website where the brand is stocked.

While shopping for a floral crop top and short combo available from the Spanish brand Hollie noticed the unusual sizing guide.

Pull & Bear have come under fire after a customer noticed that the high street brand considered a size ten to be equivalent to a large dress size

The items were only available from as extra small to large with a large being the equivalent of a UK size ten.

An extra small was equivalent to a size four, a small to a six and finally a medium was a UK size eight.

Clearly in disapproval of the size guide illustrator Hollie took to Twitter to share a screen grab of her discovery captioning her tweet 'U wot m8'.

Twitter user Hollie noticed the controversy while shopping on the ASOS website where the brand is stocked

Everyone who responded to the tweet was in agreement that the sizing needed addressing

Since sharing the tweet just a few hours ago it has already received more than 370 likes and has been retweeted over 120 times.

Everyone who responded to the tweet was in agreement that the sizing needed addressing.

Many were concerned that the company were promoting a negative body image for women.

One user named Maeve McQuillian revealed that she had previously struggled with an eating disorder and requested that the company rethink their sizing - while critricisng other highstreet stores such as Zara for a similar approach.

One user named Maeve McQuillian revealed that she had previously struggled with an eating disorder and requested that the company rethink their sizing

She later added that according to Pull & Bear standards the UK average dress size of a 16 would be their equivalent to an XXXL.

While Pull & Bear are yet to respond to their backlash ASOS tweeted Maeve directly writing: 'Sorry to hear this Maeve. We understand how you feel. We've passed the feedback on to the relevant team'.

MailOnline have contacted Pull & Bear and ASOS for comments.
A young woman who called off her wedding just weeks before the big day was scheduled to take place has been praised after turning the heartbreaking split into a blessing for some local hospital volunteers.

Jenna Yorkovich, 23, was supposed to get married on Friday in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to fiance Jesse Wellman before she made the difficult decision to call off the wedding seven weeks ago.

But in addition to working through the emotional distress of the situation, Jenna was also left to deal with a non-refundable wedding reception at the Nicollet Island Pavilion, complete with full catering.

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Hi fives: A woman who broke up with her fiance seven weeks before her wedding donated her reception to the Ronald McDonald House

Turning things around: Jenna Yorkovich (right), 23, was supposed to get married on Friday in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Instead of just letting the venue and food go to waste, Jenna had an idea.

She got in contact with Ronald McDonald House, which supports the families of sick children, and asked them to help her turn the sad day into a happy one.

Speaking to news station WCCO, Ronald McDonald House CEO Jill Evenocheck explained: 'We received a call two weeks ago of a bride who canceled her wedding and offered her wedding to us as any way that we saw fit.'

Jenna herself works at a children's hospital, so she knew firsthand the importance of organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, and just how hard their volunteers worked.

Bringing happiness: The reception at the Nicollet Island Pavilion with full catering, was non-refundable

A new guest list: So instead of letting the day go to waste, Jenna reached out to the charity and asked if their volunteers could use it

She said: 'It was just making the best of the situation I was in. Looking at the positives and knowing I could help a bunch of other people and show the support to them.'

The organization decided to take Jenna up on her offer, inviting more than 175 volunteers to enjoy the food and celebrate together.

Some families who had been helped by the charity also attended the event, which would normally be something Ronald McDonald House would not be able to afford.

According to news station Kare, Jenna got up during the festivities and gave a speech for those in attendance.

Paying tribute: Jenna works at a children's hospital, so she was familiar with the great work of Ronald McDonald House

A happier day: More than 175 volunteers came along to celebrate, as well as a few families who had been helped by the charity

'I feel like I gained a whole other family with Ronald McDonald now and I cant wait to volunteer my time with them. Its a different form of love and Im so grateful for it,' she said.

Jenna's father John Yorkovich, was also in the room and talked about the 'love' he felt in the room, adding that he is 'very proud' of his daughter for what she did.

Jenna will also be making the most of her non-refundable honeymoon to the Domincan Republic, taking her mother instead.
On their big day, most brides opt to adorn themselves with tulle, lace, and silk. Yet one young woman has created a completely unconventional wedding gown constructed entirely out of Styrofoam.

The dress features an intricately designed bodice, a halter neckline decorated with rosettes, and a flowing train comprised of interlocking circles. Needless to say, it's absolutely one of-a-kind.

Alyssa Hertz, 18, is the young designer behind the dress. She created the unique frock as part of an independent study project at her high school in Copely, Ohio, where she is a senior.

Fit for a princess! Ohio student Alyssa Hertz, 18, designed and crafted this unique wedding dress completely out of Styrofoam

A masterpiece: The incredibly-detailed creation was part of an assignment for Hertz's art class, in which she creates clothes out of unconventional materials

No detail spared: The dress features a rosette-filled halter neckline, a textured bodice, and even a sprawling geometric train

A closer look at the dress reveals precisely how the Styrofoam cups, plates, and bowls were used to create shape and texture. The weaving design of the bodice appears to be crafted out of the ribbed edges of Styrofoam plates. The skirt is fashioned from a blend of cup, plate, and bowl bottoms.

Plate edges were used to create a texture around the hem of the skirt that cleverly resembles pickups. As for the train, the circular rims of plates were left in tact and interlocked to create a geometric fan that Rei Kawabuko would be proud of.

Hertz, an aspiring fashion designer, has crafted clothing from unlikely materials in the past, such as a cocktail dress out of newspaper, and a necklace constructed from nuts and bolts.

When art teacher Antoine Pastor presented Hertz with the Styrofoam-based assignment, Hertz admits to being a bit puzzled. 'I was kinda stuck before I figured out what I wanted to do,' she told Today.

'I couldnt imagine how I could make Styrofoam into a dress, because its such a stiff material.'

A challenge worth overcoming: Hertz admits that Styrofoam was a tricky material to work with, as it is prone to cracking and melting

Unique! Previously, Hertz has created other clothing and accessories out of materials that can only be described as unconventional, such as this bolt necklace and newspaper dress

A bright future: Hertz aspires to be a professional fashion designer, and will begin honing her craft when she attends Kent State University this fall

Indeed the construction process proved to be tricky, as the Styrofoam cups, plates, and bowls that Hertz used were prone to cracking at the slightest touch, or melting when Hertz used a hot glue gun to fasten pieces together.

Still, the aspiring designer persevered and ended up completing the project in just two weeks. She said the rosette-covered neckline ended up being one of the most time-consuming elements.

Hertz cites the television shows Say Yes to the Dress and Project Runway as being two key sources of inspiration for her throughout the design and construction process.

Though Hertz's high school career is about to come to a close - her dreams of becoming a fashion designer are just getting started. In the fall, Hertz will begin attending Kent State University, where she will major in fashion design.

Someday, the young creative hopes to follow in the footsteps of designer Paolo Sebastian, an Australian designer known for his gowns, and one of Hertz's greatest influences.
Many a couple with kids have clashed over one of them using the term 'babysitting' for when it's their turn to look after the little ones.

But for one dad who was left to helm the ship after his wife went on a work trip, he was sure to make things clear: he is no babysitter.

Jeremy Martin-Weber of Portland, Oregon, has gone viral after sharing a lengthy post about getting on with his fatherly duties, beginning with a photo of his wife heading off to catch a plane.

On her way: A man's post about his wife going away for a work trip, leaving him to look after their six children alone, has gone viral

A real team: Jeremy Martin-Weber of Portland, Oregon, revealed that the mother of his children, Jessica, was going 'out of town, out of state, for work for the next several days'

'Jessica, the mother of our six children, is boarding an airplane as I type, headed out of town, out of state, for work for the next several days,' he wrote.

Now, he added, it was time to 'figure out who' would be taking on everything that comes with raising six children, including everything from comforting them when they have nightmares, to reading them stories, and even helping his teen daughters with their 'feminine problems'.

To answer that burning question, Jeremy simply stated that the person in charge of all these important duties will be: 'Me.'

'Because I'm not the babysitter. I'm not just their playmate,' he wrote. 'I'm their dad.

Making a stand: Jeremy described how it was now time to 'figure out who' would be taking on parenting duties, answering that question with a simple 'me'

All the girls: 'Because I'm not the babysitter. I'm not just their playmate,' Jeremy wrote about his six daughters

'And looking after them and guiding them and caring for them is my responsibility. And I love it - with all of its challenges.'

He went on to explain that the house wouldn't 'fall apart' or end up 'trashed' simply because dad was going to be on his own with the kids.

He also insisted that a dad should never receive 'special praise' simply for looking after his children.

Getting crazy: The touching post has been shared on Facebook more than 1,000 times

'I'm just doing what every parent should do, and what moms do every day without praise or adoration,' he said.

'It is enough that the mother of our children and I communicate our appreciation to each other for all the things we do for our family.'

Jeremy's touching post has since been shared more than 1,000 times on Facebook and gained more than 3,000 reactions - not to mention hundreds of comments praising his words.
Edging nearer to the Perspex incubator, I peered at the tiny, wrinkled creature inside. I was intrigued and bewildered.

On a white towel, her arms by her head and skinny legs splayed out to the sides, she looked like a small pink frog relaxing on a sun-lounger.

A few feet away in a separate incubator, an identical little creature was lying helpless, her little chest pulsating rapidly under a tangle of wires.

These were my precious twin daughters Martha and Charlotte, born two months prematurely due to a life-threatening complication with my pregnancy.

Is this proof a Caesarean makes it harder to bond with your baby? Journalist Jill Foster, 38, longed to be a mum, but when her twins arrived she felt empty  and shes not alone

Apart from a few brief seconds where Id seen them hoisted  bloody and bleating  from my caesarean incision, this was the first time Id set eyes on them since their birth 24 hours earlier.

Because they were premature, theyd been whisked to the special care baby unit at Kings College Hospital, London, and would spend the next 17 days there.

While my husband Robin had been able to sit with them and take pictures, Id had no chance to meet them properly as Id been taken to recovery with dangerously low blood pressure. I was later transferred, without my babies, to the maternity ward.

Meeting your little one for the first time is supposed to be a magical moment. Certainly as I was taken to the unit in a wheelchair, I felt my heart quicken  but it was with panic.

As I looked at the babies, I waited in vain for the rush of love that was supposed to be infusing my body. What kind of terrible mother was I if, at this once-in-a-lifetime moment, I could observe them only with the same detached curiosity I might have for an exhibit in a museum?

It was deeply unsettling, not least because I didnt feel enough emotion to be upset by my reaction.

Yet it transpires that this is not unusual. Experiencing an emotional vacuum straight after giving birth is something plenty of mothers who have had caesareans go through  we just dont like to talk about it because we fear it makes us look like bad mothers.

'Experiencing an emotional vacuum straight after giving birth is something plenty of mothers who have had caesareans go through  we just dont like to talk about it because we fear it makes us look like bad mothers'

'It was deeply unsettling, not least because I didnt feel enough emotion to be upset by my reaction'

But last month, BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast presenter Rachel Burden broke the taboo.

The 42-year-old mother of four revealed how she felt completely detached from her youngest son Henry when he was born nine weeks early last year.

She had been rushed to hospital suffering from pre-eclampsia (a potentially fatal rise in blood pressure thought to be linked to problems with the placenta) and had an emergency caesarean.

Talking about the aftermath, she said: I felt protective towards Henry, but completely detached from him. I remember seeing this tiny purple scrap of a creature, shown to me very briefly and then thrust into a plastic container, and all the doctors swarming over him, and thinking: My God, thats my baby.

I didnt really feel love for this scrawny creature. I only felt relief that he was breathing and anxiety that he was out there on his own far earlier than he should have been.

In fact, as many as a third of mothers experience difficulty bonding with their babies, no matter how they have given birth, according to research by the National Childbirth Trust

Explaining that she found it harder to bond with Henry than she had with her other three children, who were all delivered naturally, she added: Theres this idea that a caesarean is the easy option, but its not remotely the easy option.

I can relate to every word. Even now, nearly five years on, I feel terribly guilty about my initial feelings towards my daughters.

In fact, as many as a third of mothers experience difficulty bonding with their babies, no matter how they have given birth, according to research by the National Childbirth Trust.

Whats more, one in ten of us is too embarrassed to talk to a health professional about it.

With the rate of caesarean births in the UK around 26 per cent, one in four pregnant women can expect to have a baby operatively. And there may be some evidence that new mothers who have caesareans have bonding issues.

When listening to their own baby crying, the mothers who had given birth by caesarean showed lower levels of activity than those who had given birth naturally

In one small study, researchers gave mothers MRI scans around three weeks after giving birth and monitored brain activity as they listened to three recordings: the sound of their own baby crying, a different baby crying and simulated crying noises.

When listening to their own baby crying, the mothers who had given birth by caesarean showed lower levels of activity than those who had given birth naturally.

When listening to their own baby crying, the mothers who had given birth by caesarean showed lower levels of activity than those who had given birth naturally

The comparative lack of response was put down to missing out on the hormonal priming of oxytocin, which prompts a mum to want to cuddle, kiss and feed her baby, all of which help her to bond.

The study was hardly extensive, but the initial findings do make sense. If you have a caesarean, youre also more likely to miss out on skin-to-skin contact with your baby straight after birth (also thought to trigger oxytocin), which may contribute to feelings of detachment.

While NICE guidelines say all women should be encouraged to have skin-to-skin contact with their baby after birth, this is not always possible after a caesarean.

f you have a caesarean, youre also more likely to miss out on skin-to-skin contact with your baby straight after birth (also thought to trigger oxytocin), which may contribute to feelings of detachment

Studies have also shown this long recovery time makes caesarean mums a third more likely to suffer from post-natal depression

After all, it is major abdominal surgery and mothers are advised to avoid lifting even a kettle during the first few days, let alone their baby.

Studies have also shown this long recovery time makes caesarean mums a third more likely to suffer from post-natal depression.

Midwife Rachel Fitz-Desorgher, author of Your Baby Skin To Skin: Learn To Trust Your Babys Instincts In The First Year, says its little wonder that many mums find caesareans can have some negative outcomes in terms bonding with their babies.

Having close, skin-to-skin time with a newborn baby has been shown to be so important for helping women succeed with breastfeeding, settling the newborn babys heart rate and breathing, reducing a babys crying and for improving bonding, she says.

Midwife Rachel Fitz-Desorgher, author of Your Baby Skin To Skin: Learn To Trust Your Babys Instincts In The First Year, says its little wonder that many mums find caesareans can have some negative outcomes in terms bonding with their babies

Happily, most units in the UK have responded to the NICE guidance and encourage skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth wherever possible.

Tori Gabriel, 34, was shocked by her lack of emotion for her daughter Lexie after she gave birth by planned caesarean in February 2015.

Shed been advised to avoid a natural birth as her three-year-old daughter had been a big baby and a difficult birth.

I knew what that rush of love feeling was like because Id experienced it with Jessica and was looking forward to having it again with Lexie, says Tori, a bookshop supervisor from Ramsgate, Kent.

But because she was hooked up to so many wires, Tori was unable to hold her new baby immediately after birth, so doctors passed Lexie  whose full name is Alexandra  to Toris husband, Steve, 42, first.

Steve put her by my face so I could see her, says Tori. But at that point I couldnt touch her.

Tori Gabriel, 34, was shocked by her lack of emotion for her daughter Lexie after she gave birth by planned caesarean in February 2015

I remember saying Its my little Alexandra and I smiled and said I love you, but actually I felt nothing and that scared me. It was about three hours later that I got to hold her and I wonder if that had something to do with the feelings that followed.

I put my initial emotion down to the drugs, but later that night, as I was trying to get her to breastfeed, she kept crying every five minutes. I began to wonder if she couldnt latch on because I didnt love her as much as my other daughter.

I felt horrid and was crying and it really worried me. I even said to one of the nurses: Shes a really cute baby, but its like shes nothing to do with me.

Thankfully, the nurse told me that bonding can take a while. She said not to listen to the TV or soaps where women love their babies straight away. She was right.

It was probably two or three weeks later that I began to feel something for her. I remember singing to her and feeding her and thinking: Yes, this is more like it. 

I felt horrid and was crying and it really worried me. I even said to one of the nurses: Shes a really cute baby, but its like shes nothing to do with me.

In the UK, planned caesarean rates are around 11 per cent, while 15 per cent of mums have emergency operations.

Some doctors suggest the circumstances around the birth  the trauma and fear of a sudden dash to the operating theatre and a baby whisked to a special care unit  all contribute to problems later on.

Certainly, for mothers like me and Rachel Burden, who go for many hours  sometimes days  without touching their babies after the birth, the effects can be devastating.

Tracey Needham, a 33-year-old weight-loss consultant from Plymouth, was so underwhelmed by her feelings for her son Ethan after he was delivered by emergency caesarean in September 2011 that she needed counselling six months after his birth.

It was worrying because I began to think the love would never arrive, says Tracey, who is married to Peter, 38.

Some doctors suggest the circumstances around the birth  the trauma and fear of a sudden dash to the operating theatre and a baby whisked to a special care unit  all contribute to problems later on

Ethan was a much-wanted baby and Id loved being pregnant and Id even loved being in labour. But when things started to go wrong, I was whisked off to theatre and given a general anaesthetic.

One minute I was in labour, the next I was waking up and Peter was holding our son all dressed and ready to go home. That rush of love you read about all the time on mummy groups on Facebook and in magazines just didnt happen. I looked at Ethan and thought: Hmmmm, its a baby. But he could have been anyones.

We took him home and for the first six months, I fed, bathed and clothed him, but it was the bare minimum. I did all the stuff new mums are supposed to do, but Id put him down and look at him and think: If he wasnt here, would I even be bothered?

Emotionally I felt empty, and I feel terrible saying that now, but its true.

Some doctors suggest the circumstances around the birth  the trauma and fear of a sudden dash to the operating theatre and a baby whisked to a special care unit  all contribute to problems later on

I didnt breathe a word about it to the health visitor. Id been warned by friends to say that everything was fine because no mother wants anyone to think she isnt coping.

Six months after giving birth, a friend suggested to Tracey that she should seek counselling.

It was great simply to be able to express my thoughts and hear the counsellor tell me it was perfectly normal, says Tracey.

Society tells mothers they should feel a certain way after giving birth, and the fact I didnt made me I feel like such a failure.

I remember crying in bed one night after reading something on the internet about bonding and thinking: Why dont I feel like this? 

Around ten months after Ethans birth, Tracey began to feel the enduring love for him she feels today.

But because she was hooked up to so many wires, Tori was unable to hold her new baby immediately after birth, so doctors passed Lexie  whose full name is Alexandra  to Toris husband, Steve, 42, first

Ethan and I couldnt be closer now. Even if hes gone away for a day with my parents, I miss him like mad and love him to bits.

But mothers need to be more honest with each other about how sometimes you dont fall in love with your baby straight away.

Dr Ellie Cannon, author of Keep Calm  The New Mums Manual: Trust Yourself And Enjoy Your Baby, says that mums shouldnt panic if they dont feel a bond immediately.

We need to move away from the idea that bonding just happens instantly when a woman has a baby, she says.

Social media  whether its an Instagram picture of Miranda Kerr breastfeeding her baby or friends posting their pictures on Facebook  is only perpetuating a filtered myth of what motherhood should look like. Its not the reality.

The idea of bonding is quite new in psychological terms, and there isnt great evidence that theres any negative impact on the relationship if a mother doesnt bond with her baby the moment the infant leaves the womb.

I knew what that rush of love feeling was like because Id experienced it with Jessica and was looking forward to having it again with Lexie, says Tori, a bookshop supervisor from Ramsgate, Kent

Bonding is like falling in love with a partner, its a slow build-up. But if a new mother has hormones rushing through her, as well as the physical changes after pregnancy and perhaps the baby blues, they are all are going to contribute to her worry and guilt.

Happily, today my daughters and I couldnt be closer. Over the 17 days that we spent in the special care baby unit, I had many hours to get used to them.

Delivered on the dot Only 4 per cent of women give birth on their due date Advertisement

The nurses would lift their tiny bodies out of the incubator and tuck them down my vest top so I could experience that precious skin-to-skin care.

I learned how to breastfeed and slowly, the love I felt for them began to seep into every fibre.

I remember visiting the unit around four days later and Martha seemed unwell and weak. The love I had for her at that moment  the desire to protect her and keep her safe  made me realise I did have feelings for my girls after all.

Now I couldnt love my gorgeous little girls more and weve more than made up for those first few hours and days in masses of kisses and cuddles.

It didnt happen instantly. But now I know thats OK. We just needed a little extra time.
Elderly patients are more likely to die if they are looked after by an older doctor, research suggests.

Scientists found that pensioners seen by a doctor over 60 had a higher chance of dying within the next 30 days than if they were treated by a doctor under 40.

The Harvard University researchers worked out that if 77 patients were seen by an older doctor there would be one extra death than if they were all treated by a younger doctor.

The study suggests older doctors' medical knowledge may be outdated.

Elderly patients (stock photograph) are more likely to die if they are looked after by an older doctor, research suggests

Doctors over 60 tend to do more research or teaching and devote less of their time to treating patients.

Interestingly, the study found that doctors over 60 who saw high numbers of patients were no less safe than younger ones. But overall, elderly patients were more likely to die within 30 days if treated by an older doctor.

Although the research was carried out in the US, statistics from the UK suggest trends are very similar.

The latest data from the General Medical Council shows doctors over 50 are much more likely to be complained about.

Some 19 per cent of male specialist doctors over 50 have a complaint lodged against them compared to just 12 per cent of those under 50.

The statistics are similar for female specialist doctors with 11 per cent of over-50s being complained about compared to 7 per cent of younger colleagues.

The Harvard study looked at the records of 736,537 elderly hospital patients in the US treated by 18,854 doctors of all ages.

It found that 10.8 per cent of patients treated by a doctor under 40 died within 30 days.

Doctors over 60 tend to do more research or teaching and devote less of their time to treating patients (stock photograph)

This rose to 11.1 per cent if they were cared for by a doctor aged 40 to 49 and 11.3 per cent for a doctor aged 50 to 59. Some 12.1 per cent of patients died within 30 days if treated by a doctor aged 60 or over, the British Medical Journal reports.

The researchers concluded that 'within the same hospital, patients treated by older physicians had higher mortality than patients cared for by younger physicians, except those physicians treating high volumes of patients.'

All doctors have to prove they are still fit to practise every five years, a process known as revalidation. But some experts say older doctors should go through this process more frequently.

Study leader Dr Yusuke Tsugawa said: 'Scientific knowledge, technology, and clinical guidelines in medicine change regularly, and it may be overwhelming for older doctors to keep up with those changes and incorporate those in their clinical practice.'

Patients who research their ailments online can improve their healthcare, a study shows.

Researchers from the University of Leuven in Belgium surveyed 718 patients aged 18 to 75 who frequently looked up symptoms online, often referred to as 'Dr Google'. More than half (57 per cent) said the knowledge they gained from the internet gave them more confidence in their GP.

The study also questioned nine GPs about patients who looked up symptoms online. Eight of them said it had a positive impact on the patients' healthcare.
A baby boy born weighing just over 1lb is the world's tiniest baby to have successful heart surgery.

The yet-to-be named baby was born at just 28 weeks at a government-run hospital in Udaipur in the state of Rajasthan in India.

Measuring the length of a palm, the baby's eyes, lungs and skin were undeveloped, leaving him too fragile to touch.

He was also suffering from a condition, known as Patent Ductus Arteriosus, where the two major blood vessels of the heart are connected, which led to him having breathing problems.

Yet, at just two weeks old, doctors performed a milestone operation in an intensive care unit after he failed to respond to medication and was too delicate to be moved to a specialist centre.

An unnamed baby boy is the smallest ever to survive heart surgery, weighing just over 1lb

WHAT IS PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS? Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a heart problem that occurs soon after birth in some babies. In the US, it affects around eight in every 1,000 premature babies and two of out every 1,000 full-term infants. In PDA, abnormal blood flow occurs between two of the major arteries connected to the heart. Before birth, the two major arteries the aorta and the pulmonary artery are connected by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus, which is essential for fetal blood circulation. Within minutes or up to a few days after birth, the vessel is supposed to close as part of the normal changes occurring in the baby's circulation. In some babies, however, the ductus arteriosus remains open. This allows oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix, which can put a strain on the heart and increase blood pressure. Medication or surgery is required to treat the condition. Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Advertisement

Dr Sunil Jangid, who performed the surgery at Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital in Eklingpura, India, said: 'Normally the connection between the arteries remains 'til the foetus is in the mother's womb.

'It automatically disconnects after childbirth. If it doesn't, it has to be treated with medicines.

'In this case, when the infant didn't respond to medicines, heart surgery was the last option.'

The operation was particularly challenging as the baby was so weak he could not be touched.

Dr Jangid, said: 'The baby weighed merely 470g (1.03lbs) at birth and was just the size of a palm.

'Operating on an infant, especially when he is so tiny, is very challenging and risky as the body parts are extremely premature.'

Dr Sanjay Gandhi, who was also involved in the procedure, said: 'There were many risks involved like respiratory distress syndrome, brain/lungs internal bleeding, feeding intolerance, developmental problems.'

Despite the risks, the doctors made the decision to operate in the hospital's intensive care unit, as moving the baby could have been life threatening.

Special miniaturised surgical equipment was used and the baby survived against all the odds.

His father, known just as S P Jain, says his son's survival is nothing short of a miracle.

He said: 'He is so brave that he has survived so many odds with such low weight. Our prayers have been answered.'

Born at just 28 weeks, he had undeveloped skin, eyes and lungs, as well as connected arteries

The condition caused him breathing problems and forced him to have surgery despite its risks

Miniaturised surgical equipment was even required to ensure the doctors did not touch him

The baby survived the operation against all the odds, making him the smallest ever to do so

His father describes him as 'brave' and says all of the family's prayers have been answered

As he was to fragile to be moved, doctors (pictured) performed the operation in intensive care
Thousands of children may need to be re-tested for lead poisoning after a study revealed standard tests may not be accurate.

There has been a huge surge in the number of people infected with chemicals in the last three years, particularly in Flint, Michigan, where the entire water supply was contaminated.

In a desperate attempt to measure and control the crisis, medics used four standard tests to assess lead levels in patients' bloodstreams.

However, a new CDC and FDA report released on Wednesday warns all four of those tests may give results that are too low when used to measure lead levels in blood drawn from a vein.

The FDA believes the issue may date to 2014 - when the Flint crisis began.

Flint, Michigan, has been the poster child for water contamination since the issue arose in 2014. Lead seeped into the water and nearly 8,000 children are believed to have been exposed to lead poisoning. Pictured: A woman holding up unsafe Flint water in 2015

Children under six and pregnant and nursing women may need to be retested.

The agency says the company's tests shouldn't be used for blood samples from a vein.

Both agencies say women and parents should ask their doctor whether they need to be tested again.

Lead exposure is particularly dangerous for infants and young children. It can cause serious long-term health problems.

The news comes just a week after a report revealed America may be facing a water crisis since nearly 30 million people have been drinking contaminated tap water.

Every state in the nation has breached the Safe Drinking Water Act combining in 80,000 safety violations affecting 77 million people's drinking water.

A report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that 15 percent of those offenses were health-based contamination, including lead, copper, arsenic or cancer-causing poisons.

These pollutants can lead to liver and kidney damage, cancer and birth defects. Lead exposure is especially detrimental to children with possible learning disabilities and damage to the central nervous system.

The most at-risk for having a contaminated water supply system were those in small rural communities of around 500 people. This made up 70 percent of the reported offenses.

Although Flint, Michigan, has been the focal point for critically unsafe water, the problem is more widespread, the report claims.

The crisis in Flint has been ongoing since 2014 when the city switched its supply to a local river instead of relying on Detroit's water in effort to save money.

Soon after the change, residents began to complain about the smell and it was revealed that lead had contaminated the water supply.

Some 8,000 children are believed to have been exposed to lead poisoning since the scandal, which has drawn national attention and led to criminal charges against six state employees.

Lead poisoning poses a large threat to infants, children and pregnant mothers. Women who drink contaminated lead water can harm the fetus by reduced growth and premature birth.

Adults can be affected by cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure, decreased kidney function and reproductive problems, according to the EPA.

The people of Flint reported skin rashes and hair loss from drinking the tainted water.

They were so concerned about the health repercussions, several stopped showering and relied on wipes instead.

Human skin does not absorb lead in water.

In 2015, 18 million people's water supply had lead violations, according to the NRDC.

In addition to lead begin found in water, other pollutants were found across the nation.

In 2016, a Harvard University study found that more than six million people were drinking water with deadly toxins.

Drinking this water could lead to cancer, obesity, high cholesterol and may be linked to reproductive impacts such as miscarriages and birth defects, the findings claim.

In the recent report, there were often failures to report the serious contamination levels and 90 percent of the violations were subject to no formal action.

The NRDC also reports there is anywhere from six to 10 million water service lines made of lead and need to be replaced.

The report comes on the heels of President Trump's proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency's budget for next year, including $600 million cut to water-related programs.

Money also was being taken from the EPA's enforcement budget, which would mean these violations would be harder to correct in the future.

Consuming contaminated or unsafe water is dangerous for humans but the dirty water also poses a threat to crops and livestock.

Vegetables and fruit exposed to contaminated water pose a risk to people who eat them.

They could contract a food-borne illness. Some of the bacteria spread through water within the United States include E. coli, Salmonella and hepatitis A virus, according to the CDC.
There may finally be proof that grandparents spoil children rotten.

A new Chinese study claims that children who live closer to their grandparents are more likely to be obese.

The researchers said this was because there were fewer opportunities for family members to dote on the children by over-feeding them.

A new Chinese study claims that children who live closer to their grandparents are more likely to be obese than those who live further away

Conducted by the University of Birmingham in England, researchers examined the region of Guangzhou, in southern China to compile their data.

Culturally, a chubby child is seen as a symbol of health, prosperity and success in China.

Grandparents are often tasked with looking after the younger generation in rural communities.

The combination of these factors lead young ones in the care of elders more likely to be overweight than those who live further away from grandparents.

Around 15 percent (or 30.43 million) of Chinese children and teens are overweight or obese, according to the study.

Dr Bai Li, from the University of Birmingham, said: 'Childhood obesity is a global public health crisis - particularly in China, yet the health of children who migrate with their parents to major Chinese cities has rarely been explored.

'It is clear that an important step towards preventing the rise of obesity in migrant children is understanding the perceptions of parents, grandparents and teachers on the causes of childhood obesity.'

HOW INCOME RELATES TO OBESITY In low-income families in America, there is a higher chance of obesity. According to the Population Reference Bureau, there is a direct correlation to socioeconomic status and obesity. Nearly 37 percent of adults are obese and 17 percent of children. Adult blacks have the highest percentage of obesity at 48 percent. They are followed by Hispanics at 42.5 percent. Hispanic children are the most likely to be obese at 22 percent followed by black children at 20 percent. Both blacks and Hispanics are among the poorest racial groups in the county. African-Americans have a poverty rate of 24 percent and Hispanics have a poverty rate of 21 percent. Researchers have found those with lower incomes typically buy cheaper food with a long shelf-life. These foods have higher rates of calories, fats and sugars, which contribute to obesity risks. Advertisement

The Chinese study looked at migrant children who moved away from their rural-area family members to a more urban setting.

Researchers said the country was seeing a large-scale migration of families moving to cities for economic reasons.

These migrant children are still at risk of becoming overweight due to lack of parental supervision and eating unhealthy food.

Experts have investigated the link between income and obesity in both adults and children.

Findings from 2014 support British researchers who have long ago warned that youngsters from less affluent and educated households would find themselves caught in the obesity trap.

In the last decade the problem has started to decline in those from middle class backgrounds while continuing to rise among those from poorer families.

Harvard researchers said that low-income families are less likely to own a car which means they are prone to buying processed foods that are higher in fat and sugar with a long shelf-life.

In the United States, 17 percent of children and adolescents are obese, according to the CDC.

The center also reported the prevalence of obesity was higher among Hispanics at around 22 percent, followed by blacks at almost 20 percent, then whites at nearly 15 percent.

The proportion of obese Asian children was drastically lower in America than in China at 8.6 percent.

In addition to the several risk factors obesity can lead to, researchers said children who were struggling with their weight could be bullied at school.

The British Psychological Society found in 2010 that obese children were the most likely to struggle with low social status among their peers.

A recent study by Ohio State University in Columbus showed children who have a consistent bedtime routine and limited screen time had a lower risk of being obese.
No one has ever accused the Pakistani army of intellectual brilliance. But no one expected it to make two tactical blunders in the space of a few days.

The first error was the cold-blooded murder of Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz by Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, armed, funded and trained by the Pakistani army.

This egregious stupidity will alienate Kashmiri youth whom Rawalpindi has spent years and crores to subvert into stone-pelting India-baiters.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat (front left) leading a team of army officers during a visit to forward areas in Kashmir

The brutal torture and murder of 22-year-old Fayaz, a Kashmiri and proud Indian Army officer, rips the mask off Pakistan.

Young Kashmiris now see, if they hadn't already, the face of a nation so immersed in its enmity towards India that it will treat Kashmiri youth as collateral damage.

Local Kashmiris' support for Pakistan will never be quite the same again.

Kidnapping

The second tactical error committed by the Pakistani army was to kidnap Kulbhushan Jadhav from the Iran- Balochistan border, put him on trial in a military Kangaroo court, find him guilty of espionage, and sentence him to death.

Several consequences will now follow. First, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), after its initial hearing, will adjudicate on the matter.

In the meantime, the Pakistani army will use the fig leaf of its amendment restricting the ICJ's jurisdiction on national security.

The amendment was rushed through on April 29, 2017, by Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, after India sought consular access to Jadhav an unprecedented 16 times.

Indian Army personnel standing guard during a crackdown at a village in Shopian district in South Kashmir

By internationalising its dispute with Pakistan for the first time since a 1971 reference to the ICJ, India has broken away from the stubborn insistence on bilateralism in its relations with Pakistan.

I have long argued that there are key strategies India must adopt to defeat Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir and support the freedom movement in Balochistan.

As I wrote: 'Pakistan craves equivalence with India. It recognises it can't claim parity economically, militarily or diplomatically. The only way it can do so is to engage India in a permanent, low-intensity conflict.

'A part of this strategy is plausible deniability while inflicting damage on Indian soldiers, police and civilians. Pakistan's rehearsed script: attack, deny, engage.

Now is an opportunity for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a strong public statement on Pakistan-abetted terrorism and take questions from the media.

'This is the time to assert his leadership. The statement must spell out the government's broad intent and strategy on Pakistan.

'It need not disclose details of any covert operations on Pakistani soil that may or may not be under planning. But unless Pakistan is made to pay, it will not stop.'

The incarceration of Jadhav and the murder of Lt Fayaz present India with an opportunity to turn the situation around in the Valley, where anger against the Indian security forces is real but where Pakistan's role is now seen with increasing suspicion.

Murdered: 22-year-old Fayaz was a Kashmiri and a proud Indian Army officer

Trust

The Indian government must move quickly across three fronts. First, deliver in full the flood relief funds promised three years ago. A government that doesn't keep its word to its own people is not a government that deserves to be trusted.

The Modi government must not fall into this trap. Bridge the trust deficit, don't widen it. Second, focus on the Kashmir economy.

Today the state lives off the annual subsidy of over Rs 25,000 crore the Centre gives it.

Much of this goes into the wrong hands. Development in the Valley is abysmal. The government must invest in the Valley, first through public sector units and then incentivise private sector companies to invest, provide jobs to youth and refurbish infrastructure.

Holding the final GST Council meeting of 32 state and Union Territory finance ministers in Srinagar this Saturday is exactly the kind of confidence building measure the Valley needs to integrate itself with the rest of India's economy.

Opportunity

Just four days after the murder of Lt Fayaz, 2,000 Kashmiri boys and girls (yes, girls) turned up for a physical and written exam for the post of sub-inspectors in the Jammu & Kashmir police.

The desire for a better life is strong among Kashmiri youth. Pakistan-paid stone-pelters are in the minority.

But the PDP-BJP government's ham-handedness has allowed a narrative to gain currency that implies the opposite.

Now that the Pakistan army has shown the Kashmiri people its real terrorist face by torturing and murdering an unarmed young Kashmiri army officer, public opinion in the Valley will shift. India must seize the moment.

Third, use this opportunity to change the narrative. The horrors of life in Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (POK) must be highlighted.

Is that the alternative home Kashmiris seek? In conversations with ordinary Kashmiris, the common refrain is they want neither India nor Pakistan, just independence.

On digging deeper, Kashmiri youth concede that greater autonomy within India is actually their preferred choice.

Pakistan sentences Indian naval officer to death after military court finds him guilty of working as a spy

The lessons for the Indian government from the Jadhav and Fayaz tragedies are several.

Focus on two. First, don't hesitate to internationalise disputes with Pakistan. As a terror sponsor, it is Pakistan which has most to lose when global adjudication forces the world to condemn it.

Second, keep your promise to the Valley: funds, investments, jobs. Kashmiri stone-pelters are paid by the ISI by the day.

Wean them away into real jobs by investing in the Valley's atrophied economy.

These are the author's personal views
It was the most important day of Ashok Yadav's life.

Sitting at the mandap, the 24-year-old groom from Banda was just moments away from tying the knot with the woman his family had selected for him.

The wedding venue was full with guests from both families waiting for the blushing bride to arrive.

It was the most important day of Ashok Yadav's (right) life. The wedding venue was full with guests from both families waiting for the blushing bride to arrive (pictured - Ashok before he was captured at gun-point)

Without warning an SUV stopped at the main entrance. What happened next was nothing short of a scene from a Bollywood masala flick, but with a twist.

Workplace romance

Arriving in an SUV, the angry woman pointed a pistol at the groom and told him to get in (file pic)

The groom, Ashok Yadav worked at a private clinic in Banda when he fell in love with a colleague. Ashok promised to marry the woman.

However, after a few months into their affair, Ashok started to avoid the woman as his family had fixed his marriage with another girl in the neighbouring town of Hamirpur.

Despite several attempts, the girl failed to meet Ashok as he cut off all ties with her.

The spurned lover then found out about Ashoks arranged marriage to another woman.

Furious over Ashoks betrayal, the woman decided to take matters into her own hands.

On the night of May 15, just when Ashok was preparing to take the wedding vows, an SUV stopped at the main entrance of the marriage venue.

Ashoks former girlfriend along with three armed men walked straight into the wedding hall.

The jilted lover is then reported to have taken out a pistol, pointed it towards Ashok and asked him to sit in the SUV.

She threatened the guests of dire consequences if anyone tried to stop her.

Before anyone could understand what was happening the woman fled from the scene with Ashok.

Hamirpur ASP Brajesh Kumar Mishra said the police is investigating the incident and a search operation has been launched to locate Ashok and the woman.

The DCP of the area says the abduction was pre-planned. However, police have had no success so far in finding the couple.
With the Army expecting a surge in infiltration attempts and attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, security forces are getting help from national agencies such as National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) in tracking the activities of terrorists across the border.

The government is also reviving the technical cells of the Jammu and Kashmir police, which have the capability and permission to track suspected mobile phones in the Kashmir valley where terrorists have become quite active since last year, Army sources said here.

The NTRO has been quite active in tracking the communication of terror operatives across the border and the effort has been enhanced in wake of the intelligence inputs that a number of small groups of terrorists have been sitting along the Line of Control (LoC) at many locations, the sources said.

Army working with National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) in tracking the activities of terrorists across the border

Sources said the presence of terrorists in some of the locations along the LoC has also been picked up by the NTRO and the technical intelligence gathering capabilities have been strengthened by the agency there.

Jammu and Kashmir police teams are also reviving their technical cells which were tracking terrorists in a major way before the valley saw a rise in protests after the elimination of terrorist Burhan Wani and mobile networks and communication were banned for a long period there, the sources said.

With a long break in the use of mobile phones, a number of terrorists and their sympathisers changed their numbers and a precious way of keeping a track on the terrorists was lost.

'Now with mobile networks back, the local police teams have started working and they are sharing their data with the Army and also providing actionable intelligence to us on many occasions,' a source said.

Army personnel during an anti-militancy operation aimed at targeting militants who have been hiding and striking against security forces, in South Kashmir's Shopian district

Army sources said the force used the technical intelligence also to track down the murderers of Lieutenant Umar Fayaz who was killed by terrorists recently.

Sources said the security forces had gathered some specific inputs through both human and technical intelligence about those terrorists but they seem to have managed to escape from that particular area.

Meanwhile, Union defence minister Arun Jaitley and army chief General Bipin Singh Rawat reviewed the security situation in Srinagar with local commanders and other stake holders on Wednesday evening.

Sources said the meeting focused specially on bringing back normalcy in South Kashmir area as the area has seen an increase in the number of terrorists of both local and foreign origin in the last year.

With an increase in number of terrorists, local commanders are in favour of increasing the number of troops to handle the situation, sources said.

The region may also see a reshuffling of troops from relatively peaceful areas to the South Kashmir area as the force is now carrying out more of clear and search operations to prevent the open movement of terrorists in the villages and hinterland, they said.
A day after India Today exposed how Pakistan is funding Kashmiri separatists to foment anarchy in the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir finance minister Haseeb Drabu said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police are probing the issue.

'I can't disclose the details at the moment, but things have moved pretty swiftly. J&K Police have been asked and NIA has also been roped in.

So in the next few days, you will see more action (against separatists),' PDP leader Haseeb Drabu told India Today.

India Today TV went undercover and found top Kashmiri separatists admitting that Pakistan has financed mob violence, stone pelting and school burning

In the sting operation, top Kashmiri separatists can be heard boasting about burning down schools and government institutions to spread unrest in the Valley.

Caught on camera are Hurriyat's provincial president (Geelani Faction) Naeem Khan, Tehreek-E-Hurriyat's leader Gazi Javed Baba and JKLF Chairman Farooq Ahmed Dar (Bitta Karate).

As their nefarious plans have been revealed, the sting operation has jolted the administration into action now.

According to a top minister in the cabinet, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has been apprised of the India Today report and she has been following all developments throughout the day.

Even as deputy CM Nirmal Singh from coalition partner BJP has promised action, the Centre has decided to intervene directly.

In the sting operation, top Kashmiri separatists can be heard boasting about burning down schools and government institutions to spread unrest in the Valley (pictured - Students raise slogans while throwing stones in Kashmir)

Singh said Union defence minister Arun Jaitley will discuss the issue with Mufti on Thursday morning.

But given the fact that both alliance partners have spoken in different tones regarding engagement with separatists, the India Today report revealing their real faces could be a turning point for the state government as well.

'I don't see anything rocking the boat, but there will be stress and strain on any coalition given the situation.

For now, I think it's stable,' Drabu said, admitting that the Hurriyat tapes were an eye-opener for the state government as well. 'It has now been established from the horse's mouth.

While the fact that separatists receive money from Pakistan is well known, but that it's been used for pelting stones and burning schools is a revelation for us,' Drabu added.

'It's not about from where, but how it is being used. The money that is coming is from an illegal source,' he further said.
Neil Woodford, one of Britain's most celebrated fund managers, has scoured the UK market for some Brexit bargains to add to his record-breaking flagship fund.

The CF Woodford Equity Income Fund has seen an influx of new holdings, most notably Lloyds Banking Group - but not without the complete disposal of Woodford's old favourite holding: GlaxoSmithKline.

Woodford is known in the investment sphere for his penchant for the healthcare sector, so the sale of the UK's biggest drugs company, a position he has held in various funds for more than 15 years, is particularly surprising.

Celebrity fund manager Neil Woodford has raised eyebrows in the investment sphere by disposing his old favourite holding GlaxoSmithKline and buying a stake in Lloyds Bank

The stock was the fourth largest holding in his equity income fund as recently as 31 March, according to FE Analytics, an investment analytical tool.

In a strongly worded blog post on the investment house's website simple entitled 'Glaxit', Woodford said that neither growth or shareholder value had met his expectations.

He added that with the exception of the company's HIV franchise, ViiV, it's remaining three business units - its core pharmaceuticals division as well as consumer healthcare and the vaccines divisions- had been 'perennial underperformers'.

However, despite lauding the performance of Viiv, Woodford flagged the emergence of US biotech company Gilead, which is developing a treatment that, he said, threatens to undermine Glaxo's 'hitherto robust' market position in the sector.

He also bemoaned the fact that his past calls to split the GSK into separate, more specialised business units were ignored.

'In the event of a breakup being pursued, I would have viewed a dividend cut as a tolerable consequence of such a positive outcome for shareholder value more broadly,' Woodford said.

'My base assumption now, however, is that Glaxo remains a healthcare conglomerate with a sub-optimal business strategy, and shareholders face a cut to the dividend. These characteristics do not appeal to me as an investor.'

Woodford ended a three-year hiatus from the UK banking sector with the Lloyds share buy

He has used the proceeds of the sale to help bankroll its the purchase of 200m of shares in Lloyds which is known for its simple business model compared to traditional banks in terms of offering savings and mortgage products as its core products.

It is now the 11th biggest position in the manager's 10billion UK equity income fund, which smashed the record for the biggest fund raised for an open-ended investment company or unit trust by raising 1.6bn during the initial offer period before launch in June 2014.

Woodford discussed the banks at a briefing before the launch of his most recent fund, Woodford Income Focus.

He said that he had not invested in the financial sector since the crisis as he did not believe that it was back in health.

The fund manager said that he still felt some banks did not fit the healthy bill but that he was considering at least one as an investment. The key to spotting a healthy bank he said, was not the institution or the Government claiming it was back on track, but whether it was behaving as a bank should and growing lending, particularly to businesses.

He could not reveal at the time which bank he was considering, but many guessed that the most likely candidate was Lloyds.

In a separate but linked blog post, Mitchell Fraser-Jones, head of investor communications at Woodford Investment Management, said the UK banking sector has been slow to rehabilitate from its savaging doing the financial crisis, but things are beginning to look up.

He added: 'Importantly, that process now appears to be largely complete in the UK, as evidenced by the recent pick-up in bank lending activity and, although the banks will likely continue to rebuild capital, the domestic banking sector looks more attractive as an investment proposition than it has in many years.'

Investment in the British bank marks, a significant strategic shift for Woodford who hasn't held banks in his portfolio since 2003 - aside from a brief flirtation with HSBC in 2014, according to Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at fund supermarket Hargreaves Lansdown.

'Selling out of banks was one of the big calls Neil Woodford made which protected investors from the worst ravages of the financial crisis, and reaffirmed his reputation as an outstanding fund manager.'

What are Woodford's new holdings? 1. Lloyds Banking Group 2. Barratt Developments 3. Taylor Wimpey 4. Watkin Jones 5. Eurocell 6. Topps Tiles 7. British Land 8. Hansteen 9. Londonmetric 10. Sirius Real Estate 11. Softcat 12. Micro Focus 13. Card Factory 14. Eddie Stobart Logistics

'Of the UK listed big banks, Lloyds has made the most progress, and now looks like a safe stable bank with the potential to pay investors a handsome level of dividends.

'The bank is heavily plugged into the UK economy though, so any domestic shocks will take their toll.'

'We believe Lloyds is the most attractive banking stock in the Footsie. It has a lower risk profile than its peers, and a better grip on costs, while the huge costs of PPI compensation finally seem to be disappearing in the rear view mirror.

'The fact the Government is close to cashing in the last bit of its stake in the bank is also a positive, as this eliminates a big seller in the market putting downward pressure on the share price.'

Woodford has also bought into housebuilding, property and construction stocks, which reflects his bullish - investment jargon for optimistic- approach to the domestic economy.

In a video in the same blog, Woodford said the pessimistic outlook for the UK economy shared by some investors and uncertainty of Brexit negotiations has resulted in 'very big' share price falls in some domestic cyclical sectors - and thus creating investment opportunities.

He added that the portfolio adjustments do not represent a complete shift in his investment philosophy.

Patrick Norwood, an insight analyst for funds at Defaqto said the CBOE Volatility Index, which measures market expectations of near-term volatility, has been low in recent times adding: 'It would appear that Woodford is looking to take advantage of low volatility to take on more risky assets.'
Lloyds Banking Group confirmed this morning it has been fully returned to private hands nearly nine years after the Government bailed it out at the height of the financial crisis.

It was reported last night that the Government had decided to sell off its final tranche of 638.4million Lloyds shares accounting for 0.25 per cent of the company, marking the end of a troubled chapter for the group which began with the financial crisis of 2008.

Shares in the bank are trading up 1.5 per cent this morning to 71.2p.

The Government had decided to sell off its final tranche of 638.4 million Lloyds shares, which account for 0.25 per cent of the company.

Lloyds said the taxpayer had made a profit of 894million on the original 20.3billion of cash put in to save the bank during the peak of the crisis. At one point Lloyds was 43 per cent owned by the state.

Chairman Lord Blackwell said the sale 'marks the final step in the rescue and rejuvenation of Lloyds Banking Group'.

'The combination of our strong financial performance and the progress we have made towards our strategic priorities has enabled over 21.2billion to be returned to the Government, more than repaying the amount that taxpayers invested,' he added.

The bank also pledged to support households and businesses as part of the 'Helping Britain Prosper' plan, including a promise to create 8,000 apprenticeships by 2020, lend 10billion to first-time buyers and 2billion to small firms this year, as well as helping 100,000 start-ups get off the ground.

The taxpayer has made a big profit on the stake the government took in Lloyds during the financial crisis.

'As widely anticipated, the UK Government has now completed the selldown of its 20.3bn "investment" made during 2009, to zero,' noted Investec analyst Ian Gordon.

'As discussed in our report, "Glad it's all over?" in practical terms, this immediately removes the technical drag on the share price of Government share sales of up to 15 per cent of the average daily volume.

'We do not anticipate any consequential change in strategy. Lloyds is already a "recovered" bank with significantly enhanced dividend-paying capacity. Let the good times roll!

'We were more than a little surprised, and disappointed, by Chancellor Hammond's decision to announce the recommencement of Government share sales on 7 October 2016.'

'The shares closed at 52.5p that day, considerably below our view of fair value. Be that as it may, we see the tax-payers' loss as investors' gain  the shares have already rallied by 34 per cent in the intervening period. We believe there is further to go,' Gordon added.
JD Wetherspoon's Brexit-backing chairman has urged the Government should be obliged to give EU members living in Britain the right to stay following the country's exit from the bloc.

Tim Martin said such a move would give PM Theresa May the 'moral high ground' from which to create an immigration system similar to that of Australia, Singapore or New Zealand.

He commented: 'Since virtually no one wants hard-working immigrants from the EU to leave the UK, the Government should start by unilaterally granting them the right to stay.

Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin has asked the Government not to bother negotiating a new trade arrangement

'Their efforts benefit our economy, we have low unemployment and are also one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

'Immigrants carry out vital jobs in the health service, in the professions and in many other areas of UK life, as UK voters understand.'

The Prime Minister and Brexit Secretary David Davis have continually refused to guarantee the three million EU citizens living in Britain their current status, leaving the threat of forced deportation lingering.

Tim Martin also called on the Government not to bother negotiating a new trade arrangement with the EU because it would probably end in a stalemate, and ridiculed the bloc's representatives as 'posturing prima donnas'.

He said Britain should adopt World Trade Organisation guidelines and declare its aim to drop tariffs from all countries that export to the UK, including the EU.

JD Wetherspoon's chairman has insisted Government should be obliged to give EU citizens living in Britain the right to stay

'This will dramatically reduce consumer prices in the shops, thereby increasing purchasing power and our general standard of living.

'Singapore, Hong Kong, Israel and Norway, for example, have dropped almost all tariffs and their economies have raced ahead.

'It is possible that the EU will impose tariffs on our exports to the EU even so, but let them do it, since the tariffs imposed will be relatively small - less than half the amount the UK will save by ending its EU contributions in two years' time.'

Mr Martin said his advice is based on 'many decades of experience at Wetherspoon'.
Ikea is set to create 1,300 new British jobs by the end of next year as it opens three new outlets in Sheffield, Exeter and London.

The new stores will take popular Swedish flat-pack furniture giant to a total of 22 warehouse outlets across the UK, along with four smaller format stores. And the new roles will see the total number of staff employed in the UK jump to 11,700.

A total of 350 jobs will be created in Exeter and 500 in Greenwich, where new stores are scheduled to open next year.

Promise: Ikea has repeated its pledge to investing in Britain following Brexit vote.

Another 480 positions will be generated in Sheffield, where Ikea will open another store this summer.

Ikea's UK boss Gillian Drakeford said: 'As we continue to expand, we're delighted to bring investment to new areas across the country and create new opportunities for local communities.

'This year we are celebrating Ikea's 30th anniversary in the UK, and we are seeing more demand from customers for more stores in areas closer to where they live."

Ikea said last year that UK revenues climbed 8.9 per cent to 1.72billion in the year ending August 31, its fifth successive year of sales growth.

Ikea is seeing more demand from customers for more stores in areas closer to where they live

Ikea repeated its promise to investing in Britain following the Brexit vote, with Ms Drakeford saying at the time: 'We believe there is a lot of opportunity in the UK.

'We've been evaluating our newest stores and formats and yes, absolutely, there will be more stores. We will continue to invest in the UK.'
The family of a missing lawyer who vanished suddenly three weeks ago say she was 'very unhappy' in her marriage.

Renata Antczak, 49, had demanded a divorce from her dentist husband and planned to take their youngest daughter to her native Poland against his wishes before she mysteriously disappeared.

A relative said her family was increasingly worried for the welfare of Miss Antczak, who has been married to dentist Majid Mustafa for 23 years.

She said they want to know why the mother-of-two left her home in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, at 1pm on April 25 on foot wearing a purple t-shirt and hasn't used any credit cards since she vanished.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline from central Poland, the family source said: 'Renata was very unhappy with her husband.

'When she was last home in January, she told her mum she had had enough and was filing for divorce.

Disappearance: Missing lawyer Renata Antczak, 49, right, who vanished on April 25 was 'very unhappy' in her 23-year marriage to dentist Majid Mustafa, 47, pictured right

Gone: Miss Antczak, pictured at her wedding to Dr Mustafa, in 1995 was planning to take her back to her native Poland - against her husband's wishes

Mystery: The mother-of-two, left, was last seen at the home she shares with Dr Mustafa in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, on April 25. The couple have been married for 23 years

'Her mum wasn't happy about that because she is very traditional and disapproves of divorce. But she did it anyway because she wanted out of the relationship.'

A source, 20, said the couple had been married since 1994, but that things had started to deteriorate between them in the last few years. They have two daughters, Magda, 23, and 11-year-old Victoria.

Dr Mustafa, 47, said his wife asked for a divorce following months of increasingly bizarre behaviour, in which her interest in alternative medicines had turned into 'an obsession'.

The relative said: 'When Renata became interested in alternative medicine he wasn't happy about that either. She used to visit clients and had a device for measuring their energy levels.

'But he didn't want her to do it. It caused more tension. They were arguing all the time.'

Miss Antczak, who is 5ft 6in and was last seen wearing dark trousers and a purple, is qualified to work in Poland as a solicitor and has moved between the two countries in recent years, though she moved back to the UK full-time in June last year.

The source said the family were concerned, adding: 'Renata hates cold weather so it makes no sense that she would leave in just a t-shirt.

'Also, the police have told us that even though she took her credit cards with her, they haven't been used.

Missing: A relative said Miss Antczak, pictured at her daughter's 11th birthday, had been married to dentist Dr Majid for 23 years, but that things had deteriorated in the last few years

Fears: Miss Antczak has two daughters Magda, 23, with sister 11-year-old Victoria, left, who have both made appeals for their missing mother to come home

Distressed: The relative said they want to know why Miss Antczak, pictured on her wedding day, left suddenly: 'So, she doesn't have money, she left her passport, ID and clothes at home?'

'So, she doesn't have money, she left her passport, ID and clothes at home?'

They went on: 'Victoria, her youngest daughter, is very unhappy in England. She doesn't have many friends and wants to come back here.

'And that's another reason Renata wants to come back, for the sake of Victoria.'

They added: 'The whole family has been trying to contact her, sending her messages on social media, asking her if she's ok and to make contact. But she hasn't even opened or seen them. We fear the worst.'

As Humberside Police continue to investigate what has happened to Ms Antczak, her husband believes she has joined a 'sect' after becoming obsessed with a form of alternative therapy.

Messages: Miss Antczak's family have been trying to contact the mother of two since she went missing last month without warning

Dr Mustafa said for the last six months Miss Antczak has been spending a week per month in Poland, apparently to train as a therapist for a homeopathic health treatment called TimeWaver.

Miss Antczak qualified as a therapist and used a room at a friend's hair salon in Hull for occasional sessions.

He said: 'At home she started to put candles everywhere, and joss sticks.

'After she'd gone we found some of her writing. It talked about her feeling free, free from relationships, free from everything.'

He said documents have been passed to police and he believes she was 'brainwashed' by an unidentified 'sect'.

'She does love me, but there's something really strange in her behaviour in the last few months,' he added.

On April 25 Miss Antczak dropped Victoria off at school, returned home and spoke to her husband, who said he was ill in bed that day.

They had a 'discussion' about her returning to Poland with Victoria before Miss Antczak left the house on foot and has not been heard from since.

Police have confirmed the last known sighting was when she left home in Hull at 1pm.

Dr Mustafa, who reported her missing when she failed to return home that day, said he had been 'trying to get her to change her mind' and still hopes she will return.

'I still love her very much, I still miss her very much and I want her to come back. If she doesn't want to stay with me, that's her choice,' he said.

Vanished: Miss Antczak, pictured with her husband and their daughter at a fun fair, has been missing for three weeks. Officers have received an 'unconfirmed sighting' of her in Poland

No sign: Miss Antczak was reported missing by her husband Dr Mustafa when she failed to return home. He said he had been 'trying to get her to change her mind' over the divorce

He said his wife had not been in contact with her mother in Lodz and inquiries by police in Poland have failed to solve the mystery.

Superintendent Phil Ward, of Humberside Police, said: 'We have no indication of where she was going or who she was with.

'She took her daughter to school in the morning, nothing had happened previously. She has never been missing before.'
Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera, who spent more than three decades behind bars for his role in a violent struggle for independence from the Unites States, will be freed on Wednesday.

Lopez Rivera, who many thank for giving his up his life for his country, will be honored next month in New York City's massive Puerto Rican Day parade.

But those affected by the violence don't understand how Lopez Rivera, now 74, can be seen as a hero. To them, he's a terrorist.

Lopez Rivera was a member of the leftist group FALN that claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings across New York, Chicago, Washington and Puerto Rico in the 1970s.

One still-unsolved bombing, at New York's landmark Fraunces Tavern in 1975, killed four people and injured more than 60.

Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera (pictured above in his 1981 arrest) spent more than three decades behind bars for his role in a violent struggle for independence from the Unites States in the 1970s. He will be freed from house arrest in Puerto Rico on Wednesday

'I've had long hours in the middle of the night trying to figure out what I am missing, why he has all this support,' said Diane Berger Ettenson, 70, who was six months pregnant when her husband, Alex Berger, was killed at the tavern.

Lopez Rivera is to be released from house arrest in Puerto Rico, where he has been since shortly after President Barack Obama commuted the rest of his 70-year prison term.

He'll be feted across the island and in Chicago later this week. Supporters also plan to honor him at the June 11 parade down New York's Fifth Avenue with the title Procer de la Libertad - National Freedom Hero.

That decision has caused conflict among some New York Puerto Ricans, the largest such community off the island, and a petition circulated slamming it.

Organizers of the parade, which draws more than 1million people, insisted in a statement: 'Oscar's involvement does not endorse the story that led to his arrest or any form of violence.

'Rather it is the recognition of a man and the struggle of a nation for its sovereignty.'

Lopez Rivera was a member of the leftist group FALN that claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings across New York, Chicago, Washington and Puerto Rico in the 1970s. One still-unsolved bombing, at New York's landmark Fraunces Tavern in 1975, killed four people and injured more than 60 (a picture of the scene of the bombing above)

On October 26, 1974, a bomb went off outside a Manhattan bank around 3am. Soon after, someone called the city's Associated Press bureau and directed them to an Upper West Side phone booth, where a FALN letter claimed responsibility for attacking 'major Yanki corporations'

The FALN, the Spanish-language acronym for Armed Forces of National Liberation, emerged in the mid-1970s, a turbulent time when militant groups such as the Weather Underground and the Symbionese Liberation Army were operating.

On October 26, 1974, a bomb went off outside a Manhattan bank around 3am.

Soon after, someone called the city's Associated Press bureau and directed them to an Upper West Side phone booth, where a FALN letter claimed responsibility for attacking 'major Yanki corporations'.

Law enforcement caught up with the group years later when a drug addict ransacking a building in Chicago found bomb-making material and missives.

Lopez Rivera, a Vietnam War veteran who came to Chicago from Puerto Rico as a child, was arrested during a traffic stop.

He and about a dozen comrades were convicted in 1981 of seditious conspiracy 'to overthrow the government of the United States in Puerto Rico by force', armed robbery and lesser charges.

Those affected by the violence don't understand how Lopez Rivera, now 74, can be seen as a hero. To them, he's a terrorist. Pictured above, a mural of Lopez Rivera in New York City

'Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States and thus the Puerto Rican people have a right to fight for independence, using all means possible,' Lopez Rivera said during the trial.

He and the others were never tied to specific bombings, which caused few injuries.

He served more than a decade in solitary confinement after a second conviction for attempting to escape.

'This is not about people fighting for independence. You can do that without killing people,' said Anthony Senft, a former NYPD bomb squad detective blinded in one eye by a FALN blast in 1982.

When then-President Bill Clinton offered clemency to several of the jailed FALN in 1999, Lopez Rivera rejected the offer in part because it excluded two comrades.

They have since been released, making his the longest-served sentence in the history of the Puerto Rican independence movement.

Those who have supported him, including former President Jimmy Carter, Pope Francis and US Sen Bernie Sanders, say the draw is more about what they say he symbolizes: the plight of Puerto Rico.

Joe Connor, the son of NYPD officer Frank Connor, who was killed in the 1975 bombing of Fraunces Tavern, says the struggle of Lopez River's release is personal. He said it 'takes a little more of my life away' when he defends his fathers life

Anthony Senft, a former NYPD bomb squad detective blinded in one eye by a FALN blast in 1982, said that the bombings weren't about fighting for independence

The US territory is currently mired in a decadelong recession for which many blame the US government, partly because of the elimination of tax credits that many say led to the collapse of the island's manufacturing sector.

But independence has received less than six per cent of the vote in four previous referendums.

'One can disagree or agree with him politically, but he is a symbol of resolve and conviction,' said Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who pushed for clemency.

US Rep Nydia Velazquez, the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the House of Representatives, said she's seen how Lopez Rivera unites the country.

'I think that he paid a high price. And that it is important for this son to be returned,' she said.

But for Joseph Connor, who was nine when his dad, Frank, was killed at the tavern table, the struggle is much more personal.

'Every time I have to defend my father's life, it takes a little more of my life away,' he said. 'My kids never met my dad, but they certainly had to deal with this. We never asked for it.'
A hijab-wearing writer married to The Project's Waleed Aly has been accused of equating Islam with feminism to ingratiate herself with her 'elite' left-wing university colleagues.

Muslim convert and Monash University academic Susan Carland last week told an audience in Sydney's inner-west that feminism came from Islam, not just the secular West.

'You can have secular feminism, you can have Islamic feminism, you can have all different types of feminism,' Dr Carland said, promoting her new book 'Fighting Hislam: Women, Faith and Sexism'.

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Waleed Aly's wife Dr Susan Carland told a Sydney audience feminism came from Islam too

Macquarie University lecturer Steve Chavura said it was incorrect to say feminism came from Islam

However, Macquarie University political theorist Steve Chavura said it was misleading to say Islam was feminist.

'I would say that it's not true,' Dr Chavura told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's too great a stretch. It's overreaching.

'We need to be careful about oversimplifying very complex issues in the interests of appeasing ideological agendas whether they are feminism or whether they are Islamism.'

Dr Chavura said academia and the media were often left-leaning.

'Naturally, the high-profile Muslims in the media and in universities are part of an elite, which are politically left-leaning so there is a lot of pressure on them to be able to reconcile their deepest, religious beliefs with the ideological beliefs of their peers,' he said.

He argued that approach also exposed the ideological flaws of the modern left, which argues that all cultures are equal.

The Project's Waleed Aly (pictured left) and his academic wife Susan Carland who argues that feminism comes from Islam

'This is one of the incoherences of what you'd call leftist ideology,' Dr Chavura said.

'It has a great emphasis on equality, equality of cultures and multiculturalism, but the incoherence is multiculturalism is only as good as the cultures that make it up and not all cultures value equality and not all cultures value multiculturalism.

'This is something the left is struggling with right now.'

During her book promotion at Gleebooks in Glebe, Dr Carland argued that sharia law could be used to spare raped women from being stoned or lashed for committing adultery.

However, Dr Chavura said equating a religious interpretation of Islam with women's rights was logically flawed.

'I wouldn't equate the absence of stoning a woman to death for committing adultery with feminism,' he said.

Susan Carland (pictured left with feminist Eva Cox) says sharia law can promote women's rights

Dr Susan Carland has been accused of equating Islam with feminism for an ideological purpose

'Feminism about a lot more than that. In 18th and 19th century Europe, you wouldn't necessarily be buried up to the neck and stoned for committing adultery but that didn't mean that 18th and 19th century Europe was a feminist age.'

Dr Chavura called on Dr Carland and Muslims to acknowledge that the most brutal oppression of women occurred in Muslim-majority nations, where girls are still subjected to barbaric female genital mutilation.

'Sugar coating Islam is not necessarily the best way to reform Islam,' he said.

'I'm pretty sure you will find that a great deal of the most brutal sexism in the world, you'll find it more generally in those countries dominated by Islam and that needs to be acknowledged to understand why that would be the case.

'It's a very unpopular thing to say nowadays but this is how reforms happen when cultures scrutinise themselves in the light of critiques.'

Controversial Muslim psychologist Hanan Dover has her book signed by Dr Susan Carland

Susan Carland's argument that feminism comes from Islam is about as exposed as her feet to criticism from Macquarie University political theorist Steve Chavura

He also questioned the idea of associating Islam with feminism, considering how people in conservative Muslim-majority nations often associated the term with 'decadence, with moral degeneration, with the decline of the family, with sexual impurity'.

'To associate feminism with Islamic reform to me is probably going to be counterproductive,' Dr Chavura said.

'It's kind of like saying that prior to late industrial capitalism, in the Middle Ages there were somewhat more equitable conditions for workers therefore the Middle Ages were communist.'

Dr Susan Carland in the Gleebooks store at Glebe in Sydney ahead of her book promotion talk

Christianity has a much longer connection with feminism, Dr Chavura argued.

Progressive thinker Mary Wollstonecraft published 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women' in 1792, which is considered the earliest works of feminist philosophy.

A little more than 100 years later, South Australia in 1895 gave women the right to vote, thanks to efforts of the Women's Christian Temperance Movement Union.

Dr Chavura, who also lectures at the Christ-centred Lachlan Macquarie Institute, said it was clear where feminism originated more than 200 years ago.

'Historians of Christianity and feminism are very clear that evangelicalism, as a religious movement in the 18th and 19th centuries, gave women a voice and a platform that they didn't previously have,' he said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dr Carland via Monash University for comment.
What's it like to have a youthful-looking mother? Xie Yixuan certainly has tales to tell.

The 22-year-old man, from China, said people have been mistaking his mother, 49, for his girlfriend since he was 16 because his mother looks so young.

Timid Mr Xie said once his girlfriend got so mad at him because she thought his mother was his other girlfriend.

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Growing pains: Xie Yixuan (pictured with his mother) said people started mistaking his mother for his girlfriend when he was 16 years old

Not a couple: The 22-year-old works as an assistant in a film production company in Beijing

Proud parent: Mr Xie's mother, Liu Yelin (pictured with him) has been strict on the man

Stay trim: 49-year-old Ms Liu (pictured) has been dubbed 'the world's most youthful mother' because of her age-defying looks and toned body

Mr Xie said once his girlfriend got mad and argued with him on a date because she wouldn't believe Ms Liu (pictured) was his mother

Mr Xie described his mother (pictured), a retired librarian, as 'kind' but 'a little temperamental'

Xie's mother, Liu Yelin, has been dubbed 'the world's most youthful mother' because of her super-toned body and wrinkle-free face.

The man, who works as a personal assistant at a film production company, said his mother is an icon and goddess of his life.

He told MailOnline: 'My mum has always been beautiful. When she was young, she was considered the prettiest girl at her school.

'I'd say as time goes by, she's even prettier now.'

He described his mother, a retired librarian, as 'kind' but 'a little temperamental'. He said his mother rarely uses makeup, but is a big fan of sports.

'She swims and works out every day. Many people wouldn't believe that it's the secret to her great looks, but it's true,' the man added.

The Beijing-based man said his mother is 'the goddess of his life'. He said: 'My mum has always been beautiful. When she was young, she was considered the prettiest girl at her school'

Mr Xie ensures that he sees his mother at least once a month despite working in a different city

'But after I started middle school, my classmates would talk about my mother because she looked young and pretty,' said Xie Yixuan, Ms Liu's son

The Chinese social media has fallen head over heels for Liu Yelin, who has a massive following

Xie works in Beijing, a five-hour journey by train from his hometown Xinyang, Henan Province. Nevertheless, he ensures he sees his mother at least once a month.

He said when he was little, he didn't think any differently of his mother.

'When I was young, she was just my mother. She was strict on me.

'But after I started middle school, my classmates would talk about my mother because she looked young and pretty.

'Many of them thought she was my sister, but my friends would know she was my mother. '

Can you believe she's nearly 50? Liu Yelin, from China, rose to fame for her youthful looks

Stay active: The woman, 49, said many people wouldn't believe her when she revealed her age

Social media star: After posting her pictures on Weibo, Ms Liu has got 75,000 followers

Secrets to looking young: Ms Liu said she owes her age-defying looks to daily exercise

The man confessed that having a youthful mother could sometimes be a challenge to his relationships.

Once Mr Xie took a woman out on a date. At the time, he had just got to know the woman and the two had just started seeing each other.

When Mr Xie's mother came to find the couple, his girlfriend thought he had another girlfriend and threw a massive tantrum. The couple then argued.

Then and now: Born in 1968 in China's Henan Province, Ms Liu said she liked fashion from an early age. The woman can be seen wearing stylish clothing aged 15 (left) and 49 (right)

Life-time hobby: Ms Liu said her favourite pastime is swimming outdoors, especially in winter

She attributes her youthful looks to the regular exercise she's kept to for three decades. Her perseverance has made her appear almost as young as her son (left, pictured together)

He said: 'It's hard to describe how I felt at the time, perhaps a bit embarrassed and speechless.

'I tried to explain to her that she was my mother, but she wouldn't listen. Eventually, I had to yell at her: "She's my mother".'

Speaking of his preferred type of women, Mr Xie said he likes 'pretty women with a good figure'.

He explain: 'My family has a motto: men are responsible for making money and women are responsible for looking good.'

'I like women who have a western body type, who are buxom and have a sexy backside.'

He also prefers women who are kind, ambitious and good at housework.

Ms Liu flaunts her firm figure by uploading photos which show her in attractive bikinis

Ms Liu became famous after one of her fans wrote an article about her and shared it online

Her youthful appearance and sporty lifestyle quickly drew her the attention from the public

Commenting on her son's love life, Ms Liu said she's happy for her son to choose whomever he likes.

'The most important thing is for him to be happy,' the mother said. 'My son is a very dependent man. Our relationship is like brother and sister, or friends.'

Although her looks might cause confusion, Ms Liu said her son has never had trouble finding a girlfriend.

'The fact that I look young shouldn't have anything to do with my son's love life.

'Who says a 50-year-old mother has to look old? Mothers shouldn't just live for their families, they have every right to pursue their own lives.

'I want to set an example.'

Three decades of swimming has helped her build a body supermodels find hard to compete

Keep it up: The youthful looking mother confessed it's not easy to stick to her rigorous routine

With glowing skin, a super-toned body and not a single wrinkle in sight, Liu Yanlin, who is also known by her screen name Ye Wen, has stunned millions of people with her incredibly youthful looks.

'People are often shocked to find out I'm almost 50,' she told MailOnline during a previous interview.

'Whenever I went shopping and told people my real age, I often got mobbed by strangers who wanted to find out my secrets.'

Natural beauty: Contrary to what many would guess, the mother said she rarely uses makeup

The mother of a 22-year-old man siad she owes her good figure to an active lifestyle

Ms Liu is also a compassionate and charitable person. She is seen holding a certificate after donating blood on her birthday this year. She said she donates blood every year

Although the active mother has enviable olive skin and flawless complexion, she claimed that she rarely uses cosmetics.

Instead, Ms Liu, a fitness fanatic, attributes her youthful looks to the regular exercise she's kept to for three decades.

'I swim in the lake and do weight training every day,' she said. 'My favourite thing is swimming outdoors in winter.'

The active mother boasts enviable olive skin, flawless complexion and a super-trim figure

Although she's nearly 50 years old, Ms Liu said she feels like she's still a 15-year-old girl

Last year, Ms Liu swam four hours across the Strait of Malacca, a challenge she set for herself

'I want to stay this beautiful when I'm 80 years old,' said Ms Liu. The woman said her new goal is to travel around the world

The mother has swum across the Yangtse River in China and the Han River in South Korea.

In March 2016, she swan across the Strait of Malacca in four hours after setting out from the shores of Penang, Malaysia.

Ms Liu said: 'I want to stay this beautiful when I'm 80 years old.'

'I share my stories because I want to encourage more women to keep up exercising for a more beautiful and confident self.'
The 'disgraceful' nurse accused of letting a patient die after throwing her naked body in a locked seclusion room was previously investigated for making vile comments to other patients.

Christine Borthistle was in charge of the care of Miriam Merten at the Lismore Base Hospital when the mother-of-two died in a case that has shocked the country.

Ms Borthistle was slammed by a coroner for her 'monumentally disgraceful' act of 'complete indifference' over Ms Merten's death.

Christine Borthistle, accused of letting a patient die after throwing her naked body in a locked seclusion room, was previously investigated for making vile comments to other patients

Nurse Christine Borthistle was an animal lover who had been sacked for bringing bats into Lismore Base Hospital

Miriam Merten, who died of brain injuries at Lismore Base Hospital, pictured with her daughter Corina

It has now been revealed the nurse was investigated in 2011 after calling another patient a 'piece of s***', The Daily Telegraph reported.

The very next day, Ms Borthistle admitted to telling another mental health patient 'I will flatten you' after reporting they could smell smoke, according to the paper.

Later that year, Ms Borthistle was eventually sacked for bringing flying foxes onto her ward.

Also a registered wildlife carer, she was warned for animals into the hospital's mental health unit. She had admitted doing so but said she had stopped the practice after a complaint.

She was dismissed after being seen transferring a bat into the car of another wildlife rescue volunteer in the hospital's carpark, days after receiving a first and final disciplinary warning.

Mother-of-two Miriam Merten was left alone to wander a corridor after being held in seclusion for more than five hours

Nurse Christine Borthistle pictured mopping a corridor while Miriam Merten wanders the floor drugged and naked

But the Industrial Relations Commission found Ms Borthistle's dismissal was 'harsh, unreasonable and unjust' in part because the health authority had failed to conduct a proper investigation and reinstated her in February 2012.

In June 2014, Ms Borthistle was the senior nurse on duty when Ms Merten, 46, was admitted to the Lismore Base Hospital mental health facility.

Ms Merten, who was well-known in the ward, was drugged and thrown naked into a locked seclusion room. The room had no toilet, running water or furniture. A mattress was on the floor.

It was the second time Ms Merten had been placed in seclusion that day and the fifth time during her eight-day admission.

During her time in the seclusion room, Ms Merten fell about 20 times, often on her head. Neither Ms Borthistle nor another junior nurse on duty ever entered the room.

Nurse Christine Borthistle (pictured left) was captured on CCTV mopping the floor while Miriam Merten walked naked along a corridor

Miriam Merten died of brain injuries after falling more than 20 times in Lismore Base Hospital

Christine Borthistle died 'unexpectedly' last month after being deregistered as a nurse

Once released from the seclusion room after more than five hours, she was seen wandering a corridor naked and covered in her own faeces while Ms Borthistle mopped the floor.

In seven hours before being transferred to the hospital's intensive care unit on June 2, Ms Merten fell about 24 times.

A coroner found Ms Merten died the following day from 'traumatic and hypoxic brain injury caused by numerous falls and the self-beatings of her head not done with the intention of taking her own life'.

The coroner said in a judgement in September 2016: 'To see a mentally ill person in 2014 at a public hospital in NSW treated in such an appalling manner is really beyond comprehension'.

Nurse Christine Borthistle had worked at Lismore Base Hospital as a mental health nurse since 1997

CCTV footage captured Miriam Merten locked in a seclusion room at Lismore Base Hospital

Miriam Merten was locked in a seclusion room, naked and without running water or a toilet, for more than five hours

'The sight of the deceased wandering the corridor naked and covered in excrement while the senior nurse is seen to mop the floor apparently oblivious to her is horrific.

'While this appears not to be a system failure it is clearly a serious human failure.'

Ms Borthistle, who had been a nurse since 1972 and began work at Lismore in 1997 after 13 years at the former Rozelle mental health institution, surrendered her nursing registration in October 2015.

The animal lover died aged 66 last month within days of being banned from nursing for five years.

A mattress left on the floor was the only comfort for Miriam Merten when locked inside a seclusion room

Christine Borthistle has died aged 66 after being deregistered as a nurse for five years

On February 17 a death notice appeared for Ms Borthistle stating she had 'passed away unexpectedly'.

Mourners wrote tributes remembering the mother-of-five, who was also a qualified solicitor, and was experiencing financial hardship.

RIP tiger mama, my beautiful friend, hugs and love to you,' one wrote. 'RIP. I understand your pain,' wrote another.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian called the CCTV footage of Ms Merten 'disgusting and deeply distressing', while health Minister Brad Hazzard said the woman's last hours were 'beyond disturbing'.

Mr Hazzard and Mental Health Minister Tanya Davies launched a parliamentary inquiry and an independent investigation by chief pyschiatrist Murray Wright into the use of seclusion and restraint of mental health patients across NSW.

Miriam Merten pictured singing with Lismore's Hearing Voices Choir for people with mental illness in 2009
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In an age when air travel was a privilege that offered a world of luxury and decadence, a job as a stewardess was the creme de la creme for beautiful, and single, young women.

Women, generally between the ages of 20 and 27, competed to become stewardesses for the opportunity for stopovers all over the world at the dawn of the Jet Age.

And Trans World Airlines, or TWA, was one of the most prestigious and competitive airlines for young women hoping to see the world. In 1967, its training school boasted an acceptance rate of less than 3 percent  less than Harvard and Stanford today.

Fascinating photographs taken by Michael Rougier (1925-2012) show women preparing for their airborne jobs at TWAs Stewardess School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1961.

A woman slides down an emergency chute from a plane used to train stewardesses at Trans World Airlines (TWA) Stewardess School in Kansas City, Missouri

A group of young French and German women discuss posture during a training session at the school, which photographer Michael Rougier visited in 1961 to photograph

Prospective stewardesses - or 'air hostesses' as TWA called them - are pictured during a flight simulation on a Boeing 707 mockup. At the dawn of the Jet Age, the stewardess job offered the opportunity for stopovers all over the world

A group of young French and German women are pictured role-playing, left to right, as an elderly lady, a pregnant woman, an able-bodied man and an eight-year-old child. Women from all over the world came to the Missouri school to train for their dream job

The behind-the-scenes photos show prospective stewardesses braving emergency slides and taking part in exacting in-flight dining classes.

They learned how to deal with all sorts of passengers including able-bodied men, eight-year-old children, elderly 'ladies' and pregnant women.

They were taught how to stand, walk, style their hair and apply make-up, all to become starlets of the skies.

The stewardesses would have been taught how to serve food cooked in-flight and to cater to their posh clienteles whims.

Women of multiple nationalities including American, French and German attended the school.

The women were recruited by advertisements that offered, for example, the tantalizing promise of a morning spent sightseeing in New York and an evening spent dining in San Francisco, reports Vanity Fair.

For some women, the opportunity to become a stewardess offered a chance of an exciting 20-somethings life when they formerly would have been pressured into marriage.

Not all aspects of the job were bliss, however. Appearances were of the utmost importance and women were often forced to wear girdles to maintain the figures their superiors demanded. Pictured is a group of young French and German women putting on makeup and styling their hair at the school

But the opportunity to become a stewardess provided a chance to experience different cultures and for some proved to be an attainable and attractive opportunity to avoid early marriages. Pictured are two women boarding an airplane during a training session

An instructor, placing a hat on one of her students, demonstrates the proper way to wear a TWA hat during a training session at the school

The school accepted fewer than three percent of applications in 1967 - an acceptance rate lower than that of Harvard University. Pictured are students in a dining class

But there was a dark side to this luxurious world.

Stewardesses  the term used as most airlines, including TWA, exclusively hired women at the time  could be subject to sexual harassment by both pilots and passengers, who were mostly men at the time. TWA, it should be noted, used the term air hostess.

They were often forced to wear girdles to maintain unrealistic body weights and appeal to the male gaze.

And despite the prestige of the job, it paid relatively little. Vanity Fair estimates a 1960 stew starting salary to be around $4,000, or the equivalent of about $33,000 in 2017.

Indeed, the fantasized life of a stewardess was glamorized but also sexualized.

For example, a 1967 memoir by stewardesses Trudy Baker and Rachel Jones was titled Coffee, Tea or Me? The Uninhibited Memoirs of Two Airlines Stewardesses.

Years later, the book was revealed to have been an elaborate fabrication ghost-written by a male American Airlines public relations associate named Donald Bain.

A group of trainees is pictures inside a model airplane cabin. On flights, the stewardesses would be responsible for maintaining an air of glamour far different than that of airlines today

Two women are pictured in a mockup of a Boeing 707, sitting in seats that would have been used for stewardesses. TWA hired male flight attendants in 1972

Pictured is another photo of the women role-playing during a flight simulation. A starting salary for a stewardess in 1960 would have been around $33,000 in today's terms

An instructor helps a student become a 'starlet of the sky,' helping the trainee with her makeup and hair during a session at TWA's school. The airline became part of American Airlines in 2001

But the democratization of air travel and strong union organizing from flight attendants  the word used beginning in the 1970s as more men joined the profession  altered the flying landscape entirely.

TWA, which opened a 25-acre training academy outside Kansas City in 1969, began admitting male flight attendants in 1972.

The airline, which declared bankruptcy multiple times throughout the 1990s, became part of American Airlines in 2001.

The world of glamorous air travel is a thing of the past, as evidenced by the controversies hitting airlines across America.

United Airlines made headlines in April 2017 when it called on law enforcement to remove passenger David Dao from a Louisville-bound flight. Violent video of the incident provoked outrage.

Since the incident, stories of airline malpractice have abounded in the news  a scorpion was found on another recent United flight, and a rabbit was found dead after a transatlantic flight from Heathrow to Chicago OHare.

And so, the nostalgia factor remains.

In 2011, ABC tried to mine the allure of 1960s air travel with its drama Pan Am, which starred Christina Ricci and a then-unknown Margot Robbie.

The series was cancelled after its first season.
Thousands of asylum seekers who were ordered to leave Australia are still here because the Administrative Appeals Tribunal overruled the government's decision.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has admitted to being frustrated with the lengthy and costly appeals process following reports that 39 per cent of his decisions have been overturned by the AAT in the past year.

A total of 4,389 out of 11,323 visa decisions made by Mr Dutton or his delegates were overturned  despite the Immigration Department finding 20 refugees lied on their applications and claimed they were at risk of persecution in their native countries, the Herald Sun reports.

But in one case, an Iranian man claimed he was at risk of execution in his homeland but made three trips back there after being allow to stay in Australia.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton (pictured) has admitted to being frustrated with the lengthy and costly appeals process

The Immigration Department attempted to deport 40 people who were granted protection visas under the previous Labour government, according to the Herald Sun.

But all of them, from countries including Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Africa, appealed to the AAT, who overturned the decision in 20 cases.

A Turkish drug dealer was also allowed to remain in Australia after the AAT overruled a decision to deport him, the newspaper reports.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he is concerned after six Iranian refugees were allowed to stay in Australia after holidaying in the country they say they fled out of fear for their lives.

Mr Turnbull said Mr Dutton was reviewing the cases and considering his next step after the AAT overturned his decision to cancel their visas and deport them.

'Plainly, people who are claiming they are subject to persecution in Iran but are travelling back on holidays there, clearly that is not a credible claim,' he told reporters in Adelaide.

A total of 4,389 out of 11,323 visa decisions made by Mr Dutton or his delegates were overturned. File photo

'I absolutely understand (people's concerns) and so does the government.'

While refusing to comment on this particular instance, Mr Dutton said such cases were 'infuriating'.

'There are many cases that I look at where, on the facts available to me, you shake your head,' he told 3AW's Neil Mitchell.

'People who are being slaughtered in the Middle East now that we would want to give protection to, they're the ones being displaced by people who are seeking a better economic outcome.'

Australia, bound by international conventions, can't send people back to a country where they face persecution.

Mr Dutton said Iran, in particular, won't take people back unless they return voluntarily.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he is concerned after six Iranian refugees were allowed to stay in Australia

'That's the dilemma - and the rub against that, of course, is that we don't have indefinite detention.'

The federal government has deported between 500 and 600 people over the past year, including 136 bikies in the last 18 months.

Outlaw motorcycle gang members have been the top targets, with sexual offenders also a priority.

Six people involved in Melbourne's Apex gangs have had their visas cancelled, with seven others under review.

'These are serious offenders - people who have committed rapes, people who have committed armed robberies,' Mr Dutton said.

He suggested the independent tribunal, whose members are appointed by the government of the day, is influenced by politics.

The government has not renewed the tenure of some members who were appointed during the Rudd-Gillard years, and made some fresh appointments.

'So the rejection rate will change over time,' Mr Dutton said.
President Trump told ousted FBI Director James Comey to consider jailing journalists who publish classified information at the same meeting where he implored him to drop the bureau's investigation into General Mike Flynn, it has been claimed.

Both claims were made by an 'associate' of the ousted FBI chief who read aloud the memo's contents to The New York Times on Tuesday.

According to their recital of the memo, Trump told Comey to 'let go' his probe into General Mike Flynn and his ties to Russian officials, calling the disgraced chief a 'good guy'.

Elsewhere in the conversation, he is said to have implored Comey to imprison reporters for publishing leaked classified information.

The White House vehemently denied the associate's claim that the president tried to block the Russian investigation but it has not responded to the accusation regarding jailing journalists.

President Trump told ousted FBI director James Comey to consider jailing journalists who published classified information at a February meeting, according to notes taken by Comey afterwards

According to the associate, Comey noted that Trump said to him of the Flynn investigation: 'I hope you can let this go. He's a good guy'.

No American journalist has ever been prosecuted for publishing government secrets despite growing discussion on the issue in recent years.

In April, President Trump said he would be comfortable with the Justice Department bringing charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, telling reporters: 'It's OK with me'.

Assange, who is facing sexual assault charges in Sweden, has not charged with criminal offences in the US. Last month, sources claimed the Justice Department was close to bringing a case against him but it has not yet issued any warrant for his arrest.

In March, Comey touched on the issue of journalists facing criminal prosecution for sharing classified information during questioning at his House Intelligence Committee Hearing in March.

'Thats a harder question, as to whether a reporter incurs criminal liability by disclosing classified information,' he replied when asked if there was a law which protected journalists from being prosecuted.

On Tuesday, President Trump defended sharing classified information himself with Russian officials by saying his office entitled him to do so.

'As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism,' he said in a string of tweets.

Trump is said to have made the suggestion at the same meeting where Comey claimed he implored him to drop an investigation into General Mike Flynn over his ties to Russia

He had already been lampooned by critics for giving away the information, which came from a US ally, to Russia when the country's relationship with Vladimir Putin remains so tenuous.

Trump previously said he would be 'OK' with charges being brought against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

In the same string of tweets, he said he was committed to finding those who had been leaking information from within the White House.

'I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community.'

President Trump fired Comey unceremoniously on May 9.

Trump has made no effort to hide his disdain for the 'fake news media' in the past but has not pursued or discussed jailing reporters for sharing classified information.

His administration has maintained the combative approach he took towards journalists during the election campaign and regularly calls for journalists to be held accountable for reports it considers inaccurate.

In one of his very first briefings, Press Secretary Sean Spicer made a point of singling out a pool reporter for incorrectly tweeting that the president had removed a bust of Martin Luther King from the Oval Office.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump defended sharing classified information with Russian officials

Despite the numerous apologies and immediate correction of the mistake, he said the error was indicative of the media's disregard for fact.

No journalist in recent US history has been prosecuted for publishing information that the government deems secret.

The rising of WikiLeaks and journalists who republish its contents has however thrown the subject under discussion.

While several sources have been charged under the Espionage Act of 1917 for stealing classified government information and supplying it to the website, no mainstream media journalists have been formally reprimanded for reproducing it.

In 2013, the Justice Department sparked outrage among the global media by seizing the phone records of Associated Press journalists without warning.

Later, Attorney General Eric Holder said the move was prompted by a 2012 report on a foiled Al Qaeda plot in Yemen to blow up an airliner.

Holder said the AP's coverage of how the US prevented the atrocity 'put the American people at risk'.
Joshua Waite (pictured), 17, has been left in an induced coma after he was allegedly kicked in the head during an argument

The family of a teen left clinging to life after allegedly being kicked in the head while walking away from an argument has given an update on his condition.

Joshua Waite, 17, remains in a critical condition in an induced coma at Royal Brisbane Hospital with his family keeping a bedside vigil to support his recovery.

In an emotional social media post, the family revealed he has shown no signs of improvement since the alleged attack but thanked the community for the outpouring of support.

It comes as the 18-year-old accused of kicking him in the face, Jake Law-Cobbo, prepares to appear in court over the attack.

'There has been no positive improvement on Josh. In the last few days we have just hoped for him to stabilise,' the post reads.

'Joshua's mum and dad have been struggling to keep it together...There have been many times where he has peaked to levels we don't want him at. This absolutely breaks us.'

They revealed he remains in an induced coma to help his body repair and stabilise.

'The support we have had pouring in from the community, the love from family, and the high level of care, compassion and professionalism from the ICU staff in RBWH is what is getting Andy Rach and Ashley through this heartbreaking time.'

The family has given an emotional update on his condition in hospital

His family (father, left, and sister, centre, pictured) have been keeping a bedside vigil to support his recovery in Royal Brisbane Hospital

The 18-year-old accused of kicking Mr Waite in the face, Jake Law-Cobbo, has been charged with grievous bodily harm and is scheduled to face Redcliffe Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Police allege Mr Waite smashed his head on bitumen after the alleged Friday night assault outside Redcliffe McDonald's.

Law-Cobbo didn't apply for bail when his matter was mentioned on Monday but is expected to do so at Wednesday's hearing.

The family has revealed he has shown no signs of improvement since the alleged attack but thanked the community for the outpouring of support

Paramedics arrived at the car park in Redcliffe, north of Brisbane, and placed Mr Waite in an induced coma
A devoted mother plunged 80ft to her death after walking off following a minor tiff with her husband during a romantic cliff top stroll.

Clinical physiologist Michelle Woods, 36, had enjoyed a thoroughly jolly meal out with her family during a pre-Christmas break in Cornwall before the tragedy, an inquest heard.

After returning to the bungalow in Polzeath where they were staying with their two children and friends, she and husband Chris decided to go for an evening walk to look at the stars.

Clinical physiologist Michelle Woods, 36, fell from cliffs which rose to 80ft above the beach in Polzeath, Cornwall

They parted after a little bicker and Mr Woods walked the few hundred yards back to their holiday home in the early hours of December 4. His wife never returned.

Mr Woods, 36, raised the alarm the following morning and her body was recovered from the sea with severe injuries after a major land and sea search.

It appeared she had fallen from cliffs which rose to 80ft above the beach, the Coroner in Truro concluded.

Mr Woods wept as he told the inquest: She was full of life. She lived for her kids. She lived for her family.

We were looking forward to coming down [to Cornwall]. On the last night we had been in Padstow throughout the day.

We had a nice time and bought some Christmas presents. When we returned, it was a happy, noisy house.

I said, shall we go for a walk and look at the stars? It was perfect, a clear night.

Mr Woods, an operations manager for a computer game company, added: We talked about a lot of different things.

It was not an argument - it was a little bicker. I dont know what she did.

Mrs Woods, from Burton-on-Trent, Staffs, died from multiple injuries as a result of falling from the cliff and hitting the rocks, the inquest heard.

DC Sarah Northcott, of Devon and Cornwall Police, told the inquest: There were several severe drops down onto the rocks.

We could not identify the spot she went over. No one witnessed what happened.

She added that an investigation concluded there was no third party involvement and Mrs Woods was not pushed from the cliff.

Mrs Woods had previously suffered from depression but had recovered in the year before her death, the inquest heard.

Coroner Andrew Cox ruled out the possibility of suicide.

He said: The evidence here is uncontroversial but its incomplete. I dont think this is a case of suicide.

On the balance of probabilities, its more likely than not that she has lost her way, lost her balance, gone over the cliff face and suffered injuries.

He concluded that it was an accidental death.
The EU'S top court has paved the way for a swift post-Brexit trade deal by significantly reducing the ability of national parliaments to stand in the way of an agreement.

In a surprise ruling, the European Court of Justice said Brussels could negotiate the deal without a need for lawmakers in the bloc's remaining countries to ratify it.

The decision will come as a huge relief to the Government who feared that agreement could be stalled for years if judges handed a wide-ranging veto to member states.

The European Court of Justice opened the possibility of a swift post-Brexit trade deal

The EU could settle trade deals in areas such as the trade of goods and services with the UK

Instead, the Luxembourg court gave EU leaders the power to pass a free trade agreement by majority vote without the risk of blocks by stubborn parliaments. The landmark decision was welcomed by experts who said that it increased the chances of the UK and Brussels reaching a quick agreement.

Though not directly related to Brexit, yesterday's ruling focused on an EU trade deal with Singapore that could mirror that drawn up by the UK when Brexit is concluded.

It came about after the European Commission asked the ECJ to determine what its level of power is when striking complex trade agreements.

After a preliminary hearing, it had been expected that judges would open the doors to parliaments having a say on multiple issues because they overlapped with national law.

But EU judges yesterday stated that unanimity is needed in just two niche areas, which experts said the UK could circumnavigate.

The judgment also made clear that key sectors such as the trade of goods and services could be agreed by the EU alone.

Allie Renison, the Institute of Directors' head of EU and trade policy, yesterday said the ruling made it 'easier for the EU to conclude trade deals without fear of as many hold-ups from national and sub-national legislatures'.

She added: 'How this affects Brexit negotiations will depend on whether the final trade agreement includes investment provisions...'

Theresa May has previously signalled a desire to conclude a Brexit trade agreement before talks are likely to finish in 2019.

Meanwhile Nicole Kar, from UK law firm Linklaters, said yesterday: 'This is the most significant ECJ case on EU trade policy for 20 years and has huge ramifications for any UK-EU free trade agreement.'

A Government spokesman said that the decision had been 'noted' but refused to signal how it could shape the UK's Brexit discussions.
A Sydney drug syndicate which included Bondi businessman George Gerges asked customers to use 'rock show tickets' as code for cocaine when placing orders by text message.

SMS messages between a dealer and people he believed were customers were revealed as Gerges pleaded guilty to his role in the syndicate on Tuesday. The customers were undercover police.

Gerges, 32, would be dispatched via text messages from a handler dubbed AH to meet customers, mostly in the city, then deliver them cocaine from his black Lexus.

George Gerges leaves Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine

Cocaine dealer George Gerges with his former girlfriend Emma Rose, who had no knowledge of her boyfriend's double life

An undercover cop (in blue) orders cocaine from a drug syndicate member dubbed AH

Each deal weighed an average .47 gram and cost $200. During the time he was under investigation, Gerges delivered cocaine to more than 1000 drug users.

In one message, on May 6, 2015, an undercover officer calling himself James wrote to AH: 'Hey bro. Could I pick up 1 ticket for the show tonight. Ill be around Mascot Train Station between 2-3pm'

AH replied: 'Sweet bro'.

When 'James' met Gerges in his Lexus about three hours later the policeman paid $200 for a bag of cocaine.

At the time of his arrest, in September 2015, Gerges was dating self-described 'international cover girl and glamour model' Emma Rose, who appeared in the first season of The Bachelor with Tim Robards.

He was the managing director of Buy My Clothes, an online shopping site for second hand clothing, and a co-owner of online fashion label Studio Niche.

There is no suggestion Ms Rose had any knowledge of her then boyfriend's crimes.

Police began investigating the syndicate's supply of cocaine throughout metropolitan Sydney in April 2015 and arrested nine people including Gerges in September that year.

And undercover policewoman (in blue) orders cocaine from a syndicate which included Bondi businessman George Gerges

Convicted cocaine dealer George Gerges liked to keep himself in good shape and for his fellow couriers to care about their appearance

An undercover policeman (in blue) orders cocaine from a member of a drug syndicate which included Bondi businessman George Gerges

According to a statement of facts tendered to Downing Centre Local Court, customers would send a text message to one of four mobile telephones and ask for 'rock show tickets', 'tickets' or 'beers'.

AH or another man would ask for an address, then send a text to one of six drivers, including Gerges, to deliver the drugs.

In another exchange, on May 28, an undercover officer called Frank wrote: 'Hey my mate said to text you for a ticket to the rock show tonight. Im in the city.'

AH then asked Frank to 'send a mates number for confirmation'. Frank replied with a number and AH answered 'sweet'.

Police launched a major operation against a syndicate supplying cocaine (seized drugs pictured) throughout metropolitan Sydney in April 2015

George Gerges with his former model girlfriend Emma Rose, who knew nothing about his criminal exploits

Sydney business George Gerges regularly posted shirtless pictures to his social media accounts

When the driver was close to the designated address, he or she would ring one of the two handlers and they would call the customer. The customer and driver would then take part in a conference call to arrange the exact meeting place.

Strike Force Morti engaged in a series of controlled purchases of cocaine from Gerges as well as using listening devices and telephone intercepts.

In one telephone conversation captured on May 15, Gerges complained to AH about the quality of the cocaine he had been supplying. Court documents show the drugs had an average purity below 50 per cent.

Gerges: 'You need to have a chat with the big man, bro.'

AH: 'What about?'

Gerges: 'About the gear man, Ive got so many people telling me how rubbish it is.'

AH: 'Its s***. Yeah it is.'

Cocaine courier George Gerges (pictured) was arrested in September 2015 carrying 110 bags of drugs

And undercover policeman (in blue) orders cocaine from 'AH', a member of the George Gerges drug syndicate

Gerges: 'A guy got into my car and I swear to god he goes, he goes to me, I wouldnt lie to you, he goes "I had three lines and there was no effect. It was just like I was having sugar".'

AH: 'Yeah, nah, I tried to tell him. We told him... give out the s*** ones on the weekend. Let them go out on the weekend and use the good stuff during the week. The regulars, they know... Just tell them next week it's going to change. Tell them it's going to get better, so it's all good.'

In another conversation, on September 2, Gerges was caught complaining about a scruffy fellow dealer who 'looks like a junkie', suggesting he get a haircut, have a shave and buy a nice collared shirt.

Gerges warned AH that a new cocaine delivery driver working for their syndicate was scaring young female buyers because of his disheveled appearance.

Police investigating a drug supply syndicate which included George Gerges seized cash from the address of another member

A sawn-off rifle was allegedly seized from the address of another member of a drug syndicate which included George Gerges

'Little things,' Gerges told AH. 'Just tell him little things bro, like get a haircut, dress nicely and make sure your face is shaven. Keep your car clean, that's really important too bro.'

Gerges was also unhappy during his dealings with undercover cop James on May 6, asking him to pick a meeting place where there would be less traffic.

'I can't keep coming out here...,' Gerges said. 'Anywhere around the city, Surry Hills, Waterloo, something like that bro... even Central... I just can't come here bro; like I've missed five people now... the traffic is so bad coming to Mascot bro.'

But Gerges's most passionate speech was reserved for his feelings about a new driver with a ponytail.

'The guy looks like a junkie,' Gerges told AH. 'Some of the girls, they're like "we were a bit scared to get into the car"... and he looks really suss too.'

AH: 'He does. He is a suspect looking guy, man.'

George Gerges has pleaded guilty to the ongoing supply of cocaine to customers he picked up in his black Lexus

Some of the cocaine seized by police in an operation that targeted George Gerges and eight others

Gerges: 'Yeah, f***ing oath. Tell him, listen bro... if he wants to keep working for us you've gotta cut your hair and you gotta wear a f***in nice collared shirt when you work. Like he's making decent money, he can buy a collared shirt.'

AH: 'It won't cost him nothing. I'll f***ing buy him a shirt.'

Gerges: 'I'm not telling you, I'm not telling you to get rid of him, like we need the drivers bro, but you need to tell him to fix up his appearance a little bit.'

AH: 'Yeah, yeah. I'm going to actually say that to him because you're right, all right.'

In the same conversation Gerges also suggested the new driver change the address on his driver's licence to somewhere in the eastern suburbs, which would attract less suspicion from police if he was pulled over.

WHAT DID GEORGE GERGES THINK OF HIS FELLOW DRUG DEALER? 'A lot of people have said something about his as well. Like what's with your f***ing drivers? The guy looks like a junkie... some of the girls, they're like "we were a bit scared to get into the car..." and he looks really suss too.' 'Tell him, listen bro, if he wants to keep working for us, you've gotta cut your hair and you gotta wear a f***in' nice collared shirt when you work. Bro, he would do it, like he's making decent money, he can buy a collared shirt. 'I'm not telling you, I'm not telling you to get rid of him, like we need the drivers bro, but you need to tell him to fix up his appearance a little bit. 'Little things, just tell him little things bro, like get a haircut, dress nicely and make sure your face is shaven. Keep your car clean, that's really important too bro. Advertisement

AH agrees, saying that from afar the new driver 'looks clean, he'd pass as a normal person, but if they pull him over and talk to him, he's pretty much fried that guy, bro, to be honest.'

AH then discussed another driver who was arrested with his 'batch money' in his back pocket. 'He is a good bloke... he has a good heart but he's just not all there up there man.'

Gerges: 'Look cuz, let's be honest, most people with a good head on their shoulders wouldn't be doing this... I do my absolute best to minimize my risk.'

Police pulled Gerges over a short time later that day and found 40 bags of cocaine in his underwear. A further 32 bags were found in a first aid kit and 110 more in a gym bag on the back seat of his car.

Gerges pleaded guilty on Thursday to four counts of the ongoing supply of cocaine, two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, participating in a criminal group and possessing steroids.

He will appear for sentence in the District Court on May 26.
Logan August (pictured), a California cop who pleaded guilty to stealing marijuana during criminal investigations and conspiring to sell it, has blamed 'Satan' for his actions

A California cop who pleaded guilty to stealing marijuana during criminal investigations and conspiring to sell it has blamed 'Satan' for his actions.

Logan August, a former Kern County sheriff's deputy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana. Another former Kern County cop, Derrick Penney, did the same.

August attempted to explain his actions in a confession video posted to YouTube on May 7.

'I want to, first of all, just express how sorry I am,' the 30-year-old said, while sat with his wife.

'I accept 100 per cent what I've done I put it on my heart to be honest, and to just own up to it, and to use this as a learning situation.

'I made a horrible decision, it was nobody else's fault, I made that decision based on Satan playing games with me and making me feel like I was prideful and unable to go to family members for help.'

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August, a former Kern County sheriff's deputy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana

Another former Kern County cop, Derrick Penney (pictured), also pleaded guilty in a California court Monday

August goes on in the video, which lasted nearly seven minutes, to accept the flood of negative attacks he has received on social media.

'I am deserving of everything you said... I am despicable and I am a piece of crap and that is me in this world,' he said.

The Los Angeles Times reports August and Penney pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Fresno on Monday, after their crimes were uncovered last month.

The ex-deputies had been accused of working with former Bakersfield sheriff Patrick Mara and others to steal marijuana from the Kern County Sheriffs Office.

The marijuana, which had been seized during drug investigations, was going to be sold off as part of the plan.

August had knowledge of the situation as he had worked with the Sheriffs Major Vendor Narcotics Unit and been a part of drug busts, according to the newspaper.

Authorities accused August of taking marijuana on 10 separate occasions in 2014, and receiving about $25,000 after it was sold.

Court papers claim August and Penney, on one occasion, handed over about eight pounds of marijuana to a seller - after stealing it and having it trimmed.

The Times reports they each received about $1,200 for that transaction.

The duo will be sentenced in August, and could be jailed for five years.
A Russian escort who allegedly blackmailed former Governor Eliot Spitzer has argued that he should have been the one arrested as she claims he attacked her.

Svetlana Travis Zakharova allegedly extorted $400,000 out of Spitzer over two years, during their time together.

But Zakharova's attorney Joseph Murray is now suggesting there is evidence that was turned over by prosecutors to support his client's claim that Spitzer attacked her at the Plaza Hotel last February, the New York Daily News reported.

Svetlana Travis Zakharova was accused of blackmailing Governor Eliot Spitzer in 2016 for a total of $400,000. She is seen in court on Tuesday

The original lawsuit said Spitzer had paid money to stop Zakharova, a Russian model and prostitute, from making their 'trysts' public

But Zakharova's attorney has claimed evidence proves that Spitzer attacked her during a fight at the Plaza Hotel last February

'Mr. Spitzer should have been arrested,' Murray said.

The attorney also argued that the former governor used his 'political influence' to his advantage at the beginning of the legal drama.

Spitzer, who resigned as governor in 2008 after he was accused of wiring more than $10,000 to an elite escort service, had admitted to a 'relationship' with Travis in the original lawsuit filed in 2016.

That suit said Spitzer had paid money to stop Zakharova from making their 'trysts' public, and that her claims of assault were made against him in revenge for him cutting ties with her.

Spitzer's representatives said in September that he had withdrawn the claims, 'without prejudice and without costs to either party as against the other.'

But the closure of that civil suit apparently meant little to the NYPD, which picked up Travis and hit her with the charges.

Spitzer's suit claimed that Zakharova had 'demanded' a meeting with him on February 13, during a stopover while travelling from her home in California to Russia.

It said that she 'became enraged when [he] told her that he did not wish to maintain any relationship with her, that he did not intend to give her more property, and that he intended to end all contact.'

Zakharova told police after the incident that Spitzer had choked her and shoved her after she told him of her plan to return to Russia

Zakharova called police and told them she had cut herself and was having a breakdown, Spitzer's attorney, Adam Kaufmann, said in February.

Spitzer was present while police arrived, Kaufmann said, and 'sought to keep her calm.'

When police arrived they noticed a cut on her arm and a broken glass, and took her to hospital.

There she told staff that Spitzer had choked her and shoved her after she told him of her plan to return to Russia.

But she refused to co-operate with police and flew to Russia later that night.

FROM RUSSIA TO MANHATTAN: JOURNEY OF A $5K-A-NIGHT CALL GIRL WHO SAYS 'SEX IS SEX BUT MONEY IS MONEY' I grew up in central Russia. When I was little, I wanted to be a tour guide and see the world. Then a tour bus came through our town and it was small and stinky with no air conditioning. The tour guide had frizzy hair and sweat stains under her arms. I thought tour guides in the United States probably had it better. I had the phone number of a Russian woman who had said she would host me. When I arrived at JFK, she told me to take the train to Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. I knew about it because in Russian movies its a place where you can buy smoked salmon and caviar and nice clothes, and where only people who really achieve can go. I felt lucky. When I came out of the train station I saw all these ugly people, people in wheelchairs, old people, and the streets were smelly and the people were wearing clothes worse than what people wore in the Soviet Union and the train station was loud and I thought: Fuck, this is not the America that I heard of. I spent four days there before I met a girl who said I could live with her in Manhattan. When I got there and looked around, I understood the fuss. I understood why all people want to come here. Advertisement

Zakharova is charged with allegedly extorting $400,000 out of Spitzer over two years

Spitzer is certainly no stranger to controversy. The multi-millionaire is the son of real-estate tycoon Bernard Spitzer and he made a name for himself as a lawyer focusing on corrupt financiers.

The one-time 'Sheriff of Wall Street' was even considered presidential material, and became 57th governor of New York in 2007.

But he was forced to quit the following year after it was reported that he had at least seven meetings with high-end prostitutes over a six-month period and may have spent up to $80,000 on call girls over many years.

Infamously known as Client 9 of the Emperors Club VIP call-girl ring, he resigned at a public press conference along with his wife Silda, who chose to stand by him.

Zakharova is currently being held at Rikers Island on $1 million bail.
A 70-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly shooting an Amtrak train conductor in Naperville, 25 miles outside Chicago during on Tuesday afternoon.

The Wisconsin man leaned out of a window and fired on the conductor after an argument on the Southwest Chief, which had stopped at Naperville Metra station on its way from from Los Angeles to Chicago, police said.

Passengers then leaped on the gun-toting geriatric and held him down until authorities arrived, the Chicago Tribune reported.

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An elderly man shot an Amtrak conductor in the stomach at the Napierville Metra station (pictured) on Tuesday after an argument about luggage, according to a witness

The conductor, a 45-year-old from Homewood, was hit in the stomach during the 4:45pm attack but his injuries are not life-threatening, Amtrak said.

He had just stepped off the train after arguing with the man over luggage, witness Mike Leming, of Lake Forest, California, told the Daily Herald.

The conductor was awake and alert when first responders arrived.

Passengers restrained the suspect after the shooting, but many were shaken by the event. The conductor was not fatally injured and the suspect was taken into custody

Police have not yet identified the suspect, described as a white man, who was arrested and held at Naperville police station. The race of the conductor has not been released.

Naperville police Commander Louis Cammiso told the Daily Herald that the brave passengers who tackled the alleged gunman may well have stopped others from being hurt.

'Not knowing the intention of the suspect, not knowing what further acts he was capable of, I think it was key that the other passengers did restrain him for police. I think that possibly could have saved lives,' he said.

A handgun was recovered at the scene, but police say they still haven't confirmed the exact motive behind the shooting.

Sisters Ellen Harrington and Kim Willhite, both of Kokomo, Indiana, were heading home from a trip to Las Vegas when the shooting happened.

They didn't witness the shooting, but they did see the conductor lying on the platform afterward.

'It's crazy, plum crazy,' Harrington said. 'I've never seen anything in my life like this.'

The shooting occurred during the Tuesday evening rush hour, temporarily halting Metra commuter rail service into and out of Chicago.
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Dr Alan Keightley was head of religious studies at a West Midlands sixth-form college when he began writing to Ian Brady in 1992 at the suggestion of the mother of his youngest victim, Lesley Ann Downey.

For years, he visited Brady in prison every month, spoke to him on the phone every day and received hundreds of letters from him.

Dr Keightley built up a detailed archive of material he has now turned into a biography of Brady that provides a disturbing and unique insight into the man himself  and the nature of evil.

Over more than 25 years of their meetings, Dr Keightley compiled an extraordinary archive of Ian Bradys personal effects  all given to him by the killer  that together reveal much about his twisted psyche...

The chess set used by Brady to beat disgraced MP John Stonehouse in a 1979 prison chess final (right). Left, a book given to Ian by Myra. The inscription is marked with a sprig of dried, pressed heather, possibly from Saddleworth Moor

Bradys cufflinks  in the shape of police handcuffs  display his warped sense of humour. The cufflinks were among items given to Dr Alan Keightley during his visits to Brady in prison

A Christmas card from Bradys mother. He was fostered as a baby and grew up in Glasgow, moving to Manchester in his troubled teens where he renewed his relationship with his mother

This book of Wordworths Poetical Works was given to Brady by Myra Hindley in April 1967 and inscribed: To Ian. With love, Myra xxxxxx. The inscription is marked with a sprig of dried, pressed heather, quite possibly from Saddleworth Moor, where the pair buried their victims

Bradys steel cigarette box and lighter. He chain-smoked untipped Gauloises and frequently expressed dismay that smoking hadnt killed him

Brady boasted of being well-read and Dostoyevskys Crime And Punishment was one of his favourite novels. Also shown are the murderer's reading glasses

A Buddha (left) Brady kept on his bedside table, even though he derided all forms of religion. Right, A statuette of Don Quixote. Brady had been known to refer to himself as a cynical Don Quixote, tilting at any laws and customs

Bradys signet ring with the initials ISB. He was born Ian Duncan Stewart. After he was convicted of the killings, he started using the name Ian Stewart-Brady during his time in prison, and continued to use it up until his death

Over more than 25 years of their meetings, Dr Keightley compiled an extraordinary archive of Ian Bradys personal effects  all given to him by the killer, who murdered five people along with partner Myra Hindley

Ian Brady: The Untold Story of the Moors Murders by Dr Alan Keightley is published as an ebook on 22nd May, price 9.99. Available for preorder on Amazon and other e-tailers
Author Frederick Forsyth (pictured) has called for tougher laws on dangerous dogs

Frederick Forsyth has called for tougher laws on dangerous dogs after his former wife's pet was torn to pieces in a park.

Carrie Forsyth could only watch as her beloved bichon frise was mauled to death near her home in central London.

Mr Forsyth, who is best known for his thrillers The Day of the Jackal and Dogs of War, says the next victim could be a child. The 78-year-old author also slammed the police's 'lack of interest' in chasing the owner of the offending animal.

A picture of the alleged killer dog and its owner, taken by a friend of Mrs Forsyth, has been given to officers.

The animal appears to be a Staffordshire bull terrier or an American bulldog, neither of which is banned in the UK.

Mr Forsyth said his own pet was attacked by a dog on his property in Buckinghamshire and he claims that police failed to investigate that incident thoroughly as well.

'About three years ago a dog attacked my Jack Russell and badly injured her,' he told the Evening Standard.

'She survived but I reported it to the police but they didn't do anything. Police seem to take the attitude 'It's just a dog'. The next time these dogs could kill or maim a child.'

He said the law needed to be 'urgently looked at' and that certain breeds or offending dogs should be muzzled in public.

Carrie Forsyth (pictured) could only watch as her beloved bichon frise was mauled to death near her home in central London

Mrs Forsyth, a former model who has two children with the author, says she has been traumatised by the incident that claimed the life of eight-year-old Oggy. At her home in Maida Vale she explained that her pet had been passive at her feet when a man entered the park with his dog.

He allegedly shouted 'pick up your dog' moments before the attack but Mrs Forsyth had no time to react.

A picture of the alleged killer dog and its owner, taken by a friend of Mrs Forsyth, has been given to officers

The 73-year-old immediately drove Oggy to seek medical attention but he was bleeding profusely with extensive injuries and died en route. She added: 'I am heartbroken. Oggy was my life. He was more than just a pet.

'The police need to act  that dog is still at large and I have provided a picture.

'What if it attacks a child? That is my concern.'

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Service said: 'Police are investigating an incident on Paddington Recreation Ground in which a dog was attacked by another dog.

'The dog that was attacked died from the injuries sustained. Enquiries continue, including an investigation to identify the owner and the dog and establish if it was a banned breed.'

A dog owner who flapped a tea towel at her powerful pet as it mauled a three-year-old boy to death escaped jail yesterday.

Jade Dunne made a 'wholly ineffective' effort to stop the attack on Dexter Neal. The American bulldog was pulled away by a neighbour. Dunne, 29, faced up to 14 years in jail after admitting a dangerous dogs charge. But the mother of three was handed a 12-month term, suspended for two years, at Chelmsford Crown Court, Essex. She was also given 100 hours of community punishment.
New satellite photos have emerged that suggest North Korea's nuclear programme is growing more quickly than first believed.

Experts claim the images show a test site in the Asian country that could soon be capable of launching a missile that could hit Alaska or Hawaii.

Satellite image firm Planet has provided the photos and say scorch marks in the ground are evidence Kim Jong-un may be testing the Hwasong-12 rocket, which is able to travel 2,500 miles, North Korea claims.

It would mean targets in Guam, Alaska and Hawaii would be within range of a nuclear attack.

New satellite images, pictured, of a North Korea nuclear test site suggest the country's missiles could be more advanced than previously thought

Scorch marks around the site, pictured, suggest the country is testing its Hwasong-12 rocket, which it claims can travel 2,500 miles, making it capable of hitting targets in Alaska and Hawaii

Jeffrey Lewis, the director of the East Asia non-proliferation program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, told Quartz.com tests at the site would 'continue for the foreseeable future'.

He said: 'The conclusion I draw is, it is an active nuclear weapons test site and there is stuff going on there all the time.

'On a broad level, we should be expecting tests at the site every year for the foreseeable future.'

According to the website, North Korea's missile arsenal is designed to take off from mobile launchers to evade spy cameras or surprise attacks from enemies, making it more difficult for surveillance teams.

As reported by Mail Online, Kim Jong-un has been pictured inspecting his new ballistic missile which he claims can carry a nuclear warhead before it was test-fired on Sunday.

The dictator gave the Hwasong-12 a once-over at its launch site in the Kusong region in images published by state media.

The Hwasong-12 has the longest rage of any ballistic missile the North has successfully tested, with experts estimating it can fly 2,500 miles

Kim Jong-un poses next to the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which he claims is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, before its launch on Sunday

After the launch was deemed a success, Kim was seen laughing and celebrating with officials before vowing to carry out more nuclear and missile tests.

The missile travelled more than 400 miles before crashing into the Sea of Japan just off the Russian coast, according to the state-backed North Korean Central News Agency and South Korean analysts.

The U.S. military's Pacific Command said the type of missile that was fired was 'not consistent with an intercontinental ballistic missile'.

The White House responded to the missile test by calling for further action against Pyongyang: 'Let this latest provocation serve as a call for all nations to implement far stronger sanctions against North Korea.'

The North 'has been a flagrant menace for far too long', it added in a statement.

Meanwhile Russian President Vladimir Putin has told world leaders to stop 'intimidating' North Korea following the dictatorship's latest missile test.

Putin said attempts to bully Kim Jong-un's regime were 'unacceptable', though he admitted the missile test was equally wrong.
Grave fears are held for the experienced pilot of an ultra-light plane feared crashed after vanishing in remote bushland.

A helicopter has resumed a desperate search for Ian Sinnott, 72, who disappeared after taking off from Murwillumbah in northeastern NSW.

Emergency services were alerted shortly after 10.45am on Tuesday when a member of the public spotted the aircraft in trouble near Limpinwood.

Witnesses have recalled seeing a wing break off the plane before the whole aircraft 'fell out of the sky.'

Ian Sinnott, 72, disappeared after taking off from Murwillumbah in this plane at 10am on Tuesday

Roy Sneesby has voiced his shock at his friend's disappearance, revealing he is an experienced pilot, reports Gold Coast Bulletin.

'He's an accomplished pilot  (he would have been flying) for at least 30 years.'

Mr Sneesby said he had only recently bought the bright green plane, which may be camouflaged in bushland.

'If it went down in the bush it would be hard to see. He bought this aeroplane because it would do aerobatics.'

One man took to social media to declare he saw the plane plunging from above.

'Did anyone see a plane fall out of the sky about 1 hour ago around Limpinwood?,' the man posted on Facebook.

Emergency services were alerted when a member of the public spotted the aircraft in trouble

A local farmer told investigators he saw a wing falling off the plane that matched the description, 9News reported.

The plane did not reach its destination and a large land and air search was launched in bushland between Tyalgum and Chilligham.

The ground search was called off about 6pm on Tuesday but helicopters using night vision continued to scour the area late into the evening until fog set in.

A search helicopter took off at 6am on Wednesday with another on its way to join the search, an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spokesman said.

Friends have voiced their shock at the disappearance of the 'experienced' pilot

Witnesses reported seeing a low-flying plane which has helped refine the search area, but the green-coloured plane may be camouflaged in the rugged bushland, making the search more difficult, he said.

Police remained in the area on Tuesday evening, while two helicopters will continue searching overnight.

Australian Search & Rescue (AusSAR) in Canberra has been notified and are co-ordinating the search, police said.
A former teacher at Punchbowl Public School claims the ABC's school news program Behind the News (BtN) is so left wing it encourages students to sympathise with Islamic State.

The teacher, known by the pseudonym of Mrs A, said BtN was so leftist it aired stories which convinced her students to take 'a sympathetic view' to the militant terrorist group.

'They were brainwashing the kids,' Mrs A told Mark Latham's Outsiders

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Behind the News (BtN) has been slammed by a former primary school teacher Mrs A

Mrs A blew the whistle on the radicalisation of Muslim students at Punchbowl Public School, in Sydney's south-west earlier this year, claiming she was the victim of death threats from Islamic students as young as 10.

Mrs A handed in her resignation at the school two years ago after teaching years five and six at the largely Muslim school.

She said BtN fuelled the radical behaviour of her young students.

Mrs A said she watched on in 2014 as students cheered for Islamic State when it was mentioned on BtN.

'(It) made things worse in the classroom. Kids would be jumping out of their seats pumping the air (saying) I hope ISIS kills them all some of these children had uncles who had gone overseas to fight,' she said.

'I noticed whenever I was watching these shows in class, if there was a section to do with ISIS or Islam, the behaviour was heightened.'

Mrs A blew the whistle on the radicalisation of Muslim students at Punchbowl Public School (pictured), in Sydney's south-west earlier this year

Mrs A said students also brought ISIS style flags to school (pictured), threateningly chanted the Koran in Arabic, told her to remove her cross necklace and made 'beheading' gestures

BtN also came under fire from The Daily Telegraph columnist Miranda Devine on Wednesday.

Ms Devine slammed BtN's coverage of the 2015 terrorist attack in Paris which killed 130 people at the Bataclan theatre.

In a BtN program which aired on November 24, 2015 it asked: 'Why would Islamic State kill so many innocent people?' to which it said 'We don't know for sure why Islamic State targeted Paris  but ISIS says the Paris attacks were revenge for the French bombing it in Syria'.

Ms Devine questioned the report.

'But we do know why Islamic State targeted Paris, since it issued a statement describing the city as "the capital of fornication and vice"'.

BtN's coverage of the 2015 terrorist attack in Paris which killed 130 people at the Bataclan theatre has also come under fire from columnist Miranda Devine (pictured)

She said BtN also failed to report Islamic State referred to Australia as 'corrupted by kufr, fornication and all forms of vice'.

The BtN report from 2015 did however urge students to stand up against terrorist attacks.

'They want all people Muslims and non-Muslims, to stand together against them,' the BtN report said.

An ABC spokesman denounced the claims made about Behind The News.

'Any such claim would be nonsensical and offensive,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Mrs A said students also brought ISIS style flags to school, threateningly chanted the Koran in Arabic, told her to remove her cross necklace and made 'beheading' gestures towards her (Islamic State member pictured)

Mrs A said students brought ISIS style flags to school, threateningly chanted the Koran in Arabic, told her to remove her cross necklace and made 'beheading' gestures towards her.

Speaking to Mark Latham on his Outsiders program this week, she said she feared for her life.

'That was quite scary and it wasn't only scary for me but it was also quite intimidating for the other students,' she said.

'The other students were quite frightened, non-Islamic and Islamic students.'

A spokesman for the Department of Education confirmed to Daily Mail Australia the incidents she described had taken place.

BtN also failed to report the Islamic State referred to Australia as 'corrupted by kufr, fornication and all forms of vice'

She said BtN sprouted leftist opinions on all subjects from terrorism to refugees and climate change.

Mrs A said she was due to meet with the NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes next month to discuss the issue.

The ABC advertises BtN as a 'high-energy, fun way for upper primary and secondary students to learn about current issues and events in their world'.

The program has been broadcast to school students across Australia for more than 45 years.
Roman Heinze, the man who violently attacked two backpackers at Salt Creek last year, has been jailed for at least 17 years.

The 61-year-old was previously found guilty of six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life in relation to the incidents at the remote beach in South Australia's Coorong National Park in February last year.

In the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Trish Kelly handed down a 22-years-and-four-months sentence with a non-parole period of 17 years for the attacks on the two women from Brazil and Germany and for some previous offences.

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Roman Heinze, the Salt Creek backpacker attacker, has been jailed for 22 years

Heinze tied up a Brazilian woman with rope and sexually assaulted her before hitting a German woman in the head with a hammer several times. Above, a picture from the crime scene

Heinze met his victims, a Brazilian and a German, through the Gumtree website, where they had sought a ride to Melbourne

Justice Kelly told Heinze the Salt Creek attacks were committed 'solely in pursuit of the gratification of your own perverted sexual fantasies and desires'.

She said Heinze was 'utterly depraved', 'somewhat primitive' and lacked any morale compass whatsoever.

'Even though you have presented as a docile and at times rather pathetic character sitting in the dock over these past months, it's obvious you are a man with a very strong anger management issue,' Justice Kelly said.

'Equally obvious that you have violent and obsessive sexual preoccupations for which you have amply demonstrated you're capable of acting out.'

Heinze met his victims through the Gumtree website, where they had sought a ride to Melbourne, and drove them to Salt Creek.

The women, both 24, had only met each other through a mutual friend a few days before they decided to travel together.

Prosecutors said Heinz' iPhone had two pornographic videos on it and he accessed them on the day of the Salt Creek attack

Heinze attacks two backpackers on a remote beach in Coorong National Park while camping

After setting up camp, he tied up the Brazilian woman with rope and sexually assaulted her before hitting the German woman in the head with a hammer several times and repeatedly ramming her with his 4WD.

The crimes against the two women defied any reasonable or rational explanation, Justice Kelly said.

Heinze was also jailed for an indecent assault in 2014 against another backpacker, who he had similarly offered a ride interstate, and for breaching a bond in relation to a 2014 assault against a fourth women.

Justice Kelly said the nature of how Heinze met his victims called for a warning to young people who used the internet for travel or other social interaction.

'Safety does not necessarily come in numbers,' she said.

Heinze is pictured during his dramatic arrest at a remote beach in Coorong National Park

He picked them up at a train station before driving them to a remote spot in the park (above)

Both of the young backpackers managed to escape and Heinze was arrested in his vehicle on the beach.

TIMELINE OF ATTACKS 2014: Heinze indecently assaults a backpacker at a property in Adelaide's south after he agreed to give the woman a ride interstate February 2016: Heinze attacks two backpackers on a remote beach in Coorong National Park while camping 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 Both managed to escape and Heinze was found in his bloodstained car further down the beach March 2017: A jury finds Heinze guilty of six charges, including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, endangering life, and causing serious harm May 5, 2017: Heinze was found not guilty of rape and false imprisonment against a former girlfriend May 11, 2017: A suppression order on Heinze's identity is lifted, naming him as the Salt Creek attacker Advertisement

Police found a box of Viagra, condoms and a bottle of Passion Pop inside. Prosecutors said his iPhone had two pornographic videos on it.

He saved still images from the videos, which he accessed on February 7, 2016  the day he answered the Brazilian woman's Gumtree ad.

He also confessed to assaulting another woman, also a backpacker, in Hackham in September 2014.

Between that incident and the Salt Creek attack, he contacted 13 other backpackers on Gumtree and also accumulated depraved pornography on his computer and phone.

One of the women, who was from Japan, agreed to go to Salt Creek with Heinze.

But he cut the visit short because she revealed she had shared photos of him and his vehicle online.

Prosecutor Jim Pearce said Heinze became 'obsessed' with that woman afterwards.

Between August 2015 and January last year, he looked for information online about 'how to hurt a woman' during sex and if Japanese women 'like being raped,' the Advertiser reports.

He also searched online using terms including 'rape', 'fetish' and 'brutal.'

In November 2012, Mr Pearce said Heinze had spent 30 minutes online shopping for bondage products including a ball gag, a 'slave bondage set' and harnesses.
Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House oversight committee, has requested to see any and all documentation the fired FBI director James Comey kept of his communications with President Donald Trump.

Chaffetz's request, addressed to the acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, came just hours after Comey's associates made explosive accusations against Trump.

Reading from a memo Comey wrote after a February 14 meeting with the president, the associate told aNew York Times reporter Trump asked him to close a federal investigation into disgraced National Security Advisor Mike Flynn by saying: 'I hope you can let this go.'

Comey said he wrote the memo immediately after the Oval Office meeting, and shared its existence with senior FBI officials as part of a wider paper trail documenting his communications with the president.

Chaffetz has already requested that 'all memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings' be turned over by May 24.

Jason Chaffetz, the chairman of the House oversight committee, has requested to see any and all documentation the fired FBI director James Comey kept of his communications with President Donald Trump

Chaffetz's request, addressed to the acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, came just hours after Comey's explosive accusations against Trump were published in the New York Times

Chaffetz said if the memoranda exist, they 'raise questions as to whether the President attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation as it relates to Lt. Gen. Flynn'

The White House quickly fired back against Comey's memo, saying 'the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.'

Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, tweeted: '@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.'

Hours later, he fired off the letter to McCabe.

Chaffetz cited the New York Times report, which stated: 'Mr. Comey created similar memos -- including some that are classified -- about every phone call and meeting he had with the president, the two people said.'

Chaffetz wrote: 'If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the President attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation as it relates to Lt. Gen. Flynn.

'So the Committee can consider that question, and others, provide, no latter than May 24, 2017, all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the President.'

An FBI agent's notes are often held up in court as credible evidence, according to the New York Times.

Comey recounted the meeting he had with Trump on February 14 and claimed the president told him: 'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.'

Comey and Trump talked on February 14, according to the Times, one day after Flynn was forced out of his National Security Advisor position for lying about the nature of his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the US.

Comey's memo recounted the meeting, claiming Trump said: 'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.'

'He is a good guy,' according to Comey's retelling of the meeting. 'I hope you can let this go.'

An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the existence of any contemporaneous memo written by Comey following his February 14 meeting in the Oval Office.

But if the memo is genuine, it would represent a turnabout from Trump's warning to Comey last week about the potential existence of 'tapes' of their conversations.

Comey's friends immediately started leaking to reporters that the former top cop was 'not worried about any tapes' of talks between him and the president.

'If there is a tape, there's nothing he is worried about,' one Comey confidant told CNN.
Donald Trump would have just 10 minutes to decide what to do North Korea fired a missile at the US mainland, according to experts.

Although Kim Jong-Un's arsenal is some way off being able to travel the 5,500 miles needed to reach the US, yesterday it was revealed the nation's nuclear programme is developing much faster than previously anticipated.

A test launch on Sunday would have reached 2,500 miles if fired at a standard trajectory, prompting leading scientists David Wright and Markus Schiller to analyse what would happen should North Korea strike.

Wright said: 'The timelines are short. Even for long-range missiles, there are a lot of steps that go into detecting the launch and figuring out what it is, leaving the president with maybe 10 minutes to decide whether to launch a retaliatory strike.'

The long-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 (Mars-12) is launched during a test in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 15, 2017

Kim Jong-Un, North Korea's leader, stands underneath a huge missile which was said to have been launched on Sunday

This graphic shows how long a missile would take to reach potential North Korean targets if it was launched by Kim Jong-Un's defense ministry in Pyongyang

North Korea's latest missile test marks a significant step forward towards Kim Jong-un's regime producing an ICBM capable of hitting the US mainland, experts have warned.

The dictator's defence ministry fired a missile named Hwasong-12 on Sunday night which soared 489 miles (787 km) reaching a height of 1,312 miles (2,111 km).

The test 'represents a level of performance never before seen from a North Korean missile', John Schilling, an aerospace expert, said in an analysis on the US-based 38 North website.

Sunday's missile was deliberately fired at the highest angle to avoid affecting neighbouring countries' security, but had it been launched at a standard trajectory, it would have reached at least 2,500 miles (4,000km) - almost half the 5,500 miles (8,851 km) required to reach the US mainland.

South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo told parliament Sunday's test-launch was 'successful in flight'.

Asked if North Korea's missile programme was developing faster than the South had expected, he said: 'Yes.'

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects the long-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 ahead of the launch

This graphic shows how an ICBM works and how far off the missile North Korea launched on Sunday was from reaching the US mainland. If it had been fired at a standard trajectory (marked in red) it would have reached almost halfway across the Pacific. Instead, it was tested at a steep angle (in yellow) to avoid affecting neighbouring countries' security

New York and Washington are less than 6,800 miles (11,000 kilometers) away.

That translates to about 30 minutes according to Schiller, or 38-39 minutes by Wright's estimate.

The United States relies in large part on its Ground-based Missile Defense system, with bases in Vandenberg Air Base in California and Fort Greely, Alaska, to intercept incoming missiles, but also has anti-missile defense systems GMD and THAAD at its disposal.

But critics point out the GMD, which has cost $40 billion, had six out of its nine test intercepts fail between 2002 and 2016.

They claim the strategy has 'no credible plan for defeating countermeasures' such as decoys.

'In its current form, strategic missile defense is a waste of resources at best and dangerous at worst,' the Union of Concerned Scientists wrote in a report published last year.

'It is not a reliable defense under real-world conditions - by promoting it as a solution to nuclear conflict, US officials complicate diplomatic efforts abroad, and perpetuate a false sense of security that could harm the US public.'

Wright, a senior scientist and co-director of the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said that aside from stopping an incoming missile, another big question is what would a US president do in response.

How far would missile have to travel from Pyongyang to reach the rest of the world? US Naval Base in Guam: 2,114 miles (3,402 km) Hawaii: 4,727 miles (7,670 km) London (over mainland Europe): 5,379 miles (8,657 km) San Francisco: 5,588 miles (8,993 km) Los Angeles: 5,935 miles (9,551 km) Washington, DC: 6,857 miles (11,035 km) Advertisement

'The timelines are short,' he said.

'Even for long-range missiles, there are a lot of steps that go into detecting the launch and figuring out what it is, leaving the president with maybe 10 minutes to decide whether to launch a retaliatory strike.'

And if the president decided not to strike back, land-based ICBMs could be in the air within five minutes and submarine-based missiles in 15.

To be classified as an ICBM - intercontinental ballistic missile - the missile must have a minimum range of 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles).

North Korea does not at this time have such a missile, as far as the experts can tell.

Schiller, of ST Analytics, an independent space technology and rocketry consulting company based in Germany, explained the time it takes for an ICBM to cover its first 5,500 kilometers is usually a little more than 20 minutes.

If you fire at something 6,200 miles (10,000 km) away, however, he says it will still reach it in less than 30 minutes.

So while Wright suggests 33-34 minutes to San Francisco, Schiller predicts a faster trip to the West Coast - saying a missile could hit Seattle 5,000 miles (8,000km) away and Los Angeles 5,600 miles (9,000km) away in under 30 minutes from launch.

With the looming threat of a strike and with hostilities rising, Seoul is still the most vulnerable potential target.

Well before North Korea had a nuclear program, it realized it could hold the 10 million people of the South Korean capital hostage with the threat of a massive, conventional artillery strike.

If it were to launch such a strike, the first wave of shells from its dug-in gun batteries concentrated just north of the Demilitarized Zone could land with no warning.

South Korea has Patriot missile-defense batteries, but they are intended to protect against short-range Scud missiles.

They would not help against an artillery attack.

The much-talked-about, state-of-the-art THAAD missile defense system deployed in South Korea this month also cannot protect Seoul from either artillery or incoming missiles - it isn't designed to do that from its current site.

To make things uglier, the North could hit the South with chemical or biological warheads.

One nuclear scenario that has been raised is an attack on the city of Busan, a major port sometimes used by the US Navy.

That's an option Pyongyang might consider if it believed it was under immediate threat of attack and wanted to make a show of overwhelming force to keep Washington from committing further.

It would take just six minutes to strike Seoul in this way from North Korea.

US missile defense system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is installed at a golf course in Seongju, South Korea

A member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces stands by a PAC-3 Patriot missile unit deployed against the North Korea's missile firing, at Defense Ministry in Tokyo

The next obvious target would be Tokyo, which could be hit with a strike in as little as 10 minutes.

Japan also has Patriot missiles it deploys, among other places, on the grounds of its Defense Ministry in downtown Tokyo.

It helped develop with the US the ship-based Aegis system, which is designed to intercept medium-range missiles with a range of less than 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles).

The Patriots are designed to intercept an incoming missile at its 'terminal stage' - just before it hits - if the Aegis' ship-based SM-3 missiles fail to intercept them farther out and higher up, at mid-course.

It remains unknown whether Pyongyang actually has a working nuclear warhead, Schiller said, as opposed to 'just some nuclear device that goes boom in a tunnel, under laboratory conditions.'

Serious questions have been raised over whether this type of defence strategy when augmented by the THAAD system would be a reliable missile shield.

One problem is whether it could be overwhelmed by a swarm attack - several incoming missiles at the same time.

North Korea simultaneously launched four medium-range Scud ER missiles into the Sea of Japan in March, which was claimed to have been in reaction to these concerns.

Recognizing the current shield's weaknesses, some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are pushing for a first-strike plan of Japan's own, using ballistic or cruise missiles, or F-35 stealth fighters.
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Sydney's property bubble is so out of control that 91 per cent of postcodes are out of an average family's reach - even if they are renting.

Rental affordability in the notoriously expensive city is at a record low with the average household paying its landlord 29 per cent of its income, new data shows.

This proportion drastically increased in just five years from 2011, when only 74 per cent of postcodes were considered unaffordable, to last year.

 Slide me  Sydney's property bubble is so out of control that 91 per cent of postcodes are out of an average family's reach even if they are renting - up from 74 per cent in 2011. Slide right to see how rents in your area have jumped from 2001 to 2016

 Slide me  The entire inner-city is considered 'severely unaffordable' with 38-60 per cent of income spent on rent, and more than a dozen areas 'extremely unaffordable' with costing more than 60 per cent

HOW TO READ THE GRAPHICS Advertisement

Households are considered to be under 'rental stress' if they spend more than 30 per cent of their income on rent, making their home unaffordable.

Data from the Rental Affordability Index shows huge tracts of Sydney are inaccessible for the city's average household income of $90,000 renting a three-bedroom home.

These families would have to move out beyond Parramatta - more than 25 kilometres form the CBD - to find a suburb they could come close to affording.

The entire inner-city is considered 'severely unaffordable' with 38-60 per cent of income spent on rent, and more than a dozen areas 'extremely unaffordable' with costing more than 60 per cent.

Five years earlier parts of the inner-west and areas near Ryde cost 30-38 per cent of income, and only the CBD and surrounding suburbs were extremely unaffordable.

The news is even worse for single-income households, earning a median of $70,000 a year, with everything east of Leichhardt considered extremely unaffordable and nowhere in the metro area costing less than 38 per cent of income.

People line up for blocks to inspect a rental property in Sydney's inner-west

 Slide me  The news is even worse for single-income households, earning a median of $70,000 a year, with everything east of Leichhardt considered extremely unaffordable and nowhere in the metro area costing less than 38 per cent of income

 Slide me  Students living in three-bedroom sharehouses scraping together $25,000 a year each are only slightly better off and eating more two-minute noodles than ever with nowhere near Sydney big universities in their budget

Households are considered to be under 'rental stress' if they spend more than 30 per cent of their income on rent, making their home unaffordable

 Slide me  Over the past five years, single parents renting two-bedroom homes have been locked out of Sydney's entire eastern half

 Slide me  Even dual-income families earning $140,000 combined would struggle to afford an average house less than 20 minutes drive from the CBD or anywhere east of Epping north of the harbour

Students living in three-bedroom sharehouses scraping together $25,000 a year each are only slightly better off and eating more two-minute noodles than ever with nowhere near Sydney big universities in their budget.

Even dual-income families earning $140,000 combined would struggle to afford an average house less than 20 minutes drive from the CBD or anywhere east of Epping north of the harbour.

Sydney's bleak rental outlook is not surprising given skyrocketing house prices that force, or allow, landlords to jack up rents every year.

Prices in Sydney doubled since 2009, rising by an average of $222 a year and the median house price hitting $1.15 million

 Slide me  By contrast, other big Australian cities fared far better with no suburbs in Melbourne considered extremely unaffordable and only about two dozen out of reach to the city's median-earning households

 Slide me  Brisbane is considerably more expensive but most of the inner metro area costs less than 30 per cent of its median income of $80,000, and pockets close to the CBD even cheaper

 Slide me  With the mining boom in tatters, all but the richest suburbs in the 'golden triangle' and along the Swan River considered unaffordable, but still far slimmer pickings than five years ago

Property prices doubled since 2009, rising by an average of $222 a year, and the median house price hit $1.15 million earlier this year - making it the second most unaffordable city in the world.

By contrast, other big Australian cities fared far better with no suburbs in Melbourne considered extremely unaffordable and only about two dozen out of reach to the city's median-earning households.

Brisbane is considerably more expensive but most of the inner metro area costs less than 30 per cent of its median income of $80,000, and pockets close to the CBD even cheaper.

With the mining boom in tatters, all but the richest suburbs in the 'golden triangle' and along the Swan River considered unaffordable, but still far slimmer pickings than five years ago.
Charged: Salvador Alejandro Sanchez, 19, faces trial for the murder of his friend

A teenager accused of murder posted audio of the slaying and photos of his own bloody clothes on Snapchat, and has told police that he follows the 'ride or die' credo from the Fast & Furious films.

Police in Escondido, California on Tuesday revealed the shocking new details in their case against Salvador Alejandro Sanchez, 19, who is charged with first degree murder in the death last month of 20-year-old Maithem Alfuraiji.

After hearing the police testimony in Tuesday's preliminary hearing, a judge ordered Sanchez to face trial for the murder.

The horrific case unfolded on April 27, when police say that Sanchez and Alfuraiji, who were good friends, were drinking brandy and smoking marijuana in Mountain View Park, where Sanchez expressed frustration that he was a high school graduate still working for his father's landscaping company.

Murdered: Maithem Alfuraiji, 20, was killed last month in the baffling and brutal case. Police say he was good friends with his killer, who posted audio of his dying cries on Snapchat

Crime Scene: The entrance to Mountain View Park in Escondido, California is shown. Police say Sanchez and Alfuraiji were drinking brandy and smoking pot here before the murder

While they were at the park, Sanchez challenged Alfuraiji to a fight to the death, according to police.

Sanchez was a wrestler at Escondido High School and told investigators he used wrestling moves he described as 'cross face' and 'double trouble' to get Alfuraiji to the ground.

At some point during the attack, Sanchez made an audio recording that he posted to Snapchat, which seems to contain Alfuraiji crying while Sanchez says 'tell them why you are crying' and 'tell them what you did', Escondido police Detective Greg Gay testified, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

An autopsy would later find that Alfuraiji died of a combination of trauma to his face and head and a compression of his neck, cutting off blood flow to his head.

Sanchez has told investigators that he would of let Alfuraiji walk away unharmed if he had not agreed to the fight, and explained his motive in terms of the Vin Diesel Fast & Furious film franchise.

'He has a creed based on the movie series Fast & Furious of "ride or die" so you have to be loyal to him to the end including death,' Detective John ODonnell testified, according to NBC San Diego.

In Court: Sanchez appeared calm and emotionless in court on Tuesday. After hearing police testimony, a judge ordered him to face trial for first degree murder

Inspiration?: The only motive in the murder is linked to the Vin Diesel (pictured) film franchise. 'He has a creed based on the movie series Fast & Furious of "ride or die" so you have to be loyal to him to the end including death,' a detective testified

'He said he lived that creed among the crew or squad he was part of.'

After the brutal alleged murder, Sanchez, who does not own a car, texted a friend for help.

Sanchez shared several brutal images and audio linked to the slay on his Snapchat

The friend was shocked when Sanchez loaded a body into the back seat of his Jeep Patriot, but nevertheless followed Sanchez's directions and drove nearly 20 miles to East Paradise Creek Lane in Valley Center, where they dumped the body, police said.

The friend with the Jeep did not come forward until he was contacted by police, but has not yet been charged in the case.

In addition to the the audio of cries posted on Snapchat, Sanchez posted eerie rap lyrics that seemed to reference the murder.

' throat on my bicep go to sleep now hush lil (racial epithet) dont you cry at least in the arms of a friend is where u die,' read one of the lyrics obtained by the Union-Tribune.

Sanchez also posted pictures of his own bloody knuckles and blood-soaked clothing.

Two young men, Alexander Gendron and Kevin Rosado, who were friends with both Sanchez and Alfuraiji, saw the shocking posts on Snapchat and confronted Sanchez about them.

Heroes: Alexander Gendron (left) and Kevin Rosado (right) saw the shocking Snapchat posts and turned their friend Sanchez in. 'I'm honestly just like heartbroken,' said Rosado

'He wore all white that night,' Gendron recalled at a press conference earlier this month. 'He told us it symbolized him being pure even after what he did, and when I looked at the clothing there was more blood than white. It was bad.'

Gendron and Rosado then came forward to police with their suspicions, and Sanchez was arrested and led police to the body.

After Tuesday's hearing, Sanchez was bound over for trial, which is set to begin on September 12.

'I'm honestly just like heartbroken why would I have to see this?' said Rosado shortly after the arrest.

'These are both my friends, I was literally hanging out with them just last week. I don't know what, like why.'
A Melbourne family have been left shocked after a woman allegedly stole a charity tin from their bakery in broad daylight on Sunday.

Analyce Grech, 21, says the tin had been placed on the counter of their Ferguson Plarre store about a month ago to raise money for the Royal Children's Hospital, and it was stolen on Sunday.

CCTV footage shows a brunette woman look around her before reaching over, grabbing the tin and stuffing it into a brown handbag sitting under her vest just after 10am.

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A woman was filmed on CCTV stuffing a charity tin for the Royal Children's Hospital in her bag just after 10am on Sunday

'I was so shocked, I was really shocked,' Ms Grech told Daily Mail Australia.

'I would assume she has her own issues which I appreciate and understand... I would love to help her seek help but from our end it is very shocking and very disappointing.'

The 21-year-old estimates there was 'more than a few hundred dollars' in the stolen tin.

'Every customer donated very generously to the jar, we put almost every bit of change in there and all of our tips,' she said.

Earlier in the clip she is seen looking around her and moving other things on the counter of the Melbourne bakery

Ms Grech also said many customers had also donated notes to the tin, which would have substantially increased the amount inside.

She advised the woman who had allegedly pocketed the tin to hand it back, saying: 'Please from the kindness of your heart, please return this money, it's not going to us, it's going to sick kids - and please get help.'

A spokesperson from Victoria Police says an investigation into the theft was launched on Wednesday, and officers have already received a call from a potential witness.
Following reports that President Donald Trump attempted to dissuade former FBI Director James Comey from investigating National Security Adviser Mike Flynn, several political figures have said that Trump could be edging toward impeachment.

Intelligence Committee member Sen Angus King said on CNN that Trump could be close to the 'impeachment process', while Sen John McCain has said that Trump's various scandals have reached 'Watergate size and scale'.

'Obstruction of justice is such a serious offense,' King said. 'And I say it with sadness, and reluctance. This is not something I've advocated for, the word has not passed my lips in this whole tumultuous, three or four months.

'But if indeed, the president tried to tell the director of the FBI, who worked for him, that he should drop an investigation - whether it was Michael Flynn or whether it was some investigation that had nothing to do with Russia or politics or the election - that's a very serious matter.'

McCain opened up about the scandals during a dinner where he was receiving the International Republican Institute's Freedom Award.

Senator Angus King commented on CNN that Trump could be closer to the 'impeachment process' if he was found to be obstructing justice

Sen John McCain has said that Trump's various scandals have reached 'Watergate size and scale'

'I think we've seen this movie before. I think it appears at a point where it's of Watergate size and scale,' he told Bob Schieffer, the former host of CBS' Face the Nation. 'The shoes continue to drop, and every couple days there's a new aspect.'

McCain told Schieffer that the advice he would give to Trump would be 'the same thing that you advised Richard Nixon, which he didn't do get it all out'.

'It's not going to be over until every aspect of it is thoroughly examined and the American people make a judgment. And the longer you delay, the longer it's going to last,' he added, according to The Daily Beast's Tim Mak.

The senator also criticized the Trump administration for inviting Russian leaders to the White House.

'I've known this guy [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov for 30 years, he's an old KGB apparatchik stooge, and Putin is a murderer and a thug,' McCain said. 'And to have Lavrov in the Oval Office and be friendly with the guy whose boss sent aircraft with precision weapons to attack hospitals in Aleppo, I just think it's unacceptable.'

Sen Richard Blumenthal also denounced Trump's alleged comments to Comey.

'We are witnessing an obstruction of justice case unfolding in real time. I am stunned that any of my colleagues would possibly oppose the appointment of an independent special prosecutor after this astonishing revelation and other mounting evidence of political interference in a criminal investigation,' Blumenthal said in a statement.

Reports on Tuesday claimed Trump told former FBI Director James Comey to drop an investigation into Mike Flynn during a meeting on February 14. Pictured, Trump and Comey converse on January 22

'All of the evidence  including transcripts, tapes, memos, and other documents  must be subpoenaed immediately.

'All of the relevant actors  including Jim Comey, Jeff Sessions, Rod Rosenstein, and Don McGahn  should be called to testify under oath in public before the Senate Judiciary Committee. There can be no delay.'

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Trump allegedly asked James Comey to close a federal investigation into Mike Flynn during a February 14 meeting in the Oval Office.

'I hope you can let this go,' Trump told Comey, according to a memo written by the then-FBI director.

'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,' Trump reportedly added. 'He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.'

Comey's notes were read to the Times reporter by one of his associates. Comey reportedly wrote the memo immediately after he met with Trump, as part of an effort to document situations in which the president sought to interfere in the FBI's operations.

Comey has been known to keep detailed notes about conversations that might be called into question later.

In another bizarre portion of the memo, Trump complained that classified government information had been repeatedly leaked to the news media and urged Comey to consider jailing reporters who were involved.

'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go,' Trump allegedly said, according to a memo written by Comey

The White House quickly responded to the Times story, claiming in a statement that 'the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.'

Despite the White House's denials, the Times described 'the existence of Mr. Trump's request' for an investigative slowdown as 'the clearest evidence that the president has tried to directly influence the Justice Department and F.B.I. investigation into links between Mr. Trump's associates and Russia.'

After the New York Times piece was published, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement: 'If these reports are true, the President's brazen attempt to shut down the FBI's investigation of Michael Flynn is an assault on the rule of law that is fundamental to our democracy.'

'At best, President Trump has committed a grave abuse of executive power. At worst, he has obstructed justice.'

Intelligence Committee member Rep. Adam Schiff told reporters that the committee should subpoena any notes Comey took about the meeting and have him testify before Congress.

'I think we know enough now, and there has been enough alleged publicly, to want to bring the director back to testify, ideally in open session either before our committee or the Judiciary Committee,' Schiff said.

'If true, this is yet another disturbing allegation that the president may have engaged in some interference or obstruction of the investigation.

Intelligence Committee member Rep. Adam Schiff told reporters that the committee should subpoena any notes Comey took about the meeting and have him testify before Congress

House Oversight Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz also spoke out about the allegations, adding that he had his 'subpoena pen ready'

'[Comey] should come back to the Congress and share what he knows in terms of the president's conversations with him on any of the Russian investigation.'

House Oversight Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz also spoke out, writing an opinionated tweet about the allegations.

'[The committee] is going to get the Comey memo,' if it exists, he said.

'I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.'

Criminally speaking, obstructing justice applies to a variety of scenarios - like threatening a juror, retaliating against a witness, or impeding a grand jury proceeding - and Trump's alleged request would not fit neatly into any of them, legal experts said.

'No one would write a federal statute with this situation in mind because it's such an extraordinary situation,' said Jens David Ohlin, a dean at Cornell University Law School.

Meddling in a federal investigation could qualify as impeding a judicial proceeding under the obstruction statute.

But to bring an obstruction charge, a prosecutor would have to show the president was trying to 'corruptly' influence the investigation, and proving an improper intent can be hard.

Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, said Trump would have some lines of defense.

'The president can claim he was raising an issue of concern for a longtime associate,' Turley said. 'That doesn't mean that the question was not wildly improper, and frankly, would border on the moronic.'
Former Attorney General Sally Yates says she is worried Department of Justice employees investigating potential Russian ties to Donald Trump could fear for their jobs in the wake of James Comey's dismissal.

Yates, who was fired by the president on January 31, spoke to CNN's Anderson Cooper on Tuesday night.

Cooper asked the veteran lawyer if Comey's shock firing would have an impact on the people investigating reported links between Russia and the White House.

'This is certainly a troubling situation and it can have a chilling effect,' Yates said.

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Former Attorney General Sally Yates says she is worried Department of Justice employees investigating potential Russian ties to Donald Trump could fear for their jobs in the wake of James Comey's dismissal

'They should be able to do their jobs without any fear at all.'

Yates continued to say, 'our loyalty at the Department of Justice should be to the people of the United States', and not the president.

The 56-year-old discussed Comey's dismissal further, telling Cooper it was 'a really troubling situation'.

'There are serious questions about the timing and the motivation,' she said.

'Jim is obviously a very qualified and experienced guy we had a common background, I found him to be a straight-shooter and candid.

'Jim would speak him mind, some might call that showboating, but he would speak his mind.

Sally Yates (left) spoke about the impact Comey's dismissal could have during an interview with Anderson Cooper (right) on Tuesday night

'This is certainly a troubling situation and it can have a chilling effect,' Yates (left) told Cooper (right)

Yates: Our loyalty at the Department of Justice should be to the people of the United States and not the President https://t.co/Egxsikq2f8  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 17, 2017

'The explanations (for his firing) seem to change on what is almost an hourly basis it seems as though there is only one truth, and we ought to get to that.'

When asked by Cooper if she believed Comey's reported determination to continue with the Russia investigation played a role in his firing, Yates said: 'Its one of those important questions we need answers to.'

During the interview, she also doubled down on her warning that former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was susceptible to Russian blackmail.

'I think that this was a serious compromise situation that the Russians had real leverage,' she said in her first sit-down interview since being fired from the Department of Justice.

Yates testified before Congress last Monday where she told lawmakers she had warned White House counsel Don McGahn that Flynn 'likely could be blackmailed by the Russians.'

'Jim would speak him mind, some might call that showboating, but he would speak his mind,' Yates said of Comey (pictured in April 2016)

Yates also said the explanations from Trump (pictured) and the White House for why Comey was fired 'seem to change on what is almost an hourly basis'

'To state the obvious you do not want your national security adviser compromised by the Russians,' Yates said at the time.

Yates had warned the White House Flynn had lied to Vice President Mike Pence on discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador, and Pence subsequently made public statements repeating those untruths.

'And that this was a problem because not only did we believe that the Russians knew this, but they likely had proof of this information and that created a compromise situation,' Yates said during her testimony.

Cooper wanted to know if Flynn's actions were a firable offense.

'You know, I can't speak to a fireable offense,' she replied. 'It was up to the president to make that decision about what he was going to do, but we certainly felt like they needed to act.'

Yates reminded Cooper she had told McGahn, who wanted to know if Flynn should be fired, it wasn't her call.

Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates explained to a Senate panel last Monday why she warned the White House about ex-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn

Sally Yates warned the White House that former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was lying about conversations he'd had with the Russians and the Russians knew about it, making him susceptible to blackmail

She added while the decision to fire Flynn is up to the president of the United States 'it doesn't seem like that's a person who should be sitting in the national security adviser position.'

As far as Flynn's actions being illegal, Yates responded to CNN, 'There's certainly a criminal statute that was implicated by his conduct.'

She also stated that she wanted and expected the White House to act.

On her last day at the Justice Department Yates again spoke with McGahn, informing him that materials that showed Flynn's culpability were available for the White House to look at.

Yates had been canned by Trump over her refusal to support his controversial travel ban executive order.

Cooper asked her 'on a personal level' if she was concerned when she didn't see any action taken against Flynn.

It took the White House 19 days since Yates first warned McGahn about Flynn for the president to ask for his resignation.

'Well, sure, I was concerned about it, but I didn't know if perhaps something else had been done that maybe I just wasn't aware of,' she said.

She said it 'absolutely' was surprising that Flynn would sit in on a call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, after she had warned the White House about his inappropriate Russian contacts.

After he was fired, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Flynn resigned over a trust issue, not a legal one.

Cooper asked if Yates agreed.

'I don't know how the White House reached the conclusion that there was no legal issue,' she said. 'It certainly wasn't from my discussion with them.'

Cooper, pointing to accusatory tweets written by the president of the United States, asked Yates again if she had leaked information to the Washington Post.

The Post story seemed to have prompted the firing of Flynn, leaving questions remaining about what impact Yates' warning had.

'Absoutely not,' the former top Justice Department official replied. 'I did not and I would not leak classified information.'

Cooper pointed to a specific tweet from Trump, which seemingly accused Yates of being the leaker, and asked her to react.

'There have been a number of tweets that have given me pause,' she said.

Cooper asked if she wanted to elaborate.

'No,' the former acting attorney general said back.
The family of a seven-year-old boy says his outburst last week at school led to police handcuffing him and placing him in a behavioral health facility without notifying a parent.

The boy had a violent outburst and was banging his head against the wall at Gabe P Allen Elementary in Dallas, Texas on May 9 when police handcuffed him, his mother April Odis told CBS Dallas.

An investigator hired by the family's attorneys, David Ramirez, said that the boy has hyperactivity and mood disorders.

Shocking: The family of a seven-year-old boy says his outburst last week at school led to police handcuffing him and placing him in a behavioral health facility without notifying a parent

An investigator hired by the family's attorneys, David Ramirez, said that the boy has hyperactivity and mood disorders

The school called police after the boy became upset and had an outburst in class

The boy became upset at his charter school, which called Dallas Independent School District Police, Ramirez said.

'When I got there, (I said) "Where's my baby?"' mother April Odis said, recalling her attempt to pick up her son in an interview with NBC Dallas.

According to Odis, the school employee told her: 'Oh, he's not here. He was acting out, he was saying the absurdities, so he's gone.'

The boy's family shared photos showing what they claim are bruises from a police officer's nightstick on the boy's legs, and marks on his back from where he was allegedly tased.

The boy's family shared photos showing what they claim are bruises from a police officer's nightstick on the boy's legs, and marks on his back from where he was allegedly tased.

'He was denied his safe place,' mom April Odis said. 'I feel cheated and my son feels cheated'

'He was denied his safe place,' Odis said. 'I feel cheated and my son feels cheated.'

Ramirez says the boy's mother was later told he was in the Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital but his parents were unable to secure his release for a week.

Ramirez says the boy was sedated and not released until Monday.

A school district spokeswoman says the actions by district police were their own and not a matter of district policy. District police didn't return messages.

Ramirez says the boy's outbursts are often triggered by teasing from other children.
An Army sergeant has died after a truck he was in driven by a 20-year-old comrade spun out of control on a turn and landed upside-down during a training exercise in Hawaii.

Army officials identified the soldier who died on Sunday in a crash that is being investigated as Terrence Hinton, 36, from Michigan.

Police, who are probing the death as a negligent homicide, say the truck driven by another soldier went out of control on a turn, hit a guardrail and overturned into a culvert - a tunnel used for carrying water under roads.

Army officials identified the soldier who died as a result of this crash as Terrence Hinton, 36, who died on Sunday. The incident is being investigated as a negligible homicide

Military personnel assess the scene of a tractor-trailer accident at the Highway 190/Daniel K Inouye junction, about 25 miles northeast of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

The military tractor-trailer had been towing heavy equipment to a dock on Hawaii Island and no other vehicles were damaged in the incident, the Army said.

The 36-year-old Hinton, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division on Oahu.

He enlisted in 2009 and served in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, before moving to Hawaii in 2016.

He deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and Kuwait in 2014 for a total of 21 months.

Major General Chrisopher Cavoli, commander of the 25th Infantry Division, said: 'We offer our deepest condolences to Sgt. Hinton's family and friends and will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

'It is a tragedy and a sad day when we lose one of our Soldiers.'

Another soldier, Private First Class Marcus Smith, was treated for minor injuries after the incident.
President Trump risked the life of an Israeli spy who is embedded in ISIS by sharing classified information with Russia, officials said on Tuesday.

Though Israel is yet to confirm that it is the source of the information that Trump shared, ABC reports that it was one of the country's spies who supplied it, citing 'current and former' US officials who said the individual was now in danger.

The sources said Israel only agreed to pass on the spy's findings to the US on the condition that the individual remain anonymous.

The information pertained to an ISIS plot to bring down airliners using laptop bombs.

Despite assurances from National Security Adviser HR McMaster that the president's actions were 'wholly appropriate', Israeli officials are distancing themselves from the administration.

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Officials say President Trump endangered the life of an undercover Israeli spy by passing on classified information about ISIS to Russia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pictured, right

Former Mossad director Danny Yatom told The Jerusalem Post this could be a 'grave violation' of intelligence sharing protocol if it's true and could l'lead to harm to the source.'

'We will think twice before conveying very sensitive information,' Yatom said.

Asked how the U.S. government can move on after the president's disclosure to the Russians, Yatom said, 'It can be repaired by asking again the Americans not to do it, not to convey such a nature of information, which is very sensitive and probably after a short period of time, the relations will be recovered, unless the phenomena of conveying information to a third party will continue.'

The Israeli government considers it to be facing an existential threat in Iran, with whom Russia maintains historic ties. Israeli officials are already expressing concern that information Israel passed on to the U.S. could somehow find its way back to Iran.

Israel's ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer said in a statement that: 'Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under President Trump.'

His statement provided a lifeline to the embattled White House, which has tried to bat away concerns that Trump may have inadvertently given away sources and methods by passing on the information.

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said Trump's disclosure was 'wholly appropriate,' and did not reveal sources and methods. Asked whether Trump revealed the city in Syria where the information came from, he said most ISIS strongholds are well known to media consumers.

Donald J. Trump and Ron Dermer, Ambassador of Israel to the United States, attended the Wharton Club's 44th Annual Wharton Award Dinner at the Park Hyatt Washington hotel on October 22, 2014 in Washington. Dermer said in a statement 'Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States'

LET'S TALK: David Friedman, (R) the new United States Ambassador to Israel, with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (L) in the president's Jerusalem residence as Friedman presents his credentials on 16 May 2017

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 15, 2017

Trump has exhibited a special bond with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Trump's inveighing against the Obama administration's Iran nuclear deal matched up with Netnyahu's view.

Dermer told AIPAC this spring: 'For the first time in many years, perhaps even many decades, there is no daylight between our two governments.'

At an off-camera briefing with reporters, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he couldn't comment on the report on Israel, which maintains its heralded Mossad spy organization.

'I'm obviously pleased to see Ambassador Dermer's comment,' said Spicer.

'We appreciate the relationship that we have with Israel and appreciate the exchange of information that we have with them,' he added, without commenting further.

Defending himself, Trump wrote on Twitter: 'As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.'

ALL SMILES: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US President Donald Trump, and Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak (L-R) talking during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House. Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

ALL (WELL, SOME OF) THE PRESIDENT'S LEAKS The Trump administration has found itself hamstrung by a series of high-profile leaks to reporters. This week's Washington Post story describing the president sharing allegedly classified Israeli intelligence with Russian diplomats is only the latest example. Some of the resulting news stories put the White House in full-blown spin mode, while others have turned out to be inauthentic. January 25: The New York Times described a leaked draft of an executive order that would reopen CIA 'black site' prisons where terror suspects could be interrogated. Sean Spicer later said it was 'not a White House document,' and he had 'no idea where it came from.' February 2: News reports describe an angry Trump berating Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over a refugee resettlement deal negotiated by the Obama administration. February 2: The Associated Press published an excerpt of a leaked transcript of a call between Trump and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto in which Trump tells him he could send American troops to the border to deal with 'bad hombres down there.' February 5: The Times spoke to West Wing aides who revealed that they couldn't figure out how to work the light switches in the White House's Cabinet Room  and had to work in the dark as a result. February 9: The Washington Post leaned on classified information to report that then-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn had discussed the status of U.S. sanctions against Russia during secret meetings in December with Moscow's ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak. February 13: The Post reported that Sally Yates, dureing the days before she was removed from her post as acting attorney general, warned the Trump White House's top lawyer that Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his Kislyak contacts. February 14: The New York Times reported that Flynn was questioned by the FBI only a few days into his White House tenure, and that agents came away from the meeting believing he hadn't told them the whole truth about his Kislyak meetings. February 17: The Associated Press publishes an 11-page Homeland Security Department memo that proposed using 100,000 National Guard troops to police the southern U.S. border. (The White House said it was not an official document.) April 8: White House staffers dished dirt to the Post about a rapprochement between warring senior aides Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon  brokered by CHief of Staff Reince Priebus. May 15: The Post reported, based on leaks from 'current and former U.S. officials,' that the president revealed 'highly classified' information about the ISIS terror army to Russian diplomats in the Oval Office, upsetting a U.S. ally that had been the source of intelligence Trump handed over willingly. The White House insisted that none of the people in the room with Trump and the Russians saw the information exchange that way. May 16: The Times revealed, based on another leak, that it was Israel that had provided the intel in the first place. Israel's ambassador to the U.S. reaffirmed his country's willingness to work with Washington in the future. Advertisement

The disclosure ensures that Trump will have plenty to discuss when he visits Israel, where Trump will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and pray at the Western Wall.

National security advisor H.R. McMaster, asked Tuesday sked if Trump thinks the wall is part of Israel, responded: 'That sounds like a policy decision.'

Netanyahu reportedly asked to join Trump as he prayed at the wall, but a U.S. official told him the site is 'not your territory,' the Associated Press reported, citing on reports out of Israel.

An Israeli intelligence officer told Buzzfeed News the information making its way to Russia represented Israel's 'worst fears confirmed.'

'We have an arrangement with America which is unique to the world of intelligence sharing. We do not have this relationship with any other country,' said the intelligence officer.

'There is a special understanding of security cooperation between our countries,' the officer continued. 'To know that this intelligence is shared with others, without our prior knowledge? That is, for us, our worst fears confirmed.'

The publication had reported in January about Israel's concerns Trump would pass information to the Russians, interviewing the same officer at the time.

'There has to be trust for this sort of arrangement. I cannot speak for Israel's entire security apparatus, but I would not trust a partner who shared intelligence without coordinating it with us first,' the officer concluded.
An Islamist extremist group in Sydney has asked if the federal government is planning concentration camps for Muslims.

Hizb ut-Tahrir compared Australia's internment of Japanese and German prisoners of war during the 1940s with perceived modern-day hostility towards Muslims.

'Startling Australian history. Germany wasn't the only country with concentration camps,' spokesman Hamzah Qureshi said in a Facebook post.

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The offensive posters likening Australia to Nazi Germany to promote a Sunday conference

The Islamist group leader's Facebook post likening Australia to Nazi German concentration camps

Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman Hamzah Qureshi compared Australia's past with Nazi Germany

Mr Qureshi put Australia's detention of prisoners of war, in country New South Wales and Victoria, in the same sentence as Nazi concentration camps.

The notorious Auschwitz death chamber in Poland killed more than one million people, who were among six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

The reference to Nazi concentration camps comes at Hizb ut-Tahrir prepares to host a conference in Sydney's west this Sunday titled: 'Hatred rising: Living Islam in a hostile West.'

Hizb ut-Tahrir is still legal in Australia but was last week banned in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.

It is also illegal in Germany and The Netherlands, and a range of Muslim-majority nations including Bangladesh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this year, Daily Mail Australia caught on camera another Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman Uthman Badar saying that ex-Muslims deserved capital punishment for leaving the faith.

The entrance to the Auschwitz concentration camp, in Nazi Germany, which was part of an evil program to kill six million Jews in the Holocaust

Haunting images of children being transported to Auschwitz, in Poland, in 1944

A pile of human bones in 1944 at the Nazi concentration camp of Majdanek in Lublin, Poland, which German occupied during World War II

In Australia, towards the end of World War II in August 1944, more than 250 Japanese prisoners of war were killed after more 300 escaped from an internment camp at Cowra, in southern NSW, the National Archives of Australia says.

However, no historian has even compared the treatment of prisoners of war in Australia, who were fed and clothed, with the systemic execution of Jews, homosexuals and gypsies during the Holocaust orchestrated by Adolf Hitler.

This didn't stop Hizb ut-Tahrir comparing Australia's wartime past with Nazi Germany.

'Concentration camps for Muslims in Australia?', it said on a Facebook flyer.

'An absurd question? Consider some rarely discussed history.

'During World War I/World War II Australia detained 20,000 people.

'Without trial, without them knowing their 'crime'.

No mention was made about how the Japanese captured 60,000 Allied prisoners of war in 1942 and used them as slave labour to build the Thai-Burma railway, which led to the deaths of 2,815 Australians.

'The Japanese/German 'enemy aliens' were jailed to 'appease public opinion',' Hizb ut-Tahrir said.

Japanese prisoners of war, including children, interned at Tatura in regional Victoria during World War II

An internment camp at Cowra, in southern NSW, where Japanese prisoners of war escaped, with 250 killed, in 1944
A mother was caught on surveillance cameras using her young daughter to steal another family's stroller from Disneyworld.

Michelle Ashley Craig was filmed wheeling her daughter, who was dressed as Frozen's Anna, out of Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, on April 15.

The $1,800 Bugaboo stroller belonged to fellow mother Lauren Collazo who'd left her wallet, car keys and her niece's Epipen in its storage compartments when Craig took it.

Craig then sold the stroller to another mother in Texas via a Facebook page.

Michelle Ashley Craig was filmed wheeling her own daughter out of Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, in another family's stroller on April 15

She was arrested after that woman saw other social media posts about the theft and got in touch with its original owner.

According to an ABC Action News investigation, it was not the first stroller she stole from the amusement park.

Craig also tried to flog designer handbags on local Facebook swap 'n' shop groups. It is not clear whether those goods were stolen.

Collazo did not explain how if she was on a ride or not when the theft took place but said she was left stranded without cash or ID because of it.

'It was the fact that she took it away from me the day that I needed it the most and ruined everybody's day at Disney.

Lauren Collazo (left) said she was left stranded with no money when Craig (right in her mugshot) took the stroller

'I was there with no money, stranded. My husband had to fly over from Miami that same day, catch the first flight available to rescue me and my family,' she said.

The woman in Texas who Craig had sold it to got in touch with Collazo online after reading about the theft in a viral Facebook thread.

She was able to identify it as her stroller from accessories that its first owner placed on it and that were still there when it was delivered to her.

It's not clear whether she gave it back or how much she paid Craig for it.

Craig handed herself in to police in Spring Hill, Florida, where she is a resident.

Hernano County Sheriff's Office said she would like face grand theft charges.
Childless couples could soon outnumber partners with kids and become Australia's most common family type, according to the latest Census data.

Projections from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show childless couples could overtake families with kids by as soon as 2023.

Sociologists say the dramatic shift in family dynamics could have a huge impact on future government policies and the existence of the traditional family model.

More and more Australian couples are choosing not to have children, according to the latest Census data (stock image)

Childless couples could outnumber partners with kids by as soon as 2023 (stock image)

University of Melbourne sociologist Leah Ruppanner told the ABC the trend of not having children was not a global phenomenon.

'(The trend is most evident in) a lot of countries like South Korea and Japan, where their populations are shrinking because they are not having enough babies,' Dr Ruppanner said.

'One of the things is governments need populations to grow because it means you have people paying taxes, people looking after the older generation, and people supporting the economy.'

A snapshot of the 2016 Census was released last month, ahead of the main release on June 27.

The national survey found the typical Australian, dubbed Claire, is a woman, 38, who is married with two children and living in a three bedroom home with two cars.

Sociologists say the dramatic shift in family dynamics could have a huge impact on future government policies (stock image)

Age varies across state lines. The typical Tasmanian is the oldest at 42 while the youngest at 34 is found in the Northern Territory.

Housing affordability appears to have made an impact in the 2016 Census. While Claire still owned a three bedroom home, she is now paying off a mortgage instead of owning it outright like she did in 2006.

The ageing population is becoming more visible. A decade ago, the typical Australian would have been a year younger than Claire.

When the first Census was taken in 1911, 105-years-ago, the typical Australian was a man aged 24.

Despite painting an image of the typical Australian, ABS said the results showed 'we're a big, diverse community'.

'There's nothing typical about Australians,' ABS said on Tuesday.

The survey questioned households on gender, incomes, occupations, dwellings, transportation, ancestry, languages spoken and religion.

Conducted online on the night of August 9, it was marred by cyber attacks which prompted the bureau to shut it down for almost two days.

The outage resulted in IBM paying out millions of dollars in compensation for its role in the botched survey.
An Air Canada flight from Jamaica to Toronto had to be diverted to Orlando after officials said an unruly passenger brandished two coffee pots at the crew and tried to open the cabin door in mid-flight.

Brandon Michael Courneyea was arrested on Monday night by federal agents in Orlando on charges of assault or intimidation of a flight crew member and interfering with performance of duties.

Crew on flight AC 1850 from Montego Bay to Toronto became alarmed around 7.30pm as the plane was in the air, according to details of a federal complaint first reported by WFTV.

Courneyea was yelling at other passengers 'for looking at him', the complaint stated.

Crew on flight AC 1850 from Montego Bay to Toronto became alarmed around 7.30pm Monday, when officials say passenger Brandon Michael Courneyea became unruly (file photo)

He the ran to the back of the plane, grabbed a coffee pot and began to swing it menacingly at crew members, the complaint said.

'Courneyea then stated that it would only take one guy to take the plane down and that he wanted to take everyone with him,' according to the complaint.

The agitated passenger then grabbed a second pot of coffee as a crew member confronted him, investigators said.

'When confronted, Courneyea lunged for the rear cabin exit door and began to pull the door lever up to open the door,' the complaint said.

Aircraft doors are designed to be nearly impossible to open at high altitudes.

Crew members and passengers worked together to restrain the man, holding him down in a seat and using zip ties to secure his arms and legs, investigators said.

The entire incident lasted about 45 minutes and federal agents met the plane in Orlando, where Courneyea was arrested.
Fidget spinners are said to help children who suffer from Autism and ADHD by allowing them to concentrate their excess energy into one place.

But some schools have banned the toys, believing they are more of a hindrance than a help to children.

South Australian Primary Principals Association President Pam King said some school principals believed the gadgets were becoming a distraction.

Ms King explained to Daily Mail Australia that the issue for schools is that the gadgets are being used by children in class time as opposed to play time.

Fidget spinners are intended to help children with Autism or ADHD but school principals are concerned it is impacting the learning of other students who want to play with the gadgets during class

She said that because children with issues such as Autism or ADHD were allowed to use the spinners in class to help them concentrate, children who did not need to use them wanted to play with them in class as well.

'A lot of the time it's just a matter of educating the kids as to when they can use them,' Ms King explained.

'It is essentially a craze, a bit like Tamagotchi or those cards, but at the moment [the fidget spinner] is the hot trend'.

In a bid to examine whether the toys were becoming an issue, Ms King contacted principals throughout the state to ask for their opinion.

She said many of the responses she received did not appear to be too against the toys, though there were some concerns.

South Australian Primary Principals Association President Pam King said it was simply a matter of educating children as to when they could use the toys

'The general reaction was concern about kids using them during class,' she said.

'Because instead of being used to relax children and make them less anxious its distracting them from their learning.'

Mazenod College assistant principal Tony Coghlan told the Herald Sun earlier this month the school had banned its students from bringing them to class.

One school in New York also banned the toys, saying they posed a physical threat to students, reported Kidspot.

'They are being thrown around during transition in the hallways to and from class and in the cafeteria and at recess,' an article in the school's newsletter read.

'They are small in size, but can seriously hurt someone.

'In an effort to prevent injuries, we must officially ban these fidget spinners from being brought into our school.'
An out-of-control driver was caught on a home's surveillance video hitting a teenage boy on a bicycle and speeding off without stopping on Monday.

Johnny Walsh, 14, was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk in Pasco County, Florida when a gold Ford Expedition struck him after swerving through a nearby yard and bouncing off a parked car.

Walsh is alive and was well enough to point out his injuries from the ordeal, as reported by ABC's WFTS.

Walsh reacted quickly to being struck by the vehicle, which may have saved his life.

'It hit the bike, and then I pushed off. Then I hit the floor and I rolled,' he said.

'And then the tire was right in front of me. So I had to hurry up and get out of the way.'

Walsh suffered a few injuries, but luckily nothing that seemed too severe.

Walsh is alive and was well enough on Tuesday to point out his injuries from the ordeal

Johnny Walsh, 14, was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk in Pasco County, Florida when a gold Ford Expedition struck him after swerving through a nearby yard and bouncing off a parked car, before speeding away without stopping

Walsh reacted quickly to being struck by the vehicle, which may have saved his life

'I got a bruise right here. I got this scratch,' Walsh said Tuesday, holding up his right arm for news camera.

'I got knots on my hand and this [left] elbow. And then my hip, I got a big knot on it.'

After the SUV hit Walsh, the surveillance footage showed neighbors flooding out of their homes to check on the boy and all the commotion.

'There were kids everywhere. It was just mad chaos,' said neighbor Jackie Lilly, who posted the surveillance video to her Facebook page after the incident.

The video also showed a white car racing after the SUV, the driver of which was able to obtain the license plate number of the vehicle used in the hit-and-run.

After the SUV hit Walsh, the surveillance footage showed neighbors flooding out of their homes to check on the boy and all the commotion

'There were kids everywhere. It was just mad chaos,' said neighbor Jackie Lilly, who posted the surveillance video to her Facebook page after the incident

Walsh described how he pushed himself off of the car after impact, possibly saving his life

Because the driver of the white car followed the wreckless SUV driver to obtain the license plate number from the vehicle, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) was able to identify the owner of the vehicle, but not the person who was driving at the time of the crash.

(FHP) released the following information, which was added to Lilly's Facebook post with the videos of the hit and run:

The vehicle in the video had Florida license plates, number GYCT99. The driver was described as a 'white male with light brown or blonde hair, 20-30 years of age.'

FHP has asked that anyone with information about this incident contact the FHP by dialing *FHP (*347) locally, or (813)-631-4020.
A sick six-year-old boy's $3,000 wheelchair has been found after it was dumped by thieves who stole the car it was in.

Police arrested three teenagers including a 14-year-old girl and will charge them with stealing after they allegedly broke into the Brisbane home and took the car keys.

James Alley said his son William has rare muscle-wasting disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and used the wheelchair to get around.

A father is begging callous thieves to return his six-year-old son's $3,000 wheelchair that was in the back of the car they stole from him

The little boy can walk but the wheelchair helps him avoid muscle fatigue and prevent muscle loss from over-exertion.

Mr Alley said he woke up on May 4 as they were pulling out of the driveway with the stolen grey Nissan X-Trail 4WD,

It was found abandoned 40 kilometres away in Caboolture but the wheelchair was not in the car when it was found and it didn't turn up until Wednesday morning.

Police said a member of the public spotted it dumped in a caravan park along with a children's car seat and several kid's books.

William in the wheelchair (L) with some of his family

James Alley (pictured) said his son William has rare muscle-wasting disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and used the wheelchair to get around

It came after Mr Alley begged the thieves to return the wheelchair to his son and for anyone with information to come forward.

'It's great to have it back because William uses it quite a lot. The Duchenne muscular dystrophy leaves him feeling very tired by the end of the day,' Mr Alley said.

'Having the chair really helps conserve his energy so he can focus and have fun at school.

'It's so encouraging that someone from the community would see the chair and make sure it's safe out of the rain for us.'

It was custom made for William and took six months to arrive and would be costly to replace in addition to the boy's medical treatments

The wheelchair was custom made for William and took six months to arrive and would have been costly to replace in addition to the boy's medical treatments.

Police said a 17-year-old boy and girl and a 14-year-old girl were arrested on May 10 and at least one of them made admissions about the theft.

All three were released and will appear in court next month charged with stealing.

Mr Alley said they were caught on CCTV when trying to use his stolen credit cards at a petrol station but police wouldn't comment on whether this led to the arrests.
A 52-year-old man has been charged after allegedly stealing an amount of gold worth $200,000.

The man was charged by the Gold Stealing Detection Unit in Western Australia, who allege he robbed the gold mine he worked at.

Police claim the man stole the gold from the mine earlier this year between February 8 and 9.

A 52-year-old man has been charged after allegedly stealing $200,000 worth of gold from a mine in Western Australia

It is alleged he had sold off some of the precious metal and kept the rest of it.

The remaining gold - and a large sum of money - was discovered by police when they raided his house in Lamington on Thursday.

The 52-year-old man was charged with Stealing as a Servant and Gains benefit by Fraud.

He will appear before the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on 29 May 2017.

Earlier this month, a 25-year-old man faced similar charges after allegedly robbing the Perth Mint.

Police allege he stole a bar of gold worth more than $50,000.
The top American military officer in the Pacific said Wednesday that North Korea's recent military actions are 'a recipe for a disaster' and warned Kim Jong-Un's goal is to create nuclear missiles capable of striking anywhere in the world.

Admiral Harry Harris Jr urged nations not to get adopt a sense of complacency in the face of increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea test-launched a missile on Sunday that many experts believe could be its most advanced yet.

'Combining nuclear warheads with ballistic technology in the hands of a volatile leader like Kim Jong-Un is a recipe for a disaster,' Harris said.

Scroll down for video

U.S. Pacific Command Commander Admiral Harry Harris Jr. shakes hands with guests after deliverinfg a speech at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Wednesday, May 17, in Tokyo

Kim Jong-Un, North Korea's leader, stands underneath a huge missile which was said to have been launched on Sunday

Talking at a lecture for a Tokyo think tank after meeting with Japanese leaders that he said focused on North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, he said: 'Kim Jong Un is not afraid to fail in public and every test he makes is a success because it takes North Korea one step closer to being able to deliver a nuclear-equipped missile anywhere in the world.'

How far would missile have to travel from Pyongyang to reach the rest of the world? US Naval Base in Guam: 2,114 miles (3,402 km) Hawaii: 4,727 miles (7,670 km) London (over mainland Europe): 5,379 miles (8,657 km) San Francisco: 5,588 miles (8,993 km) Los Angeles: 5,935 miles (9,551 km) Washington, DC: 6,857 miles (11,035 km) Advertisement

The missile on Sunday was deliberately fired on a lofted trajectory - reaching more than 1,300 miles (2,092 km), which is higher than satellites in low Earth orbit.

The purpose of the launch was to test re-entry capabilities and what is being described as its 'splash zone' in the open Pacific.

Harris, head of the United States Pacific Command, based in Hawaii, said North Korea is 'closer to being able to deliver a nuclear-equipped missile anywhere in the world' and called for further coordination between the US, Japan and South Korea to deal with the threat.

He also criticized China for throwing up obstacles to the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, where Beijing has constructed island bases in the disputed waters, saying 'we should fly, be able to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows'.

While in Tokyo, Harris met Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Tomomi Inada.

US Pacific Command Commander Admiral Harry Harris Jr. answers questions during a speech at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Harris gestures to a member of the audience at the lecture as he sits behind two cans of Coke

Harris, seen speaking at the conference, said North Korea's military actions are a recipe for diasaster

People gather to listen to the US' top officer in the Pacific to hear his views on North Korea

This graphic shows how an ICBM works and how far off the missile North Korea launched on Sunday was from reaching the US mainland. If it had been fired at a standard trajectory (marked in red) it would have reached almost halfway across the Pacific. Instead, it was tested at a steep angle (in yellow) to avoid affecting neighbouring countries' security

Sunday night's missile launch by the dictator's defence ministry soared 489 miles (787 km) reaching a height of 1,312 miles (2,111 km).

The test 'represents a level of performance never before seen from a North Korean missile', John Schilling, an aerospace expert, said in an analysis on the US-based 38 North website.

'It appears to have not only demonstrated an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that might enable them to reliably strike the US base at Guam, but more importantly, may represent a substantial advance to developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).'

Sunday's missile was deliberately fired at the highest angle to avoid affecting neighbouring countries' security, but had it been launched at a standard trajectory, it would have reached at least 2,500 miles (4,000km) - almost half the 5,500 miles (8,851 km) required to reach the US mainland.

South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo told parliament Sunday's test-launch was 'successful in flight'.

Asked if North Korea's missile programme was developing faster than the South had expected, he said: 'Yes.'
The assailant who left a 51-year-old man in an induced coma with multiple head fractures after a brutal assault is still on the run.

Images of the horrific injuries sustained to a Buchan man, 51, in an assault in the east Gippsland region of Victoria in 2013 have been released as police ramp up their investigation to find the offender.

On Wednesday police seized a red Ducati motorcycle from a home potentially linked to the unsolved crime.

The 51-year-old Buchan man was left fighting for his life after an assault in 2013

A 51-year-old man was left with multiple head and body fractures after an assault from an unknown assailant

The Buchan man was viciously attacked arriving at work on Bruthen Road in the early hours of the morning on January 22.

He suffered multiple fractures to the head and body and as a result was in an induced coma.

The offender is still unknown to police, however officers are hoping the motorcycle seized at a residential address could provide clues.
Talks on a proposed United States ban on laptops and tablets on flights coming from Europe ended Wednesday with no ban - and a promise of more talks and better intelligence sharing.

For days now, European Union officials have been hoping for details on the threat that prompted the proposed ban - the same details that US President Donald Trump discussed with Russian diplomats at the White House last week.

The airline industry came out against the proposal in a strongly worded letter that said it would cause a severe downturn in trans-Atlantic air travel and cost travelers more than a billion dollars in lost time.

Talks on a proposed US ban on laptops and tablets on flights coming from Europe ended Wednesday with no ban - and a promise of more talks and better intelligence sharing; Passengers en route to London are seen here checking in at Biarritz airport in southwestern France in April 2006

On Wednesday, in a secure room in Brussels, officials from the US Department of Homeland Security and the European Union swapped information about threats involving air travel. An official who followed the talks said the ban was 'off the table' for now. He spoke on condition of anonymity to release details of the sensitive negotiations.

They also shared details about their aviation security standards and detection capabilities, and agreed to meet again in Washington next week 'to further assess shared risks and solutions for protecting airline passengers, whilst ensuring the smooth functioning of global air travel,' according to a joint statement.

The White House has defended Trump's decision to share classified information involving an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptops on aircraft with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak.

The proposed electronics ban would create logistical chaos on the world's busiest air travel corridor. As many as 65 million people a year travel between Europe and North America on nearly 400 daily flights, many of them business travelers who rely on the devices to work during flight.

Such a ban would dwarf in size the current one, which was put in place in March and affects about 50 flights a day from 10 cities, mostly in the Middle East.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 265 airlines, wrote to both the EU and the US State Department on Tuesday to oppose the proposed ban, which it said would deeply affect the economy and cause the equivalent of $1.1 billion in lost time to passengers.

There is also the question of the relative safety of keeping a large number of electronics with lithium batteries, which have been known to catch fire, in the cargo area. IATA proposed more in-depth pre-flight screening rather than forcing passengers to give up their electronics.

A woman is shown here working on a laptop and listening to music with headphones aboard an Emirates Airline passenger jet on December 8, 2009 in Trivandrum, India

On Wednesday, it welcomed more discussions on how to improve security while minimizing travel inconveniences.

Nonetheless, airlines have said it is merely a matter of time before the ban is put in place. The prospect has alarmed EU officials, who want to know more about any new threats and the disruption such a move would create.

Experts say a bomb in the cabin would be easier to make and require less explosive force than one in the cargo hold. In addition, baggage in cargo usually goes through a more sophisticated screening process than carry-on bags.

The original ban on mostly Middle Eastern flights, which Britain also partially adopted and is being considered by Australia, focused on certain countries because their equipment to screen carry-on bags is not as effective as machines in the US, analysts said.

Officials from Homeland Security met last week with high-ranking executives of the three leading US airlines - American, Delta and United - and the industry's leading US trade group to discuss expanding the laptop policy to flights arriving from Europe.

The initial ban has hit Middle Eastern airlines hardest. Emirates, the Middle East's largest airline, this month cited the ban as one of the reasons for an 80 percent drop in profits last year. It said the ban had a direct impact on demand for air travel into the US and it faced rising costs from introducing complimentary laptop loans to some passengers.
MOSS POINT, Miss. -- The Democratic primary was decided in Tuesday's runoff as Mario King defeated Billy Knight to move on to the June 6 general election against Republican John Mosley, Independents Tim DuBose, Wanda Williams, and incumbent Mayor Billy Broomfield.

King garnered 1279 votes (52 percent) of the 2477 votes cast to finish 99 votes ahead of Knight, who finished with 1180 votes or (48 percent).

In the May 2 primary, Knight led King by a significant margin, but because neither candidate reached the 50-percent, plus one, threshold necessary to win the primary outright, King and Knight went to a runoff.

King said he was thankful for the city's support and plans to continue to hit the ground running going forward.

"God did it," King said jubilantly. "God did it. We had a good time, we worked really hard, we developed a plan, we disseminated the plan, and we stuck to being positive, while not entertaining foolishness and that's what allowed us to win."

Knight said he felt King played up the issue of his age and said he hopes King lack of experience doesn't hurt the city.

"Evidently, we didn't do enough to secure the win," Knight said. "The big issue working against me was the age and that is what Mario kept playing up, even to the point to where some of the seniors bought into it. The thing I guess we did not do enough is emphasize Mario has no experience in doing anything -- he never had a real job and I guess we did not make that point strong enough to where people would pay attention."

"We just wonder how he's going to govern if he should be fortunate enough to win at all," Knight said. "He doesn't have the experience to run the city and hopefully our city does not suffer because of it."

In the alderman at-large race, David Chapman Sr. defeated former alderwoman Shirley Chambers decisively gaining 1778 (74 percent) of the total 2,409 votes compared to Chambers 624 or (26 percent).

The Ward 1 race was hotly contested as three votes resulted in a tie between Sherwood Bradford and James C. Smith on May 2.

Bradford retains the seat as the Ward 1 alderman defeating Smith in a close contest. Of the 342 total votes, Bradford received 177 or (52 percent) of the vote while Smith received 164 or (48 percent).

Incumbent Chuck Redmond retains the Ward 2 seat by receiving 232 (54 percent) of 433 total votes. Challenger Ruby Hill obtained 201 (46 percent).

Ward 3 incumbent Robert Byrd retained his seat by garnering 228 or (53 percent) of the 436 total votes. Challenger James Winters received 208 votes or (48 percent).

Challenger Ennit Morris will become the new alderman of Ward 4 as he defeated Willie Mena Martin decisively.

In the May 2 primary, Morris reached the 50 percent voting threshold, but was short of the additional vote needed to be declared the outright winner. Morris received 293 or (69 percent) of the total 426 votes, while Martin received 133 or (31 percent).

With no general election opposition, Chapman, Bradford, and Morris will be sworn into office on July 3.

Floyd Downs was the only clear-cut winner on May 2 as he received 67 percent of the vote in Ward 5. Downs moves on to face Republican Linwood Grierson in the June 6 general election.

Robert Walker won the Ward 6 primary and will take on incumbent Independent alderman Wayne Lennep on June 6.

The general election for all Mississippi municipalities is set for June 6.
For those who think they've ever been on a particularly bad first date - think again.

Brandon Vezmar, 37, from Austin, Texas, sued his date last Thursday for $17.31 because she was texting during a movie.

The specific amount, according to Vezmar, is to compensate for the cost of the movie ticket to the 3-D showing of 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2,' the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Brandon Vezmar, 37, from Austin, Texas, sued a woman he went on a date with last Thursday for $17.31

He says his reasoning for the claim is because she was texting during Guardians of the Galaxy - and the amount he's suing for is the price of a movie ticket

'It was kind of a first date from hell,' Vezmar said. About 15 minutes into the movie, he claims, his date started texting.

'This is like one of my biggest pet peeves,' he added.

His date, who asked that she not be named, first found out about the claim against her when the Statesman called her on Tuesday.

'Oh my God,' she said. 'This is crazy.'

In his petition, Vezmar got into the minutiae of his date's texting habits during Guardian of the Galaxy.

She 'activated her phone at least 10-20 times in 15 minutes to read and send text messages,' he claimed, adding that it was a 'direct violation' of the policy at the theater and that his experience was 'adversely' affected by it.

Vezmar says that he asked his date to stop texting, and then suggested she go outside if she was going to continue to do it.

She then left the theater and drove away, which Vezmar says left him without a ride.

In text messages to his date afterwards, he explained that her texting was 'not only rude, but it cost me money.' She responded, calling the situation 'insane'

His date, on the other hand, maintained that she was texting a friend who was having a fight with her boyfriend.

'I had my phone low and I wasn't bothering anybody. It wasn't like constant texting,' she said.

When Vezmar texted her afterwards and asked that she pay him back for the movie ticket and pizza, she refused. She cited her reasoning as: 'he took me out on a date.'

She said she is also going to file a protective order against Vezmar because he allegedly tried to contact her little sister for the money he felt he was owed.

'While damages sought are modest, the principle is important as defendant's behavior is a threat to civilized society,' Vezmar's petition read.
Beijing has installed 'anti-frogman' rocket launchers on a disputed island to ward off Vietnamese combat divers as tensions continue to rise in the South China Sea region.

The defence system has been built on Fiery Cross Reef, which is administered by China but also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Chinese media clam the Norinco CS/AR-1 55mm anti-frogman launcher has the capability to discover, identify and attack enemy combat divers.

Beijing has installed 'anti-frogman' rocket launchers on the disputed Fiery Cross island (pictured) to ward off Vietnamese combat divers as tensions continue to rise in the South China Sea region

A satellite image from February shows what CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative says appears to be concrete structures with retractable roofs on the artificial island Fiery Cross reefs in the South China Sea

Beijing is continuing to build up its military in the disputed Spratly Islands despite criticism from the US.

China has said military construction on the islands it controls in the South China Sea will be limited to necessary defensive requirements, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory.

But America has stressed the need for freedom of navigation by conducting periodic air and naval patrols near them that have angered Beijing.

The state-run Defence Times newspaper did not say when the defence system was installed.

The Spratly Islands are claimed by Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines but lie along a sea route from Singapore to Shanghai which China sees as vitally important

But it said it was part of a response that began in May 2014, when Vietnamese divers installed large numbers of fishing nets in the Paracel Islands.

China has conducted extensive land reclamation work at Fiery Cross Reef, including building an airport, one of several Chinese-controlled features in the South China Sea where China has carried out such work.

More than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped through the South China Sea every year.

Besides China's territorial claims in the area, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.
A man has been charged after he allegedly groped three women and damaged a bus in Sydney's west on Tuesday afternoon.

The 37-year-old man allegedly indecently assaulted two women, aged 42 and 62, inside an elevator and in the foyer of a building on Sturt Street, Telopea in Sydney's north-west.

The man then caught a bus about 4.45pm on Sturt Street where he sat next to a 22-year-old woman.

Police arrested the man (pictured) shortly after the alleged indecent assaults on Tuesday

He allegedly indecently assaulted the young woman before he was ordered off the bus.

When the man was forced off the bus, he allegedly kicked it and damaged its windscreen wiper.

When police were called they found the man on Benaud Place in Telopea, not far from where the alleged assaults happened.

Police arrested the man (bottom left) in Telopea, Sydney's north-west, on Tuesday afternoon

Police found the man on Benaud Place in Telopea (pictured), not far from where the alleged assaults happened

He was arrested and taken to the Parramatta Police Station where he was charged with three counts of assault with act of indecency.

The man has been refused bail and will remain in police custody until he is due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday.

New South Wales police said he could face further charges relating to damage caused to the bus.
Stephen Colbert is pulling no punches with the latest White House scandal, ripping into President Donald Trump over the explosive allegations that the president tried to call off an investigation into his ousted former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

'There's a huge scandal out of the White House,' the Late Show host said on Tuesday night's show. 'No, not that scandal, or the one before that, or the one tomorrow.'

'Although technically they're all part of one big scandal stroganoff,' said Colbert, whom the president recently called 'filthy' and 'no-talent' in a vicious exchange of barbs.

'I can't put my finger on what it's obstruction of. Oh, it's obstruction of jussst... a second I'll think of it.'

Colbert laid out the bones of the story that rocked Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, that a memo by fired FBI Director James Comey described a February meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, in which Trump allegedly said of an investigation into Flynn's contacts with Russia: 'I hope you can let this go.'

'Yeah that is definitely obstruction of something,' said Colbert. 'I can't put my finger on what it's obstruction of.'

'Oh, it's obstruction of jussst... a second I'll think of it.'

President Trump recently called Colbert 'filthy' and 'no-talent' in a vicious exchange of barbs

'Maybe now is the time to release your tax returns sir,' Colbert joked, suggesting that Trump needed a distraction that was less 'indict-y'.

'Or, what would be less damaging? Ooh, ooh got anymore tapes of you and Billy Bush?' Colbert suggested, reference the infamous tape of Trump discussing grabbing women in certain parts.

On Capitol Hill, legislators from both parties were in less of a joking mood Tuesday, with the possibility of an obstruction of justice charge - and even impeachment - being raised.

Republican Senator John McCain said late Tuesday that the developments had reached 'a point where it's of Watergate size and scale.'

'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go,' Trump allegedly said, according to a memo written by Comey

'I think we've seen this movie before,' the Arizona Republican said at a dinner to receive the International Republican Institute's Freedom Award. 'The shoes continue to drop, and every couple days there's a new aspect.'

On Tuesday night, Republican Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House oversight committee, fired off a letter to the acting FBI director Andrew McCabe requesting to see 'all memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings' between Comey and Trump by May 24.

Yet as the House came back into session Tuesday night some Republicans from conservative districts said their constituents were not overly concerned with any aspect of the Russia story.

Comey's memo raised legitimate concerns that Trump could face obstruction charges

Addressing the Comey memo, GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas said: 'If Comey felt like the president was trying to obstruct justice, Comey would have been duty-bound to report it to the DOJ and act on it. And we're not hearing that happened. I think this is another example of whatever Trump does gets the worst possible spin.'

House Republicans were to hold a weekly meeting Wednesday morning after which Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., was expected to address the matter.

Aides have said he hopes for a full explanation from the White House.
Jeremy Corbyn's union paymaster is trying to defuse a major row after he admitted that Labour has no chance of winning the general election.

Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, appeared to pave the way for Mr Corbyn to cling on even if the party is thrashed on June 8, saying 200 seats would be a good result.

The comments, made hours after the launch of the party's manifesto, enraged Labour moderates.

Unison chief Dave Prentis said on Twitter: 'Success = a Labour government.'

Mr McCluskey desperately tried to backpedal on comments today, telling reporters he had been 'taken slightly out of context' and there was 'all to play for'.

Labour frontbencher Barry Gardiner bizarrely tried to claim that Mr McCluskey had been playing a trick. He told LBC the union chief was trying to 'lull the Conservatives into a false sense of security and make them complacent'.

Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, said the Labour faced an 'immense' task in the election and that 200 seats would be a good result for the party

Unison chief Dave Prentis directly contradicted Mr McCluskey on Twitter, saying success would be Labour victory

Mr McCluskey told Politico: 'The scale of the task is immense. People like me are always optimistic, things can happen. But I don't see Labour winning. I think it would be extraordinary.'

He added: 'I believe that if Labour can hold on to 200 seats or so it will be a successful campaign.

'It will mean that Theresa May will have had an election, will have increased her majority but not dramatically.'

When Parliament dissolved in late April, Labour held 229 seats compared to the Tory's 330.

Mr McCluskey's target of 200 is 30 fewer than Ed Miliband secured in 2015.

The Unite chief said today: 'The reality, of course, is that Labour has launched their manifesto, a fantastic manifesto, a manifesto for workers, for ordinary working people and a manifesto which will change Britain for the better.''We are getting constant feedback from our members and theres been an incredible response, a very positive response.

'I think therefore its going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks. I feel full of confidence now that the opinion polls can start to change.'

The row came after Labour revealed its most most left-wing manifesto in decades, vowing to hammer the 'rich' and empower unions.

Labour has revealed its most most left-wing manifesto in decades, vowing to hammer the 'rich' and empower unions

Deploying the language of class warfare, Mr Corbyn promised to soak nearly 50billion from the better off and business, while re-nationalising key industries such as rail, mail, water and energy.

A 50p top rate of tax will be imposed on those earning more than 123,000, and anyone on over 80,000 faces paying 45p in the pound.

The money is meant to fuel a massive spending splurge on the NHS, schools and scrapping student tuition fees. Overall, government budgets would increase by an eye-watering 10 per cent.

But experts immediately warned that the Labour plan - which would take the tax burden to its highest level for 70 years - is extremely unlikely to raise the sums hoped as companies and entrepreneurs will be driven abroad.

Mr Corbyn was greeted with rousing cheers by activists as he arrived for the speech in Bradford

A seemingly off-the-cuff promise from Mr Corbyn to end the government's freeze on benefits rises also descended into chaos, as the 4billion-a-year promise didn't feature in the manifesto and he was forced to ditch it within hours.

Meanwhile, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has admitted Labour does not know how much it would cost to bring the water industry - which is worth tens of billions of pounds - back into public ownership.

Mr Corbyn told activists at the launch at Bradford University: 'For the last seven years our people have lived through a Britain run for the rich, the elite and the vested interest.

'They have benefited from tax cuts and bumper salaries while millions have struggled.

'Whatever your age or situation, people are under pressure, struggling to make ends meet, our manifesto is for you.'
Children have been kept in isolation for more than 30 hours in Sydney's hospitals, it has been revealed.

The data, compiled by the NSW Ministry of Health, documents the use of seclusion and restraint in every mental health unit in the state every six months from June 2008 until June 2016.

It shows high rates of isolation and children's hospitals in Sydney  with 38 hours being the average duration of a seclusion episode at the Children's Hospital Westmead, Fairfax Media reports.

The only facility where secluded patients were held for longer, on average, was Lismore Base Hospital with 41.2 hours  but the state-wide average is 5.7 hours.

Children have been kept in seclusion for more than 30 hours in Sydney's hospitals, it has been revealed. Above, Westmead Children's Hospital

And the Sydney Children's Hospital Network (SCHN), which is made up of the Westmead and Randwick-based facilities  had one of the worst rates of seclusion in NSW  11.3 per 1,000 bed days.

And although the number of young people kept secluded is low, even one case of extended isolation was 'extremely distressing,' according to psychiatrist Dr Ian Hickie.

More than one in 10 stays at the SCHN's acute units involved physical restraints, the report reveals.

Randwick had the highest rate of physical restraint with 57.8 episodes for every 1,000 patient bed days.

Last week, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard launched a parliamentary inquiry into 'all aspects' of the state's mental health system after shocking CCTV footage emerged of a mentally-ill patient who died in a northern NSW facility in June 2014.

The only facility where secluded patients were held for longer, on average, was Lismore Base Hospital with 41.2 hours

And calls for such detailed data on seclusion and restraint rates to be published on a more regular basis in a bid to hold NSW's mental health units to accounts have also escalated since.

Miriam Merten, 46, died after she was locked in a seclusion room with no water at Lismore Base Hospital in June 2014.

She died of a 'traumatic and hypoxic brain injury' after falling at least 25 times in seven hours.

Coroner Jeff Linden found the two nurses on duty failed to take appropriate action and Ms Merten's death 'occurred as a result of her admission to the mental health unit of Lismore Base Hospital'.

Miriam Merten (pictured) died after she was locked in a seclusion room with no water at Lismore Base Hospital in June 2014

Mr Hazzard also announced a six-month independent review by Chief Psychiatrist Dr Murray Wright including the potential for the complete elimination of seclusion rooms.

Dr Wright said the high rates of seclusion with children was concerning and that NSW Health had made an effort to reduce them.

He said the 38-hour average was an aberration and guesses there was something 'extraordinary' at the unit at the time.

He said it was likely there were one or two 'particularly challenging patients' but added: 'Ultimately the buck stops with us'.

'We need to make sure that these circumstance [are] extremely rare and we have to create a system that can cope with this extremely rare situation,' he told Fairfax.
J.W. Ledford Jr., was given the lethal injection at 1.17 am at the state prison in Jackson, Georgia, on Wednesday

A smiling murderer quoted Cool Hand Luke in his final words before being killed in the first execution of the year in Georgia.

J.W. Ledford Jr., was given the lethal injection at 1.17am at the state prison in Jackson and when asked if he had any last words, he delivered a line from the movie about a prisoner who refused to conform to rules in jail.

'What we have here is a failure to communicate.

'Some men you just can't reach,' he said.

'I am not the failure. You are the failure to communicate.'

'You can kiss my white trash a**,' he added, continuing to smile.

Hours earlier, the US Supreme Court had turned down requests from his lawyers for a final minute stay.

Ledford Jr., 45, was sentenced to death for the 1992 killing of his neighbor, Dr. Harry Johnston, who he stabbed to death.

As the warden exited the execution chamber at 1:09 a.m., Ledford began talking again, but the microphones had been cut off so his words weren't audible to witnesses.

Records from past executions show that the lethal drug generally starts flowing within a couple of minutes of the warden exiting the execution chamber.

Ledford raised his head to look at his right arm right after the warden left and about a minute later appeared to speak to a guard to his right.

He then rested his head, closed his eyes and appeared to take several deep breaths before falling still within two or three minutes of the warden leaving the room.

The prisoner was given the lethal injection at the the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Center in Jackson, Georgia in a death chamber similar to the one shown above

He had been scheduled to die at 7pm on Tuesday but the 11th hour legal bids by his lawyers delayed the killing.

The prisoner's final meal totaled a whopping 5,000 calories.

It consisted of filet mignon wrapped in bacon with pepper jack cheese, large french fries, 10 chicken tenders with sauce, fried pork chops, a blooming onion, pecan pie with vanilla ice cream, sherbet and a Sprite.

His earlier request to be executed by firing squad was also turned down last week. He feared the injection would leave him 'in agony' and that it would be 'unconstitutionally painful'.

In a statement released shortly after 1.30am on Wednesday, Georgia's Office of the Attorney General said: 'The lawfully ordered execution of J.W. Ledford, Jr. for the 1991 murder of Dr. Harry Buchanan Johnston, Jr. was carried out today at 1.17am at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Center in Jackson, Georgia.

'The sentence was carried out after the United States Supreme Court denied Ledford's request for a stay of execution.'

Ledford previously told police he had gone to Johnston's home on January 31, 1992, to ask for a ride to the grocery store.

After the older man accused him of stealing and smacked him, Ledford pulled out a knife and stabbed Johnston to death.

The pathologist who did the autopsy said the victim suffered 'one continuous or two slices to the neck' and bled to death.

Ledford dragged the victim's body to another part of Johnston's property and covered it up.

The killer then went to Johnston's house with a knife and demanded money from the wife of the man he had just murdered.

He took money and four guns from the home, tied up Johnston's wife and left in Johnston's truck.

He was arrested later that day.

There were protests outside the State Capitol on Tuesday as his scheduled execution date approached

LEDFORD'S LAST MEAL - CALORIES Filet mignon wrapped in bacon (6oz) - approximately 310 calories Pepper jack cheese (1oz) - approximately 105 calories Blooming onion (1) - approximately 1,949 calories Large french fries (5.90z) - approximately 510 calories Fried pork chops (196g) - approximately 310 calories Chicken tenders with sauce (10) - approximately 860 calories Pecan pie (1 slice) - approximately 456 calories Vanilla ice cream (.5 cup) - approximately 145 calories Sherbet (.5 cup) - approximately 107 calories Sprite (21oz) - approximately 192 calories Total - 4,944 calories Sources: My Fitness Pal, FatSecret.com Advertisement

Ledford told police he had a number of beers and smoked a couple joints in the hours before the killing.

Ledford's lawyers had asked the parole board to spare him, citing a rough childhood, substance abuse from an early age and his intellectual disability. After a hearing Monday, the board declined to grant clemency. Following its normal practice, the board did not give a reason for its denial.

Because of changes in brain chemistry caused by a drug Ledford has been taking for chronic nerve pain for more than a decade, there is a high risk that the pentobarbital Georgia plans to use to execute him will not render him unconscious and devoid of sensation or feeling, his lawyers wrote in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday. That would violate the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment enshrined in the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the lawsuit says.

When challenging an execution method on those grounds, a U.S. Supreme Court precedent requires inmates to propose a known and available alternative. Ledford's lawyers, therefore, proposed that he be executed by firing squad, a method that is not allowed under Georgia law.

A woman protests outside the State Capitol building in Georgia ahead of J.W. Ledford Jr's execution

He died at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Center in Jackson, Georgia, on Wednesday

A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, saying Ledford's attorneys had failed to show that execution by pentobarbital would be 'sure or very likely' to cause him extreme pain as required by U.S. Supreme Court precedent. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones also said the decision to wait until just a few days before his execution date to file the lawsuit suggested a stalling tactic.

Ledford was only 20, above, when he murdered his 73-year-old neighbor, Dr. Harry Johnston, whom he had known all of his life

Ledford's lawyers appealed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and asked that court to temporarily halt the execution.

A three-judge panel on Monday rejected that request.

Ledford's lawyers had also asked a state court judge to halt the execution because he was only 20 and his brain wasn't done developing when he killed Johnston.

Just as juvenile offenders are considered less culpable and not the 'worst of the worst' for whom the death penalty is reserved, the execution of those under 21 is also unconstitutional, Ledford's lawyers argue.

A Butts County Superior Court judge rejected that petition, and Ledford's lawyers have appealed to the state Supreme Court.

The Georgia Supreme Court, later Tuesday, rejected the appeal of the lower court refusal to stop the execution.

The state executed nine inmates last year, more than any other state and the most Georgia had executed in a single calendar year since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the death penalty to resume 40 years ago.
Shaky phone footage showing the wedding of a 34-year-old man and an underage child was shown in a Melbourne court.

Muslim cleric Ibrahim Omerdic, 61, is fighting claims he solemnised or intended to solemnise the pair's marriage, which was not subsequently formalised under Australian law.

Police seized footage from the husband's phone, in which Omerdic, who was an imam of the Bosnian Islamic Society and Noble Park Mosque, can be heard telling the girl it was her duty to obey her husband.

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Muslim cleric Ibrahim Omerdic, 61, is fighting claims he solemnised or intended to solemnise the wedding of a 34-year-old man and an underage child

Police seized footage from the husband's phone, in which Omerdic can be heard telling the girl it was her duty to obey her husband

'If (your husband) is happy with something, do it. If (your husband) is not happy with something, don't do it,' he tells the girl.

'She's very young,' he can be heard telling the child's mother and her betrothed.

Police executed a search warrant of Omerdic's office, finding wedding materials, ceremonial garb, wedding readings and certificates.

The Certificate of Islamic Marriage also contained a disclaimer stating the document could not validate a marriage by Australian law.

Omerdic was an imam of the Bosnian Islamic Society and Noble Park Mosque (pictured)

The Victorian Board of Imams in September condemned marriages that were illegal in Australia.

'As Australian Muslims we are required to observe and respect the laws of Australia,' it said.

The Islamic Council of Victoria also condemned underage marriages, despite saying it was acceptable in some cultures.

'It is true that marriage at a younger age is permitted in other countries and cultures, but this is not a justification for marriage below the legal age or child marriages here in Australia,' it said in September.
In a move set to leave Australia reeling, a Melbourne-born woman who has worked in New Zealand for decades has vowed never to return to the land of her birth.

Media personality Alison Mau, 52, has lamented that Australia doesn't care about New Zealand and believes its neighbour across the pond is irrelevant.

She described the tipping point as recent moves by the Australian government to charge New Zealanders students full-fee international rates.

New Zealand-based media personality Alison Mau has vowed never to return to Australia

'They don't care about us, they never think about New Zealand, in fact they don't even think about New Zealand on Anzac Day when we think they're thinking of us,' Mau said on Media Take.

'For Australia to treat Kiwis so differently when they say we've got this special relationship, that was it for me,' she said.

The Melbourne-born Radio Live presenter, who moved to New Zealand 24 years ago, described the student fee hikes as the 'straw that broke the camel's back'

The announcement of the Australian government's university funding changes was roundly blasted in New Zealand.

The Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop met her New Zealand counterpart Gerry Brownlee in Sydney earlier this month to help smooth over the matter.

It came after NZ Prime Minister Bill English slammed the Turnbull Government's university funding overhaul announced.

She believes that Australia doesn't care about New Zealand and believe its neighbour across the pond is irrelevant
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Media personality Mark Latham says putting up curtains at a Sydney public swimming pool to cater for Muslim women is a step towards putting drapes around section of Bondi Beach - as an Islamic sheikh likened it to imposing sharia law in Australia's suburbs.

The council-run Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre in the city's west has installed a retractable curtain around one of its three pools so women can swim privately during two set time slots on Wednesdays, infuriating many residents who said it was like 'segregation'.

The organiser of the swim group, Yusra Metwally, said the idea behind the sessions was to 'accommodate people who wouldn't otherwise swim at a beach, or swim in a swimming pool because they don't feel comfortable'.

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A Sydney council have been criticised by angry locals for erecting a curtain (pictured) for a ladies-only swimming session

However Mr Latham, a former federal Labor leader, said it set an awful precedent and undermined Australia's egalitarian values about people from all different backgrounds mixing together.

'Where does it end? What's the next step? Down at Bondi Beach, we're going to have some curtained-off area, or something, it's just ridiculous,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.

While Mr Latham supported the right of Muslim women to swim in a burkini, he said councils were bowing to left-wing demands to protect minority groups instead of encouraging individuals to come to terms with their modesty issues.

'It's not going to be very helpful for Islamic integration into the broader Australian community,' he said.

'Enclaves are a disaster for Australian multiculturalism. It becomes monocultural.'

Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham asked if curtains for Muslim women was a step towards drapes at Bondi Beach

Adelaide shia imam Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi says the pool curtains for Muslim women are part of sharia law which forbids a strange man from seeing the body of another woman

There are even critics within the Muslim community, with Adelaide Shia imam Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi likening the swimming pool policy to sharia law.

'It is part of sharia law that a strange man must not see the body of another woman, therefore they are installing the curtains,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Sheikh Tawhidi said religious Muslims should build 'Muslim-only swimming pools for themselves' rather than have their laws imposed on non-Muslims.

'Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre is not an Islamic swimming pool, therefore they should not be accepting of such an idea in the first place,' he said.

'The Muslim community can afford a private swimming pool for themselves that observes their sharia laws.'

Some locals have slammed the idea as 'segregation,' saying the women are receiving 'special treatment'.

The Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre in the city's west has installed the retractable curtain around one of its three pools

'These communities should be encouraged to integrate and uphold the values of equality and respect not division and segregation paid for by taxes and council rates,' one woman wrote.

Anthony McIntosh, manager of the centre's operator Belgravia Leisure, said the covering for the swimming pool's glass walls was intended to make Muslim women more comfortable with aquatic activities.

Behind the curtain, Muslim women who wear a hijab would be able to swim in whatever attire they feel comfortable instead of a modesty suit or burkini.

Ms Metwally said other swimmers would not be affected as the other pools would be open to everyone during the session times.

'We had a record number of people drown at the end of last year which matches up with the road fatalities,' she said.

'So if we can have more women who are water-safe, that's surely a good thing.'

The organiser of the swim group, Yusra Metwally, said the idea behind the sessions is to 'accommodate people who wouldn't otherwise swim at a beach, or swim in a swimming pool because they don't feel comfortable'

Richard McIntosh, manager of the centre's operator Belgravia Leisure, said the covering for the swimming pool's glass walls was intended to make Muslim women more comfortable

Some locals have slammed the idea as 'segregation,' saying the women are receiving 'special treatment'

Muslim women who wear a hijab would be able to swim in whatever attire they feel comfortable instead of a modesty suit or burkini

Ms Metwally said the group, Swim Sisters, have a lot of women attend wearing a modesty suit or burkini

Cumberland Council general manager Malcolm Ryan told Daily Mail Australia female lifeguards are present during the women's only swim sessions.

'Council has a responsibility to cater for the needs of its community,' he said.

'The curtains, which are retractable and can be used or not used at any time, ensure we have provided a space that is accessible to and inclusive for all'.

The pool is also used for children's swimming classes and use by the elderly, people with a disability and patients having hydrotherapy or physiotherapy, who may prefer additional privacy during their use of the pool.

It is not only used by Muslim women and can be used by any women.

The retractable curtain has been put up at Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre in the city's west

Cumberland Council General Manager, Malcolm Ryan, told Daily Mail Australia female lifeguards are present during the Women's Only swim sessions

The Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre in the city's west has installed the retractable curtain around one of its three pools

Muslim women who wear a hijab would be able to swim in whatever attire they feel comfortable instead of a modesty suit or burkini (stock image)

Cumberland Council General Manager, Malcolm Ryan, told Daily Mail Australia female lifeguards are present during the Women's Only swim sessions

Ms Metwally said although she is an avid swimmer, she 'didn't like swimming in a burkini and for a long time.'

'I remember when I was younger I was told by a lifeguard that my clothes weren't appropriate for the pool  you feel like you are being policed and that you stand out.

'Some women are worried that what they wear in the pool can expose them to questions, comments or stares.'

A Sydney council have been criticised by angry locals for erecting a curtain (pictured) for a ladies-only swimming session
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Six-term incumbent alderman Chic Cody was defeated by challenger Joey Bellman in Tuesday's Republican Ward 3 runoff in Ocean Springs.

Bellman garnered 180 votes (53.3 percent) of the 344 votes cast to finish 16 votes ahead of Cody, who finished with 164, or 47.7 percent.

In the May 2 primary, Cody had finished 12 votes ahead of Bellman, 158-146, but in the three-man race no candidate reached the 50-percent, plus one, plateau necessary to win the primary outright, sending Cody and Bellman to a runoff.

Four years ago, Bellman and another Republican, Shawn Senseney, challenged Cody, but Cody won the primary outright with 52 percent of the vote.

With no general election opposition, Bellman will take office as the new Ward 3 alderman on July 3.

Richard "DJ" Jackson

In Gautier, business owner Richard "DJ" Jackson easily outpaced Tobey Bartee in the Democratic runoff to succeed outgoing Ward 2 councilman Hurley Ray Guillotte.

Jackson garnered 87 votes -- or 63.5 percent of the 137 votes cast -- to Bartee's 50 votes/36.5 percent. Jackson was also the front-runner in the May 2 primary, with 81 votes to Bartee's 55 in a four-candidate field.

As is the case in the Ocean Springs runoff, there is no general election opponent in Gautier Ward 2, so Jackson will become the new Ward 2 councilman.

The general election for all Mississippi municipalities is set for June 6.
An internal investigation is underway after a document of a sexual assault victim were left on a dashboard of a police car in view of the public.

The police have come under pressure following a document containing the victim's full name, address, age, date of birth and case number was left on the dashboard of a police car in the Auckland CBD on Monday, according to The New Zealand Herald.

While only the front page of the document could be seen the report also outlined when and where the alleged assault took place.

The document sent to the New Zealand Herald left on the police car dashboard

The reader who sent in the image was outraged.

'Clearly visible on the dash of the vehicle were confidential files which clearly show victim names and address,' the reader told the publication.

'This is disgraceful and I encourage you to bring this to the public's attention.'

Names of every sexual assault victim has automatic and permanent name suppression under New Zealand law.

The victim was contacted for support following the incident (Stock Image)

Auckland City District Commander Superintendent Karyn Malthus said the victim had been contacted for support.

'We have spoken with the victim this evening to apologise and will ensure that she is supported,' she said.

She also wanted to assure all victims, that despite this incident, all information was private and protected.

'We deal with tens of thousands of assault matters each year and have rules and procedures in place to protect the privacy of these victims.'
This is the heartwarming moment a pet dog laid with his owner after the man fell from a tree and injured his back.

Jesus Hueche, 28, from Argentina, was pruning a tree out the front of his house in the city of Bahia Blanca when he slipped and fell 6ft on to his head on Saturday.

Mr Hueche said he was momentarily knocked unconscious and when he came to, dog Tony was already laying on top of him and nuzzling his chest.

Jesus Hueche, 28, from Argentina, was protected by his pet dog Tony when he fell 6ft on to his head while pruning a tree outside his house at the weekend

Tony laid on top of Mr Hueche, nuzzling his face and chest, and even tried to scare medics away until he realised they were there to help his injured owner

The faithful animal remained by his owner's side while neighbours, who had fortunately seen the accident, called for an ambulance.

Even when paramedics arrived, Tony refused to get away from Mr Hueche, barking and baring his teeth at the ambulance workers.

Eventually the doctors managed to convince the worried canine that they were there to help, and put Mr Hueche in a neck brace.

Images taken by the ambulance crew show Tony laying on top of his owner, and even trying to climb into the ambulance as they take him to hospital.

Mr Hueche said Tony has been 'like a son' to him since he adopted him off of the street, and often tries to sleep in his bed until his partner kicks him out

Medics posted the pictures on social media, where they quickly went viral.

After arriving at A&E, scans revealed that Mr Hueche had escaped serious injury, with swelling to his neck and a minor head wound.

Speaking to local media after the accident, Mr Hueche said Tony has been 'like a son to me' ever since he adopted him off the street.

He said: 'He goes everywhere with me and lies in my bed until my partner takes him out. One day we saw him, gave him love, food, and he is now part of our family.'
The scale of the challenge facing Jeremy Corbyn is laid bare today in a poll showing voters think he is 'out of his depth'.

The Labour leader is also widely seen as 'weak', 'out of touch' and 'indecisive' - although people do credit him with being 'principled'.

In contrast, Theresa May is viewed as 'determined' by nearly a third of voters, while 30 per cent say she 'stands up for Britain' and 27 per cent believe she is 'up to the job' of being Prime Minister.

The findings, in an exclusive Populus poll for MailOnline, underline why the Tories have been fighting a presidential-style campaign focusing on Mrs May's qualities.

The Populus poll for MailOnline underlines why the Tories have been fighting a presidential-style campaign focusing on Mrs May's qualities

Jeremy Corbyn is widely seen as 'weak', 'out of touch' and 'indecisive' - although people do credit him with being 'principled'

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon equalled the PM with a strong 30 per cent rating for being 'determined', but was also viewed as 'arrogant' and 'smug'

Some 27 per cent said Lib Dem leader Tim Farron was out of his depth, 25 per cent weak, 22 per cent out of touch, and 15 per cent indecisive

The researchers asked people to choose three descriptive terms for the main party leaders, from a list of 20 that ranged from positive to negative.

Mrs May far out-performed her Labour rival, with only an 18 per cent rating for 'arrogant' marring her scores.

The endorsement did not seem to stretch to the PM's likeability, as just 5 per cent said she was 'down to earth' and 4 per cent 'on my side'.

But the picture was bleak for Mr Corbyn.

Some 34 per cent of those questioned said the veteran left-winger was out of his depth, 26 per cent said he was weak, 25 per cent out of touch, and 16 per cent indecisive.

Just 5 per cent regarded him as 'competent' and the same small proportion said he was 'up to the job'.

The only chink of light for Mr Corbyn was his 18 per cent score for 'principled' and only 6 per cent saying he was 'dishonest'.

Overall polls have been showing the Tories with a huge advantage over Labour, and on course for a thumping Commons majority.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who has clashed bitterly with Mrs May over her demands for a fresh Scottish independence referendum, equalled the PM with a strong 30 per cent rating for being 'determined'.

The Scottish First Minister was also credited with being 'ruthless' by 21 per cent of those surveyed.

But 35 per cent regarded Miss Sturgeon as 'arrogant', 25 per cent said she was 'smug' and 20 per cent said she 'doesn't listen'.

Mrs May, pictured campaigning in Stoke-on-Trent yesterday, is viewed as 'determined' by nearly a third of voters, while 30 per cent say she 'stands up for Britain'

Mr Corbyn launched the Labour Party manifesto at Bradford University yesterday

In another sign that the SNP's popularity may have peaked north of the border, the findings were broadly similar in Scotland - although Miss Sturgeon was more widely viewed as 'determined' (38 per cent) than 'arrogant' (30 per cent).

The findings also make grim reading for Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, who launches his party's manifesto later today.

Some 27 per cent said he was out of his depth, 25 per cent weak, 22 per cent out of touch, and 15 per cent indecisive.

Mr Farron also had the highest 'weird' rating at 13 per cent.

Miss Sturgeon, pictured campaigning in Queensferry yesterday, has clashed bitterly with Mrs May over her demands for a fresh Scottish independence referendum

The research was carried out before Labour's chaotic manifesto launch yesterday, which saw the party admit it did not have figures for how much nationalising key industries would cost and Mr Corbyn make an off-the-cuff promise to end a freeze on benefits rises.

Laurence Stellings, Director of Reputation and Strategy at Populus, said: 'The research explains the Conservatives decision to brand those running for office as Theresa Mays local candidates and the Conservative Party as a whole as Theresa Mays team.

Focusing the campaign around Theresa May is a deliberate strategy to emphasise the Conservatives greatest strength  a popular, respected leader  and create contrast with Labours weakness, its out of his depth, and out of touch leader.

'It gives credence too to reports that some Labour candidates are removing references to their party leader in campaign materials or avoiding photos with Jeremy Corbyn.'

:: Populus surveyed 2,043 adults across the UK between May 8-9.
A British husband has drowned off the coast of Menorca after diving into the water following a meal with his wife and friends.

Liam Thomas Heaney, 58, had just finished eating at an open air restaurant when he dove into the waters of Cala Fonts in Es Castell to cool himself off.

One of the restaurant owners told him swimming was prohibited but he is said to have ignored.

Liam Thomas Heaney, 58, dove into the waters of Cala Fonts in Es Castell to cool himself off at around 2pm. Pictured: The town of Es Castell, Menorca, where he died

One of the restaurant owners told him swimming was prohibited but the man ignored him. Pictured: The resort town of Es Castell

Half an hour later, a member of his own family eating at a nearby restaurant saw a his body floating face down around 15m from the quay.

He jumped into the water, turned the body over and saw that he had drowned.

A second person jumped in to help bring the body to shore but attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Arriving later at the scene were the local police from Es Castell.

More to follow.

Someone from a nearby restaurant saw a man's body floating face down around 15m from the quay. Pictured: Restaurants in Es Castell
Pvt Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks, said she is looking forward to what her future holds ahead of her release from prison on Wednesday.

Manning is due to be released from a Kansas military prison on Wednesday after serving seven years of her 35-year sentence.

'I appreciate the wonderful support that I have received from so many people across the world over these past years,' Manning told ABC on Tuesday. 'As I rebuild my life, I remind myself not to relive the past.

'The past will always affect me and I will keep that in mind while remembering that how it played out is only my starting point, not my final destination.'

President Barack Obama granted 29-year-old Manning clemency in his final days in office in January.

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Pvt Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks, is due to be released from a Kansas military prison on Wednesday

Manning's attorneys have said Manning was subjected to violence in prison and argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison, restricting her physical and mental health care and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut

She is scheduled for release from a military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, at some point on Wednesday after seven years behind bars. The United States Penitentiary is seen in Leavenworth, Kansas in the above stock image

Though she's set to be released from Fort Leavenworth, Manning's lawyers and the Army have refused to say when and how she'll be freed due to potential security concerns.

Manning, who was known as Bradley Manning before transitioning in prison, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

The Crescent, Oklahoma, native tweeted after being granted clemency that she plans to move to Maryland. Neither she nor her attorneys explained why, but she has an aunt who lives there.

Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, has acknowledged leaking the materials, which included battlefield video.

Manning, who still identified as a male named Bradley (above in 2013) when she was arrested, is expected to live in Maryland when she finally walks free

In total, she released more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks.

She said she wanted to expose what she considered to be the US military's disregard of the effects of war on civilians and that she released information that she didn't believe would harm the United States.

Critics said the leaks laid bare some of the nation's most-sensitive secrets and endangered information sources, prompting the State Department to help some of those people move to protect their safety.

Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.

Manning, who was arrested in 2010, filed a transgender rights lawsuit in prison and attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers.

Obama's decision to commute Manning's sentence to about seven years, including the time she spent locked up before being convicted, drew strong criticism from members of Congress and others, with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan calling the move 'just outrageous'.

Labeled a traitor by President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Though she's set to be released from Fort Leavenworth, Manning's lawyers and the Army have refused to say when and how she'll be freed due to potential security concerns

Supporters of Manning - who attempted suicide twice last year alone - said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her transition as a free, openly transgender woman.

'Two more days until the freedom of civilian life,' Manning tweeted Monday. 'Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans.'

In a statement last week - her first public comments since Obama intervened - Manning thanked the former president and said that letters of support from veterans and fellow transgender people inspired her 'to work toward making life better for others'.

'For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea,' she said. 'I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world.

'Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine.'

Manning was able to start hormonal treatment in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her 'right to exist'.

Her attorneys have said Manning was subjected to violence in prison and argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison, restricting her physical and mental health care and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut.

The Department of Defense has repeatedly declined to discuss Manning's treatment in prison.

Manning had served seven years of a 35-year stretch when President Barack Obama commuted her sentence earlier this year before he left the White House

The Army said on Tuesday that Manning would remain on active duty in a special, unpaid status that will legally entitle her to military medical care, along with commissary privileges.

After her release, Manning will technically be considered an active duty soldier, though she will not be paid a salary.

Manning will continue to have access to commissaries - or special grocery stores tailored to servicemen and women and their families - and military exchanges, which are retail stores operated on military bases.

An Army spokeswoman, Lt Col Jennifer Johnson, said Manning will be on 'excess leave' while her court-martial conviction is under appellate review.

Ahead of Manning's release, a group of musicians released a compilation album with all proceeds to go to the former soldier as she starts a new life.

'Hugs for Chelsea,' a digital album available for a $25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left-wing activism including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.

Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists.

'The first thing Chelsea always says when we talk about her freedom is that she wants to give back to the trans community,' said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who is himself transgender.
John Beaty was arrested and charged following the shooting

A US army veteran charged with shooting an Uber driver has said he thought he was preventing an armed robbery.

John Beaty told police he opened fire after seeing a passenger holding a handgun, according to reports.

In reality, the man was showing the driver his handgun.

Beaty, 33, was walking through a Dallas parking lot at 1am on Tuesday when he saw the weapon, and fired at least 10 rounds into the side of the car.

One of his bullets hit the Uber driver in the chest, Fox4 reports.

According to the affidavit, WFAA reports, driver Marwin Al-Aloosi asked the passenger to pose for a picture with the gun.

The magazine had been released from the weapon, it states.

At least 10 bullets were fired into the vehicle, which was being driven by Uber driver Marwin Al-Aloosi

Beaty, pictured during his arrest, said he thought he was preventing an armed robbery after seeing the gun

The affidavit said: 'Al Aloosi held the gun up against the right side of his face and that is when multiple shots were fired into the vehicle.

'The witness saw Beaty approach the vehicle with a "shock look" and then Beaty assisted to help the witness put pressure on the wounds.'

Al Aloosi, who is believed to have recently moved to the US from Iraq, was taken to hospital after the shooting. His condition is unknown.

The shirtless passenger (pictured) had been asked by the driver to show him his handgun, according to the police affidavit

When police arrived, Beaty - who has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon - was kneeling over the driver applying pressure to his wounds

When police arrived, Beaty - who has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon - was kneeling over the driver applying pressure to his wounds.

The passenger crawled out of the vehicle while shots were being fired, police stated.

Fox4 reports that Beaty works for Trident Response Group, a risk-and-threat solutions firm, having been part of the US Army 3d Ranger Battalion.

The passenger, who was pictured shirtless being led away by police, was not charged with any crime, and was licensed to carry the gun.

Investigators are examining whether the veteran is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dallas News states.
A desperate search for missing RAF gunner Corrie McKeague was today extended for another three weeks.

The 23-year-old vanished after a night out with his friends in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on September 24 last year.

His mother has now vowed to hire a private investigator if police fail to find her son who has been missing for more than seven months.

Nicola Urquhart, 47, spoke of her grief on ITV's Good Morning Britain and fears someone has lied to police.

Suffolk Police are continuing to search for missing gunner Corrie McKeague at the Milton landfill site near Cambridge

Officers are still at the site and continue to search in the hunt which was originally estimated to take up to 10 weeks

Nicola Urquhart, 47, told of her grief eight months after her 23-year-old RAF gunner son went missing after a night out with friends in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

She added that she had heard some 'ridiculous' theories about her son's disappearance.

And hours after her appearance on the show, Suffolk Police revealed that they will continue their search on the landfill site at Milton in Cambridgeshire.

More than 3,500 tonnes of waste has been searched but no trace of the young airman has been found.

The hunt, originally estimated to take up to 10 weeks, is now in its 11th week.

Ms Urquhart told the show: 'I've always tried to say that unless Corrie's physically found, I'm not going to let my own head go to the police that he may be dead.

'But I think it's completely unrealistic now to think anything other than that. So all I can do is just keep trying to find him.

'There are loads of theories out there and some of them are ridiculous, but this is ridiculous. He's walked into a dead end - he's not come back out again on camera.

'Only four vehicles go in there. He's left in one of those vehicles, so either somebody's not telling the truth or he's ended up at the landfill.'

Police have spent thousands of hours and 1million looking for Mr McKeague, who was at first thought to have tried walking back to his base at RAF Honington.

Volunteers have also taken part in searches organised by his family, but no evidence of his whereabouts has been found.

Ms Urquhart told ITV's Good Morning Britain presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid that she fears someone has lied to police and that she had heard some 'ridiculous' theories

Police have spent thousands of hours and 1million looking for Mr McKeague (pictured), who was at first thought to have tried walking back to his base at RAF Honington

A search team is pictured combing through a landfill site in Milton, near Cambridge, in March

A Suffolk Police spokesman said on Wednesday: 'The search has been expanded after waste linked to both the right dates and the right location were found outside the initial cell area identified.

'As this type of search is so unusual, it was not known how the waste would have moved and as the work has progressed officers have gained a greater understanding of both how the waste is deposited and spread out, and the nature and construction of the site.

'Officers continue to take all of this into account as the search continues.

Mr McKeague is pictured with his girlfriend April Oliver, 21, who is expecting his child

'The work is under constant review and now, in week 11, in view of the dates on items still being found and advice from officers on the ground and the site team, it is likely the search will continue for at least three further weeks to ensure that the area holding waste from the relevant period is comprehensively examined.'

Ms Urquhart added: 'The search that they've been carrying out, they have found things as small as mobile phones - it really is a thorough search. I have no doubt from the way that the police have described it to me that if Corrie were there they would have found him.

'So it's not the case that they'll get to the end of this search of this cell and say 'he might still be in there'. I don't believe that. If they don't find him in there, it's because he's not in that cell.'

More recently, police officers have been combing through a landfill site in Milton, near Cambridge.

A bin lorry collected rubbish in an area behind some shops where Mr McKeague was last seen on CCTV.

It is now thought he may have crawled into a commercial bin for shelter and was accidentally crushed before the load was taken to the tip.

His mobile phone signal followed the route of the lorry on the night. The evidence was initially dismissed because the refuse firm wrongly recorded the weight of the load it picked up as 11kg.

Ms Urquhart retraced Mr McKeague's steps on the night he went missing in September

A bin lorry collected rubbish behind some shops where Mr McKeague was last seen on CCTV

It was later corrected to more than 100kg. Two months into the search at Milton, however, no trace of him has been found.

Speaking to presenters Susanna Reid and DailyMail.com U.S. Editor-at-Large Piers Morgan, Ms Urquhart said: 'I can't even begin to describe what it's like.

'I know millions of people go missing every year, and my son's no different to anybody else that goes missing, but the circumstances surrounding Corrie's disappearance are just so bizarre. I suppose that's just what keeps me going.'

She continued: 'I think exactly as the police have been saying to me, just now we still have the rest of this week, I could get a phone call this week saying that they've found him.

'As the DI said to me, if they keep finding rubbish that is that date, that place, then they will keep looking in those areas.

Last week, Mr McKeague's girlfriend April Oliver (pictured) shared a poignant black and white first image of her baby bump as she prepares to give birth to his child

Mr McKeague was last seen on CCTV walking on a street in Bury St Edmunds in the early hours

'It's not time constraints that are stopping it  it's where the search will naturally end. But if there is only one other cell right beside it, and Corrie's not found, I think the police would just naturally start to search that  it wouldn't be a case of me trying to urge them to do anything.'

Last week, Mr McKeague's girlfriend April Oliver shared a poignant black and white first image of her baby bump as she prepares to give birth to his child.

Clutched in her left hand was a tiny pair of boots similar to the Timberlands Mr McKeague was wearing when he was last seen in September.

April Oliver posted the photo on Facebook, where she wrote: 'I miss and love Corrie with every part of my body and little things set off different emotions.

'I can't help but be truly unconditionally in love with my baby and you're not here yet.

Ms Urquhart is pictured during the search for her missing 23-year-old son last December

Ms Urquhart joins search and rescue volunteers near his base at RAF Honnington in Suffolk

'You bring so much pain yet just as much joy and your daddy would be proud of you my little one and would love you as much as I do.

'Corrie will be a part of both of us forever and no one can take that away.'

A Suffolk Police spokesman said last week: 'Throughout the search officers have found material that have indicated they are in the right area  finding waste that was clearly identifiable as being from Bury St Edmunds and within the right time frame.

'The work being completed is continually being reviewed, with daily updates being passed to senior officers overseeing the investigation.

'In view of the dates on items still being found and advice from officers on the ground and the site team, the search will continue.'
The devastated father of an Indian woman brutally raped, murdered and left to be eaten by stray dogs by a jilted lover has revealed the horror of having to identify his daughter's maggot infested body.

The woman, 22, was on her way to work at the packing department of a pharmaceutical company when she was believed to be abducted by a gang of men.

Her father Mahender Singh, 45, told MailOnline how he found his little girl stuffed in a dustbin with 'over 200 maggots on her body'.

'I managed to identify my daughter by her clothes and a chain her mother had gifted her a few days earlier,' he added. 'I will never be able to get that sight out of mind.'

A post mortem revealed how her internal organs and genitals were damaged beyond recognition and her face was smashed with bricks before she was run her over with a car.

The woman from Sonipat, in Haryanam, also had iron wires inserted into her mouth and sections of her hair had been torn out and scattered around the vicinity.

Mahender Singh (right with his wife Baed), the father of a young woman who was raped, murdered and fed to dogs in northern India has revealed the horror of having to identify his daughter's maggot infested body

The unidentified woman, 22, was on her way to work at the packing department of a pharmaceutical company when she was abducted by a gang of men

A post mortem revealed her internal organs and genitals were damaged beyond recognition, her face was smashed with bricks and she was run her over with a car in Sonipat, Haryanam

Her mother Baed Kaur, 40, who has threatened to kill herself if her daughter does not get justice, said: 'I've never heard of a scene more horrendous than this.

'My daughter had always been afraid of being raped. She used to always ask me to lock the door if she was home alone. But look how she died? She experienced both in the most brutal way possible.'

The woman's body was 'brutally smashed' to hide her identity, according to Dr Suresh Kumar Dhatterwal, head of the forensic department

Dr Dhatterwal, who claims the police showed utter negligence in this case, went on: 'The bones of her head were badly broken. We suspect several men have raped her and killed her.'

A man known to the family, called Sumit Kumar, 25, has been arrested as the key suspect.

He lived in a nearby village and was said to have been in love with her, but had been unable to accept her continuous rejection when he kept asking her to marry him.

Bad said: 'She'd left home at 8am that morning but when she hadn't returned by evening I got worried.

'My son and I went to the factory but it was closed. That's when we reported her missing. But it wasn't until neighbours came round and told me that my daughter had been raped and murdered in the most brutal way after they'd read it in a local newspaper.'

The young woman had been on her way to work on May 9 when Sumit and his friends allegedly kidnapped her and forcefully made her drink sedatives before she was driven to a jungle, around 60km from Sonipat.

Her victim's heartbroken mother Baed Kaur (pictured crying), who has threatened to kill herself if her daughter does not get justice, said: 'I've never heard of a scene more horrendous than this'

The woman was on her way to work on May 9 when a man she had rejected, along with his friends, allegedly kidnapped her and forcefully made her drink sedatives before driving her into the jungle

After taking the woman around 60km from her home in Sonipat, the men raped her before subjecting her to the most brutal torture and killing her, leaving her naked body in the jungle to be eaten by stray dogs

They stand accused of raping her before subjecting her to the most brutal torture and killing her, leaving her naked body in the jungle to be eaten by stray dogs.

Father Mahender Singh, 45, had to identify his daughter's body at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), in Rohtak, on May 12. He can barely come to terms with what he saw.

'Her body was unrecognizable,' Mahender said, who works as a daily wage labourer earning just Rs 100 (1.20) a day. 'When I arrived, her body was in a dustbin. No one had placed her body on a bed.

'She had over 200 maggots on her body but I picked her up in my arms and put her on a stretcher. It took doctors four hours to remove those maggots from her body.

The woman had dreams of one day becoming a doctor and was working every day packing pharmaceutical goods, earning Rs 5,000 (60) a month, to save for her future studies as well as contributing towards the family's expenses.

Her heartbroken mother added: 'She was earning money so that she could study further as our financial condition was not good. She used to save half of her salary for her studies and give me the rest to run the house. She was a good girl. She was not only my daughter but also my closest friend. We shared a great bond.'

Baed said the suspect had been harassing her daughter for a period of 12-months constantly asking her to marry him.

Sumit Kumar (pictured in pale green shirt), 25, who was known to the family, has been arrested as the key suspect

Deputy Superintendent of the local police told how two men - 25-year-old Sumit (right) and 21-year-old Vikas (left) - had been arrested in connection to the horrific crime

Baed complained about him to police three months ago but the matter was resolved when the boy's family apologized and promised to stop the harassment.

Baed added: 'His mother even threatened to kidnap my daughter and force her to marry her son. My daughter refused to marry him because she knew he was unemployed and loud, she knew marrying him would bring disgrace to the family.

'A fortnight ago he approached her again and blocked her way as she walked. She slapped him but it only infuriated him more and he said he'd get revenge. But I had no idea he'd do this. They could have shot her if they wanted to kill her, why did they have to torture her so much. Why did they have to do this to my daughter?'

Baed, who also has a 20-year-old son, admits giving birth to a daughter in India is dangerous.

It has been reported that ten girls and women from the same pharmaceutical company have resigned fearing similar incidents since the attack.

Baed said: 'I wonder which is a bigger mistake, to give birth to a daughter or to educate your daughter?

'Giving birth to a daughter in India is a crime. If a girl has to suffer this torture, then it's better not to have a girl child. If crimes like this continue to happen I pray none of my friends or relatives are blessed with a daughter.'

The victim had dreams of one day becoming a doctor and was working every day packing pharmaceutical goods, earning Rs 5,000 a month (60), to save for her future studies

The victim's father Mahender (pictured), a daily wage labourer earning just Rs 100 (1.20) a day, found her body stuffed in a dustbin. He added: 'No one had placed her body on a bed'

Baed remembered her daughter's last morning at home as she lay surrounded by her family. 'She didn't have breakfast that morning,' she said.

'I offered her Rs20 (20p) to get a juice on her way into work but she gave it back to me saying I should save it. She was an understanding and caring girl who could survive without food for days but would never complain. I was so proud of her.

'She was never really bothered about marriage. She wanted to study and have a career so that she could help us financially. How will I live without her now? I have no idea how I'll cope with this loss.'

Police have arrested two suspects so far, even though doctors believe there could be several more involved.

Dr Suresh Kumar Dhatterwal, head of the forensic department, at PGIMS, said: 'Police showed utter negligence in this case.

'When they left the body here, they mentioned the name as unknown and gender as male. They suspected the cause of death to be dehydration and hunger and that the person was mentally unstable.

'But it was a brutal case of rape and murder. A large and harsh weapon had been inserted in her private parts to cause further injury and it had ruptured her anus.

It has been reported that ten girls and women from the same pharmaceutical company have resigned fearing similar incidents since the attack. Pictured: The girl's home in Haryana

'Her head was brutally smashed in order to hide her identity. The bones of her head were badly broken. We suspect several men have raped her and killed her.'

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mukesh Kumar, in Rohtak, said: 'We have arrested the two accused in this case  25-year-old Sumit and 21-year-old Vikas.'

The two have been arrested under Sections 302 (punishment for murder), 376 A (punishment for rape), 376 D (gang rape) of the Indian Penal Code and the case will be heard in court within the next 90 days.

Baed added: 'I will not hide my face in shame. I will now fight for justice until my last breath. I will bravely come forward and fight for the rights of my daughter. She did nothing wrong. The man who did this should be hiding his face in shame. I will kill myself if we do not get justice.'
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These are the remarkable images from crime scenes that were the first of their kind - used to crack cases in grisly murders at the turn of the 20th century.

The unsettling photographs taken in Paris and credited to famed detective Alphonse Bertillon detail graphic crime scenes of the past.

Some pictures show scenes of chaos, where you can clearly see a struggle has taken place and injuries to the victim. However, in others a figure lies in a perfectly neat room, adding to the mystery of the atrocity.

These crime scene photos from early 20th century France are both fascinating and macabre in equal measure, and the work of pioneering French murder detective Alphonse Bertillon. Pictured is the murder scene of Madame Veuve Bol, in Paris, and dated 1904. The caption reads: 'Inspection on a horizontal plane'

Another view of the body of Madame Veuve Bol. Crime scene investigation in the late 19th and early 20th century was a developing art, one which Bertillon made all his own. His genius was to recognise that seemingly insignificant details such as the position of the body and objects in the room could all be vital in solving crimes

The body of Madame Veuve Bol, with a wider view of the room. At first Bertillon faced a lot of pushback for photographing bodies, which was viewed as sinister and disrespectful to the dead. But eventually his results forced his critics to agree with him as he solved case after case using the evidence his camera captured

The image left is simply recorded as 'discovery of a corpse', date unknown. The victim on the right is Madame Debeinche who was found dead on the floor of her apartment at 9 rue Chalgrin, Paris, on May 8, 1903. Monsieur Bertillon was among the first to apply photography to his detective work, and invented the modern police mugshot

Monsieur Falla, murdered in his sleep, in the corridor of his apartment at 160 Rue du Temple in Paris, 1905. Around the edge of the picture is a measuring scale, which was another part of Bertillon's technique. He took precise notes, not just about his victims, but also the killers he caught so they could be identified in future

Assassination of Madame Lecomte at 74 Rue de Martys, Paris, France, 1902. Bertillon became so well known in his time that he was given a nod by the most famous detective of all. In The Hound Of The Baskervilles, one of Sherlock Holmes' clients tells him that he is 'the second highest expert in Europe' - prompting Holmes to praise 'the work of Monsieur Bertillon'

Pictured left, a body in a hotel, Paris, France, 1903. Right is the assassination of Mrs. Tusseaux, 6296 Avenue Marie-Laure, Paris, France, 1902. As well as creating the mugshot, Bertillon also pioneered a technique for preserving footprints and ballistics evidence and invented the dynamometer which measured the amount of force used during a break-in

Alphonse Betillion, was a French police officer and biometrics researcher, he invented an identification system based on physical measurements. He also invented the modern mug shot, using both profile and side-on views and standardised lighting.

Bertillion was so famous that in the Sherlock Holmes novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, a prospective client tells Sherlock he is only the 'second highest expert in Europe' in criminal matters to him.

Fictional Detective Holmes admits himself that: 'To the man of precisely scientific mind, the work of Monsieur Bertillon must always appeal strongly.'

Bertillon was the first to recognise the importance of using photography to document a crime scene.

It may seem obvious now but his genius was recognising that the position of the body, the murder weapon, the footprints and personal artifacts left behind were all imperative to solving cases.

Bertillon (pictured) was far from the first detective to photograph criminals - that credit goes to prisoner officers in Belgium in 1843, with England following suit shortly afterward in 1848. The Frenchman's invention, in 1888, was this style of mugshot, including both profile and side-on views with standardised lighting that is still used today

Left, is the discovery of a corpse on Rue Moreau, Paris, France, date unknown. Right is the discovery of corpse in the corridor, Paris, France, date unknown. While Bertillon was known as a great detective, he was also a key witness in the trial of Alfred Dreyfus in what would become known as The Dreyfus Affair - one of the most infamous miscarriages of justice in history

Pictured, assassination at number 7 Rue de la Lanneau, Paris, France, date unknown. Bertillon was called by prosecutors in the Dreyfus case where he provided evidence about the suspect's handwriting that saw him sentenced to 10 years in the imfamous Devil's Island jail. But Bertillon's evidence was later debunked as pseudo-science and the conviction quashed

An image of the body of Julia Guillemot, 6 rue des Boulets, Paris, France, 1903. While Bertillon's genius at detective work is well-recorded, he was also known as an eccentric, described as a 'necromancer' by one observer and 'certainly not in full possession of his faculties' by another

Another view of the body of Julia Guillemot, in which she has been rolled on to her side. Bertillon also pioneered a system of measurements to identify criminals, which was eventually superseded by fingerprinting, a method he laid the foundations for toward the end of his life

Writing about the image on the left, Bertillon said: 'On August 9, 1913, an elderly woman was found lying face down at 31 Rue des Rosiers in Saint-Ouen. The birds seen in their cages in the background seem to have been the only witnesses to the crime.' Of the right-hand image, he says: 'The knife held by the victim suggests a suicide, but the investigation proved that Mademoiselle Ferrari was killed by her lover, Monsieur Garnier, who stabbed her in the heart'

Assassination of Madame Lecomte at 74 Rue de Martys, Paris, France, 1902. Bertillon was among the first detectives to apply techniques of scientific observations and measurements to his work, and achieved fame across Europe for his success

Left, a body in a hotel, Paris, France, 1903. Right, an unidentified body found in Paris, France. Just five years after Bertillon joined the French police, the royal commissioner of police in Dresden wrote that Paris was the 'Mecca of police and Bertillon their prophet'

At the time there were those who doubted the relevance of photographing murder victims - considering it ghoulish and disrespectful to the deceased.

However, it soon became apparent how such macabre photographs helped solve crimes and Paris' police quickly became the envy of the world.

In 1884, the royal commissioner of police in Dresden wrote that Paris was the 'Mecca of police and Bertillon their prophet.'

Bertillon's anthropometric system would later be superseded by fingerprinting, but mug shots remain standard practice today.

Left, an unidentified murder scene with a corpse in Paris, France. Right, the bedroom of Madame Debeinche found dead on the floor of her apartment on 9 rue Chalgrin, Paris, France, on May 8, 1903

This image captures the aftermath of an attempted assassination - a bombing at the Louvre in a bid to murder the King of Spain Alphone XIII and President of France Emile Loubet. Twenty people were injured and one horse was killed

The caption of this picture reads 'the bedroom of the victim', without any further information. Bertillon's genius was recognising that it was not just motives and witnesses that led to solving crimes, but tiny details such as how the apartment was left after a murder

The body of Mrs Guerin found in Courbevoie, Paris, France, 1903. The caption does not make it clear where in this disordered apartment the corpse was found. Bertillon's photography also coincided with the birth of the press, and proved extremely useful in making public appeals for killers

This scene shows the methodology used to photograph a cadaver as part of a anthropometric identification prior to the autopsy. Bertillon developed the method for identifying both bodies and criminals, which involved nine precise measurements. It was later overtaken by fingerprinting

The messy appartment of murdered Madame Lecomte at 74 Rue de Martys, Paris, France, 1902. Perhaps unsurprisingly given his fastidious nature, Bertillon began his career in the police as a copyist and developed his investigative methods in his spare time after becoming exasperated with poor record-keeping in the department

The caption for the left-hand picture reads 'discovery of corpse in a pit' (the remains are seen bottom right), date unknown. Shown right is a murder scene in Paris, France, with no more details given

The caption for this undated picture simply says: Where the corpse was found. While Bertillon was known for his love of accurate descriptions and precise observations, it seems he did not apply this to every photo he took

The caption of this picture read: The house of the victim. Bertillon died in Paris in 1914, but the legacy of his work lives on to this day, not just in his techniques, but also in fiction. He has been name-dropped in many crime works, including modern-day TV series Archer and Sherlock-inspired show Elementary
Serial killer Ian Brady admitted he would have killed himself 'decades ago' if he had known had bad life in prison would be.

The moors murderer, who killed at least five children with lover Myra Hindley, died of heart failure at a secure hospital on Monday.

Letters he wrote to a TV news reporter now reveal he was sick of life behind bars and wished he had taken his own life.

He wrote: 'Had I divined the future of spending half a century in prison and the final fifteen years being force-fed by nasal tube in an unmonitored zoological cesspit of regression, I would've exited decades ago.'

Ian Brady, pictured in court sketch during his final court appearance, was bitter during his final years in prison and wished he had taken his own life years before

Brady wrote to a Channel 5 news reporter in his final years and whinged about life inside

Brady sent 25 letters to the reporter in the last four years, telling of his worsening health

Julian Druker, a correspondent for 5 News, was sent 25 letters from Brady at Ashworth high-security hospital over the last four years.

In over ten thousand words, Brady told of his failing health but never showed remorse for his depraved crimes of the 1960s.

In his final letter to Mr Druker - written on 9th March - he makes two pointed references to death.

'I'm permanently bedridden. Always thought I'd die healthy!'. He later added: 'We live to die and rise to fall'.

His final comment references the barely legible scrawl he wrote, 'PS. Excuse bedridden handwriting'.

Brady wrote convoluted letters to a number of people during his 51 years behind bars

Brady died at Ashworth secure hospital in Merseyside on Monday. He did not reveal the location of one of his victims, meaning the youngster will probably never get a Christian burial

Brady first revealed he was dying in a letter to Mr Druckner on the 25th November last year.

He wrote: 'The lung and chest condition is terminal'.

In January this year, he added: 'What my life may have been had I abided by the law? Doubtless as hopeless, repressed and depressed as the majority under Thatcher and Blair'.

In typically deluded fashion, he wrote in March 2014: 'The fact that I've served half a century of hostile captivity which I shall die in, testifies to the voracity of my predictions and the absence of any regrets'.
The government order to local dog meat traders announcing the ban comes just weeks before the annual summer festival, where traders deliver frightened and dehydrated dogs by the thousands for local butchers to kill and dismember. Photo by AP Images for HSI

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Humane Society International and Duo Duo Animal Welfare Project (DDAWP) have learned from sources that the Yulin government is set to ban restaurants, street vendors, and market traders from selling dog meat at its summer festival. This is one of the most symbolically significant animal cruelty festivals in the world, and the southwestern Chinese town has become synonymous with animal suffering for its barbaric butchering of dogs and cats for human consumption.

The government order to local dog meat traders announcing this change comes just weeks before the annual summer festival, where traders deliver frightened and dehydrated dogs by the thousands for local butchers to kill and dismember. Yulins dog meat festival was an eating extravaganza that you dont want to take your kid to see, and that has earned the community condemnation in China and around the world. It was promoted by local dog meat traders as a local tradition when, in fact, it was only created less than a decade ago as a way to promote dog meat consumption in China.

The ban seems to have been initiated by Mr. Mo Gong Ming, Yulins new party secretary, and it is set to come into force a week prior to the start of the festival. Typically, the mass dog slaughter for the festival begins on June 21, the summer solstice. Authorities are reportedly determined to enforce the ban and violators can face fines of up to 100,000 yuan, or even incarceration.

Last year, HSI, DDAWP, RaiseUrPaw, Care2, and Avaaz delivered a petition with 11 million signatures to the Yulin government in Beijing. U.S. Representative Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., has written multiple times to Chinese authorities, authored a resolution condemning the Yulin dog meat festival, and has introduced a bill on the dog and cat meat trade.

While we recognize that this announcement is temporary, it is nonetheless an extraordinarily hopeful sign that Yulin will one day soon consign dog eating to the history books. HSI would like to urge the Yulin authorities to take additional steps: make this ban permanent; announce publicly that all inbound dog trucks would face a penalty if dogs and cats are shipped into the city illegally; enforce the countrys food safety laws strictly so that poisonous dog meat will not harm consumers; and build a government facility to accommodate dogs and cats confiscated from illegal shipping operations. In China, dogs butchered for the trade are stolen from their owners or gathered off the streets.

Earlier this year, China shut down dozens of ivory-carving shops as the first major wave of action to end the trade in ivory. The government is also urging citizens to dramatically reduce all meat consumption, mainly as a resource protection effort, given that producing animals for human consumption requires such an enormous use of resources, whether it is grains, top soil, or water.

This campaign, waged by HSI, DDAWP, and other groups, has also had an enormous infusion of energy from in-country animal welfare campaigners. There is a robust and growing animal protection movement in China, and these campaigners have blocked trucks coming into Yulin stuffed with dogs in cages, and they have found a variety of ways to show their disfavor with the cruel killing of dogs. We hope that this announcement is soon confirmed, providing enormous encouragement to these advocates. May their ranks continue to swell in the most populous nation in the world.
Orsolya-Anamaria Balogh, pictured at a previous hearing, will now be allowed to return to Romania to build a relationship with her son

A mother who was spared jail after dumping her newborn baby in a hospital bin will be allow to return home and rebuild her relationship with her son.

Romanian Orsolya-Anamaria Balogh, 27, of no fixed abode, pushed tissues into the mouth of her son after giving birth in the cubicle at Wigan Infirmary on July 5 last year.

But, after spending the equivalent of a 12-month prison sentence at Styal Prison in Cheshire, she avoided jail at Liverpool Crown Court after Judge Neil Flewitt QC handed her a 12-month community order.

And the same judge has now shown her further mercy by scrapping her parole conditions and allowing her to make contact with the son she abandoned.

The court heard that Balogh, who had been in denial about her pregnancy, had made good progress and shown 'exemplary behaviour' while staying in a bail hostel in Leeds, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Addressing Balogh, who struggled to hold back tears, Judge Flynn said: 'It is the view of all concerned that you have complied fully and enthusiastically with my order and that you no longer require the support of the probation service.

Balogh had pleaded guilty to attempted infanticide at an earlier hearing on October 16 last year.

Balogh avoided jail after spending the equivalent of a 12-month jail sentence at Styal Prison in Cheshire while awaiting her court hearing, and was instead given a 12-month community order and a rehabilitation requirement

The baby was found in a bin after Balogh had given birth in the cubicle at Wigan Infirmary (pictured) shortly after 8.30pm on July 5 last year

The court heard the 'disturbed' mother had attended the Wigan Infirmary at 7.30pm complaining of vomiting symptoms but denied suggestions from staff that she could be pregnant.

She left the hospital at around 10.30pm after spending two hours in the toilet cubicle  where she cut the umbilical cord and placed the baby in a black bag inside a bin.

He was discovered in a 'dusky, blue state' by a hospital cleaner shortly afterwards after being deprived of oxygen.

Following the discovery, Balogh was arrested by police but continued to deny that she had given birth.

However, the court heard this claim was debunked after she was examined by a midwife before she a scan confirmed that she had recently delivered a child.

Liverpool Crown Court, pictured, heard Balogh was 'disturbed' at the time of the incident

The court also heard the mother, pictured left with a friend and right outside the court, had been allowed two 'supervised visits' with her 'thriving' child

Experts insist that she was suffering a dissociative episode at the time that caused her to go into denial about her pregnancy.

The baby, who was taken into care following the incident, is 'thriving' and Balogh has been able to undertake two supervised visits with the child.

Judge Flynn concluded: 'I am told that your son and his father have now returned to Romania and it is your wish to join them. It is something you cannot do while this order remains in force.

'You were enjoying contact with your son until he went to Romania and there are in place plans to allow that contact to resume when you are free to leave the UK.

'I hope you will continue to rebuild your relationship with your son.'
Two gay men have been sentenced to 85 lashes each after vigilantes filmed them in bed together in Indonesia.

The two men, aged 20 and 23, were found guilty of breaking sharia law in the conservative province of Aceh, the only part of the Muslim-majority country that implements strict Islamic regulations.

Caning is a common punishment for gambling and drinking in Aceh but the latest verdict is the first time it has been handed down for gay sex since a sharia regulation banned the practice in 2015.

The men were caught together in bed in March by thugs who burst into the boarding house where they were staying, in provincial capital Banda Aceh.

The two men, aged 20 and 23, were found guilty of breaking sharia law in the conservative province of Aceh after they were caught in bed together

Both men, who were filmed in bed together by a vigilante group, Two gay men have been sentenced to 85 lashes each after vigilantes filmed them in bed together in Indonesia

Shaky mobile footage showed the men together in a hostel in the provincial capital Banda Aceh. The thugs who filmed the men beat and taunted them

Shaky mobile footage of the raid showed the vigilantes kicking, slapping and insulting the men, one of whom was slumped naked on the ground during the attack.

Police later arrested the distressed couple, who said they were in a relationship and had had sex three times.

Handing down the verdict at the Banda Aceh court, presiding judge Khairil Jamal said the men had been 'proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing gay sex, the defendants are sentenced to 85 strokes of the cane in public'.

The sentence was higher than the 80 lashes recommended by prosecutors. Officials have not revealed the men's names because of the sensitivity of the case.

The men arrived at court handcuffed to one another, covering their faces with cloths to hide their identities from journalists. During the hearing, they bowed their heads and covered their faces with their hands.

Asked by the judge if he accepted the verdict, one of the men said softly: 'Please reduce my sentence'. The second nodded gently and did not say anything.

The father of one of the defendants, who requested anonymity, said he did not know his son was gay before he was caught.

Police later arrested the distressed couple, who said they were in a relationship and had had sex three times

Handing down the verdict at the Banda Aceh court, presiding judge Khairil Jamal said the men had been 'proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing gay sex'

Asked by the judge if he accepted the verdict, one of the men said softly: 'Please reduce my sentence'

The sentence handed down to the gay men was higher than the 80 lashes recommended by prosecutors

The men arrived at court handcuffed to one another, covering their faces with cloths to hide their identities from journalists

'This is an ordeal for our family,' he said. 'After this problem is resolved, we will send him to an Islamic boarding school to be educated so he won't be deviant any more.'

Horrifying footage shows one of the distressed men, who was completely naked, speaking to his family on a phone, while telling one of the vigilantes: 'Please brother, please stop.'

They were beaten and then taken to Wilayatul Hisbah, a Sharia police facility, after their arrest on March 28.

A sentence recommendation is a usual step in an Indonesian court case and is typically followed soon afterwards by a verdict. Judges do not have to follow the recommendation but often do.

Aceh is the only province in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country which implements Sharia law.

The region has since 2001 been allowed by the Indonesian government to adopt bylaws which criminalise homosexuality as well as punishing women who do not cover their bodies.

People caught gambling and drinking alcohol have for some years been punished with public canings.

The father of one of the defendants, who requested anonymity, said he did not know his son was gay before he was caught

Under a local law that came into force in 2015, people can also be punished for having gay sex with up to 100 strokes of the cane.

Gay sex is not illegal in the rest of Indonesia, which mainly follows a criminal code inherited from former colonial ruler the Netherlands.

Authorities in the province on the northern tip of Sumatra island caned 339 people in 2016 for a range of crimes, according to HRW.

The Indonesian government has yet to respond to a letter from the United Nations, written in April last year, expressing concerns about the abuse of LGBT people in Aceh.

Last October, president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo said police must defend the country's LGBT population, but Human Rights Watch has accused him of inaction since.
A girl in China had a lucky escape, avoiding being hit by a vehicle.

However her grandfather was too busy asking the driver for compensation than checking on her.

The incident occurred on May 12 in Tianzhu County, China's Guizhou province.

Shocking moment: The girl walked into the path of an oncoming vehicle which drove over her

The brother of the girl had been calling over to her to hurry up at the time of the incident

In the footage, the grandfather can be seen crossing the road with his granddaughter and grandson.

However another granddaughter is following behind them at a slower pace.

The young boy appears to call out to his younger sister.

As she crosses the road, she heads straight into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

The car manages to pass over the young girl, only causing damage to one of her teeth

Police said the grandfather was partly at fault as he was not paying attention at the time

Instead of checking on his granddaughter, the man goes straight to the driver to confront him

Miraculously the girl slides underneath the car and it passes over her.

Instead of checking on his granddaughter, the grandfather is too busy trying to claim compensation from the driver, reports Apple Daily.

It is unclear if the man managed to get the compensation.

However police told CGTN that both the driver and the grandfather were at fault for being careless.

She broke a tooth in the incident but had no further injuries.
Mzuri, Australia's first gorilla born in captivity and the first born through IVF, has died.

Melbourne Zoo's beloved silverback male gorilla was the first to be born in Australia, on 3 June, 1984 and made headlines as the first gorilla ever to be born from artificial insemination.

Mzuri died from cardiac arrest in France, just a few weeks shy of his 33rd birthday.

Mzuri, Australia's first gorilla born in captivity and the first animal born through IVF, has died

Melbourne Zoo's beloved silverback male gorilla was the first to be born in Australia, on 3 June, 1984 and made headlines as the first gorilla ever to be born from artificial insemination

Although Zoo staff always called him Mzuri, meaning beautiful, he was officially named Ya Kwanza, meaning The First, via a public naming competition.

Everyone who worked with Mzuri over the years found him to be loveable, intelligent, and affectionate Melbourne Zoo said in statement.

'Mzuri departed Melbourne Zoo in June 1993 to become the leader of the gorilla group at the renowned Jersey Zoo, founded by naturalist Gerald Durrell.'

He fathered two more gorillas during his time there.

'After his breeding years in Jersey ended, Mzuri moved into a bachelor group in France. Keepers there were also devoted to him, and they were devastated to have to share the sad news.

'Many Zoo staff, volunteers, members, and frequent visitors will have wonderful memories of such a special individual.'

Mzuri's parents were Yuska, who is still at Melbourne Zoo, and the late Rigo, who died on 18th July 2013.

Although Zoo staff always called him Mzuri, meaning beautiful, he was officially named Ya Kwanza, meaning The First

Mzuri died from cardiac arrest in France, just a few weeks shy of his 33rd birthday
An ABC journalist claims Cardinal George Pell's lawyers urged her to delete any correspondence between them after she asked for an interview.

Louise Milligan said she tried to contact the cardinal and his lawyers repeatedly while working on her book 'Cardinal: The rise and fall of George Pell,' which looks at the allegations of child sexual abuse surrounding him.

'I made several attempts to try and engage with him, through his office and his lawyers and he declined to take up that invitation except on the most onerous grounds, which included giving him the entire manuscript of the book. I've never heard that happen in two decades of journalism,' the 7.30 reporter told 9News.

ABC Journalist Louise Milligan has claimed Cardinal George Pell's lawyers urged her to delete any correspondence between them after she asked for an interview

Milligan said she tried to contact the Victorian cardinal and his lawyers repeatedly while working on her book 'Cardinal: The rise and fall of George Pell'

'When we refused to do that his lawyers asked us to destroy the correspondence and if we didn't destroy the correspondence they wanted us to give it back to them.'

Cardinal Pell has since slammed Milligan's recently published book as a 'character assassination.'

He has strongly denied the allegations.

'Each and every allegation of abuse and cover up against him is false. The book is an exercise in character assassination,' a statement from Cardinal Pell's office issued on Monday night reads.

'The decision by MUP to bring forward the publication of the book prior to any findings by the Royal Commission and while allegations are still under consideration by the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions is a blatant attempt to interfere in the course of justice.

The book looks the allegations of child sexual abuse surrounding the Cardinal (pictured)

Milligan said when she refused to let Cardinal Pell's lawyers see her book's manuscript, they ordered her to delete their conversations

'Unlike MUP, the Cardinal will not interfere with the course of justice. He will await the outcome of due process before launching defamation action.'

Milligan has covered the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse and last year interviewed two men who claimed they were abused by Pell in the 1970s, when he was a priest at Ballarat.

Her book details allegations of sexual assault by Pell against choirboys at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in the 1990s.

The alleged abuse took place after Pell launched the Melbourne Response, an internal Catholic scheme for abuse victims.

Victoria Police in March delivered a brief of evidence concerning historical claims of sexual abuse by Cardinal Pell to prosecutors for consideration.
Tim Farron, pictured on the campaign trail yesterday, told a reporter he thinks 'abortion is wrong' in an interview a decade ago

The Christian leader of the Liberal Democrats said he thinks 'abortion is wrong' in an old interview which resurfaced last night.

Tim Farron told a Salvation Army publication in 2007 that abortion is something he would like to 'wish away'.

His party has scrambled to stress that he has changed his mind and is now pro-choice and does not want the law on abortion to change.

It comes just a month after Mr Farron was forced to clarify hat he does not think gay sex is a sin after he repeatedly failed to say so in a string of interviews.

Speaking to the War Cry magazine a decade ago, he said: 'Take the issue of abortion. Personally I wish I could argue it away.

'Abortion is wrong. Society has to climb down from the position that says there is nothing objectionable about abortion before a certain time.

'If abortion is wrong, it is wrong at any time.'

However, Mr Farron said he did not support ban on abortion because of the impact his would have in women.

He said: 'Women would still want abortions and they'd have them illegally. So a complete ban on abortion would not achieve what I want.

'The reality is that abortion is too widely available. There needs to be tighter restrictions. The challenge to Christians is to come up with realistic alternative strategies.'

Mr Farron tried to distance himself from the interview in a message on twitter.

the LIberal democrats said that Tim Farron, pictured on his General Election battle bus yesterday,has changed his mind and is pro choice

Mr Farron tried to distance himself from the comments in a Twitter post last night

He posted: 'The quote on abortion is not a publication I've ever heard of or read or seen!'

Asked about the comments by reporters on the campaign trail today, Mr Farron said: 'Looking back on them I may not have explained myself terribly well but I support safe and legal access to abortion.

'I may not have expressed myself terribly well 10 years ago but I was pro-choice then and I am pro-choice now.'

And Lib Dem election spokesman Sir Ed Dave said Mr Farron had made it clear he is pro-choice and 'we wouldn't change the law'.

Asked on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme whether the party would ban abortion, Sir Ed, who is standing in his former Kingston and Surbiton seat, said: 'No. Tim has made very clear he has changed his mind.

'He's made it clear that he is pro-choice and the Liberal Democrats believe that women should have the right to choose.'
South Korea's new president has warned there is a 'high possibility' of military clashes on its border with the North as tensions mount over Kim Jong-un's Pyongyang's weapons ambitions.

Moon Jae-In, who was sworn in last week, said Kim's nuclear and rocket programmes were 'advancing rapidly' days after Pyongyang launched what appeared to be its longest-range missile yet.

'We are living in the reality where there is a high possibility of military clashes,' he said on a visit to the defence ministry, urging the South's military to adopt a 'watertight defence posture'.

He went on to say he would 'never tolerate the North's provocations and nuclear threats'.

South Korea's new president Moon Jae-In has warned there is a 'high possibility' of military clashes on its border with the North

President Moon said Kim's nuclear and rocket programmes were 'advancing rapidly' days after Pyongyang launched what appeared to be its longest-range missile yet. Pictured: Mars-12 rocket launch in North Korea

Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have ramped up in recent weeks with the Trump administration saying military action was an option under consideration and the North threatening massive retaliation.

Left-leaning Moon favours engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table, but after Sunday's missile launch said dialogue would be possible 'only if Pyongyang changes its behaviour'.

The North claimed the rocket was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, although there are doubts whether the country could build a warhead small enough to fit into a missile.

The two Koreas, technically still at war after the 1950-53 conflict ended only with a ceasefire instead of a peace treaty, have occasionally clashed along the border.

The North's shelling in 2010 of the southern border island of Yeonpyeong killed four people in the first attack on civilians since the war, sparking brief fears of an all-out conflict.

The flashpoint border on the Yellow Sea also saw a South Korean naval submarine sinking with the loss of 46 lives in 2010. Seoul blamed a torpedo attack by the North, which angrily denied involvement.

Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have ramped up in recent weeks with the Trump administration saying military action against Kim Jong-un (pictured) was an option

The two Koreas, technically still at war after the 1950-53 conflict ended only with a ceasefire instead of a peace treaty, have occasionally clashed along the border. Pictured: North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un

The North has staged two atomic tests and dozens of missile tests in its quest to build a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.

The growing threats from the North prompted Seoul to recently deploy a powerful US anti-missile system despite angry opposition by China that sees it as a threat to its own military capability.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and the North's threats are expected to be high on the agenda when Moon meets US President Donald Trump in June.

The summit, the first between the two leaders, will be held in Washington D.C. Moon's office said the event was aimed at 'cementing personal ties' between the two.
These adorable baby owls have been rescued from an uncertain future after they were discovered on a road in China.

It's thought that the adorable chicks may have fallen off an animal traffickers' truck before they were found near Zhengzhou City, southern China on May 15.

The animals are now residing in a rescue centre belonging to Zhengzhou City Forestry Bureau.

The four Eurasian eagles were found inside a black plastic box on a road in Zhengzhou

There were five animals inside the box however one had died before they were rescued

The man who found the birds said that he was driving at 6 in the morning when he heard a bird call. When he investigated further, the sound was coming from a black plastic box

According to Kaixian news, the animals were found in a black plastic box.

The man who found the birds surnamed Zhang told reporters: 'I was driving at 6 in the morning through the bus station and heard a bird call, I went looking only to find the sound was coming from a black plastic box.

'I opened the tape and found a few birds.'

The birds were taken to the local wildlife rescue bureau where they were identified to be owls, a protected bird under China's wildlife laws.

Chinese officers show two of the four Eurasian birds found inside a black plastic box on a street

The animals were taken to a wildlife rescue centre in Zhengzhou where they remain

Beautiful: It's thought that within the next month or so the animals will be able to fly

It's thought that they could have been on a truck belonging to traffickers when they fell off and onto the road.

Dong Chaowei, head of the rescue centre told reporters that there were five owls in the box in total however one had died.

He confirmed the animals to be owls and under legal protection in China.

The animals are under second class protection in China under its animal laws

It's thought that the animals may have fallen off the back of a lorry belonging to traffickers

A Chinese officer feeds one of the four Eurasian Eagle owls found inside a box in China

Zhaowei told reporters: 'It is clear that they were being illegally transported because the eagle owl is a nocturnal bird and afraid of light. The traffickers put on a black plastic cover to keep them quiet, so as not to be found.'

He continued: 'It is clear that the five are not from a family and are likely to come from two nests. Luckily they were rescued in a timely manner otherwise the remaining four would have starved to death.'

The birds are now in a good condition and it's thought that in just over a month they will be able to fly.
Katie Goodwin has been handed a restraining order for bombarding her ex's new partner with messages following their split

A jilted girlfriend was charged with harassment after trying to get her ex and his new partner signed up to the Jeremy Kyle Show.

Katie Goodwin, of Stockport, contacted Charlotte Steele up to 30 times a day believing she had got together with her ex boyfriend.

The 25-year-old has now been given a restraining order after admitting harassment before magistrates.

The court heard Goodwin, 25, was distraught when her boyfriend 'started an affair' with her friend Ms Steele.

Magistrates heard she bombarded Ms Steele with phone calls, accusing her of 'stealing her man' and warning that she would 'win back her man'.

She contacted the Jeremy Kyle Show to try to get Ms Steele and the man, named only as 'Adam' in court, to appear on the programme.

Prosecutor Tina Cunnane said she was 'utterly persistent over several months'.

She said: 'There have been numerous phone calls, sometimes as many as 20 or 30 a day. [Goodwin] said [Ms Steele] has stolen her man and it was only a matter of time before she got her man back, and other unsavoury messages.

'At Christmas, the complainant had 45 missed calls. [Goodwin] admitted contacting the Jeremy Kyle show as she wanted them all to go on the show.'

Magistrates heard she wanted her ex and his new girlfriend to go on the Jeremy Kyle Show

In a statement read to the court, Ms Steele said: 'This harassment has got me down. I can no longer live a day without it being affected by Katie.'

Goodwin pleaded guilty to harassment between August 1 2016 and February 1 this year, and arranging unsolicited contacts by a third party or business.

She committed the offences in breach of a conditional discharge from January 2016 for common assault.

Richard Carlin, defending, said: 'She was extremely upset that the father of her child was cheating on her and this was exacerbated as he continued to have a relationship with her. She admits she took it too far.'

Goodwin was given a nine-month community order and was made the subject of a 12-month restraining order bans her from contacting Ms Steele.
A paedophile wasted police time with a sick false claim that he killed Madeleine McCann.

Aaron Collis, 31, from Cambridge, pleaded guilty to 11 sex offences against children in 2009.

The former nursery worker went on to create a website where he claims he is responsible for the youngster's death and says more support should be given to paedophiles.

A paedophile wasted police time with a sick false claim that he killed Madeleine McCann

After seven years in prison, Collis says he has now been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, according to the Cambridge News.

On his website, Collis claims he may have seen Madeleine in France in 2007 and admits he tried to contact her parents Kate and Gerry.

The Met Police were forced to spend time looking into his claims.

'I was doing it to mess them around because I enjoyed it. I still do find it funny,' he told the Cambridge News.

He added: 'I'd rather people hate me than nothing at all. At least it's an emotion. I want people to love me or hate me. I don't want people to think I'm insignificant.'

Collis was given an indeterminate sentence in 2009, with a minimum of five years, after admitting 11 offences relating to five girls, one as young as 18 months old.

In 2012, he admitted other 12 offences against four girls aged between three and eight, between 2002 and 2009.

Aaron Collis, 31, from Cambridge, pleaded guilty to 11 sex offences against children in 2009

They included nine sexual assaults, one indecent assault and two counts of taking indecent photographs.

The original charges in 2009 included taking indecent photographs of a child; inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and three counts of assaulting a child under the age of 13 by penetration.

Madeleine McCann disappeared from Portuguese resort Praia da Luz in May 2007 as her parents were dining at a nearby restaurant.

Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire, vowed to never give up hope of finding their daughter.

If she was still alive she would turn 14 in May.

The Met Police did not wish to make a comment.
Devin McCourty

New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty has a reputation as being one of the NFL's more active players in the community. On Wednesday, Western Mass. got to see him giving back first hand.

Students at Granite Valley Middle School in Monson were rewarded for their charitable efforts with a visit from the Patriots co-captain, according to 22News, after winning the "DMac Gives Back" challenge to support local food banks.

The challenge, which is sponsored by the New England Dairy & Food Council, tasked students by raising funds in order to provide local food banks with milk. According to the challenge's website, every $5 raised for the challenge was good for one gallon of milk -- and one entry in the sweepstakes to have McCourty visit.

According to 22News, Granite Valley beat out more than 10 other schools for the right to have the two-time Super Bowl champion make an appearance and praise the students for their effort.

"The school was able to raise the most money to get milk for the community, so it's a great cause," McCourty told 22News. "I've been able to go to two or three different schools now because of this program, and it's always an awesome time."

Here's a clip of McCourty's visit from 22News:

For his past charitable effort, McCourty has been named as the Patriots' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, with much of his efforts going to his Tackle Sickle Cell campaign, which he started with his twin brother (and recently signed Cleveland Browns cornerback) Jason McCourty.
A British reveller punctured a lung and broke seven ribs when he impaled himself on a pole after falling off a boat during a stag-do in Croatia.

Scott Simpson, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, slipped as he was preparing to jump from the top deck of a catamaran and landed on a metal handle.

Friends gently lifted the 29-year-old up and compressed his wound to stop the bleeding before he was airlifted to hospital in the town of Split and placed in an induced coma ahead of major surgery.

Scott Simpson (above), from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, slipped as he was preparing to jump from the top deck of a catamaran and landed on a metal handle. He is pictured, left, in hospital

His friend Sammi Morland, who was on the trip, said: 'We were all set in Croatia and having a great time, when something went drastically wrong when my mate jumped off the top deck of the boat.

'He impaled himself on a metal handle - which was pretty gruesome. We had to work together and lift him off. We placed him on to a body board and compressed the wound to stop the bleeding.

'A speedboat came and collected him, to get him quickly to the nearest island, where he was helicoptered to Split.

'He lost so much blood, it was terrifying - we were really worried whether he was going to make it, it was touch and go.'

Mr Simpson, a sales manager, was one of a party of ten who travelled to Croatia on May 7 to celebrate friend Bruce Russell's upcoming wedding.

Mr Simpson (pictured) has undergone two operations and spent the past week in an intensive care unit in Croatia

The following day, the group went out on a party boat but when Mr Simpson tried to dive off the boat into the sea, he slipped and landed on a metal pole.

He underwent two operations later that night and has spent the past week in an intensive care unit.

He has responded well to the treatment and operations and is now able to stand up and talk.

But he is now stranded in hospital in Croatia because his travel insurance does not cover the 15,000 cost to bring him home.

His family is appealing for donations towards the costs so he can return to the UK and recover fully.

Mr Simpon's mother, Liz, 58, who has rushed out to be by his bedside, said: 'He tried to remember the accident but he gets really upset - he feels very foolish but accidents do happen.

'There's a lot of other people who come out here on holiday and have a drink and don't realise that's where the insurance doesn't cover you.

'We are lucky we have the European Health Insurance Card otherwise we would have to raise even more money to pay for health costs.'

The money needed will cover the costs of an ambulance that will drive Mr Simpson all the way home.

'We are desperate to get him home, and the only way we can do that is by ambulance because he can't travel by air because of his lung injury,' she added.

'I'd like to thank everyone who has donated money to help us, but we still need money to get him back on British soil. Please help bring my son home, I love him so much.'

Mr Simpson, a sales manager, was one of a party of ten who travelled to Split in Croatia on May 7 to celebrate friend Bruce Russell's upcoming wedding

Mr Simpson's father Emenul, 70, said: 'Getting a phone call telling you that your son is in hospital in a life-threatening state is really scary.

'Me and my wife got straight on the next plane, which was on the Wednesday. We flew straight over to Croatia and have spent everyday with Scott since.

'We went straight to the British Embassy who told us how much it was going to cost, I couldn't believe it.

'Scott is feeling much better but is still in a lot of pain.

'We hope that by raising money we can also raise awareness for what Scott has been through and to discourage people doing the same thing.'
Politicians have been warned to be on their guard after it emerged they are being targeted by hackers.

The National Cyber Security Centre has issued an alert in the wake of a series of 'Phishing' attacks against election candidates and parties.

The warning comes amid fears of Russian meddling in the election on June 8, with intelligence sources having previously raised concerns about the theft of sensitive emails and private polling.

The National Cyber Security Centre has issued an alert in the wake of a series of 'Phishing' attacks against election candidates and parties

Russian hackers were blamed for a 'massive' attack on Emmanuel Macron during the recent French contest, which saw a trove of emails released online.

A letter sent by the NCSC to all candidates standing on June 8 says it has become aware of attempts to 'gain access to the online accounts of individuals that were MPs before dissolution of parliament and other staff who work in political parties'.

The NCSC says Phishing attackers 'might send legitimate-looking password reset emails, urgent-sounding messages about financial problems, account change notifications requests, or links to documents that require you to log in with passwords'.

'The emails are very convincing and could arrive at an individual's personal or work email account, perhaps even appearing to come from someone known to the recipient,' the letter adds.

The agency warns: 'Phishing attacks are likely to continue and may be sent to parliamentary email addresses, prospective parliamentary candidates, and party staff.'

Politicians and their staff are urged to report any thing suspicious, change passwords if they are concerned, and bolster security authentications.

GCHQ called an emergency summit with UK political parties earlier this year after warning that they are at risk of Russian cyber-attacks.

Security agencies now regard protecting the political system from foreign hackers as 'priority work'.
Pvt Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks, was released from a Kansas military prison on Wednesday after serving seven years of her 35-year sentence.

An army spokesperson confirmed for DailyMail.com that Chelsea Manning had left Fort Leavenworth in the early hours of Wednesday at around 2am local time. The Army previously refused to say when and how she would be freed due to potential security concerns

President Barack Obama granted 29-year-old Manning clemency in his final days in office in January.

A few hours after her release, Manning posted a photo that showed her in a pair of new black Converse sneakers with the caption: 'First steps of freedom!!'

Later that afternoon Manning posted another snap of herself enjoying her first post-prison lunch, a piece of pizza.

And a few hours after that Manning tweeted, and then deleted a message that read: 'People are stepping out with Chucks to uspport Chelsea Manning.'

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Pvt Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks, was released from a Kansas military prison on Wednesday

Online: She posted a photo that showed her in a pair of new black Converse sneakers with the caption: 'First steps of freedom!!'

Food for thought: Later that afternoon Manning posted another snap of herself enjoying her first post-prison lunch, a piece of pizza

Media crews wait outside US Army facility Fort Leavenworth in Leavenworth, Kansas, before dawn as they waited for her release

Manning's attorneys have said Manning was subjected to violence in prison and argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison, restricting her physical and mental health care and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut

She was released a military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, at around 2am local time on Wednesday after seven years behind bars. The United States Penitentiary exit is seen in Leavenworth, Kansas

Manning's lawyer told the BBC that her client was excited to leave prison but likely 'anxious'.

'She's ready to finally be able to live as the woman that she is,' Nancy Hollander said.

'She is looking forward to eating pizza, swimming, playing PlayStation and meeting the many friends who have supported her over the years but who were never allowed to visit in person,' Manning's ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio told NBC News.

'Beyond that, she is waiting to experience life outside of prison before declaring any future plans. After so many years of government control over her body and gender, I know she is eager to grow her hair, express her gender and negotiate decisions on her own terms.'

Manning, who was known as Bradley Manning before transitioning in prison, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

The Crescent, Oklahoma, native tweeted after being granted clemency that she plans to move to Maryland. Neither she nor her attorneys explained why, but she has an aunt who lives there.

Ahead of her release, Manning told ABC that she was looking forward to her future as a free woman.

'I appreciate the wonderful support that I have received from so many people across the world over these past years,' she told ABC on Tuesday. 'As I rebuild my life, I remind myself not to relive the past.

'The past will always affect me and I will keep that in mind while remembering that how it played out is only my starting point, not my final destination.'

Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, has acknowledged leaking the materials, which included battlefield video.

Journalists waited at the front gate of US Army base Fort Leavenworth for the expected departure of Chelsea Manning in Leavenworth on Wednesday morning

The Army did not disclose when or how Manning would be freed ahead of her release due to potential security concerns

In total, she released more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks.

She said she wanted to expose what she considered to be the US military's disregard of the effects of war on civilians and that she released information that she didn't believe would harm the United States.

Critics said the leaks laid bare some of the nation's most-sensitive secrets and endangered information sources, prompting the State Department to help some of those people move to protect their safety.

Manning, who still identified as a male named Bradley (above in 2013) when she was arrested, is expected to live in Maryland when she finally walks free

Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.

Manning, who was arrested in 2010, filed a transgender rights lawsuit in prison and attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers.

Obama's decision to commute Manning's sentence to about seven years, including the time she spent locked up before being convicted, drew strong criticism from members of Congress and others, with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan calling the move 'just outrageous'.

Labeled a traitor by President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Supporters of Manning - who attempted suicide twice last year alone - said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her transition as a free, openly transgender woman.

'Two more days until the freedom of civilian life,' Manning tweeted Monday. 'Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans.'

In a statement last week - her first public comments since Obama intervened - Manning thanked the former president and said that letters of support from veterans and fellow transgender people inspired her 'to work toward making life better for others'.

'For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea,' she said. 'I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world.

'Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine.'

Manning was able to start hormonal treatment in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her 'right to exist'.

Her attorneys have said Manning was subjected to violence in prison and argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison, restricting her physical and mental health care and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut.

The Department of Defense has repeatedly declined to discuss Manning's treatment in prison.

The Army said on Tuesday that Manning would remain on active duty in a special, unpaid status that will legally entitle her to military medical care, along with commissary privileges.

Manning will continue to have access to commissaries - or special grocery stores tailored to servicemen and women and their families - and military exchanges, which are retail stores operated on military bases.

An Army spokeswoman, Lt Col Jennifer Johnson, said Manning will be on 'excess leave' while her court-martial conviction is under appellate review.

Manning had served seven years of a 35-year stretch when President Barack Obama commuted her sentence earlier this year before he left the White House

Ahead of Manning's release, Amnesty International called for an investigation into the potential human rights violations exposed by the soldier.

The organization called for protections to be put in place to ensure safety for whistleblowers like Manning.

'While we celebrate her freedom, we will continue to call for an independent investigation into the potential human rights violations she exposed, and for protections to be put in place to ensure whistleblowers like Chelsea are never again subjected to such appalling treatment,' Margaret Huang, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, said: in a statement.

Huang added: 'Chelsea's treatment is especially galling given that nobody has been held accountable for the alleged crimes that she brought to light.

'The US authorities' vindictive treatment of Chelsea Manning after she exposed potential military wrongdoing is a sad reflection of the extremes those in power often go to in order to deter others from speaking out.'

Ahead of Manning's release, a group of musicians released a compilation album with all proceeds to go to the former soldier as she starts a new life.

'Hugs for Chelsea,' a digital album available for a $25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left-wing activism including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.

Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists.

'The first thing Chelsea always says when we talk about her freedom is that she wants to give back to the trans community,' said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who is himself transgender.
Austria has passed a new law which ban women from wearing Islamic face veils in public.

The controversial new legislation also forces migrants to attend integration courses and asylum seekers to do unpaid public service.

From October, police will start handing out 130 fines to women found wearing burqas and niqabs at universities, courts or on public transport.

Austria has passed a new law which ban women from wearing Islamic face veils in public (file photo)

Under new rules, migrants who have a 'good chance' of staying in Austria must attend a 12-month integration school.

These would offer German courses and teach asylum seekers about the ethics, values and culture of the country.

Any migrants who refuse to attend the courses, or do unpaid public jobs, would have their benefits cut.

The measure, backed by ruling parties the Social Democratic party (SPO) and Austrian Peoples party (OVP), has divided opinion, with 3,000 women taking to the streets to protest against the ban in February.

However there are those, including the far-right FPO party, which criticised the government for not going far enough, DW reported.

Last month, Austria's left-leaning president Alexander Van Der Bellen insisted that all women should wear headscarves to combat Islamophobia.

The controversial new legislation also forces migrants to attend integration courses and asylum seekers to do unpaid public service. Pictured: Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, right

The green-backed independent triumphed over his populist right-wing rival Norbert Hofer in December after an unprecedented repeat vote.

Speaking to students at The House of the European Union in Vienna, he said: 'It is the right of a woman... to dress herself however she wants. That is my opinion about it.

'Besides that, not only Muslim women. Every woman can wear a headscarf.

'And if it goes on - and I am already on the next question - with actual rampant Islamophobia, the day will come that we must ask all women to wear a headscarf.'

His government banned the full-face veil in public spaces in January, as part of an attempt to counter the rise of the far-right Freedom Party.

The measure was introduced by the ruling SPO and the centre-right OVP to prevent the collapse of their coalition government.

Thousands of Muslim women have marched in Vienna against controversial government plans to ban full-face veils in February.

Under new rules, migrants who have a 'good chance' of staying in Austria must attend a 12-month integration school. Pictured: Austrian Muslim women protesting against the ban

An estimated 3,000 took part in the rally calling for the law change to be abandoned, accusing the government of Islamophobia.

Placards declared that wearing a veil is a personal choice, and protesters claimed that the measure is both sexist and anti-Muslim.

They accused the Austrian government of attacking their freedoms, and RT reports that chants included: 'Hey, minister! Hands off my sister!'
Nestle today lost its bid to register the shape of the four-finger KitKat chocolate bar as a trademark at the Court of Appeal.

Company bosses, who insisted the KitKat shape is 'iconic' and deserved protection, mounted the challenge in London after a High Court judge ruled against them.

A judge analysed Nestle's application after rival Cadbury objected and considered issues relating to the 'distinctive character' of the 'three-dimensional shape'.

Nestle company bosses, who insisted the KitKat shape is 'iconic' and deserved protection, mounted the challenge in London after a High Court judge ruled against them

Mr Justice Arnold had ruled against Nestle after a High Court hearing in January 2016, when he commented on a lack of samples.

Today, three appeal judges analysed the case and dismissed Nestle's challenge.

The development is the latest twist in Swiss firm Nestle's long-running legal battle with bitter American rival Mondelez International, maker of Cadbury chocolate.

A survey carried out by Nestle showed that 50 per cent of people shown the unmarked four finger bar thought it was a KitKat product.

But in June 2013 the Registrar of Trademarks ruled it devoid of inherent distinctive character to have a trademark all to itself.

Nestle appealed and Cadbury objected, arguing that there was likely to have been a number of similarly shaped products produced by others over the years.

A judge analysed Nestle's application after rival Cadbury objected and considered issues relating to the 'distinctive character' of the 'three-dimensional shape'

Mr Justice Arnold said, as the Registrar recognised, the fact that consumers thought the four finger bar was a KitKat did not give it a distinctive character on its own.

The judge previously found the shape was made to aid production and consumption because the grooves meant the chocolate could be easily broken into portion sizes.

Now three top Appeal Court judges have agreed. The chancellor Sir Geoffrey Vos sitting with Lord Justice Kitchen and Lord Justice Floyd unanimously dismissed Nestle's appeal.

Sir Geoffrey said: 'The shape of the KitKat bar has not been used to promote or market KitKats in recent times. It has nothing, therefore, to do with the informed choices that consumers make between similar products.'

He said while many consumers thought the four finger chocolate bar might be a KitKat the Registrar and the judge were 'right to reject Nestle's claim that the shape mark had itself acquired distinctiveness' in law.

Lord Justice Floyd added: 'A perception that they looked like KitKats is not enough. Acquired distinctiveness carries with it an indication of exclusive trade origin.'

Mr Justice Arnold said, as the Registrar of Trademarks recognised, the fact that consumers thought the four finger bar was a KitKat did not give it a distinctive character on its own

After the case, a Nestle spokesman said: 'Nestle is disappointed by the Court of Appeal judgment and is considering next steps.

Cadbury's purple fight In October 2013, Cadbury's five year trademark battle with rival chocolate makers Nestle over its use of the colour purple on packaging ended in failure in the Appeal Court. Three judges unanimously allowed an appeal by Nestle that its rivals purple packaging could not be registered as a trademark because it lacked distinctive character. In overturning a High Court ruling in Cadbury's favour, Sir John Mummery said: 'To allow a registration so lacking in specificity clarity and precision of visual appearance would offend against the principle of certainty. 'It would also offend against the principle of fairness by giving a competitive advantage to Cadbury and by putting Nestle and its other competitors at a disadvantage.' Advertisement

'This judgment does not mean that our four finger-shape is now free for use in the UK or elsewhere.'

The trademark was registered in many other countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany and South Africa, according to Nestle.

Mondelez said in a separate statement that it was 'pleased' with today's ruling.

'As we have previously stated, we do not believe the shape of the Kit Kat bar should be protected as a trademark in the UK,' it added.

Sally Britton, intellectual property lawyer at Mishcon de Reya, said: 'Non-traditional trade mark registrations covering shapes, sounds, colours and smells are becoming increasingly popular as brands look to experiences to drive brand value.

'The Court of Appeal has today handed down its decision in one of several disputes between Nestle and Cadbury relating to Nestle's attempts to trade mark the shape of its four-finger bar.

'The court's decision sets a high bar for the registration of shape marks. This case is interesting as it examines the type of use and consumer recognition required to obtain monopoly protection over a shape mark.

'Businesses seeking to protect non-traditional trademarks such as shapes or packaging will need to provide evidence that consumers are relying on that trade mark to identify the origin of the product.'
A man's plans to take majestic photos of his Land Rover on the beach next to the Atlantic Ocean didn't turn out as planned.

When the driver got out of his car at Island Beach State Park in New Jersey, the vehicle quickly started sinking as the tide changed and it was buffeted by waves.

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When a man got out of his car to take photos at Island Beach State Park in New Jersey, the vehicle quickly started sinking as the tide changed and it was buffeted by waves

When they arrived, they found the owner of the car frantically trying to shovel the vehicle from the surf line in order to keep it from sinking further

Park police responded on Tuesday to the report of a vehicle that was stuck in the sand, according to WNBC-TV.

When they arrived, they found the owner of the car frantically trying to shovel the vehicle from the surf line in order to keep it from sinking further.

Officials said that because it was a low tide when help arrived, the tow company was able to easily remove the vehicle.

A video posted to Facebook shows the man attempting to shovel out his white SUV. At one point a wave crashes over the Land Rover and he continues to dig, growing visibly more agitated

A video posted to Facebook shows the man attempting to shovel out his white SUV. At one point a wave crashes over the Land Rover and he continues to dig, growing visibly more agitated.

After the tow company freed the vehicle, witnesses say the man wanted to drive it, even though its engine was making strange sounds and its lights were flashing.

The driver had a Mobile Sportfishing Vehicle permit allowing him to operate a four wheel drive on fishing beaches, and was not ticketed.
NSA bosses who developed the hacking tool used to devastating effect last week were so anxious about the damage it could inflict that they considered revealing it to Microsoft.

The EternalBlue code formed the basis of the WannaCry ransomware, which struck networks worldwide in one of the biggest cyberattacks ever recorded.

It exploited breaches within Windows systems and caused havoc around the world, forcing hospitals to close in Britain's NHS and hitting companies including Telefonica and FedEx.

The EternalBlue code formed the basis of the WannaCry ransomware, which struck networks on Friday in one of the biggest cyberattacks ever recorded

Users were told their important files had been encrypted, and criminals demanded a ransom to be paid in order to retrieve them

Files were encrypted and users were told they would have to pay a ransom in order for them to be decrypted.

Microsoft yesterday blasted the Trump administration for not keeping the code under wraps, with the tech giant's president Brad Smith likening it to 'the US military having some of its Tomahawk missiles stolen.'

The NSA came under fire after the code was used in Friday's cyber attack

Former NSA employees have likened the code to 'fishing with dynamite', the Washington Post reports.

Its report said officials discussed sharing the code with Microsoft, but did not do so until they were made aware that a group named the Shadow Brokers had posted hacking tools online.

In March Microsoft introduced a software patch to deal with the flaws exploited by EternalBlue.

Security service figures have said that disclosing similar codes and software would hinder intelligence gathering capabilities.

Criminals combined EternalBlue with codes that helped the ransomware spread.

US intelligence services have been heavily criticized after the code got out. Russian President Vladimir Putin said: 'There was no significant damage for us or for our institutions  whether its banking, healthcare, or anything else.

'But in general its worrying, theres nothing good about it, its concerning.'

Former NSA deputy director Richard Ledgett said revealing flaws to software companies would amount to 'unilateral disarmament', the Washington Post states.
The British boyfriend of a pregnant breastfeeding blogger killed when their scooter was hit by a truck in Thailand has been charged with causing death by reckless driving, it has emerged.

Sophie Emma Rose, 41, who found internet fame with videos breastfeeding her five-year-old son, was run over by a lorry after lover Danny Glass, the father of her unborn child, lost control of the scooter he was riding.

The mother-of-one, from Blackpool, Lancashire, who was six months pregnant, was riding pillion when the crash happened outside a 7-Eleven store in Thalang, Phuket.

Mr Glass, 29, from Margate in Kent, suffered only minor injuries. He has since been charged with reckless driving causing the death of his partner.

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Sophie Rose (right), 41, who found internet fame with videos breastfeeding her five-year-old son, was run over by a lorry after lover Danny Glass (left), the father of her unborn child, lost control of the scooter he was riding

The 18-wheel truck was being driven by Nattawoot Kimchue, 30, from Thai Muang in Phang Nga Province.

'Both men are being held responsible for the death of Ms Anderson, because both were driving recklessly,' Lt Col Sanit Nookong of Thalang Police station told Phuket News.

'The drivers have already been charged. Right now, the investigation is not yet closed because we are still waiting for the autopsy to be released. Then they will go to court.'

In a self-filmed YouTube clip on Monday, he said he would be taking a break from posting 'for a while'.

'People want to know about updates and what's going on with me and in my life after the tragedy with the accident happening with me and Sophie and other various things based around that.

'So yeah, I won't be posting any more videos for a while, I don't know when I'll be back to posting videos again like I was before. But as soon as I do know I will make a video and inform you of that.

'And the reason why I'm not making videos, it's not the right time at the moment. I just need to get my life in order, my life on track and get through this sad death that happened with Sophie.

'So that's it, basically. Don't be concerned I won't come back I have such a strong desire to come back to YouTube. But it's not the right time and I will know when the right time is.

The mother-of-one, from Blackpool, Lancashire, was riding pillion when the crash happened outside a 7-Eleven store in Thalang, Phuket. Mr Glass (pictured), 29, from Kent, suffered only minor injuries

Ms Rose (pictured) had more than 30,000 followers to her You Tube channel called Sophie's Joy Breastfeeding Mama, which had more than 25 million views

'Appreciate your life, appreciate your day, make the most of it - spend as much time with your loved ones and try and impact as many people as you possibly can on this earth in a positive way before you leave.'

In a separate Facebook post following the tragedy, Mr Glass revealed that he feared he could be charged over the death crash which happened just after 12.10pm local time - 6.10am UK time - on Monday May 8.

In the video he described Miss Rose as his 'twin flame', and spoke of the heartbreaking moment he had to tell her five-year-old son that she was dead.

He stated: 'I miss her so much, is this a dream? Somebody wake me up from this nightmare.

'She's meant to be having my baby in three months. She was my twin flame - the person that understood me the most.'

Accompanied by a sad emoji, he had earlier written on Facebook: 'Apparently I have to be charged or the truck driver for Sophie's death. I'm scared.'

Health and detox coach Mr Glass announced her death on social media, writing: 'Tragic news my girlfriend died in a scooter accident we had today.

'I am in total shock as I've lost the most precious person I had ever connected with. My brain keeps going into denial. I am distraught. She was also pregnant so I lost my child too.'

In the video he said he spoken with Miss Rose's spirit, and stated she was angry. He said: 'I am talking with her spirit and she was very very angry at first at me and angry that she wasn't here any more, which is understandable because she didn't want to leave.'

Mr Glass (left), 29, from Margate in Kent, suffered only minor injuries. He has since been charged with reckless driving causing the death of his partner

She became a well-known advocate for breastfeeding and said she planned to continue to nurture her son until he was eight years old

Miss Rose moved to Chiang Mai in Thailand with her boyfriend and her five-year-old son Shaye

Miss Rose moved to Chiang Mai in Thailand with her boyfriend and her five-year-old son Shaye.

She gained fame for her YouTube videos that showed her breastfeeding her son and encouraged women to consider adopting the practice themselves.

Miss Rose even spoke to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning about her cause, saying she wanted to 'normalise breastfeeding older kids' and 'expose it until it becomes part of normal reality'.

Her YouTube channel 'Sophie's Joy Breastfeeding Mama' amassed more than 25 million views.

Another parenting YouTube channel, 'Sophie's Joy Family vlog', which had more than 4,000 subscribers and a million views.

Her last video, posted the day before she died, shows John, Shaye's father who lives in Bangkok, spending time with them in a hotel pool and at a water park.

In her videos she also promoted her son's high-raw vegan diet and was a supporter of home-schooling.
A drug dealer who found murdered toddler James Bulger's body and claimed his grisly discovery in 1993 led him into a life of crime is back in jail.

Terence Riley, aged 13 at the time, and his brother James, 14, stumbled across the two-year-old boy's body 24 years ago on a railway line in Walton, Liverpool.

The self-confessed 'scumbag', now 37, was jailed for 12 years in 2009 after being extradited from Holland to face justice over a 4million drugs conspiracy.

Terence Riley (left) and his brother stumbled across the body of James Bulger (right) in 1993 on a railway line. Riley has now been jailed for leading police on a high speed chase

Now Liverpool Crown Court has heard following his prison release he returned to crime by leading police on a high speed chase at 50mph in a 20mph zone.

A judge accepted he may have had post-traumatic stress disorder linked to him discovering James, but jailed him for 12 months due to his 'bad record' for driving.

To add insult to the toddler's memory, Terence Riley's sibling James Riley has also previously used the discovery of the body to explain his own descent into crime.

In 2010, James Riley appeared at court for stealing a bottle of brandy with a criminal record of 47 convictions and argued it was all due to finding the body.

James Bulger was abducted from The Strand shopping centre in Bootle by 10-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson on Friday, February 12, 1993.

Within three hours, the toddler was dead, but his body was only discovered on the railway line by the Riley brothers the following Sunday.

Police search the railway track in Walton, Liverpool, where James's body was found in 1993

Venables and Thompson were sent to secure children's homes and have since been given fresh identities.

Speaking in 2003, the Rileys' grandmother Ann Nesbitt explained how their traumatic discovery has torn their family apart.

Ms Nesbitt said: 'Neither has spoken of it. They bottled it up. We tried to get the boys to talk about it, but they used to become hysterical, screaming.

'They didn't want to think about it. After that day James went off the rails and Terence's personality changed totally. We hardly see him these days.

'But we know it was finding James' body that changed him. Every night I pray for little James, but I also pray for my grandsons.'

Yesterday, Liverpool Crown Court heard how Terence Riley, recently of Vauxhall, Liverpool, led police on a high speed chase across Merseyside last April.

James is seen being abducted from The Strand shopping mall in Bootle on February 12, 1993

It ended with him losing control and smashing head-on into another car, injuring Darren Evans, Tina Barnes and their 11-year-old son.

Derek Jones, prosecuting, said officers in an unmarked car saw a Ford Focus speed down a road in Litherland at 12.40pm so they activated their sirens.

But the car accelerated to 40mph, leaving 'dust and debris' - and Terence Riley undertook and overtook other vehicles at 50mph in the residential 20mph zone.

He bounced over speed bumps, ignored give way signs until eventually crashing into the family's Volkswagen Passat.

Terence Riley, who suffered a lump to his head, ran away but was caught by an officer and admitted: 'I was at a party. I'm high!'

Jon Venables (left) and Robert Thompson (right) were both ten when they abducted James

A swab test showed the presence of cocaine but he refused to give a blood sample when taken to hospital.

His victims were treated for cuts, bruises and chest pain, while the child was left shaking and feeling sick.

When interviewed by police, Terence Riley asked about the boy's condition and described himself as a 'scumbag'.

He admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to provide a blood sample.

Louise Santamera, defending Terence Riley, said he woke up at his girlfriend's feeling unwell, after going out to watch the Grand National.

She told Judge Anil Murray that he 'recklessly' decided to drive home in her car and 'panicked' when he saw police because of his road ban.

Emergency services workers stand on the tracks next to a forensic tent on the tracks in 1993

Ms Santamera said: 'Mr Riley is very sorry. He was particularly anxious about the young boy.'

He denied saying he was 'high' and said he refused to give a blood sample because of a phobia of needles.

She said: 'He has recently become a father, something that has filled him with joy, and as he put it, is 'motivation to get my life on the straight and narrow.'

In 2004, Terence Riley was also convicted of dangerous driving and in 2009 was jailed for sneaking drugs from South America into England via Amsterdam.

A year later he was handed a further 18 months in prison, after failing to pay back 30,000 of his ill-gotten gains.

James's mother Denise Fergus is pictured (left) in 2010 and (right) with her former husband Ralph (right, in 1994) in front of a portrait of their murdered son

He was working for Liverpool gangster David Hibbs-Turner, who was jailed for at least 37 years for ordering the point-blank gun execution of Michael 'Mikey' Wright.

Defending Terence Riley in that 2009 drugs case, Ms Santamera said of the James Bulger discovery: 'He has seen things which no young person should have to see.

'Of course, finding James Bulger's body on the railway line, without any counselling, was bound to have some effect on such a young person.'

Ms Santamera accepted Terence Riley was already known to police before he and his brother found James Bulger's body.

But she added: 'One wonders if he had undergone counselling and got the help he needed after that incident, whether he would find himself in the position he is today.'
Donald Tusk today said the EU must be 'fair' towards Britain in the Brexit discussions - as Brussels was accused of trying to 'bully' Theresa May by issuing poisonous briefings.

Nigel Farage warned European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker his 'bloody rude' behaviour risked plunging the talks into crisis.

But the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, stressed that he is determined to get a deal with Britain.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, pictured today at the European Parliament with Jean-Claude Juncker, who he accused of trying to bully Britain over Brexit

Nigel Farage cut a lonely figure in the European Parliament today, where he hit out at briefings against the Theresa May which were issued earlier this month

Mr Farage said the EU has been 'bloody rude' to Britain by issuing briefings against the PM

Tensions between No 10 and Brussels erupted after Mr Juncker's aides described the PM as 'deluded' and 'in another galaxy' in a briefing earlier this month.

And days later Mr Juncker sparked fresh fury by joking that 'English is losing its importance in Europe'.

The briefing sparked a furious reaction from the PM, who accused Eurocrats of meddling in Britain's General Election in an explosive speech on the steps of No 10.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Farage asked his fellow MEPs to imagine they were hosting a dinner party in which a 'very important guest' had told others that you were 'deluded' within hours of it ending.

Mr Juncker kisses the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier at the European Parliament today. Mr Barnier said there is no figure for Britain's 'divorce bill' yet

Mr Juncker embraces European Council President Donald Tusk today at the European Parliament. Mr Tusk said the EU must be 'fair' to Britain during the Brexit negotiations

He added: 'And then a few days later, in a display of extreme petulance, you even deride the national language of the host - which, by the way, is looking a bit silly because last Saturday's extravaganza knowns as the Eurovision Song Contest saw 90 per cent of the songs sung in English.

THE BRUSSELS THREATS THAT DREW THE PM'S WRATH 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

'If you were the host and you'd been treated like that by somebody you thought was important and somebody you thought you could trust, I'd think you'd be asking yourself, were you dealing with a reasonable person.

'I don't know, Mr Juncker, whether this is how you carry on in Luxembourg. I doubt it, because in any part of the civilised world, frankly, that behaviour would be considered to be bloody rude and the act of a bully.

'Well, I'll tell you something, your attempt to bully the Brits through this negotiation is not working - 68 per cent now of the British people want Brexit to happen.'

He also hit out at attempts in Brussels to hit Britain with an 84.5billion (100 billion euro) Brexit Bill, describing it as a 'ludicrous ransom'.

The former Ukip leader said: 'Either we get some grown-up, reasonable demands from the European Union or the United Kingdom will be forced to walk away before the end of this year.

'We can't spend two years with this farce.'

Mrs May has ruled out paying the 'laughable' sum of money while Mr Barnier said no final bill has been decided.

He told the European Parliament: 'The figures will depend on the methodology we adopt and the actual date of the UK's exit.

'It is not (me) who will set a figure.'

Mr Tusk stressed that the EU must be 'fair' towards Britain in the talks.

He said: 'What was - and remains - most important for me, is that our conduct in these talks will show the European Union at its best: in terms of unity, political solidarity and fairness towards the United Kingdom.'

While Mr Juncker said the Brexit negotiation 'is now in the hands of our capable divorce lawyers'.
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Extraordinary colorized pictured have brought to life the bloody Korean War which claimed the lives of more than two million civilians and 33,000 troops.

The stunning pictures show ships lined up on the shore at the Battle of Inchon and troops boarding a plane ready for a drop behind enemy lines north of Pyongyang, Korea.

Other images show troops trekking through snow during winter and tanks being fired.

The photographs have been expertly colorized by electrician Royston Leonard, 54, from Cardiff, Wales.

Marines of the US 1st Marine Division watch F4U Corsairs drop napalm on Chinese positions near the Chosin Reservoir; December 26th, 1950. A mushroom cloud spews into the air after US troops fired at their enemies. A vehicle fitted with a caterpillar track like the ones seen on a tank can be seen up ahead making its way towards enemy territory. The soldiers are all dressed in multiple layers and are carrying their bulky equipment which includes a rifle with a bayonet attached to the end of it

Operation Chromite in action as American forces land in Inchon harbor one day after the Battle of Inchon began on September 16, 1950. Four LST ships unload men and equipment while high and dry at low tide on Inchon's Red Beach on the day after the initial landings there. LST-715 is on the right end of this group, which also includes LST-611, LST-845, and one other. Another LST is beached on the tidal mud flats at the far right. Note bombardment damage to the building in center foreground, many trucks at work, Wolmi-Do Island in the left background and the causeway connecting the island to Inchon. The ship in the far distance, just beyond the right end of Wolmi-Do, is the Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729). The landings at Inchon were General MacArthur's masterstroke. As Eight Army struggled to maintain fighting room in the southeast of Korea, he had his thoughts fixed upon a possible landing in the enemies rear to reverse the war. The biggest logistical challenge was to have all units, their equipment and supplies, as well as transports, landing ships and craft, and other ships, ready in time for D-day

Airborne troops of the 187th Regimental Combat Team 'Rakkasans'board a C-119 'Flying Boxcar' of 314th Troop Carrier Group for their drop behind enemy lines north of Pyonyang, Korea. It took place on 20th October, 1950 as part of an airborne assault on the North Korean towns of Sukchon and Sunchon which laid 48km north of Pyongyang. The mission objective was to cut off an estimated 30,000 retreating North Korean soldiers and rescue US Prisoners of War believed to be with those forces. Departing from Kimpo Airfield near Seoul, this was the first operation in the history of the airborne that paratroopers would be dropped from C-119, and the first time heavy equipment would be dropped into enemy territory. During this operation 4,000 men, 600 tons of equipment and supplies were dropped. These included twelve 105 mm howitzers, 39 jeeps, 38 1/4-ton trailers, four 90 mm antiaircraft guns, four 3/4-ton trucks, as well as ammunition, fuel, water, rations, and other supplies

A dozen or so American soldiers rush towards a US Army helicopter which landed in the battlefield of the Korean War. A second chopper can be seen behind the one the soldiers are bracing themselves to pile into. One of the troops' comrades can be seen inside the aircraft ready to help his platoon on board. The helicopter is Sikorsky H-19 and the infantry troops about to board helicopters to be transported to front lines, at the 6th transportation helicopter, are the eighth Army, in Korea in 1953

M40 155mm 'Long Toms' of Charlie Battery 'C', 937th Field Artillery Battalion from the Arkansas National Guard, possibly in the area of Yanggu, Gangwon Province, South Korea. Sometime in May/June1951. Every heavy artillery unit (155 Howitzer, 155mm gun, 8-inch Howitzer, 8-inch gun, 240mm gun) was a former National Guard unit. Each had its own nickname for the unit. The 937th Field Artillery Battalion from the Arkansas National Guard was proudly known as the 'Arkansas Long Toms.' The 155mm gun (towed or self-propelled) was known in World War II as 'Long Toms' due to the longer length of the barrel (tube), which made it more accurate and capable of hitting long range (25000 yards) targets. The code name for the 937th over communication lines was 'NEWFORD'. A very popular reference throughout the central sector of Korea during the entire campaign of the United Nations forces was, 'Get me Newford, Operator,' or 'Here comes the Arkansas Long Toms'

Royston digitally paints over the black and white images and mixes his colours on screen.

'War is hell, no one really wins at the ground level of the battlefield,' said Royston.

'Both sides governments could go home to dinner with loved ones, but the families of soldiers had empty plates and spaces in their homes and hearts and when the war finished, the talking started.

'When I was young, I asked if war was really needed and the answer I got was that it isn't but sometimes life gives you no other choice.

'I colour the war photos to show the hard choice made by brave people of that time.'

The Korean War started on June 25, 1950 and ended on July 27, 1953.

During the conflict, nearly five-million people died, almost all of which were from Korea.

More than 33,000 Americans were killed and more than 100,000 were wounded.

'The message is already there for all to see in the pictures themselves but I do feel it helps the younger generation to understand that what happened was real,' added Royston.

'I love giving more life to the pictures and I think that colour improves the story the photographs tell.'

US Cpl. James W. Rezek of Lake Andes, South Dakota (rear) keeps a lookout for communist sharpshooters, while Sgt. First Class Ralph I. Rubio of Tuscaloosa, Alabama ducks down to change positions in their trench on Korea's central front in January 1 1952

Massive balls of flames are released from US cannons firing at the enemy across fields in a mountainous area. At least three of the large weapons were set up during this offensive, which involved dozens of American soldiers. The man-made trenches and lines of barricades can be seen protecting the troops from incoming fire as a conveyor belt lines up behind each cannon to load it with ammunition

South Korea estimated that the number of civilian deaths in the three-year conflict topped 373,599, and said nearly 138,000 of its troops died in the war.

It is estimated that more than 33,000 US troops were killed in battle, and there were a further 2,830 non-battle deaths.

The country was divided following its liberation from Japan at the end of the Second World War.

The Soviet Union defeated the Japanese army north of the 38th parallel - the division line between north and south - while the US forces fought in the south. In the build-up to the Korean War, the two regions had their own regions, both with their own governments, and both claimed to be the true government of the entire peninsula.

The cost of the Korean War to the US was around $67 billion.

It is estimated that 103,284 servicemen were wounded during the three-year conflict, and more than 7,800 US troops remain unaccounted for.

On June 25, 1950, the UN Security Council denounced North Korean aggression and called for troops to retreat.

The U.N. Security Council denounced North Korea's actions and called for a cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of the NKPA to the 38th parallel.

Five days later, President Harry S. Truman ordered troops into action.

Two US troops rest their guns on a snow-covered mounds in the Korean mountains. The Soviet Union defeated the Japanese army north of the 38th parallel - the division line between north and south - while the US forces fought in the south. In the build-up to the Korean War, the two regions had their own regions, both with their own governments, and both claimed to be the true government of the entire peninsula

The propellers on this US Army plane spin as four troops make their final checks before it takes off. It is loaded with a number of missiles and bombs ready to be dropped on the enemy

Troops cover their ears as a massive explosion can be seen from a cannon fired at the Korean enemy. South Korea estimated that the number of civilian deaths in the three-year conflict topped 373,599, and said nearly 138,000 of its troops died in the war

US troops trek through the snow during the Korean War. The soldiers are wearing hoods and headwear under their helmets to stave off the bitterly cold weather, which dropped well below freezing during the bloody battles. One of the men has even taken to wrapping what appears to be a homemade poncho around his chest. The five armed troops, one of which is slightly cut out from the photograph, can be seen walking alongside a huge armoured tank

The cannons mounted onto two tanks are fired from their position in the snow in Korea. The American soldiers around the armored vehicles can be seen covering their ears from the blast. It is estimated that 103,284 servicemen were wounded during the three-year conflict, and more than 7,800 US troops remain unaccounted for

More than 5.7million US troops were sent to war in Korea during the three year conflict, and 36,574 were killed, according to official figures. A further 103,000 were wounded during the brutal campaign, which followed the invasion by North Korea of its southern neighbor

More than 5.7million US troops were sent to war in Korea during the three year conflict, and 36,574 were killed, according to official figures.

A further 103,000 were wounded during the brutal campaign, which followed the invasion by North Korea of its southern neighbor.

It was the first time the United Nations, founded in 1945, had been forced to play a role.

Sixteen countries sent troops to South Korea, while 41 sent equipment or aid.

Peace talks began as early as July 1951, but it would take another two years until an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.
Britain's stressed out teenagers have complained about the tricky GCSE questions they say they couldn't have possibly prepared for.

Taking to social media, the annoyed youngsters were particularly confounded by a question on a biology exam that said: 'Explain why Darwin is drawn as a monkey.'

One bemused student, 16-year-old James Hansford, of Bath, Somerset, said: 'It just appeared out of nowhere - how were we supposed to know the answer?'

Britain's stressed out teenagers have complained about the tricky GCSE questions they say they couldn't have possibly prepared for

Taking to social media, the annoyed youngsters were particularly confounded by a question on a biology exam that said: 'Explain why Darwin is drawn as a monkey'

One student complained about the pie chart on an AQA economics exam

TRICKY GCSE QUESTIONS... Biology: Explain why Darwin is drawn as a monkey Geography: What is a nuee ardente? Geography: How is a storm surge formed? Sociology: How do social policies affect ethnic minorities? Psychology: Describe normative social influence Religious Studies: In Christian philosophy, describe the cosmological argument Advertisement

He was among many across the country who were dumbfounded by the bizarre question in their biology GCSE exam, supplied by awarding body Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA).

The question about the famous biologist led to outrage among some students who felt it was unfair that they had not been asked about topics they have spent months revising.

But on social media, Terence-Hale posted: 'I find this a quite logical question. Darwin as the origin of the evolution theory has had its day and is not in consensus with modern evolution theory. The picture of Darwin as a monkey just illustrates the simplification of his theory.'

And Nigel4036 wrote: 'Haven't today's students ever heard of the evolution of species? Simple question and should be part of everyone's general knowledge. Education eh?'

An AQA Spokesperson said: 'It's completely normal for students to tweet about their exams. We only ever ask questions about things that are covered in the syllabus - but we can't ask questions about everything on the syllabus, so students will always end up revising topics that don't come up.'

In a difficult psychology exam, students were asked to describe normative social influence

Elsewhere, geography students were left confused by a question asking: 'What is a nuee ardente?'

Another student posted a meme about the unusual question on the GCSE biology exam

Elsewhere, geography students were left confused by a question asking: 'What is a nuee ardente?'

Another geography question that confounded pupils was: 'How is a storm surge formed?'

In the sociology exam, students were asked: 'How do social policies affect ethnic minorities?'

One pupil posted about a question asking: 'What qualities do constructive waves have?'

Another student posted about a confusing question in an AQA economics exam

Meanwhile, in a psychology exam students were asked to describe normative social influence.

Finally, in a religious studies exam students were challenged to describe the cosmological argument in terms of Christian philosophy.

It is not the first time the AQA biology exam has drawn the ire of students.

Another geography question that confounded pupils was: 'How is a storm surge formed?'

In 2016 students were left fuming over the GCSE biology exam that contained questions about drunk 15-year-olds.

At the time on Twitter, one student wrote: 'Going into a biology exam and getting asked about drunk 15 year olds and independent companies.'

Another one wrote: 'What drunk 15 year olds did AQA pay to write the b-----t on that biology GCSE exam? Own up please.'
A high-ranking NSW Corrective Services officer spiked her husband's beer before leaving him asleep in his car with an open gas cylinder in an attempt to kill him in a fire or explosion, a jury has been told.

Weeks earlier, Sharon Yarnton, now 50, allegedly told a bank manager she wouldn't care if her husband burned to death.

Crown prosecutor Guy Newton said during his opening address in the NSW District Court on Wednesday that Dean Yarnton woke alone to the hissing of an open LPG gas cylinder in the early hours of February 1, 2015.

High-ranking NSW Corrective Services officer Sharon Yarnton,50, is accused of attempting to murder her husband Dean Yarnton

The jury is expected to hear the car was parked next to bushland at Picnic Point and his then-wife, who had been driving him home from dinner at the Merrylands Bowling Club, had disappeared, Mr Newton said.

Mr Yarnton turned off the cylinder in the back seat and left the car, only to find his socks were wet with petrol.

There was another gas bottle, a lighter and a glove nearby.

When Mr Yarnton called his wife, she said she'd taken a toilet break in the bushes and was lost, the prosecutor said.

But police didn't believe her story and she and her alleged accomplices, Monique Hayes, 25, and Fady Houda, 24, have pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and to throwing or laying down an explosive with intent to maim or do grievous bodily harm.

Dean Yarnton woke alone to the hissing of an open LPG gas cylinder in the early hours of February 1, 2015, Crown prosecutor Guy Newton said in the NSW District Court on Wednesday

Mr Yarnton turned off the cylinder in the back seat and left the car, only to find his socks were wet with petrol, the court heard

Yarnton had allegedly known Hayes for years and the Crown's case is that the younger woman and her husband Houda helped Yarnton with the murder plot.

Messages sent by Yarnton to Hayes on the night of the attempted murder said 'Hey, where are they' and 'Tell him now', while a response from Hayes said 'Go now, delete everything', the Crown will allege.

Houda's defence barrister Michael Pickin told the jury his client didn't go to Picnic Point that night and he was not involved in any attempt to ignite Mr Yarnton's vehicle.

The jury is expected to hear there was significant tension in the 23-year Yarnton marriage and their dinner that night was supposed to be their last before they separated.

The jury is also expected to hear allegations that Sharon Yarnton went to a bank before the attempted murder and told a manager that 'loan sharks' were after her husband

The prosecutor said Mr Yarnton would give evidence that his wife bought him a beer during the dinner that 'tasted unusual' with granules seen on the glass.

CCTV footage will show that when she went to get him a replacement, she simply tipped the same beer into a new glass, Mr Newton said.

'Mr Yarnton says that he then drank some of that beer and afterwards started to feel extremely tired,' he said.

The jury is also expected to hear allegations that Sharon Yarnton went to a bank before the attempted murder and told a manager that 'loan sharks' were after her husband in an effort to create an explanation for the killing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump had not passed any secrets onto Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a meeting in Washington last week and that he could prove it.

Speaking at a news conference alongside Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Putin quipped that Lavrov had not passed what he said were the non-existent secrets onto him either.

The Russian strongman complained about what he said were signs of 'political schizophrenia' in the United States. Backing up Trump, Putin said the U.S. president wasn't being allowed to do his job properly.

'It's hard to imagine what else can these people who generate such nonsense and rubbish can dream up next,' Putin complained.

Then he mocked the uproar that has thrown the White House into a tailspin. "I spoke to him (Lavrov) today," said Putin, smiling. "I'll be forced to issue him with a reprimand because he did not share these secrets with us. Not with me, nor with representatives of Russia's intelligence services. It was very bad of him."

Putin said on Wednesday that Trump had not passed any secrets onto Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Washington last week and that he could prove it

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It isn't at all clear that the Russians would be able to produce a document that would disprove a bombshell Washington Post report that said President Trump passed on highly classified information to Lavrov during the meeting.

The word 'record' in Russian can mean a recording, according to the New York Times. But a Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, later told reporters that Moscow had in its possession a written record of the conversation, not an audio recording.

Putin said Russia was ready to hand a transcript of Trump's meeting with Lavrov over to Congress if that would help reassure them.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who was in the room during the Oval Office meeting, smiled and laughed when asked Wednesday whether he thinks 'the Russians were bugging the Oval Office.'

'I would have no way to know that,' Tillerson responded.

Putin's jokes and admonitions come as lawmakers from both parties have been calling for the White House to explain what happened during Trump's Oval Office meeting with the Russians.

Trump agreed to host Lavrov after a personal request from Putin, the Washington Post reported. Lawmakers are already demanding the White House turn over any U.S. transcript or other information that would convey what happened.

Trump is accused of disclosing highly classified information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about a planned Islamic State operation, which had been gathered by Israel

Putin said Moscow initially found debates about Russia's meddling in U.S. politics as 'funny' but said Moscow is now 'concerned.'

Putin dismissed the U.S. politicians, whom he did not identify, as either being 'stupid' or 'dangerous and unscrupulous' who are wittingly 'causing the damage to their own country.'

'What surprises me is that they are shaking up the domestic political situation using anti-Russian slogans. Either they don't understand the damage they're doing to their own country, in which case they are simply stupid, or they understand everything, in which case they are dangerous and corrupt.'

President Trump has been similarly dismissive of investigations of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election  an idea he has called a 'hoax.'

Asked what he thinks of the Trump presidency, Putin said it's up to the American people to judge but his performance can only be rated 'only when he's allowed to work at full capacity,' implying that someone is hampering Trump's efforts.

Two U.S. officials said on Monday that Trump had disclosed highly classified information to Lavrov about a planned Islamic State operation, plunging the White House into another controversy just months into Trump's short tenure in office.

Trump is accused of passing on intelligence gathered by Israel that had not been shared with America's allies.
A baby-faced drug dealer could spend the rest of his teenager years in prison after pleading guilty to supplying party drugs to his high school friends.

Flynn Brown, who is on bail awaiting sentencing, was enjoying a day at the beach waxing his surfboard when approached by reporters near his parents' house in Byron Bay this month.

'Not today, mate,' the 19-year-old told 9 News, declining an interview.

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Flynn Brown, who is on bail awaiting sentencing, was enjoying a day at the beach waxing his surfboard when approached by reporters near his parents' house in Byron Bay this month

As he was pressed with more questions Brown said: 'Do you know how to wax a board?'

As he was pressed with more questions Brown said: 'Do you know how to wax a board?'

Brown previously pleaded guilty to supplying large quantities of cocaine and ecstasy.

He was selling drugs to his friends, locals and visitors to Byron Bay, police said.

Police got a tip off about Brown's activity from Crime Stoppers.

They set up a task force to investigate and at one stage police say they heard Brown say he was 'broke because he hadn't done any deals that day.'

One deal was 55 grams of MDMA with a street value of $6600, undercover detectives said.

Brown previously pleaded guilty to supplying large quantities of cocaine and ecstasy

Brown was selling drugs to his friend, locals and visitors to Byron Bay, police said.

When police later raided his parent's home they found drugs hidden in DVD cases.

In a Facebook post from last month Brown wrote: 'I might be locked up this time next year and because of my actions, spend my last months of being a teenager away from the things and people I love.'

Brown will be sentenced at Lismore District Court on May 26.
A Georgia man who became an unlikely advocate for the transgender community after taking on a judge who denied his request to change his birth name has died following complications from surgery.

Rowan Feldhaus passed away at the age of 25, just a few days after undergoing a hysterectomy.

'It was complications post surgery and then he was readmitted post surgery and it started snowballing from there,' his friend Austin Atkins told CBS 12.

Tragedy: Rowan Feldhaus (above) of Georgia passed away at the age of 25 following complications from a hysterectomy he underwent last week

Rowan's death came two years after he first began the process of transitioning, with the hysterectomy set to be one of his final surgeries.

It also comes just a few months after he took on Judge David Roper when he refused Rowan's petition to legally change his name.

In his decision Judge Roper stated that Rowan changing his name from Rebecca was obscene and offensive to the general public, though he said he would have allowed the young man to change his name to one that was gender neutral.

He made a similar ruling soon after in the case of another young man.

Rowan spoke with CBS 12 while appealing the case and discussed how difficult it was for him while travelling to present himself as Rebecca when he had a deep voice and facial hair.

'I don't want to have to put my trans status out there because it shouldn't be an issue,' explained Rowan.

As for Judge Roper, Rowan said: 'He is sexist, and he's obviously transphobic or he doesn't want to help alleviate any of the dangers that are in the trans community just by giving us the name that we identify with.'

Standing tall: He became an unlikely advocate for the transgender community when he took on a judge who deemed his petition to change his name offensive and obscene

Rowan took the case all the way to the Georgia Appeals Court, who earlier this year year overturned Judge Roper's decision and granted his his name change in a unanimous decision.

'We were all very proud of Rowan for not accepting what was clearly a wrong and to fight for his own personal freedoms,' said Atkins in the wake of his friend's death.

His life was cut short however after that monumental victory when he went into septic shock just a few days after surgery and began losing oxygen to his brain.

'Rowan knew the risks going into all of this and he was willing to accept the risks to do what he knew he wanted to do,' said Atkins.

'Rowan will always be a personal hero of mine. He set an example for others to follow with how he lived his daily life.'

Another friend, Jennifer Moore, responded to the news by saying: 'This can't be happening this just started. He's living his life the way he wanted it to.'

Video courtesy of WRDW-TV
The Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Tuesday that he is skeptical about reports that ousted FBI Director James Comey took detailed notes about his February meeting with President Donald Trump.

'Somebody's going to have to do more than have anonymous sources on this one for me to believe that there's something there,' North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr told reporters, reacting to a New York Times story that said Trump asked Comey to shut down his probe into former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn's Russia ties.

Burr said Comey had already shared copious amounts of information with his committee about the FBI's investigation into Russian interference with last year's election  and met with him personally the day before Trump fired him  but the existence of a memo that an FBI source described to a Times reporter never came up.

'I could write something and I could read it over the phone and tell them that it came from him,' Burr said. 'I think the burden is on The New York Times, if they're reporting it and they've got somebody that's got the document, they need to get the document and get it released.'

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Sen. Richard Burr (left), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, says skeptical about the existence of a memo written by former FBI Director Jim Comey that reportedly describes President Donald Trump asking him to close down his probe into Mike Flynn's Russia ties

Comey met with Trump in the Oval Office on February 14, and reportedly wrote down his recollections of the meeting immediately afterward

Trump (left) had fired Flynn (center) just one day earlier, after a series of leaks established that the retired general lied to the vice president about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States; They are pictured with White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus (right) outside transition meetings in Palm Beach, Florida on December 21

Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Tuesday evening that he would be prepared to issue a subpoena to the IRS for Comey's memo

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, too, took a wait-and-see approach  and said Comey should have tendered his resignation on the spot if Trump asked him to slow-walk his investigation into Flynn.

'If this happened, the FBI director should have done something about it or quit,' Graham said. 'If the president asked the FBI director to do something inappropriate, the FBI director should have said no and quit.'

On Wednesday morning the House Intelligence Committee's leading Democrat said Congress needs to see the memo.

'We dont really know what took place here and we need to find out," Schiff told 'Good Morning America' on ABC. 'We need to get those notes, if they exist, that director Comey took of this conversation.'

'Congress will need to subpoena them if indeed they're not provided voluntarily. I certainly support that. I think there are many committees that will," Schiff added. 'Congress really needs to get to the bottom of this.

Comey's memo, if it is genuine, records a February 14 Oval Office meeting in which Trump asked him to close his Flynn probe.

'I hope you can let this go,' Trump told Comey, according to a copy of a memo read to a Times reporter over the phone.

Rep. Adam Schiff (right), the House Intelligence Committee's ranking Democrat, said Wednesday: 'We need to get those notes, if they exist'

Comey reportedly wrote the memo immediately after he met with Trump, as part of an effort to document situations in which the president sought to interfere in the FBI's operations.

The White House quickly fired back, claiming in a statement that 'the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.'

The White House issued a statement that read: 'The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey.'

The White House also steered reporters toward McCabe's congressional testimony from last week.

'There has been no effort to impede our investigation to date,' McCabe told Florida Sen. Marco Rubio during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.

'Simply put, sir, you cannot stop the men and women of the FBI from doing the right thing, protecting the American people and upholding the constitution,' he added.

It remains unclear whether McCabe was referring to an investigation into the possible ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, which is separate from the investigation into Flynn.

Andrew McCabe, the acting FBI director who took over when Comey was fired, told a Senate panel last week that 'there has been no effort to impede our investigation to date'

Angus King (right), an independent Maine senator who caucuses with the Democratic minority, said on CNN that the Comey memo could form the basis for impeachment proceedings, 'because obstruction of justice is such a serious offense'

On Tuesday night Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House oversight committee, fired off a letter to the acting FBI director Andrew McCabe requesting to see 'all memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings' between Comey and Trump by May 24.

Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, tweeted on Tuesday: '@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.'

Hours later, he fired off the letter to McCabe.

Chaffetz cited the New York Times report, which said Comey 'created similar memos  including some that are classified  about every phone call and meeting he had with the president.'

Chaffetz wrote: 'If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the President attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation as it relates to Lt. Gen. Flynn.

'So the Committee can consider that question, and others, provide, no latter than May 24, 2017, all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the President.'

An FBI agent's notes are often held up in court as credible evidence, according to the New York Times.

The existence of Comey's memo puts the former lawman on offense and the president on defense, with the White House denying that the president ever sought to influence an FBI investigation from the Oval Office

Only five days ago the president was warning Comey not to leak anything to the press, saying there might be 'tapes' of their conversations

Comey and Trump talked on February 14, according to the Times, one day after Flynn was forced out of his National Security Advisor position for lying about the nature of his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the US.

Comey recounted the meeting, claiming Trump said: 'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.'

'He is a good guy,' Comey remembered Trump saying, according to the Times. 'I hope you can let this go.'

An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the existence of any contemporaneous memo written by Comey following his February 14 meeting in the Oval Office.

But if the memo is genuine, it would represent a turnabout from Trump's warning to Comey last week about the potential existence of 'tapes' of their conversations.

Comey's friends immediately started leaking to reporters that the former top cop was 'not worried about any tapes' of talks between him and the president.

'If there is a tape, there's nothing he is worried about,' one Comey confidant told CNN.

DOES TRUMP RISK IMPEACHMENT FOR 'OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE'? As the president's Democratic critics in Congress continue their drumbeat of attacks against him  and their demands for a special prosecutor to probe his alleged Russia ties  the existence of Comey's memo could give them the weapon they have been waiting for. The U.S. Constitution reserves the process of presidential impeachment for cases in which the Oval Office occupant can be prosecuted in the Senate for 'high crimes and misdemeanors.' Obstruction of justice is a federal felony, and would qualify  as it did in the articles of impeachment drawn up against Richard Nixon, who later resigned. Liberal constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe wrote Saturday in a Washington Post op-ed that Trump obstructed justice first when he allegedly asked for a guarantee of loyalty, again when he threatened Comey with 'tapes' of their conversations, and a third time when he fired him a week ago. Tribe described Nixon's obstruction offenses as a 'forecast' of Trump's future actions: 'making misleading statements to, or withholding material evidence from, federal investigators or other federal employees; trying to interfere with FBI or congressional investigations; trying to break through the FBI's shield surrounding ongoing criminal investigations; dangling carrots in front of people who might otherwise pose trouble for one's hold on power.' The federal obstruction law defines the crime as an action by someone who 'corruptly or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, influences, obstructs, or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice.' As the Times story's first shockwaves spread over Washington on Tuesday, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked Maine Senator Angus King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, if Americans are 'getting closer and closer to the possibility of yet another impeachment process.' 'Reluctantly, Wolf, I have to say yes simply because obstruction of justice is such a serious offense,' King replied. Advertisement

Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN that the same demand Chaffetz outlined with respect to Comey's memo should apply to any recordings of their meetings that Trump might possess.

'We should give James Comey 72 hours to produce those memos, or the FBI 27 hours to produce the memos. If they aren't produced, they should be subpoenaed,' Castro said.

'By the same token, we should give the White House 72 hours to produce those tapes, if they exist. And if those aren't produced, then they should be subpoenaed.'

In another bizarre portion of Comey's memo, as it was read to a Times reporter, the president complained that classified government information had been repeatedly leaked to the news media and urged him to consider jailing the reporters involved.

That suggestion reportedly came at the top of the Trump-Comey meeting, just after the president had asked Vice President Mike Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to clear out of the Oval Office so the two men could speak privately

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that he was 'shaken' by news of Comey's memo, and warned: 'History is watching'

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said on the Senate floor shortly after the Times story broke that he was 'shaken' by the news.

Speaking in a somber tone, Schumer said: 'We are only one day removed from stunning allegations that the president may have divulged classified information to a known adversary.'

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Trump has either abused his power or committed felony obstruction of justice  or something in between

'Concerns about our national security, the rule of law, the independence of our nation's highest law enforcement agencies, are mounting. The country is being tested in unprecedented ways. I say to all of my colleagues in the Senate, history is watching,' Schumer said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi piled on, saying in a statement that '[i]f these reports are true, the Presidents brazen attempt to shut down the FBIs investigation of Michael Flynn is an assault on the rule of law that is fundamental to our democracy.'

'At best, President Trump has committed a grave abuse of executive power. At worst, he has obstructed justice,' Pelosi claimed.

The Times reported that Comey had a reputation as a cautious note-taker who believed his written recollections of meetings, when put to paper immediately afterward, could help answer questions about events that weren't otherwise recorded.

It's unclear if Comey made similar notes after he met Trump for an intimate dinner on January 27.

Comey's associates have claimed that Trump asked his FBI director during that meeting  twice  for a pledge of loyalty. Trump has denied that claim flatly.
Boris Johnson blundered on the campaign trail today as he enraged a woman by promoting whisky exports inside a Sikh temple.

The Foreign Secretary made his gaffe as he was discussing the Brexit vision of selling more Scotch to India under new trading rules.

Mr Johnson, who was wearing an orange turban, said Britain hoped to end trade tariffs on whisky with a view to creating a dramatic increase in exports.

But the mood turned sour as he addressed the congregation inside the Nirman Sewak Jatha temple about a free-trade agreement with India post-Brexit.

Worshipper Balbir Kaur branded his remarks 'absolutely outrageous' and said talking about alcohol was 'not right'.

Mr Johnson, who is seen as a liability by some in Theresa May's team, apologised to the woman as he scrambled to try and smooth over the row.

The Sikh Federation blasted Mr Johnson after the event and warned no politician in their 'right mind' would discuss a trade deal on alcohol in a Gurdwara.

Boris Johnson blundered on the campaign trail today as he enraged a woman by promoting whisky exports druing a speech inside a Sikh temple (pictured)

Mr Johnson, who was wearing an orange turban, used his speech to say Britain hoped to end trade tariffs on whisky to India with a view to creating a dramatic increase in exports of alcohol

But the mood soured when worshipper Balbir Kaur (pictured) berated the Foreign Secretary branded his remarks 'absolutely outrageous' and said talking about alcohol was 'not right'

Mr Johnson made his remarks in front of the Gurdwara altar and talked about the sale of Scottish whisky, seemingly unaware that the religion bans the consumption of alcohol.

He said: 'What are the consequences of having so many Sikh relatives, and I hope I am not embarrassing anybody, is that whenever we go to India, to Mumbai or to Delhi, we have to bring 'clinkie' in our luggage.

'But imagine what we could do if there was a free trade deal with India - which there will be. You are talking hundreds of millions of pounds of new exports and more exports is great for a fantastic export city like Bristol.'

But the appearance hit trouble when Ms Kaur shouted out to voice her displeasure from the congregation.

ALCOHOL IS BANNED FROM SIKH TEMPLES Boris Johnson appeared to be ignorant of Sikh teachings on alcohol today when he extolled the benefits of tariff-free whisky exports to India. The Sikh gurus banned the use of intoxicants including alcohol on account of their harmful effects. The Akal Takht Sandesh, a religious code of conduct, states that Sikhs 'must not take hemp (cannabis), opium, liquor, tobacco, in short any intoxicant.' Many Sikhs in the UK do drink alcohol but consumption is completely banned in many temples. Advertisement

She told him: 'You have just said that the main objective is to get the trade between India and England and the basis of that is alcohol which is in Sikhism against our religion so I wouldn't be wanting to put somebody in power who wants to put more alcohol in India which is causing lots of problems at the moment.

'I am a practising Sikh and to me that is absolutely outrageous.'

Mr Johnson protested and apologised - while claiming he knew many Sikh followers who drink alcohol, but many in the audience were not impressed.

Ms Kaur told the local Bristol Post newspaper she found the whole address very disrespectful.

She said: 'Although he says his wife is Indian he has no values for India and to me that means that the Conservatives are not bothered about what the people want it is what they want to do.

'In front of the Gurdwara to talk about and promote alcohol is offensive, he not have been stood there talking about that, he should have known that.'

Mr Johnson was in the city to support Theodora Clarke's campaign to be the Conservative MP for Bristol East.

Mr Johnson, who was wearing an orange turban, said Britain hoped to end free trade tariffs with a view to creating a dramatic increase in exports

Boris Johnson (pictured at the temple in Bristol today) blundered on the campaign trail today as he enraged a woman by promoting whisky exports inside a Sikh temple

The Foreign Secretary (pictured as he addressed the people at the temple) was discussing the Brexit vision of selling more Scotch to India under new trading rules

A BBC recording reveals someone else interrupted to mention inheritance tax to Mr Johnson, prompting Ms Kaur to demand: 'Inheritance tax is not an issue - alcohol is.

'I'm sorry if I am shouting but it is very important to me.

'It's not my family circumstances, it's the whole of Sikhism and you are standing in a Sikh Gurdwara and talking about alcohol - it's not right.'

Mr Johnson said: 'I am sorry if you think alcohol is a bad thing, I understand your point of view.

Speaking after the event, Bhai Narinderjit Singh, general secretary of the Sikh Federation (UK), criticised Mr Johnson's remarks.

'No politician in his right mind would speak in a Gurdwara about a trade deal involving alcohol,' he said.

'It is a requirement that Sikhs should not consume any intoxicants.'

Mr Singh added that anyone who has consumed alcohol or is carrying tobacco is not allowed to enter a Gurdwara, with signs pointing this out.

'Boris Johnson should know much better, after all he is the Foreign Secretary and his mother-in-law is a Sikh,' Mr Singh said.

'Ministers and other politicians that visit Gurdwaras need to understand the basic protocols and the live issues or they just show they are out of touch with the Sikh community and do not deserve our votes.'

Sources close to Mr Johnson insisted most people at today's event did not object to his remarks

Mr Johnson was in the city to support Theodora Clarke's campaign to be the Conservative MP for Bristol East

Mr Johnson (pictured today as he prepared to enter the temple) was supported by other people in the room and he pointed out that whisky was already widely consumed in India

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: 'He was simply making the point that a free trade deal with, for example, India could be huge for both sides.

'He pointed out that in India billions of litres of whisky are consumed every year but there is tariffs at 120 per cent on imports of Scotch whisky and wouldn't it be great if we could have free trade.

'One lady expressed her views based on a personal situation but the other 30 attendees warmly welcomed his remarks.'

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Tom Brake said: 'This crass misjudgement has shown Boris Johnson is incapable of representing his own party at home, let alone representing Britain abroad.

'It doesn't bode well for all the trade deals the Brexiteers have promised.

'The British people don't have to settle for bungling Boris and Theresa May's risky and extreme version of Brexit.

'The Liberal Democrats will give people a say on the Brexit deal in a referendum, with the choice to remain in Europe.'

There are religious rules against the consumption of alcohol inside Sikh temples but drinking is not prohibited for all Sikhs.

Orange is the new white pic.twitter.com/lSgFDijsOw  Pete Simson (@SimsonPete) May 17, 2017

The incident at the Sikh temple in Bristol's St George's district was revealed today by BBC Politics reporter Pete Simson

Mr Johnson previous intervention on the campaign trail also descended into controversy as he branded Jeremy Corbyn a 'mugwump'.

He said the veteran left-winger getting the keys to Downing Street would be 'calamitous' as Britain faces a new 'age of uncertainty' with growing threats from Russia and North Korea.

The jibes sparked a furious reaction from Labour, who accused Mr Johnson of 'demeaning' his role as foreign secretary.

While Mr Corbyn said he would not engage in 'personal name calling'.

But the use of the term left voters scratching their heads over its specific meaning.

Even Mr Johnson appeared to get his sources muddled, saying he thought it came from Roald Dahl's 1964 book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory  when it appears in Charlie And The Great Glass Elevator.

The term mugwump actually appears to originate from native Americans and came to be used in the US to describe a political turncoat.

It often now refers to someone who remains aloof or independent, especially politically.
President Donald Trump made an unscheduled call to Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday hours before a report identified Israel as the source of the information the US president shared with the Russians.

An Israeli official told Haaretz the call was in preparation for Trump's visit to Israel next week, and it lasted about 20 minutes. Trump's information sharing with the Russia's foreign minister and its US ambassador did not come up, the person said.

Neither the White House nor the prime minister's office had said a call would be taking place, although both have since confirmed that one did.

The White House did not immediately return a request for comment from DailyMail.com on the matter.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters riding Air Force One on Wednesday that the call 'was purely a logistical and trip preparation.' He repeated himself when a reported tried to pin him down.

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President Donald Trump made an unscheduled call to Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday hours before a report identified Israel as the source of the information the US president shared with the Russians

Trump (R) and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) shake hands following a joint news conference at the East Room of the White House February 15, 2017 in Washington. Trump is headed to Israel at the end of this week

Israel, the United States' closest ally in the Middle East, is said to be the source of the highly classified information that President Trump passed to top Russian officials in the White House last week.

Israel wouldn't comment on a report in the New York Times that the paper sourced to a current and former intelligence official.

But it immediately threw attention on a key Middle East ally, with whom Trump has invoked an 'unbreakable bond.'

Former Mossad director Danny Yatom told The Jerusalem Post this could be a 'grave violation' of intelligence sharing protocol if it's true and could 'lead to harm to the source.'

'We will think twice before conveying very sensitive information,' said Yatom.

Asked how the U.S. government can move on after the president's disclosure to the Russians, Yatom said, 'It can be repaired by asking again the Americans not to do it, not to convey such a nature of information, which is very sensitive and probably after a short period of time, the relations will be recovered, unless the phenomena of conveying information to a third party will continue.'

The Israeli government considers it to be facing an existential threat in Iran, with whom Russia maintains historic ties. Israeli officials are already expressing concern that information Israel passed on to the U.S. could somehow find its way back to Iran.

There were reports Monday that the information came from a Middle Eastern ally. The information reportedly pertained to an ISIS-driven bomb-making technique.

Then came the calls to the Jordan and Israel.

Trump's call to King Abdullah II of Jordan on Tuesday morning was part of the president's public schedule. The call to Netanyahu, that Haaretz says came just after, was not.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer would not say at a Tuesday afternoon briefing that Israeli was the source of the information that Trump shared.

Israel's ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, said in a statement that: 'Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under President Trump.'

His statement provided a lifeline to the embattled White House, which has tried to bat away concerns that Trump may have inadvertently given away sources and methods of intelligence gathering in his Oval Office talk with the Russian ambassador and the Russian foreign minister.

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said Trump's disclosure was 'wholly appropriate,' and did not reveal sources and methods. Asked whether Trump revealed the city in Syria where the information came from, he said most ISIS strongholds are well known to media consumers.

Donald J. Trump and Ron Dermer, Ambassador of Israel to the United States, attended the Wharton Club's 44th Annual Wharton Award Dinner at the Park Hyatt Washington hotel on October 22, 2014 in Washington. Dermer said in a statement 'Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States'

LET'S TALK: David Friedman, (R) the new United States Ambassador to Israel, with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (L) in the president's Jerusalem residence as Friedman presents his credentials on 16 May 2017

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 15, 2017

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Trump has exhibited a special bond with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Trump's inveighing against the Obama administration's Iran nuclear deal matched up with Netnyahu's view.

Dermer told AIPAC this spring: 'For the first time in many years, perhaps even many decades, there is no daylight between our two governments.'

At an off-camera briefing with reporters, Spicer said he couldn't comment on the report on Israel, which maintains its heralded Mossad spy organization.

'I'm obviously pleased to see Ambassador Dermer's comment,' said the Trump spokesman.

'We appreciate the relationship that we have with Israel and appreciate the exchange of information that we have with them,' he added, before saying he would not comment further.

President Trump defended himself against an onslaught of criticism on Tuesday morning after a report said he shared 'highly classified' information with the Russians about ISIS operations that came from a US ally.

'As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism,' Trump said in two tweets.

ALL SMILES: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US President Donald Trump, and Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak (L-R) talking during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House. Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

ALL (WELL, SOME OF) THE PRESIDENT'S LEAKS The Trump administration has found itself hamstrung by a series of high-profile leaks to reporters. This week's Washington Post story describing the president sharing allegedly classified Israeli intelligence with Russian diplomats is only the latest example. Some of the resulting news stories put the White House in full-blown spin mode, while others have turned out to be inauthentic. January 25: The New York Times described a leaked draft of an executive order that would reopen CIA 'black site' prisons where terror suspects could be interrogated. Sean Spicer later said it was 'not a White House document,' and he had 'no idea where it came from.' February 2: News reports describe an angry Trump berating Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over a refugee resettlement deal negotiated by the Obama administration. February 2: The Associated Press published an excerpt of a leaked transcript of a call between Trump and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto in which Trump tells him he could send American troops to the border to deal with 'bad hombres down there.' February 5: The Times spoke to West Wing aides who revealed that they couldn't figure out how to work the light switches in the White House's Cabinet Room  and had to work in the dark as a result. February 9: The Washington Post leaned on classified information to report that then-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn had discussed the status of U.S. sanctions against Russia during secret meetings in December with Moscow's ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak. February 13: The Post reported that Sally Yates, dureing the days before she was removed from her post as acting attorney general, warned the Trump White House's top lawyer that Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his Kislyak contacts. February 14: The New York Times reported that Flynn was questioned by the FBI only a few days into his White House tenure, and that agents came away from the meeting believing he hadn't told them the whole truth about his Kislyak meetings. February 17: The Associated Press publishes an 11-page Homeland Security Department memo that proposed using 100,000 National Guard troops to police the southern U.S. border. (The White House said it was not an official document.) April 8: White House staffers dished dirt to the Post about a rapprochement between warring senior aides Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon  brokered by CHief of Staff Reince Priebus. May 15: The Post reported, based on leaks from 'current and former U.S. officials,' that the president revealed 'highly classified' information about the ISIS terror army to Russian diplomats in the Oval Office, upsetting a U.S. ally that had been the source of intelligence Trump handed over willingly. The White House insisted that none of the people in the room with Trump and the Russians saw the information exchange that way. May 16: The Times revealed, based on another leak, that it was Israel that had provided the intel in the first place. Israel's ambassador to the U.S. reaffirmed his country's willingness to work with Washington in the future. Advertisement

The disclosure ensures that Trump will have plenty to discuss when he visits Israel, where Trump will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and pray at the Western Wall.

National security advisor H.R. McMaster, asked Tuesday sked if Trump thinks the wall is part of Israel, responded: 'That sounds like a policy decision.'

Netanyahu reportedly asked to join Trump as he prayed at the wall, but a U.S. official told him the site is 'not your territory,' the Associated Press reported, citing on reports out of Israel.

An Israeli intelligence officer told Buzzfeed News the information making its way to Russia represented Israel's 'worst fears confirmed.'

'We have an arrangement with America which is unique to the world of intelligence sharing. We do not have this relationship with any other country,' said the intelligence officer.

'There is a special understanding of security cooperation between our countries,' the officer continued. 'To know that this intelligence is shared with others, without our prior knowledge? That is, for us, our worst fears confirmed.'

The publication had reported in January about Israel's concerns Trump would pass information to the Russians, interviewing the same officer at the time.

'There has to be trust for this sort of arrangement. I cannot speak for Israel's entire security apparatus, but I would not trust a partner who shared intelligence without coordinating it with us first,' the officer concluded.
A racism row has broken out in Germany over a bilingual McDonald's sign that sends German speakers to a restaurant in a wealthy part of town and Turkish speakers to a branch in a run-down area.

Directions on one poster, written in German, point customers to the more upmarket Wasserturm area of Mannheim, in the country's west.

But the second, written in Turkish, sends people to an outlet in an area described by one German media outlet as being 'seedier'.

A bilingual McDonald's sign in Germany sends German speakers to an outlet in a wealthy part of town and Turkish speakers to a branch in a run-down area. The sign on the left, in German, says 'We are moving to Wasserturm', along with an arrow and a 10-minute time estimate for getting there. The other says the same in Turkish but with a different location and directions

The contrasting signs sparked anger locally amid accusations on Twitter of 'racial segregation'. A municipal Migration Committee member reported citizens had felt maligned by the bilingual instructions.

But the franchise owner insists he was trying to be inclusive while McDonald's bosses said the matter was 'clearly a misunderstanding'.

The sign on the left, in German, says 'We are moving to Wasserturm', along with an arrow and a 10-minute time estimate for getting there. The other says the same in Turkish but with a different location and directions

According to DW, franchise owner Manfred Buch wanted to direct customers to two of his other restaurants because one was closing.

The franchise owner of the restaurant in Mannheim (pictured) insists he was trying to be inclusive while McDonald's bosses said the matter was 'clearly a misunderstanding'

He said he had asked a Turkish firm to draw up the signs and insisted he had employed international workers for 25 years 'everyday without racist incidents'.

'To be accused now of discrimination makes us speechless and sad,' he said.

According to Die Welt, McDonald's said in a statement: 'Discrimination has no place in our restaurants. This is clearly a misunderstanding, and we applaud the franchise owner for his swift reaction in removing the signs.'
Fund Will Provide Capital to Organizations Addressing Issues Around the State

The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) has just announced a new source of capital for Oregon's nonprofits and mission-oriented for-profit companies. The Foundation is launching the Oregon Impact Fund, which will provide impact investments in organizations that are addressing problems facing urban and rural communities, such as access to affordable housing, health care, and jobs. Impact investments produce a financial return in addition to having a positive impact on society and/or the environment. The Oregon Impact Fund will be a source of growth capital for scaling proven models.

The fund is being launched with approximately $10 million in investments with a goal of reaching $20 million. Initial investments are from donors who currently have funds at OCF: The Gray Family Foundation, Dave and Christine Vernier, Hon. Randy Weisberg, Tom Bowerman, Barre and Robert Stoll, Cindy and Duncan Campbell and Chris and Tom Neilsen. The Headwaters Fund of OCF from Central Oregon also contributed. Additional funds come from OCF with a one to one match for every dollar invested in the Fund, up to $10 million.

"This fund is the latest in a series of efforts that OCF has invested in over the past nine years to improve access to capital for Oregon companies and nonprofits," said OCF President and CEO Max Williams. "OCF currently invests one half of one percent of the endowment in Oregon-based venture capital funds that invest in early or growth stage companies based in Oregon. The Oregon Impact Fund will create a vehicle for investing more of the endowment in Oregon nonprofits and mission-oriented for-profits in ways that are greatly beneficial to Oregon communities."

OCF launched a pilot program in 2014 and has provided $2.75 million in loans to organizations like Craft3, Ascent Funding, CASA of Oregon and Ecotrust. Through the process, the OCF board of directors learned about the significant demand for capital to support revolving loan funds and other entities that could scale an important project for society with access to non-traditional financing. They appreciate the opportunity to provide a leadership role in making this capital available.

To learn more about the OCF Oregon Impact Fund, visit http://www.oregoncf.org/oregon-impact-fund.
Barack Obama has made a point of not publicly attacking or criticizing President Trump since his election back in November, but behind closed doors he apparently has no problem sharing his thoughts about the new commander-in-chief.

In an interview with People, two of Barack's friends reveal that he one said of President Trump: 'He's nothing but a bulls****er.'

That comment came shortly after President trump called Barack following his surprise win in the November election and voiced his 'respect' for the man.

This despite the fact that he had spent years stirring up controversy over Barack's birth certificate while frequently attacking his actions in office.

Frenemies: Barack Obama told two friends shortly after the election that President Trump was a 'bulls****er' (pair above in November)

Smile and a wave: The two friends also said that Barack's opinion of President Trump has not got any 'better' since he took office (pair above on inauguration day)

The two friends also said that Barack's opinion of President Trump has not gotten any 'better' in the four months since he took office, though a third source said that he is happy about one thing.

'Hes deeply concerned with what hes seen. But hes also optimistic and heartened that citizens arent just watching it happen but engaging with neighbors and elected representatives at town halls,' said the source.

And while he and wife Michelle have not publicly attacked President Trump, the former first lady did promise last week that she was not gone for good.

'We're not gone, we're just breathing, y'all. Let us breathe,' she said. 'We've got to get our new lives set up,' Michelle said at a health conference in Washington DC on Friday.

'I'm approaching the next chapter the way I approached this last chapter. I want to be strategic.'

She then added: 'I want the folks here to know that my commitment to these issues is real. This didn't have anything to do with me being first lady.'

Michelle has joked in the past that she would be wearing black for the next four years, a pledge she appears to have possibly taken seriously given the attire she has been spotted in since the day President Trump took office.

David Axelrod, a longtime friend of Barack, said that like George W. Bush before him, he will likely never publicly attack President Trump while he is in office.

'Hes very respectful of the appropriate role of a former president and that ex-presidents should not be looking over the shoulder of their successors and commenting on every decision,' said Axelrod.

'President Obamas predecessor didnt do that. Obviously, this now is a unique set of circumstances, but my sense is that hes going to try and respect that tradition while reserving the right to speak out in given moments when things rise to that level.'

A source also said that despite the negative things President Trump has had to say about his predecessor and Obamacare while in office, Barack has still continued to speak with him when he reaches out and 'try to help.'
A South Carolina man was getting busy in a car with a known prostitute when he was shot dead on Friday evening.

North Charleston police said Ladontes Miller, 34, was having sex in a van when someone drove up to the vehicle and shot him before speeding off.

Police found Miller dead and slumped over in the driver's seat of a car. The headlights were on and the vehicle was running, reported the Charlotte Post and Courier.

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A South Carolina man was getting busy in a car with a known prostitute when someone shot him dead on Friday evening

The vehicle, a Mazda van, was backed into a residence on the 4100 block of St Johns Avenue near Hunter Street as if it had crashed.

A man who lives in the area called authorities around 9.30pm on Friday night, saying he heard a loud bang.

His neighbors found Miller dead in the car, and witnessed the woman in the back seat of the car 'strung out' and doing narcotics.

The woman, described as a 'known prostitute,' was squatting behind an open driver's door when police arrived.

According to a police report, her hands, face and dress were covered in blood.

The woman later told an officer that she'd met Miller earlier in the day, but claimed she did not know his name and denied that they had met for a prostitution deal.

She then told the officer that she and Miller were having sex in the vehicle alongside the residence when someone came up to the car and shot him. She then said the shooter sped away, but could not provide any other information.

The vehicle, a Mazda van, was backed into a residence on the 4100 block of St Johns Avenue near Hunter Street as if it had crashed

'She was also unable to tell me how many subjects there were,' the officer wrote in a report. 'The woman informed me that she had just smoked crack. As a result, (the woman) struggled to follow my questions with any proper mental capacity.'

Other witnesses told police that they heard a single 'pop' before finding the devastating scene.

They said that they tried to help the woman out of the Mazda, but she pulled the door shut and proceeded to use narcotics in the back seat while Miller lay dead in the front, reported the Post and Courier.

Video courtesy of WCSC
Davey Browne's mother yelled out 'stop the fight' in the rounds before the professional boxer was knocked to the canvas in the final minutes of a 2015 bout, a NSW coroner's court has heard.

A few days later, the 28-year-old was dead.

Browne died in hospital on September 15 after being punched in the 12th round of a regional IBF super featherweight title fight at the Ingleburn RSL on September 11, 2015.

His parents were in Glebe Coroner's Court in Sydney on Wednesday when footage was shown of their son taking punches from Filipino Carlo Magali without putting up much defence.

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The mother of Danny Browne (pictured), a Sydney boxer, yelled out 'stop the fight' in the rounds before the professional boxer was knocked the canvas

Browne died in hospital on September 15 - three days after being punched in the 12th round of a regional IBF super featherweight title fight at the Ingleburn RSL on September 11, 2015 (pictured with his wife and children)

In her opening address, counsel assisting the coroner Kristina Stern SC said the boxer's father, David Browne, had described him as looking as 'drunk as a skunk' as he walked out for the 12th round.

His mother, Debra Browne, on Wednesday said she yelled 'stop the fight' in the earlier rounds although no other witnesses heard her.

'When you watch the video you can see the fight should have been stopped in the 11th,' David Browne, who says he goes to his son's grave every day, said outside the court.

'When I lost Davey I lost half of me.'

Deputy State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan will consider whether referee Charlie Lucas, trainer Todd Makelim and ringside doctor Lawrence Noonan should have communicated better about Browne's health and taken steps to stop the fight.

The footage shows Browne repeatedly being punched in the head during the 11th round before falling forward on to his hands and being given an eight count by the referee.

His parents were in Glebe Coroner's Court in Sydney on Wednesday when footage was shown of their son taking punches from Filipino Carlo Magali without putting up much defence

A poster is pictured promoting Mr Browne's last match against Magali

His mother, Debra Browne, on Wednesday said she yelled 'stop the fight' in the earlier rounds although no other witnesses heard her

He's punched again soon afterwards and falls backwards on to the ropes as the bell rings.

The inquest, which will investigate whether Browne should have been given a second eight count after falling on to the ropes, heard the boxer had complained of having a 'busted' or broken left hand at some point during the fight.

Mr Makelim is expected to give evidence that he asked Browne numerous times if he was OK.

The trainer has suggested he'd have been the 'biggest prick in the world' if he'd thrown in the towel so close to a possible win.

The footage shows Browne (pictured with his wife and dad) repeatedly being punched in the head during the 11th round before falling forward on to his hands and being given an eight count by the referee

The contest was ended without a count immediately after Browne was knocked to the canvas in the final round.

The inquest heard Browne's mother-in-law, an intensive care nurse, was able to get a response from him at first.

But the boxer quickly deteriorated and had fixed pupils by the time paramedics assessed him.

Ms O'Sullivan will investigate whether Browne should have been assessed by Dr Noonan between the 11th and 12th rounds.

Browne's injuries were deemed unsurvivable at the hospital and his family decided to turn off his life support.

The inquest is expected to continue on Thursday.
A four-year-old boy died on Monday after shooting himself with a loaded gun he found left out at his in-home daycare in Orange County, Virginia.

Kyrin Falcetti says she dropped her son Cole off at the daycare center and got a call about an hour later, saying something had happened.

When she arrived back at the daycare, she learned that Cole had shot himself. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene around noon.

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Cole Falcetti, age four (pictured), died on Monday after shooting himself with a gun he found at his in-home daycare in Orange County, Virginia

It's unclear why the gun was left out where the children had access to it. Above, a picture of Cole

Mom Kyrin Falcetti said she dropped her son off Monday morning and received a call about an hour later saying something was wrong. Her husband Josh pictured right

'I don't want to be burying my son,' Mrs Falcetti told NBC 4 Washington. 'He didn't do anything wrong.'

A sheriff's deputy-in-training lived at the home, but he was not there at the time of the shooting and the gun was not his service weapon.

The training deputy's fiancee was babysitting at the center at the time.

So far, no charges have been filed. In Virginia, it's illegal to leave a loaded and unsecured gun in a place where children can get to it.

'If you have a weapon, gun safety,' the boy's father, Josh Falcetti, said. 'It's something that they teach for any person that gets a weapon. Keep it secure. There's no reason a child should be within reach of any type of weapon whatsoever at any point in time.'

A sheriff's deputy-in-training lives at the home where the incident happened, but the gun was not a service weapon. Cole pictured alone on the left and with his mom on the right

The Orange County Sheriff's Office has declined to release further information until their investigation is complete.

Mrs Falcetti started a GoFundMe after her son's death to raise money for his funeral.

On the page, she wrote that Cole was 'the most lovable boy in this entire world'.

'All he wanted to do was give anyone he saw a hug and tell them all about his favorite movies and toys.

'He loved to play with his sister Caydance and was already very protective of his baby sister Adaline. Anytime someone came around he would go over to Adaline, give her a hug and say, "This is my Adaline. My sister".

'He had the brightest smile and could light up any dark room. He loved his purple monkey. He would hold it's tail and put his thumb in his mouth while holding onto it's tail. He loved going for walks and playing outside. He loved to cuddle up with us and watch movies with popcorn.

'He would say 1000000000000000000000000 times a day "Daddy or Mommy, I love you" Just because. It would be random. There is so much I could say about this little boy, this bio would be never ending,' she wrote.
Johnny Depp filed a motion this week demanding the judge allow a whistleblower testimony be unsealed in his $25 million fraud lawsuit against his ex-managers.

The 52-year-old actor asked that the documents be unsealed for the public despite opposition from Robert and Joel Mandel of The Management Group (TMG), who he fired in 2016.

In April, it was revealed Depp is $40 million in debt.

In Los Angeles County Superior Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Depp accuses his former business managers of launching a global media smear campaign against him.

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Johnny Depp accused TMG and his former managers of launching a campaign against him by including 'irrelevant' documents in court papers to paint him as financially reckless. He asked the LA judge that the whistleblower testimony be unsealed

He said he paid the company $28 million in fees for legal, business, tax and accounting services to TMG from 1996 to 2016.

The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star accused the Mandels and TMG of negligence, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty for failing to pay his taxes on time resulting in $5.6 million in federal tax penalties and interest.

Depp says the managers loaned $10 million of his money to third parties without permission and kept messy financial records. He accused them of using his money to invest in business' the Mandels had a stake in.

TMG said Depp's financial woes were a result of his expensive lifestyle. They claim the actor spent $18 million on a luxury yacht and $1million to archive his Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe memorabilia

The company also claimed Depp paid $3million to blast author Hunter S Thompson's ashes from a custom cannon (pictured). However, the actor said it cost $5million

His business managers claimed they took appropriate measures to manage the actor's finances and warned him about him his overspending multiple times. They blamed him solely for his dire financial situation alleging he spent $2 million a month to maintain his lavish lifestyle.

Depp said the whistleblower has information that could help his case. TMG filed a motion to seal the ex-employee's testimony

TMG said Depp spent $75 million on 14 homes, $18 million on a luxury yacht, $1 million to archive his Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe memorabilia and $3 million to blast author Hunter S Thompson's ashes from a custom cannon.

Depp said he actually spent $5million on the cannon.

Every month, TMG said Depp spent $30,000 on expensive wine, $300,000 on 40 full-time employees, $150,000 on security for him and his family and $200,000 in private jet costs.

Depp said he uncovered significant new information including documents and a testimony from a former TMG employee whistleblower. The employee, who was fired from TMG last month, said she could back up Depp's claims of money mismanagement by the company.

The actor filed docs to amend his complaint to add the new allegations but TMG demanded the documents be sealed in the case.

Depp demanded the court refuse to grant TMG's motion to seal the information and for the name of the former employee, the fact she worked on Depp's account at the company, that she was fired for complaining about TMG's mismanagement along with her statement that 'she knows all the dirt and all the thieves'.

Then on May 15th, Depp filed new docs demanding the judge allow this information into the case and for it to be public.

The actor explains he learned through an internal message and other sources that the former TMG employee aka the whistleblower was aware of serious wrongdoing crucial to his claims against his business managers.

He argues the information reveals the depth of misconduct his former manager Joel Mandel undertook on behalf of the company.

The lawsuit claims the Mandels (Joel and Robert above) mismanaged Depp's money. The actor accused them of using his money to invest in businesses which they had a stake in

Depp alleges the unnamed whistleblower knew about the wrongdoing against him and that the testimony and her name should be made public. He said 'she knows all the dirt and all the thieves'. TMG and the Mandels asked for the testimony to remain sealed

Depp says the only reason they want the information hidden from the public is because TMG is worried about their reputation.

He said they do not like how it makes them look. He accuses them of including a wide range of inaccurate and irrelevant materials in their court documents as an 'attack pulpit' to smear him and the whistleblower.

He points out to an interview his ex-managers did with the Hollywood Reporter where TMG they claimed the whistleblower was a 'low-level clerk who promised revenge'.
The Coast Guard has shared images of debris from a plane which disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle on Monday, taking with it a New York mom, her two young sons, and the pilot.

Among the debris, which was found floating around 15 miles off the coast of Eleuthera, Bahamas, on Tuesday afternoon, were components of a twin-engine MU-2B - the same kind of aircraft Jennifer Blumin, her kids, and pilot Nathan Ulrich, were on when it vanished.

A picture, shared on the Seventh District Coast Guard's Twitter page, reveals what appears to be the shredded remnants of the aircraft, including a label which warns to 'remove before flight.'

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The Coast Guard has shared images of debris from a plane which disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle on Monday, taking with it a New York mom, her two young sons, and the pilot

As of 2015, Blumin was living in Tribeca with her husband James Ramsey (left), a principal of the design studio Raad. The pair have two sons together, four-year-old Phineas and three-year-old Theodore (pictured with her)

'#Update @USCG image of debris, confirmed components of an MU-2B aircraft recovered 15 miles E of Eleuthera, Bahamas; search continues,' the Coast Guard tweeted

Authorities have now covered more than 8,200 sq mi over 30 hrs in search of the missing plane, according to another update

'#Update @USCG image of debris, confirmed components of an MU-2B aircraft recovered 15 miles E of Eleuthera, Bahamas; search continues,' they tweeted.

Authorities have now covered more than 8,200 sq miles over 30 hrs in search of the missing plane, according to another update.

The plane had been en route from Puerto Rico on Monday when air traffic control lost radar and radio contact.

Blumin, 40, who is the Founder and CEO of event venue development firm, Skylight Group, her sons Phineas, four, and three-year-old Theodore, and 52-year-old Ulrich never made it to their destination of Titusville, Florida.

The search for any survivors continues into its third day.

The Coast Guard tweeted at 3.30pm on Tuesday that a helicopter crew located 'debris field approx. 15 mi E of Eleuthera, Bahamas'.

According to the Coast Guard, the twin-engine MU-2B turboprop, manufactured by Mitsubishi, was 37 miles east of the island of Eleuthera on Monday when air traffic control in Miami lost radar and radio contact with the plane around 2.10pm.

Rescue teams are searching for survivors after a small plane disappeared near the Bahamas on Monday. Pilot Nathan Ulrich (right), of NH, and Jennifer Blumin (left) of NY, are still missing along with her three-year-old and four-year-old sons

The airplane departed Borinquen, Puerto Rico, at approximately 11am Monday and never made it to its destination of Titusville, along the northeastern coast of Florida.

Their plane was at about 24,000 feet when air traffic control lost contact.

'There's no indication of significant adverse weather at the time,' said Lt Cmdr Ryan Kelly, a Coast Guard spokesman.

Coast Guard aircraft, Customs and Border Patrol and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force are all a part of the search.

A Coast Guard cutter arrived later Tuesday to assist with the search.

Blumin has been featured in numerous media outlets that profiled the Skylight Group, which she founded in 2004. The group specializes in re-conceiving historical spaces and converting them for high-end event use.

Skylight has a portfolio of venues that includes Skylight West, Skylight One Hanson in Brooklyn and Skylight at Moynihan Station.

Skylight at Moynihan Station is located in the historic James A. Farley Post Office on West 33rd Street across from Penn Station.

The airplane departed Borinquen, Puerto Rico, at approximately 11am Monday and never made it to its destination of Titusville, along the northeastern coast of Florida (as depicted by this map). Their plane was at about 24,000 feet when air traffic control lost contact

Blumin founded the Skylight group in 2004. The group specializes in re-conceiving historical spaces and converting them for high-end event use. She has two children with partner and designer Ramsey (pictured in 2011)

The US Coast Guard of the Southeast tweeted at 3.30pm on Tuesday that crews located a debris field near Eleuthera, Bahamas, where the private plane went missing

Skylight One Hanson was previously the Williamsburg Savings Bank Clocktower in Brooklyn and Skylight Modern on West 27th and 10th Avenue, is a 15,000-square-foot blank canvas created for Fashion Week in 2013.

The group also has a partnership to run private events on the High Line.

As of 2015, Blumin was living in Tribeca with her husband James Ramsey, a principal of the design studio Raad. The pair have two sons together, four-year-old Phineas and three-year-old Theodore.

But the couples 19th-century Tribeca loft went on the market earlier this month for $3.7 million.

Ulrich, who was piloting the plane, is the founder and owner of Xootr, a manufacturer of folding kick scooters and folding bicycles.

He was also married to actress Rae Dawn Chong from 2011 to 2014. She tweeted about his plane vanishing shortly after 2pm.

'My ex-hubby's (Nathan Ulrich) plane is missing over the Bermuda Triangle. I am sad and in shock. So send prayers to his family. Thanks,' she tweeted.

Ulrich (pictured), who was piloting the plane, is the founder and owner of Xootr , a manufacturer of folding kick scooters and folding bicycles. He is also a mechanical engineer graduate of the University of Pennsylvania

In February, Ulrich had to undergo recurrent training in order to pilot the MU-2 aircraft after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a Special Federal Air Regulation (SFAR) on the aircraft in 2008. He posted this photo to his Facebook after landing the plane in February

Ulrich was also married to The Color Purple actress Rae Dawn Chong (pictured), who tweeted about his plane vanishing shortly after 2pm

'My ex-hubby's (Nathan Ulrich) plane is missing over the Bermuda Triangle. I am sad and in shock. So send prayers to his family. Thanks,' Chong tweeted

The SFAR mandates that pilots flying MU-2B planes (file), which started production in 1963, after 2008 would be required to receive type-specific initial training, as well as recurrent training. As of 29 March 2016, there have been three fatal accidents involving the MU-2B

In February, Ulrich had to undergo recurrent training in order to pilot the MU-2 aircraft after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a Special Federal Air Regulation (SFAR) on the aircraft in 2008.

The SFAR mandates that pilots flying MU-2B planes, which started production in 1963, after 2008 would be required to receive type-specific initial training, as well as recurrent training.

Recurrent training occurs when professional pilots practice emergency procedures as needed and as mandated.

The agency also required that a fully functional autopilot be available for single-pilot operations, and that FAA-approved checklists and operating manuals be on board at all times.

As of 29 March 2016, there have been three fatal accidents involving the MU-2.

According to his Instagram page, Ulrich owns a Cirrus SR20, a piston-engine plane that seats between four and five people. He is also a mechanical engineer and alum of the University of Pennsylvania.

MYSTERY OF THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE Last year it was reported that hexagonal clouds creating terrifying air bombs with winds of 170mph could be behind the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. Scientists have claimed the stormy blasts can flip ships into the ocean and bring planes crashing down into the sea. The winds created by the so-called air bombs are so powerful they generate 45ft high winds. At least 1,000 lives have been lost in the Triangle in the last 100 years. On average, four planes and 20 ships go missing every year. The 500,000km square patch in the North Atlantic Ocean has been blamed for the disappearance of at least 75 planes and hundreds of ships. The plane went off radar around the Bermuda Triangle (aerial view), also known as the Devil's Triangle Advertisement

Last year, it was reported that hexagonal clouds creating air bombs with winds of 170mph could be behind the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle.

Scientists have claimed the stormy blasts can flip ships into the sea and bring planes crashing down into the sea.

The 500,000km square patch in the North Atlantic Ocean has been blamed for the disappearance of at least 75 planes and hundreds of ships.

At least 1,000 lives have been lost in the Triangle in the last 100 years. On average, four planes and 20 ships go missing every year.
One of six accused 'tinnie terrorists' who planned to join Islamic State sympathisers allegedly tweeted he was in the Middle East when he was really in the Philippines.

Robert 'Musa' Cerantonio was under surveillance by Philippine authorities for five months after being spotted at a shopping centre in Cebu in the central Philippines in 2014, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard on Wednesday.

He, along with Paul Dacre, Shayden Thorne, Kadir Kaya, Murat Kaya and Antonio Granata are fighting allegations they planned to sail from Cape York to join IS sympathisers Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines last year.

Robert 'Musa' Cerantonio who planned to join Islamic State sympathisers allegedly tweeted he was in the Middle East when he was really in the Philippines

Philippine police operatives escort Australian Islamic preacher Robert Cerantonio at the Ninoy Aquiono International Airport in Manila in July 2014

The men are fighting allegations they planned to sail from Cape York to join IS sympathisers Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines last year (boat pictured)

All six men are charged with making preparations for incursions into foreign countries to engage in hostile activities.

Police alleged that while under surveillance, a tweet sent under Cerantonio's name stated he was preparing for travel to the Middle East, followed up by another tweet saying he had arrived there, police allege.

But contrary to the tweet, he was spotted in the Philippines at that same time, an investigating police officer told the court.

After the tweets, Cerantonio's passport was cancelled by Australia's Foreign Affairs minister and a warrant of deportation issued for his arrest and detention.

The court heard authorities later found a number of black and white flags in the Philippines flat he shared with his partner.

Philippine police also downloaded nine YouTube videos allegedly posted by Cerantonio which they saved under the titles, Australian Islamist Musa Cerantanio Glorifies Jihad, Who are the real terrorists and Sheik Musa Cerantonio Talking about Khilafah, the Muslim Lands and the War on Islam by the West.

Surveillance footage shows Cerantonio allegedly leading Kaya and Thorne on the first leg of their mission from Melbourne to Cape York

Cerantonio, Dacre, Thorne, Granata and Kadir Kaya were arrested near Cairns on May 10, 2016 towing a seven-metre boat en route to Cape York.

The court heard one of the accused, Granata suffered from claustrophobia and anxiety.

Queensland senior constable Carl Bishop, who inspected the boat, said it was carrying stale fuel but capable of conducting a voyage from far north Queensland to Indonesia, which would have taken an estimated 10 days.

The committal hearing continues.
A teenage couple from Arkansas have been arrested after police say their newborn daughter was found covered in blood and suffering from up to 100 rat bites all over her body, including a wound on her head through which the babys skull was visible.

Erica Shyrock, 19, and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Charles Elliott, were taken into police custody in Magnolia on Sunday and charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.

According to a graphic arrest affidavit, the case began unfolding at around 11.30am Sunday when police were summoned to Magnolia Regional Medical Center about a baby that had been bitten by rats.

Teen parents: Erica Shyrock, 19 (left), and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Charles Elliott (right), have been charged with child endangerment after their newborn baby daughter suffered up to 100 rat bites while in their care

Helpless victim: Shyrock told police she was awakened by her 15-day-old daughter's screams and found the baby (pictured) in her bassinet covered in blood

An emergency room nurse told the responding officers that the girl was 15 days old and weighed just 5lbs.

An examination has revealed that the infant had 75 to 100 rat bites all over her body, including on her arms, fingers, hands and face.

The worst injury was an inch-wide gash on the baby's forehead that was so deep it exposed a portion of her skull, the affidavit stated, according to a report by ArkansasMatters.com.

When interviewed by police, Shyrock, who has been dating Elliott since 2015, recounted how she put her daughter to sleep at around 5.30am in her bassinet placed next to the parents bed and was awakened by her screams two hours later.

When the 19-year-old mom looked in the crib, she said she found her baby girl covered in blood. Elliott, who was interviewed separately, also told police he saw bloody rat footprints in the crib.

Both parents said they were aware there their home was infested with rats but failed to address the problem.

Shyrock, pictured left during her pregnancy, told police she put down her baby for a nap at 5.30am Sunday in her bassinet right next to the couple's bed

Elliott told police he found his daughter covered in blood and saw bloody rat footprints in the crib

In the course of the investigation, police interviewed Elliotts' mother, Regina Barton, who revealed to them that her son told her the baby had been bitten by a mouse and that he was afraid to lose custody of her.

Barton said she urged her son to take the injured newborn to the hospital anyway.

Elliott cleaned up some of the blood, and he and Shyrock said they waited an additional hour and a half for Barton to arrive at their home before seeking medical help for their baby at 9am.

Under questioning, Elliott reiterated to police he was afraid.

Mother-of-two: Shyrock also has an older daughter, whom she had in November 2015 (pictured)

The couple's roommate, Maggie Williams, later gave police permission to search the residence, where they were able to recover the crib with the bloody rodent paw prints, a baby's blood-soaked hat, a baby blanket with blood stains on it and rodent droppings on a cabinet.

On Monday, Elliott and Shyrock's daughter underwent a reconstructive surgery to close the gaping wound on her forehead.

A doctor at Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock, where the victim has been transferred for treatment, sent police a note on Tuesday saying the child suffered severe skin destruction from rat feeding.

The physician determined the damage would have taken hours to occur and the baby would have been in distress during that time. The doctor suggested that the parents were either incapacitated or absent to not have responded to the baby's distress.

Shyrock and Elliott are both being held at Columbia County Justice and Detention Facility without a bond.

According to Shyrocks Facebook page, the teen mom also has an older daughter whom she had in November 2015, aged 16 or 17. It is unclear where that child is.
A second grade Oklahoma teacher arrested for bringing heroin and needles into a classroom has now also been charged with child neglect.

Megan Sloan, 27, was allegedly found with the drugs in her purse at Holmes Park Elementary School in Sapulpa on May 1.

Another teacher had reported Sloan to administrators after she used her computer to sign into Facebook. Sloan forgot to sign out and her colleague saw a message in which she detailed how she allegedly pawned school items and sold heroin.

Sloan faced court on Tuesday where the Creek County District Attorney's Office added an additional charge of child neglect related specifically to the students in her class.

Megan Sloan, 27, was arrested on May 1 after police found 13 needles, meth and heroin in her purse while she was working at Holmes Park Elementary in Sepulpa, Oklahoma

She now faces five charges, including drug possession in the presence of a minor, child neglect, two counts of embezzlement and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said at the time of her arrest that Sloan admitted to using drugs before the drugs were allegedly found in her purse.

While talking to police in the principal's office, Sloan admitted to possessing Xanax, pawning two tablet computers belonging to the school and stealing $125 in student field trip money.

They believe that Sloan used the money to buy gas and drugs.

Police then searched her purse and found 13 syringes inside - one of which had a brown substance in it that turned out to he heroin.

Sloan faces five charges, including drug possession in the presence of a minor, child neglect, two counts of embezzlement and possession of drug paraphernalia

They also found meth, spoons to cook drugs, and the prescription drug Suboxone - which is used to treat pain and opioid addition.

Police noted that Sloan did not appear high when they spoke to her.

Sloan said she did not take drugs at school and never left her purse within reach of students.

The school said they were cooperating with police and that student safety is their number one priority.

Sloan had been a teacher at the school for the last two years. She has no criminal history.

She is due to face court again on May 24.

Sapulpa Public Schools assistant superintendent Johnny Bilby said they were working with authorities to investigate the matter.
House Speaker Paul Ryan threw his weight behind a request by the House Oversight and Government Reform and Oversight Committee for documents related to President Trump's conversations with FBI Director James Comey, saying lawmakers 'need the facts.'

Ryan delivered carefully calibrated remarks, both calling for a thorough investigation and boosting the White House by saying there are people who want to 'hurt' the president.

'We need the facts. It is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president. But we have an obligation to carry out our oversight regardless of which party is in the White House,' Ryan said at a press conference after a meeting of the GOP conference.

'That is our job to be sober, to be dispassionate and to get the facts and to do our jobs and to follow the facts wherever they may lead, Ryan said.

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Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) is calling for investigators of Trump's meeting with sacked FBI Director James Comey to 'follow the facts'

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Ryan spoke after a bombshell New York Times report that sacked FBI director James Comey had kept memos of his conversations with Trump, including a February talk where Comey wrote that Trump asked him to back off an investigation of Trump's fired national security advisor Mike Flynn over alleged Russia ties.

He poked at Comey by saying, 'Im sure were going to want to hear form Mr. Comey. If this happened as he allegedly describes, why didnt he take action at the time? So there are a lot of unanswered questions,' Ryan said.

Ryan said called probes that are 'responsible, sober and focusing only on gathering the facts. That is what Congress does in conducting oversight of the executive branch.'

'That is our job to be sober, to be dispassionate and to get the facts and to do our jobs and to follow the facts wherever they may lead,' Ryan said.

Ryan made statements defending the White House, while also calling for a 'sober' investigative process. He answered questions from students from Delavan-Darien and Big Foot High Schools on Friday, May 12, 2017, at Prestige Paints in Delavan, Wis.

A protester holds a sign while demonstrating against a scheduled visit by House Speaker Paul Ryan at a campaign event for Republican candidate for 6th congressional district Karen Handel in Dunwoody, Ga., Monday, May 15, 2017

House Speaker Paul Ryan got asked about how the flurry of reports and investigations might affect the GOP's election chances. Republican candidate for 6th congressional district Karen Handel, left, looks on as Ryan, right, speaks to a crowd while campaigning for her at an event in Dunwoody, Ga., Monday

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) talks to a panel of local officials and business owners speak at Accel Inc on May 10, 2017 in New Albany, Ohio. Ryan stopped at the contract packaging company to listen to local business leaders talk about strengthening the US manufacturing work force and to talk about tax reform legislation

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, wrote a letter to the FBI seeking documents about fired director James Comey's memos about his meetings with President Trump

Ryan spoke amid calls for an independent counsel at the Justice Department who would be free from interference, an idea he rejected by citing the number of existing congressional probes, along with an active FBI investigation.

'Were not going to be trying to play to the crowd or try to meet timelines. Were going to do it the right way and follow the facts wherever they lead,' Ryan said.

'We cant deal with speculation and innuendo and theres clearly a lot of politics being played. Our job is to get the facts and to be sober about doing that,' he continued.

Ryan got asked about critics who questioned and even lampooned his own independence. Republicans in Congress are relying on President Trump to help them enact their long-stalled agenda.

'So there is plenty of oversight that is being done. What we dont try to do is meet the facts within some 24-hour news cycle,' Ryan said.

Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House oversight committee, has requested to see any and all documentation the fired FBI director James Comey kept of his communications with President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump departs the White House May 17, 2017 in Washington, DC

Chaffetz's request, addressed to the acting FBI director Andrew McCabe Tuesday, came just hours after Comey's associates made explosive accusations against Trump.

Reading from a memo Comey wrote after a February 14 meeting with the president, the associate told a New York Times reporter Trump asked him to close a federal investigation into disgraced National Security Advisor Mike Flynn by saying: 'I hope you can let this go.'

House Oversight committee ranking Democrat Rep. Elijah Cummings blasted Ryan at a press conference Wednesday before Ryan spoke.

'Of course, Speaker Ryan has shown he has zero appetite for any investigation of President Trump. Instead, he appears to have minimized any oversight whatsoever,' he said.

'Think about this. The President fired the Director of the FBI because he was becoming increasingly enraged over the accelerating investigation into his campaign and its ties to Russia. He even admitted this on national television,' said Cummings.

'Yet two of the committees with jurisdictionthe House Oversight Committee and the House Judiciary Committeehave not even scheduled a hearing on this unprecedented action. Our Chairmen have issued no subpoenas,' he continued.

'Now we have this explosive report that the President pressured Director Comey to drop the criminal investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn,' he said. Cummings said it was necessary to subpoena the White House for documents.
"It was gorgeous - easily one of the most joyous, inspiring nights I've had in a long time..." -- Marci Crowson, Associate Artistic Director, Oregon Children's Theatre

(Hillsboro, Oregon) - The Walters Cultural Arts Center at 527 E. Main Street in downtown Hillsboro, presents the Anjali School of Dance performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Saturday, May 13, 2017, at 2 p.m. The classic story has been reinvented to include a fusion of several music and dance styles including: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Bollywood and native folk dances - while the accompanying music will include Western Classical, Indian Folk, Hindustani, Carnatic, Pop, and Bollywood selections. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 day of show and are available at brownpapertickets.com or by calling 503-615-3485.

"Anjali's "Midsummer Night" is gorgeous to look at, from its rich temple-inspired costumes to the architectural snap of its precise group formations, which suggest a singularity of movement and purpose."

- Oregon Arts Watch

Founded in 1996 to provide training in the ancient Indian art form of Bharatanatyam - a classical dance form originating in Southern India - to students in the greater Portland area - the Anjali School of Dance currently works with over fifty students in the Hillsboro studio. Directed through the rigorous process of learning basic steps and gestures, students also receive instruction in the various elements of stage performance and production. The school has presented over 800 performances at various community events over the years.

As Founder and Artistic Director of the Anjali School of Dance, Anita Menon's classical yet inventive approach creates an exceptional style that is distinct, meaningful and appealing to diverse audiences around the world. She is recognized as a leading director and choreographer of Bharatanatyam and was also the first Asian-American to receive the prestigious Performing Arts Fellowship in 2014 from the Regional Arts and Culture Council.

Director, Meera Kanagal, has always had a passion for bringing traditional stories to audiences in a more entertaining way. "Adapting and innovating classic tales draws in both older and younger audiences, because it ties great traditional stories to things that are exciting and relevant in our modern lives. I also think in our global society it is impactful to fuse culture and tradition from different international communities," said Kangal. Unlike traditional versions of this Shakespearean comedy, this version will use Indian classical hand gestures and facial expressions to tell the stories. A sample of the school's performances can be found in this YouTube link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKMX5XwruTw

Kanagal started learning Bharatanatyam under the tutelage of late Smt. Sringaramani Padmini Rao. She performed her Arangetram in 1988 and has had the opportunity to perform for various occasions in India. Kanagal taught Bharatanatyam and choreographed Indian folk dances in Colorado for the Canyon Concert Ballet as well as to students of a charter school. She joined Anjali School of Dance in 2008 and performs and teaches regularly. Under the guidance and encouragement of Menon, Kanagal has been successful in technical coordination of crew and production for school performances in Portland and Seattle. A member of Portland Kannada Koota, she has also used the opportunities provided by the organization to present Bharatanatyam and Indian folk group dances representing the dance school.

The Walters Cultural Arts Center is conveniently located just two blocks off the MAX Blue line in historic downtown Hillsboro. For further information, call 503-615-3485 or visit the website at www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/waltersconcerts. Many thanks go to the event sponsors whose generosity and support has made it possible to enhance the Arts Center's offerings and services. Special thanks to Walters sponsors: The Orenco Hotel and Decadent Creations Bakery.

# # #

The Walters Cultural Arts Center is a premier west side visual arts and performance facility. Part of the City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation department, the Walters is home to a 200 seat state-of-the-art performance and event space, art galleries and studio space dedicated to workshops and classes representing a wide variety of art forms. Each season the Walters' eclectic concert series grows, featuring local, national and international artists. The Walters also hosts free events including First Tuesday Gallery Openings, Open Poetry Night and the Spoken Word Series.
Cassandra Sainsbury's fiance has made the explosive claim the accused drug mule was lured to Colombia by fellow Australians.

Sainsbury, 22, was locked up at El Buen Pastor since she was arrested at El Dorado International Airport on April 11 allegedly in possession of 5.8kg of cocaine.

Colombian police have alleged Sainsbury was lured into becoming a drug mule because she was in debt and told it would be easy money.

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Cassandra Sainsbury's fiance has made the explosive claim the accused drug mule was lured to Colombia by fellow Australians

Colombian police have alleged Sainsbury (pictured right with Mr Broadbridge) was lured into becoming a drug mule because she was in debt and told it would be easy money

Now, her partner Scott Broadbridge has told Channel Seven's Sunday Night program it was a group of Australians who lured her to danger.

Mr Broadbridge also tells the program that he has seen payments from the mystery group of Australians.

Colonel Rodrigo Soler, anti-narcotics chief at Bogota's El Dorado International Airport, previously said Sainsbury was a perfect mark for drug smugglers.

He said she was likely told the job was pre-arranged and airport staff and police were paid off on both sides of the journey to let her through with the cocaine.

Mr Broadbridge also tells the program that he has seen payments from the mystery group of Australians

The Adelaide woman has claimed she was set up by a man named 'Angelo' who arranged to buy her headphones at a cheap price as gifts for her wedding party

'The owner of the drug who convinces the people to smuggle the drugs, he says everything is fixed up. Everything in the airport is fixed. Everything is easy,' he told News Corp.

Colonel Soler said drug traffickers often took advantage of young people like Sainsbury who were facing economic hardship and needed fast cash.

The Adelaide woman has claimed she was set up by a man named 'Angelo' who arranged to buy her headphones at a cheap price as gifts for her wedding party.

She said the 18 packages wrapped in black plastic containing the cocaine were given to her the morning of her flight and she didn't know they were drugs.

Colombian police seized CCTV footage of Angelo at the hotel where she stayed for eight nights before her flight, and she hoped it would help prove her innocence.

But Colonel Soler and his colleagues said since the beginning of the investigation that they did not believe her story and that she knew what she was doing.

Lt Colonel Jorge Triana told Daily Mail Australia soon after news of Sainsbury's arrest broke that drug mules often feigned ignorance when they were caught

Sainsbury, 22, locked up at El Buen Pastor since she was arrested at El Dorado International Airport on April 11 allegedly in possession of 5.8kg of cocaine

Lt Colonel Jorge Triana told Daily Mail Australia soon after news of Sainsbury's arrest broke that drug mules often feigned ignorance when they were caught.

'It's a commonplace strategy that narco traffickers use to take drugs out of the country,' he said.

'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.'

Sunday Night is broadcast on Channel Seven at 8.30pm on Sunday.
George Osborne has stepped down from the Commons and become editor of the Evening Standard

George Osborne stepped up his feud with Theresa May today with a claim that no senior ministers support her 'rash target for cutting immigration.

The former chancellor's newspaper launched a vicious attack on the Prime Minister's policy for reducing net flows below 100,000, branding it 'perverse'.

The Evening Standard editorial said most of the Cabinet had expected Mrs May to 'bury' the pledge when she took the keys to Downing Street and they would be glad to 'see the back of it'.

Although the pointed attack was not under Mr Osborne's name, as editor he oversees content in the paper and also tweeted a link to the piece.

He now faces criticism that he is using his former role in government for advantage in his new job, with a Tory vowing to report him to the Cabinet Secretary.

The Whitehall appointments watchdog cleared his appointment on the basis that he would not 'draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of yourself or the organisation to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to you from your time in ministerial office'.

Nadine Dorries, who is defending Mid Bedfordshire for the Conservatives, said she would be writing to the Cabinet Secretary asking whether Mr Osborne had breached rules.

'George Osborne is already using his former position of privilege to influence his new highly-paid position as editor of the Evening Standard,' she said.

'As soon as I return as an MP I will write to the Cabinet Secretary to ask him to consider some of the editorial comment which has been published in the Evening Standard to enquire as to whether or not it breaks the Acoba code.'

The editorial in the Standard today laments the fact that Mrs May is ensuring the pledge to bring net migration below 100,000 will be in the Tory manifesto. Numbers have been running at around 270,000 a year.

'She didnt need to make this politically rash and economically illiterate move. She was not the author of the pledge; David Cameron made it in opposition,' the piece says.

'She knows better than almost anyone that net migration  the number of people arriving, minus the number leaving  is not in the gift of government, subject as it is to the vagaries of the world economy.

The Standard editorial today laments that Mrs May - pictured at a press conference with Chancellor Phillip Hammond today - has refused to drop the target, despite the Cabinet opposing it

Mr Osborne tweeted a link to the article, which has sparked complaints that he is exploiting his privileged government knowledge in his new role

'Moreover, this target has a perverse incentive, in that the more people you persuade to emigrate from the UK, the more likely you are to hit it.

'So you would assume that Mrs May would jump at the chance to bury the pledge. Thats what her Cabinet assumed; none of its senior members supports the pledge in private and all would be glad to see the back of something that has caused the Conservative Party such public grief.

'But no. Mrs May has kept digging.'

The current chancellor, Philip Hammond, is among the ministers believed to have pushed unsuccessfully for students to be removed from the migration target.

Mr Osborne himself was a key figure in producing the 2010 and 2015 Tory manifestos that included the migration pledge.

The former chancellor was brutally ejected from No11 by Mrs May when she became PM last July.

He was not even given the dignity of an exchange of letters, while allies of the new premier left no doubt he had been sacked.

Since then Mrs May has ditched a series of policies championed by the ex-chancellor.

Mr Osborne had insisted he would stay on as MP for Tatton, despite taking on a number of lucrative outside roles.
Edward Bedrusian (pictured), 54, was arrested and charged with one count of first degree murder with a deadly weapon

A 54-year-old man in Nevada has admitted to bludgeoning his friend to death and encasing his body in concrete after telling friends he had been held captive by the victim for days, police say.

Edward Bedrusian was arrested and charged with first degree murder with a deadly weapon after the discovery of human remains encased in concrete in a secluded part of Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

He was ordered held without bail on Tuesday and will remain in Clark County Detention Center.

The lake's spokesperson Christie Vanover said the remains, found on May 2, were covered with tarp and dirt near a popular cliff-jumping site Nelson's Landing.

Employees at the Aztec Wash near Las Vegas, Nevada, reported the gruesome find after noticing a foul smell from the area.

The Clark County coroner identified the remains found in the tarp as Jon Ernest Gomez and ruled his death a homicide.

Bedrusian (above) admitted to bludgeoning his friend, Jon Ernest Gomez, to death and encasing his body in concrete after he told friends he had been held captive by the victim for days, police say

Police found Gomez's remains in a secluded part of Lake Mead National Recreation Area (scene above) after employees noticed a foul smell from the area on May 2

Gomez had broken ribs, a broken hyoid bone, which is a bone in the neck, a gunshot wound to the head and blunt force trauma to the head, KTNV reported.

Bedrusian allegedly admitted that on November 28 he killed his friend, who went by the nickname 'Rabbit', by hitting him in the head with a sledgehammer and then shooting him in the head, according to a police report obtained by KLAS.

He allegedly told his friends that Gomez had held him hostage for days inside his own home.

In an attempt to escape, Bedrusian claimed to have killed Gomez, and then buried his remains in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, according to the documents.

The Clark County coroner ruled his death a homicide as he had broken ribs, a broken hyoid bone, which is a bone in the neck, a gunshot wound to the head and blunt force trauma to the head. Pictured: Lake Mead, which the body was found close to

Gomez's girlfriend reported him missing in December with the last contact in late November and said that the last time she spoke to him, he told her he was going to Bedrusian's trailer in Las Vegas.

She also told authorities that she contacted Bedrusian numerous times trying to find Gomez, but the story he would give her changed constantly.

The truck that he used to transport the body was located by police after Bedrusian sold it.

Authorities were able to find blood in the truck and also searched his home, where more blood evidence was found, KLAS reported.

Court records also identified Bedrusian as Edward Bedrusian and Edward Coleman, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported.
This has been the worst week of Donald Trumps presidency.

And it may yet turn out to be a defining, disastrous one.

It erupted last Tuesday with the sudden, shocking firing of FBI director James Comey, and reached a chilling crescendo with last nights bombshell New York Times report that Trump tried to make Comey stop the bureaus investigation into former National Security Advisor, General Mike Flynn.

Make no mistake, if that claim is proven  and the White House vehemently denies it  then President Trump is in very serious trouble.

It would appear to represent a clear attempt to obstruct justice, and that would very likely constitute grounds for impeachment.

This has been the worst week in Donald Trump's presidency and he could be in serious trouble

Trump will doubtless be hurling blame left, right and center for all the negative headlines in the past few days.

But Im afraid he only has himself to blame after a series of spectacular missteps that have dragged him to a very dangerous precipice.

First, he should have fired Comey with more grace and political common sense.

The decision was correct after Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington.

But doing it the way Trump did it was unnecessarily savage and demeaning to a decent man who made mistakes.

This is not the Celebrity Apprentice; public humiliation is not a pre-requisite of ending someones lengthy career of outstanding service to his country.

Yet Comey found out his fate when news broke on TV screens behind him as he spoke to some of his FBI staff in Los Angeles.

He assumed it was a prank, but no, the joke was on him.

To rub salt into those gaping wounds, Trump accused Comey of being a showboat and grandstander, two qualities that one might assume this particular President would see as virtues, not faults.

First Trump fired Comey with no grace or common sense and then admitted it was over 'this Russia thing'

Even worse, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Comey had committed atrocities with his actions over Hillary Clintons emails  a ridiculously inaccurate and offensive use of a word normally reserved for war crimes and human rights abuses.

All this was guaranteed to make Comey come out fighting, which he now has to devastating effect.

Trumps second big mistake was to admit he fired Comey over this Russia thing with Trump and Russia.

That Russia thing is the on-going FBI investigation into whether Trumps campaign team colluded with the Russians to fix the US election.

Trump is perfectly entitled to view the Russia thing as a made up story as he put it in the same interview with NBCs Lester Holt, particularly as there has been no evidence yet that any such collusion ever happened.

What he is NOT entitled to do is fire the FBI director simply because he is doing the job he is paid to do, even if that job is making life uncomfortable for the President.

By indicating the Russia investigation was indeed a reason for the firing, Trump also directly contradicted previous statements by his own White House staff and Vice President, Mike Pence  making them all look ridiculous.

This after having failed in the first place to give his PR team almost any warning of the storm to come then leaving them to flounder around, essentially making up a narrative as they went along.

No wonder it fell apart within a day.

Trumps third big mistake was the very next day to invite the Russian foreign minister and US ambassador to to a meeting in the Oval Office. The meeting may well have been on the schedule for a while, but that doesnt matter. The optics were terrible and the meeting should have been postponed.

Trumps third and fourth big mistake are both seen here - the very next day inviting the Russian foreign minister and US ambassador to to a meeting in the Oval Office - and then banning the US media from covering the meeting

Trumps fourth big mistake was to ban the US media from covering that meeting but allow Russian media to do so. This was a deliberate two fingers to the press he so loves to brand Fake News! but again, the optics stank.

For a US President to offer favourable treatment to Russian media over his own American media for a meeting at the White House is completely unacceptable and deserved all the opprobrium it received.

Trumps fifth big mistake was to then tell the Russian delegation classified information about an ISIS terror plot. Putins men are not a trusted ally, and should not be treated as such.

President Trumps loose tongue with top-secret intelligence that had been passed to his government in strict confidence by the Israelis was not illegal but it was very ill-advised and a gift to his many enemies.

This, as they swiftly reminded us, was a man who spent most of his campaign screaming that Hillary Clinton couldnt be trusted with classified information. Yet here he was casually handing it to an American foe like he was giving them a box of caviar.

As President he can declassify whatever intel he wants but to do so without checking with the agency that supplied it and balancing the offence caused to the country that provided it to the US and the danger in which it may have placed the life of their human source against the benefit of sharing with Russia was reckless to say the least.

All this, though, pales into relative insignificance compared to the sensational new claim that Trump asked Comey to drop an FBI investigation into General Flynn.

Comey made a detailed note of this extraordinary request in a contemporaneous memo he wrote immediately after a meeting on February 14 at the White House.

The ex FBI chief is apparently famed for covering his back in writing, and he shared this memo with FBI colleagues.

So there is a paper trail.

The timing of this was incredibly sensitive.

Flynn had just been fired for lying about conversations he had with Russians in which he inappropriately discussed sanctions.

But the FBI investigation continued and may yet lead to charges and a whole heap of damaging new headlines for the Trump administration.

Comey alleges that Trump said to him: I hope you can let this go.

Those seven damning words may come back to haunt the President, because they offer the first documented evidence that he may have directly tried to influence the Justice Department and FBI probe into inappropriate links between his team and Russia.

This couldnt be more serious because obstruction of justice is a federal crime and that could trigger presidential impeachment as it did with Richard Nixon over Watergate.

Of course, it is important to state again that Trump denies Comeys dynamite claim, and that there may be no way of proving it other than the memo.

So Trump may well survive a push for impeachment on the basis of a confused he said, he said claim and counterclaim.

But I hope he doesnt underestimate either the severity of this crisis, or his own role in it.

He needs to get a grip fast on both his own erratic behaviour and that of those who work for him before it brings him down.

Donald Trump is a not a conventional politician and didnt win the election by being one.

He is a brash, cocky billionaire business tycoon who plays by his own rules and sees himself as a peoples hero bull careering around the tired, elitist, intransigent Washington china shop.

But when you become President of the United States, there are certain rules you HAVE to play by, as he is now discovering.

Trump has grandiose plans to make America great again, and much of what he has been doing is worthy of praise, but he will never achieve his goals if the current incessant chaos continues to plague his presidency.

This past dreadful week should be the catalyst for a dramatic overhaul of his top team.

There are still people who want him to succeed and are prepared to accept that his frequent missteps are down to inexperience and naivety rather than plain craziness or corruption.

But if he wants to keep that goodwill much longer he has to admit to himself that he has a lot to learn.

He must create a tighter, far more disciplined ship, and surround himself with experienced and, crucially, respected political operatives who know exactly what they are doing and have the ability to calm rather than worsen the constant storms that batter any White House administration.

Right now, he is seemingly surrounded by a bunch of headless chickens that have no idea how to put a brake on all this mayhem or how to exercise any form of control over their boss when he goes rogue.

The President seems to be surrounded by headless chickens that have no idea how to stop the mayhem. Press Secretary Sean Spicer and advisor Kellyanne Conway - seen here today following Trump to Marine One - have become objects of open mockery and derision

Some, like his beleaguered press secretary Sean Spicer and advisor Kellyanne Conway have become objects of open mockery and derision.

Others, like supposed chief strategists Steve Bannon and Reince Priebus, need to step up to the plate fast or get traded out of the White House, because strategy is being swamped by scandal.

My favourite TV drama was The West Wing.

Trump will never be a president in the style of Martin Sheens character Josiah Bartlet.

But he desperately needs his own Leo McGarry, CJ Cregg, Josh Lyman and Toby Ziegler; razor-smart people with razor-smart political antenna, infused with basic honesty and the strength of character to stand up to him when he is about to make a big mistake.

And he needs to acquire the humility to listen to them.

In other words, President Trump needs people who can save him from himself. And he needs them fast.
A schoolgirl, who was killed when she fell from Drayton Manor's Splash Canyon rapids ride, died from chest injuries.

Evha Jannath, 11, died after she fell out of the water ride on a school day trip to the fun park last Tuesday.

Bosses closed the popular Staffordshire theme park for three days as police and safety officials investigated how she was thrown from the ride amid claims staff were slow to react.

Staffordshire Police today revealed the post mortem concluded that she died from chest injuries.

Tragedy: Evha Jannath, 11, pictured, was killed when she fell out of the Splash Canyon water ride on a school day trip to the fun park last Tuesday while she was on a school trip

Claim: Now Evha's mother has sought legal advice and is planning to sue the theme park for negligence over the tragedy, a family friend has told MailOnline

Accident: Evha died after she was jolted out of a six-seater rubber-ringed boat on the ride when she apparently stood up to swap seats. It is believed she banged her head as she fell in

A spokesman for the force said: Following the incident last week at Drayton Manor Park in which Evha Jannath tragically lost her life, we can confirm the post mortem has taken place.

'The preliminary cause of death has been identified by the HM Coroner as chest injuries however investigations continue.

'An inquest has been opened and adjourned this afternoon, with no confirmed date for the full hearing.

'The investigation into Evhas death remains a joint investigation between Staffordshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive.'

A full inquest into the schoolgirl's death is expected to begin in November.

Speaking ahead of Evha's funeral yesterday, family friend Annika Choudhury told MailOnline the schoolgirl's mother Nurun Nahar, 43, had sought advice from lawyers about taking legal action against the park.

Evha died after she was jolted out of a six-seater rubber-ringed boat on the ride when she apparently stood up to swap seats.

It is believed she struck her head on rocks and was knocked unconscious.

Shut: Bosses closed the popular Staffordshire theme park for three days as police and safety officials investigated how she was thrown from the ride amid claims staff were slow to react

Probe: An aerial view of Splash Canyon ride shows the attraction deserted bar a few officials following the park's closure. The park reopened on Saturday but the ride remains closed

Evha, who is of Bangladeshi heritage, was airlifted to Birmingham's Children's Hospital but was pronounced dead soon afterwards. She was a pupil at the private Islamic Jameah Girls Academy in Leicester.

She had celebrated her birthday just four days before she died. Her mother and waiter father Muhammed Suable Islam, 46, who is separated from his wife paid tribute to their 'beautiful little girl who was full of love and always smiling.' They said their world had been 'torn apart.'

The park reopened on Saturday although the popular Splash Canyon attraction remained closed along with six other rides.

More than 600 people gathered for her funeral at the Muslim prayer hall at Saffron Hill Cemetery in Leicester.

Evha's heartbroken mother Musammath Nurun Nahar, 43, and father Muhammed Suable Islam, 46, were joined by members of the Muslim community in the packed room.

A group of 20 men carried her coffin inside and after prayers were said, the coffin was passed over the heads of the men who had attended the funeral and taken away for a private burial.

Labour politician Keith Vaz, who is seeking re-election as MP for Leicester East was at the service to support the family

Family friends Annika Choudhury, 20, a law student whose mother Shajeda is best friend of Evha's mother, said: 'She is so heartbroken she cries constantly. She is separated from Evha's dad and doesn't know how she'll cope on her own without her.

'She is now seeking legal advice over suing the park for negligence.'

Investigation: Splash Canyon riders are told to stay seated and hold on the boat's rail but it is understood Evha stood up, as other riders in the past have been filmed doing

She went on: 'Our hearts go out to the family and we are traumatised too. They were our next doors neighbours but suddenly moved away because of personal family problems. There has been a lot of conflict in that family.

'But my mother and brother have remained close friends. Evha was a lovely, amicable young girl and I was always doing her hair and make up and dolling her up.

'Her death is unbelievably tragic and should never have happened.'

Ms Choudhury said Evha's mother and father had been to see her body in the hospital morgue.

She said: 'Her mum said that Evha looked like she was just sleeping and there wasn't a mark, she could see, on her body.

'She said it was of some comfort that her daughter looked just the same as the last time she's seen her before the trip, beautiful and unscathed but finally at peace.

'We worry about how she'll cope with the loss but she has a very strong faith which may help her, and a brother she is very close to. She can't stop crying and can't eat or sleep and she's worried about Evha's cat called Spotty who really misses her.'

The coffin of the 11-year-old was seen arriving at Saffron Hill Cemetery in Leicester, as devastated mourners look on

Grieving friends and family have gathered for the service in memory of the schoolgirl at Leicester's Saffron Hill Cemetery

She added that youngster's body had been released to the family after the postmortem for the funeral today.

'Once Evha has been laid to rest her family will be able concentrate on trying to seek answers and get justice for their daughter,' she said.

'They plan to take action against the theme park, not the school, as they were responsible for the ride and the safety of their visitors. They will be in a better position once the health and safety report has been completed and the cause of death known.'

Splash Canyon riders are told to stay seated and hold on the boat's rail but it is understood Evha stood up, as other riders in the past have been filmed doing. There are no safety belts or life jackets for use.

It is understood she was in a boat alone with fellow pupils and no adult. A teacher is believed to have been travelling on the raft behind.

Evha's tragic death has sent shockwaves around the close-knit community and hundreds turned out to pay their respects to her today

Health and safety experts are still probing the accident and continuing their 'important work' to find out how it happened. A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said they were trying to establish if a 'mechanical fault' was to blame.

The Canyon remains closed and shielded from view by a huge green barrier with a security guard stationed outside.

Three rides overlooking it are also currently shut plus another three for seasonal maintenance. A few bouquets of flowers from well wishers rest against the barrier. A tribute on one simply read: 'Our thoughts are with your family at this time from Derby City Foster Carers Association.

A Drayton Manor spokesman, which attracts 5,000 people per day at weekends, told MailOnline: 'While we await the findings of the ongoing investigation we cannot comment further. We thank you for your patience at this difficult time.'

In a statement after the park reopened, it said: 'What happened was extremely sad and our hearts go out to Evha's family.

'But we have had some very positive and encouraging feedback from park visitors. 'They have been pretty understanding about the ride closures and our reduced price entrance fee to reflect this helps compensate.'

She added: 'After such a terrible tragedy it is welcoming to see smiling faces and hear the sound of laughter here again.'
The U.S. will not be relocating its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem - at least not right now - a senior official says.

President Donald Trump said as recently as March that he wanted move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the 'eternal capital of the Jewish people.'

A White House official told Bloomberg Wednesday that remains the case. Trump will not authorize the move this month, though, the official said.

'We dont think it would be wise to do it at this time,' the person told Bloomberg. 'Weve been very clear what our position is and what we would like to see done, but were not looking to provoke anyone when everyones playing really nice.'

President Donald Trump said as recently as March that he wanted move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the 'eternal capital of the Jewish people.' The White House says he still does - but won't do it right now

Nikki Haley, Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, said Tuesday that the U.S. should move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

'So much of what goes on is in Jerusalem and I think we have to see that for what it is,' she said.

The White House told said last week that President Trump had not made a decision, even though the relocation that would upend U.S. policy was one of his campaign promises.

Trump pushed off a decision for at least six months on Wednesday as he readied himself for an overseas trip that will take to him to the holy city that Jews and Muslims both claim ownership of.

Nikki Haley, ambassador to the United Nations, says the U.S. should move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

The U.S. embassy is currently in Tel Aviv - and so are all the others. If the US. were to move its embassy to Jerusalem, it could spark a trend

A dispute opened up in the Trump administration this week over the Western Wall, and whether its in Israel, as well, after a US official claimed it was in the West Bank

Trump's secretary of state had been noncommittal on Sunday when the topic came up.

Haley told Christian Broadcasting Network on Tuesday that she believes Trump should approve the move that could start an international trend.

She also said the administration believes the Western Wall is in Israel, clearing up a contradiction to U.S. policy that was brought on this week by another official in the Trump administration.

'Obviously I believe that the capital should be Jerusalem and the embassy should be moved to Jerusalem because if you look at all their government is in Jerusalem,' Haley said Tuesday.

No country currently has its embassy in Jerusalem. Like the U.S., nations that have a diplomatic presence operate out of Tel Aviv.

The U.S. has a congressional mandate to move its embassy but presidents have signed a twice yearly waiver since 1995.

Obama signed his final waiver on Dec. 1 after pledging during his run for president eight years prior that he'd approve a move.

The Palestinian prime minister warned Trump in January that he would 'destroy the peace process' if he moved the U.S. embassy to the disputed territory that is governed by Israel but claimed by both peoples as Holy Land.

Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who Trump met with Tuesday at the White House, has said a relocation would be 'extremely ill-advised.'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued last week, after a report said Trump would keep with precedent and sign the waiver that the claims were not true.

'Moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem will not only not harm the peace process, it will advance it by correcting a historical wrong and by shattering the Palestinian fantasy that Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel,' Netanyahu said.

The White House said last week that President Trump had not made a decision, even though the relocation that would upend U.S. policy was one of his campaign promises. Secetary of State Rex Tillerson (right) reaffirmed the administration's position on Sunday

White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was also asked about the report. She said during a televised briefing, 'The President has not made a decision yet, and is still reviewing that.'

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told NBC several days later: 'The president, I think rightly, has taken a very deliberative approach to understanding the issue itself, listening to input from all interested parties in the region, and understanding what such a move, in the context of a peace initiative, what impact would such a move have.'

'The president is being very careful to understand how such a decision would impact a peace process,' Tillerson said on Meet the Press.

The administration's feet dragging is destined to come to an end in the near future. Trump must sign a new waiver or comply the U.S. law by June 1.

He'll meet next week in Jerusalem with Netanyahu and Bethlehem with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. A joint meeting with the two leaders has been rumored but not confirmed by the White House.

Trump will also visit Jerusalem's Western Wall.

The administration entangled itself this week in a dispute over the religious site's location after a U.S. official said it was in the West Bank.

The Western Wall is in Old Jerusalem, an area that has been ruled by Israel since 1967. It's East Jerusalem that the Palestinian Authority wants in an independently- governed state.

Tuesday, the White House acknowledged that the official had made a mistake - but claimed the issue was up for debate.

'Obviously I think this stems from a comment that was made yesterday and which was not the policy of the United States,' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said.

He did not say the wall is in Israel, though.

'The Western Wall is obviously one of the holiest sites in Jewish faith. Its clearly in Jerusalem,' he said during an off-camera briefing. 'Its an issue that's had serious consideration. It will be a topic that's going to be discussed during the Presidents trip between the parties that he meets with.'

In her interview Tuesday afternoon with CBN, Haley said there's no dispute over the wall - it remains U.S. policy that the wall is Israel.
A white teen has been arrested in Schodack, New York, for allegedly vandalizing a black family of six's home with racist graffiti and torching their garage.

The youth, who is not being named, was arrested on Tuesday for the attack, which on Sunday night, potentially threatening the lives of homeowner Laquan Madison, 31, his wife Jennifer and their five children.

But while the police consider the attack to be racially motivated, they say they can't charge the boy with a hate crime because he's too young, Chron reported.

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Burned: The garage of the Madisons, a black family living in Schodack, New York, was burned down on Sunday; their home (both pictured) was also damaged by the flames

Racist: This swastika - warped by the heat of the fire - was sprayed on the Madisons' home, as was the N-word. A 15-year-old was arrested and charged with ten counts on Tuesday

Madison woke up at his home on Cold Spring Avenue at around 11:40pm Sunday to find his detached garage engulfed in flames.

'I just happened to get up and go to the bathroom. I saw an orange glow... I screamed my wife's name,' he told the Times Union. 'We all got out.'

He also discovered that the attacker had painted a swastika and the N-word on his home - where his family have lived for more than three years - in red spray paint.

It took five volunteer fire departments to put out the fire, which destroyed the garage and damaged the Madisons' home.

Their oldest child is nine. Their youngest is a newborn baby.

Town police Chief Joseph Belardo said that residents were 'pretty outraged' by the crime, and that their calls, and interviews with neighbors, helped police identify the suspect.

That suspect - a 15-year-old white boy - has now been charged with ten felonies: arson, burglary, criminal mischief and seven counts of reckless endangerment.

But his youth means that he cannot be charged with a hate crime, even though 'we still consider it to be a hate crime,' Belardo said.

Laquan Madison (pictured), his wife and his five children - one a newborn - were not harmed. He said he has no idea who the suspect is, and the area has always been safe and friendly

The Madisons were unharmed in the incident, and the Red Cross has helped them find temporary accommodation.

Laquan Madison told DailyMail.com that he and his family had no plans to leave the area despite the fire, and that until now the area had been peaceful and friendly.

He said that he is working with insurance investigators and returns to the property each day to feed the farm animals they keep there. The animals were not harmed by the fire.

'Right now we're working on getting the house repaired,' he said. 'We come back here every day to feed the animals.

'But I'm comfortable. When I go to sleep, I sleep with both eyes closed.'

His children were not troubled by the frightening events of the weekend, he said, and most of them don't understand the racial element to the attack.

'My older son does but because we teach him well, he's cool,' he said. 'The kids are fine - I think they're more troubled to see the fire. They don't understand the gravity of the situation.'

Madison added that his neighbors were 'outraged' by the attack, and that the family have been offered financial support by members of the community.

'A lot of people have been reaching out to us about donations and gathering money,' he said.

'We thank God first and foremost, but we definitely thank the community for responding in such a way and with such integrity.'

Ruined: The garage (pictured) was destroyed. Police say it was a hate crime, but the boy's too young to be charged with that. Madison is thankful to the community for rallying around them

The attack was being investigated as a hate crime before a suspect was identified, according to CBS 6 News. Police have said there may be other suspects.

Jennifer Madison said they had no plans to move. 'This is our home. This is where we live. We're OK,' she said.

'This is just something I accept. This is the world that we're living in.'

Laquan told press that that he was not being forgiving of the perpetrator.

'People are going to be who they are. My hope is they understand life is not a joke,' he said. 'You can't toy with people.'

Speaking to DailyMail.com, he added that he does not yet know the identity of the suspect, that he's never before experienced racial trouble in the area, and that he's a loss as to who the perpetrator might be.

'Other than the children my kids play with, I don't know any [children in the area],' he said.

'Maybe my son knows him, maybe I'll recognize his face if I see him - you see all the same faces around here. But I don't know who it is.'

Neighbor Ann Hoffman, whose grandchildren play with the Madisons, was in tears when she spoke to the Times Union.

'They're such good people. It breaks my heart,' she said. 'They're beautiful people. They don't bother anybody.

'What's wrong with people? ... It's sickening, we all have to live.'
President Trump's National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster has been made the face of one of the trio of scandals the White House is currently reeling from.

When the Washington Post broke the news Monday night that Trump had slipped highly classified information about ISIS to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak  whose conversations with ex-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn had gotten him sacked  it was McMaster who the White House sent out to address the controversy.

But the pick of McMaster is interesting because, as the New York Times and Bloomberg reports, Trump hasn't gotten along with the Army general, even going as far as labeling him 'a pain.'

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President Trump (left) hasn't warmed to his second National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster (right), even going as far as to label the general 'a pain,' the New York Times wrote

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster (pictured) was chosen to brief reporters Tuesday on the Washington Post story that said President Trump had revealed highly classified information about ISIS to Russia

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster was also the first White House official out Monday to talk about the Washington Post story, which he furiously denied

After Trump dismissed Flynn in February, Washington applauded the president's pick of McMaster.

As Bloomberg View's Eli Lake put it, McMaster was a 'well-respected defense intellectual, praised by both parties, lending a steady hand to a chaotic White House.'

'The grown-ups are back,' Lake wrote, chronicling the collective sigh of relief coming from D.C. insiders looking at the White House.

But to Trump, McMaster was the guy who replaced his friend Flynn, who had been alongside the president on the campaign trail, speaking at the Republican National Convention and singing the businessman praises as a campaign surrogate.

As Lake noted, McMaster came into the position with 'one strike against him.'

Other strikes began to add up, Lake reported, as McMaster tried to get Trump to drop the term 'radical Islamic terrorism,' a term Republicans love, which was part of the president's first big speech before Congress.

Trump did not take the phrase out.

More recently, the president was annoyed that McMaster had called his South Korean counterpart to assure him that Trump's threat to make the Asian country pay for its own missile defense system was not actually U.S. policy, Lake reported.

Trump then called McMaster screaming, Lake said, saying the general was undercutting efforts to get South Korea to pay its fair share.

More generally, the New York Times noted, McMaster had tried to gently correct Trump when the president strayed too far from talking points on issues where national security was involved.

This move has 'chafed' the president, who continues to lament the dismissal of Flynn.

This week, however, Trump may have extracted some revenge by dangling McMaster in front of packs of hungry reporters, having him knock down a news report that the president later, basically, confirmed.

On the heels of the Washington Post's Monday report that Trump had revealed classified information to Russian officials when they met last week in the Oval Office, it was McMaster who was trotted to address the story first thing.

Shortly before he addressed the White House scribes he was caught outside Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office.

'This is the last place in the world I wanted to be,' he said.

It was seemingly a joke.

'The story that came out tonight is false,' McMaster said, as he began making his initial statement.

'At no time, were intelligence sources or methods discussed. And the president did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known,' McMaster said, denying actions that were not included in the Washington Post's report.

He said two other high level officials, including the secretary of state, were in the room at the time and they all remembered Trump's conversations with the Russians the same way.

'They're on-the-record accounts should outweight those of anonymous sources. I was in the room,' he said. 'It didn't happen,' he concluded, walking back into the West Wing and not taking questions.

By Tuesday morning, Trump had stepped all over McMaster's message, tweeting, 'As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.'

As the controversy swirled Tuesday, McMaster's briefing with reporters was made earlier, to calm the frayed nerves of antsy Capitol Hill Republicans.

McMaster, this time in an official briefing room setting, was again deployed.

'I stand by my statement that I made yesterday,' he announced.

'What I'm saying is really the premise of that article was false that in any way that the president had a conversation that was inappropriate or that resulted in any kind of lapse in national security,' he added.

But McMaster may have coded some payback into the language he used about Trump at the briefing too, suggesting the president may not have fully grasped what he had leaked.

'The president wasn't even aware where this information came from,' McMaster told reporters. 'He wasn't briefed on the source or method of the information either.'
An Iraqi migrant, who sneaked into Britain in the back of a lorry and groped women in Tesco and Boots, has been spared jail but faces deportation.

Hawkar Shwani, 23, told police he targeted the women in Newbury, Berkshire, because he was 'desperate for sex'.

Magistrates in Reading gave the van worker a suspended prison sentence, meaning he keeps his freedom.

Maddy Charlesworth, prosecuting, said Shwani, formerly of Thatcham, Berks, but now living in Newbury, pawed his first victim as she shopped in Tesco in Pinchington Lane, Newbury, on April 13.

Hawkar Shwani, 23, told police he targeted the women in Newbury, Berkshire, because he was 'desperate for sex'

Ms Charlesworth said: 'He was spoken to by security staff - the woman was quite shaken by the incident'.

Shwani then targeted a woman in nearby Boots, touching her bottom.

Ms Charlesworth said: 'She spun round and asked what he thought he was doing.

'He apologised, but seconds later she felt further contact, this time more of a grab to her bottom.'

The woman shouted 'Get your hands off me' the court heard, but Shwani insisted 'Just talk to me' before propositioning her, mentioning a sex act he wanted to carry out.

Ms Charlesworth said the woman was 'shocked, embarrassed and humiliated'.

CCTV footage later showed Shwani circling the aisle and touching himself through his clothing, the court heard.

In a police interview Shwani apologised, admitted his actions and explained he was 'desperate for sex', said Ms Charlesworth.

Robert Slinn, defending, said Shwani had 'risked his life' to smuggle his way into Britain from Iraq seven years ago in the back of a lorry.

He enrolled on a Newbury College course and worked at a kebab van in the town while his asylum applications were processed.

But his bid to stay was rejected and all subsequent appeals failed, said Mr Slinn.

His client was remorseful, and he added: 'An immediate custodial sentence would very likely result in him being deported immediately.'

A probation officer told the court that, because of Shwani's status as an illegal immigrant, a sex offender's treatment programme was not an option

A probation officer told the court that, because of Shwani's status as an illegal immigrant, a sex offender's treatment programme was not an option.

She added: 'Because of his status we're unable to offer intervention in the community.

'A deportation notice has been served on him and I asked the Home Office why he's still in this country - he can't claim benefits, has no work and no funds.

'They said if he receives an immediate prison sentence they will complete the deportation.'

He was fired by the kebab van boss when he learned about the offences, the court heard.

Presiding magistrate Brenda Harding told Shwani 'These were very unpleasant incidents that will have had a quite profound effect on your victims.

'But we understand the position you're in.'

They imposed a 16-week prison sentence, but suspended it for 12 months, on Shwani, who admitted two counts of sexual assault.

He was also ordered to pay a statutory victim services surcharge of 115.
It's Not What You Say, It's How Quickly You Trademark It

From President Donald Trump's dash to own "Keep America Great" for his 2020 re-election campaign even before he took office to a rush by a foundation for the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to claim "Let's Roll" just days after New York's Twin Towers were reduced to rubble, Americans rushing to trademark catchy phrases.

There were 391,837 trademark applications filed last year, with the number growing an average of 5 percent annually, government reports show. The USPTO does not break out how many of those applications were for phrases.

The upsurge is the result of headline-grabbing cases like socialite Paris Hilton's winning settlement of a lawsuit over her trademarked catch-phrase "That's Hot" from her former television reality show, said trademark attorney Howard Hogan of Washington. "It can't help but inspire others," Hogan said. "It feels good to get recognition of something you feel you have created."

OWN A POWERFUL MESSAGE

Trademarks can mean cash from everything from bumper stickers to thongs printed with the protected phrase. More importantly for some, however, is claiming ownership of a powerful message.

"'Because this is America' is a rallying cry that focuses on what we have in common, rather than what divides us," says Catherine Cloud, a North Carolina county Democrat. The phrase is the tagline in a commercial set for online release on Thursday about the New Hanover Democrats' key issues: "Clean water. Because this is America," "Quality education for every child. Because this is America," "No matter your ethnicity, you are welcome here. Because this is America."

Mindful that the slogan that could easily be employed by rival Republicans, the county Democratic committee filed to trademark it just 18 days after Cloud's saying it.

RUSH TO TRADEMARK

Two days before Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, Donald J. Trump for President Inc applied to trademark the phrase he said he intends to use for his 2020 re-election campaign: "Keep America Great," both with and without an exclamation point. The campaign committee already owns the trademark for Trump's 2016 slogan: "Make America Great Again."

Just 15 days after Todd Beamer inspired fellow airline passengers to overwhelm hijackers above a Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11, 2001, the Todd M. Beamer Memorial Foundation applied to trademark his rallying cry "Let's Roll."

Three days after "Nasty Woman" grabbed headlines when Trump used it to describe his opponent Hilary Clinton in an Oct. 19, 2016 debate, entrepreneurs across America started filing trademark applications for the phrase. There are at least 11 applications pending to trademark "Nasty Woman" for the sale of products as wide-ranging as pillows, wine, firearms, scented body spray, mugs, backpacks and jewelry. As such, there is a budding IP war in place for the term.

Typically it takes about 18 months for the Patent Office to grant a trademark. But it can take much longer, as cartoonist Bob Mankoff of The New Yorker learned when he tried to trademark the caption to a 1993 cartoon. Two decades passed before he was allowed to register it on Jan. 19, 2016.

Ironically, the phrase aptly describes Mankoff's anticipated payday from the sale of merchandise bearing the words that first appeared under his cartoon of a businessman trying to schedule a meeting: "How about never - is never good for you?"

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A man shot his wife before turning the gun on himself in a 'domestic-murder suicide' in Baltimore. police have said.

Samuel Lancelotta is believed to have killed wife Beth before shooting himself in the back yard of the couple's home.

One of their teenage sons called 911 after discovering the aftermath of the double killing.

All three of the couple's teenage children were at home when the shootings happened, police have said.

Samuel Lancelotta is believed to have killed wife Beth before shooting himself in the back yard of the couple's home

Howard County Police said the couple died after the shooting at 10.40am on Monday.

They were taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center by helicopter, the Baltimore Sun reports, but medics were unable to save their lives.

Police spokeswoman Sherry Llewllyn said there was no obvious motive for the murder suicide, and added that there are 'no indications that anyone else was involved in the incident'.

A handgun was recovered from the scene in Ellicott City.

Mr Lancelotta and his wife, both 48, were co-owners of Clarsville-based Lancelotta Real Estate

Mr Lancelotta and his wife, both 48, were co-owners of Clarsville-based Lancelotta Real Estate.

The company's website boasts that it has represented clients in the purchase, sale or lease of mpre than $1billion of commercial real-estate.

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, told WBALTV: 'Both Beth and Sam have been friends of mine for a long time. I liked them both.

'I woke up to the news this morning like many others in Howard County. I was shocked and saddened.'

He said the couple had held campaign fundraisers to support them, and said his thoughts went out to their children.
Rolf Harris was allegedly nicknamed 'Groper Rolf' by a woman who claims he molested her

Rolf Harris was nicknamed 'Groper Rolf' by a woman who claims he molested her at an ITV celebrity sporting event when she was a teenager, a court heard yesterday.

The woman claims Harris twice sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old after an appearance on the Star Games programme in Cambridge in 1978.

Celebrities including Michael Aspel, Tony Blackburn, and Rula Lenska appeared at the 'It's A Knockout'-style show.

Harris, 87, molested three fans aged from 13 to 16 in a string of sex assaults committed at events between 1971 and 1983, Southwark Crown Court heard.

The girl, who had put her name down as a helper and was assigned to various celebrities over four days, claims Harris squeezed her breast and told her 'you're a little bit irresistible' after praising her work.

Later that day the Animal Hospital host groped her in the back seat of a taxi arranged to take him to a retreat for the celebrities, it is claimed.

Jurors heard the woman later described the star - who had been 'playing up to the crowd' before the incident - as 'Groper Rolf' and a 'dirty old man'.

Celebrities including Michael Aspel (left) and Rula Lenska (right) appeared at the 'It's A Knockout'-style Star Games programme in Cambridge in 1978. They are pictured on the show

The woman described being assigned to work with a number of different celebrities, including Harris, over four days' worth of filming.

'My job was to carry their bags, fetch their drinks and the production company would tell me if they needed to be moved somewhere,' she said.

'It was my first experience of filming. It was very long-winded.'

Jurors heard the woman recall Harris 'as a captain or something' who 'seemed to do more [in front of] the camera than some of the other stars'.

'Other than a tug-of-war he took part in, I can't actually remember him doing anything.'

The complainant described wearing a pink polo necked jumper with jeans and 'jazzy' trainers which made her 'hot and uncomfortable' as the day wore on.

On first meeting the Australian, she remarked: 'He was just being the Rolf Harris we all thought we knew, I suppose.'

However, after lunch and 'standing around getting hot and fed up' she was asked by producers to move Harris to another area.

Tony Blackburn (pictured) also appeared at the ITV celebrity sporting event Star Games

'He put his arm around me and I felt his hand go up the side of my body and I felt him touch my breast,' she said.

The 'shocked' girl described members of the public lined up 'very close' watching filming as the first alleged assault took place.

'He did the same thing, but a few minutes later,' she continued. 'This time I wasn't in any doubt that he had done it deliberately.'

As he did so, jurors heard he told her: 'You're a little bit irresistible.'

Despite being made to feel 'a bit sick' and 'upset', the girl stuck to her task and was eventually asked to accompany Harris in a taxi back to a another location on set.

'I don't think he got in straight away,' the woman described. 'The driver wasn't in the car, then Harris got in and sat next to me in the back. He was to my right.'

She continued describing what happened between them before the driver got in: 'He, again, said I was irresistible - that is what I remember.

'He put his left hand on the inside of my left knee and then he started to move his hand up towards my crotch. I had jeans on.

Southwark Crown Court (pictured) in London heard Harris, 87, molested three fans aged from 13 to 16 in a string of sex assaults committed at events between 1971 and 1983

'I sort of clamped my legs together to try and stop him and then I pulled his hand out and swore at him.'

The woman said she told the star to 'f*** off', marking 'the first time I ever used the F-word in front of an adult'.

She then went 'straight to the ladies' and then home 'because I just felt like crap - rubbish'.

When asked by her father if she had enjoyed her day, she told jurors her reply: 'Well, I don't feel well and Rolf Harris is a dirty old man.'

She explained: 'This was Rolf Harris - we adored him. We watched him on television, singing his songs.

'We even had one of those stupid xylophone things for Christmas years before. I was just shocked and confused.'

She told the court she was 'certainly not flirting' with Harris. 'He was called 'Groper Rolf' in our house,' she added.

Harris, formerly of Bray, Berkshire, denies four counts of indecent assault. The trial continues.
A man caught climbing Mount Everest without paying the 8,500 fee has been placed in custody following an argument with tourism officials after he climbed down.

Nepalese officials discovered South African Ryan Sean Davy in his hideaway after he had climbed more than 20,000 feet up the world's highest mountain.

He was ordered off the mountain, had his passport confiscated and now faces s 17,000 ($22,000) fine. Davy handed himself in to authorities in Kathmandu on Tuesday after being caught last week.

The 43-year-old began swearing and threatening officials from the tourism department during questioning and was arrested under Nepal's strict public order laws, Tourist Police Inspector Tulasha Khatiwada told AFP.

Nepalese officials discovered South African Ryan Sean Davy (pictured above) in his hideaway after he had climbed more than 20,000 feet

He is now in custody and will appear in court next week to face charges related to his Everest attempt and possible additional offences over his conduct during the investigation.

'He will be fined and deported as per the Tourism Act of Nepal. He may face further penalty for misbehaving with the police,' director of the tourism department Dinesh Bhattarai told AFP.

Foreigners have to pay the Nepal government $11,000 for permission to climb the 29,029ft peak - a major earner for the impoverished country.

Under Nepali law, climbers caught without the mandatory permit are fined $22,000.

He could also be blacklisted from the Himalayan nation for five years, or face a 10-year climbing ban when he appears in court next week.

The South African - who describes himself on social media as a film director and producer - was caught a short distance from Everest base camp and was ordered off the mountain.

He had pitched a tent away from the other climbers to try and dodge government officials who monitor all Everest ascents.

He told officials he had climbed alone as far as camp two - at 6,400 metres - to acclimatise in preparation for a solo summit bid.

His antics have angered many in the close-knit climbing community, who say the South African would have put himself and others in danger if he had attempted to reach the summit alone.

Mr Davy told officials that he didn't have enough money to buy a flight from the Everest region to Kathmandu to collect his passport

Davy was caught not far from where more than 1,000 mountaineers and support staff have gathered for the busy spring climbing season.



In a Facebook post after he was caught, he claimed to have been 'treated like a murderer' after being discovered and thought he was 'going to get stoned to death right there.' He now fears he will be jailed in Kathmandu.

He wrote: 'Unfortunately the system caught up with me and I was eventually captured by the mountain Orks after two entries into the Ice Falls and managing an ascent of 24,000ft.

'Expedition companies have no time for wanna be Everesters with no money so someone turned me in.

'I was harassed at basecamp to a point that I honestly thought I was going to get stoned to death right there. I'm not even exaggerating.

I was treated like a murderer. A true testimony of how money has become more important than decency.

HOW MOUNT EVEREST'S PRICEY PERMITS HELP NEPAL'S TOURISM INDUSTRY Foreigners have to pay the Nepal government $11,000 for permission to climb the 8,848 metre (29,030 foot) Mount Everest - a major earner for the impoverished country. Nepal's lucrative high-altitude climbing industry nets the impoverished Himalayan country more than $3 million a year. Nepal, home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, has more than 2,000 Himalayan peaks and 326 are open to foreign climbers. Mountaineering is an important component of tourism that makes up about 4 per cent of the impoverished nation's GDP. Along with the pricey climbing permit, Nepal's Department of Tourism requires Everest climbers to be at least 16 but there's no upper age limit. It is highly unusual for a foreign climber to attempt to scale Everest alone - most do so with the help of at least one sherpa guide and a large support team at base camp. There are 373 foreign climbers currently on peak who will attempt to summit in the coming weeks with the help of at least one Sherpa guide each. Nepal's Tourism Act bans climbers for up to ten years from visiting the country for mountaineering purposes if they violate mountaineering regulations in the region. Advertisement

'My passport has been confiscated and I am being sent to Katmandu where I will face penalties, apparently I'm in for jail time.

Foreigners have to pay the Nepal government $11,000 for permission to climb the 29,030 foot peak - a major earner for the impoverished country.

Gyanendra Shresth, a government liaison officer at the mountain's southerly base camp, said: 'I saw him alone near base camp so I approached him and he ran away.

'I followed him with my friend and found him hiding in a cave nearby. He had set up camp in an isolated place to avoid government officials.'

The climber's father, David Davy, told Mail Online his son had spent months preparing to scale Everest, but had no idea why he had decided to attempt the feat alone.

Mr Davy said Ryan would have known that his attempt required a permit, but believed that Everest 'belonged to the world'.

Speaking from his home in Johannesburg, Mr Davy - who breeds horses  described how his son had spent months working with scientists, climbing in the Rocky mountains, worked on ice faces and climbed lower peaks in Nepal to acclimatize ahead of his challenge.

Describing his son as 'unique, truly unique', he said he was anxiously waiting to hear from him.

'He is a man who has always chosen the adventurous path but who has always prepared in every way possible to reach his goals,' he said.

'He does not go into any of these things blindly. He researches, he plans and he prepares.

'I am sure he would have known about the licence fees because it would have come up in his preparation.

'I just don't know exactly what happened on Everest but I imagine his thinking was that he was on a solo attempt, an unsupported ascent so he would be up and down by himself without needing the help of anyone else.

'Of course if he had got into trouble and fallen into a crevasse he would have needed to be dragged out by a search team but maybe he felt that was not going to happen.

'We don't know his thinking. All we know is that he is fine, not hurt and heading back to Kathmandu expected to arrive Wednesday morning where he is going to have to face up to the authorities.'

Mr Davy said his son, who is single and without any children, began working in conservation in his teens after leaving school and briefly trying college.

'He is a man  and you will think I am just a father talking up a son but I really believe this to be true  who is unique, truly unique.

'Whenever he sets about something he carries out extensive research and makes all possible preparation.

'His film work meant he had to put himself in risky situations so he learnt how to fly  he has a glider licence and a single-engine light aircraft licence  and he learned other things: he is a base jumper, a volunteer fireman, a lifesaver, a conservationist.'

In a Facebook post, Davy said he was 'ashamed' and now feared jail after admitting his Everest expedition 'has taken a very bad turn'

Last year his son bicycled from across America from the West Coast to the East and is in good physical shape.

'He is not an experienced Alpine mountain climber but he is not a novice either, a person who has taken the challenge of Everest very seriously.

'He just came to believe that Mt Everest, as the world's highest point, well it belongs to the world.

'He got the feeling that he wanted to summit this special place and he wanted to do it by himself, solo, unsupported.

'I really believe his intentions were good. He is not a callous character in anyway, he is a pure boy you know.'

Mr Davy said his son, a pescatarian, lives 11 months a year in Los Angeles but comes home to South Africa once a year because his filming and editing skills are in high demand.

It is highly unusual for a foreign climber to attempt to scale Everest alone - most do so with the help of at least one sherpa guide and a large support team at base camp.

Mr Davy could be banned from Nepal for five years or face a 10-year ban on climbing in the country.

Mr Davy told officials that he didn't have enough money to buy a flight from the Everest region to Kathmandu to collect his passport.

He said he would instead walk and then catch a bus - a journey that would take at least four days.

Explaining his actions in the Facebook post, he wrote: 'This news is probably going to make a lot of people upset with me and I really hope you'll all forgive me.

'I'm willing to be as accountable as I know how but my Everest expedition has taken a very bad turn.

'I am going to be honest in saying that when I arrived at Base Camp it became evident that I didn't have nearly enough money for a solo permit because of hidden costs and even if I did they would have declined it because I had no previous mountaineering experience on record.'

He said he was 'ashamed' he couldn't afford the permit having gone through training with the help of others but that 'it would have been a total embarrassment to turn around and accept defeat because of a piece of paper.'

'So I took a chance and spent the little money I had on more gear to climb and practice on the surrounding peaks for acclimatizing in preparing for a stealth entry onto Everest,' he said.

Davy said his 'main incentive' for being on the mountain was to help people in trouble because of the number of fatalities and said at one point he saw 40 climbers walk past a dying man pleading for help.

'He inevitably died because all the climbers were fixed on the Summit and didn't want to get distracted. If I could at least have helped one person it would have made a difference, that would have been my Summit.'

Ryan Sean Davy's adventure in the Himalayas is not the first time he has had an emergency in the mountains.

In 2006 he and three other paddlers were caught out by a storm surge as they paddled down the Keurbooms River in South Africa and were forced to spend the night clinging to a cliff face above a violent torrent before being rescued by helicopter the following day.
A teenager has pleaded not guilty of strangling a childhood friend and throwing her body off a bridge to steal her life savings despite his housemate saying he murdered her.

Liam McAtansey, who was implicated by his housemate in the killing of Sarah Stern, denied he murdered her when he appeared in court having been charged with seven felonies.

Preston Taylor, 19, of Neptune City, had already pleaded guilty Monday to charges, including robbery, conspiracy, disturbing or desecrating human remains and hindering apprehension.

In return, Monmouth County prosecutors agreed to drop a felony murder charge he also faced in the death of 19-year-old Sarah Stern, who was last seen alive on December 2.

Taylor agreed to testify against McAtasney, who is accused of killing Stern and recruiting Taylor to dump her body off Belmar Bridge into the Shark River.

Prosecutors agreed to drop a felony murder charge Taylor faced in the death of Stern, who was last seen alive on December 2. Taylor also agreed to testify against McAtasney (pictured in February), who is accused of killing Stern

Preston Taylor (left), 19, who is one of two men accused in the horrific murder of 19-year-old, Sarah Stern (right) whose body was thrown off a bridge after she was choked to death, has pleaded guilty to several charges against him

Admission: Taylor appears in court in Freehold, New Jersey to take his plea deal on Monday

Michael Stern, Sarah Stern's father, wipes his eyes as Taylor answers questions about his role in the murder of his daughter

The state, through Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Meghan Doyle, are chasing a life sentence without parole.

Although prosecutors want him to plead guilty, McAtasney is unlikely to do so, according to his attorney Charles Moriarty, who said his client maintains his innocence.

He told NJ.com: 'I don't think there's anything that can be worked out in this case because he still denies that he did anything wrong.

'So, it's a long haul.'

Last month, the former classmate of the missing New Jersey woman admitted Monday he helped throw her body into a river and agreed to testify against another friend who's accused of strangling the woman and stealing thousands of dollars from her.

Preston Taylor, 19, of Neptune City, pleaded guilty Monday, April 24, to charges, including robbery, conspiracy, disturbing or desecrating human remains and hindering apprehension.

The men were longtime friends of Stern's and Taylor was her junior prom date.

Prosecutors have said McAtasney killed Stern in her Neptune City home, robbed her, then called Taylor and asked him to hide her body.

McAtasney's attorney, Charles Moriarty, has maintained his client is innocent. McAtasney remains jailed pending trial.

Taylor said Monday that they put Stern's body in her car, then drove it and another vehicle to a bridge where they threw her body into the river.

He said they left Stern's car at the bridge to make her death look like a suicide.

Prosecutors have said McAtasney (right) killed Stern in her Neptune City home, robbed her, then called Taylor (left in court in February) and asked him to hide her body

Taylor (pictured) and Stern even went to junior prom together. McAtasney could face a life sentence with no chance for parole if convicted

Taylor also admitted knowing about McAtasney's plan to rob and kill Stern, and said he received a share of the robbery's proceeds.

McAtasney and Taylor were among nearly 100 people who volunteered to help search for Stern near the river shortly after her car was found.

Prosecutors have said the duo participated in the search on December 10 to deflect suspicion. Her remains have not been recovered as authorities fear it's been swept out to sea.

Prosecutors said if Taylor does not fully cooperate, they would seek a first-degree murder charge against him.

Taylor faces up to 20 years in prison when he's sentenced July 21. His attorney, John Perrone, said he will instead seek a 10-year sentence.

'He's got closure. He made admissions,' Perrone told reporters after the hearing. 'This was something he had to get off his chest. He had to atone for this.'

Perrone also compared McAtasney to cult leader and convicted murderer Charles Manson, saying he exerted control over Taylor.

Shortly after Taylor entered his plea, prosecutors announced that a county grand jury had indicted McAtasney on charges of murder, felony murder, conspiracy, desecrating human remains, tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension or prosecution.

They said he could face a life sentence with no chance for parole if convicted.

The indictment alleges that McAtasney killed Stern on December 2 during a robbery that netted $10,000.

McAtasney had plotted the killing for six months after learning that she had come into money from her grandmother, prosecutors said.

'We're a long way away from trial and at this point, as far as my client's concerned, all Preston had done is indicate that he (Taylor) was somehow responsible for what happened to the young girl,' Moriarty told the Asbury Park Press.

'All I can tell you is my client had nothing to do with it.'
This is the dramatic moment a Queen's Guardsman shouts at an over-eager tourist who gets a little too close while moving in for a photo outside Windsor Castle.

As the oblivious visitor goes to pose for a picture, the guardsman booms: 'Stay Away!'

Stunned onlookers mutter as the startled man spins on the spot and offers an immediate salute after the order is barked in his ear.

The footage begins as four guards parade through the grounds of the castle in front a gaggle of camera-clutching tourists, who are soaking up the sights at the British landmark.

However as the last of the group enters the castle grounds, he turns to shut a gate leading to the lawn, situated beside the State Apartments of the Upper Ward.

It is at this moment he unwittingly gets a little too close for comfort.

March: The guards march through the castle grounds

Rebuke: The tourist stands too close to the gate and gets told off by the guard

The tourist initially seemed deterred to pose for the camera after the rollicking but stepped towards the gate as to get the photo he craved.

The guards, including the gatekeeper, can then be seen marching forward in typical fashion with guns with bayonets held aloft.

One of the public duties battalions or incremental companies are responsible for is providing the guard at Windsor Castle.

The location of the ceremony at Windsor varies; in the summer, when the Queen is in residence it usually takes place on the lawn in the Castle's quadrangle.

This is not the first time this year a Queen's Guard has had to rebuke tourists for careless actions or getting too close.

Shut: The guard coolly locks the gate after the man saluted as an apology

Continue: They walks forward in typical fashion with guns held aloft

A dancing tourist outside St James's Palace was told off by a soldier, thought to be part of the Scots Guard regiment in a thick Scottish accent.

At the beginning of the video - which has racked up thousands of views - a man can be seen dancing on the spot outside the royal palace in London.

Suddenly one of the guards in the background wearing a distinctive bearskin hat and grey winter tunic shouts at the tourist ordering him to stop.

He says: 'Haw, get yersel' away, ye came and ye done this yesterday anaw, do him wan, turn the camera aff.'

That roughly translates as: 'Listen, get yourself away. You came and did this yesterday too. Do him one, turn the camera off.'

The embarrassed tourist can be seen quickly halting his dance and shuffling away.

Clad in their distinctive tunics and bearskins hats, the soldiers of the Queens Guard are charged with protecting official royal residences.

The units, manned by fully-trained, serving soldiers, have more than 350 years of history and have defended monarchs since Charles II took the throne after the English Restoration in 1660.

There are thought to be guidelines in place for guardsmen to deal with nuisances, which begins with stamping their feet and shouting.

Raising a rifle is considered a 'final warning', after which the guardsmen is allowed to detain the person in question.
Dozens of high-ranking members of the notorious MS-13 street gang have been rounded up and arrested in Los Angeles in pre-dawn raids.

Hundreds of federal and local law enforcement officers fanned out across the city early Wednesday morning as they stormed homes and storefronts to nab leaders of the brutal gang.

Authorities - headed by the FBI - arrested 21 people at more than 40 locations on various charges, including narcotics trafficking and other violent crimes.

Many of them were illegal immigrants.

Dozens of high-ranking members of the notorious MS-13 street gang have been rounded up and arrested in Los Angeles in pre-dawn raids on Wednesday

The operation, which was part of a three-year investigation into the violent gang, is the latest step in a multi-agency anti-racketeering case.

The 21 arrested with ties to MS-13 were among the 44 people who are part of this racketeering case. Twenty of those are already serving time in jail and three are considered to be fugitives.

Three alleged MS-13 gangsters were charged in the racketeering indictment for murders they committed in connection with the gang's activities.

Carlos Alfredo Cardoza Lopez, also known as 'Little Boy,' 23, is accused of fatally shooting an innocent bystander in the gang-controlled Little San Salvador Nightclub in August 2015. A friend of the murder victim was also stabbed during the attack.

Two other MS-13 members - Samuel Alexander Paredes Rivas, also known as 'Blacky,' 39, and Joffri Molina, also known as 'Espia,' 24 - are also charged with murder. Rivas is accused of murdering a man in August 2015 at a strip mall in Pacoima. Molina allegedly murdered a man in September 2015 on a street in North Hollywood.

Authorities - headed by the FBI - arrested 21 people at more than 40 locations on charges of narcotics trafficking and other violent crimes

Agents and officers served warrants at 41 locations. The targets included some members of the gang's leadership

The 21 arrested with ties to MS-13 were among 44 people who are part of this racketeering case. Those arrested included shot callers

The operation, which was part of a three-year investigation into the violent gang, is the latest step in a multi-agency anti-racketeering case

'This gang is responsible for murders - both of rival gangsters and innocent bystanders - as well as drug dealing and extortion in many communities in the Los Angeles area,' said Acting United States Attorney Sandra R. Brown.

'With thousands of members here in the Southland, the gang's power is widespread - power which it maintains with severe acts of violence. Today's charges and arrests, however, will deal a critical blow to the top leadership of this criminal organization and will significantly improve safety in neighborhoods across this region.'

MS-13 has become a primary target of the Justice and Homeland Security departments amid the Trump Administration's broader effort to crack down on illegal immigration and violent crime.

The El Salvadorian criminal enterprise is believed to have a presence in 46 states and is the first and only criminal organization in the US to be named as 'transnational' by the FBI.

The gang was started about 30 years ago in Los Angeles after millions of immigrants from El Salvador came to the US after a violent civil war left more than 100,000 dead.

Major roundups of MS-13 members have taken place across the country since the early 2000s.

Hundreds of federal and local law enforcement fanned out across Los Angeles, serving arrest and search warrants

One of the locations was a storefront along a strip of dilapidated buildings near downtown
Fox New contributor Tammy Bruce has apologized for calling a ten-year-old boy with autism a 'snowflake', a term often used by conservatives to criticize liberals.

Her initial comment was in a response to a video of the boy, Michael Hererra-Yee, asking Mike Pence for an apology after the vice president accidentally hit in in the face, went viral last week.

His mom later revealed that he was on the autism spectrum, and said that she didn't believe any kids should be dragged into political conversations.

On Tuesday, Bruce, appearing on Fox's America's Newsroom, said: 'First of all, I am so sorry to the family, My intention was never to hurt a kid and his mom.

Fox New contributor Tammy Bruce called Michael Hererra-Yee, ten, a 'snowflake' after he asked Mike Pence for an apology when he accidentally hit in in the face during a speech

Bruce apologized fro her comments on Tuesday, saying she never meant to 'hurt a kid and his mom'

Pence was speaking to a crowd at a White House event in celebration of National Military Spouse Appreciation Day when he bumped the boy in the nose

WATCH: Fox News' Bill Hemmer and Tammy Bruce apologize for mocking ten-year-old boy on autism spectrum as a snowflake. pic.twitter.com/U3kIKF8J5S  Yashar (@yashar) May 16, 2017

'We had absolutely no idea that Michael was on the autism spectrum and, as a gay woman and feminist, I've spent my adult life working to improve the lives of women and children and those who are disenfranchised.

'I get it and I apologize. I also appreciated the boy's mother's public comments and clarity on this. A main lesson here, no matter intent, is to leave kids out of our political discussions. We certainly agree on this.'

Pence was speaking to a crowd at a White House event in celebration of National Military Spouse Appreciation Day when he bumped the boy in the nose.

In the video, Michael can be seen asking the vice president for an apology more than once, and which Pence finally obliges.

The incident sparked a conversation on Tucker Carlson Tonight last week, during which Bruce said told Fox News' Bill Hemmer: 'I guess we're giving birth to snowflakes now, because that kid needed a safe space in that room.'

Michael was standing next to Pence as he spoke to military families at the White House on May 10

In the video, Michael can be seen asking the vice president for an apology more than once, and which Pence finally obliges

CNN's Jake Tapper interviewed Michael's mom, Dr Ingrid Herrera-Yee, who said that her son's behavior wasn't meant to be negative.

The radio host went on to say that the boy 'pretty much stalked the vice president' to get an apology.

'He's seen it either on television, maybe he's seen it at home, perhaps, but he felt aggrieved because, I don't know, the vice president maybe slightly touched his nose,' Bruce mocked. 'It's pretty amazing.'

Following her comments, CNN's Jake Tapper interviewed Michael's mom, Dr Ingrid Herrera-Yee, who said that her son's behavior wasn't meant to be negative.

'Michael is 10 years-old. He is on the autism spectrum. He's a military child. And he loves the White House,' she said.

She said that her son is on the autism spectrum, and that part of his education is learning social cues and manners that children with autism don't easily grasp.
Wicked Travel has left backpackers who booked trips empty handed and out thousands of dollars after going bankrupt.

The travel agency, which is known for its confronting sales people and shiny holiday packages, owes around a total of $1.5 million to not only their customers, but their contractors and staff, according to ABC.

Travellers who booked with Wicked Travel before liquidators were appointed on April 29 are 'unlikely' to see a refund, liquidator Laurie Fitzgerald from William Buck Chartered Accountants said.

Wicked Travel has left backpackers who booked trips empty handed and out thousands of dollars after being taken over by liquidators at the end of April (picture from Wicked Travel Instagram)

The travel agency, which is known for its confronting sales people and shiny holiday packages (pictured), owes around $1.5 million to not only their customers, but their contractors and staff

Canadian Taylor Gray (pictured) said she lost $2,000 of her hard-earned money after booking trips across Australia with Wicked Travel

'There were a number of people who had purchased vouchers or purchased tours through the Wicked Group and unfortunately none of those vouchers have been honoured post the sale of the group.'

The company has only $60,000 in cash and assets, he said.

Canadian Taylor Gray told ABC she stumbled upon travel shop in Brisbane and spent $2,000 on trips to an array of tourist spots, including the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and the Whitsundays.

Ms Gray said she soon regretted the decision.

'When I asked if I could come back the next day they pushed me to make the sale that day,' she said.

Travellers who booked with Wicked Travel before liquidators were appointed on April 29 are 'unlikely' to see a refund, liquidator Laurie Fitzgerald said

The company has only $60,000 in cash and assets, liquidators said

After her first expedition, Ms Gray said she tracked down the shop's company Wicked Travel, and tried to get a refund of $1,200 on her remaining travel.

The company refused, she said.

She is now encouraging other travellers to avoid such companies for their trips.

'Get a car and camp around, the tours just aren't worth it, you pay far too much, or in my case far, far too much.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Wicked Travel for comment.
Polish prosecutors are working on a request to extradict a Minnesota man they've accused of being a Nazi collaborator and war criminal.

They say 98-year-old Michael Karkoc was a commander in a SS-led Nazi unit that burned Polish villages and killed civilians during the war.

They want him extradicted back to Poland so that he can face trial for the crimes before he dies.

Prosecutor Robert Janicki of Poland's National Remembrance Institute told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the extradition request will be sent to the U.S. Justice Department soon, but declined to specify when.

Polish prosecutors say they are working on a request to extradict Minnesota man Michael Karkoc back to Poland to face charges for World War II war crimes. Karkoc, 98, pictured left in 2014 and on the right in 1950

Last month, Poland asked U.S. justice authorities for assistance in having Karkoc medically examined to make sure he can take part in court proceedings.

The decision comes four years after the Associated Press established that Michael Karkoc commanded the unit, based on wartime documents, testimony from other members of the unit and Karkoc's own Ukrainian-language memoir.

Karkoc's family in Minneapolis says he suffers from Alzheimer's disease. The family denies Karkoc (pictured above in 1990) was involved in any war crimes

Documents show that a Karkoc, born March 6, 1919 in Lutsk, Ukraine, was the commander of a unit in the Ukranian Self Defense Legion (USDL), which operated in collaboration with the German army.

The unit of which he was lieutenant allegedly participated in massacres at the Polish villages of Chlaniow and Wladyslawin on July 23, 1944.

The massacres - which saw women and children murdered - were allegedly ordered in retaliation for the killing of the USDL's commander, Siegfried Assmuss.

Karkoc's family in Minneapolis says he suffers from Alzheimer's disease. The family denies Karkoc was involved in any war crimes.

Karkoc's son, Andriy Karkoc, reiterated in March that his father is innocent of any war crimes, and called on the judge to release any evidence that may implicate his father.

Informed of the arrest warrant, he asked rhetorically: 'Do they have any evidence on which to base that?'

'We call on the judge to release all evidence that he has that supports this unjust, inappropriate and immoral action,' he said.

Andriy Karkoc also pointed out that German prosecutors declined in 2015 to seek his father's extradition, concluding he was unfit to stand trial.

German prosecutors shelved their own war crimes investigation of Karkoc in 2015 after concluding that he wasn't fit for trial.

Karkoc's attorney refused to allow a medical expert from Germany, but instead provided medical documentation from doctors at the geriatric hospital in the U.S. where he was being treated.

After World War II, Karkoc emigrated to New York City where he petitioned for naturalization in 1950 (above)

Karkoc was a commander in a SS-led Nazi unit that burned Polish villages and killed civilians during World War II

Munich prosecutors called the assessment, which covered the span of a year and was evaluated by a German medical expert, 'comprehensive.'

The German probe began after the Associated Press' story in June 2013, which also established that Karkoc had lied to American immigration officials to get into the U.S. a few years after World War II.

The evidence was assessed by Germany's special federal prosecutors' unit, which concluded there was enough for state prosecutors to pursue murder charges against Karkoc.
A man who was wounded in a police shooting which claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy has filed a $6 million lawsuit against the city of Bridgeport in Connecticut.

Julian Fyffe, 21, was shot by Bridgeport Officer James Boulay last week.

Boulay also shot Jayson Negron, who was at the wheel of a stolen car. The teenager died as a result of his injuries.

Police say Boulay opened fire after nearly being run over by the car, but Fyffe's lawsuit alleges officers stopped the car without cause.

It also claims Boulay wrongly used deadly force, police didn't provide immediate medical care and police Chief Armando Perez lied about what happened to cover up the officers' illegal actions.

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Julian Fyffe, 21, was shot by Bridgeport Officer James Boulay last week and is now suing the city

Jason Negron, 15, was a sophomore at Bunnell High School in Stratford who was shot by Bridgeport Officer James Boulay

Fyffe told Fox61 that the friends were on their way to a recording studio when they saw a police car following them.

He said Negron was co-operating, but accidentally made a wrong turn while trying to pull over.

The pair were then approached by shouting officers, one of whom opened fire, Fyffe said.

'There was blood everywhere, I was coughing it up,' he said.

Lawmakers and activists yesterday urged the legislature to pass a bill aimed at improving investigations of shootings involving police.

Police are facing mounting anger over the shooting of the accused teen car thief, after officers allegedly left him handcuffed and dying on the street.

A video that appears to show the 15-year-old moving after he was shot by a police officer in Bridgeport has been released, and his family says it proves cops lied about the incident.

Officers also left the teen's body uncovered in the street for hours after he allegedly rammed a cop with his 'stolen' car after a chase and then was shot.

Isa Mujahid, center, of CTCORE-Organize Now!, speaks during a news conference. Beside him are David McGuire, left, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, and state Rep. Robyn Porter, right, of New Haven. The group urged the legislature to pass a bill aimed at improving investigations of shootings involving police

Negron appears to be shown in his video handcuffed and lying on Fairfield Avenue after being shot

Police confirmed Sunday they've seen the footage posted online Friday by Giovanni Rivera, who says he's the cousin of Negron who was killed by a police officer after a short chase on May 9.

Bridgeport Officer James Boulay shot Negron after cops say the teen hit the officer with a stolen car on May 9. Police pronounced Negron dead at the scene. His friend and passenger Julian Fyffe, 21, was also shot but survived.

Boulay, 30, who had no prior disciplinary record, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

The video camera pans away for four seconds and focuses on more officers arriving

When the camera pans back, Negron's head is facing the opposite direction - some believe this proves he was alive on the ground

The shaky cell phone video shows high school student Negron lying on the ground, with his arms handcuffed behind him. He doesn't appear to move.

'Yeah, they shot him. They shot that man,' says a person near the video camera.

But when the camera turns away from him and pans towards other officers arriving and it cuts back four seconds later, Negron's head is facing the opposite direction. An officer is standing near him.

'This is a nightmare. Bridgeport PD told my family they shot Jayson in the head and was dead on scene this video clearly shows otherwise,' Rivera wrote on Twitter. 'They left my baby cousin on the ground to die.'

'If that crucial part of the story is a lie, everything else is up for question,' Rivera told the Hartford Courant.

It's unclear how Rivera obtained the video.

Autopsy results show Negron died from gunshot wounds to the chest.

Police said Negron's handcuffed body was lying in the street for several hours after the shooting for 'evidence-gathering reasons.'

He was left on Fairfield Avenue in full view for hours, a move that infuriated some locals.

Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez said he was told he wasn't allowed to cover the body with a sheet in case it disrupted the crime scene but later learned that the body could have been covered.

Perez said that medical personnel 'got there relatively quickly,' but did not know the exact time, according to the Connecticut Post.

Ahlaam Abduljalil, a writer and poet from Bridgeport, Conn., and a member of the Village Initiative Project, speaks to a crowd gathered for a protest and vigil for Jayson Negron on May 10

Tina Suarez, of Bridgeport, holds up a sign while attending a protest and vigil for Jayson Negron

'The callous disregard that Bridgeport police officers showed for Jayson Negron during his last moments of life is unacceptable,' David McGuire, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, told the outlet. 'Their behavior was outside the realms of human decency and democracy.'

Lawyer Michael Stratton, who represents the Fyffe family, also questioned the police version of how the teen came to be shot, saying there was no evidence that the car was stolen and that there were no drugs or weapons found on Negron or his friend.

'Julian was shot twice after Jayson was shot. 3 bullets,' he wrote on Twitter.

'Police cannot declare someone dead at the scene,' Stratton told Daily Mail. 'You need a doctor or medical examiner. [Police] have no legal right or expertise, nonetheless thats what happened here. They not only declared him dead, they made sure he was dead by not getting him medical care as he lay handcuffed on the ground.'

Negron was a sophomore at Bunnell High School in Stratford.

A relative described him on GoFundMe as 'a young man with a heart of gold, he had a contagious personality and no party was a party unless Jay was in it. When he came, and smiled, it was like the lights were turned on because he truly lit the room.'
Backstage at the Poetry Out Loud finals held here this month, nerves were on edge. After two days of competition, 53 state-winners had been whittled down to just three finalists. As the judges tallied up the scores, the three high school students paced and hugged each other. This was the culmination of hours and sometimes years of work. The students had each memorized three poems and recited them on stage. They were judged on everything from overall performance to accuracy to their interpretation of the poets words.

The competition, now in its 12th year, begins in classrooms around the country. Students memorize and recite poems, choosing from a list of over 900 options. Classroom winners compete at their schools, then regionally, and eventually at their state finals. This year, over 300,000 students from 2,300 high schools took part.

Poetry is important because it gives people the opportunity to talk about things that are incredibly difficult to talk about and that are universal, said Eleanor Billington, of the National Endowment for the Arts, which helped create the competition. It gives students the chance to find themselves in the work and words of another person and to identify with those stories, said Billington, who is the program manager for Poetry Out Loud.

The Poetry Foundation, which publishes Poetry magazine and promotes an appreciation of poetry, worked with the NEA to develop this program. We wanted to give teachers a new way to teach poetry. Instead of asking students to read a poem and then write a paper about it, this contest emphasizes the pleasures and the sounds of poetry, said Stephen Young, the foundations program director. It requires no less analytical skill than writing a paper to decide how youre going to recite a particular line or what intonation is called-for here, what emphasis do you want there.

The Georgia state champion, Samara Elan Huggins, a senior from Whitefield Academy in Mableton, Ga., began competing as a freshman. This was her first year in the national finals. Huggins said she strives to make sure the audience understands the poem the way the poet intended. Its a different language. Its different from prose or spoken word. The poet has to use the least amount of words possible and follow a structure, she said in an interview. That makes every word even more important, every piece of punctuation that more necessary. It communicates an emotion. It communicates an idea, a thought process, a feeling, and those are all really important for us to understand in poetry.

With the judges having finished their scoring, the three finalists waited backstage. The drum roll began as the winners were announced. Third place went to Iree Mann, a junior at Syosset High School from Jericho, N.Y. The second-place finisher was Nicholas Amador, a junior at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. And this years championSamara Elan Huggins, who recited The Farmer by W.D. Erhart as her final poem. Huggins received a shower of confetti, and $20,000 in prize money. Huggins told Education Week, I really do love this competition, its opened so many doors for me. Its made me able to talk to my peers better, made me able to write essays better, write my own poetry better.

Next year, Huggins will head to Pratt Institute in the Brooklyn borough of New York, where she hopes to major in fashion design and minor in English. And she says she plans to use her poetry skills there as well by performing at cafes and festivals.
Australian Taxation Office Deputy Commissioner Michael Cranston has been caught up in a major tax evasion scheme allegedly involving his son and daughter.

Mr Cranston, 58, has been issued with a court attendance notice for allegedly publicly abusing his position as a senior official of the Commonwealth, the AFP said on Thursday. He is expected to be officially charged when he faces court in June.

Mr Cranston's 30-year-old son, Adam, and 24-year-old daughter, Lauren, along with seven other people have been arrested over a $165 million tax fraud investigation.

Adam Cranston was granted strict bail after his wife and family posted $300,000 surety for his release. He faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of the fraud offences he is facing.

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ATO deputy commissioner Michael Cranston (pictured) will be charged over a major tax evasion scheme allegedly involving his son and daughter, AFP said on Thursday

Adam Cranston (pictured) is arrested by police on Wednesday for conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth

AFP seized two aircraft (pictured) and 25 luxury cars after an eight-month long investigation

Adam Cranston (left) with wife Elizabeth (right) on their wedding day with custom Ford GT that was seized by police during a raid of his Bondi home on Wednesday. There is no suggestion Elizabeth had any knowledge of or involvement in the alleged syndicate

Mr Cranston's 30-year-old son Adam and eight other people have been arrested over a $165 million tax fraud investigation (pictured, $1 million in seized cash)

Six people have been charged with conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth, one with extortion and another two with money laundering.

Daniel Rostankovski, 28, charged with blackmail and conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth, and Christopher Guillan, 46, charged with extortion and money laundering, were both granted bail on Thursday afternoon.

Daniel Hausman, 47, and Jason Onley, 47, are expected to face court and apply for bail later on Thursday.

The dramatic arrests were made following an eight-month investigation, code-named Operation Elbrus, with ongoing assistance from the tax office.

AFP officers seized 25 motor vehicles - luxury, vintage and racing - 18 residential properties, 12 motorbikes, two aircraft, boats, firearms, jewellery, artwork, vintage wines and at least $1 million cash located in a safety deposit box.

They also seized in excess of 100 bank accounts and share trading accounts reportedly worth $15 million - all suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

'The scale of this alleged fraud is unprecedented for the AFP,' said Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Operations Leanne Close on Thursday.

Tow trucks hauled away 25 motor vehicles - luxury (pictured), vintage and racing - as part of the investigation

AFP seized in excess of 100 bank accounts and share trading accounts along with luxury jewellery (pictured)

Michael Cranston is expected to be charged for abuse of his position when he faces Sydney Central court next month.

Reports claim Mr Cranston allegedly tried to intimidate fellow ATO colleagues into cutting a deal with his son after learning he was under investigation for tax fraud.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Adam Cranston approached his father Michael after discovering his company's financial dealings were under scrutiny.

Michael Cranston then allegedly spoke to two senior Tax Office employees - who have since been suspended without pay - in a bid to control the damage.

He reportedly asked whether a deal could be made to settle the fraud investigation and allegedly attempted to get in touch with investigators involved in the inquiry.

Acting Commissioner of Taxation Andrew Mills said Mr Cranston had 'up until this point... held an illustrious career'.

'We do take it extraordinarily seriously and... it is of concern that a long-standing officer has been alleged to have been involved in this,' Mr Mills said.

'The people being investigated have been suspended without pay.'

The ATO is conducting an internal investigation into four officials into whether or not they looked at the material they were unauthorised to do so.

12 motorbikes were seized by police in the biggest tax fraud sting in Australian history

Police seized Penfolds Grange wine (valued at $1500 a bottle) and Henschke Hill of Grace shiraz (valued at $720 a bottle)

Adam Cranston's wife, Elizabeth (left), mother Robyn (right), and brother Josh (centre) leave Sydney Central Local Court on Thursday

'If you are an officer within the ATO, you have access to those matters only to which you actually are required for the purposes of your job. If you seek to obtain information which is outside that scope, you actually are in breach of the code of conduct,' he said.

Ms Close said it appeared Mr Cranston's son has asked him to access some information.

'We don't believe that at this point that he had any knowledge of the actual conspiracy and the defrauding,' she said.

Adam was arrested at Bondi while his sister was arrested in Picton during 27 raids on homes and businesses across Sydney on Wednesday.

A further six search warrants will be executed on Thursday, said the AFP.

Four ATO officers are also being investigated, said the AFP.

Firearms were confiscated by federal police as part of the investigation, which began in 2016

Police are expected to execute a further six search warrants on Thursday (seized firearms pictured)

AFP also seized vintage wines (pictured) and artwork as part of the $165 million tax fraud investigation

A Glastron speedboat (pictured) and 18 residential properties were seized by police in the last two days

Cranston's custom Ford GT was seized during a police raid on his Bondi home on Wednesday

Scenes got ugly on Wednesday morning as AFP carried out a raid on Double Bay property development firm Rommark.

Company director Michael Teplitsky tackled a photographer and was carted away in handcuffs by a dozen federal police officers.

Mr Teplitsky, who is reportedly dating Sydney socialite Olivia Korner, took issue with Fairfax reporters getting too close as AFP carried out the raids.

Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Teplitsky was not formally charged for the scrap. There is no suggestion he or Ms Korner had any involvement in, or knowledge, of the alleged misconduct.

Scenes got ugly on Wednesday when AFP carried out raids on Double Bay property development firm Rommark. Company director Michael Teplitsky (pictured) was arrested by officers after a confrontation with photographers outside

Mr Teplitsky (right), who is reportedly dating socialite Olivia Korner, (left) took issue with Fairfax reporters getting too close as AFP carried out the raids

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Teplitsky or Ms Korner have any knowledge of, or involvement in, the alleged misconduct

Michael Cranston (pictured) has not been officially been charged, but is due to face court next month for allegedly publicly abusing his position as a senior official of the Commonwealth

Seized items are displayed at a press conference at the AFP headquarters in Sydney

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull condemned the alleged misconduct within the ATO, describing it as 'regrettable', but stressed the arrests were signs the system worked.

'This is very much to be regretted,' Mr Turnbull told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.

'Nobody should imagine they can escape our law enforcement agencies no matter how high they may be in a government department.

'No matter how high they may be, they are being watched.'

The prime minister said the fact the alleged conspirators had been caught proved the system worked.

'We have zero tolerance for this type of conspiracy, this type of fraud, this type of abuse of public office,' he said.

'We have a relentless pursuit of corruption, malpractice, abuse of office, the AFP have a very keen focus on it ... as has been demonstrated.'

AFP Deputy Commissioner Operations Leanne Close said the the scale of the alleged fraud was 'unprecedented'

Adam Cranston (centre) was arrested for his involvement in allegedly stealing over $100 million in taxpayer's money

Cranston, 30, is led away by police who also arrested eight others who were allegedly part of a fraud syndicate that stole $165 million in taxpayers money

Adam Cranston is described by the Daily Telegraph as an alleged 'co-conspirator' who used stolen funds to fuel an extravagant lifestyle of exclusive property, boats and a race team.

It is alleged the syndicate worked by taking investments from legitimate clients, funneling the money through a payroll company called Plutus, owned by a financial services firm SYNEP of which Cranston is co-chairman and managing director, and into a series of smaller companies.

These 'second tier' companies would pay an insufficient percentage of their required tax, as they believed the amounts were too small to warrant government attention, and the misappropriated tax would then line the pockets of the alleged fraudsters.

Police will allege the syndicate manipulated people starting up the companies and would have all power over the businesses.

Cranston's swanky Bondi apartment was one of 27 residences raided by police on Wednesday, that led to eight other arrests.

Police seized Cranston's custom Ford GT, among other property, which is believed to have been part of the race team he created that was named after his SYNEP finance firm.

Acting Commissioner of Taxation Andrew Mills (pictured) told reporters in Sydney on Thursday Mr Cranston had 'up until this point... held an illustrious career'

Adam Cranston (right) and wife Elizabeth (right) married in October of 2016
Boogie board drug smuggler Schapelle Corby will be locked up one more time before she leaves Indonesia for Australia.

Preparations are underway for the end of the 39-year-old's drug trafficking sentence later this month.

Indonesian Immigration officials have revealed she will be held in a detention cell before flying home, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Boogie board drug smuggler Schapelle Corby will be locked up one more time before she leaves Indonesia for Australia (file photo)

Officials also said she will likely be banned from ever returning to Indonesia, leaving behind her local boyfriend Ben Panangian (pictured right with Corby)

Officials also said she will likely be banned from ever returning to Indonesia, leaving behind her local boyfriend Ben Panangian.

Immigration chief Ari Budijanto told the publication Corby will be kept in a holding cell at an immigration office before her flight home after May 17- when her sentence ends.

'I guarantee I will detain her waiting for her flight,' he said.

Despite Corby's 'celebrity' status in Australia, Mr Budijanto said she will be given no special treatment.

It will be the first time Corby has been locked up since leaving Kerobokan Prison on parole in February 2014.
Kiah Andrusjak arrives at Manchester Crown Court ahead of her sentencing

A female prison warder who had a six-month affair with a convicted killer has been jailed after she was caught smuggling in racy pictures of herself.

Former Royal Navy sailor Kiah Andrusjak, 23, was detained after she was caught smuggling in the pictures and a Terry's Chocolate Orange for Shane Boyd whilst he was languishing at Manchester Prison, formerly known as Strangeways.

The pair had been engaged in a secret romance behind bars during which they swapped up to 600 text messages using an unauthorised mobile phone that 24-year old Boyd kept hidden in his cell.

She and Boyd had met in the prison canteen where he smiled at her and she smiled back.

Last Christmas Boyd even arranged for his sister to give his lover a Christmas card containing 150 in cash during a meeting at a Nando's restaurant.

At Manchester Crown Court, Andrusjak, of Hindley Green, Wigan, sobbed as she admitted miscodnuct in a public office and was jailed for eight months.

It is thought she will serve her jail term in Styal Women's prison, ten miles from her lover's cell.

Boyd, from Middleton, had been jailed for life for murder in 2009 after he stabbed a 16-year-old student to death after a petty argument over an Xbox console.

Then also 16, Boyd plunged a knife into Conor Black as he stood outside a house party after first stunning him by smashing a beer can over his head.

After the stabbing he went back into the party bragging that he was 'the man' and threatening to kill anyone who named him to police.

He was ordered to serve a minimum of 11 years behind bars before he would be considered for parole.

Boyd, from Middleton, had been jailed for life for murder in 2009 after he stabbed a 16-year-old student to death, but Andrusjak started a relationship with him

Andrusjak - who is thought to have previously served on HMS Raleigh - also received a further two week training course at Strangeways before being assigned to the G wing on June 26

He met Andrusjak in March 2016 when she was training as a prison officer. The court heard the warder's training included a 10-week course including 'anti-corruption training and instructions on the appropriate level of contact with prisoners.'

Andrusjak - who is thought to have previously served on HMS Raleigh - also received a further two week training course at Strangeways before being assigned to the G wing on June 26.

Maria Brennan prosecuting said: 'Six months later in December 2016 the prison received three separate allegations that he was involved in a romantic relationship with a member of staff. One of these allegations named the defendant.

'She would bring in items such as chocolate and tobacco. A meeting was arranged with senior prison staff and the defendant for her to be challenged.

Former Royal Navy sailor Kiah Andrusjak, 23, was detained after she was caught smuggling in pictures and chocolate for Shane Boyd whilst he was languishing at Manchester Prison

Then 16, Boyd plunged a knife into Conor Black as he stood outside a house party after first stunning him by smashing a beer can over his head

'The defendant was searched and on her a packet of cigarettes were found and an envelope containing nine photos, six featuring the defendant in her underwear and photos of her stuck next to a picture of him.

'The defendant confirmed that the male in the photographs was her boyfriend and when asked how long the relationship had been going on she claimed she had known him before but the relationship had only started when she was working on G wing.

'She said that she was in the middle of requesting a transfer to another prison because both knew the relationship was wrong. She said she had not been in touch with Shane by phone.

'Her iPhone was seized and items were recovered such as Terry's chocolate orange and a further eight photos.

'The phone used by Shane Boyd was never recovered. Her phone was examined and on it were found to be a very large number of text messages and calls between the two of them between the 6th of November 2016 and the 12th of December.

Their relationship started while Boyd was serving time at Manchester Prison, formerly known as Strangeways

'These text messages suggest an intense romantic relationship between the defendant and Mr Boyd and well over 200 messages were recovered with a suggestion that there could be over 600 messages in total.

'The defendant was aware that Shane had access to a mobile phone and she was complicit in that. In interview she confirmed she had been finding the job stressful and had found another job and there is reference in those text messages to her looking for another job.

'She first met him when she was a cleaning manager and he was a cleaner in a canteen and he smiled at her and she smiled back. After meeting him in G wing she realised that he had access to an unauthorised phone.

'They messaged 100's of times and at Christmas Shane arranged for his sister to give the defendant a Christmas present. The defendant met his sister in a Nando's restaurant where a card containing 150 in cash was handed over.'

In mitigation defence lawyer Alex Leach said: 'Although the defendant claims she was groomed into this relationship and she may not have felt manipulated but it may be that the experience of this court can look to see the motives that this prisoner may have had with this young woman.

'She did not benefit from experience and she was young, immature and naive. She has exhibited a high level of remorse from the moment she was challenged about her offences.

'She was vulnerable at the time she was working and was struggling to cope in her new role - losing 12kg in weight. She had made it known to her supervisors that she wanted to leave her position and seek employment elsewhere.

'The defendant felt incapable of being taken seriously by the prisoners. She felt threatened and on one occasion Mr Boyd stood up for her in front of other prisoners and that is when she began to develop feelings for him.

'She didn't take drugs or SIM cards but chocolate and photographs and did not undermine the security of the institution she was working in. She joined the Royal Navy when she was 16. The impact of a custodial sentence for her would be crushing.'

Passing sentence Sentence, Judge David Stockdale QC told Andrusjak: 'You formed a romantic relationship with a prisoner who was a convicted and it evolved over a six month period.

'You bought into the prison confectionary and cigarettes for him. More significantly you communicated with him by text message, many many messages in this case.

Forensic officers work near Moston Lane, Manchester where 16-year-old Conor Black was stabbed to death by Boyd

'The precise number of text messages exchanged is not entirely certain and some say as many as 690 were sent, but it is at least 200 which indicated that the relationship between the two of you was an intense one.

'The fact that you are communicating by text messages when you knew that access to a mobile phone is prohibited means you were complicit. You knew that your relationship with Boyd was illicit and you maintained that relationship.

'Your contact compromised the security obtained within the prison and made you vulnerable to blackmail and put you in danger. Public confidence in the security of prisons is undermined whenever a prison officer breaches the trust in this way.

'These offences committed by you did involve a serious breach of trust. You maintained that relationship knowing that it was illicit and could have ended it at any time.

'You were of a young age but had served for five years in the Royal Navy and has considerable experience within public services.

'Your betrayal of the trust placed in you as a serving prison officer can only be punished with an immediate custodial sentence.'
Angela Rayner today backed the right of the shadow cabinet to use grammar schools despite Labour's campaign against them

Angela Rayner today backed the right of the shadow cabinet to use grammar schools despite Labour's campaign against them.

The shadow education secretary said it was not for her to tell parents which schools they should use for their children.

Labour has described Theresa May's plans to expand grammar schools as a 'vanity project' and Ms Rayner has attacked them as an 'ideological attack on the working class'.

But today she insisted she would not criticise Labour colleagues for using the schools, which are based on academic selection at age 11.

Ms Rayner told the Standard: 'It's ultimately a parent's choice.

'I'm not about to tell parents what to do with their children.

'That's not for me to do that.'

Challenged to explain how the position matched Labour's strident opposition to the existence of grammar schools, Ms Rayner added: 'Because we are not a Stalinist state.

'We are not blanket-banning people from deciding what school they want their children to go to.'

A Conservatives spokesman said: 'Jeremy Corbyn and his top team want to put their ideological intransigence against parental choice ahead of actual results for pupils.

'In Government we have ensured 1.8 million more pupils are in good or outstanding school places while the last labour government oversaw a reduction in school places at time of rapid population growth.'

Putting Corbyn in control of our education system would be huge risk that would be bad for parents, bad for pupils and bad for our economy.'

Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, the shadow attorney general, sent her son to 18,000-a-year Dulwich College.

Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, attended a grammar and sent her son to 10,000-a-year City of London Boy's School.

Ms Rayner is an ally of leader Jeremy Corbyn and seen as a potential successor should he resign in the wake of election defeat

Ms Rayner is an ally of leader Jeremy Corbyn and seen as a potential successor should he resign in the wake of election defeat.

She has placed her opposition to grammars in the context of her own education experience, describing herself as a 'shining example' of someone who was state educated in a comprehensive school.

Ms Rayner left school in Stockport at 16 with low-grade qualifications and pregnant.

After a spell as a care worker, she went back into education and later became a union rep for Unison.

She turned to politics and won her Commons seat at the 2015 general election as MP for Ashton-under-Lyne.

Ms Rayner, who is mother to Ryan, 19, and two sons at primary school, has state-educated all three of her children.
Anthony Dearmas, charged with his son's murder

A father has been charged with the murder of his seven-week-old son after an autopsy revealed seven fractures in the infant's skull.

Anthony Dearmass from Louisiana told detectives he punched his boy, Karter Smith, off the couch because he couldn't get the baby to stop crying.

The father had earlier fabricated his story and inconsistencies still remain over what he claims happened after the autopsy showed his son's horrific injuries.

The coroner described is as a heinous crime and Sheriff Randy Smith said: 'How someone can do this to a defenseless infant is beyond me.'

Talking to Nola, Smith added: 'Even more disturbing is the fact that this was his own child.

'Mr. Dearmas is where he belongs, behind bars.'

He and his deputies were called on Wednesday to a trailer park in Slidell on Eagle Lake Boulevard to reports of a boy not breathing.

The boy was rushed to hospital where doctors managed to revive him, only for it to later transpire that he was brain dead.

He was pronounced dead on Saturday and the autopsy revealed injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.

Dearmas told officers he punched Karter off of a couch, knocking him to the ground, causing him to fall on his head after becoming frustrated with the baby's crying.

St. Tammany Parish Coroner Charles Preston found seven fractures to the skull and internal bleeding, usually seen in cases where direct pressure has been applied to the head, such as squeezing or kneeling on it.

'This poor child, he never really had a chance to live,' Smith told Nola.
A military veteran from Alabama killed his wife after threatening their young daughter and then turned the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide sparked by a family feud, according to police.

Authorities in Russellville were called to a home on College Avenue at around 7am on Tuesday after receiving a report about a shooting.

Officers who responded to the scene found 22-year-old Brittney Stiles suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead on the spot in the presence of her family members.

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Couple's feud: Joshua Stiles, 30 (left), allegedly shot dead his 22-year-old wife, Brittney (right), in Alabama before turning the gun on himself

Heartbreaking: The couple's 2-year-old daughter was said to have been present when her father fatally shot her mother nine times

Mrs Stiles was placing her daughter in her car sear inside this white sedan when police say her husband opened fire

As officers were processing the crime scene, a Franklin County Sheriffs deputy caught a glimpse of a black F-350 Ford pickup truck driven by the victims husband, 30-year-old Joshua Stiles, and gave chase.

Officers from multiple agencies joined the pursuit, which took them into neighboring Colbert County and ended 40 minutes later with a crash after authorities laid down spike strips on Highway 247 to try and stop the vehicle.

They say Stiles tried to go around a roadblock that had been set up by the police but lost control, slid off into a ditch and slammed into two trees, according to Times Daily.

When officers approached Stiles' wrecked vehicle, they say they discovered the suspect dead from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver.

An autopsy will be performed on his body to determine the exact cause and manner of death.

Joshua Stiles led police on a 40-minute chase in his black F-350 Ford pickup truck (pictured), which ended with a crash and his suspected suicide

Motive: Police say Tuesday's violence was the culmination of a two-week-long domestic dispute between the married couple, pictured left during Brittney's pregnancy and right with their daughter at a costume party

Lured to her death: Police say Joshua had threatened the toddler Tuesday to make his wife come home

Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett has revealed to the Franklin County Times that the suspected murder-suicide was the culmination of a two-week-long domestic dispute between Joshua and Brittney Stiles.

On Tuesday morning, the married couple were arguing and Brittney left, but she was forced to return to their home after her husband allegedly threatened their two-year-old daughter.

On May 9, Joshua wrote on his wife's social media page in the comments section below a striking selfie of the young woman, 'You're so beautiful baby!'

Brittney came back for the child and was placing her in her car seat when the police chief said her husband shot her, reported the station WHNT.

The child was in the backseat of the vehicle and was not physically harmed. She is now being cared for by family members.

Brittney's sister, Amber West, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for her funeral, writing in the fundraisers description that the 22-year-old woman was shot nine times by her husband.

He killed her in front of me and my mother, West stated. Her daughter was in the back seat of her car when he emptied to clip on his gun into my sister.

West said Brittney died in her arms after gasping for air and begging her, 'Help me, sis.'

Officials said Joshua Stiles was given an honorable discharge from the military in 2016.

His final Facebook post, dated May 13, consisted of a selfie taken last year, showing Stiles with his older daughter, likely from a previous relationship.

Military man: Joshua Stiles was given an honorable discharge from the military in 2016. Their daughter (pictured right with mom) was not physically harmed in Tuesday's shooting

The orphaned girl is now being cared for by family members, having lost both of her parents

On May 9, a week before the alleged murder-suicide, he commented on a photo of his and Brittney's toddler, which she posted on her page, writing, 'Daddys little angel.'

That same day, he wrote on his wife's social media page in the comments section below a striking selfie of the young woman, 'You're so beautiful baby!'
Police in Massachusetts searching for a missing Duke University student who has not been seen or heard from since a house party on Sunday morning have found his shirt and sneakers.

The Franklin Police Department said 20-year-old Michael Doherty was last spotted in the Phyllis Lane area at 1.30am Sunday after attending a house party with some friends.

Deputy Police Chief James Mill said a Doherty's shirt and one of his sneakers was found on a section of road being extended.

The other shoe was found a few hundred yards away by State Police.

Doherty, a graduate of Xavier High School, is a rising junior in the Pratt School of Engineering and a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at Duke.

Have you seen Michael? Police in Franklin, Massachusetts, are searching for 20-year-old Duke student Michael Doherty, pictured above on the day of his graduation from Xavier High School

Last sighting: Doherty was last spotted in the Phyllis Lane area of Franklin at 1.30am Sunday after attending a house party with some friends

Officers spent the day Sunday scouring the area for Doherty and employing K-9 dogs and a canoe to explore a swampy are

An officer is seen exiting a shed in Franklin while searching for the missing student

His family, who live in Franklin, say Doherty was home for the summer and went out with friends Saturday night.

Doherty is a rising junior in the Pratt School of Engineering and a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at Duke

Dohertys parents reported their son missing when he failed to come home from the party, according to the station WCVB.

Police officers spent the day Sunday scouring the area for Doherty and employing K-9 dogs and a canoe to explore a swampy area near Phyllis Lane, reported CBS Boston.

The operation was hampered by inclement weather, which made it impossible to deploy a helicopter to search for the missing man from the air.

The search resumed Monday morning, with Environmental Police joining in to comb through wooded and marshy areas in town.

Police are urging local residents to check outside their homes for Doherty, including sheds or detached buildings on their property.

Doherty is described as a white male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt with a Nike symbol, black pants and sneakers.
As the White House remained in a spin of scandal, Ivanka Trump played it off as business-as-usual as she hosted a group of bipartisan lawmakers and experts to the Roosevelt Room Wednesday, for a roundtable on human trafficking.

The first daughter let not only Democrats through the door, but the Republican senator who gave her dad one of the strongest rebukes in the aftermath of the classified Russian leak report.

'Obviously they're in a downward spiral right now and have got to figure out a way to come to grips with all that's happening,' said Sen. Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, to reporters on Monday.

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It was business-as-usual for first daughter Ivanka Trump at the White House Wednesday as she invited lawmakers - some of whom have been highly critical of her father - to attend a roundtable on preventing human trafficking

Among the attendees, Sen. Bob Corker, the Tennessee Republican who said Monday night that the Trump White House was in a 'downward spiral right now.'

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar (left), who's called for an independent commission and a special prosecutor to investigate Trump-Russia ties, sat next to Ivanka Trump (right) at the White House Wednesday

First daughter and aide Ivanka Trump kept a normal schedule Wednesday, despite several scandals dogging her father's White House

Earlier, Ivanka Trump was captured leaving her D.C. home, in the tony neighborhood of Kalorama, en route to the White House

Wearing a powder blue top and summery white slacks, Ivanka Trump headed to work at the White House where she later held a rountable with experts and lawmakers on trafficking

Since then, the White House has only gotten entangled in more trouble, as the New York Times reported Tuesday night that President Trump had asked the now former FBI head James Comey to cool it with the investigation into his ex-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

Democrats, especially, have been pointing to the Times story as proof that outside forces are needed to investigate the Trump-Russia link.

House Democrats circulated a petition for legislation that would create an independent commission, with senators like Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., arguing for that and a special prosecutor.

Klobuchar was seated next to Ivanka Trump in the meeting Wednesday.

She was joined by her fellow Democrat, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, who's been less vocal about criticizing President Trump, though very vocal on her efforts to pass legislation that would train medical professional to recognize signs of human trafficking in patients.

During the brief moments reporters were allowed in the Roosevelt Room, Ivanka Trump was heard expressing concern that human trafficking was a growing problem

On Ivanka Trump's (left) other side, sat House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican who backed President Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey

Ivanka Trump (center) sits between lawmakers from opposing political parties: Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar (left) and Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy (right)

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who backed Trump's initial decision to fire Comey, was seated on Ivanka Trump's other side.

As for the content of the meeting, the White House press pool was briefly allowed in, as the first daughter portrayed trafficking as a growing American and global problem.

'Combatting human trafficking and modern slavery is both a moral and strategic interest domestically and abroad,' Trump said.

'In 2016, there were over 8,000 cases reported to the National Human Trafficking hotline  a 35 percent increase from 2015,' the first daughter warned.

This was the second White House meeting Ivanka Trump attended on the issue, previously organizing a listening session in late February on the topic that she attended alongside her father, President Trump.

Since then, she told attendees, she has been conducting interagency meetings, as well as gathering recommendations from the academic, public and private sector.

'Thanks to Congress and government agencies, we have a robust bipartisan framework which will encourage cooperation and information-gathering,' she told those gathered Wednesday in the Roosevelt Room.

And Corker, while wagging a finger at the White House this week, has been a leading voice on the issue of human trafficking.

His End Modern Slavery Initiative, part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017, was signed into law by President Obama at the end of 2016.
A senior member of a campaign group which praised Jihadi John has been charged under the Terrorism Act after refusing to hand over his computer password to police.

Cage managing director Muhammad Rabbani, 36, was detained at Heathrow Airport under counter-terrorism stop-and-search powers.

A spokesman for Cage said Rabbani was charged with wilfully obstructing or seeking to frustrate a search examination under Schedule 7 over the incident in November.

A tweet from the group read: 'Our Director Muhammad Rabbani has been charged for failing to disclose his password under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act.'

Cage managing director Muhammad Rabbani, 36, was detained at Heathrow Airport under counter-terrorism stop-and-search powers

He said he will be challenging the charge and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 20.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Rabbani attended an east London police station today.

Once upon a time, Rabbani was an activist in the extremist Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE). The IFE is based at the East London mosque where Cage has also held events.

Cage caused outrage in 2015, when one of its senior members described ISIS executioner Jihadi John as a beautiful young man.

Cage caused outrage in 2015, when one of its senior members described ISIS executioner Jihadi John, named Mohammed Emwazi, as a beautiful young man

The 27-year-old Londoner was killed on November 12 after US intelligence 'evaporated' him with by a drone strike in Raqqa.

Emwazi had been known to intelligence services in the UK since at least 2009 and had been on a list of potential terror suspects.

Despite a ban prohibiting him from leaving the country, Emwazi first escaped Britain in 2011, when he headed to Lisbon.

He returned a short time later but successfully evaded border control again to leave for good in 2012.

After making it to Syria, he became ISIS executioner in chief, filmed beheading western hostages in sickening propaganda videos.
Jimmy Fallon has admitted that he regrets not addressing the fallout from his controversial Donald Trump interview last year, and denied claims that his drinking is 'out of control'.

Donald Trump was in the final leg of the presidential race when Fallon invited him onto the Tonight Show for a fluffy interview that saw him ruffling the candidate's hair.

That caused a backlash that the NBC star has struggled to recover from - especially as he refused to even bring it up on his own show.

'I didn't talk about it, and I should have talked about it,' he told the New York Times in an emotional interview about the uproar. 'I regret that.'

He also denied rumors from October that he had developed a drinking habit that had left NBC execs concerned for his health.

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Regrets: Jimmy Fallon said he didn't mean to 'humanize' Trump when he invited him onto The Tonight Show in September last year, and regrets not addressing the backlash on the show

Beaten: Fallon has lost his ratings lead over the more politicized Stephen Colbert by more than a million viewers, on average. Fallon is famously apolitical, compared with the acidic Colbert

The Tonight Show host was at the top of his game towards the end of 2016, pulling in 3.5 million viewers in his 11.35pm time slot - easily enough to crush late-night competition Stephen Colbert.

But on September 15 of that year, Fallon hosted a decidedly neutral interview with the then-Republican candidate, asking bland questions about how his business experience helped prepare him for politics.

Colbert himself had interviewed Trump the previous year, but in the time since he had gone from rank outsider to the official Republican choice for candidate.

Worse, Fallon convinced Trump to let him ruffle his hair - a move that many saw as making the candidate look more approachable and empathetic.

Devastated: Fallon, a tech addict, says he was scared off Twitter and the web by the angry comments after his Trump interview, but he won't let that change his style of humor

That sparked outrage in viewers who had been incensed by Trump's remarks about Mexican immigrants and Muslims, and Fallon struggled to deal with the backlash.

Twitter lit up with complaints from viewers, who likened it to 'playing with Hitler's mustache'. Those complaints have continued to crop up from time to time, right up to this month.

Fellow comedians also complained, with Billy Eichner saying 'you cant be fluffing a Nazi sympathizer's hair on television' and Samantha Bee saying the show's execs were 'not racist. They just don't mind if other people are, which is just as bad.'

In March, Colbert's predecessor, David Letterman, said: 'I dont want to criticize Jimmy Fallon, but I can only tell you what I would have done in that situation: I would have gone to work on Trump.'

Since the PR disaster, Fallon's ratings have fallen, while Colbert - who has gleefully trolled Trump each night on his show - has soared.

Last week Fallon averaged 2.68 million viewers, while Colbert - who recently sparked controversy by calling Trump's mouth a 'c**k holster' for Vladimir Putin - took 3.07 million, the New York Post reported.

'I didn't do it to humanize him,' Fallon told the NYT this week. 'I almost did it to minimize him. I didn't think that would be a compliment: "He did the thing that we all wanted to do."'

But that's not how it went down - and as the controversy pressed on and on, Fallon found himself stuck in a mire of bad publicity.

Fallon, who admits that he has trouble dealing with criticism, refused to engage.

'I go, "I just can't read Twitter,"' he said. 'Then, "I can't read the news. I can't read the internet."

'I'm a people pleaser. If there's one bad thing on Twitter about me, it will make me upset. So, after this happened, I was devastated. 'I didn't mean anything by it. I was just trying to have fun.'

'Dangerous': In the wake of his Trump interview, Fallon received huge negative publicity from his audience on Twitter, who felt that he was showing Trump in too positive a light

'Shameful': Bloggers also complained about the show, as did some of Fallon's fellow comedians, including Samantha Bee, David Letterman and Billy Eichner

Bad memories: This tweet, made at the start of this month, shows how the interview has cast a shadow over the rest of Fallon's career - at a time when politicized humor is popular

Things got more uncomfortable the month after the Trump interview.

That's when Page Six alleged that NBC execs were concerned that Fallon's drinking was 'out of control' after a series of accidents, including nearly severing his ring finger in 2015.

Fallon did hurt his finger, but 'categorically denied' the drinking claims, the New York Times said.

'I could never do a day-to-day job if I was drinking every night,' he said. 'That's just kicking you when youre down.'

The comedian acknowledges that it's now far too late to address the Trump interview on his show, and he must press on. But exactly how he will do so remains to be seen.

While Fallon does take shots at Trump - a frequently jokes about Trump's perceived low intelligence - he lacks the Colbert's venom and vitriol.

And Colbert's growing popularity, which has coincided with his repeated jabs at Trump, suggests that right now, audiences are more interested in sharp satire than apolitical funnies.

'We live in an era now where if you dont take sides, both sides hate you,' said Fallon's Tonight Show predecessor, Jay Leno.

Things were easier when he was hosting, he said. 'Bush was dumb, and Clinton was horny.'

'When I was doing a monologue, I never questioned anybodys patriotism - you questioned their judgment.'

Leno added that he's not a fan of the continued pummeling of Trump by comedians.

'I am not a Trump fan at all, not in the slightest, not in the least,' he said. 'But this constant pounding does have a tendency to anesthetize your feelings.'

Fallon says that he won't allow Twitter comments to change who he is or what he writes, but he admits that in the past few months American TV - and 'the world... everything' has changed.

But how he will respond to that remains to be seen.

'Of course the show has to change,' he said. 'It's a different environment. I don't know what bits we're going to do, but we're trying everything.'

There is some good news for Fallon's producers: The Tonight Show continues to beat Colbert in the 18-to-49 demographic, which is targeted by advertisers.

But Fallon himself isn't bothered, saying he puts no stock in demographic jargon.

'Were winning in something,' he jokes. 'People in the height requirement between 5-7 and 5-11, we're No. 1, from 11:50 to 11:55.'

'I never, ever care. I'll know when someone fires me.'
Its been a tough few days for Edmodo.

Last Thursday, Motherboard broke news that the popular classroom-learning platform was the victim of a hack that led to tens of million of users account details (including email addresses) being put up for illicit sale on the so-called dark web (a section of the internet that requires special software to access and allows users to remain anonymous):

A vendor going under the name of nclay is currently listing the Edmodo data on the dark web marketplace Hansa for just over $1,000. In all, nclay claims to have 77 million accounts, and according to LeakBase, around 40 million include an email address. (Motherboard has not seen the full alleged database). The accounts were stolen last month according to nclays dark web listing. The vendor did not respond to a request for clarification.

Edmodo soon posted a response, saying they were investigating the hack and did not believe users passwords had been compromised.

Just two days later, however, education privacy researcher Bill Fitzgerald published a blog post detailing what he described as Edmodos practice of tracking students and teachers activity on their web-based platform, then sending the information to data brokers:

The presence of ad trackers for both teachers and students can be observed when we inspect traffic via an intercepting proxy. Some obvious questions that come to mind are: How aware are teachers in the Edmodo community that they are being tracked by ad brokers permitted on the site by Edmodo? How aware are students, teachers, and parents that ad brokers can collect data on students while using Edmodo? How does the presence of ad trackers that push information about student use to data brokers improve student learning? Are Edmodo Ambassadors briefed on the student-level tracking that occurs within Edmodo? If not, why not?



Edmodo currently claims well over 70 million users. For teachers, the platform is intended to give complete control over your digital classroom, according to the Edmodo website. That means allowing users to moderate classroom discussions, assign information and quizzes, track student progress, store information, and more.

The company did not respond to a request for an interview. A spokeswoman provided a statement to Education Week via email. Heres what it said with regard to the hack:

Edmodo recently learned about a potential security incident. We immediately retained leading information security experts to investigate this incident and reported it to law enforcement. We have no indication at this time that any user passwords have been compromised; the passwords were hashed using the bcrypt algorithm, which is a strong and robust method of encryption, and salted, which adds an additional significant layer of security. Protecting the privacy of our users is of the utmost importance to Edmodo. We will be providing our users with additional information shortly, and will provide you with any additional information once we have it.



And re: ad-tracking, the Edmodo statement said that the problematic code pointed out by Fitzgerald has been removed from our system, saying it was left over from a previous program.

The statement also addressed the question of Edmodo directly serving ads to teachers and students on its platform:

For our current program where we are beta testing serving ads on Edmodo, we adopted a policy that prohibits the behavioral targeting of ads to our users. To prevent such targeted ads, we turned on the COPPA-compliant tag functionality associated with the ads. The COPPA-compliant tag is supposed to prevent behavioral tracking, but we are investigating even further to make sure it is working properly. To be safe, we have turned off these ads entirely for now.



Given the large number of users implicated, as well as the general publics existing frame of reference for understanding hacking, its not surprising that this piece of the story has garnered considerable attention.

Behind-the-scenes ad-tech is much more opaque and confusing. But Fitzgerald said its also a problem. He observed that the tracking code that triggered the tracking was present within Edmodos site, which suggests that, at some point, someone made a decision to allow the practice to occur.

Fitzgerald did credit Edmodo for being quick to remove its ad-tracking code shortly after his post was published.

The speed with which they did it was really good, he said. Thats the correct response.

See also:
A teenager was arrested after a schoolboy was raped in a London park.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested after another boy, aged between 13 and 14, was attacked in Roe Green Park in Kingsbury, north-west London.

The traumatised victim told police he was raped by the teen at about 9am yesterday morning in a wooded area in the park.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested after another boy, aged between 13 and 14, was attacked in Roe Green Park (pictured), north London

A Met Police spokesman said: 'Police investigating a rape in Roe Green Park, Kingsbury Road, at around 9am on Tuesday, have made an arrest.

'A 13-year-old was arrested on Wednesday, May 17 on suspicion of rape. He remains in custody at a north London police station.'

He added: 'The victim, a boy aged in his early teens, was assaulted by another male in the park.'

Police have launched a full-scale investigation into the sex assault, setting up a special tent at the scene and sealing off the park.

Hundreds of pupils at nearby schools were sent home early yesterday afternoon after the alarm was raised and students were warned to avoid the area.

One parent, whose teenage daughters were sent home early at 2pm, told the Brent & Kilburn Times: 'Teachers came into the classrooms and told pupils to take care when going home and to avoid the park.'

An email to parents and pupils at one school warned: 'An incident has happened in Roe Green Park and therefore we want to remind you of key messages to keep you safe.

'Where possible try not to travel alone. We encourage you to come to school on time, so you are travelling with the majority of our school.

'At the end of the day please let your parents know where you are going to be and ensure you have safe plans to get home with others.

'If you are feeling uncomfortable, seek help and/or come back to the school.'
President Donald Trump turned a Coast Guard commencement into a media-bashing exercise on Wednesday as he returned fire on news outlets accusing him of sharing classified information and interfering in an FBI investigation.

'No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly,' Trump protested. 'You can't let them get you down. You can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams,' the president said.

He added: 'I guess that's why I won.'

He then boasted about his border wall, the 'great healthcare' bill his party is working on and the large tax cuts he's been promising, having earlier bragged that aircraft carriers would be built 'under budget and ahead of schedule' in his administration.

President Donald Trump turned a Coast Guard commencement into a media bashing exercise on Wednesday as he returned fire on news outlets that accused him of sharing classified information and interfering in an FBI investigation

'You can't let them get you down. You can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams,' the president said. 'I guess that's why I won'

Trump was delivering this year's Coast Guard commencement address in New London, Connecticut. He stuck around after to take pictures with graduating cadets

In between congratulating the graduating class and talking up the military division, Trump bragged about his own administration and defended himself from the arrows he's been taking this week for his conduct

Trump was delivering this year's Coast Guard commencement address in New London, Connecticut.

In between congratulating the graduating class and talking up the military division, Trump bragged about his own administration and defended himself from the arrows he's been taking this week for his conduct.

'I've loosened up the strangling environmental chains wrapped around our country and our economy, chains so tight that you couldn't do anything, that jobs were going down, we were losing business. We are loosening it up,' he stated.

'We've begun plans and preparations for the border wall, which is going along very, very well.'

Continuing, Trump told cadets, 'We are working on major tax cuts for all. We are going to give you the largest tax cut in the history of our country, if we get it the way we want it, and we're going to give you major tax reform.

'And we're also getting closer and closer, day by day, to great health care for our citizens.'

Trump told cadets during the pep talk portion of his remarks: 'Its amazing to think of the adventures that are about to begin for you'

Of the graduating class, Trump said they 'deserve not only the congratulations but the gratitude of each and every American, and we all salute you. A proud nation...Good job'

He commended the Coast Guard cadets as the embodiment of the motto he applied to his business and now, the government - on time and under budget

Trump said he was 'setting the stage right now for many, many more things to come' without explaining what he meant.

'The people understand what I'm doing, and that's the most important thing,' he contended. 'I didn't get elected to serve the Washington media or special interests. I got elected to serve the forgotten men and women of our country, and that's what I'm doing.'

'I will never stop fighting for you, and I will never stop fighting for the American people. '

Trump was presented with a ceremonial saber during the commencement exercises.

as he returned to his seat, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly was heard on an open mic telling him: 'Use that on the media, sir.'

Trump chuckled and replied: 'Yeah, right!'

The U.S. president's approval rating hit a new low in a poll that came out early Wednesday. He had a 42 percent favorability score in the Morning Consult survey that is produced in concert with Politico.

In last week's poll, conducted Tuesday through Thursday, he had 46 percent backing.

His controversial decision to ax his FBI director on the first day of the poll appears to have eroded his support further. The survey was taken before the publication of two news stories that could further damage Trump's reputation.

A Washington Post story that broke early Monday evening said Trump shared highly classified information with the Russians. A New York Times story said Tuesday that the source of the material was Israel.

'I've loosened up the strangling environmental chains wrapped around our country and our economy, chains so tight that you couldn't do anything, that jobs were going down, we were losing business. We are loosening it up,' Trump declared

A report on Tuesday contained parts of a memo that fired FBI Director James Comey is said to have written after a February 14 meeting with Trump. Comey said, according to the memo that a source read aloud to the Times, that Trump tried to waive him off of an investigation into Mike Flynn

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US President Donald Trump, and Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak (L-R) talking during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House. Trump is said to have shared highly classified information during it

Another Times story that came out yesterday contained parts of a memo that fired FBI Director James Comey is said to have written after a February 14 meeting with Trump.

Comey said, according to the memo that a source read aloud to the Times, that Trump tried to waive him off of an investigation into Mike Flynn, the national security advisor he'd just fired.

The White House denied Tuesday evening that a conversation of that nature had happened.

It spent much of Tuesday explaining Trump's Oval Office conversation with the Russians. Trump is said to have shared top secret information with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and Russia's ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kisylak.

Trump's current national security advisor, H.R. McMaster, told reporters Tuesday that the talk was 'wholly appropriate.'

Later, as the Times reported that Israel had provided the US with the secret information, the White House refused to comment.

We appreciate the relationship that we have with Israel and appreciate the exchange of information that we have with them,' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer stated. That being said, I'm not going to comment any further on it.

Images of President Donald Trump meeting with Russia's Sergei Lavrov in the Oval Office were issued by the Russian state news agency TASS, and subsequently published by much of the global media

The Russian embassy in Washington released this photo of President Trump warmly shaking hands with ambassador Sergey Kislyak

Israeli news publication Haaretz said in a report that Trump called Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day, but they did not discuss the American president's conversation with the Russians.

Trump hit back at his accusers Wednesday at the Coast Guard function.

'I want to take this opportunity to give you some advice. Over the course of your life, you will find that things are not always fair. You will find that things happen to you that you do not deserve and that are not always warranted,' he told cadets.

'But you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight! Never, ever, ever give up. Things will work out just fine. Look at the way I've been treated lately, especially by the media,' he stated.

Trump had struck a non-confrontational tone at the beginning of his remarks. He thanked Connecticut's Democratic governor, Dan Malloy, for his attendance and sympathized with the obstacles he faces in government.

'Governor, thank you. Were glad you could join us. And I know how busy the governors are nowadays, and theyre out there fighting,' Trump said. 'Its never easy. Budgets are a little tight, but were doing a job, all of us are doing a job, working together.'

Trump also teased a Coast Guard meter maid who gave tickets to his fellow cadets and booted their cars in his address on Tuesday. Trump had the cadet, Bruce Kim, stand so he could absolve him

TRUMP'S PEP TALK TO CADETS Its amazing to think of the adventures that are about to begin for you. Across the country this month, millions of other students are graduating high school, college. Many others are wondering, just what am I going to do. They're saying to themselves, what are they going to do. You know what you're going to do. Many, many students are graduating from college right now. They're saying, what am I going to do? Where am I going to go to work? You know it. You picked a good one, by the way. You picked a beautiful one, a good one, and we're really proud to have you, I can tell you. (Applause.) Years from now, some of them may look back and ask themselves whether theyve made the right choice, whether theyve made the most of the opportunities theyve been given. In the Coast Guard, you will face many challenges and many threats, but one thing you will never have to face is that question of what will I do. When you look back, you wont doubt. You know exactly how you spent your time -- saving lives. I look at your admirals, I look at General Kelly, I look at some of the great people in service, and I want to tell you, they're excited about life. They love what they do. They love the country. They love protecting our country, and they love what they do. Is that right? Good. I didn't think anyone was going to say no. (Laughter.) That would have ruined our speech, right? (Laughter.) They're great people. You always know just what youll be: the leaders and officers of the United States Coast Guard. (Applause.) And when they see your uniform, everyone in the world will know exactly what that means. What standard -- and really if you think of it, when you talk about the great sailors, and the great sailors of the world, we have them. But what stranded sailor doesnt feel relief when those red racing stripes break the horizon? What drifting soul at sea, with only a short time left to live, doesnt rejoice at the sound of those chopper blades overhead, coming back and coming down to rescue them from death? What poison-peddling drug runner, the scourge of our country, doesnt tremble with fear when the might of the Coast Guard comes bearing down on them? In each case, we know the reason --America's lifesaving service is on the way. The Coast Guard is truly vital to the United States Armed Forces and truly vital to our great country. (Applause.) Advertisement

Of the graduating class, Trump said they 'deserve not only the congratulations but the gratitude of each and every American, and we all salute you. A proud nation...Good job.'

Trump told them later in his speech, 'In the Coast Guard, you don't run from danger, you chase it. And you are deployed in support of operations in theaters of conflict all around the world.'

He commended the Coast Guard cadets as the embodiment of the motto he applied to his business and now, the government.

'You accomplished the objectives, and you did it with skill and with pride -- and, Id like to say, under budget and ahead of schedule. Were doing a lot of that now in the United States government,' he said to applause. 'Were doing a lot of that.'

Trump took the opportunity to give himself a pat back. 'I wont talk about how much I saved you on the F-35 fighter jet,' he said. 'I wont even talk about it.

'Or how much were about to save you on the Gerald Ford, the aircraft carrier. That had a little bit of an overrun problem before I got here, you know that...But were going to save some good money.

'And when we build the new aircraft carriers theyre going to be built under budget and ahead of schedule, just remember that,' he promised. 'That will allow us to build more.'

The president also teased a Coast Guard meter maid who gave tickets to his fellow cadets and booted their cars in his address.

Noting that there had been 'slip ups' in their ranks, Trump said, 'Ahh, Bruce how do you do this to yourself, Bruce?'

'Bruce, what's going on with you,' he said, razzing the graduate, who he identified as First Class Cadet Bruce Kim.

Trump told the graduating class that they would have a 'clean slate in life' moving forward - 'that includes Bruce, right?' he added.

In keeping with a graduation tradition, Trump absolved the cadets for minor offenses.

'They saved you, Bruce, because they all wanted me to do that,' Trump said, telling the young man to stand. 'Thank you, Bruce. Congratulations, Bruce. Good job.'

'By the way, Bruce, don't worry about it. That's the tradition,' Trump said. 'I was forced to do that. You know that. Don't worry!'
A female churchgoer claims she was sexually assaulted by a former parish priest - and when she complained to the church was told 'what man wouldn't want a piece of a** every now and then?'

Dorothy Small, filed a lawsuit against Rev. Renerio Sabuga Jr., the Sacramento Catholic Diocese, and Holy Rosary priest Jonathan Molina, on Monday over the alleged assault and the church's handling of it, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Her suit describes how Sabuga - known as Father Jong - became a close confidante after he joined Woodland's Holy Rosary Catholic Church, California, in April 2014.

The 62-year-old said the priest began by inviting her along for bicycle rides and for dinner, but the relationship changed and he began pursuing her romantically, according to her lawsuit.

The situation escalated until February 17, 2015, when she claims the priest 'cornered (Small) in her bedroom and sexually assaulted' her.

Dorothy Small filed a lawsuit against Rev. Renerio Sabuga Jr., (pictured together) claiming he sexually assaulted her

Her lawsuit, filed Monday in Sacramento Superior Court, also alleges that her complaints were then routinely ignored by church officials.

When she told another priest about the alleged sexual assault, her lawsuit alleges that he responded: 'What man wouldn't want a piece of a** every now and then?'

Sabuga, 46, has since been fired from the church and returned to his native Philippines.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento argues that it took Smalls concerns 'seriously and directly addressed' them, and points to the fact that Sabuga was suspended and later sacked over his 'inappropriate relationship' with Small.

However, the Diocese only ever refers to Sabuga being disciplined for breaking vows by engaging in a relationship with a woman, and not the alleged sexual assault.

Kevin Eckery, of the Diocese, said they offered the parishioner 30 sessions of counseling and they made a public announcement at Woodland's and another parish where Sabuga served, asking for anyone else who had complaints about the priest to come forward. The church received no further reports of inappropriate behavior.

'In 2014, Fr. Jong received a written warning and was briefly suspended for what we understood to be an inappropriate relationship with an adult woman,' Eckery wrote. 'In 2016, we received information that the relationship in question had resumed. As a result... Jong was terminated, his visa was revoked and he returned to his native diocese in the Philippines.'

She is also suing the diocese over claims officials at Woodland's Holy Rosary Catholic Church, California, (pictured) handled her complaint poorly

Molina, who is accused in the lawsuit of not reporting Small's concerns to the Sacramento diocese, did not respond to a telephone message at the Woodland church.

But Small argues in her lawsuit that church officials did little to intervene in Sabuga's 'continuous sexual harassment' aside from the week-long suspension and the warning to stay away from her house.

She even once called police in 2014 after becoming alarmed that the priest had invited himself over to her house and was worried 'due to past sexual advances,' according to an incident report.

But the 62-year-old claimed that Sabuga had not seemed worried about his behavior, even after the suspension, joking about the so-called '11th commandment' at the church: 'Thou shalt not get caught.'

Small admits she was attracted to the priest, exchanging frequent texts with him and even once kissing him, but says she always told Sabuga they couldn't have a relationship.

She also claims he used his position as her 'secular counselor' to groom her as a potential sexual partner.

Small did not report the alleged February 2015 sexual assault to police, but raised the issue with church officials.

Sabuga, who ordained in 2000 in the Archdiocese of Cayagan de Oro in the Philippines, was transferred from Woodland's to another local church, St. Clare Catholic Church in Roseville in July 2016.

Small said at that point she reported her concerns to the diocese because she feared he could target women at that church.

Sabuga, who was fired a month later, is currently listed as a parish priest in the Philippines.

He could not be reached for comment.

Small filed the suit after she claims the church stopped her from singing in the church choir and cut off her counseling sessions.

She claims Molina refused to allow her to lead the choir, asking her if Sabuga could come back when she asked about returning, after a short break.

The suit asks the diocese to continue to fund her counseling sessions.
Dog meat will be banned at an annual Chinese festival after activists campaigned to stop millions of animals being stolen and bludgeoned to death each year.

The government is set to prohibit restaurants, street vendors and market traders from selling dog meat at the barbaric Yulin festival.

It is believed the ban will come into effect on June 15 - one week before the festival begins - and strictly enforced by fines of up to 100,000 yuan and risk of arrest.

Millions of helpless cats will still be transported to the festival to be brutally slaughtered in front of each other and sold for their meat, alongside other types of meat.

Dog meat will be banned at an annual Chinese festival after activists campaigned to stop millions of animals being stolen and bludgeoned to death each year

The government is set to prohibit restaurants, street vendors and market traders from selling dog meat at Yulin's Dongkou market

More than 10million dogs and around four million cats are killed every year across China for their meat

Millions of cats will still be transported to the festival to be brutally slaughtered in front of each other and sold for their meat, alongside other types of meat

Animal campaigners Duo Duo Animal Welfare Project and Humane Society International (HSI) received reports of a ban from Chinese activists, which were confirmed by three traders at the market.

The news is warmly - if cautiously - welcomed by Duo Duo, HSI and their respective Chinese animal group partners on the ground, all of whom have campaigned for years for an end to the brutality of Yulin and China's year-round dog meat trade.

More than 10million dogs and around four million cats are killed every year across China for their meat.

Contrary to popular belief, the Yulin festival is not a traditional event but one invented in 2010 by dog meat traders to boost flagging sales.

One horrifying image shows a woman on a moped transporting 10 slaughtered dogs to the market to sell them

It is believed the ban will come into effect on June 15 - one week before the festival begins - and strictly enforced by fines of up to 100,000 yuan and risk of arrest

The terrified animals werr kept in their thousands in tiny dirty cages in the back of a truck heading to the market. Chinese activists saved these 202 dogs from butchers knives after intercepting the truck

Caged dogs sit on the side of the road waiting to be transferred to a slaughterhouse in a narrow alley

At its height an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 dogs were killed at Yulin, reduced to 2,000 to 3,000 in recent years.

Most of the dogs are stolen pets and strays grabbed from the streets still wearing their collars when they reach the slaughterhouse where they are typically beaten to death.

Most people in China don't eat dogs, and pet owners and dog thieves have had numerous violent clashes.

The dog meat trade also poses a threat to public health, with the World Health Organisation warning that the trade spreads rabies and increases the risk of cholera.

Campaigners recognise that the ban is temporary and does not yet signal an end to the Yulin event in advance of which dogs are still likely to be killed.

A slaughterhouse worker speckled with blood is shown after killing dozens of helpless dogs

Most of the dogs are stolen pets and strays grabbed from the streets still wearing their collars when they reach the slaughterhouse where they are typically beaten to death

Most people in China don't eat dogs, and pet owners and dog thieves have had numerous violent clashes

It is still a milestone victory in the ongoing campaign to end mass dog and cat slaughter at Yulin, and is evidence of growing political will from inside China to clamp down on the trade.

Andrea Gung, executive director of Duo Duo Animal Welfare Project, says: 'Even if this is a temporary ban, we hope this will have a domino effect, leading to the collapse of the dog meat trade.

'I have visited Yulin many times in the last two years. This ban is consistent with my experience that Yulin and the rest of the country are changing for the better. I am very impressed that the younger generation in Yulin and in China is as compassionate as their counterparts in the rest of world.

'Duo Duo Project also wants to congratulate Mr Mo Gong Ming, Yulin's new Party Secretary, for his progressive and visionary leadership. I hope this will turn out to be the beginning of the end of the dog eating habit in China.'

Pictured, a Chinese activists gives water to a caged dog held in a cage in a truck. Activicts rescued 400 dogs from the truck bound for the meat trade on June 29, 2015. This was the first rescue coordinated by Humane Society Internationalis China Animal Rescue Command Center launched after Yulin dog meat festival

The dog meat trade also poses a threat to public health, with the World Health Organisation warning that the trade spreads rabies and increases the risk of cholera

Campaigners recognise that the ban is temporary and does not yet signal an end to the Yulin event in advance of which dogs are still likely to be killed

It is still a milestone victory in the ongoing campaign to end mass dog and cat slaughter at Yulin, and is evidence of growing political will from inside China to clamp down on the trade

Peter Li, China Policy specialist at Humane Society International, says: 'The Yulin dog meat festival is not over just yet, but if this news is true as we hope, it is a really big nail in the coffin for a gruesome event that has come to symbolise China's crime-fuelled dog meat trade.

'Millions of dogs and cats are stolen each year, including pets, and driven thousands of miles across China to be bludgeoned to death in front of each other. As opposition to this trade has grown within China and across the world, much focus has been placed on the Yulin festival and so it is significant politically that the authorities are taking the outrage to curb this cruelty seriously.

'At last year's Yulin festival there were roadblocks set up to deter dog trucks coming in, and now this ban signals further progress.

'Regrettably, many dogs and cats will still be killed for the Yulin festival in advance of the ban, so their suffering is not over yet, but this is certainly a milestone victory and we commend the Yulin authorities for taking this action.'

Actress Carrie Fisher joins MPs and campaigners to hand in 11 million signature petition at China's London Embassy last year, to end Chinais Yulin dog meat festival

Wang Liqun, an annimal rights advocate, poses with the petition letter to the representative office of Yulin city government in Beijing June 10, 2016

Actress Carrie Fisher, Made In Chelsea's Lucy Watson, singer Sandi Thom, actress Jenny Seagrove, TV vet Marc Abraham and TV dog trainer Victoria Stilwell all joined in the petition to stop the horrific slaughter of helpless dogs

A massive rally in Dalian organized by the city government drew more than 100,000 people representing 1300 groups to protest the barbaric festival

Animal rights advocates gather before staging a protest outside the representative office of Yulin city government in Beijing in June 2016

Duo Duo and HSI are urging Yulin authorities to make the ban permanent, make public service announcements warning against transporting dogs for the dog meat trade that highlight the new associated penalties, enforce food safety laws and regulations and build a government facility to house dogs confiscated from the dog meat trade.

Last year, a petition with 11million signatures was handed in to the Yulin government in Beijing on behalf of Humane Society International, Duo Duo Animal Welfare Project, RaiseUrPaw, Care2 and Avaaz.

The late Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher and her dog Gary gathered with the campaigners outside the Chinese Embassy in London to send the petition on its way.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Fisher said 'There is so much animal suffering in the world, and much of it you feel helpless to end.

'But stopping the Yulin dog meat festival and ending all that suffering is easy. All the Chinese authorities need to do is declare it shut down, and the killing stops.

'These poor dogs need us to fight for them. Every single one of them is as precious as my dear Gary, every one of them is someone's best friend.'

There is a tireless campaign in China to end the dog meat trade, with Chinese animal activists staging protests and dog rescues all year round.
Emily Thornberry was forced to scramble for her notes during a live TV grilling on Labour's tax plans as she became the latest front bencher embarrassed over numbers.

The shadow foreign secretary was unable to answer specific questions on Labour's tax plans just hours after Jeremy Corbyn unveiled his manifesto.

Ms Thornberry was flustered by Kay Burley's questions on Sky News and dived out of shot to lay her hands on the notes.

Emily Thornberry was forced to scramble for her notes during a live TV grilling on Labour's tax plans (pictured)

The shadow foreign secretary dived out of shot when she was unable to answer specific questions on Labour's tax plans just hours after Jeremy Corbyn unveiled his manifesto

Ms Thornberry was flustered by Kay Burley's questions on Sky News and grabbed Labour's briefing note on the costings in the manifesto

Asked how much the party wanted to raise from a tax hike on those earning more than 80,000, she said: 'Oh. I've got a sheet, can I get my sheet?

'Let me just go through it. We've got income tax rises for the top 5 per cent and that will raise 6.4billion.'

During yesterday's interview, Burley warned Ms Thornberry that economists did not think the plans would raise anything like that much money - leaving a huge black hole in Labour's plans.

But Ms Thornberry insisted: 'These things are always open to a certain amount of argy-bargy, there's always a certain amount of disagreement about whether you're going to be able to raise as much as you think you will.'

Fumbling over numbers has dominated Labour's campaign for the general election.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott paused and stumbled repeatedly through awkward exchanges with LBC's Nick Ferrari when challenged over police policy.

After reading from her notes, Ms Thornberry was able to tell viewers Labour proposed 'income tax rises for the top 5 per cent and that will raise 6.4billion'

Burley warned Ms Thornberry that economists did not think the plans would raise anything like that much money - leaving a huge black hole in Labour's plans

She said: 'Well, if we recruit the 10,000 police men and women over a four-year period, we believe it will be about 300,000.'

Ferrari replied: '300,000 for 10,000 police officers? How much are you paying them?'

Ms Abbott replied: 'No, I mean, sorry, they will cost, it will cost about, about 80 million.'

'About 80 million? How do you get to that figure?' he said.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell was unable to tell yesterday's Today programme what the deficit was without looking it up.

Rustling could be heard over the radio as he scrambled for an answer and he was accused of searching Google after coming up with a figure that was wrong but which matched Wikipedia.
A bristling Sen. John McCain says he wasn't just thinking about the scandal that brought down President Nixon when he invoked Watergate to describe what President Trump was facing Tuesday  noting that he also brought up other scandals.

'I was thinking about scandals,' McCain said, asked by DailyMail.com why he brought up Watergate, after a bombshell report that Trump had met with FBI Director James Comey and asked him to let go of an investigation into axed security advisor Mike Flynn.

'And I know the "Watergate,"' McCain said with emphasis. 'But I also  you forgot to report that I said also other scandals including Iran-Contra but you grabbed ahold of Watergate and all of a sudden went to general quarters,' he said, in a reference to how his Watergate comment exploded across the media.

'I was talking about the treatment of scandals and issues over the years that I have observed. And I place just as much emphasis on Iran-Contra,' McCain explained. 'We all know we got serious issues before us.'

Sen John McCain has said that Trump's various scandals have reached 'Watergate size and scale'

Iran-Contra was yet another major scandal that tested the separation of powers. Reagan's National Security Council had secretly traded arms to bitter foe Iran and used funds to arm the Nicaraguan Contras in an effort to free American hostages, in contravention of a federal amendment barring support.

McCain hailed the way Reagan handled the situation after it was exposed.

'And I was talking about the fact that Ronald Reagan handled Iran=Contra by getting out all of the information as quickly as possible and telling the American people about it and moving on. And it never hurt his reputation,' McCain said.

Under pressure, Reagan created a commission headed by retired Texas Senator John Tower to probe the issue.

Reports on Tuesday claimed Trump told former FBI Director James Comey to drop an investigation into Mike Flynn during a meeting on February 14. Pictured, Trump and Comey converse on January 22

McCain added: 'I said weeks ago this is a centipede with more shoes to drop.'

A longtime Russia hawk, he favors an independent commission on similar lines that would probe allegations of Russian interference in the presidential election.

At the same time, McCain is resisting calls for a special prosecutor, a type of inquiry he believes has had mixed records in the past.

McCain's comments came on a day when the Senate Intelligence asked the FBI to turn over memos that axed director James Comey made after meetings with Trump.

The New York Times reported that Trump asked Comey to dial back an FBI investigation of former national security advisor Mike Flynn.

'I hope you can let this go,' Trump allegedly told Comey, according to the Comey memo of a February meeting.

Trump fired Comey last week, and acknowledged in an interview with NBC that the FBI's investigation of alleged Russian election interference was on his mind when he did it.

AT WIT'S END: Senator John McCain covers his face when asked about his Watergate comment as he talks with reporters in the US Capitol in Washington, on 17 May 2017. On 15 May the Washington Post reported that President Trump boastfully revealed highly-classified information to Russian diplomats in the Oval Office the week before

GET ME TO AN UNDERGROUND GARAGE: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) speaks to reporters about recent revelations of President Donald Trump sharing classified information with Russian Officials on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S. May 16, 2017

McCain opened up about the scandals during a dinner where he was receiving the International Republican Institute's Freedom Award.

Following reports that President Donald Trump attempted to dissuade former FBI Director James Comey from investigating National Security Adviser Mike Flynn, several political figures have said that Trump could be edging toward impeachment.

Intelligence Committee member Sen Angus King said on CNN that Trump could be close to the 'impeachment process', while Sen John McCain has said that Trump's various scandals have reached 'Watergate size and scale'.

'Obstruction of justice is such a serious offense,' King said. 'And I say it with sadness, and reluctance. This is not something I've advocated for, the word has not passed my lips in this whole tumultuous, three or four months.

'But if indeed, the president tried to tell the director of the FBI, who worked for him, that he should drop an investigation - whether it was Michael Flynn or whether it was some investigation that had nothing to do with Russia or politics or the election - that's a very serious matter.'

Senator Angus King commented on CNN that Trump could be closer to the 'impeachment process' if he was found to be obstructing justice

'I think we've seen this movie before. I think it appears at a point where it's of Watergate size and scale,' he told Bob Schieffer, the former host of CBS' Face the Nation. 'The shoes continue to drop, and every couple days there's a new aspect.'

McCain told Schieffer that the advice he would give to Trump would be 'the same thing that you advised Richard Nixon, which he didn't do get it all out'.

'It's not going to be over until every aspect of it is thoroughly examined and the American people make a judgment. And the longer you delay, the longer it's going to last,' he added, according to The Daily Beast's Tim Mak.

The senator also criticized the Trump administration for inviting Russian leaders to the White House.

'I've known this guy [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov for 30 years, he's an old KGB apparatchik stooge, and Putin is a murderer and a thug,' McCain said. 'And to have Lavrov in the Oval Office and be friendly with the guy whose boss sent aircraft with precision weapons to attack hospitals in Aleppo, I just think it's unacceptable.'

'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go,' Trump allegedly said, according to a memo written by Comey

Sen Richard Blumenthal also denounced Trump's alleged comments to Comey.

'We are witnessing an obstruction of justice case unfolding in real time. I am stunned that any of my colleagues would possibly oppose the appointment of an independent special prosecutor after this astonishing revelation and other mounting evidence of political interference in a criminal investigation,' Blumenthal said in a statement.

'All of the evidence  including transcripts, tapes, memos, and other documents  must be subpoenaed immediately.

'All of the relevant actors  including Jim Comey, Jeff Sessions, Rod Rosenstein, and Don McGahn  should be called to testify under oath in public before the Senate Judiciary Committee. There can be no delay.'

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Trump allegedly asked James Comey to close a federal investigation into Mike Flynn during a February 14 meeting in the Oval Office.

'I hope you can let this go,' Trump told Comey, according to a memo written by the then-FBI director.

'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,' Trump reportedly added. 'He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.'

Comey's notes were read to the Times reporter by one of his associates. Comey reportedly wrote the memo immediately after he met with Trump, as part of an effort to document situations in which the president sought to interfere in the FBI's operations.

Comey has been known to keep detailed notes about conversations that might be called into question later.

In another bizarre portion of the memo, Trump complained that classified government information had been repeatedly leaked to the news media and urged Comey to consider jailing reporters who were involved.

The White House quickly responded to the Times story, claiming in a statement that 'the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.'

Despite the White House's denials, the Times described 'the existence of Mr. Trump's request' for an investigative slowdown as 'the clearest evidence that the president has tried to directly influence the Justice Department and F.B.I. investigation into links between Mr. Trump's associates and Russia.'

After the New York Times piece was published, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement: 'If these reports are true, the President's brazen attempt to shut down the FBI's investigation of Michael Flynn is an assault on the rule of law that is fundamental to our democracy.'

'At best, President Trump has committed a grave abuse of executive power. At worst, he has obstructed justice.'

Intelligence Committee member Rep. Adam Schiff told reporters that the committee should subpoena any notes Comey took about the meeting and have him testify before Congress.

'I think we know enough now, and there has been enough alleged publicly, to want to bring the director back to testify, ideally in open session either before our committee or the Judiciary Committee,' Schiff said.

'If true, this is yet another disturbing allegation that the president may have engaged in some interference or obstruction of the investigation.

House Oversight Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz also spoke out about the allegations, adding that he had his 'subpoena pen ready'

'[Comey] should come back to the Congress and share what he knows in terms of the president's conversations with him on any of the Russian investigation.'

House Oversight Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz also spoke out, writing an opinionated tweet about the allegations.

'[The committee] is going to get the Comey memo,' if it exists, he said.

'I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.'

Criminally speaking, obstructing justice applies to a variety of scenarios - like threatening a juror, retaliating against a witness, or impeding a grand jury proceeding - and Trump's alleged request would not fit neatly into any of them, legal experts said.

'No one would write a federal statute with this situation in mind because it's such an extraordinary situation,' said Jens David Ohlin, a dean at Cornell University Law School.

Intelligence Committee member Rep. Adam Schiff told reporters that the committee should subpoena any notes Comey took about the meeting and have him testify before Congress

Meddling in a federal investigation could qualify as impeding a judicial proceeding under the obstruction statute.

But to bring an obstruction charge, a prosecutor would have to show the president was trying to 'corruptly' influence the investigation, and proving an improper intent can be hard.

Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, said Trump would have some lines of defense.

'The president can claim he was raising an issue of concern for a longtime associate,' Turley said. 'That doesn't mean that the question was not wildly improper, and frankly, would border on the moronic.'
Pavel Tveretinov, 51, was arrested in Fresno, California, on April 28 on suspicion of possessing stolen property

A bee rustler has been arrested for stealing nearly $1million worth of hives from almond orchards across California.

Pavel Tveretinov was arrested after authorities discovered thousands of stolen crates containing the insects on a lot in Fresno, California.

They had been taken gradually from farmers all over the state over the past three years.

The hives belonged to beekeepers in Missouri, Montana and North Dakota but were shipped to California on loan to farmers eager to keep up with the state's demand for almond based products.

Slowly, they began going missing overnight in 2014.

By the time police discovered them on 51-year-old Tveretinov's land in Fresno in May, he had already painted over their old labels.

In total, 2,500 hives and equipment worth $875,000 were found on his land, they said.

He was arrested on April 28 and charged with possessing stolen property. He was released on $10,000 bail

Authorities had been led there by an anonymous tip from an insider who described the lot as a 'chop shop' of stolen hives because of the sheer volume and variety he had managed to acquire.

Demand for bee hives has soared in recent years due to the growing popularity of almonds among health-conscious Americans.

Typically, almond growers rent hives from beekeepers for five weeks at a time to once their almond trees have blossomed. The bees pollinate the flowers and the flowers then turn to nuts for them to sell.

Authorities found a 'chop shop' of stolen hives in their boxes on his lot of land (above)

The hives were stolen from almond farms around California while they were on loan from beekeepers in Missouri, Montana and North Dakota

Experts say the suspect had attempted to paint over the boxes containing the bees to avert suspicion

'Bees are big money. There's a lot of motive to steal,' Sgt. Arley Terrence of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office agriculture crimes unit said Tuesday.

According to police, Tveretinov, who is from Sacramento, ers as they fly from tree to tree. The blossoms then turn into nuts.

Investigators say that Tveretinov stole the bees while they were dormant in the dead of the night.

One of the single largest thefts was in January when more than 700 vanished from two orchards north of Sacramento.

Police were eventually led to the lot by a beekeeper who came across it when researching a place to store their hives.

During a visit to Tveretinov's lot, they discovered hive boxes that had belonged to a colleague in Missouri who had previously reported having them stolen.

Beekeepers customize their boxes to make them unique, imprinting identification numbers and painting them different colors with their logos.

By the time police recovered the stolen boxes, the original owners said they were in a 'horrible' condition

Investigators showed up at the lot and found Tveretinov at work amid a field of mismatched hive boxes.

Almond farmer Ryan Cosyns was consulted on the case. He said it was obvious Tveretinov had tried to paint over the boxes with his own brand and that he tried to grind away their identification numbers.

'The average person isn't going to be able to look at a box and realize it was stolen,' Cosyns said.

'Or they're renting at a price where nobody is asking any questions.'

Victims said the stolen hives had deteriorated under Tveretinovs' care.

'We didn't get everything back. The beehives are in horrible condition,' one said.
A married British Army officer emailed a junior colleague comparing her to an actress in Shakespeare in Love two days after he allegedly raped her, a trans-Atlantic court martial heard.

Lt Col Benedict Tomkins allegedly messaged the woman saying one of the actresses in the Oscar-winning film, which stars Gwyneth Paltrow, had the same stunning polychromatic eyes as you.

In other emails he repeatedly tried to meet up with her again and told her she was something special, the court heard.

British Army officer Lt Col Benedict Tomkins is accused of raping a junior officer and faces a court martial at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland

Tomkins, who has commanded hundreds of British troops in Afghanistan, denies raping the woman after a drink-fuelled United Nations conference.

He says they had consensual sex that was fairly animal.

The case is being heard at Andrews Air Force base outside Washington. The court martial - with a British judge and British soldiers acting as a jury - is the first to be held on both sides of the Atlantic in a move that allows witnesses to give evidence in the US before the court resumes in the UK next week.

The alleged rape happened on the night of January 7 2015 after a dinner and show during a conference in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, when the woman invited Tomkins to her room to work on a presentation.

The next day Tomkins, 49, sent her an email to the woman, a major in the US Air Force, saying she had a lovely mind and that she was charming.

On January 9 he said that writing the presentation with her had reminded him of the scene in Shakespeare in Love when William Shakespeare uses a womans back as a desk.

Tomkins talked about the loveliness of your eyes and said that the film was a bit of a dark drama but worth a watch if you are alone one evening.

The court heard that Tomkins, of the 1st Battalion, the Rifles Regiment, signed off one of his emails: Regards (how formal) Ben.

In other messages Tomkins tried to arrange to meet her in Nairobi, Kenya, but the woman had a posting to Mali that meant it would not be possible.

The court martial heard Tomkins sent the woman an email two days after the alleged rape comparing her eyes to those of an actress in Shakespeare in Love, pictured

On January 12 he wrote of not wanting to get my hopes up and get them cruelly and hopelessly dashed by your diary.

He also asked if she had seen a TV interview given by the actress Nicole Kidman.

A follow up message he sent her had the subject: Mali or me? He also compared her to a submarine because she would come up to the surface, make signals and then go back underwater for a long period.

Giving evidence in court from behind a screen, the woman told the court that she had no desire to see Tomkins after the alleged attack.

But the messages kept coming and in one email he said he wanted to apologise if I was inappropriate during the alleged rape. He said that if I said something insensitive then Im sorry.

Tomkins wrote: This is not something I habitually do. I thought you were something special.

Asked about that email the woman said: I knew what happened was wrong and it was rape and it sounded like he was trying to back out of it and cover for it

The emails continued until mid February when the woman sought medical help for her problems. After that she set up a filter to send his emails to her spam folder and deleted them all.

Peter Glenser, defending, read out parts of the womans trauma account which she wrote during therapy sessions.

She wrote about Tomkins topping up her drink and that she was too drunk to see straight or to function.

Britains most senior military judge, Advocate General Jeff Blackett, pictured, is presiding over the case

Mr Glenser that this account contradicted her own testimony that she was sober enough to invite Col Tomkins to her room to finish a presentation they were working on.

Mr Glenser said: Do you think that you exaggerated the degree of your drunkenness to push the responsibility for what happened away from yourself?

The woman replied: No sir.

Mr Glenser asked her: You were sober enough to collaborate with a senior British officer on the presentation but too drunk to consent to sex. Is that what it comes to?

The woman said: And sober enough to push him away.

Mr Glenser said that Tomkins account of that night was after he entered led her hotel room the woman said she was hot and sweaty and that in response he made a comment about working naked if you want to.

The woman said that she did not recall this happening.

In her evidence woman said that she only stayed in touch with Tomkins because the worked in a similar field in the military.

She said that cared about my mission and my job more than anything and felt she would damage her career if she spoke out against a powerful man.

The woman said: I was very disturbed by what happened but I was facing a more senior ranking officer and somebody who knew the chain of command better than myself.

The trial continues.
A 20-year-old Georgia man who killed two teenagers execution-style behind a grocery store last year has been sentenced to a life without parole after pleading guilty but mentally ill.

Jeffrey Hazelwood learned his fate on Wednesday, two weeks after a clinical psychologist cleared him to stand trial in the double murder case.

At the time of his arrest last August, Hazelwood was charged with more than a dozen criminal counts, including malice and felony murder, aggravated assault, sexual battery and kidnapping in the deaths of Carter Davis and Natalie Henderson, both aged 17.

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Plea deal: Jeffrey Hazelwood (center), 20, appeared in a Georgia courtroom on Wednesday and was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the killings of two teenagers

Hazelwood pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the execution-style shooting of Carter Davis (left) and Natalie Henderson (right), both aged 17, which occurred last August

Crime scene: Henderson and Davis's bodies were found laid out in one of these parking spaces behind a Publix store in Roswell, Georgia

Both victims were found dead from gunshot wounds to the head behind a Publix supermarket in Roswell on August 1, 2016.

A medical examiner's report said Henderson was found naked in a 'sexually suggestive position', with her legs spread wide, while Davis was wearing only shorts with his arms outstretched on each side in the shape of a cross.

Hazelwood, who appeared gaunt and disheveled after his arrest last year, was led into Judge Shawn LaGruas courtroom Wednesday sporting a gray suit and a short haircut.

He remained silent for most of the hearing, only saying, 'Yes, ma'am,' several times in response to prosecutors' questions, including whether he understood the charges against him, reported CBS46.

Before Hazelwoods sentence was announced, the court heard victim impact statements from Davis and Hendersons loved ones.

Hazelwood appeared gaunt and disheveled after his arrest last year (left). On Wednesday, he was led into a courtroom sporting a gray suit and a short haircut (right)

Shell never get a chance to change the world for the better, Natalies mother, Susan Henderson, said, according to a WSB-TV report.

Michelle Davis, Carter's mother, spoke about the lasting impact of not having her son's 'smile or his giant hugs or spirit of adventure' in her life.

Henderson was preparing for her senior year at Roswell High School when she was killed.

Davis had lived in Rapid City, South Dakota, during part of his high school years before moving to Georgia. He was about to start his senior year at River Ridge High School.

According to a preliminary hearing held last summer, a police detective recounted how Hazelwood's car was spotted alone outside the Roswell Publix grocery store at around 3am on the morning of August 1.

Sex crime: Henderson, a rising high school senior, was found naked in a 'sexually suggestive position', with her legs spread wide

Some time later, cars belonging to Henderson and Davis pulled into the parking lot and went behind the store before stopping there.

Henderson and Davis then climbed into the backseat of her car, while Hazelwood, who was on the roof of the store, watched them from above.

Detective Jennifer Bennett told the court that Hazelwood spied on the couple 'for some time' before approaching her vehicle with a gun he had stolen from his grandfather's truck.

Hazelwood said he became scared of Davis, and so shot him in the head, police said, according to WTOC.

Cops say he then forced Henderson, who was partially clothed, to climb out of the car and remove the rest of her clothing.

He then forced the teen to bend over the hood of the car and spanked her, Bennett said, before shooting her once in the head.

Hazelwood also claimed to have sexually assaulted the teen, though an autopsy report showed no signs of genital trauma.

Unhinged: At his first court appearance, Hazelwood had been shaking uncontrollably, visibly twitching his head, and appeared to pet an invisible dog

Police said Hazelwood then removed jumper cables from Davis' vehicle and stole Henderson's debit card, before making his way to a nearby gas station.

Officers say they used social media to track down the killer, before honing in on the gas station when Hazelwood tried to use Henderson's card.

When they arrived, officers said they found Hazelwood pacing around shirtless, wearing a V for Vendetta mask similar to those worn by anti-capitalist protesters, and acting erratically.

Inside his vehicle they found a 9mm pistol along with a can of gas.

After being arrested, Hazelwood initially claimed he had been present during the killings and seen the bodies fall to the ground, but did not know who carried out the murders, police say.

He later changed his story, saying he had driven the killer to the scene, before admitting he was responsible for the deaths, according to investigators.

However, he also told detectives that somebody else made him kill the pair.

Closure: Before Hazelwoods sentence was announced, the court heard victim impact statements from Davis and Hendersons loved ones

During questioning police say Hazelwood continued acting unusually, switching to a British accent to answer difficult questions.

Bennett added that Hazelwood's grandparents, who he was living with at the time of the murders, were afraid of him and had ordered him to move out of their house by August.

They had previously reported Hazelwood to police for taking knives and guns from their safe and 'threatening to hurt people', records show, though he has no criminal history having never been convicted of a crime.

Police said Hazelwood did not know either Carter or Henderson directly, but knew one of Davis's friends.

At his first court appearance, Hazelwood had been shaking uncontrollably, visibly twitching his head, and appeared to pet an invisible dog while wearing a wedding band, despite the fact he's not married.

During a status hearing on May 3, the court heard from the defendant's current psychologist, Christian Hildreth, and his previous psychiatrist.

Hildreth has been treating Hazelwood at Central State Hospital for the past three months.

The mental health professional testified that when Hazelwood arrived at the hospital in February he was incoherent, reported hearing voices and had trouble forming sentences.

Hildreth said that with new medications, Hazelwood has been able to have conversations and appears to understand how the court proceedings in his case would work.
A baby galago showed off his ability to defy gravity while being filmed by her owner.

Monaka, who lives in Osaka, Japan, was filmed leaping into the air in a Matrix-esque jump while her owner filmed the impressive fear.

Footage shows the bright-eyed animal leaping into the air casually in slow motion, before disappearing out of frame.

Monaka the Galago has shown off her impressive jumping skills while being filmed by her owner in her home of Osaka, Japan

Monaka then reappears a few seconds later and carefully lands on her feet, before jumping off again.

The amazing video was published online by user Sugar Milky on to video sharing website Storyful.

Galagos, also known as bush babies, are nocturnal animals which are native to Africa.

Footage shows the young animal leaping into the air before disappearing out of frame for a few seconds

She then reappears and lands perfectly, before dashing out of frame and jumping off again

They are known for their ability to jump extraordinarily high, with the largest reported jump being 7.5ft.

A study by the Royal Society discovered that the small animals are able to six to nine times higher than a frog due to their strong leg muscles.

After they jump, they tuck their limbs into their chests before splaying them out shortly before landing to prevent themselves from being hurt.
Theres a new worry for schools and libraries already jittery about possible changes to the popular federal E-rate program.

But whats not clear is whether the issue signals a larger shift in priorities at the Federal Communications Commission, an ongoing problem with the E-rates cumbersome application process, or both.

In recent weeks, according to school-broadband advocates, more than 100 school districts have received letters questioning their plans to use federal E-rate funds to support construction of fiber-optic networks. The plans in some cases had already been approved. The new inquiries, however, have prompted more uncertainty on top of delays that have already lasted months. In some cases, there is concern over what the confusion might mean for the viability of hard-fought efforts bring high-speed internet to some of the countrys hardest-to-reach students.

Take, for example, the situation of Kimball Sekaquaptewa, a manager with AMERIND Critical Infrastructure, a tribally owned LLC that works with tribal governments, schools, and libraries to expand broadband access in American Indian communities. Sekaquaptewa spent 18 months organizing a consortium of tribal libraries serving four sovereign pueblo communities in New Mexico. Last spring, the group submitted an E-rate application that proposed to take advantage of both federal dollars and state matching funds to cover the costs of a new $4.2 million fiber network that would serve the tribal libraries.

In March, Sekaquaptewa said, she was notified the project had been approved, and the consortium received a funding commitment from USAC. The consortium immediately began moving forward on the projecta complicated endeavor that involves developing an engineering plan, gaining approval for rights-of-way to cross four tribal lands, and more.

Then, last month, the consortium received from USAC a six-page letter full of questions seeking additional information.

The inquiry has caused considerable uncertainly, including worries that USACs funding commitment could be in doubt.

Im confused as to why these questions are being asked at this time, Sekaquaptewa said in an interview.

The stakes are high: There is no way the four tribal libraries could afford the fiber construction project without the reimbursement that E-rate would provide. And if the project were to fall through, among those affected would be the people of Cochiti Pueblo (where Sekaquaptewa resides on reservation land about 22 miles southwest of Santa Fe, N.M.), which would remain stuck with a single old copper T1 line for its library and other public services.

The E-rate is a federal program that helps subsidize the cost of telecommunications services for public schools and libraries. The Universal Service Administrative Company, which sent out the letters received by Sekaquaptewa and others, administers the program.

In 2014, under previous chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat, the Federal Communication Commission overhauled the E-rate . The commission increased the programs annual spending cap from $2.4 billion to $3.9 billion dollars, prioritized broadband and Wi-Fi over older technologies, and enacted new rules intended to make it easier for rural schools and libraries to access affordable high-speed internet.

Some of those rules have to do with whats known as special fiber construction. Essentially, they were supposed to allow (mostly rural) schools and libraries to use E-rate funds to help pay for new fiber-optic networks to be built; to lease fiber networks themselves, rather than just paying for the information that flows across them; and to use federal funds to build their own fiber networks if they cant find a viable company to do it for them.

Read Reversing a Raw Deal,  Education Weeks multimedia look at efforts to expand broadband access to rural schools.

Evan Marwell was one of those who pushed for the new special-construction rules.

Now, the CEO of broadband-advocacy group EducationSuperHighway says hes worried that the new leadership of the FCC might be seeking to roll those rules back.

This is the most immediate thing were concerned about, Marwell said in an interview. This year, were going to see over 7,500 schools serving nearly 5 million kids take advantage of these provisions. When we have something thats working, why would we take it off course?

Similar concerns about the future of the E-rate program have popped up repeatedly since President Donald Trump appointed Ajit Pai , a Republican, to be FCC chair in January.

As a commissioner, Pai voted against the 2014 E-rate modernization orders. He wrote at the time that he supported the overall goals of the program, but worried that the changes would encourage wasteful spending and do little to help rural districts or improve the widely disliked E-rate application process.

One of Pais first moves as chair was to rescind an FCC staff report outlining the success of the E-rate modernization order. The move prompted an outcry from some K-12 and ed-tech groups, as well as key Democratic lawmakers. It also heightened concerns that Pai might be looking to move the E-rate program in a different direction.

Then, last month, Pai sent a scathing letter to USAC CEO Chris Henderson, demanding improvements in the E-rate application process. Henderson resigned two weeks later. While many in the ed-tech community worried about the timing, there is general agreement that the E-rate application process needs to be improved.

So, are the special-fiber-construction letters sent by USAC to districts a sign of changes at the new Republican-led FCC? Or are they more evidence of an E-rate application-and-approval process that Pai already knows is in need of dramatic upgrades?

Through a spokesman, the FCC declined to comment.

Tracy Weeks, the executive director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association, thinks its mostly the latter.

In a letter sent by SETDA to the FCC on April 28, Weeks raised serious concerns about USACs approach on the special-fiber-construction projects, noting that the new inquiries are coming incredibly late in the approval process. As a result, Weeks wrote, that could mean that schools are denied funds for applications that have already been green-lighted and that meet all rules currently on the books.

Like Marwell of EducationSuperHighway, Weeks said that any potential changes to the FCCs rules should at minimum not be applied to applications made in 2016, which would wreak havoc on plans that have been months or years in the making.

In an interview, however, Weeks said shes not sure the problem signals any larger policy shift.

Were focused on the concerns with the application process, she said. We want to make sure the chairman is aware this is a challenge.

The continued uncertainty is causing considerable anxiety for districts like the 1,800 student Socorro consolidated schools, in southern New Mexico.

The Socorro district has relatively robust and affordable internet access for the five schools in town. But its a different story for Socorros two outlying schools, which serve about 100 students each. The district pays through the nose to bring these buildings slow wireless-relay connections that become unreliable when its windy.

Last year, Socorro put out an request for proposals for companies who could provide fiber to the schools. The best option by far, said district IT director Jeffrey Tull, is for Socorro to work with its existing university partner and a private vendor to run new fiber lines, which Socorro would then own. Thats the plan that Socorro submitted last year to USAC, per the new E-rate special-fiber-construction rules.

Its been nothing but delays since.

The [2017] E-rate cycle just closed, and I still dont have an answer from last cycle, Tull said in an interview.

Unfortunately, were still in limbo.

Photo by Swikar Patel for Education Week.

See also:
This is the shocking moment a brawl breaks out between parents at a high school graduation ceremony - in a row over a seat.

The dramatic footage was captured by a stunned onlooker at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, just as students were marching in to receive their awards.

Cries of horror can be heard in the background as one woman gets knocked to the floor and repeatedly slapped during the foul-mouthed clash, which lasted nearly a minute.

Onlookers were shocked as parents fought over reserved seating at a high school graduation

People at the graduation said the brawl began over a saved seat in the auditorium

Graduation attendees captured the fight on video, as students made their way into the sanctuary at Bellevue Baptist Church, in Cordova, Tennessee for their graduation

Witnesses said violence broke out following a dispute about a chair which two families had both laid claim to.

The minute-long clip - filmed at around 7pm on Tuesday - shows a woman in a brown dress pushing an elderly man stood between her and the seat.

One of his female relatives tells the woman it is 'reserved' but she continues to shove him.

Other parents plead for calm, with one saying: 'Whoa, let him in. Stop.'

Several adults were brawling in a fist-throwing, hair-pulling, water-pouring, shoving fracas

In the video, women on opposite ends of a row start arguing with each other. Several men are between the groups of women

Then a woman in a black cardigan appears to throw water at the man before lunging at his family.

Another man wearing a purple shirt pushes her away and says: 'Back the f*** up!'

She grabs him by the hair and starts twisting it, then tries to hit him with a graduation program.

The middle-aged mother then throws another woman to the floor when she attempts to intervene and the first attacker pulls her hair and starts slapping her on the head when she gets up.

One woman grabbed another woman by the hair and throws haymakers to the woman's head. Several people tried to break up the fight

A woman was handcuffed and another woman was escorted out of Arlington High Schools graduation, after the fight broke out

Two men rush to her aid, pushing the women back and shouting: 'Get the f*** off her!'

Once separated, the scrap comes to an abrupt halt.

The man filming says: 'It's a graduation. It's a graduation. Lord forgive me, forgive me!'

A second video taken later shows the first attacker lying on the ground of the church foyer in handcuffs, surrounded by police officers.

One woman is handcuffed and sitting on the ground. Another woman, who was also involved in the fight, tells the officers shes not leaving the woman with them

Jeffrey Mayo, the chief of staff for Arlington Community Schools released the following statement: 'On Tuesday we celebrated 500 students who graduated from Arlington High School. This years class earned over $30,600,000 in college scholarships.

'It was unfortunate that a couple of adults in the audience exhibited the behavior they did prior to the ceremony beginning and thus has caused a distraction from the celebration of our students accomplishments. The graduation ceremony was not affected by this incident due to the actions of Bellevues security team who promptly removed the adults from the ceremony.

'It is our hope that the focus will shift to our students and their accomplishments instead of the poor decisions by adults in attendance. Congratulations to our 2017 graduates of Arlington High School.'
A prisoner who slit the throat of an inmate who had slashed Soham killer Ian Huntley's neck has been jailed for life.

Kevin McCarthy, 49, admitted trying to kill 41-year-old Damien Fowkes at HMP Whitemoor in March, Cambridgeshire.

Fowkes is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years for the attempted murder of Ian Huntley and the manslaughter of paedophile and child-killer Colin Hatch at a second jail.

Peter Gair, prosecuting, said McCarthy grabbed Fowkes from behind and slit his throat with a homemade blade as lunch was being prepared on October 2, 2016.

Kevin McCarthy, 49, (left) has been jailed for life after he tried to kill fellow inmate Damien Fowkes (left) at HMP Whitemoor

It was only 'luck' that Fowkes survived, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

Mr Gair said there was no clear motive for the attack, but some prisoners had complained about McCarthy not taking his turn to clean the kitchen earlier that morning.

It was the third time McCarthy had tried to murder a prisoner, Mr Gair said.

Judge David Farrell, sentencing on Wednesday, told McCarthy: 'This was a premeditated, planned attack with a weapon specifically built by you for the purpose and which was used to cut the throat of Mr Fowkes.

'It only failed to kill him because the cut wasn't deep enough.'

A prison officer who died of terminal cancer last week had separated the two men and disarmed McCarthy, Mr Gair said.

Judge Farrell paid tribute to the officer, Alexander Stewart, asking his family be told of his 'outstanding bravery and courage'.

McCarthy, who appeared by videolink, sipped from a mug during the hearing and showed no reaction as he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 18 years.

Damien Fowkes had previously attacked Soham killer Ian Huntley (pictured) at a prison in Durham in 2010

He was already serving time for attempted murder, and had convictions stretching back to 1990.

HMP Whitemoor houses 450 prisoners and around a third of them are serving life sentences, Mr Gair said.

The incident happened on a wing where 10 of the most 'difficult and disruptive' prisoners are housed.

A sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court in 2011 heard how Fowkes attacked Huntley in the healthcare unit at Frankland Prison, in Durham, in 2010, leaving him with a gaping wound.

It was Huntley's 'good fortune' that the 7in (18cm) wound Fowkes inflicted with a razor melted on to a piece of plastic cutlery missed vital parts of his anatomy.

Kevin McCarthy, 49, admitted the attempted murder of 41-year-old Damien Fowkes at HMP Whitemoor (pictured)

Fowkes was then transferred to Full Sutton Prison, near York, where he barricaded himself into a cell with Hatch as prison officers waited outside for fear he would kill his prisoner if they entered.

He killed Hatch anyway by strangling him with a ligature.

Huntley is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002.

Neil Guest, mitigating, said McCarthy admitted attempted murder at the earliest opportunity.
The White House side-stepped a barrel of questions Wednesday about a memo Donald Trump's former FBI director wrote that accuses the president of undue interference in the bureau's probe into Michael Flynn and a report that claimed the president shared classified information with the Russians.

Trump's spokesman told reporters over and over again that the president had been 'clear' in his statements rebutting the unflattering news stories and has nothing more to add.

'The president has been very clear that the account that was published is not an accurate description of how the event occurred. Im not going to give any other comment on that,' Sean Spicer said in response to one reporter's Comey question.

He offered similar versions of the line in response to nearly every question having to do with Comey, who has not publicly spoken, and the Russians.

The White House side-stepped a barrel of questions Wednesday about a memo Donald Trump's former FBI director wrote that accuses the president of undue interference in the bureau's probe into Michael Flynn and a report that claimed the president shared classified information with the Russians

Former FBI director James Comey accused President Donald Trump of asking him to close a federal investigation into disgraced general Mike Flynn during a February 14 meeting in the Oval Office.

'I hope you can let this go,' Trump told Comey, according to a copy of a memo read to a New York Times reporter.

Comey reportedly wrote the memo immediately after he met with Trump, as part of an effort to document situations in which the president sought to interfere in the FBI's operations.

The White House quickly fired back, claiming in a statement that 'the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.'

On Tuesday night, Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House oversight committee, fired off a letter to the acting FBI director Andrew McCabe requesting to see 'all memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings' between Comey and Trump by May 24.

Trump is meeting with McCabe today, the White House said, to interview formally for the FBI director position.

The Comey memo, which has not yet been produced in its entirety, came on the heels of a report that Trump shared classified information with two Russian diplomats during an Oval Office meeting last week.

A Washington Post article claimed Trump shared top secret intelligence provided by a foreign ally with Vladimir Putin's foreign minister and the Russian ambassador to the United States.

The Kremlin says that did not happen. Trump's national security advisor, also in attendance, says the conversation was 'wholly appropriate.'

Neither he nor Spicer would say whether Trump gave out classified information - only that it would be the president's prerogative if he did.

James Comey reportedly said in a memo that met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on February 14 and the president asked him to abandon a federal probe into disgraced former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn

President Trump (left) had fired Flynn (center) just one day earlier, after a series of leaks established that the retired general lied to the vice president about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States; They are pictured with White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus (right) outside transition meetings in Palm Beach, Florida on December 21

Donald Trump (left) jokes with disgraced general Mike Flynn (right) on October 18, 2016

Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Tuesday evening that he would be prepared to issue a subpoena to the IRS for Comey's memo

Spicer refused to address lingering questions on the matter during a Wednesday gaggle with reporters traveling on Air Force One after the president's Coast Guard commencement address.

Asked about Putin's claim that his government has a transcript of the conversation that could prove Trump's innocence and a related assumption that the Russians had recording devices on their person in the Oval Office, Spicer said he was 'not aware of anything on that.'

'I don't have any update on that. But I think we put out a statement very clearly about the President does not believe that is an accurate representation,' he said once again.

He would not say whether the White House would like the transcript to be made public.

'The Secretary of State, the National Security Advisor and the Deputy National Security Advisor have been very clear with their recollection of that meeting, with their account of that meeting,' he stated.

The charges against Trump have dominated the discourse in the days leading up to his first foreign trip. Trump has kept a low profile as he prepares for the high-wire act that will take him to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, Belgium and The Vatican.

Once this week, the president defended himself on Twitter. He went to battle with the media over the accusations in a speech Wednesday morning.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US President Donald Trump, and Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak (L-R) talking during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House

Spicer rebuffed a suggestion on the flight back from Connecticut that Trump was in hiding.

'I think that we put out a statement last night very clear what our position was. I think theres been a lot of questions that other people have -- that are out there talking about this or that in terms of what was appropriate with respect to some of the stuff that Director Comey did or did not do,' he said.

'But the White House has put out a statement very clearly with our account.'

The White House's Tuesday statement read: 'The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey.'

The White House also steered reporters toward McCabe's congressional testimony from last week.

'There has been no effort to impede our investigation to date,' McCabe told Florida Sen. Marco Rubio during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.

'Simply put, sir, you cannot stop the men and women of the FBI from doing the right thing, protecting the American people and upholding the constitution,' he added.

It remains unclear whether McCabe was referring to an investigation into the possible ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, which is separate from the investigation into Flynn.

Andrew McCabe, the acting FBI director who took over when Comey was fired, told a Senate panel last week that 'there has been no effort to impede our investigation to date'

Angus King (right), an independent Maine senator who caucuses with the Democratic minority, said on CNN that the Comey memo could form the basis for impeachment proceedings, 'because obstruction of justice is such a serious offense'

Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, tweeted on Tuesday: '@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.'

Hours later, he fired off the letter to McCabe.

Chaffetz cited the New York Times report, which stated: 'Mr. Comey created similar memos -- including some that are classified -- about every phone call and meeting he had with the president, the two people said.'

Chaffetz wrote: 'If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the President attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation as it relates to Lt. Gen. Flynn.

'So the Committee can consider that question, and others, provide, no latter than May 24, 2017, all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the President.'

An FBI agent's notes are often held up in court as credible evidence, according to the New York Times.

The existence of Comey's memo puts the former lawman on offense and the president on defense, with the White House denying that the president ever sought to influence an FBI investigation from the Oval Office

Only five days ago the president was warning Comey not to leak anything to the press, saying there might be 'tapes' of their conversations

Comey and Trump talked on February 14, according to the Times, one day after Flynn was forced out of his National Security Advisor position for lying about the nature of his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the US.

Comey recounted the meeting, claiming Trump said: 'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.'

'He is a good guy,' Comey remembered Trump saying, according to the Times. 'I hope you can let this go.'

An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the existence of any contemporaneous memo written by Comey following his February 14 meeting in the Oval Office.

But if the memo is genuine, it would represent a turnabout from Trump's warning to Comey last week about the potential existence of 'tapes' of their conversations.

Comey's friends immediately started leaking to reporters that the former top cop was 'not worried about any tapes' of talks between him and the president.

'If there is a tape, there's nothing he is worried about,' one Comey confidant told CNN.

DOES TRUMP RISK IMPEACHMENT FOR 'OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE'? As the president's Democratic critics in Congress continue their drumbeat of attacks against him  and their demands for a special prosecutor to probe his alleged Russia ties  the existence of Comey's memo could give them the weapon they have been waiting for. The U.S. Constitution reserves the process of presidential impeachment for cases in which the Oval Office occupant can be prosecuted in the Senate for 'high crimes and misdemeanors.' Obstruction of justice is a federal felony, and would qualify  as it did in the articles of impeachment drawn up against Richard Nixon, who later resigned. Liberal constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe wrote Saturday in a Washington Post op-ed that Trump obstructed justice first when he allegedly asked for a guarantee of loyalty, again when he threatened Comey with 'tapes' of their conversations, and a third time when he fired him a week ago. Tribe described Nixon's obstruction offenses as a 'forecast' of Trump's future actions: 'making misleading statements to, or withholding material evidence from, federal investigators or other federal employees; trying to interfere with FBI or congressional investigations; trying to break through the FBI's shield surrounding ongoing criminal investigations; dangling carrots in front of people who might otherwise pose trouble for one's hold on power.' The federal obstruction law defines the crime as an action by someone who 'corruptly or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, influences, obstructs, or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice.' As the Times story's first shockwaves spread over Washington on Tuesday, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked Maine Senator Angus King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, if Americans are 'getting closer and closer to the possibility of yet another impeachment process.' 'Reluctantly, Wolf, I have to say yes simply because obstruction of justice is such a serious offense,' King replied. Advertisement

Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN that the same demand Chaffetz outlined with respect to Comey's memo should apply to any recordings of their meetings that Trump might possess.

'We should give James Comey 72 hours to produce those memos, or the FBI 27 hours to produce the memos. If they aren't produced, they should be subpoenaed,' Castro said.

'By the same token, we should give the White House 72 hours to produce those tapes, if they exist. And if those aren't produced, then they should be subpoenaed.'

In another bizarre portion of Comey's memo, as it was read to a Times reporter, the president complained that classified government information had been repeatedly leaked to the news media and urged him to consider jailing the reporters involved.

That suggestion reportedly came at the top of the Trump-Comey meeting, just after the president had asked Vice President Mike Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to clear out of the Oval Office so the two men could speak privately

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that he was 'shaken' by news of Comey's memo, and warned: 'History is watching'

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said on the Senate floor shortly after the Times story broke that he was 'shaken' by the news.

Speaking in a somber tone, Schumer said: 'We are only one day removed from stunning allegations that the president may have divulged classified information to a known adversary.'

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Trump has either abused his power or committed felony obstruction of justice  or something in between

'Concerns about our national security, the rule of law, the independence of our nation's highest law enforcement agencies, are mounting. The country is being tested in unprecedented ways. I say to all of my colleagues in the Senate, history is watching,' Schumer said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi piled on, saying in a statement that '[i]f these reports are true, the Presidents brazen attempt to shut down the FBIs investigation of Michael Flynn is an assault on the rule of law that is fundamental to our democracy.'

'At best, President Trump has committed a grave abuse of executive power. At worst, he has obstructed justice,' Pelosi claimed.

The Times reported that Comey had a reputation as a cautious note-taker who believed his written recollections of meetings, when put to paper immediately afterward, could help answer questions about events that weren't otherwise recorded.

It's unclear if Comey made similar notes after he met Trump for an intimate dinner on January 27.

Comey's associates have claimed that Trump asked his FBI director during that meeting  twice  for a pledge of loyalty. Trump has denied that claim flatly.
A boy who trialled a unique cancer treatment never before used on children has beaten cancer five years on.

Blue Tobin, from Dover, was declared a hero by the families of other young cancer sufferers when he became the first child to trial the highly toxic and potentially lethal double-dose of chemotherapy.

When he was just two years old Blue was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and, after two unsuccessful bouts of chemotherapy, doctors said their was nothing more they could do to save the toddler.

Blue Tobin was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in March 2011. He is pictured in hospital aged two

After two unsuccessful bouts of chemotherapy, doctors said their was nothing more they could do to save the toddler but his mother Francesca Waite (pictured right with her son) agreed to one last-ditch attempt to save him

But now, after five years in remission, eight-year-old Blue has been declared cancer free after doctors at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London came up with a last-ditch attempt to save him.

He was given a combination of highly toxic trial chemotherapy drugs that had only ever been used on adults before.

Blue's mother, Francesca Waite, was told he was unlikely to survive the treatment.

Blue was given a combination of highly toxic trial chemotherapy drugs that had only ever been used on adults before

Blue's mother (left) was told by doctors that it was unlikely that her son would survive survive the treatment

Ms Waite told ITV news: 'I laid there with my arms over him all night because I thought that if I let go whatever it was that was going to take him would take him.

WHAT IS AML? Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer that starts from young white blood cells called granulocytes or monocytes in the bone marrow. In the UK, around 2,900 people are diagnosed each year with acute myeloid leukaemia. It is most often diagnosed in older people, and is most common in people over 65 years old. Source: Cancer Research UK Advertisement

'So I never let go and I laid that way all night. It worked.'

After weeks of gruelling treatment Blue was finally well enough for the stem-cell treatment he needed to survive.

The cancer drugs have now been used to save other children.

Last year mother, Nicki McClean, took to Facebook to thank Blue and his mother after her daughter Evie was treated with the same drugs.

'This brave little superstar, pictured next to Evie in my profile picture, was the first child to trial two chemo drugs that had only been used in adults,' she wrote.

She added: 'Evie had the same chemo drugs because of this little man. Blue, you're our superhero with the cheekiest smile!'

Ms Waite now wants to encourage people to join the bone marrow register as without a donor Blue would not have survived.

But now, after five years in remission, eight-year-old Blue has been declared cancer free
President Donald Trump interviewed four candidates for the vacant FBI director position on Wednesday, including former Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman.

Also under consideration, press secretary Sean Spicer said, are acting director Andrew McCabe; former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating; and Richard McFeely, a former FBI Executive Assistant Director who was in charge of investigating white-collar and organized crime along with cyber cases.

Trump has wasted no time in replacing James Comey following his decision eight days ago to fire America's top cop.

He has said he hopes to announce his choice before leaving Friday on a nine-day overseas diplomacy tour.

THE OUTSIDER: Former Senator Joe Lieberman, pictured on Wednesday at the White House, was among the FBI director candidates interviewed on Wednesday; Lieberman once said he supported investigating newspapers that published stories based on leaks of classified documents

THE G-MEN: Acting FBI director Andrew McCabe (left) and former executive assistant director Richard McFeely (right at the White House on Wednesday) are on the president's short list

Spicer spoke aboard Air Force One following Trump's commencement speech at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.

Keating and McFeely were later seen exiting the White House.

'Let's just say we had a good conversation,' Keating said. 'I'm a public servant,' he told a journalist who asked what his response would be if Trump did make him an offer.

Reporters did not see McCabe leave the premises. Lieberman was still in with the president at close of business.

Lieberman, 75, would be an unconventional choice. Although he declared his independence from political parties in 2006, he ran for vice president as a Democrat six years earlier.

He served as Connecticut's attorney general before first running for the U.S. Senate in 1988.

A White House official told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that Trump is aware Lieberman once advocated for criminal investigations of news organizations that chose to publish classified materials that were surfaced as part of computer hacking enterprises.

The president has spoken openly about 'opening up' America's libel laws in order to make it easier to sue news outlets, and reportedly asked Comey during a February 24 meeting to consider criminally charging journalists who published classified document leaks.

The New York Times drew criticism in 2010 for reporting on the contents of highly sensitive National Security Agency documents stolen by Army private Bradley Manning, who later gave them to the anti-secrecy Wikileaks website.

THE LONG SHOT? Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, shown throwing out the first pitch before a 2010 Washington Nationals baseball game, was an FBI agent for four years following his 1969 law school graduation

President Trump fired director James Comey eight days ago, and has wasted little time identifying and interviewing possible replacements

Lieberman said then in a Fox news Channel interview that the Times had 'committed at least an act of bad citizenship. And whether they've committed a crime, I think that bears very intensive inquiry by the Justice Department.'

He also urged the Obama administration to charge WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with treason for publishing the material.

'He ought to be indicted and then we can ask the authorities in England to extradite him to the United States,' Lieberman said.

'I think its the most serious violation of the Espionage Act in our history.'

Lieberman said that one reason to ask for criminal charges in the case is 'if you don't prosecute people who commit crimes, others are going to do it soon and again. And I'm afraid that's what's going to happen here.'

The retired former senator has already pitched in to help Trump once this year, warmly introducing David Friedman during his Senate confirmation hearing for the post of ambassador to Israel.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer spoke to reporters about the FBI director interviews during an Air Force One flight back from Conncticut, where the president delivered a commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Lieberman ran for vice president in 2000 as a Democrat, ultimately losing the election on a ticket with then-Vice President Al Gore (left)

The other three candidates on Trump's meeting list are all current or former FBI agents.

McCabe took over the top job on an acting basis when Comey got the ax.

McFeely ran the bureau's Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch for three years before retiring.

And Keating was a G-man for four years after he graduated from law school in 1969, primarily investigating terrorism cases on the West coast.

He also served as an associate U.S. attorney general for ten years during the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush presidencies.
Sacked FBI Director James may get his day back in the spotlight on Capitol Hill  if a leading Republican congressman can find his phone number.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz put out formal notice of a committee hearing with Comey, a day after a bombshell New York Times report quoted memos purporting to show President Trump trying to get him to back off an investigation of former national security advisor Mike Flynn.

But Chaffetz indicated he hasn't been able to get in touch with Comey, who became such a national fixture when Trump fired that cable networks broadcast helicopter footage of his ride to the airport.

'Officially noticed a hearing for next Wed at 9:30am ET with former FBI Dir Comey. But I still need to speak with him...evidently has a new #' Chaffetz wrote.

House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, announced a hearing with sacked FBI Director James Comey, a witness he says he hasn't been able to reach

Chaffetz, who has been criticized by committee Democrats for not taking an aggressive investigative stance toward the Trump administration, wrote the FBI on Tuesday seeking copies of 'any and all documentation the fired FBI director James Comey kept of his communications with President Donald Trump.'

He sought the documents by May 24, when the public hearing with Comey would be held.

The White House quickly fired back against Comey's memo, saying 'the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.'

Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, tweeted: '@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.'

Hours later, he fired off the letter to McCabe. Chaffetz has announced he is retiring at the end of his term, and has reportedly been telling colleagues he landed a gig on Fox News.

WHAT ABOUT THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE? Chaffetz has had trouble reaching ex FBI Director James Comey

Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) speaks to the media after a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence closed door meeting at the U.S. Capitol, on May 16, 2017. The panel has requested documents from the FBI

Last week, Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley welcomed Trump's firing of Comey, and told critics to 'Suck it up and move on,' in an appearance on Fox News.

The Senate Intelligence Committee, which has its own investigation of alleged Russian election interference, also wants Comey to appear in closed and open session.

It asked acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe to hand over any notes Comey has of conversations between the White House and Justice Department officials about the Russia probe.

Still another panel, the Senate Judiciary Committee, is also seeking documents.

Panel chair Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa and ranking Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California wrote the Justice Department and the White House on Wednesday seeking documents.

They asked the White House to turn over 'records of interactions with former Director Comey, including any audio recordings.'

Just last week, Grassley welcomed Trump's firing of Comey, and told critics to 'Suck it up and move on,' in an appearance on Fox News.
The IT director at an elite boarding school and his 16-year-old son are accused of trying to set off a 'military-style' smoke bomb in the cafeteria after the father's contract was not renewed.

Bryan Bolding, 46, and his son were arrested Tuesday after a device was found in the cafeteria at Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, prompting an evacuation that lasted around six hours. The device did not detonate.

The two were arrested on suspicion of charges including terrorist training activities, possession and use of a hoax incendiary device and conspiracy.

The son, whose name has not been released, told detectives they originally planned to set off the device at graduation before deciding to target the cafeteria in order to cause 'terror and panic', according to arrest papers cited byKKTV.

Bryan Bolding, 46,(left, mugshot, and right) the IT director at an elite boarding school and his son are accused of tryign to set off a smoke bomb in the cafeteria to incite 'terror and panic'

The son said he and his father had a remote detonator, but it didn't work on Tuesday.

But the smoke bomb, which resembled a real 'military-grade' explosive, prompted a campus-wide evacuation for six hours.

The 300 students and faculty were ushered to a nearby church, while members of the bomb squad, SWAT and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, arrived at the scene. They finally gave the all-clear after 9pm.

Bolding and his 16-year-old son, who is thought to be a student at the school, were arrested, although Bolding has been released after posting $3,000 bond.

The two are now facing a long list of charges including possession and use of a hoax incendiary device, terrorist training activities, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, conspiracy, reckless endangerment, child abuse without injury and felony menacing.

His son initially denied any knowledge of what happened, but later admitted his father, who listed himself as a former member of the US Army on his Facebook profile, taught him how to build the devices.

Bolding was the director of technology at the school, while his 16-year-old son was a student. It costs upwards of $54,000 to attend Fountain Valley School in Colorado

After the device was found in the school's cafeteria, the 300 students and faculty were ushered to a nearby church where they stayed for six hours

They planned to detonate the device inside the graduation tent, and later decided to target the cafeteria instead.

Bolding was told in February that his contract as the director of technology would not be renewed, according to arrest papers.

Authorities now believe another smoke bomb that went off on Monday about 2.6miles away from the school served as a dry run for the incident the following day.

Police responded to a 911 call on Monday and later determined the smoke bomb bore a resemblance to the device in the school cafeteria.

Fountain Valley School, which is located on a former ranch, costs $28,800 a year for day students, and $53,860 for students who board.
Top Gun actress Kelly McGillis has told a jury of the terrifying night a woman allegedly broke into her home and attacked her.

McGillis, 59, took to the stand on Tuesday to testify at the trial of Laurence Marie Dorn at Henderson County Court in North Carolina.

The actress, who starred alongside Tom Cruise as flight instructor Charlie Blackwood in the 1986 blockbuster, broke down as the court heard the 911 call in which a screaming McGillis told authorities she had found an intruder in her home.

Top Gun actress Kelly McGillis, 59, took to the stand on Tuesday to testify in the trial of Laurence Marie Dorn at Henderson County Court in North Carolina

During her testimony, McGillis told the court she was confronted by Dorn when she came home from a lecture. She said she first noticed her bathroom light was on as she pulled into the driveway and moments later realized her front door was unlocked.

She said she initially thought her daughter had come to visit but was quickly confronted by Dorn.

'A woman came down the hallway, very rapidly,' McGillis said in court, according to WLOS. 'She was yelling at me, 'How dare you keep me waiting'.'

'I was terrified.'

The pair allegedly then began to struggle over McGillis' cell phone, according to the actress.

'She said, 'You know who I am. You've been stalking me on my Twitter account'.'

McGillis told the court she had never met Dorn or made contact with her on social media.

'She attacked me again. All I could think of was to scream as loud as I could.'

Top Gun actress Kelly McGillis, 58, (right in 2014) took to the stand on Tuesday to testify in the trial of Laurence Marie Dorn (left) at Henderson County Court in North Carolina

McGillis, who starred alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun, broke down on Tuesday as the court heard the 911 call in which the screaming actress told authorities she had found an intruder in her home in June last year

A panicked McGillis, who managed to break free and call 911 from outside the home, could be heard in a 911 recording of the call telling the operation she didn't know who Dorn was.

The actress could be heard struggling to breathe and coughing heavily in the audio as she gave the details.

'She came out and just said a bunch of s**t about how I knew she was coming and how could could she do this to me, why don't I get her a hotel, I don't know,' McGillis said in the 911 call.

McGillis said Dorn claimed the Hollywood star had been stalking her on Twitter before the attack.

Prosecutors told the court that Dorn went to McGillis' home with the intention of harming her in June last year.

They said authorities later found two edited images of the actress on the alleged attacker's computer - one showed her face on a dartboard and the other on a 'Wanted Dead or Alive' poster, Fox Carolina reports.

Dorn was charged with second degree burglary, misdemeanor larceny, misdemeanor stalking, assault and battery, and interfering with emergency communications.
A 47-year-old man hurled a petrol bomb at armed police officers during a six-hour stand-off after they gathered outside his terraced home today.

Police officers could be heard shouting the man's name in video footage filmed just yards from the property in Burnopfield, County Durham.

The man had barricaded him inside the building at around 3pm on Wednesday and later threw three petrol bombs at the officers.

The third exploded just metres away from armed police, who ran for cover when they saw the weapon flying towards them.

The man hurled a petrol bomb from a window at the officers and it exploded on the street (left)

But the 47-year-old man, who was inside the building (pictured), started swearing and threw three petrol bombs at armed officers

The man repeatedly told officers to 'f*** off' during the stand off.

It is not currently known what has sparked the incident which has now being going on for several hours.

The entire street has been evacuated and a crowd which had gathered to watch has now been moved on.

The fire brigade, ambulance and around 30 police officers, some of them armed, remain at the scene negotiating with the man.

Armed police had gathered outside the property in Burnopfield, County Durham, and tried to negotiate with the man

It is believed that the man contacted Durham Police (pictured) himself earlier on Wednesday

Durham Constabulary urged people to stay away from the area and confirmed the man had been threatening police

It is understood he contacted Durham Police earlier today andofficers believe he has mental health problems.

Durham Constabulary urged people to stay away from the area and confirmed the man had been threatening police.

A spokesman said: 'We are continuing to contain a house in Burnopfield where a man has been threatening police. Negotiators are talking to him and we hope to resolve the situation peacefully.'
Jack Kennedy Schlossberg was spotted out and about in New York City on Tuesday while riding his bicycle, and he bore a striking resemblance to his late uncle John F. Kennedy Jr.

The 24-year-old son of Caroline Kennedy and the grandson of President John F. Kennedy was enjoying a morning bike ride along ritzy Park Avenue.

The potential future politician was all smiles while he pedaled his bike in between traffic in a move that mirrored his late uncle who was often photographed riding his bicycle in the 1980s and 1990s.

In keeping safety first, Schlossberg wore a black helmet, a graphic t-shift, black shorts and black trainers.

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Relaxed: Jack Kennedy Schlossberg was spotted out and about in New York City on Tuesday while riding his bicycle. The 24-year-old son of Caroline Kennedy and the grandson of President John F. Kennedy was enjoying a morning bike ride along the ritzy Park Avenue

Happy: In keeping safety first, Schlossberg wore a black helmet as he rode his 2010 Trek bike. Schlossberg bore a striking resemblance to his late uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., who also rode his bicycle around New York City in the 1980s

Uncanny: Many have compared Schlossberg's handsome looks to his late grandfather and late uncle. John F. Kennedy Jr. is pictured above shirtless while riding his bike back to the Kennedy Compound from the beach during Labor Day weekend in 1985

Doppelganger: He also wasn't afraid to pedal in busy New York City. He is pictured above leaving his mother, Jackie Kennedy Onassis' Fifth Avenue apartment on his bicycle

The 2015 Yale University graduate also had a large backpack on while swiftly peddling during his quick trip on his 2010 customized Ion Pro Trek bike, which is estimated to cost around $2,000.

Schlossberg was spotted out just days before what would have been his grandfather's 100th birthday.

Earlier this month, he faced a room full of high-profile politicians in Boston and catapulted himself onto the political stage by applauding former President Barack Obama for having the courage to 'govern responsibly'.

The 24-year-old spoke glowingly of the former president as he, alongside his mother, presented Obama with the JFK Profile in Courage Award.

Schlossberg told the crowded room of how Obama had inspired him in the same way an earlier generation was inspired by his grandfather.

Earlier this month, the 24-year-old spoke glowingly of Barack Obama in Boston as he presented the former president with the JFK Profile in Courage Award

Schlossberg (right) and his mother Caroline Kennedy (left) took to the stage at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Read with Barack and Michelle Obama

'(JFK) inspired a generation to enter public service and to ask what they could do for their country. President Barack Obama inspired me in the same way,' he said.

'My life changed in 2008 because a young candidate was fired up and ready to go, and said that "Yes we can".

'Without Barack Obama I might still be sitting on my couch eating Doritos and watching sports.'

Schlossberg - who plans to attend Harvard Law School - also made his beliefs clear about politics as he applauded Obama for his courage in pursuing healthcare reform.

Schlossberg's stirring speech came after he gave his first television interview on the Today show alongside his mother Caroline Kennedy

'From his first days in office until his last, the President consistently put the national interest above his own political interest while resisting the politics of cynicism in a system that all too often encourages it,' he said.

'He had the courage to pursue comprehensive health care reform as his first order of business, knowing the issue would cost him and the party politically.

Schlossberg's stirring speech came after he gave his first television interview alongside his mother Caroline Kennedy.

He appeared on NBCs Today show to promote the Profile in Courage Award ceremony, which he presented to Obama.
UPDATED

Two charter-school-backers defeated union-backed candidates on Tuesday to take two seats on the Los Angeles school board in an expensive and heated battle that drew large sums of money from outside the district.

It was the most expensive school board race in the countrymore than $13 million was spent through May12, according to the Los Angeles Times .

In the end, charter-backed candidates Nick Melvoin and Kelly Gonez defeated two-term incumbent Steve Zimmer and Imelda Padilla.

Zimmer, the president of the Los Angeles school board who was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, said he wont run for office again, according to the Los Angeles Times.

With the two newest members, charter school backers now make up a majority of the seven-member school board in the nations second-largest school district.

About 16 percent of LAUSD students attend charter schools.

Zimmer had said he prefers some limits on charter school growth and wanted to ensure that the charters and district schools that already exist are working to provide high-quality programs, the LA Times reported. During his time on the board, Zimmer voted to approve and renew most charter schools applications before the board during his tenure, according to the paper.

He got more than $2.5 million in support from labor, including the United Teachers Los Angeles and other union supporters, including the National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers and the California Teachers Association.

Melvoin said that he would not limit charter school growth, the paper said. He got about $5.69 million from charter supporters, according to the paper.

Both Melvoin and Zimmer are Democrats.

What does this mean for superintendent Michelle Kings future at LAUSD? Its not clear, according to the Los Angeles Times.

King, a long-time LAUSD educator, took the job just over a year ago. But as we have seen recentlyin Howard County, Md., Jefferson County, Ky., and St. Paul, Minn.,new school board majorities have acted swiftly to get rid of superintendents with who may not share their agenda.
It's not just the big names that are changing at Fox News - the entire newsroom is being relocated and given a massive overhaul, the station's boss has announced.

Fox boss Rupert Murdoch announced the creation of a brand-new, centralized New York newsroom, set to open in 2018, on Wednesday in a meeting at the company, calling it a show of his 'unwavering confidence' in the channel.

That phrasing is likely a response to the recent turmoil at the channel which has seen the loss of host Bill O'Reilly and CEO Roger Ailes amid claims of sexual harassment, and the resignation of co-president Bill Shine.

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Fox News has released this rendering of how its new newsroom will look when it opens next year. It will be based on the second floor of the company's New York headquarters

The new office features a studio (right) and an open-plan newsroom in a figure of eight configuation. It will be the first updated newsroom for the channel in 20 years

'Today we are unveiling the physical transformation of our newsroom and the Fox News offices at our Headquarters in New York,' Murdoch said in a statement, according to TV Newser.

Fox boss Rupert Murdoch claims that the newsroom is 'a sign of my unwavering confidence' - likely to boost morale after a string of high-profile departures

'It will be state of the art and open, befitting the most important media outlet in America.

'This is a major investment in the future of Fox News and a sign of my unwavering confidence.'

Fox's current newsroom - which it has been using for 20 years - is located in the basement of Fox News headquarters.

But the new, open-plan office will be based on the building's second floor that will incorporate the currently separated news, media and branding teams.

The new figure-of-eight-shaped space features concentric rings of desks and workspaces, and an integrated studio.

Whether or not it needs a new studio, Fox News staff will be happy about Murdoch's promised confidence - which was likely the intention behind the remark.

The channel has been in turmoil since last summer, when CEO Roger Ailes resigned amid allegations that he had sexually harrassed staff.

Later in the year, Fox lost one of its highest-rated hosts, Megyn Kelly, to NBC.

The station's star anchor, Bill O'Reilly, was the next to go after it emerged that he and the station had paid out millions to end sexual harassment suits aimed at him.

O'Reilly is now hosting a weekly podcast and has joined Glenn Beck's digital channel TheBlaze.

And at the start of this month, Bill Shine also lost his job as co-president.

In April he had was named alongside Ailes in a lawsuit filed by ex-Fox pundit Andrea Tantatros.

She accused the channel of hacking her computer after she alleged that Ailes had sexually harassed her.

Accused: CEO Roger Ailes (left) and star anchor Bill O'Reilly were dropped amid sexual harassment claims. O'Relly is now hosting a podcast
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An incredible new spokeless Ferris Wheel will soon open to the public in China - complete with built-in television sets and even wireless internet for all the inevitable selfies.

The giant, futuristic structure comes with 36 carts able to carry 10 passengers each, all of whom will be offered an unparalleled view of the Bailang River in Weifang City, in East China's Shandong Province.

It has been built onto the 1,771ft Bailang River Bridge - hence the name Bailang River Bridge Ferris Wheel - and it is now ready to roll.

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An incredible new spokeless Ferris Wheel will soon open to the public in China - complete with built-in television sets and even wireless internet for all the inevitable selfies

The giant, futuristic structure comes with 36 carts able to carry 10 passengers each, all of whom will be offered an unparalleled view of the Bailang River in Weifang City, in East China's Shandong Province

It has been built onto the 1,771ft Bailang River Bridge (pictured) - hence the name Bailang River Bridge Ferris Wheel - and it is now ready to roll

As the world's first spokeless Ferris wheel with grid design, the 475ft tall amusement park-style attraction is set to become Weifang's newest and most eye-catching landmark.

Perhaps most surprising of all is that engineers have felt the need to install television sets inside the carts.

The designers have yet to reveal what will be played on the TVs, but members of the public have guessed it could be real-time footage of their location in relation to the whole wheel.

WiFi will also be offered in each cart, allowing tourists to connect to the internet with their mobile devices and brag to the world about their experiences right away.

Engineers have installed television sets inside the carts. The designers have yet to reveal what will be played on the TVs, but members of the public have guessed it could be real-time footage of their location in relation to the whole wheel

As the world's first spokeless Ferris wheel with grid design, the 475ft tall amusement park-style attraction is set to become Weifang's newest and most eye-catching landmark

A visitor watches the imposing centerless ferris wheel in Weifang City. Some 4,600 tonnes of steel were used in the building of the Ferris wheel, which will take exactly 28 minutes to complete one rotation - plenty of time for tourists to snap up some amazing photos

Some 4,600 tonnes of steel were used in the building of the Ferris wheel, which will take exactly 28 minutes to complete one rotation - plenty of time for tourists to snap up some amazing photos.

The crisscrossing steel beams holding the Ferris wheel together have been described as a 'dragon spine', and the complex architecture is vital for pulling off the spokeless and shaftless design, making the centre completely hollow like a giant high-tech wheel.

Weifang City plans to begin trialing the Ferris Wheel in time for the May Day holidays in the beginning of next month.
The lawyer who vanished after dropping off her daughter on the school run may have been having an affair, her sister said yesterday.

Renata Antczak, 49, was last seen three weeks ago when she returned home after taking her daughter Victoria, 11, to school. She left the house at 1pm on April 25 and has not been seen since.

Miss Antczaks sister Danuta Szulc said she suspected she was having secret romantic liaisons with another man during her regular visits to her native Poland.

Renata Antczak, 49, who was last seen three weeks ago, may have been having an affair with a man in her native Poland, according to her sister. Miss Antczak is pictured with husband Majid Mustafa on their wedding day in 1995

Speaking from her native Poland, Mrs Szulc told the Mail: Its possible that she had found a new man in Poland. She was coming back almost on a monthly basis.

The last time I heard from her was in a telephone call a few days after Easter. She was uncharacteristically reserved.

'She was normally a bright and lively person. I asked her what the matter was but she said she would tell me everything when she came back to Poland again at the end of May.

This latest theory came as Humberside Police continue to investigate what has happened to the mother of two.

Her husband, dentist Majid Mustafa, believes she has joined a sect after becoming obsessed with a form of alternative therapy.

Miss Antczak asked her 47-year-old husband for a divorce in March and wanted to return to Poland.

She was making plans to enrol Victoria at school in her native country from next term.

Her husband said Miss Antczak, pictured, had been spending a week per month in Poland apparently training as a homeopathic therapist

Dr Mustafa was hoping she might change her mind and even travelled to Poland just before Easter to ask her family why she wanted a divorce, her sister said.

Mrs Szulc, a 61-year-old farmer, said: My sisters husband came here a few days before Easter and went around the whole family asking why Renata wants to divorce him.

He said that she had started the proceedings. He seemed depressed about it, he was uncharacteristically pale and thin.

He was a good husband and father. We didnt want the divorce to happen. He had a good job, a nice house and a car and they had the two children.

Dr Mustafa has said that for the last six months Miss Antczak has been spending a week per month in Poland, apparently to train as a therapist for a homeopathic health treatment called TimeWaver.

In a publicity video on YouTube, Miss Antczak said she used a TimeWaver machine on her younger daughter which appeared to have a positive effect on her health.

This machine is made up of a box connected to two electrodes, which patients undergoing treatment are asked to hold.

Practitioners say they are able to use software to make measurements of a patients energy levels.

It is reminiscent of the notorious Hubbard Electrometer, a contraption invented by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.

Speaking from her farm yesterday, Mrs Szulc said: The alternative medicine she was into didnt make sense to us but her daughter was sick for a long time so she was looking for other ways to help her.

Dr Mustafa met Miss Antczak in Poland after emigrating from Syria.

The couple married in 1995 in Konstantynow Lodzki, a town near the city of Lodz in central Poland, before moving to the UK 10 years later with their eldest daughter Magda, now 20.

Miss Antczak has a second three-bedroom home, pictured, near Lodz in Poland which they use when visiting relatives

Miss Antczak subsequently gave birth to their second child Victoria. The couple own a detached three-bedroom house in the village of Zabiczki, near Lodz, which they live in during visits to relatives.

Last night Miss Antczaks mother Stanislawa, 84, said she remained hopeful that her daughter was still alive.

She said: Im a straightforward person and Renata is a straightforward person.

I told her not to get divorced, I told her to think of the children. She had already started talking about it in February.

When her husband came here just before Easter and I saw how upset he was as the divorce proceedings had started. He was very stressed but it was like he was resigned to it.

Even if she just wanted some peace and quiet, its out of character of her not to have given me a call to let me know shes all right.

Dr Mustafa declined to comment last night. But he had said previously: I still love her very much, I still miss her very much and I want her to come back.

If she doesnt want to stay with me, thats her choice.
A bizarre real estate listing has gone viral after a South Carolina home was advertised with a mysterious upstairs tenant who has never paid rent and can't be kicked out.

Many people were unnerved by the strange posting on Zillow for the property in Cayce, a city near Columbia, branding it a 'nightmare house.'

The rather worrying listing stated that the house, which was listed for $130,000, was a 'diamond in the rough' but added that the 'upstairs apartment cannot be shown under any circumstances.'

This 'nightmare house' for sale that comes with a live-in 70-year-old artist who can't be kicked out and doesn't pay any rent

The bizarre real estate listing has gone viral after a South Carolina home was advertised with an 'upstairs apartment that cannot be shown under any circumstances' and a mysterious upstairs tenant who has never paid rent and can't be kicked out

'Buyer assumes responsibility for the month-to-month tenancy in the upstairs apartment. Occupant has never paid, and no security deposit is being held, but there is a lease in place. (Yes, it does not make sense, please don't bother asking.)'

The post sparked a flurry of conspiracy theories online with people suggesting everything from it being haunted, a 'murder house', or even just a prank listing.

'I HAVE SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NIGHTMARE HOUSE,' one Twitter user, Bekka Supp, wrote after seeing the post.

The mystery tenant has now been revealed as Randall McKissick, a 70-year-old retired artist who was completely unaware his home's listing was going viral, The State reports.

McKissick has been living in the property for the past decade, after he failed to make rent on another apartment as a struggling artist.

'I HAVE SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NIGHTMARE HOUSE,' one Twitter user, Bekka Supp, wrote after seeing the post

The mystery tenant has now been revealed as Randall McKissick, a 70-year-old retired artist

Vietnam veteran McKissick insists he would make a great neighbor saying 'I'm easy to get along with'

His childhood friend Mike Schumpert, who owns the home, offered him the place and McKissick admits he has never once tried to pay his friend for the favor.

'He never asked for any money,' McKissick said. 'He never mentioned money. I would like to pay him, but I don't have any.'

The posting, which has been online for just over a month, reveals the property was sold to Schumpert, in 1997 for $52,000.

But twenty years on and the situation has changed. Schumpert had a tragic accident and broke his back. His wife Anne, is disabled and they are both being cared for by their sons Michael and Mannie.

But Michael Jr. says that spiraling medical bills had forced them to sell.

'We don't really have much choice but to sell the house; my parents need to sell it,' he said. 'But it's been in the family for so long, we don't really want to. And we want Randy to be able to stay there.'

The property was listed 'as-is' with no repairs, clean-up or warranties included

A lot of work is needed to get the property up to scratch (pictured is a collection of trash in the backyard)

People also pointed out the damage to the ceiling in the downstairs apartment, featured in the unusual listing

The property was listed 'as-is' with no repairs, clean-up or warranties included.

Since it went viral, the listing has since been updated to remove the notes about the tenant.

However, McKissick insists he would make a great neighbor.

'I'm easy to get along with. I'm upstairs. They would be downstairs. The only thing that would be a problem is my heavy footsteps,' McKissick explained.

McKissick, who attended the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida, was once a world-renowned artist and illustrator and exhibited around the globe.

But the father-of-two, and grandfather, a Vietnam vet, has since fallen on hard times.

The ad has changed again to list the property as 'off market' but a For Sale remains in the front yard.
Two men have been heard arguing outside Crown Casino in the early morning on Thursday before a gun was brandished and four shots were fired.

Police were called to the scene at Queensbridge Street in Southbank, central Melbourne, about 4.15am on Thursday with Senior Sergeant Steve Bills telling reporters the shooting was targeted.

'It is not a random shooting. It certainly seems to be a targeted shooting. They have known each other in some way,' Sergeant Bills said.

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Police are pictured at the crime scene in front of Crown Casino in Melbourne in the early hours of Thursday morning

'There has been an argument prior to it and then leading into the four shots being let off.

'It appears at this stage that the shots didn't hit the victim at all. We haven't had any contact with the victim and we would encourage the victim to contact police.'

No injuries have been reported and police said the men walked off in different directions following the chaos.

There is a large police presence at Power Street the scene where a crime scene has been established.

A man brandished a handgun outside the Crown Casino and fired some shots, police say

Power Street has been closed off between Queensbridge Street and Sydney Road in Southbank.

A wine bottle has been bagged at the scene by police, Nine News reports.

Evidence markers can be scene behind the cordons, which may indicate bullet casings.

A manhunt is underway for the gunman.

Investigations are continuing.

Victoria Police are appealing for witnesses. If you have any information which could assist inquiries please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Evidence markers can be scene behind the cordons, which may indicate bullet casings

A police manhunt is underway in central Melbourne for the gunman
He knows every rock and crag on this mountain, every twist and turn in every path to the summit. I wouldn't be surprised if he could name all the sheep along the way.

But then, Sion Jair has been up and down this peak at least 5,000 times. Indeed, when I meet him halfway up the famous Lake District climb, he is on his second ascent of the day.

It may only be mid-morning but Sion, 67, and his partner, Wendy, were already at the top of the Old Man of Coniston  2,635ft above sea level  before 6am to catch the sunrise, then returned for breakfast. Now they are on the way up again to meet me.

It is a gorgeous day on what has always been one of the most popular hills  or fells  in the Lake District. Being more than the requisite 2,000ft, the Old Man of Coniston also qualifies as a mountain.

Sion Jair (pictured) has been up and down the Old Man of Coniston in the Lake District at least 5,000 times

You will find Sion up here in all weathers with a rucksack containing climbing kit, a two-way radio and plenty of spare clothing. Over the years, his presence has been a blessing for umpteen ill-prepared hikers who found themselves marooned when the weather turned.

Sion describes his entirely voluntary role as 'not quite mountain rescue' on the basis that he can't treat injuries and has no formal status. But the official Mountain Rescue teams are always grateful for his help.

A couple of years ago, for example, Sion came across a group of seven lads from Liverpool who had got lost in foul weather, without a map or a compass. Sion made a chute through the snow using his ropes and ice axe and got them to slide down to safety one at a time.

They were certainly grateful. What they didn't know, however, was that their saviour was one of Britain's most extraordinary mountaineers. Because for at least seven years, Sion has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Yet despite having a condition which is thought to affect around half a million people in Britain  shutting down the 'connectors' in the brain and, in turn, causing dementia  he continues to guide people down from the hills when they find themselves lost, out of daylight or overcome by vertigo.

If I hadn't known in advance, I wouldn't have had the faintest idea he suffered from anything. He is lucid, funny and fitter than I am as he natters away while I pant up the track, trying to keep up.

'I do all my thinking up here,' he says. 'When I'm on the hill the blood gets going and whatever oxygen is left in it gets to my brain. It's when I'm sitting around at home that things start to fade.'

The Alzheimer's has advanced to the point where he had to have the cooker removed from his housing association flat in Ulverston in case he turns it on, then forgets about it.

Being more than the requisite 2,000ft, the Old Man of Coniston (pictured) also qualifies as a mountain

Though he is still allowed to drive, he must take an annual test and generally leaves the driving to Wendy, who lives nearby. He can read a book, but finds it hard to remember any of it an hour later.

But put an Ordnance Survey map in his hands and it is a different story. Because Sion is a different man once he starts pacing up the mountain.

'No one passes me going up,' he says proudly, adding that he can usually reach the top in just over an hour. 'It's when I'm coming back down I have to go slowly because I need to think carefully about each step.'

Sion acknowledges that there is no cure for Alzheimer's, but sees no reason to surrender to it.

'I'm not going to beat this thing, but I'm not going to let it get me down. I remember when I was at school and this bully kept having a go and eventually I said: 'I want a fight.' He said: 'Do you think you can beat me?' and I replied: 'No, but I'll give you a hiding along the way.' And he backed off.'

That is why Sion is determined to make use of all the time he has left by passing on his knowledge of the fells to others, along with his tips on how to navigate.

Using his own savings, he has developed a course for walkers of all ages.

'You do it one-on-one,' he says. 'The problem with groups is that some people are happy to leave it to someone else to do the navigating. And a lot of people these days just rely on sat-nav or a phone. That's no use if the battery goes.'

Sion won't make a bean out of this. People will pay just 120 for a four-day individual course, starting with some theory work at their home or in a pub, then graduating to the hills.

Half the fee will cover the travel and printing costs. The other half will go to three charities  Mountain Rescue, the Great North Air Ambulance and the Alzheimer's Society. Anyone can sign up via www.specialservices247.uk.

Sion climbs the mountain with a rucksack containing climbing kit, a two-way radio and plenty of spare clothing

'The whole point is to get people to think for themselves,' says Sion, 'and learn a bit about the mountain at the same time.'

Sion has climbed every significant peak in Britain but his favourite spot has always been the Old Man of Coniston, which he first saw in 1968 while on a team-building exercise as a trainee draughtsman with British Steel.

The son of an RAF pilot, he had grown up moving from one base to another, before taking up a career in engineering.

'Everything was being cut back and I was made redundant from one job after another,' he says. In between, he made ends meet doing everything from driving a prison van to litter-picking.

Based in Birmingham, his great escape was getting away to the hills, all the more so after his marriage broke down and his ex-wife moved out, taking his son, Martin, with her.

In due course he abandoned Birmingham for the town of Ulverston, at the southern end of the Lake District.

One day, he says, he 'collapsed in a heap' and pernicious anaemia was diagnosed, though that did not stop his daily treks up the hill. Eventually, four years ago, further tests revealed that in fact he'd had Alzheimer's for three years.

The diagnosis merely made Sion even more determined to stick to his rigorous routine.

On an average day, he will rise at 4am and be heading up the mountain by 4.30am.

When he's back down again he has breakfast, often a toasted sausage sandwich at a local cafe, then goes for another ten-mile walk.

Come late afternoon, Wendy might prepare pasta or a baked potato. Sion likes the occasional half of lager or tot of whisky before food: 'If it's afterwards, I get a headache.' He is usually in bed by 11pm, but says he gets by quite happily on four hours' sleep.

He is disconcertingly cheerful about everything  for which Wendy, an artist and retired county councillor, must take some of the credit.

'Tomorrow is the second anniversary of the day I asked her out for a drink,' he says. 'And aren't I lucky she said yes?'

Life is settled, he says, and he talks to his son  now grown-up and living in the Midlands  on the phone most days.

Wendy will join him on the mountain at least twice a week. The rest of the time, Sion walks on his own.

Only once has he needed rescuing himself. In February 2015, while guiding two youths wearing the wrong kit down a sheet of ice, Sion fell and dislocated his shoulder. 'The Mountain Rescue team were amazing and got to us in two hours,' he says.

So is there anything that keeps him off the fells?

'Only very strong winds and bank holidays,' he says. 'I can't stand it when the paths are crowded.'

So what does he do then? 'We'll go to Morecambe Bay and walk on the beach.'
Lisa Vanderpump had cause to rejoice on Wednesday with the news that China would be banning the sale of dog meat at this year's Yulin Festival, which is set to begin next month.

The restaurateur and 'Real Housewives' star has been an outspoken advocate about the practice for almost three years now, and Wednesday's victory came after a number of galas and marches and fundraisers hosted by Lisa that were all aimed at bringing attention to the subject.

An emotional Lisa and her husband Ken Todd spoke with DailyMail.com exclusively after the announcement, and said that while they were ecstatic with the news out of China, there was still much work to do.

The pair also expressed their incredible thanks to Bravo and Evolution Media for allowing Lisa to shine an international spotlight on the issue by featuring it in the most recent season of 'Real Housewives of Beverley Hills.'

Lisa admitted that one of her demands before returning last season was that her work with Yulin get a proper showcase on the show.

Victory: Lisa Vanderpump (left) and Ken Todd (right) scored a major win in the fight against the sale of dog meat at the Yulin Festival on Wednesday

'If it's true then we've been instrumental is stopping this barbarity then we're thrilled. It's not over yet, but apparently they're going to enforce fines of up to $900 and possibly arrest violators starting on June 15 so it's a huge step in the right direction,' said Lisa from hr California home on Wednesday afternoon.

'I think they have felt the pressure from the West and certainly with the help of Bravo and Evolution Media in showcasing our marches and our gala, all the press they have helped us garner has been instrumental in this fight and in spreading the word all over the world.'

When asked what her initial response was, Lisa said: 'I actually cried for 10 minutes, I just sat there.'

She also spoke about how her work trying to stop the practice at the Yulin Festival first began.

'I've been an advocate for the humane treatment of dogs worldwide and I remember when i saw these pictures and I couldn't believe it, because when you hear Yulin Festival you think of festival as a celebration, where dogs are embraced and celebrated.,' explained Lisa.

'And when I saw the barbarity in the treatment and pictures of these dogs ... I saw a dog who was strung up by his neck with his paws and legs having all been severed and he was still alive and his legs were being cooked right in front of him. And dogs hanged up on lines for days or crammed into cages with broken legs.'

Those horrific images will hopefully be on display no longer however thanks to the recent announcement by the Chinese government.

'Unfortunately many dogs and cats will be killed before the start of this year's festival on June 15,' said Lisa.

'But it's definitely China saying, "We hear you. We are kind of moving in the right direction."

She also spoke about when she first saw one of the devastating photos from the Yulin Festival for the first time.

'I remember two-and-a-half years ago Ken saying I am going to show you something and tears just streaming down my face and saying, "Ken, you have to stop this and you have to help me,"' said Lisa.

'And he looked at me and he said, "We will do everything we can."'

Soon, the fight became one of the major focuses in the pair's lives.

'We started off with the march and then we have World Dog Day to draw attention to it and me going back to 'Housewives' last year was really a huge component,' said Lisa.

'And they agreed to showcase my work with Yulin and the LGBT community and I think it was because that broadcast in over 100 countries that's managed to garner attention.'

Lisa also mentioned that she and Ken opened their dog rescue center, which ken said garnered press every week with stories of the animals they were taking into the facility.

'I just think its incredible if we have managed to make change,' said Lisa.

'And change is about shouting it from the rooftops and standing up for what you believe in.'

Dr. John Sessa, Lisa, Pandora Sabo and Ken Todd, the executive board of the Vanderpump Dog Foundation

Horrific practice: The sale of dogs will be outlawed come June 15 at the annual festival

When asked what she believed was the turning point, Lisa said that the perspective of Americans likely played a major role.

'I think [China] felt the heat,' said Lisa.

'I think there's been so much publicity about the barbarianism. Yulin has always been about the torture. It's about skinning them alive and boiling them in pots and seeing them trying to scramble out of pots or being bludgeoned to death. And it all comes back to this idea that the fear and the torture stimulates the adrenaline of these animals which then tenderizes the meat.'

And while this is victory, Lisa said that she hopes people will wtch her upcoming documentary to learn more about the subject.

'I hope people will watch out documentary as well because the documentary is not just about Yulin, its about the fight for the humane treatment of dogs worldwide,' said Lisa.

'Any torture against any animal is a crime against humanity.'

She has also been working closely with Congress, having just visited two weeks back, and Congressman Alcee L. Hastings of Florida.

'It's only a temporary ban so we need people to be aware, and for Americans to say, "China, we see what you;re doing and this is not OK,"' said Lisa.

'We know it would be a bipartisan issue, that people would not say, "Yeah, you should, torture these dogs. You should beat the shit out of these magnificent creatures ."'

Lisa will now continue the fight, giving most of the credit for what she has accomplished to her husband Ken.

Her husband Ken meanwhile,. like all good partners, said it was all Lisa's hard work that made this decision happen in China.
English sparkling wine is well known for matching the best French champagne in blind taste tests, but now our reds are winning plaudits.

Two English reds are among the silver medal winners in the International Wine Challenge.

Gusbourne Estate near Appledore in Kent landed a silver for its 2014 pinot noir, while the other one went to Bolney Wine Estate in West Sussex for its 2015 pinot noir.

The Gusbourne pinot noir is typically around 22 at specialist outlets, while the Bolney sells for 15.99 through Waitrose.

Wine expert Oz Clarke said the quality of wine produced in England has improved dramatically

Already, English sparkling wines are being exported to the US, the Continent and beyond. And earlier this month, the French champagne house Taittinger planted vines in Kent.

English vineyards won 16 gold medals in the IWC in a list dominated by sparkling wines made in southern England.

The IWC said: While England is known for its sparkling wines, English still wines had a strong year with six silver and 21 bronze medals being awarded. The biggest surprise was the success of English red wines, which are rarely produced.

TV wine expert, Oz Clarke, co-chairman of the IWC, said: Wine production in England has come so far in the past 20 years and we are definitely seeing the efforts of our producers pay off. With time comes experience and this is really starting to show.

Its thrilling to think that up and down the country were producing outstanding wines that are able to stand up in international competition. This would have been almost unthinkable less than a decade ago.

Gusbourne Estate in Kent received praise

The same IWC challenge found that wine lovers do not have to spend a fortune to be assured of quality.

The judges awarded Gold medals to 11 supermarkets wines, port and sherry costing under 10. These included Asda Wine Atlas Negroamaro 2016 at just 5.68.

Among the Marks & Spencer gold medallists under 10 were its Hermits Hill Botrytis Semillon 2013 at 9; Martinez Marsala Superiore Riserva Dolce 5 Year Old at 7; Very Rare Oloroso NV at 8; and Very Rare Dry Old Amontillado NV at 8.

Morrisons collected golds for its The Best Oloroso NV at 6; The Best Palo Cortado NV at 6; and The Best Rioja Reserva Blanco 2011 at 8.99.

The golds won by Waitrose included its own label Fino NV at 6.99 and Manzanilla NV at 6.99. Tescos golds included the Tesco finest Vina del Cura Rioja Reserva 2012, which is a modest 8.

M&S was recognised as the best of the supermarkets for its wine, picking up 146 medals in total, including 12 Golds.

IWC co-chairman, Charles Metcalfe, said: Todays results prove that you can get fantastic wines at outstanding prices in the supermarket aisles.

The purpose of the IWC and its panel of judges is to recognise and reward quality wines from across the world, and to help consumers try new and different wines. Customers can shop with confidence knowing that they dont necessarily have to spend a fortune to get a great bottle of wine.
Sales of rosemary have boomed after research suggested the herb could help pupils revise.

Holland and Barrett, the health food retailer, said it ordered extra stocks of rosemary essential oil after sales more than doubled compared with last year.

It is thought many of the buyers are parents hoping to boost their children's performance for the exams season, which is just getting under way.

A study by Northumbria University said exposure to the smell of rosemary boosted a child's memory.

Sales of rosemary (pictured) have boomed after research suggested the herb could help pupils revise

Among those aged ten and 11 given different mental tasks, those exposed to the aroma of rosemary performed better than those in a room with no scent.

The biggest difference in scores was in the test that asked youngsters to recall words.

Study author Mark Moss suggested at the time his study was published that the aroma of rosemary affected electrical activity in the brain.

He added that with poor working memory related to poor academic performance, his findings 'offer a possible cost-effective and simple intervention to improve academic performance in children'.

Holland and Barrett, the health food retailer, said it ordered extra stocks of rosemary essential oil after sales more than doubled compared with last year

A Holland and Barrett spokesman said yesterday that UK and Ireland sales of rosemary oil in the week the study was released were up 187 per cent on last year and it had bought in extra stock for the exam season.

In ancient Greece, students wore garlands of rosemary in exams, and in Hamlet, Ophelia says: 'There's rosemary, that's for remembrance.'
The prime suspect in the investigation into the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher 'received a letter from Tony Blair's government assuring him he was not wanted for the killing', according to his lawyer.

Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk was allegedly told he was not part of the murder probe in 2002 during a time when Britain and Muammar Gaddafi's Libya were pursuing closer relations.

It comes after Scotland Yard issued an unprecedented statement saying that it had enough evidence to identify her murderer but cannot present it to a court.

It is understood that a dossier of evidence was blocked at ministerial level by the Home Office.

PC Fletcher was killed as she policed a demonstration outside the Libyan embassy in St James's Square on April 17 1984.

The prime suspect in the killing of PC Yvonne Fletcher, pictured, received a letter from Tony Blair's government telling him he was not wanted in connection with the murder, according to his lawyer

Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk, pictured, was allegedly sent the letter in 2002 by a senior civil servant telling him he was 'not a suspect'

Mabrouk, of Berkshire, was arrested in connection with WPC Fletcher's death on suspicion of conspiracy to murder in 2015, but police this week said an investigation will 'not proceed at this time'.

His barrister Stephen Kamlish QC told the Telegraph: 'He [Mabrouk] got a letter from the Foreign Office saying: "you are not a suspect". I believe he received that in about 2002. It is a letter from a senior civil servant.'

Jack Straw and Tony Blair deny any knowledge of the letter and so the government of the day disputes such a letter was sent

But the paper claimed a 192-page review of police evidence 'repeatedly identifies Mabrouk' as one of the suspected ringleaders of a 'pre-arranged plan to cause death'.

He was a senior member at the Libyan embassy at the time of the officer's death and was expelled from Britain afterwards, only to be allowed back in 2000.

Mabrouk was later officially granted asylum in the UK in 2012, five years after the evidence review around the case.

The dropping of the investigation has sparked fury from within the police force.

Former Scotland Yard officer John Murray, who was with WPC Fletcher when she died, told the Telegraph: 'I am convinced some kind of amnesty was given to Mabrouk. We need to know what is so important to national security that the chief suspect in the murder of a police officer cannot be prosecuted.'

PC Fletcher was shot dead outside the Libyan embassy in London in 1984. A memorial stands in St James's Square nearby, pictured

Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Stevens and Sir Hugh Orde, former head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, have both called for an explanation as to why no one has been prosecuted.

So far Scotland Yard has only said it is unable to charge anyone for 'national security reasons'.

The officer's family said they were 'deeply disappointed' earlier this week.

The shooting sparked a ten-day siege of the building before 30 of the occupants were deported back to Libya.

No one has ever been prosecuted over the killing, which led to the severing of ties between Libya and the UK.

In 2015, Mabrouk, his wife and son were also arrested on suspicion of money laundering amid claims he left Tripoli with tens of millions in state funds.

The police officer's family said they were 'deeply disappointed' at the lack of justice. Pictured are tributes left to PC Fletcher at the memorial

Among the evidence against him is thought to be a 'scathing' report on the shooting by the then deputy cabinet secretary Sir Anthony Duff. It has never been published or placed in the National Archives.

The Cabinet Office also refused to release any of it two years ago after a freedom of information battle, saying it holds information from the security services.

Yesterday the Met said: 'We believe our investigation has identified enough material to identify those responsible for WPC Fletcher's murder if it could be presented to a court.

'However, the key material has not been made available for use in court in evidential form for reasons of national security.

'Therefore, without this material and following a review of all the evidence available to prosecutors, the Crown Prosecution Service have informed us that there is insufficient admissible evidence to charge the man.'

Mr Murray added: 'I am angry this information cannot be made public.

'I suspect there are certain politicians from the past who are very relieved about this decision.'

Speaking from his home in Chingford, north-east London, Mr Murray said he now hopes to bring a private prosecution against Mabrouk.

It is understood that a dossier of evidence into the death of the officer, pictured, was blocked at ministerial level by the Home Office

A Met spokesman said: 'This investigation will never be closed but the likelihood of finding further evidence, in Libya or elsewhere, is low.'

PC Fletcher's family said in a statement: 'We are satisfied the Metropolitan Police has left no stone unturned in its pursuit of justice.

'We are deeply disappointed and frustrated that a prosecution cannot proceed at this time.

'We had hoped the latest turn of events would finally lead to some closure for the family.'

Last night Home Secretary Amber Rudd refused to say why the evidence could not be used.

Steve Kamlish QC, Mabrouk's lawyer, said: 'At no stage, either in interview or since, have the police produced any evidence against my client  not a shred.'
Elements of an Obstruction of Justice Charge

One of the primary principles of criminal investigations is that, in their quest for truth and justice, investigators must remain independent and free of interference or influence. Such meddling can take many forms, from bribery and witness intimidation, to evidence tampering and outright lying, and are generally referred to as "obstruction of justice."

In the wake of President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey last week, many are speculating that Comey's termination was an attempt to thwart investigations into Trump's campaigns and advisor's connections with Russia, and therefore amounts to obstruction of justice. But what federal statutes would cover Trump's actions, and what, specifically, do they prohibit?

Prohibited Actions

Federal obstruction statutes are intentionally written to cover a wide range of behavior. For instance, 18 U.S.C.  1505 prohibits attempts to "influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress." The language of the statute, as with most obstruction of justice laws, focuses more on the effect of an action, rather than list specific prohibited actions.

Comey's FBI was investigating communication between Trump's former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and Russia, when the president reportedly asked Comey to close the investigation. Considering it came from the President of the United States and his boss, requesting an end to the investigation could, in and of itself, be seen as an attempt to influence Comey's "proper exercise of [his agency's] power of inquiry." In addition, Comey's subsequent firing makes it appear like Trump was trying to obstruct or impede that inquiry.

Prohibited Motives

As an astute "former president" (and one who should know from obstruction of justice charges) pointed out, however, "Obstruction of justice isn't proving obstruction, it's proving corrupt intent." As it turns out, whoever is behind this quote from Richard Nixon's parody Twitter account is correct, in a sense. Under federal obstruction of justice laws, it's not enough to prove that a president, or anyone else, did something -- federal prosecutors must also prove that something was done "corruptly" or with the specific intent to obstruct an investigation.

For example, as the New York Times pointed out, normally permissible actions, like filing legal complaints, can be evidence of corrupt intent if they are aimed at government agents in the midst of an investigation.

In Trump's case, the president has the full legal authority to fire Comey, as he has dismissed other federal employees. Like nearly all other employees, Comey's employment is "at-will," meaning that he can be terminated for any reason or no reason at all (unless a contract states otherwise). That said, employees can't be fired for illegal reasons, and a firing with the intent to influence or end a criminal investigation would be illegal.

Demonstrating corrupt intent, however, can prove difficult. While several theories were floated to justify Comey's firing, Trump himself seemed to connect the dots in an interview with NBC's Lester Holt:

"And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said 'you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won'."

Whether that implication is enough to indicate a corrupt intention on the part of the president will probably be left up to federal prosecutors, if the accusations of obstruction of justice ever become more than that.

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Political parties are to be investigated over concerns they abuse personal data to target adverts at internet users.

Amid concerns of a Facebook election dominated by unverified claims on social media, the Information Commissioner launched a review into the use of online data.

Elizabeth Denhams probe will consider whether parties are using information about the websites users visit to target adverts at them on Facebook and Snapchat.

The Tories and Labour are expected to spend 1million each on social media adverts

She confirmed last night that the review would examine behaviour during the campaign and warned candidates to stick to the rules.

The Tories and Labour are expected to spend 1million each on social media adverts.

The investigation by the Information Commissioner follows allegations involving an analytics firm linked to a Brexit campaign.

In March, pro-Remain Labour MP Stephen Kinnock called on the Electoral Commission to investigate allegations that Leave.EU had not declared the role of Cambridge Analytica in its campaign.

Miss Denham told the BBC: What were trying to do is shine the light on the use of personal data of voters to target them in some way during political campaigns.

Its important the public understands how their data may be used.

Theres been allegations, theres been a lot of trade and analysis of peoples digital trails online that then allows political campaigns to serve up ads that are micro-targeted to individuals.

On her blog, Miss Denham added: Having considered the evidence we have already gathered I have decided to open a formal investigation into the use of data analytics for political purposes.

This will involve deepening our current activity to explore practices deployed during the UKs EU referendum campaign but potentially also in other campaigns.

Elizabeth Denhams probe will consider whether parties are using information about the websites users visit to target adverts at them on Facebook, run by Mark Zuckerberg (pictured), and Snapchat

Miss Denham said it was understandable that political campaigns were exploring the potential of advanced data analysis tools.

But she added: The public have the right to expect that this takes place in accordance with the law.

This is a complex and rapidly evolving area of activity and the level of awareness among the public about how data analytics works, and how their personal data is collected, shared and used through such tools, is low.

'What is clear is that these tools have a significant potential impact on individuals privacy.

It is important that there is greater and genuine transparency about the use of such techniques to ensure that people have control over their own data and the law is upheld.

In March, pro-Remain Labour MP Stephen Kinnock called on the Electoral Commission to investigate allegations that Leave.EU had not declared the role of Cambridge Analytica in its campaign

A Tory spokesman said: The Conservative Party fully complies with all the requirements of electoral and information law.

Digital campaigning techniques help ensure that the public are informed, and will drive up democratic participation across society.

Leave.EUs head of communications Andy Wigmore said there was nothing to investigate.

He said the Information Commissioner was under political pressure based on stories which are completely false.

The probe was announced on the day the Electoral Commission said voters could be deceived by online election adverts because of a lack of adequate regulation. Claire Bassett, its chief executive, said it was often impossible for web users to tell who was paying for political messages.

While traditional leaflets have to bear an imprint saying which party they came from, social media messages do not.

The commission is teaming up with Snapchat to urge young people to register to vote by the May 22 deadline.
Theresa May has set out strict new rules to help slash immigration to the tens of thousands and she outlined her Brexit ambitions in the Tory manifesto.

Despite failing to meet the pledge in the past, the Conservative manifesto promises to cut migration to the tens of thousands for the third successive election.

Mrs May will change the law to make it more expensive for firms to bring in foreign workers and make it more expensive for non British nationals to use the NHS.

The Prime Minister's blueprint for power sets out her red lines ahead of the Brexit talks, which the EU say can begin within hours of the election being declared.

Theresa May has vowed she will cut immigration below 100,000 with her Brexit deal and tough new rules on foreign arrivals if re-elected on June 8

Despite failing to meet the pledge in the past the Conservative manifesto promises to cut migration to the tens of thousands for the third successive election

The manifesto makes clear the Tories will seek to 'bear down on immigration'.

Unlike Labour's plans, the numerical target remains and foreign students will continue to be included in the statistics.

The manifesto said: 'We will increase the earnings thresholds for people wishing to sponsor migrants for family visas.

'We will toughen the visa requirements for students, to make sure that we maintain high standards.

'We will expect students to leave the country at the end of their course, unless they meet new, higher requirements that allow them to work in Britain after their studies have concluded.

'Overseas students will remain in the immigration 55 statistics  in line with international definitions  and within scope of the governments policy to reduce annual net migration.'

Mrs May will change the law to make it more expensive for firms to bring in foreign workers and make it more expensive for non British nationals to use the NHS

The Prime Minister's blueprint for power sets out her red lines ahead of the Brexit talks, which the EU say can begin within hours of the election being declared

The Tories are maintaining their pledge to cut immigration to the tens of thousands. The current figure is far higher than this at 273,000 but has fallen from its peak last year

On Brexit and immigration, the document added: 'Leaving the European Union means, for the first time in decades, that we will be able to control immigration from the European Union too.

MAY'S BREXIT RED LINES Theresa May committed her Brexit red lines to the manifesto today, tying in her Conservative candidates to her objectives. She wants: A 'deep and special relationship' with the EU

No deal is better than a deal

Freedom from the European Court so Britain makes its own laws

Controlled immigration via the end of free movement, with a two way deal on EU nationals in the UK and Britons on the continent

A common travel area between Britain and Ireland Advertisement

'We will therefore establish an immigration policy that allows us to reduce and control the number of people who come to Britain from the European Union, while still allowing us to attract the skilled workers our economy needs.'

In her speech launching the plans, Mrs May said Brexit was the 'central challenge' facing Britain and warned failure would be 'dire' for Britain.

She said: 'The British people made their choice. I respect that. And I respect the view of other European leaders who agree we cant be half-in, half-out either.

'So we will leave the European Union and take control of our money, take control of our borders and take control of our laws.

'We will forge a new deep and special partnership with Europe, but reach out beyond Europe to strike new trade deals for our goods and services with old allies and new friends around the world too.

'We will make the decisions that matter to Britain here in Britain and be a great, global trading nation that stands tall in the world once again.'

Mrs May will hope the manifesto plans out today will help her capitalise on her commanding leads in the polls

Unlike Labour's plans, Mrs May's manifesto includes the numerical target on immigration and foreign students will continue to be included in the statistics

Mrs May accepted Britain would pay a 'reasonable' settlement on Brexit - a figure calculated by accountants today as around 5billion.

The document argues that 'when immigration is too fast and too high, it is difficult to build a cohesive society' and that with annual net migration standing at 273,000, 'immigration to Britain is still too high'.

The immigration skills charge levied on some firms employing migrant workers will double to 2,000 a year per employee by 2022 so 'we can invest more in workers in the UK'.

The revenue from the Skills Charge - which was introduced in April 2017 - will fund skills training for British workers.

The current charge is set at 1,000 per employee per year and is levied on employers that employ migrants in skilled areas.

There will also be an increase in the immigration health surcharge, to 600 for migrant workers and 450 for international students, to cover their use of the NHS.

But Ms Merkel said 'if the British Government says that free movement of people is no longer valid, that will have its price in relations with Britain'

The manifesto announcments come a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned 'if the British Government says that free movement of people is no longer valid, that will have its price in relations with Britain'.

She added: 'This isn't malicious, but I can't have all the good sides and then say there's a cap of 100,000 or 200,000 EU citizens, more aren't allowed into Britain - perhaps researchers as well, but no others, please.'

Speaking at an event with trade union officials in Berlin, she said: 'That won't work, and then we would have to think about what obstacle we create from the European side to compensate for that.'

In light of the EU referendum result being 52 per cent in favour of Brexit and 48 per cent against, Ms Merkel said: 'We will, of course, always think in the future relationship of the 48 or 49 per cent who didn't back Brexit.'

It comes as George Osborne stepped up his feud with Theresa May on Wednesday with a claim that no senior ministers support her 'rash target for cutting immigration

Mr Osborne tweeted a link to the article, which has sparked complaints that he is exploiting his privileged government knowledge in his new role

It comes as the editorial in George Osborne's Evening Standard yesterday lamented the fact that Mrs May is keeping the tens of thousands pledge.

It claimed that no senior ministers support her 'rash target for cutting immigration.

The former chancellor's newspaper launched a vicious attack on the Prime Minister's policy for reducing net flows below 100,000, branding it 'perverse'.

The Evening Standard editorial said most of the Cabinet had expected Mrs May to 'bury' the pledge when she took the keys to Downing Street and they would be glad to 'see the back of it'.

Although the pointed attack was not under Mr Osborne's name, as editor he oversees content in the paper and also tweeted a link to the piece.




Controversial Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke claims he's taken a job as an assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security.

Clarke, who built a following among conservatives with his provocative social media presence and strong support of Donald Trump, told WISN he will work in the Office of Partnership and Engagement as a liaison to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies.

'I'm both honored and humbled to be appointed to this position,' Clarke said during the interview.

The department declined to immediately confirm the appointment.

Controversial Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke claims he's taken a job as an assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security

DHS spokeswoman Jenny Burke said in a statement: 'such senior positions are announced by the Department when made official by the Secretary. No such announcement with regard to the Office of Public Engagement has been made.'

Craig Peterson, a Clarke spokesman, said the sheriff would not comment further and that 'he felt the need to tell folks he had accepted the position so the governor could get the ball rolling' on appointing a replacement.

Clarke's elevation to a national posting would come at a time of great turmoil for him and the sheriff's office.

Seven workers at the county jail he oversees are at the center of a criminal investigation into the dehydration death last year 38-year-old Terrill Thomas, an inmate who prosecutors say was deprived of water as punishment.

The Milwaukee County District's Attorney's Office is considering charges against those staffers, based on a jury's recommendation after prosecutors presented them with evidence during a weeklong inquest.

Clarke wasn't among the seven staffers on the jury's list because prosecutors say he wasn't directly involved in the events leading up Thomas' death.

Clarke claims he will work in the Office of Partnership and Engagement as a liaison to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies

The department declined to immediately confirm the appointment of Clarke in any position

But the death happened under his leadership, which his critics say was sufficient cause for Clarke to be fired.

Clarke would also be leaving office with several pending lawsuits against him, including one filed by Thomas' relatives.

In February, a 24-year-old Milwaukee man sued the sheriff, saying Clarke had deputies detain and question him after a flight from Dallas because, while boarding, the man shook his head at Clarke.

The sheriff didn't deny he had the man detained, saying 'he reserves the reasonable right to pre-empt a possible assault.'

Last year, the frequent Fox News guest earned more than $105,000 in speaking fees - almost as much as his sheriff's salary - at more than three dozen events across the country.

As Clarke's profile has risen since taking over the sheriff's office in 2002, he's become one of the most polarizing figures in Wisconsin politics.

'Our country deserves better,' Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, who has repeatedly clashed with Clarke, said of his appointment to the DHS position. During one of those clashes in 2013, Clarke insulted Abele saying he had 'penis envy.'

The sheriff (pictured) is currently surrounded by controversy as an investigation into the dehydration death of a prisoner at a prison he oversees remains ongoing

Abele said Clarke has engaged in 'gratuitous name calling, insults of other public officials, questioning judges' sentences. In general the focus is on what you should be angry about, not what to like.'

An immigrant-advocacy group, Voces de la Frontera, expressed concern about the sheriff's announcement, calling him 'unfit for any office' in a statement.

The group has recently been critical of Clarke for his desire to have his sheriff's deputies trained to carry out the duties of immigration enforcement officials as part of the federal 287g program.

It wasn't immediately clear what power, if any, Clarke's new assignment would give him on immigration enforcement.

During the Tuesday's radio interview, Clarke said he would act as a liaison between DHS Secretary John Kelly and state and local government officials, including mayors and law enforcement, as well as people in the private sector.

Clarke said he would have a 'steep learning curve' in his new job, but added that his experience in local government would be an asset.

'One of the things I've heard in speaking to several of those entities is they feel they're being ignored, and part of it is because this is a massive bureaucracy,' he said.
Prince Harry would be able to marry girlfriend Meghan Markle at Westminster Abbey despite her being a divorcee, the Church of England has confirmed.

But the Prince would still require The Queens permission and it is believed the Archbishop of Canterbury would need to provide a special licence for any potential nuptials.

If Harry, 32, was to marry Ms Markle, 35, it would mean he would follow in the footsteps of his brother Prince William, who married Kate Middleton in a lavish ceremony at the famous church in 2011.

Prince Harry, left, and Meghan Markle, right, would be able to marry at Westminster Abbey, the Church of England has confirmed

It had been feared Ms Markle's past divorce would prevent a potential wedding at the famous church, but a 2002 ruling allows divorced people to have nuptials there

A spokesman for Westminster Abbey told the Express there were no rules to prevent Harry marrying Ms Markle there.

The spokesman said: The Abbey follows the General Synod Ruling of 2002. Since then it has been possible for divorced people to be married in the Church of England.

He added Ms Markles Jewish background would not prevent an interfaith marriage at the abbey.

She was previously married to producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013 and the couple performed traditional Jewish celebrations at their wedding in Jamaica.

Speculation has mounted as to whether Harry will propose to Ms Markle and the pair were seen passionately embracing at a polo match earlier this month.

Well-placed sources say the relationship is extremely serious, and that Meghans invitation to Pippa Middletons wedding is the ultimate endorsement, painting her as a potential princess.

If Harry and Ms Markle were to wed at Westminster Abbey they would follow in the footsteps of his brother Prince William and Kate Middleton, who had their ceremony there in 2011, pictured

The pair made their first public appearance as a couple at the event at Ascot in Berkshire.

The Los Angeles-born star has been dating Prince Harry for around 10 months and the pair have taken turns to jet out to see each other in the UK, US and Canada.

Ms Markle spends much of her time in Toronto where she films US drama Suits, in which she plays paralegal Rachel Zane.
Researchers have developed the first soft robot that can walk on rough surfaces such as sand and pebbles.

The four-legged, 3-D printed bot's X shape layout allow it to have different types of walks for different terrains.

The researchers say it could be used to record sensor data in dangerous environments or for search and rescue missions.

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The researcher tested the performance of the bot (pictured) with different leg configurations, gait sequences over various terrains, and it was able to successfully navigate over large rocks, under inclined surfaces and over small pebbles, walking at speeds up to 20 millimeters (0.8 inches) per second

The robot, designed by researchers at the University of California in San Diego, was possible thanks to a high-end 3-D printer that allowed the researchers to print soft and rigid materials together within the same components.

The robot's soft legs naturally conform to its surroundings during operation, resulting in a robot with the ability to crawl through a variety of terrains with limited computation and no sensing capabilities.

According to Dr Michael Tolley, a mechanical engineering professor at UC San Diego and the leader of the research, bringing together both soft and rigid materials together will create fast, agile robots that are more adaptable than previous generations of bots, and can safely walk side by side with humans.

Dr Tolley said the idea of blending soft and hard materials into the robot's body came from nature.

'In nature, complexity has a very low cost,' Tolley said.

'Using new manufacturing techniques like 3D printing, we're trying to translate this to robotics.'

3-D printing is also faster and cheaper than relying on molds for manufacturing.

The researchers say that up until now, soft robots have only been able to shuffle or crawl on the ground without lifting their legs - but the new bot can walk.

The researcher tested the performance of the bot with different leg configurations, gait sequences over various terrains , and it was able to successfully navigate over large rocks, under inclined surfaces and over small pebbles, walking at speeds up to 20 millimeters (0.8 inches) per second.

The current prototype is tethered to an open source board and an air pump, but the researchers are working on miniaturizing the board and the pump so that the robot can walk independently

The bot is made up of three parallel, connected inflatable chambers - 3-D printed from a ribber-like material.

The chambers are hollow so they can be inflated, and on the outside they're bellowed, which lets the engineers control the legs' movements.

For example, when one of the chambers is inflated and the other two aren't, the leg bends.

The bot's gait depends on the timing, the amount of pressure and the order in which the pistons in its four legs are inflated.

The robot's walking behavior in real life also closely matched the researcher's predictions, which will allow engineers make better educated decisions when designing soft bots.

The current prototype is tethered to an open source board and an air pump, but the researchers are working on miniaturizing the board and the pump so that the robot can walk independently.

The challenge in this will be to find the right design for the board and the right components, such as power sources and batteries, Dr Tolley said.
An earthquake of magnitude 7 or greater is due to hit Istanbul, scientists have warned.

The epicentre of an earthquake on the North Anatolian Fault Zone could be below the gates of the city, current forecasts warned.

This could prove devastating for the Turkish city which has more than 15 million inhabitants and thousands of tourists.

Scientists have warned that the city may only have seconds warning to prepare for the tremors.

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The offshore Marmara fault where a major earthquake is overdue is indicated by the red line. The yellow stars mark the repeating earthquakes found in the study which indicates fault creep (green rectangle) while the fault portion offshore of Istanbul (blue rectangle) is locked

WHAT ARE THE RISKS? The Marmara section has not produced a large earthquake since 1766 but is know to rupture every 250 years based on historical records. The extent of such seismic threat to Istanbul depends on how strongly the plates are entangled and on the exact nucleation point of the earthquake. In the western part of the fracture zone is lower and that the two tectonic plates are creeping past one another at a very slow rate. But these small tremors have not been observed nearer Istanbul which leads to a build-up of tectonic energy and increases the probability of a large earthquake there. Advertisement

The extent of such seismic threat to Istanbul depends on how strongly the plates are entangled and where the earthquake strikes.

Research led by Marco Bohnhoff from the GFZ German Research Centre for Geoscience suggests the next major earthquake is more likely to originate in Istanbul's eastern Marmara Sea.

'This is both good news and bad news for the city with over 15 million inhabitants', said Dr Bohnhoff.

'The good news: The rupture propagation will then run eastwards i.e. away from the city', explains the researcher.

'The bad news is that there will only be a very short early warning phase of a few seconds.'

The UN estimates an earthquake between 7.5 magnitude (most probable) and 7.7 (worst case scenario) would kill between 70,000 - 90,000 people.

They estimate the damage to cost $40 billion (30.1 billion) with around 500,000 to 600,000 people make homeless.

The Marmara section has not produced a large earthquake since 1766 but is known to rupture every 250 years based on historical records.

The last Istanbul earthquake was magnitude 7 and struck in 1894. At least 1,349 people were killed.

An earthquake in Istanbul (pictured, stock) could prove devastating for the Turkish city which has more than 15 million inhabitants - especially considering they may have seconds warning

LIST OF DEADLY EARTHQUAKES IN TURKEY In 1894 a magnitude 7 earthquake hit Istanbul and killed at least 1,349 people. In 1939 around 32,700 people were killed in Erzincan after an earthquake of 7.8. In 1944 a 7.5 earthquake hit Gerede killing 3,959. In 1966 an earthquake of 6.8 hit the town of Varto, killing 2,529. In 1975 a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit the town of Lice, killing 2,350 people. In 1976 an earthquake of 7.3 magniture hit Van Province, killing 5,291. In 1999 a 7.6 quake hit Izmit, south of Istanbul, killing 17,118 people. Advertisement

Early warning times are extremely important in order to switch traffic lights to red, to block tunnels and bridges or to shut down critical infrastructure.

In the western part of the fracture zone is lower and that the two tectonic plates are creeping past one another at a very slow rate.

During this process small tremors of the same signature, so-called 'repeaters', occur at distinct recurrence times.

Further east, close to Istanbul, however, repeaters have not been observed and the tectonic plates appear to be completely locked.

This leads to a build-up of tectonic energy and increases the probability of a large earthquake there.

'We have found recurring earthquakes below the western Marmara Sea' said Dr Bohnhoff.

'From this we deduce that below the western Marmara Sea the two tectonic plates (for the most part25-75 per cent) are moving slowly past each other thus accumulating less energy than if they were completely locked.'

The Marmara section of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (pictured) has not produced a large earthquake since 1766 but is know to rupture every 250 years based on historical records

'In such a case there would likewise be good news and bad news,' said Dr Bohnhoff.

Good would be a somewhat longer early warning period, bad would be the fact that the rupture propagation would then take place in the direction of Istanbul resulting in more severe ground shaking than if the origin was further east.

However, the current data obtained suggests the earthquake will have an epicentre at the gates of the city.

This would mean people would only have a few seconds warning before the tremor yet the ground shaking might be less severe.
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An enthusiastic astronomer painstakingly stitched together a series of shots taken on one night from a remote hill in Russia to make this incredibly detailed panorama of the Milky Way.

Samir Samirovich, from the city of Syzran in south-western Russia's Samara Oblast region, used his Nikon D5200 camera with a Nikkor 50mm lens to capture the images.

He travelled into the remote Chekalino area, where there is much less light pollution, to take the breathtaking photographs.

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Amateur astronomer Samir Samirovich used his Nikon D5200 camera to create this incredible panorama of the Milky Way. The exposure for each of the 110 photographs was six seconds and the shooting took almost the whole night

MILKY WAY KEY FACTS The Milky Way is thought to be 120,000 light years across and contains more than 200 billion stars. This makes it a middleweight galaxy with the largest galaxy known, IC 1101, containing more than 100 trillion stars. On a clear night, when you look up into the night sky the most you can see from any one point on the Earth is about 2,500 stars. Advertisement

The exposure for each of the 110 photographs was six seconds and the shooting took almost the whole night.

Mr Samirovich then spent more than seven hours knitting the photographs together to create the combined photograph which he shared on social media.

The Milky Way gets its name from its appearance from Earth.

It is thought to be 120,000 light years across and contains more than 200 billion stars

Like more than two-thirds of the known galaxies, the Milky Way has a spiral shape.

At the centre of the spiral, a lot of energy and, occasionally, vivid flares are created.

Astronomers believe the Milky Way wasnt always a stunning barred spiral. It formed into its current size by eating other galaxies.

Mr Samirovich spent more than seven hours knitting the photographs together to create the combined photograph which he shared on social media (pictured with a different filter). The Milky Way gets its name from its appearance from Earth

Mr Samirovich travelled into the remote Chekalino area where there is less light pollution to take the photographs - one of which is pictured here. Astronomers believe the Milky Way wasnt always a spiral and formed by eating other galaxies

On a clear night, when you look up into the night sky the most you can see from any one point on the Earth is about 2,500 stars.

'There are so many people who do not see the beauty of the night sky. There are so many people who will miss that in their daily routine', said Mr Samirovich.

'The nature, Creator or Universe, called it whatever you want designed all of it very wisely... everyone can afford this priceless beauty', he said.

On a clear night the most starts you can see from any one point is about 2,500 stars in the Milky Way. At the centre of the spiral, a lot of energy and, occasionally, vivid flares are created. Pictured is one of the images taken by Mr Samirovich

Mr Samirovich also took photographs of the Andromeda galaxy and the Dumbbell Nebula through his telescope.

The Andromeda Galaxy is a spiral galaxy about 2.5 million light years from Earth and the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way.

The Dumbbell Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Vulpecula, at a distance of about 1,360 light years from Earth.

It is a popular observing target for amateur astronomers.

Syzran is the third largest city in Samara Oblast and is located on the banks of the Volga River's Saratov Reservoir.

The Milky Way, captured here by Mr Samirovich, is thought to be 120,000 light years across and has more than 200 billion stars. This makes it a middleweight galaxy with the largest galaxy known, IC 1101, containing more than 100 trillion stars
It was one of the most fearsome predators to walk the Earth.

Now, the secrets behind the bone-crushing bite of the Tyrannosaurus rex have been revealed in a new study.

The dinosaur could break bones by biting down with forces equalling the weight of three small cars, researchers claim.

T. Rex could not only crack the biggest of bones, it could also pulverise and ingest them, absorbing marrow and minerals beyond the reach of less well-endowed competitors.

T-Rex could not only crack the biggest of bones, it could also pulverise and ingest them, absorbing marrow and minerals beyond the reach of less well-endowed competitors. Pictured is a computer simulation of its bone and muscle structure

'The combination of impressive bite force and stout teeth set T. Rex apart,' lead author Paul Gignac, an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University, told AFP.

'It regularly scored, deeply punctured and even sliced through bones.

The study, by Florida State University, looked at how T. rex could pulverise bones - a capacity known as extreme osteopathy.

Osteopathy is typically seen in living carnivorous mammals such as wolves and hyenas, but not reptiles because of the shape of their teeth.

Wolves and hyenas use so-called occluding teeth that fit together perfectly, top-and-bottom, a feature common in carnivorous mammals.

T. Rex lacked such dental gear, raising the question of how they managed to shatter resistant bones the size of small tree trunks.

But it seems sheer power counts for something

The researchers found that the prehistoric reptile could bite down with nearly 8,000 pounds of force.

This is more than two times greater than the bite force of the largest living crocodiles - today's bite force champions.

At the same time, T.Rex's long, conical teeth generated 431,000 pounds per square inch of bone-failing tooth pressures.

This allowed T-Rex to drive open cracks in bone during repetitive, mammal-like biting and causing bones to explode.

The dinosaur's long, conical teeth, shown in these iamges, generated 431,000 pounds per square inch of bone-failing tooth pressures. This allowed T-Rex to drive open cracks in bone during repetitive, mammal-like biting and causing bones to explode

Florida State University found that T.Rex could bite down with 8,000 pounds of force. This is more than two times greater than the bite force of the largest living crocodile. At the same time, their long, conical teeth generated 431,000 pounds per square inch of tooth pressure

The maximum pressure at the tip of the beasts tooth was 28 times what is felt at the bottom of the deep-sea Mariana Trench in the western Pacific.

'It was this bone-crunching acumen that helped T-Rex to more fully exploit the carcasses of large horned-dinosaurs and duck-billed hadrosaurids whose bones, rich in mineral salts and marrow, were unavailable to smaller, less equipped carnivorous dinosaurs,' said Paul Gignac, assistant professor of Anatomy and Vertebrate Paleontology at Oklahoma State University Center.

The dinosaur's tooth pressure - a new metric devised by the researchers was an astounding 30 tonnes per square centimetre

The researchers modelled how the muscles of living crocodilians, which are close relatives of dinosaurs, contribute to bite forces.

They then compared the results with birds, which are modern-day dinosaurs, and generated a model for T-Rex.

From their work on crocodilians, they realised that high bite forces were only part of the story.

To understand how the giant dinosaur consumed bone, the team also needed to understand how those forces were transmitted through the teeth, a measurement they call tooth pressure.

'Having high bite force doesn't necessarily mean an animal can puncture hide or pulverize bone, tooth pressure is the biomechanically more relevant parameter,' Erickson said.

'It is like assuming a 600 horsepower engine guarantees speed. In a Ferrari, sure, but not for a dump truck.'

In current day, well-known bone crunchers like spotted hyenas and grey wolves slice their way through bones with hacksaw-like molars like hacksaws.

T-Rex used a similar technique to gnaw repeatedly.

According to the Washington Post, one Triceratops pelvis found had been chewed about 80 times.

However, T-Rex also used its teeth like a hammer to fracture bone.

A Triceratops pelvis bearing nearly 80 T-rex bite marks. The bracket shows a region where the carnivore repeatedly removed sections of bone

The new study is one of several by the authors and their colleagues that now show how sophisticated feeding abilities, most like those of modern mammals and their immediate ancestors, actually first appeared in reptiles during the Age of the Dinosaurs.

Interestingly, the limit to T. Rex's bite force was probably not muscular, but the capacity of its teeth to withstand such intense stress.

Crocodiles and T. Rex 'are probably operating at tooth pressures that are nearing the extreme structural limits of what reptilian tooth enamel can handle,' Gignac said.

T. Rex's grip, in other words, may be just what is needed to fracture bones. Any more might have caused irreparable damage to the king's pearly whites.
How long a marriage will last has been linked to whether or not the husband gets on with his wife's friends.

Researchers found that when a husband disapproves of his spouse's friends during their first year of marriage, the couple is more likely to end up divorced.

While the results proved true in white couples, in the black couples studied this was not found to be the case.

However, in both black and white couples studied, when a husband felt that his wife's friends interfered with their relationship, the chances of divorce was doubled.

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How long your marriage will last has been linked to whether or not a husband gets on with his wife's friends. Researchers found that when husbands disapprove of their spouse's friends during the first year of marriage, couples are more likely to end up divorced (stock image)

HOW FRIENDS AFFECT MARRIAGE In the past, psychologists have seen an extensive friend network as a benefit of marriage, Dr Fiori said. However, many married couples report spending less time with their friends than single people. This could be because couples turn toward one another for their social needs, but it could also be a result of friction between spouses and friends, Dr Fiori said. The psychologist recommends that couples struggling with these issues re-frame their relationship to consider the benefits a friend can bring to a spouse. Couples should also consider how the benefits of that friendship can trickle down to the marriage itself, she said. Advertisement

The study also showed women's attitudes to their husband's friends does not affect the likelihood of divorce.

'Ours was one of the first studies to look at the effect of merging friend networks and how those might affect the marital relationship,' study coauthor Dr Katherine Fiori, a psychologist at Adelphi University in New York, told Live Science.

The role of merging friends in a satisfactory relationship may be rising, Dr Fiori said, because couples are now less likely to meet through friends and more likely to find one another online.

'We are now having people who are coming from two very different sets of families and friends who are now trying to merge these networks,' she added.

In the past, psychologists have seen an extensive friend network as a benefit of marriage, Dr Fiori said.

However, many married couples report spending less time with their friends than single people.

This could be because couples turn toward one another for their social needs, but it could also be a result of friction between spouses and friends, Dr Fiori said.

The psychologist recommends that couples struggling with these issues re-frame their relationship to consider the benefits a friend can bring to a spouse.

Couples should also consider how the benefits of that friendship can trickle down to the marriage itself, she said.

The study focussed specifically on couples in the first year of their marriage. In both the black and white couples studied, when the husband felt that his wife's friends interfered with their relationship, the chances of divorce was doubled (stock image)

As to why black couples seem to struggle less with friendship troubles, the researchers suggest a cultural focus on family could help.

'It may just not matter as much that they disapprove of each other's friends, because their focus is so much on family,' Dr Fiori said of the black couples in the study.

The researchers used data from 355 black and white heterosexual couples who were surveyed through the Early Years of Marriage project.

The project is a study that has followed couples who married in Detroit since as early as 1986.

Just over a third (36 per cent) of the white couples and more than half (55 per cent) of the black couples divorced within the first 16 years of marriage.

The researchers compared data from this 16-year time frame with answers that men and women gave separately to surveys during their first few years of marriage.

In each marriage's first year, the couples were asked how many friends they and their spouse could call on for help and advice.

WOMEN FANCY MEN WHO LOOK LIKE THEIR BROTHERS It has long been speculated that women tend to choose partners who look like their fathers, but research published last week found women are more attracted to men who resemble their brothers. Researchers found there was 'clear evidence' for similarities between the faces of women's brothers and their partners. The idea of having a relationship with someone who resembles your sibling might be disturbing, but it could hold a genetic advantage. 'Although siblings themselves are sexually aversive, sibling resemblance is not,' researchers wrote in the paper. 'Faces that subtly resemble family members could present useful cues to a potential reproductive partner with an optimal level of genetic dissimilarity,' they said. Advertisement

They were also asked: 'Does your (wife/husband) have friends that you would rather (she/he) not spend time with?'

In the second year of each marriage the couple were asked whether they felt their spouse had friends that interfered with their relationship.

When it came to divorce, a husband's attitudes to his wife's friends turned out to be the key factor.

For instance, seven in every ten white couples in which the husband was fine with his wife's friends during the first year of marriage were still together 16 years later.

But when a husband did not approve of his wife's friends, just over half were still married - a 20 per cent drop in long-term success rate.

In black couples, the only other race studied, the couple's feelings about one another's friends did not affect the likelihood of divorce.

But when it came to husbands who feel their wives' friends are interfering, the chances of divorce doubles, regardless of race.
From Stephen Hawking to Alan Turing, many of the most intelligent people in the world are atheists.

In the hope of understanding the link between intelligence and religion, researchers have created a model based on historical evidence and a recent survey.

The findings suggest that religion should be considered an instinct, with intelligence the ability to rise above one's instincts.

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From Stephen Hawking to Alan Turing, many of the most intelligent people in the world are atheists. Hawking famously said: 'Science can explain the universe, we don't need God to explain why there is something rather than nothing'

IS RELIGION AN INSTINCT? The researchers argue that religion should be seen as a separate evolved domain or instinct, whereas intelligence allows people to rise above their instincts. Rising above instincts is advantageous, because it helps people to solve problems. The team also investigated the link between instinct and stress. They suggest that being intelligent helps people during stressful times to rise above their instincts. Advertisement

Researchers from the Ulster Institute for Social Research and Rotterdam University were interested in understanding whether religion is something that evolved, or is instinctive.

The team created a model, called the Intelligence-Mismatch Association Model, which tries to explain why intelligence seems to be negatively associated with being religious.

Their model is based on the ideas of evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa's Savanna-IQ Principle.

This principle indicates that human behaviour will always be somehow anchored in the environment in which their ancestors developed.

The researchers argue that religion should be seen as a separate evolved domain or instinct, whereas intelligence allows people to rise above their instincts.

Rising above instincts is advantageous, because it helps people to solve problems.

Edward Dutton, co-lead author of the study, which is published in Evolutionary Psychological Science, said: 'If religion is an evolved domain then it is an instinct, and intelligence  in rationally solving problems  can be understood as involving overcoming instinct and being intellectually curious and thus open to non-instinctive possibilities.'

The researchers argue that religion should be seen as a separate evolved domain or instinct, whereas intelligence allows people to rise above their instincts (stock image)

The researchers also investigated the link between instinct and stress.

They suggest that being intelligent helps people during stressful times to rise above their instincts.

Mr Dutton said: 'If religion is indeed an evolved domain  an instinct  then it will become heightened at times of stress, when people are inclined to act instinctively, and there is clear evidence for this.

ATHEIST INTELLECTUALS 1) Stephen Hawking Hawking is known for his work into the basic laws which govern the universe. He has made his disbelief in God very clear, and famously said: 'Science can explain the universe, we don't need God to explain why there is something rather than nothing.' 2) Alan Turing Turing, has been called the 'founder of computer science and artificial intelligence' and was famous for his work at Bletchley Park. He believed in God as a teenager. But he let go of his religion when a friend died of tuberculosis and he decided materialism made more sense than religion. 3) Rosalind Franklin Franklin's work was critical in Watson and Crick's discovery of the DNA double helix structure. In one of her letters, she said: 'I maintain that faith in this world is perfectly possible without faith in another world.' 4) Neil deGrasse Tyson Tyson is an American astrophysicist and science communicator. He describes himself as agnostic, rather than an atheist. In a recent interview, he said: 'I remain unconvinced by any claims anyone has ever made about the existence or the power of a divine force operating in the universe.' 5) Thomas Edison Edison has been described as one of the US's greatest inventors, and is best known for his invention of the light bulb in 1879. He famously said: 'I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious ideas of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a personal God.' Advertisement

'It also means that intelligence allows us to able to pause and reason through the situation and the possible consequences of our actions.'

The researchers believe that people who are attracted to the non-instinctive are potentially better problem solvers.

Dimitri Van der Linden, co-author of the study added: 'This is important, because in a changing ecology, the ability to solve problems will become associated with rising above our instincts, rendering us attracted to evolutionary mismatches.'
The residents have temporarily taken shelter at the Shwe Myin Thar Monastery in Namtu, according to U Aung Sann Myint, secretary of the committee assisting displaced people in Namtu.

They arrived on May 11. They are from eight villages under Hsaik Hkawng Village Group in Namtu township, he said. The total number of refugees has risen to over 300 today [May 15] as a few more people arrived today.

He said that 92 number have been displaced.

The residents said they were afraid to remain at home due to hostilities between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), and the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

The RCSS entered Hsaik Hkawng Village Group [on May 11]  They left after meeting with the village head. The TNLA arrived at around 8pm that same night. They arrested the village head Sai Aik Nyunt and his brother-in-law Sai Aik Shwe, said Sai Han, from the Tai Youth Organization. They bound the two men with ropes, beat them and hit them with the gun barrel. They also fired shots into the village. The villagers became scared and fled.

Sai Han said two of the displaced villagers were being treated in the hospital after they were beaten up and shot by soldiers.

He added that he was not aware of any fighting between the two ethnic armed organizations.

However, the TNLA information office posted on Facebook that two clashes broke out between the TNLA and the RCSS in Taw Pe village in Kyaukme township, and in Ruu Nan village in Namhsan township on May 15.

The TNLA said they also fought in the area between Khun Kaw Village and Taw Pe Village in Kyaukse township from May 13 to 14.

The TNLAs information officer, Major Mai Aik Kyaw, denied rumors that the TNLA had threatened, hit or shot at local residents.

As far as I know, our troops and the Burmese Army were there on the 11th. The RCSS also arrived. The village is in the center. All the villagers fled after they got scared. We didnt do anything to the villagers, he said.

All the villagers who fled are from Shan village. We dont enter Shan villages, he added.

Fighting between the RCSS, a ceasefire signatory, and the TNLA, a non-signatory, sporadically erupted in both 2015 and 2015. In May 2016, more than 500 civilians in northern Shan State were displaced by the clashes, which were eventually resolved through political negotiations.

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited by Laignee Barron
It was the romantic match that captured the hearts of the nation but, for Jeremy the lefty snail, love has proved to be a harsh mistress.

Efforts to find a mate who shared the same rare anti-clockwise shell pattern resulted in not one but two potential candidates being located late last year.

But the gallant gastropod's charms proved no match for his rival Tomeau, who swooped in to capture the affections of Lefty.

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Jeremy the snail whose shell swirls the wrong way was matched with two other rare snails, Lefty and Tomeau (pictured) in hopes that they would create babies with the same swirls. But the love triangle turned sour when the two younger snails took a shine to each other

SNAIL LOVE Snails are hermaphrodites so can reproduce on their own without the need for another mate. But the molluscs only do this in the absence of a suitable mate, preferring to hook up with another snail. Researchers say the data from offspring of two lefty snails would also be far more valuable for genetic studies. Advertisement

Jeremy was rescued from a compost heap in London, and the 'left handed' snail was plucked from obscurity and recognised as one of a kind.

After discovering his shell swirled the 'wrong' way compared to other snails, scientists put out a call in October 2016 to find the mollusc a mate to preserve his genetic legacy.

The search turned up Lefty in Ipswich and Tomeau, who was flown into the UK from a snail farm in Majorca.

The threesome was given to the University of Nottingham, who believe that studying the genetic variations which cause the unique shell formations may shed light on a rare heart condition in humans.

Despite some initial interest between Jeremy and Lefty, it seems the exotic charms of the Spanish visitor were more to Lefty's tastes.

Speaking to MailOnline Jeremy's minder Dr Angus Davison, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Nottingham, said: It is a bit like introducing a girl you like to your best friend, only for them to run off together.

It was disappointing, because everyone wants to know what has happened with Jeremy and we get calls all the time.

'But it has not stopped us getting to the bottom of the science, and we are still hopeful he will mate.

Lefty and Tomeau began to produce eggs in April and have already had 170 babies, although none of the offspring so far has shared the left-swirls of their parents.

But all is not lost for Jeremy, who has adopted the role of playful uncle to the youngsters, according to Radio 4's Today programme.

And the Nottingham team are hopeful that left-coiled offspring will be produced in the next generation.

The Today programme shared a tweet celebrating the new love connection between Lefty and Tomeau.

Lefty and Tomeau began to produce eggs in April (left) and have already had 170 babies (hatching right), although none of the offspring so far has shared the left-swirls of their parents.

The hope is that by mating two 'left-handed' snails, scientists can zero in on the genes responsible for their altered body plan, as well as the human heart condition thought to affect one in 10,000 people. Jeremy (pictured) has taken on the role of an uncle to the youngsters

LOVE TRIANGLE Jeremy was rescued from a compost heap in London and scientists put out a call in to find the mollusc a mate who shared the same left swirling shell pattern. Two potential candidates were found and the threesome was given to the University of Nottingham in the hopes that they would have similar 'lefty' babies. Scientists believe the snail's unique swirls are related to a human heart condition called dextrocardia, which is thought to affect one in 10,000 people. Despite some initial interest between Jeremy and Lefty from Ipswhich, it seems the exotic charms of Spanish visitor Tomeau were more to Lefty's tastes. The pair have already had 170 babies, although none of the offspring so far has shared the left-swirls of their parents. And all is not lost for Jeremy, who has adopted the role of playful uncle to the youngsters. Advertisement

Scientists believe the snail's unique swirls are related to a condition called dextrocardia, in which patients have their heart on the wrong side of their chest.

The same genes are believed to cause snails' shells to twist round the wrong way.

The hope is that by mating two 'left-handed' snails, scientists can zero in on the genes responsible for their altered body plan.

This may also shed light on the heart condition, which is thought to affect one in 10,000 people.

Snails are hermaphrodites so can reproduce on their own without the need for another mate.

But the molluscs only do this in the absence of a suitable mate, preferring to hook up with another snail.

Researchers say the data from offspring of two lefty snails would also be far more valuable for genetic studies.

Speaking at the time, Dr Davison said: 'Ultimately, if the difference is due to an inherited condition, we would try to find the gene responsible and to see if the same gene is also present, and perhaps has the same function, in other animals, including ourselves.'
Elon Musk's non-profit company OpenAI is training robots to complete human tasks by watching a single demonstration in virtual reality.

The artificial intelligence research company, which has been funded $1 billion (0.7 billion) by Musk, is creating robots that copy humans by watching simulations.

Imitation allows humans to learn things quickly and developers at OpenAI say their aim is to create robots that learn just like us.

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HOW DOES IT WORK? The robot has two neural networks - a vision network and an imitation network - which allow it to mimic tasks that humans can do. The vision network is trained with hundreds of thousands of simulated images. The imitation network processes the demonstration and accomplishes it, taking into account that it is in a different position to the person who did the demonstration. The robot can find the blocks in the real world, despite never having seen actual images of the blocks before. The system is an early prototype that developers at OpenAI will be working on in the future. Advertisement

Designers tested their VR-teaching tool by creating a robot that could stack coloured blocks after seeing it performed in virtual reality just once.

'We've developed and deployed a new algorithm, one-shot imitation learning, allowing a human to communicate how to do a new task by performing it in VR', the OpenAI developers said in a blog post on Tuesday.

The team explained that the robot has two neural networks - a vision network and an imitation network - which allow it to mimic tasks that humans can do.

The vision network is trained with hundreds of thousands of simulated images.

The imitation network processes the demonstration and accomplishes it, taking into account that it might be approaching the task from a different angle.

The robot (pictured) has two neural networks - a vision network and an imitation network - which allow it to mimic tasks that humans can do

The robot perceives the environment with its camera and then instructs its arm to move the blocks in a specific way. The system is an early prototype that developers at OpenAI will be working on in the future

'The network learns this from the distribution of training examples. It is trained on dozens of different tasks with thousands of demonstrations for each task', the team said in their blog post.

'Imitation allows humans to learn new behaviours rapidly', said Josh Tobin, a member of the technical staff at OpenAI in a video.

'We would like our robots to be able to learn this way too', he said.

The robot (left) can find the blocks in the real world by watching a simulation (right), despite never having seen actual images of the blocks before

The San Francisco-based non-profit company, Open AI, was founded by Elon Musk who has invested $1 billion (0.7 billion)

WHAT IS OPENAI? Open AI is a collaborative non-profit artificial intelligence company set up at the send of last year by Elon Musk and president of start-up incubator Y Combinator, Sam Altman. It received more than $1 billion (0.7 billion) in funding when it launched and sees robotics, chatbots and games as practical fields where it develop and can flex its AI muscle. The firm set out its goals this week, which extend to using 'off the shelf' robots rather than building them from scratch, tweaking the robots to become mechanical maids. Advertisement

'We teach the robot a new task by demonstrating how to assemble block towers in a certain way'.

'With a simple demonstration of a task we can replicate it in a number of different initial conditions'.

The robot perceives the environment with its camera and then instructs its arm to move the blocks in a specific way.

'We generate thousands of different object locations, light settings and surface textures and show these examples to the network', said Mr Tobin.

The robot can find the blocks in the real world, despite never having seen actual images of the blocks before.

The system is an early prototype that developers at OpenAI will be working on in the future.
Last year, astronomers reported sightings of an 'alien megastructure' orbiting a distant star.

Now, a scientist has suggested that spotting these megastructures could be relatively easy  as long as experts focus on the right places.

He says that astronomers should turn their attention to 64 pulsar stars near our planet, which he believes offer the best chance of hosting an alien megastructure.

Last year, astronomers reported sightings of an 'alien megastructure' orbiting a distant star. Now, a scientist has suggested that spotting these megastructures could be relatively easy  as long as experts focus on the right places

TABBY'S STAR Tabby's Star, known officially as KIC 8462852, has baffled experts since it was discovered in 2015. Observations revealed its light dimmed regularly, as do distant stars when their planets pass in front of them. But while the stars of most exoplanet systems are seen to dim by a few per cent, KIC 8462852 dimmed by more than 20 per cent over periods of months. Some have claimed this dimming could be evidence of a Dyson Sphere  a hypothetical structure which could be used by an advanced alien race to harness the energy of a star. Scientists remain skeptical, offering that the dimming could be explained by a dust ring around the star or a hail of comets passing in between the star and Earth. Advertisement

In 2015, astronomers spotted a star, known as Tabby's Star that could be seen mysteriously brightening and dimming.

Several theories were suggested for this behaviour, with one expert suggesting that this 'winking' may have been caused by the rotation of an alien megastructure, called a Dyson's Sphere.

Now an astronomer from the Free University of Tbilisi, Georgia, is backing up this claim, and even says that the structures should be easy to spot with current technology.

In a paper published last year, Professor Zaza Osmanov said the alien megastructures are more likely to be shaped like thin discs rather than 'spherical shells.'

If his theory is correct, this would allow a Dyson's Sphere to exist in a star's 'habitable zone.'

And in his new paper, Professor Osmanov argues that if the Dyson's Sphere does exist in a habitable zone, it should be easy to spot using infrared telescopes.

In 2015, astronomers spotted a star, known as Tabby's Star that could be seen mysteriously brightening and dimming (artist's impression)

Professor Osmanov is urging astronomers to focus their search on 64 pulsar stars.

In his paper, published on arXiv, Professor Osmanov said: 'We have argued that by monitoring the nearby zone of the solar system approximately 64 pulsars are expected to be located inside it.'

But Professor Osmanov has warned that should we find the alien megastructure, it could be extremely powerful.

WHAT IS A DYSON SPHERE? A suggested method for harnessing the power of an entire star is known as a Dyson sphere. First proposed by theoretical physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960, this would be a swarm of satellites that surrounds a star. They could be an enclosed shell, or spacecraft spread out to gather its energy - known as a Dyson swarm. If such structures do exist, they would emit huge amounts of noticeable infrared radiation back on Earth. But as of yet, such a structure has not been detected. Source: All About Space magazine The Dyson Ring, left, is the simplest form of Dyson structure. Creating a Dyson bubble would be an incredible engineering challenge but it is considered to be far more feasible than surrounding a star in a rigid sphere Advertisement

He said: 'Rapidly rotating pulsars are very powerful and harvesting their energy would be quite profitable, but a habitable zone would be much farther and mass of a material required for constructing the mega-ring would exceed the total mass of all planets, asteroids, comets, centaurs and interplanetary dust in a typical planetary system by several orders of magnitude.'

This suggests that an alien civilisation living on a megastructure could be strong enough to wipe out humanity.
One of the biggest ever studies of ancient genomes has found that a Bronze Age 'beaker culture' invaded Britain around 4,000 years ago.

The immigrant group, named after the famous bell-shaped pots they carried, likely forced out native Neolithic farmers.

These ancient British farmers were famed for leaving behind massive rock relics, including Stonehenge.

Genetic analyses found that Britain underwent a greater than 90 per cent shift in its genetic make-up when the beaker folk arrived.

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This graphic from a beaker folk study in 2007 shows the spread of beaker culture across Europe. Red represents some of the ancient DNA sample sites found, while purple shows bell-shaped beaker artefacts that have been discovered across the continent

THE BEAKER CULTURE MYSTERY Beaker folk lived about 4,500 years ago in the temperate zones of Europe. They received their name from their distinctive bell-shaped beakers, decorated in horizontal zones by finely toothed stamps. The decorated pots are almost ubiquitous across Europe, and could have been used as drinking vessels or ceremonious urns. Believed to be originally from Spain, the Beaker folk soon spread into central and western Europe in their search for metals. But the sheer variety of beaker artefacts across Europe has made the pottery difficult to define as coming from one distinctive culture. The new study suggests the beaker culture did not always pass from a single migrating entity. DNA samples from beaker folk in Iberia and Central Europe were found to be genetically distinct. Advertisement

'To me, that's definitely surprising,' Dr Pontus Skoglund, a population geneticist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, who was not involved in the study, told Nature News.

'The people who built Stonehenge probably didn't contribute any ancestry to later people, or if they did, it was very little.'

Around 4,500 years ago bell-shaped pottery became popular across much of prehistoric Europe.

The Bronze Age trend has been debated by archaeologists for over a century.

Some argue that it was simply a fashion trend shared by several distinct cultural groups.

But other suggest that an immense migration of 'beaker folk' spread across the continent.

The new ancient genome research suggests that both theories are true.

The study, led by researchers at Harvard Medical School, analysed the DNA of 170 ancient Europeans.

They compared this DNA to the genomes of hundreds of other modern and prehistoric Europeans.

Ancient skeletons found in the Iberian peninsula were found to share little genetic connection with bones found in central Europe.

This suggests that the beaker craze was not always down to a large, migrating group, but in fact appeared separately in several cultures.

This theory is supported by regional differences found in the ceramics and burial style of beaker cultures in separate regions.

The beaker folk received their name from their distinctive bell-shaped beakers, decorated in horizontal zones by finely toothed stamps. Pictured are two beaker folk vessels discovered in Aberdeen in January

The bones the team analysed from Britain were revealed to be from a distinct, genetically related group that almost completely replaced the island's earlier natives.

This means that a large invasion by at least one group of beaker folk likely drove Britain's neolithic farmers from their land.

So, while the beaker culture across Europe may have sprung up from more than one source, its arrival in Britain was thanks to a single, invading force.

The sheer variety of beaker artefacts across Europe has made the pottery difficult to define as coming from one distinctive culture.

Many researchers prefer to call the spread the Bell Beaker phenomenon, Dr Marc Vander Linden, an archaeologist at University College London, told Nature.

The distinctive, decorated pots are almost ubiquitous across the continent, and could have been used as drinking vessels or ceremonious urns.

One of the biggest ever studies of ancient genomes has found that a Bronze Age 'beaker culture' invaded Britain around 4,000 years ago. British Neolithic farmers uprooted by the invasion were famed for leaving behind massive rock relics, including Stonehenge

Flint arrowheads, copper daggers and stone wrist guards are common to the beaker culture too.

The immense but intermittent geographical range of beaker sites - from Scandinavia to Morocco, and Ireland to Hungary - has only served to create further confusion.

After a few hundred years, the pots vanish from the record.

The new analysis seems to dispel the theory that the beaker culture originated from a single source, which was originally thought to be Spain.

The study represents just a theory for now and is yet to undergo peer review.
Not only is Samsung set to begin selling refurbished versions of its its ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 in South Korea, but the firm also has plans to rebrand it.

A new report has revealed that the South Korean firm has renamed the smartphone 'Galaxy Note FE', which stands for 'Fandom Edition', in a bid to 'minimize the refurbished phone image'.

The handset is said to boast the same look as the original, but with a smaller 3,200 mAh battery  it is also speculated to cost 30% less than the Galaxy Note 7.

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A new report has revealed that the South Korean firm has renamed the smartphone 'Galaxy Note FE', which stands for 'Fandom Edition', in a bid to 'minimize the refurbished phone image'. Pictured is the original Galaxy Note 7 that were recalled in 2016 for battery problems

GALAXY NOTE FE A new report has revealed that the South Korean firm has renamed the smartphone 'Galaxy Note FE', which stands for 'Fandom Edition'. The handset is said to boast the same look as the original, but with a smaller 3,200 mAh battery  it is also speculated to cost 30% less than the Galaxy Note 7. The refurbished Galaxy Note FE is set to hit the South Korean market by the end of June. And Samsung plans to release 30,000 units at launch. Advertisement

The latest report was shared by ET News, which cited 'a plurality of mobile communication companies' as its source.

'The Galaxy Note FE was named Galaxy series loyal customers,' sources said.

The purpose of the revived handset is to market it towards fans of the device, all while minimizing the refurbished phone image.

However, ET News shared that Samsung Electronics will use the refurbished 'R' to name to make it clear that it has been refurbished.

Samsung's senior official, Lee Myung-bak, has also chimed in to give more details regarding the Note 7 FE's price and release date.

'The Galaxy Note 7 Ripper Phone is most likely to launch in Korea at the end of June,' he explained.

The term 'ripper' is used in Korea to signify a refurbished phone.

'The Galaxy Note FE supplied by Samsung Electronics to the carrier is estimated at 300,000 units.'

'I am confident that the Galaxy Note 7 Ripper Phone will have sufficient standby demand.'

The South Korean firm first revealed plans to refurbish the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in February.

However, the announcement came five months after 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 seemed to be the initial plan.

But the firm revealed three principles to ensure the Galaxy Note 7 devices are recycled and processed in an environmentally-friendly manner.

First, devices shall be considered to be used as refurbished phones or rental phones where applicable, Samsung shared in the announcement.

Second, salvageable components shall be detached for reuse.

Third, processes such as metals extraction shall be performed using environmentally friendly methods.

And earlier this month, the firm announced it had passed through Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification and consumers could buy a refurbished unit at the end of June.

The handset is said to boast the same look as the original, but with a smaller 3,200 mAh battery  it is also speculated to cost 30% less than the Galaxy Note 7 (pictured is a Galaxy Note 7 that exploded in Richmond, Virginia in Oct 2015

At this time it was also stated that the refurbished smartphones would include smaller batteries, as it was 'irregularly sized batteries' that caused the handset to explode following its August release.

When Samsung took the stage in New York on August 2, 2016 to unveil the 5.7 inch Galaxy Note 7, the firm used the event 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.

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. The battery 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 soon be eating his words.

Days after the Galaxy Note 7 launched reports had 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.

However, the second device were also found to be faulty.

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.

Following its own investigation into the mysterious issue, Samsung had discovered that the phones were fitted with 'irregularly sized batteries' that caused battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing.

And the replacement phones that were found to explode was a result of manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer.

The Galaxy Note FE supplied by Samsung Electronics to the carrier is estimated at 300,000 units and is set to be released in South Korea in the end of June (pictured is a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 that combusted in September 2016)

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.

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'.
Ian Brady, who tortured and killed five children in the UK in the 1960s with his accomplice Myra Hindley, died in prison on May 15.

Jailed in 1966, Brady buried four of his victims in shallow graves on Saddleworth Moor outside Manchester  and the remains have since been found.

Sadly, the body of one his victims, Keith Bennett, however, is still missing.

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A vulture scavenged body on a body farm at Texas State University's Freeman Ranch in San Marcos, Texas. The farm is used by forensic anthropologists to research what a dead body can reveal about a person. In this case, the body was clothed when placed outside, and students recovered the jeans and sneakers scattered by scavengers

Brady's death has left Bennett's family feeling like the final chance to find his remains has been lost.

The police, however, insist that the search will go on.

But how do you go about finding a lost body after so many years?

UK Home Office statistics show that around 2,000 of the 200,000 people who are reported missing each year are still not found after 12 months.

Some want to start a new life, but an unknown number become victims of crime. Some are murdered.

Most of these cases are solved fairly rapidly, but some  so-called cold cases  are harder to crack.

Luckily, science can help.

In many homicide cases, bodies end up getting buried in the ground.

Ian Brady (pictured right), who tortured and killed five children in the UK in the 1960s with his accomplice Myra Hindley (left), died in prison on May 15. Jailed in 1966, Brady buried four of his victims in shallow graves on Saddleworth Moor outside Manchester  and the remains have since been found - except for one, Keith Bennett, who is still missing

There are various scientific methods that can help locate such victims, with one of the most important being to identify variations in the surface, such as depressions or small hills, which could indicate that a body has been buried underneath.

Search teams can also use specialist 'cadaver dogs' to sniff for remains or geophysical methods to scan identified areas.

HOW TO FIND A MISSING CADAVER There are various scientific methods that can help locate missing bodies, with one of the most important being to identify variations in the surface, such as depressions or small hills, which could indicate that a body has been buried underneath. Search teams can also use specialist 'cadaver dogs' to sniff for remains or geophysical methods to scan identified areas. The latter include ground penetrating radar, which uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. Ground penetrating radar is best to locate bodies that have been wrapped in something (wrapping provides a good reflective surface). In other cases, where the body is still decomposing, fluids such as blood from the cadaver can be detected by machines that measure electrical resistivity  how strongly a material opposes the flow of an electric current. Advertisement

The latter include ground penetrating radar, which uses radar pulses to image the subsurface.

We recently published a review which set out best practice when it comes to finding bodies on land.

We discovered that a phased approach usually yields the best results.

This involves starting with analysis of large-scale satellite data to locate potential burial areas  for example where soil has been recently disturbed.

You then proceed with initial site investigations, looking at suspect areas to find out the soil type and other environmental data.

The last stage involves carrying out focused site searches and digging.

But despite this knowledge, the current detection rate of cold cases is low  perhaps only one in 100 cases are successful.

As each case is unique, control studies using purpose-built clandestine graves are helping us further work out which detection techniques work best in which cases.

In the UK, we currently use pigs as human analogues, although the US, Australia and, since January, the Netherlands, use donated human cadavers.

The approach needed will change as a body decomposes (see figure below)  with the local soil type, burial style and the types of rock in the ground also being important variables.

A 50-year-old body buried in a shallow grave in the moors may be relatively intact in wet peatland, whereas a recently buried body in dry sand will rapidly decay.

Ground penetrating radar is best to locate bodies that have been wrapped in something (wrapping provides a good reflective surface).

In other cases, where the body is still decomposing, fluids such as blood from the cadaver can be detected by machines that measure electrical resistivity  how strongly a material opposes the flow of an electric current.

In a recent study, we showed that conductivity in grave soil water rapidly increases up to two years after burial  data which we can use to estimate the time since death.

Researchers at Keele University published a review which set out best practice when it comes to finding bodies on land. They discovered that a phased approach usually yields the best results. This involves starting with analysis of large-scale satellite data to locate potential burial areas  for example where soil has been recently disturbed. You then proceed with initial site investigations, looking at suspect areas to find out the soil type and other environmental data. The last stage involves carrying out focused site searches and digging

Control studies can only go as far back in time as experiments last, so researchers have also been looking at real graves that are much older to assist with more ancient missing persons cases.

Graveyards and cemeteries are an obvious choice for this.

William Bass (pictured), a retired member of the University of Tennessees body farm, where researchers can study decaying human bodies

These can be geophysically surveyed, most commonly with ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity to look for bodies buried without a grave stone.

These can be exhumed, both for research purposes and to confirm the identity of the remains.

We did this recently when new church community halls were being built on old graveyards.

Exhumation regulations differ across the world, but in the UK you are allowed to do this if burials are over 100 years old.

An issue with this, however, is that graveyard burials are in coffins, often along with preservatives.

Few accidental burials or homicide graves use coffins or chemicals.

Nonetheless, ongoing geophysical research of graveyard burials is extending our knowledge of how long bodies are detectable for.

This can certainly feed into cold case searches.

This kind of research has also improved our understanding of how well different survey methods work in different environments.

For example, electrical resistivity surveys tend to work best in clay-rich soils whereas radar is best in sandy soils.

We've also learned that gravestones are often not exactly in the correct position, and that graves containing many bodies are often not vertically aligned.

Early (top) and late stage (bottom) decomposition of a murder victim buried in a clandestine grave, with various potential grave 'markers' shown

This may occur due to coffins subsiding in soft ground, or in more extreme examples, due to 'coffin slip', where in inclined ground, burials move down the slope over time.

Clearly more research needs to be done to improve detection rates of cold cases.

In fact, the key is to combine collaborative academic control studies with input from search practitioners and experts.

Advances in technology  such as drones that can help locate surveys in real time and more sensitive geophysical devices  are also allowing us to integrate both simple observations and advanced geophysical searches into one system.

Human bodies begin to look like animal carcasses, placed on the FARF (Forensic Anthropology Research Facility) Freeman Ranch in San Marcos, Texas for analysis. The farm is used by forensic anthropologists to research what a dead body can reveal about a person

There's certainly good reason to believe that Bennett was also buried somewhere on the moor.

Initial searches, mainly using police manpower and volunteers looking for physical signs of ground disturbance, were unsuccessful.

At Texas State University's Forensic Anthropology Research Facility in San Marcos, Texas, students and researchers use human remains to learn about the decomposition process. Here, the remains are simmered in water before the bones are ready to be cleaned by hand

Many other methods have since been used, including specialist search dogs and metal detectors (should there be metal in Keith's clothing).

Soil sampling and other tests have also been used to look for decomposition of fluids, but it is probably too late for this now.

Ground penetrating radar has also been used to search for a skeleton.

However, these methods are time consuming and only a relatively small area can be surveyed each time.

But, as long we continue looking  and use the latest technology and research to inform the search  there is every chance that we could one day find Bennett's body.
NASA has wrapped up the final flights of its annual Arctic ice survey, which spanned a wider area than ever before in efforts to better understand Earths fast-changing glaciers.

The campaign comes as part of the ongoing Operation IceBridge mission, which carried out a total of 39 eight-hour flights over the course of 10 weeks.

Footage from the campaign reveals a breathtaking flyover of the rugged fjords of Svalbard and a seemingly-endless expanse of sea ice en route to the North Pole, as the craft explored the Eurasian half of the Arctic Basin for the first time.

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NASA has wrapped up the final flights of its annual Arctic ice survey, which spanned a wider area than ever before in efforts to better understand Earths fast-changing glaciers. An observation from a flight over Svalbard is shown

THE P-3 ORION CRAFT The current campaign uses NASAs P-3 aircraft  a four-engine turboprop from the Wallops Flight Facility that can fly for 8-12 hours The P-3 Orion has a scanning laser altimeter to measure surface elevation, three types of radar systems to study ice layers and bedrock underneath, a high-resolution camera to create detailed color maps, and infrared cameras to measure surface temperatures, according to NASA. Its the most advanced suite yet, and the upgraded altimeter is far more powerful than those used in the past, firing 10,000 pulses per second. Advertisement

This has easily been our best year for surveying sea ice, said Nathan Kurtz, IceBridges project scientist and a sea ice researcher at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center.

Geographically, we covered a wider area than ever before, and the new instruments we deployed during this campaign have given us denser and more accurate measurements.

During the survey, IceBridge completed its annual sea and land ice baseline flights, revealing crucial information on glaciers such as the Petermann Glacier, where a worrying crack has recently formed.

In addition to its usual flights over the Arctics sea ice cover, and land ice from the Thule Air Base and northwest Greenland and Fairbanks, Alaska, IceBridge also added a base in Longyearbyen, Svalbard.

There, it could deploy to previously unexplored regions of the Eurasian Arctic.

This revealed that the layer of snow on sea ice in the Eurasian side is thinner than what the models predict based on older measurements.

The new snow measurements will help better understand changes in the Arctic sea ice cover and help constrain satellite measurements to make sure theyre accurate, Kurtz said.

The campaign also expanded westward, to include a flight to the western side of the Chukchi Sea- crossing the International Date Line for the first time.

During the survey, IceBridge completed its annyal sea and land ice baseline flights, revealing crucial information on glaciers such as the Petermann Glacier, where a worrying crack has recently formed

NEW CRACK SPOTTED IN MASSIVE GREENLAND GLACIER Scientists have revealed the latest images of a huge new crack in one of Greenland's largest glaciers. The rift was first spotted while researchers were examining satellite data from the Petermann glacier. The crack is raising concerns that part of the floating ice shelf could break off into the ocean,a fear confirmed by the latest images. The images were captured by on April 15, 2017, with the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8. The new crack, or 'rift,' is visible in these images acquired on April 15, 2017, with the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8. Experts fear it could lead to a massive iceberg, or ice island breaking off. The Petermann glacier moves toward the sea along the northwestern coast of Greenland, terminating in a huge floating ice tongue. Like other glaciers that end in the ocean, it periodically calves icebergs. A massive iceberg, or ice island, broke off of the Petermann Glacier in 2010. Nearly two years later, another chunk of ice broke free. Researchers are keeping a close eye on it as they believe it holds back a foot of potential sea level rise from the Greenland ice sheet. Advertisement

Ice Bridge will conduct two more campaigns this summer, beginning in July, to assess the impact of the melt season on Arctic sea and land ice.

The spring surveys wrapped up on May 12.

Just last week, a NASA test pilot revealed stunning time-lapse footage of a recent flight over Greenlands southeast glaciers as part of the IceBridge campaign.

The video gives a first-person perspective of a glacier-run in the P-3 Orion aircraft, revealing the icy waters and snow-topped peaks that dominate the remote landscape.

In the stunning footage shared on Twitter by test pilot Gerrit Everson, the expanse of snow and ice can be seen up close as P-3 Orion soars just overhead.

Operation IceBridge is now in its ninth year, after nearly a decade observing the Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets.

This campaign uses NASAs P-3 aircraft  a four-engine turboprop from the Wallops Flight Facility that can fly for 8-12 hours.

And, its equipped with a number of instruments that have made for more precise observations.

In the stunning footage shared on Twitter by test pilot Gerrit Everson, the expanse of snow and ice can be seen up close as P-3 Orion soars just overhead. This is the final week of the Arctic Spring 2017 surveys, according to NASA

The P-3 Orion has a scanning laser altimeter to measure surface elevation, three types of radar systems to study ice layers and bedrock underneath, a high-resolution camera to create detailed color maps, and infrared cameras to measure surface temperatures

The P-3 Orion has a scanning laser altimeter to measure surface elevation, three types of radar systems to study ice layers and bedrock underneath, a high-resolution camera to create detailed color maps, and infrared cameras to measure surface temperatures, according to NASA.

Its the most advanced suite yet, and the upgraded altimeter is far more powerful than those used in the past.

The new laser has a very narrow pulse that fires 10,000 pulses every second, compared to the old lasers wider pulse at 3,000 pulses per second, said Jim Yungel, Wallops program manager for the laser altimeter, when the spring survey began.

The map, updated every morning, reveals the 'lines and miles' covered during the IceBridge mission, Everson explained on Twitter

Well be able to triple our data collection rate and see finer detail within steep structures, like crevasses or sea ice leads, in addition to measuring ice elevation more accurately.

IceBridge is designed to support the upcoming Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESAT-2), which will use lasers to measure the elevation of sea ice in the ocean.

The satellite is set to launch in 2018.

In the meantime, the P-2 Orion craft has been collecting massive amounts of data on the polar ice, revealing how the ice sheets are changing.
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These fascinating pictures reveal the famous Chinatown of San Francisco during the 19th century, where the largest Chinese community outside Asia lived.

From merchants at work to children walking with their parents, the stunning black-and white-images show the residents of Chinatown draped in their traditional clothing and going about their daily lives.

San Francisco has the oldest and second largest Chinatown in North America, with around 15,000 Chinese residents, many of whom do not speak English.

For 21 years between 1839 and 1860, the Opium Wars saw thousands of Chinese people flee to begin a new life in the US.

Chinatown in San Francisco was established in 1848, but was destroyed by an earthquake and a series of fires in 1906, killing an estimated 3,000 people.

It has since been rebuilt, and is these days one of the Bay Area's major attractions, with over 75 per cent of San Francisco's tourists visiting it - approximately two million a year.

The fascinating pictures reveal the famous Chinatown of San Francisco during the 19th century, where the largest Chinese community outside Asia lived

Chinatown, pictured (left) as it was, is these days one of the Bay Area's major attractions (right), with over 75 per cent of San Francisco's tourists visiting it - approximately two million a year

San Francisco, pictured then and now, has the oldest and second largest Chinatown in North America, with around 15,000 Chinese residents, many of whom do not speak English

For 21 years between 1839 and 1860, the Opium Wars saw thousands of Chinese people flee to begin a new life in the US. Pictured (left) a resident with a pipe and (right) one today

Chinatown in San Francisco was established in 1848, but was destroyed by an earthquake and a series of fires in 1906, killing an estimated 3,000 people. Pictured (left) a shoemaker and (right) a modern-day resident

It was rebuilt following the natural disaster and is still thriving today (right). Pictured (left) a family walking the streets before the earthquake

The earthquake hit on April 18 in 1906, with a magnitude of 7.8, and rocked San Francisco and brought Chinatown down. Pictured are children returning to their home before it struck

Intrigued: These young Chinatown children seem mesmerised by the photographer

At the time, only 375 deaths were reported in the city because hundreds of fatalities in Chinatown were not counted

The total number of deaths is still uncertain, however it is estimated that roughly 3,000 people perished in the earthquake and fires. This photo was taken prior to the disaster

A young fish dealer's daughter (left) and a child in traditional dress posing for the camera on a street corner (right)

San Francisco initially attracted the Chinese labor community as a result of the 1848 Gold Rush and western expansion of the railroads

Before the earthquake, some city officials wanted to move the Chinese to Hunters Point and to obtain Chinatowns valuable land. Pictured (left) and (right) pedestrians browsing the shops

Passers-by clad in a variety of hats inspect copies of a Chinese proclamation plastered to the wall as they meander down the street

A Chinatown merchant strolls down a side walk, left, while the photo on the right shows a Chinese cook grinning in a doorway

A row of children in a grainy photo walk in single-file procession holding one another's ponytails to stay together

Today Chinatown is centered on Grant Avenue and Stockton Street in San Francisco and is the largest Chinese community outside Asia

In the 1970s the population density in Chinatown was seven times the San Francisco average. Here a kitten sits on the street by a merchant selling his wares

Pictured (left) a vegetable peddler and (right) old markets with the traditional Chinese paper lanterns that still exist today

The images are a rare collection and some of the few left in history - as many were destroyed in the earthquake and blazes more than a century ago
Past the age of 20, most holidays tend to be taken with a significant other or a gang of girlfriends... travelling with your mum is typically filed under 'childhood'.

If you do find yourself sunbathing on a beach with your mum next to you, you're bound to make some wonderful memories together - while also running into some embarrassing moments, ridiculous arguments, and realising you are nothing alike.

Whether it be disagreeing on the appropriateness of your thong bikini, or her wanting to sign up for an 8am walking tour when you have the hangover from hell - a mother-daughter holiday will inevitably reveal just how different you are.

Mother daughter holiday: Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer play polar opposite mother and daughter in the comedy Snatched

In Snatched, the hilarious new film starring Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn, in cinemas this Friday, a self-absorbed 30-year-old finds herself with a non-refundable trip to Ecuador after being dumped by her boyfriend. She convinces her overly cautious homebody mother to accompany her on the holiday.

But the polar opposites find themselves in trouble when they are kidnapped and held captive deep in the South American jungle. Chaos and adventure ensues while the duo attempt to make their escape.

To celebrate the release of the outrageous new comedy, we round up 10 of the hilarious moments you will inevitably face if you go on holiday with your mum.

Girls on tour: To celebrate the release of the outrageous new comedy, we round up 10 of the hilarious moments you will inevitably face if you go on holiday with your mum

You want adventure, she wants the all-inclusive resort

You've decided to travel together, but you'll inevitably hit your first hurdle early: where to go?

Your holiday checklist could well include scorching hot sun, a fabulous local party scene, exploring street food markets, and epic adventures (think of the Instagram opportunities!), while your mum's idea of vacation bliss is a taxi straight from the airport to an all-inclusive resort, not stepping foot outside until it's time to leave again.

Compromise: While your idea of a holiday may be off-the-beaten-track and sampling local flavour, mum is more likely to want an all-inclusive resort

You have to stage direct every social media snap

Mums often don't make the best Instagram husbands, notorious for those heads cut off, thumb over the lens shots that just won't garner any likes on your feed, no matter how much cropping and filtering you do.

Prepare to patiently instruct mum on taking your all-important beach photo down to the last detail. But she'll be just as patient with your narcissism because, well, she's your mum. And by the end of the week, she's probably enthusiastically jumping in your pina colada selfie too.

Say selfie! Mums are notorious for cutting off heads and putting their thumbs over the lens - you'll inevitably end up with a stack of pictures that will not make the Instagram feed

'You're not going out in that young lady!'

That Brazilian bikini may be your optimum tanning ensemble, but while lying on the sand in what amounts to not much more than dental floss while hot-blooded local men ogle you may seem normal when you're living it up in Ibiza with your girlfriends, when your mother is on the next sunbed, you suddenly feel a whole lot more naked.

Pack a few more conservative swimsuits for mother-daughter time - because no one wants to accidentally expose too much while snorkelling anyway - and save the thong bikini for when mum heads to the spa for her massage.

Teeny bikini: Leave the thong bikini for your girlfriend holiday and sunbathe in something slightly more conservative, to save everyone the blushes

She is on a matchmaking mission

Mum may be cramping your style at the bar, but to give her credit - she never stops trying to play matchmaker.

Unfortunately, it's often not with the hot young bartender or lifeguard (but he's Spanish! You'll move here and I'll never see you again!) and instead with Clive, the single, middle-aged son of the lovely couple she met at the breakfast buffet - and they only live half an hour away!

She wants to go sightseeing at 9am, you have a hangover

While your afternoon with a cocktail in hand by the pool is usually followed by a boozy night out, mum's idea of a great night on vacation often involves an early dinner, and maybe a nightcap over a few rounds of gin rummy.

Little does she know, you tiptoed down to the hotel club after she fell asleep at 9.30pm. So when she's up bright an early for that walking tour, you're in a world of pain.

Why not limit the late night partying to one or two nights and relish the opportunity to bond with your mum while you marvel at the novelty of waking up feeling fresh and rested. There's plenty of time for the wild parties when you holiday with your girl squad.

Early bird: Your mum knocks on your door at 8am ready for a day of swimming or sightseeing, and you're nursing a horrid hangover - cue arguments

She flirts with waiter, the tour guide, the concierge...

It's one thing for you to shamelessly flirt with every hot member of the hotel's staff, but quite another to watch in horror as your 65-year-old mother bats her eyelashes and giggles her way through your meal.

Planning every detail

While Millennials live in a world of last minute deals, apps that will find you a hotel tonight, and splurging your pay day on a spontaneous weekend away, your parents' generation, until relatively recently, were likely still heading to their High Street travel agent.

As Goldie Hawn says in Snatched, 'Everyone knows it takes two years to plan a vacation'. So trying to get mum to veer off her itinerary for an impromptu day trip could lead to arguments.

Plan ahead: You may love spontaneous adventure, but mum will likely have your entire trip mapped out

She insists on pretending you're sisters

Without fathers or brothers around to ruin the illusion, a mother-daughter holiday is the perfect opportunity for mum to act like you're girlfriends on tour.

Cue her telling anyone who will listen that you're the same age while kicking your shins under the table in the age-old 'play along!' signal. Just smile and nod - why ruin her fun? And remember: in 20 years you'll probably be doing it to your own daughters.

She asks to borrow your steamy romance novel

Is there anything more cringe-inducing than finishing the latest in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and then having your mother ask to borrow it?

Knowing the contents of the mildly pornographic novel your mum is reading by the pool - and knowing she now knows thatyou just enjoyed it - is going to leave everyone involved red-faced.

Solution: bring your Kindle, and avoid having to share paperbacks altogether.

No share zone: You've just finished a steamy novel, then your mum asks to borrow it

The GPS meltdown

Any road trip is bound to have one major meltdown moment, and being trapped in a small car in a foreign country with your mother almost guarantees one or both of you will want to drop the other at the side of the road and speed off.

To avoid a screaming match, make a playlist filled with retro singalong tunes you both love, laugh when you take the wrong exit on the motorway and enjoy the journey.
She is famous for her ample assets which took centre stage in Baywatch, the show that propelled her into stardom.

And Pamela Anderson, 49, dared to flash a flash the flesh as she went braless when she attended the Global Gift Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris on Tuesday.

Confident in her sex appeal, she teased her Baywatch-honed abs in a boxy white jacket as she accepted the Philanthropist Award at the showbiz bash.

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Age-defying: Pamela Anderson, 49, went braless as she teased her famous cleavage in a boxy jacket at the Parisian Global Gift Gala at Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris on Tuesday

The daringly low-cut ensemble custom made ensemble by Cadieux gave onlookers a glimpse of the Playboy model's famous curves.

In her acceptance speech for the award, she admitted: 'I never wanted to be an actress. That was a fluke.'

She looked a vision in white, complete with a prom-style skirt which flowed out in elegant pleats complementing her sensational figure.

Pamela looked every inch of Fifties-esque glamour as she styled her golden tresses into a quiff hairdo, falling over a neatly wrapped ponytail.

Vision in white: The blonde bombshell gave onlookers a glimpse of the Playboy model's famous curves in a custom ensemble by Cadieux

Accentuating her age-defying features, she wore a slick of scarlet red lipstick which added a splash of colour to her evening attire.

The actress dazzled as she sashayed down the red carpet in sparkly sky-high heels, fitted at the ankle with a simple strap and studded with eye-catching jewels.

The Global Gift Gala charity works to raise funds for foundations, charities and organisations that share its vision and aims.

Glittery: The actress dazzled as she sashayed down the red carpet in sparkly sky-high heels

This May 25 will see the release of Baywatch: The Movie, a comedy adaptation of the NBC drama series which propelled her into the spotlight.

Kelly Rohrbach will slip into the role Pamela played from 1992 until 1997, alongside stars Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron and Priyanka Chopra.

Both the Baywatch beauty and David Hasselhoff have secured themselves cameo roles in the upcoming release.

Beautiful: She wore a slick of scarlet red lipstick accenutating her age-defying features which added a splash of colour to her evening attire

Meanwhile in her personal life, Pamela has been romantically linked to the founder of WikiLeaks Julian Assange.

But the blonde bombshell has remained coy about whether their relationship is romantic.

In a recent interview, she told People: 'Julian is trying to free the world by educating it. It is a romantic struggle, I love him for this.

Fifties-style: Pamela looked every inch of Fifties-style glamour as she styled her golden tresses into a quiff hairdo

'I understand that our "affair" and the curiosity surrounding that might bring some attention to his situation.

'That's fine but I'd rather not go into private details but let's just say everyone deserves love.'

This rumoured romance comes after the star's three failed marriages.

She was married to rocker Tommy Lee from 1995 to 1998 after knowing him for only four days.

On-screen: This May 25 will see the release of Baywatch: The Movie, a comedy adaptation of the NBC drama series which propelled her into the spotlight

The former flames share her only two children Dylan Jagger Lee, 19, and Brandon Thomas Lee, 20.

Pamela went onto marry Kid Rock in 2006 but they were separated in 2007.

In the same year, she tied the knot with Rick Salomon and despite a 2008 annulment she remarried him by 2014 but they parted ways for good in February 2015.
Between 1838 and 1841, an enterprising London teenager repeatedly broke into Buckingham Palace, sitting on the throne, eating from the kitchen, and generally causing headaches for Queen Victoria's attendants, who couldn't seem to keep him out. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe the exploits of Edward Jones  who some have called the first celebrity stalker.

We'll also salute some confusing flags and puzzle over an extraterrestrial musician.

Show notes

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KIIS FM funny-woman Kate Langbroek took a cheeky swipe at the RHOM star this month when she parodied a perfume advertisement similar to the reality star's.

But it appears Gina Liano hasn't taken any of it to heart, as her reaction was revealed live in the studio with KIIS FM's Kate and Hughesy on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old was shown the short clip, to which she laughed and said: 'That is bloody hilarious!'

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'That is bloody hilarious!': RHOM star Gina Liano laughs off Kate Langbroek's cheeky parody of her glamorous perfume advert as she claims 'imitation is the best form of flattery' during KIIS FM's Kate and Hughesy on Tuesday

Gina has released three fragrances over the space of 13 months, with her latest perfume, Luminous by Gina released in the past few weeks.

The TV personality watched the clip with a smile, as each scene surprised her and made her giggle.

At one point, she turned to Kate to give her a playful tap as she found the acting and contents of the parody humorous.

Giggly Gina! The TV personality watched the clip with a smile, as each scene surprised her and made her hold back laughter

Too funny! At one point, she turned to Kate to give her a playful tap as she found the acting and contents of the parody humorous

While Kate mocked the Italian-Australian author and actress, she flattered her by commenting on the success of her perfumes to date.

The radio host also commented on how other stars appear to mimic her advertisements after her notably profitable sales.

Gina responded: 'Imitation is the best form of flattery, isn't it? Or the highest form of flattery, however you want to put it.'

Parody: Gina has released three fragrances over the space of 13 months, with her latest perfume, Luminous by Gina released in the past few weeks. Kate's fragrance ad featured cheese and bacon balls

With both songstress DeltaGoodrem and RHOM star Gina having launched their debut, self-named fragrances in recent times, there was plenty of comedic fodder for Kate to use when creating her comedic parody.

In the clip, the hilarious radio personality is seen strutting around in a beaded gown and donning voluminous waved hair, similar to the style often sported by both Gina and Delta.

Ouch! Kate Langbroek appears to take a cheeky swipe at Gina Liano and Delta Goodrem's glamorous perfume advertisements in a new parody clip

Opening on a sun-kissed curtain fluttering in the wind, Kate whispered 'I can be crass, I can be loud, but wrong? Never!'

Stock shots of a lineup of K-Mart quality shoes faded to a close-up of the radio star's jewel-adorned hand, stroking her own leg.

She added: 'Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm really right...Hey! I'm me!'

Next, Kate wore a lavish gown as she pensively rode a shopping centre escalator, before the footage shifted to her perched on a lounge, clutching her new pink fragrance bottle.

'I like the pink, and the stink!' she said, as the clip shifted to her sniffing the perfume, 'The scent of cheese and bacon balls.'

Closing the clip, she utters: 'I'm Kate, I'm colourful, I'm Langbroek.'

'I like the pink, and the stink!': The over-filtering and dialogue are clear parodies of Real Housewives Of Melbourne star Gina Liano's new fragrance range

The dialogue is a parody of the lines spoken by Gina in her recent perfume advertisement, in which she says to the camera: 'I'm luminous, I'm fearless, I'm Gina.'

Kate's parody also features a meandering piano music track that appears to mock Delta's debut fragrance ad- which was released less than a fortnight ago.

'Are you making fun of Delta??' a user questioned in the comment section.

Taking a subtle swipe? Kate's parody also features a meandering piano music track that appears to mock Delta's debut fragrance ad- which was released less than a fortnight ago

Behind the scenes: Kate shared pictures of the production of the video in her lace gown




She's currently enjoying a luxurious stay at Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc in Antibes, France, at a hefty price tag of $2248 per night.

And Lara Worthington, (nee) Bingle, 29, was spotted enjoying a leisurely lunch at the venue's terrace restaurant.

Dressed casually in a white T-shirt and lightwash jeans, the model doted on her precious six-month-old son Racer.

Leisurely Lara! Worthington, 29, cut a casual figure and doted on precious six-month-old son Racer, as she dined at the luxurious Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc, in Antibes, France, on Tuesday

Lara covered her stunning post-baby frame in a simple white T-shirt, teamed with lightwash jeans that clung her trim pins.

Concealing her gaze behind a pair of designer sunglasses, the mother-of-two appeared to go makeup-free, allowing her natural beauty to shine through.

Lara's signature blonde bob fell in a deep side part, framing her striking facial features.

Doting: The model held her son in the air, gazing at his precious little face

Effortlessly stylish: Lara sported a white T-shirt and jeans, accessorised with designer sunglasses

Very much a hands-on mother, the budding entrepreneur doted on her adorable six-month-old son Racer, who was dressed in a grey two-piece.

Lara was pictured holding the bub in the air, gazing at his precious little face.

The blonde beauty was seated next to actor husband Sam Worthington, 40, and what looked to be Lara's mother Sharon.

The family is currently enjoying a luxurious vacation at Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc, situated 30 minutes outside of Cannes.

Picture-perfect: The budding entrepreneur is currently enjoying a luxurious vacation at Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc, situated 30 minutes outside of Cannes

Svelte: An earlier snap shared to Instagram saw the mother-of-two highlighting her stunning post-baby frame in a high-cut black swimsuit

Eden Roc is a common choice for royals, dignitaries and A-listers including Leonardo DiCaprio, Antonio Banderas, Jane Fonda and Paris Hilton.

Lara married Australian actor Sam Worthington in December 2014.

The high-profile couple, currently calling New York their home base, share two adorable sons, Rocket, two, and Racer, six months.

The sighting shortly follows Lara's whirlwind trip to Sydney, where she promoted her tanning and beauty line, The Base.

Home base: Lara, who tied the knot with Australian actor Sam Worthington, 40, calls New York her home base. Pictured with adorable son Rocket Zot, two

Balancing act: During a recent whirlwind trip to Sydney, Lara told Today Extra the secret to juggling work with family life is to not 'talk about work at home'

Lara told Today Extra the secret to juggling work with family life is to not 'talk about work at home.'

The former reality star said the key to making her and Sam's marriage work along with their busy careers, is a rule to not spend more than a fortnight apart from one another.

'We never do more than two weeks apart, two weeks apart is kind of our rule,' she said.

Making it work: The former reality star said the key to making her and Sam's marriage work along with their busy careers, is a rule to not spend more than a fortnight apart from one another

'And I don't think it is good for our family to be apart for any longer - nothing is that important.'

While claiming that working on her skincare line The Base made her a better parent, Lara revealed that her and Sam 'don't ever talk about work at home.'

'For me personally, I am a happier and better mum when I am working and juggling,' she said.

'I have the most amazing and supportive husband who allows me to achieve my goals,' Lara gushed.
BRIAN VINER: Philippa lives in Edinburgh, where she works in a dreary sales job and is passed over for promotion. 'You are at the right level for you,' says her condescending boss.
He was left devastated after doctors in India refused to carry out an operation to alter his eye colour.

But Human Ken Doll Rodrigo Alves appeared to be in better spirits as he headed to Harley Street for a Dracula Facelift performed by Dr Deniz Kanliada.

The plastic surgery fanatic, 33, showed off his trademark flamboyant style in a blue velvet suit as he headed to his appointment at the clinic.

Plastic surgery fanatic: Human Ken Doll Rodrigo Alves was seen arriving for a consultation at Harley Street on Tuesday

The Dracula Facelift strengthens the retaining ligaments that hold facial tissues against the gravity by increasing the amount of collagen and elastane in and between the ligaments.

It also thickens the bone itself to create a stronger anchor point.

Not afraid of clashing prints, the Brazilian layered a patterned blue shirt underneath, while opting for bold leopard print loafers on his feet.

Continuing with the theme, Rodrigo, who has been filming his reality show for two months, accessorised the look with a Gucci tote, before adding a gold buckle belt to finish.

His visit to the the cosmetic surgery clinic comes after the television personality was seen drowning his sorrows on a flight home to London, after his bid to change his eye colour was turned down.

Consultation: The 33-year-old pointed to his face during the consultation at the cosmetic surgery clinic where he had a Dracula Facelift performed by Dr Deniz Kanliada

Close look: The Brazilian - who has already spent 397,000 on more than 150 body-changing procedures - examined his face

Examination: He lay back on the examination table as he prepared for the consultation

Rodrigo - who has already spent 397,000 on more than 150 body-changing procedures - travelled to New Delhi last month for a pioneering operation to change the colour of his eyes from brown to icy grey.

However, he forced to return home disappointed after surgeons said his eyeballs were too small to hold the artificial iris.

Tearful Rodrigo landed back in the UK last Monday after drowning his sorrows with champagne on the first class flight home.

He said: 'The doctors said my eye chamber is too shallow. I'm very upset and I have been crying a lot.

Flamboyant style: Rodrigo arrived at the clinic in Harley Street in a blue velvet suit

'It is frustrating because I was really looking forward to it, but I appreciate the doctors have to take safety very seriously.'

Eye-colour changing cosmetic implants have only become possible in the last few years.

The procedure is not illegal in the UK, but eye surgeons strongly recommend it isn't done on healthy eyes due potential risks like glaucoma, blindness and wonky pupils.

Rodrigo is now looking into a laser procedure to change the colour of his eyes, explaining: 'It removes the brown colour of your natural eye turning into blue.'

Another procedure? The social media personality has already spent 397,000 on more than 150 body-changing procedures

Disappointment: Rodrigo was left devastated after doctors in India refused to carry out an operation to alter his eye colour from brown to icy grey

He added: 'My next surgery will be another nose job as at the moment I sound too nasal and still and I can't breath very well.

'The reason I'm so open about my body modifications is simply because someone has to talk about it to break the taboo and the stigma that plastic surgery is bad for you.'

Rodrigo first went under the knife in 2004 after struggling with the way he looked since childhood.

His long list of surgery includes 8,000 on Botox and fillers, 30,000 on three nose jobs, 3,000 on liposuction to his jaw and 10,000 on pec implants.

Better spirits: However, the plastic surgery fanatic appeared to be in better spirits as he arrived at Harley Street on Tuesday

Bold look: Not afraid of clashing prints, the Brazilian layered a patterned blue shirt underneath his jacket, while opting for bold leopard print loafers on his feet

Finishing touches: Rodrigo accessorised the look with a Gucci tote, before adding a gold buckle belt to finish
He debuted his new relationship with Jasmine Yarbrough, 33, at Justin Cassin's Mercedes-Benz Australian Fashion Week show on Monday.

And just hours later, Karl Stefanovic, 42, was seen taking his lady love for dinner at China Doll in Sydney's exclusive suburb of Woolloomooloo.

Joined by their mothers as well as showbiz reporter Richard Wilkins, the pair only had eyes for each other, looking absolutely smitten.

The look of love! Karl Stefanovic, 42, and Jasmine Yarbrough, 33, gazed adoringly at one another, as they celebrated their public debut at Fashion Week over dinner, in Sydney on Monday

Arriving straight from Justin Cassin's runway show, the high-profile couple looked dressed to impress.

Karl sported a tailored suit, teamed with a crisp white shirt and narrow tie.

Black boots and a leather belt finished off the television personality's look.

Polished: Arriving straight from Justin Cassin's runway show, the high-profile couple looked dressed to impress

A lot to smile about! The former model looked a picture-of-content, highlighting her slender figure in a slim-fitting top, black cigarette-style pants, a faux-fur cape and metallic loafers

Arriving arm-in-arm with Jasmine, the former model showed off her penchant for style.

A slim-fitting black top covered her petite upper frame, paired with black pants that clung to her trim pins.

A faux-fur beige cape added a glamorous touch, accessorised further with silver loafers from her own label Mara & Mine, and a black clutch.

Group affair: Also making an appearance was Christian Wilkins, Jasmine's mother Cheryl (second right) and Karl's mother Jenny (far right)

Getting along nicely: Richard (far left), 62, and Christian, 21, are close friends with the newly-debuted couple

Celebratory mood: The clan beamed for waiting cameramen as they made their way to the exclusive restaurant

Styling her shoulder-length locks semi-straight, Jasmine sported a minimal makeup palette, allowing her natural beauty to shine through.

Karl brought along his mother Jenny, while Jasmine was accompanied by mother Cheryl and sister Jade.

Karl's Today show co-star Richard Wilkins was also in attendance, as well as his socialite son Christian.

Familiar face: Karl's Today show co-star Richard Wilkins, 62, was also in attendance, sporting a head-to-toe black ensemble

Banter: The pair engaged in friendly conversation as they hit the promenade

Richard, 62, donned head-to-toe black, opting for a dress shirt, suit jacket, slim-fitting jeans and leather boots.

A leather belt and stylish sunglasses finished off the look, while his locks were styled into a voluminous do.

Richard's son Christian, 21, however, opted to make a statement, sporting a vertical-striped dress shirt, with several buttons left undone.

'It' crowd: Richard's son Christian, 21, opted to make a statement, sporting a vertical-striped dress shirt, with several buttons left undone

Indigo jeans, a Gucci belt, brown suede boots and a black carry bag tied in with the look.

Allowing his long blonde tresses to fall effortlessly, the flamboyant star shielded his eyes behind a pair of aviator sunglasses.

Jasmine's younger sister Jade, looked glamorous in an abstract Camilla frock with semi-sheer detailing, a coordinating blazer and gold-studded ankle boots.

The entire clan were then seated at a table inside the up-market restaurant, China Doll.

Fashion-forward: Jasmine's younger sister Jade looked glamorous in an abstract semi-sheer frock, coordinating blazer and gold-studded ankle boots

In-the-know: Jade is a regular on the social circuit, counting model Tahnee Atkinson and fashion designer Pip Edwards as friends

Ready to indulge: The entire clan were seated at a table inside the up-market restaurant, China Doll

Hours earlier on Monday, Karl and Jasmine made their debut as a couple at Justin Cassin's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week show.

The pair were seated front row, alongside Jade and Cheryl Yarbrough, as well as Jenny Stefanovic.

A year prior was a very different story, with Karl attending Fashion Week with his then-wife Cassandra Thorburn, 44.

Travelling in style: A black chauffeur-driven car transported the group to and from the venue

What a difference a year makes! A year prior was a very different story, with Karl attending Fashion Week with his then-wife Cassandra Thorburn (right), 44

Karl and Cassandra announced their shock split after 21 years of marriage, in September last year.

The former couple share three children together - Jackson, 17, Ava, 12, and River, 10.

After news broke, Karl moved out of their family home in Lindfield, on Sydney's Upper North Shore, where Cassandra remained.

Since then, the father-of-three has been spotted on a number of occasions with former model Jasmine.

Calling time: Karl and Cassandra announced their shock split after 21 years of marriage, in September last year
She is no stranger to posing in nothing but a skimpy bikini, after starring on the 2016 series of Love Island.

So it is no wonder Kady McDermott was the picture of confidence on Tuesday as she embarked on a sexy swimwear shoot in Manchester.

The reality star, 21, showed off her sensationally slender and toned physique in a racy white swimsuit as she documented her exciting day on Instagram.

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A bit of all-white: Kady McDermott showed off her sensationally toned physique in a racy swimsuit on Tuesday as she documented an exciting photo shoot on Instagram

The brunette beauty certainly set pulses racing as she posed in the racy one-piece - which plunged at the chest to give a flash of her delicate cleavage.

Clinging to her impressively flat stomach and tiny waist, the swimsuit then rose high at her thigh to leave almost all of her long and slender pins on show as she smouldered for the cameras on set.

Embarking on the shoot for jewellery brand Coco Gem, Kady then made her swimwear more dramatic by layering an array of glittering body chains on top - which she showed off by playfully shimmying for her followers.

Saucy: The brunette beauty certainly set pulses racing as she posed in the racy one-piece - which plunged at the chest to give a flash of her delicate cleavage

Model material: Clinging to her impressively flat stomach and tiny waist, the swimsuit then rose high at her thigh to leave almost all of her long and slender pins on show

Modelling a number of looks, the star then swapped her swimsuit for more racy gold and pearl bralets, which displayed her toned abs in further sizzling shots.

Leaving her hair sleek and straight and adding a bold red lip, Kady oozed glamour and confidence as she documented her fun day of shooting for fans.

Clad in various skimpy ensembles, her deep golden tan was also clear to see - having recently returned from a string of idyllic holidays.

Flash of skin: Modelling a number of looks, the star then swapped her swimsuit for more racy gold and pearl bralets, which displayed her toned abs in the next shots

She jetted home for a girly getaway to Marbella, Spain last week, which had followed immediately after her romantic break in the Maldives with boyfriend Scott Thomas.

Having released her own fitness programme for fans, Kady had displayed her famously toned figure in an array of glittering bikinis by the pool as she relaxed in both luxurious destinations.

However the brunette appears more than happy to have reunited with her beau in the UK, after the pair were spotted enjoying a romantic date night at the Miss Manchester 2017 competition last week.

First meeting on Love Island last year, the pair appear to still be going strong - with Kady hinting she'd like her man to propose in a recent interview with OK! magazine.

All eyes on me: Leaving her hair sleek and straight and adding a bold red lip, Kady oozed glamour and confidence as she documented the shoot for her fans

Jet-setter: Clad in various skimpy ensembles, her deep golden tan was also clear to see - having recently returned from a string of idyllic holidays, including a week in Marbella (above)

Speaking about her dream proposal, the TV star said: 'I wouldnt want it to be in front of anyone because Id get embarrassed.

'Id want it just us two, preferably in a hot country, on the beach with rose petals and candles everywhere! Romantic, cute and private would be perfect.

Scott added: I think it will have to involve towels again like when I asked her to be my girlfriend on Love Island!

After less than a year of romance, the pair are now living together in a rented three-bedroom house in Cheshire.
Amy Schumer has split with her boyfriend Ben Hanisch after a year and a half of dating.

The 35-year-old comedienne and furniture-maker have called time on their relationship according to a Tuesday report from People.

A rep for Schumer told the weekly: 'Amy and Ben have ended their relationship after thoughtful consideration and remain friends.'

Better days: Amy Schumer has split with boyfriend of a year and a half, Ben Hanisch, according to a Tuesday report from People

The pair have been noticeably absent from each other's social media with Schumer's last post featuring Hanisch was on March 12.

The news may come as a shock to many as just weeks ago the Trainwreck star talked about making some space in her life for a child with Hanisch.

She joked about her status in an interview with her Snatched co-star Goldie Hawn on The Moms, a website hosted by Denise Albert and Melissa Musen Gerstein on Monday.

Last stand: The pair have been noticeably absent from each other's social media with Schumer's last post featuring Hanisch was on March 12

Amy admitted that although her 'uterus remains empty' for now, shed like to have kids of her own someday.

'Ive worked very hard to not be a mom,' Amy joked.

'But I'm 35, Im sick of thinking of myself, you know? Its just like, "Enough Amy, who cares? '

He's the one: Last week Amy dished that she's ready for kids in an interview on The Moms. Since she's dating Ben Hanisch, seen at the Golden Globes, he must be the baby daddy

And she was direct when Melissa asked if she wanted to be a parent, replying, 'Yeah.'

No news on what Amy's beau Ben Hanisch thinks about this.

The Trainwreck actress and the furniture designer had been dating for 18 months as they started dating in November 2015.

Sneak peek: The 35-year-old flashed her cleavage and her midriff in her black pantsuit

When InStyle recently asked what she liked most about him she joked 'his penis,' before adding:. 'I could see he was kind in a real way.

'Some guys, they can put up a kind front, and then you find out that they're sexual deviants, but...he's not, God bless him. He's cute. He's kind,' she explained.

Back in August of last year, Amy described her relationship with Ben as 'just really easy.'

In stitches: Amy had her Snatched co-star Goldie Hawn roaring with laughter. The couple were on The Moms to talk about their new movie, due out May 12

'There were no games, no waiting three days. It was clear and easy. He was so sweet. He didnt know who I was. Hed heard my name,' she told People.

The couple met on a dating app, and then met in real life soon after.

In her book The Girl with The Lower Back Tattoo, Amy described their first meeting.

'We smiled at each other and in that moment, everything felt right,' she wrote.

Love at first sight: Back in November furniture deisigner Ben posted this selfie of the couple and recalled how he knew instantly that the comedienne and actress was the one for him




She endured an arduous three-hour sitting process involving over 250 measurements being taken.

And Megan Gale, 41, was able to enjoy the fruits of her labour this week when her wax doppelganger was finally unveiled at Madame Tussauds Sydney.

Clad in a custom-designed gown by designer Alex Perry, Megan's hand-crafted twin is the spitting image of the iconic model.

Plastic fantastic! Megan Gale, 41, came face-to-face with her wax doppelganger after it was finally unveiled at Madame Tussauds Sydney on Wednesday

Megan's figure sported the catwalk queen's trademark raven locks, which were styled in dramatic curls that fell down one shoulder.

The sculpture also featured Megan's oft-sported makeup look of a peach-hued blush, glossy lips and dark smokey eye-shadow with tight-lined kohl eye-liner.

Megan attended the official unveiling on Wednesday, donning a black off-shoulder midi dress that hugged her 17-week-old baby bump.

Double trouble! Megan elatedly linked arms with her twin and posed for a selfie

Va va voom! Clad in a custom-designed gown by designer Alex Perry, Megan's hand-crafted twin is the spitting image of the iconic model.

Spitting image: Megan's figure sported the catwalk queen's trademark raven locks, which were styled in dramatic curls that fell down one shoulder

Finer details: The sculpture also featured Megan's oft-sported makeup look of a peach-hued blush, glossy lips and dark smokey eye-shadow with tight-lined kohl eye-liner

Say cheese! Megan couldn't help but pose up a storm while taking selfies with her wax figure

Hours earlier, she appeared on the Today Show to gush about being immortalised by Madame Tussauds.

'It was absolutely incredible. I was so fascinated by the whole process,' she exclaimed.

Describing the sitting process, Megan said: 'Over 250 measurements of every bit of me, basically, from top to toe. You have to hold the pose for most of the time as well. They match everything from your skin tone.'

Yummy mummy: Megan attended the official unveiling earing a black off-shoulder midi dress that hugged her 17-week-old baby bump

So real! The Australia's Next Top Model judge took a closer look at the wax figure's lifelike head of hair

Can I have one match? She also took a moment to admire the craftsmanship of the ruby red Alex Perry gown

Perfection takes time! She endured an arduous three-hour sitting process involving over 250 measurements being taken

'Then it takes four months to make. Every hair is inserted individually,' she explained.

Megan also admitted that the designers had to custom-make her eyes thanks to their unique shade and shape, saying: 'They usually choose an eye from a library of eyes that they have, but they couldn't quite get it right because they are so particular.'

The wax figure is part of an interactive Fashion Week experience at the Darling Harbour venue.

Coming face-to-face for the first time: Megan beamed with amazement after gazing upon the wax replica for the first time

She's a happy camper! The expectant mother couldn't help but beam from ear-to-ear

Celebrating all things Australian fashion, visitors are able to channel their inner Megan by strutting a purpose-built runway at the event.

Guests will also enjoy a digital make-over and magazine cover photo-shoot as part of the exciting event.

The supermodel's wax figure will stand among that of other Australian A-listers, including Hugh Jackman and Elle Macpherson.

Miranda Kerr joined Madame Tussauds Sydney's ranks in 2012, with her wax figure also wearing a frock designed by Alex Perry.

'I am immensely honoured to be joining the Madame Tussauds Sydney family and to be following in the footsteps of so many great Australian icons,' said Megan in an official statement last month.

Megan's wax figure is part of an interactive Fashion Week experience at the Darling Harbour venue.

Celebrating all things Australian fashion, visitors are able to channel their inner Megan by strutting a purpose-built runway at the event.

VIP experience: Guests will also enjoy a digital make-over and magazine cover photo-shoot as part of the exciting event
She is used to performing dramatic scenes in Walford Square.

Yet former EastEnders star Samantha Womack showed those days were long behind her on Tuesday evening as she wrapped up her debut performance as Morticia on the launch night of The Addams Family Musical in London.

The 44-year-old soap star went super low-key in ripped jeans with a loose-fitting T-shirt as she headed out of the theatre, joined by a number of supportive stars.

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Blonde beauty: Former EastEnders star Samantha Womack showed those days were long behind her on Tuesday evening as she wrapped up her debut performance as Morticia on the launch night of The Addams Family Musical in London

Samantha found huge fame playing Ronnie Mitchell in the BBC1 soap a decade ago yet left the show in January when her character drowned while trying to save her beloved sister Roxy.

While the stunning star has been taking some time out of the spotlight, she was back to her best on Tuesday as she hit the stage in the famed role.

Going for a super casual ensemble, the blonde beauty wore baggy ripped jeans, a loose-fitting grey T-shirt and trainers for her turn at the show.

Ditching Mortitia's famed long black tresses and ghostly palour, Samantha showed off her natural blonde locks while sporting a slick of red lipstick.

Loose fitting: The 44-year-old soap star went super low-key in ripped jeans with a loose-fitting T-shirt as she headed out of the theatre, joined by a number of supportive stars

That was then: She is used to performing dramatic scenes in Walford Square

In utter comfort mode after her turn on the stage, the stunning star happily beamed as she held onto a drink and looked at the cameras.

She was joined by co-star Les Dennis who plays Uncle Fester in the show and appeared to have shaved his head for the famous role.

Former Hollyoaks actress Al Bastian dazzled in a plunging black mini dress which showed off all her best bits as she posed outside the theatre.

His latest job! She was joined by co-star Les Dennis who plays Uncle Fester in the show and appeared to have shaved his head for the famous role

Glamming it up: Claire Sweeney looked sensational as she joined the stars while sporting a floaty navy top paired with tight jeans while her hair was flawlessly styled in bouncy waves

Blonde beauty: Former Hollyoaks actress Al Bastian dazzled in a plunging black mini dress which showed off all her best bits as she posed outside the theatre

Claire Sweeney looked sensational as she joined the stars while sporting a floaty navy top paired with tight jeans while her hair was flawlessly styled in bouncy waves.

Debbie McGee looked chic in a floaty white dress with a long cardigan while her hair was piled into an elegant chignon.

The show is travelling the country, with four dates at London's New Theatre - with the launch night bringing out a number of stars.

All change: Samantha Womack slipped into a black satin dress after the show and was sporting wet hair after getting out of her costume

Say cheese: She posed behind a makeshift gold frame for a photo opportunity

Girl talk: Lizzie Cundy (left) and Debbie McGee (right) were pictured cosying up to one another

Fancy seeing you here: Bonnie Langford enjoyed a tete-a-tete with Claire Sweeney
She divorced Olivier Martinez in December last year.

And Halle Berry was spotted with a handsome stranger as she popped out for lunch in West Hollywood, California, on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old tried to go low-key as she covered her head with a giant fedora, as she joined the gentleman at Gracias Madre.

Stepping out: Halle Berry was spotted with a handsome stranger as she popped out for lunch in West Hollywood, California, on Tuesday

The X-Men actress showed a tantalizing glimpse of cleavage in a plunging V-necked chiffon top, which seemed to flash her bra.

She added form-fitting pale blue denim jeans and grey suede ankle boots.

The Monsters ball star appeared relaxed and make-up free as she showcased her natural beauty.

Veggie lunch: The 50-year-old tried to go low-key as she covered her head with a giant fedora, as she joined the gentleman at Gracias Madre

Halle - who competed in the 1986 Miss World pageant, aged 20, representing the US - covered her eyes with dark glasses.

Her handsome companion looked to keep a protective watch on his stunning companion.

He wore a baseball cap and combats.

Effortlessly stylish: She added form-fitting pale blue denim jeans and grey suede ankle boots

Low-key: The Monsters ball star appeared relaxed and make-up free as she showcased her natural beauty

Stunning: The X-Men actress showed a tantalizing glimpse of cleavage in a plunging V-necked chiffon top, which seemed to flash her bra

Uber beautiful: Halle - who competed in the 1986 Miss World pageant, aged 20, representing the US - covered her eyes with dark glasses and kept her head lowered as she made her way to a waiting vehicle

The star was clearly not feeling the bloat after dining at the restaurant which serves plant-based Mexican fayre.

She posted a seriously sexy near naked selfie on Tuesday afternoon.

Halle is seen in silhouette against a window, in a picture she captioned: 'Ill tell you what freedom is to me. No fear. #NinaSimone.'

She has been married and divorced three times, to David Justice, Eric Benet and Martinez, respectively. She has two children - daughter Nahla, who she shares with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry and son Maceo with Martinez.
A sharia court in Indonesia's ultra-conservative Aceh province has sentenced two gay men to public caning.

On Wednesday, the court said each of the men, 20 and 23 years old, would receive 85 lashes for having had sex with each other.

From the Associated Press:

The couple were arrested in late March after neighborhood vigilantes in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, suspected them of being gay and set out to catch them having sex. Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia to practice Islamic law, or sharia, which was a concession made by the national government in 2006 to end a years-long war with separatists. It implemented an expanded sharia code two years ago.

PHOTO: Policemen stand during ceremony ahead for election to vote governor in Lhokseumawe, Indonesia Aceh province, February 14, 2017 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. [VIA REUTERS]
She's the outspoken radio host, who once got into a fist fight with a fellow Australian Idol contestant.

And it appears 2DayFM's Em Rusciano, 38, may have met her match when it comes to controversial broadcasters, with John 'Lawsie' Laws recently declining her request to meet and bluntly asking 'who are you?'

On Tuesday, the 38-year-old slammed the veteran media personality as a 'misogynist idiot,' after he admitted he makes all female staff wear skirts to look 'feminine' at work.

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Hitting back: John Laws recently wrote a brutal response to Em Rusciano after the 2DayFM radio host slammed his comments about women

She wrapped up her scathing criticism by suggesting a sit down chat on his 2SM show and sarcastically offered to wear 'a three-piece suit and smoke a cigar' - however the 81-year-old rejected her in a brutal open letter.

'M (I hope I have spelt that correctly),' he began.

'I have been told about the phone call from your very charming producer Kim, but I don't know what you want.

'P.S. By the way, who are you?' The senior citizen, who was once hailed 'broadcaster of the century' by former Prime Minister Paul Keating, signed off his open letter by questioning Em's star status

He added: 'I can tell you what I don't want, and that is to have some strange woman who I don't know and probably don't want to know, wander into my studio in a three-piece suit and smoking a cigar. Let alone wanting to call me Buddy!'

The senior citizen, who was once hailed 'broadcaster of the century' by former Prime Minister Paul Keating, signed off by questioning her star status.

'P.S. By the way, who are you?' he wrote.

Controversial: The drama began on Tuesday, when Em slammed John as 'a very glamorous corpse with an interesting weave' over bizarre comments he made in an interview with The Project's Steve Price

Candid: On Monday, John told Steve Price (pictured) he doesn't care that it is no longer politically correct to force his female employees to wear provocative outfits.

The drama began on Tuesday, when Em slammed John as 'a very glamorous corpse with an interesting weave' over bizarre comments he made in an interview with The Project's Steve Price.

'Thanks for reminding us that women are only around for men to look at' and 'the only way to show that I am a female is to wear a skirt and I only need to be in a workplace to provide eye candy for the men who are above me,' she said.

The mother-of-two went on to call him an 'irrelevant, sexist, misogynist idiot who should not be on air.'

Not impressed: 'Thanks for reminding us that women are only around for men to look at,' Em said in response to John's comments about wanting his female staff to look 'feminine'

On Monday, John said he doesn't care that it is no longer politically correct to force his female employees to wear provocative outfits.

'I love them to look feminine, and to me a skirt on a beautiful body is a very, very feminine thing,' he said.

When asked if he still makes his female employees wear short skirts his answer was: 'You bet... they all wear skirts.'

'You haven't had the Equal Opportunity Commission come around knocking on the door?' Steve Price asked.

'No, and if they do they can get stuffed,' John bluntly replied.
They denied divorce speculation despite hinting at a marriage split on Instagram last week.

And RHOS' Lisa and David Oldfield have once again spoken about their imperfect relationship, reminding fans that they aren't the only couple with problems.

Appearing on the Morning Show this Wednesday, the reality show stars have no regrets about airing their dirty laundry on national television instead of dealing with their woes in private.

No one's perfect! RHOS' Lisa and David Oldfield have once again spoken about their imperfect relationship, reminding fans that they aren't the only couple with problems

'We have met, including our own friends, so many people who have a similar kind of relationship,' David explained, adding: 'I met so many people who sleep in different rooms, barely speak to their husband or wife.'

'50 to 60 per cent of couples are probably in a similar position,' he posited.

'You can be as miserable as us!' added Lisa with a wry smile.

Only kidding! Last week Lisa and David laughed off divorce rumours, with Lisa Daily Mail Australia: 'We're not getting divorced. No-one else would put up with me!'

Last week Lisa and David laughed off divorce rumours, with Lisa Daily Mail Australia: 'We're not getting divorced. No-one else would put up with me!'

'We did separate for a few months in late 2007, early 2008, before we had children. But we are not separated now.'

She added: 'We get regular therapy - and probably need a bit more!'

Sending Instagram into meltdown: Their comments com after Lisa set tongues wagging after sharing a meme on social media indicating that she's divorcing her 'a**hole' husband after 16 years of marriage

Former One Nation politician David also addressed split reports while chatting to TheFix on Thursday.

Their comments com after Lisa set tongues wagging after sharing a meme on social media indicating that she's divorcing her 'a**hole' husband after 16 years of marriage.

'Divorce - to finally get rid of that a**hole,' read the meme.

Lisa captioned it: 'Kicking this #motherf**ker to the #kerb.'

She added the hashtags: '#byedave #byefelicia.'
She was the picture of elation as she attended the unveiling of her waxwork figure at Madame Tussauds Sydney this Wednesday.

But Megan Gale, 41, has confessed that she had suffered a bout of food poisoning, causing the exclusive event to be delayed.

'It hit me on the plane and then it was ongoing all night and it got to the point where cause obviously being pregnant I got so severely dehydrated that I wanted to check bub so I went into hospital,' she told the Daily Telegraph.

'I wanted to check bub so I went into hospital': Megan Gale, 41, suffered a bout of food poisoning hours before attending the official unveiling of her Madame Tussauds waxwork, but confirmed that her baby wasn't harmed

'I got put on drips twice and I was in there 'til 10 in the morning so obviously I was in no position to be here,' she confessed.

Megan, who is 17-weeks pregnant with her second child, added that she was relieved to find that the food poisoning hadn't harmed her baby.

Clad in a custom-designed gown by designer Alex Perry, Megan's made a sparkling entrance at the unveiling of her wax twin at Madam Tussauds Sydney.

Plastic fantastic! Megan came face-to-face with her wax doppelganger after it was finally unveiled at Madame Tussauds Sydney on Wednesday

Megan's figure sported the catwalk queen's trademark raven locks, which were styled in dramatic curls that fell down one shoulder.

The sculpture also featured Megan's oft-sported makeup look of a peach-hued blush, glossy lips and dark smokey eye-shadow with tight-lined kohl eye-liner.

Megan attended the official unveiling on Wednesday, donning a black off-shoulder midi dress that hugged her 17-week-old baby bump.

Double trouble! Megan elatedly linked arms with her twin and posed for a selfie

Va va voom! Clad in a custom-designed gown by designer Alex Perry, Megan's hand-crafted twin is the spitting image of the iconic model.

Spitting image: Megan's figure sported the catwalk queen's trademark raven locks, which were styled in dramatic curls that fell down one shoulder

Finer details: The sculpture also featured Megan's oft-sported makeup look of a peach-hued blush, glossy lips and dark smokey eye-shadow with tight-lined kohl eye-liner

Say cheese! Megan couldn't help but pose up a storm while taking selfies with her wax figure

Hours earlier, she appeared on the Today Show to gush about being immortalised by Madame Tussauds.

'It was absolutely incredible. I was so fascinated by the whole process,' she exclaimed.

Describing the sitting process, Megan said: 'Over 250 measurements of every bit of me, basically, from top to toe. You have to hold the pose for most of the time as well. They match everything from your skin tone.'

Yummy mummy: Megan attended the official unveiling earing a black off-shoulder midi dress that hugged her 17-week-old baby bump

So real! The Australia's Next Top Model judge took a closer look at the wax figure's lifelike head of hair

Can I have one match? She also took a moment to admire the craftsmanship of the ruby red Alex Perry gown

Perfection takes time! She endured an arduous three-hour sitting process involving over 250 measurements being taken

'Then it takes four months to make. Every hair is inserted individually,' she explained.

Megan also admitted that the designers had to custom-make her eyes thanks to their unique shade and shape, saying: 'They usually choose an eye from a library of eyes that they have, but they couldn't quite get it right because they are so particular.'

The wax figure is part of an interactive Fashion Week experience at the Darling Harbour venue.

Coming face-to-face for the first time: Megan beamed with amazement after gazing upon the wax replica for the first time

She's a happy camper! The expectant mother couldn't help but beam from ear-to-ear

Celebrating all things Australian fashion, visitors are able to channel their inner Megan by strutting a purpose-built runway at the event.

Guests will also enjoy a digital make-over and magazine cover photo-shoot as part of the exciting event.

The supermodel's wax figure will stand among that of other Australian A-listers, including Hugh Jackman and Elle Macpherson.

Miranda Kerr joined Madame Tussauds Sydney's ranks in 2012, with her wax figure also wearing a frock designed by Alex Perry.

'I am immensely honoured to be joining the Madame Tussauds Sydney family and to be following in the footsteps of so many great Australian icons,' said Megan in an official statement last month.

Megan's wax figure is part of an interactive Fashion Week experience at the Darling Harbour venue.

Celebrating all things Australian fashion, visitors are able to channel their inner Megan by strutting a purpose-built runway at the event.

VIP experience: Guests will also enjoy a digital make-over and magazine cover photo-shoot as part of the exciting event
He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar earlier this year, for Fences.

And Denzel Washington looks to be bidding for his next nomination, as he transformed for his next role.

The 62-year-old was almost unrecognisable as he filmed scenes in Santa Monica, California, on Tuesday.

Unrecognisable! Denzel Washington has transformed for his next role, as he was spotted on Tuesday

The actor seemed unaware that he was drawing a crowd of tourists, as he got into character, on the busy Santa Monica Pier.

He was sporting a relaxed hairdo and had a set of walkman headphones across his head.

He looked swamped in a patterned plum red shirt with baggy blue denims.

Different look! The 62-year-old was almost unrecognisable as he filmed scenes in Santa Monica, California

He had black-framed glasses on for much of the shoot.

The film - which is written and directed by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dan Gilroy - was originally titled Inner City, but that title has since been pulled.

It's 'set in the underbelly of the overburdened Los Angeles criminal court system,' according to Sony, with Washington playing a standout lawyer named Roman Israel.

Retro: He was sporting a relaxed hairdo and had a set of walkman headphones across his head

Unflattering: He looked swamped in a patterned plum red shirt with baggy blue denims

Taking a weight off: He took a quick rest in a nearby chair between scenes

In the film, the attorney is recruited by a 'cutthroat lawyer' played by Colin Farrell, who looks to sign him on to his firm after his business partner dies.

A course of events lands Israel in a crisis situation in the film, which also features Hugo Armstrong, Ashton Sanders, Andrew T. Lee and Brittany Ishibashi.

Two-time Oscar winner Washington has played an attorney in a number of previous movies, including the 1990 comedy Heart Condition, the 1991 thriller Ricochet and the 1993 classic Philadelphia.

The 6ft1 actor won his Oscars for 1989's Glory and 2001's Training Day.
A wild-eyed Robert Pattinson takes center stage in a new trailer A24 released on YouTube Tuesday for the upcoming Palme d'Or contender film Good Time.

He stars therein as Connie Nikas, whose brother Nick winds up jailed at Rikers Island when police nab him as the two of them try to flee to Virginia after a heist.

As Nick, played by the film's co-director Ben Safdie, suffers behind bars with gashes on his face, Connie desperately searches for a way to free him.

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Star turn! A wild-eyed Robert Pattinson takes center stage in a new trailer A24 released on YouTube Tuesday for the forthcoming Palme d'Or contender film Good Time

Ben Safdie has directed the film - due for release August 11 - alongside his brother Josh, who has himself co-written the screenplay alongside Robert Bronstein.

In a cast that includes Barkhad Abdi, Jennifer Jason Leigh features as Corey, who's seen sitting next to Connie in a car as the latter explains his brother's plight to her.

'Oh, my God, that's awful,' says Corey, and Connie insists: 'I just gotta get him outta there before something bad happens,' pointing out that 'He could get killed in there.'

Premise: He stars therein as Connie Nikas, whose brother Nick winds up jailed at Rikers Island when police nab him as the two of them try to flee to Virginia after a heist

Bad situation: As Nick, played by the film's co-director Ben Safdie, suffers behind bars with gashes on his face, Connie desperately searches for a way to free him

Multiple hats! Ben Safdie has directed the film - due for release August 11 - alongside his brother Josh, who has himself co-written the screenplay alongside Robert Bronstein

At one point, Connie's seen trying to obtain a bail bond, but is told: 'You need another ten grand. You can get another ten grand, your brother will get out.'

Connie, at another juncture, is depicted intoning softly: 'I think something very important is happening, and it's deeply connected to my purpose.'

A frantic last third of the trailer kicks off has shots including Connie embracing Corey, someone being thrown from a high window, Connie grappling with a man and a dog in a narrow hallway and Connie glaring in the back of a police car.

In a cast that includes Barkhad Abdi, Jennifer Jason Leigh features as Corey, who's seen sitting next to Connie in a car as the latter explains his brother's plight to her

Letting loose! 'Oh, my God, that's awful,' says Corey, and Connie insists: 'I just gotta get him outta there before something bad happens,' pointing out that 'He could get killed in there'

A swing and a miss: At one point, Connie's seen trying to obtain a bail bond, but is told: 'You need another ten grand'

In an Instagram post from April 14, Josh wrote: 'GOOD TIME, the film we've been slaving over for the past 19 months, will world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the main competition.'

Dishing about Good Time in an interview Collider ran last month, Robert gushed that 'its crazy,' and that 'I literally cant wait for it to come out.'

He also said of the movie: 'Its just really fun. I mean, its kind of like, its so scrappy and stuff but you know, I watch so many movies and I find a lot of them very predictable, and also, a little bit playing it safe.'

Action packed! A frenetic last third of the trailer kicks off, with shots including Connie embracing Corey and someone being thrown from a high window
She's the bubbly reality star, known for her surgically-enhanced assets and figure-hugging outfits.

And Cheryl Maitland showed off her ample cleavage while sporting a skintight black 'birthday suit,' in a very busty selfie shared on Instagram on Wednesday.

The former Married At First Sight star, who turned 26, wore a plunging jumpsuit, which showcased her tiny waist and slender frame.

Busty display: Cheryl Maitland showed off her ample cleavage while sporting a skintight black 'birthday suit,' in a very busty selfie shared on Instagram on Wednesday

'Happy birthday to me I'm obsessed with these jumpsuits from @babyboofashion CHERYL10 for a surprise #birthdaysuit,' she captioned.

Earlier this year, the Scottish-born Queenslander told NW magazine that she underwent plastic surgery after being bullied at school for being 'flat-chested.'

'I hit puberty really lateI was teased for many years for my lack of bust,' she said.

'When I finished school, I thought, I want to do this for myself and feel more comfortable in my skin.

She added: 'I love full lips. It's a look I like and I think it looks good. I don't do it for anyone else but myself.'

The revealing birthday snap comes days after Cheryl showed plenty of skin in a VERY revealing video shared with fans.

Cheeky! Cheryl performed a naughty striptease in her hotel room during a wild weekend with boyfriend Dean Gibbs in Melbourne

The 25-year-old performed a striptease for the camera as she took part in the Art Series Hotel Group's 'No Robe' challenge.

Standing in front of the bed at Melbourne's Olsen Hotel, Cheryl begins by holding her robe so just her shoulders are visible.

The former topless waitress then drops the robe to expose her shapely derriere and long brunette hair.

Who needs clothes? The 25-year-old socialite performed a striptease for the camera as she took part in the Art Series Hotel Group's 'No Robe' challenge

Cheryl captioned the video, 'Another amazing weekend in Melbourne. Thanks @artserieshotelgroup for having us!'

It appears she was enjoying a fun-filled weekend with her boyfriend, convicted drug trafficker and former policeman Dean Gibbs.

The 'No Robe' campaign, which boasts Rachel Griffiths as a supporter, sees patrons at select hotels across Australia given the chance to strike a provocative pose.

She's an exhibitionist! Standing in front of the bed at Melbourne's Olsen Hotel, Cheryl begins by holding her robe so just her shoulders are visible

Among the participating venues are The Olsen Hotel in Melbourne, as well as venues in Brisbane, Adelaide and Bendigo.

Guests are able to take a nude selfie, which is then sent to an artist and re-imagined as a life drawing.

Alternatively, guests can share an image of self-expression to Instagram as Cheryl did, and use the hash tag 'No Robe.'

Missed you! The hotel trip seemed to be a romantic getaway for long-distance lovers Cheryl and Dean, who were reunited over the weekend

While fans were happy to see Cheryl strip naked, one follower asked if the reality TV star was letting her 'self worth (go) out the window'.

Cheryl responded defiantly by saying she is simply 'comfortable in (her) own skin'.

The hotel trip seemed to be a romantic getaway for long-distance lovers Cheryl and Dean, who were reunited over the weekend.

Cheryl is based on Queensland's Gold Coast, while Dean runs a plumbing business in Melbourne.
He and wife Zoe Ventoura worked together on the set of action adventure film, The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One.

But during a chat with the Fitzy & Wippa show on Wednesday, Daniel MacPherson revealed that it became a bit of a 'contentious issue' because Zoe's scene was actually cut from the final film.

'It was a little bit awkward around our household,' the 37-year-old told radio co-hosts Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli.

'It was a bit awkward around our household': Daniel Macpherson, 37, revealed on Wednesday's Fitzy & Wippa show, that working alongside wife Zoe Ventoura, 35, on film The Osiris Child, became a 'contentious issue'

'It was a bit of a contentious issue because she has a scene in the beginning with Rachel Griffiths and a few others,' Daniel began.

'And then the director had to cut most of that scene, not so Zoe wasn't in it, just because the movie was running long.

'But he (the director) promised Zoe when (The Osiris Child) Science Fiction Volume Two comes back, she'll have a lead role', the television presenter continued.

He added lightheartedly: 'It was a little bit awkward around our household.'

Awkward: 'It was a bit of a contentious issue because she has a scene in the beginning with Rachel Griffiths and a few others. And then the director had to cut most of that scene, not so Zoe wasn't in it, just because the movie was running long,' the star shared

Starring role: Daniel stars as Lt. Kane Sommerville in the action adventure film, The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One

Daniel stars as Lt. Kane Sommerville in the action adventure film, The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One.

Also starring Twilight actor Kellan Lutz, 32, the film sees the characters on a race against an impending global crisis.

Despite wife Zoe's scene in the film being cut, the brunette's career has gone from strength-to-strength.

Plot: The film sees the characters on a race against an impending global crisis

Familiar names: The Osiris Child also stars Twilight actor Kellan Lutz, 32

Zoe will appear on-screen as the mayor's wife in the next installment of Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Men Tell No Tales, slated for release this year.

Former Packed to the Rafters star Zoe and former Neighbours star Daniel tied the knot in 2015.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at The Star's Summer Hits launch in December 2015, Daniel revealed the moment when he knew his wife was a keeper.

'Zoe is the first girl that I've ever been out with where all of my mates individually  when we started dating four years ago  said to me, 'Don't screw this one up, you're batting above your average,' I've headed their advice.'

Going strong: Zoe and Daniel tied the knot in 2015, and Daniel says his friends assured him that she was a 'keeper'
He is set to play a hunky lifeguard in Baywatch.

And Zac Efron met some of Bondi Beach's real lifesaving heroes during his promotional tour of Sydney on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old was pictured meeting the stars of TV's Bondi Rescue alongside his co-star Alexandra Daddario.

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Meeting the locals! Zac Efron met some of Bondi Beach's real lifesaving heroes during his promotional tour of Sydney on Wednesday

Zac and Alexandra smiled and waved to the crowds as they posed in front of a big Baywatch sign for the photo call.

They were later joined by Bondi lifeguards Jesse Polock, Bruce Hopkins, Anthony Glick, Daniel McLaughlin and Jethro James.

Zac, who wore a bomber jacket, T-shirt and ripped jeans, happily shook hands with the lifeguards and posed for selfies with them.

Meeting the real life heros: Zac and Alexandra smiled and waved to the crowds as they posed in front of a big Baywatch sign for the photo call

Getting along well! Alexandra appeared to charm the surf lifesavers in a white top with an orange asymmetrical mini skirt

Meanwhile, Alexandra appeared to charm the surf lifesavers in a white top with an orange asymmetrical mini skirt.

Zac told The Daily Telegraph: 'I feel like Baywatch has the spirit of Bondi Beach in it, like this is the bay we are protecting in the movie.

'That is one of the reasons we are so excited to bring it out here. I love coming to Australia.'

Promotional tour: Zac told The Daily Telegraph, 'I feel like Baywatch has the spirit of Bondi Beach in it, like this is the bay we are protecting in the movie'

'I love the fans out here, the energy out here': Zac and Alexandra are Down Under promoting Baywatch, which is released to cinemas on Thursday, June 1

'I love the fans out here, the energy out here,' he continued.

'It is always a great time and everybody shows up and shows so much love so it is good to be back to see everybody.'

Baywatch is released to Australian cinemas on Thursday, June 1.
She's never been shy about showing off her God-given gifts.

And so Ashley James, 30, was at it again on her Instagram on Wednesday - but was sure to caption the latest photo with an empowering message.

Posing in an elaborate lingerie set, which flaunted her gym-honed curves, the former reality star wore a nude and black, sheer two-piece, with cut out paneling that highlighted her ample bust.

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'It makes me feel good!' Ashley James shows off her athletic physique in sheer NUDE lingerie as she reveals she ALWAYS wears matching underwear

Both the bar and the bottoms featured cut outs that showed off her creamy skin below, with nude fabric teasingly covering her modest areas.

She captioned the shot - in which she sported a platinum blonde, lightly curled hair do, and stood in front of palm trees with one hand behind her head - with the message: 'Always matching underwear.'

Explaining herself, she added: 'It makes me feel good, even when no one else sees it (in this case, everyone can!) Do what makes you feel good inside. Have a happy Wednesday!'

The ex-Made In Chelsea starlet is a staunch supporter of the body confidence movement and is never afraid to show off her perfect physique.

Music minx: Ashley James flaunted her toned legs in a pair of sexy sheer leggings as she strolled into a London radio station on Friday

Proud of her body: The ex-Made In Chelsea starlet is a staunch supporter of the body confidence movement and is never afraid to show off her perfect physique

And she proved once again she can pull off a bold look, flaunting a pair of sexy sheer leggings as she headed into a London radio station on Friday for her weekly DJing slot.

Ashley flashed a hint of her toned legs as she strode along the street in a petite leather jacket atop a t-shirt emblazoned with a body confidence slogan.

Ashley's endless legs were the focal point of the look, with the sheer panels adding a sexy touch to the daytime look.

The reality personality rocked a pair of oval Ray-Bans and left her flowing blonde locks tied up in a loose bun.

Explaining herself: She added 'It makes me feel good, even when no one else sees it (in this case, everyone can!) Do what makes you feel good inside. Have a happy Wednesday!'

Empowering: Ashley regularly puts out unretouched images of her slim bikini body out on her social media as part of a fight against unrealistic body image

Appropriately for a DJ, she slung a pair of pink designer headphones around her neck, which she matched with a distressed velvet laptop in her left hand.

Completing her look were a pair of tiny gold ring earrings and a necklace pedant in the shape of Africa.

A bottle of water in her right hand was a reminder she was on business, which is presenting a show featuring hip hop, trap, grime and chart music from 2 to 4pm.

As she entered Hoxton Radio with fellow presenter Charlotte de Carle, she flashed a side view of her long legs for the camera.

Ashley regularly puts out unretouched images of her slim bikini body out on her social media as part of a fight against unrealistic body image.
She's the glamorous model and journalist who hosts E! Australia.

And Ksenija Lukich turned heads in a 60's style outfit on day four of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old beauty was photographed arriving at the C/meo Collective show in a yellow shift dress by Australian designer Macgraw.

Swinging sixties! E! Australia host Ksenija Lukich wore a 60's inspired outfit on day four of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Wednesday

She matched the outfit with black thigh boots which highlighted her slender figure.

Ksenija accessorised with a black envelop clutch and styled her shoulder-length hair in loose waves.

Her makeup was kept simple yet elegant with soft eye shadow, lashings of mascara and a nude pink lip.

Thigh's the limit! The 27-year-old arried at the C/meo Collective show in a yellow shift dress by Australian designer Macgraw

Girls' day out! Ksenija caught up with her friends Anna Heinrich and Nikki Phillips

Once seated at the show, Ksenija caught up with her friends Anna Heinrich and a pregnant Nikki Phillips.

She later took to Instagram to share a photo of herself outside Carriageworks, where the shows were being held.

Ksenija posed in front of a brick wall wearing Miu Miu cat eye sunglasses as she sipped a bottle of San Pellegrino.

Let me take a selfie! Ksenija later took to Instagram to share a photo of herself outside Carriageworks, where the shows were being held

Ksenija, who attended the event solo, married longtime partner Dan Bragg last November.

The ceremony took place at Sydney's Centennial Park and she wore a Steven Khalil gown for her special day.
Before Trump fired James B. Comey last week, he asked the FBI director to end its investigation into former Trump advisor Michael Flynn and Russia, reports the New York Times. This is big news, and has since been confirmed by a number of other news organizations.

An associate of Comey read parts of a memo that Comey wrote after meeting with Trump.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump said to Comey, according to the former FBI director's memo.

"He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

Snip:

The existence of Mr. Trump's request is the clearest evidence that the president has tried to directly influence the Justice Department and F.B.I. investigation into links between Mr. Trump's associates and Russia.

The White House issued a statement denying that Trump obstructed justice: "the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn."

The memo allegedly written by Comey also said that Trump asked Comey to imprison journalists who published leaks.

After the NYT broke the news, House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) tweeted ".@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready."

If the memo is real, then it is the same caliber of smoking gun that forced Nixon to resign for ordering "his chief of staff to get the CIA to force the FBI to abandon its investigation into the break-in," wrote Dylan Matthews in Vox.

Snip:
She's been at her girlfriend's side ever since she went under the knife to accentuate her posterior.

And while Jemma Lucy recuperates from her Brazilian butt lift, her love Chantelle Connelly has paid homage to her other half as she posed in a shower absolutely starkers in Spain on Tuesday.

The former Geordie Shore star put on a titillating display as she bared her ample assets and inked figure while enjoying the steamy shower.

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In the nude: Chantelle Connelly has paid homage to her other half as she posed in a shower absolutely starkers in Spain on Tuesday

The reality star boldly showcased her buxom bust with a plomb while highlighting her taut stomach and toned legs in her nude appearance.

Chantelle - who underwent a non-surgical bum lift in March - also exhibited her pert posterior as she turned to side to lather her ombre locks under the waterfall shower.

Not shy in flaunting her figure, the beauty seductively arched her back while displaying her honed curves as she washed the day away.

Work it: The former Geordie Shore star put on a titillating display as she bared her ample assets and inked figure while enjoying the steamy shower

Meanwhile, Chantelle's birthday suit display in Spain comes after her other half Jemma underwent a Brazilian butt lift in Turkey.

The Ex On The Beach star had jetted into Turkey for the cosmetic procedure that left her unable to sit down for three whole weeks.

Jemma had revealed via a Snapchat video that she was having fat transferred from her stomach to her bottom in a bid for a more peachy derriere.

As well as the highly popular bum lift, the reality star also had a small amount of fat removed from her chin while under anesthetic.

Peachy: Jemma's trip to Spain comes after she recently ventured to Turkey to undergo a Brazilian bum lift

She went under the knife weeks after having her G-cup cleavage boosted to a larger size.

While discussing her cosmetic work, Jemma explained that a friend of hers had sold a story on her to reveal her surgery plans.

She branded the insider who sold her story a 'c***', and disclosed that she had only spoke of her intentions to four people.

Jemma vented: 'When you tell about four people a secret and it gets in the press. You can't trust f**king anybody, but to be honest it wasn't going to be a secret because everyone would've found out anyway: I'm getting my a** done.'

Confusing: Jemma and former Geordie Shore star Chantelle had claimed they were dating back in January, before later announcing their romance had been a ploy for publicity

'It's just annoying as I told a handful of people that I was doing it and I obviously wanted to tell my story,' she continued, before blasting: 'But someone else got there before me, you c***.'

Currently healing in Spain, Jemma had been putting on an amorous display with Chantelle - who she claims to have been in a relationship in January.

Jemma had told her fans that she and Chantelle were 'going out' and that they had been together 'for a month'.

However, the former Geordie Shore star later tweeted to her 165,000 followers that it was all just a ploy for publicity.

She wrote: 'Just to let everyone know the whole me and @jem_lucy relationship was a laugh since the papers started it we rode it and had the last laugh' followed by two money emojis.
She was thrust into the spotlight at the tender age of nine when Keeping Up With The Kardashians first debuted in 2007.

But Kylie Jenner proved to be all grown up as she added to her collection of figure-flaunting Instagram snaps on Tuesday.

The reality star, 19, showed off her toned legs in a saucy thigh-skimming black dress - which comes in light of her discussing the perils of growing up in the spotlight.

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Social media icon: Kylie Jenner, 19, showed off her toned legs in a saucy thigh-skimming black dress as she sat on a make-up chair

In one image, the star - who is well versed in the art of taking the perfect snap - glances coquettishly at the camera as she sits on a make-up chair.

Kylie flaunts her enviable bronzed pins by positioning it sexily, while the floaty black lace number rests short on her frame.

The garment also drapes off her shoulder - baring her flawless decolletage as she expertly strikes a pose.

In a second snap her beauty look is more prominent as she gazes behind her shoulder slightly.

Gorgeous: The reality star's raven tresses are slicked back - paving way for her bronzed cheekbones which are complemented with large gold hoops

'We started filming when I was nine': The images come in light of Kylie discussing the perils of growing up in the spotlight on Keeping Up With The Kardashians

The younger Jenner sister's raven tresses are slicked back - paving way for her bronzed cheekbones, which are complemented with large gold hoops.

Kylie looks at ease as she gazes seductively at the lens - no doubt sending her 93.7 million Instagram followers wild yet again.

Despite looking like a professional, Kylie revealed some home truths about fame in the trailer for her upcoming TV docu-series Life Of Kylie - which debuts July 6.

The glitzy trailer for the show, which is billed as giving fans an inside track on what it's like to be the reality star and promises to take them inside her private world, sees her reflecting on her life pre-fame.

Eagerly anticipated: Kylie revealed some home truths about fame in the trailer for her upcoming TV docu-series Life Of Kylie - which debuts July 6

'No idea what we were getting ourselves into': She was seen reflecting on her life pre-fame

'I started filming Keeping Up With The Kardashians when I was nine-years-old. I dont think any of us knew what we were getting ourselves into,' she told the camera.

The make-up mogul also hinted that she couldn't keep up her glamorous image long-term as the pressure would get to her.

'I can't do it forever,' the TV star said amongst a slew of clips during various photo shoots.

The new teaser began with her saying: 'When you grow up on camera, everybody feels like they know you but they don't.'

She then added: 'I think a lot of people have misconceptions of who I am.'

Mystery girl: The new teaser began with her saying: 'When you grow up on camera, everybody feels like they know you but they don't'

Not what it seems: She then added, 'I think a lot of people have misconceptions of who I am'

Insight: The new show is billed as giving fans an inside track on what it's like to be the reality star and promises to take them inside her private world

The teen, who has been dating Travis Scott since splitting from Tyga, was also seen with friends such as Jordyn Woods.

'This show is a gift for my fans. There is an image I constantly feel pressure to keep . And then there's the real Kylie,' the Hidden Hills, California resident continued.

The sister of Vogue model Kendall Jenner added: 'I do feel pressure to not let anybody down. Nobody has a perfect life.'

Jenner then admitted that she has built this image that cramps her.

'I am not totally innocent because I am keeping up this lifestyle. But I can't do it forever... this is like a therapy session,' she revealed.

Set to quit showbiz? She then admitted, 'I am not totally innocent because I am keeping up this lifestyle. But I can't do it forever... this is like a therapy session'

Overshadowing: The show was initially all about elder half-sister Kim, but Kylie and Kendall have managed to become some of the most famous faces in the industry (Pictured 2007)

Kylie then hints that once she is ready to retire she can pursue other dreams: 'Now I can find what really makes me happy.'

Since soaring to fame, Kylie has amassed a fortune with her Kylie Cosmetics line, fashion ranges, appearances - as well as other professional endeavours.

The last ten years of Keeping Up With The Kardashians has seen Kylie, as well as her sisters, go through various ups and downs in life.

While Kylie struggled with coming clean about her lip fillers, her sister Kendall was seen working hard to be taken seriously as a high-fashion model.

Since soaring to fame: Kylie has amassed a fortune with Kylis Cosmetics line, fashion ranges, appearances - while her sister Kendall as worked hard to be taken seriously as a model

No holds barred: The ups and downs of Kim, Kourtney and Khloe's love lives have also been documented extensively on the show

Kim Kardashian, who is now happily married to Kanye West, was followed through a number of failed relationships, including Reggie Bush and most famously, her 72 day marriage to Kris Humphries.

Her other sisters also haven't had much luck in the love game over the years, with Khloe going through a painful and long divorce from Lamar Odom.

Kourtney's relationship with Scott Disick also deteriorated - with both of them back on the dating scene.

Life Of Kylie premieres on E! on July 6 and will be shown in the US as well as in the UK and Ireland available on hayu.
She made her Cannes Film Festival debut two years ago.

And Hailey Baldwin looked incredibly stylish as she arrived at Nice Airport for the 70th annual movie spectacle on Wednesday - teasing a slew of glamorous red carpet appearances in the upcoming days.

The 20-year-old model, who has been working hard to step out of the shadow of her actor dad Stephen Baldwin, commanded attention as she bared her toned pins in a plaid blazer-inspired dress.

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Touchdown! Hailey Baldwin, 20, looked incredibly stylish as she arrived at Nice Airport for the 70th Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday

Hailey, whose first major movie role will be in next year's Ocean's Eight alongside Matt Damon and Sandra Bullock, was hard to miss as she made her way through the airport.

Her style game was on point as she dressed to accentuate her slender figure in a thigh-grazing dress.

The white collar and double-breated detailing gave it the feel of a blazer, while the slightly longer hem proved it to double up as a mini-dress.

Hailey scraped her blonde locks into a high top-knot and covered her low-key make-up look with a pair of chic aviators.

Stylish sighting: The model, who has been working hard to step out of the shadow of her actor dad Stephen Baldwin, commanded attention as she bared her toned pins in a plaid blazer-inspired dress

Rising star: Hailey, whose first major movie role will be in next year's Ocean's Eight alongside Matt Damon and Sandra Bullock, was hard to miss as she made her way through the airport

Pins on parade: Her style game was on point as she dressed to accentuate her slender figure in a thigh-grazing dress

The social media savvy star accessorised with a pair of large gold hoop earrings and a choker-inspired gold chain.

With a slew of high heeled appearances infront of her, Hailey made full use of comfort in a pair of white boots.

Hailey cut a solo figure, with her new rumoured beau Cameron Dallas, 22, nowhere to be seen.

Trendy: The white collar and double-breated detailing gave it the feel of a blazer, while the slightly longer hem proved it to double up as a mini-dress

Beauty: Hailey scraped her blonde locks into a high top-knot and covered her low-key make-up look with a pair of chic aviators

Details: The social media savvy star accessorised with a pair of large gold hoop earrings and a choker-inspired gold chain

Va va voom! Hailey made her Cannes Film Festival debut two years ago where she stunned in an embellished semi-sheer white gown (L), as well as a vampy floral number (R)

The rumoured fling implies Hailey has now moved on from her fleeting romance with Justin Bieber last year.

The pair were seen enjoying a number of dates together and even a holiday in the Caribbean, before things appeared to cool off in early 2016.

Speaking to Marie Claire soon after the split however, the stunner revealed that being in the public eye puts serious pressure on a relationship - especially at such a young age.

Staying grounded: With a slew of high heeled appearances in front of her, Hailey made full use of comfort in a pair of white boots

Her belongings: Her essentials were toted in a chic black backpack

Never an off day: She later made an outfit change as she hung out with pal Bella Hadid, where she stunned yet again in a whimsical white midi-length dress

Two peas in a pod: She teamed the look with a pair of towering white heel as she conversed with her equally glamorous pal

Fashionista: Bella looked sensational in a white plunging silk bralet and matching mini skirt

Sexy: Keeping with a lingerie-type feel, she wore a pair of peach satin heels and covered up a little with a longline jacket

Tough life: The girls grabbed each other for support as they were swarmed by press and fans

She explained: 'I don't want attention out of dating somebody. Texts started coming through, crazy phone calls...it's hard to date somebody in this industry.

'You have to have really thick skin and be very strong. You have to focus on the person and nothing else.'

Meanwhile, also arriving at Nice Airport for Cannes was stunning Portuguese model Sara Sampaio.

The photogenic beauty donned a rock-chic ensemble as she was spotted carting along three large suitcases.

Model takeover: Also arriving at Nice Airport for Cannes was stunning Portuguese model Sara Sampaio

Preparing: The photogenic beauty donned a rock-chic ensemble as she was spotted carting along three large suitcases

Glam: Amber Valetta also made a chic landing in France
She's known for dazzling style lovers with her fashionable displays when she attends glitzy events.

Yet, Donna Air came into action on Tuesday afternoon as she tended to a gentleman, who had taken ill after hitting his head on the pavement in London.

The 37-year-old former presenter proved what a good Samaritan she was as she came to the aid of the stranger while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

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Good Samaritan: Donna Air came into action on Tuesday afternoon as she tended to a gentleman, who had taken ill after hitting his head on the pavement in London

Comforting the man as he distressingly lay on the cobbled pavement, Donna chatted away to passersby and fellow members of the public as they waited for medical professionals to arrive.

The former model appeared worried as she sat on the pavement, clad in a pair of summer appropriate cream flares and plunging sleeveless wool top.

With her blonde locks worked into a half up, half down style, she left her complementing tote behind her as she made sure the injured party was in safe hands.

MailOnline have contacted Donna Air's reps for comment.

Helping hand: The 37-year-old former presenter proved what a good Samaritan she was as she came to the aid of the stranger while waiting for an ambulance to arrive

Worrying: Comforting the man as he distressingly lay on the cobbled pavement, Donna chatted away to passersby and fellow members of the public as they waited for medical professionals to arrive

Stopping to help: Donna leaned down to hold the man's hand as her friend, celebrity milliner Phillip Treacy looked on

Keeping close: Donna talked with other good Samaritans as she continued to hold the man's hand

Taking time to help: Donna was keen to make sure the man was OK as the crowd waited for the ambulance to arrive

Comforting: Donna kept a tight hold of the man's hand in her own

Despite the worrying incident, Donna appeared radiant, worlds away from her admission that she she was desperate to get away from it all and received treatment for stress last year.

The star checked into an exclusive Alpine clinic where she underwent a strict regime including aerial yoga and daily vitamin infusions when she temporarily split from James.

Donna and James  the Duchess of Cambridges younger brother  ended their relationship in February last year after dating for three years.

Rushing to help: The star joined a small group of people who rushed to help

Shopping: Donna had been in Treacy's hat store when she spotted the commotion outside

Helping hands: Treacy clutched his phone as he rushed to help

Concern: Donna made sure she comforted the man

Dropping everything: The star left her chic handbag on the pavement in the rush

Heading off: Once the ambulance had arrived, Donna made her exit

Honest: Despite the worrying incident, Donna appeared radiant, worlds away from her admission that she she was desperate to get away from it all and received treatment for stress last year

They got back together four months later and are now even hinting at marriage.

But the actress has revealed how life took its toll on her last year, telling Country and Town House Magazine: What a year 2016 was. Like many Im sure I was desperate to get away from it all, leaving the headlines behind and giving myself some serious me time.

'I had been running on adrenaline and skinny lattes for too long and wanted to rest, re-set and completely re-boot.

Destress: The star checked into an exclusive Alpine clinic where she underwent a strict regime including aerial yoga and daily vitamin infusions when she temporarily split from James

Donna travelled to Vivamayr in the Austrian Alps, a medical spa where a weeks detox costs more than 1,000.

Referring to the break, she said: Thanks to its notoriously strict reputation, I knew Vivamayr meant business but also sensational results.

Donna week there began with a medical consultation, where a doctor immediately diagnosed stress.

Do you know the gentleman Donna helped? Email rebecca.davison@mailonline.co.uk
She's the effervescent screen siren that has amassed a legion of fans for her age-defying beauty.

And Monica Bellucci, 52, proved her sartorial worth on Wednesday as she kicked the 70th Cannes Film Festival off in striking style alongside fellow European beauty Marion Cotillard, 41, at their respective photocalls.

The James Bond beauty stunned in a dazzling black jumpsuit which highlighted her hourglass frame with its cinched waist detail at the Master of Ceremonies photocall.

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Getting chic done: Monica Bellucci (L), 52, proved her sartorial worth on Wednesday as she kicked the 70th Cannes Film Festival off in striking style alongside fellow European beauty Marion Cotillard, 41, at their respective photocalls

Her chic garment featured daring cutout detail in the midst of her bust which teased at her cleavage and highlighted her diamond clasp detail.

The wide leg number covered her platform heels which added inches to her petite frame while her neatly blow dried long brunette locks fell down her shoulders.

The Italian star's worked a glamorous beauty look that accentuated her dazzling eyes and full pout, before later accessorising her ensemble with a pair of oversized circular shades.

Elsewhere, Monica has been vocal about how little effort she puts into staying in shape in the past.

Dazzling: The James Bond beauty stunned in a dazzling black jumpsuit which highlighted her hourglass frame with its cinched waist detail at the Master of Ceremonies photocall

What a gem! Her chic garment featured daring cutout detail in the midst of her bust which teased at her cleavage and highlighted her diamond clasp detail

Mane attraction: Monica's neatly blow dried locks fell down her shoulders while she held onto her pair of oversized circular shades

Glam gal: The vixen's belted number highlighted her enviable curves in her one-piece

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph newspaper, she said that she doesn't favour the gym in a quest to stay slim, instead preferring to enjoy life and eat pasta and cake.

Monica explained: 'I'm not someone who wakes up at 6am to go to the gym.

'The truth is that I like cakes and pasta, the odd glass of wine and a very occasional cigarette. My advice is: eat well, drink well, have good sex  and laugh a lot. The rest comes all on its own.'

Sealed with a kiss: The cinema darling blow a kiss to the waiting crowds at her photocall

Beaming: Monica happily smiled as she stood behind the festival's podium

Despite her laid-back advice, Monica recently admitted she was not adverse to a bit of extra technological help.

She said she was glad that magazines were airbrushing less than in the past and that the public was learning to love stars' little 'imperfections'.

Even so 'I say thank heavens for retouching. It's airbrushing that saves us,' she declared.

Sun soaked: Monica took off her shades with aplomb while out in the midday sun

Chic: The Italian star's worked a glamorous beauty look that accentuated her dazzling eyes and full pout

Idyllic: The star posed infront of the the idyllic background

The actress said when she watched her latest film, Emir Kusturica's On the Milky Road, she noticed that she had 'lines around my eyes and everywhere.

'Ten years ago I didn't have them', she explained. 'I see how I have changed on screen.'

Monica appeared in the 2015 Bond film Spectre as an assassin's widow named Lucia Sciarra, whose brief encounter with Bond results a steamy sexual encounter.

Meanwhile, new mother Marion decided to edge up her usual style as she worked a floor-grazing white T-shirt dress for the photocall for her new flick Ismael's Ghosts.

Edgy: New mother Marion decided to edge up her usual style as she worked a floor-grazing white T-shirt dress for the photocall for her new flick Ismael's Ghosts

Striking: The striking piece featured lace-up detail over her hip and boasted a thigh-high slit to reveal her kooky dark denims as she posed with her co-star Charlotte Gainsbourg

Strike a pose: Oscar-winner Marion - who welcomed her second child Louise in March - teamed her cuff detailed pants with a pair of quirky tan sandals which wrapped around her slender calves

All smiles: Marion couldn't contain her smile as she stepped out for the festival

Cinematic beauty: The film beauty adjusted her long T-shirt dress as she prepared for the photocall

Time for bed? The Allied star shared a yawn as she soaked up the sun at her photocall

The striking piece featured lace-up detail over her hip and boasted a thigh-high slit to reveal her kooky dark denims as she posed with her co-star Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Oscar-winner Marion - who welcomed her second child Louise in March with partner Guillaume Canet - teamed her cuff detailed pants with a pair of quirky tan sandals which wrapped around her slender calves.

Styling her locks into a deep side parting, she worked her shoulder-length tresses into a slight curl while posing up a storm for photographers.

Walk this way: Marion sauntered across the stage as her name was announced

New heights: Marion added inches to her petite frame with her eclectic heels

What a pair: Styling her locks into a deep side parting, she worked her shoulder-length tresses into a slight curl while posing up a storm for photographers

Matching monochrome: Marion was joined on the carpet by fellow actress Charlotte - who plays Sylvia in the French flick

Style star: Complementing Marion, Charlotte worked a monochrome look in a white tee, black blazer and figure-flaunting black denims

Picture perfect: The co-stars were all smiles as they faced a wall of photographers

Posing it up: The film's three stars posed behind the opening podium

Marion was joined on the carpet by fellow actress Charlotte - who plays Sylvia in the French flick.

Complementing Marion, Charlotte worked a monochrome look in a white tee, black blazer and figure-flaunting black denims.

The film star accessorised her ensemble with a pair of pointed stilettos and sequin embellished scarf for their photo opportunity.

The pair's flick is directed by Arnaud Desplechin and tells the story of filmmaker whose life is sent into a tizzy when he is faced with his former lover.

New flick: The pair's flick is directed by Arnaud Desplechin and tells the story of filmmaker whose life is sent into a tizzy when he is faced with his former lover

Fix up, look sharp: Marion got her make-up touched up in between photos

Ismael's Ghosts is one of 49 films being screened at this year's festival with two of the final flicks produced by streaming service Netflix - Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories.

However the decision to include them didn't go down well with film purists and since the cinematic event has announced that from 2018 only movies set to be released on the big screen will be considered for selection.

Leading this year's esteemed jury is Volver director Pedro Almodovar for the 70th annual film festival taking place May 17-28 in France.

Opening: Mathieu Amalric, Louis Garrel, Marion Cotillard, director Arnaud Desplechin, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alba Rohrwacher and Hippolyte Girardot at the premiere (L-R)

Joining him is Golden Globe winner Jessica Chastain, actor Will Smith, X-Men star Fan Bingbing, actress Agnes Jaoui, director Paolo Sorrentino, German writer-director Maren Ade, filmmaker Park Chan-wook and composer Gabriel Yared on the jury.

Apart from films, A-list stars are set to attend a number of star-studded bashes throughout the festival including the AmFar Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and Chopard's annual bash at Port Pierre Canto, co-hosted by Rihanna.

Returning to Cannes, Cheryl's ex husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini will launch his new pop up restaurant Versini on the rooftop of the Five Seas Hotel.
She arrived in the French seaside resort ahead of the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival earlier this week.

And Elle Fanning was in her element as she froliced in the sea on Tuesday, enjoying some downtime ahead of the glitz and glamour of the evening's celebrations.

The 19-year-old actress looked super cute in an A-line teadress, turning heads as she frolicked about in the sea.

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Loving life: Elle Fanning was in her element as she froliced in the sea on Tuesday, enjoying some downtime ahead of the glitz and glamour of the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival

Elle was super stylish in her high-necked, capped sleeves number, which boasted a twee pattern and a floaty skirt.

She wore her pale blonde locks down loose and accessorised with red rimmed shades.

The Hollywood starlet removed her shoes to wade into the shallows, splashing around with a big smile on her face.

Cute: Elle was super stylish in her high-necked, capped sleeves number, which boasted a twee pattern and a floaty skirt

Natural beauty: The 19-year-old star opted for a natural make-up look, with a minimal amount of rosy make-up

Making a splash: Elle was in her element as she posed for the cameras during a seaside shoot

Elle is in Cannes to promote her new film The Beguiled, which tells the story of an injured solider who seeks shelter in an all girls' boarding school.

As the drama unfolds and the serviceman (Colin Farrell) tries to win the hearts of the women who nurse him, dangerous rivalries begin to form as a result of sexual temptation.

The innocent looking star slips into the role of the 'bad girl', alongside Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst in the remake of the 1971 film starring Clint Eastwood.

New drama: Elle is in Cannes to promote her new film The Beguiled, which tells the story of an injured solider who seeks shelter in an all girls' boarding school

Shady lady: The Hollywood starlet sported a pair of red rimmed sunglasses

Perfecting her pout: Elle was seen reapplying her lipstick during the shoot

She stunned on the Cannes red carpet last year in a fairytale prom inspired dust pink gown when she promoted her film psychological thriller The Neon Demon.

While she is the younger sister of one of the most famous actresses, The Sleeping Beauty princess has made a name for herself in the spotlight.

But she explained their sisterhood is full of love and there is no sibling rivalry or competition as there is no one she wants to succeed more.

Centre stage: In her new film, Elle slips into the role of the 'bad girl', alongside Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst in the remake of the 1971 film starring Clint Eastwood

Funky footwear: The blonde beauty turned heads in her towering white heels

Describing their close relationship, she told Vogue magazine: 'You think, Gosh, if I didnt have a sister who started acting, would I be acting?

'People sometimes want us to feel weird jealousy or competition.

'It will never happen. Theres no one I want to see succeed or soar more.'

Looking good: Elle matched her neon pink lipstick to her quirky, 80s inspired sunglasses

Acting talent: The Sleeping Beauty princess has made a name for herself in the spotlight

Barefoot beauty: Elle returned to the shoreline after her fun-filled photo session
It may be a night to celebrate women's achievements.

But that didn't stop male model Jordan Barrett from showing his support at InStyle's Women of Style Awards on Wednesday night.

The 20-year-old was one of few male attendees at the glamorous event at The Star in Sydney - and he was making the most of it.

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Is this the Men of Style Awards? It may be a night to celebrate women's achievements, but that didn't stop Jordan Barrett making an appearance at the InStyle Women Of Style Awards

Posing on the red carpet, Jordan looked stylish in an oversized blue velvet jacket.

He paired the long jacket with trendy white Capri pants and a loose white T-shirt.

Jordan finished off his look with black shoes, a gold ring and bracelet - perfect for the exclusive event.

Jordan also chanelled geek chic in a pair of black-rimmed spectacles.

Bad boy! Posing on the red carpet at The Star in Sydney on Wednesday night, Jordan looked stylish in an oversized blue velvet jacket

Though it was ladies' night, there was still a sprinkling of other men at the event.

INXS musician Kirk Pengilly attended alongside his wife Layne Beachley.

And fashion model twins Jordan and Zac Stenmark looked dapper in stylish suits as they posed for the cameras.

Date night! Though it was ladies' night, there was still a sprinkling of other men at the event - including INXS musician Kirk Pengilly who attended with his wife Layne Beachley

Jordan a rising star in fashion, having won GQ's Man of Style Award at just 18.

He's done quite well for himself since then, too.

The Byron Bay local garnered a rumoured $100,000 fee for his appearance at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.
She's joined the host of stars touching down in South of France for the 70th Annual Cannes Film Festival.

But Emily Ratajkowski decided to treat herself to some sightseeing before catching any of the films as she headed out on a yacht on Wednesday.

Slipping into a scanty two-piece for the outing, the 25-year-old actress showed off her phenomenal figure as she posed against the idyllic backdrop.

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Smooth sailing: Emily Ratajkwoski decided to treat herself to some sightseeing before catching any of the films as she headed out on a yacht on Wednesday

Showcasing her impeccably toned abs, Emily slipped into a red bandeau bikini that struggled to contain her ample bust.

Teaming the garment with high rise matching briefs, the Gone Girl star accentuated her enviably tanned and toned pins as she posed barefoot on the deck.

With her glossy locks swept over one shoulder, Emily finished off the look with a pair of reflective oversized shades.

Bootylicious! Emily also showed off her enviably peachy posterior as she posed from behind in the skimpy two-piece which featured high rise briefs

Fancy in florals: Emily had donned a floor-length floral maxi gown for the trip which complemented her tanned complexion and skimmed over her enviable figure

Sitting pretty: Emily reclined on the speed boat which transported them to the yacht

Two's company: Emily was joined by a male companion as she jetted back to her hotel

Cruise control! The duo chatted away as they sped along the river to the Eden Roc Hotel

Once she left the yacht, the starlet layered up, slipping a floral maxi dress over her sizzling two-piece.

Featuring puffball sleeves and a hanky hemline the garment complemented her tanned complexion and skimmed over her enviable figure.

Sweeping her chestnut tresses into a slick bun, Emily accessorised with a pair of gold hooped earrings and a small straw bag.

Touchdown: Emily also turned heads as she arrived at Nice Airport on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the festival

Looking good: The sultry model and actress, 25, caught the eye in a distinctive black crop top as she made her way outside shortly after touching down in the south of France

Here she comes: With her taut abs on full display, Emily greeted onlookers while venturing across an adjoining car-park with her luggage

Emily also turned heads as she arrived at Nice Airport on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the festival.

The sultry model caught the eye in a distinctive black crop top as she made her way outside shortly after touching down in the city.

With her taut abs on full display, Emily greeted onlookers while venturing across an adjoining car-park with her luggage.

Claim to fame: Best known for stripping off in pop star Robin Thickes controversial Blurred Lines video, Emily will no doubt be dressed to impress when Cannes officially launches on Wednesday evening

Hard to miss: The American star added to her relaxed ensemble with a pair of skinny jeans and chocolate brown ankle boots, while a khaki-green jacket  casually worn off the shoulder  rounded things off

Sultry: In keeping with her understated look Emily opted to accentuate her already striking features with defy touches of make-up, selected from a natural colour palette

Finishing touches: A simple, centre-parted hairstyle continued the casual theme, while tasteful hoop earrings and a black suede handbag proved to be stylish additions

The American star added to her relaxed ensemble with a pair of skinny jeans and chocolate brown ankle boots, while a khaki-green jacket  casually worn off the shoulder  rounded things off.

In keeping with her understated look Emily opted to accentuate her already striking features with defy touches of make-up, selected from a natural colour palette.

A simple, centre-parted hairstyle continued the casual theme, while tasteful hoop earrings and a black suede handbag proved to be stylish additions.

Best known for stripping off in pop star Robin Thickes controversial Blurred Lines video, Emily will no doubt be dressed to impress when Cannes officially launches on Wednesday evening.

Leggy lady! Sara Sampaio also touched down at Nice airport ahead of the festival
Ditching their gym clothes for stylish evening wear, TV's fittest couple Steve 'Commando' Willis and Michelle Bridges enjoyed a glitzy date night on Wednesday.

The Biggest Loser couple left their one-year-old son Axel at home to attend InStyle's Women of Style Awards at The Star in Sydney.

Steve, 40, and Michelle, 46, dressed in matching black attire as they made a sophisticated double act on the red carpet.

Date night! Ditching their gym clothes for stylish evening wear, Steve 'Commando' Willis (left) and Michelle Bridges (right) attended the InStyle Women Of Style Awards on Wednesday

That's my girl! The couple seemed to be enjoying some light-hearted banter as Steve playfully stepped away from Michelle so she could enjoy her time in the spotlight

Michelle and Steve couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces as they posed for photos before the glamorous awards ceremony.



The couple, who first met on The Biggest Loser while in relationships with other people, looked delighted to be spending quality time together.

They also seemed to be enjoying some light-hearted banter as Steve playfully stepped away from Michelle so she could enjoy her time in the spotlight.

Black beauty: Michelle was sleek and stylish in a strapless black jumpsuit with two buckled straps at the front

Looking good! Michelle wore a strapless black jumpsuit featuring two buckled straps at the front, which made for a sleek and stylish look

Michelle wore a strapless black jumpsuit featuring two buckled straps at the front, which made for a sleek and stylish look.

The Australian fitness guru finished off her ensemble with a '90s inspired black floral choker and a pair of high heels.

Meanwhile, former military man Steve looked delightfully in a tailored black suit and tie, and a pair of smart dress shoes.

Before the event, Michelle shared a photo of the sharp-dressed couple, and revealed she was presenting the Community and Charity award at the event.

In command! Meanwhile, former military man Steve looked delightfully in a tailored black suit and tie, and a pair of smart dress shoes
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She's never been one to shy away from flaunting her curves ever since she shot to stardom in Robin Thicke's 2013 video for Blurred Lines.

Continuing her scantily-clad display, Emily Ratajkowski, 25, flaunted her enviable figure in a turquoise bondage inspired bikini by Velvet Sphynx as she soaked up the sun at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France.

The We Are Your Friends actress - who is in the idyllic location for the 70th Cannes Film Festival - showcased her honed pins as she dipped her feet into the luxury resort's inviting pool on Wednesday.

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Taking a dip: Emily Ratajkowski, 25, flaunted her enviable figure in a turquoise bondage inspired bikini by Velvet Sphynx as she soaked up the sun at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France

Bikini babe: The actress and model, 25, seemed to be enjoying her day of fun in the South of France ahead of the Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony on Wednesday evening

She accentuated her lean limbs in her strap detailed bikini bottoms which hugged her pert derriere as it wrapped around her slender hips and highlighted her narrow waist.

The American beauty teamed her flesh-flaunting bottoms with a cleavage exhibiting bikini top which managed to contain her ample assets while she navigated her way up the five-star hotel's steps.

Emily's eye-popping look featured a criss-cross detailing in the back as she lay by the pool with her male pal.

Flaunt it! The London-born stunner looked striking in her barely-there two-piece which highlighted her curves

Chic: The We Are Your Friends actress - who is in the idyllic location for the 70th Cannes Film Festival - showcased her honed pins as she dipped her feet into the luxury resort's inviting pool

Photo op! The actress made sure to take as many photos of the envy-inducing property

Work it! The American beauty teamed her flesh-flaunting bottoms with a cleavage exhibiting bikini top which managed to contain her ample assets while she navigated her way up the five-star hotel's steps

Glam gal: Emily continued her glamorous display in her skin-flashing look that highlighted her killer curves

What knot to wear: She accentuated her lean limbs in her strap detailed bikini bottoms which hugged her pert derriere as it wrapped around her slender hips and highlighted her narrow waist

Pool party: Emily's eye-popping look featured a criss-cross detailing in the back as she lay by the pool

Chilling out: The In Darkness actress was joined by another casually dressed film producer Mohammed Al Turki as she attempted to wrap her floral sarong

Beach bod: The GQ covergirl flaunted her taut tummy in the revealing swimwear while relaxing by the resort's sunbeds

Having the chats: She chatted away to her denim wearing pal while she tried and tested some selfies

Topping up her tan in style, she worked her tresses into a centre parting while styling her mane into a sleek chignon.

She accessorised her seductive poolside ensemble with a pair of chic gold hoop earrings, simple long chain and nineties inspired circular shades.

Noticeably absent from her phenomenal display was Emily's rarely-seen beau Jeff Magid - who she's been seeing since 2014.

Dare to bare: The Gone Girl star later posed completely topless to showcase her ornate emerald, diamond and ruby necklace as she prepared for the Cannes Film Festival opening gala

Bikini babe: Emily displayed her incredible figure as she made her way to the pool

Bronzed: Topping up her tan, she worked her tresses into a centre parting while working her mane into a chignon

Settling in: She worked her way to the water's edge as she placed her foot in the pool

Bottoms up: Emily showcased her perky derriere in her skimpy swimwear with her pal

Relaxed: Emily slowly made her way to the pool's edge while her pal stared at his phone

The pair reportedly started dating when music producer Jeff offered Emily support after she became a victim of the iCloud hacking scandal in September of the same year.

Despite Emily's openness with fans on Instagram and Twitter, she prefers to keep her relationship private and besides a few red carpet appearances she is rarely seen with her man.

Elsewhere, Emily decided to treat herself to some sightseeing before catching any of the films at this year's film festival as she headed out on a yacht.

Slipping into a scanty two-piece for the outing, the actress showed off her phenomenal figure as she posed against the idyllic backdrop.

Camera ready: The fashion darling posed for a candid snap taken by her pal

Look for the lens: She perfectly struck a pose while getting the perfect shot

Snap happy: Wanting to capture the stunning view, Emily leaned on the white wall as she took a snap

Sea salt: The fashionista wasn't shy showcasing her honed body in the brand's Garth Suit in Sea Salt

Posing up a storm: Emily welcomed her photo being taken by her pal at the sophisticated resort

Right angles: Emily continued to take photos of her in her sizzling two-piece with her friend at hand

Cheeky! The style starlet sauntered up the steps to the luxury hotel after her quick dip

Bottoms up: Emily showcased her peachy posterior and toned abs in her saucy bikini as she got out of the pool

Last boat not least: The TV star led the way down towards the water with her swimshort-wearing pal followed behind

Helping hand: Emily's friend came to her rescue when she attempted to take off her floral pool dress

Showcasing her impeccably toned abs, Emily slipped into a red bandeau bikini that struggled to contain her ample bust.

Teaming the garment with high rise matching briefs, the Gone Girl star accentuated her enviably tanned and toned pins as she posed barefoot on the deck.

With her glossy locks swept over one shoulder, Emily finished off the look with a pair of reflective oversized shades.

Once she left the yacht, the starlet layered up, slipping a floral maxi dress over her sizzling two-piece.

Featuring puffball sleeves and a hanky hemline the garment complemented her tanned complexion and skimmed over her enviable figure.

Smooth sailing: Emily decided to treat herself to some sightseeing before catching any of the films at this year's film festival as she headed out on a yacht

Sitting pretty: Emily reclined on the speed boat which transported them to the yacht

Fancy in florals: Emily had donned a floor-length floral maxi gown for the trip which complemented her tanned complexion and skimmed over her enviable figure

Two's company: Emily was joined by a male companion as she jetted back to her hotel

Cruise control! The duo chatted away as they sped along the river to the Eden Roc Hotel

Not a daisy goes by: Emily slipped into a floor-length maxi-dress that boasted three different patterns

Pretty prints: The chic garment highlighted her buxom bust as she arrived at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Chic pieces: The style maven teetered into the venue in a pair of powder blue heels and straw bag

Paty people: Emily posed with film producer Mohammed Al Turki at the luxury hotel

Sweeping her chestnut tresses into a slick bun, Emily accessorised with a pair of gold hooped earrings and a small straw bag.

Emily also turned heads as she arrived at Nice Airport on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the festival.

The sultry model caught the eye in a distinctive black crop top as she made her way outside shortly after touching down in the city.

With her taut abs on full display, Emily greeted onlookers while venturing across an adjoining car-park with her luggage.

Touchdown: Emily also turned heads as she arrived at Nice Airport on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the festival

The American star added to her relaxed ensemble with a pair of skinny jeans and chocolate brown ankle boots, while a khaki-green jacket  casually worn off the shoulder  rounded things off.

In keeping with her understated look Emily opted to accentuate her already striking features with defy touches of make-up, selected from a natural colour palette.

A simple, centre-parted hairstyle continued the casual theme, while tasteful hoop earrings and a black suede handbag proved to be stylish additions.

Best known for stripping off in pop star Robin Thickes controversial Blurred Lines video, Emily will no doubt be dressed to impress when Cannes officially launches on Wednesday evening.

Looking good: The sultry model and actress, 25, caught the eye in a distinctive black crop top as she made her way outside shortly after touching down in the south of France
Fergus Wilson rents almost 1000 properties in Kent, England, but not to Indians, Pakistanis, or women who are survivors of domestic violence. The BBC reports that this sterling example of British tolerance is getting sued.

He has insisted he is not racist and has rented to "non-white" people, including Gurkhas.

Mr Wilson said: "It is not the colour of their skin, but the smell of the curry.

"The EHRC appears to be saying that the purchaser then must let the house to someone who does cook curry."

Advocacy group Hope Not Hate said: "Mr Wilson needs to join the 21st century.

"It's almost as if he has taken a tick box to offend every vulnerable group in Britain.

"We hope these legal proceedings will help him rapidly re-focus his outdated views."
She's not afraid to flash a little flesh on Instagram - and Vicky Pattison really went to town when she shared a couple of snaps on social media on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The 29-year-old posted a short clip of herself, in which she sat wearing a bra top and shorts while posing on the phone.

The video was taken behind the scenes at a recent photoshoot and she captioned it with the words: 'Hello?! Is it me you're looking for?!

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'Hello! Is it me you're looking for?' Vicky Pattison posed in a bra top and shorts for very cheeky phone Instagram snap on Wednesday while behind the scenes of a lingerie shoot

'Little sneak peek of yesterday's campaign.... SO EXCITING! Coming soon.'

She also posted a snap of herself wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and she draped herself across a bed.

The topless star wrote: 'THEY FINALLY DO GIRLS ONES!!!

'Loving these jeans from @heralondon_ ... I've been waiting for this for so long ladies!! Trust me, you need to check them out!'

Saucy: She also shared a picture of herself while topless, wearing nothing but a pair of skinny jeans as she lay on her bed

Meanwhile, he's the former rugby league star who found reality TV fame after his fling with Vicky Pattison on the sixth season of Geordie Shore in 2013.

Now Australian personal trainer Daniel Conn, known as 'Fit Dan' in the MTV series, has reunited with his ex-girlfriend during a trip to London.

The 31-year-old caught up with Vicky at the Bonded By Blood premiere - and the pair proved that friendship can blossom out of romance.

From lovers to friends! Former Geordie Shore star Vicky (right) reunited with her ex-boyfriend 'Fit Dan' Conn (left) in London recently, after the pair had a fling back in 2013

Dan shared a photo of the reunion on his Instagram, writing in the caption: 'Finally got to chill with one of my closest friends in UK on my final night.

'She inspires so many, including myself! And now to see how happy she is in love I couldn't be more happy for her!'

The pictured attracted many comments from Geordie Shore fans, with one writing: 'I still think you should be together!'

What a gentleman! Dan, 31, caught up with Vicky, 29, at the Bonded By Blood premiere and congratulated his former flame on finding happiness with fashion designer John Noble

In the snap, Vicky wore a beige bodysuit below a stylish white blazer. Dan wore a pink designer T-shirt and denim jeans.

Dan and Vicky first met in Sydney when she was in Australia filming Geordie Shore season six. They briefly dated but it was never serious.

The following year, the retired NRL player appeared on MTV's Ex On The Beach, where he was introduced as Vicky's former boyfriend.

Holiday romance! Dan and Vicky met in Sydney when she was in Australia filming Geordie Shore in 2013. The following year, he was introduced as her 'ex' in MTV's Ex On The Beach

In an interview with Daily Mail Australia in 2015, Dan claimed that he never actually slept with Vicky during their brief dalliance.

Meanwhile, Vicky and Dan's reunion was as 'just friends' as she has been dating indie clothes designer John Noble since November 2016.

Dan was in London to promote F45 gyms around the United Kingdom and to attend the Balance Festival.
She's one of Australia's most well-known catwalk models.

But for Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell), it appears that romance always beats a wild fashion party.

On Wednesday night, she left the InStyle Women of Style Awards before midnight to get home to her husband, Lance 'Buddy' Franklin.

'Home to my man!' Jesinta Campbell left the InStyle Women Of Style Awards before midnight on Wednesday to get home to her husband Lance 'Buddy' Franklin

The 25-year-old shared a selfie from the back of her chauffeured car as she rushed to be with her AFL player husband.

'Home to my man!' the wrote in the Instagram caption.

Earlier that night, Jesinta led the glamorous arrivals at the awards ceremony in Sydney.

Work it! Earlier that night, Jesinta led the glamorous arrivals at the awards ceremony in Sydney

The David Jones ambassador wore a clinging dress which highlighted her slim figure as she posed on the red carpet.

Jesinta recently paid tribute to Buddy on Instagram, as the Sydney Swans star reached a career milestone.

'So incredibly proud of my husband who will play his 250th game today,' she wrote.

'I cherish that we can be on opposite sides of the world, both chasing our dreams, knowing that we have each other's unconditional love and support.'
She made a welcome return to TOWIE during the series finale.

And Lauren Pope looked full of confidence when she stepped out in London, clearly still on a high from making a triumphant return to the series.

The 34-year-old star turned heads when she attended a photocall at The Business Show on Wednesday, sporting a white jumpsuit with flared trouser legs.

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Stepping out in style: Lauren Pope looked full of confidence when she stepped out in London on Wednesday, clearly still on a high from making a triumphant return to TOWIE

Lauren highlighted her long legs and tiny waist in the floor-skimming number, which featured a cleavage-baring top.

The reality star looked lovely in her white one-piece, which was accessorised with a gold choker.

The blonde wore her hair down in loose waves and highlighted her plump pout with clear gloss.

Bit of all-white: The 34-year-old star turned heads when she attended a photocall at The Business Show, sporting a white jumpsuit with flared trouser legs

Lauren was recently spotted on a date with her co-star Dan Edgar, who put the moves on her when she made a surprise appearance at a cast pool party.

Dan recently told The Sun Online: 'Lauren is stunning obviously. Im going to take her for a drink for sure.

'I have always got on with her. We had a little fling before and ended on good terms  so we will see.'

And the pair will have plenty of time to get better aquainted uninterrupted during the next series of the show since Dan's ex Kate Wright has quit.

Looking good: The reality star looked lovely in her white one-piece, which was accessorised with a gold choker

Sitting pretty: Lauren was seen giving a talk at the Business Show event

Getting down to business: The TOWIE star commanded attention on stage

He said: 'I wouldnt say Im sad about Kate leaving. She came on it not long after me  it makes it less awkward for me not having to film with my ex all the time and it means Im free to crack on.'

Lauren said she was 'very excited' to be back in the TOWIE fold.

Speaking about their romance, she said: 'You cant deny that Dan Edgar is still stunningly beautiful.

'We had a little fling, if you can call it that, but it fizzled out when I moved away from Essex. We left it on really good terms. Hes nice and chilled out.'

Lauren was at the forefront of the drama during her five year stint on the ITVBe programme.
He played River Boy hunk Heath Braxton on Home And Away.

And it looks like Dan Ewing, 31, will get to star alongside his girlfriend Kat Risteska, 25 in new movie Occupation.

According to The Daily Telegraph the sci-fi film is in its third week of production.

Working together! Dan Ewing, 31, will star alongside his girlfriend Kat Risteska, 25

This will be the couple's second time working together on the same project, earlier this year Kat got a role his Chasing Comets, which stars Dan opposite Summer Bay alumna Isabel Lucas.

She also had minor guest roles on Home And Away in 2016 as Zoe Gardner and as Daniella Hay in 2008.

Dan revealed that he was excited to be working with the director Luke Sparke after working together on the 2016 thriller Red Billabong.

Excited! Dan revealed that he was excited to be working with the director Luke Sparke after working together on the 2016 thriller Red Billabong

'I am so excited to again be teaming up with Luke Sparke on his second feature,' the actor told Film Ink.

'The script has a vast scope but is grounded in very deep human realism and truth,' he said.

On set together: 'The script has a vast scope but is grounded in very deep human realism and truth,' Dan said of the movie

'It's great to be working with true icons of film and television who I have looked up to for so long and I'm also pumped to share the journey with some of the best up and coming actors in the industry. The world should prepare themselves for.'

In Decemeber 2016 he confirmed his romance with the Dance Academy actress via Instagram.

Dan was married to Marni Little for three-years and share a two-year-old son named Archer.
Actress Lily-Rose Depp was once again in Cannes for the 70th annual Film Festival on Wednesday ahead of the opening gala that evening.

The 17-year-old stepped out of her hotel wearing a stunning form-fitting red patchwork print dress which had a cowl neck detail.

The number fell down past her knees and was colourful in design.

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Walking the walk: Actress Lily-Rose Depp was once again in Cannes for the 70th annual Film Festival on Wednesday ahead of the opening gala that evening

Wearing a pair of low-heel snakeskin strappy sandals, the Chanel muse wore a quilted leather bag by the brand on one shoulder.

She wore a pair of oversized vintage frames which helped her to look just like her famous mother, Vanessa Paradis.

Lily carried her mobile phone and an invitation in one hand, no doubt Lily was looking forward to the evening's events.

Wow thing: The number fell down past her knees and was colourful in design

Meanwhile, her father Johnny, 53, was pictured leaving his hotel in Paris on the same day, dressed in a casual ensemble.

He wore a crisp denim jacket with battered jeans and a green top as he made his way down the street.

With a bandana hanging from his back pocket, Johnny had put a lot of effort into his accessories.

Low-key: Meanwhile, her father Johnny, 53, was pictured leaving his hotel in Paris on the same day, dressed in a casual ensemble

They've seen better days: He wore a crisp denim jacket with battered jeans and a green top

He wore a smattering of silver rings, as well as a Vivienne Westwood hat on his head, as well as a pair of white sunglasses.

On Tuesday, Lily was pictured sunbathing wearing an orange dress at the upmarket Eden Roc in Cap d'Antibes.

She later joined forces with her Planetarium co-star Natalie Portman for a dinner date that evening.
She's preparing to join the great and good of Hollywood at the Cannes Film Festival opening gala.

But Emily Ratajkowski ensured all eyes were well and truly on her as she posed completely topless in her hotel room at the luxury Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes on Wednesday evening, ahead of the main event.

Protecting her modesty with her hands, the model and actress, 25, looked incredible as she showcased her ample chest while posting in an ornate emerald, ruby and diamond necklace.

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Daring: Emily Ratajkowski posed topless at the luxury Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes on Wednesday evening ahead of the Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony on Wednesday night

Pouting into the lens, the Gone Girl star looked incredible as she worked her magic in front of the camera.

While she accentuated her striking features with bronzed make-up and an Audrey Hepburn-inspired hairstyle, it was her smooth skin and eye-popping chest that stole attention as she posed in nothing but the jewels.

Emily appeared to be getting ready for her first glitzy evening at the film festival - having spent the day soaking up the sun in the South of France at her luxury hotel.

Known for her sensational figure, the Blurred Lines video vixen had set pulses racing as she stripped to a raunchy green two-piece for a day of tanning by the pool.

Wow! Emily looked nothing short of sensational while soaking up the sun

Relaxed: Emily appeared to be getting ready for her first glitzy evening at the film festival - having spent the day soaking up the sun in the South of France at her luxury hotel

Wowsers! The saucy swimwear plunged low to tease at the cleavage she openly flaunted in her recent snap, while the bottoms stretched into diagonal straps above the hips to emphasise her impressively petite waist

Peachy! The stunning star drew attention to her derriere

Smooth sailing: Emily had been spending the day soaking up the sun in the South of France at her luxury hotel

The saucy swimwear plunged low to tease at the cleavage she openly flaunted in her recent snap, while the bottoms stretched into diagonal straps above the hips to emphasise her impressively petite waist.

She had also treated herself to a trip on a yacht for a spot of sightseeing ahead of the festival - documenting the sun-soaked day as well as her figure once again on Instagram.

Showcasing her impeccably toned abs, Emily slipped into a red bandeau bikini that struggled to contain her ample bust.

Teaming the garment with high rise matching briefs, the sizzling star accentuated her enviably tanned and toned pins as she posed barefoot on the deck.

With her glossy locks swept over one shoulder, Emily finished off the look with a pair of reflective oversized shades.

Bootylicious! Emily also showed off her enviably peachy posterior as she posed from behind in the skimpy two-piece which featured high rise briefs

Stunner: The stunning star proved she is as sensational in clothes as out in her flirty gown

Fancy in florals: Emily had donned a floor-length floral maxi gown for the trip which complemented her tanned complexion and skimmed over her enviable figure

Sitting pretty: Emily reclined on the speed boat which transported them to the yacht

Two's company: Emily was joined by a male companion as she jetted back to her hotel

Cruise control! The duo chatted away as they sped along the river to the Eden Roc Hotel

Once she left the yacht, the starlet layered up, slipping a floral maxi dress over her sizzling two-piece.

Featuring puffball sleeves and a hanky hemline the garment complemented her tanned complexion and skimmed over her enviable figure.

Sweeping her chestnut tresses into a slick bun, Emily accessorised with a pair of gold hooped earrings and a small straw bag.

Touchdown: Emily also turned heads as she arrived at Nice Airport on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the festival

Looking good: The sultry model and actress caught the eye in a distinctive black crop top as she made her way outside shortly after touching down in the south of France

Here she comes: With her taut abs on full display, Emily greeted onlookers while venturing across an adjoining car-park with her luggage

Emily also turned heads as she arrived at Nice Airport on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the festival.

The sultry model caught the eye in a distinctive black crop top as she made her way outside shortly after touching down in the city.

With her taut abs on full display, Emily greeted onlookers while venturing across an adjoining car-park with her luggage.

Claim to fame: Best known for stripping off in pop star Robin Thickes controversial Blurred Lines video, Emily will no doubt be dressed to impress when Cannes officially launches on Wednesday evening

Hard to miss: The American star added to her relaxed ensemble with a pair of skinny jeans and chocolate brown ankle boots, while a khaki-green jacket  casually worn off the shoulder  rounded things off

Sultry: In keeping with her understated look Emily opted to accentuate her already striking features with defy touches of make-up, selected from a natural colour palette

Finishing touches: A simple, centre-parted hairstyle continued the casual theme, while tasteful hoop earrings and a black suede handbag proved to be stylish additions

The American star added to her relaxed ensemble with a pair of skinny jeans and chocolate brown ankle boots, while a khaki-green jacket  casually worn off the shoulder  rounded things off.

In keeping with her understated look Emily opted to accentuate her already striking features with defy touches of make-up, selected from a natural colour palette.

A simple, centre-parted hairstyle continued the casual theme, while tasteful hoop earrings and a black suede handbag proved to be stylish additions.

Best known for stripping off in pop star Robin Thickes controversial Blurred Lines video, Emily will no doubt be dressed to impress when Cannes officially launches on Wednesday evening.

Leggy lady! Sara Sampaio also touched down at Nice airport ahead of the festival
Jennifer Lawrence has spoken out after footage of the actress enjoying a wild night out in Vienna last month hit the internet on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Oscar winner was unapologetic as she addressed a video which surfaced showing her writhing around on the dance floor at strip joint Beverly Hills Club.

Taking to Facebook just hours after the footage was published, Lawrence had a perfectly sassy response.

'Look, Nobody wants to be reminded that they tried to dance on a stripper pole by the internet.

Not sorry: Jennifer Lawrence has spoken out about footage of her enjoying a wild night out in Austria last month which surfaced on Wednesday

Letting her hair down: The clip from inside x-rated venue Beverly Hills Club was reportedly taken on April 27 while Lawrence was in the Austrian city filming Red Sparrow

'It was one of my best friend's birthdays and I dropped my paranoia guard for one second to have fun. I'm not going to apologize, I had a BLAST that night.

Reports suggested the Hunger Games star was dancing in just her bra but J-Law quickly shot the speculation down.

'Ps that's not a bra it's an Alexander Wang top and I'm not gonna lie, I think my dancings pretty good. Even with no core strength.' she quipped.

In the footage obtained by Radar Online, the actress is seen crawling around on all fours in a tight skirt and waistcoat.

The 26-year-old actress took to Facebook with a statement after Radar Online published a video of her seemingly drunk and dancing raunchily at a strip club

Caught up in the moment she appears to spank herself with some dollar/euro bills she finds on the stage.

'Jennifer seemed drunk, crawling on all fours around the stage and bending over for men to ogle' a fellow reveler told Radar.

In the footage the Silver Linings Playbook star certainly looks unsteady on her feet as she dances raunchily behind a handsome male companion.

In a later clip Lawrence has whipped off her top to reveal a black bra as she attempts a sexy pole dance but ends up slipping down it as Rihanna's Love on the Brain plays.

'Jennifer seemed drunk, crawling on all fours around the stage and bending over for men to ogle' a fellow reveler told the website

At that point one of her pals helps her back to her feet and she returns to her friends' table and collapses into the group.

Radar reports that Lawrence and her group ordered Beluga vodka and were knocking back drinks all night.

According to an eyewitness the Joy star arrived around 11 pm with three men, a woman and a bodyguard and partied until 4am.

The clip was reportedly taken on April 27 while Lawrence was in the Austrian city filming Red Sparrow.

Birthday fun: According to an eyewitness the Joy star arrived around 11 pm with three men, a woman and a bodyguard to the club in Vienna and partied until 4am

Her 48-year-old boyfriend, producer-director Darren Aronofsky was not with her for the wild night.

It's no surprise that Lawrence is wary about privacy as the actress was one of the victims of a massive celebrity photo hack in 2014 when private snaps meant for her boyfriend at the time Nicholas Hoult leaked online.

'Just because I'm a public figure, just because I'm an actress, does not mean that I asked for this. It does not mean that it comes with the territory,' The actress told Vanity Fair at the time.

'It's my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting. I can't believe that we even live in that kind of world.'
His acrimonious divorce from Amber Heard, after just 15 months of marriage, was finalized in January.

And Johnny Depp, 53, is ready to look to the future now, with sources close to the actor saying he's getting his life back to normal and is even dating.

'He is taking work seriously and seems healthy,' a source close to the star revealed to People.

'He spends time with his kids and is dating a bit.' Johnny Depp is reportedly doing great following his nasty divorce from Amber Heard which finalized in January

'He spends time with his kids and is dating a bit.' they added.

Heard, 31, filed for divorce in May 2016 and accused Depp of domestic abuse resulting in a nasty court battle last year.

Depp eventually agreed to pay his ex a $7 million settlement.

According to sources close to the Pirates of the Caribbean star he's 'doing much better,' adding, 'He's more focused and happier.'

Depp recently hired a new management team to handle his finances after it emerged that he is $40million in debt.

Acrimonious: Heard filed for divorce in May 2016 and accused Depp of domestic abuse resulting in a nasty court battle

Depp is currently in Paris promoting Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge and was pictured looking in great spirits at Disneyland Paris with his co-stars Javier Bardem and Orlando Bloom on Sunday

No sooner had his divorce been finalized that Depp filed a lawsuit against his former business managers at TMG accusing them of fraud and mismanaging his wealth.

In their counterclaim TMG allege that Depp's spending has been out of control and he's spent much of his fortune - he earned $650 million over the last 13 years - on extravagant purchases.

Legal documents outlined purchases such as a $18 million yacht, $30,000 a month on fine wine and $3 million on shooting his friend Hunter S Thompson's ashes out of a cannon.

TMG claim they told Depp his monthly expenses of $2 million were unsustainable.

While his lawyers deal with the complicated case, Depp is currently in Paris to promote Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge.

He was pictured looking in great spirits at Disneyland Paris with his co-stars Javier Bardem and Orlando Bloom on Sunday.

'He is taking work seriously and seems healthy,' a source close to the star revealed to People
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It was one of the most hotly-anticipated events of Hollywood's social calendar - only made more exciting this year by its milestone 70th anniversary.

So it is no wonder Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and Lily-Rose Depp pulled out all the stops in matching champagne show-stopping gowns, as they paraded the red carpet of the Annual Cannes Film Festival's Opening Gala.

The models, known for stunning appearances, captivated all attention in their strikingly similar silk gowns, complete with thigh-high splits, on the famous Palais des Festivals red carpet - before Bella sadly suffered a fashion faux-pas, as she accidentally flashed her knickers while posing for cameras.

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Glam girls: It is no wonder Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and Lily-Rose Depp (L-R) pulled out all the stops in matching champagne show-stopping gowns, as they paraded the red carpet of the 70th Cannes Film Festival's Opening Gala

In the nude: Bella, 20, first commanded attention in a stunning pink gown, which skimmed her enviably slender figure from head to toe

Bella, 20, first commanded attention at the gala, which doubled up as the opening screening of Ismael's Ghosts, in a stunning pink Alexandre Gauthie gown, which skimmed her enviably slender figure from head to toe.

Cutting into a gorgeous sweetheart neckline, featuring a racy plunge at the front to tease at her cleavage, the gown then pulled in at her enviably petite waist before skimming her frame to the floor, into a soft train.

Upping the sex appeal of the enchanting look however, the gown then cut into an eye-wateringly high split at the front, to leave almost all of her long and lean legs, which shot her to supermodel stardom on show.

Keeping her ensemble classically chic from head to toe, the sister of fellow model Gigi accessorised with a bedazzling pair of glitzy silver Olgana Paris heels and a sapphire choker, which fell delicately across her neck.

In the nude! However supermodel Bella sadly suffered a fashion faux-pas during her big moment, as she accidentally flashed her knickers while posing for cameras

Not bothered: Yet, as one of the top models of the moment, the brunette beauty was quick to brush the incident off as she happily greeted friends on the carpet, and continued to pose like a true professional

Risky: The culprit of her unfortunate incident was her eye-wateringly high split at the front, which left almost all of her long and lean legs, which shot her to model stardom, on show

Deja vu? The incident was reminiscent of Bella's red carpet appearance last year (above) when she suffered the same wardrobe malfunction - but with no underwear beneath

Finishing touches: Keeping her ensemble classically chic from head to toe, the sister of fellow model Gigi accessorised with a bedazzling pair of glitzy silver heels

All eyes on me: The LA native styled her brunette tresses into a sexy bob of tousled waves, and left her make-up mostly natural other than a classically glamorous slick of black eyeliner as she oozed glamour

Daddy's girl: Bella headed to the event with her father Mohamed (R) - with the pair seen leaving the Martinez Hotel earlier on to embark on their glam evening

That's my girl! Both embarked on the evening with big smiles on their faces - after Mohamed took to Instagram to gush of his stunning daughter and what she has achieved

The LA native styled her brunette tresses into a sexy bob of tousled waves, and left her make-up mostly natural other than a classically glamorous slick of black eyeliner as she oozed glamour in front of her fellow guests.

However, Bella soon stole attention for a more undesired reason on the carpet, as she turned to pose with her rear to the cameras - but accidentally flashed her nude control underwear beneath her gown.

Yet, as one of the top models of the moment, the brunette beauty was quick to brush the incident off as she happily greeted friends on the carpet, and continued to pose like a true professional.

The Victoria's Secret model clearly knew how to deal with such a situation - having suffered a similar fate on the carpet in 2106, except on that occasion she had not been wearing any underwear at all.

Peckish? After a busy day of getting ready, Bella was then seen munching on a tasty ice-cream as she and her father headed to their car

Back to business: However after refuelling with her sweet treat, it was straight back to business for Bella as she proved her model prowess on the carpet

Confident: Bella flashed a rare beaming smile as she paraded the carpet - clearly completely unfazed by her earlier fashion faux-pas

In the nude: Blurred Lines video vixen Emily Ratajkowski (L) was next to arrive in a glossy nude gown to match Bella's (centre)

Adjustments: Bella fiddled with her plunging gown on the carpet to avoid further wardrobe mishaps, as she smouldered for cameras

Off I go: Bella soon departed up the famous steps to let her fellow model pals enjoy their time in the limelight

Simplicity is key: The gown was formed of a stunning soft silk, and remained simple but sexy in shape - scooping into a plunging round neck to tease at her famous cleavage, before falling the floor with a daring thigh-high split on one side

Posing up a storm: Never afraid to show off her smooth and sun-kissed skin as one of the sexiest models of the moment however, the brunette then set pulses racing further as the gown cut into an open back

Catching up: Bella and Emily shared a warm embrace as they greeted each other on the carpet - despite Emily arriving in an outfit similar to Bella's previous look

Blurred Lines video vixen Emily Ratajkowski was next to arrive in a glossy nude gown, which was custom Twinset, to match Bella's - having clearly taken inspiration from Hadid's scarlet ensemble last year.

The gown was formed of a stunning soft silk, and remained simple but sexy in shape - scooping into a plunging round neck to tease at her famous cleavage, before falling the floor with a daring thigh-high split on one side.

Never afraid to show off her smooth and sun-kissed skin as one of the sexiest models of the moment however, the brunette then set pulses racing further as the gown cut into an open back, secured by delicate diamond straps at just above her rear.

Channelling her inner Audrey Hepburn, the brunette swept her hair up into a sophisticated up-do, complete with vintage bangs falling across her face, and a sultry, smoky eye as she delivered her famous smoulder on the carpet.

Model material: Channelling her inner Audrey Hepburn, the brunette swept her hair up into a sophisticated up-do, complete with vintage bangs, and a sultry, smoky eye as she delivered her famous smoulder on the carpet

Inspired? Not only following Bella's suit this year with a toned-down hue, Emily's dress bore striking resemblance to the model's red look last year (R)

Classic: Emily exuded old-school glamour as she posed for a number of photographs

Grecian goddess: Lily-Rose Depp was next to arrive in a stunning white gown, adorned with Grecian-style gold trim

Stunning: As a young muse of Chanel director Karl Lagerfeld, the 17-year-old's striking natural beauty was clear for all to see as she left her hair in simple curls, and added glowing make-up to her enviably clear skin

Pose for me: Lily-Ross proved her blossoming talent as a model as she posed effortlessly for cameras

Doing it white: Lily had also got ready at the Martinez Hotel alongside Bella - and was seen looking just as glamorous as she left the establishment earlier on

Beautiful: Her stunning facial features, accentuated with a soft nude lip and delicate black eyeliner, were clear for all to see as she stunned cameras

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis' stunning model daughter Lily-Rose Depp was next to arrive in a Grecian-style white Chanel gown, as she beamed and waved for cameras.

The dress perfectly mixed together modern and old-fashioned styles - first pulling into a casual and trendy T-shirt shape on top, before slitting into wide cut-outs at her petite waist.

Giving the rest of the look more of a Grecian goddess feel however, the gown was secured at the waist and shoulders with a string shimmering gold leaves, evoking the time's classic laurel leaf headbands, before it fell into gorgeous white pleats all the way to the floor.

As a young muse of Chanel director Karl Lagerfeld, the 17-year-old's striking natural beauty was clear for all to see as she left her hair in simple curls, and added glowing make-up to her enviably clear skin.

Behind the scenes: Bella and Emily both documented their time getting ready on social media - with Bella enjoying a beverage as she had her make-up applied (L) while Emily strolled to the water for some fresh air ahead of her carpet appearance (R)

Not feeling blue: Adding some colour to the star-studded affair was Bella's model pal Hailey Baldwin, who packed a punch against the red carpet in a bright blue peplum gown

Striking: The satin number was sure to flash plenty of skin with its low cut V neckline and backless detailing, before extending into the statement layer at her waist, which enhanced her enviably petite frame

Adding some colour to the star-studded affair was Bella's model pal Hailey Baldwin, who packed a punch against the red carpet in a bright blue peplum gown.

The young model, 20, certainly turned heads in her show-stopping navy custom Twinset number, which featured a quirky oversized peplum at her petite waist.

The satin number was sure to flash plenty of skin with its low cut V neckline and backless detailing, before extending into the statement layer at her waist, which enhanced her enviably petite frame.

Skimming her famously leggy figure all the way to its soft train, Hailey then matched her dramatic outfit with a co-ordinating beauty look - which saw her blonde hair styled into a blunt bob, and her facial features accentuated with deep bronzer and a strong brow.

Stunning: Next to arrive was Hollywood actress Jessica Chastain, who contrasted her famously fiery locks with a stunning embroidered black gown

You caught me off guard! The Zero Dark Thirty star oozed natural glamour as she posed effortlessly on the carpet

Chic: Cutting off at her mid-thigh, the gown then extended down into a sexy but sophisticated semi-sheer skirt, lined with a matching velvet ruffle at the hem, as she posed up a storm on the carpet

Next to arrive was Hollywood actress Jessica Chastain, who contrasted her famously fiery locks with a stunning embroidered black Alexander McQueen gown.

The Zero Dark Thirty star exuded old-Hollywood glamour in her strapless frock, which was formed of a statement velvet bodice embroidered with delicate red, yellow and white flowers all over.

Cutting off at her mid-thigh, the gown then extended down into a sexy but sophisticated semi-sheer skirt, lined with a matching velvet ruffle at the hem, as she posed up a storm on the carpet.

Tying her look together effortlessly and beautifully, the Oscar nominee added a delicate silver choker to her neck and styled her hair into big and bouncy waves, to let its gorgeous red hue steal the show.

All-black everything: Marion Cotillard soon followed suit in a quirky black dress with a daring short hem at the front, as she made her statement arrival at the event in her home country

Trendy: The dress was formed of a raunchy strapless bodice, secured by racy lace-up corset detailing and a chunky buckled belt at her waist

Beautiful: eaving her hair and make-up natural, the French actress, who stars in the film Ismael's Ghosts making its debut at the opening, looked truly radiant as she posed with her co-stars

Marion Cotillard soon followed suit in a quirky black Jean Paul Gaultier Couture dress with a daring short hem at the front, as she made her statement arrival at the event in her home country.

The dress was formed of a raunchy strapless bodice, secured by racy lace-up corset detailing and a chunky buckled belt at her waist.

While the dark pinstriped material smoothly skimmed down the back of her legs, the frock remained a flirty mini style at the front, to leave her leggy figure underneath on show.

Adding height to her frame with metallic heels and leaving her hair and make-up natural, the French actress, who stars in the film Ismael's Ghosts making its debut at the opening, looked truly radiant as she posed with her co-stars - showing no signs of fatigue, having only given birth to her second child mere weeks ago.

One Elle of a dress! Opting for an ensemble more akin to that of a princess was fashion darling Elle Fanning, who soon stole the show in a regal cream gown

Statement: However never without a hint of her modern style, the actress then turned to reveal the dress' striking water colour detailing on the back of the skirt, depicting a selection of bright red and pink flowers for a pop of colour

All grown up: The Super 8 star, who rose to fame at the tender age of four years old, looked every inch the glamorous young woman as she posed fiercely with a hand on her hip

Candid: Jessica, Elle and Marion (L-R) proved their striking beauty as they captured more natural shots on the carpet

Packing a punch: Elle commanded serious attention from photographers and fans alike in the gown, by iconic British designer Vivienne Westwood

On trend: All four fashionistas Bella, Emily, Lily-Rose and Elle (L-R) proved themselves to be incredibly chic as they all opted for the same colour scheme and material on the carpet

Red carpet royalty: Willowy Elle was the picture of confidence as she posed elegantly in her statement design

Opting for an ensemble more akin to that of a princess was fashion darling Elle Fanning, who soon stole the show in a regal cream gown by Vivienne Westwood.

At first glance the stunning number was of delicate ivory silk from head to toe, and remained classic in style with its stiff strapless neckline and figure hugging corset, which puffed out into a bold and beautiful full skirt.

However never without a hint of her modern style, the actress then turned to reveal the dress' striking water colour detailing on the back of the skirt, depicting a selection of bright red and pink flowers for a pop of colour.

The Super 8 star, who rose to fame at the tender age of four years old, looked every inch the glamorous young woman as she posed fiercely with a hand on her hip - tying the look together with a slicked back bun and red lipstick.

Star quality: Stealing the limelight from the young whippersnappers however was Susan Sarandon, who proved her effortless sense of style and glamour has certainly not faded over the years

Queen of the red carpet: The 70-year-old showed her younger stars how to work a red carpet at the Cannes Opening Night Gala on Wednesday

Work it: The actress looked phenomenal in a green velvet gown as she strutted her way down the famous Palais des Festivals red carpet for the opening screening

So good to meet you! Stars rushed over to greet Susan, including model Bella Hadid

Fan girling: Bella had a huge smile on her face as she rushed over for a chat

Can you believe it! Elle Fanning also put on amorous display with the Hollywood great as she cuddled Susan excitedly for cameras

In demand: Susan looked delighted as she happily posed with her A-List admirers, such as Elle and fellow redhead Julianne Moore (R)

Glamour puss: Susan really showed the younger stars how it was done as she posed elegantly at the event

Having been a Hollywood icon for decades however, Susan Sarandon, 70, showed her younger counterparts how to work a red carpet with her own superior style.

The actress looked phenomenal in a green velvet gown as she strutted her way down the famous Palais des Festivals red carpet, with a pair of dark sunglasses glamorously tying the look together.

The Thelma and Louise icon showed off her incredible figure in the jaw-dropping dress, which featured an off-the-shoulder cut to highlight her ample assets.

The fitted number also boasted a daring thigh-high split to flash Susan's amazing legs, with the screen star working her poses like a pro.

A pair of classic black pumps and statement shades were all the accessories the beauty needed, with the star ditching the jewels, aside from some stunning sapphire drop earrings, to put all the emphasis on her figure.

Can't miss her! Moonlight star Naomie Harris added a touch of vibrancy to the evening with her eye-catching striped tulle frock of pink, orange and green

Show-stopping: The 40-year-old British beauty certainly could not be missed on the carpet in her multi-coloured gown, which fell into candy stripes of contrasting horizontal and vertical style on the bodice and skirt

Stunning: Never without a hint of glamour however, she layered a delicate silver necklace across her decolletage, and swept her tousled tresses behind her shoulders to leave her enviably youthful and glowing complexion on display

Moonlight star Naomie Harris added a touch of vibrancy to the evening with her eye-catching striped tulle frock of pink, orange and green, by Gucci.

The 40-year-old British beauty certainly could not be missed on the carpet in her multi-coloured gown, which fell into candy stripes of contrasting horizontal and vertical style on the bodice and skirt.

Known for her typically form-fitting and glittering dresses, the frock marked a change for Naomie, as it cinched in at her waist with a netted ruffle, before expanding out into a unique A-line tulle skirt.

Never without a hint of glamour however, she layered a delicate silver necklace across her decolletage, woth a whopping 89,000 from Atelier Swarovski, and swept her tousled tresses behind her shoulders to leave her enviably youthful and glowing complexion on display.

She also wore a 6,000 ring and 7,000 earrings from the Austrian companys fine jewellery collection.

Colour scheme: Actress Uma Thurman also clearly received the nude memo as she arrived at the star-studded event in a classically glamorous figure-hugging pink gown

Star quality: The blonde was the picture of elegance as she blew kisses at fans on the carpet

Matching: Julianne Moore matched the red carpet in an intricate scarlet Givenchy Couture gown, formed of a lace floral bodice and striking feathered skirt

Sexy sophistication: The dress cut into a quirky choker neckline, layered over a semi-sheer mesh panel, before skimming her figure to the floor

Sensational: Julianne commanded attention as she shared a giggle with photographers

Make way! The beauties all tried to hold the attention of cameras as they posed mere distances away from each other

Snapping away: The stars were surrounded by endless photographers as they documented the girls' time on the carpet

Actress Uma Thurman also clearly received the nude memo as she arrived at the star-studded event in a classically glamorous figure-hugging pink gown by Atelier Versace.

The 5'9 beauty displayed her famously statuesque figure in the exquisite gown, which pulled into a chic off-the-shoulder style to give a glimpse of her smooth, sun-kissed skin and a hint of her womanly curves.

Cinching in at her impossibly tiny waist with the shoulder straps, which extended into a large ruffle across her chest, the pleated skirt then hugged her enviably long legs and slender frame like a second skin all the way to the floor.

Paired with simple metallic heels and a matching choker, the blonde was the picture of elegance as she blew kisses at fans on the carpet.

Victoria's Secret model Sara Sampaio put on a playful display on the carpet as she arrived in a Spanish-inspired red gown of glittering red material, by Zuhair Murad.

Golden girl: Eva Herzigova, 44, truly dazzled in a shimmering golden strappy maxi gown as she made her glamorous arrival

Czech me out! The model, who hails from the Czech Republic, showed off her show-stopping figure in the crochet frock, formed of woven gold sequins and thread

Still got it: The beauty, who rose to fame in the 1990s, proved she only got better with age as she flashed her winning smile at the cameras

Red hot: Victoria's Secret model Sara Sampaio put on a playful display on the carpet as she arrived in a Spanish-inspired red gown of glittering red material, by Zuhair Murad

Gorgeous: Falling into a saucy semi-sheer V neck at the top, the dress then upped the glamour with its stunning tulle skirt, which fell beneath a chiffon layer of shimmering red crystals

In fine feather! Chompoo Araya dazzled in a figure-hugging white gown, with a bold white feathered cape

Striking: The dress stood out even from far above the carpet as she posed

Exciting: The atmosphere was incredible on the carpet as an endless string of photographers snapped away at the celebrities

Preparations underway: Staff had been busy preparing the famous red carpeted steps all day at the stunning Palais des Festivals

The brunette stunner stole the show as she jokingly posed with her arms in the air on the carpet - letting her incredibly intricate gown do the talking.

Falling into a saucy semi-sheer V neck at the top, the dress then upped the glamour with its stunning tulle skirt, which fell beneath a chiffon layer of shimmering red crystals.

Sweeping her hair into a loose up-do and accessorising with glittering silver earrings, the model looked utterly stunning as she beamed widely and waves for cameras among the Hollywood stars.

Meanwhile doing it for the boys was Will Smith, who appeared his usual spirited self as he waves and threw a thumbs up at his adoring fans.

The actor looked typically suited and booted in a classic black tuxedo and traditional bow tie as he chatted and laughed on the carpet, ahead of his duties on this year's judging Jury at the festival.

Man of the hour: Meanwhile doing it for the boys was Will Smith, who appeared his usual spirited self as he waves and threw a thumbs up at his adoring fans

Having a ball: Will couldn't help but pull funny faces at cameras as he arrived, to the delight of his fans

Inundated: Will appeared to be the main in demand at the event as he high-fived hundreds of adoring fans

Dressed to the nines: The actor looked typically suited and booted in a classic black tuxedo and traditional bow tie as he chatted and laughed on the carpet

Big deal: Will showed no signs of nerves, despite arriving at the event ahead of his important duties on this year's judging Jury at the festival

Good-looking couple: Adrien Brody also represented the handsome males at the bash, as she laughed with cameras alongside his girlfriend Lara Lieto (L)

Where it all began: The pair looked more loved-up than ever as the posed on the carpet - having met first at the Cannes Film Festival almost four years ago

Besotted: The couple looked more loved-up than ever as they chatted and laughed together on the carpet

Stunning: Eva showed off her stunning beauty as she beamed up at the venue before her

Socialite Hofit Golan, 30, also joined the fray - certainly drawing attention to herself among the big names of cinema in a saucy backless jumpsuit.

The striking white on-piece pulled into a ruched bodice, secured by a beaded choker neckline, before falling completely open at the back to leave plenty of sun-kissed skin and an eye-popping flash of sideboob on show.

Cinching in at her slim waist, the trousers skimmed her slender pins all the way down to their flared hem - before a chiffon skirt was then attached to the back to make the look more of a statement, with the chiffon material billowing behind her as she paraded the red carpet.

Keeping all eyes on her dramatic look, Hofit left her blonde tresses in sexy, tousled waves, and added a bright slick of scarlet lipstick in a glamorous finishing touch.

A bit of all-white: Socialite Hofit Golan, 30, also joined the fray - certainly drawing attention to herself among the big names of cinema in a saucy backless jumpsuit

Fit to bust! The striking white on-piece pulled into a ruched bodice, secured by a beaded choker neckline, before falling completely open at the back to leave plenty of sun-kissed skin and an eye-popping flash of sideboob on show

All that glitters: She was joined by Victoria Bonya, clad in a regal pink embroidered gown as she smouldered for cameras

Let's do this: The girls oozed glamour as they posed on the famous Palais des Festivals alongside the endless movie stars - who were preparing for their time at the 70th Cannes Film Festival

She was joined by Victoria Bonya, clad in a regal pink embroidered gown, as they posed on the famous Palais des Festivals alongside the endless movie stars - who were preparing for their time at the 70th Cannes Film Festival.

The star-studded opening gala however doubled up as a screening for one of this year's contenders - French film Ismael's Ghosts, by Arnaud Desplechin.

Starring Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, the flick follows a filmmaker whose life is sent into chaos by the return of a former lover - who arrives just as he is about to get to work on his new blockbuster.

This year's festival runs from May 17-28, and includes 49 films in total, two of which are produced by streaming service Netflix - Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories.

However the decision to include them didn't go down well with film purists and since the cinematic event has announced that from 2018 only movies set to be released on the big screen will be considered for selection.

Like a pro: Hofit looked more than comfortable as she posed on the carpet of the festival, which runs from May 17-28

Unconventional: However two of the films in this year's line-up were produced by produced by streaming service Netflix - including Korean drama Okja, starring Tilda Swinton and Lily Collins (L-R)

In the running: The Meyerowitz Stories, starring Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman (above) is the second Netflix project up for a prize - but the decision to include them was somewhat controversial as it didn't go down well with film purists

Headed up by Volver director Pedro Almodovar, members of this year's judging panel from the Feature Films category include actors Jessica Chastain, Will Smith and Fan Bingbing, as well as directors Paolo Sorrention and Gabriel Yared, of The English Patient fame.

Making this year's event more exciting is the fact that it marked its 70th year of running, which luxury jeweller Chopard is commemorating by creating a diamond-set edition of the coveted Palme d'Or - the highest prize that can be won at Cannes.

Known for her work on popular films such as Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction, actress Uma Thurman has been named as the President in the Un Certain Regard arena - awarding a top prize and up to two other awards for show-stopping pieces of smaller budget, indie cinema.

Aside from films however, A-list stars are set to attend a number of star-studded bashes throughout the festival including the AmFar Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and Chopard's annual bash at Port Pierre Canto, co-hosted by Rihanna.

Meanwhile returning to the hotspot, Cheryl's ex husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini will launch his new pop up restaurant Versini on the rooftop of the Five Seas Hotel.

Ready to party: Aside from films however, A-list stars are set to attend a number of star-studded bashes throughout the festival including the AmFar Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and Chopard's annual bash at Port Pierre Canto, co-hosted by Rihanna

Pretty in purple: Deepika Padukone looked sensational in a semi-sheer Marchesa gown

Dazzling: Tiziana Rocca stunned in a black strapless gown, while Delphine Wespiser added some colour in a coral embroidered fishtail gown - before Coco Konig upped the sex appeal in a daring sheer number (L-R)

A vision in black: Monica Bellucci worked her irresistible charms while fulfilling a prestigious role as Master of ceremonies at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony on Wednesday

Here we go: The Italian model and actress, 52, entertained guests ahead inside the Palais des Festivals et des Congres by passionately kissing her co-host, French comedian Alex Lutz, during a playful exchange

High flyers: The panel took their seats inside - Jury Pedro Almodovar, Jessica Chastain, Paolo Sorrentino, Agnes Jaoui (front row) Will Smith, Gabriel Yared, Maren Ade, and Park Chan-wook (second row)

Let's do this: Elegant Jessica looked ready for the task at hand as the festival kicked off with the lavish gala

Stunning: Marion, who stars in the film Ismael's Ghosts, looked slightly apprehensive as she prepared to watch her flick for the first time, beside co-star Mathieu Amalric (R) and director Arnaud Desplechin (L)

Letting their hair down: A number of stars, including Jessica Chastain, Lily-Rose Depp and Susan Sarandon later relaxed at the event's after-party

Glittering: Mistress Of Ceremonies Monica Bellucci changed into a sparkling black gown, while Lara Lieto (R) remained in her gorgeous pale blue gown as they arrived to relax

Sensational: Marion Cotillard proved twice as glamorous when she changed into her second show-stopping look of the night - a thigh-skimming gold mini dress and studded heels

Dapper chaps: Will Smith and Adrien Brody soon followed suit in their traditional blazers and smart shoes




As this star's freedom was revoked, in the back of a packed courtroom sat four very happy people.

In contrast to Dance Mom's Abby Lee Millers tears over her jail sentence, four former reality television moms were laughing it up, the star told InTouch.

A group of the 50-year-old former students' mothers - Kelly Hyland, Christi Lukasiak, Dawn Check and Diane Pent - sat in the back of the Pittsburgh courtroom May 9 as the instructor was sentence to a year and a day in jail.

Laughing stock: Abby Lee Miller (pictured May 14) has revealed her former co-stars laughed at her sentencing

Celebrated: A group of the 50-year-old former students' mothers - L-R Diane Pent, Christi Lukasiak, Dawn Check and Kelly Hyland - sat in the back of the Pittsburgh courtroom May 9 as the instructor was sentence to a year and a day in jail

And Abby Lee was all too aware that the four women had come to watch the show that was her bankruptcy fraud case.

The reality star told InTouch she was hurt: 'They were all laughing at me.'

Not nice: The reality star told InTouch she was hurt, 'They were all laughing at me'

But they were not just laughing, post-court the four moms headed to a home and toasted Abby Lee's sentence with a bottle of pricey Dom Perignon champagne.

All four women shared the snap on their Instagrams which showed them all beaming from ear-to-ear.

Diane captioned the image: 'Great day with great friends! @kellylhyland @christilukasiak @dawncheck cheers!'

Dawn - a minister who Abby once called the police on - followed suit saying 'friends' on one picture and then 'silliness. Because' on a different angle.

But Kelly Hyland was not as subtle, captioning the photograph: 'Who is the happiest ???'

There is no love lost between Kelly and Abby with the pair once getting in a physical fight on-camera which Kelly was arrested for.

The Dance Mom and her daughter also went on to sue Abby and the show's production company but eventually settled.

Abby was not amused at the ladies' joy over her sentence as she has previously spoken of her fears that she will be attacked or sexually assaulted in prison.

According to InTouch, the reality star will start her sentence June 23 The Federal Correctional Institute in Dublin, California.

The star is doing what she can to prepare: 'I've been told to keep to myself and don't make friends.'

Ching, ching: But they were not just laughing, post-court the four moms headed to a home and toasted Abby Lee's sentence with a bottle of pricey Dom Perignon champagne

History: But Kelly Hyland was not as subtle, captioning the photograph: 'Who is the happiest ???'. There is no love lost between Kelly and Abby with the pair once getting in a physical fight on-camera which Kelly was arrested for

Abby wants to teach dance as part of the prion required work scheme. and is getting her doctor to write a note to the warden since she's 'trying to eat vegan' post gastric sleeve surgery, InTouch reports.

The star - who a former inmate said will be seen as a 'walking ATM' - is still struggling to accept this is happening to her.

'I just keep thinking I'm going to wake up and it'll all have been a nightmare, that someone is going to see the light and say, ''They went after the wrong person.'' I'm not as strong as I may appear on TV.

Facing the music: The reality star will start her sentence June 23 The Federal Correctional Institute in Dublin, California

'I'm angry about what the judge didn't know. Yes I did wrong things [but] it wasn't like big scandalous horrible things.'

Abby plead guilty last year to one count of failing to report more than $10,000 worth of US dollars' worth of Australian currency after she brought $120,000 into the US and and one count of bankruptcy fraud.

She was initially facing 19 more counts of fraud relating to her failure to disclose her earnings from Dance Moms and other money when she filed bankruptcy.
There are many wrong ways to sense the world around you, and one of them is the best way to ensure your survival. Amanda Gefter of Quanta Magazine interviewed Donald D. Hoffman, a professor of cognitive science at the University of California, Irvine.

Hoffman has spent the past three decades studying perception, artificial intelligence, evolutionary game theory and the brain, and his conclusion is a dramatic one: The world presented to us by our perceptions is nothing like reality. What's more, he says, we have evolution itself to thank for this magnificent illusion, as it maximizes evolutionary fitness by driving truth to extinction.



But how can seeing a false reality be beneficial to an organism's survival?

Hoffman: There's a metaphor that's only been available to us in the past 30 or 40 years, and that's the desktop interface. Suppose there's a blue rectangular icon on the lower right corner of your computer's desktop  does that mean that the file itself is blue and rectangular and lives in the lower right corner of your computer? Of course not. But those are the only things that can be asserted about anything on the desktop  it has color, position, and shape. Those are the only categories available to you, and yet none of them are true about the file itself or anything in the computer. They couldn't possibly be true. That's an interesting thing. You could not form a true description of the innards of the computer if your entire view of reality was confined to the desktop. And yet the desktop is useful. That blue rectangular icon guides my behavior, and it hides a complex reality that I don't need to know. That's the key idea. Evolution has shaped us with perceptions that allow us to survive. They guide adaptive behaviors. But part of that involves hiding from us the stuff we don't need to know. And that's pretty much all of reality, whatever reality might be. If you had to spend all that time figuring it out, the tiger would eat you.
Alison Sweeney tore her ACL in December.

The injury left the 40-year-old bedridden for several months and it took a lot of work just to do simple things like walk to the kitchen of her Los Angeles home.

But the blonde Biggest Loser vet is back in good health again as she shows off her slender frame on the cover of Redbook's June issue.

Back in fine form: Alison Sweeney looked good in Redbook's June issue

Babe in blue: The 40-year-old actress is back in good health after tearing her ACL

The star - who is best known for her NBC soap opera Days Of Our Lives - said: 'Before, I was always going as though if I took a break I would never get up again.'

The blonde beauty added: 'My doctor kept saying, "No, you have to do this" - that gave me permission to rest.

'I can't say I ever came to enjoy it, but I learned to appreciate it. If you can train yourself to take 20-minute catnaps, you'll wake up really alert.'

She talked weight: The TV icon was a host on TV's The Biggest Loser

The mom -she has two children, Ben, 12, and Megan, eight, with husband Dave Sanov, a California Highway Patrol officer- also said her injury allowed her to give her kids more responsibility.

'At first it was hard for me to even get out of bed  which was good in one way, because I realized how many things I just do for my kids so we can all move on with our lives,' she said.

'I'm sure a lot of moms relate to Oh, it's just easier if I get the orange juice.

Two different look: Curvier in 2004, left, and more toned in 2011, right

'The first morning they brought me breakfast in bed, I was so proud. I thought, They really can do this stuff. Maybe I'm not giving them enough responsibility!'

And the beauty also touched on her parenting skills.

'The most crucial thing is role-modeling equality in the house. My career is just as important as my husband's, and we celebrate each other. We take turns being the disciplinarian. We are also really respectful of our kids: My daughter, just as much as my son, knows that she has a voice and it is okay to speak up and be heard.'

Back tot his: The stunner will also reprise her role on Days Of Our Lives; pictured in 2013 with actor James Scott

The star is working harder than ever too.

She is increasing the number of movies she will executive-produce and star in for the Hallmark Channel.

She has already been in the movie franchise Murder, She Baked.

And she is returning later this year to Days Of Our Lives as Sami for a limited run.
She's often spotted jet-setting around the globe.

And Victoria Silvstedt oozed glamour as she touched down in Nice for the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

The Swedish model, 41, looked chic in a classic trench coat as she made her way through the airport terminal.

Jet-setter: Victoria Silvstedt looked stylish in a classic trench coat as she touched down in Nice for the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

The blonde beauty layered a denim shirt underneath her coat, displaying a hint of cleavage as she left it slightly unbuttoned down the front.

Elongating her pins with a pair of gladiator heels, the former Miss Sweden accessorised the stylish look with a Louis Vuitton handbag.

Sporting a pair of oversized sunglasses, she showed no signs of jetlag as she arrived at the airport, accentuating her lips with a rose-tinted gloss.

Stylish: The blonde beauty layered a denim shirt underneath her coat, displaying a hint of cleavage as she left it slightly unbuttoned down the front

Finishing touches: Elongating her pins with a pair of gladiator heels, the former Miss Sweden accessorised the chic look with a Louis Vuitton handbag

Victoria was seen enjoying lunch with fellow model Petra Nemcova in New York on Tuesday, showing off her usual glamorous style.

The socialite wore a patterned tea dress with a keyhole cut-out at the chest, matching it with the same trench coat and heels she was later seen wearing as she touched down in Nice.

Petra, 37, meanwhile went for a casual look, teaming a simple white peasant blouse with a pair of black skinny jeans.

Glam: Victoria was seen enjoying lunch with fellow model Petra Nemcova in New York on Tuesday afternoon

Ladies who lunch: The socialite enjoyed catching up with Petra and another pal over lunch

The pair were seen taking a selfie together after enjoying lunch at Nello's restaurant in New York.

Victoria has enjoyed a lengthy stint in the spotlight after being chosen to represent her country in the Miss World pageant in 1993.

Fast forward 24 years and the blonde beauty has now modelled for some of the world's most prestigious fashion houses, including Chanel, Dior and Valentino.

Strike a pose: The pair were seen taking a selfie together after meeting up at Nello's restaurant
She's in the midst of filming The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

And on Wednesday, Penelope Cruz was spotted heading to her trailer to transform into her character Donatella Versace.

The 43-year-old actress beamed in her black and white Gingham dress as she arrived to the Miami Beach set ahead of shooting.

She emerged soon after with a blonde wig on ready to begin filming. (A gust of wind also revealed she was also wearing a pair of Spanx.)

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Transformation: Penelope Cruz was spotted heading to her trailer in Miami on Wednesday and later emerged in character as Donatella Versace

Secret slimmer: A gust of wind revealed the actress was wearing Spanx under her dress

Penelope had her mega watt smile as she exited the trailer with her blonde wig perfectly placed on her head.

The actress and natural brunette landed the role of Gianni's sister, Donatella in the Ryan Murphy produced show; the 10-episode series airs next year.

Penelope flashed her legs in her summer ready ensemble as she made her way into her trailer.

The star, who was born in Madrid, Spain, chose a stylish wrap dress with a black belt across her waist.

Million dollar smile: Penelope had her mega watt grin as she exited the trailer with her blonde wig perfectly placed on her head

Focus: The star headed to wardrobe after getting her hair and makeup done inside her trailer

She's happy to be there! She's in the midst of filming The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

She's got a pep in her step: The actress and natural brunette landed the role of Gianni's sister, Donatella in the Ryan Murphy produced show; the 10-episode show airs next year

The mother of two, who looked like Sophia Loren in her flirty frock, kept it simple in flip-flops.

Penelope chose to forgo all accessories, except her vintage inspired sunglasses.

The movie star pulled her brunette locks back into a high bun, adding mauve lipstick to her pout.

The star, who was born in Madrid, Spain, chose a stylish wrap dress with vintage sunglasses

Looking flawless: Penelope flashed her legs in her summer ready ensemble upon arriving to her trailer

Putting her best foot forward: The star, who was born in Madrid, Spain, chose a stylish wrap dress with a black belt across her waist.

Hours later, the Spanish beauty was completely in character.

She was seen filming scenes in a curve hugging dress with a gold detail down the center.

The form fitting look had a metallic line down the front with a fitted waist and square neckline.

For her scenes, Penelope was seen smoking on a cigarette while sporting her siren look.

Gorgeous: Hours later, the Spanish beauty was completely in character

What a beauty: She was seen filming scenes in a curve hugging dress with a zipper detail down the center

Up in smoke: For her scenes, Penelope was seen smoking on a cigarette while sporting her siren look

Caffeine fix: The form fitting look had a metallic line down the front with a fitted waist and square neckline

Strike a pose: Penelope looked every inch the Italian designer while wearing the bold frock with chunky gold accessories and small framed sunglasses

Penelope has been previously seen heading to set as Donatella, complete with her blonde hair around her face.

On Tuesday, Penelope shared a selfie to her Instagram account, showing off her blonde wig.

The third season of the American Crime Story anthology is based on the Maureen Orth book called Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and The Largest Failed Manhunt in US History.

Looking cool: Penelope smoked during her scenes as Donatella; pictured outside the gates of the Versace mansion on Wednesday

In character: Penelope has been seen heading to set as Donatella, complete with her blonde hair around her face

Transformed: Penelope pictured after going to hair and makeup; the natural brunette was spotted on Tuesday on set with the golden wig

Wow: The show is being filmed at the legendary Versace mansion in Miami, Florida

The show is being filmed at the legendary Versace mansion in Miami, Florida.

The series is about Gianni's assassination, which occurred in front of his beach side estate in 1997.

The found of Versace was 50 when he was gunned down.

Golden: On Tuesday, Penelope shared a selfie to her Instagram account, showing off her blonde wig

Real life: Penelope plays Gianni's sister Donatella Versace in the new biopic; Donatella pictured on May 1 at the Met Gala in New York City
She ruled the runways as a supermodel in the Nineties.

But Helena Christensen can still work a catwalk as she looked gorgeous strutting down the streets of New York City on Tuesday.

The 48-year-old Danish beauty enjoyed the day out as she chatted on the phone and carried a bag from Ricky's beauty supplies.

Strut: Helena Christensen, 48, can still work a catwalk as she looked gorgeous strutting down the streets of New York City on Tuesday

One of the original Victoria's Secret angels displayed her decolletage in a low-cut sundress the had ties for the shoulder straps.

The billowy dress cut low at her knees and allowed her gams to stand out.

She wore a simple rope as a belt and carried a stylish olive tote.

The supermodel kept her signature brown locks short and rocked a pair of cool dark retro shades.

Still stuns: One of the original Victoria's Secret angels displayed her decolletage in a low cut sundress the had ties for the shoulder straps

While Helena has made a successful career from her stunning good looks, she recently revealed that she hadn't always felt so confident with her appearance.

Speaking about being scouted in her teens, the supermodel revealed she was shocked that anyone looked twice as she had 'chubby cheeks'.

Talking to Red magazine, she said: 'I had a horrible perm, chubby baby cheeks and frosted pink lipstick!'

Shocked: Helena was shocked that model scouts looked twice as she 'had a horrible perm, chubby baby cheeks and frosted pink lipstick!' Looks like she grew out of that in this picture from May 2

However while she is one of the most iconic supermodels of all time, Helena admitted at this year's London Fashion Week she is glad she was a model in the nineties rather than now - thanks to the social media movement.

Speaking at a LOVE magazine bash back in February, the Danish beauty admitted modelling and beauty had been much more 'mysterious' when nothing was shared online.

She explained: 'I feel so grateful social media wasn't there before.

'I was very happy with just being an elusive, mysterious figure who just appeared in photoshoots.'
She is bound to make a spectacular appearance wherever she goes.

And as ever Uma Thurman was on top red carpet form on Wednesday night as she joined the great and good of Hollywood at the Annual Cannes Film Festival's Opening Gala on the famous Palais des Festivals red carpet.

The 47-year-old actress opted for retro Hollywood glamour as she sizzled in a plunging pink gown from Atelier Versace Fall 2016 Couture which exhibited her eye-popping cleavage while a racy slash made the most of her phenomenally long legs.

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Stunner: Uma Thurman was on top red carpet form on Wednesday night as she joined the great and good of Hollywood at the Annual Cannes Film Festival's Opening Gala on the famous Palais des Festivals red carpet

Uma, known for her work on popular films such as Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction, has been named as the President in the Un Certain Regard arena - awarding a top prize and up to two other awards for show-stopping pieces of smaller budget, indie cinema.

As such a prestigious presence at the bash, the blonde beauty was keen to stand out as she slipped into her pink gown which truly made her mark as a Hollywood star.

The Bardot-style gown tumbled off her slender shoulders while falling into a sweetheart neckline which boosted her eye-popping cleavage to perfection.

Nipping in at her tiny waist, the stunning gown was perfect for displaying all her best bits while also boasting a perilous slash extending the length of her pins.

A vision in pink: The 47-year-old actress opted for retro Hollywood glamour as she sizzled in a plunging pink gown from Atelier Versace Fall 2016 Couture which exhibited her eye-popping cleavage while a racy slash made the most of her phenomenally long legs

Sizzling: The Bardot-style gown tumbled off her slender shoulders while falling into a sweetheart neckline which boosted her eye-popping cleavage to perfection

Diamond girl: The dripping string of diamonds around Uma's neck were a true nod to her super A-list status, with the jewels dazzling in the beam of the world's paparazzi

The dripping string of diamonds around Uma's neck were a true nod to her super A-list status, with the jewels dazzling in the beam of the world's paparazzi.

The dripping string of diamonds around Uma's neck were a true nod to her super A-list status, with the jewels dazzling in the beam of the world's paparazzi.

This year's festival runs from May 17-28, and includes 49 films in total, two of which are produced by streaming service Netflix - Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories.

However the decision to include them didn't go down well with film purists and since the cinematic event has announced that from 2018 only movies set to be released on the big screen will be considered for selection.

Kiss, kiss: The stunning star looked incredible as she swept the red carpet

Look at me! The leggy star showed off her physique in the gown

All the greats: This year's festival runs from May 17-28, and includes 49 films in total, two of which are produced by streaming service Netflix - Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories

Headed up by Volver director Pedro Almodovar, members of this year's judging panel from the Feature Films category include actors Jessica Chastain, Will Smith and Fan Bingbing, as well as directors Paolo Sorrention and Gabriel Yared, of The English Patient fame.

Making this year's event more exciting is the fact that it marked its 70th year of running, which luxury jeweller Chopard is commemorating by creating a diamond-set edition of the coveted Palme d'Or - the highest prize that can be won at Cannes.

Aside from films however, A-list stars are set to attend a number of star-studded bashes throughout the festival including the AmFar Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and Chopard's annual bash at Port Pierre Canto, co-hosted by Rihanna.
She was famously seduced by secret agent James Bond during her last film appearance in box-office smash Spectre.

But it was Monica Bellucci who worked her irresistible charms while fulfilling a prestigious role as Master of Ceremonies at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony on Wednesday evening.

The Italian model and actress, 52, entertained guests inside the Palais des Festivals et des Congres by passionately kissing her co-host, French comedian Alex Lutz, during a playful exchange.

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A vision in black: Monica Bellucci who worked her irresistible charms while fulfilling a prestigious role as Master of ceremonies at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony on Wednesday evening

Cupping a hand over his face, former Bond girl Monica leaned into the 38-year old while planting a kiss on his lips ahead of the opening night premiere of new film Ismaels Ghost.

The sultry star already commanded attention by virtue of her outfit  a striking semi-sheer navy Dior gown with a delicately cinched waistline.

An off-the-shoulder detail further ensured the pleated design caught the eye as Monica made her way across the stage, where she warmly greeted Cannes Jury President Pedro Almodovar  albeit with rather less intimacy than her previous exchange with Lutz.

A glittering statement necklace gave the ensemble an extravagant focal point, while her tousled raven locks were effortlessly styled with a simple centre parting.

Here we go: The Italian model and actress, 52, entertained guests ahead inside the Palais des Festivals et des Congres by passionately kissing her co-host, French comedian Alex Lutz, during a playful exchange

Close: Cupping a hand over his face, former Bond girl Monica leaned into the 38-year old while planting a kiss on his lips ahead of the opening night premiere of new film Ismaels Ghost

I've got you: The exchange served as light relief ahead of the opening night screening

Elsewhere, Monica has been vocal about how little effort she puts into staying in shape.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, she said that she doesn't favour the gym in a quest to stay slim, instead preferring to enjoy life and eat pasta and cake.

Monica explained: 'I'm not someone who wakes up at 6am to go to the gym.

You're going nowhere: Monica gripped the comedian's hair while kissing him on the lips

It's a bum deal: The sultry Italian star appeared to grab her co-host's bottom

Close contact: Lutz was forced to lean back as Monica moved in for her kiss

All done: The comedian looked rather flustered during his exchange with the former Bond girl

'The truth is that I like cakes and pasta, the odd glass of wine and a very occasional cigarette. My advice is: eat well, drink well, have good sex  and laugh a lot. The rest comes all on its own.'

Despite her laid-back advice, Monica recently admitted she was not adverse to a bit of extra technological help.

She said she was glad that magazines were airbrushing less than in the past and that the public was learning to love stars' little 'imperfections'.

Looking good: Monica commanded attention by virtue of her outfit  a striking semi-sheer black evening gown with a delicately cinched waistline.

Striking: An off-the-shoulder detail further ensured the pleated design caught the eye as Monica made her way across the stage

Hard to miss: A glittering statement necklace gave the ensemble an extravagant focal point, while her tousled raven locks were effortlessly styled with a simple centre parting

Even so 'I say thank heavens for retouching. It's airbrushing that saves us,' she declared.

Reflecting on the Cannes film festival, Monica recently admitted the strong female presence at this year's ceremony was a 'sign of the times.'

She told WWD: 'As a child, I used to dream about all the Italian leading ladies like Sophia Loren, Silvana Mangano and Monica Vitti, but at the time, for actresses all over the world, regardless of their beauty and talent, after 40 it became so difficult to hold on to a career. And now things are changing.

'I live in France where there are all these incredible actresses like Isabelle Huppert, Catherine Deneuve or Nathalie Baye, and in England you have Helen Mirren and Judi Dench.

'In James Bond, I was in it for maybe 15 minutes, but there was such a strong reaction to the role because it was the first time in history that a [mature] woman was in James Bonds arms.'

Finishing touches: The star accentuated her features with smoky eyeshadow and soft pink lipstick

Encouraging: Reflecting on the Cannes film festival, Monica recently admitted the strong female presence at this year's ceremony was a 'sign of the times'

Greetings: Monica warmly greeted Cannes Jury President Pedro Almodovar  albeit with rather less intimacy than her previous exchange with Lutz
Eva Longoria is squeezing in some time between her Cannes work engagements to celebrate her first wedding anniversary with third husband Jose 'Pepe' Baston this Sunday.

'We're going to try to make it a mini-vacation,' the 42-year-old Golden Globe nominee told People on Wednesday.

'My husband is the best part of life, like, people get really annoyed with us because we love each other so much!'

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Third husband: Eva Longoria is squeezing in some time between her Cannes work engagements to celebrate her first wedding anniversary with Jose 'Pepe' Baston this Sunday

The Lowriders actress continued: 'People always ask, "Do you like being married?" It's not that I like marriage - I like being married to him. He's the one that makes it all special and worth it.'

Eva and the 49-year-old Televisa president - who met through a mutual friend in 2013 - exchanged vows at a star-studded ceremony in Valle de Bravo, Mexico last year.

When Longoria wed Pepe she became stepmother to his three 'amazing' children - Jose, Natalia, and Mariana - from his first marriage to Natalia Esperon.

The 42-year-old Golden Globe nominee told People on Wednesday: 'We're going to try to make it a mini-vacation. My husband is the best part of life, like, people get really annoyed with us because we love each other so much!' (pictured Tuesday)

'The biggest challenge is scheduling': When Longoria wed Pepe she became stepmother to his three 'amazing' children - Jose, Natalia, and Mariana - from his first marriage to Natalia Esperon (pictured in 2015)

As for having children of their own, Eva joked: 'Other than having a wine baby or a cheese baby, there's nothing in this belly right now!'

'I think the biggest challenge is scheduling,' admitted the 'Texican' stunner.

'[The kids] are at their mother's one week, and then they're with us. We love spending time with them, and we love traveling. They'll pick a place in the world and were like, "Let's go!"'

As for having children of their own, Eva joked: 'Other than having a wine baby or a cheese baby, there's nothing in this belly right now!'

Busy: The L'Oreal brand ambassador is contractually obligated to represent the French label at Cannes Film Festival events this coming Monday (screening of Lowriders) and Tuesday

Honorary chair: Yesterday, the Blackish director dazzled her Global Gift Foundation Gala in a gold-fringed Marchesa gown selected by stylist Charlene E. Roxborough Konsker

'The Golden Age of Hollywood': Longoria will next serve as chair of amfAR's 24th annual Cinema Against AIDS gala happening May 25 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes

The L'Oreal brand ambassador is contractually obligated to represent the French label at Cannes Film Festival events this coming Monday (screening of Lowriders) and Tuesday.

Yesterday, the Blackish director dazzled her Global Gift Foundation Gala in a gold-fringed Marchesa gown selected by stylist Charlene E. Roxborough Konsker.

Longoria will next serve as chair of amfAR's 24th annual Cinema Against AIDS gala happening May 25 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes.

'My family is all women!' And fans can catch Eva conjuring the ghost of her Aunt Elsa through Hollywood Medium's Tyler Henry in the second season premiere Wednesday on E!

And fans can catch the two-time SAG Award winner conjuring the ghost of her Aunt Elsa through Hollywood Medium's Tyler Henry in the second season premiere Wednesday on E!

Eva currently plays bourgeois widow Margot Beste-Chetwynde in the thirties-set, British three-part miniseries Decline and Fall airing Mondays on Acorn TV.

And the Lip Sync Battle champ will also star in Jamie Foxx's summer-bound directorial debut All-Star Weekend with Jeremy Piven, DJ Khaled, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Jessica Szohr.

Hollywood Medium is available to stream Thursdays in the UK & Ireland on hayu.
Rosario Dawson made a somber appearance in Venice, California Wednesday.

It was the 38-year-old actress's first public outing since reportedly discovering her cousin Vaneza Ines Vazquez dead at her home in Los Angeles area on May 11.

The New York native wore a brave face while out, clearly still mourning over the death of her 26-year-old relative.

Brave face: Rosario Dawson stepped out for the first time since news of her cousin's tragic passing was reported this week

The Sin City beauty looked focused on the task at hand, keeping simple in denim overalls.

The talent was pared down to bare essentials, heading to meet her family with just a morning shake and backpack.

Rosario's traumatizing experience was reported via TMZ Tuesday.

Thursday, the actress discovered her cousin Vaneza unconscious downstairs in the star's Venice Beach apartment.

It's reported that the 38-year-old star found her cousin unconscious in the actress's Venice home. After calling paramedics, they were unable to resuscitate the 26-year-old

Natural causes: Autopsy results indicate Vaneza (pictured above) died from natural causes, and sources claim she did not have any history of substance abuse

The star is said to have immediately called paramedics, but the team tragically could not resuscitate Vaneza after transporting her to hospital.

Rosario's cousin - who also worked for the starlet - had reportedly been suffering from migraines and also had hypertension.

The site reports that autopsy results indicate Vaneza died from natural causes, and sources claimed she did not have any history of substance abuse.

Vaneza Ines Vazquez (pictured right with Rosario third from left) is the cousin of actress Rosario Dawson

Tragic: Rosario Dawson (left) reportedly discovered her younger cousin Vaneza (right) dead at her Los Angeles home last week and quickly rang the emergency services

Rosario Dawson is pictured arriving at the Cesar Chavez Los Angeles premiere in 2014. Vaneza (circled) attended with her

Vaneza's mother Lisa Centeno paid tribute to her daughter on Facebook. She wrote: 'Vaneza, my sweet, sweet beautiful baby - your passing has left me destroyed forever but I know you are at peace in Paradise. I love you, my alpha child.'

Friend Francisco Gomez added: 'It's still not registering that you're gone. The world has lost a truly beautiful person.

'Spread your wings wide & touch the stars. You will forever be missed.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Rosario's representatives for comment.

Vaneza's mother Lisa Centeno wrote: 'Vaneza, my sweet, sweet beautiful baby - your passing has left me destroyed forever but I know you are at peace in Paradise. I love you, my alpha child'

The site reports that autopsy results indicate Vaneza (pictured right) died from natural causes

Rosario often speaks about the importance of having a close relationship with her family and was raised by her mother Isabel - having never met her biological father.

She previously spoke about her upbringing with The Guardian, revealing that her mother fell pregnant at 17, and only found out she was expecting when she was picked for the 1980 Olympic volleyball team and was made to take a test.

Whilst Rosario's father did not stay with her mother, she was later adopted by her mum's partner - who began dating Isabel when she was eight months pregnant.

'I think about that now,' Rosario explained. 'Such a young man, marrying a woman with a baby who's not his  that just doesn't happen. He just loved my Mom, and he loved me, and I loved my Dad, you know?'

Two of a kind: Rosario pictured with her mother Isabel, with whom she enjoys a close relationship

Rosario Dawson often speaks about the importance of having a close relationship with her family. She is pictured with her brother Clay and her mother Isabel Celeste in 2015

Family first: Rosario often spoke about the importance of having a close relationship with her family and was raised by her mother Isabel - having never met her biological father

Rosario was discovered at age 15 sitting on her stoop and asked to be in a film, Kids, which ultimately changed her life.

She has recently been juggling a 'complicated' work schedule that has stopped her appearing in upcoming Marvel series, The Punisher - despite playing Claire Temple in a number of Marvel shows.

'At the end of the day, it's really hard to get all of those casts together. For The Defenders, it was difficult to get everybody together,' she told Collider.

'People are busy! There are so many times where I really want it to happen. I really wanted to do a cameo on The Punisher, but it doesn't always work that way.'
Ryan Seacrest has been hosting the iconic chat show for just over two weeks.

And he just had his first very awkward moment due to mistaken identity involving Jeffrey Tambor.

The 42-year-old television presenter awkwardly mixed-up the 72-year-old showbiz veteran for a deceased actor from 1990 film Ghost during an interview on Live! With Kelly And Ryan on Wednesday morning.

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Mistaken identity: Ryan Seacrest embarrassingly mixed up guest Jeffrey Tambor and Ghost actor Vincent Schiavelli during an interview on Live! With Kelly And Ryan on Wednesday

Oops: The 42-year-old television personality definitely looked embarrassed about mistaking the thespians' identities

No doubt Vincent Schiavelli has a resemblance to Tambor but that did not stop the Arrested Development favorite from embarrassing the executive producer of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Seacrest said: 'We talked about the things you have done and some of the things you're doing, but to me, youre the scary guy on the subway in Ghost.'

Tambor reacted with a blank stare on his face at first but shifted it into a wry smile before revealing that it actually wasn't him.

Ouch: It all began when Seacrest said: 'We talked about the things you have done and some of the things you're doing, but to me, youre the scary guy on the subway in Ghost'

Legend: Tambor reacted with a blank stare on his face at first but shifted it into a wry smile before revealing that it actually wasn't him

Hilarious: The Transparent star explained: 'Oh, this is horrible. Youre gonna be embarrassed, that's not me.'

The Transparent star explained: 'Oh, this is horrible. Youre gonna be embarrassed, that's not me.'

Seacrest and co-host Kelly Ripa looked completely aghast as the Golden Globe winner revealed it was actually Schiavelli.

Tambor put his best deadpan expression on his face as he said: 'Wow here we go. He's dead. I'm still here.

Sense of humor: Tambor put his best deadpan expression on his face as he said: 'Wow here we go. He's dead. I'm still here

Keeping it light: Ryan's co-host Kelly Ripa couldn't help but whip her head back in laughter during the awkward but hilarious exchange

'We tried to book Vincent Schiavelli, he's passed away and here I am.'

The comedy legend then hammed it up as he playfully acted outraged by the mix-up.

Tambor said: 'Spitting image right? What is wrong with you! I came on to sell a book, not to be insulted. I am hurt.

'My reps are here and we are filing an action suit. I came on in good faith.'

'Get off my train!': Vincent Schiavelli was best known for his famous line in 1990 flick Ghost

Compare and contrast: There may similarities between Schiavelli (left) and Tambor, but the Italian actor had passed away in December 2005 at the age of 57 after a battle with lung cancer

He did admit that this wasn't the first time it's happened as he recalled an incident where a waiter in Italy recited lines from ghost to him while on vacation.

Tambor continued by joking: 'My wife thought I was Vincent Schiavelli and we married.'

Schiavelli had passed away in December 2005 at the age of 57 after a battle with lung cancer.

The longtime actor was on the show to promote his new book Are You Anybody?: A Memoir which was just released in bookstores on Tuesday.

Quick wit: The Transparent star took it all in stride as he joked that even his wife had mistaken him for Schiavelli before they married
It's unlikely she'll be getting dressed up at the weekend for the wedding of her flame Spencer Matthew's brother.

So Vogue Williams pulled out all the stops on Wednesday night for the Global Gift Gala in Edinburgh.

The Irish model, 31, stole the spotlight at the Eva Longoria-hosted event in an ultra glam blue strapless gown.

All dressed up: Vogue Williams pulled out all the stops on Wednesday night at least for the Global Gift Gala in Edinburgh

Vogue stood out at the starry party, showing off her figure in the glamorous dress.

The baby blue full skirted number featured a statement black trim and glittering detail on the pocked skirt.

Vogue highlighted her toned and tanned figure with the strapless cut, while her trim waist was on show as the gown nipped in.

So chic: The Irish model, 31, stole the spotlight at the Eva Longoria-hosted event in an ultra glam blue strapless gown

Strike a pose: The baby blue full skirted number featured a statement black trim and glittering detail on the pocked skirt

She accessorised with a pair of black strappy heels and added a pretty pendant necklace.

The blonde beauty styled her long locks into side-swept curls which tumbled over her tanned shoulders.

Vogue has been busy hosting a plethora of bikini snaps from her recent getaway with beau Spencer this week, which may have landed her in hot water with the Duchess of Cambridge's sister,Pippa Middleton, 33, who is due to wed Spencer's brother James, 41, on May 20.

All about the detail: The blonde beauty styled her long locks into side-swept curls which tumbled over her tanned shoulders

Date for the night: Vogue was joined at the charity gala by Nick Ede, an award winning Scottish public relations and brand consultant

The socialite has imposed a 'no ring, no bring' policy to her wedding to her hedge fund manager beau, making it unlikely that Prince Harry can bring girlfriend Meghan Markle, 35, to the big day either.

The couple will tie the knot on Saturday May 20 at the 12th-century St Marks Church in Berkshire, six miles from Bucklebury where Pippa grew up, with Prince George, three, a page boy and Princess Charlotte, who will have just turned two, a flower girl.

Despite Vogue dating James' former Made in Chelsea star brother, Pippa is reportedly adamant that the relationship is too fresh for her to be present at the wedding.

Scene-stealer: Vogue has been busy hosting a plethora of bikini snaps from her recent getaway with beau Spencer Matthews this week

Loved-up: The Irish model, 31, has been dating Pippa's fiance James Matthews' younger brother Spencer, 28, since January - but won't be attending the couple's nuptials on Saturday

A wedding insider told The Sun: 'Pippas view is that Vogues relationship with Spencer is still very new. It wouldnt be appropriate for her to be there after just a few months of dating.

'But some people in the circle are pretty shocked because this is her future brother-in-law whos going to end up attending on his own. Its certainly raised eyebrows.'

The source also added: 'Its clear Pippa doesnt want to be outshone by any TV babes on her big day.'

A representative for Vogue said: Vogue has a prior engagement in her diary on the date of the wedding, but wishes Pippa and James all the best on their special day.'
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House today.

While the two authoritarian heads of state chatted, Erdogan's thugs beat the crap out of Kurdish protesters nearby.

Yes, armed guards with Turkey's entourage beat up protesters on American soil today in Washington, D.C., and this is now apparently normal.

Absolutely insane video of Erdogan's thugs roughing up Kurdish protesters in D.C. today as cops struggle to stop them (they have immunity) https://t.co/Lsd4xPCvF7  Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) May 17, 2017

Cumhurbaskan Erdogan'n korumalarnn da aralarnda bulundugu grubun da karstg kavga sadece Amerika'nn Sesi'nin cektigi goruntulerde https://t.co/1zUg7r67o4  Mehtap Colak (@Mehtap_Colak) May 17, 2017

Turk Buyukelciligi Konutu Onunde Coplu Yumruklu Kavga https://t.co/j2ffj0X1CX pic.twitter.com/0pptSKdyMX  Amerika'nn Sesi (@VOATurkish) May 17, 2017

This isn't even the first time it's happened on a DC visit. This is what authoritarianism looks like. https://t.co/KFACX3apDC  Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) May 17, 2017

As a longtime criminal lawyer I can now say the vid in my feed shows Erdogan's men committing SERIOUS VIOLENT FELONIES in full DC daylight.  Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) May 17, 2017

Who are those cops ? https://t.co/eiK5daSniY  Tim ?? Dickinson (@7im) May 17, 2017

erdogans thugs kicking the living shit out of Kurdish protesters on video is bonkers. dudes getting face-booted right in front of dc cops  _ (@MikeIsaac) May 17, 2017

Erdogan's bodyguards beat up Kurdish protesters in D.C. Just imagine what we are going through back in Turkey. https://t.co/4UhOfS27WJ  Mahir Zeynalov (@MahirZeynalov) May 17, 2017

Erdogan's bodyguards in violent clash with protesters in Washington DC https://t.co/uyaw7VWei7  Claire Phipps (@Claire_Phipps) May 17, 2017

His crackdown in the streets of Washington. https://t.co/gablKMoukx  Philip Gourevitch (@PGourevitch) May 17, 2017

Protesters injured outside Turkish embassy in DC after Trump-Erdogan meeting  https://t.co/4kGK7SPuhq https://t.co/85CcWBolDl  Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 17, 2017

Trump's campaign was a war cry against foreigners coming to America to do violence & now he invites Turkey to come and do it with impunity.  Philip Gourevitch (@PGourevitch) May 17, 2017

Violence Breaks Out During Protest At Turkish Embassy In Washington, D.C. https://t.co/yFUe99rBoW  NPR (@NPR) May 17, 2017

Here's President Erdogan leaving the Turkish Ambassador's residence. No conflict now, but 9 people injured earlier (@wusa9). pic.twitter.com/aKAItcwidh  John Henry (@JohnHenryWUSA) May 16, 2017

9 hurt, 2 arrested in altercation at Turkish Embassy in Washington https://t.co/230zb6Pcqs  Los Angeles Times (@latimes) May 17, 2017








She debuted her shocking bald style earlier this month, after ridding herself of hair for her new film Life In A Year.

But Cara Delevingne covered up her freshly shaved head with a white and pink wig on Wednesday as she filmed new scenes for the flick in Toronto, Canada.

The 24-year-old model, who plays a dying teen in the film, was seen sporting a racy white maxi dress and the candy-coloured hairpiece as she arrived on set for another busy day of shooting.

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Covering up: Cara Delevingne covered up her freshly shaved head with a white and pink wig on Wednesday as she filmed new scenes for Life In A Year in Toronto, Canada

The British beauty, who rose to prominence as a supermodel, looked relaxed as she arrived on set in the wig, which fell into playful pink and white stripes.

Indicating she was filming a more formal scene for the film, Cara was dressed in a racy semi-sheer maxi dress of white crochet and lace - displaying her famously statuesque figure for all to see as she prepared to shoot.

Keeping warm while she got into character however, the Burberry model then added a chunky black coat on top as well as Ugg boots as she chatted to the crew.

Busy bee: Indicating she was filming a more formal scene for the film, Cara was dressed in a racy semi-sheer maxi dress as she arrived in set in the striped wig

Checking her phone animatedly, Cara then disappeared into the filming establishment to work her magic in front of the camera.

The stunner is currently filming Life In A Year, directed by Mitja Okorn - which follows Cara as a terminally ill woman, with one year left to live.

In a bid to make her last months her best yet her boyfriend Daryn, played by 18-year-old Jaden Smith, vows to give her an 'entire life' in the time she has left.

Dedication: Fully committing to her character, Cara debuted her fully shaved head last month, and has since showed off her new look at the glitzy Met Gala (above)

Fully committing to her character, Cara debuted her fully shaved head for the first time on set last month, and has since showed off her new look at a number of red carpet events, including the glitzy Met Gala.

Only weeks before the film, Cara had been seen dying her trademark tresses a bright hue of pink - which she explained was in preparation of the big shave.

She told US weekly of the shake up at the time: 'I have to shave my head for my next part, so I have to do something different.

Think pink: Only weeks before the film, Cara had been seen dying her trademark tresses a bright hue of pink (above) - which she explained was in preparation of the big shave

'So I dyed it. Just for fun. Just to change it up.'

Not much else is known about the new film, but it is thought to be debuting in cinemas in 2018.

Making the transition from modelling to acting however, Cara is also set to make an appearance in anticipated sci-fi thriller Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets.

The star, who landed her first acting role as Princess Sorokina in 2012 flick Anna Karenina opposite Keira Knightley, will play a feisty young fighter in the film.
Katie Holmes will be turning 40-years-old in a year-and-a-half.

And already the Dawson's Creek vet is feeling the pressure to have cosmetic surgery, according to a Wednesday report from US OK! magazine.

But the mother of Suri Cruise, 11, is refusing to go under the knife, it was alleged.

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Still stunning! Katie Holmes, 38, is already feeling the pressure to have cosmetic surgery, according to a Wednesday report from US OK! magazine; pictured March

But she still looks the same! The looker in February, left, and in 1999, right

'She is feeling the pressure by Hollywood to have a few nip tucks,' a source told the weekly.

'But while she loves her facials and peels, she draws the line at anything more.'

It was added her 'team' thinks she would land more acting roles if she got some work done, but no names were mentioned.

Role model: She doesn't want to set a bad example for Suri. 'Katie wants her to know she's self-confident about her looks,' a source claimed; seen in January

The Batman Begins star doesn't want to go through with anything, it was alleged. She is more interesting in directing films, it was added.

Katie directed the 2016 indie All We Had about a struggling mother, which won good reviews.

Her acting career, however, seems to be doing just fine as she recently starred in The Kennedys After Camelot with Matthew Perry, and she has a role in Ocean's Eight with Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett.

A new path? Even though she still acts very often, a source said she wants to move into directing. Here she is seen at the Met Gala on May 1

Her beau? It's been claimed that she is getting much more serious with Jamie Foxx

Katie has also shot Lucky Logan with Channing Tatum and she will appear in Coup d'Etat with Michael Caine.

And the ex-wife is fearful something could go wrong with her cover girl looks.

'She has no intention of becoming a poster girl for plastic surgery gone wrong,' said the source.

Her ex: With Tom Cruise, who is Suri's father, in 2008 in LA

It was added that the brunette siren from Ohio doesn't want to set a bad example for Suri, aged 11.

'Katie wants her to know she's self-confident about her looks. She even shows off gray strands in her hair, telling Suri, "I earned these,"' it was claimed.

This report comes after an UsWeekly cover story that Katie and Jamie Foxx are getting even more serious.

And the magazine shared photos of the allegedly getting onto a private plane for a trip to Paris.
Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed to be harking back to his action hero days when he wore this camouflage jacket in LA this week.

But The Terminator star, 69, was a far cry from his youth as he climbed out of the car wearing glasses, stained jeans and a grey T-shirt.

Arnies varied career, from bodybuilding to being the Governor of California, also includes a complicated personal life.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, 69, seemed to be harking back to his action hero days when he wore this camouflage jacket in LA this week

He split from his wife Maria Shriver in 2011 after 25 years following the revelation that he had fathered a love child with the familys housemaid, Mildred Baena.

Author Helen Fielding is the proud owner of a pig named Bridget Joness Baby as a reward for winning the 2017 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction.

The Gloucestershire Old Spot pig will be presented to her at the Hay Festival later this month.

Im completely overjoyed to win the pig, gushes Helen. Its the third time Ive been nominated, and Ive been hoping for this moment for years.

Donna's 999 drama as she prepares for Pippa's big day

Preparing for Pippa Middletons big day has proved a tumultuous affair for former Byker Grove star Donna Air, 37.

The socialite girlfriend of Pippas brother, James, was at milliner Philip Treacys for a fitting when a passer-by fell and hit his head in Belgravia.

Donna Air was at milliner Philip Treacys for a fitting when a passer-by fell and hit his head in Belgravia

The actress took the man's pulse and held his hand as they waited for the ambulance to arrive

The man was in agony, a witness tells me. Donna rushed over to help him. She called the ambulance, which took ten minutes to arrive.

'As they were waiting, Donna took the mans pulse and held his hand. It must have been nice to have her as a nurse.

Perhaps a role in Casualty is beckoning.

Most famous for playing a drunk in cult film Withnail And I, teetotal Richard E Grant, 60, says the days of hell-raising stars such as Oliver Reed and Richard Burton are long gone.

Movies cost way too much money to be held up by drink or drugs, he says. Ive only worked with one actor who drank throughout the shooting day and his career went Awol very quickly.

Petula Clark and Macca's unsung brief encounter

Petula Clark says commuters narrowly missed an impromptu duet between herself and an incognito Sir Paul McCartney recently.

Petula, 84, says: I see Paul from time to time in unusual places. Not long ago we met on Londons Victoria station. Thousands of people were milling around. Paul was on his way to Brighton.

We chatted for a minute or two until he said, You realize, Pet, that nobody has recognised us? Maybe we should sing a song. I said, Ill sing one of yours if you sing one of mine. But wiser heads prevailed. Shame.

Reformed party girl and ex-supermodel Jodie Kidd, who ditched the catwalk after suffering panic attacks but found her feet as a racing driver, is making another surprising career move: pub landlady.

The twice-divorced mother-of-one has purchased her local pub, The Half Moon in Kirdford, West Sussex.

Ex supermodel Jodie Kidd has purchased her local pub, The Half Moon in Kirdford, West Sussex

Were doing a few upgrades and hopefully open in a month, she says.

Jodie has hired BBCs Great British Menu runner-up, Paul Welburn, as her head chef, and promises: The food is going to be exquisite.

The first model Kate Moss signed to her eponymous modelling agency was Elfie Reigate, daughter of her best friends, Rosemary Ferguson and Jake Chapman.

Launching her jewellery line, shes called on her pals again, asking Fenton Bailey, 29, son of Sixties snapper David, to shoot her campaign.

Its not what you know...
A cold Wednesday night in Edinburgh may well have been dominated by the warm glow of Eva Longorias dazzling Hollywood glamour, but Ashley James still ensured she claimed her fair share of the spotlight.

The former Made in Chelsea star, 30, was in attendance as jet-setting actress Eva threw her second Global Gift Gala in as many days, this time at the Scottish citys Waldorf Astoria.

Opting for a bold off-the-shoulder dress embellished with dozens of glittering sequins, Ashley caught the eye as she posed for photos shortly after arriving at the lavish event.

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Glamorous: A cold Wednesday night in Edinburgh may well have been dominated by the warm glow of Eva Longorias dazzling Hollywood glamour, but Ashley James still ensured she claimed her fair share of the spotlig

The futuristic, form-fitting design drew attention to Ashleys slender physique, while a matching black and gold choker served as her most distinctive accessory.

Styling her choppy, bleach blonde locks with a simple centre parting, the TV personality revealed a naturally pretty face accentuated by soft, smokey make-up.

Ashley had good company on the night in the form of close friend and flat-mate Charlotte de Carle, whose own choice of ensemble guaranteed she was no overshadowed.

Special guest: The former Made in Chelsea star, 30, was in attendance as jet-setting actress Eva threw her second Global Gift Gala in as many days, this time at the Scottish citys Waldorf Astoria

Unmissable: Opting for a bold off-the-shoulder dress embellished with dozens of glittering sequins, Ashley ensured she caught the eye as she posed for photos shortly after arriving at the lavish event

Looking good: The tasteful, form-fitting design drew attention to Ashleys slender physique, while a matching black and gold choker served as her most distinctive accessory

Eva is one of many superstars to show their support as an acting ambassador of the Global Gift Foundation, a charity that works to raise funds for foundations, charities and organisations that share its vision and aims.

Through events such as the various galas and fundraisers the charity funds several projects - including The Eva Longoria Foundation - founded in 2012 - with the aim of helping Latinas build better futures through education and entrepreneurship.

And having partied the night away in honour of her charities in Paris on Tuesday evening, the brunette beauty was as fresh as ever as she brought the event to the UK.

Friends: Ashley had good company on the night in the form of close friend and flat-mate Charlotte de Carle, whose own choice of ensemble guaranteed she was no overshadowed

Finishing touches: Styling her choppy, bleach blonde locks with a simple centre parting, the TV personality revealed a naturally pretty face accentuated by soft, smokey make-up

For a good cause: Through events such as the various galas and fundraisers the Global Gift Gala funds several projects - including The Eva Longoria Foundation - founded in 2012 - with the aim of helping Latinas build better futures through education and entrepreneurshi

Slipping into an eye-wateringly tight gown, Eva showed off every inch of her famously toned frame while the deeply plunging neckline gave a generous glimpse of her heaving cleavage - making for a super sexy look.

Ever the classic beauty, Eva was glowing as she swept her lengthy brunette locks in a dead straight style cascading down her back and falling from a centre parting.

Her make-up was expertly applied with lashings of smokey shadow framing a smudged kohl while her lips were boosted with a nude gloss.

Dripping in jewels, Eva wore a pair of diamonds studs which perfectly coordinated with her eye-popping engagement ring gifted to her by husband Jose Antonio Baston, with whom she will celebrate her first wedding anniversary on Sunday.

However the actress must first conclude what has been a busy week on behalf of her charity on Friday evening, when her third consecutive Global Gift Gala takes place in Cannes.
The Bachelor's Sam Wood and fiance Snezana Markoski announced they were expecting their first child together last Sunday.

And although the couple are excited, according to friends Sam is a 'nervous'.

'Like any expecting father he a bit nervous' a friend told WHO magazine.

Nervous: The Bachelor's Sam Wood and fiance Snezana Markoski announced they were expecting their first child together last Sunday. And although the couple are excited according to friends Sam is a 'nervous'.

Although he has experience raising girls - constantly documenting his co-parenting adventures with Snezana's 11 year-old daughter Eve, when his daughter is born, Sam may feel the need to 'retreat'.

'He might need a man cave to retreat to,' the friend added.

'Three girls and Sam will be a funny dynamic.'

Over the moon! Snezana and fiance Sam - who she met on The Bachelor Australia in 2015 - announced their pregnancy earlier this week, sharing this shot online

Snezana and fiance Sam - who she met on The Bachelor Australia in 2015 - announced their pregnancy last week.

Taking to Instagram, personal trainer and gym owner Sam shared online, a shot of himself and Snezana sitting on their couch, with Snezana showing off her bump in a white T-shirt.

She had been eating a bowl of pasta and had her jeans undone, with Sam writing in the caption: 'Snez... a) has just eaten a bowl of pasta bigger than her head, b) can't do up her pants, c) is having a BABY!!! d) all of the above'.

Snezana also shared a shot of herself posing in a plunging silk dress with Eve, to announce the news on her Instagram page.

'We're so excited to be able to let the world know that our little family of 3 is soon to become 4 @samjameswood you are going to make an incredible father,' part of the post read.

Sam also revealed on his Facebook page that they are having a daughter.

Sweet: Sam also revealed on his Facebook page that they are having a daughter

This week, Snezana took to Instagram to share a collage of pictures of herself wearing the Adidas dress and raiding a fridge for food.

In part of her post, she said she had 'cravings.'

In July 2016, Snezana and Eve moved from Perth to Melbourne, to live with Sam.

'Cravings!' This week, Snezana took to Instagram to share a collage of pictures of herself wearing the Adidas dress and raiding a fridge for food

Over the past two years, Sam has taken on a stepfather role to Eve and the couple have previously talked about having children together.

In a previous interview with OK! Magazine, Snezana confessed she 'welcomed the idea of having children' with Sam.

'I did have a feeling whoever was going to be the Bachelor would be keen to start a family,' she said.
Air Algerie has suspended all flights in and from the North African country due to an indefinite strike action by its employees

Air Algerie flights in and from the North African country resumed Tuesday after negotiations between management and staff ended a brief strike.

Public radio reported that the labour action had ended several hours after it began.

The wildcat strike had blocked all domestic and outbound international services but not Air Algerie flights from abroad.

It had been called "mainly over salary demands", Mounia Bertouche, an Air Algerie spokeswoman, told AFP before the negotiations had concluded.

In the capital Algiers alone more than 68 flights were suspended.
US President Donald J. Trump (centre) speaks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) and Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak during a meeting at the White House in Washington DC, on May 10, 2017

Embattled US President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday he had the right to share "facts" with Russia, one day after bombshell allegations that he divulged highly classified intelligence to Russian diplomats in the Oval Office.

According to an explosive report from the Washington Post, Trump revealed highly classified information on the Islamic State group during a meeting last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Moscow's man in Washington Sergey Kislyak.

In a shock twist, the information reportedly came from a US ally who had not authorized Washington to share it with Moscow, a potential blow to intelligence relationships based on trust that secrets will be kept.

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety," Trump pushed back in an early morning tweet.

Trump wrote that he was motivated by "humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism."

The US leader's disclosure of classified information did not break the law, according to the national security blog Lawfare, but such revelations could expose sources and methods and "substantially harm" US intelligence gathering partnerships with foreign governments.

"This is perhaps the gravest allegation of presidential misconduct in the scandal-ridden four months of the Trump administration," the blog said. "This story is likely to be immensely consequential."

Protester wears a President Donald Trump effigy outside the White House during a demonstration for an independent probe into allegations his campaign colluded with Russia

National Security Advisor HR McMaster denied the president revealed "intelligence sources or methods," but acknowledged that Trump and Lavrov "reviewed a range of common threats to our two countries, including threats to civil aviation."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday dubbed the news "nonsense," saying it was not worth confirming or denying.

- Latest crisis -

The Post, citing unnamed officials, said Trump went off script during the meeting, describing details about an Islamic State terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on airplanes, revealing the city where the information was gathered.

The Trump administration recently barred the use of laptops in the passenger cabin from several countries in the Middle East and is mulling the expansion of that ban to cover jets originating in Europe.

"There's nothing that the president takes more seriously than the security of the American people. The story that came out tonight as reported is false," McMaster said without elaborating on which elements were wrong.

Probing the Russia connection

"Two other senior officials who were present, including the secretary of state, remember the meeting the same way and have said so. Their on-the-record accounts should outweigh those of anonymous sources. I was in the room. It didn't happen."

McMaster earlier refused to answer questions to a group of journalists gathered in the West Wing, saying "this is the last place I wanted to be" before leaving.

The revelations are the latest in a wave of crises to hit the White House, which late Monday was in a state of shock, with aides frantically trying to put out the fire and determine the source of such damaging leaks.

"I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community," Trump tweeted Tuesday.

Since coming to office in January, Trump has lurched from crisis to crisis, lampooning the intelligence services, law enforcement and the media along the way.

Last week, Trump threw his administration into turmoil by taking the rare step of firing his FBI director James Comey.

Comey had been overseeing investigations into possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia to skew the 2016 election.

Trump's meeting with top Russian diplomats came one day after Comey's firing.

- Ryan wants 'full explanation' -

But political and legal experts said this latest misstep is among the most egregious so far of Trump's presidency.

For Trump's already weary allies in Congress, the latest crisis brought more headaches and demanded yet more explanation from an administration that is struggling to leave its legislative mark.

US National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster walks out of the White House to speak to the press denying reports that President Donald Trump spoke about classified information with Russian officials

"The White House has got to do something soon to bring itself under control and in order. It's got to happen," said Republican Senator Bob Corker.

"Obviously, they're in a downward spiral right now, and they've got to figure out a way to come to grips (with) all that's happening," Corker said.

Meanwhile, top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer accused Trump of potentially putting American lives at risk.

"If the report is true, it is very disturbing. Revealing classified information at this level is extremely dangerous and puts at risk the lives of Americans and those who gather intelligence for our country," the New York senator said.

"The president owes the intelligence community, the American people and Congress a full explanation."
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office

Presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood side by side at the White House on Tuesday and promised to work through strained ties despite the Turkish leader's stern warning about Washington's arming of a Kurdish militia.

Fresh from securing his grip on Turkey with a referendum to enhance his powers, Erdogan came to Washington with a list of complaints about US support for Kurdish fighters and its harboring of the alleged mastermind of a failed coup.

But both leaders also wanted to put a brave face on their differences and to renew a key alliance between NATO's leading power and its biggest Muslim member, partners in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.

"It is absolutely unacceptable to take the YPG-PYD into consideration as partners in the region, and it's going against a global agreement we reached," Erdogan said, referring to the the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) in Syria.

"In the same way, we should never allow those groups who want to change the ethnic or religious structures in the region to use terrorism as a pretext," he added, suggesting that the Kurds are using the anti-IS fight as cover for separatist nationalism.

Trump was one of the first leaders to congratulate Erdogan on winning the April 16 vote to strengthen his office, and his Turkish counterpart repaid the compliment on Tuesday by hailing his host's "legendary victory" in the US presidential race.

"Of course Mr Trump's victory has led to an awakening of new expectations for Turkey and the region it is in. We know the new US administration will not let these hopes be in vain," Erdogan said.

The US leader paid tribute to Turkey's historical contributions to the Western alliance's Cold War battles and promised: "Today we face a new enemy in the fight against terrorism and again we seek to face this threat together."

- Attempted coup -

Washington and Ankara are bitterly at odds over US support for the YPG, a Syrian armed faction that acts as the main ground force in the Pentagon's plan to defeat the Islamic State group but that Turkey deems a front for the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

And Erdogan remains angry that the United States continues to host Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, a former ally who chose exile in Pennsylvania and who has now been accused of masterminding last year's bloody attempted coup in his homeland.

While the pair shared warm words at their joint public appearance, Erdogan again made it clear that he would never accept an autonomous YPG-led Kurdish area in Syria, and that he had "frankly communicated" his expectation that Washington hand over Gulen.

After their appearance, the pair headed into meetings and a working lunch with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to dig deeper in to the issues.

"We look forward to having a long and productive discussion," Trump said. "We've had a great relationship and we will make it even better."

Trump hopes to secure at least grudging Turkish agreement not to oppose the US-led drive by YPG fighters to oust the Islamic State from their Syrian stronghold of Raqa.

- Sinjar offensive -

In return, Trump will have to give Erdogan assurances that Gulen will be closely monitored while the US courts examine an extradition request and that Washington will eventually endorse a Turkish offensive against PKK bases in Sinjar, northern Iraq.

"That's the main ask," said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish research program at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy. "He's going to want US support for a Turkish operation against Sinjar."

Turkish officials had spoken enthusiastically about Trump's election as a chance to turn a new page.

But hopes could have been dashed last week when the Pentagon confirmed that it has increased its support for the YPG by directly arming its fighters ahead of the battle to oust the Islamic State from its de facto capital in Syria.

Ankara regards the YPG as simply the Syrian arm of the "terrorist" PKK, which has waged a deadly insurgency inside Turkey since 1984, and Erdogan is worried his deadly enemy will find itself in charge of a US-armed statelet on his southern frontier.
Cardinal Pell, Australia's most senior Catholic cleric, was interviewed in Rome by Australian detectives last October over the assault claims, which he has strenuously denied

Australian police were Wednesday deciding whether to charge Vatican finance chief George Pell over historic sex abuse allegations after receiving final advice from prosecutors.

Cardinal Pell, Australia's most senior Catholic cleric, was interviewed in Rome by Australian detectives last October over the assault claims, which he has strenuously denied.

The allegations came from two men, now in their 40s, who said he groped them in summer 1978-79 at the Eureka pool in Ballarat, Australia, where the cleric grew up and worked.

The police brief of evidence on the matter was handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions earlier this year to assess whether it was sufficient for charges to be laid.

That advice has now been handed back to them.

"Victoria Police can confirm that it has received advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to a current investigation into historical sexual assault allegations," they said in a statement.

"Detectives from Taskforce Sano will now take time to consider that advice. As with any investigation it will be a decision for Victoria Police as to whether charges are laid."

Pell was a priest in the Ballarat diocese before becoming the Archbishop of Melbourne and then Sydney ahead of being hand-picked in 2014 by Pope Francis to make the church's finances more transparent.

The claims against him came just months after Pell admitted he "mucked up" in dealing with paedophile priests in Victoria state in the 1970s, while giving evidence to an Australian inquiry into institutional responses to child sex abuse.

He has appeared before the long-running royal commission three times, once in person and twice via video-link.

Earlier this week, a new book, "Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell", was published with fresh details on allegations against him, and new information claiming a cover-up within the Catholic Church.

Pell, who has repeatedly denied all the accusations and suggested a conspiracy against him, called the book "an exercise in character assassination".

"Each and every allegation of abuse and cover up against him is false," said a statement from his Rome office on Monday.
Supporters of incumbent Hassan Rouhani chant slogans during a campaign rally in the northwestern city of Zanjan on May 16, 2017, ahead of the Iranian presidential election on Friday

Iranian voters will decide the fate of moderate President Hassan Rouhani and his policy of engagement with the West on Friday as he goes head-to-head with hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi.

Rouhani has spent four years trying to pull Iran out of its global isolation, reaching a 2015 deal with world powers that ended some sanctions in exchange for curbs to its nuclear programme.

But with US President Donald Trump threatening to scrap the deal, and visiting Iran's bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend, that policy of detente looks increasingly in jeopardy.

Raisi has agreed to stick by the nuclear accord but says Rouhani put too much trust in the West.

"We should not show any weakness in the face of the enemy," said the 56-year-old Raisi during a televised debate.

On Wednesday, tens of thousands attended rallies by both candidates on their last day of campaigning in the northeastern city of Mashhad, which is a bastion of support for Raisi.

Rouhani defied religious authorities in the holy city, allowing a concert during his rally.

In the streets of Tehran, young Rouhani supporters wearing his campaign colours of green and purple distributed their last flyers before the polls.

Iranian presidential election candidates

The election essentially became a two-horse race after two other candidates, conservative Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and reformist Eshaq Jahangiri, dropped out this week to boost Raisi and Rouhani respectively.

Rouhani, a 68-year-old cleric, has tried to frame the election as a choice between greater civil liberties and "extremism", and unofficial polls still put him ahead.

But he has faced a much tougher campaign than anyone expected just a couple of months ago, as hardliners have savaged his economic record, saying his diplomatic efforts have done little to tackle poverty and unemployment.

- Diplomacy vs resistance -

Raisi was a relative unknown when he joined the race earlier this year, having mostly worked behind the scenes as a top prosecutor and recently as head of the powerful Imam Reza charitable foundation.

Ebrahim Raisi, who is seen as the preferred choice of Iran's powerful security establishment, says President Hassan Rouhani has put too much trust in the West

A close ally and former pupil of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he is seen as the preferred choice of the powerful security establishment, advocating a more self-sufficient "resistance economy" rather than a reliance on foreigners.

Raisi has tried to pick up working-class votes by promising more financial support, as well as playing on his status as a "seyed", or direct descendant of Prophet Mohammed.

Meanwhile, Rouhani says he needs more time to rebuild the economy, which was shattered by years of sanctions and mismanagement when he took over in 2013.

"At the halfway point, we don't turn back," he tells voters.

He has vowed to work towards removing the remaining, non-nuclear sanctions imposed by the US, which have strangled Iran's efforts to sign trade deals with European and Asian countries.

On Wednesday, the United States decided not to reimpose sanctions on Iran's nuclear programme.

But the US Treasury imposed new measures to punish Iranian defence officials and a Chinese business tied to Tehran's missile programme.

- Threat of apathy -

While Iranians largely welcomed the reduced tensions with the West, the ongoing economic slump has taken a toll on morale.

"My cheques keep bouncing," said Babak, a 35-year-old clothing supplier in south Tehran. "I may vote, but I know it doesn't change anything."

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani arrives in the northeastern city of Mashhad on May 17, 2017 in the final stretch of campaigning ahead of Friday's election

Unemployment is officially stuck at 12.5 percent -- close to 30 percent for the young -- and many more are under-employed or struggling to get by.

Rouhani says he inherited a financial mess from his populist predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was dramatically barred from standing this year by the Guardian Council after falling foul of the conservative establishment.

That has left a vacuum for many working-class voters who fondly recall the construction boom, cash hand-outs and earthy rhetoric of Ahmadinejad's rule.

Voter apathy is a threat to the Islamic regime, which stakes its legitimacy on a high turnout every four years.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a massive turnout was needed to show the continued popularity of the Islamic regime.

"Faced with the enemy, the people should show their determination and calm," he said Wednesday.

- 'Extremism' -

Despite the slump, many voters, particularly wealthier urbanites, are attracted to Rouhani's promise of greater social freedoms.

Supporters of presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi wave Iranian flags and raise his portrait at a mosque in Tehran on May 16, 2017

At his last major rally in Tehran, thousands chanted for reformist leaders locked up after mass protests in 2009.

Rouhani has made thinly veiled references to Raisi's past as a prosecutor during a period in the 1980s when many dissidents were executed.

"The people of Iran shall once again announce that they don't approve of those who only called for executions and jail throughout the last 38 years," he said recently, referring to the 1979 revolution.

"We've entered this election to tell those practising violence and extremism that your era is over."
Second Thought takes a brisk stroll through the historical death toll for earth creatures sent into space. Let's just say you didn't want to be a space monkey in the mid-20th century.

Via NASA:

On June 11, 1948, a V-2 Blossom launched into space from White Sands, New Mexico carrying Albert I, a rhesus monkey. Lack of fanfare and documentation made Albert an unsung hero of animal astronauts. On June 14, 1949, a second V-2 flight carrying a live Air Force Aeromedical Laboratory monkey, Albert II, attained an altitude of 83 miles. The monkey died on impact. On August 31, 1950, another V-2 was launched and carried an unanaesthetized mouse that was photographed in flight and did not survive impact. On December 12, 1949, the last V-2 monkey flight was launched at White Sands. Albert IV, a rhesus monkey attached to monitoring instruments, was the payload. It was a successful flight, with no ill effects on the monkey until impact, when it died. On September 20, 1951, a monkey named Yorick and 11 mice were recovered after an Aerobee missile flight of 236,000 feet at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Yorick got a fair amount of press as the first monkey to live through a space flight.

Meanwhile, the Soviets were betting on stray dogs, which they believed were stronger than other dogs and more likely to chill out than a monkey while confined in their restraints.

 The Morbid History of Space Missions (YouTube / Second Thought)
Iran has the second largest economy in the Middle East with world's fourth largest oil reserves and income per capita of $6,550

Iran, the Middle East's second largest power by economy and population, is the Shiite Muslim rival of regional Sunni giant Saudi Arabia.

Second biggest economy

Iran has the region's second largest economy after Saudi Arabia. With 79.11 million inhabitants (2015, World Bank), it is also the second most populous country in the Middle East, after Egypt.

Iranian presidential election candidates

A founding member of OPEC, it has the world's fourth-biggest oil reserves and the second-largest gas reserves, after Russia.

In 2014, income per capita was $6,550.

Some economic sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme have been lifted since mid-January 2016, allowing Tehran to resume oil exports and pick up trade with the European Union.

However, the fall in the price of crude has weighed on the economy.

Unemployment officially stands at 12.5 percent, including 27 percent of young people -- which analysts say is an understatement -- and foreign investment is only trickling in.

Shiite Muslim power

Iran has an area of 1,648,195 square kilometres (659,278 square miles).

The descendant of the Persian Empire, it was long a monarchy ruled by a shah and dominated by the Pahlavi dynasty from 1925 to 1979.

In January 1979, shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was driven out by a popular revolt. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a revolutionary cleric who had lived in exile for a decade and a half, made a triumphant return on February 1.

The shah's government fell 10 days later when public radio announced "the end of 2,500 years of despotism".

An Islamic republic was proclaimed on April 1.

Between 1980 and 1988 Iran fought a war with Iraq in which more than a million people were killed.

Rivalry with Saudis

For centuries, Shiite-majority Iran has competed with Turks and Arabs for regional supremacy. Currently, its main rival is Sunni heavyweight Saudi Arabia.

The two countries have taken opposing sides in wars in Syria and Yemen.

In Syria, Tehran backs the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, a member of the minority Alawite community, against Sunni rebels supported by Riyadh.

In Yemen, Saudi Arabia fights in support of pro-government forces against Iran-backed rebels and their allies.

Conservatives, reformers, moderates

After Khomeini died in 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, president since October 1981, became supreme leader.

Moderate conservative Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was elected president and orchestrated economic reforms.

After eight years of rule by reformist president Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office in 2005. His re-election in June 2009 sparked a massive political crisis and a crackdown on nationwide protests that decimated the reformist movement.

Historic nuclear accord

After taking office on August 3, 2013, President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate cleric, relaunched formal negotiations with major powers on Iran's nuclear programme.

An historic accord was signed on July 14, 2015 and implemented on January 16, 2016, bringing a 13-year-long dispute to a close.

Terms of the accord stipulate that Tehran will not try to build a nuclear bomb, an ambition it has always denied. In exchange, many international sanctions were lifted although remaining US sanctions continue to stifle trade.

State institutions

The highest political authority is the supreme leader, who has the final say on all national issues.

The president, elected for four years by universal suffrage, nominates the government.

The Assembly of Experts is a body of elected clerics that oversees the functions of the supreme leader. Constitutionally, it has powers to select and even dismiss the leader.

Parliament's powers are limited when compared to other institutions, and it is vetted by the Guardian Council.

The Expediency Council is Iran's top political arbitration body, tasked with resolving disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council and of advising the supreme leader.

The Revolutionary Guards are the elite arm of the country's military, and deeply embedded in Iranian political and economic life.
Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, is set for release, May 17, 2017

Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, is set to walk out of a military prison Wednesday after seven years behind bars.

In July 2010, Manning -- then a male soldier known as Bradley -- was arrested over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks.

On Wednesday, Manning will leave the prison barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas -- the only maximum-security facility run by the Pentagon -- thanks to a commutation of her sentence by president Barack Obama before he left office.

Without Obama's parting gift, Manning, who served as an intelligence official in Iraq, would have remained behind bars until 2045, after serving a 35-year sentence.

Supporters of Manning -- who attempted suicide twice last year alone -- said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her transition as a free, openly transgender woman.

"Two more days until the freedom of civilian life," Manning tweeted Monday. "Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans."

WikiLeaks source Chelsea Manning

Manning, now 29, also went on a hunger strike during her detention to denounce the disciplinary measures to which she was subjected -- including stints in solitary confinement.

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world," she wrote last week.

- Quiet release -

Manning's defense team is intent on protecting her.

The Oklahoma native had a difficult childhood. After her parents' divorce, Manning moved with her mother to Wales, where she repressed her sexuality and was mocked for her effeminate ways.

The military is therefore keen on keeping her release low-key. No press conference is planned and media massing at the military installation may be hard-pressed to even catch a glimpse of Manning.

Manning is to leave the prison barracks at Fort Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, the only maximum-security facility run by the Pentagon, May 17, 2017

"To ensure the privacy and security of Inmate Manning, no further information concerning the release will be provided," US Army spokesman Dave Foster said in a statement.

Manning, of whom few photographs are publicly available, could find refuge at an aunt's home in the Washington region.

- Unwanted fame -

Virtually unknown at the time of her arrest, Manning today is a well-known figure around the world.

Labeled a traitor by President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She wasn't able to flee abroad like Edward Snowden, who in 2013 released documents showing that the NSA was sweeping up US citizens' communications metadata.

Ahead of Manning's release, a group of musicians released a compilation album with all proceeds to go to the former soldier as she starts a new life.

"Hugs for Chelsea," a digital album available for a $25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left-wing activism including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.

- Trans icon -

Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists.

"The first thing Chelsea always says when we talk about her freedom is that she wants to give back to the trans community," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who is himself transgender.

Manning was able to start hormonal treatment in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her "right to exist."

While Manning's sentence was commuted, her conviction remains intact. Manning, who will turn 30 in December, has appealed.

She is also still employed by the army, and retains its insurance coverage.

"Manning is statutorily entitled to medical care while on excess leave in an active duty status, pending final appellate review," said Foster, the Army spokesman.
Iranian presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi looks on during a campaign rally in the capital Tehran on April 29, 2017

Ebrahim Raisi, the leading rival to President Hassan Rouhani in Friday's presidential election, is a hardline judge with close ties to the supreme leader who spent years in powerful backroom positions.

Born into a religious family in the holy city of Mashhad on August 23, 1960, Raisi wears the black turban of a "seyed" whose genealogy is said to lead back to Islam's Prophet Mohammed.

In public, he has an austere charisma, and is surrounded by an entourage with ties to the Islamic regime's most hardline elements.

He has focused his campaign on the poor, brandishing his credentials as the head of the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, which is also a powerful and hugely wealthy charitable foundation.

"I represent the workers, the farmers, the impoverished women," he says, vowing to triple cash hand-outs.

It is a message that has fallen on fertile ground at a time when unemployment is at least 12.5 percent and almost everyone is feeling the stagnation of the economy.

He does not oppose the nuclear deal signed with world powers in 2015, which lifted sanctions in exchange for curbs to Iran's atomic programme.

But he says the current government's negotiating efforts were "weak" and called for a much tougher line "in the face of the enemy".

There is little chance Raisi will ease social restrictions or release opposition leaders held under house arrest since the 2009 protest movement, known to conservatives as "the sedition".

"Those who sympathise with the heads of sedition must know that the great nation of Iran will never forgive this great injustice," he said in 2014.

- A revolutionary life -

Raisi is entrenched in the conservative establishment, having served as attorney general, supervisor of state broadcaster IRIB and prosecutor in the Special Court for Clerics.

Supporters of Iranian presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi attend a campaign rally in the capital Tehran on April 29, 2017

His father-in-law leads Friday prayers in Mashhad and both have seats on the Assembly of Experts that will choose the next supreme leader -- a position for which Raisi himself is often rumoured to be in the running.

Raisi's father died when he was five, and he entered the seminary at an early age, excelling in his studies and moving to the seat of clerical learning in Qom in 1975.

After the 1979 revolution, he was selected for special training by the clerical establishment and studied under Ali Khamenei, who would later become supreme leader.

In 1985, in the midst of the Iran-Iraq war, he became deputy prosecutor at the Revolutionary Court of Tehran that would oversee the execution of thousands of political prisoners.

After serving in a series of increasingly powerful judicial posts, Raisi was appointed in March 2016 by Khamenei to head the Imam Reza shrine.

Known as Astan Qods Razavi, it runs Iran's holiest shrine as well as a huge business conglomerate with interests in everything from IT and banking to construction and agriculture.
Egon Shiele's "Danae," valued at $30-40 million has been dramatically withdrawn from sale by Sotheby's in New York

Sotheby's dramatically withdrew from sale an early Schiele nude valued at $30-40 million, the star lot of its flagship impressionist and modern art auction in New York on Tuesday.

The female nude, "Danae" which Austrian artist Egon Schiele painted when he was just 19 years old, had adorned the cover of the catalogue for the sale and was the background image on Sotheby's Twitter account.

The auction house was tight-lipped on what happened, confirming only that it had been withdrawn "at the request of the consignor prior to the auction."

Simon Shaw, Sotheby's co-head of impressionist and modern art, had earlier this month described it as the artist's first large-scale nude and Schiele as "one of the great rock stars of modern painting."

Partially inspired by Klimt, Schiele used metallic industrial paint and the mythical figure lies in a near fetal position. Sotheby's holds the auction record for work by Schiele, set in 2011 at $40 million.

The evening sale fetched a total of $173.8 million against a revised estimate of $147-210.4 million, well short of Christie's haul of $289 million at its impressionist and modern art evening sale Monday.

The two houses founded in 18th century London are chasing combined sales of at least $1.1 billion in offering for auction hundreds of contemporary, modern and impressionist works of art this week.

Sotheby's top lot Tuesday was Russian painter Kazimir Malevich's 1915 "Suprematist Composition with Plane in Projection" which sold for $21.2 million.

The sale also broke auction records for lesser known European artists, Jean Arp at $4.9 million, Germaine Richier $3 million and Diego Giacometti for $6.3 million, Sotheby's said.

Much of the art being offered this season is fresh to market -- Sotheby's says nearly two thirds of its lots in Tuesday's evening sale and Thursday's contemporary sales have never sold at auction before.
The movie studio is just one of the many attractions at the $450 million Tinapa resort that stands idle 10 years after opening

With its futuristic film studios, luxury shops and elevated light railway, Tinapa should be a showcase of Nigerian dynamism, a commercial hub for West Africa raking in millions of dollars.

But 10 years after it opened, the resort in southeast Nigeria is a ghost town and has become a symbol of monumental waste.

Its majestic contours and avant-garde domes rise defiantly out of the bush and palm trees. At the entrance, a giant signboard proclaims: "Tinapa back on track!"

But the few visitors who venture inside are quickly disillusioned.

Apart from a few idle employees, not a soul stirs in the endless aisles of shops and warehouses that should have made the capital of Cross River state, Calabar, famous across Nigeria's south.

"It's empty there, we have no clients, it's like a cemetery," said one shop assistant in Da Viva, which sells the popular brand of wrapper skirts.

"Many have left already," he added, pointing to shuttered premises.

A huge supermarket still displays clothes, furniture and foreign-made knick-knacks but in virtual darkness: the electricity was cut off some time ago.

Inside, an old man snoozes in the suffocating heat.

Tinapa, with its 80,000 square metres (861,000 square feet) of warehouses and shops, cost $450 million (413 million euros) to build.

But it has become a financial black hole for its backers.

- Economic development -

At the turn of the century, Nigeria was on the point of becoming Africa's biggest economy and leading oil producer. Newly returned to civilian rule, everything seemed possible.

A handful of businessmen and architects got together and imagined an international centre of commerce and tourism in a free-trade zone.

Nigeria's biggest banks fell over themselves to finance the project, which was opened in 2007.

Few stores are still open at the sprawling resort, which aimed to attract Nigerian millionaires, who ordinarily jetted to Dubai or London to shop

"At that time, everyone was excited. Tinapa was going to boost economic development of the whole region and create thousands of jobs," said Bassey Ndem, who was in charge of the project.

It aimed to attract Nigerian millionaires, who ordinarily jetted off to Dubai or London to go shopping, as well as make Cross River a commercial crossroads on the Atlantic coast.

A plush 242-room hotel with a view over the lagoon and a water park with slides were built to cater for the cream of high society and their families.

Alongside luxury tourism, imported goods would provide for Nigeria and its neighbours such as Cameroon, Chad and Niger, competing with the country's commercial capital, Lagos.

"Everything was going well at first," said Ndem. "At the peak, in 2009, we generated $30 million of revenue. But we faced a lot of resistance from the customs.

"They really didn't want the tax-free zone to work."

Goods were supposed to be exempt from import duties in the free-trade zone.

But from the beginning, the customs -- which has a reputation for rampant corruption -- blocked containers destined for Tinapa in the ports, paralysing business.

- Top down, trickle up -

Ndem left in 2012. None of his successors has managed to get Tinapa off the ground.

"There was clearly a lack of political will" to make the project succeed, he said, describing himself as angry and frustrated at a "wasted opportunity".

For the economist and blogger Nonso Obikili, Tinapa's downfall was largely because of a lack of existing infrastructure to transport goods: bad roads and an average-sized port.

"It was a wide project conceived with the deep sea port, which was supposed to enable big ships to come to Calabar," said Obikili.

"It was the responsibility of the federal government but finally it wasn't done," he told AFP.

In the end, no big name jeweller or pret-a-porter line wanted to invest in the paradise promised by its promoters and the hotel remains desperately empty.

The cinema studios have likewise been unable to attract Nollywood's stars, who have largely preferred to stay in Lagos.

In "Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria", the British-Nigerian author Noo Saro-Wiwa castigates the leaders in the country of her birth.

The commercial zone at Tinapa stands dormant. Bassey Ndem, who was once in charge of the project, said the resort faced a lot of resistance from customs, who didn't want the tax-free area to work

Few of Nigeria's nearly 190 million inhabitants have benefited from the riches brought by oil; most still live in extreme poverty.

"This top-down approach to boosting Calabar's economy seemed hollow," she wrote.

"I'd heard Nigerian politicians' endless talk about theme parks, tourist resorts, shopping malls and their 'trickle down' effects on the economy.

"But there's no such thing as 'trickle down' in Nigeria -- money trickles upwards or evaporates on contact with air," Saro-Wiwa wrote in 2012.
The ornate interior of the TCL Theater, formerly Mann's and Grauman's Theatre, one of Hollywood's most iconic sights. The theater marks its 90th anniversary this week

Shirley Temple did it barefoot. Mel Brooks wore an extra finger. Whoopi Goldberg buried her dreadlocks. Steve McQueen and actress wife Ali MacGraw did it facing the wrong way.

An old aphorism says that to visit Los Angeles and not see the iconic hand and foot prints of Hollywood's biggest stars in the imposing courtyard of the TCL Chinese Theatre is like going to the Middle Kingdom and not walking The Great Wall.

On Thursday, the world's most famous picture house celebrates 90 years at the epicenter of the movie business, the venue of many of Tinseltown's most glamorous showbiz moments through 16 presidents, a world war and three huge earthquakes.

The night before, veteran filmmaker Ridley Scott becomes the 304th star to sink his hands and feet into the cement squares in the theater's forecourt -- maintaining a tradition celebrated by Hollywood's finest, from Mary Pickford through John Wayne and Sophia Loren to Jack Nicholson and Brad Pitt.

"It's a real honor to get placed out in the forecourt and when you look at the people we have out there, going back now nine decades, it's incredible," Levi Tinker, resident historian at the Chinese, told AFP.

"You have some of the biggest, brightest, most iconic names in Hollywood history."

It all started when movie theater impresario Sid Grauman, one of Hollywood's best known showmen, leased the former home of matinee idol Francis X. Bushman and opened the Chinese on May 18 in 1927 after raising $2 million.

Silent screen star Norma Talmadge clumsily stepped into wet cement on the construction site, witnessed by Grauman who -- spying an opportunity -- shrugged off her embarrassed apologies and said he would use the footprint to promote the opening.

- Priceless -

Stars have since seen the ceremonies as a career highlight, often going to a great lengths to ensure their square stands out from the crowd.

Shirley Temple, the youngest honoree in 1935 at just five years old, appeared barefoot, quickly deciding it was a good way to distract the press from the fact that one of her baby teeth had just fallen out.

Marilyn Monroe wanted to dot her 'i' with a diamond before being persuaded that the precious stone would probably be stolen. She sunk an earring into her square instead and the exposed half was stolen anyway.

More recently, Mel Brooks concealed until the last minute that one of his hands had a fake sixth finger.

"You think after all this time there would be hardly any room. But there's enough space out there to go on for a number of years still," said Tinker, although he added that some big names were missing.

Audrey Hepburn was among the few to decline, while James Dean was readying to lay his prints in the presence of "Giant" co-stars Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor when he was killed in a car crash at the age of 24.

Older than the Oscars or the Walk of Fame, the Chinese was Grauman's third LA cinema after the lavish Egyptian a few blocks away and the downtown Million Dollar Theatre.

"He wanted to out-do what he had done in those other theaters and he had gone all throughout Europe and Asia looking at different architecture styles and he was very impressed with Chinese. He had a number of artifacts and antiques brought over," said Tinker.

The entrepreneur imported temple bells, pagodas and other pieces while Chinese poet and filmmaker Moon Quon supervised artisans from his homeland as they created the many artworks that still decorate the auditorium.

- 'Making history -

The handprint of Hollywood legend Mary Pickford, added in 1927, in front of what is now the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California, which marks its 90th anniversary in May 2017

The forecourt, with its 40-foot (12-meter) curved walls and copper-topped turrets, is flanked by 10-foot lotus-shaped fountains.

Two columns topped by wrought iron masks hold aloft the 90 foot high bronze roof, bordering a dragon carved from stone, while the entrance is guarded by two authentic -- and priceless -- 15th Century Ming Dynasty Heaven Dogs.

On its opening night, tens of thousands lined Hollywood Boulevard as fans tried to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars at the packed 2,200-seat theater for the $11-a-ticket debut of Cecil B. DeMille's "The King of Kings."

Some five to six million visitors from across the world visit every year -- as many as the Sistine Chapel in Rome -- to see their favorite stars immortalized in the cement these days.

It is the only single-screen theatre to have been open continuously for nine decades -- not including short closures for renovations -- and hosts between 35 and 50 premieres a year, more than any other venue in the world.

Next up for the iconic institution -- which is owned by a board of private investors -- is expansion, with a Chinese Theatre due to open in San Diego later in the year, and then there are plans to open in the Middle East and China itself.

Alwyn Hight Kushner, who runs the Chinese, oversaw its transformation into the world's largest IMAX theater in 2013, walking a tightrope between modernizing and preserving its historical features.

"What's so special is it's constantly new history. We're making history every single day," she said.
A South African who attempted to climb Mount Everest without permission has been arrested in Nepal where he faces a $22,000 fine -- double the cost of the permit he was trying to avoid

A South African who attempted to climb Mount Everest without permission has been arrested in Nepal where he faces a $22,000 fine -- double the cost of the permit he was trying to avoid.

Ryan Sean Davy handed himself in to authorities in Kathmandu on Tuesday after being caught last week hiding in a cave near Everest's base camp without a permit.

The 43-year-old began swearing and threatening officials from the tourism department during questioning and was arrested under Nepal's strict public order laws, Tourist Police Inspector Tulasha Khatiwada told AFP.

He is now in custody and will appear in court next week to face charges related to his Everest attempt and possible additional offences over his conduct during the investigation.

"He will be fined and deported as per the Tourism Act of Nepal. He may face further penalty for misbehaving with the police," director of the tourism department Dinesh Bhattarai told AFP.

Foreigners have to pay the Nepal government $11,000 for permission to climb the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak -- a major earner for the impoverished country.

Under Nepali law, climbers caught without the mandatory permit are fined $22,000.

He could also be blacklisted from the Himalayan nation for five years, or face a 10-year climbing ban when he appears in court next week.

The South African -- who describes himself on social media as a film director and producer -- was caught a short distance from Everest base camp and was ordered off the mountain.

He had pitched a tent away from the other climbers to try and dodge government officials who monitor all Everest ascents.

He told officials he had climbed alone as far as camp two -- at 6,400 metres -- to acclimatise in preparation for a solo summit bid.

His antics have angered many in the close-knit climbing community, who say the South African would have put himself and others in danger if he had attempted to reach the summit alone.

Davy was caught not far from where more than 1,000 mountaineers and support staff have gathered for the busy spring climbing season.
The high price tag for the rare plot of land in Hong Kong's bustling Central district, currently occupied by a multi-storey car park, can partly be explained by fierce competition for premium space.

A Hong Kong tycoon has paid US$3 billion for a prime commercial lot, a city record according to analysts, as costs in one of the world's most expensive metropolises continue to soar.

The price tag -- which works out at around $1 million per square metre -- for the rare plot of land in Hong Kong's bustling Central district can partly be explained by fierce competition for premium space, said Jackson Wong, of Huarong International Securities.

"It is pretty crazy," he said of the sum paid for the land, currently occupied by a multi-storey car park.

Wong said it was a commercial land sales record and would be seen as a yardstick for future deals.

"However this kind of supply is once in a blue moon," he added.

Property has become a political issue in Hong Kong, where as small businesses are forced to close due to sky-high rents and many residents cannot afford to buy or rent decent homes.

Commercial and residential property prices have been fuelled by an influx of money from wealthy mainland Chinese investors and developers.

Critics also accuse the government of having close ties with developers.

The 2,880 square-metres (31,000 square-feet) plot in Central was sold off by the government to Henderson Land, owned by the city's second richest man, Lee Shau-kee, late Tuesday.

It was the first premium commercial lot to come up in Central since 1996 -- the year before Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain.

The eight other bidders included the city's richest man Li Ka-shing and one mainland Chinese firm, according to a government statement.

Henderson Land said it would develop the site into an office building with retail facilities, expected to be completed around 2022.

"The company is optimistic of the long term prospect of this investment," it said of the HK$23.28 billion purchase in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Property group CBRE said the sale was the first for a commercial site in Central in the past two decades.

The group also said in March the district was home to the world's highest priced office market, with rentals of US$264.27 per square feet per annum, ahead of Beijing's Finance Street, London's West End and Midtown Manhattan in New York.
Afghan security forces take up a position at the site of suicide bombing in Jalalabad on May 17, 2017

Suicide bombers stormed the national television station in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city on Wednesday, killing six people as gunfights and explosions rocked the building with journalists trapped inside, officials and eyewitnesses said.

At least 17 others were left wounded in the four-hour assault on Radio Television Afghanistan, which marks the latest in a string of attacks on media workers in the conflict-torn country.

Islamic State jihadists have claimed responsibility for the raid in eastern Nangarhar province, where the US military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb last month in an unprecedented strike.

"There were four attackers -- one blew himself up at the gate, killing the guard. Three others entered the building but were killed after our security forces fought them for four hours," Nangarhar Governor Gulab Mangal told reporters.

"Six people, including four civilians and two policemen, were killed and 17 others wounded," he added. A health worker told AFP that many of those brought to hospital suffered gunshot wounds.

An RTA photographer said he fled the building as soon as the gunfight erupted, but many of his colleagues were stuck inside until the assailants were killed.

Afghanistan

Nangarhar province is a hotbed of IS jihadists, who claimed Wednesday's attack through its propaganda agency Amaq, the SITE Intelligence Group said.

The US military last month dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- on IS positions in Nangarhar, killing dozens of jihadists.

The bombing triggered global shock waves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban.

According to the US Forces-Afghanistan, defections and recent battlefield losses have reduced the local IS presence from a peak of as many as 3,000 fighters to a maximum of 800.

- Deadly country for media -

The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan to break the deadlocked fight against the Taliban.

The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan to break the deadlocked fight against the Taliban

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, who also mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.

Wednesday's attack underscores the growing dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan as the security situation worsens.

The country suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists in 2016, according to the Afghan Journalists' Safety Committee (AJSC), adding that the country is the second most dangerous for reporters in the world after Syria.

As least 13 journalists were killed last year, AJSC said, claiming that the Taliban was behind at least ten of the deaths.

In January last year, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.

Dan Coats, the head of US intelligence agencies, warned last week that the security and political situation in Afghanistan "will also almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in the military assistance by the US".

US-led forces have been fighting in Afghanistan for almost 16 years, making it America's longest war.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the International Criminal Court in 2009

Sudan said Wednesday that President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for genocide, will appear at the same summit in Saudi Arabia as Donald Trump, but the United States indicated it opposes his attendance.

"I can confirm President Bashir will go ... to Saudi Arabia," Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in Geneva. "We look forward (to) normalisation of our relations with the US."

But the US embassy in Khartoum said in a statement it opposes "invitations, facilitation, or support for travel by any person subject to outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants, including President Bashir".

Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the ICC in 2009 for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Darfur that has killed tens of thousands.

He denies the charges.

The Saudi-hosted summit of Arab and Muslim leaders is expected to include top level talks on Sunday.

Trump is scheduled to be in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, from Saturday on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

Asked ifBashir expected to shake hands with the US president, Ghandour said it was impossible to predict, but added that "a handshake doesn't mean a lot if relations are not (good)".

Khartoum has said it is keen to improve relations with Washington under Trump.

"Sudan renews its commitment to continue a bilateral dialogue in order to reach full and normal relations between the two countries in the interests of their peoples," its foreign ministry said on March 7.

That was despite Sudan's inclusion on an executive order signed by Trump in March to temporarily close US borders to nationals from six Muslim-majority countries.

The travel ban has since been blocked by a US judge.

After signing of the order, however, Sudan voiced "deep regret and discontent" over the move.

- 'Partner in fighting terror' -

It condemned the ban, saying it came despite Khartoum engaging in talks with Washington on fighting terrorism.

"These negotiations confirmed that Sudan plays a big role as a partner in fighting terrorism that endangers people of both countries and of the world," the foreign ministry said at the time.

Before leaving office, president Barack Obama eased decades-old US sanctions against Sudan, but kept Khartoum on the blacklist.

Sudan was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993 and has been subject to a US trade embargo since 1997 over its alleged support for Islamist groups.

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was based in Khartoum from 1992 to 1996.

Washington believes Khartoum's terror ties have ebbed, but has kept sanctions in place because of the scorched-earth tactics it has used against ethnic minority rebels in Darfur.

In its statement on Wednesday, the US embassy said there has been "no change to Sudan's inclusion on the United States' State Sponsor of Terrorism list".

"We have been quite clear with the government of Sudan on the steps that need to be taken for us to consider delisting, as well as what would be required to make progress in easing economic sanctions."

An end to fighting in Sudan's hotspots -- Blue Nile and South Kordofan states as well as the Darfur region -- had been set as a precondition for sanctions being lifted.

According to the United Nations, 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced since the Darfur conflict erupted in 2003.

South Africa came under fire for failing to arrest Bashir in 2015 when he attended an African Union summit in Johannesburg.

It insisted he had "head of state immunity" after letting him slip out of the country under shadowy circumstances.

Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the Rome Statute under which the ICC was founded, while Sudan and the United States have not ratified the statute of the Hague-based court.
Legendary chemists and psychonauts Nicholas Sand and Nick Scully created the legendary version of LSD known as "Orange Sunshine" that was so widely used in San Francisco in 1967. Sand died on April 24 at his home in the Northern California community of Lagunitas. He was 75.

Nicholas Sand is also known as the first rogue chemist on record to have synthesized the psychedelic drug DMT.

"Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann may have invented LSD, and Timothy Leary was clearly its most prominent frontman," The Los Angeles Times obituary reads.

"But it was a self-taught chemist and obscure-by-choice figure named Nicholas Sand who was the true wizard behind the curtain, the man who launched tens of millions of acid trips across generations by producing the best, most pure, highest-quality acid ever consumed across generations."

Far out, man.

Snip:

Two years before, when LSD was still legal, the longtime devotee of yoga had sat naked in the lotus position in front of a roaring fire at a farmhouse in upstate New York and taken his first hit. "I was floating in this immense black space," he recalled years later. "I said, 'What am I doing here?' And suddenly a voice came through my body, and it said, 'Your job on this planet is to make psychedelics and turn on the world.' "If we could turn on everyone in the world," he said, "then maybe we'd have a new world of peace and love." Sand had been invited to the farmhouse by former Harvard University professor Richard Alpert, who soon would be better known as psychedelic guru Baba Ram Dass. Alpert's former Harvard colleague Leary had formed the League for Spiritual Discovery (LSD) there. A year later, Sand's reputation as a drug chemist had spread to San Francisco, where another self-taught chemist, Owsley Stanley, was cranking out millions of doses of LSD. Stanley introduced Sand to Scully, and they began cranking out Orange Sunshine doses. They had produced about 4 million when the government, which had outlawed LSD in 1966, busted them.

Nicholas Sand, creator of famous 'Orange Sunshine' LSD, dies at 75
South Korean President Moon Jae-In warned Wednesday there was a "high possibility" of military clashes along the border with North Korea as tensions mount over Pyongyang's weapons ambitions

South Korean President Moon Jae-In warned Wednesday there was a "high possibility" of military clashes along the border with North Korea as tensions mount over Pyongyang's weapons ambitions.

Moon, who was sworn in last week, warned that the North's nuclear and rocket programmes were "advancing rapidly", days after Pyongyang launched what appeared to be its longest-range missile yet.

"I will never tolerate the North's provocations and nuclear threats," he said on a visit to the defence ministry, urging the South's military to adopt a "watertight defence posture".

"We are living in the reality where there is a high possibility of military clashes" along the disputed sea border off the Koreas' west coast or along the heavily-fortified land frontier that divides them, he said.

Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have ramped up in recent weeks with the Trump administration saying military action was an option under consideration and the North threatening massive retaliation.

Left-leaning Moon favours engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table, but after Sunday's missile launch said dialogue would be possible "only if Pyongyang changes its behaviour".

The North claimed the rocket was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, although there are doubts whether the country could build a warhead small enough to fit into a missile.

The two Koreas -- technically still at war after the 1950-53 conflict ended only with a ceasefire instead of a peace treaty -- have occasionally clashed along the border.

The North's shelling in 2010 of the southern border island of Yeonpyeong killed four people in the first attack on civilians since the war, sparking brief fears of an all-out conflict.

The flashpoint border on the Yellow Sea also saw a South Korean naval submarine sinking with the loss of 46 lives in 2010. Seoul blamed a torpedo attack by the North, which angrily denied involvement.

The North has staged two atomic tests and dozens of missile tests in its quest to build a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.

The growing threats from the North prompted Seoul to recently deploy a powerful US anti-missile system despite angry opposition by China that sees it as a threat to its own military capability.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and the North's threats are expected to be high on the agenda when Moon meets US President Donald Trump in June.

The summit, the first between the two leaders, will be held in Washington D.C. Moon's office said the event was aimed at "cementing personal ties" between the two.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walk into the White House on February 15 2017

Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken by phone, a spokesman said Wednesday, as controversy brewed over the US president's sharing of intelligence with Russia that came from Israel.

A spokesman in Netanyahu's office confirmed the phone call took place on Tuesday afternoon but did not say who initiated it.

Trump is due to visit Israel next week.

"There was a call yesterday between the president and prime minister for about 20 minutes," the spokesman said. "The only topic discussed was the upcoming visit."

Israel meanwhile sought to contain fallout from Trump's sharing of its intelligence with Russia, while not commenting directly on the move.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman lauded security ties between the United States and his country, saying it would continue to be "unprecedented" in scope.

But he made no mention of Trump divulging intelligence to Russia that a US administration official said had originally come from Israel.

The United States is Israel's most important ally, providing it with more than $3 billion in defence aid each year.

The Washington Post reported late Monday that Trump revealed what it said was highly classified information on the Islamic State group (IS) during a meeting last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Moscow's Washington ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

It said that Trump told Lavrov about a specific IS bomb threat.

A US administration official confirmed to AFP on condition of anonymity that the original intelligence came from Israel, which was initially reported by the New York Times.
View of the Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui prefecture

A Japanese utility on Wednesday switched on a nuclear reactor, the latest to come back in service despite deep public opposition in the aftermath of the Fukushima crisis.

Japan shut down all of its dozens of reactors after a powerful earthquake in March 2011 spawned a huge tsunami that led to meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the world's worst such accident since Chernobyl in 1986.

But only a handful of reactors have come back online due to public opposition and as legal cases work their way through the courts.

On Wednesday, Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO) restarted the No 4 reactor at the Takahama nuclear plant after a court in March cleared the move.

The latest restart at the plant in Fukui prefecture, some 350 kilometres (215 miles) west of Tokyo, came after court battles that lasted more than a year during which a district court near Fukui ordered KEPCO to suspend operations.

The Fukui government, where the nuclear industry is a major employer, approved the reactor's restart but concerned residents in neighbouring Shiga prefecture asked their local court to stop the move.

The region's appeals court in Osaka finally ruled in March that KEPCO could restart two of the four reactors at Takahama.

Shigeki Iwane, KEPCO president, announced the restart in a statement.

"We will... carefully continue our work with discipline and regard safety as the priority," he said.

Shiga governor Taizo Mikazuki voiced frustration and urged the national government to reduce its reliance on nuclear power, saying his prefecture would be greatly impacted in the event of an accident.

He said the environment was not right for a restart.

"Local residents hold profound anxiety about nuclear plants," he said in a written statement.

"The government should change the current energy policy that relies on nuclear plants at the earliest possible time," he said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has steadily promoted nuclear energy, calling it essential to powering the world's third-largest economy.
May stressed that the US remained a vital intelligence partner for Britain

British Prime Minister Theresa May said Wednesday that it was up to US President Donald Trump to decide what intelligence he shared, after reports he divulged top-secret data to the Russians.

"Decisions about what President Trump discusses with anybody that he has in the White House is a matter for President Trump," May told a press conference in London.

"We continue to work with the United States and we continue to share intelligence with the United States, as we do with others around the world."

She said the British relationship with the US "is the most important defence and security relationship that we have around the world".

"We have confidence in that relationship between us and the United States, that it helps to keep us all safer."

US media reports allege Trump passed ultra-sensitive classified information about the Islamic State group -- gleaned by a foreign intelligence partner -- to Russian diplomats during a meeting in the Oval Office.

The Washington Post said he described details about a plot involving laptop computers on airplanes, revealing where the information was gathered.

"We are all working together to deal with the threats that we face, the key threat of course being the threat of terrorism," both from IS and Al-Qaeda, May said.

"Working with the United States and others to deal with that terrorist threat is an important part of maintaining our national security and we will continue to do so."
When Laurent-Desire Kabila's Alliance rebel troops entered Kinshasa on May 17, 1997, they were hailed by the people as "liberators"

Two decades after Kinshasa gave itself up willingly to rebel commander Laurent-Desire Kabila, his son Joseph remains at the helm of this vast, conflict-ravaged nation although his rule is mired in political crisis.

Back in 1997, the country then known as Zaire was struggling under the authoritarian rule of Joseph Mobutu Sese Seko, who seized power in 1965 and presided over a nepotistic regime steeped in corruption.

His rule came to an abrupt end in May that year when Kabila's Alliance troops marched into the capital and the rebel chief declared himself president of the newly named Democratic Republic of Congo.

"They were very young, dirty, starving and collapsing under the weight of their weapons," recalls Chantal Kikalulu of the forces who entered Kinshasa on May 17, a city exhausted by decades of dictatorship.

"Without thinking, we offered them food and drink."

Backed by Uganda and Rwanda, Kabila's Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (ADFL) had begun their rebellion just seven months earlier, staging a rapid takeover which saw Mobutu flee and the rebels welcomed with open arms.

"By dawn on May 17, 1997, excited residents of the city were running towards us with bread and water, and even buckets of water to wash ourselves with," recalls Cedric 'Zimbabwe' Kabeya, who was just 16 when he served in Kabila's army.

During the campaign, the ADFL -- which had liberally recruited children and teenagers as soldiers -- appeared to be far better disciplined than the rag-tag and generally unpaid Zairean Armed Forces (FAZ).

- 'Had enough' -

"Most of the cities fell into our hands without any resistance from Mobutu's men who were demoralised and were just spewed out by the population," recalls Major General Jean-Claude Kifwa, former head of Kabila's guard.

Child soldiers, or 'kadogos', were on the front line of Laurent-Desire Kabila's rebel troops when they marched into Kinshasa in May 1997, ending Mobutu's 32-year dictatorship in what was then known as Zaire

The people were happy to cooperate because they had simply "had enough of being humiliated, plundered and gratuitously killed" by FAZ troops, says Kifwa, who is today in charge of defence for the southeastern part of the country.

There was even disillusionment with Mobutu at the highest levels within the army, he adds, saying the rebels had access to "strategic information" which came from the general staff.

According to a former senior FAZ officer, the last "real clashes with the enemy" took place at Kenge, 200 kilometres (120 miles) east of Kinshasa.

After Kenge fell, there was "no real reason to defend Kinshasa, which would have resulted in a bloodbath" in a metropolis which was home to several million people.

- 'Liberators!' -

By May 16, the ADFL was at the gates of the city and Mobutu fled to his hideout on the border with Central African Republic, dying in exile four months later.

General Donatien Mahele Lieko, who was chief of staff at the time, decided to surrender without a fight -- for which he was quickly assassinated by Mobutu's loyal presidential guards.

Known as the "leopard king", Joseph Mobutu Sese Seko ruled Zaire from 1965 until May 1997, when he was ousted by rebel chief Laurent Desire Kabila who renamed the country Democratic Republic of Congo

But history had already been written.

On May 17, ADFL forces entered Kinshasa alongside troops from Rwanda where they were welcomed by crowds hailing them as "liberators!" and shouting: "Kabila, we're waiting for you!"

At the time, Kabila enjoyed a particularly favourable international context.

As well as the backing of Rwanda and Uganda, the rebel chief also had the support of Angola and Burundi which were determined oust Mobutu at a time when the dictator's Western support had dried up following the end of the Cold War.

- 'Total disillusionment' -

But the enthusiasm over Kabila's victory was short-lived -- overtaken by the swift slide towards authoritarianism, subjugation of the opposition and the troublesome presence of Ugandan and Rwandan soldiers on the streets.

"It was total disillusionment," admits Adolphe Muzito, who served as prime minister under Joseph Kabila, the current president, from 2008 to 2012.

"The people quickly understood that Laurent-Desire Kabila had been brought to power by Rwandan tanks and that it was time to free him from these foreigners whose leading role was clear."

The rapid change in sentiment was also registered by the troops.

"Those who had welcomed us like princes suddenly became hostile, accusing us of being Rwandan," says Zimbabwe, who ended his military career in 1999 and became an electrician.

They accused us of "acting as if we were in a country we'd just conquered," recalls Armel Matabaro, another former child soldier.

Just 40 kilometres (25 miles) outside Kinshasa stands the derelict palace complex of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled what was then known as Zaire for more than three decades

"Our Rwandan commanders started looting property and mistreating people for no good reason, just like Mobutu's soldiers."

It was 14 months later when Kabila finally ordered Rwandan and Ugandan troops out of the country, triggering a violent conflict that quickly degenerated into the Second Congo War (1998-2003).

At the height of the war, which drew in at least six foreign armies and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, Kabila was assassinated by a child soldier, and in January 2001 his 29-year-old son took over as president.

He was formally elected in 2006 in the country's first free elections since independence in 1960, and has been in power ever since: His refusal to leave office after his term ended in December has sparked a new political crisis.
Models present creations by Jihan Filat during Arab Fashion Week in Dubai on May 16, 2017

Designers, buyers and influencers have descended on Dubai for Arab Fashion Week, a five-day event dedicated to ready couture and resort wear for women, men and those who refuse a label.

The show opened Tuesday night with Jordanian-Canadian sensation Rad Hourani, known for his unisex designs, Palestinian-American Jenanne Filat and her menswear lineup straight out of Arkansas, and runway darlings Marchesa.

Hourani sent his models down the catwalk in geometric, binary-transcending designs "based on style preference rather than gender," with men, women and gender non-conforming models in layers of dark boiled wool and poplin, and all in pastel slip-on shoes.

Filat, of the US-based menswear line Barakat Bespoke, meanwhile decked her all-men lineup in suits, metallic lipstick, and no shoes.

The week will also showcase designers specialising in abayas, a traditional robe-like dress that is gaining popularity among major labels as they move into regional markets. The International Dwarf Fashion Show will also host a show by American Wardrobe featuring models living with dwarfism.

- 'Design is for everyone' -

While listed as an international fashion week alongside Paris and Milan, the twice-yearly Arab Fashion Week offers exclusively see-now-buy-now collections and pre-collections -- an issue that has been met with some contention by traditional gatekeepers in the world of high fashion.

"Design is for everyone," explained Hourani, an invited member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, France's exclusive trade association for haute couture.

Hourani, the first unisex designer to join the association, was handpicked in 2010 by Vogue's Anna Wintour and the late Franca Sozzani to showcase his work in Milan. Along with Burberry, he has been a vocal champion of expanding the traditional system, and timeline, of ordering designs strictly as they appear on the runway months in advance.

A model presents a creation by Rad Hourani during Arab Fashion Week in Dubai on May 16, 2017

True to his aesthetic, his Dubai show was conceptually complex but structurally clean: square necklines, skirts layered over pants, and matte black shades in sharp contrast against uncoiffed hair and a soundtrack featuring the iconic songs of Lebanese diva Fairuz.

"I don't aim to make men feminine, or women masculine," Hourani told AFP after his show.

"It's... to infuse the two anatomies and create one pure unisex neutral pattern. I think it's important to understand what neutrality is, what unisex is about."

- 'Bold and unapologetic' -

On the other end of the spectrum is Marchesa.

The brand's trademark fairytale pre-fall collection was an instant hit with the Arab Fashion Week crowd, some of whom put on their Marchesa best for the occasion. Many were still snapping selfies on the catwalk moments after the lights dimmed and music started.

With three-dimensional floral appliques, layers of tulle, long beaded fringe and intricate embroidery in blush, blue and metallics, Marchesa's collection of gowns was met with nods and excited whispers.

Her four-year-old refusing to leave his mother backstage, Marchesa co-founder and designer Georgina Chapman made last-minute adjustments to her lineup with her son Dash on her hip.

Fashion designer Georgina Chapman, co-founder of Marchesa, waves to the audience after her show during Arab Fashion Week in the United Arab Emirate of Dubai on May 16, 2017

"We've always had a strong clientele base here and I think it's because the Middle Eastern woman, the Arab woman, appreciates fashion," Chapman told AFP.

"She's not afraid of trying something ... She's bold, and she's glamorous, and she's feminine, and she's unapologetic about that."

And it's not just the women who are bold in their sartorial choices.

Barakat Bespoke, a family business out of Little Rock, Arkansas, showcased a selection of suits, cuffed pants and cotton tees on a group of male models from around the world, and of different ages.

"This is the first time we've done anything international," said designer Filat, as her gold-lipped, braided-haired models stopped to hug her backstage.

"We have to design things a little differently for the Middle East, but it's a little more fun," she said.

"We can do things a bit more outside the box than what we do traditionally, since... we design for the (US) south, generally, which is very conservative."

And with the Muslim fashion industry booming, spending on modest wear -- which includes both traditionally feminine and gender-shunning designs -- is expected to top $480 billion annually by 2019.

Models walk down the catwalk wearing designs by Marchesa during Arab Fashion Week in the United Arab Emirate of Dubai on May 16, 2017

"There's more strictness in the Middle East, but I also see here so many women who are free, who are evolving," said Hourani.

"People understand my clothes -- women and men. It doesn't feel at all that I'm in the wrong place."
A Yemeni child, suspected of being infected with cholera, receives treatment at a hospital in Sanaa on May 15, 2017

A cholera outbreak in Yemen has killed 209 people in recent weeks with 17,200 suspected cases across the war-torn country, the United Nations children's agency said Wednesday.

UNICEF's Yemen mission said that there had been an "alarming increase" in cholera-related deaths.

The agency's Yemen spokesman Mohammed Al-Asaadi told AFP that 3,000 new suspected cholera cases a day were being reported.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Monday that 184 people had died of the disease since April 27, with 11,000 suspected cases across the country.

Cholera is a highly contagious bacterial infection spread through contaminated food or water.

UNICEF and the ICRC are part of a joint committee, also including the World Health Organization (WHO), that coordinates with health authorities and relief groups in Sanaa.

Authorities in the capital, which is controlled by Iran-backed Huthi rebels, this week declared a state of emergency over the outbreak, the second wave of cholera cases in less than a year.

Hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients.

Two years into a devastating war between the Huthis and government forces backed by a Saudi-led Arab military coalition, more than half the country's medical facilities are out of service.

Yemen's conflict has killed more than 8,000 people and wounded around 40,000, according to the WHO.

The UN has warned that two-thirds of the population is on the brink of famine.

The WHO now classifies Yemen as one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the world alongside Syria, South Sudan, Nigeria and Iraq.
Government soldiers in 2009 inspect a civil war battle zone

Men in Sri Lanka are being raped in custody nearly a decade after the civil war, when sexual assault was routinely used to torture detained Tamils, a report said Wednesday.

The rape of men and boys remains widespread but unreported, with victims unwilling to come forward due to social stigma and laws criminalising same-sex relations, the All Survivors Project said in its report.

Rape was rife during Sri Lanka's 37-year civil war, but unlike cases involving women there has been little official record or acknowledgement of men being abused by their captors.

At least 100,000 people were killed during the separatist war between government forces and rebels from the Tamil Tigers group, with atrocities recorded by both sides.

The vast majority of documented cases of male rape both during and after the war were against Tamils, the largest ethnic minority, the report from the US-based research centre said.

"While the full extent of sexual violence against men and boys is not known... sexual violence against men and boys did not stop with the end of the war in May 2009," the report stated.

"Incidents of sexual violence against men continue to be reported during arrests and detentions under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) which has yet to be repealed or reformed despite commitments to so."

The 40-page report gave graphic details of how male suspects held by police or security forces in the aftermath of the war were subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

In cases documented by rights watchdog International Truth and Justice Project, and referenced in the report, Tamil men were gang raped by Sri Lankan soldiers and subjected to other horrific sexual crimes.

Promises to address Sri Lanka's wartime past have been slow, with the government resisting calls for an internationally-backed tribunal to investigate atrocities against the island's Tamil population.

But the response to the widespread rape of men and boys has "so far been even less adequate" than for other serious human rights violations, the report said.

Sri Lankan President President Maithripala Sirisena came to power in January 2015 with strong backing from Tamils, who bore the brunt of the bloody conflict

Homosexuality is illegal in Sri Lanka, discouraging male victims from reporting abuse. Local laws also do not recognise male sexual assault and statutory rape only applies to girls under 16, not boys.

The report's authors urged Sri Lanka to include victims of male sexual violence in its much-delayed official response to war-era abuses.

Sri Lankan President President Maithripala Sirisena came to power in January 2015 with strong backing from Tamils, who bore the brunt of the bloody conflict.

The International Crisis Group this week warned Sri Lanka that its failure to address its wartime past jeopardised any hope of a lasting peace in the ethnically-divided island.
Chinese technology giant Tencent reported first quarter results which exceeded expectations, helped by robust revenues from its hit mobile games

Chinese technology giant Tencent on Wednesday reported first quarter results which exceeded expectations, helped by robust revenues from its hit mobile games.

Its overall revenue jumped 55 percent to 49.55 billion yuan year-on-year, while net profit was up 58 percent at 14.48 billion yuan. Analysts polled by Bloomberg News expected 46.4 billion yuan in revenue and 13 billion yuan in net profit.

Revenue from its smartphone games achieved 12.9 billion yuan ($1.88 billion) alone in the first quarter, a 57 percent year-on-year growth.

Analysts said the results were helped by Tencent's fantasy role-playing hit title Honour of Kings.

"Tencents mobile gaming business was the main contributor, especially Honour of Kings, which is probably generating two to three billion yuan of revenue a month," RHB Research Institute analyst Li Yujie told Bloomberg.

Tencent also operates China's biggest messaging service WeChat through which a variety of businesses including gaming, advertising and social networking have flourished in recent years.

Monthly active users for WeChat reached 938 million for the quarter, a year-on-year growth of 23 percent.

However, the company saw a setback in May after Russia blocked its WeChat messaging app.

Russia's telecoms watchdog said the messaging service "did not provide its contact information for the register of information distribution organisations".

A law passed in 2014 requires foreign messaging services, search engines and social networking sites to store the personal data of Russian users inside Russia.

Sites that breach the law are added to a blacklist and internet providers are obliged to block access.

Tencent became China's most valuable firm in September, beating state-owned telecom behemoth China Mobile and nearly reaching half of Apple's valuation.

In March, it bought a five percent stake worth US$1.8 billion in the Tesla electric car company.
Protests have been held in the occupied West Bank and Gaza in support of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike

Hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails entered the second month of a hunger strike on Wednesday.

Led by Palestinian leader and prominent prisoner Marwan Barghouti, around 840 Palestinians are currently on the hunger strike which began April 17, according to the Israeli Prisons Service.

Palestinian officials have put the number at more than 1,000, with protests in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in support of them.

AFP spoke to Zeratzion Hishal from the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), one of the few foreigners granted access to the striking prisoners as part of the organisation's monitoring of conditions in Israeli jails.

The Eritrean-Dutch doctor has visited a number of previous strikers and explained what happens physiologically to people consuming only water and some salt.

His version was verified to AFP by another doctor specialised in the topic.

- What happens to the body? -

Strikers only actually feel intense hunger for two to three days, Hishal said.

During those days, the body desperately searches for food, leading to sharp stomach pains.

"But after three days there is no food coming in. The stomach says there is no food and the brain accepts it," he explained to AFP.

"Most of the time (the stomach pain) would go because it is expecting nothing."

Instead of searching for new food, the body begins eating reserves of fat inside itself.

After more than a month, having consumed all fat reserves, the body starts eating its own proteins -- meaning muscle and later even organs.

The body tries to spare the brain, liver, kidney and heart.

"On a hunger strike, you eat yourself," Hishal said.

- How do their conditions evolve? -

In the first two weeks, hormonal changes can make strikers strangely serene, even happy, Hishal said.

"Usually the people are euphoric, happy, because of the hormonal changes -- when you talk to them they are in good spirits.

"They don't feel a lot of pain. That comes later."

After two weeks, strikers start to experience dizziness, joint pain across the body and headaches.

Their hormonal imbalances shift again and they become quieter and sullen.

In the third or fourth week, strikers typically vomit uncontrollably several times a day for three to four days, due in large part to their body's natural balance deteriorating.

"Every time they drink they can vomit.

"They are tired and they become apathetic. They want to sleep and they don't want to talk much," he explained. "You see some depression."

- Do they sleep a lot? -

Sleep is actually rare -- often only a couple of hours per night as strikers continue.

"The whole day they are lying on their beds. If you are lying then the brain says you have been sleeping and during the night they sleep two, three, four hours."

The intense joint pain involved in even tiny movements also makes it harder to sleep, he added.

"The sleep doesn't come," he explained. "Every day they sleep less."

- When should strikers be hospitalised? -

After losing 10 percent of their body weight, which comes any time from three weeks in, strikers need to have regular medical checkups, Hishal said.

But it is around 30 days, the point at which the Palestinians are currently, that the risks increase significantly.

Around this point strikers have often lost between 18 and 20 percent of their body weight, meaning they should be hospitalised.

This could present Israel with a logistical challenge of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in their hospitals.

Israeli law permits force-feeding of strikers whose lives are in danger, though the country's medical bodies have rejected it.

- When do you die? -

After around 50 days the risks become acute.

Strikers feel intense dizziness, suffer from uncontrolled eye movement and their heartbeats can slow.

Urine can be deep brown, or in some cases stop altogether -- indicating potential kidney failure.

Strikers will typically have lost around 30 percent of their body weight. Muscle erosion is so acute they can no longer support their skeletons, making standing impossible.

"From then on we expect serious complications such as organ failure and even death," Hishal explained.

Death is usually the result of cardiac arrest, but the exact timing is impossible to predict.

Ten Irish Republican hunger strikers, led by Bobby Sands, starved themselves to death in British jails in 1981, with their deaths ranging from 46 to 73 days.

"Bobby Sands' (group) shows how different our bodies are physiologically," Hishal said.

"But as the days increase the serious complications increase exponentially and death is expected at some point."
Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church is a powerful reactionary figure in the country's toxic political scene, which has welded a tale of thwarted imperial destiny to a thin-skinned fundamentalist theology that can't bear the slightest sign of mockery; he's blamed ISIS on secularism and Pride parades and says that marriage equality literally heralds the imminent apocalypse.

So there's a lot of context behind this photo of Kirill spraying holy water on sensitive Russian government computer systems to fight the Wcry ransomware worm (coating computers with holy liquids is an Orthodox thing, sometimes necessitating the use of paint-rollers to reach out-of-way machines) (to be fair, there's also Donald Trump's bizarre fantasies about using pig-blood-dipped bullets to execute his religious enemies).





As Hemant Mehta at the Friendly Atheist points out, the real nexus of this photo is the government official with the "you've got to be kidding me" expression, who exists in a power-structure that requires solemn professions of belief in this powerful weirdo's dumb rituals (including, but not limited to, spraying electronic devices with water, and not because a computer that has been rendered inoperable due to electrical faults is incidentally and thoroughly immune to malware). It bears an eerie similarity to the unguarded facial expressions of Vice President Michael Pence as he does his daily impression of a dashboard bobble-head, nodding convulsively as Trump says things that everyone in the room knows to be horribly wrong, uninformed, and dangerous.

Russian Orthodox Leader Sprays Holy Water on Government Computers to Stop WannaCry Attack

[Hemant Mehta/Friendly Atheist]
Iranian President and candidate in Friday's election Hassan Rouhani addresses a campaign rally in the northwestern city of Ardabil on May 17, 2017

Iran's top two presidential candidates launched a final day of election campaigning Wednesday as the supreme leader called for a massive turnout to bolster the regime against its "enemies".

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested Iran's foes would be deterred from pursuing regime change if they saw voters flock to the ballot boxes in Friday's poll.

"American, European officials and those of the Zionist regime are watching our elections to see the level of participation," he said in quotes carried on his Telegram messenger account.

"The Iranian nation has enemies. Faced with the enemy, the people should show its determination and calm," he said.

Turnout is all-important to the Iranian regime, which uses regular elections to demonstrate the legitimacy of its Islamic system.

But on the campaign trail, two starkly different visions of how that system will evolve have been on display.

President Hassan Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric, defended his international outreach, which included a nuclear deal with world powers that ended many sanctions in exchange for curbs to Iran's atomic programme.

Rouhani told his hardline opponents they were not equipped to continue his diplomatic efforts.

"You say you want to negotiate with the world, but you don't know how to speak the global language. You don't even know how to speak the language of your own people," he said at a rally in the northern town of Ardebil.

Supporters of Rouhani's main rival Ebrahim Raisi attend a campaign rally in Tehran on April 29, 2017

His hardline opponent, 56-year-old cleric Ebrahim Raisi, has vowed to stick by the nuclear deal, but said the government had made too many concessions to the West and failed to "cash the cheque" offered by the accord.

"A diplomacy of supplication will not solve our problems. We need a diplomacy of strength," he told supporters in Tehran, according to ISNA news agency.

Raisi said Iran's continued exclusion from international banking, despite the nuclear deal, was proof that Rouhani's diplomacy had failed.

"Some people say that if we're elected, the sanctions will return," said Raisi.

"But in what measure have the sanctions been lifted? The banking sanctions that were the most important are still in place."

Campaigning will draw to a close on Thursday morning, 24 hours before polls open.

Rouhani is still seen as the front-runner, though polling is unreliable in Iran.

Early election results are expected on Saturday.

The conservative-dominated Guardian Council selected six candidates to stand in the election but two have dropped out, effectively creating a two-horse race between Raisi and Rouhani.

Conservative Mostafa Mirsalim and reformist Mostafa Hashemitaba are still in the race, though they are not expected to win more than a few percent of the vote.
Angola's President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has been out of the country for three weeks, triggering worries over his health

Angola's opposition called Wednesday for official clarification on the health of veteran President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, 74, who has been out of the country for nearly three weeks.

Dos Santos's influential daughter Isabel this week moved to deny rumours the president had died in Spain, where he was confirmed to have travelled by state media on May 2.

"We are all concerned about the lack of official information on the health of the president," Rafael Savimbi, a senior figure in UNITA, the main opposition party, told AFP.

Agostinho dos Santos, a political analyst close to the opposition, said "serious and clear explanations" were needed after reports of the president's health troubles and rumours of his death.

Opposition news website Maka Angola said that the president was "between life and death in a private clinic in Barcelona."

President dos Santos has been in power since 1979 and has announced that he will not contest elections due in August, marking a historic change in the oil-rich country.

Isabel dos Santos, a billionaire businesswoman, this week criticised rumours about her father's health.

"Someone has gone so low as to invent information about the death of a man in order to create confusion and turmoil in Angolan politics," she said on her Instagram account.

The president oversaw the end of the country's civil war in 2002, but has been regularly accused of crushing dissent and allowing his family and associates to enrich themselves as most Angolans endure extreme poverty.

Joao Lourenco, the current defence minister, has emerged as Dos Santos' chosen successor and is on course to take power after the elections.

The MPLA party has ruled since independence from Portugal in 1975, and authorities suppress opposition activity.

"We must remain calm and not disseminate irresponsible information," Bento Kangamba dos Santos, a senior member of the MPLA, told local media.

Dos Santos has reportedly received cancer treatment in Barcelona over several years.

Late last year the MPLA issued a statement denying reports that he was ill and criticising social media messages.

The president has been rarely seen in public but exercises authority over all branches of government, politics, media and business.
Transgender army private Chelsea Manning, jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, has been freed

Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, was released from prison Wednesday, a US Army spokeswoman said.

Manning "has been released from the United States Disciplinary Barracks" at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a brief statement.

In July 2010, Manning -- then a male soldier known as Bradley -- was arrested over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks.

Manning, now 29, was serving a 35-year sentence for the leak but president Barack Obama commuted her sentence before leaving office and she was released after seven years in prison.

Manning attempted suicide twice last year alone and went on a hunger strike to denounce disciplinary measures to which she was subjected, including stints in solitary confinement.

"Two more days until the freedom of civilian life," Manning tweeted Monday. "Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans."
The Google Home smart home hub, shown here at a New York pop-up store in 2016, will communicate with GE Appliances under a deal announced Wednesday

GE Appliances announced a deal with Google Wednesday enabling the US tech giant's voice control home hub to be used for cooking, cleaning and other functions.

The deal enables GE's "Geneva" to communicate with the Google Assistant, so users can say: "Ok Google, ask Geneva Home to set the oven timer for 10 minutes."

The announcement comes nearly a year after GE Appliances unveiled a similar tie-up with Amazon's Alexa-powered speakers.

It also comes as Google was expected to unveil more partnerships and initiatives in artificial intelligence at its developers conference in California.

"Everyone's busy these days and our consumers are looking for simpler and more convenient ways to control their home, especially when busy in the kitchen or working around the house," said Liz VerSchure, vice president at GE Appliances, a unit of the Chinese electronics group Haier.

"Integrating our full suite of connected appliances with the Google Assistant makes it easier for owners to control their appliances and get on with their day."

Consumers will be able to use voice commands to preheat their own meals, or check if laundry or dishes are cleaned with connected GE appliances, the companies said.

Google and its parent company Alphabet have been seeking to diversify beyond internet search to new kinds of services, many focused on artificial intelligence which powers its Google Home hub and other devices.
The US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State group in Syria since 2014

The US-led coalition against the Islamic State group said Wednesday it did not conduct strikes in the eastern Syrian town of Albu Kamal this week that reportedly killed dozens of civilians.

But it said it was assessing reports of civilian casualties in a strike it launched in Syria's Raqa province.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor says May 15 coalition air strikes on Albu Kamal in Deir Ezzor province killed 62 people, including 42 civilians.

The Britain-based monitor had previously said 30 people were killed in the strikes, but subsequently revised the toll upwards.

It said the dead in the town on the Syria-Iraq border included 11 children and 20 IS fighters.

In a statement to AFP, the US-led coalition said its only strikes in the area on May 14 and 15 were carried out outside Albu Kamal.

"The open-source reports of civilian casualties referred to locations inside the city itself, where we did not conduct strikes during the time period of alleged civilian casualties," the coalition said.

"There were other non-Coalition nations conducting strikes in Abu Kamal on the 14th and morning of the 15th though," the statement added, without specifying which countries it was referring to.

Both Syria's government and its Russian ally have carried out strikes against IS in Deir Ezzor, and in February, Iraq's air force carried out strikes against IS fighters in the province for the first time, including on Albu Kamal.

The coalition added that it had carried out strikes on the village of Al-Akeryshi in Raqa province on May 14 and had "forwarded the allegations of civilian casualties to our team for assessment".

The Observatory says those strikes killed 14 people, including 12 women who were farmworkers travelling home in a convoy from the fields.

The US military said in May that coalition strikes in Syria and Iraq had "unintentionally" killed 352 civilians since it launched operations against IS in 2014.

But rights groups say the true number is significantly higher.
Pakistani officials claim Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav has confessed to spying for Indian intelligence services but India denies the allegations

The UN's top court will rule Thursday on an urgent bid by India to stop Pakistan from carrying out a death sentence on one of its nationals convicted of spying.

In an emergency hearing swiftly organised on Monday, lawyers for New Delhi had urged the International Court of Justice to halt the execution of Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav.

Jadhav was arrested in the southwestern province of Balochistan last year and Pakistani officials claim he has confessed to spying for Indian intelligence services. He was convicted by a court martial and sentenced to death.

The UN tribunal, based in The Hague, said in a statement it "will deliver its order on the request for the indication of provisional measures made by India in the Jadhav Case (India v. Pakistan), tomorrow on Thursday 18 May 2017".

The president of the court, Ronny Abraham, will read out the decision at midday (1000 GMT).

The case -- a rare foray for the two nations into the international courts -- has highlighted the recent sharp uptick in tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

India has denied Jadhav was a spy, and on Monday accused Pakistan of "egregious violations of the Vienna convention" by denying him access to legal counsel and consular visits, and refusing to reveal the charge sheet against him.

Jadhav was "an innocent Indian national, who, incarcerated in Pakistan for more than a year on concocted charges ... has been held incommunicado... and faces imminent execution," Indian lawyer Deepak Mittal told the tribunal Monday.

But Pakistani representatives accused New Delhi of "political grandstanding" and told the court Jadhav "has confessed to having been sent by India to wage terror on the innocent civilians and infrastructure of Pakistan".
The Saudi-led coalition, which intervened on the side of the Hadi government two years ago, has come under repeated criticism over civilian casualties in Yemen

A suspected raid by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen killed more than 20 civilians Wednesday, the latest in a spate of deadly strikes by the alliance that have drawn condemnation.

Saba news agency, which is controlled by the Iran-backed rebels, said a vehicle carrying civilians in the town of Mawzaa, southwest of third city Taez, was hit in the raid.

It said 23 civilians, including six children and women, were killed in a suspected raid by the Arab coalition led by regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia and that six bodies were burned beyond recognition.

A military source with loyalist forces confirmed the strike, saying 20 civilians had died in what appeared to have been the result of a "mistake".

The air raid targeted an area held by the Huthi rebels, said the source who confirmed that a vehicle had been struck.

The passengers were heading back to Mawzaa after a shopping trip to the nearby town of Barah, the military source said, adding several bodies had been torn to pieces.

There was no immediate reaction from the Saudi-led coalition, which has been battling the Huthis opposed to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The raid comes days before US President Donald Trump is to arrive Saturday in Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

Washington provides intelligence as well as aerial refuelling to coalition warplanes conducting air strikes in Yemen with American-supplied weapons.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis warned during an April visit to Saudi Arabia of Iranian efforts to create a Yemeni militia "in the image" of Lebanon's powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah.

Mattis stressed the need to overcome Iran's efforts "in destabilising yet another country and create another militia in the image" of Lebanon's Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside government forces in Syria.

He said it was in Washington's "interest to see a strong Saudi Arabia", adding however that the United States wanted a return as "quickly as possible" to UN-backed Yemen peace talks.

- Repeated criticism -

The conflict in Yemen has killed more than 8,000 people and wounded around 40,000, according to the UN's World Health Organization.

Seven ceasefires alongside UN-brokered peace efforts have so far failed to stop the fighting.

The Saudi-led coalition, which intervened on the side of the Hadi government two years ago, has come under repeated criticism over civilian casualties in Yemen.

It has acknowledged responsibility in some cases, including for an air strike in October 2016 that killed 140 people and wounded 525 others at a funeral in Sanaa.

But the coalition denied responsibility for a September 2015 air strike that hit a wedding hall in southwestern Mokha, killing 131 people.

Coalition planes have dropped banned cluster munitions and killed two times more civilians than other forces, according to the UN.

Trump's Yemen focus has so far been on a major escalation of attacks against jihadists from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, which has taken advantage of the chaos in the impoverished country.

Saudi leaders worry about Iran interfering in Arab countries by using local Shiite communities, as in Bahrain, Lebanon and Yemen.

They have found a more favourable ear in Washington under Trump, who has denounced Iran's "harmful influence" in the Middle East.

The coalition mounted its air campaign in support of Hadi in March 2015, a year after the rebels overran Sanaa forcing the president to seek first refuge in the southern city of Aden and then exile in Saudi Arabia.
US Speaker of the House Paul Ryan speaks at the headquarters of Republican National Committee on May 17, 2017

House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday warned against "rushing to judgment" over embattled President Donald Trump, stressing that US lawmakers need to establish the facts before considering next steps.

Ryan, the top Republican in Congress, said that while he has confidence in Trump, he wants members to dutifully exercise their role as congressional investigators.

"We need the facts," Ryan told reporters after Republicans huddled on Capitol Hill following explosive reports that Trump shared intelligence secrets with Russian officials, and that he pressured the director of the FBI to drop an ongoing investigation.

"It is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president. But we have an obligation to carry out our oversight regardless of which party is in the White House," Ryan added.

"And that means, before rushing to judgment, we get all the pertinent information."

Citing unnamed sources, The Washington Post reported that Trump had shared highly classified intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov regarding an Islamic State group terror threat.

The New York Times reported that before firing FBI chief James Comey, Trump asked him to drop an investigation into his national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Democrats have seized on the reports to bolster their claims that Trump is unfit to serve in the Oval Office.

Ryan declined to wade into whether Trump obstructed justice -- a crime under US law.

"We can't deal with speculation and innuendo, and there's clearly politics being played. Our job is to get the facts and be sober about doing that," he said.

Several Republicans took a similar approach Wednesday, but others called for Comey to testify and to produce the memo he reportedly wrote detailing his discussion with Trump about the Flynn investigation.

"I hope director Comey will come before Congress, under oath," House Republican Tom Cole said of Comey. "If he's got a charge to make, he needs to make it."
An unmarried couple were stoned to death in public in northeast Mali by Islamists, local officials told AFP on Wednesday, the first such incident since jihadist groups overran the region five years ago.

Jihadists seized key northern cities in Mali in March 2012, and though they were driven out by a French-led military intervention, Islamist groups continue to make their presence felt with frequent attacks on domestic and foreign forces.

"The Islamists dug two holes where they put the man and the woman who lived maritally without being married," said a local official. "They were stoned to death."

The Tuesday stoning happened in Taghlit, close to Aguelhok in the Kidal region, and the same source told AFP that members of the public were invited to take part.

"Four people threw stones at them until they died," they said.

Another local official said the Islamists had accused the unmarried couple of violating "Islamic law", which requires punishment by stoning.

During their brief control of key towns in the vast north, jihadist groups imposed a version of Sharia law which forced women to wear veils and set whipping and stoning as punishment for transgressions.

In July 2012, the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine group stoned a couple in public in Aguelhok who they accused of having children outside marriage.

The Malian Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AMDH) described Tuesday's stoning as "cowardly murder".

"This is barbaric. The people who did this should be arrested and put on trial," said Oumar Diakite, an AMDH official.

The stoning comes on the eve of an expected visit to Mali by French President Emmanuel Macron, who is due to meet French troops stationed there on Thursday or Friday.

A UN mission known by its acronym MINUSMA has also been stationed in the west African country since 2013 and is considered the world body's most dangerous active peacekeeping deployment.
President Donald Trump delivered a commencement address Wednesday to graduating cadets at the US Coast Guard Academy

Donald Trump gave vent to frustrations over his mounting political problems Wednesday, declaring that no president in US history had been treated "more unfairly."

During a commencement address at the US Coast Guard Academy, Trump urged graduating cadets to follow his example and "fight, fight, fight. Never, ever, give up. Things will work out just fine."

"Look at the way I've been treated lately. Especially by the media. No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly. You can't let them get you down," he said.

The outburst came amid intensifying pressure on the president in the wake of his firing of James Comey as director of the FBI last week, in the midst of a probe into whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russian attempts to tilt the US election in his favor.

The Senate Intelligence Commitee announced Wednesday that they have asked Comey to testify.

The New York Times, citing sources close to Comey, reported on Tuesday that Trump asked the FBI director in an Oval Office meeting to drop its probe of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

A day earlier, the Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, reported that Trump had shared highly classified intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov regarding an Islamic State group terror threat.
Vladimir Putin, president of the Russian Federation, can vouch for Donald Trump's claim that no significant intelligence information was leaked to his foreign minister. This is because he has his own transcript of their meeting, of course, which he's happy to provide to America.





"If the US administration finds it necessary, we are ready to provide the record of the conversation between Trump and Lavrov to the Senate and Congress," Putin said.

The intervention by Putin could turn up the pressure on the White House to provide its own transcript of the meeting. The Senate intelligence committee has already demanded a briefing on what was said at the meeting from members of the Trump administration who were present.

The episode is the latest woe for Trump, whose administration is engulfed in a series of scandals linked to Russia. His meeting with Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak came a day after Trump fired FBI director James Comey, the man leading an investigation into contentious links between members of the President's campaign team and Russia.
Pro-Erdogan supporters wave Turkish flags at anti-government protesters in front of the White House in Washington, DC on May 16, 2017

The city of Washington on Wednesday condemned a "brutal attack on peaceful protesters" after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's bodyguards clashed with pro-Kurdish demonstrators.

Two people were arrested and 11 were injured, including a police officer, amid demonstrations Tuesday as Erdogan held meetings in the US capital after visiting President Donald Trump.

Witnesses told AFP that members of Erdogan's security detail pushed past Washington police outside the ambassador's residence and attacked a group of supporters of a Kurdish group.

Video footage uploaded to social media shows a group of men in suits punching and kicking the protesters, including a prone woman, as police struggle to contain the clash.

"Yesterday afternoon we witnessed what appeared to be a brutal attack on peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassador's residence," a police spokesman said.

"The actions seen outside the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC stand in contract to the First Amendment rights and principles we work tirelessly to protect every single day," a police statement said.

The First Amendment to the US Constitution protects the right of free expression.

The Metropolitan Police Department said it had arrested two people for assault and identified them as US residents, 49-year-old Ayten Necmi of New York and 42-year-old Jalal Kheirabadi of Virginia.

Social media posts by the two suspects suggest that Necmi is a supporter of Erdogan who came to Washington to celebrate his visit whereas Kheirabadi is a supporter of Kurdish causes.

But the police said they are also working with the US State Department and Secret Service "to identify and hold all suspects" -- suggesting that they are seeking to interview Erdogan's security detail.

The State Department did not immediately respond to an AFP inquiry about the incident and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ignored a question about it at a media photo opportunity.

The incident was very similar to another in Washington last year when Erdogan's guards roughed up Kurdish protesters outside the Brookings Institution think tank just before the president arrived to speak.
The Saydnaya prison, one of Syria's largest detention centres, located 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Damascus

Standing outside the UN's headquarters in Geneva, Amina Kholani chokes back tears as she relives the nightmare of visiting relatives in Saydnaya, one of Syria's most notorious prisons.

The infamous centre was back in the spotlight this week after US claims that Damascus built a crematorium there to cover up thousands of prisoner deaths.

The charges, based on satellite imagery released by the US State Department, have cast a shadow over peace talks hosted by the United Nations in Geneva.

Relatives of detainees in Saydnaya and other government prisons protested outside the UN headquarters on Wednesday, demanding that the negotiations prioritise prisoner releases.

Holding portraits of detained friends and relatives, they tearfully scribbled their names on two long strips of paper in brightly-coloured markers.

"Those on the outside think a Syrian detainee is just living in a locked room with a bed and food -- but he's living in a coffin. He's a corpse, but he's breathing," Kholani, 42, told AFP.

The plump woman in a white headscarf is lobbying to free three relatives still held in Saydnaya, and her husband was held there for a year before Syria's uprising started in 2011.

Squinting in the sun, she described the exhausting month-long process of paying bribes and calling in favours before finally getting authorisation to visit Saydnaya.

"Even when you are inside, it's not a direct visit. There's a metal fence, and you stand on one side with a guard," she said.

Her voice broke as she described the two occasions she saw her husband during his time in prison, dragged into the visiting room by two prison guards.

"Sometimes he'd come out unable to walk from the lack of food, or from the torture and the blows," Kholani said.

- 'You just sit and cry' -

"You don't recognise him until the last minute. You don't believe that the person coming is your husband, or your son or brother," Kholani said.

Syrian jail "crematorium"

Conversations that extended beyond simple "how are yous" were immediately met with beatings, so instead, "you just stop asking. You just each sit there and cry."

Thousands of prisoners are held at the military-run complex, 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Damascus and it is one of Syria's largest detention centres.

Amnesty International has accused Syria's government of carrying out a "policy of extermination" there by repeatedly torturing detainees and withholding food, water and medical care.

In February, it said Syria's government had killed up to 13,000 people over five years in gruesome weekly hangings.

And on Monday, the US said its satellite images showed melting snow on a rooftop and heavy-duty ventilation systems attached to the military complex, apparently supporting claims by rights groups that Saydnaya is an execution center.

Syria's opposition has long called for the release of all prisoners held by the regime, a demand they made again as they met UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura in Geneva this week.

De Mistura has said a deal on detainees was "almost finalised" without giving details.

But Kholani was not very optimistic.

"We don't have a lot of hope left in politicians or statements. A prisoner is worse off than a corpse," she told AFP.

And HNC spokesman Yehya al-Aridi, who bent down to write the name of one of his own relatives outside the UN, said progress on the issue was being blocked by Russia.

"The Russians are still talking about this as a prisoner swap. How can you swap? You have between 5 and 10,000 prisoners (held by non-regime groups) compared to 80,000 detainees with the regime," he said.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, some 200,000 people have been detained by the government throughout the six-year conflict.

"Those with the regime are in living coffins -- and the definitive proof is the presence of crematoriums for the prisoners," Aridi added.
Norway`s Prime Minister Erna Solberg (R) and Foreign Minister Borge Brende attend a press conference in Oslo on May 17, 2017, after the release of Norwegian-British citizen Joshua French from a Congo prison

A British-Norwegian dual citizen who was serving a life sentence for murder and espionage in a Congolose prison was released and returned to Norway on Wednesday, authorities said.

Joshua French, 35, was sentenced to life in prison in 2013 for the murder of his cellmate and fellow Norwegian Tjostolv Moland in a Kinshasa prison, although forensic evidence concluded the cause of death was suicide.

"There's been great pressure on French and his family," Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a news conference in Oslo.

"I'm happy we've found a solution," Solberg said, adding his release was a "demanding issue" for Norway and Congo.

She said French was placed under medical supervision after he arrived.

French and Moland were former soldiers who launched a security company in Uganda after leaving the Norwegian army, public broadcaster NRK said.

A Congolese military court had initially sentenced them to death in 2009 for espionage, illegal possession of weapons, armed robbery, conspiracy and attempted murder.

Only Moland was found guilty of the murder of their driver, who they claimed was killed in an attack by gunmen in Kisangani.

NRK quoted Norwegian foreign minister Borge Brende as saying that French was transferred to Norway for "humanitarian" reasons.

French did not receive a pardon and Norway did not pay financial compensation to the Democratic Republic of Congo in exchange for his release, Brende said.
This file photo taken on April 30, 2013 shows a gay pride flag bearing the cedar tree in the middle of it during an anti-homophobia rally in Beirut

When they grabbed the microphone in Beirut this week, Lea boldly declared she preferred women to men, but Joseph recounted his terrifying ordeal being detained by security forces.

Gay Lebanese opened up about their lives at an open mic night in the capital on Monday night, a rare such public event in the country and the wider Arab region.

"I don't like men, I like women, boobs," Lea said, sparking laughter from a crowd of around 250 people.

The night came as part of Lebanon and the Arab world's first week-long festival to denounce discrimination against the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.

Organised by Beirut Pride, it provided a unique occasion for the community to speak freely in public about their lives to mark the May 17 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT).

Lebanon is considered more tolerant of sexual diversity than other countries in the region, where homosexuality can incur a death penalty.

But the Lebanese police regularly raid gay bars and other LGBT-friendly spaces.

Activists are pushing to change a penal code that allows courts to punish "unnatural" sexual relations with up to one year in prison.

And reports of Lebanese policemen carrying out so-called "anal probes" to determine whether or not a man is gay have provoked outrage in the press and on social media.

At the Monday event, participants discussed the humiliating tests, which the Lebanese Order of Physicians in 2012 prohibited doctors from performing.

Joseph, a homosexual man in his 20s, recounted how members of the intelligence services threatened to carry out the test on him.

The LGBT activist said they detained him three years ago along with several others, blindfolding them and interrogating them for six hours.

"I stood among a bunch of men, threatened of anal probe and of prison," Joseph told a silent audience.

"It felt like they were trying to break me."

- 'Leave the house' -

Coming out to parents is also difficult in the multi-confessional country, where families remain overwhelmingly conservative.

When Mahmoud tried to tell his father he was gay, he was told that in their family, men were men.

His family advised him to go to the mosque more often, and his father forced him to go and see a doctor.

"I... tried for almost a year to cope with what they wanted me to do and it was hell," he said.

In the end, Mahmoud's father told him, "If you want to stay like this, you have to leave the house."

He decided to leave, he told members of the audience, who erupted in supportive applause.

As soon as he finished, dozens of hands shot up, their owners eager to also share their stories.

Ghida, a young lesbian, said she remembered how her devout mother cried when she broke the news, saying she didn't want her daughter to go to hell.

"It breaks my heart because she genuinely believes that," Ghida said.

Lebanon's religious authorities, Muslim and Christian, also have huge sway in private matters.

A weekend seminar in Beirut to promote LGBT rights was cancelled after a "last warning" from religious figures.

But organisers of Monday's open mic night were positive.

"The authorities weren't opposed to our initiative. That's huge," said Beirut Pride founder Hadi Damien.

Sinine, a participant who spoke of how she shocked a professor by kissing her girlfriend on campus, said the event was "amazing".

"This is the first time in Beirut that we have a platform to do this," she said.

"The more we speak up... the more all Beirut will listen and eventually Lebanon."
Syrian refugee boys gesture to the camera during the inauguration ceremony of a new solar power plant at the Azraq camp for Syrian refugees in northern Jordan on May 17, 2017

Before solar power came to the Jordan desert camp she now calls home, life was tough for Syrian refugee Racha Hadar and her eight children.

"Imagine life in this desert without a fan or cold water," she says, as the temperature outside her makeshift home hits 40 degrees Celsius (more than 100 Fahrenheit).

But today she watches television surrounded by her children, aged from three to 14 years old, under a large spinning ceiling fan.

"Things have changed. There are no more power cuts. We can drink fresh water," says Hadar, who fled war-torn Syria's Homs to arrive in the camp 18 months ago.

"Our life is better," she says, after a solar plant started operating at the camp in northern Jordan.

Temperatures in the Azraq camp, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of the capital Amman, can soar to 50 degrees Celsius in summer and drop below freezing in winter.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Wednesday officially launched the $9-million solar plant at the camp that was funded by the Ikea Foundation.

The plant, which has a capacity of two megawatts, is first to provide around 20,000 of the camp's 35,000 residents with power for the first time in two and a half years.

It will provide electricity to "refugees living in two villages in the camp allowing them to light up their homes, connect fridges and TVs and maintain contact with their friends and families through charging their phones," says Stephano Severe, UNHCR representative to Jordan.

Electricity is then to reach the camp's remaining 15,000 residents at a later date, when its capacity reaches five megawatts.

- 'A different life' -

"The importance of electricity goes well beyond mere comfort. It impacts health, security, education," Severe says.

Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees at UNHCR, Kelly Clements, delivers a speech during the inauguration ceremony of a new solar power plant at the Azraq camp for Syrian refugees in northern Jordan on May 17, 2017

UNHCR deputy high commissioner Kelly Clements says Azraq was "the world's first refugees camp powered by renewable energy".

"We know that this will significantly reduce the cost of running this camp and we will be able to reinvest it in other ways in order to support refugees," she says.

Syria's war has killed more than 320,000 people since it started in 2011, and displaced more than half the country's population.

UNHCR says it has registered some 630,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan since war broke out in the neighbouring country, but Amman says the figure is more than one million.

Before the advent of solar power, cooking, cleaning, studying and even walking home safely after dark had become difficult for people in Azraq camp, which opened in 2014.

But since January 2017, parts of the camp have seen an almost uninterrupted and free supply of electricity, which should allow its management to save $1.5 million in running costs.

In the camp's central market, Amer Akla, a 32-year-old from Syria's Daraa, is delighted he now has power to cool the ice creams and fresh fruit juices in his shop.

Since he fled in 2013, "it's the first time we have something resembling normal life -- even if we're still refugees," he says, serving a small girl an ice cream.

Farida, a woman in her 30s and a member of a family of 10 from Syria's Hama, is equally as happy for her grocery store.

"It used to be almost impossible to refrigerate anything. We'd buy ice blocks so produce stayed fresh," she says, the sound of fridges buzzing behind her.

"Now we have fridges that work, a fan, a television -- a different life," she says.
Google chief executive Sundar Pichai delivers the keynote address at the 2017 Google I/O Conference, where he stressed the importance of artificial intelligence

Google announced Wednesday it was bringing its digital assistant to Apple iPhones as part of its effort to win the battle with tech rivals on artificial intelligence.

At its annual developers conference at an outdoor concert-venue near its main campus in Mountain View, California, Google unveiled its vision for computing centered around artificial intelligence.

"We are now witnessing a new shift in computing: the move from a mobile-first to an AI-first world," Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said during an opening presentation.

"It is forcing us to reimagine our products for a world that allows a more natural, seamless way of interacting with technology."

Those interactions, for Google, include using artificial intelligence to let people engage computers conversationally, have software anticipate needs, and let smartphone cameras "recognize" what they see.

"In an AI-first world, we are rethinking all of our products and applying machine learning to solve problems," Pichai said.

Google Assistant, the center of its AI efforts, is in a fierce battle with rivals such as Amazon's Alexa, Microsoft Cortana and Apple's Siri to be the top choice for use in smartphones as well as connected homes, cars and a range of other devices.

"Siri's got company, and all these other guys are pretty serious about it," said Gartner analyst Brian Blau.

Artificial intelligence is being woven into Google's free Gmail service, used by more than a billion people, for features such as suggesting responses to messages.

For example, opening an email containing an invitation to dinner might trigger a prompt to reply "I'm in."

- Smartphones get eyes -

Google machine vision capabilities are being used to enable services such as recognizing who is in pictures and what they are doing as well as translate languages in signs viewed through smartphone cameras, demonstrations showed.

Advanced "Lens" features are being added first to the Google Photo application, which is available free.

Aiming a smartphone camera at a flower will prompt it to be identified; while aiming it at a complex password and hotspot name on a router will let it automatically log into the wireless connection.

Google also unveiled a second-generation computer chip it designed specifically to improve cloud computing capabilities in data centers.

"We want Google Cloud to be the best cloud for machine learning," Pichai said.

He described the internet giant's core search service and its Google Assistant as the company's most important AI products.

Google Assistant, introduced last year, is now on more than 100 million devices, according to the team's vice president of engineering, Scott Huffman.

"We are really starting to crack the hard computer challenge of conversationality," Huffman said.

"Soon, with Google Lens, your assistant will be able to have a conversation about what you see."

Google used the conference to announce a software kit that will let developers build Assistant capabilities into robots, applications, and other computerized creations.

Google also announced enhancements to its Home personal assistant, adding abilities such as hands free telephone calls and acting as speakers for wireless audio.

- Android gets lean -

Developers cheered when talk turned to Google-backed mobile operating system Android.

Google announced that more than two billion devices powered by Android software are used monthly in a freshly passed milestone.

The coming version of Android, referred to simply as "O" for the time being, will also have boosted artificial intelligence features along with enhanced security, executives showed.

Google is also crafting a lighter version of Android, referred to as "Go," designed for maximum performance on low-cost, entry-level smartphones in developing countries where internet bandwidth is lean or expensive.

Google said that while it is happy with the momentum of its Daydream virtual reality platform based on using smartphone as screens in headsets, it is working with partners on stand-alone virtual reality gear.

Partners in the endeavor include Vive-maker HTC and Lenovo, according to Google virtual reality team vice president Clay Bavor.

The gathering, which attracted some 7,000 developers on site and had thousands more watching online, focused on software with little mention of hardware, noted analyst Blau.

"There is a continuing trend where devices are becoming devalued and what is on the screen is becoming more valuable," Blau said.

"With AI, all the apps are getting upgraded so they don't need new hardware."
MS-13 is believed to have more than 10,000 members operating in at least 10 US states

Twenty-one alleged members of a notorious Los Angeles-based gang associated with Mexican organized crime groups have been arrested as part of a sweeping probe, authorities said Wednesday.

The suspects arrested overnight are all linked to Mara Salvatrucha, a street gang commonly known as MS-13 and considered one of the most ruthless and dangerous in the country.

An additional 23 suspects named in a federal indictment were already in custody.

"This gang is responsible for murders - both of rival gangsters and innocent bystanders - as well as drug dealing and extortion in many communities in the Los Angeles area," acting US attorney Sandra Brown said.

"With thousands of members here ... the gang's power is widespread - power which it maintains with severe acts of violence."

The gang was formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s by immigrants fleeing the civil war in El Salvador.

Authorities say Mara Salvatrucha distinguished itself by its brutality and in the mid-1990s became associated with Mexican organized crime organizations while extending its reach across the country.

The group is believed to have more than 10,000 members operating in at least 10 US states. Thousands more are active in Central America and Mexico.

Those named in the 127-page indictment, which capped a nearly three-year probe, include the former head of the entire gang in Los Angeles and a dozen other senior leaders.

The defendants face charges including murder, racketeering, drug trafficking and extortion.

"This gang uses coercion and intimidation while inflicting horrific violence in the neighborhoods where they operate," said Eric Harden, an agent with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Los Angeles.

"Today is a great win for justice and a heavy message to the community. Law enforcement will combine their resources and all our areas of expertise to cripple these organizations. We will win, they will lose," he added.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke, Jr. is known for his hard line on crime and promotion of gun rights, which has made him popular with Republicans

David Clarke, the cowboy hat-wearing black sheriff who gained fame for his support of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, said Wednesday that he will join the administration as an assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security.

Clarke told media in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he is county sheriff that he will work in the Office of Partnership and Engagement, which liaises with state and local law enforcement.

The Department of Homeland Security would not confirm the appointment, saying that only the secretary makes such announcements and none had been made.

In the election last year when African-Americans largely opposed Trump, Clarke, who sometimes parades down the street on horseback, courted strong criticism from fellow blacks nationally for his support for the Republican.

But he has won local elections for sheriff with solid report from Milwaukee's black community.

He is known for his hard line on crime and promotion of gun rights, which has made him popular with Republicans.

But he recently came under criticism after a prisoner died from dehydration in his Milwaukee jail.

On May 1 a jury recommended that seven jail employees be charged in the April 2016 death of Terrill Thomas, 38, who was deprived of water for a week as punishment.

Local media reported Clarke was outraged when a coroner ruled the death a homicide.

Thomas was one of four people who reportedly died in the jail last year.
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley during an United Nations Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 17, 2017

US Ambassador Nikki Haley will make her first trip overseas this week as Washington's envoy to the United Nations, traveling to Jordan and Turkey to focus on the plight of Syrian refugees.

Haley will meet with government officials and representatives of non-governmental organizations and UN agencies during the visit from May 19 to 25.

The US administration sparked a global uproar earlier this year when President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending the US resettlement program for refugees from Syria.

That order, which also banned entry for citizens from six Muslim countries, was blocked in US courts.

Haley said her trip to two of the hardest-hit countries by the Syria refugee crisis would show that the United States should not be accused of "heartlessness" when it comes to refugees.

"No country has invested more in protecting, housing, feeding and caring for Syrian refugees than the US," Haley wrote in an op-ed published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal.

The United States has provided nearly $6.5 billion in aid for Syria since 2011, she said, adding that the US administration will continue to support countries on the front line of the refugee crisis.

Turkey hosts nearly three million Syrians -- out of the more than five million who have fled the war over the past six years.

In Jordan, some 657,000 Syrian refugees are registered with the UN, but the government says the true figure is 1.3 million.

A former governor for the state of South Carolina, Haley began work Trump's ambassador to the United Nations in late January.

Her first visit to the field comes as UN agencies are worried about proposed US funding cuts that could cripple the world body's humanitarian work.
LONDON (AP) - Britain's main opposition Labour Party appealed to voters Tuesday with promises to increase the minimum wage, boost spending on health, education and infrastructure, nationalize key industries - and pay for it all by raising taxes on high earners.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the party has a "radical and responsible" program "for the many, not the few."

Labour's manifesto for Britain's June 8 election was greeted by both supporters and opponents as a return to the party's democratic socialist roots after the business-friendly "New Labour" years under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at the launch the Labour Party's General Election manifesto in Bradford, England, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. The British electorate go to the polls on June 8, in a general election. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

Labour has been in opposition since 2010, and has been wracked by feuding between centrists and left-wingers since the veteran socialist Corbyn was unexpectedly elected leader in 2015.

The party's election platform includes promises to increase the minimum wage to 10 pounds ($12.89) an hour by 2020 from the current 7.50 pounds, nationalize railways, energy companies and the postal service, scrap university tuition fees and pump billions more into the National Health Service.

Corbyn said a Labour government would pay for increased spending by "asking the better-off and the big corporations to pay a little bit more." The party would increase corporation tax, introduce a financial transactions levy and raise income tax for the top 5 percent of earners, adding a new top rate of 50 percent for people earning 123,000 pounds a year or more.

Corbyn and his allies hope the policies will speak to anxious voters who have seen living standards squeezed by flat-lining wages, cuts to government benefits and declining numbers of long-term jobs with secure pensions.

The governing Conservatives say Labour has an outdated economic vision that will stifle growth.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke said Corbyn "has made so many unfunded spending commitments it is clear that Labour would have to raise taxes dramatically because his sums don't add up."

Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap election to try to boost her parliamentary majority ahead of divorce negotiations with the European Union. Opinion polls consistently give the Conservatives a big lead over Labour.

Labour said it will not try to overturn Britain's decision to leave the EU, but will "negotiate a deal that preserves jobs and access to the single market" and maintains standards of workers' rights established under the EU.

The unveiling of the parties' manifestos - containing solid promises on which they can be held to account - is a centerpiece of every British election, involving a speech by the leader in a hall packed with supporters and festooned with party signs. The suspense around Labour's policies was undermined when a draft version of the manifesto was leaked to the media last week.

Typically for such documents, it contains promises both sweeping and small - from four new holidays a year to the elimination of parking lot fees at hospitals.

It also says Labour supports keeping Britain's nuclear-armed submarines - something Corbyn personally opposes.

Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at the launch the Labour Party's General Election manifesto in Bradford, England, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. The British electorate go to the polls on June 8, in a general election. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn, center, and shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott arrive at the launch the Labour Party's General Election manifesto in Bradford, England, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. The British electorate go to the polls on June 8, in a general election. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

Copies of the Labour Party's General Election manifesto are handed out to journalists ahead of Jeremy Corbyn's appearance at the document's launch in Bradford, England, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. The British electorate go to the polls on June 8, in a general election. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn, speaks at the launch the Labour Party's General Election manifesto in Bradford, England, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. The British electorate go to the polls on June 8, in a general election. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Today, the whistleblower Chelsea Manning stepped out of the Military Corrections Complex at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, having served the longest sentence in US history for whistleblowing; for the duration of her ongoing appeal, she is on "excess leave in an active-duty status" which entitles her to access to military health-care insurance and other benefits.



Manning's selfless actions changed the global debate on surveillance and secrecy, sparked the Arab Spring, and inspired future whistleblowers like Edward Snowden.

Manning was subjected to years of torture  in the form of extended solitary confinement  before she was convicted of any crime. She attempted suicide twice in the past year.

Manning has not said what she will do next. I wish her the most sincere and heartfelt best for her future, and hope that she takes as much time as she needs to recover from the grotesque and shameful ordeal to which she was subjected.

Glenn Greenwald's appreciation for Manning and her perseverance, bravery and deep ethical center is a must-read today.



But what is ultimately most striking about Chelsea Manning is her unyielding persistence. In the most humble yet determined tones, she insists on following what she knows is the right path regardless of the risks and costs to her. And in doing so, far beyond the initial acts of whistleblowing, she became a hero to LGBTs around the world, and so many other people, by demanding the right to be who she is, and to live freely, even under the most oppressive conditions.

Chelsea Manning is a Free Woman: Her Heroism Has Expanded Beyond Her Initial Whistle-Blowing

[Glenn Greenwald/The Intercept]
WASHINGTON (AP) - A longtime friend of Judge Merrick Garland tells The Associated Press that Garland is happy in his job and has no interest in leaving the judiciary to head the FBI.

The comment came Tuesday after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he recommended that President Donald Trump nominate the federal appeals court judge for the post.

The friend spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

FILE - In this April 21, 2016 file photo, Judge Merrick Garland is seen at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, Thursday, April 21, 2016. A longtime friend of Garland tells The Associated Press that Garland is happy in his job and has no interest in leaving the judiciary to head the FBI. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Garland's name began to surface as a possible replacement last week when GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah suggested it on Twitter. Lee also raised the idea directly with White House staff, according to an aide. McConnell's comments on his recommendation to the president came during an appearance Tuesday morning on Bloomberg Business.

The search is underway for a new head of the FBI after Trump fired Director James Comey a week ago.

President Barack Obama nominated Garland to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, but McConnell declined to even hold a hearing. Senate Republicans insisted at the time that the next president should replace Scalia. The high court vacancy was filled last month by Neil Gorsuch.

If Garland left his lifetime appointment to the bench, it would create a vacancy on the critical U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which Trump could then fill.

The administration has interviewed at least eight candidates to replace Comey, of more than a dozen being considered. Trump has said a decision could come before he leaves Friday for a trip to the Mideast and Europe. The list includes current and former FBI and Justice Department leaders, federal judges and Republicans who have served in Congress.

One of those candidates, Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, said Tuesday he was not lobbying for the job. Cornyn told the AP he has not had any further conversations about it with the administration since Saturday.

FBI directors have predominantly been drawn from the ranks of prosecutors and judges. Comey, for instance, was a former United States Attorney in Manhattan before being appointed deputy attorney general by George W. Bush. His predecessor, Robert Mueller, was a U.S. attorney in San Francisco.

___

Associated Press writer Alan Fram contributed to this report.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A federal appeals court upheld the convictions of an extortionist who called himself Dr. Evil who claimed to have stolen the tax returns of then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney and threatened to release them if he wasn't paid.

It was an elaborate plot where Michael Mancil Brown sent letters falsely claiming that he had hacked into PriceWaterhouseCoopers accounting firm and would make the tax returns public if the company didn't send him $1 million in Bitcoin, a digital currency. Dr. Evil is the fictional character portrayed by comedian Mike Myers in the Austin Powers movies, and Brown chose some features of the film series as signatures of his 2012 crime, according to an opinion issued Monday from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

"The extortionist claimed to have stolen Romney's returns from PricewaterhouseCoopers, and he posted a taunting, digitally altered image of Mike Myers' Dr. Evil, wearing a Secret Service badge in the lobby of the account firm's office in Franklin, Tennessee," the opinion said. In the letter to the firm, Brown threatened that other parties would be competing to pay for the information. Brown also sent letters to the Republican and Democratic parties of Franklin.

It turned out that Brown, who owned his own tech company at the time, never did have the tax returns.

The federal appeals court upheld the 38-year-old's 12 convictions for wire fraud and extortion. However, the court vacated his four-year prison term and ordered him re-sentenced because the punishment was wrongfully enhanced.

Brown's lawyer declined to comment.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A federal grand jury in San Antonio has issued multiple felony fraud charges against a Texas state senator from a border district.

Sen. Carlos Uresti, a Democrat from San Antonio, was charged Tuesday with bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and securities fraud. If convicted, Uresti could face up to 20 years in prison on several of the charges.

Federal officials say Uresti is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in a San Antonio court.

The indictments accuse Uresti of engaging in an investment Ponzi scheme to market hydraulic fracturing sand for oil production. He's also charged with aiding a bribery scheme to secure a prison medical services contract.

Uresti's office did not immediately comment. Uresti is one of 11 Democrats in the 31-member Texas Senate.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The standoff between President Donald Trump and his former FBI director intensified Tuesday with the news of James Comey's memo saying that Trump asked him to shut down the agency's investigation into ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn.

A person who had seen the memo told The Associated Press what Comey had written. The person was not authorized to discuss the memo by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The existence of the memo was first reported by The New York Times.

The White House denied the account.

FILE - In this May 8, 2017, file photo, then-FBI Director James Comey speaks to the Anti-Defamation League National Leadership Summit in Washington. The White House is disputing a report that President Donald Trump asked Comey to shut down an investigation into ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

The development comes as the Trump administration faces questions over why and how the president fired Comey last week as the FBI was investigating whether Trump's presidential campaign was connected to Russian meddling in the election.

Trump wrote to Comey that the dismissal was necessary to restore public trust and confidence. Often lauded for his independence, Comey had come under intense scrutiny in past months for his role in the agency's investigation into the email practices of Trump's opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, including a pair of letters he sent to Congress on the matter in the final days of the campaign.

A look at key moments in Comey's tenure, the lead-up to Trump's decision to fire him and developments since then.

___

Sept. 4, 2013: Comey is sworn in to office as the seventh director of the FBI. He was nominated for the post by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate.

July 5, 2016: He holds news conference to announce that "no reasonable prosecutor" would bring criminal charges against Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, over her email practices as secretary of state, but criticizes Clinton and her staff for being "extremely careless" in their handling of classified material.

July 5, 2016: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump calls the FBI's decision not to bring criminal charges against Clinton the greatest example yet that the system is "rigged."

July 7, 2016: Comey vigorously defends the decision not to prosecute Clinton over her use of a private email server as secretary of state. Under an onslaught of Republican criticism, Comey says that to charge Clinton would have been unwarranted and mere "celebrity hunting."

Oct. 28, 2016: Days before the election, Comey informs Congress by letter that he is reopening the investigation into Clinton's email practices based on new evidence, citing the discovery of emails on a laptop used by a top Clinton aide. Justice Department officials warn Comey against sending the letter, saying that doing so would be inconsistent with department policy meant to avoid the appearance of prosecutorial interference or meddling in elections.

Oct. 28, 2016: Trump reacts to FBI's decision to investigate new messages related to Clinton's emails, telling a campaign rally that he has "great respect for the FBI for righting this wrong."

Nov. 6, 2016: Comey tells Congress in a follow-up letter that a review of newly discovered Clinton emails has "not changed our conclusions" that she should not face criminal charges.

Nov. 6, 2016: Trump criticizes Comey's second letter to Congress, saying Clinton was being protected by a "rigged system" and pronouncing her "guilty," despite the FBI's conclusion that criminal charges were unwarranted.

Nov. 8, 2016: Trump is elected president.

Nov. 12, 2016: During a telephone call with top campaign donors, Clinton blames Comey for her defeat by Trump. Clinton said her campaign was on track to win the election until Comey sent the letter to Congress on Oct. 28.

Nov. 13, 2016: In a CBS "60 Minutes" broadcast after the election, Trump says he hasn't decided whether to keep Comey.

Jan. 6, 2017: Comey is among a group of four top U.S. intelligence officials who brief the president-elect on their conclusions that Russia meddled in the presidential election on his behalf. Trump tells The Associated Press by telephone after the meeting that he "learned a lot" but declines to say whether he accepted their conclusion about Russia.

Jan. 22, 2017: Two days after taking office, Trump appears to single out Comey at a White House reception to thank law enforcement officers and others that helped during the inauguration. Trump calls Comey over to where he is standing in the Blue Room to offer a handshake and a partial hug, then comments that Comey has "become more famous than me."

Jan. 27, 2017: At one-on-one dinner at the White House, Trump asks Comey to pledge his loyalty to the president and Comey declines, according to a person close to Comey, speaking after the FBI director was fired. The White House denies that account.

Feb. 14, 2017: Comey speaks with Trump in the Oval Office a day after Flynn is ousted. A memo that Comey wrote after the meeting, which became public May 16, says Trump asked him to shut down the FBI investigation into Flynn and his Russia ties.

March 8, 2017: During a cybersecurity conference at Boston College, Comey says he plans to serve his entire 10-year term, quipping, "You're stuck with me for another 6 years."

March 20, 2017: Comey testifies to Congress that the FBI has been investigating possible links between Trump associates and Russian officials since July, the same month he held an unusual news conference to discuss the investigation into Clinton. Comey had previously refused to acknowledge the parallel Trump investigation, and his disclosure enrages Democrats who already blamed Comey for costing Clinton the presidency.

March 20, 2017: Comey testifies at the same hearing that the FBI and Justice Department have no information to back up Trump's unsubstantiated claim on Twitter that Obama wiretapped him before the election.

May 2, 2017: Clinton again lays part of the blame for losing the election on Comey's Oct. 28 letter. "If the election were on Oct. 27, I would have been your president," she tells a women's luncheon in New York.

May 3, 2017: Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Comey insists he was consistent in his handling of the separate investigations into Clinton and Trump. Comey also says it made him feel "mildly nauseous" to think his actions in October might have influenced the election outcome. But he tells senators: "I can't consider for a second whose political futures will be affected and in what way. We have to ask ourselves what is the right thing to do and then do it."

May 9, 2017: Comey sends Congress a letter correcting his prior sworn testimony regarding emails handled by longtime Clinton associate Huma Abedin. Comey had told Congress that Abedin had sent "hundreds and thousands" of emails to her husband's laptop, including some with classified information. The two-page, follow-up letter said that, in fact, only "a small number" of the thousands of emails found on the laptop had been forwarded there while most had simply been backed up from electronic devices.

May 9, 2017: Trump abruptly fires Comey. "It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission," Trump states in a letter addressed to Comey. In announcing the firing, the White House circulates scathing memo, written by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein criticizing Comey's handling of the Clinton probe.

May 11, 2017: Trump, in an NBC interview, says he had been intending to fire Comey - whom he derided as a "showboat" and "grandstander" - for months. He denies it had anything to do with the Russia investigation, but also says: "In fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story."

May 12, 2017: Trump tweets that Comey "better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!"

May 16, 2017: A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that Comey wrote a memo after the Feb. 14 meeting with the president that said Trump had asked him to shut down the FBI investigation into Flynn. The person had seen the memo but was not authorized to discuss it by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House denies the account. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of a House oversight panel, vows to get copies of any memos Comey wrote about meetings with Trump, tweeting: "I have my subpoena pen ready."

___

This story corrects in May 16 entry that Comey wrote the memo after a meeting in February, not January.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Authorities say nine people were hurt and two arrests were made during an altercation at the Turkish ambassador's residence in the U.S. capital.

Doug Buchanan, a DC Fire and EMS spokesman, says two of those hurt were seriously injured and were taken to hospitals by ambulance. He said by phone that emergency personnel were called to the residence about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck says the altercation broke out between two groups but he didn't elaborate on the circumstances. He says two people were arrested, including one who was charged with assaulting a police officer.

The altercation came the same day that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with President Donald Trump at the White House. The State Department declined to comment.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has overwhelmingly passed legislation to help local law enforcement officers get the latest computer forensics training, a timely topic after last Friday's cyber-extortion attack that targeted hospitals, companies and government agencies worldwide.

The vote was 408-3.

The bill authorizes the National Computer Forensics Institute in federal law, cementing its position as a training facility for police and prosecutors who attend classes at no expense to them or their agency.

The United States Secret Service operates the institute in Alabama. Instructors teach classes on the latest trends in finding and preserving digital evidence.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, says that a drop of blood or strand of hair has increasingly been replaced by proof of a text message or online purchase in helping law enforcement pursue criminals.
ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) - A man who subjected two backpackers to a violent attack on a remote Australian beach was sentenced Wednesday to 22 years in prison.

Roman Heinze, 61, was previously found guilty on six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life in the 2016 assault of two women in South Australia. During the attack, he sexually assaulted one of the women before beating her friend in the head with a hammer and repeatedly ramming her with his four-wheel drive as she tried to flee for help.

South Australia Supreme Court Justice Trish Kelly dubbed Heinze "utterly depraved" as she handed him a 22-year prison sentence for the attack on the women, who are from Brazil and Germany, and for several other earlier offenses. He will be eligible for parole in 17 years.

Kelly told Heinze the attacks were committed "solely in pursuit of the gratification of your own perverted sexual fantasies and desires."

Heinze met the women through a classified advertising website, where one of them had been looking for a ride to the city of Melbourne. He drove them to an isolated beach in the Coorong National Park and set up camp.

He then tied up the Brazilian with rope and sexually assaulted her, before bashing her friend in the head with a hammer. Despite blood streaming into her eyes, the German woman fled across the sand on foot. Heinze got into the four-wheel drive and chased after her, hitting her with the car and knocking her to the ground several times. She then jumped onto the roof of the car and hung onto the roof racks as Heinze tried to fling her off. She eventually managed to escape.

Heinze was also sentenced for an indecent assault in 2014 against another backpacker, who he had also offered a ride, and for breaching a bond condition in relation to a 2014 assault on another woman.

There have been a string of high-profile attacks on foreign tourists in Australia in recent years. In March, a British backpacker who officials say had been sexually assaulted and held captive for weeks in the Outback was rescued after police pulled over the car she was driving.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) - One of the most sprawling corruption scandals in modern history has deep roots in the Dominican Republic: The Brazilian company behind the operation placed its international "bribery bureau" in this Caribbean country and shoveled out nearly $100 million in bribes to local officials.

Yet five months after the scheme was exposed, nobody has been charged here and no corrupt officials have been named - infuriating both political reformers and opposition parties. By contrast, investigations in Brazil, Colombia, Panama and Peru have produced hundreds of charges, including cases against former presidents.

Government critics hope the silence will break Friday when Odebrecht is expected to reveal the recipients of its bribes in the Dominican Republic under a deal that protected the Brazilian construction company from prosecution and allowed it to keep doing business in the country.

In this Feb. 22, 2017 photo, demonstrators carry a banner with the Spanish message: "The innocents of Odebrecht" under caricatures of, from left, Dominican Republic's Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas, Dominican Republic's current President Danilo Medina, former Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez, Dominican Republic Senator Felix Bautista, and Brazilian businessman Marcelo Odebrecht, as they protest corruption outside the National Palace in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. One of the most sprawling corruption scandals in modern history had deep roots in the Dominican Republic: The Brazilian company, Odebrecht, behind the operation placed its international bribery bureau in the Caribbean country and shoveled out nearly $100 million in bribes to local officials. (AP Photo/Ezequiel Abiu Lopez)

Odebrecht's executives confessed to U.S. prosecutors that they paid around $788 million to officials in 10 Latin American countries and two more in Africa in order to get multimillion-dollar contracts with local governments.

They said they spent $92 million on bribes in the Dominican Republic alone as the company won 17 contracts to build highways, dams and a big coal-burning power plant. One of the key figures in the scheme worked as President Danilo Medina's adviser in two presidential campaigns.

When Brazil's own corruption investigations began to turn up the heat on Odebrecht in 2014, the company moved its office in charge of handling bribes - the innocuously named Bureau of Structural Operations - to Santo Domingo, apparently to distance it from Brazilian prosecutors.

Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez, a member of the ruling party's central committee, struck a deal with Odebrecht for a $184 million fine and an agreement to protect its executives from prosecution in exchange for information that might be used to prosecute local graft recipients. It's the first deal of its kind Odebrecht reached outside Brazil.

That has prompted anti-corruption activists to hold marches protesting government inaction and to file court cases demanding an independent investigation. Many say they are pessimistic that Friday's expected announcement will reveal the full extent of corruption in the Dominican Republic.

"For Odebrecht, the Dominican Republic wasn't just any country," said Manuel Robles, a member of the Green Movement, a group created to protest against corruption and is demanding an independent probe into the bribery scheme and audits of all Odebrecht's local contracts.

"The Dominican people have been vilely affected by a business mafia complicit with politicians and thieving bureaucrats," Robles said.

Odebrecht's contracts in the Dominican Republic since 2001 totaled $5 billion - 7 percent of the annual GDP in a country where most people earn $200 a month or less.

"You can follow the money through here. There must be records, information," said Rosalia Sosa, director of the activist group Citizen Participation, which has called for a more thorough investigation.

Fifteen of the contracts were signed during the 13-year tenure of Medina's Dominican Liberation Party, now led by former President Leonel Fernandez. The party's popularity is based largely on Latin America's highest rate of economic growth and extensive social programs.

Fernandez has refused to discuss the bribes. Medina in February defended the deal that allowed Odebrecht executives to avoid prosecution.

The Medina administration's signature infrastructure project is a $2 billion, 720-megawatt coal-burning plant about 38 miles (60 kilometers) west of Santo Domingo that was contracted to Odebrecht in 2013 even though the company's bid was the highest of all those submitted and more than $500 million above the limit set by the country's Congress.

In January, Medina created a special commission to investigate the bidding process.

"I'm absolutely certain that the bidding committee and the technical teams carried out a transparent process and awarded the contract to the party that won it, the one that made the best offer," said Ruben Bichara, head of the Dominican Republic's state energy regulator.

The plant is expected to go into operation this year.

A major focus of critics here is Joao Santana, who worked on Medina's 2012 campaign and was arrested in Brazil last year while advising on Medina's re-election effort. He also had been a campaign strategist for several presidents in other countries: Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva and Dilma Roussef in Brazil, Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, and Mauricio Funes in El Salvador.

Medina's government has said investigations will clear Medina and his aides of any wrongdoing and show they received no money from Odebrecht.

"We financed our own campaign and we paid Joao Santana ourselves," Medina said in March.

Peru's attorney general is investigating three former presidents, has jailed five government officials and has requested the jailing of former President Alejandro Toledo for allegedly receiving $20 million in Odebrecht bribes to help the company win a highway project. Toledo is a fugitive last seen in the U.S. Prosecutors say 100 former officials could be jailed in the case.

Venezuelan authorities have frozen Odebrecht's assets in the country, searched its offices in Caracas and asked Brazilian and Swiss officials for information. They have brought no charges, however, and witnesses in court testimony have implicated Maduro. The president has not commented publicly on the allegations. The government has no commented either. Odebrecht executives confessed they paid $98 million in bribes in Venezuela.

Ecuador has detained a business magnate and a former electricity minister and is reviewing 30 contracts awarded to Odebrecht since 1980. Odebrecht says it paid $33.5 million in bribes in Ecuador. It's been banned from the country due to the scandal.

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Associated Press writers Michael Weissenstein in Havana; Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Venezuela; Franklin Briceno in Lima, Peru; and Gonzalo Solano in Quito, Ecuador, contributed to this report.

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Ezequiel Abiu Lopez on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ezequiel_Abiu
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australia is considering following the United States and Britain in banning laptops from inbound airliner cabins, the prime minister said, but declined to explain whether the move was related to an Islamic State group threat that President Donald Trump discussed with Russian diplomats.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull revealed Tuesday that his government was "looking ... very closely" at the bans on laptops and tablets on flights from some Middle Eastern countries announced by the U.S. and Britain in March.

Questioned by reporters Wednesday, Turnbull refused to discuss the intelligence upon which a laptop ban was being considered or its source.

"As prime minister protecting our national security and the national interest, I have to be circumspect and discreet on matters of national security," Turnbull said. "My job is not to feed speculative commentary in the media."

Australia would "work very closely with our partners around the world" in constantly reviewing aviation security, he said.

Trump has been criticized for divulging classified information to Russians about the laptop threat posed by the Islamic State group.

Turnbull declined to say whether that information had also been shared with Australia, which along the U.S., Britain and New Zealand makes up the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing network.

"I can assure you the relationship between Australia and the United States in terms of intelligence sharing is as close as it possibly could be and we have no concerns about any other country ... having privileged access to information we don't have," Turnbull told reporters.

The White House has defended Trump discussing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak last week an Islamic State group threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft.

Critics argue that Trump's disclosure of the highly classified information threatened to fray the U.S. intelligence partnership with Israel, which collected the information, and could be used by the Russians to find its source.

Turnbull met Trump for the first time in New York two weeks ago and hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Sydney in February, underscoring Australia's close ties to both countries.

The U.S. ban on laptops and tablets affects flights from Amman, Jordan; Kuwait City; Cairo; Istanbul; Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Casablanca, Morocco; Doha, Qatar, and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The British security rules apply to flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An Alaska man is resurrecting a strip club he operated on board his converted crab boat before he was convicted on waste disposal charges involving the vessel.

This time, he's billing the enterprise as a nightly protest.

Darren Byler says he will begin his summer-long "First Amendment Freedom of Assembly" demonstrations Thursday on the 94-foot Wild Alaskan.

FILE - This 2014 file photo, shows the Wild Alaskan, a converted crabbing boat that had been used as a strip club, moored near downtown Kodiak, Alaska. Its owner, Darren Byler, is resurrecting the controversial strip club on board his boat, billing the enterprise as a nightly protest months after he was sentenced to probation for dumping human waste from the vessel. Byler, who is appealing the case, says he will begin his summer-long "First Amendment Freedom of Assembly" protests, complete with exotic dancers, Thursday May 18, 2017. (Kodiak Daily Mirror via AP, File)

He says the demonstrations will feature exotic dancers on board the boat, anchored off a harbor near the island city of Kodiak.

Byler has long alleged he was hit with the federal "poop" charges because authorities and others disapproved of the exotic-dancer business he ran in 2014. He is appealing his federal case.

"I'm protesting the fact that I was singled out and targeted for morality," he said. "I don't like being bullied by the government, and I'm doing this because I can. This is my way of winning."

Byler said the Wild Alaskan is no longer being run as a charter and he won't be serving alcohol or charging admission to the vessel, although participants will need to pay $25 for a round-trip, two-minute water-taxi ride.

The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment on the planned protests.

Byler was sentenced in January to five years of probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for a misdemeanor violation of dumping sewage in violation of the federal Refuse Act and for a felony charge of lying to federal authorities. He was convicted in 2015.

His wife, Kimberly Riedel-Byler, was found not guilty of the same charges.

Federal prosecutors have said Byler piped sewage from the Wild Alaskan bathrooms into the harbor near Kodiak in 2014. The Bylers were accused of telling the Coast Guard they were properly disposing of the waste - a contention Byler still maintains.

Supporters say the charges involve disposal practices that have long been routine among local boat owners who were never prosecuted.

The Wild Alaskan is now registered with the state as a pleasure boat, but operators of such vessels are still required to meet Coast Guard safety standards such as providing floatation devices for each passenger, according to Coleen Greenshields, a state administrative officer.

Byler said the Wild Alaskan can comfortably seat 50 to 60 people, and he plans to have enough life jackets on board.

He said the boat never had sewage problems, and in a May 5 letter to the Coast Guard announcing the planned protest, he wrote, "Please feel free to send your undercover sewer cops out to the vessel and put a dye pack in the vessel heads."

Coast Guard officials did not elaborate on how they will respond to the protests planned six nights a week until Sept 30. Officials said, however, that vessel owners are responsible for the safety of passengers, including following the correct load calculations and having basic lifesaving and other equipment on board.

"The Coast Guard will be monitoring the situation with the Wild Alaskan, like we do all maritime activities to the best of our ability, to ensure that Mr. Byler's guests are safe and the vessel safely operated," Capt. Paul Albertson said in an email to The Associated Press.

Police in Kodiak declined to comment, citing a directive from City Manager Mike Tvenge. He said the city has no immediate plans to monitor the boat.

"What happens down the road in the future is unknown," Tvenge said. "We'll see what develops in time, but we're not going to get into hypotheticals."

Rob Dierich, a commercial fisherman and longtime Kodiak resident, checked out the Wild Alaskan as a new attraction when he was single a few years ago. He believes Byler was targeted because of moral disapproval.

Still, he doesn't believe Byler needs to be "egging everybody that was on him the first time." As for the protests, Dierich doesn't think he'll be participating.

"I'm in different relationships," he said. "So I'm kind of staying out of places like that."

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Follow Rachel D'Oro at https://twitter.com/rdoro
BERLIN (AP) - As Germany gears up for a general election in September, politicians are reaching out to migrants from Russia in an effort to tap what is seen as a long-neglected group of voters.

Chancellor Angela Merkel was hosting a private reception Wednesday for representatives of ethnic Germans who emigrated from the former Soviet Union, particularly from the late 1980s onward.

It is the first such meeting between Merkel and members of the Russlanddeutsche, or Russian-Germans, in recent years, said her spokesman. Merkel, who is running for a fourth term on Sept. 24, speaks fluent Russian.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel points as she arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

The arrival of some 2.2 million Russlanddeutsche over the past 30 years tested the country's ability to assimilate large numbers of migrants, with mixed success.

"This is a noteworthy group within the German population," Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told reporters in Berlin ahead of the meeting. "Where did integration work, where is it still lacking? Those are possible questions for this conversation."

The Christian Social Union, Merkel's conservative allies in Bavaria, and the nationalist Alternative for Germany party, have already put up online ads and posters targeting Russian-speaking voters in Germany. Senior members of both parties have also visited Moscow to meet Russian officials, whose conservative views are shared by many Russian speakers in Germany.

German officials have expressed concern that Russia might try to influence Germany's election, including through misinformation in Russian-language media.

One oft-cited case involved the alleged kidnapping and rape of a teenage girl in Germany early last year that sparked outrage among the Russian-German community. Police concluded that the incident hadn't happened the way it was reported in Russian-language media and German officials have cited it as an example of what is perceived to be a "propaganda war" waged by the Kremlin.

"The Lisa case showed that this group, or parts of this population group, is very open to disinformation that, sadly in this case, came from Russia," said Seibert. "That certainly says nothing about the entire group of people originating from Russia, or the Russlanddeutsche."

Hartmut Koschyk, the German government's point man for relations with national minorities, said Wednesday's meeting would also address financial support, cultural and educational issues, as well as the role that Russlanddeutsche might play in Germany's relations with Russia.

Deutsche Welle, a broadcaster funded by the German government, is for the first time showing political debates with candidates of Russian origin in the run-up to the general election.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - A Danish court has overturned a murder conviction for a nurse accused of murdering three patients, saying she is only guilty of attempted murder.

The Eastern High Court says it cannot be proven that Christina Hansen gave overdoses of morphine and strong sedatives to three elderly patients in 2012 and 2015 with the intention to kill them. The court said Wednesday the causes of death cannot be "clearly stated."

The nurse was given a life sentence in June after she was convicted of murdering the three patients and attempting to kill a fourth at a southern Denmark hospital. The sentence usually means 16 years in prison.

Hansen has denied any wrongdoing since she was arrested March 1, 2015.

The court said a new sentence is expected Thursday.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times EDT):

8 a.m.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lashed out at U.S. politicians whipping up what he described as "anti-Russian sentiment" for being either "stupid" or "dangerous."

wldCIA Director Mike Pompeo departs the Capitol after briefing members of the House Intelligence Committee in the aftermath of President Donald Trump reportedly sharing classified information with two Russian diplomats during a meeting in the Oval Office, in Washington, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting Italian prime minister, Putin said on Wednesday Moscow initially found debates about Russia's meddling in U.S. politics as "funny" but said Moscow is now "concerned because it's hard to imagine what the people who produce such nonsense can come up with next."

Putin dismissed the U.S. politicians, whom he did not identify, as either being "stupid" or "dangerous and unscrupulous" who are wittingly "causing the damage to their own country."

Asked what he thinks of Trump presidency, Putin said it's up to the American people to judge but his performance can only be rated "only when he's allowed to work at full capacity," implying that someone is hampering Trump's efforts.

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7:35 a.m.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the ongoing scandal around President Donald Trump sharing classified intelligence with Russian officials as "political schizophrenia."

Trump came under fire earlier this week after it was revealed that he shared the sensitive intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak.

Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting Italian prime minister on Wednesday, Putin said he had "no other explanation" as to why Trump came under attack other than "political schizophrenia." Putin even suggested that Russia share the records of last week's talks between Trump and Lavrov with the U.S. Congress, if the White House approved.

Putin joked that that he would reprimand Lavrov because "he hasn't shared those secrets with us."

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6:45 a.m.

The Kremlin isn't commenting on the details of the classified information that President Donald Trump shared with the Russian foreign minister and the Russian ambassador last week.

The White House on Tuesday defended Trump discussing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft.

Speaking to Russian news agencies on Wednesday Yuri Ushakov, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, would not comment the contents of last week's talks among Trump, Lavrov and Kislyak.

Ushakov said "any contacts" with the U.S. president are "important" but he would not reply to the question whether the classified information that Trump reportedly shared with Lavrov and Kislyak was valuable for Russia.

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3:10 a.m.

President Donald Trump personally appealed to FBI Director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to notes Comey wrote after the meeting.

The White House issued a furious denial after the notes were disclosed late Tuesday, near the end of a tumultuous day spent beating back potentially disastrous news reports from dawn to dusk.

The bombshell Comey news came as the beleaguered administration was still struggling mightily to explain Monday's revelation that the president had disclosed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and the country's ambassador to the United States.

Defending Trump's actions, officials played down the importance and secrecy of the information, which had been supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement, and Trump himself said he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia.

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President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, where he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made statements. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
ISTANBUL (AP) - A Turkish court has accepted an indictment against 57 suspects allegedly involved in the deadly New Year's nightclub attack in Istanbul, Turkey's official news agency reported Wednesday. The first hearing is to take place in December.

Anadolu news agency said the main suspect, Abdulkadir Masharipov, an Uzbek citizen who was caught two weeks after the attack, could face 40 consecutive life sentences if convicted on charges of attempting to overthrow Turkey's constitutional order and killing 39 people.

Turkish media have reported that Masharipov confessed to the shooting and told his interrogators that he had received orders from Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State group in Syria.

Masharipov also faces charges of membership in a terror group, attempted murder of 79 people injured in the attack and violating Turkey's firearms law. These charges can carry a maximum total of 2,397 years in prison.

The 90-page indictment charges four other suspects allegedly involved in the planning of the attack, including Masharipov's wife, with the same crimes except the firearms violation.

It is not unusual for Turkish prosecutors to demand multiple life sentences in cases of lethal violence.

The other 52 suspects will be tried on charges of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, carrying a sentence of life in prison, and membership in a terror group, with a sentence of 7.5 to 15 years.

Anadolu said the first hearing will take place on Dec. 11 in the courthouse of high-security Silivri prison and continue until Dec. 15.

Fifty-one of the 57 suspects are behind bars pending trial.

IS claimed responsibility for the shooting in the upscale Reina nightclub, where hundreds of people had gathered to celebrate the New Year. Twenty-five of the victims were foreigners, many from Arab countries in the Middle East.

Turkey has been hit by a series of attacks blamed on IS and Kurdish militants since the summer of 2015, killing more than 550 people.

The indictment referred to 22 attacks by IS, according to Anadolu. The nightclub shooting, however, is the only mass attack the extremist group has claimed.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - A judge has denied a request for a new trial of a Mississippi woman convicted in connection with the slaying of two Hattiesburg police officers.

News outlets report Judge Bob Helfrich denied a new trial for 24-year-old Joanie Calloway on Tuesday. Calloway was convicted May 3 on charges of hindering prosecution and attempted accessory after the fact of capital murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Benjamin Deen and Liquori Tate were shot and killed May 9, 2015, during a traffic stop.

Calloway's lawyer Andres Wallace argued mistakes during the trial caused her client to receive an unfair trial.

Helfrich says he initially thought the state might have overcharged her, but after hearing evidence, he believes Calloway could have prevented the slayings.

Four other people are awaiting trial.
LONDON (AP) - A British judge has deferred sentencing an Oxford University student who pleaded guilty to stabbing her boyfriend in a drug-fueled argument, after remarking that the "extraordinary" woman might not be able to become a surgeon.

Oxford Crown Court Judge Ian Pringle last week put off sentencing 24-year-old Lavinia Woodward until September. He suggested he might not give her a custodial sentence.

"It seems to me that if this was a one-off, a complete one-off, to prevent this extraordinary, able young lady from not following her long-held desire to enter the profession she wishes to, would be a sentence which would be too severe, " the Oxford Times reported Pringle as saying.

The case caused a stir among Britain's newspapers, with the Sun tabloid reporting that Woodward was "too brainy to be jailed."

But Francis FitzGibbon, the Criminal Bar Association chair, said Wednesday that a number of mitigating circumstances likely contributed to Pringle's decision to give her a chance to address her drug addiction before sentencing. Besides showing remorse, Woodward pleaded guilty, had no previous convictions and was involved in a single incident.

"To seize upon a single throwaway remark by the judge is probably unfair because it doesn't represent the process," he said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Latest on the release of Pvt. Chelsea Manning from a Kansas military prison (all times local):

2:25 p.m.

The Army says newly freed Pvt. Chelsea Manning will be on a special, unpaid off-duty status that will allow the transgender soldier to wear her preferred civilian clothing, including women's attire.

FILE - In this undated file photo provided by the U.S. Army, Pfc. Chelsea Manning poses for a photo wearing a wig and lipstick. Manning, the transgender soldier convicted in 2013 of illegally disclosing classified government information, will remain on active duty in a special status after her scheduled release from prison Wednesday, May 17, 2017. (U.S. Army via AP, File)

Manning also will be able to live where she wants.

Manning was released Wednesday from a lockup at Kansas' Fort Leavenworth. That's where she'd been serving a 35-year sentence for giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks.

Former President Barack Obama granted her clemency in January before he left office.

The Army says Manning will be on "excess leave," meaning she is considered to be off-duty, while her court-martial conviction is under appellate review.

An Army spokeswoman says Manning remains subject to the military's criminal code until her discharge from the Army.

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9:15 a.m.

Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning says she's uncertain where her life will take her after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government materials to WikiLeaks.

Manning said in a statement Wednesday that "whatever is ahead ... is far more important than the past," and that she's "figuring things out right now." The statement was emailed just hours after her release from a military prison in Kansas.

Minutes later, she tweeted a photo of her feet in tennis shoes, with the caption: "First steps of freedom!!"

Manning, who is transgender and was known as Bradley Manning before she transitioned in prison, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations. Former President Barack Obama granted her clemency in January before he left office.

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8:25 a.m.

A documentary is being created about Pvt. Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks.

Pulse Films announced the film at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, the same day that Manning was released from Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas. The film is titled "XY Chelsea" and will be directed by British filmmaker Tim Travers Hawkins and executive produced by "Citizenfour" filmmaker Laura Poitras.

Hawkins was planning to film Manning as she was released from prison Wednesday. Producers say Manning granted filmmakers "unprecedented access." Hawkins has followed her legal team since 2014.

Manning, who was known as Bradley Manning before transitioning, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations. President Barack Obama granted her clemency in January before departing office.

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7:50 a.m.

The U.S. Army says Pvt. Chelsea Manning has been released from a Kansas military prison after serving seven years of her 35-year sentence for leaking classified government materials to WikiLeaks.

Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith says The transgender soldier was released from Fort Leavenworth on Wednesday. Former President Barack Obama granted Manning clemency during his final days in office.

Manning, an Oklahoma native, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

The former intelligence analyst in Iraq acknowledged leaking the materials, saying she wanted to expose what she considered to be the U.S. military's disregard of the effects of war on civilians.

She was known as Bradley Manning before transitioning in prison.

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7:25 a.m.

Media reports say Pvt. Chelsea Manning has been released from a Kansas military prison after serving seven years of her 35-year sentence for leaking classified government materials to WikiLeaks.

NBC News, citing an unnamed U.S Army official, says Manning was released from Fort Leavenworth military prison Wednesday at around 2 a.m. Central Time. The BBC also cites an unnamed Army representative in reporting she has left the facility. The Associated Press has not confirmed these reports.

Former President Barack Obama granted Manning clemency during his final days in office.

Manning, an Oklahoma native, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud.

Previously known as Bradley Manning, the former intelligence analyst in Iraq said she wanted to expose what she considered to be the U.S. military's disregard of the effects of war on civilians.

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11:13 p.m.

Pvt. Chelsea Manning is due to be released from a Kansas military prison after serving seven years of her 35-year sentence for leaking classified government materials to WikiLeaks.

The transgender soldier is scheduled to be freed from Fort Leavenworth on Wednesday in accordance with former President Barack Obama's decision to grant her clemency in his final days in office.

The Oklahoma native's attorneys and the Army have refused to say precisely when and how she will be released, citing potential safety concerns.

The former intelligence analyst in Iraq acknowledged leaking the materials, saying she wanted to expose what she considered to be the U.S. military's disregard of the effects of war on civilians.

She was known as Bradley Manning before transitioning in prison.
MIAMI (AP) - What did a South Florida woman do when she lifted the lid on her toilet and found an iguana inside?

She closed it again and called 911.

Lt. Scott Mullin of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's Venom One unit tells the Miami Herald (http://hrld.us/2rezbhp ) it's the first time he's found an iguana in a toilet.

Mullin says when the call came in Tuesday night, he asked the dispatcher to make sure it was an iguana and not a snake.

He says the woman, her daughter and grandchildren were waiting when he arrived at their home in West Kendall, south of Miami. Mullin says the lizard likely came up through the pipes.

Mullin used gloves to lift the iguana from the bowl, put it in a box and drove it to a wildlife rescue center.

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Information from: The Miami Herald, http://www.herald.com
Orlando police arrested Tremain Polk, 35

A Florida man is accused of fatally shooting the owner of a tow truck company during a dispute over $285 he owed for his impounded car.

Orlando police arrested Tremain Polk, 35, a short time after the shooting Tuesday night at the Tow Truck Company. He is accused of first-degree murder in the death of Paul Gren, 53.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Polk became angry when employee Erica Hicks told him he owed $285. A police affidavit said Polk only had $135 on him.

Hicks told investigators Polk tried to push his way into the office but stopped when she threatened to call police.

The affidavit said surveillance cameras caught Polk jumping a chain-link fence outside the building and busting windows on three cars before getting into his vehicle and driving it toward a closed bay door.

Paul Gren who was killed

Investigators said Polk was trying to open the door when Gren confronted him.

Hicks told investigators Gren had a gun in his hand but kept it by his side and didn't raise it. She said Polk started to walk away.

'She described how Polk took 'two steps' inside the door, turned around toward Gren, took a gun from his waistband, and fired three shots at Gren from point-blank range,' the arrest affidavit said.

According to police, the shooting wasn't captured on camera but Hicks was on the phone with police dispatchers when the shots were fired.

Police officers found Gren, who was taken to the hospital. He was declared dead a short time later.

Polk left the scene but was arrested later Tuesday night.
LONDON (AP) - Food giant Nestle on Wednesday lost a bid to trademark the distinctive four-fingered shape of the KitKat chocolate bar in Britain, the latest round in a courtroom battle with rival candy-maker Cadbury.

The Court of Appeal said there is insufficient evidence that consumers rely on the shape to identify the milk chocolate-coated wafer bar.

David Kitchin, one of the three judges, wrote that it was not enough that "consumers merely recognize it and associate it with the applicant's goods."

A four finger KitKat bar is photographed in London Wednesday May 17, 2017. A court on Wednesday May 17, 2017 rejected an attempt by Nestle to trademark the distinctive four-fingered shape of the KitKat chocolate bar in Britain. (Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire(/PA via AP)

The Swiss food company first tried to register the trademark in 2010, but the application was opposed by Cadbury.

Nestle said it was disappointed with Wednesday's ruling and was "considering next steps," which could include an appeal to the Supreme Court.

It said KitKat's shape has been granted trademark protection in countries including Germany, France, Australia, South Africa and Canada.

Mondelez International Inc., which owns Cadbury, welcomed the ruling.

It's not the first time Cadbury and Nestle have tussled over confectionery in a British court. In 2013, Nestle won a battle over Cadbury's attempt to register the purple shade of Dairy Milk chocolate wrappers as a trademark.

Sally Britton, intellectual property lawyer at law firm Mishcon de Reya, said "non-traditional" trademark registrations - including shapes, sounds, colors and smells - are becoming increasingly popular. But she said the latest court ruling set a high bar for success.

"Businesses seeking to protect non-traditional trademarks such as shapes or packaging will need to provide evidence that consumers are relying on that trade mark to identify the origin of the product," Britton said.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - A faculty member and his 16-year-old son are accused of trying to set off a military-style smoke bomb at a private Colorado boarding school after the father's contract wasn't renewed.

The device was found Tuesday in the school's cafeteria, prompting the evacuation of 300 faculty and teachers from the Fountain Valley School for several hours. The device didn't detonate, El Paso County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jacqueline Kirby said Wednesday.

Bryan Bolding, 46, the school's technology director, was arrested on suspicion of felony charges including terrorist training activities, conspiracy, possession and use of a hoax incendiary device, child abuse without injury and felony menacing and later released on bond, Kirby said. The son was also arrested but was not identified because he is a juvenile.

The school has about 235 students, a mix of both boarding and day students and is located on 1,100 acres on a former ranch about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Colorado Springs. Tuition for boarding students is about $54,000 a year.

Citing an arrest affidavit filed in court, KRDO-TV reported that Bolding learned in February that his contract would not be renewed. According to the document, the teen told authorities that the plot had been in the works for weeks and they originally planned to set off the device at graduation on May 27.

Investigators believe Bolding and his son successfully tested a smoke bomb in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in the area in a test run on Monday. Deputies did not have any information about the people responsible for the detonation at the time but now believe the two incidents are linked, Kirby said. She said investigators were not ready to release a possible motive.

"We're still putting the pieces together," she said.

Bolding could not be reached for comment.

A spokeswoman for the school did not respond to a telephone call and an email request for comment.

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Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazette.com
PRAGUE (AP) - Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka accepted a proposal for a new finance minister on Wednesday, paving the way for a resolution to the country's latest political crisis.

Sobotka agreed to ask President Milos Zeman to make lawmaker Ivan Pilny, the former head of Microsoft's operations in the Czech Republic, the next finance minister.

Sobotka had asked Zeman to fire the current finance minister, Andrej Babis, over unexplained business dealings that aroused suspicion he had avoided paying taxes.

Babis, one of the country's richest people, denied wrongdoing and initially said he wouldn't resign.

Zeman, his ally, has so far refused to fire him, saying he considered Babis a successful minister.

Thousands of people rallied on Wednesday in Prague and other major cities against Zeman and Babis. Similar protests were held last week.

The protesters gathered at Wenceslas Square in downtown Prague to demand Babis' firing and Zeman's resignation and then marched to the Prague Castle, the seat of the presidency.

Zeman was away, promoting business opportunities on a trip to China. The president is expected to respond to the nomination of a replacement finance minister next week.

To end the rift with Sobotka, Babis last week proposed his deputy as a replacement, an idea the prime minister rejected.

Babis then suggested Pilny, a lawmaker for his centrist ANO movement, on Wednesday. Sobotka agreed with the recommendation.

ANO is favored to win an October parliamentary election well ahead of Sobotka's leftist Social Democrats.
PRAGUE (AP) - The Czech Republic's counter-intelligence agency says it is aware of at least one case of a terror group being funded from the country.

The agency, known as BIS, would not name the group. It also would not confirm local media reports identifying it as the Islamic State group.

Agency spokesman Ladislav Sticha declined to give details, saying disclosure of the "very sensitive information" would threaten the agency's long-term operations.

It is a crime in the Czech Republic punishable by up to 12 years in prison to finance terrorism.

Last year, the agency said in its annual report that seven Muslims who were in the Czech Republic for an unspecified period of time left in 2015 with the aim of joining extremist groups in Syria, especially Islamic State militants.
LUMBERTON, N.C. (AP) - The Latest on a fatal crash that temporarily closed a major North Carolina interstate (all times local):

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11 a.m.

Authorities say two girls and their parents died when they were hit by a tractor-trailer in a fiery crash that closed a major North Carolina interstate for hours. The tractor-trailer driver also died.

A North Carolina Highway Patrol news release says the wreck happened Tuesday when the tractor-trailer was approaching a work zone near the South Carolina state line but failed to reduce speed, colliding with a pickup truck. Several other vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction collision that caused a fire and other injuries.

The Highway Patrol identified the people killed in the pickup as a mother, father and two daughters from Goose Creek, South Carolina. Their names were: 32-year-old Elise Ann Spennati, 24-year-old Cole Allen Spennati, 1-year-old Sianna Spennati and 4-year-old Aila Spennati.

The tractor-trailer driver was identified as 68-year-old Michael Elliott Bricker of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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7:15 a.m.

Interstate 95 has reopened after a crash that killed five people near the North Carolina-South Carolina state line.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said the road reopened around 1 a.m. Wednesday, about 12 hours after the crash.

The Highway Patrol says the six-vehicle wreck occurred around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday about 10 miles inside Robeson County.

Trooper William Henning said three adults and two children died in the crash. The victims' names have not yet been released.

Four people were hurt. Two were flown to a hospital in Chapel Hill and another was flown to a hospital in Florence, South Carolina. The fourth person was taken to a Lumberton hospital.

Video from television news helicopters showed at least two tractor-trailers with several other vehicles that appear to have been involved.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - The Latest on the release of a Norwegian-British man from a Congo prison (all times local):

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5:10 p.m.

Norwegian media say a Norwegian-British man freed from a Congo prison has arrived in Norway.

The Verdens Gang tabloid says 35-year-old Joshua French arrived earlier Wednesday.

French in 2014 was found guilty of strangling his former friend Tjostolv Moland, who was found dead in his cell. French claimed Moland killed himself.

Both were found guilty in 2009 of murdering their driver in Congo. Congolese authorities earlier this year said French would be pardoned.

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3:45 p.m.

A Norwegian newspaper says a man with dual Norwegian and British citizenship who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in Congo has been freed.

The Verdens Gang newspaper reported Wednesday that Joshua French has been released.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Facebook she and Foreign Minister Borge Brende plan a news conference on the matter later in the day.

French in 2014 was found guilty of strangling his former friend Tjostolv Moland, who was found dead in his cell.

Both were found guilty in 2009 of murdering their driver in Congo.
TORONTO (AP) - Canada plans to apologize to Canadians who have faced injustice because of their sexuality.

A special adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on LGBT issues said Wednesday the government will acknowledge the role of legislation and policies have played in the discrimination.

Liberal lawmaker Randy Boissonnault says the government is "committed to apologize in an inclusive and meaningful manner before the end of 2017."

He made the announcement on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. There was no mention of compensation or pardons.

In March, Germany approved a bill that would annul the convictions of thousands of gay men under a law criminalizing homosexuality that was applied zealously in post-World War II West Germany.

Thousands of men convicted under now-abolished anti-homosexuality laws in Britain were pardoned posthumously in January.
HOUSTON (AP) - The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has lifted a reprieve it gave a Nicaraguan man a day before he was to be executed two years ago for the slaying of a Houston high school teacher during a 1997 robbery.

The state's highest criminal appeals court had halted the scheduled lethal injection of 40-year-old Bernardo Tercero after the prisoner's attorneys contended Harris County prosecutors presented false testimony from a witness at his 2000 trial for the death of 38-year-old Robert Berger. The trial court last year held a hearing on the claim and the appeals court ruling Wednesday affirms its finding that the testimony was proper.

The appeals court also has refused an appeal from Bartholomew Granger, condemned for a slaying during a 2012 shooting rampage outside the Jefferson County Courthouse.

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This story has been corrected to change spelling of Tercero's first name to Bernardo.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States called Wednesday's first-ever U.N. Security Council consultations on Venezuela because the crisis is getting worse and the Trump administration wants to prevent another conflict like Syria, North Korea or South Sudan, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said.

Venezuelan Ambassador Rafael Ramirez strongly rejected the U.S. bringing his country's political dispute to the United Nations' most powerful body and accused Washington of again trying "to interfere in our domestic issues."

Haley said the U.S. intention wasn't to be "intrusive" or "heavy-handed" but to support regional efforts to find a political solution and "show respect for the Venezuelan people" who want free and fair elections, the release of political prisoners and the worsening humanitarian situation addressed.

Demonstrators run on a closed highway during a national sit-in against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 15, 2017. Opposition leaders are demanding immediate presidential elections. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

"We think if that doesn't happen we will certainly be hearing this in the Security Council because it will be a real problem - not just in the region but internationally," Haley told reporters after the closed-door briefing and discussions that lasted over 1 hours.

Nearly two months of political unrest were set off by the attempt by President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government to nullify the opposition-controlled congress in late March. But demonstrations have escalated into a vehicle for airing grievances against the government for triple-digit inflation, food shortages and a rise in crime.

The opposition blames the bloodshed on state security forces using excessive force and on groups of armed, pro-government civilians known as "colectivos." Maduro says far-right extremists are working with criminal gangs to foment the violence.

Haley said the meeting was aimed at conflict prevention, not council action, and sought to put light on what is happening in Venezuela.

"We've seen 150 political prisoners, over 1,500 arrests and clearly we're starting to see serious instability in Venezuela," she said. "We've been down this road with Syria, North Korea, South Sudan, Burundi, with Burma," which is now known as Myanmar.

Haley said rather than waiting for the Venezuela situation to become so serious that there has to be a Security Council meeting, "Why not try and stop a problem before it starts?"

Venezuela's Ramirez accused the United States of pushing to "intervene in our country," as his government alleges Washington has tried to do in the past. He called Venezuela's problems a domestic matter and said Maduro's government is trying to resolve them and will not allow any outside interference.

"We will never be a threat against the peace and security in international or the regional level," he insisted.

Ramirez stressed that Venezuela is not on the Security Council agenda and said many council members "disagree with the U.S." and back his government's position that it shouldn't be there.

International pressure on the troubled South American nation has been increasing, with the Organization of American States voting Monday to hold a rare foreign ministers' meeting later this month to discuss the crisis. Venezuela officially notified the OAS on April 28 that it intends to quit the regional group.

Britain's U.N. ambassador, Matthew Rycroft, said it is "absolutely right" that the OAS and the 33-nation Community of Latin American and Caribbean States are taking the lead, "but it is also right that the Security Council, charged as we are on the maintenance of security and peace ... keep a very close eye on the situation."

He warned that if things go wrong, Venezuela could "descend into conflict" and threaten international peace and security. "And so we need to act, in whatever way we can, starting with our discussion today," he said.

Ramirez dismissed Britain, saying it was following the U.S.

He said Venezuela prefers the regional approach, noting that Pope Francis has offered help and the former presidents of the Dominican Republic, Spain and Panama are talking to both sides. He said Maduro's government also believes in CELAC and UNASUR, which comprises 12 South American nations.

U.N. Ambassador Sacha Llorentty Soliz of Bolivia, whose government is an ally of Venezuela, said Wednesday's council meeting interfered with regional efforts to resolve the political dispute.

"It doesn't help at all because the United States is not a mediator," he said.

He said the U.S. supports the Venezuelan opposition and "that's why this meeting instead of helping solving the problem - it will really be an obstacle."

There was no statement from the council after the meeting, reflecting the division among members.

Uruguay's U.N. ambassador, Elbio Rosselli, this month's council president, said his government favors a regional approach and is working with many other countries to help the political factions in Venezuela resolve the crisis.

"If the Colombians could overcome 50 years of war in a peaceful manner, I'm pretty sure our brothers in Venezuela can take the lesson and do likewise," Rosselli said.

Demonstrators man a barricade on a highway during a national sit-in against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 15, 2017. Opposition leaders are demanding immediate presidential elections. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

A demonstrator jumps over a barricade during a national sit-in against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 15, 2017. Opposition leaders are demanding immediate presidential elections. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
MOSCOW (AP) - Vladimir Putin rushed Wednesday to defend U.S. President Donald Trump from criticism over sharing classified information with Moscow, issuing a strongly worded statement that reflected the degree of the Russian leader's frustration with the Washington infighting that has thwarted Kremlin hopes for a detente.

Trump's decision to divulge classified intelligence with Russian diplomats marked a step toward Putin's long-held goal of forging an alliance with the U.S. in the fight against terrorism.

Putin has pushed for anti-terror cooperation for years, arguing that the fight against the Islamic State group and other extremist organizations would only succeed if Moscow and Washington combined their efforts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the ongoing scandal around U.S. President Donald Trump sharing classified intelligence with Russian officials as "political schizophrenia." (Yuri Kadobnov/ Pool photo via AP)

In his view, such a partnership could provide further benefits by defusing tensions between Russia and the West and eventually leading to the lifting of sanctions the U.S. and the European Union imposed on Moscow over its role in the Ukraine.

The Kremlin's expectation that Trump and Putin would meet soon after Trump took office have withered amid congressional and FBI investigations of the Trump campaign's ties to Russia. Putin still hopes to meet his American counterpart on the sidelines of a G-20 meeting in Germany in early July.

However, the Russian leader revealed his growing impatience Wednesday with a stinging attack on Trump's critics. While the Kremlin initially refrained from comment about the intelligence controversy, Putin finally dropped decorum and lashed out at Trump's detractors in decidedly undiplomatic language.

"I'm surprised to see them upsetting the domestic political situation in the United States under anti-Russian slogans," he said. "These people either don't understand that they are hurting their own country, and in that case they are just dumb. Or they do understand everything, and that means that they are dangerous and unscrupulous."

Trump has been put on the defensive for sharing classified information with the Russian foreign minister and the Russian ambassador during a White House meeting last week. The president's critics say the disclosure could compromise the source of the intelligence provided by a U.S. ally and make other nations wary about sharing sensitive information with the United States.

Trump tweeted Tuesday that as president he had an "absolute right" to share with Russia "facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety," adding that he did it for "humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism."

For the Kremlin, Trump's conversation with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak was a welcome indication of his willingness to pool efforts with Russia in the fight against the Islamic State.

U.S. President Barack Obama's administration shunned such cooperation, citing the Kremlin's efforts to shore up Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Trump's gesture was particularly important for Moscow given the spike in tensions following the U.S. missile strike in April on a Syrian air force base that Washington said was a staging point for a chemical attack. Moscow has insisted that the Syrian government was not involved in the chemical attack, a claim dismissed by Washington and its allies.

Putin said he was pleased by the results of Lavrov's meeting with Trump, but demonstrated his irritation with what he described as anti-Russian "political schizophrenia spreading in the U.S."

"We initially watched the evolving political struggle with amusement, but today it makes us feel sad and causes concern," he said.

He added that "it's up to the American people to judge President Trump's actions, and obviously it can only be done when he's allowed to work at full capacity."

On a sarcastic note, Putin said he issued Lavrov a reprimand for failing to share the classified information he had received from Trump with him and the Russian intelligence agencies.

"It's very bad of him," Putin said following talks with visiting Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni as Lavrov and other Russian officials present exchanged smiles and laughed.

Putin went on to say that Russia was ready to provide the notes taken at Trump's meeting with Lavrov and Kislyak to Congress, if the White House approves.

Top Russian lawmakers also have vented frustration and anger over the latest commotion over Trump's relationship with Russia.

Konstantin Kosachev, who leads the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of Russia's parliament, denounced what he described as a "perverted" attitude to Trump sharing classified data.

"Imagine for a second that we in Russia criticize our president for warning you Americans of a looming threat," Kosachev wrote on Facebook. "Don't you feel sick of or scared with such 'American values?'"

Fyodor Lukyanov, who chairs the Council for Foreign and Defense Policies, an association of top political and security experts in Russia, said Putin's comments suggest the Kremlin was increasingly losing hope for normalized ties with Washington.

"No one expected that political infighting could reach such a pitch," Lukyanov said. "If Trump's meeting with Lavrov has caused such fallout, one can only wonder what his meeting with Putin would entail."
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) - A regulatory agency says it has fined MTN Rwanda roughly $8.5 million for hosting its IT services outside the country.

The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority said in a statement Wednesday that MTN Rwanda, a subsidiary of the African telecommunications giant MTN Group, breached its license obligations by hosting its IT services in neighboring Uganda.

The statement says MTN Rwanda was informed of the breach of its license obligations earlier this month.

The South Africa-based MTN Group says in a statement it has been notified by the Rwanda regulator about the fine and that the parties have been discussing the matter.
ISLAMABAD (AP) - Islamabad says Afghanistan has detained two Pakistani diplomats in Kabul.

Wednesday's statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry says it handed over a protest note to the Afghan deputy head of mission in Islamabad over the incident.

The demarche says the detentions at the hands of Afghan security agencies are a violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. It demanded Kabul ensure the diplomats' safety.

The ministry didn't identify the diplomats and offered no further details. There was no immediate comment from Kabul.

Relations between the two neighbors have been rocky. Each side blames the other of harboring Islamic militants in the lawless regions along their shared porous 2,200-kilometer (1,375-mile) border.

Their armies traded heavy fire in early May along Pakistan's southwestern border that triggered casualties on both sides.
NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump's commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (all times local):

12:25 p.m.

President Donald Trump is telling graduates of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy that no other politician has been treated more unfairly by the media. But he says, "you cannot let them get you down."

President Donald Trump waves as he arrives to give the commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in New London, Conn. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Trump is offering his advice at the academy's commencement in Connecticut, telling the graduates that they will find that "things are not always fair." But Trump says, "you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight."

The president says they can't let the critics get in the way of their dreams.

Trump was speaking amid reports that he appealed to then FBI Director James Comey to shut down the bureau's investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn earlier this year.

He made no mention of Comey in his speech.

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12:15 p.m.

President Donald Trump is congratulating graduates of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for choosing military service.

Trump says the 195 graduates at the academy in New London, Connecticut, could have gone to school anywhere and ended up with fewer responsibilities by comparison.

He says they instead chose a "very noble mission." He defines that mission as saving lives, defending the homeland and protecting America's interests around the world.

Trump calls the choice to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy a "good choice."

He says they will help secure U.S. borders, partner with allies, pursue terrorists, stop drug smugglers and keep out "all who seek to do harm to our country."

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11:25 a.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in Connecticut to address graduates of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

The president's appearance Wednesday comes amid reports that Trump personally appealed to now-fired FBI Director James Comey to abandon the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

The allegations are based on notes Comey wrote after he met with Trump earlier this year. Associates shared the contents of Comey's notes with the media.

The White House has denied the reports.

Trump is scheduled to give the commencement address for the newest crop of soon-to-be commissioned Coast Guard officers.

It is the president's second appearance before graduates this commencement season. Last Saturday, Trump addressed graduates of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) - A judge has ordered the arrest of El Salvador's former first lady Ana Ligia Mixco de Saca on money laundering and conspiracy charges.

The case also targets former President Tony Saca. The court's communications office confirmed the arrest order Wednesday.

Time had expired for Mixco to pay the $250,000 bond that could have left her free while awaiting trial.

Her lawyer, Miguel Angel Flores, had asked the bond to be reduced. He says that she has been receiving medical treatment in a private hospital on the outskirts of the capital.

Mixco is under police guard at the hospital while awaiting the judge's determination on whether she is well enough to be sent to prison. Her husband was arrested in October 2016 along with other members of his administration.
Dutch passengers on KLM flights might have recognized their co-pilot's voice when he introduced himself on the airline's Cityhopper services.

For it was in fact their monarch telling them about the weather conditions and the estimated arrival times.

King Willem-Alexander, 50, said he has ended his role as a regular 'guest pilot' after 21 years on KLM's fleet of Fokker 70 planes while he previously also flew jets for Dutch carrier Martinair.

He will now retrain to fly Boeing 737s as the Fokkers are being phased out of service.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander, pictured, has revealed he was a regular 'guest pilot' for airline KLM for 21 years but has now decided to give it up

Willem-Alexander is a qualified pilot and it was previously known he had sometimes flown KLM passenger flights, but it was not clear how frequently it happened.

De Telegraaf reported that he does it twice a month and as a guest flier, the king is always the co-pilot.

The father of three and monarch to 17 million Dutch citizens calls flying a 'hobby' that lets him leave his royal duties on the ground and fully focus on something else.

'You have an aircraft, passengers and crew. You have responsibility for them,' the king told De Telegraaf.

It was previously known the King had flown on commercial flights, but the Dutch public were not aware he had been doing it for 21 years (file picture)

'You can't take your problems from the ground into the skies. You can completely disengage and concentrate on something else. That, for me, is the most relaxing part of flying.'

Willem-Alexander said he is rarely recognized by passengers in his uniform, especially since security was tightened on board planes in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

He said: 'Before September 11, the cockpit door was open. People regularly came to have a look and thought it was nice or surprising that I was sitting there.'

And even when he makes announcements to passengers, Willem-Alexander says that as a co-pilot he doesn't have to give his name.

'But most people don't listen anyway,' he added.
KEMMERER, Wyo. (AP) - A Utah man was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without parole a year after authorities say he and his father killed a rail line worker while on the run from police in a stunning string of crimes that included the kidnapping of a mother and her daughters.

Dereck James "DJ" Harrison, 23, didn't speak in court, but his attorney Edwin Wall read a statement from his client that said he "regrets it deeply" and "wishes he had more control at that time."

Harrison acknowledged last month while pleading guilty to murder that he didn't intervene to stop his father from cutting Kay Porter Ricks' throat and hitting him several times over the head with a metal rod.

Dereck James "DJ" Harrison is escorted from court after sentencing in Kemmerer, WY on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Harrison plead guilty to killing UTA employee Kay Ricks while trying to flee police in Utah and was sentenced to life in prison. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP)

Harrison's father, Flint Harrison, killed himself in a Utah jail last year.

"The important thing is this separates you from society," Judge Joseph Bluemel told the younger Harrison in the courtroom in the small town of Kemmerer, Wyoming, near the Utah border.

Ricks' family didn't attend the hearing. They said in statements read by a family spokesman that they forgive Harrison but don't condone his actions.

"You could have stopped these horrible acts at any point, but you did not," Lori Ricks, the victim's widow, said in a letter. "You and only you are responsible for your own actions."

Spokesman Richard Massey said the Ricks family chose not to attend the hearing because it would be too difficult. He said the family has vowed to never speak or think about Harrison again - focusing on their religious belief that they will rejoin with Kay Porter Ricks, 63, in the afterlife.

"We forgive you so that we may move forward," Lori Ricks wrote.

The chain of events in May 2016 started when the father and son invited a woman and her four teenage daughters to a barbecue outside Salt Lake City, then restrained and beat them before they escaped, police said.

The Harrisons had been using methamphetamine for days and wrongly thought the mother had reported them to police, authorities said. The men were accused of planning the kidnapping and setting out zip ties, duct tape and a bag to put on the mother's head.

DJ Harrison was sentenced last year to up to 30 years in prison for that crime.

After the family escaped, the Harrisons went on the run. They snatched Ricks from a light-rail station and drove north toward the Wyoming town where Flint Harrison had been living, authorities said.

They were arrested in Wyoming after a dayslong manhunt that ended when Flint Harrison surrendered.

Spencer Allred, the county attorney in Lincoln County, Wyoming, said Wednesday that the Ricks family was pleased the case was settled with the plea deal, sparing them the anguish of having to endure a trial where the gruesome details of the crime would have been rehashed.

Prosecutors didn't think DJ Harrison was the driving force in the crimes, which is why they decided not to seek the death penalty in the case, Allred said.

He said DJ Harrison will be sent back to Utah to serve prison time there for the kidnapping charge and moved back to Wyoming at some point.

Massey, the Ricks family spokesman and friend of the victim, encouraged DJ Harrison to repent while in prison.

"DJ, you are our brother. We will see you in the eternities," Massey said. "We want that to meeting to be sweet."

Dereck James "DJ" Harrison is escorted from court after sentencing in Kemmerer, WY on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Harrison plead guilty to killing UTA employee Kay Ricks while trying to flee police in Utah and was sentenced to life in prison. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP)

Dereck James "DJ" Harrison is transported after sentencing in Kemmerer, WY on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Harrison plead guilty to killing UTA employee Kay Ricks while trying to flee police in Utah and was sentenced to life in prison. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP)

Spokesman for the family of Kay Ricks, Richard Massey speaks to media after Dereck James "DJ" Harrison was sentenced in Kemmerer, WY on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Harrison plead guilty to killing UTA employee Kay Ricks while trying to flee police in Utah and was sentenced to life in prison. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP) /The Deseret News via AP)
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) - Nigeria's presidential spokesman says another young woman believed to be one of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls has been rescued.

Femi Adesina said Wednesday that the girl was found less than two weeks after 82 others were released by their abductors in exchange for five Boko Haram commanders.

She is being brought to the capital of Abuja, where the other young women are undergoing counseling and rehabilitation.

Government officials in Borno state, where the girls were abducted, could not immediately corroborate the claims of the Nigeria presidency.

If the girl is confirmed to have been among those kidnapped, 112 still would be missing.

Jihadists from the group aligned with the Islamic State group abducted the girls from their school dormitory and held most of them captive for more than three years.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The remains of a priest who was killed during an Oklahoma mission in Guatemala have been exhumed as part of the Roman Catholic Church's beatification process.

The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/2pXk1YV ) reports the Rev. Stanley Rother is scheduled to beatified during a September ceremony in Oklahoma City. Rother was killed in 1981, during Guatemala's civil war, by unknown assailants believed to be government soldiers.

Rother's family led a procession and prayed before his remains were exhumed last week at a cemetery in Okarche, Oklahoma. Medical professionals examined and verified the remains before they were re-interred in a chapel at an Oklahoma City cemetery.

The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City opened Rother's cause for beatification in 2007, at the request of his parishioners in Guatemala.

Pope Francis declared Rother a martyr in December, paving the way for beatification.
Alabama Rep. Lynn Greer (above) forwarded a constituent email to dozens of legislators and lobbyists that described an experiment with caged monkeys

A white Alabama legislator who sparked outrage when he sent an email that black lawmakers on Wednesday condemned as racist has apologized.

Republican Rep. Lynn Greer, of Rogersville, forwarded a constituent email to dozens of legislators and lobbyists that described an experiment in which caged monkeys will eventually stop reaching for a dangling banana as they slowly accept the status quo because their predecessors were punished.

The email was sent as black lawmakers used procedural tactics in the House and Senate to oppose proposed new legislative districts they said minimized black voters' influence.

Greer apologized and said the email was meant to be a joke about the need to replace incumbents.

Members of the Alabama House Black Caucus said in a press conference on Wednesday that the email circulated by Greer was a racial attack sent in the height of a redistricting fight

However, black lawmakers said its intent was clearly racial. The bubbling tensions threatened to derail the final days of the legislative session.

'We have been subjected to the most racial insult that I've ever seen,' House Black Caucus Chairman John Knight said of Greer's email.

'There is no place in the statehouse. It is insulting and it is unacceptable.'

Greer issued a statement apologizing for the email and met with the black lawmakers to apologize in person.

He said he didn't see the email as racist.

'Bottom of my heart I didn't mean anything bad,' Greer told The Associated Press.

Greer said he now understood, with the backdrop of the race-tinged redistricting fight, of how it was perceived.

Greer issued a statement apologizing for the email and met with the black lawmakers to apologize in person. He said he didn't see the email as racist

'If I thought about all that. I guarantee you I wouldn't have done that.'

Greer reportedly forwarded the email to at least one black lawmaker, House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

When asked why he believed the email to be racist, another black lawmaker, Rep. John Rogers, said: 'I didn't fall off the truck yesterday.

'He didn't write it, but he spread it around,' Rogers said.

'Everybody knows what he meant when he said "monkey with a banana".

'As far as I'm concerned it's a pimp slap to my face. It was totally racist in intent.'
Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

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May 16

The Khaleej Times on President Trump's recent alleged declassification of information:

This US President can't keep a secret. That's an allegation, not a revelation. So what, I'm the president. I can do what I want with the facts, Donald J. Trump retorted in a tweet. The president allegedly shot his mouth off during discussions with the Russians and flaunted his computer like a toy. He shared information with the Kremlin. Moscow was pleased. Putin smiled. Sounds like a warm start to Cold War II. What exactly was the nature of the information, no one knows. Ah, they were decoded for the President's benefit. Classified made simple. Top secret taken down for the Russians. Intelligence jargon. Mumbo-jumbo. The media doesn't have proof; the masses remain indifferent. Here's the script. The president was privy to some important information about Daesh who were allegedly planning some at-tacks on airlines, but gave them to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, says the report. National security has been compromised, threatened. How, no one knows. The FBI and CIA were called in to contain the damage. Anonymous sources, allegations, claims, and counter-claims. The Press versus the President, pouring hate and scorn on the man who defied them to win the presidency.

Now, constitutionally, the president can declassify information. He might have the right, but how much can he share with a foreign power he wants to be chummy with. The Russians won't mind some info if handed to them on a platter in the White House. What's the use when Daesh has been hammered in Syria without US help? Then, we don't really know what he shared. The source was from within the Trump administration. Deeply embedded. The modern version of Deep Throat. Sounds like another Watergate in the making - or Russiagate. They are closer to nailing him, the free corporate Press says. Then, the facts are missing, or they don't add up. Trump, meanwhile, is defiant as his National Security Adviser denied such a thing ever happened. Was it fake news? We don't know? Who planted it? Trump, maybe.

Online: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/

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May 16

The New York Times on companies increasing use of non-compete agreements with employees:

The economy thrives when businesses compete with each other for workers and customers. That is hardly a new idea, but it bears repeating as companies increasingly use noncompete agreements to lock up employees and prevent them from taking better-paying or more fulfilling jobs.

Traditionally, companies asked senior executives, brilliant inventors and other highly paid employees to agree not to work for competitors for a year or two. But in recent years, the practice has become more widespread, and nearly one-fifth of American workers, or about 28 million people, are now subject to such agreements. This group includes people in low-wage jobs at fast-food restaurants, warehouses and hair salons. A recent New York Times article highlighted how enforcement of such agreements by businesses has cost some people their life savings in lengthy legal battles and forced others to take low-skilled jobs because they couldn't work in their chosen profession. Companies have even tried to force workers who were laid off or fired without cause to abide by noncompete agreements.

Such morally dubious practices harm the economy. Studies show that wages are lower in states that let businesses strictly enforce noncompete agreements. Skilled workers leave states that make it difficult for them to switch jobs, researchers have found, moving to places where they can do so more easily. But moving to another state is not an option for workers who do not have specialized skills.

One state that has benefited by adopting a much more enlightened approach is California. The state's business and professions code made noncompete agreements generally unenforceable there. Experts say the law has helped make that state a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. For example, workers in Silicon Valley frequently hop between companies and leave to start their own businesses without fear of being sued by former employers. And many of these businesses find ways to protect valuable intellectual property without noncompete agreements.

Proponents of noncompete agreements might argue that lawmakers don't need to intervene because these are private contracts between consenting adults. But researchers say many workers are not aware that they are subject to such agreements, which are often buried in documents they sign when hired. Often, people are not told that they will have to sign until they have accepted jobs, at which point they may not be able to walk away. Even workers who recognize the perils might see no choice but to consent because they need a job.

State and federal lawmakers should adopt reforms like those the Obama administration recommended last year. For instance, state legislatures and Congress can make noncompete agreements unenforceable when they are applied to employees who earn less than, say, $56,500 - the median household income in 2015 - or to workers who do not have access to trade secrets. They can make contracts unenforceable when businesses lay off or fire workers without cause. States can also require employers to present noncompete agreements before candidates accept jobs.

The spread of noncompete agreements is one of many ways in which the workplace has been rigged against workers and why household incomes have stagnated in recent decades. Other examples include the use of mandatory arbitration clauses in employment contracts and concerted efforts by businesses to diminish the role of labor unions. All elected leaders, especially those like President Trump who claim to represent the interests of working people, need to fight such unfair and unjust practices.

Online: https://www.nytimes.com/

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May 16

The Los Angeles Times on the 'WannaCry' malware attack being an indirect public service announcement:

The particularly nasty computer program dubbed "WannaCry" that attacked hospitals, businesses and government agencies around the world this past weekend was like a cybercrime highlight reel, a compilation of by-now familiar elements - conscience-free cybercriminals, an obscure vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, older and ill-maintained corporate computer networks and computer users tricked into opening booby-trapped email attachments - that played out on an epic scale.

What's different this time is that the hackers apparently had considerable help from the U.S. government. They used a stolen tool reportedly developed by the National Security Agency to exploit a hidden weakness in the Windows operating system and spread their ransomware far and wide. The tool was one of many linked to the NSA that were leaked online last year, then finally decrypted in April for use by anyone with the requisite coding skills.

It's tempting to howl at the NSA for not alerting companies like Microsoft when its researchers find vulnerabilities in their products. The reality, though, is that doing so would reduce the effectiveness of cybertools that have become an integral part of modern efforts by agencies like the NSA to fight terrorism, international criminal organizations and rogue states. What's needed is a better effort to determine if and when a vulnerability discovered by the feds represents too great a threat to keep it secret from the potential victims. That's a difficult balance to strike, and the decision shouldn't be made solely by the executive branch without the input of independent experts and, potentially, lawmakers.

The even more important lesson here is that years, even decades of warnings from security experts simply aren't getting through to the public. WannaCry should not have reached disastrous proportions - Microsoft released a patch that could close the vulnerability in March, well before the NSA's tool was decrypted. Yet tens of thousands of computers weren't updated, allowing the malware the room it needed to spread.

The problem could easily get much, much worse as more routine devices become smart, Internet-connected ones. Evidently we need stronger incentives not just for companies to release more secure products, but also for users to keep them updated and protect their data with encryption and backups. That's what the lawmakers and federal officials should be focusing on - not on trying to discourage consumers from using encryption on their smartphones, or on building stockpiles of malware based on vulnerabilities they alone have found.

Online: http://www.latimes.com/

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May 15

The Seattle Times on gun laws:

Washington has taken another step toward common-sense gun regulations, with the governor signing a new law that requires police be alerted when someone fails a background check.

The law, which takes effect in July, would also require notification of victims when a felon, domestic abuser, stalker or other ineligible people try to buy a gun. This is a big improvement in gun safety, without impinging on the rights of lawful gun owners.

The measure builds on previous gun-law improvements, including expansion of background checks to include private and gun-show sales.

Background checks screen gun buyers to make sure they aren't fugitives, felons, in the country illegally or subject to a protection order that includes gun restrictions. Until the new law was passed, there was no requirement for follow-up when someone tries to buy a gun illegally.

The bipartisan measure has another smart provision requiring the creation of a statewide notification system so that those who have court-ordered protection orders will automatically be notified if the person they are being protected against tries to buy a gun.

Laws like this one show the possibility of improving gun safety without taking away the rights of those who lawfully own firearms and use them responsibly.

Other reasonable proposals that have yet to get legislative approval include mandating safe gun storage and other ways to decrease the likelihood of guns getting into the hands of children or people who are suicidal.

Online: http://www.seattletimes.com/

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May 16

The Minneapolis Star Tribune on President Trump's alleged meetings with Russians:

The latest self-inflicted crises at the White House confirm the deepest fears about President Trump's judgment and self-discipline.

As the nation was still digesting news that Trump had divulged highly classified information obtained through an ally to top Russian officials, the New York Times reported Tuesday that the president had suggested that then-FBI Director James Comey end his investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael T. Flynn.

"I hope you can let this go," Trump said during a meeting the day after Flynn resigned in February, according to a memo the Times said Comey wrote a day after the conversation. That's not a direct request, but coming from the president it must have felt that way to Comey.

The White House quickly denied the story, just as it did after news broke Monday that Trump had provided classified material to the Russians. After that story emerged, Trump himself went on Twitter to assert his "absolute right" to disclose such information at his Oval Office meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

It is true that the president can declassify information at will. But such an ability carries the presumption that in doing so, the president would exercise the highest levels of judgment, discretion and purpose, carefully weighing possible repercussions and first communicating the plan with the source nation. There is no evidence that Trump went through any of those calculations before blurting out what is known as code word information - intelligence-speak for information so highly classified it is above top secret, and usually limited to the smallest possible pool.

That he did not also blab the actual source or methods by which the information was obtained - as White House officials contend - is of little consequence. Russia has one of the most sophisticated intelligence-gathering systems in the world and could conceivably trace the information back to its source in the field. Trump may have compromised a valuable ally and its agents. He has without question dealt another blow to U.S. credibility and made other nations justifiably wary of sharing what they know. That breakdown endangers not only this nation's security, but that of other nations as well.

This latest stumble shows a leader once again indulging his vanity, boasting of his "great intel" and clumsily attempting to curry favor with Russia, in the naive thought that doing so would somehow transform a hardened adversary that hacked the U.S. election into an ally. Trump also cited, without elaboration, "humanitarian reasons." What reasons would be enough to jeopardize the U.S. relationship with its most important ally in the Middle East, Israel, now widely reported to be the source of the information? Israeli officials have been quick to say they still value the U.S. and have no qualms about intelligence-sharing, but that is the diplomatic answer officials have to make when dealing with the world's dominant superpower. While the White House continues to dispute the story, it also went into full mop-up mode after Trump's meeting, alerting the CIA and National Security Agency and scrubbing notes from the meeting to remove sensitive details.

The meeting itself was an oddity. The U.S. has imposed sanctions against Russia for its illegal invasion of Ukraine and forced annexation of Crimea. American intelligence agencies are uniform in their conclusion that Russians hacked the U.S. election. The list of Russian aggressions is long and growing. Trump's response? Invite the Russians into the Oval Office, grinning and shaking hands and offering up choice bits of intel. If that's not chilling enough, there is the distinct possibility the Russians may have a complete transcript of what Trump said, since their state-owned news agency, Tass, was allowed to remain in the room when U.S. news media was barred.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., a former Marine intelligence officer, has called for the White House to provide Congress with an unaltered transcript of the meeting. We agree. There is no reason for members of congressional intelligence committees to know less than the Russians.

It's also imperative that Congress get to the bottom of the new allegations of attempted meddling with Comey, which could turn out to be definitive evidence that Trump tried to influence the Justice Department and FBI investigation into links between his associates and Russia.

Online: http://www.startribune.com/

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May 17

The Arizona Republic on how the GOP should hold President Trump accountable:

The deeper we get into the Trump presidency, the more serious the questions grow.

When he was candidate Trump acting in reckless and erratic ways, the future of the Republican Party was in the balance. Would he take it down with him?

Today the stakes are much higher. How Donald Trump acts and behaves in the Oval Office will have serious consequences for the United States.

Lately his conduct has brought a torrent of accusations that in themselves and their unrelenting fierceness can be destabilizing.

Did the president obstruct justice? Did he commit a crime? We don't know the answers, but the allegations are powerful and credible.

Only GOP can get these answers

Several months into Trump's first term, the administration seems incapable of controlling the narrative, of moving beyond the kind of scandal that shadowed Trump throughout the election.

We are going to need answers quickly about this president and his capacity to function.

And the Republicans must lead.

We don't have divided government in America. Republicans hold both Congress and the White House, the major levers of power. And they shoulder the responsibility to act on the nation's behalf.

Republicans in Congress can no longer view Trump simply as an imperfect tool to achieve their agenda. They have to see with their own eyes there's a cannon loose in the White House and he's gashing the timber.

The unanswered questions about this president are not about partisan politics. They are about serious threats to this country's stability and its international standing.

McCain and Flake must do more

Can the president be trusted with America's secrets? Can our friends and allies trust this administration with critical intelligence that could save American lives?

Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake have pushed back against Trump during the election and early days of this administration. McCain has called for a special investigation of the Trump-Russia connection.

They must do more. They and other Republicans must speak more loudly and demand more answers.

Loose cannons don't need slack. They need cinching up. And Trump and his handlers are demonstrating by the day they're out of control.

There have been moments when the administration seemed on the verge of discipline, but they have been short lived. And once again we are immersed in scandal.

The questions come at the speed of social media.

The answers come as obfuscations, dodges and denials.

We deserve answers and information.

Trump's (latest) outrageous behavior

Consider the surreal situation:

We have a president who boastfully releases sensitive intelligence to Russia - an action so reckless it should stand Mitch McConnell's hair on end.

We have a president whose reasons for firing the FBI director are like shifting sand dunes - the inconsistencies should have Paul Ryan pounding the podium.

We have a president who fires Director James Comey with a letter in which Trump thanks the him for previous assurances he wasn't investigating Trump.

And then we have the latest outrage: An accusation that the president asked the former FBI director to "let go" an investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who subsequently resigned because he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about conversations Flynn had with the Russian ambassador.

"He's a good guy. I hope you can let this go," Trump allegedly told Comey, according to the memo read to a New York Times reporter over the phone.

Was this an obstruction of justice?

In plain English: That looks eerily close to obstruction of justice, although the White House denies it happened that way.

Comey continued the investigation, but Comey documented conversations, according to the Times.

What else did Comey document? That is one of many questions a Republican Congress needs to ask the former FBI director in full view of cameras and reporters.

Trump fired Comey as the director intensified his investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Among the conflicting accounts of why Comey was sacked, Trump called "this Russia thing" a "made-up story."

The "Russia thing" is not made up. U.S. intelligence agencies say Russia worked to influence the 2016 election in Trump's favor. It represents a substantial threat to our electoral system.

What we still need to know

Congress needs to hear from Comey.

We need to know if this president engaged in criminal conduct in addition to his irresponsible behavior.

We need to know the full extent of Trump's connection with Russia.

We also need to know whether it is safe for this president to have access to classified documents.

Republicans in Congress stand as America's check against what increasingly looks like an unbalanced president. They need to become the guide rails that keep him from walking us off the ledge.

It's time to stop pretending. This is not just fodder for late-night comics. This is about America's future.

Online: http://www.azcentral.com/
A Labour government would increase taxes by almost 50 billion and borrowing by 25 billion a year to pay for a fairer, more prosperous society for the many, not just the few, Jeremy Corbyn has announced.

The partys manifesto for the June 8 General Election envisages extra spending totalling 48.6 billion to pay for priorities like scrapping university tuition fees, raising the minimum wage to 10 an hour and pumping 6 billion a year into schools and 7 billion into health and social care.

Water, energy, railways and the Royal Mail would be nationalised, while a new National Transformation Fund would borrow 250 billion over 10 years to pay for infrastructure improvements including the extension of the HS2 high-speed line to Scotland and a Crossrail for the North linking major northern cities.

While guaranteeing no hikes in VAT, personal national insurance contributions or income tax for the bulk of workers, Labour would raise 6.4 billion from the top 5% by lowering the threshold for the 45p rate of income tax from 150,000 to 80,000 and introducing a new 50p rate for earnings above 123,000.

Big business would pay an additional 19.4 billion through a hike in corporation tax from 19% to 26% by 2020/21.

BREAKING: Our manifesto for the many, not the few has just gone live. Check it out now and RT  https://t.co/YeRUNSwNVq #ForTheMany  The Labour Party (@UKLabour) May 16, 2017

Companies with employees earning over 330,000 would face an excessive pay levy forecast to raise 1.3 billion a year.

Other revenue-raising plans include a Robin Hood tax extension of stamp duty onto derivative trading, designed to bring in 5.6 billion and the imposition of VAT on private school fees, estimated at 1.6 billion.

Labour manifesto: where the extra money will come from graphic

Expensive pledges include the 11.2 billion abolition of tuition fees, 5.3 billion for childcare and 4 billion to lift the Conservatives 1% cap on public sector pay increases.

Launching the 124-page document in Bradford, Mr Corbyn said: This is a programme of hope.

Labour will guarantee no rise in Income Tax for 95% of taxpayers, and no rise in VAT or National Insurance for anyone. RT  pic.twitter.com/brVaQHa1Qd  The Labour Party (@UKLabour) May 14, 2017

The Tory campaign by contrast is built on one word, fear.

Our proposals are of hope for the many all over this country and I am very proud to present our manifesto for the many, not the few.

Theresa May said the proposals did not add up.

Speaking during a campaign visit to a factory in Stoke-on-Trent, the Prime Minister said: If you look across that manifesto, the question isnt what people are promising but can you believe people will deliver what they are promising?

As @jeremycorbyn said today at #RCN17  We are ready to step in and save the NHS from Tory cuts and privatisation. With us? RT  #ForTheMany pic.twitter.com/KG3k1Jq3eR  The Labour Party (@UKLabour) May 15, 2017

You can only fund our National Health Service, you can only have the funding that we have made available in relation to the nations child care if you have got that strong economy.

What we see from Labours proposals today is they dont add up and their nonsensical economic policies mean that it is ordinary working families that would pay the price of Labours coalition of chaos.

The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank said Labours programme would take the tax burden to its highest level for around 70 years.

Business voiced anxieties, with the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce warning higher personal and business taxes would give bosses real cause for concern.

Although the multi-billion-pound nationalisation of key industries would not officially increase the deficit, because government accounts would show an equivalent increase in state assets, Institute of Directors director general Stephen Martin warned the costs would be staggering, the benefits unclear, and the related tax rises would make the UK a less competitive economy.

TUC general secretary Frances OGrady hailed the package as an impressive set of pledges from the Labour Party, adding: Their commitments to improve workers rights and drive up wages would make a real difference to millions of workers.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has hailed Chelsea Manning a hero and said her pending release from prison is an epic victory.

The former US intelligence analyst is due to leave a military jail on Wednesday after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence for leaking hundreds of thousands of classified government documents.

Former president Barack Obama commuted the transgender soldiers sentence in his final days in the White House, outraging Republicans including Donald Trump, who has described her as an ungrateful traitor.

Mannings Welsh-Irish family said the sentence had been a travesty of justice.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Mr Assange called her release an epic victory which I and many others have long sought. Chelsea Manning is a hero who has inspired many. I cant wait to finally meet her.

In a statement, Manning said she hopes to use the lessons she received in prison to help others.

She added: I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world.

Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine.

Two more days until the freedom of civilian life ^_^ Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans =P  Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) May 15, 2017

Manning was arrested in 2010 and convicted in 2013 of six violations of the US espionage act for leaking 700,000 secret military and State Department documents.

The trove, which included classified battlefield videos, was one of the biggest breaches of intelligence in US history.

She acknowledged leaking the files while working in Iraq, but protested that she had acted to raise awareness of the impact of US military action on innocent civilians.

Then known as Private Bradley Manning, she later underwent gender transition in jail. She will be released from a correctional facility at Fort Leavenworth, a US Army disciplinary barracks in Kansas.

Manning, whose father is American, was born in Oklahoma but moved to Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, just before she turned 14 in 2001 following her parents divorce.

Freedom was only a dream, and hard to imagine. Now it's here! You kept me alive <3 https://t.co/abkGoA3fOi  Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) May 9, 2017

She attended Tasker Milward comprehensive school and still has family and friends in the area.

In a statement her family said Manning had endured seven years loss of liberty for her whistleblowing actions while those whose wrongdoing she exposed have gone unpunished.

The shocking and abusive ill-treatment Chelsea was subjected to in Kuwait and (US Marine base) Quantico before the trial should never have happened and the 35-year sentence handed down by the military court was a travesty of justice.

We are naturally very relieved that this ordeal will soon be over for Chelsea and that she will be able to take up her place in society again.

Whatever she decides to do, we are sure she will make a significant and positive contribution.
The bravery shown by police officers such as Keith Palmer in the Westminster terror attack will be remembered at a new police memorial.

A campaign is being launched on Wednesday to raise funds for the project, which is to be built at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Staffordshire.

While 2.5 million has already been raised, 4 million is needed for the UK Police Memorial, which will bear the names of more than 1,400 police officers and staff who have died while carrying out their duties.

The new UK Police Memorial at the National Arboretum in #Staffordshire will be a place to honour the #CourageAndSacrifice of all officers pic.twitter.com/ryjgl0Jxxm  Staffordshire Police (@StaffsPolice) May 16, 2017

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "Every day, our police officers and staff go out to work not knowing what they might face, but do so with the utmost professionalism and bravery.

We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

"That bravery was plain for everyone to see in the phenomenal response of the police to the shocking events in Westminster back in March, as a result of which Pc Keith Palmer tragically lost his life.

"It is entirely fitting that those officers and staff who give their lives in the line of duty should be remembered with a lasting tribute.

"The Government has already committed 1 million towards the UK Police Memorial and I hope the public also take this campaign to their hearts and recognise the importance of establishing a permanent place of remembrance."

It is eight weeks since the police constable was killed alongside four members of the public in the Westminster terror attack in March.

Sir Hugh Orde, chairman of the UK Police Memorial Trust, said: "Pc Palmers death has put greater emphasis on the need to create a place where the nation can honour and commemorate our police service and where family, friends and colleagues of those killed on duty can go to carry out personal acts of remembrance.

Sir Hugh Orde (Paul Faith/PA)

"The NMA is the place where the nation can go to remember our services and the men and women who have been killed in the course of their duty for their country.

"We need to establish a fitting memorial that recognises the vital contribution that policing makes to our society and acknowledges the courage and sacrifice made by police officers and police staff who have paid the ultimate price.

That tribute must become part of the fabric of our national life."

Please help support UK Police Memorial, add a #Twibbon now! https://t.co/WK5hfEz6oU  Olivia Pinkney (@OPinkney) May 16, 2017

The memorial will also feature an interactive space, telling the stories of those who have sacrificed their lives and is expected to be completed by 2019.

Further information about the memorial, including how to make a donation or take part in fundraising activity can be found at the UK Police Memorial website www.ukpolicememorial.org.

Anyone making a donation of more than 20 will receive a black and white Sillitoe Tartan wristband inscribed with the words "courage and sacrifice".
Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed it has been fully returned to private hands nearly nine years after the Government bailed it out at the height of the financial crisis.

The Governments final tranche of 638.4 million Lloyds shares have been sold, marking a milestone for the lender and closing a troubled chapter for the group.

(Nick Ansell/PA)

Lloyds said the taxpayer had made a profit of 894 million on the original 20.3 billion of cash pumped in as part of its rescue.

Antonio Horta-Osorio, chief executive of Lloyds, said: Six years ago we inherited a business that was in a very fragile financial condition. Thanks to the hard work of everyone at Lloyds, weve turned the group around.

But the job is not done. Were going to continue to use our strong position to Help Britain Prosper.

A general view of the Lloyds Banking group Building

Chairman Lord Blackwell said the sale of the final 0.25% stake marks the final step in the rescue and rejuvenation of Lloyds Banking Group.

The combination of our strong financial performance and the progress we have made towards our strategic priorities has enabled over 21.2 billion to be returned to the Government, more than repaying the amount that taxpayers invested, he said.

The bank pledged to continue supporting households and businesses as part of the Helping Britain Prosper plan, including a promise to create 8,000 apprenticeships by 2020, lending 10 billion to first-time buyers and 2 billion to small firms this year, as well as helping 100,000 start-ups get off the ground.

At the peak, Lloyds was 43% owned by the state after its bailout during the banking crisis.

Lloyds Bank signage

The Government had mulled plans to shed its remaining stake in Lloyds through a retail sale, but former chancellor George Osborne halted the attempt in January last year, blaming market turbulence.

The idea was eventually ditched altogether by current Chancellor Philip Hammond in favour of a drip-feed sale to institutional investors through a trading plan, with any profits used to pay down the deficit.

Lloyds emerged as a key player in the Governments handling of the credit crunch despite being a domestically focused bank with only a small exposure to the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market that battered funds on either side of the Atlantic.

Problems emerged for the lender after former prime minister Gordon Brown cleared the way in 2008 for it to make a 12 billion takeover tilt for HBOS to help shore up the sickly firms balance sheet and prevent a full nationalisation.

Members of the public use cash machines at a branch of Lloyds Bank in the City of London

But these plans came unstuck when it became clear that HBOS had saddled Lloyds with heaps of toxic assets stemming from risky bets made by HBOS on commercial property during the boom years.

To ensure its future, the Government upped the bailout funds pumped into Lloyds to 20.3 billion, lifting its stake to 43%.

At a press conference in London, Prime Minister Theresa May said: Today we have seen that the work of fixing Labours economic mess continues.

The Government has sold its remaining shares in Lloyds Banking Group as we continue to repair the damage to our banking sector.
The idea of healthy obesity is a myth, a study of 3.5 million Britons suggests.

Having excess fat increases the risk of suffering heart disease by half even when blood pressure and cholesterol levels are normal, according to the research.

People regarded as obese but healthy also have an increased risk of stroke and almost double the risk of heart failure, researchers found.

A body mass index of 30 or more is considered obese (Chris Radburn/PA)

Experts have long debated whether people can truly be healthy obese or fat but fit, characterised by having normal markers of metabolic health despite having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more.

While most obese people have an increased risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes compared to those of a normal weight, some seem to buck that trend and remain healthy.

Previous research has suggested up to one in three obese people are healthy despite carrying extra fat.

A team from the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham has now cast doubt on this idea in the biggest study of its kind.

Did you know? Most Europeans living with #obesity do not realise they have the diseasehttps://t.co/4vRiSrxag1 #NCDs pic.twitter.com/VQZr22FzXB  Obesity Day Europe (@ObesityDayEU) May 12, 2017

Their study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Porto, Portugal, analysed health records from 1995 to 2015 for 3.5 million adults who were initially free from heart disease.

The team looked for markers of being metabolically healthy, having normal blood pressure and cholesterol and no diabetes, while also being obese.

They then tracked how many people suffered one of four cardiovascular conditions, coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease (including stroke), heart failure and peripheral vascular disease (a disorder of blood circulation).

The result showed, compared to healthy people of a normal weight, those regarded as healthy and obese had a 49% increased risk of coronary heart disease. They also had a 7% higher risk of stroke and a 96% increased risk of heart failure.

Experts have long debated whether people can truly be "healthy obese" (PA)

Lead author, Dr Rishi Caleyachetty, told the Press Association: The idea of being healthily obese is a myth and there is much that health professionals and people who are obese can do to reduce their risk of disease.

He added: What we have shown in this study of 3.5 million people is that metabolically healthy obese individuals, compared to those of normal weight, are at higher risk of conditions such as heart disease, stroke and heart failure.

Metabolically healthy obesity is not a harmless condition, and it would be incorrect to think so.

Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: Can you be fat and fit? Ask any group of rugby forwards who shift their bulk up and down a 100m field for 80 minutes and youll get a yes. Ask scientists stuck in a lab and you might not.

Rugby front-rowers are known for their bulk (PA)

Unfortunately, the Birmingham researchers appear not to have factored in recent genetic evidence that goes a long way to explaining why so many fat people appear not to suffer ill health.

These people have the ability to store large amounts of fat around their bodies yet remain fit. And so the debate rages on. 
Manchester United and Ajax will contest the Europa League final having had plenty of scares along the way.

Here, we highlight each clubs route to the showpiece in Stockholm on Wednesday May 24.

Group stage

FT: #MUFC 4 Feyenoord 0. The Reds claim a vital victory, with strikes from Rooney, Mata and Lingard, plus Brad Jones' own goal. #UEL pic.twitter.com/jgNaHSKV5R  Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 24, 2016

United hardly had the greatest of starts by losing 1-0 away to Feyenoord but a 4-0 win at Old Trafford against the Dutch side all-but sealed second place in Group A with a game to go.

Marcus Rashford scored a stunning free-kick against Celta Vigo

Ajax had few problems in topping Group G as they went unbeaten against Celta Vigo, Standard Liege and Panathinaikos. The highlight was a 3-2 home victory over eventual semi-finalists Celta Vigo in November.

Last 32

Pogba v Pogba is on #UEL pic.twitter.com/M7o9eaqXye  UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 16, 2017

Jose Mourinhos side made light work of St Etienne in the first knockout stage in a tie that will be remembered more for the reunion of the Pogba brothers. Paul got the better of Florentin as United ran out 4-0 winners on aggregate.

After a goalless draw in Poland, Ajax welcomed Legia Warsaw back to Amsterdam and edged through thanks to a second-half goal from Nick Viergever which sealed a nervy 1-0 aggregate victory.

Last 16

Kasper Dolberg wins the Johan Cruyff Award for Most Talented Player in the Dutch Eredivisie! #CruyffLegacy

More info https://t.co/dOO7MKfpMQ pic.twitter.com/BtalPu1DVf  Johan Cruyff (@JohanCruyff) May 16, 2017

A trip to Russia was Mourinhos next assignment and a 1-1 draw away to FC Rostov gave United a crucial away goal - scored by Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Juan Mata scored the only goal in the return leg in Manchester.

FC Copenhagen condemned Ajax to their first Europa League defeat of the campaign but Kasper Dolbergs away goal in the 2-1 loss gave them plenty of hope. The 19-year-old scored again in a 2-0 victory at the Amsterdam Arena to book a place in the last eight.

Quarter-finals

United were held to a 1-1 draw by Anderlecht in Belgium but were not made to rue their wasted chances after a 2-1 extra-time win at Old Trafford. Mkhitaryan scored in both legs but Marcus Rashford was the hero with his 107th-minute goal in Manchester.

Davy Klaassens double seemingly put Ajax in command with a 2-0 first-leg victory but Schalke hit back in Germany to force extra time in the second leg. Daniel Caligiuri put Schalke in front after 101 minutes yet goals from Viergever and Amin Younes sealed a dramatic 4-3 aggregate triumph.

Semi-finals

Ajax salute their fans and celebrate reaching the #UELfinal!  pic.twitter.com/Ln5roohTWu  UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 11, 2017

Rashford struck again with a fantastic free-kick as United ran out 1-0 victors in Spain against Celta Vigo. Marouane Fellainis header put the Red Devils in control at Old Trafford before Vigos Facundo Roncaglia scored to set up a tense finish. United held on to win 2-1 on aggregate.

Ajax blew Lyon away in the first leg with on-loan Chelsea forward Bertrand Traore scoring twice in a 4-1 victory in Holland. Dolbergs opener in France gave Ajax an unassailable lead and they held on to secure a place in the final despite a 3-1 second-leg defeat.
Boris Johnson has been described as out of touch for discussing the export of Scotch whisky during a visit to a Sikh temple.

The Foreign Secretary used alcohol as an example of the benefits of a trade deal between the UK and India during a Conservative Party visit.

Mr Johnson was at the Nirman Sewak Jatha temple in St George, Bristol, to show his support for the partys Bristol East parliamentary candidate Theo Clarke.

Some Sikh teachings consider alcohol to be prohibited, although many Sikhs in the UK do drink alcohol.

A worshipper at the temple told Mr Johnson  whose mother-in-law is a Sikh  that his comments were absolutely outrageous.

In a video posted online by the Bristol Post, Mr Johnson tells the temple: Whenever we go to India, to Mumbai or to Delhi, we have to bring clinkie in our luggage.

We have to bring Johnnie Walker, we have to bring whisky because as you may know there is a duty of 150% in India on imports of Scotch whisky so we have to bring it in duty free for our relatives. But imagine what we could do if there was a free trade deal with India  which there will be.

The video shows a woman at the temple telling Mr Johnson that alcohol is against our religion.

Boris Johnson

I wouldnt be wanting to put somebody in power who wants to put more alcohol in India which is causing a lot of problems already, she told Mr Johnson. When I heard that on the news I thought no way am I going to vote Tory because I dont want alcohol. Im a practising Sikh. To me that is absolutely outrageous.

He replies: I understand your point of view. Thank you very much for your question.

BBC reporter Pete Simson, who attended the event, tweeted that the woman told Mr Johnson she had experienced alcohol problems in her family.

Hes apologised several times, he added.

She's absolutely livid. Boris Johnson apologises. "How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple."  Pete Simson (@SimsonPete) May 17, 2017

Speaking after the event, Bhai Narinderjit Singh, general secretary of the Sikh Federation (UK), criticised Mr Johnsons remarks.

No politician in his right mind would speak in a Gurdwara about a trade deal involving alcohol, he said.

It is a requirement that Sikhs should not consume any intoxicants.

Mr Singh added that anyone who has consumed alcohol or is carrying tobacco is not allowed to enter a Gurdwara, with signs pointing this out.

Boris Johnson should know much better, after all he is the Foreign Secretary and his mother-in-law is a Sikh, Mr Singh said.

Ministers and other politicians that visit Gurdwaras need to understand the basic protocols and the live issues or they just show they are out of touch with the Sikh community and do not deserve our votes.
Four men have been arrested over an alleged terror plot, police said.

Scotland Yard said the men were detained on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The arrests on Wednesday were pre-planned as part of an ongoing investigation by the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command and MI5, and linked to activity in the UK, the force said.

Police

Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command have arrested four men in east London https://t.co/MgRG3gG4uM pic.twitter.com/zpdmk4QhQj  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) May 17, 2017

Officers arrested three of the men  aged 18, 25 and 27  at their home addresses in east London, while a 24-year-old man was arrested near to his home address in east London.

Police are currently searching five residential addresses in east London and one business address, also in east London.

The suspects are in custody at a south London police station.
Angela Merkel has warned Britain will have a price to pay if it restricts EU immigration post-Brexit.

The German chancellor added that her suggestion isnt malicious but an obstacle would be created to compensate the remaining 27 EU member states if such a policy emerged.

Prime Minister Theresa May has previously outlined Britains desire to regain full control of the number of people coming to the country from the EU, with free movement of people no longer expected to apply.

I need your support to strengthen my hand in the Brexit negotiations. Give me your backing to deliver for Britain and for you. pic.twitter.com/pQfpmWJbbY  Theresa May (@theresa_may) May 17, 2017

But Ms Merkel, speaking at an event with trade union officials in Berlin, said if the British Government says that free movement of people is no longer valid, that will have its price in relations with Britain.

She added if Britain, for example, says only 100,000 or 200,000 EU citizens are allowed into the country, we would have to think about what obstacle we create from the European side to compensate for that.

Ms Merkels remarks came after Michel Barnier said Brexit talks will start hours after the General Election, adding he is not aiming for no deal or a bad deal.

The EUs chief Brexit negotiator also dismissed suggestions the UK will be required to pay up to 100 billion euro (85 billion) as an exit bill.

Mr Barnier said the UKs financial liabilities will be dependent on the date of Brexit and the methodology adopted, adding the European Council will work with the Brits, very calmly to reach an agreement.

(Yui Mok/PA)

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage earlier warned Britain could walk away from talks by the end of the year as a result of Jean-Claude Junckers bloody rude behaviour and attempt to bully the Brits.

The MEP said the EU needs to make grown-up, reasonable demands.

Mr Farages attack came after European Commission president Mr Juncker said the Brexit process shows how united and prepared the EU will be.

European Council president Donald Tusk also insisted the conduct of the talks must show the European Union at its best, adding this involves unity, political solidarity and fairness towards the United Kingdom.
Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to step down as leader of his Fine Gael party tonight, clearing the way for Ireland to have a new head of government.

In a statement to colleagues in Dublin, Mr Kenny said he was retiring from midnight with his successor to be in place on June 2.

I want to assure people that throughout this internal process, I will continue to carry out my duties and responsibilities as Taoiseach in full, he said.

The veteran politician, from Castlebar, Co Mayo, is to resign after 15 years at the helm of the party and more than six years at the head of government.

Mr Kenny revealed his decision to stand down at a private meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party and after delaying the announcement for several months.

Mr Kenny said he would give his successor a brief but appropriate time to hold talks with parties and independents propping up the Republics minority government.

I would like to stress the huge honour and privilege that it has been for me to lead our party for the past 15 years, in opposition and into government on two successive occasions, he said.

Enda Kenny is stepping down (Niall Carson/PA)

I thank all our members, past and present, for that privilege.

Mr Kenny paid tribute to loyal constituents and supporters in Mayo who he has represented since 1975 and to his personal staff.

I especially want to thank my wife Fionnuala, our children, my siblings and their families for their understanding of my work, and indeed for accepting the many intrusions of politics into family life in the interest of building our country.

I could not have engaged as I did without that base, he said.

Questions will immediately turn to a successor and Irelands next taoiseach alongside the analysis of Mr Kennys legacy after leading the country out of a crippling recession, albeit with an agenda of austerity.

Statement by Chair of Fine Gael PP, @martinheydonfg, on the announcement by Party Leader and Taoiseach @EndaKennyTD: https://t.co/InGqYNFWEl  Fine Gael (@FineGael) May 17, 2017

Fine Gael party chairman Martin Heydon described Mr Kenny as a compassionate, pragmatic and inclusive leader.

Having inherited a country and an economy that was decimated by mismanagement, Endas strong leadership and ability to make hard decisions was recognised both at home and abroad and saw our international reputation restored and strengthened, Mr Heydon said.

Aside from the economics, some of the achievements of Mr Kennys governments were gay marriage rights, apologies for victims of clerical abuse and his apparent willingness to stand up to the Vatican and legislating for abortion in limited circumstances.

Failures include an inability to convince the public on water-metering and charges, painful tax hikes, unprecedented homelessness and a myriad of police corruption and negligence crises.

Mr Kenny delayed the transition to a new leader on a number of occasions this year, asking colleagues for time to visit the US for the annual St Patricks Day celebrations and to meet President Donald Trump, continuing the unique tradition Ireland has of access to the White House every March 17.
Essex marched into the Royal London One-Day Cup semi-finals following a rain-affected victory over Kent.

Chasing 308 to win, Kent had slumped to 50 for three after 11 overs when the downpours, which had wiped out the days other three fixtures, brought a halt to proceedings.

Former England captain Alastair Cook contributed 54 to an opening stand of 95 with Varun Chopra before edging left-arm spinner Imran Qayyum to Adam Rouse.

Alastair Cook watches on from the balcony

Alastair Cook: Run machine!



The @EssexCricket & @englandcricket batsman has racked up 500+ runs in the #RLODC this season pic.twitter.com/wGd93qEaYD  Royal London Cup (@RoyalLondonCup) May 17, 2017

Chopra moved on to 83 before he played on to Qayyum while Tom Westley struck 35, Dan Lawrence 32 and Ravi Bopara 49.

In reply Kent quickly lost debutant Zak Crawley for two and Sam Northeast and Sean Dickson for three apiece. Daniel Bell-Drummond was unbeaten on 25 when the rain came and gave Essex a 57-run triumph via the Duckworth/Lewis method.

Another two wickets for @asharzaidi1981 today & he knows how to celebrate! #BoomBoomDab pic.twitter.com/wK2T9r8MVe  Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 17, 2017

Essex will host the winners of next months quarter-final eliminator between Somerset and Nottinghamshire in the last four.

Worcestershires opponents at New Road will be either Yorkshire, runners-up behind them in the North Group, or 2015 and 2016 finalists Surrey  who will meet in their eliminator match at Headingley.

Hampshire and Sussexs hopes of progressing ended when their match at the Ageas Bowl was rained off, with Gloucestershire against Surrey and Middlesex versus Somerset also abandoned without a ball being bowled.
LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) - Eshaq Jahangiri, Iran's first vice president, said on Tuesday he was quitting the race to be president, backing instead current President Hassan Rouhani, who is seeking a second term in Friday's vote.

"I feel I have done my duty. I will vote alongside all of you for Rouhani," Jahangiri was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency to his supporters in Fars province.

Jahangiri registered to run for the election amid concern among Rouhanis allies that the president might be disqualified by the Guardian Council, a clerical body that vets candidates based on their loyalty to the Islamic Republic. (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
By Dominique Patton

QINGDAO, China, May 17 (Reuters) - China's top pig farmer Guangdong Wen's Foodstuff Group is pushing into processing meat, broadening its operations to limit the impact from tougher competition and falling pork prices in the world's biggest market for the food.

Hog and pork markets have tumbled in recent months as suppliers rushed to cash-in on last year's record prices for the meat, a staple form of protein at the heart of Chinese cuisine.

That is driving Wen's to branch out into livestock slaughtering and meat processing, Luo Xufang, a vice president at the company, said late on Tuesday.

"Large-scale companies are increasing, so Wen's has to consider the issue of competition. In the second-half of this year, we will push ahead into the slaughter and processing industry," Luo said in a presentation to an industry conference in China, without giving details.

When prices for hogs fall, slaughterhouses and processors typically benefit, boosting the incentive to become more integrated, said Luo.

Live hog prices, currently around 15 yuan ($2.18) per kg, are expected to fall further after dropping from a record 22 yuan per kg last June.

But tapping the potentially lucrative processing market could also be risky, as rivals, including WH Group Ltd , have ramped up investment in processing in recent years, leading to overcapacity there too.

Meanwhile, the company also plans to build more than 5,000 retail outlets in southern China to sell Wen's-branded food products, a move that fulfils government policy to focus more on consumption rather than simply production, said Luo. It was unclear how many such shops are already operating and what the timeframe for this would be.

China's 10 largest pig farming firms accounted for only 5.8 percent of hogs sent to slaughter last year, but that was up by 2.8 percentage points on the previous year, said Zhang Guangan, director of the China Swine Industry Association.

Their share is set to keep growing, with groups like state-owned Cofco Corp and Wen's building huge new farms in less developed parts of the country.

Wen's, which produced 17 million pigs last year to rival U.S. company Smithfield, is aiming to lift output to 27.5 million hogs in two years.

But that comes as China's meat industry grapples with stagnating demand-growth and changing tastes, with many younger people willing to splash cash on Western-style meats like bacon and burgers.

Luo said that pork demand had been lacklustre.

"We haven't done a very detailed study, but from our sales situation, we get the impression that consumption has dropped," he said, referring to volumes sold to slaughterhouses.

($1 = 6.8843 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Dominique Patton; Editing by Josephine Mason and Joseph Radford)
May 16 (Reuters) - A tornado tore through western Oklahoma on Tuesday evening, destroying or damaging dozens of homes and killing at least one person, media reported.

As many as 70 homes in Elk City, a town of about 12,000 people around 110 miles (180 km) west of Oklahoma City, were damaged or destroyed by the storm, CBS affiliate KWTV reported, citing officials.

One person in a car was killed, the station reported, citing an emergency response official. It was unclear how many people were injured, KWTV said.

The majority of damage occurred on the south side of the city, the Elk City Police Department said in a statement. The department told residents to stay home because power lines were down across the city. The department's phone lines were also down, it added.

Elk City Public Schools were canceled for Wednesday, the school system said in a statement.

"My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tornado in Elk City tonight," Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said on Twitter. (Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by Nick Macfie)
SOFIA, May 17 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

-- The restitution of land in Sofia will be stopped, Sofia mayor Yordanka Fandakova said, pointing that 27 years after the fall of communism land owners that were deprived of their private property from the communist regime should have already arranged their rights. (24 Chasa, Trud, Standart, Capital Daily, Monitor)

-- Bulgarian farm sector can tap 8.5 billion euros ($9.45 billion)in European Union aid by 2020, Agriculture Minister Rumen Porozhanov said. (24 Chasa, Capital Daily)

-- Bulgaria's telecoms operator Vivacom will team up with China's Huawei to develop IT cloud technologies and transform Bulgaria intro a regional cloud hub, the companies said. (Capital Daily, Standart, Trud)

-- New car sakes have increased 20 percent in the first four months of the year compared to the same period a year ago, data from European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. (24 Chasa, Capital Daily, Standart) ($1 = 0.8996 euros)
TOKYO, May 17 (Reuters) - Japan's top government spokesman denied on Wednesday that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had intervened to help an educational institution run by a friend get permission to set up a veterinary school in a state special economic zone.

Opposition parties have been questioning Abe and other officials for months about the matter.

It is Japan's second political controversy over a school in recent months. In the other case, an educational group with ties to Abe's wife got what critics said was a favourable land deal to build a new school..

Abe has repeatedly denied involvement in either affair.

The Asahi newspaper reported on Wednesday that it had obtained documents showing the Cabinet Office had told the education ministry the prime minister wanted the new school approved, and that it was of interest at the "highest level" of the prime minister's office.

"I am aware of the report, but it is not true," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference.

"The prime minister gave no support at all," he added.

Opposition lawmakers have questioned the process by which the government decided to allow a veterinary department to be set up in the special economic zone in southwestern Japan, since the government has not approved such departments in decades for fear of a glut of veterinarians.

An official at the educational institute, Kake Educational Institution, could not immediately comment on the media reports, which have also said the city where the new department would be located gave the land for free and that Abe's wife, Akie, was honorary principal of a kindergarten run by Kake Educational Institution.

Education ministry officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the reports, which said only Kake Educational Institution had applied to set up a school in the special economic zone, where regulations are relaxed, and that its application was under consideration.

Akie Abe was honorary principal of a kindergarten with a nationalist curriculum run by the other educational group, Moritomo Gakuen, before she stepped down amid the controversy.

Abe, who took office in 2012 for a rare second term, enjoys solid support despite questions about the school affairs and gaffes by cabinet ministers, partly because the news has lately been dominated by concern about North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

A survey this month by the conservative Yomiuri newspaper put his support rate at 61 percent, almost unchanged from April.

(Reporting by Linda Sieg and Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Robert Birsel)
BEIJING, May 17 (Reuters) - China's banking regulator said on Wednesday it will strengthen cyber security protection at banks to prevent "disruptive systemic risk events" after the global WannaCry "ransomware" attack infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries.

The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said in an emailed statement it has not received any major infection reports from the country's banks on the cyber attack.

The attack had infected close to 30,000 Chinese organisations by Saturday evening, Chinese security software maker Qihoo said. But the spread of the WannaCry worm in the country appeared less aggressive than initially feared, said an official at China's cyber administrator.

CBRC also pledged to increase its own cyber security management and risk prevention capabilities, and guide banks to conduct monitoring, assessment, early warning and prevention for similar events.

China is preparing to enforce a wide-reaching cyber security law that U.S. business groups say will threaten the operations of foreign firms in the country with strict local data storage laws and stringent surveillance requirements. (Reporting By Beijing Finance team; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
DUBAI, May 16 (Reuters) - A leading Bahraini human rights activist was denied bail on Tuesday on charges of spreading false news, a pro-opposition rights group reported.

The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy added that Nabeel Rajab's health is deteriorating after he underwent an operation last month for bleeding ulcers.

"Rajab is charged with 'spreading false news' and faces three years for telling news outlets that journalists and NGOs are barred from entering Bahrain," the group said.

There was no immediate government comment on the report.

Rajab was a leading figure in a 2011 pro-democracy uprising led by Bahrain's Shi'ite Muslim majority and he has been repeatedly detained.

An outspoken critic of the government, Rajab faces two other trials on charges of writing an editorial decrying prison conditions in the country and for tweets he is accused of making on human rights and Bahrain's involvement in a war in Yemen.

In a New York Times column published under his byline in September, Rajab addressed readers in the first person, saying he was writing from a "Bahraini jail cell where I have been detained, largely in isolation, since the beginning of summer".

The column said Bahrain was a country "that has subjected its people to imprisonment, torture and even death for daring to desire democracy".

The United Nations Committee against Torture on Friday called on Bahrain to release Rajab from more than nine months of solitary confinement and investigate widespread allegations of ill-treatment and torture of detainees.

Bahrain denies any systematic abuse by police or in its prisons and says it is facing a violent uprising backed by its regional rival Iran.

(Reporting By Noah Browning, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
TOKYO, May 17 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his New Zealand counterpart, Bill English, on Wednesday said they would work together to bring to fruition the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), even after the United States ditched the free trade pact.

Ministers from Japan and New Zealand are among the remaining pact members gathering in Hanoi this weekend to find ways to revive the agreement after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew in favour of pursuing bilateral talks.

"As the flagbearers of free trade, we will maintain close cooperation and aim at early realisation of TPP," Abe told a joint news conference following a summit with English.

TPP rules have to be changed so it can take effect without U.S. participation, but Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso last month said Tokyo would not rule out the option of negotiating such a deal.

"At this time of international uncertainty, it's more important than ever for outward-looking trading countries like New Zealand and Japan to state their principles clearly," said English, urging commitment to international trade and regional economic integration.

"I'm very pleased that New Zealand stands alongside Japan, taking this important regional agreement forward."

For the TPP to take effect without the United States it would have to drop a rule requiring ratification by at least six countries accounting for 85 percent of the combined gross domestic product of the original 12 member nations. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
By Cheryl Gerber

NEW ORLEANS, May 16 (Reuters) - New Orleans removed a statue honoring Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard early Wednesday morning, marking the third of four historical monuments the city slated for removal because they were deemed racially offensive.

Crews laboring under the glare of floodlights began the work of detaching the bottom of the 14-foot-tall statue - a bronze likeness of Beauregard on horseback - from its pedestal on Tuesday night while some 200 bystanders looked on near the entrance of City Park.

Shortly after 3 a.m. CDT (0800 GMT) on Wednesday, a crane lifted the statue from its base after workers had cleared the area. A stone slab with Beauregard's name on it also was removed, but the statue's empty base was left at the site.

The crowd of onlookers, about evenly divided between statue supporters and opponents, were mostly subdued, though a few individuals shouted at one another across the police barricade separating them. Some members of the pro-statue group waved Confederate flags.

The public memorials to Beauregard and other heroes of the U.S. Civil War's pro-slavery Confederacy have been denounced by critics as an affront to the ideals of multi-racial tolerance and diversity in the majority-black Louisiana city.

But doing away with the monuments has met with staunch resistance from groups who argue that the statues are nevertheless important symbols of the city's Southern heritage.

The City Council voted in 2015 to remove monuments honoring two of the Confederacy's best-known generals - Beauregard and Robert E. Lee - as well as Confederate President Jefferson Davis and a 19th-century white supremacist militia.

The Crescent City White League monument was taken down on April 24 and the Davis statue on May 11. The Lee memorial is scheduled to go next, though officials have not publicized precise removal dates in advance.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu wrote an editorial published on Monday in The Washington Post defending his decision to support bringing down the statues, which he characterized as one of his proudest moments in public office.

"Removing New Orleans's Confederate monuments from places of prominence is an acknowledgment that it is time to take stock of, and then move past, a painful part of our history," Landrieu wrote.

The Louisiana House of Representatives passed a measure on Monday that would require local governments to hold referendums before removing any Confederate monuments.

But the bill would not keep New Orleans from proceeding with its plans, said Richard Marksbury, a Tulane University professor and member of the Monumental Task Committee that fought to keep the Confederate monuments in place. (Writing by Steve Gorman. Additional reporting by Peter Szekely.; Editing by Michael Perry, Bernard Orr)
JAKARTA, May 17 (Reuters) - Four Indonesian soldiers were killed and 8 wounded on Wednesday after they were hit by artillery fire during a rapid response training exercise in the Natuna islands north of Borneo in the South China Sea, a military spokesman said.

"The army leadership has conveyed its deepest condolences after the death of four excellent soldiers in an accidental incident in Natuna," said spokesman Denny Tuejeh.

The Indonesian army had launched an investigation to examine how the anti-aircraft weapons system had fired upon the group of soldiers during the exercise.

The wounded personnel had been evacuated and were being treated at a nearby hospital, he said.

Indonesia has been holding regular exercises and has increased its military presence on and around the islands that are located near disputed waters in the South China Sea.

While the sovereignty of the islands is not disputed, Jakarta has objected to Beijing's inclusion of waters around them within China's "nine-dash line", a demarcation line used by Beijing to show its claims. (Reporting by Agustins Beo Da Costa; Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Toby Chopra)
By Jan Strupczewski

STRASBOURG, May 17 (Reuters) - The European Parliament condemned on Wednesday what it called a "serious deterioration" in the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary, at the start of a process that could theoretically lead to Budapest losing its EU voting rights.

The European Union's rule of unanimity means the nationalist-minded government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is unlikely to be stripped of its voting rights as its ally Poland could veto such a move.

However, the European Parliament's resolution, backed by 393 deputies to 221 against, sends a strong signal to Budapest that its actions are being closely monitored.

"Recent developments in Hungary have led to a serious deterioration in the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights which is testing the EUs ability to defend its founding values," the parliament said in a statement.

Since coming to power in 2010, Orban has eliminated checks on his power by taking control of much of Hungary's media, curbing the powers of the constitutional court and placing loyalists in top positions at public institutions.

The European Parliament also asked the European Commission to strictly monitor Hungary's use of EU funds and called on Budapest to repeal laws tightening rules against asylum-seekers and non-governmental organisations.

The resolution also urged Hungary to reach an agreement with U.S. authorities that would enable the Budapest-based Central European University (CEU), founded by U.S. financier George Soros, to continue operating as a free institution.

Hungary's foreign minister dismissed the European Parliament resolution, saying that it amounted to a "new attack on Hungary by George Soros' network".

"European institutions are clearly unable to accept the fact that ... the Government of Hungary is continuing to practice a migration policy that is exclusively aimed at ensuring the security of Hungary," Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

Orban's critics say new legislation endangers the continued existence of the CEU, long considered a bastion of independent scholarship in central Europe. The European Commission has started separate legal action against Hungary over the issue.

The European Parliament will now prepare a formal resolution to launch a process to determine whether there is a "clear risk of a serious breach" of EU values by Budapest.

The process would be based on article 7 of the EU Treaty, whereby EU governments can ask a member state to take specific action to end a serious breach of EU values.

If that country ignores the recommendations, the 27 other EU governments can then decide by unanimity to suspend its voting rights. The right-wing government in Poland, which is currently under the EU's rule of law monitoring procedure over its own actions, would be expected to veto any action against Hungary. (Reporting By Jan Strupczewski, additonal reporting by Krisztina Than and Sandor Peto in Budapest; Editing by Toby Chopra)
By Tom Miles

GENEVA, May 17 (Reuters) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will attend a gathering in Saudi Arabia on Saturday but has received no indication whether he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump there, Sudan's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Bashir is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and is shunned by Western leaders, so any direct contact would be a diplomatic bombshell, despite thawing relations between Washington and Khartoum in recent months.

Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday is the first stop on his maiden international trip as president that will also take him to Israel and Europe.

"On the question of the Trump-Bashir handshake, nobody can pretend anything, but anyway, President Bashir has been invited by the Saudis to be in that conference," Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in Geneva.

"We hope that everything will go through as it has been planned, and we look forward for normalisation of our relations with the U.S.," Ghandour said, adding that he would travel with Bashir to Riyadh on Friday.

Asked if he hoped to see the two leaders shake hands, Ghandour said: "I dont have dreams but I have hopes, and I hope they will be materialised."

Bashir, who came to power in Sudan in a 1989 Islamist and military-backed coup, was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in 2008. He denies the charges and continues to travel abroad, trailed by human rights activists and shunned by Western diplomats.

Ghandour dismissed the ICC as a "political tool". "It's a white man's court created to indict people in Africa", he said.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has called on all states to help with Bashir's arrest and urged the U.N. Security Council to take "robust and concrete measures" to ensure they do.

Bashir faces three counts of genocide, five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes for the murder and persecution of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups in the Darfur province.

Ghandour said Darfur was now peaceful and Khartoum wanted to open up to trade. It also supported international efforts to combat Islamist militants in the wider region.

In January, Trump's predecessor Barack Obama ordered the lifting of a 20-year U.S. trade embargo and financial sanctions after 180 days, provided that Khartoum acts to further improve its human rights record.

Ghandour hoped the sanctions would finally be lifted after an evaluation on July 12, a major step towards integration with the world economy.

Sudan hopes to join the World Trade Organization later this year and reform its economy, which mostly produces gold, gum arabic and farm produce. Ghandour said he also hoped to resolve a trade dispute with Egypt at a meeting in Cairo on May 31.

He also urged the United States to play a stronger role in peacemaking in Syria and in Yemen, where Sudanese troops are part of a Saudi-led coalition.

Ghandour denied reports that Sudan was involved militarily in Libya and that it had helped to supply portable anti-aircraft missiles to rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Additional reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in the Hague; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
By Alexandra Ulmer

CARACAS, May 17 (Reuters) - Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA has deposited funds for the payment of interest on 2024 and 2026 bonds, the company's president told Reuters on Wednesday, after investors reported a delay in some $285 million due early this week.

"The money for interests that were due on Monday and Tuesday has been deposited," Eulogio Del Pino said.

Three bondholders told Reuters earlier on Wednesday that they still had not received payment. It was not immediately clear what caused the delay.

Investors have been concerned for years that cash-strapped Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, may ultimately be unable to meet its hefty debt obligations due to a deep recession at home and lower oil prices. As a result, Venezuela bonds trade at distressed levels.

Socialist President Nicolas Maduro says the OPEC country will meet all its debt commitments and calls default talk a right-wing conspiracy against him. He has also accused global banks of leading a "financial blockade" that has left Venezuela with few financing options amid the oil market downturn.

Still, investors were largely confident that PDVSA would pay this week, after the company made over $2 billion in bond payments last month.

"We've been told that payments will become effective between Thursday and Monday," a local trader said. Another trader said he was "not at all" worried about the delay.

PDVSA also has to pay around $254 million in interest on 2021 and 2035 bonds on Wednesday. (Additional reporting by Corina Pons; Writing by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Tom Brown)
By Anggy Polanco

SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela, May 17 (Reuters) - Venezuela said it was sending 2,000 soldiers on Wednesday to a border state that is a hotspot of anti-government radicalism after a night of looting in which one 15-year-old died as political unrest rumbled on in the volatile nation.

Most shops and businesses in San Cristobal, capital of Tachira state on the Colombian border, were closed and guarded by soldiers on Wednesday, though looting continued in some poorer sectors, residents said.

People made off with items including coffee, diapers, and cooking oil in a country where a brutal economic crisis has made basic foods and medicine disappear from shelves.

Barricades of trash, car tires, and sand littered the streets, as daily life broke down in the city that was also a hotspot during the 2014 wave of unrest against leftist President Nicolas Maduro.

Hundreds of thousands of people have come onto the streets across Venezuela since early April to demand elections, freedom for jailed activists, foreign aid and autonomy for the opposition-led legislature.

Maduro's government accuses them of seeking a violent coup and says many of the protesters are no more than "terrorists." State oil company PDVSA also blamed roadblocks for pockets of gasoline shortages in the country on Wednesday.

In Tachira, teenager Jose Francisco Guerrero was shot dead during the spate of looting, his relatives said.

"My mom sent my brother yesterday to buy flour for dinner and a little while later, we received a call saying he'd been injured by a bullet," said his sister Maria Contreras, waiting for his body to be brought to a San Cristobal morgue.

The state prosecutor's office confirmed his death, which would push the death toll in unrest to at least 43, equal to that of the 2014 protests.

'21ST CENTURY JEWS'

With international pressure against Venezuela's government mounting, the United Nations Security Council turned its attention to the country's crisis for the first time on Wednesday.

"The intent of this briefing was to make sure everyone is aware of the situation ... we're not looking for Security Council action," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told reporters after the session.

"The international community needs to say, 'Respect the human rights of your people or this is going to go in the direction we've seen so many others go' ... We have been down this road with Syria, with North Korea, with South Sudan, with Burundi, with Burma."

Venezuela's U.N. envoy Rafael Ramirez in turn accused the United States of seeking to topple the Maduro government.

"The U.S. meddling stimulates the action of violent groups in Venezuela," he said, showing photos of vandalism and violence he said was caused by opposition supporters.

Venezuelans living abroad, many of whom fled the country's economic chaos, have in recent weeks accosted visiting state officials and their family members.

Maduro on Tuesday likened that harassment to the treatment of Jews under the Nazis.

"We are the new Jews of the 21st century that Hitler pursued," Maduro said during the cabinet meeting. "We don't carry the yellow star of David ... we carry red hearts that are filled with desire to fight for human dignity. And we are going to defeat them, these 21st century Nazis."

The German Nazis and their collaborators persecuted and killed six million Jews in the Holocaust during the 1930s and 1940s.

Social media has for weeks buzzed with videos of Venezuelan emigrees in countries from Australia to the United States shouting insults at public officials and in some cases family members in public places.

Maduro's critics say it is outrageous for officials to spend money on foreign travel when people are struggling to obtain food and children are dying for lack of basic medicines.

But some opposition sympathizers say such mob-like harassment is the wrong way to confront the government. Graphic on Venezuela's economic woes: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__tmsnrt.rs_2pPJdRb&d=D

(Reporting by Anggy Polanco, additional reporting by Eyanir Chinea, Brian Ellsworth, Girish Gupta and Andrew Cawthorne in Caracas, Julia Symmes Cobb in Bogota and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations in New York; Writing by Girish Gupta and Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Andrew Hay)
RIYADH, May 18 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) on Wednesday announced the launch of a state-owned military industrial company aimed at contributing more than 14 billion riyals ($3.7 billion) to the Kingdom's gross domestic product by 2030.

The new Saudi Arabian Military Industries will seek to provide over 40,000 jobs by 2030, the PIF - the kingdom's top sovereign wealth fund - said in a statement.

The move could alter decades of practice in which Saudi Arabia - one of the world's largest buyers of foreign arms - and other Gulf Arab states recycled a major part of their oil wealth back into Western economies via arms purchases and investments.

Last year, the powerful deputy crown prince and defence minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, launched his Vision 2030 reform scheme to boost jobs and revenue to prepare for a future with lower oil income.

"The company will seek to be a key catalyst ... to localize 50 percent of total government military spending in the Kingdom by the year 2030," up from just 2 percent now, bin Salman was quoted as saying by state news agency SPA.

"It will lead the military industries sector to increase local content, increase exports and bring foreign investment to the kingdom by entering into joint ventures with major international military industry companies," he added.

The company will work in repair and maintenance of planes as well as in the manufacture of unmanned aircraft, according to the statement.

Additionally, it will do work on military vehicles, ammunition, radar, communications systems and electronic warfare.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a military coalition fighting for over two years in a war in neighbouring Yemen and accuses arch-rival Iran of encircling it by backing armed proxies throughout the region.

The kingdom also spearheaded the creation last year of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, which will be headquartered in Riyadh and comprised of dozens of countries from throughout the Muslim world.

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to make his first overseas visit starting in Saudi Arabia this weekend, in large part focused on defense and security ties.

The United States is close to completing a series of arms deals with the kingdom totaling more than $100 billion, a senior White House official told Reuters earlier this month. (Reporting By Mostafa Hashem, Noah Browning and Katie Paul; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Jonathan Oatis)
BRASILIA, May 17 (Reuters) - Brazil is concerned about growing numbers of refugees spilling over its border from Venezuela and is creating a plan to deal with a possible mass influx if the crisis in Venezuela worsens, Brazilian Defense Minister Raul Jungmann said on Wednesday.

"Evidently we are worried and our biggest concern is the humanitarian situation," Jungmann told reporters. "We need to have a contingency plan in place to handle this if things get worse."

More than 6,000 Venezuelans cross the border every day looking to buy food and medicine, and most go back but others stay and look for work, the minister said.

Last month, Brazilians were shocked by the sight of indigenous women and children from Venezuela begging in the streets of Manaus, the biggest city in Brazil's Amazon region.

The government of the border state of Roraima has said that 30,000 refugees have arrived since Venezuela's political and economic crisis became acute last year. Federal police have put the number of refugees in Roraima's capital Boa Vista at over 15,000 people.

Roraima state Senator Telmario Mota told Reuters that Venezuelans seeking employment were being exploited in Boa Vista and young Venezuelan women had been forced into prostitution.

A United Nations High Commission for Refugees mission that visited Boa Vista on Wednesday found 6,000 Venezuelans housed in shelters and another 5,000 on a waiting list.

"We are here to familiarize ourselves with the situation, see the local response capability and help prepare to receive an influx of people if that were needed," a UNHCR spokesman said.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Toni Reinhold)
SAO PAULO, May 17 (Reuters) - Brazilian electricity regulator Aneel is looking to hire Mandarin translation services, according to the Wednesday edition of the federal gazette, underscoring Chinese investors' fast-growing importance to the country's energy sector.

The contract also includes translation of the regulator's webpage into English and Spanish, languages in which the bidding documents for power generation and transmission projects will also be published.

The hiring of Mandarin services shows the government is keen to lure even more investment from China to Brazil's power sector, which has gone through a wave of mergers and acquisitions led by Chinese firms.

"The move is associated with the attraction of foreign capital to the Brazilian electricity sector," the regulator told Reuters, highlighting the role of China and other countries.

State Grid Corp of China, which arrived in Brazil in 2010, is already one of the largest industry players after recently closing the acquisition of CPFL Energia SA.

China Three Gorges Corp is also gaining ground through a series of major acquisitions, including the former Brazilian operations of U.S.-based Duke Energy Corp.

($1 = 3.13 reais) (Reporting by Luciano Costa; Writing by Ana Mano; Editing by Andrew Hay)
361 Degrees, Sri Lankas largest teambuilding, leadership, engagement, innovation, strategy and soft skills service provider, reached another significant milestone as it achieved its best-ever performance during the 2016/17 financial year.

During the three-year period from 2013/14 financial year to present, the company has also been able to double the revenue generated through its operations. In 2016, the company successfully completed 224 training programmes for 87 clients covering a total of 321 programme days.

Overall, the company has passed a total of 1,206 team building programmes as at March 31. These statistics clearly underscores the fact that 361 Degrees is the largest HR solutions provider in Sri Lanka at present.

Since its inception back in 2001 as Wild Drift, 361 Degrees has successfully carried out training programmes for over 220 organisations in both Sri Lanka and overseas. The company continues to provide innovatively practical and tailor-made learning solutions for a wide variety of clientele through a culmination of 15 years of intensive research and experimentation as Sri Lankas leading HR solutions partner.

The company has the largest and most experienced facilitator pool in the country. This team has the capability to handle parallel programmes and effectively engage with a participant count of several hundreds. The teams extensive experience allows them to understand the clients specific requirements, provide innovative suggestions and solutions and carry out unique training programmes that engage the audience.

Through the Audience Response System, 361 Degrees is able to run anonymous climate surveys pre and post-programme, quizzes and interactive classroom sessions. Such expertise in its field has enhanced its reputation at the regional level and enabled the company to successfully carry out programmes in reputed organisations, such as Triumph in Jaipur, India and the British Council in Dubai.

Expressing his views, 361 Degrees Chief Visionary Officer Rukmal De Silva stated, It has been a ground-breaking three-year period and we are proud to note that the company has reached some significant performance milestones. Since inception, Wild Drift has been such a strong brand that it took a very bold decision to let go of that brand and relaunch as 361 Degrees. Taking the risk has paid rich dividends as the company has evolved with the fast-changing needs of the clientele and I can confidently state that the brand 361 Degrees is now a well-established one.

He added that the company is constantly looking at new, innovative solutions to introduce to the market, adding, We are currently working on something very different which we believe will take the Sri Lankan market into a new direction as far as training is concerned. Commenting on the company performance, 361 Degrees Growth Artist Dulendra Udukumbure stated, A big thank you goes out to all our valued clientele for continuing to use our services for their HR training requirements. Their patronage has helped us to hit these impressive numbers over the past two to three years. We look forward to introducing innovative programmes that will help elevate the standard of HR training in Sri Lanka and thereby pave the way for these clients to train their staff using the latest training methods.
Twenty one students of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) who were injured during a protest at Viharamahadevi Park had been hospitalised, the Colombo National Hospital, sources said. (Chaturanga Pradeep)
Colombo Additional Magistrate Chandima Wijebandra refused to issue an order to halt a protest by the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) against the South Asian Institute of Management and Medicine (SAITM).
Q A doctor informed me of an alternative treatment for the ailment, Osteoarthritis recently. It is known as Surve Cell. According to this method the doctor draws some blood from the patients knees, culture them and after a few days re-inject the same blood back to the knees. According to the information from my general physician, there had been favourable results from this procedure.

What is your opinion about this method? If I try this, will there be any relief for me?

Michael Pieris - A suffering patient

A: There are two types of blood product related injections that are being practiced in the world for knee and muscle related problems.



Out of this I assume that you were referring to platelet rich plasma injections. This is what is practiced in Sri Lanka. There is another variety of injections which uses stem cells. This is currently not available in Sri Lanka as it is a very advanced type of an injection with colossal expenses for the patient.



Platelet rich plasma injections are done using the patients own blood. Blood is drawn out from the patient and particles called platelets are separated from other components. Then these platelets are injected in to the joints or painful muscles. The usefulness of these injections were analysed by a premier research group called Cochrane. What they did was, they checked the response of nearly 1088 patients who were given these injections. What they found out was that there was not much of a difference in pain symptoms even after the injections were given. Therefore still platelet rich plasma is not an approved way of curing joint pain. At National Health Services-United Kingdom where I worked a couple of years ago, these injections were never practiced by rheumatologists/joint specialists.



I hope this information was useful for you.
Blue Mountains ethereal lanterns brightened up UN Vesak Day celebrations which were celebrated in Sri Lanka this year with the participation of Buddhist leaders from around the world. The three-day celebration began on 12th May in Colombo and consisted of an International Buddhist Symposium with the participation of over 400 delegates from 100 countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari attended the UN Vesak Day celebrations.

Sri Lankas foremost real estate company, Blue Mountain, was an integral part of the landmark UN Vesak Day celebrations by placing over 600 lanterns on either sides of Japan Friendship road and Denzil Kobbakaduwa mawatha, since the roads led to the venue of the UN Vesak Day celebrations. The 6-feet tall lanterns in the shapes of lotus flowers and stupas (daagaba) were placed at every six metres, illuminating a distance of over 6kms to light up the streets and spread the joy of Vesak which was witnessed by all the dignitaries.
EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Tung-Lai Margue and Political, Trade and Communications Section Head of EU Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Paul Godfrey

Pic by Samantha Perera

By Chandeepa Wettasinghe

Sri Lanka must start diversifying its exports portfolio immediately to make use of the handful of years the country will remain eligible for the European Unions Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP Plus) preferential duty programme, EU diplomats in Colombo said yesterday.

Start diversification of exports now. GSP Plus will allow you to export new products, not simply traditional products, because it would be more competitive to do so. EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Tung-Lai Margue told reporters in Colombo a day after Sri Lanka successfully navigated the GSP Plus application process.

Central Bank data shows that Sri Lanka has not managed to maintain a sustainable export diversification programme for the past 10 years, except for some success in spices.

Political, Trade and Communications Section Head of EU Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Paul Godfrey said, some products that Sri Lanka has the potential to export successfully to the EU include cinnamon, pepper and other spices, fruits, and other food products sourced organically with Fair trade certification.

There is a market for meat, but Sri Lanka doesnt export meat in large quantities, he added.

Margue noted that in terms of services exports, Sri Lanka currently has nothing much to contribute to the EU market, although the countrys IT sector may become competitive enough in the future.

He said that some traditional exports to the EU such as apparel, rubber products, small machinery, fisheries and tea could continue to gain market share with GSP Plus.

However, for small and medium sized businesses, it could be difficult to overcome technical obstacles, and the standards demanded by the EU consumers, he said, and added that this is why the EU recently started a 8 million euro project to help boost SME exports to EU standards.

Godfrey added that if the Sri Lankan government shows commitment towards boosting exports of specific industry areas, the EU could arrange for similar programmes to help bring them to standards fit for exports to the EU.

After regaining GSP Plus, the effects of which will come into force this Friday, Sri Lanka can enjoy duty free access to the EU market, except for 13 items, most of which are agricultural goods for which production is still weak in the EU, requiring protection, according to Godfrey.

The EU absorbed US$ 3.1 billion worth of Sri Lankan exports in 2016, or 30.1 percent of the countrys total exports, up from US$ 3.02 billion in 2015, which accounted for 28.7 percent of the total exports in that year.

Margue said that with GSP Plus, Sri Lanka will gain an immediate annual tariff benefit of 300 million euros, although, benefits from increased trade would push the benefit above 1 billion euros annually in the longer term.

Sri Lanka lost access to the facility in 2010 over allegations of human rights violations during the latter part of the 30-year civil war that ended in 2009. Remaining eligible for GSP Plus requires recipient countries to show continuous commitment to implementing 27 international conventions on human and labour rights and environmental concerns.

Margue said these international conventions are now apply to Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan government should show commitment towards them

Theres still too many incidents of torture for instance, we know theres still too many forced into marriage, that theres still laws that discriminate against sections of Sri Lankan society, just to name a few, he said.

He noted that the EU will conduct biannual monitoring sessions starting from January 2018 to ascertain whether Sri Lanka remains committed to implementing the 27 conventions, and that a roadmap will be created following discussions with the government to set targets.
Futureworld announced the relocation of their store to a more spacious location.

Futureworld Lanka (Pvt). Ltd was incorporated in 2009 backed by the prestigious Singapore-based Thakral Group.

After originally opening its doors in Vietnam in 2007, Futureworld Group had expanded to encompass ten countries in Asia with 35 stores as to-date.

Futureworld is the only premium service provider and the authorized reseller for Apple products in Sri Lanka.

They have also tied up with reputed signature accessory brands and these partnerships will benefit the customer, to purchase genuine products. Futureworld is not just a gadget store but focus on delivering a unique customer experience.

Futureworld also does its best to ensure that customers make the maximum out of their Mac investments. In addition to the one-to-one and Group training programs that is already conducted for the retail, corporate and government customers, free daily in-store demonstrations on some of the cool Mac features, will allow customers to walk in to the new-location and learn how best to use their Apple product. The customers get to experience the product first-hand and even ask questions from our helpful sales staff and trainers before deciding on their purchase.

CEO and Managing Director of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Muhunthan Canagey declared open the new store.

With the relocating the company is looking to expand even further.

Customers can visit the new convenient location facing the Duplication Road at No: 61/1 Lorensz Road, R. A. De. Mel Mawatha, Colombo 05 to take advantages of a spacious showroom.
THE HAGUE (REUTERS) May 15, 2017 - India asked World Court judges on Monday to order Pakistan to stay the execution of an Indian citizen who Islamabad says is a captured spy, a case that has escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.



India argued in a preliminary hearing at the U.N. court, formally known as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), that Pakistan violated the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by denying the condemned man access to legal and other assistance from India.



Pakistan responded that the court should decline jurisdiction in the case.
Celebrating International Vesak Day 2017, Litro Gas Lanka Limited, the largest importer and supplier of LP Gas in Sri Lanka plans to provide modern cooking facilities to 100 selected places of worship across the island.

Initiated under the auspices of Minister Kabir Hashim, Minister of Public Enterprises, the initial event took place at the Sri Dharamagnana Dharmayathana Maha Piriven Viharaya, Makula, Hettimulla, Kegalle on May 6th.

During the event Litro Gas Lanka donated gas cookers, gas cylinders and other required accessories to 35 temples and Pirivena centres in Kegalle.

In addition, the company donated similar gifts to 5 mosques in Kegalle in the spirit of the International Vesak Day to promote religious harmony. The United Nations Day of Vesak is celebrated annually in countries where Buddhism is practiced.

Vesak is a time we should honour values such as social harmony, generosity and genuine concern for others. We saw this as a great opportunity to addressthe requirements of some of the most overlooked places-of-worship which require intervention to function as beacons of peace and spiritual development of residents in their respective areas, commented Shalila Moonesinghe, Chairman, Litro Gas Lanka.

In order to ensure the effectiveness of the programme, the Commercial Engineering Division of Litro Gas Lanka will overlook itsevery aspect from selection of equipment and accessories to assembling the equipment to the provision of gas cylinders.

All our CSR programmes look to provide effective and pragmatic solutions to an existing concern. This programme is no exception. We are committed to taking this insightful corporate citizenship forward to contribute as best we can to rejuvenate the social, cultural and religious facets of Sri Lanka, commented Chaminda Ediriwickrama, Director- Sales and Marketing/Corporate Affairs - Litro Gas Lanka Limited.

Litro Gas Lanka Limited (LGLL) is the largest importer and supplier of LP Gas in Sri Lanka. Operating the countrys only import terminal and filling facility which has the capacity to cater to the LPG needs of the entire Island, the Company has comprehensive coverage through an island wide network.
A cabinet reshuffle, setting up a special authority to suppress strikes, disciplinary action against SLFPers who attended the Galle Face rally, the controversy surrounding Minister Rajitha Senaratnes title as cabinet spokesperson and an imminent referendum; these were some of the pertinent questions raised during a discussion held with President Maithripala Sirisena recently. Excerpts of the interview follow:

We need foreign investments, our foreign reserves should increase, our exports should increase and imports reduced

All the trade unions organizing these strikes and protests can come for discussions with us

just because people came in large numbers to a meeting does not mean that all their votes will be cast into ballot boxes

I am maintaining my stance on the abolishing of the executive presidency and thereby strengthening the Parliament

There was a discussion about the statements made by the Ministers and it was agreed to resolve these issues

There were reports hinting of a cabinet reshuffle before Vesak poya. Poya has now come and gone. Mr. President, will there be a cabinet reshuffle?

It will take place soon. You dont have to worry. It will definitely happen and it is still the Vesak month.

Some are of the view that the cabinet reshuffle is being delayed as the UNP is opposed to the move.

What has been published in the media regarding the matter is untrue. The Prime Minister, myself and party representatives have all reached an agreement. It is the general view of everyone that a cabinet reshuffle should take place for the betterment of the country and no individual is against this. This is not something unusual or a spectacle. Since 1947, every government that came to power implemented cabinet reshuffles. Therefore, it is just a matter of course and not something new.

The Ministers in this government are making contradictory statements. Ministers Rajitha Senarathne, Mahinda Amaraweera and John Senevirathne are issuing diverse statements contradicting each other. Why do they hold differing views?

Yes. I instructed them during the cabinet meetings not to make such contradictory statements. When two parties are working together there are occasions where opinions could differ. But as a government, we should not give in to conflicts by creating issues. This happened during the earlier government as well. Do you remember the talk of an Economic Assassin? This is not something unique to this government. It has happened earlier too and it is always better to resolve these issues at discussions.

There was much hype recently about Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka being appointed to suppress strikes and protests by having a special brigade under him. Is the government contemplating such action?

This is completely incorrect. We never discussed such moves and it will never happen. Ours is a democratic government and we face these strikes and protests in the usual manner; winning public confidence on one hand, while working according to rules and regulations. During the recent garbage crisis, there were protests in some areas and we published emergency regulations that were in force through a gazette notification. These were presented to Parliament. These are not acts of suppression but what would normally happen in any country.



On the other hand, these strikes and protests are the work of a minority group which should not affect the majority. All the trade unions organizing these strikes and protests can come for discussions with us. But protests and strikes launched with political motivations to topple the government or disrupt day-to-day activities would be thwarted as a responsible government. We are firm in our standing. There is no decision to hand over such responsibilities to Sarath Fonseka or to have a separate task force to tackle such issues. These are all untruths which we reject as fabricated stories by our opponents.

The Cabinet spokesperson Minister Rajitha Senarathne said a cabinet decision had been taken about appointing Sarath Fonseka. Later Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera and John Senevirathne denied at a press briefing that no such decision was taken by the cabinet. Now a serious issue has surfaced about who is telling the truth.

It is better for all these Ministers to refrain from making comments on unnecessary topics and confusing people. It is necessary that all maintain collective responsibility.

The SLFP Ministers decided to request that Minister Rajitha Senarathne be removed from the post of Cabinet Spokesperson. They had even met you and made this request. Meanwhile the cabinet has decided to appoint a cabinet spokesperson from the SLFP as well. Do you think this issue can be resolved in this manner?

SLFP Ministers did not request the removal of Rajitha Senarathne from the post of Cabinet Spokesperson. There was a discussion about the statements made by the Ministers and it was agreed to resolve these issues and continue to act with collective responsibility.

The SLFP Ministers requested that an SLFP member should also be appointed as a Cabinet Spokesperson. There is already the Minister of Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilleke and Minister Rajitha Senarathne as the Co-spokesperson. Now we will appoint a Cabinet Spokesperson from the SLFP also. During the previous cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister and I discussed the matter and instructed them to deliver their statements in agreement. Therefore in future these three persons will hold the same view and statements will be made accordingly.

Q There is talk of a new constitution and Minister Rajitha Senarathne stated that the first election that would be held under this government is going to be a referendum.

No, we have not taken a decision about a referendum.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had said that the Provincial Council election will take place first followed by the local council elections. What is your position regarding these elections? I am not able to tell you exactly which election will come first. This year has been earmarked as an election year. But it depends on the statutory context and the government would have to follow an agenda. Therefore I am unable to tell you which election would come first, as it is necessary to act according to future developments.

Is the government gearing up for a new constitution?

Yes. Action is being taken with regard to the formulation of a new constitution. The draft should come to the cabinet and discussions will be held to assess its positive points and shortcomings. It will be presented to the Parliament only after we discuss it at the cabinet meetings. There is a vast amount of fabricated news about the constitution published in the media. In one national newspaper the headline recently intimated that the place given to Buddhism had been changed. It is a complete canard. I refute these allegations and reiterate that what is indicated in the 1972 constitution about Buddhism will not be changed.

Does this constitution include the abolition of the executive presidency and amendments to the electoral system?

Yes absolutely. It is the peoples request for a new electoral system and the ward system. Priority will be given in the new constitution for changes to the electoral system. I am maintaining my stance on the abolishing of the executive presidency and thereby strengthening the Parliament.

For the past two years there has been talk of local government elections. Is the government afraid of these elections?

We are not afraid of elections. I have already instructed Minister Faiszer Mustapha to expedite the process. However the government cannot be held responsible for the delay. There were issues connected with the delimitation. It took more than two years since our coming to power to rectify these shortcomings. I am keen to have these elections early.

There was so much said about the May Day rallies conducted by different parties. What is your impression of the SLFP rally?

In Getambe, we had a rally by both the SLFP and the UPFA. It was a victory rally. After I became the chairman of the party, we held the May Day rally in Hyde Park in 2015. There were only about 10,000 to 12,000 people present. In 2016 we held it in Galle and the ground could not accommodate all who attended. There was a big traffic problem because of the large crowd. This year we had it in Kandy. People walked 5 or 6 kms parading the streets. There was no parade for the so-called Galle Face meeting. There were people walking on several roads who could not enter the Getambe grounds. If all these people who came in processions were accommodated in the grounds it would not have been second to any. Those who know about May Day rallies know the difference between a procession and a meeting. People who come in processions do not attend the meeting.

There were sudden torrential showers in Kandy while the procession was going on. This prevented the people from congregating in one place. When these facts are taken into consideration, our rally was a very successful one. The SLFP has proved clearly what our position was in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Some appear to be highly thrilled by the attendance at Galle Face and had witnessed a mirage at a distance of toppling the government. That is the biggest deception. During the 2015 elections, there were very large crowds at the meetings of my rival. As a person with experience on meetings and rallies for the past 35 to 40 years, I know that just because people came in large numbers to a meeting does not mean that all their votes will be cast into ballot boxes. One should consider the internal affairs of the country, how the political parties conduct their affairs and the issues facing the country. We should not get carried away by the crowds that gather and expect that on the following day they could topple the government. Which is a mirage? We have witnessed many meetings like this. I have not yet divulged my future agenda for the country. I will be taking very firm decisions in the future. Anyone has the right to express his views. I wish to state clearly that our meeting in Kandy was a very successful one and I reject the analysis some people are making about it. We are confident that we have moved forward.

The Central Committee of your party took a decision to invite in writing SLFP parliamentarians, and local councillors. A decision had also been taken by the Central Committee against those who attended the Galle Face rally instead of coming to Getambe. What action would be taken against those who avoided coming to Getambe and instead went to Galle Face?

That will be decided by the Central Committee who will convene next week. They will take a decision after their discussions.

There are charges made against the government alleging that the Hambantota Port had been given to China and the Trincomalee oil tanks given to India and that there is a move to make Sri Lanka a colony of China and India. What is your response to these allegations?

Those who ask this should question what they were doing when they gave the Port City to China. The very same people who kept mum when these took place are now making much noise saying Hambantota will be given to China and Trincomalee will be given to India. A country needs foreign investments in order to develop. However, it should be noted that when such investments are encouraged, the countrys independence, its self-determination and national security are not threatened in any way nor will its culture or economy be affected. The question should not be about Hambantota or Trincomalee but about how the country could be developed. We need foreign investments, our foreign reserves should increase, our exports should increase and imports reduced. We need investments for this purpose and there is no possibility to hand over a portion of the country or give it as free hold property. It should be considered that every government, specially after 1977, obtained foreign investments and following this path is the best course available to our country. This is my stance as well. We are not going to give away our country to any other country and wash our hands. It will never be done in that manner. Though they allege that we have already given the country away, these very people should understand that we have not entered into any agreement of that nature. Discussions are underway over various proposals but I will never agree to give away ownership of our land to any investor.

Courtesy: Sunday Lankadeepa
A number of development programmes to improve the livelihood of fisher folk and provide them with financial benefits have been launched by the Colombo Port City in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development.

The programmes were launched earlier this month at a ceremony attended by Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera as Chief Guest.

The minister laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the project, which included a number of development programmes such as community halls in Dikkowita and Uswetakeiyawa, and two shelters for the boat landings in Keppungoda and Aluthkuruwa.

The first phase of the development programme would benefit fisher families in the Wattala, Uswetakkeiyawa, Seeduwa, Keppungoda and Negombo areas. Seventeen fishery associations representing these areas were awarded Rs. 2,000,000 each at the ceremony, so that the money would be distributed amongst fishermen in the form of interest free loans, so that they would have the opportunity to either purchase equipment or otherwise invest in their professions to better their livelihoods.

There had been baseless propaganda in the past, spread by civil society organizations, leading to negative reactions by several fishery associations towards the Colombo Port City project. Allegations were made, stating that fisher folk were loosing fish breeding grounds, due to sand dredging in the Negombo area. However, investigations made by NARA proved that the manner in which the dredging was done had no impact on fish breeding grounds nor were the dredging locations in areas where there was coral and other marine life.

Identifying the need to uplift the fishing industry as a whole, the Colombo Port City decided to grant Rs. 500 million to the Fishermen Livelihood Support Society set upunder the direction of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development.

Under the Livelihood programme, plans are underway to provide several other fishery associations in the Negombo and Wattala fishing regions with financial aid & other facilities to uplift the livelihood of fisher families and the industry in general.
By Shabiya Ali Ahlam

As Sri Lanka gears up to reap the benefits of GSP Plus, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the business community must maximize all efforts to fully capitalize on the opportunity that could be the golden ticket in reviving the nations dampening exports.

It is not about just entering into a market but it is a significant landmark that marks the beginning of our economy becoming an export-oriented economy, said the upbeat premier while addressing Women Leadership Summit 2017 in Colombo, yesterday.

Pointing out that businesses in South Asia are either export oriented or domestic oriented, he stressed that Sri Lanka should now strive to becoming a fully export-focused nation.

Since no success can be achieved by increasing the focus on the domestic market alone, Wickremesinghe stressed continuing to do so would not help resolve the countrys perennial balance of payment (BOP) issue.

The problem we face is a serious BOP position and debt servicing. This can only be resolved by increasing our export earnings. We have to aim for all of us becoming exporters.

Domestic market focus alone is not enough, not anymore, he remarked.

With GSP Plus allowing access to about 6000 products, it was said that the economy must look at broadening the product range. Currently Sri Lankas main focus in this regard is on apparels and fisheries.

We ask the existing exporters to utilize this (GSP Plus). We will give the concessions to increase export volumes and export earnings, assured Wickremesinghe.

He also asked the domestic manufacturers to explore the option of becoming exporters, an effort that would receive government support.

We will help them because they gave the capacity. There are only a few more steps they have to take. Our job is to encourage them.

Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe stressed that the proposed trade agreements with India, China and several other nations would not come into effect overnight and assured that priority would always be given to protect the domestic industries.

We are spreading it out. There is enough time for our domestic industries to increase competitiveness. We will provide tax incentives along with other facilities, stated Wickremesinghe.

He also pledged to remove the administrative barriers that have been voiced by the export community as a primary hurdle in trade. With focus on improving ease of doing business and making banks more competitive, Wickremesinghe assured measures are being taken to ensure Sri Lanka achieves higher growth rates in the coming years.
Regional Development Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about the proposed role to be assigned to him, the current status of politics and his future plans. Excerpts of the interview:

Q There are contrasting views on the proposed role to be assigned to you to deal with emergency situations triggered by trade union activities. What is the actual position, and how do you look forward to it?

If you say I am going to take action against trade union activities, it would not be correct anyway. What we discussed was to maintain smooth functioning of essential services. That is to ensure that essential services are not disrupted when trade union actions are taking place. That is to ensure the general public are not inconvenienced.

Q How are you going to take up the responsibilities in this regard?

This is being discussed. It was initially discussed at the Cabinet. After that, no action has been taken as yet. If I am given the responsibility, obviously, I will have to ensure that somebody works in place of those on strike. We have to make some arrangements in that regard.

Q How is it possible?

When dock workers were on strike, Army personnel were deployed on their behalf by lifting cargo and all. If doctors are on strike, there are doctors in the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police. They should be able to shoulder a certain amount of work. If drivers are on strike, the same method will be adopted. The military has operational plans for these.

Q Number wise, it would be small then. How do you find enough replacements?

That is what we have to discuss and work out plans. We have to do a detailed study. Not militarily alone, if there are other ways of getting drivers, labourers or whoever, we have to study and work out modalities.

Q In your view, how soon would this happen?

It depends on the Presidents wish. It is left to him to decide what he wants. This suggestion came from him, so we would have to do what he wants.

Q Trade Union activities have become a constant occurrence. At the same time, workers are entitled to the right to protest and it is a democratically accepted right. How do you reconcile these two situations?

They can take trade union action to ensure the workers welfare is not neglected. Also, they can do so to ensure that their professional rights are not neglected. But, trade union activities are not allowed to topple the government. That is the difference we see. There are views that some of the trade unions try to do politics. They want to topple the government by disrupting essential services. They are trying to help bring somebody to power.

When that happens, the government is not going to keep quiet. It will have to take counter action. Actually, 5.2 million people elected the government. One cannot allow 2,000 odd people to topple

the government.

Q When you say counter action, what does it mean?

Counter action is what I explained earlier. It is not by shooting. We guarantee that we will not open fire at people though the Rajapaksas did it at Ratupaswala, Chilaw etc.

Q It is quite a long time since your appointment as a Cabinet Minister. What have you delivered?

My ministry is mainly responsible for major project implementation in the Central North Central, and in the Eastern Province and also in the Badulla district. Also, there is a department under the ministry called Hadbaima Authority. That is the only institution that does normal work such as soil conservation and so on. But, the major projects are being discussed at the moment. The Kandy Development Project is being discussed to be implemented with financial assistance from JICA. The Eastern Province development projects are being discussed. Discussions are taking place under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. When those are finalized and launched, our Ministry will spring into action.

Q What sort of responsibilities would you be holding?

We will be responsible for accounting and the execution of the projects.

Q What are the Kandy development projects in the pipeline?

There are a whole lot of activities, such as the Bogambara development project, a new vehicle park is coming up, a tunnel is being planned to be constructed. You might have to write a separate article outlining all.

Q Earlier you were the Army Commander. After that, you even headed a political party. Now, you are an MP with Cabinet responsibilities under a government headed by someone. Do you feel like being relegated to a lower position?

An Army Commander is not above a Minister anyway. He is a departmental head. A Cabinet Minister is always senior to a departmental head in position. I formed a separate party for a different purpose. I wanted freedom and to carry forward my political agenda- to oust the Rajapaksa regime. I wanted to do it in my way and that job is done now. In this country, people look at the two major parties only. People have become loyalists of these two parties for generations. It is difficult for a new party in place of the two. You can see what is happening to the JVP. The majority of people vote for these two parties. You cannot do much with a small party. The Rajapaksas have been thrown out of power now. I came to politics mainly to ensure that the Rajapaksas did not ruin this country. I have now joined a major political party. I cannot join the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The Rajapaksas will not allow the SLFP to work for me. The only option available is to join the United National Party (UNP). The UNP played a major role in bringing me to politics. The UNPers appreciated me for joining their party.

Q You said the Rajapaksas are out now and said you have accomplished your target. Does it mean that you are happy with whatever position assigned to you now?

Now, we have a coalition government in place. There is collective responsibility. I cannot decide and work the way I want. There is party hierarchy to decide on certain things so as the government. I have to toe the line with them. I have to work with certain disciplinary framework. That is exactly what I am doing. But, the Rajapaksas are not yet finished. They are still trying to create problems for the government.

Q What does it mean when you say not yet finished?

We almost finished them actually. Then, this Joint Opposition or the corrupt politicians are around him and trying to bring him back. Of course, the government is responsible for leaving room for him to come back. We could have done a little bit more and taken legal action for all his abuses and corruptive activities. We are already late and have not done it properly. People expected us to expedite and are now blaming us. He is trying to raise his head again. Therefore, we still have another battle to fight.

Q When you were in the last Parliament, you said once that your father was used to left-leaning politics at that time. It means you are from a family with a leftist bent in political thinking. How comfortable are you to be with the UNP which advocates liberal economic policies?

Yes, my father was pro-left. He did political work not only with the party of Philip Gunawardane, but also with the SLFP at some stage. I did not come to politics based on my fathers political background. I started politics on my own.

Q But, how comfortable are you with the UNP policies?

I am fully in agreement with the UNPs policies. I am not a deep rooted politician. I find the UNP political activities are very democratic and comfortable to adopt.

Q What is your stance on power devolution or power sharing?

Power sharing has to take place to a certain extent. The minorities must also feel safe in this country. When it comes to constitutional changes, we cannot take decisions as politicians, without feeling the pulse of the majority of this country. This country belongs to all ethnic groups that spread over the country. We should listen to the ideas and ascertain the sentiments of all people. We have to finalize those in the Constitution. Those are tough The grey areas which are being argued now. At some stage, you have to reach a solution. I dont think all these could be done in a hurry.

Q To what extent do you agree with the UNPs economic policies?

We are very clean and genuine. Both the President and the Prime Minister are not inclined to earn money, unlike the previous rulers. They are trying to pull the country out of the economic debacle that we are facing.

Q Your impression on the UNPs leadership...

The UNPs leadership is extremely good in its economic strategies. The leaders are doing their best and we are falling in line with them. There are certain areas such as legal matters which are not given priority at the moment. They raise queries.To revamp the country, they are doing their best.

Q There were reports that the UNP was going to give you a post in the party. At the same time, it is learnt that some others in the party are opposed to it. What is the actual situation?

There were not some; it was actually one. He is also not a very senior member of the party. He joined the UNP about a decade ago. I think you are referring to Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe... there is no secret. Everybody knows that. He is an MR loyalist. He is not happy to see I was joining the UNP. When I was offered an MP status and then a Cabinet portfolio, he said he would resign. But, never did so. Even if he leaves, I dont think the UNP would lose much. He has objected this time as well. The UNP has informed me that it would offer me a senior position.

Q How do you compare and contrast your political career with your military career?

After retiring from the military, one becomes an ordinary citizen. Then, you can decide on. Some people go as ambassadors and/or diplomats. Some others engage in business. I decided to take a different direction because the country wanted me to contest at the 2010 polls and I agreed. As a politician, I am trying my best to fulfil the peoples aspirations.

Q In the report submitted to the UNHRC, there are eight allegations made against the military and only three against the LTTE. You were the Army Commander at that time. How do you respond to them?

The LTTE is a terrorist organization. The allegation against them is for terrorism. You cant expect the terrorists to follow the Geneva Conventions. Obviously they committed crimes. I am trying to say that there are eight allegations against the military, only three against the LTTE. We have abided by the law of the country - the military law, Geneva Conventions etc. There could be an allegation over a minor mistake. As for a terrorist organization, everything they did was wrong.

Q There are allegations against the military for killing civilians and sexual abuse of women. What are your views?

I do not agree with the allegation of killing civilians. During the war, sexual abuse never took place. I dont know whether there were any incidents after that. After we left, what the Army Commander did was not professional. The big intelligence personnel who were under Gotabhaya did not handle the situation professionally and their conduct was unacceptable. During the war, the Army never engaged in these kinds of malpractices. The Army never abused power nor attacked the civilian targets. We followed the conventional war. If there were one or two individuals who disobeyed our orders and committed any offence, they have to be punished. There is no question about it.

Q What is your opinion on the Office of Missing Persons Act?

That is good. That will not do any harm to the military or to the peace loving citizens. Only those retired Army officers influenced by Gotabhaya are making various comments. Only those who were writing various books to please the Rajapaksas might be behind this. There are people like Sarath Weerasekara, who was not doing national level duties. The Rajapaksas have got hold of some of those disgruntled people to make such comments. The government is looking after the military and they respect it.

Q You came to politics in 2010. Actually who approached you first?

I was not happy with the way the Rajapaksas worked, the way they were interfering with the military. After I left, the invitation came from the UNP and the JVP. First, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister Mangala Samaraweera came and had a chat with me. Then, from the JVP came Somawansa Amarasinghe, K. D. Lalkantha, Tilvin Silva and Anura Kumara Dissanayake - two at a time. We had two meetings and decided what the correct and appropriate decision that should be made.
In one day from today, the Sri Lankan exporters would once again be able to export over 6,000 products duty free to the European Union (EU) countries, giving a much-needed boost to the export sector. Seven years since losing the preferential trade scheme, Sri Lanka has regained it, following two votes  first at the EU Parliament and then at the EU Council of Ministers. This is an important victory for the country at a time when the overall exports have been performing poorly. During 2015 and 2016, exports declined year-on-year for 17 months straight (March 2015 to July 2016) except for a modest bumps in August, September and November 2016.



Quick overview of GSP Plus

GSP Plus offers incentives in the form of duty reductions on exports as a reward to developing countries for their commitment to upholding the 27 core international conventions on human and labour rights, sustainable development and good governance. Then the country must also be considered vulnerable under two conditions  the country is not competitive in the EU market (the import-share ratio is less than 6.5 percent of the EUs total GSP imports) and the country does not have a diversified export base (seven products account for over 75 percent of that countrys total GSP imports to the EU). There are currently eight other GSP Plus beneficiaries Armenia, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay and the Philippines.

Another important aspect of the current GSP Plus scheme that gets less attention is the ability of countries to make use of regional cumulation to gain advantage of Rules of Origin (ROOs) in instances where the product input cannot be sourced locally. Regional cumulation encourages regional co-operation amongst those countries that are both GSP beneficiaries and members of a regional grouping recognized by the EU.

There are two main types of regional cumulation that can benefit Sri Lanka  SAARC Regional Cumulation and Cross Regional Cumulation  e.g. between SAARC and ASEAN. Sri Lankan exporters should study the possibilities of regional cumulation in their supply chains in order to maximize what GSP Plus can offer.

Sri Lanka will continue to be eligible for GSP Plus as long as the periodic reviews (the first one coming in two years) by the EU do not raise any red flags with regard to the implementation of agreed human rights and governance reforms. Yet, once the country graduates to an upper-middle-income economy status (as classified by the World Bank) and remains at that classification for three years, then Sri Lanka becomes no longer eligible for GSP Plus (with a grace period of around two years). Moreover, at that stage, Sri Lanka would no longer be eligible even for the regular GSP scheme.

Sri Lankas graduation will of course depend on our growth rates over the next few years (slower growth would mean longer time to graduation), the value of the currency (sharper depreciation against the US dollar would mean longer time to graduation) and the country classifications of the World Bank (which are revised annually under the World Bank Atlas Method, in line with global purchasing power parity levels).



Potential gains from GSP Plus

The primary way in which Sri Lanka will gain from GSP Plus is by our exporters having duty free access to the EU market on a whole range of products, which were previously only under a preferential tariff through the GSP scheme. The additional tariff advantage will greatly strengthen Sri Lankan exports relative competitive position in the EU. Sectors like apparel, processed food products, seafood, toy products, porcelain and ceramic ware, are some of the main sectors that will benefit under GSP Plus.

The additional tariff concession gained by these sectors will vary  in many apparels categories duties are cut from 9.6 percent to zero, in the seafood sector from 18.5 percent to zero, in the fresh and processed fruits and vegetable sector from 12.5 percent to zero, in the porcelain and ceramic ware sector from 8.4 percent to zero and in the toy products sector from 1.2 percent to zero.

Regaining the GSP Plus facility is expected to give a major boost to Sri Lankas top export product, apparel, which claims the lion share of total exports to the EU (61 percent). Our calculations on 2016 exports in nine HS categories in the apparel sector (covering around 40 percent of total apparel exports to the EU) estimate that this additional reduction of tariffs under GSP Plus is valued at around US $ 60 million. Our discussions with apparel exporters over the last two weeks indicate that more EU customers would now change their sourcing strategy (which currently is tilted towards duty free countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia) in favour of Sri Lanka. Given that ROO under GSP Plus requires fabric to be sourced from Sri Lanka (or from an area that qualifies for regional cumulation) in order to qualify for GSP Plus, there will be an increase in demand for fabric sourced from Sri Lankan fabric mills, rather than from countries such as China.

While it is difficult to provide a full analysis of what was lost, looking at how Sri Lankas competitors fared in the EU market, give some sense of how Sri Lanka lost out to Asian apparel exporters. According to the International Trade Centre, Vietnam, Pakistan and Cambodia all trailed Sri Lanka in 2009, with EU exports at US $ 2.1 billion, US $ 1.5 billion and US $ 1.09 billion, respectively, against Sri Lankas US $ 2.3 billion. By 2015, however, Vietnams apparel exports to the EU had risen to US $ 3.9 billion, Pakistans to US $ 2.9 billion and Cambodias to US $ 3.7 billion, with Sri Lanka trailing at US $ 2.4 billion.



GSP Plus amidst EU growth recovery

The regaining of GSP Plus is especially timely as the EU economies are beginning to show signs of economic recovery, which will hopefully improve demand conditions for Sri Lankas exports to the EU. As the Economic Intelligence Units Monthly Economic Update for March 2017 observed, headline data is showing positive momentum in the eurozones economic recovery  for instance, 15 consecutive quarters of gross domestic product (GDP) growth. The latest Spring Economic Outlook of the EU projects 1.9 percent growth in 2017 and 2018, up by 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.

Following the economic crisis, high unemployment rates in the EU had been a severe dampener on economic activity and consumer demand. The fact that this is now declining is certainly a positive sign. Unemployment in the EU has been trending downward and is expected to fall to 8.0 percent in 2017 and 7.7 percent in 2018, the lowest since late 2008. This has been a result of rising domestic demand, structural reforms and other government policies in certain countries that encourage robust job creation.

Private sector investment was at a six-year high in February, although political uncertainty continues to weigh heavily on economic prospects. A good signal of the regions economic recovery will be the European Central Bank (ECB) decision on renewing, or not, its stimulus lending programme set to expire shortly.



Industry perspectives

In order to get a quick sense of how the GSP Plus is likely to boost key export sectors, we conducted in-depth interviews with industry leaders in these sectors and asked specific questions, for instance on how their order books would change as a result of GSP Plus; how much of the additional tariff advantage would be retained at home; and what challenges they may face in meeting new demand.

Leading apparel exporters have reported to us they anticipate a 10-15 percent boost in export earnings in the 12 months following the regaining of GSP Plus and will particularly accrue to smaller players in the sector. One large exporter was confident that the apparel industry would be able to achieve over a 25 percent increase in export volumes over 18 months. Given that most contracts have already been finalized for the year 2017, the real benefits will be seen in 2018. Yet, some expect a 4-5 percent bump in 2017 itself.

It is not just the apparel industry  there are big gains likely to be made in other export categories such as fresh and processed vegetables and fruits. One agro products exporter noted that their company could expand their export volume to the EU by more than 50 percent within a short period. The industry leaders in this sector observed that the benefit of the 12.5 percent tariff reduction would be a three-way split among the customer, exporter and the farmer with as much as 50 percent of it going to farmers (at least 10,000-12,000 registered farmers they work with) as they believe in strengthening the supply is key to ensuring sustained supply for the EU exports. This demonstrates the possible impacts on rural livelihoods from regaining GSP Plus.

Several companies noted that they are already in contact with the EU buyers who have shown positive signals on placing new orders as soon as GSP Plus is reinstated. One exporter mentioned that his current export volume of processed vegetables could be increased from the current level of five to six containers to about 30 containers per month.

They are confident on overcoming production capacity constraints by doubling the work shifts and automating the production process. Sri Lankan exporters in these sectors can exploit the potential for agro-based processed food exports in collaboration with European companies through joint ventures and transfer of technology.

Meanwhile, the seafood exporters were upbeat about regaining GSP Plus as it will bring an 18 percent to 23 percent reduction in tariffs and the current export volume of US $ 230 million could be doubled within this year. Yet, they cautioned that the noticeable decrease in live fish in the Sri Lankan deep waters is posing a threat to the medium to long-term ability of the sector to meet new demand.

Exporters of bicycles to the EU market noted a likely 50 percent boost in orders but will be only experienced in 2018, given the three to six-month order cycle and the exporters of porcelain and ceramic ware expect GSP Plus to boost exports by 5 percent to 10 percent over the next 18 months.



Challenges to overcome

Some exporters anticipate capacity constraints by way of labour shortages, particularly for small and medium enterprise (SME)-level exporters. This issue was raised by the sectors ranging from apparels to ceramics. Rather alarmingly, several exporters we spoke with have not taken initiatives to expand their production to prepare for the new demand. The government has a role to play in helping the SME exporters boost production quickly and leverage on the GSP Plus opportunity, than be held back by capacity constraints.

The exporters who had shifted their export focus away from the EU market over the last seven years, since the loss of GSP Plus, acknowledge that regaining their presence in the EU and restoring the market share cannot be achieved overnight and it will take time. Once again, this is where the government authorities like the Export Development Board (EDB) and our diplomatic missions in the EU countries can help the prospective exporters with finding new partners and help to quickly break back in to the EU market.

Many apparel and ceramics exporters also observed that the looming Brexit could have a negative impact on realizing GSP Plus benefits fully. In apparels, for instance, the UK accounts for more than 40 percent of total exports to the EU. The government would need to move early to forge a deal with the UK; if a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) would take time, Sri Lanka can lobby for the UK to grant the GSP Plus-type access to the UK market for Sri Lanka exports.



Concession shouldnt breed complacency

It is important that the Sri Lankan exports sector use the GSP Plus period as breathing space rather than comfort zone. The government can consider launching a targeted, accelerated and cost-effective programme to support export sectors capable of expanding their exports to the EU. This can range from loans for technology upgrading and innovation; targeted support for market development, skill training and labour attraction schemes; support for quality and standards improvement; and fast-tracking approvals and certifications.

Sri Lanka must use this window to boost competitiveness of our exports to the EU and not be complacent. As the country fast approaches the upper-middle-income status and will thereafter not be eligible for GSP Plus or GSP, building export success beyond the concessionary scheme is crucial.

(Anushka Wijesinha and Jayani Ratnayake are economists with the Economic Intelligence Unit of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. This article is part of the chambers Trade Intelligence for the Private Sector (TIPS) initiative. Write to eiu@chamber.lk to engage)
The Court of Appeal earlier this month ruled that United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Galle District MP Geetha Kumarasinghe cannot hold a Parliamentary post as she is a dual citizenship holder. An undefied Geetha Kumarasinghe subsequently filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the verdict of the Court of Appeal. The actress turned politician, who was elected to Parliament in August 2015 was unseated, as the Appeal Court held that M/s Kumarasinghe was not qualified to contest the August 2015 parliamentary elections because at the time she held dual citizenship, violating provisions of the 19th amendment to the Constitution. According to Article 92 (b) and Clause 20 (4) of the 19th Amendment, and Article 91(1)(d)(xiii) of the Constitution, perso ns who are dual citizens are disqualified from being elected as Members of Parliament or the President of the Republic. The Constitution specifies that - No person shall be qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament or to sit and vote in Parliament if;(d) (xiii) a citizen of Sri Lanka who is also a citizen of any other country Following the announcement of the Appeal Court decision, Secretary General of Parliament informed the Elections Commission that Kumarasinghe had been removed from her post as a parliamentarian from the Galle District in line with the Court of Appeal verdict. However, the Supreme Court has temporarily stayed the Appeal Court order against her, thus allowing her to continue her in post as an MP. The Supreme Court hearing is to be resumed on September 25. As the dual citizenship of politicians has become one of the hot topics, the Daily Mirror tried to contact a number of politicians including ministers in the current government and MPs from the Opposition who enjoyed dual citizenship to find out what their stance say on the issue. Some of the politicians are of the view that the court ruling must be applicable to all members of parliament who are allegedly in possession of dual citizenship.

It is immoral for a politician to be a dual citizen,



- Mahinda Samarasinghe UPFA MP

Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Mahinda Samaraweera said he personally believed that its immoral for a politician to be a dual citizen because a person has to pledge to uphold the Constitution of another country. The Minister said this when he was questioned by the journalists at a recent press conference whether he held dual citizenship.



Minister Samarasinghe said he was one of Sri Lankan legislators who continued to defend the country at UNHRC sessions in Geneva by opposing the stance taken on Sri Lanka by other countries including the US.



If I was a citizen of such a country, how could I have protected Sri Lanka? How can I raise my voice against those countries? I was able to function independently because I had no dual citizenship. Im 61 years old now and never in my life have thought of applying for dual-citizenship, the minister said.

Instructed the Immigration Department to compile the list of MPs with dual citizenship



- S.B. Nawinne, Minister of Internal Affairs

The Daily Mirror spoke to Internal Affairs Minister, S.B. Nawinne with regard to a request made to release the list of MPs with dual citizenship. The minister said that he has instructed the Department of Immigration and Emigration to compile a list of MPs with dual citizenship. We have not launched an investigation. There was talk among parliamentarians that some of the MPs were dual citizens. In the meantime the Department of Immigration and Emigration had received a request for a list of names of parliamentarians who were dual citizens. Accordingly, I have instructed the relevant officials to compile the list and respond to the request, the Minister clarified.



It is reported that Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary MP Udaya Gammanpila has submitted a request to the Department of Immigration and Emigration for a list of names confirming as to which parliamentarians were dual citizens.

We have applied for termination of Kumar Gunaratnams Australian citizenship in order to gain Sri Lankas citizenship,



-Duminda Nagamuwa - Politburo Member FSP

Politburo Member of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Duminda Nagamuwa said, at the end of the day, the focus should be made on the nature of the politic of the legislator and not their citizenship. He said the reasons to apply for dual-citizenship could be varied on different grounds but regardless, the fact of dual citizenship should not become a barrier for someone to engage in politics following their self-conscience.



If a politician from the left camp applies for dual citizenship of another country, thats usually because he or she cant engage in politics in his home country. Dr. N.M. Perera left for India and engaged in left politics there. However, if a politician from the capitalist camp applies for dual-citizenship, its mostly for personal privileges. What matters is the nature of politics, he said. He also didnt forget to mention that they were against invasive policies of some of the foreign embassies in Colombo.



Commenting on the matter pertaining to politburo member of FSP Kumar Gunaratnam, who was sentenced to one years imprisonment for violating visa regulations by the Kegalle Magistrate on March 31, 2016 and released on December 02, 2016, Nagamuwa clarified Gunaratnam was not a dual citizenship holder.



He held the citizenship of Australia. We have applied for termination of that citizenship in order to gain Sri Lankas citizenship, he said.

Politicians with dual citizenship should not conceal who they are:



- Dullas Alahapperuma UPFA MP

Matara District UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma also the National Organiser of the Joint Opposition, said if a dual citizen MP conceals the fact that he or she is a dual citizen it is a violation of the Constitution.



The MP stated if the Constitution says that a dual-citizens cannot contest the General Elections and become an MP, any such person shouldnt conceal the fact that he or she is in fact dual citizen. If anyone is doing that, it is an act against the State. There is no issue in taking action against them, he said.
Sri Lanka, which attended the recently concluded Belt and Road Forum in China, has backed India's concern over the Kashmir issue saying it is difficult for New Delhi to accept the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as it goes through the "heart of Indian interests," the Economic Times reported on Wednesday.

Special Assignment Minister Sarath Amanugama has said India, which skipped the high-profile meeting, would have joined "very happily" in the One Belt and One Road (OBOR) initiative of China.

"Unfortunately, the issue is going through the heart of Indian interests. If it is some uncontested region, India would have negotiated its way out. Here especially the Kashmir issue getting dragged into it, makes it difficult for India to be flexible," Minister Amanugama, who accompanied Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told PTI.

He said India, China and Sri Lanka were very much part of the ancient Silk Road route as the Chinese Buddhist scholars like Faxian visited both India and Sri Lanka leading to big discoveries of Buddhist relics in Sri Lanka.

"President Xi Jinping has emphasised connectivity. These countries were connected many centuries ago. This will link up these countries on certain rational basis. Once the regional problems are resolved, then India has to play big role in the initiative," he said adding that India anyway has to play big role.

You cannot think of a belt and road without going over and close to India, he said.

India skipped the meeting due to its sovereignty concerns over the USD 50 billion CPEC, which goes through Pakistan- occupied Kashmir. The two-day conference in Beijing brought together leaders from 29 countries.

Besides Premier Wickremesinghe, the summit was attended by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and several other leaders, heads of UN, World Bank and IMF.

The minister said Sri Lanka would not permit any foreign military operations in its port by any country including China in an effort to reassure India's security concerns over Chinese military activity.

Confirming reports that recent Chinese requests for docking of its submarines was declined, he said, "We denied them permission."

"Lanka's position is that our harbours and ports are for commercial operations. All other countries have no strategic interests. We are equidistant from everyone. China, India, US and all other countries, they cannot come into our territorial waters without the consent of the Sri Lankan government," the minister said.

Even the Hambantota harbour which Sri Lanka plans to hand over to China under debt to equity swap will function under the Sri Lankan Ports Authority (SLPA).

He said in the agreement currently being finalised to give 80 per cent stake for Chinese shipping company, it would be allowed to operate inside the harbour but all the outside operations would be carried out SLPA.

Allaying India's concerns, he said Sri Lanka is taking assistance from the Indian Navy to maintain maritime security including tracking submarines. India is also providing patrol boats, he said.

"But we are caught up in a debt crisis. Sri Lanka is facing a problem with debt repayment," he said, defending Sri Lanka opting for debt to equity swap in the harbour deal.

Sri Lanka has an estimated debt of USD eight billion to China. The loans were taken for different mega projects.

"Last year we raised it with Premier Li Keqiang. At first we asked for a debt relief, either to write it off or to reschedule payment. But he said it is not possible because they have lent money to several other countries. But suggested that we convert it into equity by forming a joint venture company. It will be registered in Sri Lanka and will be a Sri Lankan company. Chinese side will convert that into equity. Sri Lanka doesn't have to repay," the minister said adding that it was a "win-win situation".
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with Chinese President Xi Jinping

REUTERS(Beijing): Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday that he welcomed increased Chinese investment in Sri Lankas major infrastructure projects, Chinese state media said.

China signed a deal with Sri Lanka late last year to further develop the strategic port of Hambantota and build a huge industrial zone nearby, a key part of Xis signature economic and foreign policy to create a modern-day Silk Road across Asia, Europe and Africa.

But amid concern over increasing Chinese investment, hundreds of Sri Lankans clashed with police at the industrial zones opening in January.

Meeting Xi in Beijing after attending Chinas Belt and Road Forum on Sunday and Monday, Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka was willing to work with China to successfully push forward the Hambantota and Colombo Port City projects, according to official Chinese news agency Xinhua.

Xi said the construction of a China-Sri Lanka free trade zone would prove a key starting point in promoting fair and sustainable development in bilateral trade, accelerate ease of investment and realise the unimpeded flow of trade and capital.

Major projects with Sri Lanka should act as precursors for driving infrastructure connectivity and maritime and aviation cooperation, Xi added, according to Xinhuas report.

Sri Lanka aims to finalize a free trade agreement with China this year, their 65th anniversary year of trade relations.
Standard Chartered Banks Regional Chief Executive Officer for ASEAN and South Asia, and CEO of Commercial and Private Banking business globally, Anna Marrs, is on an official visit to the Colombo office.

In April this year, the branch office was honoured to have welcomed Andy Halford, Group CFO to the country, and Annas visit marks yet another significant high point of the Banks presence in Sri Lanka.

Jim McCabe, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka, speaking of the visit said: I am delighted to welcome Anna to Sri Lanka and showcase Standard Chartereds achievements and its potential to her.

This visit reiterates the significance Standard Chartered Group places on the operation here, and we have benefitted greatly from opportunities recently to meet and interact with members of the banks top leadership such as Anna, Bill Winters and Andy Halford. We have a full agenda of meetings for her as she will meet with not only government and business leaders but our employees and clients.

Anna Marrs joined Standard Chartered as Group Head of Strategy and Corporate Development in January 2012. Prior to joining Standard Chartered, she was a partner at McKinsey & Companys Banking Practice.

Before joining McKinsey in 2003, Anna was the CEO of a financial information and technology company based in London. She started her career at D.E. Shaw, a New-York-based investment firm. Anna holds an MBA from London Business School and an undergraduate degree from North Western University in Chicago.
When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected, BBC just couldnt get enough of the protests. Wiliam Bowles, in an article titled The nerve of these guys! quoted the BBC back then: Millions of Iranians simply did not believe the result. The main demand of the protesters has been an annulment of the result and an election re-run. The very same BBC, Bowles noted, had no wall-to-wall coverage of Afghan outrage over a stolen election. Instead, the BBC had noted, There was no further reference to fraud. It was pointed out that the figures were more or less in line with the opinion polls.

That was in November 2009. According to BBC the Iranian election was fixed but in Hamid Karzais case, the election reflected more or less the will of the Afghan voter.

Theres a lesson here. People see what they want to see and look the other way when the sight does not please. And so one memory is privileged over another, one element of a story underlined while other strands, less palatable, are ignored or erased.

Today, exactly eight years after a 30-year-long conflict was brought to an end, at least in a military sense, people are playing BBC, so to speak, one way or another. To some, theres reason to celebrate and for others it is a moment for mourning.

The end of a war, regardless of who or what emerged victorious, is a blessing in some aspects at least. No bombs, no bullets flying around, no checkpoints, no need to be wary of the person next to you, no abduction of children, no forced conscription, no need for young girls to be impregnated so that conscription can be avoided, no anti-personnel mines crippling combatants or civilians, no need to wonder at this point whether loved ones may never be seen again and no need for certain politicians to pay salaams to armed men. These are blessings. These are all reasons for celebration. If theres a thing called opportunity cost, there has to be something called opportunity benefit. A sober reflection, say on the part of those held hostage in Vellimullivaikkal on the 17th of May, 2009 (or in fact anyone who survived that historic hostage-taking exercise that began when the security forces secured Silavatura) on those last days as an element in a thing called human shield and the lived reality of the 18th of May, 2017, would yield in the very least a sense of being blessed in some small way.

On the other hand, the end of armed conflict is a moment to reflect and such reflection gives rise to innumerable reasons to grieve. A destroyed political, social, economic and environmental landscape, for example. Lost opportunities, arrested development, livelihoods that were shattered and difficult to rebuild, and most of all the fact that someone that someone loved is lost forever give enough reasons to grieve.

Of course there will be other reasons to celebrate, and naturally reasons to mourn as well. Those for whom it was all about the character of the state, i.e. unitary, federal, confederation of separation, can celebrate or mourn as per preferred outcome.

And so, that moment when separatisms military persona was defeated, we can conclude eight years later, yielded a mixed bag. We are all in that bag, huddled together in varying degrees of happiness and/or sorrow about that entire history and its part-denouement on May 18, 2009. Theres some talk, theres silence as well. Theres recognition of common humanity and an inescapable sense of difference and separation as well.

The 18th of May means different things to different people simply because there are battles, as my friend Thrishantha Nanayakkara once said, that continue to be fought in the alleyways of memory. Celebrators we are and so too are we grievers, separable in sentiments pertaining to outcomes.

It is easy to dismiss relief as triumphalism and equally easy to dismiss mourning as sour grapes or mourners as sour losers. However, since we have an 18th of May and since it is historic, one way or another, it is a moment good enough to reflect on.

Let me mark this day by recounting a visit to the Menik Farm IDP facility in Cheddikulam in July 2009. This is an extract of something I wrote back then:

I realized that had it not been for the discipline and structured authority of the Army, things would have been far worse. By that time, there was order. The day-to-day was streamlined. Conditions in these facilities were not ideal, but still better than in some other parts of the country. I was impressed by the untiring efforts by the security forces to make sure that everyone had food to eat, that the sick were taken care of, that families were reunited etc. I was impressed by the volume of relief items that were pouring into the area. I was impressed by the fact that there were dozens of doctors who had volunteered to work round the clock attending to the sick.

I remember being horrified by some of the stories these unfortunate people related. I was impressed that despite all the trials they had been put through, most of them retained their dignity, self-respect and humanity. Thinking back, I believe that nothing impressed or inspired me more than how these people asserted their will to live and prosper.

I visited all the relief facilities. In each unit, regardless of size and population, I encountered education. There were hundreds of teachers among the IDPs and many principals as well. Naturally, there were thousands of children. Each and every one of them had returned to school, so to speak, almost all of them after many months. The authorities facilitated it all. The largess of their fellow-citizens and well-meaning non-governmental organization had ensured they would not lack in stationary.



The people themselves, despite all the trauma they had been through and indeed had not yet overcome, had decided that the children must learn, even under the harshest of conditions.

There were classes under the trees and inside tents. They were organized according to age. The children were being taught English, Tamil, Mathematics and Science. Some of the instructors were teachers attached to the Education Department. Some were older students or adults who had been trained in other professions. I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the teachers and the students. I remember thinking, this country has reason to hope.

I also wrote the following, a couple of years later:

The rains that will slake our national thirsts have to fall from our own skies. No one can make us smile, except ourselves. No one can make the harsh earth yield flower and grain, except ourselves.

I still believe.

Malinda Seneviratne

is a freelance writer.

Email: malindasenevi@gmail.com

Blog: malindawords.blogspot.com Twitter: malindasene
Have you ever listened to the rhythmic lub-dub of your heart beat, pondered over how it functions or the root causes that may lead to various heart related health problems; including those that fall under the category of Congenital Heart Defects? The Health Capsule spoke to Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH), Dr. Duminda Samarasinghe; in an attempt to comprehend the intricacies behind Congenital Heart Defects.



Dr. Samarasinghe introduced the topic by defining that Congenital Heart Defects are abnormalities in the heart evident in the patient since birth. According to him, heart diseases can be listed under two categories. The first falls under the category of congenital heart defects and the second type is acquired heart diseases which is acquired at a later stage in life. For an instance, diseases such as rheumatic fever or coronary artery disease are labeled as acquired heart diseases. Stating that congenital heart defects are currently indicating a slight rising trend among patients, he said that this is mainly because the detection of such problems have become more evident at present compared to earlier. Currently the patient detection is more evident thanks to the modern health care facilities we have including qualified paediatricians and Paediatric Cardiologists covering most parts of the country. Paediatric cardiologists are available in Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Galle and Colombo. So, patients are being diagnosed and referred early. Therefore, the number of patients we handle has become more compared to earlier Dr. Samarasinghe said.



Further explaining the nature of congenital heart defects, he said that these heart defects are very often hereditary by nature. If the parents have a congenital heart defect or a sibling is diagnosed with a congenital heart condition, then the risk level of inheriting a similar heart defect is slightly high in a patient. In terms of a percentage, a one percent increase may be witnessed in the general population where six to eight per thousand individuals will be affected by a congenital heart condition. However, this rate can rise up to ten percent if there is a recorded family history where a member has been affected by a similar condition.



Root Causes

If the mother has diabetes during pregnancy or if the mother takes certain drugs such as high doses of steroids, then the possibility of the baby being prone to a congenital heart defect is high. Also, the consumption of alcohol or smoking during pregnancy (cases are rare) and rubella infection during pregnancy can cause congenital heart defects in the baby says Dr. Samarasinghe. In the case of diabetes, babies are vulnerable to develop a heart disease if the mother is going through uncontrolled diabetes. Thus, unless the diabetes is controlled with insulin and other drugs, there is a chance that the baby may develop a congenital heart condition. If the diabetes is properly controlled during pregnancy, the chances of developing such conditions are comparatively less. Also, there is no evidence to support that the mothers food patterns could play a role in giving rise to such diseases he added.



Red flag signs to watch for!

First if a doctor examines a child and detects a murmur in the heart, the patient will be referred to a paediatrician for further examination. It should be noted that a murmur can be detected only by a doctor. Also, if the child gets repeated lower respiratory tract infection which is a condition similar to pneumonia, it could be a possible symptom that the child is having a congenital heart condition. Also repeated attacks of pneumonia may be another indication of a congenital heart defect. Being short of breath, taking rapid breaths, excessive sweating, inability to eat properly, poor sucking and poor weight gain are red flag signs parents should look for in their children.



Diagnosing congenital heart defects

If a foetal echo is conducted before birth, it is possible to detect early in case there is any congenital ailment. According to Dr. Samarasinghe, a foetal echo is an ultra sound scan of the baby while the baby is still in the womb; ideally conducted between 18- 22 weeks. A foetal echo can detect most of the major deformities. Additionally, an Echocardiogram is an ultra sound examination of the heart which helps diagnose if there is a problem in the heart.There is a 99.9 % chance to make accurate diagnosis using an echocardiogram. Sometimes to gain additional information concerning the condition, further investigation of the patients health condition may be needed. It should be noted that the echocardiogram is the main diagnostic tool that helps diagnose congenital heart conditions in a patient Dr. Samarasinghe added.



Treatment

There are three stages under which a patient can be administered treatment depending on how critical his or her condition is. The first treatment method may involve a definite surgery or catheter intervention on the patient. Under the second method, treatment will not be needed given the fact that the disease is a minor condition. Under the third category the doctor may decide to either conduct a surgery or not depending on the patients heart condition.



Since certain heart conditions that are minor may heal on its own, such conditions can be left untreated life long without any side effects. Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), tiny Patent DuctusArteriosus (PDA), small Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), mild narrowing of vessels including tiny holes in the heart can be left untreated depending on the location of the defect he added.

Explaining the function of a catheter intervention, he explained that the doctor will pass a small catheter through the leg to the heart and manipulate the catheter to perform various actions such as valve openings in the heart. However, depending on how critical the condition is, more complex congenital conditions such as certain holes including narrowing of vessels in the heart may be subjected to an open heart surgery. Cases are often very individualistic since they depend upon the condition of each patient. Therefore, he added that such patients are treated depending on the nature of the defect they have and based on how critical the condition is.



Rarely a patient will need to be under medication for a long time. In most cases a catheter intervention or surgery would suffice. It is very rarely that patients are prescribed long term drugs. However, patients who have had a catheter intervention or open heart surgery need to maintain a long term follow up on their health condition through regular checkups mainly to watch for any possible side effects or complications. It should also be noted that not all congenital heart defects are life threatening he added.



Awareness

Awareness concerning congenital heart defects have increased over time. If parents visit us at LRH, then they will be definitely aware whether their child is in need of a surgery or not. The issue is with those who have not visited us and those who are left at home without being diagnosed.



We recently commenced the Little Hearts project which aims to improve facilities for children with heart diseases in Sri Lanka. We need to design a proper cardiac complex in order to carry out our work more smoothly at the LRH. This is a project to construct and commission a ten storey Cardiac and Critical Care Complex at the LRH.At the moment we do nearly thousand surgeries and 600- 700 catheter based interventions at LRH. With this facility coming in, we should be able to do about two thousand cardiac surgeries and thousand catheter interventions. The Sri Lanka College of Pediatricians are currently spear heading this project. We need to raise Rs. 2 billion and so far, we have collected Rs. 120 million. The Government has pledged to donate Rs. 300 million to commence work with the construction of the new facility and the Sri Lanka Navy is currently carrying out the construction work. Donors are welcomed to contribute and their generosity is much appreciated by us he said.



Pics by Kushan Pathiraja
News / Africa

by Staff reporter

VISITING Lesotho King Letsie III, born David Mohato Bereng Seeiso, is reportedly on a mission to consult President Robert Mugabe and members of his inner circle on election management as the mountain kingdom prepares for crunch polls in June this year, NewsDay reported.Visiting King Letsie III of Lesotho and President Robert Mugabe are entertained by traditional dancers at Harare International Airport (Pic: Tafadzwa Ufumeli)Visiting King Letsie III of Lesotho and President Robert Mugabe are entertained by traditional dancers at Harare International Airport (Pic: Tafadzwa Ufumeli)Lesotho has experienced political instability for the past four decades and the country has pinned its hope on this year's election to end the turmoil.In March this year, the country was plunged into a fresh political crisis after Parliament passed a vote of no-confidence on Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili and later dissolved.Two years ago, the Kingdom of Lesotho was again in crisis following the ouster of former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's All Basotho Congress.The King is a constitutional monarch who plays mainly a ceremonial role in the landlocked southern Africa country.Top government sources told NewsDay yesterday that the Lesotho leader's four-day State visit on Mugabe, was an election management consultative indaba."This is one of those visits where Lesotho wants to appreciate how best to end the turmoil that has characterised the kingdom and has seen it being on the Sadc agenda on countless times. The King will take time to learn how to handle polls and seek help from his elder (Mugabe)," said a senior government official, who declined to be named.On Monday, Mugabe hosted a State banquet for King Letsie III before the Lesotho monarch toured the National Heroes' Acre and Lion and Cheetah Park in Harare yesterday ahead of his scheduled visit to Victoria Falls today where he would be joined by the First Family.At the dinner, Mugabe told the King that his country should hold peaceful polls next month and also requested for the region to support the small mountainous country."We know you are going to have your elections soon, we wish that you may have them peacefully and ensure stability returns in your country," Mugabe told the King.King Letsie III said he had come to pay homage to Mugabe for helping in ensuring stability in Lesotho together with his regional peers.
US, (Daily Mail, US), 16 May 2017 - Paul Ryan has become the latest leading Republican to speak out as backlash grows following reports the president shared highly classified information with top Russian officials during an Oval Office meeting last week.



Ryan, the House Speaker, released a statement on Monday night calling for Donald Trump and his office to provide a full account of the meeting in which he is being accused of sharing secrets with Russia.



We have no way of knowing what was said, but protecting our nations secrets is paramount, the statement from Ryans spokesman, Doug Andres, read.



The speaker hopes for a full explanation of the facts from the administration.



The comments came after Bob Corker, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, was one of the first Republicans to speak out against the White House after reports emerged in the Washington Post.
Embattled US President Donald Trump faced explosive allegations that he divulged top secret intelligence to Russian diplomats in the Oval Office, a charge the White House scrambled to rebut Monday.



The Washington Post reported that Trump revealed highly classified information on the Islamic State group during a meeting last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Moscows man in Washington Sergey Kislyak.



In a shock twist, the intelligence reportedly came from a US ally who did not authorize Washington to share it with Moscow. That development that could shatter trust that is essential to intelligence and counterterrorism cooperation.



National Security Advisor HR McMaster denied the president had revealed intelligence sources or methods, but acknowledged that Trump and Lavrov reviewed a range of common threats to our two countries, including threats to civil aviation. The Post, citing unnamed officials, said that Trump went off script during the meeting, describing details about an Islamic State terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on airplanes, revealing the city where the information was gathered.



Theres nothing that the president takes more seriously than the security of the American people. The story that came out tonight as reported is false, McMaster said without elaborating on which elements were wrong. On-the-record accounts should outweigh those of anonymous sources. I was in the room. It didnt happen. McMaster earlier refused to answer questions to a group of journalists gathered in the West Wing, saying this is the last place I wanted to be before leaving.

-WASHINGTON AFP May16, 2017
UAE-based conglomerate Lulu Group will today inaugurate its state-of-the-art logistics and packaging centre that will be deployed to store, package and export fruit, vegetables and other commodities

from Sri Lanka.

To this end, Lulu Group has incorporated Y.A.S. Lanka Pvt. Ltd., a Board of Investment (BOI) company at the Export Processing Zone

at Katunayake.

Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake, who is also the Prime Ministers Chief of Staff, Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake, Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake will participate in the inauguration ceremony along with Lulu Group Managing Director Yusuff Ali.

Ali is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena during his visit to Sri Lanka.

Lulu Group has been ranked by Deloitte as the leading retailer in the Middle East and one of the fastest growing retailers among the top 50 globally.

Engaged in multiple business operations inclusive of imports and exports, trading, shipping, IT, travel and tourism as well as education, the group records an annual turnover of US$ 6.9 billion and commands a retail market share of 32 percent in the region.

Spearheaded by its retail sector which comprises 133 hypermarkets, supermarkets and department stores combined, its global presence spans the Middle East, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Far East.

Its multiple sourcing and manufacturing bases are located worldwide across several continents which allow quality products to be made available quickly on the retail front.
Several Green party seniors have reportedly registered their strong reservations against the proposed move to offer a top post in the party to Fonny, the war hero. Two stalwarts among the seniors have expressed their unequivocal opposition to the proposed offer.



Of these unbending two, one is a purohita and a legal luminary to boot. The other is a young top team member hailing from Uva.



The lawyer- purohita had prior to the Green partys decision-making bodys meeting last Monday conveyed his reservations about the proposed move to the Green leader and also to the leaders right royal pal handling international trade. However, the right royal pal had immediately washed his hands off the issue saying that he did not want to go against a decision taken by the party. Not to be outdone the lawyer-purohita had issued his ultimatum: If Fonny is in, Ill be out.



Meanwhile, the young purohita from Uva has reportedly decided to resign himself to any eventuality following a reprimand by the Green leader. There is an anti-Fonny group functioning behind the scene as well. This group will leave no stone unturned in their bid to abort the controversial move, they say.
The Womens International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Sri Lanka partnered with Young Shipping Professionals (YSP) of CASA and very successfully organised Career Day 2017, a programme for students from schools in the Galle District, at Hall de Galle, recently.

The chief guest of the event was Petroleum Resources Minister Chandima Weerakkody.

The two associations, as their corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, jointly planned and carried out this programme to the schoolchildren in the Southern Province, to introduce and promote shipping and logistics as a lucrative career to school leavers through a career guidance workshop with the support of educational institutions that offer logistics and maritime courses and programmes in this field.

Sri Lanka, being an island nation with its unique geographic location as well as a gateway destination to Asia, is seen by many major industry players and are now focusing on relocating logistics and shipping to the Indian Ocean island, where great opportunities are available to speedily connect many continents with consumers of Asia and Africa.

Therefore, a new shift is taking place in the maritime industry, from the North to South with Sri Lanka emerging as a maritime hub after the rise of Singapore and Dubai, creating a southern maritime zone. Being located at the southern tip of South Asia and situated between the major ports of the Middle East and East Asia, Sri Lanka is ideally located for feeder connectivity in the region. The Port of Colombo has the deepest draught and most efficient terminals in South Asia which are also considered world class.

In addition, the other ports in Galle, Hambantota and Trincomalee are available for bulk, Ro/Ro, cruise shipping, bunkering, etc. around the island.

The Port of Galle is strategically located on world shipping routes and plans are underway to develop the Port of Galle to a leisure and freight handling port in order to contribute to the economic development of the country.

It was a half-day programme with presentations by leading professionals in the maritime and logistics field who spoke about various career options available within the fields of shipping, logistics and international trade to create an interest in the subject area. This was followed by a tour of the Port of Galle.

Parallel to the Career Day event, WISTA Sri Lanka handed over books on advocacy for seafarer children at the MercMarine office in Galle. These books were gifted by Marissa Oca from WISTA Philippines, who publishes books for seafarers children. She is also a proponent of livelihood projects for seafarers wives.
The problem of providing sanctuary to a terror mastermind is that there is an inherent risk that the individual will outgrow the system, and ultimately become more of a liability than an asset.

Nurturing terror masterminds to use against India has been the mainstay of its policy to deal with India. That such policies have proved to be counterproductive for Pakistan is for everyone to see. And as time goes on, the cost of nurtuting these elements will ultimately trump the benefits, as Pakistan may be witnessing right now.

Hafiz Saeed has been supported overtly and covertly by the Pakistani establishment and he has gained stature, power and sway. So much so that in his current avatar, he may prove to be a burden that the Pakistan state cannot shake off, even if it wishes to.

If you are in Pakistan and be a part of the civil or the military administration, you are probably starting to stare at a scenario where Hafiz Saeed cannot be done away with.

May be it was China that wanted Hafiz Saeed out of public life for a while, even as it worked towards getting India into the OBOR fold.

Despite all the recent noises being made about "controlling" Hafiz Saeed and his activities, it seems like another round of eyewash, like many others before it.

On January 30 this year, Hafiz Saeed was house-arrested under Section 11-EEE(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1977, and asked to live in his luxurious Al Qadisiya headquarters and then shifted to the even more comfortable and safer environs of Johar Town in Lahore.

Why this exercise?

Did Pakistan get scared that US President Donald Trump may put it in the blacklist of countries in the International Cooperative Review Group, or impose trade sanctions?

Well, no. Heard through the grapevine, Saeed was asked to accept security against "planned attacks funded by India". May be even that was an eyewash, most probably it was China that wanted Saeed out of public life for a while, even as it worked towards getting India into the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) fold. Beijing might have thought that Saeed's uncensored diatribes against India might jeopardise its diplomatic attempts.

This was similar to when former president Pervez Musharraf asked him to stay put for a while. Saeed has come a long way since then  his NGO Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) is the largest in Pakistan, it is a different matter that it has been declared a terror front by the US.

Saeed has attained power beyond what is normal  when he appeared in court recently, it was probably the first time in a long, long time. The Karachi headquarters of the JuD sits on a sprawling 2.5 acre, gated, heavily guarded campus.

The FIF runs around three dozen operations across Pakistan  all legal  hospitals, dispensaries, ambulance services, medical camps, water projects, blood banks, distribution of clothes, blankets and bedding, prisoners programmes, technical courses to name a few.

When a small Hindu community was facing water crisis, the FIF was there, digging wells in the arid Tharparkar desert. It provided drinking water in the troubled Balochistan districts. They are there whenever a humanitarian effort is needed, be it flood, earthquake, even accidents. With over 2 lakh volunteers at his disposal, Saeed has subtly sent a message  he could run Pakistan better than its civilian government.

Ajmal Kasab had said that Saeed was the mastermind behind 26/11. Of course, Pakistan dismissed it, but the UN declared the LeT a terrorist organisation.

Saeed showed that he understands the system in Pakistan and his connections ensured that the LeT was quickly renamed to Jamaat-ud-Dawa. The Lahore High Court promptly bought the idea that the JuD was squeaky clean because there was no evidence or compalints against it. This, once again showed how far Pakistan could go to accomodate Hafiz Saeed.

Since then, the JuD has been linked to more than a few attacks in India, including the Uri attack, but we shall not be seeing any action against Saeed anytime soon because he has grown too big  he heads an efficient organisation and is not dependent on the Pakistani authorities  be it the civilian government or the powerful army for fundings.
Between 2009 and 2013, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was on a 24x7 protest mode, coming up with innovative methods to draw attention to its call for a separate state of Telangana (from Andhra Pradesh). TRS activists stopped trains, cooked food on rail tracks, organised a march by a million people to Tank Bund by the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad, called umpteen number of bandhs and got government employees to boycott work for days at end.

That was the DNA of the Telangana agitation and it was obvious from K Chandrasekhar Rao's slogan "Ek aur dhakka, Telangana pucca" (one more push and we will get Telangana for sure).

But now the shoe is on the other foot and the same TRS frowns upon protests. So much so that it does not even want the Dharna Chowk, Hyderabad's equivalent to Jantar Mantar, to be anywhere inside the city.

The chowk located near Indira Park is the designated spot since 2005 for holding demonstrations. What is ironical is that the TRS, including KCR himself, has used Dharna Chowk liberally during the Telangana struggle. KCR now clearly does not seem to believe that protest, especially of the peaceful kind, is democracy at work.

A few weeks back, the government made it clear that it favoured Dharna Chowk to be shifted 40 km away from its central location. The argument it gave was that local residents around the area were put to inconvenience.

KCR himself reasoned a trifle sarcastically that since TV crews would go where the protests happened, the purpose of the protesters would be served. Basically, KCR wanted the optics of any protest to be reduced to a few visuals and soundbites on TV, away from the Hyderabad public glare.

The manner in which the TRS government reacted to efforts by organised political groups to occupy the protest site to make the point that it should not be shifted out, was unbecoming of a state government.

Over the past 24 hours, what would have been a mere local issue has become a commentary on the attitude of a ruling party. It reflects an intolerance towards dissent and a belief that the TRS is here to rule for ever.

The manner in which the TRS government and its police force reacted to efforts by organised political groups to occupy the protest site to make the point that it should not be shifted out, was unbecoming of a state government. While the Hyderabad police allowed both groups  those who wanted Dharna Chowk to stay and those who wanted it to be moved out  to protest at the same place, the presence of policemen and women in plainclothes in the anti-Dharna Chowk camp raised eyebrows. Though the police brass tried to salvage the situation by transferring out one policewoman  Lake Police Inspector K Sreedevi  after she was found holding a placard opposing the protest site, the act of the police not taking a neutral stand does not bode well.

The police decision to allow both groups to demonstrate at the same place also seemed with an eye to stoke trouble. As expected, things went out of hand, with both groups clashing with each other while the cops had to resort to lathicharge, leaving protesters injured.

Various political parties smelled a conspiracy that the visuals of the violence will be used to justify the decision to shift out the protest site.

Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao also suspected the opposition by local residents was a creation of the government. "All these years, none of these residents' welfare associations around this place said a word. Where have they emerged from now?'' he asked. Kumar, a local resident, however, claimed they have been demanding the removal of the protest site for long.

Hyderabad's civil society, like always, has kept mum, not lending its voice and carbon footprint to the opposition bid to ensure that the democratic space for dissent is not taken away. That is a big mistake because if the government of the day tastes blood by pushing out organised parties, the common man will not get the physical space should he desire to lodge a protest tomorrow.

Look at what happened in Chennai in January when lakhs of people from the city and even outside converged at the iconic Marina, converting it into their theatre of protest. The show of strength in the form of a sea of humanity helped it get its way on Jallikattu. But now wiser from the experience, Chennai police makes sure it does not allow any form of protest at Marina. Does Hyderabad want to go down the same path?

TDP leader Revanth Reddy points out that KCR is making the same mistake of the 1960s. "Because the government of the day suppressed the Telangana agitation then, a lot of youth embraced Naxalism. Don't youth need to give vent to their frustrations democratically? If you do not give that space, they will only go to the forest and pick up guns,'' says Reddy.

Animal Husbandry minister Srinivas Yadav, one of the early defectors from the Telugu Desam to the TRS, measured the protest by the number of people it attracted. He said, "The TRS too could have mobilised 10 lakh people to counter the opposition's protest, but refrained from doing so.

The problem with this kind of an attitude is that it fails to recognise that just like there is space for a government, there is as much need and space for an opposition, both political and apolitical.

The other issue is that any criticism of the government is labelled as anti-Telangana by the government. The TRS needs to realise that the state is three years old now and every citizen of Telangana is a stakeholder in its progress, with full rights to demand and question both the government and the opposition of the day.

What the government has ended up doing is to give an issue to the opposition. Reddy points out how different parties with opposing ideology have come together on this one issue. Without a doubt, in terms of popularity, the KCR regime is at the moment far ahead of its political rivals. But it is committing a political blunder by indulging in efforts to muzzle criticism.

"It only reveals a feudal mindset, that has no place in a democracy. I call it democratic feudalism,'' says K Nageshwar, political analyst.
Big catchwords are being thrown around with wild abandon, with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif seen walking hand-in-hand with Chinese President Xi Jinping in too many carefully orchestrated photo-ops. But behind the hoopla around One Belt, One Road summit, and the brouhaha over the much talked about China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are the not-so-noble intentions of the Beijing elite to turn Pakistan into some kind of a proto Chinese colony.

Or, in the words of national security expert Brahma Chellaney, at least a vassal state.

China's plan, as revealed by a Pakistani paper, to turn Pakistan into its newest colony or at least a vassal state: https://t.co/cq99bMeijR May 15, 2017

In a massive expose on what exactly is going into the CPEC, respected English news daily from Pakistan, Dawn has revealed Beijings master plan.

In other words, thats something involving large-scale, invasive and penetrative surveillance of Pakistani cities, visa-free entry for Chinese nationals into Pakistan and appropriating Pakistani agriculture to grow crops to suit Chinese interests.

If you go back to the history of British colonialism in India, agriculture, demographic occupation, and surveillance form the basis of any attempt to informally colonise a sovereign country, and once its economy has been made thoroughly dependent on the colonising power, once it has been drained enough to not being able to sustain itself, does the formal occupation and transference of power actually take place.

Alarming?

Oh yes. But such is the not-so-glorious reality behind the much-hyped CPEC, and its positioning as the new connecting link to drive the 21st-century global order. Just like the British built the Indian railways to belatedly justify and legitimise its inglorious rule over the Indian territory, expansive and much advertised Chinese plans to build road, rail and infrastructure link linking the port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea with Chinas own Xinjiang province, the arterial route of the envisioned One Road, One Belt map, are about colonising Pakistan.

Lets enumerate the points chalked out by Dawn and the caveats it has sounded on CPEC, as well as the Long Term Plan (LTP) involving China, Pakistan, and neighbouring states.

Agricultural land to suit Chinese projects

As the report in Dawn says, thousands of acres of agricultural land will be leased out to Chinese enterprises to set up demonstration projects in areas ranging from seed varieties to irrigation technologies. This means, that China can just turn vast swathes of Pakistani territory, and this includes Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and other disputed areas in which India has a rightful claim, into virtual Chinese laboratories of extravagant experimentation, which can very well go wrong.

Not only is this a thinly-veiled land grab, this is turning the whole of Pakistan into a Chinese laboratory for testing out new products, ethics be damned. As the report says: The main thrust of the plan actually lies in agriculture, contrary to the image of CPEC as a massive industrial and transport undertaking, involving power plants and highways. The plan acquires its greatest specificity, and lays out the largest number of projects and plans for their facilitation, in agriculture.

Is this the Chinese bureaucracy-speak for conducting illegal experiments on biochemical weaponry? Given Chinas and Pakistans shared militaristic interests, this is hardly far-fetched. Even when the goal is not to harness biochemical weaponry, China might push genetically modified crops and seeds in Pakistani lands and can bring about large-scale geo-engineering that could be detrimental to the shared ecosystem of South Asia.

[Photo: Dawn]

Massive surveillance

As the US experience with its NSAs invasive surveillance apparatus proved, snooping never stops where territories end. So, CPECs plan to bring about full system of monitoring and surveillance with hardware stationed in big cities such as Peshawar and Karachi, 24-hour video surveillance and recordings on rods and busy marketplaces for law and order, is practically handing over to the Chinese whatevers left of Pakistans freedom to be.

Given Chinas own record at stifling access to information online, disallowing a number of global search engines, video sharing websites and even social media networks, what the Chinese dominance in Pakistani surveillance would mean? In fact, as the report in Dawn says, not only for internet traffic, but also for terrestrial distribution of broadcast TV, which will cooperate with Chinese media in the dissemination of Chinese culture will be effected.

Essentially, Pakistan is handing over its internet and broadcast media to China and this might spell doom for Pakistans own limited independence and whatever remains of its press freedom. Soon, we can expect encroachment into print media space. Much like the absolute lack of press freedom in China, Pakistan too would be seen propagating political worldviews that suit the Chinese, and might be detrimental to its own ideological and political sovereignty. Can you imagine what this means?

At the very least, you can bid goodbye to those mellifluous Pakistani soap operas because they soon might not fit what the Chinese consider a worthy popular culture. Pakistani subjectivity, the beautiful language of Urdu, and other languages such as Pashtun, Punjabi, Sindhi may all suffer as Mandarin is made compulsory.

Plus, we need to ask: If such a large-scale takeover of Pakistanis internet and broadcast media, as well as installing 24X7 surveillance in its biggest cities, will that be limited to overseeing only Pakistani territories? Wont it have a spillover effect on India, particularly the international border shared with Pakistan, the Line of Control?

Essentially, this means compromising Indias own intelligence and territorial sovereignty with massive high-tech surveillance from across the Pakistani border. For example, what does it mean that the Chinese would build a pilot safe city in Peshawar? Does this mean that while being surrounded by insurgency-ridden areas in the northwest, particularly in NWFP and Baluchistan, there would be impenetrable citadels for the Chinese and Pakistani elite that would be completely cordoned off for the ordinary, poorer Pakistani? Would parts of Pakistan become inaccessible to the Pakistani citizen? What kind of a techno-savvy hellish digital dystopia are we looking at across the border?

Colonising Pakistans economy

The CPEC master plan, as per the Dawn report, envisages a deep and broad-based penetration of most sectors of Pakistans economy as well as society by Chinese enterprises and culture. Its scope has no precedent in Pakistans history in terms of how far it opens up the domestic economy to participation by foreign enterprises.

It goes on to detail how China wants to re-engineer a key policy environment to make Pakistani economy conducive to serve Beijings interests. It says: In other cases, such as textiles and garments, cement and building materials, fertiliser and agricultural technologies (among others) it calls for building the infrastructure and a supporting policy environment to facilitate fresh entry. A key element in this is the creation of industrial parks, or special economic zones, which must meet specified conditions, including availability of waterperfect infrastructure, sufficient supply of energy and the capacity of self service power, according to the plan.

Nuclear threat?

The report goes on to say: The plan states at the outset that the corridor spans Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and whole Pakistan in spatial range. Its main aim is to connect South Xinjiang with Pakistan. It is divided into a core area and what they call the radiation zones, those territories that will feel the knock on effects of the work being done in the core area. The core area includes Kashgar, Tumshuq, Atushi and Akto of Kizilsu Kirghiz of Xinjiang from China, and most of Islamabads Capital territory, Punjab, and Sindh, and some areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, and Balochistan from Pakistan.

It has one belt, three passages, and two axes and five functional zones, where the belt is the strip area formed by important arterial traffic in China and Pakistan". What are radiation zones, shall we ask? It seems in the special economic zones that China wants to set in Pakistani territory, it would set up labour and industrial camps that would involve working on hazardous issues. Is China making a large-scale plan to revamp Pakistans nuclear power for militaristic ends? Other forms of radioactive industrial works? What happens in case of an industrial accident?

Its obvious that much like the classic coloniser-colony equation, resource extraction from Pakistans north-western zone, to fuel crazy Chinese dreams of global dominance, is soon going to become a reality. There will be more pollution, decimation of the ecosystem, redirecting of meager water bodies with unsustainable and forced dams, and turning large swathes of northwest Pakistan into mining wastelands.

Financing Pakistans redevelopment, or turning Pakistan into a Chinese vassal?

By now its fairly obvious that the redevelopment of Pakistan under CPEC is a Faustian bargain. While the Chinese Development Bank, Asian Development Bank and the New Development Bank are all ensuring that money is poured into CPEC, we need to ask why Islamabad is agreeing to sell its soul for scrap to Beijings clearly imperial vision? The answer lies in Pakistans military-industrial complex and its cavalier attitude towards ordinary Pakistanis as long as their petty interests are being served.

As renowned Pakistani-American scholar and observer of Pakistani military-industrial complex and foreign policy, Ayesha Siddiqa, notes, Pakistani military elite is getting ever more casually crass about its exploding powers and the stranglehold it has on the civilian government. Is the CPEC really what the Military Inc wants to consolidate ever more power and money in its hands?

As Siddiqa writes: This confidence waned after the 2000s but seems to have returned with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In fact, it is stronger than what was felt in the past because, unlike the US which was always concerned about Indias reaction to arms supplies to Pakistan, Beijings primary concern is its one-belt-one-road (OBOR) project. Talk to some of the track-II generals and they will also add Russia as part of the new alignment between China and Pakistan. This means a level of confidence that from a historical perspective has always resulted in escalation. Since the 1960s, the risk of conflict has increased every time both India and Pakistan were at the same level of geopolitical buoyancy.

There have been several meetings among respective high-ranking military officials of China and Pakistan in the run up to the OBOR conference. But as noted in the finance and risk section of the Dawn piece, theres very little financial motive for China, which is loaning out enormous amounts to Pakistan for the redevelopment.

Even the plan notes that politics and security issues in Pakistan are overarching. There are various factors affecting Pakistani politics, such as competing parties, religion, tribes, terrorists, and Western intervention. The security situation is the worst in recent years.

The use of the term Western intervention is a dead giveaway. Not only is the CPEC Beijings long-term plan to completely isolate Pakistan from the American arc of influence, its about expanding Chinese footprint in Asia and reconfiguring what many call the Asian century. The CPEC is the terrestrial equivalent of the maritime influence that China is gaining at sea, particularly in its naval and military bases in South China Sea that are direct challenges to the US and Japan.

What about India?

So, Pakistani military-industrial elite is ready to sell its soul for scrap, if in return it gets access to Chinas enormous military and financial prowess. Will cross-border terrorism from Pakistan be under check, or will it transmogrify into even more sinister version of itself? Will India be assaulted in the cyber space, intimidated with the increasing number military bases that China would be setting up in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under the garb of CPEC?

From Aksai Chin on the eastern side of Indias mountainous north and the 1962 war, despite the Line of Actual Control, territorial sabre-rattling is a routine item in Sino-Indian relations. The recent snubs over dreaded Pakistani terror-accused Masood Azhar, blocking proposal at the United Nations to list the Jaish-e-Mohammed chief as a terrorist, as well as the showdowns over the Dalai Lama, have all contributed to soaring of India-China relations.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Mthwakazi Republic Party leader Mqondisi Moyo and his team has visited an Ex-Zipra cadre Ndabezinhle Dube in Khozi village of Gwanda North who is credited with the ability of repairing the AK 47 guns during the liberation struggle.According to MRP spokesperson Mbonisi Gumbo the team MRP paid a courtesy call at Dube's home stead last week."Mqondisi Moyo who is MRP President and Matobo North Parliamentary candidate today spent time doing door to door campaign and meeting the people. He also held a private meeting with the MRP Matobo district executive members and traditional leaders and planned a campaign rally in June," he said."Moyo later went to Gwanda North where he met MRP Candidate for Gwanda North Cde Mcebisi Dube who is also a son to Ndabezinhle Dube. MRP leadership that include National and Matabeleland South executive members were also in attendance when the President honored Ndabezinhle Dube who is also a former National President of Union for Furnisher and Lumber Industries from 1985 to 1999. Dube is now a respected elder in Brethren in Christ Church (BICC) is now 80 years old."Ndabezinhle Dube is a victim of Gukurahundi genocide, the 5th brigade solders burnt down his homestead in 1984 and he never joined ZANU PF.He operated in Zipra side by side with Gideon Moyo the father to Mqondisi Moyo, the MRP President. Both didn't benefit anything from the war veteran's compensation fund."Dube thanked us saying he is now a happy man knowing that the future of Mthwakazi is brighter since the young people of Mthwakazi have awakened and are now pursuing their birth right and inheritance that is in the wrong hands," Gumbo said."Dube also told us that he is a professional furnisher carpenter, during the Liberation struggle against white colonialists he was the one who was maintaining broken butts of Zipra's AK 47 guns, RPK machine guns and the Russian made grunov machine guns. Most Zipra cadres who operated in Matabeleland South knows him very well. Yet he didn't benefit any cent. He was only compensated by the 5th brigade by beating and abusing his wife as well as beating his children."He said most villagers said Mthwakazi Restoration is the only solution that would free all of us."MRP is preparing for a Matabeleland South take over and we say NO to ZANU PF. After 2018 elections the whole of Matabeleland and Midlands will be a liberated zone from both ZANU PF and MDC- T. MRP will still hold its sensitisation road show soon in Gwanda central, a rally has been planned for Dodo Business centre Matobo North constituency in June as well as Mtshazo Business centre in Gwanda North also in June. The month of June is going to be a busy month for MRP as we will be vigorously engaging our people. Bulawayo Province has also promised a serious engagement with the Mthwakazi Nationals," he said."On the 28th of May 2017 Team MRP will hold a Rally in Jo'burg's Yeoville Recreational centre in South Africa. All members are encouraged to be active in campaigns for we want to win and make a mark that shall change Mthwakazi's direction and future of the Nation. So far there is no Mthwakazi person with normal senses who can be against Mthwakazi Restoration."
News / National

by Staff reporter

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC says it has gathered "overwhelming information" that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) wants to disenfranchise voters in their urban strongholds by increasing voter registration points in rural areas.This comes as Zec is going ahead full steam with its campaigns to educate the public and civic groups on the much-debated Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise, ahead of the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections.Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, MDC secretary for elections, Murisi Zwizwai, claimed that Zec had allocated more BVR points in rural areas than urban areas - raising fears that this is a plan to frustrate urban voters into not registering.Traditionally, the MDC has fared better in urban areas than in rural areas, while Zanu-PF has relied on the rural vote which both the opposition and rights group say is secured through coercion and intimidation."Zec wants to manipulate voters' registration by starving areas that are perceived to be opposition strongholds, such as urban centres."A voters' registration process should be transparent and inclusive, yet that is not what is happening."The Zec subcommittee involving political parties has not yet received the full report because this is all being done secretly," Zwizwai said."We are also aware that Zec wants to register Harare last and bus people to disrupt the process as they have done in the past."As the MDC, we have said we are not going to allow this to happen, as this is a clear plot to disenfranchise the urban voter ... it is calculated constitutional mischief by Zec."We are aware that there is an invisible hand of Zanu-PF in all this and we are going to fight to ensure that Harare province, which has the highest numbers in terms of population has the highest number of voter registration centres," Zwizwai added.He said from the information gathered so far, Bulawayo will have 392 centres, Matabeleland South 623 and Midlands 1 348 registration centres in phase one of the registration exercise.In phase two, Matabeleland North will tentatively have 764 registration centres, Masvingo 1 238 and Manicaland, will be dealt with in phase three, will have 1 003 centres.For phase three, Mashonaland East would have 1 200, while Mashonaland Central would have 822.In the final phase, Mashonaland West would have 1 303 centres, compared to a mere 700 for Harare.And yet according to the 2012 national census, Harare province - which includes Chitungwiza and Ruwa - had the highest provincial population of 2 123 132 million, while Mashonaland West had a population of 1 501 656 million people.In this regard, the MDC wants the voter registration centres to reflect the population census figures.MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said the party would guard jealously the urban vote, while trying to improve its performance in areas where they had previously performed poorly."We are closely monitoring all the happenings around BVR at Zec ... We are acutely aware of the fact that the Zanu-PF regime is manipulating Zec to ensure that there will be more polling stations in rural areas compared to urban areas."Zec won't be allowed to adulterate and bastardise both the BVR process and the whole process of ensuring that next year's plebiscite is credible and legitimate," Gutu thundered.Tsvangirai recently warned that Mugabe and his warring ruling Zanu-PF - fearful of receiving an even bigger poll shellacking than they got in 2008 - were allegedly already working feverishly to steal next year's elections.Tsvangirai's concerns emerged as the MDC president was concluding his tour of Mashonaland East, where he interacted with traditional leaders - who opened up to him on how they were being roped in by Zanu-PF to become part of the apparatus to ensure victory for the ruling party in 2018.Traditional chief after traditional chief had apparently told Tsvangirai during his tour of the restive Mashonaland East province, which is traditionally a Zanu-PF stronghold, that they were being forced to not only join the ruling party, but to also lead its cells and wards - and to actively work to help rig next year's polls.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Government is moving to disenfranchise millions of Zimbabweans in the key 2018 vote by refusing to re-align the Citizenship Act with the new Constitution, opposition parties and civic groups have said.Declarations by registrar general Tobaiwa Mudede that government will continue to outlaw dual citizenship by amending the new charter to abolish provisions allowing dual citizenship as part of an ongoing ploy to bar Zimbabweans not resident in the country from voting in the 2018 presidential, parliamentary and municipal polls.This move is clearly designed to deny the opposition millions of votes from mostly illegal immigrants eking out a living in SA and other foreign countries who are decidedly anti-President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF, they said.Opposition People's Democratic Party president Tendai Biti said "Toneth Tobaiwa Mudede who hails from the central kingdom of Zvimba" must now be retired."Despite the fact that he turned 60 some 20 years ago, he continues to serve masquerading as the registrar general of the country," Biti, a former Finance minister, said."He is in fact the registrar general of the country personally responsible for Nikuv and the Nikuved 2013 election."The MDC has claimed that the registrar general's office paid controversial Israeli-based company, Nikuv Projects International (NPI), over $10 million to assist Zanu-PF rig the July 31, 2013 polls, an allegation strenuously denied by the shadowy firm, the ruling party and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission."This man has a tremendous capability to speak with another part of his anatomy which is not his mouth. This week he postulated that the concept of dual citizenship so proudly entrenched in Chapter 3 of our constitution and indeed one of its real bright spots was anathema that Zanu-PF would move to repeal."This coming from a mere civil servant, even one that is 20 years past his retirement date is unacceptable and high level madness," Biti said.Chapter 3 of the new Constitution states that one may become a citizen of Zimbabwe by birth, descent or registration.In an address to the Zanu-PF parliamentary caucus last week, Mudede said dual citizenship raised the spectre of tax evasion, evasion from justice, involvement in cases of human trafficking, international terrorism and problems in immigration control and called for amendments to Sections 36, 37 and 43 of the new charter overwhelmingly approved by 95 percent of Zimbabwe in a 2013 referendum."As the ministry of Home Affairs, we have decided that we are not going for realignment (of the Citizenship Act to the Constitution), but for amendment," he said.Mudede also demanded the reinstatement of a provision requiring foreigners who acquired Zimbabwe's citizenship to take an oath of loyalty.Zanu-PF chief whip Lovemore Matuke promised to move the motion in Parliament.Zanu-PF has 160 seats in the 210-seat chamber, a commanding two-thirds majority, while the opposition MDC has 49 seats.MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said dual or even multiple citizenship was there to stay."As the MDC, we derive comfort from the fact that even the majority of Zanu-PF politicians are happy with the concept of dual citizenship since it also affects members of their own families," Gutu said."Mudede doesn't speak on behalf of Zanu-PF; he is a lost cause who is wondering about in the miserable world of anachronism and negativity. We are pretty confident that the Constitution will not be amended to abolish dual citizenship."Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition - a conglomeration of Zimbabwean civic groups - said the development indicates an absence of political accountability and political will to speedily re-align the country's laws to the Constitution including the Citizen's Act."In our view an amendment of Chapter 3 of the Constitution will cause statelessness," said the coalition, which groups various rights organisations."We view the utterances by ...Mudede as part of a bigger ploy to disenfranchise Zimbabweans living in the Diaspora as we head towards the watershed 2018 elections."An estimated three million citizens residing globally in countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Australia, US and the United Kingdom among others are now holders of dual citizenship.These nationals remit close to $2 billion annually."Amending the Constitution to strip them of their Zimbabwean citizenship will not only disenfranchise them in the event that they want to come back home to exercise their right to vote in the 2018 elections but that some of them will be permanently stripped of their Zimbabwean citizenship," the coalition said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

FIRST Lady Grace Mugabe has revamped the Zanu-PF women's league as she prepares for next year's crunch polls where her 93-year-old husband, President Robert Mugabe, faces his sternest challenge from a possible coalesced opposition, NewsDay reported.Mugabe's 2018 election campaign is likely to be hinged on support from the women and youth leagues after the veteran politician's recent acrimonious fallout with his former foot soldiers - war veterans who have picked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa as their preferred presidential candidate.As part of the restructuring exercise, Grace elevated Information, Media and Broadcasting Services deputy minister Thokozile Mathuthu to the position of deputy secretary in the women's league, replacing Bulawayo Provincial minister Eunice Sandi-Moyo.Until her elevation Mathuthu was the women's league spokesperson.Sandi-Moyo was booted out in brutal fashion together with the league's treasurer Sarah Mahoka recently.The changes were announced in Raffingora yesterday by Zanu-PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo at the burial of Presidential spokesperson George Charamba's wife, Idaishe Olivia Charamba, who died in Harare on Sunday from liver complications."She (Mathuthu) is the new deputy secretary for the women's league. She has just been elevated" Chombo said.However, Chombo could not shed light on whether the league had found suitable replacement for league treasurer and Hurungwe West legislator Mahoka, who quit her post last month together with Sandi-Moyo after they were both accused of misconduct and abuse of party funds.Mathuthu, a politburo member, has effectively been catapulted to be Grace's second-in-command.The women and youth leagues are expected to play a pivotal role in Mugabe's re-election bid next year as the frail Zanu-PF leader, currently fighting endless factional fights in his party, faces a single candidate sponsored by opposition parties.To date, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has signed coalition deals with the National People's Party's Joice Mujuru and MDC leader Welshman Ncube. The former Prime Minister is tipped to stand as the coalition's presidential candidate.Yesterday, Charamba thanked chief executives, editors and journalists from across the media divide for joining him in grieving his wife.Charamba said he was humbled seeing media executives and editors from the independent media converging at his home to pass their condolences."Despite the politics that we play at times exchanging harsh words, there is a humanity that binds all of us. We are one people. I thank all the editors, journalists and executives from all the titles across the land who came to help me grieve my wife" Charamba said.Charamba has at times been coy with information and has also threatened private media organisations as he defended Mugabe and the Zanu-PF government.Service chiefs led by Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga, Airforce Commander Perrance Shiri, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner-General Paradzayi Zimondi and government ministers flew in on two helicopters to pay their last respects to Charamba's wife.Chombo, who is the MP for the area, said Olivia was a strong Zanu-PF supporter who would use her husband's money to buy campaign posters to ensure that the ruling party won elections in Zvimba North."If she noticed that there were few campaign posters in the area, she would go quietly to her husband and get money, then print more posters, which she would then bring back here to ensure the party won elections. She never asked for a position for that work" he said.Chiwenga also praised Olivia, saying her loving and hardworking nature had brought people together.Others who attended the burial were ministers Priscah Mupfumira, Josaya Hungwe, Faber Chidarikire, Martin Dinha and Mathuthu, permanent secretaries, principal directors across all ministries, business community and other top bureaucrats.
News / Regional

by Staff reporter

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday reportedly cancelled the Zanu-PF politburo meeting, initially scheduled for today, to entertain his guest, Lesotho's King Letsie III, who is in the country on a four-day State visit.Today's meeting was expected to seal the fate of the party's embattled political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere after all the party's 10 provinces recently passed a vote of no-confidence in him.Zanu-PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo confirmed the cancellation, saying Mugabe had a busy schedule this week."Yes, the politburo has been postponed and all members are advised of the same. The President has a guest, so he has a busy schedule with the visiting King," he said.Mugabe is today set to leave for Victoria Falls to join the Lesotho monarch on a boat cruise in the Zambezi River.Tomorrow, the Zanu-PF leader is scheduled to officially open Tokwe-Mukosi Dam and conduct a groundbreaking ceremony for the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Masvingo-Chirundu Highway.
Opinion / Columnist

The opposition political parties have failed in their attempt to form a 'formidable' force against ZANU PF. They have shown that they are clueless when it comes to issues of national interests and promotion of the hopes and aspiration of the people of Zimbabwe.In a desperate attempt to gang up against ZANU PF in the forthcoming 2018 harmonised elections, the opposition seems to have tangled themselves in a dilemma of sorts. On one hand, the proposed "Grand Coalition" seems to be suffering rejection from grassroots supporters even before its inception. On the other hand, the protagonists from the many opposition parties are battling for anointment to lead the proposed coalition, casting doubts on the significance of the signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between opposition parties.Meanwhile, ZANU PF is busy implementing its ZIMASSET blueprint by empowering people to be self-sustaining and working to accomplish the country's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2020.A struggle for leadership has ensued within the opposition political parties as to who is the rightful candidate to lead the proposed coalition. Each party is currently fighting to put forward its leader's overrated credentials to present them as the most suitable candidate for the top job in the envisaged coalition. This has seen the National People's Party (NPP) Deputy President, Samuel Siphepha Nkomo flaunting his leader, Joice Teurairopa Mujuru's war credentials and her acquisition of a Doctorate degree. Nkomo passionately raised gender parity issues, claiming that it was high time the country tried a woman leader.The discourse is so loud within the different opposition parties with many arguing that MDC T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has failed to deliver in the last four elections. The narrative being that he has failed to show charisma due to little education and has failed his party due to his need for massive hand-holding. His educational deficiency seems to be his major draw-back as some politicians within the opposition parties attribute it to his failure to make solid decisions that could move his party to victory. Meanwhile, Nelson Chamisa has also claimed that Mujuru has no constituency to talk about and that she is not a tried and tested leader like Tsvangirai.So busy are the opposition political parties in trying to garner positions of power in the coalition such that they have ignored the country, the people and their responsibilities. ZANU PF on the other hand, has remained steadfast and focused in delivering its promises to the people as stated in the ZIMASSET blue print. The promise of food security and nutrition is currently being ensured through the Command Agriculture that the ZANU PF Government has implemented and monitored to its successful conclusion. The Command Agriculture initiative has been implemented even on the small grains and soon it will be Command Agriculture on livestock, possibilities are endless.Meanwhile, as the bickering and disorder is raging in the opposition political parties, none of them is willing to take responsibility of the wellbeing of the people of Zimbabwe and the infrastructure that serves them.The ZANU PF Government has taken upon itself to ensure that the cluster of Social Services and Poverty eradication is addressed through promoting programmes such as re-equipping hospitals, enhancing them to provide services that Zimbabweans normally get from India and South Africa at exorbitant prices. Currently, Harare Hospital is hailed as the best operating hospital for Siamese twins separation. Parirenyatwa is now able to perform open heart surgeries at affordable prices and to date; it has performed over 400 open heart surgeries. Chitungwiza hospital has also become the best as a specialised renal hospital.MDC T has since thrown its economic blueprint, JUICE to the dust bin as it continues to chase other money making schemes, mostly through duping western benefactors. On the other hand, ZANU PF has managed to advance projects by way of home grown means. The Tokwe Mukosi dam is one of the largest man-made inland dams, which the ZANU PF Government has managed to build for people to benefit through irrigation schemes and fisheries among other benefits.While ZANU PF, the only people centred party, is working to ensure that Zimbabweans are self-sustaining and adding value to their products and benefiting from the Buy-Zimbabwe products, Joice Mujuru is busy and desperately seeking to up her political CV through paying unannounced visits to the country's chiefs. She was spotted trying desperately to visit the chiefs in their chiefdoms, just for grandstanding purposes. The selfish behaviour as displayed by the leaders of the opposition political parties has in itself annihilated people's interest in their day to day agenda and reasons for forming the coalition in the first place.At the current rate of their politics, the opposition political parties and their proposed coalition of zeros should not be surprised by the apparent watershed win by ZANU PF in the 2018 Harmonised Elections. Elections are not won on the day that votes are cast and counted. It's a process that starts from the day the party launches its manifesto through to the implementation phase of same. For ZANU PF, implementation of projects is an on-going exercise. Up to this day, ZANU PF is still working hard to ensure that the four clusters of ZIMASSET are fulfilled through the 10-Point Plan enunciated by President Mugabe in his State of Nation Address in 2015. The people know who is more concerned about their interests, health, sanitation, infrastructure and empowerment. ZANU PF has already won the 2018 Harmonised Elections.
After telling a Charlottesville court early Wednesday that he was having trouble finding legal representation, right-wing agitator Jason Kessler tweeted in the afternoon that he had found a brave Charlottesville attorney.

In Charlottesville General District Court, Kessler said he had been unable to find an attorney to represent him for his latest criminal charge, saying that the areas dense swath of litigators turned him down for political reasons.

They defend murderers, but they wont defend me, he said.

Later that day, Kessler tweeted that he had secured local defender Mike Hallahan to represent him. Hallahans listed number was not in service when called for confirmation Wednesday.

Kessler was in court for the first hearing on a charge related to the citys controversial statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

During the final minutes of a rally held in Lee Park on Sunday, Kessler and two others were arrested following a police-involved scuffle.

Jordan C. McNeish, a 28-year-old Afton man, and Kessler each were charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, while Richmonder Charles W. Best, 21, was charged with assaulting an officer and carrying a concealed weapon.

Authorities said Kessler refused to obey officer commands to leave the area and stop using a bull horn to incite the rally-goers, and that McNeish spat on Kessler during the incident. They continued that Best threw a cellphone during the fight, which struck an officer in the head. After Bests arrest, police discovered a fully automatic-opening knife on his person.

The rally was held in protest to a gathering at the park the night before, which featured about 100 people bearing torches and chanting, you will not replace us, Russia is our friend and blood and soil. Politicians, city officials and advocacy groups almost universally have condemned the demonstration, which featured white nationalist Richard Spencer.

During his hearing Wednesday, Kessler told a judge that he had difficulty finding an attorney in Charlottesville because of his political views. The judge advised that he could retain a public defender, which could be replaced by a private attorney at any time, but Kessler opted to continue his search.

Kessler was in attendance at Saturdays rally, and has said that he was there to cover it for conservative outlet The Daily Caller and his blog.

He first came into the public eye after a failed petition attempt to oust City Councilor Wes Bellamy, who Kessler said had misused his office. In November, Kessler unearthed a series of offensive tweets Bellamy had written between 2009 and 2014, the publication of which drew supporters to Kesslers cause, including Republican gubernatorial candidate Corey Stewart.

Kessler did not comment outside of the courthouse Wednesday morning. Pam Starsia, an organizer with Showing Up for Racial Justice who was at Sundays rally, said after the hearing that Kessler had shown up to the protest with the express purpose of causing a confrontation and inciting conflict and accused him of assaulting activists in the crowd.

Kessler was the only person out of the three [arrested] who the police managed not to throw to the ground or hit his head against the pavement, Starsia said. Now hes facing a watered-down disorderly conduct charge.

This is Kesslers second criminal charge this year. Earlier this month, he was sentenced to 50 hours of community service for a misdemeanor assault conviction, having admitted to punching a Crozet man during a disagreement on the Downtown Mall in January while collecting signatures for his anti-Bellamy petition.

Charles Weber was Kesslers attorney in that matter. When reached Wednesday, Weber said that he was not Kesslers attorney in this latest charge, and did not wish to comment further.

Kessler is also the complainant in a case against Sara Tansey, who is charged with destruction of property for having reportedly taken Kesslers phone from him during another statue-related rally in February. Tansey has her own tit-for-tat charge against Joe Draego, who is accused of assaulting Tansey when he attempted to retrieve the phone. A special prosecutor has been called in to handle those cases.

Kesslers next hearing is set for June 30.

McNeish was also in the citys general district court Wednesday and his next hearing is also set for June 30. Best, who has been released from custody, has his next hearing scheduled for June 22.
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Cleveland City Schools Board of Education approved the BLADE (Blended Learning and Digital Enhancement) Project this year. BLADE is Cleveland City Schools 1:1 device initiative for both staff and students.

The board said, "Our mission is to foster an innovative culture that brings together the best methods and practices of teaching with current technologies to promote new and relevant learning opportunities for students.Through blended learning, Cleveland City Schools seeks to personalize the educational experience for our students, thus producing students that are college and career ready."

Director of Schools Dr. Russell Dyer said, The BLADE Project will allow our teachers to personalize learning to the individual student. In no way will a technology device ever replace a teacher, but the idea is to provide the teacher will the tools necessary to continue with innovative practices in the classroom. In reality, our students are already living in a digital world. Our job is to harness that digital world and help our students to be positive digital citizens.

The first step in implementing this initiative is to provide Apple MacBook Air laptops to our teachers. The Technology Department began the process of distributing laptops at each school this week. Over the summer, representatives from each school will be trained by Apple professionals. These educators will then provide professional development for their school colleagues during the August inservice days. Beginning in January 2018, all sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students will receive a Google Chromebook for classroom and home use.

BLADE Project Coordinator and Director of Technology, Andrew Phillips, said, The BLADE Project is all about giving teachers and students the tools they need to accomplish the educational goals of Cleveland City Schools. With new Apple laptops for teachers, Chromebooks for students, and software tools that personalize learning, the BLADE Project will prepare our students for life after graduation."
The Culpeper Police Department wants to arm parents and guardians with information that will help them deter their children from engaging in risky behaviors.

Thats why the law enforcement agency will debut the Hidden in Plain Sight exhibit on May 23 inside Germanna Community Colleges Daniel Technology Center from 5 to 8 p.m.

Established in 2011 by the Bath and Copley Township Police Departments in Ohio, Hidden in Plain Sight is a traveling exhibit of a mock teenagers bedroom filled with various items related to risky behaviors such as drug and/or sexual activity.

But items that are taken for granted as nothing but the usual accessories may actually be signals that the teenager could be involved in risky and even illegal activity including substance abuse, underage drinking, eating disorders, sexual activity and more, reads a statement on the Copley Police Department website. Exploration and interaction with the exhibit is encouraged. Adults in attendance will be able to get an up-close look at the items in the room and be shown how they can be used. Participants will be enlightened, educated and astonished.

Culpeper Police spokesman Lt. Jeff Dodson said when Chief Chris Jenkins received a call from Shari Landry, president of the Culpeper Wellness Foundation, about it he wasted no time trying to bring the exhibit to Culpeper.

[The police department has] fully embraced the opportunity to develop this unique display that will provide adults with a chance to learn about the many risks facing our young people, explained Landry. It is my hope that parents and other adults will attend a Hidden in Plain Sight presentation and then talk with the young people in their lives about what they learned. Our young people are taking potentially life-changing risks every daykids from all walks of life. As parents we often believe that we know what our kids are up to, but Id be surprised if everyone who visits the exhibit doesnt learn something new. The information may well save lives and change futures. That is the goal.

After months of research, Master Police Officers Tim Sisk and Mike Grant traveled to Ohio in April to gain some hands-on knowledge.

Our hope is for parents to walk through the bedroom and pick out signs and symptoms in that bedroom that may be indicative of drug use, of sexual behaviors, violent activities or eating disorders, explained Dodson. Theres a lot out there that our teens could be involved in potentially. If we can prevent any kind of teens getting involved in drugs or just one or two then we are doing our jobs.

Sisk said the purpose of this display is to educate parents and teach them to look out for certain red flags in an effort to communicate with their children and get them the resources they need.

Sisk said the teenage bedroom display will constantly change to represent real life experiences.

We have a huge heroin epidemic in Culpeper right now, so thats what we are concentrating on, explained Sisk. But tomorrow it may be a different issue.

The Culpeper Wellness Foundation granted $5,000 toward the program in Culpeper, according to Dodson.

The two-part event features a teenagers bedroom and the second portion will be the PowerPoint presentation.

Dodson said the event at Germanna will only feature the exhibit and the full presentation will take place at Culpeper United Methodist Church on May 31 at 6:30 p.m.

The full length program on May 31 will feature a short video of Sue Klebold, the mother of Dylan Klebold, one of the two shooters in the Columbine High School massacre that killed 12 students and a teacher in April 1999, sharing her story.

Sisk added that Full Circle Thrift has donated all of the furniture for the mock bedroom. Dodson said this program is only designed for parents, grandparents and/or guardians 21 years and older.

Sisk said its like a poker game.

We are trying to give the parents extra cards, Sisk said. We dont want teenagers there because if they dont know about this stuff, we dont want to teach them about it.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area has been awarded a $56,780 grant from Lowes to revitalize the Glass Farms neighborhood in Chattanooga as part of Habitat for Humanitys Neighborhood Revitalization, a nationwide program dedicated to serving more families through community development partnerships.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area will use the funds to help build two new homes for partner families in the program, conduct seven repair projects on owner-occupied homes, assist with the demolition and renovation of commercial space, and build an entrance to the trailhead that connects the 73rd Pennsylvania Reservation trail and the Sherman Reservation both to each other and to the Glass Farms neighborhood. These projects are in response to residents desire to see an increase in homeownership and new construction in currently vacant or blighted lots; see neighborhood homes conditions improved so elderly or low-income residents may remain in their homes; to see the commercial corridor of the neighborhood re-energized through appropriate development, increased economic opportunities, and a safer environment; and to have increased access to amenities, such as public parks .

We are so grateful to Lowes for their generous support in our community and around the U.S., said David Butler, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area. Through their support of this program, we are able to work with an array of community investment organizations to help improve conditions in Glass Farms to build strength, stability, and self-reliance for the residents.

Through Habitats Neighborhood Revitalization efforts, Habitat affiliates offer an expanded array of housing services and partner with local residents, housing leaders, community groups and businesses to transform neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life in communities.

Lowes shares Habitats vision that having a safe, stable home helps bring strength, security and pride to families and ultimately communities, said James Frison, Lowes community relations director. Its important for us to support Habitats Neighborhood Revitalization program and help revive neighborhoods like Glass Farms, making them places where people love to live.
Assistant Professor Brad Collett and students from the School of Landscape Architecture in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Architecture and Design have written and published "HydroLIT: Southeast Tennessee Water Quality Playbook," a regional plan and tool kit for water quality challenges and its future.



The book was launched last week at an event in Chattanooga aimed at empowering the region to protect natural resources. Southeast Tennessee Development, Thrive 2055 Regional Partnership, and the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute hosted the event.



"HydroLIT" (short for hydrologic literacy) highlights the relationship between the quality of regional water resourcesstreams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwaterand urban, suburban, and rural systems. It proposes innovative water quality improvement strategies to guide future planning in the region.



The book is a result of an 18-month teaching and research project that began in 2015 with Prof. Colletts fall studio, which was part of the universitys Smart Communities Initiative in collaboration with its 2015-16 community partner, the Southeast Tennessee Development District (SETD).



In addition to supporting conversation and decisions about a sustainable future for southeast Tennessee's water resources, including the Tennessee River, "HydroLIT" formed the basis of the college's Tennessee River Studio.



The book includes research from four UT studentsSarah Newton, Lindsey Bradley, Erica Phannamvong, and Kyra Wu. It was designed as a resource for regional stakeholders, including municipalities, agencies, researchers, planners, designers, residents, landowners, and developers.

"The SETD sought a regional water quality improvement plan, and these students developed a series of strategies that are scalable and adaptable to the range of landscapes typical throughout the region," said Prof. Collett. "By working collaboratively to implement the book's proposed strategies, SETD can accommodate projected economic and population growth while stewarding the regions natural treasures and maintaining the high quality of life that makes the region a desirable place to live, work and play."



Prof. Collett's studio is a teaching, research, and outreach initiative that began with a mission to contemplate speculative visionary proposals that steward the Tennessee Valleys resources while maintaining its legacy of leadership and innovation, officials said.



The studio is part of the Governor's Chair for High Performance Energy Practices in Urban Environments (Energy and Urbanism), a five-year partnership of UT; Skidmore, Owings and Merrill; and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to "research innovations and technologies toward a healthy urban future."



The work we are doing in the Tennessee River Studio has been made possible by the foundation of research, relationships, and ideas cultivated through the development of 'HydroLIT' and other community collaborations, said Prof. Collett. Meeting the emergent challenges that face the river and the communities it supports requires best practices, novel ideas and thinking from a range of allied disciplines, including planning and design. We now seek to leverage those relationships developed through projects like this book as we scale up to the Tennessee River watershed.
Author Frank Varney will be signing copies of his book General Grant and the Rewriting of History: How the Destruction of General William S. Rosecrans Influenced Our Understanding of the Civil War.



Mr. Varney will be present at the Chickamauga Chattanooga National Military Park, 3370 Lafayette Road, in Fort Oglethorpe Ga., from Friday, June 9 through Sunday, June 11. For more information visit http://www.nps.gov/chch/index.htm.



About the book: In 1885, a former president of the United States published one of the most influential books ever written about the Civil War. An entire generation of Americans had eagerly awaited his memoirs and it has remained so popular that it has never gone out of print. Historiansthen and nowhave made extensive use of Grant's recollections, which have shaped how we understand and evaluate not only the Union army's triumphs and failures, but many of the war's key participants. The "Memoirs" of Ulysses Simpson Grant may be a superbly written book, Frank P. Varney persuasively argues in General Grant and the Rewriting of History, but is so riddled with flaws as to be unreliable.

Juxtaposing primary source documents (some of them published here for the first time) against Grant's own pen and other sources, Professor Varney sheds new light on what really happened on some of the Civil War's most important battlefields. He does so by focusing much of his work on Grant's treatment of Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, a capable army commander whose reputation Grant (and others working with him) conspired to destroy. Grant's memoirs contain not only misstatements but outright inventions to manipulate the historical record. But Grant's injustices go much deeper. He submitted decidedly biased reports, falsified official documents, and even perjured himself before an army court of inquiry. There is also strong evidence that his often-discussed drinking problem affected the outcome of at least one battle.



General Grant was an outstanding soldier and, so we have long believed, a good man. History's wholesale acceptance of his version of events has distorted our assessment of Rosecrans and other officers, and even of the Civil War itself. Grant intentionally tried to control how future generations would remember the Civil War, and in large measure he succeeded. The first of two volumes on this subject, General Grant and the Rewriting of History aptly demonstrates, however, that blindly accepting historical "truths" without vigorous challenge is a perilous path to understanding real history.



About the Author: Frank Varney earned his Ph.D. at Cornell University. He regularly leads student groups to Civil War battlefields and makes frequent speaking appearances before Civil War Roundtables and historical societies. Professor Varney is currently developing a course to be taught on-site at Gettysburg, and will do the same for a course on Chickamauga. He teaches U.S. and classical history at Dickinson State University of North Dakota. This is his first book.


Sword and Shield Enterprise Security, Inc. a cybersecurity provider, in associate with Scott Insurance, and the Baker Donelson law firm, will be providing local business owners the information they need to know regarding cybersecurity at Secure Chattanooga - Cyber Summit on Thursday, May 18 from 8 a.m.-noon at the Marriott Chattanooga Downtown, 2 Carter Plaza.



"Industry experts in cybersecurity will address how to protect your company from possible attacks and how you should respond if you become a victim. From identity theft and fraud to corporate hacking attacks, like the latest WannaCry ransomware attack that crippled more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries, cyber security has never been more important for businesses and organizations," officials said.

Breakfast will be served from 7:30-8 a.m.



The conference will present the following speakers and topics:

- Jackson Vaughan, risk advisor for Scott Insurance, regarding cyber risk management and financing;

- Eric Setterlund, associate at Baker Donelson, and Clinton Sanko, ESI/contract counsel officer, regarding mitigating risks and finding value through information governance; and

- Teddy Ansink, enterprise security consultant at Sword and Shield Enterprise Security, regarding incident response plans.
Even as IT majors say that Indian opportunity is very volatile, contributes only single digits to the revenue and has problems surrounding payments.

Mumbai: Amid concerns over job losses in USD 155 billion IT sector, industry lobby Assocham today said this is the time for outsourcing companies "to look inward" and focus on the domestic opportunity to curtail layoffs.

"It is time our industry bellwethers looked a bit inward now. It is also time to redraw strategy that gives a good look at the home market, which can more than make up, at least in the short to medium term, for the possible dent on jobs in the disruptive overseas markets," it said in a note.

The information technology and business process management industry has grown at a healthy clip for nearly two decades, but protectionist policies in the west and increased automation have led to job losses in the recent past with some analysts estimating layoffs at over 2 lakh per year.

Even as IT majors say that Indian opportunity is very volatile, contributes only single digits to the revenue and has problems surrounding payments, the industry lobby said PM's Jan Dhan Yojana and Aadhar based service delivery models offer interesting opportunities.

It said 60 per cent of the current work done by the Indian IT industry is for global companies in the banking, financial services and insurance sector. Data generated by PMJDY and its linkages with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) can be a "delight for different set of analytics" and can be used to help the fast moving consumer goods, auto, telecom, insurance, agri sectors, it said.

An increased focus on the domestic front will be a "win-win" for both the country as well as the IT industry, it said, calling for a high level task force consisting of IT industry and the Government.

The lobby's secretary general D S Rawat claimed "lakhs of new jobs" can be created through the focus on domestic opportunity which can make up for the losses due to upheavals in global markets and changing technologies.

The note comes months after Reliance Industries' Mukesh Ambani called the protectionist policies in US as a blessing in disguise for India. US President Donald Trump can actually be a blessing in disguise.

The domestic IT industry can focus on solving problems right here, which is a huge market," Ambani had said in February.
Mumbai: In Tamil Nadu, as many as 100 software professionals have signed up as primary members of a union that has been formed to safeguard interests of employees in India's information technology sector.

Some IT professionals last week had complained and demonstrated against IT major Cognizant for sacking them. The protest acted as a precursor for formation of the union that will lobby for safety of women employees.

The union will also protect rights of IT employees by subjecting the companies to labour laws, a report on NDTV said. The report says that Tamil Nadu alone has about 4.5 lakh employees in the IT sector.

Most of the employees in the state are not willing to join the union as they fear that their companies will reject their acts and will look at them as trouble-makers, the report said.

Infosys has over 17,000 employees in Chennai, Wipro has 25,000, and TCS, India's largest software exporter, has 60,000 employees in 13 centres in the state.

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu's neighbour state Karnataka has not allowed trade unions for IT professionals and software companies. In India, manufacturing sector has seen powerful trade unions flourish across the country.

Indian IT and software industry is already bleeding owing to various factors. H1-B Visa coupled with recent lay-offs have worsened the already grim situation. Visa restrictions have drastically hit India's $150 billion outsourcing industry.
New Delhi: Indian banks' struggles with bad loans over the past three years have opened an opportunity to ramp up lending for so-called non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), which are not as strictly regulated as banks.

With their share of total credit rising, new players and new investors have piled into the NBFC market.

The latest such player is Incred. Backed by Deutsche Bank's former co-CEO Anshu Jain, it lends to individuals and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) including start-ups.

Saurabh Jhalaria, who heads Incred's SME division, says the company aims to disburse $234 million in new credit by next March. As much as 60 percent would be lent to SMEs, he said.

"There is great demand for credit from small entrepreneurs, but supply is very limited," Jhalaria told Reuters, referring to the reluctance to lend among state banks.

Public sector lenders led by State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank, which as a group account for two third of banking assets, are saddled with bulk of India's $150 billion in stressed loans.

Criminal investigations into some loan defaults have made bankers extremely cautious of extending new credit. The process of approving loans has become lengthier and requires lots of paperwork.

Banks are also reluctant to lend without matching collateral. In some cases, they even demand collateral twice the value of the loan.

As a result, bank credit to industry shrank by 1.9 percent in the fiscal year that ended in March. In contrast, NBFCs have posted double-digit rates of lending growth.

A study by research firm Crisil shows NBFCs have doubled their market share in SME loans and wholesale finance in the past five years. The Indian unit of rating agency Standard and Poor's expects their share in overall loans to rise by 3 percentage points to nearly 18 percent over the next two years.

Since its launch in February, Incred has lent nearly $16 million to 1,000 borrowers. It offers loans to SMEs of up to 100 million rupees ($1.56 million) and charges interest of between 13-19 percent.

While the loans are costlier than those offered by banks, which charge around 12 percent on average, they are processed more quickly and require little paperwork.

"Our target is ambitious but achievable," said Jhalaria. "There is a demand that is not being met by banks. We are filling in that gap."
Mumbai: Automation solutions provider Siemens today said it has bagged a contract from Vedanta for providing digital fleet center solution to connect the latter's two power plants in India to the monitoring stations.

Siemens will digitally link Vedanta's critical power units-Talwandi Sabo Power Plant (TSPL) in Punjab and Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO)-to its monitoring station. "This connection will serve to analyse huge amounts of fleet data for continuous monitoring and diagnostics of these assets.

This will enable proactive maintenance to help reduce unplanned outages, thereby, optimising costs and increasing availability of Vedanta's power assets," Siemens said in a statement issued here.

Siemens will initially provide three years of maintenance and service support to help ensure continued reliability and operational performance. "We use digital technology extensively in mining but also in increasing reliability and output of our plants and equipment. We intend to intensify the use of digital further, to optimise but also for breakthroughs," Vendanta CEO Diversified Metals (India) Samir Cairae, CEO Diversified Metals (India) said.

He said for its power plants, the company would use digital technology to increase availability, to do predictive maintenance and to better manage our fuel feeds. "This will also enable us to monitor critical functions of Vedanta's power plants in real time by using the richness and intelligence of digital information," Cairae added.

Siemens has developed comprehensive digital fleet center solutions that enable power plant fleet operators to seamlessly connect their power generation assets (turbines, generators, boilers and balance of plants), and leverage the power of vast amount of data generated by these machines.

"As a provider of integrated digitalisation solutions across the production value chain, we have partnered with Vedanta in its continuous journey of modernisation of its power assets across India," Siemens Head, Power Generation Services Prashant Jain said.
New Delhi: Regulator Trai may look into the issue of testing and quality of mobile phones and set-top boxes as part of a wider consultation to boost manufacturing of telecom and broadcasting products in the country.

The issue assumes significance as telecom operators had blamed mobile handset quality for call drops and approached the government saying the role of devices in issue of service quality has not been considered adequately.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai) discussion paper pertaining to incentivising manufacturers of telecom and broadcasting equipment is currently in the works, two persons familiar with the matter told PTI.

It is likely to be released over the next one month. The paper may explore, amongst other aspects, possible sweetners for operators who use indigenous products in their networks. "The operators had raised the issue that the poor quality of some handsets affects the quality of service and network performance.

There is likely to be a larger consultation paper on manufacturing that will include this issue," one of the persons cited above said. In March this year, telecom operators - under Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) - demanded that the government chalk out a mechanism to control the quality of mobile handsets in India.

Drawing the government's attention to the absence of regulations governing the handset quality, the COAI had rued that there was no visibility or control over the large number of "rogue devices affecting the network quality".

This was, however, contested by the Indian Cellular Association, an industry body that includes handset makers. The ICA had countered COAI's claims saying phones sold in India "diligently" followed the prescribed norms.

The ICA has maintained that inadequate infrastructure, and not device quality, was responsible for the call drop and network throughputs. Trai is looking into the issue, a source said, adding that one of the aspects was "testing of prototype models".

"If the network performance is affected then it will certainly be looked into...the paper will look at aspects like should there be testing benchmarks or quality of service in case of consumer equipments in the telecom and broadcasting sector," the person said.
New Delhi: Workers at Aditya Birla Nuvo group firm Jaya Shree Textiles in West Bengal have gone on strike, which the company has termed illegal. The workmen of Jaya Shree Textiles at Rishra, Hoogly, have gone on illegal strike from May 16, Aditya Birla Nuvo said in a BSE filing.

The company, however, did not disclose the reason behind the strike. Jaya Shree Textiles is engaged in manufacturing of linen yarn, linen fabrics, worsted yarn and wool tops. The turnover of Jaya Shree Textiles division constituted about 25 per cent of the total standalone turnover for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2016, Aditya Birla Nuvo said.

"As such the total impact of the said development on the overall operation of the company shall not be material," it added. For the nine months ended December 31, Aditya Birla Nuvo had reported a standalone net profit of Rs 827.29 crore. Shares of the company were trading at Rs 1,704.30, up 0.12 per cent on BSE.
New Delhi: The government is moving ahead with further opening of print media, construction and retail sectors to foreign investments, and detailed deliberations in this regard were held in the finance ministry today.

The commerce and industry ministry may soon approach the Union Cabinet to get the final approval on the proposals, sources said. According to them, the government is considering to relax foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in certain areas of print media.

Currently, government allows foreign investment in areas such as printing of newspapers and publishing of scientific magazines with certain conditions and FDI caps.

There is also a proposal to ease the policy in construction and development sector, under which an Indian company could be allowed to bring FDI even for undeveloped plots in any project.

Currently, 100 per cent FDI is allowed in the construction sector subject to various conditions. One of the norms is that the Indian investee company is

permitted to sell only developed plots, which means plots where trunk infrastructure - roads, water supply, street lighting, drainage and sewerage, have been made available.

Sources said the government may put certain restrictions while making changes in this condition. The whole exercise is aimed at providing investor friendly climate to foreign players and in turn attract more FDI to boost economic growth and create jobs.

The government is also mulling easing policy in single brand and multi-brand retail trading. There is a consideration to allow 100 per cent FDI in single brand retail sector through automatic route with certain conditions.

Currently, FDI up to 49 per cent is permitted under the automatic route but beyond that limit, government's nod is required. Further, the government is weighing the option of permitting overseas retailers to open stores for selling 'Made in India' products.

Besides, Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal is pitching to permit FDI in non-food items, along with food products, under the multi-brand retail policy. She wants that foreign players should be allowed to sell non-food items along with food products processed and manufactured in India under the FDI in food policy.

The easing of the policy will be on the lines of the announcements made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget for 2017-18.

The government last year relaxed FDI norms in over a dozen sectors, including defence, civil aviation, construction and development, private security agencies, real estate and news broadcasting.

Foreign investments are considered crucial for India, which needs around USD 1 trillion for overhauling its infrastructure sector such as ports, airports and highways to boost growth.

Foreign investments will help improve the country's balance of payments situation and strengthen the rupee value against other global currencies, especially the US dollar.
New Delhi: As farmers prepare fields for kharif sowing, the government is considering increasing the minimum support price (MSP) of cotton by Rs 160 per quintal to Rs 4,320 for the 2017-18 crop year beginning July.

It is also planning to promote Bt cotton variety developed by the government research body ICAR and expects increased area coverage and better output on hopes of good southwest monsoon that has already hit Kerala in advance.

For the ongoing 2016-17 crop year, MSP of medium staple cotton has been fixed at Rs 3,860 per quintal and long staple cotton at Rs 4,160. According to sources, the Agriculture Ministry has proposed increase in cotton MSP by Rs 160 per quintal for the 2017-18 crop year, based on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

It has moved a Cabinet note for inter-ministerial comments on fixing MSP at Rs 4,020 per quintal for medium staple cotton and Rs 4,320 per quintal for long staple cotton for the 2017-18 crop year.

That apart, sources said since much of the cotton area is under Bt cotton seeds of private companies, the government is planning to promote first generation Bt cotton variety developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and has asked National Seed Corporation to ensure sufficient supply in the ensuing kharif season.

With higher MSP and normal monsoon forecast, area under cotton is expected to increase next year. In 2016-17, cotton area had dropped to 102.78 lakh hectares, but output rose by 8.57 per cent to 32.58 million bales (of 170 kg each) due to good yields.
New Delhi: With an aim to bring together 32 premier educational and policy research institutions to catalyse the country's development process, government think- tank NITI Aayog today held the first Samavesh meeting.

"This is the first ever initiative taken in the country to bring the large number of institutions cutting across diverse domain themes to deliberate together on the way forward for inclusive development of the country," an official statement today said.

The statement further said that as part of Samavesh initiative, a new link on NITI's website was launched on the occasion which would eventually emerge as a major repository of knowledge based reports and case studies across different sectors of the economy.

The meeting witnessed signing of memoranda of understandings (MoUs) between NITI Aayog and major think tanks across the country to create an ecosphere of evidence-based policy research, it added.

The first meeting of the National Steering Group and other knowledge partners was held under the co-chairmanship of NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and Principal Adviser NITI Aayog Ratan P Watal.

This network will enable efficient knowledge sharing and information exchange among all partners to achieve a sustainable and more inclusive development in line with the National Development Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals as well as the 15-year vision, 7-year strategy and 3-year action plan, it added.
Appreciating the Centres decision for setting up an inter-ministerial committee to look into the financial health of the sector, COAI urged the government to take concrete steps that will improve the situation.

New Delhi: With the finance of telecom firms deteriorating, the Centre has set up an inter-ministerial group (IMG) to suggest measures to see that the companies dont default in their payments.

A Committee of Secretaries (CoS) had discussed the issue relating to Stress in balance sheet in select sector at its meeting on March 29. Following the meeting, an IMG has been set up which will have representatives from telecom department, financial services, economic affairs and revenue department.

The IMG will examine systemic issues affecting viability and repayment capacity in the telecom sector and give recommendations for resolution of stressed assets.

It will also suggest policy reforms and strategic interventions for the telecom sector. The IMG will submit its recommendations within three months.

According to the industry sources, banks are worried telcos will start defaulting on payments due to fall in revenues and high level of debt in the sector. They said the telecom sector debt is around Rs 8 lakh crore and annual interest payment of telcos is around Rs 78,000 crore.

The Centres annual collections from telcos could fall to Rs 30,000 crore. This even as Centre is sitting on unsold spectrum worth around Rs 6 lakh crore.

Appreciating the Centres decision for setting up an inter-ministerial committee to look into the financial health of the sector, COAI urged the government to take concrete steps that will improve the situation.

COAI director general, Rajan S. Mathews also underlined the fact that the RBI recently issued advisory to all the banks to re-assess the debt bearing capability of the telecom sector.

The recent results announced by the telecom companies are not an indication of a healthy growth of the sector. Immediate policy-level interventions are required to uplift the financial health of the sector and to ensure that we move in the right direction of pursuing our national goals, he added.
Indian IT players including Infosys and Wipro have initiated performance reviews, a move that could see thousands of workers being shown the door.

Bengaluru: After Chennai and Hyderabad, IT workers union FITE has now decided to approach the labour commission in Bengaluru to submit a petition to stop the alleged illegal terminations happening at Cognizant.

Forum for IT Employees, or FITE, is a representative body of employees working in IT firms and call centres. The body has already approached labour commissions in Chennai and Hyderabad, alleging that the US-based firm is illegally terminating thousands of employees by forcing them to resign.

We are all set to approach the labour commission in Bengaluru to submit a petition to stop illegal terminations happening in Cognizant, FITE vice president Ms Vasumathi told PTI.

FITE also plans to approach labour commissions in Kolkata and Pune.

Cognizant had rolled out a voluntary separation programme for directors, associate VPs and senior VPs, offering them 6-9 months of salary.

While Cognizant maintains that performance reviews are done to ensure that it has the right employee skill sets, FITE is alleging that the highly-paid experienced professionals are being replaced by those with lesser experience and lower pay.

Indian IT players including Infosys and Wipro have initiated performance reviews, a move that could see thousands of workers being shown the door. While IT firms have been one of the largest recruiters in the country, increasing automation of processes is expected to lead to reduction in hiring in coming years.

Ms Vasumathi said that depending on the outcome of conciliation meetings, a decision would be taken on whether or not to approach the court to solve the vexed issue.

She said FITE plans to hold a protest rally in Bengaluru, for which she is galvanising support from affected employees through social media

platforms.
Mumbai: Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon, who are rumoured to be dating each other, have always remained in the denial mode about it.

However, with Kriti being the first lady to enjoy a ride in Sushants high-end car Maserati Quattroporte, and many such instances dictate that they share a special bond.

Their film Raabta is all geared up for a June 2 release, and parts of which are yet to be shot.

The duo shot together for a gruelling schedule in Mauritius where they were performing high-octane stunts. Even though they had rehearsed and done workshops, performing stunts in an open space always has risk involved.

Sushant being the thorough gentleman always had an eye out for Kriti.

Even when he was not shooting, Sushant was in and around sets, looking out for her.

Once when the actress got a muscle strain in her leg, Sushant quickly ran to her rescue and gave her ice fermentation.

He continues to be protective and now during a recent promotional event, he ensured Kriti was either with him or ahead of him.
Mumbai: When an actor debuts in a film by a director of international repute like Majid Majidi, you would expect everything to go as smooth as velvet. But in reality, Majidi found Ishaans tantrums intractable while filming Beyond The Clouds.

The star kid, who had his mother Neelima Azim and star brother Shahid Kapoor visit him on the sets of the films Mumbai schedule, has reportedly inculcated starry tantrums a little too soon, something the showbiz business is notorious for.

While the ace director was mighty impressed with his acting skills, he found Ishaan too arrogant to deal with and the duo was close to having a clash on multiple occasions. Because of Majidis limited knowledge of the English language, he made the youngster aware of his displeasure through the translator.

But the good thing is, this Bollywood babys first international flick is going to attract massive attention as the makers are all set to release the second poster of the film at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. A source informed a daily, The makers of the film are planning a unique marketing strategy for the film around it's posters. They plan to release a series of teaser posters one by one unveiling a different looks and textures dedicated to the characters of the film. After the beautiful first poster and now the second poster at Cannes, we can expect a few more in the next few months.

Let us hope the film opens to a thunderous response and Ishaans career blossoms.

Here are some of the pictures Ishaan shared from the set:
Mumbai: The new poster of 'Simran' credits Kangana Ranaut as the 'additional story and dialogue writer' which has not gone down well with Apurva Asrani, the writer of the film.

Asrani features as the 'story, screenplay and dialogue writer in the poster but his credit appears after Kangana's.

While the writer does not mind Kangana being named as the 'additional dialogue writer', he is not happy that she is also sharing the credits as co-writer.

The film is directed by Hansal Mehta who has previously worked with Apurva in critically acclaimed films like 'Shahid', 'CityLights and 'Aligarh'.

Apurva Asrani took the Facebook route to share his disagreement on Kangana being credited as the co-writer of 'Simran.'

He also wrote that how he is disappointed with the fact that Kangana has been claiming in her interviews that Hansal Mehta approached her with a one line screenplay of the film, and further went on to claim that the film was a gritty thriller then and it's she who converted it into a light-hearted film.

His post on Facebook read:

Earlier too, Apurva, who was reportedly sacked as the editor of the film, shared the poster of the film on Facebook, saying he has worked as the 'Story, Screenplay and Dialogue writer' in the film.

Director Goldie Behl tweeted to Apurva, writing, "Nice feel @Apurvasrani have heard of additional dialogues but can't understand 'additional story' a story is a story how can you have additional."

To which, Apurva replied, "Thanks @GOLDIEBEHL. I think @mehtahansal is the best person to answer that question."

He then, in a series of tweets, disclosed that "All I could do was fight for my credit to remain in the film; and I did that! If that had been tampered with I would go to the association (Film Writers' Association)."

In another tweet, he said, "And yes, I am guilty of signing a contract that only protects the producer, because in this case I believed the producer to be my friend."

'Simran' will hit the theatres on September 15.
Mumbai: Sushant Singh Rajput is one fitness buff. The kind of dedication that he applies in his work is maybe the ladder behind his success.

He has definitely left no stone unturned to upgrade the fitness standards.

While the actor has been sharing many of his training videos, heres another jaw-dropping exercise video by Sushant.

Sushant has also undergone some hardcore martial arts training for his film 'Raabta'.

This video of his intense workout is definitely an inspiration to hit the gym.

Watch the kick ass video here:

We have seen Sushant Singh Rajputs hot body in the recent stills from the film and also in the songs and the trailer. Sushant and Kritis chemistry in the film is also said to be one of the highlights and something fans are looking forward to.

Directed by Dinesh Vijan, 'Raabta' is slated to release on June 9.
Mumbai: David Letterman, who was the longest-running host of late-night TV in U.S. history, has been chosen to receive the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the center said on Tuesday.

Letterman, who hosted 6,028 late-night shows in 33 years on the air, will be awarded the 20th annual prize named for the 19th century U.S. novelist and satirist on Oct. 22, Washington's Kennedy Centre said in a statement.

"Raise your hand if, like me, you shifted your bedtime because you didn't want to miss a moment of Dave on television lest you not be part of the conversation with friends and co-workers the next day," Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter said.

Letterman, whose show became a stop for everybody from movie stars and comedians to Medal of Honor winners and presidents, said he was excited to win the honor, the top U.S. prize for humor.

"For 33 years, there was no better guest, no greater friend of the show, than Mark Twain. The guy could really tell a story," he quipped in a statement.

Letterman, 70, won 10 Emmy Awards while hosting NBC's "Late Night" and then "The Late Show" on CBS. His final show in May 2015 drew an audience of 13.8 million people.

Letterman reinvented late-night television with an ironic comic sensibility that ranged from his grabbing a phone on-air to call anybody, including his mother, or heading out of the New York studio to chat with souvenir shop owners.

Letterman subverted the format's tradition of geniality with his own grouchy personality, not fearing to display boredom with a guest.

Previous Mark Twain Prize honorees include Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Lily Tomlin, Neil Simon, Carol Burnett, Jay Leno and Bill Murray, the 2016 winner.

Letterman spoke at Murray's award ceremony about the comedian's impact on his own career. Letterman's first TV gig, a morning comedy-variety show on NBC in 1980, got a boost with Murray's appearances but was canceled after three months.

"He didnt save the show, but he saved me," Letterman said.

The award ceremony in October will be recorded for television broadcast.
Chennai: Rumours of Rajinikanth planning to join politics have increased ever since he decided to hold his first meet-and-greet session with fans after eight years. He further added fuel to the fire on day one of the four-day event being held in Chennai, when he said, "If God wills it, I will enter politics tomorrow."

This was followed by union minister Pon Radhakrishnans statement that Bhartiya Janata Party will welcome Rajinikanths entry into politics or to the party.

When Rajinikanth was asked about Radhakrishans comment on the third day of the meet with fans on Wednesday, the megastar didnt rule out the possibility and said, "Whatever I had to say I said, now I have nothing more to say.

Rajinikanth's refusal to give a concrete response to the query has left many wondering if the superstar has actually not overlooked the possibility of joining the ruling party.

The megastar had also previously asked his fans not to be disappointed if he doesnt join politics and also regretted his decision to support the DMK during the 1996 assembly elections.
Mumbai: Even as Baahubali 2 hurricane continues at the box-office, redefining the parameters of box-office success (at Rs 1450 cr), the latest first to the films credit is its success at the Pakistan box-office, where it is running to packed houses in all theatres. Also the film has achieved the distinction to be the first dubbed regional film to be released in Pakistan after a long time, to achieve a business in the range of Rs 4.5 crores.

According to Kishore Kedari, Business Development Head, Arka Media Works, the film was released in close to 100 screens in Paksitan last week and Pakistan audiences have hailed it, The feedback we have received from there indicates that the audiences have absolutely loved the film. It is a huge success in all the major cities in Pakistan. The response to the film across the border has proved that story-telling can cut across all barriers and rule over the box-office, Kedari revealed.

According to veteran Pakistan distributor Amjad Rasheed, who released the film in Pakistan, The film has got a huge response in Pakistan especially the single screens, this despite the fact that it purports mythology and Hindu tradition to a certain extent. I guess it is the daredevil action and the thrill in the movie, as much as the mind-blowing special effects that have appealed to the Pakistan audiences, Rasheed said, adding that the film would have done even better business if it would have been released in Pakistan on the same day it was released in India, There were initial problems in the films release due to speculation. There were also apprehensions whether it would get the clearance from the Pakistan Censor Board, Rasheed revealed.

Rasheed is gung-ho about the fact that the film received an 'all-clear' status from the Pakistan Censor Board when it was shown to the board members, which hardly ever happens since it the PCB is known to be extra scrupulous about the clearance of all films released in Pakistan, There are some very basic parameters one of them being that a film should not have no pointers towards religion or have anti-Pakistani references. The PCB did not order a single cut in the film since it did not find anything objectionable about it. Likewise the exhibitors were also unanimous in their opinion that the film has nothing controversial in it, Rashid said, adding that he was expecting the film to touch the business of Rs 6 crore at the Pakistan box-office, Thats the business that Badrinath Ki Dulhania had last done in Pakistan. The film was a huge success here. So far Baahubali 2 has done a business in the range of Rs 4.5 cr so far and I am expecting it to continue with its steady run though we have Hindi Medium and Half Girlfriend releasing this week, he says.

Meanwhile the President of the Indian Film Exporters Association, Hirachand Dand, has hailed the success of Baahubali in Pakistan, It is a big achievement. It has cut across all barriers and established its position at the Pakistan box-office, Dand reveals adding that the film has also opened a new market for dubbed Hindi releases in Pakistan, There have been so many successful dubbed Hindi films in the past but most of them were never released in Pakistan. Baahubali 2 is the first dubbed Hindi film to do this kind of business in the neighboring country. This will pave the way for the release of more dubbed films that are released on a grand scale, he said, adding that the overseas business of Baahubali 2, had given a big boost to the international market of dubbed films abroad.

So far we had seen the three Khans defying box-office records in the overseas territory but Baahubali 2 has completely changed the trend. Also it is the first dubbed regional film to beat all records in USA and U.K. and the overseas distributors of the film are understandably excited, he said.
After India, its Pakistans turn to be gripped by the Baahubali 2 fever, where its running to packed houses in all the 100 odd theatres. This is the first dubbed regional film to release in Pakistan in a very long time, and do a business of more than 4.5 crore in Pakistani currency.

According to Kishore Kedari, Business Development Head, Arka Media Works, the Pakistan audiences have lapped the film up. It is a huge success in all the major cities in Pakistan. Kedari revealed.

According to veteran Pakistani distributor Amjad Rasheed, who released the film there, The film has especially got a huge response in single screens, even though it purports mythology and Hindu tradition to a certain extent. Rasheed reckons that it is the daredevil action, the thrill, and outstanding special effects that have appealed to the audiences. There were initial problems in the films release due to apprehensions about getting a clearance from the Pakistan Censor Board, Rasheed reveals. However, the film received an all-clear status from the Pakistan Censor Board, no mean feat considering the PCB is extra scrupulous about clearing films. Baahubali 2 was passed without a single cut since the PCB did not find anything objectionable in the film, Rashid says. The film is expected to touch the 6 crore Pakistani Rupees mark at the box-office.

The president of the Indian Film Exporters Association, Hirachand Dand, hails the success of Baahubali 2 in Pakistan, Its a big achievement. The film has also opened a new market for dubbed Hindi releases in Pakistan. It has also changed the trend of only the three Khans defying box-office records in the overseas territory, he says.
Looks like Pawan Kalyans twitter account has been hacked because the actor-turned-politician couldnt post anything on social media about his latest political activity. The actor has been very busy in the last few days with his newly-formed Seva Dal and also has had interactions with his party activists from Anantapur. He wanted to post something related to his meeting with the party activists, but was unable to do it. Thats why, he suspected that his account may be hacked, says a source. The party too has released a statement that his account was blocked and may be rectified soon. Since Wednesday morning, experts are checking his account and are even in talks with the officials of Twitter India, says the source. The party spokesperson says that they havent approached any government or cyber crime officials yet. They are doing their own search on whether it was hacked or blocked by someone, after which, they may officially lodge a complaint, added the source.
Alappuzha: Physical deformities are found in rare cases among people in different parts of the world, but more than limited access to medical help, superstitions and a clear lack of awareness about these conditions prevent people from seeking appropriate help to find a cure.

A family in Keralas Alappuzha is facing a rare condition which has left everyone from the 85-year-old head of the family to the youngsters with webbed fingers. They dont have to live with the disorder called Syndactyly as it can be treated, but the family doesnt acknowledge it as a medical problem.

The Kannathu family from a village in Alappuzha believes their life altering disorder to be a curse from god, and they dont want surgery since they are afraid that it will bring bad luck upon the family. The family insists that they can live a normal life even with their fingers stuck together, and carry out daily chores like cooking and cleaning.

The family started having webbed hands 90 years back and since then this has been passed on to every generation. They say they have learnt to use their fingers properly and are proud to show their hands to people who travel from far away places just to see their fingers.

The family believes that they started having this condition when a neighbour cut off a tree in a sacred grove nearby. They are afraid to undergo surgery as a relative who tried lost his ability to hear later. They also hold prayers to appease the snake god.
Keeping blood sugar blood pressure levels in check, adhering to the prescribed diet and medications, physical activity, etc. can help prevent or slow the development of diabetic retinopathy.

Visakhapatnam: A growing body of evidence supports the prime role of inflammation and angiogenesis in inducing progressive damage to the retina in diabetes patients, leading to diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Now, the findings of a recent study, carried out by the researchers at Andhra University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and LV Prasad Eye Institute, Visakhapatnam, concurred with the same.

The study revealed higher levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with DR compared to the patients without the ocular condition. Cytokines are regulators of host responses to infection, immune responses, inflammation, and trauma. The pro-inflammatory cytokines act to make a medical condition worse.

On the other hand, the vascular endothelial growth factor is a major regulator of new blood vessel growth and an important inducer of vascular permeability, playing a role in diabetic retinopathy. Vascular permeability characterises the capacity of a blood vessel wall to allow for the flow of small molecules.

Speaking to DC, M. Nalini, a researcher from the AU College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, informed that they pooled a mix of 200 people with retinopathy and without retinopathy, for the study.

According to the ophthalmologists, the chances of contracting diabetic retinopathy depend on various factors, including the duration of diabetes, fluctuations in the blood glucose levels and how the sugar levels are controlled. In diabetic retinopathy, the retinal blood vessels are subject to progressive damage, subsequently leading to blurred or cloudy vision. If left untreated, the condition can cause permanent blindness in a patient.

Dr P. Avinash from LV Prasad Eye Institute, Vishakhapatnam, guided us through to handpicking the patients with requisite medical conditions for the study and carrying out the medical tests. What drove us to pick the theme is that diabetes is fast gaining the status of a potential epidemic in India. And diabetic retinopathy is the most common sight-threatening complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). Serum inflammatory cytokines and vascular growth factor were studied in different stages of diabetic retinopathy, Ms. Nalini said. The other researchers of the study include BV Raghavulu, Dr. A. Annapurna, V. Chandi, N. Swathi N and Wasim from the AU College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Dr. P. Avinash from the LV Prasad Eye Institute, Vishakhapatnam.

According to the ophthalmologists, the chances of contracting diabetic retinopathy depend on various factors, including the duration of diabetes, fluctuations in the blood glucose levels and how the sugar levels are controlled. In diabetic retinopathy, the retinal blood vessels are subject to progressive damage, subsequently leading to blurred or cloudy vision. If left untreated, the condition can cause permanent blindness in a patient.

Diabetic retinopathy has been classified into two types. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the early stages of the disease and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is the more advanced form of the disease. The treatment of the DR depends on the severity of the disease, from just monitoring, laser treatment and other surgical modalities.
Radio Citys RJ Sucharita Tyagi spoke about Nikita on her show and people started sending in cheques with money and helped her in every way they could. (Photo: Twitter)

It takes a miracle for helpless people to get back on their feet and while many people are busy with their daily lives, they do not hesitate to help in every way they can. A radio jockey recently went out of her way to help a student who didn't have enough money to afford her meals and college and it is the best thing you will read today.

According to a media report, Radio Citys RJ Sucharita Tyagi has gone beyond her job to help fund a visually-impaired law student Nikita Shuklas course. The girl who won a radio contest went to collect her prize at the radio station office when she decided to meet the radio jockey. The aspiring lawyer mentioned to Sucharita about her struggle and how her parents threw her out of the house when she told them she didnt want to get married.

While she has been able to manage with donations from a few other students and professors, the money isnt sufficient for her to get regular meals and has been only surviving on dinner for three years. The RJ spoke about Nikita on her show and money started pouring in from listeners and now enough money has been raised for her education and hostel fee.
The cyber criminals demanded about USD 300 in crypto-currencies like Bitcoin for unlocking the device. (Photo: File)

Ahmemdabad: The Gujarat police on Tuesday said over 150 of its computers installed at various police stations across the state have been infected by the global ransomware 'WannaCry.'

"Around 150 computers of police stations across the state have been infected. We have deployed a team of technical staff to take corrective measures," said Superintendent of Police Ashok Yadav of Gujarat State Crime Records Bureau.

"There has been no data loss, but we immediately deputed 130 site engineers to police stations to check the system," he said. He said the affected computers, connected to the Gujarat State Wide Area Network (GSWAN) and BSNL network, have been isolated to prevent spread of the ransomware.

"We have also started installing anti-virus system and security patches. We are also training the staff," he said. Ahmedabad city police on Tuesday conducted a workshop to train its officials.

"They were trained as to how to save data, how to carry out patch update for unsupported operating systems," said a police official. "Seven teams have been formed for this... online and on-site training at police stations would continue," he said.

Science and Technology Department Secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi had on Monday said some 120 computers connected to GSWAN were infected by the virus, which crippled the work at district-and tehsil-level offices.

Over the last few days, WannaCry has infected computers running on older versions of Microsoft operating systems like XP worldwide, locking access to files.

The cyber criminals demanded about USD 300 in crypto-currencies like Bitcoin for unlocking the device. Reports suggest that over 2 lakh systems globally could have been infected by the malicious software.
Hyderabad: Couple of hours before she was to be produced in a court in Hyderabad, Tummala Swati (20), is reported to have committed suicide on Monday. With Swatis death, Telangana witnesses the terrible end of a love story kindled during college days.

According to an NDTV report, the Hyderabad High Court had on the same day directed the police to bring Swati, who had eloped with and married her lover Amboji Naresh on March 25, before the court in three days time.

On the same day, Swati, had attempted to take her life by drinking toilet cleaning fluid. She was released from hospital in a matter of few hours following a stomach-wash. However, her parents brought her back to the hospital later in the day and claimed she was found hanging. The hospital doctors then declared Swati dead, NDTV said.

The story began when Amboji Naresh and Tummala Swati met each other in college. In the same class, they fell in love and had eloped to Mumbai as the couples respective families were against their union. Swati belonged to an upper caste family.

Srinivas Reddy, Swatis father, as said by NDTV's sources, had invited the couple over to their hometown in Bhongir, a place 40 km from Hyderabad. Reddy made promises of accepting their marriage and Naresh as his son-in-law.

But after reaching Bhongir on May 2, Swati was separated from her husband and Naresh, who has not been found yet, went missing. Meanwhile, Reddy filed a dowry harassment case against Naresh and also accused his son-in-law of torturing his daughter.

On the other hand, Nareshs father further said that Srinivas allegations of dowry harassment were untrue. A vacation bench heard Amboji Venkataiahs (Nareshs father) petition requesting the court to look into the case of his missing son.

He, again on Monday, went to court to report Swatis sudden death and requested authorities concerned to video-record her post-mortem, raising doubts Swatis alleged suicide.
Lucknow: An IAS officer of Karnataka cadre, Anurag Tiwari, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Lucknow on Wednesday morning, which also happened to be his birthday.

The body of the 35-year-old officer was found in Hazratganj in Lucknow near a government guest house. There were injuries on his chin and the police suspect that these wounds were caused when the officer collapsed.

Tiwari was posted as the commissioner of the food civil supplies and consumer affairs department in Bengaluru.

IG Lucknow range, J.N. Singh said preliminary examination suggested that Tiwari died due to a heart attack. He said a team of forensic experts from State Forensic Science Laboratory will examine the officers body and that the exact cause of his death could be ascertained after a post-mortem examination.

However, the post mortem report that came later on Wednesday evening has failed to ascertain the exact cause of death. The panel of five doctors that conducted the post mortem, have preserved the viscera. Meanwhile, Mr B.N. Tiwari, father, and Alok, brother, of the deceased officer told reporters that they suspect foul play in the death of Anurag because he had exposed corruption in Karnataka and was also the target of some corrupt officials.

Some of his batchmates said Tiwari was undergoing depression after he separated from his wife a few months ago.

The deceased officer had been staying at the Meera Bai Guest House in Hazratganj for the last two days with his batchmate Prabhu Narain Singh.

The two officers had come to Lucknow after attending a mid-career training programme. The IG said Tiwari was found dead 10 metres from the entrance of the guest house in his nightwear. He said the Singh and Tiwari had dinner together on Tuesday.

Tiwari went for a walk at around 6 a.m while Singh went to play badminton at the BBD Badminton Academy in Gomti Nagar.

He said the UP100, an emergency response centre, received a call at around 6.40 am about a dead body lying outside the guest house. Tiwari was identified from an ID card recovered from his belongings.

Officials claimed that a cardiac arrest may have led to his death. Detailed autopsy reports are, however, awaited.
New Delhi: The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Monday that it would bring a law to regulate marriage and divorce among Muslims if the court held triple talaq invalid and unconstitutional.

Attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi, Indias top law officer, made this submission after a five-judge constitution bench asked him about the remedies for Muslim men if triple talaq was struck down.

The multi-faith bench comprising Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar and Justices Kurian Joseph, Rohinton Nariman, Uday Lalit and Abdul Nazeer is examining the legality of triple talaq after a clutch of petitions for a ban on the practice was filed.

The A-G said triple talaq was not fundamental to Muslim personal law, and as the guardian of fundamental rights, the court should protect the rights of half of the Muslim population, which suffers discrimination.

The CJI told the A-G, We (court) are guardians of fundamental rights as well as minority rights. We agree with you that if triple talaq is arbitrary, extra judicial, it must go. But we are not here to tinker with religion, tenets of religion and religious practices. Tenets of religion can never be tested by courts. What we may ultimately decide will impact a large section of the population.

Decide on polygamy too: Centre to SC

The Narendra Modi government has been pushing for a ban on the contentious practice on grounds of gender equality and justice. The push also looks to win support from Muslim women and chip away at an important bloc of voters that has viewed Modi with suspicion.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has promised reforms in personal law but opposed a blanket ban on the practice.

Earlier the A-G insisted that polygamy and nikah halala among Muslims were also to be decided by the court as they form part of triple talaq.

Nikah halala allows a woman to go back to her husband but only after she marries another man, consummates the marriage and gets a divorce. The court has said that it would only look into the triple talaq issue for now.

Mr Rohatgi maintained that these practices were not protected under the right to religion guaranteed under Article 25(1) of the Constitution. He said the fundamental question for determination by the Court in the case was whether, in a secular democracy, religion can be a reason to deny equal status and dignity, available to Muslim women under the Constitution.

The issue has come under scrutiny with reports emerging of men divorcing their wives via letters, Skype and even WhatsApp messages. Several women who were divorced by triple talaq have petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the practice.
Karti Chidambaram speaks to media about the CBI raids at his Nungambakkam residence in Chennai. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sent notices to 19 firms, besides INX Media, that did business with Karti Chidambaram's two companies  Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited (ASCPL) and Chess Management Services.

According to a report in The Indian Express, after the raids in December 2015, the ED had sent summons to Essar Steel Limited, VST Tillers Tractors, Diageo Scotland Limited, and the Katra Group under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These firms had allegedly made payments to Kartis two firms during their Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) applications or clearances.

One of the 19 firms appeared before the ED, but could not provide details of the services Kartis two firms offered.

ASCPL and Chess Management Services sent invoices for professional services, or consultancy work, and according to ASCPL Directors testimony to the ED, the company would receive instructions, stating which companies to send the invoices to. ED officials said that the ASCPL Director had admitted that the company barely provided any services.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had on Tuesday raided houses and other premises of former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti over alleged favours granted in foreign investment clearance to INX Media in 2007.

The searches were spread across Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Gurugram. The raids took place at the Nungambakkam residence of P Chidambaram in Chennai, a senior police official said in Chennai.

The investigating agency had filed an FIR on Tuesday evening against Karti on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct.

It is alleged that Karti received money from INX Media for using his influence to manipulate a tax probe against it in a case of violation of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) conditions to receive investment from Mauritius.

His father issued a strong statement in response to say that the government was using the CBI and other agencies to target his son.

FIPB approval was granted in "hundreds of cases", the senior Congress leader said.

"The government, using the CBI and other agencies, is targeting my son and his friends...The government's aim is to silence my voice and stop me from writing, as it has tried to do in the cases of leaders of opposition parties, journalists, columnists, NGOs and civil society organisations," he said.
Former finance minister P. Chidambaram outside the Karnataka high court in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (Photo: DC)

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet met on Wednesday to decide whether to abolish the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), a day after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and his son Kartis residences in Tamil Nadu, said reports.

The CBI raids were conducted as part of an inquiry to determine whether Chidambaram as Finance Minister illegally cleared foreign investment proposals for the benefit of his son.

While announcing the budget on February 1 this year, current Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that to make India an easier place to do business, FDI reforms would include abolishing the FIPB. The FIPB falls under the Finance Ministry.

Jaitley had said that a roadmap would be created in a few months on how applications for foreign investment should be handled.

The FIPB is likely to be abolished within a month of the cabinets approval, said an NDTV report. Relevant ministries and regulatory authorities would instead be given authority to approve or reject FDI proposals.

Companies seeking approval may be asked to apply online through a website, which would direct these applications to the concerned ministry, said the report.

Chidambaram, according to a case filed by the CBI against his son Karti, facilitated the violation of foreign investment laws by INX Media, owned by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea. While the FIPB allowed the firm to bring in FDI worth Rs 4 crores, a total of 305 crores was actually brought in, the CBI alleges.

Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, incidentally, are now in jail for the murder of the latters daughter.
Srinagar: More than two dozen people were injured in teargas and shotgun pellet use by the security forces in their attempt to quell protests during a cordon-and-search operation launched by the Army and other counterinsurgency forces in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Shopian district on Wednesday.

The operation, the official sources said, was launched following information about the presence of militants in the area. But soon surging crowds came in their way and hampered the operation by hurling rocks at them in and around Heff Shermal village falling under Zainapora area in Shopian.

The Army and police sources said that about 1,000 men from the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Polices counterinsurgency Special Operations Group (SOG) and the CRPF were involved in the operation which started around dawn.

The security forces first swung bamboo sticks to disperse the crowds which were chanting pro-freedom slogans. Subsequently dozens of teargas canisters were fired and on finding the mobs adamant to disrupt the operation, the security forces used pellet shotguns against them. One of the protesters was hit in the eye during the pellet use, the hospital sources said.

The locals alleged that the security forces ransacked residential houses and damaged properties including vehicles. They also accused them of thrashing the family members of some of the known militants from the area. An uncle of Hizb-ul-Mujahedin militant Saddam Padder received several stitches after he was hit in the head, they said. The police officials, however, denied the charge.

In view of the resentment shown by the locals and the clashes witnessed in the area, the security forces called off the operation, the reports said. However, they came under stone-pelting even while leaving the area, witnesses said. Two persons identified by locals as Meraj Ahmed Ganai and Khush Haal Hameed were arrested by the security forces earlier.

The search operation comes two weeks after a similar, though on a much larger scale, was launched in Shopian district to flush out militants. While the security forces did not find anything in the day-long search operation on May 4 covering nearly two dozen villages and involving more than 4,000 troops, the militants attacked a Sumo cab ferrying Army personnel back to their unit on that evening resulting into the death of its driver and injuries to half a dozen soldiers.
Activists of Joint Movement Committee protest on the issue of 'triple talaq' at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (Photo: Representational/PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) whether a woman can be given be the right to deny triple talaq at the time of execution of marriage contract.

"Is it possible that Muslim women are given an option to say 'no' to triple talaq at the time of execution of nikahnama (Islamic marriage contract)," asked the bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman, U U Lalit, and Abdul Nazeer.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar also said if all 'Qazis' can be asked to include this condition at the time of marriage.

While seeking response from former Union Minister and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing AIMPLB, the bench said, "Don't infer anything from our side."

One of AIMPLBs lawyers Yusuf Muchala responded saying that board's advisory is not mandatory for all Qazis to follow.

The hearing is on its fifth day on Wednesday of the hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging triple talaq, polygamy and 'nikah halala' which is going on before a bench comprising members of different religious communities including Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim.

On Tuesday, the law board had equated the issue of triple talaq with the belief that Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya, saying these were matters of faith and cannot be tested on grounds of constitutional morality.

Earlier, senior Congress leader and Advocate Kapil Sibal had represented the AIMPLB in the Supreme Court, arguing that triple talaq is a matter of faith and the court shouldnt interfere with the same.

Citing the Ayodhya temple issue, Sibal said if Hindus faith about Lord Rama is not arguable, Muslims faith in triple talaq should also not be questioned. He said When triple talaq is going on for 1,400 years, how can you say it is unconstitutional?

Sibal had also said a tradition like triple talaq, which is centuries old, cannot be termed unconstitutional all of a sudden.

When Justice Kurian Joseph wanted to know what the community was doing if they feel that triple talaq was bad, Muchala, intervened and told court that We are conscious that triple talaq is an undesirable form of divorce. We are trying to educate people. We are working on it, advising men not to resort to that practice.

Sibal said this (triple talaq) is something which is not permanent or immutable. It is the community to get rid of them. We dont want court or somebody else to tells us it is bad. You must accept others culture. If it is bad, educate them, have a dialogue with them. You (court) dont ride roughshod over it. You enact a law if they accept it.
Thanjavur: Nearly 50 farmers under the banner of Cauvery Rights Retrival committee (CRRC) were arrested on Wednesday for staging rail roko at Mariamman temple railway level crossing near Thanjavur, demanding constitution of Cauvery Management Board (CMB), police said.

The protesters shouted slogans and stopped the Karaikal-Ernakulam Express for an hour.

The protest by the farmers pressing for their charter of demands, including withdrawal of a central bill on inter-state river water disputes, entered the 3rd day on Wednesday.

Later, they were detained, they said.
New Delhi: Exactly 10 days before the Narendra Modi government completes three years in power on May 26, the CBI conducted multiple raids on the premises of Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Gurugram.

The CBI raided the Chennai residence and other locations linked to Karti for allegedly receiving money from a media firm owned by Indrani and Peter Mukerjea to manipulate a tax probe against the firm in a case of violation of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) conditions in getting investment from Mauri-tius.

A political slugfest erupted between the BJP and the Congress, which described the raids as a systematic witch-hunt against the Opposition by a vindictive government. The BJP said the raids should be marked as the day of accountability for the corrupt.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley defended the raids, saying the day of reckoning has come for many... and they will be held accountable.

Mr P. Chidambaram came out with a strong statement saying the government was using the CBI and other agencies to silence him by targeting his son Karti. The five secretaries who constitute the FIPB, officials of the FIPB secretariat and the competent authority in each case are public officials, he noted, adding there was no allegation against any of them.

CBI sleuths fanned out across 14 locations, including the Chidambarams properties in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Gurugram. The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti Chidambaram and Indrani and Peter Mukerjea on Monday over charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct.

CBI recovers vouchers worth Rs 10 lakh

The agency did not rule out investigating the alleged role of Mr Chidambaram. Later on Tuesday evening, speaking to reporters, CBI joint director (anti-corruption) Vineet Vinayak said: Agency sleuths have recovered certain incriminating documents during searches which are being scrutinised.

When asked about the possibility of the questioning of the former finance minister, he said: We have set the process of investigation in motion with the FIR. All the issues relevant to this FIPB approval will be investigated. All the people whose involvement has come forth will be examined in due course. He claimed that during the searches and raids at properties linked to the former finance minister and his son, the agency has seized computers, hard disks and incriminating documents.

The CBI claimed to have recovered vouchers worth Rs10 lakh issued in favour of Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd, a firm indirectly owned by Karti. The CBI joint director also said it has recovered invoices worth Rs3.05 crores. He maintained the documents seized from the INX Media premises show that `10 lakh was given to Advantage Straetgic Consulting. It was further alleged that invoices of approximately Rs 3.5 crores were raised in favour of the INX group in the name of other companies in which Karti had direct or indirect interests.

The agency had on Monday registered an FIR against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, the Mukerjeas, INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services and its director Padma Vishwanathan.

CBI sources said that during the UPA government INX Media had sought investments from Mauritius. The FIPB and the finance ministry, however, allowed investment of not more than Rs4.62 crores. It was alleged that by using political influence, INX Media violated the FIPB terms and received investment to the tune of Rs305 crores.

In February, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy had alleged Mr Chidambarams family and his son Karti had huge assets, including several overseas bank accounts in more than 14 countries. Mr Swamy had alleged the former finance ministers family had jointly purchased a property and a big house in Cambridge, England.
Ald. Moreno Defends Heated Rant Against Ex-Double Door Landlord In Video

By Stephen Gossett in News on May 17, 2017 5:42PM



double door photo via instagram

If it wasn't already clear how contentious the battle between former Double Door landlord Brian Strauss and those who strived to keep the fabled music club in its Wicker Park home, this should put it in perspective.

Video obtained by CBS Chicago shows the heated between showdown Ald. Proco Joe Moreno, who fought to keep the Double Door at its longtime home base, and Strauss, which happened on the day of Double Door's eviction this winter.

"I don't trust your word. I don't think you're a man," Moreno charges.

"You can't sign new leases for your tenants. It's going to be an empty building with no income for you or your family. End of conversation," a visibly irritated Moreno blasts. Strauss told CBS that he thought Moreno was intimidating and threatening him.

Moreno did not immediately return a request for comment from Chicagoist, but he told CBS that he was happy the video had emerged (Thats the way it goes. People get heated," he said) and he told DNA Info that Strauss was guilty of bullying behavior of his own.

Moreno told Chicagoist in February, after staff said they spotted Moreno in a screaming match on the day of eviction, "As you know, I am a big fan of music and it is difficult to see Double Door being evicted because the landlord is being unreasonable. I want him to get a fair price, but in the opinion of many independent real estate professionals, his ask is totally unreasonable. What started out as an amicable conversation, became an intense one because we are both adamant about our stances. I don't want Double Door to leave and at the end of the day, I want to do everything I can to make sure a Wicker Park institution stays in the neighborhood."

Double Door staff alleged that they were filmed during the eviction and that a petty cash room had been kicked open with money missing, among other shenanigans. Strauss did return not a request for comment via his lawyer about those day-of eviction happenings.

At one point during the protracted eviction hearings last year, Moreno introduced a "spot zoning" change for the property, at 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., which would restrict ground-level operations for prospective commercial tenants. So far, no action has been taken on the downzoning, which sits untouched in a City Council committee.

In February, Strauss' attorney said that Double Door owners had failed to pay on a $468,000 bond order. Co-owner Sean Mulroney said in a statement that "Mr. Strauss terminated the lease under particularly dishonest circumstances after accepting substantial additional monies from Double Door and realizing the benefit of almost $100,000 in improvements just a year prior."

Double Door owners confirmed last that they were considering a move to the Logan Square State and Savings Bank building.
The naxals arrested for the April 24 Sukma attack were produced before a local court which sent them to 14-day judicial remand. (Photo: PTI/File)

Raipur: Eight Naxals, allegedly involved in the deadly attack on CRPF personnel in April, were on Tuesday arrested from two places in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said.

With this, the number of ultras arrested for the April 24 attack, the deadliest assault by Maoists targeting security forces in 2017, has risen to 17, officials said.

Five of them were apprehended from Chintalnar police station limits, while the rest from Chintagufa police station area during joint search operations carried out by CoBRA and district police force, Jitendra Shukla, Sukma's Additional Superintendent of Police, said.

CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) is a specialised unit of CRPF.

Among the arrested rebels, Madkam Kesha (25), Madvi Kosa (30) and Tati Kosa (25) were associated with the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisaan Mazdoor Sangthan (DAKMS), a wing of Maoists, while Oyam Hadma (21) and Kunjam Vichem (25) were members of 'Jan Militia', a special unit of Naxals, the senior officer said.

The rest were identified as Rava Dewa (25), Kunjam Aaytu (50) and Madkam Bheema (52), all members of Gram Party Committee of Maoists, the ASP said.

These rebels were part of the Maoist group that attacked a contingent of CRPF personnel, belonging to 74th battalion of the paramilitary force, in Burkapal area of Sukma district.

Twenty-five troopers were killed in the April 24 assault, Shukla said. Besides, they were reportedly part of the Maoist squad that killed a former Sarpanch of Burkapal on March 7, 2017.

They all were also allegedly involved in several other Naxal incidents, including attacks on police teams, triggering IED blasts, murder, loot and arson, he said. He also added, they were produced before a local court which sent them in 14-day judicial remand.
Hyderabad: A paddy farmer attempted suicide near the CMs camp office at Panjagutta after security officers stopped him from entering the premises to meet Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday. P. Mallesh, a native of Jogulamba Gadwal district, drank poison in front of the police officials, who rushed him to Gandhi Hospital.

After preliminary treatment, doctors said his condition was stable and that he would be discharged.

Collector visits farmers kin

Mallesh, who cultivates paddy on his two-acre land, said that he had run up over Rs10 lakh in debt due to shortage of water. He had gone to meet the CM to express his grievance. He said he had dug five borewells after borrowing from a bank and private moneylenders, but could not hit water. Mallesh had to repay a lender Rs 2 lakh in a week.

I came to meet the CM to seek help because I have a huge debt. I tried to meet him twice but the they (security officials) did not allow me inside, he said. The police asked Mallesh to leave because he did not have an appointment. When he went to the camp office gate again, they stopped him. He immediately took out a bottle of pesticide and drank in front of the police. The Punjagutta police has started an investigation.

After the suicide attempt, collector Rajat Kumar Saini visited his house and talked to his wife and children to find out his financial condition and submit a report to the government.
The NHRC on Wednesday pulled up the CBSE in connection with the alleged harassment of students during NEET in Kannur, Kerala. (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday pulled up the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in connection with the alleged harassment of students during the National Eligibility/Entrance Test on May 7 in Kannur, Kerala.

The NHRC issued a notice to the chairman of CBSE in the regard, asking to submit a detailed report pertaining to the incident in four weeks.

The NHRC issued a notice against a complaint filed by Joseph M Puthusserry, ex-MLA and state general Secretary, Kerala Congress (M) who demanded the Commission's intervention, saying the incident was a gross violation of human rights and privacy of the candidates.

In the complaint, it was stated in order to adhere to the rigorous CBSE guidelines the students were humiliated at the examination centre.

The CBSE had suspended four teachers for violating rights as female candidates appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test centre in north Kerala's Kannur district were asked to strip off innerwear to abide by the dress code.

The CBSE has since issued a statement regretting the incident and has issued the suspension of the four teachers involved in the incident for one month.

The harrowing experience came as the metal detector went off when the candidate was entering the centre due to the steel buckles of the innerwear. The move was a part of making sure that cheating and irregularities decreased. Physical frisking, strict dress codes are all part of the stringent measures.

Female students were not the only ones suffering humiliation.

Many male and female students reported alike that their sleeves were cut since long sleeves were not allowed. Some students reported that their parents had to go and buy clothes which suited the invigilators' rules. Many students were also asked to dump their shoes.
Chennai: Former Union Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti, whose residence was raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board approval to INX media private Ltd, said here on Wednesday that the 'drama' was finally over.

The comment comes after he asserted that all charges against him are completely bogus and he will stand vindicated one day.

"Whatever I heard is only from the media; nothing of substance. All charges against me are completely bogus and I will stand vindicated one day," Karti told the media.

However, CBI Joint Director Vineet Vinayak said the investigation is still underway and some important evidences such as hard disks, mails and documents have been recovered.

Vinayak said a criminal case was registered on Wednesday under various sections of conspiracy, illegal gratification to influence a public servant, cheating and misuse of official position against five main individuals and entities, unnamed officials of FIPB and others in the matters related in the grant of FIPB approval to INX media private Ltd, represented by its then directors Indrani Mukerjea and Pritam Mukerjea alias Peter Mukerjea.

An FIR has been lodged against Karti, Indrani Mukerjea, unknown officers of FIPB unit of Ministry of Finance and others over alleged financial misappropriation over FIPB clearance to Peter and Indrani's media company INX Media in 2008.

The case has been registered under section 120-B r/w, section 420, section 8 and section 13(2) r/w and 13 (1) (d) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The Navy's warship INS Sharda swung into action after it received a distress call from MV Lord Mountbatten around 4:45 pm on Tuesday. (Photo: videograb)

New Delhi: The Indian Navy has thwarted a piracy attempt on a Liberian vessel in the Gulf of Aden, in a swift operation involving marine commandos and an armed chopper.

The Navy's warship INS Sharda, deployed in Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy mission, swung into action after it received a distress call from MV Lord Mountbatten around 4:45 pm on Tuesday.

After reaching out to the vessel, the Navy's 'Marcos' commandos with support from the helicopter onboard the ship, carried out a 'board and search' operation on two dhows and five skiffs which had shown "malicious intent".

Three skiffs fled the area at high speeds on sighting the Indian warship. "The ship received a distress call from MV Lord Mountbatten, in position 230 nm South-West in the Gulf of Aden.

"The vessel had reported an incident of attempted piracy by two suspicious mother vessels along with 7-8 skiffs. Sharda, which was at that time 30 Nm East of the reported position, immediately responded to the distress call and proceeded at best speed to investigate the incident," Navy Spokesperson Capt DK Sharma said.

One automatic Kalashnikov rifle and 28 rounds of magazines were also recovered from one of the dhows, he said.

Indian Naval assets have been increasingly deployed in recent times to address the various maritime concerns of the region, including piracy off the coast of Somalia.

The navies of India and China last month had rescued a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden after it was hijacked by Somali pirates.

Indian Navy's two frontline warships, INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash were part of the operation while the Chinese Navy had deployed missile frigate Yulin.

However, China had not acknowledged participation of Indian Navy in the operation.
Bengaluru: Former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy was granted bail on Wednesday in connection to the Janthakal mine scam, a day after a senior IAS officer involved in the case was arrested.

IAS officer Ganga Ram Baderiya, was arrested by the sleuths of the Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is probing illegal mining in the state.

It is alleged that Kumaraswamy and the chief ministers office pressurised Baderiya, 56 to renew mining lease to Janthakal Enterprises, flouting various norms.

SIT sources said that the 56-year-old IAS officer of the 1989 batch was arrested as he had allegedly received kickbacks from the mining company to renew the licence in 2007, when he was the Director of Mines and Geology Department.

The officer was summoned to appear before the investigating officer on Monday. He was questioned for more than four hours. As, prima facie, his role was established in the case, he was arrested in the afternoon. He was produced before the SIT Special Court, which remanded him to SIT custody for three days, an official said.

It is said that the SIT officials have clinching evidence that the officer had illegally renewed the lease to Janthakal Enterprises and, as a favour, had received Rs 10 lakh from the company.

Investigations revealed that he had pressured his subordinates to renew the lease to the mining company. As a kickback, the company had paid him Rs 10 lakh and the money was deposited into the bank account of his son Gagan Baderiya. We have collected the documents, including the cheque, related to the case, the official said.

Baderiya is said to be the first IAS officer in the state to be arrested while still in service.

The SIT officials will continue questioning him and his statements will play a key role as the case involves a few political bigwigs.

How lease was renewed illegally

The case is related to the renewal of a mining lease and to grant work permit to lift the old dump in Holalkere taluk in Chitradurga district that belonged to Janthakal Enterprises. The mining lease in Hirekandawadi and Tanigehalli villages in Holalkere was granted in 1965 in favour of Raghavendra Rao.

But Janthakal Enterprises had claimed that the lease was transferred to the company in 1967. In August 2007, when Mr Kumaraswamy was the CM, the government issued two notifications, according to which the license was renewed retrospectively from 1985 to 2005, and from 2005 to 2025.

Vinod Goel, the Managing Director of Janthakal Enterprises, had allegedly created fake documents to get the licence and a complaint was registered against him by a forest department official in Chitradurga. While investigations were underway, Goel had approached the High Court and brought a stay to the investigation.

However, the Lokayukta Special Court issued orders for an investigation following a private complaint. The probe was transferred to the SIT, which exclusively investigates cases related to illegal mining. The alleged irregularities in the case were also mentioned in the report on illegal mining, released by former Lokayukta Justice N. Santosh Hegde.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday defended power minister MM Mani, saying he had not made any 'anti-women' comments against the activists of 'Pembila Orumai', a women's collective of plantation workers.

Vijayan also said Mani had not tried to create "any hurdle" during the anti-encroachment drive on government lands in Idukki.

"Before law, there is no consideration as MLA or minister. There were complaints. A probe was held and no material was found warranting registering of a case against Mani," Vijayan said during question hour in the state assembly.

Mani had recently courted controversy when he allegedly made some offensive remarks against activists of 'Pembilai Orumai', a women's collective of plantation workers of Munnar.

The minister had also allegedly stated Devikulam sub-collector Sreeram Venkataraman should be sent to 'Oolampara' (asylum) for removing a 30-feet cross put up allegedly on an encroached piece of government land in Munnar last month.

Congress MLAs  V D Satheeshan and P T Thomas  asked the government the reason for not registering a case against Mani for his comments against women workers and the IAS officer.
New Delhi: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the issue of triple talaq should not be seen as discrimination between majority and minority communities or the majority forcing its views on minority.

The AG strongly pleaded before a five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justices Kurian Joseph, Rohinton Nariman, Uday Lalit and Abdul Nazeer for abolition of triple talaq form of divorce. Wednesday was the fifth day of hearing of a batch of petitions, challenging the validity of triple talaq.

The court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the issue and later several petitions were filed.

In his reply, the AG rejected the arguments of senior advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal, appearing for the All India Muslim Personal Law Board that the court should adopt an hands-off approach on triple talaq issue as it would amount to the majority forcing their views on the minority community.

Rejecting the charge, the AG said It is a tussle between haves and have-nots within the system. It is intra-community struggle between men and women because men are more resourceful, earner and educated." It is the duty of this court to step in and put a final end to the practice, he added.

When Justice Kurian Joseph asked the AG whether `personal law based on faith and scriptures can be tested by the court, the AG said if personal law is in violation of the fundamental rights then this pernicious practice must go. When Justice Joseph asked whether the court which had taken suo motu cognisance can return the reference without answering it, the AG said the role of the Constitutional court is to test it under Article 25 (right to religion).

The CJI told the AG the AIMPLB tells us dont get involved in the thicket as different people say different things. When the government has not enacted a law for over 60 years, why should this court interfere.

The AG said we are a secular democracy. If the practice in a religion is not in accordance with fundamental rights and if there is a conflict between personal law and constitutional rights, then the court should step it.

Reiterating the NDA governments stand that all the three forms of triple talaq should beg struck down as unconstitutional, the AG said that if the practice is not present in 25 Islamic countries then it cant be said it is essential to Islam. When CJI wanted to know whether the issue of faith of religious faith has been struck down by the courts, the AG submitted that once Sati and Devdasi etc were part of Hinduism and both were set aside. If triple talaq is set aside there will not be any vacuum as the government will enact a legislation on Muslim divorce, he said.

Mr. Rohatgi said that if All India Muslim Personal Law Board itself says that triple talaq is optional, sinful and undesirable then how can it be integral to Islam. Opposing Mr. Mr. Sibals arguments that court should not interfere in personal laws, the AG said that personal laws could not be violative of the fundamental rights and court has a duty to interfere.

If not present in 25 countries, then triple talaq could not be essential to Islam. If the AIMPLB says triple talaq is sinful and undesirable, then how could it be integral to Islam?. The right (to religion) provided under Article 25 of the Constitution is not absolute. Mr. Rohatgi said triple talaq was not an essential part of Islam and it could not be allowed to continue by the court, just because it had been in practice for 1,400 years. Can anyone say that we allow human sacrifice just because it was practised earlier.

Senior counsel Indira Jaising appearing for Bebak Collective submitted that Shariat law cannot be allowed to operate in India as the country owing to its secular ethos does not have separate Hindu courts. She was opposed ot `triple talaq as it was an extra judicial and unilateral form of divorce leaving no scope for maintenance to the distressed woman.

She said if the court takes a `hands off approach it will be dangerous and will have far reaching consequences for 50 per cent of the Muslim population. As custodians of fundamental rights, the court owes a duty to remove the discrimination and inequality as enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution. As `what is personal law has nowhere been defined, the court will have to test the validity of triple talaq.
Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati, who was sacked as the Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid. (Photo: PTI)

Kolkata: After being axed from Tipu Sultan Masjid, Noor-ur Rahman Barkati on Wednesday castigated the trustees of the mosque and warned of serious consequences if the order is not revoked.

"Terminated, axed, these words don't apply to Imam. Imam is a community head... I get a lot of notices every day. Who are they to terminate me? They need to apologise before the media otherwise they will face serious consequences," Barkati told ANI.

Barkati also alleged that the trustees were acting on the behest of Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and blamed them of siphoning the mosque's property.

"This mosque doesn't belong to Arif (trustee) nor Anwar. These people are illegally selling the property belonging to Masjid. These three are sympathisers of the RSS," he said.

Barkati, infamous for issuing fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defying Centre' order on the use of red beacon, was sacked for making "objectionable and inflammatory remarks against the country".

He also claimed that he would not remove the red beacon "even if Prime Minister Modi asked him to".

A number of police complaints were also lodged against the Imam in different police stations of Bengal.

Later, the Kolkata Police officers visited Barkati and the red beacon was removed from his car.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia sought the intervention of the Prime Minister's Office to resolve the issue of 'water crisis' in Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The water crisis in Delhi, that has mainly affected the city's north and central parts, including the VIP Lutyens' zone, remained unresolved on Tuesday, but the shortage is likely to ease by Wednesday.

A late-evening Delhi government update said the supply will be normal by Wednesday afternoon. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted around 10.15 pm that the Haryana Chief Secretary has assured the city government that water supply in Yamuna would be back to normal by Wednesday afternoon.

Delhi Water Crisis: Chief Secretary Haryana has just assured that water supply in Yamuna would be back to normal by tomorrow afternoon.  Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) May 16, 2017

Earlier, staring at further deepening of the crisis, the Delhi government, which has been blaming Haryana for the shortage, sought the intervention of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and also threatened to file a contempt petition in the high court.

"Delhi water crisis still not resolved. Water being stopped despite court order. I have directed DJB (Delhi Jal Board) to file contempt petition in HC (sic)," Sisodia had tweeted.

Two water treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal which treat around 220 MGD (million gallons per day) out of the 900 MGD treated in Delhi, are running on their 60 per cent capacity, a DJB official said on the condition of anonymity.

The Lutyens' Bungalow Zone, which comes under the New Delhi Municipal Council, houses the PMO, the Rashtrapati Bhawan and residences of several Union ministers, judges, Army officers and bureaucrats, among others.

Earlier on Tuesday, accusing the Haryana government of not giving the national capital its legal share of water, the Delhi government sought the PMO's intervention. The DJB official said that out of the 900 MGD, around 550 (almost 60 per cent) comes from Haryana and the rest from Uttar Pradesh.

Almost every summer, Delhi and Haryana spar over water-sharing with each claiming that the other's demand exceeds the stipulated quantity. Sisodia told a press conference that around 80 MGD of Delhi's water supply has been stopped by the Haryana government, despite the Supreme Court's order prohibiting any such move.

"I have requested the Lt Governor to seek the PMO's intervention to deal with the water crisis. This is a political issue and the PMO should intervene at the earliest. We should go beyond politics on this issue," he said.

Sisodia, who has been holding the additional charge of Water since Kapil Mishra's sacking from the Delhi cabinet last week, said chief secretary-level talks between Delhi and Haryana could not arrive at any conclusion.

"I have also told the L-G that there has been a talk on the water crisis at the level of officers, but there is still no solution. If the water shortage continues, we will have to cut down supply in central Delhi," he said.

Delhi's water requirement is 900 MGD, but it is falling short by about 50 MGD since May 8, according to a senior DJB official. Sisodia also held a high-level meeting with the DJB officials on Tuesday evening and directed them to take all necessary measures to ensure the city continued to get an uninterrupted water supply, so that no inconvenience was caused to the residents.

Sisodia asked the DJB to keep all its options ready. On Monday, he had directed Chief Secretary M M Kutty to talk to his Haryana counterpart and ensure restoration of full water supply to Delhi.
Illinois Lawmakers React To Comey Memo & 'Reckless' Trump Intelligence Leak

By aaroncynic in News on May 17, 2017 3:30PM



James Comey, via Getty Images

On Monday, the Washington Post revealed that Trump shared classified intelligence with the Russian foreign minister and Russian ambassador to the U.S. in a White House meeting last week. As Trump and other administration officials scrambled to find ways to convince the American people that this was not only not a big deal, but completely within the Presidents right, associates of now-fired FBI Director James Comey revealed the alleged existence of a memo to the New York Times written by the former Director saying that Trump asked him to shut down the agencys investigation into possible ties to and election tampering with the Russian government.

I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, the president allegedly told Comey, according to the memo. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

Senator Dick Durbin said the revelation crosses the line and asked when Republicans would join the chorus of Democrats demanding special investigations

Evidence that President Trump asked FBI Director Comey to stop the investigation of his National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, appears to cross the line into the obstruction of justice, said Durbin in a statement. No onenot the National Security Advisor or the Presidentis above the law.

Durbins statement came just after he released a Facebook video of him speaking on the Senate floor, calling Trumps disclosure of classified information to the Russians reckless.

President Trump should have been telling the Russians never to interfere in our elections or democracy again or face the consequences, not trying to ingratiate himself with the Russians by bragging about highly classified national security secrets, said Durbin. Failure to act would be an abdication of the majority partys responsibility to address an attack by a foreign power on our nation and investigate possible collusion by an erratic and deceptive White House.

Durbins colleague in the Senate, Tammy Duckworth, released a video of her own on Twitter, also referring to the Presidents behavior as reckless and calling it an insult to the intelligence community.

Its a serious threat to our national security - to the safety of our families and our troops abroad, said Duckworth. Its even more stunning when you consider how much the President complained about leaks.





President Trumps reckless treatment of classified information from a U.S. ally poses a serious threat to our national security pic.twitter.com/c2YWcLiPRM  Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) May 16, 2017







I eagerly await the White Houses 2nd, 5th and 9th explanations for this one https://t.co/XW8s84sVT1  Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) May 16, 2017





On Comey, Duckworth quipped that she eagerly awaits an explaination.House Rep. Jan Schakowsky said the need for a special prosecutor grows every day and also called on her Republican colleagues to step up and demand a special investigation.

The need for further investigation is now undeniable, Schakowsky said in a statement emailed to Chicagoist. My Republican colleagues can no longer dismiss the irresponsible and unethical behavior of President Trump. We need a full independent investigation, and history will not look kindly on those who sat idle while our democratic institutions were threatened.

Despite some Republicans expressing concerns over Trumps behavior, only a small handful have indicated they might support an independent investigation. Among them is now Illinois Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who told CNN Wednesday morning that he is now open to an independent commission or special prosecutor to investigate potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

"I think it is time we do whatever is necessary that when this is over, we give the American people the confidence that justice, either way it goes, has been served," Kinzinger told CNN.

Kinzinger said while he hasnt lost faith in investigations by Congressional committees and that they should continue, the memo raises serious red flags.

When we begin to see memos...when we begin to hear things about the potential of asking the FBI Director to stop an investigationthis has raised real red flags in the level of seriousness, said Kingzinger.


Hyderabad: The BJP plans to replicate its Uttar Pradesh success mantra in Telangana state in every sphere, including bikes that were used in those polls!

The party recruited 86 fulltime workers and plans to raise the same to 119one fulltime activist for each of the 119 Assembly constituencies in TS, with focus on building organisation till 2019 elections.

The fulltime worker are being provided bikes that were used in Uttar Pradesh elections, boarding and lodging, petrol and other necessities required for strengthening the party organisation in TS.

So far we got 60 bikes from Uttar Pradesh where fulltime party workers used it for the elections. We will get more bikes soon. Every fulltime worker will get it along with other amenities. But they are not paid workers. They have volunteered to work for the party for next two years on fulltime basis, Prakash Reddy, TS BJP spokesperson told Deccan Chronicle.

Asked about the UP registration numbers on bikes, he said the same would be changed to TS registration.

Mr Prakash Reddy said that the BJP campaign in Telangana state was also part of centenary celebrations of Deendayal Upadhyaya.

Referring to Uttar Pradesh success for BJP, he said the party there had also recruited 403 fulltime workers, one for each of the Assembly constituencies there, and provided them the facilities needed to build the organisation from grassroots level.

Its a multipronged approach to reach out to people, explain Modis developmental and welfare schemes, new administrative practices during NDAs three-year rule. Where there is no polling booth committee, new committees will be constituted, a BJP leader said.
New Delhi: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that triple talaq is neither integral to Islam nor a majority versus minority issue but rather an intra-community tussle between Muslim men and deprived women.

It is the duty of this court to step in and put a final end to the practice, he added.

When Justice Kurian Joseph asked the A-G whether personal law based on faith and scriptures can be tested by the court, the A-G said if personal law is in violation of the fundamental rights then this pernicious practice must go.

When Justice Joseph asked whether the court which had taken suo motu cognisance can return the reference without answering it, the A-G said the role of the Constitutional court is to test it under Article 25 (right to religion).

The Chief Justice of India told the A-G the AIMPLB tells us dont get involved in the thicket as different people say different things. When the government has not enacted a law for over 60 years, why should this court interfere?

The A-G said we are a secular democracy. If the practice in a religion is not in accordance with fundamental rights and if there is a conflict between personal law and constitutional rights, then the court should step it.

Reiterating the NDA governments stand that all the three forms of triple talaq should be struck down as unconstitutional, the Attorney General said that if the practice is not present in 25 Islamic countries then it cant be said it is essential to Islam.

When CJI wanted to know whether the issue of faith of religious faith has been struck down by the courts, the Attorney General submitted that once Sati and Devdasi, etc were part of Hinduism and both were set aside. If triple talaq is set aside there will not be any vacuum as the government will enact a legislation on Muslim divorce, he said.

Mr. Rohatgi said that if All India Muslim Personal Law Board itself says that triple talaq is optional, sinful and undesirable then how can it be integral to Islam.

Opposing Mr. Kapil Sibals arguments that court should not interfere in personal laws, the Attorney General further said that personal laws could not be violative of the fundamental rights and court has a duty to interfere.
The Supreme Court begins a historic hearing on the constitutional validity of triple talaq in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Even as the All India Muslim Personal Law Board asserted on Wednesday that triple talaq was dying and the court should keep its hands off from deciding the issue, the Supreme Court asked the AIMPLB whether a woman can be given the option of saying no to the contentious practice at the time of nikahnama (Islamic marriage contract).

Chief Justice J.S. Khehar heading the bench suggested to senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the AIMPLB, if all qazis can be asked to include this condition at the time of marriage.

The Chief Justice of India told the counsel, Is it possible that Muslim women are given an option to say no to triple talaq at the time of execution of nikahnama. Dont infer anything from our suggestion.

Mr Sibal welcomed the suggestion and said there were questions if the qazis would be bound by the AIMPLBs directive to give brides the choice. He said the All India Muslim Personal Law Board would respond to this suggestion after talking to all its members.

Mr Sibal drew the courts attention to a resolution passed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board on April 14 this year that called triple talaq a sin and asked the community to boycott the person who invoked it.

He said, When the court takes up the issue of triple talaq suo motu, it sends a wrong impression as if every member of the community wakes up in the morning and does it (divorces his wife).

Cautioning the court from deciding the issue, Mr Sibal said it could lead to a backlash in the Muslim community, which might see its rights being infringed upon and therefore resort to other practices like polygamy and oral divorce.

As it is, triple talaq is practiced by a minuscule portion of the Muslim community, he said.

Mr Sibal compared the Muslim community to small birds and said the community's nests must have the Supreme Court's protection.

The Muslim communitys faith in the Supreme Court for the last 67 years is fundamental and that it is this faith that makes the country vibrant, he said.

He said towards the end of his arguments that triple talaq was admittedly an undesirable practice but the community should take the first step to stop it.

Quoting a survey report, Mr Sibal said instant triple talaq was not a popular way to end a marriage. He said of the 371 divorces reported, only one person used triple talaq and such cases accounted for only 0.44% of divorces among Muslims.
The SI, who was on night duty on Monday, intercepted a ganja peddler from Annai Sathya Nagar and took home 22 kg ganja from the peddler.

Chennai: The City Police on Tuesday arrested a special sub-Inspector attached to the Fort police station after sleuths seized 22 kg of marijuana from his official residence in police quarters located in Royapuram.

The arrested cop has been identified as Sundaravadivel, attached to the law & order wing of Fort police station. The arrest was carried out by a team sent by deputy commissioner of Flower Bazaar after a local informer tipped off the police about interception of 22 kg ganja in an auto rickshaw by Sundaravadivel a couple days back which was not recorded by him.

Armed with information, the team conducted a search in his house located on West Madha Church street, which resulted in the seizure of contraband. Senior officials suspect that police SI, now arrested, was working closely with the ganja peddlers in Annai Sathya Nagar.

The SI, who was on night duty on Monday, intercepted a ganja peddler from Annai Sathya Nagar and took home 22 kg ganja from the peddler. He believed to have used his official vehicle to transport the ganja to his quarters for safekeeping, sources said.

The seizure was immediately known to many others in his station and later was informed to higher ups. "Most of the cops will have some informant locally. So it is impossible to hide such seizure because everybody will come to know about within hours if the seizure is local," police noted.

The SI, who thought it was his special catch, did not inform his superiors and also decided to not record it. It appears he was planning to sell the ganja to other peddlers to make quick money. Police are now trying to find out if he was regularly doing such illegal activities.

After an internal inquiry it was decided to arrest him for illegal possession of ganja. Three women who used to procure contraband from him were also arrested. "The arrested policeman will be placed under suspension soon," senior official added.
Hyderabad: The TS government wants clarity on the items that will be exempted from GST in the crucial GST Council meeting to be held in Srinagar on May 18 and May 19.

Finance minister Etala Rajender, along with commercial taxes principal secretary Somesh Kumar and commissioner V. Anil Kumar left for Srinagar on Wednesday.

The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of finalisation of tax slabs for various goods and services under GST.

The GST Council had earlier decided on a four-tier tax structure of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent. Besides there will be an additional slab that includes cess on luxury items.

However, no decision has been taken on which goods and services fall under which tax slab. Both the Centre and states are flooded with requests from various industry and trade bodies seeking either GST exemption for some goods and services or lower tax rates.

The TS government too has received several representations from industries, educational institutions, hospitals, film industry etc seeking exemption or lower tax.

At present, under VAT regime, the Centre exempts 299 items, while the states kept 99 items out of the tax net.

However, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley has been insisting on downsizing the list to less than 100 as exempting or lowering taxes for such a large number of items would defeat the very purpose of GST regime.

The government also wants the Centre to give clarity on how state governments could extend tax benefits to attract industries under GST regime.

At present, states have the provision to extend various tax exemptions, rebates, subsidies for industries, which is not possible under GST regime due to uniform tax rates across the country.

The government also wants clarity on the fate of tax concessions already given to various industries for a period ranging from 5 years to 10 years and how they could be extended for the remaining period in the new tax regime.
Hyderabad: Land exchanges between the Defence Ministry and the Telangana Government will be based on valuations as per market rates. Defence authorities will only settle for alternate lands that fulfil this condition.

After submission of the Telangana Governments proposal to the Defence Ministry, for allotment of its properties in Secunderabad, the Director-General of Defence Estates (DGDE), Delhi, has sought reports from officials based in Telangana.

A Defence official, on condition of anonymity, said, We will be compiling data pertaining to the valuation, total acreage, suitability of land use, and development in the adjoining areas in the next 10-15 years, for lands that have been shown to us at different locations. The final call will be taken by higher-ups in New Delhi.

Officials of the Roads and Buildings Department have confirmed that land exchanges will be based on valuations, so that it will be win-win situation for both parties. TS is seeking at least 60 acres of parade grounds, the market rate of which ranges from Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 3,500 crore. According to officials of the Roads and Buildings Department, one acre is valued between Rs 50 crore and Rs 60 crore. If the Centre agrees to hand over the ground for the construction of a new Secretariat, the Telangana Government will have to compensate it by allotting an alternate land.

For similar reasons, the Telangana Government has had to agree to the allotment of 1000 to 1500 acres of land near Vikarabad in lieu of 100 acres that the Army is giving it for the construction of expressways.

The Telangana Government had earlier sought 37 acres of land at Bison Polo Ground, and 23 acres of land at the Gymkhana ground, for the construction of a new Secretariat; but the Defence Ministry had offered 60 acres of military dairy farm land at Bowenpally instead. The Telangana Government felt that the location was too far, and that it would pose an inconvenience to citizens and officials, and so it turned down the proposal. However, it did not give up on its plan to build a new Secretariat in the Secunderabad area. The Chief Minister recently took the issue up with the Prime Minister, and asked for the parade grounds.

Former DGP Pervaram Ramulu said that the construction of a secretariat in Secunderabad would pose no problems in terms of security. Technology has developed so much that it is not difficult to develop a fool proof security system around the Secretariat. All issues can be taken care of in the designs, he said.
Hyderabad: The Union Government is expediting Telanganas request for allotment of defence lands for the construction of a new secretariat. According to sources in the Defence Department, a decision is expected to be announced within the next couple of months.

The Defence Ministry has already agreed to hand over 100 acres of land for the construction of expressways that are a part of the Strategic Road Development Plan to ease traffic congestion along various routes in the state capital. The Telangana Government had identified six land parcels to be given to the Defence Ministry in lieu of the 100 acres.

The Government wrote to a few District Collectors, including those in Ranga Reddy, Mahabubnagar, Medak, and Nalgonda, asking them to identify large tract of lands that could be given to the Defence Ministry.

Based on their reports, the Government zeroed in on lands at Vikarabad, Wanaparthy, and Nalgonda. It is now up to the Defence authorities to examine the land and take a final call.

Higher officials from the Defence Ministry have already visited Vikarabad, where around fifteen hundred acres of vacant land have been identified.

Some part of this land is designated as forest land, and belongs to the Forest Department.

However, officials in the Roads and Buildings Department say that there will be no problems in obtaining the land, in case the Defence authorities agree to accept it.

The land that will be given to the Defence Department will be utilized by the Army to build a long-range rifle shooting centre, in or around Hyderabad.

Sources in the department say that the shooting range should ideally be located within a two hours drive from the state capital, so that army personnel can practice and return to their base in the cantonment.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Government has made a second request to the Centre, to hand over the army parade ground, for the construction of a new Secretariat with offices of all the departments that are currently spread over different parts of the city.

Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao made this proposal during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last week of April. The Defence Ministry is examining the proposal, and the Telangana Government is ready to show them alternate lands if they accept it.

Defence sources say that a decision regarding the Parade Grounds will be communicated within the next few weeks.

Defence officials have in mind the 1000 acres of land in Jawaharnagar, 50 percent of which belongs to army, and the remaining 50 percent of which is de-notified land, as one of the alternatives that they would like to ask the TS Government for, in lieu of the parade grounds, once the Centre announces its concurrence.
Visakhapatnam: In what some see as a clampdown on dissenting voices by the state government, yet another person, Bengaluru-based software professional Ippala Ravindra, was arrested and interrogated by police on Wednesday for allegedly posting objectionable comments on Facebook criticising Payakaraopeta MLA V. Anitha.

He was booked by the ST/ST Atrocities Cell of the Visakhapatnam police under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, rather than for his posts on social media under the IT Act.

Mr Ravindra was picked up from Bengaluru by the Vizag police on Tuesday and brought to the city on Wednesday.

Mr Ravindra had criticised Ms Anitha on Facebook for neglecting her husband and giving importance to some Telugu Desam leaders and he also criticised the MLA for her silence on issues in her constituency.

The police said that Ms Anitha, who belongs to the Schedule Caste community, had lodged the complaint with Three-Town police and the case was transferred to the SC/ST Atrocities Cell and the ACP of the cell, B. Mohan Rao, sent a notice to Mr Ravindra. Sources said that Mr Ravindra is a native of Narsaraopeta in Guntur district and an MBA graduate. It may be recalled that Ms Anitha had earlier lodged a complaint against Inturi Ravi Kiran, a political satirist, who was also arrested by the Vizag police on the same charges. Mr Ravi Kiran is a techie and runs a Facebook page titled Political punch.
New Delhi: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that triple talaq is neither integral to Islam nor a majority versus minority issue but rather an intra-community tussle between Muslim men and deprived women.

The AG strongly pleaded before a five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justices Kurian Joseph, Rohinton Nariman, Uday Lalit and Abdul Nazeer for abolition of the triple talaq form of divorce. Wednesday was the fifth day of hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the validity of triple talaq. The court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the issue and later several petitions were filed.

In his reply, the AG rejected the arguments of senior advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal, appearing for the All India Muslim Personal Law Board that the court should adopt a hands-off approach on triple talaq issue as it would amount to the majority forcing their views on the minority community. The AG said, It is a tussle between haves and have-nots within the system. It is an intra-community struggle between men and women.
Kolkata: Continuing its victory run after coming to power for the second time in the state the Trinamul has swept the municipal polls and bagged four out of seven civic bodies.

The four municipalities won by the Trinamul are Domkal, Raigunj and Pujali in the plains and Mirik in the hill area.

The Congress and CPM parties which cried of large-scale electoral malpractice including booth jamming and rigging along with violence during the polls on May 14 were found to be decimated after the elections results were declared on Wednesday. The BJPs lotus however managed to win just three seats.

Elated over the victory Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again & again putting their trust in us. We are honoured, privileged & humbled #VerdictOfBengal.

The victory in Mirik appeared historic for her as this is the first time any political party from the plains made its footprint in the hills. However, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) won three civic bodies: Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

In Mirik, the Trinamul won six out of nine seats while three others were won by the GJM.

The Trinamul supremo tweeted, Congratulations to my brothers/sisters in the hill areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, and Mirik for participating in the democratic process. Special thanks to Mirik for reposing faith in us. We will work sincerely for you. After so many decades we begin a new era in the hills The hills are smiling.

Responding to the result of the election, state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said, We had withdrawn our candidates protesting the state sponsored terror which did not allow people to cast their votes on the poll day. There is a clear difference in the poll results of the plains and the hills. In the hills the election was peaceful because the central paramilitary forces were deployed. But violence prevailed in the plains since state police personnel were deployed there.

Meanwhile, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh told reporters here, In the plains the election was held at gun-point, a bomb was exploded and there was also news about votes being looted. That is why we demanded suspension of the elections. Still we succeeded in saving some wards. BJP fought till the end. We did not flee midway.

He added, We came second in Pujali while in Raiganj we opened our book. Mirik municipality was set up so that the Trinamul wanted make inroads in the hills. Ultimately they did it there. In Domkal the Trinamul won by using muscle.
'Terrorist,' Or 'Freedom Fighter?' Oscar Lopez Rivera, Now Free, To Be Celebrated At Chicago Return

By Stephen Gossett in News on May 17, 2017 2:28PM



Demonstrators near the White House demand the release of Oscar Lopez Rivera / Getty Images / Photo: Nicholas Kamm

Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda said he sobbed with gratitude in January at the news that Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera's sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama after 35 years in prison. Meanwhile, Joseph Connor, the son of a victim of a bombing orchestrated by FALNthe nationalist group with which Lopez Rivera was associatedrecently derided Lopez Rivera as a "terrorist thug." Needless to say, opposing views of the man represent more than a disparitythey are a gulf.

The mood will be decidedly in the Miranda camp on Thursday, when Lopez Riverawho was officially released from house arrest in Puerto Rico todayreturns to the Humboldt Park neighborhood where he came of age and which, by and large, now reveres him, sporting murals in his honor along parts of Paseo Boricua. During the homecoming event in Humboldt, called The Patriot Returns to His Barrio," he'll be joined by the likes of Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th). A somewhat controversial honorary street will be dedicated at Division and Mozart.

Until his clemency, Lopez Rivera was in prison since 1981 for "seditious conspiracy" related to ties with the Fuerzas Armadas de Libercaion Nacional (FALN)a paramilitary group that advocated for an autonomous Puerto Rico. Five people were killed and dozens were injured in bombings across multiple cities, including Chicago, for which FALN either took responsibility or was accused of. He was also charged with use of force to commit robbery and interstate transportation of firearms and ammunition to aid in the commission of a felony. Lopez Rivera received an additional 15 years on his sentence over an escape attempt.

But his supporters have long viewed him as a political prisoner. "My brother was charged with the same charge as Nelson Mandela," his brother Jose Lopez, who is also executive director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, told Chicagoist. The nature of a conspiracy charge opened the door for a variety of circumstantial evidence against Lopez Rivera, Jose said. "My brother was not charged with a single incident in which anyone died or suffered... there's not a shred of evidence that links my brother to where blood was spilled."

A death penalty punishment would have been handed down had direct evidence existed, Jose Lopez said. But beyond the legal dispute, Jose Lopez is quick to mention his brother's robust community work as defense. "When people speak about him being a terrorist, they must look at this legacy of community building," he said.

Lopez Rivera returned from the Vietnam War and was a driving force for Puerto Rican activism in Chicago, following the Division Street riots of June, 1966, which served as a flashpoint for the movement. "It was against the injustice, mistreatment and marginalization of Puerto Ricans in the city by every major institution," Jose Lopez said.

Jose runs down a litany of education reforms and programs in which Lopez Rivera was instrumentalLatin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES), the Latin American and Latino Studies Program and the Latino Cultural Center (the first of its kind in Illinois) at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He mentions Lopez Rivera's struggle against the Board of Education to help establish the Roberto Clemente Community Academy to better serve Puerto Rican and ESL students.

Lopez Rivera also worked to improve working conditions for Puerto Rican community, enhance housing and improve hospital conditions during his time in Chicago, supporters have also long noted.

Still, despite that resume of civic engagement, Lopez Rivera's link to FALN remain a deal-breaking bridge too farfrom opinion-page writers to neighborhood listserv regulars and beyond. Critics often point to a 1999 House report that states, in 1976, a bomb-making shop was found by Chicago police in a residence linked to Lopez Rivera. And time passed and a present-day lack of danger posed still don't wipe out the bad taste in some mouths. Columnist Charles Lane wrote in a commentary that ran on the Chicago Tribune website:



"True, the 74-year-old probably no longer threatens the community; and yes, 35 years is a long time, perhaps even "a sufficient amount of time," as a senior administration official put it. Lopez Rivera served honorably in Vietnam before undergoing what today might be called "self-radicalization." Still, unconditional release, for someone who claimed a right to wage war on the United States and repeatedly put innocent civilian lives at risk?"

But for advocates like Gutierrezand those who remember Chicago's treatment of Puerto Ricans ahead of the Humboldt Park riots in 1966 as deeply neglectfulthe apt comparison remains Mandela"a leader labeled a terrorist and jailed because he fought for the liberation and self-determination of his people."

A procession on Thursday begins at La Casita de Don Pedro (2625 W. Division St.) at 4 p.m. The street-sign dedication takes place at 4:20 p.m., and a community welcome is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Humboldt Park Boathouse.
New Delhi: INX Media violated rules of the FIPB by getting more FDI than the permissible limit and when the violation attracted a probe by the income-tax department, it knocked on the doors of Karti Chidambaram who used his influence in the Union finance ministry then headed by his father to scuttle it, the CBI says in its FIR.

In turn for the favour, INX Media transferred money to several companies, directly or indirectly controlled by Mr Karti, the agency alleged. In the FIR registered on Monday evening, the CBI has charged Karti, Indrani Mukerjea, Peter Mukerjea, Chess Management Services and Advantage Strategic Consulting Limited through its director Padma Vishwanathan with criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct.

The CBI says Karti dir-ectly owns Chess Management Services, while he indirectly controls Advantage Strategic Consulting Limited. INX Media clearly states in its records that Rs 10 lakh was given to Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Limited, for management consultancy charged towards FIPB notification and clarification, the FIR said.

When the proposal was submitted by INX Media for FIPB approval in 2007, the finance minister allowed the investment with a clear condition that only `4.62 crore could be received for investment in the company. The company allegedly violated the conditions set by the FIPB and received investment to the tune of 26 per cent in the capital of INX News, which included foreign investment, the FIR says.

It allegedly generated more than Rs 305 crore of FDI in INX Media against the approved inflow of Rs 4.62 crore by issuing shares to foreign investors at a premium of more than Rs 800 per share. The violation prompted an income-tax department probe. INX Media claimed that the investment was done as per FIPB conditions, the FIR said, adding that this is when INX Media approached Mr Karti.

The FIR goes on to indict unnamed officials saying that they not only ignored serious illegalities on the part of INX Media but also showed undue favours by abusing their official position and advised the company to file for fresh clearance with the FIPB.

Though the FIR names Karti and claims that he exerted his influence on finance ministry officials, it does not identify the officials of either the FIPB or the ministry or list them as accused.

Raids were politically motivated

Congress leaders and its ally DMK on Tuesday condemned the CBI raids in the house of Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union minister P. Chidambaram and termed the act a 'political vendetta'.

However, none of the other parties including those strongly opposed to the BJP in Tamil Nadu reacted to the development.

Stalin, who spoke to the media at DMK headquarters after a meeting of MLAs said "I reiterate my allegations against the CBI and Income-Tax department. Whatever happens, former Union finance minister will face the actions legally".

The DMK leader had earlier questioned the 'selective actions' of the central agencies against one faction of the AIADMK and alleged that CBI, IT and ED are being used by the BJP government for political purposes.

TNCC leader S. Thirunavukkarasar said the BJP was unable to tolerate the strong criticism of Chidambaram in Parliament and outside and the raids were intended to threaten the senior Congress leader.

Describing the action as an attempt to damage Chidambaram's reputation, Thirunavukkarasar said the BJP's dreams of suppressing the Congress would not be fulfilled.

The activities of Chid-ambaram could not be stopped by such actions, he said added that the state Congress would support the senior Congress leader who is facing the BJP's revengeful act.

Senior Congress leader Peter Alphonse said the raids are being conducted for political reasons and intended to threaten the Congress leaders.
Despite the loud protests of Congress spokespersons, few seriously believe the CBI raids on the homes and premises of Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P. Chidambaram, and the income-tax crackdown on Lalu Prasad Yadav, a Congress ally in Bihar, are unfair. The junior Chidambaram has a reputation that precedes him. He frequently found mention in the 10 years of the UPA government (2004-14) for suspicious deals, including to do with the broader telecom scandal. In the current case, a company owned by him was contracted as a consultant by an investor  Peter Mukerjeas INX Media  that had run into trouble for violating income-tax rules and Foreign Investment Promotion Board norms. The accusation is that Karti Chidambaram was used to influence the authorities and bail out INX Media. At that time, his father was finance minister.

Karti Chidambaram has also been accused of opening bank accounts in a variety of international locations  from Singapore to London, San Francisco to Monte Carlo  without informing the Indian authorities and the Reserve Bank of India, and without revealing this information in the wealth and income affidavit filed before the Election Commission when he (Karti Chidambaram) stood for the parliamentary election in 2014.

In Lalu Yadavs case, it is said a series of shell companies  paper companies with an address that may physically exist but where the company has no office or facility and no relationship at all  have been used by his family, including his sons, who are ministers in the Bihar government, to buy properties in Patna, Delhi, Kolkata, Gurgaon and elsewhere.

The use of shell companies is distressingly familiar in India. These are deployed by corrupt politicians and businessmen to funnel and launder black money and illegal cash income. Lalu Yadav is not alone to fall back on such a mechanism, presuming the charges are correct, but obviously the investigation against the Yadav clan has reached critical mass and enough evidence has been found to make a strong case.

It is telling that among the premises raided in connection with the latest Lalu Yada corruption affair were those of the family of P.C. Gupta, RJD MP. Politely known as Lalus bagman in Delhi, Gupta was minister for corporate affairs in UPA-I (2004-09). Subsequently, his sons were found to have incorporated a new company that quickly and astonishingly won coal block allocations in what later became the coal scandal.

A battle against benami property  property purchased using the names of other individuals or institutions, by deploying undeclared cash income  is a promise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is also a logical implication of the war against black money, of which demonetisation was presented as a part. As such, the cries of vendetta from the Yadav family and the RJD as a whole are that much less tenable. Indeed, that anti-money laundering measures in New Delhi, following the demonetisation exercise, touched even senior businessmen with Sangh Parivar links has only added to the Modi governments credibility.

The Modi government came to office promising action against corruption. It exploited voter disgust with the stench of swindle that marked the UPA era. In the past three years it has worked hard to repair Indias reputation. Take foreign investment, for example. Rules and regulations have become simpler and India has a fairly liberal FDI regime today.

That aside, influence of the sort that has been alleged in the INX Media-Chidambaram nexus has been carefully guarded against by the BJP-led government. Anecdotal evidence from business groups and investors today, as opposed to in the UPA years, is there for all to see. At least the upper echelons of this government have been remarkably free of charges of wrongdoing. This culture has seeped into the government, with the feeling that the Prime Minister and the PMO are playing watchdog.

In the UPA years, in contrast, it was a free for all. Whether Manmohan Singh, as Prime Minister, was even aware of what Karti Chidambaram was doing or what Lalu Yadav and P.C. Gupta were cooking remains a mystery. What he could have done with the information, should he have had it, is another matter. He simply didnt have the political authority to impose corrective action.

It can be argued that all this is ancient history. Three years have passed since the UPA government was voted out. Surely its time to stop blaming it and to look at what the Modi government has or hasnt done? While this is true and while the Modi government will be judged in 2019 on the basis of the entirety of its five-year record  not just in terms of a comparison of its probity vis-a-vis its immediate predecessor  the fact is that corruption remains an important issue.

Narendra Modi did not rush into a series of symbolic raids and arrests in the months after his 2014 victory. That would justifiably have been called knee-jerk action and vendetta. Rather, he waited patiently for enough material to be gathered in specific cases. Politicians and public officials may be guilty in a dozen cases but there may be incontrovertible evidence in only one or two. Therefore it is important to pick ones battles. The Americans gangster Al Capone was responsible for bootlegging, organised crime and even murder. He was ultimately put behind bars for income-tax evasion.

Given this, and given the geographical expanse of the multi-city raids against the Chidambaram and Yadav families  14 properties linked to Karti Chidambaram were searched, and 22 locations associated with Lalu Yadav  it would appear the authorities had done their homework. Congress spokespersons bristled but underneath there was a lingering question: Whos next? As for the RJD and Bihar, theres another question there altogether: what will chief minister Nitish Kumar do next?

The writer is a distinguished fellow at Observer Research Foundation. He can be reached at malikashok@gmail.com
The latest revelations on US President Donald Trump  his confrontation with sacked FBI director James Comey and confabulations with Russia  have stoked a gathering chorus for his impeachment for obstruction of justice and other high crimes and misdemeanours.

His meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Moscows ambassador to the US, where he shared intelligence, reportedly gathered by Israel, on an ISIS terror threat via laptops on flights has snowballed into the biggest crisis yet for a White House already inured to tumultuous times. Mr Trumps disregard for the norms of his high office has led to strange situations, as he moved into uncharted territory for a US President. He may have gone too far in sharing information with Russia, who many in the US still regard as the enemy.

A memo by Mr Comey on being asked to shut a federal investigation into former NSA Michael T. Flynn is being seen as evidence that the President directly tried to influence the justice department and a FBI investigation into his and his associates Russian links. The White House, of course, has a different spin. The point is Mr Trump got as far as the White House on a campaign of bluster, innuendo and a post-truth colour to major events, and once there, he has been unable to abide by conventions. It is a telling comment on his first few months that bookmakers have slashed the odds on Mr Trump not completing his first term. It is an understatement, really, to say that he has stirred many a hornets nest.
Centre wants to muzzle all voices in Opposition: Ashish Dua, National media coordinator, AICC

The BJP has completed three years at the Centre but revenge and vendetta has become its hallmark. When the BJP was in Opposition it levelled charges against the Congress, accusing it of using the investigative agencies against their political rivals. The truth is far removed from this fiction, which the BJP was peddling. Our sitting ministers went to jail and some resigned from their posts. The CBI and other investigative agencies under the UPA were free from political interference. It was the Congress government that got in the RTI law to make government dealings more transparent. We went a step forward and moved the Lokpal Bill.

Now people who are championing the cause of Lokpal and supporting several movements covertly have done nothing in the last three years to get the Lokpal. Instead, they are giving excuses for not bringing in Lokpal. Coercion and threat are tools of the BJP government. It is sad that to implement this policy, the investigating agencies have become their enforcers. Our senior leaders like P. Chidambaram, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda all have been targeted by the BJP government. This government is so blinded by power that it raided the house of Mr Virbhadra Singh on the day of his daughters wedding.

Three years after Mr Chidambaram demitted office, the government suddenly realised that there is something wrong and raided the premises of his son. This is happening because he is taking on the government over its doublespeak in his weekly columns. It is not surprising that suddenly the investigative agencies are seeing wrongdoing by the leaders of Opposition parties. The government wants to muzzle the voice of the Opposition. During demonetisation, when West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was taking on the Centre, suddenly, action against the MPs of Trinamul Congress started. All the Opposition parties are under the scanner. If the government feels that it is under threat from any leader, prompt reprisals come his or her way.

Strangely, the investigative agencies see no wrong whatsoever with the leaders of the ruling party. In Madhya Pradesh, there is Vyapam scam, most of the people who could throw light on the issue mysteriously started ending up dead. But there has been no action. Fugitive Lalit Modi goes abroad, a BJP chief minister gives surety to the British government. Another Cabinet minister goes ahead and facilitates his travel documents. True to the Modi government style, no action whatsoever.

The list of allegations against Chhattisgarh chief minister goes on and on. Have we seen any action? No. Tainted leaders, when they join the BJP, suddenly wash off all their taints. In fact, a senior minister of this government said openly that the BJP is a river that cleanses all. It is for all to see that in the past three years, apart from tall claims, the government has not done anything. When we point this out the government gets uneasy and goes after us. This is what we are seeing. The problem is that the government has been caught for not being able to deliver. Now it wants to show that the Opposition is crooked. The people of this country are way too smart to fall for this ploy.

UPA has a long list deserving punishment: R. Balashankar, Member of the BJP central team on National Cadre Training Programme and publications

Too late too little is the feeling one gets when reports of raids on the premises of Lalu Prasad Yadav and P. Chidambaram are being debated in political circles. One had expected the end of political careers and a good stint in jail for these leaders after the people of India voted a government to power with a massive mandate on a plank of delivering India from corruption, cronyism and entitlements of a few privileged families. This was three years ago. We waited and waited patiently for some action, and now that there is action, some vested interests are crying vendetta. India has a long history of corrupt politicians going scot-free and even bouncing back after a brief uncertain spell.

Mr Chidambaram was the longest-serving finance minister India has seen. But he has not made any mark as a politician who turned around the economy. He is more infamous for the Aircel-Maxis scam, 2G scam, Coalgate scam and a series of other scams that looted the country under his indulgent patronage when a bunch of politicians became astronomically rich. Mr Chidambaram and his family had a link with every sleazy deal that happened since 1991. His role figured even in the Saradha scam and now with the two murder accused (Peter, Indrani) swindlers rotting in jail. The list is so long. An English daily had published the endless list of properties he and his family owned in 14 countries. And now the list of 45 companies starting with advantage. Who does not know of the coastal belt in the south that his family acquired? All through the procession of scandals he brazenly lectured political morality and economic wisdom to the Delhi establishment lobby. He even had the audacity to declare the Budget as nothing but fudging of figures, which he did all his life. There is some relief that at last nemesis is catching up. The least Mr Chidambaram can do is to explain how he and his family acquired so much wealth and property.

Who is the master of the trick? Mr Yadav or Mr Chidambaram? Like the latter, Mr Yadav too was the longest-serving chief minister of Bihar. He too bounced back, shattering the faith of simpletons who hoped for clean politics. He fooled around for too long and like Mr Chidambaram, Mr Yadav too is known not for any great administrative feat but only for jungle raj and the fodder scam. But for the Supreme Court Mr Yadav would have been laughing away to glory in his rustic disdain.

One cannot see a political insight or strategy in these raids. If there was one it may not have taken this long for them to catch up with the law. It took 30 long years for the court to find J. Jayalalithaa guilty. The UPA has a long list of those deserving punishment. The last raid on Mr Chidambaram was in December 2015. Nothing happened since then. We heard a lot of bluff, including justifying Kashmiri terrorists and rubbishing demonetisation from this crony capitalist. People have great faith in Narendra Modis promise of guarding every single penny that belongs to the people of this country. He cannot let them down by sparing these scoundrels who looted Mother India, more brutally than the Ghoris and Ghaznis of yore.
A team of NASA scientists and engineers now believes it can leverage recent advances in a greenhouse-detecting instrument to build the worlds first space-based sodium lidar to study Earths poorly understood mesosphere.

Scientist Diego Janches and laser experts Mike Krainak and Tony Yu, all of whom work at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, are leading a research-and-development effort to further advance the sodium lidar, which the group plans to deploy on the International Space Station if it succeeds in proving its flightworthiness.

NASAs Center Innovation Fund and the Heliophysics Technology and Instrument Development for Science programs are now funding the instruments maturation. However, the concept traces its heritage in part to NASAs past investments in promising lidar instruments, called Sounders, originally created to measure carbon dioxide and methane in Earths atmosphere.

From its berth on the orbiting outpost, the instrument would illuminate the complex relationship between the chemistry and dynamics of the mesosphere that lies 40-100 miles above Earths surface  the region where Earths atmosphere meets the vacuum of space.

Given the progress the researchers have made with the Earth-observing sounding instruments, coupled with Goddards legacy in laser technology, they are optimistic about the instruments ultimate success.

The Big Leverage

What were doing is leveraging what we learned with the CO2 and Methane Sounders, Krainak said. Both instruments have demonstrated in multiple aircraft campaigns that they accurately measure greenhouse gases using lidar.

Lidar involves pulsing a laser light off Earths surface. Like all atmospheric gases, carbon dioxide and methane absorb the light in narrow wavelength bands. By tuning the laser across those absorption lines, scientists can detect and then analyze the level of gases in that vertical path. The more gas along the lights path, the deeper the absorption lines.

The same principle applies here, Janches said. Instead of carbon dioxide and methane, were detecting sodium because of what it can tell us about the small-scale dynamics occurring in the mesosphere.

Sodium  the sixth most abundant element in Earths crust  is a useful tracer for characterizing the mesosphere. Though this atmospheric layer contains other granules of metals, including iron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium  all produced by the evaporation of extraterrestrial dust when it encounters Earths atmosphere  sodium is easiest to detect. Literally, a layer of sodium exists in the mesosphere.

Because of its relative abundance, sodium provides higher-resolution data that can reveal more information about the small-scale dynamics occurring in the upper atmosphere. From this, scientists can learn more about how weather in the lower atmosphere influences the border between the atmosphere and space.

The group has begun developing its instrument, which is electronically tuned to the 589-nanometer range, or yellow light. While in orbit, the lidar would rapidly pulse the light at the mesospheric layer, down one to three kilometers over a swath measuring four to eight kilometers in width.

The lights interaction with sodium particles would cause them to glow or resonate. By detecting the glow-back, the lidars onboard spectrometer would analyze the light to determine how much sodium resided in the mesosphere, its temperature, and the speed at which the particles were moving.

Scientists have used sodium lidars in ground-based measurements for at least four decades, but they never have gathered measurements from space. As a result, the data is limited in time and space and does not offer a global picture of the dynamics. With a specially designed spaceborne sodium lidar, however, scientists would be able to illuminate specific areas, revealing the small-scale dynamics that currently are the biggest unknown, Janches said.

The team will use NASAs funding to fine-tune the technology that locks the lidar onto the sodium lines. Its like a guitar string, Krainak explained. If you want a certain tone, you need to lock down the string at a particular length. Its the same thing with the laser cavity length.

The team also plans to demonstrate an environmentally tested engineering test unit of the laser, thereby improving its technology-readiness level to six, which means that the technology is ready for flight development.

Weve made significant progress on the laser, Krainak said. If we win, we could be the first space-based sodium laser spectrometer for remote sensing.

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Within India, while Goa continues to be the most preferred destination, hill stations like Manali, Shimla and Ooty also made it to the top 10 destinations list. This summer, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have witnessed a boom in popularity with 39.8 per cent YoY growth.

With Summer break around the corner, Google India today, revealed the top travel search trends for this summer, based on searches conducted by Indians between the months of February to April this year.

Overall travel related queries including planning, transport, accommodation, vacation packages and travel documentation witnessed a53 per cent YoY growth (February - April). The surge in vacation queries started in February 2017, a clear indication that more number of Indians are now planning for summer holidays earlier in the year.

With increasingly affordable travel and stay options, interest in holiday travel is consistently growing beyond the metros. Google search data shows a 70 per cent YoY growth in travel queries from non-metro cities over the past year, with 40.80 per cent of all travel related queries emerging from cities and towns beyond Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.

The growing use of mobile devices has made it more flexible for travelers to research, plan their itinerary and choose their favourite destination from anywhere and at any time. YoY growth for travel queries was as high as 96 per cent. Another interesting trend witnessed this year is the growing interest reflected in Alternate Stays with 111 per cent YoY search query growth. Further, destination activities also witnessed 102 per cent YoY growth.

Queries for International accommodation and International air reflected a positive increase starting mid-February with 18 per cent and 13 per cent increase in total queries compared to last year. Among international destinations, United States continued to be the most preferredfollowed by UAE and Thailand. Interestingly, among the countries that have witnessed high YoY growth are Nepal (64.8 per cent increase),Indonesia (42.1 per cent increase) and Bhutan (40.8 per cent growth).

Within India, while Goa continues to be the most preferred destination, hill stations like Manali, Shimla and Ooty also made it to the top 10 destinations list. This summer, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have witnessed a boom in popularity with 39.8 per cent YoY growth.

In terms of mode of travel, rail services emerged as the most searched witnessing a 56 per cent YoY growth. The quantum of search queries for rail services was nearly twice as high as the combined searches for all other modes of travel including air, bus, taxi, and car rentals.

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Samsung launched its much-anticipated Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus smartphones a month back. Twenty-five days after the device was put on sale, the company has confirmed that they managed to sell over 5 million of those Galaxy S8 smartphones.

The Investor quoted an unnamed Samsung official as saying, Although, we cannot provide detailed figures, the sales are going smoothly around the globe. The combined sales already are beyond 5 million units.

Considering that the smartphones are still not launched in China, Samsung seems to be doing good with its latest innovation.

To recall, Samsung reportedly sold over 7.2 million units of its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge smartphones in Q1 of its availability last year. However, Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus is doing way better than its predecessor.

As noted by The Mashable, One early report on Galaxy S7 sales claimed Samsung had shipped 10 million units in the first three weeks of availability. The difference here could be shipped vs. sold. Therefore, it is still uncertain what exactly the South-Korean tech giant is referring to when it comes to revealing the sale of their Galaxy S8 smartphones.

The company hasnt clarified on this matter yet.

Samsung recently also confirmed that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus smartphones had made the most successful pre-sale period in the companys history.

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Shadow Brokers came to public attention last August when it mounted an unsuccessful attempt to auction off a set of older cyber-spying tools it said were stolen from the US National Security Agency.

A group that took credit for leaking NSA cyber spying tools - including ones used in the WannaCry global ransomware attack - has said it plans to sell code that can be used to hack into the world's most used computers, software and phones.

Using trademark garbled English, the Shadow Brokers group said in an online statement that, from June, it will begin releasing software to anyone willing to pay for access to some of the tech world's biggest commercial secrets.

In the blog post, the group said it was setting up a "monthly data dump" and that it could offer tools to break into web browsers, network routers, phone handsets, plus newer exploits for Windows 10 and data stolen from central banks.

It said it was set to sell access to previously undisclosed vulnerabilities, known as zero-days, that could be used to attack Microsoft Corp's latest software system, Windows 10. The post did not identify other products by name.

It also threatened to dump data from banks using the SWIFT international money transfer network and from Russian, Chinese, Iranian or North Korean nuclear and missile programs, without providing further details.

"More details in June," it promised.

Shadow Brokers came to public attention last August when it mounted an unsuccessful attempt to auction off a set of older cyber-spying tools it said were stolen from the US National Security Agency.

The leaks, and the global WannaCry virus attack, have renewed debate over how and when intelligence agencies should disclose vulnerabilities used in cyber spying programs to so that businesses and consumers can better defend themselves against attacks.

"ShadowBrokers are back" tweeted Matthieu Suiche, a French hacker and founder of the United Arab Emirates-based cyber security firm Comae Technologies, who has studied the Shadow Broker releases and believes the group has access to NSA files.

Hacking tools believed to belong to the NSA that were leaked online last month were built into WannaCry ransomware -- also known as WannaCrypt -- that swept the globe on Friday.

The attack stoked fears that the spy agency's powerful cyber weapons could now be turned to criminal use, ratcheting up cyber security threats to a whole new level.

The NSA has not commented on Shadow Brokers since the group emerged last year, or the contents of past leaks. It has not responded to repeated requests for comment about the ransomware attack.

A spokeswoman for Microsoft said it was preparing a response. Microsoft has connected previous exploits of its products released by the mysterious Shadow Brokers group to tools which were stolen from NSA cyber warfare operations.

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The thought alone of charging ones smartphone to full capacity in just five minutes is exciting. Good news is that the technology that will transform this thought into reality is being developed.

Israeli startup StoreDot is reportedly planning on beginning production of its bulky ultra-fast-charging technology in early 2018.

BBC reported the StoreDot CEO Doron Mysersdorf as saying that the technology is in pilot production at two Asian battery makers and will move into mass production in the first quarter of 2018.

To recall, StoreDot recent made the headlines for showing off a prototype of it at the Consumer Electronics Show that took place in Las Vegas in 2015. At the event, the company explained how tiny crystals dubbed NanoDots, hold the potential to boost battery capacity tenfold. These 2-nanometres-long NanoDots are designed to act as capacitors to store energy at the same time as the energy is passed into the batterys lithium at faster-than-usual speeds.

We will charge a smartphone in five minutes, Myersdorf told BBC.

The ultra-fast-charging technology is also claimed to fully power an electric vehicle in just five minutes too. The firm demonstrated a proof of the concept at the CUBE Tech Fair that took place in Berlin recently.

Fast-charging is the critical missing link needed to make electric vehicles ubiquitous, says Myersdorf.

The currently available battery technology dictates long charging times which makes the EV form of transportation inadequate for the public at large. Were exploring options within a few strategic partners into the auto space to help us boost the production process in Asia and reach mass production as soon as possible, he added.

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Washington: Two people were arrested during a brawl outside the residence of Turkey's ambassador to Washington following a White House visit on Tuesday by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Local news reports said Erdogan supporters and security guards clashed with Kurdish and Armenian protesters who accuse him of rights abuses, local news reports said. Erdogan met at the White House with US President Donald Trump for a visit that aimed to improve strained ties.

After Erdogan left the White House, tensions over the Kurdish issue spilled onto the streets of Washington.

The Turkish president stopped by the ambassador's residence in the upscale Sheridan Circle neighborhood, where protests prompted city officials to shut down nearby streets, snarling traffic.

Police managed to keep the rival groups apart at first, but eventually were outmuscled and outmaneuvered. Erdogan's security detail reportedly attacked protesters carrying the flag of the Kurdish PYD party outside the ambassador's residence.

The government of Turkey believes that the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) in Syria are simply the Syrian arm of the PKK, which has waged a deadly insurgency inside Turkey since 1984.

Videos from Tuesday's protests in Washington, some of which were posted on the internet, showed people from both sides shouting and being punched with each side accusing the other of being the aggressors. "We weren't doing anything wrong," a pro-Erdogan demonstrator, Mustafa Dikilitas said. "We just celebrated our president."

"One of the YPG supporters ran across, picked up a megaphone, and hit a Turkish citizen with it," said another pro-Erdogan demonstrator, Busra Eren, referring to the Kurdish militia group. Demonstrators on the other side, meanwhile, blamed Erdogan's partisans for the violence.

"All of the sudden they just ran towards us," Yazidi Kurd demonstrator Lucy Usoyan told, adding that she was attacked by one of the pro-Erdogan supporters. "Someone was beating me in the head nonstop, and I thought, 'Okay, I'm on the ground already, what is the purpose to beat me?'"

Washington police eventually sent reinforcements and restored order, but emergency services said nine people were taken to the hospital, one of them in critical condition.
Scandal-Plagued Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke Tapped To Help Run DHS

By Stephen Gossett in News on May 17, 2017 8:55PM



Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke / Getty Images / Photo: Scott Olsen

After his name was previously floated to head the Department of Homeland Security, David Clarke Jr., the uber-controversial sheriff of Milwaukee County, has accepted a high-ranking role in the DHS, according to reports.

Clarke reportedly told conservative radio host Vicki McKenna on 1130 WISN that he will leave office as sheriff next month to become Assistant Secretary in DHS. Among Clarke's duties will be to field "complaints of shortcomings" in the department, he was quoted as saying in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Clarkewho stumped in the media for Trump and has been a vocal supporter of the president's immigration policiesreportedly said law enforcement feels "like they're being ignored."

Like the candidate he to whom he threw his support, the number of scandals that have swirled around Clarke are vertiginousand they've only grown since his name was first bandied back in November.

Most recently, it was revealed last month that a mentally ill prisoner in one of Clarke's prisons died of "profound dehydration" after he was denied water for seven days while in solitary confinement, in 2016, according to prosecutors. The death of Terrill Thomas was ruled a homicide. Clarke, meanwhile, stressed Thomas' criminal history when a lawsuit was filed in March. Three others, including a baby, died at the Milwaukee County Jail within just six months, according to reports.

"In Sheriff David Clarkes jail, water was kept from mentally ill inmate for 7 days before he died of dehydration" https://t.co/Hjl9sLtu36 https://t.co/XCGfxC4rQx  Josh Eidelson (@josheidelson) May 17, 2017

In his book, the baitingly titled Cop Under Fire: Moving Beyond Hashtags of Race, Crime and Politics for a Better America, Clarke shows he is apparently OK with fast-and-loose interpretations of the Constitution, too. He advocated for mass indefinite detention of American citizens suspected of terrorism, according to Mother Jones.

David Clarke advocated scooping up 1 million ppl & detaining them indefinitely at Gitmo. Now he's joining DHS. https://t.co/lCNKLkZDGi pic.twitter.com/m8uwhwm7NB  Pema Levy (@pemalevy) May 17, 2017

Clarke is also decidedly against sanctuary cities. Clarke supports ICEs 287(g) program, which essentially deputizes local law enforcement to act as immigration officials. "No more catch and release of criminal illegal aliens. I will assign as many deputies to this initiative as I can. It is a public safety priority," he wrote in January, according to Think Progress.

Clarkewho has also staked out controversial stances against Planned Parenthood, Black Lives Matter and gun controlblasted "the progressive left" in the wake of high-profile violent protests in Milwaukee last summer. He wrote that he was "livid that Milwaukees pathetic, kowtowing city officials and aldermen take this opportunity to abandon their citizens and preen before the Black Lives Matter-enabling media."

A reminder that Sheriff Clarke thought ISIS and Black Lives Matter were forming an alliance to destroy America. https://t.co/Op5obGieG5  Daniel Dale (@ddale8) May 17, 2017
Washington: Texas Senate John Cornyn has told the Trump administration he isn't interested in serving as FBI director, the second member of Congress to take himself out of the running this week.

Cornyn, a former state attorney general, was interviewed for the position after Trump abruptly fired director James Comey last week. But Cornyn said in a statement Tuesday that he would rather remain in the Senate.

"Now more than ever the country needs a well-credentialed, independent FBI director," Cornyn said. "I've informed the administration that I'm committed to helping them find such an individual, and that the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the US Senate."

Another Republican whose name had been mentioned as a possible candidate, Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, said Monday that he had taken himself out of the running.

A friend of federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland, a name recommended by several senators, also said Tuesday that Garland is happy in his job and has no interest in leaving the judiciary to head the FBI.

A source familiar with Cornyn's thinking said the senator felt "obligated" to consider the job because his friend, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, asked him to. The source declined to be named because the decision was private.

Cornyn is the No. 2 Republican in the Senate behind Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said Tuesday morning that he'd recommended that President Donald Trump nominate Garland for the post.

Garland's name began to surface as a possible replacement last week when GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah suggested it on Twitter. McConnell's comments on his recommendation to the president came during an appearance Tuesday morning on Bloomberg Business.

President Barack Obama nominated Garland to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, but McConnell declined to even hold a hearing. Senate Republicans insisted at the time that the next president should replace Scalia.

After Trump won the election, the high court vacancy was filled last month by Neil Gorsuch. Garland's friend spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

The administration has interviewed at least eight candidates to replace Comey, of more than a dozen being considered. Trump has said a decision could come before he leaves Friday for a trip to the Mideast and Europe.

In addition to members of Congress, the list includes current and former FBI and Justice Department leaders and federal judges.

FBI directors have predominantly been drawn from the ranks of prosecutors and judges. Comey, for instance, was a former United States attorney in Manhattan before being appointed deputy attorney general by George W. Bush. His predecessor, Robert Mueller, was a US attorney in San Francisco.
Washington: Scandals within the Trump administration are reaching the "size and scale" of Watergate, prominent Republican leader John McCain, a staunch critic of the US President Donald Trump, has said.

"I think we've seen this movie before. I think it appears at a point where it's of Watergate size and scale the shoes continue to drop, and every couple days there's a new aspect," Senator McCain, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee told an audience at a Republican event on Tuesday.

McCain, a former Republican presidential candidate who lost to Barack Obama in 2008 elections, made the comment at a dinner where he received the International Republican Institute's Freedom Award.

"I've known this guy (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov) for 30 years, he's an old KGB apparatchik stooge, and Putin is a murderer and a thug," McCain was quoted as saying by the Daily Beast.

"And to have Lavrov in the Oval Office and be friendly with the guy whose boss sent aircraft with precision weapons to attack hospitals in Aleppo, I just think it's

unacceptable," said McCain.

Several other Republican lawmakers too expressed concerns over the developments inside the White House. "Less drama from the other end of Pennsylvania would be a good thing," Senator John Thune said.

"Can we have a crisis-free day?" asked Senator Susan Collins, another Republican Senator. "I think we could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so that we can focus on our agenda, which is deregulations, tax reform and repealing and replacing Obama Care," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Bloomberg.

Watergate was a major political scandal that occurred in the US in the 1970s, which ended in resignation of the then president Richard Nixon. Trump has been lambasted with accusations over the past week.

Last week, he abruptly fired former FBI Director James Comey, which concerned some because of the agency's investigation into Russia and his campaign.

On Monday, a report stated Trump shared highly classified national security information with Russian government officials. On Tuesday, another report surfaced claiming Trump told Comey to end the FBI investigation into former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn.
Washington: US President Donald Trump will urge unity between the worlds major faiths on an ambitious first foreign trip that will take him to Saudi Arabia, the Vatican and Jerusalem, the White House said Tuesday.

National Security Advisor HR McMaster laid out a detailed itinerary for the historic trip, due to start late this week, and confirmed that Trump would address a gathering of Muslim leaders on his hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam.

Previous US leaders have generally chosen a US neighbour such as Canada or Mexico for their first presidential voyage, but Trump intends to plunge right into some of the worlds most difficult spiritual and political conflicts.

In Saudi Arabia, after a day of talks with King Salman and his crown prince, Trump will attend a gathering of dozens of leaders from across the Muslim world.

The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilization and to demonstrate Americas commitment to our Muslim partners, McMaster said, adding that Trump will help open a center to de-radicalize extremists.

Trump campaigned for office vowing to destroy radical Islamic terrorism and impose a total ban on all Muslim immigration to the United States, raising concerns that his election would only deepen distrust between America and the Muslim world.

In office since January 20, he has already attempted to impose a ban on travellers from a group of mainly-Muslim countries, before his order fell foul of the US courts.

But McMaster stressed that Trump would be visiting sites associated with the worlds great religions to stress that we all have to be united and we have to be joined together with an agenda of tolerance and moderation.

Western Wall

After Saudi Arabia, Trumps voyage will take him to Jerusalem, where he will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visit the Vad Yashem memorial to the Holocaust. The next day he will pray at the Western Wall, one of Judaisms holiest sites.

On the same day, he will meet President Mahmud Abbas of the Palestinian territories in Bethlehem on the West Bank where he will convey his administrations eagerness to facilitate an agreement that ends the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Palestinian officials have put their hopes in Trump to revive the moribund peace process, but -- after early enthusiasm for the Republican billionaires rise gave way to concerns -- Israeli officials have been on edge in the run-up to the visit.

McMaster failed to answer a direct question as to whether the US government considers the Western Wall to be within Israeli territory, and he said Israeli leaders would not accompany him on his visit to the site in Jerusalems Old City.

Hes going to the Western Wall mainly in connection with the theme to connect with three of the worlds great religions, McMaster said.

After Jerusalem, Trump will head to the Vatican for an audience with Pope Francis. The US leader will celebrate the contributions of Catholics to America and the world, discuss diplomatic issues with the pontiff and tour St Peters Basilica.

After the Vatican, the trip takes a secular turn with a visit to Belgium to meet European Union officials and attend the NATO summit on May 24-25. He then heads to Italy and the island of Sicily for the G7 summit on May 26 and 27.
United Nations: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is watching the rising tensions between India and Pakistan very closely and reiterates the need for the South Asian neighbours to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue.

Guterress spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, responding to a question at the daily press briefing on Tuesday, asserted that the Secretary General is not reluctant to focus on the issue.

I dont think its a matter of reluctance. As I said, hes obviously watching the situation very closely and reiterates his need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue, Dujarric said.

The Secretary-General, a student of history, knows what has happened, Dujarric said referring to similar tense and volatile situations in the world.

Dujarric has repeatedly said that Guterres is following the situation in Kashmir amid escalating tensions at the border between India and Pakistan.

The UN chief has not made any direct intervention to resolve the issue and his spokesperson has repeatedly said the UN chief reiterates his call for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Praising US President Donald Trumps tough stance against the Kim Jong Un regime, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said the threat coming from North Koreas missile and nuclear programme is entering a new stage.

According to Abe, for the past some years, during the time of the Obama administration, the international community had increased the pressure. However, North Korea never stopped its ambition of nuclear development.

From the beginning of the Kim Jong Un regime, since last one year alone, they have launched more than 20 ballistic missiles which is more than the total number of ballistic missiles launched during the Kim Jong il regime, Abe told CNBC in an interview.

It is indeed very clear that the threat coming from North Koreas missile and nuclear programme is now entering into a new stage. That is my recognition, he said.
Saudi Arabia has invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for alleged war crimes, to a summit with US President Donald Trump and Arab and Muslim leaders, a Saudi official said on Wednesday. He (Bashir) is invited, the official said without saying whether the Sudanese leader would attend the top-level talks on Sunday. Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the International Criminal Court in 2009 for alleged war crimes related to the conflict in Darfur which had left at least 3,00,000 dead.
Japanese Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, is giving up her royal status to marry a former college classmate, Japanese media reported, heating up debate on the ever-shrinking royal family.

The Imperial Household told CNN plans are underway for the 25-year-old princess to become engaged to Kei Komuro, also 25, a law firm worker. The couple met five years ago as students at the International Christian University in Tokyo.

Japans imperial law states a princess who leaves the imperial family upon marriage will be a commoner. The last to do so was Princess Makos aunt, Sayako, the only daughter of Emperor Akhito, who married town planner Yoshiki Kuroda in 2005.

The news has reignited concerns about the shrinking size of the imperial family, which currently has 19 members, 14 of whom are female. Imperial law only allows the throne to be passed to male heirs, of which there are only three: Crown Prince Naruhito, his brother Crown Prince Akishino, and Akishinos son, Prince Hisahito, the CNN reported.

Six unmarried princesses, other than Princess mako, will lose their royal status if they marry commoners. This has raised concerns that the imperial family will not have enough members to continue carrying out its public duties.
Austria's Chancellor Christian Kern has been in power since 2016. (Photo: AFP)

Vienna: Austria's snap election will be on October 15, party chiefs agreed on Tuesday after the centrist "grand coalition" collapsed.

The vote could see the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), whose candidate narrowly failed to be elected president in December, enter government.

The coalition between Chancellor Christian Kern's Social Democrats (SPOe) and the People's Party (OeVP) was meant to govern until 2018.

But after months of bickering, the centre-right OeVP on Sunday appointed a new chief, Sebastian Kurz, who called for early elections.

The anti-immigration FPOe, like other populist parties in Europe, has seen its support rise on the back of concerns about immigration, terrorism and falling living standards.

And like elsewhere, Austria's two main parties, which have governed the EU country since 1945, have seen their support slide as they fail to connect with voters.

The FPOe, led by social media-savvy Heinz-Christian Strache, 47, is running neck and neck with the SPOe on around 30 percent in opinion polls.

The OeVP is lagging behind in the low 20s. However, surveys suggest that Kurz, who is only 30, could revive his party's fortunes and even make it the most popular force.

Austria's parties will likely on Wednesday present a motion for setting the election date, the Austria Press Agency reported said. It was unclear when this will pass, however.
Vladimir Putin mocked the idea that Trump went off-script to share secrets with the Russians, saying he could issue a 'reprimand' to Lavrov since he hasn't passed on the information. (Photo: AP)

Sochi (Russia): Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow could provide a recording of the exchange between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US President Donald Trump, who is accused of sharing classified intelligence.

"If the US administration finds it possible, we are ready to provide a recording of the conversation between Lavrov and Trump to the US Congress and Senate," Putin said during a press conference.

He mocked the idea that Trump went off-script to share secrets with the Russians, saying he could issue a "reprimand" to Lavrov since he hasn't passed on the information.

"(Lavrov) didn't share these secrets with us - neither with me nor with the representatives of the Russian security services. That is very bad of him," Putin said to sniggers from the audience as he answered questions after talks with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

Citing unnamed sources, The Washington Post reported that Trump had shared intelligence with Lavrov regarding an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aeroplanes.

According to sources cited in the report, that intelligence came from a US ally who had not authorised Washington to pass it on to Moscow.

Putin slammed critics who spread allegations about Trump's ties with Russia. "What else will the people generating such drivel and nonsense think of next?" he said. "They are shaking up their internal politics while using anti-Russian slogans."

"They either don't understand that they are hurting their own country, and then they are simply dumb, or they understand everything and then they are dangerous and corrupt," Putin added.
New Delhi: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, which had on Monday heard the arguments of India and Pakistan on former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence case, will pronounce the verdict on Thursday.

A Pakistan military court had awarded the death sentence to Jadhav last month for espionage and subversive activities. The ICJ will pronounce the verdict at 3:30 pm (IST) on Thursday.

India had dragged Pakistan to the ICJ on May 8 for refusing consular access to Mr Jadhav and for violating the Vienna Convention on consular relations.

On Monday, ICJ saw both countries go hammer and tongs at each other, Pakistan raked up the alleged passport of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to argue that India had deliberately given him a passport with a Muslim name (Hussein Mubarak Patel) to facilitate covert and illegal terror operations in Balochistan, adding that the Vienna Convention provisions on consular access were not intended for a spy involved in terror activities.

New Delhi argued before the court earlier in the day that India had not even been given consular access to Jadhav by Pakistan despite repeated requests in violation of the Vienna Convention and that the Pakistani military courts verdict sentencing him to death had no credibility.

Accusing New Delhi of using the ICJ as a stage for political theatre and claiming that Islamabad will not respond in kind, Pakistan maintained India was wrong in invoking the jurisdiction of this court, arguing that Indias application was unnecessary and misconceived and must be dismissed.

But New Delhi, in a strong plea earlier in the day, demanded the immediate suspension of the death sentence given to Jadhav by the Pakistani military court. After hearing both parties, the ICJ said it would announce its order in a public hearing, the date of which will be publicly communicated.

The Indian delegation included joint secretary (dealing with Pakistan-related issues) in the ministry of external affairs (MEA) Deepak Mittal and eminent lawyer Harish Salve, both of whom addressed the court while the Pakistani representatives got their turn a few hours later. India presented its case in about 90 minutes while the Pakistanis wrapped up their arguments in less than an hour.

The graver the charges, the greater the need for continued adherence of the Vienna Convention. Jadhav has been in judicial custody without any communication with his family, Salve said.

Describing the situation as grave and urgent, India said it had not been given the copy of the charges filed against Jadhav. India sought relief from the ICJ including immediate suspension of the death sentence awarded to Jadhav, and restraining Pakistan from giving effect to the sentence awarded by the military court, and directing it to take steps to annul the decision of the military court. India has accused Pakistan of egregious violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (hereinafter the Vienna Convention) in the matter of the detention and trial of Jadhav.

While New Delhi said Pakistan had attached conditionalities in return for consideration of consular access which was unacceptable, Islamabad however claimed that it had been prepared to grant consular access with reference to a bilateral agreement in 2008 between the two sides. While India had expressed fears that Pakistan could execute Jadhav even before the hearing was over, Islamabad said it was false that Pakistan would execute Jadhav immediately since he was entitled to a clemency period of 150 days (5 months) provided to him. Islamabad also advocated an expedited hearing which would dispel any suggestion for the need for provisional measures, adding that Pakistan would be content for the court to list the application of India for hearing within six weeks. India sought relief from the ICJ by way of immediate suspension of the sentence of death awarded to Jadhav.

Interestingly, ICJ denied permission to Pakistan to play the purported confessional video of the retired Navy officer at the public hearing, but Pakistani representatives at the ICJ claimed the Court was aware of the contents. India has said the so-called confession was obtained from Jadhav by Pakistan in military captivity and that it has no credibility.

Pakistans lawyer Khawar Qureshi claimed India has not proved that Jadhav is its national and that consular access cannot be given. Qureshi said, The Vienna convention article 36 which adopted to set up standards of conduct particularly concerning communications and contact with nationals of the sending state which would contribute to the development of the friendly relations among nations... The observation we made immediately is this is unlikely to apply in the context of a spy, terrorist sent by a state to engage in acts of terror.

But, the MEAs joint secretary Deepak Mittal told the court in opening remarks, Jadhav has not got the right to get proper legal assistance and the right to consular access. There is an immediate threat to him to be executed even before a decision is passed.

The execution of the death sentence cannot be done while this court is hearing the appeal. Else, it will be a violation of the Vienna Convention, Harish Salve said. He said India cannot be hostage to demands by Pakistan for joining the investigation without even granting consular access.

India has said Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, where he was carrying on business after retiring from the Indian Navy, and was then shown to have been arrested in Balochistan on 3 March 2016.
A total of 2.54 million visitors came to Taiwan from January to March this year, 9.99 percent lower than the same period last year, data from the island's transport bureau said Tuesday.

It is the first time in 13 years visitor arrivals have registered a drop in Taiwan.

Of the 2.54 million visitors, about 667,000 were tourists, which fell over 15 percent in the first quarter.

A total of 659,575 visitors came from the Chinese mainland, which dropped 42 percent from the same period last year. Visitors from Hong Kong and Macao fell 25 percent to 342,270 while the number of Japanese visitors also dropped slightly by 0.11 percent from January to March.

Taiwan's visitor arrivals surpassed 10 million for the first time in 2015, thanks to a continued rise in the number of Chinese mainland visitors since the island opened up to mainland travelers in 2008.

However, the number of mainland tourists has plummeted since Taiwan's leader, Tsai Ing-wen, who has refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, took office in May last year.

In 2016, the number of Chinese mainland tourists to Taiwan slipped 14.4 percent to 3.61 million, the first drop in eight years, data from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council showed.
United Nations: US Ambassador Nikki Haley accused North Korea on Tuesday of intimidating the entire international community with its nuclear program, military ability and cyberattacks, and said any country that doesn't implement UN sanctions is supporting Pyongyang's actions.

"No one is immune to the threat of North Korea," she told reporters before emergency closed-door consultations by the UN Security Council on the North's weekend ballistic missile launch, which experts said demonstrated a significant technological jump with the rocket flying higher and for a longer period of time.

Haley said the US and China have been working on "a unified plan" on how to approach North Korea that would include tougher new sanctions.

She indicated Washington and Beijing had agreed they would take action if a new test looked to be long range and leaning toward an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the United States.

The latest launch appeared to fulfill both criteria, Haley said, "so I believe that China will stay true to that and that we'll come together on how we're going to do that."

"We're not going to continue to just say go ahead and test as often as you want," Haley said, flanked by the South Korean and Japanese ambassadors. "This is a true threat to every country in the world. ... We're going to make sure we put the pressure on them economically, diplomatically, politically and internationally."

The Security Council, which has imposed six rounds of sanctions on the North, was expected to discuss further action at Tuesday's meeting.

Haley previously indicated that new sanctions could target oil, a critical import for North Korea mainly from China, and she said Tuesday the US also wants sanctions on organizations and businesses in third countries that are helping Pyongyang.

Haley was asked about comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Monday who called North Korea's nuclear and missile tests "unacceptable" but also said the United States should stop intimidating Pyongyang.

"We need to return to dialogue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, stop intimidating it and find ways to solve these problems peacefully. Is it possible or not? I think it is possible," Putin was quoted as saying, using North Korea's official name.

Haley answered Putin and others who have made similar comments about the United Nations: "What about North Korea intimidating us? They're intimidating the entire international community. They're trying to strengthen their muscle with no cause. There is no reason for North Korea to be having these actions outside of the fact they just choose to do so."

Haley said Russia is "all wrong." She said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is "paranoid" and thinks that the US is trying to promote regime change and that there are people trying to assassinate him. "We're not trying to do any of those things," she said.

"It is actually North Korea trying to intimidate the international community," Haley said, "and Russia itself should be concerned because that ballistic missile test was a signal to South Korea for their new elections, it was a signal to Russia in how close it got, it was a signal to Japan being in the region, and it was a signal to us."

The US ambassador said Russia has the same decision to make as the rest of the international community: "You either support North Korea or you don't, but you have to choose. You have to pick a side."

As for talks with North Korea, Haley reiterated the Trump administration's policy: "We are willing to talk but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any tests there."
London: Civil aviation and security authorities in London have claimed that Border Force (BF) officers had found a "quantity of heroin" on board a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight that landed at Heathrow Airport on Monday.

They said National Crime Agency (NCA) officials were investigating the case after the seizure of narcotics from the plane and that no arrests were made. They said that the investigation is still ongoing, reports the Dawn.

The daily also quoted PIA spokesperson Mashhood Tajwar, as saying that British authorities had "thoroughly searched" and detained the flight crew after they landed at Heathrow Airport.

Flight 785 from Islamabad to London had landed at 2:50 p.m. on Monday. Upon landing, as passengers disembarked, the flight crew and aircraft were searched by the authorities, the spokesperson said.

Fourteen crew members were released after being detained for nearly two hours by British authorities, Tajwar said, adding that no information was given at that time about why the crew was detained.

The PIA flight returned to Pakistan at 11:30 am. on Tuesday.
The letting papers read, "No coloured people because of the curry smell at the end of the tenancy." (Photo: File/Representational)

London: A 69-year-old British landlord who instructed agents not to let his properties to people from India and Pakistan is facing legal action, UK's human rights watchdog said on Wednesday.

Fergus Wilson, one of the UK's biggest buy-to-let landlords, banned coloured people from renting his properties as they cooked curry and left behind the lingering smell.

The UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) confirmed that it had applied for an injunction against Wilson at the Central London County Court.

"We have asked the court if it agrees with us that Wilson's lettings policy contains unlawful criteria and, if so, to issue an injunction," said EHRC chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath.

"As this is now formal legal action we will release further information at a later date," she said. However, Wilson remained defiant over his policy, which he justifies on economic grounds to save costs on re-carpeting homes that smell of Indian cooking once tenants have left.

"Given that I have not had any Indian or Pakistani person apply for a house during the past five years, I am not sure what the EHRC seeks to achieve," he said. "It is not the colour of their skin, but the smell of the curry. A person is quite entitled not to purchase a house that smells of curry but to purchase the house next door which does not smell of curry. The EHRC appears to be saying that the purchaser then must let the house to someone who does cook curry," he added.

The former boxer, whose property empire in Kent includes around 1,000 homes in the Ashford and Maidstone areas of south-east England, denied he was being racist. "There has been much support for the stance I have taken. I do not apologise for it. Faced with the same circumstances, I would do it again," he said.

The EHRC had demanded a written assurance from Wilson that he would not refuse to let a property based on race, colour, nationality or national origins. It said it would now begin an investigation into his policy on women as it emerged his lettings criteria also covers a ban on single parents, "battered wives", parents with children under 18.

His stand had emerged as an email to his agents was leaked to the media earlier this year. "No coloured people because of the curry smell at the end of the tenancy," it read. According to the UK's Citizens Advice Bureau, refusing to rent or let a property based on race is unlawful.
London: A British judge has deferred sentencing an Oxford University student who pleaded guilty to stabbing her boyfriend in a drug-fuelled argument, after remarking that the "extraordinary" woman might not be able to become a surgeon.

Oxford Crown Court Judge Ian Pringle last week put off sentencing 24-year-old Lavinia Woodward until September. He suggested he might not give her a custodial sentence.

The Oxford Times reported that Pringle reasoned that "if this was a one-off, a complete one-off, to prevent this extraordinary able young lady from not following her long-held desire to enter the profession she wishes to, would be a sentence which would be too severe."

Francis FitzGibbon, the Criminal Bar Association chair, said on Wednesday that Pringle has given her a chance to address her drug addiction before sentencing.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has criticised the previous government for allowing the installation of the THAAD system and stressed that there is a need to forge a public consensus over a crucial national defence decision. (Photo: File)

Moscow: South Korea's ruling Democratic Party's leader on Wednesday said Seoul is considering sending back the recently installed THAAD missile system to the United States.

"Seoul will have to look into issues, including the possibility of sending back THAAD, if it has not properly undergone parliamentary approvals," Sputnik quoted Woo Won-shik, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, as saying.

The Korean parliamentarian also reiterated that the deployment of THAAD battery to South Korea required proper parliamentary approval for reasons of national security.

South Korea appears to have responded this way after President Donald Trump informed Seoul in April that "it would be appropriate if they paid" for the deployment of a US THAAD system.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has criticised the previous government for allowing the installation of the THAAD system and stressed that there is a need to forge a public consensus over a crucial national defence decision.

The THAAD system was deployed after Washington and Seoul in July 2016 reached an agreement on placing a US THAAD system in South Korean territory in the wake of the North Korean provocations of testing missiles. But China and Russia has opposed the installation of the missile defence system.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi described new Emmanuel Macron as a good looking lad with a good looking mom, in an apparent dig at the age gap between the newly elected French President and his wife Brigitte Trogneux.

Mr Berlusconi joked that Mr Macron was a 39-year-old lad, with good work experience under him and most of all with a good looking mom who has carried him under her arm when he was still a child, without mentioning Ms Trogneuxs name, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Mr Macron, 39, is married to his former literature teacher who is 24 years his senior. The 80-year old Italian politician himself is in a relationship with Francesca Pascale, who is 49 years his junior.

Mr Berlusconi is renowned for his gaffes. He was banned from public office after being convicted of tax fraud in 2013. He once said the thousands of people made homeless by the 2009 LAquila earthquake should act like they are on a camping trip. He had also hailing then US President Barack Obama as handsome, young and also suntanned, the report said.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been invited to an upcoming summit in the Saudi capital with President Donald Trump and world leaders from across the Muslim world. (Photo: AP)

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for alleged war crimes, to a summit with US President Donald Trump and Arab and Muslim leaders, a Saudi official said Wednesday.

"He (Bashir) is invited," the official told that without saying whether the Sudanese leader would attend the top-level talks on Sunday. Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, from Saturday on his first foreign trip since taking office in January. He will address the summit on his "hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam," the White House said Tuesday.

Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the International Criminal Court in 2009 for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Darfur in which at least 300,000 people have been killed. He denies the charges.

The Hague based ICC was set up in 2002 as a court of last resort to try the world's worst crimes where national courts are unable or unwilling to act.
6 children were killed, said the agency, adding that 6 other people also died in the attack but their bodies were burned beyond recognition. (Photo: AFP/Representational)

Sanaa (Yemen): A suspected raid by the Saudi-led coalition intervening in Yemen killed 23 civilians on Wednesday, including women and children, near the south-western city of Taez, Shiite Huthi rebels said.

A military source with loyalist forces confirmed the raid, saying 20 civilians had died and said it appeared to have been the result of a "mistake".

Saba news agency, which is controlled by the Iran-backed rebels, said a vehicle carrying civilians in the town of Mawzaa, south-west of Taez, was hit in the raid.

Six children were killed, said the agency, adding that six other people also died in the attack but their bodies were burned beyond recognition.

The military source said the air strike targeted an area held by the Huthi rebels, and also confirmed that a vehicle had been struck.

The passengers were heading back to Mawzaa after a shopping trip to the nearby town of Barah, the military source said, adding several bodies had been torn to pieces.

There was no immediate reaction from the Saudi-led coalition, which has been battling the Huthis opposed to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The raid comes days before US President Donald Trump is to arrive Saturday in Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

The Saudi-led coalition, which intervened on the side of the Hadi government two years ago, has come under repeated criticism over civilian casualties in Yemen.

Yemen's conflict has killed more than 8,000 people and wounded around 40,000, according to the UN's World Health Organization.
United Nations: The UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen said a cholera outbreak has killed 124 people over the past two weeks.

Jamie McGoldrick told reporters Monday that another 11,100 people were believed to have been infected, and that medicine was arriving. But he also urged donor countries to fulfil more than $1 billion in aid pledges made in Geneva last month.

A Saudi-led coalition has been battling Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015, in a war that has killed more than 10,000 civilians.

The World Health Organization said last month that fewer than 45 percent of health facilities in Yemen are now fully functioning, and that the flow of essential medicines has fallen by nearly 70 percent.

The cholera outbreak in Yemen was announced by Yemens Ministry of Public Health and Population on Oct. 6, 2016.

Yemen, the impoverished Arab country in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, has been involved in a civil war since two years ago.

The war pits Iranian-allied dominant Houthi movement, backed by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, against their foe of Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
Jalalabad, Afghanistan: Suicide bombers stormed the national television station in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city on Wednesday, killing six people as gunfights and explosions rocked the building with journalists trapped inside, officials and eyewitnesses said.

At least 17 others were left wounded in the four-hour assault on Radio Television Afghanistan, which marks the latest in a string of assaults on media workers in the conflict-torn country.

No insurgent group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid in eastern Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State jihadists, where the US military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb last month in an unprecedented attack.

"There were four attackers -- one blew himself up at the gate, killing the guard. Three others entered the building but were killed after our security forces fought them for four hours," Nangarhar Governor Gulab Mangal told reporters.

"Six people, including four civilians and two policemen, were killed and 17 others wounded," he added, blaming IS for the attack. A health worker said that many of those brought to hospital suffered gunshot wounds.

An RTA photographer said he fled the building as soon as the gunfight erupted, but many of his colleagues were stuck inside until the assailants were killed.

Islamic State insurgents are active in Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital. The US military last month dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- on IS positions in Nangarhar, killing dozens of jihadists.

The bombing triggered global shock waves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban.

According to the US Forces-Afghanistan, defections and recent battlefield losses have reduced the local IS presence from a peak of as many as 3,000 fighters to a maximum of 800.

The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan to break the deadlocked fight against the Taliban.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, who also mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.

Wednesday's attack underscores the growing dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan as the security situation worsens.

The country suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists in 2016, according to the Afghan Journalists' Safety Committee (AJSC), adding that the country is the second most dangerous for reporters in the world after Syria.

As least 13 journalists were killed last year, AJSC said, claiming that the Taliban was behind at least ten of the deaths.

In January last year, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.

Dan Coats, the head of US intelligence agencies, warned last week that the security and political situation in Afghanistan "will also almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in the military assistance by the US".

US-led forces have been fighting in Afghanistan for almost 16 years, making it America's longest war.
The Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Bill, 2016, passed by both the houses, will look into the investigation of other persons named in the Panama Papers. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: Pakistan's National Assembly has rejected the Panama Papers Inquiries Bill 2016 by a majority vote, six months it was passed by the Senate.

Treasury benches opposed the passage of the bill moved by the Pakistan People's Party-Parliamentarians (PPPP).

The Panama Papers Inquiries Bill 2016 was moved by PPPP lawmaker Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho. The bill is aimed at constituting a commission to inquire the revelations made in the Panama Papers, reports the Express Tribune.

Defending his party's stance, Minister for Law Zahid Hamid said, "The bill, formulated by the opposition, is discriminatory in nature and is designed against the prime minister."

Hamid said the Supreme Court had already given its decision over the issue.

He said the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Bill, 2016, passed by both the houses, will look into the investigation of other persons named in the Panama Papers.
The court observed that despite several directives, police were unable to arrest Dr.Sattar and MQM-P's senior deputy convener Amir Khan. (Photo: Representational Image/File)

Karachi: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has ordered the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) to arrest Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) chief Dr. Farooq Sattar and senior leader Amir Khan and produce them before the court.

Both are to be arrested in connection with two cases pertaining to sedition, anti-state offences and attack on media houses following the Aug 22, 2016 incendiary speech of party founder Altaf Hussain, reports the Dawn.

The ATC-II judge sent a letter to the Rangers' DGP Major General Mohammad Saeed, along with non-bailable warrants for the arrest of the two leaders, directing him to arrest and produce them in court on May 31 without fail.

The court observed that despite several directives, police were unable to arrest Dr.Sattar and MQM-P's senior deputy convener Amir Khan.

Declaring it a most urgent matter, the judge asked the Rangers chief to keep it as his top priority.

The ATC has repeatedly been issuing warrants for the arrest of the MQM leaders since October last. However, the police on almost every hearing told the trial court that the leaders went into hiding and warrants could not be executed.

However, the court rejected the police reports and came down hard on police officials, telling them that the absconders were easily accessible to media and appearing on TV channels almost on a daily basis.

The two cases were registered at the Artillery Maidan police station after a highly provocative speech of the MQM founder on August 22, 2016 outside the Karachi Press Club that triggered a violent protest and ransacking of media houses in which a passer-by was killed and several others were injured.
Kathmandu: A South African national, who was caught while attempting to scale the Mt Everest without paying the permit fee, will face a ban on climbing for five years in Nepal besides a fine of USD 22,000, officials said on Wednesday.

However, it could take some time for the Nepal government to formally announce the decision. Gyanendra Shrestha, an official with the Department of Tourism, caught Ryan Sean Davy, 43, while he was climbing above the mountain's base camp on Saturday.

He has already been brought to Kathmandu for action for the offence, a senior officer at the Department said. "His passport has been confiscated and he will most likely face a ban on climbing in Nepal for five years," said the official.

He has apologised. It is extremely rare for someone to attempt climbing Everest by themselves. Under the current provisions, tourists who go on a mountain expedition without the government permit face fines twice the amount of the expedition fee.

Foreigners are charged USD 11,000 fee to climb the world's highest peak with an altitude of 8848-metre. Davy had only taken the permit for trekking in the Khumbu region, which does not permit him to be involved in any kind of mountain climb.

Mountaineering royalty is one of the major sources of foreign currency for Nepal, whose economy is largely dependent on tourism industry.
Anurag Tiwari, a Karnataka cadre IAS officer, was found dead under mysterious circumstances near a government guest house in Hazratganj area, Lucknow.



According to the police sources, Tiwari, who was commissioner of food and civil supplies department in Karnataka, had arrived in the state capital from Mussorie after undergoing his training. He had been staying at the Meerabai Guest House in the city for the past two days.



Tiwari, who hail from Uttar Pradesh's Baharaich district, about 200 kilometres from Lucknow, had gone out for a morning walk, sources said that his body was found lying on roadside a few metres away from the Guest House.



Lucknow police chief Deepak Kumar said that a passer by informed the police around six in the morning that a body was lying on road. ''There was an injury mark on the chin...apart from that there was no other injury mark,'' Kumar said.



He said, prima facie, it seems that Tiwari may have died of ''traumatic injuries'', including heart attack or from falling or may have have been knocked down by a speeding vehicle. ''The real cause of death will be ascertained only after the postmortem examination,'' Kumar added.



The official said that a senior UP IAS officer Prabhu Narain Singh, who is currently vice-chairman of Lucknow Development Authority, was also staying with Tiwari.



Sources said that it was Tiwari's birthday today. Tiwari's family, however, apprehended ''foul play'' and demanded a thorough probe into the matter. ''We were expecting him (Tiwari) to come here on Wednesday...we had made plans to celebrate his birthday,'' said a family member in Baharaich.



Family sources also said that Tiwari was having some dispute with his wife and in-laws. They said the couple had been granted divorce.



A 2007 batch IAS officer, Tiwari had completed B.Tech in electrical engineering from the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow.
Faced with a stone-pelting mob, security forces called off a cordon and search operation they had launched in south Kashmir's Shopian district today, after failing to locate any militants or their hide-outs.



The search operation was launched in Heff village in the Zainapora area, an Army official said.



He said a large number of security forces were involved in the search operation, which started in the early hours today.



However, the operation was hampered by local residents who pelted the forces with stones, a police official said.



He said additional security force personnel were sent to the area to disperse the stone-pelters.



No casualties were reported, the official said, adding that as the forces did not find any militants or hideouts, the operation was called off.



The search operation comes two weeks after a similar but larger operation was launched in Shopian district to flush out militants.



While the security forces did not find anything in the day-long search operations on May 4 spanning nearly two dozen villages and involving more than 4,000 troops, the militants attacked an Army patrol as they were retreating from the operations that day, leading to the death of a taxi driver and injury to several security personnel.



Operations in south Kashmir have been intensified in the wake of videos of large groups of militants -- in some cases as many as 30 -- surfacing on the social media, despite a ban imposed by authorities on 22 such sites and applications.



Security agencies believed the videos had been shot in the south Kashmir area, mostly in the Shopian district.
The Supreme Court today asked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) whether a woman can be given an option of saying 'no' to triple talaq at the time of execution of 'nikahnama' (Islamic marriage contract).



A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar also said if all 'Qazis' can be asked to include this condition at the time of marriage.



"Is it possible that Muslim women are given an option to say 'no' to triple talaq at the time of execution of nikahnama," asked the bench also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman, U U Lalit and Abdul Nazeer.



While seeking response from former Union Minister and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing AIMPLB, the bench said, "Don't infer anything from our side."



Today is the fifth day of the hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging triple talaq, polygamy and 'nikah halala' which is going on before a bench comprising members of different religious communities including Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim.



Yesterday, the law board had equated the issue of triple talaq with the belief that Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya, saying these were matters of faith and cannot be tested on grounds of constitutional morality.
US President Donald Trump would begin his maiden foreign trip with a visit to Saudi Arabia later this week where he would pitch for the need to tackle radical Islam ideology.

"He (Trump) will meet and have lunch with leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries where he will deliver an inspiring, yet direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and his hopes, the president hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world," US National Security Advisor H R McMaster told reporters during at the White House yesterday.



"The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against the common enemies of all civilisation and to demonstrate America's commitment to our Muslim partners," he said while giving details of Trump's itinerary for his visit.



The US president will be welcomed Saudi King Salman.



Mc Master said Trump will participate in a signing ceremony of several agreements that will further solidify US-Saudi security and economic cooperation.



The president and the first lady will also join members of the Saudi royal family for an official dinner.



Bilateral meeting are scheduled between Trump and Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, besides meetings with Gulf state leaders, he said.



Trump will also inaugurate a new center intended to fight radicalism and promote moderation.



"By establishing and operating this center, our Muslim friends, including Saudi Arabia, are taking a firm stand against extremism and those who use a perverted interpretation of religion to advance their criminal and political agendas, the NSA said.



From Saudi Arabia, Trump would travel to Jerusalem, where he will meet Israeli President Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and lay a wreath at Yad Vashem.



The next day, he would meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem and convey America's interest to facilitate an agreement that ends the conflict in the region.



"He will urge Palestinian leaders to take steps that will help lead to peace. He will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and say a prayer at the Western Wall," McMaster said.



The next destination would Rome and the Vatican, where Trump will meet the Pope.



"He looks forward to celebrating the rich contributions of Catholics to America and to the world, and to discussing a range of issues of mutual concern, he said.



From Rome, Trump would fly to to Brussels to meet leaders of the European Union and of the European Council.



From Brussels, Trump would travel to Sicily for the G-7.



"Throughout the summit, he will meet bilaterally with leaders, including the Italian prime minister. In the formal meetings, he will press America's economic agenda and call for greater security cooperation, Mc Master said.



On the first night of the summit, he will also attend a concert performed by the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a leaders' dinner hosted by the president of Italy.
A 31-year-old Chinese crew member with injuries on his right hand has been evacuated from Motor Tanker (MT) Sea Dragon by an Indian Coast Guard Ship, 25 km off Mangaluru coast.



Sea Dragon, a Liberia-registered 230-metre long LPG carrier, was cruising from Singapore to Fujairah, UAE, yesterday when it reported that boilerman, Hong Jiangyu had suffered an injury on the index finger of his right hand and needed immediate evacuation.



On receiving the information, Coast Guard Karnataka Headquarters at Mangaluru diverted ICGS 'Savitribai Phule', to render assistance, a Coast Guard release said.



The ship, commanded by Commandant Manish Kumar, dispatched its medical team which found that Hong had a serious injury on the index finger of his right hand.



After providing first aid, he was shifted to the coast guard vessel safely, the release said.



The Coast Guard ship returned to New Mangalore harbour with the injured crew member for rendering further medical assistance to him.



Expressing satisfaction over the swift medical evacuation, Deputy Inspector General S S Dasila, Commander, Coast Guard Karnataka, said every life was precious and all efforts would be made to safeguard life and property at sea.
The first London-Yiwu cargo train carrying British products arrives at Yiwu West Station in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 29, 2017. London is the 15th European city on an expanding map of destinations for China's rail cargo. The first Chinese freight train arrived in London in January. [Photo/Xinhua]

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond said that Britain remains a natural partner for China's new Silk Road program, as he illustrated British willingness to foster new economic ties post-Brexit.

He was speaking in Beijing at the opening of the first Belt and Road forum, in front of thousands of delegates and 29 world leaders. This is a sign of several things about the nature of Brexit, as well as the direction Sino-British relations are going.

This comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $124 billion to benefit the $900 billion plan, now being considered the most ambitious development project in the history of globalization.

It calls for free trade and an end to diplomatic power politics. The British media wasn't slow to dub President Xi as the new "globalization guru."

In stark contrast to Donald Trump's America First approach, Xi said: "We should build an open platform of cooperation and uphold and grow an open world economy." The plan formally called the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was unveiled in 2013, and now expanded to encompass all of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

President Xi said the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project is meant to usher in a second "golden age" of globalization, adding: "The glory of the ancient Silk Road shows that geographical dispersion is not insurmountable."

In what was a clear departure, from traditional politics, this speech was laden with historical examples. "These pioneers won their place in history not as conquerors with warships, guns or swords, but are remembered as friendly emissaries leading caravans of camels and sailing treasure-loaded ships. This part of history shows that civilization thrives on openness and that nations prosper from exchange."

It seems like London also understands that. Chancellor Hammond declared: "I commend President Xi for setting in train such a bold and visionary project. This initiative is truly ground-breaking in the scale of its ambition, spanning more than 65 countries, across four continents, with the potential to raise the living standards of 70 percent of the global population."

Two things are instantly clear from such a statement. One, Brexit is a very different phenomenon from Trump's win in the American presidential election. Britain voted to leave the EU not because of isolationism, but because of fears over uncontrolled immigration and over-regulation.

In fact, Britain is not at all isolationist like the America of Donald Trump. In fact, the U.K. is quite keen to showcase a growing Sino-British alignment on trade, not just because it needs alternative funding  and it surely does  but because it is actually keen on diversifying trade. This was British grand strategy during the years of the previous government of David Cameron, and barring the small Hinkley Point issue, it is quite clear U.K.-China trade is back on track.

Second, Britain is interested to promptly signing a free trade deal with China as it exits the EU. Beijing, while initially wary of an imploding EU, quickly realized that U.K. is a much better trading destination than the EU with all its tariff and problems.

The difference on the British and German approach to the BRI is visible. While German Trade and Economy Minister Brigette Zypries stressed the need for transparency and focused on adherence to international standards, there were no such demands from the British side, keen on having a trade deal first to show it's interested in being a reliable partner in this project.

As Chancellor Hammond said: "As China drives forward the Belt and Road Initiative from the East, we in Britain are a natural partner in the West, standing ready to work with all Belt and Road partner countries to make it a success."

Hammond's key point was that Europe and China were always connected since ancient history through trade, regardless of system of governance or society, and that is something which is coming back, and is to be welcomed.

Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Cyclonic storm accompanied by rain left a trail of destruction in Arunachal Pradesh, killing a person, rendering 100 people homeless and damaging houses.



One Khonil Gogoi of New Mohong area in Namsai district died on the spot when a building collapsed on him on Monday evening during the storm, an official report said today.



The storm, which lasted for about 90 minutes, also damaged 180 houses completely and several others partially beside uprooting many trees, snapping power supply lines and damaging cattle sheds and granaries.



The uprooted trees have blocked several inter-village roads in Lekang circle and the local administration and police have swung into action to clear the roads.



Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who is also the local MLA, has expressed shock and grief over the loss of life.



He has requested the district administration to provide immediate and necessary assistance to the affected.



Incessant rain in the past couple of days triggered flash floods at Dirang in West Kameng district on Monday, damaging government and private properties.



The official residence of ADC Dagbom Riba and private residence of local MLA Phurpa Tsering were partially damaged by the flash floods.



The BSNL exchange has been totally damaged and mobile service has been affected.

Efforts have been made to restore electricity, water supply and road connectivity by the concerned departments as per the report.



The storm also left a trail of destruction in Riangchi-Poriang village of Parsi-Parlo circle in Kurung Kumey district.



The storm which hit the village on Monday damaged several houses, including an Anganwadi Centre and a church. Hundreds of fruit bearing trees, bamboos groves were also uprooted.



Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has ordered release of working funds to the affected areas to carry out relief and restoration works.



He further directed the district administrations to expedite the process of final loss assessment while appealing to the people to be cautious and prepared to avert harm during natural calamities, the report added.


Suicide bombers stormed the national television station in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad today, triggering gunfights and explosions as journalists remained trapped inside the building, officials and eyewitnesses said.



At least two people were killed and 14 others wounded in the ongoing assault, which underscores the growing dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan.



No insurgent group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid in Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State jihadists, where the US military dropped its largest non- nuclear bomb last month in an unprecedented attack.



"Four attackers entered the RTA (Radio Television Afghanistan) building this morning. Two blew themselves up and two others are still resisting," government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP. He had earlier said there were three attackers.



"At least two civilians have been killed and 14 others wounded so far," Kohgyani said, with a health worker telling AFP that many of those brought to hospital suffered gunshot wounds.



An RTA photographer said he fled the building as soon as the gunfight erupted, but many of his colleagues were still stuck inside.



Islamic State insurgents are active in Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital.



The US military last month dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- on IS positions in Nangarhar, killing dozens of jihadists.



The bombing triggered global shock waves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban.



According to the US Forces-Afghanistan, defections and recent battlefield losses have reduced the local IS presence from a peak of as many as 3,000 fighters to a maximum of 800.



The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan to break the deadlocked fight against the Taliban.



US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, who also mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.



Today's attack marks the latest militant assault on an Afghan media organisation.



Afghanistan suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists in 2016, according to the Afghan Journalists' Safety Committee (AJSC), adding that the country is the second most dangerous for reporters in the world after Syria.



At least 13 journalists were killed last year, AJSC said, claiming that the Taliban was behind at least ten of the deaths.



In January last year, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.



It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 and spotlighted the dangers faced by journalists as the security situation worsens.



Dan Coats, the head of US intelligence agencies, warned last week that the security situation "will also almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in the military assistance by the US".



US-led forces have been fighting in Afghanistan for almost 16 years, making it America's longest war.
Students, farmers' unions and environmental activists today staged a protest outside the Ministry of Environment here over the approval given for commercial use of genetically modified mustard by the crop regulator.



The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a body of the ministry that evaluates genetically modified crops, had on May 11 recommended the commercial use of GM mustard.



"GM crops affect farmers as they end up relying on companies who supply the seeds, thus giving no scope for reproduction of seeds," said a German native, living in India for seven years and associated with an urban farming company.



Once the crop is used for commercial purposes, it cannot be called back because of cross pollination and its impact on health can be manifold, though there is no scientific evidence as of now, she said.



The activists also termed GEAC's functions as "unscientific" and "irregular".



"We are asking for dissolution of GEAC as the body is discredited and its functions are always secretive," Kavitha Kuruganti of Sarson Satyagraha said.



A number of farmers' unions, organic farming community and students also took part in the protest and called for a nationwide outrage if the approval of GM mustard crop for commercial use was not rolled back with immediate effect.



The protesters also challenged the ministry for a public debate on the use of such genetically modified crops."When several mustard-growing states and politicians are against the use of such crops, why is the environment ministry in a hurry to use such poisoned crops?" asked another activist.
At the ripe old age of 82, former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala has passed his higher secondary examination in the first division, while serving out a 10 year sentence in Delhi's Tihar jail.



Chautala, who was convicted in the teachers' recruitment scam case, is now planning to pursue a BA course, his younger son and senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala said here today.



"He appeared for the Class XII examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling at the centre set up for prisoners at Tihar Jail. The last examination was held on April 23. He was out on parole during that time, but as the examination centre was inside the jail premises, he went back to jail and sat for the examination," Abhay said.



The senior Chautala was out on parole last month to attend the wedding of his grandson and Hisar MP, Dushyant Singh Chautala. His parole ended on May 5.



"He has been in prison for the last four-and-a-half years. My father thought of putting his time to best use and pursue his studies," Abhay said, adding that he had cleared the exam in the first division.



According to him, the Indian National Lok Dal president was forced to discontinue his studies during his school days due to family compulsions.



"When he was in school, my grandfather Chaudhary Devi Lal was into politics. Who was to take care of the large family, who will look after farming, these were some of the issues which my father, being the eldest member of the family after Devi Lal, had to take care of .



"This forced him to leave his studies in between and the responsibility to educate his younger siblings also fell on him. Later, he himself entered politics and found little time to pursue his studies," Abhay told PTI here.



He said his father often visits the Tihar jail library, where he reads newspapers and books. "He also asks the jail staff to arrange for his favourite books."

An unlikely source of inspiration for the former chief minister was Manu Sharma, serving a life term for killing model Jessica Lall in 1999, who was pursuing an LLB course while being lodged in the prison.

"Manu's Cell in Tihar prison is also adjoining to the one where Chautala sahib is lodged and saw him pursue higher studies from prison," he said.

Abhay hoped other prisoners would take encouragement from the achievement and realise the importance of education.




Nearly 90 girl students in Haryana's Rewari district, who had been striking for over a week -- some of them on hunger strike -- for upgradation of their school to senior secondary level, today called off their stir after the government ceded to their demand.



Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said a notification has been issued for upgrading the Government High School at the Gothra Tappa Dahina village.



A principal has been deputed there and the admission process commences tomorrow, he said in a press conference today.



The group of 86 girls of class IX and X had gone on an indefinite strike, which lasted for over a week, demanding upgradation of the school in their village, saying they would have to face harassment and even molestation while travelling to a senior secondary school three kms away.



Thirteen of them were on hunger strike. The health of most of the fasting girls had deteriorated.



Despite Sharma assuring them on Monday that the school would be upgraded, the students had continued with the stir, saying that until they received official word from the government, they would not relent.



With news pouring in that the government had issued the formal notification, there were scenes of jubilation as the girls called off their stir.



Officials of the Rewari district administration and those from the education department offered a glass of juice to the girls who were on hunger strike.



"We are happy that our efforts have yielded fruit," said a beaming girl student who had sat on fast.



For higher education after Class X, girls of the village had to go to Kanwali village, located 3 km from Gothra Tappa Dahina, village head Suresh Chauhan said.



"We fear harassment and molestation by youths of other villages and hence, we are demanding upgradation of our school up to Class XII," one of the protestors had earlier said.



Officials had earlier said the school could not be upgraded as it did not meet the condition of a minimum of 150 students required for the senior secondary level.



The education minister today said the rules had been relaxed after discussion with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the Additional Chief Secretary of the school education department, P K Das.



Asked to comment on the harassment of girls by anti- social elements while going to other villages for studies, Das said that besides the state government, it is also the responsibility of Panchayats and other prominent people of the village to come forward to confront such elements.



Haryana has one of the lowest Child Sex Ratios (CSR) in the country. The state has also witnessed horrific crimes against women in the recent past, including the gangrape and killing of a 23-year-old woman, and the rape of a minor girl by her stepfather.



Opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Singh Chautala told reporters today that the BJP government, which had tom-tommed the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign, had failed to assure the girl students, due to which the condition of many of the students on fast had deteriorated.



"This government is failing in its duty. This means people have no faith in this government as people are not ready to even believe and take assurance of a senior Minister (Ram Bilas Sharma) on face value," Chautala said.


With an aim to promote the idea of oral storytelling tradition among children, Rajasthan's Education Department will invite grandmothers of students for storytelling sessions to be held government schools.



As per a recent order released by the department of secondary education, schools are asked to organise informal storytelling sessions for class 1st-5th. The initiative attempts to revive an age old tradition of narrating stories to children by their grandparents. Arun Kumar Sharma, deputy director, secondary education further explained, "the story telling session will be a part of Bal Sabhas, organised every Saturday in schools. Apart from performing cultural activities now students will get an opportunity to listen stories from grandmothers of their friends."



The education department has already issued notices to schools and is keen to start the session from third Saturday of this month. Department is hopeful to have successful Bal Sabhas. "we could have asked teachers to tell stories to children but idea is to find a story teller in their own grandparent. This will encourage students to listen to more stories while they are at home. As we are promoting technology in schools this program is a reverse of that." Sharma added.



Educationists have welcome the idea but they believe there should be a list of certain stories that will be narrated to students and stories should be non religious and non political. "Such initiatives are much needed at the present time when technology has infiltrated our lives. Children will get Moral education and affection while listening tales from grandparents. Its a easiest way to touch, teach and reach a student. But department should ensure that stories selected for the session will have no religious or political affiliation", Educationist and Social Activist Charanjeet Dhillon, associated with Bal Bhawan Jaipur told DH.



As per the order department will also provide some sample stories to the schools. And in absense of Grandmothers, teachers will be asked to narrate the stories.
Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today said a letter written by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu last month, "vindicates" his stand that the previous SAD government had "diverted" funds meant for development schemes like AMRUT and Smart city.



The letter addressed to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh last month stated that funds for three key missions-- Smart city, AMRUT and Swachh Bharat for Punjab will only be released if the state government expedites their execution.



Citing the letter, in which Naidu had expressed concern over the the delay in the implementation of these schemes, Sidhu targeted the SAD-BJP alliance which lost to Congress in the recent Punjab state Assembly elections.



The letter was released by Sidhu to the media here today. He claimed that it (the letter) "vindicated" his stand on blaming former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal for the "diversion" of funds meant for the three key missions during previous SAD-BJP regime.



Referring to a review meeting held by Secretary, Urban Development on April 7, 2017 in Chandigarh, the union minister in the letter had said, "In the smart cities mission even though SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) was formed long back in Ludhiana and project management consultants appointed, no project has been tendered so far."



"In the Amrut mission, there has been a long delay in DPR preparation, tendering and start of works. The third (final) State Annual Action Plan has also not been sent by the Punjab government to the Ministry of Urban Development.



"In the Swachh Bharat Mission, out of ULBs (Urban Local Bodies), only one has been declared ODF and there is low drawal of funds for construction of toilets."



The letter further states, "I would request you to kindly review the progress of missions at your level and issue necessary directions to your officers so that project implementation is expedited. This will also be necessary for us to be able to release further instalment of funds to state government under these missions."



The union ministry in the letter also said, "One issue that has emerged across all missions is the delay in release of central and state share of funds to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).



"Not only is the state share not being released by the state, but also the central share is inordinately delayed. Another issue is shortage of staff especially professionals at the city/state level. We are funding recruitment of experts/professionals in ULBs, but the positions have not been failed up by the state government."



"I believe these issues can easily be addressed by state government in order to achieve progress in implementation of these important missions and achieve significant improvement in the areas of water supply, sanitation, waste management and critical urban infrastructure," the letter stated.



After releasing the letter written by the union minister, Sidhu said this letter "vindicated my stand".



"I am presenting the documentary evidence in which the central minister Venkaiah Naidu wrote to our Chief Minister," said Sidhu.





"I had told you (media) how the funds by father-son (Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal) were diverted for other purposes including Sangat Darshan."

"Who gave them the right to use funds for purpose other than the purpose it was meant for," he said.



On May 15, Sidhu, who holds local bodies portfolio, had charged Badals with siphoning off funds over Rs 2,000 crore of funds under Smart city project and Amrut scheme, alleging that Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal "put the money into their accounts by diverting state funds".



Sidhu accused former SAD-BJP regime of keeping property tax collection and water charges pending, which led to outstanding tax arrears of crores of rupees.



He further said the department will also ask people to pay their pending property taxes in easy instalments. "We will provide people with civic amenities first and then we will ask them to pay taxes," he said.



There was no policy for revenue from advertisement. As against potential revenue of Rs 2,000 crore, the state was getting just Rs 2.5 crore, he said.
South Korean President Moon Jae-In warned today there was a "high possibility" of military clashes along the border with North Korea as tensions mount over Pyongyang's weapons ambitions.



Moon, who was sworn in last week, warned that the North's nuclear and rocket programmes were "advancing rapidly", days after Pyongyang launched what appeared to be its longest-range missile yet.



"I will never tolerate the North's provocations and nuclear threats," he said on a visit to the defence ministry, urging the South's military to adopt a "watertight defence posture".



"We are living in the reality where there is a high possibility of military clashes" along the disputed sea border off the Koreas' west coast or along the heavily-fortified land frontier that divides them, he said.



Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have ramped up in recent weeks with the Trump administration saying military action was an option under consideration and the North threatening massive retaliation.



Left-leaning Moon favours engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table, but after Sunday's missile launch said dialogue would be possible "only if Pyongyang changes its behaviour".



The North claimed the rocket was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, although there are doubts whether the country could build a warhead small enough to fit into a missile.



The two Koreas -- technically still at war after the 1950-53 conflict ended only with a ceasefire -- have occasionally clashed along the border.



The North's shelling in 2010 of the southern border island of Yeonpyeong killed four people in the first attack on civilians since the war, sparking brief fears of an all-out conflict.
 Flash

China's poverty-relief campaign brings benefits not only to its citizens, but also to people in neighboring countries.

In Houqiao Village of Tengchong City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, the local government has been encouraging people to participate in cross-border trade to increase their income.

"Houqiao was a poor village with about 1,780 residents, but now more than 300 have joined cross-border trade," said villager Cai Fuhui. "We have earned more than 600,000 yuan (90,000 U.S. dollars) in the past half year."

Myanmar residents are also doing well. According to He Yuanshu, general manager of a trading company in Tengchong, the company currently employs more than 5,000 Myanmar workers, and the number could exceed 7,000 during busy harvesting seasons.

In Yunnan's Zhangjialaozhai Village, which borders Myanmar, the local government has just built a cement road linking the once secluded village with a nearby town. The village produces some of the best tea, but poor transportation blocked its sales. With the new road, the tea is accessible to the outside world, with each kilogram fetching as much as 400 yuan.

"The Myanmar village several kilometers away also benefited from the road," said villager Ai Shuaixiang. "Because they grow tea on the mountains next to ours, they now sell their tea in our village too, which can reach many customers thanks to the new road."

In mid-April, Chinese authorities held a "village head seminar" in a border county in Yunnan. About 100 village heads, entrepreneurs and government officers from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand attended.

During the seminar, they expressed hope for better incomes for their farmers and enhanced international cooperation.

"We hope there will be more agricultural training and exchanges on China's poverty-relief experience," said an attendant at the seminar.
Hardik Patel, the 23-year-old face of Patel quota stir in Gujarat, on Wednesday said that they would work towards restricting ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat to around 80 seats in the state Assembly polls slated by the end of this year.



These polls are not a fight between BJP or Congress but that of youth, women, dalits, Patels and farmers against BJP, he told media persons. We are going to make sure that the party, which is planning to achieve a target of winning 150 of 182 seats in the Assembly, does not go beyond 80.



At present, BJP has 121 seats in the Assembly, with Congress having 57 representatives.



Hardik said his main political enemy was BJP and that they had kept options to support the Congress open, while he came down heavy on Congress, calling it a sinking ship. They should not think that the laddoo (sweet) of power would fall into their mouth courtesy Patel agitation. If they too do not make their stand clear on our issues and get their act together, the people may be forced to look for a completely new alternative, he added.



Hardik also asked the state government to set up a Commission to look in to quota and other demands of Patels. They do not seem to want to give anything to Patels, he said. Hardik was replying to deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patels statement in media that the state government was ready to hold talks with Patidars. We shall not meet you till you make your (government) stand clear on our demands, including the key one of reservations for Patidars, Hardik said.



Patel said that the statement from government was primarily to pre-empt any protests during the Prime Minister Narendra Modis two-day state visit beginning May 22. Fifty one youths, including me, will take a march with tonsured heads in protest on May 21. We have kept our target at 51 but any number of Patel youths can join us, Hardik said.



His organization Patidaar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) would hold a Nyay Yatra (Rally for justice) between two Saurashtra towns of Botad and Bhavnagar. To be held on May 20 & 21, the rally would pass through 50 villages.



He also announced plans to collect over 50,000 PAAS workers from across 7,000 villages to Ahmedabad on June 11. These PAAS workers would be briefed on campaign against BJP till the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state.
Amritsar born baby girl Chahat Kumar, who hogged limelight for her abnormal weight gain- a whopping 20 kilograms in just 9-months- is counting on charity for her treatment for weight loss at this tender age.



Her parents surviving on daily wage are helpless. Chahats weight is growing day by day. Her parents don't have the money to get her advance diagnostic tests from a Bengaluru laboratory to start the treatment.



The baby girl needs a gene test that will eventually pinpoint the cause and nature of her abnormal weight gain phenomenon. Without the tests its difficult for doctors to draw out a durable treatment pattern. Her blood samples for gene test need to be sent to a state-of-the-art laboratory in Bengaluru, said sources.



The cost of one test has been estimated at around Rs 70,000. Doctors say, an obese uncle of Chahat will also have to undergo a similar gene test to corroborate the findings which will double the cost of the test.



Chahats father Suraj Kumar says he has no means to get the gene tests done. He said he earns about Rs 200 as daily wage from his work as a cable operator in Amritsar. The baby girl was taken under treatment at the prestigious Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh some days ago. While her routine tests were normal, senior doctors recommended the gene test for further diagnosis and treatment. Chahats treatment appear to have hit a roadblock. Her mother Renu says she could never imagine that a single test would cost a fortune. The parents say the gene test for the girl and her uncle will cost them around Rs 1.5 lakh, which is an amount they have never seen.



Doctors say a normal nine month old baby will weight around 8-kgs and Chahat is more than double the weight of the kids of her age. The alarming part is that her disease causing the weight gain will have to be checked as early as possible to avoid any additional weight gain and further abnormalities in child growth. The weight of Chahats parents is normal. But the family has a history of serious obesity. Chahat has surpassed all that and needs urgent help.
Even as the supreme court has been debating on legality of the triple talaq, a 24 year old man in Rajasthan divorced his wife by sending a triple talaq letter. After failing to turn up for a counselling session , a harassment and cruelty case has been booked against him.





A cosmetics vendor by profession, Abdul Kalam alias Rizwan of Ghasmandi area of Jodhpur got married to 23 year old Shagufta in 2014. After two and a half years of their marriage, Rizwan divorced her by pronouncing triple talaq through a typed letter in April 2017. The letter arrived as a shock to Shagufta who had come to visit her brother with her 7 month old boy. She told DH, "I received a letter from my husband mentioning triple talaq, which was delivered to my brothers residence in Pratap Nagar locality of Jodhpur. I came here, because my husband had beaten me and asked to leave the house. I waited for one month after receiving the letter but he did not turn up. He says that he can't take his words back."



On Wednesday, a FIR has been lodged against Rizwan after he didnt turn up for the counseling session that was organised by Shagufta's lawyer at Woman police station as an attempt for reconciliation between the couple.



"After marriage, he and his family members used to ill treat me. He would demand dowry from my parents and on many instances has harassed me. Even after I gave birth to our child there was no respite. Even for the milk and clothes of our new born baby I used to borrow money from my brother." Shagufta added.





As per SHO, Pana Choudhry , Mahilla Thana, Jodhpur, a case has been lodged against him and police will investigate. "Rizwan used to ill treat his wife and hardly paid attention to his son. Rizwan has bluntly refused for any resolution with his wife." An FIR, has been lodged against him under section 498A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) 406 IPC (Punishment for criminal breach of trust).



Nishat Hussain, Rajasthan General Secretary of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan told DH, "Our organisation is opposing this talaq. As far as the Quran is concerned, there is no mention of triple talaq in it. It is a later addition. The right to divorce is given equally to both parties.
A proposed agreement with Russia for setting up of two more units of Kudankulam Nuclear Plant in Tamil Nadu remains in the realm of suspense ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to that country a fortnight from now. Modi will be travelling to St Petersburg on June 1 to attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).



On the sidelines, he is expected to have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to review the state of bilateral relations and ways to push the ties further. However, it is not clear whether the General Framework Agreement (GFA) for setting up of units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) will be signed during the Prime Minister's visit. The GFA, which is the final pact before a project can commence, has been cleared by an inter-ministerial group and is with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for its nod, a top government source said.



"After its evaluation by the inter-ministerial group, the proposal has now been sent to the PMO and is awaiting its green signal," the source said. The issue related to the GFA had figured in the talks between the two countries last week when Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin was here to prepare the ground for the bilateral meet between Modi and Putin.



Rogozin had co-chaired an inter-governmental commission meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj where the two sides agreed to take forward collaborative projects in a range of sectors, including nuclear energy, and joint projects in third countries. According to an October 2015 joint statement issued after a meeting between Modi and Putin, the two sides had "reaffirmed" their intention to conclude the GFA and the Credit Protocol for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) units 5 and 6 by the end of 2016.



Government sources said the GFA between India and Russia was to be signed by December last year but it has been pending because of disagreement between the two sides over credit protocol. The delay also comes against the backdrop of concerns in India over Russia's growing proximity with Pakistan. India also wants Russia to make more efforts to get it into the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).



A part of the KKNPP project, units 5 and 6, with a capacity of 1000 MW each, are being built with Russian collaboration. Unit 1 and 2 of the KKNPP are already operational. In August 2016, Modi and Putin jointly dedicated Unit 2 of the plant to "India-Russia Friendship and Cooperation" and witnessed the laying of foundation concrete for KKNPP units 3 and 4 through video-link.
In less than two weeks, security forces today conducted the second major cordon-and-search operation in Kashmir's Shopian district but called it off after hours as no militant could be found but not before stone-pelting mobs hampered it.



The search operation, in which a large number of security forces were involved, was launched in Heff village in the Zainapora area following information about presence of militants there, an Army official said. The operation, which started in the early hours, was hampered by local residents who pelted the forces with stones, a police official said.



The official said additional security force personnel were sent to the area to disperse the stone-pelters. No casualties were reported in stone-pelting, he said. The forces did not find any militant or hideouts and as a result, the operation was called off, the official said.



The search operation was carried out two weeks after a similar but larger operation was undertaken in Shopian district which has witnessed a spurt in militant activities recently. In the operation conducted on May 4, about 4,000 troops scanned two dozen villages of Shopian district for a day but could not find any militant.



However, while the troops were returning on that day, militants attacked an Army patrol, resulting in the death of a taxi driver and injuries to several security personnel. Six days after that operation, a young Kashmiri Army officer Lt Ummer Fayaz, who was on leave and unarmed, was abducted and shot dead by militants in the same district where he had gone to attend a family wedding.



Major General B S Raju, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of Victor Force which is responsible for security in south Kashmir, had said on Saturday lat that more than 100 militants are active in that region.



"I am aware of the presence of the militants in the area (south Kashmir) and I must tell you that because of the high vegetation that is there, they are having slight amount of freedom but we are doing operations in a way to restrict their movement and subsequently neutralize them, he had said.



Operations in south Kashmir have been intensified in the wake of videos of large groups of militants -- in some cases as many as 30 -- surfacing on the social media, despite a ban imposed by authorities on 22 such sites and applications. Security agencies believed the videos had been shot in the south Kashmir area, mostly in the Shopian district.


Unlike a treatise or a verbal narrative, a museum offers a lively feeling of how people lived and enjoyed life, suffered, fought and interacted in the past. Procuring, preserving, maintaining and showcasing the exhibits of the bygone era in a presentable manner takes enormous efforts.



Besides identifying the vestiges of value, a museum curator applies research aptitude and discretion in arranging the themes and objects of abiding value that bring out understandable patterns of a culture. Far from being an upbeat job, it entails pains behind the curtain. No wonder, curatorship is not the profession of choice of people who seek glamour and hefty pay packages.



The concept of museums as a vibrant modality to conserve mankinds heritage assumes recognition of culture in its ulterior interests. We often tend to undermine the long tradition behind our present day structures, whether social, cultural or technological. The past provides critical inputs on how best to proceed further; as American novelist, Nanette L Avery, said, To preserve the past is to save the future.



By offering a glimpse into the ethos of other cultures, museum collections subtly reinforce the commonality of human instincts and aspirations, serve as a bridge to indigenous populations and foster peace and harmony in society.



The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has been observing International Museum Day on May 18 since 1977 to provide a platform for museum professionals to interact with the public and educate them about the challenges that museums face. This years theme is Museums and contested histories: saying the unspeakable in museums.



This theme underscores to sense the unspeakable in museums and envisages museums to play a proactive role in addressing traumatic histories through mediation and multiplicities of views for better understanding of one another. Last year, the event drew representatives from 35,000 museums from 145 countries. The celebrations are held in partnership with the European Night of Museums and the European Museum of the Year Award.



Beyond treating a museum as a microcosm of a civilisation, the ICOM defines a museum as an institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment. It also works to curb illicit trafficking of artifacts and assists museums in emergency situations.



Abode of memories



Some museums are specialised ones, like the Van Gough Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, lets the visitor delve into the memories of the great wars deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of the country. There are others that highlight the feats of chivalry as well. The Museum of Broken Relationships in Croatia depicts objects connected to legendary romances.



In India, the frequently visited museum sites include: the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai; the Indian Museum, Calcutta; National Museum, Museum of Natural History, Rail Museum, Nehru Museum and Planetarium in Delhi; The Prince of Wales Museum, Jehangir Art Gallery, INS Vikrant in Mumbai; Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad; Calico Museum of Textiles, Ahmedabad.



Bengaluru itself has many museums  Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, The Hermitage Centre and Aerospace Museum, Cauvery Handicrafts, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Venkatappa Art Gallery and Government Museum, Girias Childrens Explorium, Karnataka Folk Museum, and so on.



In the Indian context, security and adequate funds are major issues inhibiting the development of museums. There is also the debatable issue of waiver of entry fee for the museums and whether it should be borne by the state as educational activity.



Curatorship, like other creative pursuits does not provide enough economic returns. Amy Whitaker, a museum professional with forays into business says, success in business depends on creativity, yet she admits, art museums risk being commercial institutions in which art is subsumed by economics and the experience of looking at art becomes a form of consumption.
A poor man, who did not organise a grand community feast on the occasion of his daughters wedding is now facing social boycott in Jabtapur village of Uttar Pradeshs Bijnore district.



According to reports, Ramesh Kumar, a labourer who earned barely enough to make two ends meet, had married off his daughter a few days ago. The wedding was solemnised in a simple manner. Barely a handful of people, mainly the close relatives, were present at the ceremony.



Ramesh could not host a grand community feast as desired by many in the village. Some residents of the village convened a panchayat and after hours of deliberations decided that Kumar had disregarded social traditions and must be punished. Kumar pleaded that he did not have money to organise the feast, but his plea fell on deaf ears.



The panchayat asked the residents for social boycott of Kumar and said whosoever kept any kind of relationship with him would be punished. Apparently hurt, Kumar approached the local cops, but they expressed their inability to do anything as it was a social matter. The senior police officials, however, took note of the matter and ordered a probe. We will take action if the report is found to be true, said a senior police official in Bijnore.




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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed Tuesday that the two countries will enhance economic cooperation and work together to ensure regional stability and prosperity.

The Chinese government is committed to upgrading cooperation with Cambodia, and wants to align their development strategies to increase bilateral trade in both quantity and quality, Li said when meeting with Hun Sen.

Hun Sen is on an official visit to China from May 13 to 17. He attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on Sunday and Monday.

Li urged more cooperation with Cambodia in multiple areas including industrial capacity, investment, agriculture, education, tourism, defense and law enforcement.

China is also ready to maintain high-level exchanges and strategic communication with Cambodia, promote people-to-people ties, and strengthen coordination on international and regional issues, the premier said.

The Chinese side supports Cambodia's role in regional and sub-regional platforms and stands ready to work with Cambodia for regional peace, stability and prosperity, Li said.

For his part, Hun Sen said his country is willing to deepen cooperation with China in trade, investment, infrastructure, law enforcement, security and other areas, while pledging to advance bilateral friendly relations to a higher level.

Cambodia will continue to actively promote China-ASEAN ties and Lancang-Mekong cooperation, and safeguard regional peace, stability and development, Hun Sen said.

After the meeting, China and Cambodia signed a number of documents on cooperation in strategy coordination, infrastructure as well as economic and technological areas.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), and Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also held meetings with Hun Sen respectively on Tuesday.

Zhang said the NPC will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Cambodia's National Assembly and Senate to contribute more to the development of China-Cambodia ties.

Yu said the CPPCC National Committee is ready to have more exchanges with Cambodia's Senate and sustain the momentum of high-level visits.
Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Wednesday visited the family of Choorakkad Biju, the RSS activist who was hacked to death last week in a suspected political attack in Kannur.



Speaking with reporters after visiting Bijus home near Ramanthali, the minister said the onus was on the state government to ensure that law and order is maintained in the politically sensitive district. Biju was killed near Payyannur in Kannur on Friday. Two local CPM activists, Raneesh and Jyothish, are in judicial custody in connection with the killing.



The minister took to Twitter to reiterate the state BJPs allegations of unprovoked violence against Sangh workers by activists of the ruling CPM.



Complaint against MP

A police complaint was filed against Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Sabha MP and vice chairman of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Kerala on Wednesday, for sharing unsubstantiated and inflammatory content against the CPM on Twitter.



Chandrasekhar had retweeted a post saying  Even before funeral procession starts, Marxists attacks hospital, ambulance carrying body of RSS worker Biju Police watch helplessly (sic).




Bibhav Kumar, private secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was on Wednesday grilled by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in connection with the Rs 400-crore tanker scam.



Kumar, who has been associated with Kejriwal since his days as an RTI activist, was questioned for three hours by ACB sleuths on charges levelled by ousted Delhi minister Kapil Mishra.



Officials said Kumar, who was also asked to bring along some files related to the probe ordered by the government in the tanker scam, denied any wrongdoing.



Mishra, who was sacked as Delhis water minister earlier this month, had appeared before the ACB last week to record his detailed statement in connection with the tanker scam that took place during Shiela Dikshits tenure as chief minister.


The Indian Navy foiled a piracy attempt in the Gulf of Aden, saving a merchant ship MV Lord Mountbatten. Naval ship INS Sharda on Tuesday responded to a distress call from the Liberia-registered commercial ship. The merchant ship was 230 nautical miles south west of Salalah in the Gulf of Aden. INS Sharda, which was on deployment in the Gulf of Aden since April 6 for anti-piracy patrol, quickly responded to the call. It reached the area around 7 pm on Tuesday and found two dhows along with eight skiffs.



Three of the eight small boats immediately fled the area on sighting the Indian warship, a navy spokesperson said here. With support from the armed helicopter of INS Sharda, the marine commandos boarded the dhows. They searched the ships and recovered one AK-47 rifle and 28 rounds of magazines The rifle was hidden in one of the dhows.



The absence of any fishing gear on-board the two dhows and the remaining five skiffs indicated malicious intent and possible piracy-linked intentions, he said. Since 2008, the Indian Navy has been sending its ships for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. Till date, Indian warships have escorted as many as 3,749 merchant vessels in the 490 nautical mile long internationally recognised transit corridor, where piracy attempts are the maximum.



Of them, 390 were Indian flag ships. Indian warships have intervened in 41 cases and caught 120 pirates besides rescuing 74 fishermen.
The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that triple talaq is not a tussle between majority and minority, but it is an intra-minority fight of women against men. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted before a five-judge Constitution bench presided over by Chief Justice J S Khehar that the women suffered domination due to employment and empowerment of men, and the practice should be declared unconstitutional.



Even right to religion is not absolute and its core practices are subject to part III (fundamental rights) of the Constitution, he maintained. A secular country has to rise above all these things... there is no bargaining power for women in nikahnama. They have to live under the cloud of apprehension and 1,400 years of practice does not make it valid. The religion will remain in existence, even if you (the court) strike it down, he said.



The top law officer said, Any pernicious practice of a religion can be declared as violation of fundamental rights and hence declared as unconstitutional. Say, for example, nobody can claim to practice human sacrifice as part of his or her religion.



Making rejoinder arguments in the batch of petitions challenging the legal validity of triple talaq, he said the issue was not whether the practice was an optional or integral part of the religion.



The question is, even if it is an integral part of the religion, should it not be tested on touchstone of fundamental rights of equality and no discrimination. The religion will not cease to exist if the practice is declared invalid and illegal, he said. Rohatgi gave example of abolished practices like sati, infanticide, devadasi among Hindus.



The bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman, U U Lalit and S Abdul Nazeer, asked, Has the court ever in the last 70 years stepped into such affairs? Can the court say something is part of personal law or not.



The bench pointed out that the practices like sati and devadasi were banned by the legislations. Of course, legislations can step in. But courts are not powerless...we will do what we need to do. It is time for you to do it now, Rohatgi told the bench. He questioned the contention made by the AIMPLB and other Muslim organisations that though the practice was sinful, undesirable and optional it is an integral part of religion.
Even as the Income Tax Department sleuths continued with the search operations against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadavs aides for the second consecutive day, the RJD men clashed with the BJP workers on Wednesday while protesting the Centres vendetta exercise. Nearly 35 people were injured in the scuffle.



Though Lalu disapproved of the protest by Chhatra RJD (the student wing of the RJD) and the subsequent clash with the BJP leaders, the RJD alleged that it was the BJP which provoked and attacked the protesters.



Showing a video footage in which BJP workers were seen throwing bottles and slippers at the RJD demonstrators, RJD national spokesperson Manoj Jha said, It was a peaceful demonstration till the BJP leaders attacked them on Beer Chand Patel Marg, where the offices of the BJP and the RJD are located.


With the new policy, the old linkage allocation policy will end and a new linkage allocation policy based on transparent and objective criteria for the optimal utilisation of the natural resources will come into existence,a statement from the government said.



The CCEA has also approved the signing of fuel supply agreement (FSA) with the letter of assurance (LoA) holders, it said. Allocation of linkages for the power sector shall be based on auction of linkages or through power purchase agreement based on competitive bidding of tariffs except for the state and the central power generating companies and the exceptions provided in Tariff Policy, 2016, it said.



As per the new policy, thermal power plants (TPPs) having LoA will be eligible to sign a FSA after ensuring that the plants are commissioned, the respective milestones met, all specified conditions of the LoA fulfilled within specified time frame and where nothing adverse is detected against the LoA holders and the TPPs are commissioned before March 31, 2022.







The Centre on Wednesday approved a new coal allotment policy for power projects to ensure all coal-fired power projects get sufficient supply through a bid process or power purchase agreements. The policy, which is called 2017-SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala (Coal) Transparently in India), was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The new policy is expected to help a large number of thermal power plants, which have been waiting for the fuel supply despite adequate domestic stockpiles. The policy will help revive 30,000 MW of power plants in the country and major beneficiaries in private sector include Reliance Power, Adani Power, Bajaj Hindustan, Lanco and Jindal Power.According to the policy, coal linkages will be provided to state and central government-owned power generating companies based on the recommendations by the power ministry, Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said here. However other companies will have to go through a bidding process, he added.
Anurag Tewari, 36, a Karnataka cadre IAS officer, was found dead under mysterious circumstances near a government guest house in the state capital on Wednesday morning. It was his birthday and his family had plans to celebrate.



According to police sources, Tewari, who was commissioner, food and civil supplies department in Karnataka, had arrived here from Mussoorie in Uttarakhand after undergoing training, and had been staying at the Meerabai Guest House for the past two days.



Tewari, who hailed from Uttar Pradeshs Bahraich district, about 200 km from here, had gone out for a morning walk, sources said, adding that his body was found lying on the side of the road a few metres away from the guest house.



Lucknow police chief Deepak Kumar said that a passer-by informed the police around 6 am that a body was lying on the side of the road. The officer was identified from an identity card found in his purse. There was an injury mark on the chin...apart from that there was no other injury, Kumar said.



He said that prima facie it appears that Tewari may have died of ''traumatic injuries'', including heart attack, or from falling or may have been knocked down by a speeding vehicle. ''The real cause of death will be ascertained only after the post-mortem examination,'' Kumar added.



The official said that a senior UP IAS officer Prabhu Narain Singh, who is currently vice-chairman of Lucknow Development Authority, was staying with Tewari. Sources said that it was Tewari's birthday today (Wednesday).



Tewari's family, however, apprehended ''foul play'' and demanded a thorough probe. ''We were expecting him (Tewari) to come here on Wednesday...we had plans to celebrate his birthday,'' said a family member in Bahraich.



Family sources also said that Tewari was having some dispute with his wife and in-laws. They said that the couple was divorced.



A 2007 batch IAS officer, Tewari had completed B.Tech in electrical engineering from the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow.








However, the four 700 MW under-construction Indian reactors  two each in Kakrapar in Gujarat and Rawatbhata in Rajasthan  are now delayed by over two years.



The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved setting up of 10 new indigenous nuclear power reactors of 700 MW capacity each, including two at Kaiga in Karnataka. The two reactors at Kaiga are likely to produce electricity for commercial use only by the middle of the next decade.The pre-project activities began for Kaiga 5 and 6 units, but the first large reactor at Kaiga was likely to go on stream only around 2024-25, sources in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) told DH.While Karnataka gets 27% of electricity from Kaiga 1 and 2, and 30% from Kaiga 3 and 4 units, the state would get almost 50% of electricity when the fifth and sixth units will start generating power.The first two 220 MW units at Kaiga became operational in 2000, whereas the third unit came in 2007 and the fourth one in 2011.Besides Kaiga, the other units would be set up at Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan (four units of 700 MW capacity each), Gorakhpur in Haryana (2 units) and Chutka in Madhya Pradesh (2 units).The approval of the 10 reactors on fleet mode is likely to generate manufacturing orders of close to Rs 70,000 crore to the domestic nuclear industry.The fleet mode clearance would cut down on the time currently needed for approving individual projects, besides bringing flexibility on fund allocation, depending on the progress made by each project.Besides strengthening Indias credentials as a nuclear manufacturing powerhouse, the Cabinet decision was expected to generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment in the nuclear sector, said an official. Currently, Indias installed nuclear power capacity is 6,780 MW from 22 operational plants.Bigger unitsAfter years of constructing small 220 MW nuclear power units, the DAE and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd graduated to larger units almost 15 years ago.The first two 540 MW units at Tarapur in Maharashtra became operational in 2005-06, following which work began on the 700 MW units.
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President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for more efforts to advance the strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Sri Lanka.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on May 14-15 in Beijing.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Sri Lanka and the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact between the two countries.

China highly values relations with Sri Lanka, and supports the efforts made by Sri Lanka to safeguard national unity, peace and national reconciliation, and promote economic development, Xi said.

China is ready to work with Sri Lanka to move forward the friendship between the two countries and lift their strategic partnership of cooperation to a higher level, Xi said.

The Chinese president urged the two countries to strengthen top-level design and policy communication for the development of bilateral ties, and coordinate positions on global issues of common interests.

The two sides should also promote infrastructure construction, maritime and aviation cooperation to realize infrastructure connectivity, Xi said.

The two countries should work to promote a balanced and sustainable development of bilateral trade, accelerate investment, and realize trade and financial connectivity through a free trade agreement, he said.

China and Sri Lanka should take the celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to build people-to-people bonds in youth, think tanks, colleges and universities, media, religion, tourism and local affairs, Xi said.

For his part, Wickremesinghe congratulated China for the successful Belt and Road forum, which had gathered many countries and international financial institutions, and achieved fruitful results.

Sri Lanka is committed to consolidating the traditional friendship with China and deepening bilateral cooperation in a variety of areas, Wickremesinghe said.

The Sri Lankan prime minister said his country welcomes China's increased participation in Sri Lanka's industrialization process, and infrastructure construction in particular.

Sri Lanka is ready to work with China on the Hambantota Port and Colombo Port City projects, Wickremesinghe said.

The prime minister also vowed to make the best use of his country's advantageous location to make contributions to the Belt and Road construction.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with Wickremesinghe Tuesday.

Li said the two countries should deepen cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure building and production capacity.

China is willing to work with Sri Lanka to steadily push forward the construction of Colombo Port City, Hambantota Port, and logistics and industrial parks in accordance with market and business principles, said Li.

The Chinese premier urged Sri Lanka to create a good legal, media, policy and security environment for implementing the projects.

Wickremesinghe said his country is ready to closely coordinate with China to create a favorable environment for Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka will also speed up the construction of those key projects, and strengthen production capacity cooperation with China to facilitate Sri Lanka's industrialization and regional connectivity, Wickremesinghe said.
A group of Carmel Valley students and parents came to the May 11 San Dieguito Union High School District board meeting to encourage the board to add Chinese language courses at Canyon Crest Academy.

A different language is a different vision of life, said Julia Liu, a Carmel Del Mar sixth grader, quoting Federico Fellini. Julia plans to attend CCA in a few years and she said she hopes to have the opportunity to experience a different perspective through taking Chinese.

At a small age I began to learn and love the language of Chinese. It helped me learn about my heritage and the people that made the world what it is. This gave me a different way of thinking, Julia said. The population of Chinese-American students who would like to take this class is at a very high level.

Parent Ying Yang said nearly 300 students, mostly from CCA, are taking Chinese off campus for world language credit, usually on the weekends. She presented the board with a petition with 1,028 signatures asking the district to consider adding Chinese at CCA.

Conchi Goidillo, a sixth grader at Carmel Del Mar, is one of these students who would like to take Spanish at CCA  she speaks Spanish and English and is learning Chinese.

To me, speaking Chinese is important because it is the most spoken language in the world, Conchi said. It will open doors for international relationships between our two wonderful countries, China and America. As the world is growing and advancing, we need to be prepared for whats to come.

Leslie Zhang, a senior at CCA, said many students like herself are very busy playing sports, participating in the arts and taking multiple AP classes. She said it can be very challenging to fit in taking Chinese class at another institution.

(Having Chinese offered at CCA) would definitely open many doors for students, save time and allow students to prioritize, said Leslie, who is headed to Cornell in the fall and is slightly worried that she missed out on not being as advanced in Chinese as she could have been. Im very sad about not being able to take Chinese at CCA I want all future and current Ravens to have the opportunity to learn Chinese in school.

Michael Grove, associate superintendent of educational services, said the district is interested in expanding where it offers Chinese.

The district has a long history of world language that has evolved over the years. The district has offered German, Japanese, ASL (American Sign Language), French and started offering Chinese in 2011. Initially Chinese has been offered at Torrey Pines High, La Costa Canyon, Earl Warren and Carmel Valley Middle School.

When we add languages we do that strategically because it has an implication for other languages and other electives, Grove said.

Grove said there are strong arguments for adding Chinese: The native-Chinese language population in the school district has grown significantly over the last seven or eight years so there is increasing interest. Interest has also increased as China has become a more prominent economic global power.

Were likely at the point now where we have significant demand at CCA based on the number of students who are taking it outside and transferring it in, Grove said. Its probably time for us to talk about expanding.

Grove said as they consider adding the language, the district will have to have a discussion about the levels offered  ideally they would like to offer Chinese 1 though AP. Specifically with Chinese, there can be a challenge in finding instructors, he said  California has only had a Chinese teaching credential for the past nine years so there are just not as many people out there credentialed to teach. If SDUHSD offers all levels at all schools, they want to ensure they have enough qualified teachers to meet the demand.

Grove said they would begin to have discussions about expanding Chinese to CCA; if added, the classes wouldnt begin this fall but likely in fall 2018.

Chinese has benefited me in many ways, said David He, a Carmel Valley Middle School student who will be a CCA freshman next year. David said that becoming more proficient in the language has given him cultural understanding and acceptance but he also used his Chinese to give back, teaching underprivileged children in a remote area of China. Chinese is not a language to be underestimated. Its important to our society, our nation and ourselves.
In his 20 years at San Diego Jewish Academy, head custodian Juan Suaste has learned a lot about Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. He has watched as students participate in Tikkun Olam community service programs that teach the young students that it is their responsibility to make the world a better place.

Im very inspired by the way the children work for their community and the adults reach out and communicate with each other and help each other, Suaste said. I know I cant change the world myself but I just want to do something.

Suaste was particularly inspired by the schools Yad bYad committee, a group that works to ease the burden on families in times of need such as a death in the family, an illness or a natural disaster. He took that spirit of outreach to his hometown of Nuetla in the state of Guanajuato.

After a woman in the small village was diagnosed with a form of stomach cancer, Suaste stepped up and pitched in and then he encouraged others in the village to do so. The outpouring of support, both financial and emotional, was overwhelming. He then encouraged everyone to continue to donate or set aside funds, about $10 a week, to a village fund that would be around whenever someone needed help, whether it was an unexpected illness, care for an elderly family member or assistance for deported family members. Suaste created a board and they decide together how the funds will be distributed.

I know that I cant solve all their problems, but at that moment at least it is something, Suaste said. We just want to make sure we can help.

Suaste came to America from Mexico when he was just 14 years old by himself and worked hard to earn everything he has. He was one of 11 siblings and didnt finish the sixth grade.

I grew up a lot in this school, said Suaste, who took English classes from the SDJA librarian Bobbi Spurley.

Armed with a great memory and a good ear for languages, he not only learned English but through the years has learned a lot of languages from school families  he knows 50 Hebrew words, Chinese and can understand some South African languages.

This is all my house, Suaste said of SDJA. I enjoy the children, parents, everything. Im happy for everything and one of the things I love is that every day is different because theres so many things going on at the school. Theres always something to do and thats why I love my work.

This job, and my wife and sons, is the best thing thats ever happened to me.

Before starting the community fund, Suaste often gave back to his community in smaller ways, bringing back clothing or books from SDJA. He has goals to grow the fund and to be able to give back even more.

When he visits his town, he is most struck by the children.

I was one of those children before. I didnt forget where I came from, Suaste said. In my town there is a lot of drugs and 12- to 13-year-old children are using drugs sold to them as cheap as a dollar. I want to help children by buying instruments, teaching them to play music, give them something better than being on the streets.

Suaste said he gets a personal, beautiful satisfaction from the work he does and is humble about receiving recognition for something he simply feels is his responsibility to his world and his hometown

The children adore him and the school depends on him and his crew, said Chaim Heller, head of school. It is so heartwarming to know that the values taught here are being lived by everyone  and that those values are being lived a thousand miles away.
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The UN mission in Mali on Tuesday condemned the attack on Timbuktu UN Base and called for implementation of the peace deal, a UN spokesman said.

"The UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) reports that its camp in Timbuktu was targeted in a mortar attack Monday," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at the daily news briefing. He said four peacekeepers and three members of the Malian armed forces were injured.

Eight shells were reportedly fired in the direction of the airport, close to the UN camp, said Dujarric.

The UN Mission condemned this attack and denounced the increasing violence in several regions in Northern Mali, he said.

The Mission also called on all signatories of the peace agreement to increase their efforts towards the implementation of the agreement, which was the only way to achieve stability in the country, said Dujarric.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, was continuing his visit to Mali, according to the spokesman.

Earlier on Tuesday, he was in Timbuktu with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mahamat S. Annadif. They visited the Liberian contingent at the site of the attack on May 3 in which one peacekeeper was killed and nine others were wounded.

Lacroix conveyed his solidarity when he met with civilian and uniformed staff members and thanked them for their dedication and sacrifices in difficult conditions, the spokesman said.
Avika Gor, Manish Raisinghan to shoot for their second short film in France
Nora Fatehi on Raftaars Baby Marvake Manegi: Theres nothing abusive about the title
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that a new warning must be added to the label of Invokana (canagliflozin), a type 2 diabetes drug.

Data from two large clinical trials found that Invokana was associated with an increased risk of leg and foot amputations compared to placebo.

This led the FDA to post a statement on its website insisting that Invokana now carries a boxed warning, reserved for the most serious possible adverse events.

Invokana, an SGLT2 inhibitor, was approved in the EU in 2013 to lower blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The drug works by helping to remove excess sugar through urine.

But the increased risk of lower limb amputation has heightened in recent years. In May 2016 the FDA noted a correlation between Invokana and amputation risk, but required more evidence to prove causality.

The European Medicines Agency has also warned healthcare professionals of this risk while Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the drugs manufacturers, wrote to doctors in 2016 detailing these observations.

This new FDA warning was made following the findings of two trials: CANVAS and CANVAS-R, which found leg and foot amputations were twice as common in patients treated with canagliflozin compared to placebo.

In the CANVAS trial the risk of amputation among Invokana-treated patients was equivalent to 5.9 out of 1,000, compared to 2.8 out of 1,000 among those given placebo.

The CANVAS-R trial found the amputation risk was equivalent to 7.5 out of every 1,000 Invokana patients compared to 4.2 out of every 100 placebo patients.

Amputations of the toe and middle of the foot were the most common; however, amputations involving the leg, below and above the knee, also occurred. Some patients had more than one amputation, some involving both limbs, said the FDA.

The FDA has urged healthcare professionals and patients in the US to report any side effects identified on Invokana treatment.

People on drugs in the UK can report side effects of medicines they are taking via the Yellow Card Scheme.
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Sri Lanka, which attended the just-concluded Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, seems to have veered round to India's views on the grand project, as the thrust of the initiative is on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor that passes through Occupied Kashmir - an affront on India's sovereignty, While Sri Lanka is very much a part of the ancient Silk Road, the country has concerns about its new avatar  the Belt and Road Initiative  and says India's concerns on "sovereignty and territorial integrity" over the OBOR project are real and that it is difficult for New Delhi to accept the $50-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as it goes through the "heart of Indian interests". But for this, India, which skipped the high-profile meeting, would have joined "very happily" in the One Belt and One Road (OBOR) initiative of China, said Sarath Amanugama, Sri Lanka's minister on special assignment. "Unfortunately, the issue is going through the heart of Indian interests. If it was some uncontested region, India would have negotiated its way out. Here, especially the Kashmir issue getting dragged into it, makes it difficult for India to be flexible," Amanugama, who accompanied Lankan Prime Minister Wickramasinghe to the two-day forum, said. He said India, China and Sri Lanka were very much part of the ancient Silk Road route as the Chinese Buddhist scholars like Faxian visited both India and Sri Lanka leading to big discoveries of Buddhist relics in the island nation. "(Chinese) President Xi Jinping has emphasised connectivity. These countries were connected many centuries ago. This will link up these countries on certain rational basis. Once the regional problems are resolved, then India has to play big role in the initiative," he said, adding, "India anyway has to play big role because you cannot think of a belt and road without going over and close to India." While the two-day conference in Beijing brought together leaders from 29 countries, India opted out of the meeting due to its sovereignty concerns over the $50-billion CPEC, which goes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Besides Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the conference was also attended by India's other neighbours, excluding Bhutan. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, representative of the US government and several other leaders, besides heads of UN, World Bank and IMF, attended the OBOR summit. While the Sri Lankan leader reportedly took part in the discussions in the roundtable meeting yesterday, Amunagama sought to reassure India saying that Sri Lanka will not permit any foreign military operations in its port by any country, including China. Confirming reports that recent Chinese requests for docking of its submarines was declined, he said, "we denied them permission." "Lanka's position is that our harbours and ports are for commercial operations. All other countries have no strategic interests. We are equidistant from everyone," he said. The docking of a Chinese submarine in Colombo harbour in 2014, when Mahinda Rajapaksa was the president, had invited India'scriticism. "China, India, US and all other countries, they cannot come into our territorial waters without the consent of the Sri Lankan government," Amanugama said. He said the Hambantota harbour, which Sri Lanka plans to hand over to China under debt equity scheme, will also function under Sri Lankan Port Authority (SLPA).








India threatens to link Kudankulam deal with Russia to NSG membership

India has reportedly sought to strong-arm Russia into supporting its thrust for membership to the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), threatening to stall the deal between the two countries for developing the Kudankulam 5 and 6 reactor units if it does not help India in this regard.

According to The Times of India, the development came when India and Russia reviewed their bilateral cooperation last week ahead of the summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 1 June.

According to the report, India has threatened to put on hold a memorandum of understanding with Russia for developing the Kudankulam reactor units, prompting Moscow to think that New Delhi wants it to work more proactively for India's NSG membership.

The MoU was supposed to have been signed on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Goa last year. India is believed to have conveyed that unless it becomes a full member of NSG, it would have to instead opt for an indigenous nuclear energy programme. It reportedly wanted Russia to convince China to end its opposition to India's NSG membership.

In August 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa had jointly dedicated to the nation the 1,000 MW Nuclear Power Plant-I, assuring it was one of the safest atomic plants in the world (See: Modi, Putin join to dedicate Kudankulam Unit-1 to nation).

Last week, during a meeting to prepare for the summit between the countries, Russian deputy PM Dmitry Rogozin also took up the issue with the Modi, but did not get any assurance.

Modi will travel to Russia in June to attend St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), where India has been invited as a 'guest country'.

Last year, voicing its concern over India's nuclear capabilities, Pakistan called on the member states of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to make a ''well-considered'' decision over including India, keeping in view the long-term implications for the global non-proliferation regime as well as strategic stability in the region

China has repeatedly blocked India's NSG membership bid despite support from majority of NSG members, on the grounds that New Delhi hasn't signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) (See: China won't budge on India's NSG entry, terror tag for Azhar).

The NSG is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to prevent proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
Parents Learn School Choice Options at Virginia Homeschool Convention HSLDA President Michael Smith Addresses Homeschoolers at One of the Nation's Largest Homeschool Conventions



Contact: Kelly Pedone, Home Educators Association of Virginia, 434-823-5915, communications@heav.org



RICHMOND, May 17, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- School choice remains a hot debate across the country and the conversation shows no signs of cooling down. Just recently, Congress considered a new tax program that includes a school choice tax credit. Depending on the outcome, school choice options could broaden for many families. Regardless, homeschooling remains a viable option.



Michael Smith, president of Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), will discuss this freedom as a keynote speaker during this year's Virginia Homeschool Convention in Richmond. The annual convention, scheduled for June 8 - June 10, takes place at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. In addition, Smith will address the need for homeschooling families to continue to push back on Common Core curriculum.



"Homeschooling continues to grow in popularity because it gives parents the opportunity to provide an individualized education for their child," says HEAV president Anne Miller. "Coming to the convention gives parents three days of unparalleled support, resources, encouragement and instruction."



Taking the step to educate children at home can be intimidating. That is why HEAV offers FREE "How-to-Begin Homeschooling" sessions at the annual Virginia Homeschool Convention on Thursday, June 8. These sessions include information on the homeschool law, curriculum choices, high school requirements, how to begin, and more.



The Virginia Homeschool Convention is the second largest homeschool convention in the nation with nearly 14,000 participants last year. The convention offers support to thousands of families through more than 140 workshops on teaching high school at home, special needs, healthy living, preschool, home management, college, finance, and more.



For more information and to register, please visit www.heav.org or call 804-278-9200.



Home Educators Association of Virginia equips and encourages homeschooling parents, and protects homeschooling freedoms in Virginia. HEAV, a statewide, member-supported, nonprofit association, has served Virginia homeschool families through information, legislation, and resources for more than 30 years. Teaching children today. Bringing hope for tomorrow.



Media members wishing to interview Michael Smith or HEAV officials may contact Kelly Pedone at 434-823-5915 or communications@heav.org.

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With a scant few days left in the legislative session, an ill-conceived prison construction proposal continues its unlikely path toward passage.

Lawmakers would be wise to derail it, or allow it to wither away when the Alabama Legislature adjourns sine die.

Its not that Alabamas corrections system doesnt need attention. To the contrary; a retired prison warden, David Wise, addressing the House Judiciary Committee, pointed out that the Alabama prison system is operating under insanity right now. At almost double the capacity the prisons were designed to hold, overcrowding is so bad the federal government has warned it may take over the state prisons.

However, the prison construction proposal dreamed up last year by former Gov. Robert Bentley had less to do with addressing challenges to the prison system than creating a legacy that would eclipse the then-growing scandal that now defines an administration cut short by his resignation in disgrace. Bentleys proposal included an $800 million-ish bond issue to build new prisons while closing some existing ones. Once the dust settles the number of beds available would be more or less a wash, and the shiny new prisons would have the same old overcrowding.

It would be foolish to proceed with the slapdash proposal now in the pipeline. The price tag could be $200 million, or $845 million, suggesting that the whole notion is still half-baked.

Lawmakers would best listen to veteran prison staffers like Mr. Wise, the former St. Clair Correctional Facility warden who testified to the committee that the true crisis in the prison system is understaffing. Its not uncommon for two guards to have 196 inmates under their purview. Couple that with an inmate population almost doubling capacity, and the result is a calamity waiting to happen.

The best approach to defusing the crisis in the prisons is to set aside any construction proposal until a well-conceived, beneficial strategy is hammered out. Meanwhile, funneling money into the corrections program to increase staffing is paramount, and long overdue.
Eason is delighted to announce Kate Savage as the winner of the Louth County Spelling Bee, which took place yesterday in Dundalk Grammar Junior School.



12-year-old Kate Savage from Scoil Aonghusa, Drogheda, fought off stiff competition from 17 spelling enthusiasts and will now be entered into the Leinster Provincial Spelling Bee final in June. The 6th class student is a big fan of reading and has many favourite books.



The nationwide competition is part of an overall Eason literacy and reading initiative to encourage and inspire children to develop their spelling and pronunciation skills. Over the years the competition has helped school children gain a greater appreciation of words in a fun and educational way.



Brendan Corbett, Group Head of Marketing at Eason, said; Now in its seventh year, were hoping to build on the success of the current Spelling Bee record of 1,100 school participants and encourage everyone to get out there and support their local bees. We are also delighted to welcome our new Spelling Bee Masters Dermot Whelan and Dave Moore into the Eason family this year. The Today FM duo is set to host a range of web-page, social media and on-air updates, while Alison Curtis will provide a number of live reports from around the country during the competition'.

The ultimate spelling contest starts out with registered schools holding their own in-school bee to find their school champion. The Spelling Bee team then travel around the country to hold the County Final Bees, which then leads to four Provincial Finals culminating in the All-Ireland Final in June.

The All-Ireland winning school will receive a collection of books for their library to the value of 7,500 and the winner themselves will be awarded a goodie package full of books worth 500 and the prestigious title of the 2017 Eason Spelling Bee champion.
How did Legion Avenue get its name?

These houses at the Castletown Road end of Demesne Road, were built in the early 1920s by the Irish Sailors' and Soldiers' Land Trust, set up by the British Legion in 1922 to provide housing for the families of men who had served in the British forces during World War 1. They were built with the agreement of the Irish Free State under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

Camp Street?

This was a very old street that had traversed the old walled town of Dundalk from the back of St. Nicholas Green Church to the Castletown Gate. It had originally been named 'Cam Street' meaning 'crooked'(as in the cam shaft of an engine) because it ran a twisted course across the present Linenhall and Bridge Streets into John Street.

The only remaining portion of it today is the short stretch between Nicholas Street and Linenhall Street at St. Nicholas Catholic Church. The houses along it were re-built by the Dundalk Urban Council in 1949 and named Wolfe Tone Terrace but the roadway retained the old name.

Mill Road?

This is the road from Castletown Cross on the Castletown Road down to St. Joseph's Church. It got its name from an old corn mill which once stood near the back entrance to the De la Salle College. This mill was probably originally powered by a watermill which stood along the Ault Stream which runs down from Castletown Mount to the river at the back of the Fatima housing estate. In the 19th century the mill seems to have been powered by steam, provided by a furnace, with a high chimney only demolished in recent times. George Bassett in his Guide To Louth, published in 1886, says that this mill was then owned by a Thomas Brown, a member of the Stephen Brown Milling company that also owned other properties in Dundalk.

Crowe Street?

This centre town street was originally named James Street, after James Hamilton, Lord Limerick, who became Viscount Roden. It was renamed in 1832 honour of Thomas Crowe, Governor of the old Jail which stood at the back of the Courthouse, in the early part of the 19th century.

Stapleton Place?

This avenue from Dublin Street up to the Louth Infirmary, opened in 1835, was named in honour of Maria Frances Catherine Stapleton, daughter of the 16th Baron le Despencer and first wife of the Third Earl of Roden, Robert Jocelyn, who cut the first sod for the railways in Dundalk, near here in 1845.
home World Activists plan rally at Cuban embassy to protest jailing of pastor who homeschooled his kids

Homeschooling activists are planning to gather at the Cuban Embassy on Wednesday to protest the jailing of a Cuban pastor who refused to send his children to state schools and chose to teach them at home instead.

In April, Pastor Ramon Rigal was sentenced by a Cuban court to a year in prison for homeschooling his children. The court also sentenced his wife, Adya, to a year of house arrest, The Christian Post reported.

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has partnered with CitizenGo and other national leaders to rally at the Cuban embassy in Washington on May 17 to protest Cuba's treatment of the Rigals and other homeschooling parents.

"Americans care about what happens to people in Cuba," said Mike Donnelly, director of Global Outreach at HSLDA. "If Cuba is going to have normal relations with the United States, then the Cuban government should know that homeschooling is an option that must be allowed," he added.

Other speakers that are expected to attend the rally include Will Estrada, Director of Federal Relations for HSLDA; Gregory Mertz, U.S. Campaigns Director for CitizenGo; Mario H. Lopez, President of the Hispanic Leadership Fund; and Mario Diaz, Legal Counsel for Concerned Women for America.

The Rigals reportedly made the decision to homeschool their children because they were being bullied in public schools, and they were also being introduced to ideas that contradicted the family's values. The parents were promptly arrested and put on trial on the basis that homeschooling has a "capitalist foundation."

During the trial, Ramon was reportedly prohibited from speaking in his own defense. He said that the judge threatened to remove him from the courtroom if he continued to present his evidence or say that the government is acting unfairly. The family is now appealing the decision, but they are also seeking asylum in the United States.

"[W]e live each day with fear that they may separate us," said Ramon in an email to HSLDA. "With these people, dialogue is nonexistent. They are not even interested in whether or not they are violating laws. They want to impose what they wish. . . . They show one face to the world, while in truth, the harsh reality is something different," he added.

HSLDA has vowed to support the Rigals, and it has launched a petition asking the Cuban Embassy in the U.S. to recognize that homeschooling is a fundamental right of all families.
home World Sweden draws criticism for giving religious tests to Christian asylum seekers

Sweden's Migration Agency has been criticized for testing Christian asylum seekers about their knowledge of Christianity and the Bible to determine their eligibility for refugee status.

The agency has stated that the tests were designed to determine whether those who are seeking asylum from religious persecution are genuine. The refugees were asked technical questions about Christianity, such as the number of parts in the New Testament and the difference between the Orthodox and the Protestant Church, according to The Local.

Lawyers and religious figures have condemned the practice, saying it only tests technical knowledge of Christianity rather than a person's faith.

"I think it's terrible. I have repeatedly had to interrupt administrators who ask these questions because they are not relevant and are far too complicated," said lawyer Serpil GAngAr.

However, Carl Bexelius, deputy legal director at the Swedish Migration Agency, argued that the religious test was reasonable.

"It is a reasonable demand that the asylum applicant should show some knowledge of the Bible a this should come naturally, and isn't something you need to study," he said.

GAngAr said that he has advised his clients to study the Bible prior to their interview, and some Swedish parishes have prepared a handbook of facts to help asylum seekers with the tests.

The Migration Agency has contended that the religious quiz only forms a part of the overall assessment. The agency said that other factors such as the applicant's explanation for their conversion to Christianity and how they practice their faith are also taken into account.

Denying that the quizzes were too technical, Bexelius said: "Quite often the issue of religion is linked to your personality. It can be difficult to articulate that belief."

He also noted that he tried to ask questions about how asylum seekers look at religion. "What is the meaning of religion to you," he said. "What is the nexus of your previous faith [for example] Islamic faith compared to Christianity? What in the Christian faith is important to you?" he added.

According to the Swedish Migration Agency, the Scandinavian country has received over 260,000 asylum applications since 2014. About 7,272 people, including 2,562 children, have claimed asylum in Sweden in 2017.

Last year, a record number of 4,542 asylum seekers have withdrawn their applications and left the country. The withdrawals were reportedly caused by a combination of long processing times, strict rules on family reunion, and difficulty in procuring secure employment and pay-outs to migrants.
Just as the Shadow Brokers hacker group started crowing about a dump of never-seen-before flaws in Windows, Microsoft announced it already had fixed most of the exploits.

Today, Microsoft triaged a large release of exploits made publicly available by Shadow Brokers, Microsoft Principal Security Group Manager Phillip Misner wrote in a Friday post.

Our engineers have investigated the disclosed exploits, and most of the exploits are already patched, he added.

Three of the dozen zero day vulnerabilities aired by the hackers, which they claimed were part of a large cache of data leaked from the U.S. National Security Agency, did not work at all on Windows 7 and above.

Customers still running prior versions of these products are encouraged to upgrade to a supported offering, Misner recommended.

As of the most recent patch cycle, no supported versions of Windows were vulnerable to the Shadow Brokers exploits, said Bobby Kuzma, a system engineer at Core Security.

In other words, he told TechNewsWorld, for the love of God get XP, Vista and 2003 Server off of your networks.

Irresponsible Action

Microsofts decision not to patch vulnerabilities affecting older versions of Windows that no longer are supported is understandable, but it doesnt make the situation less worrisome, said James Scott, a senior fellow at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology.

Many systems used in homes, businesses and critical infrastructure run on versions of Microsofts operating system prior to Windows 7.

Microsofts decision to knowingly put these systems at further risk, for any amount of time  even the hours or days necessary for resource allocation and modernization  is irresponsible, Scott told TechNewsWorld.

Every business, individual and critical infrastructure operating an OS that precedes Windows 7 remains at risk of compromise and exploitation, he said.

Whats more, the disclosure has drastically increased this risk by making knowledge of the vulnerability and attack vector publicly available to unsophisticated script kiddies, cybercriminals, cybermercenaries, hail mary threat actors, cyberterrorists and nation-state APTs, Scott added.

Follow-Through Needed

Microsofts release of patches and disclosure of vulnerabilities is a good thing, but enterprises need to take the process to the next step, cautioned Leo Taddeo, chief security officer at Cryptzone and a former FBI special agent.

According to the 2016 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, most successful attacks exploit known vulnerabilities that have never been patched, despite patches being available for months or even years, he told TechNewsWorld.

So, while its important that Microsoft publicly disclosed the vulnerabilities and issued a patch, Taddeo continued, the challenge for enterprises is to update their infrastructure with the latest supported version of the affected products.

The same is true for consumers.

Microsoft did the right thing by patching Windows as quickly as possible and getting the patches to people, said Jack E. Gold, principal analyst at J.Gold Associates.

Whether they deploy them or not is a different issue, he told TechNewsWorld. Two-thirds to three-quarters of consumers dont even have up-to-date antivrus programs. If theyre not concerned about that, how concerned are they going to be about these patches?

Questions About Sourcing

Although Microsoft is usually very responsible about crediting sources who made the company aware about vulnerabilities in its products, that wasnt the case with the Shadow Brokers flaws.

That raises a number of possible scenarios, suggested Core Securitys Kuzma. Perhaps Microsoft found the vulnerabilities itself  or it may have purchased them from Shadow Brokers when the outfit put them up for sale on the Dark Web earlier this year. The Shadow Brokers may have pre-leaked the flaws to Microsoft, or perhaps the NSA passed them on to the company.

The timing of Microsofts action raises some questions, Scott White,director of the cybersecurity program at The George Washington University, told TechNewsWorld.

Microsoft had a ton of vulnerabilities in Windows, and it just found them a month before we were about to get a zero day attack? he asked. Were these patches discovered by Microsoft or was someone assisting Microsoft and letting them know of these vulnerabilities?

Potential Threat to Everyone

The Shadow Brokers flaws likely will impact businesses more than consumers.

The danger for consumers is limited as long as theyre keeping their security updated, said Mike Cotton, vice president of research and development at Digital Defense.

Microsoft has gotten good at ensuring that if youre behind a firewall or logging on to public WiFi, the network services that these exploits target are not exposed under most configurations, he told TechNewsWorld.

Most of the risks are on business networks because the way theyre configured those network services are exposed to these exploits, Cotton added.

As for the Shadow Brokers, their bark may be worse than their bite.

Theyre an irritant more than an absolute threat to our national security compared to the Russians or Chinese  but it doesnt make them any less criminal. They may be small fish in the pond, but theyre still fish, GWs White said.

The threat from this group derives from the fact they have some kind of source that is able to get them weaponized tools from the NSA, Cotton added.

The NSA is a tier-one cyberpower  maybe the preeminent cyberpower in the world, he explained, so if theres an inside source leaking tools to Shadow Brokers, the distribution of those tools poses a large threat to everyone.
Facebook on Wednesday told its F8 conference audience about two new cutting-edge projects that could change the way humans engage with devices.

Over the next two years, the company will work on a new technology that will allow anyone to type around 100 words per minute  not with fingers, but using a process that would decode neural activity devoted to speech.

What Facebook envisions is a technology that would resemble a neural network, allowing users to share thoughts the way they share photos today.

This technology also could function as a speech prosthetic for people with communication disorders or as a new way to engage in an augmented reality environment, suggested Regina Dugan, vice president of engineering at Facebooks Building8.

The other project announced at F8 would change the way users experience communication input  that is, it would allow them to hear through the skin. The human body has, on average, about two square meters of skin that is packed with sensors. New technologies could use them to enable individuals to receive information via a haptic vocabulary, Facebook said.

Putting the Best Interface Forward

About 60 employees currently are working on the Building8 projects  among them machine learning and neural prosthetic experts. Facebook likely will expand this team, adding experts with experience in brain-computer interfaces and neural imaging.

The plan is to develop noninvasive sensors that can measure brain activity and decode the signals that are associated with language in real time.

The technology would have advance considerably before individuals would be able to share pure thoughts or feelings, but the current effort can be viewed as the first step toward that goal, said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Type With Your Brain

Facebook is not the only company working on technology that could allow a direct brain-computer connection. Elon Musk last month launched Neuralink, a startup dedicated to developing a neural lace technology that could allow the implanting of small electrodes into the brain.

One difference between Facebooks type with your brain concept and Musks neural mesh project is that Facebook wants it to be noninvasive, said futurist Michael Rogers.

Thats a tough one, because the electrical impulses in the brain are very small and the skull is not a great conductor, he told TechNewsWorld.

The nerve signals outside the skull that trigger muscles are much stronger, so reading brain waves noninvasively means filtering a lot of much-stronger noise.

The existing neural cap technologies that allegedly let wearers, say, learn to control computer games with their brains, are actually probably training them to  unconsciously  use their eyebrow and forehead muscles, suggested Rogers. Interesting, but not the same as typing with your brain.

Hearing Through Touch

Just as Braille has allowed the blind to read, Facebooks technology to hear through the skin could be a game changer for those who are deaf.

Sound through the skin sounds more like a tool for the profoundly deaf than for everyday use, observed Rogers  and it might not be the best solution for those with such hearing problems.

Im still a big believer in the potential for bone conduction temples on smart glasses as a really good audio solution that doesnt require earbuds, he added.

Delivering information through this technology may be less challenging than processing it.

It is technically easy to translate the data to a speech pattern, but the hard part is training the human to understand it, said Paul Teich, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

Facebook can simplify the words to codes, but you are still stuck with the training to understand the code, he told TechNewsWorld.

There is no way to immediately understand what is being sent, and this isnt very intuitive as I see it, added Teich. With the right training, however, a coded message could be understood in real time.

Facebooks Timeline

Zuckerberg emphasized that Facebook is taking the first steps toward development of these technologies, and it could be a lot time before they have practical applications.

Having bold visions and making ambitious predictions characterizes some of todays most regarded tech entrepreneurs, said Pascal Kaufmann, founder of Starmind. [*Correction  April 25, 2017]

There seem to be no limits, and one can easily fall prey to the belief that everything is possible, he said.

However, climbing a high tree is not the first step to the moon  actually, it is the end of the journey, Kaufman told TechNewsWorld.

Despite some gradual improvements in speech recognition these days, understanding of context and meaning is still far beyond our technological capabilities. Taking a shortcut through directly interfacing human brains, and circumventing the highly complex translation from nerve signals into speech and back from speech recognition into nerve signals, I consider one of the more creative contributions in the last few months, he said.

It is certainly an alternative to the brute force approaches and the unjustified AI hype that seems like climbing a tree rather than building a space rocket. Zuckerbergs announcement describes a space rocket; it is up to us now to develop the technology to aim for the moon, said Kaufman.

Both of these technologies are well within reach. This kind of brain imaging has been used in academic settings for years, and scientists developed versions of skin hearing devices over 30 years ago,  said Michael Merzenich, designer of BrainHQ, professor emeritus in the UCSF School of Medicine, and winner of the 2016 Kavli Prize.

The real challenge is making this science practical. How can a brain be trained to learn to control these new devices? he asked.

Every new form of communication  from writing to the telephone to the Web  changes human culture and human brains, Merzenich told TechNewsWorld. What impact will using these new devices have on our brains  and our culture?

*ECT News Network editors note  April 25, 2017: Our original published version of this column identified Pascal Kaufmann as CEO of Starmind. Kaufmanns current title is founder, according to spokesperson Joshua Kail. The title change has no impact on his role in the company, which is working internally to give him a new title, Kail told TechNewsWorld.
Even if youre a newcomer to Linux, youve probably figured out that it is not a single, monolithic operating system, but a constellation of projects. The different stars in this constellation take the form of distributions, or distros. Each offers its own take on the Linux model.

To gain an appreciation of the plethora of options offered by the range of distributions, it helps to understand how Linux started out and subsequently proliferated. With that in mind, heres a brief introduction to Linuxs history.

Linus Torvalds, Kernel Builder

Most people with any familiarity with Linux have heard of its creator, Linus Torvalds (pictured above), but not many know why he created it in the first place. In 1991, Torvalds was a university student in Finland studying computers. As an independent personal project, he wanted to create a Unix-like kernel to build a system for his unique hardware.

The kernel is the part of an operating system that mediates between the hardware, via its firmware, and the OS. Essentially, it is the heart of the system. Developing a kernel is no small feat, but Torvalds was eager for the challenge and found he had a rare knack for it.

As he was new to kernels, he wanted input from others to ensure he was on the right track, so he solicited the experience of veteran tinkerers on Usenet, the foremost among early Internet forums, by publishing the code for his kernel. Contributions flooded in.

After establishing a process for reviewing forum-submitted patches and selectively integrating them, Torvalds realized he had amassed an informal development team. It quickly became a somewhat formal development team once the project took off.

Richard Stallmans Role

Though Torvalds and his team created the Linux kernel, there would have been no subsequent spread of myriad Linux distributions without the work of Richard Stallman, who had launched the free software movement a decade earlier.

Frustrated with the lack of transparency in many core Unix programming and system utilities, Stallman had decided to write his own  and to share the source code freely with anyone who wanted it and also was committed to openness. He created a considerable body of core programs, collectively dubbed the GNU Project, which he launched in 1983.

Without them, a kernel would not have been of much use. Early designers of Linux-based OSes readily incorporated the GNU tools into their projects.

Different teams began to emerge  each with its own philosophy regarding computing functions and architecture. They combined the Linux kernel, GNU utilities, and their own original software, and distributed variants of the Linux operating system.

Server Distros

Each distro has its own design logic and purpose, but to appreciate their nuances it pays to understand the difference between upstream and downstream developers. An upstream developer is responsible for actually creating the program and releasing it for individual download, or for including it in other projects. By contrast, a downstream developer, or package maintainer, is one who takes each release of the upstream program and tweaks it to fit the use case of a downstream project.

While most Linux distributions include some original projects, the majority of distribution development is downstream work on the Linux kernel, GNU tools, and the vast ecosystem of user programs.

Many distros make their mark by optimizing for specific use cases. For instance, some projects are designed to run as servers. Distributions tailored for deployment as servers often will shy away from quickly pushing out the latest features from upstream projects in favor of releasing a thoroughly tested, stable base of essential software that system administrators can depend on to run smoothly.

Development teams for server-focused distros often are large and are staffed with veteran programmers who can provide years of support for each release.

Desktop Distros

There is also a wide array of distributions meant to run as user desktops. In fact, some of the more well-known of these are designed to compete with major commercial OSes by offering a simple installation and intuitive interface. These distributions usually include enormous software repositories containing every user program imaginable, so that users can make their systems their own.

As usability is key, they are likely to devote a large segment of their staff to creating a signature, distro-specific desktop, or to tweaking existing desktops to fit their design philosophy. User-focused distributions tend to speed up the downstream development timetable a bit to offer their users new features in a timely fashion.

Rolling release projects  a subset of desktop distributions  are crafted to be on the bleeding edge. Instead of waiting until all the desired upstream programs reach a certain point of development and then integrating them into a single release, package maintainers for rolling release projects release a new version of each upstream program separately, once they finish tweaking it.

One advantage to this approach is security, as critical patches will be available faster than non-rolling release distros. Another upside is the immediate availability of new features that users otherwise would have to wait for. The drawback for rolling release distributions is that they require more manual intervention and careful maintenance, as certain upgrades can conflict with others, breaking a system.

Embedded Systems

Yet another class of Linux distros is known as embedded systems, which are extremely trimmed down (compared to server and desktop distros) to fit particular use cases.

We often forget that anything that connects to the Internet or is more complex than a simple calculator is a computer, and computers need operating systems. Because Linux is free and highly modular, its usually the one that hardware manufacturers choose.

In the vast majority of cases, if you see a smart TV, an Internet-connected camera, or even a car, youre looking at a Linux device. Practically every smartphone thats not an iPhone runs a specialized variety of embedded Linux too.

Linux Live

Finally, there are certain Linux distros that arent meant to be installed permanently in a computer, but instead reside on a USB stick and allow other computers to boot them up without touching the computers onboard hard drive.

These live systems can be optimized to perform a number of tasks, ranging from repairing damaged systems, to conducting security evaluations, to browsing the Internet with high security.

As these live Linux distros usually are meant for tackling very specific problems, they generally include specialized tools like hard drive analysis and recovery programs, network monitoring applications, and encryption tools. They also keep a light footprint so they can be booted up quickly.

How Do You Choose?

This is by no means an exhaustive list of Linux distribution types, but it should give you an idea of the scope and variety of the Linux ecosystem.

Within each category, there are many choices, so how do you choose the one that might best suit your needs?

One way is to experiment. It is very common in the Linux community to go back and forth between distros to try them out, or for users to run different ones on different machines, according to their needs.

In a future post, Ill showcase a few examples of each type of distribution so you can try them for yourself and begin your journey to discovering the one you like best.
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Last night on 60 Minutes, Anderson Cooper did an expose on former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship who is the first person in U.S. history to be convicted of a workplace safety crime.

Cooper began the segment explaining that:

In December, for the first time in U.S. history, a CEO of a major company was convicted of a workplace safety crime. His name is Don Blankenship and he was once known as the King of Coal. The company he ran, Massey Energy, owned more than 40 mines in central Appalachia, including the Upper Big Branch mine, located in Montcoal, West Virginia, a state where coal is the dominant industry.

In 2010, the Upper Big Branch Mine was the site of the worst mining disaster in the U.S. in 40 yearsthe kind of accident that isnt supposed to happen anymore. It was just after 3 oclock on April 5, when a massive explosion tore through miles of underground tunnels, killing 29 miners. Prosecutors accused Don Blankenship of ignoring mine safety laws and fostering a corporate mentality that allowed the disaster to occur.

According to author and award-winning reporter Jeff Biggers, The landmark conviction of former Massey Energy CEO and coal baron Don Blankenship on a misdemeanor conspiracy charge to violate mine safety laws is a small, but historic first step in holding mining outlaws accountable for their reckless operations. For the first time in memory for those of us with friends, family, miners and loved ones living amid the toxic fallout of the coal industry, this conviction may only serve as a tiny reckoning of our nations complacency with a continual state of violations, but it could begin a new era of justice and reconciliation in the devastated coal mining communities in Appalachia and around the nation.

Cooper interviewed many people throughout the 14-minute segment, including Stanley Stewart, who worked at the Upper Big Branch mine for 15 years; Robert Atkins, a former coal miner, and his wife Shereen, who lost their son Jason in the massive explosion; Gary Quarles, a third-generation coal miner who lost his only child Gary Wayne; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby who led the prosecution against Don Blankenship along with U.S. attorney for West Virginia, Booth Goodwin.

Watch the preview below. Click here to watch last nights piece.

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One hundred and fifty conservation groups sent a letter Wednesday urging U.S. senators to oppose the nomination of energy lobbyist David Bernhardt as top deputy in the Interior Department, citing his efforts to enrich corporations at the expense of the environment.

Bernhardts confirmation hearing is set for Thursday before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Todays letter says Bernhardts conflicts of interest, industry ties and questionable judgment make him ill suited to lead the Department.

If confirmed as the chief deputy to Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke, Bernhardt would play a key role in directing the management of hundreds of millions of acres of national parks, monuments, forests and refuges as well as wildlife, including endangered species.

Bernhardt has been called a walking conflict of interest for good reason. He represents everything thats wrong with the Trump administration and the revolving door of politics, said Randi Spivak, the Center for Biological Diversitys public lands director.

Its clear hell put the interests of oil, mining and agribusiness above the interests of the American people, public lands and wildlife. From Scott Pruitt to Ryan Zinke, and now David Bernhardt, Trump has assembled the most anti-environmental administration in history.

Over the past 20 years, Bernhardt has taken full advantage of the revolving door between industry and governmentincluding a stint as Interiors top lawyer under the George W. Bush administration. At the law firm of Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck he represented big agriculture, oil and gas, and mining companies. If confirmed, he will oversee the agencies that decide whether or not to allow mining, fossil fuel and other extractive projects on public lands to proceed.

Bernhardts lobbying firm has a significant financial stake in the Cadiz project, which would pump groundwater beneath Californias fragile desert and sell it to Southern California urban water agencies. Pumping would dry up the springs that feed Mojave National Preserve and Mojave Trails National Monument and harm bighorn sheep, bobcats and other wildlife. Bernhardts lobbying firm could gain millions of dollars in additional stock if the Interior Department approves the permits necessary for Cadiz to move forward.

David Bernhardt is absolutely the wrong choice for deputy secretary of the Interior. All you have to do is look at his record, said Bob Dreher, Defenders of Wildlife senior vice president of conservation programs.

His work for the oil and gas industry and western water interests presents irresolvable conflicts with his responsibilities as deputy secretary, and casts doubt on his commitment to stewardship of the nations lands, resources and wildlife. His past tenure at the Department of the Interior demonstrates a similar disregard for acting in the public interest to protect our shared natural heritage. We urge Congress to reject this nomination.

Another former client of Berhardts is pushing to develop a massive open-pit copper mine in the scenic Santa Rita Mountains in Arizona. The Rosemont copper mine, now owned by Hudbay Minerals, would bury parts of the Coronado National Forest in toxic mine tailings. Bernhardt has also represented Cobalt International Energy, which was sued in 2014 for bribing foreign officials to obtain oil concessions.

When Bernhardt represented the Westlands Water District, he lobbied for legislation that would weaken water quality in the California Bay Delta to benefit large agribusiness interests in California and harm endangered species, including steelhead, salmon and the critically endangered delta smelt.

If confirmed, Bernhardt would be in a unique position to undermine the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services efforts to follow the best available science and implement proper conservation measures.

During Bernhardts tenure as Interiors top lawyer in charge of ethics and legal compliance, the department was rocked by a series of high-profile scandals. Department staff interfered with the scientific integrity of the Endangered Species Act, and others were caught using cocaine and having sexual relations with members of the oil and gas industry. In addition, during that time a high-ranking department official was convicted of lying to the Senate regarding former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

In addition to the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife, other groups opposing Bernhardts nomination include the Natural Resources Defense Council, Union of Concerned Scientists and the Sierra Club. Collectively, these groups represent millions of supporters.
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Environmental activists in California are fighting plans to store 3.6 million pounds of highly radioactive nuclear waste on a popular beach in San Diego County.

In 2012, a radioactive leak at the San Onofre nuclear power plant forced an emergency shutdown. The plant was fully closed by June 2013. Now residents are fighting the permit issued by the California Coastal Commission to store the millions of pounds of nuclear waste in thin, stainless steel canisters, within 100 feet of the ocean.

We speak to Ray Lutz, founder of Citizens Oversight, which has filed a lawsuit challenging the expansion of the nuclear waste storage facility.

Watch the interview below:
What Is Climate Change? Is It Different From Global Warming?



Climate change is actually not a new phenomenon. Scientists have been studying the connection between human activity and the effect on the climate since the 1800s, although it took until the 1950s to find evidence suggesting a link.

Since then, the amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases) in the atmosphere have steadily increased, taking a sharp jump in the late 1980s when the summer of 1988 became the warmest on record. (There have been many records broken since then.) But climate change is not a synonym for global warming.

The term global warming entered the lexicon in the 1950s, but didnt become a common buzzword until a few decades later when more people started taking notice of a warming climate. Except climate change encompasses a greater realm than just rising temperatures. Trapped gases also affect sea-level rise, animal habitats, biodiversity and weather patterns. For example, Texas severe winter storms in February 2021 demonstrate how the climate isnt merely warming.

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Why Is Climate Change Important? Why Does It Matter?





Marc Guitard / Moment / Getty Images

Despite efforts from forward thinkers such as SpaceX Founder Elon Musk to colonize Mars, Earth remains our home for the foreseeable future, and the more human activity negatively impacts the climate, the less habitable it will become. Its estimated that Earth has already warmed about one degree Celsius, or two degrees Fahrenheit, since the start of the Industrial Revolution around the 1750s, although climate change tracking didnt start until the late 1800s. That warming number may not sound like much, but this increase has already resulted in more frequent and severe wildfires, hurricanes, floods, droughts and winter storms, to name some examples.

Environmental Impacts

Then theres biodiversity loss, another fallout of climate change thats threatening rainforests and coral reefs and accelerating species extinction. Take rainforests, which act as natural carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But as rampant deforestation is occurring everywhere from Brazils Amazon to Borneo, fewer trees mean that rainforests are becoming carbon sources, emitting more carbon than theyre absorbing. Meanwhile, coral reefs are dying as warming ocean temperatures trigger bleaching events, which cause corals to reject algae, their main food and life source. Fewer trees, coral reefs and other habitats also equate to fewer species. Known as the sixth mass extinction, a 2019 UN report revealed that up to a million plant and animal species could become extinct within decades.

Human Impact

It can be easy to overlook climate change in day-to-day life, or even realize that climate change is behind it. Notice theres yet another romaine lettuce recall due to E. Coli? Research suggests that E. Coli bacteria are becoming more common in our food sources as it adapts to climate change. Cant find your favorite brand of coffee beans anymore? Or that the price has doubled? Climate change is affecting that too. Climate change is also worsening air quality and seasonal allergies, along with polluting tap water. Not least, many preliminary studies have also drawn a line between climate change and the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that is still gripping much of the world. Future pandemics are likely to happen more frequently until the root causes, such as deforestation, are addressed.

Speaking of larger-scale issues, global water scarcity is already happening more frequently. The Caribbean is facing water shortages due to rising temperatures and decreased rainfall; Australias dams may run dry by 2022 as severe wildfires increase and Cape Town, South Africa has already faced running out of water.

As touched upon earlier, its one thing to be inconvenienced by a lack of romaine lettuce for a couple of weeks or higher coffee bean prices, but reports warn how climate change will continue to threaten global food security, to the point of triggering a worldwide food crisis if temperatures surpass two degrees Celsius.

Many of these factors are already contributing to climate migration, forcing large numbers of people to relocate to other parts of the world in search of better living conditions.

Unless more immediate, drastic action is taken to combat climate change, future generations will have to contend with worst-case scenario projections by the end of the 21st century, not limited to coastal cities going underwater, including Miami; lethal heat levels from South Asia to Central Africa; and more frequent extreme weather events involving hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis, droughts, floods, blizzards and more.

Related: What Are The Best Solar Companies?

Whats Happening and Why?

Fiddlers Ferry power station in Warrington, UK. Chris Conway / Moment / Getty Images

The Earths temperature has largely remained stable until industrial times and the introduction of greenhouse gases. These gases have forced the atmosphere to retain heat, as evidenced by rising global temperatures. As the planet grows warmer, glaciers melt faster, sea levels rise, severe flooding increases and droughts and extreme weather events become more deadly.

The Greenhouse Effect

In the late 1800s, Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius studied the connection between the amount of atmospheric carbon and its ability to warm and cool the Earth, and while his initial calculations suggested extreme warming as carbon increased, researchers didnt start to take human-induced climate change seriously until the late 20th century.

But proof of human-led climate change can be traced to the 1850s, and satellites are among the ways that scientists have been tracking increased greenhouse gases and their climate impact in more recent years. Climate researchers have also documented warmer oceans, ocean acidification, shrinking ice sheets, decreased snow amounts and extreme weather as among the events resulting from greenhouse gases heating the planet.

Numerous factors contribute to the production of greenhouse gases, known as the greenhouse effect. One of the biggest causes involve burning fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, to power everything from cars to daily energy needs (electricity, heat). From 1970-2011, fossil fuels have comprised 78 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Big Ag is another greenhouse contributor, particularly beef production, with the industry adding 10 percent in 2019. This is attributed to clearing land for crops and grazing and growing feed, along with methane produced by cows themselves. In the U.S. alone, Americans consumed 27.3 billion pounds of beef in 2019.

Then theres rampant deforestation occurring everywhere from the Amazon to Borneo. A 2021 study from Rainforest Foundation Norway found that two-thirds of the worlds rainforests have already been destroyed or degraded. In Brazil, deforestation reached a 12-year-high in 2020 under right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. As it stands, reports predict that the Amazon rainforest will collapse by 2064. Rainforests are important carbon sinks, meaning the trees capture and remove carbon from the atmosphere. As rainforests collapse, the remaining trees will begin emitting more greenhouse gases than theyre absorbing.

Meanwhile, a recent study revealed that abandoned oil and gas wells are leaking more methane than previously believed, with U.S. wells contributing up to 20 percent of annual methane emissions.

Not least is the cement industry. Cement is heavily used throughout the global construction industry, and accounts for around eight percent of carbon dioxide emissions.

Natural Climate Change

Granted, natural climate change exists as well, and can be traced throughout history, from solar radiation triggering the Ice Ages to the asteroid strike that rapidly raised global temperatures and eliminated dinosaurs and many other species in the process. Other sources of natural climate change impacts include volcano eruptions, ocean currents and orbital changes, but these sources generally have smaller and shorter-term environmental impacts.

How We Can Combat Climate Change

Participant holding a sign at the climate march on Sept. 20, 2020, in Manhattan. A coalition of climate, Indigenous and racial justice groups gathered at Columbus Circle to kick off Climate Week with the Climate Justice Through Racial Justice march. Erik McGregor / LightRocket / Getty Images

While the latest studies and numbers can often feel discouraging about societys ability to prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening, theres still time to take action.

As a Society

In 2015 at COP 21 in Paris, 197 countries came together to sign the Paris Agreement, an international climate change treaty agreeing to limit global warming in this century to two degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels; its believed that the planet has warmed one degree Celsius since 1750. Studies show that staying within the two-degree range will prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening. Achieving this goal requires participating parties to drastically slash greenhouse gas emissions sooner rather than later. However, there have already been numerous setbacks since then, from former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrawing from the Paris Agreement in 2020 to world leaders, such as China, the worlds biggest polluter, failing to enact aggressive climate action plans. Yet many of the treaty participants have been slow to implement changes, putting the world on track to hit 3.2 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century even if the initial goals are met. However, its worth noting that U.S. President Joe Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement in 2021, and pledged to cut greenhouse gases in half by 2030.

Then theres the Montreal Protocol, a 1987 global agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons, chemicals that were commonly used in air-conditioning, refrigeration and aerosols. Recent studies show that parts of the ozone are recovering, proving that a unified commitment to combatting climate change issues does make a difference.

On a smaller scale, carbon offset initiatives allow companies and individuals to invest in environmental programs that offset the amount of carbon thats produced through work or lifestyle. For example, major companies (and carbon emitters) such as United Airlines and Shell have pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in part by participating in carbon offset programs that remove carbon from the atmosphere. The problem is that these companies are still producing high levels of fossil fuel emissions.

While individuals can make a small impact through carbon offsets, the greater responsibility lies with carbon-emitting corporations to find and implement greener energy alternatives. This translates to car companies producing electric instead of gas vehicles or airlines exploring alternative fuel sources. It also requires major companies to rely more on solar and wind energy for their energy needs.

In Our Own Lives

While its up to corporations to do the heavy lifting of carbon reduction, that doesnt mean individuals cant make a difference. Adopting a vegan lifestyle, using public transportation, switching to an electric car and becoming a more conscious consumer are all ways to help combat climate change.

Veganism

Consuming meat relies on clearing land for crops and animals, while raising and killing livestock contributes to about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UNs Food and Agricultural Organization. By comparison, choosing a plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gas footprints by as much as 70 percent, especially when choosing local produce and products.

Public Transportation

Riding public trains, subways, buses, trams, ferries and other types of public transportation is another easy way to lower your carbon footprint, considering that gas-powered vehicles contribute 95 percent of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Electric Vehicles

Electric cars and trucks have come down in price as more manufacturers enter the field, and these produce far lower emissions than their gas counterparts. Hybrid vehicles are another good alternative for lowering individual emission contributions.

Conscious Consumption

Buying locally produced food and items is another way to maintain a lower carbon footprint, as the products arent shipped or driven long distances. Supporting small companies that are committed to sustainability is another option, especially when it comes to clothes. Fast fashion has become a popular option thanks to its price point, but often comes at the expense of the environment and can involve unethical overseas labor practices. Not least, plastic saturates every corner of the consumer market, but its possible to find non-plastic alternatives with a little research, from reusable produce bags to baby bottles.

Climate Activism

Those interested in becoming even more involved can join local climate action organizations. Popular groups include the Sunrise Movement, Fridays for Future, Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, to name a few. Voting, volunteering, calling local representatives and participating in climate marches are additional ways to raise your voice.

Takeaway

Its taken centuries to reach a climate tipping point, with just a matter of decades left to prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening. But theres still hope of controlling a warming climate as long as individuals, companies and nations make an immediate concerted effort to lower greenhouse gas emissions. As the world already experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, a rapid unified response can make all the difference.

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.
A senior papal official is confident that Pope Francis will be able to change President Donald Trumps views on climate change when they meet at the Vatican on May 24.

In the election campaign, he even said it was a Chinese invention to criticize America, Argentine Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo told Italian wire service ANSA. But this president has already changed about several things, so perhaps on this as well.

Pope Francis dedicated his Laudato Si encyclical to climate change and called it a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation. Trump, a climate doubter, has criticized the pope and does not agree with the pontiff about the global phenomenon.

They will come to an agreement, since the president claims to be a Christian, and so he will listen to him, Sanchez Sorondo said.

Sanchez Sorondo, the chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, works closely with the pope and has been outspoken on the issue of global warming and its effect on the worlds migrant crisis.

In his interview with ANSA, he called the presidents anti-climate executive orders against science and against what the pope says.

Refuting Trumps infamous saying that climate change is a Chinese hoax, Sanchez Sorondo commented, Today the Chinese are actually very collaborative as concerns the commitments they took on climate with the Paris Climate Conference.

Even large capitals that have thus far invested in fossil fuels are beginning to be concerned about the effects of climate change and see new investment and research opportunities to find different energy solutions that are clean or renewable, he said.

Over the weekend, Pope Francis said he would be sincere with Trump over their diametrically opposed views on subjects such as immigration and climate change.

Even if one thinks differently, we have to be very sincere about what each one thinks, Francis said. Topics will emerge in our conversations. I will say what I think and he will say what he thinks. But I have never wanted to make a judgement without first listening to the person.

Also in the ANSA interview, Sanchez Sorondo claimed the fossil fuel industry tried to influence the popes climate encyclical:

When he was preparing the Laudato Si, oil lobbies did everything in their power to prevent the pope from saying what he did, meaning that climate change is caused by human activity that employ fossil fuels.

Perhaps the oil companies wanted a light encyclicala romantic one on nature that wouldnt say anything at all.

Instead, the pope followed what the scientific community says.

If the president does not follow science, then that is the presidents problem.
Many news outlets report that Catholics are clearly jazzed about the Popes visit and recent polling from Pew Research Center finds that nine in 10 U.S. Catholics have a favorable view of him. Hes even popular among other religious groups and even atheists. But not everyone is thrilled about Pope Francis visit to the U.S. While many eagerly await his address to the UN General Assembly in New York and his speech in front of Congress, some are less than enthused with the holy leader. When asked at a rally last night if he plans to meet with the Pope when he visits, Donald Trump had this to say: Well, the Pope believes in global warming, you do know that.

The Pope vs The Donaldduring his US visit Francis will tout #immigration and call for compassion toward #migrants http://t.co/AI1jWvLhp8  Social Justice (@SocialJusticeTr) September 12, 2015

Its no surprise that the Donald isnt ecstatic about the pontiffs first-ever visit to the U.S. Last month, the real-estate-mogul-turned-presidential-candidate told CNN he would scare the Pope in response to his critique of the free market by telling him ISIS wants to get you. Trump has been a vocal climate denier for years, calling global warming a hoax and a concept created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.

When asked about his views on climate change yesterday by MSNBC, Trump said, I consider climate change to be not one of our big problems. I consider it to be not a big problem at all. I think its weather. I think its weather changes. It could be some man-made something, but you know, if you look at China, theyre doing nothing about it. Other countries, theyre doing nothing about it. Its a big planet.

His statement echoes the remarks of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who all reluctantly addressed the issue at the second GOP presidential primary debate on Wednesday night.

Were not going to destroy our economy the way the left-wing government were under wants us to do, said Rubio. And Christie added, We shouldnt be destroying our economy in order to chase some wild left-wing idea that somehow, us, by ourselves are going to fix the climate. Walker chimed in that the Obama administrations policies aimed at addressing carbon pollution would kill manufacturing jobs in his state and elsewhere in the U.S.

And the GOP presidential candidates arent alone. Ahead of Pope Francis visit to Philadelphia, the Independence Hall Foundation and conservative think tank The Heartland Institute hosted a Constitution Day press conference yesterday challenging the Popes views on global warming and the nature of capitalism.

The Independence Hall Foundation is a nonprofit that seeks to promote the values embodied in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. In 2012, The Economist called The Heartland Institute the worlds most prominent think tank supporting skepticism about man-made climate change.
What Is Ocean Bound Plastic?



Ocean bound plastic is plastic waste that is headed toward our oceans. The term ocean bound plastic was popularized by Jenna Jambeck, Ph.D., a professor from the University of Georgia. In 2015, she and a team of researchers estimated the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean from land.

Addressing ocean bound plastic is a key element to ocean conservation. Around 80% of plastic in the ocean can be sourced back to ocean bound plastic. Plastics that end up near bodies of water such as rivers are at risk of ending up in the ocean. Other plastic can reach the sea through sewage systems or storms.

For example, in 2011, after the 2011 Tohoku tsunami and earthquake hit Japan, around 5 million tons of debris ended up in the ocean. Some of the debris sank while some ended up on the U.S. west coast. Additionally, trash and plastic can come from ships or offshore platforms. However, decades ago, countries dumped their waste directly into the sea. In the U.S. this was outlawed in 1988 in the Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988.

Plastic waste is a huge threat to our Earth, and diverting ocean bound plastic is one way we can do better to help the environment.

Fishes swim near a plastic fork and a bottle at the Samandag Cevlik Akcay diving site off the coasts of Samandag, near the Turkey  Syria border, in Hatay province of Turkey on December 6, 2018. Sebnem Coskun / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

How Much Plastic Is in the Ocean?



Each year, despite conservation efforts, 8 million tons of plastic reaches our oceans to meet the 150 million metric tons of plastic that already exists in marine environments. According to the Smithsonian, as of 2016, we produce around 335 million metric tons of plastic each year. Half of this plastic is single-use. Of the plastic we use globally, only around 9% of it gets properly recycled.

To create a mental picture of just how much plastic ends up in our oceans, imagine a garbage truck the size of New York City depositing its garbage into the ocean every minute of every day for a whole year. If this doesnt frighten you enough, the amount of plastic that will be produced and consumed is supposed to double over the course of the next ten years. If nothing is done to address plastic consumption, and the aftermath, there could be over 250 million metric tons of plastic in our oceans in ten years.

Even if you dont live on a coast, the plastic you throw away can still end up in the ocean. According to the World Wildlife Fund, plastic ends up in the ocean when its thrown away instead of recycled, when its littered on land, and when products we use are flushed down the drain or toilet. Additionally, cosmetic or cleaning products that contain parabens or microplastic beads can be washed into the ocean.

What Type of Plastic Is in the Ocean?

Plastic is not biodegradable, and it doesnt decompose. Many plastics are made only to be used one time, where they are then thrown out; theyre known as single-use plastic.

During the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup, the top kinds of plastics that were collected included wrappers, bottles, grocery bags, take-out containers  and the infamous plastic straws. These types of plastics and others combine into a category scientists call microplastics. According to the National Ocean Service, microplastics are the multi-colored pieces of plastic that can be found in a handful of sand on the beach or in the ocean.

Around 12% of plastic is incinerated  leaving 80% to end up in landfills. A 2014 study found that there are around 244,000 metric tons of plastic floating in our oceans. Out of the 244,000 tons found in the ocean, around 79,000 tons can be found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a mass of floating debris thats twice the size of Texas.

Reducing our individual plastic footprint is important. However, most plastic pollution comes from large corporations. Corporations need to address their production processes, waste management, and how their operation can have an impact on the environment. Large corporations address their mass production of single-use plastics by shifting the responsibility of sustainable disposal onto the consumer.

According to Greenpeace.org, some of the brands that contribute to a large amount of plastic waste include Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Unilever, and Colgate-Palmolive. The soft drink industry in particular creates tons of plastic waste. In 2016, Coca-Cola produced over 110 billion single-use plastic bottles.

The Problems With Ocean Plastic

Plastics floating and polluting the ocean only scratches the surface of issues it causes  it impacts all of marine life, people, and Earths climate.

Marine Life

Animals are impacted by the plastic we use and dispose of. Ocean plastic has already affected 267 species, and 86% of sea turtles. They can suffocate, drown, or get entangled in plastic, or even ingest it. Some species such as birds, fish, turtles, and whales can mistake plastic for prey, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. When marine life ingests plastic, they can die of starvation because their stomachs are filled with plastic debris. Marine life can be cut by plastic, and also receive internal injuries. Seabirds are known for feeding on the oceans surface, making them more likely to ingest floating plastic debris. Adult seabirds go to feed their young, and their chicks feed on this plastic: One study from 1997, conducted by Albatross Biology and Conservation, found that around 98% of chicks sampled had plastic in them, and the amount of plastic has been increasing over time.

Additionally, plastic debris can promote the spread of invasive organisms, further hurting marine ecosystems; floating plastics get carried out to sea through ocean currents.

Food and Health

Plastic debris doesnt only harm the oceans wildlife  its affecting the human food chain, too. Microscopic plastic has been found in various foods and beverages, including water, beer and, salt. A 2008 Pacific Gyre voyage found that fish ingest plastic debris. Algalita researchers caught 672 fish, and 35% of the fish had eaten plastic pieces.

Climate Change

In a report released by Yale Climate Connections, Claire Arkin, communications coordinator for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives said, Plastic pollution is not just an oceans issue. Its a climate issue and its a human health issue.

As of 2019, 4 to 8% of global oil consumption is linked to plastics, according to the World Economic Forum. If this persists, by 2050, plastics will account for 20% of oil consumption. Plastic, as a petroleum product, is inextricably linked to the fossil fuel industry: the extraction and transportation of fossil fuels releases carbon into the atmosphere, contributing further to the warming of our planet. Additionally, when plastic waste is incinerated, the process releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The Human Impact

This rare Critically Endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is entangled in discarded fishing net aka Ghost nets. Placebo365 / iStock Unreleased / Getty Images

Plastic reaching the ocean is largely due to human consumption. Companies that use plastic packaging, and oil companies, are part of the problem when it comes to plastic accumulating in our oceans. Individual littering of plastic is another contributor, as well as the improper disposal or accidental losing of fishing gear in the ocean.

Improper Disposal of Fishing Gear



According to a report from Greenpeace.org, fishing gear is the largest contributor to ocean plastic pollution. Commercial fishing gear including nets, lines, pots, and traps gets discarded into the ocean. The lost gear weighs the same as 55,000 double-decker buses, according to The Guardian.

Abandoned fishing gear, also known as ghost gear, has the potential to trap marine life. In 2015, an 80-foot blue whale was caught in an abandoned fishing line. Not only does lost fishing gear make up a significant portion of all ocean plastic, around 10%, but its also the deadliest to marine life, including coral, sessile animals, and vegetation.

Abandoned gillnets have caused the vaquita porpoise to near extinction, in the upper Gulf of California and Mexico; around 10 vaquita porpoises remain.

In addition to environmental impacts, ghost gear can affect the economy negatively. Some studies estimate around 90% of the species caught in abandoned gear are commercially valued.

Solutions to Minimizing Ghost Gear

Although the statistics may seem grim, there are ways to prevent fishing gear from ending up in the sea and harming marine life.

One way to prevent ghost gear from entering our oceans is through recycling. Fishermen should return no longer useful traps and nets to a port, rather than discarding the materials into the ocean. There are ports in Massachusetts, Oregon, and Rhode Island that offer recycling programs; more recycling facilities at ports could help minimize littered fishing gear.

The use of biodegradable fishing nets is on the rise. According to a study published in Animal Conservation, there are encouraging tests that show the utility and effectiveness biodegradable nets may have. A net made of polybutylene succinate and polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate showed promising results when compared to traditional nets used for fishing. The study showed that these biodegradable nets started to decompose after two years.

Clean-ups are another way to get abandoned fishing gear out of the ocean. There are organizations that specialize in retrieving discarded nets from the ocean. The Ghost Fishing Foundation has scuba divers retrieve floating fishing gear. Occasionally, the foundation will use cranes to pull out large pieces of netting.

Littering

Around 80% of marine debris and pollution is plastic, according to Pew Research. Marine litter mostly stems from unsustainable methods of production, as well as high consumption rates, and a lack of solid waste management infrastructure. Most of the plastic litter on Earth and in our oceans can be linked back to just a small number of multinational corporations.

According to an EPA report, every bit of plastic ever made still exists. The Plastic Disclosure Project estimated that 33% of all manufactured plastic is only used once. In 2018, only 8.7 percent of plastic was recycled. Although individuals should do their part to keep our planet and oceans clean, a small number of multinational corporations are to blame for the majority of littered plastic.

What Is Being Done to Help?

Greenpeace activists assembled two life-size reproductions of two whales that emerge from a sea invaded by disposable plastic waste, in the center of Rome, to denounce how our seas and the species living in them are in grave danger due to plastic pollution in 2018. Stefano Montesi / Getty Images

An elementary concept to positively impacting the environment is the buzz phrase, reduce, reuse, recycle. What this phrase fails to consider is that what will make the largest impact in helping our environment is to hold large corporations accountable. According to Greenpeace.org, recycling alone will never solve the plastic and pollution crisis our society is facing.

Organizations



Many organizations are addressing the ongoing and ever-growing issue of ocean pollution. For example, The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit aimed at ridding the ocean of plastic, is developing advanced technologies that are contributing to the largest ocean cleanup in history. The non-profits goal is to clean up 90% of floating ocean plastic pollution.

Plastic Oceans International is another organization that produces films and digital content in order to promote a global movement to rethink plastic. They also engage and teach students about the effects of plastic pollution and how they can contribute to ocean conservation.

Plastic Bank aims to not only stop ocean plastic but improve the lives of people who live in the poorest countries around the globe. The organization builds recycling ecosystems and processes the materials, so they can then be reintroduced to the economy through the global manufacturing supply chain.

One organization, Plastic Soup Foundation, aims not only to remove plastic from our oceans but also prevent plastic from reaching the sea in the first place. When it was founded, the organization had a heavy focus on protecting marine life, but the organization has expanded its priorities and aims to educate people on the potentially harmful effects marine plastic has on human health.

Indian residents walk past as they look at a large-scale sculpture of a killer whale made of single-use plastic and 40,000 plastic bottle caps being displayed to raise awareness on ocean contamination at Elliots beach in Chennai on May 11, 2019. ARUN SANKAR / AFP / Getty Images

Legislation



Some legislation helps to protect the oceans, and minimize plastic production and consumption. In the U.S, eight states have banned the use of single-use plastic bags, and more are hoping to in the coming years, including Connecticut and Virginia. Washington, DC implemented a ban on plastic straws on Jan. 1, 2019.

The Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act established programs in tandem with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Coast Guard. The programs help to determine sources of marine debris and how to reduce and prevent it.

Policies such as The Shore Protection Act, established in the U.S. in 1988, help to prevent the illegal dumping of waste off the coast. In 1967, a supertanker named Torrey Canyon spilled nearly 120,000 tons of oil into the ocean; it was the worlds first major oil tank disaster. Because of this incident, the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, passed in the U.S., most recently has been amended to regulate air pollution. It also regulates and limits the amount of nitrogen oxide levels, as well as requiring ships to use fuel with low sulfur content.

While these laws help to reduce pollution in our oceans, none of the laws listed are a cure-all, and many of them havent been amended in decades. Some conservation organizations are fighting for more rigorous laws, regulations, and policies to keep our oceans plastic-free.

What Can You Do?

Although large corporations are responsible for a majority of plastic waste ending up in the oceans, there are still things to be done on an individual level to help keep our oceans clean.

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Something everyone can do to contribute to the fight against ocean plastic pollution is to resist and reduce the use of single-use plastics. From plastic bags and bottles to plastic utensils, reducing your use of these plastics is a relatively easy step in limiting your plastic footprint.

When grocery shopping, bring your own reusable grocery bags. These bags are widely available and will last you a long time. Instead of using thin plastic produce bags, opt for reusable produce bags as well. Implementing the use of these reusable products will make you a more sustainable grocery shopper. There are incentives for altering your plastic consumption as well. At Target, for each reusable grocery bag you use, you get a 5 cent discount.

In recent years, Starbucks has made the switch to strawless drinking lids for their cold beverages. However, if you enjoy drinking out of straws, or want to prevent teeth staining, try using metal or reusable straws. Theyre widely available and easy to clean, and you can use them hundreds of times. Before the pandemic, Starbucks also started implementing reusable cups and tumblers. This way, when you make your coffee run, you dont have to use any single-use plastic. When you bring your own cup, you get a 10-cent discount. The program should continue when health authorities deem its safe to do so.

Other major chains have similar programs where you can bring your own cup or tumbler, including Dunkin, Panera Bread, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Caribou Coffee, Peets Coffee, and more.

Another ocean contaminant is microbeads and parabens. These are found in cosmetic products like face washes, toothpaste, and body washes. If you look at the ingredient list and see polyethylene or polypropylene, the product contains harmful microbeads, and you should avoid it.

When you grab some food to go, many restaurants will put your food in styrofoam containers, and then throw it in a plastic bag, and then go even further by supplying a bunch of paper napkins and plastic utensils. You can buy reusable utensils that are meant for traveling so you can skip the plastic utensils.

A more creative way to limit the amount of plastic you use is to buy in bulk. Singe-serving foods multiply waste. When youre grocery shopping, opt for a large tub of yogurt, instead of many small, single-serving yogurts. Buy trail mix that comes in one container, rather than many individually wrapped little ones. Buying products that you routinely use and consume in bulk can make a big difference.

When you forget your reusable bag or cup and have to use single-use plastic, you can help the environment and the oceans by recycling it properly. Be sure to be in the know about what types of plastics can be recycled in your community. If youre unsure of what you can and cannot recycle in your town, check out Earth911s recycling directory.

Engage in Cleanups

Employees from the organization 4Ocean clean Balis beaches daily from plastic Bali has long grappled with plastic pollution both on land and in its seas. Jonas Gratzer / LightRocket / Getty Images

Another tangible way to help is by physically removing plastic from the ocean and beaches by participating in a cleanup. If there are no cleanups in your community, organize your own. There are also larger cleanup events such as the International Coastal Cleanup that you can be a part of. Whether its with an organization or your friends and family, participating in a cleanup is a simple way to help collect plastic waste from marine communities.

Donate

There are a variety of organizations that aim to reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans, in creative, technologically advanced ways. Many of these organizations are non-profits and rely heavily on donations to continue to do important environmental work. Making a donation, even if its small, will help these organizations to continue to clean up and conserve our oceans.

Takeaway

Plastic debris floating in our oceans doesnt just affect the marine wildlife and plant species  it affects all of us. If action isnt taken now, there will be catastrophic consequences.

Plastic already kills over 100 million ocean animals each year; this number will only increase as time goes on.

Fish are being over-harvested already, but with many fish species dying off, and more fish consuming plastic, the fishing industry as we know it may not survive if incessant ocean pollution continues. This affects the entire food chain and will affect many fishermens livelihoods.

Ocean pollution is a huge threat to the overall biodiversity of our oceans. For example, coral reefs DNA can be altered from ocean pollution. Many fish and marine life rely on coral reefs for survival. If fish can no longer live in coral reefs, they wont gather in the same areas, affecting the land wildlife on the shore who fish for food. If the land animals cannot feed on fish, they may venture into new hunting territories, putting them at risk of being attacked by unfamiliar predators, which can then lead to extinction.

The impact of ocean plastic extends beyond marine life. If marine animals are affected, land animals will be affected and humans will be affected. The pollution of the oceans sets off a domino effect on the greater environment.

Oceans make up 71% of our Earth. If the sea isnt healthy and thriving, the majority of our planet isnt. Ocean plastics are a major threat to the health and well-being of all living species on Earth.

Audrey Nakagawa is the content creator intern at EcoWatch. She is a senior at James Madison University studying Media, Art, and Design, with a concentration in journalism. Shes a reporter for The Breeze in the culture section and writes features on Harrisonburg artists, album reviews, and topics related to mental health and the environment. She was also a contributor for Virginia Reports where she reported on the impact that COVID-19 had on college students.
President Trumps border wall threatens 93 endangered and threatened species, including jaguars, ocelots, Mexican gray wolves and cactus ferruginous pygmy owls, according to a new study by the Center for Biological Diversity.

The study also found that 25 threatened or endangered species have designated critical habitat on the border, including more than 2 million acres within 50 miles of the border.

Trumps border wall is a disaster for people and wildlife alike, Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said. It could drive magnificent species like the jaguar and ocelot to extinction in the United States.

The new study identified all threatened, endangered and candidate species (those being considered for protection) that have ranges near or crossing the border. These include 57 endangered species, 24 threatened species, 10 species under consideration for protection and two species of concern, golden and bald eagles. Construction of Trumps 1,200-mile wallalong with related infrastructure and enforcementwill have far-reaching consequences for wildlife, including cutting off migration corridors, reducing genetic diversity, destroying habitat and adding vehicles, noise and lights to vast stretches of the wild borderlands.

The border wall wont be effective at stopping people seeking a better life from getting to this country, but it will destroy habitat and divide wildlife populations, Greenwald said. Building a wall across the entirety of the border would cause massive damage to one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America and would be a boondoggle of the highest order.

The sections of border wall that have already been built have had a range of negative effects on wildlife, including direct destruction of thousands of acres of habitat, indirect impacts from noise and light pollution, and division of cross-border wildlife populations like bighorn sheep and jaguars. The border wall would cut through the Cabeza Prieta, Buenos Aires and several other national wildlife refuges, along with Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Big Bend National Park and many other natural areas that, besides acting as corridors for wildlife, are national treasures.

Designated critical habitat for 25 species potentially affected by Trumps border wall and associated infrastructure and enforcement. Center for Biological Diversity

Last month the Center for Biological Diversity and Congressman Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, sued the Trump administration over the proposed border wall and other border security measures, calling on federal agencies to conduct an in-depth investigation of the proposals environmental impacts.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, is the first targeting the Trump administrations plan to vastly expand and militarize the U.S.-Mexico border, including construction of a great wall.

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Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued an executive directive Tuesday to the Commonwealths Department of Environmental Quality and the Air Pollution Control Board that will lead to a strong limit on carbon pollution from power plants through regional cooperation.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will now begin crafting plans to develop a program to reduce carbon pollution in the state. Executive Directive 11 is designed to ensure Virginias energy future includes a structure that enforces carbon-reduction mechanisms. This is the result of the Executive Order 57 process, through which more than 10,000 Virginians called on the governor to use his authority to reduce carbon pollution.

Meanwhile, clean energy growth in Virginia continues to rise. According to the governors office, the clean energy economy is creating $1.5 billion in revenue, solar jobs are up 65 percent since 2014 and solar installations have risen 1,200 percent in just the last year.

The Sierra Club applauds Gov. McAuliffe for protecting the health of Virginia families and communities. This is a perfect example of how states and local governments can ensure our nation takes climate action even as Donald Trump buries his head in the sand while the seas are rising. Leaders like Gov. McAuliffe know we have a moral obligation to act and will seize economic opportunities when we do, as the clean energy economy is already proving it will create good-paying jobs while powering homes and businesses.

No one can ignore the progress on climate action and clean energy on the state and local levels. This important policy comes on the same day as the announcement of the 253rd coal plant retirement since the beginning of the Sierra Clubs Beyond Coal campaign and on the heels of Hanover, New Hampshire becoming the 29th city to commit to 100 percent clean energy as part of our Ready for 100 campaign. Forget his rhetoric: Trump cannot stop this momentum for clean energy and climate action that is being driven by citizen activism in states and communities across the country.
(Photo:  Peter Kenny)The Muslim President of Albania Bujar Nishani hosts a function for a gathering on Christian Persecution by the Global Christian Forum on Nov. 4, 2015 at the presidential palace in Tirana. Watching the president, to his left, is Rev. Larry Miller, Secretary of the Global Christian Forum.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed, has praised the Albanian Government's policies and practices to promote and protect interreligious harmony and co-existence in the country.

However, he noted that Albania's multi-religious society faces many challenges, including democratic consolidation, economic and social development, as well as those related to rapid globalization..

He urged the authorities to address unresolved issues dating back to 1967, when Albania officially became an atheist State.

"Freedom of religion or belief is a practical reality in Albania, and there is much the world can learn from the Albanian experience in respecting freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief and achieving inter-religious harmony," Shaheed said.

He was speaking at the end of his first fact-finding mission to the country, from May 8 to 17.

The expert noted that Albania is a multi-religious society with a deeply troubled past where intense and systematic persecution of all religions, after the late sixties.

ENVER HOXHA

Under the iron-fisted communist rule of Enver Hoxha from 1944 until his death in 1985, Albania effectively wiped out religious institutions in the country and had banned all public expressions of religion by the eighties.

"Many issues related to the abuses carried out prior to the end of the authoritarian rule in 1990 remain unresolved, such as the restitution of properties seized and destroyed or repurposed by the state," Shaheed stressed.

"However, the free, voluntary and respectful expression of religious sentiment lies at the heart of the interreligious harmony and co-existence that characterizes the situation of freedom of religion or belief in Albania today," he said.

"The underlying circumstances and disposition that nourish and promote interfaith harmony in Albania are unique to the country, and there are many examples of good practices, in both governmental policy and communal engagement that can be instructive to the international community," Shaheed said.

Among them, the expert noted the State's neutral position towards the religious or belief communities in the country, and the positive, respectful and inclusive engagement of religious communities with the State.

He also drew attention to a robust legal framework that guarantees the freedom of religion for all in all its dimensions; the promotion of societal attitudes of mutual respect across different religious and belief communities; and a genuine societal commitment to interfaith solidarity and cooperation.

The UN expert also noted the rapid reconstruction of the religious infrastructures and the revitalization of spiritual leadership that has taken place since 1990, and expressed hope regarding the apparent absence of political mobilization along religious fault lines.

"In this regard, I recommend the Albanian authorities to speed up the restitution of properties to boost the capacity of religious communities to carry out their functions," he said.

"The high degree of inter-religious marriage and social, political, economic and residential intermingling, suggest that the ethos of 'living together'....in mutual respect and harmony was not just a slogan, but a deeply-held value for many Albanians," he noted.

He said there was also a "very low number" of reported cases of discrimination on account of religion or belief.

"I call on the government to continue the country's trajectory towards democratic consolidation especially strengthening the rule of law," the Special Rapporteur said.

"I encourage it to pursue the priority dimensions of its national strategy on the prevention of violent extremism, especially introducing respectful civic education on religions, managing increasing religious diversity, and investing in social inclusion."

During his 10-day visit, Shaheed met with members of the government, civil society, international organizations, foreign diplomats, human rights organizations, religious communities, and minority groups in a range of meetings conducted in Tirana, Kavaje, Korce, Girokaster and Shkoder.
I recently wrote about how to use social media to grow your professional network . Social media has expanded my peer network and improved my teaching practice, but it turns out there can be too much of a good thing. I now feel that Twitter and Facebook are taking over my life. My feed is like a set of conjoined twins; my professional network and personal friends overlap so much that sometimes Im seeing posts of teaching strategies like how to deconstruct complex text and sometimes Im seeing prom pictures.

Teachers dont have a lot of extra time on their hands. In fact, if your social media feed includes other teachers, youll often find posts at night and on weekends about how teachers are working from home on their own time. So, why do I find myself picking up my phone every five minutes to check Facebook or Twitter? Ive got assignments to grade and lessons to plan!

I took a moment to dig a little deeper and reflect on WHY I feel addicted to my social media. Here are some of the reasons I identified:

To see what others are doing and maybe try it, too

Fear of missing out (FOMO)

To show what I am doing and maybe get others to try it

Boredom

To ask for help

To learn something new

From a biology teachers perspective, this dichotomy feels a bit like an example of symbiosis, a long-term relationship. If social media is truly benefitting both me and others, then thats what we call mutualism. But those times when Im just scrolling out of boredom, thats more like parasitismsocial media is just sucking time from my life and distracting me from more meaningful work, like a mosquito constantly buzzing in my ear.

My husband says its because I am a Facebook addict. And I now grudgingly have to admit it. While I probably dont need a seven-step intervention like the Mayo Clinic describes (yes, I took time to Google that), Ive decided to commit to making my social media account work just as hard for me as I do for it.

Right now, Im starting a journey to transform my relationship with social media from parasitic to mutualisticmaybe youll join me!

Step One: Gather Information Through Reflection

When I stop to think about social media, my usage actually feels very complicated.

On one hand, I feel I that I truly benefit as an educator when Im inspired by others postslike those from Thomas Martin, who started the Professional Learning Network . In a recent post, Thomas shared a classroom guide to active listening, something I could use in my classroom tomorrow to increase student engagement.

On the other hand, sometimes Im scrolling too quickly without really taking the time to process what I see. That happens when Im just looking at the pictures and having an internal monologue about how cute those puppies are.

I dont seem to have a good strategy for how to filter my social media based on why I opened the app or website. (Sometimes I am actually working on my laptop with Facebook open and then I go open the app on my cellphone). I need to make a conscious decision about why Im opening my social media account and then commit to only that purpose.

Step Two: Make a Plan

So, how do we make social media benefit us as well as others? To help with my own intervention, I turned to some colleagues whose social media accounts are continuously inspiring to me. I gleaned three guiding ideas from them that I was able to put into play while at a recent conference in Denver, Colo., called Elevating Instructional Advocacy.

Normally, I would find myself torn between paying attention to the speakers and interacting on social media. While at the conference, however, I committed to the following three principles to keep Facebook and Twitter from being a constant buzzing parasite:

Post the exceptional, not the mundane. I love following my friend Kathy Bosiak, because her posts often capture the amazing things she does. She is a world traveler on a mission to always learn more about the world and bring it back to her school and students. Kathys blogs about her travels truly encourage me to expand my own world, albeit in a less ambitious way than going to Buenos Aires!

Instead of posting 10 times a day on Facebook during the conference, I waited and posted just once after I returned. This gave me time to formulate my thoughts, so I could share about the most meaningful things that I learned and did.

Post topics worthy of giving to others. To make social media reciprocal, its much better to share something that others can benefit from. Tamika Walker Kelly, a music teacher in North Carolina, told me she uses her social media to showcase the importance of teaching the arts by assisting with social media for the N.C. ArtsR4Life Conference. By posting topics that help others engage, we can make our social media use a bit more altruistic.

During the conference, I chose to post pictures of the most meaningful sessions I attended on Twitter so people could get in touch with me if they wanted. Then I used the body of the Tweet to tell a little more for those interested in that topic.

Acknowledging my fluency limitation. How do you pronounce that p word? Why isnt it pro-sod-y? Learning about reading! #coreadvocates pic.twitter.com/hUBuZrYzAL  Mrs. Schimizzi, NBCT (@Mrs_Schimizzi) May 7, 2017

Be sure to really join in the conversation, not just click the share button. When Justin Parmenter, a 7th grade literacy teacher, posts on Facebook, his intent is to truly share something worthwhile with the hope that others will engage and reciprocate. Justin says, I think sharing examples of what you do in your classroom on social media is an important way to share ideas. You can see that his posts are meant to be easy for people to both comment and steal his ideas.

I was best about this on Twitter during my conference. Instead of just retweeting, I made sure to quote the tweet so I could engage in a deeper conversation with the person whose tweet I liked. This helped create more opportunities for back and forth conversation.

Step Three: Decide on Consequences

Uh oh. This step feels really dramatic. Is it really possible to self-police my own social media addiction? I have my new three guiding principles, but how successful will I be at managing the time and energy I spend on social media?

If this conference was any indicator, the biggest help was just building awareness and reflecting on if I was using my time in a meaningful way. Instead of constantly scrolling through feeds, I was much more engaged in meaningful discussions. While awareness and reflection may seem like small and obvious steps, I truly am more cognizant of my usage since I have now committed to my own three principles of being an exceptional, giving, and sharing social media user.

Any further advice or commiseration? Be sure to share your ideas with me on Twitter .  Or maybe you shouldnt?!




Fonterra reopens Malaysia dairy plant after $7 million upgrade



Fonterra has reopened the doors to its milk powder manufacturing plant in Malaysia following a $7 million (NZD) investment to boost manufacturing efficiencies and ensure it continues to meet world class health, food safety and quality standards.

The upgrade will allow the plant to blend and pack around 30,000 tonnes of milk powder products a year  that is one billion serves of dairy.

Managing director of Fonterra Brands Malaysia and Singapore, Jose Miguel Porraz Lando, said the improved facility means Fonterra is better placed than ever to meet the growing demand for dairy - not just in Malaysia, but across 13 countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East where the site exports its dairy products.

"Demand for dairy nutrition is growing fast across the region driven by the rising middle class and huge populations. The investment will go a long way to helping us meet this growing demand for dairy and cement our role as a leading regional dairy manufacturer and exporter," he said.

Porraz Lando was joined at the official reopening of the plant by the Minister for Maori Development and Associate Minister for Economic Development, Te Ururoa Flavell; Malaysia's Deputy Minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Yang Berhormat Datuk Haji Ahmad bin Haji Maslan; and Fonterra director, David MacLeod.

Minister Flavell, who is in Malaysia for a business and cultural mission, said as New Zealand's largest company, and the world's biggest dairy processer and exporter, Fonterra plays a big role in putting New Zealand on the map globally.

"Fonterra has a 40 year presence and history in Malaysia and is an example of a successful New Zealand business using Malaysia as a regional hub. It is a real pleasure to be here to witness the impact of Fonterra's dairy business in Malaysia."

Datuk Maslan said the reopening of Fonterra's plant in Malaysia was an opportune time to celebrate Malaysia and New Zealand's bilateral relations, which marks its 60th anniversary this year.

"As the largest New Zealand investor in Malaysia, Fonterra Brands Malaysia plays an important role in facilitating the relationship between New Zealand and Malaysia.

"Over the last six years, Fonterra has invested close to $20 million in improvements across its two manufacturing sites - contributing significantly to Malaysia's overall manufacturing infrastructure and capabilities," he said.

MacLeod said the plant reopening builds on Fonterra's generations of dairy farming and manufacturing expertise to deliver high quality and safe milk to the world.

"It's fantastic to be in Malaysia to see for myself the facility that helps bring the milk that we produce with great care in New Zealand to millions of local families each day, contributing to their health and nutrition," he added.

The reopening of the improved milk powder manufacturing plant is another strong step forward for Fonterra in Malaysia, which has built a significant local presence over the past 40 years and more.

- Fonterra
To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020.
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Chief Minister expects significant, long-lasting Brexit impact



Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK

The Chief Minister admits the Isle of Man cannot expect to have free trade with the European Union without meeting certain obligations.

Protocol 3, which allows the Island to be included in the EU's Customs Union and Single Market without meeting a member, will end when Britain withdraws from the EU in 2019.

Howard Quayle warned in this month's sitting of Tynwald that the implications of Brexit are likely to have a significant and long-lasting impact on the Island.

Mr Quayle also expects freedom of movement to be restricted, potentially affecting those from outside the UK living in the Island, as well as Manx people living in the EU, which could make labour more costly.

The Manx Government is currently assessing a way for the Island to be included in the UK's Free Trade Agreements with EU countries.
Twenty-four students from 12 different countries have arrived at the ESRF for the 19th HERCULES specialised course which runs from 15-19 May 2017. This course, called HSC19: Quantitative Imaging with X-rays and Neutrons, involves more than 70 participants and starts with lectures on the major techniques and theoretical aspects of image processing. It also includes one day of tutorials and a full day of hands-on practical sessions on 6 different beamlines.

Quantitative imaging is more than just producing pretty pictures, its about extracting quantifiable features from images. For example, choosing to represent data in 2D or 3D, or getting information on sample dimensions, not just shape. Quantitative imaging can also give information on the composition of a pollutant or be used, for example, to measure the concentration of products within a sample. In medical imaging, it can provide the surgeon with a probability, expressed as a percentage, that the spot they are looking at is actually a tumour.

Some examples of quantitative imaging using X-rays or Neutrons. Click on the photos for explanations and credits.

Not just a pretty picture  the power of quantitative imaging

For Birgit Kanngiesser, Experimental physicist at the Technical University of Berlin and on whose original idea HSC19 was created, quantitative X-ray and neutron imaging is a new language for transporting information. It has to be learned and there are several traps that need to be avoided. Images can tap into our emotions and have an effect on our interpretation. Its necessary to maintain a scientific and analytical approach. We already have definitions and protocols for this in spectroscopy, for example, but they need to be applied now to imaging as well. Algorithms play a decisive role in this validation process, and we hope to raise awareness of these issues during HSC19, to create common definitions and at least open a discussion within the community.

Lara Maldanis, 27, Brazilian Lara has a background in biology, studying fossil hearts for her Masters degree. She has just started the 3rd year of a PhD in applied physics at the Brazilian Synchrotron, LNLS. She is particularly interested in palaeometry and palaeobiology. She studies microscopic samples, or microfossils, with high resolution imaging and tries to correlate morphology with chemical information to get clues on fossil structure. Ive found the course very interesting so far. Especially in that it shows the potential of the different techniques that I can apply in my PhD. Im very excited, too, about the practicals. Im hoping to learn a lot and take back this knowledge with me to Brazil.

Imaging techniques have seen an intense development using neutron and synchrotron radiation over the past 20 years, with the development of brighter sources and efficient detectors. During the week of HSC19, experts and beginners will discuss the creation and use of images, explore the good and bad practice in the field and gain hands-on experience in the newest developments in imaging techniques.

With a 50% success rate, competition was high to obtain a place on the course. Its in our interest to facilitate access to these courses for students who already have an interest or experience in these techniques. Their motivations to follow the course play a large role in their success as a candidate, says Judith Peters, Professor at UGA, ILL scientist and member of the HERCULES board.

For Jose Baruchel, former Director of HERCULES and distinguished ESRF scientist: One of the main benefits of this type of course is the networking. These are all brilliant students working on the same topics, they have contact with the most recognised teachers in Europe and they will almost certainly work together in the future. Its an important step towards creating a scientific network that will follow them throughout their career.

Sophie Redford, 31, British After a Masters in Physics at Manchester University, Sophie studied her PhD in particle physics at Oxford University and at CERN working on LHCb. Following a fellowship within the CERN Physics and Detectors group of the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC), today she is a post-doc at PSI, working for the development of a photon detector for SwissFEL. The talks today have been really great  its only the first day and Ive already learned alot! Theres a good cross-section of people and a good mix between students and lecturers. Id love to stay in research after finishing my postdoc. Id like to continue working to improve the dialogue between the scientists using the images and those building the detectors.

Vincent Favre-Nicolin, Director of the HERCULES programme and ESRF scientist, works in the field of coherent image analysis, developing experiment protocols and software for the interpretation of experimental data. HERCULES is a fantastic project, it brings together such a large community and is the only school in the world that offers this wide a range of techniques. We are not just teaching techniques for use during a PhD or a postdoc, but for the entire career of these students. I hope the students are interested in the quantitative analysis part of the course and that they enjoy the tutorials. I also hope to learn a few tricks myself! he says.

This year, five PhD students were able to benefit from a grant provided by one of the programme sponsors, DECTRIS.

About HERCULES

HERCULES stands for Higher European Research Course for Users of Large Experimental Systems. Since 1991, the programme has provided training for students, postdocs, and scientists from European and non-European universities and laboratories in the fields of synchrotron radiation and neutron science for condensed matter studies (biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, geosciences, industrial applications).

The courses are organised as a collaboration between ESRF, ILL, UGA, Grenoble Inp, IBS, CNRS, CEA, as well Soleil, LLB, Elettra, PSI, DESY and European XFEL outside Grenoble.

Throughout the years spent cultivating next-generation scientists, HERCULES School has been recognised as an internationally known training course. To help nourish more young scientists outside Europe, overseas Hercules Schools have also been hosted in Latin-America and in Brazil.

Bi-Husan Lin, 37, Taiwanese Bi-Hsuan holds a Masters in Electrophysics and a PhD from the Department of Photonics and Institute of Electro-Optical Engineering at National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. He spent one year at the ESRF as a postdoc. Today he is one of the scientists on beamline 23A X-ray nanoprobe (XRN) at Taiwan Photon Source. The HCS19 programme offers one week courses and detailed lectures for the researchers. Such program provides a combination of theory aspects and experimental practices, which really help me to build up the necessary concepts and knowledge useful to my research. Especially the techniques of CDI and Bragg ptychography will be used in our new beamline to study the dislocations and strain distribution of our samples. However, its all new to me, so not very easy, but it helps that the lecturers are very good! ESRF/K. Colvin
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Get the latest on all the biggest court and crime news in Essex direct from our expert court reporter

A woman who was viciously kicked in the head by a woman wearing a stiletto after a night out, has spoken out about her struggles with mental health in the aftermath of the attack.

Chloe Layley, 22, had been out with friends at the Missoula bar when she was set upon by thug Jusara Tavares-Fernando on December 12, 2015.

The violent assault occurred later on Springfield Road, after Chloe had tried to stop a fight.

But as a result of her good deed, Chloe, from Chelmsford , was knocked out and left lying in a pool of her own blood after being punched and kicked to the ground.

In the seventeen months that have passed since the attack, Chloe has been left with crippling anxiety and depression and relies on medication to get by.

She said: "I have been taking medication every single day for the last two years to try and stop the mental pain from the attack.

"I have been back and forth to my GP to try and have my medication sorted.

"I have had to attend counselling, both through work and with the charity Mind.

"I've developed social anxiety, even at family events. I always fear something is going to happen, I even sit by myself at work."

Chloe had been up for a promotion at the time of the assault but missed out, as she dealt with her emotional and physical injuries.

"I did eventually go for my promotion at work but I wasn't anywhere near as confident as I was before the attack," said Chloe, who works as Financial Management Associate for Ernst & Young in London.

"I am okay to go clubbing with my friends now, but I can't be left by myself, I can't even walk through town on my own, day or night."

Last week Tavares-Fernando was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, when she appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court.

The 21-year-old denied causing any injury to Chloe, insisting that she had actually hit someone else.

"I'm quite insulted she didn't admit what she did, she could have come forward and said it was her," said Chloe.

"She didn't look remorseful. She didn't look at me once.

"I just think everything she said was a lie."

Chloe was praised by Judge Jonathan Seely for her decision to read aloud her victim impact statement.

"I don't think I will ever get to be the person I was before the attack. But I would advise anyone going to court to stay in and listen after giving evidence.

"The last two years have been absolute hell but sitting in court, it has given me closure.

"I'd advise people to sit through it and to look their attacker in the face."
A novel by Professor Kei Miller has been nominated for prestigious literary prizes around the world.

Professor Kei Miller nominated for prestigious literary prizes around the world

A novel by University of Exeter Professor in Creative Writing, Kei Miller, has been nominated for prestigious literary prizes around the world.

Augustown was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize and the Green Carnation Prize. It won the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature earlier this month.

The novel is set in 1982 in Jamaica. It tells the story of a small community and how a single day in history  when a preacher said he was going to fly  had a huge impact of everyones lives. The town is similar to the area Professor Miller grew up in.

Augustown will be published in the USA this month and was published in the UK and Caribbean last July.

Professor Miller said: Im very shocked and honoured by the reaction to Augustown. It is wonderful to be recognised by so many prestigious organisations. Im thrilled to be shortlisted for their prizes.

The RSL Ondaatje Prize is awarded annually to a book of the highest literary merit  fiction, non-fiction or poetry  which best evokes the spirit of a place. The Green Carnation Prize seeks to champion the best writing by an LGBTQ author in the UK. The winner will be revealed at a ceremony later this month.

Professor Miller, who teaches on our MA Creating Writing programme was born in Jamaica in 1978. He is an essayist, poet and novelist. In 2014, he won the Forward Prize for Poetry for his collection, The Cartographer Tries To Map a Way To Zion, which was also shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. He is the author of several collections of poetry, a book of short stories and two novels. His work has also been nominated for the Commonwealth Writers First Book Prize and the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize.
HI All,



I have no birth certificate as I was born before 1989 when it was not mandatory. Currently I live in different place than my birth place and need to file my documents for express entry as got ITA recently.



What are the alternatives for birth certificate, will "Affidavit Of Birth Certificate" work.



Euro


Expat parents who buy a property for their student offspring to use while studying in the UK could earn a decent amount by renting out rooms to other students, especially in cities with the top universities.The owner of property rented out to students in the top 10 university locations could see their investment bringing rental yields of up to 5.22%, according to new research.It points out that some of the UKs most prestigious and highly ranking universities can receive up to five applications per place, forcing them to turn away nearly 80% of applicants. Due to high demand for spaces at the top universities, student landlords in these top performing areas can rely on reputation alone to fill their rooms, and ensure student property is a reliable investmentOut of the top 10 ranking universities Durham, in sixth place in the current university league table, is amongst the cheapest places to buy property, averaging 151,465 for a four bedroom home and landlords can expect rental yields of 5.22%, says the study from StudentTenant.Warwick is next in terms of yields and has a student population of 25,000 but the average price of four bedroom property is much higher at 338,220, but landlords can expect rental yields of 5.11%.Loughborough, which is tenth in the university league table and ranks third for the best yield, with landlords expecting rental yields of 5% in a location with a student population of 16,500.The University of Cambridge ranks first in the tables but it only seventh for rental yields. It has a student population of around 20,000 and landlords could expect rental yields of 3.64%.Oxford University, ranked as the second best university in the UK, is sixth for property rental yields with a potential of 4.12% and London is the worst performing location for buy to let landlords because of the high price of property.Anyone looking to invest in a student property is advised to assess the potential rental yields in the area to see if its a sound investment. However, rental yields arent everything and there are many things to consider before purchasing a student rental property, said Danielle Cullen, managing director at StudentTenant.Key issues to consider include how near the property is to the university, its condition, parking facilities and location regarding amenities and carrying out research as the most obvious investment may not be the best.Looking just at rental yields for the top 10 ranking universities, it might seem attractive to invest in a student property in an area like Warwick or Loughborough where yields are around 5%. However, when you account for the higher property prices, it might not be the best option available for investors, Cullen explained.Durham could well be an up and coming investment location for the student sector. Its typically not what we would consider a hotspot for private landlords looking to increase their portfolio, but could well be one to watch, she added.
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State Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, sat sullen and in handcuffs at a U.S. court hearing after turning himself in to the FBI about 8 a.m. Wednesday  the morning after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on 13 criminal charges in two separate cases.

The hearing was short, just 20 minutes. But whatever the outcome, the arrest will leave a permanent scar on Urestis long record as a Texas lawmaker.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee, for which hes vice chairman, was holding a meeting right about the time of Urestis arrest. His absence from the days meeting of the full Senate was excused with the traditional wording that he was attending to matters of personal business  in this case, appearing at the courthouse in shackles to answer the fraud and bribery charges against him.

It was the first time Uresti, an attorney, was sitting on the defense side in his own criminal case.

Two alleged co-conspirators  Stanley Bates, 45, and Gary L. Cain, 60,  also turned themselves in about 8 a.m, law enforcement officials said.

All three were arrested and in handcuffs at the hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad in San Antonio. The three men were escorted by federal marshals to the courthouse in handcuffs and leg irons.

Bemporad ordered all three to turn in their passports, restricted travel outside the U.S. and advised the men not to speak about their case to avoid perjuring themselves. They were released with unsecured bonds set at $50,000 apiece.

Uresti also was ordered to refrain from excessive use of alcohol.

They are facing a combined 22 felony counts that each carry a maximum of between 10 years and 20 years in prison and between $250,000 to $5 million in fines if found guilty. The U.S. also is demanding forfeiture of any ill-gotten gains from all three. Theyre scheduled to appear in court again May 31 when theyre expected to formally plead not guilty.

Uresti, 53, disputed fraud charges relating to his involvement in bankrupt San Antonio oil-field services company FourWinds Logistics and public corruption in Reeves County. He could face more than 200 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Although my lawyers have asked me not to talk to the press, I think its very important that I tell the people that I am innocent of the charges. I look forward to my day in court when all the facts come out and the truth and not just what's been written in the press, Uresti told reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing. He appeared shaken as he left with his wife. In the meantime, I have a job to do. I am headed back to the Capitol today to do what I was elected to do by the voters, and that's to fight.

Uresti attended meetings of the Education, Health and Human Services and Veteran Affairs committees, voting on bills in all three, including legislation he sponsored.

As I said this morning, Im back to work ... I was in three committees voting out bills for foster kids, for education, for veterans, he said after leaving the last committee hearing. So, back to work.

His indictment didnt come as a surprise in the Texas Capitol.

I think with the type of coverage and the reporting by newspapers, it was pretty obvious that at some point, more than likely Sen. Uresti would get indicted, said Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen.

His co-defendant, former FourWinds CEO Bates, denied any wrongdoing.

I havent gotten all of the discovery to review it all. At this time, we are denying all the charges, said Karl Basile, a court-appointed lawyer for Bates.

Chad Muller, Cains lawyer, said: We have no comment at this time. We will address the charges in the courtroom.

Cain was a consultant for FourWinds.

The San Antonio Express-News reported in an in-depth investigation in August that Uresti provided legal services and served as outside general counsel for FourWinds for four or five months in 2014.

He also was a 1 percent owner in FourWinds, which purportedly traded sand used in fracking to extract oil and gas from shale rock. The company went bust in 2015.

The indictment describes the trio and three other FourWinds officials who already have pleaded guilty as conspirators who misused investors funds to enrich themselves and others. Prosecutors called FourWinds a Ponzi scheme, paying earlier investors with proceeds from more recent investors.

FourWinds entered bankruptcy in 2015 with more than $14 million in debts. Some investors accused Bates of misspending their money on personal expenses, expensive gifts, exotic car rentals and a profligate lifestyle. Bates has disputed the allegations.

Uresti and Lubbock businessman Vernon C. Farthing III are charged in a second indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Farthing allegedly paid Uresti $10,000 a month as a consultant for about 10 years, ending in September.

Half of that amount allegedly went to a Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo for his support and vote to award the contract to Farthing's company. Uresti acted as the conduit, passing the money between Farthing and Galindo, the indictment says. The document identifies Galindo as a co-conspirator.

Farthing, 44, is expected to make an initial court appearance today.

He is not guilty of those offenses, said San Antonio lawyer Cynthia Orr, who represents Farthing. He looks forward to defending against those charges in court and being vindicated, ultimately.

Galindo couldnt immediately be reached.

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.

Hinojosa said he was surprised by the timing of the indictment  before the Legislature adjourns its regular session on May 29. He said Uresti was upset after the charges were unsealed Tuesday.

Obviously hes very much concerned and devastated, said Hinojosa, adding that he spoke with Uresti when the San Antonio lawmaker was on his way back home Tuesday night.

Hinojosa said Uresti might have mentioned FourWinds to him, but he wasnt asked to invest in the company. He had a whole bunch of brochures and information but I dont have that kind of money, No. 1, Hinojosa said.

Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, said Uresti might not be able to effectively represent his constituents with this shroud over him.

Ive read the full indictment and theyre very serious charges, Gutierrez said. I dont think this is a judgment on the Democratic Party, I think people sometimes fall prey to their devices, and its unfortunate that the Senator has allowed himself to go down this path.

Gutierrez said Uresti was innocent until proven guilty, but the facts outlined in the indictments raised significant concern for his effectiveness of his ability to lead District 19 voters and his effectiveness in the Senate.

If you read the full indictments, full facts, that are contained in there that the grand jury saw, it raises a significant cause for concern, he said, adding that Urestis pension and other state benefits may be at risk if he is convicted.

Uresti is represented by Jorge Aristotelidis and nationally renowned attorney Mikal Watts, who was accused by U.S. prosecutors of making up fake clients to sue BP in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. Watts was eventually charged, tried and acquitted of all 66 charges he faced in the case.

Staff Writer Elena Mejia Lutz contributed to this report.

pdanner@express-news.net

Twitter: @AlamoPD
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No excuses was one of Bob Klebergs credos. The longtime patriarch of the King Ranch lived his life with what his daughter Helenita, now 89, calls a tenacity of purpose that piloted him to a global leadership role in ranching, agriculture and energy.

One of the things my father always said was, Lets make a plan  so we can change it later, said Helen Kleberg Groves  Helenita  raised on the King Ranch, the only child of ranch manager Robert Bob J. Kleberg Jr. and his wife Helen Campbell Kleberg.

In Bob and Helen Kleberg of King Ranch, a beautifully illustrated book from Trinity University Press/Maverick Books and the Witte Museum, Groves tells a romantic story of the legendary South Texas ranch  founded in 1853 by her great-grandfather Capt. Richard King  primarily from her parents point of view.

Its not a history of the ranch, she said of the book, researched and written with Texas ranching expert Bill Benson and first published by Bright Sky Press in 2004, but long out-of-print. I wanted to tie up some bits and pieces, memories from my mother, from my grandmother. These are some of the old stories, from my outlook. There are a lot more.

More Information King Ranch history and chronology July 10, 1824: Richard King born in New York City. 1835: King runs away from a jewelry apprenticeship and stows away aboard a ship. May 1847: King arrives in Texas to work on Rio Grande riverboats. 1848: King launches shipping business. Feb. 1850: King meets Henrietta Maria Morse Chamberlain. He is 25; she is 17. 1853: King buys his first land, a 15,500-acre tract along the Santa Gertrudis Creek, for $300, less than 2 cents an acre. Dec. 10, 1854: King marries Henrietta M. Chamberlain. 1857-1858: "Original" ranch house built. April 29, 1862: Alice Gertrudis King is born. 1882: King's attorney dies. He brings in a new lawyer from Corpus Christi, Robert Justus Kleberg. April 14, 1885: King dies. His widow is left with an estate officially appraised at $1,061,484 and debts of nearly $500,000. Robert Kleberg becomes ranch manager of the Santa Gertrudis. June 1886: Robert Justus Kleberg marries Alice Gertrudis King. March 29, 1896: Alice Kleberg gives birth to Robert Justus "Bob" Kleberg Jr. 1916: Robert Justus Kleberg suffers a stroke. Control of the ranch later falls to 21-year-old son Robert Justus "Bob" Kleberg Jr. 1920: Monkey, the foundation sire of the ranch's Santa Gertrudis breed, is born. March 31, 1925: Henrietta King, 92, dies at the Santa Gertrudis main house. March 2, 1926: After a 17-day courtship, Bob Kleberg Jr. marries Helen Campbell, daughter of a congressman from Kansas, in Corpus Christi. Oct. 10, 1932: Robert Justus Kleberg dies in an upstairs room on the Santa Gertrudis. 1934: Alice Kleberg and her two sons organize a family corporation. Stockholders consist solely of family members. 1940: U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizes the Santa Gertrudis as an official cattle breed. 1941: American Quarter Horse Association formed. Wimpy, a King Ranch horse, is recognized as the first quarter horse. 1944: Alice Gertrudis Kleberg dies. She's the last of Richard and Henrietta King's children. 1946: Three-year-old Assault wins the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont). Oct. 1953: The ranch celebrates its 100th anniversary by hosting a cattle industry meeting on 'Beef Cattle in Unfavorable Environments.' 1957: TomLea's epic, two-volume history of the King Ranch is published. Oct. 13, 1974: Bob Kleberg Jr. dies of cancer at 78. See More Collapse

Groves said people have often asked her about the bond forged in 1926 between her parents: a Texas cowboy in the saddle by age 4 and an Eastern debutante who grew up with what she calls fox-hunting and the Junior League.

I wanted to show that their backgrounds were not that different, that they shared strong ancestry and taught me that the important qualities were integrity, honesty and respect, said Groves, during an interview at her Alamo Heights home. My mother used to say, Worrying is a totally worthless thing to do.

Another thing Kleberg Jr. told his daughter: You must have a dream first. Then work like hell to make it come true.

Kleberg Jr.  whose father, an attorney, married Richard Kings daughter Alice in 1886 and took over ranch management  comes across not as some mythological figure, but as a man whose love of animals, nature and independence inspired him to travel a path unknown to others, according to Groves.

Hes the man who created the first truly American breed of cattle, the cherry-red Santa Gertrudis; developed the ideal horse for the American Quarter Horse Association, ironically named Wimpy; and bred the 1946 Triple Crown-winning racehorse, Assault.

A college dropout (he returned to the ranch from the University of Wisconsin at age 20 in 1916 when his father had a stroke), Kleberg Jr. stewarded a program to fortify the grass crop to feed livestock through King Ranch-sponsored genetic research.

Ranch research programs also encompassed efforts to eradicate devastating scourges such as screwworm infestation, Brucellosis and the creeps, a horrible phosphorus deficiency that leaves cattle looking like bags of bones.

The ranch pioneered the use of dipping vats, cattle prods and deep wells for precious water. Under Kleberg Jr.s stewardship, the King Ranch empire expanded to more than 11 million acres owned and leased all over the world, including Australia, Brazil, Venezuela, Morocco, Spain and Cuba.

Groves quotes her daughter Emory Alexander Hamilton: Grandfather recognized the need for a source of protein to feed the people of many undeveloped countries. Thus, his lifes work had one common element: the plan to use marginal areas, not fertile lands, to create protein.

During the more than 50 years he ran the 825,000-acre ranch  almost until his death in 1974  Kleberg didnt forget to have fun.

King Ranch parties, dinners and hunts were legendary, with guest lists ranging from Bing Crosby and Will Rogers to Lord and Lady Halifax and King Michael of Romania  from captains of industry, Hollywood stars, prominent artists, scholars, writers and military and political leaders, all sorts of stars and influencers were guests.

Hospitality was a grand tradition in my family, Groves said.

Bob and Helen Kleberg of King Ranch is a positive look at what is in most senses a heroic tale of family and business.

While Groves references obstacles that have been overcome, from drought to disease to the Great Depression, there is no mention of racial tensions along the Texas-Mexico border  that sometimes spilled over into ranch life  or stories of shady deals to expand the ranch, such as one in the 1880s when the senior Kleberg as an attorney reportedly worked both sides of a large land transaction to his father-in-law Capt. Kings advantage.

And, there is very little about the importance of King Ranch oil, which purportedly kept the ranch from being broken apart in the 30s, after Capt. Kings widow Henrietta died at age 92, leaving an estate-tax bill of more than $3 million.

Groves does dramatically tell the story of the Kinenos, or Kings men, who have worked and lived on the ranch for generations. In the 1850s, to stock the ranch with cattle, King traveled to drought-stricken Cruillas, Mexico, where a rancher wished to sell his entire herd. A deal was struck.

Then, seeing the sadness in the faces of the ranch folk, King asked the hacendado if he could invite them to journey with him to his ranch, where he had plenty of work. Many accepted and became Kinenos, or Kings men, a title they still value, Groves write in her book.

By and large, its a cattle book, and Groves is a cattlewoman, who remains a King Ranch shareholder in the King Ranch family corporation and oversees three other Texas ranches totaling 30,000 acres.

Groves also delves into her mothers side of the family, notably profiling her grandfather, Philip Pitt Campbell, a Scottish-American success story straight out of Horatio Alger. An illiterate Kansas farm boy whose father died early, he educated himself, passed the bar and was elected to the U.S. Congress. After 20 years in Washington D.C., he became counsel to the Standard Oil Co.

Its an important book, said Marise McDermott, president and CEO of the Witte Museum, home of the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center. I love the authenticity of the book. It really opens your eyes about the Texas cattle industry in particular and the role the King Ranch has played worldwide.

The coffee table books photography is stunning, offering an intimate, everyday visual record of the countrys most influential ranch from the 20s and 30s onward.

Many of the pictures of cowboys cutting, herding, branding and watering cattle; ranch family and workers; and ranch celebrations  were shot by Groves mother, an art lover and collector who always had a Leica in her hand.

Others are the work of Toni Frissell, the renowned Vogue and Harpers Bazaar fashion photographer whom the Klebergs befriended in the 30s and, of course, invited down to the ranch. The wife of painter Francis Bacon, she visited many times through 1944, shooting 40,000 color negatives. One of her nuggets of advice to Helen Kleberg: Click your camera at typewriter speed. Film is a cheap commodity. Apparently, Helen listened.

The soul of the book, however, is Bob Kleberg, whom Groves was very close to, especially after her mothers death in 1963 after a long battle with pulmonary tuberculosis.

My father stressed that you have to pay attention to what youre doing while youre doing it, Groves said. Its very important that you do something. If you just sit there and wait for someone to come along and say, I hear youre good at this, youre going to be sitting there a long time. Get started doing something, and that will lead to other things.

I hope that people will see from this book that these people all started out with as close to nothing as you can get, and all of them did something very well. They were not lazy.

The story of King Ranch and the Kleberg legacy is critical to understanding Texas, said Tom Payton, director of Trinity University Press.

This is an iconic Texas story that is rich with surprises, but also humbling reminders about family, the land and the hard work it took to build an empire, he said. When we discovered the book was out-of-print and no longer available, we called Helen Groves and asked if we could help remedy that. Were honored to have published this new edition.

As part of the Louis A. and Frances B. Wagner Series, Helen Kleberg Groves will discuss her King Ranch book from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at the Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway. $9-$14. A book-sigining follows. Reservations 210-357-1910, wittemuseum.org.

sbennett@express-news.net
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WASHINGTON - Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn bowed out of contention Tuesday as a possible replacement for fired FBI Director James Comey, ending speculation about what might otherwise have been a wide-open scramble for his long-held Senate seat.

Cornyns decision came three days after he interviewed for the FBI job with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and a week after President Donald Trump summarily fired Comey, the face of the agencys inquiries into Hillary Clintons emails and possible links between Trump campaign associates and the Russian government.

Now more than ever the country needs a well-credentialed, independent FBI Director, Cornyn said in a statement. Ive informed the administration that Im committed to helping them find such an individual, and that the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate.

Cornyns move came amid bipartisan calls for an FBI director from outside the political arena, with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell floating the name of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obamas failed pick for the Supreme Court.

Cornyns decision also averted a fresh leadership struggle in the Senate, as well as a reshuffling of the Republican political deck in Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott would have been required to appoint a temporary successor pending a special election.

Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, was arguably the most prominent prospect for the job to lead and stabilize and the FBI, which has been shaken by Trumps dismissal of Comey amid an inquiry of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Cornyn, 65, was one of 14 people who had emerged as candidates, eight of whom met over the weekend with Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein. Had Cornyn been tapped for the position at the FBI, he would have left vacant a U.S. senate seat he has occupied since 2002.

Cornyns decision came on a day when the White House found itself embroiled in yet another controversy, this one centered on whether Trump had improperly shared intelligence data with Russian diplomats in the Oval Office the day after he fired Comey.

Cornyn, like other Republican leaders in the House and Senate, has defended Trumps decision to fire Comey, arguing that he had lost the confidence of the president, ostensibly because of the Clinton email investigation.

Democrats have rejected that explanation, noting that Trump praised Comeys actions during the 2016 election. Cornyn has called the charge that Comey was fired to squash the Russia investigation a phony narrative.
AUSTIN  Texas officials say theyve been encouraged to ask President Donald Trumps administration to hand over millions of dollars that the previous administration withheld from the state for cutting Planned Parenthood centers from a key family planning program.

States arent supposed to eliminate willing eligible providers from federal Medicaid programs, according to federal law. Now four years after the state lost federal funding for nixing the controversial health provider from the program, the states health agency says its been encouraged to seek funding again under Trump.

Carrie Williams, chief press officer for the states Health and Human Services Commission, wouldnt say where the encouragement came from, other than to say that the sentiment is that the federal government may be open to new ideas.

Were looking at what opportunities may exist for us, Williams said.

If Texas is successful, not only would the federal government free up millions of dollars Texas is now spending to fully fund a program that provides pregnancy testing, STD tests and breast cancer screenings, but it could give other states the OK to yank the oft-criticized Planned Parenthood from their programs without facing financial consequences.

It seems to me were just inviting more lawsuits, said Stacey Pogue, a longtime observer of family planning programs and a senior policy analyst at the Center for Public Policy Priorities.

Texas lawmakers voted in 2011 to pull Planned Parenthoods affiliated centers from the list of eligible providers that could participate in the states family planning program. By 2012, the federal government under the Obama administration said it would not longer pay its 90 percent share of the program costs because cutting Planned Parenthood was in violation of Medicaids provision ensuring patient freedom of choice of providers.

The state lost about $30 million in federal funding to the states family planning that year, according to the Health and Human Services Commission, and has since funded the program entirely with state money.

Texas is hoping this time for a different answer from the Trump administration, which it hopes will side with the states attempt to marginalize Planned Parenthood. Trump last month signed a law giving states the option to cut other sources of funding to Planned Parenthood. The decision to grant the waiver will fall to Tom Price, Trumps health secretary and a former congressman rated favorably by anti-abortion groups.

Texas waiver application concerns Healthy Texas Women, the latest iteration of a family planning program the state launched in 2016. The program, which seeks to favor childbirth and services that do not include elective abortions, provides womens health and planning services such as HIV screening, long-acting reversible contraceptive, along with screenings and treatment for hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol at no cost to certain low-income women ages 15 to 44.

The number of low-income women enrolling in the program have plummeted since the state kicked out Planned Parenthood and its affiliates. Fewer low-income women have access to long-term birth control, and more are having unplanned pregnancies covered by Medicaid, said Pogue, who has studied womens health statistics in the fallout of Planned Parenthoods removal.

The harms been done in Texas. We have already removed Planned Parenthood from the program and have seen actual harm that happened because of that. The waiver wont change that. The harm hasnt been done in other states, she said.

The state will collect input until June 12 before submitting the waiver application.
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AUSTIN  The Texas Senate tentatively approved a bill Wednesday along party lines that would eliminate straight-ticket voting.

Republicans say the bill would force voters to review every race on the ballot, but Democrats are worried that eliminating the straight-ticket option would undermine voter turnout and spark another civil rights lawsuit in Texas.

Straight-ticket voting allows voters to click one button or mark one box to vote for all candidates of a specific party. If the bill passes, voters could no longer do that; they would have to vote for each race individually. In some cities, there have been as many as 100 races on a ballot.

HB 25, authored by state Rep. Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton, is expected to get a final vote today. It would then return to the House, where members will be asked to concur with an amendment approved on the Senate floor Wednesday that would change the bills effective date from 2017 to 2020.

Texas Elections Source reported that 63 percent of Texans chose to cast straight-ticket ballots during the November general elections. More than half of Bexar County voters have cast one-punch voting in the last four presidential elections.

State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, the bills sponsor in the Senate, said the intent is to encourage voters to get educated on all races and to motivate candidates to work until the end of a race instead of relying purely on a partisan vote. Texas is one of 10 remaining states that still allows one-punch voting, and this would align voters with the vast majority of other states, he said.

We tried to consider everything we could regarding the election process, Hancock said on the Senate floor. We actually stand a chance for people working harder to get voters to the very end to expand participation.

But Democrats were not convinced, arguing the bill would have unintended consequences to dilute Democrat and minority voters. Voting would take longer, making for longer lines that could discourage participation. People requiring assistance, such as the elderly, might not want or be able to spend the longer time it would take to vote.

Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, questioned Hancock about whether he had conducted a district impact analysis to review and address concerns about the bill negatively affecting minority voters. Hancock said he never deemed it necessary to run an analysis.

elutz@express-news.net
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In January 1745, Thomasa de la Garza, wife of Gabriel de los Rios, petitioned the authorities of Villa de San Fernando de Bexar to provide her an uninhabited town lot.

The mother of eight explained that she wanted to build a house on a new property because the lot where she had been living was needed by the owner and she had been asked to leave.

Four days later, several city officials went to the lot she wanted, measured it and turned it over to de la Garza.

In 1746, Juana de Urrutia sold Diego Roman a lot.

Urrutia, widow of Ignacio Gonsales de Ynclan, received 500 pesos from Roman in payment for the property that included a house plus improvements, fence and 16 peach trees.

Such transactions would have been inconceivable had the women lived in Colonial America instead of Spanish Texas, said Jean A. Stuntz, a historian, author and professor of history at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.

Thats because Spanish law prevailed in frontier San Antonio from 1716 to 1821, the years that Texas was under Spanish rule.

English common law was adopted for use in colonial legal systems in North America. Under English common law, women for the most part were deemed nonexistent.

Married women had almost no rights at all under English common law, said Stuntz, noting that everything a married woman owned could be sold by her husband without her consent.

In Colonial America, a married woman could not buy or sell land or conduct business.

During a womans coverture or marriage, she disappeared to the law, leaving her husband in total control of her person and property, Stuntz wrote in the April 2001 issue of the Southwestern Historical Quarterly.

It was a different situation in Spain, where a benevolent king began recognizing women as virtually equal to men in legal matters as early as the 13th century.

As Spain established new settlements in Texas, something had to be done to entice Spanish women to give up the comforts of home and settle with their families in remote, inhospitable, dangerous lands on the frontier.

The government agreed to provide free land, pay expenses and provide special privileges such as conferring the title of hidalgo, an expression of nobility (albeit the lowest), on the men.

But it also included womens rights in laws that would govern in the new settlements.

In this way, Stuntz said, women gradually earned the right to own property in their own name even after marriage, to control female businesses such as laundries, bakeries and water wells, and to be recognized as important citizens of frontier cities.

A womans legal status was contained in Las Siete Partidas, or the Seven Parts, the code of laws established in Spain in the 13th century by Alfonso X. Known as the Wise or Learned, Alfonso was king of Castile and Leon from 1252 until his death in 1284.

Las Siete Partidas, based on Roman law, conferred a status on women nearly equal to that of men. The code was never formally adopted in Spanish Texas but was used by authorities to settle disputes.

Unlike their counterparts in the American colonies, women in Spain and in Spanish Texas could hold property under their own names, and a woman could sell any separate property she had owned before marrying. Property purchased or inherited during the marriage belonged to both spouses. Before selling any property that belonged to both of them, the wife had to give her consent.

Documents contained in the Bexar Archives at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin show that many women in San Fernando (present-day San Antonio) were property owners.

Under traditional Spanish law, a married woman in frontier Texas could own, buy and sell property either in her own name or in her husbands name, Stuntz said. She could buy and sell land for her husband when she acted as her husbands representative. Women inherited equally with men and daughters equally with (sons).

A prime example is Maria del Carmen Calvillo, who inherited Rancho de las Cabras, about 30 miles south of San Antonio, after her father, Ignacio Calvillo, was murdered during a raid in 1814.

The ranch supplied livestock and crops to Mission San Francisco de la Espada.

Calvillo, who was born in San Fernando, was said to be as good at handling a gun as a man and a good business administrator. She successfully ran the ranch for decades, expanding operations over the years. Numerous reports indicate that she owned 2,000 head of cattle and kept peace with nomadic Indians by providing them with beef and allowing them to camp on her land. She ran the ranch until her death in 1856 at age 91, leaving the ranch to an adopted daughter and son.

Rancho de las Cabras is now part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

The strong legal standing that women had under Spanish rule was upended with the Texas Revolution.

Anglo men put Anglo laws in place, Stuntz said. Women, especially married women, had few rights in that legal system.

While the Texas Revolution increased womens visibility and activism, it did not significantly improve their overall status, said Mary Scheer, chair and professor of history at Lamar University in Beaumont.

With independence and a new Republic, English common law supplanted the Spanish legal system, which had given women extensive legal rights. For Anglo women in particular, this meant that the English doctrine of coverture subsumed a married womens rights under that of her husband, Scheer said.

She could own separate property that she brought to a marriage and share equally in any wealth amassed from the union, but her legal existence was covered or controlled by her husband, the professor added. Single or widowed women had more control over their property, but in practice, fathers or other male family members generally handled their affairs.

Scheer, also director of the Center for History and Culture at Lamar University, said that although separate property rights were preserved, Anglo women under the Republic and statehood could not vote, hold office, control their property, write a will or expect custody of their children.

Since few women remained single on the frontier, this change in law under the Republic left women worse off legally than women under the Spanish system, Scheer said.

Carmina Danini is a San Antonio freelance writer and former Express-News reporter.

COMING THURSDAY: The famous buried at San Antonio National Cemetery.
It wasnt easy to pick the biggest election-night surprise from San Antonios slate of May 6 municipal contests.

After all, we saw political newcomer Ana Sandoval knock off District 7 Councilman Cris Medina, after a decade in which local elected incumbents won 35 of 38 council races. We saw Cynthia Brehm  a candidate whose solution for traffic congestion is to have police cover accident scenes with a 7-foot black tarp, so drivers wont slow down to see what happened  receive a pluarity of the vote in District 8. And, of course, we saw Ron Nirenberg exceed all expectations in the mayoral race by finishing less than five points behind incumbent Ivy Taylor.

Even with those electoral curveballs, however, you could argue that the biggest surprise of the night happened in District 9. Predictable District 9. Stubbornly conservative District 9. The sprawling North Side district held together by a belief that taxes are too high, government is out of control and streetcars are big bad boondoggles.

Somehow, District 9 voters sifted through a race with 10 candidates and sent John Courage, a liberal Democrat with a history of lost-cause races against Lamar Smith and Donna Campbell, into a runoff. In fact, Courage came close to receiving the most votes in the general election, finishing with 22.4 percent of the vote, just behind Marco Barross 24.7 percent.

If Courage exceeded the expectations of many election observers, he fell short of his own projections.

I was disappointed that I didnt get more votes than I did, said, Courage, a 66-year-old Technology and History teacher at Little Flower Catholic School. I felt all along that we were on the right track to be in the runoff. I was hoping that Id get a higher percentage than I did, but I understand, with 10 people in the race, and everything.

The District 9 contest offered every flavor of conservative thought, from Barrioss chamber-friendly, pro-business pragmatism, to Patrick Von Dohlens faith-based support for gay conversion therapy, to Patty Gibbons libertarian-leaning agenda, and Lynlie Wallaces emphasis on rolling back regulations.

Courage snuck into the runoff partly because his opponents split the Republican vote amongst themselves, and partly because he downplayed his long history of Democratic activism. If its true that all politics is local, Courage is banking on the idea that ideology is national, and partisanship diminishes the more you zero in on neighborhood concerns.

I understand the conservative nature of the district, Courage said. But the district is more conservative when you talk about some of the national issues, and the wedge issues that have a national flavor to them. But when youre talking about local issues, in your neighborhood, in your community, I think people have a different view of those issues.

As he blockwalked across the district, Courage developed a ready answer for the inevitable questions about his party leanings.

Id say, Ill answer that question for you, but first let me ask you this: Is there a conservative or a liberal or a Democratic or a Republican way of filling a pothole or replacing a light or putting in a sidewalk?

Courage said his answer has proven satisfactory to most of the constituents he meets. Nonetheless, its a lot easier to find reasons why hell fall short against Barros than to rationalize a path to victory for him.

Barros, 59, has more money, the support of the business crowd, the endorsements of four current and former District 9 council members (Joe Krier, Elisa Chan, Kevin Wolff and Tim Bannwolf), and a resume highlighted by his tenure as president and CEO of the San Antonio Area Tourism Council.

To hear Barros tell it, the only question about the runoff will be the exact margin of his blowout victory.

My team thinks were going to win with 70 to 72 percent, he said.

Barros said he hasnt focused much attention on Courages campaign, but added, I think hes going to have a very difficult time, because its a very conservative district.

One of the also-rans in the race, retired dentist Bert Cecconi, said both Barros and Courage are outstanding people, but sounded skeptical about Courages ability to break through District 9s Republican wall.

By Cecconis reckoning, the only reason for a District 9 Republican to vote for a Democrat would be if that Republican intended to run for the seat in two years, and wanted an easy-to-beat incumbent in place.

If I had to bet $100, Cecconi said, Id bet on Marco.

ggarcia@express-news.net

Twitter: @gilgamesh470
Alzheimer's group meeting

COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Alzheimers Support Group will meet 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Columbus Resource Center, 3111 19th St.

The program will cover updates to Medicaid, presented by attorney Jim Egr.

For more information, call Adam Lassen or Martha Davidson at 402-564-1980.

DAV offering vets assistance

COLUMBUS -- The Disabled American Veterans Mobile Service Office will be at the Columbus Chapter, 2720 23rd St., from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday.

Personal counseling and claim filing assistance will be available. The services are free to all veterans and members of their families.

Builders group touring Albion

ALBION -- A Community Builders meeting will be held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 25 in Albion.

Site visits will be made to Sentinel Building Systems, Boone Central High School and Country Laminates. Dinner will be at 3Cs Clevelands Cafe and Catering where State Trails Administrator Kirk Nelson will discuss the trails system. Participants can order off the menu and pay for their own meal. Guests are welcome.

Those planning to attend are asked to contact Mary at Cornhusker Power District by noon Tuesday at 402-564-2821.

Society meeting on Central CC

COLUMBUS -- The Platte County Historical Society will present Central Community Colleges 50th Anniversary at 2 p.m. June 4 in the west building meeting room.

Dr. Matt Gotschall will share some of the archival history of the formation of Central Nebraska Vocational Technical School Number One, Platte College and eventually Central Community College. Those who lived through those periods are welcome to come join in the discussion and share experiences as a student, community member, faculty or staff.

CCC holding forklift class

COLUMBUS -- A forklift certification training course will be offered from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 8 in the North Education Center, room 911, at Central Community College-Columbus.

The class meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration for powered industrial trucks. It will cover prestart inspections, safety procedures, handling and transporting hazardous materials and federal regulations. Participants also will gain driving experience by using the colleges forklift before taking a driving test.

The registration deadline is June 1, but class size is limited so early registration is encouraged. The cost is $70. Students must be at least 18 years old and have a valid drivers license.

For more information or to preregister, contact Sue Baer at 402-562-1425; toll-free at 1-877-222-0780, ext. 1425; or email sbaer@cccneb.edu.

PowerPoint class offered

COLUMBUS -- Central Community College-Columbus will offer a Basic PowerPoint class from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. June 7 in room 179.

Preregistration is required at least a week in advance. The cost is $105, which includes a book.

For more information or to register, contact Sue Mahlin at 402-562-1409; toll-free at 1-877-222-0780, ext. 1409; or email smahlin@cccneb.edu.
COLUMBUS  The Platte County Board of Supervisors held a closed session during Tuesday's meeting to discuss an incident involving a county employee.

About 45 minutes were spent in executive session with the board and Platte County Highway Superintendent Terry Wicht.

Following the session, a motion was made for the highway superintendent to receive a written warning for the incident and to recommend he take an anger management class.

Only six of the seven supervisors were present during the vote after Bob Lloyd left to catch a flight. The motion failed to pass on a split vote. Supervisors Jim Scow, Ron Pfeifer and Hollie Olk voted in favor of the motion and Tom Martens, Jerry Micek and Jerry Engdahl were against it.

When contacted after the meeting, Engdahl, the board chairman, said he couldnt comment on the issue.

The board has held several discussions about Wicht and the highway department over the past couple of years. In 2015, an independent review of the department and its policies and operations was conducted to gauge its effectiveness and quality of service.

Disciplinary action and a possible suspension for Wicht were also discussed at past meetings.

In other business, the board voted to:

 give $20,000 to CASA for the 2017-18 fiscal year.

 establish a $200 petty cash fund for county court.

 adopt a resolution for the final plat and deed dedication for Eagle Wood Lake phase three and the deed of dedication for Shell Valley Ridge Subdivision.

 allow county employees to meet on personal time with representatives of New York Life for life insurance, long-term care and retirement planning.

 not participate in Legal Shield, an identity theft protection service.

 accept the low bid of $45,600 for road striping from Midwest Striping of Yankton, South Dakota, and the lone bid of $226,062 from Sta-Bilt Construction of Harlan, Iowa, for armor coating along 15 1/2 miles of road.
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In a landmark ruling, the High Court in London has said that interview notes  made by a companys external law firm as part of internal investigations into allegations of corruption in Kazakhstan and Africa  are not protected by legal professional privilege.

Mrs. Justice Andrews 8 May decision, which Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) is appealing, vindicates the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in its years long dispute with business lawyers over privilege and internal investigations. Companies have long claimed that documents created during internal investigations into allegations of wrongdoing, including interviews with key witnesses, are protected by privilege.

While the SFO respects the rights of companies to claim privilege, it believes some lawyers are making spurious privilege assertions over internal investigations to obstruct its inquiries. In a well-known interview in February 2015 with The Times, SFO director David Green said: These companies call in outside lawyers, who make a lot of money by doing an investigation and are the first to interview key witnesses at the coal face, then claim privilege  it is absolutely ludicrous.

Greens position on privilege has been repeated by senior SFO staff at numerous conferences. The reaction from business lawyers in London has been hostile with some arguing that the SFO has mounted a measured attack on the rights of companies.

However, the ENRC ruling, if allowed to stand, supports the SFOs strategy of fighting spurious privilege claims, and will hopefully result in clearer rules for when privilege can be asserted. This is particularly important in relation to the UKs quick-developing deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) regime.

The recent 671 million (about $860 million) Rolls-Royce settlement in January was the first time a company failed to inform authorities of wrongdoing and still secured a DPA. It suggests that factors other than self-reporting, particularly whether a company has waived privilege, as Rolls-Royce did, will be more important in determining whether they secure a DPA. The ENRC decision by clearly setting out where privilege can be asserted, also establishes more clearly what counts as a waiver.

* * *

The root of ENRCs dispute with the SFO is the companys claim that notes from internal investigation interviews carried out by its law firm, Dechert were covered by two types of legal protection: litigation privilege and legal advice privilege. The latter protects communications made in confidence between a lawyer and their client for the purpose of providing legal counsel. The former protects documents prepared for litigation, such as a civil dispute or criminal prosecution.

Litigation privilege only applies where a dispute is in progress, or at least reasonably in contemplation. Mrs Justice Andrews ruled that the disputed documents in ENRCs claim failed to meet this standard. The notes from Decherts internal investigation interviews were created between August 2011 and March 2013 when ENRC was not under investigation by the SFO. Nor was prosecution a real prospect at this time, said Mrs. Justice Andrews.

The SFO first contacted ENRC on 10 August 2011, the day after Times published allegations of corruption against the company. The two organisations subsequently entered into a period of dialogue for over one-and-a-half years, which resulted in over 30 meetings. The often strained cooperation between ENRC and the SFO ended in spring 2013, when the prosecutor formally opened a criminal investigation.

ENRC claimed that litigation privilege applied to documents created during this period of cooperation, because an SFO investigation, and a resulting criminal prosecution, was reasonably in contemplation.

Mrs. Justice Andrews countered that: Prosecution only becomes a real prospect once it is discovered that at the very least that there is some material [evidence] to support the allegations. She added that no such evidence had been presented to her.

ENRC further claimed that Decherts internal investigation interviews of company employees, suppliers and third-parties were covered by legal advice privilege.

Legal advice privilege is designed to encourage frank and open communications between a lawyer and their client. However, English courts have interpreted the term client narrowly, as only applying to individuals who are expressly authorised to obtain legal advice on a companys behalf. Communications between lawyers and employees outside of this tightly defined client group, however senior, are not protected by legal advice privilege.

The narrow definition of client in relation to legal advice privilege has for many years been a controversial topic in UK legal circles. Business lawyers have widely criticised the narrow definition, arguing that it makes life exceedingly difficult for companies carrying out internal investigations.

ENRC argued that any individual, including third-parties, if authorised by the company to participate in an internal investigation interview with Dechert, count as part of the client group. Their interviews are therefore protected by legal advice privilege, ENRC said.

However, Mrs. Justice Andrews rejected ENRCs argument, saying employees and third-parties taking part in an internal investigation interview with a lawyer do not automatically become part of the client group.

* * *



The ENRC decision has created alarm in some parts of the English legal community with some making exaggerated predictions of an impending crisis. One law firm has said that the ruling may lead to the ultimate demise of cooperation between companies and the SFO.

However, reactions such as this disguise the plain fact that the ENRC decision has made clear: the SFO, rather than attacking legal rights as some have suggested, has been following a reasonable interpretation of English privilege law.

If the ENRC decision stands, it will spur the SFO to continue on its path of challenging spurious claims of privilege that cloak the crime scene in secrecy. It could also reduce long, protracted negotiations between companies and the SFO over privilege, potentially resulting in the quicker delivery of justice.

____

Rahul Rose is a senior researcher for Corruption Watch, a London-based NGO that undertakes cross-border investigations into grand corruption and pushes for effective enforcement of UK anti-corruption legislation. He can be contacted here.
I acknowledge that what I want my readers to know about me and what they might wish to know  if anything at all - maybe very different things.

Robert Daws

I sometimes worry that my readers may know too much about me. As a writer and an actor, Im aware that publicity is a built-in part of the business of both disciplines. When Im in a TV series or a stage play, the broadcaster or producer, understandably, use PR and marketing professionals to promote their shows. It means I can find myself being interviewed across a range of mediums and have my face turn up in some exciting, strange or unexpected places. My interview with Pest Control Weekly is, for some reason, still talked about today. Judi Dench says that actors should attempt to remain mysterious. Too much knowledge of the actor gets in the way of the characters they play. Perhaps that should apply to writers as well. I did an interview last week and was asked, Whats your second favourite jam? Hard to remain mysterious when your answer to that question is in the public domain.

My second favourite jam is strawberry. My first favourite jam is something I will keep to myself. Mysterious? Moi?

I like writing about places I know and like. Sitting here in my study on a cold May afternoon, I can easily see why I like writing about life lived under a Mediterranean sun. However, its climate was only one of many reasons I chose Gibraltar as the setting for my novels. The people of Gibraltar, its history, and its unique geographical setting were also a huge influence in the decision. It also has the second oldest police force in the world, based entirely on the British system. The Royal Gibraltar Police Force has a hugely varied and challenging job. It seemed the perfect place for my main protagonist, D.S. Tamara Sullivan, to begin her new and exciting life as a police detective.

I play the trumpet. Or at least I did for many years. This has nothing to do with my writing, except perhaps for my more long-winded passages.

Until the age of five, I had to walk with the support of leg irons. I was born with a medical condition known as talipase  in those days, more commonly known as clubfoot. Having a clubfoot was not enough for me, which is why I popped out with two of them. My poor mother had to look on as the doctor swiftly broke both my baby ankles  a necessary procedure, apparently. Did I suffer? Do I feel sorry for myself? Not at all. Ive walked perfectly well ever since I was five-years-old  the doctors did a miraculous job, and there's barely a scar left behind - and to tell the truth, I was probably spoilt stupid growing up. I am, however, drawn to characters in my writing that have obstacles to overcome and things to prove. I find it easy to relate to that.

I love roast dinners, and so does Chief Inspector Gus Broderick. Readers of the first two Sullivan and Broderick Murder Investigations will not have come across this detail. I can, however, reveal that Brodericks penchant for Yorkshire puds and gravy will be unveiled in the third novel, The Killing Rock. Brodericks mother was from Gibraltar, but his father was born and bred in Scarborough and loved his beef and horseradish. A roast dinner is a huge favourite in the Daws household, and much enjoyed on Sundays and great feast days throughout the year. Writers are much encouraged to write about what they know, and there's not much I don't know about this particular meal. I love it  as PG Wodehouse would have said  from soup to nuts.' Nut roast a specialty.

My second favourite roast dinner is chicken. My first favourite roast dinner is something I will keep to myself. Still pushing the man of mystery' bit but with diminishing returns.

I love literary festivals. Festivals of all kinds have taken off in the UK over recent years. Among the most popular, are literary festivals, and I can understand why. I'm lucky enough to be a guest speaker at some of these, but that doesn't mean I don't go out of my way to meet and listen to some of the best writers and storytellers alive today. Each writer has a different story to tell and a different process to reveal. As a writer, you learn so much from listening to other writers talk about their journeys and creative insights. Festivals offer so much to people interested in all areas of storytelling and readers and writers from all walks of life. The cakes, wine, and banter are also a jolly good incentive to go along.

My second favourite literary festival is... I dont have second favourites, only first favourites. The wonderful Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival and the hugely exciting Theakstones Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, are both splendid. Theyd be my first favourites, but then what about the Whitstable Lit Fest, Ampthill Lit Fest, and Wimborne Lit Fest? Include those and I have five first favourites, and Im only getting started.

My favourite spot in Gibraltar is Europa Point. One is spoilt for choice, due to the large number of extraordinary places to visit and admire on the Rock. Why Europa Point? Its the most southern tip of Europe. Behind you, the magnificent limestone Rock rises to over a thousand feet, while before you, across the Straits, lies the wonders of Africa. It is where two mighty continents meet, and the thought of that never fails to thrill my senses.

The Rock and The Poisoned Rock by Robert Daws are published by Urbane Publications.
Fans of El Palacio in Huntsville will have one last chance to take home a piece of the beloved Mexican restaurant before it's gone forever.
Val Kilmer has credited "prayers" for helping him overcome cancer.

Val Kilmer

The 57-year-old actor recently admitted to having won a battle with the disease despite previously denying claims he was was of ill health, and has now said he believes his faith as a Christian greatly helped in curing him of the often deadly disease.

When one fan asked him about his battle with cancer during a Q&A session on Reddit.com on Tuesday (16.05.17), Val said: "I am very grateful for all the prayers and good thoughts from around the world. People that know I am a Christian Scientist make the assumption that I have somehow endangered myself. But many many people have been healed by prayer throughout recorded history. And many many people have died by whatever was modern medicine."

The news comes after the 'Top Gun' actor admitted last month to having had a "healing of cancer", after having previously dubbed his friend Michael Douglas as "misinformed" when he alluded to the star's battle with throat cancer in October last year.

In a previous session on Reddit, Val was asked by a fan: "A while ago, Michael Douglas claimed you had terminal cancer. What was the story behind that?"

To which the 'Batman Forever' actor said: "He was probably trying to help me because press probably asked where I was these days, and I did have a healing of cancer, but my tongue is still swollen although healing all the time. Because I don't sound my normal self yet people think I may still be under the weather."

Originally, Michael - who beat his own cancer diagnoses in 2013 - claimed Val was "dealing with exactly what [he] had", and said that things "didn't look good".

Speaking during a Q&A with TV host Jonathan Ross at 'An Evening with Michael Douglas' in London, the Oscar-winning star said: "The picture didn't turn out as well as I hoped but I had a wonderful time.

"Val was a wonderful guy who is dealing with exactly what I had, and things don't look too good for him.

"My prayers are with him. That's why you haven't heard too much from Val lately."
Idris Elba has started filming his directorial debut 'Yardie'.

Idris Elba

The 'Guerrilla' actor will be shooting the new film, which is based on the 1992 debut novel by Jamaican-born British writer Victor Headley of the same name, in London and Jamaica for seven weeks.

The 44 year old said: "I am interested in making human stories with characters that are either full of grace or flawed.

"In 'Yardie' the audience will see a film that hopefully means something to the people.

"I'm honoured to be able to shoot it in my hometown of London and as a guest in Jamaica."

Idris, who is also producing the film, will star alongside Aml Ameen, Stephen Graham and Jamaican newcomers Shantol Jackson, Sheldon Shepherd and Everaldo Creary in the upcoming movie.

The plot follows a young Jamaican name 'D' who comes to London in the early 1980s and discovers the man who killed her brother a decade earlier.

His quest for justice causes a street war which puts himself and his loved ones in the middle and in peril.

Just last week, the 'Luther' star advertised looking for people to star as "paid extras" in the movie and for them to attend an open audition to learn "more about the project".

However, hundreds of hopefuls turned up and the auditions were shut down by police.

Now it seems the production has been given the green light and is to be co-financed by Studiocanal, the British Film Institute (BFI), BBC Films and Screen Yorkshire.

Robin Gutch ,Gina Carter and Mark Herbert from Warp Films will be producing alongside Dan MacRae and Danny Perkins for Studiocanal; Mary Burke and Ben Roberts for the BFI, Joe Oppenheimer for BBC Films and Hugh Heppell for Screen Yorkshire.
Martin Compston will be guest-starring in the second series of 'Victoria'.

Martin Compston

The 'Line of Duty' actor has been cast as Dr Robert Traill in ITV's critically-acclaimed show based on the life of Queen Victoria - who is played by Jenna Coleman - and will be seen on screens when the next instalment makes a return in the autumn.

According to the Radio Times Online, Traill was a key campaigner in the petition to gain awareness and support of the potato famine in Ireland during the 1840s.

And Martin isn't the only new face to grace the period drama as Dame Diana Rigg, of 'Game of Thrones', Emerald Fennell from 'Call the Midwife', Jo Stone-Fewings from 'The Hollow Crown', 'Maleficent' star Leo Suter and Michael Maloney have also joined.

Bruno Wolkowitch, the French actor from Gallic drama 'Spin' will also guest-star in the second series as French King Louis Philippe who Queen Victoria visits in France.

The new series sees the queen face the challenge of motherhood and reportedly picks up six weeks after the first series ended in October with the monarch trying to balance her responsibilities as a parent and a famous figure.

The second series of the show went into production in February as Jenna reunited with her co-stars Tom Hughes, David Oakes, Nell Hudson and Eve Myles, to name a few, in London.

ITV bosses were given the go ahead to do another series last year - just weeks after its debut on screen last September - and a festive special this year is also in the pipeline.

Jenna explained previously: "We're doing season two and then it's a question of where we go from there. There's no shortage of story. You don't want to go through it too quickly. There are nine children to have, so there is a long way to go."
Stallone married model Flavin in 1997 and they now have three daughters together; Sophia, Sistene and Scarlett.

Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin (Credit: Famous)

They first met in a restaurant in Beverly Hills and they waited nine years to get married in a civil ceremony in The Dorchester Hotel in London. This was followed by a chapel ceremony at Blenheim Place in Oxford. They now live together in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Beverly Crest with their daughters.

In 1994, Stallone supposedly broke up with Falvin via a 'Dear John' letter that he sent to her by FedEx. They managed to settle their differences and get back together a year later and got married two years after that. (IMDB)

He now has nothing but kind words for his marriage to Flavin: ' It's been a fantastic revival of my life. As you know, my first marriage didn't go so well, though I have a relationship with my sons, but this marriage has been a second beginning. I used to think my career was number one, so I was gone nine months out of a year, but I learned the hard way that the most important thing is that you start at home and then comes the career. ' (IMDB)

by Lucy Moore for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Turkey is much more than just a holiday destination. It has a rich, diverse culture and history, beautiful landscapes and cuisine that will keep you coming back for moreand more!

When you start to scratch the surface and discover more about this amazing country you will find many interesting facts you never knew. Here are just a few to get you started

Miles and miles of coastline

Turkey has over 8,000 km (5,000m) of coastline and 519 Blue Flag beaches, ranking third among 49 countries and coming after Greece.

North Aegean coastline  photograph courtesy of Go Turkey Tourism

Dilek National Park, Black sea coast, Turkey  Photograph courtesy of Rough Guides

Average age in Turkey

Turkey has a population of 82,482,383 (July 2021 est.) with an average age of 32.2  the average age of males is 31.7 years and females, 32.8 years.

Istiklal caddesi, Istanbul

Nuts, whole hazelnuts

Turkey to date, is so far the worlds leading hazelnut producer, accounting for about 72.9 per cent of the total world supply.

About 60 per cent of the crop is produced in the Eastern Black Sea Region, 15 per cent is produced in the Central Region and the remaining 25 per cent is produced in the Western Black Sea Region.

Hazelnut harvest in Turkey

Noahs Ark

Many archeologists and biblical scholars believe Noahs Ark landed on Mount Ararat (Agr Dag) in eastern Turkey. The mountain is actually a dormant volcano and the highest point in the country at 16,949 feet (5,166 m)

A view of Mt. Ararat and the monastery of Khor Virap  Photograph courtesy of National Geographic

The rise of Christianity

St. John, St. Paul and St. Peter lived and prayed in southern Anatolia. Tradition has it that St. John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus after the Crucifixion, where she spent her last days in a small stone house called Meryemana Evi (The House of the Virgin Mary) on what is now Bulbuldagi (Mount Koressos). It remains a popular pilgrimage site for Christians to this day.

The House Of The Virgin Mary (Meryemana) On Mt. Koressos In Turkey.

Are Tulips from Amsterdam?

The Tulip was actually originally a wildflower growing in Central Asia. It was first cultivated by the Turks as early as 1000AD. Mania in Turkey struck in the 16th century, at the time of the Ottoman Empire when the Sultan demanded cultivation of particular blooms for his pleasure. The name tulip came from the Turkish word for turban (tulbent).

Tulips blooming in Fethiye (Photo by Lyn Ward)

The city on two continents

Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents  Europe and Asia. During its more almost 2,000-year history, it has been the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.

Istanbul, the only city in the world to span two continents. (Photo by World Atlas)

Gobekli Tepe

Gobekli Tepe in southern Turkey is home to the most ancient temple structures ever discovered. Its circular structures, with their elaborately carved stones and distinctive, T-shaped pillars, are more than 12,000 years oldolder than the invention of agriculture or even pottery and have changed the way archaeologists look at the beginnings of civilization.

Gobekli Tepe  Photograph courtesy of the Smithsonian Magazine

A Golden Cage

Connected to the harem section of Topkap Palace but tucked away behind a high wall is the chamber of the Ottoman princes. Its a single story building handsomely decorated on the inside with high ceiling, tiled walls and carpeted floors. Ornate stained glass windows look out across the high terrace and the garden of the pool below. Despite its splendor, this building was a prison, meant to keep all possible successors to the throne locked up so that they could never challenge the reigning sultan. These chambers were known as kafes, whose literal translation is cage.

The Golden Cage at Topkap Palace- Photograph courtesy of the Weekend Historian

A jelly bean fact

Although jelly beans were born in the America, their roots may lie far, far Eastin Turkey

Jelly beans first appeared in the United States in the mid-to-late 19th century. Some historians believe they were inspired by Turkish delighta chewy jelly and powdered sugar confection that was a popular treat from Turkey.

Jelly beans  photograph courtesy of Readers Digest

Turkey and Narnia

The word for lion in Turkish is aslan, which is also the name of the great lion in C.S. Lewis classic childrens series The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. One of the treats featured in the series is the dessert Turkish delight, which originated in Turkey.

Aslan (Lion in Turkish) from The Chronicles of Narnia

The Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar ( Kapalcars, meaning Covered Market) in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.

In 2014, it was listed No.1 among the worlds most-visited tourist attractions with 91,250,000 annual visitors. The Grand Bazaar at Istanbul is often regarded as one of the first shopping malls of the world.

Inside the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul- Photograph courtesy of the Istanbul Insider

By the way
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The assessments are contained in the annual review by the European Union's assembly of local and regional politicians of progress in the EU's enlargement process, which was adopted on 12 May. At the same time, the CoR stated that "an effective working relationship between local and regional authorities on both sides can contribute to rebuilding some of the trust between Turkey and the EU" and urged the Turkish government to heed a long-standing call by the CoR for an upgrade in contacts between the CoR and local and regional leaders in Turkey.The opinion , by(EE/ALDE), mayor of Ambla, presses the European Commission to report "more effectively and in more detail" on local and regional governance in the seven would-be members of the EU: Turkey, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Around 70% of EU legislation requires implementation by local and regional authorities, and the success of any future enlargement of the EU therefore rests on effective local and regional management.The opinion urges the EU to show that it "remains open to all those who wish to achieve the same objectives and share the same values". It emphasises that regions and cities in the area could increase cross-border cooperation, engage young people, and help to explain the potential benefits of EU membership to voters. The CoR's recommendations place special emphasis on the rule of law and fundamental rights, economic development and migration.In a country-by-country review, the CoR voices concern about the situation in Turkey and the state of reforms in Macedonia, as well as urging Bosnians to coordinate the work of "all levels of government and administration" and to "move beyond individual interests". Among the progress it highlights, the opinion welcomes Montenegro's pending admission to NATO, Albania's "relative progress" on "key reform priorities", Montenegro's efforts to professionalise its local civil service, and the ongoing normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.The adoption of the opinion was preceded by a debate with the president of the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in which(AU/PES) noted that the Council of Europe is addressing rule-of-law issues in Turkey, Hungary and Poland, where planned reforms of local government are "of concern". As part of its critique of actions by the Turkish government that the Council believes are damaging local democracy and "seriously weakening" civil society and political parties, the Council has called for the annulment of decisions to remove mayors.Separately, Ms Mosler-Tornstrom emphasised the record of cooperation over the past ten years between the two assemblies for local and regional politicians, as well as the complementary nature of the Council of Europe and the EU. "Our work provides the foundation for the work of the EU," she said. Ms Mosler-Tornstrom particularly emphasised the potential for cooperation between the two assemblies on corruption, the monitoring of local elections and developing relations with local and regional authorities along and beyond Europe's eastern and southern borders.
Future Group, which has several fashion retail formats under its portfolio, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oman based Khimji Ramdas Group to open FBB stores in UAE. It will initially sell apparel in Oman and will gradually expand to other regions in the Gulf. This is the first time that the company has forayed into international markets.

Both the companies have made an investment of Rs 75 crore each in this 50-50 joint venture.

Future Group will open 4-5 FBB stores in Oman and will eventually expand to have over 17-18 stores across the region, said Kishore Biyani, chief executive of Future Group while addressing the media at a press conference held in Mumbai. He added that the first store of the company will open in the first quarter of 2018.

Future Group, which has several fashion retail formats under its portfolio, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oman based Khimji Ramdas Group to open FBB stores in UAE. It will initially sell apparel in Oman and will gradually expand to other regions in the Gulf. This is the first time that the company has forayed into international markets.#

Meanwhile, in the domestic market, Future Group's Future Lifestyle Fashions (FLF) has recorded a 17.5 per cent increase in its net sales for FY16. It has surpassed Shoppers Stop in terms of annual sales for the first time, as per the annual financial results of both entities. The collective sales of FLF amounted to Rs 3,877 crore during FY16.

The company expects to make a revenue of Rs 11,000-12,000 crore from its clothing business in India in the current fiscal, said Biyani. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
JC Penney has reported net sales of $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2017 that ended April 29, compared to $2.8 billion last year. For the first quarter, gross margin was 36.3 per cent of sales, an increase of 10 basis points compared to the first quarter last year. Gross margin was positively impacted by improved selling margins throughout the quarter.

SG&A expenses for the Q1 2017 declined $29 million to $843 million, or 31.2 per cent of sales. These savings were primarily driven by lower marketing, store controllable costs and incentive compensation.

For the first quarter, the company's net loss was $180 million, or ($0.58) per share, which includes $220 million, or approximately ($0.71) per share, of restructuring charges associated with store closing announcement and voluntary early retirement program; $17 million, or approximately $0.06 per share, of benefit from the tax impact from other comprehensive income allocation and $4 million, or approximately $0.01 per share, of benefit from primary pension plans among other things.

JC Penney has reported net sales of $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2017 that ended April 29, compared to $2.8 billion last year. For the first quarter, gross margin was 36.3 per cent of sales, an increase of 10 basis points compared to the first quarter last year. Gross margin was positively impacted by improved selling margins throughout the quarter.#

EBITDA was $40 million for the first quarter 2017 compared to $176 million for the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter improved $102 million or 67 per cent to $255 million compared to the first quarter last year.

Inventory at the end of the first quarter 2017 was $2.95 billion, an increase of 0.8 per cent compared to the end of the first quarter last year.

The company completed the sale of its Buena Park distribution facility in March for a net sales price of approximately $131 million and recorded a net gain of approximately $111 million in the first quarter associated with the sale of this facility.

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter were $363 million. During the quarter, the company utilised available cash on hand to retire $220 million of outstanding bonds that matured in April. The company ended the quarter with a liquidity position of approximately $2.4 billion.

"We continue to make encouraging progress in the Company's competitive and financial position despite our top-line performance during the first quarter. While February was a very challenging month for JCPenney and broader retail, we are pleased with our comp store sales for the combined March and April period, which improved significantly versus February. The recent sales trends, combined with the improvement in women's apparel and our growth initiatives led by Sephora inside JCPenney, jcp.com and major appliances, provide us with the confidence to maintain our sales guidance for the full year," said Marvin R Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer, JC Penney. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Jeanologia, a leader in sustainable and efficient technologies for the textile finishing industry, is participating in the Bangladesh Denim Expo in Dhaka, on May 17 and 18, 2017, and is set to promote sustainable technology to increase the competitiveness of the production centres in Bangladeshs textile industry by automating garment finishing processes.The Spanish companys innovative solutions are able to increase the productive capacity of the laundries, reduce the time-to- market and offer an innovative, creative, and ecological product.

Jeanologia, a leader in sustainable and efficient technologies for the textile finishing industry, is participating in the Bangladesh Denim Expo in Dhaka, on May 17 and 18, 2017, and is set to promote sustainable technology to increase the competitiveness of the production centres in Bangladesh's textile industry by automating garment finishing processes.#

Jeanologia has been present in Bangladesh for 10 years and has become an expert technology partner of the main production centres. Its global solutions, based on clean technologies, are able to increase the efficiency and the automation of finishing processes without harming the creativity and obtaining the added value of the sustainability for the garments.Bangladesh ranks second in the world, behind China, in jeans production. Jeanologias goal has been to support the Bengali textile industry in its aim to become the worlds leading power; accompanying it in its needed transformation towards automation, efficiency, decontamination, and sustainable use of water in the process of textile finishing.Jordi Juani, division director of the Spanish firm said, Jeanologia has not only managed to reduce time-to-market, it also allows savings of up to 95 per cent of water and 90 per cent of chemicals-use in the finishing processes of jeans with the revolutionary process One glass one garment.The company has recently opened a new office in Dhaka and has set the challenge of transforming Bangladeshs production centres into Eco Laundries, integrating all technologies; laser, ozone and nano-bubbles.Jeanologia has started a revolution in the textile industry in Bangladesh by being able to replace dangerous techniques such as manual scraping and the spraying of potassium permanganate, with laser solutions. Likewise, it has been able to increase the efficiency in the wash centres by reducing up to 80 per cent the consumption of water and chemical products.Currently, more than 50 of the most important factories in Bangladesh already work with the Spanish technology, which represents more than 80 per cent of the market of laser and ozone technology. The implementation of this machinery in the laundries is saving thousands of lives, and millions of litres of water every year. Jeanologias investment in innovation focuses its efforts on increasing these achievements. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
A wide array of Sri Lankan products, including textiles, are set to benefit as the European Union has granted enhanced market access for the South Asian island nation as a reform incentive. The one-way trade preferences under a special arrangement of the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences, known as GSP+, are likely to come into force this month.

The trade preferences granted to Sri Lanka under GSP+ consist of the full removal of duties on 66 per cent of tariff lines, including textiles and fisheries, entering the EU market. These have been granted in exchange for the country's commitment to ratify and effectively implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labour conditions, protection of the environment, and good governance, an official statement said.

EUs GSP+ is designed to support developing countries by fostering their economic development through increased trade with Europe and providing incentives to take tangible measures towards sustainable development.

A wide array of Sri Lankan products, including textiles, are set to benefit as the European Union has granted enhanced market access for the South Asian island nation as a reform incentive. The one-way trade preferences under a special arrangement of the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences, known as GSP+, are likely to come into force this month.#

"Granting GSP+ to Sri Lanka aims to provide the opportunity to develop further economically, including creating more and better jobs for all Sri Lankans, on a sound foundation that advances human and labour rights, and in a manner that is environmentally sustainable. It is also a vote of confidence from the European Union that the Sri Lankan Government will maintain the progress it has made in implementing the international conventions, said EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom.

If Sri Lanka continues to make the necessary progress, then the country has the chance to benefit from the scheme until it achieves Upper Middle Income country status for three consecutive years. On current trends, that should mean that Sri Lanka will benefit from GSP+ until at least 2021.

The EU is Sri Lanka's biggest export market accounting for nearly one-third of Sri Lanka's global exports. In 2016, total bilateral trade amounted to almost 4 billion, and EU imports from Sri Lanka amounted to 2.6 billion. The removal of import duties will provide a total of immediate benefits worth in excess of 300 million a year. However, the value of the scheme could be worth many times more, particularly if Sri Lanka uses the opportunity to diversify its economy. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
US cotton output this year is forecast at 19.2 million bales, nearly 12 per cent above the final 2016 estimate, according to USDAs initial projection for the 2017 crop. Based on the Prospective Plantings report, 2017 cotton area is estimated at 12.23 million acres, 2.2 million acres above 2016, due to higher prices of cotton relative to competing crops.

Area for both upland and extra-long staple (ELS) cotton is forecast to expand in 2017. For the upcoming season, upland acreage is projected higher in each of the Cotton Belt regions. Based on Prospective Plantings, the Southwest upland area is estimated at 7.4 million acres, above last years six million acres and the second highest since the early 1980s. The Southwest is forecast to account for 62 per cent of the upland area in 2017, slightly above last seasons 61 per cent. Cotton acreage in the Southeast is expected to approach 2.5 million acres in 2017, nearly 14 per cent above last season but equal to the 5-year average.

In the Delta, 2017 cotton area is forecast to increase for the second consecutive season to 1.8 million acres as acreage returns to near the 10-year average. The Delta is expected to account for 15 per cent of the US upland acreage in 2017, similar to the previous season. In the West, improved irrigation supplies for the 2017 spring-planted cropsin addition to favourable pricesare expected to boost cotton area there. ELS cotton remains concentrated in the West, where over 90 per cent of the 232,000-acre total is expected to be planted in 2017. California will continue as the dominant ELS-producing state, contributing 190,000 acres of the total.

US cotton output this year is forecast at 19.2 million bales, nearly 12 per cent above the final 2016 estimate, according to USDA's initial projection for the 2017 crop. Based on the Prospective Plantings report, 2017 cotton area is estimated at 12.23 million acres, 2.2 million acres above 2016, due to higher prices of cotton relative to competing crops.#

As of early May, moisture conditions across the Cotton Belt are more favourable this season, although parts of the Southeast have experienced some dry conditions, the Economic Research Service of the US department of agriculture (USDA) said in its latest Cotton and Wool Outlook report.

US cotton harvested area for 2017 is projected at nearly 11.4 million acres, 20 per cent above the 2016 estimate of 9.5 million acres. The national yield is projected at 810 pounds per harvested acre and is based on the 2012-16 crop average yields, weighted by region. The initial US yield estimate is below last seasons final estimate due to the proportionally larger increase in lower-yielding Southwest acreage in 2017.

Meanwhile, US cotton demand (mill use plus exports) in 2017-18 is forecast 2 per cent lower at 17.4 million bales, as reduced exports account for the decline. US cotton mill use for 2017-18 is estimated above 2016-17 at 3.4 million bales, supported by demand for US cotton textile product exports.

Cotton stocks are forecast at 5.0 million bales on July 31, 2018, the highest since 2008-09. However, the 2017-18 stocks-to-use ratio (29 per cent) is forecast between last seasons 18 per cent and 2015-16s 30 per cent. Based on these initial supply and demand projections, the 2017-18 US upland farm price is expected to range between 54 cents and 74 cents per pound. At the midpoint of the range, the farm price would be 5 cents below the 2016-17 estimate of 69 cents per pound. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Priyanka Chopra

The gorgeous Priyanka Chopra is enjoying the sun, sand and the beach in Miami.

Beaches

Priyanka Chopra is enjoying the feel of the ocean! Wow!

Baywatch

PeeCee's Hollywood debut Baywatch is all set for a worldwide release on May 26, 2017.

Hollywood Dreams

If Baywatch is a success, Priyanka Chopra's filmy career might get a boost in Hollywood.

Dostana

Priyanka Chopra's first ever swimsuit scene was in the film Dostana in 2008.

Jaw-dropping

Her gold shimmering swimsuit made a lot of people's jaw drop!

Living The Life

PeeCee is slowly yet steadily making her way into Hollywood and we're sure she'll find success soon.

Neon

Priyanka Chopra had recently posted this neon bikini image on her social media handle!

Hot!

PeeCee looks smoking hot in this bikini, doesn't she folks?

Cool Pool

Priyanka is seen chilling by the pool for a photoshoot, sporting a dark blue bikini.

Quantico

Her television show Quantico has successfully completed two series in the USA.

Good Ratings

Quantico had received good ratings and many people in the US are familiar with PeeCee now.

Success

Fans are eagerly waiting for the release of Baywatch and it'll hit the theatres on May 26, 2017.
Soaking In The Sun

Deepika Padukone is soaking in the sun, sporting a white bathrobe before getting ready for the red carpet for Cannes 2017.

Enjoying The View

Deepika is also seen enjoying the breathtaking view from the balcony.

Arriving At Cannes

Deepika Padukone arrived at Cannes after a long flight and she'll set the red carpet on fire today.

Mumbai Airport

The gorgeous Deepika Padukone looked classy and chic before boarding her flight to Cannes from Mumbai.

All Eyes On Deepika

All eyes are on Deepika Padukone as she's ready to walk the red carpet at Cannes 2017.

En Route

Deepika shared this image on her Instagram handle en route to Cannes from her flight.
Is It Necessary For Celebs To Have An Opinion On Everything?

As reported by DNA, when HT cafe asked the actress that does she think it's becoming increasingly necessary for celebrities to have an opinion on everything, the actress replied, "Actually, that's a very good question. The answer for me is, no."

Katrina Supports SSR

She further added, "For some people it might be yes. It's not necessary for me to have an opinion on everything. You might be right or I might not agree with your opinion, but why can't I not have an opinion?"

Her Statements Do Make Sense

"I'm not well informed about half the things that go on in the world. Until I really want to sit down and do my research, I'd rather not say anything that I'm not sure about. If you are going to speak your mind on any sensitive topic, then by all means, have all the information available."

Does She Google Herself?

In the same interview, when Katrina was asked, does she Google herself, she said, "I only Google myself when people around me are freaking out about some piece of information that is all over."

Heres What She Does..

"Then I go to Google to check the news feed to find that everyone's talking about the same thing because of similar headlines. Then, if I have to, I will pay attention to what the person is saying. If not, then I'm like, it's okay, it will come and it will go."
Plot

Raj Batra (Irrfan Khan) owns a flourishing garments store on Chandni Chowk where he sells 'original designs' of renowned designers. On the other hand, his wife Meeta aka Mithu (Saba Qamar) is busy trying to 'angrezify' their lifestyle so that their little daughter Pia gets admission in a posh English medium school.

The Batras get enrolled in a counselling centre where parents are trained how to crack their children's admission procedure along with some grooming tips.

Soon they upgrade their residence from their ancestral home in Chandni Chowk to the elite population of Vasant Vihar and ditch their desi swag for designer wear and some social mingling.

Alas, it doesn't work out and finally their counsellor drops in an idea of applying in the 'gareeb' quota under RTE (Right To Education Act).

To 'fake' poverty, the 'reasonably rich' Batras immediately shift their base to a poor settlement in Bharat Nagar and take some gareebi ki training under their new neighbour Shyam Prakash (Deepak Dobriyal) who is unaware about Batras' real motive and financial state.

Will this deceit finally land Pia a seat in one of Delhi's top-notch English medium schools?

Direction

Saket Choudhary takes up one of the most relevant subjects in today's times and weaves it into an interesting story.

Hindi Medium starts with a bang and gives you plenty of reasons to laugh your heart out at the situational humour which everyone of us could relate it.

The film stirs up a conversation about how English in our country isn't just a language but associated with a class.

Unfortunately post interval, the story begins to lose its steam when the director tries to pack in too many contexts- the rich-poor divide, commercialization of education, some guilty trip and finally a cliched end that doesn't quite make a thundering impact.

Performances

Irrfan Khan is a sheer delight to watch! Give this man any role and he aces it like a pro! His impeccable comic timing while delivering the punchlines will make you laugh till it hurts!

He nails his act of a man grappling between his simplistic roots and pretending to be a wannabe elitist.

Saba Qamar who plays his nagging, OTT wife is quite a revelation and gets her old Delhi accent quite point on. Her chemistry with Irrfan is simply adorable.

Deepak Dobriyal is fabulous as usual and has his share of teary-eyed moments too! Tillotama Shome makes a mark even in a brief role. On the other hand, Amrita Singh suffers from a badly-written character.

Technical Aspects

Amitosh Nagpal's humour-laced dialogues is an icing on this social satire and keeps the light-heartedness flavour intact even when it makes us come face-to-face with a grim reality.

Laxman Utekar's cinematography works fine whereas A. Sreekar Prasad's editing is decent.

Music

The songs of Hindi Medium don't hold a great recall value if you pull them out of the narrative. 'Ishq Tera Tadpave' is a nostalgia visit for every 90s kid whereas Hoor is soothing. Ek Jindari gels well with the scene in the film. Suit Suit merely plays in the end credits.

Verdict

Hindi Medium holds your attention because of Irrfan Khan's brilliant performance and the crisp humour.
NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2017 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until July 5, 2017 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Signet Jewelers Limited (NYSE: SIG), if they purchased the Company's securities between August 29, 2013 and February 27, 2017, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

What You May Do

If you purchased securities of Signet and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com). If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by July 5, 2017.

About the Lawsuit

Signet and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On February 27, 2017, The Washington Post reported widespread claims of sexual harassment and discrimination by approximately 250 former employees of Signet's Sterling Family of Jewelers division against Company management and executives, including Signet's current CEO, Mark Light. The details of the claims originated from a private arbitration proceeding in June 2013, but had remained under seal until February 26, 2017. The report further detailed that the arbitration encompassed a certified class of 69,000 women who are current or former employees of the Company.

On this news, the price of Signet's shares plummeted.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California, and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com

1-877-515-1850

206 Covington St.

Madisonville, LA 70447

SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2017 / Successful real estate entrepreneur and long-time philanthropist, Jacob Frydman proudly stands with the National Committee for Furtherance of Jewish Education's (NCFJE) in support of its charity endeavor, the Toys for Hospitalized Children program. Mr. Frydman's generous commitment and support for the NCFJE's initiative will help provide toys, gifts, and smiles to children in need.

Located in Brooklyn, NY, NCFJE is a multi-faceted charity founded in 1940 by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson dedicated to protecting, feeding, and educating thousands throughout the New York metro area. Today, the NCFJE has several programs under the leadership of Rabbi Jacob Hecht with the objective of providing fast, discreet, and dignified service to all sectors of the Jewish community. Under the direction of Program Director, Mrs. Baila Hecht, the organization's roster of initiatives includes Toys for Hospitalized Children, which sends over 10,000 toys and gifts annually to numerous hospitals, senior residences, and special needs facilities. For more than 50 years, these gifts have brought joy and smiles to those that need it most, and Jacob Frydman is pleased to be able to give back to the community through this meaningful and impactful program.

Toys for Hospitalized Children is also helping children learn how easy and fulfilling it is to reach out to help others who are less fortunate. The young volunteers of the program gather to wrap toys, and when possible, visit the recipients to offer the gifts personally. During his years of active involvement in Toys for Hospitalized Children, Jacob Frydman has witnessed on numerous occasions how an unexpected gift uplifts a hospitalized child, senior, or special needs adult by letting them know they are not forgotten. This simple gesture sends a message of compassion and hope to patients and family members that leaves a lasting sense of community spirit in all who participate.

A renowned expert on value added investments, Jacob Frydman has made a positive and lasting impact over his 30-year career in the real estate acquisition and development industries. As a recognized leader in his field, Jacob has served as a contributor and panelist at numerous industry seminars, speaking on aspects of property investments. He has been a guest lecturer on real estate finance at Columbia University, and in the Master's Lecturer series sponsored by New York Law School. His television appearances include CNBC, Bloomberg TV, FOX News, and others, where he discusses trends in commercial real estate and provides his invaluable expertise. Frydman has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bardavon Opera House, home of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and is also an avid philanthropist, often donating his time and capital to various charitable endeavors. He is a firm supporter of organizations such as Chabad of Dutchess County and The Brem Foundation of Washington DC.

Jacob Frydman - Blog - JacobFrydmanNews.com: http://JacobFrydmanNews.com

Jacob Frydman (@jacobfrydman) - Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacobfrydman

Jacob Frydman -- Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/jacob-frydman

Contact Information:

JacobFrydmanNews.com

contact@jacobfrydmannews.com

www.JacobFrydmanNews.com

SOURCE: Jacob Frydman
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.
WISeKey International Holding Ltd ("WISeKey") (SIX:WIHN) announced today, that WannaCrypt ransomware also known as WannaCrypt, WannaCry, or Wcry has exploded across dozens of countries, infecting hospitals, businesses, metro stations, universities, and governments. After an initial infection, probably by a spam email or an exploit kit downloaded from a vulnerable website, WannaCrypt spreads across vulnerable Windows endpoints by a Trojan that spreads within networks by exploiting a vulnerability in Microsoft's SMB file-sharing services.

In recent years, ransomware attacks were relatively constrained in impact. The difference with WannaCrypt is its sheer scale spanning the globe and industries as well as its clear criminal intent to hold legitimate online activities to ransom. And, unfortunately, WannaCrypt is only a leading indicator, with security researchers now finding dozens of new ransomware derivatives each month.

Cybersecurity forecasts always seem low in retrospect

Security issues, and efficiently mitigating their impact, are a fact of life on the Internet. It's the marriage of the vulnerability with cybercrime that is confounding the ability of analysts to accurately predict the growth of cybersecurity investment, with even the most radical forecasts being outstripped in retrospect.

WISeKey is part of the next generation of cybersecurity companies seeking to step up to the challenge. WISeKey's Vertical Trust Platform seeks to help companies address security challenges through better authentication and encryption for legitimate users, devices, emails, and documents. WISeKey has particular capabilities in the vastly important Internet of Things (IoT) sector.

Taking IoT cybersecurity seriously

Carlos Moreira, Chairman and CEO of WISeKey, commented: "WannaCrypt has created significant economic damage simply through its limited attacks on Windows-based machines. Can you imagine the degree of damage when these attacks move wholeheartedly into the IoT world, pulling in internet-connected devices of every description from home appliances to industrial gear? We are already seeing examples where compromised video cameras are being used in botnets, and it's only a matter of time before we see a WannaCrypt-scale attack on IoT. The attraction of these IoT targets to criminals, competitors, hacktivists or surveillance is too great to ignore."

The WISeKey approach uses the same cryptographic chips long a staple of smartcards and networking gear for IoT devices allowing secure and tamperproof management of the encryption keys that identify devices, control their capabilities and encrypt their communication. The WISeTrust IoT platform leverages WISeKey's Semiconductors division (a leading provider of cryptographic chips) and WISekey QuoVadis (a specialist in managed public key infrastructure solutions).

The world loves the new features that become possible through IoT but events like WannaCrypt should remind us that we must take the cybersecurity of IoT very seriously so that our smart devices don't become pawns in far-flung Internet attacks.

https://www.wisekey.com/solutions/secured-iot/

About WISeKey

WISeKey (SIX Swiss Exchange:WIHN) is a leading global cybersecurity company currently deploying large scale digital identity ecosystems with a patented process. WISeKey's Swiss based cryptographic Root of Trust ("RoT") provides secure authentication and identification, in both physical and virtual environments, for the Internet of Things, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. The WISeKey RoT serves as a common trust anchor to ensure the integrity of on-line transactions among objects and between objects and people. For more information, visit www.wisekey.com.

To receive WISeKey's latest news, subscribe to our Newsletter or visit the WISeKey Investors Corner.

Disclaimer:

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of 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. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170516006774/en/

Contacts:

Press and investors

WISeKey

Carlos Moreira, +41 22 594 3000

Chairman CEO

info@wisekey.com

or

WISeKey Investor Relations (US)

The Equity Group Inc.

Lena Cati, +1 212-836-9611

lcati@equityny.com
LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - May 17, 2017) - The Automobile Club of Southern California is projecting that Memorial Day travel will grow by 3.4 percent locally over last year, with 3.03 million people in the Southland and 4.89 million statewide expected to make getaways for the long weekend

It's the sixth consecutive year that the number of Memorial Day travelers has grown compared to the previous year. This year will have the largest number of Memorial Day travelers since the all-time record of 3.2 million in the Southland and 5.18 million statewide, which was set in 2005.

Among Southern California travelers, 2.52 million are expected to travel by car -- a 2.9 percent increase from last year's 2.45 million going by auto and a number representing about 84 percent of all travelers. Another 300,000 local residents are expected to go by plane, which is a 6.2 percent increase over the 2016 holiday's 282,000 air travelers. And about 197,000 local travelers will take a recreational vehicle, cruise, bus, train, or other mode of trip this weekend -- a 4.9 percent increase from the 188,000 who traveled by other means in 2016.

Statewide, about 84 percent of travelers, or 4.08 million, are expected to go by car, a 2.9 percent increase over 2016. About 485,000 statewide are projected to fly, a 6.2 percent increase from last year, and 456,000 will go by other means, a 4.9 percent increase from 2016.

The Auto Club defines a holiday trip as one at least 50 miles away from home, and the Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 25 to Monday, May 29.

"One significant trend we are seeing this year is solid growth in the number of air travelers, which also tends to signify longer vacations that are a greater distance away from home," said Filomena Andre, the Auto Club's vice president for travel.

Nationally, travel is expected to increase by 2.7 percent compared to last year's Memorial Day holiday, with 39.29 million travelers expected compared to 38.27 million in 2015. Car travel is expected to rise by 2.4 percent to 34.6 million, while air travel is expected to rise 5.5 percent this year to 2.9 million, and other modes of travel will increase by 2.9 percent to 1.75 million.

Local gas prices are expected to hold steady near $3 a gallon on average -- the second cheapest price averages for this time of year since 2009.

The top five Memorial Day destinations for Southern California travelers, according to a survey of AAA Travel agents, are:

1) Las Vegas

2) San Diego

3) Grand Canyon

4) San Francisco

5) Yosemite

According to Waze, the free, real-time crowdsourced traffic and navigation app, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York are the busiest metro areas this Memorial Day weekend, based on last year's accident and traffic jam data. For travelers visiting or driving through these cities, be aware of high traffic volumes on Thursday and Friday -- New York City sees an average 27 percent increase in accident alerts on these two days.

The Auto Club recommends that summer air travelers allow extra time both to arrive at the airport and get through security lines, particularly if they are flying out of Los Angeles International Airport. LAX moved 15 airlines to different terminals in mid-May, which may cause additional traffic congestion throughout the summer.

Also, travelers to Europe should be aware that laptop computers are no longer permitted as carry-on luggage on flights from Europe into the U.S., and they should check with their individual airlines for complete details on carry-on policies.

Memorial Day travel projections are based on research conducted for AAA by IHS Global Insight.

Marie Montgomery/Jeffrey Spring

(714) 885-2333



Doug Shupe in Los Angeles:

(512) 659-1632
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar declined against its major counterparts in pre-European deals on Wednesday. The greenback that closed yesterday's trading at 0.9858 against the Swiss franc fell to near a 2-month low of 0.9820. The greenback slid to 1.1119 against euro, its weakest since November 2016. Reversing from an early high of 113.12 against the Japanese yen, the greenback fell to near a 2-week low of 112.28. The greenback slipped to a 2-day low of 0.7444 against the aussie and a weekly low of 0.6928 against the kiwi, off its early highs of 0.7411 and 0.6880, respectively. The greenback pared gains to 1.3579 against the loonie, from an early high of 1.3618. The next possible support for the greenback is seen around 0.97 against the franc, 110.00 against the yen, 1.13 against the euro, 1.32 against the loonie, 0.76 against the aussie and 0.72 against the kiwi. 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.
New international award brings attention to the value of using criminal offender DNA database to solve crime and bring closure to victims and families

VIENNA, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs (GTH-GA) has awarded the inaugural DNA Database Hit of the Year award to the Italian Carabinieri and Polizia di Stato for its dedicated work on the Yara Gambirasio murder case. The winning case was selected from 50 cases submitted by 15 countries, and was chosen by a panel of seven international judges with career backgrounds in forensic DNA. The award was announced during the annual Human Identification Solutions (HIDS) Conference held in Vienna, Austria.

"The DNA Hit of the Year Award is designed to bring increased awareness to the incredible power of forensic DNA databases to solve crime and provide closure to victims and their families. It also recognizes the dedication of investigators and forensic scientists throughout the world who use DNA databases to pursue justice," said Tim Schellberg, GTH-GA's President.

The judges selected the Italian case from five finalist cases. The four runner-up cases were from China, Austria, and two from the United States. A full list of submitted cases and a presentation describing this year's award and case highlights can be found at www.dnaresource.com/hitoftheyearmain.html

Yara Gambirasio (of Brembate di Sopra, Italy) was murdered on November 26, 2010. To identify the suspect, whose full DNA profile was found at the crime scene, Italian authorities developed the world's largest known DNA mass screen database. Using this tool, investigators and analysts embarked on a complex and exhaustive familial DNA searching scenario that ultimately led to an arrest on June 14, 2015. The suspect was convicted on July 1, 2016. "I have never seen a case where so much effort was put into finding a suspect through the use of DNA. The men and women of the Italian Carabinieri and the Polizia di Stato should be commended for their tireless work to identify the person that matched the DNA left at the crime scene," said Rock Harmon, Retired Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Alameda County, California (USA), andone of the judges for the 2017 Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs Hit of the Year Award.

About GTH-GA

Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs is globally recognized as experts in forensic DNA database policy, legislative, and law. For nearly twenty years, consultants at GTH-GA have consulted in over 50 countries and states on legislation and policies to establish or expand criminal offender DNA databases.
STOCKHOLM, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Itiviti, a world-leading technology provider for the capital markets industry, has been recognized by the 2017 Technical Analyst Awards, where the regulatory solution Itiviti Analyst was named Most Innovative New Product. Judged by an independent panel of experienced industry experts, the Technical Analyst annual awards celebrate excellence in technical analysis research and trading software.

Itiviti Analyst, with its pioneering suite of five modules, helps eliminate the mandatory direct effects of MiFID II. Itiviti Analyst manages the most demanding regulatory issues, enabling firms to focus on business innovation and growth.

"Itiviti Analyst impressed our judges because it offers an original and effective solution to help financial firms handle their MiFID II regulatory and compliance issues," said Matthew Clements, Editor of The Technical Analyst. "MiFID II will have a significant impact on the European trading landscape, and Itiviti Analyst stands out by not only addressing compliance, but also supporting firms' efforts to capitalize on business opportunities which may arise as updated regulation is expected to reshape the trading landscape."

Established in 2004, The Technical Analyst brings institutional technical research and strategy ideas to the global financial markets, supported by regular events and training courses. With a readership comprising traders, fund managers and hedge funds, the Technical Analyst reports on and publishes technical analysis, market outlooks and trading strategies from banks, brokers and academics.

"We are very proud to accept the Technical Analyst Award for Itiviti Analyst," said Jonas Hansbo, Chief Strategy Officer, Itiviti. "The introduction of Itiviti Analyst is indicative of our long-standing commitment to game-changing innovation. This strategic approach to development has never been more fitting than today, as firms are preparing for a new market structure shaped by major regulatory change."

Itiviti Analyst is a vendor-agnostic solution designed to address the entire scope of MiFID II. It is implemented with minimal impact on existing trading infrastructure while covering all asset classes (equities, ETFs, derivatives and bonds). The following functional modules are currently offered: MAR (Market Abuse Regulation), Algo Monitoring, Best Execution, Market Maker Compliance, and TCA (Transaction Cost Analysis).

About Itiviti

Itiviti is a world-leading technology provider for the capital markets industry. Trading firms, banks, brokers and institutional clients rely on Itiviti technology, solutions and expertise for streamlining their daily operations, while gaining sustainable competitive edge in global markets.

With 13 offices and serving more than 400 customers worldwide, Itiviti was formed by uniting Orc Group, a leader in trading and electronic execution, and CameronTec Group, the global standard in financial messaging infrastructure and connectivity. From its foundation in 2016, Itiviti has a staff of 400 and an estimated annual revenue of SEK 700 million.

Itiviti is committed to continuous innovation to deliver trading infrastructure built for today's dynamic markets, offering highly adaptable platforms and solutions, enabling clients to stay ahead of competitive and regulatory challenges.

Itiviti is owned by Nordic Capital Fund VII.

For further information, please contact:

Jonas Hansbo

Chief Strategy Officer, Itiviti,

Tel. +46-70-652-51-93



Christine Blinke

Chief Marketing Officer, Itiviti

Tel. +46-739-01-02-01

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/itiviti-group-ab/r/itiviti-wins-industry-award-for--most-innovative-new-product-,c2267154

The following files are available for download:
Sasa, Israel (ots/PRNewswire) -Plasan Sasa (http://www.plasan.com) wird mit dem NDIA Red Ball Express Award fur 2017 geehrt.Die Tactical Wheeled Vehicle (TWV) Division der National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) gibt heute die Gewinner des 2017 Red Ball Express Award in den Kategorien Industrie und Regierung bekannt. Die diesjahrigen Preistrager sind Dani Ziv, Chief Executive Officer von Plasan Sasa, Ltd. und das Strategic Acquisition Programs Directorate der Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) fur maritime und Feldeinsatze.(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/512425/Plasan_SASA_MRAP.jpg )Mit der Auszeichnung wurdigt die NDIA jahrlich Einzelpersonen und Regierungsinstitutionen, die durch die Einfuhrung, Unterstutzung und Entwicklung von militarischen Radfahrzeugen erhebliche Beitrage zur Starkung der amerikanischen, nationalen Sicherheit leisten. In diesem Jahr vergibt die NDIA TWV Division erstmalig den Red Ball Express Award in zwei Kategorien: Industrie und Regierung.Die NDIA ist Amerikas fuhrender Verteidigungsindustrieverband zur Forderung der nationalen Sicherheit. Sie dient als rechtliches und ethisches Forum fur den Informationsaustausch zwischen Industrie und Regierung zu nationalen Sicherheitsfragen. Die NDIA und ihre Mitglieder fordern durch ihre Divisionen lokalen Ortsverbande, angeschlossenen Verbande und uber Veranstaltungen die Entwicklung von innovativer und uberlegener Ausrustung ebenso wie Training und Unterstutzung fur Streitkrafte im Einsatz und Ersteinsatzkrafte.Unter der Fuhrung von Herrn Ziv ist Plasan Sasa kann dank Herrn Ziv's Fuhrungsqualitaten in der Lage die Streitkrafte der Vereinigten Staaten mit modernsten Fahrzeugpanzerungen zu versorgen, die in der Vergangenheit unzahligen Angehorigen der US-amerikanischen Streitkrafte das Leben gerettet haben und weiterhin erfolgreich im Einsatz sind.Das in Israel ansassige Unternehmen Plasan Sasa ist Branchenfuhrer fur die Integration innovativer Technologien sich Optimierung der Uberlebensfahigkeit. Dies reicht von , der einfachen Armierung als Add-On bis hin zur Implementierung von integrierten Survivability-Systemen. Zu den Innovationen von Plasan Sasa zahlen unter anderem Schutzkits fur den Fahrgastraum, Chassis- und Rumpfarmierungen.Erfolgreiche Projekte schlieen MaxxPro, MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) und M-ATV (gelandegangige) Fahrzeuge ein.Plasan Sasa ist das erste israelische Unternehmen, dem diese honorige Auszeichnung zuteilwird.Plasan ist ein weltweit fuhrender Anbieter von im Einsatz bewahrten Losungen. Das Unternehmen entwirft, entwickelt, fertigt und integriert umfassende Fahrzeugschutzsysteme, die taktische Uberlegenheit fur anspruchsvollste Missionen bieten. Plasan verfugt mit drei Jahrzehnten an Erfahrung und weltweit uber 32.000 mit unseren Schutzlosungen ausgerusteten Fahrzeugen und mehr als 400 Prototypen uber ein einzigartiges Verstandnis fur die Herausforderungen des modernen Gefechtsfelds. Wir setzen High-End-Schutzlosungen fur die operativen Erfordernisse um.Die feierliche Ubergabe des Red Ball Express Award an Herrn Ziv und an DLA's Strategic Acquisition Programs Directorate wird am Dienstag, 16. Mai 2017 um 17 Uhr im Rahmen der 2017 Tactical Wheeled Vehicles Conference im Hyatt Regency in Reston im US-Bundesstaat Virginia stattfinden.OTS: Plasan SASA newsroom: http://www.presseportal.de/nr/126634 newsroom via RSS: http://www.presseportal.de/rss/pm_126634.rss2Pressekontakt: Meirav Ofir Marcom, Plasan Tel: +972-542872368 miravo@plasan.com
HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 9, 2017 / Environmental Packaging Technologies Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") (OTC PINK: EPTI), a Nevada corporation, announced today that it has completed a reverse merger on June 8, 2017, in which Environmental Packaging Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. "This is an exciting new chapter for EPT," said David Skriloff, CEO. "Being a public company will allow us to have further access to the capital markets such that we can globally expand our production capabilities and continue to grow our business."

Shares of the Company's common stock are quoted on the OTC Markets under the symbol: EPTI

Visit the Company website: www.eptpac.com

ABOUT EPT

Environmental Packaging Technologies (EPT) (www.eptpac.com) is a publicly traded USA based global logistics company (OTC: EPTI). It is the only US manufacturer of flexitanks, and one of the first in the field. A flexitank is a soft sided single use container for the bulk shipment of non-hazardous liquids within a 20' intermodal shipping container. Flexitanks are generally considered the least expensive and most environmentally conscious way to ship bulk non-hazardous liquids over long distances. One flexitanks can hold up to 24,000 liters of liquids.

With the introduction of its patent-pending LiquiRide product in 2016, EPT opened the market for flexitanks to be utilized in 40' and 53' containers and trailers in both dry and refrigerated configurations allowing for the first time shipments of liquid requiring temperature controls. EPT's customers have utilized the Company's state-of-the-art Flexitanks to ship a wide variety of liquids including liquid latex and other chemicals, fruit juices and concentrates, edible oils, milk, wine, petroleum based products, and many others. EPT provides its products to shippers, logistics companies, and end users in more than 50 countries around the world. It has offices in the US, South Korea, the Netherlands, and Argentina.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains projections and other forward-looking statements regarding future events or our future financial performance. All statements other than present and historical facts and conditions contained in this release, including any statements regarding our future results of operations and financial positions, business strategy, plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). These statements are only predictions and reflect our current beliefs and expectations with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risk and uncertainties and subject to change at any time. New risks emerge from time to time. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the projections or forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation: (i) the contraction or lack of growth of markets in which we compete and in which our products are sold (ii) unexpected increases in our expenses, including manufacturing expenses, (iii) our inability to adjust spending quickly enough to offset any unexpected revenue shortfall, (iv) delays or cancellations in spending by our customers, (v) unexpected average selling price reductions, (vi) the significant fluctuation to which our quarterly revenue and operating results are subject due to cyclicality in the transport/ logistics industry, (vii) our inability to anticipate the future market demands and future needs of our customers, and (viii) other factors detailed in documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

SOURCE: Environmental Packaging Technologies Holdings, Inc.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - ResMed Inc. (RMD), a medical devices and cloud-based software applications company, on Wednesday issued a statement on its plans to renew its patent infringement case against Fisher & Paykel. The company said it remains confident in its position in the International Trade Commission or ITC. David Pendarvis, the company's global general counsel and chief administrative officer, said, 'ResMed filed a motion to dismiss the current International Trade Commission (ITC) complaint so that we can refile and incorporate additional evidence generated since the original complaint was filed. We believe this will make our strong case even stronger, and we remain confident in our position in the ITC.' ResMed noted that its innovations have transformed the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing. 'We're committed to protecting our innovation, which is why we've engaged in global legal proceedings with Fisher & Paykel,' Pendarvis said. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - May 17, 2017) - While the nation's metropolitan areas are economically strong with more than 300 metros experiencing job growth in 2016 and accounting for 95% of all the U.S. job gains last year, growth continues to remain uneven, with nearly one-third of metro cities (121) still not having recovered their lost jobs from the Great Recession, according to a report released today by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

These metros are predominantly older Midwestern communities suffering from the loss of heavy manufacturing jobs and an aging population and infrastructure.

The report further forecasts that by the end of the decade (2020) nearly one in four U.S. metros (88) will have employment levels below their 2008 levels, representing a decade of lost jobs. For some metros, the loss of jobs has been even more prolonged, with 23 cities having fewer jobs today than in 1990. A large number of metros (140 or nearly 37%) for the same period experienced annual job growth of less than 1%.

Issued during Infrastructure Week in Washington, D.C., the mayors' report also points to infrastructure spending as an economic tool that holds the promise of generating job growth across these metros. Such investment, if funneled directly to metro regions, can create jobs faster, relieve congestion, decrease costs to businesses and increase productivity -- all of which further accelerates growth. The entire report and its key findings can be found here.

"Some of the oldest infrastructure is in the Rust Belt metros, which our data show have lagged the national recovery and expansion. And while infrastructure investment is not a cure-all, it can provide cities a "shot in the arm" to help jumpstart their local economies," said U.S. Conference of Mayors President Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett.

But increased infrastructure spending is also needed in high growth areas. The report's findings project that over the next 30 years, the U.S. metro population will grow by 66.7 million people, almost all of the nation's total population growth. By 2047, 72 metros will have population exceeding 1 million, compared to only 53 in 2016. In addition, five metros will have over 10 million people by 2047 -- whereas only 2 currently meet that benchmark. And as the metro areas grow, so will traffic congestion.

U.S. metros are already the most congested areas in the country. In fact, from 2013 to 2014, 95 of the nation's largest 100 metros saw increased traffic congestion, up from 61 from 2012 to 2013. The price tag associated with this congestion, which is the value of wasted time and fuel, is estimated at $160 billion in 2014 for U.S. urban areas, or $960 per commuter.

Mayors maintain that infrastructure investment in roads, rails, bridges and other forms of transportation will help relieve the bottlenecks impeding economic expansion, noting for example, the 4.8 billion hours of travel delay Americans experienced in 2014.

"Infrastructure dollars should also be directed where the potential returns are greatest. Clearly, population and economic projections indicate that growth in the United States in the coming years will largely be in cities and their metropolitan areas," said Louisville, KY Mayor Greg Fischer, Chair of the Conference's Council on Metro Economies which produced the report. "If we ignore these trends without preparing for future growth, we will face unnecessary challenges to human, environmental, and economic health."

Mayors consistently tout the strength of U.S. Metros that contribute 91% of the production of goods and services that make up the nation's total gross domestic product (GDP). In fact, since January 2009, 315 metros, 83% of all metros, gained jobs. And twelve of those metros, led by Provo at 29% and Austin at 27%, exceeded a 20% growth rate over the 2009-2016 period.

"We need the Administration and Congress to fulfill their pledge to put real dollars directly into the nation's metro cities, which are the engines of our national economy and have the best track record in delivering infrastructure on time and on budget," said U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. "As we look toward the release of the federal budget, mayors are hopeful, as the President promised, that an infusion of federal infrastructure dollars to our cities and metro areas is forthcoming. Anything less will be wholly insufficient to meet the infrastructure needs of the country."

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.

Contact:

Elena Temple-Webb

etemple@usmayors.org

202-286-1100



Sara Durr

Sara@durrcommunications.com

202-215-1811
LONDON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --CySure is excited to announce the launch of VOSO, CySure's Virtual Online Security Officer. CySure's SaaS based VOSO is a unique, pragmatic and affordable solution for SMBs in the fight against cybercrime.

Founded in 2015 CySure's VOSO is being launched after two years in development.

Joe Collinwood, CySure's CEO and co-founder says, "Protecting a small business from Cybercrime is now an urgent issue for the economy. We recognize the typical SMB is already stretched beyond capacity and is struggling to deal with cybersecurity. The arrival of CySure mean SMB's can protect themselvesthe same as a large corporation might,but at a fraction of the cost it normally takes."

CySure has recently completed several field tests and installations with early adopters to demonstrate the effectiveness of VOSO for SMBs. CySure is now available in both the UK and the United States.

CySure believes VOSO is set to become the standard for executing a continual cybersecurity process allowing senior executives to easily monitor and oversee a cyber risk mitigation strategy.

What SMBs need is a simple and inexpensive way to create, implement and enforce cybersecurity security policies and procedures with the minimum of resources.

The advantage over competitors is that CySure's SaaS VOSO is inexpensive, makes it easy to implement standards based security policies and procedures, quickly builds a breach response plan and paves the way for cyber insurance optimization.

The ransomware program WannaCry that recently attacked computers in more than 150 countries has left small and medium sized businesses scratching their heads and wondering what to do to protect themselves. The Government offers little practical help for the smaller enterprise. Virus checkers, anti-malware software and firewalls afford only so much safety. The heart of the problem of risk mitigation is not technology but human behavior.

CySure's approach is to take complex Government standards such as NIST and Cyber Essentials and deploy a Virtual Online Security Officer that automatically translates the selected standard into a simple to follow solution containing the related policies for the business owner. The service guides executives to which part of their company's cybersecurity plan needs attention and translates this information into clear actionable steps. The VOSO continues to monitor a company's performance against the selected standard.

CySure's VOSO allows leadership to understand what to focus on to successfully guard against 80% of all cyber-attacks. CySure understands that some breaches cannot be prevented so CySure complements their solution with a breach response plan and optimized insurance.

CySure's VOSO creates an audit trail enables senior executives to easily demonstrate adherence to the highest government standards and that management is discharging its fiduciary responsibility to protect the assets of their company.

CySure believes many SMB's are struggling either to become HIPPA compliant or maintain that accreditation as well as become cyber secure. As a result, CySure plans to initially market its product in highly regulated industries where HIPPA compliance is mandatory as Cyber Essentials and HIPPA share many similar requirements.

CySure is a start-up with headquarters in located in Fair Oaks, California and an office in London.

CySure's website is www.cysure.net

Contact:

Paul Good

paul.good@cysure.net

020 8412 1106

Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/512868/CySure_Logo.jpg
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/17 -- Canadian Natural Resources Limited ("Canadian Natural") (TSX: CNQ) (NYSE: CNQ) announced today that Toronto Stock Exchange has accepted notice filed by Canadian Natural of its intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid through the facilities of Toronto Stock Exchange or other alternative Canadian trading systems. Purchases may also be made through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange.

The notice provides that Canadian Natural may, during the 12 month period commencing May 23, 2017 and ending May 22, 2018, purchase for cancellation up to 27,931,135 shares, being 2.5% of the 1,117,245,428 outstanding common shares as at May 12, 2017. Canadian Natural will not acquire more than 25% of the average daily trading volume of its common shares during a trading day, being 591,186 common shares subject to certain prescribed exceptions. The price which Canadian Natural will pay for any such shares will be the market price at the time of acquisition. The actual number of common shares that may be purchased and the timing of any such purchases will be determined by Canadian Natural.

In addition to further strengthening its balance sheet, investing in exploration and development of its diverse asset base, and participating in acquisition opportunities, returns to shareholders remain a priority to create value for Canadian Natural's shareholders. Funds flow in 2017 is targeted to be allocated to these four pillars and may also be used by Canadian Natural, depending upon future trading prices and other factors, to purchase its common shares, as it is believed to be a worthwhile investment, and in the best interests of Canadian Natural and its shareholders.

Canadian Natural is a senior oil and natural gas production company, with continuing operations in its core areas located in Western Canada, the U.K. portion of the North Sea and Offshore Africa.

Certain information regarding the Company contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Such statements are subject to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Refer to our website for complete forward-looking statements www.cnrl.com.

Contacts:

Canadian Natural Resources Limited

2100, 855 - 2nd Street S.W.

Calgary, Alberta, T2P 4J8 Canada

T: 403-514-7777

Email: ir@cnrl.com

www.cnrl.com



Steve W. Laut

President



Corey B. Bieber

Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice-President, Finance



Mark A. Stainthorpe

Director, Treasury and Investor Relations




CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Reversing direction, the Australian dollar weakened against its major counterparts in early European deals on Wednesday. The aussie declined to near a 2-week low of 83.11 against the yen and a 6-day low of 1.0728 against the kiwi, from its early highs of 84.01 and 1.0790, respectively. The aussie fell to an 8-month low of 1.4999 against the euro and a 6-day low of 1.0070 against the loonie, off its prior highs of 1.4918 and 1.0115, respectively. Pulling away from an early 2-day high of 0.7444 against the greenback, the aussie edged down to 0.7396. The next possible support for the aussie is seen around 0.73 against the greenback, 82.00 against the yen, 1.06 against the kiwi, 1.52 against the euro and 0.99 against the loonie. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
17 May 2017

Milamber Ventures Plc

(Milamber" or "the Company")

Investment in Essential Learning Company Ltd

Milamber (NEX: MLVP), the media, technology and education growth accelerator is delighted to announce that it has secured a 15% equity stake in Essential Learning Company Limited ("Essential Learning") for a total of 75,000, payable in two simultaneous tranches as follows: 25,000 of Milamber Ordinary Shares of 1p each ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 16 pence per share and 50,000 Ordinary Shares at a price of 20 pence per share. The Ordinary Shares have been allotted to Gravity Investment Group Limited ("Gravity"), the owner of Essential Learning.

Essential Learning was founded in 2001 to work with companies across the North West of the UK and the Midlands, to develop much needed skills and talent by designing high quality apprenticeships, training programmes and "learning-at-work" across a wide range of educational and technical subjects.

Essential Learning is employer focused, working with companies to ensure that the skills and learning offered to their workforces meets organisational requirements and occupational standards. Its aim is to help employers and individuals realise their full potential.

Essential Learning posted revenues for the year ended 31 July 2015 of 981,556, with profit after tax of 141,834 and, for the shorter period of nine months to 30 April 2016 revenues were 616,316 with a loss after tax of 29,742. Essential Learning, through Milamber, is currently in the process of applying for Government R&D Tax Credit rebates.

With the recent announcement by the Government of the Apprenticeship Levy, which will result in 2.8 billion a year being invested into UK apprentice training, the Board of Milamber believe this is a timely investment for the Company.

Yvonne Lalley, Managing Director of Essential Learning said, "The skills shortages we face in the UK in Health, Social and Teaching sectors are significant. Essential Learning is being grown to address those needs. In the last 18 months our team has restructured the company to help create a stable base on which to grow,and Milamber has been brought in to help achieve those aspirations. We are already working well together and have begun to add over 100 new Apprenticeships a month, with the apprentices signing onto anaverage 18 month technical skills course. We are further excited because, as the new Apprenticeship Levy funding starts to be released, Essential Learning, as an Approved Training Provider, will be able to increase that growth further and help educate high quality, trained people to meet the needs of the market and improving their lives because they can earn more but also improving the people they serve through using these new technical skills."

Andy Hasoon, Chairman of Milamber said, "Essential Learning fits into our Educational Investment Strategy - we see technical learning as a key focus of that strategy. With the Apprentice Levy going live in May 2017 this is a timely investment and we look forward to working with Yvonne and her team to help grow Essential Learning within our Portfolio Company Network."

Issue of Equity

The Company has issued 406,250 Ordinary Shares to fund this investment, being 156,250 issued at 16 pence and 250,000 issued at 20 pence. Following the transaction, Gravity will own a 6.3% interest in Milamber.

Following this issue, and in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules, the Company hereby announces that it has 6,403,955 Ordinary Shares in issue, each share carrying the right to one vote, and 505,556 Ordinary Shares held in treasury. The above figure of 6,403,955 Ordinary Shares may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for this announcement.

-ends-

Enquiries:

Milamber Ventures plc

Andy Hasoon

T: 07768 875 681

E: Andy.hasoon@milamberventures.com

www.MilamberVentures.com

Peterhouse Corporate Finance Limited (NEX Exchange Corporate Adviser)

Mark Anwyl and Fungai Ndoro

T: 020 7469 0930

Leander (Financial PR)

Christian Taylor-Wilkinson

T: 07795 168 157
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 --

-- 3.40m at 11.76g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag and 2.84% Cu (16.37 g/t AuEq) plus 3.80m at 5.45g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag and 0.22% Cu (5.89 g/t AuEq) in drill hole KMDD0022 -- Second rig added and now drilling from underground drill cuddy DDC1

K92 Mining Inc. ("K92") (TSX VENTURE: KNT)(OTCQB: KNTNF) is pleased to announce it has intersected high grades of gold and copper mineralization in exploration drilling designed to follow up on the initial discovery of the northern extension of the Kora vein.

K92 drill hole KMDD0022 has intersected 3.4m at 11.76 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag and 2.84% Cu (16.37 g/t AuEq) approximately 25 metres along strike to the south and 25 metres down dip from drill cuddy DDC1.

Significantly, in the same drill hole, K92 also intersected what it interprets as the Irumafimpa vein and parallel to the Kora Vein, which assayed 3.80m at 5.45 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag and 0.22% Cu (5.89 g/t AuEq).

This is the tenth hole drilled to follow up on the initial discovery of the northern extension of the Kora vein in hole KMDD0009, which recorded an intersection of 5.4 metres at 11.68 g/t gold, 25.5 g/t silver and 1.33 per cent copper 500 metres to the north from the closest point of the currently defined Kora deposit inferred resource (see K92 news release dated May 24, 2017, for details including true thicknesses). All ten of these holes have intersected gold, silver and copper mineralization.

K92 is currently undertaking a program drilling a total of 24 drill holes from underground drill cuddy DDC1 located approximately 50 metres from the Kora vein at 59125 north, 29876 east and 1,188 mRL. This initial 24 hole program, which will be completed in December, is designed to drill out an area of approximately 150 metres by 150 metres on a 25 m by 25 m grid pattern, which is grade control spacing.

Based on the ongoing success of the Kora exploration drill program, K92 has added a second drill rig which is now operating from an underground set up. This will increase data flow as K92 targets to build up tonnage via drilling at grade control spacing in the immediate area surrounding the Kora extension discovery while also targeting to conduct enhanced exploration of Kora, a deposit which remains not only open in every direction but strongly mineralized at the extent of all drilling.

K92 also reports that it is continuing to drive along the strike of the Kora vein in a northerly and southerly direction with this mined material being processed through the plant.

K92 Chief Executive Officer, John Lewins, states, "We continue to intersect high grades of gold and copper as we follow up on the Kora extension discovery. Based on this ongoing success, a second drill rig has now been added to intensify and expand this definition and exploration program."

Table 1.0 Kainantu Gold Mine - Significant Intercepts from Kora Underground Drilling

Kora Intersection

To view the table, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Kora_Intersection_1104428.jpg.

Irumafimpa Intersection

To view the table, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Irumafimpa_Intersection_1104428.jpg.

Gold equivalent uses a copper price of $2.50 (U.S.)/pound, a silver price of $16 (U.S.)/ounce and a gold price of $1,200 (U.S.)/ounce.

Table 2.0 Kainantu Gold Mine - Collar Locations for Kora Underground Diamond Drilling

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Collar Collar EOH Hole_id location orientation depth (m) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Local Local north Local East mRL Dip azimuth ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- KMDD0022 59124.54 29876.48 1187.65 -15.62 243.01 75.4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The current Kora/Eutompi inferred resource, as defined by previous drilling to date, is 4.36 million tonnes at a grade of 7.3 g/t Au, 35 g/t Ag and 2.23 per cent Cu, or 11.2 g/t gold equivalent (see Table 2.0) and is open for expansion at depth and in both directions along strike.

K92 has filed and made available for download on the company's SEDAR profile a technical report titled "Independent Technical Report, Mineral Resource Update and Preliminary Economic Assessment of Irumafimpa and Kora Gold Deposits, Kainantu Project, Papua New Guinea," with an effective date of March 2, 2017, that provides additional information on the geology of the deposits, drilling and sampling procedures, lab analysis, and quality assurance/quality control for the project, and additional details on the resource estimates.

The PEA estimates for Kora, based on the current resource estimates (4.36 million tonnes of 7.3 g/t Au, 35 g/t Ag and 2.23 per cent Cu):

-- Over a nine-year operating life, the plant would treat 3.2 million tonnes averaging 7.1 g/t Au, 25 g/t Ag and 1.7 per cent Cu (9.3 g/t AuEq (1)); -- This would generate an estimated positive cash flow of $537-million (U.S.) using current metal prices if 15-metre levels are used in mining; if 25-metre levels are used, then net cash flows are estimated as $558- million (U.S.); this cash flow includes conceptual allowances for capital; -- Production of an estimated average of 108,000 AuEq (1) ounces per annum over an eight-year period from year 2 through to year 9; -- An estimated pretax net present value (NPV) of $415-million (U.S.) for 25-metre levels, or $397-million (U.S.) for 15-metre levels, using current metal prices, exchange rates and a 5-per-cent discount; -- An estimated after-tax NPV of $329-million (U.S.) for 25-metre levels, or $316-million (U.S.) for 15-metre levels, using current metal prices, exchange rates and a 5-per-cent discount; -- Initial capital cost is estimated to be $13.8-million (U.S.), including the $3.3-million (U.S.) for the plant upgrade identified in the Mincore scoping study, but excluding the proposed Kora exploration inclines and diamond drilling; sustaining capital cost is estimated to a further $64- million (U.S.) spent over the life of the Kora mining for 25-metre levels, or $83-million (U.S.) for 15-metre levels; -- Operating cost per tonne is estimated to be $125 (U.S.) per tonne for 25-metre levels, or $126 (U.S.) per tonne for 15-metre mining levels; -- Excluding initial capital expenditure of $14-million (U.S.), cash cost is estimated to be $547 (U.S.) per ounce AuEq (inclusive of a 2.5-per- cent net smelter return (NSR) royalty) and all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $619 (U.S.) per ounce AuEq for 25-metre mining levels, or $549 (U.S.) per ounce (inclusive of a 2.5-per-cent NSR royalty) and AISC of $644 (U.S.) per ounce AuEq for 15-metre mining levels.

Metal prices used were $1,300 per ounce for gold, $18 (U.S.) per ounce for silver and $4,800 per tonne for copper.

(1) Gold equivalent calculated on above metal prices.

Kora remains open for expansion in every direction and strongly mineralized at the extent of all drilling.

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. The technical report contains a full description of all underlying assumptions relating to the PEA. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

TABLE 2.0 IRUMAFIMPA AND KORA/EUTOMPI RESOURCES

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resource by Deposit and Category ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resource Gold Deposit Category TonnesGold Silver Copper Equivalent -------------------------------------------------- Mt g/t MOz g/t MOz % Mlb g/t MOz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irumafimpa Indicated 0.56 12.8 0.23 9 0.16 0.28 37 13.4 0.24 -------------------------------------------------------------- Inferred 0.53 10.9 0.19 9 0.16 0.27 74 11.5 0.20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kora/Eutompi Inferred 4.36 7.3 1.02 35 4.9 2.23 215 11.2 1.57 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Indicated 0.56 12.8 0.23 9 0.16 0.3 4 13.4 0.24 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Inferred 4.89 7.7 1.21 32 5.06 2.0 218 11.2 1.76 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

M in Table is millions. Reported tonnage and grade figures are rounded from raw estimates to reflect the order of accuracy of the estimate. Minor variations may occur during the addition of rounded numbers. Gold equivalents are calculated as AuEq = Au g/t + Cu%(i)1.52+ Ag g/t(i)0.0141.

K92 Vice President Chris Muller, PGeo, a qualified person under the meaning of Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and is responsible for the technical content of this news release. Data verification by Mr. Muller includes significant time onsite reviewing drill core, surface exposures, underground workings and discussing work programs and results with exploration personnel.

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY,

John Lewins, Chief Executive Officer and Director

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future plans, activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur are forward-looking information, including statements regarding the realization of the preliminary economic analysis for the Project, expectations of future cash flows, the proposed plant expansion, potential expansion of resources and the generation of further drilling results which may or may not occur. Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the market price of the Company's securities, metal prices, exchange rates, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, and regulations and other matters.. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts:

K92 Mining Inc.

Telephone: (604) 687-7130

Facsimile: (604) 608-9110




ORANGE COUNTY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 6, 2017 / As a recognized businessman who has been very successful in California's thriving marketing industry, Nick Kohlschreiber recently shared his insights on the vital relationship between marketing and technology, explaining that a significant shift in marketing techniques is already well underway, as mobile apps and Internet users spend more time on their smartphones and computers. This has created a challenge for brands as they seek to connect with customers through all these devices in real-time, while also developing advertising campaigns that are effective across social media, display advertising and e-commerce.

Sweeping technological advances and the expansive outreach of social media has permanently altered the nature of marketing as a whole, a sentiment Guardian contributor David Benady noted prior to a panel discussion with industry executives. "Real-time conversations brands have with people as they interact with websites and mobile apps has changed the nature of marketing," Benady wrote. "The modern-day marketing department needs to combine the creative side of the discipline - using powerful narratives to tap into people's wishes and aspirations - with the technical side of data, digital engineering and analytics." The potential reach of an advertising campaign has also broadened. Facebook, YouTube, online news websites, and integrated apps for smartphones and tablets now allow strong ideas to quickly spread and influence in the span of a single day. "If you come up with that nugget of an idea, you've now got such reach that you can expand that and get tremendous coverage just from a little niche idea," said Mark Singleton, head of marketing at betting brand Paddy Power.

Various technological tools enable modern marketing techniques to provide a highly personalized customer experience, often through insightful analytics providing a more targeted audience. As the number of tools and options continues to grow at rapid rates, marketers are faced with increasingly complicated decisions while deciding on their strategy. Nick Kohlschreiber encourages them to carefully weigh the numerous choices available and focus on methods that best fit their brand, while offering the highest level of direct access to their targeted consumer base. Kohlschreiber also advises companies to constantly reevaluate their strategies in light of emerging entities that may ensure even higher degrees of innovative and strategic advertising. By continuing to embrace evolutions in technology, marketing experts can stay ahead of the latest trends, adapting to changes while receiving optimal results.

Nick Kohlschreiber is an experienced businessman and entrepreneur, beginning his career at a young age as the head of marketing at an online wholesale product company, where he invigorated sales with his innovative approach to the online selling and direct shipping of products to its consumers. Now the owner of a media company based in Newport Beach, Kohlschreiber oversees hundreds of employees and tens of thousands of clients every day, while striving to further the connections to the modern communication platforms -- from document preparation, to online, multimedia-driven business development. In his spare time, he is a dedicated philanthropist assisting both local charities and various international non-profit organizations.

Nick Kohlschreiber - Expert in Modern Marketing: http://www.nickkohlschreibernews.com

Nick Kohlschreiber - Business Entrepreneur & Founder of TeleTree: http://nickkohlschreiberreviews.com

Nick Kohlschreiber - Creative Marketing Solutions Expert: http://nickkohlschreibermarketing.com

Contact Information

NickKohlschreiberNews.com

www.NickKohlschreiberNews.com

contact@nickkohlschreibernews.com

SOURCE: Nick Kohlschreiber
NEUHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/17 -- Tyco Retail Solutions (www.tycoretailsolutions.com) has been recognized for its innovative RFID Fitting Room solution, providing retailers with real-time, item-level detail on inventory in the fitting room -- the highest sales conversion area of the store. Retail Business Technology Expo (RBTE) 2017, Europe's largest retail solutions event, shortlisted Tyco's solution for the Innovation Trail Awards during the show in London from May 8-9. In addition, RFID Journal LIVE! 2017, the world's leading RFID conference, named Tyco as a finalist for the "Best New Product" award during the event in Phoenix, Arizona from May 9-11.

The Tyco Retail RFID Fitting Room is a combined solution of Tyco's RAIN RFID hardware, firmware and software products. Designed to deliver maximum business value to retailers, the primary focus is on driving fitting room sales conversion and the optimum shopping experience. Tyco's RFID Fitting Room, powered by Tyco's Beam Steerable RFID Antenna and multi-purpose RFID reader, provides retailers with visibility to item-level inventory in the fitting room, with additional insight into the stockroom and sales floor inventory to better service the customer, enhance the shopping experience and ultimately increase sales. Additional benefits are gained with loss prevention and store operational efficiencies as well.

The Tyco Retail RFID Fitting Room delivers real-time inventory insight in an unobtrusive way to best assist sales associates with customers, monitor the area to combat shrink, enable in-fitting-room merchandising and promotional opportunities, and generate fitting room merchandise activity and sales conversion statistics beneficial for analytical product performance reporting.

The RFID Fitting Room solution can be deployed with primary tier capabilities, and later with enhanced features for added value and more in-depth personalized customer service. The first tier solution is provided exclusively by Tyco Retail, while the premium enhanced tier is developed in collaboration with Accenture/ Kurt Salmon Digital for delivering the optimum high-touch customer experience.

"As e-commerce continues to thrive, retailers are challenged to make their stores relevant and drive shoppers back into brick & mortar. Differentiating and personalizing the shopping experience is one way to accomplish this and our new RFID Fitting Room enables retailers to deliver on the improved experience," said Brent Brown, vice president and general manager, Inventory Intelligence and IoT, Tyco Retail Solutions. "We're honored to have our solution recognized by RBTE and RFID Journal and the opportunity to have showcased our innovation at both industry-leading events."

About Tyco Retail Solutions

Tyco Retail Solutions, part of Johnson Controls, is a leading provider of analytics-based Loss Prevention, Inventory Intelligence and Traffic Insights. Tyco's solutions provide real-time visibility and predictive analytics to help retailers maximize profits and enhance the customer experience in a digitally-driven shopping world. With over 1.5 million data collection devices in the retail marketplace, Tyco captures 40+ billion shopper visits annually to empower retailers with actionable insights to drive better operational performance. Worldwide, Tyco helps protect 80% of the world's top 200 retail chains with its premier Sensormatic, ShopperTrak and TrueVUE brands, as well as a full suite of premium safety and security solutions. For more information, please visit TycoRetailSolutions.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and our YouTube channel.

TYCO, Sensormatic, ShopperTrak and TrueVUE are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.

About Johnson Controls:

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and multi industrial leader serving a wide range of customers in more than 150 countries. Our 120,000 employees create intelligent buildings, efficient energy solutions, integrated infrastructure and next generation transportation systems that work seamlessly together to deliver on the promise of smart cities and communities. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. We are committed to helping our customers win and creating greater value for all of our stakeholders through strategic focus on our buildings and energy growth platforms. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.

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TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Ricoh Co Ltd (RICOY), a Japanese manufacturing services company, reported Monday that its first-half profit attributable to owners of the parent declined 9.5 percent to 4.5 billion Japanese yen from 5 billion yen last year. Earnings per share were 6.25 yen, down from 6.90 yen last year. Profit before income tax expenses increased 16.2 percent from last year to 17.7 billion yen. 16.2% Sales grew 2.8% to 998.8 billion yen from 971.4 billion yen a year ago. Domestic sales increased 5.6 percent to 385.1 billion yen, and Overseas sales grew 1.2 percent to 613.7 billion yen. Looking ahead, for fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, the company expects loss attributable to owners of the parent of 7 billion yen or 9.66 yen per share, profit before income tax expenses of 4 billion yen, down 86.6% from last year, and operating profit of 10 billion yen, down 70.5 percent. Sales for the year are expected to be 2.04 trillion yen, up 0.5%. 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.
ALBANY, New York, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Transparency Market Research has published a new market report titled "Transformer Oil Market - Global Industry Analysis Size Share Growth Trends and Forecast 2016-2024". According to the report, the Transformer Oil market was valued at US$ 1.99 Bn in 2015 and is anticipated to reach US$ 3.26 Bn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 5.7% between 2016 and 2024.

Transformer oil is a fluid which is primarily used in an oil filled transformer for the purpose of cooling and insulating the transformer. It is also used to protect the transformer from electric arcing and corona discharges. Transformer oil is mainly manufactured from mineral oil which is itself produced from distillation of crude petroleum oil. It is also manufacture from silicone base and vegetable oil. Based on these manufacturing processes transformer oil is classified by product type as mineral oil, silicone based and bio based.

Application segment for transformer oil market is divided into power transformers, distribution transformers and others application segment. Power transformers and distribution transformers are integral parts of the power transmission and distribution system. Power transformers are generally rated above 200 MVA and are used in high voltage grid station for transmission of power. Distribution transformers are generally rated less than 200 MVA and are used for the distribution of electrical energy at low voltage. Distribution transformers are typically used to distribute electricity to the residential sector. In 2015, distribution transformer application segment accounted for significant market share for transformer oil market.

Get Sample of this Research Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=23894

This is due to the fact that distribution transformers outnumber power transformer by large, hence the demand for transformer oil in distribution transformers in high. The segment is also expected to exhibit a rapid growth during the forecast period due to the initiatives of various governments to expand the power infrastructure, especially in developing regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Africa. Power transformer segment though behind distribution transformers segment also held a considerable market share in 2015. Others applications segment which includes switchgears, circuit boards, and high voltage capacitors among other materials is expected to have an insignificant share of the transformer oil market during the forecast period.

Globally Asia Pacific accounts for the significant market share in the global market followed by North America and Europe. Transformer oil market in developed countries of North America and Europe is expected to experience sluggish growth for the forecast period due to these markets being reached a mature state with limited opportunities for growth. Asia-Pacific has a large consumer base besides having a host of developing nations such as China, India, Korea, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh among others who are focusing on the development of their power infrastructure.

Browse Research Press Release: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/transformer-oil-market.htm

Key players operating in the transformer oil market include Nynas AB, ExxonMobil Corporation, Shell, Sinopec Corporation, Cargill Inc., Dow Corning Corporation, Apar Industries, and Gulf Oil Middle East Limited among others.

This report segments the global transformer oil market as follows:

Transformer Oil Market - Product Analysis Mineral Oil Naphthenic Oil Paraffinic Oil Silicone based Bio based

Transformer Oil Market - Application Analysis Power Transformers Distribution Transformers Others

Transformer Oil Market - Regional Analysis North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Italy Spain France Germany Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan & Korea India ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa (MEA) GCC South Africa Rest of MEA



Browse Other Market Research Report:

Dry Type Transformer Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/dry-type-transformer-market.html

About TMR

Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend 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.

TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.



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PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 17, 2017 / Olfactory Biosciences Corp. (OTC PINK: OLFC) is a life sciences company that focuses on designing products that contribute to better health using only natural phytochemicals and phytonutrients. The new website http://olfcinvestor.com provides investor information as well as the Company's products.

The company is currently raising up to $3 million in a private placement at $ 1 a share. (based on the company's valuation). The offering is being conducted under Rule 506(c) of Regulation D promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering for promotions, advertising, and market development for its Autism related product, NOXO Sensory Gel as well as its unusual, NOXO Hungermgmt product.

OLFC has developed next generation medicines. The company is also unique in maximizing product margins and profits by being a virtual company utilizing computer and telecommunications to extend our science technologies and capabilities. OLFC works with freelancers and contractors located throughout the country and the world. http://olfcinvestor.com

Being virtual, OLFC has no overhead or payroll but does have unusual potential, growth and exceptional profit potential.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Olfactory Biosciences offers advanced non-prescription natural medicines. They are nasal gels applied for relief of common conditions such as sensory issues, food cravings and binging, stress and anxiety, memory and concentration and sleep issues. http://noxoinfo.com

"Our new natural, effective medicines are years ahead of equivalent prescription medicines," said Richard Stevenson, President.

About Olfactory Biosciences Corp.

Olfactory Biosciences Corp. continues to lead the field of advanced natural medicines with unique external delivery systems. The company develops topical medicine products that can modify behavior or provide relief to common behavior challenges.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements by the Company, statements regarding the NOXO product line, optimism related to the business, expanding ales and other statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about the Company's business. and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings under "risk factors" and elsewhere. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Contact:

Richard Stevenson, President

Olfactory Biosciences Corp.

333 E. Lancaster Ave. Suite 317

Wynnewood, PA 19096, USA

Phone: 484-278-1626

Website: http://noxoinfo.com/ http://olfcinvestor.com

Email: support@noxoinfo.com

SOURCE: Olfactory Biosciences Corp.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (dpa-AFX) - A US federal appeals court ruled in favor of Google in a genericide lawsuit Tuesday, noting that the word google is not generic. The search engine still retains its trademark even if the term 'google' has become known for searching the Internet, the court said. The lawsuit, brought by a man named Chris Gillespie, claimed that Google should no longer be trademarked because the word 'google' is synonymous to the public with the term 'search the Internet. The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, 'Even if we assume that the public uses the verb 'google' in a generic and indiscriminate sense, this tells us nothing about how the public primarily understands the word itself, irrespective of its grammatical function, with regard to Internet search engines.' According to the court, the trademark loss to genericide occurs when the name has become an 'exclusive descriptor' that makes it difficult for competitors to compete unless they use that name. The Google trademark dispute was brought in 2012, after Gillespie registered 763 domain names that combined 'google' with other words and phrases. Google filed a cybersquatting complaint under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy and claimed trademark infringement. An arbitration panel ordered the forfeiture of the domains, but Gillespie sued in a bid to invalidate the trademark. Many words including teleprompter, thermos, hoover, aspirin, and videotape were once trademarked, but lost their legally protected status as their names became too generic. 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.
Allegion, plc (NYSE: ALLE), a leading global security products and solutions provider, has made, through one of its subsidiaries, an equity investment in Yonomi - a leading mobile application and cloud platform provider for connected living.

Allegion Futurist and Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships Rob Martens called the investment a strategic alliance between two smart-home IoT thought leaders.

"As an IoT thought leader, Allegion drives connected device integration in both residential and non-residential security markets," said Martens. "We form strategic alliances with others who embrace the IoT as we do, furthering our capabilities and pushing innovation in our industry. This new alliance with Yonomi is a perfect example. We're impressed by the flexible IoT solutions Yonomi offers to manufacturers as well as end consumers and look forward to using this technology to give our customers smarter security experiences."

Through the alliance, Allegion's portfolio has elite access to Yonomi's Thin Cloud Infrastructure and cloud computing expertise. Schlage recently deployed Yonomi Thin Cloud to support millions of its smart locks.

Allegion will also further its integration into the smart-home market through the Yonomi consumer application that fosters seamless communication between smart-home devices. The mobile application allows users to set conditions and personalized routines that control multiple smart-home devices with simple voice command. The app currently integrates with more than 60 popular smart-home devices, including some Schlage locks.

"We've designed Yonomi to be both easy to use and powerful, much like Allegion's IoT-enabled products," said Yonomi CEO Kent Dickson. "As a company that's focused on simplifying smart-home experiences, we're excited to have a strategic partner like Allegion with expertise specific to the evolution of smart security devices an important part of the connected home."

The partnership is consistent with Allegion's strategy to drive growth and create shareholder value by investing in new technologies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the company's IoT strategy, the success of Yonomi and the company's investment, and the company's growth strategy. These forward-looking statements are based on the company's current available information and its current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. They are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties many of which are beyond the company's control as well as potentially inaccurate assumptions, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information on these factors and other risks that may affect the company's business is included in filings it makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including its Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2016, and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, and in its other SEC filings. The company assumes no obligations to update these forward-looking statements.

About Allegion

Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) is a global pioneer in safety and security, with leading brands like CISA, Interflex, LCN, Schlage, SimonsVoss and Von Duprin. Focusing on security around the door and adjacent areas, Allegion produces a range of solutions for homes, businesses, schools and other institutions. Allegion is a $2.2 billion company, with products sold in almost 130 countries. For more, visit www.allegion.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005292/en/

Contacts:

Allegion plc

Media Contact:

Maria Pia Tamburri Director, Public Affairs

317-810-3399

Maria.Tamburri@allegion.com

or

Analyst Contact:

Mike Wagnes Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations

317-810-3494

Michael.Wagnes@allegion.com
LONDON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Chubb today announced the appointment of Adair, Lord Turner as non-executive Chairman of two of its key European companies, Chubb European Group Limited and Chubb Underwriting Agencies Limited, subject to regulatory approval.

Adair Turner was Executive Chairman of the UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) from 2008 to 2013, overseeing the UK's policy and regulatory response to the Global Financial Crisis. He spent much of his early career in banking and subsequently consultancy with McKinsey, where he advised British and European companies across a wide range of industries. He was Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) from 1995 to 2000 and subsequently returned to banking as Vice Chairman of Merrill Lynch Europe, prior to assuming the FSA Executive Chairmanship.

Over the past two decades, he has also served in several non-executive directorships across a wide range of financial, business, government and not-for-profit boards, including the insurer Prudential since 2015.

In his new role, Adair Turner will work closely with Andrew Kendrick, Regional President for Chubb in Europe, who continues to have executive management responsibility for Chubb's operations across the region. He succeeds John Napier, who recently stepped down from the position and his appointment remains subject to regulatory approval.

Juan Andrade, Executive Vice President of Chubb Group and President, Overseas General Insurance at Chubb, said:

"Adair Turner's exceptional background in business, government and supervision will be of great benefit to our Boards and our business as we continue to navigate the evolving market and regulatory landscape in Europe. I am delighted to welcome him to Chubb."

Andrew Kendrick, Regional President, Europe at Chubb, said:

"I am very much looking forward to working alongside Lord Adair. His extensive knowledge and unique insights will be greatly valued by our board members and will add real value to our customer and market proposition in Europe.

"I would also like to extend my sincere thanks on behalf of the Boards and Chubb management team to John Napier for his counsel, guidance and support over the past four years and we wish him well for the future."

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com/uk

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VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - May 17, 2017) - Trek Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE: TREK) ("Trek" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that initial drilling in Piaba West has intersected 3.90 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au") over 11.0 metres in a step-out drill hole located 300 metres along strike of the currently defined Piaba gold deposit at its 100%-owned Aurizona Gold Mine ("Aurizona") in Brazil. Results from the initial 18 shallow holes totalling 1,594 metres have successfully demonstrated that significant gold mineralization persists below the shallow, westernmost reserve pit and that the Piaba gold deposit extends along strike at least 300 metres to the west.

Drilling highlights include:

3.90 g/t Au over 11.0 m in BRAZP575

1.95 g/t Au over 4.0 m and 2.17 g/t Au over 5.0m in BRAZP580

28.16 g/t Au over 4.0 m including 112 g/t over 1.0 m in BRAZP582

2.63 g/t Au over 9.0 m in BRAZP572

0.99 g/t Au over 15.0 m in BRAZP571

1.22 g/t Au over 33.0 m including 2.27 g/t Au over 11.0 m in BRAZP569

"Encountering ore grade intercepts along strike is exactly the result we were looking for," said Scott Heffernan, EVP Exploration of Trek. "Drilling at Piaba West is ongoing and will further test the continuity of mineralization along strike from current gold reserves in the Piaba gold deposit."

Drill hole BRAZP575, located 300 metres beyond the westernmost edge of the existing Piaba pit, encountered 3.90 g/t Au over 11.0 metres from 49 metres down hole. BRAZP576 was collared a further 100 metres west of BRAZP575 and ended in mineralization grading 0.71 g/t gold over 6.0 metres at a depth of 110 metres, indicating that mineralization continues for an additional 100 metres along strike but may dip to the southwest.

For a complete table of the Company's 2017 exploration drill results to date, click here

For a map showing the Company's 2017 exploration drill holes and highlight results to date, click here

"These initial results support our expectation that the Piaba gold deposit continues at depth and along strike to the west," said Christian Milau, CEO of Trek. "Successful infill drilling below the western end of the pit and in the identified extension should lead to an increase in Aurizona gold resources and an extension of the mine life."

Current gold reserves at Aurizona are contained primarily within the Piaba gold deposit which remains open along strike and to depth. Piaba West is a potential 900-metre long extension of the Piaba gold deposit and is the first of several near-mine targets to be drilled as part of the Company's planned 30,000-metre 2017 exploration program at Aurizona. Trek's immediate priority is to follow the mineralization along strike and down plunge, and to increase drill hole density below the western edge of the current reserve pit and the initial 300-metre extension. An additional 600 metres of westerly strike will be tested upon receipt and interpretation of a recently completed 38,000 line-km airborne magnetic and radiometric survey.

Invitation to Trek Mining Open House

Trek is hosting an open house at its office in Vancouver at the end of May, providing an opportunity for existing and potential investors to meet Trek's executive team and discuss ongoing activities at the Company's portfolio of projects. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by May 22 to Rhylin Bailie by phone at +1 604-260-0516 or by email at rhylin.bailie@trekmining.com.

When: Sunday, May 28 from 4-6pm Monday, May 29 from 4-6pm Where: Suite 730, 800 West Pender St., Vancouver RSVP: +1 604-260-0516 or rhylin.bailie@trekmining.com

On behalf of the Board of Trek Mining Inc.

"Christian Milau"

CEO & Director

About the Aurizona Gold Mine

The current reserve and resource model for Aurizona outlines a 6.5-year mine life based on reserves identified in the Piaba and Boa Esperanca pits. Gold mineralization is structurally controlled by subvertical, strike-slip shear zones occurring along significant lithological contact between metavolcano-sedimentary units and intrusive rocks. Host rocks are hydrothermally altered quartz diorite and plagioclase-quartz diorite rocks. The mineralization style is disseminated stockwork and vein-hosted sulphides and gold within a silicified shear zone. Gold mineralization at Piaba West is hosted in a northern, hanging wall sequence composed mainly of diorite and quartz diorite intrusives with subordinate dacitic volcanics. Additional information about Aurizona is available in the September 2016 "Pre-feasibility Study on Aurizona Mine Project, Maranhao, Brazil, NI 43-101 Technical Report" that is available on the Company's website and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Trek Mining Inc.

Trek is a Canadian mining company with a portfolio of production, near-production and exploration-stage projects in North and South America. The Company is producing gold from its Koricancha Mill, a custom-built gold and silver ore processing facility in Peru, and is completing a feasibility study for its past-producing Aurizona Gold Mine in Brazil, with the objective of pouring gold at Aurizona by the end of 2018. Trek's exploration properties include both near-mine and district exploration opportunities at Aurizona; the Warintza project, a porphyry copper-molybdenum exploration project in Southeastern Ecuador; the Ricardo project, a porphyry copper-molybdenum exploration project in Chile; and Elk Gold, a past-producing high-grade gold mine in British Columbia, Canada. Further information about Trek's business strategy and portfolio of assets is available at www.trekmining.com or by email at ir@trekmining.com.

Qualified Person and Disclosure Statement

Scott Heffernan, M.Sc., P.Geo., the Company's EVP Exploration and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained in this news release is accurate and approves the written disclosure of the same. Drill composites were calculated using cut-off values of 0.3 g/t, 1.0 g/t or 5.0 g/t gold as specified in the drill table and contain no more than 3 metres of internal waste. Drill intersections are calculated using uncut assays and are reported as drilled thicknesses. True widths of the mineralized intervals are interpreted to be 60 to 90 percent of the reported lengths. All samples were submitted to ALS Chemex in Belo Horizonte, Brazil for sample preparation. Sample pulps were then sent to ALS Chemex in Lima, Peru for geochemical analysis for gold by fire assay of a 30-gram charge with an Atomic Absorption finish (AA) and for a 33 multi-element geochemical suite by 4-acid digestion and Inductively-Coupled Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples with AA gold values over 5.0 g/t are re-assayed using a Gravimetric Finish (Grav). Control samples (accredited standards, blanks and duplicate samples at the field and preparation stages) were inserted on a regular basis. Results were monitored upon receipt of assays.

Cautionary Notes

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This document contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of the words "will", "should", "could", "expected" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements regarding planned exploration activities and drill results at Aurizona, and the anticipated restart of production at Aurizona. Although Trek believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Trek can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in Trek's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, and assumptions made with regard to: the anticipated results of exploration activities at Aurizona; whether exploration activities will lead to an increase in Aurizona resources and an extension of the Aurizona mine life; the anticipated results of the feasibility study for Aurizona; the anticipated Board of Directors decision to approve construction of the Aurizona mine; the ability to raise the capital required to fund construction and development of Aurizona; the ability to restart production at Aurizona; and timing of the anticipated restart of production. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and Trek does not undertake any obligations to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Trek Mining Contacts

Christian Milau

Chief Executive Officer

Rhylin Bailie

Vice President Investor Relations

Tel: +1 604-558-0560

Email: ir@trekmining.com
GRAND RAPIDS, MI / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2017 / Long-term care insurance is designed largely to provide coverage for one year or more of necessary services within a nursing home or other outside facility. Policies provide for essential diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, or personal care services, usually when the individual becomes ill or injured. However, there are some situations in which coverage under long-term care insurance is not available. Nationally recognized asset protection expert and elder law attorney Shawn Weera recently shed light on the varying factors that will determine if these policies are a wise investment.

As the average life expectancy continues to increase, Americans are frequently turning to assisted living, nursing homes, and other forms of support in their later years of life. For those without insurance, the costs of these facilities can quickly wipe out a lifetime's worth of savings. Still, Weera explained that an individual's age, health, retirement goals, income and assets will all come into play when deciding if long-term care insurance is right for them. He also noted that there are some circumstances that will make an applicant unavailable to receive benefits, including a preexisting medical condition that a health care services provider recommended or treated within six months prior to the effective date of the policy, mental or nervous disorders other than Alzheimer's disease or dementia, alcoholism or drug addiction, or an illness, treatment, or medical condition arising out of war, participation in a felony, or suicide attempt.

For those who are applicable to receive benefits, Shawn Weera explained that consumer and financial experts generally agree that long term care insurance premiums must be 5% or less of monthly income to be considered a good investment. For example, an individual in their 80s, who in addition to their home expects to have over $300,000 in assets and at least $50,000 per year in income, would be wise to protect their estate through one of these policies. Before making any final decisions, Weera urged those considering these plans to carry out due diligence by comparison shopping and seeking the advice of an elder law attorney to make clear each policy's exclusions, limitations and benefits.

Shawn Weera, JD, MFP is an elder law attorney with over fifteen years experience helping retirees and wartime veterans preserve and grow their estates through wise and efficient planning. As the President of the Law Offices of Shawn Weera, he has assembled a team of the top elder law and Medicaid experts in the country. Together, they proudly fulfill the firm's mission to help clients achieve estate planning and asset protection goals in times of prosperity, to provide protection in times of uncertainty, and to offer peace of mind solutions in times of crisis. In addition, Weera and his team frequently host seminars to help educate citizens about a wide range of elder law, Medicaid, Medicare, and estate planning issues that are free of charge and open to the public.

Shawn Weera - Michigan Elder Law Attorney: http://shawnweeranews.com

The Elder Law Firm P.C. - Home - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichiganElderLaw/

Shawn Weera - On Using Annuities for Medicaid Planning: http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/shawn-weera--on-using-annuities-for-medicaid-planning-20170504-01491

Contact Information:

ShawnWeeraNews.com

http://shawnweeranews.com

contact@shawnweeranews.com

SOURCE:Shawn Weera




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/17 -- STORAGEVAULT CANADA INC. ("StorageVault") (TSX VENTURE: SVI) is pleased to announce the following: (1) it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire one store in Montreal for $8,600,000, (2) it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire one store in the Greater Montreal Area for $8,000,000 and (3) confirmation that Sentinel Storage is the previously announced $396.6 million portfolio purchase.

PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE ONE STORE IN MONTREAL

StorageVault has entered into an asset purchase agreement to purchase from an arm's length private vendor (the "Montreal Vendor") for an aggregate purchase price of $8,600,000, subject to customary adjustments, all of the storage assets, property and business used in the operation and business of one store in Montreal owned by the Montreal Vendor (the "Montreal Acquisition"). The Montreal Acquisition will give StorageVault its ninth store in the Greater Montreal Area providing additional scale to current operations. Assuming all conditions in the purchase agreement are met or waived, it is anticipated that the closing of the Montreal Acquisition will occur on or before July 31, 2017.

Purchase Price and Payment

The purchase price for the Montreal Acquisition is $8,600,000, subject to adjustments, and is payable by the issuance of $500,000 of common shares of StorageVault ("Common Shares") at a price of $2.50 per Common Share, with the remainder of the purchase price being satisfied with funds on hand and first mortgage financing.

Conditions Precedent to the Montreal Acquisition

The obligations of StorageVault to complete the Montreal Acquisition are subject to initial conditions including, but not limited to: satisfactory due diligence; satisfactory Environmental Site Assessment Reports; acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"); and formal StorageVault acquisition committee and board of directors approval. The obligations of both StorageVault and the Montreal Vendor to complete the closing of the Montreal Acquisition are subject to the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE ONE STORE IN THE GREATER MONTREAL AREA

StorageVault has entered into an asset purchase agreement to purchase from an arm's length private vendor (the "Greater Montreal Area Vendor") for an aggregate purchase price of $8,000,000, subject to customary adjustments, all of the storage assets, property and business used in the operation and business of one store in the Greater Montreal Area owned by the Great Montreal Area Vendor (the "Greater Montreal Area Acquisition"). This will be StorageVault's tenth store in the Greater Montreal Area. Assuming all conditions in the purchase agreement are met or waived, it is anticipated that the closing of the Greater Montreal Area Acquisition will occur on or before July 31, 2017.

Purchase Price and Payment

The purchase price for the Greater Montreal Area Acquisition is $8,000,000, subject to adjustments, and is payable with funds on hand and first mortgage financing.

Conditions Precedent to the Great Montreal Area Acquisition

The obligations of StorageVault to complete the Greater Montreal Area Acquisition are subject to initial conditions including, but not limited to: satisfactory due diligence; satisfactory Environmental Site Assessment Reports; and formal StorageVault acquisition committee and board of directors approval. The obligations of both StorageVault and the Great Montreal Area Vendor to complete the closing of the Greater Montreal Area Acquisition are subject to the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

SENTINEL STORAGE IS THE $396.6 MILLION PORTFOLIO PURCHASE

StorageVault is pleased to announce that the $396.6 million acquisition originally announced on March 22, 2017 is the Sentinel Storage portfolio. Sentinel Storage is one of Canada's premier self storage portfolios and complements StorageVault's current operating platform. Sentinel has 24 stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia and is widely considered as one the highest quality portfolios in the country.

Other Information

No new insiders will be created, nor will any change of control occur, as a result of the Montreal Acquisition or the Greater Montreal Area Acquisition (collectively, the "Acquisitions"). There can be no assurance that the Acquisitions will be completed as proposed or at all. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Acquisitions and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

About StorageVault Canada Inc.

StorageVault owns and operates storage locations in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

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.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to: the proposed Acquisitions; the business, assets and property in respect of the proposed Acquisitions; the timing for completion of the proposed Acquisitions; the satisfaction of the conditions for completion of the proposed Acquisitions; the issuance of Common Shares to satisfy a portion of the purchase price for the proposed Montreal Acquisition; the availability of satisfactory financing for the proposed Acquisitions; and the potential closing dates for the proposed Acquisitions. This forward-looking information reflects StorageVault's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to StorageVault and on assumptions StorageVault believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the completion of satisfactory due diligence by StorageVault in relation to the proposed Acquisitions; the satisfactory fulfilment of all of the conditions precedent to the proposed Acquisitions; the receipt of all required approvals for the proposed Acquisitions including StorageVault board of directors approval, acquisition committee approval, and TSXV acceptance; the issuance of the Common Shares as disclosed above as part of the purchase price for the proposed Montreal Acquisition; the value of the appraisals received for the proposed Acquisitions; and acceptable financing to complete the proposed Acquisitions. Forward looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of StorageVault to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations; competition; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting StorageVault; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations and appraisals; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals.

A description of additional assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in StorageVault's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although StorageVault has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of StorageVault as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. However, StorageVault expressly 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 expressly required by applicable securities law.

Contacts:

StorageVault Canada Inc.

Mr. Steven Scott or Mr. Iqbal Khan

1-877-622-0205

ir@storagevaultcanada.com




FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 06/13/17 -- VPR Brands, LP (OTC PINK: VPRB), a market leader specializing in vaporizers and accessories for essential oils, cannabis concentrates, and extracts, will be a sponsor of the The Cannabis World Congress & Business Expo (CWCBExpo) at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York this June 14-16th. The CWCBExpo is the definitive business event for the cannabis industry. Exhibitors and sponsors bring cutting-edge solutions to owners and managers of businesses in this fast-growing industry, and a wealth of opportunity and knowledge to those looking to enter the market with potential partners and investors.

"We have decided that sponsoring the event, which will give us the opportunity to insert one of our catalogs into every attendee bag when they arrive, would be best the best way to showcase our products, which are the cornerstone of our company. The evolution of our HONEYSTICK brand offering has grown exponentially in 2017 and our new catalog and website have been very well received by our customers. We have printed and have and will be distributing over 25,000 of our new product catalogs at trade events such as this as well as through our distributor partners just in the second quarter alone. Sponsorships like this will continue to be part of our and sales and marketing plan going forward," said Kevin Frija, CEO of VPR Brands, LP.

"This is the largest Cannabis Conference in the Northeastern United States, with a very diverse exhibitor roster and some very famous presenters and other industry experts speaking. It is a great event for us to sponsor to show our support for the industry and further expand and create awareness of our HONSYSTICK Brand."

About Cannabis World Congress & Business Expositions (CWCBExpo)

The professionally run Cannabis World Congress & Business Expositions (CWCBExpo) are produced by Leading Edge Expositions in partnership with the International Cannabis Association (ICA). The events are the premier professional forums for dispensary owners, growers, suppliers, investors, medical professionals, government regulators, legal counsel, and entrepreneurs looking to achieve business success and identify new areas of growth in this dynamic industry. To learn more about the coast-to-coast CWCBExpos in New York, Los Angeles and Boston, go to www.cwcbexpo.com.

About VPR Brands, LP:

VPR Brands is a technology company, whose assets include issued U.S. and Chinese patents for atomization related products including technology for medical marijuana vaporizers and electronic cigarette products and components. The company is also engaged in product development for the vapor or vaping market, including e-liquids. Vaporizers and electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes) are devices which deliver nicotine and or cannabis through atomization or vaping, and without smoke and other chemical constituents typically found in traditional products. For more information about VPR Brands, please visit the company on the web at www.vprbrands.com and www.vapehoneystick.com

Forward-looking statements:

This news release contains statements that involve expectations, plans or intentions, and other factors discussed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These statements are forward-looking and are subject to risks and uncertainties, so actual results may vary materially. The company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The company disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Contact Information:

VPR Brands, LP

Kevin Frija

CEO

(954) 715-7001

info@vprbrands.com

www.vprbrands.com




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 07/11/17 -- Five Star Diamonds Limited (TSX VENTURE: STAR) (the "Company" or "Five Star Diamonds") is very pleased to provide the following update on its 100% owned Jaibaras Diamond Project (the "Jaibaras Project" or "the Project") in Para State, Brazil.

Highlights

-- Construction of the 0.5tph bulk sampling plant at Jaibaras is nearing completion. -- Bulk sampling and processing of material from the J4 kimberlite pipe is planned to commence prior to the end of July. An initial sample of 20t is to be sampled from the clay weathered kimberlite at J4. -- On completion of bulk sampling at J4, the Company will process similar sized samples from the J1 and J2 kimberlite pipes. J3 & J5-J8 kimberlite pipes remain under assessment. -- The Company has two diamond core drilling rigs operating on the Jaibaras Diamond Project. Initial drilling results from the J1 and J2 kimberlite pipes are meeting the Company's expectations. -- A total of 20 diamond core drill holes have now been successfully completed on the J1 kimberlite pipe. -- Both drilling rigs are currently operating on the J2 kimberlite pipe and two holes have been completed.

JAIBARAS DIAMOND PROJECT, PARA STATE

The Company is conducting an active bulk sampling and drilling programme at the Jaibaras Diamond Project. At this stage the Company has two drilling rigs on site and is completing construction of the bulk sampling plant. A total of eight kimberlite pipes (J1-J8) have been identified and are under assessment and evaluation at Jaibaras. Previous mini bulk sampling of the J1 and J2 kimberlite pipes has already resulted in the recovery of gem quality macro diamonds from clay weathered kimberlite.

Construction of the 0.5tph bulk sampling plant is now nearing completion and will commence processing a 20t sample from the J4 kimberlite pipe. The bulk sampling plant is a 0.5tph mobile wash and jig concentrate sampling plant which recovers diamonds above 1.5 mm in size. As observed from recently completed programmes the kimberlite pipes at Jaibaras occur on or very close to surface which allows the Company to quickly test the diamondiferous quality of the pipes. Initial results from the bulk sampling programme should be available in the coming month.

To view Figure 1 and 2, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure1and%202-BulkSampling.pdf

The 5tph Pilot Plant wash and rotary pan concentrate plant, used to complete the pilot programme at the Company's Catalao Diamond project, has been dismantled and is awaiting granting of the trial mining licence prior to mobilisation to the Jaibaras Project.

Diamond core drilling focusing on the J1 and J2 kimberlite pipes is well underway with 20 drill holes now completed at the J1 kimberlite pipe and two drill holes completed at the J2 kimberlite pipe. Initial results are meeting the Company's expectations with a total of 720 meters completed to date.

To view Figure 3, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure3-DiamondCoreDrilling.pdf

The key objective of the drill programme is to cross cut the clay weathered zone and penetrate approximately five metres into the fresh rock. This has been successful to date and will allow the Company to delineate the lateral boundaries of the pipe and the vertical depth extent of the clay weathered zone. Once completed this will then provide the necessary data to conduct a tonnage estimation of the J1 & J2 clay weathered zones. A small drilling programme will also be conducted on the J4 kimberlite in conjunction with the bulk sampling programme.

Auger drilling Programmes have now been completed on targets J3 to J6.

To view Figure 4, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure4-J1Kimberlite.pdf

To view Figure 5, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure5-J2%20Kimberlite.pdf

To view Figure 6, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure6-Garnets.pdf

ABOUT FIVE STAR DIAMONDS

The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol STAR.

The Company controls a dominant and highly enviable position in the Brazilian kimberlite diamond sector owning 23 diamond kimberlite projects comprising an aggregate of 72 exploration licences and applications across 123,667 hectares.

Five Star Diamonds is focused on acquiring and developing advanced staged diamond projects in Brazil. Since it was established, it has pursued an accelerated growth strategy and aims to be one of the first producers of diamonds from kimberlite deposits in Brazil. The Company is focused on the development of sustainable kimberlite pipes and is not involved in alluvial diamond mining with its associated environmental issues. The Company works closely with local, state and federal authorities in Brazil to foster an open, transparent and legal diamond industry in Brazil.

This release is an update by the Company on its 100% owned Jaibaras Diamond Project. The Company is also running active programmes across its 100% owned Catalao, Riacho, Verissimo and Caiapo Diamond Projects. It is expected that the company will be able to provide further updates over the coming months and we look forward to keeping shareholders informed of our progress as we move towards building a truly unique Brazilian Diamond Company.

Qualified Person

Mr Paulo Ilidio de Brito, BSc Geology

Mr. Paulo de Brito is a geologist based in Brazil, has over 30 years of experience in the mining industry, dealing primarily with gold, copper, nickel, iron, industrial minerals and more recently diamonds. Mr. Brito is a Principal of consulting group Brasgeo and was until recently Exploration Manager of Paringa Resources Limited. Previously, he worked as a senior geologist with WMC Resources Ltd for 18 years until the closure of their activities in Brazil in 2002.

The exploration activities and their related results included in this announcement were directly supervised and managed by Mr. Brito. According to Mr. Brito, all exploration work carried out to date on the Projects mentioned in this release follow clear mining industry standards.

Mr. Brito, is a member of AIG (Australian Institute of Geoscientists), a member of AusIMM (The Minerals Institute) and a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Brito reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this press release.

On behalf of the Board

Five Star Diamonds Limited

Matthew Wood, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, significant downward variations in the market price of any minerals produced, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Contacts:

Five Star Diamonds Limited

Joe Burke

GM Marketing

jburke@fivestardiamonds.net



Five Star Diamonds Limited

Rajan "Raj" Rai

+1 778 835 9200

rrai@fivestardiamonds.net




Temasek Acquires Majority Stake While Existing Owner, Thoma Bravo, Retains Minority Interest

Investment Affirms GHX's Growth Trajectory and Global Leadership Position

Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX), a provider of connected, intelligent healthcare supply chains, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Temasek, an investment company headquartered in Singapore, for a significant equity investment in the company. As part of the agreement, Thoma Bravo, a leading private equity firm that acquired GHX in 2014, will retain a minority position. Financial details were not disclosed. The current GHX senior management team will continue to lead the company.

"GHX maintains a strong position in North America and Europe with solutions that span the breadth of the healthcare supply chain. Our priority remains to deliver solutions that have a measurably positive impact on our customers' business and the patients that they serve," said Bruce Johnson, CEO and president of GHX. "The addition of Temasek to GHX's ownership will help us continue to grow and deliver on our commitment to drive improved efficiency and results in healthcare."

"Our successful partnership with GHX is a prime example of Thoma Bravo's investment philosophy, and underscores the value we bring to companies within our portfolio," said Seth Boro, managing partner of Thoma Bravo. "Our commitment to working collaboratively with existing management, strengthening operational processes, and generating strong returns for our companies and investors is a practice we look forward to continuing as a minority partner in GHX with Temasek."

GHX, headquartered in Louisville, Colo., has employees in the United States, Canada and Europe, and is known for its electronic trading exchange, electronic payment solution and supply chain solutions. The company is unique among supply chain providers as it creates and connects the healthcare industry's largest collaborative community of trading partners, including providers, suppliers, distributors and group purchasing organizations (GPOs), enabling them to improve their business processes based on more timely and accurate data and greater automation.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Cleary Gottlieb Steen Hamilton LLP are advising Temasek. Thoma Bravo's financial advisor on the transaction is Goldman Sachs Co, while Kirkland Ellis LLP is serving as its legal advisor. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Jefferies Finance LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Golub Capital LLC and Ares Management are providing committed financing for the transaction.

About GHX

Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX) drives costs out of healthcare with cloud-based supply chain management technology and services in order to help enable better patient care and savings by maximizing automation, efficiency and accuracy of business processes. GHX offers healthcare providers and suppliers an open and neutral electronic trading exchange that delivers procurement and accounts payable automation, contract and inventory management, vendor credentialing and management, business intelligence, payment management, and other supply chain-related tools and services. For more information, visit www.ghx.com and The Healthcare Hub.

About Thoma Bravo, LLC

Thoma Bravo is a leading private equity firm focused on the software and technology-enabled services sectors. With a series of funds representing more than $17 billion in capital commitments, Thoma Bravo partners with a company's management team to implement operating best practices, invest in growth initiatives and make accretive acquisitions intended to accelerate revenue and earnings, with the goal of increasing the value of the business. Representative past and present portfolio companies include industry leaders such as Blue Coat Systems, Deltek, Digital Insight, Global Healthcare Exchange, Hyland Software, PowerPlan, Qlik, Riverbed, SailPoint, SolarWinds, SonicWall, Sparta Systems and TravelClick. The firm has offices in San Francisco and Chicago. For more information, visit www.thomabravo.com.

About Temasek

Incorporated in 1974, Temasek is an investment company based in Singapore. Supported by 10 offices globally, including New York and San Francisco in the U.S., London in Europe, Beijing in China, and Mumbai in India, Temasek owns a S$242 billion (US$180b) portfolio as of 31 March 2016, mainly in Singapore and Asia. Temasek's portfolio covers a broad spectrum of industries: telecommunications, media technology; financial services; transportation industrials; consumer real estate; and life sciences agriculture; as well as energy resources. Its investment activities are guided by four investment themes and the long-term trends they represent: Transforming Economies, Growing Middle Income Populations, Deepening Comparative Advantages and Emerging Champions. Temasek's current and prior investments in the U.S. include Airbnb, Ancestry.com, Dell Technologies, Intapp, Internet Brands, Jasper, Univar, Verily Life Sciences and Virtu Financial. For more information, visit www.temasek.com.sg.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005423/en/

Contacts:

For GHX:

Tier One Partners

Kathy Wilson, 781-652-0499

kwilson@tieronepr.com

or

For Thoma Bravo:

Hiltzik Strategies

Matthew Gorton, 212-776-1161

mgorton@hstrategies.com
REDONDO BEACH, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/17 -- SECFilings.com, a leading financial news and information portal offering free real time public filing alerts, announces publication of an article covering Golden Arrow Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE: GRG)(OTCQB: GARWF). Golden Arrow was recently featured in The Northern Miner magazine -- a 100-year-old paid publication covering the mining and exploration industries -- following its joint venture deal with Silver Standard Resources. The mention could bring significant attention to the company as it continues to pursue future projects.

A Fairytale-esque Deal

"It's a Cinderella story," said Golden Arrow CEO Joseph Grosso to the Northern Miner. "And we are just entering the ballroom."

Under the terms of the deal, the company will receive a 25% stake in Silver Standard's Pirquitas mine, take home US$15 million, and fast track the production of its flagship Chinchillas project in a joint venture deal. The Pirquitas mine is expected to have US$45 million to US$60 million in remaining production, while the company will still receive 25% of Chinchillas' annual production. The investment also included a US$2 million option payment to the company. Closing of this deal is expected to occur on or before May 31, 2017.

The deal was struck because the Pirquitas mine was running out of ore while the Chinchillas mine needed a partner -- making it a win-win scenario. "The deal is fantastic for Golden Arrow and it should be just as fantastic for Silver Standard," added Grosso, who said that Pirquitas can expand its mine life and preserve the value of its infrastructure, as well as the Silver Standard's skilled operations team on the ground at the mine.

More Lottery Tickets

Golden Arrow will now focus its efforts on several other properties that have tremendous potential. "I call Chinchillas a lottery ticket that won," says Grosso. "But now we have several expensive [partial] lottery tickets that we have developed in the last 24 years."

The most promising of its remaining assets is the Antofalla project, which the company has budgeted US$2 million for exploration. The team aims to drill the 87 square kilometer project that has 'geological similarities' to Chinchillas during the second half of the year. On May 2, the company identified several new high potential targets and promising test results with good mineralization and the potential for new mineralization outside the known zones.

Golden Arrow's management team -- the Grosso Group -- has decades of experience in the mining industry and strong relationships with key officials in Argentina. These attributes provide a high likelihood of success when it comes to executing on these 'lottery ticket' projects as it has done in the Chinchillas project, Gualcamayo gold project, and the Navidad project that have all been partnered out with majors.

Please follow the link to read the full article: http://analysis.secfilings.com/articles/171-golden-arrow-inks-fairytale-deal-with-future-lottery-tickets

About SECFilings.com

Founded in 2004, SECFilings.com provides free real time filing alerts to over 600,000 registered members and offers services to help public companies grow their audience of interested investors.

Disclaimer:

Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns SECFilings.com, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. Emerging Growth LLC may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Emerging Growth LLC may be compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation or equity securities in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: http://secfilings.com/Disclaimer.aspx.

SECFilings.com

Paul Archie

406-862-2242

parchie@secfilings.com




Kemira Oyj

Press Release

October 25, 2017 at 8.30 am (CET+1)

Kemira to invest approximately EUR 30 million in polymer technology for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery

Kemira, a global leader in the manufacture and supply of high quality polymers (polyacrylamides), will initiate an approximately EUR 30 million capital expenditure phase in expanding the manufacturing capacity of polymers for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (CEOR).

"Kemira can help customers improve their long-term profitability and resource efficiency with fully tailored polymers for CEOR. We anticipate a bright future for this application, which is demonstrated through the investment," says Pedro Materan, Kemira Oil & Gas.

The investment is part of the previously announced EUR 160-200 million capital expenditure for 2018. Additional capacity will be built at Kemira's existing manufacturing site at Botlek, Netherlands. The new capacity is expected to be in commercial operation by the beginning of 2019.

"We are excited to expand our Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery capacity further within the Oil & Gas business. The development of tailored polymers according to customer needs requires close customer collaboration, extensive innovation expertise and time. After prudent development in R&D and successful field trials, we are happy to announce this investment on the basis of an anticipated uptake in customer demand," says Kemira's President & CEO Jari Rosendal.



For more information, please contact:

Kemira Oyj

Tero Huovinen, Communications

Tel. +358 10 862 1980

Olli Turunen, Investor Relations

Tel. +358 10 862 1255

Kemira is a global chemicals company serving customers in water intensive industries. We provide expertise, application know-how and chemicals that improve our customers' product quality, process and resource efficiency. Our focus is on pulp & paper, oil & gas and water treatment. In 2016, Kemira had annual revenue of around EUR 2.4 billion and 4,800 employees. Kemira shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.

www.kemira.com (http://www.kemira.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: Kemira Oyj via Globenewswire


CRESCO, PA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/17 -- Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC: NSAV) announced today that the Company has signed an agreement with China Telecom Americas, http://www.ctamericas.com, a NYSE listed company. The NDA agreement now paves the way for NSAV to become an official partner of China Telecom Americas, the largest international subsidiary of China Telecom Corporation Limited, the largest operating broadband operator in the world. NSAV views this as a major opportunity, given the recent expansion of its medical cannabis technology business to China and the grand opening of its Shanghai office.

China is the world's largest producer of cannabis sativa seeds, accounting for nearly 40% of global production. Chinese companies have 309 out of the 606 patents filed around the world that relate to cannabis.

NSAV would also like to remind its shareholders of the June 1, 2017 record date for the Company's 10% dividend.

James Tilton, president of NSAV, stated, "I am truly excited at the opportunity of working with a company of the size and quality of China Telecom Americas. I feel that this is truly a major breakthrough for NSAV and its shareholders."

NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company that provides turnkey technological solutions to the medical cannabis industry, as well as other areas of the medical industry. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, advisory services, financial services, patents and trademarks and information technology.

For further information please contact NSAV at 1 (570-595-2432) or jamestilton@netsavingslinkinc.com.

The NSAV corporate website can be accessed at http://netsavlink.com

The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/NSAV_MJTechCo

The NSAV Facebook account can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/Net-Savings-Link-Inc-768628693317257/

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person.

NSAV

1-570-595-2432

jamestilton@netsavingslinkinc.com




TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - May 17, 2017) - Cogeco Peer 1 is excited to introduce the Cogeco Peer 1 Partner Portal, as well as three new Partner Programs designed to meet the unique needs of a wide range of channel partners globally.

"We believe our Partner Portal and three customized Partner Programs will empower our channel partners to better support their clients, accelerate sales and boost their respective bottom lines," said David Ramsey, Global Director, Strategic Alliances & Partners, Cogeco Peer 1. "We listened to, and worked closely with, our different partners in various industries around the world to develop resources we fully expect will help our partners drive new business."

Designed for partners such as digital agencies, system integrators, VARs (value-added resellers), agents, developers, Managed Service Providers, and ISVs, the Cogeco Peer 1 Partner Portal is a centralized and secure place for partner management, deal registration, marketing and sales enablement, product and technical resources, and more. Available in English, French, Spanish, and German, the Portal is integrated with Salesforce to provide a seamless experience for both Cogeco Peer 1 partners and global channel teams. Current partners are encouraged to create their account on the Portal today to begin experiencing its many value-added benefits.

The Partner Portal is segmented by partner program and region, which provides partners customized access to different functionality and resources within the site, as necessary. Channel partners globally can now choose between the unique offerings of the following Cogeco Peer 1 Partner Programs:

Referral Partner Program - Partners can drive new business and earn revenue through referring clients and prospects to Cogeco Peer 1. This program provides a simple and easy to understand structure where partners refer business to Cogeco Peer 1 and receive payment for each deal that closes. With no dependencies to stay in the program, it's ideal for partners who are just getting started, or prefer to be paid on a per-deal basis.

Referral Plus Partner Program - Partners can empower their businesses and achieve lucrative residual commissions by referring business to Cogeco Peer 1. For partners who prefer to maintain an ongoing relationship with Cogeco Peer 1 and the client they refer, this program offers partners recurring quarterly commissions based on overall MRR (monthly recurring revenue) volume. While there are certain program dependencies to stay in the program, the residual referral structure means partners have the opportunity to receive higher and recurring commissions.

Reseller Partner Program - This program allows partners to expand their business and enhance revenue through reselling select products and services at a discounted rate. This program provides a simple and supportive approach to leverage our global brand to help uncover potential opportunities and resell our solutions to their customers, while gaining a competitive advantage and high margins.

All partners will have customized access to the Cogeco Peer 1 Partner Portal, as well as an assigned Channel Account Executive to help set them up for success. To learn more about the new Cogeco 1 Partner Portal and Partner Programs, please visit: www.cogecopeer1.com/partners.

ABOUT COGECO PEER 1

Cogeco Peer 1 is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cogeco Communications Inc. (TSX: CCA) and is a global provider of essential business-to-business products and services, such as colocation, network connectivity, hosting, cloud and managed services that allow customers across Canada, Mexico, the United States and Western Europe to focus on their core business. With 16 data centers, extensive FastFiber Network and more than 50 points of presence in North America and Europe combined, Cogeco Peer 1 is a trusted partner to businesses small, medium and large, providing the ability to access, move, manage and store mission-critical data worldwide, backed by superior customer support. For more information, visit: www.cogecopeer1.com

For the latest Cogeco Peer 1 news:

Check out our blog: https://www.cogecopeer1.com/blog/

Follow us on Twitter: @CogecoPeer1

INFORMATION AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS:

Kent Carter

High Road on behalf of Cogeco Peer 1

416-644-2288

kent.carter@highroad.com
HENDERSON, NV / ACCESSWIRE / May 17, 2017 / On the Move Systems (OTC PINK: OMVS) is pleased to announce that Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD - www.roboticassistancedevices.com) has named Matt Klock as Vice President of Sales for its U.S.-based operations. Mr. Klock is responsible for the development and execution of RAD's business development strategies and will provide skilled sales leadership for RAD's solutions and growing sales team. Mr. Klock brings a wealth of experience to his role with RAD, spanning client relationship development with a concentrated focus on customer satisfaction. Mr. Klock joins RAD from Securitas Security Services USA, where he worked out of San Diego, overseeing operations and customer service initiatives for multiple locations. Securitas has over 330,000 employees worldwide. Mr. Klock has also worked for Kratos/HBE and served as District Manager for AlliedBarton Security, as well as Project Manager, working directly with The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. He is currently the Chapter Chairman for ASIS San Diego and is an Infraguard Infrastructure Liaison Officer. "We are very excited that RAD has brought on Mr. Klock as VP sales," said Garett Parsons President and CEO of OMVS, "RAD already has a tremendous pipeline of prospective new clients and Matt is perfectly positioned to significantly increase RAD's customer base."

RAD is expected to commence proof of concepts in July and to sign on new clients. This is in addition to the existing 10 robot commitments that were signed up last month for total contract values of $1 million. OMVS has commenced its due diligence process on RAD as part of the binding LOI that was entered into last week for the purchase of 100% of RAD by OMVS. It is anticipated that the acquisition will close before August 10, 2017.

RAD currently has a sales pipeline of over 50 Fortune 500 companies and over 25 qualified dealers and distributors that have a combined customer base of more than 35,000 end user corporations.

For further information please refer to www.sec.gov.

CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the ability of On the Move Systems to provide for its obligations, to provide working capital needs from operating revenues, to obtain additional financing needed for any future acquisitions, to meet competitive challenges and technological changes, and other risks. On the Move Systems undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement(s) and/or to confirm the statement(s) to actual results or changes in On the Move Systems expectations.

Investor Relations:

Everest Corporate Advisors Inc.

Jack Thompson

www.everestcorp.net

702-902-2361

SOURCE: On the Move Systems Corp.
LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 08/07/17 -- Heroux-Devtek Inc. (TSX: HRX)

-- Sales of $86.9 million, versus $95.6 million in the previous year -- EBITDA(1) of $11.9 million and net income of $4.0 million, or $0.11 per share -- Backlog of $451 million, up from $405 million three months ago -- Solid financial position as at June 30, 2017 with cash and cash equivalents of $40.3 million and a net-debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25:1 -- Updating fiscal 2018 guidance with adjusted EBITDA(1) margin expected to remain stable as compared to fiscal 2017; sales guidance reaffirmed

Heroux-Devtek Inc. (TSX: HRX), ("Heroux-Devtek" or the "Corporation"), a leading international manufacturer of aerospace products, today reported its results for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 ended June 30, 2017. Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts are in Canadian dollars.

"Heroux-Devtek's first-quarter results were affected by the timing of certain deliveries as well as the scheduled ending of a contract with a customer who supplies Original Equipment Manufacturers ("Tier-2 contract"). The latter reflects our increasing focus on direct relationships with the world's leading aerospace Original Equipment Manufacturers ("OEMs"). We continued to meet production requirements in regards to supplying complete landing gear systems for the Boeing 777 aircraft by delivering eight systems during the quarter. We also continue to work closely with Boeing on the qualification and approval phase for the remaining surface treatment processes at our Strongsville, Ohio facility and we remain confident to complete this phase during the current fiscal year," said Gilles Labbe, President and CEO of Heroux-Devtek.

"We continue to expect a low single-digit sales decrease for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018 when compared to the previous fiscal year. Results for the second quarter are typically lower due to seasonal factors, such as plant shutdowns and summer vacations. However, the second half of our fiscal year has usually been stronger and this year should be no exception. More importantly, we expect our fiscal 2018 adjusted EBITDA margin to remain stable as compared to fiscal 2017. Over the mid to long term, we are fully committed to building a sustainable future for Heroux-Devtek's employees and shareholders. We have world-class capabilities, solid relationships with leading aerospace OEMs and a strong financial position allowing us to remain active in our search for strategic acquisitions," added Mr. Labbe.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Quarters ended June 30, (in thousands of dollars, except per share data) 2017 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sales 86,857 95,590 EBITDA(1) 11,940 13,916 Adjusted EBITDA(1) 11,940 14,321 Net income 4,027 5,179 Per share - diluted ($) 0.11 0.14 Adjusted net income(1) 4,027 5,584 Per share ($) 0.11 0.15 Weighted-average shares outstanding (diluted, in '000s) 36,324 36,284 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) This is a non-IFRS measure. Please refer to the "Non-IFRS Measures" section at the end of this press release.

FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

Consolidated sales reached $86.9 million, compared with $95.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. This 9.1% decrease reflects lower sales to the commercial and defence aerospace markets, as detailed below, while year-over-year fluctuations in the value of the Canadian currency versus foreign currencies had a net positive impact of $1.4 million on first-quarter sales.

Commercial sales decreased 14.4% to $43.3 million, versus $50.6 million last year. The decrease is mainly attributable to the scheduled ending of a Tier-2 contract, as well as lower customer requirements for certain business jet and regional aircraft programs. These factors were partially offset by the ramp-up of complete landing gear system deliveries to Boeing for the 777 program, as well as favourable currency fluctuations.

Defence sales declined 3.3%, from $45.0 million to $43.6 million. This variation is essentially due to lower repair and overhaul sales, mainly on the P-3 program for the U.S. Navy, as well as to the timing of delivery of certain manufacturing sales to civil customers. These factors were partially offset by higher spare parts requirements from the U.S. government, the ramp-up of the F-35 program and favourable currency fluctuations.

Gross profit was $12.9 million, or 14.9% of sales, versus $16.1 million, or 16.8% of sales, last year. The decline mainly reflects a higher under-absorption of costs due to excess capacity and processing and finishing costs related to the Boeing 777 program. These processing and finishing costs are expected to normalize upon completion of the customer qualification and approval of Heroux-Devtek's surface treatment processes. This factor was partially offset by favourable year-over-year currency fluctuations equivalent to 0.8% of sales.

As a result of the reduction in gross profit, adjusted EBITDA was $11.9 million, or 13.7% of sales, compared with $14.3 million, or 15.0% of sales, a year ago. Last year's adjusted EBITDA excluded non-recurring charges of $0.4 million related to legal fees in regards to litigation.

Net income reached $4.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, versus $5.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, last year. Excluding non-recurring items net of taxes, last year's adjusted net income for the first quarter was $5.6 million, or $0.15 per share.

As at June 30, 2017, Heroux-Devtek's funded (firm orders) backlog stood at $451 million, up from $405 million three months earlier.

SOLID FINANCIAL POSITION

Heroux-Devtek's financial position remained solid as at June 30, 2017, with cash and cash equivalents of $40.3 million, while total long-term debt was $132.1 million, including the current portion, but excluding net deferred financing costs. Long-term debt includes $54.5 million drawn against the Corporation's authorized Credit Facility of $200.0 million. As a result, the net debt position was $91.8 million at the end of the first quarter, down from $92.3 million three months earlier. The net-debt-to equity ratio stood at 0.25:1 as at June 30, 2017, versus 0.26:1 three months earlier.

OUTLOOK

In the large commercial aircraft sector, Boeing and Airbus are adjusting production rates ahead of introducing certain more fuel efficient aircraft variants on several leading programs through calendar 2020. Their backlogs remain healthy despite a reduction in new firm orders since calendar 2016. The reduction has been more important for twin-aisle aircraft, including the Boeing 777 program. In the defence aerospace market, the new U.S. administration indicated its intention to increase funding, which could be positive for certain programs. In this regard, greater defence funding was proposed for the 2018 U.S. government's fiscal year. Meanwhile, Canada's new defence policy calls for a spending increase until the 2027 fiscal year and European nations are also committing more funds to defence, as shown by higher spending from NATO member countries. The Corporation's UK operations provide a more geographically diversified defence portfolio, which reduces its relative exposure to the U.S. market. The balance between new component manufacturing and aftermarket products and services in the Corporation's defence portfolio and its leading program content also promote more stability.

CONFERENCE CALL

Heroux-Devtek Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss these results on Monday, August 7, 2017 at 11:30 AM Eastern Time. Interested parties can join the call by dialling 1-877-223-4471 (North America) or 1-647-788-4922 (overseas). The conference call can also be accessed via live webcast at Heroux-Devtek's website, www.herouxdevtek.com/investor-relations/events or www.gowebcasting.com/8553.

If you are unable to call in at this time, you may access a tape recording of the meeting by calling 1-800-585-8367 and entering the passcode 48999071 on your phone. This tape recording will be available on Monday, August 7, 2017 as of 2:30 PM Eastern Time until 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Monday, August 14, 2017.

PROFILE

Heroux-Devtek Inc. (TSX: HRX) is an international company specializing in the design, development, manufacture and repair and overhaul of landing gear and actuation systems and components for the Aerospace market. The Corporation is the third largest landing gear company worldwide, supplying both the commercial and defence sectors of the Aerospace market with new landing gear systems and components, as well as aftermarket products and services. The Corporation also manufactures hydraulic systems, fluid filtration systems and electronic enclosures. Approximately 90% of the Corporation's sales are outside Canada, including about 65% in the United States. The Corporation's head office is located in Longueuil, Quebec with facilities in the Greater Montreal area (Longueuil, Laval and St-Hubert); Kitchener, Cambridge and Toronto, Ontario; Springfield and Strongsville, Ohio; Wichita, Kansas; Everett, Washington; and Runcorn, Nottingham and Bolton, United Kingdom.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for historical information provided herein, this press release contains information and statements of a forward-looking nature concerning the future performance of the Corporation. Forward looking statements are based on assumptions and uncertainties as well as on management's best possible evaluation of future events. Such factors may include, without excluding other considerations, fluctuations in quarterly results, evolution in customer demand for the Corporation's products and services, the impact of price pressures exerted by competitors, and general market trends or economic changes. As a result, readers are advised that actual results may differ from expected results. Please see the Guidance section in the Corporation's MD&A for the quarter ended June 30, 2017, for further details regarding the material assumptions underlying the forecasts and guidance. Such forecasts and guidance are provided for the purpose of assisting the reader in understanding the Corporation's financial performance and prospects and to present management's assessment of future plans and operations, and the reader is cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes.

NON-IFRS MEASURES

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow are financial measures not prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and are not likely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Management considers these to be useful information to assist investors in evaluating the Corporation's profitability, liquidity and ability to generate funds to finance its operations. Refer to Non-IFRS financial measures under Operating Results in the Corporation's MD&A for definitions of these measures and reconciliations to the most comparable IFRS measures.

Note to Complete unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial readers: statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis are available on Heroux-Devtek's website at http://www.herouxdevtek.com/.

Contacts:

From:

Heroux-Devtek Inc.

Gilles Labbe

President and Chief Executive Officer

(450) 679-3330



Contact:

Heroux-Devtek Inc.

Stephane Arsenault

Chief Financial Officer

(450) 679-3330



MaisonBrison

Martin Goulet, CFA

(514) 731-0000






BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - A survey conducted among residents of G20 countries has found that most of them have more confidence in the summit's host - German Chancellor Angela Merkel - than in U.S. President Donald Trump to do the right thing in world affairs.



Leaders from the world's largest economies are set to meet in the German city of Hamburg later this week for the G20 summit.



The leaders of Guinea, Kenya, Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Senegal, Singapore, Spain and Vietnam will attend the Hamburg summit as guest invitees.



Heads of international organizations such as World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations, ILO, WTO and Financial Stability Board have also been invited to attend the meeting, to be held on July 7-8.



The Group of Twenty consists of 19 member nations and a representative of the European Union.



A Pew Research Center survey examined attitudes in 37 nations, including in 17 of the G20 member states. It could not conduct the survey in China and Saudi Arabia, two countries where state restrictions are rigid.



In only two of the G20 countries surveyed - India and Russia - do residents have substantially more confidence in Trump than in Merkel when it comes to world affairs.



In seven G20 countries - Germany, France, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and Australia - two-thirds or more of the public say they have confidence in Merkel, compared with Trump. Support for her is greater than it is for Trump in Italy, Brazil and Mexico.



In the United States, more people have confidence in Merkel than in their own leader (56 percent to 46 percent).



There are only a few G20 countries where Merkel does not have this confidence advantage. Residents of Turkey have comparatively little confidence in either leader.



When it comes to two of the key issues that will be discussed at the G20 summit - trade and climate change - most people in G20 member countries take a dim view of Trump's policy proposals, the Washington-based non-partisan fact tank says.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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TEMPE, AZ -- (Marketwired) -- 05/18/17 -- Green Planet Group (OTC PINK: GNPG) has retained the services of Mr. Chris Knapp to provide consulting and Investor Relations Services to the Company. Mr. Knapp provides consulting services to both private and public companies ranging from corporate finance, acquisitions, business development and investor relations. He has a successful track record in creating shareholder value and growth opportunity for many publicly traded companies listed on the NASDAQ, AMEX and OTC BB.

Chris Knapp is very experienced having helped to finance and assist dozens of startups and well established firms grow into much larger entities quickly. He has been offered seats on the Board of Directors of several corporations and has been instrumental in locating merger and acquisition candidates, as well as introducing institutional investors to many of his client companies.

In making the announcement, Green Planet Group is pleased to have retained Mr. Knapp as its consultant for this exciting launch period. Kenneth Bennett, Green Planet Group's CEO and president, stated, "Our management team evaluated numerous potential candidates and selected Mr. Knapp as the most qualified. We are indeed fortunate to have this professional assisting us in implementing our business plan."

Mr. Knapp noted, "I am very excited about assisting the management of Green Planet Group in building the business and telling the investing public about this incredible up and coming company about to take the world by storm. Green Planet presents a compelling crossover story by combining technologically advanced biotechnology science into the food growing industry. The horizontal and vertical integration of all four subsidiaries represent an immense opportunity ready to be exploited. The company is projecting excellent revenue growth and earnings combined with the potential for significant increases in valuation as its bioengineering technology comes online."

"We plan to keep investors routinely informed through Press Releases, updating our new Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as through periodic Company website updates. We have many exciting years ahead of us -- so stay tuned!" added Mr. Knapp.

About Green Planet Group, Inc.

The Company is comprised of four wholly-owned subsidiaries: one operating company and four development companies. XenTx Lubricants, Inc. produces lubricants and additives for gasoline and diesel engines. AAQIS, Inc. is developing a hydrogen generator which greatly reduces hydrocarbon emissions while improving fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines. Green Mining Technologies, Inc. is developing green technologies for the mining of precious metals. The Company's Healing the Earth subsidiary is developing a new Fast Track growing system capable of growing vast amounts of fresh, organic food.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking" statements (as defined -- Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Green Planet Group, Inc. cautions that the statements made in this press release constitute forward-looking statements and no guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from projections in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at time the statements are made.

Investor Contact:

Chris Knapp

cknapp@greenplanetgroup.com

Direct Line: 602 733-8459

For more information see: www.Greenplanetgroup.com




LIMA, PERU -- (Marketwired) -- 10/02/17 -- Minera IRL Limited ('Minera IRL' or the 'Company') (BVLAC: MIRL)(CSE: MIRL)(CNSX.MIRL)(CSE.MIRL.CN) is pleased to announce receipt of a National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical report for its Corihuarmi gold mine that reflects an increase in estimated gold reserves at its open pit Corihuarmi gold mine for a total of 98,928 ounces of gold and an extension of the life of mine ("LOM") through December, 2020. The reserves estimated are located in the lowest part of the productive seven small open pits, mainly in the areas of Diana Extension, Susan and Cayhua.

The technical report was prepared by Andean Consulting Group SAC and includes information from the Company's 2016 drilling campaign, which consisted of 56 diamond drill holes (5074.30 m) and 29 RC drill holes (2,199.00m).

An exploration drilling program is expected for the second half of 2018 to extend additional resources. Corihuarmi has licensed 9,000ha of mining concessions.

Minera IRL Limited Executive Chairman, Gerardo Perez comments, "We are pleased with the results of our reserves. It is encouraging that we now have enough reserves to produce at least till late 2020 and we believe that further drilling in 2018 will continue to extend the LOM."

Gold production is projected over 24,000 ounces for 2017, an average of 21,000 ounces per annum for the 3 year period through 2020. The Corihuarmi Gold Mine started production in March 2008 and up toMarch 2017 it has produced 280,184.46 ounces of gold.

The Company renewed its dump truck fleet (10 trucks) in the Corihuarmi mine through a $1.5 million lease, reducing operating costs and ensuring efficiency, safety and environmental care in the transportation of ore. The Corihuarmi mine continues to meet its environmental commitments and Minera IRL continues to enjoy the favorable opinion of the local communities through its social development programs.

UPDATED ORE RESERVES ESTIMATED: CORIHUARMI GOLD MINE (to December 2020)

PIT TM ORE GRADE Au OUNCESS TM WASTE TM TOTAL SR(ii) ORORE Au TOTAL --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Susan 2,375,304 0.253 19,312 522,665 2,897,969 0.240 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ScreeSlope 309,324 0.290 2,888 221,252 530,576 0.759 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cayhua 2,946,727 0.250 23,731 949,792 3,896,519 0.420 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Diana 765,251 0.368 9,048 450,784 1,216,035 0.670 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laura 1,688,670 0.205 11,145 300,257 1,988,927 0.210 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cayhua Norte 1,727,274 0.412 22,866 1,582,578 3,309,852 0.950 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. ScreeSlope 1,116,720 0.277 9,938 707,183 1,823,903 1.021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10,929,270 0.282 98,928 4,734,511 15,663,781 0.433 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(ii) Relationship between waste (TM waste) and processed ore (TM ore)

Gold Production April 2017 to December 2020

Grade Year TM Ore (g/t) Ounces TM Waste Total TM SR Oz Recup Au (Oz) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 2,230,325 0.308 22,057.56 1,386,074 3,616,399 0.621 17,646.05 2018 2,900,000 0.295 27,536.29 1,161,693 4,061,693 0.401 22,029.03 2019 2,900,000 0.269 25,048.66 1,392,147 4,292,147 0.480 20,038.93 2020 2,898,945 0.261 24,285.88 794,597 3,693,542 0.274 19,428.71 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL 10,929,270 0.283 98,928.40 4,734,511 15,663,781 0.444 79,142.72 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Production and Exploration zones

To view the figure associated with this release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure1_MineraIRL.pdf

Quality Assurance - Quality Control ("QA/QC")

Thorough QA/QC protocols are followed on the Corihuarmi mine including insertion of duplicate, blank and standard samples in all drill holes. The half-core samples are submitted directly to Certimin Laboratories, Lima, Peru for preparation and Analysis. Analysis is conducted on 50 g aliquots. Analysis of Au is performed using fire assay method with atomic absorption (AA). Certimin has been servicing the Peruvian mining industry for 21 years. It participates in international proficiency testing programs such as CANMET and GEOSTATS, and develops its services with the support of the Integrated Management System for the compliance of regulatory requirements such as ISO 9001, ISO /IEC 17025, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001. Eng. Andres Rivera has reviewed the QA/QC results for the 5,753.00 samples coming from of two drilling programs and considers that they adequately demonstrate the Certimin assay reliability.

Qualified Person

The Corihuarmi Mine Ore Reserves Estimation is under the supervision of Eng.Andres Rivera Zeballos, MAusIMM #305739. Eng. Andres Rivera is a Geological Senior an independent Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by the N.I. 43-101 and JORC Australian Code. Eng. Andres Rivera has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release and integrates three other professionals QP AusIMM CP.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release, including information expressing management's expectations or estimates of future events, performance and exploration and development programs or plans constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this press release include the Company's expectation that an exploration drilling program for the second half of 2018 will add resources and extend the LOM and the projection of gold production of 21,000 ounces per year through 2020. Forward-looking statements are, necessarily, based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. While considered by management to be reasonable in the context in which they are made, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to political, legal, regulatory, business and economic risks and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Minera IRL's actual financial results, legislative environment, future performance and results of exploration and development programs and plans to be materially different than those expected or estimated future results, performance or achievements and that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, results or achievements. Minera IRL assumes no obligation, except as may be required by law, to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Risks, uncertainties and contingencies and other factors that might cause actual performance to differ from forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any failure to obtain or complete project financing, availability of labour and equipment and financial resources, delays in development or in receiving reports on our development, changes in the price of precious metals and commodities, changes in the relative exchange rates of the US dollar against the Peruvian nuevo sol, interest rates, legislative, political, social or economic developments both within the countries in which the Company operates and in general, contests over title to property, the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, operating or technical difficulties in connection with the Company's development or exploration programs, increasing costs as a result of inflation or scarcity of human resources and input materials or equipment. Known and unknown risks inherent in the mining business include potential uncertainties related to the title of mineral claims, the accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates, metallurgical recoveries, capital and operating costs and the future demand for minerals. For additional information, please consult the Company's most recently filed MD&A and Annual Information Form.

Contacts:

Minera IRL Limited

Gerardo Perez

Chairman

+51 1 418 - 1230



Minera IRL Limited

Diego Benavides

Director and Chief Executive Officer

+51 1 418 - 1230



Minera IRL Limited

Carlos Ruiz de Castilla

Chief Financial Officer

+1 778 387 5434




DUBLIN, May 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Breast Implants Market Analysis By Product (Silicone Breast Implants, Saline Breast Implants), By Shape (Round, Anatomical), By Application (Reconstructive Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery), By End-use, And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" report to their offering.

The global breast implants market is anticipated to reach USD 2.0 billion by 2025

Increasing focus toward enhancement of physical appearance has led to the growth of breast implants market.



Breast reconstructions are being highly adopted by women in order to enhance their physical appearances. This kind of surgery involves esthetic repair of any damage taking place after implantation procedure. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2015, nearly 106,000 breast reconstruction procedures have been performed in the U.S. Thus, such huge number of cases are expected to drive the growth of the market.



Breast implants are used post mastectomy to enhance esthetic appeal. Breast augmentation is another procedure requiring the application of these implants. Esthetic appeal plays an important role in increasing the demand for these procedures, thereby, making the cosmetic industry lucrative for the target population.



Further key findings from the study suggest:



In 2016, silicone implants dominated the market due to the fact that it has a natural resemblance to the breast tissue

Saline implants are anticipated to showcase significant growth over the forecast period due to lesser risk of complications during implant rupture

Round-shaped implants held the largest market share in 2016 owing to less complications involved during implant rotation

Anatomical-shaped devices are expected to showcase lucrative growth in the future due to their design that has a natural appearance, which make them ideal for breast enhancement

The cosmetic surgery segment dominated the market in 2016 due to the growing number of cosmetic procedures conducted globally

North America dominated the market in 2016 due to rising number of augmentation procedures of this organ conducted in the U.S.

dominated the market in 2016 due to rising number of augmentation procedures of this organ conducted in the U.S. Asia Pacific is expected to display lucrative growth over the forecast period owing to immense opportunities in the field of medical tourism in this region

is expected to display lucrative growth over the forecast period owing to immense opportunities in the field of medical tourism in this region Some of the key players include ALLERGAN; Sientra, Inc.; GC Aesthetics; Mentor Worldwide LLC; Establishment Labs S.A.; Polytech Health & Aesthetics GmbH; GROUPE SEBBIN SAS; HANSBIOMED CO. LTD; Laboratoires Arion; and Shanghai Kangning Medical Supplies Ltd.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Research Methodology



2 Executive Summary



3 Breast Implants Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1 Market Segmentation & Scope

3.2 Market Driver Analysis

3.2.1 Growing number of breast augmentation procedures

3.2.2 Rising incidence of breast cancer

3.2.3 Introduction of technologically advanced products

3.3 Market Restraint Analysis

3.3.1 High cost of implant procedure

3.3.2 Post-surgical complications

3.4 Key Opportunities Prioritized

3.5 Breast Implants - SWOT Analysis, By Factor (political & legal, economic and technological)

3.6 Industry Analysis - Porter's

3.7 Breast Implants Market: Company Market Share Analysis



4 Breast Implants Market: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis

4.1 Breast Implants Market: Product Movement Analysis

4.2 Silicone Breast Implants

44.3 Saline Breast Implants



5 Breast Implants Market: Shape Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1 Breast Implants Market: Shape Movement Analysis

5.2 Round

5.3 Anatomical



6 Breast Implants Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1 Breast Implants Market: Application Movement Analysis

6.2 Reconstructive Surgery

6.3 Cosmetic Surgery



7 Breast Implants Market: End-use Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1 Breast Implants Market: End-use Movement Analysis

7.2 Hospitals

7.3 Cosmetology Clinics

7.4 Ambulatory Surgical Centers



8 Breast Implants Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis, by Product, Shape, Application, End-Use



9 Competitive Landscape



Allergan Plc.

GC Aesthetics Plc.

Groupe Sebbin SAS

Mentor Worldwide LLC

Sientra Inc.

Polytech Health & Aesthetics GmbH

Establishment Labs S.A.

Shanghai Kangning Medical Supplies Ltd.

Guangzhou Wanhe Plastic Materials Co., Ltd.

LABORATOIRES ARION

HansBiomed Co Ltd.

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/khxpzb/breast_implants

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Amid ongoing political turmoil in Washington, Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his assistance in providing clarity regarding a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and top Russian officials. Putin indicated during a news conference on Wednesday that he is willing to provide records of Trump's meeting with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. The comments from Putin come after a Washington Post report claimed Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russians. Trump reportedly described the details of an Islamic State terrorist threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft. However, Putin suggested that Trump had not shared any intelligence during the meeting, joking that he would have to scold Lavrov for failing to pass on the information. White House officials have also called the Washington Post story 'false' and claimed the discussion between Trump and the Russians was 'wholly appropriate.' National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster declared Trump in no way compromised sources or methods in the course of the conversation, suggesting the president was not even briefed on the source of the information. Meanwhile, Trump asserted in a post on Twitter that he had an 'absolute right' to share information with Russian officials. 'As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety,' Trump tweeted. Putin described the widening scandal as 'political schizophrenia' and claimed 'dangerous and unscrupulous' politicians are trying to stir up 'anti-Russian sentiment.' Lawmakers have requested more information about the meeting, although Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, argued that any evidence provided by Russia cannot be trusted. 'If there are transcripts, we need those transcripts as well,' Collins said on CNN. 'But I've got to tell you. We don't need them from the Russians.' 'The idea that we would accept any evidence from president Putin is absurd,' she added. 'I wouldn't trust any evidence that the Russians said they could provide.' 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.
DEARBORN (dpa-AFX) - Ford Motor Co. (F) confirmed Wednesday that it plans to reduce 10 percent of its salaried workforce in its North America and Asia Pacific divisions this year. The automaker is under intensifying pressure from shareholders to improve its profits and boost its lagging stock price. Ford plans to reduce 10 percent of its salaried costs and personnel levels in North America and Asia Pacific using voluntary packages, including early retirement. The job cuts will impact about 1,400 salaried workers in these regions. The automaker said most skill teams in North American and Asia Pacific will be affected, with the exception of product development and Ford Credit, plant manufacturing, information technology, and global data and analytics. Ford expects the workforce reductions to be completed by October, noting that it must reduce costs and become as lean and efficient as possible. The job cuts are also not expected to impact hourly workers at Ford's factories or its Europe and South America operations, which have previously undergone job cuts. Ford's move to cut its salaried workforce instead of assembly-line workers could protect it from scrutiny by President Donald Trump. 'We remain focused on the three strategic priorities that will create value and drive profitable growth, which include fortifying the profit pillars in our core business, transforming traditionally underperforming areas of our core business and investing aggressively, but prudently, in emerging opportunities,' Ford said in a statement. Ford's plans to possibly cut its global workforce was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Ford's board of directors reportedly turned up the pressure on Chief Executive Officer Mark Fields to explain the company's fading fortunes and his plan to turn things around. The automaker's shares have fallen 40 percent since Fields became CEO in July 2014. Investors have been indifferent to Fields' plan to pour billions into new technologies like driverless cars and robo-taxis to take on upstarts like Uber Technologies Inc. and Waymo, Alphabet Inc.'s self-driving spin-off. Ford's traditional automotive business has struggled more than crosstown rival General Motors Co. as the U.S. auto market declines following seven years of growth. 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.


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Unity among all EU countries was vital for ensuring a positive outcome of the exit negotiations with the United Kingdom, European Council President Donald Tusk said Wednesday.



'Our unity is the most important condition for the positive outcome of the negotiations,' Tusk said in a European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg.



He was reporting the outcome of the first formal meeting of the European Council of 27 that took place on April 29.



'What was - and remains - most important for me, is that our conduct in these talks will show the European Union at its best: in terms of unity, political solidarity and fairness towards the United Kingdom,' Tusk said.



He stressed that the Brexit talks will be conducted on a 'phased approach', meaning that future relations with the UK will be discussed only after sufficient progress is made on ensuring and orderly exit from the European Union.



'Today it is too early to tell much more about our common future, but we will make our guidelines more precise when the time comes, namely when sufficient progress in the first phase is achieved,' the top EU official said.



Tusk reiterated that there was the need in the first phase to agree that all financial commitments undertaken by the EU of 28 will also be honoured by the UK.



Further, talks must be aimed to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, he said.



He also stressed that there will be very little time to conclude withdrawal talks within the framework foreseen by the EU Treaty, which is until March 2019.



European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said during the session that the proceedings in the Brexit thus far have shown that 'how united and prepared the European Union will be'.



'This negotiation is now in the hands of our capable divorce lawyers,' Juncker added.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
LONDON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

"MoneyWeek is the champion of the independent investor." At Gorkana's latest media briefing, MoneyWeek editor-in-chief and Financial Times columnist Merryn Somerset Webb said the biggest mistake people make with their personal finances is not to engage with them. She revealed to a packed out audience of PRs what proves most popular with her readers and how best they should pitch to her team.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/513111/Merryn_Somerset_Webb_and_Philip_Smith.jpg )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/513112/Merryn_Somerset_Webb.jpg )

MoneyWeek, through its weekly print title and website, gives insight into personal finance, collecting information from the world's press and commenting on trends in the financial world.

Regular content in the title includes investment recommendations for personal portfolios - from rising-star tech companies to the best dividend payers on the FTSE 100 - as well as market updates, property analysis and in-depth personal finance guides for pensions, taxes and ISAs.

As well as editor-in-chief of MoneyWeek, Merryn is a freelance journalist, writing a regular column for the Financial Times, and is author of Love is Not Enough - The Smart Woman's Guide to Making (and Keeping) Money, a book showing how women can take control of their finances.

Here are just a few top tips that Merryn revealed at the media briefing, which took place on Tuesday 16 May at the Regent Street Cinema in London.

Readers

The MoneyWeek audience is mainly individual investors, who are cash rich and time poor. Some 89% of its readers are male (between 35 and 64-years-old) and more than 17% of the overall readership are at board director level. Merryn thinks PRs would be surprised just how many non-London-based entrepreneurs read the title.

Most read pages

MoneyWeek readers love to read about property, especially around buy-to-let issues. MoneyWeek has a lot of buy-to-let investors, who read the magazine. The most read pages every week will be the double page spread on houses. Pension stories also prove very popular, especially around the changes in regulation.

Pitching to the team

Most PR pitches Merryn reads are used opportunistically when searching for a specific topic or randomly when scrolling through her inbox and something piques her interest. Try to be personal when emailing and remind her if you've discussed what you're pitching about beforehand. If she hasn't replied to your email (never phone!) within two hours, she never will. She doesn't mind an email being sent again, but don't send it more than three times. Press day is Wednesday. The best time to pitch is between Thursday and Monday morning.

When and who to contact

Issues around the markets should be sent to Andrew Van Sickle, personal finance pitches goes to Sarah Moore, and politics stories should go to Matthew Partridge. Stories with strong statistics or interesting numbers should go to Chris Carter or Ben Judge, anything on cars, books or motorbikes should be sent to Stuart Watkins, and investment strategy stories should go to John Stepek or Chris Heaton. "Anything really, really interesting should come to me," says Merryn. Full contact details can be found on the Gorkana Database.

More than 100 PR and comms professionals attended the media briefing, which was chaired by Gorkana's head of news and content, Philip Smith.

Cision, owner of Gorkana, is a leading global media intelligence company, serving the complete workflow of today's communication professionals. Offering the industry's most comprehensive PR, IR and social media software, rich analytics, content distribution and influencer outreach, Cision enables clients to engage audiences, enhance campaigns and strengthen data-driven decision making. Cision solutions include PR Newswire, Gorkana, PRWeb, Help a Reporter Out (HARO) and iContact brands.

Headquartered in Chicago, Cision serves over 100,000 customers in 170 countries and 40 languages worldwide, and maintains offices in North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia. For more information, visit http://www.cision.com or follow @Cision on Twitter.

For more information, on media briefing events, visit http://www.gorkana.com or follow @gorkana on Twitter.

For media information please contact:

Philip Smith

Head of News and Content

philip.smith@gorkana.com

Gorkana

+44(0)20-7674-2480


TARRYTOWN, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/17 -- Westcon-Comstor, the leading value-added global distributor of security, unified communications, network infrastructure and data center solutions, today announced it has completed a global shared services and business process outsourcing (BPO) program that will bring significant efficiencies, and delivers consistent and improved customer service.

The two-year program, now completed across 52 countries on five continents, provides the company with increased opportunity to focus on its core competency -- bringing innovative technology solutions and services to market on behalf of its vendor partners and solution provider customers.

Westcon-Comstor began its business transformation program in EMEA in 2015, continued with the project in Asia-Pacific last year, and concluded this month by going live in North America. Creating regional shared service centers, and integrating with one global BPO partner, Genpact, gives the company a unified platform for transactional processes, global consistency, and simplified integration with its customers and vendors.

Accelerating Business Efficiencies, Opportunities

The BPO project was completed alongside a separate SAP ERP platform deployment, completed in three years across 54 countries, both initiatives helping Westcon-Comstor significantly transform its business operations to meet the evolving needs of vendors and solution providers going forward.

"These business process improvements will enable our sales teams to spend less time on administration and more time helping customers grow their business," said Dolph Westerbos, CEO of Westcon-Comstor. "Combined with the completion of our global ERP rollout, the company is now optimized to take full advantage of future opportunities at an accelerated, more efficient pace."

Partnering with Genpact has provided Westcon-Comstor the opportunity to transform its country-based operating model to that of regional operating platforms which result in better service and support for vendors and solution providers. To date, Genpact has processed nearly half a million orders for Westcon-Comstor on behalf of more than 10,000 solution providers around the globe.

Westcon-Comstor expects to see improved business metrics around order entry, finance and administration, purchasing, and marketing operations -- while becoming better business partners for vendors and solution providers.

"We have been on an intense transformation and modernization journey these past years, and certainly not without challenges," continued Westerbos. "But being the global distribution partner for many of our vendors and customers, with operations in every corner on earth, we needed to provide a consistent and compliant operating model to scale our business further. Our employees have managed unprecedented change, and I am very proud of their achievements. We will continue to optimize our operational processes, but with this initiative complete, we have the foundation for long-term, sustainable success for our company, as well as the strengthened ability to accelerate our customers' success."

"Westcon-Comstor has a tremendous technology knowledge and skillset that can now be more strategically applied to serving their partners. That's their DNA. No longer will they be burdened by administrative tasks that we can do more efficiently," said N.V. "Tiger" Tyagarajan, president and CEO of Genpact. "We are integrating our automation capabilities and other digital solutions to help transform Westcon-Comstor's operations, allowing their solutions experts to focus on driving business value for their partners. This is a great relationship and we look forward to working with Westcon-Comstor to achieve even greater business growth."

About Genpact

Genpact (NYSE: G) is a global professional services firm focused on delivering digital transformation for our clients, putting digital and data to work to create competitive advantage. We do this by integrating lean principles, design thinking, analytics and digital technologies with our domain and industry expertise to deliver disruptive business outcomes -- an approach we call Lean Digital(SM). We deliver value to our clients in two ways -- through digital-led, domain-enabled solutions that drive innovation, and through intelligent operations enabled by digital that design, transform and run clients' operations. Our approach is continually refined in one of the world's largest digital process sandboxes, where we test and improve thousands of processes. For two decades, first as a General Electric division and since 2005 as an independent company, we have been passionately serving our clients. We generate impact for clients from the Fortune Global 500 and beyond, and employ over 77,000 people in more than 20 countries, with key offices in New York City, Palo Alto, London, and Delhi. For additional information, visit www.genpact.com. Follow Genpact on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

About Westcon-Comstor

Westcon-Comstor (WestconGroup Inc.) is a value-added technology distributor of category-leading solutions in Security, Collaboration, Networking and Data Center. The company is transforming the technology supply chain through its capabilities in Cloud, Global Deployment and Services. Westcon-Comstor combines expert technical and market knowledge with industry-leading partner enablement programs. Westcon-Comstor delivers results together through its deep partner relationships. The company goes to market under the Westcon and Comstor brands.
Regulatory News:

IMPLANET (Paris:IMPL) (OTCQX:IMPZY) (Euronext Growth: ALIMP, FR0010458729, PEA-PME eligible), a medical technology company specializing in vertebral and knee-surgery implants, announces the transfer of the listing of its shares from the Euronext regulated market in Paris (compartment C) to the Euronext Growth multilateral continuous trading facility.

This admission was carried out within the framework of an admissions procedure for the Company's existing shares without any new shares being issued. The listing of these shares on the Euronext Growth market will become effective when the markets open on July 11, 2017, simultaneously to their removal from the Euronext regulated market. Implanet shares, whose ISIN code remains the same, will carry on being continuously listed with the new ticker ALIMP.

This transfer allows Implanet to be listed on a more appropriate market for the Group's size and market cap while offering a better-suited regulatory framework. It will simplify the administrative burden on Implanet and significantly reduce the listing costs, whilst enabling it to continue benefiting from financial market appeal.

Implanet intends to continue drawing up its consolidated accounts in accordance with IFRS, to publish its revenue on a quarterly basis and to inform the public of any news or information liable to have an impact on its share price.

The disclosure document relative to the transfer of the Company's shares to Euronext Growth will be available on its website on July 11, 2017.

Next financial press release: Q2 2017 revenue, on July 18, 2017

About IMPLANET

Founded in 2007, IMPLANET is a medical technology company that manufactures high-quality implants for orthopedic surgery. Its flagship product, the JAZZ latest-generation implant, aims to treat spinal pathologies requiring vertebral fusion surgery. Protected by four families of international patents, JAZZ has obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and the CE mark. IMPLANET employs 48 staff and recorded 2016 sales of 7.8 million. For further information, please visit www.implanet.com.

Based near Bordeaux in France, IMPLANET established a US subsidiary in Boston in 2013.

IMPLANET is listed on Compartment C of the Euronext regulated market in Paris.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Implanet and its activities. Such forward looking statements are based on assumptions that Implanet considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the anticipated events contained in such forward-looking statements will occur. Forward- looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties including the risks set forth in the registration document of Implanet registered by the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers (AMF)) on April 3, 2017 under number D.17-0292 and available on the Company's website (www.implanet-invest.com), and to the development of economic situation, financial markets, and the markets in which Implanet operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are also subject to risks unknown to Implanet or that Implanet does not consider material at this time. The realization of all or part of these risks could lead to actual results, financial conditions, performances or achievements by Implanet that differ significantly from the results, financial conditions, performances or achievements expressed in such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or to subscribe for, or a solicitation of an order to purchase or subscribe for Implanet shares in any country.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170706005849/en/

Contacts:

IMPLANET

Ludovic Lastennet

CEO

Tel.: +33 (0)5 57 99 55 55

investors@implanet.com

or

NewCap

Investor Relations

Florent Alba

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

implanet@newcap.eu

or

NewCap

Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98

implanet@newcap.eu

or

AlphaBronze

US-Investor Relations

Pascal Nigen

Tel.: +1 917 385 21 60

implanet@alphabronze.net
Olaine, 2017-05-17 22:07 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1. Report of the Board on results of operations in 2016.



Draft resolution:



To take notice of the Report of the Board on results of operations in 2016.



2. Report of the Council on results of operations in 2016.



Draft resolution:



To take notice of the Report of the Council on results of operations in 2016.



3. Report of the Auditing Committee on activities in 2016.



Draft resolution:



To take notice of the Report of the Auditing Committee on activities in 2016.



4. Approval of the JSC "Olainfarm" Audited Consolidated Annual Report of Group and Parent Company for 2016.



Draft resolution:



To approve the Audited Consolidated Annual Report of JSC "Olainfarm" group and of Parent Company for 2016.



5. Distribution of reserves



Draft resolution:



5.1. To use part of JSC "Olainfarm" reserve in amount of EUR 281 701,56 (two hundred eighty one thousand seven hundred and one euro and 56 eurocents) to pay out to JSC "Olainfarm" shareholders (ISIN code of the shares LV0000100501), paying EUR 0,02 (two eurocents) per share.



5.2. Set December 15, 2017, as the record date and December 20, 2017, as the date of payment of the reserve's part in amount of EUR 281 701,56 (two hundred eighty one thousand seven hundred and one euro and 56 eurocents).



5.3. The remaining part of the reserve in amount of EUR 40 449.68 (forty thousand four hundred forty nine euro and 68 eurocents) to remain with JSC "Olainfarm" reserve.



6. Distribution of profit of 2016.



Draft resolution:



6.1. To use part of the year 2016 profit of JSC "Olainfarm" in amount of EUR 9 014 449,92 (nine million fourteen thousand four hundred forty nine euro and 92 cents) to pay dividends to shareholders of JSC "Olainfarm", (ISIN code of the shares LV0000100501) paying in dividends EUR 0,64 per one share effectuating payment in three stages in II, III and IV quarters, but part of the profit in amount of EUR 625 550.08 (six hundred twenty five thousand five hundred fifty euro and 08 eurocents) to retain undistributed and to reinvest in development of JSC "Olainfarm". Dividends of EUR 0.22 per share shall be paid in stage I, dividends of EUR 0.22 per share shall be paid in stage II and dividends of EUR 0.20 shall be paid in stage III.



6.2. Set the following order for calculation and payment of dividends



I stage (II quarter): Set June 15, 2017, as the record date and June 20, 2017, as the date of payment;



II stage (III quarter): Set September 7, 2017, as the record date and September 12, 2017, as the date of payment;



III stage (IV quarter): Set December 7, 2017, as the record date and December 12, 2017, as the date of payment.



7. Report of the Board on budget and on planned operations in 2017.



Draft resolution:



To take notice of Report of the Board on budget and on planned operations in 2017, which include JSC "Olainfarm" unconsolidated turnover forecast for 2017 in amount of 96 million euro and JSC "Olainfarm" unconsolidated profit in amount of 12,7 million euro, consolidated turnover forecast for 2017 in amount of 127 million euro, but consolidated profit in amount of 15,5 million euro.



8. Amendment of Statutes.



Draft resolution:



8.1. Express article 6.2. of the Statutes as follows:



"6.2. Revision commission consists of three members of the revision commission. Members of the revision commission are elected at the shareholders meeting for 2 (two) years term."



8.2. Approve new edition of the Statutes.



9. Election of the Certified Auditor for 2017 and setting of remuneration of the Certified Auditor.



Draft resolutions:



9.1. to elect SIA "Ernst & Young Baltic" (license No.17, unitary registration No. 40003593454) to be the certified auditor of JSC "Olainfarm" in 2017.



9.2. to set 47 600 EUR plus VAT as the total remuneration of the Certified Auditor for 2017.



10. Election of the Auditing Committee and setting of remuneration of the Auditing Committee.



Draft resolutions:



10.1. Elect member of the JSC "Olainfarm" Auditing Committee:



- Deputy Head of the Council Valentina Andrejeva,



- Member of the Council Gunta Veismane,



- Viesturs Gurtlavs.



10.2. Set monthly remuneration of the Auditing Committee in amount of EUR 5350,00.



11. Elections of the Council.



Draft resolution:



11.1. To elect the Council of JSC "Olainfarm" consisting of the following members for the further term of five years, setting that term of the Council powers commences on June 02, 2017



Name, last name:



1. Valentina Andrejeva



2. Andis Krumins



3. Ivars Godmanis



4. Aleksandrs Raicis



5. Gunta Veismane



11.2. To set the total monthly remuneration of all the Council members at the amount of EUR 13500,00 (thirteen thousand five hundred euro).



Management Board of Joint Stock Company "Olainfarm"



Information prepared by: Salvis Lapins JSC Olainfarm Member of the Management Board Rupnicu iela 5, Olaine, Latvia, LV 2114 Phone: +371 6 7013 717 Fax: +371 6 7013 777 E-mail: Salvis.Lapins@olainfarm.lv

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Portugal's renewable energy association Apren said that Spain has paved the way for further development of renewables on the Iberian Peninsula with its recent 3 GW auction, and that a similar tender is needed to revive the country's solar and wind power sector.Portuguese renewable energy association Apren has called on Portugal's government to launch an auction for large-scale solar and wind power projects on the model of the 3 GW auction recently held by the Spanish government. "In Portugal," Apren said in its statement, "an auction of this kind, and of this size, has never been launched to date. This may represent a very interesting solution to have lower power production prices for new power plants, and to enable Portugal to comply with its 2020 EU renewable energy target." Apren stressed that Spain's recent auction was a very important step ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon Tuesday morning made it clear to the company's shareholders that he will continue his support for President Donald Trump because he is a 'Patriot.' Speaking at JP Morgan's annual shareholder meeting, Dimon said, 'He is the president of the United States, he is the pilot flying the airplane. I'd try to help any president of the US because I'm a patriot. That does not mean I agree with every policy he is trying to implement.' Dimon was responding to several of investors who criticized JPMorgan's support towards Donald Trump's administration and policies. Few investors even asked whether he would step down from Trump's business advisory council. Dimon said he agreed with Trump's plans to reform the corporate tax system. 'Our corporate tax system is driving capital and brains overseas and excessive regulation is reducing growth and business formation particularly for small businesses,' he said. However, he also noted that it does not mean that he supports all of the policies of Trump administration. Dimon added that the administration needed to roll back some of the regulations placed on the big banks after the financial crisis. 'We are not looking to throw out the entirety of Dodd-Frank or other rules, it is however appropriate to open up the rulebook in the light of day and rework the rules and regulations that don't work well or are unnecessary,' Dimon said. 'We believe that changes can and should be made to preserve the safety and soundness of the financial system'. 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.
ZUG, Switzerland, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --After 12 months in stealth development, Monaco Technology GMBH unveiled its revolutionary Monaco VISA Card and App today. Besides traditional funding sources, Monaco can be funded with Bitcoin, Ethereum and other ERC20 tokens.

Monaco allows users to spend and send money globally at perfect interbank exchange rates, saving EUR30-40 on every EUR500 equivalent spent. Monaco Card will work on the VISA network, giving it world-wide acceptance.

Kris Marszalek, Founder of Monaco Technology, commented: "The team worked incredibly hard over the last year to bring the Monaco VISA Card & App to the market. It's a beautifully simple product that allows users to avoid all the bank charges and currency exchanges impose on them. We believe that every single person who holds Ether or Bitcoin needs one. It brings amazing value, transparency and peace of mind. You'll never have to worry about exchange rates again, always getting the best deal physically possible. It's an incredible feeling!"

Other features of the Monaco App include:

Free global transfers in 23 currencies to 120 countries at perfect interbank exchange rates

Free and instant transfers between Monaco users, with the funds being immediately available to the recipient and accessible with their Monaco VISA Card

users, with the funds being immediately available to the recipient and accessible with their Monaco VISA Card Account opening via mobile app in under 3 minutes

Together with the product reveal, Monaco announces it's ICO, starting on May 18th. The Company targets contributions of 150,000ETH to fund customer acquisition goals and further product development.

Commenting on the ICO, Mr. Marszalek said: "In an industry that has a reputation for being opaque, we stand out with our mission: to build simple and honest inancial products that improve lives. This starts with how we develop the products, how transparent we are about pricing and is reflected in how we structured our ICO."

Mr. Marszalek continued: "We're fundamentally against the current industry practice of hyping-up ICOs for weeks, only to launch them and close in 30 minutes. Pre-sale discounts are not allowed in the Monaco ICO, giving all contributors a level playing ield on May 18th. In case the demand exceeds supply, the Company will continue selling tokens for another 7 days, to ensure fair and broad distribution of tokens and to improve potential secondary market performance of the MCO Token."

Blockchain community members who participate in the Monaco ICO will receive MCO tokens in exchange for ETH contributions. As MCO token holders, they will have a stake in the MCO Asset Contract.

The MCO Asset Contract is an absolutely essential part of how value will be created for MCO token holders. Every time Monaco VISA Card users spend their BTC, ETH or other ERC20 tokens, Monaco will charge a 1% software license fee. All these fees will be automatically sent to the MCO Asset Contract. Over time, as Monaco users spend on the platform globally, the value will accrue in the MCO Asset Contract. "A small license fee seems reasonable, as users are saving 5 to 8 times more on every transaction with Monaco VISA Card," Mr. Marszalek explained. "Monaco forecasts that with transaction volume growth and appreciation of the ERC20 tokens over the next 5 years, the value of the MCO Asset Contract may reach US$500MM."

Limited Edition Monaco VISA Black Cards numbered 001 to 999 will be issued to participants of the MCO Token Sale. Black Cards numbered from 001 to 499 will be assigned to Top ETH Token Contributors. Black Cards numbered from 500 to 999 will be assigned to the fastest contributors, based on the time stamp of their ETH contribution. The Black Card Leaderboard will be available at Mona.co and will update automatically in real-time during the MCO Token Sale.

Besides the exclusive design, Monaco VISA BLACK Card holders will enjoy lifetime unlimited perfect interbank exchange rates and triple free monthly ATM withdrawal limits. More beneits will be rolled out over time.

The person who contributes the highest number of tokens in the ICO will be rewarded with the Monaco VISA Black Card Number 001 and will receive a bonus 188,888 MCO Tokens from the Monaco Founder's Pool. The 188,888 Bonus MCO Tokens will not be subject to a lockup period.

To find our more about Monaco please visit: www.Mona.co

White paper download: www.Mona.co/whitepaper

To pre-register for the Token Sale: www.Mona.co/register

LEAD ADVISOR:

TokenMarket: www.TokenMarket.net
Shanghai Led Consortium Produces High Resolution 3D map of GLP-1R

SHANGHAI, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- An international team led by the iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University determined the molecular structure of the human glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R). The results, described in the paper entitled "Human GLP-1 receptor transmembrane domain structure in complex with allosteric modulators", appears May 17, 2017 in the journal Nature.This study is published together in Nature with a companion paper led by colleagues at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM) describing the full length glucagon receptor.

GLP-1R is a well-recognized drug target for type 2 diabetes, exemplified by several peptidic therapeutic agents on the market, with combined sales of several billions of dollars each year. Worldwide, the costs associated with treating diabetes and its complications are estimated to exceed $200bn a year.Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate throughout the world, with the most significant and recent growth occurring in China.

The GLP-1R structure was determined in complex with negative allosteric modulators (NAMs). The NAMs block the activation of GLP-1R by inserting into the cavity between helices VI and VII, while PAMs bind mainly to the space between helices V and VI enabling the activation. "This structure is one of the holy grails of GPCR drug discovery," said Professor Raymond Stevens at the iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University who co-led the study.

Orally available small molecule therapeutics have been vigorously sought after by many pharmaceutical companies for several decades to replace the peptides. "GPCRs that bind peptides can be particularly challenging for small molecule drug discovery given multiple points of connection," said iHuman Associate Professor Gaojie Song.

"This major undertaking started in 2002 when we were looking for small molecule GLP-1R agonists," said Professor Ming-Wei Wang of SIMM and Fudan University who co-led the study. "Our failed efforts in making the first orally active GLP-1R agonist Boc5 led us to conclude that high resolution structural biology is the preferred solution to drugability."

Collaborating institutions include Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University of Southern California, and Novo Nordisk. Financial support for this work comes from the Shanghai Municipal Government, ShanghaiTech University, National "1000 Talents Program for Foreign Experts", Shanghai "Pujiang Talents", GPCR Consortium, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Related Links

http://ihuman.shanghaitech.edu.cn/

http://english.simm.cas.cn/

Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/512246/ShanghaiTech_University.jpg




TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 17, 2017 / DNI Metals Inc. (CSE: DNI) (FSE: DG7N) (OTC PINK: DMNKF) ("DNI" or the "Company") organized a trip to Madagascar last week to check on the progress of its fully permitted graphite deposit in Madagascar.

Highlights:

Cougar Metals ("Cougar") has drilled Test holes in the southern zone.

Trenching has begun in the main zone. Multiple layers of graphite mineralization have been exposed. The layers are shallow dipping at about 25-30 degrees to the east. Graphite flakes as large as 8,000 microns were discovered. Note: Jumbo flake sizes start at 300 micron / +50 mesh and are sold as large as 841 micron / +20 mesh. Depending on the carbon content the jumbo flakes can sell for greater than U$2,000.

3 km access road has been constructed to the main zone.

Drilling will start on the main zone shortly.

DNI has contracted Don Hains of Hains Engineering to verify the standards used in developing the project. Don accompanied DNI's technical and management team on the trip.

The group also met with BCMM, Madagascar's mining commission, to update them on the progress. Note: DNI's, Vohitsara graphite project is fully permitted.

Don Hains is President of Hains Engineering and Principal of Hains Technology Associates. He is an industrial minerals geology, mineral economics and marketing specialist with more than 30 years of experience in exploration, development, use and analysis of industrial minerals properties and materials, with significant experience in graphite exploration, processing and markets. Don is a registered geoscientist in Ontario. He earned his undergraduate degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and holds an MBA from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Don is the co-author of the CIM Best Practice Guidelines for Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves for Industrial Minerals and Best Practice Guidelines for Estimation of Resources and Reserves for Lithium Brines. These Best Practice Guidelines are available on the CIM website at www.cim.org.

As per the Definitive agreement signed March 24, 2017 with Cougar:

1. Cougar can earn into 50% of DNI's Madagascar Graphite Project.

2. NI 43-101 PEA (Preliminary Economic Assessment) must be completed by October 31, 2017.

3. Cougar must drill a minimum of 3,000m to a maximum depth of 50m, and additionally complete 1,000m of trenching.

4. The Saprolitic advantage of DNI's graphite project, will simplify drilling for Cougar's experienced team. Cougar completed a drill program of a Saprolitic graphite deposit in Brazil, in 2015/2016.

5. Since Cougar did not withdraw from the project by April 12, 2017, Cougar is now obligated to pay DNI U$150,000 by June 7, 2017.

About DNI Metals

Certain advisors and directors of DNI have significant operational experience at historical hard rock graphite mines in Canada (e.g. Ontario and Quebec) and Australia. Between them, they have built three (3) processing plants and designed two (2) others; all, which were shut down in the 1990's due to increased Chinese competition. Keith Minty, director, worked at Cal Graphite near Kearny, Ontario.

It was our team's understanding of the high production and capital expenditure costs associated with so-called "hard rock" graphite mining that inspired DNI to search for saprolite-hosted graphite deposits.

Certain parts Madagascar and Brazil, produce graphite from weathered material called saprolite.

According to Dictionary.com, saprolite is described as:

"Soft, thoroughly decomposed and porous rock, often rich in clay, formed by the in place chemical weathering of igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. Saprolite is especially common in humid and tropical climates. It is usually reddish brown or grayish white and contains those structures (such as cross-stratification) that were present in the original rock from which it formed."

DNI owns a commercially permitted, saprolite-hosted graphite deposit in Madagascar; located 50kms from the country's main seaport. The deposit is located less than two (2) kms from the paved national highway. DNI intends to develop the Vohitsara project, should the economic viability and technical feasibility be established. DNI has not yet established mineral resources or mineral reserves supported by a PEA or mining study (PFS or FS).

DNI has a graphite wholesale business, in which it buys and sells high quality graphite. This business has shown a steady increase in volume over the past year.

Steven Goertz (MAusIMM, MAIG), who is a qualified person, approved the technical disclosure in this news release.

DNI - Canadian Securities Exchange

DG7N - Frankfurt

DMNKF - OTC Pink

Issued: 56,124,959

For further information, contact:

DNI Metals Inc.

Dan Weir, CEO

416-595-1195

DanWeir@dnimetals.com

Also visit www.dnimetals.com

We seek Safe Harbour. This announcement may include forward-looking statements. While these statements represent DNI's best current judgment, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary, including risk factors listed in DNI's Annual Information Form and its MD&A's, all of which are available from SEDAR and on its website.

SOURCE: DNI Metals Inc.
DEERFIELD, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/17 -- The 19th Annual Food Safety Summit, held last week in Rosemont, IL attracted nearly 1,700 registered food safety professionals and 190 exhibiting companies. During the four-day event, held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, food safety professionals discussed the most pressing issues facing the food industry including Listeria, the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act, the Integration of the Nation's Food Safety System as well as reviewed case studies from recent foodborne illness outbreaks. The event kicked off on Monday, May 8th with six successful certification programs including Preventive Control courses for Human Food, Animal Food, Produce and Foreign Supplier Verification as well as Auditor Training and Seafood HACCP.

"Last week, Rosemont was the place for the food safety industry offering informative and timely education sessions, buzz worthy special events, and the newest technologies and solutions for the industry," said Scott Wolters, Director for the Food Safety Summit. "We thank our Educational Advisory Board, our exhibitors, attendees, speakers, and press who came out to support this leading event which addresses the critical food safety issues facing processors, distributors, growers, retailers and foodservice operators."

On Tuesday, May 9, Gillian Kelleher, vice president for food safety and quality assurance for Wegmans Food Markets, and Sharon Birkett, VP, North America Quality and Food Protection, OSI Group moderated a half day workshop addressing the Latest in Listeria Control. The dynamic panelists included Doug Craven, Hormel Foods; Natalie Dyenson, MPH, Dole Food Company, Inc.; Joe Stout, Commercial Food Sanitation; Ozgur Koc, Crunch Pak; Steve Tsuyuki, Maple Leaf Foods; Matt Henderson, Land O'Frost; Matthew Wise, MPH, Ph.D., CDC and Mickey Parish, FDA

The afternoon workshops include the 3rd Annual AFDO Integration Forum which was hosted by Joe Corby; Preventive Controls & Sanitary Food Transportation Act (SFTA): The Basics and Sustainment, A Guide to Success as a Food Safety Professional and Integrated Food Safety System Update. The Welcome Reception, sponsored by Deloitte, offered attendees an opportunity to network with 190 vendors who showcased specialty products and services designed to help food safety professionals do their job more effectively and efficiently.

Industry icon Dane Bernard moderated a dynamic panel of industry experts, on Wednesday morning, who discussed issues ranging from the implementation of FSMA, legal implications including litigation and the role of the Department of Justice to the impact of produce, foreign supplier verification and intentional adulteration during the opening day keynote session. Speakers on the keynote panel included Kathy Gombas, formerly of FDA; Dave Gombas, formerly of United Fresh Produce Association; Craig Wilson, Costco Wholesale Corporation; Jeffery Steger, Department of Justice; and Shawn Stevens, Food Industry Counsel, LLC

On Thursday morning, during the 6th Annual Town Hall AFDO's Joe Corby, CDC's Dr. Robert Tauxe, USDA's Al Almanza, and FDA's Stephen Ostroff discussed how the agencies are working together on food safety initiatives and exciting new developments such as Whole Genome Sequencing which will have a revolutionary impact on the industry. The Town Hall was moderated by Gary Ades, President of G&L Consulting and Chairman of the Summit Educational Advisory Board.

On Wednesday evening attendees enjoyed the Food Safety Summit Gives Back Networking Reception to benefit Feeding America. Chuck Wilson of BNP Media presented Mitzi Baum, Director of Food Safety for Feeding America with a donation of $8,000 to help provide 90,000 meals on behalf of the sponsors, speakers, exhibitors, and attendees. In addition, Sani Professional Food Safety Advisory Council presented the 2017 Sani Awards to Tracey McClure, Food Safety Specialist & Training Dept. Administrator, Jason's Deli; Jeremy Benedict, Quality Improvement and Training Coordinator, ASC of SUNY Cortland and Therese O'Connor, Asst. Director Training & Development, Cornell Dinning.

"We were very pleased with our showing and support throughout the '17 FSS. Can't wait to begin discussing the 2018 plan!" said Matt Schiering, VP, General Manager, Sani Professional.

Prior to the Town Hall, NSF International, a global public health and safety organization that provides food safety and quality assurance services across all food supply chain sectors, announced the recipients of the 2017 NSF Food Safety Leadership Awards. Recipients were Jack J. Guzewich, MPH Consultant and Trainer in Foodborne Disease Epidemiology and Food Emergency Response, David M. Theno, Ph.D. CEO/CBIO, Gray Dog Partners, Inc., and Lee-Ann Jaykus, Ph.D. William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor, Food Science, North Carolina State University.

On the trade show floor, 190 exhibiting companies including Gold Sponsor Roka Bioscience, Silver Sponsor Alchemy Systems and Bronze Sponsor Eurofins met with attendees to showcase their new products and services. Two full days of presentations from exhibitors were offered in the Solutions Stage Theaters, as a chance for attendees to hear from subject matter experts about the newest solutions and technologies in food safety and security. Solutions Stage presentations were given by ACO Polymer Products, LUBRIPLATE Lubricants, Roka BioScience, Associated Wholesale Growers/ ReposiTrak, Mettler Toledo, Art's Way Scientific, Brother Mobile Solutions, TEGAM, Verse Solutions, TRI Air Testing, Magnifi Group, Sani Professional, Retokil Steritech, Abbott, Spirax Sarco, ComplianceMetrix, CompWALK, Siemens PLM Software and Detectamet.

Plans are already being made for the 20th Anniversary of the Food Safety Summit which will again be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL from Monday, May 7 through Thursday, May 10, 2018. In addition, BNP Media will sponsor the Food Safety Summit Education Theater at PROCESS EXPO taking place September 19-22, 2017 at the McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL. For more information, on sponsorship or exhibiting opportunities call Chuck Wilson at 630-962-0078 or visit www.foodsafetysummit.com. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

For further information, Contact:

Amy Riemer

Media Relations Contact

978-475-4441 (office)

978-502-4895 (cell)

Email Contact




REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/17 -- Information Services Corporation (TSX: ISV) ("ISC" or the "Company") today announced the voting results from its annual and special meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") held on May 17, 2017 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

A total of 12,701,947 Class A Limited Voting Shares were represented at the Meeting, being 72.58 per cent of the Company's issued and outstanding Class A Limited Voting Shares. Shareholders voted in favour of all matters brought before the Meeting, including the appointment of Deloitte LLP as auditors for the ensuing year, the acceptance of the Company's amended and restated stock option plan and the election of its Board of Directors.

Director Voting

The following three members of the Board were appointed by the Lieutenant Governor In Council of the Province of Saskatchewan in lieu of Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan (CIC) voting its shares on any resolution to elect directors, as provided for in The Information Services Corporation Act: Joel Teal, Thomas Christiansen and Douglas Allen Emsley.

Detailed results of the ballot vote for the election of the remaining six directors are provided in the table below:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- % Votes Nominee Votes For % Votes For Withheld Withheld ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karyn A. Brooks 7,245,429 99.57 31,518 0.43 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anthony Robert Guglielmin 7,246,196 99.58 30,751 0.42 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- William Scott Musgrave 7,248,556 99.61 28,391 0.39 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michelle Ouellette, Q.C. 7,226,049 99.30 50,898 0.70 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraj Pourian 7,228,989 99.34 47,958 0.66 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dion E. Tchorzewski 7,245,276 99.56 31,671 0.44 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan

Detailed results of the ballot vote for the acceptance of the Company's amended and restated stock option plan are provided in the table below:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- % Votes Resolution Votes for % Votes For Votes Against Against ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Approval of the Company's amended and restated stock option plan. 7,895,816 62.17 4,805,131 37.83 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Company has filed a report of the results of resolutions voted on at the Meeting on www.sedar.com

About ISC

Headquartered in Canada, ISC is the leading provider of registry and information management services for public data and records. Throughout our history we have delivered value to our clients by providing solutions to manage, secure and administer information through our registry and services segments. ISC is focused on sustaining its core business while pursuing new growth opportunities. The Class A Shares of ISC trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ISV.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including management's expectations and certain assumptions with respect to our registry services, corporate services and information products industry, our competitive landscape, economic conditions in Canada (in particular, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec) and internationally, real estate market in Saskatchewan, economic impact of energy and resource sectors, fluctuations in the Canadian dollar and other foreign currencies, seasonality, transaction volumes, statements regarding the future financial position or results of ISC, customer growth and diversification, dividend expectations, creation of shareholder value, growth opportunities, capital and operating expectations, real gross domestic product, changes that impact our registry services, such as changes in high-value property registrations, motor vehicle sales volume and the number of active business entities, consolidated EBITDA margin, income taxes, our ability to attract and retain skilled staff, the compensation and benefits that will be paid or provided to employees, our level of customer service and expected activity in the global registry market, as well as goodwill and intangibles are material factors in preparing forward-looking statements. In addition, the words "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "trend", "indicate", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "project", "targets", "strive", "strategy", "continue", "likely" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although ISC believes the forward-looking information contained in this release is based upon reasonable assumptions, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as it is inherently uncertain and no assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in such information will prove to be correct.

Many factors and risks could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking information including those detailed in ISC's Annual Information Form, dated March 14, 2017, ISC's Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017, as well as other documents filed by ISC with Canadian securities regulators through SEDAR at www.sedar.com from time to time. Investors and others should carefully consider the above-noted factors and risks and other uncertainties and potential events. The forward-looking information in this release is made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, ISC assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances.

Contacts:

Investor Contact

Jonathan Hackshaw

Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

306-798-2136

investor.relations@isc.ca




BELLINGHAM, WA--(Marketwired - May 17, 2017) - eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI) (the "Company"), the holding company for eXp Realty LLC, The Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage, announced today that Mitch Ribak, principal broker of Tropical Realty Beachside and Tropical Realty of Suntree, Inc. (*collectively "Tropical Realty") in Brevard County, Florida has transitioned his team of agents to eXp Realty. More than 45 agents in communities from Mims to Malabar and all the beaches of Brevard County are joining eXp Realty as part of the new Tropical Realty team.

"In my 35 years of working for myself I have never seen such a great opportunity, and more importantly, a great opportunity for my agents," said Mitch Ribak. "This gives our growing team in a dynamic part of the country the ability to continue to excel and grow through world class support, programs and the most agent-centric revenue opportunities available today."

"Independent brokerages are moving to eXp to blend the best of world class technology and support with agents that want to grow within a local market and enjoy the benefits of agent ownership," said Jason Gesing, CEO, eXp Realty. "We welcome Mitch and his top-notch team to eXp as we grow our footprint throughout Florida and across the country."

*Note: This does not include Investments of Brevard, an independent company.

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.

Safe Harbor Statement

The statements contained herein may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update them. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company's management and the Agent Advisory Council. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in forward-looking statements include changes in business or other market conditions; the difficulty of keeping expense growth at modest levels while increasing revenues; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Investor Relations Contact:

Greg Falesnik

Managing Director

MZ Group - MZ North America

949-385-6449

Email contact



www.mzgroup.us


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Facing a near-constant stream of damaging headlines in recent days, President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday he has been the most unfairly treated politician in history.



Trump warned in remarks at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Commencement Ceremony that life can often be unfair.



'Over the course of your life, you will find that things are not always fair,' Trump said. 'You will find that things happen to you that you do not deserve and that are not always warranted.'



'Look at the way I've been treated lately, especially by the media,' he added. 'No politician in history - and I say this with great surety - has been treated worse or more unfairly.'



However, Trump told the cadets that things will work out fine if you put your head down and fight and never give up.



The remarks by the president come after a New York Times report claimed Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to drop a federal investigation into links between former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Russia.



The New York Times cited a memo Comey purportedly wrote shortly after an Oval Office meeting he had with Trump in February.



The latest developments represent another headache for the White House after Trump's firing of Comey and claims the president revealed highly classified information to Russian officials.



Trump did not specifically comment on the scandals and instead touted progress on jobs and the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.



The president also promised to continue working toward repealing and replacing Obamacare, reforming the tax code, and building the southern border wall.



'We are setting the stage right now for many, many more things to come,' Trump said. 'And the people understand what I'm doing, and that's the most important thing.'



'I didn't get elected to serve the Washington media or special interests,' he added. 'I got elected to serve the forgotten men and women of our country, and that's what I'm doing.'



(Photo: Michael Vadon)



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recentglobal ready meals market 2017-2021report. This market research report also lists 13 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005946/en/

Technavio has published a new report on the global ready meals market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Competitive vendor landscape

According to the research analysis, the global ready mealsmarket is expected to grow at a CAGR of close to 5%, during the forecast period. The global ready meals market is constantly changing with the changing consumer demands and preferences. Vendor performance in the global ready meals market is largely impacted by changes in consumer spending patterns. It may also be affected by consumer tastes, regional, national, and local economic conditions, and demographic trends. The increasing competition may lead to vendors reducing their product prices, which could negatively affect profit margins and the overall market growth. The current market includes companies of varying sizes and specializations.

"The convenience factor needs to be leveraged by ready meal manufacturers to increase the relevance of their products to consumers, struggling to manage hectic work schedules and busy lifestyles," says Manjunath Reddy, a lead analyst at Technavio for food research.

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.

Technaviomarket research analysts identify the following key vendors:

2 Sisters Food Group

2 Sisters Food Group is a leading food manufacturer in the UK. The company's manufacturing units and offices are in the UK, Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, and Poland. It has a strong presence in the poultry, red meat, chilled, and frozen food segment in the UK. Its key customers include Tesco, Aldi, Co-op, KFC, Sainsbury's, Marks Spencer, Morrison's, Waitrose, and Lidl.

Conagra Brands

Conagra Brands manufactures and markets branded foods for various markets. The company offers ready meals through different brands such as Snap Into a Slim Jim, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Marie Callender's, Chef Boyardee, La Choy, Tennessee Pride, Wolf, Manwich, P.F. Chang's Home Menu, and Spicetec Flavors Seasonings.

The Kraft Heinz Company

Kraft Heinz produces food and beverage products, including cheese, meat, beverages, coffee, and packaged dinner. The company offers high-quality food products with nutritional value. The company offers a wide range of ready meals through its various brand labels such as Kraft, Heinz, Classico, Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Lunchables, ABC, Weight Watchers Smart Ones, Capri Sun, Maxwell House, Ore-Ida, Philadelphia, Planters, Plasmon, Oscar Mayer, Quero, and Velveeta.

Nestle

Nestle established its presence in the RTE sector with its offerings in the prepared dishes and cooking aids segment. The company's prepared dishes and cooking aids segment is further categorized into frozen and chilled and culinary and others. The company operates in 197 countries worldwide.

Unilever

Unilever provides a wide range of food, beverages, and personal care products. The company offers various products in the ready meals sector through the Knorr, Colman's, and Bertolli brands. There is a continuous process of new product development in the company. In March 2015, the company launched Knorr instant noodles in India. The company aims to expand the Knorr brand's ready-to-cook foods and soups in India.

Browse Related Reports:

Global Liqueurs Market 2017-2021

Global Coffee Pods Market 2017-2021

Global Commercial Meat Processing Equipment Market 2017-2021

Become a Technavio Insights member and access all three of these reports for a fraction of their original cost. As a Technavio Insights member, you will have immediate access to new reports as they're published in addition to all 6,000+ existing reports covering segments like food service, alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages. This subscription nets you thousands in savings, while staying connected to Technavio's constant transforming research library, helping you make informed business decisions more efficiently.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170517005946/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
According to the Complaint, throughout the Class Period, Anadarko made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: that the Company's maintenance and safety protocols concerning certain of its vertical wells were inadequate; that due to those shortcomings, these wells were at an increased risk of explosion; and that as a result of the above, Anadarko's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On April 17, 2017, a deadly explosion killed two people and critically injured another in a home located within 170 feet of an Anadarko well. On April 26, 2017, The Denver Post reported that the Company "plans to shut down 3,000 vertical wells in northeastern Colorado" after the April 17 explosion. On May 2, 2017, the Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District concluded that the fatal home explosion on April 17 was linked to a faulty gas line connected to an Anadarko well. Upon release of this news, Anadarko's stock price dropped materially, which caused investors harm.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/17 -- Leading real estate content exchange platform Urbanimmersive Inc. ("Urbanimmersive" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: UI)(OTC PINK: UBMRF), a real estate content marketing platform, today provides highlights for the second quarter of the financial year that ended on March 31, 2017.

During the second fiscal quarter of 2017, Urbanimmersive and its valued partner Centris, the organization that operates the Centris.ca real estate portals and offers technological tools to more than 13,000 real estate agents in Quebec, officially launched the Centris Marketplace in the Province of Quebec.

The Company worked hard to finalize the last technological and logistical adjustments to the platform to meet the quality and performance standards established jointly by Centris and Urbanimmersive.

30 days after the official launch, the Company believes that the initial data shows a real growth in the adoption of our solution. Combined with the launch of the Centris Marketplace, Urbanimmersive announced the first signing of the independent affiliate supplier program. With these new agreements, the Company is confident of demonstrating sustained growth in the coming quarters.

The signing of the affiliate program agreements with GraphicID Inc., Drone Studio Inc. and PhotoPano360 Inc., could generate revenue growth of more than $400,000 over the next 12 months.

There are a multitude of benefits to suppliers who become members of the Independent Affiliate Program: increases their visibility on the Centris Marketplace, improves revenue through the ability to add new services from complementary affiliate suppliers, and ultimately optimizes their billing and accounts receivable management.

As mentioned by the Company in previous quarters, the launch of the Centris Marketplace was the starting point for the return to growth of Urbanimmersive. Because the official launch was only made at the end of the second quarter, the revenues of the quarter are affected as anticipated.

For further financial information, please consult the Corporation's interim consolidated financial statement as well as the Management Report for the quarter ended March 30, 2017, at www.sedar.com

About Urbanimmersive

Urbanimmersive is a content marketing platform for the real estate industry. The Company connects real estate professionals, photographers and writers in order to simplify and optimize original content production workflow. Urbanimmersive enables its customers to leverage their marketing investment while increasing productivity, competitiveness, their web visibility, consumer engagement with their brand and ultimately, their revenue.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties. Such statements relating to, among other things, the prospects for the company to enhance operating results, are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which are significant in scope and nature. These uncertainties may cause actual results to differ from information contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of the management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management estimates or opinions change. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other assumptions and risk factors, please refer to the last Corporation's MD&A filed with the Canadian securities commissions. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent our expectations as of the date hereof. We disclaim any intention and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

Urbanimmersive Inc.

Ghislain Lemire

President & CEO

514-394-7820 X 202

ghislainlemire@urbanimmersive.com

https://www.urbanimmersive.com



Contact Financial Corp.

Frederick Chabot

438-863-7071

frederick@contactfinancial.com




AMSTERDAM, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Constellium N.V. (NYSE and Euronext Paris: CSTM) announced today the signing of a multi-year contract with Robert Bosch to supply Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) profiles for the automotive industry. This agreement reinforces the partnership Constellium's Decin plant, based in the Czech Republic, has had with Robert Bosch since 2009. Under this new contract, Constellium will continue to provide its innovative customized aluminium alloys for tailored solutions to meet rigorous quality and delivery requirements. With a ramping up volume of several million pieces per year in 2016, additional long-term solutions will be supplied to several Bosch plants worldwide with an expected overall volume per year targeted to double, subject to auto market demand and ramp-up of future ABS solutions.

"The contract awarded today further strengthens our longstanding relationship with Robert Bosch. It also demonstrates Constellium's expertise in providing tailored products for the automotive market. Thanks to aluminium's high strength-to-weight ratio, and our R&D-focused approach, we are pleased to partner with the industry to develop the next generation of solutions with our customers," said Paul Warton, President of Constellium's Automotive Structures and Industry business unit. "The contract we announced today further contributes to our plans to increase Decin's total capacity in the coming years."

In 1978, Robert Bosch was the first company to introduce ABS - an active braking safety system for emergency situations - to the market and is today considered the worldwide market leader. Since aluminium was introduced into the automotive industry, Constellium has become a leading supplier of lightweight vehicle solutions including ABS body profiles, helping auto manufacturers reduce vehicle mass while advancing safety, comfort and performance1. As a full service supplier, Constellium collaborates with customers resulting in industry leading product and process innovations.

Constellium's Decin plant manufactures customized aluminium extrusions in soft and hard alloys with a variety of finishes for global markets. The Decin location is the largest integrated hard alloy facility in Europe and employs more than 650 full-time employees. The site currently has an integrated foundry, 12 presses for direct and indirect extrusion production, as well as equipment for additional downstream operations.

About Constellium

Constellium (NYSE and Euronext Paris: CSTM) is a global sector leader that develops innovative, value added aluminium products for a broad scope of markets and applications, including aerospace, automotive and packaging. Constellium generated 4.7 billion of revenue in 2016.

www.constellium.com

Forward Looking Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release may contain "forward looking statements" with respect to our business, results of operations and financial condition, and our expectations or beliefs concerning future events and conditions. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as, but not limited to, "believes," "expects," "may," "should," "approximately," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," likely," "will," "would," "could" and similar expressions (or the negative of these terminologies or expressions). All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Many risks and uncertainties are inherent in our industry and markets. Others are more specific to our business and operations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of Constellium and Wise Metals to achieve expected synergies and the timing thereof; Constellium's increased levels of indebtedness, which could limit Constellium's operating flexibility and opportunities; the potential failure to retain key employees, the loss of customers, suppliers and other business relationships slower or lower than expected growth in the North American market for Body-in-White aluminium rolled products, and other risk factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F, and as described from time to time in subsequent reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The occurrence of the events described and the achievement of the expected results depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

1 For further information on Constellium's aluminium product offerings available for the automotive sheet and extrusions market in automotive, an interactive module can be downloaded at http://www.automotive.products.constellium.com/as well as on the Apple store and on Google Play under the name "Constellium automotive products".

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/463991/CONSTELLIUM_LOGO_Logo.jpg
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, JBS made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that its executives bribed regulators and politicians to subvert food inspections of its plants and overlook unsanitary practices, such as processing rotten meat and running plants with traces of salmonella. On March 17, 2017, reports emerged that Brazilian federal police raided the offices of JBS and dozens of other meatpackers following a two-year investigation into alleged bribery of regulators to subvert inspections of their plants and overlook unsanitary practices. Police arrested two JBS employees, among others. The Company stated in a securities filing that three of its plants and one of its employees were targeted in the probe. When this news was announced, JBS' stock price fell materially, which caused investors harm according to the Complaint.

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.
A special thanks to Jean Creighton, my son Chris Eicher, and everyone else who was involved with last weeks talk in Milwaukee.

Senior Editor Michael Bakich joined me for a special presentation at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Manfred Olson Planetarium, thanks to its director, Jean.

Michael spoke at length about the upcoming August 21 total solar eclipse. I gave a shorter presentation about recent tremendous discoveries in astrophysics. We had a really nice crowd, and after an hour, a pretty good barrage of questions. You know things have gone OK when 8-year-old kids are asking about the mechanics of black holes and what came before the Big Bang!

It was a great experience, and immediately thereafter I was blindsided by a migraine  and am still catching up on tons of work and correspondence!!

But many thanks to Jean, UWM, and Chris, for that great evening.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/17/17 -- AppsFlyer, the leading mobile attribution and marketing analytics company whose mission is to make the marketing industry more measureable, today announced its formal collaboration with Google as an App Attribution Partner. This measurement integration allows mobile advertisers to set up and run their Google campaigns in just a few effortless steps, making it faster, easier and more seamless for marketers to monitor and improve the performance of their campaigns. AppsFlyer's integration with Google now empowers marketers with more robust data points and easier configurations as marketers continue to look to AppsFlyer to deliver more reliable and consistent performance data for their activities across a range of Google's properties.

With the formalization of AppsFlyer's collaboration with Google, players throughout the mobile marketing ecosystem will benefit from a swifter, more straightforward setup, as well as enriched capabilities. Marketers will be able to better optimize their marketing activities, targeting different audiences. The robust integration will feature new data points and a much simpler configuration for clearer reporting, a simplified and unified layout and other enhancements. As an App Attribution Partner, AppsFlyer will offer advertisers many of the latest Google app measurement functionalities as soon as they are available, bringing new innovations to marketers around the world. Google will also be providing a dedicated support team to AppsFlyer for the benefit of advertisers.

"The powerful combination of Google's app marketing channels and AppsFlyer's tools and advanced analytics gives marketers unprecedented opportunities to maximize their performance," said Elad Mashiach, VP of Partner Development at AppsFlyer. "By measuring everything -- from app installs, engagement, revenue and uninstalls -- our collaboration empowers marketers with the insights, tools and reach they need to better understand and optimize their overall performance and omnichannel ROI."

According to the most recent AppsFlyer Performance Index, which ranks the top media sources in mobile advertising and has become a go-to resource for mobile marketers everywhere, Google continues to be a driving force for app marketers globally, across verticals, industries and regions, demonstrating massive scale and delivering quality mobile users. AppsFlyer and Google will continue to innovate together to provide marketers with the best solutions in the market.

About AppsFlyer

AppsFlyer's technology is found on 98 percent of the world's smartphones, making it the global leader in mobile attribution and marketing analytics. Data-driven marketers rely on AppsFlyer for independent measurement solutions and innovative tools to grow their mobile business. AppsFlyer's platform processes billions of mobile actions every day, empowering mobile marketers and developers to maximize the return on their marketing investments. With AppsFlyer's NativeTrack Attribution, Marketing Analytics Data, OneLink's Deep linking capabilities and the Active Fraud Suite featuring DeviceRank, AppsFlyer is the go-to resource for the most successful mobile apps in the world. Trusted by Facebook, Google, Twitter, Snap Inc.,Tencent, HBO, Playtika, Waze, Alibaba, Kayak, Activision and 12,000+ other leading brands and partners, AppsFlyer has 12 global offices to support every app marketer around the world. To learn more, visit www.appsflyer.com.

Media Contact

Shelley Petri

Blast PR on behalf of AppsFlyer

Email Contact




OAK BROOK (dpa-AFX) - Burger giant McDonald's has issued an apology after hundreds of viewers complained about its television advert that exploited the feelings of children who bereaved parental death. The fast food giant's 90-second ad shows a boy talking to his mother about his dead father as he tries to find something in common with him. However, the mother suggests that the father and son have little in common, as both of them had different eye color, physical appearance and interests. However, when the boy and his mother arrive at McDonald's and he orders a Filet-O-Fish sandwich and the mother says 'That was you dad's favorite too.' Several viewers expressed disgust at the advert on social media. 'Not one to be easily offended, but new McDonalds advert is cynical exploitation of a deeply emotional situation for brand promotion,' one tweeted. Another said: 'I lost my father when I was a child and I find the latest McDonald's advert disgusting and offensive. Shame on you!' 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.
CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / May 17, 2017 / Emerald Bay Energy Inc. (TSX Venture: EBY) (the "Company" or "Emerald Bay") announces that the Company filed an amended management discussion and analysis (the "Re-filed MD&A") for the annual period ended December 31, 2016. The nature and substance of the material changes to the Re-filed MD&A are as follows:

The addition of Selected Annual Information for the three most recently completed financial years as required by section 1.3 of Form 51-102F1. Related party clarification regarding the Company's PRI investment. Explanatory disclosure regarding a $200,000 share subscription receivable being netted against share capital as at December 31, 2016. Information about any person or company known to beneficially own 10 percent or more of the voting securities of the Company. Information regarding a director of the Company that had previously served as director of another company that, in 2010, had filed for CCAA proceedings.

About Emerald Bay

Emerald Bay Energy Inc., based in Calgary, is a junior oil and gas producer with production properties in Western Canada and South Texas. The common shares of Emerald Bay trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EBY". Please visit www.ebyinc.com.

For further information, please contact:

Emerald Bay President, Shelby D. Beattie, by telephone at (403) 262-6000 or by email at info@ebyinc.com,

or

CHF Investor Relations:

D'Arcy Funfer, (403) 669-5157, darcy@chfir.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Emerald Bay Energy Inc.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwired) -- 07/18/17 -- Philip Renaud (3rd Floor, Foxglove House, 166 Piccadilly, London, England, W1J 9EF), the Chairman and a director of Kane Biotech Inc. (162-196 Innovation Drive, Winnipeg Manitoba R3T 2N2 - TSX VENTURE:KNE) (the "Corporation"), announces that he has acquired 12,500,000 units ("Units") of the Corporation in connection with the Corporation's previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"). At the closing of the Offering which took place on July 17, 2017, the Company issued 33,404,997 Units at a price of $0.12 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $4,008,599.64. Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Corporation (a "Share") and one Share purchase warrant.

The Units acquired by Mr. Renaud pursuant to the Offering were acquired for a total subscription price of $1,500,000 and the 12,500,000 Shares comprised in said Units represent approximately 15.82% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation following the closing of the Offering.

Prior to the Offering, Mr. Renaud and an entity over which Mr. Renaud exercises control owned 11,646,854 Shares, representing approximately 25.54% of the then issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation. After completion of the Offering, Mr. Renaud and the entity over which Mr. Renaud exercises control now own 24,146,854 Shares, representing approximately 30.56% of the current issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation. Mr. Renaud is also the holder of 343,000 options to purchase Shares (the "Options") and 13,300,000 warrants to purchase Shares (the "Warrants"). If all of the Options and Warrants were exercised, Mr. Renaud and the entity over which he exercises control would own 37,789,854 Shares, representing approximately 40.78% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation following such exercises.

The Shares acquired by Mr. Renaud pursuant to the Offering were acquired for investment purposes. Mr. Renaud and the entity over which he exercises control have no current intention to acquire ownership of, or control over, additional securities of the Corporation.

An early warning report in respect of the above-noted transaction will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. A copy of the early warning report may be obtained from the Corporation by contacting:

Mark Ahrens-Townsend

President & CEO

Kane Biotech Inc.

204-477-7592 phone

204-474-7552 fax

ir@kanebiotech.com

www.kanebiotech.com

Contacts:

Kane Biotech Inc.

Mark Ahrens-Townsend

President & CEO

204-477-7592

204-474-7552 (FAX)

ir@kanebiotech.com

www.kanebiotech.com




Riad, Saudi-Arabien (ots/PRNewswire) -Saudi-Arabien gibt die Schaffung eines neuen nationalen Militarindustrieunternehmens bekannt. Das neue Unternehmen befindet sich vollstandig im Besitz der Regierung und stellt einen wichtigen Teil der Vision 2030 dar.- Das Unternehmen wird anfangs fur vier Geschaftsbereiche Produkte herstellen und Dienstleistungen anbieten: Luftsysteme, Landsysteme, Waffen und Flugkorper (auch Munition) und Verteidigungselektronik. - Das Unternehmen wird uber Joint Ventures mit weltweit tatigen Erstausrustern (OEMs) Unternehmen grunden sowie mit lokalen Militarunternehmen kooperieren.Der Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund ("PIF") hat heute die Grundung eines neuen nationalen Militarindustrieunternehmens bekanntgegeben.Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) wird anfangs fur vier Geschaftsbereiche Produkte herstellen und Dienstleistungen anbieten: Luftsysteme, wozu die Wartung und die Reparatur von Starrfluglern sowie die Herstellung und Reparatur von unbemannten Luftfahrzeugen zahlt; Landsysteme, wozu die Herstellung und die Reparatur von Militarfahrzeugen gehort; Waffen & Raketen (unter anderem Munition); sowie Verteidigungselektronik, wozu Radare und Sensoren gehoren sowie Kommunikationssysteme und elektronische Kampffuhrung.SAMI befindet sich vollstandig in Regierungsbesitz und strebt danach, bis zum Jahr 2030 eines der weltweit fuhrenden 25 Verteidigungsunternehmen zu werden. Es wird im Jahr 2030 direkt rund 14 Milliarden SAR zum BIP des Konigreichs beitragen, bis 2030 mehr als 6 Milliarden SAR in Forschung und Entwicklung investieren und mehr als 40.000 Stellen schaffen, wobei viele in der Ingenieurs- und Technikbranche sein werden. Durch die Zusammenarbeit mit Universitaten wird SAMI Studierenden Ausbildungs- und Karrierechancen im Bereich hochmoderne Technologien bieten - dies war vorher im Konigreich nicht verfugbar.Ausgerichtet an der Vision 2030 wird SAMI zur Diversifizierung der Wirtschaft in Saudi-Arabien im 21. Jahrhundert beitragen, indem die Abhangigkeit vom Ol reduziert wird, wahrend gleichzeitig die nationale Sicherheit geschutzt und gestarkt wird.Seine Konigliche Hoheit Prinz Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Vize-Kronprinz, Verteidigungsminister und Vorsitzender des offentlichen Investitionsfonds, erklarte: "Wahrend das Konigreich eines der weltweit fuhrenden Lander bei den gesamten Sicherheits- und Militarausgaben ist, finden nur zwei Prozent unseres militarischen Beschaffungswesens im Inland statt".Seine Konigliche Hoheit hob hervor, dass SAMI einen wesentlichen Beitrag zum Erreichen der in der Vision 2030 gesetzten Ziele leisten wird; hier heit es, dass 50 % des militarischen Beschaffungswesen Saudi-Arabiens lokal erfolgen soll.SAMIs vier Geschaftseinheiten komplementieren die zukunftigen militarischen Anforderungen des Konigreichs und bauen auf den lokalen Kapazitaten auf. SAMI wird uber Joint Ventures mit weltweit tatigen Erstausrustern (OEMs) Unternehmen grunden sowie mit lokalen Militarunternehmen kooperieren. Zudem wird SAMI die Schaffung neuer Geschaftsbereiche in Betracht ziehen, um sicherzustellen, dass das Unternehmen an den neuesten Entwicklungen in den militarischen Industriesektoren ausgerichtet ist.OTS: Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) newsroom: http://www.presseportal.de/nr/126661 newsroom via RSS: http://www.presseportal.de/rss/pm_126661.rss2Pressekontakt: 07584022460
Iotas, a Portland, OR-based developer of smart apartment technology, received additional strategic funding from Oregon Angel Fund and Rogue Venture Partners.

This round brought total funding to $5.3m.

The company, which has also been funded by the National Science Foundation, Creative Ventures, Oregon Best, and Portland Seed Fund, will use the funds to continue to expand its business reach.

Led by Sce Pike, founder and CEO, Iotas provides smart home enablement technology for the multi-family-home (MFH) industry, enabling property developers and owners to to install smart outlets, switches, thermostats, door locks, sensors and more and deliver a connected home experience for renters regardless of technological expertise.

The IOTAS Smart Hub has already been integrated into several MFH buildings in Oregon, California, Texas and Washington with projects underway in 20 additional states nationwide and in Canada.

IOTAS-enabled apartments support a wide variety of connected devices, including popular products like Nest, Google Home and Amazons Alexa.

FinSMEs

17/05/2017
Leavetown, a Vancouver, Canada-based vacation booking service for mountain and nature destinations, has acquired adventure tech sharing economy startups ShareShed and Guiides.

The amount of the deals were not disclosed.

The acquisitions will enable Leavetown to expand its position in the adventure travel space, with immediate plans to grow in the Australian, European and South American markets.

Founded by Daniel Dubois, ShareShed is an outdoor equipment sharing marketplace while Guiides connects outdoor enthusiasts with local guides. The company raised $1M in seed funding from Mike Walsh of Structure Capital. Guiides provides people with a website to discover and book unique experiences led by local guides.

The two companies came out of The Next Big Thing, Ryan Holmes and Meredith Powells national charity and incubator for young entrepreneurs.

Founded in 2012 by Mike Liverton, Leavetown provides an accommodation and activity booking platform representing more than 12,500 properties in over 60 iconic destinations throughout Canada and the U.S.

FinSMEs

16/05/2017
Helsinki, Finland-based venture capital firm Vendep Capital has launched its second fund.

By the first closing at the end of April, Vendep Capital Fund II has received capital commitments worth over 30m from more than 20 Finnish institutional investors, foundations, family offices and private investors. Among them, there are Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd), KRR II, Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Company, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, AI-Partners, Gerako, the Gosta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation and the Saastamoinen Foundation.

General Partners Jupe Arala, Hannu Kytola, and Sakari Pihlava have made a commitment of 1m in the fund.

The fund, which has a target size of 40m, will mainly invest in Finnish startups offering software to B2B customers. A typical initial investment will be in the range of 0.5-1m.

The potential target companies are expected to have a significant number of customers, and their recurring monthly revenue should be at least 30k-50k, with a considerable proportion coming from international markets.

In order to ensure international growth and the building of a international sales organization and contacts with international investors, Vendep Capital will employ its partner network based in London, Amsterdam, Berlin, and San Francisco.

FinSMEs

17/05/2017
Even though we have a pretty lousy record of selecting winners of the Preakness Stakes (G1), despite its being perhaps the most formful Triple Crown race, there are three sure things on the agenda prior to the main event May 20.

First up, no matter what the weather forecast says before departing for Baltimore, it will change dramatically by the time of arrival. It never fails that the temperature will swing 20 degrees in either direction from its five-day prognostication before race day.

More importantly, the viable future of Pimlicohome to racings second jewel of the Triple Crownwill be discussed at length. Perhaps not talked about enough will be the resurgence of the breeding program in Maryland.

While Pimlico has a certain level of familiarity, it also has serious faults as the host site for a major sporting event. Earlier this year the Maryland Stadium Authority estimated it would cost more than $300 million to renovate Old Hilltop, leaving industry types on either side of the economic fence.

There are believers on both sides, said Robert Willie White, president of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. Its the mayor and the people of Baltimore who would like it to stay in Baltimore. There are believers in the history and tradition that go along with the Preakness and Pimlico. Then there are others who say we just cant afford to do that. We just have to realize we can only support one racetrack and keep it at the highest level.

That one racetrack figures to be Laurel Park, which is closer to Washington, D.C., and has undergone extensive renovations over the last few seasons.

White sees the issue as a national one, not solely tied to Maryland and the Preakness.

There is a realistic approach that needs to be taken to these things, and over the years were going to see racetracks start to thin out nationwide, he said. Were not going to have a horse population large enough to support the number of tracksso that is why it is becoming more and more important that you focus your efforts and have only the best available facilities.

While the Thoroughbred population is not growing in North America, it is in Maryland. According to The Jockey Clubs Report of Mares Bred, 923 mares were covered in Maryland in 2016, the highest figure since the Great Recession hit in 2008 and well above the 548 mares bred at the states nadir in 2011 before a well-crafted program kicked in with subsidies from casinos.

Its been a team effort among the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemens Association, the Maryland Horse Breeders, and the Maryland Jockey Club, White said. Theyve all worked hard together to see the industry improve.

More mares mean more foals, and the states foal crop has grown from 393 in 2011 to 583 in 2015. While the stallion population is stagnant, one would expect those figures to begin an upward trajectory.

Weve lost Not For Love; weve lost Two Punch; a couple of very popular stallions over the last couple of years, so we need a new star to help us in that category, White said. We have a lot of new stallions that have their first year or two under their belt, and were waiting to see them prove something.

Partnershipsboth racing and breedingare helping bolster the bottom line in Thoroughbred centers around the country, and Maryland is no exception.

You have to have innovative ways to bring new people into the industry, White said. The Ponses (Josh and Michael Pons of Country Life Farm near Bel Air) have done this with their racing partnerships and are now doing it with their breeding partnerships. They have a good formula, and its bringing some better mares into Maryland and giving their stallions a good chance.

The Ponses are not the kinds of guys who sit back; they are not waiting for someone else to make their success for them. Thats what has to happen in this industry. You have to have guys who are thinking outside the box and trying to make things happen.

Another sure thing? Any move forward in this business is vital to preserving the sport and its legacy


Call it a mere coincidence or an act of smart political timing. On Tuesday, a series of raids at houses of Congress leader P Chidambaram and RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and the evening presser of FM Arun Jaitley launching the clean money portal, together offered an excellent package to reaffirm Prime Minister Narendra Modis image as an anti-corruption, anti-black money crusaderright at the 3rd anniversary of his ascension to power.

This was a political master stroke as it leaves no room for the Congress-led opposition parties to level counter-attacks to spoil Modis 3rd anniversary party.

Lets focus on black money part and try to look at evidence to find out what the Modi governments three years, including the 8 November demonetisation crackdown, did to the so-called black money in this country. Start with Tuesday's presser.

There wouldnt be no second opinion on the fact that demonetisation was the biggest-ever weapon Modi unleashed so far to clamp down on tax cheats. The government said it has brought 91 lakh taxpayers in the tax net and detected undisclosed income worth Rs 23,144 crore in the 6 months post demonetisation.

Any achievement in the battle against black money, however small it is, and any measure that helps widen the tax base, is laudable. But, gloating over it is premature and a major blunder. Why?

Because, what you are dealing with is a much larger problem and what you have achieved in 3 years looks pygmy compared with size of the target. To understand this, lets look at some of the estimates of black money in India. To begin with, the government doesnt have (at least in public) any solid estimate of the black money in India, including the component in cash.

But, that is not so with some of the top economists, who have been hardcore supporters of demonetisation. They have assumed that cash component of black money itself will be around Rs 5 lakh crore.

In a jointly authored article written for Mint newspaper on 27 December (read here), renowned economist and Columbia university professor, Jagdish Bhagwati, resident senior fellow at the IDFC Institute Vivek Dehejia and Chung Ju Yung distinguished professor of international economics at Johns Hopkins University and deputy director of the Raj Center on Indian Economic Policies at Columbia University, Pravin Krishna had accepted this assumption when they defended the Modi governments demonetisation move.

Clearly, at least from the perspective of its effectiveness in dealing with the black money issue, success has to be measured by the sum of tax revenue generated and black money destroyed. Suppose we accept the estimate that one-third of the approximately Rs 15 trillion in demonetised notes is black money, Bhagwati and his co-authors said in the piece.

Based on this assumption, they also worked out the gains the Modi government would have had if demonetisation exercise is successful  around Rs 2,5 lakh crore. Heres how they arrived at this figure.

Roughly speaking, the revenue that would have been generated had that income been taxed in the first place is 30% of that (so, Rs 5 trillion times 0.3 = Rs1.5 trillion). Perfect detection of black money should now yield 50% as tax revenue (so Rs 5 trillion times 0.5 = Rs 2.5 trillion), if all black money is returned and identified as such.

Remember, Modi demonetised Rs 15.44 lakh crore high value currency notes of Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes on 8 November, constituting 86 percent of the running currency in the system. Bhagwatis calculations on demonetisation gains look good on paper. But is it anywhere close to reality?

After 6 nonths of demonetisation, what have we come to? Undisclosed income worth Rs 23,144 crore. Assuming Bhagwati and his authors did the research before penning the estimate and the arrived figure is anywhere close to the actual black money in the system, what has the Modi government achieved in 6 months of demonetisation is only 1/22th of the illegal wealth present in the system.

Remember, we are talking about only the black money in the form of cash, not even other assets such as gold, real estate and investments in financial instruments. The ultimate revenue to the exchequer from these tax cheats will be lesser. The three schemes launched by the Modi government so far have not had much luck. Even the even under PMGKY, the government managed to garner just about Rs 2,300 crore.

Instead, these windows offered an escape route to tax cheats with relatively minimal impact on their ill-gotten wealth. So, all in all, what we have gained so far in black money battle is pittance compared to what is at stake. This analysis is not to undermine the efforts by the Modi government on black money battle but to show how little we have achieved so far.

It is a no-brainer to understand that tax cheats wont easily give up their ill-gotten wealth unless pushed to the corner. Self-declaration has hardly worked in the past. For the same reason, one needs to wait and watch to see if the clean money portal works to governments benefit.

Even now, there are big loopholes present in political funding for black money hoarders. Crooks can still make thousands of Rs 2,000 political donation coupons and legitimise their black money passing it to a political outfit, perhaps created only for this. This remains a big gap in the battle against black money. Also, the channels for large benami transactions in real estate and other assets remain open. Going ahead, these will emerge as challenges for the Modi-government.

Besides these, as Amit Kapoor, chairman for Institute of Competiveness argues in this article, Modis war on black money will be incomplete without taxing farm income.

Post-demonetisation, a Parliamentary panel raised concerns that there was a rise in the number of cases with farm income higher than Rs 1 crore. The Modi government's fight against black money will be rendered incomplete if the agricultural sector is not brought within its ambit, wrote Kapoor.

The black money war launched by the Modi government against tax cheats is indeed laudable and it has succeeded in bringing the topic of black money into public debate in a big way. The Modi camp also knows how to time the announcements well like the launch of the clean money portal on Tuesday at the third anniversary of its 2014 election victory. Such steps keep the buzz on and send out a strong signal to wrongdoers that even the mighty and powerful can fall in front of political determination.

But, when it comes to black money battle there is a danger if the government lets itself gloat over small gains to present a rosy picture before the electorate. Much of the black money battle is still left to be fought.
The IT industry in India is going through a churn and bleak reports of mass layoffs are the order of the day. From 10,000 layoffs at some of Indias majors like Cognizant to 2,000 at Infosys to 500 at Wipro to thousands at IBM, the list of IT companies laying off staff is getting longer and paints a grim picture.

According to Kris Lakshmikanth, Chairman and Managing Director at The Head Hunters India; and visiting faculty, Institute of Management, Ranchi, the number of employees in the sector who could be losing jobs would be around 1.75 lakh to 2 lakh in the next three years.

However, there have been also reports saying these job cuts need not create panic. Japanese brokerage firm Nomura, in a research note cited by PTI, said that the job cuts of 2-3 percent of the overall headcount of nearly 7,60,000 by Infosys, Cognizant, Tech Mahindra and Wipro are not material. However, it expects the rationalisation to continue until the workforce realignment towards digital skills is complete.

Now that the job loss, which has been in the making over the last few years due to technological shifts and now exacerbated by US president Donald Trump regime's protectionist stance, has become real, the question to ask is are the people being relieved unemployable or unable to get jobs? What are their prospects of being gainfully employed in the once-sunshine industry again?

It is not as bleak a situation as it is made out to be. There are enough jobs for people in the industry still, say experts.

An analyst compares the present situation in the sector to that after the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. He reminds that the situation righted itself soon and not many continued with their unemployed status.

The situation today that is being heralded as doomsday by a section is a bit of an exaggeration, feel some. This is a situation that India has seen earlier and we have survived that. Layoffs were certainly not in the scale as witnessed today but there are so many options for those who want jobs, believes Harish HV, partner, Grant Thornton, an advisory firm.

When ATMs were introduced in the country in the late 80s, the biggest scare in the market was that many cashiers and accountants in the banking sector would lose jobs. Instead, banks increased their branches, remarked an analyst.

Subramanyam S, Founder- President and CEO of Ascent HR, says that the Indian IT sector has faced headwinds earlier too and despite that it has retained its technical edge and no country has been able to erode that. The IT industry is thriving on technological skill arbitration and manpower cost arbitrage. And I dont see any one in India with technical skills remaining jobless for long even in a shrinking economy, he says.

With the government touting its Startup India program, one way out, say some experts, is for some of the technical personnel to get into the startup arena. They have the knowhow and also the money  the industry paid until recently more than any other industry  and can easily be ancillaries to the organisations they worked for or any other company in the sector, said Subramanyam.

Another much-touted programme of the government is Digital India. The recently announced demonetisation drive by the government on 8 November gave a huge push to digitisation of the economy.

With GST rolling out in July, the IT industry will virtually become the backbone of the Indian government and also of all industries in the country. The IT sector is connected with the broad industry in ways that one cannot imagine, said Lohit Bhatia, Director, Staffing Solutions at Ikya Human Solutions, a division of Quess Corp Ltd. Any industry from manufacturing to taxi aggregators require IT specialists or domain specialists. The demand for applications experts, professionals well-versed with data analytics, Cloud, etc will be required and hence IT professionals will be in demand.

A massive surge on account of IT with regard to GST becoming mandatory from July will open the floodgates for technology experts. GST will make daily accounting mandatory which means the need for more IT personnel across the industry will be huge, said Bhatia.

It has been noticed that the demand for contractual staffing in the IT sector has gone up for those with two years and 10 years experience. Magna Infotech, an IT contractual staffing company, has seen a 25-30 percent increase in terms of requirement for IT staff not only in small and medium-sized IT firms but also in multi-national companies, said Sanju Ballurkar, CEO.

Salaries have not dropped and neither have they increased. But they are holding steady ranging between Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 for 2-year or more experienced professionals with a 9-10 year experienced IT professionals getting Rs 1.8 lakhs a month.

The job prospects are better for those individuals who have niche skill sets which will still be in demand. For the rest, they will have to focus on skill upgradation based on latest trends in the IT market to enhance their job prospects. "The current layoffs are mainly localized to the IT services sector whereas during the Lehmann crisis they were largely across industry. The middle management IT workforce in India still has opportunities with small to mid-sized IT firms in India, technology based startups as well as in-house roles in the IT teams of many corporate organisations," said Ankit Agarwala, Director, Michael Page - recruitment firm specialising in the recruitment of permanent, contract and temporary positions.

IT professionals should be able to shift and guide their dreams to the new reality. For some, the days of drawing high salaries which were by far the best compared with any industry in the country may have changed.

But there are many options: Learn a new skill and update their knowledge to the requirement of the industry; be willing to take a pay cut and take a job in the same firm or in small and mid-sized firms; be ready to be a contract worker with contract staffing firms; be ready to relocate to other cities and take up jobs in companies that service larger IT firms in the country and globally. As Lakshmikanth of Head Hunters remarks: If you are not willing to learn, adapt, you will remained unemployed.
Preliminary results of State Bank of India's examination for selecting probationary officers has been declared. The results can be viewed on the bank's official website, sbi.co.in

The preliminary onlilne exams for 2,200 posts were held 29, 30 April and 6, 7 May 2017.

According to Moneycontrol, here's how the results can be accessed:

> Login to the website - sbi.co.in

> Click on the careers tab on the website.

> Click on the SBI PO 2017 results

> Enter roll number or registration number, your date of birth and captcha.

> Click on the submit button to get the result.

For those in the list, call letter for online main exam can be downloaded from 22 May. The main exam will be conducted on 4 June. The results will be declared on 19 June.

The call letter for the interview can be downloaded from 26 June. The group exercises and interview will be held from 10 July onwards. The final result will be published on 5 August.
The government on Tuesday gave out details of the suspicious deposits that banks received during the demonetisation period of 9 November to 30 December.

According to CBDT Chairman Sushil Chandra, as many as 17.92 lakh people were identified for unexplained deposits post demonetisation and the income tax department has identified one lakh suspected tax avoidance cases.

He also said that an undisclosed income of Rs 16,398 crore was identified post demonetisation.

"We identified around 17.92 lakh persons in whose case the cash transactions did not appear in line with the taxpayers' profiles. And online verifications of these transactions are underway," Chandra told reporters after the launch of the Operation Clean Money website on Tuesday.

He also said there was 22 percent growth in e-filed returns post demonetisation.

Here is a graphic representation of the suspicious bank deposits done during the note ban period:

Corporates, which account for 2 percent of the reported PAN, have a share of 22.6 percent in the reported cash transactions. Proprietors (individuals running business) have a share of 41.5 percent in the reported cash transactions. Taxpayers doing business have a share of 78.4 percent in the reported cash transactions. As much as 36.1 percent of the PAN holders in the reported cash transactions have not filed return.

Traders have the largest share (around 61 percent)in the reported cash transactions relating to business.

Manufacturers have a share of 12 percent in the reported cash transactions relating to business.
As the 70th Cannes Film Festival unfolds at the French Riviera, another film festival will be taking place in New Delhi, which is centered on independent cinema and movie makers. The PickUrFlick Indie Film Festival (being held at the Instituto Cervantes from 19-21 May) will feature 70 films made in various languages, and part of its itinerary are two world premieres, 35 Asian premieres and six Indian premieres.

Arabic animation film AYNY-My Second Eye, which won a Golden Oscar, will open the festival, while Hore Die Stille (Hear The Silence), a WWII German film will close it. In this edition of the film fest, the spotlight is on Spain, as there is a special focus on Spanish and Latin American films.

Fourteen of the films being screened are silent ones, and eight are animation films. Some of the animation films listed are Otto, directed by Job, Joris and Marieke, which centers on a childless woman who steals the imaginary friend of a little girl, and Walter Tournier's Cease Game, where a boy and a dog try to protect themselves in the midst of a war.

Seven feature films, including Jaicheng Jai Dohutia's Haanduk (The Hidden Corner), the Assamese film which won the Best Feature award at the 64th National Film Awards, will be screened. This film fest also has 52 short films, shot in Hindi, Kurdish, Persian, English and Cantonese.

These short films explore a variety of topics, such as personal stories, the refugee crisis, relationships and crime. Dhruva Harsh's Hindi short Honourable Mention, which tells the story of the life of a workaholic professor in Allahabad University, who meets with failure every time despite working hard, and Saman Hosseinpuor's Autumn Leaves, which is a Persian short that chronicles a day in the life of a little girl going to school, are two interesting examples.

Also part of this film festival are three documentaries  Dr. Abdul Rashid Bhat's The Bitter Truth, Claudia Kedney-Bolduc's Chemins de Glaces (Ice Paths) and Harjant Gill's Sent Away Boys. They explore the subjects of the plight of Dal lake of Kashmir, ice canoeing and the transformation of Punjab, respectively.

There will also be an award ceremony as a part of the PickUrFlick Indie Film Festival, where the filmmakers will be felicitated under the categories of Best Director, Best Short Film, Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Animation, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Screenplay, Viewers Choice Award and the Emerging Talent Award.

The PickUrFlick Indie Film Festival will be held at Instituto Cervantes, New Delhi from 19-21 May. You register for this film festival here, and check out the schedule of the screenings here.

The PickUrFlick Indie Film Festival is powered by Firstpost.
The much awaited Cannes Film Festival begins on 17 May 2017, and apart from the excitement about the lineup of the films that will be screened, there is always curiosity about what outfits the celebrities will don, and how their look will be. This year, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be the Bollywood celebrities present at the French Riviera; the trio will be representing makeup brand L'Oreal.

Before they reveal their looks for this year's red carpet walks, here's a look at what the three actresses wore over the last few years:

Sonam Kapoor

2016

Fashionista Sonam Kapoor always makes a statement at Cannes with her designer outfits. Last year, she chose a white Ralph & Russo custom gown.

2015

In 2014, Sonam donned a blue Ralph & Russo couture gown and paired it with sapphire and diamond ear rings.

2014

Among her many looks in this year, Sonam looked stunning in this blush pink sheer Anamika Khanna saree which she wore with a gold and pearl choker.

2013

Sonam's Dolce & Gabana printed dress was a show stealer at the 2013 Cannes Film Fest.

Also worth mentioning from her looks this year was her choice to wear a chunky nose ring and bold lip colour.

2011

For her debut appearance, Sonam chose a Jean Paul Gaultier vintage one-shoulder dress.

Deepika Padukone

Deepika has only made one appearance at Cannes, in 2010, and she wore a white and gold sari with gold and pearl ear rings.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

2016

Aishwarya made heads turn with her iconic lipstick shade at the 2016 Cannes Film Fest.

She also donned a rose gold dress with intricate detailing.

2015

This year, she wore outfits by Oscar de la Renta and Ralph and Russo in the colours of mauve, turquoise and lavendar.

2014

Aishwarya wore a dazzling golden Roberto Cavalli dress and red lipstick for this year.

2013

In 2013, the actress wore an Elie Saab couture gown.

2012

In her first year at Cannes after the birth of her daughter, Aishwarya donned a grey embellished Elie Saab gown.

2011

In 2011, a smokey-eyed Aishwarya chose a geometric Armani Prive dress.

2010

For this walk down the red carpet, the actress donned a violet blue fully embroidered tulle and mousseline gown from Elie Saab.

2009

Dressed in a Roberto Cavalli floor-sweeping, strapless gown, Aishwarya made quite the appearance in 2009.

2008

Of all the outfits she wore this year, Aishwarya's fuschia gown got the best reviews.

2007

Aishwarya was spotted hand-in-hand with husband Abhishek the year they were married. She chose a white strapless gown and a statement diamond necklace this year.

2002

13 years ago, the actress donned a white and gold sari with simple gold jewellery and fuss-free makeup.
Primary elections tend to have lower turnout than November general elections. Municipal elections tend to draw fewer voters than national elections.

Combine the two and its a formula for low voter turnout.

Tuesday was no different.

As of 5 p.m., less than 50 people had cast ballots at St. Johns Episcopal Church on North Hanover Street in Carlisle and only a little more 100 had turned out at the Carlisle Band Hall on East South Street.

Both precincts had a voter turnout of less than 10 percent with less than three hours left before polls closed.

Unofficial numbers with all precincts reporting were 15.85 percent total voter turnout among all voters, with 17.16 percent of Democrats voting and 19.71 percent of Republicans voting in Tuesdays primary, according to the Cumberland County Bureau of Elections.

People will complain, Kirk Wilson said. Theyll complain about their school board member, their council member, their mayor (or) whatever. But, you ask them did you go out and vote? Well, no.

Wilson, the former mayor of Carlisle, was campaigning for Jonathan Birbeck for magisterial district judge outside the Carlisle Band Hall.

How many people wake up the next day and say how did that person get into office? Bill Schwanger said. Because, you didnt go vote.

One of the reasons for a lower turnout in primaries than general elections may be in part because of Pennsylvanias closed primary system.

In Pennsylvania, only voters registered with a major party can vote in primaries. Republicans can vote for Republican candidates, and Democrats can vote for Democrat candidates.

At least one person who was registered as an independent was turned away at the Carlisle Band Hall Tuesday because of a lack of party affiliation.

However, roughly 84 percent of voters in Cumberland County  more than 140,000 people  are registered to one of the two major parties, according the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Pam Kuhn, who was campaigning for Birbeck outside of St. Johns Episcopal Church, said more media attention needs paid to the local elections.

I definitely feel if you got to know the candidates better and their views on the issues and there were more interviews done prior  like two three weeks before the actual election  youd have more people turn out, Kuhn said. People would be interested in what they are saying and theyd get on their team.

For Kuhn, who started the group Residents Against Heroin, participating in Tuesdays election was a chance to weigh in on the issues.

It is a way to get your voice heard, she said. The people we are voting in, they do want to hear from us. They want to know what were thinking, but you have to get involved. You have to tell them. They cant read your mind.
The recent news about the director of the upcoming film Simran Hansal Mehta giving a credit of additional story to actor Kangana Ranaut, who plays the lead in the film, and placing the credit before the real writer of the film, Apurva Asrani, in the poster has come as a shock to many including the people inside the trade. This isnt the first time a star has used their clout to get their way or their mere presence has ensured that directors follow their cue. Even though this kind of thing might happen again this instance perhaps will usher in a new chapter in the debate about just how much a star can manage to get their way.

A few months ago when Rangoon was nearing completion, a rumour about its lead, Kangana Ranaut, holding the release to ransom began doing the rounds. It was said that the actor was asking for a co-director credit and while no one knows if the buzz was true, most chose to believe it. This was a phase where Kangana Ranauts star was on the ascent and both those who liked her and those who despised her had their own reasons to believe that the gossip was true. A few years earlier Kangana had been given the additional dialogue credit on Queen as the director, Vikas Bahl, believed that the actors ad-libbing made both the character as well as the film more realistic.

All actors tend to improvise and while some of them manage to transform mundane meanderings into cinematic history barely anyone gets credit. Few of the greatest moments in cinema were a result of actors straying away from the written word and all good directors know this. Humphrey Bogarts iconic Heres looking at you, kid, in Casablanca (1942) was apparently something the actor used to say to his co-star, Ingrid Bergman, in between takes and Jack Nicholsons Heres Johnny! in The Shinning (1980) was his own contribution much like Robert De Niros You talkin to me? bit from Taxi Driver (1976) where the script only mentioned the character talking to himself.

In the case of the credit fracas over Simran perhaps it is the manner in which the director of the film, Hansal Mehta, has handled the issue that needs to be looked at more intensely than the otherwise obvious conclusion of Kangana Ranaut wielding her power. Two things need to be taken into consideration before anything  first, this is not the first time a star would push his/ her agenda and second the manner in which the issue of the additional credit was handled more than the additional credit itself. Apurva Asrani has every right to be annoyed about an inane credit as additional story and in many ways would have given in for the greater good (the film being released, etc.) but more than that the hurt of not being told by the director with whom he has worked on previous films (Aligarh, City Lights, Shahid) is much bigger. The issue has seen Asrani breaking away from Mehta. Moreover, in a detailed Facebook post Asrani, who was also the editor of Simran before being sacked, called out Kanganas manner of coercing the director but more than that asks Mehta to show some spine.

Is it Hindi cinemas over-dependence on its stars that made Mehta not only give Kangana Ranaut the credit of 'additional story' but also placing her name before the real writer of the film, Apurva Asrani? In some cases, actors throw their weight and stature around to show whos the boss and why their presence is the difference between just another film and a work of great art. This writer feels that when it comes to Kangana, it is not a clear case of stamping her authority. It is no secret that the manner in which Kangana Ranaut has managed to create a special space for herself or gone about to become one of the biggest contemporary stars without following the usual script (read saluting the powers that be, working or being an embellishment in a film opposite the mighty Khans or Akshay Kumar, etc.) hasnt gone down well with the establishment. Great umbrage was taken by Karan Johar, one of the biggest producers in Hindi cinema today, on what she said about the prevalent nepotism in Bollywood  which makes it more than apparent that it is only Kanganas critical and commercial success that, in a manner of speaking, has kept the wolves at bay. Kanganas foray into taking production calls or demanding additional credit on a film could also be a way for the actor to go beyond the usual trappings of stardom or be seen as something more than a mere actor.

It is stupid to assume that stars wouldnt misuse their clout for some reason or the other but that never stopped good directors, and even writers, to forget that they are better than them when it comes certain things. During the making of Gladiator Russell Crowe was not convinced of the epic speech that his character delivers and wanted to change the s**t. Crowe continually strayed from the script. After numerous alternatives director, Ridley Scott put his foot down and asked him to read it the way screenwriters John Logan and William Nicholson had written it. Crowe relented and later told Scott It was s**t. But I'm the greatest actor in the world and I can make even s**t sound good. The s**t speech  My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.  essentially became the greatest thing that he would ever utter as an actor and even fetched him his Oscar for Best Actor.

Some of the reactions to laffaire Simran are downright bizarre and make no sense. Of course, the era of superstar writers a la Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar is over but that doesnt diminish Asranis anguish and sheer helplessness at the hands of the star and the director. Salim-Javed ensured that not only did they get their rightful credit as writers but also had a veto on issues such as casting and final cut. They refused to part with the script of Deewar (1975) if Amitabh Bachchan was not cast as Vijay and asked for extensive patchwork on Trishul (1978) after the entire film was shot. Much like the era of rock star writers getting over stars throwing their weight is a thing that would always be there but had Mehta gone about dealing with things in a clearer manner this chapter could have helped the way the business was conducted.
Salman Khan was in Dubai for the launch of Tubelight's song 'Radio', and he spoke about various subjects, one of which was his facial disorder.

Khan said that he suffers from a facial disorder called trigeminal neuralgia, which resulted in debilitating pain. He added that it was this pain that pushed him to work harder and take acting seriously.

"No matter how much pain you are going through, it made me realise that you cant put any subtitles  your ligament is torn, you have the flu or that your knee is hurting  in any of your scenes," he said. The actor also mentioned that patients who suffer from this disorder even commit suicide. Salman Khan first spoke about the illness in 2011, reveals the above Indian Express report, when he mentioned that the hoarseness in voice is not a result of alcohol but rather this disorder.

At the launch, Salman Khan also spoke about why the song has been named 'Radio'. "The song is called 'Radio' because the good news that my brother is alive and is coming back is announced on the radio," he said. Kabir Khan further added that the radio was the only means through which news could be obtained in 1962.

Tubelight is a period drama set against the backdrop of the Indo-Sino war. Salman Khan plays a misfit in this film, which also features a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan. Also starring in the film are Chinese actress Zhu Zhu, late actor Om Puri and Sohail Khan.

Tubelight is a remake of Little Boy by directed by Mexican director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde; despite being based on a war fantasy film, Kabir Khan asserts that his film is not centered on war.
The 70th Cannes Film Festival starts on 17 May 2017, and there is much to look forward to, from the lineup of films that will be screened, to the appearances and looks Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities. Here is the complete guide to this year's cinematic extravaganza which will unfold at the French Riviera:

Films made in India that are a part of Cannes 2017

Afternoon Clouds directed by Payal Kapadia, a third-year film direction course student of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has been invited to participate in the Cinefondation selection of the festival. This is the first time that an FTII film has been selected for participation in the Cinefondation. Kapadia told PTI that her film Afternoon Clouds is actually an exercise at FTII, which had to be done as a part of A final second-year project.

The trailer of Priyanka Chopra's Sikkimese production Pahuna will be screened at the festival. "We are dealing with issues like gender bias, the idea of currency... Money is money, but there is a currency divide, impact of older people on children, our fear of the unknown," said the director of Pahuna, Paakhi A. Tyrewala, when asked about the film.

The trailer of Indian chef Vikas Khanna's Buried Seeds will be screened at Cannes this year. It tells the story of his immigrant past and the obstacles he had to face in his journey. The full-length docu-drama, directed by award-winning Russian filmmaker Andrei Severny, is, in Khanna's words, "a celebration of a journey of an ordinary man". Last year, his documentary Kitchens of Gratitude, which is based on the belief of the chef that food has the power to transcend all divisions, premiered at the film festival.

Rima Das work-in-progress, Village Rockstars, an entirely "self-made" film, is in Marche du Film (Cannes Film Market) by virtue of being one of four titles selected by the Hong Kong-Asian Film Financing Forum (HAF) for its Goes to Cannes programme. Shot in real settings with children of Rimas own village, Village Rockstars revolves around Dhunu, a free-spirited 10-year-old girl who dreams of owning and playing a guitar.

Noteworthy international films that will be screened

French film Les fantomes d'Ismael (Ismael's Ghosts in English) has been picked as the opening film of the 70th edition of Cannes Film Festival. The category  Un Certain Regard  will kick off with Mathieu Amalric's Barbara, a biopic of the mono-monikered French chanteuse.

In the category  In Competition  American directors Sofia Coppola (The Beguiled), Noah Baumbach (The Meyerowitz Stories), and Todd Haynes (Wonderstruck) are competing with each other. The line-up in the above category also includes works from filmmakers like Michael Haneke (Happy End), Andrey Zvyagintsev (Loveless) and Hong Sangsoo  who will have two films  The Day After and Isabelle Huppert-starrer Claire's Camera. English-language entries from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos and South Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho, whose Okja stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton, are also part of the line-up.

Indian celebrities to look out for

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who first went to the Cannes Film Festival with Devdas back in 2002, will be presenting the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film again at the upcoming 70th edition of the fest. The actress will be going to the fest in the capacity of cosmetic brand L'Oreal Paris brand ambassador. She will be presenting the film on 20 May as part of the L'Oreal Paris Open Air Cinema.

"We attended the festival not just as artistes but as proud representatives of Indian cinema, and showcasing a film that meant so much to us. The kind of reception we got for the movie was truly overwhelming and I will cherish it all my life," said Rai, while recounting her first experience at Cannes. She will be walking the red carpet on 19-20 May.

Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone will also attend the film fest. While Aishwarya and Sonam started their Cannes journey in 2002 and 2011, respectively, this will be Deepika's debut appearance at the star-studded movie carnival. Kapoor and Padukone too will be representing L'Oreal alongside Julianne Moore and Eva Longoria.

"I will always represent India at the red carpet. So you will see that. Even if I am not wearing an Indian designer, I will include Indian designs in some way. I will always do something in some way to represent India. This is my eighth year at Cannes and I am super proud to be representing my country in such a way. I wish, one day, I go there to represent a film too," Kapoor said. She will walk the red carpet on 21 and 22 May.

"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," Padukone said to media persons. The Padmavati actress will be walking the red carpet on 17 and 18 May. She also posted pictures of her time in the French Riviera before the event starts.

#Cannes2017 @lorealmakeup @lorealhair A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on May 16, 2017 at 2:51am PDT

room with a view... #Cannes2017 @lorealmakeup @lorealhair A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on May 16, 2017 at 3:18am PDT

Oscar winning composer AR Rahman will walk the red carpet with the lead cast, director and producers of trilingual magnum opus Sangamithra. Rahman will be seen walking the red carpet of the opening night, that is, 18 May.

About his Cannes outing this year, Rahman said in a statement: "I'm very excited working on this ambitious project 'Sangamithra'. I am looking forward to joining the team at Cannes."

Shruti Haasan too will be at Cannes making her debut at the film festival with Sangamithra. "We know that this is a story which will find a great connect with national and international viewers and we are so happy to have them as part of our journey right from the beginning," she was quoted saying in an interview.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)
The Mecca for world cinema begins tomorrow as the week long 2017 Cannes Film Festival kicks in.

As is the case every year, Cannes 2017 brings a wide-ranging mix of returning favourites, newcomers, festival friendly auteurs, genre films, but this time theres even a dig into Netflix and television shows.

Listed below are some of the most interesting films playing at the festival.

Jupiter's Moon

Dir: Kornel Mundruczo

A couple of years ago Hungarian filmmaker Mundruczo delivered a whole new genre of cinema  a dog based thriller called White God, an expertly directed fast paced and moving film with canines as the protagonists, without the need for human actors to anchor the film. It was an experiment that somehow worked in mesmerising ways, and the filmmaker is back with another fascinating story that youve never heard of before.

In Jupiters Moon we follow an immigrant who while crossing the border gets shot, but then realises hes gained the power to levitate.

Happy End

Dir: Michael Haneke

The celebrated two time Palm Dor winning Austrian filmmaker returns to his home after five years with Happy End, starring Isabelle Huppert as a member of a conservative family in Europe, watching the events of the immigrant crisis unfold around them.

With such a timely story topic, and a hugely Cannes friendly star, Haneke might just win his third festival award, making him the only film director in history to do so.

The Square

Dir: Ruben Ostlund

After the terrific Force Majeure and his tongue in cheek yet moving Oscar snub YouTube video, Swedish filmmaker Ostlund returns with another grand feature with a story that has never been told before. The story chronicles a museum director who sends a big splashy invite to art bigwigs for a new presentation. But when the bigwigs and the press show up to see what hes got up his sleeve, things quickly go out of hand.

Loveless

Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev

After the incredible (but also severely depressing) 2014 film Leviathan, Russian filmmaker Zvyagintsev returns with another bleak drama with a political undercurrent. The story is about a divorced couple finding themselves working together to find their missing son.

Ismael's Ghosts

Dir: Arnaud Desplechin

French filmmaker Desplechins new film ushers in the festival as the opening night selection.

The film stars Cannes darlings Mathieu Amalric and Marion Cotillard  the former as a film director whose life gets a big shock when hes haunted by the ghost of his ex flame played by the latter. The film looks more in the tragicomedy drama zone than horror, but its interesting to see so many world cinema helmers of late resorting to the horror genre to deliver metaphorical stories.

Okja

Dir: Bong Joon Ho

After delivering a series of masterpieces Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho returns with another ambitious story skewering corporate industrialism and a metaphorical monster packed into a drama thriller from the POV of a small girl and her monstrous companion. Okja marks a historical moment in cinema as the film premiers at Cannes and then on Netflix worldwide just a few days later.

The Florida Project

Dir: Sean Baker

Sean Baker, who blew everyone away with the fiery, pulsating, iPhone-shot comedy drama Tangerine a couple of years ago is back with a story that chronicles a bunch of kids growing up and having all kinds of strange adventures in Orlando, while their parents struggle to make ends meet.

In The Fade

Dir: Fatih Akin

After ten years Turkish-German filmmaker Fatin Akin returns to Cannes with In the Fade, a drama thriller about a woman (played by Dianne Kruger) who finds out that her husband and child have died in a terrorist attack. Instead of wallowing in sorrow, she decides to take matters in her own hands and plans revenge against the perpetrators of the attack.

With reports of terror attacks rising in Europe the film will no doubt be considered relevant to contemporary times, and would hopefully find some answers to the questions regarding these kind of circumstances.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Dir: Yorgos Lanthimos

After delivering fascinating social commentaries on the human condition with Dogtooth and The Lobster, Greek filmmaker Lanthimos is back with another esoterically titled film, which no doubt delves into his favorite theme  confinement. This time his Lobster star Colin Farrell plays a surgeon who is forced to make an awfully deadly choice to fix the problems in his life.

TV: Top of the Lake and Twin Peaks

Dir: Jane Campion & David Lynch

Who knew that Cannes would become a home for television shows?

Four years after the tremendous conclusion of the New Zealand murder mystery Top of the Lake, the new season premiers at the festival, once again with show runner Jane Campion at the helm. This time the action shits to Australia where the body of a young girl washes up on a beach, and detective Griffin (Elisabeth Moss) finds herself in familiar territory again.

Legendary filmmaker David Lynch returns after a long hiatus for another season of Twin Peaks  which is titled Fire walk with me. The weird ambiguities and abstract Lynchian undercurrents of the original show captivated audiences, making a whole generation of cultish fans  we cant wait to see what devilish mysteries Lynch has in store for us this time around.
The occasion was the premier of Mira Nairs The Namesake at a multiplex in South Bombay in March 2007. The creme da le creme of South Mumbai had gathered there, thanks to Sooni Taraporevala, a long-term associate of Mira Nair.

Despite the jostling crowd and the narrow alley of the multiplex, after the screening got over, I got an opportunity to say hi and chat with Irrfan, who said something to me casually, but it still reverberates to dayte. Yaar yeh film chal jaaye, chal jaaye toh accha rahega. His quote had a deeper significance, according to me, even though it sounded so simple. It showed a facet of Irrfan, which was jaded, tired and frustrated with the functioning of Bollywood.

His sights and hopes were already set on Hollywood and international cinema.

Cut to many years later over multiple interactions, the actor has successfully managed to break the barrier and is now in a happy space.

It was an early screening of his upcoming film Hindi Medium, where he was present to meet members from the media. Here, I saw a content Irrfan, a far cry from the anxious and jittery Irrfan of 2007.

In an industry where the Khan surname opens many doors, the man actually renounced his surname few years back. I dropped my surname when I joined the industry 10 years ago. I wanted my work and not my surname to fetch me recognition. I dont believe in the power of a surname. What makes you powerful are your deeds and karma, the actor told in an interview to Hindustan Times few years back.

My first interaction with the actor had happened in 2005 when Rog from the Bhatt camp was up for release. During the interview session I met casual Irrfan (again), and a young reporter, he gave me much to look up to.

Irrfan has always been a restless soul in pursuit of excellence, which at times others are unable to detect. The restlessness is well camouflaged by his casual attitude.

It was this search for a defined system, which made him choose to work with YRF for some time. Films like New York, Aaja Nachle and Gunday, though were not blockbusters, provided him a semblance of sanity in an otherwise chaotic industry. Its interesting to notice that his phase at YRF also coincided with the meteoric rise of the actor in Hollywood.

Hindi Medium is something I could relate to. It talks about an aberration in the education system that plagues the whole of north India. The important thing to be noted here is that the makers realised that such a powerful role could only be pulled by a by an equally powerful actor. And I have many thanks to offer them for choosing Irrfan.

Irrfan is like an exception in a system where everything revolves around stars.

Currently, two Indian actors who have been pushing and promoting their careers in Hollywood are Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone. While Chopra has made inroads, Padukone is taking baby steps. Yet their PR machinery remains in overdrive mode. Case in point: Majid Majidis upcoming film Beyond The Clouds for which Padukone auditioned. The very next day a Mumbai tabloid was ready with its spread of her Washing clothes at a Dhobi Ghat in a de-glam avatar.

Meanwhile, Priyanka Chopras appearances and interviews on Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen DeGeneres show are followed by detailed press releases. But Irrfan is quite the contrast. He recently signed a film called Puzzle opposite Kelly Macdonald, helmed by the producers of Little Miss Sunshine. No fuss was made, no interviews were given and there were no press releases. A handful of Indian media picked the news from foreign film journals. Thats Irrfan for you.

After having delivered stupendous performances in succession for years, Irrfan is now in a space where he can easily be bracketed with the likes of Viola Davis. For Viola, the color of her skin has now become redundant, and roles are specifically being written for her. While Irrfan failed to pull Tom Hanks or Ang Lee or Steven Spielberg for the premier of his Hollywood films in India unlike Anil Kapoor who brought home Tom Cruise or Deepika Padukone who successfully managed to bring Vin Diesel, his performances in these films spoke volumes.

Irrfans meticulous approach to acting is primarily driven by passion. But the years spent in the industry have also taught him few things.

When I casually bring in analogies between Khosla Ka Ghosla and Hindi Medium there is a flicker in his eyes. I inform him that I genuinely believe what Khosla Ka Ghosla did to real estate, Hindi Medium has the potential to do to the education sector. He smiles.

It took 16 years on the fringes of state TV and film for Irrfan Khan to finally get noticed. It was Tigmanshu Dhulias Haasil, which made others realise his true potential, and since then, theres been no looking back. Despite Slumdog Millionaire, Jurassic Park, Paan Singh Tomar, Life of Pi, Talvar, Piku, Lunchbox and National Awards, he is still the same man. There was no entourage then and there is no entourage now.

Irrfan, who once was described by The Guardian as that guy from that thing and a dependable actor can be aptly dubbed a non-conformist. Years of hard work and struggle have now made him a person where neither failure bothers him nor does he get too elated by success.
(Editor's note: This piece was written based on Rajinikanth's speech to his fans on 15 May 2017, where he claimed that God wanted him to stick to being an actor. He had made a very clear statement against joining politics at the moment. However, on 17 May, Wednesday, when TV journalists caught up with the superstar, he hinted at the fact that he has not ruled out the option completely.)

When Superstar Rajinikanth gave his first speech to fans after eight years on May 15, no one expected him to address the big question of whether he would enter politics. But he did. And that has set off speculations on when he would make his grand political entry.

Also read: Will Rajinikanth enter politics? Most asked question in India after 'Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali'

Post that speech, his elder brother Sathyanarayana Rao told the media that this is the right time for the superstar to take the plunge. Amidst rumours that Rajini will join the Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP leader S Prakash has stated that his entry into politics would change the equation in the state. His fans are elated and waiting for him to announce next steps. But is this a good move for him?

The only strong political statement that Rajinikanth has made was in 1996 about former TN CM J Jayalalithaa.

He had said then: If Jayalalithaa is voted back to power, even god cannot save Tamil Nadu, and AIADMK ended up with a rousing defeat. In fact, today he seems to feel a tinge of regret on having made that statement.

During Jaya and Cho Ramaswamys condolence meeting in December 2016, he called her a Kohinoor diamond and said he had hurt her by making the statement. Since then he has not made any statement favouring any party or otherwise and has constantly said hes not affiliated to any party.

Political analyst and journalist Cho Ramaswamy, who was Jayalalithaas confidante for many years, had also felt Rajinikanth was the only capable person in the state who could give an honest administration. He even compared him to Narendra Modi then. However, that was in 2008. Post that, the two friends didnt seem to discuss this issue much.

Today, many people in the state believe that politics is no longer an option for the superstar. The right time they believe was in 1996 when he could have formed a party and swept the polls to become chief minister. He was younger and much healthier then to take on the challenges of politics.

The political landscape has changed significantly with Amma and Kalaignar out of the picture in Tamil Nadu but its still a tough game. So will Rajini go it alone or join an existing party?

If he decides to join an existing party then would it be the BJP considering his friendship with PM Narendra Modi? Corruption and bribery are rampant in politics, how will he tackle them? For someone espousing truth and honesty, will he survive in politics? These are just some questions that spring to mind  but they are significant.

Filmmaker Sharada Ramanathan says, In my opinion, the question whether Rajini should enter politics is itself erroneous. The question should be, what do the people of Tamil Nadu want and does Rajnikanth fit THAT job description? TN has recently witnessed a change in the way the people, especially youth, are politically engaged. They are looking for solid statesmanship, not a personality cult. Whoever can fulfil that, is good for the job.

Director Cheran recently stated its a given that Rajini will become Chief Minister if he contests. But Cheran rightly asks: Would politics that is replete with corruption, bribery, selfishness and dishonesty suit you? You can never speak lies no? You have a lot of challenges like  oppose Karnataka, Hindi imposition, must give freebies, should not close liquor shops.

Another pertinent question is who would he take along as his team? Political analyst Sumanth Raman says that if he does make the move he will need to create a good team around him. If it is people from his fans association alone, then it will be a disaster, he adds.

The balancing act between being a good human being and being a good politician will be a very hard one for Rajini.

Though his lakhs of fans support his entry, the merits needed to be a politician are drastically different from that of being an actor. And Rajinikanth is definitely aware of this which is perhaps why he has not taken the big step till date.

Some people in the film industry state that 66-year-old Rajini is good person but someone who is cautious, thinks through things very clearly and never makes rash decisions. Given this nature of his, its not surprising that even on May 15, Rajini chose his words carefully. If you step into the water and later realise that there are crocodiles in it, you shouldn't brave them and refuse to step out of the water. Such blind courage will take you nowhere, he said.

This could also be why he hasnt thrown his hat into the political arena yet saying he lives his life according to Gods will.

While many fans are optimistic about his political career, they seem to be outnumbered by those who love him and are saying, "No Thalaivaa, please stay out of politics. Just give us more fantastic films."
By Liana B. Baker and Greg Roumeliotis

Private equity (PE) firm TPG Global LLC is nearing a deal to buy regional broadband operator WaveDivision Holdings LLC for more than $2 billion, including debt, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.The deal would combine Wave with RCN Telecom Services LLC and Grande Communications Networks, the broadband providers that TPG already owns, the sources said. The merged company would be the sixth largest U.S. cable operator, at a time when demand for high-speed internet service is growing rapidly. A deal could be announced as early as this week, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the negotiations are confidential. TPG declined to comment. Wave and its PE owners Oak Hill Capital and GI Partners did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

TPG acquired RCN and Grande Communications for $2.25 billion from another buyout firm, ABRY Partners, in a deal that closed this February.The high-speed internet business has attracted new investment from PE firms in recent years, as consumers increasingly turn to the internet from cable to stream content, and businesses require more bandwidth for their data.

Wave is the latest in a string of deals in the sector. In April, U.S. cable mogul John Malone's Liberty Interactive Corp (QVCA.O) said it would acquire Alaska-based cable provider General Communication Inc (GNCMA.O) for $1.12 billion.Headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, Wave has residential and commercial customers in the Sacramento and San Francisco markets as well as in Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

Wave has been heavily investing in its fiber network. The company said last fall it has 1,000 fiber construction projects underway.With its fiber-rich network, Wave could generate more cash from high-speed data services for homes and businesses, credit rating agency Moody's said last August.Oak Hill Capital, GI Partners and Wave's management, including Chief Executive Officer Steve Weed, acquired the company in 2012 from Sandler Capital Management. The value of that deal was $950 million, according to Moody's. (Reporting by Liana Baker in Tel Aviv and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by David Gregorio and Jeffrey Benkoe)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad police has arrested an army officer for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman.

Rishi Sharma, a colonel-rank officer deputed as administrator of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Shamirpet near Hyderabad, was arrested on Monday on a complaint lodged by the victim's family, said Inspector V Umender of Rajendra Nagar police station.

Sharma, who made acquaintance of the young woman in January this year, visited her in the same month one day when she was alone at home and raped her, the complaint said.

He later warned her not to disclose the incident to anybody.

Following the complaint, a case was registered on Monday and Sharma was arrested.

A local court sent him in judicial custody.

Medical examination of the victim revealed that she is pregnant, the police said.

P.S: ADG (Media & Communication) Nitin Wakankar from the Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence in a letter to Firstpost on 24 May 2017 has informed "that the concerned Army officer, Col. Rishi Sharma is not working at the DRDO Centre in Hyderabad and is also in no way connected with DRDO."
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Tuesday claimed that around 15 Maoists had been killed in an operation in Bastar's Dantewada in Chhattisgarh.

While Hindustan Times reported that CRPF claimed that at least 15 Maoist rebels were killed, The Times of India reported that CRPF claimed that number to be 10 to 15.

The Hindustan Times report also said that no body had been recovered so far. A CRPF spokesperson also said that one jawan was killed in the operations while two others were injured.

The operations were conducted between 12 and 16 May. Some of the killed Naxals could have been part of the 24 April ambush which killed 25 CRPF jawans in Sukma.

"Our forces, who went deep into the forests to carry out the operations, saw Maoists falling down after being hit by bullets. However, neither bodies nor weapons could be recovered during these operations," The Times of India quoted a senior officer of the Chhattisgarh police as saying.

On Tuesday, eight Maoists involved in the Sukma attack were arrested from two places in Sukma. With this, the number of ultras arrested for the 24 April attack has risen to 17, officials had said.

Five of them were apprehended from Chintalnar police station limits, while the rest from Chintagufa police station area during joint search operations carried out by CoBRA and district police force, Jitendra Shukla, Sukmas Additional Superintendent of Police, had told PTI.

CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) is a specialised unit of CRPF.

Among the arrested rebels, Madkam Kesha (25), Madvi Kosa (30) and Tati Kosa (25) were associated with the Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisaan Mazdoor Sangthan (DAKMS), a wing of Maoists, while Oyam Hadma (21) and Kunjam Vichem (25) were members of Jan Militia, a special unit of Naxals, the senior officer had said.

The rest were identified as Rava Dewa (25), Kunjam Aaytu (50) and Madkam Bheema (52), all members of Gram Party Committee of Maoists.

With inputs from PTI
Srinagar: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will arrive in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to review the security situation amid heightened tension on the Line of Control (LoC) and student unrest in the valley.

This would be Jaitley's first visit to the state after he took over the additional charge from Manohar Parrikar.

The Defence Minister advanced his visit by a day since he was otherwise scheduled to chair the two-day long Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting beginning in New Delhi on Thursday.

During his visit to the LoC, Jaitley would meet the field commanders.

He will be briefed on the overall preparedness of the army to meet challenges of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the heightened risk of infiltration as the snow starts to thaw on the mountains.

Sources in Srinagar said that the ongoing students' unrest fanning separatist sentiments in the valley would also remain in focus.

"The impact of an unrest on the overall security situation cannot be wished away. Therefore, the visit will also focus on ways and means to help the civil administration bring the situation under control," a top official told IANS.
Union Cabinet Approves Proposal to Build 10 Atomic Reactors

Published: May 17, 2017

The Union Cabinet has cleared a proposal allowing for the construction of 10 indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR). The reactors will have a capacity of 700 MW. These reactors will add 7000 MW capacity and will ramp up nuclear power generation in the country.

Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors

Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as both moderator and coolant. Indias first PHWR was constructed at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan in technical cooperation with the Atomic Energy Canada Ltd (AECL). However, the Canadas support was immediately withdrawn after Indias first nuclear experiment at Pokhran in 1974. Indias first nuclear power plant with a different design was built at Tarapur in Maharashtra. PHWR units are in operation in Rawatbhata, Kaiga, Kakrapar, Kalpakkam and Narora. Recently, it was announced that the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is ready to sell Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors of 220 MWe or 540 MWe capacity to other countries.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2017

Category: Defence Current Affairs

Topics: Cabinet Decisions  National  Nuclear Power

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The Bihar state government will announce results for Class XII board examinations in the Intermediate Science and Commerce streams on Wednesday, and students will be able to check their grades online on the official website.

The results will be put up on the official Bihar School Education Board (BSEB) website, www.biharboard.ac.in. Students have been advised to keep all relevant candidate information like roll numbers ready to avoid delays.

Class XII exams in Bihar were held in the month of February, and they concluded on 25 February. Over 13 lakh students had appeared for the exams.

Earlier, an agitation by Bihar school teachers who were demanding better pay and service conditions forced a delay in evaluation of answer sheets. This had prompted fears that the results may also be delayed, but the issue was resolved, and the results are ready to be published.

A report in Hindustan Times earlier this month quoted Bihar board chairperson Anand Kishor as saying that evaluators have nearly made up for the delays, and results would be declared as per schedule. "Despite a lot of problems during the start of the evaluation process, we have made up for the lost time and hope to publish results by May-end," Kishor had said.
Earlier this week, the Bombay High Court refused to quash a First Information Report (FIR) against a man whose ex-financee accused him of touching her inappropriately (including in a public space) as well as sending sexually explicit and obscene messages on WhatsApp and Facebook.

The woman and the accused had met on Facebook; he had promised to marry her but cancelled the engagement later. The court stated that a love affair was not immunity from a sexual harassment charge. The facts of the present matter state that the woman, a resident of Vakola in Mumbai, complained that the accused took her to a park, touched her obscenely, and forced himself upon her. Thereafter, the accused called off the engagement and the woman filed FIR against him for outraging her modesty (Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code) and cheating (Section 415 of the IPC).

The division bench of the Bombay High Court consisting of Justices Satyaranjan Dharmadhikari and Prakash Naik did not concede to the accuseds arguments in favour of striking down the criminal aspects of the case. The accuseds lawyer stated that physical contact between two consenting adults cannot constitute an offence. The court stated  From the sections (of the IPC) we have perused, we do not see any such requirement being stipulated. Secondly... this is not the only allegation. Seema (name changed) has specifically referred to all conversations on Facebook and mobile messages, which, prima facie, would reveal that there was an attempt to outrage her modesty once consent was obtained in the garb of a permanent relationship... In these circumstances, given the increasing tendency of such crimes (against) women, we do not think we should interfere (in the case)." The court also stated that the allegations cannot be examined in a vacuum and after changes in the criminal law, acts such as sexual harassment, disrobing a woman, voyeurism and stalking are all subsumed under the legal provisions of Section 354.

The bench also refused to quash the cheating charges in the FIR stating that the meetings between the families of the accused and the woman took place, and keeping this mind, they said that "there was an assurance and promise since inception, which led to all expenses being incurred including booking of venue and purchases for the girl such as jewellery. It is in these circumstances that we do not think we should prevent any inquiry or further details being obtained by a process known to law.

The judgment is, in many ways, progressive. The offence of "outraging the modesty of a woman" under Section 354 is viewed as a crime upon a woman with regard to public order and morality, and decent behaviour.

The essential element of Section 354 is the use of criminal force against the person of a woman for the purpose and with the intention of outraging her modesty. In this regard, the criminal force would be when such force is applied with malicious and criminal intent (mens rea) and without the consent of the woman concerned.

In the past, the judiciary has fixated on the essence and meaning of the phrase "outraging the modesty". At some point, the Supreme Court has indicated that the essence of a womans modesty is her sex". In 2007, in the case, Ramkripal S/O Shyamlal Charmakar vs State of Madhya Pradesh, a bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justices Arijit Pasayat and SH Kapadia attempted to fill the gaps in the definition. They stated that the provision would apply to cases of crimes against women that stop short of penetration. The bench in the case of State of Punjab vs Major Singh (1967) also stated that "the culpable intention of the accused is the crux of the matter. The reaction of the woman is very relevant, but its absence is not always decisive". In the same case, Justice Mudholkar declared that Under Section 354 of the IPC while the individual reaction of the victim to the act of the accused would be irrelevant, when an act done to or in the presence of a woman is clearly suggestive of sex according to the common notions of mankind, that act must fall within the mischief of the section and would, constitute an offence under the section. In 2015, in Deepika vs The State, the Delhi High Court had refused to quash charges of outraging the modesty of a woman stating that this contention is meritless. It is only a woman who can tell as to with what intention a man had touched her.

Given the vacuousness and ambiguity of the phrase within Section 354, the provision has been used by the judiciary, so far, as a yardstick to measure the shock value of the substantial facts of cases that deal with crimes against women. By examining the actus reus (criminal act) ad nauseum, what the judiciary has done in the past is to isolate the crime from its context and circumstances. In previous cases, the crime of outraging the modesty of a woman was always assumed to have tainted public order and morality and shocked the judicial conscience. The woman whose "modesty" had been compromised was always seen in relation to society. However, in the present case, the Bombay High Court refuses to immunise the private relationship between the woman and the accused and looks at the crime in context. This ruling indicates that the judiciary wants to take a step forward to ensure that there is a comprehensive way to prevent crimes against women in private spaces as well, and not just in public spaces.

This brings to mind the fact that the criminal law is almost completely silent on sexual violence within intimate relationships and marriage. Can this ruling be the beacon of hope for changes in the judiciarys stance on marital rape and sexual violence within a marriage? By making a ruling that upholds the rights of women, irrespective of where she is  in the public or the private realm  the Bombay High Court has indicated that it is open to adjudicating controversial cases around violence against women, that lead to nuanced and concrete judgments that revolve around the prevention of violence.
The recent multicity raids by the CBI on numerous properties belonging to former home and finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram arent really surprising given how the saga has unfolded since mid-2015. Although this latest bout of raids specifically pertains to charges of illegally granting FIPB permissions to INX Media, its only a continuation of sorts.

Its equally unsurprising to those who have followed P Chidambarams political trajectory even with superficial interest. And its here that we can begin.

When we briefly recall the days when the two-term UPA government had touched the pinnacle of political power, we cant but help notice the chequered careers and altering clout of those who wielded authority by virtue of being in Sonia Gandhis inner circle.

During the two terms, this inner circle resembled a musical chair of the waxing and waning political fortunes of those who inhabited it.

At one time, there were the formidable Natwar Singh, Ambika Soni, BK Hariprasad, Margaret Alva, and Oscar Fernandes among others. Some of them soon went out of favour to be replaced by Digvijaya Singh, Kapil Sibal, AK Antony, and Ghulam Nabi Azad. There was also the ubiquitous and all-powerful Ahmed Patel still considered Sonia Gandhis Man Friday who never went out of favour.

But it was truly P Chidambaram who stood out as a separate power centre in his own right with his deft understanding of and manoeuvring around the said inner circle and also for reasons best described by Rajeev Srinivasan in Firstpost:

The formidably intelligent P Chidambaram has always been one of the most enigmatic politicians in India. I have long felt that he is the one person nobody in India would dare to speak up against That is because he clearly exudes authority (and of course that fearsome intelligence). Whether he is in poweror outhe has an aura about him. No, you dont cross him lightly. He has charisma, and he was by far the most powerful person in Sonias regime. Besides, as a Chettiar, he has inherited a millennium worth of astuteness.

It can be argued that Chidambarams political trajectory came of age when as finance minister in the United Front government, he announced the Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS), which the CAG characterised as abusive and a fraud on the genuine taxpayers of the country.

But a brief rewind is in order before we proceed. Remember Fairgrowth Financial Services? While Chidambaram held 15,000 shares, his wife Nalini had also invested in it. When Fairgrowth prominently figured in the infamous Securities Scam of 1992, it rocked Parliament, and as the then commerce minister, he had to step down.

Back then, the contemporary phenomenon of labyrinthine shell companies was perhaps non-existent or still in its infancy, and so the phrase, "linkages by association" was used to describe the web of corporate relationships. The Janakiraman Committees reports of 1992-93 exposed the nexus between Andhra Bank Financial Services and Fairgrowth also noting gross irregularities by four foreign banks and Fairgrowth.

And in our own time, revelations that Karti Chidambaram holds benami assets globally, and the series of exposes unearthed by journalist and chartered accountant S Gurumurthy simply point to a continuation of the pervasive trend in Indian politics of profiting from political office.

Its also relevant to trace the timeline and revelations of investigations into Karti Chidambaram:

 In April 2015 the Bangalore offices of Sequoia Capital were raided as part of an investigation into Vasan Healthcare, one of Karti Chidambarams investments.

 In August 2015, the ED interrogated the directors Advantage Strategic Consulting controlled by Karti Chidambaram in connection with the Aircel-Maxis deal.

 But it was the series of the aforementioned exposes in September-October 2015 in the New Indian Express that really escalated these investigations.

 These eventually led to the ED seizing Karti Chidambarams laptops, documents, and files in December 2015.

 Between February through May 2016, a slew of raids and probes were launched to uncover a series of financial irregularities ranging from benami transactions to widespread, global money laundering.

 And now the latest multicity raids involving his deals with INX Media.

At a cynical level, while its true that Chidambaram may survive graft allegations, the revelations from all these raids and investigations have shown in sickening detail the extent of the so-called "crony capitalism". To put it accurately, it is financial subversion on a national, if not global scale. Sample the cast of characters involved: Aircel Televenutres, DCB Client, Diageo Scotland Limited, ITC Centre, Carlton Trading Company, VST Tillers Tractors, Essar Steel, and INX Media among others.

And so, it appears incredible for P Chidambaram to claim on each occasion that hes a victim of a political vendetta when he and his son have themselves apparently left behind a significant trail, which the agencies are only bringing to light. The alternative scenario question to ask is: what if P Chidambaram had returned as finance minister in a hypothetical Congress victory in 2014?

Purely at the level of politics, the raids on Chidambaram, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and a slew of similar crackdowns since 2014 might be interpreted as delivering on the promise on which Narendra Modi had campaigned: of punishing corruption during the UPA regimes.

Indeed, the strain of discourse especially where it involves scrutiny of the Nehru dynasty seems to be this: if a non-Congress government investigates the misdeeds of past Congress regimes, its termed as a political vendetta. If it doesnt then the said non-Congress government is dubbed as going soft on corruption.

In this light, it appears that the Narendra Modi government seems to have learnt from the way the Morarji Desai government, in indecent haste, messed up the investigations into the excesses of the Emergency, for instance.

This isnt just about the Modi government or political witch hunts or the like. Had it even been a non-Congress and non-Modi government, it is in the national interest for every governmentas custodians and upholders of the Constitutionto uncover such wrongdoings and bring the guilty to book.

India as a nation has suffered for a whopping seventy years of dynasty patronage, regionalism, and every sort of corruption that emanates from it.
Mumbai: Former Maharashtra PWD Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Wednesday said he would take legal action against the activist Anjali Damania for making false allegations that he was getting illegal facilities in the

Arthur Road jail here.

Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal are in jail after the Enforcement Directorate arrested them in 2016 in

money laundering cases.

Prison authorities had said on Tuesday that they had ordered inquiry upon Damania's complaint that Bhujbals were getting TV, non-vegetarian food in the jail and they could even use mobile phone.

Chhagan Bhujbal said in his statement, issued from the prison on Wednesday, that these allegations were baseless, and Damania only wanted to malign their image and influence the judicial process.

The prison has jammers and CCTV cameras, and there was no question of using a mobile phone, he said.
Editor's note: This is the eighth piece in a multi-part series on the nature of human excesses that have imperilled the fragile ecosystem of South India's ghats, home to at least 325 globally threatened species of flora and fauna, by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's reckoning. This article, and the one that follows, marks a slight deviation: They will address issues specific to the Eastern Ghats. We will return to the westerly range in the tenth and concluding section of the series.

Clad in a white cotton shirt and trousers, Sunnkari Pullaya Goud, 69, sets out every morning with tankers and trucks. The retired Mandal Revenue Officer has taken it upon himself to provide food and water for the wild monkeys that live on the edges of the Nallamalla forests of the Eastern Ghats.

"I saw a monkey lying unconscious while I was travelling to Nandyal. I took pity on the monkey and gave it some water. It soon got up and left the place. I then saw many other monkeys in the same situation," Goud recalled.

The summer has been especially cruel on the wildlife in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. With temperatures soaring over 40 degrees, and heat waves clamping down on Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, water sources and food too have dried up inside the dense forests. Wildlife, especially the more mobile monkeys, are coming out in packs from the forest in search of water.

"Summer is a tough time for forest animals in Nallamalla, as there won't be food and water for nearly four months. So I decided to supply food and water to these forest animals first. Apart from Nandyal, I also started supplying food and water to forest animals in Srisailam," says Goud.

Experts say that the Eastern Ghats face more critical issues due to the fact that they are not a continuous range, unlike their Western counterparts. Long gaps in the ranges mean that the searing sun dries up water sources within the forests, driving wildlife into human habitations.

"There are long gaps between the ranges," said Professor K Purushotham Reddy, an environmentalist and a PhD holder in environmental policy. "In that, the biggest is at Nallamalla forest, which is a semi-arid and deciduous forest. In summer, there is a lot of leaf fall and more sunlight enters the forest, leading to the evaporation of water increasing the dryness there."

Reddy said that the change in rainfall patterns over the last two decades has made things worse for the wildlife. "The number of rainy days has come down due to several reasons like deforestation, building of dams in Nallamalla and Srisailam and setting up of power transmission lines. There is a lot of deforestation because of the power projects. In addition to this, temple tourism is also destroying the forests. A number of roads have been laid for tourism and for building the Srisailam dam, resulting in deforestation and affecting the natural ecosystem of the forest," he said.

Reddy blamed the government for not ensuring coordination between the various departments. He also says the law is routinely flouted by miners. "We have tiger reservoirs, a wildlife department, a tribal welfare department and several others. Apart from this a lot of mining activity is taking place in the Nallamalla forest. The forest which I knew 50 years ago  we have lost that paradise. The forest department has failed to protect the wildlife here. They should come forward and speak to people first and enlighten them about how to protect the wildlife, which they don't do," he said.

Reddy added that the rainfall in southern Telangana was meagre this year as compared to previous years and that carbon dioxide content in the air is up to 418 ppm (parts per million), which is very high compared to the levels of the last 500 years. "Our politicians are not worried about protecting the wildlife. Not one political party in Telangana has adopted sustainable goals for saving forests and wildlife," he lamented.

Whether the government does its job or not, Goud wakes up every day to pack fruits and vegetables for the monkeys and does so with a ready smile; he requests truck and bus drivers to drop off food along the Nandyal highway which runs along the forests, so that these monkeys can eat the food.

"In one month, I spend Rs 60,000 on feeding these animals. On seeing this, even my friends and neighbours started funding me, either by giving some money or food for animals. I constructed small concrete tanks and kept them in many places in the forest," he said.

Apart from this, he takes his own truck full of water canisters and ensures that the concrete tanks through the forest route are filled up for the monkeys. He also recently organised water supply for the wildlife in Srisailam, 90 kilometres from where he lives, for a fee of Rs 1,600 per day.

Goud, himself a farmer by profession, has three sons and two daughters, who also chip in to help their father's pet project. Having retired from government service in 2008, he gets a pension of Rs 35,000. "Apart from this, I farm; I use that money to spend for these animals," he smiles.

The biggest constraint though is money, says Goud with a shrug. "I would like to help more animals, not only here but in other places too," he says.

With a few more Good Samaritans like Goud, some monkeys at least have hope of getting through this harsh summer.

Part 1:Urbanisation demands see hills sacrificed to whims of mining, industry lobbies

Part 2:How deforestation saved ecologically-sensitive hills in Kerala

Part 3: Ambulance service supplies water to 700 families in Kerala's Kottayam

Part 4: In Kerala's Wayanad, acute water scarcity leading to man-animal conflict

Part 5: Cauvery suffers a slow death as tourism and urbanisation flourish

Part 6:Tamil Nadu's over-dependence on ground water has left it parched

Part 7: Encroachments in elephant corridor lead to human-animal conflicts
The female students of a government high school in Haryana's Rewari district called off their hunger strike on Wednesday after the state government issued a notification to upgrade their school in the village to senior secondary, CNN News 18 reported.

The girls, studying in Class IX and X in Gothda Tappa Dahina village, broke their fast only after a local MLA met and showed them the written order.

The girls said they had complained to the sarpanch, who took up the matter with the authorities, but to no avail, so they had to resort to a hunger strike. On Friday, health of four girls deteriorated and they had to be shifted to hospital, according to Hindustan Times.

According to the notification, the school will be upgraded to senior secondary with effect from the 2017 admission session. Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that a principal has been assigned for the upgraded school and admission procedure will start will start from Thursday, according to ANI.

Principal has been deputed there and from tomorrow admission procedure will start: Ram Bilas Sharma,Haryana Education Minister #Rewari  ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

Notification issued by Haryana government for upgradation of the Government High School in Rewari to the level of Senior Secondary School. pic.twitter.com/Wqp4FOLwar  ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

Despite Sharma assuring them on Monday that the school would be upgraded, the students had continued with the stir, saying that until they received official word from the government, they would not relent. With news pouring in that the government had issued the formal notification, there were scenes of jubilation as the girls called off their stir. Officials of the Rewari district administration and those from the education department offered a glass of juice to the girls who were on hunger strike. "We are happy that our efforts have yielded fruit," said a beaming girl student who had sat on fast. Of the 86 protesting students, 13 were on hunger strike, village head Suresh Chauhan told PTI. For higher education after Class X, girls of the village had to go to Kanwali village, located 3 km from Gothra Tappa Dahina. The girls resorted to hunger strike after their complaints of being harassed by local boys went unheard, NewX reported.

Haryana: Demanding up-gradation of their institution to senior sec school,Girl students of Govt High School in Rewari continue hunger strike pic.twitter.com/fUliya9j2k  ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

We fear harassment and molestation by youths of other villages and hence, we are demanding upgradation of our school up to Class XII," one of the girls on hunger strike had said. The protesters had said they would not stop until the government accepted their demand.

Officials had earlier said the school could not be upgraded as it did not meet the condition of a minimum of 150 students required for the senior secondary level.

Meanwhile, the district education authorities said since the school did not fulfill the minimum condition required for the senior secondary level, it could not be upgraded.

At least 150 students are required in Class IX and X for the senior secondary upgrade but the Dahina village school has just 86 students in both classes, said Dharmbir Balrodia, District Education Officer (DEO), Rewari.

The education minister on Wednesday said the rules had been relaxed after discussion with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the Additional Chief Secretary of the school education department, PK Das.

Asked to comment on the harassment of girls by anti-social elements while going to other villages for studies, Das said that besides the state government, it is also the responsibility of Panchayats and other prominent people of the

village to come forward to confront such elements.

Haryana has one of the lowest Child Sex Ratios (CSR) in the country. The state has also witnessed horrific crimes

against women in the recent past, including the gangrape and killing of a 23-year-old woman, and the rape of a minor girl by her stepfather.

Opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Singh Chautala told reporters on Wednesday that the BJP government, which had tom-tommed the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign, had failed to assure the girls earlier, due to which the condition of many of the students on fast had deteriorated.

"This government is failing in its duty. This means people have no faith in this government as people are not ready to even take the assurance of a senior minister (Ram Bilas) at face value," Chautala said.

With inputs from PTI
By Maya Palit

Here are two stories which tell you a little bit about how authority figures who are responsible for the emotional well-being of children tend to botch up when it comes to sexual assault.

A Kolkata-based friend was harassed by her mothers partner as an 11-year-old. When she attempted to speak to her mother about it, she was shut down. First, her mother insisted that her story was fictitious and sent her for counselling to the school psychiatrist. The shrink asked her why she lied so much.

The second is about a 10-year-old girl who was assaulted in a Bangalore school by a maintenance worker. When her family tried to speak to the school about it, the general response went from disbelief and denial to saying malignant things about the girl being sexually active, suggesting that she was disturbed because she didnt have a father, and implying that she was promiscuous and getting it on with male relatives at home. The school also hired a lawyer to protect the accused.

Both these situations will remind many of us, actually most of us, of adults who have had the worst response to our complaints of being felt up (or worse) as children. We may grow up to forgive or forget our families for their terrible, muddled, criminal responses. Should we forgive schools though?

Schools in India often cope with sexual assault on minors in the worst way possible. They do this either by being complicit in the parents attempts to cover up the case (deliberately withholding information about sexual assault on a minor is a criminal offence under POCSO) or denying it vociferously in their attempts to save face. I dont know why I just said schools in India. Here is what an expensive private school in New York did when they faced a lawsuit for not adequately protecting a teenaged girl who was assaulted by her senior. The school threatened the parents that if they didnt fall in line the school would reveal the victims name in court documents. (In this case, the schoolgirl decided to out herself, start a campaign against sexual assault and shame her school instead.)

Why do schools and education officials avert their eyes when there is a crisis involving assault on a minor? Part of it could be the impulse to avoid addressing sex and assault at all, and to avoid acknowledging that these issues could be relevant for minors.

Just this week, for instance, school girls in Gothera Tappa Dahena village in Rewari, Haryana, have been on hunger strike because of the harassment they face on their way to school. Theyre often stopped by men, harassed, and asked to share their numbers. Last year, after a student was raped on her way to school, girls from villages nearby stopped going to school. District education officials have only responded by saying the girls are being misled.

What about when denial isnt an option? Then you get rid of the problem, of course, like in the case of a 12-year-old girl in Kolkata which resurfaced in the papers this week.

She apparently became the youngest mother in the state after becoming pregnant as a result of rape, and gave birth to a daughter in March.

The schools appalling response to this incident was to give the girl a transfer certificate. According to her, she was humiliated and accused of harming the schools reputation. Particularly infuriating is that the headmistress seemed to shy away from the blame, saying that guardians were anxious that she would discuss her rape with other students. Most bizarrely, and in keeping with a long tradition of paranoid responses to women and assault, the headmistress said that male teachers were also anxious that the girl would accuse them of assault.

The Womens Commission, the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and the District Legal Services Authority of Howrah have between them attempted to file a cause notice against the school and issued a notice to the headmistress. But as with the long legal back-and-forth in POCSO cases, the emotional impact on the child becomes buried. When you think of what else is on this girls plate  what with attempting to fight for action in a Howrah court after the local police apparently didnt do much because the person who raped her has political connections  its hard to not feel both startled and infuriated at the distinct lack of any empathy from the school.

When a dramatic incident like the Bangalore play school molestation case comes to light, where a supervisor sexually assaulted several young students and touched their genitals and body parts, the de-facto response is one of obvious outrage. (Apparently the principal in this case too, initially defended the staff member who assaulted the students.)

But questions like Are our children safe? arent necessarily helpful either because the answers tend to revolve around infrastructure efforts that can be made to increase vigilance. More security cameras being installed, as we saw in the molestation case, would have been completely ineffectual because the molester was the person who controlled the CCTV footage too. In this incident, and other cases of sexual assault on very young children, one of the more regular features is that the child first complains of stomach pain or that they have been touched by someone. If at that stage they are shut down by parents, or made to believe they are fabricating it all by school staff because they arent comfortable having dialogues about sexual issues with minors, it can lead to years of trauma.

Perhaps altering the ways in which schools respond to such instances has to start with switching around their priorities, from viewing assault as an assault on the schools reputation than a situation where a childs well-being needs protection.

Allowing a 12-year-old rape victim and a new mother to attend school and speak openly about what has taken place in her life, if she wants to, is actually the least that the Kolkata school can do. And thinking about what we can do when (its not an if) children are sexually assaulted is the least the rest of us can do.

The Ladies Finger (TLF) is an online womens magazine delivering fresh and witty perspectives on politics, culture, health, sex, work and everything in between.
New Delhi: Haryana has started "releasing" Delhi's share of Yamuna water and distribution in the national capital, mainly in its north and central parts, will normalise by tomorrow, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.

"Haryana has started releasing water. Production is likely to be normal by Thursday morning and distribution by Thursday evening. We are constantly monitoring situation," Kejriwal tweeted.

Haryana has started releasing water. Prodn likely 2 be normal by tomo morn n distribution by tomo eve. We r constantly monitoring sutuation  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 17, 2017

Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO Keshav Chandra expressed hope that production at the treatment plants -- Wazirabad and Chandrawal -- will "stabilise" by Thursday and supply will gradually improve.

"Water distribution will take one more day to normalise. Hopefully by tonight Wazirabad pond level would be restored and production will stabilise from tomorrow. Distribution will take one more day to normalise because after production all the underground reservoirs and all the lines are to be filled up," Chandra told PTI.

Two water treatment plants, Wazirabad and Chandrawal, which treat around 220 MGD (million gallons per day) out of the 900 MGD treated in Delhi, were down to 60 per cent of their capacity as the city was receiving around 80 MGD (million gallons per day) less than its share.

Under the circumstances, certain areas that come under the distribution network of these plants remained affected through the day.

Out of the 900 MGD, around 550 (almost 60 per cent) comes from Haryana and the rest from Uttar Pradesh.

Late Tuesday evening, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had tweeted that the Haryana Chief Secretary has "assured" the city government that water supply in Yamuna would be "back to normal" by Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier, Sisodia had threatened to move court against Haryana for "withholding" Delhi's legal share of water and had also sought the intervention of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The Lutyens' Bungalow Zone, which comes under the New Delhi Municipal Council, and houses the PMO, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and residences of several Union ministers, judges, Army officers and bureaucrats, among others, was affected by the shortage.

Almost every summer, Delhi and Haryana spar over water-sharing with each claiming that the other's demand exceeds the stipulated quantity.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a cardinal subset of Chinas larger One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. It is in fact an aggregation for various infrastructure projects surrounding the establishment of rail and road communication links between Gwadar on Pakistans Makran coast to Kashgar in Chinas Xinjiang province. As expounded by the Government of Pakistan's CPEC website: 'It is a framework of regional connectivity. CPEC will not only benefit China and Pakistan, but will have positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, India, Central Asian Republic, and the region'.

The expectations elucidated are the enhancement of geographical linkages having improved road, rail and air transportation system with frequent and free exchanges of growth and people-to-people contact, enhancing understanding through academic, cultural and regional knowledge and culture, activity of higher volume of flow of trade and businesses, producing and moving energy to have more optimal businesses and enhancement of cooperation by a win-win model will result in a well-connected integrated region of shared destiny, harmony and development.

CPEC projects

Projects under the CPEC are grouped, from an essentially funding perspective, into Chinese-financed projects and those funded by Pakistans own Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). There are presently 67 projects officially listed by Pakistan as CPEC projects, of which 46 are Chinese-financed. The initial estimated cost of execution of these is $46 billion that will increase considerably as additional projects come to be included under the CPEC.

These projects relate to energy, infrastructure (road and rail) development, aside from Gwadar-specific projects and OFC connectivity projects. The 24 energy projects are a major thrust area of the CPEC. Of these, 12 are coal-based, three hydro and the rest are wind and solar power projects, and transmission lines. Several of these are early harvest projects with ambitiously short timelines for execution.

The approved roadway projects pertain to reconstruction of the Karakoram Highway, the Peshawar-Karachi Eastern Alignment, besides several sections of the Western Alignment that passes through the sensitive province of Balochistan. Railway projects include rebuilding the aging Main Line-1 connecting Karachi to Peshawar and the Havelian Dry Dock. There are twelve projects directly relating to Gwadar Port and townships that form part of the CPEC projects that include the new Gwadar International Airport, construction of breakwaters, dredging of berthing areas and channels, a university, a technical and vocational institute, and a 'friendship hospital'.

Indian objections to CPEC

Indias objection to the CPEC is, at the core, a sovereignty matter rooted in principles as the CPEC goes through the Kunjerab pass and the Karakoram Highway which are in Gilgit-Baltistan, an area that is rightfully Indian territory. Formal agreements for a project that passes through its territory is an infringement of sovereignty. The Chinese have however not accepted Indias stance terming CPEC as a commercial project that does not target any third party.

On the eve of the ambitious Belt and Road Forum meeting hosted by China from 14 to 15 May, India came out in open opposition against the initiative. Besides the issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity that have been its consistent objections, India also expressed strong reservations over the CPEC that passes through Gilgit-Baltistan, an area integral to India under Pakistani occupation. On the OBOR itself, Indias view is that the project is little more than a colonial enterprise, leaving debt and broken communities in its wake and that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally-recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality.

The Indian statement contains the sentiment that connectivity initiatives must follow principles of financial responsibility to avoid projects that would create an unsustainable debt burden for communities; balanced ecological and environmental protection and preservation standards; transparent assessment of project costs; and skill and technology transfer to help long-term running and maintenance of the assets created by local communities, adding that connectivity projects must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement in effect finds the OBOR as an economic model to be flawed and one that has potential for grave economic consequences upon the so-called 'beneficiary' nations. India emphasised the example of Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka besides experiences regarding Chinese projects in other nations to caution other nations seeking to be 'beneficiaries'.

Concerns on funding

Serious doubts have been raised, significantly within Pakistan itself, on how CPEC projects are financed and executed, with some analysts even comparing Chinese investment in Pakistan to the East India Company. The question experts have raised is who is the investor who bears the business risk for each project? A large chunk of the money being 'invested' by China into CPEC projects is in the form of plants and heavy equipment and through loans extended on commercial terms and for public sector works on softer terms.

For several projects, the execution itself is by Chinese firms or government entities. Although loans for CPEC projects are backed by a sovereign guarantee of the Pakistan government, those contracted by private entities will remain liable for repayment under the clauses of particular contracts. The sovereign guarantee has, no doubt, facilitated the loan but it also masks for the future risk of accumulated interest liabilities that would rise alarmingly if projects get delayed and might even make the project economically unviable. For a country whose infrastructure is creaking, the infusion of more than a critical mass of funds is so attractive and euphoric that concerns such as project viability are preferably deferred.

Security issues

There are several threats to the CPEC that both China and Pakistan visualise. Gwadar Port is located in Balochistan and Baloch groups are protesting the CPEC as being an engine of exploitation of the resources and environmental degradation imposed by Islamabad with only surface benefits accruing to the locals. Frequent incidents of violence at project locations targeting Chinese executives have caused alarm, necessitating Pakistan to set up a Special Security Division (SSD), comprising 9,000 Pakistan Army soldiers and 6,000 para-military forces personnel for the security of the projects and the individuals working on it.

Chinas geostrategic gains

The CPEC will help China achieve several of its economic, geopolitical and geostrategic objectives. It will provide China an entry to warm waters of the Indian Ocean through Pakistan as opposed to utilising long Sea lines of communication (SLOCs) on its maritime route, connecting its eastern part to West Asia. It allows China to adopt a 'Look West' policy with the potential for major developments for the future in its connection with Afghanistan, CIS States, Russia and beyond.

Currently, China gets 60 percent of its energy from coal, which has serious environmental hazards. The CPEC provides an excellent oil import route which helps change Chinas energy mix. In geostrategic terms, it will fortify and exponentially take forward its already long-standing all-weather relationship with Pakistan. China will gain a bird-on-the-perch position to fill the strategic void likely in Afghanistan once NATO troops are withdrawn.

China currently perceives the US Pivot to Asia strategy to be, in effect, the China containment policy with the potential to block its trade routes in case of a confrontation. The CPEC provides a viable and secure alternative in such a contingency. It is also important to note that the Chinese economy is showing signs of a slowdown. China has realised that exports alone will not sustain the desired economic growth and is shifting focus to increasing domestic consumption. The CPEC holds the prospect of reducing both costs and transit time for Chinese exports.

The Gwadar Port leased to China for a period of 40 years gives it many shipyards, huge storage and cargo-handling facilities. The Peoples Republic of China will be able to leverage its geostrategic bonds with the Central Asian Republics by facilitating their using of both the CPEC and Gwadar as a trade and economic link to widen their international trade. Also among Chinas main concerns is the upliftment of economic conditions in the Xinjiang province  home to 10 million Uighur people, mostly Muslims and which has witnessed religious and ethnic tensions. CPEC projects will also complement China's Western Development plan, which includes the neighbouring regions of Tibet and Qinghai.

Pakistans gains from the CPEC

Foremost among the gains to Pakistan is that the CPEC takes Pakistan-China relations to the next level and concretises the security and strategic alliance between them. Pakistan would have a hold on Chinas energy jugular, making Chinas interests abiding and further compel it to support Pakistans security in its own interests.

Gwadar, as a strategic port being further away from India, will increase Pakistans strategic depth considerably. The presence of sizable Chinese naval assets on its shores would, in its perception, constrict Indias aspiration to emerge as a blue water navy. For Pakistan therefore, CPEC provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to overcome its serious economic challenges compounded by its limited resources and increasing population. It holds the promise of creating thousands of new jobs in construction, transport and trade sectors as also for the security of various projects along the corridor itself.

Economic and industrial zones would be facilitated to come up along the corridor route, providing a boost to its economy. The CPEC will substantially establish and improve a countrywide network of strategic highways, railway lines and telecommunication system and energy projects. The CPEC will also become a bridge that will also connect Pakistan to Central Asia. The corridor would result in transit trade with Central Asian Republics and Afghanistan besides Chinas Xinjiang province. Pakistan can build an exclusive economic zone and free trade area to maximise the full potential of Gwadar Port.

Pakistan currently faces energy shortfalls of over 4,500 MW on a regular basis with routine power cuts of up to 12 hours per day, which has shed an estimated two to 2.5 percent off its annual GDP. Pakistan's large textile industry has also been negatively affected by several hour-long power cuts. Several of the textile factories in Faisalabad have either closed or facing severe production issues due to power shortages. The CPEC's Early Harvest projects are expected to resolve shortages in power generation by 2018 by increasing Pakistan's power generation capacity by over 10,000 MW that could boost economic growth rates to reach seven percent by 2018.

The economic activity will bring up peace and stability to the restive and backward province in Balochistan, in which Gwadar is located. Better employment, business and trade opportunities, it is hoped would eventually wean youth away from the insurgency. It needs to be emphasised that, from the Chinese perspective, the CPEC is not a charity project. The main purpose of the CPEC is not to uplift or develop certain areas or people of Pakistan, but for secure and stable energy supplies to China and to further its geostrategic objectives.

Pakistan, in effect, has allowed itself into a subsidiary geo-strategic alliance with China but in return would acquire a vice-like grip on the future Chinese supply lines that would pass through its territory. At some future stage, the Chinese may well realise how purposefully, and sharply, their now friendly pet friend can snap back. That is when China will perhaps realise the real worth of the CPEC.

The author is a former bureaucrat and the writer of Rooks and Knights: Civil Military Relations in India. He currently serves as senior fellow at the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies
Srinagar: The monthlong ban imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir government on social media applications and internet sites to curb the unrest in the valley has come a cropper with almost everyone accessing these platforms using Virtual Private Networks.

The state's Home department, through an order issued on 26 April, had banned 22 social media applications and sites including Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter in a vain bid to curb the street protests in Kashmir.

"In the interest of maintenance of public order, the government hereby directs all internet service providers that any message or class of messages to or from a person or a class of persons relating to any subject or any pictorial content through the following social networking sites shall not be transmitted in Kashmir Valley with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders, whichever is earlier", Principal Secretary, Home Department R K Goyal had said.

The inaccessible sites included Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Wechat, QQ, Qzone, Google Plus, Skype, Line, Pinterest, Snapchat, Youtube, Vine and Flickr.

"On careful examination of all relevant factors, it is observed that the use of social media platforms, which are being misused by antinational and antisocial elements by transmitting inflammatory messages in various forms are immediately required to be regulated/curbed", the order read.

While the government order put the onus on Internet service providers to ban the access to these sites, it was silent on the possibility of users being able to bypass the ban.

Top politicians and officials of the government, including the Director General of Police have been using some of the banned applications like Twitter to put out posts on the current situation in the valley.

Opposition National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah is one of those seemingly unaffected by the ban. He frequently tweets about the developments in Kashmir and other parts of world.

The ruling PDP has also used Twitter to put out press releases and at times counter the criticism levelled by opposition parties.

Both the National Conference and PDP entered into a war of words on Twitter yesterday over the raising of 'azaadi' (freedom) slogans at a self help group function presided over by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Some of the senior police officials of the state frequently use Whatsapp and Facebook to put out updates.

"Whatsapp is supposed to be out of bounds for internet users in Kashmir but we still receive press releases and invitations for official functions through this application. They probably know the ban has been ineffective, it is high time the government revokes it," Yusuf Jameel, a journalist, told PTI.

Although the ban initially limited the common man's access to these applications, the discovery of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by the people has made the ban redundant.

"The use of VPNs has helped in accessing most of the banned sites, these applications and sites have become the communication lifeline not only in Kashmir but across the world", Umar Bhat, a businessman, said.

Bhat, however, loathed the slow internet speed in Kashmir which has made online business transactions almost impossible.

"I frequently travel between Srinagar and Delhi and the difference in the internet speed is huge. This has severely affected my business as I find it difficult to make online transactions", he said.
Making sense (and, sometimes, nonsense) out of Current News, Issues, Politics
The Jammu and Kashmir government imposed month-long ban on 22 social media and instant messaging services in Kashmir on 26 April, but that ban has become a source of mockery. Not only have people found ways to skirt the ban using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), even government officers and its functionaries based in Kashmir regularly use Facebook and other banned networks. Perhaps, in any other state, such an open disregard for the the government's orders by its own state machinery and officials would entail strict action against the offenders. In Kashmir, such actions are being overlooked.

Why blame ordinary men and women, when the officers who are supposed to implement the ban, violate the orders?

Many people in the ruling establishment, as well as those in the the Opposition are using VPNs to circumvent the ban. The Mehbooba Mufti-led government had banned Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp among other services, arguing that the social media sites were "being misused by anti-national and anti-social elements" for fomenting trouble in valley.

Last week, the Director General of Police, SP Vaid tweeted: 2 fidayeen of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) killed by JKP SOG/Army of Magam District Handwara in a brief encounter. #JaiHind.

2 fidayeen of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) killed by JKP SOG / Army of Magam District Handwara in a brief encounter. #JaiHind  Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) May 14, 2017

Soon, social media users commented that the ban has become a joke on those who imposed it in first place, saying that even the head of police is defying it.

Recently the former IGP of police, SIM Gilani held a press conference in Srinagar on the prevailing situation in the Valley. While the ban remains in place, the presser was broadcast live on Facebook. Suhail A Shah, a journalist based in Anantnag, wrote on his Facebook page that the police chief of Kashmir talked about how militants using iPhones did not matter because apps have been blocked.

And, it isn't just the police officers who have found ways and means to skirt the ban. Even civilians use VPNs to keep themselves abreast of the goings-on in the Valley. It is as if the ban hasn't been implemented at all. "They imposed a ban but forgot that there are ways through which one can bypass this ban. Virtual Private Network is an ultimate tool to access blocked websites. It is fairly simple. It offers a choice to access from any country and a user has an option from choosing from a wide range of countries, Amir Ali, owner of a cafe on polo-view road in Srinagar, said.

Even the ministers and aides of the government are openly violating the order. Since the ban was imposed in the state, education minister Altaf Bukhari has updated his status almost every day, listing the meetings he has had with teachers or urging legislators and civil society to take ownership of schools.

The rural development minister Abdul Haq Khan updates his social media accounts whenever he presides over any meeting. Kashmir Police's media centre also runs its page smoothly, updating the day's events and information after every hour. Opposition leader and former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, also tweets regularly and updates his Facebook page.

"It is true that Omar saheb might be using VPN to stay in touch with the party workers across the state through social media. But so do ministers of the ruling dispensation," Junaid Mattu, the spokesman of National Conference, who regularly uses Twitter through VPN, said.

While the ban has hardly worked in Kashmir, with violence and protests going on unabated and militants having uploaded at least five videos since the ban was imposed, has caused more resentment towards the government. The only difference is that the VPN reduces your internet speed, rest everything works smoothly, Adnan Bhat, a student at Amar Singh College said. In today's world, it is almost impossible to ban social media."
Kashmiriyat, jamhooriyat and insaniyat are some of the most abused words in the context of the conflict-torn Valley. The appropriate word, to describe the three-decade long Pakistan-sponsored armed conflict and religious extremism in Kashmir, is haivaniyat (barbarism).

The day the Kashmiri Pandits  who once comprised the foundation of the society  were driven out of their ancestral homeland, kashmiriyat (a term used for indigenous secularism of Kashmir) died.

Insaniyat (humanity) is battered and bruised with every bullet fired in the name of 'azaadi' by Pakistan-sponsored religious extremists. And jamhooriyat (democracy), though embraced by the people of Kashmir, has not delivered the desired results.

This vocabulary may sound cruel to idealists but, when looked through the prism of realpolitik, is the harsh reality of Kashmir; where the society has all along preferred to live like an ostrich  allowing their land to become a fertile breeding ground for extremism.

The Pandits were driven out of their homes; Afghan Mujahideen, who were jobless after defeating the Soviets, were transported into the Valley by Pakistan; Kashmiri youth crossed the border to become self-proclaimed freedom fighters; the unbridled growth of Salafi and Wahhabi ideology; and now, the mellowed-down reactions to an army officers murder.

Blame New Delhi for all its commissions and omissions, but there is always another side to the story. And tragedy after tragedy that has unfolded in Kashmir since the late 1980s, lays bare the other side of Kashmirs story  that the state has failed to recognise the problems within its own society.

Adoption of gun culture to resolve political problems was the first big mistake committed by Kashmiri Muslims, which also resulted in a catastrophic human tragedy for the Pandits. The signs were clear that Islamophobia had started to make inroads into the Valley, but the political leadership failed to recognise the scale of the problem and the locals fell prey to the popular method of fighting against their own government i.e. through the barrel of the gun.

By the time New Delhi could recognise the nature of the problem, Pakistan was successful in radicalising the Kashmiri society. Kashmir was high on religious extremism; as a result, Hindu Pandits were outcast and the Indian state and security forces became the prime enemy.

Those fighting against the Indian state could not have asked for more. More than a military problem, or an emotional question, Kashmir has now become a battle of perceptions.

'Partial journalism' has contributed to the worsening of the situation in the Valley. It has hyphenated Kashmiri society and mainstream India. The difference in the front page coverage given to the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and the murder of Lt Fayaz in the local papers speak volumes about the mindset of the press and the sentiments it seeks to invoke.

Several local media houses portrayed Wani as a local hero and some even played up the news across eight columns on the front page. In contrast, the coverage on Fayaz was modest at best.

Recently, the narrative drawn by former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, that "stone pelters are fighting for the nation", was just one of the preposterous examples of foul play in the perception management game.

His vocabulary was no different from what Pakistan has preached and the Hurriyat has adopted. Such irresponsible statements  in the backdrop of thousands turning out for a terrorists funeral but a thin presence in support for a slain army hero  suggest a total lack of will in the Valley, to find any solution to the problem within the realms of Kashmiriyat, jamhooriyat and insaniyat.

Its not the stones that are hurled at the security forces, but the ideology and the societal mindset behind this madness that is more of a concern for Indias national security and integration. It is a dangerous scenario when the young Kashmiris shout slogans like 'the only solution is gun solution' and Burhanwali azaadi.

The audacity and defiance of the youth in going against their own country shows where the states political leadership and community wisdom has erred. It also indicates a clear disconnect between the power centres and the ground reality.

Today, Kashmir is in the news not only because of the failure of New Delhi to resolve the Kashmir problem or because Pakistan has successfully radicalised it but also because the successive governments at the Centre and in Srinagar have allowed an erosion of all psychological and emotional ties between Kashmir and mainland India.

The Kashmiri society is equally at fault as it chose to perennially remain within the comfort zone provided by Article 370. One may term Article 370 as part of New Delhis perception management game, but what has it yielded? The gulf between the Valley and mainland India has only widened.

Born during the 1990s and 2000s, when cross-border militancy was at its peak, young Kashmiri Muslims grew up under the shadow of guns, curfews and religious extremism  instead of getting introduced to the rich tradition of Kashmiri Shaivism and merging with mainstream India.

The fear is not cross-border terrorism, which our security forces are well-prepared to deal with. The fear is the consequent influence of political Islam, brought in by the Salafi-Wahhabi ideologies on the Kashmiri society, which has resulted in the widespread radicalisation of its youth.

According to media reports, there are more than 700 Wahhabi/Salafi mosques and madrassas across the Valley, with over 15 lakh followers. This is the death knell for the remnants of Kashmiriyat. The Wahhabi/Salafi culture, that seeks to establish a global Caliphate, are very attractive  especially to those fighting the might of a nation and other cultures.

However, Kashmiris need to realise that this imported radicalism has no racial fraternity with Kashmirs original Islamic thought, which shares deep cultural roots with Shaivism.

The author is a research fellow at Observer Research Foundation, Mumbai.
Srinagar: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday reviewed at a high-level meeting on the security situation in Kashmir where militant attacks and incidents of stone-pelting are on the rise.

Jaitley, who also holds the finance portfolio, arrived in the evening and soon after chaired the security review meeting which was also attended by newly-appointed Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, army officials said.

Jaitley was briefed on the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and steps being taken to restore normalcy in the Valley through close coordination among all the government agencies, the officials said. He was also apprised about various measures to strengthen the counter-infiltration grid along the Line of Control (LoC), where Pakistani forces have been indulging in shelling and attacks.

Jaitley "lauded the valour, sacrifice and patriotic fervour of every soldier who is serving in these challenging situations for national integrity", saying the entire country is proud of them, the officials said. He urged all soldiers to continue the good job being done and ensure safety of the innocent people while dealing firmly with the inimical elements.

He also impressed upon the commanders to maintain strict vigil along the LoC and remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across.

Jaitley will preside over the GST Council meeting on Thursday. He is also likely to meet Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The visit of Jaitley and Rawat to Kashmir comes against the backdrop of beheading of two Indian security personnel by Pakistani military in Poonch district earlier this month which was termed "barbaric" by India.

While Rawat hinted at retaliation to avenge the killings, Jaitley had said the sacrifice of the two soldiers will not go in vain and that the armed forces will react "appropriately".

The Kashmir Valley has witnessed a spurt in incidents of violence and militant attacks in the last couple of months.

The Pakistani troops were involved in 67 ceasefire violations in the first four months of 2017, with maximum of 26 incidents reported in April, according to army sources. They said a total of 27 militants were killed between January and April in counter-insurgency operations.
There are now enough legal and generalist luminaries on both sides of the India-Pakistan border, who have pondered on the legal aspects of the Kulbushan Jadhav case in the International Court of Justice.

But when all the legal jargon is set aside, the fact of the matter is that Pakistan proposes to execute a non-national, without the benefit of a just and open trial, where the entire process from start to finish has been in the hands of the military.

The charges levelled against Jadhav can only be gleaned from the media, and from occasional pronouncements from Pakistani officials, who have variously called him a spy or a terrorist. There is a considerable difference between the two, but that doesn't seem to matter to Islamabad or Rawalpindi.

Neither does it seem to matter that democracies of the world do not use military courts and do not resort to executing nationals of other countries. The last execution of a spy by a democracy was in 1953, when the United States executed its own nationals, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, for spying for the Soviets.

That trial went on for three years and was hotly and openly debated upon. In India, the trial of Yakub Memon, for his role in the Mumbai blasts of 1993, went on for years. The accused in this case, however, had the benefit of a competent attorney and defence team till he was executed on 21 July, 2015.

Pakistan's military courts have executed 24 people this year, up to April 2017, while another 87 were executed the previous year. The Pakistani media (which is far more courageous and unbiased than most Indian media) pointed out that the trials were shoddy affairs, with families of those killed unaware of the why, when or what of the trial.

Pakistan set up an estimated eleven military courts in January 2015, in the aftermath of a horrific attack on an Army Public School in Peshawar, purely as a temporary measure on the grounds that the civil justice system was intimidated by terrorists and was unable to cope.

The 21st Constitutional Amendment and changes in the Pakistan Army Act provided the legal basis for trials of civilians by military courts. The courts were initially set up for a period of two years. The amendment was opposed by major Bar Associations in Pakistan and challenged in the Supreme Court.

Unlike the earlier 1999 judgment which had held such courts unconstitutional, it held that "deviation" from constitutional norms was allowed in exceptional circumstances, and at any rate, the trials were only to deal with "terrorists".

Six judges dissented on the need for military courts, noting that the state had other perfectly legal and legitimate measures  such as banning terrorist groups  to deal with terrorism, without violating the precepts of justice.

The nature of military courts in Pakistan are in violation of its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which it has signed. Article 14 of the ICCPR gives every individual the right to fair trial. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has also made clear that Article 14 applies to all courts, ordinary or specialised. It is also in contravention of various other international and regional human rights conventions.

All of these specify that for a trial to be fair it must be conducted by an "independent" and "impartial" court. Both of those requirements have been fleshed out by case law. In order to be independent, a court must be able to perform its functions independently of any other branch of the government, including the executive. Impartiality implies that the judges must not harbour preconceived ideas about the matter before them or act in favour of one of the parties.

It is therefore not so much the issue of a military court, as its impartiality which is in question. That a Pakistani military officer on a trial bench exercises independence to decide a case is stretching the imagination in a country that is under the "virtual" control of the military.

The lack of objectivity in the Pakistani military court system is also apparent in how the courts operate. International norms do allow military courts, but only in the first instance. Thereafter, judgments are open to appeals in civilian courts.

In India, the Armed Forces Tribunal Act ensures that at least a retired judge is sitting on every Bench. Further, an adverse decision may be appealed to the Supreme Court. Under Pakistan military law, there is no right of appeal in civil courts.

The tribunal which decided on Kulbushan Jadhav would have had three to five serving officers, with an "advisory" role for the representative of the Judge Advocate General. None of these officers is required to have any legal background. There is provision for a military Appellate Tribunal, which includes the Chief of Army Staff or his nominee. It has the power to reduce or enhance the punishment provided by the first court.

Technically, therefore, the Chief of Army Staff can allow clemency, where the sentence can be changed to imprisonment or even set aside altogether. None of this  execution or pardon  can be challenged in a civilian court. This provision has not yet been exercised in Jadhav's case.

There is another way out. During his arguments in the hearing on the 21st Constitutional Amendment in the Supreme Court, the Attorney General argued that Article 199 (3) provides a bar with the right of review by the high court, when the matter involves the Pakistan Armed Forces in terms of any action it might take. In other words, it was the view of the state that the courts had no right to review in cases decided by the military court  even in its expanded role.

In its detailed judgment on the 21st Amendment, however, the superior court had allowed the right of review on three counts: Where the judgment is mala fide, without jurisdiction or coram non-judice (where a judge is not present).

On the basis of this right of review, several pleas have been filed. Points raised by petitioners included denial of a right to counsel of choice, failure to disclose the charges against the accused, and failure to give a convicted person a copy of the judgment with reasons for verdict and sentence.

The Supreme Court did provide a stay of execution in a reported seventeen cases. On the basis of this judgment, the superior courts may choose to take up the Jadhav case. However, this again depends heavily on whether he is given consular access and thereby independent advice and counsel.

Notwithstanding the decision reached by the International Court of Justice, the move by India to raise the level has already made it difficult for Pakistan to carry out the execution.

The Pakistani side has indicated possible flexibility, noting that the accused had yet to exercise his right of appeal within 40 days to the military appellate court, an appeal to the army chief within 60 days, and notably a mercy petition within 90 days of that decision. In other words, it is finally a politico-military decision.

Following a fiercely contested debate in the media, and virtually none in Parliament, military courts were extended for another two years in January 2017. The executive, therefore, has not been precisely lagging behind in empowering the military.

Earlier, in 2015, a Presidential Ordinance extended the powers of the military courts to allow "in camera" trials, a system that is abhorrent to rule of law. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in an earlier term, had resorted to military courts following severe instability in Sindh.

The Supreme Court had then ruled that the country better beef up its existing anti-terrorism courts, which had been set up under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, and ruled that military courts were unconstitutional.

The view at the time was that Sharif was pandering to the military in an effort to keep his seat. In the event, that effort came to nothing. A brief review of the Pakistani media will indicate that Sharif is again at the wrong end of the stick. The media notes in a Cassandra-like statement, that military courts are usually followed by a coup.

There is a second reason why Sharif is unlikely to bend backwards to save Jadhav. The prime minister, together with the army, is wholly committed to the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

During his recent visit to China, to attend the Belt and Road conclave, he assured the Chinese that any 'sabotage' (as against terrorism) in Gwadar or against CPEC would be dealt with severely.

The stage is set. Even as the Baloch continue to defy the might of the mainland, as they have done for at least three decades, Pakistan's aggressiveness is set to increase, as it strains to fulfil its promise to its 'all weather friend'. Jadhav is part of that strategy to pass the blame onto the Indians. New Delhi together with Tehran has just made that more difficult.

The author was a director of the National Security Council. Views expressed are personal.
New Delhi: The Modi government on Wednesday virtually halved the number of beneficiaries under its Maternity Benefit Programme (MBP) by restricting the scheme to firstborns instead of 'first two live births' as applicable earlier.

An earlier report said reduced allocation of funds of Rs 2,700 crore for the scheme in the Union Budget 2017-2018 might lead to the reduction in the number of beneficiaries.

A government committee had estimated Rs 14.512 cr.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised address on New Year's eve 2016, announced pan-India expansion of the existing Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana, which was being implemented across 56 districts on a pilot basis since 2010.

The scheme was applicable for the first two live births.

The Cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday decided eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers (PW&LM) will now receive Rs 6,000 in nearly all blocks and districts of the country for improving their health and nutrition status. The scheme seeks to bring down maternal mortality.

Pregnant women and lactating mothers are eligible to receive a cash benefit of Rs 5,000 in three instalments through direct benefit transfer from the women and child development ministry.

The mother will receive the initial Rs 1,000 after early registration of pregnancy, Rs 2,000 after at least one antenatal check-up (after six months of pregnancy), and Rs 2,000 after registration of childbirth and confirmation that the newborn has received the first cycle of BCG, OPV, DPT and Hepatitis-B or its equivalent/substitute vaccination.

The maternity benefit scheme will come into effect from 1 January, 2017.

The scheme excludes women who are regular central or state government employees or with Public Sector Undertakings, or those who receive similar benefits under any law for the time being.

Activists have criticised the move, saying it was aimed at cost-cutting and discriminated against children who are second-born.

"The most vulnerable women who are trying to reach out to the government aid won't be able to get it. In most parts of the country, there is a two-child norm and a scheme like this will not benefit most women.

"The government should concentrate on good, quality care for pregnant women and make available the benefits to every woman who reaches a government health care centre," said Tania Sheshadri, an independent community health researcher who works with rural women in Karnataka.

The amount granted to the women and child development ministry for the programme is a fifth of what was recommended in the report of the Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution in January, 2013. The committee had then suggested earmarking Rs 14,512 crore for implementation of MBP.

"At the rate of Rs 1,000 per month for 6 months, the scheme expenditure towards maternity benefits to 2.25 crore pregnant and lactating women works out to be Rs 14,512 crore per annum," said the report.

Activist, Aparajita Gogoi, national coordinator of White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, an advocacy group for maternal health and childbirth, criticised the move.

"Reducing the scheme to firstborns will deprive many mothers of getting the benefits of the welfare scheme," she said.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-nation tour of Germany, Spain and Russia from 29 May with an aim of consolidating the relations with these countries and inviting investments to India. The visit to Germany and Spain will be bilateral in nature while the trip to St Petersburg in Russia is in connection with the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) to be held from 1-3 June, sources said.

The SPIEF, which will be attended by thousands of business leaders from across the globe, will provide Modi an opportunity to invite investments in India. On the sidelines of the SPIEF, the prime minister is expected to have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to review the state of bilateral relations and ways to push the ties further, the sources said. Matters related to trade and investment, defence and nuclear cooperation are expected to figure in the talks.

India and Russia are currently in talks over finalisation of the General Framework Agreement (GFA) for units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu but it is not clear yet whether it would be signed during the visit. In Germany, the first stopover of the five-day three-nation tour, the prime minister will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel and discuss ways to take the strategic relations to the next level by mainly enhancing the business ties.

This will be his second visit to Germany in two years. Earlier, he had paid an official visit to the country in April 2015 when India was the 'Partner Country' in the annual Hannover Fair. Merkel had subsequently visited India in October in the same year. On 31 May, the Modi will be in Spain where his focus will be on seeking cooperation in sectors like infrastructure and energy, the sources said.

After return from the three-nation tour, Modi will be travelling to Kazakhstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet to be held in Astana on 7-8 June. Significantly, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is also expected to attend the Summit of the SCO, a grouping which includes Russia, China, Kazakshstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. He will also be travelling to the US and Israel, for which dates are being finalised.
Ferozepur: Over six kg of heroin was on Tuesday seized from Ferozepur and Amritsar in Punjab, officials said.

In the first case, BSF claimed to have found five kg of heroin buried under a tree in the DT Mal Border Outpost area in Ferozepur sector.



The seizure was made on the basis of specific information from the Punjab Special Task Force, a BSF official said.

"A special joint search operation of the BSF and STF was launched ahead of the border security fence in the DT Mal Border Outpost area," the BSF official said.

During the operation, five packets of the contraband, heroin, were found buried under a berry tree in a yellow polythene packet, the official said.

Including this seizure, a total of 76.67 kg of heroin has been recovered by BSF in 2017, the official added.

In the second case, the STF of Punjab police seized 1.45 kg of heroin in Amritsar.

An official spokesman of Punjab police said a police team comprising inspector Sukhwinder Singh, posted in STF, Border Zone, recovered heroin from the lift rod of tractor which was hidden on a land across the fence along the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar.

Another 100 gm of heroin was also recovered from the physical possession of the accused Sukhchain Singh and Jaspal Singh, police said.

STF has so far recovered 10.5 kg of heroin in the state.
Jammu: Pakistan on Tuesday resorted to shelling and firing for the fourth consecutive day on forward posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district even as nearly 1,700 people have been evacuated from shelling-hit areas.

Pakistani troops continued overnight shelling along the LoC in three belts of Rajouri district.

The firing and shelling has affected over 10,000 people.

On 13 May, Pakistani troops had pounded civilian areas and forward posts in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three.

Pakistan has resorted to firing and shelling along LoC and International Border (IB) in Rajouri and Jammu districts for the past one week since 10 May, when troops shelling Nowshera and killed a woman and injured two persons including her husband.

"Pakistan army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 1830 hours along LoC in Nowshera sector," a defence spokesman said.

"The Indian Army posts are retaliating strongly and effectively and firing is presently on," he said.

"Shelling (by Pak Army) started in Ans Bhandhaar areas of Nowshera in Rajouri at 2255 hours last night. Lam and Kalsian areas were also affected," Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

Yesterday during the day, Pakistani troops resorted to fresh ceasefire violation along LoC in Nowshera sector, he said.

Choudhary said four villages in Nowshera have come under small arms fire from across the LoC.

"Interdepartmental teams deputed by District Administration for damage assessment reported small arms firing began at 4 PM yesterday in village Sarya followed by villages Khamba, Anwas and Bhandar," he added.

The DC confirmed that damage assessment teams were withdrawn at 5.30 pm after intermittent small arms firing by Pakistan.

Nearly 1,700 people have already been evacuated from LoC hamlets hit by shelling from Pakistan and shifted to relief camps, he added.

At least one incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan took place daily along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in 2015 and 2016 in which 23 security personnel lost their lives, the home ministry has said in an RTI reply.

As many as 1,142 terror incidents were reported in the state between 2012 and 2016 in which 236 security personnel and 90 civilians were killed, it said.

According to the reply, Pakistan breached the truce along the Line of Control 449 times in 2016 as compared to 405 violations in 2015.
Islamabad: Pakistan today hanged four "hardcore" terrorists convicted of "heinous" terrorismrelated offences by controversial military courts in the restive northwestern province, taking the number to over 160 since the Peshawar terror attack in 2014.

The terrorists belonging to a banned outfit were executed in a jail in the KhyberPakhtunkhwa province, the worst hit due to violence by Taliban terrorists.

"They were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including killing of innocent civilians, destruction of educational institutions, attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan and Law Enforcement Agencies," the army said.

It said the terrorists were awarded death sentence by the military courts which work in secrecy due to fear of attacks by militants.

Military courts were restored in March for another two years after their initial twoyear term expired in January.

The courts were set up after a constitutional amendment following a terror attack on an Armyrun school in Peshawar in December 2014 which killed more than 150 people, most of them students.

Human rights group Justice Project Pakistan says 441 people have been executed since the Peshawar attack.

Pakistan has been fighting various extremist groups for over a decade. Militant attacks have killed tens of thousands of people.

The military courts have handed down the death penalty to more than 160 militants.
Puducherry: The Puducherry Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed the Puducherry Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017.

The bill was tabled in the assembly by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy. MLAs of the ruling and opposition blocks participated in the debate after the bill was tabled and expressed their views on various aspects of the GST system.

They appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure that there was no setback to the revenue flow to the territorial government in the wake of implementation of the GST Act.

Narayanasamy said, Puducherry was part of the GST council and Union Territory had been given the status of a state.

He noted that the new tax regime would prevent tax evasion. The Puducherry government was keen that there should be no disadvantageous impact on Puducherry by the implementation of the GST, he said adding already 80 percent of the traders had expressed willingness to

migrate to the GST pattern in the Union Territory.

After the Chief Minister presented his reply highlighting the features of the GST the Bill tabled by him was adopted unanimously.

A help desk had been set up in the Commercial Taxes Department to address the woes of the traders and others covered under the GST.

On the two-day meeting of the GST Council to commence under the chairmanship of Union Finance Minister on Thursday in Delhi, Narayanasamy said, "It is a crucial meeting as it would decide which commodity will fall in which tax bracket."

The Parliament had on 6 April passed four legislations to pave the way for nationwide roll-out of GST from 1 July.
     IT  :     50    ;        
By Rajanya Bose and Anirban Bhattacharya

The Ajmer Shatabdi pulls into the New Delhi station every night at around 11 pm. During the six-hour journey from Ajmer, the train serves tea, snacks, soup, dinner and dessert  more food than an average person can eat in that time.

As soon as passengers start getting off the train, ragpickers jump in and start scrounging for waste material and leftovers  samosas, biscuits, plastic bottles, wraps and so on. They are a part of Indias massive reserve of ragpickers. Their numbers are estimated between 1.5 million and 4 million; Delhi itself has over 500,000.

Ragpickers sustain themselves by collecting, sorting and segregating waste and then trading it. In doing so, they help clean up a significant proportion of the 62 million tonnes of waste generated annually in India.

Given that rag-picking is a totally informal sector it is hard to quantify how much waste is collected in this manner, but there are rough indicators: Only 75-80 percent of the waste generated in India is collected by municipal bodies. And more than 90 percent of India does not have a proper waste disposal system.

A lot of garbage clearing thus is the done informally, by ragpickers who work without any job security, salary or dignity. Not just that, they are regularly exposed to cuts, infection, respiratory diseases and tuberculosis apart from poverty, humiliation, harassment, and sexual abuse on the streets, as IndiaSpend investigations found.

This informal sector has saved the country. They are doing a good job and I have decided to recognise their efforts. We will grant (a) national award, former environment minister Prakash Javadekar had declared in 2015 at an event on waste management in New Delhi.

It was declared that a cash prize of Rs 150,000 ($2,330) would be given to three ragpickers and three associations involved in innovative waste management. More than a year later there is no information available about the scheme.

Indias waste crisis is set to spiral  450 million tonnes by 2050

The environment minister has stated that India will, in another couple of decades, generate nearly thrice the waste it currently does  165 million tonnes by 2030 and 450 million tonnes by 2050. Only 22-28 percent of the waste now collected is processed or treated.

The problem is particularly acute in cities. The per capita waste generation rate in Indian cities ranges between 200 and 870 grammes a day and is rising. Between 2001 and 2011, growing urban population and increase in per capita waste generation has resulted in a 50 percent increase in the rubbish in Indian cities. The government traced this to changing consumption patterns and consumer behaviour.

Why rag-picking is a free but critical civic service

Ragpickers actually complement the work of civic bodies, Shashi Bhushan Pandit, who runs the All India Kabadi Mazdoor Mahasangh, pointed out in this March 2016 interview.

According to the law under which a municipality is set up, it places dustbins according to the size of the population. It is assumed that the generator of the waste will drop it in the bin. After that, it is the responsibility of the municipality to collect it from there (the transfer station) and treat it at the landfill, Pandit said. However, it is not the responsibility of the municipality to pick up the garbage from the source. Thats why the informal sector has filled this gap.

Toxics Link, a New-Delhi based environmental NGO, classifies waste pickers into four categories: Those who carry sacks and collect anything of resale value from open drains and bins; the kabadi or bhangar men on bicycles who collect from households and then segregate glass, paper, and bottles from plastics; those who ride tricycles and collect almost 50 kg of waste each day and travel long distances to sell them, and finally, those who work for scrap dealers.

The occupation exposes these workers to toxins, the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health shows. They have little or no access to protective gear.

Treated with contempt, suspicion on the streets

Darkness Under the Lamps was a study undertaken by Harsh Mander and V Manikandan in 2011 at the Centre for Equity Studies in Madanpur Khadar, an urban village in south Delhi where many ragpickers live. They complained that they were treated with suspicion and derision, because of their extreme poverty, vocation of rag-picking, minority faith and suspicions that they are from Bangladesh by the middle-class community living around (sic). The children of ragpickers often carry on with the same occupation and are rarely educated.

The government treats them no differently. Pandit has demanded inclusive rights, health benefits, safety gear and social security for ragpickers because they provide services that benefit the environment. In Bogota, Columbia, every ragpicker is paid Rs 128 ($2) approx per day by the municipality. In Brazil, they have made sure that only the ragpicker can pick the waste (from the source). Why cant India do it? he asked.

Ragpickers are destitute migrants, mostly from poor states

In September 2016, with the support of the Kachra Kamgar Union, we visited a ragpickers colony near Vasant Kunj, close to the Delhi airport. More than 250 families here depend on rag-picking to earn a living.

The men leave their homes early morning with their waste carts. A few of them work where the municipal corporation deposits waste, some scour the roads and others go to specific neighbourhoods looking for kabadi from homes.

Each ragpicker has a different story to tell, but they all suffered acute destitution once. Ranjit is a landless labourer from Bihar who came to Delhi seeking employment. Kundan once grazed cattle for a Chhatarpur farm in south Delhi. Another man washed toilets at the Delhi airport before settling down at the ragpickers colony.

Chandrika, who was a bonded labourer in Bihar and earned 1.5 kg of vegetables for a months work, came to Delhi in 1985 when she was very young. Only the destitute get into this work. Some of us are contracted into it by moneylenders who dump several people in a single room and pay them a pittance for their work. Then there are traders who employ ragpickers, she said.

Most ragpickers in this colony, however, work independently. Several men we spoke to agreed that they had tried their hand at other things but came back to rag-picking because it paid better. Migrants here also help their kin to move to Delhi and join the trade. This meant that most people in the basti (neighbourhood) came from two states: Bihar and West Bengal.

The women we met do not go out for picking, but are expected to sort waste at home. Even eight- or 10-year-old children join their parents in sorting waste.

If you work 12-14 hours a day, you can make a living. But rates have gone down significantly. A sack of rag that fetched us Rs 300 five years ago now gets us no more than Rs 175-200. See how much rice and vegetables cost nowit is impossible to survive, complained Kundan.

Police harassment is a common complaint. Young boys are picked up on false allegations and beaten up in police stations, said the residents. Sometimes they pick up mobile phones or other lost or stolen goods and then get arrested for committing a crime. However, in this colony, residents said the union ensures that they are not harassed much.

Yes, we deal with garbage, but we want to live in a clean space

Hair and plastic fetch the best rates but sorting waste is a difficult and hazardous job. We open sacks and there are soiled sanitary napkins in newspapers, human excreta in polythene, shards of glass, syringes or nails. We cut ourselves, develop rashes and infection. Rotten food makes us sick. But we have no pension, no recognition, no medical facilities, said a ragpicker.

When the main earner in a family falls very sick, he or she is packed off to the village to recover. The government hospitals, they alleged, do not want to treat them and they have to opt for expensive private dispensaries.

When waste is disposed in India, it is done with little concern for those who will be handling it later. For example, both soiled diapers and sanitary napkins need to be treated as medical waste: According to the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 any waste with faecal, blood, body fluid must be treated separately. But usually, these are thrown into a common dust bin.

The colony, built on forest land, has no concrete houses  landowners will not allow any permanent construction. Only a third of the households had a ration card. There is no personal or public toilet in the colony, and no electric metres have been installed.

We asked a few women hailing from Uttar Pradesh for the one thing they would ask from the government. Disposal bins for the waste leftover from sorting, they said. Without bins, this waste simply piles up in their homes and lanes.

Give us that and access to water. We buy two buckets of water every other day and pay Rs 1,000-2,000 a month to the one person who has a hand pump. If we can get a tanker, we could bathe properly. Yes we deal with garbage, but we want to be able to live in a space that is clean, the women said.

A more detailed discussion and case study of urban poverty in Delhi can be found in the India Exclusion Report 2016 due to be released on 12 May 2017, by Centre for Equity Studies and Yoda Press.

Indiaspend.org is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit/FactChecker.in is fact-checking initiative, scrutinising for veracity and context statements made by individuals and organisations in public life



The authors are senior researchers with Centre for Equity Studies, New Delhi
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday adjourned a plea of V Sriharan alias Murugan, one of the seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking permission to meet his mother in prison.

He had sought permission to meet his mother, who has come from Sri Lanka, on any day between 22 and 27 May.

A vacation bench of Justices R Mahadevan and M Govindaraj refused to entertain and adjourned the petition of Sriharan, after summer vacation.

When the matter came up, Additional Public Prosecutor Govindaraj said permission cannot be given to the prisoner as he was caught using cell phone inside the prison recently.

The petitioner submitted that as a punishment for his misconduct, the Superintendent of Central Prison Vellore had withdrawn the privilege of meeting even his wife Nalini, another life convict in the case, for about 30 minutes for every 15 days.

The privilege of meeting family members for prison inmates is granted as per Rule 525 of Tamil Nadu Prison rules.

Nalini is lodged in the special women cell at the Vellore Central Prison.

He said the prison authority had prohibited any meeting with friends and relatives in prison for a period of three months. Even his aged mother, who had come from Sri Lanka on 2 April to meet him in the prison between 11 and 18 April, was not allowed to meet him, he added.

He said he had made a representation through the Superintendent of Central Prison, Vellore to Additional Director General of Police and Inspector General of Prisons at Egmore, Chennai to suspend the punishment to enable him to see his mother when she visits the prison.

The petitioner said his mother herself had made a representation in this connection.

He sought a court direction to the authorities to consider his plea and permit him to meet his mother, whose visa is due to expire by the end of this month, on any date between May 22 and 27.

Rajiv was killed by a suicide bomber at nearby Sriperumbudur on 21 May, 1991 and seven persons  Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan, Nalini, Robert Payas, Jayakumar and Ravichandran, were convicted in the case.

Nalini was first awarded death sentence, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court and subsequently the Tamil Nadu government under Article 161 of the Constitution commuted her sentence to life on 24 April, 2000.

In February 2014, the apex court had commuted the death sentence of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan following delay in deciding on their mercy plea. Murugan is lodged in the Central Prison at Ve llore for the past 26 years.

The summer vacation of the court is from 2 May to 31 May.
Classes in three schools in Guwahati had to be called off much earlier than their scheduled time as more than 80 percent of the students were taken back by their parents in fear after a rumour spread that the BJP led government in Assam is going to sterilise the Muslim students to control birth rate.

The incident on Tuesday was seen in continuum with similar incidents that took place in remote parts of Assam on Monday after the health department intensified the drive to vaccinate against Japanese Encephalitis.

"The classes were going on regularly till 11:30 am in the morning today. But suddenly a number of guardians came to the school and informed that they want to take back their students to their homes, as they feared that the students will be sterilised in the school in the pretext of vaccination," said Manoj Senapati, a teacher in one of the schools.

However, as Senapati confirmed, there was no programme of vaccination in the school on Tuesday.

"It is usual to vaccinate students in schools itself against diseases like Japanese Encephalitis. But even such programme was not there in the school on Tuesday," he said.

The teacher said that the school authorities tried to persuade the parents that even if any programme for vaccination is taken by the health department in the school, no student will go through it without due consent from the parents and students.

"But most of them did not seem to be convinced. In no time nearly 80 percent of the students left school," Senapati said.

The schools in Guwahati which had to call off classes due to the spread of the rumour are Natboma Lower Primary School, Hemanta Boruah Middle English School and Hemanta Boruah High School. All the three schools are at Hatigaon, a Muslim-populated area in Guwahati.

The state health department had launched a vaccination drive on 30 April against Japanese Encephalitis in Nalbari, Morigaon, Bongaigaon and Cachar districts in order to prevent the spread of the disease that has caused 779 deaths in between the year 2010 to 2016, reported The Hindustan Times.

But soon after the government launched the drive rumours spread in nook and corner of the state that the students will be sterilised to control birth rate among the Muslims in the pretext of vaccination.

"Many of the parents who came to take their children back from the school said that the name of the vaccine they believed would be used to sterilise their wards is RSS vaccine," said Senapati.

The high birth rate among the Muslims in Assam has become a part of the states political narrative, with every political party trying to derive electoral dividend out of it.

Even as the high growth rate in Muslim population has been attributed to the unabated influx of Bangladeshis through the porous borders by the BJP, the Congress related it to illiteracy among the majority of the Muslims and lack of family planning.

As per 2011 census data Muslim population in Assam grew from 30.9 percent in 2001 to 34.2 percent in 2011, which was seen as the highest in the country.

Only recently, the Assam government, according to a report in The Indian Express launched a draft population policy discouraging giving birth to more than two children.

Meanwhile, Samir Sinha, principal secretary in the health and family welfare department has requested the police to conduct a probe to ascertain the source of the rumor.

"Lies are being spread to mislead people. We have taken up the matter with the director general of police Mukesh Sahay, and he will initiate an inquiry," Sinha told The New Indian Express.
Raipur: In what the police claimed to be a crucial achievement, a key Maoist cadre who was allegedly involved in the deadly attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel last month has surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

According to police, the surrendered ultra has admitted to have arranged meeting between New Delhi-based social activists and Maoist leaders in Sukma. "Podiyam Pandu alias Panda (45) had surrendered on 9 May at Sukma district headquarters and was presented before media on Thursday," Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI.

Panda, a Jan militia deputy commander of Maoists, was allegedly involved in the attack on CRPF patrolling party on 24 April last in Burkapal area under Chintagufa police station limits wherein 25 personnel were killed, he added. He had earlier served as Sarpanch of Chintagufa village while his wife is the incumbent sarpanch of the village. The ultra was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head.

During interrogation, he revealed that Naxals were keeping an eye on the activities of security forces in Burkapal and Chintagufa axis since 15 April before executing the attack, the SP said.

According to Panda, on 24 April, lower rung cadres had tipped off about the movement of paramilitary forces from their camp, to armed ultras who were stationed at Kasalpada village, around 7-8 kilometres away from the spot, he said.

Subsequently, the rebels laid the ambush within an hour at a targeted location and launched the attack at around 11:30 am. Armed with Insas rifle, Panda was also among the attackers, the SP claimed.

After the encounter, Panda and his associates shifted their injured colleagues and the dead body of Naxal commander Anil towards Kasalpada. He came back to his house the same evening after returning his rifle to Maoist commander Arjun, he added.

Panda had contacted Chintagufa police on 7 May expressing his desire to join the mainstream and later brought to Sukma where he finally turned himself in on 9 May, the SP said.

A native of Chintagufa, Panda has been associated with senior Maoist leaders, including Ramanna, Hidma, Maddana, Paparao and Situ since 1997, and acting as a courier for them for transporting various commodities after procuring it from cities, the SP said.

In 2014, he left his native place and shifted to nearby Minpa village where he started working with Duled Janatana Sarkar squad which was being headed by commander Aayta. Later in 2016, he was elevated as militia deputy commander, he said. He was a key cadre in the region and has been instrumental in executing several deadly attacks in south Bastar, including Tadmetla attack wherein 76 troopers were

killed (2010) and Kasalpada attack in which 14 CRPF personnel were killed (December 2014), he added.

Besides, Panda was also part of the Naxals squad that had kept then Sukma Collector Alex Pual Menon in its captivity in 2012, he added.

Panda also revealed that he had arranged meetings of activists from Delhi with Maoist leaders like Ramanna and Hidma several times in the interior villages of Sukma, the SP said, adding that his surrender is an important achievement for the cops.

According to police sources, Panda was also familiar with urban network of Maoists and played a crucial role in arranging meetings of Maoist sympathisers from the town with ultras in jungles. His interrogation may facilitate the arrest of Maoist supporters in urban areas, sources added.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would examine whether triple talaq was an essential part of religion under Article 25 of Constitution. A five-judge constitution bench headed by chief justice JS Khehar said "We have to see the test of essentiality and the government has to prove that 'triple talaq' is not an essential part of Islam as this will amount to tinkering with religion." The bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, RF Nariman, UU Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, asked the government why it had not brought in a law to bring about reforms if it had found the practice of triple talaq as wrong.

Here's a summary of all the arguments that took place in the Supreme Court:

Attorney-General Mukul Rohtagi's arguments: 'Muslim women must have equal rights to property, succession, marriage'

The Centre, through law officers Tushar Mehta and Pinky Anand, maintained that it was not taking any side and was assisting the five-judge Constitution bench on the issues of gender justice, equality for women and dignity of women and the main arguments would be advanced by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi. During the hearing, additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta said that AIMPLB should apologise for justifying triple talaq in its affidavit by saying that men have greater strength to control their emotions.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said that all the three forms of divorce among the Muslim community  talaq-e-biddat, talaq hasan and talaq ahsan, were "unilateral" and "extra-judicial". "Yes, we can bring law. There is no law for past 60 years. It has not been done. But the court should first strike down these practices which are not in confirmity with the Constitution," he said. Rohatgi said that since the court is dealing with only one form of talaq, therefore he was restricting itself to one form only although he considered all forms as wrong and unconstitutional.

uality, justice, dignity, gender discrimination and human rights under the constitutional provisions, including Articles 14, 15, 21 and 51A.

"Muslim women must have equal rights to property, succession, marriage and it should be non-discriminatory among the women of same class and other communities," Rohatgi said. Rohatgi said when half the population of a particular community is not empowered, no equal opportunity is given, they are devoid of gender equality, then it does not pass the test of constitutional morality. He said even if triple talaq is considered as an essential part of religion and falls under Article 25, the practice still has to be constitutionally moral.

"Even if talaq is considered under Article 25, it has to be related to the fundamental rights and should abide by the principles of gender equality, non-discrimination and justice," the AG said, adding that all personal laws have to be in confirmatory with the Constitution. To this, the bench insisted that the government has to first prove that this practice of triple talaq was not essential to Islam and only then can it delve further into other aspects.

Rohatgi pointed out that it was not the apex court's job to interpret a religion and said "You cannot go into essential principle because it is not an ecclesiastical court" To buttress his argument that practices or customs were not an essential part of religion, he said that in the Hindu religion, women used to practice Sati till the law termed it as illegal and obsolete. As far as Hindu laws are considered, various reformatory steps were taken but with regard to Muslim laws no such steps were taken, he said.

AIMPLB's arguments: All patriarchal societies discriminate

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) told the Supreme Court that the dispute was not just the issue of triple talaq but the prevalence of patriarchy among communities. The board told a five-judge constitution bench that all patriarchal societies discriminate.

Kapil Sibal told a bench, also comprising Justices Justices Kurian Joseph, RF Nariman, UU Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, that there was a difference between personal law and customs and usage. "All patriarchal societies are partial. In Hinduism, a father can will away his property to anyone, but not in the Muslim community. I can point out many such practices in the Hindu society. Is it better for a woman to apply for divorce and fight for 16 years and get nothing," Sibal said.

He said in some areas of Himachal Pradesh, polygamy was practiced but it has been protected since it is a custom and only society will decide when to change it. The arguments of AIMPLB remained inconclusive and will continue.

Shayara Bano, Bebak Collective and Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan's arguments: Marriage between two people should end with due regard to rights of both

Amit Singh Chadha opened the arguments for Shyara Bano, who was one of the first petitioner, saying neighbouring Islamic countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh have banned triple talaq by terming it as un-Islamic, senior lawyer Anand Grover, appearing for Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, stated that triple talaq was not a part of Sharia law. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for Bebak Collective, a Muslim women organisation, touched upon the issue of violation of fundamental rights due to the practice of triple talaq to the extent a Muslim man exercises power to declare a unilateral divorce and the Muslim woman has no control over such "unilateral", "arbitrary", "extra judicial" divorce and her marital status. She said the impact of such practices was that Muslim women lost their right to residence, were driven to claim maintenance and custody of their children in a court of law which is often denied to them at the stage of unilateral divorce.

"Marriage is a contract that entails change in life and a commitment that two people make to each other out of natural love and affection to share and care for each other. The rights conferred by virtue of the marriage are legitimacy of children, custody of children, right to reside in matrimonial home.

"It stands to reason that if that contract has to be terminated, it must be done with good reason and with due regard to the rights of both the parties to the marriage and by a judicial forum," the senior lawyer said. Grover said that section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 does not talk about triple talaq. He said "talaq in section 2 of the Act has to be interpreted to exclude triple talaq".

Jaising argued that "the key question would be whether personal laws will have to stand scrutiny of fundamental laws." Referring to a 1951 verdict of the Bombay High Court, she said it had taken a view that all personal laws were immune from challenge. "Regardless of the legal system, all the system will have to comply at the end of the day with the discipline of the Constitution," she said. "Does the Constitution stop where the family law begins?" she asked and referred to the 1951 verdict saying it has been used by the AIMPLB to say that courts should stay away from personal law. Jaising also argued that personal laws are not religious laws though they may be based on religion. To this, the bench said, "they could be based on religion. There can be personal laws which could be based on religion". Jaising, however, said "Sharia law is recognised with Sharia Act. It is a law and not religion. Is this court dealing with the issue of religion or dealing with an issue of law?" She argued that there is no definition of personal law and her endeavour would be to de-link religion from law. She said that lot of laws were based on morality and are enacted on the basis of religion but they have to be tested as per the provisions of the Constitution.

"It is tragic that we have not been able to make legislations to deal with these personal laws. We have to first deal with what is law and then we can go into personal law," Jaising said.

"Our main concern is no matter how liberally you interpret triple talaq, it is unilateral. It is an extra-judicial unilateral process and it is final without any discussions on the consequences. Important issue is that what are the consequences and in my view, those are endless," she said. The senior counsel also said the question which the bench would have to deal with was whether the status of a woman was "degraded" just because her husband has said talaq three times at one go.

She said if the divorce was mutual, there was no issue, but in a case of triple talaq, the issue of consent of the wife is immaterial. "The bottom line is consent because as an individual, we all are citizens and are equal," she said, adding that it is a discrimination that Muslim men can give talaq unilaterally but Muslim women have to go to court for this. She also said that Sharia was voluntary and therefore it cannot be binding. To this, the bench asked her to explain how triple talaq violated the Constitution. Responding to it, she said, "whether in our Constitution extra judicial divorce can be given? This is a kind of extra judicial divorce." She said in cases of mutual consent there was no problem but issues arose when there is a dispute over divorce.

"This court has to decide whether some kind of judicial oversight should be there," she said adding that triple talaq affects the status of woman. "Extra-judicial divorce is unconstitutional. If you say marriage in Muslim law is a contract,then you cannot revoke it unilaterally without following the law. Allowing such extra-judicial divorce is against the law of the land," she said, adding that there were consequences of triple talaq like alimony, custody of child, maintenance and civil succession. Taking a dig at lawmakers, Jaising said they always say that they are concerned about women but despite sitting in Parliament, they do not do anything on this.

To this, the bench asked "if Parliament does not show its commitment on this, can this forum show its commitment on this issue?" Grover, however, said that in this matter, the Union of India has been more aggressive than the petitioners who have challenged the constitutional validity of triple talaq. Jaising argued that India was a secular state and not a bureaucratic state like Afghanistan where there are Sharia courts.

"Absence of this kind of judicial forum here makes this practice illegal and unconstitutional. They cannot say that only the men would decide the fate of women," she said. The bench, however, said the issue was very important and serious, having far-reaching consequences. Jaising also said the apex court can recommend to Parliament to make a law on this issue as there is a unilateral capacity given to a man to say talaq but woman has not been granted that right.

With inputs from PTI
United Nations: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is watching the rising tensions between India and Pakistan very closely and reiterates the need for the South Asian neighbours to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue.

Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, responding to a question at the daily press briefing on Tuesday, asserted that the Secretary General is not reluctant to focus on the issue.

"I don't think it's a matter of reluctance. As I said, he's obviously watching the situation very closely and reiterates his need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue," Dujarric said.

The Secretary-General, "a student of history", knows what has happened, Dujarric said referring to similar tense and volatile situations in the world.

Dujarric has repeatedly said that Guterres is following the situation in Kashmir amid escalating tensions at the border between India and Pakistan.

The UN chief has not made any direct intervention to resolve the issue and his spokesperson has repeatedly said the UN chief reiterates his call for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Last week, an article on Huffington Post described a bone-chilling account of cyberstalking faced by Vijay Nair, a Mumbai-based entrepreneur and founder of Only Much Louder (OML). The article, which has since gone viral, describes in detail the ordeal faced by Nair for months, which started with someone anonymously posting a sexually explicit tweet on his Twitter profile. What followed were a series of sexually explicit messages sent by the cyberstalker to Nair over Whatsapp and email, many of which were also copied to Nairs friends and acquaintances. When Nair finally unmasked the identity of his stalker, it was discovered that the stalker in question was a woman whom Nair was acquainted with. The cyberstalking incident involving Nair is not a lone incident of a man being sexually harassed by a woman. Sexual harassment incidents committed against men (with the perpetrator being a woman) are increasingly being reported and make one wonder whether we need gender neutral sexual harassment laws in India.

Is sexual harassment of men by women a reality in India?

An article on The Hindu outlines many instances of sexual harassment faced by Indian men including stalking, sexual harassment at workplace and sexual assault. In all these cases, the perpetrators were women. Apart from the lack of any legal recourse available to men in such cases, what emerges is that the male victims of sexual harassment do not receive emotional support within their social circle either; friends of male victims of sexual harassment are often dismissive of such incidents and instead call the victim in question lucky to be desired by a woman. The fear of not being taken seriously is not the only reason which prevents men from reporting sexual harassment cases. The fear that a female perpetrator may, in fact, use sexual harassment laws to wrongly implicate the male victim (by alleging that it was the man who sexually harassed her) has led many male victims of sexual harassment to not formally complain.

In some cases, it is also possible that a female perpetrator may resort to sexual harassment laws against the man where he does not give in to her sexual overtures. This notion was explored in the Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar starrer Aitraaz (2004), where the protagonist, Raj Malhotra (played by Akshay Kumar) is sued by his employers wife, Sonia (played by Priyanka Chopra) for rape when Raj refuses to yield to Sonias sexual demands.

The idea that a woman can sexually harass a man is still considered inconceivable in the Indian society. What makes it even more difficult for men to speak about such incidents openly is the tendency of others to perceive male victims of sexual harassment as "feminine" or "weak". The disbelief surrounding sexual harassment of men by women in India can also be attributed to the absence of data/statistics on this issue. This, in turn, becomes a vicious cycle where the fear of being disbelieved may cause a male victim of sexual harassment to not report such incidents, leading to further lack of statistics in such matters.

According to a 2010 survey, conducted by Economic Times-Synovate, "men are as vulnerable to sexual harassment as women" in India.

Present sexual harassment laws in India

Currently, sexual harassment laws in India are not gender-neutral, and, for the most part, recognise that in sexual harassment cases, the victim is a female and the perpetrator is a male. For instance, the Section 354 of IPC criminalises assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty. Other sections of the IPC include 354A (punishes sexual harassment committed by a man against a woman), 354B (punishment for intent to disrobe a woman), 354C (voyeurism), 354D (stalking), 375 (criminalises rape of a woman by a man) and section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman). Section 377 of the IPC which is widely understood as an anti-sodomy law recognises male as victims in sexual harassment cases, however, section 377 will have limited application in the kind of sexual harassment cases which are generally faced by men at the hands of women.

It is worth noting that the Justice Verma Committee which was constituted to recommend reforms to sexual harassment laws in 2013 had proposed gender-neutral language for sexual offences in India. However, this suggestion was not eventually incorporated in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013. Also, while most of the provisions in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act are gender-neutral with respect to the perpetrator, Section 3 (which criminalises "penetrative sexual assault") does not apprehend a female perpetrator. Finally, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act is aimed at prevention of sexual harassment directed against women and does not recognise male victims of sexual harassment at workplace. By contrast, the equivalent law in the US, namely, the regulations of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, treat sexual harassment at workplace as gender-neutral.

Arguably, the first gender-neutral sexual harassment law in India is the UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations 2015 which incorporate a gender neutral meaning of sexual harassment.

Given the incidents of sexual harassment faced by men in India, it is worth exploring whether the country needs gender-neutral sexual harassment laws. The first step towards this could be for the Indian government to conduct nation-wide surveys to determine the statistics of such crimes in India, and to invite public deliberations on these issues. This would ensure that a legislation (if any) on this issue is well-informed instead of it being a knee-jerk reaction.

The strongest criticism against such laws would undoubtedly be the potential for misuse of the law by a man against an innocent woman. However, it must be borne in mind that the danger of misuse of the legislative machinery cannot by itself be the reason for not enacting laws to protect men against sexual harassment. Instead, the law must focus on having adequate safeguards in place to guard it against potential misuse.

The author is a research fellow at Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. She is also a volunteer at Strategic Advocacy for Human Rights.
Bengaluru: The recurrence of severe drought in many parts of the country has prompted state governments to devise innovative water management techniques and the immediate success in some of them in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka has kindled a ray of hope. But there are also voices of caution.

Activists and experts said such schemes may not be sustainable in the long term and may damage the natural water percolation system.

Water conservationist Vijay Borade said Maharashtra's Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan  launched in December 2014  mainly involves deepening and widening of streams, canals and rivers and will have a long-term negative impact on the recharging of underground water and its quality.

"There is rock after a layer of soil, which is exposed after desilting and deepening activities. If the rock is exposed, how will water percolation happen? Water will just run off. Naturally, soil holds water and helps in recharging the underground water table. Although we see water availability today due to the Abhiyan, underground water-levels will be depleted in the near future," Borade told IANS.

The removal of the soil layer also destroys natural filtration system, leading to water contamination.

Borade said the Maharashtra government did not address his complaints and suggestions on the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan.

Borade, a winner of the Maharashtra government's Krishi Bhushan Award, said due attention should be given to soil conservation rather than just focusing on water conservation.

"We lose 15 tonnes of soil per acre annually as it washes away with running water. Unless we check soil erosion, water infiltration will not happen. One should not be worried of rains, they will come. One should think of soil conservation, which will take care of water conservation," he contended.

Interestingly, Borade has a reason to back his claims. Kadwanchi village in the heart of Maharashtra's drought-prone Marathwada region, is said to have never faced water scarcity in the last 10 years due to an effective watershed management plan.

Borade also lauded the efforts of the Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Trust (SSIAST), Bengaluru, in taking up the rejuvenation of 30 rivers in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu by reviving natural water resources, terming this a sustainable effort.

Geo-hydrologist and SSIAST trustee Y Lingaraju said watersheds are developed at various locations for effective percolation and sustained water flow to the river basin.

"For the rejuvenation of Kumudavathi river near Bengaluru, we are developing watersheds at 18 locations. This includes construction of boulder barriers on canals and streams to promote soil moisture and water percolation, construction of recharge wells, big tanks and injection pipes of up to 500 feet," Lingaraju, a former director of the Karnataka State Remote Sensing and Application Centre.

SSIAST's efforts have borne fruits as Makankuppe, Tavarekere, Mondigere and Teppadabeguru villages on the outskirts of Bengaluru have witnessed improved water availability in tanks and lakes during the last two summers after watershed techniques were implemented, Lingaraju claimed.

Meanwhile, Shakeel Ahmed, Chief Scientist at Hyderabad's National Geophysical Research Institute, said the Telangana government didn't carry out any scientific studies before launching its Kakatiya scheme in March 2015.

"Initial results seem good but we are not sure of long-term impact since no scientific study has been carried out. It could be no longer sustainable if the water percolation system is disturbed. If aquifer mapping is done, the government will be in a position to implement the scheme in a scientific and effective way," Ahmed told IANS.

The aquifer mapping could be done through helicopter-mounted optics-based technology, he suggested.
Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi has taken over a school in Mumbai's Mazgaon locality, which had been running under controversial preacher Zakir Naik's banned Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) earlier.

Mumbai Mirror reported that the school, which was on the verge of shutting down, has been taken over by Azmi's welfare trust.

"The future of 185 students was at stake. Two days ago, we signed the rent agreement and now Zakir Naik has nothing to do with it. It will be run by the Niyaz Minority, Education and Welfare Trust, and will be renamed as Avicenna International School. Avicenna is another name for Ibn Sina, who was a Persian polymath regarded as one of the most significant thinkers and writers of the Islamic Golden Age," Mumbai Mirror quoted Azmi as saying.

Abu Azmi has earlier defended Naik, saying that IRF was banned on wrong grounds. In December last year, he had said that students in IRF's school were stressed and the state should ensure that they are not adversely affected, DNA had reported.

Naik, 51, is believed to be staying in Saudi Arabia to evade arrest, after his activities came under the scanner following accusations that he had inspired some of the terrorists who attacked a cafe in Dhaka last year.

An FIR against Naik and his associates was registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in November last year.

The physician-turned-preacher has been booked for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and for committing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have also been slapped on him.

The Centre had declared IRF, an NGO based at Dongri in south Mumbai, an unlawful organisation under the UAPA.

The Delhi High Court had recently upheld the decision to immediately ban IRF, saying the organisation and its president and members were indulging in "unlawful activity".

Apart from IRF, Naik is also the founding trustee of the IRF Educational Trust and the Islamic Dimensions Trust.

The speeches of Naik are banned in the UK, Canada and Malaysia.

Naik himself has rejected all allegations of involvement in terror-related activities and opposed the ban on IRF.

With inputs from PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's NDA government at the Centre will complete three years in office later this month, and it's time to view the big picture in the two crucial cow-belt states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which have the potential to topple BJP's gameplan under normal circumstances. While the saffron bandwagon is seen merrily galloping towards its 2019 target, anti-BJP forces appear to be in a state of disarray. At least for now.

Let's first shine the spotlight on Bihar where Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal, which happens to be the major alliance partner in Nitish Kumar's state government, looks bruised and battered in wake of the fresh land scam expose against the Yadav chieftain.

Income Tax authorities have already conducted raids at 22 locations in Delhi and Gurugram in connection with the alleged benami land deals of Lalu and Co. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad called the land loot a case of "quid pro quo", as it dates back to the period when Lalu Yadav was railway minister. He also dared Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take action against his partner.

But on his part, Nitish has lobbed a counter suggestion to the Centre. "If they have the documents connected with the alleged scam, they should take legal recourse to prove their accusations. This is not an issue that falls in the domain of the state government," he said.

Regardless of the fact that Nitish continues to maintain his poise and balance as always, what's significant is that his Janata Dal (United) has not yet taken a call on attending Lalu's proposed "BJP hatao, desh bachao" rally in Patna in August. Bashishtha Narain Singh, who heads the party's state unit organisationally, said, "There is still enough time left; we shall take a call at the proper time."

It may be recalled that Lalu has already invited top opposition leaders, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Bannerjee, Navin Patnaik, HD Deve Gowda and many others for the proposed anti-BJP, anti- Narendra Modi show. He may or may not succeed in giving shape and substance to his ambitions, but one thing is clear: He possesses the proverbial cat's nine lives; he knows how to rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Remember the 2015 Assembly election in Bihar?

What we don't know for sure is whether he can reproduce the 'mahagathbandhan' magic on a national scale, especially at a time when his friendship with Nitish no longer looks rock solid. Within hours of I-T raids on properties linked to him, Lalu lost no time in putting out a tweet: "Congrats to BJP on new alliance partners." It wouldn't be surprising if the tweet fuels fresh speculation about the fate of the grand alliance in Bihar.

The scene in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh is equally chaotic. Mayawati and her erstwhile trusted lieutenant Naseemuddin Siddiqui continue to trade barbs endlessly. While the BSP supremo describes Siddiqui as a habitual blackmailer, the latter calls her an incorrigible gangster.

A day after Siddiqui and his son were shown the door for anti-party activities earlier this month, he told the press unequivocally: "On her direction, members of her gang kill people, set houses afire, beat up rivals, break their cars and issue threats as well She demanded Rs 50 crore from me When I failed to fulfill her demands, she sacked me I'm also aware of all the investments made by her."

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party still continues transmitting confusing signals to the world. While Akhilesh Yadav wants to strengthen his alliance with the Congress, patriarch Mulayam Singh thinks otherwise. For Mulayam, the 127-year-old Congress party is enemy number 1. He has his reasons to think so. Be that as it may, the fact remains that there is no 'mahagathbandhan' in UP.

Any guesses on what Mulayam does these days, now that he has been removed from the prime position within his own party? Kamal Khan of NDTV was quick to provide the answer. He wrote in a news report: "Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday landed up at the city's Wave Mall to watch Baahubali 2."

Perhaps Mulayam was wondering: Why on earth did Katappa kill Bahubali? It just didn't make any sense to him. Maybe, he was thinking from personal experience. For, he still doesn't know why he was unceremoniously removed from presidentship of the party.

Perhaps it's time for all the dramatis personae of the anti-Modi camps in UP and Bihar to take inspiration from a Napoleon Bonaparte quote: "The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies."
Seven municipal corporations in West Bengal witnessed polling this week, and all votes will be counted on Wednesday. Polling took place on Sunday at all seven centres  Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, and Mirik in the hills of north Bengal, and Domkal in Murshidabad district, Pujali in South 24-Parganas district, and Raiganj in North Dinajpur.

Polling day was marred by several incidents of violence, especially in the three plain districts. Some polling booths even witnessed bombs being hurled and electronic voting machines (EVMs) being damaged, allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers.

According to a report in The Hindu, state Congress general secretary Om Prakash Mishra had called elections in Domkal, Pujali and Raiganj manipulators as "illegal and unconstitutional". "This is a blatant attack on democracy," he had said, although he didn't mention if the Congress would demand re-polling.

In Raiganj and Pujali especially, opposition parties accused the ruling TMC of resorting to false voting, and of using violence to scare away voters. In Pujali, voting was even disrupted for a while, as an EVM was damaged by miscreants.

However, TMC leader Soumik Hossain lashed out at the Congress-Left tie-up, telling The Hindu that the opposition "has failed to garner any support and is thus concocting allegations".

Following the violence, security is being beefed up at all counting centres. A report in The Times of India said there will be seven counting centres  one each for every municipal corporation. "We will have 1-2 wards per table and there will be 16 tables. Counting centres for Mirik and Kurseong will be the SDO office; for Darjeeling, counting will be conducted at St Roberts High School, and it will be Kalimpong College for Kalimpong," sources in the administration said.

An average of 74 percent votes were polled in the seven municipalities. A report in The New Indian Express mentioned Domkal had the highest polling percentage at 74 percent, while Pujali and Raiganj followed closely with 81.7 and 79.2 percent votes respectively. Things were comparatively slower in the hills, and Mirik witnessed the highest turnout at 77.3 percent. Kurseong registered 71.8 percent votes, the figures for Kalimpong and Darjeeling were only 65.2 and 59.9 percent respectively.
Lucknow: Noting that BJP has hijacked the Ram temple issue from the Congress, Ram Govind Chaudhary, Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday said had the Babri mosque not been pulled down, the matter would have been resolved by now.

"It was the Congress which got the locks removed, placed the idols and Rajiv Gandhi got the 'shilanyas' done but you (BJP) hijacked the issue...had you not got the matter spoiled by pulling down the Babri mosque, the issue would have been resolved by now," Chaudhary said. He was speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the governor for his address to the joint sitting of the state legislature.

The veteran Samajwadi Party leader said that like all the Hindus he too wanted Ram temple (to be built) but the matter is now in the Supreme Court, so it should be done only as per the apex court verdict or through mutual dialogue. In a long speech laced with humour and sarcasm, he termed the 101-page governor's address as a useless commentary.

"There is no announcement of people's welfare scheme in the address and the only talk about loan waiver of farmers is also contradictory," Chaudhary said citing the difference in the cut-off date of cabinet decision on the issue and that mentioned in the governor's address.

Giving a detailed account of crime cases since the new government came to power, he alleged that BJP got massive majority on false promises and propaganda. "No one is feeling secure in the state today, not even traders," he said, citing the recent murder of two jewellers against which traders were observing bandhs in different places. He also said that it was a serious matter that the body of an IAS officer was found in the heart of the capital on Wednesday morning.

Charging the government with insensitivity, Chaudhary stressed that the government seems to be in a hurry and is ordering inquiries in all the works done by the previous Akhilesh Yadav dispensation. "People have sent them to resolve the problems but what did they do...become government of inspector raj," he said, adding that people wanted them to solve problems of poverty,

unemployment and others but they picked up the broom.

"They appear not concerned about the shortage of medicine but like to sweep the streets," he said. The leader of the opposition, who also gave an account of the works done during the previous government, said that the SP is not afraid of inquiries. "If the state of law and order continues as it is now and pace of development is like this, the government does not take enough interest in people's problems and we get the blessings of Yogi like this, we will form the next government with 285 to 350 seats (in the 403-member House)," Chaudhary said.

The SP leader said that his government was blowing its own trumpet and taking credit for the works done by the previous SP government. Speaking on the Yogi government's plans regarding 'gai,

Ganga and gokashi', he lamented that a new breed of gau sewaks have emerged who target anyone who is taking cows from one place to another.

To an interruption from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna lauding his "theatrics" which he said could have forced star of the millennium Amitabh Bachchan to take retirement, Chaudhary retorted by saying that it was the mega star who was advertising on behalf of Gujarat. On the issue of cow slaughter, the SP leader praised the party leader Azam Khan, who was present in the House, for his concerns and for raising it at the very first cabinet meeting of the SP government.

"Give up the drama and propaganda and if you are so concerned about cow, you should ban meat export by bringing a law by the central government," he said, adding that this step has harmed poor both among the Hindus and Muslims. "You propagate sabka saath sabka vikas, stop spewing venom against members of a particular community...are the Muslims not entitled to keep cows and buffaloes," he said, going on to claim that members of the RSS had no role in the freedom struggle but they later hijacked it by making tall claims.

Pointing towards Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said, "You are a chief minister and also a saint and you should not have the feeling of Hindu and Muslim in your mind and take all as one and take everyone along in development of the state."
Kannur: The BJP's Kerala unit president, Kummanom Rajasekharan, has been booked on charges of spreading false report over the killing of an RSS worker in Payyannur in Kannur on 12 May, police said on Tuesday.

He was booked under IPC Section 153(a) (promoting enmity between groups) on a petition by Muhammed Siraj, district secretary of Students Federation of India, CPM's student wing, they said.

Kunmannon had posted on Facebook a video which he claimed was of CPM activists celebrating the killing of RSS worker Choorakadu Biju at Payannur.

Biju was hacked to death at Payyanur town in Kannur, which has witnessed a series of clashes between ruling CPM and the RSS for the past one year.

He was an accused in a case relating to the killing of a CPM worker in 2016.

He was out on bail when he was killed.

The CPM had rejected Rajasekharan's charge and alleged that the BJP leader was trying to add fuel to fire.

On Monday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had stated in the assembly that the government would register a case against Rajasekharan after examining the video and also that the BJP leader's claim was incorrect and illegal.
Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar's house in at Pudukkottai was searched by the Income Tax department on Wednesday.

Tamil Nadu: IT raid at TN health minister Vijaya Bhaskar's residence in Pudukkottai  ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

The Tamil Nadu minister, however, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons for some time now.

More than 35 properties linked to Vijayabaskar and his relatives have been raided by the I-T sleuths within this year, strengthening Opposition voices demanding his dismissal from the Tamil Nadu cabinet, according to a report in The Times of India. Only last month, Vijayabaskar's house on Greenways Road in Chennai along with a quarry at his home town Pudukkottai were raided by the I-T officials.

The minister had also courted controversy in the cancellation of RK Nagar bypolls, as the I-T officials found several documents that held details of alleged malpractice in poll campaign at Jayalalithaa's constituency. A report in NDTV stated that documents suggesting that Rs 89 crore were handed out to voters to buy their support for Sasikala's nephew TTV Dinakaran, who was representing the AIADMK Amma in the by-polls.

"One key document gives an alleged blue print of the strategy that divides the assembly seat into 256 segments. The target is to reach out 85 percent of the 2.6 lakh voters, with cash in hand. The party had kept aside 89.65 crores for the purpose. It works out to Rs. 4,000 for each voter," the NDTV report stated. Another report in Deccan Chronicle said that Rs 5.5 crore were seized from three of his close associates in the raids.

Moreover, the minister's key aide KR Subramaniam  also under I-T scanner earlier  reportedly committed suicide weeks after the 7 April raids on the minister's properties. According to a report in NDTV, police suspect that Subramaniam was under duress because of the I-T raids and his interrogation by the tax officials. Another report in India Today said that Subramaniam committed suicide because I-T sleuths were pressurising him to 'accept' that he carried out benami transactions for the minister. "In the suicide note, Subramaniam has also named a former AIADMK minister, an IAS official and a senior IPS officer," the report said.

Tamil Nadu's main opposition party, DMK has sought a probe in Subramaniam's death and allegations of tax irregularities against the minister. However, the AIADMK has dismissed the demands stating "If we've to probe all deaths then we will have to only import judges from foreign countries. If doctors raise doubts then police will act according to law," the NDTV report said.

The I-T officials have questioned Vijayabaskar and his wife Ramya on previous occasions along with other people but no arrests have been made so far.
Panaji: The Congress in Goa on Tuesday said it is taking legal opinion over filing a petition seeking disqualification of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who continues to be Rajya Sabha MP.

The party's reaction came after Allahabad High Court issued notice to the Attorney General of India over a petition seeking disqualification of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Lok Sabha MP Yogi Adityanath for holding two posts.

"With regards to the developments which have taken place in Uttar Pradesh in the Yogi Adityanath case, the Congress in Goa is currently taking legal opinion over whether it can be done here", Goa Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar told IANS.

Parrikar, a former Defence Minister and a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, was rushed back to state politics in March this year, to head the Bharatiya Janata Partyled coalition government in Goa.

Parrikar, however, continues to be a member of the Rajya Sabha and party sources here have suggested, that he is likely to relinquish his parliamentary position after the election of the President, scheduled to be held before July 25 this year.

On Monday, the Allahabad High Court issued notice to the Attorney General after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) in which a social activist alleged that since both Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister K.P. Maurya were Lok Sabha MPs and were drawing salaries and other perks, they do not have a right to be in the positions of power in the state government.

The petitioner has cited the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act of 1959 and has called for nullifying the appointment of both Adityanath and Maurya.

While Adityanath is an MP from Gorakhpur, Maurya is a Lok Sabha member from Phoolpur in Allahabad.
Mahad: The Congress on Wednesday demanded that a police case be registered to probe reports that a Shiv Sena MLA sent another person as his substitute to take part in Sena's farmer outreach programme in Marathwada.

A Marathi news channel had last week claimed that Gautam Chabukswar, the Sena MLA from Pimpri-Chinchwad near Pune, skipped the party's 'Shiv Sampark Abhiyan' in Marathwada as he was travelling in north India.

However, he sent Yashodhar Phanase, a former corporator, to Osmanabad district (assigned to him by the party for the campaign) as his substitute. Phanase was introduced as the MLA during the tour, the report claimed.

However, both Chabukswar and Phanase had denied the allegations.

Referring to the reports, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Wednesday said that the police should suo moto (on its own) take note of the matter and file a cheating case against the Sena for sending a "dummy" MLA to Osmanabad.

He was talking to reporters in Mahad during the launch of the fourth phase of the Opposition's 'Sangharsh Yatra' which covers the Konkan region.

Referring to the BJP's 'Sanvad Yatra' and the Sena's 'Shiv Sampark Abhiyan', he expressed surprise that instead of announcing a loan waiver for farmers, the leaders of both the ruling parties were taking out the campaigns.

He said that Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray two days back said in Akola that "if there is corruption in the Jalyukt Shivar Yojna, what is the difference between this scheme and the irrigation scams (under Congress-NCP government)?"

Uddhav had also said that there should be an inquiry into the work done under the Jalyukt Shivar scheme.

Vikhe Patil said, "You (Sena) too are in government. If you think there are dacoits in the government, why don't you quit?"

He said unless the Shiv Sena doesn't pull out its ministers from the government on the issue of farm loan waiver, people will not trust the party.

The Congress leader also asked the BJP-led government to clarify its stand on the alleged "derogatory" comments of state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve against the farmers.

On the state government calling a three-day special session to pass the GST bill from 20 May, he said, "We had requested the Governor to direct the Centre for a special session to discuss the farm crisis and that the government announce a farm loan waiver."

"Even Shiv Sena made a similar demand but there is no response yet," Vikhe Patil said.

Criticising the government's demonetisation decision, he claimed that the RBI is not aware how much black money has been unearthed.

"Leave aside the black money, even the hard earned white money of the common man is lost. There is no cash in the ATMs," he said.

Apart from Vikhe Patil, Leader of Opposition in state Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde, NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare, and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan were present at the launch of the fourth phase the 'Sangharsh Yatra' at Mahad in Raigad district.

Senior Congress leader Narayan Rane is slated to join the campaign in Chiplun while his son and MLA Nitesh Rane is coordinating the arrangements in Sindhudurg district.

The yatra will conclude at Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg district on Thursday.
The water crisis in Delhi, that has mainly affected the city's north and central parts, including the Lutyens' zone, remained unresolved on Tuesday, but the shortage is likely to ease by Wednesday.

A late-evening Delhi government update said the supply will return to normal by Wednesday afternoon.

Deputy chief minister of the capital, Manish Sisodia, tweeted that the Haryana chief secretary has "assured" the city government that water supply in the Yamuna would be "back to normal".

Earlier, staring at further deepening of the crisis, the Delhi government, which has been blaming Haryana for the shortage, sought the intervention of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and also threatened to file a contempt petition in the Delhi High Court.

"Delhi's water crisis still not resolved. Water being stopped despite court order. I have directed DJB (Delhi Jal Board) to file contempt petition in HC (sic)," Sisodia had tweeted.

Two water treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal, which treat around 220 MGD (million gallons per day) out of the 900 MGD treated in Delhi, are running at 60 percent capacity, a DJB official said on a condition of anonymity.

The Lutyens' Bungalow Zone, which comes under the New Delhi Municipal Council, houses the PMO, the Rashtrapati Bhawan and residences of several Union ministers, judges, army officers and bureaucrats, among others.

The DJB official said that out of the 900 MGD, around 550 (almost 60 percent) comes from Haryana and the rest comes from Uttar Pradesh.

Almost every summer, Delhi and Haryana spar over water-sharing, with each claiming that the other's demand exceeds the stipulated quantity.

Sisodia told a press conference that around 80 MGD of Delhi's water supply had been stopped by the Haryana government, despite the Supreme Court's order prohibiting any such move.

"I have requested the Lt governor to seek the PMO's intervention to deal with the water crisis. This is a political issue and the PMO should intervene at the earliest. We should go beyond politics on this issue," he said.

Sisodia, who has been holding the additional charge of Water since Kapil Mishra's sacking from the Delhi cabinet last week, said chief secretary-level talks between Delhi and Haryana could not arrive at a conclusion.

"I have also told the L-G that there have been talks on the water crisis at the level of officers, but there is still no solution. If the water shortage continues, we will have to cut down supply in central Delhi," he said.

Delhi's water requirement is 900 MGD, but it is falling short by about 50 MGD since 8 May, according to a senior DJB official.

Sisodia also held a high-level meeting with the DJB officials and directed them to take all necessary measures to ensure the city continued to get an uninterrupted water supply, so that no inconvenience was caused to its residents.

Sisodia asked the DJB to keep "all its options ready".

On Monday, he had directed chief secretary MM Kutty to talk to his Haryana counterpart and ensure restoration of full water supply to Delhi.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's response to the Income Tax Department's raids at 22 locations to unearth his family's ill-gotten wealth was to send his party workers armed with lathis and party flags and attack BJP's office in Patna. This move, however, is likely to hurt Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar more than the BJP.

The RJD men succeeded in damaging some vehicles parked outside the BJP office on Birchand Patel Path in Patna, however, they probably had underestimated the muscle-power of the BJP, as its workers managed to ward off the attack. The entire episode was captured by television cameras present at the spot.

The question remains why did Lalu send his men to indulge in violence and make the headlines as he could not be naive enough to believe that the mere presence of some local goons would intimidate the party's central ruling dispensation. Lalu, after all, has been one of the finest practitioner of realpolitik, in all its intent and purposes and has been the most commanding figure in Bihar politics for the last 25 years.

He would know that an act of this nature would only infuriate the BJP top brass. If at all they had any role to play in the raids conducted against him on Tuesday then action against him by the Income Tax Department, ED and other such agencies would only get further intensified.

Though some reports suggest that Lalu was unaware of his party men attack on the BJP office, but in a highly-controlled party like the RJD, such an audacious move is not possible without a clear nod or instruction from one of the lead members of the Lalu Yadav-Rabri Devi family.

By doing this, Lalu or some other member of family is hurting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's 'Sushashan Babu' (governance man) image. Nitish's biggest USP was his administration's ability to maintain law and order in the state. Now if Nitish acts against the RJD men and puts them behind bars for rioting at BJP office, he will earn the wrath of his friend-turned-foe-turned-friend Lalu and will be accused by him of playing in BJP's hand. If he fails to act, he would be accused of turning a blind eye to his alliance partner's condemnable act of violence to remain in power.

An hour before the incident, a senior JD(U) leader told Firstpost how RJD had been restrained in its actions since Tuesday (after the news of Income Tax raids against Lalu poured in) just because Nitish was at the helm in the state. Had there been any other chief minister, given the attitude of the RJD leaders and workers, the state would have been in turmoil. The JD(U) leader was mistaken. He couldn't have estimated the RJD's game plan.

Nitish and Lalu may be alliance partners but sources in both the parties have indicated their discomfort with their ally. Nitish is not willing to be on Lalu's leash, particularly on issues concerning his image but Lalu and his men don't miss an opportunity to let people know that RJD was the biggest component in the ruling Mahagathbandhan (RJD- JD(U) and Congress) and that it was not Nitish Kumar government but it was Nitish-Tejashwi Yadav government.

The events of the past fortnight  the Supreme Court order in Rs 900-crore fodder scam, a series of well-documented revelations on Lalu and his family acquiring landed properties in Bihar, Delhi and elsewhere, and alleged fictitious transactions through shell companies  have changed the power dynamics in Bihar.

All these allegations against Lalu and his family have created a situation where it has become important that RJD remains in power in Bihar. Lalu's dependence on Nitish has increased. Lalu can't afford to be out of power in these difficult times.

But then Lalu can't be seen to surrendering to Nitish and if things come to a breaking point in the future, he can't let the latter get away with an untarnished image.

The JD(U), on its part, is closely watching the unfolding situation. Nitish has directed his party men not to talk to media over issues relating to Lalu and family's properties and the I-T raids. "What do we have to say. How do we know how Lalu, his sons and daughter acquired prime properties in Bihar and outside. We can't be seen defending his misdeeds. Nitish ji can't sully his image for Lalu", a JD(U) leader said.

Nitish's remarks to media on Tuesday after the raids was cryptic: "You say raids have been conducted at 22 places but why are you not showing all those places."

For now, Nitish is showing his prudence through his patience. He does not want to take any step in haste. There is a belief in his party that corruption cases don't impact political fortune of leaders with a solid caste base, but that is no longer valid  Mayawati and Mulayam Singh-Akhilesh Yadav decimation in UP is taken as a shining example of the changed political norm.

Then there is an argument that when Lalu was charged in the fodder scam case there was nothing on the ground that could reflect his corrupt practices. The latest revelations, pictures of under construction mall, palatial houses and farm houses in Delhi and the Income Tax raids at various locations have changed that scenario.

Lalu's hidden wealth, at least a portion of it, is now on display to people and that could change popular perception, even among his core support base of Yadav-Muslim. The bravado of attacking BJP office in Patna too would not go down well. Thanks to the follies of his partner, Nitish Kumar has to do a tight rope walk.
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the incident of raising 'azaadi' slogans by a women self help group members at a function attended by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

"The government has appointed Commissioner/Secretary of Industries and Commerce Department Shailendra Kumar as inquiry officer to enquire into circumstances which led to commotion and unruly situation during a function organised by state Rural Livelihood mission at SKICC yesterday," an official spokesman said.

Mehbooba had to beat a hasty retreat from the venue in the wake of shouting of azaadi slogans by the members of women self-help group, followed by unruly scenes during which few chairs were flung in the air.

"The inquiry shall inter alia include fixing responsibility on the officers/officials of various departments/organisations charged with the smooth conduct of the function but having failed to discharge their duties/assigned functions scrupulously," the spokesman said, adding that the inquiry officer shall submit a report along with recommendations within 15 days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Lakshadweep in November, BJP president Amit Shah, who is on a three-day visit to the islands, said.

He said that Kavaratti will be included in the smart city project, initiated by the Centre, and that the thrust would be given for development of infrastructure in the inhabited islands of Lakshadweep.

Also, steps will be taken to provide drinking water to all the 10 inhabited islands  Agatti, Amini, Androth, Bitra, Kadamath, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Minicoy and Chetlat  within the next two years, the BJP chief said.

"The prime minister will visit the island territory in November-end and will stay the whole day," Shah said, at a public meeting on Tuesday.

The BJP president said that after returning to Delhi he would prepare a project for the 10 islands of Lakshadweep and more cargo vessels, cold storage facilities and 4G connectivity would be provided.

He also interacted with members of the BJP's Lakshadweep state committee there.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Shah had said, "Reached Lakshadweep for my 3-day booth pravas... Different states, different people, different cultures but same passion and support for BJP (sic)."
Senior Congress leader and former cabinet minister in the UPA regime Mani Shankar Aiyar remains in the news more often than not because of a medley of reasons. In a freewheeling chat with Asad Ashraf, Aiyar talks about the future of the Congress party, presidential elections, his views on Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the change in foreign policy of India, the question of minorities among other relevant subjects. Edited excerpts:

How do you see the future of Congress party, you having said that Congress cannot take on Modi alone in 2019?

In 1998, we had decided to go alone but in 2004 our opinions drastically changed and we decided to fight the election in coalition with other secular outfits. We formed two successive governments after that. Why are you dragging me back to twenty years? In the 21st century, Congress has decided and acted on it to form alliances with other secular outfits and form governments as long as it as a natural required.

You being a vehement critique of communalism, do you think that forming alliances with parties who themselves have been with BJP in the past will help check communalism?

What happens if we abandon everybody else or everyone else abandons us as it happened it 2014? How is secularism saved or served by the Congress spiralling down to 44 seats? Therefore the idea that somehow secularism of the Congress is connected to the idea of going alone in the election is completely mistaken. The rift seen in India since 1947 has been between those who believe in a Hindu India and others who have fought for the idea of a secular republic. Having said so, we are very careful and want to make sure that we do not join hands with forces that have time and again joined BJP, these forces are either an opportunist or non-serious on the question of secularism.

Do you mean to say that your ally in Bihar, Nitish Kumar is not sincere when it comes to the question of secularism? Nitish was with NDA government for almost a decade

I am afraid thats a half-cocked question, you referred to his being in alliance with BJP and not that he broke up with BJP precisely on this question. We did not join Nitish when he was parting ways with BJP. We did so only after he demonstrated his conviction that no matter what it costs to himself but he will not continue to remain in alliance with the BJP because of its communal credentials.

You have been talking about a rainbow alliance, which includes the Left parties, now it is seen that when it come to the question of economy, Congress and Left parties stand at different poles? Do you think you will be able to overcome this contradiction unlike during UPA 1?

I am sorry. You have got your facts wrong. Immediately after UPA won the election in 2004, the stock market collapsed because it seemed as if the Left parties were joining the government. The stock market recovered after it was clear that Left was not a part of the government. They withdrew their outside support in 2007. I would have bene very happy perhaps because I am a Leftist myself, had they joined the coalition in 2004, they would have somewhat moderated the rightward swing of the pendulum and I am of the opinion that some moderation of that right wing swing was required.

However, I am very glad that Sitaram Yechury has joined hands with Mamata Banerjee, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Nitish Kumar, Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah in favour of a secular alliance which will include Congress.

Now given that even at its peak in 2014 May, BJP got only 31 percent of the votes cast whereas 69 percent went to the outfits I have mentioned.

Do you think that India can be a fascist state amid the debates, which are going on right now, are you of the view that democracy can be subverted in India?

If you gave (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi a two-third majority in both houses of Parliament, I think any thinking Indian must weigh the possibility of the Constitution being amended in a fascist reaction. If you dont do it, I am afraid that you are blind notwithstanding the fact that god has given you two different eyes.

Now when you talk about the Constitution being amended, the presidential election becomes very important, what is your partys strategy for the elections?

Well, a number of leaders from around the country have been calling the Congress president. The Congress has not made an announcement of the decision. It would be the duty of the Opposition to not allow a walk over for the government.

Repeatedly a suggestion has been cropping up that the incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee should be a given another chance. However, the final decision will be in consultation with everyone else.

You have time and again stated that there is a difference between Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government and Modi and have said that the former prime minister was not a religious extremist. Can you elaborate that for us?

Atal Bihari is a good human being. He looked very influenced by Jawaharlal Nehru in his early years of political life. Nehru himself took a keen interest in him. There was so much of Nehruvian overlay on his fundamental RSS persona that when it came to religious extremism as is in the case of Babri Masjid demolition, he was personally not a prominent face in the rath yatra when everybody else was present at the spot of demolition. He was not someone who would refer to innocents who were killed in communal violence as puppy dogs. Having said that I reiterate that a consider Vajpayee a good human but a bad leader.

Coming to foreign policy, you have been quoted saying that Indias foreign policy aggravates conflict rather than damping it down, can you brief us on this?

Between 2003 and 2008, there was a very effective backchannel conversation between special envoys of India and Pakistan, which led to more progress on the dispute in Kashmir. The formulations that were in the process of being evolved were pathbreaking.

To get Pakistan to agree along with India that there can be no question of azadi for Jammu and Kashmir was a breakthrough. To agree no settlement will involve any exchange of population or territory and the agreement in principle if not in writing on the economic development of Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian part of Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir is a very hopeful sign for the future. All the factual evidence show that ceasefire violation during that period had significantly dropped down. It was very unfortunate that prime minister wanted to resume the process in his second term but his cabinet was not with him. Similarly during that period relations with China had also improved a lot. But what we are seeing today is that we are terribly fighting with Pakistan on one hand and China, on the other hand, this proves the failure of Modi's foreign policy.

Coming back to India, it is often stated that the chaiwala remark against Modi got him a lot of sympathy among common masses, although you have been reiterating time and again that you never used this remark. What is your clarification on that?

Why are you still misquoting me? The record clearly shows that he himself called himself a chaiwala. Not once but again and again. I was asked on 17 January whether I thought he was competent to be the prime minister of India, I gave several reasons that why he does not fit into the shoes of Jawaharlal Nehru. And then I said when he loses the election and if he wants to sell tea again, we can make some arrangement. I just dont believe that I am so influential with one poor joke to have lost the entire Congress party. There were billions of reasons for Modis victory.

Minorities especially Muslims have been disappointed with the Congress party, this is the general perception among Muslim masses, owing to their socio-economic conditions, this has led to the rise of people like Owaisi who is talking exclusively about the constitutional rights of the Muslims along with trying to forge an alliance with the Dalits, what do you have to say on this?

To say that successive Congress governments have discriminated against Muslims is an irresponsible remark. Why Muslims have not been benefitted largely from the policies of the Congress government meant for all is that they lie at the bottom of the class structure after the partition of India and creation of Pakistan. The fruits of development did not reach them being at the bottom yet. However, things are not similar when it comes to Muslims in all parts of India. In southern states, Muslims are doing much better than what they are doing in northern India, precisely because migration didnt take place in masses from there. As far as the rise of Asaduddin Owaisi and identity politics is concerned, I personally cant oppose Muslim identity politics at a time when Dalits have their own political forces, BJP tries to represent Hindutva. However, let me reiterate that Asads experiment has been a failure in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

If there were no discrimination based on identity against Muslims in India by the Congress party, why would you think that so many Muslims arrested on charges of terrorism during UPA regime were later acquitted by courts?

I am not denying that many Muslim youths have been falsely implicated under charges of terrorism. One should look into the problem and try to resolve it rather than engaging in blame games.



A section of the Muslim community has also been saying that it was the Congress government which is responsible for the rise of organisations like Hindu Yuva Vahini, Bajrang Dal and other similar outfits as it did not take proper actions against them despite them being alleged of carrying out bomb blasts and instigating riots at times, what is your take on this?

We believe in democracy and are not fascists. We could not ban organisations just like that. Even if we had done that, the ban might not have stood in the court of law.
Chandigarh: Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday said a letter that was written by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu last month "vindicates" his stand that the previous SAD government had "diverted" funds meant for development schemes like AMRUT and Smart city.

The letter addressed to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh last month stated that funds for three key missions  Smart city, AMRUT and Swachh Bharat for Punjab will only be released if the state government expedites their execution.

Citing the letter, in which Naidu had expressed concern over the delay in the implementation of these schemes, Sidhu targeted the SAD-BJP alliance which lost to Congress in the recent Punjab state Assembly elections.

The letter was released by Sidhu to the media on Chandigarh on Wednesday. He claimed that it (the letter) "vindicated" his stand on blaming former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal for the "diversion" of funds meant for the three key missions during previous SAD-BJP regime. Referring to a review meeting held by Secretary, Urban Development on April 7, 2017 in Chandigarh, the union minister in the letter had said, "In the smart cities mission even though SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) was formed long back in Ludhiana and project management consultants appointed, no project has been tendered so far."

"In the Amrut mission, there has been a long delay in DPR preparation, tendering and start of works. The third (final) State Annual Action Plan has also not been sent by the Punjab government to the Ministry of Urban Development.

"In the Swachh Bharat Mission, out of ULBs (Urban Local Bodies), only one has been declared ODF (open defecation free) and there is low drawal of funds for construction of toilets."

The letter further states, "I would request you to kindly review the progress of missions at your level and issue necessary directions to your officers so that project implementation is expedited. This will also be necessary for us to be able to release further instalment of funds to state government under these missions."

The union ministry in the letter also said, "One issue that has emerged across all missions is the delay in release of central and state share of funds to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

"Not only is the state share not being released by the state, but also the central share is inordinately delayed. Another issue is the shortage of staff especially professionals at the city/state level. We are funding recruitment of experts/professionals in ULBs, but the positions have not been failed up by the state government."

"I believe these issues can easily be addressed by the state government in order to achieve progress in the implementation of these important missions and achieve significant improvement in the areas of water supply, sanitation, waste management and critical urban infrastructure," the letter stated.

After releasing the letter written by the union minister, Sidhu said this letter "vindicated my stand".

"I am presenting the documentary evidence in which the central minister Venkaiah Naidu wrote to our Chief Minister," said Sidhu.

"I had told you (media) how the funds by father-son (Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal) were diverted for other purposes including Sangat Darshan." "Who gave them the right to use funds for purpose other than the purpose it was meant for," he said.

On May 15, Sidhu, who holds local bodies portfolio, had charged Badals with siphoning off funds over Rs 2,000 crore of funds under Smart city project and Amrut scheme, alleging that Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal "put the money into their accounts by diverting state funds".

Sidhu accused former SAD-BJP regime of keeping property tax collection and water charges pending, which led to outstanding tax arrears of crores of rupees.

He further said the department will also ask people to pay their pending property taxes in easy instalments. "We will provide people with civic amenities first and then we will ask them to pay taxes," he said.

There was no policy for revenue from advertisement. As against potential revenue of Rs 2,000 crore, the state was getting just Rs 2.5 crore, he said.
Srinagar: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday hit out at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for "trying to play down" raising of 'azaadi slogans' at her function by women members of self help groups.

"I dread to imagine what lies @MehboobaMufti tells PM Modi in private when she can't even be honest about things everyone can see videos of," Abdullah wrote on Twitter.

He was commenting on Mufti's assertion that chaos had broken out at the function at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) after a woman had fainted and water could not be given to her.

However, videos clearly showed that women participants walked out of the function as soon as the chief minister reached the SKICC, on the banks of Dal Lake.

Several women said they would not have attended the function if they were informed before hand about the presence of the chief minister there.

"Women storm out of @MehboobaMufti s event at SKICC and raise Azaadi slogans. Say they were coerced to attend the function. Wake up @JKPDP," NC spokesperson Junaid Mattu tweeted.

"This is what happens when the machinery of Govt is used for the sole purpose of rebuilding @MehboobaMufti s non-existing credibility," Abdullah wrote in another tweet.
Workers from Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD clashed with BJP workers in Patna on Wednesday, one day after the Income Tax department conducted raids and surveys at about 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas linked to Lalu in connection with alleged benami deals worth Rs 1,000 crore.

BJP workers in Patna told Times Now that the RJD members who clashed with them were shouting, "Narendra Modi murdabad, Lalu Prasad zindabad."

"This government is trying to hide its scams by attacking the opposition leaders," said a BJP worker.

However, another BJP leader himself threatened violence, saying, "Ee are not weak. If given power, we can also respond."

The raids came days after the Supreme Court order of 8 May restored the charge of criminal conspiracy against the RJD leader in all four fodder scam cases against him in which he would now stand trial. Lalu has been barred from contesting elections after his conviction and sentencing in one of the cases.

According to I-T officials, raids were conducted at the premises of some prominent businessmen and real estate agents in Delhi, Gurgaon, Rewari and other places. The searches were conducted at a handful of business premises, including one owned by the son of RJD MP and former Union minister Prem Chand Gupta.

While raids were conducted at a dozen locations, 10 other premises were also surveyed, I-T sources said.

"People and businessmen connected to the land deals involving Lalu Prasad and his family are being searched. There are allegations of benami deals worth about Rs 1,000 crore and subsequent tax evasion," a senior official said.

BJP had accused Prasad, his MP daughter Misa Bharti and his two sons, both ministers in the Nitish Kumar government, of being involved in "corrupt" land deals worth over Rs 1,000 crore. It asked the Centre to probe one such transaction in Delhi. Lalu's younger son Tejashwi is the deputy chief minister of Bihar.

With inputs from PTI
A day after the Income Tax Department raids on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav's properties, more than hundred RJD workers attacked BJP's office in Patna on Wednesday.

The incident took place while the BJP workers were holding state-wide agitation against the Nitish Kumar-led coalition government in which Lalu's RJD is a partner. The BJP is demanding removal of Lalu's sons, Tej Pratap and Tejaswi Prasad Yadav, from the Bihar cabinet.

While the protests were on at several places, RJD youth wing workers marched towards BJP office on Beerchand Patel Marg. BJP supporters tried to stop them which led to clashes between supporters of both the parties. BJP state president Nityanand Rai claimed that as many as 15 party workers were hurt in the attack.

The BJP workers also clashed with the police when they tried to head towards the RJD office in retaliation.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who has raised a string of corruption charges against Lalu recently, termed this attack as an act of desperation and said if Nitish Kumar remains silent to this gundagardi (hooliganism), then his party would launch state-wide agitation. He will also be meeting the Director General of Police (DGP) and submit a report to him.

Police have been deployed near both the party offices.

On the other hand, RJD leader Manoj Jha said that party workers were demonstrating peacefully when BJP workers hurled stones at them and in response they retaliated.

The I-T Department on Tuesday conducted raids at 22 places in and around Delhi in connection with an alleged benami property case involving Lalu and his family with the Opposition parties pressurising Nitish to end the party's alliance with RJD.
Mumbai: The Shiv Sena, ruling coalition partner in the BJP-led Maharashtra government, on Wednesday said it was opposed to state cabinet's decision to levy three percent stamp duty on gift deeds transferring property among the blood relations.

Sena leader and environment minister Ramdas Kadam told reporters that the government should withdraw the decision, or his party would launch an agitation.

The cabinet on approved three per cent stamp duty if a property is gifted to "blood relations".

The duty charged currently is barely Rs 200 to Rs 500, depending on the nature of the plot.

Section 34 of the Maharashtra Stamp Duty Act would be amended for this purpose.

A gift deed of property to spouse, brother or sister or a legal heir will attract the stamp duty at the rate of three percent.

"If the government does not withdraw the decision, the Sena will hit the streets," Kadam said, adding that party president Uddhav Thackeray was not happy with the decision.

When asked why the Sena ministers did not oppose the cabinet proposal, Kadam said they were in Akola for party's farmer outreach program and reached here late in the night.

"The next day we attended the cabinet meeting and had no time to go through the cabinet note," he said.

Sena is "not in power" in the real sense of the term but remains in the government only so that the state may not have to face a mid-term election, he said.
Patna: Six persons were injured in a clash between workers of the BJP and the RJD outside the BJP state headquarters, a day after I-T raids in connection with alleged benami property deals involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

Carrying RJD flags and shouting 'Lalu Zindabad', hundreds of bare-bodied RJD youth wing workers marched towards the BJP office at Beer Chand Patel Marg protesting against senior BJP leader Sushil Modi's "continuous attack" on Prasad and his family.

As they turned violent and "threw stones" at the BJP office, the party's workers came out of the office with sticks to retaliate. At least six persons were allegedly hit by stones and many vehicles parked outside the BJP office were damaged.

"It was unprovoked violence. Police intervened timely to separate the clashing workers of both the parties," Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told PTI. Additional police force has been deployed to maintain peace, the SSP said.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Muzzafarpur where the RJD workers gheraoed the BJP office but timely intervention by police prevented an outbreak of violence.

An FIR was lodged by BJP office in-charge Lalit Kumar Yadav with town police station here in the incident, which he alleged was "provoked" by Prasad and his two minister sons. Deputy Superintendent of Police Shibli Naumani confirmed to PTI the registration of the FIR.

Later, a BJP delegation comprising senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, state party chief Nityanand Rai and party chief whip in the assembly, Arun Sinha met Director General of Police PK Thakur and submitted a memorandum seeking action against the RJD.

Sushil Modi told reporters that they drew attention of the DGP to the use of empty liquor bottles by the RJD while attacking the BJP office. There is total prohibition in Bihar since last year.

Rai alleged that the police acted as "mute spectators" while the RJD workers were indulging in violence.

A month ago Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav had taken out a procession riding a horse driven chariot here and was followed by more than 200 motorcycles in the prohibited area and the police stood helpless. The two parties blamed each other for the clash.

Sushil Modi, who sat on a dharna at Gardanibagh with Rai and others, said the attack was "shameful" and alleged it was "orchestrated" by the state government to "gag" the voice of the opposition. "BJP office is located in a prohibited area and due to this we were not given permission to hold our protest dharna in front of our party office. Then how were hundreds of RJD goons allowed to stage protest and throw stones at us?" he asked.

"When the violence was happening at the BJP office, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was sitting in a state-level bankers' committee meeting a short distance away," he told PTI. His party colleague Nand Kishore Yadav described the RJD attack on the BJP office as a mark of their "dejection".

"Is this sushasan (good governance)?" he asked.

RJD national spokesman Manoj Jha held a press conference in which he paraded a few party workers with their heads bandaged and blamed the BJP for the violence. "RJD workers were peacefully protesting when the BJP workers threw stones and glass bottles at them," the party's spokesman Mritunjay Tiwari told PTI. He said Sushil Modi has been levelling "unsubstantiated" allegations against Lalu Prasad and his family for which the youth wing workers of the party were protesting.

Sushil Modi has levelled a series of charges against Lalu Prasad, his two minister sons  deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and health minister Tej Pratap Yadav and daughter Misa Bharti, who is a Rajya Sabha MP of the RJD.
Civic polls are usually deglamourised poor cousins of general elections, Assembly polls or even the odd bypolls. Usually fought on ultra-local issues, these polls hardly capture headlines except reinforcing the writ of the ruling parties. Yet, the West Bengal municipal elections, the results for which were declared on Wednesday, carry a portend deeper than what meets the eye.

At the state level, the victory of All India Trinamool Congress confirms the party's hegemony, signals the breaking of "hill barrier", portrays the Left and Congress as inconsequential forces and lays the roadmap for a still-nascent BJP. More importantly, at the national level, it provides the beleaguered opposition parties with a platform to take on BJP's pan-Indian dominance.

One of the curious natures of democracy  at least in the subcontinent  is how it defines the relationship between the political and the moral. Political authority provides moral validation. So, we find that leaders facing massive corruption allegations or charges of criminality  even if convicted and sentenced  refer frequently to the larger "people's court" while fighting elections. They are aware that a win at the electoral hustings would be good enough to wash away the taint.

In other words, political victories ipso facto provide moral justification for the wins. Once that happens, pending charges or a past criminal record are no longer a hindrance to public life. Morality ceases to be of any consequence to the victor or members of the party which he/she helms. What happens though when the situation is reversed? Interestingly, the question of morality resurfaces. All the questions of probity in public life are posed anew. Things can go quickly south if reverses fit into a pattern.

This is the context in which we must place the BJP vs the opposition binary in national politics. Repeated electoral reverses have robbed Congress of the moral immunity. As more and more skeletons tumble out of its closet, India's grand old party is finding it difficult to fight back. This downward curve has affected its allies in equal measure.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was the toast of the opposition parties by stopping the BJP juggernaut, sought to relegate his past criminality into dustbins of history. Though Lalu hasn't lost any election since the Bihar Assembly election in 2015, a combination of BJP's relentless march, "third front" partners Congress or Samajwadi Party's miserable performances and recent court judgements on the fodder scam have robbed him of the smugness. Multiple income-tax raids on his properties, allegedly linked to him, have added to the discomfort.

The picture that emerges is one of an opposition-in-disarray, concerned more with its own survival than mounting a worthwhile political challenge to BJP's hegemony. This is where Mamata Banerjee's domination carries a deeper significance. The West Bengal chief minister has promised to "uproot BJP from Delhi" for having the audacity to throw a challenge at her. Hidden in the rhetoric is the supreme confidence Mamata has in her abilities to protect her backyard from an aggressive BJP's advances.

The scale of TMC's victory in West Bengal mirrors BJP's pan-Indian domination. TMC bagged four out of seven municipalities that went to polls. Crucially, it has opened an account in the hills (albeit via an alliance with Gorkha National Liberation Front), a feat which eluded even the Left Front during its 34-year rule in the state. TMC not only bagged the Mirik Notified Area winning six out of nine wards, it also significantly increased its vote share in the other hill civic bodies (Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling) that expectedly went to Bimal Gurung's Gorkha Janmukti Morcha that has tied up with BJP.

In the plains, it was all TMC. The party swept the three civic bodies of Domkol, Raiganj and Pujali. The extent of the opposition parties' decimation can be gauged from the fact that the Left Front and Congress, which entered into an unofficial seat adjustment, won "royal" four wards out of the total 64. The BJP won three  two wards in Pujali and one in Raiganj.

Bear in mind that Raiganj in North Dinajpur district and Domkol in Murshidabad were the last few pockets where Congress still had some influence. There is not a shadow of doubt that TMC didn't play fair. The three civic bodies in the plains witnessed large-scale violence. Voters were terrorised, rival polling officers were thrashed and the media took a beating as alleged TMC goons sprayed bullets and lobbed crude bombs. The police resembled the picture postcards of 80s Bollywood cinema.

The opposition  Left, Congress and BJP  laid siege at the State Election Commissioner's door and Congress petitioned the High Court urging for repoll in the three areas. There was no relief forthcoming either from the SEC or the HC, which on Wednesday threw out Congress's petition. Where muscle didn't succeed, carrots did. Two Congress candidates in Domkal joined TMC immediately after emerging victorious. Mamata seemed to have taken a leaf out of Chanakya's saam, daam, dand, bhed to achieve total domination.

Violence and polls are almost synonymous in West Bengal. In some ways, Mamata has taken the Left model and improved upon it. The TMC is now a mean election fighting machine. This is where the BJP's biggest challenge lies. At a national level, Mamata may now attempt a coalition of opposition forces and take the lead in defining its strategies. Electoral victories have washed away the taint of Saradha and Narada scams and conferred upon Mamata a political and moral ascendancy that she will look to exploit to the hilt.

At the state level, the BJP must calibrate its strategy. An Amit Shah luncheon with a Dalit family is unlikely to bring large-scale electoral benefits for BJP when its rival is so agile, mutative and resilient.

The BJP has thrown a fair challenge at Mamata's crude social engineering but for that to translate into electoral dividends will require a more sober assessment and recalibration of targets. The tall talks of ousting Mamata by 2021 are meaningless. It is not enough to attempt a larger coalition of Hindu votes. For it to take shape, the BJP must invest in a local and grassroots-level leader who may challenge Mamata's mass appeal.

Many in the opposition saw 2014 as the crest of BJP's political fortunes. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah showed that it was just the beginning. In Mamata, however, the BJP has run into an opponent who has the political capital, resolve and the agility to play a long game. The civic polls' results have provide another confirmation.
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has won four out of the seven municipalities, three in the plains and one in the notified hill area of West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee has emerged victorious despite the recent push by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, who visited the state to rejuvenate party cadre before polls. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), a constituent of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituent, has maintained its dominance over the hills. It did face a setback though in Mirmik. The Congress and Left, however, have been decimated further, of whatever was left of them in the state.

ied hill area, TMC has made inroads by bagging Mirkik. The TMC also managed to win in six wards in other three hilly regions of Drajeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

Factionalism, infighting, splits and charges of corruption against top leadership of GJM has marred its prospects. Harka Bahadur Chhetri formed his own party, the Jan Andolan Party (JAP), which opened its account in the West Bengal municipal election. The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), a key torch bearer of separate statehood formed an alliance with TMC.

The demand for a separate state started as a social movement, however, soon, it turned into a political party. This is the root cause of all GJM problems. A political party is different from a social movement. Social movements are run with the support of voluntary contributions from the public. In contrast, a political party needs money in large sums to contest elections, pay its cadre and leaders for rallies and events, and so on.

GJM will soon be under pressure from the public as to the steps taken by the NDA government at the centre on the issue of separate statehood. Now GJM cant blame Congress and it cant abdicate its responsibility either. Mamata, riding on Mirkik victory, would lure other areas promising development and further weakening this movement, or convince people to drop the demand for separate statehood.

II. TMC trumps Congress-Left alliance in its strongholds

The most impressive victory of TMC has been in Domkal and Raiganj municipalities. Both these assembly seats were won by the jote (alliance) of Left and Congress just a year ago in the West Bengal Assembly polls. While CPM had won Domkal by 6,890 votes, Congress had won the Raiganj seat by a massive 51,247 votes.

TMC has won 18 of the 21 wards in Domkal and 24 of the 27 wards in Raiganj. In Raiganj, TMC had bagged only 25 percent vote share despite Mamata sweeping the state Assembly elections. This translates to seven seats for TMC in civic polls (as per the leads made in the Assembly elections). The wins in municipality elections imply a gain of 17 seats for TMC (as compared to leads in assembly elections).

In Domkal, TMC had recorded only 33.3 percent vote share during the Assembly elections, thus implying that it had lead in seven wards. In the municipal elections, TMC gained 11 wards.

On an aggregate, therefore, TMC has gained 28 wards in these two municipalities compared to leads made during the state Assembly elections."

III Non-Hindi speaking states continue to be a weak point for BJP

The results of West Bengal municipal elections highlight continued weak performance of BJP in non-Hindi speaking states. People voted for Maa Maati Maanush vs Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.

In the nine Hindi speaking states in India (greater than 50 percent population), BJP has formed a government in six states. Of the 14 states, where Hindi speaking population is less than five percent, BJP has formed a government in only two states (Manipur and Gujarat). In eight states where the Hindi-speaking population is greater than five percent, BJP has formed a government in just four states.

The only silver lining for BJP is that West Bengal falls in the category of states with more than 5 percent Hindi speaking population. The leaders who can speak chaste Bengali come from the grass roots. They are required to pitch for the hot seat in 2021. A catchy Bengali slogan is likely to be more impactful in countering the 3M formula of TMC.

IV. Results resonate BJP's "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas" cholbe na in West Bengal

To conclude, the results have national ramifications. Mamata emerges as a giant killer capable of deflating BJPs torpedo along with Nitish Kumar and Arvind Kejriwal. This will boost her confidence, and she will clamour for a larger role in any anti-BJP front which shapes up in future. The people of West Bengal may also want didi to become the prime ministerial candidate of a united opposition.

While it's only civic elections, the way BJP marketed every cvici election win ensures Mamatas win cant be belittled either. BJP will have to slog very hard to dislodge Mamata in 2021. The Modi-Shah jadoo wont work until the local leadership is nourished well. The Left is witnessing a big decline in its fortunes. And TMC is now the new Left in many ways in West Bengal. A food for thought for Congress: it's time to swap allies, dump Left and embrace Mamata.

Amitabh Tiwari is a corporate and investment banker turned political commentator, strategist and consultant. Views are personal. He can be reached @politicalbaaba
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Six of the nine wards in Mirik municipality went to to Trinamool Congress-Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) alliance, signalling the first time a party from the plains has won the hills of northern West Bengal. Bengal is a state which has witnessed a strong Gorkhaland movement in the past. This is a huge setback for Bimal Gurung's Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and a tectonic shift in politics of the hills.

Describing the violence and "rampant irregularities" in Sunday's civic polls as a "mockery of democracy", CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday slammed West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress for its "blatant misuse" of the state machinery.

After early trends suggested a victory for the ruling Trinamool Congress, party leader Subhendu Adhikari told CNN-News18 that the win would be a victory against "communal forces".

Pujali municipality under the state's South 24 Paragnas district went to Trinamool Congress, with Mamata Banerjee's party winning 12 out of 16 wards. Significantly, BJP won two wards and Congress, which had an unofficial seat-sharing arrangement with the Left Front, just one. Pujali is among the three seats which saw large scale violence during Sunday's polling, with opposition parties accusing TMC of "terrorising voters, rival polling officers and rigging". Asadul Islam, TMC's winning candidate, told a TV channel that this is the win for "Mamata Banerjee's development politics".

In violence-hit Raiganj municipality of Bengal's North Dimapur district, Trinamool Congress won 15 out of 20 wards declared so far. Though the total number of wards are 27, Trinamool already has an unassailable majority in Raiganj. Opposition parties like Left Front, Congress and BJP had demanded a repoll at Raiganj alleging widespread violence. Left leader Surjya Kanta Mishra had said that three CPM workers had sustained bullet injuries during Sunday's polls.

It's nearly a clean sweep for Trinamool Congress in Murshidabad's Domkal municipal polls, the party clinching 20 out of 21 seats. The Congress-Left Front combine got the one solitary seat to deny a Trinamool whitewash. BJP won zero.

Trinamool wins 20 out of 21 seats in Domkal; BJP gets zero

In Kurseong municipal elections, Bimal Gurung's Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, which had tied up with the BJP for the civic elections, managed to perform very well, winning 17 out of 20 wards. Trinamool, which tied up with Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), won the rest. But more importantly, Trinamool won from Mirik in Darjeeling district, the first time a party from the plains (albeit with the help of a tie-up with GNLF) has won from the hills in 40 years.

Trinamool becomes first party from plains to win Hills in 40 years

GJM, which has traditionally been strong in the hills of north Bengal, won the Darjeeling municipality, bagging 31 out of 32 wards. The TMC-GNLF combine won the other ward.

Trinamool Congress swept Domkol municipality in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, winning 20 out of 21 wards. Along with Raiganj and Pujali, TMC has now wiped out the Left-Congress opposition from all the three municipalities from Bengal's plain areas that went to civic polls. The results make it clear that Left and Congress are no longer a political force in Bengal. It also shows that the BJP still has a long, long way to go before challenging TMC's hegemony. With Domkol, TMC has now bagged four out of seven civic bodies that held elections on Sunday.

This is in line with the 2016 assembly results when TMC, despite sweeping the entire state, failed to win in the foothills and hills district of Darjeeling. Led by Bimal Gurung the party had won all the three seats  Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Kurseong. The Jote (CPM-Congress) alliance had bagged the other three seats.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), a constituent of NDA at the center has swept the Darjeeling civic polls bagging 31 out of 32 seats. TMC could sneak in just one seat.

GJM runs the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), formed through tripartite agreement between GJM, Centre and TMC government in July 2011 and has proven once again that it continues to be the most vocal political force in the hills.

GJM has been spearheading the movement for a separate state of Gorakhland since the 1970s. It is still the most dominant issue in the hills of Bengal.

In what is a revenge of sorts for Harika Bahadur Chhetri, his newly formed party bagged a seat in Kalimpong civic polls. JAP was formed just before 2016 state elections when Chhetri, the then spokesperson of GJM, floated his own party after falling out with Bimal Gurung.

Chhetri was backed by Mamata, who was desperate to make an in-road in Darjeeling and break GJMs monopoly. However, it is to be noted that in the 2016 elections, he had failed to retain his Kalimpong seat.

People of Bengal have yet again reposed their faith on the development initiatives of Mamata Banerjee," the Trinamool Congress was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying after reports of its victory trickled in.

In a short statement on the election results, the Trinamool Congress took potshots at the BJP stating that the people of Bengal have yet again rejected the opposition forces and ploys to play divisive politics.

TMC has won the four municipalities which went to polls recently. All these three are in the plains, in the four municipalities in the hills, TMC was never been strong. She has won 83 percent of the seats in the plains. Clearly, this proves that Narada and Sharada has no impact on her. This also proves that there is no Modi wave in Bengal. The entire propaganda of BJP, Mission Bengal 2021, is all a sham.

Mamata is now the 'queen' of Bengal. Her rustic, maverick style is loved by the people. She is seen as the 'Robinhood' who freed state from the corrupt rule of Left. She is the 'Modi' of Bengal. BJP, Left and the Indian National Congress have no chance and hope left after these results.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha wins Kalimpong with 19 seats, while the Trinamool Congress has won just two seats. Others have captured two seats too.

The victory of TMC in Mirik proves that the people of the hills have reposed their faith in the chief minister. During campaigning, the residents used to tell us that development always bypasses Mirik, said state public works minister Aroop Biswas.

TMC has a lot to cheer about in these election results. It has won Mirik, which is in the hills, and a stronghold of Gorkha statehood parties. While TMC won six seats, GJM could win only three. Food for thought for the regional parties. Their factionalism and infighting seems to have helped TMC.

TMC leader Gautam Deb was quoted by News18 as saying, We are happy that for the first time, people in the hills have voted for a party from the plains. This shows that people in the hills now understand that they were cheated by the GJM.

Additionally, BJPs caste manipulations will not work in Bengal. The state is more about class politics. It has failed to understand this despite successive losses. Partys support is restricted to rich & upper middle class. The poor and lower class swear by the name of Mamata, which is hard to crack.

BJP lacks strong local charismatic leaders. In Bengal, parties who have succeeded carried out agitation politics, rail roko, jams, bandhs. All these work.

Amit Shah had spent a few days in Bengal trying to revive partys fortunes in the civic elections. However, it failed miserably, winning only three wards. Its partner GJM did well in the hills, its traditional stronghold. Shah had dinner at a Dalits home in a pattal. The next day the couple joined the Trinamool.

The Brahmanisation of the party is being resisted by people of other castes/classes.

However, it soon became a government of contractors. The party got burdened by cronyism which is the case across political parties and ideologies who have tasted power. Power Corrupts!

Left Parties in India who were formed to deliver socio-economic benefits to the working people and oppose neo-liberal economic policies.

Left Front continued with its poor performance in Bengal after Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. It managed to win only two wards, lesser than Congress (four) and BJP (three). It is a shocking result considering it ruled the state for 34 years.

Furthermore, both parties' vote segments are similar and both share a secular ideology, making it an ideal win-win scenario for both.

With Sonia Gandhi holding talks with Mamata Banerjee over the presidential polls, the time is ripe for Congress to ask her to come back. They can get a good deal, and it will also help Banerjee's national ambitions.

Meanwhile, the Congress has been decimated in West Bengal, winning just four seats despite an alliance with the Communist parties. The only hope for the Congress seems to be an alliance with Trinamool Congress now, or to ask Mamata Banerjee to join hands to form a grand alliance. Considering Mamata Banerjee is one of the few leaders on the national level who has stopped the Narendra Modi juggernaut from rolling over every opposition, it makes prudent sense for Congress to seek an alliance with her. The Left is in decline, and is anyway not a viable national-level alliance partner for Congress, since the two parties are rivals in Kerala.

Congress should look at alliance with Mamata Banerjee to get its mojo back

The win is a confidence booster for Banerjee, and improves her national visibility as a firebrand leader who can take on the Modi-Shah jodi. She may be tempted to play a bigger national role, even be named the prime ministerial candidate if the opposition puts up a unified front. After all, if Deve Gowda can become prime minister, why not Mamata, is the logic which TMC cadre will cite.

Trimamool Congress has swept West Bengal once again. Mamata Banerjee is clearly the undisputable leader of the state today. After BJP president Amit Shah's visit to Bengal, and CBI's intervention in the Narada/Saradha scams, she had threatened to uproot BJP from Delhi as well, and looking at the party's rise, there could well be a strong chorus emerging about the need for Mamata to lead an anti-BJP front on the national level. She recently met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also facing the heat from BJP, and with Congress president Sonia Gandhi regarding the upcoming presidential polls.

Didi sweeps Bengal again, but will she project herself for a national role?

Of the seven municipal corporations that saw elections, the Trinamool Congress has clinched four seats  Pujali, Domkal and Raiganj in the state's plain areas, and Mirik in the hills of Darjeeling. The GJM retained its control over three other civic bodies in north Bengal's hills: Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

Final results are out: TMC wins four municipalities, GJM gets three

But if not Modi, the polls definitely are a referendum on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and prove that voters stand by her despite BJP's charges of corruption and minority appeasement.

It's true that these were only hyper-local municipal elections, which are typically fought on very micro issues. The profile of the parties doesn't play an important role in these polls. However, the presidential form of elections, which have been introduced by the BJP following Narendra Modi becoming prime minister means even the civic elections are being conducted across the country as a referendum on Modi. With demonetisation and 'sabka saath sabka vikas' being used ahead of the polls, it's clear that BJP wants to highlight Modi's leadership even at a local level.

After a string of defeats, the anti-BJP camp finally has a result going its way, with Trinamool Congress clinching victory in the West Bengal municipal elections. Also, BJP hasn't done as well as expected, and it's Mamata Banerjee who rules the roost. It's a question of survival for many parties now. And parties like TMC, TRS, BJD face threats from the BJP in the future as well. These results may hasten process of a united front against BJP. Other alliances and fronts have failed in past, especially against the Congress, but that happened mainly because of a power tussle. Survival was not an issue then. In this situation, however, the glue of survival and threat of extinction may just keep all of them together.

The Communist parties have alleged that it was violence and rigging of polls that led to Mamata Banerjee's win. Both BJP and the Left Front have filed complaints with the Election Commission in this matter. But the TMC is only the new Left Front of Bengal politics. Mamata has quickly mastered the same dirty tricks employed by the Left parties in the past. Patronising cadre through club culture, appeasement of minorities, rigging elections, these are all tricks she learnt from the Left. Even the so-called goons and party cadre the Trinamool now has have joined the party after resigning from the Left parties. Even with regards to funding, Trinamool has followed the Left parties' model involving membership fees.

TMC leader Gautam Deb was quoted by News18 as saying, We are happy that for the first time, people in the hills have voted for a party from the plains. This shows that people in the hills now understand that they were cheated by the GJM.

Additionally, BJPs caste manipulations will not work in Bengal. The state is more about class politics. It has failed to understand this despite successive losses. Partys support is restricted to rich & upper middle class. The poor and lower class swear by the name of Mamata, which is hard to crack.

BJP lacks strong local charismatic leaders. In Bengal, parties who have succeeded carried out agitation politics, rail roko, jams, bandhs. All these work.

Amit Shah had spent a few days in Bengal trying to revive partys fortunes in the civic elections. However, it failed miserably, winning only three wards. Its partner GJM did well in the hills, its traditional stronghold. Shah had dinner at a Dalits home in a pattal. The next day the couple joined the Trinamool.

The Brahmanisation of the party is being resisted by people of other castes/classes.

However, it soon became a government of contractors. The party got burdened by cronyism which is the case across political parties and ideologies who have tasted power. Power Corrupts!

Left Parties in India who were formed to deliver socio-economic benefits to the working people and oppose neo-liberal economic policies.

Left Front continued with its poor performance in Bengal after Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. It managed to win only two wards, lesser than Congress (four) and BJP (three). It is a shocking result considering it ruled the state for 34 years.

Furthermore, both parties' vote segments are similar and both share a secular ideology, making it an ideal win-win scenario for both.

With Sonia Gandhi holding talks with Mamata Banerjee over the presidential polls, the time is ripe for Congress to ask her to come back. They can get a good deal, and it will also help Banerjee's national ambitions.

Meanwhile, the Congress has been decimated in West Bengal, winning just four seats despite an alliance with the Communist parties. The only hope for the Congress seems to be an alliance with Trinamool Congress now, or to ask Mamata Banerjee to join hands to form a grand alliance. Considering Mamata Banerjee is one of the few leaders on the national level who has stopped the Narendra Modi juggernaut from rolling over every opposition, it makes prudent sense for Congress to seek an alliance with her. The Left is in decline, and is anyway not a viable national-level alliance partner for Congress, since the two parties are rivals in Kerala.

Congress should look at alliance with Mamata Banerjee to get its mojo back

The win is a confidence booster for Banerjee, and improves her national visibility as a firebrand leader who can take on the Modi-Shah jodi. She may be tempted to play a bigger national role, even be named the prime ministerial candidate if the opposition puts up a unified front. After all, if Deve Gowda can become prime minister, why not Mamata, is the logic which TMC cadre will cite.

Trimamool Congress has swept West Bengal once again. Mamata Banerjee is clearly the undisputable leader of the state today. After BJP president Amit Shah's visit to Bengal, and CBI's intervention in the Narada/Saradha scams, she had threatened to uproot BJP from Delhi as well, and looking at the party's rise, there could well be a strong chorus emerging about the need for Mamata to lead an anti-BJP front on the national level. She recently met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also facing the heat from BJP, and with Congress president Sonia Gandhi regarding the upcoming presidential polls.

Didi sweeps Bengal again, but will she project herself for a national role?

Of the seven municipal corporations that saw elections, the Trinamool Congress has clinched four seats  Pujali, Domkal and Raiganj in the state's plain areas, and Mirik in the hills of Darjeeling. The GJM retained its control over three other civic bodies in north Bengal's hills: Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

Final results are out: TMC wins four municipalities, GJM gets three

But if not Modi, the polls definitely are a referendum on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and prove that voters stand by her despite BJP's charges of corruption and minority appeasement.

It's true that these were only hyper-local municipal elections, which are typically fought on very micro issues. The profile of the parties doesn't play an important role in these polls. However, the presidential form of elections, which have been introduced by the BJP following Narendra Modi becoming prime minister means even the civic elections are being conducted across the country as a referendum on Modi. With demonetisation and 'sabka saath sabka vikas' being used ahead of the polls, it's clear that BJP wants to highlight Modi's leadership even at a local level.

After a string of defeats, the anti-BJP camp finally has a result going its way, with Trinamool Congress clinching victory in the West Bengal municipal elections. Also, BJP hasn't done as well as expected, and it's Mamata Banerjee who rules the roost. It's a question of survival for many parties now. And parties like TMC, TRS, BJD face threats from the BJP in the future as well. These results may hasten process of a united front against BJP. Other alliances and fronts have failed in past, especially against the Congress, but that happened mainly because of a power tussle. Survival was not an issue then. In this situation, however, the glue of survival and threat of extinction may just keep all of them together.

The Communist parties have alleged that it was violence and rigging of polls that led to Mamata Banerjee's win. Both BJP and the Left Front have filed complaints with the Election Commission in this matter. But the TMC is only the new Left Front of Bengal politics. Mamata has quickly mastered the same dirty tricks employed by the Left parties in the past. Patronising cadre through club culture, appeasement of minorities, rigging elections, these are all tricks she learnt from the Left. Even the so-called goons and party cadre the Trinamool now has have joined the party after resigning from the Left parties. Even with regards to funding, Trinamool has followed the Left parties' model involving membership fees.

Kolkata: Moderate to brisk polling for seven civic bodies in West Bengal was reported on Sunday, as the principal opposition parties, the Left Front, Congress and BJP, demanded scrapping of the "farcical" elections amid alleged violence and booth capturing in three municipalities.

A CPM leader claimed that at least four party workers were injured in poll violence.

Activists of the Congress and the Left Front, which forged an undeclared alliance for the civic polls, staged a noisy demonstration at the State Election Commission office and resorted to a road blockade to protest what they called "rampant looting of votes" by the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The protest was held after poll authorities allegedly refused to meet their leaders and accept their memorandum on complaints regarding voting in three municipalities of Raiganj in North Dinajpur district, Domkal in Murshidabad district, and Pujali in South 24 Parganas district.

The SEC officials promised to meet the Congress and Left representatives after demonstrators broke through police barricades. However, the SEC authorities later did not meet them citing their preoccupation with poll matters.

Later, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists also demonstrated at the same spot, complaining against electoral malpractices.

In Domkal, Pujali and Raiganj, the Trinamool is up against an undeclared seat adjustment between the Congress and the Left Front.

Polling was, however, peaceful in four municipalities in northern Bengal hills  Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik, in Darjeeling district, and Kalimpong in Kalimpong district.

CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra alleged that the elections were far from "free and fair".

"In Domkal, motorcycle-borne outsiders attacked our workers and voters with bombs and pistols. The local administration looked the other way. Since morning, elections have been a farce. Three of our workers were injured when they were fired upon by Trinamool-backed miscreants. Another worker suffered broken limbs," said Mishra.

He alleged that all polling booths were captured by the Trinamool supporters in Raiganj and Pujali.

"The polling agents of the Congress and Left Front were driven out and electronic voting machines damaged. Even journalists were not spared," he said.

He demanded countermanding of the elections in Domkal, Pujali and Raiganj. "But we have no illusion that fresh elections will be impartial. This shows it is not possible to hold proper polls so long as the Trinamool is in power," the CPM leader said.

State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury instructed all his party candidates in Domkal to withdraw from the polls, describing the elections as a "farce".

Former Congress MP from Raiganj Deepa Dasmunshi alleged that opposition workers came under intense attack from Trinamool supported "goons".

She said genuine voters were not allowed to exercise their franchise in Raiganj. "Police and civil officials made no effort to provide protection to voters or our workers," she said.

The elections to the municipalities spread across five districts in the northern, central and southern areas of the state will provide a peek into the mind of voters in small towns.

The polls are a test for the Trinamool to continue its electoral successes and make fresh inroads in the north Bengal hills by breaking the stranglehold of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. The BJP is striving to to carry forward its bid to become the main opposition force in the state. For the Congress and Left Front, the challenge is to revive their political fortunes against the backdrop of electoral battles wherein both lost ground to the BJP.
Kolkata: Describing the violence and "rampant irregularities" in Sunday's civic polls as a "mockery of democracy", CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday slammed West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress for its "blatant misuse" of the state machinery.

"This is a mockery of democracy and a blatant misuse of state machinery by the Trinamool government. Trinamool goons resorted to violence in full public view to threaten and scare voters," he told the media on the sidelines of a party programme at Khardah in North 24 Parganas district.

Yechury said bombs were hurled against opposition party workers and voters. "There was massive booth capturing... total vote loot. This is Trinamool style of democracy," he added.

Elections were held on Sunday for four municipalities in northern Bengal hills  Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Kalimpong  and three locations  Domkal, Pujali and Raiganj in the plains. It's to these three municipalties in the plains that opposition ire has been directed at.

Principal opposition parties  the Left Front, Congress and BJP, have demanded scrapping of the "farcical" elections amid alleged violence and booth capturing in three municipalities.
Beijing: Sri Lanka, which attended the just concluded Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, has backed India's concern over the Kashmir issue, saying it is difficult for New Delhi to accept the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as it goes through the "heart of Indian interests".

India, which skipped the high-profile meeting, would have joined "very happily" in the One Belt and One Road (OBOR) initiative of China, said Sarath Amanugama, Sri Lankas minister on Special Assignment.

"Unfortunately, the issue is going through the heart of Indian interests. If it was some uncontested region, India would have negotiated its way out. Here especially the Kashmir issue getting dragged into it, makes it difficult for India to be flexible, Amanugama, who accompanied Lankan Prime Minister Wickramasinghe to the two-day forum here, told PTI in Beijing.

He said India, China and Sri Lanka were very much part of the ancient Silk Road route as the Chinese Buddhist scholars like Faxian visited both India and Sri Lanka leading to big

discoveries of Buddhist relics in the island nation.

"(Chinese) President Xi Jinping has emphasised connectivity. These countries were connected many centuries ago. This will link up these countries on certain rational basis. Once the regional problems are resolved, then India has to play big role in the initiative," he said, adding that India anyway has to play big role "because you cannot think of a belt and road without going over and close to India."

India skipped the meeting due to its sovereignty concerns over the $50 billion CPEC, which goes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The two-day conference in Beijing brought together leaders from 29 countries.

Besides Wickramasinghe, the summit was attended by Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Russian president Vladimir Putin, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and several other leaders, heads of UN, World Bank and IMF. Wickaramasinghe, who arrived here a day after he hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sri Lanka, had a low-key presence at the high-profile summit.

While Sharif and many other leaders spoke at the inaugural ceremony, the Sri Lankan leader reportedly took part in the discussions in the roundtable meeting Monday.

Amunagama said that Sri Lanka will not permit any foreign military operations in its port by any country including China, in an effort to reassure India's security concerns over Chinese military activity.

Confirming reports that recent Chinese request for docking of its submarines was declined, he said, "we denied the permission."

"Lanka's position is that our harbours and ports are for commercial operations. All other countries have no strategic interests. We are equidistant from everyone," he said.

Earlier, the problem came because a Chinese submarine was allowed to be docked in Colombo harbour by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2014 which sparked protests from India.

"China, India, US and all other countries, they cannot come into our territorial waters without the consent of the Sri Lankan government," Amanugama said.

Even the Hambantota harbour which Sri Lanka plans to hand over to China under debt equity scheme will function under Sri Lankan Port Authority (SLPA).

He said in the agreement currently being finalised to give 80 per cent stake for Chinese shipping company, it will be allowed to operate inside the harbour but all the outside

operations will be carried out SLPA.

The harbour master who permits the ship movement in the harbour will be an SAPA employee, he said.

Allaying India's concerns, he said Sri Lanka is taking assistance from the Indian Navy to maintain maritime security including tracking submarines.

India is also providing patrol boats, he said. About Hambantota port, he said, it is entirely a commercial operation. "It was constructed with Chinese assistance costing about $1.4 billion. It was established during the regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa," he said. "But we had an extended debt. Sri Lanka is facing a problem of debt repayment," he said, defending Sri Lanka

opting for debt swap for harbour.

Sri Lanka has an estimated debt of $8 billion to China. The loans were taken for different mega projects. "So last year we raised it with Premier Li Keqiang. At first we asked for a debt relief, either to write it off or to reschedule payment. But the Premier said it is not possible because they have lent money to several other countries. We cannot write it off to create precedent," he said.

"But suggested why dont you convert into equity by forming a joint venture company. It will be registered in Sri Lanka and will be Sri Lankan company. Chinese side will convert that into equity. Sri Lanka doesnt have to repay," he said,adding that it was a "win-win situation.
A US based employer trying to pass off a $6.47 per hour wage rate to hire an engineer in Oregon on a temporary work visa has been shown the door by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services which in turn has pinned its decision on this case as policy guidance on temporary work visas for its global outposts in similar cases.

Mercifully, this particular case has no India angle but is certain to set off alarm bells across the IT outsourcing industry. The H1B wage floor is not the only number that the Trump government is watching closely, it's open season for all temporary work visas, the old arbitrage game is up.

Who is an L1 worker?

The L category has two sub groups  L1A and L1B visas. The L1A category is for intra-company transfers of corporate managers and executives, while the L-1B visa classification enables intra-company transfers of employees who possess specialized knowledge. Employees who work in any industry and serve in any type of position may be classified as L-1B non-immigrants, so long as the position described in the L-1B petition requires specialised knowledge and the worker being transferred possesses such knowledge.

Temporary work visas offered by the US  H1 and to a lesser extent L1  have been in sharp focus from the time of Trumps ascent because of rising complaints over wage rates being paid to techies in particular ( the H1B visa also allows fashion models to enter the US). The White House recently launched an all-out assault on how temporary work visas are being gamed and Trump followed up by asking for an overall review of the H1B system in his 'Buy American Hire American' executive order. Just over 100 days into the new presidency, Trump voters want jobs, not noise on Russia and the loudest voices against foreign workers have all latched on to one word : undercutting. The irony is that the H1B and L1 are already the most highly scrutinized visas in America yet they are being flogged because of glaring discrepancies the Trump government claims in wage floors and what's actually being paid.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) decision in the Matter of I-Corp is an important reminder to all petitioning employers that if they plan to list the offered wage in foreign currency ( non USD), that amount needs to convert to the required minimum wage in US dollars to get a look in. Technical knowledge of the worker in question counts for little if the amount being paid is a pittance.

Citing a recent case of a US based employer paying less than the fair wage to an L1 worker, the USCIS  a critical lynchpin in montoring temporary work visas in tandem with the Department of Homeland Security  has asked its staff to treat the decision on the I-Corp case as a lane marker for future cases.

In the trinity of government arms which overlap in the case of highly regulated work visas  Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and USCIS, the latter is primarily responsible for adjudicating immigration benefit requests under the applicable immigration law.

Why the USCIS noting on this file becomes crucial is that this relates to an L1B visa where, unlike the H1B visa classification, the L1B classification does not require the petitioning employer to certify that the beneficiary will be paid the prevailing wage and yet, the USCIS is standing firm against the $6.47 per hour that the employer plans to pay. Just for context, the federal base wage rate in the US is $7.25 per hour.

At the time of filing, Oregon had set $8.95 per hour as the minimum wage and I-Corp was trying to pass off a per hour rate that was at least $2 below this number as fair wage for an engineer.

Minimum wages in the US are decided by the the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) which establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments. When Federal and state minimum wage laws differ, as they often do, employers must pay more than the minimum required wage that is higher.

The I-Corp matter involves a semiconductor manufacturing company applying for an L1B worker for a Failure Analysis Engineer position in Oregon.

The USCIS found that I-Corp was planning to pay the L1B worker 43,445 MYR per year. When converted from Malaysian ringgits (MYR) to US dollars, this proffered salary is the equivalent of $13,467.95 per year or $6.47 per hour. We are unable to approve an employment-based visa petition where the record indicates that a petitioner will not pay its beneficiary the minimum wage required by applicable labor law, says USCIS.

Because the wage rate is so low, the USCIS is training its guns on the wage rate and setting aside the matter of whether or not this L1 worker in question has the specialised knowledge to do the job in Oregon.

Accordingly, we decline to address the specialized knowledge issues in the Directors decision. Instead, we will remand this matter to the Director to determine what wage would be paid to the Beneficiary. If the Director decides to request evidence to further develop the record, she may ask the Petitioner to confirm whether it will pay the beneficiary in Malaysian ringgits. The Director may also request additional evidence to include any employment contract or, if the written contract is not available, a summary of the terms of the proposed employment. The Director may also inquire into the means by which the petitioner would pay the beneficiary in Malaysian currency, the monetary value of housing, travel, and relocation allowances, and such other evidence that the Director may deem necessary. If the Director determines that the petitioner has not established, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the beneficiary will be paid the required minimum wage, the petition cannot be approved. If the Director determines that the total compensation offered meets or exceeds the required minimum wage, but that compensation is significantly lower than the beneficiarys peers or the particular industry, the Director may also consider that fact when re-evaluating the totality of the evidence relating to the petitioners specialized knowledge claim, reads the last paragraph of the document dated just a few days before the White House spoke out on temporary work visas.
Washington: Donald Trump has been embroiled in a controversy following a pair of media reports accusing him of trying to quash an FBI investigation against his former NSA James Flynn, and disclosing highly classified information to Russia.

According to a report published in The New York Times on Tuesday, Trump asked sacked FBI Director James Comey to end the investigation against Flynn.

"I hope you can let this go," the US president told Comey, a memo, written by the former FBI chief, published in the report said.

Comey was abruptly fired at a time when he was leading an investigation into whether Trump's election campaign had links with Russia's alleged interference in the US polls.

The request was made by Trump after Flynn resigned as the national security advisor following surfacing of reports that he had maintained links with the Russians.

Sourcing its story based on two people who read the memo, the daily claimed that Comey wrote the memo detailing his conversation with Trump immediately after the meeting, which took place a day after Flynn resigned.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," the US president asked Comey.

"He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go," Trump said, adding that Flynn had done nothing wrong.

"I agree he is a good guy," Comey said, according to the memo.

The Washington Post also published a report which alleged that Trump shared "highly classified" information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a White House meeting last week.

The report cited current and former US officials, who said the president's disclosures jeopardised a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State.

The revelations swung the White House into action which strongly refuted the allegations.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the resident has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House official said.

"The president has utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr Comey," the official said requesting anonymity.

Last week, FBI Deputy Director McCabe told a Congressional in a testimony that the White House had not interfered with any investigation.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democrats demanded an investigation into the allegations and Trump's relations with Russia.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said he was shaken by the report in The New York Times.

"And we are only one day removed from stunning allegations that the president may have divulged classified information to a known adversary. Concerns about our national security, the rule of law, the independence of our nation's highest law enforcement agencies are mounting," he said on the Senate floor.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said if the reports are true, the Trump's brazen attempt to shut down the FBI investigation is an "assault on the rule of law" that is fundamental to the American democracy.

"At best, President Trump has committed a grave abuse of executive power. At worst, he has obstructed justice."

"With each passing day, Trump's actions give greater and greater urgency to the need for a full and independent investigation of the Trump-Russia connection," she said.

Pelosi said the Democrats will file a discharge petition to demand a vote on the bipartisan bill to establish an independent, outside commission to investigate the president's ties with Russia.

"Soon, the Democrats will also introduce a legislation to create an independent counsel to get the facts free of President Trump's meddling," she said.

"If the President has nothing to hide, then he should welcome independent investigations to remove all doubt of a cover-up. The American people deserve to know what President Trump is so desperate to keep hidden," she added.

Indian American Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi termed the revelations as "a serious breach of the law".

"Today we learned that former FBI Director James Comey documented his conversations with President Trump in a series of memos. In one memo, Mr Comey claims that after clearing the room, President Trump asked him to end the investigation of General Michael Flynn. If true, this would be a serious breach of the law," he said.

"What comes next is uncertain but investigations into this matter must begin, as those into the President's Russia ties must continue. All the Comey memos should be turned over to Congress, any unclassified memos should be released to the public and President Trump should submit to investigators the tapes with which he threatened Mr Comey," he demanded.

Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley said this is a "blatant abuse of power," and a thorough, independent, and bipartisan investigation should be completed as quickly as possible.

"If true, Donald Trump's attempt to influence and intimidate the FBI director to block an investigation is a textbook definition of obstruction of justice and it would be an impeachable offense," Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said.

"If this continues, the Republicans will lose any remaining credibility" Jayapal said while calling for an independent investigation into the issue.
Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken on the phone, a spokesman said on Wednesday, as controversy brewed over the US president's sharing of intelligence with Russia that came from Israel.

A spokesman in Netanyahu's office confirmed the phone call took place on Tuesday afternoon but did not say who initiated it.

Trump is due to visit Israel next week.

"There was a call on Monday between the president and prime minister for about 20 minutes," the spokesman said. "The only topic discussed was the upcoming visit."

Israel, meanwhile, sought to contain fallout from Trump's sharing of its intelligence with Russia, while not commenting directly on the move.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman lauded security ties between the United States and his country, saying it would continue to be "unprecedented" in scope.

But he made no mention of Trump divulging intelligence to Russia that a US administration official said had originally come from Israel.

The United States is Israel's most important ally, providing it with more than $3 billion in defence aid each year.

The Washington Post reported late on Monday that Trump revealed what it said was highly classified information on the Islamic State group (IS) during a meeting in early May with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Moscow's Washington ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

It said that Trump told Lavrov about a specific IS bomb threat.

A US administration official confirmed on condition of anonymity that the original intelligence came from Israel, which was initially reported by the New York Times.
Donald Trump is famously succeeding in bringing about a denouement that was predicted from the day the Americans elected him as, what The Guardian now calls, their Bozo-in-chief: His own impeachment. While the world laughs at Trump and the Americans, Republican lawmakers squirm in their seats and the US security establishment appears to have its collective face permanently buried in its palm, Trump has over the past week been busy eating his own tail and bragging about it on Twitter, leading to questions over his mental fitness to hold the top office in the land.

As Trump proves critics and sceptics right, the question now in the US is not whether he will survive a full term, but how best to get rid of this petulant baby who has accidentally been catapulted into the hot seat. Should it be impeachment or just summary removal by the vice-president and other Cabinet colleagues, the US commentariat is now musing.

Over the past week that began with the sacking of the now-former FBI chief James Comey, Trump has hurtled from one scandal to other, each more egregious than the other. A series of exposes  some of them confirmed by Trump himself  by the media has ensured his presidency looks like a plane with failed engines, an incompetent pilot and no parachutes.

The floodgates opened with Trump's sacking of Comey, who was investigating the president's links with Russia. The top investigator was sacked just days after he told a Senate committee about the bureau's investigation into Russian meddling in the election that helped Trump beat Hillary Clinton. Trump's dismissal of Comey is being widely seen as an attempt to stall investigations, obstruct justice, attack the independence of a haloed institution and use of the presidential office for personal benefit.

This was followed by Trump's decision to pass on classified intel to Russia about an Islamic State plan to use electronic devices to blow up planes. US lawmakers argue that Trump not only violated the oath of secrecy but also compromised intel sources by leaking the information from his own mouth to a country that is seen as meddling in US affairs. More importantly, the intel had come from a US ally  most likely Israel  that had reportedly shared it with the rider that it must not be passed on further.

When The Washington Post broke the story, the White House trotted out several key officials to deny the charge. But Trump himself came out flying close to the sun on Twitter, claiming it was his 'absolute right' to share information with Russia on humanitarian grounds and to formulate a better joint strategy against the Islamic State. But, US experts argue that his indiscretions have compromised US strategy in the Middleeast, made allies distrustful and angered the intelligence community that may now hit Trump with series of exposes.

"Trump is the most unpatriotically reckless, most flamboyantly ignorant, most ludicrously incompetent of them all. Never mind The Apprentice, hes actually The Biggest Loser," The Guardian wrote in a scathing critique, calling Trump too needy to be the US president.

There was more to come.

On Tuesday, The New York Times dropped another bombshell on the president when it revealed that Trump had indeed asked the Comey to go slow on investigations into links between his associates and Russia. Trump asked Comey to shut down the federal investigation into former national security advisor Michael T Flynn, in an Oval Office meeting in February, according to a memo Comey wrote shortly after the meeting, the newspaper reported.

"I hope you can let this go," the president told Mr Comey, according to the memo quoted by The New York Times.

The latest charge of obstructing justice against Trump, verified by other sources but denied by the White House, puts him on par with two other presidents  Richard Nixon  a wag though quipped that even that crook was not loyal to the Russians  and Bill Clinton. Both of them were charged with a similar offence. While Clinton was impeached for it, Nixon quit while an inquiry was on.

Many experts now believe that Trump is unfit to be the president. He is being compared to a child "who blurts out classified information in order to impress distinguished visitors, who asks the head of the FBI why the rules cannot be suspended for his friend and ally, who does not understand the obvious consequences of his more vindictive actions  like firing the very same man whom you had asked to potentially obstruct justice on your say-so."

"A child cannot be president. I love my children; they cannot have the nuclear codes," writes The New York Times.

Trump rode into the White House on a wave of xenophobia, fear-mongering, misogyny, helped by blatant boasts and brags. But his time may be over because of a variety of reasons.

First, his popularity is alarmingly low for a president just into his fourth month.

Second, elections in France and neighbouring countries show Europe is beating back the right-wing, exposing xenophobia, Islamophobia and Trump-esque nationalism as flawed ideas. With Europe embracing multi-culturism, syncretism and liberal borders, the Americans have been forced to see the gaping holes in their mindsets that allowed Trump to sneak in.

Third, even his own party is worried about the impact Trump may have on the country and the electoral fortunes of the Republicans; many are making frenetic efforts to distance themselves from his decisions. The question now is, as a reader pointed out to The New York Times, if the Democrats would summon the courage to do what the country wants  get him sacked.

Although the clamour for his removal is rising, Trump may still hold on to the wings of his crashing presidency. Impeaching a president is a tedious process and unless the Republicans, who have the numbers, decide to throw him out, Trump may continue to entertain the world from his high office.

There is just one hope though: That he continues to have his Twitter login and loud mouth.
Fresh from securing his grip on Turkey with a referendum to centralise power, Recep Tayyip Erdogan met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday on a mission to restore frayed ties.

Trump was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Erdogan on winning the 16 April vote to strengthen his office, despite concern in some other capitals that Turkey has taken a dangerous turn towards authoritarianism.

But Washington and Ankara are still bitterly at odds over US support for the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG), a faction that the Pentagon sees as a vital ally against the Islamic State group in Syria but that Turkey brands a front for the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

And Erdogan remains angry that the US continues to host Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, a former ally who chose exile in Pennsylvania and who has now been accused of masterminding last year's bloody attempted coup in his homeland.

Both issues poisoned ties between Erdogan and former US president Barack Obama, but there now appears to be an opening for Trump to rebuild bridges. "We look forward to having a long and productive discussion," Trump said as he welcomed Erdogan to the Oval Office. "We've had a great relationship and we will make it even better."

Trump hopes to secure at least grudging Turkish agreement not to oppose the US-led drive by YPG-led fighters to oust the Islamic State from their Syrian stronghold of Raqa. In return, Trump will have to give Erdogan assurances that Gulen will be closely monitored while the US courts examine a Turkish extradition request and that  once the Islamic State has been driven out of the Iraqi city of Mosul  Washington will endorse a Turkish offensive against PKK bases in Sinjar, northern Iraq.

"That's the main ask," said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish research program at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy and recent author of 'The New Sultan: Erdogan and the Crisis of Modern Turkey'.

"He's going to want US support for a Turkish operation against Sinjar. In this case, the stars are a little bit aligned in Erdogan's favor," he added. "I think what we will tell the Turks is 'Yes, we can do this, but let's focus on Mosul first'."
Washington: Surrounded by multiplying questions, President Donald Trump complained on Wednesday that "no politician in history" has been treated worse. Democrats demanded an independent commission to dig into his firing of FBI director James Comey, but Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan cautioned against "rushing to judgment."

Ryan said Congress needs to get the facts, but "it is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president." Elijah Cummings, top Democrat on a key House oversight panel, countered that Ryan and the Republicans had shown "zero, zero, zero appetite for any investigation of President Trump."

The White House has denied reports that Trump pressed Comey to drop an investigation into Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn. In addition, Trump is facing pointed questions about his discussions with Russian diplomats during which he is reported to have disclosed classified information.

Also on Tuesday, in an extraordinary turn of events, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to turn over to Congress records of Trump's discussions with the diplomats.

The White House has played down the importance and secrecy of the information Trump gave to the Russians, which had been supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement. Trump himself said he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia. Yet US allies and some members of Congress have expressed alarm.

Republicans and Democrats alike were eager to hear from Comey, who has increasingly emerged as a central figure in the unfolding drama.

The Senate intelligence committee on Wednesday asked Comey to appear before the panel in both open and closed sessions. The committee also asked acting FBI director Andrew McCabe to give the committee any notes that Comey might have made regarding discussions he had with White House or Justice Department officials about Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Putin told a news conference that he would be willing to turn over notes of Trump's meeting with the Russian diplomats if the White House agreed. He dismissed outrage over Trump's disclosures as US politicians whipping up "anti-Russian sentiment."

Asked what he thinks of the Trump presidency, Putin said it's up to the American people to judge and his performance can be rated "only when he's allowed to work at full capacity," implying that someone is hampering Trump's efforts.

Trump himself hasn't directly addressed the latest allegations that he pressured Comey to drop the Flynn investigation. But the swirling questions about his conduct were clearly on his mind when he told graduates at the US Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut that "no politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly."

Striking a defiant stance, he added: "You can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams. ... I guess that's why we won. Adversity makes you stronger. Don't give in, don't back down. ... And the more righteous your fight, the more opposition that you will face."

As for Comey, whom Trump fired last week, the FBI director wrote in a memo after a February meeting at the White House that the new president had asked him to shut down the FBI's investigation of Flynn and his Russian contacts, said a person who had read the memo. The Flynn investigation was part of a broader probe into Russian interference in 2016 presidential election.

Comey's memo, an apparent effort to create a paper trail of his contacts with the White House, would be the clearest evidence to date that the president has tried to influence the investigation.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Republican chairman of the House oversight committee, sent a letter to the FBI on Tuesday requesting that it turn over all documents and recordings that detail communications between Comey and Trump. He said he would give the FBI a week and then "if we need a subpoena, we'll do it."

John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said late Tuesday that the developments had reached "Watergate size and scale."

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said simply, "It would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the White House."

The person who described the Comey memo to the AP was not authorised to discuss it by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The existence of the memo was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times.

The White House vigorously denied it all. "While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House statement said.

Trump fired Flynn on 13 February, on grounds that he had misled vice-president Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russians.

The intensifying drama comes as Trump is set to embark Friday on his first foreign trip, which had been optimistically viewed by some aides as an opportunity to reset an administration floundering under an inexperienced president.

Mark Warner of Virginia, top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said he would ask Comey for additional material as part of that panel's investigation. "Memos, transcripts, tapes  the list keeps getting longer," he said.

According to the Times, Comey wrote in the February memo that Trump told him Flynn had done nothing wrong. Comey said he replied that "I agree he is a good guy" but said nothing to Trump about limiting the investigation.
Washington: US president Donald Trump would begin his maiden foreign trip with a visit to Saudi Arabia later this week where he would pitch for the need to tackle radical Islam ideology.

"He (Trump) will meet and have lunch with leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries where he will deliver an inspiring, yet direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and his hopes, the president hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world," US National Security Advisor HR McMaster told reporters during at the White House on Tuesday.

"The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against the common enemies of all civilisation and to demonstrate America's commitment to our Muslim partners," he said while giving details of Trump's itinerary for his visit.

The US president will be welcomed by Saudi King Salman.

McMaster said Trump will participate in a signing ceremony of several agreements that will further solidify US-Saudi security and economic cooperation.

The president and the first lady will also join members of the Saudi royal family for an official dinner.

Bilateral meeting are scheduled between Trump and Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, besides meetings with Gulf state leaders, he said.

Trump will also inaugurate a new centre intended to fight radicalism and promote moderation.

"By establishing and operating this centre, our Muslim friends, including Saudi Arabia, are taking a firm stand against extremism and those who use a perverted interpretation of religion to advance their criminal and political agendas, the NSA said.

From Saudi Arabia, Trump would travel to Jerusalem, where he will meet Israeli President Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and lay a wreath at Yad Vashem.

The next day, he would meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem and convey America's interest to facilitate an agreement that ends the conflict in the region.

"He will urge Palestinian leaders to take steps that will help lead to peace. He will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and say a prayer at the Western Wall," McMaster said.

The next destination would Rome and the Vatican, where Trump will meet the Pope.

"He looks forward to celebrating the rich contributions of Catholics to America and to the world, and to discussing a range of issues of mutual concern, he said.

From Rome, Trump would fly to to Brussels to meet leaders of the European Union and of the European Council.

From Brussels, Trump would travel to Sicily for the G-7.

"Throughout the summit, he will meet bilaterally with leaders, including the Italian prime minister. In the formal meetings, he will press America's economic agenda and call for greater security cooperation, McMaster said.

On the first night of the summit, he will also attend a concert performed by the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a leaders' dinner hosted by the president of Italy.
Donald Trump's national security adviser denied on Tuesday that the US president compromised national security when he shared classified information about the Islamic State with Russian officials, saying the leaders had a "wholly appropriate" discussion at the White House last week.

HR McMaster said instead the focus of the debate should now be on the "leaks" to the media and how "those violating confidentiality" have put America's national security at risk.

McMaster was present at the meeting when, according to a report in The Washington Post, Trump discussed "highly classified" details about the Islamic State terrorist group and laptops on a plane with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and the country's ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

The Post has claimed in the explosive report that Trump shared "highly classified" information during the meeting.

Citing current and former officials, it reported that the information shared by a US partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement was so sensitive that it was withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the US government. The officials said Trump's disclosures jeopardised a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State.

But McMaster, at a crowded White House news conference, said Trump "wasn't even aware of where this information came from. He wasn't briefed on the sources or method."

"I think the real issue and what I would like to see debated more is that our national security has been put at risk by those violating confidentiality. I think national security is put at risk by this leak and leaks like this," he said.

He said the details shared with the Russian officials were "easily available" in the public domain. "The president in no way undermined sources or methods in the course of this conversation," he said.

A day earlier, McMaster told reporters that the report was false. Today, he reiterated that claim.

"What I'm saying is really that the premise of that article is false, that in any way the president had a conversation that was inappropriate or that resulted in any kind of lapse in national security," he said.

"In the context of that discussion, what the president discussed with the (Russian) foreign minister was wholly appropriate to that conversation," McMaster said.

Though the US president is allowed to declassify and share classified information at any moment, the issue has sparked a huge uproar over whether Trump compromised national security by disclosing the details to Russia, long considered a hostile country to the US.

Democrats and some even from Trump's Republican party have questioned his wisdom in discussing matters of national security within the administration and outside.

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that if the news reports are true, Trump has "compromised a key source of intelligence collection" against the Islamic State and jeopardised the security of the American people.

"Even if President Trump unwittingly blew a highly classified codeword source to the Russians, that would be dangerous enough. If the president outed a highly classified codeword source intentionally, that would be even more dangerous," Pelosi said.
Paris: The 28-member European Union, the third-largest emitter of planet-warming greenhouse gases after China and the United States, has long been held up as the poster child of efforts to save Earth's climate.

But after years of taking the lead in talks for a global climate pact, and making tough policy and investment choices to lessen fossil fuel reliance at home, the bloc's resolve now seems to be flagging, analysts say.

Europe is responsible for about 10 percent of global emissions.

As the world's nations meet in Bonn to negotiate a rulebook for executing the climate-rescue Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015 to limit emissions from burning oil, coal, and gas, here is a look at Europe's role.

History

Having been at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution that sparked the large-scale carbon dioxide pollution of Earth's atmosphere now blamed for global warming, Europe took the lead hundreds of years later in shifting to cleaner energy generated by sources such as the Sun, waves and wind.

It was instrumental in passing, and keeping alive, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement's predecessor, despite opposition from the United States and other developed countries.

Europe also created the first, still the biggest, carbon market in a bid to incentivise companies to pollute less.

The Emissions Trading System limits emissions and allows companies to trade in allowances not used.

Then what happened?

The carbon market, which covers about 40 percent of Europe's industrial emissions, has proven ineffective, critics say, and needs urgent reform.

Carbon allowances were too generous, resulting in a carbon price too low to encourage savings.

The bloc also took on emissions-cutting targets that analysts say are too low to stay under the ceiling for average global warming set in the Paris pact  no more than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels.

The EU pledged to reduce its own emissions by 20 percent by 2020 over 1990 levels  a goal it is on course to exceed.

With three years to go, the target has already been met even if five countries  Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg and Ireland  are not on track to achieve their national goals.

The European Environment Agency expects the bloc will reach 24 percent in 2020.

This goes to show that the target was too "modest" to begin with, according to Celia Gautier of the Climate Action Network, a grouping of NGOs.

By 2020, Europe also seeks to boost energy efficiency (less fossil fuel input for the same energy output) by 20 percent, and ensure that 20 percent of energy consumed is from renewables.

According to Eurostat, an agency of the European Commission, renewable energy consumption in Europe was already 16.7 percent in 2014.

"In the wake of the Paris Agreement's entry into force, the EU's climate policy effort appears to be slowing, and it has not effectively responded" to an aspirational 1.5 C lower limit also written into the pact, according to the Climate Action Tracker (CAT), a tool created by think-tanks to measure countries' progress.

What's next?

Europe's medium- and long-term ambitions are even more problematic.

It is targeting a 40 percent domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 over 1990 levels, which the CAT says is "significantly behind what is achievable and necessary".

And it is not on track to meet even that  currently steering for 30-39 percent.

According to the CAT, Europe needs to reduce emissions by about two percent per year to achieve a 45-50-percent cut by 2030  a trajectory more in line with the Paris accord's objectives.

But emissions are projected to slow only between 0.5 percent and 1.3 percent per year.

Europe is not alone  the CAT says all major emitters, the US, China, India and Russia included, need to do much more for the world to stay under 2 C.

Further ahead

For 2050, the EU bloc has set its sights on a 80-95-percent reduction from 1990, which the CAT says would require "significant acceleration".

According to Climate Analytics, a policy institute, 300 coal-fired power stations have to close in Europe by 2030, if the Paris goals are to be met.

Half of Europe's coal emissions come from Germany and Poland, the rest mainly from Bulgaria and Czech Republic  countries with relatively smaller reduction goals than their richer European peers.

"To achieve total decarbonisation of the global economy by the second half of the 21st century (as mooted in the Paris Agreement), Europe must, as an industrial leader, be among the first to achieve it," said David Levai, a researcher at the IDDRI research institute in Paris.
By Julia Edwards Ainsley

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON The Trump administration's search for a new FBI director hit roadblocks on Tuesday when two high-profile potential candidates, a moderate judge and a conservative senator, signalled they did not want the job.Advisers to Judge Merrick Garland and U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas told Reuters they discouraged them from leading the Federal Bureau of Investigation, cautioning that they would be leaving important, secure jobs for one fraught with politics and controversy. The advisers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the new FBI director would have little job security and heightened scrutiny by political observers following President Donald Trump's abrupt firing of James Comey on May 9. Garland and Cornyn distancing themselves from the selection process just three days before Trump has said he may make a decision, points to the difficulties the White House has in filling the FBI post amid turmoil in the administration. Trump's firing of Comey, the man in charge of an investigation into possible collusion between 2016 election campaign associates and the Russian government, outraged many lawmakers, including some Republicans.Garland, the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, "loves his job and is not interested in leaving the judiciary," said one source familiar with the judge's thinking.

Cornyn said in a statement that he had informed the White House that "the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate."White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on Tuesday that an announcement on FBI director was still possible before Trump leaves on his first foreign trip on Friday. He said the U.S. Department of Justice was still interviewing candidates.Several Republican senators had promoted Garland even though they had refused to give him a hearing when Republican Trump's predecessor President Barack Obama, a Democrat, nominated Garland last year for a then-vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. The Republicans' reasoning appeared to be that Garland would be accepted by Democrats and help restore faith in the FBI as a nonpartisan agency.In an interview on Bloomberg Television, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell referred to Garland, a former federal prosecutor, as "an apolitical professional."

A second Garland acquaintance who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Garland sought advice from those who told him he would be leaving his life-long position on the federal bench to take a job that could be terminated by Trump overnight.A Republican Senate aide said Cornyn's staff also worried that the third-term Texas Senator could cut his- and their own- careers short by going to the FBI. An adviser to another candidate on the White House short-list, former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, 75, said Kelly is also being persuaded to step out of the running.

Kelly has not said that he would not consider the job, but so far he has not been interviewed.Republican Representative Trey Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor whose name had been floated, said on Monday he was not interested in the director position. The difficulty in filling key administration jobs is not just limited to the FBI director post.Trumps habits of contradicting his top aides, demanding personal loyalty and punishing officials who contradict him in public has discouraged a number of experienced people from pursuing jobs, said three people who declined to discuss possible positions with administration officials. "Its becoming increasingly difficult to attract good people to work in this administration," said one senior official. "In other cases, veteran people with expertise are leaving or seeking posts overseas and away from this White House." (Reporting by Julia Edwards Ainsley, additional reporting by Lawrence Hurley, Mark Hosenball, Richard Cowan and Steve Holland; editing by Grant McCool)

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PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday he would begin working immediately with European Council President Donald Tusk on the overhaul of the bloc, which needed a new and ambitious policy. "I believe profoundly in the overhaul of the Europe," Macron told reporters before the two men sat down to dinner.

"I am counting a lot on President Tusk and his leadership to go further in this overhaul."

Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, chairs EU summits as head of the European Council, which groups the national governments of the 28-member bloc.

"I have come with a simple message. Europe needs your energy, imagination and courage and when I say Europe I am not thinking of the institutions, but millions of Europeans who see your victory as a sign of hope," Tusk said. "Hope for a Europe that protects, wins and looks to the future." (Reporting by John Irish and Michel Rose; editing by Adrian Croft)

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Berlin: As Germany gears up for a general election in September, politicians are reaching out to migrants from Russia in an effort to tap what is seen as a long-neglected group of voters.

Chancellor Angela Merkel was hosting a private reception for representatives of ethnic Germans who emigrated from the former Soviet Union, particularly from the late 1980s onward. It is the first such meeting between Merkel and members of the Russlanddeutsche, or Russian-Germans, in recent years, said her spokesman. Merkel, who is running for a fourth term on 24 September, speaks fluent Russian.

The arrival of some 2.2 million Russlanddeutsche over the past 30 years tested the country's ability to assimilate large numbers of migrants, with mixed success. "This is a noteworthy group within the German population," Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told reporters in Berlin ahead of the meeting. "Where did integration work, where is it still lacking? Those are possible questions for this conversation."

The Christian Social Union, Merkel's conservative allies in Bavaria, and the nationalist Alternative for Germany party, have already put up online ads and posters targeting Russian-speaking voters in Germany. Senior members of both parties have also visited Moscow to meet Russian officials, whose conservative views are shared by many Russian speakers in Germany.

German officials have expressed concern that Russia might try to influence Germany's election, including through misinformation in Russian-language media.

One oft-cited case involved the alleged kidnapping and rape of a teenage girl in Germany early last year that sparked outrage among the Russian-German community. Police concluded that the incident hadn't happened the way it was reported in Russian-language media and German officials have cited it as an example of what is perceived to be a "propaganda war" waged by the Kremlin.
Washington: A US House Committee has requested the FBI to provide all documents that its former director James Comey had on president Donald Trump, a media report said.

The request, signed by Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Republican Jason Chaffetz on Tuesday, includes "memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings" held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The documents have to be delivered by 24 May, Efe News said.

"If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation as it relates to Lt Gen Flynn (former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn)," Chaffetz said in a letter to the agency's acting director Andrew G McCabe.

This request comes after The New York Times revealed on Tuesday the existence of documents that Comey wrote shortly after having conversations with Trump.

In one of these documents, Comey picked up Trump's request to end an investigation into Flynn's ties with Russia.

"He's a good guy. I hope you can let this go," Trump told Comey, according to the FBI's former director memo quoted by The New York Times.

Trump on 9 May fired Comey, who led the FBI investigation into the ties between Russian officials and Trump's presidential campaign, an issue that Congress also addresses.

Flynn has been at the centre of that investigation shortly after Trump's arrival to the White House.

Flynn advised Trump on foreign policy during the campaign and was later appointed NSA, a position he was forced to resign after lying about his contacts with the Russian Ambassador in Washington.

Last week, the Senate Intelligence Committee ordered him to hand over all documents related to Russia, after his refusal to cooperate with the investigation without prior immunity.
New Delhi:Indian Navy ship Sharda, deployed for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, came to the rescue of Liberian merchant vessel Lord Mountbatten facing a pirate attack, officials said on Wednesday.

The offshore patrol vessel, which has been on deployment in the Gulf of Aden since 6 April, had on Tuesday received a distress call from Liberian ship at around 4.45 pm (local time), Navy officials said.

The vessel reported an incident of attempted piracy by two suspected mother vessels, along with 7-8 skiffs at a point around 230 nautical miles or 426 km southwest of Oman's Salalah port.

INS Sharda, which was around 30 nautical miles (56 km) away, arrived at the location around 7 pm and detected two dhows and eight skiffs in the vicinity of the ship, three of which escaped at high speed.

A team of special forces unit MARCOS from INS Sharda, with support from an armed helicopter, investigated the boats that were left.

"No fishing gear was recovered from the dhows but a high calibre AKM rifle along with one filled magazine was found on one of them and confiscated," the Navy officials said.

On 9 April, Indian Naval Ships Mumbai, Tarkash, Trishul and Aditya, which were passing through the Gulf of Aden on their way to deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, had saved another merchant ship MV OS 35 from pirates.

The ship had been attacked by pirates on the night of 8 April and its captain and crew had locked themselves in a strongroom on board and were safe.
In what could become a major breaking point in the India-Russia bilateral relations in its seven decade history, India has warned Russia of blocking all co-operation with foreign countries on developing its nuclear energy programme if New Delhi's logjam in the Nuclear Suppliers' Group continues, The Times of India reported.

The report said that India might even keep a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia on developing reactor five and six at the Kudankulam Nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu in the back-burner if the NSG tension remains.

The development comes at a time when Moscow is seen getting closer to Beijing on several issues affecting global geo-politics. This could be seen especially in the context of the launch of the One Belt and One Road (OBOR) project and the North Korea stand-off. While Russian president Vladimir Putin has openly praised China's OBOR initiative, while Moscow has called for an end towards the intimidation of North Korea.

Moscow's stance came at the time when India refused to join OBOR and reportedly downgraded its ties with North Korea.

According to The Times of India, New Delhi keeping the MoU on hold is its ploy to force Moscow to pressure Beijing in supporting India's bid at the NSG.

This issue was raised during Russian prime minister Dmitry Rogozin's visit to India last week, but he had to go empty-handed without any clarity on the nuclear MoU.

The MoU is reportedly important from Russia's nuclear investment perspective in India. However, the report added that if there is no movement on the MoU before the summit between Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the meeting may end up being a no-show.

The MoU was supposed to be signed during the Brics Summit in Goa. However, the over-riding question of India's lack of NSG membership postponed the deal.

With NSG membership a top priority for India. the report noted that New Delhi feels that it is only Russia can influence China  the major stumbling block in last year's plenary in Seoul  and the other NSG members to soften their stand against India, a non-member nuclear power.

While Russia is at India's firing range, other countries like France and US, are not ascertained to have been "threatened", the report noted.

The report claimed if the top nuclear countries do not support India, then it may be forced to pursue an independent civilian nuclear policy, which it has already been doing so since its first nuclear tests in 1974.
By Rafiq Shirzad

| JALALABAD, Afghanistan

JALALABAD, Afghanistan The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on an Afghan state television station on Wednesday that killed at least six people as well as the attackers and wounded 24.The attack, in the eastern city of Jalalabad, was the latest in a series on Afghan journalists and media in recent years. It came just over a week after it was confirmed that the leader of Islamic State in Afghanistan had been killed in a U.S. drone strike.Islamic State, or Daesh as it is generally known in Afghanistan, has established a stronghold in Nangarhar province bordering Pakistan, of which Jalalabad is capital, where it fights both the Taliban and Afghan government forces. The raid on the RTA state broadcaster was carried out by four attackers, one of whom had detonated a suicide bomb at the entrance to the compound, said provincial governor Gulab Mangal.As the attack unfolded, heavy gunfire could be heard from around the RTA building, which is close to the governor's compound

"Islamic State fighters are currently carrying out an attack inside the state broadcasting building in the city of Jalalabad," the movement's AMAQ news agency said in a statement on instant messaging service Telegram. The three others were killed by security forces in the gun battle.Among the dead were four RTA employees, including a driver, a guard, and two technical personnel, as well as two policemen, according to Mangal.

Seventeen civilians and seven members of the security forces were wounded, he added.The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee condemned the attack and said it was a violation of the rules of war that protect media as civilians.

The Taliban, who also have a strong presence in the region, denied responsibility.Islamic State has recently been hit hard by U.S. air strikes and special forces operations.The head of Islamic State in Afghanistan, Abdul Hassib, was reported this month to have been killed in a joint Afghan-U.S. operation in Nangarhar at the end of April. Islamic State has also claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile attacks in the capital, Kabul, including one in March on Afghanistan's largest military hospital. (Additional reporting by Mohamed el Sherif in CAIRO; writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Robert Birsel and Clarence Fernandez)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: The classified intelligence US President Donald Trump divulged to Russian officials last week was provided by Israel, a media report said on Wednesday.

"The revelation adds a potential diplomatic complication to an episode that has renewed questions about how the White House handles sensitive intelligence," The New York Times said.

The White House refused to comment on the report. "I cannot comment specifically on that," White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters during an off-camera news conference.

However, Israel came out in support of the White House. "Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under President Trump," Israeli Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, said in a statement to The New York Times.

US national security advisor Lieutenant-General HR McMaster asserted that Trump's sharing of information with Russia did not risk national security.

"What the president shared was wholly appropriate. The story combined what was leaked with other information and the insinuated about sources and methods," he said. McMaster said Trump took the decision on sharing information during the conversation with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov last week when they were discussing fight against the Islamic State.

"He made the decision in the context of the conversation, which was wholly appropriate... The president was meeting with the foreign minister about the terrorist threat. He'd also raised some difficult issues: what we expected in terms of different behaviour from Russia in key areas like Ukraine, and in Syria," he said.
DUBAI Jailed Bahraini rights activist Nabeel Rajab criticised U.S. President Donald Trump in a New York Times column on Wednesday for selling arms to his country and Saudi Arabia, citing of their human rights records.The column appeared ahead of Trump's visit this weekend to regional power Saudi Arabia, a supporter of the fellow Sunni Muslim-ruled kingdom of Bahrain as it grapples with continued unrest from its Shi'ite majority.Both countries have been fighting for over two years in Yemen against the Iran-allied Houthi movement, which they have yet to defeat despite launching thousands of air strikes."(Trump's) administration already decided to lift all human rights restrictions on arms sales to my country, Bahrain, which is a partner in the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen," the column said.

"It fills me with shame that my country, Bahrain, is bombing Yemen, with United States support. And while the Saudi-led coalition continues its air assault on Yemen, Bahrain is also trying to crush civil society back home."The United States is close to completing a series of arms deals for Saudi Arabia totaling more than $100 billion, a senior White House official told Reuters this month. [nL1N1IE2BH]There was no immediate government comment on the article.

Rajab and other mostly Shi'ite dissidents rose up against the government in 2011 protests inspired by the "Arab Spring", demanding more rights and representation.He was denied bail on Tuesday on charges of spreading false news, a pro-opposition rights group reported, and also faces charges related to writing an op-ed in the New York Times last year, as well as charges of spreading false news and making critical tweets. [nL8N1II67R]

The United Nations Committee against Torture on Friday called for his release from more than nine months of solitary confinement.Bahrain's government denies any systematic rights abuses and accuses the opposition of seeking its violent overthrow with support from arch-rival Iran.Trump's White House has decided to pursue a $5 billion sale to Bahrain of 19 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft and related equipment, which was held up last year by human rights concerns.Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa told Reuters last month that Trump better understood the threat to the U.S.'s Gulf Arab allies than his predecessor Barack Obama. [nL5N1HC4M3] (Reporting By Noah Browning Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)

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25,800 of our neighbors in southeast and south central Missouri are in danger of losing healthcare coverage through no fault of their own. The individual healthcare exchanges set up in Missouri under President Obamas signature healthcare law are on the verge of collapse. In 26 of the 30 counties in our Congressional District, there is only one healthcare provider still participating in the Obamacare exchanges and even the New York Times is reporting that the one provider may soon decide to leave. As expected, President Obamas government run healthcare experiment has failed. Prices are soaring, services are being cut and people are losing coverage.

The House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act, the first step in repealing and replacing the mess in the healthcare markets created by President Obamas signature healthcare law. It will dismantle government run healthcare, repeal the presence of a bureaucrat between you and your doctor and relieve Missourians of taxes on things like ultrasounds, insulin pumps and the individual and employer penalties. In addition, we repealed Obamacare tax provisions which had been used to subsidize abortions, representing the most significant and expansive pro-life policy advanced since the ban on partial birth abortions.

Last year, the Obama Administration told people on the exchanges to expect their premium costs to double in 2017, and they did. There are only two insurance companies participating in the Obamacare exchanges in Connecticut and both have requested to raise premiums as high as 52%. In addition to skyrocketing premiums, people are losing options for healthcare coverage. In Iowa, their last statewide insurer is leaving the marketplace, which means that people in 94 of Iowas 99 counties will have zero choices.

In the last few months I hosted half a dozen public healthcare roundtables throughout south central and southeast Missouri where I solicited feedback about what you liked about the current healthcare system in this country and also what you wanted to see changed. Many brought forward various ideas such as allowing small businesses to band together to purchase coverage for their employees or breaking up health insurance company monopolies. In the first several months this year, we have passed policies in the U.S. House of Representatives to accomplish both those things. In addition, folks shared that they wanted to be able to keep children on their parents coverage until they were 26 and also wanted to make sure things like pre-existing conditions were still covered for those not getting their health insurance through their employers. The legislation advanced last week accomplishes both those things while stabilizing the overall healthcare market which should lower everyones costs. We advanced a solution which repeals President Obamas failed healthcare experiment, will cut healthcare premiums by double digits and continues coverage for those with preexisting conditions.

The House of Representatives vote to repeal President Obamas healthcare law was the first step to ending unfair penalties on families who are being forced to buy something they dont want. But more work remains to be done. We will continue in our steps to rip the Obamacare law out by the roots while providing real healthcare solutions for families, including bringing back things I am fighting for like true price transparency. I look forward to the U.S. House and Senate coming together to put an Obamacare repeal on President Trumps desk for his signature. I look forward to working with Secretary Tom Price at Health & Human Services to remove thousands of pages of Obamacare regulations driving up healthcare prices for everyone and I look forward to continuing to advance legislation which will provide additional relief from skyrocketing out of pocket healthcare costs for American families.
By Andrea Shalal

| BERLIN

BERLIN German Chancellor Angela Merkel met leaders of the three million-strong community of Germans with ties to Russia on Wednesday, amid concerns over their susceptibility to "fake news" items in the run-up to a national election in September.German officials worry that some members of that community may be vulnerable to pro-Russian propaganda after protests erupted in January 2016 over a bogus Russian media report about the alleged rape of a 13-year Russian-German girl by a migrant.Relations between Germany and Russia are at their lowest ebb for years due to sharp disagreements over the crises in Ukraine and Syria and Moscow's human rights record. German intelligence agencies have also warned about Russian cyber attacks and support for far-right parties.Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said Wednesday evening's discussions would focus on the challenges the community faces in integrating into German life and society. Merkel herself grew up in communist East Germany and speaks fluent Russian.The Russian community in Germany is diverse and includes ethnic Germans whose ancestors first moved to tsarist Russia, Soviet Jews granted asylum in postwar Germany and more recent arrivals.Many Russian-Germans have traditionally supported Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats out of gratitude for the support of her predecessor Helmut Kohl, who helped large numbers of ethnic Germans leave Soviet Russia after the fall of the Berlin Wall.But the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) - which has links to Moscow and produces campaign materials in Russian - appeals to some voters unhappy with Merkel's decision in 2015 to open the doors to more than a million mostly Muslim migrants.

The expansion in Germany of RT and Sputnik, both Russian government-controlled media outlets, has also fuelled concerns among some German politicians and officials.NO "TROJAN HORSE"

But Heinrich Zertik, the only Russian-German member of parliament, said the concerns that his community was some kind of "Trojan horse" for Moscow were completely overblown. He told Reuters that a study conducted last year by the liberal Boris Nemtsov Foundation showed 80 percent of Germans with a Russian background felt well integrated and 84 percent strongly supported democracy as a form of government.

He also cautioned against exaggerating the community's reported support for the AfD."The electoral behaviour of the Russian-Germans is very similar to that of those Germans who were born and raised here," he said. Germany's political parties will be keen to court the votes of this sizeable community in the election, which Merkel's conservatives are tipped to win with a new four-year mandate.

Thomas Krueger, who heads Germany's BpB agency for civic education, said there were about 2.4 million Germans from Russia and other former Soviet states living in Germany today, plus around 215,000 Jewish migrants from the former eastern bloc and some 230,000 Russians without an ethnic German background.Some of those Germans are descendants of migrants who accepted an invitation in 1763 from Russia's German-born empress, Catherine the Great, who offered them land, freedom of religion and exemptions from military service.Large German-speaking communities developed and prospered, in areas like St. Petersburg and along the Volga river, reaching 1.2 million in a 1926 Soviet census and over 2 million by 1989.But ethnic Germans, including many devout Christians, faced persecution and discrimination in Soviet times. During World War Two, hundreds of thousands were sent to forced labour camps.Tens of thousands moved to Germany after the war, reaching a peak of 213,000 after the Cold War in 1994.Some migrants complain that they are still treated as "Russians" in Germany. Krueger said it was critical to recognise and honour the experience of these migrants, many of whom cannot work in their professions due to strict German employment laws. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Gareth Jones)

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LIMA A former Peruvian governor suspected of arranging bribes from Odebrecht [ODBES.UL] was arrested on Wednesday, while police raided Lima law firms thought to have ties to the Brazilian construction company, the attorney general's office said. Prosecutors said Jorge Acurio, former governor of the Cusco region, coordinated the payment of $3 million in bribes from Odebrecht to favour the company in a public works contract. He became the second governor in Peru accused of wrongdoing in the wide-ranging corruption scandal. Odebrecht has admitted to paying $29 million in bribes to win contacts in Peru, one of 12 countries where it confessed to payoffs as part of a settlement with U.S., Brazilian and Swiss prosecutors.

"There's nothing," Acurio told reporters after being arrested on Wednesday.The attorney general's office said via Twitter that the arrests of Acurio and Lima lawyer Jose Francisco Zaragoza Amiel took place during simultaneous raids in six buildings in Lima and five in Cusco.

Zaragoza is a partner at financial law firm Rebaza, Alcazar & De Las Casas, according to the firm's website.

The attorney general's office said Zaragoza acted as an intermediary between Odebrecht and Acurio. Local television showed Zaragoza declining to answer reporters' questions, except to say he did not know Acurio, while being led out of the law firm's offices in Lima's financial district in handcuffs. The attorney general's office can hold suspects for 48 hours and then must petition a judge to hold them longer. (Reporting by Teresa Cespedes, Marco Aquino and Luc Cohen; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Jeffrey Benkoe)

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Miami: Authorities were searching in the Bahamas for a small overdue plane with four people from the US on board, including a prominent New York businesswoman and her two children.

The US Coast Guard says the twin-engine MU-2B was east of the island of Eleuthera on Tuesday, when air traffic control in Miami lost radar and radio contact with the plane. It was en route from Puerto Rico and never made it to its destination of Titusville, along the northeastern coast of Florida.

The people on board the plane were identified as Nathan Ulrich, 52, of Lee, New Hampshire, and Jennifer Blumin of New York, along with her 4-year-old and 10-year-old sons.

Blumin, 40, was founder and CEO of Skylight Group, which provides event space around New York City, specialising in the fashion industry. The company confirmed she and members of her family were on the plane in a statement.

"Her family is working with investigators and we politely ask that you respect their privacy at this time," the company said.

Their plane was at about 24,000 feet when air traffic control lost contact. "There's no indication of significant adverse weather at the time," said Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Kelly, a Coast Guard spokesman. Ulrich was listed as the pilot but it was not known who was flying it at the time, Kelly said.

Blumin owned the plane through a consulting company, according to New York State and aviation records.

Coast Guard aircraft were searching along with Customs and Border Patrol and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force about 40 miles east of Eleuthera. A Coast Guard cutter was dispatched to the area and was expected to arrive later today to assist with the search.
By Lisa Lambert

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON The U.S. Senate could soon approve a major overhaul of the federal bureaucracy and make lasting changes to regulation of the environment, education, banks and other areas.On Wednesday a Senate committee sent a bill on to the full chamber that, supporters say, will make regulators more accountable to lawmakers and provide greater understanding of how rules affect the economy. The next step, debating the bill on the Senate floor, has not been scheduled. The House of Representatives approved companion legislation in January.Critics say the bill, the Regulatory Accountability Act, creates so many new requirements that it would paralyze regulators working to establish even the most basic rules and standards. They also say it makes cutting industry and banks' costs a higher priority than protecting public health and safety.For decades the political parties have been starkly divided over regulation and Republicans are currently winning their battle to lessen the red tape they say ties up business and hurts the economy. Republicans also say former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, pushed regulators to go beyond their duties of executing laws passed by Congress to create policy on their own.

Democrats say regulation, which touches nearly every part of American life, shields average people from health, financial and other threats and is needed to accomplish the goals set in laws.The Senate bill would require more cost-benefit and other analyses, give courts and the White House greater checks on rulemaking, classify regulations by potential economic impact, and lengthen rulemaking processes. One progressive group, Public Citizen, estimates it would add 53 steps to major rulemaking, possibly doubling the average amount of time it takes to finalize a regulation - currently four years.

The bill has pitted the powerful business group, the Chamber of Commerce, against progressive ones such as the Natural Resources Defense Council.Senator Heidi Heitkamp broke ranks with her fellow Democrats to write the accountability act, indicating some members of the party may support the bill when the closely-divided Senate votes.

Also, Senator Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, is working on alternative legislation that her party could find more palatable and could keep some of the bill's measures.Since Republicans swept Congress and the White House in November's elections they have moved swiftly against regulation. Using the Congressional Review Act, lawmakers killed 14 Obama-era regulations in the span of three months.Trump's efforts have yielded mixed results. His order to cut two existing regulations for every new one has stalled during a legal challenge. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency was jammed with thousands of pleas to maintain regulations when it asked for public comment on Trump's order to look into repealing or rewriting current rules. The comment period closed Monday. (Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Nick Zieminski)

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Seoul: South Korean President Moon JaeIn warned Wednesday there was a "high possibility" of military clashes along the border with North Korea as tensions mount over Pyongyang's weapons ambitions.

Moon, who was sworn in last week, warned that the North's nuclear and rocket programmes were "advancing rapidly", days after Pyongyang launched what appeared to be its longestrange missile yet.

"I will never tolerate the North's provocations and nuclear threats", he said on a visit to the defence ministry, urging the South's military to adopt a "watertight defence posture".

"We are living in the reality where there is a high possibility of military clashes" along the disputed sea border off the Koreas' west coast or along the heavilyfortified land frontier that divides them, he said.

Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have ramped up in recent weeks with the Trump administration saying military action was an option under consideration and the North threatening massive retaliation.

Leftleaning Moon favours engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table, but after Sunday's missile launch said dialogue would be possible "only if Pyongyang changes its behaviour".

The North claimed the rocket was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, although there are doubts whether the country could build a warhead small enough to fit into a missile.

The two Koreas, technically still at war after the 195053 conflict ended only with a ceasefire, have occasionally clashed along the border.

The North's shelling in 2010 of the southern border island of Yeonpyeong killed four people in the first attack on civilians since the war, sparking brief fears of an allout conflict.
By Christine Kim

| SEOUL

SEOUL South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday there was a "high possibility" of conflict with North Korea, which is pressing ahead with nuclear and missile programmes it says are needed to counter U.S. aggression.Moon made his comments hours after South Korea, which hosts 28,500 U.S. troops, said it wanted to reopen a channel of dialogue with North Korea as Moon seeks a two-track policy, involving sanctions and talks, to try to rein in its neighbour.North Korea has made no secret of its work to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States and has ignored calls to halt its nuclear and missile programmes, even from China, its lone major ally.On Sunday, Pyongyang conducted its latest ballistic missile launch in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions, saying it was a test of its capability to carry a "large-size heavy nuclear warhead." The Security Council condemned the test. "The reality is that there is a high possibility of a military conflict at the NLL (Northern Limit Line) and military demarcation line," Moon was quoted as saying by the presidential Blue House, referring to the de facto maritime and land boundaries between North and South.Moon also said North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities seemed to have advanced rapidly recently but that South Korea was ready and capable of striking back in the event of an attack.In a speech in Tokyo, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, called North Korea a "clear and dangerous threat" to the United States, Japan and South Korea and stressed the need for more cooperation among the allies and for all countries to implement stronger sanctions on Pyongyang."Combining nuclear warheads with ballistic missile technology in the hands of a volatile leader like Kim Jong Un is a recipe for disaster," Harris told the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, referring to North Korea's leader.

"Every test he makes ... takes North Korea one step closer to being able to deliver a nuclear-tipped missile anywhere in the world."Harris said North Korea's nuclear and missile tests showed that the country was a "liability for China not and asset," and for showed the need for Beijing to do more rein in its neighbour.Moon won the South Korean election last week campaigning on a more moderate approach towards the North. But he has said that North Korea must change its attitude of insisting on pressing ahead with its arms development before dialogue is possible. South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Lee Duk-haeng told reporters the government's most basic stance was that communication lines between North and South should reopen.

"The Unification Ministry has considered options on this internally but nothing has been decided yet," he said.NO WORD YET ON THAAD

Communications were severed by North Korea last year, Lee said, after new international sanctions were imposed in response to its fifth nuclear test and Pyongyang shut down a joint industrial zone.North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Pyongyang defends its weapons programmes as necessary to counter U.S. hostility and regularly threatens to destroy the United States.

Moon's envoy to the United States, South Korean media mogul Hong Seok-hyun, left for Washington on Wednesday. Hong said South Korea had not yet received official word from Washington on whether Seoul should pay for a U.S. anti-missile system that has been deployed outside Seoul.U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants South Korea to pay for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system which detected Sunday's test launch.China has strongly opposed THAAD, saying it can spy into its territory, and South Korean companies have been hit in China by a nationalist backlash over the deployment.The United States said on Tuesday it believed it could persuade China to impose new U.N. sanctions on North Korea and warned that Washington would also target and "call out" countries supporting Pyongyang.Speaking to reporters ahead of a closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley also made clear that Washington would only talk to North Korea once it halted its nuclear programme.Asked about Haley's comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China would work hard at reducing tensions on the Korean peninsula and finding a peaceful resolution. Trump warned this month that a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible, and in a show of force, sent the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group to Korean waters to conduct drills with South Korea and Japan. (Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the UNITED NATIONS, Ben Blanchard in BEIJING, David Brunnstrom in WASHINGTON and Nobuhiro Kubo in TOKYO; Editing by Nick Macfie and Grant McCool)

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Beirut: The US-led coalition against the Islamic State group said on Wednesday it did not conduct strikes in the eastern Syrian town of Albu Kamal this week that reportedly killed dozens of civilians.

But it said it was assessing reports of civilian casualties in a strike it launched in Syria's Raqa province.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor says 15 May coalition air strikes on Albu Kamal in Deir Ezzor province killed 62 people, including 42 civilians.

The Britain-based monitor had previously said 30 people were killed in the strikes, but subsequently revised the toll

upwards.

It said the dead in the town on the Syria-Iraq border included 11 children and 20 IS fighters.

In a statement to AFP, the US-led coalition said its only strikes in the area on 14 May and 15 were carried out outside Albu Kamal.

"The open-source reports of civilian casualties referred to locations inside the city itself, where we did not conduct

strikes during the time period of alleged civilian casualties," the coalition said.

"There were other non-Coalition nations conducting strikes in Albu Kamal on the 14th and morning of the 15th though," the statement added, without specifying which countries it was referring to.

Both Syria's government and its Russian ally have carried out strikes against IS in Deir Ezzor, and in February, Iraq's

air force carried out strikes against IS fighters in the province for the first time, including on Albu Kamal.

The coalition added that it had carried out strikes on the village of Al-Akeryshi in Raqa province on May 14 and had

"forwarded the allegations of civilian casualties to our team for assessment".

The Observatory says those strikes killed 14 people, including 12 women who were farmworkers travelling home in a convoy from the fields.

The US military said in May that coalition strikes in Syria and Iraq had "unintentionally" killed 352 civilians since it launched operations against IS in 2014.

But rights groups say the true number is significantly higher.
Geneva: The Syrian opposition is seeking an extension of the current round of UN-hosted peace talks underway in Geneva.

Salem Meslet, an opposition spokesman, said on Wednesday it's "not right" that this round is expected to last just four days, and says the opposition plans to ask for more negotiating time.

He says the opposition is preparing its response to a "paper" presented by UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura yesterday, when the sixth round of talks started.

Meslet says the proposal involved "the constitutional frame" for an eventual transition period in Syria. He spoke at a demonstration outside of the UN Geneva compound led by women relatives of prisoners held in Syria.

President Bashar Assad's top envoy met separately with de Mistura inside the compound later on Wednesday.
By Mark Hosenball

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to shut down an investigation into ties between former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia, an associate of Comey, who has seen the memo, said on Tuesday.The associate told Reuters that the details of the document as first reported by the New York Times were accurate. I hope you can let this go, Trump told Comey, according to the language of the memo, which the source confirmed.

The White House denied the report in a statement to reporters, saying it was "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey."

The memo was written by Comey immediately after his meeting in the White House Oval Office with Trump one day after Flynn resigned over his contacts with Russians. Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks earlier that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak before Trump took power on Jan. 20.

A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment on the details of the memo. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball, writing by Julia Edwards Ainsley)

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By Yara Bayoumy and Katie Paul

| WASHINGTON/RIYADH

WASHINGTON/RIYADH When U.S. President Donald Trump meets Saudi princes in Riyadh on Saturday, he can expect a warmer welcome than the one given a year ago to his predecessor Barack Obama, who Riyadh considered soft on arch foe Iran and cool toward a bilateral relationship that is a mainstay of the Middle East's security balance.Beneath the pomp, Riyadh will be looking for assurances that the Trump administration will continue its notably harsher tone toward Iran and keep up pressure, through both rhetoric and action, to stop what Saudi Arabia sees as Tehran's destabilizing activities in the region.The U.S.-Saudi alliance has experienced turbulence since Riyadh faulted what it saw as Obama's withdrawal from the region, a perceived tilt toward Iran since the 2011 Arab uprisings and a lack of direct action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an Iranian ally.Saudi Arabia will also want to showcase high-profile investment deals with American companies to show progress on its ambitious "Vision 2030" economic and social reform agenda, while Washington says U.S. arms sales arms worth tens of billions of dollars are in the pipeline.Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia is the first stop on his maiden international trip since taking office in January. U.S. and Saudi officials are eager to highlight the powerful symbolism of an American president choosing to visit the birthplace of Islam as his first stop rather than to neighbors Canada or Mexico.Besides meeting with Saudi officials, Trump will also meet with leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and have lunch with leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries.Critics have accused Trump of being anti-Muslim after he issued a ban, now blocked by U.S. courts, on entry into the United States by citizens of several Muslim-majority countries, citing national security concerns.U.S. public opinion of Saudi Arabia has never fully recovered since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi. The U.S. Congress last year passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, a law permitting lawsuits holding Saudi Arabia responsible for the attacks. The Saudi government has long denied involvement.Trump's visit "sends a clear message that the U.S. is standing with its close allies in the region and that they're not abandoning them," a senior Saudi official told Reuters, reflecting the view many Gulf leaders had of Obama, who they considered had made securing a nuclear deal with Iran a higher priority than the U.S.-Gulf alliance.Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia in April 2016 was overshadowed by Gulf Arab exasperation with his approach to the region, and doubts about Washington's commitment to regional security. "This (new) administration comes in and ... says, 'No, wait a minute, Iran is active,'" the official said, referring to Gulf states' views of Iran's involvement through proxies in regional conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and Yemen.

The Trump administration has called the nuclear agreement with Iran "the worst deal ever negotiated," and senior administration officials have repeatedly criticized Iran's behavior for its support for Assad, its ballistic missile activities and its support for militant groups in the region.Mustafa Alani, the director of security and defense at the Jeddah-based Gulf Research Center think tank, said that beyond U.S. rhetoric, Gulf leaders would like to see "America classify Iranian-supported militias as terrorist groups."SUPPORT IN YEMEN

Saudi Arabia will also be looking for further U.S. support in the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the loosely Iran-aligned Houthi group and troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to restore the internationally recognized government to power.The Obama administration backed Saudi Arabia when it launched air strikes in Yemen in March 2015 but grew sour as it saw the number of civilian casualties grow and curtailed some military support to Riyadh.By contrast, "we don't get criticized about the war in Yemen" by the Trump administration, the senior Saudi official said.

In Trump's meeting with GCC leaders, the discussion will revolve around how to strengthen the structures of the group, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to be more effective, a senior White House official said.The Republican U.S. president along with first lady Melania Trump will dine with Saudi royal family members. Trump, known for his penchant for Twitter, will participate in a Twitter forum with young people, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said on Tuesday. Trump will deliver a speech on "the need to confront radical ideology" and participate in the inauguration of a new center intended "to fight radicalism and promote moderation," McMaster said. While Trump has criticized Saudi Arabia for not paying enough for U.S. military support, he has been silent since becoming president about its religious conservatism. Traditional Wahhabi doctrine is ultra-conservative, imposing a strict version of Islamic law and urging resumption of early Muslim practices.Critics of the kingdom say the government does not do enough to prevent the teachings of some of its ultra-conservative clergy from fanning militancy overseas as well as a domestic security threat at home.

Radicalization of Muslims in the world's top oil exporter has led to domestic attacks and the involvement of Saudi citizens in jihadist movements in Iraq and Syria.The senior clergy have denounced militant Islamic doctrines, such as those of al Qaeda or Islamic State, but still preach intolerant views. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

An inaugural Saudi-U.S. CEO forum will be held in Riyadh on Saturday in which several deals are expected to be signed in defense, electricity, oil and gas, industrial and chemical sectors. New licenses for U.S. companies to operate in the Kingdom also will be issued.Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king's son, is the face of "Vision 2030" and is eager to showcase the kingdom's success a year since its inception.The CEO of state oil giant Saudi Aramco is expected to sign deals with top U.S. companies to promote local manufacturing.General Electric Co (GE.N) is due to sign several memoranda of understanding. Saudi Basic Industries Corp 2010.SE and U.S. oil company Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) are also expected to sign a protocol agreement to develop their joint chemical project in Texas, a source close to the matter said.The White House official said the kingdom was in the final stage of negotiating a $100 billion arms deal.A New York Stock Exchange delegation is also expected to visit Saudi Arabia after Trump to try to lure a listing by Aramco, slated for 2018 and worth about $100 billion. World stock exchanges are vying for slices of Aramco's initial public offering, expected to be the largest in history, with Hong Kong currently the frontrunner among bourses in Asia because of its strategic links to key Saudi oil importer China.The NYSE delegation will have tough competition as rival exchanges tweak regulation to become more attractive options. (Reporting by Yara Bayoumy in Washington and Katie Paul in Riyadh; Additional reporting by Reem Shamseddine in Jeddah and Steve Holland and Mike Stone in Washington; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Will Dunham)

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By Brendan Pierson

| NEW YORK

NEW YORK A lawyer for Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer who served 30 years in prison after being convicted of spying for Israel, on Wednesday urged a U.S. appeals court to loosen his parole conditions.Lawyer Eliot Lauer argued to a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan that the conditions, which require Pollard, 62, to wear an electronic tracking device, adhere to a curfew and submit his computers to monitoring, serve no legitimate purpose. Pollard, who attended the hearing with his wife, pleaded guilty in 1986 to conspiracy to commit espionage in connection with providing Israeli contacts with hundreds of classified documents he had obtained as a naval intelligence specialist in exchange for thousands of dollars.He was sentenced in 1987 to life in prison. After serving 30 years, which included time in custody following his 1985 arrest, Pollard was released on parole on Nov. 20.He now lives in New York City, and his lawyers say his parole conditions have prevented him from having a job.

As part of his parole, Pollard must remain in the United States for five years. He has sought to move to Israel, where his wife lives and where he was granted citizenship while in prison. Israel had long pushed for his release. Lauer said Wednesday there was no rational basis for the government to think Pollard "might retain details in his head about documents created 32 to 33 years ago" that he could disclose.

Circuit Judge Reena Raggi, however, pressed Lauer to explain why Pollard's crime was not enough to justify the conditions."Why is it the government's obligation to take the chance that he's forgotten something and it pops into his mind, or he does retain it?" she asked.Lauer responded that there must be some rational basis for the government's position.

Rebecca Tinio, a lawyer for the government, said the conditions imposed by the U.S. parole commission were "well within in its broad discretion."Tinio also emphasized the "enormous harm to the United States" Pollard caused, noting that former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper had submitted a letter stating that documents compromised by Pollard remained highly classified."We're optimistic," Lauer told reporters after the argument. "I think it went well. I thought the court understood the issues, and I have great faith in American justice." (Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

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By Yeganeh Torbati

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON The United States on Wednesday said it was voicing its "strongest possible" concern to Turkey over a street brawl that erupted between protesters and Turkish security personnel during President Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Washington.Police said the fighting outside the Turkish ambassador's residence on Tuesday injured 11 people, including a Washington police officer, and led to two arrests for assault. At least one of those arrested was a protester."We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.A video posted online showed men in dark suits chasing anti-government protesters and punching and kicking them as police intervened. Two men were bloodied from head wounds as bystanders assisted dazed protesters.Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham said at a news conference on Wednesday that police had a good idea of most of the assailants' identities and were investigating with the Secret Service and State Department.

Turkey's official Anadolu state news agency reported that protesters were chanting anti-Erdogan slogans as the president entered the residence after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the fight against Islamic State militants. "Police did not heed Turkish demands to intervene," the news agency said, and Erdogan's security team and Turkish citizens moved in and "dispersed them." The Turkish Embassy did not respond to a request for comment.

Tens of thousands of Turks have been detained as Erdogan cracked down on the press and academia following an attempted coup in 2016. Trump made no mention on Tuesday of Erdogan's record on dissent and free speech.House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, a California Republican, called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson "to hold individuals accountable" for the attack. In a statement, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called the violence "an affront to D.C. (District of Columbia) values and our rights as Americans."

Mehmet Tankan, 31, said he was one of a dozen protesters outside the ambassadors residence chanting slogans condemning Erdogan for supporting Islamic extremists and opposing political rights for Turkeys Kurds when the brawl broke out.Seven security personnel, some of them carrying firearms, rushed up and began punching him, bruising him all over his body, Tankan said by phone.Tankan said the violence was worse than when Erdogan visited Washington in 2016 and scuffles erupted between his security detail and demonstrators.The next time they could kill us easily. Im scared now too, because I dont know how it will affect my life here in the United States, said Tankan, who lives in Arlington, Virginia. (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati, Julia Harte and Ian Simpson; Writing by Ian Simpson; Editing by Richard Chang and Tom Brown)

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By Mica Rosenberg

| NEW YORK

NEW YORK U.S. arrests of suspected illegal immigrants rose by nearly 40 percent in the first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency, following executive orders that broadened the scope of who could be targeted for immigration violations, according to government data released on Wednesday.The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Thomas Homan said that arrests by his agency jumped to 41,318 between January 22 of this year and the end of April, up from 30,028 arrests in roughly the same period last year. Of those arrested almost two-thirds had criminal convictions. But there was also a significant jump - of more than 150 percent - in the number of immigrants not convicted of further crimes arrested by ICE: 10,800 since the beginning of the year compared to 4,200 non-criminal arrests in the same period in 2016.That increase is a result of recent guidance given by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to implement Trump's executive orders on interior immigration enforcement and border security signed on Jan. 25, just days after the Republican president took office. "Those that enter the country illegally, they do violate the law, that is a criminal act," Homan said on the call, while emphasizing that immigrants who pose a threat to national security or have criminal records are still a priority for the agency.

He said ICE will continue to target people who have been issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge even if they have not committed another crime."When a federal judge makes a decision and issues an order that order needs to mean something," Homan said. "If we don't take action on those orders, then we are just spinning our wheels."

While President Barack Obama was also criticized for deporting a large number of immigrants, most of them were recent border crossers apprehended entering the country illegally. Deportations under Trump have actually fallen by 12 percent compared to the same period under Obama, Homan said, as more people arrested in the interior typically have more complicated cases that can get slowed down in the backlogged immigration court system. The number of people caught crossing the border with Mexico is down significantly since the begin of the year, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Immigration advocates and some cities with large immigrant populations have raised concerns about the stepped up enforcement in the interior of the country. On Wednesday, state attorneys general from New York, California, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington state and Washington D.C., issued a report laying out why they have chosen to limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration agents. A section of one of the president's executive orders aimed to cut off federal funding to so-called "sanctuary cities," was been blocked by a federal judge in California. (Reporting by Mica Rosenberg and Julia Edwards Ainsely; Editing by Alistair Bell)

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AMMAN The U.S-led coalition on Tuesday denied its warplanes bombed a Syrian border town in the Islamic held eastern province of Deir al-Zor, a day after a war monitor and activists said air strikes there had killed scores of civilians, including children.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 42 people, including 11 children, were killed on Monday when jets believed to belong to the U.S.-led coalition hit the town of Al-Bukamal near the border with Iraq. They struck near a residential area and a mosque, wounding dozens more, the Britain-based monitor said.

In an emailed statement to Reuters, U.S. army spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon said that coalition warplanes on Sunday and Monday did not hit the town, targetting only oil production facilities run by the militants more than 50 kms outside of it. "We did not conduct strikes during the time period of alleged civilian casualties," Dillon said, adding that other unnamed countries had waged strikes on Al-Bukamal on those days.

Islamic State holds most of Deir al-Zor province, apart from an enclave at the centre and a nearby air base controlled by Syrian government forces. The province links territory Islamic State militants control in Syria and Iraq.

Syrian activists and former residents in touch with relatives in northern Syria say there has been a noticeable rise in civilian casualties from coalition raids since the escalation of a U.S.-led campaign to oust the militants from their de facto capital of Raqqa. The United States military has said it makes "extraordinary efforts" to avoid civilian deaths in its air strikes in Syria and Iraq. (Reporting by Tom Perry and Suleiman Al-Khalidi; editing by Richard Lough)

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KIEV The office of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia on Tuesday of carrying out an organised cyber attack on his website in response to Kiev's decision to impose sanctions against a number of major Russian internet businesses.

"We have been witnessing Russia's response to the presidential decree that mentioned closing access to Russian social media. The website of the president is affected by an organised attack," the deputy head of the presidential administration, Dmytro Shymkiv, said in a statement.

"The situation is under control thanks to our IT-specialists and there is no threat to the work of the website," he said. (Reporting by Matthias Williams and Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Gareth Jones)

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United Nations: The United States would consider talks with North Korea if it halts all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Washington's envoy to the United Nations said on Tuesday as the UN Security Council weighed new sanctions on Pyongyang.

"We are willing to talk, but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there," the US envoy, Nikki Haley, told reporters ahead of a closed-door Security Council meeting.

Washington and Beijing  the North's sole diplomatic and military ally  are working on a new Council resolution targeting Pyongyang, she added.

"That's what we are working on now. We don't have it done yet," she said.

"Absolutely, sanctions is something that we are looking at and we are going to continue to see where that takes us."

On Sunday, North Korea launched what appeared to be the longest-range missile it has ever successfully tested, sparking global alarm.

Pyongyang said the missile, the Hwasong-12, was capable of carrying a "heavy nuclear warhead."

The missile, launched on an unusually high trajectory, flew to an altitude of 2,111.5 kilometres and travelled 787 kilometres before landing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

That suggests a range of 4,500 kilometres or more if flown for maximum distance, analysts said.
The UN Security Council met behind closed doors on Tuesday to discuss tightening sanctions on North Korea after it fired its latest ballistic missile.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the United States was working with China, Pyongyang's main ally, on a new sanctions resolution and warned that all countries must step up action against North Korea or face measures themselves.

"We all have to send a sign to North Korea, and that is 'No more. This is not play time. This is serious. These threats are not welcome'," Haley told reporters ahead of the meeting.

"If you are a country that is supplying or supporting North Korea, we will call you out on it," Haley said.

"We will make sure that everyone knows who you are and we will target those sanctions towards you as well."

Despite the push for a tougher stance, Haley held out the prospect of direct talks with North Korea, saying "we are willing to talk but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there".

North Korea launched on Sunday what appeared to be its longest-range ballistic missile yet, saying it was capable of carrying a "heavy nuclear warhead" in a test aimed at bringing the US mainland within reach.

The United States, Japan and South Korea called the emergency meeting to press international demands that North Korea change course and dismantle its missile and nuclear programs.

No draft resolution was circulated to the full council, but Haley said the United States was working with China on a text.

"That's what we are working on now. We don't have it done yet," Haley said.

"Absolutely, sanctions (are) something that we are looking at and we are going to continue to see where that takes us."

During the closed-door meeting, however, China made no mention of a new sanctions resolution and renewed its appeal for talks to de-escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula, according to diplomats.

Sanctions a way to go

Addressing reporters after the meeting, the council president, Uruguay's Ambassador Elbio Rosselli, said that "clearly sanctions are a way to go" but stressed support for diplomacy to engage with Pyongyang.

North Korea has carried out two atomic tests and dozens of missile launches since the beginning of last year in its quest to develop a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the continental United States.

In a unanimous statement backed by China, the council on Monday agreed to take further significant measures, including sanctions.

Among the possible measures could be an oil embargo, trade bans and targeted sanctions on North Korean individuals and companies, but these hinge on China's willingness to apply such measures.

The Security Council adopted two sanctions resolutions last year to ramp up pressure on Pyongyang and deny leader Kim Jong-Un the hard currency needed to fund his military programs.

In all, six sets of sanctions have been imposed on North Korea since it first tested an atomic device in 2006.

Under UN resolutions, North Korea is barred from developing nuclear and missile technology.

Successful launch

In Washington, A US defense official said that the missile fired on Sunday appeared to be a liquid-fueled KN-17, marking what appeared to be the most successful launch of such a device.

"It's the furthest we've seen one fly," the official said, adding that military experts were assessing the missile's re-entry capabilities.

But the Pentagon is sceptical whether Pyongyang has mastered the re-entry technology needed to ensure it survives returning into Earth's atmosphere.

Sunday's rocket, which Pyongyang dubbed the Hwasong-12, could prove to be a more reliable alternative to the Musudan and marks a significant milestone in its development of an ICBM that could ultimately be tipped with a nuclear warhead, experts said.

The launch represented a "significant success," Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation think tank, said.

North Korea was also under scrutiny by investigators looking for the source of a major cyberattack affecting more than 150 countries, but the European police agency said it was still too early to determine who caused the chaos.
Washington: A ban on laptops and other electronics in the cabin of flights from Europe to America will likely be further expanded to include additional countries, a US official has said.

In March, US authorities banned passengers on direct flights to the United States from 10 airports in eight countries from bringing laptops, tablets and other electronic devices larger than cellphones into the cabin.

The Department of Homeland Security sparked deep concern in Europe last week when it said it would soon decide on extending the ban to European airlines.

It is "likely that the restrictions that were put in place in March could be expanded to other areas," Department of Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said on Monday.

"But not solely Europe  extended to additional areas," he added, without giving details.

DHS Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke is due to attend high- level talks with European partners in Brussels on Tuesday.

Lapan said talks would consider the "scale and scope" of what the laptop ban might entail.

A US ban on now ubiquitous laptops could cause havoc, with more than 3,250 flights a week scheduled to leave EU airports for the US this summer, according to industry data.

Some experts also say there is a security risk in putting them with checked luggage given the danger of their batteries catching fire.

Lapan defended a prospective ban, saying authorities need to keep up with the changing nature of terrorist threats.

"How many attempts have we seen at bringing down a commercial airliner  underwear bombs, using liquids, using (printer) cartridges," he said. "It's always incumbent on us to figure out where those who wish to do us harm are going to next and try to stop that."

President Donald Trump is engulfed in crisis amid reports that he shared with top Russian officials details about an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on airplanes.
By Anggy Polanco

| SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela

SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela Venezuela said it was sending 2,000 soldiers on Wednesday to a border state that is a hotspot of anti-government radicalism after a night of looting in which one 15-year-old died as political unrest rumbled on in the volatile nation. Most shops and businesses in San Cristobal, capital of Tachira state on the Colombian border, were closed and guarded by soldiers on Wednesday, though looting continued in some poorer sectors, residents said. People made off with items including coffee, diapers, and cooking oil in a country where a brutal economic crisis has made basic foods and medicine disappear from shelves. Barricades of trash, car tires, and sand littered the streets, as daily life broke down in the city that was also a hotspot during the 2014 wave of unrest against leftist President Nicolas Maduro. Hundreds of thousands of people have come onto the streets across Venezuela since early April to demand elections, freedom for jailed activists, foreign aid and autonomy for the opposition-led legislature. Maduro's government accuses them of seeking a violent coup and says many of the protesters are no more than "terrorists." State oil company PDVSA also blamed roadblocks for pockets of gasoline shortages in the country on Wednesday. In Tachira, teenager Jose Francisco Guerrero was shot dead during the spate of looting, his relatives said. "My mom sent my brother yesterday to buy flour for dinner and a little while later, we received a call saying he'd been injured by a bullet," said his sister Maria Contreras, waiting for his body to be brought to a San Cristobal morgue.

The state prosecutor's office confirmed his death, which would push the death toll in unrest to at least 43, equal to that of the 2014 protests.'21ST CENTURY JEWS'

With international pressure against Venezuela's government mounting, the United Nations Security Council turned its attention to the country's crisis for the first time on Wednesday."The intent of this briefing was to make sure everyone is aware of the situation ... we're not looking for Security Council action," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told reporters after the session.

"The international community needs to say, 'Respect the human rights of your people or this is going to go in the direction we've seen so many others go' ... We have been down this road with Syria, with North Korea, with South Sudan, with Burundi, with Burma."Venezuela's U.N. envoy Rafael Ramirez in turn accused the United States of seeking to topple the Maduro government. "The U.S. meddling stimulates the action of violent groups in Venezuela," he said, showing photos of vandalism and violence he said was caused by opposition supporters.Venezuelans living abroad, many of whom fled the country's economic chaos, have in recent weeks accosted visiting state officials and their family members.

Maduro on Tuesday likened that harassment to the treatment of Jews under the Nazis."We are the new Jews of the 21st century that Hitler pursued," Maduro said during the cabinet meeting. "We don't carry the yellow star of David ... we carry red hearts that are filled with desire to fight for human dignity. And we are going to defeat them, these 21st century Nazis." The German Nazis and their collaborators persecuted and killed six million Jews in the Holocaust during the 1930s and 1940s.Social media has for weeks buzzed with videos of Venezuelan emigrees in countries from Australia to the United States shouting insults at public officials and in some cases family members in public places.Maduro's critics say it is outrageous for officials to spend money on foreign travel when people are struggling to obtain food and children are dying for lack of basic medicines. But some opposition sympathizers say such mob-like harassment is the wrong way to confront the government. Graphic on Venezuela's economic woes: here (Reporting by Anggy Polanco, additional reporting by Eyanir Chinea, Brian Ellsworth, Girish Gupta and Andrew Cawthorne in Caracas, Julia Symmes Cobb in Bogota and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations in New York; Writing by Girish Gupta and Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Andrew Hay)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow could provide a recording of the exchange between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US President Donald Trump, but his aide later suggested he had meant a written transcript.

"If the US administration finds it possible, we are ready to provide a recording of the conversation between Lavrov and Trump to the US Congress and Senate," Putin said during a press conference.

He mocked the idea that Trump went off-script to share secrets with the Russians, saying he could issue a "reprimand" to Lavrov since he hasn't passed on the information.

"Lavrov didn't share these secrets with us  neither with me nor with the representatives of the Russian security services. That is very bad of him," Putin said to sniggers from the audience as he answered questions after talks with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

Although Putin used the Russian word for audio recording at the press conference, his foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said that "audio is not made."

"There is a recording kept by a special person present at conversations," Ushakov told Russian news agencies.

Citing unnamed sources, The Washington Post reported that Trump had shared intelligence with Lavrov regarding an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aeroplanes.

According to sources cited in the report, that intelligence came from a US ally who had not authorised Washington to pass it on to Moscow.

Putin slammed critics who spread allegations about Trump's ties with Russia.

"What else will the people generating such drivel and nonsense think of next?" he said. "They are shaking up their internal politics while using anti-Russian slogans."

"They either don't understand that they are hurting their own country, and then they are simply dumb, or they understand everything and then they are dangerous and corrupt," Putin added.
Washington: US President Donald Trump had asked former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey to end the probe into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's ties with the Russian ambassador here, the media reported on Wednesday.

According to sources, the request was documented in a memo written by Comey that quoted Trump as saying: "I hope you can let this go."

The White House has however rejected the new allegations. According to a White House official, a "conversation of that nature" did not happen.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, he has never asked Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any probe involving Flynn," the official said in a White House statement.

"The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Comey."

The revelation on Tuesday escalated the already raging political crises engulfing the White House triggered by the FBI's probe into alleged cooperation between Trump aides and Moscow, and reports that the president shared classified information to top Russian officials, CNN reported.

The stunning new developments triggered immediate claims from Democrats that Trump was guilty of obstructing justice and extreme concern from the president's Republican allies on Capitol Hill.

Adam Schiff, the highest ranked Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said this intervention by Trump, if correct, amounted to "interference or obstruction of the investigation", the BBC reporter.

Senator John MCain reportedly said at a dinner that the Trump scandals had now reached "Watergate size".

Trump on May 9 fired Comey, who led the FBI investigation into the ties between Russian officials and Trump's presidential campaign, an issue that Congress also addresses.

Flynn has been at the centre of that investigation shortly after Trump's arrival to the White House.

Flynn advised Trump on foreign policy during the campaign and was later appointed NSA, a position he was forced to resign after lying about his contacts with the Russian Ambassador in Washington.

Sources said that Comey was so appalled by the request at an Oval Office meeting on February 14 that he wanted to document it to share his recollections of the encounter with senior FBI officials.

The report has put a new complexion on Trump's firing of Comey, a move he later confided to NBC News was motivated by anger over the Russia probe.

A source said the encounter between Comey and Trump unfolded after the then FBI Director was in the Oval Office briefing Trump along with vice-president Mike Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

After the briefing, Trump "asked Sessions and Pence to leave", the source told CNN.

According to Comey's memo, the president said: "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

The president told Comey that Flynn, who was fired for lying to Pence about the content of his telephone conversations with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak before the inauguration, hadn't done anything wrong.

Tuesday's developments sent shockwaves up to the Capitol Hill, where there has been increasing disquiet among Republicans due to allegations that the president divulged classified information to Russian officials.

Republican Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a letter from the FBI asking for the handover of "all memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the president".
Fort Leavenworth: Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, is set to walk out of a military prison Wednesday after seven years behind bars.

In July 2010, Manning  then a male soldier known as Bradley  was arrested over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks.

On Wednesday, Manning will leave the prison barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas  the only maximum-security facility run by the Pentagon  thanks to a commutation of her sentence by president Barack Obama before he left office.

Without Obama's parting gift, Manning, who served as an intelligence official in Iraq, would have remained behind bars until 2045, after serving a 35-year sentence.

Supporters of Manning  who attempted suicide twice last year alone  said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her transition as a free, openly transgender woman.

"Two more days until the freedom of civilian life," Manning tweeted Monday. "Now hunting for private healthcare like millions of Americans."

Manning, now 29, also went on a hunger strike during her detention to denounce the disciplinary measures to which she was subjected  including stints in solitary confinement.

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world," she wrote last week.

Quiet release

Manning's defense team is intent on protecting her.

The Oklahoma native had a difficult childhood. After her parents' divorce, Manning moved with her mother to Wales, where she repressed her sexuality and was mocked for her effeminate ways.

The military is, therefore, keen on keeping her release low-key. No press conference is planned and media massing at the military installation may be hard-pressed to even catch a glimpse of Manning.

"To ensure the privacy and security of Inmate Manning, no further information concerning the release will be provided," US army spokesman Dave Foster said in a statement.

Manning, of whom few photographs are publicly available, could find refuge at an aunt's home in the Washington region.

Unwanted fame

Virtually unknown at the time of her arrest, Manning today is a well-known figure around the world.

Labelled a traitor by President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She wasn't able to flee abroad like Edward Snowden, who in 2013 released documents showing that the NSA was sweeping up US citizens' communications metadata.

Ahead of Manning's release, a group of musicians released a compilation album with all proceeds to go to the former soldier as she starts a new life.

Hugs for Chelsea, a digital album available for a $25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left-wing activism including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.

Trans icon

Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists.

"The first thing Chelsea always says when we talk about her freedom is that she wants to give back to the trans community," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who is himself transgender.

Manning was able to start hormonal treatment in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her "right to exist."

While Manning's sentence was commuted, her conviction remains intact. Manning, who will turn 30 in December, has appealed.

She is also still employed by the army and retains its insurance coverage.

"Manning is statutorily entitled to medical care while on excess leave in an active duty status, pending final appellate review," said Foster, the Army spokesman.
Chinese smartphone vendors continued dominance and are now contributing to than half of the Indian smartphone market in Q1 2017, according to latest data from International Data Corporation (IDC). Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 was the highest shipped smartphone in Q1.

27 million smartphones were shipped in India in Q1 2017, up 14.8 percent over the same period last year. China-based vendors captured 51.4 percent share of the smartphone shipments in India. In contrast, share of homegrown vendors dropped to 13.5 percent in the Q1 2017 from 40.5 percent in Q1 2016. Sharing some insights about type of smartphone demands, IDC said 94.5 percent smartphones shipped in Q1 2017 were 4G-enabled. Almost 5 out of 10 smartphones shipped in Q1 2017 had 13 megapixel and more as primary/rear camera. While the 62.2 percent of devices shipped by Chinese smartphone vendors are equipped with 13 megapixel and more as primary camera. 9 out of 10 smartphones shipped by China-based vendors were 5 inch and above in Q1 2017.

Samsung still was the top vendor in India with 28.1% of market followed by Xiaomi at 14.2%. Vivo, Lenovo and OPPO had 10.5%, 9.5% and 9.3% market share respectively.

Jaipal Singh , Market Analyst, Client Devices, IDC India said,

Though homegrown vendors are making attempts to recapture the lost ground with new launches in sub-US$100 as well as in the mid-range segment. But intense competition from China-based vendors continues to be a major challenge and is expected to increase in coming quarters. Recovery of homegrown vendor is necessary for Indian smartphone market not only to fill-in the vacuum created for last few quarters but also to fuel the feature phone to smartphone migration.
Asus just sent out invites for the launch of a new smartphone in India on May 24th. The invite has #GoLive and the company is teasing live video shooting on its social sites that confirms the launch of the ZenFone Live (ZB501KL) next week. It was introduced back in February this year and has real-time beautification with live-streaming beautification app. It lets you see your skin smoothed and blemishes removed in real time, says Asus.

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It also has BeautyLive integrates seamlessly with Facebook, YouTube, and many other popular streaming apps. The front-facing 5-megapixel camera has large 1.4m pixel size and a soft light LED selfie flash.

It also has dual MEMS microphones to help eliminate background noise and enhance voice pickup, five-magnet speaker and smart amp for powerful audio.

Asus ZenFone Live (ZB501KL) specifications

5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) IPS 2.5D curved glass display with 75% screen-to-body ratio

quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor

2GB RAM, 16GB / 32GB internal memory, micro SD card up to 128GB

Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano/microSD)

Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) with Zen UI 3.5

13MP rear camera with LED Flash, f/2.0 aperture, 5P lens

5MP front-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture , 1.4 um pixel size, soft LED flash, 82-degree wide-angle lens

Dimensions:141.2 x 71.74 x 7.95mm; Weight: 130g

3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio, Dual microphones, Smart Amplifier

4G LTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS

2650mAh battery

The Asus ZenFone Live comes in Shimmer Gold,Rose Pink and Navy Black colors and has a metallic finish. We should know the price of the smartphone when it launches in the country next Wednesday.
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President Trump will deliver the commencement address to the graduating class of U.S. Coast Guard cadets in Connecticut on Wednesday.

Founded in August 1790 by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue-Marine service, this part of the U.S. armed forces is overseen by the Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for the safety and security of Americas waterways.

Below are five things to know about this branch of Americas military.

1. Daily Operations

Responsible for the safety and security of Americas waterways, on an average day, the U.S. Coast Guard saves 10 lives, seizes 874 pounds of cocaine, conducts 45 search and rescue cases and saves more than $1.2 million in property.

2. Workforce

Currently, there are nearly 41,000 total active duty servicemen and women in the U.S. Coast Guard. Additionally, the military branch has 7,000 reserve, part-time staff, more than 8,500 civilian workers and 31,000 auxiliary, all-volunteer members. Its total workforce equates to more than 87,000 people.

3. Ships

In order to protect the countrys waterways, the Coast Guard employs the use of ships and boats. In total, the service has 243 total cuttersdefined as any vessel 65-feet or greater in lengthincluding patrol ships, icebreakers and national security cutters. The Coast Guard uses 1,650 boats, or any vessel less than 65 feet long.

4. Aircraft

Aircraft also play a vital role in the services daily duties. This military branch uses two types of helicoptersthe MH-65 Dolphin and MH-60 Jayhawk. The Dolphin is used primarily for search and rescue operations, while the Jayhawk is used for homeland security, patrols and search and rescue. Additionally, the Coast Guard uses 27 HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing, all-purpose aircraft for search and rescue, cargo and passenger transportation, and 18 HC-144 Ocean Sentry planes for lifesaving and interdiction tasks.

5. Budget

The Coast Guard has a $9.1 billion budget for 2017. In March, President Trump released his budget proposal, which included a $1.3 billion cut to the services funding, despite calling for a boost to overall military spending. However, this was scrapped after backlash on Capitol Hill from both Democrat and Republican lawmakers.
The Latest on Greece's general strike (all times local):

1:35 p.m.

Greek riot police in central Athens have fired tear gas at protesting youths as anti-austerity protests turned violent.

Several dozen protesters hurled rocks and fired flares at police outside Parliament after peaceful marches involving around 12,000 people ended.

Nearby, protesting police officers blocked the entrance to a Finance Ministry building.

The marches occurred during a general strike against bailout-related spending cuts being debated in Parliament.

___

9: 15 a.m.

Greek workers have walked off the job across the country for a nationwide general strike expected to disrupt public and private sector services. They are protesting new austerity measures to be imposed beyond the end of Greece's third bailout next year.

Public hospitals were functioning with emergency staff only Wednesday, while public transport was disrupted.

Air traffic controllers were holding a four-hour work stoppage in the middle of the day, leading to the rescheduling or cancellation of more than 150 flights. Seamen were participating with a four-day strike that began Tuesday, leaving ferries servicing the Greek islands and mainland tied up in port until Friday.

Workers are protesting a raft of new cost-cutting measures, to be voted on in parliament late Thursday that will include pension cuts and tax hikes.
Targets (NYSE:TGT) first-quarter earnings were a bullseye for investors who sent the companys shares up 3.5% Wednesday as the broader market moved sharply lower after it reported a smaller-than-expected decline in same-store sales. But the companys CEO said hes not ready for a round of high fives just yet.

The Minneapolis-based retailer reported a 1.1% decline in revenue from a year ago to $16.02 billion, outpacing expectations for $15.62 billion. Comparable-store sales, a key metric for retailers which measures completed transactions at stores open at least a year, declined 1.3%, driven primarily by a decline in traffic and purchase sizes. However, the decline wasnt as steep as the 3.6% drop analysts forecast, according to Consensus Matrix expectations.

Same-store sales were a source of weakness for retailers as a whole in the first quarter, especially department stores like Macys (NYSE:M) and JCPenney (NYSE:JCP), as shoppers continue to shift their spending online rather than browsing through aisles in physical stores.

We feel good about progress in the first quarter, but were not doing high fives. We know we have a lot of work to do. As a company, we have a very strong foundationwe have a very clear strategy in place and our focus will be on week-to-week execution from a physical and digital standpoint, chairman and CEO Brian Cornell said on the company's earnings call with analysts.

While e-commerce giant Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) continues to challenge traditional industry players, Target has revamped its focus in the space and saw sales rise 22% across its digital channels in 1Q. The company has worked to streamline in-house digital operations, abandoning a partnership with Curbside, an app that allowed customers to pick up orders outside the stores, instead working on developing its own service, the Wall Street Journal reported this week.

Additionally, while facing mounting pressure from Walmart (NYSE:WMT), which acquired Amazon rival Jet.com last year and has been on a buying spree  snapping up companies like Modcloth and Moosejaw  Target had reportedly been working on an acquisition strategy before opting to develop its own competitive platforms. The company eliminated Goldfish, and in-house start up that would have provided a marketplace for third-party sellers, and walked away from various acquisition discussions including ones for Sprouts Farmers Market and online wholesale retailer Boxed, according to the Journal.

Cornell, in a statement said, that while the quarter began with very soft trends, Target saw improvement later in the quarter, particularly in March.

We are in the early stage of a multi-year effort to position Target for profitable, consistent long-term growth, and while we are confident in our plans, we are facing multiple headwinds in the current landscape, he said. As a result, we will continue to plan our business prudently while preparing our team to chase business when we have an opportunity.

To that end, Cornell said his company will evaluate M&A opportunities that will enhance Targets current business initiatives and strengthen the core strategies of accelerating sales and complementing the brands interaction with its customers. Cornell and a team of executives on the earnings call repeatedly reiterated that focus going forward remains on growing in-store and online traffic, capturing more market share, and investing in brands while also improving the value proposition with customers.

While investing more heavily online, Target has also doubled down on its brick-and-mortar strategy as it tests small-format stores in various parts of the country, including New York City, in an effort to reshape the brands big-box image. At the same time, the company in March unveiled new concept stores aimed at elevating the in-store experience and emphasizing exclusive brands as well as ease and simplicity for quick trips to the store for household items. The first new-format store will open in Richmond, Texas in October.

In the first quarter, Targets net earnings of $681 million, or $1.21 a share, represented a 6.1% decline from the same time a year ago, but were well above Wall Street expectations of 91 cents. The company expects a low single-digit decline in same-store sales both in the second quarter and for the full year, with earnings per share between 95 cents and $1.15 in the current quarter.

Target shares rose to $56.16 on Wednesday, but have posted declines of 25% over the last year amid industry-wide fears about a challenged retail environment.
An awkward job interview question  how much did you make at your last job?  is getting banned in some parts of the country.

Massachusetts, New York City and Philadelphia have passed laws that bar employers from asking applicants about their salary history. And several states, including California, Mississippi and Pennsylvania, have proposed similar legislation this year.

Supporters say the bans are one way to help close the wage gap between men and women. Some business advocates, however, say the bans hurt companies that use salary histories to help them set wages.

Either way, employment lawyers say the bans may spread.

"I would not be surprised if we see other states and cities consider it," says Christine Hendrickson, an employment lawyer at Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago.

Here's what you need to know:

__

WHEN DO THE LAWS TAKE EFFECT?

Massachusetts's law is set to go into effect in July of 2018. New York City's ban takes effect in November. Philadelphia's ban was supposed to go into effect May 23, but a judge has temporarily halted it after the city's Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit opposing it.

___

WHAT'S BANNED?

The laws block employers from asking applicants about salary history in interviews or on applications. Job applicants can still provide their past pay on their own. And employers may ask applicants what salary range they expect in the role, says Regina E. Faul, an employment lawyer and partner at Phillips Nizer in New York.

___

WHY BAN IT?

Lawmakers say asking about salary history continues the cycle of pay inequality, keeping a woman from getting higher pay at a new job if she reveals her past salary.

Letitia James, who authored New York's law and is the city's public advocate, said the ban ensures that "being underpaid once does not condemn anyone to a lifetime of inequity."

___

WHAT HAPPENS IF AN EMPLOYER ASKS FOR SALARY HISTORY WHERE IT IS BANNED?

Job applicants can report those employers, and they may be fined or even face jail time. In New York, the fine can be as much as $250,000. In Philadelphia, it's $2,000 per violation, plus 90 days in jail for repeat offenses.

___

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, which represents about 600,000 businesses, sued the city over the ban last month arguing that it violates employers' free speech rights and makes it harder for companies to set wages and attract top talent. The lawsuit says employers use wage history to identify which job applicants it can or can't afford and helps businesses figure out what the comparable salary is for a certain job.

___

WHICH OTHER LOCATIONS ARE CONSIDERING BANS?

This year, at least 21 states and Washington D.C. have proposed legislation that would prohibit salary history questions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The states are: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Vermont and Washington.

Others may join in. "There's probably going to be a trend toward this," says Faul.

_____

Contact Joseph Pisani at http://twitter.com/josephpisani
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt on Wednesday said that former President Barack Obama wasnt the environmental savior that Democrats made him out to be and why the U.S. needs to part ways with the Paris Climate Agreement.

When you look at Superfund sites, which are sites across the country that have land waste Uranium and Lead 1322 sites across the country thats more than when President Obama came into office, so it increased under his watch The areas that he focused on as far as CO2, he struck out twice before the U.S. Supreme Court, they struck him down as far as the actions he took, he said on FOX Business' Varney & Company.

Pruitt wants the U.S. to play a role in reducing pollution, however, believes that the Paris Agreement is a bad business deal.

Paris represents an agreement that puts America last Paris represented a situation where China and India went ahead and didnt take any steps to address C02 reductions, while we front loaded our cost, contracting our economy 2.5 trillion dollars in gross domestic product over a 10 year period, he said.
Twenty-one members of the brutally violent gang MS-13 were arrested in Los Angeles Wednesday, in what officials are calling the largest-ever law enforcement action against the group.

Wednesdays raids were the product of a three-year probe conducted by the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department and other federal agencies. The detainees were part of a group of forty-four members of the gang who were indicted on charges ranging from murder to racketeering to extortion. Three of the individuals charged face the death penalty if found guilty.

As previously reported by FOX Business, MS-13 relies heavily on violence and extortion as a primary source of income.

MS-13 was founded in Los Angeles during the 1980s by immigrants from El Salvador who fled during the countrys 12-year civil war. Since then the gangs membership has ballooned to at least 10,000 members in the United States and more than 30,000 worldwide, according to the FBI and Treasury Department. Aside from Los Angeles, MS-13 has a strong presence in parts of Texas and Long Island, N.Y.

President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions have vowed to crack down on the group, which is on one of its most deadly tears through Long Island since it took root there 20-30 years ago. It has been linked to at least 11 murders in the region since mid-2016, according to the Associated Press. Most recently, the gang is believed to be connected to four brutal killings in Central Islip, N.Y. last month.

I have a message for the gangs that target our young people: We are targeting you and we are coming after you, Sessions said during a news conference last month.

Last week ICE arrested more than 1,000 gang members in a nationwide surge, including more than 100 MS-13 members. The department said it has made more than 4,300 criminals arrests and nearly 3,000 civil arrests of MS-13 leaders and members as part of Operation Community Shield.
Driers could be stopped in their tracks and forced to pay to move by hackers using clampware attacks, experts have warned.

Cyber criminals would target software defects in radios, ECUs and on-board WiFi to immobilise cars and hold motorists to ransom at the roadside.

Drivers would then have a choice whether to pay up to release their car or be left stranded, waiting for assistance.

The warning comes in the wake of the WannaCry cyberattack which took out the entire NHS system and experts believe its only a matter of time before car software is targeted on a wider scale.

Controlled demonstrations have already been displayed in the US while several recent cases showed how cars were stolen from driveways in the UK by hacking into keyless systems.

The advent of driverless cars, vehicles connected to city infrastructure and cloud-based infotainment systems all offer criminals more ways than ever to take over motors.

MORE AUTO NEWS FROM THE SUN

Professor Martyn Thomas, IT professor at Gresham College, London said: What is going to happen when ransomware becomes clampware, attacking automobile software through the vehicles radios, phones and other networks?

Who will be responsible for rescuing stranded motorists and how long will it take? Or will we all just have to pay what the criminals demand to release the car, lorry or ambulance?

Software engineers often rely on a test-and-fix approach to cyber security but that would be even more dangerous in a car than a regular laptop.

Prof Thomas added: A modern car contains tens of millions of lines of software  which with current software industry standards means many thousands of software defects.

We need a radically different national cyber security strategy  one that maps out a route towards a world where software products are certifiably secure and where software manufacturers provide enforceable guarantees.

The car industry is taking a proactive approach to hacking threats with security experts Thatcham Research working with Government and other specialists to draw up a basic framework and safety standard for manufacturers to adhere to.

One solution could be to introduce computer-style anti-virus systems within the cars coding to lock out cyber criminals before theyre able to take control.

Andrew Miller, chief technology officer at Thatcham Research, said: As cars become more connected, they also become more vulnerable to cyber attack.

We are working with key members of the automotive industry to develop a cyber-security standard, much like the Euro NCAP star safety rating system.

This will give drivers assurance that connected autonomous vehicles have been designed and tested to meet exacting cyber security standards.
Former Bachelor star Chis Soules pleaded not guilty to fleeing the scene of a fatal accident in an Iowa court on Tuesday.

According to the documents obtained by People Magazine, Soules wrote in a written plea that he is requesting for a trial date to be set as soon as possible.

The 35-year-old is facing a felony charge that carries up to five years in prison for the April 16th accident that left Kenneth E. Mosher dead. Authorities said at the time that Mosher died when Soules' truck rear-ended Mosher's tractor, throwing him into a ditch.

'BACHELOR' STAR CHRIS SOULES ARRESTED FOR LEAVING



The sheriff stated following the accident that alcoholic beverages were found at the scene and police are trying to determine who had possessed them.

Soules is charged with violating a law that requires drivers involved in fatal accidents to remain at the scene "except to seek necessary aid or to report the accident to law enforcement authorities."

The reality star's legal team has argued that "acted reasonably and did everything in his power to provide aid to Mr. Mosher" after the accident.

Soules, the star of the 19th season of The Bachelor, appeared on a string of shows like Dancing with the Stars since leaving the ABC hit.

He has deleted his social media accounts after his arrest.

Soules lawyers did not return Fox News' request for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


When Kirk and Anne Douglas released a new book that revealed intimate letters they shared over the years, readers were shocked to discover that Kirk's longtime wife was not only aware of his infidelity, but she willfully turned a blind eye to his lovers.

Trust and honesty are two of the qualities I find essential in marriage, wrote Anne in an email to Fox News regarding her bold admission in Kirk and Anne: Letters of Love, Laughter and a Lifetime in Hollywood.

Anne, 98, and Kirk, 100, communicated with us over email. Kirks 1996 stroke has impacted his speech.



A LOOK BACK AT KIRK'S MOST ICONIC PERFORMANCES

I never wanted to hear gossip about my husband from a third party, explained Anne. I told him right from the start that I needed to hear from him directly if he was having or had had a fling. And since he cant keep a secret, he always has  none of them serious and usually when he was lonely and on location without me.

The German-born publicist, who currently serves as president of Kirk's production company Bryna, also stated that her European upbringing led her to feel it was unrealistic to expect total fidelity in a marriage.

European women are less likely to run to the divorce court in righteous indignation than Americans are, she added. I loved my husband and my life and our family, so why would I give all that up because of pride? We are together because we love and respect each other and share the same values.

KIRK DOUGLAS CELEBRATES 100TH BIRTHDAY

And it looks like the couples unconventional approach to love has worked just fine. Kirk married Anne in 1954 and theyve been together ever since.

Kirk wrote to Fox News that he credited his spouse for saving his life, including the time when she refused to let him travel on a private plane named Lucky Liz in 1958 with director and friend Mike Todd, who was then married to Elizabeth Taylor. The plane crash, killing everyone on board.

Anne has saved my life twice  once when she fought with me about flying on Mike Todds plane until I gave in, and the plane crashed over New Mexico, he said. Everyone was killed. She also drove me to the hospital after my stroke in record time and then gave me tough love to bring me out of my suicidal depression afterward. I think, once you read our letters to each other, youll understand my endless fascination with her.

Kirk and Anne first met in Paris in the early 1950s while he was on location for an upcoming film and she was assisting with press. While the charismatic actor assumed he could easily win her over, his plans for seduction didnt go over so smoothly.

DIANA DOUGLAS DIES AT 92

I had been a big movie star with two Oscar nominations by the time I met Anne, and I believed that any woman would be flattered if I asked her out, he recalled. Anne was the one who turned me down.

Anne had her reasons.

Of course, he was charming and sexy, but I had seen too many young women in Paris fall in love with American movie stars who went home to their lives and wives when their pictures wrapped, she explained. I certainly didnt want to be another location romance casualty. I had survived war in occupied Paris, and knew instinctively how to protect myself from dangerous situations.

But Kirk found a way to get close to Anne.

I couldnt convince her to go out with me, but I finally convinced her to do my publicity on the [1953] film, Act of Love, he said. I knew it would be strictly business, yet she still fascinated me and I wanted to know all about her. She had a wicked sense of humor, spoke four languages and was the most sophisticated and elegant woman I had ever met. So I fell in love with her.

The move eventually worked. Anne said she admired his work ethic, noting that he learned to speak fluent French in less than two months just so that he could act in the French version of the film. And thanks to the movies long, grueling hours, the duo became friends.

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Kirk is unable to keep a secret, so I knew all about his extracurricular life as well, she said.

Despite her admirer's womanizing reputation, Anne eventually learned that she was falling for him.

One night we went to the Cirque d Hiver charity gala and the producers asked Kirk to participate, she said. He surprised everyone by coming out after the elephant act still in his elegant tuxedo pushing a giant broom of a pooper-scooper. Everyone laughed and I fell in love.

Kirk revealed that it was their numerous love letters from over the years that inspired his twelfth book. Fortunately, Anne saved all of their correspondences that chronicled their relationship.

I remember how much we depended on getting mail from each other when we were apart. So I asked her. And she brought a big battered file folder that she had kept hidden in a closet in our Montecito house, he said. My remarkable wife had kept everything  notes, cables, scrawled musings from plans and movie sets, starting in 1953 when we first met in Paris. At that moment, I knew this shouldnt be my book, it should be ours.

What has been the secret behind a high-profile Hollywood marriage that has thrived for over 60 years? While Anne does turn a blind eye to infidelity, the couple, who raised two sons, credit date night for sparking the romance every day.

[Date night is] the same as its been throughout our marriage, said Kirk. We spend what we call the golden hour together at around 6:30 each night. Well sit and talk and laugh and share our day and our thoughts with each other.

Except now we are very 21st century and bring along our iPads, she added.
Nicole Curtis is one to always speak her mind.

The star of HGTV's "Rehab Addict" is known for her personal posts on social media and she did not hold back in her most recent post.

"Life is short -take this 'been to hell and back' chick's advice," she wrote Tuesday. "Be kind, but don't put your energy into bad people -just move forward and past."

Curtis admitted she's one to have "skipped that advice quite a few times" but said "I'm still standing."

"I've stuck to my guns since I was old enough to know in my heart what I truly believed in and stood for -and I've been literally kicked to the curb by so many who just didn't like that and yeah, it hurts."

The home renovator has been going through a rough time between a bitter custody battle with her ex and dealing with a lawsuit brought against her by the city of Minneapolis.

Curtis' personal posts often get her into trouble -- her ex asked a judge in April to prohibit the star from "posting disparaging comments" about him on social media.
Kim Cattrall found fame as the sex-crazed Samantha Jones on the hit HBO series Sex and the City, but the real-life actress has revealed that Hollywood is still not captivated by older women.

The 60-year-old English-Canadian star told BBCs Victoria Derbyshire on Tuesday that shes not interested in taking on stereotypical roles because of her age.

'SEX AND THE CITY' CREATOR WANTED ALEC BALDWIN TO PLAY MR. BIG

Im not ready to play someone who is grotesque, said Cattrall. Either from being thought of as a very, very older woman, at 60-61 this year, which Im not, and I dont feel that way. Thats why I dont depend on Hollywood for jobs anymore. Thats why I became an executive producer.

And despite having a high-profile career, Cattrall insisted she doesnt feel pressure to maintain a youthful appearance.

If I want to look a certain way then thats for my satisfaction, she explained. I dont do it because of my work, I do it because that makes me feel good.

Still, Cattrall has admitted to encountering ageism over the years, despite her success on-screen.

SARAH JESSICA PARKER IS STILL APOLOGIZING FOR 'SEX AND THE CITY 3' RUMORS

It starts in a little bit of a whisper, said Cattrall. Can she come in and have a meeting? We just want to see what she looks like. We want to see her skin, where shes at.

She revealed that this is a common tactic used to find out how old an actress really looks.

Its a polite way of doing that, said Cattrall.

But even the actress gave herself a hard time when she was initially approached to play confident, conquest-seeking Samantha.

I turned down the role three time, previously said Cattrall at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2016. At the time I was just about to turn 41 and I was practicing ageism on myself. I felt I couldnt be the sex bomb any more. You have to understand that this was 1997. Weve come a long way since then  40 is now the new 25, 60 is the new 40. I was just thinking: Who is going to believe it? And do I want to do it?

Cattrall would go on to play Samantha for 13 years.
Its pretty easy to identify a terrible barbecue restaurant after youve eaten there, when your stomach has already soured and your gag reflexes are acting up.

But to recognize a bad barbecue joint before you even sit down? Thats some next-level sorcery.

That kind of foresight belongs only to the most proficient pitmasters and smoked-meat specialists on the barbecue circuit  people like Myron Mixon of Jacks Old South, Tuffy Stone of Q Barbecue, Tyson Ho of Arrogant Swine, Lucy Buffett of LuLus, or Jonathan Fox of Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q. These barbecue pros havent eaten a sub-par slab of brisket in ages (outside of judging a brisket contest), and its all thanks to their superhuman ability to recognize wretched barbecue just by the smell of the smoke in the air.

CHICK-FIL-A ROLLING OUT FIRST-EVER BARBECUE SANDWICH

For those of you who cant discern between the scents of mesquite, cherrywood or hickory, the experts were kind enough to share their favorite tips for saving your stomach (and your gag reflexes) from any undue stress brought on by bad 'cue.

These five simple signs will warn you away from an appalling barbecue restaurant:

1. You cant see, or even smell, the smoker.

I want to see a wood burning smoker blowing and going out in front of the restaurant, or at least smell that wonderful aroma of smoking meats a block away, explains Lucy Buffett, the restaurateur behind LuLus and the author of Gumbo Love.

Every one of the chefs and pitmasters agreed that if you cant see or smell a smoker, theres a chance youre being taken for a fool.

Do you smell the smoke? Is it hickory and oak? If theyre not running the pits while youre there, its a possibility they dont cook fresh every day, says Myron Mixon, a Barbecue Hall of Famer and the oft-described winningest man in his field.

And yes, its true that some barbecue masters will hide their smokers out back, far from any prying eyes that might want to steal their secret recipes. But if a restaurants smoker is hidden a little too well, its definitely doesnt bode well for diners.

You should see a smoker either outside the building or in a smokehouse, adds Stone, who hosted BBQ Pitmasters on Destination America alongside Mixon from 20092015. If they dont have one, I would be worried.

2. Theres sauce everywhere.

Great barbecue calls for a great sauce, but that doesnt mean it should be drowning in the stuff.

Meat that is served sauced, swimming with barbecue sauce  I feel like you are trying to cover something up, says Jonathan Fox, the pitmaster and co-owner of Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q in Atlanta, Ga.

I went to a well-known place one time and asked for sauce on the side, because I wanted to taste the meat, and I got a look like I was asking for a family secret or something, remembers Fox. Needless to say my plate was served sauced. I havent been back.

Mixon, too, named overly-sauced dishes as one of his biggest red flags. Makes you wonder if the meats dry or has no flavor, he says.

3. The menu highlights the wrong things.

Tyson Ho, who focuses on traditional Carolina whole-hog barbecue at his restaurant in Brooklyn, says he doesnt trust an eatery that focuses on too many regional styles of barbecue.

If I walk into barbecue joint and it has Texas brisket, Carolina pulled pork, Memphis ribs, a smorgasbord of styles, I simply walk out, he says.

BACKYARD BARBECUE HACKS EVER GRILL FAN NEEDS TO KNOW

Likewise, Mixon tells Fox News he avoids any barbecue joints that try to pass themselves off as whiskey taverns or breweries.

If I'm looking for great barbecue, I stay away from the establishments that have 200 plus craft beers on tap and 100 different bourbons, says Mixon. You need to as, is [this place] a barbecue joint serving beverages, or a bar serving a little barbecue?

4. The restaurant uses flowery language.

Another [warning] sign is when they use words like fall off the bone, or you dont need teeth to eat our [barbecue], says Fox. You get where Im going. If you have to dress it up, it isnt worth having.

When I read the menu, it needs to have a brief description, adds Mixon, but it doesn't need smoked or barbecue in the description!

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5. The menu straight-up ignores certain dishes.

Last but not least, a great barbecue joint has to serve classic barbecue dishes and sides. Its fine if the place has a specialty, or theyre well know for one thing, but thats no reason to ignore everything else.

Stone, for example, says he enjoys trying experimental side dishes, but admits that he still likes to see the standards  coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad  done right.

I have been to some places that tend to overlook or not put much care into the sides, and I think thats unfortunate, he says.

And, of course, Mixon has a strong opinion when it comes to fancy menus.

If the place has a fancy menu with no basic barbecue items like pulled pork, chicken, beans , coleslaw, potato salad  its not a true barbecue place.
As you read this, take a whiff. What smells do you detect? How do these smells affect how you feel?

It's rare that people consciously take in the smells around them, but a new review argues that the human sense of smell is more powerful than it's usually given credit for, and that it plays a bigger role in human health and behavior than many medical experts realize.

"The fact is the sense of smell is just as good in humans as in other mammals, like rodents and dogs," John McGann, a neuroscientist at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Jersey and the author of the new review, said in a statement .

People often think of dogs and rats as the superior sniffers in the animal kingdom, but humans also have an extremely keen sense of smell, McGann argued in the review, which was published today (May 11) in the journal Science . In fact, humans can discriminate among 1 trillion different odors , McGann wrote, far more than a commonly cited claim that people can detect only about 10,000 different smells.

By overlooking humans' keen smelling abilities, medicine may be missing a key component of human health, McGann said. Smell influences human behavior, from stirring up memories to attracting sexual partners to influencing mood to shaping taste, he said. It's no coincidence that the French word for smell, "sentir," also means to feel; emotion and smell are often intricately linked.

A "gross oversimplification"

When considering the senses, there's a reason smell is often shunted to third place behind sight and hearing, McGann wrote.

It started in the 19th century, when Paul Broca, a French brain surgeon and anthropologist, observed that humans have proportionately smaller olfactory, or smell-related, organs compared with other animals, according to the review. Broca also noted that people don't exhibit odor-driven behavior to the same degree that other mammals do.

This led Broca to hypothesize in his 1879 writings that smell had taken a backseat role to the other senses in humans in exchange for free will. Years later, Sigmund Freud piggybacked on the idea that human smell is inferior to other senses, suggesting that the sense of smell could not dominate a rational person, according to the review.

McGann called these conclusions a "gross oversimplification," but they were then further supported by later research. For example, studies from the 20th century found that rats and mice have genes for about 1,000 different kinds of receptors that are activated by odors , compared with about 400 such receptors in humans.

Smell and the brain

It's true that humans have relatively smaller olfactory organs and fewer odor-detecting genes compared with other animals. However, the power of the human brain more than makes up for this.

"The truth is that 400 different receptors still offer a tremendous range. There are very few odors that humans can't smell despite having practically fewer receptors than rats, mice and dogs," McGann told Live Science. Part of the reason humans can detect so many odors is thanks to their "much more complicated and powerful brain that's interpreting that information."

When a person smells something, odor molecules bind to receptors in the nose. These receptors send information about the molecules to the human olfactory bulb in the brain, which then sends signals to other areas of the brain to help identify scents.

This is different from the way smell works in dogs, McGann said. Dogs have a "pump" in their noses that's designed to take in chemicals in liquid form (say, on the side of a fire hydrant) for identification, he said. Because the smelling mechanisms are so different, it's hard to compare humans to dogs, McGann said.

Smell and medicine

Many studies have linked the humans sense of smell to certain medical conditions.

Dr. Dolores Malaspina, a psychiatrist at New York University Langone Medical Center, agreed that smell can play an important role in medicine. Malaspina was not involved in the new review.

Malaspina has long used smell to help diagnose certain diseases, and her research has connected the human sense of smell with both schizophrenia and depression .

"Smell among schizophrenia patients is often either distorted or decreased," she told Live Science.

Malaspina has also shown that a loss of smell can lead to depression. This may be linked to how odors trigger the growth of neurons, she said.

"There's evidence that these stimulations of the brain by odors may drive the making of new brain cells," she said.

Loss of smell has been linked to other health problems as well. A 2016 study showed that a loss of the ability to detect scents was associated with early signs of Alzheimer's disease. And sobering research from 2014 found that a loss of smell may predict death within five years.

As people age, many gradually lose their sense of smell. Research has shown that 75 percent of people lose at least part of their sense of smell by age 80.

It's all the more reason, McGann said, to appreciate the power of human smell and its role in human health.

"When you lose your sense of smell, it's actually a big deal. It influences your ability to take pleasure in food and daily life," McGann said. "There's a significant impact of losing your sense of smell that's not yet fully understood."

Originally published on Live Science .
When news reports revealed recently that airline passengers possibly were exposed to tuberculosis on a flight, we were suddenly and dramatically reminded that TB is still a problem in this country and around world.

Although there were just 9,945 cases of TB reported in the United States in 2012 the reason these numbers cannot be ignored is the increasing threat of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), a variation of TB that is considerably more contagious, severe and deadly.

What makes the threat even more problematic is that the cause of the spread of MDR-TB is found in the TB treatment regimen itself.

MDR-TB develops because many people afflicted with TB find it too difficult to comply with the multi-drug treatment process and thus stop using the drugs too soon, making their disease drug resistant and more severe.

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Indeed a recent World Health Organization report makes clear that the spread of MDR-TB strains poses a real threat worldwide, even in the United States, and that it is essential that we take more comprehensive measures to address it.

In San Diego for example, 22% of TB cases in 2012 were resistant to at least one of the four major TB drugs and in New York City, the number of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases in 2012 is double what it was in 2007.



But a breakthrough solution may be as close as our ever present smart phones. This solution offers hope both for patients suffering from TB and for public health departments burdened by the high costs of monitoring treatments.

Typically, health departments in cities across the United States spend millions of dollars to hire professionals to go to TB patients homes every day for six months to watch them take their pills and swallow each dose. This treatment protocol, called "Directly Observed Therapy" or DOT, while effective, also has significant problems.



The process stigmatizes patients and limits their mobility. It is costly and time intensive to administer. And when patients avoid dealing with this inconvenience and stop taking their antibiotics, they are at great risk for MDR-TB.

Once TB becomes resistant to multiple drugs the treatment of the disease can take years and cure rates decline.



In San Diego County, for instance, the TB Control Program spends more than $8.6MM a year on its roughly 300 TB cases, partially due to the high cost of administering DOT programs and the cost to treat drug resistant TB, which can be 50 to 200 times more expensive than standard treatments.

That's why public health administrators need to be aware of how new mobile technology solutions can be a major contributor to TB treatment and MDR-TB prevention.



The University of California, San Diego and U.C. San Diegos Division of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) are providing an example of how the technology can provide cost effective answers. The solution is stunning in its simplicity and effectiveness.

Called "Video Directly Observed Therapy" or VDOT, the process allows TB patients to video record themselves taking their daily medications on Smartphones and then send the videos to health departments.

Health officials can then remotely monitor and document each dose of medication and store the records on a secure cloud server.



A National Institutes of Health evaluation found that with smart phone therapy, 70% more patients were able to successfully recover from TB compared to the traditional observation methods. VDOT currently active in San Diego was recently expanded into San Francisco, New York and London.



Understanding the impact of mobile technology on the treatment of TB also serves to underscore the critical necessity of investigating new ways to use mobile technology to improve the treatment for all types of chronic and infectious disease.

Mobile technology can not only improve medication adherence it can deliver disease education, send behavioral intervention reminders, increase access to specialty care via video and remotely monitor biometrics. Yet, the current use of mobile technology in health care systems is a fraction of its potential.



That is why it is so essential that this promising success of TB adherence through mobile technology be widely communicated.

By demonstrating how this technology can provide a 21st century solution to an age old disease that is among the deadliest of pandemics, we can catalyze greater interest within health care systems for exploring new and powerful ways that mobile technology can improve care, reduce costs and save lives.
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January1, 2014 marks the 55th anniversary of Fidel Castro's reign of terror on the island of Cuba.

The country is so close that perhaps if you stand on your tippy toes in Key West, you can see Cuba.

On January 1,1959, I was a little boy in Cuba. It was a great country. I was awakened by celebratory gun shots. I knew they were not New Year's firecrackers.

That day bearded men in green fatigues came to my home and acted like they were in charge. Ten days later they stripped the people of all weapons and ensured that control.

But today I have hope.

More On This...

This op-ed is about three brave Cubans: Berta Soler, Yoani Sanchez and Guillermo Farinas.

They lead Cuba's growing but isolated dissident movement. I write about them because it is sadly clear that, after 55 years, our government (whether led by Republicans or Democrats) is going to continue to ignore the people of Cuba.

[pullquote]

This op-ed is also not about Castro's 17,000 political assassinations, his legendary dungeon prisons,or his prolific torture methods. It is not about my uncle, who, deceived by Castro, first fought for him and then against him in the Bay of Pigs invasion. President Kennedy reneged on his promise to assist the invaders.

After my uncle ran out of ammunition, he was captured and tortured.

I am not going to detail the story of the brave American, William Morgan, who rose to the rank of Commandante in Castro's army then turned against him. His executioners, ordered him to kneel. Morgan spat back "I kneel for no man". They blew off one knee but somehow the big American still struggled to stand. Then they blew off his other knee and massacred him.

I am not going to explain why our State Department annually recognizes Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Nor will I address the fact that a few months ago a Cuban ship was detained in Panama carrying nuclear missile parts and weapons from Cuba to North Korea. Our media seemed to have glossed over that story.

I am not too troubled because our president hopped two steps and cheerfully shook the Bloody hand of Fidel's brother, Raul. Raul has always been a bug in the shadow of his brother.

Moreover, I don't think our president recognized Raul because two weeks earlier he had met with Berta Soler and Guillermo Farinas in Miami and cheered them on.

So let's talk about hope.

First, there is Berta Soler. This brave,black woman leads the ladies in white,the wives and mothers of Castro's political prisoners. Every Sunday after mass Inst. Ritas church,Berta parades the ladies in peaceful protest, wearing white and carrying flowers.

Every Sunday, Castro sends his thugs to beat them, stick them with needles and recently, strip them of their clothing. But every Sunday there are more ladies in white.

Yoani Sanchezis the famous blogger who, in a country that prohibits the Internet, reaches millions throughout the world. She denounces Castroism. When I asked her, she told me she was very afraid of the violence against her and showed me a hole in her mouth where they had knocked out a tooth. She admitted that she was most afraid when Castros thugs threatened to hurt her only son. But Yoani blogs on.

Guillermo Farinas is tall, dark and bald. Because of 24 anti-Castro hunger strikes she has the countenance of a concentration camp prisoner. But he has the heart of a lion.

This November while in Miami, I noticed fresh scars on his bald head. I begged him not to go back. I reminded him that last year Cuba's leading dissident, Oswaldo Paya had been publicly murdered by Castro's men.

Guillermo told me his group now numbers 7,000 and he was going back no matter the consequences.

He is back in Cuba.

So, because of Berta, Yoani and Guillermo, 55 years later I have hope. I would be even more hopeful if America decided to really support them. They are so close to us.
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2013 might be called the year of the shape-shifter. President Obama, the leader of the free world, cozied up to Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Saudi Arabia poured billions into fighting Islamic terrorists in Lebanon and Egypt. Egypt banned Muslim radicals from government.

So what does this confusing scene tell us about 2014? Do our expectations need fixing?



For starters, Americans expect their president to be committed to democracy.

Iran is not a democracy. It is ruled by violent fanatics who deny essential human rights to their own citizens, fund and execute mass murder in other states, kidnap and kill Americans, and dedicate themselves to the annihilation of Israel.

[pullquote]

President Rouhani was elected last June after 99% (8 out of 686) of the would-be candidates, including all women, were prohibited from running for office.

More On This...

And yet in 2013, the White House Press Secretary congratulate[d] the Iranian people for making their voices heard during Irans election [and] for their participation in the political process, and said the election represented the will of the voters.

President Obama himself talked to the U.N. General Assembly about Rouhanis mandate from the Iranian people.

In other words, the president subverted genuine democratic aspirations in Iran, and legitimized a devious thug and the lethal regime he represents. We now know why. He was planning to cut a deal (profoundly affecting our national security) with those frauds.

Americans also expect their president to be committed to human rights.

November elections to the U.N.s top human rights body, the Human Rights Council, turned China, Russia, and Cuba into U.N. human rights authorities.

Half the members of the Council are not even democracies and Islamic states hold the balance of power by controlling the African and Asian blocs. In 2013 the Council criticized Israel more than any other state, almost twice as much as Syria, and six times as much as Iran.

And yet in 2013 the lead cheerleader of the Human Rights Council was the Obama administration. It regularly generates brag sheets on Council achievements. In October the State Department bragged about a resolution on Syria focused on ... accountability.

Recent reports put the death toll in Syria at 130,000, the war is entering its third year, and President Assad is totally unaccountable.

Americans expect their president to be committed to the rule of law.

The U.N. Security Council adopted four legally-binding sanction resolutions on Iran beginning in 2006. American diplomacy managed to extract even Russian and Chinese support for international laws that state Iran shall without further delaysuspend all enrichment related activities.

And yet in 2013 President Obama decided to destroy that hard-won consensus, trash those legal obligations, and authorize Iran to continue enrichment activities.

The Geneva Conventions on the laws of war rightly refuse to grant immunity to legitimate military targets using civilians as human shields. The legal limit is one of proportionality. An attack which may be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life [or] injury to civilians is prohibited if it would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.

And yet in May 2013 President Obama decided he would ignore all that and create a revolutionary new rule applying only to American armed forces.

He declared that even in the face of terrorists who pose a continuing and imminent threat to the American people, before any strike is taken, there must be near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured.

Tying our militarys hands behind their backs has already had real implications. After a senior commander of al-Shabaab was located in a home in Somalia in October, a drone strike was eschewed. Navy SEALs attempting to capture him instead, were forced to retreat during a gun battle out of concern for any potential civilian casualties.

Americans expect their president to be committed to the security of our allies.

And yet in 2013 President Obama forced Israel to release convicted Palestinian murderers as a confidence-building measure. The murdered were old and young, men and women  stabbed, strangled, shot or blown up. Their freed killers, and anticipated recidivists, were treated as heroes by fellow Palestinians. The only confidence built has been in terrorism as a successful political tool.

It turns out that our 2013 expectations were not the problem. Expect 2014 to be even worse.
Cyberattacks cause great damage to our national security, but as the recent ransomware cyberattack sadly reminded us, they also inflict major harm on the world economy. In fact, last weeks international ransomware cyberattack, which encrypted files, folders and hard drives, affected over 200,000 computers in over 150 countries worldwide.

Early this week, cyber experts detected a digital clue suggesting that the North Korean-linked Lazarus Group is behind the ransomware attack. The Lazarus Group is a cyber hacking organization widely believed to be behind the 2014 cyberattack on Sony Pictures, as well as the 2016 cyberattack against the Central Bank of Bangladesh in which some $81million was stolen. And yes, theyre linked to the same North Korea that has recently sent out random encrypted numbers over a radio broadcast thought by many to have alerted spies and that has developed a quantum encryption device.

Ransomware attacks remind us of how vulnerable businesses and economies are to cyber warfare. Its not just our national security thats at risk, its our economy as well. In fact, every year we lose more intellectual property on government, university and business networks than all of the intellectual property in the Library of Congress. In addition, weve seen numerous cyberattacks on Wall Street, which are constantly damaging the American economy.

Last week, President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity of federal networks and critical infrastructure. The Executive Order is right on point and addresses real cyber concerns. For example, the Executive Order tasked the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to work together to ensure all departments and agencies have what they need to combat various cybersecurity threats. Also, it rightfully highlights the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which has been at the forefront of pursuing the type of advanced cyber capabilities we need to protect our national security and economy.

The Executive Order focuses on protecting our vulnerable critical infrastructure from cyberattacks. In recent years, weve seen an exponential surge in cyberattacks on our nations vital infrastructure. Im concerned that hackers, be they lone wolves or patrons of a hostile state, can cause more harm to our financial institutions than anywhere else. The five biggest banks in America have assets equivalent to 56 percent of Americas GDP. This is up from 43 percent in 2006. The too-big-to-fail banks have only gotten bigger. Securing our financial system must be a top priority in the cyberwar. In addition, securing our electricity grid from cyberattacks should be at the top of the list as well.

The Executive Order also focuses heavily on cyber workforce development. Quite frankly, this has been long overdue and the Presidents Executive Order is a big step in ensuring that America has an adequate workforce to combat our worst cyberattacks.

Cyberattacks are causing real long term harm to both our national security and economy. Cyberwarfare is the most complex national security threat that the U.S. has ever faced because technology is changing so quickly. The Presidents Executive Order is a good first step in the right direction. However, much more can be done. Heres what the United States can do now to effectively combat the cyberwar threat to both our national security and economy:

? Fully support NIST and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and make the development of quantum computing  with the generation of true random numbers on a chip  a reality. Once mature, this would greatly reduce the likelihood of hacking into any system. Much like the British did to break the enigma code in WWII, lets bring together Americas brightest cryptologists, mathematicians and physicists and give them the resources they need to develop the most secure form of computing.

? Recruit cyber experts at home and abroad. James Gosler, one of our nations top security experts, believes that the U.S. only has 1,000 people with the necessary skills to defend the country against the most complex cyberattacks out of the 20,000-30,000 thousand people required.

? Provide national security scholarships to top computer science and data security majors at U.S. colleges and universities.

? Fight a preventative war against cyberterrorists. We must go after our enemy before they can severely damage our economy.

? Follow the example of the nation of Georgia and plant booby traps for cyberterrorists and hackers.

? Replicate the Air Force CyberWorx model throughout the Federal Government. The U.S. Air Force, through its CyberWorx Program, is aimed at working with the business and educational community to identify disruptive cybersecurity technologies, and then develop operational needs cases for Air Force applications.

? Ensure that U.S. Cyber Command has the ability to coordinate with the private sector during a cyberattack. This may involve shutting down certain networks. Here, the private sector must be protected from liability.

? Distinguish between cyberattacks from China and Islamist regimes. Historically, Chinese cyberattacks are more about espionage and economic theft, while Islamist attacks are primarily focused on sabotage. Different countermeasures are required depending on the origin of attack.

The 9/11 Commission said that 9/11 was above all, a failure of imagination. The equivalent of a 9/11 in the cyber realm has the potential to be even more devastating to our economy. Outside-the-box thinking and good people will ultimately win the cyberwar for the United States. Now is the time to fight back with real imagination and creativity  and yes, a real plan  in order to win in this new dimension of warfare, cyberwar.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this was published on May 12.

President Trump seems hell-bent on courting controversy, if not downright enmity, from the Washington establishment. His vague comments about what he said, or didnt say, to former FBI Director James Comey, as well as similar questions about what he told Russian diplomats in the Oval Office raise a serious question: does he still want to be president?

There is no surer way to ensure negative press coverage (No politician in history has been treated worse, he lamented on Wednesday) than to antagonize the press. Banning American news media from his Oval Office conversation with Russias foreign minister, while allowing a TASS photographer to record the event, may be payback against a press corps he despises. But it also fuels suspicions that he is indebted, somehow, to the Kremlin.

His undisciplined tweets give the public contradictory information, and a sense that he wants to run the country via social media instead of democratic debate.

The question is: to what end?

Most of Trumps executive orders  there have been 36 so far  are in keeping with his campaign promises and have been well-received by his political base  those voters who felt they were being ignored by traditional politicians, and wanted, as Trump put it, to drain the swamp of Washington.

Tighter immigration restrictions are popular with Americans who believe we have lost control of our borders. The process of repealing ObamaCare faces an uphill battle in the Senate, but that cannot be blamed on the president.

The military action against Syria after it attacked its own citizens with chemical weapons was honorable and justified. It also sent a message to rogue nations like North Korea to tread carefully.

The new trade deal with China that increases American exports and will lower our trade deficit is long overdue. The tax code needs reform and this administration is preparing just such an overhaul.

Why then does the president muddy the political waters by ranting against Democrats who oppose him, against news organizations that ask tough questions, against foreign leaders who pursue policies different from his? Why does he obsessively remind Americans that it was he, and not Hillary Clinton, who was elected president? Why must he spar with television personalities who dislike him?

Bellwether wonders whether Mr. Trump actually plans to stay in office for four years. Could he be considering a shorter stay in the White House, passing the baton to the widely respected Vice President Mike Pence? Might Trump feel that if and when he achieves his major goals  tighter borders, lower taxes, more American made goods  he can declare victory and return to his successful career in the private sector?

The president, in his first four months in office, has accomplished much of which to be proud. Like Ronald Reagan, his optimism about Americas future is contagious. The stock market, which many predicted would tank if he were elected, has rebounded convincingly. Consumer confidence is up. Several major employers have announced that they will create thousands of jobs in America.

But his random tweets, his crude public use of insults and threats, his blatant disregard for decorum and integrity of the office of president, raise questions about his willingness to fulfill those duties for the long run.

Trump is slowly accomplishing his mission. If he plans to walk away from Washington once he feels he has fulfilled his promise to the American people, he should say so. Both his supporters and his growing list of opponents would probably respect his candor, and might work together to give him what he wants, so he will go away.
Editor's note: The following column is adapted from a column which originally appeared on AEIdeas.org, the blog of the American Enterprise Institute.

The media are in a froth over reports that President Trump revealed sensitive intelligence from a liaison partner to the Russian foreign minister and Russian ambassador. The New York Times reports:

President Trump boasted about highly classified intelligence in a meeting with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador last week, providing details that could expose the source of the information and the manner in which it was collected, a current and a former American government official said Monday. If true, the disclosures, which appear to be inadvertent, are indeed a disaster.

The intelligence disclosed by Mr. Trump  was about an Islamic State plot, according to the officials. A Middle Eastern ally that closely guards its own secrets provided the information, which was considered so sensitive that American officials did not share it widely within the United States government or pass it on to other allies.

Sharing the information without the express permission of the ally who provided it was a major breach of espionage etiquette, and could jeopardize a crucial intelligence-sharing relationship. In fact, the ally has repeatedly warned American officials that it would cut off access to such sensitive information if it were shared too widely, the former official said. In this case, the fear is that Russia will be able to determine exactly how the information was collected and could disrupt the allys espionage efforts.

What the Times describes, if true, is indeed a disaster.

But its hard to take seriously their sudden concern over the disaster of exposing sources and methods  including the identity of intelligence partners  from the same news outlets that regularly, and intentionally, published highly classified intelligence in recent years, based on leaks from the Obama administration.

The Times and other news outlets regularly published disastrous stories which damaged U.S. national security and exposed the involvement of U.S. partners.

Consider just a few illustrative examples:

EXPOSURE OF US-ISRAELI ROLE IN STUXNET ATTACK ON IRAN.

Where was the outrage when The New York Times exposed the US governments cyberattack on Irans nuclear program, including the fact that Obama personally ordered cyberattacks on the Iranian nuclear program using a computer virus called Stuxnet? The Times cited as sources members of the Presidents national security team who were in the [Situation Room] and even quoted the president asking during a top secret meeting: Should we shut this thing down? Only Obamas most trusted national security advisers would have been present when he uttered those words. One of those advisors shared highly classified intelligence with the Times.

The Stuxnet leak exposed intelligence sources and methods, including the top secret codename for the program (Olympic Games) and the involvement of a US ally, Israel. At one point in the Times story, a source says the Israelis were responsible for an error in the code which allowed it to replicate itself all around the world. The Times directly quotes one of the presidents briefers telling him, We think there was a modification done by the Israelis, adding that, Mr. Obama, according to officials in the room, asked a series of questions, fearful that the code could do damage outside the plant. The answers came back in hedged terms. Mr. Biden fumed. Its got to be the Israelis, he said. They went too far.

Where was the concern for the exposure this intelligence or the involvement of our liaison partner? The damage this leak did  both to the operation and the trust between our two countries  is incalculable.

EXPOSURE OF NSA ABILITY TO ACCESS TERRORIST COMPUTERS NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

What about The New York Times story in 2014 revealing that the National Security Agency had developed the capability to access computers that are not connected to the Internet?

According to the Times, the NSA uses a covert channel of radio waves that can be transmitted from tiny circuit boards and USB cards inserted surreptitiously into . . . computers or in some cases a briefcase-size relay station that intelligence agencies can set up miles away from the target. The Times reported that, There is no evidence that the NSA has implanted its software or used its radio frequency technology inside the United States. And the NSA confirmed that the NSAs activities are focused and specifically deployed against  and only against  valid foreign intelligence targets.

So the program posed precisely zero threat to American civil liberties. Publishing it was nothing more than engaging in espionage porn. But the Times ran it anyway. Where was the concern for national security then?

EXPOSURE OF THE IDENTITY OF THE PAKISTANI DOCTOR WHO HELPED US FIND BIN LADEN.

Or how about the disclosure of classified operational details of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, including the identity of the Pakistani doctor who helped us track down bin Laden? ABC News reported that:

The Pakistani doctor who aided American intelligence in its mission to kill Osama bin Laden has been convicted of high treason in his home country and sentenced to 33 years in prison plus a fine, Pakistani officials said today.

Indeed, he is still rotting in a Pakistani prison to this day. Did his exposure by Obama officials bragging about the presidents accomplishment have a chilling effect on intelligence cooperation? You bet.

EXPOSURE OF SAUDI DOUBLE AGENT IN YEMEN.

Or how the Obama administrations shameful exposure of the role of a double agent recruited in London by British intelligence in breaking up a new underwear bomb plot in Yemen? The Guardian reported at the time:

Detailed leaks of operational information about the foiled underwear bomb plot are causing growing anger in the US intelligence community, with former agents blaming the Obama administration for undermining national security and compromising the British services, MI6 and MI5.

The Guardian has learned from Saudi sources that the agent was not a Saudi national as was widely reported, but a Yemeni. He was born in Saudi Arabia, in the port city of Jeddah, and then studied and worked in the UK, where he acquired a British passport.

Mike Scheur, the former head of the CIAs Bin Laden unit, said the leaking about the nuts and bolts of British involvement was despicable and would make a repeat of the operation difficult.

EXPOSURE OF LIBYAN COOPERATION IN CAPTURE OF AL QAEDA LEADER  WHICH LED DIRECTLY TO THE RETALIATORY KIDNAPPING OF THE LIBYAN PRIME MINISTER.

And what about the Times story exposing the fact that then-Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan allowed the United States to carry out a special operations raid in Tripoli that captured a senior al-Qaeda leader, Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, known as Abu Anas al-Libi? In a front-page story, US Officials Say Libya Approved Commando Raids, the Times reported that:

After months of lobbying by American officials, the Libyans consented some time ago  weeks or perhaps even months  to the United States operations  [according to] more than half a dozen American diplomatic, military, law enforcement, intelligence and other administration officials. The Libyans consent marks a significant step forward for the Obama administration, which has been criticized by Congressional Republicans for moving too slowly to apprehend the Benghazi suspects.

Not only was a liaison partners counter-terrorism cooperation exposed, the prime minister was kidnapped in retaliation for approving the raid!

Worse still, the Times revealed that a second raid had been planned, but not carried out, to seize a militia leader suspected of carrying out the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks on the United States diplomatic mission in Benghazi.

EXPOSURE OF A SECRET US DRONE BASE IN SAUDI ARABIA.

Or how about The Washington Post story revealing the existence of a secret US drone base in Saudi Arabia? The Post reported:

President Obamas plan to install his counterterrorism adviser as director of the CIA has opened the administration to new scrutiny over the targeted-killing policies it has fought to keep hidden from the public, as well as the existence of a previously secret drone base in Saudi Arabia. The Obama administrations targeted-killing program has relied on a growing constellation of drone bases operated by the CIA and the US militarys Joint Special Operations Command. The only strike intentionally targeting a US citizen, a 2011 attack that killed al-Qaeda operative Anwar al-Awlaki, was carried out in part by CIA drones flown from a secret base in Saudi Arabia.

Did this expose and endanger the cooperation of a critical US intelligence partner?

EXPOSURE OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS ACTIVITIES AGAINST AL-QAEDA IN AFRICA.

On June 13, 2012, the Washington Post reported: The US military is expanding its secret intelligence operations across Africa, establishing a network of small air bases to spy on terrorist hideouts from the fringes of the Sahara to jungle terrain along the equator, according to documents and people involved in the project. The article exposed that, Under a classified surveillance program code-named Creek Sand, dozens of US personnel and contractors have come to [Burkina Faso] in recent years to establish a small air base on the military side of the international airport. The Burkina Faso foreign minister, caught by surprise by the leak, is quoted as pleading, This cooperation should be very, very discreet. We should not show to al-Qaeda that we are now working with the Americans.

Too late.

These are just a few examples. The list of leaks and liaison partners exposed during the Obama years goes on and on.

None of this excuses Trumps accidentally sharing top-secret intelligence with Russian officials. But it takes chutzpah for the media to express outrage over his apparently inadvertent disclosure of classified information  or to feign concern over the effect his actions might have on cooperation by our intelligence partners in the fight against terror  when they regularly published often intentional leaks from Obama administration that exposed sources and methods and endangered our national security.

Trump may have stumbled badly in his meeting with the Russians, but he has a long way to go before he does the kind of damage that President Obama and his team of intelligence sieves did  with the help of The New York Times and other news outlets now crowing over his error.
We should have seen it coming. You dont threaten to Drain the Swamp! without awakening some pretty surly bottom feeders. It is clear that the political establishment simply hates President Trump. That goes for Republicans almost as much as Democrats.

From Day One various pols on the right have been quick to jump on the anti-Trump bandwagon. Cheerleader of the group: John McCain, who was nastily demeaned by candidate Trump and who has since leapt to the opposite side in every single controversy, getting his own back. Other defectors include Marco Rubio, Lindsay Graham, Rand Paul, John Kasich wait  notice any connective tissue here? Right  all of them ran against Trump and were demolished with varying levels of ugliness. The only reason Ted Cruz isnt on the list is that the ever-calculating Texas Senator figures that by being the last guy in Trumps corner, he may inherit his leftover supporters when The Outsider President walks off into the night. Or whatever.

For lots of Trump backers, absolutely every single thing he has done since occupying the Oval Office is understandable. Those millions who voted for him never expected or wanted him to behave like any other candidate, or president. He was expected to break some glass, and turn convention on its head. That was his appeal.

They knew hed make mistakes. Polling shows they really dont care when he does.

The Washington Post is appalled that he spoke to the head of Taiwan, describing the outreach as an intentionally provocative move.

The New York Times cannot believe he conducts diplomacy at Mar-A-Lago.

Big deal, say his backers. Absolutely none of his voters care about his tax returns; theyre delighted he might even be able to hold off the feds and they wish they could, too.

As for the Russia story, theyre not buying it. Did a Trump campaign apparatchik conspire with the Russians to hack the DNC and spill damaging (but real) information about Hillary Clinton? Good for them, they say. After all, Hillary has only herself to blame for using a secret server and for conspiring with party officials to cheat Bernie Sanders. Everyone knew she was a crook; the Podesta email dumps just confirmed it.

As for firing James Comey, right-wing supporters of President Trump never trusted the ex-FBI head; they blame him for the fact that Hillary Clinton is still at large.

What about the newest breaking news: Comey says Trump pushed him to drop the inquiry into Michael Flynns talks with the Russian ambassador? The real story for millions of Americans is that someone illegally unmasked Flynn. Anyway, they figure Comey is just sore he was fired. After all, if Trump really asked him to obstruct justice, the noble Comey would have resigned, right?

As to Trump  he fired Flynn. In his mind, that was the end of it. Cant we imagine him slapping Comey on the back and saying  why not give it a rest?

And then theres the story about Trump leaking classified information obtained from Israel to the Russians. Israel doesnt seem upset; McMasters claims it was no big deal. Why the uproar? Is it any worse than Hillary sending classified information to Anthony Weiner? Call me crazy, but Id rather count on the Russians to treat sensitive information wisely than the pervert ex-Congressman. Talk about a potential blackmail target!

Donald Trump is not only fighting off the political establishment, hes also fending off unprecedented onslaughts from the media. Every utterance is ridiculed, every action critiqued. If he manages, on his upcoming trip to the Middle East, to broker the beginnings of a peace accord, he will be accused of costing PLO terrorists their livlihood. Or something.

New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr, sent an email to readers who cancelled their subscriptions defending the papers decision to hire a conservative columnist, Bret Stephens. In a recent column, Stephens says Trumps views are often malevolent, and his conduct might ultimately prove criminal. But we, too, are protected, for a time, by the enormity of his stupidity. Thats the Times choice for a conservative voice.

People loathe and distrust the media, so its concerted attack on Trump does not bother his supporters. The intelligence community is another story. The constant leaks from the White House and the surveillance of the Trump campaign team is worrisome.

After all, James Clapper, former NSA chief under Obama, told Congress his agency was not spying on Americans. It was a bald-faced lie, but he was never dismissed; indeed, he is one of the most vocal intel opponents lined up against President Trump. He is the person out there denying that Obama wiretapped the Trump camp. Why on earth is he credible?

Its frightening. The intelligence community has enormous power. The chattering classes are full of dire talk about constitutional crises and Trumps casual disregard of national security, but its rogue intel operators, spying for political purposes and leaking damaging information about the president, that should concern us all.

Where do we go from here? My guess: theres a good chance that the incessant undermining of the Oval Office might drive the president to resign within a year.

As he has pointed out more than once, he had a good life before running for office; he doesnt need this.

That will be a tragedy for the nation, because the Trump agenda can actually help American workers, rebuild our competitiveness and boost growth. Moreover, if the establishment can run Trump out of town, it will prove for once and all how deep that dark swamp really is.
Self-described old straight white guy Stephen Jaffe has joined the list of those trying to topple Democratic Party icon Nancy Pelosi.

Sound familiar? Like others before him, Jaffe would be a longshot to upset the 16-term incumbent and long-reigning top House Democrat. But their 2018 primary race in Pelosis San Francisco-centric House district is being cast as the latest battle between the Democratic establishment and the far left for control of the party.

The years-long, internal divide was fully exposed in the partys 2016 presidential primary when self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders challenged establishment candidate Hillary Clinton. And it has reemerged in subtle and not-so-subtle ways in the ensuing months.

Jaffe, in an interview with Fox News, expressed mixed feelings about his race being characterized as the latest episode in the Sanders-Clinton proxy fight.

I have great admiration for Bernie Sanders, Jaffe, a 71-year-old employment lawyer, told Fox News. So to a degree, Ill say yes to that [portrayal]. But Im my own man. Many of our policies may coincide, but Im not a Bernie clone or mouthpiece. This is a Jaffe-Pelosi race, not a Sanders-Clinton race.

California has been a key battleground in the fight for the so-called heart and soul of the party since Clintons stinging November general election loss. The state Democratic Partys previously low-key delegate and executive board selection turned into a Clinton-Sanders proxy battle in January. Sanders wife Jane claimed on Twitter at the time that progressives swept the process. Political analysts also pointed to Californias special election last month for the open Los Angeles-area House seat of Democratic Rep. Xavier Becerra, now the states attorney general.

The 23-candidate field included Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, endorsed by the state Democratic Party, and former Sanders adviser Arturo Carmona, who failed to advance to a June runoff with Gomez.

Even recent news that former President Barack Obama accepted a $400,000 Wall Street speaking gig was grist for the mill, with Sanders types bemoaning the establishments continuing ties to big-money interests.

The Obama situation did gin up that tension, Ben Tulchin, a Sanders 2016 pollster and president of Tulchin Research, told Fox News on Monday.

However, he disputed whether the Pelosi-Jaffe race reflects a Clinton-Sanders dynamic, considering it involves two liberals in San Francisco.

Still, Jaffes platform echoes Sanders with its calls for universal health care and getting big money out of campaigns. He acknowledges that beating Pelosi will be difficult, considering her national profile and fundraising prowess.

Jaffe intends to exploit those attributes.

Shes much more popular nationally than in San Francisco. And she has a sense of entitlement. That is not how democracy works, said Jaffe, who points out that much of Pelosis fundraising money comes from banks, big pharmaceutical companies and other corporate entities.

He says his fledgling campaign has raised nearly $15,000 in two weeks, with the average, Sanders-style donation about $27.

Pelosi, who endorsed Clinton, has been the top House Democrat for more than a decade, but her past seven years on Capitol Hill have been difficult.

Under her leadership, Democrats lost control of the House in 2010 to Republicans, who now hold a record majority. And last year -- days after Clinton lost and Pelosi failed to make good on vows to regain the majority -- House Democrats challenged Pelosi for her post. They argued Washington Democrats San Francisco-New York mentality has ignored the needs of middle-America.

The 77-year-old Pelosi prevailed with two-thirds of the vote.

As further proof of her seeming invincibility, Pelosi has won 11 of her total 16 House races by more than 80 percent. One exception was the 2008 race when challenged by independent Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in the Iraq War and who became a national figure in the anti-war movement.

Pelosis campaign did not return a request for comment.

Do I think she is unbeatable or that this is slam dunk? No, Jaffe said. But I do think its possible to pull off a spectacular upset. Im going to shine a light on her votes and her issues.
The chairman of the House oversight panel said Tuesday he will seek copies of memos from James Comey in the wake of a report that Trump asked the ex-FBI director to end the probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said in a tweet "@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready."

Chaffetz later sent a letter to Justice Department officials seeking Comey's memos.

"If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the President attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation as it release to Lt. Gen. Flynn," Chaffetz wrote.

He also gave a deadline of May 24 to provide "all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the President."

The move by Chaffetz came hours after the New York Times reported Comey wrote the memo shortly after an Oval Office meeting on Feb. 14, the day after Flynn resigned from the Trump administration.

The paper acknowledged it had not seen a copy of the memo, but said a Comey associate read parts of it to a reporter over the phone.

The memo was presented as the clearest evidence yet that Trump tried to influence the Justice Department and FBI probe into any Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign and alleged links to Trumps associates.

The White House rejected the characterization that the president tried to shut down an investigation.

[T]he President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, an official told Fox News. The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Democrats pounced on the explosive report Tuesday that a memo from James Comey claimed President Trump once asked the ex-FBI director to end the probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, with many referring to it as an obstruction of justice.

"We are witnessing an obstruction of justice case unfolding in real time," tweeted Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

"I am stunned that any of my colleagues would oppose appointing an independent special prosecutor after this astonishing revelation," Blumenthal said in subsequent tweets, adding "All of the evidence  including transcripts, tapes, memos, and other documents  must be subpoenaed immediately."

Rep. Eliot Engel, D-NY, ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, called for "a special prosecutor and an independent commission."

This latest bombshell adds to the growing evidence that President Trump will do whatever it takesincluding abuse of power and what may even be obstruction of justiceto make the Russia investigation disappear," Engel said in a statement.

The White House sharply rejected the characterization that the president tried to shut down an investigation, saying "This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey."

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said in a statement that no one "is above the law."

Evidence that President Trump asked FBI Director Comey to stop the investigation of his National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, again appears to cross the line into the obstruction of justice," he said.

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said "history is watching" and "the country is being tested in unprecedented ways" in the wake of the New York Times report.

Schumer said in a brief, speech on the floor of the Senate he was "shaken" by the report.
Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., told Fox News' "The Story with Martha MacCallum" Tuesday that he needed to see an alleged memo in which then-FBI Director James Comey claimed President Trump asked him to shut down an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

"I want to see the memo [and] I want to talk to Director Comey to determine how contemporaneous his recording of the conversation was," Gowdy told host Martha MacCallum. "What did Director Comey hear? How did he take it? That can only be done ... that can only be done by looking at the memo and talking to Director Comey."

Late Tuesday, House oversight committee chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, requested the FBI submit documents related to any communications between Comey and Trump.

Gowdy, a member of the committee, told MacCallum that Comey was not required to report the Feb. 14 conversation with Trump to the Justice Department.

"I dont think Director Comey reported President Obama the four different times he prejudged the outcome of an investigation," Gowdy told MacCallum. "Director Comey has not been afraid in the past to say no to presidents and attorney generals. ... I think if he felt like this was an effort to influence him, he knows exactly what to do."

Gowdy also discussed why he took his name out of the running to replace Comey as FBI director.

"Quite frankly, I think the country deserves a woman or a man who is devoid of political taint," he said. "Whether I like it or not, whether I wish I could wash it off or not, I have been in politics for six years."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday he was "shaken" by a report that a memo from James Comey claimed President Trump once asked the ex-FBI director to end the probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

"On a day when we thought things couldn;t get any worse, they have," he said in remarks on the Senate floor, referencing the story from the New York Times that Comey wrote the memo shortly after an Oval Office meeting in February, months before Trump fired him.

The New York Democrat said the report from the Times came one day after "stunning revelations that president may have divulged classified info to a known adversary," referring to the story Monday by the Washington Post that Trump revealed classfied information during a White House visit by Russian officials.

"Concerns about our national security, the rule of law, the independence of our nation's highest law enforcement agencies are mounting," Schumer said.

The White House has rejected the characterization that the president tried to shut down an investigation.

[T]he President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, an official told Fox News. The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey.

Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe also testified last week on Capitol Hill that there has been no effort to impede our investigation to date."

Schumer however on Tuesday said the country is being tested "in unprecedented ways."

"I say to all my colleagues in the Senate, history is watching," he added.
President Trump pressed for the return of a jailed American pastor Tuesday during his first face-to-face meeting with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to the White House.

The White House said Trump "raised the incarceration of Pastor Andrew Brunson and asked that the Turkish Government expeditiously return him to the United States."

A source briefed on the discussions told Fox News both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence separately pressed Erdogan for the pastor's release.

Brunson has been behind bars in Turkey since October on what he claims are false charges. Brunsons family and supporters have asked the Trump administration  and the president specifically  to take up the cause and fight for his release.

Christian leader Dr. James Dobson said in a statement he commended Trump and Pence for "using their power for good."

President Trump and Vice President Pence have yet again demonstrated that they are defenders of the church focused intently upon religious liberty here but also on religious liberty abroad," he said. "Of the countless issues facing our world, its clear that to this White House the well-being of any individual American rests at the top of the list of priorities and especially when that American is a prisoner of conscience."

On Monday, the American Center for Law and Justice, which is advocating for the family, said it had submitted a formal written statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Brunson's case.

In a written statement in late March, Brunson also said the State Department should impose sanctions on Turkey.

Will the Turkish government face no consequence for stubbornly continuing to hold an American citizen as a political prisoner? he said.  I appeal to President Trump: please help me. Let the Turkish government know that you will not cooperate with them in any way until they release me. Please do not leave me here in prison.

US PASTOR HELD IN TURKEY ASKS TRUMP FOR HELP

Since then the charges against Brunson have grown to accusations of terrorism though there is little  if any  evidence to support those claims.

While Brunsons case has made headlines because hes a U.S. citizen, the circumstances of his detention are common in Turkey. According to TheSlate.com, nearly 50,000 people have been arrested since an attempted July coup.

Besides asking for the pastor's release, Trump told Turkey's controversial leader it was a great honor to welcome him to the White House. Trump offered compassion and support for the horrible terrorist attacks against the Turkish people and vowed that the relationship we have with Turkey is going to be unbeatable.

Erdogan returned the praise and congratulated Trump twice on his November White House win and said his victory has led to the awakening of a new set of aspirations and expectations in our region.

But despite the polite words, the meeting was not without tensions. The Turkish government has been riled by a Trump administration decision to arm Syrian Kurdish fighters in the fight against Islamic State terrorists, part of an operation to retake their capital of Raqqa.

Tuesdays meeting between the two heads of state also comes as the White House scrambles to respond to a report that Trump shared classified information with top Russian officials about an Islamic State terror threat.

The White House has defended Trump's discussions as "wholly appropriate."

The U.S. is relying on regional allies like Turkey for intelligence-sharing and military assistance as it crafts a Syria policy, particularly as Iran and Russia work to bolster Syrian President Bashar Assad's government.

Trump launched cruise missiles last month at a Syrian air base after accusing Assad of using chemical weapons. But the president hasn't outlined a strategy to quell the six-year civil war or usher Assad out of power, which his administration says will be needed to stabilize the Arab country.

Tension was expected already for the Erdogan talks, after the U.S. announced last week that it would arm Kurdish Syrian militants to help them fight ISIS. Turkey has been pressuring the U.S. to drop support for the militants and doesn't want them spearheading an operation to retake ISIS' self-declared capital of Raqqa.

Turkey believes the Kurds in Syria are linked to a Turkish Kurdish group, known as the PKK, which the U.S., the European Union and Turkey all consider a terrorist organization. The U.S. sees the Syrian Kurds as their best battlefield partner on the ground in northern Syria.

Last month, the Turkish military bombed Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq, in one case with American forces only about six miles away. Erdogan's government also has insisted it may attack Syrian Kurdish fighters again.

Trump has gone out of his way to foster a good relationship with Erdogan. After a national referendum last month that strengthened Erdogan's presidential powers, European leaders and rights advocates criticized Turkey for moving closer toward autocratic rule. Trump congratulated Erdogan.

Fox News Catherine Herridge and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The White House grappled late Tuesday with the political ghost of James Comey, as an explosive new report said a memo written by the ousted FBI chief claimed President Trump once asked him to end the probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The White House sharply disputed the report, as Democrats seized on it as potential proof of "obstruction" of justice.



According to The New York Times the memo quoted Trump as saying he hoped Comey could "let this go" with regard to Flynn.

The Times said Comey wrote the memo shortly after an Oval Office meeting on Feb. 14, the day after Flynn resigned from the Trump administration. The paper acknowledged it had not seen a copy of the memo, but said a Comey associate read parts of it to a reporter over the phone.

The memo was presented as the clearest evidence yet that Trump tried to influence the Justice Department and FBI probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign and alleged links to Trumps associates.

But the White House rejected the characterization that the president tried to shut down an investigation.

[T]he President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, an official said. The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey.

Trump reportedly told Comey, I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.  He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

According to the Times, Comey wrote in the memo that Trump told him Flynn had done nothing wrong. But Comey did not say anything to Trump about limiting the investigation, replying, "I agree he is a good guy."

Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe also testified last week on Capitol Hill that there has been no effort to impede our investigation to date." The FBI had no official comment on the Times report Tuesday.

The Justice Department also declined to comment on the New York Times report, on the existence of the Comey memo, or whether there was any such conversation between Trump and Comey.

A law enforcement source confirmed to Fox News that Comey documented a meeting with Trump that made him uneasy. The source added that the former FBI director is a copious note-taker, dating back to his days as a federal prosecutor.

Last week, the Senate intelligence committee subpoenaed Flynn for documents related to its investigation into Russia's actions during the 2016 election campaign.

Other congressional committees and the Pentagon's inspector general are also separately examining whether Flynn was fully forthcoming about his foreign contacts and earnings from organizations linked to the governments of Russia and Turkey.

Trumps inner circle has been dogged by critical reports about his discussions behind closed doors. His team is still grappling with a Washington Post report that he shared classified details on an ISIS threat with visiting Russian officials  the White House has defended Trumps discussions as wholly appropriate.

But more broadly, Trump has faced growing accusations from Democrats that he fired Comey last week out of frustration with the Russia investigation.

Enough is enough, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House intelligence committee, told reporters moments after the Times report was published. Congress really needs to get to the bottom of this.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. said on the Senate floor that he was shaken by the report.

On a day when we thought things couldnt get any worse, they have, Schumer said. Concerns about our national security, the rule of law, and the independence of our nations highest law enforcement agencies are mounting  the country is being tested in unprecedented ways.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said in a statement that Trump's request "appears to cross the line into ... obstruction of justice" and called for the appointment of a special prosecutor.

House Oversight Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, requested that the FBI turn over all documents and recordings that detail communications between Comey and Trump by May 24.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., had no immediate comment, but his spokeswoman AshLee Strong said, "We need to have all the facts, and it is appropriate for the House Oversight Committee to request this memo."

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told Fox News he had not read the Times report, but said, "In todays Washington, I find there are a lot of allegations and small truths."

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, told reporters the Times was obligated to produce the memo.

"I could write something and I could read it over the phone and tell them that it came from [Comey]," he said. "If they're reporting it and they've got somebody that's got the document, they need to get the document and get it released."

Burr added that that he and ranking member Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., had met with Comey the day before he was fired last week.

"The director of the FBI shared more information with Sen. Warner and myself than any director has ever shared," Burr said. "I think something as material as that probably would have been something he would have shared, had it happened."

Fox News' Chad Pergram and Catherine Herridge contributed to this report. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.
The cascade of controversies buffeting the White House is starting to rankle high-profile Republicans, who are voicing concerns about how the daily drama is impacting the GOP agenda on Capitol Hill.

Even as House Speaker Paul Ryan tried Wednesday to tamp down the furor over the latest accusation -- that Trump asked James Comey to shutter part of the FBI's Russia probe -- other Republicans were showing their exasperation.

"We cannot have this constant chaos and serious questions being raised virtually every single day," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said. "It is distracting from the ability to work on certain issues like health care reform, and the administration needs to get its house in order."

Most Republicans on the Hill still are not going along with Democratic demands for a special prosecutor, but a handful are. Even more are opening the door to further inquiries into the latest Comey accusation.

Part of this reflects a desire by Republicans not to rush to judgment over the claims in a memo none of them have seen. According to The New York Times, Comey said in a February memo that Trump asked him to end the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

"We need the facts," Ryan said, echoing comments from Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and others.

The White House maintains that Trump did not seek to end any investigations.

But Republicans' fresh inquiries suggest the controversy will continue to play out, as they ask to view the memo and hear from Comey. House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, asked overnight for documents including the reported February memo. Chaffetz tweeted he's ready to subpoena the information if necessary.

Colorado Republican Rep. Mike Coffman tweeted: We need the memos, Comey should testify and I still believe that a special prosecutor should be named.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican in his first term, tweeted: For the purpose of transparency, the White House should share a transcript of the meeting with the House and Senate intelligence committees.

And regarding a separate report -- also disputed by the White House -- that Trump shared classified intel with the Russians, Republican Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock called for "immediate classified briefings."

But as Republicans exercise their oversight responsibilities, they're openly voicing concern about what it means for the GOP agenda.

One senior House GOP source told Fox News that the mood at the House Republican Conference meeting Wednesday was "melancholy."

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said the White House is "in a downward spiral right now and the Trump administration has got to figure out a way to come to grips with all thats happening.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., also got in on the Trump bashing and invoked Watergate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told Bloomberg Live that "we could do with a little less drama from the White House" so lawmakers can focus on tax reform, rolling back red tape and repealing ObamaCare.

The Comey controversy followed a high point for Hill Republicans, after the House revived the struggling ObamaCare repeal bill and passed it, sending it to the Senate. The biggest congressional win before that was Neil Gorsuch's confirmation to the Supreme Court.

Ryan and his deputies tried Wednesday to reset focus on tax reform and other priorities.

"If we're serious about letting Americans keep more of their paychecks, if we're serious about bringing jobs back home, bringing manufacturing back home, then we have got to reform this tax system and seize this moment," Ryan said Wednesday.

Whether Republicans can dust themselves off may depend on what the Comey memos and other documents show.

Lara Brown, director of George Washington Universitys political management program, told Fox News she expects more fallout as the midterm elections approach. She predicted more Republicans will pull away from the Trump White House around October, giving health care legislation low odds and saying tax reform is "dead in the water."

In the fall, each individual politician will make their strategic calculations if they can attach themselves to the president or distance themselves, she said. Were going to see increasing numbers of Republican partisans moving away.

Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
Despite the endorsements from powerful Republicans, Judge Merrick Garland is not interested in the job, sources told Reuters.

Garland, who was blocked last year by Republicans for a Supreme Court post, loves his job and is not interested in leaving the judiciary, Reuters reported, citing two sources who know the judge.

Garlands position as the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is a lifetime appointment. An FBI director serves for 10 years.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is one of the more vocal Republicans behind the idea of Judge Merrick Garland becoming the next FBI director.

Yeah, it may surprise people, but he has a deep background in criminal law, McConnell told Bloomberg. He was the prosecutor in the Oklahoma City bombing case. And I think it would make it clear that President Trump will continue the tradition at the FBI of having an apolitical professional.

Garland was former President Obamas nominee to replace conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016.

However, McConnell infuriated Democrats by declining to hold Senate confirmation hearings on Garland, saying the next president should have that choice.

The idea of Garland as the next FBI director was posed by Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee after President Trump on Tuesday fired agency Director James Comey.

Lee backed the idea again on Fox News Sunday.

I think Merrick Garland would be a particularly good option, given that he would have so much support from both sides of the aisle.  Im absolutely serious about this, said Lee, who also pointed out that Garland played a key role in investigating and prosecuting the Oklahoma City bombers."
Michael Flynn never asked President Trump to interfere or block federal probes, according to people close to the former national security adviser.

Flynn never spoke to the president about trying to end or influence any ongoing government investigations of him, Fox News was told.

The New York Times reported late Tuesday that a memo from James Comey alleged that Trump tried to end the FBI probe of Flynn during a private meeting in mid-February.

The White House has disputed the account.

People close to Flynn told Fox News they could not speak to Trumps private conversation.

The former Obama Defense Intelligence Agency director has been a key figure in the Russia investigation since last year.

A Justice Department probe of Flynns foreign contacts with Turkey began in November. The probes would ultimately expand to include a counterintelligence case examining Russian contacts. A source said the DOJ probe was fast tracked by upper levels of the Department of Justice, where Sally Yates was deputy attorney general at the time.

Yates, though, told The New Yorker this week that when she took over as acting attorney general on Jan. 20, I expected this to be an uneventful few weeks.

Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and published in March 2017 by The Daily Caller show that Yates, who was later fired by Trump for refusing to defend his travel ban, was sent information about a Flynn investigation under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) on Jan. 27. This was the same day Yates warned the White House counsel that Flynn might be subject to blackmail over his conversations with the Russian ambassador.

Yates also told The New Yorker that Flynns name appeared, unredacted, in intelligence reports regarding his discussions with the ambassador, Sergei Kislyak.

Those close to Flynn said Yates confirmation of this unmasking is extremely unusual and exceptional since Flynn is an American and was part of the incoming administration.

Flynns close associates say this is evidence he was singled out by the previous administration or intelligence community, calling it intentional.

Those close to Flynn dispute claims that the contents of the call with the Russian ambassador left Flynn vulnerable.
The Justice Department announced Wednesday it has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into the probe of alleged Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election.

The appointment came amid a growing Democratic outcry for someone outside the Justice Department to handle the politically charged investigation.

In my capacity as acting Attorney General, I determined that it is in the public interest for me to exercise my authority and appoint a Special Counsel to assume responsibility for this matter," Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said in a statement. "My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted.

The appointment gives Mueller, who led the FBI through the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and served under presidential administrations of both parties, sweeping powers to investigate whether Trump campaign associates colluded with the Kremlin to influence the outcome in his behalf, as well as the authority to prosecute any crimes uncovered during the probe.

"I accept this responsibility and will discharge it to the best of my ability," Mueller said in a statement

The broad mandate, beyond any specific Trump-Russia connection, also covers "any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation."

Senior DOJ officials told Fox News the White House was informed of the decision for a special counsel after the order had been signed, through the White House Counsels office, about an hour before the decision went public.

"As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know  there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity," President Trump said in a statement in reaction to the DOJ announcement. "I look forward to this matter concluding quickly. In the meantime, I will never stop fighting for the people and the issues that matter most to the future of our country."

The Justice Department said Mueller has resigned from his job at a private law firm to take the job of special counsel.

The decision by the DOJ followed the revelation Tuesday that fired FBI Director James Comey wrote in a memo that President Trump had asked him to end an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

TRUMP AND THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION: WHAT TO KNOW

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, called the appointment a "great selection."

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., praised the decision by the DOJ, calling it "a victory for all Americans."

This is a victory for all Americans who believe in the integrity of the rule of law," he said. "This investigation must be given the full resources and independence it needs to succeed. We must follow the facts wherever they lead, and demand complete accountability for any wrongdoing that is found.

ROBERT MUELLER APPOINTMENT TO LEAD RUSSIA PROBE WINS BIPARTISAN PRAISE

Mueller is the former FBI director appointed by President George W. Bush who did a two year extension under President Obama beyond his 10-year fixed term before retiring in 2013.

He became FBI Director shortly before the 9/11 attacks, and was at the heart of turning the FBI into a counter terrorism and counter intelligence operation.

Muller, along with his then-deputy James Comey, threatened to quit over the Bush administration surveillance.

Muller's notes were used at the time to back up Comey's version of events, when they were questioned by the Bush White House.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr says the appointment of Mueller is a "good decision" that "assures the American people that there's no undue influence" in the probe of Russian meddling in last year's election.

Burr, who heads the Senate investigation into the Russian activity and possible connections to associates of President Donald Trump, says his committee will "continue to proceed forward" and the panel's job hasn't changed.

As special counsel, Mueller will have all the same powers as a U.S. attorney, though he will still ultimately report to Rosenstein. Still, he is not subject to the day-to-day supervision of the Justice Department. He can keep the same investigators in place, or request new or additional staff including from outside the department in addition to requesting a budget that includes personnel.

Some Republicans however expressed concern over the decision by the DOJ due to the wide scope of the influence that special prosecutors have.

"I'm worried with all special counsels because there's no control over them and they can abuse their power," Rep. Peter King of New York told the Associated Press.

In the 1990s, Democrats insisted that independent counsel Kenneth Starr, who investigated former President Bill Clinton, overstepped his authority.

Rosenstein appointed Mueller under a statute that has been used only once, in 1999, when John C. Danforth was appointed to investigate allegations of government wrongdoing in the siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.

Danforth's investigation cost millions of dollars and included hundreds of interviews and a restaging of the final hours of the 51-day standoff with federal agents. He ultimately produced a 150-page report clearing then-Attorney General Janet Reno and other top government officials of any responsibility.

Fox News' Jake Gibson, Catherine Herridge and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Trump was meeting Wednesday with former Sen. Joe Lieberman and several other potential candidates to replace fired FBI Director James Comey.

Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent from Connecticut and a former attorney general for the state, just entered the candidate mix Wednesday.

The others scheduled to meet with Trump were acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe; former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating; and Richard McFeely, an FBI official.

Some Republican senators called the idea of Lieberman replacing Comey intriguing.

Others on the lengthy roster of potential Comey replacements include former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly; former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich.; Mayor of Colorado Springs John Suthers; former federal appellate court judge and now EVP of Boeing John Luttig; Director for the FBIs Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch Paul Abbate; Associate Judge for the New York Court of Appeals Mike Garcia; and Larry Thompson, former deputy attorney general under President George W. Bush.

Former Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher, who was interviewed at the Department of Justice on Saturday, has withdrawn her name from the shortlist, according to a source familiar with her conversations.

"Alice had productive discussions, and is honored and humbled to have been considered. She has a tremendous respect for the Justice Department and will support the president's nominee, but has determined that she will not proceed," the source told Fox News.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and former President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland also recently withdrew themselves from the process.

Now more than ever, the country needs a well-credentialed, independent FBI Director, Cornyn said in a statement on Tuesday. Ive informed the Administration that Im committed to helping them find such an individual, and the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate.

A White House official told Fox News last week that they are working quickly and expeditiously and doing their due diligence.

Were not going to cut any corners, the source told Fox News.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Monday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, whose memo on Comeys handling of the Hillary Clinton email case was cited by the White House as rationale for his firing, were heading the process of finding a replacement.

Fox News John Roberts, Brooke Singman and Mike Emanuel contributed to this report.
A secretly recorded conversation between Nevadas attorney general and the states top casino watchdog has led to a yearlong investigation and a legislative inquiry that could have an effect on the 2018 governors race.

Democrats in Nevada are accusing Republican Attorney General Adam Laxalt of doing the bidding of GOP mega-donor Sheldon Aldelson, when he requested an urgent meeting with A.G. Burnett, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The April 2016 meeting between Laxalt and Burnett, who taped the discussion, deals with an alleged attempt by representatives of Sands to have the state intervene in a civil lawsuit over gambling audits.

Laxalt approached Burnett to file a legal opinion that would have favored Adelson's company and the confidentiality of gambling audits, telling Burnett, "Don't go soft on me," according to the tape.

No such action was made and authorities have determined no criminal wrongdoing took place after Burnett took the recording to the FBI.

A legislative inquiry is set to begin Wednesday night on the ethics of the case. Efforts to remove Laxalt, who has floated a run for governor, as the counsel for the gaming board will be heard this week in the form of legislation introduced by the Democrats.

Attorney General Adam Laxalts attempt to pressure the Nevada Gaming Control Board to interfere in a private civil lawsuit involving a gaming licensee, with whom he has longstanding connections, is unsettling, said Assemblywomen Maggie Carlton and Joyce Woodhouse of the Nevada Assembly Democratic Caucus.

Records obtained by legislative subpoena suggest that the Attorney General has created a conflict of interest and that he should not continue to serve as counsel to the Gaming Control Board.

The attorney generals office pushed back on the accusations.

Nearly every outside independent analyst has recognized how partisan this Legislature has become, the office said in a statement obtained by Fox News. Today's news proves the pointNevadas Democrat politicians will stop at nothingincluding twisting and politicizing a routine action that previous attorneys general, including Catherine Cortez Masto, have taken. We look forward to exposing this for what it is: a political attack designed to distract from the Democrats radical agenda that harms Nevada's working families.
Vladimir Putin offered Wednesday to help settle the controversy over claims President Trump shared classified intel with Russian diplomats.

Railing against dangerous U.S. politicians whipping up anti-Russian sentiment, the Russian president dismissed the claim that Trump disclosed such information to Kremlin officials and offered to hand over records of an Oval Office meeting to Congress.

Speaking during a joint news conference with the Italian prime minister, Putin said those attacking Trump for allegedly being too cozy with Russian politicians were guilty of political schizophrenia.

Putin said  if the White House agreed  that he would share his records of a meeting Trump had last week with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergei Kislyak in which it was reported Trump blurted out sensitive information given to the White House by Israeli intelligence. Making light of the situation, Putin said he would have to reprimand Lavrov since the alleged intelligence was never passed along to him.

He hasnt shared those secrets with us, Putin said.

The former KGB operative said he wasnt yet ready to judge Trumps nascent presidency and would only do so when hes allowed to work at full capacity, ostensibly referencing the tidal wave of legislative resistance thats greeted most of the items on Trumps agenda.

The White House has adamantly defended Trump's conversations in that Oval Office meeting, saying what he discussed was "wholly appropriate."

"It was nothing that you would not know from open-source reporting," National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said on Tuesday.

Trump, in a pair of Tuesday morning tweets, also defended the information he chose to share in the meeting.

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety," Trump wrote. "Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism."

But reports claim Trump divulged an element of the intelligence -- related to an ISIS plot against air travel -- that could have allowed Russia to divine the sources and methods used to gather the information. Making the sharing of intelligence with Russia particularly tricky is the Kremlin's close relationship with Syria and Iran -- adversaries of Israel.

Turning to Russia's alleged meddling in the U.S. presidential election, Putin said he initially found the claim "funny," but said Moscow is now "concerned because it's hard to imagine what the people who produce such nonsense can come up with next."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The top Democrat on a key House oversight panel said Wednesday that Republicans would impeached Hillary Clinton if she had done "one millionth of what has happened with Trump."

Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, made the remarks during an appearance on the Joe Madison Show on SiriusXM radio in wake of the latest accusation that President Trump asked James Comey to shutter part of the FBI's Russia probe.

"I have bird's eye view on all this stuff, and I look at how they treated Hillary Clinton," Cummings said. "I mean, for one millionth of what has happened with Trump, they would have impeached her. I'm just telling you. They would have been going crazy. That's what makes this so egregious."

After the host, Joe Madison, said Clinton would have already been impeached, Cummings replied, "No doubt."

Earlier in the day, Cummings blasted House Speaker Paul Ryan in a news conference, saying he "has shown he has zero appetite for any investigation of President Trump."

Cummings reminded reporters that House Government Reform and Oversight panel Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, held a hearing featuring Comey just 48 hours after the announcement there was no evidence warranting charges against Clinton after an investigation found she had improperly handled classified information on a private email server.
Sen. Thom Tillis collapsed during a Washington, D.C., race Wednesday morning and was taken away in an ambulance, but he later released a video proclaiming his health and eagerness to get back to work.

Observers told The Associated Press that Tillis, R-N.C., at first appeared unconscious but was revived and seen breathing as he left the scene.

Just before 10 a.m. Tillis posted a short video to his Twitter account from the hospital.

Hey everybody. Im fine; just running -- about two-and-a-half miles in got overheated, no CPR, no special measures, just checkin me out, Tillis said. See you back on the Hill.

Tillis was being given fluids at the hospital, Fox News was told.

Race organizers also said Tillis was taken to the hospital as a "precaution."

"And we've been informed that he is up and doing better," a race spokesperson wrote in an email.

The 56-year-old was seen on the ground being administered to by bystanders at about the 2-mile mark in the 3-mile race in Anacostia Park in the southeast part of the city. Initial reports said Tillis received CPR, though Fox News later confirmed that did not happen.

Tillis was competing in the ACLI Capital Challenge 3 Mile Team Race. According to the race website, the Capital Challenge "attracts scores of members of Congress, high-ranking political appointees, generals, admirals, television correspondents, print and web reporters, federal judges and other Washington VIPs."

Tillis posted a photo to his Twitter account just before 8 a.m. showing him smiling and standing with members of his team.

Tillis is the junior North Carolina senator, elected to the Senate in November 2014 after serving in the North Carolina Legislature from 2009-2015. He serves on the Senate Armed Services, Judiciary, Veterans Affairs and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committees, as well as the Senate's Special Committee on Aging.

It was not immediately known what hospital Tillis was taken to.

Fox News' Chad Pergram and Ken Martin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Trump is heading overseas for a remarkably ambitious diplomatic mission covering everything from Middle East peace to the fight against ISIS, in what could offer the White House a chance at a reset from waves of negative media coverage driven by the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Were looking forward to a trip around the world, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said, amid yet another round of grilling by the White House press corps.

Spicer and other top White House officials have emphasized the need to put a stop to the leaks that have fueled the recent controversies, including a report that Trump revealed sensitive intelligence to the Russians and another that he once told Comey he hoped the FBI would back off the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. The White House disputes both accounts, and has tried to focus attention on the upcoming trip, Trumps first overseas foray as president.

TRUMP TRIP ITINERARY

I do think there's an opportunity here, but Team Trump really needs some self-discipline if the president is to collect on what is a very real opportunity to improve things in the Middle East and elsewhere, Harvard historian Niall Ferguson told Fox News.

The presidents agenda is, to say the least, ambitious. While most presidents start their first terms with visits to nearby Mexico and Canada, Trump is taking on some of the most intractable issues on the planet, right out of the gate.

The trip begins Friday with a stop in Saudi Arabia, followed by planned visits to Israel and the Vatican. Trump will later attend a NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, and a G7 summit in Taormina, Italy.

Jim Townsend, the senior Pentagon official for Europe and NATO under President Barack Obama and a senior fellow with the left-leaning Center for a New American Security, suggested Trump could find some sympathy abroad. And he rejected suggestions that allies couldnt trust the administration after the report that he shared Israel-obtained intelligence on ISIS with the Russian foreign minister.

The allies themselves are politicians who know what its like to be hammered at home, Townsend told Fox News. There is some respect for the warrior, and there is some sympathy because hes getting beat up, but most of all they have a lot of respect for his national security team and for what we can do as a government.

Nile Gardiner, of the right-leaning Heritage Foundation, also doesnt think the media scrutiny will impact Trump diplomacy. Our allies are going to work with the president regardless of domestic upheaval because its in their strategic interest, he said.

Indeed, the Israelis have downplayed the impact of the discussion of intelligence with the Russian foreign minister. If Obama didnt succeed in intentionally destroying the U.S.-Israeli security relationship, Trumps not going to do it accidentally, said a veteran Middle East analyst briefed on the presidents trip. The Israelis know that these leak stories are a media campaign aimed at undermining the historical visit and Trumps broader efforts to restore the U.S.-Israeli alliance.

Gardiner, a former adviser to the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, argued that Trumps trip could reflect a dynamic thats the opposite of what transpired the last eight years. When President Obama was in office things were relatively calm domestically compared to now, but his overseas visits were often strategic failures, lacking in leadership, often aimless and directionless, he said.

When Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia on Friday, he is expected to outline his vision for a new Arab NATO to fight terrorism and contain Iran. He also will announce one of the largest arms deals in history, as he prepares to next prod Israeli and Palestinian leaders back to the table for peace talks.

Townsend is skeptical about the prospects for a pan-Arab military alliance. NATO is really unique because of Europes shared history and desire to avoid another conflict like World War II, he said. These nations in the Middle East dont share that kind of history. Theres a lot of reasons why an Arab NATO would fracture.

Gardiner said the bar is set higher for Trump compared to his predecessor. When President Obama started off on an apology tour around the world, much of the press didnt bat an eyelid and it was quite humiliating for a president to do that. President Trump knows that hes going to attract a lot more criticism. I think a big chunk of the media will be looking for the president to fail, he said.

Townsend said there is still plenty of room for positives, especially as the trip moves on into Europe next week, with visits to Brussels, the Vatican and Sicily for the G7 meeting, not least because Trump already knows many of the leaders hell be meeting with. Hes going to see people he should feel comfortable with. The trip itself is going to be full of important symbolism, for his base if youre Catholic  and Europe itself just had a populist uprising, he said.

Gardiner said the best way for Trump to respond to his critics is to make clear in Brussels that he stands with his NATO allies against any Russian aggression and calls for Moscow to back off on Ukraine.

Just as importantly, Townsend said, the rigid structure of a whirlwind tour through multiple countries, micromanaged by large staffs trying to keep up with busy schedules, cannot be underestimated when it comes to White House hopes to avoid gaffes and forge a reset.

Trump will be managed during those trips unlike in the White House where he loves to tweet, said Townsend. You are really scripted and its hard to get off that script. This will probably lessen the potential for something going on. Given all thats happened in the last 48 hours, some heat will inevitably come off.

Fox News Ben Evansky contributed to this report.
President Trump took on his media critics Wednesday toward the end of a commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, telling the graduating class not to let the naysayers get in the way of your dreams.

Trumps speech at the USCG Academy in New London, Conn., was his second address of the 2017 graduation season, and the first public appearance since new allegations concerning the Russia probe surfaced.

Trumps address, thanking the class for their service, also included some advice, which echoed the same approach he applied to his campaign and his presidency.

Over the course of your life, you will find that things are not always fair and that things happen to you that you do not deserve, and that are not always warranted, but you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight, Trump said, saying that no politician in history has been treated worse or more unfairly by the media.

His comments drew audience laughter.

Adversity makes you strongerdont give in and dont back down and never stop doing what you know is right, Trump said. Nothing worth doing ever, ever, ever comes easythe more righteous your fight, the more opposition youll face.

The comments come after The New York Times published a report claiming that a memo from James Comey said the president asked the former FBI chief back in February to end the probe of former national security adviser Mike Flynn.

The White House has disputed the report, while Democrats have seized on it to bolster calls for a special prosecutor.

Trump's speech Wednesday hit his media coverage without explicitly referencing the latest controversy.

Trumps speech also touted the administrations tremendous accomplishments in his short time as president, nodding to the historic decrease in border crossings and the preparation for construction of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump thanked Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, who made brief remarks at the commencement before Trump took the stage.

"I've loosened up the strangling environmental chains wrapped around our country and our economy--chains so tight you, you couldn't do anything," he said, touting jobs that "are pouring in" and a tax reform proposal to give "the largest tax cut in the history of our country."

Trump also added Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch to his list of accomplishments, and said that he "saved the Second Amendment."

We are setting the stage for more things to comethe people understand what Im doing and thats the most important thing, Trump said, adding that veterans will be taken care of. I didnt get elected to serve the Washington mediaI got elected to serve the forgotten men and women and thats exactly what Im doing.

Trump also mentioned his first foreign trip at the end of this week, calling it a crucial journey to strengthen relationships with partners, with the safety and security of Americans as his first priority, saying: I will strengthen all friendship with partners who will also help us, not to take and take and take, but partners who help for whatever we are doing and all of the good we are doing for them.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said Tuesday that despite all the controversies surrounding Donald Trumps presidency, the House still has to pass meaningful legislation and get it to the presidents desk.

Chaffetz, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman, told NBC News that the government is always full of crisis.

Trump set forth an ambitious agenda from taking on the countrys health-care system and tax code, but his administration has been ensnared in a series of controversies.

I am worried, concerned, that continual political drama will drain the energy away from real accomplishments, Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

A spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan said that it is appropriate for the House Oversight Committee to request the memo that was reportedly written by James Comey, the ousted FBI chief, and claimed that President Trump once asked him to end the probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The White House sharply disputed the report, as Democrats seized on it as potential proof of "obstruction" of justice.

According to The New York Times the memo quoted Trump as saying he hoped Comey could "let this go" with regard to Flynn.

The Times said Comey wrote the memo shortly after an Oval Office meeting on Feb. 14, the day after Flynn resigned from the Trump administration. The paper acknowledged it had not seen a copy of the memo, but said a Comey associate read parts of it to a reporter over the phone.

The Senate has no legislation on its agenda this week  business is instead limited to three low-profile nominations. The House  fresh off an 11-day recess  is devoting the week to mostly symbolic, feel-good legislation designed to show support for law enforcement. Another 11-day recess, for Memorial Day this time, is just around the corner.

Separately, a small group of Senate Republicans is meeting in hopes of finding a way forward on keeping Trump's promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. But that effort appears likely to take several weeks  with no guarantee of success.

"It's hard to make things happen here, right? It's really hard. I mean you've got all kinds of forces working against you," said Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. "And so unless everybody's aligned, everybody, throughout the White House and the Cabinet, it's almost impossible. I think they're all very aware of that and hopefully they're going to move to address that."

In the meantime, must-do legislation on the military, children's health and a full slate of spending bills are all slipping behind schedule. Trump's promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is dead in the water after being rejected during negotiations on a catchall spending bill  the only major bipartisan legislation to advance this year  and his promised $1 trillion infrastructure bill is still on the drawing board.

Trump's tax plan is simply a set of talking points and for procedural reasons is on hold until health care is completed.

"I don't think I've ever seen an administration that was so lacking is substantive proposals this late in the beginning of their term," said No. 2 House Democrat Steny Hoyer of Maryland. "The tax bill is a one-page minimal suggestion of what might be considered. There is no jobs bill. There is no infrastructure bill."

Work on a congressional budget measure  which is the linchpin to follow-up legislation to cut tax rates  is months behind schedule. The House and Senate Appropriations panels, typically a swarm of activity at this time of the year, seem stumped as they await marching orders.

Trump's budget finally arrives next week, promising a balanced federal ledger within 10 years. But the Trump budget could complicate matters more, in large part because it calls for domestic cuts that lawmakers have no interest in. Trump doesn't appear very interested in the budget  its release has been scheduled for when he's out of the country  and its promise of balance rests on rosy assumptions of economic growth and a sweeping round of unrealistic cuts to programs like Medicaid.

The GOP-controlled Congress has had just a handful of legislative successes since it convened in January. The most significant bill, so far, was a long-delayed House health care measure that squeaked through earlier this month. The House bill polls poorly with voters, however, and faces a wholesale rewrite in the Senate.

So far, just a single piece of major legislation has advanced that required the votes of Democrats  a catchall $1.1 trillion spending bill opposed by more than 100 House Republicans. Beyond that, many of the bills Trump has signed into law were fast-track measures to rescind regulations issued by former President Barack Obama last year. The clock ran out on further repeals and this week, the biggest Senate vote is on confirming Iowa GOP Gov. Terry Branstad as ambassador to China.

"Well, we have nominations and we've repealed billions of dollars of regulations," said Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo. "Hopefully we'll see some other action come to the floor."

The Associated Press contributed to this report
You probably assume that once you book a hotel stay, that's it  the price you get is the price you'll pay. If you're "lucky," something will go wrong and you might receive an upgrade or a credit towards a future trip.

But that's not always the case! As I recently learned on a trip with my family, you can still save money after you book. You just have to make a couple of phone calls.

How I Saved Over $100 on a Hotel Stay

So how did I manage to get $120 knocked off my hotel bill? I asked. Seriously, that's all it took!

Of course, I only thought to ask because my sister booked a second room at a rate that was lower than mine, which prompted me to inquire about a discount. I wouldn't have thought to ask for a reduced rate otherwise. There were a few other details too that probably helped (or at least didn't hurt) my case.

I Booked 6 Months Ago

First off, I booked the hotel for Easter weekend all the way back in October. My mom recently turned 60 (happy birthday, Mom!), and my sister and I took her to the 3-star Hilton in Providence, RI for a girls' weekend away. When I booked the stay, the nightly rate was $189.

SEE ALSO: 8 Hidden Vacation Costs and How to Avoid Them

But once we arrived, we realized we needed an extra room to accommodate my young niece, who was traveling with us. (Nap time for her meant forced quiet time for the rest of us if we were all in the same room.) My sister opted to snag an additional room, and was given a nightly price of $129  $60 less than my rate.

I Checked Google First

Before calling to request a price change, I headed to Google. Instead of just asking for confirmation that I didn't have the lowest rate, I was able to point to concrete proof online. The rate my sister had scored was also the most advertised rate on a variety of sites.

I was able to snag the lower rate, which meant I paid about 30% less overall.

I'd never tried to get a lower rate after booking before. I called the front desk from my cell phone and explained the situation. I was very polite, and simply asked if it was possible to get the better price. I had to call twice  once around 10:30 the night we arrived, and again on the next day. But I was able to snag the lower rate, which meant I paid about 30% less overall.

I Traveled in the Off-Season

While I was able to get the discount, it's important to note that it wasn't a busy time of year for the hotel. In Providence, the peak season doesn't start until around mid-May. It's entirely possible that the hotel was in a much better position to accommodate me because they weren't overrun with tourists.

The hotel was in a much better position to accommodate me because they weren't overrun with tourists.

Additionally, I booked my stay directly through the hotel instead of a travel site. It's not that I think the Hilton would have been less accommodating if I'd used a site like Orbitz or Travelocity  I just feel like the hotel was better able to help me when I asked.

It Never Hurts to Ask

A number of things can change between the time you book and the day of your trip, even if you got the best deal at the time. And if the rate has decreased, there's no guarantee that your hotel will be willing to give you the lower rate. But it never hurts to ask, especially if you're polite.

SEE ALSO: I Flew to London on a Budget Airline for $380  Here's What I Learned

You might be more likely to get the lower price if it's in the off-season, or if there are no special events going on in town. I don't have any evidence to support this, but it wouldn't surprise me to find that hotel staff won't give you the better rate if they're near capacity.

That said, it's still worth asking if you find a lower rate when you arrive. I know that I'll certainly double check the current price of all hotel reservations I make in the future!

Readers, have you ever nabbed a lower rate after booking a vacation? Was it a pleasant experience, or was it more troublesome? Share your stories in the comments below!
President Donald Trump leaves the United States today for his first overseas trip as commander-in-chief, with a full itinerary of stops throughout the Middle East and Europe.

His trip begins Friday with a stop in Saudi Arabia, followed by planned visits to Israel and the Vatican. Trump will later attend the 28th NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, and the 43rd G7 summit in Taormina, Italy.

The president's travel comes on the heels of a number of highly publicized controversies, including the recent firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Below is a look at what the president has lined up so far.

Saudi Arabia

Trump will arrive in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where there will be an arrival ceremony, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said at a news conference Tuesday.

He's slated to have coffee with King Salman, go to bilateral meetings with members of the royal family and attend a royal banquet, McMaster told reporters.

The president will also attend "a signing ceremony of several agreements that will further solidify U.S.-Saudi security and economic cooperation."

Trump and first lady Melania Trump will partake in an official dinner with the Saudi royal family that evening, according to McMaster.

The next day, Trump will meet with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, McMaster said. That afternoon, Trump is slated to have lunch with leaders from dozens of Muslim countries, "where he will deliver an inspiring, yet direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology," according to McMaster.

Trump is also expected to later participate in "the inauguration of a new center intended to fight radicalism and promote moderation" as well as in a Twitter forum.

Israel

Trump will meet with Israel President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem and plans to lay a wreath at Yad Vashem, a Holocaust memorial.

Trump is also expected to give remarks at the Israeli Museum before later meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He and Melania will also attend a private dinner with Netanyahu and the prime minister's wife, Sara.

Trump will meet Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem the next morning and "convey his administration's eagerness to facilitate an agreement that ends the [Israeli/Palestinian] conflict," McMaster said.

Other planned stops include the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Western Wall, where Trump will pray.

PUTIN ON TRUMP-LAVROV MEETING: I'LL HAND OVER RECORDS

The Vatican

The next day, Trump is going to have a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, McMaster said. "He looks forward to celebrating the rich contributions of Catholics to America and to the world, and to discussing a range of issues of mutual concern," he explained.

Trump is planning to tour St. Peter's. He will also meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

TRUMP'S AGENDA AT RISK AFTER SERIES OF CONTROVERSIES

Belgium

Trump will meet King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, as well as Prime Minister Charles Michel.

He will later meet with the presidents of the European Union and the European Council.

He's expected to later have a "working lunch" with newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron, McMaster said.

Trump will follow that by delivering remarks at the unveilling of a NATO memorial and will reaffirm the United States' commitment to NATO, McMaster said. Trump, along with Secretary of Defense James Mattis, will also attend a meeting and dinner with NATO leaders.

Italy

Trump is expected to then travel to the 43rd G7 summit, which will be held May 26-27 in Taormina on the island of Sicily. In the meetings, he'll "press America's economic agenda and call for greater security cooperation," McMaster said.

On the first night of the G7, he'll also go see La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra and attend a dinner hosted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Trump is planning to speak to U.S. troops at Sigonella Naval Air Station before he leaves Italy.
The Trump administration is intensifying its strategy to compel Russia to drop its support of the Assad regime in Syria, according to a State Department official.

Much of that effort involves public pressure, as the State Department released surveillance photos Monday officials said showed a probable crematorium at the Saydnaya military prison.

"We call upon Russia to use its influence with the Assad regime to get it to adhere to a lasting negotiated ceasefire, said Heather Nauert, the State Department spokesperson, as she opened a presentation of those surveillance photos. That ceasefire, we believe, will reduce violence and also ensure unhindered humanitarian access and stop the indiscriminate killings of civilians.

SYRIAN REGIME USING CREMATORIUM TO 'COVER UP' MASS MURDERS, STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS

The Saydnaya facility is about a 45-minute drive north of Damascus. A building on the western end of the complex shows melted snow, evidence of heat from what is probably a crematorium, said the State Department. However, officials acknowledged they cannot determine that for certain.

The Syrian government regime, according to state media, said the charges are baseless and a Hollywood story.

The administration also cited reports from Amnesty International claiming the Assad regime executed from 5,000 and 13,000 people between 2011 and 2015. The Assad regime built the suspected crematorium to cover up its mass murder, according to officials.

"They are upping the ante with the Russians," said Ambassador William Courtney of the RAND Corporation, of the administrations pressure campaign against Russia. This is a pretty significant ramp up in great part because people remember the Holocaust and World War II and so the idea of a crematorium to destroy bodies will cause a pretty negative reaction.

SYRIA 'CATEGORICALLY' DENIES US ACCUSATIONS OF MASS KILLINGS

Last month, the administration took a similar approach when it charged the Assad regime attacked a rebel-held Syrian town, Khan Sheikhoun. As Russia previously agreed to oversee the destruction of Syrias chemical weapons, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson then said Russia was complicit or incompetent.

Even with the increased public pressure, analysts said convincing Russia to drop its support of Assad will be difficult.

"Pressuring Russia is an important step, obviously Russia is a belligerent in this conflict, Russia is actually likely committing what amounts to war crimes of its own, Jennifer Cafarella, the lead intelligence planner at the Institute for the Study of War. I do think it's important that President Trump is taking that step, but naming and shaming Russia for its role in Syria is not going to be sufficient in my estimation to force Russia to change."

UN SUSPECTS CRUEL TREATMENT IN SYRIAN PRISONS

Relations between the West and Russia are so poor now that even though they have some common long-term interests, said Courtney. It's pretty difficult to move forward.

The U.S. is also pressing Assad without Russia. The Treasury department announced Tuesday expanded economic sanctions to several individuals and entities connected to the Assad regime. The sanctions can freeze assets and prevent Americans from conducting business with those designated.

The United Nations is also trying, again, to develop a sustainable ceasefire in Syria. Diplomats met Tuesday in Geneva to discuss establishing a new Syrian constitution and elections. The five previous rounds made little progress and Assad dismissed these discussions as irrelevant.
Scientists and engineers are 3D printing all types of objects these days, including eyes: A group of eye specialists and eye-care providers from the Netherlands has used 3D-printing technology to create artificial eye structures, called conformers, in a small study of five children.

The technique could help children with conditions called microphthalmia and anophthalmia, in which they are born with underdeveloped or missing eyes, respectively, the research team says. These conditions, which can occur in one or both eyes, affect more than 10 percent of blind children worldwide and as many as 30 in 100,000 children, according to previous studies.

Although the sculpted eyes don't enable the child to see, they do provide critical support of the eye socket so that the child's face can have a natural, proportional look, the researchers said today May 11 at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), the world's largest gathering of eye and vision researchers.

"If there's no eye present, there's not enough adequate stimulus for the bone [around the eye socket] to grow," Maayke Kuijten, a postdoctoral fellow at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam who conducted a study on five children fitted with the conformers, said at ARVO. [The 10 Weirdest Things Created by 3D Printing]

Because children with these conditions may have malformed eye sockets, the face and the areas around the eyes cannot expand to their natural contour, Kuijten said. The advantage of 3D-printed eye conformers is that they can be replaced often with slightly larger sizes by the parent at home as the child grows, or as frequently as weekly when the child is a few months old, she said.

"Symmetry of the face is our end goal," Kuijten told Live Science.

Traditionally, a child or adult who is missing an eye would be fitted with a device called an ocular prosthesis. (This was commonly called a "glass eye" because it was originally made with glass, but it is now mostly made of a medical-grade plastic acrylic.) These ocular prostheses are made by ocularists, professionals who are trained in both the fabrication and fitting of the prostheses.

The ocular prosthesis can be nearly spherical, like the eyeball, or cup-like, to fit over an existing, malformed and nonfunctioning eye. A conformer is often used for temporary support, such as after the accidental loss of an eye, to maintain the eye socket for several months until a more permanent prosthesis can be fitted.

But making and fitting an ocular prosthesis, or even a conformer, is a laborious process, Kuijten said. The ocularist typically must visually gauge the size of the socket, create an orb based on educated guesswork and polish it until it fits perfectly. It is as much artwork as it is medical care.

For infants with microphthalmia or anophthalmia, time is critical because their rapidly growing heads need the stimulation of a full-size eyeball for the frame of the eye socket to expand accordingly. Without such stimulation, that section of the skull can cave inward.

3D-printed conformers help address this challenge because they can be printed quickly, cheaply and in a range of sizes varying by less than a millimeter in diameter, Kuijten said.

To test the utility of 3D-printed conformers, Kuijten's team looked at patients being treated by Dr. Dyonne Hartong, an oculoplastic surgeon at the VU University Medical Center who is currently treating about 50 patients with microphthalmia or anophthalmia. Hartong was the senior investigator on the study.

As part of the standard care of children with these eye conditions in the Netherlands, they have several ultrasounds of their head taken during their first 3 months of age, followed by an MRI scan when they're about 3 months old. (MRIs require anesthesia because babies cannot be instructed not to move during the scans. But administering anesthesia to newborns under 3 months is considered too dangerous.)

Using data from these scans, the researchers determined the extent of the eye malformation and the size of the eye socket. The doctors also injected a soft gel into the affected eye socket to create a crude mold of its shape.

Based on these measurements and data on natural growth development, Kuijten devised an eye-growth chart for these children for their next 10 years of development. Then, her group used a 3D printer to create customized conformers in a vast array of sizes matching the prediction of the growth charts. [7 Cool Uses of 3D Printing in Medicine]

The conformers don't look like eyes. In fact, the original batch of eyes were green, with no pupils colored in. But they are convenient enough for parents to fit into their baby's eye socket after they're trained by ocularists on how to do so. Kuijten said the treatment is noninvasive and not painful for the child.

Early evaluation has shown that socket volumes of the treated eyes doubled, on average, over the treatment time of about a year, thus indicating that significant socket expansion occurred, the researchers said. The study on these children is ongoing.

"This is certainly a novel approach with several advantages," said Dr. Irene Gottlob, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Leicester Ulverscroft Eye Unit at the Leicester Royal Infirmary who was not involved in the study. "This is a good example of individualized treatment, or 'precision medicine.' It is also a good example of how 3D printing can be used in medicine."

"However, so far, only five patients have been treated, and we need to see the results of a larger group," Gottlob added.

Gottlob said she was encouraged by the researchers' plan to improve mathematical models to better predict eye-socket growth and development. She also noted that better refinement of ultrasound scans could help bring the method to younger infants, before they reach the age when they can safely undergo an MRI scan.

"I think this is a very promising  method, but experience with more patients and further development will improve this even further," Gottlob told Live Science.

Wanjek is the author of "Food at Work" and "Bad Medicine." His column, Bad Medicine, appears regularly on Live Science.
At its annual developer conference in California, tech giant Google showed off several new wares, including new computer chips and more uses for artificial intelligence.

CEO Sundar Pichai said the company now has seven platforms that have over 1 billion monthly active users, including YouTube, Google Maps, search, Gmail and others.

Pichai also noted that Android now has over 2 billion monthly active users as of this week, becoming the first tech platform to achieve that level.

Pichai added that Smart Reply, a Gmail feature that lets users send a quick reply email using artificial intelligence, is coming to Android as well as iOS.

"We are clearly at an inflection point with vision, so we're announcing a new initiative called Google Lens," Pichai said.

Lens lets users point a camera at an object and learn things about it, including pointing a phone at a Wi-Fi router and getting set up on the network automatically.

Pichai also unveiled a new line of tensor processing units (TPUs), which can help aid in machine learning and are used in data centers.

Due to the complexity of machine learning and the algorithms that need to be built for it, Pichai announced Google is building AutoML, which helps developers build neural networks to learn better.

He showed off examples such as helping pathologists diagnose cancer better or chemists predicting the properties of new discovered molecules.

Google made several other announcements, including one in an area where it has staunch competition from Apple and Amazon -- voice assistants.

Google Assistant, which has over 100 million users, also received an update, letting users type to it instead of just talking to it. It's also now available on the iPhone, which has had Siri built into it since the iPhone 4S.

Googles Scott Huffman also announced that there would be a Google Assistant SDK, which will allow the voice assistant to be on third-party devices. Google Assistant can now also support transactions, which could let users purchase things from third-party partners using their voice.

Google's smart speaker, the Google Home, which has competed with the Amazon Echo in the U.S., is now launching in the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and Japan this summer. It also got updates, including a proactive assistant, which alerts users of traffic delays, calendar events and more, without prompt, as well as hands free calling.

Google Photos, which has more than 500 million monthly active users, got several updates. The most prominent is suggested sharing, which recognizes photos of your contacts, and suggests you share the photos with them using machine learning.

The popular photo sharing app now also allows users to share their libraries, letting people take a picture and sharing them with others automatically and print out a softcover or hardcover photo book of the 40 best photos for $9.99 or $19.99, respectively.

YouTube, which has surpassed 1 billion hours of video watched per day, updated its TV app, adding 360 degree video to it.

This story is developing...
Rare postcards from the family of Tsar Nicolas II written in the weeks prior to their execution by the Bolsheviks are going up for auction in the U.K.

Written by Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden, the postcards detail that the family was in good health prior to the executions.

"Any ephemera written by a member of the Russian Royal Household during this period is rare but to have a pair of postcards written so close to the date when the Tsar and his family were executed and in such close proximity to the event by someone so close to the family is exceptional," said Henry Aldridge and Son auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, in an email to Fox News.

TITAN SURVIVOR'S FUR COAT UP FOR AUCTION IN THE UK

Both postcards were addressed to Anna Ivanovna Meder of 12 Bogoyavlenskaya str in Tobolsk (the former capital of Siberia) and detail the affection Baroness Buxhoeveden had towards Ivanovna.

The first letter, which has the "Exam Radionov" censors mark, is postmarked May 22, 1918 and reads:

"My dear Anna Ivanovna, I am in good health. I am in the same compartment with Nastenka (The nickname of Princess Anastasia). Hope You are healthy. Hugging you fondly. Please write to me."

The second letter, which Aldridge described as more poignant than the first, is dated May 27, 1918, just five days later.

"Dear Anna Ivanovna, Hoping along with Andrey Ivanovich, awaiting orders I am in good health. Many Hugs, Izya"

Izya was a nickname given to the Baroness by the Tsarina.

Pre-sale estimates for both cards range between $2,000 and $3,000 for the pair.

EXPERTS DISCOVER CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ANCHOR AT CARIBBEAN SHIPWRECK SITE

Baroness Buxhoeveden accompanied the Tsar and the rest of his family after they were exiled to Siberia.

Eventually, the Tsar and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks on July 17, 1918 in the early hours of the morning. They were executed by handguns, with Nicholas dying first and Anatasia, Tatiana, Olga and Maria dying later from stabbing wounds and being shot at close range.
Chinese media pinned some of the blame for the massive global cyberattack that affected more than 300,000 computers over the weekend on the United States.

The China Daily said Wednesday that the U.S.'s National Security Agency should take some of the blame for last week's WannaCry ransomware attack, which targeted vulnerabilities in Microsoft systems and affected 30,000 Chinese organizations alone.

"Concerted efforts to tackle cybercrimes have been hindered by the actions of the United States," the report said, according to Reuters. It said that the U.S. had no credible evidence to support a ban on Chinese tech companies in the U.S. following the cyberattack.

Some security researchers have said that it was possible for the North Korea-linked Lazarus Group to be behind the attack, but added that they would have to do more research. U.S. and European officials did not rule out North Korea as a possible suspect in the cyberattack.

The attack started Friday and affected thousands of computers, hitting more than 150 countries by Monday. The malware was first detected in March and publicly reported stolen from the NSA a month later.

The China Daily said that the role of the NSA in the attack should instill greater urgency in Beijings mission to replace foreign technology with its own.

China is preparing to enforce a security law that U.S. businesses believe will keep foreign companies out of the country because of its plan to enforce strict local data laws and surveillance requirements.

Click for more from Reuters.
This is a rush transcript from "Your World," May 16, 2017. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

NEIL CAVUTO, HOST, All right, The New York Times first reported this, Israel all but confirming it, that it, Israel, was the source of the secret intelligence that the president leaked to Russian officials.

Now, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer responded with this statement: "Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under the president."

To a Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, David Perdue of Georgia.

Senator, very good to have you.

SEN. DAVID PERDUE, R-GEORGIA: Hi, Neil.

CAVUTO: It seems like the Israelis, sir, if they indeed are the source of this intelligence shared with the Russians, are claiming no harm, no foul. What do you make of that?

PERDUE: Well, these are great allies. The people of Israel and the people of America have a lot in common ally. And they have been a strong ally through the years, as we have.

Look, the secretary of state, the national security adviser were in the room with the president. They say none of this really happened the way that the press has reported it. That's good enough for me.

And then we have this confirmation today from the Mossad that we're still great partners, no matter what has come out of this.

CAVUTO: A lot of Republicans said, sir, that they don't think that the president's intent was bad or awkward or wrong, but that he has got to show a little bit more discretion. And maybe it owes to the fact that he's not a politician by training, not a diplomat by training.

That helped get him elected, but, as president, he has got to be very, very careful, that loose lips -- you have heard the argument -- sink ships. What do you think?

PERDUE: Well, he's an outsider to this process, as I am, Neil.

But I will tell you, I give him high marks in the first four months in office. This is a guy that is reengaging on the international scene. He's making sure that China and Russia know what American national interests are.

He's met with several international leaders. And I think that's high time that we have been -- that's he's doing that. He's also said job one is getting the economy going. And he's -- as I remember, we did confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. So, a lot has happened in the first four months of this administration.

CAVUTO: But to that point that I mentioned, on these type of matters, just be careful what you share, especially in this case with the Russians? What do you think?

PERDUE: Well, I think this is the biggest job in the history of the world, frankly.

And anybody in that job has to grow into it. Look, we had a false step around the Syrian refugee import -- or the Syria refugee issue. But then right behind that, five days later, we had Neil Gorsuch's nomination.

CAVUTO: Very true.

PERDUE: So, this is a president that has surprised people time and time again, is going to continue to do that.

CAVUTO: Well, something is going on there, though, where this does leak out. Now, a lot of Democrats dismiss the leaker thing. But it's a real problem in this administration.

I don't know how many were in that room at the time with the two top Russian officials. But there couldn't have been that many. So, if you look around and count, someone leaked something, right?

PERDUE: Well, it's an issue.

Look, we take this very seriously in the Senate. We have to treat this classified information very carefully. I know the White House is committed to the same thing. But, again, this is a president that is beginning to reassert the national interests of America.

CAVUTO: All right.

PERDUE: And I think that you see the global situation requiring that right now.

CAVUTO: All right, thank you very much, sir. I appreciate it.

END

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Not all smugglers have suitcase linings packed with cocaine or ceramic busts filled with ecstasy. Some are transporting illegal cargo of the edible variety. Unfortunately for gutsy gourmands, though, border agents are no less forgiving of contraband meat than they are of methamphetamine tablets.

The father of journalist Bo Hanna found this out the hard way. In a Vice article that proclaims smuggling food through the airport can be harder than smuggling cocaine, the author rats out his dad for trying to sneak stuffed pigeons past border authorities in Amsterdam.

Once the illicit eats were discovered, Papa Hanna asked if he could keep at least one of the oven-ready birds. His cheekiness was rewarded by stern officials trashing the delicacies right in front of him.

Travelers crossing borders into the U.S. are no less daring with their foodie contraband. Every day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection separates travelers from around 4,638 verboten plant and animal products.

This past February, according to Dallas News, a woman flying into Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport got caught with 22 pounds of raw, exotic meat. Her haul included brains, hearts, feet, heads and tongues. Not long before that, a would-be wily traveler flying into the same airport from El Salvador reportedly declared fried chicken  but actually packed raw poultry. (He might have tried the tricky, if unsuccessful, ploy of a pig fanatic crossing the Mexican border: Wrapping pork in diapers.)

This article originally appeared in the New York Post.
An Air Canada flight from Jamaica to Toronto was forced to make an emergency stop in Florida on Tuesday because a passenger attacked the crew with coffee pots and tried to open the cabin door midflight, officials said.

Brandon Michael Courneyea had to be tied down to his seat by crew members and other passengers, investigators said.

According to WFTV, a federal complaint said crew members contacted the FBI at about 7:30 p.m. when a flight attendant said Courneyea yelled at a few passengers for looking at him.

Courneyea then talked about how it would only take one guy to take the plane down and that he wanted to take everyone with him, the complaint said. He grabbed another coffee pot before a flight attendant confronted him, authorities said.

When confronted (by the flight attendant), Courneyea lunged for the rear cabin exit door and began to pull the door lever up to open the door, according to the complaint. (He) then was restrained by crew members and fellow passengers on the aircraft.

Witnesses told the station that the incident went on for about 45 minutes before Courneyea was restrained and the plane landed in Orlando.

Courneyea was arrested at the airport and charged with assault or intimidation of flight crew member or flight attendant and interfering with the performance of duties.

Click for more from WFTV.
After being deployed in Afghanistan for almost two years, First Lieutenant John Rader just wanted to go home.

But as he was preparing to board the final leg of his trip, a United Airlines flight from El Paso, Texas to Austin on Monday, he was told that his baga military issued duffel filled with combat gearwas too heavy and that hed have to pay a hefty fine to get his luggage on the plane.

"I was told point blank that I'd have to pay $200 for the overage or find another bag to siphon stuff off with, Rader told FOX 7. Well, I didn't have another bag so I was caught in a bind, do I go home without my stuff or without it?"

United permits active military personnel to check up to five bags free as long as each item is under 70 pounds.

UNITED PASSENGER DRAGGED OFF FLIGHT SETTLES WITH AIRLINE FOR UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT

Rader says he tried to reason with the ticket agent but was told his bag, in which he had packed a Kevlar vest, two helmets and boots (all items worn overseas), was too heavy to qualify for the airline perk.

"There was no empathy to the situation. I'm not looking for sympathy, but some form of empathy in the situation. There was none of that. It was just cold. I had to either pay or leave the bag, Rader said, adding that another soldier traveling on the same flight was forced to pay an extra fee, too.

Though this isnt the first time hes flown with some extra weight, Rader said it is the first time he has encountered an agent who was unwilling to be flexible.

"In the past airlines have been very flexible to soldiers whether its upgrading us in our seating arrangements helping us with numerous bags we travel with often, said Rader.

This is the first time and an isolated case in my history where it's actually occurred. It became upsetting when all you want to do is get home and you have a $200 charge thrown on top.

The First Lieutenant was originally set to serve just nine months but decided to double his time overseas because he says he enjoys serving his country.

On Tuesday, United Airlines released the following statement to FOX 7: "We are disappointed anytime a customer has an experience that doesn't meet their expectations, and our customer care team is reaching out to this customer to issue a refund for his oversized bag as a gesture of goodwill."

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Other airlines, like Southwest and American, permit active duty personnel to check multiple bags under 100 pounds free of charge.

But Rader says United has lost his business and hes encouraging others to follow suit.

Said the soldier, "As I civilian traveling, I would not fly United after this situation.

A representative for United Airlines was not immediately available for comment.

More from FOX 7.
The Alaska Legislature on Tuesday rejected the appointment of Drew Phoenix, a transgender man, to serve on the state's human rights commission.

The vote came near the end of an hours-long joint session called to consider Gov. Bill Walker's nominees to boards, commissions and administration posts. Phoenix was the only nominee to be voted down.

Leading up to the vote, some conservative groups sought to paint Phoenix, who has advocated for LGBT rights, as too political for the post.

Sen. John Coghill, a Republican from North Pole, said there's no problem with being an advocate "until you get on that commission and then what you want to do is you want to look at protecting all rights."

Sen. Bill Wielechowski, an Anchorage Democrat who supported Phoenix's nomination, asked whether the state is willing to appoint people to boards and commissions who understand discrimination first-hand and will work to end it or if people want to live in a state intolerant of those different from the majority or who have different views.

In a phone interview Tuesday evening, Phoenix said he was "incredibly upset and disheartened" by the vote.

"I just find it so ironic that somebody like myself, with so much years' experience personally and professional working on behalf of human rights, that they would not confirm me to the commission on human rights," he said.

Phoenix said a state Senate committee that held confirmation hearings asked him questions related to his work as a transgender man with the LGBT community and if, given the opportunity, he would work to advance issues of equality for the LGBT community through the commission. He said he replied that, if that's what the commission seeks to do, he would.

He said one conservative group has framed the advancement of LBGT people as posing a threat to religious freedom. He said he is an ordained Christian minister and values religious freedom.

Phoenix thanked Walker "for having faith in my qualifications."

"I'm so sad I won't be able to use my expertise and experience to advance the work of the commission," Phoenix said.
Some 7,000 birds were seized in one of the largest raids of illegal cockfighting in United States history, authorities said Tuesday.

About 100 Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies conducted the raid on Monday, seizing roosters, hens and chicks in a remote area northwest of Los Angeles, authorities said at a news conference.

Injured and dead roosters also were found, along with mobile cockfighting pits, slashing blades used during fights to the death and other equipment, officials said.

The birds, goats and about 50 guard dogs were turned over to county animal control officials.

Two handguns also were seized, authorities said.

"This was a breeding operation and also a place where the fights took place," sheriff's Sgt. Bob Boese told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal .

About 10 people were detained, including the property owners and others working on the property, Boese said.

Arrests will be made after detectives and prosecutors determine which specific laws were broken, he said.

Although it is illegal, cockfighting remains a popular and lucrative betting sport, authorities said.

In 2007, authorities seized 2,700 birds during a raid on the same property.

Last November, nearly a dozen people were detained and several roosters were rescued after authorities busted a weekend cockfighting tournament at a Santa Clarita farm, where spectators bet thousands of dollars, officials said.
A suburban Denver robbery-kidnapping convict was ordered released from prison Tuesday after being mistakenly freed decades early, then re-incarcerated.

Rene Lima-Marin was convicted in 2000 of multiple robbery, kidnapping and burglary counts. He and another man had robbed two video stores at gunpoint.

Lima-Marin was sentenced to 98 years in prison. But he was mistakenly released on parole in 2008, then held a steady job and got married. Authorities realized the mistake in 2014, and police returned him to prison.

The decision Tuesday ends years of battles by Lima-Marin to be freed.

Chief Arapahoe County District Judge Carlos Samour Jr. wrote that it would be "draconian" to keep Lima-Marin in prison.

"Although most of Lima-Marin's sentence remains unserved, he has sufficiently paid his debt to society," the judge wrote.

Samour also pointed out that Lima-Marin, who did not know in 2008 that he was released by accident, had already completed parole and started a family before authorities returned him to prison.

"Without the ability to turn back the clock, how does the court dispense justice under such circumstances?" the judge asked.

Samour also criticized "the government's conscience-shocking deliberate indifference" when it accidentally released a man and didn't notice the error for six years. But Samour added that re-incarcerating Lima-Marin now "would perpetuate a manifest injustice."

Lima-Marin's release was first reported by The Denver Post .

The Colorado Legislature approved a nonbinding resolution earlier this month urging Gov. John Hickenlooper to grant Lima-Marin clemency.

There was no immediate word from the state Department of Corrections on when Lima-Marin would be released from a prison in southern Colorado, the newspaper reported.

Lima-Marin's co-defendant, Michael Clifton, is serving 98 years in prison.
A judge ruled Tuesday that jurors in the case of a Minnesota police officer who killed a black man last July will not be allowed to view the man's car in person as part of the trial, which means the officer won't be able to re-enact his version of the events leading up to the shooting.

St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez, 29, is scheduled to stand trial May 30 on manslaughter and other charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. The aftermath of the shooting was broadcast live on Facebook by Castile's girlfriend, who was sitting in the car along with her young daughter.

Prosecutors said the 32-year-old elementary school cafeteria worker was shot by Yanez, who is Latino, after he told the officer he was armed. Authorities later found Castile had a permit to carry.

During Tuesday's pretrial hearing, Ramsey County Judge William Leary III denied several requests by the defense. In addition to denying a request to allow jurors to view Castile's car, Leary also ruled the defense can't bring up anything about Castile's character during opening statements.

Minnesota Public Radio News reported the defense can raise issues about Castile's character and that of his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, during the trial  as long as the court gives prior approval.

The defense also asked to present evidence about Castile's permit to carry application, driving record and information about alleged marijuana use. Attorneys argued Castile wouldn't have been issued a permit to carry a gun had he been honest about using marijuana.

While the defense will not be allowed to bring up prior marijuana use, attorneys can present evidence about Castile's alleged marijuana use the day of the shooting. They've said that contributed to negligence in his death. Earl Gray, one of Yanez's attorneys, said Castile was "stoned" the day he was killed, and that a defense expert will testify the presence of THC in his system shows he was intoxicated.

Jeffrey Paulsen, a federal prosecutor working with the Ramsey County Attorney's Office on this case, said the prosecution's expert will disagree with that assessment.

The judge also granted a request that will allow Yanez's attorneys to present testimony about his reputation in the community and his character.

Gray said after the hearing that despite the denial of some requests, the defense is ready.

"We got rulings that will help us defend the case," Gray said, according to the Star Tribune. "I'm not going to comment on the judge's rulings. We have enough there to easily win this case."

Attorneys also learned Tuesday that Yanez's trial will stay in St. Paul. The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a defense petition that requested a change of venue due to pretrial publicity. Previous defense requests to have the case moved outside Ramsey County were also denied.

___

Information from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mprnews.org
A federal judge has tossed out an animal rights group's lawsuit against a California synagogue that practices the ritual slaughter of chickens.

Judge Andre Birotte Jr. ruled that Chabad of Irvine doesn't engage in an unfair business practice by charging for the killing and disposal of chickens used in the rite called kapparot or kaporos.

United Poultry Concerns, a Virginia-based group, argued that the $27 fee was well above the actual cost, making it a profit-making venture.

But Birotte said in the ruling Friday that the synagogue "does not participate nor compete as a business in the commercial market by performing a religious atonement ritual that involves donations," the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday .

The ritual, observed by some Orthodox sects of Judaism, involves whirling a chicken above one's head while reciting a prayer prior to it being slaughtered. The practice is believed to transfer the person's sins to the chicken.

The rite typically is performed before Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.

Chickens used in the ceremony were once given to the poor but they are now generally disposed of because of food-handling laws.

"We hope this victory will encourage everyone to live in peace and tolerance of everyone's religious beliefs," Rabbi Alter Tenenbaum of Chabad of Irvine said in a statement.

The ruling is being appealed, said Bryan Pease, an attorney representing United Poultry Concerns.

Pease also is representing another nonprofit group, the Animal Protection and Rescue League, in a state court lawsuit against the synagogue that alleges animal cruelty. The suit is scheduled for trial next month..
A South Carolina sheriff says a girl's body found this weekend is an 8-year-old whose mother previously was found stabbed to death.

The Marlboro County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Tuesday that 32-year-old Jejauncey Harrington has been charged with murder in the death of Iyana Lowery of Bennettsville. He was charged last week with killing her mother, Ella Lowery.

The woman's body was found May 5 in the home she shared with Iyana. Deputies said the girl's body recovered in a remote area of the county was identified using DNA records.

Harrington also faces charges of kidnapping, armed robbery and possessing a weapon during a violent crime. He is being held in Marlboro County's jail.

It wasn't immediately known if he has an attorney.
A deadly severe storm system battered a wide swath of the U.S. Tuesdayfrom the South Plains of Texas to the Great Lakes.

Tornadoes were blamed in the death of one person at a mobile park in Wisconsin and another person at a housing subdivision in Oklahoma.

In Wisconsin, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald told several media that the tornado damaged the Prairie Lakes Estates trailer park north of Chetek. The National Weather Service reported the tornado touched down in the area just after 5:30 p.m.

Helicopter video shows extensive damage at the trailer park, with several homes reduced to rubble.

"It's a mess," Fitzgerald told the Leader-Telegram of Eau Claire.

Fitzgerald described the scene to KMSP-TV as "total devastation" and said first responders could hear people yelling for help when they arrived. He said at least one child was among the injured.

Chetek is about 110 miles northeast of Minneapolis/St. Paul, and about 40 miles north of Eau Claire. The Oklahoma storm struck about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, wrecking much of a subdivision on the southern fringe of Elk City, Oklahoma, about 110 miles west of Oklahoma City.

The storm knocked out telephone service into and out of the city. But Fire Chaplain Danny Ringer told reporters at the scene late Tuesday that one person was known dead from the twister. He also said the storm destroyed 40 homes and damaged 50 to 75 others severely.

The mayor of the hard hit Wisconsin town, Jeff Martin, told KSTP-TV that numerous emergency vehicles went to the trailer park. He estimated the park had around 50 homes.

Devin Feuerhelm told KMSP-TV that his sister, Lenna Samuelson, lives in the park with her two daughters, Ashley and Brenna. He said her sister also had her 2-month-old grandson, Nolan, in the home when the storm hit, and they had nowhere to go but the bathtub.

Amazingly, Nolan escaped with just a couple of scratches, he said. Samuelson's daughters suffered minor injuries, and the mother suffered a gash on her head, but he said all are expected to be fine.

While their home was flattened, the SUV next to it was untouched.

A mobile home is a particularly dangerous place to be during a tornado, according to the National Weather Service. The Storm Prediction Center, which specializes in forecasting and gathering data on tornadoes, says that high winds during a tornado can rip a mobile home without a foundation from its moorings.

In 2011, when devastating tornadoes struck in Joplin, Missouri, and in Alabama and Mississippi, 111 of the 551 people killed nationwide in tornadoes, or 20 percent, were in mobile homes, according to the Storm Prediction Center website.

The Wisconsin tornado was part of a huge swath of the Plains and Upper Midwest threatened with severe weather. The area stretches from the Texas Panhandle through Oklahoma, western Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa into Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Other tornadoes in western Oklahoma and the eastern Texas Panhandle have downed power lines and utility poles, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

By evening, the National Weather Service listed more than 20 reports of tornadoes from Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin, although some of those could be multiple reports of the same tornado.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Governor of Arkansas is requesting assistance for residents after severe flooding damaged homes, businesses and killed at least nine people last month.

In a letter to the director of the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA), Governor Asa Hutchinson asked for $5 million to help low-income residents pay rent.

Many of those in need of housing lack financial resources to cope with the extra expense that comes with this crisis, Hutchinson wrote in the letter sent on Tuesday.

If approved by the ADFA board, the money would be dispersed through the Tenant Based Rental Assistance program. Andrew Branch, the vice president of housing for ADFA, says the agency already has the $5 million on hand and board members will meet on Thursday to discuss approval of the funds. Branch says no further approval is needed from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which funds the initiative through its Home Investments Partnerships Program.

We have a lot of low income folks but those are the people that have the hardest time adapting to this kind of disaster, Branch said. They dont have a safety net or any other kind of resources that there going to be able to just go rent an apartment somewhere or stay in a hotel long term.

According to U.S. Census data, 19 percent of people in Arkansas live in poverty. Branch notes that a residents income must be below 80 percent of the area median income to meet requirements for assistance. He also says those who qualify can apply through local housing aid groups and could be placed in an apartment within a week if the board approves the measure.

Over 30 counties in the Natural State were affected by flooding. Governor Hutchinson has also requested leniency on federal rules surrounding the planting of rice in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on May 12.

Arkansas produces more than 40% of America's rice.
An Arkansas couple was arrested after the pair's newborn baby was discovered with nearly 100 rat bites on her body earlier this week.

Erica Shryock, 19, and Charles Elliott, 18, were charged with endangering the welfare of a minor after they took their 15-day-old baby suffering from "severe skin destruction" to the hospital in Magnolia Sunday morning, according to The Magnolia Reporter. The charges were expected to be upgraded to a felony, in permitting abuse of a minor with serious physical injury.

Nurses examined the baby's body on Sunday and found between 75 and 100 rodent bites covering her arms, fingers, hands and face, KARK reported. A one-inch gash on the baby's forehead exposed the skull.

GEORGIA EXECUTES KILLER WHO QUOTES MOVIE IN HIS FINAL STATEMENT

The couple told the police differing accounts of that morning. Elliott said he heard the baby screaming at about 5 a.m., but Shryock recalled it wasn't until about 7:30 a.m. that she noticed something was wrong. They both told police they found the baby in a bassinet covered in blood.

Elliott said they waited for his mom at their home before rushing the baby to the hospital, according to KARK.

Officers searched the the couple's home and found the bloody bassinet with a blood-soaked hat and blanket in it. There were also bloody rat footprints in the area and rodent droppings by a nightstand.

DAD TRIES TO FATHOM WHY SON ALLEGEDLY DECAPITATED HIS MOTHER

Shryock and Elliott's roommate told police the bassinet was next to the couple's bed and that she couldn't understand why it took so long for the parents to act.

Shryock told police she and Elliott knew about the rat issue in the home, but never addressed it.

The doctor at the hospital said it would have taken hours for the rats to feed on the baby to do such damage.

The baby received facial reconstruction surgery on Monday.
One of the endearing qualities of a RW fanatic is his/her ability to project something I like to call the "ALL or NOTHING" strategy. It is closely related to the BLACK or White logic or the THEY ALL DO IT or the IT'S NOT That BAD mindset.



Look, the presidency is a job like NONE other and there's no way to TRAIN someone for the horrific, frightening responsibility of the presidency, but we the people have tried (in the past) to elect SOMEONE with SOME sort of legislative, governing, military experience AND someone with a background in LAW--an education befitting the most powerful man/woman in the world. Up until now it's been our goal to choose someone with a bit of caution--a dash of honor--a pinch of decency--someone to admire. We haven't always succeeded, but we've tried. WE have attemped to raise the BAR so our lawmakers and our administrations represent the BEST of us. WE DO hold them to a higher standard and we should continue to do that.

Of course presidents make mistakes---how could they not? They've never done this job before. Neither have cabinet members, LIKE Hillary Clinton, who openly admits she's made mistakes. AND Clinton has been investigated MANY times for the mistakes she's made. So you can STOP with the.....but what about Hillary....and what about Obama...? NO ONE thinks they were perfect and no one expects our presidents to get everything right. I'm sure they've all crossed the line at some point because POWER does that to a person.



Donald J Trump is unlike anything we've ever dealt with. He should NEVER have been elected because he doesn't have a clue. All we've seen for over 100 days is one mistake after another. Every American should be concerned about this. Every American (including you) should question his judgement---just as you questioned Obama's, Clinton's, Bush's, Reagan......and every other president.

Trump has NEVER--not once--in all the mistakes he's made--not once has he apologized. NOT once has he said "I was mistaken" or "I misspoke" or "Let me clarify...".....and NEITHER have his supporters.

It's time for you and your president to own up. Man up.
The bee industry is buzzing over the arrest of a man accused of stealing thousands of hives worth nearly $1 million from California's almond orchards in one of the biggest such thefts on record.

The case has thrown a spotlight on a business many city slickers probably never knew existed: Beekeepers in the U.S. move their colonies around the country by truck and rent them out to farmers to pollinate their flowering crops.

In California, which relies on bees brought in from such places as Missouri, Montana and North Dakota to produce more almonds than any other place in the world, hives began to vanish overnight across several counties three years ago.

The break in the case came in late April, when a tip led authorities to a ramshackle "chop shop" of stolen beehives on a corner lot outside Fresno. They arrested 51-year-old Pavel Tveretinov, a beekeeper-turned-criminal from suburban Sacramento, on suspicion of possessing stolen property, investigators said.

"Bees are big money," Sgt. Arley Terrence of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office agriculture crimes unit said Tuesday. "There's a lot of motive to steal."

The unexplained mass die-offs of bees in recent years and booming demand for almonds have helped drive up the value of hives.

Almonds have increased in popularity amid a marketing push urging health-conscious Americans to eat them in energy bars, crunch on them raw, sprinkle slivers on their salads or pour almond milk on their cereal.

Almond growers rent hives for a few weeks when their trees blossom, allowing the bees to pollinate the flowers as they fly from tree to tree. The blossoms then turn into nuts.

Investigators say Tveretinov, the prime suspect in the thefts, went to work at night, removing the hives when the bees are dormant.

One of the biggest single thefts came in January, when more than 700 hives vanished from two orchards north of Sacramento. They were recovered in Fresno, more than 200 miles to the south.

In total, Tveretinov is responsible for stealing 2,500 hives and equipment worth $875,000, investigators say.

He was released on $10,000 bail after his arrest April 28. A telephone number for him could not be found. It was not clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on the charges.

The tip came from a beekeeper who needed a place to store his hives and came across the lot used by Tveretinov. There, the beekeeper recognized hive boxes belonging to a friend of his in Missouri who had fallen victim to theft, said sheriff's Detective Andres Solis.

Beekeepers customize their boxes to make them unique, imprinting identification numbers and painting them different colors with their logos.

Investigators showed up at the lot and found Tveretinov at work amid a field of mismatched hive boxes.

"It's like a chop shop for beehives," Solis said. "They're scattered all over the place."

Investigators asked California beekeeper and almond farmer Ryan Cosyns to help sort through the case. He said it was obvious that Tveretinov had sloppily painted over the boxes with his own brand and used a grinder to remove identification numbers.

"The average person isn't going to be able to look at a box and realize it was stolen," Cosyns said. "Or they're renting at a price where nobody is asking any questions."

Beekeeper Yelena Storojenko of Colusa County, who has now recovered some damaged hives filled with dying bees, estimated her family's business lost $200,000 in rental income, equipment and queen bees, which are necessary for breeding. Each hive is rented out for $175.

"We didn't get everything back," Storojenko said. "The beehives are in horrible condition."
Pressing for answers to mushrooming questions, congressional Democrats demanded an immediate investigation into President Donald Trump's dealings with now-fired FBI Director James Comey and into broader questions of White House meddling on Wednesday. House Speaker Paul Ryan cautioned against "rushing to judgment."

Ryan said Congress needs to get the facts, but "it is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president." Elijah Cummings, top Democrat on a key House oversight panel, countered that Ryan and the Republicans had shown "zero, zero, zero appetite for any investigation of President Trump."

The White House has denied reports that Trump pressed Comey to drop an investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. In addition Trump is facing pointed questions about his discussions with Russian diplomats during which Trump is reported to have disclosed classified information.

In the latest twist on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to turn over to Congress records of Trump's discussions with the diplomats.

The White House has played down the importance and secrecy of the information Trump gave to the Russians, which had been supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement. Trump himself said he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia. Yet U.S. allies and some members of Congress have expressed alarm.

Putin told a news conference that he would be willing to turn over notes of Trump's meeting with the Russian diplomats if the White House agreed. He dismissed outrage over Trump's disclosures as U.S. politicians whipping up "anti-Russian sentiment."

Asked what he thinks of the Trump presidency, Putin said it's up to the American people to judge and his performance can be rated "only when he's allowed to work at full capacity," implying that someone is hampering Trump's efforts.

Trump left the White House Wednesday to head to Connecticut where he delivered the commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

As for Comey, whom Trump fired last week, the FBI director wrote in a memo after a February meeting at the White House that the new president had asked him to shut down the FBI's investigation of Flynn and his Russian contacts, said a person who had read the memo. The Flynn investigation was part of a broader probe into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.

Comey's memo, an apparent effort to create a paper trail of his contacts with the White House, would be the clearest evidence to date that the president has tried to influence the investigation.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Republican chairman of the House oversight committee, sent a letter to the FBI on Tuesday requesting that it turn over all documents and recordings that detail communications between Comey and Trump. He said he would give the FBI a week and then "if we need a subpoena, we'll do it."

John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said late Tuesday that the developments had reached "Watergate size and scale."

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said simply, "It would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the White House."

The person who described the Comey memo to the AP was not authorized to discuss it by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The existence of the memo was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times.

The White House vigorously denied it all. "While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House statement said.

Trump fired Flynn on Feb. 13, on grounds that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russians.

The intensifying drama comes as Trump is set to embark Friday on his first foreign trip, which had been optimistically viewed by some aides as an opportunity to reset an administration floundering under an inexperienced president.

Mark Warner of Virginia, top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said he would ask Comey for additional material as part of that panel's investigation. "Memos, transcripts, tapes  the list keeps getting longer," he said.

According to the Times, Comey wrote in the February memo that Trump told him Flynn had done nothing wrong. Comey said he replied that "I agree he is a good guy" but said nothing to Trump about limiting the investigation.

The newspaper said Comey was in the Oval Office that day with other national security officials for a terrorism threat briefing. When that ended, Trump asked everyone to leave except Comey, and he eventually turned the conversation to Flynn.

The administration spent the first half of Tuesday defending Trump's disclosure of classified information to senior Russian officials. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said the president's comments were "wholly appropriate." He used that phrase nine times in his briefing to reporters.

The highly classified information about an Islamic State plot was collected by Israel, a crucial source of intelligence and close partner in the fight against some of the America's fiercest threats in the Middle East. Trump's disclosure of the information threatened to fray that partnership and piled pressure on the White House to explain the apparently on-the-spot decision to reveal the information to Russian diplomats in the Oval Office.

A U.S. official who confirmed the disclosure to The Associated Press said the revelation potentially put the source at risk.

___

Associated Press writers Vivian Salama and Jill Colvin contributed.
Federal authorities have charged a fraternity at California State University, Chico with illegally cutting down dozens of trees in a national forest during an initiation of new pledges, the U.S. Forest Service said.

The complaint was filed Tuesday against the school's Pi Kappa Alpha chapter and its president, Evan Jossey.

The fraternity was charged with downing the 32 trees at a campground during a weekend initiation in April in Lassen National Forest in Susanville, about 300 miles (482 kilometers) north of San Francisco.

The fraternity also faces a charge of possessing a firearm because a witness heard gunfire at the campground, and a charge of conspiracy to commit offense or defraud the United States.

Jossey did not return a message sent Wednesday through the chapter's Facebook page. He denied the charges to authorities, according to the complaint.

The International Fraternity of Pi Kappa Alpha released a statement Wednesday saying it was "severely disappointed" to learn of the allegations levied against the chapter and has subsequently placed the chapter on administrative suspension pending the outcome of the federal investigation.

"(Chapter) members are expected to fully cooperate with authorities in this matter. The fraternity does not condone the allegations made in this complaint and will revisit the permanent status of the chapter and its members at the conclusion of the federal process," the statement said.

Fraternity and Sorority Affairs officials at Chico State did not return a call for comment on the charges.

Jossey and the fraternity are due in court next month.

It's the second time in a year that a college social organization has been accused of damaging a recreational area.

Last May, a Lake Shasta campsite was wrecked when hundreds of University of Oregon fraternity and sorority members left a half-mile-wide swath of trash after an annual trip, authorities said.

The national Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity suspended the activities of its University of Oregon chapter over the mess at Lake Shasta's Slaughterhouse Island. The sororities and fraternities later did service projects.
Pvt. Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks, was freed from a Kansas military prison early Wednesday morning after serving seven years of her 35-year sentence.

"After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived. I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me, is far more important than the past. Im figuring things out right nowwhich is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me," Manning said in a statement released by the ACLU. She also tweeted a photo of two feet with the caption "First steps of freedom!!"

Manning left Fort Leavenworth at around 2 a.m. local time, the U.S. Army confirmed to Fox News. Spokeswoman Valerie Mongello did not give additional details, citing privacy restrictions.

Also Wednesday, her legal team said Manning would not use the health benefits to which she was entitled as an active-duty member of the Army -- meaning taxpayers would not foot the bill for gender reassignment.

"Because of the nature of her circumstances and the experience of confinement, she is very committed to living her life as free from the government as possible and taking care of her own health benefits and financial needs, separate and apart from the continued benefits available to her," attorney Chase Strangio said.

President Barack Obama granted Manning clemency in his final days in office in January.

"Thank you to everyone for ensuring her safe release and respecting her privacy as she starts to adjust to life outside of prison and rebuild her life following seven years of confinement," attorneys Nancy Hollander and Vincent Ward added.

Manning, who was known as Bradley Manning before transitioning in prison, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

The Crescent, Oklahoma, native tweeted after being granted clemency that she planned to move to Maryland. Neither she nor her attorneys explained why, but she has an aunt who lives there.

Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, has acknowledged leaking the materials, which included battlefield video. She said she wanted to expose what she considered to be the U.S. military's disregard of the effects of war on civilians and that she released information that she didn't believe would harm the U.S.

CHELSEA MANNING TO STAY ON ACTIVE DUTY

Critics said the leaks laid bare some of the nation's most-sensitive secrets and endangered information sources, prompting the State Department to help some of those people move to protect their safety. Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.

Manning, who was arrested in 2010, filed a transgender rights lawsuit in prison and attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers.

Obama's decision to commute Manning's sentence to about seven years, including the time she spent locked up before being convicted, drew strong criticism from members of Congress and others, with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan calling the move "just outrageous."

In a statement last week -- her first public comments since Obama intervened -- Manning thanked that former president and said that letters of support from veterans and fellow transgender people inspired her "to work toward making life better for others."

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea," she said. "I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world. Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine."

AIR FORCE VET KILLED TRYING TO DEFEND WOMAN OUTSIDE IHOP

Her attorneys have said Manning was subjected to violence in prison and argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison, restricting her physical and mental health care and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut.

The Department of Defense has repeatedly declined to discuss Manning's treatment in prison.

An Army spokeswoman, Lt. Col. Jennifer Johnson, said Manning will be on "excess leave" while her court-martial conviction is under appellate review.

Fox News' Faith Mangan at Fort Leavenworth and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The parents of a 7-year-old Dallas boy said Tuesday that their son was handcuffed and placed in a behavioral health facility after an outburst at school, and they were not notified at the time.

April Obin, the boys mother, told CBS Dallas her son has a mood disorder and will, on occasion interrupt class at the Gabe P. Allen Elementary School. The school provides counselors to help him cope, but they were not there when he became violent, she said.

The boy had an episode last Tuesday while taking a standardized test and eventually started to bang his head against the wall, Amar Dhillon, the familys attorney, told the station.

Police from the Dallas Independent School District handcuffed the child and took him away before his mother got to the school, Dhillon said. She said she was unaware of the handcuffing.

Dhillon accused police of using excessive force and claimed that officers used a Taser on the child, CBS Dallas reported.

The boy did vividly describe being shocked and his body convulsing and he was very clear about that, he added.

Dallas ISD released a statement Monday, saying, it is "committed to educating the whole child each day, and in doing so, we believe in providing a productive learning environment that is safe for all staff and students. While there has been media interest into an alleged incident at one of our Dallas ISD campuses, due to federal confidentiality laws protecting the privacy of all students and their families, we are unable to publicly confirm or deny the matter reported. We stand by our commitment to serve all students and to ensure their health and safety are never compromised as we focus on student achievement."

David Ramirez, an investigator hired by the family, said Obin was later told that her son was in the Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital and that he was sedated. The boy was not released from the hospital until Monday.

School officials said they could not comment on the matter, citing privacy laws. A district spokeswoman told the Associated Press the actions by district police were their own and not a matter of district policy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A brawl outside the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., was captured on video Tuesday -- as witnesses claimed that members of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's security detail attacked protesters. Erdogan was in the U.S. for a meeting with President Donald Trump at the time.

Two people were arrested after the incident: one for aggravated assault and one for assault on a police officer. 11 people were hurt in the brawl, including a police officer.

"We witnessed what appeared to be a brutal attack on peaceful protesters," a police official said on Wednesday.

Witnesses told The Guardian that the fight erupted when the Turkish presidents security attacked protesters carrying the flag of the Kurdish PYD party outside the embassy, hours after Erdogan met with Trump at the White House.

Video footage posted on social media showed some protesters bloodied as others were being beaten on the ground.

All of the sudden they just ran towards us, said Yazidi Kurd demonstrator Lucy Usoyan. She said a pro-Erdogan supporter attacked her.

ACTIVISTS URGE TRUMP TO PROD ERDOGAN ON RIGHTS

Someone was beating me in the head nonstop, and I thought, Okay, Im on the ground already, what is the purpose to beat me? she added.

Metropolitan police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said the altercation broke out between two groups.

"The actions seen outside the Turkish Embassy yesterday in Washington, D.C. stand in contrast to the First Amendment rights and principles we work tirelessly to protect each and everyday," the police department said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

"The Metropolitan Police Department made two arrests following yesterday's incidents and we have every intention to pursue charges against the other individuals involved. We will continue to work with our partners at the United States State Department and United States Secret Service to identify and hold all subjects accountable for their involvement in the altercation."

MATTIS MEETS WITH TURKEY PM AMID DISPUTE OVER ARMING SYRIAN KURDS

Trump and Erdogan met to try to renew ties after the U.S. announced it was going to supply arms to the Kurdish group in its fight against the Islamic State.

Turkey considers the group a terror organization.

It is absolutely unacceptable to take the YPG-PYD into consideration as partners in the region, and its going against a global agreement we reached, Erdogan said. In the same way, we should never allow those groups who want to change the ethnic or religious structures in the region to use terrorism as a pretext, he added, suggesting that the Kurds were using the anti-ISIS fight as cover for separatist nationalism.

An investigation into the brawl is still ongoing. Police could not confirm that Erdogan's bodyguards were involved.

"This is a city where people should be able to come and peacefully protest," the police official said. "This is not something we can tolerate in our city."

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin, Matt Richardson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Not more than six hours after the P.G.T. Beauregard monument was removed by city crews, the remainder of the pedestal was painted with red spray paint.

Father and son Michael Kimball, 57, and Christopher Kimball, 31, both of Norco, were arrested and charged with criminal damage to historic buildings or landmarks by defacing with graffiti.

The Kimballs were seen by Eighth District Commander Nicholas Gernon spray painting the monument base with the words "Gen. Beauregard CSA.

Gernon approached Christopher Kimball in the act of spray painting on one side of the monument.

A witness told Gernon to the other side of the monument where the second suspect, identified as Michael Kimball, was also spray painting.

New Orleans police officers could be seen talking to and then handcuffing the suspects near the monument.

Read more from FOX8Live.com.
A 6-foot long beehive with hundreds of thousands of bees inside was found in the ceiling of a Georgia home.

Lisa Ohrmundt of DeKalb County called a bee removal specialist after she saw a few bees flying in her home, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

Bobby Chaisson, a Georgia Bee Removal employee, operated a heat sensing camera to find the location of the bees and discovered the hive in the ceiling. The expert believes the hive may have been there for a couple of years.

GEORGIA BURGLARS ON THE RUN ARE KILLED AFTER CAR CRASHES INTO POND

A video of the removal process showed the size of the hive and amount of bees.

Take a look at this video! 120K bees removed from #Decatur woman's ceiling! Bee specialist says they made 60lbs of honey! 10p @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/F2X4f127Cx  Nathalie Pozo (@NathalieFOX5) May 17, 2017

You can hear it as he is pulling the sheetrock down like a buzz and then all of a sudden these bees just fall out into the room and they start flying all around the room, Ohrmundt said. It was incredible just a blanket of bees, I have never seen anything like it.

Chaisson did not expect the hive to be that massive until he began taking down the ceiling.

Did the first hole in the ceiling and it was a little bigger and a little bit bigger and a little bit bigger and it ended up being about 6 feet long, he said.

GEORGIA EXECUTES MAN WHO KILLED ELDERLY NEIGHBOR IN 1992

The whole bee removal process took Chaisson about six hours to complete. He extracted around 150 pounds of honey and honeycomb from the ceiling.
From his sidewalk vantage point in front of an outdoor equipment store in downtown Durango, Colo., Matthew Marinseck has seen a transformation in this mountain resort town.

The picturesque town near the New Mexico border, once a vibrant, upscale community dotted with luxury hotels, is being overrun by panhandlers  thanks, in part, to the legalization of marijuana.

The town suddenly became a haven for recreational pot users, drawing in transients, panhandlers and a large number of homeless drug addicts, according to officials and business owners. Many are coming from New Mexico, Arizona and even New York.

Legalized marijuana has drawn a lot of kids here from other states and the impact has not all been good, said Marinseck, 58, while holding a cardboard sign asking for help.

COLORADO BOOKS 9TH MONTH OF $100M-PLUS POT SALES AMID THREAT OF TRUMP ADMIN. CRACKDOWN

Several people holding cardboard signs could be seen along the streets of Durango now. Some just ask for marijuana, or imply thats what they want with a photo of a green pot leaf. But its not just pot users being drawn to Durango.

[The] city really started freaking out when they started seeing needles in the streets said Marinseck, a self-avowed former hippie.

Caleb Preston, a store manager in a gift shop and a former street entertainer, said the homeless and panhandling issue in Durango has gotten out of hand since the state legalized marijuana.

Just this year there has been a major influx of people between 20 to 30 who are just hanging out on the streets, Preston said. The problem is while many are pretty mellow, there are many more who are violent.

Preston said hes become accustomed to kicking out vagrants who perch themselves in front of his store.

DENVER MARIJUANA INDUSTRY IS EATING INTO AREA'S RESTAURANT JOBS

Most of the kids here are from out of state, and I would say it has a lot to do with the legalized pot, said Preston.

He said hes also noticed an uptick in crime in the area. Shoplifting, he said, has become a major problem in Durango and business owners are becoming fed up.

The citys Business Improvement District held a meeting May 12 to review the results of a survey completed by local businesses on how to address the panhandling issue, which has become an urgent matter as the city enters its busy summer tourist season.

Among the suggestions were stricter laws for panhandling and loitering, strategic placement of obstacles such as bistro tables and flower boxes to discourage sitting and lying on sidewalks. They also proposed launching a campaign discouraging tourists to give money to the pan handlers. A rudimentary effort is already in place with handwritten signs encouraging donations be made to charities that help the homeless rather than handing panhandlers money directly.

Tim Walsworth, executive director of Durango Business Improvement District, said he is frustrated. He said he has to walk a tightrope between the civil liberties of the homeless population and the reputation and attractiveness of the downtown area, which for years has been a hot tourist destination.

Were hoping to discourage the transient and professional panhandlers that are impacting the perceived safety and cleanliness of our downtown, as well as help those who are truly in need, Walsworth said in a statement.

Conspicuously absent from the busy downtown: The presence of police patrols.

Durango Police Chief Kamran Afzal said he has only been on the job for a month and is still assessing where the needs are in the town. With a department of 50 officers and only five per shift who cover 20 square miles, the challenge is daunting, he said. He said the property crime rate is 12 percent higher than the national average.

FEDERAL CRACKDOWN ON LEGAL WEED COMING?

At this point, since Im new here, I cant definitively say this number is related to our homeless population, Afzal said.

But he would not go so far as to say that the rise in panhandlers is directly attributed to the legalization of marijuana.

We are going to look at the behavior of individuals who cause discomfort for residents and visitors, he said, through a Community Engagement Team. But, he said, the tricky part is figuring out when panhandlers cross the line to criminals.

Panhandlers like Marinseck may not exactly pose a threat to pedestrians shopping at the boutiques, souvenir stores or microbreweries in downtown Durango. But they dont exactly evoke the wholesome image the business district wants to project.

Still, the city recently settled a lawsuit with the American Civil Liberties Union allowing the homeless population to panhandle.

A clerk at a local hotel who declined to give her name told Fox News that since marijuana has become legal in Colorado, the quality of life in Durango has worsened.

She said shes frequently harassed when she goes to the supermarket or local WalMart. Some of the local parks, she said, have been taken over by the homeless.

Ive lived here my entire life and dont feel safe here anymore, the clerk said. If it wasnt so beautiful here, I would probably move.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said Tuesday that despite all the controversies surrounding Donald Trumps presidency, the House still has to pass meaningful legislation and get it to the presidents deak.

Chaffetz, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman, told NBC News that the government is always full of crisis.

CHAFFETZ SEEKS COPIES OF COMEY'S MEMOS

GOWDY: I WANT TO SEE THE MEMO

KRAUTHAMMER: STUNNING THAT GOP WON'T DEFEND TRUMP ON NEWS OF THE MEMO

GARLAND NOT INTERESTED?

Despite support from key Republicans, it appears that Judge Merrick Garland has little interest in the vacany in the FBI after James Comey's ouster.

Those close to the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit tell news outlets that former-President Obama's Supreme Court pick is happy with his current job.

Republicans saw Garland as a selection that proves that they are not looking at replacing Comey with a political ally.

CHINA BLAMES US

Chinese media pinned some of the blame for the massive global cyberattack that affected more than 300,000 computers over the weekend on the United States.

The China Daily said Wednesday that the U.S.'s National Security Agency should take some of the blame for last week's WannaCry ransomware attack, which targeted vulnerabilities in Microsoft systems and affected 30,000 Chinese organizations alone.

'TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT'

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., told Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight" that President Trump needed to repair his relationship with the intelligence community after reports surfaced that Trump had disclosed classified information to two prominent Russian officials.

"I have been out to visit all of our intel sites and met with all of our intel people," Manchin told host Tucker Carlson. "Theyre the best in the world. They need to have some type of a correlation, a relationship, a dialogue. The president needs to patch this up."

Manchin, a Democrat who represents a state Trump won by 42 percentage points this past November, told Carlson that Trump's reported disclosure of intelligence about an ISIS plot "could put an awful lot of people in harm's way."

ISRAELI MINISTER ON ASSAD

An Israeli minister under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that, based on recent reports of new atrocities, it is time to "eliminate (President) Assad."

The reality of the situation today in Syria, in which they are executing people, using chemical attacks against them, and the latest extreme measure -- burning their corpses, something which we havent seen in 70 years in this world -- were crossing a red line, Housing and Construction Minister Yoav Gallant said Tuesday at a military conference, Bloomberg reported. In my opinion, its time to eliminate Assad.

COMING UP ON FOX NEWS

11:05 AM ET: President Trump delivers the Commencement Address at the US Coast Guard Academy. New London, CT. Watch live on Fox News and FoxNews.com

COMING UP ON FOX BUSINESS

5 AM ET: James Kallstrom, former FBI assistant director, will be a guest on "FBN AM"

9:45 AM ET: Ajit Pai, FCC chairman, will appear on "Varney & Company"

10:15 AM ET - Rep. Pete Roskam, R-Ill, will be a guest on "Varney & Company"

2 PM ET: Bill Gross, billionaire bond investor, will be on the "Intelligence Report"
UH OH. Your arrogance is showing, Baby Ruth. There may be some similarities but then comes to a full stop.

*Obama actually admitted Hillary made mistakes. Has Trump admitted anything to anyone?

*AND...Hillary actually admitted she made mistakes.

*Did Obama ASK ANYONE at ANYTIME to drop the investigation?

*Obama made these comments IN PUBLIC. He did not call Comey into his office for a private consult.

*Obstruction of justice requires INTENT. Clinton was careless. She did not intentional TRY to obstruct anything and neither did Obama.

*The FBI investigation of Clinton was long and involved AND......it was completed without obstruction, but nice try, National Review.



If Trump wants to continue to support Flynn and the Russians.....FINE. He can do so at his own risk. There's nothing unlawful about a president showing support for his cabinet members.

IT IS OBSTRUCTION when a sitting president asks the director of the FBI to drop an investigation because the culprit "is a good guy".
North Koreas latest test launch over the weekend has raised concerns among U.S. officials. The Pentagon says the ballistic missile flew 1,000 miles higher than NASAs International Space Station. It was then able to re-enter earths atmosphere and splash down just 60 miles from Russia. One official told Fox News it was a big step forward in North Koreas nuclear missile program.

Emergency planners in Hawaii, the closest state to North Korea, have taken notice and are evaluating existing nuclear attack response plans. Meanwhile, another possible target on the West Coast is barred from taking any steps to plan for a nuclear attack.

Washington State allows evacuation plans for every disaster scenario except a nuclear bomb. Former state Rep. Dick Nelson remembers the prevailing thinking in the legislature at the time concerning response plans in the event of nuclear war.

THE NORTH KOREA THREAT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. HERE'S WHAT TRUMP MUST DO NOW

You are really sending a message that youre getting ready to do something maybe yourself, Nelson said.

The law passed in 1984, seven years before the end of the Cold War. It was the opposite approach taken by President Ronald Reagan, whose peace through strength doctrine helped lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

A current Washington state senator says the current law is irresponsible and naive.

I think its ridiculous and silly, says state Sen. Mark Miloscia, And sort of the head-in-the-sand mentality. If it has a probability of happening, prepare for it.

Seattle could be in the crosshairs if North Koreas leader, Kim Jung Un, ever did the unthinkable. Naval Base Kitsap reportedly has roughly 1,300 nuclear warheads -- almost one-quarter of the U.S. arsenal -- making it the largest stockpile of nukes in the world. The Puget Sound is also home to Joint Base Lewis McChord, home to the important Stryker Brigade. With the headquarters of Boeing, Microsoft and Amazon, the region is a high-tech hub.

NORTH KOREA SAYS IT LAUNCHED MISSILE THAT CAN CARRY NUCLEAR WARHEAD

Seattle is also the closest major U.S. city to Pyonyang, an important factor when calculating accuracy.

But Washington States top emergency planner says the current law barring any nuclear strike planning is not a big deal.

We do not have a specific plan for a nuclear attack, said Robert Ezelle, director of the Washington Military Department of Emergency Management. Nor do we have a specific plan for a volcano or a number of types of hazards that you can name.

Ezelle says he needs to spend his limited resources on preparing for the most likely disasters, such as a major earthquake or even a dirty bomb attack. He believes the response to a nuclear attack would be similar enough; current plans are adequate to protect the public.

Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, disagrees.

I think that needs to be in its own category of planning because the situation for fallout and radiation and long-term contamination of areas, said Redlener.

Miloscia has co-sponsored a bill that would scrap Washington states law prohibiting planning for a nuclear attack. He says it has bi-partisan support and is likely to pass next year.

Meantime, military experts believe North Korea is still about three years away from having the capability to hit the West Coast with a nuclear bomb.
A Florida man is accused of fatally shooting the owner of a tow truck company during a dispute over $285 he owed for his impounded car.

Orlando police arrested Tremain Polk, 35, a short time after the shooting Tuesday night at the Tow Truck Company. He is accused of first-degree murder in the death of Paul Gren, 53.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Polk became angry when employee Erica Hicks told him he owed $285. A police affidavit said Polk only had $135 on him.

Hicks told investigators Polk tried to push his way into the office but stopped when she threatened to call police.

The affidavit said surveillance cameras caught Polk jumping a chain-link fence outside the building and busting windows on three cars before getting into his vehicle and driving it toward a closed bay door.

Investigators said Polk was trying to open the door when Gren confronted him. Hicks told investigators Gren had a gun in his hand but kept it by his side and didn't raise it. She said Polk started to walk away.

"She described how Polk took 'two steps' inside the door, turned around toward Gren, took a gun from his waistband, and fired three shots at Gren from point-blank range," the arrest affidavit said.

According to police, the shooting wasn't captured on camera but Hicks was on the phone with police dispatchers when the shots were fired.

Police officers found Gren, who was taken to the hospital. He was declared dead a short time later.

Polk left the scene but was arrested later Tuesday night.

Jail records don't list a lawyer for Polk.

___

Information from: Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
The USS Constitution is one of Bostons most beloved landmarks.

But over the weekend, an intruder slipped on board after hours, causing some damage, and raising security concerns.

Old Ironsides is in dry dock for a multimillion dollar restoration and has been for over two years. But over the weekend, one man got on board after hours and police are trying to find him.

NEW ORLEANS TAKES DOWN THIRD CONFEDERATE MONUMENT

Sometime Sunday into Monday, when the ship was closed in public, The Constitution's crew discovered an intruder below deck.

The man was escorted off the ship and he ran away before he could be identified.

A search of the Constitution revealed some damage to a state room door spindle below deck.

Police immediately issued a release to all branches asking officers to be on the lookout for the man who was caught on surveillance footage.

Its a failure of security somewhere along the line, Boston 25 Security Expert Dan Linskey said. Its definitely a problem. Definitely a challenge no one should have been able to get on that vessel and spend any significant time there, without getting a response.

The damage to the USS Constitution was minimal and the commander of the ship told Boston 25 it is mostly repaired.

Read more at Boston 25.
Clarksville Police are searching for a Nashville man after he drove over a police officer's leg on Tuesday and is still on the loose.

Clarkville Police say Officer Seth Traughber responded to a suspicious activity call at an Exxon on Highway 76.

The man had been in the parking lot for about 45 minutes and was believed to be on drugs. EMS personnel who were already on scene noted there were a couple of narcotic prescriptions on the front seat and say they had to wake the man up.

When Officer Traughber approached, he asked the driver to get out of the vehicle but the driver instead started the car and tried to shut the door. The door struck the officer and Officer Traughber grabbed the man, ordering the driver to stop. The driver told Officer Traughber "I can't do that," put the vehicle in drive and drove off, dragging the officer.



Offier Traughber lost his grip, fell to the ground, and was driven over his left leg with the back tire of the vehicle.

Police have identified the driver as Billy McNeil, a Nashville resident. McNeil could still be driving the 2007 Chevrolet pictured in the video. McNeil has warrants issued for his arrest that include aggravated assault, driving on a revoked license, evading arrest, and resisting arrest.

Officer Traughber thankfully suffered no major injuries.

Read more from FOX 17.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been invited to this weekend's summit in the Saudi capital with U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders from across the Muslim world, Saudi officials close to the king said Tuesday.

Al-Bashir, who has been Sudan's leader since 1989, is wanted by the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands for war crime allegations. ICC prosecutors charged al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010 with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region.

The Saudi officials who confirmed that al-Bashir had been invited to the meeting spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The summit that Trump is scheduled to attend Sunday, during his first overseas trip as president, is being organized by Saudi Arabia and will gather more than 50 top dignitaries from Muslim countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

In Washington, a senior State Department official said the United States opposes governments inviting anyone subject to outstanding ICC arrest warrants, including al-Bashir, and has made its position clear. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.

The ICC has no police force of its own to arrest al-Bashir and has to rely on member states to comply. Since 2009, some ICC member states have signaled that al-Bashir would be at risk of arrest if he entered their territory, and in other situations member states have relocated meetings that he was scheduled to attend. However, Saudi Arabia, like the U.S., is not a party to the ICC.

Saudi King Salman has expressed hope the summit in Riyadh "will establish a new partnership in confronting extremism and terrorism."

Sudan has been under U.S. financial sanctions since the 1990s after being accused of state-sponsored terrorism. The E.U. placed an arms embargo on Sudan in 1994.

Shortly before leaving office, President Barack Obama temporarily lifted some financial sanctions on Sudan after seeing a reduction in military offensives by the government. Under the Obama administration, the U.S. condemned a potential visit by al-Bashir to visit the UN General Assembly meeting held annually in New York.

Sudan is among the six predominantly Muslim countries singled out by Trump for a temporary visa ban.

Sudan has close military, business and political ties with Saudi Arabia. Sudan is also part of a Saudi-led coalition at war in Yemen.

___

Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
A court in Ethiopia has sentenced 23 people to up to 15 years in prison for establishing links to the al-Qaida and al-Shabab extremist groups.

The Ethiopian Federal High Court says they had been accused of planning to carry out terror attacks inside the East African country.

The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate quotes the court ruling as saying three of those sentenced had been planning to establish an Islamic state.

Court officials say the defendants were active between 2010 and 2014 in six cities including the capital, Addis Ababa.

The charge sheet says the defendants recruited individuals and sent them to neighboring Somalia for training. Al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaida, is based in Somalia.
In the basement of the old Mullah Shams market on Kabul's famous Chicken Street, below the beggars, the gemstone carvers, street artists and carpet stores, lies a tiny windowless store stuffed to the ceiling with troves of ancient weapons and slices of Afghan history.

Stepping into the store of 69-year-old Tawakal is like entering a time machine. For decades, Tawakal has collected and restored weapons dating back hundreds of years from provinces across the country, estimating that he has almost 200 tucked into his store, known simply as the Tawakal store, and a storage room in the back.

"We have guns, knives, swords. Everything is historical," the barefoot, toothless smiling firearms expert enthused to Fox News.

Almost every piece has its own intricate insignia, from delicately carved calligraphy in the metal to the famous Afghanistan salpah stone ground into the wood carving. The weapons are all too old to be functional, instead serving as classic decor that he often lends to exhibits across the country.

Tawakal says his favorite is a handmade "Chaq maki," or flintlock in English, that dates back hundreds of years. He offers the homemade muzzle-loading antique for $1,000, but is confident that if he was ever able to export the gun outside the country he could sell it for 10 times that amount.

"Before this gun, Afghans had to fight by the sword," he says, speaking Farsi, Afghanistan's official language. "This was the first. This is what was used to push back the British Army."

The weapon, known as a flintlock Jezail, still has the original barrel and ram rod, with newer additions of mother-of-pearl and lock.

Next, Tawakal shows off a British-made 1863 Tower rifle -- which he offers at $400 -- cradling it around the store as if it were a small child. The rifle was made for artillery gunners.

Then there is a 1860 Enfield priced at $100, an antique Belgian-made Martini Muscat and an antique Martini-Henry. The barrels of the official pattern Martini-Henry, first used by the British Army in 1871, are much longer. The one Tawakal has appears to have been cut back, likely to make it easier to handle.

"After the British came, their guns became very popular here," he explained, referring to the three wars Afghanistan and British forces fought in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Tawakal also displayed a Safavid gun -- one of the smallest in his collection -- and, in his words, "with a story that goes back a long, long time."

"This was used by the Safavid army when they had no other gun for fighting," Tawakal said of the military force that ranged across Persia in the 18th century.

Tawakal also proudly points to a "Sachma" gun, which he sells for $250, re-enacting how the soldiers who first used the weapon would have filled the muzzle with gunpowder, or barood in Urdu, and lit a match to shoot out the "sachmah," or lead ball, as the projectile.

Also among Tawakal's weapons cache, wrapped in a blue scarf and hidden in the storage area, is the Afghan-made "Sorbi Yak Taka," meaning one-shot rifle. It appears to be an Afghan knockoff of a British Martini-Henry rifle. These single-shot, breech-loading rifles were the mainstay of the British Empire throughout the world during the 1800s, when cartridge arms replaced muzzle loaders.

Tawakal says it was used by the Amanullah army some 100 years ago and comes with a matching sword. It's a package deal, he says, at $600.

The store also features a GR Tower flintlock that looks to be made of some original parts and some new parts from an Afghan government Martine Henry and an Afghan Le Mothield Bayonet.

Equally as vast as his gun collection is the assortment of swords that adorn the walls and cabinets. The eldest were hand-crafted and used three centuries ago by the Mughals, Safavid and Changez armies.

One is an Afghan tulwar or Pushtun short sword. It bears similarities to other ancient weapons like the Roman gladius. The handle has a weight in the rear to balance the weapon and make it handier for slicing. The store also boasts straps -- made from "cow and camel skin" -- complete with tiny pouches to carry stones and fuel to clean their weapons, little tools like hammers and tubes for measuring the gunpowder they needed to fire away.

And just for good measure, a few slightly stained, large-size Soviet winter hats, made in 1985, worn by their commanders during the bloody war that ravaged their land for thirteen years, are hanging high. The once soft wool has roughened through the passage of time and, according to the store owner, people only really buy them for exhibition purposes.

"No one really wears them," he explains.

Eight years ago Tawakal -- who previously sold antique weapons privately -- opened the little shop to appeal to foreigners at the height of Operation Enduring Freedom. But these days, sales have slowed to a crawl. He spends much of his day drinking tea and tweaking his many treasures.

"Nobody comes to Kabul anymore because of all the explosions," he laments. "I used to love it when people from all over the world came in here."

Tawakal notes that while some weapons are originals, others are only partly original, while some he is unable to guarantee their authenticity beyond his own summations.

Guns are a way of life for Afghans. Almost every night, gunshots ring out -- celebratory or otherwise -- and when people talk, the talk is almost of war and the weapons they once used or the ones they want or need.

"I know everything there is to know about guns," Tawakal added. "I have known guns all my life. This is my life, my work."
A man who viciously attacked two backpackers on a remote Australian beach last year was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Wednesday.

Roman Heinze, 61, was found guilty on six charges, including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life. He was also sentenced in a 2014 assault case involving another backpacker whom he had offered a ride, according to the BBC. He will be eligible for parole in 17 years.

Salt Creek predator Roman Heinze sentenced to 22 yr 4 m for assaults on women. @TenNewsADEL pic.twitter.com/32ucY86Dj2  Kate Somers (@kate_a_somers) May 17, 2017

In 2016, Heinze met the two women, both 24, on Gumtree, a classified advertising website, and agreed to drive them from Adelaide to Melbourne. They arrived at the beach in the CoorongNational Park and set up camp.

MEXICO DISARMS LOCAL POLICE IN PACIFIC TOURIST DESTINATION

Later that day, Heinze took one of the women, who was Brazilian, to another part of the beach and tied her wrists and ankles with a rope before sexually assaulting her. The other woman, who was German, woke up from her nap to her friend's screams and ran over to help.

Heinze then took a hammer and started bashing the German woman's head. She tried to flee, but Heinze got into his four-wheel drive and rammed her several times. She eventually jumped onto the roof of the car and hung onto the roof racks as Heinze tried to fling her off.

BREAKING: For the first time 7 News can identify Salt Creek Backpacker attacker as Roman Heinze. Only 7 has his EXCLUSIVE arrest pictures. pic.twitter.com/F2111QGiEc  7 News Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) May 11, 2017

The women manage to escape when a nearby fisherman heard screams, the BBC reported.

South Australia Supreme Court Justice Trish Kelly dubbed Heinze "utterly depraved" on Wednesday as she handed him his prison sentence. She said Heinze committed the attacks "solely in pursuit of the gratification of your own perverted sexual fantasies and desires."

"In committing these crimes you have undermined yet again the reputation of this country as a safe, friendly and attractive destination for young backpackers from all over the world," Kelly added.

PUERTO RICO MILITANT FREED FROM CUSTODY AFTER 36 YEARS

Heinze also breached a bond condition in relation to a 2014 assault.

There have been a string of high-profile attacks on foreign tourists in Australia in recent years. In March, a British backpacker who officials say had been sexually assaulted and held captive for weeks in the Outback was rescued after police pulled over the car she was driving.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Colombian officials say two explosions have rocked an industrial shipyard in the coastal city of Cartagena, killing four people and injuring 22.

Witnesses tell local media the Wednesday morning explosions were felt up to 5 kilometers (3 miles) away. Two large black plumes of smoke were seen rising above the shipyard.

Adm. Jorge Carreno says one of the blasts happened while workers were repairing a freighter. The explosion caused a fire that left several people with serious burns.

Officials say the circumstances surrounding the second explosion are not immediately clear.

The causes of the blasts are under investigation.
Pieces of debris found near the Bahamas were confirmed to be from the same type of plane as the Florida-bound aircraft that vanished earlier this week with four Americans, including two children, on board.

The United States Coast Guard said the MU-2B airplane parts were discovered about 15 miles east of Eleuthera. Search crews are still scavenging the area on Wednesday to find the aircraft and to look for survivors.

Crews have covered more than 8,200 square mile in the last day looking for the plane. Air traffic control in Miami lost radar and radio contact with it just after 2 p.m. on Monday. It was flying about 37 miles east of the island in the Bahamas. The plane departed from Borinquen, Puerto Rico about 11 a.m. and was headed to Titusville, Florida.

NEW JERSEY PLANE CRASH: INVESTIGATORS NEAR TETERBORO LOOK INTO CAUSE

Four people were on board, identified as Nathan Ulrich, 52, of Lee, New Hampshire, Jennifer Blumin, 40, of New York, and her two sons, ages 3 and 4.

Blumin was founder and CEO of Skylight Group, which provides event space around New York City, specializing in the fashion industry.

The company confirmed she and members of her family were on the plane in a statement: "Her family is working with investigators and we politely ask that you respect their privacy at this time."

Ulrich, who was listed as the pilot of the plane, is the co-founder of Xootr, a company that makes adult scooter, according to Fox 5 NY.

ARMY IDENTIFIES SOLDIER KILLED IN HAWAII TRAINING ACCIDENT

It's unclear who was flying the plane at the time, Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Kelly, a Coast Guard spokesman, said. Blumin owned the plane through a consulting company, according to New York State and aviation records.

The Coast Guard began the search on Monday. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force also assisted with the search.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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One of the most sprawling corruption scandals in modern history has deep roots in the Dominican Republic: The Brazilian company behind the operation placed its international "bribery bureau" in this Caribbean country and shoveled out nearly $100 million in bribes to local officials.

Yet five months after the scheme was exposed, nobody has been charged here and no corrupt officials have been named  infuriating both political reformers and opposition parties. By contrast, investigations in Brazil, Colombia, Panama and Peru have produced hundreds of charges, including cases against former presidents.

Government critics hope the silence will break Friday when Odebrecht is expected to reveal the recipients of its bribes in the Dominican Republic under a deal that protected the Brazilian construction company from prosecution and allowed it to keep doing business in the country.

Odebrecht's executives confessed to U.S. prosecutors that they paid around $788 million to officials in 10 Latin American countries and two more in Africa in order to get multimillion-dollar contracts with local governments.

They said they spent $92 million on bribes in the Dominican Republic alone as the company won 17 contracts to build highways, dams and a big coal-burning power plant. One of the key figures in the scheme worked as President Danilo Medina's adviser in two presidential campaigns.

When Brazil's own corruption investigations began to turn up the heat on Odebrecht in 2014, the company moved its office in charge of handling bribes  the innocuously named Bureau of Structural Operations  to Santo Domingo, apparently to distance it from Brazilian prosecutors.

Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez, a member of the ruling party's central committee, struck a deal with Odebrecht for a $184 million fine and an agreement to protect its executives from prosecution in exchange for information that might be used to prosecute local graft recipients. It's the first deal of its kind Odebrecht reached outside Brazil.

That has prompted anti-corruption activists to hold marches protesting government inaction and to file court cases demanding an independent investigation. Many say they are pessimistic that Friday's expected announcement will reveal the full extent of corruption in the Dominican Republic.

"For Odebrecht, the Dominican Republic wasn't just any country," said Manuel Robles, a member of the Green Movement, a group created to protest against corruption and is demanding an independent probe into the bribery scheme and audits of all Odebrecht's local contracts.

"The Dominican people have been vilely affected by a business mafia complicit with politicians and thieving bureaucrats," Robles said.

Odebrecht's contracts in the Dominican Republic since 2001 totaled $5 billion  7 percent of the annual GDP in a country where most people earn $200 a month or less.

"You can follow the money through here. There must be records, information," said Rosalia Sosa, director of the activist group Citizen Participation, which has called for a more thorough investigation.

Fifteen of the contracts were signed during the 13-year tenure of Medina's Dominican Liberation Party, now led by former President Leonel Fernandez. The party's popularity is based largely on Latin America's highest rate of economic growth and extensive social programs.

Fernandez has refused to discuss the bribes. Medina in February defended the deal that allowed Odebrecht executives to avoid prosecution.

The Medina administration's signature infrastructure project is a $2 billion, 720-megawatt coal-burning plant about 38 miles (60 kilometers) west of Santo Domingo that was contracted to Odebrecht in 2013 even though the company's bid was the highest of all those submitted and more than $500 million above the limit set by the country's Congress.

In January, Medina created a special commission to investigate the bidding process.

"I'm absolutely certain that the bidding committee and the technical teams carried out a transparent process and awarded the contract to the party that won it, the one that made the best offer," said Ruben Bichara, head of the Dominican Republic's state energy regulator.

The plant is expected to go into operation this year.

A major focus of critics here is Joao Santana, who worked on Medina's 2012 campaign and was arrested in Brazil last year while advising on Medina's re-election effort. He also had been a campaign strategist for several presidents in other countries: Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva and Dilma Roussef in Brazil, Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, and Mauricio Funes in El Salvador.

Medina's government has said investigations will clear Medina and his aides of any wrongdoing and show they received no money from Odebrecht.

"We financed our own campaign and we paid Joao Santana ourselves," Medina said in March.

Peru's attorney general is investigating three former presidents, has jailed five government officials and has requested the jailing of former President Alejandro Toledo for allegedly receiving $20 million in Odebrecht bribes to help the company win a highway project. Toledo is a fugitive last seen in the U.S. Prosecutors say 100 former officials could be jailed in the case.

Venezuelan authorities have frozen Odebrecht's assets in the country, searched its offices in Caracas and asked Brazilian and Swiss officials for information. They have brought no charges, however, and witnesses in court testimony have implicated Maduro. The president has not commented publicly on the allegations. The government has no commented either. Odebrecht executives confessed they paid $98 million in bribes in Venezuela.

Ecuador has detained a business magnate and a former electricity minister and is reviewing 30 contracts awarded to Odebrecht since 1980. Odebrecht says it paid $33.5 million in bribes in Ecuador. It's been banned from the country due to the scandal.

___

Associated Press writers Michael Weissenstein in Havana; Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Venezuela; Franklin Briceno in Lima, Peru; and Gonzalo Solano in Quito, Ecuador, contributed to this report.

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Ezequiel Abiu Lopez on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ezequiel_Abiu
Canada's government plans to apologize to Canadians who have faced injustice because of their sexuality.

A special adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on LGBT issues said Wednesday that the government will acknowledge the role that legislation and policies played in the past discrimination.

Liberal Party lawmaker Randy Boissonnault said the government is "committed to apologize in an inclusive and meaningful manner before the end of 2017."

He made the announcement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. A spokesman for the prime minister said Boissonnault will study potential follow-up steps, including the possibility of pardons and compensation.

Germany in March approved a bill that would annul the convictions of thousands of gay men under a law criminalizing homosexuality that was applied zealously in West Germany after World War II. In Britain, thousands of men convicted under now-abolished anti-homosexuality laws were pardoned posthumously in January.
Five years ago this Friday, Chen Guangcheng and his family landed at Newark Liberty International Airport to start their new life in the United States.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Chen had made a hasty departure from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, the culmination of a nearly month-long diplomatic tussle that ended years of mistreatment and imprisonment that the blind human rights activist had endured at the hands of the Chinese government.

While nobody would have faulted Chen for taking a much-needed break after years of fighting against forced abortions under Chinas one-child policy, corrupt officials and the mistreatment of the disabled, he is not one to rest on his laurels.

Chen studied law at New York University, started teaching at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., was named a senior fellow at the conservative Witherspoon Institute, published a memoir of his life in China and, to this day, continues to be one of the most vocal critics on Beijings attacks against human rights activists.

The Communist Party of China has never ceased cracking down on the people of China, Chen told Fox News. But now the Chinese people are fighting back. Theres an awakening going on with the population and the CPC is getting more afraid.

Chen, who lost his eyesight to a mysterious fever shortly after his birth in 1971, began his life as a political activist early  getting elected as a student representative at his first school and petitioning for basic rights like running water and freedom of movement. But it wasnt until he returned to his village in the eastern province of Shandong after finishing college that Chen truly began his work as the so-called barefoot lawyer and to gain the attention of local Communist party apparatchiks.

With no formal legal training -- he went to a school for traditional Chinese medicine and massage -- Chen began advocating for the rights of the disabled and against the late-term abortions and forced sterilization of women found in violation of Chinas one-child policy. After filing an unheard of class-action lawsuit on behalf of women from the city Linyi who were forced to have abortions by the city's family planning staff, local officials put Chen under house arrest and beat him when he tried to escape.

This began a period of seven years that saw Chen either imprisoned or under house arrest on a host of charges from damaging property to organizing a mob. Instead of silencing Chen, his detainment had the opposite effect and he quickly became a cause celebre among politicians, Hollywood celebrities and human-rights groups.

Amnesty International declared Chen to be a prisoner of conscience, actor Christian Bale attempted to visit him and his plight gained the attention of lawmakers on both sides of Washingtons political divide.

His story is something that transcends party lines Rep. Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey who tried to visit Chen when he was under house arrest, told Fox News. Everyone should care when such a hero is fighting for such basic human rights.

Chen and his family eventually escaped from house arrest under the cover of nightfall in April 2012 and sought refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. After a month of tense negotiations with the U.S. State Department, the Chinese government eventually granted Chen permission to study abroad when New York University offered him a visiting scholar position.

The activist arrived in New York City hobbling on crutches after suffering a broken foot in his escape and surrounded by a throng of well-wishers and reporters.

I dont really feel that happy, but rather sentimental, Chen said, according to the New York Times. After all the suffering for years, I dont have those tearful moments anymore, but I do feel something inside.

The U.S. may have helped Chen escape China, but his host nation was not immune to his criticism.

In his memoir, The Barefoot Lawyer, Chen alleges that the Obama administration decided that his case must not hurt relations between the U.S. and China. He also says that the State Department brushed off his demands that the Chinese investigate and punish those responsible for his poor treatment and instead urged him to accept any deal with Beijing. Chen also said that NYU forced him to leave his post at the school after pressure from the Chinese government.

Those statements drew prompt rebukes from both the U.S. government and NYU and have been blamed  along with his friendliness with numerous conservative thinkers and his pro-life stance  for his causes not maintaining the level of attention lavished on other human rights crusaders.

No one in New York has anything good to say about him, Jerome Cohen, a law professor at NYU and a longtime mentor of Chens, told Fox News. But he is not a simple person by any means.

Much like his activism in China, however, Chen has refused to stay silent, continuing to be an outspoken advocate for human rights in his homeland: decrying the continued use of late-term abortions and forced sterilization; the ramped-up crackdown on human rights lawyers under Chinese President Xi Jinping; and the persecution of his own family members still living in the country.

While Chen admits that it is too early to make a judgment on how the administration of President Donald Trump will handle its relations with China, he hopes that it will push the government in Beijing to improve its human-rights record.

That is a basic American value and in the U.S. we need to reinvigorate the sense of that value, Chen said. For many years the U.S. has operated on a policy of appeasement in regards to China, but when it comes to authoritarian dictatorships, the U.S. needs to stand up and say no.
Afghanistan villagers caught in Taliban territory in the northern province of Kunduz, by the border of Tajikistan, recently began reporting unmarked helicopters at night landing and leaving quickly from known Taliban hideouts, or at least areas outside of government control.

Others spoke of smugglers bringing in shipments of small boats across the quiet river, called Panj on the Tajikistan side and Amu on the Afghanistan, between the two countries.

It didn't take long before suspicions arose of an international outfit at play. The locals feared going close to the tightly controlled Taliban enclaves to investigate. Around the same time, reports from the U.S. started growing that Russia was once again meddling in Afghanistan -- this time by arming the Taliban.

"I believe what Russia is attempting to do is they are attempting to be an influential party in this part of the world," Gen. Joseph Votel, chief of U.S. Central Command, told American lawmakers in March. "I think it is fair to assume they may be providing some sort of support to [the Taliban] in terms of weapons or other things that may be there."

The recent onslaught of the Taliban into the north of Afghanistan -- once a relatively stable place compared to the insurgency-saturated southern and eastern areas -- can be partly attributed, say many experts and officials, to Russian involvement.

"The success of the Taliban in the north is due to Russian support. In Kunduz province, 30 miles from the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, Taliban has control," Kabul-based analyst Silab Mangal told Fox News. "That's where they get Russian finance and logistics and their wounded fighters can get treatment."

According to Mangal, who cites personal engagement with Taliban in those areas, the Russians have given them weapons over time, including the Dragnov sniper rifle and the PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle.

Getting in such weapons or advisers smoothly, by air or land, is a hypothetically straight-forward task. Tajikistan shares a zig-zag 750-mile border with northern Afghanistan, and Russias largest foreign military installation, Russias 201st Rifle Division, is located just across the border.

"Russia has a lot of influences with all the tribes here on the border. They know all the local commanders," one Afghan official, who previously operated in the Panj region and had direct ties to Moscow, said. "In just a few minutes, helicopters can go and come back without too much notice. And boats attract little attention."

Another well-placed intelligence source, who also requested anonymity due to safety concerns in the Taliban-infested region, told Fox News that the mysterious weapons transfers -- coming from abroad -- are in due course empowering the Taliban to maintain a strong foothold in the north of Afghanistan.

According to the source, Russia tightened engagement with the Taliban during the second term of former President Hamid Karzai, around 2009, as his ties with the U.S. deteriorated. But mysterious deliveries allegedly started just prior to the first fall of Kunduz city in 2015. Although seemingly random, they have become more frequent in the past eight months.

Moscow has openly stated that it has an intelligence-sharing relationship with the Taliban regarding the ISIS threat. But they have staunchly denied that the Russian military is aiding or arming the Taliban. Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid also denied any Russian monetary or material assistance.

The success of the Taliban in the north [of Afghanistan] is due to Russian support.  Kabul-based analyst Silab Mangal

Sanjar Sohail, a prominent investigative journalist and publisher of a Farsi-language newspaper, has confirmed that Taliban insurgents in that area have new Russian Kalashnikovs, while previously they only had old Soviet-style guns from the invasion time.

"We know the weapons market in Afghanistan," Sohail said. "This is a new supply."

On Wednesday, the police chief of the northern province of Baghlan, Brig. Gen. Ikramuddin Sarai, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Russian and other foreign military advisers had arrived to support the Taliban amid heavy clashes. Similar reports surfaced last month in the southern province of Uruzgan, in which police chief Ghulam Farooq Sangari told Voice of America's Afghan service that advisers -- including two women dressed in doctor's uniforms and guarded by four armed Taliban along with an Afghan translator -- were in various locations. The accusation was denied by Russian officials.

However, another senior Afghan government security official told Fox News that they have solid, although classified, documents indicating Russia is supporting the Taliban through its ally Iran, under the rationale that they are trying to bring the terrorist group to the negotiating table to form a peace treaty similar to the one recently signed by militant group Hezb-e-Islami.

"Iran -- a Shia country -- has its advisers in the north," an intelligence source told Fox News. "The small pockets of Shia in Afghanistan used to get attacked by the Taliban; now they are not harming them or forcing them to pay taxes."

Furthermore, U.S. intelligence also has determined that Russian weapons were used by the Taliban to attack U.S.-supported Afghan soldiers in southern Helmand, Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces. In a briefing to Congress in December, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson, also accused Iran of backing the Taliban.
French President Emmanuel Macron named a mix of prominent and unknown figures from the left and the right Wednesday to make up the government tasked with pushing through his plans to reduce labor protections, tighten European unity and boost military spending.

The most senior Cabinet job  the post of interior minister  went to Gerard Collomb, 69, the long-time Socialist mayor of Lyon who played a key role in Macron's presidential bid. Collomb said his duty will be to protect the French people, to fight terrorism and to prevent youth from falling "in the grip" of the Islamic State group.

A few hours after taking office, Collomb made an unexpected visit to Paris' grand Champs-Elysees avenue, where a police officer was shot to death by an Islamic extremist last month.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, 69, who led France's military operations abroad as former President Francois Hollande's defense minister, will stay on in Macron's government as foreign minister and also be in charge of European affairs. Le Drian, another Socialist, brings deep experience that could prove valuable to the untested 39-year-old president.

Le Drian vowed to promote the country's "key role" in the international community, noting continuity between his previous position and his new diplomatic job.

The armed forces will now be led by Sylvie Goulard, the most senior woman in the government. Goulard, 52, is a European Parliament member and strongly pro-European centrist politician who will be expected to champion Macron's push for joint European military operations.

In an important gesture to the right-wing Republicans party ahead of parliamentary elections next month, the crucial Economy Ministry will be run by prominent conservative Bruno Le Maire, 48.

The Cabinet includes 18 ministers and 4 junior ministers, half of them women and half men. Center-right Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, whom Macron tapped named Monday, is to lead the government at least until the elections.

Members of civil society without government work on their resumes were appointed to some ministerial posts. Nicolas Hulot, the well-known host of a television show focusing on nature and the environment, was named minister for environment transition. His portfolio includes energy and transportation.

Muriel Penicaud, the new labor minister, previously worked for food corporation Danone and French telecommunications group Orange. Since January 2015, she led Business France, a public agency in charge of promoting French companies abroad and attracting foreign investments.

Penicaud will have the daunting task of supervising the reform of labor protections, a part of Macron's agenda that already has prompted outcries from unions.

Culture minister Francoise Nyssen is CEO of French publishing house Actes Sud. Macron is known as a passionate literature lover.

The youngest person selected to work in Macron's government was Mounir Mahjoubi, 33, who was named junior minister for digital economy. As Macron's campaign digital chief, Mahjoubi was responsible for cybersecurity.

The announcement initially planned for Tuesday was pushed back a day while authorities dug more deeply into candidates' tax records and financial assets for signs of potential conflicts of interest.

Macron has pledged to fight corruption after tax evasion and other scandals hit the previous government.

The new government may only serve for a few weeks. If Macron's party doesn't win a majority in the June 11 and 18 parliamentary elections, he might have to form a coalition and adjust the makeup of the government. He also could end up with a government led by an opposition party.

Macron hosted European Council President Donald Tusk at the Elysee Palace for a private dinner on Wednesday night, a sign of his determination to shore up European unity. Before their meeting, Macron said he wants a Europe that is both more conducive to investment and more protective of workers.

Macron wants European militaries to join efforts and for eurozone countries to share a budget and tax rules. He has also promised a tough line on Britain as it negotiates its departure from the EU, to deter others from trying to leave

Speaking with Tusk by his side, Macron said he's advocating "a less bureaucratic and a more political Europe" and relying on Tusk to "go even further in this work of re-shaping and setting in motion again a European ambition."

Tusk approved the goals proposed by Macron and said "words such as security, protection, dignity and pride must return to our political dictionary."

___

Philippe Sotto contributed to this report.
This weeks presidential election in Iran has activists from outlawed opposition groups risking their lives, they say, in what they have branded as an unfair and undemocratic election.

Activists claim that no matter who wins the presidential contest, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will continue to control his country.

Calling this an election is a joke. This is a farce, and not an election," Hamid D, a mechanical engineer in Tehran, told Fox News. Hamid, who did not want to use his last name for fear of retaliation, said he has been busy the past few weeks putting up anti-regime posters all across Tehran.

VOICES OF IRANIANS AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Hamids group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has released videos of its members putting up protest posters with the image of the Councils leader, Maryam Rajavi, over bridges, highway overpasses and on walls.



Americans and Europeans should not compare this to their own elections. There is no democracy in Iran. It is a theocracy," he said.

Hamid D, who told Fox News he is organizing a campaign to support Rajavi, has put up several of her posters as a gesture of defiance toward the regime. The Iranian government has outlawed the NCRI, calling it a terrorist group, but its leaders are not deterred by what they say is the regimes propaganda.

"Just now, there are a lot of slogans in Tehran that say: No to imposter, no to mass murderer, our vote: Regime overthrow, he said. The posters refer to the two leading candidates, sitting President Hassan Rouhani, who is seeking a second term, and Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline cleric, Rouhanis biggest rival.

When Fox News asked Hamid D about the risks he and his colleagues are taking, he said they are worth the effort so they can achieve their goal of trying to bring freedom to his nation, and ensure a fair election.

IRANIAN ELECTIONS: TINDER-LIKE APP COULD SWAY PRESIDENTIAL VOTE

"We can be arrested, tortured and executed. This is no secret to us. But we know what we are doing. The Iranian people have already paid a heavy price for demanding freedom," he said.

The NCRI says that many of its followers have been arrested, tortured and executed by the regime.

"When I talk to my friends, we say to each other that those who made the ultimate sacrifice expect us to pick up and carry their torch until victory, he said, and this is exactly what we are doing."

In a statement to Fox News, Rajavi called the Iranian elections illegitimate and unfair.

This sham is an attempt to put a 21st century veneer on a medieval regime, all of whose factions pursue the same policies vis-a-vis suppression at home, export of terror abroad, the nuclear weapons program, and pilfering of the Iranian nation's wealth, she said.

Rajavi applauded the actions of her activists, saying that "because of the Iranian people's burning desire for freedom and their readiness to fight on, the overthrow of the religious dictatorship is possible and within reach."

But its not just the NCRI protesting this election. Others affiliated with secularist groups are risking their lives as well.

As the mainstream media in the West covers (this) sham election between the so-called moderate Rouhani and the extremist Raisi, the human rights situation is getting worse every day, Amir Hossein Etemadi, an Iranian opposition activist, told Fox News.

Etemadi was jailed by the regime and served time in solitary confinement at the notorious Evin prison for protesting against the government. He was later sentenced to two years in prison for the same charge as part of the green movement that protested the 2009 election.

IRAN'S TOP LEADER URGES HIGH TURNOUT IN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE

Now living in the U.S., he is the spokesman of Iranian Liberal Students and Graduates (ILSG), and is actively watching this election.

Even those who participate in this sham election dont have any hope that (the) human rights situation (will) get better after that, he said. However, the fight for freedom will be continued after May 19th, regardless who will serve Khamenei and the IRGC as the 12th President of the Islamic Regime of Iran.

Many of Etemadis group have also taken to the street using graffiti and defacing government election posters as a form of protest.

This is not an election; this is a show in the theatre, not a single woman is among them (the candidates), not a single person from a religious minorityall of them are loyalists from the Islamic Republic, a liberal activist named Farhad who asked that his real name not be used for fear of retaliation from the regime, told Fox News.

Farhad said he wants to see the same kind of democracy practiced in America carried out in Iran  the freedom to elect whomever the people choose.

People I am living next to all say they are against this election, but they have no other choice, they feel they are being forced to chose between bad and worse, he said, they are afraid of being crushed.

While both Farhad and Hamid dont know each other or share the same political ideology, they do agree that President Donald Trump has an opportunity to play a pivotal role in taking on the regime.

My expectation from Trump is that he be able to create that atmosphere that puts pressure on the Islamic Republic, Farhad said. Because history shows that anytime this Islamic government has been pressured theyve changed directions and surrendered.

Hamad D, a supporter of Rajavis NCRI, told Fox News from Tehran that he has a simple message for President Trump.

Whoever becomes the next president of the regime, don't expect any change in terrorism and killings, he said. The Ayatollahs are together in this. The United States should stand with the Iranian people as they stand for liberty.

Eric Shawn and Hava Pasha contributed to this

article.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny announced Wednesday he is resigning as leader of the Fine Gael party, paving the way for his replacement as the country's head of government.

After meeting party lawmakers, Kenny said he will step down at midnight, remaining interim party leader until a successor is elected by June 2.

Kenny, Ireland's leader since 2011, said he would then stay as head of government for a "brief but appropriate period" while his designated successor holds talks with parties and independents propping up the minority government.

Kenny, 66, has led the center-right Fine Gael for 15 years, but has faced months of pressure from party colleagues to resign after being accused of a bumbling response to a police scandal.

Kenny had agreed to hand over power but repeatedly delayed, asking colleagues for time to visit the United States for St. Patrick's Day celebrations and to meet President Donald Trump in March, then attending a key European Union summit in April to talk about Britain's exit.

Kenny is due to visit the U.S. and Belgium early next month in his final trips as Ireland's Taoiseach, or prime minister.

He said it had been a "huge honor and privilege ... to lead our party for the past 15 years, in opposition and into government on two successive occasions."

Kenny led Ireland through a difficult recovery from the 2008 global financial crisis, which hit the debt-fueled "Celtic Tiger" economy particularly hard.

Voters weary after several years of austerity turned to independents and protest parties in last year's election, leaving Kenny atop a fragile coalition.

His replacement will lead Ireland during complex divorce negotiations between Britain and the EU. Brexit has major implications for Ireland, the only EU country to share a land border with the United Kingdom.
Israel has often had hostile relations with its Muslim neighbors. But right now its greatest enemy may be Iran, which has one of the most powerful militaries in the region and has for years been openly hostile toward the very existence of Israel.

The situation may only be getting worse, with Iran seemingly on the rise since the Obama administration hatched a deal with the country that lifted international sanctions and gave the Islamic Republic approximately $100 billion in frozen assets.

Israels relations with Iran have changed since the Jewish states founding in 1948. Up until 1979, the two countries had relatively close ties. With Israel sometimes at war with its Arab neighbors, the non-Arab Iran was an important ally.

Gulf states warm to Israel, see possibility of Palestinian peace deal

But in 1979, the Islamic Revolution, with its leader Ayatollah Khomeini, took over in Iran, and Israel became the enemy. Iran closed the Israeli embassy and cut off diplomatic relations. It referred to Israel as The Little Satan. (The Great Satan was reserved for the United States.)

Still, even with officially hostile relations, Israel supported Iran in its war against Iraq from 1980 to 1988, selling it arms and even destroying Iraqs Osirak nuclear reactor in a surprise air strike in 1981.

Then, in 1989, the Grand Ayatollah Khamenei assumed power and relations took a turn for the worse. Khamenei referred to Israel as a cancerous tumor in the heart of the Islamic world.

While Israel and Iran have not had open military clashes, they have battled each other through proxy fights. In the past few decades, Iran has sent weapons and hundreds of millions of dollars to anti-Israel terrorist groups, in particular Hezbollah and Hamas. The Israeli military has spent much time preventing or responding to attacks from these groups.

There have also long been rumors that Israel might strike one of Irans nuclear facilities, but so far this hasnt happened.

Netanyahu: US, Israel have 'grand mission' to confront Iran threat

Nevertheless, Israel has fought against Iran in more surreptitious ways, particularly regarding attempts to stop or slow down the nations development of nuclear weapons.

For instance, in 2008 to 2010, the malicious Stuxnet computer worm, developed by Israel and the United States, severely disrupted Irans nuclear program.

Also, starting in 2010, a number of Irans nuclear scientists were assassinated, and its generally believed Israel and its intelligence agency Mossad were behind the killings.

Today, some fear if Iran becomes more powerfuland especially if it attains nuclear weaponsclashes may escalate.

At present, in addition to bad blood between Iran and Israel, the Islamic world itself is split, with centuries-old Islamic denominational strife coming to the fore. Iran is the heart of the minority Shia denomination, while most of the Middle East is Sunni, with its center arguably being in Saudi Arabia, home of Mecca, Islams holiest city.

Iran and Saudi Arabias relations have become increasingly strained, and many Arab nations fear the rise in influence of Iran. This may cause them to look toward Israel, with its powerful military, as a helpful entity that contains Irans power and perhaps even stabilizes the region.
An Israeli minister under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that, based on recent reports of new atrocities, it is time to "eliminate (President) Assad."

The reality of the situation today in Syria, in which they are executing people, using chemical attacks against them, and the latest extreme measure -- burning their corpses, something which we havent seen in 70 years in this world -- were crossing a red line, Housing and Construction Minister Yoav Gallant said Tuesday at a military conference, Bloomberg reported. In my opinion, its time to eliminate Assad.

Netanyahus office did not respond to Bloomberg for comment. Gallant reportedly made the remark a day after reports emerged about Assads regime possibly using a crematorium at a prison near Damascus as a venue for mass killings.

Stuart Jones, the acting assistant secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, showed surveillance photos that -- combined with intelligence assessments and other reports -- officials believe show Bashar Assads government is complicit in covering up evidence of mass killings at the Sednaya Prison. Located near Damascus, the prison previously has been called a "human slaughterhouse" by Amnesty International.

Syria denied the report.

Although the regime's many atrocities are well-documented, we believe that the building of a crematorium is an effort to cover up the extent of mass murders taking place in Sednaya prison, Jones said Monday.

Jones also charged that the atrocities were carried out with unconditional support from Russia and Iran.

Amnesty International has previously called Sednaya a human slaughterhouse, estimating 13,000 people were killed there from 2011-2015. It is believed Assad's regime kidnapped more than 100,000 people during that time.

In presenting the photographs, Jones said Syrian President Assad's government "has sunk to a new level of depravity" with the support of Russia and Iran and called on both countries to use its influence with Syria to establish a credible ceasefire and begin political talks.
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An Islamic Sharia court in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province has sentenced two gay men to public caning for the first time, further undermining the country's moderate image after a top Christian politician was imprisoned for blasphemy.

The court, whose sentencing Wednesday coincided with International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, said the men, aged 20 and 23, would each receive 85 lashes for having sexual relations. One of the men wept as his sentence was read out and pleaded for leniency.

The chief prosecutor, Gulmaini, who goes by one name, said they will be caned next week, before the holy Muslim month of Ramadan starts about May 25.

The couple was arrested in late March after neighborhood vigilantes in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, suspected them of being gay and broke into their rented room to catch them having sex. Cellphone video that circulated online and formed part of the evidence shows one of the men naked and visibly distressed as he apparently calls for help on his cellphone. The second man is repeatedly pushed by another man who is preventing the couple from leaving the room.

The lead judge, Khairil Jamal, said the men were "legally and convincingly proven to have committed gay sex."

He said the three-judge panel decided against imposing the maximum sentence of 100 lashes because the men were polite in court, cooperated with authorities and had no previous convictions.

"As Muslims, the defendants should uphold the Sharia law that prevails in Aceh," Jamal said.

International human rights groups described the treatment of the men as abusive and humiliating and called for their immediate release.

"Every human being has a right to privacy, a right to enter consensual relations, and a right to physical protection," Amnesty International's deputy director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Josef Benedict, said in a statement.

Human Rights Watch said in April that public caning would constitute torture under international law.

"The prosecution is very harsh. The verdict is harsher," said Andreas Harsono, Indonesia researcher for Human Rights Watch. "It shows the increasingly conservative judiciary in Indonesia."

The U.S. State Department said that all people are equal in dignity and rights, regardless of sexual orientation.

"We encourage Indonesia and all nations to provide equal protection to all their citizens and to conform to international human rights standards. We maintain that caning, as described in our human rights report, is an extreme form of punishment," said Anna Richey-Allen, a department spokeswoman for East Asia.

Prosecutors said the men had waived their right to defense lawyers. It was not clear why, but guilty verdicts are certain in most cases that reach the Shariah court.

Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia allowed to practice Sharia law, which was a concession made by the national government in 2006 to end a war with separatists, but other some other areas have introduced Shariah-style bylaws.

Aceh implemented an expansion of Islamic bylaws and criminal code two years ago that extended Sharia law to the province's non-Muslims and allows up to 100 lashes for morality offenses including gay sex and sex between unmarried people.

Human Rights Watch says the Aceh laws violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Indonesia ratified in 2005.

Caning is also a punishment in Aceh for gambling, drinking alcohol, women who wear tight clothes and men who skip Friday prayers. More than 300 people were caned for such offenses last year.

Homosexuality is not illegal elsewhere in Indonesia but a case before the country's top court is seeking to criminalize gay sex and sex outside marriage.

Indonesia's reputation for practicing a moderate form of Islam has been battered in the past year due to attacks on religious minorities, a surge in persecution of gays and a polarizing election campaign for governor of the capital, Jakarta, that highlighted the growing strength of hard-line Islamic groups.

Earlier this month, the outgoing Jakarta governor, a minority Christian, was sentenced to two years in prison for campaign comments deemed as blaspheming the Quran.
The Syrian opposition will seek an extension of the current round of U.N.-hosted peace talks underway in Geneva, saying Wednesday it needed more negotiating time.

Salem Meslet, an opposition spokesman, said it was "not right" that this round is expected to last just four days. The opposition needed time to prepare its response to a "paper" presented by U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura on Tuesday, when the sixth round of the talks started.

Meslet, who spoke at a demonstration outside of the U.N. Geneva compound led by female relatives of prisoners held in Syria, said the proposal involved "the constitutional frame" for an eventual transition period in Syria.

Later Wednesday, President Bashar Assad's top envoy met separately with de Mistura inside the compound.

Meslet said it was a "big question mark" when de Mistura proposed the unusually short four-day round, adding: "We request a longer time."

He said negotiations to end the six-year conflict needed to take place "without any rest, without any break." Alluding to backers of Assad  Russia and Iran  he said the country's future should be decided "in Syria  not in Moscow or Tehran."

In a bid to "avoid any constitutional or legal vacuums at any stage during the political transition process being negotiated," the U.N. envoy has suggested forming a team of technocrats to lay the foundations for the future drafting of a new constitution.

The proposal, according to a document first released by the Al Jazeera news channel, foresees the creation of a "consultative" team which will be headed by experts from de Mistura's office and include qualified representatives from both the Syrian government and opposition.

Representatives of the Syrian opposition on Wednesday confirmed the authenticity of the document to The Associated Press.

Tuesday's start of talks in Geneva were overshadowed by U.S. accusations that the government in Damascus carried out mass killings at a prison near the Syrian capital and then burned the victims' bodies in a crematorium. Assad's government rejected the claims, describing the allegations as "lies" and "fabrications."

The allegations come at a time when the Trump administration is weighing its options in Syria, where an estimated 400,000 have been killed and half the population displaced by the 6-year-old civil war.

Last month, the U.S. fired cruise missiles on a government air base after accusing Assad's military of killing scores of civilians with a sarin-like nerve agent.
A Turkish court has accepted an indictment against 57 suspects allegedly involved in the deadly New Year's nightclub attack in Istanbul, Turkey's official news agency reported Wednesday. The first hearing is to take place in December.

Anadolu news agency said the main suspect, Abdulkadir Masharipov, an Uzbek citizen who was caught two weeks after the attack, could face 40 consecutive life sentences if convicted on charges of attempting to overthrow Turkey's constitutional order and killing 39 people.

Turkish media have reported that Masharipov confessed to the shooting and told his interrogators that he had received orders from Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State group in Syria.

Masharipov also faces charges of membership in a terror group, attempted murder of 79 people injured in the attack and violating Turkey's firearms law. These charges can carry a maximum total of 2,397 years in prison.

The 90-page indictment charges four other suspects allegedly involved in the planning of the attack, including Masharipov's wife, with the same crimes except the firearms violation.

It is not unusual for Turkish prosecutors to demand multiple life sentences in cases of lethal violence.

The other 52 suspects will be tried on charges of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, carrying a sentence of life in prison, and membership in a terror group, with a sentence of 7.5 to 15 years.

Anadolu said the first hearing will take place on Dec. 11 in the courthouse of high-security Silivri prison and continue until Dec. 15.

Fifty-one of the 57 suspects are behind bars pending trial.

IS claimed responsibility for the shooting in the upscale Reina nightclub, where hundreds of people had gathered to celebrate the New Year. Twenty-five of the victims were foreigners, many from Arab countries in the Middle East.

Turkey has been hit by a series of attacks blamed on IS and Kurdish militants since the summer of 2015, killing more than 550 people.

The indictment referred to 22 attacks by IS, according to Anadolu. The nightclub shooting, however, is the only mass attack the extremist group has claimed.
A host of celebrations in honor of recently freed Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera has outraged the families of those who lost relatives in a string of bombings during 1970s and 80s linked to his group, even as many Puerto Ricans hail him as a patriot and political prisoner.

Lopez, whose 55-year prison sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama, was free from house arrest in San Juan earlier this week and is expected to be on hand Thursday for a celebration in his honor in the Chicago neighborhood of Humboldt Park. Numerous politicians and supporters are expected to be on hand for the march, including Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Illinois, and Billy Ocasio from the National Puerto Rican Museum of Art.

Oscar is a patriot and a hero to Puerto Ricans all over the world and his return to Chicago is an event I have spent my entire career working towards, Gutierrez said in a statement provided to Fox News. I cannot begin to say how proud I am and how overjoyed my wife and my daughters are to welcome Oscar to Chicago and that we will be able to walk the streets of Chicago with Oscar as a free man.

Lopez was considered a top leader of the Armed Forces of National Liberation, or FALN, an ultranationalist Puerto Rican group that claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at government buildings, department stores, banks and restaurants in New York, Chicago, Washington and Puerto Rico during the 1970s and early 1980s. The FBI classified the Marxist-Leninist group as a terrorist organization.

The most famous bombing was the still-unsolved 1975 explosion that killed four people and wounded 60 at Fraunces Tavern, a landmark restaurant in New York's financial district.

Lopez, a Vietnam War veteran who moved from Puerto Rico to Chicago as a child, wasn't convicted of any role in the bombings that killed six people and injured scores, but those who lost loved ones hold him responsible.

Oscar Lopez Rivera is a convicted terrorist. Bottom line, Joseph Connor, whose father, Frank, was one of the people killed in the Fraunces Tavern bombing, told Fox News. Maybe he didnt actually plant the bomb, but he was the leader of the FALN in the same way that Usama bin Laden was with Al Qaeda.

Along with the celebration in Chicago, supporters also plan to honor Lopez at the National Puerto Rican Day Parade along New York's Fifth Avenue in June. There were numerous reports that Goya Foods  a sponsor of the parade since it began 59 years ago  had retracted its sponsorship over the decision to honor Lopez, but a spokesperson the company told Fox News that the move was a business decision.

It was a business decision not to participate in the parade, Rafael Toro, the director of public relations at Goya, told Fox News. There was a false letter sent out by someone that we do not know, but it was not released by Goya.

Oscar Lopez Rivera is a convicted terrorist. Bottom line.  Joseph Connor, son of victim of Fraunces Tavern bombing

Lopez, now 74, was sentenced to 55 years in prison in 1981 after he was found guilty of seditious conspiracy, armed robbery, a weapons violation and four counts of interstate transportation of stolen vehicles. A federal judge termed him an "unreconstructed revolutionary" and Lopez said Puerto Ricans should fight for their island's independence "by any means necessary."

He later faced an additional 15 years in jail after he was convicted of conspiring to escape from prison in Leavenworth, Kansas.

In 1999, President Bill Clinton offered Lopez clemency but the inmate rejected the offer because it excluded two associates who have since been released. Then in 2011, the U.S. Parole Commission denied his request for an early release.

Obama commuted his sentence in his final days in office, along with giving clemency for others, including Chelsea Manning, the transgender Army intelligence analyst who leaked more than 700,000 U.S. documents.

While maligned by the families of bombing victims, Lopez during his time behind bars became a cause celebre among many progressive politicians and celebrities, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sander and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Creamistry Continues Unprecedented Growth

Liquid nitrogen ice cream franchise opens 41 stores in less than four years; Has more than 100 additional locations under contract in the U.S.

IRVINE, Cali.  In four short years, Creamistry has become more than just one of the fastest-growing ice cream franchises in the country; the California-based chain that specializes in made-to-order liquid nitrogen ice cream has anchored itself as one of the fastest-growing franchises. Period. And there are no signs of the companys growth slowing down any time soon.

Founded in 2013 and franchising since 2014, Creamistry has opened 41 shops in three states and three countries, nearly three quarters (30) of which have opened since the beginning of 2016 alone. The company also has more than 100 additional shops under contract in various part of the United States, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New

There are also international agreements in place in Kuwait, India and Saudi Arabia, as well as a 500-unit Master Franchisee deal in China.

In 2016, we experienced a record-setting year thanks to our ongoing innovation and unwavering commitment from our franchisees and employees. We started this year with the same energy and have already achieved tremendous success as we near the half-way mark, said Creamistry founder Jay Yim. With a strong franchise development pipeline, amazing customer service and a spectacular liquid nitrogen smoke show that brings something entirely different to the burgeoning ice cream segment, we see even more accelerated growth in the years to come.

According to Yim, company plans call for having 70 total locations open and operating by the end of the year, including the brands first shops in New York, China, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. He expects Creamistry to surpass the 100-unit mark in 2018.

Born into a family of Korean bakers, Yim was first introduced to liquid nitrogen ice cream when he spotted a street vendor making it during a trip to South Korea in 2003. He briefly thought about launching a similar concept in America, but scrapped the idea when he returned home, immersing himself in the family business. He finally decided to move forward with Creamistry  a play on the word chemistry  after he saw similar concepts opening around the country.

In 2010, he and his wife, Katie, made their first homemade ice cream using liquid nitrogen with the help of his father as the quality control chemist. Over the next two years, the team experimented with over a hundred flavors and combinations, the best of which eventually became an integral part of Creamistrys menu today. The first Creamistry opened in September 2013 in Irvine, California.

Heres how Creamistry works: Customers choose a portion size, then a creamy base (premium, organic or non-dairy sorbet), one of 30 flavors, and then toppings from a list of 35 options that include candy, cookies and cereal, fruits, and sauces. The ice cream is made right before the customer with a lot of billowing smoke thanks to the flash-freezing process. When the liquid nitrogen (-321 F) hits the base it freezes so fast that ice crystals don't have a chance to develop, resulting in a dense, smooth ice cream.

Our creations are only limited by the customers imagination  with over 60 flavors and toppings to choose from the combinations are endless, said Yim, noting that nobody else in the industry allows for this level of customization.

Including a franchise fee of $40,000, the initial investment to open a Creamistry franchise is $224,500-$576,500. The franchise fee for a second store is $30,000 and $20,000 for subsequent stores.

The average store is about 1,000-1,500 square feet, seats 20-40 customers and employs approximately 20 full- and part-time people.

For more information about Creamistrys franchise opportunity, please visit www.creamistry.com/franchise.

About Creamistry

Founded in 2013 and franchising since 2014, Creamistry is an Irvine, California-based franchise that serves made-to-order liquid nitrogen ice cream using all natural and organic ingredients that can be customized with over 60 flavors and toppings. Currently, there are 41 shops open and operating in three states and three countries, with more than 600 additional locations in various stages of development worldwide. For more information, visit www.creamistry.com.

Contact:

Mike Misetic

Franchise Elevator PR

(847) 239-8171

mmisetic@franchiseelevator.com

SOURCE Creamistry

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The Real Estate Company Of East Tennessee Affiliates With Century 21 Real Estate Franchise System

May 17, 2017 // Franchising.com // JOHNSON CITY, TN - The Real Estate Company of East Tennessee, an independently owned and operated real estate brokerage company, announced that it has joined the Century 21 Franchise System and will now operate as Century 21 Heritage. The company will continue to provide full-service real estate services to buyers and sellers throughout the Tri-Cities area.

Century 21 Heritage is a prime example of the success a company can achieve when they remain laser focused on providing their clients with the best service possible, said Greg Sexton, Chief Operating Officer, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. We are thrilled to welcome back Mike Garber and his team to the Century 21 System, and we look forward to helping them continue to grow their business.

Broker and owner Mike Garber brings eleven years of real estate experience to the table, along with a team of 23 highly-skilled professionals to service the greater Tri-Cities area. As a former Century 21 System member, Garber shined brightly with the brand, receiving Gold, Platinum, Ruby, Emerald and Quality Service Awards throughout his sales career.

Im very excited to make my return to Century 21 Real Estate, the most recognized name in real estate*, said Garber. Prospective homebuyers and sellers instantly know the quality of service you supply with a name like Century 21 Heritage. Furthermore, the brands suite of tools and technology have been greatly updated since my last time with the franchise and its clear they will continue to help us provide the highest-quality service to our clients.

With a company philosophy always do what you say, sometimes more, but never less, customer service is a priority for Garber and his team. Outside of client work, Century 21 Heritage continues to assist their community by sponsoring local high schools.

About Century 21 Heritage

Century 21 Heritage is a full service real estate company, serving the buyers and sellers of the Tri-Cities area. The brokerage is currently located at 5049 Bobby Hicks Hwy Suite #101, Johnson City (Gray), TN 37615.

Century 21 Heritage is an independently owned and operated franchise affiliate of Century 21 Real Estate LLC (century21.com), franchisor of the iconic Century 21 brand, comprised of approximately 7,330 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 77 countries and territories worldwide with more than 110,000 independent sales professionals.

*Study Source: 2016 Ad Tracking Study. The survey results are based on 1,200 online interviews with a national random sample of adults (ages 18+) who are equal decision makers in real estate transactions and active in the real estate market (bought or sold a home within the past two years or, plan to purchase or sell a home within the next two years). Brand awareness question based on a sample of 1,200 respondents. Results are significant at a 90% confidence level, with a margin of error of +/-2.4%. Recognition question based on consumers aware of brand in question. Results are significant at a 90% confidence level, with a margin of error of +/- 2.4%. The study was conducted by Millward Brown, a leading global market research organization, from May 4 - May 25, 2016.

Contact:

Colin Brown

MullenLowe

For Century 21 Heritage

Phone: 617-226-9749

colin.brown@mullenlowe.com

SOURCE Century 21 Heritage

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LEBANON  Political newcomers Nick Brooks and Tom Oliver will join the Lebanon School Board, according to unofficial election results Tuesday.

Brooks defeated incumbent Jerry Williams and fellow challenger Jeannie Davis to represent Zone 5.

Oliver defeated challengers Linda McLucas and Donnie Witherspoon to represent Zone 2. Kellie Weber, who had been appointed to the seat last year when Liz Alperin moved, also filed to be elected to the position but decided later to drop out and told the Democrat-Herald she planned to give her support to Oliver.

Voters also re-elected Mike Martin, who was running unopposed, to continue representing Zone 3.

Williams could not be reached as of late Tuesday.

Oliver said he was looking forward to joining the board's work. Im certainly humbled by support the community has given with their vote, and I'm going to do everything I can to honor that and work to make our district as good as it can be for our kids and our community," he said.

Oliver had campaigned in part in support of an independent investigation into the facts surrounding a personal relationship between Superintendent Rob Hess and a district principal. The relationship caused some controversy among some residents and some board members who felt details about the relationship had not been communicated properly.

In earlier interviews, Oliver said he wanted an investigation to determine what was known, by whom and when, and whether any evidence exists of preferential treatment occurring because of the relationship.

On Tuesday, Oliver said he still supports such an approach. I think it is important that theres an appropriate amount of transparency in where were at," he said, adding that he's also glad the board recently moved forward with a community survey, which he called "a great first step."

The survey asks residents their feelings on the performance of individual schools, the district as a whole and the superintendent's leadership. "We'll digest the results and move forward from there, make sure we're focusing on the climate in schools and how staff are feeling, really just make sure were taking the steps we need to," Oliver said.

Brooks said he was "excited to get working and start doing our part to make Lebanon schools better for the kids.

He said he believes the community still needs closure about the relationship controversy, but that he'll hold off on making any specific recommendations until he receives more information.

Weber said she appreciated her time on the board but is glad to leave the work to Oliver.

I do think Tom will do a great job," she said. "I think theres a lot of potential in the school district. Theres some tough decisions that need to be made and I hope that Tom and Nick and Mike will work together with Richard and Russ and make some good decisions.
An artist can emerge at any stage of life, independent of age.

That advice from Virginia Film Festival programmer Wesley Harris resonated with the young filmmakers participating in the third annual Stafford County Public Schools Film Festival held at Colonial Forge High School on Friday and Saturday evening.

The films showcased at the festival were entirely written, produced and directed by students. The A.G. Wright Film Club, which organized the event, accepted submissions from any grade level and was open to all Stafford public schools.

One of the clubs mentors, Philip Snow, said age certainly didnt stop these student creatorssome as young as 11 years oldfrom diving head first into filmmaking.

The films are very high quality, Snow said. When these kids get to high school, they will already be rock stars in video production.

The young filmmakers skillfully covered a variety of topics with technique and insight far beyond their years.

Savannah Anderson, an eighth-grader at A.G. Wright Middle School, directed a film titled Obsessed, which captured the fleeting and sometimes overpowering nature of teenage love.

Another film, Angels, directed by A.G. Wright student Kaitlyn Williams, tackled the topic of bullying. It depicts the story of a teenage girl who branches off from her clique and extends friendship to the bullied girl, leading others to follower her example. The poignant film showed how the kind act of one person can have a domino effect.

The films featured at the festival spanned several genres, including music, animation, action and even horror. Michelle Snow contributed two horror films, Bloody Mary and Meant to Be. It was her first time dabbling in horror and using adult actors, instead of just children, in her films.

I had to adjust to working with adults, Michelle said. But Im glad with how it came together. It helped me outside of school, too.

The highlight of the festival was the feature film, The Exceptionalsa Robin Hood-style story about not judging children by their cover. It depicts the story of a group of rough students who come together to do some good in their school.

They operate on edge, but are doing it for good cause, Snow explained.

Snow said this is the third year the festival has been held, and he hopes it will continue to grow. It all started when a group of students wanted to make a film and Bob Long, another film club mentor, helped them do it. It wasnt long before more students and mentorsand eventually other schoolsgot involved.

This year, the film club received submissions from A.G. Wright Middle, Drew Middle, Gayle Middle, Mountain View High, Stafford High and North Stafford High School.

Anderson said the club helps students become acquainted with every aspect of filmmaking, including lighting, editing, directing and mastery of industry lingo. They learn not only how to perform each skill, but how they all integrate together.

We operate as if on a real set, Anderson said. It is a great environment too. Everyone has fun.

The students have also learned skills applicable to their lives off set. Michelle began participating in the festival during its first year when she was in seventh grade. She spent the first year helping out, but the following year, she started filming on her own. This year, she directed and edited several films.

As the program has grown, I have grown, Michelle said. This year, I directed and mentored middle-school students. My skills have grown by helping them.

Snow said he has seen young students transform not only into budding filmmakers, but also into leaders. The children directing the films had to figure out their unique leadership styles and how to make adjustments in order to work with others to create a good movie.

To see that come out of 11-, 12- and 13-year-old kids was really powerful and inspiring, Snow said.
Voters chose Kim Butzner and Jennifer Ward and retained Micah Smith Tuesday to serve on the board of directors for Greater Albany Public Schools.

Results are not official, but totals late Tuesday showed Ward defeating incumbent Sandi Gordon and challenger Karelia Stetz-Waters to represent Zone 1.

Butzner was leading in her competition against fellow newcomer Eric Aguinaga to represent Zone 2, succeeding Jerry Boehme, who decided not to run again.

Smith was fighting off challenges from Katie Winder and Matthew Prudell to keep his at-large seat.

Ward said she's "honored and humbled" to join the board and praised Gordon for the work she's done in that position. "I feel like any good I can accomplish in this position will be built on the foundation that she and the other school board members have laid, so Im grateful to her.

She's also excited to be working on the $159 million construction and renovation bond measure voters appeared to be passing late as of late Tuesday.

"We are going to need to make sure that the work gets done and were transparent and accountable about that, but thats going to be exceptionally exciting to be a part of that," she said.

Gordon said she was glad to leave the position in Ward's hands.

"I've done this for 12 years," she said. "I'm OK to offer the reins to someone who has kids in the schools and who is as passionate about the schools as I am."

Smith said he was glad to remain on the board, especially to be a part of the planning process. "Now I've got work to do," he said.

Butzner said she's glad to be joining him. I am very excited about being able to represent the students and families and administrators in this position," she said. Im also looking forward to the fact that the bond measure is passing. That was even more important for me to see.
AN AMERICAN picks up a newspaper and reads of a new national crisis: Is it a foreign plot against America? Domestic unrest or violence in the streets? Is Congress stymied by party politics? Perhaps its the threat of involvement in another world war?

This is, of course, daily news in 2017; but it was also the daily fare in the 1790s. Then, the United States was not a world power; it was a fledgling nation whose survival was in doubt.

It was the task of that decades two Federalist presidents, George Washington and John Adams, both to win the loyalty of Americans to the new national government and acknowledgment from European powers that the United States was indeed a sovereign nation.

During his first administration, Washington faced a rebellion of angry western farmers who denied the federal Congress any right to tax them. He had to engage in a delicate negotiation with Great Britain to prevent a second war between the former Mother Country and its colonies. And he had to deal with a French minister who ran amok, ignoring Washingtons explicit declaration of neutrality in the war raging in Europe.

As Washingtons successor, Adams faced equally dire crises, including threats of secession in response to his administrations repressive laws intended to silence newspaper opposition to federal policies and deliver a crushing blow to Thomas Jeffersons opposition party.

If unanswered, any of these challenges might have been fatal to an untested and still highly contested new Constitution and to the experiment in a national representative government that it established. Yet a mishandling of the response could be equally disastrous. For example, a failure to put down the western farmers whiskey rebellion could lead other citizens to resistor ignorecongressional laws they disliked.

But too abrupt a suppression of the rebellion was certain to conjure up images of a central government as tyrannical as the government of George III. Washington had to move cautiously and exhaust all legal, judicial and political means to enforce the law before ordering military action. Adams moved with equal delicacy when he confronted new existential threats to his young nation.

The Federalists made many mistakes and they frequently acted in bald self-interest. Yet during the 11 years they dominated the federal government, they managed not only to sustain a fragile experiment in representative government but also to nurture a critically important sense of national identity in American citizens.

The arc of this essential and positive nationalism can be followed with each crisis. American support for Washingtons military action against the whiskey rebels was based on the peoples love and respect for a single man, George Washington. But by the time Edmund Genet was recalled to France, that support had been institutionalized; it was the office of the executive, not the man who held it, that Americans would henceforth rely on to direct the nations foreign policies.

Under Adams, the attachment to the nations government grew. The French insults to American sovereignty during the XYZ Affair made Americans more firmly conscious that they were not simply Virginians, or Pennsylvanians or New Yorkers; they were united as Americans.

Finally, in their response to Adams repressive Alien and Sedition Acts, the legislatures of Virginia and Kentucky forced an examination of the relative sovereignty of the federal government and the state governments.

Yet where once any legitimacy of a national government was challenged, these Southern legislators only challenged the extent of the federal governments power, not its source. They defended the rights of the states, but they did not deny the authority of the Constitution or its government. When Jefferson and his Republican Party unseated the Federalists in the election of 1800, the work of the Federalists was done: The American nationalism they had fostered would survive until it was threatened by Civil War.

In the 1790s, the Federalists nurtured a nationalism based on the peoples commitment to their government and their sense of shared responsibility for its actions and its reputation in the wider world.

Today, nationalism has taken on a more restrictive and negative character, and it divides us rather than unites us. We can only hope that, like Washington and Adams, the men and women we elect will appreciate the complexities of governance and the value of a shared pride in the policies our nation embraces and the paths it pursues.

Carol Berkin is a history professor at City University of New York and an author.
School thanks church, residents for supply drive

On behalf of the staff and students at Smith Station Elementary School, we want to express our appreciation to Mercy Hill Community Church and the residents of Salem Fields for the support they recently provided to our school.

Church members devoted two Saturdays to visiting homes in Salem Fields. The first Saturday, they talked with residents about providing supplies for Smith Station students. They left lists of the most-needed supplies and paper sacks so residents could bag their donations. The second Saturday, church members collected the supplies, which have since been delivered to the school.

Residents showed great generosity. As a result of this combined effort, we are now in a much better position to ensure that all students have the supplies and materials that they need to be successful. This is a shining example of the type of community partnership in which we all work together to prepare our students for the future.

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who played a part in this project.

Terrie Cagle and Lois Colbridge

Spotsylvania

Cagle is principal of Smith Station Elementary School. Colbridge is the school counselor.
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Sept. 2, 1933  May 14, 2017

Gerald Boatwright, 83, of Albany died Sunday at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House.

Born in Des Moines to Wilbur and Clara (Masker) Boatwright, Gerald was one of a family of seven children.

After graduation from high school, he entered the Army and served in Korea. Upon his discharge, Gerald returned to Des Moines where he married Phyllis Murray. They then moved to Albany.

Gerald was a master brick mason, and built many structures in the Albany and Corvallis area, as well as at OSU and throughout the mid valley. He was one of those men who helped shape our community.

His wife Phyllis passed away in 1995, and several years later Gerald found love and companionship with Janice Striplin, his life partner of the last eight years. She survives, as do sons David, Steve, John, Jim, and Dan Boatwright; daughter Diana Boatwright; sisters Trudy Hester and Phil Conway; and 33 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on May 20, 2017, at Fisher Funeral Home. A reception follows at the Eagles at 2 p.m. A private Interment will be at Palestine Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 SW Washington St., Albany, OR 97321.

Online condolences for the family may be posted at www.fisherfuneralhome.com.
A sheep farmer in County Down, Northern Ireland, has been fined 1,400 for failing to dispose of animal carcasses on his farm, and for animal welfare neglect.

Derek Trimble, 50, of Spelga Park, Hilltown, pleaded guilty at Newry Court on 15 May to seven charges, including three breaches of the Animal Welfare Act.

See also: Dairy farmer must pay 20,000 for flouting TB rules

He also pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to dispose of animal carcasses without delay, in accordance with the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.

Disease spread

By leaving animal carcasses in the open, there is a risk that disease can be spread by other animals or birds, said a statement from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera).

Mr Trimble was also convicted of a further charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a ram.

And he risked human health by failing to record the purchase and administration of veterinary medicinal products on two counts.

Daera brought the case following a series of welfare inspections carried out on Mr Trimbles farm in March 2016.
You can bet the Preakness Stakes online from Missouri at any of a few dozen online gambling websites such as US Racing , which will not ask for your social security number and will NEVER report your winnings. TwinSpires and a number of other online race books do not accept bets from Missouri residents. SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE

BetOnline offers unique horse racing promos such as a 5% Bitcoin Boost when you open your account using that cryptocurrency, a $25 risk free prop wager and a $25 free bet to try their live in-play betting.

In addition to the Preakness Stakes, BetOnline.ag offers daily betting action from all of the major North American thoroughbred and harness tracks using full track odds from the great state of Missouri .

You will find a full menu of daily races on the board at BetOnline.ag. They offer the full range of bets at the widest variety of North American tracks along with tracks from all over the world including England, Australia and Asia. Horse players love how theyre treated at BetOnline.ag with a 7% racebook rebate, free handicapping information and special bonuses and promotions all year long! Conests are also available during the Triple Crown season.

BetOnline has one of the highest credit card acceptance rates in online gambling.

Types of Bets for the Preakness

BetOnline featurs many prop bet options for races like the Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby, but the most popular bet types are Win, Place and Show .

Win bets are the toughest to hit of the three, but pay the most

A win wager is exactly as it sounds  youre wagering on a given horse to win the race in question. Your horse could finish second by a nose (the closest possible finish in horse racing), and you would still lose your win wager.

Win odds are often displayed on track feeds next to a horses number.

In this example, the No. 4 horse is the 8-5 favorite (denoted in yellow font), meaning a bettor would have to risk $5 to make an $8 profit (return of $13).

Place bets balance risk and reward in that a bettor has made a successful place wager when his or her horse has finished either first or second in the race in question. Place typically pays one-half or less of what a win wager would yield, but can vary wildly depending on the number of runners in a race, or the presence of a heavy favorite.

Show bets offer lower risk than win and place, but the lowest payoffs

A show wager requires a horse to finish either first, second, or third in a given race in order to cash. Show bets generally pay even less than a place bet, so larger stakes are usually required in order to turn a decent profit on them.

Place Bets Here Early Odds to Win the 2021 Preakness Stakes

Rot To Win Preakness Stakes 2021 Moneyline 2 Medina Spirit +180 3 Concert Tour +275 6 Crowded Trade +1200 7 Midnight Bourbon +500 8 Ram +3000 10 France Go de Ina +2000 11 Rombauer +1400 12 Unbridled Honor +2200 13 Keepmeinmind +1500 16 Risk Taking +1200

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
Speculated Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Feature Reportedly Confirmed

Samsung has successfully launched the Galaxy S8 and has been available on the market for over a few weeks. While some consumers who were dismayed by the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 battery issues moved on and purchased the S8, there are still people who prefer to wait for the next iteration of Samsung's Note series. There have been several rumors floating about some of the features of the Galaxy Note 8 and one was just recently confirmed.

Speculations of a dual-camera setup were previously linked with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, but due to some unforeseen costs, the idea was reportedly scrapped. Park Kang-ho, a Daishin Securities analyst, says "although Samsung did not officially announce the adoption of dual cameras (for the Galaxy S8), it is inevitable to feature the cameras." According to the Korea Herald, the dual-camera technology "stole the spotlight during this year's Mobile World Congress." The Galaxy Note 8 is expected to feature the new camera setup when it launches later this year.

The dual-camera trend has already seen several Chinese mobile phone manufacturers jump on board. Brands like Vivo, Oppo, and Huawei have integrated the new camera setup with most of their flagship models. Reports also claim that some of the best-selling mobile phones in China last quarter had dual-cameras. These models included Huawei Mate 9, Huawei Mate 9 Pro, Vivo Xplay 6, and the Apple iPhone 7. The Galaxy Note 8 is rumored to sport a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 13-megapixel telephoto shooter with 3X zoom.

Samsung has not officially made any announcement about the Galaxy Note 8, but market experts believe that the Korean smartphone maker will adapt the dual-camera setup. According to industry analysts, Apple is already one step ahead of the competition when it installed two image sensors on its iPhone 7 Plus. Rumors have already started that the iPhone 8 will flaunt an even better setup this time around. Samsung is expected to adapt or innovate in order to compete with its biggest rival, says BGR

Meanwhile, another report from Gamenguide has indicated that consumers will have to wait a bit longer for the Galaxy Note 8. According to sources, Samsung is planning to release the Galaxy Note 7R first. The Note 7R features the same specifications and design as Note 7 last year but comes with a smaller battery capacity. It is also speculated to retail for a 50 percent lesser price than the original model.
Councilwoman Suzie Price and Vice Mayor Rex Richardson are in the running for the city's top political post.
Sometimes a bit of fresh air is all that is needed.

The Corvallis Budget Commission seemed on the verge of bogging down Tuesday night trying to find the best way to spend $109,100 that was unallocated in the $130 million 2017-18 spending plan proposed by City Manager Mark Shepard and Finance Director Nancy Brewer.

Some commissioners suggested putting all of it toward core services such as the Fire Department. Others offered customized approaches to disbursing the money to the various community groups that made pitches to the commission at its May 11 public hearing.

But after a series of amendments failed and the meeting approached the two-hour mark, Brewer suggested a recess might help.

Bingo! Commissioner Andrew Struthers, who huddled with a small group of commissioners during the recess, opened the resumed meeting with a proposal that won 9-5 support from the commission. Moments later the main spending plan passed unanimously.

Here is a look at the plan Struthers and his associates came up with:

 $10,000 for fire gear.

 $30,000 for The Arts Center.

 $30,000 for the mens cold weather shelter project.

 $20,000 for Willamette Neighborhood Services to help study a South Corvallis urban renewal project.

 $5,000 for da Vinci Days.

 $14,100 to pay for Human Resources training.

Left on the cutting room floor were requests from the Boys & Girls Club, Oregon State University community relations, Corvallis Access Media, Oregon RAIN, a Downtown Corvallis Association plan for street lights for downtown and the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition.

Representatives of those groups can appeal to the City Council when it considers the budget plan at a June 5 public hearing. The councilors, who are also members of the 18-person Budget Commission, can alter the recommendations of the commission.

Two other amendments that did pass restored $35,000 to the City Council budget, essentially correcting a clerical error, and moved $50,000 designated for the Imagine Corvallis 2040 vision project into the same fund while the city comes up with a plan for how much money the project needs.

Next up for the Budget Commission is to make recommendations to the city on which unmet needs should receive funding and what revenue streams to explore. Commissioners will continue the work of a task force that identified needs of between $4 million and $13 and suggested that the best way to pay for the services would be either an extension of the local option property tax levy, a local sales tax or a local income tax.

Any tax plan would go to the voters. The commission also can recommend not to seek new revenue in which case cuts would be likely.
Well, if the Legislature can afford to wait for a few more of these quarterly revenue forecasts, that might be sufficient to erase the state's budget shortfall.

The latest revenue forecast from Oregon economists was released Tuesday, and the news, while expected, undoubtedly served as a bit of a balm for legislators trying to find ways to plug a billion-dollar-plus budget gap.

The word from the economists was that the state will collect nearly $187 million more in general fund and lottery revenue during the 2017-19 budget cycle than was anticipated in the February forecast.

That means that a budget shortfall that was anticipated to be about $1.6 billion now is estimated at about $1.4 billion. Last February's revenue estimate trimmed that deficit by a similar amount, so if the Legislature could hold out for another seven forecasts (say, another two years or so), Oregon's economic expansion in theory could wipe out that deficit entirely.

No such luck, though: The May revenue estimate is the one that legislators have to work with as they craft a balanced budget for the state. Less than two months remain for the Legislature to accomplish that task, although some legislators think the effort might require special sessions.

A bit of related news, however, likely had some lawmakers gnashing their teeth: State economist Mark McMullen said that the economic recovery could trigger the state's unique kicker law, returning another $400 million to individual taxpayers.

The kicker is triggered whenever the state collects 2 percent more revenue than expected. What happens then is that the state returns the extra money to taxpayers in the form of a credit on their 2018 taxes.

McMullen said there's a two-thirds chance that the personal kicker will be triggered, and he added a cautionary note to legislators who might be tempted to bet on that one-in-three chance: Even if there's no kicker this year, he said it's "highly likely" that the kicker would be triggered sometime during the 2017-19 cycle.

Would some legislators like to get their hands on that $400 million? You bet; it would, in theory, knock the budget shortfall down to around a billion or so. But that's not going to happen. Legislators have been reluctant to tinker with the personal tax kicker, even though it adds another element of uncertainty to a tax system that's notoriously volatile  and it's based on a revenue estimate that, while it's an educated guess, still remains a guess.

Overall, the latest revenue estimate reminds us of a couple of points we've been making all session: First, the Legislature's budget writers are working with more revenue than ever before as the state's economic recovery continues to gather steam. In other words, the budget shortfall isn't a revenue problem; it's primarily a spending issue, and earlier decisions by legislators have contributed to that. So cost containment is one of the strategies legislators must adopt to balance the budget.

But you can't cut $1.4 billion out of the state budget without doing real harm to programs that serve the most vulnerable Oregonians. So a balanced budget will require legislators to find new revenue sources as well. Both of these  the cost cutting and the new revenue  will require work from Democrats and Republicans. (Since any new revenue proposals likely will require three-fifths majorities in each house of the Legislature, Republican votes will be necessary to pass them.)

With the May revenue forecast issued, legislators (and the rest of us) finally have a feel for the landscape going forward. Now, with some solid numbers in hand, it's time to really crack down on what likely will be the hardest work of the session. (mm)
LEBANON  A Mothers Day barbecue nearly ended in tragedy Sunday afternoon when 35-year-old Billy Jack Gomez allegedly fired a .300 magnum rifle at his 34-year-old brother, according to the Linn County Sheriffs Office.

According to the LCSO report, the men and their mother, Peggy Gomez, 55, were at a home in the 100 block of Vaughan Lane about 4:30 p.m. and had gotten into a scuffle. Hunter Gomez then went outside to prepare the barbecue grill.

According to Undersheriff Jim Yon, Billy Jack Gomez reportedly went into the house, retrieved the rifle and fired a round that went through a screen door.

Yon said the bullet narrowly missed Hunter Gomez and struck the ground. There were no injuries.

Gomez was charged with attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon.

Deputies were assisted by members of the Oregon State Police and Lebanon Police Department.

Billy Jack Gomez appeared by video arraignment in Linn County Circuit Court Monday afternoon. Attorney Kent Hickam was appointed to represent him.

Counsel representing Gomez at the arraignment asked that security be set at $50,000.

Prosecutor Coleen Cerda told Judge Carol Bispham that Gomez has numerous charges of failure to appear on his record and asked for security of $100,000.

Judge Bispham said that due to his previous charges, security would be set at $75,000.

She also told Gomez he was to not have any contact with his brother.

There will be no contact with the alleged victim, Bispham said. That means no messages, no phone calls, no anything.

Gomez is scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. on May 30.

Judge Bispham said a trial deadline would be July 13.
Sony IMX382 high-speed vision sensor can detect and track objects at 1,000 fps News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Sonys new high-speed sensor paves way for a compact system.

Sony has announced the launch of the IMX382 high-speed vision sensor that enables both detection and tracking of objects at a frame rate of 1,000 fps. The samples of the sensor will start shipping in October 2017.

The IMX382 vision sensor features a stacked configuration along with a signal processing circuit layer and a back-illuminated pixel array. The former has image processing circuits as well as a programmable column parallel processor that can deliver high-speed detection and tracking of the target. This configuration facilitates high-sensitivity imaging with the back-illuminated pixel array.

Apple iPad Mini lineup to be ended soon

The new Sony IMX382 image sensor uses details such as color and brightness from pixels to detect the target and extracts the centroid, motion vector, and moment of the object and gives the output information from the vision sensor in every frame.

In comparison to the earlier systems with an image sensor of 30fps, this one with 1,000 fps is around 33 times faster when it comes to imaging speed than the conventional chips. This product can capture objects that move quickly and detect the same from the image information.

The high-speed tracking ability of this sensor enables providing real-time feedback to robots, autonomous robot operation, etc. It will make the robot teaching process more efficient with improved productivity.

3 reasons to buy and not to buy the Nokia 3310 (2017)

Apart from the ability to detect and track objects at 1,000 frames per second, this Sony IMX382 sensor has an inbuilt sensing function for power saving and a compact system. Also, there is an evaluation kit that will let the sensor to be evaluated in various usage environments.

In the conventional systems, the image processing to detect and track objects is carried out at a later stage using a computer or any other computing device. The Sony IMX382 vision sensor changes this practice by delivering everything on a single chip.

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Different types of spam

Other than emails, there are various other spams used by the company to market their businesses which include instant messaging spam, Web search engine spam, wiki spam, Usenet newsgroup spam, spam in blogs, mobile SMS spam, online classified ads spam, Internet forum spam, television advertising spam, mobile app spams like Whatsapp, and many more.

How old is it?

Like everything else, even an electronic spam come with a long history. Some sources do say that it is 150 years old. Prior to the emergence of desktops and mobiles, people used to send spam messages in the form of paper where most of them are left unread.

Also Read: Selfies - Things that are surprisingly older in the internet world

If you have ever wondered the reason behind naming this junk messages as spam, it is nothing but a luncheon meat which is included in every dish.

First spam sent out

If you look back, the history dates back to 1864. A large number of telegrams were sent out to many people in London by dental surgery to inform about their new services.

Later the same trend was followed by every other business in and around. The earliest spam which has been documented was a message sent out in 1978 by Gary Thuerk to 393 people which advertised about the Digital Equipment Corporation computers.

Larger commercial spams

The first large-scale spam was out in January 1994. It was distributed across USENET to every newsgroup with a message, "Global Alert for All: Jesus is Coming Soon".

Also Read: The Emoticons - Things that are surprisingly older in the internet world

Later in the same year, this technique was used for the commercial purpose by two lawyers Laurence Canter and Martha Siegel who posted a message to every possible newsgroup which read as, "Green Card Lottery - Final One?". This list keeps growing as we dig deeper in search of history.

Reason behind spamming

Being economically viable medium to share the information, people opt this to advertise their products and features. This cheapest mode of data transfer has been followed by almost everyone to showcase their channel.
What is Ransomware?

Basically, Ransomware is a cyber attack that allows the hackers to take control of all data files or complete system that makes inaccessible until a ransom is paid.

Wannacry Ransomeware?

Wannacry is a Ransomeware that encrypts all the data files on the hacked system and asks the user to pay $300 (Rs. 19,221) to get it back. If the amount in not paid in three days, the amount will double and if suppose the affected user didn't pay after seven days, the data will get deleted.

Who are all got affected with this?

Over 150 countries got affected in less than a day observing over 57,000 infections. This ransomeware has already affected high profile organization in Spain, UK, China and other countries including India. It includes clinics, hospitals UK, telecom, gas and other utility providers.

In India, 18 Police units got affected in Chittoor, Krishna, Guntur, Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts. As per the report, enterprises in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai have also been affected.

SEE ALSO: 5 reasons why your privacy is already compromised on the Internet

How WannaCry was made?

The hackers made this WannaCry ransomeware using a tool of NSA code released last month by a hacking group known as the Shadow Brokers. They released Eternal Blue as part of hacking tools that they said belonged to the US spy agency.
New Huawei MateBook launching next week News oi -Chandrika Huawei might introduce three MateBooks

The Chinese electronics giant Huawei has been coming up one smartphone after another this year. However, it seems like the company plans to launch other products as well. Yesterday, Huawei announced on its official Twitter account that it has an event slated for May 23.

The event, which will take place in Berlin is apparently going to witness the unveiling of the new Huawei MateBook. We got to know earlier that the company is expected to launch three MateBooks this year. The first one, which is the direct successor of the original Huawei MateBook is likely to be a 2-in-1. While the MateBook D and MateBook X will sport the conventional clam-shell design.

Apple iPad Mini lineup to be ended soon

Talking about the design aspect, the MateBook seems to have a sleek and polished look. The three models will differ in terms of processor, display size, storage space and RAM capacity as well.

One of the three MateBooks made an appearance on Geekbench in the previous month, revealing it would come with an Intel Core-i5 processor along with 8GB of RAM. The rest of the devices are touted to be fueled by Kaby Lake processors.

Its time to maximise your lifestyle. Join us LIVE from Berlin on 23 May 2017 at 14:00 CEST to meet our latest products #HuaweiMateBook pic.twitter.com/iz9hfEXw7f  Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) May 15, 2017

Apart from that, we don't know much about the specs and features of the upcoming products. In any case, we will get to know about all the features and pricing details shortly.

To remind you, Huawei's sub-brand Honor also has an event planned on May 23. It shared a poster announcing the launch, on both the official Honor website and the official Honor Weibo account. However, it has not revealed the product that will be unveiled at the launch.

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Google I/O 2017: Schedule, Expected Announcements, Live Stream and more Features oi -Samden Sherpa It should be a fun keynote.

Google will be holding its annual developer conference, Google I/O 2017 today and the three-day event is scheduled to begin at 10:30 PM IST.

The event is being held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, California. Besides, Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google will be addressing the keynote of Google I/O 2017 from 10:30 PM, and then it will be followed by the Developer Keynote which is scheduled to begin at 1:30 AM.

SEE ALSO: Google announces Project Treble to make Android better

The good thing though, if you want to know what will happen at the event then Google will be live streaming the event, you can click here to watch the event which will begin at 10:30 PM tonight. The entire schedule for the Google I/O 2017 event has also been provided and you can find it here.

In any case, the annual developer conference Google I/O 2017 is an important event for Google. The tech giant will be making important announcements on its biggest innovations for the year during this event. Just to recall, last year at the same event Google made major announcements like the Allo and Duo apps, Google Home, the Assistant, Daydream VR, Android Wear 2.0, Instant Apps and more.

And, this year we are expecting Google to make some interesting announcements. There will be no smartphone though but we should expect some weird surprises from Google.

Well as we are just few hours away from the event, here are some of the announcements that we are expecting to hear from Google.

Android O Last year we got Nougat, and this year we are expecting the company to make announcements regarding the new Android OS. What's interesting is that Google has already released the first developer preview of Android O. Besides at this year's I/O Google will likely use the platform to talk more about the OS. Google might also announce the name of the new Android OS. Google Assistant While the company has been focusing a lot on developing and using powerful machine learning algorithms, it is quite clear that we will be hearing a lot about Google Assistant this year. Moreover, Google Assistant is practically used in most of the Google products and it is also a direct example of Google's AI tech. So Google will talk about this feature in the event. Android apps on Chrome OS Well, Google has been testing Android apps to work on Chrome OS. The tests are already ongoing and are in the beta stage currently. While the company looks set to actually develop such capability, we expected that Google will give an update on this matter at Google I/O. However, considering a scenario if this actually becomes a reality then the demand for this sort of cross-compatibility between devices and platforms will grow a lot. So Google might have news for us about this tech. AR and VR Google introduced its VR platform Daydream last year. While it has already been one year since the announcement there has not been any major developments in this field. And only a few handsets till date have been updated to support it. So at this year's event, we are expecting that Google will provide an update on what is happening or what is coming up for Daydream as well AR technology. Android Wear and More While Google Android wear platform is still working its way among developers, Google will largely discuss how developers can actually take advantage of this OS' features. Alternatively, Google is expected to announce new updates and features to its existing apps Allo and Duo, and also on its AI-based smart speaker Google Home. Google could also talk about the new Fuchsia OS which the company has been silently working on. The OS was recently spotted in a leaked video. Google could give some information on Fuchsia OS which will be having a completely new UI and that it will not be based on Linux.

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Samsung releases May security patch for several Galaxy devices in India News oi -Samden Sherpa Time to install the May security patch in your Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

While security is a very important feature in any smartphone it is best that users keep their devices updated with the latest security patch.

So in order to help users stay secure, Samsung has now started rolling out the latest security patch for the Galaxy C7 Pro in India. The new update will bring the security level to May. Likewise, Samsung's newest flagships and also its older handsets like the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge will be getting the latest security patch as well.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) press render leaks: Full specs and price are out

Talking about the security patch, Samsung has announced that it is a maintenance release for major flagship models as part of monthly Security Maintenance Release (SMR) process. This SMR package includes patches from Google and Samsung. Further in Samsung's Security Blog, the company states that the upgrade addresses a total of 54 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) in the Android OS and an additional 11 patches designed specifically for Galaxy smartphones.

Coming back to the update, it is rolling out as an OTA update and is 184 MB in size. The update will also bring improvements in performance, device stability, bug fixes and some new and enhanced features. However, there are no details provided as to what features come with the update.

If you have the above-mentioned smartphones then you should receive a notification for the update. In case you have not received the notification then you can always check for the update manually by going to the Settings section in your smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Active gets WiFi certification: Launch imminent

Update: Samsung has also started to roll out May 2017 Android security patch to the unlocked variant of the Galaxy S7 (SM-G930F) as well. According to SamMobile, the rollout has started in Netherlands. Besides, the delivery time of security patches usually varies depending on the regions and models. But the rollout should quickly expand to other markets soon and it should also reach Galaxy S7 edge variant in the coming days.

Well, if you have received the update do let us know in the comments what are the changes you have noticed.

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Results announced by the telcos don't show a healthy growth: Rajan Mathews News oi -Priyanka COAI also announced the schedule of Indian Mobile Congress to be held in September 2017.

Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) Director General, Rajan S Mathews said that the recent results announced by the telecom companies are not an indication of a healthy growth of the sector.

"He said, "The recent results announced by the telecom companies are not an indication of a healthy growth of the sector. Immediate policy-level interventions are required to uplift the financial health of the sector and to ensure that we move in the right direction of pursuing our national goals.

"He also lauded the government's decision for setting up an inter-ministerial committee to look into the financial health of the sector, COAI urged the government to take concrete steps that will improve the situation.

Mathews also underlined the fact that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently issued the advisory to all the banks to re-assess the debt bearing capability of the telecom sector.

Global smartphone shipments grew 11 % in Q1 2017

Mathews added, "On the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day today, COAI proudly announces the theme of Indian telecom industry for the year as "Telecom & Connectivity as tools for Accelerating Human Development in India" and by 2020, the contribution of mobile industry to the country's GDP will increase to 8.2 percent from the current 6.5 percent.

"It is also expected to generate four million direct and indirect jobs over the next five years. Globally, we will also have between 26 billion and 50 billion Internet-connected devices by 2020." he further added.

Meanwhile, COAI said that over Rs. 9,27,000 crores have been invested so far by telecom service providers in building world class telecom infrastructure. Adding that total internet subscribers in India are 261.31 million as per TRAI data.

COAI also announced the schedule of Indian Mobile Congress to be held in September 2017.

Best Mobiles in India

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Vodafone post 10.2% decline in operating profit News oi -Priyanka The company also said that its subscriber base increased 5.6 percent to 209 million and the revenue market share increased 0.7 percent in the nine months to December 2016, to 22.7 percent.

India's second largest telecom service provider Vodafone announced its full Year financial results (IFRS) for the year ended March 31, 2017.

The company reported a 10.2 percent decline in FY17 operating profit to Rs 11,784 crore, due to aggressive competition from Mukesh Ambani- owned Reliance Jio, while the overall revenue slipped 0.6 percent to Rs 43,095 crore.

Sunil Sood, Managing Director and CEO, Vodafone India commented: "Amidst an unprecedented and intensely competitive environment, we delivered a stable performance while recording a strong gain of 0.7ppt in RMS YTD Dec 16; increasing our customer base past the 200 million subscriber mark, and expanding our Vodafone SuperNet 4G presence to 2,400 towns by utilizing the spectrum bought during the year.

He said, "We continue to delight and reward customers with innovative and meaningful value propositions including SuperHour, exciting 4G offers, richer content under Vodafone Play and added benefits for Vodafone RED customers. We remain committed to playing our role in enabling Digital India by fulfilling the evolving needs of increasing volumes, speed and innovative solutions for both retail and enterprise customers."

BSNL offering free unlimited data

The company also said that its subscriber base increased 5.6 percent to 209 million and the revenue market share increased 0.7 percent in the nine months to December 2016, to 22.7 percent.

It added data revenue grew 5 percent year on year to Rs 8,467 crore, and the company also added 10 million broadband users during the year to close at 37.7 million (Q4FY17) 3G/4G subscribers.

The company has expanded Vodafone SuperNetTM 4G footprint across all circles where Vodafone won 4G spectrum contributing more than 95 percent of Vodafone Data Revenue; now available across 240 towns.

Meanwhile, the company has announced the merger of Vodafone India and Idea on March 20, 2017, with an aim of creating the largest telecoms operator in India

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Overall, dont let the bhoot mislead you, nothing bhootiya about this story. Had the makers tried to push the envelope, the idea could have been outstanding for a bhootiya comedy.
White House denies Trump's revealing of classified info to Russia

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:50, May 16, 2017

WASHINGTON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Monday strongly denied media reports accusing President Donald Trump of revealing highly classified intelligence information to Russia.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell all issued statements saying such reports were wrong.

Trump reportedly relayed information from a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria when meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak in White House last week.

The Washington Post first reported the disclosure earlier on Monday, followed by the New York Times and other nationwide news outlets.

"During President Trump's meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov, a broad range of subjects were discussed among which were common efforts and threats regarding counter-terrorism," Tillerson said. "During that exchange the nature of specific threats were discussed, but they did not discuss sources, methods or military operations."

Powell said in a statement that the story was false. "The president only discussed the common threats that both countries faced."

"The president and the foreign minister reviewed common threats from terrorist organizations to include threats to aviation," said McMaster who participated in the meeting.

"At no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed, and no military operations were disclosed that were not already known publicly." he said in a statement.

Trump's disclosures jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State, an information-sharing arrangement considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the U.S. government, according to the Washington Post report.

The Washington Post said the information was provided by a U.S. partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement, but the partner did not give the U.S. permission to share the information with Russia.

Following the meeting, the White House contacted the CIA and National Security Agency to contain the damage, according to the Post.

However, the U.S. president has broad authority to declassify government secrets, making it unlikely that such disclosures broke the law, said the media reports.

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I shared classified info with Russia for 'humanitarian reasons': Trump

Iran Press TV

Tue May 16, 2017 5:36PM

US President Donald Trump has defended sharing sensitive information with Russia, saying he did so for "humanitarian reasons."

Trump said on Tuesday that he shared the so-called classified information with Russian officials to help their country in its "fight against ISIS [Daesh] and terrorism."

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety," he tweeted on Tuesday morning.

"I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism," he added.

His Twitter messages came one day after news broke that the US president revealed highly classified information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a meeting at the White House last week.

Moscow, however, has rejected the Washington Post report that Trump such information with the Russian officials.

"It is complete nonsense, not a subject to be denied or confirmed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

Trump has maintained that the United States should help Russia in its fight against Daesh terrorists in Syria, where Moscow has been carrying out airstrikes against the militants since September 2015.

But most of the US officials are against providing any help to Russia or the Syrian government which are on the verge of getting the country rid of the foreign-sponsored militants who have been carrying out acts of terrorism in the country since 2011.

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Trump's reported intel-sharing with Russia nonsense: Kremlin

Iran Press TV

Tue May 16, 2017 4:32PM

The Kremlin has denounced as "complete nonsense" new media reports about US President Donald Trump disclosing classified information at a meeting with Russian officials.

"It is not a subject for us; it is the latest piece of nonsense. We do not want to have anything do to with this nonsense. It is complete nonsense, not a subject to be denied or confirmed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

The Washington Post recently carried a story saying Trump had done so in a meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak last week. Reuters reported similarly, citing two "US officials."

Trump's National Security Advisor HR McMaster denied the reports, but the president defended himself in a Tuesday Twitter post, saying he had the "absolute right" to share information with Russia due to "humanitarian reasons."

The original reports said the information had been provided by a Washington ally and revealing it could put the US in harm's way due to their "top secret" nature and the purported fact that Trump had refused to consult that ally before sharing it.

In his conversations with the Russian officials, Trump appeared to be boasting about his knowledge of the looming threats, telling them he was briefed on "great intel every day," an official with knowledge of the exchange said, according to the Washington Post report.

Assistant Minority Leader at US Senate Dick Durbin has called the alleged intelligence leak "dangerous" and "reckless," and Bob Corker, the Republican head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described the allegations as "very, very troubling" if true.

Trump is already in hot waters over claims that his electoral campaign benefited from Russian assistance and over his recent dismissal of FBI Director James Comey, who was overseeing a probe into those claims.

Earlier this year, Michael Flynn was forced out of his job as Trump's national security adviser after it was revealed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about a conversation he had had with the Russian ambassador in late December 2016.

The conversation, which took place before Trump's inauguration, had centered around lifting the then-president Barack Obama's sanctions against Russia. Any discussion of sanctions at that time would have amounted to a breach of US law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy.

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Trump Says Had Right to Share With Russia Facts on Terror, Airline Flight Safety

Sputnik News

14:37 16.05.2017(updated 16:19 16.05.2017)

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wanted to and had the right to share with Russian officials facts concerning terrorism and airline flight safety.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Monday, the Washington Post newspaper reported, citing officials, that Trump had revealed in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak highly classified information.

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. [the White House] meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS [Daesh] & terrorism," Trump said in a tweet.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the claims are false, while Trump in a meeting with Lavrov and Kislyak had discussed a wide range of issues related to counter-terrorism, but had not mentioned sources, methods or military operations,.

Also, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said Trump and Lavrov have not discussed intelligence sources or military operations during their meeting.

Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell also confirmed that US media claims that Donald Trump in a meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister and Ambassador released classified information is completely inaccurate.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also described the claim as "nonsense."

 Sputnik

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Secretary General commends Bulgaria's contributions to NATO

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

16 May. 2017

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised Bulgaria's contributions to NATO in talks with the Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ekaterina Zaharieva, on Tuesday (16 May 2017).

Welcoming Minister Zaharieva to NATO headquarters for the first time since her appointment, the Secretary General thanked her for Bulgaria's strong contributions to NATO missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as its support to partners, including Ukraine. Calling Bulgaria "a highly valued Ally", the Secretary General welcomed Sofia's plans for increased investments in defence.

Mr. Stoltenberg and Ms. Zaharieva also discussed Black Sea security and the importance of cooperation between NATO and the European Union. They discussed preparations for the meeting of NATO leaders on 25 May, where burden sharing and NATO's role in the fight against terrorism will top the agenda.

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2 killed, 6 injured in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno

Iran Press TV

Tue May 16, 2017 4:32PM

Two people have been killed and six others have been injured in an attack on a village in Nigeria's volatile northeast.

A police spokesman said on Tuesday that three female attackers had targeted villagers late on Monday in Mandarari Ward, located some 36 kilometers (22 miles) from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

Borno is the heartland of an eight-year-long insurgency by Boko Haram, a Takfiri terrorist group responsible for the death of more than 20,000 civilians and security forces in Nigeria and neighboring countries. More than two million people have also been displaced in Nigeria as a result of the ruthless campaign of killing, abduction and extortion by Boko Haram.

A massive operation by the Nigerian military, which intensified two years ago, has forced militants out of the areas they used to control in the country's north. However, Boko Haram still continues to use locals gripped by poverty to launch attacks.

The Nigerian army says an increase in Boko Haram's attacks came following the rainy season last year, adding that weather conditions have facilitated the activity and movement of militants in the woods and bushes. The army says the ease of activity would end in a few weeks' time as the rainy season starts again.

Boko Haram is an ally of Daesh, a Takfiri terror group based mainly in Iraq and Syria. The group claims, as its name goes, that it wants to put an end to the Western-style education in Nigeria. The group has yet to claim the attack in Borno on Monday.

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Afghan forces recapture key district from Taliban in Kunduz Province

Iran Press TV

Tue May 16, 2017 10:15AM

Afghan forces have recaptured a key district in the northern province of Kunduz from the Taliban militant group, which has stepped up its deadly attacks against government and civilian targets in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, the National Security Forces (ANSF) regained control of the Qala-e-Zal district, which had fallen to Taliban militants 10 days ago, Army Special Forces Battalion commander, Satar Andarabi was cited as saying in local media.

The recapture came after Afghan forces launched a major operation against Taliban positions early in the morning and engaged the militants in fierce battles.

Andarabi added that Afghan troops are currently clearing the area of mines and leftover Taliban militants, who announced the start of it so-called spring offensive in late April.

There are no reports of casualty figures so far. The Taliban have not commented on the report yet.

Afghanistan's Interior Ministry also confirmed the recapture of Qala-e-Zal in an offensive that began at 6:00 a.m. local time from the nearby Aqtapa village.

"Around 2,000 families have been displaced, with most relocating in Kunduz city. Some have also fled to other nearby districts," Assadullah Sadat, a member of the Kunduz provincial council, told AFP.

The Taliban briefly seized Kunduz City in September 2015, in their biggest victory since they were toppled from national power by a US-led invasion in 2001. They were able briefly to re-enter the city center in October 2016 before once again being pushed back.

Elsewhere in the eastern province of Kunar, Taliban militants launched a rocket attack that hit a market in the provincial capital, Asad Abad, killing two employees of the department of communications.

Intense skirmishes have erupted between Taliban mil and government forces in different areas from the northern province of Badakhshan to Helmand and Kandahar in the south since the militant group announced the start of its annual offensive.

Over 1,000 members of Afghan security forces as well as over 700 civilians have so far been killed during the violence this year, according to Afghan authorities and figures cited by the US-based Congressional watchdog Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).

UN figures also indicate that nearly 75,000 people have also been forced to flee their homes in the first four months of the year.

The high casualty figures come nearly 16 years after the US-led and its allies invaded Afghanistan in an announced bid to topple the Taliban regime that was ruling the country back then.

The invasion did remove Taliban from power, but has failed to stop its terror campaign to this day.

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Pentagon Signs Deal With UAE on US Military Presence in Country

Sputnik News

21:38 16.05.2017(updated 21:39 16.05.2017)

The United States signed a framework military cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 8 that outlines the principles for US troop's presence in that country, Department of Defense spokesman Christopher Sherwood told Sputnik on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The spokesperson explained the arrangement will allow the US military "to more seamlessly respond to a range of scenarios in and around the UAE, if necessary."

"The Defense Cooperation Agreement does not prescribe cooperation against particular actors or in particular theaters; it is not a policy document. Rather, it is a framework that dictates the magnitude and conditions of the US military presence in-country," Sherwood stated.

The new deal replaced the agreement the two countries reached in 1994 in the aftermath of the first Gulf War.

"Both sides determined it was time to update the agreement to reflect the broad range of military-to-military cooperation that the UAE and United States enjoy today," Sherwood said.

On Monday, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis met with UAE Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the bilateral US-UAE military alliance.

Mattis and the UAE crown prince also discussed a range of shared security threats, including the ongoing instability in Yemen and Libya, and the campaign in Iraq and Syria to defeat Daesh, according to the Defense Department.

 Sputnik

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UN envoy warns against Kosovo and Serbia trading 'ethno-nationalist' barbs

16 May 2017  A flurry of recent intolerant and provocative rhetoric has further damaged the trust between Kosovo and Serbia  a development that must be closely watched  though the situation remains generally stable, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo told the Security Council today.

"Escalation has been avoided in several instances due to external diplomatic interventions, but the necessary level of trust between Pristina and Belgrade has been further eroded by a number of irresponsible and inflammatory statements," said Zahir Tanin, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and the head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), during a quarterly debate on the situation there.

Kosovo declared its independence in 2008 from Serbia while the latter has not recognized the move.

"Public communications, during this reporting period, unfortunately descended back to intolerant and ethno-nationalist slogans," said Mr. Tanin said, noting that both sides repeatedly accused one another of provocation, whereas the process of normalisation of relations requires cooperation.

One issue of contention is the extradition of Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the AAK political party from France. The question of regional or sub-regional unions is another issue on which both sides traded barbs.

"Improving the situation in Kosovo and the region requires leadership which transcends ethno-national divisions, rather than amplifying them," Mr. Tanin said.

On a positive note, the Mitrovica wall dispute was resolved peacefully through negotiations, and the initial determination to form a Kosovo army by legislative amendments has calmed.

"Such outcomes helped to diffuse tensions and maintain peace," Mr. Tanin said.

On the forthcoming parliamentary election in Kosovo in June, he said the next government, regardless of its composition, would continue to face numerous pressing challenges, but provide opportunities for the renewal of political will and direction, as well as for greater diversity in leadership and representation, for example greater engagement with youth, he said.

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Taliban Categorically Rejects Peace Talks With Afghan Government

By Ayaz Gul May 16, 2017

The Taliban has categorically stated that seeking a peace deal with the current government in Afghanistan would be tantamount to a surrender to the "enemy" and contrary to Islamic faith.

The Islamist insurgency issued the statement to media, including VOA, in response to reports its representatives told a former insurgent group that the Taliban is willing to enter into peace talks with the government.

The announcement, and reported U.S. plans to send additional American troops to the war-torn country to help Afghan forces contain the Taliban, strengthen widespread concerns of an escalation in hostilities and bloodshed this year.

The Taliban's denunciation of engaging in talks with Kabul also deals a critical blow to the U.S.-backed government's hopes a recently concluded, much-touted peace deal with notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar may encourage Taliban leaders to also quit violence and join political reconciliation efforts.

"The stance of the Islamic Emirate [Taliban] is that laying arms to the enemy and assisting them in achieving their sinister designs is not only contrary to the national aspirations of millions of martyrs, but Shariah [Islamic faith] too," said Zabihullah Mujahid, the main spokesman for the insurgency.

He also rejected as "groundless propaganda" reported claims by members of Hekmatyar's group, the Hezb-i-Islami Gulbuddin [HIG], that Taliban officials in the country and those in its Qatar-based so-called political office have established contacts with them and are willing to join the government-led peace process.

While the Taliban has long maintained its insurgency was aimed at forcing U.S.-led international forces to quit Afghanistan, the group is increasingly making clear it is fighting to regain power in the wake of significant territorial gains over the past two years.

Professor Marvin Weinbaum of Washington-based Middle East Institute, however, said the Taliban has not been interested in entering into a peace process from the outset and internationally-backed efforts to nudge the insurgents to the negotiating table were based on "a misguided notion" of having a negotiating partner.

"The Taliban have come to this with a different vision. It's a vision not of this constitutional liberal system. Its a vision rather of a Sharia state that's willing to make accommodations but not to deviate from its basic objectives of an [Islamic] Emirate. And I submit to you that remains the major stumbling block [in the way of peace talks]," he said.

The Taliban would use "Islamic Emirate" for their government in Afghanistan before it was ousted by the U.S.-led military invasion in late 2001.

The Islamist insurgency, meanwhile, has intensified battlefield hostilities across most of Afghanistan since launching its yearly so-called "spring offensive" two weeks ago. The Taliban is currently said to be controlling or influencing an estimated 40 percent of the Afghan territory.

Critics say years of alleged covert support from neighboring Pakistan, coupled with overt legitimacy lately lent to the Taliban by Russia and Iran, have emboldened the insurgency to evidently seek a settlement on its own terms, a proposition unacceptable for the Afghan government and its international backers, fueling fears the precarious security situation is bound to deteriorate in the months ahead.

The United Nations has already warned Afghan civilians, particularly women and children, are increasingly bearing the brunt of the protracted conflict and the number of civilian casualties have already hit a new high in the first quarter of 2017.

"The first four months of 2017 witnessed the highest recorded number of child civilian casualties resulting from conflict-related incidents in Afghanistan, including the highest number of children killed, for the same comparable period since the mission began documenting cases [in 2009]," reported the U.N Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, on Monday.

It said that nearly 1,000 child casualties, including 283 deaths, occurred between January 1 and April 30 this year, showing a 21 percent increase in child deaths compared to the same period in 2016.

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CIA Considers Russian Involvement in US Election Hacking 'Established Fact'

Sputnik News

17:58 16.05.2017(updated 18:04 16.05.2017)

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) believes that the involvement of Russian intelligence services in hacking related to the US elections is an "established fact," CIA spokeswoman Heather Fritz Horniak said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian officials have repeatedly denied the allegations of meddling in foreign elections, calling them absurd. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the Munich Security Conference in February there were "no facts, just accusations" against Moscow.

"The responsibility of the Russian Intelligence services for the election-related hacking is an established fact, but it is not surprising that an identified propaganda outlet like RT would attempt to muddle those facts. No reputable news organization doubts Russian culpability," the spokeswoman told RT.

The US intelligence has accused Moscow of orchestrating Clinton campaign leaks last year to undermine her bid against eventual victor Donald Trump. No evidence was provided.

Russian-based media outlets broadcasting in Europe and the United States have been facing a barrage of accusations by Western officials about allegedly spreading fake news and attempting to influence public life. In the United States, intelligence agencies have claimed Russia has used its media outlets to swing the outcome of US November presidential election in favor of Donald Trump, but have not provided any evidence to back their claims. Russian officials, such as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, have repeatedly stated that Moscow refrains from meddling in internal affairs of foreign countries.

 Sputnik

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UN condemns DPR Korea's ballistic missile launch

15 May 2017  United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today urged Pyongyang to return to the path of denuclearization saying the latest ballistic missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a threat to peace and security in the region.

"The Secretary-General condemns the launch of another ballistic missile by the DPRK, the Spokesman said in a statement.

He added that that launch violates Security Council resolution, and said that Mr. Guterres calls on the DPRK to "ensure full compliance with its international obligations."

DPRK fired the missile while the UN chief was in Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum. Addressing President Xi Jinping, Mr. Guterres highlighted the shared aims of China's One Belt, One Road initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as deepening connectivity in infrastructure, trade and finance.

The missile was reportedly fired from a base in the north-west DPRK, near the border with China.

Later in the day, the UN Security Council also strongly condemned the ballistic missile launches. In a press statement, the Council expressed utmost concern at DPRK's highly destabilizing behaviour and "flagrant and provocative defiance" of the body by conducting the missile launches in violation of the country's international obligations under relevant Council resolutions.

As such, the Council members vowed to fully implement all measures imposed on the DPRK and strongly urged all other Member States to do so in an expeditious and serious manner. They also stressed that the DPRK's illegal ballistic missile activities "are contributing to its development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and are greatly increasing tension in the region and beyond."

Further to the statement, the Council emphasized the vital importance of the DPRK immediately showing sincere commitment to denuclearization through concrete action and stressed the importance of working to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and beyond. To that end, the Council demanded the country conduct no further nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

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Zarif: Talks for lifting non-nuclear sanctions likely

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, May 16, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that negotiations on elimination of non-nuclear sanctions are likely.

'It is likely that negotiations will be held under appropriate conditions; however, we should wait and see the other party would abide by the JCPOA,' Zarif told IRNA.

He highlighted the assertions of the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on the issue and said, 'His Excellency (Supreme Leader) announced that the JCPOA is a test for the other party. If the other parties show they are willing to reach the solution, we will be prepared to enter other fields.'

He said there is more or less consensus worldwide on the need to implement the JCPOA and the US had in the 90-day JCPOA report raised the irrelevant points and baseless charges against Iran concurrent with the positive report on the JCPOA implementation just to create a negative atmosphere.

Highlighting the important role of Hassan Rouhani in nuclear talks, he said, 'Nobody has followed up nuclear topic in detail as he did.'

'Rouhani's well-awareness of the details served as a backing for the negotiators but what is more important than full awareness is courage of Rouhani.'

Elsewhere in the interview, Zarif said opponents of the JCPOA in the US try to cause tumultuous atmosphere and the aim behind escalation of sanctions is just to raise hue and cry.

He noted that due to internal strife, certain friends do what pleases the US.

Touching on elections, Zarif said the elections are distinctive point of Iran and regional states.

'Public presence in the elections and public social presence in general and deciding their fate have resulted in enjoying security and stability by Iran. Today, our region is engulfed in disorder, violence and extremism and there is no real security anywhere in the universe like Iran and public presence make Iran powerful.'

He said Iranian people are always on the scene and the reality has been proved to the negotiating parties that through pressure, humiliation and degradation, our people cannot be separated from the Islamic Republic and their own country.

'Friday elections mark an exceptional opportunity for people to show their power, solidarity and integration to the world.'

1420**2050

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Iranian Vice President Drops Out Of Presidential Race

RFE/RL May 16, 2017

Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri has dropped out of the presidential race and thrown his support behind incumbent Hassan Rohani, who is seeking a second term in the May 19 vote.

Jahangiri, a reformist politician, was believed to have joined the race to boost Rohani's chances of reelection and defend the government's policies in televised debates.

"I feel I have done my duty. I will vote alongside all of you for Rohani," Jahangiri was quoted as saying by the hard-line Tasnim news agency to his supporters in Fars Province.

He signed up to run amid rumors that Rohani might be disqualified by the hard-line Guardians Council that is tasked with vetting election candidates.

Rohani's main rival is hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi, who has accused the president of favoring the rich.

On May 16, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf dropped out of the election to back Raisi, believed to be a favorite of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Qalibaf had been running for president for the third time after being defeated in the 2005 and 2013 votes.

Two other candidates, conservative Mostafa Mirsalim, a former culture minister, and centrist Mostafa Hashemitaba, a former head of the Iranian National Olympic Committee, remain in the race, with Hashemitaba saying that he will vote for Rohani.

Both Qalibaf and Raisi have said that Rohani has failed to translate a 2015 deal with global powers, which restricted Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions, into a better life for Iranians.

Both have promised to create millions of jobs if elected and increase cash handouts to the poorer segments of society.

In the past few days, Rohani has received key endorsements from reformist former President Mohammad Khatami and opposition cleric Mehdi Karrubi, who has been under house arrest since 2011.

With reporting by Tasnim and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-vice-president-jahangiri -drops-out-presidential-election/28491640.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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Clashes With Syrian Opposition in N Syria Continue - Kurdish YPG Militia

Sputnik News

09:55 16.05.2017

Skirmishes between Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia and Syrian moderate opposition fighters continue in the northern part of the country, YPG said in a statement on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The statement specified that the YPG members and opposition fighters exchanged fire in northern Syria on Wednesday and Thursday, which resulted in several casualties. Both incidents were initiated by the Islamists.

On Sunday, YPG militants opened fire at a Turkish intelligence drone flying over the Kurdish-controlled Syrian town of Kobani, believing that it carried information about the militia that was to be relayed to the Islamists, according to the statement. While the drone managed to return to Turkish soil, the YPG has no information on whether or not it crashed.

The YPG is a part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, which was formed in 2015 and strives to liberate Northern Syria, particularly the city of Raqqa, from terrorists.

The YPG is often reported to be engaged in clashes with Turkish forces, as Ankara regards YPG as an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group which is outlawed in Turkey.

 Sputnik

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CHATHAM  Did Drewry Hall do everything possible to avoid hitting a jet ski last July on Smith Mountain Lake? That was the question asked of every witness who testified in the Martinsville mans trial.

The now 21-year-old Hall currently faces misdemeanor charges of operating a boat in a reckless manner, purchasing or being in possession of alcohol and getting documents to make a false statement. Hall faces the possession of alcohol charge because he was 20 when the incident occurred last July. In Virginia, a person under 21 can only drink at a private home, office or other private property with parental consent. Smith Mountain Lake doesnt meet those requirements.

The charges stem from the death of Gabby Ayers, of Clemmons, North Carolina, who was killed after the Polaris personal watercraft she was a passenger on collided with a 21-foot Key West Boat on Smith Mountain Lake. The 17-year-old Ayers was riding the watercraft with her friend, 19-year-old William Brandt, whose grandparents own a house on the lake. Hall was the driver of that Key West Boat and had 22-year-old Capers Penn Zentmeyer along for the ride. Both men helped pull Ayers and Brandt to shore after the wreck.

On Tuesday, however, witnesses testified that the boat did not appear to do anything to avoid collision. During the nearly 3  hour court hearing Tuesday, the prosecution called several witnesses but did not complete its case. The trial will resume Aug. 14 at 11 a.m.

James Layne testified that he saw the Key West Boat with its nose in the air strike the (10-foot) jet ski and pass over it. Layne said he did not see the boat take any action to avoid collision, however he did not see what happened before the impact.

Layne testified that he was onshore when the collision occurred and that he and others hollered at the boat to turn around because it had hit the jet ski. He said the boat did return, and he saw one person jump out of the Key West boat fully clothed and without a life jacket to try to rescue the victims and pull them back to the boat. Layne said the Key West boat did not try to flee after the collision.

Frances Ella Brandt -- a friend of Gabby Ayers and sister of William Rentz Brandt, who was operating the jet ski  testified that she saw the Key West boat hit the jet ski. She said the boat was traveling very fast, in her estimation.

James Jefferson estimated the Key West Boat was traveling about 45 miles per hour at impact and he didnt see the boat take any action to avoid colliding with the jet ski. He said variously that the jet ski was not going too fast and was about still. Several other witnesses testified that the jet ski was slow moving or appeared to be about still in the water.

William Brandt, who was operating the jet ski, testified that he did not remember the actual collision, but the last thing he did remember was he was driving the jet ski and he looked over his right shoulder and he saw the boat approaching the jet ski. I knew it was going to hit me, he said of the gut feeling he had at the time.

William Brandt said he doesnt remember how fast he was driving the jet ski or where he was going, or how fast the boat was traveling.

Several witnesses testified that Hall and Zentmeyer helped get the victims from the water and to shore.

Officer Joseph Williams of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries testified that Hall had a slight odor of alcohol on him after the collision but that Hall initially told Williams he had nothing to drink that day. Williams gave Hall a preliminary breath test and the result was .015 (which is below Virginias legal blood alcohol limit of 0.02 for underage drinking). Hall then told Williams he had consumed one beer several hours before, Williams said.

In response to questions by Bill Stanley, one of Halls lawyers, Williams said Hall did not have slurred speech or bloodshot or watery eyes; was not legally under the influence of alcohol; and that he seemed coherent.

Officer Eric Dotterer of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries testified that Hall told him that he had two fake drivers licenses on the boat.

According to testimony, the boating collision happened about 7:30 p.m. near Anthony Ford Boat Ramp. Some people were gathering in that area for fireworks that were planned.

Pittsylvania County Commonwealths Attorney Bryan Haskins alleged in his opening statement that Hall was not watching where he was going and slam ran over the jet ski at full throttle.

Defense lawyer Thomas Cullen countered that argument by saying the prosecution would fail to meet its burden of proof, that the prosecution did not have data to prove the speed the Key West Boat was traveling, that Hall was a licensed boat operator, that William Brandt was not a licensed boat operator, and that the Key West Boat was fully illuminated.
Toronto, May 17, 2017 - Frontline Gold Corp. (TSXV: FGC) ("Frontline" or the "Company") announces it has executed an Option Agreement with Pacton Gold Inc. ("Pacton", TSXV: PAC) wherein, Pacton has the option to acquire a 100% percent interest in the Company's Red Lake Property Group, in the Red Lake District, by making certain payments and share issuances to Frontline. Frontline's Red Lake Property Group retains a 2.25% net smelter returns royalty, with Frontline's net smelter returns royalty ranging from 0.25% to 2.25% on all the mineral claims and mineral patents. Pacton can purchase one-half (1/2) of Frontline's royalty by payment of $250,000 for each 0.25% of Frontline's Royalty.

The acquisition of the Red Lake Property Group by Pacton is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

The prolific Red Lake Gold District, Northwestern Ontario contains some of the richest gold deposits in the world and has produced over 25 million ounces of gold from high grade zones, including 1.3 million ounces of gold produced by GoldCorp in the district at a grade of 19.5 g/t from 2013 to 2015 (source: Goldcorp's production in Red Lake - per public disclosure).

Frontline's Red Lake Property Group

The Red Lake Property Group comprises 34 mineral claims and 2 mineral patents, totaling 274 claims units for a total area of approximately 4,420 hectares. The Red Lake Property Group primarily consists of 3 properties: 1) Baird/Heyson mineral claims ("Baird/Heyson Property"), 2) the Chukuni package, and 3) the Whitehorse Island Patents ("Whitehorse Property"):

Baird/Heyson Property

The Baird/Heyson Property, which consists of 15 mineral claims, totalling 141 claim units, totalling 2,256 hectares, is primary located, along the south and southeast boundaries of Pure Gold Mining Inc.'s ("Pure Gold") 100% owned Madsen Gold Project in the Red Lake Gold District, Ontario.

The Baird/Heyson is principally hosted within Confederation Assemblage rocks, immediately south of the Balmer - Confederation unconformity, in the western portion of the Red Lake Greenstone Belt. There are three main exploration targets of interest on the property: the westward extension of the prolific Madsen Mine Trend, the New Faulkenham Mine Structure Trend, and the base-metal massive sulphide VMS Zone.

Public work assessment records indicate that a number of companies have explored portions of the South Baird Property dating back to the 1940's. Prior work assessments have confirmed the presence of potentially significant gold, silver and copper mineralization associated within favourable geological settings.

2003-2006: Solitaire Minerals - United Bolero Development Corp. completed 10 drill holes totaling 1,093 metres tested the Faulkenham Mine trend (8 holes) and the VMS copper target (2 holes) previously intersected by the 1976 Selco drilling. SB-06-03, the northern-most hole into the Faulkenham Mine trend, intersected 6 metres of 0.3 grams gold at 43 metres depth and 2.5 metres of 0.5 grams gold at 80.5 metres depth. SB-06-09 and -10 targeted the Selco VMS target. SB-06-09 intersected 10.32 metres of 0.3% copper and 0.3 grams gold (including 1.4% copper and 1.4 grams gold over 1.52 metres) at a depth of 36 metres. SB-06-10 intersected 1.5 metres of 0.4% copper and 0.3 grams gold at a depth of 78.7 metres.

Chukuni Property

Consists of 12 mineral claims, totalling 114 claim units, totalling 1,824 hectares, and lies immediately south of and adjoins the Goldcorp Red Lake Mine property. Previous exploration in the Red Lake area disclosed high grade gold mineralization and, in 1995, a rich gold deposit that was not supposed to exist, was discovered in the area now being mined by Goldcorp.

Further recommended work on the Chukuni property should involve a close examination of the recent Red Lake Camp developments and also expanding the area of historical focus away from the old showings, while noting that the previous work has at least tapped into a gold-mineralized system. (Source: Report on the 2006 Diamond Drill Program, Chukuni Property, Solitaire Minerals Corporation, January 2007, J. Garry Clarke, P.Geo.)

Whitehorse Property

The Whitehorse Property comprised of two contiguous claims, totalling 35.55 hectares hosts the Whitehorse Island gold shaft and are situated southwest of and contiguous with the Goldcorp Inc. ("Goldcorp")/Premier Gold ("Premier") JV Rahill-Bonanza property, and northeast of Premier's 100% owned Hasaga property.

The Whitehorse Property has seen considerable past exploration and is host to the historic Orlac Deposit, located on and northeast of Whitehorse Island on the Property, southwest of Rahill-Bonanza has been explored and drilled since 1937 by a variety of operators, and has an historic estimated resource of 300,000 tons @ 0.08 oz/t (Noramco, 1988) and 175,000 tons @ 0.20 oz/ton Au (Cable Mines & Oils Ltd, 1948) over an area approximately 160 metres long, 3-5 metres wide, and 125 metres deep. Historic assays include intersections like 4.53 g/t Au over 26 metres and 4.70 g/t Au over 17.2 metres (Pure Gold Resources 1987-88), and 3.32 g/t Au over 28.4 metres, and 4.7 g/t Au over 17.2 metres (Noramco, 1988).

Terms of the Option Agreement

Pacton will have the option to acquire a 100 percent interest in the Red Lake Property Group from Frontline by making four (4) cash payments totaling $300,000, and issuing a total of 4,200,000 common shares to Frontline over a three (3) year period. Frontline's Red Lake Property Group retains a 2.25% net smelter returns royalty, with Frontline's net smelter returns royalty ranging from 0.25% to 2.25% on all the mineral claims and mineral patents. Pacton can purchase one-half (1/2) of Frontline's royalty by payment of $250,000 for each 0.25% of Frontline's Royalty.

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 over 9,600 acres.

-The Chukuni property which 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 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 property 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, Elazig Province of Turkey in the Central East Anatolia region, 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- Located about 100 km east from the city of Elazig, Turkey 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" Contact: Walter Henry Telephone: (416) 414-5825 Fax: (416) 363-6872 Email: info@frontlinegold.com Website: www.frontlinegold.com Frontline Gold Corp. (TSX-V: FGC) 1 Toronto Street, Suite 201 Toronto, Ontario M5C 2V6 Walter Henry, President & CEO

Frontline Gold Corp.

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.


Vancouver, May 17, 2017 - Ashanti Gold Corp. (TSXV: AGZ) ("Ashanti" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has begun mobilization to drill on the Kossanto East project in Mali (the "Project").

The Project is a 66.41 km2 concession in the prolific Kenieba Inlier, the northwestern-most exposure of Birimian rocks in West Africa. The Project has six known pods of mineralization. Two have been partially explored by past operator, Alecto Minerals PLC. Ashanti's plan is to extend out and add data points to the existing geological model and to drill untested mineralization pods. The Kenieba Inlier is a major geological province for gold mineralization. Over the last twenty five years more than 40M ounces of gold has been discovered in proximity to key structures resulting in the construction of multiple mines, including the world class Loulo, Sadiola, Yatela, Gounkoto, Segala and Tabakoto (see Figure 1).

Currently, the Company is in the process of building a camp on site for its crew (see Pictures 1 - 3), and the anticipated work will include both diamond and reverse circulation drilling for end-May going into June.





Picture 1

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Picture 2

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Picture 3

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Figure 1. Geologic map of the Kenieba Inlier, the most northwest extent of Birimian rocks in West Africa. The Kossanto East Project is situated at the convergence of the Main Transcurrent Shear Zone and the Senegal-Mali Shear zone offering a rich structural environment for the formation of gold deposits. (map adapted from Lawrence, et al., 2013; Economic Geology v.108,pp. 199-227. Gold ounces from Annual Reports and various on-line sources.)

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Ashanti has the right to earn 65% of Alecto's interest (after including the Mali State carried interest of 10%, Ashanti ownership of the property upon completion of the earn-in agreement will be 58.5%) in the Project by completing a Preliminary Feasibility Study ("PFS") within 36 months with the right to extend the Option Period to complete PFS by an additional 12 months for a cash payment of US$280,000.

ABOUT ASHANTI GOLD

Ashanti is a gold-focused, exploration and development company with projects in the northern Ashanti Belt of Ghana and the Kenieba Belt of Mali. The Company targets premier projects where it has a competitive advantage due to past work experience of the team and specific project know-how.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

Ashanti Gold Corp.

"Tim McCutcheon"

Tim McCutcheon

CEO

For further information, please contact:

Ashanti Gold Corp.

2300 - 1177 West Hastings Street

Vancouver BC, V6E 2K3

Phone: 604-638-3847

Qualified Person and Quality Control/Quality Assurance

Dr. Paul Klipfel, CPG (AIPG certification #10821), Ashanti's COO and Chief Geologist is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian NI 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Dr. Klipfel is responsible for all aspects of the work including the Quality Control/Quality Assurance programs. Dr. Klipfel is not an Independent Person, as he is a shareholder of Ashanti.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

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.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Group Ten Metals Inc. (TSX-V:PGE) (OTC:DCGCF) (the Company or Group Ten) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Tim Thiessen as Chief Financial Officer, and of Mr. Brian Cloney and Mr. Douglas Warkentin to the Companys newly-formed Advisory Board.



Mr. Tim Thiessen is a Chartered Accountant with 20 years of international accounting and finance experience, the last 13 of which have been spent in the mining industry. Currently CFO at Metallic Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:MMG) and Foran Mining Corp. (TSX-V:FOM), he previously held this position with SnipGold Corp. (acquired by Seabridge Gold Inc. in June 2016) and Aurcana Corp.. Mr. Thiessen spent 7 years as Vice President of Finance for TSX-listed Endeavour Financial Ltd., an advisory firm in the mining industry specializing in mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing and was part of a team that spawned industry-leading companies such as Silver Wheaton Corp., UrAsia Energy Ltd., Peak Gold Ltd. and Coastal Energy Corp. Mr. Thiessen is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and has also held the positions of Controller with Endeavour Mining Capital Corp. and Auditor for Deloitte LLP, with a focus in the mining and financial services industries.

Group Ten is also pleased to announce the formation of an Advisory Board, initially consisting of Mr. Brian Cloney and Mr. Douglas Warkentin, to assist in guiding the Companys technical and financial progress. Further additions are anticipated in the coming months.

Douglas Warkentin, BSc., P.Eng., is a Metallurgical and Process Development Consultant with over 30 years of experience in the mining and mineral processing industries. Currently Senior Metallurgist at Kemetco Research Inc. in Richmond, British Columbia, Mr. Warkentin has conducted mineral processing, hydrometallurgy, minewater treatment and resource recovery on a broad array of base, precious and high-tech metals projects for international clients. He was a co-founder of Group Ten Metals and served on the Companys Board of Directors from October 2007 to July 2014. He is the author of numerous technical papers and holds a series of patents for mine water treatment and process technologies. Mr. Warkentin graduated from UBC with a degree in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering, and has been a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC since 1992.

Brian Cloney is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 35 years of public accounting experience and is currently the principal of BMC Institutional Supplies & Services Inc., a private Ontario corporation providing management, compliance and financial consulting services in the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to this, he was a Chartered Accountant at the accounting firm, Brian Cloney CPA & Associates, a position he held since 1985. Mr. Cloney has extensive experience in the mining industry, holding the Chief Financial Officer position with a number of publicly-traded exploration and development-stage mineral resource companies. Mr. Cloney was a Director of Group Ten from March 2014 to June 2016 and is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NWT Copper Mines Ltd.

Group Ten Metals President and CEO, Michael Rowley stated, We are very happy to be strengthening our team with such comprehensive financial, technical and corporate governance expertise. The addition of Tim Thiessen as CFO adds a key pillar to the Companys foundation. Tim has an extensive background with exploration and development-stage mining companies and brings tremendous expertise in M&A and corporate finance; transactions that are highly-relevant to Group Ten as we execute our business development plans. Messrs. Cloney and Warkentin bring a wealth of knowledge and connections in their respective areas of expertise to the Advisory Board. I would like to thank Mr. Tim Johnson for his hard work and support as Interim CFO over the past eight months through our transition period. We expect to make additional announcements with respect to the team and projects over the coming weeks and months, including potential acquisition opportunities which are currently being evaluated.

About Group Ten Metals Inc.

Group Ten Metals Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of high-quality mineral exploration assets in North America. The Companys core holdings include a large land position adjacent to, and along trend with, Wellgreen Platinums Ni-Cu-PGM project in the southwest Yukon Territory and the Black Lake-Drayton gold project in the Rainy River district of northwest Ontario.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors:

GROUP TEN METALS INC.

Michael Rowley

Michael Rowley, President, CEO & Director

info@grouptenmetals.com

Tel: (604) 357 4790

TF: (888) 432 0075

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cougar Metals ("Cougar") has drilled Test holes in the southern zone.

Trenching has begun in the main zone. Multiple layers of graphite mineralization have been exposed.

The layers are shallow dipping at about 25-30 degrees to the east. Graphite flakes as large as 8,000 microns were discovered. Note: Jumbo flake sizes start at 300 micron / +50 mesh and are sold as large as 841 micron / +20 mesh. Depending on the carbon content the jumbo flakes can sell for greater than U$2,000.

3 km access road has been constructed to the main zone.

Drilling will start on the main zone shortly.

DNI has contracted Don Hains of Hains Engineering to verify the standards used in developing the project. Don accompanied DNI's technical and management team on the trip.

The group also met with BCMM, Madagascar's mining commission, to update them on the progress. Note: DNI's, Vohitsara graphite project is fully permitted.

Toronto, May 17, 2017 - DNI Metals Inc. (DNI: CSE) (FSE: DG7N) (OTC Pink: DMNKF) ("DNI" or the "Company") organized a trip to Madagascar last week to check on the progress of its fully permitted graphite deposit in Madagascar.Highlights:

Don Hains is President of Hains Engineering and Principal of Hains Technology Associates. He is an industrial minerals geology, mineral economics and marketing specialist with more than 30 years of experience in exploration, development, use and analysis of industrial minerals properties and materials, with significant experience in graphite exploration, processing and markets. Don is a registered geoscientist in Ontario. He earned his undergraduate degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and holds an MBA from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Don is the co-author of the CIM Best Practice Guidelines for Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves for Industrial Minerals and Best Practice Guidelines for Estimation of Resources and Reserves for Lithium Brines. These Best Practice Guidelines are available on the CIM website at www.cim.org.

As per the Definitive agreement signed March 24, 2017 with Cougar:

Cougar can earn into 50% of DNI's Madagascar Graphite Project. NI 43-101 PEA (Preliminary Economic Assessment) must be completed by October 31, 2017. Cougar must drill a minimum of 3,000m to a maximum depth of 50m, and additionally complete 1,000m of trenching. The Saprolitic advantage of DNI's graphite project, will simplify drilling for Cougar's experienced team. Cougar completed a drill program of a Saprolitic graphite deposit in Brazil, in 2015/2016. Since Cougar did not withdraw from the project by April 12, 2017, Cougar is now obligated to pay DNI U$150,000 by June 7, 2017.

About DNI Metals

Certain advisors and directors of DNI have significant operational experience at historical hard rock graphite mines in Canada (e.g. Ontario and Quebec) and Australia. Between them, they have built three (3) processing plants and designed two (2) others; all, which were shut down in the 1990,'s due to increased Chinese competition. Keith Minty, director, worked at Cal Graphite near Kearny, Ontario.

It was our team's understanding of the high production and capital expenditure costs associated with so-called "hard rock" graphite mining that inspired DNI to search for saprolite-hosted graphite deposits.

Certain parts Madagascar and Brazil, produce graphite from weathered material called saprolite.

According to Dictionary.com, saprolite is described as:

"Soft, thoroughly decomposed and porous rock, often rich in clay, formed by the in place chemical weathering of igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. Saprolite is especially common in humid and tropical climates. It is usually reddish brown or grayish white and contains those structures (such as cross-stratification) that were present in the original rock from which it formed."

DNI owns a commercially permitted, saprolite-hosted graphite deposit in Madagascar; located 50kms from the country's main seaport. The deposit is located less than two (2) kms from the paved national highway. DNI intends to develop the Vohitsara project, should the economic viability and technical feasibility be established. DNI has not yet established mineral resources or mineral reserves supported by a PEA or mining study (PFS or FS).

DNI has a graphite wholesale business, in which it buys and sells high quality graphite. This business has shown a steady increase in volume over the past year.

Steven Goertz (MAusIMM, MAIG), who is a qualified person, approved the technical disclosure in this news release.

DNI  Canadian Securities Exchange

DG7N  Frankfurt

DMNKF - OTC Pink

Issued: 56,124,959







For further information, contact:



DNI Metals Inc.

Dan Weir, CEO 416-595-1195

DanWeir@dnimetals.com

Also visit www.dnimetals.com







We seek Safe Harbour. This announcement may include forward looking statements. While these statements represent DNI's best current judgment, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary, including risk factors listed in DNI's Annual Information Form and its MD&A's, all of which are available from SEDAR and on its website.


OAKVILLE, May 17, 2017 - Saint Jean Carbon Inc. ("Saint Jean" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:SJL) with reference to the previous press release dated May 16, 2017, wishes to announce that it placed an aggregate of 6,550,000 units ("Common Units") at a price of $0.05 per Common Unit for gross proceeds of $327,500 (the "Common Unit Offering"). Each Common Unit consists of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company ("Common Share") at a price of $0.05 per Common Share and one (1) common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one (1) additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.055 per Common Share for a period of 48 months from the date of issuance.

In connection with the closing of the first tranche of the Common Unit Offering, the Company paid a cash finder's fee in the amount of $27,000 to one arm's length finder (the "Finder"). In addition, the Company issued 270,000 non-transferable warrants to the Finder entitling the holder to acquire one (1) additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.055 per Common Share for a period of 48 months from the date of issuance.

All securities issued as part of the Common Unit Offering are subject to a four month and one (1) day hold period.

About Saint Jean

Saint Jean is a publicly traded carbon science company, with interest in graphite mining claims on the 100% Company-owned properties located in the province of Quebec in Canada. The five properties include the Walker property, a past producing mine, the Wallingford property, the Buckingham property, East Miller and Clot property. For information on Saint Jean's other properties and the latest news please go to the website: www.saintjeancarbon.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Saint Jean Carbon Inc.

Paul Ogilvie, CEO and Chairman

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning Saint Jean's business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "intends" "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Such forward-looking statements include those with respect to the Company's intention to complete the Offering and use the proceeds of the Offering as working capital to fund the continued development of the Company's business.

These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ materially. The forward-looking statements in this news release assume, inter alia, that the conditions for completion of the Offering, including regulatory approval will be met.

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Clunky. Difficult to use. Not worth the effort. These are the common complaints leveled over the years at prescription drug monitoring programs. PDMPs are state-maintained electronic databases that doctors, pharmacists and other health-care professionals use to keep tabs on their patients prescription drug habits. Theyre considered vital in efforts to curb the opioid epidemic that has ravaged so much of the country. A physician can see, for instance, if a patient has been doctor shopping to get unneeded prescriptions. This is probably the best tool we have to find out whether a patient is in crisis, and it also helps us identify doctors that are just prescribing too many pills, says James Gessner, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society.Its a tool, though, that doctors love to hate. A common gripe is that it takes more than 20 mouse clicks to see a patients prescription information. Doctors also complain that databases take up to a week or longer to update. But a movement to make PDMPs more functional has picked up considerable steam. Several states have recently upgraded their systems while also adding features to give doctors a more comprehensive look at a patient.Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker campaigned, in part, on a promise to revamp his states PDMP. Easier-to-use technology was rolled out last August, along with a new law requiring doctors to check before prescribing the most addictive opioids. Around 70 percent of doctors signed up for the revamped database in its first six months, a marked increase from the number who had previously been using the system. In New York state, doctors are not only mandated to use electronic prescriptions but are also required to first look up a patients drug history.Missouri is the only state without a PDMP, largely the result of a campaign by state Sen. Rob Schaaf, a physician who objects to the databases on privacy grounds. The states inaction has led several Missouri counties, including its most populous ones, to take matters into their own hands.St. Louis, St. Charles and Jackson counties all authorized PDMPs in 2016, and the systems are set to go live later this year. Other counties will be able to access the data.This has really put a new wind in our sail, says state Rep. Holly Rehder, who grew up among addicts in her family and whose daughter was once hooked on prescription opiates.This month, Rehder withdrew a bill to create a statewide PDMP because the amended version would have threatened existing county systems.No one in Missouri or elsewhere sees PDMPs as a silver bullet. While the number of prescriptions for opioids dipped nationally last year, overdose deaths ticked up to 50,000, driven in part by an increase in abuse of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. The numbers that weve been seeing with fentanyl in particular are disappointing, says Massachusetts Gessner. This is an issue were going to be dealing with for a while.
Under pressure from advocacy organizations that had threatened a lawsuit, the Wolf administration said Tuesday that it would expand Medicaid coverage for treatment of hepatitis C, a major change that many states have put off over fear of spiraling costs."Today's announcement means that thousands of vulnerable Pennsylvanians will soon have easier access to pharmaceuticals that can cure" hepatitis C, Department of Human Services Secretary Ted Dallas said in a statement.Until now, state policy had been to wait until patients showed signs of liver damage before approving treatment. Allowing earlier treatment was recommended one year ago Wednesday by the department's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. As time passed without a decision, observers wondered whether the state was trying to determine how to pay for the highly effective but costly new drugs that have made hepatitis C a curable disease.New hepatitis C infections tripled in five years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week, driven largely by the opioid epidemic. The bloodborne hepatitis C virus is easily spread by sharing needles to inject heroin or crushed prescription pain pills.But the virus can grow undetected for decades before causing chronic and sometimes life-threatening liver problems. An estimated 3 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis C, about half of them undiagnosed. The new website HepVu estimated last month that 142,000 Pennsylvania residents are living with hepatitis C antibodies and 629 died of the disease in 2014, the latest estimates available. It said 91,000 New Jersey residents had antibodies and 446 had died that year.New drugs that can effectively cure hepatitis C with minimal side effects began coming on the market several years ago but, as they cost tens of thousands of dollars per patient, many states limited their use to those whose disease had shown up on liver tests, and added other restrictions -- barriers that exist for no other disease."Hopefully, what this means is I no longer have to tell patients that their liver isn't sick enough," said Stacey B. Trooskin, an infectious diseases physician and director of viral hepatitis programs for Philadelphia FIGHT, a nonprofit health and social services organization. Trooskin said she likely had dozens of patients who would now qualify for coverage.She said that policymakers' fears that many Medicaid recipients would get tested and seek treatment were overblown. "In reality, it will be more like a trickle," she said.Among those who said he would seek treatment is James Luongo, who suspects that he contracted hepatitis C from getting a tattoo or injecting heroin with a shared needle. He has twice been denied Medicaid coverage for treatment."I don't want to be contagious," said Luongo, 47, who lives with his ailing mother in Northeast Philadelphia and has been clean -- in a methadone maintenance program -- for 2 { years.His Community Legal Services of Philadelphia attorney told him this week that he should be eligible for treatment soon.Hepatitis C severity is categorized on a scale of F0 through F4, with F4 being the most severe. Previously, only patients with scores of F2 through F4 were eligible for treatment under Pennsylvania Medicaid unless they had other complications. Luongo is an F0.Effective July 1, patients with scores of F1 will be covered, the state said in its announcement, and those with scores of F0 will be covered beginning Jan. 1, 2018.About a dozen other states have loosened restrictions in the last few years, some under pressure from advocates. New Jersey eased its restrictions last year but only down to F2, which has not satisfied physicians or advocacy groups.In his statement, Dallas thanked several organizations, including Harvard Law School's Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, for their help "on finding a path forward."The center has sued or threatened to sue several states to force decisions. It reached a settlement with Delaware last year.Kevin Costello, the center's litigation director, said that the "overt threat of a lawsuit" had kept the pressure on Harrisburg to approve the change. Costello said it was not likely to be nearly as costly as some have predicted.For that reason -- as well as the tendency to budget for the short term -- the possibility of future cuts to state Medicaid programs as Congress considers repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act probably was not a significant impediment to Pennsylvania's decision to drop restrictions on hepatitis C coverage, he said.The oft-quoted prices -- $84,000 for a typical 12-week course of Gilead Sciences' Sovaldi, for example -- have dropped with additional competition, Costello said, and state Medicaid programs have improved their negotiating tactics and applied substantial discounts. Indeed, a Gilead spokesman said in an email late Tuesday that "the average Medicaid price per bottle is now less than $10,000" -- a total of $30,000 for 12 weeks -- "for states that provide open access to all patients."The Obama administration sent pointed letters to state Medicaid programs about requirements to cover treatment, and challenged pharmaceutical makers to lower prices.In Pennsylvania, about 3,750 people infected with hepatitis C will likely be affected by the policy change, said Rachel Kostelac, a spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services. "The state's annual contribution to the Medicaid program is approximately $12 billion. The fiscal impact of this policy change is well below one-half of 1 percent of the state's current costs," Kostelac said in an email response to questions."The real problem here," said Gene Bishop, a retired internist and member of the advisory committee that recommended the change on May 17, 2016, is the pharmaceutical companies, which are charging "outrageous prices for life-saving treatment."Bishop made last year's motion recommending that the state's Medicaid program cover treatment for all patients. It was supported by every practitioner on the committee and opposed by every member on the payer side, she recalled, adding that she had not expected the motion to prevail.
Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates is dismissing calls from Democrats for her to enter the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race.I am totally ruling out the governors race," Yates said in an interview published Tuesday by The New Yorker. "I am not running for governor.Yates drew plenty of praise from the left after her testimony to senators earlier this month defending her brief time in the Trump White House, which included warning others about former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's possibly compromising interactions with Russian officials.President Trump fired Yates for refusing to back his travel ban against several Muslim-majority nations.
Mayor Ed Murray's supporters can't solicit money through the fund they've proposed to help him battle a lawsuit that accuses him of sexually abusing a teenager in the 1980s.That's what the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission said Tuesday, as it issued an advisory opinion on the proposal."Given our current ethics code or what we care about," commission chair Eileen Norton said before the vote, "I just don't see a path in our current structure for a legal-defense fund."Murray supporters asked the commission to weigh in earlier this month, saying an effective defense for the mayor could cost $1 million or more."The allegations in the suit are controversial and, especially given its timing, the suit is politically charged," their lawyers wrote in a letter to the commission."The mayor, a lifelong public servant, does not have the personal resources needed to fund his own legal defense."Washington state and Seattle have no laws specific to legal-defense funds in support of public officials.Murray supporters said the fund would be run independent from the mayor and said the trustee overseeing it would be former City Councilmember Martha Choe.To guard against corruption and the appearance of corruption, all contributions to the fund would be unlimited but anonymous, the supporters said.Contributors to the fund would sign confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, they said.Norton and other commissioners didn't buy that argument Tuesday.The city's ethics code prohibits gifts to public officials that involve a quid pro quo or an appearance of impropriety -- a situation in which a reasonable person believes a gift has been given with the intent to influence an official.Even with the proposed confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, a legal-defense fund for Murray would give a reasonable person "heartburn," Norton said."The way I break this down, we're being asked to approve a mechanism to allow an elected official to solicit unlimited amounts of money from anonymous donors," she said. "There's no manner in which that fits into the state's and the city's attitudes towards transparency and accountability and disclosure."Lawyers for the mayor's supporters said they would be open to disclosing and limiting the amount of contributions to the fund.Norton said she wouldn't be comfortable with that either, barring a new state or city law or regulation specific to legal-defense funds.In their advisory opinion, the panelists didn't directly address that possibility. But they said the fund as proposed would not be allowable under the ethics code, the commission won't draw up new regulations for legal-defense funds and the city's gifts prohibition would apply to any legal-defense fund.Taki Flevaris, a lawyer for the Murray supporters, said the supporters would go back to the drawing board. But Wayne Barnett, the commission's executive director, said it's unlikely any fund would be considered legal.Delvonn Heckard, 46, sued the mayor last month, alleging Murray sexually abused him when he was a teenager.Two other men have made similar claims separate from the lawsuit, and a fourth man has alleged Murray had paid him for sex.Murray denies the allegations but last week ended his campaign for re-election.
The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling striking down a law that imposed special requirements for municipalities in St. Louis County after the unrest following the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in 2014.One section required municipalities in St. Louis County to adhere to a set of minimum standards, including a requirement that police departments earn accreditation. Another capped the revenue that a city could keep from traffic fines at 12.5 percent of its general operating revenue, instead of the 20 percent cap the law imposed statewide. The previous cap was 30 percent statewide.Twelve cities and two mayors in St. Louis County challenged those sections because they were aimed specifically at St. Louis County, calling them "special laws" that are generally barred by the state constitution.The high court ruled that special laws can survive a court challenge if the state demonstrates "substantial justification" for special treatment. But the state attorney general's office didn't try, the judges wrote.Missouri Treasurer Eric Schmitt, who sponsored the bill when he served in the state Senate, said in an email that he was disappointed the special requirements for municipalities in St. Louis County were not defended "despite strong statistical evidence in support of a lower cap." But he said the 20 percent cap, reduced from 30 percent, was a "significant victory for efforts to eliminate these abusive taxation by citation schemes that hit the poor especially hard."Sam Alton, a lawyer for the plaintiff cities, said he was pleased that the Supreme Court "followed the law. The way it was originally written, (the law) was a terrible overreach and unfairly applied. All we wanted was fair implementation of the law."It was not immediately clear why lawyers for the state backed away from the law's requirements for St. Louis County. A spokeswoman for Attorney General Josh Hawley said the issue was handled by his predecessor, Chris Koster.Koster, now working for the health care company Centene Corp., said he would need to review files to answer the question. He referred questions to the lawyer in his office who argued the case, J. Andrew Hirth, of Columbia, who could not be reached.The special requirements were the centerpiece of a court-reform bill known as Senate Bill 5, enacted in 2015 in response to the unrest following the shooting of Brown on Aug. 9, 2014. A blistering report by the U.S. Department of Justice in March 2015 called the Ferguson municipal court an abusive fundraising tool, and a series of investigative Post-Dispatch stories exposed how Ferguson and other cities relied heavily on court fines and fees to raise revenue for city services.Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon E. Beetem agreed with the plaintiffs last year in a ruling that the special requirements were barred by the constitution. He also agreed that a statewide requirement on municipalities to submit annual financial statements to the state auditor was an unfunded mandate that violated the state's Hancock Amendment.The Supreme Court upheld the bulk of Beetem's ruling in a 5-1 vote with two judges not participating. But the judges threw out the part of Beetem's ruling blocking the financial reporting to the auditor.Auditor Nicole Galloway said in an email she was pleased the court affirmed her ability to hold local governments accountable. "Too often my audits identified blatant disregard for financial reporting requirements, and outright refusal to remit excess revenue owed to the state," she wrote, vowing to continue ensuring cities are not using courts "as the main source of revenue to prop up an otherwise unsustainable government."The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed in November 2015, are Normandy, Cool Valley, Velda Village Hills, Glen Echo Park, Bel-Ridge, Bel-Nor, Pagedale, Moline Acres, Uplands Park, Vinita Park, Northwoods and Wellston, and Normandy Mayor Patrick Green and Pagedale Mayor Mary Louise Carter.
(TNS) -- Attention, Philadelphians: Your city government is conducting experiments to better understand how to get you to react.As part of an effort to use human behavior to inform how City Hall reaches residents, a group led by Mayor Kenney's policy team conducted three studies, the results of which were made available last week.The team: Director of Policy Anjali Chainani, Assistant Director of Policy Yuan Huang, and Policy Analyst Nandi O'Connor. They run GovLabPHL, which connects volunteer researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College with various city departments. In its first round of testing, GovLabPHL worked with the city's Revenue Department, Indego bike share, and a summer jobs program.Some of the experiments may seem simple, but they are shaping how departments go about mail and email campaigns to maximize responses and participation."We're doing this because we have a commitment from the policy office to lead with research and evidence," Chainani said. "All these departments really believe in being able to use scientific methods to see if their outcomes work, primarily because we do the best we can with the resources we have, but we can't always know exactly what is working until we test it."The Revenue Department focused on first-time delinquent taxpayers. The office sent different messages to see which drew the most responses. The first letter appealed to the person's civic duty, citing specific parks and recreation centers in the neighborhood supported by property taxes. A second letter sought to shame recipients by pointing out that nine out of 10 Philadelphians pay taxes and that they were in the tax-dodging minority. The final and most effective message listed all the properties in the neighborhood that had been sold at sheriff's sale because of unpaid taxes."The scary letter -- warning of impending consequences -- was by far the most effective," First Deputy Revenue Commissioner Marisa Waxman said. "We've really learned through this work that everything is a choice. Not thinking about how you're structuring or delivering your message is a choice."The department spent $17,000 on the mailers but collected $615,752 more in delinquent taxes than it did from a control group that received in the mail the standard, less personalized notice of delinquency. If each recipient had received the "scary letter," Waxman said, the city could have reaped $1 million, based on the data.The Revenue Department also wanted to increase participation in a water bill discount program for senior citizens. In this instance it was the packaging, not the message, that made a difference.The city found that large envelopes with handwritten addresses received more responses than regular-size envelopes, phone calls or post-cards. Mint- or sage-colored regular-size envelopes also seemed to get people's attention, Waxman said.In an attempt to find out what motivates children to sign up for summer jobs, Philadelphia Youth Network sent out two types of e-mail reminders -- one that stressed what a job could mean for the young person's career prospects, and another touting the pay.The city found reminders of any kind helped boost applications, but that teens who received e-mails mentioning money were slightly more likely to submit applications.The summer jobs program, which Mayor Kenney wants to increase to 16,000 young people by 2020, had 10,600 participants last year.Indego bike share wanted to increase the rate of renewal among people who sign up for the program. The program e-mailed coupons for 15 percent off to one cohort, coupons for 50 percent off to another, and no coupons to a third. Renewals increased twice as much among coupon recipients as among non-coupon recipients, and the higher discount drew more renewals.Chainani said the department would work with the Department of Licenses and Inspections on how to get more people to renew licenses online and the school district to increase teacher participation in an annual survey. The city has also applied for a Knight Foundation grant to place two full-time researchers at City Hall.
(TNS) -- Houston's business leaders have nailed down their plan to amp up the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem, with the launch of a "strategy office" aimed at boosting venture capital investment and connecting young businesses with established industries that might need the technologies they develop.The office will be led by John Nordby, vice president for innovation at the Greater Houston Partnership, and will be charged with executing a 41-page plan that includes changes to regulations, the establishment of a "tech district" in a yet-to-be-determined neighborhood, and the recruitment of an office of a large technology company such as Apple or Google.The effort comes after a year or so of discussions around why Houston, a center of corporate research and development, has fallen short on measures of startup activity and "disruptive" innovation that can upend entire industries, as Uber has done with taxis or Dropbox with web storage.That kind of business culture requires talent, money, customers and a mechanism for bringing them together. Houston's challenge has been that those ingredients have been distributed across a vast landscape, often locked inside large companies.This new office's mission is to shake them loose.The plan was written on a pro-bono basis by the consulting firm Accenture, with participation from a city task force headed by City Council member Amanda Edwards; local universities; the Houston Technology Center; the Texas Medical Center; Station Houston, a startup incubator; and large energy companies such as Chevron and Shell.On the agenda: A marketing campaign with conferences and advertising to highlight Houston's innovative capacity, a "founder visa" program that will help foreign tech workers come and stay here and city policies that pave the way for innovative businesses, such as regulations for autonomous cars.The plan also includes granting tax abatements for businesses that locate in a certain neighborhood designated for tech startups, activating local wealthy people to invest in young firms and raising a $100 million fund to be overseen by professional managers.Some of those tasks, especially regulatory changes and tax breaks, will require action by the city. Although Mayor Sylvester Turner expressed support for the general ideas in his State of the City address a few weeks ago, they remain ideas."The mayor has not committed to anything specifically," said Gina Luna, a former head of JPMorgan Chase's Houston Office who led the Partnership's task force. "There's no timeline for any of this yet."Venture capitalist Blair Garrou, managing director of the Houston-based Mercury Fund, will chair the strategy office's board of directors.The plan focuses on a few key sectors: cybersecurity, robotics and the "industrial internet of things," which refers to machines that can be connected wirelessly, such as a smartphone-controlled thermostat.The Strategy Office is modeled on Chicago's ChicagoNext, which delegates projects to major players like universities and big businesses and makes sure everything is coordinated and on schedule. Members of the city task force that helped draw up the plan visited Chicago, which over the past several years has created a hub for young tech businesses called 1871.John Reale, co-founder of Station Houston, said such technologies are most needed by Houston's biggest industries: health care, energy, aero-space, manufacturing and logistics."All of them have this underpinning layer of data science," Reale said. "That's really the common core here."
(TNS)  What would you do if ...That was the question put before multiple county agencies and first responders on Saturday as part of a mock disaster drill held at the Meigs County Fairgrounds and Meigs High School.Drills like these are important to test area responders and build a better working relationship between agencies in the event of a real disaster, stated Meigs County EMA Director Jamie Jones.Arriving at the school on Saturday morning, first responders, actors and others were given information on the scenario for their role in the mock disaster.EMS, firefighters, the Red Cross, EMA and many others were to play out the situation as if it were a real disaster which they were responding to.The hazardous materials emergency drill was conducted by the Meigs County Emergency Management Agency and Local Emergency Preparedness Committee to test the skills and knowledge of local agencies should there be a real emergency.This years drill was held at the Meigs County Fairgrounds and involved a truck which was hauling chlorine cylinders crashing near a crowd of people, stated a release regarding the drill.Just as in a real-life scenario fire, EMS, and law enforcement were dispatched to the scene where they discovered the hazardous materials involved as well as numerous patients. The Pomeroy Fire Department and Meigs County EMS worked together to get the patients to safety and transported to Holzer Meigs Emergency Department. As the drill progressed an incident command center was established by the Pomeroy Fire Department and the Jackson County (Ohio) Emergency Response Team was dispatched to the scene to control the hazardous material release. Due to the crowd of people and possible nearby residence needing temporarily relocated in the scenario the American Red Cross and Meigs County Medical Reserve Corp contacted to establish a shelter, the release stated on the procedures followed during the drill.As the drill progressed, evaluators documented the series of events, evaluating everything from flow of traffic to the information provided by the public information officer to the media and general public.The total drill lasted roughly two hours and involved around 100 people from various agencies. Following the drill a debriefing was held which involved the participating agencies and evaluators who judged participates on their abilities to handle the situation at hand.The agencies who participated in the May 13 drill were the Meigs County EMA/LEPC, Ohio EMA, Pomeroy Fire Department, Meigs County EMS, Meigs County Sheriffs Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Jackson County Emergency Response Team, Medflight, Holzer Meigs Emergency Department, Meigs County Health Department, Meigs County Medical Reserve Corp, American Red Cross, local media outlets and students from Meigs and Eastern High Schools.Director Jones stated he would like to thank everyone who volunteered in this years drill and making it a success.2017 The Daily Sentinel (Pomeroy, Ohio)Visit The Daily Sentinel (Pomeroy, Ohio) at www.mydailysentinel.com
(TNS) -- NARRAGANSETT, R.I. -- Chris Brown has grown used to the five video cameras that record every move he and his two crew members make aboard the Proud Mary.Since installing the equipment in January on the 45-foot otter trawler, whenever Brown steams out of Galilee in search of flounder and other groundfish in the Atlantic Ocean waters off Rhode Island, the electronic monitoring system kicks on.And as Brown engages the boat's hydraulics to haul in its nets, the cameras track everything he and his crew catch, all the fish they keep and all the fish they discard over the side.The cameras may seem intrusive, but then Brown has an easy answer when asked about them."I'd much rather have a camera overhead than an observer under foot," he said.Brown is one of three Rhode Island fishermen who have signed on to a program that is testing out electronic surveillance as an alternative to human monitors that the federal government requires to be on board one in every seven fishing trips in the Northeast in an effort to stamp out overfishing.The new program being led by The Nature Conservancy offers the potential for closer observation of commercial fishing, enhancing compliance with quotas and deterring misreporting.Its supporters say it also provides more accurate data that will lead to better science and better regulations, all with the aim of supporting a fishing industry that is sustainable for years to come."There's a mismatch between what fishermen say they see on the water and what the science says," said Christopher McGuire, marine program director with The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts. "We're trying to bridge that gap."Electronic monitoring on fishing boats is nothing new. It's been in use in British Columbia, in Canada, for more than 15 years, was eventually adopted by American fisheries in the Pacific Northwest, and was tested by Cape Cod fishermen as far back as 2005.The Nature Conservancy started experimenting with the technology in 2013 as it became apparent that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would stop paying for human at-sea monitors and would instead require fishermen to cover costs that on any given fishing trip can run up to $710 a day.The group started out with a handful of boats in Maine and expanded the pilot program to Massachusetts last year after winning permission from NOAA Fisheries to replace human observers with the camera systems on a trial basis.It expanded to Rhode Island this year after Brown, Rodman Sykes and John Dougherty, who all fish out of Galilee, expressed interest in participating. In total, 14 boats are now taking part and collecting data on every one of their trips.That type of increase in the amount of information being submitted to the government could lead to a better system of quotas, John Bullard, regional administrator of NOAA Fisheries, has said."So while at-sea monitoring is a cost, [electronic monitoring] could be an investment," he said in a recent statement.Mike Russo, a Provincetown fisherman who joined the trial program last year, goes a step further, saying that video evidence will prove his contention that fish stocks are in better shape than the government estimates."The sooner you have 100 percent accountability, the sooner quotas go up," Russo said. "It takes the uncertainty out of everything."But not everyone has embraced electronic monitoring. Some fishermen, already tired of tighter regulation of their industry, have bucked against the "Big Brother" aspect of being recorded around the clock. Others are resistant because they may underreport the amount of fish they discard that exceeds their quotas, said McGuire.There are also questions about the effectiveness of the technology itself. The fisheries on the West Coast where electronic monitoring has been successful generally have few species. In New England, there are many more and some are difficult to tell apart, said Anna Malek Mercer, executive director of the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, an industry-funded group based at the University of Rhode Island that has not taken a position on electronic monitoring.In the first couple of years of The Nature Conservancy program, accuracy was an issue, with sometimes sizable differences in discards reported using the video monitoring system versus human observers. But as the system has been refined, those differences have shrunk.McGuire is working with scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on fish recognition software that could improve accuracy and also reduce one of the main cost drivers of the electronic system -- the amount of time it takes reviewers to go through all the data that's collected from the boats and mailed to them on hard drives.As it stands, installing an electronic system costs up to $8,000 and reviewing an average trip is an additional $300 or so, all paid for under the test program by The Nature Conservancy. Those costs will come down as more improvements are made, McGuire argues."But the cost of human observers will never go down," he said. "It will be the same, or more."On a recent afternoon, Brown showed U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse around the Proud Mary. He explained how the system works, and Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat who has sponsored legislation to enhance ocean protections, said he would look into allocating funds for expanding electronic monitoring.The new system could allow real-time data review, an antidote, said Brown, to the current regulatory regime that can be too reliant on outdated information on fish abundance. That is especially important in an era of climate change as ocean temperatures rise and more warm-water species move into Northeast waters."In order to make it as an industry, we have to inform scientists, so they can make a change immediately and say, 'Go get 'em,'" said Brown, who is president of the Rhode Island Commercial Fishermen's Association and executive director of Seafood Harvesters of America.He knows the opposition to increased monitoring is strong, but he hopes to win a few converts."The older you get, you worry about your legacy," said Brown, who is 59 and has been a commercial fisherman since 1978. "You want to be judged favorably by what you leave behind."
work with a community college to reflect some of its course credentials through a blockchain;

work with health provider registries to reconcile data planes  which currently costs insurers about $2 billion annually  ensuring the accuracy of multiple input points and enabling customers, ORourke said, to do something as simple as check their doctors licenses and insurance through an app;

start an energy credit marketplace to track Renewable Energy Credits, tradeable features generated by creating 1 Megawatt-hour of electricity through wind turbines or solar panels. These are traded on secondary and tertiary markets and it may not always be clear when theyre retired; and

hold a vital records pilot with a hospital, starting a blockchain to record a birth. The fact that this is the most appropriate starting place for digital identity is not lost on agencies, ORourke said.

Blockchain is among the next big, transformational technologies being eyed for use by government in its ongoing quest to provide residents with easy, online access to services and transactions, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) said in an introductory brief released Tuesday, May 16.The encrypted digital recording of a transaction or event via a shared incorruptible ledger is not currently in common usage among public agencies. But in Blockchains: Moving Digital Government Forward in the States , NASCIO authors forecast change, citing a survey of 19 state CIOs and singling out the state of Illinois, which is analyzing and in various stages of implementing five blockchain pilots, an official confirmed.Eric Sweden, a NASCIO official and an author of the brief, toldthat blockchain was not on anyones priority list during the organizations annual conference in 2016  but is now on a very steep acceleration.The private sector, Sweden said, is getting into blockchain probably more out of fear of being left behind than anything else, but as with other technologies, this is driving interest in the public sphere.Though blockchain isnt mentioned by name anywhere in NASCIOs State CIO Top 10 Priorities for 2017 , it registered when the company asked CIOs to what extent blockchain technology and economics were on their agendas.Twelve of 19, or 63 percent, said they were investigating blockchains in state government through informal discussions. Five, or 26 percent, said they werent discussing blockchain, but one official said his or her agency was engaged in formal discussions of blockchain.Another CIO, representing 5 percent of the total, said his or her agency had adopted blockchain technology in support of some state government services.When this arrives on that Top 10 list, thats going to tell us weve got a critical mass here in terms of the number of state CIOS that are considering this as a high priority, said Sweden, NASCIO program director of enterprise architecture and governance.Agencies werent identified by name in the survey, but Sweden said given whats known about levels of state interest, its probably Illinois  though the state of Delawares Division of Corporations is in the very early stages of exploring blockchain.Illinois is looking at five focused pilots for blockchain, according to Jennifer ORourke, business liaison for the Illinois Blockchain Initiative (IBI) which was formally created in November by six state and municipal agencies.Member agencies are the Illinois Pollution Control Board; state departments of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Innovation and Technology, Finance and Professional Regulation, and Insurance; and the Cook County Recorder of Deeds.They first came together informally during the spring and summer of 2016, making it official by years end with three goals for blockchain: ensuring thoughtful and light-touch governance as it applies to the technology; supporting building out the ecosystem from an economic development perspective; and promoting government integration of the technology itself.Among its outreach, Illinois has joined a pilot exploring the use of blockchain to transfer property titles that was begun last year by the Cook County Recorders office, ORourke said.John Mirkovic, the countys deputy recorder of deeds, said the agency likes the idea of making it harder to steal your neighbors house and believes its completely legal to trade property using a blockchain.It makes property records a natural fit for a distributed ledger or a blockchain. Its a chronological timestamp ledger of a chain of events. Thats why it also makes sense for land records because thats also how land records are kept, Mirkovic toldThe state of Illinois also intends to:If we were going to start the digital octopus of digital identity, its most appropriate to do so at the beginning, said ORourke, who is also assistant deputy director for the Illinois Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology.There's also movement on blockchain from other organizations in the state.On Thursday, May 18, the collaboration catalyst organization Innovate Springfield will host an "iSPI tech talks" event to examine emerging technologies in payments, transactions and modernized governments.Speakers will include state of Illinois Chief Technology Officer Mike Wons and Mike Redington, director of Disney financial services for The Walt Disney Company.In June, NASCIO plans a webinar on IBI, Sweden said.Also in June, Matthew Roszak, founder of the Chicago Bitcoin Center, said it will relaunch as the Chicago Blockchain Center, centered on programming, education, technical assistance and incubation.The move, he said, is fueled in part by an increasing realization of the technologys promise.Its not a surprise that a lot of finance companies and, quite frankly, government agencies are looking at this as a new operating system for business, government and beyond, said Roszak, who is chairman and co-founder of Bloq, a blockchain enterprise software company.Agencies and companies, he added, are really trying to figure out what it means for them in terms of identity models. All those sparks are fantastic for the ecosystem and fantastic for the potential of government to use this technology.In its brief, NASCIO said blockchains state-of-the-art cryptography gives it the potential to create a steadily-growing spreadsheet of records or blocks that create an immutable record where each block is chained or linked to the previous block.Authors counseled public agencies to focus at first on permissioned pilots restricted to private blockchains with limited users.Permissionless or unrestricted blockchains require immense computing power which is not there today. Permissionless blockchains also have a limited scalability, they wrote.Use cases, NASCIO said in the brief, have state government relevance across property and financial transactions as well as for public and private records and physical access.Authors singled out as examples the managing of voting, property deeds and criminal records, birth and death certificates and health-care records; authenticating academic credentials; and administering tickets, fines and citations.ORourke, however, said she sees blockchain applications for state governments as concentrated in two large buckets: providing identity and asset registration  documenting the registration of assets and ownership for items such as houses and property, but ultimately pushing the responsibility for ones identity out to the citizen.That could be accomplished through blockchain, she said, with various participants like schools and hospitals attesting to various attributes of ones identity such as birth and college graduation.Blockchain also has the potential to enhance state-level cybersecurity efforts, but will most likely change the way people work rather than add or subtract jobs, she said, citing as a similar example the fact that some law firms already require job candidates to have coding experience and characterizing this as an adaptation.Sweden said blockchain will play an important role in cybersecurity processes with respect to identities, but its not yet clear what effect it could have on jobs.I would say anybody in any field has got to be continually considering, How do I update my skills? he said, portraying it as a wait-and-see situation.Blockchains encryption methods are generally seen as quite robust, but Sweden warned that the technology isnt bulletproof and will likely reveal its own vulnerabilities over time. He said its unclear whether blockchains connection to the cryptocurrency bitcoin  using the sale of a bitcoin fraction as a way to conclusively record a transaction  will count as a strike against it.He and ORourke both pointed out that blockchains could eventually come to use another form of currency as a financial attribute to the transactions tokenization.Were watching an evolution of that, but we cant get away from the fact that bitcoin has been around the longest, ORourke said, noting its value has also increased. Theres a variety of very good things to be said about this particular cryptocurrency and the value that underlies it.The bottom line for blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, she said, is that theyre coming to the fore, fueled in part by their potential to resolve two persistent problems that have dogged authorities since the dawn of the Internet: establishing identity and creating trust in cyberspace.Mirkovic agreed blockchain may have a bright future in Illinois  depending, of course, upon a variety of factors including the outcome of Cook Countys pilot, which is expected later this year with the actual sale recording of an apartment house using blockchain.We want the entire state to be on the same network," he said. "If this thing makes sense, which we think it does, we want everyone to do it. Thats how we intend to advocate for this technology."
(TNS) -- The weekends global cyber-extortion attack has reinforced the need for hospitals, businesses, banks, and other large organizations to update their computer operating systems and security software, area officials said Monday.Computers across the world were locked up Friday and users' files held for ransom after dozens of countries were hit in a cyberattack that targeted hospitals, companies and government agencies, according to The Associated Press. It is believed to be the biggest attack of its kind.The cyberattack infected computers with what is known as "ransomware"  software that locks up the user's data and flashes a message demanding payment to release it.Security experts said the attack appeared to be caused by a self-replicating piece of software that enters companies and organizations when employees click on email attachments, then spreads quickly internally from computer to computer when employees share documents and other files, according to the AP.Britain's national health service fell victim, its hospitals forced to close wards and emergency rooms and turn away patients. Russia appeared to be the hardest hit, according to security experts, with the country's Interior Ministry confirming it was struck.Brian Pokorny, Otsego County, N.Y.'s director of Information Technologies, said the county had two "phishing" attempts last week and is working with the state Office of Technologies and state police to see if the attempts were tied to the global ransomware attack."Phishing is when an email comes in and it appears to be from someone you know," Pokorny explained Monday. "But it's a spoof.  One of ours came from South Korea and the other was from Nigeria."Pokorny was able to identify the phishing attempt within minutes and block it, he said, so the county's system wasn't compromised. But it could have been."This is the next battlefront, in my mind," Pokorny said. "You have to constantly be vigilant and be aware of your surroundings and understand how these things work. The ultimate solution would be disconnecting from the internet, but that's not really an option these days. We're in good shape, but it's a constant battle."In England, the large cyberattack crippled hospital computer systems, with appointments canceled, phone lines down and patients turned away. One patient's heart operation was canceled, the AP reported.In mid-April, A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta adopted an "electronic health record" designed to improve care coordination and medication safety. The system puts patients health information into one consolidated Bassett Healthcare Network record, so that it's available across the network.Karen Huxtable Hooker, spokeswoman for Bassett Healthcare Network, said Bassett, like all hospitals and health systems, "employs several security strategies to protect against malicious attacks.""Bassett continues to monitor all of its systems as well as national and international developments," she said in a Monday email statement. "Safeguarding our ability to care for patients and their medical information is a top priority for Bassett, and we will continue to work closely with our security partners and vendors to identify and address security threats in a proactive manner."NBT Bank must also be careful to protect customers and information, according to Florence Doller, senior vice president and director of corporate communications."In communicating with our customers, we encourage them to always be cautious before opening any emails with links or attachments from an unknown source," Doller said Monday. "Its also critical to make sure that computer applications and anti-virus protections are up to date by using the most current software versions."Chris Chase, chief executive officer at Directive, an information technology business in Oneonta, said he had a lot of email messages Monday from customers asking if they should be worried about the global malware attack. Thanks to preventive measures, none of Directive's clients were affected, Chase said, but he wrote a blog post warning customers and letting them know what to look for and how to prevent attacks.Chase suggested running Microsoft updates and keeping computers up-to-date with anti-virus protection. Directive also uses a program that sends fake emails out to its hundreds of clients to see if they click any accompanying links. It's a test, he said, and based on the results, Directive can offer a class on how to tell if an email is "legit" or not."It's a phishing test to see how vulnerable our clients are," Chase explained. "Because that's the way most things get to you  through email. If you click, before you know it, they've installed something on your computer and you're in trouble."Chase said another way to safeguard personal data on a computer is to invest in a good backup program. That way, if a person thinks his or her system has been attacked, it can be restored to a time before the attack, saving any compromised data.Pokorny and Chase agreed that the best way to protect oneself from malware is to avoid clicking on links or opening attachments from suspicious-looking emails."Make sure your operating system and virus protection are up to date," Pokorny said, "and always avoid weird emails."
Sporting boss Otmar Szafnauer has defended Force India, after the team was pulled up for not complying with new rules in Barcelona.

To help the fans in the grandstands and the TV audience, F1 told teams they must fit bigger numbers and the drivers' abbreviated names on their cars from Spain.

But Force India argued that because of their sponsor deals with BWT and NEC, adding 'OCO' and 'PER' to their cars would be confusing.

However, it was the location of the bigger race numbers on the pink cars that actually broke the rules last weekend.

Team manager Andy Stevenson told Auto Motor und Sport: "When I stand in front of the car, I can read the number perfectly. From the grandstand too.

"From lower down it is not visible but there is nothing in the rules about that. There are perspectives with every car on which the number is not visible," he said.

Sporting boss Szafnauer said the entire issue is triggered by commercial considerations for the small, overachieving Silverstone based team.

"As you know, Force India does well on the track but is not as strong in the commercial area, which is related to the way revenues are distributed in formula one," he said.

"But the approach of the commercial rights holders is what it is, so we have to maximise the way we work with sponsors. To do this, we need to make optimal use of the space on the car.

"Personally, I think we could come up with a better way to distinguish the cars on the track," Szafnauer added.

Force India's EUR 25,000 fine was suspended.

(GMM)
Red Bull has "control" of Carlos Sainz's F1 future, according to rival Mercedes' chief Toto Wolff.

When Mercedes was on the market to replace Nico Rosberg, rumours emerged that Wolff looked into Toro Rosso driver Sainz's contract situation.

Wolff told El Mundo Deportivo: "Yes, Carlos is ready and I like him and I like the family.

"Carlos is what he has to be: a modern driver, handsome, intelligent, fast," he said.

It is believed Renault also looked into signing the 22-year-old for 2017, but Wolff said: "He is a Red Bull driver and they will always try to keep the good ones in their system or to control their destiny.

"And that's the situation right now," he added.

The Red Bull driver programme is headed by Dr Helmut Marko, who told El Confidencial that while Sainz is developing well, he still has room to improve.

"He has gone from being Carlos Sainz junior to Carlos Sainz the formula one driver," he said.

"But I think he would develop better if he left the 'Madrid protection zone' of his father. He is still like a young bird in the next.

"He is fast - very fast - but he has to be consistent," Marko added. "He made a stupid mistake in Bahrain, but he's young, he can learn, and he has to be patient," said Marko.

Although Red Bull Racing's drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are under contract for 2018, there are rumours one of them might depart anyway.

So when asked if Sainz might be released in that event, Marko answered: "Traditionally we talk about drivers after the summer. It's too soon."

As for strictly holding Sainz to his contract, he added: "If it was a much better team than Toro Rosso, we can talk.

"But Ferrari did not ask for Carlos -- that was in the dreams of Carlos senior. So far no one has called us.

"He must concentrate on doing the best job possible and he will automatically develop. On the other hand, we need a reserve driver and Carlos is our first option."

(GMM)
(Photo:  Peter Kenny)Namibian President Hage Geingob (L) and the Lutheran World Federation President Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan share words during a function hosted by the Namibian president on 11 May, 2017.

Thousands of Lutherans and other Christians from around the world have gathered in Namibia to remember the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with the Namibian president and a representative of Pope Francis in the colorful crowd.

The commemoration service included seven testimonies from around the world, one for each LWF region describing how faith has spread, taken root, and how it has broken down walls and Hage Geingob, the President of Namibia attended the service.

"What we need now is not the justification of the wrongs of the past, but that God in his grace, blot out all our iniquity, and create in our world pure hearts of love, justice and peace," said Namibian bishop emeritus Zephania Kameeta in his sermon.

The Reformation anniverary this year is special in that Lutherans and Roman Catholics are jointly celebrating the event triggered by Catholic priest Martin Luther nailing 95 these to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany.

He was protesting corruption in the church at the time and a massive schism in Christianity took place then.

The Reformation was followed by centuries of bloodletting among Christians, mainly in Europe and involved wars between different nations.

Cardinal Kurt Koch president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Pope Francis point man on ecumenical relations and the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit also attended the service and the assembly.

Several Namibian choirs and a brass band participated in the service with music pieces especially composed for the LWF assembly and the Reformation commemoration as well as hymns from various parts of the world.

Namibia's President Hage Geingob delighted participants at the Lutheran assembly when he exclaimed on May 10, "I am a Lutheran!"

"I am Lutheran. Therefore, I am honored today to welcome my fellow Lutherans to Namibia on this very special occasion of the five hundredth Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation," he said on 10 May in Windhoek, Namibia.

INVITED BY THE PRESIDENT OF NAMIBIA

The Namibian president invited the participants at the Twelfth LWF Assembly to a dinner and cultural evening he hosted at the Windhoek Country Club in the Namibian capital.

More than 800 people listened to his speech after opening remarks by Bishop Ernst //Gamxamub, chairperson of the United Church Council of the Namibia Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Namibia.

"The Lutheran church has a long and illustriious history in Namibia. It is therefore appropriate for me to reflect on the fact that Martin Luther who was an Augustinian friar, led his rebellion against corruption and injustices," said Geingob.

During the cultural evening the guests listened to the Orchestra of the Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg and two local choirs.

Geingob said Martin Luther was a great thinker and prolific writer, adding that the work of the reformer was "an inspiration to us during our country's liberation struggle against the injustices of apartheid and occupation.

"We are grateful to the Lutheran church not only for its moral support but also material support during our struggle against oppression. So, you can see why we have a special affinity with the Lutheran World Federation. We have 775,000 Lutherans in Namibia," said Geingob.

He cited church leaders such as Bishop Shekutaamba V.V. Nambala, Bishop Zephania Kameeta (a former LWF Council member  now government cabinet minister), Bishop Leonard Auala, "just to mention a few," and noted, "the Lutheran church has continued to guide Namibians to stand for justice, integrity and honesty anchored in faith."

The outgoing LWF President, Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land thanked Geigob and the Namibian people and said the member churches of the LWF had "long been committed to accompanying Namibia in the cause of justice, confronting every kind of racism and apartheid."

Younan said many people asked us why the LWF was holding its assembly in Namibia? "My answer is that Namibia represents an important reality for Christianity today. The density of Christians in the world is no longer in Europe, is no longer in the transatlantic global North but in the global South!"

"The continent of Africa is where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is flourishing. This continent is where the freshness of the Gospel can be found. We honor the three Lutheran churches of Namibia, and the seriousness with which they are committed to mission work and prophetic diakonia," Younan said.

"I see the spirit of the Reformation alive and well in Namibia today; the spirit of unity among the churches in Namibia is flourishing and interfaith dialogue is successful."

The three Namibian Lutheran churches have a combined membership of almost 1.2 million, which is around half of the approximately 2.4 million who make up the total population of Namibia.

Namibia was first a German colony, 1884  1917, and was conquered by South Africa during World War I and then administered by then apartheid South Africa until its United Nations guided independence in 1990.

LWF supported the churches in seeking freedom for Namibia's people.

On May 14 - Rev. Musa Panti Filibus, Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria was elected president of the Lutheran World Federation to replace Palestinian Bishop Munib A. Younan, who has served his full term. Filibus is the second African to hold this position as a voice for the 74-million strong LWF.
Nine years ago this month, seven leaders of Irans Bahai community were arrested for activities related solely to the practice of their faith. Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Vahid Tizfahm, and Mahvash Sabet were unjustly sentenced to 20 years in prison and remain behind bars today for exercising their freedoms of religion, association, and expression.

Their cases are further evidence of Irans continued disregard for and violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said the United States "condemn[s] their continued imprisonment, as well as reported abuses against them while incarcerated, and call[s] upon Iran to release them immediately, along with all other prisoners of conscience in Iran."

The family of Behrouz Tavakkoli says he is in serious need of medical attention. He suffers from heart disease and requires an operation and care he cannot get in prison. Prisoners of conscience are often denied medical care in Iran, and Bahais remain one of the most persecuted religious minorities in the country.

Not only are the Bahais religious activities forbidden in Iran, Bahai businesses are subject to arbitrary closure; individuals are attacked with impunity; graveyards are destroyed; and students are refused admittance to university unless they renounce their faith.

"The government of Iran must stop denying its people their human rights and fundamental freedoms," said Ms. Nauert, "including freedom of religion or belief. We call on the Iranian government to uphold their own laws and meet their international obligations that guarantee freedoms of expression, opinion, religion or belief, association, and peaceful assembly for all in Iran."

As Vice President Mike Pence noted in a recent speech on religious freedom, America will continue to condemn persecution of any kind, of any faith, any place, any time. We will stand against it with our ideals and with all our might.
Every December, the Chronicle of Higher Ed publishes its annual report on how much private college presidents are paid.

On the Chronicle's 2015 list, we saw that High Point Universitys Nido Qubein ranked third nationally at $2.9 million in salary and benefits for 2013.

Wake Forest University decided not to wait until December. Via the N&O:

Nathan Hatch, president of Wake Forest University, had total compensation of $4.23 million listed on the universitys 2015 tax filings.

The disclosure was made on the universitys website Monday by Board of Trustees Chair Donna Boswell.

In a lengthy message posted on the day of Wake Forests graduation, Boswell explained the elements of Hatchs compensation, which could put him among the most highly compensated university presidents in 2015. We on the Board of Trustees, together with President Hatch, want to be as open and transparent as possible concerning this information, she wrote.

Heres the WFU message. (You might want to call a CPA before reading it unless you understand vesting and know what a SERP is.)

Obviously, its not December, so it's too early to know where Hatch will rank on the next Chronicle list. (Wake went public because the IRS Form 990s that the Chronicle uses for its salary database were due Monday.)

But if you put Hatch on the Chronicles list from last December (which used 2014 data), it looks like he would have ranked second nationally between Jack Varsalona of Wilmington University in Delaware ($5.4 million in salary and benefits) and Mark Wrighton of Washington University in St. Louis ($4.2 million).

Private college presidents normally are paid good salaries. In 2016, 39 of them broke the $1 million mark.

Average pay is a little more than half a million. A couple of the private colleges I write about regularly (Wake, HPU) are paid well above average. Most of the other college presidents in the area are paid much less.

Whats behind Hatchs huge number (and Varsalonas and Wrightons and Qubeins) is deferred compensation  some amount that a universitys board of trustees sets aside each year and pays out if the president stays on the job for a pre-determined number of years. When Wake Forest hired Hatch in 2005, it set aside an average of $255,000 a year to be paid out after 10 years. Hatch hit the 10-year mark at Wake Forest in 2015.

Is any college president worth that kind of money? Wake lays out its case toward the end of the online message from its board chair. The AP story I linked to earlier gives a pretty good on-the-one-hand-on-the-other summary of deferred compensation:

Schools say it helps prevent their competitors from poaching strong leaders. But critics say pay and benefits for university presidents have become excessively lavish, especially at a time when families face rising tuition costs.

Speaking of rising tuition costs, Wake Forest is raising tuition by 3.65 percent for the upcoming academic year. The total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board, books, etc., before any scholarships and discounts) will be slightly more than $69,000 in 2017-18.

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.
In the first 100 days of the Trump administration, the United States has embraced its role as a global leader by demonstrating strength and decisiveness on the world stage.

On January 28, the President signed an executive memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to work with other cabinet members, to develop a plan to defeat ISIS.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the U.S. Department of State hosted the 68-member Global Coalition. In his remarks before Coalition partners, Secretary Tillerson reiterated President Trumps position that it is the policy of the United States to demolish and destroy this barbaric terrorist organization. That is what we are going to do.

In Syria, the United States mounted a military and diplomatic response two days after the Syrian regime's April 4 chemical weapons attack in Idlib province, which killed and injured nearly one hundred innocent Syrian civilians.

In response, President Trump ordered the launch of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles aimed at the Shayrat Airfield in Homs from which the assault was launched.

The United States has taken a strong stance against continued provocative actions by Iran as it relates to nonproliferation and counterterrorism. On March 21, the United States imposed sanctions on 30 foreign entities and individuals in 10 countries pursuant to the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act.

On April 18, Secretary Tillerson announced a plan to conduct a review of U.S.-Iran policy across the entire government. Iran, said Mr. Tillerson, is the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism and is responsible for intensifying multiple conflicts and undermining U.S. interests in countries such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon, and continuing to support attacks against Israel.

With regard to North Korea, President Trump has laid out a new policy, which aims to pressure North Korea into dismantling its nuclear, ballistic missile, and proliferation programs by tightening economic sanctions and pursuing diplomatic measures with U.S. allies and regional partners.

Over these first 100 days, the United States under President Trump has demonstrated strong leadership within the international community and that the United States will continue to take the lead on the global stage.
Updated at 7:59 a.m.

Donald Trump is facing the deepest crisis of his presidency after a memo written by then-FBI Director James Comey surfaced Tuesday, alleging that the president asked him to drop an investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

The White House was already on the defensive over the president's firing of Comey a week ago and over a report Monday that Trump disclosed sensitive intelligence to Russian officials. Then another political bombshell exploded Tuesday night.

After a conversation Comey had with Trump in February, a day after Flynn was ousted for what the White House said were misleading accounts of his conversations with Russia's U.S. ambassador, the FBI director wrote a memo documenting the Oval Office meeting. In it, Comey said the president asked him to abandon the Flynn investigation, according to a person who was given a copy of the memo and spoke on condition of anonymity.

"I hope you can let this go," Trump told the FBI director, according to the memo as cited by the New York Times, which first reported its existence.

The revelation raised questions about whether the president sought to influence the FBI at the same time the agency is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion with Moscow by Trump associates. The memo's emergence, after Trump fired Comey, had congressional Democrats raising the specter that the president engaged in obstruction of justice, an impeachable offense.

No one from the administration would respond to the memo on the record. Instead, the White House press office released an emailed statement denying Comey's version of events. Trump "has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," according to the statement. The description in the purported memo "is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey," it said.

One frustrated senior administration official questioned why Comey didn't complain to Department of Justice officials or to Congress if he thought Trump was trying to impede the Flynn investigation.

Comey wrote the memo documenting the conversation with Trump because he was uneasy about the president's request, even though the FBI director didn't consider it a direct threat, said the person who received a copy. Trump said to Comey that Flynn was a good guy, to which Comey agreed, the person said.

It wasn't immediately clear who within the FBI received or saw the memo, or whether acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe was among them. The White House pointed to congressional testimony by McCabe last week in which he said there has been no effort to impede the FBI's probe.

The FBI's investigation is broader than just Flynn, and it's possible McCabe was referring to the overall probe, the person said.

The chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Utah Republican Jason Chaffetz, wrote a letter to McCabe on Tuesday demanding all FBI memos and other records documenting communications between Comey and Trump by May 24 .

FBI spokeswoman Carol Cratty declined to comment.

News of the Comey memo added to tension in financial markets already reacting to concerns about the Trump administration. The yen jumped 0.6 percent to 112.41 per dollar in early trading in Tokyo. S&P 500 futures dropped 0.6 percent, following a decline of 0.1 percent in the index during U.S. trading hours. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index slipped Tuesday to the lowest level since November on reports the president revealed sensitive intelligence to the Russians.

Congressional Republicans have largely backed Trump through the rocky initial months of his administration, but the events of the past week -- Comey's firing, the report that Trump disclosed classified information to Russian officials, and Comey's memo -- are testing the party's patience.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a Bloomberg Television interview on Tuesday that Republicans desire "less drama" from the White House. Several Republicans said Tuesday after the memo surfaced that Comey should testify to Congress. AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan, said the Wisconsin Republican backed Chaffetz's demand for documents.

"If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation as it relates to Lt. Gen. Flynn," Chaffetz wrote.

Democrats were far less sparing in their criticism.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a member of the Judiciary Committee, called the memo as reported "powerful evidence of obstruction of justice."

"If there were ever a final nail on the case for an independent prosecutor, this is it," Blumenthal said at the Capitol. "And there's more behind it. There are other memos."

He and other Democrats said Comey must testify before lawmakers about his conversations with the president.

"At best, President Trump has committed a grave abuse of executive power," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California said in a statement. "At worst, he has obstructed justice."

Second-ranking Senate Democrat Dick Durbin told reporters, "Each day as this unfolds, this pattern of obstruction of justice grows." The Illinois senator said he wants to see Comey's memos and hear his testimony in public.

Comey had been invited to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday but never accepted and indicated he would appear at another time.

---

Bloomberg's Anna Edgerton, Laura Litvan, Margaret Talev, Justin Sink, Terrence Dopp and Billy House contributed.

Washington Post News Service (DC)

WASHINGTON  The Republican chairman of the House oversight committee says he will seek copies of any memos former FBI Director James Comey wrote about his meetings with President Donald Trump.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said in a tweet that he has his "subpoena pen ready." The move by Chaffetz comes just hours after the disclosure that Comey wrote in a memo that Trump asked him to shut down a federal investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

The existence of the memo was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times and confirmed by The Associated Press via a person who had seen it and was familiar with the situation. That person was not authorized to discuss the situation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The White House denied the report.

"While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," the White House said in a statement.

Trump abruptly fired Comey last week, saying he did so based on his very public handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe.

But the White House has provided differing accounts of the firing. And lawmakers have alleged that the sudden ouster was an attempt to stifle the bureau's investigation into Trump associates' ties to Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Comey's memo detailing his conversation with Trump would be the clearest proof to date that the president has tried to influence that investigation. The Times said it was part of a paper trail Comey created documenting what he saw as Trump's efforts to improperly interfere in the ongoing probe.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

According to the Times, Comey wrote in the February memo that Trump told him Flynn had done nothing wrong. But Comey did not say anything to Trump about limiting the investigation, replying, "I agree he is a good guy."

The newspaper said Comey was in the Oval Office that day with other national security officials for a terrorism threat briefing. When that ended, Trump asked everyone to leave except Comey, and he eventually turned the conversation to Flynn.

On Tuesday, for the second night in a row, Senate Republicans and Democrats were caught off-guard as they entered the chamber for a scheduled vote.

"I don't know the facts, so I really want to wait until I find out what the facts are before commenting," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters.

Asked if it would be obstructing justice for Trump to have asked Comey to drop the Flynn investigation, Cornyn said: "You know, that's a very serious charge. I wouldn't want to answer a hypothetical question."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., emphatically said he's not commenting on news stories anymore.

"Let's get to the bottom of what happened with the director. And the best way to get to the bottom of it, is for him to testify. ... I'm not going to take a memo, I want the guy to come in," Graham told reporters, adding, "If he felt confident enough to write it down, he should come in and tell us about it."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said Comey needs to come to Capitol Hill and testify.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he will ask Comey for additional material as part of the panel's investigation. "Memos, transcripts, tapes  the list keeps getting longer," he said.

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut tweeted: "Just leaving Senate floor. Lots of chatter from Ds and Rs about the exact definition of 'obstruction of justice.'"

There is no sign the FBI's Russia investigation is closing. Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe told Congress last week the investigation is "highly significant" and said Comey's dismissal would do nothing to impede the probe.
Dear Editor,

Request after request goes unanswered. Representatives refuse to talk to the very people they say they represent. Instead, they (Richard Burr, Thom Tillis, Phil Berger) hide behind newsletters and Facebook or telephone town halls, where they dont have to face tough questions or constituents who are angry.

It has been six months since the election, so why are they refusing to meet with the people they profess to represent? Why will they not take responsibility and be accountable for their votes? Why do they fear we the people?

I think their behavior is cowardly. Unfortunately, we have gutless leaders in North Carolina who are more interested in power than people. More interested in their personal interests than in the welfare of people of our state.

Mary Young

Pleasant Garden

When You Write

Please submit letters to gerri.hunt@rockinghamnow.com or mail letters to: Letters to the Editor, 1921 Vance St., Reidsville, NC 27320. Letters are subject to editing and may be published on rockinghamnow.com. Letters are limited to 250 words.
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Former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman is among four candidates to be interviewed by President Donald Trump for the front-office vacancy at the FBI.

The president was scheduled to meet with Lieberman and three others  acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating and former senior FBI official Richard McFeely  on Wednesday upon his return from the Coast Guard Academy graduation in New London.

It will be interesting to see if the Stamford native and former Connecticut attorney general takes the job, even if it is offered. At age 75, he is comfortably ensconced in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, near children and grandchildren.

He spends some time at a Manhattan law firm and helps lead No Labels, an organization devoted to promoting bipartisanship  a Lieberman calling card.

But the head of Liebermans law firm, Marc Kasowitz, is a longtime lawyer for Trump, which may pose an insurmountable conflict of interest.

Lieberman gained a reputation during 24 years in the U.S. Senate as a straight-shooting centrist comfortable on both sides of the aisle, an asset for a prospective director of the nations embattled federal law-enforcement agency.

Lieberman would replace James Comey, fired by Trump last week amid shifting explanations for the dismissal. But undergirding it was Trumps own professed loathing of the Russia thing  the investigation of links between Trump and Trump operatives and Russia that may have influenced the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

Lieberman is two years younger than legendary and controversial FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover was when he died in 1972. Hoover had led the bureau since its inception as the Justice Departments Bureau of Investigation in 1924. If Lieberman served out the full 10-year-term as FBI director, he would be age 85 upon retirement.
The reverse al pastor tacos from Empellon Cocina. Photo: Evan Sung

Alex Stupak opened Empellon Cocina, the second location of his local empire, in the East Village in 2012, less than a year after the West Village original. Since then the restaurant has seen a series of changes. Initially, Stupak made a statement by not even serving tacos. Then, the chef transformed Cocina into a more casual restaurant  adding tacos with fillings like head cheese and fried smelt. Stupak also launched the Push Project: a series of collaborative dinners with renowned chefs like Grant Achatz, Rick Bayless, and Albert Adria.

Apparently still not content in the spring of 2015, Stupak remodeled the dining room and introduced an 18-course tasting menu at a tasting counter. At the time, it seemed that Stupak, who first earned name recognition as the pastry chef at wd~50, had found something of a groove, mixing cooking that was personally challenging with an a la carte menu to fit the East Village neighborhood.

But on the heels of the opening of his fourth Empellon  perhaps his most ambitious project yet in midtown  Stupak announced today that hes closing Cocina. The last service will be this coming Saturday, May 20. In an open letter, he says there isnt a greedy landlord to blame; he takes personal responsibility for the closing:

Cocina was originally envisioned as a fine dining restaurant in the true sense of that term. Out of ego, the restaurant was executed in a very fast and cavalier way. (It was serving customers when our first restaurant in the West Village was only 11 months old). Taqueria was profitable in week 2 which is unheard of in this business. We took the money and doubled down fast and hard. There wasnt what I would call a solid plan in place retrospectively.



He adds, It all felt wildly incorrect. Still, this doesnt mean hes turning his back on the original idea. In fact it sounds as though Stupak plans to move Cocina to new location, with a new idea: Fine dining is still very much in my heart and I still very badly want to build the Empellon version of it one day, he writes, hinting that an Empellon tasting counter is in the cards. In the meantime, he instructs, dont become annoyingly sentimental about this closing.

Update: Stupak tells Eaters Ryan Sutton that hes moving Cocinas chefs-counter tasting menu and his entire staff to the midtown location.
The curried cauliflower at Made Nice. Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine

Once a month or so, the Underground Gourmet takes stock of all the excellent (and not so excellent) food weve shoveled down our gullets to bring you this  our slightly random, completely subjective, 100 percent delicious top ten new things to eat and drink.

1. Curry Cauliflower at Made Nice

8 W. 28th St., nr. Broadway; no phone

Many have tried to make healthy food fast, casual, and craveable, and many  make that most  have failed. Which is why we were gobsmacked by a visit to Daniel Humms new quick-service joint. Every dish was beautifully plated and mind-bogglingly good, including this mingling of curried cauliflower and fluffy couscous, with soft tofu, fat raisins, and slivered almonds ($11; pictured). Its too early to say  and scalability, if thats the plan, is another matter  but this place already feels like a game changer.

2. Cheesecake Babka at Breads Bakery

18 E. 16th St., nr. Union Square West; 212-633-2253

Its a cheesecake disguised as a babka. Or is it a babka that thinks its a cheesecake? If you can stop at one slice, you possess superhuman self-restraint or you just hate cheesecake and also babka; $15; limited run, available through May.

3. Fried Chicken Biscuit at A&E Supply Co.

548 Fourth Ave., at 15th St., Gowanus; 718-635-3388

The fried thigh meat is crisp and juicy, and the biscuits are made with pedigree lard from acorn-snarfing New England pigs. But the key to these hangover quashers might be the housemade bread-and-butter pickles that provide the kind of tangy accent that makes all the difference; $9; brunch only.

4. Porchetta Mac n Cheese at Porchetta pop-up at Porsena Extra Bar

21 E. 7th St., nr. 3rd Ave.; 212-228-4923

Just in time for swim-suit season: good, grippy maccheroncini with bits of porchetta baked in a sauce of Fontina, Jarlsberg, and Grana Padano that walks the line between creamy and cheesy. Surprisingly, this seemingly soporific stuff does not induce food comas and may be even better than bacon mac n cheese; $12; lunch only.

5. Grandma-Style Pan Pizza at Loring Place

21 W. 8th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-388-1831

This is the only grandma pie ($16) we know thats made with such a fancy-pants mix of flours: organic white, locally grown (and house-milled) emmer, and heirloom red winter wheat. The crust is crisp but springy with an intensely fresh flavor and might be the best weve ever had. Sorry, Grandma.

6. Pistachio-Butter Cookie at Cafe Altro Paradiso

234 Spring St., at Sixth Ave.; 646-952-0828

Pastry chef Natasha Pickowiczs sticky buns get all the attention, but were partial to her pistachio-butter cookies ($4) that are crisp on the outside and fudgy within and will forever ruin you for the peanut-butter variety.

7. Short-Rib Steak at Metta

197 Adelphi St., at Willoughby St., Fort Greene; 718-233-9134

Norberto Piattoni studied under Argentine flame-whisperer Francis Mallmann, who is to open-fire cooking what Joel Robuchon is to mashed potatoes. At Metta, Piattoni grills short ribs over hot coals and serves them with chimichurri, vinegary collards, and a swipe of fresh mayo. Brooklyn gaucho cuisine at its finest; $28.

8. Nigella Seed Potato Crisps at De Maria

19 Kenmare St., nr. Elizabeth St. ; 212-966-3058

Grated potato cut with quinoa and black caraway seeds, shaped into perfect rectangles that look like little railway ties, then deep-fried and served with spicy chorizo and a turmeric-poached egg. Theyre like McDonalds hash browns, but even better and roughly twice as nutritious; $15.

9. Aebleskivers at neat

58 Second Ave., nr. 3rd St.; 917-892-6350

Most aebleskivers, those delicious Danish pancake-batter doughnut-hole things, are hollow-centered. These have braised duck inside; $7.

10. Margherita Pizza at Zia Esterina

112 Mulberry St., nr. Canal St.; no phone

On a recent visit, the much-talked-about fried calzones at this outpost of Neapolitan superstar pizzaiolo Gino Sorbino tasted like they were cooked in oil that had been around since the Giuliani administration. But the margherita pie was terrific  light and tender and perfectly chewy in all the right places; $9.50.

*This article appears in the May 15, 2017, issue of New York Magazine.
Look out for flying candy at Dead Darlings. Photo: Liz Clayman

New York is arguably the best book town in America, so a successful reading series here has to have that X factor: a combination of talent, venue, crowd, and most importantly, a skilled, if not fanatical, curator. The citys still-thriving independent bookstores host readings all the time (the Strand, Word, Three Lives, Greenlight, and McNally Jackson to name a few), but there are plenty of off-site series to check out, lively gatherings that will feed your head and impress your lit-loving Tinder date.

The Absolute Best 1. Dead Darlings

Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Sq. South, nr. Thompson St.; 212-477-0351 The premise of this series is also its emotional center: Guests must read, perform, sing or show material that, for whatever reason, was cut from their work. Its a smart set-up. Exposing something that failed humbles the reader, and the entire room is filled with an encouraging empathy. You see an artist at their most vulnerable, and the results are riveting and often hilarious. The setting, in the gorgeous balcony space of the Judson Memorial Church, also gives this night a sweet, communal energy. Guests have included author Alexander Chee, playwright Doug Wright, comedian Jena Friedman, New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake, and costume designer Clint Ramos. Its helmed by Amanda Duarte, a fiercely intelligent, firecracker feminist comedian, who interjects the night with brilliant political rants, readings of recent tone-deaf puff pieces in the Times Style section, and a twisted trivia segment (like: Who said it: Joan Collins or Hitler?). Whether you guess correctly or not, she still throws candy at the audience with all the fury of a performer who cant believe this is the state of the world. (Suggested donation $10; second Wednesday of the month)

2. The Poetry Projects Wednesday Night Reading Series

The Poetry Project, 131 E. 10th St. nr. Second Ave; 212-674-0910

The Poetry Project has been keeping the poetic voice of the city alive since it was founded in 1966. The Project hosts readings in the venerable St. Marks Church in-the-Bowery every other Monday (for emerging poets and open-mic readings) and every other Friday (geared toward multidisciplinary work), but the Wednesday-night series is when the big guns come out, like Lyn Hejinian, Cathy Park Hong, Eileen Myles, Luc Sante, and Ron Padgett. ($8; weekly)

3. Dia: Readings in Contemporary Poetry

Dia Chelsea, 535, 541 and 545 W. 22nd St., nr. Eleventh Ave.; 212-989-5566

Located at the Dia Art Foundation building in West Chelsea, this monthly reading series feels as honed and crystalline as a poem itself. The sound system is clean, the gallery setting provides an expansive inner clarity, and the resulting vibe makes you listen more intently. Each month the series offers a pair of poets, usually one established and one lesser known. Previous line-ups have been stellar: David Trinidad, Rae Armantrout, Ron Silliman, to name a few. Poet and author Vincent Katz is the host and curator, and he provides articulate, intelligent introductions. After each reader finishes, you realize he described their work absolutely perfectly. ($10; next event in September)

4. Franklin Park Reading Series

Franklin Park, 618 St. Johns Pl. nr. Franklin Ave., Brooklyn; 718-230-0293

This spacious, friendly beer hall in Crown Heights has become a major stop for writers who make it to those front tables in bookstores, thanks to dedicated curator Penina Roth, who wrangles big names like Colson Whitehead, Mary Gaitskill, Adam Haslett, Heidi Julavits, and Tayari Jones into taking the 2/3/4/5 train out to Crown Heights. Theres also a free-to-enter raffle to win the authors books. (Free; second Monday of the month)

5. Cave Canem New Works Reading Series

Cave Canem, various locations

Cave Canem provides opportunities for black poetry and poets to flourish, and its New Work Reading Series brings together popular voices like Patricia Smith, Robin Coste Lewis, and Kwame Dawes with lesser known poets to help connect audiences and share the love. Taking place at the New Schools Theresa Lang Center and NYUs Lillian Vernon House, the readings are centered around the fall and spring semesters, but during the summer, Cave Canem hosts readings in Bryant Park and the Brooklyn Museum as well. (Free; next event May 26)

Honorable Mentions

Petes Reading Series

Petes Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St., nr. Richardson St., Brooklyn; 718-302-3770

This beloved Williamsburg bar has a narrow, luminous back room that is one of the most inspiring spaces in the city to hear great writers. Petes has been dedicated to literary events since it opened in 1999, and its history of scribes is impressive: Sam Lipsyte, Gary Shteyngart, Jennifer Egan, and Hannah Tinti among them. Trust the curators here  the line-up of lesser-known names is always worth a listen. It also offers a slew of other series as well, including the stellar, well curated poetry series, Petes Big Salmon. (Free; every other Thursday)

Behind the Book (KGB)

KGB Bar, 85 E. 4th St., 2nd fl., nr. Second Ave.; 212-505-3360

Cedar Tavern may be gone, but KGB Bar is still here, keeping the boozier side of downtown New Yorks literary history alive. This worn-in bar has been tightly entwined with the writer scene for years. Everyone has read there, from Chris Adrian to Karen Russell. The intimate setting allows you to get up so close you can watch the authors wheels spinning. (Free; every second Thursday)

Guts; Experiments and Disorders; Guerrilla Lit

Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie St., nr. Delancey St.; 212-219-0736

Dixon Place, a performance space located in the Lower East Side, has become a center for downtown NYCs edgy, experimental work, and hosts a healthy roster of reading series in its cozy lounge. The venue offers three different evenings worth checking out. The long-running Guerrilla Lit, the more performative Experiments & Disorders, and Guts, hosted by Dia Felix, a decidedly uncurated reading series that leans toward the queer and feminist spectrum. (Free; times vary)
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Update: The Google I/O 2017 keynote is already under way. You can watch it here:

The annual Google I/O begins on May 17 at 1 PM ET and will take place in Mountain View, California. Many things will be announced, but some of the most interesting are the details about new Android OS, more info about the Google Assistant and improved tech in the field of VR and AR.

The most interesting announcements for all smartphone geeks will surely be the details surrounding new mobile OS, which we all expect later this year. It was last May that Google showed a preview of Nougat at the developers conference and we now expect the same will happen with Android O. We might also learn the full name (Oreo is the most rumored). We are yet to see if Google will go with a dessert brand for a second time after KitKat or not.

According to rumors, Android O will come with a new notification snoozing - you will be able to postpone the appearance of a notification for a more suitable time. Google also promises the new OS will have improved battery life by limiting the actions some apps do in the background. Bluetooth 5.0 is already available in high-end phones such as the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, the HTC U11 and the Galaxy S8 duo, and now Android is expected to produce better audio output through the new generation of the wireless connection.

Android O is expected to have a cleaner settings menu as well. Nougat took a big stride towards tidying the Settings menu, but the O is expected to have the options even easier to find and use.

Picture-in-picture was a feature that some manufacturers implemented through their in-house launchers but Android O is expected to finally offer it as a native feature.

Google unveiled the Daydream VR platform a year ago, and so far only a few non-Pixel phones support it. Rumors have it that at this Google I/O at least an update will be announced and some sources even suggest a new standalone headset for virtual reality.

Daydream announcement 2016

Last year Google introduced the concept of Instant Apps, which is a way of using an app only for a single time without the need of installing it on the phone. It is currently in beta-testing but should be launched globally at the developers conference.

Allo, Duo, and Hangouts are messaging platforms that are running behind iMessage, WhatsApp or Slack, but Google wants to make them relevant so some updates should be expected as well.

Many of you are interested in hearing about new Google Pixel phones, but since the first Google Pixel was only introduced in October 2016, we doubt any of the rumored devices will make an appearance so early.

If you are interested in hearing about all of those things plus whatever else Google may have in store for us from first hand, make sure you tune in to watch the Goggle I/O keynote today at exactly 1PM Eastern time or 6PM UK time.
ELKO  Members of the Elko Democratic Party Central Committee learned that if they want to run viable candidates in Nevadas 2020 election cycle, they need to start recruiting and developing potential officeholders now. Former Washoe County Democratic Party chair and 2016 Congressional candidate Chip Evans and campaign expert Anna Scanlon offered this advice and more during a Saturday evening event in Elko.

Evans, a former Silicon Valley executive, shared lessons learned from his campaign and his years in party politics on ways to rebuild the Democratic Partys brand in rural, predominantly conservative communities. He encouraged Democrats in northeastern Nevada not to let Republicans run unopposed. Even losses can help candidates build name recognition and put Democratic ideas into the political conversation, he said.

Often, when recruiting people to run, parties fail to give willing candidates the support and resources they need, essentially leaving them on their own to figure out the process. Evans suggested that county committees offer potential candidates lists of media contacts and names of past candidates and officeholders who can provide political mentoring to novices. He proposed that funds be raised ahead of elections and made available to candidates who make it past the primaries.

Scanlon, who moved to Washoe County to work on the 2016 election, has remained in the Reno area. She discussed qualities, such as likeability and authenticity, that make attractive candidates. Money alone cannot build a connection between a poor candidate and voters, who she said can sense when candidates are inauthentic.

Scanlon said she is fascinated by numbers and statistics. Using voting data from 2016, she pointed out how some relatively small changes in campaign strategies might have tipped the scales in both Elko County and statewide races.

Both speakers agreed that knocking on doors is important in local elections, as are a good ground game and volunteers willing to do the work. That is another area in which the Elko County Democratic Central Committee can help lay the groundwork for greater visibility and candidate support in future elections, they said.

Elko County Democratic Central Committee meetings are open to the public. Those interested in learning about future events can visit www.ElkoDems.org.




Haiti - Army : Embryo of a Military Engineering Corps





As part of its mission to respond to the government's defense policy, the Ministry of Defense proceeded between 2012 and 2015, to the training of a total of 18 officers and 137 military engineers.



The Ministry recalls that "these technician officers and soldiers, who are the embryo of a Military Engineering Corps, are the result of bilateral cooperation between Haiti and the Republic of Ecuador". The main task of this Engineering Corps is to "participate and/or contribute to the rehabilitation and construction of public and/or private infrastructures at the request of the State and local authorities".



Examples of interventions of the Haitian Military Engineering Corps :



Artibonite: canal clearing, rehabilitation and construction of roads and public places (Petite Riviere de l'Artibonite) ;



In the West: rehabilitation of the Cornillon - Grand Bois road (3 km) ;



In the South: rehabilitation of the road to Vieux Bourg d'Aquin (damaged Matthew) ;



In the South-East: rehabilitation of the Cotes de Fer road ;



In the North, North-West, West, South and Grand'Anse various emergency relief interventions to victims during hurricane season ;



Construction of 400 cubic meters of fish ponds on behalf of the Food For The Poor organization in the South, North-West and Artibonite departments.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politics : Message from Deputy Tardieu to the new President of France





Following the presidential election in France, the Deputy of Petion-ville Jerry Tardieu (VERITE), President of the Haiti-France Friendship Group in the Haitian Parliament, welcomed the victory of the new President Emmanuel Macron.



"As President of the Haiti-France Friendship Group in Parliament, I welcome the great victory of Emmanuel Macron in the French presidential election. On behalf of this friendship group working to consolidate the various future partnerships between Haiti and France, I wish President Macron, and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe he appointed Monday, that he could certainly work for the prosperity of the peoples of France and Europe but ALSO and ESPECIALLY that he can work to strengthen the ties between the Haitian people and the French people. Several Haitian and French deputies of the Haiti-France friendship group are working through active parliamentary diplomacy.



To the French President Emmanuel Macron, the Friendship Group wishes courage in the exercise of these noble and heavy tasks.



The ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change remains one of the many major projects on which the Haiti-France Friendship Group and the Haitian Parliament wish to collaborate closely with the French legislative and executive authorities in the years to come."







HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Japan : Donation of $18 million for the construction of schools





Tuesday, Japan's Ambassador to Haiti Yoshiaki Hatta and Haitian Chancellor Antonio Rodrigue signed a grant agreement of Government of Japan amounting to $18.2 million through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.



This donation is intended for the construction of fundamental schools and the provision of equipment in the departments of the Center and Artibonite, in the tow



This donation will allow to finance, among other things, the construction of 99 classrooms, all equipped, and 108 toilets in 13 schools located in these two departments, said Yoshiaki Hatta adding that the project also included the construction of sanitary blocks suitable for wheelchairs and access ramps in its facilities for persons with reduced mobility as well as installations of systems for the production of solar energy.



PI/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Fed up of students in Petit-Goave

Monday around 10:30 am, students at the Lycee Faustin Soulouque in Petit-Goave, very angry, threw stones at the city's public prosecutor's office, exceeded by the strike of the teachers that lasts for more than 3 months !



In addition, Pierrevilus Jean Elius, the Director of the Lycee Faustin Soulouque, announced to the studentscertain projects that an international organization "R_Solution" intends to carry out at the Lycee... HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goave)



Revival of national production and smuggling

At the beginning of the week at the National Palace, President Moses met with a delegation from the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH) to revive national production but also on the fight against contraband, which deprives the State according to estimates by ADIH of nearly $ 500 million per year. It was also mentioned the reciprocity in trade with the Dominican Republic and the harmonization of the external tariff of CARICOM...



Reappropriation of Place Catherine Flon

Tuesday, as a prelude to the celebration of the 214th anniversary of the creation of the flag (18 May), the Ministry for Women's Affairs and Women's Rights organized a re-appropriation ceremony of the Place Catherine Flon.



Meeting between the Ministry of Tourism and MHAVE

Tuesday, Colombe Emilie Jessy Menos, the Minister of Tourism and Stephanie Auguste, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MAHVE), discussed at the approach of the summer season around the definition of a strategy for the improvement of service in hotel infrastructures, tourist sites and other places destined to receive members of the Diaspora for rural festivals. They also considered the optimization of the reception service at the airport and the definition of a pilgrim route.



Clerks on strike

The court clerks of Petit-Goave observe three days of strike. Aine Walcker Martin, he spokesperson for the strikers, criticized the decision of the investigating judge Morin who ordered the arrest of their colleague Frederic Gedeon whose they demand the release and secondly he called for a wage increase for the clerks. HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goave)



DR : Donation of Haitian books to the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo

Tuesday in the Dominican Republic, Minister Counselor Jean Tholbert Alexis at the head of a delegation from the Consulate of Haiti in Higuey, officially handed over 150 works in French by Haitian authors to the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo and bookshelf to the name of Jacques Stephen Alexis in the library of the institution.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















ELKO  A four-day ordeal that began with a burning truck and expanded into a search for two missing Idaho girls ended Monday evening when the children were found huddled safely under a tree near a Eureka County ranch.

Joshua Bradley Dundon, 29, is being held on $5 million bail on an Idaho warrant charging two counts of child custody interference, said Eureka County Sheriff Keith Logan.

Dundons daughters, Madison, 7 and Jaylynn, 6, were found safe in a mountainous area near the Baumann ranch. Logan said it had started to rain and temperatures had probably dropped into the 40s by 7 p.m. when they were located.

The girls were treated for exposure and reunited with family members that night.

Dundon and the girls mother have been in a dispute over custody of the children, according to documents filed in court.

The girls were reported missing last weekend, and police said their father had checked them out of their elementary school on May 10, telling acquaintances that the family was going camping.

On Thursday, a Eureka County couple called the sheriffs office to report they had heard a gunshot and came across a man near a burning vehicle while out on a walk.

It took several days for investigators to recover a partial vehicle identification number that linked the burned Chevrolet Silverado to Dundon. Investigators said they believe the truck was intentionally set on fire. They also found several sets of footprints at the site, as well as several used ammunition casings.

Once the vehicle was positively identified, Logan said an Amber Alert was issued, intensifying search efforts in Eureka County and involving ground and air search personnel.

We had about 50 people out pretty quick, said Logan.

Personal effects belonging to Dundon were found on the mountainside, including survival gear, weapons and ammunition.

Monday afternoon, Vera Baumann alerted authorities that a man she believed to be Dundon had walked up to her ranch, barefoot, cold, sickly and asking for help.

Baumann had heard about the burned vehicle and seen news reports about the missing girls. She said that raised her suspicions when the stranger approached her home.

Baumanns husband, 72-year-old Jim Baumann, went out to talk to Dundon while she grabbed a shotgun and called 911.

Baumann said Dundon offered the couple several hundred dollars if they would help him, and the girls were nowhere in sight.

He said he left them behind, Baumann said. He knew they were not going to make it, so he walked in for help.

Personnel from the Eureka County Sheriffs Office, Emergency Medical Services, Eureka Volunteer Fire Department, Diamond Valley Fire Department, Search and Rescue, Nevada Division of Investigators, Bureau of Land Management Rangers and other community members and ranchers quickly covered an approximate four-mile area where Dundon said he had left the girls.

Logan later said Dundon tried to give them information about where the girls were located, but was suffering from hypothermia and could not provide detailed directions.

After several hours of searching, rescuers found the girls about 1 mile from the Baumanns home.

At approximately 1900 hours, the first searchers were able to see the girls and make their way to their location under a tree, said Logan. The girls were carried out of the rough terrain to Emergency Medical Services personnel.

The girls were incredibly strong and showed great courage to survive in the conditions they faced, added Logan.

The girls were taken to a Boise hospital for treatment of exposure and reunited with family. They are expected to make a full recovery, Logan said.

Dundon was flown to a Nevada hospital for treatment, and once released from care, was expected to be booked on the warrant issued in Idaho, Logan added.

Extradition matters will be addressed once he is able to appear in court to return to Idaho for prosecution, Logan said.

It was not clear when he will be returned to Idaho, said Boise police spokeswoman Haley Williams.

Williams did not know whether Dundon was represented by a lawyer who could speak for him while he is jailed.

The investigation of all criminal matters regarding Dundon in Eureka County is ongoing by the Eureka County Sheriffs Office and the BLM law enforcement rangers, said Logan.

Once the investigations are complete, each investigation will be presented for consideration of prosecution by the appropriate prosecutorial entity, Logan said.

No local charges are pending at this time, added Logan.

We would like to thank all of the agencies, personnel and citizens who were so instrumental in helping locate and recover these young ladies, Logan said. Our entire community is thankful that these young ladies are safe and will continue to support their recovering.
Waddesdon Rothschild Collection - Account Managers

Waddesdon Rothschild Collection

Waddesdon is the exclusive importer for the Rothschild wines in the UK. Our wineries include Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA (Mouton), Baron Edmond de Rothschild, and Champagne Barons de Rothschild. The Rothschild wineries consist of 27 estates across four continents and produce wine in Bordeaux, South of France, Napa, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa. The Rothschild family have been producing some of the most sought after wine in the world since the purchase of Mouton in 1853 and Chateau Lafite in 1868. Waddesdon is a small company based at Waddesdon Manor, the Rothschild country estate in Buckinghamshire, with offices in Spencer House, St Jamess. Our focus is on developing quality distribution, appropriate for our iconic wineries. We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our premium wine company.

Account Manager London and South East

The primary aim for this role is to manage a number of our existing clients in London and the South East. It is rare for a position within this company to become available.

The role is home based, with easy access to our offices in St Jamess Place, central London and Waddesdon, Aylesbury. You will be WSET educated, be looking for a role working with a range of premium on-trade businesses, and a small number of local distributors. You will have excellent presentation skills, be able to understand in depth detail on a range of high quality wines, be able to pass this technical detail on and lead with inspiring training sessions. At the same time, you will seek opportunities to secure further listings with key partners. You will be expected to create joint marketing initiatives and joint business plans. Reporting to a UK Director, you will have category management skills and the desire to work with one of the worlds most revered wine producing companies. You will be proactive, led by both financial targets and classic brand building. You will have excellent writing skills and able to effectively communicate with buyers regarding our wines both in email and face to face. As a successful candidate, you must be able to manage your own schedule and arrange winery visits to for key clients. You will need to be highly numerate and have good Excel, Word and Powerpoint skills.

Company: Waddesdon Rothschild Collection

Location: London, South East

Contract: Permanent, full time

Salary: Competitive

Job posted: 15th May

Closing date: 31st May

Apply: careers@waddesdonwine.co.uk

Account Manager Midlands, North of England, and Scotland

The primary aim for this role is to manage many of our existing clients across the Midlands, Manchester, Liverpool, Yorkshire and in Scotland. It is rare for a position within this company to become available.

The role is home based, although you will have office space available to you in Waddesdon, Aylesbury and St.Jamess, central London, when needed. You will be WSET educated, be looking for a role working with a range of premium on-and off trade businesses, and local distributors. You will have excellent presentation skills, be able to understand in depth detail on a range of high quality wines, be able to pass this technical detail on and lead with inspiring training sessions. At the same time, you will seek opportunities to secure further listings with key partners. You will be expected to create joint marketing initiatives and joint business plans. Reporting to a UK Director, you will have category management skills and the desire to work with one of the worlds most revered wine producing companies. You will be proactive, led by both financial targets and classic brand building. You will have excellent writing skills and able to effectively communicate with buyers regarding our wines both in email and face to face. As a successful candidate, you must be able to manage your own schedule and arrange winery visits to for key clients. You will need to be highly numerate and have good Excel, Word and Powerpoint skills.

Location: Midlands, Liverpool, Manchester, Yorkshire, and Scotland

Contract: Permanent, full time

Salary: Competitive

Job posted: 15th May

Closing date: 31st May

Apply: careers@waddesdonwine.co.uk
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., joined eight other senators to introduce bipartisan legislation to ensure that legal cannabis businesses can access banking services.

We need to put the right infrastructure in place for the marijuana industry to operate legally and securely, Cortez Masto said. Allowing lawful cannabis-related businesses access to the mainstream banking system will alleviate security concerns and create more regulatory certainty for Nevada dispensaries and related providers, as well as the banking system. This bill will give our economy a boost by letting local businesses thrive and will also aid in the economic development of Nevada tribes.

The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2017 would solve a key logistical and public safety problem in states that have legalized medicinal or recreational cannabis.

Currently, cannabis businesses operating under state laws that have legalized medicinal or recreational cannabis have been mostly denied access to the banking system because banks that provide them services can be prosecuted under federal law. Without the ability to access bank accounts, accept credit cards, or write checks, businesses must operate using large amounts of cash. This creates safety risks for businesses and surrounding communities, and makes it more difficult for local and state governments to collect taxes.

The bill would prevent federal banking regulators from:

Prohibiting, penalizing or discouraging a bank from providing financial services to a legitimate state-sanctioned and regulated cannabis business, or an associated business (such as a lawyer or landlord providing services to a legal cannabis business);

Terminating or limiting a banks federal deposit insurance solely because the bank is providing services to a state-sanctioned cannabis business or associated business;

Recommending or incentivizing a bank to halt or downgrade providing any kind of banking services to these businesses; or

Taking any action on a loan to an owner or operator of a cannabis-related business.

The bill also creates a safe harbor from criminal prosecution and liability and asset forfeiture for banks and their officers and employees who provide financial services to legitimate, state-sanctioned cannabis businesses, while maintaining banks right to choose not to offer those services.

The bill would require banks to comply with current Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) guidance, while at the same time allowing FinCEN guidance to be streamlined over time as states and the federal government adapt to legalized medicinal and recreational cannabis policies.
The success rate of employers in unfair dismissal cases has dropped below 40% for the first time, according to new figures.



Employers had experienced a success rate of 50-60% since 2003, peaking under WorkChoices but dropping in 2009 when the Fair Work Act was introduced.



However, arbitrated unfair dismissal claims found to be "fair" or in the employer's favour fell from 46% to 39.6% in 2015-16, according to Fair Work reports.



Since 2013, the rate has fallen below 50%, reaching 48% in 2013-14 and 46% in 2014-15.



During the same period, appeals of unfair dismissals almost doubled, from 79 in 2013-14 to 139 in 2015-16.



Former vice-president of the Fair Work Commission Graeme Watson said in an opinion piece in the AFR that legislative reform is the only answer for protecting employers against illogical unfair dismissal decisions.



Watson compared Australias industrial relations system to the UKs approach of considering whether an employer acted within a band of reasonable responses is a better alternative to the FWC's approach. This determines both the fairness of process and whether the impact on an employee is harsh or not.



The result is a series of Catch-22 situations where even though employers are doing the right thing they can be asked to pay compensation or reinstate the employee, Watson said.



Legislative reform has become necessary.



Watson resigned early this year due to what he believes is a biased system that doesnt promote economic prosperity or social inclusion.



"I have made this decision because it is increasingly clear to me that the operation of the workplace relations system is actually undermining the objects of the Fair Work legislation," Watson said in his letter to the Employment Minister Michaelia Cash.



"I do not consider that the system provides a framework for co-operative and productive workplace relations and I do not consider that it promotes economic prosperity or social inclusion. Nor do I consider it can be described as balanced.


Grahn-Laasonen reminds in a blog entry that the countrys birth rate slumped to a historic low last year after decreasing for six consecutive years, leaving smaller municipalities in a particularly difficult situation.

Sanni Grahn-Laasonen (NCP), the Minister of Education, has voiced her frustration with the reluctance of certain ruling parties to overhaul the family leave system in Finland.

Statistics Finland in April reported that the number of births fell by almost five per cent (4.8%) from the previous year  the highest relative decrease since the beginning of the 1970s  to approximately 53,000 in 2016.

Grahn-Laasonen argues that the country must take action to also clear away the invisible obstacles to starting a family if it is intent on raising the birth rate.

The government cannot turn into babies, she states. A solid family policy combined with new flexibilities and better management in the working life could contribute significantly towards raising the birth rate in Finland and fulfilling the dreams of many families of having a child.

Grahn-Laasonen believes the new family leave system should enable families to retain their freedom of choice, protect the interests of their children and find a better balance between work and family life. The objective of the reform, she adds, should also be to increase flexibilities, promote female employment and guarantee the rights of children to early-childhood education.

It is regrettable and harmful to families that not all parties are prepared to do this. There are more than one proposals that would be good for children and families. If only we also had the political will, she laments.

The Finnish government was expected to announce revisions to the family leave system after its mid-term session in April. The three ruling parties, however, failed to find an agreement on the issue, with the Finns Party refusing to budge on home care allowances, a key feature of many of the proposals to reform the family leave system.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
In a tourism-driven state like Nevada, what is the benefit of legalizing marijuana if there is no place that tourists can legally smoke it?

That question certainly must have come across the minds of those behind the legalization initiative approved by voters in November. Yet, as state Sen. Don Gustavson pointed out in a recent legislative hearing, the ballot question was worded in a way that made voters believe marijuana could only be consumed in their homes.

We arent surprised that Sen. Tick Segerblom introduced a bill to turn that perception on its head, even before regulations for recreational pot sales were put together by the state tax department. Its no secret that he was working on the bill even before the election.

Were trying to get $70 million in tax revenue from them, so lets give them some place to use it, Segerblom eagerly told lawmakers.

We questioned whether such establishments would be allowed under the law when we wrote our Countdown to Marijuana series prior to the election. While no state allows public consumption of pot, states such as Colorado, Oregon and Washington have marijuana-friendly hotels that allow smoking in rented rooms.

Hotels connected with casinos, however, face more scrutiny because of gambling regulations and alcohol sales. A Las Vegas Sands executive told lawmakers that not having pot lounges would cause tourists to take the drug into casino properties, and that makes them very nervous.

Its federally illegal and we cant have it in our resorts, said Andy Abboud, vice president of government relations.

The solution is to set up marijuana clubs up and down the Strip, so tourists can get high in a social setting and then (hopefully)venture out and try their luck at casino gambling (or buy some munchies and take a nap).

The Nevada Senate has already approved the plan, by a vote of 12-9. But the bill could backfire, bringing down the wrath of the federal government and its anti-pot legalization attorney general, Jeff Sessions.

If passed and signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval, SB 236 would make Nevada the only state allowing recreation marijuana clubs.

While Nevada was pondering this move, lawmakers in Colorado rejected a similar plan. Gov. John Hickenlooper warned that such a move could draw the ire of the administration and bring federal drug enforcers down upon the states billion-dollar industry, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

But its a risk that a majority of Nevada senators are willing to take.

Nevada is known for its legal vices and pleasure, which is why many people come here. We allow some things other states do not, things everyone may not condone but are nonetheless going on within a couple of miles of this building, Segerblom told fellow senators during a legislative hearing.

Forty-six million tourists come to Nevada annually to have fun. When the recreational dispensaries open, some of them will buy marijuana. What will they do with it? Will they take it back to their hotel rooms or walk up and down the streets smoking? We do not know, he added. Rather than creating a headache for law enforcement and a hazard for other people, let us provide a proper venue. We do not want tourists using marijuana in parks near your kids or walking down The Strip. They have legally bought a product we have taxed and are making money off of, so we need to find a place where they can use it.

He pointed out that cities and counties will not be required to issue such permits, but they can if they want to. Thats good, because the 43 percent of senators who voted against the bill were all Republicans and mostly from rural areas, including our own Sen. Pete Goicoechea.

Marijuana social clubs dont have much support in rural parts of Nevada, but it is clear that Las Vegas officials and the casino industry want them. That means the bill is almost certain to pass. Then we will find out if Nevada benefits financially from legalized marijuana, or if the Trump administration shuts down the recreational pot industry entirely.
A nine-year-old schoolgirl who was bitten by a neighbour's dog two years ago has been awarded 20,000 in damages.

Barrister Caitriona O'Reilly told the Circuit Civil Court that in June 2015, Lucy Flynn had been playing on a path in front of her home when she was attacked by "a big mongrel dog".

Ms O'Reilly said Lucy, now 11, had been walking on the pathway when the attack happened.

The dog bit into the left side of her abdomen and her mother took her to the Vhi SwiftCare clinic in Dundrum where her wounds were treated and she was prescribed a course of antibiotics.

Negligent

Lucy, through her father Ronan Flynn, of Barton Road West, Rathfarnham, sued neighbours Geraldine and Thomas Byrne who lived next door.

Her legal team had alleged that the Byrnes had been negligent in failing to maintain control over their dog.

Lucy had been very upset and distressed, and when she was taken to the clinic, doctors noted bite marks on her abdomen.

Ms O'Reilly told Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke that Lucy had been reviewed by her GP, Dr Declan Cantwell, two months after the incident and he noted that she had suffered significant injuries.

The doctor reported scarring which he expected to improve with time.

Counsel told the court that although Lucy had lost confidence and was nervous around dogs, she had made a good physical recovery and the scarring had faded considerably.

Ms O'Reilly said the defendants had made a settlement offer of 20,000 in the case and she was recommending it be accepted by the court.

Judge Groarke, approving the offer and payment of the Flynn family's legal costs, said he respected the view of the family that the matter should be done and dusted.

When the judge said, "I take it that the dog was destroyed", Ms O'Reilly informed the court that it had not been put down.
A St Patrick's Festival reveller who sat down on a city centre footpath with a coffee did not correct people when they mistakenly took him for a beggar and began throwing money into his cup.

Christopher Duff (48) had finished his drink when pass-ers-by, who thought he was looking for cash, began giving him money.

He did not stop them, but his fortune took a turn for the worse when a garda spotted him and arrested him for illegal begging.

Duff pleaded guilty to begging without a licence.

Judge Anthony Halpin app-lied the Probation Act, leaving him without a conviction.

Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at Bachelors Walk last March 18.

The court heard gardai saw Duff begging with a cup and his legs stretched out across the footpath.

Obliging

Defence barrister Donal Pattison said the accused had been in the city centre enjoying the St Patrick's Day celebrations which had continued into March 18.

Duff, who is of no fixed address, had gone into town to "cheer himself up", bought himself a cup of coffee and sat down with it.

When he was finished, people started giving him money and he did not stop them to tell them they were mistaken.

The judge remarked that people had been "very obliging" to the accused.

"He is very apologetic and very embarrassed to be before the court today," Mr Pattison said.

The judge said: "You can't make this up. It's like if you stand in O'Connell Street and you look up in the air, after a while you have everybody looking up.

"I have to admire your courage in making that submission."

He dismissed the charge under the Probation of Offenders Act.

Begging is an offence and carries a potential maximum penalty on conviction of one month in prison.
A man accused of raping and murdering Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin has claimed three friends killed her in front of him despite his trying to save her.

Vikat Bhagat, who is currently in custody awaiting trial, has written a 29-page letter to his sister detailing the events which he claims led up to Danielle's death in Canacona, India, in March.

According to the Herald Goa newspaper, Bhagat (24) says he was in a relationship with Ms McLaughlin but denies he raped or murdered her.

He claims that three of his friends attacked and raped her on March 13, and those same men smashed bottles and rocks off her head when she tried to fight back.

However, a solicitor for Danielle's family in Donegal has questioned the claims and argued that the reports are "unhelpful" for the case.

"We do genuinely find this all highly dubious, spurious and lacking in evidential substance," said Derry lawyer Des Doherty.

Bhagat repeatedly writes in his letter that he was in a physical relationship with Danielle, and on the night of her murder they were with others in a restaurant where they were drunk and smoking cannabis.

Stripped

He claims they left to travel to Leopard Valley in Agonda, and on the way they decided to smoke one more joint at the place, which they frequented regularly. This was where Danielle (28) was later murdered.

"While sipping beer I received a call from a friend that they are in Leopard Valley and asked us to join them, to which I replied we will do in some time and informed them of our location," he wrote.

"I saw two bikes coming towards us switching off the headlights. They came to me, and when I questioned why they were here, [a friend] asked me to tell Danielle to have sex with them."

He claims Danielle slapped one of the men who then stripped her and raped her.

Bhagat, who said he was also attacked by the men, claimed: "I tried to save her, but since I had undergone shoulder surgery I could not help her."

According to the letter, Danielle started weeping and she slapped another man when he too demanded "sexual favours". Bhagat said this man smashed two beer bottles on her head and she fell to the ground.

The account says two of the men held her hands while the third hit a heavy stone twice on her head, after which she died.

Bhagat, arrested 24 hours after the murder, said he did not inform police for fear of blame.

"A day after the crime I spoke to [a friend] on phone questioning why they did this to which he apologised, saying it was a mistake and requested me not to spill their names if the police come to know," Bhagat alleged.

"We have to put faith in the appropriate authorities in India to investigate this fully," said Mr Doherty.
Evidence of the first garda drugs bust linked to the Kinahan cartel was outlined in a court case this week, in which a man who faked his own suicide was jailed.

Former equestrian centre manager Raymond Molloy (55) was given a six-and-a-half year sentence for the possession of more than 6m of cannabis resin.

Molloy spent 11 years on the run, living and working on the Isle of White, before being extradited back to Ireland and pleading guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply in Dublin on August 16, 2002.

It can be now disclosed that Molloy had faked his own suicide before going on the run and even left his clothes at Blessington Lake in south Dublin in a bid to trick gardai into thinking he was dead.

However, he was finally located in the UK last year and has been in custody ever since.

Senior sources told the Herald last night that the massive hash seizure almost 15 years ago was the first time that Christy Kinahan Snr came on to the garda radar as being the trafficker who had taken over the business of notorious thug John Gilligan.

Christy (now 60) had only been released from jail less than two years before the 2002 bust and had set up operations in Spain. It was suspected that he was using Weston Airport to smuggle cannabis into the country at that time.

"This bust brought the activities of Christy Kinahan and his gang on the radar in a serious way and ultimately led to other investigations, which culminated in an international investigation into his mob six years later," a senior source said last night.

Surveillance

Another man involved in the operation, David Dempsey (47), of Belcamp Lane, Coolock, was also charged with drug offences relating to the seizure of the cannabis resin in Coolock, firearms offences and in relation to the discovery of additional cannabis resin at his home.

Dempsey was convicted and sentenced to eight years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2003.

This week, the court heard that gardai stopped a van, driven by Molloy, in Coolock as part of an ongoing surveillance operation and recovered 498kg of cannabis resin, with a street value at the time of 6.34m.

The court heard that Molloy, of Hollywood, Co Wicklow, who has no previous convictions, had been approached by a number of individuals, one of whom was a family member, who proposed establishing the Slade Valley Equestrian Centre.

These people, in the view of gardai, "targeted" him because of his in-depth knowledge of horses.

It can be revealed that one of those people was a close associate of Kinahan, who later became embroiled in a horse race-fixing scandal in the UK.

He was arrested as part of the 2002 bust was never charged.

Molloy was due to stand trial in 2004 but failed to appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

In April 2015, gardai received information that he was living on the Isle of White.

The court heard that Molloy was taken advantage of and that threats and duress were exerted on him.

"He was told that his horses' throats would be slit if he did not do as he was told," his lawyer said.
A Dublin man has been jailed for 14 months for stealing almost 2,000 of "hot pants and things like that" from the back of a delivery truck.

Noel Dempsey (61), of Stannaway Road, Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing four boxes of women's clothes from a lorry on Wicklow Street, Dublin, on August 13, 2013.

He is the father of Vicky Dempsey, who was previously convicted of violent disorder over an incident in a pet shop in February 2011.

Garda Joseph Heaphy told James Dwyer, prosecuting, that a lorry driver had collected boxes of Pull & Bear clothes from Henry Street early in the morning and driven to Wicklow Street.

Missing

The driver stepped away from the lorry for five minutes and noticed on his return that the lorry's tail lift had been interfered with.

He discovered that four boxes were missing and reported the incident to gardai.

Dempsey was identified on CCTV footage as one of two men taking the boxes and driving away with them in a van.

The van was linked to Dempsey and gardai went to his home, where they found the boxes in his van. The clothes, which were never recovered, were valued at 1,988.

Gda Heaphy agreed with Keith Spencer, defending, that the boxes were full of women's clothing, "hot pants and things like that".

Dempsey's 99 previous convictions include 27 theft-related offences and 67 road traffic offences.

The company from which the clothes were collected is no longer trading, but the court heard that there was no evidence that linked this incident to the company shutting down.

Mr Spencer told the court that Dempsey has undergone chemotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, which is currently in remission. He has also undergone five coronary bypass operations and has had 21 stents placed in his heart.

Judge Karen O'Connor said Dempsey's health conditions, his guilty plea and a bereavement he had suffered were all mitigating factors in her sentencing.

She said that 2013 was a difficult time for businesses to survive and the loss of 2,000 of stock must have had an impact on the company.

"It is in no way a victimless crime," the judge said.

She added that, without mitigating factors, she would have considered a sentence of two-and-a-half years.

Dempsey's first conviction was in May 1970, when he was 14 years old. The court heard that none of his convictions were for offences of an aggressive or violent manner.

Theft

He is currently in prison for theft convictions and has been in custody since January 2017. He had been scheduled for release next February.

Dempsey lives with his wife, with whom he has five children. The court heard that one of their sons committed suicide in 2008.

In 2014, Dempsey was left with extremely serious head injuries after being attacked in the south inner city.

Mr Spencer said Dempsey had abused both alcohol and drugs in the past but has completely detoxified from drugs and is "seeing things clearly".

Counsel described him as a "decent person at heart" who is "in the right place now to be released into the bosom of his family".

The case has been set for trial four times. The trial date was pushed back twice due to a witness being on holiday and once due to Dempsey's ill health.
The Taliban attack against the Spanish embassy in Kabul (Afghanistan) on December 11, 2015 was no mistake, as the Spanish government had previously claimed. A report filed with the judge investigating the case concludes that the lack of security was a determining factor in the attackers decision to target this particular facility. Two Spanish police officers and five Afghan counterparts died in the attack, as well as four assailants.

Afghan soldiers guard the Spanish embassy in Kabul after the 2015 assault. Getty Images

The report was drafted by the information department of the Spanish National Police and sent to Judge Santiago Pedraz at the Audiencia Nacional, Spains central high court. The former ambassador to Kabul, Emilio Perez de Agreda, and his top aide at the time, Oriol Sola, are under investigation in the case.

A determining factor that made the terrorists decide to attack the Spanish Embassy [in Kabul] was its inadequate location in an area devoid of an outer safety ring, as would have been the case if it had been located inside the Green Zone, reads the report, which is dated March 30.

The report demolishes the Spanish governments claim that the Taliban were really targeting a guesthouse for foreigners

But it was more than bad location that made the Spanish diplomatic mission particularly vulnerable. The three buildings it comprises are directly exposed to aggressive action from [] the adjacent buildings, adds an annex to the report.

Additionally, the metal door that was destroyed in the car bomb explosion was malfunctioning and had to be manually pushed open and shut by the police officers. The only security ring around the facilities was a three-meter-high wall, and once the suicide bombers got past that, they found no obstacle in their way into the buildings. The short distance between the wall and the buildings made any reaction by security personnel impossible.

The annex also states that the electrical network was destroyed by the explosion and could not be reactivated. The police officers were literally left in the dark, unaware of how many attackers they were facing or where they were located. A number of officers took cover in what passed for a safe room, although the report says that the room did not merit that name, as it lacked an emergency communication line with the outside world.

Officers were literally left in the dark when the bomb cut the embassys electricity

The report demolishes the Spanish governments claim that the Taliban were really targeting a guesthouse for foreigners, and mistakenly attacked the Spanish embassy. Afghan Deputy Interior Minister General Ayoub Salangi told investigators: The terrorists knew they were attacking the Spanish embassy and that it was he himself who developed the false theory about the guesthouse in order to protect the safety of the [diplomatic] mission.

This has been ratified by the director general of Criminal Investigation at the Afghan Interior Ministry, who explained that following the terrorist attacks in Paris, in November 2015), his department received information suggesting that the embassies in Kabul could be attacked. However, he believed that the main targets would be the embassies of the United States, Britain or France, not Spain.

Somebody did, however, provide an early warning about the risk of an imminent attack. The diplomat Oriol Sola admits that he received an e-mail from the French defense attache, but says he did not read it until after the attack because he was away from his office.

The Spanish embassy had received a similar warning in March 2015. The response was to shut down the facilities for 48 hours, evacuate all local personnel and cut off traffic on nearby streets. None of this was done on the day of the attack.

Judge Pedraz has contacted the French embassy in Madrid to request a copy of the attaches warning message to Spanish colleagues, in order to determine what was said and when it was sent.

English version by Susana Urra.
Several dozen supporters of the so-called alt-right, carrying torches and chanting You will not replace us and Russia is our friend, gathered on Saturday night at a park in Charlottesville, Virginia, to defend a statue of Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee that local authorities want removed.

Dozens of torch-bearing demonstrators at Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. Allison Wrabel (AP)

More information Los supremacistas blancos sacan las antorchas en la guerra por los simbolos confederados

Leading the group was Richard Spencer, the white supremacist who invented the alt-right concept. The protest is the latest mobilization in opposition of the removal of Confederate symbols, which are seen by many as a legacy of the souths practice of slavery and enduring racism, and as symbols of historical identity by others.

Either way, the torch-bearing protesters bore an uncomfortable resemblance to gatherings of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), an organization that has been in decline since the 1970s.

This event involving torches at night in Lee Park was either profoundly ignorant or was designed to instill fear in our minority populations in a way that harks back to the days of the KKK. Either way, as mayor of this city, I want everyone to know this: we reject this intimidation, said the mayor of Charlottesville, Mike Signer, in a statement.

In the event, the protest was short-lived. The white fundamentalists had been in the park for just 10 minutes when a group supporting the removal of the statue showed up and a scuffle ensued, prompting the police to step in to break up the demonstration. On Sunday night there was a counter-rally and fresh incidents between supporters and detractors of removing Robert E. Lee. Three people were arrested.

Meanwhile, Richard Spencer denies any personal affinities with the Ku Klux Klan and rejects all comparisons with the racist organization. Any time that we defend European identity [...] these assorted dorks call us a collection of names, he said in a telephone interview.

Spencer said that other groups also use tiki torches, and that the goal was to create a mystical, communal and solemn atmosphere. He argued that the references to Russia were not a tribute to Vladimir Putin, although he praised the Russian president for putting the interests of Russians first. The reference was meant as a defense of a broader European world that would serve as an umbrella for white civilization, he said.

You can tear down the statue but it wont make any difference in the racial fragmentation of the United States

Richard Spencer, white supremacist

Spencer, 39, heads the National Policy Institute, a think tank whose goal is to defend the legacy, identity and future of the people of European origin. In 2010 he came up with the term alt-right, defined primarily by a rejection of immigration, which he sees as a threat to whites demographic superiority and to the political establishment.

With Donald Trumps presidential victory, the concept has been dragged out of the gutter and gained traction in mainstream society. The Republican president has made overtures to the racist right, which feels endorsed by Trumps rhetoric against immigration and political correctness.

Two weeks after the November election, Spencer called Trumps victory an awakening. At an event in Washington, he used Nazi symbology to celebrate the win: Heil Trump. Heil our people. Heil victory, he proclaimed. A few attendees raised their arms in response. Following the act, Trumps team was forced to publicly distance itself from the alt-right, which has the sympathy of Steve Bannon, the presidents chief strategist.

Spencer denies being a racist, instead arguing he defends preserving what he defines as white privilege. He also refutes accusations that he is pro-Nazi. He says he was trying to be a provocateur at the November event, and that he was being ironic when he used the same language once employed to praise Hitler. It was really an attempt to throw back in our enemies faces all these insults that they hurl at us, he says. Any time that someone stands up for white people in the world, he is called a Nazi.

Marchers protesting Steve Bannon's appointment as presidential adviser. AFP

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which has long monitored extremism in the United States, describes Spencer as one of the most successful young white nationalists and an intellectual, elegant, suit-and-tie version of the white supremacists of the past. Spencer advocates an Aryan homeland for the supposedly dispossessed white race, and calls for peaceful ethnic cleansing to halt the deconstruction of European culture, says the Montgomery, Alabama-based institution.

General Lee led the Confederate Army in northern Virginia until the Unions victory ended the Civil War in 1865, preventing secession by the southern states. Like other Confederate leaders, he remains a divisive figure, representing southern identity in the collective imagination, but also controversial because of his support for slavery.

The American South has been doing some soul-searching regarding Civil War symbols ever since white supremacist Dylann Roof, who liked to pose with the Confederate flag, killed nine black people at a church in Charleston (South Carolina) in 2015.

After Charlottesville approved selling the Lee statue, a group of descendants of Confederate soldiers took the decision to court

After Charlottesville approved selling the Lee statue, a group of descendants of Confederate soldiers took the decision to court. In early May, a judge halted the removal for six months until the case was settled. The issue has even become a matter for debate at this years gubernatorial race in Virginia.

Spencer claims that removing the Lee statue is an attack against all white people.

It is a declaration that your past does not matter, that your identity will not be the identity of Americas future, he said. Meanwhile, supporters of taking down the monument say that this is the best way to heal the racial wounds of the past.

You can tear down the statue but it wont make any difference in the racial fragmentation of the United States, says Spencer. There are tensions between the races. These will never disappear, they are part of the way the world works. What we are doing is taking our own side, taking the side of our people.

English version by Susana Urra.
Extra security measures at Barcelonas El Prat airport that have forced passengers to wait up to three hours at passport control in recent weeks are damaging the citys tourism brand , says its hotel confederation, prompting it to write to Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido, and the regional government of Catalonias interior chief, Jordi Jane, to call for action.

Colas en el control de pasaportes del Prat. Efe

Social networks and European media have widely reported the delays at Barcelona airport, which have led to many passengers missing their flights, with notable problems over the Easter period, when the new, stricter security measures were introduced. Several international airlines have also complained to AENA, Spains airport authority.

Barcelonas tourism sector had expected some initial repercussions due to the anti-terrorist measures, but hoteliers say that this past weekend once again produced long lines of angry passengers at passport control.

This is absolutely grotesque. They knew these measures were to be put in place

Joan Molas, the head of Barcelonas hotel association

Spains National Police say that the delays are likely to continue due to the lack of officers. El Prat has called in extra police from Barcelona to try to meet the shortfall.

This is absolutely grotesque, said Joan Molas, the head of Barcelonas hotel association. They have known for a long time that these measures were going to have to be put in place. We dont understand why they are now telling us that they lack human resources or the technology. We are very surprised, said Molas, calling for immediate solutions.

On Wednesday, the central governments delegate to Catalonia, Enric Millo, was due to meet with representatives of the Catalan regional government, along with Sonia Carrochano, El Prats director, Barcelonas deputy mayor, Jaume Collboni, the mayor of El Prat, Lluis Tejedor, and the head of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Miquel Valls.

Airlines operating out of Barcelona have also expressed concern about the delays ahead of summer, when traveler numbers increase significantly. Two operators, Norwegian and Level, are due to begin low-cost intercontinental flights out of El Prat in the coming months. Some airlines have begun notifying passengers by email to allow for more time at passport control.

The delays create a chain reaction affecting travel agencies, hotels, and even drivers hired to pick arrivals up

Similarly, travel agents are now warning customers about the delays they will face at Barcelona airport.

We have had people who have missed their outward and return flights. Whats more, many flights carry passengers boarding cruise ships that leave Barcelona, said Marti Sarrate, the president of the Catalan Association of Specialist Tour Agencies (ACAVE).

The delays at the airport create a chain reaction affecting travel agencies, hotels, tourist apartments and even drivers hired to pick arrivals up.

Its a disaster. Were calling for the necessary investments to be made to sort this out, said Manel Casals, the head of the Barcelona hotels association, and who has already met with senior members of the Catalan regional government.

We think that this is all due to a lack of planning, he said.

English version by Nick Lyne.
CHILHOWIE, Va.  Authorities were searching for a person of interest late Tuesday after finding the bodies of a man and woman inside a home in Chilhowie.

Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman said his department received a call from a family member of the victims around 5:30 p.m. in regard to a possible double homicide at a home in the 14000 block of Flatwoods Acres Road.

Officers responded and did find two victims, Newman said at the scene late Tuesday. A male and a female were deceased.

The identities of those killed and the person of interest were not released.

Detectives from the Sheriffs Office and the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations from Wytheville were expected to investigate the deaths through the night.

We have determined an individual person of interest at this point, said Newman. We are in the process of trying to locate that individual.

The two people found inside the home and the person of interest knew each other, the sheriff said.

I do not feel at this point in time that he is a threat to the public, Newman said. We dont feel that it was a random act. We feel that it was an intentional incident that occurred against persons that he knew.

Its not known how long the two people had been dead, Newman said. The bodies will be taken to the state medical examiners office in Roanoke this morning for autopsies.

The cause of death was also not released late Tuesday, but Newman said multiple weapons were found in the home.

Its pretty much in disarray, inside of the house, Newman said of the home, which is located on a narrow, rural road about 3.5 miles from Interstate 81 and a short distance from the county line.

Newman said the area is normally peaceful and quiet.

CHILHOWIE, Va.Authorities were searching for a person of interest late Tuesday after finding the bodies of a man and woman inside a home in Chilhowie.

Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman said his department received a call from a family member of the victims around 5:30 p.m. in regard to a possible double homicide at a home in the 14000 block of Flatwood Acres Road.

Officers responded and did find two victims, Newman said at the scene late Tuesday. A male and a female were deceased.

The identities of those killed and the person of interest were not released.

Detectives from the Sheriffs Office and the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations from Wytheville were expected to investigate the deaths through the night.

We have determined an individual person of interest at this point, said Newman. We are in the process of trying to locate that individual.

The two people found inside the home and the person of interest knew each other, the sheriff said.

I do not feel at this point in time that he is a threat to the public, Newman said. We dont feel that it was a random act. We feel that it was an intentional incident that occurred against persons that he knew.

Its not known how long the two people had been dead, Newman said. The bodies will be taken to the state medical examiners office in Roanoke this morning for autopsies.

The cause of death was also not released late Tuesday, but Newman said multiple weapons were found in the home.

Its pretty much in disarray, inside of the house, Newman said of the home, which is located on a narrow, rural road about 3.5 miles from Interstate 81 and a short distance from the county line.

Newman said the area is normally peaceful and quiet.
Maryland election 2022: Dan Cox concedes governor race to Wes Moore

Republican Dan Cox conceded the election, calling Governor-elect Wes Moore. But throws jabs at Hogan, more.
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

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Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

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PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

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Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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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

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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

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Malta Bank Employee Reveals Documents Linking Aliyevs to Bank Accounts

Continuing the series of articles we published in the last two weeks about corruption in Azerbaijan, we wish now to reveal additional scandalous details about funds deposited in a Malta bank by family members of Azerbaijans President, Ilham Aliyev. Interestingly, the Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, has emerged at the center of Azerbaijans financial scandals. Londons The Guardian newspaper reported last week that Muscats wife, Michelle, had received large amounts of money from Leyla Aliyeva, daughter of Pres. Aliyev. Investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia of Malta revealed a series of payments, in the form of loans, had been routed to Egrant [a Panama-registered shell company which belongs to the wife of Maltas Prime Minister]. The largest, for $1.07 million, was allegedly made in March of last year. They are claimed to have come from an account at Pilatus bank belonging to Al Sahra FZCO. And the owner of Al Sahra was allegedly the daughter of Azerbaijans leader, Ilham Aliyev, The Guardian reported. Muscat and his wife have denied receiving payments related to Egrant. Significantly, Azerbaijans state oil company happens to be a shareholder of Maltas new power station. One of the accounts at Pilatus bank is in the name of Konrad Mizzi, Energy minister of Malta. Another account is in the name of Pres. Aliyevs daughter, Leyla Aliyeva. Mizzi and Malta Prime Ministers Chief of Staff, Keith Schembri, had set up two Panama-registered companies four months after entering office in 2013. A third shell company, Egrant, was created at the same time by the same Maltese accountant. Prime Minister Muscat and his wife hosted the Aliyevs during their visit to Malta in 2014. In 2005, President Aliyevs wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, recently appointed by her husband as Vice President of Azerbaijan as his possible successor, was named as one of two managers of the Panamanian UF Universe Foundation, according to Panama Papers documents published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The UF Universe Foundation would have ultimate control of AtaHolding, a major Azeri conglomerate. The 2005 proposal named Pres. Aliyevs three children in addition to other senior members of the Azerbaijans tax office as beneficiaries. In addition, Aliyevs daughters controlled a Panama-incorporated company and two others in the British Virgin Islands. The Panamanian company held a significant stake in a consortium of companies exploring gold fields in Azerbaijan. Aliyevs sister was the sole shareholder and owner of a BVI [British Virgin Islands] company registered in December 2005. Registration records list her at an address in a West London neighborhood where average home prices touch $9 million. In an article published on May 9, 2017, The Guardian further reported that members of the European Parliament are openly calling for [Prime Minister Muscats] departure amid a growing corruption scandal involving his wife, a Panamanian shell company, and alleged payments from the President of Azerbaijans daughter. The European Parliaments inquiry committee invited Muscat to its headquarters in Strasbourg to give evidence on the accusations against him. Muscat declined the invitation. Investigative journalist Galizia reported that a woman who had worked as executive assistant to the owner of Pilatus bank, Syed Ali Sadr Hasheminejad, found in a safe and scanned bank account paperwork naming Michelle Muscat. The executive assistant told the reporter that she was given a list of companies, maybe eight or 10 names, and told that these were to be given special attention for payment transactions. The companies included Willerby Inc., Tillgate Inc., Hearnville Inc., Egrant Inc., and Al Sahra FZCO, a company owned by Leyla Aliyeva, daughter of Pres. Aliyev, according to the Times of Malta. The executive assistant was quoted as stating that she had seen the forms for the opening of the bank account. Payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars from Al Sahra FZCO, always marked as loan payments, were not made to their accounts at Pilatus bank, but to accounts they had at a bank in Dubai. Once, she said, the banks CEO, Mr. Ghanbari, received instructions from Mr. Hasheminejad for the transfer of some $400,000 to a Maltese woman who lives in New York and has a jewelry business. It had to be marked as loan payment. The executive assistant confessed that she turned over the documents she had copied from the bank to the authorities in Malta because I could not stand to read any more of the lies, denials and half-truths. It was too much! By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
Iranian Armenians do not support any candidate (video)

Artyom Tonoyan, specialist on Iranian studies, today while touching upon the presidential elections in Iran due on May 19, noted that the main rivalry will proceed between the current President Hassan Rouhani and the joint representative of the Conservative wing Ebrahim Raisi. Rest of the candidates withdrew their candidacy. He says not smooth elections are expected, I think the elections will be transferred to the second phase. There will be little difference in votes; two candidates have equal chances. As of regional developments, he says, there will be no change irrespective of the fact which candidate is elected. Especially in case of Armenia there arent any negative tendencies. According to the words of the specialist on Iranian studies, Iranian Armenians are much respected in the Islamic Republic of Iran, but Iran has its own foreign policy, in particular it relates to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Iranian Armenians have two lawmakers in this country, but we should note, that in political sense the Armenian community is very passive, and has never supported any candidate during elections. According to the words of Artyom Tonoyan, there is no information on foreign policy in the election projects of two candidates, The main stress is on inner politics- unemployment, nature protection issues. There is no reflection on the region and on the relations with the RA in particular.
President Xi Jinping has just hosted a mega show to sell Chinas massive Eurasian connectivity scheme, known variously as the One Belt One Road (OBOR), or the Belt Road Initiative (BRI), to the world. Present at the occasion were presidents and prime ministers, and leaders of other parts of the world and, more disconcertingly, our neighbouring countries as well.

If you get the impression that India was isolated in its boycott of the meeting, you are not wrong. But this has been an avoidable injury. The basis of New Delhis rigid opposition to OBOR has never been quite clear. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in March 2016, foreign secretary S Jaishankar had implicitly criticised China for building connectivity without consultative processes, and hardwiring the choices for its participants.

Subsequently, New Delhi raised the issue of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passing through POK. Last week, in listing out his objections to the scheme, official spokesman Gopal Baglay said that no country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity.

But this sounded more of a pretext to oppose OBOR than anything else; India has never seriously sought the return of Gilgit-Baltistan and has wanted the LoC as an international boundary.

Actually a lot of the hardwiring is already done. 2017 will see over 2,000 trains (estimated) travel from a dozen Chinese cities to over 20 European destinations on newly built lines and tunnels in Central Asia. Pipelines and railroads have already shifted the economic orientation of the region from Russia to China. South-east Asia is undergoing a similar process through new rail lines overlaying the traditional maritime routes. In the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Chinese companies have built, are building and, in many cases, operating, ports in (Kyaukpyu) Myanmar, (Hambantota) Sri Lanka, (Gwadar) Pakistan, (Bagamayo) Tanzania, (Lamu) Kenya. As part of this, China has made strategic investments in central and eastern Europe as well.

It is important to understand what OBOR is and what it is not. Its primary goal is to integrate the rich European economy with that of China, not about CPEC and Pakistan, which are just sideshows of the ambitious scheme.

The shorter term goal is for China to emerge as the dominant regional power in its neighbourhood, where it is already the leading economic presence. Linked to this is the compulsion of protecting Chinese maritime commerce, particularly oil, in the IOR.

India lacks the resources to match Chinas ambitious plans for Eurasia, but it is directly affected by Chinese money pouring into its neighbourhood and the marked surge in Chinese naval activity in the IOR since 2014. Beijing has now established a base in the Djibouti and you can be sure that Gwadar, is a Chinese naval facility in all but name. And this is just the beginning.

After connectivity, Beijing is moving on the second leg of its strategy  an economic policy to make China a developed country. For this China intends to sit at the top of the global manufacturing value chains instead of being a low-level aggregator. Beijing is investing hundreds of billions of dollars to gain the global pole position in areas like integrated circuits, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, bio-pharma, electrical cars and so on. The European connection is the key to this, since high-end products need a rich market.

A major problem with the Indian response is that it concentrates exclusively on the geopolitical leg of OBORPakistan, Sri Lanka and so on. But the scheme is primarily about geo-economics. By staying out of it, India risks being systematically frozen out of business opportunities in an enlarging area that is integrating with the Chinese economy around the world.

India cannot stop the scheme, but it can hamper it in many ways. We are not without clout in our region, and we possess a vast and growing market for Chinese products. Indias geographical location is a huge advantage, especially for the maritime leg of the scheme in the IOR

These factors can be parlayed into a hard-headed negotiation with the Beijing to insist that the benefits of participating in OBOR must be shared. But, first, New Delhi needs to stop whining and learn to cherry-pick the OBOR menu.

True, it is a Chinese scheme, funded by their banks and largely executed by Chinese companies. But Beijing now realises that it is too big and complex to be done on its own. If China is open to working with other countries, as Xis speech seemed to suggest, it may yet be possible to get them to understand how their favourite phrase win-win cooperation can really be win win.

Manoj Joshi is distinguished fellow, Observer Research Foundation

The views expressed are personal
The Supreme Courts comment on the triple talaq system as a practice too abhorrent to be legal, and the direction it hints at, is akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Critics of Islamic systems should know that Islam upholds the equality of sexes, caste, creed or colour. The institution of marriage is fundamental to a harmonious society. Talaq in Arabic means an oath taken to proceed for slow release from a marriage, and triple talaq as a system provides ample scope for reconciliation. Research show that most divorces in India take 10-12 months even when both parties are amenable. The triple talaq, if followed right, is a wonderful system, which cuts down on expenses and preserves the dignity of women.

The current conflict stems not from the system but from the practice by Muslims. For the majority of Muslims, ignorance is bliss, and they blindly follow the predominantly male clerics. Research shows that more than 85% of Muslims have not read the Quran in full to understand the value system prescribed in it for the betterment of humankind. They recite it as part of prayer rituals but it is in Arabic and very few have read a translation. And the fatwa-happy mullahs just follow the singular Saudi line not relevant for a pluralistic society.

The Sura Al Baqra (meaning the cow), on which Islamic personal law is almost entirely based on, elaborates on triple talaq in verses 226 to 241: For those who take the oath for abstention from their wives (the first talaq), a waiting of four months is ordained but during that time reconciliation should be made feasible. If not, proceed to the next stage of talaq, after which women shall wait for three months. During this time husbands have the right to take the wife back, if they wish for reconciliation. Women too have similar rights. During the seven months between the two talaqs, family and friends shall intervene and make attempts to effect a reconciliation. If everything fails, pronounce the third talaq. So clearly, Quran prohibits three talaqs at one go.

The governments stand on triple talaq is only partially correct. Instead of enforcing the law properly, they want the Supreme Court to annul it. It is apparent that triple talaq is mistaken for instant talaq, which is unIslamic. The government should work with Muslims to usher in a Uniform Civil Code, and in the larger interests of the society, the community should step forward to embrace it. Opposition parties see the move to annul triple talaq as anti-Muslim in the guise of safeguarding the dignity of women. They may do better by taking a narrative around abandonment as an even more abhorrent a system than instant triple talaq. The latter, at least, gives women an option to remarry.

M Muneer is the co-founder and chief evangelist of Medici Institute, a non-profit organisation

The views expressed are personal
African students who have staked all to come to study in universities in India have been facing different levels of racist attacks. Some recent incidents of such attacks were reported in Noida, where students of a private university were attacked by mobs outside the campus. The attackers called the African students Nigerians, which has become a term of abuse in the area. In other incidents, African students have felt isolated, conscious of their colour and difference in various public places. In many universities where they study, African students feel some kind of racism in practice.

The consequence is that African students tend to stay together in their own groups, are not able to make friends, are scared when alone. The major attraction of coming to study in India is becoming a hazard. The goodwill that India has had with Africa is at risk.

In India, there are many problems and contradictions when dealing with the issue of racism. First there is a denial of the existence of racism. Even while we see ourselves as victims of external ( western) racism, we refuse to look critically at our own biases. Our biases about colour and privileging the fair and seeing them as superior, is evident from our matrimonial advertisements in every Sunday newspaper. It is evident when North Indians see themselves as wheatish and fair and identify the South Indians as blackish. Every shade of this wheatish from light, to lighter to more ish is considered superior.

Our obsession with fair was expressed recently by some senior RSS functionaries who proposed nurturing and producing fair skinned babies as a superior group. Bollywood shows its preference for fair heroes and even villains need to be a certain colour.

Then there is also the issue of caste. There is a denial that caste is linked to race. But some castes identify themselves as born superior to others is a racial attribute. The obsession with fairness creams and formulas has made India a cosmetic industries paradise.

A University stands for humanism, for reason, for the adventure of ideas  an Indian prime minister had said. Why then is there such racism and intolerance in universities itself? The reason is that this humanism, tolerance and adventure of ideas, is restricted to small enlightened circles. Otherwise, a university is just an extension of society. And societys values, biases, intolerances creep into the University system unless battled against.

The multiculturalism taught in some liberal arts and social sciences does not penetrate even into the sciences. In some cases it remains in the class rooms and is not practiced outside. In other cases, there is fear of bucking the trend and confronting the general lynch mob.

When the last attack on African students took place the dominant Indian argument was that India is not racist and that we do a lot for Africa in terms of development assistance. Yes, India does contribute significantly to African development assistance. It has written off the debt to the Highly Indebted Poor Countries. It has voted with Africa in international institutions against racism. But this has not been matched with a public discourse that critiques and challenges all forms of racism, exclusions and discriminations.

There are of course also the opposite examples, where African students have had excellent experience in some Indian Universities, and gone back as important figures and as ambassadors of Indian values. In Jawaharlal Nehru University for example, African students and African Studies has been encouraged. Students have come from Africa for Masters, M.Phil and PhD programmes. It is a pity that no such admission will take place in 2017, and will decrease in coming years, since research is being discouraged in this institution, which is among those that encourages multiculturalism and actively resists racism in all its forms. And such examples of critical thinking should become the dominant trend, instead centres for the study of exclusion are being shut down.

The attacks on African students was strongly condemned by African envoys, and there was concern in the Indian Government. This concern has translated into some security measures in sensitive places. It has not generated enough of social pressure so as make sure that there is a more harmonious atmosphere where racism is taken seriously as a social crime.

In is not only African students, but even some from the Northeast India, from Nepal and other places complain of racism in public places, markets and in universities, where they were derided as chinky and Chinese. There is therefore a tendency to demonise, vilify, homogenise and see as inferior people who are not like us, while there is little acknowledgement or truth of who this us really is, and how much difference and plurality there is in us itself.

Ultimately, it is clear that we need a better public culture. The media is a major area of public education. The night after night debate on the same issues of the great Indian nationalism, should perhaps harp on this aspect also. Racism is based on bias against colour based on a self superiority. A collective of such community thinking turns into a lynch mob. Those who have such bias on the basis of colour, also have bias against another religion, against gender, against difference. They cannot even understand that there can be different types of nationalism.

In India, as in many places this fight against racism is a major challenge, as biases are steeped and being entrenched in society and in institutions, from universities to courts. So the fight against racism is a major process of changing public and social culture.

Anuradha Chenoy is professor, School of International Studies, JNU

The views expressed are personal
Alia Bhatt might have just nine films so far in her kitty, but shes already portrayed a variety of roles on the silver screen and won critical accolades too. From playing the role of a rich-brat diva in Student of the Year (2012), a south Indian girl in 2 States (2014) to a Bihar girl in Udta Punjab (2016) and a young urban girl in Dear Zindagi (2016), Alia has tried her hand at quite a few genres.

Recently, when 24-year-old actor said that she would love to essay the role of Sita, it created a lot of curiosity among her fans. The actor expressed her desire at the trailer launch of Amish Tripathis much anticipated book Sita - Warrior of Mithila on Tuesday.

Enamoured by the trailer of the book, where goddess Sita is shown in a stunning cinematic visual, Alia said that it would be interesting to play her character. If a film is being made on the book, I would love to play Sita. Her story that we get to know about in this book isnt known to many, she said.

Alia also added that given Ramayana is one of the most talked about story in Indian mythology, she feels people would enjoy watching it on-screen. The fact that Sita was a warrior, and a protector, also got me interested. So I guess it would be exciting, as Ive never played something like this before, added Alia.

The actor then asked Amish that if she plays Sita, whom he would like to cast as Lord Ram, to which the author replied saying actor Ranveer Singh would be able to do justice to the role.

Meanwhile, Alia would be next seen in director Ayan Mukherjis next theatrical venture titled Dragon, which also stars Ranbir Kapoor.

My person  A post shared by Alia  (@aliaabhatt) on Apr 3, 2017 at 10:31am PDT

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Actor Mallika Sherawat will be joining actors Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the 70th Cannes Film Festival. The 40-year-old recently returned from a vacation with her French boyfriend Cyrille Auxenfans and will be making an appearance at the festival soon. She will be wearing an outfit by her favourite designer, Georges Hobeika, just like last year.

Mallika, who has been a regular at the festival, posted a video on Instagram, in which she says that she is on her way to Cannes and is super excited.

Watch the video here

Off to cannes  #cannesfilmfestival2017 #cannes #france #lovemyfans A post shared by Mallikasherawat (@mallikasherawat) on May 17, 2017 at 1:50am PDT

Mallika is the brand ambassador of International organization, Free A Girl, and will be representing it at the festival. The organisation aims to fight against human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Meanwhile, Deepika, who arrived at the French Riviera yesterday, has been posting pictures from her trip. She will be walking the red carpet on May 17

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May 17 is observed as International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia or IDAHOT Day. It marks World Health Organisations decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder, since 1990. The day is celebrated in a bid to mobilise communities to protect LGBTQ rights. Events are organised to raise awareness and garner support. Love and support is pouring in for the communities from all around the world, from Cuba and Cyprus to Romania and Taiwan.

Some action from around the world:

As MAY 17 is dawning, many actions have already happened for #IDAHO #IDAHOT #IDAHOBIT. Check it out @https://www.facebook.com/may17idahot/ pic.twitter.com/thjOoBj1m8  IDAHOT (@may17IDAHOT) May 16, 2017

This was Northern Cyprus yesterday afternoon. A great #IDAHOT March . See more on FB @ queercyprus pic.twitter.com/mmAIvnjVC2  IDAHOT (@may17IDAHOT) May 14, 2017

While public and organisations are doing their bit, cinema has also endeavoured to bring LGBTQ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) relationships into the limelight. Heres a look at some Bollywood and Hollywood films that have tried to raise awareness about the subject.

Fire

A still from Deepa Mehtas Fire, starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das.

In 1998, a film by Deepa Mehta starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das managed to ruffle feathers for all the right and wrong reasons too. The story followed the loves of a pair of sisters-in-law, whose husbands had either taken an oath of celibacy, or found comfort in the arms of mistresses.

Aligarh

A still from Aligarh, directed by Hansal Mehta.

Aligarh is a 2016 film and is a biographical account of the life of professor Ramchandra Siras, head of department of modern Indian languages at Aligarh Muslim University. Aligarh traced the story of the professor, his homosexuality and how he got panned for it. The film stars Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkummar Rao. Siras died in 2010, and it was initially speculated that he ended his life.

Philadelphia

A still from the 1993 film, Philadelphia.

One of the first mainstream films on homosexuality in Hollywood, Philadelphia, directed by Jonathan Demme, is the story of a lawyer who was fired from his firm when his bosses get to learn that he has AIDS and is gay. He takes the assistance of a lawyer to fight his case, and the films takes us through this journey. The film stars Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington.

Moonlight

A still from Moonlight, a film that won three Academy Awards in 2017. (David Bornfriend/A24 via AP)

Winner of three Academy Awards, Moonlight is a coming-of-age story about a gay, black kid growing up in an impoverished, drug-addled neighborhood of Miami. It is based on playwright Tarell Alvin McCraneys unpublished semi-autobiographical play, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. The film, directed by Barry Jenkins, is the first film with an all-black cast in Hollywood.

My Brother...Nikhil

A still from My Brother Nikhil, starring Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Suri.

My Brother...Nikhil, directed by Onir, is based on the life of activist Dominic DSouza, who was the index case (first patient) of HIV-AIDS in Goa in 1989. The protagonist, Nikhil Kapoor, played by Sanjay Suri, is a sportsman, but his life falls apart when he is diagnosed with AIDS. He is forcibly quarantined and kept in isolation. The film also stars Juhi Chawla and Purab Kohli.

Margarita With A Straw

A still from Margarita With A Straw in which stars Kalki Koechlin.

Margarita With A Straw follows the story of Laila, a teenager with cerebral palsy, who leaves India to study in New York. There, she falls in love with Khanum, a visually-challenged girl, and discovers that she is bisexual. This 2014 film was directed by Shonali Bose and Nilesh Maniyar.

I Am

The theatrical poster of the 2010 film, I Am.

I Am is a 2010 film that comprises four short films. The anthology is directed by Onir and stars actors Nandita Das, Juhi Chawla, Rahul Bose, Purab Kohli, Manish Koirala among others. One of the short stories, Omar, deals with homosexuality.

Brokeback Mountain

A still from Brokeback Mountain, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger.

Based on the novel of the same name by Annie Proulx, Brokeback Mountain explores the relationship between two men, played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. Directed by Ang Lee, the movie spans two decades. The film won three Academy Awards in 2006.

Milk

Sean Penn and James Franco in a still from Milk.

Milk is a 2009 film directed by Gus Van Sant. It is based on the life of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, who became the first openly gay person to be elected to a public office in California.

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Actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra have filed a defamation case against Ravi Mohanlal Bhalotia, the textile unit owner who has accused the couple of duping them of Rs 24 lakh. Now, Kundra has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court and slapped Bhalotia with a defamation case. Reportedly, Bhalotia called the celebrity couple a cheat and maligned their reputation.

Big Deals, a firm owned by Shilpa and Raj, had got into a partnership with Bhalotias firm for selling bedsheets. Raj and Shilpa have slapped a defamation notice for Rs.100 crore on Ravi Mohanlal Bhalotia. A quashing petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court, as they have tight contracts signed and have been responsibly following the laws of the land, Kundras spokesperson said.

Bhalotia had filed an FIR on April 27, 2017, at the Bhiwandi police station against the couple under sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of IPC. He had earlier said, They bought bedsheets worth Rs 1.5 crore from me in 2015. I handed over the items to them, for which they paid Rs 1.44 crore in January 2016. When I approached them [for the pending payment], they made several false promises, and convinced me to give them another consignment of bedsheets worth Rs 18 lakh in July 2016, but they never paid me for it.

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Sushant Singh Rajput has had a meteoric rise and credits his fans for constantly showering him with love and supporting him through thick and thin.

It's an honor for me to have the opportunity to work with you @mariotestino #Repost @mariotestino with @repostapp  TOWEL SERIES 136, SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT. #TowelSeries #MarioTestino @SushantSinghRajput A post shared by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) on May 3, 2017 at 7:37am PDT

It was only recently that the actor returned home after a gym session to find a bunch of his fans, a couple of college students, waiting outside the gate to catch a glimpse of their favourite actor.

The fans were in for a surprise, when Sushant actually stepped out and met each one of them, posing for pictures and signing autographs .The star even had food and bottles of water sent to them as they were standing in the scorching heat for quite a few hours.

"Just stop lookin' for love Girl, you know you still got time " A post shared by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) on Apr 27, 2017 at 11:33pm PDT

Says a source,  Sushant enjoys interacting with his fans and even has regular conversations with them over Twitter , where they get to know him better as a person. He believes he is what he is because of his fans and never takes them for granted. He recently even met with a group of college students who were gathered outside his building. He met them, clicked pictures with them and spoke to them minus any starry airs .They were completely overwhelmed with his gesture.

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A proposal by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to impose a one-year notice period on Indian pilots who want to jump jobs has touched a raw nerve, with a senior Air India staffer asking why such a rule does not apply to politicians.

At present, pilots have to serve a notice period of six months.

In a sarcastic Facebook post, pilot S Sabu said: We should also urge the government of India to apply the same (rule) to our elected representatives, the MPs and MLAs. Very often, we witness governments being toppled by unscrupulous politicians who jump from one party to another...

Going by the aviation regulators claim that such a proposal will prevent pilots from resigning on the spur of a moment, thereby cutting down on fight delays and cancellations, politicians should also come under such a law to avoid political instability and undesirable polling expenditure, the pilot argued.

Sabu recommended a parliamentary act, whereby politicians belonging to political parties registered with the Election Commission give a notice of at least one year before they switch allegiances.

The DGCAs draft proposal mooted a notice period of one year for pilots, and six months for co-pilots, after resigning from their jobs. To drive home its point, the aviation body cited instances of flights getting delayed or cancelled due to pilots resigning without adequate notice.

In some cases, pilots resign en masse without notice, As a result, airlines are forced to cancel their flights at the last minute, the draft proposal by the DGCA said.

The regulator argued that the increased notice period also addresses airline companies concerns about needing at least four months to replace a well-trained pilot who has passed all the technical and performance examinations required.

The only exemption from the notice period would be for pilots who obtain a no-objection certificate from their airline, allowing them to quit before the notice period is completed.

The airline regulators proposals came at a time when Air Indias regional arm  Allegiance Air  has complained against poaching of pilots by IndiGo.

Air India could not be contacted for its response.

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Despite the Reserve Banks call for caution to people against the use of virtual currencies, a domestic Bitcoin exchange today said it is adding over 2,500 users a day and has reached five lakh downloads.

Zebpay, an app-absed Bitcoin exchange, said it has had five lakh downloads on the Android operating system and is adding more than 2,500 users every day.

This, it said, highlights the growing acceptance of Bitcoins as one of the most popular emerging asset class.

The company said it launched operations in 2015 to simplify Bitcoin trade along with providing a seamless experience to Indian audience.

Claiming that the country was at the cusp of a new financial revolution, the companys co-founder and chief operating officer Sandeep Goenka said customers are opening up to non-traditional investments measures and it is targeting to take the total downloads to over 1 million by September 2017.

The company statement said that it has already raised $1 million in a round of funding in last January.

Any user, holder, investor or trader dealing with virtual currencies is doing it at their own risk, the RBI had cautioned on its website in February this year.

RBI has been repeatedly flagging concerns on virtual currencies like Bitcoins, stating that they pose potential financial, legal, customer protection and security-related risks.

I believe its potential is being overstated. We can see that in these types of solutions for virtual currency, there is no central bank or monetary authority, then deputy governor R Gandhi had said on March 2 this year.

Value seems to be a matter of speculation. Legal status is definitely not there. While this is a purported objective of a VC, it puts a natural limit for its progression. And finally, the usage of VCs for illicit and illegal activities has been reported as uncomfortably large, Gandhi had said.
Egypt, famous for its pyramids and the Great Sphinx, is expecting more than a 50% growth in tourist arrivals from India this year at over 1.2 lakh visitors.

During 2016, Egypt had received 80,000 travellers from India, according to data from the Egyptian Tourism Authority.

We see a huge potential of 3-4 lakh tourists from India and are working towards achieving this goal. Looking at the current growth rate in the first quarter, we expect over 50% growth in 2017, which will be over 1.2 lakh travellers from India, Egyptian Tourism Counselor - Regional Director India and Far East, Ismail A Hamid Amer told PTI here.

Egypt is being promoted as a premium and exotic destination in India and is expected to reach the potential of 3-4 lakh tourists by 2019, even though tourist numbers from India are currently not big. However, looking at the growth trends, it is likely to be among the top 10 source markets for Egypt in 2-3 years, he added

The top source markets for Egypt currently are Europe, which constitutes 70% of its tourism traffic, followed by the Arab nations constituting 26 per cent, he said.

We are promoting Egypt to all age groups with different packages to suit everyone. We have special products like the Nile cruise, history and culture for the elderly travellers and many adventure activities for the youth. We also have products that will suit families, Amer said.

Egypt is focusing on family, meetings, incentives, conferences, events (MICE), bollywood, honeymooners and pilgrimage (for Christians and Muslims) among others, he said.

Indians, Amer said, are big spenders and add value to the tourism industry of Egypt.

Currently, Egypt is targeting travellers from the big cities of India and but will slowly penetrate to Tier II and III cities, Amer said.

We have conducted road shows in cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. Little by little we will reach out to the Tier II and III cities as well, he said.

Talking about direct connectivity, he said, at present there are four weekly flights from Mumbai and by the end of this year, there might be more connecting 1 or 2 Indian cities to Egypt.

We have one direct flight which flies four times weekly from Mumbai. We also have several connecting flights from India as well. We are hoping for more direct flights from India connecting with 1 or 2 cities by December this year, Amer added.
Qualcomm Inc said on Wednesday it filed a complaint against Foxconn Technology Group and other Apple Inc manufacturers for breaching license agreements.

The chipmaker said the manufacturers were refusing to pay royalties on the Apple products produced.

Foxconn Technology Group is the trading name of Taiwans Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, the main assembler of Apple Inc devices.
Paving the way for a merger talk with German conglomerate Thyssenkrupp, Tata Steel has agreed to a 550-million pounds deal for its UK unit to cut benefits and improve the funding position of its British pension scheme.

Tata Steel stocks were up as much as 8% to touch Rs 497 at the Bombay Stock Exchange in early trade on Wednesday.

Tatas are selling their ailing British units to cut costs, a decade after its acquisition of Corus for $8.1 billion in 2006.

In November 2016, UK-based businessmen Sanjeev Guptas Liberty House signed a letter of intent on the sale of Tatas speciality steel business in Britain.

A month later, Tata agreed to invest 1 billion pound over ten years into its British operations and keep running the two blast furnaces at Port Talbot for at least five years.

The Indian conglomerate was also weighing option of a merger of its European operations with German firm Thyssenkrupp.

Tata Steel UKs pension scheme was a major stumbling block in talks to merge Tata Steels British and European steel assets with those of Thyssenkrupp, because the German company was opposed to taking on Tatas 15 billion pounds in UK pension liabilities.

The deal, agreed with the schemes trustees, will see Tata plough 550 million pounds into the final salary British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS). It is subject to formal approval by The Pensions Regulator, but Tata said it expected to get approval shortly.

Tata has also agreed, as part of the deal, to sponsor a new pension scheme, which will have lower benefits than those of the original scheme, and to give the BSPS a 33% equity stake in its UK business.

With benefit cuts in place, the new scheme will pose less of a risk to the company, Tata said.

The British Steel Pension Scheme is one of Britains largest final salary schemes with 130,000 members.

The pension schemes members who do not agree to move to the new scheme will automatically transfer to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF), which said all the schemes members, including those in the new scheme, are guaranteed PPF compensation levels.

The PPF is a lifeboat for pension schemes in Britain that run into trouble.

(With inputs from Reuters)
The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved 14-15% salary hike to its staff and pensioners in accordance with the pay fitment committees report on the Centres Seventh Pay Commission.

Although the revised salary structure will be effective from January 2016, financial benefits will be doled out to government staff and pensioners from April 2017.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar had earlier announced that financial benefits would be given to employees from January 2017 and a budgetary provision for it was also made in the last fiscal.

Briefing reporters on the cabinet decisions, principal secretary, finance, Ravi Mital, said the salary of the government staff would go up by 14-15%, which would be 2.57 times of their existing basic and grade pay.

READ| Bihar government employees pay revision report by May 15: Kang

Allowances such as house rent, medical, travel, conveyance etc. will be finalised later by the fitment committee in the next couple of months, he said.

The salary hike will benefit about 3.65 lakh employees and six lakh pensioners. The state exchequer will incur an additional annual expense of Rs 5,000 crore on account of increase in the salary and pension, said Mital, adding that the fitment committee had been given a two-month extension to finalise allowances of staff.

Contractual teachers, who number around 3.60 lakh, will also get a similar increase in their salary, said principal secretary, education, R K Mahajan, adding that it would incur an additional cost of Rs 1500 crore on the state exchequer.

The fitment committee, headed by former Bihar chief secretary G S Kang, which submitted its report to the CM on Monday, has done away with the practice of pay band and grade pay and instead recommended as many as 14 pay metrics (levels) to determine the increase of salary to all its employees and officials, ranging from class 4 to class 1. The maximum level of pay has been fixed at Rs 2,18,200 while the minimum will be Rs 18,000 as per the revised structure.

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The compulsory biometric attendance has brought about a welcome change in the work culture at the state secretariat. The officials at the secretariat, however, are now questioning why only they have to mark attendance through biometric machines. They are now demanding that the system be replicated in all government offices, especially those which involve public dealing, to ensure discipline.

The system, which requires an employee to punch his/her fingerprint to mark their attendance through a biometric machine, was introduced for all the officials, staff and workers at the Uttarakhand secretariat last week. It was done after chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat gave instructions last month to introduce the system compulsorily for all the secretariat officials and employees. The move came close on the heels of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath calling for introducing biometric attendance in the government offices in the neighbouring state.

Secretariat has nearly 1,700 employees. More than 125 biometric machines have been installed in various buildings inside the secretariat premises for marking the attendance.

Under the system, the employees are required to mark the attendance twice  when the office hours begin at 9:30 am and when they leave office at 6 pm  everyday. After its introduction, the attendance has shown a marked improvement and officials are also spending the working hours in the office.

We welcome the new (attendance) system and the secretariat personnel are following it closely. However, the real public dealing takes place at directorates and other field offices of various departments while only a handful (of non-secretariat persons) visit the secretariat premises. So, biometric attendance should also be made compulsory for them to improve overall work efficiency (of the government system), said Deepak Joshi, president of the Uttarakhand Secretariat Association.

The main aim of biometric attendance is to inculcate a sense of discipline and better work culture among the employees. Unlike the manual recording in the past, it (attendance) is being registered and monitored through an online system now, for which a nodal officer has also been appointed (to monitor the system), Anand Bardhan, principal secretary (secretariat administration), told Hindustan Times.

Last year, a similar decision had been taken to introduce biometric attendance for the state secretariat staff and officials up to the level of the joint secretary but was later withdrawn amid protests from the secretariat association, which demanded that it should be applicable to all sections of officials.

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The Delhi government has issued a circular allowing all private hospitals and nursing homes to increase their approved bed strength by 1020% for a period of six months. The step has been taken pre-emptively to prepare the hospitals to tackle a dengue or chikungunya outbreak in the capital.

This duration of the bed increase will be reviewed later depending upon the load of dengue and fever cases in the city, the circular issued by the director general of health services Kirti Bhushan read.

The city has already reported 89 cases of chikungunya and 36 cases of dengue from January to May 13, according to the weekly report released by the Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD).

Anticipating an outbreak, the Delhi government this time wants to prepare ahead of time. On analysing data of last four months, it has been observed that this year cases of dengue and chikungunya were reported from the month of January, which is usually a non-transmission period. It is likely that the number of cases may increase in the pre and post mosoon season, the circular by the directorate general of health services read.

The action came after the Delhi high court asked the AAP government and the civic bodies in Delhi who would ensure that all is well in the Capital, while expressing concern over the outbreaks in previous years.

Last year, Delhi had a chikungunya outbreak that affected 7,760 people and in 2015, there was dengue outbreak that affected nearly 16,000 people and killed 60, according to official figures.

The circular issued by the government has asked the hospital and nursing homes to accommodate the extra beds in existing wards, corridors or waiting areas, depending on availability of space. The rules that fix the bed strength in hospitals and nursing homes will be relaxed for a period of six months. However, these extra beds can be used to admit only dengue, chikungunya and fever patients and the charges for these beds should not be more than 50% of the cost of their lowest price, said a health department official.

The DGHS has also asked hospitals and nursing homes to not deny treatment or admission to any dengue, chikungunya or fever patient. In exigency, more than one patient may be accommodated on a single bed, the circular reads.

Also, if a patient has to be transferred to a higher centre, it is the hospitals responsibility to arrange an ambulance and send a doctor, who can coordinate with doctors at the higher centre, said the official.

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No country can make Armenia return the territories (video)

Former Minister of Defense Vaghaeshak Harutyunyan today at the meeting with journalists, touching upon the signing of ceasefire agreement 23 years ago, noted, If that agreement didnt exist, we wouldnt have peaceful negotiation process. The Azerbaijani side aimed at reaching what it wasnt able to reach through military way by political way; thats return of territories. They didnt succeed in it, after which they took a break, but, in the end, they werent able to refuse that document. It is the legal restrictive factor, which reveals which side violates the ceasefire. The ceasefire agreement is accepted by all the international organizations. He says that when todays casualties are discussed, we should note that if there wasnt that agreement, war would break out, The adversary acted restrained during April War; it didnt use long-range weapons, which it had and could use against Stepanakert, it didnt use Smerch, aviation, yet during the first war Azerbaijan used all kinds of weapons. In reply to the question whether it is necessary today to discuss, develop the peace project proposed by the RA First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Vagharshak Harutyunyan notes that we should take into account the behavior of the adversary, Lets not forget that first Azerbaijan signed then refused the ceasefire agreement, how can we propose it to solve this issue? Is it possible to sit and discuss with Azerbaijan and shift from the ceasefire agreement, move forward and reach the resolution to the issue? Let me cite the words of Heydar Aliyev Karabakh is ours, as well as Yerevan, Meghri and Goris. Lets assess objectively, the Armenian side still at that time was ready to cede territories for status, but Azerbaijan wasnt ready for any concessions. I can state that in the near future Karabakh conflict will not be resolved taking into account the rough stance of Azerbaijan. We should also take into account that no conflict in the world was easily resolved. The issue will be resolved if Azerbaijan decided to change its stance, we should wait for it; in military-political terms we have resolved our issues. Azerbaijan very well realizes that and pins hopes on Co-chairs. By the way, no country can make Armenia return territories. As for former Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyans moving to the opposition field and losing the election, Vagharshak Harutyunyan said that as formerly, now as well he was against his entering into politics.
The extremely frail Javed Husain Khan sells second-hand Swiss watches  for a bargain. His stall is a cutesy hole-in-the-wall in New Markazi Market, a basement lane of small shops in Nizamuddin Basti.

Here you get old, hand-wound Swiss watches for cheap. Mr Khan has almost every Swiss brand  Nino, Henri Sandoz, Titoni, Favre-leuba, Titus, Roamer and even Rolex or Omega, if he takes a liking for you.

Mr Khan charges a fairly small amount for these watches  usually between Rs 800 to Rs 2,000. A similar watch of the same vintage would cost more than ten times that amount in a showroom. I have dealers in various cities such as Kolkata and Lucknow who obtain these watches from families willing to sell old things they no longer need.

A native of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, Mr Khan also repairs watches and is usually working alone, peering intently over family heirlooms. Mr Khan is always seen wearing an eyeglass that would have made somebody else appear like a pirate, but he remains the very portrait of gentleness.

He speaks softly and always insists on treating you to the neighbourhood tea stalls horribly milky chai. A resident of Okhla in south Delhi, Mr Khan opens his shop daily at 2pm. We have often seen him working on the watches till as late as 11pm.

Come to his shop; you dont even have to buy his watches. Just to watch him work and hear him talk in chaste Urdu would be worth the time.

WHERE: New Markazi Market, Nizamuddin Basti

BEST TIME: Evening

NEAREST METRO STATION: Jangpura
To spread the message of peace, secularity and harmony, Delhi-based curator Erum Khan is organising an art exhibition, Kabir, in the Capital. The group art exhibition aims to put limelight on the unheard artists, too.

We are displaying the artworks of around 35 artists in the gallery. Besides showcasing the paintings of some prominent artists, we are trying to bring out the hidden art from different parts of the country, says Khan. Artists from 15 states of India are visiting the capital to participate in the group show.

Among the major attractions of the exhibition is a portrait of Kabir by artist Hena Chakraborty. The portrait of Kabir showcases his secular nature. He was bred by a Muslim family. After his death, Hindus and Muslims started fighting with each other over his body and then he showed his magic. He turned himself into a flower with a message Ram Rahim, Krishan Karim. Through the painting, I want to do the same -fade out the differences, says Chakraborty, a Raja Ravi Verma awardee, who has been painting for the past 45 years.

This artwork will be showcased at the group show.

Amit Srivastava, an IIT graduate who is displaying his painting for the first time in India says, Exhibitions like these bring a lot of exposure for the budding artists. I am already feeling motivated.

The exhibition will also have 68-year-old Asha Singh showcase her work. The Hyderabad-based artist says, After my husbands death, paintings gave me a new life. Its a sort of rebirth for me and this is the first time, my artworks will be displayed. I am really excited about the upcoming show and hope that it will give me an identity.

Catch It Live What: Kabir, group art exhibition Where: Artizen Art Gallery, New Delhi When: May 20 and 21 Timings: 11am to 7pm Nearest Metro Station: ITO on the Blue Line

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Paving the way for the implementation of Land Pooling Policy, the urban development department of the Delhi government on Wednesday declared 89 villages in the city as urbanised.

The move will allow the development of these land patches under the land pooling scheme aimed at providing affordable housing to city residents.

The villages declared urbanised are spread across the North and South Municipal Corporations. While 50 villages are under North MCD, 39 fall under the jurisdiction of the South MCD.

As per the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) 2021, based on a projected population of 230 lakh by 2021, Delhi would require an about 24 lakh new dwelling units.

Till date, the Delhi Development Authority has been able to raise only 11.69 lakh residential units.

The policy allows the land owners in these villages to surrender their land and give it to the DDA along with a development charge. The DDA will give the land to real estate developers.

Once developed, the developer entity or land owners who surrendered their land will get back 48% or 60% of what they pooled in. The rest of the developed area  52% and 40%, respectively  will be retained by DDA or the private builder who can put it on sale. The housing and commercial projects will have to be developed within seven years. Additional time will be given only on payment of a penalty.

A senior official of DDA said that the role of the land development agency will be mainly of a felicitator in these areas.

People will have to pool the land and come to DDA. We will examine the proposal and check whether they have been adhering to the rules and guidelines or not. We will also explore the option of how to provide infrastructure such as roads, drainage and sewage system in the area, he said.

Leader of opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, said the move will pave way for providing affordable housing to at least 20 lakh families.

We have been raising this issue in the DDA authority meetings and demanding lieutenant governor to intervene in the matter and issue notification as soon as possible, he said.

He said that this was a major roadblock in implementing the land pooling policy.

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Sakshi was about to step into the classroom to take her semester-end exam on Monday morning when one of her friends broke the news of the Punjabi Bagh accident involving her seven classmates. Her best friend, 19-year-old Ritu Singh, was supposed to be in that ill-fated Honda City car.

With a sinking feeling in their hearts, Sakshi and her friends entered the examination hall. They did not want to sit through the three-hour long exam when they were uncertain about the fate of their classmates and friends.

I knew all the answers, but I did not want to write a word. Some of us handed our examination sheets within an hour. But the invigilators wouldnt let us off before 90 minutes. Those 30 minutes (after finishing the paper) were the longest of my life, Sakshi told HT on Tuesday, a day after the Honda City flew off a flyover, killing four students and critically injuring three.

The moment the students were allowed to leave the examination hall, their teachers waited outside to break the tragic news of two deaths. More than 60 students immediately raced to different hospitals to donate blood or help in any way possible. The seven of them were the most close-knit and helpful group we have ever seen. We wanted to do our bit to return the help, said Raghav Bansal, one of the classmates.

All the seven students were first-year BBA students at Delhi School of Professional Studies and Research located in Rohini Sector 25. Stuffed into a five-seater Honda City car, the students were headed to Narela to take the Business Organisation paper, the first in their semester-end exam.

Singh and Sanchit Chhabra were killed on the spot. Rajat Sharma, the car owner and the man behind the wheel, died during treatment later on Monday. Garima Gupta, who was sitting next to Singh on the front seat, succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday.

When I fell ill recently, Sanchit called me a number of times in a day to enquire about my well-being. But I regret scolding Ritu recently for wearing heels and warning her that I would never see her if she wore that footwear again. I did not know she would leave me forever, said an inconsolable Sakshi.

The mother and relatives of Garima Gupta at her residence in west Delhis Inderpuri on Tuesday. (Sushil Kumar/HT PHOTO)

The students had known each other only since last August, but the seven had bonded quickly. They were friendly with all classmates and teachers. Their teachers remember them as a group of mischievous but innocent children who knew their limits.

They paid attention to their studies and knew how to respect their teachers. I dont know how I will visit the class without those four students when the college reopens on August 1, said Manisha Sharma, their class coordinator, as she comforted the weeping students even as she failed to control her own tears during a condolence meeting at the college on Tuesday.

Despite exams staring them in the face over the next few days, more than 100 students visited the college on Tuesday to pay condolences to the dead and pray for the recovery of the three others, Rishabh Mavi, Pranav Malik and Raja Rastogi, who are battling for their lives.

But even in the tragedy, the classmates of the deceased were in awe of the supreme sacrifices made by three of them even in their death. The parents of Ritu, Sanchit and Garima donated their eyes, making sure a few visually-challenged people will be able to see again.

They brought joy to our lives when they were alive. In their death, they brought joy to others and have inspired us. Many of us will pledge to donate our organs once we recover from this tragedy, said Komal, Garimas best friend.

Ravinder Vinayak, the college director, said he would organise a camp to spread awareness about organ donation among students and parents.

While shock and grief prevailed at the college and the homes of the dead, several students were angry about the obscure locations of the examination centres and the lack of ample public transport to those places.

Seven students had to stuff themselves in one car because cabs refused to travel to a place like Narela. Rajat had to return midway to pick up Ritu and Garima from their homes as they couldnt find cabs to such a far-off location. We have been forced to make special arrangements just to travel to the examination centres, said Komal.

The parents of some of the children demanded that the rest of the semester exams be postponed because of the tragedy. How do you expect children to attend exams when seven of their classmates have been involved in such a tragedy? Some of them have not eaten a morsel since they heard the news, they surely are not in a position to study, said Parul Garg, mother to one of the classmates of the victims.
Police on Wednesday arrested two persons from west Delhis Dwarka and recovered around 22.5kg of Ephedrine, a drug that is popular in rave parties. The value of the seized drugs in international market is around Rs 22 crore.

The drug, police said, was allegedly being procured from Punjab and being sold to party goers in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mizoram as well as Myanmar.

A team of officers from Delhi Polices special cell have been cracking down on syndicates dealing in Ephedrine and were on the trail of one Ashok Kumar, who was allegedly smuggling the drug to Delhi.

Police on Monday received a tip-off that a large consignment of Ephedrin would be brought to Dwarka for delivery. A police team processed the information an dlater set a trap.

The waiting police team spotted an Esteem car in which the suspect was supposed to be arriving. As soon as Ashok moved to hand over the bag to the receiver, identified as Lalmuankima, we swooped down and nabbed them and seized the drug, said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, DCP (special cell).

During interrogation, Ashok allegedly revealed that he learnt about the illegal use of Ephedrine as a party drug while working with a pharmaceutical company in Delhi. He realised that using Ephedrine to prepare ecstasy tablets would yield huge profits, said the officer.

Ephedrine is generally used in making cough syrups. Around four decades ago, it was first used to prepare ecstasy tablets, police said. Popular among party goers as well as many foreign tourists in India, the drug has also been learnt to be supplied to far off customers through courier.

The tablets are either swallowed or mixed with alcoholic drinks. If consumed in large quantities, hallucinations are known to occur, said officers who have been cracking down against drug rackets.

In the latest racket, Ashok was allegedly set to sell the 22.5 kilos of Ephedrine to Lalmuankima who is a native of Aizwal and works for a drug dealer there.

Lalmuankima allegedly ferried the drug to Aizwal and was paid Rs 25,000 for each trip he made. Police said the arrest of the two men should help them in identifying the two ends of this drug chain.
There is no guaranteed right to privacy enshrined in the Indian constitution. However, in many judgements over several years, several legal luminaries have interpreted Article 21  the right to life and liberty as giving rise to a somewhat limited right to privacy. There are a number of restrictions to a right to privacy, mostly articulated through interpretations of various judgements of the Supreme Court. It is in light of this, that the ongoing case in the Supreme Court challenging the messaging application WhatsApps privacy policy becomes important.

This is primarily because the right to privacy is a lot more complicated when it is transposed from offline life to an online universe; where corporations not based in India are used widely by Indians for communication, knowledge dissemination, etc. Important questions that need to be asked are who has access to all our tweets and Facebook posts? Who has access to private photographs shared only with family on a WhatsApp group? The current case in the Supreme Court essentially deals with these changes in the privacy policy on WhatsApp. The petitioners contend that WhatsApp had a far more stringent privacy policy before being acquired by Facebook in 2014. Now, both content and metadata of users can be accessed by Facebook. This change is significant because in theory, data collected by Facebook can be used for tracking and monitoring of users very easily. Since the social media giant already collects a lot of other data including location, likes, friends, etc; giving it more access to other private details of users lives could be dangerous.

Indias first regulation for data privacy came through the Information Technology Act of 2000. This law deals with compensation for negligence in implementing and maintaining reasonable security practices and procedures for sensitive personal data or information; and provides punishment for disclosure of information without the information providers consent. In the case of privacy concerns regarding the unique identity scheme or Aadhaar database, the attorney general had argued in the Supreme Court that privacy is not a fundamental right guaranteed to Indian citizens; and therefore collecting and storing biometrics cannot be a violation of such a right. This case is still underway and has been referred to a larger bench of the Supreme Court.

In light of the complicated jurisprudence surrounding the right to privacy, the WhatsApp case takes on an important hue. The judgement in the case could determine the way ahead for privacy  both online and offline  in India.
Nowhere is the gap between the worldviews of Donald Trump and the United States establishment wider than in their respective attitudes towards Russia. President Trump is arguably the friendliest Oval Office occupant that Moscow has had since Franklin Delano Roosevelt. However, almost every other element of the US system is hostile to Russia. The result is a schizophrenic US attitude to the Kremlin, but one that could be potentially fatal to the Trump presidency.

The latest storm is over reports that the US president revealed classified counterterrorism intelligence to a Russian delegation. This is in addition to existing concerns in the US that Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was behind a hacking of the US Democratic Party campaign and may have helped influence the elections. Mr Trumps unusual sacking of the Federal Bureau of Investigation director was partly a fallout of the FBIs own Russia inquiry. At last count, there are three official US investigations into the degree of Russian interference in US politics.

He takes a benign view of Russias annexation of part of the Ukraine and, like a true businessman, deeply disapproves of the use of sanctions. Mr Trump also believes a US-Russia military alliance would be the best means to destroy the Islamic State. Some of this is not without merit, but he lacks the patience or charm to sell this policy to his own government and the US Congress. Mr Putins own actions  whether his suspected cyber activities or his repressive behaviour at home  have not been helpful to his cause. The US presidents own whimsical behaviour is only making things worse. The recent intelligence gaffe, where Mr Trump broke protocols that would have ended the career of a normal official, only added to a sense of a US president overly under the influence of an unfriendly foreign power.

The steady deterioration of the US-Russia relationship, despite Mr Trumps best efforts, is unfortunate for the world at large. The more Moscow feels isolated, the more it becomes dependent on Beijing and the more willing it is to undermine US interests in Afghanistan or elsewhere. All these developments are also inimical to Indias interests. They are also a growing threat to the Trump presidency. The US presidents antics are feeding momentum in Washington in favour of appointing a special prosecutor to settle what Mr Trump has dubbed the Russia thing. Special prosecutors, as Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton know well, are legal entities whose investigations alone can paralyse a government. With polls showing 80% of Americans supporting a special prosecutor, it will be curious to see how long his Republican Party colleagues continue to shield him.
Haryanas Board of School Education (HBSE) will announce the result of its Class 12 board examinations on Thursday, a senior official said on Wednesday.

We have decided to announce the result of Class 12 and the students can check their results on the official website, the boards chairperson Jagbir Singh said.

Singh added after the declaration of Class 12 results, a press conference will be conducted to announce the date for Class 10 results.

We have not announced the date of Class 10 results, but I am here in Chandigarh to discuss the matter, he said.

The boards public relation officer Meenakshi said students will have to go to the website www.bseh.org.in, click on the link for Class 12 result and fill the registration details on the page to see their results.

She added 7,51,766 students, including regular and private, appeared in Class 10 and 12 exams in Haryana.

Last year, the pass percentage of Class 12 was 62.40 out of which 70.77% girls and 55.79% boys passed. It shows that girls of Haryana grabbed better position than boys, she added.

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The most important part of getting your makeup right involves the act of blending well. Whether its your foundation, concealer, contour, or eyeshadow  its safe to say, that a smooth finish is the key. Its no surprise then that people invest in a range of brushes, sponges and more to get the blend right. However, there are some who take their search too far. From condoms and tampons to even a pair of luxury heels  here are some of the craziest beauty blenders that makeup lovers have come up with.



Louboutin heels

Who knew footwear would come handy when it comes to blending makeup? Beauty blogger Sadia uses heels from the French luxury brand to make sure her makeup is on point. We thought it sounded tricky, but she makes it look pretty effortless in her Instagram videos. The heels, of course, are wrapped in a plastic film. Clearly, nothing is more important than the red-soled heel, not even makeup.

Condoms

An incredulous Wth? was our first reaction too. But its true. Bloggers and makeup fans have tried using condoms as a beauty blender. While some stuff the rubber with their beauty sponges, others fill it up with lotion. Why did the trend catch up, you ask? Well, it reportedly saves all the makeup that your sponge would otherwise absorb, so, it makes for less wastage.



Tampons

Tampon or beauty blender YOU DECIDE  lol I think we know what we like more. Laugh at this! A post shared by Ashley Blue DeFrancesco (@ashleybluedef) on Feb 25, 2017 at 10:19am PST

Yes, this one has been tried too. Beauty bloggers gave female sanitary products a try to help them apply their makeup, and they too were just as unimpressed as we are. The process appears tedious and the idea of a tampon on the face is no less than disturbing, for most.



Eat it, blend it

Eggs, tomatoes, potatoes  your grocery can also double up as a beauty blender, according to some videos shared by beauty bloggers. Blogger Mo gives potatoes a try, but we know how that works out when he gives up a few seconds into the video.

However, blogger Esther uses a hard boiled egg to blend her makeup and seems to enjoy it. Her caption reads: Well anyway did it work YES it did, would I use it again hmmmm MAYBE .



Bra inserts

People at Huda Beauty got inspired to try out a bra insert after the success of a silicone sponge. They use the Boob blender to apply foundation and concealer both, and love the hack. It doesnt absorb any product and the application is smooth, they say. Are you convinced?

Is this the next beauty HACK?!! Tried out the latest hack to the silicone sponge, a BOOB BLENDER, to apply my makeup and loved it! The application was really smooth and the best part was it did not soak up any product making it a great alternative to a blender or a brush. #hudabeauty A post shared by Huda Kattan (@hudabeauty) on Dec 6, 2016 at 7:33am PST



Socks

Beauty blogger Mayra inspired other bloggers to try out a sock after using the hack herself. She just turns the sock inside out till its all stuffed and rolled into a ball, and blends away.

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City homebuyers, on Wednesday, held a peaceful protest outside the deputy commissioners office at the Mini Secretariat over the alleged dilution of rules in the states Real Estate Regulatory Act (RERA) draft.

Later, the homebuyers, under the banner of Gurgaon Citizens Council (GCC), which is largely represented by residents of private colonies, submitted a memorandum to sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), North, Bharat Bhushan Gogia.

In the memorandum addressed to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the homebuyers demanded that all projects for which the builders fail to obtain completion certificates by the time the Act comes into force, should be brought under it.

All such projects should come under the purview of the Haryana RERA 2017. We held a peaceful protest to voice our misgivings over the dilution of RERA rules by the town planning officials, RS Rathee, president, GCC, said.

The memorandum said the idea behind the Act as drafted by the Centre was to regulate and promote the real estate sector and the states version of it should also reflect a similar intent.

Read I Gurgaon: Homebuyers find more faults with RERA draft

The Act has to ensure transparency in purchase of plots, apartments and buildings. It has to safeguard the interest of consumers and establish a mechanism for redressal of disputes, the memorandum said.

Homebuyers told the sub-divisional magistrate that they want the state to implement the RERA as drafted by the Centre in 2016.

Shephalika Sharma, vice-president, Federation of Apartments Owners Association (FAOA), Gurgaon, said, Our demand to include all such projects is justified. If the state government doesnt meet our demand, thousands of residents and homebuyers will be deprived of the benefits of RERA.

A state government spokesperson said the feedback received by the town planning department on the RERA draft rules are being considered by officials concerned.

The government will consider all suggestions from residents, the spokesperson said.
The state police on Wednesday announced a reward of 2 lakh for information on the accused in the gang rape of a 26-year-old Gutrgaon woman last week. The police also questioned six people, including the victims friend, and recorded their statements.

Haryana Director General of police, B S Sandhu, said that the police has announced a cash reward of 2 lakh for any information leading to arrest of the accused in the case. He said the name of the informer would not be made public. The investigation is underway and the accused would be arrested soon.

Earlier in the day, Gurgaon police commissioner said, A reward of Rs 2 lakh has been announced for information leading to the apprehension of criminals involved in the rape case, which was registered in Sector 18 police station, Gurgaon.

On Monday, the police had constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) led by Amit Kuhar, DCP crime and other senior officials to probe the case. The SIT is scanning the call details of the victim and her friends. The police also released a sketch of one of the accused on Monday evening.

An officer investigating the case said that they had obtained CCTV footage from RWAs and other sources close to where the incident happened. The 26-year old woman alleged that she was abducted by three persons in a Swift car between 2.40am to 2.45am near her house in Sukhrali. She was later dumped in Najafgarh near Delhi.

She approached the Delhi police, who helped her in reaching Gurgaon. The investigation was slow to start with as the time of commission of the crime quoted by the victim was found to be two hours ahead of the actual time. While the victim initially told the police that she had reached Sukhrali around 12.30am, the police, on investigation, learned that she had left Delhi around 2am and reached Gurgaon around 2.40 pm.

The police also found it difficult to ascertain the route taken by the abductors, as the incident happened in the wee hours of Saturday and the victim wasnt sure of the route that the abductors took.

Sources said the police is grilling the friend of the accused and other suspects to know the exact sequence of events.

Sources in police also said that the victims friend from Shahdara with whom she had spent the evening in Delhi had met her, in person, for the first time. Earlier, they were in touch with each other over phone and Whatsapp. After catching a movie with his friend, the victim went to a bar. Later, they headed to Hauz Khas village where they bought cigarettes and paan (Betel leaves).

It was her friend who had booked an Ola cab on Saturday around 2am and dropped her off near her house half-an-hour later in Sukhrali. The woman was allegedly abducted by three men from this point.

An FIR in the case was registered under section 376-D (gangrape), 365 (kidnapping), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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Shirley Temple did it barefoot. Mel Brooks wore an extra finger. Whoopi Goldberg buried her dreadlocks. Steve McQueen and actor wife Ali MacGraw did it facing the wrong way.

An old aphorism says that to visit Los Angeles and not see the iconic hand and foot prints of Hollywoods biggest stars in the imposing courtyard of the TCL Chinese Theatre is like going to the Middle Kingdom and not walking The Great Wall.

On Thursday, the worlds most famous picture house celebrates 90 years at the epicentre of the movie business, the venue of many of Tinseltowns most glamorous showbiz moments through 16 presidents, a world war and three huge earthquakes.

The night before, veteran filmmaker Ridley Scott becomes the 304th star to sink his hands and feet into the cement squares in the theatres forecourt -- maintaining a tradition celebrated by Hollywoods finest, from Mary Pickford through John Wayne and Sophia Loren to Jack Nicholson and Brad Pitt.

Its a real honour to get placed out in the forecourt and when you look at the people we have out there, going back now nine decades, its incredible, Levi Tinker, resident historian at the Chinese, told AFP.

You have some of the biggest, brightest, most iconic names in Hollywood history.

It all started when movie theatre impresario Sid Grauman, one of Hollywoods best known showmen, leased the former home of matinee idol Francis X. Bushman and opened the Chinese on May 18 in 1927 after raising $2 million.

Imprints from the stars of Harry Potter from the 2007 ceremony in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California as seen on May 15, 2017, ahead of the 90th anniversary of one of Hollywood's most iconic landmarks. (AFP)

Silent screen star Norma Talmadge clumsily stepped into wet cement on the construction site, witnessed by Grauman who -- spying an opportunity -- shrugged off her embarrassed apologies and said he would use the footprint to promote the opening.

Stars have since seen the ceremonies as a career highlight, often going to a great lengths to ensure their square stands out from the crowd.

Shirley Temple, the youngest honoree in 1935 at just five years old, appeared barefoot, quickly deciding it was a good way to distract the press from the fact that one of her baby teeth had just fallen out.

Marilyn Monroe wanted to dot her i with a diamond before being persuaded that the precious stone would probably be stolen. She sunk an earring into her square instead and the exposed half was stolen anyway.

More recently, Mel Brooks concealed until the last minute that one of his hands had a fake sixth finger.

The artwork which began in 1928 by Chinese-born American actor Keye Luke remains decorating the ornate ceiling inside the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. (AFP)

You think after all this time there would be hardly any room. But theres enough space out there to go on for a number of years still, said Tinker, although he added that some big names were missing.

Audrey Hepburn was among the few to decline, while James Dean was readying to lay his prints in the presence of Giant co-stars Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor when he was killed in a car crash at the age of 24.

Older than the Oscars or the Walk of Fame, the Chinese was Graumans third LA cinema after the lavish Egyptian a few blocks away and the downtown Million Dollar Theatre.

He wanted to out-do what he had done in those other theatres and he had gone all throughout Europe and Asia looking at different architecture styles and he was very impressed with Chinese. He had a number of artifacts and antiques brought over, said Tinker.

The entrepreneur imported temple bells, pagodas and other pieces while Chinese poet and filmmaker Moon Quon supervised artisans from his homeland as they created the many artworks that still decorate the auditorium.

The forecourt, with its 40-foot (12-meter) curved walls and copper-topped turrets, is flanked by 10-foot lotus-shaped fountains.

Two columns topped by wrought iron masks hold aloft the 90 foot high bronze roof, bordering a dragon carved from stone, while the entrance is guarded by two authentic -- and priceless -- 15th Century Ming Dynasty Heaven Dogs.

A dragon motif on the carpet in the lobby of the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California, as seen on May 15, 2017, ahead of the 90th anniversary of one of Hollywood's most iconic landmarks. (AFP)

On its opening night, tens of thousands lined Hollywood Boulevard as fans tried to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars at the packed 2,200-seat theatre for the $11-a-ticket debut of Cecil B DeMilles The King of Kings.

Some five to six million visitors from across the world visit every year -- as many as the Sistine Chapel in Rome -- to see their favourite stars immortalized in the cement these days.

It is the only single-screen theatre to have been open continuously for nine decades -- not including short closures for renovations -- and hosts between 35 and 50 premieres a year, more than any other venue in the world.

Next up for the iconic institution -- which is owned by a board of private investors -- is expansion, with a Chinese Theatre due to open in San Diego later in the year, and then there are plans to open in the Middle East and China itself.

Alwyn Hight Kushner, who runs the Chinese, oversaw its transformation into the worlds largest IMAX theatre in 2013, walking a tightrope between modernising and preserving its historical features.

Whats so special is its constantly new history. Were making history every single day, she said.

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Despite his jokes that hell never get asked back after the historic envelope flub at this years Academy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel is set to host the Oscars once more. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Tuesday said Kimmel will return for the 90th Oscars with producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd, the team behind this years ceremony.

If you think we screwed up the ending this year, wait until you see what we have planned for the 90th anniversary show! Kimmel said in the official announcement.

Thanks to @TheAcademy for asking me to host The #Oscars again (assuming I opened the right envelope)  Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) May 16, 2017

Its an extremely early date to set the host for the 2018 ceremony - Kimmel was not announced as the host of the 2017 Oscars until December 2016, and the previous years host, Chris Rock, was announced the prior November - but film academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs told the Associated Press Tuesday that they were so pleased with the team that they wanted to keep the momentum going for the 90th.

Its a big year for us, Boone Isaacs said. Its going to be a big celebration, and its wonderful to have a team thats experienced, and freshly experienced, and already has some wonderful ideas.

Ratings for the 89th Oscars this past February were the lowest since 2008 with 32.9 million viewers tuning in, however, even with the drama of the envelope gaffe in which Faye Dunaway, reading an incorrect card, announced La La Land as the Best Picture winner. The snafu was corrected on stage, and Moonlight was given the award.

Martha Ruiz (R, in red) and Brian Cullinan (upper R) of PricewaterhouseCoopers confer on stage after the Best Picture was mistakenly awarded to La La Land instead of Moonlight. (REUTERS)

Boone Isaacs acknowledged that dip in ratings is a little troubling, but she doesnt blame the team for the numbers.

This show was extremely well-reviewed, and we got so much positive feedback from the general public, as well as our members and certainly the board who are very excited about what they delivered for us, she said.

Boone Isaccs expects the movies to help bolster interest this year.

No one can throw a party 90 years in the making like @JimmyKimmel and producers Michael De Luca & Jennifer Todd! Welcome back! #Oscars90 pic.twitter.com/uIlZZ8cWtN  The Academy (@TheAcademy) May 16, 2017

Interest may be up, too, in the aftermath of the envelope situation, which resulted in heightened press coverage after the show as well as immediate changes internally to ensure that it would never happen again. The changes, however, arent likely to affect the producers or the host.

That was more about (accounting firm) PwC and not the producers or the host, and we have addressed that issue. That envelope is closed, Boone Isaacs said. That was a very specific situation that was addressed right away, and now well just move on.

New protocols for PwC, which took responsibility for the mistake, were implemented following the ceremony, including a ban on cellphones backstage for accountants, employing a third balloting partner for the telecast and bringing in PwCs U.S. chairman to provide oversight.

Kimmel, who balanced political jabs with lighthearted humour at this years ceremony, also recently garnered attention for comments he made on his late night show that all Americans deserve the same level of health care given his infant son, who was born with a heart defect that required surgery to repair. He has criticized GOP lawmakers for voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and he mocked critics who called him elitist for his health care comments.

The 90th Oscars will be held on March 4, 2018, in Los Angeles and broadcast live on ABC.

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The news of Zac Efron playing the role of notorious serial killer Ted Bundy hasnt stopped trending, ever since it was revealed yesterday. Fans have took social media by storm and are discussing whether the Baywatch actor can make it big with the role of a serial killer in Hollywood. Movies based on serial killers isnt unheard of. From Anthony Hopkins memorable role of Hannibal Lector in the Silence of the Lambs to Christian Bales role of a a serial killing sociopath in American Psycho, we take a look at some of Hollywoods on-screen serial killers who have remained high up in public memory, despite the years.

1.Anthony Hopkins

The 79-year-old actor sent shivers through the spine with his portrayal of former psychiatrist and a serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 film Silence of The Lambs. In an interview, Hopkins, who won an Oscar for his 17-minute long role in the film said that Hannibal was one of the easiest roles he has ever played, and he tricked the audience by playing a complete opposite to what the script had. Play the opposite. Dont play a monster. Just play someone who is, Good morning. Youre not real FBI are you, Clarice? he was quoted as saying.

2.Christian Bale

The English actor was seen as a wealthy American businessman, Patrick Bateman, who had to hide his psychopathic ego from friends, which later turned into a Hollywood film American Psycho (2000). According to the films writer, Bret Easton Ellis, once Bale met him for lunch as movies character Patrick Bateman. Ellis stated that he became uncomfortable with the character and asked Bale to drop the act. In an interview it was also revealed that Christian Bale got inspired by Tom Cruise and his intense friendliness with nothing behind the eyes. He based Patrick Bateman on Tom Cruise.

3.Kevin Spacey

The David Fincher directorial - Se7en (1995)- saw Kevin Space play a serial killer, who chose and killed his victims brutally based on the seven deadly sins in the Holy Bible. The icing on the cake was the final two murders by Spacey that included the murder of Brad Pitts wife, and then, himself. The film was nominated for Best Film Editing at the 68th Academy Awards

4.Tobin Bell

Probably one of the goriest serial killer in Hollywood, Tobin Bell played the role of John Kramer aKa The Jigsaw Killer in the popular Saw film franchise. As a recurring character in six instalments of the franchise, Kramer kidnaps people and puts them through deathly scenarios so that they appreciate life. Lets play a play a game,

is one of the most haunting sentences for those who have watched the series.

5.John Caroll Lynch

Based on true incidents, Zodiac (2007) is about a serial killer, in the 1960s and 70s who was never arrested by American lawmakers, because of lack of evidence. John Caroll Lynchs portrayed Arthur, who remained the prime and the only suspect, through the course of the film. Even though we dont see much of him in the film, his one liners, and subtle hints where he seemingly confesses to all the murders still is one the most scariest moments in Hollywood.

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The rape and impregnation of a 10-year-old girl in Haryanas Rohtak allegedly by her stepfather might have shocked India but the victims mother wants the accused freed to take care of the impoverished family.

The mother doesnt believe her husband  the brother of her first husband, who fathered the rape victim  is innocent but prioritises her livelihood concerns.

Please set my husband free. These NGOs and activists promising big things will not take care of me and my children for life. They will go within two-three days. My husband will take care of us, she told HT.

The girl is still in hospital with doctors preparing for an abortion later this week as childbirth might endanger her life. The suspect was arrested a few days ago.

The victims parents worked as labourers. The mother earned Rs 5,000 a month cleaning homes and doing dishes and her husband earned Rs 10,000 as a worker in a private company.

The mother said she did not believe when first told that her husband  the younger brother of her first husband who died of kidney failure  had raped the girl many times. When he (her husband) admitted, only then could I believe. I was shocked. He had been married to me for five years and I could see that he never looked at my three daughters with an evil eye, she said.

She said she had no children with her second husband because she underwent sterilisation and that he accepted the four children from the previous marriage as his own.

After my first husbands death, I saw no life ahead with my four kids. He then offered to marry me and things looked better.

She told HT that the alleged crime was first detected when the girl complained of constant leg pain and tests at a local private hospital revealed she was pregnant. I told the matter to the women whom I worked for, who suggested that I leave for my village to avoid shame, the mother said.

She said another private doctor offered to kill her daughter for Rs 20,000. We are poor people, from where will we pay Rs 20,000? I didnt really want to kill my daughter anyway, she said.

Police got involved after the woman for whom the mother worked told the local police, who arrested the stepfather.

My daughter did not like going to school. So she also worked as a labourer like me. She told me she likes doing it.

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The killing of an upper caste landlord allegedly by his local rivals, who belong to the other backward classes (OBC) category, in Gaya district of southern Bihar, on May 11, appears to have sharpened the caste divide in the area and split even state politicians on forward versus backward caste lines.

Following the killing, upper caste villagers of the region were said to be organising themselves to take on their OBC rivals, causing tension that has persisted even after six days of the incident.

The ongoing conflict started with the lynching of Vikas Singh, 50, a Rajput landowner of Pipra village under Dumaria police station of Gaya, following a dispute with Mahabir Prasad and some other residents of OBC-dominated Mandar village under Imamganj police station, just over a kilometer from Pipra.

Since the May 11 incident, politicians of the area have arrayed themselves on one side or the other. While BJP MP from Aurangabad, Sushil Kumar Singh, a Rajput, has backed the Pipra villagers, JD (U) and RJD politicians have come out in support of the mainly OBC residents of Mandar.

According to former MP from Chatra, Nagmani, who visited the Mandar on Sunday but not Pipra, the dispute arose when Vikas objected to a yajna that Mandar resident Mahabir Prasad, who (like Nagmani) is a Dangi (OBC), had organised near the village.



The yajna spot is located close to land owner by Vikas, son of Mayan Singh of Pipra, said Nagmani.

The ex-MP said the dispute took an acrimonious turn, following which Vikas opened fire from his licenced rifle at Mahabir but the bullet hit his college going granddaughter. Angered by this, a mob assembled on the spot rained blows and brickbats at Vikas, resulting in his death and set his jeep on fire, he said.

On the following day, an armed group of Pipra residents, ransacked homes at Mandar and set shops on fire, in retaliation of Vikas killing.

Disputing Nagmanis account of what had happened, Sweety Singh, wife of deceased Vikas, claimed the organisers of the yajna invited him to attend the ceremony and then killed him under a conspiracy. When my husband arrived at the venue, one Satyendra Kumar snatched his rifle and fired shots that hit the girl. Then,they thrashed my husband to death, she said, seeking a CBI probe into the incident.

While former chief minister and Imamganj MLA Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of NDA constituent Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular, met deceased Vikas father Mayan Singh at his Gaya town home, Manjhis Imamganj rival, former assembly speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary of JD (U), visited Mandar.

BJP senior leader Sushil Modi and party MP Sushil Kumar Singh also called on Mayan Singh. On the other hand, JD (U) MLC Upendra Prasad visited Mandar. But he, too, like the assembly former speaker, avoided visiting nearby Pipra.

Whereas Manjhi and Modi said Vikas killing raised questions about the law and order situation and governance, the JD (U) leaders held the lax police administration responsible for the incident and urged the villagers to resist the onslaught of the feudal lords of the area.

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Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala has beaten the competition to emerge a topper in his own right at the age of 82 and scored the first division in the Class 12 board examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo Chautala is behind bars after his conviction in the teachers recruitment scam during his tenure as the chief minister and took the exam at Delhis Tihar Jail last month.

He secured an A grade or first division last week, his younger son and INLD Ellenabad MLA Abhay Chautala said.

When my father was in school, my grandfather and former deputy prime minister Devi Lal was in jail fighting for farmers rights. Since my father was the eldest in the family, he had to drop out and take on the familys responsibility. He encouraged other members to study, Abhay added.

Abhay said his father was out on parole for the wedding of his grandson Dushyant Chautala, the Hisar MP, a month ago, but chose to return to the jail, where the exam centre was set up on April 23 so that he could write the papers.

The former CM is now looking forward to pursuing college. He is focused and goes to the jail library daily. His favourite books are on politics. He wants to use the jail term meaningfully, Abhay said.

The NIOS, formerly known as the National Open School, was set up in 1989 as an autonomous organisation under the Union human resource development ministry.

Om Prakash was charged with corruption in the recruitment scam involving 3206 basic trained teachers in Haryana in 2000. He was convicted by a trial court in 2013 and 2 years later it was upheld by the Supreme Court.

His elder son, Ajay Chautala, is also lodged in the Tihar Jail for his role in the scam.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav on Wednesday lashed out at the Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir for taking a political stance that could weaken the national foundation.

He was reacting to National Conference leader Omar Abdullahs allegations that chief minister Mehbooba Mufti was downplaying an incident of anti-India sloganeering by a group of women at a function in Srinagar on Tuesday.

I dread to imagine what lies @MehboobaMufti tells PM Modi in private when she cant even be honest about things everyone can see videos of, Abdullah wrote on Twitter.

Springing to the defense of the partys coalition partner, Madhav, without naming Abdullah said the Opposition leaders statement seems to reflect his happiness at the incident.

Madhavs statement assumes significance as it comes amid reports of a rift between the BJP and the PDP.

Though he clarified that he was not aware of what transpired, Madhav, who was credited with shaping the agenda of alliance with the PDP and is in-charge of the state, appeared critical of the Oppositions role.

When I saw his statement, he was so happy. He was saying this lady (Mufti) is lying, actually there were anti-India protestsI dont know what happened, but if this kind of politics is practiced it is tantamount to weakening the national foundation of this country, the BJP leader said.

His comments came a day after the PDP government denied that slogans were raised, claiming instead that chaos had broken out at the function at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) after a woman had fainted and water could not be given to her.

The NC has been demanding governors rule in the state, accusing the BJP-PDP alliance government of failing to administer the state, which has seen a spike in violence and terror incidents.

While the Opposition has also joined the chorus demanding a dialogue with the separatists, Madhav has asserted that the BJP will not talk to the Hurriyat or those who do not believe in solutions within the ambit of the Constitution.

Madhav had last week asserted that the Centre will pursue a tough stance against militancy in the state and neutralise every single militant in the Valley.

On Wednesday, he reiterated that there was plenty of scope for pursuing different political ideologies in the country, but added that they have to be defined by Indian Constitution.

The challenge is to keep the national foundation intact. No effort should be made to weaken the national fabric of this nation; whether it is helping political gains or (by those who) genuinely believe that they should destroy this nation. This is not acceptable, he said.

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The influence of social media on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections was massive, says a Stanford University study that examined the use of Twitter ahead of the polls that brought the BJP to power after a decade of Congress rule.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was ahead of the competition in the number of political tweets by its followers, retweets they were able to secure, and positive posts for the alliance throughout the campaign.

The NDA had a higher network strength based on clustering than the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA). The follower strength for the NDA was higher, too.

Negative tweets for the BJP coalition were far less than its rivals. The gap widened towards the end of the staggered elections from April 7 to May 12 three years ago.

The findings are significant because the ruling BJP continues to dominate the social media space in India, three years after coming to power with a landslide victory and winning several crucial state and civic elections subsequently.

The analysis of 15.5 million user accounts and 10.6 million tweets indicate that many traditional politicians lost the election because of their reluctance to change and adopt new tools of communication.

Congresss Shashi Tharoor, the first parliamentarian to embrace Twitter with about 6,000 followers in 2009, said social networkers dont represent the entire electorate.

Therefore, Twitter trends reflect nothing more than the politically-engaged segment of the educated, English-speaking classes, a tiny minority of the electorate.

The BJPs dominance in this space does not at all reflect any prospect of guaranteed political dominance. You could study Twitter during the Delhi and Bihar state assembly elections in 2015 and you will see a great deal of pro-BJP sentiment, but at the ballot box they lost both state elections, he said.

The Stanford researchers analysed 18,000 tweets originating from Indian politicians  covering six months leading to the general elections. NDA politicians followers posted 2.5 million tweets, while it was a million each for the UPA and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The AAP, formed in November 2012, had the strongest social network in the 2014 elections.

The interconnection of its followers was the strongest with a large number of individuals in the twitter graph following each other and AAP politicians.

Winning the Twitter contest Sentiment analysis on tweets revealed that while negative sentiment tweets for NDA was 10%, it was 35% for UPA, 30% for AAP, and 35% for others

The number of negative sentiment tweets for UPA was uniform while the same for NDA increased in March before going down to less than 4% and then up to 5% in May

An individual had to see 3.5 negative tweets to post something negative for the NDA; it was 1 for the UPA

An individual had to see 0.5 positive tweets on an average to post something positive for the NDA; the number was almost double for UPA

The numbers of tweets by the NDA and the UPA were sub-1000 until April when NDA politicians posted about 7,000 tweets, seven times more than what their UPA counterparts did.

The NDA wasnt as strong but still around eight times stronger than the UPA.

Our results show that on almost every metric of network evaluation, the NDA outperformed the UPA, AAP and other political parties. The strength of the winning partys network and the rigour with which they pursued their social media strategy seems to have paid off, says the study released recently.

According to Tharoor, the tweets in 2014 reflected nothing more than the relative organizational strengths of social media units on both sides.

But as cheaper smartphones and 4G SIMs make access to the internet more universal, that story could change and Twitter could become more reflective of genuine public sentiment.

In that case it may indeed become possible one day to predict poll results from social media trends. But not yet, he said.

The Stanford research was part of a project on social and information network analysis by Arpan Shah, Anunay Kulshrestha and Devin Lu.

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Businessman Harnek Singh owns a fleet of 11 expensive cars. Porsche, Mini Cooper, BMW and more. And he has three big apartments and a large factory that manufactures appliances for poultry farms. Also, he frequently goes abroad  for business and leisure.

But all that may not be as good as gold.

Singh was arrested last weekend for allegedly smuggling more than 300kg of gold bars into the country over the past two years. Thats Rs 90 crore in the bullion market.

Officials of the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) confiscated 44kg of gold, concealed in rod-type poultry incubators and trucked in a container from the port of Mundra in Gujarat to Singhs factory in the national capital.

How a Delhi based business man smuggled 300 kg gold in two years. @htTweets @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/3xxAvDJbA4  Faizan Haidar (@FaiHaider) May 18, 2017

Singh allegedly operates with his brother-in-law in Dubai and uses the shady hawala network to transfer money, bypassing banking channels and leaving no paper trail.

He doesnt use flights, the preferred transport for gold smugglers, because the risk of getting caught at airports is high. He sticks to the time-tested formula of the 1970s  ship the merchandise on merchant vessels.

The modus operandi was simple: Singh buys a single incubator and a few other devices such as disassembled poultry egg brooder panels from dealers in Dubai. His brother sends the consignment, hiding around 50kg of gold bars in the metallic case of the incubator.

The gold bars are wrapped in a thick silver-grey paper smeared in adhesive to prevent the metals from making any clanking noise that could raise suspicion.

Investigators said they found proof of the smuggling racket and hawala transactions to Dubai during searches at his home and factory.

The consignments were dispatched at least twice a month and only Singh and his brother-in-law knew about them. The truck carrying the consignment goes to Delhis Chander Vihar area where Singh owns a factory. He sold the gold to traders in Karol Bagh, DRI officer Rabindra Kumar said.

The DRIs Delhi unit recovered WhatsApp messages between Singh and his relative that confirms the racket, which allegedly smuggled gold into India at least 24 times in two years. We have been tracking this person for a long time, the officer said.

The brother-in-law will be summoned through the Indian embassy in Dubai. Traders in Karol Bagh will be questioned too.

Sources said Singh invested just a fraction of his income in New Delhi. Theres much, much more than the Porsche, the BMWs and the houses.

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Depression apparently drove a young Telangana woman to commit suicide on Tuesday morning after her husband disappeared about two weeks ago.

The 20-year-old Tummala Swathi was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her parents home at Lingarajupalle village in Yadadri Bhongir district. The day before, she allegedly tried to drink a toilet cleaner, but was saved.

Her death and 23-year-old husband Amboji Nareshs disappearance have escalated a feud between the two families, who were upset with their marriage as they belong to separate castes.

Nareshs father, Venkataiah, alleged that his daughter-in-law didnt kill herself but was murdered because she hurt her familys honour by marrying someone from a lower caste. Also, he feared for his missing sons safety.

Many people, especially women, are murdered each year in India by family members over perceived damage to honour that can involve eloping or any other infraction against conservative social values.

The womans father, Srinivasa Reddy, dismissed the allegation and accused his son-in-laws parents of harassing his daughter by demanding a dowry in cash and gold. Police registered a case of dowry death against the grooms family after he lodged a complaint.

Swathi and Naresh were childhood friends from neighbouring villages. Naresh grew up at his grandfathers home after his parents left for Mumbai in 2001.

The childhood sweethearts went to the same school and college. But they couldnt convince their families to accept the match.

Unable to find a solution, they eloped on March 16 and married at a Mumbai civil court nine days later.

In the meantime, Reddy charged Naresh with kidnapping his daughter and lodged a case with Bhongir police. But he had to withdraw the complaint after police, on the marriage courts direction, arranged a reunion and counselling session with the couple and their parents.

The families couldnt object as Swathi and Naresh were adults.

The couple returned to Bhongir with their families on March 26, but stayed separately until Naresh went back to Mumbai. A week on, Swathi too left for Mumbai and joined her husband.

Trouble began in April when Reddy asked his daughter to come back, saying he has no objection to her marriage with Naresh. He apparently promised a traditional wedding for her.

Accordingly the couple reached Bhongir town on May 2. Swathi went to her village and Naresh apparently left for his. That night Naresh disappeared. He never reached his grandfathers home.

He couldnt be contacted on his phone, which was switched off. When all attempts failed, his anxious family called police.

Police inspector M Shankar said Naresh was in Bhongir till 9pm and theres no trace of him after that. Investigators met Reddy the following day but he too couldnt throw any light on the mans whereabouts.

Nareshs father came to Bhongir on May 6 and lodged a complaint about his son disappearance. As the investigation made little progress, Venkataiah filed a habeas corpus petition at the Hyderabad high court on May 15.

The court asked Reddy and Swathi to appear before it on Wednesday. But the woman died, leaving many questions unanswered.

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Top officials of the central and state governments on Wednesday discussed issues related to monsoon preparedness, including disaster managements plans, and emphasised on greater co-ordination among various agencies.

State relief commissioners and secretaries of disaster management department of the states and Union territories were present at the meeting chaired by Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.

Early warning systems, flood relief measures, checking the readiness of equipment and communication systems, advance procurement of necessary relief material, community based disaster management and coordinated approach for disaster response at the district level were highlighted at the meeting, an official statement said.

During the discussions, it was noted that concerted efforts of all concerned have helped in minimising the loss of precious human lives.

The conference was convened primarily to review the status of preparedness for dealing with any natural disaster that might occur due to the south-west monsoon this year.

Representatives of 28 states, two Union territories, national disaster response force (NDRF), central ministries, central armed police forces (CAPFs), India meteorological department (IMD) and central water commission (CWC) were present.

Officials of DRDO, GSI, ISRO and other scientific organisations, along with representatives of armed forces also participated in the conference.

The IMD, the national disaster management authority (NDMA), CWC, NDRF, snow and avalanches study establishment (SASE), ministry of defence, and ISRO, department of space made presentations on their respective field.

These were related to forecasting, warning and dissemination mechanism and future plans for enhancing capability in the field of disaster management.

The conference also discussed measures and good practices being adopted by the state governments and government of India to address disaster management related issues in the country.
A dreaded gangster was shot dead in an encounter with police in Madhubani district, 173 km northeast of Patna, on Wednesday morning.

Police said Ranjit Mahto alias Ranjit Don, carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, was killed in the encounter with a joint team of Madhubani police and special task force (STF) on the outskirts of Gobrahi village in the district.

At least 35 to 40 rounds were fired during the encounter which began at 3.30 am and lasted for 45 minutes. Two carbine and many live cartridges were found at the encounter site. Mahtos three accomplices, however, managed to escape from the spot, the police added.

Villagers said the encounter ensued after 30 plainclothesmen came in vehicles and encircled a brick kiln on the outskirts of Gobrahi.

In Patna, inspector general (operation) Kundan Krishnan confirmed that the dreaded criminal was killed in a joint operation by the STF and Madhubani district police. Mahto was accused in three murder, two attempt to murder, eight robbery, four dacoity and three extortion cases lodged in Madhubani and adjoining Sitamarhi district, he said.

Mahto and members of his gang had allegedly looted a petrol pump at Khajauli, 28 km from Madhubani town recently, and fired at police team with carbines. Thereafter, they are reported to have looted a jewellery shop.

Madhubani superintendent of police Deepak Barnwal said the joint team of police and STF had conducted the operation after Mahtos close aid Bala Mishra, who was recently arrested, tipped off police about his hideout. When the police reached his hideout and cordoned off the entire area, one of the criminals started firing indiscriminately and the cops retaliated in self-defence, Barnwal said. .

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The Indian Navy on Tuesday foiled a piracy bid in the Gulf of Aden after it received a distress call from a Liberia-registered merchant vessel.

The navys patrol vessel, INS Sharda, deployed in the Gulf of Aden since April 6, reacted swiftly after MV Lord Mountbatten reported an incident of attempted piracy, 230 nautical miles south-west of Omans Salalah port. The merchant vessel faced threat from two suspicious mother vessels and eight skiffs, a navy spokesperson said.

The warship immediately charted course towards Mountbatten that was around 30 nautical miles away. On arriving in the area at around 1900 hrs, Sharda detected two dhows along with eight skiffs in vicinity, three of which fled on sighting the warship, the spokesperson said. Supported by an armed helicopter, the navys marine commandos boarded and investigated the suspicious boats.

#WATCH: INS Sharda, an Offshore Patrol Vessel foils piracy attempt on MV Lord Mountbatten, by 2 mother ships & 8 skiffs, in Gulf of Aden pic.twitter.com/nYuMdvA1GK  ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

The absence of fishing gear on the boats indicated malicious intent and possible piracy-linked intentions, the official said. The commandos recovered an automatic rifle with 28 rounds during the search operation.

The latest incident comes a month after warships from India, China and Pakistan operated jointly in the Gulf of Aden to rescue a merchant vessel attacked by Somali pirates. The Tuvalu-flagged bulk carrier (OS 35) was travelling from Kelang in Malaysia to the Yemeni port city of Aden when it was hijacked by the pirates.

There was a lull in the Gulf of Aden for some time but now the pirates seem to be active again.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected on Thursday to decide on Indias plea to restrain Pakistan from executing its citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Navy officer sentenced to death for alleged espionage.

India challenged Jadhavs sentence last week, basing its arguments around what it says have been violations of the Vienna Conventions rules on giving countries access to their citizens accused of crime on a foreign soil.

The verdict will be announced at 3:30 pm Indian time, three days after the United Nations highest court in The Hague heard arguments from the two sides on Monday.

The broader challenge to the Pakistani sentence, which India has opposed citing issues such as it being handed out by a military court instead of a civilian one, is likely to take months or years to resolve. So India asked the ICJ to immediately order Pakistan to take all measures necessary to prevent Jadhavs execution pending the final outcome.

The courts president has written to Pakistan urging it to take no action that could affect the hearings  effectively a request to prevent the death sentence being carried out.

A public sitting will take place at 12 noon at the Peace Palace in The Hague, during which Judge Ronny Abraham, President of the Court, will read the courts decision, a brief statement posted on the ICJs website said.

Should the court order a formal stay, it will signify the court give more weight to Indias fears. Pakistan argued against any emergency orders being passed at the moment, saying there was no date set for the execution and Jadhav has at least 150 days before he exhausted options for an appeal under the countrys domestic laws.

Pakistan says Jadhav, 46, was arrested in March last year in the restive Balochistan province. In April, a military court sentenced him to death for alleged involvement in spying and subversive activities. India has contended he was kidnapped from the Iranian port of Chabahar and his secret trial was a farce.

At the conclusion of the hearing on Monday, India also asked the ICJ to direct the Pakistani government to report to the court about the action it has taken to stay Jadhavs execution and to ensure that no action is taken that might prejudice the rights of (India or Jadhav) with respect to any decision the court may render on the merits of the case.

Pakistan, which argued that the ICJ did not have jurisdiction in Jadhavs case, asked the court to reject Indias request for the indication of provisional measures, or a stay of the execution.

During the hearing, Indias lead attorney, former solicitor general Harish Salve said the country feared Jadhav could be executed even as his case was being heard by the ICJ. Pakistan, on the other hand, said there was no urgency in the matter.

India approached the ICJ on May 8 and accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by persistently denying consular access to Jadhav and conducting a farcical trial without a shred of evidence.

Pakistan claimed the Vienna Convention did not apply to a spy involved in terror activities and said India was using the world court as a stage for political theatre.

The two countries last faced off at the ICJ in 1999, when Pakistan approached the court over the shooting down by India of an Atlantique surveillance aircraft that killed 16 people. India had then used its declaration of 1974, which states the UN court would have no jurisdiction in disputes between Commonwealth states, to successfully argue that it could not take up the Atlantique case.
Three police officials were suspended in the wake of a robbery in Mathura in which two traders were killed, police said.

Sub-inspector Prateek Kumar, in-charge police out post Holi Gate, along with two constables were suspended on Tuesday for the incident in Koyalawali Gali, superintendent of police (city) Ashok Kumar said.

He said local police officials have been given three days to crack the case.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh director general of police Sulkhan Singh and state power minister Srikant Sharma are scheduled to visit Mathura on Wednesday to take stock of the situation.

Additional director general (Agra zone) Ajai Anand visited the spot on Tuesday evening and assured the traders that the case would be worked out at the earliest.

We are planning to launch a scheme for the safety of traders, he told the traders.

It is a serious matter and we have taken it seriously, Anand told reporters.

On May 15, two traders were killed and two others were injured during a robbery in Koyalawali Gali. Six armed men came on motorbikes and barged into jewellery shops in the market falling under Kotwali police station limits, and opened fire. Two persons, identified as Vikas and Megh, were killed, while two others were injured and were hospitalised.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is today scheduled to inaugurate Indias longest span, the 9.15 km Dhola-Sadiya bridge across river Lohit at the easternmost tip of Assam, on May 26.

The bridge is 3.55 km longer than the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai. The opening of the bridge is among the highlights of Modis programme during his visit to Assam to attend the first anniversary of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government.

Lohit is one of three rivers  the others are Dibang and Siang  that meet to form the Brahmaputra downstream of the site of the bridge that connects Dhola village and Sadiya town, 540 km east of Assams principal city Guwahati.

Sadiya is the birthplace of balladeer Bhupen Hazarika.

The bridge, designed to facilitate the movement of battle tanks, is expected to help movement of troops to the border with China in the Wallong-Kibithu sector in southern Arunachal Pradesh. The sector had fallen along with Tawang in the northwest to the Chinese in the 1962 war.

The project, worth 950 crore, was started in 2011. It will reduce the travel time for people on either bank of river Lohit by at least eight hours.

But Dhola-Sadiya is not the only bridge in the Northeast that will go into the record books.

Longest rail-road bridge

Also expected to be inaugurated by 2018 is Bogibeel, the fourth and easternmost bridge across the Brahmaputra. This bridge near Dibrugarh town, 4.94 km in length, will be Indias longest road-rail bridge.

Like Dhola-Sadiya, Bogibeel will also be of immense strategic importance as it will enable faster troop movements across the Brahmaputra besides providing a direct link between people on opposite banks who have to take a 500km detour via the existing Kalia Bhomora Bridge downstream.

Bogibeel connects Dibrugarh town on the southern bank of Brahmaputra and Silapathar on the northern bank.

The construction of the bridge, approved in 1996, was initiated by the first BJP-led NDA government in 2002. The Congress-led UPA government acknowledged the strategic importance of the bridge and declared it as a national project in 2007.

But the progress of the project, undertaken by the firm that build Bandra-Worli Sea Link, has been slow. The cost has thus spiralled from the initial Rs 1,767 crore in 2002 to Rs 6,000 crore now.

Dhola-Sadiya is not the only bridge in the Northeast that will go into the record books. This bridge near Dibrugarh town, 4.94 km in length, will be Indias longest road-rail bridge. (Pronib Das/HT Photo)

Longest tunnel, tallest rail bridge

Arguably Indian Railways toughest project, this line will boast of two Indian records once completed by 2020. These are the longest railway tunnel and the tallest railway bridge.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) started construction of this line  originally part of the ambitious Trans-Asian Railway  in 2008 after it was declared as a national project. Railway officials said work was progressing at speed despite challenges of weather, terrain and militants.

The project is in two sections  the 84km Jiribam-Tupul and the 27km Tupul-Imphal  spanning 111km. The track will pass through 45 tunnels, 25 of which were completed by April 2016.

The total length of the tunnels would be 60.2 km, which is more than half the total track length, and the longest one (Tunnel 12) would be 11.55 km long to displace the current record-holder Banihal in in Kashmir from the top spot by 100 metres.

The two sections have 22 major and 142 minor bridges. These include what will be the worlds tallest rail bridge with a pier height of 141 metres  almost equal to two Qutab Minars stacked over each other, NFR spokesperson Pranav Jyoti Sharma told HT.

Because of terrain and scanty population, the entire stretch of this project will have nine stations, Tupul on the outskirts of Manipur capital Imphal being the easternmost.

The Dhola-Sadiya bridge will reduce the travel time for people on either bank of river Lohit by at least eight hours. (Pronib Das/HT Photo)

The anticipated cost of the project is Rs 9,657 crore, which compares favourably with the similarly treacherous 210 km Lumding-Silchar hill section in Assam that was sanctioned in 1996-97 at an initial cost of Rs 648 crore but ended up costing Rs 6,000 crore upon completion in 2015.

The railway line is expected to give Manipurs landlocked Imphal Valley  often troubled by highway blockades in the surrounding Naga hills  a cheaper route to the India beyond. Also, the movement of goods by train is expected to bring down prices from India, though Manipur sustains mainly through imports from Myanmar.

The railway line from Manipur is expected to be extended to Moreh on the border with Myanmar where border trade averages Rs 350 million annually.

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Days after the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) proposed three-tier rules for a national no-fly list for unruly passengers, the passengers have raised concern claiming they are tilted in favour of airlines.

The ministry put up the draft on May 5 on their website for gathering inputs from various stakeholders.

We have received at least 25 suggestions on the website and social media. Passengers have asked for a balanced rule. We thought it was a balanced rule but now we will take passengers concern into account, said a ministry official.

There have been cases, when airline officials were at fault and there will be such cases in the future too. The rule should ensure similar penalty for airline staff too. Passengers are concerned that the rules may be misused, the official added.

The rules come weeks after Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad beat up an elderly Air India employee after altercation over seat allocation. However, civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said, Keep professor Gaikwad out of it. We need a balanced regulation.

The national no-fly list will be regulated by Indias civil aviation regulator.

The rules say any gestures or verbal harassment will invite suspension for three months. Physically abusive behaviour will call for a six month flight ban, and any life-threatening behaviour will result in a two or more year ban.

Air India has also come up with detailed standard operating procedures to deal with unruly passengers. The airline has proposed plans to impose a fine of up to 15 lakh for causing a delay beyond two hours.

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Pakistan opened fire on forward villages and posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district on Wednesday with the neighbouring country continuing to violate the ceasefire agreement.

The Pakistani army also opened heavy fire on Indian posts in Balakote sector of adjoining Poonch district on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said, Pakistani army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 1830 hours (6.30pm) along the Line of Control (LC) in Nowhera sector on Tuesday.

Rajouri deputy commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said Pakistani troops targeted Lam area. He said 1,795 people have taken refuge in various relief camps in Nowshera.

In the wake of fresh ceasefire violation on Tuesday evening, bulletproof bunkers (Casper vehicles) and ambulances were pressed into service for evacuation from Pukharni area in Lam, which remained peaceful after initial losses of life and property last week.

Nowshera superintendent of police Atul and subdivisional magistrate Harbans are coordinating rescue operations at Nowshera along with team.

In Rajouri district, intense shelling by the Pakistan army has forced several families from Jhangar and Bhawani areas to move to temporary shelters set up at a government higher secondary school and other safer places on their own.

Over 50 schools in Nowshera have been closed for an indefinite period while 36 in Manjakote and Doongi zones have been closed for three days, affecting 4,600 students. At least two civilians, including a minor girl, were killed as Pakistan pounded 35 villages and Indian posts with mortars.

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Cordon-and-search operations are back in Kashmir after 15 years, the state police chief said on Wednesday, as a sharp rise in the number of local youth joining militant ranks forced security forces to change their anti-insurgency strategy in the valley.

Officials said the cordon-and-search operations -- which involve security personnel going door to door -- was launched overnight at Heff and Shirmal villages in Shopian district, where an Indian Army officer was abducted and killed by suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militants last week. The operations concluded on Wednesday morning.

Though a similar cordon-and-search operation  known as CASO among security forces  was carried out last week in Shopian, the official confirmation was made on Wednesday by Jammu and Kashmir director general police SP Vaid.

CASO was abandoned in 2002 after widespread public resentment over entire villages being cleared out and the people paraded in front of informers to pick out militants or their sympathisers.

Kashmir Valley is on the boil since last year when the killing of HM commander Burhan Wani sparked violent street protests, that saw security forces retaliate in equal measure. Nearly 100 people were killed during the months-long protests and many more blinded by pellets fired by security forces.

Kashmiri villagers walk past soldiers on a search operation in Shopian. (AP File Photo)

With anti-India sentiments rising, the Valley has also been witnessing sporadic student protests in capital Srinagar over alleged rights abuses by security forces.

Vaid said the operations are part of a larger strategy to flush out of militants in south Kashmir, identified as the epicentre of anti-India protests and militant activities. He said they will continue.

Search operations will be carried out in militancy-hit areas such as Kulgam, Pulwama, Tral, Shopian and Budgam, sources said.

Last week, nearly 4000 police and army personnel took part in CASO across two dozen villages in Shopian. Unmanned drones and army helicopters were part of the operations.

Former Kashmir police chief Javeed Gillani said recently that around 200 militants are active in Kashmir, of which 110 are local youth, most of them drawn to militancy over the past few months. Nearly 90 of the local youth are from south Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir police's special operation group inspects vehicle in Srinagar. (PTI File Photo)

Analysts say the growing anti-India sentiments in south Kashmir  the native place of chief minister Mehbooba Mufti  was due to her aligning with the right-wing BJP. The BJP is part of the ruling alliance led by Muftis Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Most of the militants operate from their own villages or neighbouring villages where an effort to catch them generally meets serious resistance, said a police official who did not want to be named.

Locals also gather in large number to attend funeral of Kashmiri militants. The militants are generally someones relatives, friends. If the local factor is taken out, peoples participation will be reduced.

In July last year, lakhs of Kashmiris had attended the funeral of Burhan Wani, a poster-boy of homegrown militants.

In order to avoid such situations, the effort will be to capture the militants rather then kill them, security sources said.

The decision to make CASO a permanent feature of its anti-terror operations in Kashmir also came after the killing of Lt Ummer Fayaz. The officers killing followed a series of attacks on civilians. Lately, militants were also making attempts to loot banks and cash vans.

Army soldiers take position during an operation against militants in Shopian district. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-nation tour of Germany, Spain and Russia from May 29 with an aim of consolidating the relations with these countries and invite investments to India.

The visit to Germany and Spain will be bilateral in nature while the trip to St Petersburg in Russia is in connection with the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) to be held from June 1-3, sources told PTI in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The SPIEF, which will be attended by thousands of business leaders from across the globe, will provide Modi an opportunity to invite investments in India.

On the sidelines of the SPIEF, the Prime Minister is expected to have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to review the state of bilateral relations and ways to push the ties further, the sources said.

Matters related to trade and investment, defence and nuclear cooperation are expected to figure in the talks.

India and Russia are currently in talks over finalisation of the General Framework Agreement (GFA) for units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu but it is not clear yet whether it would be signed during the visit.

In Germany, the first stopover of the five-day three- nation tour, the Prime Minister will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel and discuss ways to take the Strategic Relations to the next level by mainly enhancing the business ties.

This will be his second visit to Germany in two years. Earlier, he had paid an official visit to the country in April 2015 when India was the Partner Country in the annual Hannover Fair.

Merkel had subsequently visited India in October in the same year.

On May 31, the Prime Minister will be in Spain where his focus will be on seeking cooperation in sectors like infrastructure and energy, the sources said.

After return from the three-nation tour, Modi will be travelling to Kazakhstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet to be held in Astana on June 7-8.

Significantly, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is also expected to attend the Summit of the SCO, a grouping which includes Russia, China, Kazakshstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

He will also be travelling to the US and Israel, for which dates are being finalised.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Sri Lanka was a grand success and enabled both countries to finalise a number of projects, including the Trincomalee port project, a minister here said.

Sri Lankas minister on special assignment Sarath Amanugama, who was part of the official delegation headed by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeshinghe that took part in the One Belt One Road initiative in Beijing, said talks were underway with India for its participation in free trade zones in Trincomalee, Hambantota free trade as well as the Colombo port.

Modis visit was a grand success. The chemistry between our President, Prime Minister and Modi was excellent... The interesting thing is that Modi made a clear statement that projects should be fast tracked, the minister said.

India and Sri Lanka are in talks to jointly operate oil tanks at the strategic Trincomalee port. At least 73 of the 99 storage tanks in Trincomalee are to be managed under a new equity arrangement between India and Sri Lanka.

Calling both India and China friends, Amanugama said Sri Lanka does not see the world divided between the two countries.

Taking sides is not rational in Sri Lankas interest. No way we subscribe to the view that India and China have different interests, he said.

India is our brother,China is our friend. Our link with India is historical and geographical. Both are our friends. We dont see the world divided between India and China, he added.

Modi wrapped up his Sri Lanka visit last week during which he took part in the International Vesak Day celebrations and addressed Indian-origin Tamils.

Modi addressed Tamils of Indian origin in Dickoya town in the tea growing Central Province of Sri Lanka and inaugurated a Rs 150 crore super-speciality hospital built with Indias assistance.
A police officer in Uttar Pradesh has developed a software that keeps a tab on duties assigned to cops and track their movements, streamlining roaster management of the force.

It ensures that all police personnel get assignments without any discrimination and also tracks movement and locations of the cops on patrolling and beat duties, said a officer privy to the functioning of the software.

Currently the software is being used in police stations across Varanasi district, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Computer systems at all police stations across the district have been linked with the software. It contains data of nearly 4,200 police personnel deployed at various police stations here, said a police officer.

The police duty management software is the brainchild of Mirzapur SP Ashish Tiwari. The Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, also an IIT-Kanpur alumnus, took nearly three months to develop the software.

It was formally launched in Varanasi on May 12.

The software is functioning well. Constables, head constables and sub inspectors are assigned duties through the software in Varanasi, Tiwari told HT, adding he is also introducing it in Mirzapur.

Two of his friends assisted him in the project, Tiwari added.

The idea struck him after he received many complaints about the unfairness in the assignment of duties to constables and sub inspectors by head constables and stations officers during his earlier stint as the SP (rural area) in Varanasi.

Duties are now assigned to 4200 police personnel in the district through the software. Senior officers can also now check the location of the constables at the click of a mouse, said Varanasi SSP Nitin Tiwari.

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Arvind Kejriwals Aam Admi Party may side with the Congress-led Opposition, for the first time, for the upcoming presidential election.

After an hour-long meeting between Delhi CM Kejriwal and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee, she announced that the two parties will act together in the presidential election.

We are two political parties and when we met, obviously we spoke about politics and the presidential election. As I have said, we will act collectively, she told HT.

Kejriwals support to an Congress-led opposition nominee will be seen as a clear shift in the AAPs stand, which has often opposed INA and its party leaders.

The latest meeting in the Opposition camp happened a day after Banerjee and Congress president Sonia Gandhi met and decided to reach out to other parties before zeroing in on a candidate.

In the last presidential poll, Kejriwals Aam Admi Party was not in power in Delhi. This time, it has around 9,000 votes, which can only help the Opposition marginally bridge the gap with the ruling NDAs votes.

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In 1976, a district court in Rajasthans Nagaur issued a warrant against Motilal Nai for selling sweets made from adulterated milk.

On the run since then, Nai, now 65, was nabbed by police on Tuesday and produced before a court, only to be let off with a fine of Rs 100.

The court took the lenient approach considering Nais old age.

In August last year, the Supreme Court told the Centre to consider making adulteration of milk punishable with life imprisonment.

He fled to Andhra Pradesh after the warrant was issued against him and opened a tea shop there. He came back here after the demise of his wife recently, said Nandram Bhadu, Kotwali station house officer.

Rai was arrested as part of a drive launched by Nagaur police to close old cases. Nais case came to its notice while scouring through old files.

We went to his old address in Teliwada and found him living there. Some of his distant relatives were also living with him, said the SHO.

A team of the health department had collected samples of sweets and milk from Nais shop in 1976. The warrant was issued after the samples failed to clear lab tests.
Eight days after girl students of a government high school in Rewari district, 90 km from Rohtak, went on a hunger strike, the Haryana government on Wednesday bent the rules to accept their demand to upgrade it to a senior secondary school. The girls wanted the school at Gothra Tappa Dahina upgraded from Class 10 to 12 as they were sexually harassed by men on motorcycles on the way to the school in the neighbouring village 3 km away.

The government gave norms a go-by while issuing the notification to upgrade the school. As per norms, the high school must have at least 150 students in Classes 9 and 10 to be upgraded to Class 12. However, the school at Gothra Tappa Dahina has 70 students in both classes.

Haryana education minister Ram Bilas Sharma said, A principal has been appointed in the school and admissions will start for the 2017-18 session on Thursday.

Read More | Alleging harassment on the way , 80 girls quit school in Haryana, sit on hunger strike

In celebration mode

Soon after the notification, the 83 girl students of Classes 11 and 12 broke into celebrations. Earlier in the day, 10 of them were hospitalised, ending the hunger strike that started on May 10.

Border Security Force jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav, who was dismissed from service last month over his videos complaining of poor quality of food served to BSF personnel, also joined the girls in their struggle.

On Tuesday, the girls locked the village school to press for the acceptance of their demand.

The Haryana government issued a statement on Monday, agreeing to upgrade the village school. But the girls insisted a notification be issued. Ho jaega nahin, ho gaya hai bologe to uthenge. Dont promise us it will happen, tell us that its happened and we end our protest, said Pooja, a student who was on hunger strike.
Instant triple talaq is not part of the Quran and is a latter-day practice, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday, questioning why the controversial custom shouldnt be barred when some Islamic clerics describe as sinful additions to the Muslim holy book.

If biddat is sin, then why not talaq-e-biddat (instant triple talaq), the court said on the day the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) argued its case for triple talaq. Biddat, which loosely translates to innovation in religious matters, is something which is not in Quran and is a later day addition.

The court also asked the law board if it was possible to give a woman a choice to say no to triple talaq, the controversial divorce practice that has been challenged as biased by several women.

Can a woman be given an option to say no to triple talaq at the time of execution of nikahnama? a five-judge constitution bench asked, referring to the Islamic marriage contract.

A nikhnama is prenuptial agreement that spells out the rights and responsibilities of the groom and the bride.

Triple talaq allows Sunni Muslim men to end a marriage by uttering the word talaq (I divorce you) thrice in quick succession.

Taking off from where it left on Tuesday, the AIMPLB again questioned the courts competence to hear the case as it defended the divorce practice. Instant triple talaq was not a popular way to end a marriage and such cases accounted for only 0.44% of divorces among Muslims, it said.

The board had on Tuesday said the divorce was being practised for 1,400 and was a matter of faith just like Ram Lallas birthplace, referring to the long-pending dispute over building a temple to Lord Ram in Ayodhya, which Hindus believe is his birth place.

Triple talaq is not a question of equity and good conscience but of faith. Cant bring constitutional morality into it, boards lawyer and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal had said.

Wednesday is the last day for the board to argue its case, which is being heard daily. The Supreme Court wants to end the hearings by May 19 and an order in the case is expected by June.

The Centre has already told the court that it would frame a matrimony law for Muslims if it were to strike down triple talaq.

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Faced with a stone-pelting mob, security forces called off a cordon and search operation they had launched in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Wednesday, after failing to locate any militants or their hideouts.

The search operation was launched in Heff village in the Zainapora area, an Indian Army official said.

He said a large number of security forces were involved in the search operation, which started in the early hours of Wednesday.

However, the operation was hampered by local residents who pelted the security forces with stones, a police official said.

He said additional security force personnel were sent to the area to disperse the stone-pelters.

No casualties were reported, the official said, adding that as the forces did not find any militants or hideouts, the operation was called off.

The search operation comes two weeks after a similar but larger operation was launched in Shopian district to flush out militants.

While the security forces did not find anything in the day-long search operations on May 4 spanning nearly two dozen villages and involving more than 4,000 troops, the militants attacked an army patrol as they were retreating from the operations that day, leading to the death of a taxi driver and injury to several security personnel.

Operations in south Kashmir have been intensified in the wake of videos of large groups of militants -- in some cases as many as 30 -- surfacing on the social media, despite a ban imposed by authorities on 22 such sites and applications.

Security agencies believed the videos had been shot in the south Kashmir area, mostly in the Shopian district.

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Just 35 km south of Allahabad, the village of Shri Tara Majra finds itself with an unenviable tag of village of bachelors because acute water shortage and lack of electricity scare away potential brides.

Women not only from Allahabads rural land but even from the interiors of neighbouring districts like Pratapgarh, Kaushambi and Chitrakoot turn down marriage proposals from young men of the village because marriage would mean a life of extreme hardship with scarce water and no power.

Fifty bachelors between the age of 18 to 29 years are hunting for brides without any luck.

Eligible young men from the village cannot find brides, unless they leave the village.

The village has became infamous as a place lacking electricity and even proper water resources, thus promising a life filled with hardships for any woman who marries one of its residents.

Located only five kilometres from Bara Tehsil headquarters, Shri Tara Majra has a population of around 1,000 - a decent number of voters.

However, the villagers here are still waiting for electricity to reach their village since Independence.

Shri Tara Majra has a population of around 1000 but incredibly, but the village is yet get electricity.

It has only one hand pump, which the villagers installed in the year 2002, is the only source of water for the villagers. There is also a well but its water is so bad that it cant be used for anything.

Televisions, refrigerators, fans and coolers which some lucky married men received as dowry can be found lying unused in several homes of this village.

Many of the residents have migrated to other villages and those still living are planning to move soon.

VIllager Badrilal Jaiswal says 20 marriage proposals have been turned down in the recent past.

My son Mukesh runs a shoe shop in a nearby market and earns well. A year ago, his marriage was fixed in Pratapgarh. The girls family was happy with the proposal, but they broke the engagement only a month later when they came to know that there was no electricity in our village. Her mother told us that her daughter is fond of watching television, Badrilal Jaiswal, a villager told HT.

He wasnt the only unlucky one. Not only my sons but more than 20 marriages have broken since past one year, Jaiswal added.

Marriage proposals from Shri Tara Majra now triggers panic among residents of other villages. Some insist that the groom should not stay at Shri Tara Majra after marriage so that their daughters are not put through hardships.

I faced extreme difficulty in finding brides for my three sons. Their marriages were fixed on the condition that they will not live in the village. Since ten years my sons and their families rarely visit the village. Even if they come they stay here only for a day or two. Even our relatives avoid visiting us, another villager Purshottam Jaiswal said.

Villager Purshottam Jaiswal says even his relatives do not come to visit.

Villagers say their pleas to MLAs and administrative officials have not yielded any results.

Purshottam Jaiswal further says We have visited several MLAs and MPs who got elected from the area besides numerous officials during the last several years. However, all our pleas to provide electricity and enough hand pumps in the village fell on deaf ears.

The area comes under the assembly segment of BJP MLA Ajay Kumar. It also comes under the Lok Sabha segment of BJP MP SC Gupta.

Children at Tara Majra who go to nearby government schools complained that they had to study in the light of a lantern at night. They watch television only when they visit their relatives in other villages.

We become a laughing stock among children at other villages when they learn that we are living without electricity, one child said. Many of the students who live in city for studies do not return in holidays.

The administration finally seems to be acknowledging that there is a serious problem.

Chamu Gramsabha and some other areas are indeed underdeveloped and is suffering from water crisis. I am informed that there is some dispute in taking electricity lines to the area. Administration is providing water through tankers in the villages. Administration will definitely look into the matter and provide electricity if the villagers will apply, Rajkumar Dwivedi, SDM, Bara told HT.
Here are the top stories of the day you need to look out for:

Group that leaked NSA cyber weapon leading to WannaCry promises more malware codes

Shadow Brokers, the group that leaked parts of US national security agencys (NSA) cyber weapons stockpile which formed the basis of the recent WannaCry ransomware, said it would release hacking tools every month to those willing to pay for it. The threat came as the cyber extortion campaign launched by as yet unidentified hackers waned. More than 300,000 computers were infected by the WannaCry malware since Friday, locking down computers and robbing businesses and individuals of potentially important files.

Read the story here.

West Bengal civic polls results 2017 LIVE: Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress storms to 4 wins, loses Darjeeling to BJP-GJM

Counting of votes for civic elections in West Bengal is underway. Seven civic bodies  four in the hills and three in the plains  voted on Sunday but the election was marred by unprecedented violence that left several people injured and pit the states opposition parties against the Bengal election chief.

Follow live updates here.

Trump asked former FBI chief to end probe into aide Flynns Russia links: Reports

President Donald Trump had asked FBI director James Comey to end the investigation into his first National Security Adviser Michael Flynns Russian connections, according to notes Comey kept of the conversation that he had shown to some associates, multiple US news media outlets reported on Wednesday. I hope you can let this go, Trump told Comey, according to the memo. The conversation took place in the Oval Office on February 14, the day after Flynn was fired for lying to vice-president Mike Pence about his contacts with Russian ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak.

Read the story here.

SC to continue hearing on Triple Talaq case

The Supreme Court will today continue its hearing on the Triple Talaq case. Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi would argue the matter before the court. The Centre told the apex court that it opposes the triple talaq practice and wants to fight for women equality and gender justice. However, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) counsel Kapil Sibal told the apex court that triple talaq is a matter that comes under the Muslim board and therefore, in his opinion, the top court should not interfere in it.

Hackers generate digital currency in global ransomware attack

A computer virus that exploits the same vulnerability as the global ransomware attack has latched on to more than 200,000 computers and begun manufacturing digital currency, experts said Tuesday. Researchers at security firm Proofpoint said the related attack, which installs a currency miner that generates digital cash, began infecting machines in late April or early May but had not been previously discovered because it allows computers to operate while creating the digital cash in the background.

Read the story here.

Pakistan continues ceasefire violations, fires on forward posts along LoC

Pakistan opened fire on forward villages and posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district on Wednesday with the neighbouring country continuing to violate the ceasefire agreement. The Pakistani army also opened heavy fire on Indian posts in Balakote sector of adjoining Poonch district on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. The firing and shelling along the LoC has affected around 10,000 people.

Read the story here.

IAS officer found dead on the roadside in Lucknow

Anurag Tewari, a 2007 batch Karnataka cadre Indian Administration Services (IAS) officer, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Lucknows Hazratganj area on Wednesday morning. Tiwari, who was a resident of Uttar Pradeshs Bahraich, was staying at the Meera Bai Guest House for the last two days.

Read the story here.

Donald Trump putting US intelligence ties at risk, say experts

With his shoot-from-the-hip tweets targeting US spies and alleged Oval Office leak of secrets to the Russians, President Donald Trump has damaged White House relations with American and allied intelligence agencies and put national security at risk, current and former officials said Tuesday. Ex-CIA director Leon Panetta warned that Trumps behaviour risks polluting relations between the intelligence agencies of the United States and its allies.

Read the story here.

Harish Salve, the piano-playing lawyer who is fighting Kulbhushan Jadhavs case at ICJ

Harish Salve, who is arguing Indias case at the International Court of Justice, is one of Indias most expensive lawyers who charges anything between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for a court appearance. The chartered accountant-turned-lawyer specialises in tax law but is equally comfortable in criminal and constitutional matters. Perhaps that explains his list of clients that includes business tycoons Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata and Sunil Mittal. Veteran politicians Mulayam Singh Yadav and Parkash Singh Badal, too, have used Salves services, so have actor Salman Khan and IPL founder Lalit Modi.

Read the story here.

Lets talk about racism | Our ads preach we will have better jobs, marriages if we are fairer, says Abhay Deol

My first exposure to racism came from my own country. I grew up believing fairer is better. The voices of fairer is lovelier were all around me. People would pinch my cheeks and say, kina gora heh (hes so fair), and proceed to say, soni kudi milegi (hell get a beautiful girl) It was only when I left to study abroad at the age of 18 that I began to question the notion of beauty being linked to colour of skin. I had friends of all colours and skin tone came into our conversations only when we discussed the rights of different communities.

Read the column here.
The BJP has set a May 31 deadline for nine MLAs from two rival parties in Tripura to switch over to the saffron brigade, raising the stakes in its bid to capture power in the only Left-ruled state in the northeast.

Tripura goes to the polls next year and the BJP is making a determined bid to uproot the Left Front which is ruling the state since 1993. The BJP is already in power in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur and is part of the ruling alliance in Nagaland.

It was decided to ask the nine MLAs of the opposition parties to join BJP within the end of May without having any pre-condition. Many of them have met me too. Still, their decision is not fully clear, said Biplab Kumar Deb, the BJPs Tripura unit president.

Or else, we will field our own candidates in all the 60 assembly seats to contest with the Left Front, Deb told told Hindustan Times over the phone after a party meeting in Guwahati recently.

Of the nine MLAs, six are from Trinamool Congress and three from Congress. The Left Front has the remaining 51 seats in the assembly.

The six TMC legislators had ditched the Congress in June last year in protest against the grand old partys understanding with the CPM in West Bengal. The Tripura assembly recognised the six legislators as Trinamool Congress MLAs on August 29.

Over the past few days, more than 1,200 Trinamool Congress leaders, members, and supporters have joined the BJP, indicating the scale at which the saffron party was poaching on its competitors.

The Guwahati meeting was attended by BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, the partys Tripura prabhari Sunil Deodhar and Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had switched over from the Congress ahead of the assembly polls last year.

Sarma is credited with scripting the BJPs spectacular victory in Assam to end the Congresss 15-year rule.

Reacting to the BJP deadline, TMC president Asish Saha said the party was focusing on strengthening the organisation. He said the aim was to prevent division of anti-Left votes in next years polls.

Tripura is one of three north-eastern states where assembly elections are scheduled in 2018. The other two are Nagaland and Meghalaya, where the BJP is confident of displacing the Congress-led coalition.
The day of reckoning has come: BJPs Arun Jaitley on raids on Chidambarams son, Lalu Prasad

Finance minister Arun Jaitley defended searches at the homes of his predecessor P Chidambarams son Karti Chidambaram and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, saying the day of reckoning has come for many. Jaitley said the tax department or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) do not act unless there is a substantial basis and a reason to suspect that there is a tax evasion or a crime has been committed. Now people in high positions acquiring assets through shell companies is not a small matter and I think the day of reckoning has come for many, they will all be held accountable, the finance minister told reporters.

Read the story here.

Chidambaram residence raid: How a 2015 ED search prompted CBI probe

The CBI raid on former finance minister P Chidambarams son, Karti, was triggered by information provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) searched Karti Chidambarams homes and offices across New Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai and Chennai, which officials said was part of an investigation into suspected corruption during the senior Chidambarams tenure as the Union finance minister. During a meeting in 2015 meeting the ED informed CBI about the evidence they had collected during its raid of Advantage Strategic, a company allegedly owned by Karti Chidambaram.

Read the story here.

After raids, Lalu says he wont be cowed down as BJP decries politics of loot

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad accused the BJP-led government of a political witch-hunt after taxmen raided 22 locations in New Delhi and nearby areas on Tuesday over property deals worth Rs 1,000 crore allegedly linked to him and his family. The BJP last week accused Prasad, his parliamentarian-daughter Misa Bharti and his two sons, both Bihar government ministers, of benami deals and asked the Union government to probe one such transaction in the national capital.

Read the story here.

Reform to transform approach to build new India: PM Modi

On the third anniversary of the BJPs victory in Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his government was committed to build the new India through the reform to transform approach. He was responding to wishes and messages tweeted by his followers. Thanks for your wishes. Through a reform to transform approach we are committed to building a new India, he tweeted in response to a congratulatory message on the occasion of completion of three years in government.

Read the story here.

US President Trump to deliver speech on peaceful vision of Islam in Saudi Arabia

US President Donald Trump will urge unity between the worlds major faiths during his first foreign trip that will take him to Saudi Arabia, the Vatican and Jerusalem. National Security Advisor HR McMaster laid out a detailed itinerary for the historic trip, due to start later this week, and confirmed that Trump would address a gathering of Muslim leaders on his hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam. Previous US leaders have generally chosen a US neighbour such as Canada or Mexico for their first presidential voyage, but Trump intends to plunge right into some of the worlds most difficult spiritual and political conflicts.

Read the story here.

Mehbooba Mufti faces angry protests by women shouting azadi slogans

An interactive session between chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and a group of women to promote self-help groups degenerated into an impromptu protest on Tuesday, leaving the government red-faced. The women who had come to participate in an interactive session with Mehbooba left the venue saying they were fooled into attending a function addressed by the chief minister. While not much is known about what happened inside the venue as the media was kept out, eyewitnesses said, women came out screaming and raising slogans of azadi while the function was still on.

Read the story here.

15 Maoists killed in three encounters in Chhattisgarh, says CRPF

At least 15 Maoist rebels were killed in five days by security forces in Chhattisgarh, the CRPF said on Tuesday but added not a single body has been recovered so far. One CRPF jawan was also killed in the operations while two others were injured, a spokesperson of the central force said in Delhi. Some of the slain rebels could have been involved in an ambush that killed 25 CRPF jawans in south Chhattisgarhs Sukma on April 24, one of the biggest losses faced by the central force engaged in anti-insurgency operations in the state, the CRPF said.

Read the story here.

48,000 ransomware attack attempts in India, says cyber security firm

A cyber security firm Quick Heal Technologies said on Tuesday it has detected over 48,000 ransomware attack attempts in the country, with West Bengal witnessing the most incidents. Quick Heal Technologies has detected over 48,000 MS-17- 010 Shadow Broker exploit hits responsible for WannaCry ransomware outbreak in India, it said in a statement. Our observation is that the attack is not focused towards any particular industry but it is widely spread across industries especially those organisations which are online and connected, the firm said.

Read the story here.

With US and its allies in a flap, Trump defends leak to Russians

A long-time critic of leaks and advocate of prosecuting those responsible, US President Donald Trump has been found to have himself disclosed highly classified information to the Russia foreign minister and ambassador at the White House. Except, he didnt call it a leak. As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled WH meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining, Trump tweeted on Tuesday, to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.

Read the story here.

IPL 2017: Ajinkya Rahane, Washington Sundar help Rising Pune Supergiant enter final

Rising Pune Supergiant showed resilience and discipline despite the absence of all-rounder Ben Stokes and spinner Imran Tahir to defeat former champions Mumbai Indians and clinch a spot in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ajinkya Rahane scored 56 as RPS posted 162 in its 20 overs while offspinner Washington Sundar took 3/16 in his four overs to help beat MI by 20 runs.

Read the story here.
The I-T raids on properties of Lalu Prasads relatives in connection with benami land deals may have actually revived the ageing Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders fortunes.

Lalu  a mass leader who has picked up approximately 20% caste votes at the worst of times in an election  retains the capacity, presence of mind and political sharpness to turn around adversity on its head, and he has repeatedly gained political success despite corruption taints.

So, there should be no reason to presume that he will not overcome his present troubles.

The rift with Nitish

That the raids came a day after RJD ally and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar distanced himself from corruption charges against the RJD chief, saying that the matter concerned Lalu and the Centre, says a lot.

Immediately after Wednesdays raids, Lalu had come up with a loaded tweet, congratulating the BJP for its new alliance partners, which was widely perceived to be Nitishs JD(U). An hour later, though, he played down the tweet.

Earlier this year, when expectations were running high that Akhilesh Yadav would return to power in Uttar Pradesh after the assembly polls, RJD rank and file had launched a campaign to install Tejaswi Yadav (Lalus junior son and deputy chief minister) as the chief minister in Bihar.

Lalus wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi even went on record to say that Tejaswi was as good a candidate as anybody (for the post of CM). Shortly thereafter, the Bihar government issued a circular prohibiting the use of hooters in the official car of the deputy chief minister.

The point is that despite their compulsive alliance, Nitish and Lalu have remained suspicious of one another.

Conspiracy theories suggest that details of Lalus alleged land deals may have been leaked by certain insiders in the JD(U).

It is a spy versus spy game that is being played out between the two leaders, a veteran political pundit observed.

BJPs big plan for Bihar

The success of Bihars Maha Gathbandhan sticks like a bone in the BJPs neck. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leaders had hurled corruption charges at Lalu during the campaign for the 2015 assembly elections, but failed to make a dent.

After the morale boosting win in adjoining Uttar Pradesh, BJP managers obviously feel that now is the time to go in for the kill against an individual that the saffron party regards as the vulnerable enemy.

The break-up of the RJD-JDU-Congress alliance would provide BJP a window that it needs badly in the state. In the entire game, Nitish is seen walking on razors edge  maintaining distance from the RJD.

Reasons for this are well known: in the absence of the mass base or the charisma of Lalu, the JD(U) president has only his clean image to bank on, which he has guarded zealously.

But when it comes to the crunch, Nitish will have to openly support Lalu as he is not confident of a future if he switched to the BJP.

Lalu and the future of coalition politics

Time and again, Lalu has shown that he retains the spark of 1997  when he broke away from the Janata Dal to form the RJD. He remains an effective communicator with a strong sense of political repartee and the capacity to match any rhetoric word for word.

But certain aspects have changed in the last two decades. For one, age has caught up with him, with ailments, and he lacks the stamina of yore. Second, unlike the past, his family is today under attack.

Third, he faces a much more powerful political opponent in a re-energised BJP led by the commanding leadership of Modi and Amit Shah.

Despite all the adverse circumstances, Lalu can hardly be regarded as a pushover. The I-T charges against him and family will take time to establish, during which he will remain in the news in the coming months.

Any news, even those with a negative connotation, can be considered good news for a politician as wily as Lalu, who has the ability to turn things around to his advantage in an instant, remarked a scribe.

On August 27, the RJD chief has called for a rally of Opposition parties at Patnas historic Gandhi Maidan.

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee will participate while other regional satraps, including Mulayam Singh Yadav (Samajwadi Party) and HD Deve Gowda (Janata DalSecular) are likely to attend.

Mamata and Congress leaders are already alleging witch-hunt by the NDA government against political opponents.

Facing political steamrolling by the BJP, regional satraps have little option but to gravitate towards Lalu.

In the run-up to the rally, a big churn in the Opposition space is anticipated.
A breastfeeding room at the state health directorate has remained unused since it was opened in 2015; it is being used by the food safety appellate tribunal.

The room, named Amrit Kaksh, was dedicated to women employees, including officers of the health department, on the World Breastfeeding Day in 2015; the theme of day was breastfeeding at the workplace.

Save the Children, an NGO that partnered with the National Health Mission to open the room, has decided to take up the closure of the room with health officials.

The room has remained closed though the state government pushes for breastfeeding to fight malnutrition and reduce neonatal mortality. The state has set up 13 human milk banks at hospitals in districts. The health department issued an order recently to ban formula, dairy, cow, goat and other milk for newborns at 11 government hospitals, which have Aanchal Mothers Milk Bank.

It is very sad that the kaksh (room) did not function even for a day, said Sanjay Sharma of the NGO. He said the NGO had spent lakhs of rupees in setting up the facility, which also had a creche for small children to play.

The room, said a health department official, was made in conformity with the World Health Organisations guidelines. It had sofas for mothers to sit comfortably during breastfeeding, and a breast pump and a refrigerator to store milk. The room had arrangements for four women to breastfeed their kids at a time.

Inaugurating the room in 2015, the then health minister, Rajendra Rathore, had lauded the initiative and hoped that other government departments would follow suit. It is important for us to provide a facility for mothers to breastfeed because mothers milk saves infants from malnutrition and helps them develop immunity against diseases, he had said.

Director (public health) Dr VK Mathur said, The rooms closure was brought to my notice recently; I am looking into it.

Devendra Agarwal, adviser to the state health department on the mothers milk bank project, said he would find out the reasons for the rooms closure and ensure its restart soon. I will raise the issue at the competent level, he said.

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If Bengal PCC president Adhir Chowdhury wants to join the BJP, we will accept him gladly, BJP state president and Kharagpur MLA Dilip Ghosh said on Wednesday.

The statement -- an apparent move by the BJP to ridicule the Congress -- came a day after Chowdhury said that his party would have no tie-up with Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, as long as he remained the state president. Chowdhury was speaking in reference to chief minister Mamata Banerjees meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Tuesday over election of the next President.

I do not accept a situation where Trinamool supporters will assault Congress workers in Bengal and forge alliance with us in Delhi. As long as I am the state president there will be no understanding with Trinamool Congress in the Bengal, Chowdhury told the media.

Chowdhury even urged the Congress president to keep the condition of Congress workers in Bengal in mind before holding any political dialogue with Trinamool Congress . I urge the Congress high command to keep the political situation in Bengal in mind before discussing anything with Trinamool Congress, he said. Last week, he had even wrote to Sonia Gandhi, informing her about attacks on Congress workers.

On Wednesday, Dilip Ghosh did not miss the opportunity. He (Adhir) is a leader of a big stature. He is an experienced politician and not a state-level leader. I have not talked to him but I have talked to several Congress leaders and they said that they are willing to join us, Ghosh said in Kharagpur.

We believe in having a broad mind and door of our party is big and always open. We dont have too many rooms in our office so that one can be provided to him. But if Adhir Chowdhury wants to join the BJP we will accept him gladly, said Ghosh.

Ghosh came to Kharagpur on Wednesday to meet railway officials and discuss some projects.
A Karnataka cadre Indian Administration Services (IAS) officer was found dead on his birthday on Wednesday under mysterious circumstances in Lucknows Hazratganj area.

Police have ruled out any foul play behind the death of Anurag Tewari, a 2007 batch IAS officer, during initial inquiry. He would have turned 36 on Wednesday.

Inspector general of police (IGP), Lucknow range, JN Singh said the primary examination suggested that Tewari died due to a heart attack. He said a team of forensic experts from Lucknows State Forensic Science Laboratory will examine the officers body and that the exact cause of his death could be ascertained after a post-mortem examination.

Some of his batchmates said Tewari was under depression after he separated from his wife a few months ago.

Tewari, a resident of Uttar Pradeshs Bahraich, was staying at the Meera Bai Guest House in Hazratganj for the last 2 days with his batchmate Prabhu Narain Singh, who was named as the vice-chairperson of Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) last month.

Tewari was the commissioner of the food civil supplies and consumer affairs department in Bengaluru.

Tewari and Singh came to Lucknow after attending a mid-career training programme at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie 2 days ago.

The IGP said Tewari was found lying dead only 10 metres from the entrance of Meera Bai Guest House in his sleepwear. He said the Singh and Tewari had dinner together on Tuesday. He added Tewari went for a walk at around 6am while Singh went to play badminton at the BBD Badminton Academy in Gomti Nagar.

He said the UP100, an emergency response centre, received a call at around 6.40am about a dead body lying.

According to the inspector of Hazratganj police station AK Shahi, Tewaris body had no other injury except one on his chin. Tewari was identified from an ID card recovered from his belongings.

Tewari also visited his house in Bahraich after returning from the training. The officer is survived by his father BN Tripathi, a retired teacher, mother Sushila and 2 brothers. He was the youngest.

The police were waiting for Tewaris family to arrive for further legal proceedings.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah condoled the IAS officers death on Twitter.

Shocked to learn about the unfortunate demise of Karnatakas IAS officer in Lucknow. My condolences to his family, he posted.

The Karnataka government has sent its two senior officials to Lucknow to get details of the death of state-cadre IAS officer Anurag Tiwari,

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A Barabanki resident has accused doctors of the premier Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) here of stealing his kidney when he went to the institute for treatment of kidney stone.

Sanjeev Kumar (39), resident of Dewkalia village, has filed a petition in court of chief judicial magistrate (CJM), Barabanki, Kumar Prashant seeking punishment for the guilty.

However, SGPGIMS administration has rubbished the charge and said it is being made to malign the image of institute, which is one of the best in country.

The CJM has sought a report from police in the matter. The next hearing of case is scheduled on May 17.

Recently doctors of KGMU, another important medical facility in the state capital, had also been accused of stealing a kidney of Barabanki resident named Prithviraj. He had accused Dr Anand Mishra and Dr Sandeep Tewari of removing his kidney in February 2015. However, the doctors denied the allegations and moved court for quashing of the FIR against them.

According to Sanjeev Kumar he went to PGI for treatment of kidney stone (20 mm) in April 2015. He was advised operation by surgeon (professor) Anish Srivastava. He was operated upon on August 23, 2015 in PGI by the team of doctors consisting Dr Anish Srivastava, Dr Abhishek, Dr Dharmveer, Dr S Raj, Dr UP Singh and Dr S Noonia. Kumar was asked to go back home after a few days of the operation.

Despite the operation, Sanjeev continued to feel pain in the abdomen area, so he kept on visiting the institute for treatment. He was referred to gastroenterology department for further investigation. He got an ultrasound done in February this year when he came to know that one of his kidneys was missing.

Sanjeev said he immediately brought the matter to the notice of SGPIMS administration. He also met DM Barabanki Roshan Jacob on February 9 with his plea to get the matter investigated. But nothing was done, hence he was forced to move to court, he said.

PGI COUNTER

Director PGI professor Rakesh Kapoor said, That man (Kumar) was told in advance that his kidney would be removed as it was non-functional. Had the kidney remained in the body his life would have been in danger. Not only that, the kidney was sent for biopsy and the report of the same was shown to Kumars family members. Moreover, his family members have signed the papers in which removal of kidney was written . PGI follows stringent rules when it comes to removing any organ. Its a shame that some people, instead of appreciating the good work of doctors to save lives keep on coming out with false accusations.

He said,  If false allegations continue then PGI doctors will have to think twice before operating any patient who dont even understand what is good or bad for their body.

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Ten people were injured as members of the Dalit and Thakur communities clashed over the construction of a drain in Keshopur Jaufari village on Wednesday.

The incident occurred when Suresh Singh, a resident of the village, decided to lay a pipeline near the house of Chandra Pal  a Dalit. When he objected, members of the Thakur community began pelting his residence with stones. As both the groups came to blows, some upper caste members began shooting at Dalits from the rooftops.

Upon being informed about the clash, a police squad rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control. Later, a squad of the provincial armed constabulary was summoned in view of the prevailing tension.

Police said seven of the 10 injured people  identified as Chandra Pal, Satyaveer Singh, Vikas, Rupesh, Bindu Mukesh, Reshma Rajendri and Ganbhir Devi  are Dalits. They have been admitted to the district hospital.

Some attributed the escalation of violence to the Lodha polices lackadaisical attitude. Two days ago, we lodged a complaint about this disputed drain. The police, however, did not treat the matter with the seriousness it deserved, said Sanjay, Chandra Pals son.

Dalits in the village contend that the land on which the drain was being constructed belongs to the gram panchayat. However, the Thakurs reject the claim.

Gabhana circle officer Anil Kumar said a case has been registered on the basis of complaints filed by both sides. Twelve people have been named in the FIR lodged by the Dalits while the Thakurs have named fourteen. Three have been arrested already, he said.
The enforcement directorate (ED), currently investigating a money laundering case, recently arrested Nilesh Thakur, after his brother, former deputy collector of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) Nitish Thakur, fled five years ago.

Nilesh was arrested and will be produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Wednesday, said a source.

Read: ED attaches former Mhada deputy collectors property worth Rs 56 cr

In March 2012, the Maharashtra anti-corruption bureau (ACB) arrested Nitish for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his income. He was found to have assets worth more than Rs100 crore, while his monthly income was just Rs28,000.

ACB investigations revealed Rs17 crore was transferred into Nitishs account from a Dubai-based bank. The ED began a probe, saying the unexplained overseas transaction was equivalent to money laundering. Nitish allegedly paid large sums to the Kalyani Charitable Trust, the properties of which the ED attached.

Read: Mumbai: Suspended Mhada officer caught trying to escape to Nepal

Nitishs wife Meenal, his mother Chayya and Nilesh were booked in connection with the case in 2012.

In 2012, the ACB searched 26 of Thakurs properties in Alibaug, Murud, Belkade, Kolgaon, Ghoteghar, Chikhli, Kandivili, Gorai, Borivli, Vile Parle, Andheri, Garodianagar and Ghatkopar.

The agency had attached fixed deposits worth Rs56 crore in 2015. In 2012, it attached seven of Nitishs properties in Mumbai, Alibaug and Murud-Jinjira.

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Mumbais Taloja jail, which houses around 2,000 inmates, has special guests and they are certainly not welcome.

In the past 15 days, two snakes have been found  one in the kitchen and one near the main entrance  on the premises.

Raju Pore, 35, the jail guard, who caught the snakes and released them into the wild, said, A 10-year-old daughter of one of our officials died in 2012 after a snake bite. That was a wake-up call for us. Since then, we have so far found around 500 snakes such as Rock Python, Indian Cobra, Gonar, Maniar, Dhamin, Erura (water snake) on the premises and have released them. Five snakes have been spotted this year itself.

Read more: Indian cobra rescued from Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai

In 2015, Pore caught a Rock Python weighing 50kg in the jail. Another Rock Python weighing 45kg was found three months ago. An Indian Cobra was rescued from a constables house on the third floor in February. Another Maniar (venomous) snakes was found at a training centre in March.

The Taloja jail is surrounded by hills and forest. We started housing inmates here in 2008. Spotting snakes is a common thing around the jail, said an official. There is a small forest area inside the jail. Moreover, snakes enter through drains, sewage pipes and main entrances.

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After swine flu, another zoonotic disease (one that can be transmitted from animals to people) called monkey fever has caused more than 11 deaths and left 200 people in a critical medical condition in the state. Officials from Sindhudurg district, where Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD)  a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever that is endemic  have demanded an expert committee from Delhi to recommend better solutions for treatment and care.

Identified in the Kyasanur forest of Karnataka, the fever spreads primarily through monkeys to humans by the bite of an infected tick and through contact with a sick or dead monkey. The monkeys, migrating from Karnataka, are carrying the infected ticks in the border districts of Goa and Maharashtra, said Vinayak Raut, Member of Parliament from Sindhudurg-Ratnagiri region.

Officials from Sawantwadi Forest division said they have found and disposed of 232 dead monkeys in their jurisdiction since December 2016 to first week of May to restrict the spread. We sent a few of the bodies for post-mortem, but we arent sure if all of them were infected. We have sent the viscera of monkeys to the Pune Forensic Laboratory for final investigation, said Samadhan Chavan, deputy conservator of forest, Sindhudurg.

Read more: What is monkey fever?

The fever is mainly restricted in only two talukas, Dodamarg and Sawantwadi, where humans visit the forest area for their livelihood, and get infected through tick bites.

Dr Tushar Chiplunkar, deputy DHO from Dodamarg, said the first patient was reported in Maharashtra last year. The patient was from Sateli Bhedshi village of Dodamarg Taluka. He was diagnosed and treated in Goa Civil Hospital, whose officials also informed us about the presence of the virus in the state, said Chiplunkar.

He said this year, the toll has increased to 11. Also, the number of those infected in the state has risen to 187 compared to 128 last year. Last year, we had sent the samples to the National Institute of Virology, but this year we are coordinating with the Manipal University of Virology in Karnataka because they had originally diagnosed the virus and have studied it in detail, said Chiplunkar.

Treating doctors said the primary symptoms are headache, weakness, fever, vomiting and loose motions. However, as the first phase of fever subsides, the second one, which takes place after 15-20 days, affects the central nervous system, reduces the count of red and white blood cells and platelets. KFD has a reported mortality rate of 10-15% with faster disease progression in patients with co-morbid conditions and low immunity.

A major source of income for people is selling mangoes, cashewnuts, coconuts and Jamun. However, due to increasing human-animal proximity, chances of spreading the disease and cases are also increasing rapidly, said Dr Yogesh Sale, DHO, Sindhudurg.

Raut said he had raised the issue in the parliament and availed permissions to set up blood testing laboratories in the district for immediate diagnosis of the fever.

Read more: Monkey fever infects 76, kills one in Goa
The MIDC police recently filed a charge sheet in the molestation case against Arunabh Kumar, CEO of The Viral Fever, saying that they had a strong case against him.

The 275-page charge sheet contains the statements of 14 witnesses and was submitted in the Andheri magistrates court on May 9. It also includes WhatsApp chats sent by the survivor to her friend, where she talks about being inappropriately touched by Arunabh and his obscene comments.

The police said that there was proof to suggest that the victim and the accused were in the same spot that day. The witnesses also include those present in the office. The police have taken photos of the crime spot and attached it in the charge sheet.

On March 29, an FIR was registered against Kumar for outraging the modesty of a woman who had worked with him on a project last year.

The incident, she alleged, took place in May 2016, when she interacted with Kumar over official work. The victim also came out in support of another woman, who first made allegations against Arunabh on social media.
Imagine for a moment that you are a 12-year-old. Someone close to you is hurting you. You dont know what they are doing to you, but you know its affecting you. You want to talk about it. But no one believes you. They tell you to keep quiet, that you are making things up, that its probably nothing.

Or worse, that it is your fault.

Take the case of this 13-year-old boy from Byculla. He told his parents several times about his uncle sexually abusing him, but it was not until he had to be rushed to a hospital for unbearable body pain and a psychiatrist intervened did his parents decide to act.

Experts and NGOs working with child survivors of sexual abuse said their hardest battles are often with the childrens own families, who feel their neighbours will shun them for talking about the abuse.

In India, any topic related to sex is taboo.It gets worse when the offender is a relative. For instance, if a stepfather assaults a girl child, the mother asks the child if she provoked him, said Jalpa Bhuta, a child psychiatrist.

The result of this kind of stigma? A growing silence around the issue that only perpetuates further abuse  offenders think they can get away and the victims start believing the abuse is normal, said experts.

READ: Maybe your child is not just acting funny

The culture of silence

Dont tell anyone about what your uncle did to you. They wont believe you. What did you do? You must have provoked him to hurt you. I will harm your whole family if you tell anyone about this. What will our neighbours say? Who will marry my daughter if I speak about what happened to her?

Unfortunately, our culture has always been: if you are sexually assaulted, then you have asked for it. It is high time for us to say it is not the fault of the victim, said social activist Priti Patkar.

The silence and stigma around the whole problem has made it difficult for families to report the abuse. There is always that fear about what society would think, Bhuta said.

Why we need to speak up

Many offenders groom their victims  they target a child, get to know her, make her comfortable around them, attack and then threaten the child to keep her quiet.

In many cases, offenders let the victims cross a boundary and then sexually abuse them. We have seen cases where the abuser is so smart, he makes what is happening seem normal, said Patkar.

This confuses the child and she doesnt know if what is happening to her is wrong or right. Perpetrators are constantly manipulating children, said Patkar.

Finding a way out

The best solution is for parents to make sure their children feel free to talk to them. Use a doll to teach the child what is good touch and bad touch. If a child builds up the courage to talk about something, listen to them and approach the situation in a non-judgmental way, said Bhuta.

Patkar said giving children the freedom to speak at home may make them less vulnerable to being groomed by abusers. Its time to get rid of the dont talk, fold your hands, fingers on your lips approach to discipline children. We dont have a culture of participation, we dont encourage openness and this is affecting the way children talk to us, she said.

READ: My father raped me, but cops refused to believe me, says 17-year-old

Another way to keep children safe is to empower them against the abuse. Children are at risk everywhere. In cities like Mumbai, where both parents work and cannot be with the child all the time, teaching children to identify abuse and defend themselves against it, is the most effective way to keep them safe, said Rekha Shahani, a former school principal and a trustee in Public Concern for Governance Trust.

Arpan, an NGO, has used a special syllabus to discuss sexual abuse to reach nearly 65,000 children over the past decade  a method that psychiatrists said could make children more aware. Arpans syllabus uses different concepts to reach different age-groups.

Social workers said a good support system at home will help make children more aware, and help survivors cope with the attack better.

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Farmers organisations, which have called for a strike from June 1, have accused chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of teaming up with Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil , leader of Opposition and Congress, of trying to divide them so that the agitation fails.

Farmers from Ahmednagar, Aurangabad and some other districts, reiterated their decision to go on strike from June 1 by cutting supply of milk and vegetables to cities like Mumbai and Pune. Their demands include farm loan waiver and a minimum support price for crops by June 1.

A group of farmers who met the CM and Vikhe-Patil on Tuesday, later announced that they were satisfied with the meeting and the strike had been called off. It said that it was representing 40 villages, which decided at the gram sabha that the farmers would go on strike, and the talk with the government had been positive.

The group said that the CM spoke to it about the measures, which the government was taking for the farmers relief. The farmers were asked to form a study group for the implementation of the schemes.

However, the coordination committee of 38 farmer organisations met in Aurangabad on Wednesday and clarified that they were going back to protesting. It was a delegation of the farmers close to the Bharatiya Janata Party and did not represent the organisations that had called for a strike. On Wednesday, we decided to step up the protest against the government in phases. In the first phase, we will cut off supply of vegetables and milk to cities like Mumbai and Pune, said Jayajirao Suryavanshi, coordinator of the committee.

He said that the farmers would not talk to the government unless the loan waiver was announced by the government. Other demands include free power supply to agricultural pumps, interest-free loans, MSP with 50% rise on the cost of the production.

Vikhe Patil was not available for comment. His office clarified that the leader took the delegation to the CM as the farmers were from his constituency, but he had no role to play in the withdrawal of the strike.

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While railways minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday inaugrated 14 passenger amenities  including an elevated deck and lift at Borivali station and foot overbridges at Dadar, Taloja jail was visited by some unwelcome guests  two snakes in the past 15 days. An online study conducted on the occasion of World Hypertension Day revealed that one in three Mumbaiites suffer from hypertension, while more than half of them are unaware of the ideal blood pressure range.A visually impaired girls story about how she is stuggling to survive in Mumbai went viral after she was interviewed on a radio show. Also, a worried father of a teen addicted to mephedrone promted the police to bust a drug cartel, after he wrote a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Here are todays top 5 picks:

1. Prabhus gift to Mumbai train commuters: Lift at Borivli railway station, skywalk at Andheri

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday inaugurated 14 passenger amenities in Mumbai and its extended suburbs. The new amenities included an elevated deck and lift on platform No. 1 at Borivali station, foot overbridges (FOBs) at Dadar, Matunga Road and Bhayandar, a skywalk connecting FOB to metro station at Andheri, escalators at Dadar, Bhayandar, Vasai Road and Nallsopara, booking offices at Borivali, Kandivali and Vasai Road and a passenger reservation centre at Nallsopara.

2. 1 in 3 Mumbaiites suffer from high blood pressure, get fit, ensure you are not the one

One in three Mumbaiites suffer from hypertension, while more than half of them are unaware of the ideal blood pressure range, revealed an online study conducted on the occasion of World Hypertension Day on Wednesday. As part of the survey, 500 people were questioned about awareness of hypertension. High blood pressure (BP), which is commonly known as hypertension, is a long-term medical condition in which blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.

3. Visually-challenged woman survives on one meal a day, fights to complete law. You can help her

A story of visually impaired Nikita Shukla, a third-year student at Government Law College, who is struggling to live in Mumbai, went viral after the woman was interviewed on a radio channel on Wednesday. With no support from her family, who wanted to get her married after high school, every day is a struggle for Shukla. At times, she survives on one meal a day, she says.

4. Mumbai jail infested with snakes, 2 caught in 15 days

Mumbais Taloja jail, which houses around 2,000 inmates, has special guests and they are certainly not welcome. In the past 15 days, two snakes have been found  one in the kitchen and one near the main entrance  on the premises.

5. How troubled Mumbai father of teen MD addict busted cartel, got drugs-on-bike seller arrested

A drastic change in his teenage sons behaviour compelled a 40-year-old Mumbai resident to monitor his movements. What shocked him was the realisation that his son was addicted to the drug meow meow. Taking swift action, the man first admitted his son to a de-addiction centre. He then began investigating and found that many young people from Dongri, several of whom go to the same college as his son, were addicted to the drug. He discovered several meow meow suppliers in his locality, which prompted him to write to the Devendra Fadnavis-led home ministry in April.
A drastic change in his teenage sons behaviour compelled a 40-year-old Mumbai resident to monitor his movements. What shocked him was the realisation that his son was addicted to the drug meow meow.

Taking swift action, the man first admitted his son to a de-addiction centre. He then began investigating and found that many young people from Dongri, several of whom go to the same college as his son, were addicted to the drug. He discovered several meow meow suppliers in his locality, which prompted him to write to the Devendra Fadnavis-led home ministry in April.

Thousands of youngsters across India are reportedly addicted to meow meow or mephedrone, a drug that was banned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in 2015.

What is meow meow? Meow meow, or mephedrone, is a synthetic stimulant. It is commonly found in the form of tablets or a white, off-white or brown powder. It is also called white cocaine, M-cat, drone, bath salt and China cocaine Users experience an increase in energy, self-confidence, talkativeness and euphoria The drug also enhances a persons sense of touch and empathy It causes sensory distortion However, MD causes loss of appetite, muscle clenching and tremors Users may suffer from teeth grinding, headaches, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, chest pains and a fast or irregular heartbeat They may find it difficult to urinate and their body temperature may fluctuate

I am a Dongri resident. I recently noticed a few abnormal changes in the habits and behaviour of my child, a first-year college student. For the past month, I started keeping tabs on my sons activities, his friends and his movements. I found out that my son was addicted to mephedrone, reads the letter titled Drug peddling and abuse, with Mumbai police hand in glove.

I kept tabs on my sons activities, which confirmed that his group and several other young people were addicted to this dangerous drug. They are spoiling their life and their career. I did my research to understand the root of this evil. I am sharing this information with you as you can use your power and save our society, it reads.

The man named several key players in a drug cartel, which was highly active in south Mumbai. The main distributor Abdul Gani alias Papa Bakree , 48, was arrested by Mumbai crime branchs anti-narcotics cell (ANC).

Acting on the letter, we arrested the distributor and recovered 55 grams of MD worth Rs1.10 lakh. A court granted us custody of him till May 19, ANC chief, DCP Shivdeep Lande told HT.

Gani is a school drop-out , who would ride a bicycle around Mumbai, distributing drugs, said police. The ANC is now searching for Ganis boss, Danny Chikna, who is also mentioned in the letter.
Mumbai has 120 Baobab trees, the on-going tree census of the civic body revealed. The exotic species was recently announced as endangered by United Nations.

The on-going tree census in Mumbai has found 29,89,654 trees across the city with 70 different rare species. Almost 20% of the tree census is remaining. With a number of infrastructure projects sanctioned in Mumbai, environmentalists said that trees were being axed to pave way for such projects. A list of guidelines has been submitted to the civic bodys tree department by the contractors to protect endangered trees like the Baobab.

A native tree to tropical Africa, also known as the Tree of Life, was brought to the country over a thousand years ago by Abyssinian and Portuguese traders. The Baobab tree has nine species. While the species in Mumbai (Adansonia digitata) is not as threatened as the ones in Africa (Adansonia grandidieri), contractors conducting the survey confirmed that all 120 were extremely rare and need to be protected.

Interesting facts about Baobab According to records, the 21 metre high and 27 metre girth tree lives for over 2,000 years The scientific name  Adansonia - is in the honour of 18th century French botanist Michael Adanson while  digitata  indicates the fingerlike shape of the leaflets The wood is used to make matchsticks, tree fibre is used to make ropes, bags and strong paper It was introduced to India by Abyssinian and Portuguese traders The pulp of the hard brownish fruit is rich in citric and tartaric acids and used in cooling drinks Monkeys are fond of eating the fruit and hence the common name Monkey Bread Tree The trees swollen base can hold a maximum of 8,700 litres of water Its white stalked flowers (Corolla) grows 15cm in size, has five petals, blooms only at night and are pollinated by bats (Source: Eminent botanist, Marselin Almeida)

The unique tree is known for its succulent properties of holding water and nutrients much more than other trees that leads to a swollen base. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a full grown Baobab with an average diameter of its bark at 32-feet can hold about 2,300 gallons (8,700 litres) of water at its swollen base. The tree bears a pulpy fruit, ranging from 20-30 centimetres that has a dry powdery pulp inside of it. The trees fruit is used for various things such as medicine and food.

UNEP estimates that the species is under pressure from massive exploitation for its fruits, seeds and seed oil, and all are being traded internationally leading to a lot of deforestation, especially in African countries like Madagascar.

According to the census study, Baobab is found at locations like Colaba, Bandra, Andheri, Kandivali, Jijamata Udayan Byculla, as far as Vasai and a number isolated locations in the city that were earlier not known. Fifteen Baobab trees were spotted at Colaba and Navy Nagar, making it the location with maximum number in the city.

It is amazing to note that the tree species that was planted many years ago in Mumbai has managed to thrive in this urban setting. The city should be proud that it is home to this heritage tree and I dont think there is any other mega city that could be home to so many trees, said a member of the research team of the contractors hired by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to carry out the tree census in Mumbai. We have submitted guidelines to BMC highlighting that the seeds, fruits and oil need to be protected and seeds replanted wherever possible to increase the number.

Experts said that BMC needed to cordon these trees off for people to realise their value. While these trees are sturdy enough to protect themselves, we need to put up signboards and cordon these trees off. Only then will people realise these trees are not only treasure but critically important heritage sites, said Kshitij Ashtekar, environmentalist.

Apart from the Boabab, the Gulmohar tree is also endangered. The Gulmohar is also endemic to Madagascar and introduced into sub-tropical regions worldwide. While it is endangered in the wild, it is widely planted across the city. It is time we took responsibility and protected these trees, said Rene Vyas, tree expert, who has conducted 82 tree walks across Mumbai.

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With the monsoon just over a fortnight away, officials at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) are in a race against time to complete its pre-monsoon work and make two highways in the city ready for the rains. However, the MMRDAs method to repair the roads  cold-mix technology  which had been heavily panned for its inability to protect the citys roads from potholes, only sets the stage for more doubts. Earlier, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had drawn flak for not filling potholes effectively by using the technology, which gets washed away in the rain.

The MMRDA was given charge of the Western Express Highway (WEH) and the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) just a fortnight ago. The state government had decided to take them away from the public works department (PWD) and hand them over to the planning authority after renaming them as urban roads.

This was done to escape the Supreme Court ban on bars, permit rooms and liquor shops within 500m from the highways. The MMRDA has now been tasked with repair and maintenance of the highways in Mumbai-Thane and it has limited time in available before monsoon sets in. Also, it has not got a good response from contractors to repair the WEH and EEH. The MMRDA had floated bids in the first week of May, but it has still not got bidders for seven patches on the Western and Eastern Express Highways and have floated bids for the second time in 10 days. UPS Madan, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA said, We have gone in for a second call for some patches as there were not enough number of bidders.



Read more: Mumbai pothole mess this year too? BMC racing against time to complete road repairs

The 26.5-km-long WEH and the 23.5-km-long EEH are the two arterial roads where lakhs of vehicles ply on a daily basis. The WEH connects Dahisar toll naka and Bandra, and the EEH stretches from Mulund toll naka to Sion.

A senior MMRDA official said, We have not even prepared the bid documents. They were prepared by the Public Works Department and we have floated them. We are even going to use their staff and their process to complete the work as we have never handled these roads before.

Meanwhile, another senior MMRDA official said they would not be able to experiment with other options to repair the two roads as they do not have much time. As it is monsoon, we cannot use hot asphalt and hot-sprayed bitumen with stone chips. Though, we have not finalised the bids yet, but cold-mix as it is the best available option given the time and season, said a senior official.

The MMRDA will fill potholes on the main carriageway and the service roads, along two of the citys crucial roads. However, the authority will not carry out maintenance work on the flyovers as they are managed by a different government body.

Senior officials said that contracts for maintenance work would be awarded soon and the work is expected to be completed within 15 days. We have invited bids for maintenance and repair work on the WEH and EEH. The same contractor will also carry out desilting work, said an official.

Read

Mumbai civic chief cracks whip on roads department, contractors

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The Bhayander police recently arrested a woman for allegedly murdering her husbands second wife on May 9. The accused and her mother-in-law kept the body of the victim in their house for two days before approaching the police.

The man, Santosh Jadhav, runs a travel agency. He did not divorce his first wife, Savita, 36, before marrying Geeta, 32.

Santosh used to live with his wives and mother Vatsala in a chawl in Morva village.

A police source said that Savita and Geeta would often fight and on May 9, when Santosh was away on business, Savita allegedly killed Geeta in a fit of rage.

Later, she panicked and told her mother-in-law about the incident. Vatsala advised her to keep mum. The women placed Geetas body on her bed and did not tell anyone about the incident until, two days later, when the decomposing body began to stink.

Savita called up her husband and told him that Geeta had suffered an injury after she slipped and fell in the house and had apparently succumbed to her injuries.

Santosh asked her to inform the police about the incident and accordingly Savita approached the police. But, when the police received the post mortem report, it stated that Geeta was tortured to death.

The report stated that the body had severe injury marks. We suspect Geeta was tortured before she was killed, said inspector Rajendra Kamble, Bhayander police station.

The women were arrested and booked for murder. They confessed during interrogation. They were produced in court and remanded in custody.
The Shiv Sena stepped up its attack on the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), its senior partner in the state government, by opposing the stamp duty hike on conveyance and the gift deed to blood relations.

It also alleged corruption in chief minister Devendra Fadnaviss flagship water conservation project  Jalyukta Shivar.

The Sena wrote to Fadnavis, asking him to reconsider the hike or the party would take to the streets against the government. It also announced a rally in Nashik on May 19 to demand farm loan waiver.

Shiv Sena leader and environment minister Ramdas Kadam and transport minister Diwakar Raote wrote to Fadnavis, asking him to roll back the hike. Kadam said the decision to hike duty will hit middle-class homebuyers and consumers transferring their flats to blood relatives. He said the decision was taken without taking Sena into confidence. Kadam added that it was Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray who directed them to oppose the decision.

He also alleged rampant financial irregularities in the Jalyukt Shivar project. Kadam said contracts awarded in Mandangad, Dapoli and Khed taluka in Ratnagiri involved corruption and substandard work. He said his son Yogesh has gathered relevant documents under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to prove the corruption, which amounts to a few crores.

The Sena also announced it would launch a parallel audit into Jalyukt Shivar works across Maharashtra, during which party workers would be asked to inspect ongoing work in their respective areas.

Brushing aside the allegations, water conservation minister and BJP leader Ram Shinde said the government is ready to probe any project under the scheme. Shinde alleged that the allegations levelled by Kadam were nothing but an outcome of his ongoing dispute with guardian minister of Ratnagiri and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar.

Kadam, on the other hand, said he has handed over all the documentary evidence to Fadnavis and claimed that the CM has admitted to poor quality work.A day after its decision, the state clarified that the stamp duty on gift deeds between father-son, grandfather-grandson will remain unchanged at Rs 200 per transaction. Though we have suffered loss of Rs500 crore in the past two years, we are ready to bear it. The hike in stamp duty is on the gift deeds between other blood relations such as brother-sister, husband-wife, said revenue minister Chandrakant Patil.

He added that the rise in the stamp duty on conveyance is applicable only to rural and semi-urban areas. Patil said the demand seeking roll back of the hike by the Sena is owing to a misunderstanding. He said he has explained the hike to Kadam and would also speak to Thackeray if needed.
A 16-member delegation of elected representatives, including ministers, returned to Mumbai on Tuesday night, after a 14-day trip to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore .

The chairman of the legislative Council, Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar, who also led the delegation, said there was nothing wrong in the study tour and a report on it will be submitted to the legislature in two days.

Agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar (BJP), deputy chairman of council Manikarao Thakre (Congress), Assembly speaker Haribhau Bagde (BJP), their personal assistants, and legislators Sanjay Dutt (Congress), Rahul Narvekar (NCP), Sharad Ranpise (Congress) had gone on the tour.

Food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat (BJP) returned on May 10, while Neelam Gorhe (Shiv Sena legislator) will be back on Wednesday.

HT, on May 4, had first reported about the tour to three countries.

Read more: Why are BJP ministers on foreign tour when farmers are suffering in Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan asks PM Modi

We have done nothing wrong by going on the study tour. We signed a memorandum of understanding with Parliament of New South Wales in Australia and visited legislatures of the countries we have been to. A report on the study tour will be submitted in two days, Naik-Nimbalkar said.

The delegation comprising three presiding officers of the state legislature, two ministers, four legislators and six officials drew flak from various political parties and farmers organizations.

Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to recall two ministers on the tour organized at a time farmers in the state are in distress. Shiv Sena leader and environment minister Ramdas Kadam called it an insensitive act to go on a junket when farmers are facing challenging times.

The tour, which begun on May 2, was organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). The delegates on the tour had to bear 50% cost of the tour, while the remaining was borne by the CPA from the funds allocated by the state government.

The state is believed to have spent about Rs30 lakh on the tour. Amid criticism and consecutive drought, the state legislatures had avoided such tours for nine years. Two ministers, Dutt, Ranpise were accompanied by their wives while Gorhe took her sister along on the tour.

Read more: Maha farmers suffer, politicians tour Australia, New Zealand and Singapore to study agriculture

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Yoga guru Ramdev met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray at his home in Mumbai on Wednesday morning in Mumbai.

Although the meeting was termed a courtesy visit, it has managed to raise a few eyebrows in the political circles.

It was great meeting Baba Ramdev. He is the biggest global evangelist of Hindu traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda that India has seen, Thackeray told the media later.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray with the yoga guru at his home. (HT)

Baba Ramdevs ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party are well known.

Given the ties between the BJP and Shiv Sena have hit rock-bottom, it is being speculated the visit may have something to do with politics. However, sources close to Thackeray said it was a courtesy visit.

Read more: Raj Thackerays MNS turns 11, faces its worst crisis in Maharashtra

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The district magistrate on Wednesday conducted a surprise inspection of the district women hospital and later ordered that the salary of the district chief medical officer be stopped as the health department head was not present for the inspection.

Along with the stoppage of salary, the district magistrate, Ministhy S, also sought an explanation for the chief medical officers absence. The inspection took place on Wednesday morning and the DM inspected the operation theatre, wards and other areas of the newly built facility.

The chief medical officer for Ghaziabad district is Dr Ajay Agarwal.

I have ordered (officials concerned) to withhold the salary of the CMO for the month of May. I have also served a notice seeking an explanation on why he was not present for the inspection. A separate show-cause notice has already been served to him for his absence during a recent major fire incident, the district magistrate said.

Dr Agarwal had also failed to be present during a major fire that took place at a paint unit in Kavi Nagar late Sunday night. Along with the fire and police officials, the district magistrate herself went to the spot to supervise the rescue and firefighting operation that lasted for more than 12 hours, till Monday afternoon.

Dr Agarwal has been posted in Ghaziabad since 2011 and his brother is a senior bureaucrat in Lucknow.

The district magistrate also served a show-cause notice to a surgeon who was absent from duty from Sunday without giving prior information about the same and ordered that her salary be withheld. She also said that surgeries should not be referred to other hospitals.

The chief medical superintendent told the DM that in the absence of a surgeon, the surgeries were referred to private hospitals and patients suffered problems.

The chief medical superintendent was directed to ensure that a sufficient number of chairs and drinking water facility are available to patients visiting the hospital.

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The Ghaziabad development authority (GDA) will auction over 1,700 flats in its housing projects that were previously unsold through a lottery system to prospective buyers. The properties have remained unsold for years and are expected to be holding up a revenue of nearly Rs250-300 crore for the agency.

The properties have failed to find takers due to the slump in real estate, high price, delayed construction or retarded growth in areas around the housing development schemes, officials said.

Freezing the rate of the unsold properties implies that the authority will not hike its sector rates for such properties further, as it would mean another round of price escalation.

For the past couple of years, the authority had hiked its sector rates on par with the annual increase in the administrations circle rate, which led to a price rise of properties, due to which it became tough to find buyers as private developers flourished, sources said.

The GDAs vice-chairperson Kanchan Verma said that the rates for the unsold properties have been frozen again and these units will soon be put up for sale, as per the prevailing rate.

The unsold properties could fetch a major income but there had been a dull response earlier. These units include flats ranging from the low-income group (LIG) to high-income group (HIG) and are spread across eight housing schemes developed or that are under development by the GDA. So, we have put a cap on increasing the rate and will auction the properties within a fortnight, she said.

According to estimates, nearly 50% of the flats are already ready to move in and buyers will be given possession of the property immediately. The flats range from Rs5 lakh to Rs70 lakh.

There are around 700 unsold flats in Madhuban Bapudham, around 375 in Indraprastha, 300 in Koyal Enclave, 158 in Kaushambi, 70 in Chandrashila, 59 in Vaishali and 50 in Modi Nagar schemes.

However, officials failed to point out strong reasons for buyers wanting to invest in unsold flats. Official sources said that they are trying to highlight the positives to make the schemes attractive.

Some infrastructure development works have taken place in various schemes and we are hopeful that buyers will find them positive to invest in. Also, the possibility of offering the flats to buyers on an easy instalment basis is being considered. We may also opt for offering flats in bulk to different agencies or companies for housing their staff. Measures are being thought of to get rid of the unsold flats, a senior official said.

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We tend to wish that judges interpret the law like scientists study nature  impartially, analytically, almost anti-socially, in a secluded realm of fact measured against abstraction. The recent judgments in the rape and murder cases of Jyoti Singh and Bilkis Bano have given many causes to claim that this ideal has been betrayed. If it has, however, the fault may not lie with the judges alone.

The defendants in the rape and murder of Jyoti Singh have received the death sentence in a Supreme Court judgement, which refers to savage lust and bestial proclivity taking a demonic form in an event that amounted to a tsunami of shock in the minds of the collective and that destroyed humanity. Under the pressure of public rage, these judges opted to depict the accused with subhuman imagery, and to sentence them to the death penalty. Singhs case was prosecuted in four and a half years.

As for Bilkis Bano, a victim of gang rape during the Gujarat riots, it took 15 years for only a state-level judgment. The judges of Bombay High Court rejected the charge of conspiracy, describing the attack as spur of the moment despite also saying the attackers were hunting for Muslims, and sentenced the perpetrators not to the death penalty  as the CBI recommended  but rather to life in prison. Bano had received little of the intense public attention devoted to Jyoti Singh.

In Engines of Liberty: The Power of Citizen Activists to Make Constitutional Law, American legal scholar David Cole argues that some of the most important recent Supreme Court decisions in the US have, for better or for worse, been the product of sustained campaigns of public activism and advocacy.

In 1972, before most Americans were likely familiar with the concept of gay marriage, the Supreme Court replied to an appeal regarding it with a curt, sentence-long dismissal. Fourteen years later, it ruled that states could make gay sex a crime. Meanwhile, the AIDS crisis was encouraging an unprecedented degree of organisation and agitation in the American gay community. The social movement that was born found a legal counterpart in organisations like Freedom to Marry, which raised millions of dollars to fight cases related to gay marriage. By 2015, in a society with tremendously changed attitudes, gay Americans had gained a new constitutional right.

Few would say that the influence of civilian activism on constitutional law is entirely benign. Many supporters of gay marriage deplore Americas skimpy regulation of guns, for example, but Cole shows that civil society groups were equally responsible for causing the Supreme Court to dramatically reinterpret gun rights.

In 1990, a former Republican member of the Court was reflecting conventional wisdom when he dismissed the idea that there was an individual right to bear arms as one of the greatest pieces of fraud on the American public by special interest groups that I have ever seen in my lifetime.

In 2008, however, after a long and expensive legal campaign run largely by the National Rifle Association  an organisation that commands an annual budget of about a quarter of a billion dollars and boasts three-to-five million members  the Supreme Court ruled the right to bear arms to be constitutional.

The new rights won by gay people and gun owners in the US came at the same time that each group newly asserted itself and won political power.

The text of the law at any given time is fixed, but its meaning and application remain a social fact.
Bihars railway stations are no better than its cities, as far as cleanliness is concerned.

None of the railway stations of Bihar, falling under the East Central Railway (ECR) zone, figure in the list of top 20 cleanest railway stations of the country, a report on which was released on Wednesday.

A third party audit report on stations cleanliness, covering 75 A1 category and 332 A category stations, shows Bihar in a poor light. The report was released by railway minister Suresh Prabhu.

Clean toilets on platforms, clean tracks and condition of dustbins at stations were some of the criteria for judging railway stations for their cleanliness.

The railways have about 8,000 stations which are classified into seven categories -- A1, A, B, C, D, E and F, based on their annual passenger revenue. The stations which contribute more than Rs 50 crore a year in passenger revenue are considered to be A-1 stations.

The A category stations contribute between Rs 6 crore and Rs 50 crore as annual passenger revenue. All suburban stations are in C category, while all halts are in F category.

Out of the six category A1 stations under ECR, none figures in top 20. Patna is placed 28 among the A1 stations with an overall ranking of 91 with a score of 791. Chapra, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Gaya are ranked 36, 46, 50 and 66, respectively, while Darbhanga is ranked the dirtiest (75) among the A1 stations. Overall, it is placed at 375.

The Visakhapatnam railway station is the cleanest, followed by Secunderabad, among the 75 most busy stations in the country.

The scenario is no better with A class stations. Hajipur, where the zonal office of east central railways is located, is placed at 48 out of 407 stations. The station is the best in Bihar as far as cleanliness is concerned with an overall ranking of 70. Rajendra nagar Terminal is ranked 64 in the category and has a national ranking of 92.

Madhubani (331) and Jogbani (332 among A class stations) are placed at the bottom with an overall ranking of 406 and 407, respectively.

Bapudham Motihari station and Bettiah, the two stations in districts which are at the centre of Gandhi centenary celebration, are ranked 381 and 397 in the country.

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An employee of the five-star Taj Hotel in Sector 17, Chandigarh has been arrested for allegedly raping a guest of the hotel and stealing Rs 23,000. The accused has been identified as Sunny Kumar, 29, of Himachal Pradesh. He had been working with the hotel for the past five years in the food and beverages section the police claim.

The police add that the 24-year-old victim, hailing from Madhya Pradesh, had been working with a reputed Information Technology company in Jaipur. She was here on an official trip and was putting up in the hotel.

The victim told the police that she had come in contact with Sunny during her stay in the hotel. She had checked-in the hotel only on Monday. She had accompanied him to his house in Sector 22 on Monday evening. She alleged that the accused raped her at his house and later she found that even Rs 23,000 she was carrying was missing from her room.

The victim called the police Tuesday morning alleging that she had been raped. The police went to the hotel and the accused was nabbed.

The victim has told the police that she had accompanied the accused to his house to celebrate her birthday.

She accompanied Sunny to celebrate as he left hotel after 1230 am when his duty got over. When she returned to the room after the alleged rape, she found her room ransacked and the cash missing.

On a complaint from the victim, we have registered a case under Sections 376 (rape) 380 (theft) at the Sector 17 police station against the accused, said Ram Gopal DSP (central), Chandigarh.

A representative of the hotel management could not be contacted even after repeated attempts.

Victim refuses to undergo medical

The police had sent to victim to get her medical examination done but she did not give her consent.
Excise official meets murder accused liquor baron in jail to talk business

Despite change of guard in Punjab, liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda, accused in the case of murder of a Dalit man at Abohar in Fazilka district, continues to enjoy patronage of officials in jail. And not only to run his business, but to even expand it. Read more

The axe-files: IT workers in Chandigarh panicky on lay-offs plaguing sector

I have been with the company for more than a decade. Now, I am being given hints to resign. The traditional model of hiring low-cost employees at cheaper locations like India and than sending them overseas to earn larger revenues as an IT-business model has fallen flat, says a senior professional (not wishing to be named) with an IT bellwether. Read more

Beware, a fake Manpreet Badal is seeking money on Facebook!

Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal has complained to the state police cyber cell and sought investigation into fake profiles in his name on social media website Facebook. His staff also released details of his real FB page. Read more

Hepatitis C in Punjab: 23% patients are in two districts of Malwa

As per the diagnostic count in the past one year, Sangrur has the highest number of 3,981 cases of hepatitis C, followed by Muktsar with 2,444. The state has over 27,198 such cases. Read more

Punjab to create army of 1 lakh volunteers to fight drug menace

These volunteers will be named drug abuse prevention officers (DAPOs) who will create awareness among the youth to stay away from drugs. Read more

Why are Chandigarh schools running after minority status?

Many of these schools didnt even bother to get no objection certificate from the Chandigarh education department and applied directly to the national commission. Read more

Rewari girl students end fast after Haryana govt bends rules to upgrade school

As per norms, the high school must have at least 150 students in Classes 9 and 10 to be upgraded to Class 12. However, the school at Gothra Tappa Dahina has 70 students in both classes. Read more

For more stories, visit www.punjab.ht and follow us on Twitter and Facebook
The Shiromani Akali Dal on Tuesday raised concern over the decision of the Italian Supreme Court upholding a ban on the kirpan (Sikh article of faith).

The decision has shaken the Sikh community world over, said party secretary & spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema. He added that Italian Court has ignored the fact that carrying kirpan is essential and mandatory part of the religious code of conduct of an amritdhari Sikh.

Banning of kirpan means no amritdhari Sikh will be able to live in Italy after this order, he said. Cheema said Akali Dal Committee will take up the matter with Ministry of External Affairs.

On Monday, the Italian Supreme Court had ruled against a Sikh who wanted to carry a kirpan in public and said that migrants in the Western world must conform to the values of the society they have chosen to settle in.
In a major breakthrough, Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) has arrested three people, including the mastermind, who were behind various cases of paper leak in government recruitments in Punjab in 2015.

The three accused  Shiv Bahadur Singh of Varanasi, Shailesh Kumar of Azamgarh and Sanjay Srivastva alias Mithilesh Pandey alias Guruji of Lucknow  were taken into custody by the vigilance team.

While Shiv Bahadur has been arrested from Telengana, Shailesh and Guruji were arrested from Lucknow after a tip-off given by Shiv during his interrogation.

Shiv Bhadur appears to be the kingpin of the scam as he used to cultivate the lower-rank employes at different printing presses selected for printing of papers. These men used to leak question paper to Shiv. Shailesh and Guruji were his accompanlices, who used to sell the paper to the aspirants through their network, said vigilance bureau director G Nageshwra Rao, while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday.

The trio has a track record of leaking question papers in different states. The accused are also wanted in JBT and ETT teacher recruitment scams in Chandigarh. Guruji was jailed in Uttar Pradesh (UP) too for leaking railway recruitment papers, said the vigilance director.

The investigations have revealed that Shiv Bahadur had links with Ranvir Singh Rawat, a lower-rank employee in Delhi printing press, who leaked the question paper for sub-divisonal officers (SDOs) for Rs 12 lakh.

These papers were further sold to the candidates by Shiv Bahadur through Guruji and the former bought a Rs 15-crore house in Delhi with the money made in the scam, the investigation has revealed.

The Bureau has already arrested Shiv Bahadurs driver Anup Singh, but his role in the scam is not clear yet.

While Guruji has been remanded into five-day vigilance custody by a SAS Nagar court, the other two accused have been sent to judicial custody.

THE SCAM

In November 2015, the vigilance bureau had busted a recruitment scam for the posts of SDOs and junior engineers conducted by the Punjab government for filling several posts in local civic bodies, Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation (PUNSUP), Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority and the irrigation department.

It was found that the examination paper for SDOs was leaked before the exam. The exam was held for 682 posts in different areas, including assistant corporation engineer, assistant MC engineer and sub-divisional engineer.

During investigations, it had come out that some of the candidates appearing in these exams were shown all the question papers in Lucknow and Najafgarh, Delhi.

The vigilance bureau, Mohali, had in June last year arrested two brothers who had access to question papers in advance for the tests conducted for government jobs in different departments.

More than 70 arrests have been made in the recruitment scam so far, said the vigilance director.
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday assured the centre of his governments commitment in implementing the central government-aided poverty alleviation and housing projects in the state.

He also promised the implementation of the Real Estate Regulatory Act (RERA) in letter and spirit in the state.

The assurances were made during the chief ministers meeting with Union minister of housing and urban poverty alleviation M Venkaiah Naidu.

Amarinder also called on Niti Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya to discuss the central support and collaboration in holistic development of Punjab, with special measures to help the states beleaguered farming sector and special packages for debt waiver, industrialisation and border area development.

The Niti Aayog has agreed to visit the northern state for detailed discussions with the state government for development of the region through crop diversification, industrial revival and other programmes, an official spokesperson said.

While Panagariya assured the chief minister that Punjab would not be impacted by industrial incentives to the states of Uttakahand, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, Captain Amarinder suggested a special industrial package for his state along a 40 km belt in the sensitive border area.

During his meeting with Naidu, Amarinder apprised him of the progress made by his government on implementation of various central schemes and projects for which the Union government had released funds in the past, but they did not reach the intended beneficiaries.

To a suggestion from the chief minister on the adoption of certain rules from other states to strengthen RERA, Naidu said the central government had no objection as long as there was no dilution of the spirit of the law, a spokesperson in the Punjab chief ministers office said.

Naidu, who is planning to visit Punjab in July to review the progress of the central projects, also noted that the central government funds released to the state had not been transferred to the beneficiaries.

The Punjab chief minister said his government was cognisant of the fact that the central funds were lying un-utilised as the previous dispensation had failed to transfer the same to the beneficiaries concerned.

His government, said Amarinder, had started the process of verifying the beneficiaries, especially for the affordable housing scheme of the central government.

The chief minister further assured the Union minister that his government was working on policies and programs for taking forward key projects, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and the Housing for All mission.
Despite change of guard in Punjab, liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda, accused in the case of murder of a Dalit man at Abohar in Fazilka district, continues to enjoy patronage of officials in jail. And not only to run his business, but to even expand it.

Ferozepur divisional excise and taxation commissioner (DETC) Jaswinder Singh met Doda, who is better known by the nickname Sholly, in the Amritsar central jail on Tuesday. This first came to light in the viral audio of a phone call between Abohar liquor contractor Balkaran Singh Bhullar and the DETC, in which the latter said he was busy in a meeting with Doda.

Jaswinder, when contacted, acknowledged the meeting and explained, The present liquor contractors for Abohar region owe us a huge amount, so we are approaching every probable contractor, including Doda, to participate in a re-auction. The present contractor in Abohar is Bhullar, who in the phonecall can be heard telling the DETC about problems he is facing in running the trade. But the DETC hangs up, telling him that he is in a meeting with Doda.

Murder victim Bhim Sain Tank (Photo: Family/HT file)

The meeting has angered not only business rivals but also the family of Bhim Sain Tank, the 27-year-old man who was brutally murdered at Dodas farmhouse in Abohar on December 11, 2015.

Bhims brother Sunil Tank referred to how Doda was earlier shifted from the Fazilka sub-jail to Amritsar when found holding a meeting with supporters in jail before the February assembly polls. Doda, who ran a close second as an independent reportedly backed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) from Abohar in 2012, supported the BJP candidate who eventually won this time.

Even when the Congress has come to power, Doda has managed to get majority of liquor vends of Ferozepur, Moga, Muktsar and other adjoining areas in the name of his sons firm, Gagan Wines. And he was even transferred to the Faridkot jail to smoothly run his trade, added Sunil. It was only after we raised the issue that Doda and his nephew were shifted back to the Amritsar jail. But now senior excise officials go there to meet and help him run his business, he further said.

He demanded that Doda be kept under round-the-clock camera surveillance and no one be allowed to meet him without courts permission. Otherwise he will get witnesses to turn hostile by using muscle and money power.

When contacted, jail superintendent Ashish Kapoor also acknowledged the meeting between Doda and Jaswinder. After receiving a written request, we allowed him (Jaswinder) to meet Doda. He carried his mobile phone as he is a government official, Kapoor furthered.

Apart from Doda and his nephew Amit, 24 others are charged with the killing of Bhim. The Supreme Court will next hear Dodas bail application in July.
Panjab University (PU) vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover has called for rationality in fee structure in courses offered at university and affiliated colleges. During the meeting of chairpersons of various departments on Tuesday, the V-C said that there is a big difference in the fee structure at colleges and PU departments whereas both were offering the same courses. A fact sheet was also circulated among participants of the meeting.

Recently, the PU had to roll back the tuition fee hike to 10% only for all the courses in PU departments under the pressure of senators. It is important to mention here that most of senators come from colleges.

According to the fee structure, circulated at the meeting, tuition fee is much lower in Punjab colleges than that in Chandigarh colleges and PU, but when we add other funds or charges, PU emerges much cheaper. PU does not charge for the youth welfare fund, prize distribution functions, seminar/club/societies, college news and annual reports, identity card, magazines, medical, retirement benefit fund and the library development fund while the affiliated colleges do not charge placement fee, the NSS and the development fund.

The difference of fees arises when it comes to college/department running and maintenance charges. PU charges just Rs 1,575 to Rs 1,600 per annum, whereas affiliated colleges in Chandigarh charge Rs 3,580 to Rs 10,140 per annum and the colleges in Punjab charge Rs 3,739 to Rs 13,105 per annum for traditional courses . After addition of these charges, PU comes out as a much cheaper institution.

For example, a BA degree costs Rs 8,692 per annum at PU while in affiliated colleges in Chandigarh, it costs Rs 13,150 per annum and in affiliated colleges of Punjab, it costs Rs 11,300 per annum. So, in Chandigarh colleges, a BA would be costlier by over 51% while in Punjab, it would be expensive by 30% than at PU.

Similarly, a BCom degree will be costlier in Chandigarh colleges by around 130% and in Punjab by 135.6% than at PU.

A BSc degree costs Rs 10,512 per annum at PU, while in Chandigarh colleges, it costs Rs 14,780 per annum and in Punjab, it will be around Rs 12,710 per annum. So, in Chandigarh colleges a student has to shell out 40.6% more and in Punjab colleges around 21% more than a PU student.

In postgraduation, the difference is much larger. A MSc degree in Chandigarh and Punjab colleges is 82 % costlier than PU per year. A student, doing MCom at a Chandigarh college, would pay over 110% more while in an affiliated college of Punjab, he would pay over 114% more than at PU. The MA degree would be costlier by over 77% in affiliated colleges of Chandigarh and Punjab than at PU.

Prof Navdeep Goyal, senator, who was present in the meeting, said, The fee hike should be decided by a single committee for both colleges and PU departments. Only then a rational decision could take place.

The V-C has sought suggestions from PU chairpersons on rationalising fee structure as a student, whether studying in a Chandigarh college or in Punjab or at a PU department, is getting the same degree of the same university, but he ends up paying much more in colleges.

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As many as 22 of 82 private schools in the union territory are minority schools. Out of these, 11 schools opted for the minority status after the Supreme Court in 2012 ruled that the minority schools are not bound to reserve 25% of their seats in entry level classes under Right to Education (RTE) Act. Many of these schools didnt even bother to get no objection certificate from the Chandigarh education department and applied directly to the national commission for minority educational institutions (NCMEI) for a minority status. Heres why theres such a scramble to seek minority status.

What is a minority institute?

Minority educational institution means a school, college or institution (other than a university) established or maintained by a person or a group of persons from among the minorities. The Supreme Court has held that in order to claim the benefit, the community must show it is a religious/ linguistic minority and that the institution was established by it.

Are these schools following the rules?

Only two of the 22 minority schools -- Guru Nanak Public School and Sri Guru Harkrishan senior secondary schools  have followed the rule of getting NOC by the UT education department. All other schools applied directly to NCMEI for their statutes.

List of schools in Chandigarh with minority status Sacred Heart Senior Secondary Schools , Sector 26

, Sector 26 Carmel Convent School, Sector 9

Sector 9 St Johns High School, Sector 26

Sector 26 Little Flower School, Manimajra

Manimajra Mount Carmel School, Sector 47

Sector 47 Saupins School, Sector 32

Sector 32 New Public School, Sector 18

Sector 18 St Annes Convent School, Sector 32

Sector 32 St Kabir Public School, Sector 26

Sector 26 St Joseph School, Sector 44

Sector 44 Chandigarh Baptist School, Sector 45

Sector 45 St Marys School, Sector 46 Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary School, Sector 38

Sector 38 Ryan International School, Sector 49

Sector 49 St Xavier School, Sector 44

Sector 44 Kids-R-Kids School, Sector 42

Sector 42 Ajit Karam Singh International Public School Sector (AKSIPS) 41, AKSIPS 45

41, AKSIPS 45 Vivek High School, Sector 38

Sector 38 Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36

Sector 36 Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary School, Sector 40

Sector 40 St Stephens School, Sector 45.

As many as 11 schools applied for minority status after 2012. These include Mount Carmel School, Saupins School, New Public School, St Kabir Public School, Kids-R-Kids School, AKSIPS-41, AKSIPS-45, Vivek High School-38, St Stephens School, Guru Nanak Public School and Guru Harkrishan.

How does minority status benefit schools?

As per the Right to Education Act 2009, recognised private schools are bound to give admissions to 25% of their seats to students from

economically weaker section (EWS). In 2014, the Supreme Court exempted minority educational institutions from giving this reservation. The schools have been clearly opting for minority status to circumvent the RTE Act

and the obligations under it. These schools claim to have got a minority status such that they can give reservation to the students of their community.

Is the UT education department doing anything about it?

The UT education department had raised strong objections, twice, against Vivek High School and St Kabir School stating that the schools are vying for the minority status to avoid reserving 25% seats for EWS students. However, NCMEI granted the minority status to both the schools after making them wait for many years.

What do officials say?

A senior UT official said the clause mentioned by the NCMEI goes against them. It says if the schools are affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), then the NOC is not required from the UT education department. The administration is weighing legal options.

Also read | By the wa: Whos responsible for Right to Education? Ask the administration

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A suspected raid by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen killed more than 20 civilians Wednesday, the latest in a spate of deadly strikes by the alliance that have drawn condemnation.

Saba news agency, which is controlled by the Iran-backed rebels, said a vehicle carrying civilians in the town of Mawzaa, southwest of third city Taez, was hit in the raid.

It said 23 civilians, including six children and women, were killed in a suspected raid by the Arab coalition led by regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia and that six bodies were burned beyond recognition.

A military source with loyalist forces confirmed the strike, saying 20 civilians had died in what appeared to have been the result of a mistake.

The air raid targeted an area held by the Huthi rebels, said the source who confirmed that a vehicle had been struck.

The passengers were heading back to Mawzaa after a shopping trip to the nearby town of Barah, the military source said, adding several bodies had been torn to pieces.

There was no immediate reaction from the Saudi-led coalition, which has been battling the Huthis opposed to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The raid comes days before US President Donald Trump is to arrive Saturday in Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

Washington provides intelligence as well as aerial refuelling to coalition warplanes conducting air strikes in Yemen with American-supplied weapons.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis warned during an April visit to Saudi Arabia of Iranian efforts to create a Yemeni militia in the image of Lebanons powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah.

Mattis stressed the need to overcome Irans efforts in destabilising yet another country and create another militia in the image of Lebanons Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside government forces in Syria.

He said it was in Washingtons interest to see a strong Saudi Arabia, adding however that the United States wanted a return as quickly as possible to UN-backed Yemen peace talks.

- Repeated criticism -

The conflict in Yemen has killed more than 8,000 people and wounded around 40,000, according to the UNs World Health Organization.

Seven ceasefires alongside UN-brokered peace efforts have so far failed to stop the fighting.

The Saudi-led coalition, which intervened on the side of the Hadi government two years ago, has come under repeated criticism over civilian casualties in Yemen.

It has acknowledged responsibility in some cases, including for an air strike in October 2016 that killed 140 people and wounded 525 others at a funeral in Sanaa.

But the coalition denied responsibility for a September 2015 air strike that hit a wedding hall in southwestern Mokha, killing 131 people.

Coalition planes have dropped banned cluster munitions and killed two times more civilians than other forces, according to the UN.

Trumps Yemen focus has so far been on a major escalation of attacks against jihadists from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, which has taken advantage of the chaos in the impoverished country.

Saudi leaders worry about Iran interfering in Arab countries by using local Shiite communities, as in Bahrain, Lebanon and Yemen.

They have found a more favourable ear in Washington under Trump, who has denounced Irans harmful influence in the Middle East.

The coalition mounted its air campaign in support of Hadi in March 2015, a year after the rebels overran Sanaa forcing the president to seek first refuge in the southern city of Aden and then exile in Saudi Arabia.
At least 27 people were killed in a recent attack by gunmen in the central Nigerias state of Niger, a local official said on Tuesday.

Ibrahim Inga, head of the State Emergency Management Agency, who confirmed the attack, said the victims were killed when marauders stormed Epogi community in the states Mokwa district.

According to Inga, 21 people had died immediately after the gunmen unleashed terror on the community early Sunday. Three bodies were later recovered from a river and three more victims died while receiving treatment on Tuesday.

He said security operatives in the area had put the situation under control.
With his shoot-from-the-hip tweets targeting US spies and alleged Oval Office leak of secrets to the Russians, President Donald Trump has damaged White House relations with American and allied intelligence agencies and put national security at risk, current and former officials said Tuesday.

Diplomats, former intelligence officials and senior politicians said Trumps attitude could make allies less willing to share their secrets with the United States, and render US spy chiefs less able to provide the White House with crucial security information.

Ex-CIA director Leon Panetta warned that Trumps behaviour risks polluting relations between the intelligence agencies of the United States and its allies.

He cannot just, you know, go ahead and reveal classified information without creating some huge problems within the intelligence community, Panetta said on CNN, reacting to an explosive Washington Post report claiming Trump shared top secret information with Russias foreign minister and its ambassador to the United States.

The information allegedly leaked to the Russians, reportedly on Islamic State group efforts to place laptop computer bombs on commercial aircraft flights, was provided by a Middle Eastern country that made very clear that they did not want this intelligence shared, Panetta said.

The damage is that this country may cut off any kind of intelligence provided to the United States on very sensitive issues that relate to the national security of this country.

The New York Times reported that the information was provided, at least in part, by Israel -- which had allegedly urged Washington be careful in handling it.

Holy grail at risk

Douglas Smith, a former assistant secretary of Homeland Security, said Trump appeared to put at risk the holy grail of the spy world: the means and methods of intelligence collection.

Imagine how a foreign government is going to feel when information they view as highly sensitive -- theyve probably collected it in a very secretive and challenging way -- is so cavalierly given away to a foreign power who is by no means our friend.

Trumps controversial meeting with Russian diplomats came one day after he threw his administration into turmoil by taking the rare step of firing his FBI director James Comey, who had been overseeing investigations into possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia to skew the 2016 election.

Veteran Republican Senator John McCain warned that reports Trump divulged to Russia information provided by a US ally sends a troubling signal to Americas allies and partners around the world and may impair their willingness to share intelligence with us in the future.

Karin Von Hippel, director-general of Londons RUSI military think tank, predicted theres definitely going to be nervousness about what to share and when, although she was confident sharing wont come to a standstill.

That message was echoed by Yves Trotignon, a former counter-terrorism analyst for Frances DGSE intelligence agency, now with risk consultant Riskeco, who said Trump violated a basic tenet of intelligence sharing.

We dont give intelligence supplied by one allys service to another, unless everything has been made very clear. This is a basic rule which President Trump obviously does not know, he told AFP. The United States cannot afford to lose the confidence of its allies that could at one point leave it on its own.

Keeping politics out

The twin developments of Comeys ouster and Trumps alleged sharing of secrets with Moscow have raised concerns to a new level within the intelligence community.

US presidents strive for strong relationships with their top intelligence advisors as soon as they come into office.

The countrys security can rest heavily on the level of trust between the president and the heads of the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of National Intelligence.

Trump has made little apparent effort to cement those ties -- as illustrated most dramatically, but far from exclusively, by Comeys abrupt dismissal.

In four months since becoming president, Trump has insulted the CIA as chronic leakers, rejected unanimous assessments that Russia meddled in the 2016 election, skipped daily intelligence briefings, and named widely distrusted former army general Michael Flynn, who was fired by his predecessor Barack Obama, to be his national security advisor.

Stephen Slick, a former CIA operations officer and now director of the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas-Austin, said rank-and-file intelligence officers remain apolitical and focused on their work.

He noted, however, that the heads of the key agencies were political figures -- with a duty to keep politics out of the intelligence process.

It is important that they use their experience to insulate the intelligence process and products from politics, and resist efforts by the administration or its critics to draw the community into ongoing partisan frays, he told AFP.
Shadow Brokers, the group that leaked parts of US national security agencys (NSA) cyber weapons stockpile which formed the basis of the recent WannaCry ransomware, said it would release hacking tools every month to those willing to pay for it.

The threat came as the cyber extortion campaign launched by as yet unidentified hackers waned. More than 300,000 computers were infected by the WannaCry malware since Friday, locking down computers and robbing businesses and individuals of potentially important files.

WannaCry spread using a flaw in versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system that were leaked in mid-April by Shadow Brokers, which said it had found the exploits in NSA servers that it had breached earlier. The malware threatened to wipe those files out in a week if victim did not pay up $300-$600.

According to Reuters, Shadow Brokers promised in a blog on Tuesday to release from June tools every month to anyone willing to pay for access to some of the tech worlds biggest commercial secrets starting next month.

It also threatened to dump data from banks using the SWIFT international money transfer network and from Russian, Chinese, Iranian or North Korean nuclear and missile programs. More details in June, it promised.

Microsoft said on Tuesday it was aware of Shadow Brokers most recent claim and that its security teams monitor potential threats in order to help us prioritise and take appropriate action.

Microsoft president and chief legal officer Brad Smith said earlier this week the WannaCry attack used elements stolen from the NSA. The US government has not commented directly on the matter.

The creators of the WannaCry malware have not yet been identified but experts see clues that point to a possible North Korean involvement.
The Islamic State on Wednesday claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a television station in Afghanistans eastern province of Nangarhar that killed 10 people and wounded at least 17 people.

As the attack unfolded, heavy gunfire could be heard from around the building of RTA, Afghanistans national broadcaster, located close to the governors compound in the provincial capital, Jalalabad.

Islamic State fighters are currently carrying out an attack inside the state broadcasting building in the city of Jalalabad, the movements AMAQ newsagency said in a statement on instant messaging service Telegram.

The terror group has established a stronghold in the province bordering Pakistan, where it fights both the Taliban and Afghan government forces.

Map of Afghanistan locating Jalalabad where gunmen have attacked a TV and radio station Wednesday. (AFP)

Islamic State insurgents are active in Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital.

The US military last month dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the Mother Of All Bombs -- on IS positions in Nangarhar, killing dozens of jihadists.

The bombing triggered global shock waves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban.

According to the US Forces-Afghanistan, defections and recent battlefield losses have reduced the local IS presence from a peak of as many as 3,000 fighters to a maximum of 800. The head of Islamic State in Afghanistan, Abdul Hassib, was reported this month to have been killed in a joint Afghan-US operation in Nangarhar at the end of April.

The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan to break the deadlocked fight against the Taliban.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, who also mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.

Afghanistan suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists in 2016, according to the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC), adding that the country is the second most dangerous for reporters in the world after Syria.

At least 13 journalists were killed last year, AJSC said, claiming that the Taliban was behind at least ten of the deaths.

In January last year, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for spreading propaganda against them.

It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 and spotlighted the dangers faced by journalists as the security situation worsens.

Dan Coats, the head of US intelligence agencies, warned last week that the security situation will also almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in the military assistance by the US.

US-led forces have been fighting in Afghanistan for almost 16 years, making it Americas longest war.
A 26-year-old Indian-American man is reported missing in Boston and police are urging people to come forward and share any information they may have on the case.

Ram Jayakumar, of Lexington, was last seen on Friday night when he had parked his car on a Boston street.

Jayakumars parents contacted the Lexington Police to report that their son is missing, according to a police statement.

Ram is 26-year-old male of Indian descent, black hair, 56 tall and 120 pounds (54kg), according to the police.

Jayakumar had told his parents he would return in an hour but has not been seen since Friday. His vehicle was located the morning of Saturday at a different street in Boston, near the Charles River, India New England News reported.

In a Facebook post, Indian-American actress Poorna Jagannathan said Jayakumar is her cousin and urged people to contact the police if they get any information about him.

Need your help urgently. Please share this in your communities. Please be on the look out and let the Lexington police know if you have any leads, Jagannathan said in the post.
Israeli intelligence experts are gravely concerned that US President Donald Trumps sharing of classified information with Russia may have compromised an Israeli agent, but dont expect any long-term consequences for intelligence cooperation.

Trump has confirmed via Twitter that during a meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov at the White House last week he shared information related to a potential airline plot by Islamic State, thought to involve a laptop bomb.

The New York Times, citing a current and a former US official, reported on Tuesday that the information Trump divulged came from an Israeli intelligence asset based in Islamic State-held territory in Syria.

Israeli officials have declined to confirm whether they were the source of the information Trump shared, but have been quick to say counter-terrorism coordination with the US is strong.

On Tuesday, Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss his visit to Israel next week, but the two did not discuss the intelligence leak during their 20-minute conversation, the prime ministers office said.

The security relationship between Israel & our greatest ally the United States is deep, significant & unprecedented in volume, defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Twitter, remarks that were echoed by the intelligence minister.

Ron Dermer, Israels ambassador to Washington, issued a similar statement, saying: Israel has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States and looks forward to deepening that relationship in the years ahead under President Trump.

Israeli intelligence experts said they could not confirm whether an Israeli asset was the source. But they said Israel had developed a deep network of human and signal intelligence across the region and it was plausible that it had managed to infiltrate Islamic State as part of that long-running effort.

Israeli intelligence agencies have shown that they can have such human sources, said Aviv Oreg, former head of the al-Qaeda and global jihad desk in the armys military intelligence department, who now runs a counter-terrorism consultancy.

It would take a lot to put someone inside ISIS. If there is an agent, Im sure its the only one. If we have really lost a human source over there, its a major loss and it will take years to regenerate another one, he said.

Israel will be furious about it, he added, highlighting that it was likely to have implications for how Israel operates its human intelligence assets more broadly, and may make others unwilling to cooperate with it in the future.

At the same time, he said Israel understood that Trump, as president and commander-in-chief, had the authority to divulge the information, even if in doing so he had shown that he has no experience in how to deal with intelligence.

No lasting damage

Kobi Michael, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies and the former deputy director of Israels ministry of strategic affairs, described Trumps leak as very concerning if there was a risk of having endangered an Israeli asset.

While there were good reasons to assume the compromised source was an agent, he said it was also possible it was a well-placed piece of signal intelligence.

When it comes to ISIS, they are very active in the social network world and on digital platforms. So who knows, all options are valid, even if as far as I understand the context, it looks like a human intelligence source.

Michael described Israel as having far better intelligence capabilities in the region than the US, making it a critical partner for Washington. Yet both sides have an interest in continuing to cooperate fully on intelligence.

What happened is a problem, it shouldnt have happened. But mistakes do get made, not only by the Americans, but sometimes by the Israelis too, said Michael.

I assume that Trump had other considerations in mind and was perhaps not aware of the consequences of what he was saying. But this should not change the level of cooperation, which needs to be constantly broadened and deepened.

Amnon Sofrin, former head of Mossads intelligence directorate, said the issue was unlikely to be touched on when Trump visits Israel on his first foreign trip next week.

Handling the fallout from the leak would be dealt with through intelligence channels  between Mossad and the US Central Intelligence Agency  not diplomatic ones.

Cooperation between our two organisations is so solid that I dont believe that a special event will cause any big damage, it may cause local damage, but not a disaster, he said.

None of us in Israels intelligence community likes this event. But I think it can be put aside and allow (Trumps) visit to be very fulfilling and I hope very successful.
Devastating news for Donald Trump continued to accumulate on Tuesday night, as reports emerged of a memorandum indicating that Trump had pressured former FBI director James Comey to give up part of a multi-pronged investigation into alleged ties between Russian operatives and the Trump campaign.

Democrats called the memo a smoking gun and said history is watching how Congress acts, while even Republicans expressed concern and called on the White House to explain the memo beyond its original broad denial.

The episode capped weeks of serial bad headlines for Trump, beginning just after he sprinted past the 100-day benchmark with declarations that his administration was the most accomplished ever.

Heres a roundup of Trumps current top woes:

Comey and alleged obstruction

This is the biggest woe at the moment, with the greatest potential, it seems , to end Trumps presidency prematurely. Trumps firing of Comey on 9 May was a scandal in itself, with the president ultimately admitting that he had fired Comey with this Russia thing on his mind. Many critics took that to be an admission by Trump of an obstruction of justice, a criminal charge that both presidents Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon faced in impeachment proceedings .

In the new memo to have emerged, Trump asks Comey to let this go, in reference to the FBI investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn. The White House denied that Trump had ever made such a request.

Stalled healthcare reform

While espionage stories and staff chaos have dominated coverage of the White House in recent weeks, Trump faces a more constant, background hazard of failing to deliver on domestic promises such as healthcare reform. Threadbare reform legislation was passed by the House of Representatives on 4 May, but a Senate effort to craft its own version of a bill has stalled. The perception of scandal around Trump may make legislators even less likely to stretch to pass a bill for him to sign.

Stalled efforts on tax reform and the wall

Two more key domestic promises that Trump has so far dramatically under-delivered on. Trump supporters are demanding that he push tax cuts through, but efforts to craft a bill, as with healthcare reform, have been hampered by the constant and distracting buzz of intrigue around the White House. Funding for Trumps envisioned border wall with Mexico, meanwhile, was omitted from a budget deal struck last month on Capitol Hill.

Russian Oval Office scandal

As recently as Monday night, legal scholar Alan Dershowitz judged this to be the most serious charge ever made against a sitting president of the United States. Trump is accused by unnamed intelligence officials of spilling highly classified information to Russian diplomats during an Oval Office meeting  information the officials said could put lives at risk and further derail US strategy in the Middle East. The White House has said Trumps conversation with the Russians were wholly appropriate.

Staff crisis

Four solid months of crisis have taken a toll on the Trump team, with reporters hearing yelling matches break out behind closed doors at the White House and harvesting increasingly dark descriptions of the presidents private mood. There is a lot of buzz about a possible staff shakeup, one that could perhaps affect press secretary Sean Spicer, chief of staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Stephen Bannon or others.

Other investigations

Two congressional committees are conducting their own investigations of ties between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign, and the FBI or other intelligence agencies may have unknown investigations of the presidency or presidential campaign under way.

Perilous trip abroad

On Friday, Trump embarks on a world tour that will take him from Riyadh, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech reportedly discussing Islam; to Jerusalem, where he is scheduled to become the first sitting US president to visit the Western Wall; to the Vatican, where he is expected to meet the pope. Trump is said to not be looking forward to the trip.

The question mark/X factor

The greatest woe facing Trump may be hidden at the moment. His decision not to divest from his companies has created numerous potential conflicts of interest that could in turn have consequences for his ability to govern. He has alienated large swathes of the US intelligence community, who collectively may have to power to precipitate future scandals. And he still has his Twitter login.
A ban on laptops and other electronics in the cabin of flights from Europe to America will likely be further expanded to include additional countries, a US official said on Tuesday.

In March, US authorities banned passengers on direct flights to the United States from 10 airports in eight countries from bringing laptops, tablets and other electronic devices larger than cellphones into the cabin.

The Department of Homeland Security sparked deep concern in Europe last week when it said it would soon decide on extending the ban to European airlines.

It is likely that the restrictions that were put in place in March could be expanded to other areas, Department of Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said.

But not solely Europe -- extended to additional areas, he added, without giving details.

DHS deputy secretary Elaine Duke is due to attend high-level talks with European partners in Brussels on Wednesday.

Lapan said talks would consider the scale and scope of what the laptop ban might entail.

A US ban on now ubiquitous laptops could cause havoc, with more than 3,250 flights a week scheduled to leave EU airports for the US this summer, according to industry data.

Some experts also say there is a security risk in putting them with checked luggage given the danger of their batteries catching fire.

Lapan defended a prospective ban, saying authorities need to keep up with the changing nature of terrorist threats.

How many attempts have we seen at bringing down a commercial airliner -- underwear bombs, using liquids, using (printer) cartridges, he said.

Its always incumbent on us to figure out where those who wish to do us harm are going to next and try to stop that.

President Donald Trump is engulfed in crisis amid reports that he shared with top Russian officials details about an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on airplanes.
Local government officials from a Tibetan region of Sichuan province have had to undergo a polygraph or lie detector test to prove their loyalty to the Communist Party of China (CPC), a rights organisation has said.

Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) quoted a state media report to say that a group of 168 officials from the prefecture were evaluated to gauge their political loyalty to the Communist Party.

The state media report from Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) stated that the lie detector test was being imposed in order to establish the true feelings of party cadres in the region, ICT said in a statement.

While it stated that this is a matter of establishing their psychological stability, the priority of the authorities appears to be to ensure political loyalty to the CPC and compliance with CPC policy.

The state media report didnt specify the ethnicity of those who appeared for the evaluation.

Published in Chinese in Ganzi Daily last month, the news report, when translated, said: On April 5, the evaluation of work ability and psychological quality of the recently promoted cadreswas carried out. (As many as) 168 leading cadres took part in the assessment.

It added, Through this assessment, the prominent questions on the current state cadres ability and psychological quality were further analysed. It could provide decision-making references on the ability and quality promotion project and for choosing capable leaders.

The report further said it was for the first time this innovative way was being used for psychological evaluation.

The evaluation was carried out in man-machine dialogue way, and it was the first time for our state to evaluate the leading cadres ability and psychological quality. It was also the first time to use modern talent evaluation technique, the report said.

The ICT statement quoted the report in the state media as saying that in Kardze (administered by Sichuan, and part of the Tibetan area of Kham) candidates are required to answer questions according to their true feelings and ideas as part of a progressive training of cadres since April 7, and that a lie detector had been installed to verify the authenticity of answers.

It added the introduction of lie detectors to test even Communist Party officials represents an escalation of the CPCs efforts to assert its dominance in a climate it has created of fear and mistrust.

Earlier this month, the Communist Party accused its own officials in Tibet Autonomous Region of donating funds to the India-based Dalai Lama, described by Beijing as a separatist conspiring to carve out an independent Tibetan state.

The unnamed officials were also accused of joining underground pro-independence organisations and leaking secrets to overseas groups.

Their activity severely undermines the partys fight against separatism, a Communist Party magazine quoted an official as having written.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist), Nepals main opposition party that has championed a nationalist agenda, on Wednesday continued to lead in the first round of the local body polls held on May 14, as results trickled in from three provinces.

These provinces come under Hill region, where the UML party is considered stronger in comparison to Nepali Congress, the largest party in the Himalayan country.

Of the 744 local level units in Nepal, 283 went to the polls in the first round of voting. At the time of going to press, UML had won 48 seats and was leading in 57, while the Nepali Congress won 42 and was leading in 51. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) was third.

Chief election commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said that it will take another a week to announce the final results of the first phase, leading to anger among citizens due to the delay in the counting of votes and declaration of results.

The UML is currently leading in all of Nepals metropolitan cities  Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Pokhara and Bharatpur. However, the Nepali Congress has been doing well in rural areas.

Nepal will hold the second round of polls on May 31, but Madhesi parties warned that they will not take part in the elections without the amendments they have demanded in the Constitution.
North Korea on Tuesday rejected a United Nations Security Council press statement issued on Monday condemning its test-firing of a medium long-range ballistic missile.

A spokesman of North Korea foreign ministry said that Pyongyang categorically and totally rejects the UNSCs statement which called into question its bolstering of nuclear deterrence for self-defense, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

The right of self-defense is the first criterion of sovereignty. Therefore, the accusation against it is an undisguised encroachment upon sovereignty and an act of rude interference in internal affairs, said the spokesman.

North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Sunday which hit a target some 780 km away into the East Sea, according to its official media.

The UNSC and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday both slammed the missile launches conducted by North Korea.

The Security Council strongly condemned the most recent ballistic missile launches conducted by Pyongyang on April 28 and May 13, the 15-nation UN body said in a press statement.
Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, was released from a military prison on Wednesday after seven years behind bars.

The 29-year-old walked free from a maximum-security facility in Kansas thanks to a commutation of her sentence by president Barack Obama before he left office.

Manning has been released from the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, US Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a brief statement.

In July 2010, Manning - then a male soldier known as Bradley - was arrested over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks.

Without Obamas parting gift, the army private, who served as an intelligence official in Iraq, would have remained behind bars until 2045, after serving a 35-year sentence.

Supporters of Manning - who attempted suicide twice last year alone - said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her transition as a free, openly transgender woman.

Two more days until the freedom of civilian life, Manning tweeted Monday. Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans.

Manning went on a hunger strike during her detention to denounce the disciplinary measures to which she was subjected  including stints in solitary confinement.

For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world, she wrote last week.

Mannings defence team is intent on protecting her.

The Oklahoma native had a difficult childhood. After her parents divorce, Manning moved with her mother to Wales, where she repressed her sexuality and was mocked for her effeminate ways.

The military was therefore keen on keeping her release low-key. No press conference is planned and media massed at the military installation caught no glimpse of Manning as she was released.

Manning, of whom few photographs are publicly available, could find refuge at an aunts home in the Washington region.

Virtually unknown at the time of her arrest, Manning today is a well-known figure around the world.

Labelled a traitor by President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She wasnt able to flee abroad like Edward Snowden, who in 2013 released documents showing that the NSA was sweeping up US citizens communications metadata.

Ahead of Mannings release, a group of musicians released a compilation album with all proceeds to go to the former soldier as she starts a new life.

Hugs for Chelsea, a digital album available for a USD 25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left- wing activism including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.

Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists.

The first thing Chelsea always says when we talk about her freedom is that she wants to give back to the trans community, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who is himself transgender.

Manning was able to start hormonal treatment in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her right to exist.

While Mannings sentence was commuted, her conviction remains intact. Manning, who will turn 30 in December, has appealed.

She is also still employed by the army, and retains its insurance coverage.

Manning is statutorily entitled to medical care while on excess leave in an active duty status, pending final appellate review, said Foster, the Army spokesman.
Pakistan Army on Wednesday lodged a protest before UN military observers against unprovoked Indian firing on civilians from across the Line of Control.

Army said in a statement that UN military observers were also apprised about the latest situation along LoC.

United Nations Military Observers at UNMOGIP were invited to GHQ to register a protest over unprovoked Ceasefire Violations and targeting of civilian population by Indian Army on 10, 13 and 16 May, it said.

The statement claimed that the Indian Army used small arms, automatic and heavy caliber weapons, heavy mortar and field artillery in Sabzkot, Baroh, Tandar, Khuiratta, Kot Koterra and Karela Sectors to target Pakistani villages.

The UN observers were also told that one civilian was killed and 15 others injured, including women and children, the statement added.
Fighting broke out in Central African Republics northern town of Bria after several days of attacks in the southeastern city of Bangassou left at least 115 people dead, authorities said Wednesday.

The United Nations has warned that the sectarian violence that has plagued the country since late 2013 is now occurring in areas that previously had been spared.

The head of the Red Cross in Central African Republic, Antoine Mbao-Bogo, said his staff had counted 115 bodies in Bangassou after hundreds of militia fighters from a predominantly Christian group known as the anti-Balaka attacked a Muslim district and the U.N. peacekeeping base there over the weekend.

At least 50 others were injured, Mbao-Bogo said.

The U.N. reported more than 30 dead on Tuesday. Humanitarian agencies have called it incredibly difficult to retrieve corpses from the streets because of the ongoing insecurity.

The violence spread to Bria on Tuesday as fighting between the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels and the anti-Balaka left at least five dead and 29 injured, U.N. mission spokesman Herve Verhoosel said Wednesday. Peacekeepers intervened to separate the groups and restore calm.

A resident said Seleka members tried to disarm anti-Balaka members in the center of town but other Christian rebels started shooting.

A series of attacks in remote areas of the country in the past week have forced more than 15,000 people from their homes. More than 200 people have been killed. Among the victims are six U.N. peacekeepers, marking the deadliest month for the mission since it arrived in 2014.
President Donald Trump had asked FBI director James Comey to end the investigation into his first National Security Adviser Michael Flynns Russian connections, according to notes Comey kept of the conversation that he had shown to some associates, multiple US news media outlets reported on Wednesday.

I hope you can let this go, Trump told Comey, according to the memo. The conversation took place in the Oval Office on February 14, the day after Flynn was fired for lying to vice-president Mike Pence about his contacts with Russian ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak.

I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, ran the fuller conversation as recorded by Comey, who had kept written accounts of all his meetings with Trump, said The New York Times, which first reported this conversation.

He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go, the president had said and went on to tell Comey that Flynn had done nothing wrong. Comey replied, I agree he is a good guy.

This was the first and clearest evidence yet the president tried to influence the FBIs investigation of his National Security Adviser, for his Russia connections. Experts said this could potentially be portrayed as obstruction of justice, among the charges triggered in the last two impeachment proceedings against a US president.

The two presidents were Bill Clinton, against whom the process began in 1998, and Richard Nixon, who resigned shortly after the House of Representatives started the proceedings in 1974.

I think we are in impeachment territory, David Gergen, a White House official who served both Nixon and Clinton  and Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan in between  said on CNN.

The White House denied the conversation in a statement: While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the President has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving Flynn. The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey.

As further proof, it pointed to a recent congressional testimony by Deputy Director of FBI Andrew McCabe that the WH (White House) had not interfered with any investigation.

Comey was in the Oval Office for a meeting with Trump, vice-president Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. After they were done, president sent Pence and Sessions and held back Comey for a conversation that could cause him immense harm.

The new revelation hit the White House as it was still struggling to deal with reports  that the president has since confirmed of Trump having shared highly classified intelligence with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador Kislyak last week, just the day he had fired Comey who was investigating Russian meddling in 2016 polls. The intelligence came from Israeli sources.

The purported memo was the second bombshell in the Trump-Comey stand-off. In the first, unidentified Comey associates told US media the president had demanded loyalty from the FBI director at a dinner in the White House just days into his presidency. Comey declined, and offered instead honesty.

The president gave another version of the same dinner in which, according to him, Comey asked to be continued as FBI director.

But the morning after, he said in a tweet he has tapes and Comey should be careful. That was seen as a threat.
The classified intelligence President Donald Trump passed on to the Russian officials he met in the White House was provided to the US by Israel and had formed the basis for the US decision to ban laptops on certain flights, ABC news reported.

The intelligence came from a spy inside the Islamic State and was about an active plot to explode a bomb on a flight into the United States, smuggled in a laptop, that could escape detection by the standard metal detectors used at most airports in the world.

The report said the spys life was at risk because of the disclosure.

There was no official confirmation or denial of the ABC report for hours after it was first posted online on Tuesday. The news outlet had sourced the report to current and former US officials.

President Trump did allude to the airline security in his tweet on Tuesday, in which he defended sharing the intelligence last week with Russias foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak.

As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled WH meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining, he wrote, to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.

Defending the presidents remarks to the Russians and the tweet as wholly appropriate, National Security Adviser HR McMaster told reporters on Tuesday Trump wasnt aware of where this came from. He wasnt briefed on the source of this information.
The White House has announced that US President Donald Trump will speak on Islam during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, and the world cannot stop laughing.

The announcement has spawned countless memes, tweets and Facebook posts, with social networks unable, or perhaps unwilling, to come to terms with Trumps intention.

Of course, Trump is somebody whose speeches and policies, both as a presidential candidate and as the winner of the US election, have arguably been very divisive, with a wave of Islamophobia in the US blamed on him.

From being unable to stop laughing to bracing for the start of an all-out, global war, HT takes a look at some of the best reactions to the White House announcement.

"In conclusion, here's a drawing I've made of the Prophet Muhammad." https://t.co/1kIEjEH73z  Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) May 16, 2017

Trump as speaker on Islam. pic.twitter.com/3V1Ns23Ghv  Mirza Waheed (@MirzaWaheed) May 16, 2017

Trump( speech on Islam).' Muhammad oh great guy, classy man. I have friends named Muhammad. Great men. Real honest man Muhammad.  Matin (@suck0my0luck0) May 17, 2017

Trump Islam Speech: "Muslims love me. Islam loves me. I love me. But my base hates you. Bannon wants WW3 w you. Let's make tall buildings!"  Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) May 16, 2017

Sources say Trump will talk about the movie Aladdin in his speech about Islam in Saudi Arabia & how it helped him shape his views on Islam.  Mustapha Itani (@mustaphahitani) May 16, 2017

i'm more excited for Trump to ad lib his way through a speech on Islam in 100 degree weather than i am for any upcoming UFC card  Inventor of Leftism (@ByYourLogic) May 16, 2017

Found a copy of Trump's speech on Islam pic.twitter.com/4ZE0cOJbSL  Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) May 16, 2017

Trump is going to give a speech on Islam in Saudi Arabia.



That sound you hear is the entire world laughing.  Dave Pell (@davepell) May 16, 2017

Instead of sending Trump to Saudi Arabia to give a speech about Islam, how about sending another white-Christian American. Me. I'll do it.  Dr. Craig Considine (@CraigCons) May 16, 2017
British foreign secretary Boris Johnson was confronted by a woman during an election visit to a gurdwara in Bristol on Wednesday after he highlighted the possibility of a large increase in exports of Scotch whisky to India after a free trade agreement is forged following Brexit.

Johnson, who is married to a woman of Sikh origin, was in Bristol to canvass support for Conservative candidate Theo Clarke. He visited Sri Guru Nanak Prakash Singh Sabha Gurdwara and addressed the gathering.

Known for wit and humour not always appreciated by many, Johnson reportedly said: What are the consequences of having so many Sikh relatives, and I hope I am not embarrassing anybody, is that whenever we go to India, to Mumbai or to Delhi, we have to bring clinkie in our luggage.

"We have to bring Johnnie Walker or we have to bring whisky because as you know there is a duty of 150% in India on Scotch whisky. But imagine what we could do if there was a free trade deal with India  which there will be.

"You are talking hundreds of millions of pounds of new exports and more exports is great for a fantastic export city like Bristol, said Johnson, who was wearing a saffron turban.

Reports from Bristol said he was then confronted by a woman known locally as Balbir Kaur: How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple?

You have just said that the main objective is to get the trade between India and England and the basis of that is alcohol, which in Sikhism is against our religion, so I wouldnt be wanting to put somebody in power who wants to put more alcohol in India which is causing lots of problems at the moment. I am a practicing Sikh and to me that is absolutely outrageous, she reportedly told him.

Youre standing in a Sikh gurdwara and talking about alcohol in front of our Guru Granth SahibIts not right, she added.

I think it's fair to say Boris Johnson got a mixed reception from Sikhs in At George today pic.twitter.com/m1C4qWbNdG  Fishponds Voice (@fishpondsvoice) 17 May 2017

Johnson apologised by saying: Im very sorry if you think alcohol is a bad thing, I understand your point of view.

A spokesman for Johnson denied it was a gaffe. Boris was simply making the point that a free trade deal with, for example India, could be huge for both sides, pointing out that in India, billions of litres of whisky are consumed every year but there is a 150% tariff on imports of Scotch whisky.

One lady expressed her views based on a personal situation but the other 30 attendees warmly welcomed his remarks. He said he was sorry to hear of her personal story, that was all. There was no gaffe...The temple regulars loved him being there.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has apologised after saying this, during a visit to a Sikh temple in Bristol today... pic.twitter.com/YhGBiwAVMG  BBC Radio Bristol (@bbcrb) May 17, 2017

The Daily Telegraph reported the woman later said she found Johnsons address disrespectful. Although he says his wife is Indian, he has no values for India and to me that means that the Conservatives are not bothered about what the people want, it is what they want to do.

In front of the gurdwara, to talk about and promote alcohol is offensive, he should not have been stood there talking about that, he should have known that.

Local website Fishponds Voice tweeted: "I think it's fair to say Boris Johnson got a mixed reception from Sikhs in St George today."

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A Democratic lawmaker has called for impeachment of US President Donald Trump for his alleged involvement in obstruction of justice, after news reports revealed that he had asked the FBI to stop investigations against former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

In fact, Congressman El Green from Texas on Wednesday became the first US lawmaker to demand the impeachment of Trump from the House floor.

I rise today Mr. Speaker to call for the impeachment of the President of the United States of America for obstruction of justice. There is a belief in this country that no one is above the law. And that includes the President of the United States of America, Green said on the House floor.

The Congressman said that his call for impeachment is a position of conscience for him and asked the American people to speak up.

Each member of Congress has to make his or her decision. This is where I stand, I will not be moved. The President must be impeached, Green said.

At the same time he noted that impeachment does not mean the president will be found guilty.

It simply means the House of Representatives will bring charges against the president, he said a day after the New York Times reported that it found a memo in which the sacked FBI Director James Comey said that he was asked by Trump to stop Flynns investigations.

Soon thereafter another Republican lawmaker was seen supporting the impeachment move.

Yes, he told The Hill newspaper when asked if the details of the memo if true merited impeachment. But everybody merits a fair trail, he was quoted as saying.

However, the House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said that he has full confidence in Trump. I do (have confidence in Trump), he told reporters at a news conference.

He also urged the lawmakers to be sober.

That is our job, to be sober, to be passionate and to follow the facts wherever they may lead, he said.

It is obvious  there are some people out there who want to harm the president. We have an obligation to carry out our oversight, regardless of which party is in the White House. That means before rushing to judgment we get all the pertinent information, Ryan said.

The White House has denied the allegations of obstruction of justice.

While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, it said.

The president has the utmost respect for the law enforcement agencies, and all investigations, the White House said, adding that this is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Comey.

Ryan supported the White House.

There is an FBI investigation going on right now with all things related to Russia, done by the career professionals at the FBI who are going to continue to be career professionals. And the acting director just said the other day that no one has tried to impede that investigation, he told reporters at a news conference.
Chinese state media on Wednesday criticised the United States for hindering efforts to stop global cyber threats in the wake of the WannaCry ransomware attack that has infected more than 300,000 computers worldwide in recent days.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) should shoulder some blame for the attack, which targets vulnerabilities in Microsoft Corp systems and has infected some 30,000 Chinese organisations as of Saturday, the China Daily said.

Concerted efforts to tackle cyber crimes have been hindered by the actions of the United States, it said, adding that Washington had no credible evidence to support bans on Chinese tech firms in the United States following the attack.

The malware attack, which began on Friday and has been linked by some researchers to previous hits by a North Korean-run hacking operation, leveraged a tool built by the NSA that leaked online in April, Microsoft says.

It comes as China prepares to enforce a wide-reaching cyber security law that U.S. business groups say will threaten the operations of foreign firms in China with strict local data storage laws and stringent surveillance requirements.

Chinas cyber authorities have repeatedly pushed for what they call a more equitable balance in global cyber governance, criticising US dominance.

The China Daily pointed to the US ban on Chinese telecommunication provider Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, saying the curbs were hypocritical given the NSA leak.

Beijing has previously said the proliferation of fake news on U.S. social media sites, which are largely banned in China, is a reason to tighten global cyber governance.

The newspaper said that the role of the US security apparatus in the attack should instill greater urgency in Chinas mission to replace foreign technology with its own.

The state-run Peoples Daily compared the cyber attack to the terrorist hacking depicted in the US film Die Hard 4, warning that Chinas role in global trade and internet connectivity opened it to increased risks from overseas.

The fast-spreading cyber extortion campaign eased for second day on Tuesday, but the identity and motive of its creators remain unknown.
Trump sees himself as a tribune of the people. But is he like his heroes?

A specter haunts American politics. Can Trump succeed in remaking the Republican Party in his populist image? (Los Angeles Times). The thing always to remember about Trumpis that he is a sham populist (The New Yorker). Is Trump a populist authoritarian? (The Atlantic). Trump himself has no doubt. We are transferring power from Washington, DC, and giving it back to you, the people, he declared at his inauguration. This moment is your moment.

Populism means more than mere popularity. James Monroe and Warren Harding won with huge margins; no one thought either a populist. Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Roosevelt presented themselves as tribunes of the people, yet their to-the-manor-born manners kept the populist label at bay; you wouldnt

go to Monticello or Hyde Park to share a six-pack. The true populist must be like the people whose interests he has at heart. For fans

of populism, this means being straightforward and simple; for critics, crude and contentious. Despite Trumps fortune, an outer-borough yawp gives him a claim on the mantle.

Americas past populist presidents were its two Andrews, Jackson and Johnson.

Both had rough youths in Carolina. Jacksons parents, Scots-Irish immigrants, settled in the backwoods. His father died in 1767, three weeks before his sons birth. Revolutionary War-related illnesses took his mother and two brothers. In the 1780s, he got education enough to become a frontier lawyer in western North Carolina, soon to be Tennessee. Andrew Johnson was born in North Carolina in 1808 to a porter and a washerwoman, both illiterate. He spent his youth as an apprentice, indentured to a tailor. After his release, he set up shop in Tennessee. His wife homeschooled him.

Both men became unclubbable successes. Jackson, a born warrior, rocketed to fame in the War of 1812, crushing the British at New Orleans. But in 1818 he drew official Washingtons ire by invading Spanish Florida on his own say-soand hanging two Britons to boot. He said he had been chasing Seminole Indian raiders, and that the dead Brits had been their masterminds. Jackson escaped censure, and confirmed his own high opinion of himself.

Johnson, a shrewd investor, entered politics. He rose to Congress, Tennessees governorship, the U.S. Senate. Yet in his state and in the capital, he was an odd man out. He decried planters as a pampered, bloated, corrupted aristocracy. His main issue was homesteadingterritorial land grants for small farmers, a program Southern colleagues opposed, fearing most grants would go to antislavery types. In the 1860-61 secession crisis, Johnson took his bravest stand, the lone Southern senator to back the Union. He fled Tennessee for his life, only returning, with Union troops, as the Lincoln administrations military governor.

In person, Jackson and Johnson were bundles of rough edges. Dueling was illegal but widespread in the early republic, and Jackson a frequent practitioner. In 1806, a man accused his wife of bigamy; Jackson called him out, took a bullet in his chest, then shot his rival dead. Seven years later, Jackson fought an armed brawl in a Nashville hotel with Thomas Hart Benton, his aide-de-camp, and Bentons brother Jesse, taking two slugs in his left arm and shoulder. Benton later became a U.S. senator and Jackson loyalist. Jacksons reputation followed him into the White House. In 1829, Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story welcomed the incoming Jackson administration as the reign of King Mob. John Quincy Adams, displaced by Jackson as president, called him a barbarian who could hardly spell his own name.

Johnson seethed with resentments that often flared. When he was a congressman, President James K. Polk, a fellow Tennessean, called him vindictive and perverse in his temper and conduct. Over the winter of 1860-61, chatting with a Republican congressmans son, Johnson went off on Southern senators. He called Floridas David Yulee a miserable little cuss and a contemptible little Jew and Louis Wigfall of Texas a damned blackguard who never owned the hair of a nigger. All this, to a man he did not know particularly well. Sometimes alcohol loosened Johnsons tongue. In March 1865, as veep on Abraham Lincolns victorious reelection ticket, Johnson followed his inaugural oath with a rambling and sodden speech. As Lincoln was going out to the East Portico of the Capitol to deliver his address, he told a functionary to make sure the new vice president did not speak again.

Jackson was elected president in 1828 and reelected in 1832, both times by landslides; Johnson became president, thanks to John Wilkes Booth, in 1865. Each won significant political victories against lively opposition. Jackson declared war on the Second Bank of the United States and, after the state of South Carolina announced it would ignore federal tariffs, vowed to collect them by force. The Bank withered and died, and South Carolina, while hewing to its states-rights views in principle, backed down from them in practice. Johnson took Reconstruction policy into his own hands, in defiance

of Radical Republicans who wanted Congress running that program. When Republicans retaliated by impeaching him, Johnson survived a Senate trial by one vote.

In his eight post-White House years, Jackson saw disciples Martin Van Buren and James Polk succeed him. Johnson never won his own presidential nomination, but was reelected to the Senate in 1875; after serving in a short special session, he died of a stroke.

Jackson stayed popular. He made the $20 bill in 1928; The Battle of New Orleans, written by Jimmy Driftwood and sung by Johnny Horton, was 1959s No. 1 pop song. For years, the Democratic Party sponsored yearly Jefferson-Jackson Day dinners; Jacksonian still means populist. Johnson was never so honored, but John F. Kennedy thought enough of him to enshrine Edmund G. Ross, who voted to acquit in Johnsons impeachment trial, in Profiles in Courage.

Lately the tide has turned. Jackson, an unrepentant slave holder and zealous Indian fighter, is losing his spot in our wallets to Harriet Tubman. Civil rights-era historiography admires the Radical Republicans and paints Johnson in the gloomiest light, as a defender of white mans government.

Populism is no panacea assuring White House success. Populists can win big, even battles they should have lost. But like politiciansnota bene, President Trumpthey too can fail and fumble. There is something egalitarianpopulist, evenabout that.
T he top-performing towns and villages in the lovely county of Hertfordshire share one huge advantage  great transport links. A new study today finds the areas that have seen the greatest price growth over the past five years are those where the commute into London is half an hour  or even less.

The research by Savills analysed the property price performance of every Herts town and village within a maximum 65 minutes travelling time of central London, and found many journeys shorter than travelling in from Zones 3 and 4. Leading the pack is Chorleywood, a slightly suburban sort of village just beyond the M25, at the tip of the Chiltern Hills.

CHORLEYWOOD

Average home prices in Chorleywood have increased by 53 per cent in the last five years to 749,806. The village is just on the Tube network, with rush-hour Metropolitan line trains to Marylebone taking 31 minutes. An annual travel card costs 2,616  comparatively modest by commuter standards. There are several good primary schools, along with the Ofsted outstanding St Clement Danes School for seniors.

Adam Salem, manager of Hetheringtons estate agents, says Chorleywood is not a chocolate-box village, but it does have a real sense of community. People get involved in the schools, in the summer fete. And the country pubs are lovely. The Gate is the locals favourite.

Buyers should expect to pay from 900,000 for a four-bedroom post-war house, or about 550,000 for a two-bedroom Victorian cottage, Salem says. We have just sold to a family who got 700,000 for their London flat and were able to buy a big a four-bedroom house at just over 1 million.

TRING

The market town of Tring is another strong performer. Average property prices have expanded 52 per cent in the last five years, to 481,851. Trains from Tring to Euston take 37 minutes, and an average season ticket costs 4,060.

600,000: a four-bedroom cottage in Henry Street, Tring, with a private rear garden. Brown & Merry (01442 738 033)/

This affluent town has a predictably strong crop of primary schools and popular Tring School, for seniors. Parents with brainy offspring are within catchment for the grammar schools of Aylesbury, and would-be stars of stage and screen could audition for the independent Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.

Caroline Murgatroyd, director of Hunters estate agents, says families can enjoy the many lovely acres of the National Trust-run Ashridge Estate, teeming with bluebells at this time of year. She finds the typical Londoners arriving in the town are couples with kids about to start school who often lived in north London. Tring is like a mini Crouch End, she explains.

They could buy a four-bedroom detached house from about 600,000 or a period Victorian villa of a similar size for between 750,000 and 800,000.

WELHAM GREEN

Just south of Hatfield, Welham Green has equalled Trings price performance, with prices also up 52 per cent to an average 325,937. Its nearest primary school is North Mymms which needs improvement. There are other options in neighbouring Brookmans Park, while Hatfield is a good choice for senior school pupils. Trains to Kings Cross take 37 minutes, and an annual season ticket is 2,368.

650,000: a three-bedroom cottage in Walton Street, St Albans, part of the Bernard's Heath conservation area, Hamptons (01727 629 096).

ST ALBANS

Perhaps Hertfordshires best-known commuter destination, St Albans has also performed well with price rises of 49 per cent to an average 565,239. This lovely cathedral city, with its boutiques, restaurants and bars, great schools and buzzing town centre, is ever-popular thanks to its 19-minute rush-hour commute to St Pancras International. Season tickets are priced from 3,380.
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One of the most enduring, passionate and loving relationships in my life is with four men I've never met. (And my husband is OK with that.)

I first heard "The Joshua Tree" at overnight camp in 1987, and I have been in love with U2 ever since. I use the phrase "in love" because I think it most accurately describes our relationship. I might not know Bono (vocals), The Edge (guitar), Adam (bass guitar) or Larry (drums), but I do know U2  the phenomenon that transcends the sum of its mortal parts  like I know my own heart.

As with all enduring loves, our relationship has evolved and deepened over the years.

First, it was all about the music  I became obsessed, addicted. "The Joshua Tree" rocked me. I experienced art's unparalleled power to arouse emotion, spirituality, community and the intellect  I learned why art matters  by listening to that album.

I was only nine in the summer of '87, and yet I understood something of the searching, lust, love, malcontent, displacement, anger and political unrest that thrums through "The Joshua Tree." It introduced me to passions and struggles that, though nascent, were already inside me.

When I returned home from camp, I purchased my own copy of "The Joshua Tree" and, after a short negotiation with my mom, "War" and "Unforgettable Fire" (which happened to be in the same cassette-tape bin at the record store).

"Achtung Baby" was the first CD I ever owned. I brought it, fresh in its plastic wrap, to my neighbor Mariah's house to play it for her and our friend, Matt, on a Friday night in November when we were in ninth grade. What leapt from Mariah's stereo was exciting, complex and wholly unexpected. Bono still likes to say that Achtung Baby is "the sound of four men chopping down the Joshua Tree."

We'd never heard anything like it  Mariah set the album on "repeat" so we could wrap our heads around it. We were transfixed. Like every great record, "Achtung Baby" spoke to each of our individual struggles while simultaneously freeing us from them: For one evening, Matt transcended his struggle with sexuality; Mariah her superior, isolating intellect; and I my desperately awkward, too-tall frame. We craved the confidence and sexiness in "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" and "Until the End of the World." We wanted to love and be loved enough to experience the heartbreak in "One" and "You're So Cruel."

facebook.com/u2

IN THE '90s, I began reading interviews with the band; I was instantly impressed with their unusually long relationships, impressed that they were intolerant of injustice and took to heart the responsibility to do something about it. They believed, as Bono often says, in the "idea of America," in the "ideal of America," which was what I wanted America to be, too.

Now I've seen U2 20 or so times. (I lost count around the Vertigo tour.) The live shows are where U2 and I love each other back, where we fill each other up until we can meet again. And I've given then more money than I'll ever admit. I reaffirm my unwavering confidence in them by purchasing each new album on the day it's released, before hearing a single track.

But, in return, they have carried me through every high and low in my life:

"With or Without You" pulled me from the shadows at a bar mitzvah party to ask a boy (four inches shorter than I) to dance.

"War" let me rage through my first high-school break-up.

"All That You Can't Leave Behind" replenished my energy and confidence every Friday afternoon during my brutal first year at Harvard Law School.

I trekked from Boston to Providence to take comfort in an Elevation show in October 2001, so soon after experiencing 9/11 far from home.

As my first husband slid deeper into depression, and I teetered on the edge of his sad rabbit hole, long walks along Chicago's lakefront with U2 resuscitated and reminded me who I was.

"Achtung Baby," heavy with the agony of Edge's divorce, got me through the most miserable phase of my own. Once I reached the survival phase, the live versions of those tracks gave me hope: Ironically, Edge met his second wife while touring the album written partly about splitting from his first.

My 30th birthday fell three weeks before my divorce was final, when I was at my rawest, most scared and least sure. So my best friend, Gaby, insisted that we hire a U2 cover band to play our party. I drank too much and danced the entire night, focused not on the love that let me down, but on the love that always came through.

I watched my now-husband, Josh, intently when we were first dating and "With or Without You" came on the radio. We were stopped at a red light, the roof of his tiny convertible down. When he instinctively turned up the volume, reached for my hand, threw his head back and sang along at the top of his lungs, he told me everything I needed to know.

In 2009, I was new to Houston, newly remarried and, unbeknownst to me, pregnant with our first son. I missed Chicago, my family and friends. But Gaby  terrified of airplanes  flew south so that we could stand in line all day to ensure just-right floor spots at Houston's U2 360 show. I wasn't used to Houston's omnipresent strip malls or constant humidity and wasn't ready to trade deep-dish pizza for chile con queso. But that day, at that show, I wasn't in Texas  I was home.

Total Guitar Magazine / Getty Images

IN THESE scariest of times, when the pillars of our democracy seem to be crumbling around us, to whom else could I turn but U2?

On January 9, when Trump's inauguration loomed large and sleep had begun to elude me, U2 announced its plan to tour "The Joshua Tree" this spring, 30 years after its release. Nineteen of the tour's first 21 dates will be in America. I'm not usually much of a crier, especially when sleepily scrolling through emails before waking my kids for school. But on January 9, when I saw the tour announcement sandwiched between the usual messages about America's impending demise, my eyes welled up. That U2 was coming to me, to a stadium a mile from my house, when I was afraid and needed them most, overwhelmed me.

How do they always know?

When I clicked on the Rolling Stone interview in which Edge explained the band's decision to shelve its nearly complete, highly anticipated new album in favor of touring "The Joshua Tree," my tears  of gratitude, of pride  spilled over. "The Trump election," he said, gave an old album new import. "That record was written in the mid-'80s, during the Reagan-Thatcher era ... a period [of] a lot of unrest ... . It feels like we're right back there in a way. I don't think any of our work has ever come full circle to that extent."

Andrew Chin / Getty Images

No kidding. I purchased my tickets  to stand on the floor, closest to the band  to shows in Houston and Chicago. In May Gaby will fly to Texas for the first time since 2009. Once again we will stand in line all day outside NRG Stadium, sweating and holding our bladders like lunatics.

But this time, my husband will bring our six-year-old son, Jacob, to stand with us. Jacob's heart will race right before U2 takes the stage. The music will speak to him, in a language he can understand, as it first spoke to me 30 years ago. He won't grasp everything Bono sings, won't understand why this tour is so important or the timing so apropos  but he will feel it. And with any luck, at the tender age of six, he too will fall in love.

Emily Wolf is a recovering lawyer and emerging writer. In 2009, she moved from Chicago to Houston, where she lives with her husband and two young sons.

Ready to trade deep-dish pizza for chile con queso? Bookmark Gray Matters.
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GALVESTON  The number of endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle nests discovered on the Texas Coast has surpassed 236 nests, exceeding the previous record of 209 nests in 2012, a National Parks Service official said Wednesday.

The record number found midway through the nesting season offers hope that the Texas official sea turtle may be on the rebound following a decline after the 2010 BP oil spill that fouled turtle feeding grounds and killed untold numbers of juveniles.

"We are very happy. We have exceeded the previous record number of nests found on the Texas coast overall," said Donna Shaver, the NPS' sea turtle science and recovery division chief at Padre Island National Seashore.

"It's still the nesting season and we expect many more nests to be found," Shaver said. "Maybe we will get up to 300, we hope."

Six more turtle nests were discovered Wednesday and two Thursday, bringing the total to 244.

Shaver, however, cautioned that it would take two or three more nesting seasons to know whether the uptick in discovered nests this year was a fluke or a genuine indication that the Kemp's ridley is coming back.

"It's a long-term effort," Shaver said. "We do caution that we don't know what the numbers will be like next year and we don't know if we will return to the exponential increase we were seeing before 2010."

The Kemp's ridley was near extinction before U.S. and Mexican government efforts begun in the late 1970s saved the species. The Kemp's ridley numbers increased slowly until the early 2000s, when its nests were increasing exponentially. Then came the 2010 oil spill.

The main nesting grounds are in Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas State in but Shaver has headed an effort by the parks service since 1998 to establish a secondary nesting site at the Padre Island National Seashore.

The number of nests discovered Tuesday at the national seashore reached a record 144 nests, surpassing the previous record of 117 in 2009.
In the May 6 election for Katy ISD board of trustees position 5, challenger William "Bill" Lacy unofficially defeated incumbent Henry Dibrell 2,451 votes to 1,593 votes. Position 3 and position 4 incumbents Ashley Vann and Courtney Doyle both defeated their challengers. The victories were scheduled to become official during a canvassing of votes at a board meeting this week. The meeting occured after print deadline.

Lacy, a local real estate loan officer, had the most votes of any candidate elected to the board. This will be Lacy's first time serving on the board. He recently discussed his election victory with the Houston Chronicle. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Question: Why do you think you received the most votes of any KISD board of trustees candidate?

Answer: I think a lot of really good people worked really hard for me. I have a lot of people I know by nature of what I do. I know a lot of people from my career and from being active and having four kids in the district  as well through church stuff and booster clubs.

Q: You've previously said your business experience would be an asset to the board. How specifically do you plan on using that experience once you are on the board?

A: From being in the mortgage industry and working with dollars  I'll be able to look at a budget and know how to analyze it and ask questions. I know that there's a lot of info I'll be learning really fast in the next month or two. I'm going to do my best to get up to speed. I think going to (board) meetings in the last year will help me get up to speed. I'm not afraid of asking questions. I'm going to be asking questions about a lot of things.

Q: Two board members - Brian Michalsky and Rebecca Fox - endorsed your opponent, incumbent Henry Dibrell. There has also been some infighting between trustees such as Fox and George Scott and Charles Griffin in the past year. How do you plan on working out any differences regarding you or other board members?

A: We are grown ups, at least we are supposed to be. We will be professional. We are going to disagree from time to time, but as long as we respect each other and (KISD students) are put first, we are going to be able to work together. I've had conversations with Ms. Fox after the election, and she said 'I look forward to working with you,' and I answered the same. The water is under the bridge.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish during your first year on the board?

A: People in Katy put me here, so that's not taken lightly. I want everyone who voted for me, and even Dibrell, to say 'he is a really good board member, and he is doing the best for the students and for Katy ISD.' I'm looking forward to the (ongoing bond referendum) process because I want to bring the transparency process to everyone. There are a lot of people that want to complain about bonds but don't know the work that goes into it. You have to really sharpen your pencils to go into those things.

Q: How are you prepared to handle the scrutiny that goes into being a board member, which is a public position?

A: The first thing I always want to have is a line of communication with anyone. There is going to be scrutiny if I vote for or against anything. I welcome discussion with anybody, or why I voted for or against something. I want to be open with anybody if they disagree. In any walk of life, there will be people that disagree with you. But we've got to come together as a district and do what's best for our kids and community.

Q:What is your No. 1 priority once you become a board member?

A: My No. 1 priority is to get up to speed as much as we can so that we can make informed decisions for the district.

Q: How are you getting up to speed?

A: It's just talking to people that are friends of mine that have been congratulating me and getting back to what goes on on the school board and what the responsibilities are and getting into the research. I've never been one that watches what is going on in (the Texas Legislature). But now, I'm starting to pay very close attention to what is happening in Austin with things that will affect our education. I'll start doing the due diligence of things that are on the school and state level that are important. It's going to take a lot of reading and research to get ready.

Q:Is there anything particular you would like to let the Katy ISD community know?

A: It's overwhelming and humbling to know the responsibility that people in Katy ISD have placed upon me. It's a great responsibility, and I look forward to serving them and being everything they expect me to be. If there are people that disagree with me, we will work it out for what's best for the (students).
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When Seth Haynes was in the hospital after a car hit him as he rode his bicycle on W. Lake Houston Parkway in Kingwood on Feb. 5, people asked him what he was most looking forward to about returning home.

"The first thing he would say was, 'To see my brothers,'" said Tracy Melim, Haynes' mother. "And the second thing was, 'To see my friends.'"

The Creekwood Middle School student sustained severe injuries from the accident, including a traumatic spinal injury. Among the treatments Haynes has undergone for his injuries was rehabilitation at the Shriner's Hospital in Chicago.

After spending months away from his life in Kingwood, Haynes has returned home. He arrived in Kingwood Friday night, May 12, to a community of friends.

"They got a crew together and a bunch of kids decorated our whole yard," Melim said. "They put glow everything, so when we pulled up last night, it was just amazing. This is what he's been waiting for."

The very next day, community members, students and staff convened at Creekwood Middle School on a Saturday for a Welcome Home celebration in honor of Haynes' return to Kingwood.

In a room of loved ones and hand-made notes of encouragement lining the windows, Haynes was encircled by a crowd of the friends he had been looking forward to seeing again.

"Our welcome home theme is 'Helping Hands Heal Hearts,'" said Ken Webster, Creekwood Middle School seventh-grade assistant principal. "We have decorated the main office and commons - not just party decorations but deeply rooted words of encouragement."

Creekwood staff traced their hands and wrote inspirational messages to Haynes. The hands served as leaves on a paper tree in the main office.

Seventh-grade students did a similar project, writing messages of encouragement on paper cutouts of outstretched arms used to decorate the commons.

The hands will be put in a scrapbook and given to Haynes as a reminder of how much he is loved at Creekwood Middle School.

"This is wonderful," Melim said. "He's been gone from his friends for about three months, far away, and at this age they're everything. So, this is a big deal. I really honestly don't have the words for what they've done. This is just kind of the tip of the iceberg of what they've done throughout this whole experience."

Support from the community continues pouring in as Chick-Fil-A at 4594 Kingwood Drive agreed to host a Welcome Home Fundraiser for Haynes on Friday, May 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. A quarter of sales from Seth's supporters will be donated to his family to help with medical expenses.
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered on Wednesday to provide Congress a transcript of President Donald Trump's May 10 conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The Russian president told reporters in Sochi, where he was having talks with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, that he would be happy to turn over transcripts "if the American administration would like that, of course," to show that no secrets were shared. Putin did not specify how, exactly, he might have come to have an exact transcript of the meeting. (Trump himself has suggested that the Oval Office is bugged, but never suggested that the Kremlin was also listening in.)

Putin did wade into the U.S. debate over the true role of Russian interference in last year's election, and seemed to give backing to the notion that Washington and Moscow have common interests that they should advance. He said that Americans dealing in anti-Russian rhetoric "either don't understand that they are harming their own country, which means they are just dumb, or they understand everything and then they are dangerous and unscrupulous people."

Such sentiments echo Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who took again to social media on Tuesday to chastise U.S. journalism.

"Guys, are you reading American papers again? Don't read them," she wrote, adding, "Lately, it's become more than just harmful. It's become dangerous."

Putin's cheeky proposal comes two days after the Washington Post broke the story that Trump had shared sensitive intelligence with Lavrov, as well as with Russia's ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak. The White House initially tried to shoot down the story, before Trump himself confirmed it.

Meanwhile, intelligence community veterans worried that sharing intelligence gleaned from a U.S. ally without their permission could endanger sources on the ground and make countries less willing to share intel with Washington.

But Trump defended his highly unusual move the next day, tweeting that he had the right to share information pertaining to terrorism and airline safety with Russian officials, and that he wanted to do so because of "Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism."

Meanwhile, as if to add insult to injury, Russian news outlet Vesti asked, "What is there for Russian hackers, when the American president himself shares secrets with Russia!"
WASHINGTON - Tuesday's clash involving protesters and security guards for visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prompted outrage by local and U.S. officials who accused the guards of using violence to quell what had been a peaceful demonstration in Northwest Washington.

District of Columbia police arrested two men, one from Virginia and one from New York, and said they are pursuing charges against additional suspects after the melee outside the Turkish ambassador's residence at Sheridan Circle. Eleven people were injured, among them a police officer. Some were kicked and stomped, their heads bloodied.

Included in the police search are members of Erdogan's armed protective detail, according to two people with direct knowledge of the case. Police are working with the State Department and the Secret Service to identify people seen on videos and obtain arrest warrants even as they anticipated thorny issues involving diplomatic immunity or the special status afforded to those who guard visiting heads of state.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward Royce, R-Calif., said that "agents of foreign governments should never be immune from prosecution for felonious behavior." In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, he urged a quick inquiry and the filing of "appropriate criminal charges" before the security officers leave the country.

In a statement, the State Department said "violence is never an appropriate response to free speech." It added that the United States is "communicating our concern with the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms."

D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham, whose department is leading the investigation, decried the violence. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) said "police are working very hard with our partners to see if we can get to the bottom of this," adding that "it was a pretty savage beating." And Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., added: "This is the United States of America. We do not do this here. There is no excuse for this kind of thuggish behavior."

A Turkish state news agency acknowledged that guards for Erdogan, who had earlier met with President Trump at the White House, had targeted demonstrators. Many of the aggressors seen on video were wearing dark suits and ties, and several had guns. At least two of the guns were seen on video being dropped and then picked up during skirmishes.

In a statement released Wednesday evening, the Turkish Embassy called the demonstration "unpermitted" and "provocative." Officials alleged in the statement that the protesters were affiliated with the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and the United States. A protest leader denied that any of the participants were involved with the PKK or sympathized with the group.

"The demonstrators began aggressively provoking Turkish-American citizens" who had gathered to greet Erdogan, the statement said. "The Turkish-Americans responded in self defense and one of them was seriously injured."

The Anadolu news agency also blamed the incident on an "inadequate" response by police, implying anger over authorities not stopping the protest.

Tuesday's melee highlighted the political divisions and conflicts that in some cases have roiled Turkey for decades and have become far more acrimonious and violent of late. After Erdogan's government survived a coup attempt last summer, authorities have pursued a wide-ranging crackdown on enemies and dissidents. Nearly 200,000 people have been arrested, dismissed or suspended from their jobs.

The government has faced a resurgent threat from militant groups, including the Islamic State and the PKK. In turn, militant attacks and the state's iron-fisted response, have fed a deepening sense of political polarization in Turkey.

Tuesday's group was made up of roughly two dozen demonstrators including those angry at Erdogan's crackdown on dissent and his consolidation of power. Others were Kurdish activists, including supporters of a pro-Kurdish political party in Turkey whose leaders have been prosecuted by the Turkish government.

Seyid Riza Dersimi, a 61-year-old Virginia resident who owns a flooring company, said he started organizing Tuesday's protest soon after he learned of Erdogan's visit to the United States. They started outside the White House, where he said Turkish guards taunted them as they chanted, "Erdogan is a dictator!" "Ergodan is ISIS!" and "Mr. Trump, please stop him!"

Later, at the circle on Massachusetts Avenue NW, Dersimi said he was pushed to the ground and repeatedly kicked in the face. He required five stitches in his nose, his lips were busted and he lost a tooth. "This is what happens in Turkey - this is not what happens in the U.S.," he said. "The American police let them attack us."

Court documents describe the demonstration as peaceful until a group of "radicalized protesters began taunting the peaceful protesters." The document says four men in dark clothing then emerged from the crowd and "began attacking several of the peaceful protesters."

The two men arrested by D.C. police were identified as Ayten Necmi, 49, of Woodside, New York, charged with aggravated assault for allegedly punching someone in the face, and Jalal Kheirabaoi, 42, charged with assault on a police officer. Both were released from detention Wednesday.

Necmi said after the hearing that he heard about the protest over social media. He said fights had begun by the time he arrived. His attorney, Gunay Evinch, blamed D.C. police and the Secret Service for "being surprised" by the turnout and overreacting.

Necmi said he and a group of other Turkish individuals came to Washington solely to "welcome the Turkish president."

---

The Washington Post's Kareem Fahim in Istanbul and Aaron C. Davis, Keith L. Alexander, Carol Morello and Victoria St. Martin in Washington contributed to this report.

---

VIDEOS

Police fought to separate two groups that violently clashed outside the Turkish ambassador's residence on May 16 in Washington, D.C. (VOA Turkish/Twitter)

--http://wapo.st/2rfKHsB

Nearly a dozen people were injured on May 17 in a brief but violent confrontation between two groups outside the Turkish ambassador's residence. (ANCA)

--http://wapo.st/2reDFUX
AUSTIN - Some first-time offenders with low-level criminal records may soon be able to shield their rap sheets from public disclosure, under a bipartisan bill approved by a key Texas Senate committee Tuesday.

The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice voted 6-1 to send House Bill 3016 to the full chamber, where a vote could come as early as this week. The Texas House already approved the legislation, authored by Democratic Rep. Senfronia Thompson of Houston, in a 140-4 vote earlier this month.

HB 3016, dubbed the "Second Chances Bill," would allow people convicted of one low-level offense - which may include a DWI with a blood alcohol level under 0.14 or nonviolent Class C misdemeanors - to request an order of nondisclosure from a court after they pay restitution and serve their sentence. Generally, such an order would seal their criminal records from public view, but the bill allows law enforcement agencies and a few others to view the records when necessary.

According to the bill, a DWI offender would not qualify for the nondisclosure option if they had a prior DWI conviction, had a blood alcohol level above 0.14, have not fully paid court fines, or if they struck a pedestrian or a vehicle with someone inside.

Calling it "a limited expansion" of existing state law, Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes of Mineola said HB 3016 would afford employment and other opportunities to those who made a mistake and paid their dues to society. He added that the bill would give the trial court judge complete discretion regarding whether someone should receive a nondisclosure order, even if they meet the bill's requirements. A prosecutor can object to the offender's plea for nondisclosure, too.

"It does a little bit more than what's already working without going too far," Hughes said. "We're taking a little step toward giving people a second chance who have proven they are not going to mess up again."

The bill has won support from liberal, conservative and nonpartisan groups, as well as police and faith-based organizations.

"HB 3016 strikes a delicate balance between the needs of law enforcement to properly utilize criminal records, while still allowing certain first-time offenders a second chance once they prove to be contributing members of society," said Greg Glod, a policy analyst at the right-leaning Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Last session, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a similar so-called "second chances" bill that applied only to nonviolent and non-sexual Class A and Class B misdemeanors.
WASHINGTON - Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn bowed out of contention Tuesday as a possible replacement for fired FBI Director James Comey, ending speculation about what might otherwise have been a wide-open scramble for his long-held Senate seat.

Cornyn's decision came three days after he interviewed for the FBI job with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and a week after President Donald Trump summarily fired Comey, the face of the agency's controversial inquiries into Hillary Clinton's emails and possible links between Trump campaign associates and the Russian government.

"Now more than ever the country needs a well-credentialed, independent FBI director," Cornyn said in a statement. "I've informed the administration that I'm committed to helping them find such an individual and that the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate."

Cornyn's move came amid bipartisan calls for an FBI director from outside the political arena, with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell floating the name of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's failed pick for the Supreme Court.

Cornyn's decision also averted a fresh leadership struggle in the Senate, as well as a reshuffling of the Republican political deck in Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott would have been required to appoint a temporary successor pending a special election.

Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, was arguably the most prominent prospect for the job to lead and stabilize the FBI, which has been shaken by Trump's dismissal of Comey amid an inquiry of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Cornyn, 65, was one of 14 people who had emerged as candidates, eight of whom met over the weekend with Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Had Cornyn been tapped for the position at the FBI, he would have left vacant a U.S. Senate seat he has occupied since 2002.

"Working for 28 million Texans in the U.S. Senate is an honor I never expected to have, and one I cherish each and every day," Cornyn said. "I'm eager to continue working with the administration and the rest of my colleagues to make Texas and our country stronger."

It was never clear how much Cornyn wanted the FBI job or whether he was considering it out of a sense of obligation to the administration. In a statement on Friday after his name was first floated in public, he downplayed interest in the job, saying his "focus" remained on representing Texas.

Those who know him say he is happy in the Senate, where he has cultivated comfortable relationships, mastered the chamber's traditions and enjoyed respect on both sides of the aisle. By comparison, the FBI post is expected to remain at the center of lingering tensions between Senate Democrats and an embattled Trump administration, whose inner workings have often appeared chaotic.

"It's probably the right move for him," said Austin GOP strategist Brendan Steinhauser, who managed Cornyn's third Senate campaign in 2014. "He's in a great position right now and is making a big impact in Congress. He will continue to be a consequential senator and party leader for years to come."

Cornyn's decision came on a day when the White House found itself embroiled in yet another controversy, this one centered on whether Trump had improperly shared intelligence data with Russian diplomats in the Oval Office the day after he fired Comey.

The fallout from the Comey firing has cast a shadow on the selection process to replace him. Trump has variously attributed his decision to "this Russia thing" and to Comey's controversial handling of the Clinton email probe. The partisan furor has underscored the need for an impartial and independent director.

Cornyn, like other Republican leaders in the House and Senate, defended has defended Trump's decision to fire Comey, arguing that he had lost the confidence of the president, ostensibly because of the Clinton email investigation.

Democrats have rejected that explanation, noting that Trump praised Comey's actions during the 2016 election. Cornyn has called the charge that Comey was fired to squash the Russia investigation a "phony narrative."

Cornyn declined to say whether the Russia investigation came up during his Saturday interview with Sessions. The attorney general has recused himself from the inquiry after he failed to disclose during his Senate confirmation hearings that he had met twice with a Russian ambassador during the campaign.

Asked Monday whether he saw any conflict in Sessions' involvement in finding a new FBI director, Cornyn told reporters "he didn't recuse from being attorney general."

As McConnell's top lieutenant, analysts say Cornyn would have been seen as a partisan selection too deeply enmeshed in the political skirmishes of Congress. Leading lawmakers in both parties have called on Trump to pick an FBI director from outside politics.

In line with that sentiment, U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican who oversaw the House Benghazi committee, also withdrew his name Tuesday.

McConnell said he has recommended that Trump pick Garland, the same jurist Republicans blocked from Senate consideration as Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court.

"Yeah, it may surprise people," McConnell told Bloomberg Politics, "but he has a deep background in criminal law  and I think it would make it clear that President Trump will continue the tradition at the FBI of having an apolitical professional."

Though Republicans hold a 52-seat majority in the Senate, McConnell said it would be "good" to have Democratic support for a new FBI director.

Garland, the chief judge for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, was first floated as an FBI choice by Utah Republican Mike Lee, one of the Senate's leading conservatives. Garland's selection also would afford Trump an opportunity to fill a new vacancy on one of the nation's most important federal benches.

Democrats, still furious about McConnell's refusal to allow Garland's Supreme Court nomination to go forward, have remained largely silent about his possible selection for the FBI job.
Jon Shapley/Staff

AUSTIN - The Dallas-area court of appeals issued Attorney General Ken Paxton a small win Tuesday, agreeing to stay all proceedings in his criminal securities fraud case while the court decides whether the current judge should stay on the case.

The 5th-District Court of Appeals issued an order Tuesday that buys Paxton's team time and an audience to try to remove Tarrant County Judge George Gallagher from the high-profile case. The decision also halts all proceedings in the trial court and cancels a court hearing scheduled for Thursday in Houston.
AUSTIN - Gov. Greg Abbott sought to dispel fears that the new sanctuary cities law will prompt profiling, as a growing group of communities promised to join in challenging the law in a "summer of resistance."

"As the husband of the first Hispanic first lady in the state of Texas, I want to make sure that neither she nor her family is going to be stopped and detained inappropriately," Abbott said Tuesday when asked about concerns over the law, known as Senate Bill 4.

"If you are Hispanic - or, frankly, anybody from any other country - you are not going to be stopped and required to show your papers unless you are suspected of having committed some serious crime," Abbott said.

He spoke to reporters after a memorial service for fallen peace officers at the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"The governor and the other cynical supporters of SB 4 know this law has nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with scapegoating immigrants for their political gain," said Austin City Council member Greg Casar.

Casar was among leaders from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and El Paso County who gathered Tuesday at the south steps of the Capitol with promises to fight the law in court.

The sanctuary cities law is touted by Abbott and other supporters as a public safety measure meant to crack down on local entities that provide safe harbor to people who are here illegally and may commit crimes.

It has drawn strong criticism from civil rights activists, immigrant advocates and Democratic lawmakers, including Latinos who say that people who look like them will be unfairly targeted.

Top law enforcement officials opposed the law, saying it will erode trust and reduce cooperation of the community with police.

The law requires local governmental entities and law enforcement officials to comply with federal immigration laws and detainer requests for people in custody. It includes a Class A misdemeanor charge for sheriffs, police chiefs or constables who fail to comply with federal immigration detainer requests. It provides for removal from office for elected or appointed officials who don't abide by the law.

Maverick County and El Cenizo, a small town south of Laredo, already have filed a lawsuit saying the law infringes on the rights of city and county officials.

The state has taken a proactive position in court. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a motion for declaratory judgment a day after Abbott signed the measure into law, seeking a ruling that the ban is constitutional and can be implemented as scheduled on Sept. 1.
LOS ANGELES - A San Luis Obispo High School teacher has resigned amid controversy over a letter he wrote to the school's student newspaper that cited a Bible verse saying sinners and those who commit homosexual acts "deserve to die."

Michael Stack, a special education teacher, resigned Thursday amid widespread condemnation of the letter, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported.

He did not show up for work Thursday; that afternoon, he sent a resignation letter in an email on which he copied Fox News, according to the Tribune.

"The community apparently wants me out, so I hereby grant them their desires," he wrote.

That morning, someone called the school and threatened to kill Stack, San Luis Coastal Unified School District Supt. Eric Prater told the Tribune.

Stack's letter to the student newspaper, Expressions, was published online May 9 and was in response to a recent print issue that included multiple articles about the LGBTQ community and featured a cover photo of two women kissing.

In the letter, Stack quoted, verbatim, 17 verses from the Book of Romans regarding numerous sins, including greed, envy, murder and gossip - and homosexuality.

"And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other," says the biblical verses Stack quoted. "Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved  They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway."

Stack, in his letter, said he was writing publicly "to lift up those who have stumbled, or may stumble, and put you back on the right path."

Dozens of people rallied outside the school last week to protest Stack and to support LGBTQ rights. One large rainbow-colored banner shown in television news footage read: "Bigotry disguised as 'Religious Liberty' is still BIGOTRY."

On her Facebook page, San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon called Stack's letter "unacceptable."

"A teacher at SLO High wrote this shaming letter against the LGBT community - A community that already has a high degree of suicide," she wrote.

"I've contacted the School Board - you might do the same."
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The Texas Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill establishing statewide rules for companies such as Uber and Lyft that connect riders with willing drivers, sending a measure to the governor's desk that would supercede all local regulations regarding so-called transportation network companies.

Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, a sponsor of House Bill 100, said state rules would eliminate a "patchwork" of local regulations that he called "deliberately onerous."

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner disagreed, noting the city has co-existed with Uber for more than two years.

"This is another example of the Legislature circumventing local control to allow corporations to profit at the expense of public safety," Turner said in a statement.

Uber officials, who along with Lyft lobbied heavily in Austin this session for state rules, cheered the decision.

"A statewide framework  will help bring greater economic opportunity and expanded access to safe, reliable transportation options to more Texans," Sarfraz Maredia, general manager for Uber Texas, said in a statement.

To become the new rules of the road, the bill needs to be signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. Senators approved the bill 21-9, with eight Democrats and one Republican opposed. The new rules would go into effect immediately after Abbott signs the bill.

Uber vows return

Travis Considine, spokesman for Uber in Texas, said the company would "soon" return to cities it left after the new rules take effect.

The rules would supersede those at the city level, where the companies bitterly have opposed Austin and Houston's requirements, largely because of regulations requiring drivers to undergo a fingerprint-based background check.

"I'm disappointed that the Legislature chose to nullify the bedrock principles of self-governance and limited government by imposing regulations on our city over the objection of Austin voters," Austin Mayor Steve Adler said in a statement.

Uber and Lyft pulled out of the capital city last spring after voters there upheld city regulations requiring rideshare drivers to undergo fingerprint background checks and that companies report data about operations.

Critics of the companies and municipal officials said state rules would erode public safety protections and have other consequences.

"Texas cities will be unable to stop worsening traffic, challenged to generate tax revenue to pay for roads, and powerless to strengthen background checks to protect local citizens," said Dave Sutton, spokesperson for the 'Who's Driving You?' campaign, organized and funded by the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association.

Turner remained cautiously optimistic the companies can provide new transportation options, but sensibly.

"I am hopeful we can work  to expand our transportation options without putting our most vulnerable Houstonians at risk," he said.

Bill addresses sex

No changes were made in the Senate to the bill, authored by Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall. That includes leaving untouched an amendment added in the state House defining sex as "the physical condition of being male or female."

The additional language on sex drew questions from Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio.

"I don't understand why in a transportation bill we have to have the definition of what that condition may be," Menendez said, noting his concern that it could lead to discrimination against transgender individuals or those whose genders are in flux.

State Reps. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, and Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, added the language, citing a need to clarify exactly who received protection from discrimination.

The language put Uber and Lyft on the defense with some equal rights groups. When the bill was approved by the House in March, the companies said they remained committed to inclusive business policies and called the amendment "unnecessary" but stopped short of saying they would oppose the bill they'd lobbied heavily to see prevail.

Under the new state rules, the companies would be licensed by the state, pay a $5,000 fee and agree to conduct a national background check, which they already do under their own internal policies. They no longer would have to comply with the background checks mandated by the cities, and could return to places like Austin and Galveston where they have left because of local rules.

Lyft hiring drivers

In advance of the bill's passage, Lyft - which exited Houston when the city rules went into effect in November 2014- is recruiting drivers, presumably in preparation to return to the city.

New rules would apply only to companies that connect drivers and not to taxi companies, which vigorously have opposed companies such as Uber and Lyft.

Taxi cabs and limousine companies also can connect with riders via smartphone but cannot operate as a cab and so-called transportation network company simultaneously.

Not de-regulating the entire industry was a "missed opportunity," said Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, who filed his own bill - which failed to gain support - that would have removed barriers for app-based and taxi companies alike and placed minimal requirements on any company.

Huffines, who supported the HB 100 "reluctantly," said he anticipated further loosening of paid ride restrictions during the 2019 legislative session.
Healthy Schools Healthy Communities (HSHC) hosted a Fun Color Run/Walk event Tuesday, April 25.

HSHC wellness coordinator Earlene Stoops said 76 people participated and another 27 volunteered to perform many tasks, like throwing colored powder at runners, serving healthy food at the end and more.

Runners and walkers began in front of Houston Middle School and finished at Rutherford Park west of Houston Memorial Airport.

This is all about bringing us all together for the children in our communities and making physical activity and healthy eating fun, Stoops said.

To view more photos from the event, log onto HSHCs Facebook page.
Numerous additional doctors from around the U.S. could become eligible to treat patients in Missouris underserved areas as a result of a planned expansion of a first-in-the-nation law aimed at addressing a growing doctor shortage.

The newly passed Missouri legislation would broaden the reach of a 2014 law that sought to bridge the gap between communities in need of doctors and physicians in need of jobs. That law created a new category of licensed professionals  assistant physicians   for people who graduate from medical school and pass key medical exams but arent placed in residency programs needed for certification.

But it took nearly 2 1/2 years before Missouri finally began accepting applications on Jan. 31. By then, some applicants no longer qualified because too much time had elapsed since their medical exams. Missouris new legislation seeks to turn back the clock, so those who became ineligible during the slow roll out can still get licensed as assistant physicians.

Supporters hope the legislation, if signed by the governor, will help jumpstart a program that has been promoted as a model for other states.

Weve been trying for years to address our maldistribution of physicians in the country. We have all sorts of incentive programs and all sorts of ways to try to get them to go out to Podunk, but a lot of them just dont want to go to Podunk, said Missouri Rep. Keith Frederick, an orthopedic surgeon who sponsored the assistant physician law.

This bill takes folks that very much want to ply their trade  they just want the opportunity to provide patient care  and the bill requires that they serve in an underserved area, Frederick added.

Nearly 6,800 places in the U.S. are short on primary care physicians, from particular medical clinics to certain urban communities and entire rural counties, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Of those, 225 are in Missouri  a disproportionately high amount compared with the states population.

Since Missouris original law passed, Arkansas and Kansas approved slimmed-down versions, and Utah enacted a similar measure this year. Lawmakers also have considered similar programs in Oklahoma, Virginia and Washington.

Missouris assistant physician license is available to all legal U.S. residents who graduated from medical school within the last three years and passed the first two rounds of medical licensing exams within the last two years. It lets them provide primary care in medically underserved areas with the supervision of another physician. People can work as assistant physicians indefinitely, essentially sidestepping traditional residency requirements.

So far, 127 people have applied for Missouris program. Just 23 have been issued licenses while 55 have been deemed ineligible and 44 remain under review.

Dr. Tricia Derges is among those who have been excluded because the state took so long to implement the program.

Derges sold her candle manufacturing company about a decade ago to enroll in medical school. She said she completed the second step of the medical exam in January 2014 and graduated from Caribbean Medical University in Curacao three months later. She didnt get matched with a residency program.

Derges nonetheless opened a clinic for the homeless and poor in Springfield, believing she could get licensed as an assistant physician. While waiting for that license, she has relied on other physicians to volunteer their services.

Derges said her assistant physician application was denied because more than two years had passed since her medical exam. The new legislation could allow her to reapply, and to potentially expand her clinic.

It will save a lot of peoples lives, Derges said.

The bill also was championed by state Rep. Lynn Morris, a pharmacy owner who said the expanded program could save people long drives to see doctors.

Its a commonsense approach to help take care of a crisis weve had, Morris said.

SUPPORTERS HOPE LEGISLATION COULD HELP JUMPSTART PROGAM MODELED BY OTHER STATES
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Haydon  who is the lead judge for the 2017 Diversity Awards New Zealand  said just 20 per cent of this years entries were from listed companies and suggested the new guidelines would encourage more top companies to get on board.

We need to encourage businesses to share their stories of success, she stressed. McKinsey research concludes increased diversity on boards leads to better financial performance. The boards role is to make good decisions; increasing diversity of thought and having the rights skills and experience at the table enables that to happen.

Auckland-based Haydon says boards are used to paying attention to things they are required to measure, so moving to a comply or explain regime will help accelerate the rate of change towards more diverse teams of directors.

She also believes it will lead to more gender-balanced boards as it will encourage the use of external recruitment processes to widen the candidate pool.

There are plenty of highly qualified women seeking board appointments; supply is not the issue, she said.
I was excited by the shortlist we put in front of our employers, and even more excited by the calibre of the people they selected, said Sainsbury.

David Jones, GM of business growth and innovation at the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency, says the LookSee Team will be giving candidates a guided tour of the city.

Just as these people will do their best to impress Wellington employers, the team aims to give them an impressive taste of our world-leading quality of life, he said.

Well also provide them with the practical information theyll need before relocating, especially those with partners and children, who will have plenty of questions.

The candidates represent 28 nationalities, with the US, Canada and UK the top countries of origin. They will interview with a range of Wellington businesses for mid-to-senior-level roles such as software engineer, systems analyst, ICT project manager and chief information officer.
Twitter may taketh away but it can also be used to giveth back.

The cultural appropriation controversy that's been roiling across Canada over the past week or so has taken down two white magazine editors, sparked Twitter apologies from the white media bosses at CBC, National Post, Rogers and Macleans and made indigenous luminaries like Jesse Wente go viral with impassioned explanations of why appropriating their stories is wrong.

But the viral success of Emerging Indigenous Voices, "a Canadian literary award to support the vision of emerging indigenous writers," gives a small glimmer of hope that change is coming.

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"I was watching the 'appropriation prize' story unfold on Twitter...I didn't want to take up space arguing. I wanted to help create space for creativity and art."  Robin Parker, Toronto lawyer

After the resignation of Write magazine's Hal Niedzviecki, who ignited the uproar with his "Winning the Appropriation Prize" editorial, and that of Walrus Magazine's now-former editor-in-chief Jon Kay, who ignited the Twitter "joke" session among Canada's media elite about crowdfunding an actual #AppropriationPrize, everyone wondered  what happens next?

Robin Parker, a Toronto lawyer, decided to take that joke to its logical conclusion by crowdfunding an actual Emerging Indigenous Voices award.

Help make it happen for Emerging Indigenous Voices https://t.co/iqj54hOGqe#indiegogo via @indiegogo  Robin Parker (@robinparker_plg) May 15, 2017

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"I was watching the 'appropriation prize' story unfold on Twitter in real time and it was so upsetting," Parker told CBC News. "I didn't want to take up space arguing. I wanted to help create space for creativity and art."

The IndieGoGo page went up on May 15 and had made about $1,100 when CBC first wrote about it the next night. But it then exploded on Twitter and by noon on May 17, it was over $24,000, more than doubling the campaign's $10,000 goal.

UPDATE: By the morning of May 18 the total had passed $45,000.

OVER $ 20K for emerging indigenous writer award. Ticked off by the whole #appropriationprize debacle? Then donate! https://t.co/C3oVnYQUpt  Peggy Blair (@peggy_blair) May 17, 2017

In the campaign's explanation, Parker wrote:

The #AppropriationPrize events highlighted two things: the lack of diversity in the ranks of senior Canadian editors and journalists, but also the democratizing power of social media. A crowdfunded literary prize won't just support new literary voices and nurture emerging indigenous writers, but is also the ultimate boon to young writers  and to all of you who contribute. The more money we can raise, the better because it means we have more to give to young artists. But how many people give is also important. Imagine knowing, as a young writer, that your work is being supported by 1000 people. Our contributions, all together, are worth so much more than one big donation. Together we are a chorus of positive change, creating and building.

The campaign's viral success has caught Parker off guard, and she later added an update that read: "We've been overwhelmed by the response on Twitter. It's exciting! We are trying to keep up. Stay tuned as we reach out to indigenous organizations to set up the details of the award, we hope will be managed by an indigenous organization."

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Of course, cultural appropriation isn't just a story that affects Canada, as similar controversies are currently ongoing in Australia, over a US$1,300 Chanel boomerang, and in the U.K., over artist Damian Hirst's latest work, as you can see in the videos below.

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It must have been a good year for WestJet, IKEA, and Chapters/Indigo. All three brands shot up in the minds of Canadians to land on a list of this year's 10 most trusted brands.

The University of Victorias Gustavson Brand Trust Index measures the opinions of 6,560 Canadians on 294 corporate brands, to see which ones they trust enough to recommend to family and friends.

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Chapters/Indigo made gains over the course of 2016, shooting up to sixth place from its previous spot at 59. WestJet advanced to 10th from 54th in 2016, and IKEA made it reached fifth place from 22nd.

Retailer Mountain Equipment Co-op kept its rank as number one.

Consumer trust can erode very rapidly but it takes a long time to build, said Saul Klein, dean of the Gustavson School of Business, in a press release.

Watch the video above to see the top five brands trusted by Canadians.

The index weighs consumer perceptions of a brand's social responsibility, its product performance, interaction with customers, and potential recommendation to others.

The school also released the top brands by industry.

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Canadian Brands That Give Back See Gallery
"Had my parents not been there I would have either died or overdosed, or if I was still alive, I would be in a horrible place and it would take me so much longer to recover, but thankfully I was helped and I am here now and things turned out really well for me, but that is not the same story for a lot of my friends who were in the shelters with me." - J, 25 years old

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and 2-spirit (LGBTQ2S) identities have been criminalized and pathologized for decades, leaving many of us questioning where we should go to for support and safety. On May 17th 1990, the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a "mental disorder."

Today, May 17th marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) -- a global celebration of gender and sexual diversity. This year, 2017, the theme is focused on families.

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We know that family support is critical to the health and well-being of LGBTQ2S young people. We also know that not all LGBTQ2S young people receive support from their families of origin, and that the consequences of family rejection can have a lasting negative impact on youth. Family support for LGBTQ2S youth can often be a life or death situation. LGBTQ2S youth who come from highly rejecting families are eight times more likely to attempt suicide than those who receive familial support, and eight times more likely to attempt suicide when their parents reject them.

"I remember um, coming home from work and my stuff was packed, the locks were changed and there was a note. Um....there was 200 dollars in an envelope and she told me to find somewhere to go...in the note. She don't care where I go, as long as it's away from her. 'Cuz my lifestyle is sick and she can't have it around her." - C, 23 years old

Where am I going to go? We have heard this question a countless number of times in our years of working with LGBTQ2S youth.

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Where does a young person go when they are not allowed to live at home?

Identity-based family conflict resulting from a young person coming out as LGBTQ2S is a major contributing factor to youth homelessness and the most frequently cited reason that queer and trans youth experience homelessness. Additional factors include exiting public systems (child welfare, juvenile justice) into homelessness, unstable and insufficient employment, poverty, and racism.

Where does a young person go when the services meant to help them either don't recognize they exist or cause further harm?

Homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia are still rampant in most institutional settings, such as shelters, housing programs, and health care facilities, making it incredibly difficult for queer and trans youth to access safe and supportive services that are LGBTQ2S competent and affirming. For example, intake forms often only have the option for people to identify as Male or Female and sometimes "other". Shelters usually have binary sex segregated (M/F) bathrooms, showers, and designated floors.

Placement of a person often has more to do with the staff's perception of a person's sex and less to do with how an individual actually identifies. Binary M/F designations also exclude gender expansive and non-binary people. These are some of the ways that institutions such as shelters and systems of care can actually work to further oppress LGBTQ2S youth.

All youth should have a safe place to go.

Inspired by the LGBTQ2S young people we've worked alongside for over a decade, we created this book. Where Am I Going to Go: Intersectional Approaches to Ending LGBTQ2S Youth Homelessness in Canada and the U.S. is the 1st book of its kind -- a peer reviewed text examining LGBTQ2S youth homelessness across two countries, including an examination of the identity-related structural barriers LGBTQ2S youth experiencing homelessness face, with specific attention to Indigenous youth and youth of colour.

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All youth deserve a chance.

Published by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, each chapter addresses a specific need and its associated barriers, accompanied by a case study of a successful program that acts as a solution. Where am I Going to Go shares new knowledge and informs the development of LGBTQ2S inclusive and affirming systems and service provisions at the local, regional, and national levels.

"It's kind of the lowest of the low for me. You know it's always nice to hear those stories of people who have made it successful and you know, earlier on they didn't have it so great. So I want to be one of those people who've experienced the lowest of the lows and maybe has a successful life later on." - X, 21 years old

All youth deserve a chance. It is our hope that this book will help provide that chance, by sharing knowledge and offering examples of how LGBTQ2S youth homelessness can effectively be addressed.

"A community would look like people looking out for the best interests of kids; that's a community. I'm Native, we know that. It's about the kids; it's not about nobody else. You're supposed to be watching out for them, no matter what." - L, 26 years old

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Axelle/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 06: Former Vice President of the United States Al Gore arrives at the advance Fandango screening of Paramount Pictures' 'An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power' at The Greek Theatre on May 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Like many doom-mongers before him, Al Gore's predictions of impending disaster have fallen somewhat short of the mark -- a point to keep in mind as his Inconvenient Sequel hits theatres this summer.

It's a good thing he was wrong, too, because I was worried we might not be around in 2017, given the alarms he was sounding in 2006's An Inconvenient Truth!

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For one thing, I thought sea levels would have risen 20 feet by now thanks to the melting of either West Antarctica or Greenland. Al Gore claimed that this would happen in the "near future," but thankfully, we've been spared so far. In fact, sea levels seem to be rising at maybe three millimetres per year. Twenty feet is over six thousand millimetres, so at this rate, we wouldn't even be halfway by the year 3017.

That's what a High Court judge in the United Kingdom said ten years ago when he ruled that Gore's film could only be shown in British schools with guidance notes to prevent political indoctrination: "The Armageddon scenario he predicts, insofar as it suggests that sea level rises of seven metres might occur in the immediate future, is not in line with the scientific consensus" and would only happen "after, and over, millennia."

The judge had other problems with the film's claims. For instance, the film speaks of global warming "shutting down the Ocean Conveyor," by which the Gulf Stream is carried over the North Atlantic to Western Europe, among other things. But the judge said it was "very unlikely" that the Ocean Conveyor would shut down, although it might slow down, based on the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Again, though, so far so good, as NASA found in 2010 that there had been no significant slowing over the previous 15 years, and in fact that the Ocean Conveyor "may have even sped up slightly in the recent past."

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The polar bears are doing fine as well, despite the film's claims that they were drowning because they were unable to find ice. In fact, their numbers have increased over the past decade, from 20,000-25,000 to 23,000-32,000 bears in 2016.

Finally, though not in the film, Al Gore often predicted that the Arctic Ocean would be ice-free in the summer by now. To be specific, according to the fact checkers at Snopes.com, "In the late 2000s, Al Gore made a series of high-profile statements suggesting the possibility that Arctic sea ice could be completely gone during the summer by around 2013 or 2014." They go on to conclude that while "Arctic sea ice is, without question, on a declining trend," Al Gore "definitely erred in his use of preliminary projections and misrepresentations of research."

None of this is to say that climate change is not an issue worth addressing, that it won't require adaptation and innovation in the coming decades. It is and it will. But is it an impending catastrophe? Is it a concern that should outweigh, for instance, efforts to help the poorest parts of the world rise out of crushing poverty through the use of cheap and efficient fossil fuels?

In trying to answer these kinds of questions, we need reliable information of likely costs and benefits. "Misrepresentations of research," which Al Gore seems all too fond of, are the opposite of helpful.
Long-awaited updates to the labour and employment standards laws in Ontario are before the province's cabinet this week, setting the stage for what could be a public unveiling very soon.

This is good news, especially for young people and vulnerable workers.

Labour laws across this country have not kept up with the times. Written when most jobs were full time, and people could stay in one job to build a career and a life for their families, today's laws cannot adequately address the needs of workers in increasingly precarious temporary work and contract positions.

The so-called gig economy, in which most young people find themselves, needs a new set of laws and that's what the proposals before the Ontario cabinet seeks to address.

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The proposed changes include a plan to boost the minimum wage to $15 an hour, introduce paid sick days, and increase the mandatory two week vacation to three. Equally important to address the precarious modern workplace, cabinet will discuss recommendations that could make it simpler for workers to join a union, require employers to demonstrate why a part-time or contract job can't be full time and permanent, and much more.

These changes are for Ontario only, but what is being proposed should matter to all Canadians. For one thing, it reflects changes being considered or implemented in other provincial jurisdictions -- including Alberta, where plans are already in place to raise the minimum wage to $15. In British Columbia during its recent election, the NDP likewise proposed a $15 minimum wages, among other changes.

In short, Ontario is not alone in looking at ways to update labour and employment laws. Across North America, in fact, there is a push for a $15 minimum wage, with several U.S. jurisdictions already bringing in the change.

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Far from making Ontario uncompetitive, as some in the business class are likely to suggest, changing Ontario's laws keeps the province on track with changes coming in elsewhere. Only corporations and their high-paid executive win from a race to the bottom on wages and working conditions. We owe it to the next generation of workers to push back on every front and work to bring in progressive labour law reform changes whenever and wherever we can.

Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn would reportedly like to make real and meaningful changes to legislation in Ontario. How much he will be able to do depends largely on the support he gets from cabinet this week before the report is made public. It will also depend on how much political influence is exerted by either voters or influential corporate voices like the Chamber of Commerce. This is an important opportunity to speak up and not allow big business to dictate conditions on workers.

Legislation allows us to level the playing field by requiring all employers to live by the same standards.

We, as working people in Ontario and as voters need to show the rest of cabinet that there is broad public support for the changes being proposed. You can bet the corporate lobby is making its views known to cabinet. We need to do the same. Call or email your local MPP, or a cabinet minister, to let them know you support changing workplace laws in Ontario.

You can get the phone number you need at unifor.org/ChangingWorkplaces. You'll also see more details about the proposed changes, and Unifor's active role in pushing for change at that site.

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With the growing preference for offering only precarious work, employers have shown that they are either incapable or unwilling to create the good jobs Canadians need to build lives and provide solid foundations for raising their children.

Legislation allows us to level the playing field by requiring all employers to live by the same standards. None can claim an unfair disadvantage if all are required to pay a decent wage, provide reasonable working conditions, decent vacations and sick days.

The report before cabinet this week is expected to be made public next week, after the long weekend. Politicians need to hear loud and clear that the changes being proposed for labour reform, resulting from the Changing Workplace Review, need to happen. A generation of young workers is counting on it.

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Recently, ex-Muslim atheists complained that their pages are increasingly being blocked on Facebook. They have created a petition here to ask Facebook to protect one of its most vulnerable communities.

This mob behaviour is not innocuous for it has led to the death of secular bloggers in Bangladesh and Maldives. A Christian governor in Indonesia was also recently sentenced to imprisonment for blasphemy.

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While a tiny minority perpetrates these heinous acts, it is the narrative stoked by a sizable mass of Muslims that pushes those at the cusp to engage in the unthinkable. Even a scholar who rejects mob lynching and capital punishment leaves "room for lighter sentences."

This narrative affects not just atheists but also progressive believers with viewpoints disdained by the mob majority.

Consistency demands that those who defend Islam through identity politics and freedom of expression in secular countries actually support the same for others living under precarious conditions in Muslim countries.

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However, many such defenders of Islam claim that secular bloggers should respect the law of the land. For them Muslim countries have the right to abide by their own laws without dictations by the West. One Muslim academic writes:

"Why must we judge our values by their standards? And what right do they really have to judge us."

Engaging in apologetics on hudud (Islamic punishments), another academic writes that such punishments in Saudi Arabia "are still very rare."

Once they are declared non-Muslim, their blood could technically be spilled through judicial process.

Bloggers who engage in satire and critique of religion are often targeted through blasphemy and apostasy charges. Once they are declared non-Muslim, their blood could technically be spilled through judicial process.

Such apostasy charges are promoted not only by reactionary young Muslims but also esteemed scholars of Islam. The following shows how differences of opinion can easily lead to apostasy and blasphemy charges.

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1)Supporting evolution

Muslim philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr states:

"Anyone who identifies paradise with some place in Africa where Adam gradually evolved is guilty of the worst kind of heresy theologically speaking. Such people are not serious Muslims anymore."

The late Saudi scholar Bin Baz also declared that Muslims who claim that man descended from apes are heretics. Other scholars like al-Hawali hold similar opinions.

2)Justifying homosexuality

Commenting on the punishment for homosexuality, popular Muslim scholar Bilal Philips expressed in Germany:

"I am not calling for the application of that law here, that is in a society where people have agreed to live by that law ... any Muslim who says I don't stand for this law, I don't believe in this law, then you have to question that person's Islam, is he really a Muslim, or is she really a Muslim."

Likewise, commenting on homosexuality, Muslim academic Yasir Qadhi writes that, "to stand up and justify it, or defend it, or write articles claiming that it is Islamic, without a doubt constitutes kufr (apostasy), and not merely sin."

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Qadhi is not alone in this opinion. Many contemporary Muslim scholars can easily buttress this position from classical legal manuals.

3)Reproaching another for taking a concubine

Muslim academic, Dr. Kecia Ali quotes a 17th century chief jurist of Damascus, Haskafi, in her book Sexual Ethics and Islam, as follows:

"If a man has four free [wives] and a thousand concubines and wants to buy another [concubine] and a man reproaches him for that, it will be as if [the man] had committed unbelief."

4)Contextualizing inheritance laws

The express Qur'anic text awards male offsprings twice the share in inheritance as women. There are many Muslim scholars who contextualize such texts based on the socio-economic milieu and therefore apportion equal shares especially when women bear equal financial responsibility in contemporary times.

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However, academics like Yasir Qadhi state:

"I would be unwilling to call for reform in, say, the Islamic laws of inheritance, since these have been explicitly laid out in the Sacred Texts. If some people consider rejecting the explicit texts of the Quran to be 'Islamic feminism', then I view it as being a manifestation of kufr (apostasy), and you count me an ardent opponent of any such endeavor."

5)Rejecting Slavery

Mufti Taqi Usmani, one of the most influential clerics in the Indian subcontinent, writes on the permissibility of slavery in Islam as follows.

"Thus, the clear manifest truth is that taking slaves is permissible in Islam, with its laws and its limits which have preceded, and nothing has abrogated it, and there are wisdoms in this which we have explained, and the opinion of its abrogation is rejected and is against consensus ..."

While he does not explicitly call for apostasy charges, rejecting consensus potentially invites such charges.

Apologists go at great length to defend classical Islamic positions. The same concern, however, is muted when real people suffer under apostasy and blasphemy charges. In some sense, they are tacitly complicit in the oppression of free thinkers.

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There is no level playing field between Muslim apologists and secular bloggers.

Atheists in general are a brave lot for they do not console themselves on the injustices and suffering in this life with a Hereafter.

"In my view, if there are individuals who do good to other people ... without any expectation, ... even if they know that no benefit will accrue to them and not even a single person will come to know of what they did or say so much as 'God bless you' to them ... love of good and justice and doing good because it is good and just and worthy, ... it is not far-fetched that such people actually will not be resurrected among the unbelievers, though by their tongues they are considered deniers."

There is no compulsion in religion. But can Muslim apologists overcome their perceived victimhood to support vulnerable bloggers?

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bowie15 via Getty Images Man followed by ideas

Subconscious language learning is a concept that leading language acquisition expert Stephen Krashen has demonstrated through extensive research, but is still challenged by many teachers. Though there is research to back up this theory that language is learned subconsciously, we are still not aware of how the language starts to stick in our brains.

Enjoyable Engagement with the Language

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In my own case, I have found that much of my learning takes place subconsciously, as I explore and discover a new language, and learn new things using the language. I can tell when reading new lessons, articles or books on LingQ that I have fewer and fewer unknown words, and my "known words" count just keeps growing.

As a result, of course, I understand more and more of what I am reading and listening to. But I acquire many of these new words and phrases largely without knowing how I learn them. Saving words and phrases at LingQ obviously helps, as does occasionally reviewing these saved words and phrases. Yet the increase in my "known words" count is much greater than the number of words I save. Obviously I learn most of these words incidentally or subconsciously.

I have never found it satisfying or useful to spend large amounts of time on the deliberate study of word lists, even using memory systems. I do some of it, but not much. Just as with the occasional review of grammar, these are minor parts of my learning. The bulk of my language acquisition is more of a subconscious process, a bi-product of my enjoyable engagement with compelling content, reading and listening and eventually speaking.

That's not to say that those deliberate learning activities can't help. They do help, to the extent that they represent exposure to the language. They are activities that can help us notice things, but they are not the main means by which we learn a language because language learning is largely a subconscious activity.

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I have always found that if I expose myself to enough of the language, in a deliberate way, all of a sudden I can start to say things.

My Experience with Romanian

I was reminded of the importance of subconscious learning, and things that influence our subconscious learning, by my experience with Romanian.

When I was learning Romanian, in preparation for a pending business trip to Romania, I read a lot about Romania; its history and place names I had seen in history books like Bessarabia, Bukovina, as well as about Romania's relations with Russia, Austro-Hungary, Turkey and other neighbours.

This reading was all done in Romanian and mostly had accompanying audio. It was fascinating and allowed me to be immersed in a Romanian environment without leaving home. This is the modern connected world we live in.

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After one month of input based study, I started speaking with two tutors. I was able to start speaking in Romanian much earlier than I ever did in Czech, Russian or Korean. It was much easier because about 70% of the vocabulary is similar to Italian vocabulary, and another 20% is similar to Slavic vocabulary. Words would stick in my brain sooner, and I could even guess at the meaning of many new words. As I always say, vocabulary, the acquisition of words and phrases, is the key task in language learning.

I had enjoyable discussions with my first two tutors about what they were doing, what I did during the day, my plans to visit Romania or whatever came to mind. At the end of each 30-minute discussion, I would get a list of some of the phrases that I used incorrectly or where I struggled to find the word.

This was valuable learning input for me, since it was content with a high degree of resonance. These were things that I had tried to say, and had not expressed correctly. I didn't learn all the words right away nor all the phrases. I just became more aware of them and I think I noticed them better when I next came across them in other contexts.

Let the Student Explore and Discover the Language

At a certain point, I wanted to step up my Romanian speaking exposure and decided to add yet another tutor. This new tutor was a trained teacher and he insisted, at least initially, on doing things his way. So, first of all, he wanted to correct all of my mistakes on the fly. He also insisted on using English to explain. Often when he used words or expressions in Romanian, he would translate into English, just to make sure I understood.

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I pleaded with him to just use Romanian and add any mistakes I made in my report so that I could study them later on. His reply: "You should speak in very short sentences. For the first few lessons limit yourself to simple sentences, then after a while we can move to more complicated sentences."

He eventually came around and we had many interesting conversations. This experience made me realize again the power of the Internet. I could engage a tutor on Skype and, as it was my nickel, I could decide how the time was going to be used. If the tutor didn't accommodate me, I could find another tutor. But in a classroom I am powerless. The teacher can impose role playing, tell me whether to speak in short sentences or long sentences, and basically run things however he/she wants.

***

Most language teaching pedagogical theory doesn't accept the fact that language is a subconscious process. Rather, the assumption is that deliberate teaching and study is the only path to language acquisition. Thanks to the work of Stephen Krashen and others, we now have another option, one that recognizes the subconscious or incidental nature of much of the process of language acquisition. One that is based on using compelling content, selected by the learner, for listening, reading and speaking.

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FatCamera via Getty Images A doctor is talking to a little girl while she is at her checkup.

Written by Alexis Dobranowski, Communications Advisor at Sunnybrook.

How you are diagnosed with an illness and treated for that illness is based on years of research and evidence. That evidence is constantly being revisited by researchers who are searching for the best and safest ways to find, diagnose and treat diseases.

While most research begins in the lab, there are many more steps before the research gets to people.

A clinical trial is a research study that involves people. After showing promise in a lab, a clinical trial is the next step. Clinical trials look at the effect of a medical action on people's health and often compare one treatment to another. The studies often look at how well new treatments work and how safe they are to administer.

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Sasha Manohar, clinical research associate, and Maurice Zakhem, data manager, both in the Odette Cancer Centre Clinical Research Program, gave us a little crash-course in clinical trials. If you have questions about clinical trials, talk to your doctor.

How is a clinical trial different from other research?

Clinical trials, unlike other research, always involve humans. The studies are thoroughly reviewed by trained staff who decide whether or not the research is safe and ethical to perform on humans. These studies are performed with patient safety and confidentiality as a priority and you are always given a choice whether or not to participate.

Who is involved in a clinical trial?

A whole team is involved in running a clinical trial at a hospital. All clinical trials are supervised by a doctor at your hospital who either treats you or is part of a team that is involved in your care. This doctor is considered a principal investigator (PI) and their colleagues are called co-investigators. Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) or Clinical Research Nurses also help guide you through your participation in the study. Depending on the type of clinical trial, you may also have contact with hospital staff from medical imaging, phlebotomy (the blood lab), and other departments.

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Who can be in trials?

Each clinical trial has requirements about who can participate. These are called eligibility criteria. Think of it like that phrase "That's comparing apples to oranges!". Clinical trials need to compare apples with apples (Sorry to compare people to fruit!) The researchers need make sure all participants on the trial are similar in key ways so they can be confident the results of the trial come from the treatment being studied and not from other factors. So, if the trial is looking at a new chemotherapy drug on breast cancer, the researchers may want to be sure the participants have the same type and stage of cancer, have all had the same amount of radiation and are in a particular age range.

These eligibility criteria commonly include the type or stage of cancer, previous treatment for the cancer and the patient's overall health.

How do you get into a trial?

To become a part of a clinical trial, speak with your doctor. Your doctor is the first link to participating in a clinical trial. Your doctor can see if you meet any of the eligibility criteria for clinical trials being conducted at hospitals near you. If your doctor thinks you might be suitable, he or she will give you an informed consent form that tells you more about the study. You'll also meet with a clinical research associate to discuss the trial further, ask any questions you have and decide whether to participate or not.

How long do trials take?

The length of time you participate in a clinical trial can have a huge range, from a few months to a few years to even longer. It all depends on what questions the trial is trying to answer. It's common for clinical trials to follow patients for a long time after they have finished treatment to look for long-term outcomes such as side effects, the cancer worsening or returning. Ask your doctor how long you have to participate if you are thinking of taking part in a clinical trial. You can also ask the research staff when you may know the results of the trial.

Do they always work as a better treatment?

By participating in a clinical trial, you may be among the first to receive a new treatment that is otherwise not available. But remember -- there are both risks and benefits to taking part in a clinical trial. While you may be among the first to benefit from a new treatment, there is also the risk that the new treatment isn't better than the current standard of care. As with all cancer treatments, a new treatment may not benefit all participants. It is important to discuss possible risks and benefits with your doctor as well as those close to you.

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More resources:

Learn more about health care innovation from Sunnybrook experts at health.sunnybrook.ca
Her name is Mary (name changed). She's from Benin City in Nigeria. When she was seventeen, Mary tried to escape a life with no prospects to work in a restaurant in Italy. Instead she was set up to be trafficked into the sex industry.

Her story is a story that we have heard again and again.

It is a byproduct of a huge industry that has grown up in the shadows of stricter immigration rules and border closure throughout the world -- people smuggling. Today tens of thousands of mostly unaccompanied children are deliberately tricked and trafficked into slavery by people smugglers.

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On Friday UNICEF is releasing a major report linking trafficking to smuggling and calling on the G7 countries meeting in Sicily to come up with plans to protect migrant children from the people predators.

Mary's story reveals how the smugglers exploit children and their families.

"A woman said she would help me and send me to Europe. She introduced me to a man, his name is Ben, who she said could help me. Ben said he knew people who had restaurants to put me to work in. For the moment, he said he would pay my expenses.

"The next day, he called me to his house. There were lots of boys and girls there. He said to all of us, if we made it to Europe, we each had to pay 25,000. Some people said no, but I said that was okay.

"Then he took us to a place where they do juju."

(Juju is an ancient Nigerian belief of the occult.)

"We had to swear to an old woman -a sorcerer- that we wouldn't run. Then I left for Libya. That place is very very bad. They treated us so bad. Everything Ben, said, that we would be treated well, and that we would be safe, it was all wrong. It was a lie.

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"We were trapped first in Gharyan. For three months we were there, and a lot of the girls were raped. That man, Ben, took two of us girls one night. He gave the other girl to another man, and he said to me if I didn't sleep with him he would not bring me to Europe. He raped me.

"From there we were taken to Sabratha, though everyone calls it 'Seaside', because that's where they push the girls off to Italy. The Libyan men, they come and if they see a boy, they make him work for them. If they see a girl they rape her. I wanted to get away but I couldn't-I had no money, no phone. I didn't even know where I was to escape to.

"We went to sea and we were rescued by the Italian coast guard. I was friends with a girl who was making the journey for a second time. She told me we were going to be used as prostitutes, and that I should not talk to the madams and that I had to stay inside the camp the Italian's would put us in. I was thinking, 'I'm not going to work with my body, I don't want to sell it.'"

When we arrived on shore, a white woman, Gilda, who was a lawyer, talked to me. I told her I owed a man named Ben money. I was taken from the camp and put into a safe house.

"Now the people who paid for my trip are saying to my mother it's time for money. Two weeks ago, they came to my mother's place and handcuffed her. They took her to a house and threatened her. They said they would do something very bad to her if I don't send money. Now when she calls me I don't know what to say, so I have to shut my phone off. I'm so sad, under so much pressure, and I'm so tired. I don't know what to do.

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"I'm waiting for my documents, and then I can work and everyone says I have to be patient. And my mother has to be patient, but it's hard."

According to an IOM survey, three quarters of all unaccompanied children who arrive in Italy report they have suffered some form of trafficking. UNICEF and UN surveys in Libya and Somalia also report that families at home are subject to huge ransom demands for their children.

Today Mary is living in a safe house for victims of sex trafficking run by the Penelope Association on the outskirts of Taormina, Sicily, Italy, not far from where leaders of the G7 are meeting.

The plight of children, like Mary, can't being ignored any longer. Children on the move are children first and foremost. UNICEF is asking Governments to forge global agreement on how to protect children, particularly unaccompanied children against exploitation and violence as they move, no matter where they are. It should be based on six principles.

1.Protect child refugees and migrants, particularly unaccompanied children, from exploitation and violence.

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2.End the detention of children seeking refugee status or migrating by finding practical alternatives .

3.Keep families together as the best way to protect children and give children legal status.

4.Keep all refugee and migrant children learning and give them access to health and other quality services.

5.Press for action on the underlying causes of large-scale movements of refugees and migrants.

6.Promote measures to combat xenophobia, discrimination and marginalization in countries of transit and destination
PA Wire/PA Images

At one of the most fascinating junctures in Northern Ireland's recent political history, it is only Jeremy Corbyn's links with the IRA making headlines. The politics of the day are left largely unreported.

The lack of coverage persists in spite of a fraught political landscape following the snap Assembly elections in March this year. After the late Martin McGuinness resigned in protest over the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal, there was a surge of support for Sinn Fein, resulting in the first election since the Partition in which unionist parties did not win a majority of seats.

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As it stands, Stormont is without a working government and the population is facing direct rule from Westminster. A number of deadlines for reaching a power-sharing agreement have passed and a resolution looks unlikely before the new deadline of 29 June. And of course, in 20 months' time, the people of Northern Ireland will be leaving the EU, despite having voted 56% in favour of remaining.

Already, Sinn Fein have called for a referendum on Northern Ireland leaving the UK and the case for leaving after Brexit is far stronger in Northern Ireland than Scotland. Many in the North feel that the economic impact of leaving the United Kingdom for a united Ireland in the EU would be preferable to Brexit (the Scottish Nationalists, for their part, don't have a confirmed route back into Europe). Even two years ago, the possibility of a border poll would have been unfathomable, but after a strong showing for Sinn Fein in March and an impending hard Brexit mandated from Westminster, calls for a referendum are getting louder.

The prospect of a return to a hard border with the Republic looms large in Stormont and platitudes around a 'practical solution' to the border questions are failing to reassure the Northern Irish population. This week, David Davis re-confirmed the Government's rejection that the Irish border should be tackled before talks on a trade deal can begin, revealing a willingness to politicise the issue in the negotiations.

But because coverage has largely discussed the issue of Northern Ireland in reference to the UK's own negotiating position, we're missing a quiet revolution from Northern Ireland borne out of a new wave of identity politics in the country.

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The 2011 census found that 38% of people view themselves as British, 25% as Irish and 20% as Northern Irish, dividing into three identities rather than the traditional two.

The emerging Northern Irish identity represents a growing demographic unbound by traditional sectarian ties and governed instead by views on Brexit, the economy, and social affairs. As the General Election approaches, all of the parties will be targeting this group with those on the Left buoyed by the Assembly results in March.

Nuance will be required to translate the results on 9th June into accurate commentary on the future of politics across the water given that Sinn Fein's abstention from sitting in Westminster always curtails their performance in the Generals. Nevertheless, the results will show if the Unionist parties are loosening their grip on power in Stormont, may reveal the extent of the Brexit backlash, and might hint at the possibility of a referendum on the horizon.
If you're lucky enough to have a dog in your life, the next time they're by your side, take a long, hard look at your best friend.

Then imagine for a moment that he or she is not with you, but instead is locked in a small, dark space for the next six years; confined in squalid conditions with nothing to sleep on except a hard, plastic bed with some shredded newspaper at best, or just a cold concrete floor covered in sawdust. Your dog has to toilet themselves in the same space that they sleep and eat every day. The skin on your dog's paws is burnt from standing in their own urine. No walks, no playing, no treats. Sometimes not even a bowl of clean water to drink from.

If your dog is female, imagine her being forcibly mated to become pregnant as many times as she physically can during her years of incarceration. If your dog is male, he's a stud dog kept in complete isolation to ensure he is out of his mind with frustration.

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Your beautiful, sensitive friend is now back at your feet malnourished, infested with fleas and mites, ears painfully infected. Visually impaired from being kept in perpetual darkness. Gentle mouth full of rotting, abscessed teeth, poisoning your dog's system and causing excruciating pain. How do you feel? Distraught? Angry?

As a dog lover, you'd find the thought of this happening to your own dog absolutely unbearable, if not completely unimaginable. But as the saying goes, "there but for the grace of God go I". Had fate not brought you and your dog together in a different way, he or she could very well have been in the situation described above.

When the public hear the words 'puppy farm dog' or 'ex breeder' it's easy for them to feel disconnected from these dogs - like people put them in a separate category - a sub species of the companion animals 8.5 million of us share our homes with in the UK. But these dogs are no different to your dog. Their misfortune is to be born in the wrong place at the wrong time and be kept by the wrong people.

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Such is the case of a tiny Chihuahua called Brie. Her misfortune was to have been born in a Welsh puppy farm. The only saving grace for Brie is that one of the small, cash-poor rescues that take in ex puppy farm breeding dogs, stepped in to save her life.

Brie's mum Claire Stokoe has a lot of experience with Chihuahuas and says:

"When I first saw Brie she was in the arms of a staff member at the rescue, I didn't think she'd survive the 300-mile trip home and wondered "had made a mistake?". She'd had two litters in her short life, both C-sections because her body is so small, and she had an ugly wound down her tiny belly from a recent spay. Unlike my other chihuahuas, Brie had no muscles in her legs at all, so could barely walk a few steps without falling over, her ears were flea bitten, she had a big scab on her nose and she weighed less than 1 pound. I later found out that if Brie had not been rescued when she was, she'd have been drowned in the farm's slurry pit, a common practice on puppy farms.

"It soon became apparent just what horrors she'd been through. She'd scream and run into walls if any sound or movement startled her, she found it hard to open her eyes in the light having spent so long in the dark, and she was absolutely terrified of people. But somehow, she found it within herself to trust me.

"The more I found out about the everyday lives of these breeding dogs on the puppy farms, the more I was in awe of the heroes that rescued her and spend their lives saving thousands of dogs just like Brie every year. I would sit and stare into her little hazel eyes as we sat on the couch together and I wondered how anyone could hurt her. Having PTSD myself, Brie and I have an understanding; I watch for her triggers and try to minimise them and in return she makes me realise that anything is possible - even if you are only 6 inches tall."

Next time you look at your own dog, remember the thousands of dogs enduring lives of hell in UK puppy farms - all because some believe that public demand for puppies in the UK must continue to be met, at any cost.

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Your dog is no different to a puppy farm breeding dog. Fate just made your dog a whole lot luckier.
From Istanbul to London and Dubai to New York, in the last decade, the modest fashion industry is beginning to gain recognition by mainstream brands in the West. After the world's largest online modest fashion retailer, Modanisa debuted their annual fashion week in Istanbul last year, London Modest Fashion Week (LMFW) hit the catwalks at Olympia London during the Easter weekend last month.

Photo  Rooful Ali - Halima Aden opening LMFW

LMFW unified leading global influencers including the first hijab-wearing IMG model, Halima Aden, opening the first show of the weekend.

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Aden felt that the modest fashion industry "is breaking stereotypes because a lot of people think Muslim women are somehow weak and submissive or oppressed and that's the complete opposite. Look at all these female designers who are rocking it in this business and are entrepreneurs who work so hard, and look at all these beautiful models that were here today. All of them are very strong women and I think that if more people see that side of Muslim women, it can only be good for us."

Head of Marketing for Modanisa.com, Selvi Esenkal explained the challenge of having to cater for such a diverse range of consumers, "we sell to over 75 countries worldwide such as the Middle-East where women's hijab styles are more open to showing their hair, whilst in Turkey the styles are more conservative so women will wear a bonnet underneath to ensure their hair is fully covered...it can be hard and difficult to offer and meet the needs of every woman...which is why it's important to have insights from local designers in that area, to be able to suit the needs of Muslim women in that area."

Photo  Rooful Ali - CEO of Modanisa (left)

The growth of the modest fashion industry has increased with more mainstream brands such as, Nike, Debenhams, D&G and DKNY beginning to take interest into catering for consumers of modest fashion. However, CEO of Modanisa, Kerim Ture feels the industry still has a way to go, "the mistake of mainstream fashion is seeing modest fashion as a uniform or ethnic clothing." Ture said, "Muslim fashion and Muslim clothing is not a uniform...it's more than that. What we see here are great women, open-minded, willful, strong women showing the world that they care about fashion and they have a great sense of style."

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Offering a professional platform to exalt modest fashion designers in London was no coincidence. Organiser of LMFW, Franka Soeria said, "London is one of the trendiest places for modest fashion" in the West with a large supportive community. British modest fashion has its own character and style because "the modest community is living in a Muslim minority country, so they make the fashion more functional as apposed to fashion being more about art", explained Soeria.

Recently starring in BBC Three's documentary 'New York Hijabis', British modest fashion icon, Nabiila Bee explained this phenomenon, "social media is allowing everyone to mix; with social media people are seeing different styles and taking inspiration."

Photo  Rooful Ali -Nabiila Bee (left)

Alongside LMFW, panelist discussions including bloggers and modest fashion industry experts reviewed modest fashion trends around the globe. Panelist and British modest fashion blogger, Sebinah Hussain addressed Muslim-majority countries in the East are already modest in their cultural dress but as Muslim women living in the West, "if you're a working woman it's impractical if you're jumping in and out of the tube wearing a long abaya."

There was a general consensus amongst panelists that Muslim modest fashion is deeper because as much as it is about looking good and feeling good, it is also about one's identity as a faith-conscious Muslim woman.

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With vast differences between Eastern and Western styles, modest fashion trends can vary considerably between Western countries. Founder and CEO of US based online retailer Haute Hijab, Melanie Elturk said, "here in the UK you guys like your muted colours; the camels, the blacks, the neutrals, the beiges and blush pinks. We're bright and bold in America, we like prints. Elturk explained that every Muslim populated region has its own preference, whether it's Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Australia or China, the hijab is interpreted by the culture and the region. Thus, resulting in the vast differences of fashions, designs, materials and silhouettes.

British modest fashion designers have noticed the huge gap in the market for modest fashion in the UK. Emerging designer of Pillar, found that "designs are appreciated more [in the UK] compared to abroad, compared to in Dubai or the UAE as it comes from there and it already seems natural. Here people are searching for [modest fashion] and looking for it."

Awarded best UK modest fashion designer at LMFW, Saiqa Majeed expressed that as a designer balancing the East and the West in her work "comes naturally" because "being British born but also Asian with my parents being Pakistani...I think that I am blessed that I have a bit of everything so I can take the best of all the cultures."

Photo  Rooful Ali - Model wearing Saiqa Majeed

The community of Muslim women around the world is widespread. Limiting the manner in which the majority of Muslim women are portrayed to dress in black burqas or abayas is something that LMFW has exemplified to be an oversimplification. It's time for mainstream brands to recognise this and collaborate with modest-wear consumers to make sure they get it right and give modest fashion the platform that it deserves.

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Caiaimage/Sam Edwards via Getty Images

On 18 May 1896, the United States Supreme Court legitimised racial segregation in the education system in the infamous case of Plessy v Ferguson.

Now nearly universally reviled, the practice was never sanctioned here. And in 2017 it's unthinkable that schools could be obliged to single out and separate children on the grounds of race, religion or nationality.

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Isn't it?

Tomorrow, exactly 121 years later, the summer school census will ask millions of parents and guardians all over England to hand over their children's nationalities and birth countries to the government - a scheme designed not just to remove certain kids from the classroom, but from the country.

The Department for Education (DfE) quietly made the seemingly innocuous additions to the termly census last September, insisting the stats were needed for "internal analysis".

But subsequent revelations and a leaked data-sharing agreement between the Home Office and DfE have exposed the true toxic motivation - a plan to build lists of foreign children to aid deportation of schoolchildren and their families.

By fooling parents into 'incriminating' themselves and their children - and making other parents unknowingly complicit in targeting them - the census is turning schools from sanctuaries of learning, creativity and growth into places of discrimination, fear and division. This is the UK. Every child has a right to an education here - and that right isn't conditional on the accident of where they were born. We don't punish children for their parents' immigration status, or so we thought.

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This policy will result in some of the most vulnerable children on our shores vanishing into the shadows - kept at home by parents in fear of removal, unable to study, develop or see their friends.

But building borders in classrooms is just one way the tentacles of immigration control have wriggled their poisonous way into so many aspects of our lives in recent years.

So-called "hostile environment" policies are designed to make life as unbearable as possible for migrants - largely by isolating them, rendering them destitute and denying them essential services, leaving many open to exploitation and abuse.

By forcing trusted public servants to assume duties that should belong only with our border police, they have sown distrust and division into the fabric of life in the UK.

The "right to rent" scheme, which requires landlords to let properties only to those with a legal right to live in the UK - or face jail time - has already been shown to fuel discrimination. The Joint Council for Welfare of Immigrants is now crowdfunding a legal challenge to the scheme.

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The police service rightly backed away from immigration control almost 30 years ago because of the damage it was causing to police-community relations.

But now police are tasked with stopping and searching drivers under the new crime of "driving whilst illegal" - and people must now declare their nationality on arrest.

Doctors can no longer assure their patients of confidentiality because NHS data is being handed to the Home Office - and charities are being roped in to shop foreign nationals sleeping on the streets.

The streets are not paved with gold - they're made of quicksand.

These policies fly in the face of all we have achieved in race relations and equality laws in recent decades. It makes a mockery of the values our democracy stands for - compassion, fairness and respect for every person's dignity.

But there's hope. On this exact day 63 years ago, Plessy v Ferguson was declared unconstitutional - reminding us that we, the people, can push back against even the most institutionalised cruelty.

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We can dismantle this system and put basic decency back into politics. And we can start tomorrow. Parents and guardians are not legally obliged to hand over information on their child's nationality or country of birth. They also have a right to withdraw this data if they provided it earlier in the school year.

If everybody boycotts the summer census and takes back information already handed over, the government won't be able to justify this policy's existence - whoever's running the country on 9 June.

Against Borders for Children has drawn up a template letter which can be easily used to withdraw information.

And Liberty is currently interviewing parents and students affected so that we can challenge this toxic policy in the courts.

Now's the time to think about what kind of nation we are - and what kind we want to be. Stay vigilant. Stay kind. Refuse, retract, resist.

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Since its publication, pundits have been pouring over the Labour manifesto with usual noises about what adds up or not and how far the party has moved to the left or otherwise. However, they have so far missed a major development which could have a lasting influence on British politics. That is the transparency of the manifesto, which is so essential for empowering citizens.

Labour manifesto is more transparent and detailed than anything published by any political party ever before. It has set a new benchmark and now challenges other political parties to rise to it. Millions of sceptical people do not register to vote or cast their vote because they don't trust politicians. Transparency could be the first step towards building confidence in the political system. Armed with information, people can question politicians, their claims, calculations and promises, and also hold them to account for broken promises.

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So how has Labour embraced transparency? Its manifesto is in three parts. The centrepiece is the 124 page main manifesto with explanations of each proposed policy. The second and the most innovative part is the 8 page booklet showing financial details of each item of proposed expenditure and revenue. There are plenty of footnotes and information to show how the data was obtained, used or modelled to generate the financial numbers. For example, for its calculations Labour used government generated data to estimate revenue from corporation tax and income tax. The modelling for its Robin Hood tax was carried out by a former JP Morgan executive. The third part is a 10 page booklet "Tax Transparency and Enforcement Programme" which lists how the party will shackle tax avoidance and the savings that it hopes to generate.

Transparency does not fall out of thin air. It has be part of the value system of the leaders of political parties. They have to believe in it and not be afraid of scrutiny and dialogue. It would have been easy enough for the Labour leadership to be less transparent as it had to produce its manifesto within a very short period and with considerably lower financial resources that the Conservative Party. As Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn explained, the Party relied on volunteers, academics, NGOs, trade unions and other to help it to refine ideas, build financial models, spreadsheets, check/revise texts and liaise with key stakeholders. Despite the challenges to organise and co-ordinate the processes, Labour did not follow the minimalist route.

Sceptics may argue that to some extent, detailed transparency may well have been enforced on Labour because most of the media is hostile and would have crucified Labour for failure to publish full costing of its expenditure and revenues. That may well be so, but politicians can mediate such challenges. Labour chose to communicate directly with the masses by placing all three documents on its website.

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A meaningful transformation of political debate also requires responsible behaviour from the press, but there is little transparency about what it reports and how it reports. Many of the popular newspapers routinely consign Labour Party and its leader to negative spaces. They have said little about the transparency turn in politics. Their so-called 'balanced approach' leaves a lot to be desired. A couple of examples would help to illustrate the issues. On 14th May, in a Conservative Party press release Prime Minister Theresa May promised to "fix the broken housing market" but the press release provided no financial details. In subsequent media interviews ministers were able to grab some financial numbers, but there was no media outrage about the absence of financial details from the initial announcement. It is extremely unlikely that the same newshounds would have permitted Labour to announce a housing programme without any financial details. Why the different standards?

On 7th May, the Prime Minister promised to "increase mental health funding by 1.4 billion". This was dutifully reported by the BBC and others, but without any acknowledgement that the announcement was remarkably similar to what the government had announced in January 2016 and January 2017. Hardly any major news outlet questioned the financial estimates and a few clicks on Google would have shown them that old news may well have been recycled. Why the silence? Perhaps, it is more about conscious and unconscious ideological enrolment and alignment. If so, where does that leave the future of any informed democratic debate?
"I'm not going to be calling a snap election,", Theresa May told BBC journalist Andrew Marr in September 2016. "I've been very clear that I think we need that period of time, that stability, to be able to deal with the issues that the country is facing and have that election in 2020".

The issue of course, which the British Prime Minister refers to, is Brexit. It seems now that for a few protracted years, the British public has been grappling with that fateful word. What does it mean for British politics? Should I vote to remain or to leave? When will the official process happen? Will it be a 'hard' or a 'soft' Brexit?

In short, there is still just as much uncertainty as there ever was around Brexit. Remainers have rallied around the argument that leaving the European Union will deeply damage Britain's commercial and trade links, whilst also painting the UK as an isolationist country, ready to extract itself from its European neighbours in pursuit of its own self-interest. So, too, there has been a marked increase in reports that financial firms are moving jobs out of Britain, to accommodate a new and as yet unknown financial landscape.

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Germany's biggest bank, Deutsche Bank, which currently employs 9,000 staff across the UK, has warned that up to 4,000 UK jobs could be moved to Frankfurt and other locations in the European Union as a result of Brexit. According to Ernst and Young, the number of finance firms saying they will either move jobs out of the UK or review their domicile as a result of Brexit has risen by 50% since the start of the year. The future looks uncertain for Britain, and particularly London as a financial centre.

However, in an era where conflicting but supposedly authoritative news reports can be stumbled upon in less than the time it takes to reload a webpage, it's important to look at the cold hard facts. Indeed, in a changing jobs market, recruitment databases actually become the best forecasting instrument for the economy, and where the jobs market is headed.

Data from across the UK jobs market is telling. Jobs listed in the finance category increased by a total of 6 per cent in the UK, from 89,654 in 2016 to 95,157 in 2017, indicating an actual growth period for the British finance sector. Though of course the formal negotiation process may result in changes that alter the desirability of the UK in this area, it appears that at the moment the demand for financial expertise is undiminished.
A week after it was leaked, the Labour Party has officially released its manifesto for the upcoming General Election - and it's got a lot to say on energy.

According to Labour, "people don't have the time to shop around" for energy.

Apparently, Jeremy Corbyn thinks it's hard to fit in time to shop around for energy.

Perhaps it's hard when you've got pro-Palestine marches to attend - for most people though, it should be a pretty easy and straightforward process.

But the Labour Party, being what it is, thinks the better option is having the state step in and force prices down.

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First, it wants to bring in an emergency price cap of 1,000 for dual fuel bills.

That will certainly cut prices for many customers.

However, for others - those who check for the best deals - it will mean a price increase.

Many energy companies offer fixed energy deals significantly cheaper than 1,000 a year, often through switching websites.

Those deals, if a 1,000 cap is introduced, will disappear or get more expensive, as suppliers will likely keep all deals and prices near the upper end of any regulatory limit.

If the price is capped on energy prices for standard variable tariffs (the type of deal most people paying over 1,000 are on), prices will be raised on those deals currently below 1,000 to compensate.

With prices bunched together at the upper rate of the cap, competition is stifled.

The move will further squeezes the industry's tight profit margins, already under pressure from higher wholesale costs and government-imposed green energy obligations, and therefore risks stymieing investment and forcing suppliers to cut jobs.

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It's the same economic flaw that undermines the Conservative Party's half-baked price cap policy.

As well as capping prices, Labour wants to support the creation of publicly owned and "locally accountable" energy companies to compete with private suppliers.

How this will work is anyone's guess.

What exactly being "locally accountable is" means exactly, I'm not sure.

But generally, state-owned companies are not very responsive to consumer needs and generally have abysmal customer service.

On the other hand, it's possible the such state-owned energy providers will be cheaper (being subsidised by you, the taxpayer, of course).

Yet all the talk of saving consumers money seems to go out the window when it comes to energy sources.

The party has pledged to ensure that 60% of all the UK's energy comes from zero-carbon or renewable sources by 2030.

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Renewables are still being developed and are making great strides, so there is potential for renewable energy to become massively cheaper in the next few years.

But as it currently stands, renewable sources end up costing consumers more.

Indeed, recent price rises have been widely blamed on green policies.

For instance, a paper by the Committee on Climate Change found that in 2016, on average, 9% of dual fuel household's bills were due to such green policies. That's around 105 extra per year.

Worst of all for consumer prices, though, is Labour's pledge to ban fracking.

The revolutionary technology has opened up massive new sources of fuel in the United States and led to plummeting energy prices across the pond.

We could have the same here. Fracking in the UK could massively increase the supply of gas. And, as supply increases, prices go down.

The Labour Party, however, seems to disagree.
Jason Bean valued being able to become bowl eligible with Kansas
Williamstown voted 207-36 at Tuesday's annual town meeting to implement zoning bylaw's governing recreational marijuana businesses in town.

Williamstown Town Meeting OKs Zoning Bylaw for Pot

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  By an overwhelming majority, voters at the annual town meeting on Tuesday approved zoning bylaw changes that create a regulatory framework for recreational marijuana businesses in town.

But it was clear that the option of banning retail pot is still very much on the table.

After a lengthy debate at the meeting in the Williamstown Elementary School gymnasium, the town voted 207-36 to OK a modified version of the bylaw developed by the Planning Board that would limit retail marijuana establishments to just two zoning districts: the Planned Business District and the Southern Gateway District.

All 40 articles on the town meeting warrant passed in a session that took about 2 hours, 45 minutes and drew 280 registered voters from a roll of 4,925 registered voters  a 5.7 percent turnout.

Most of the warrant articles passed without much discussion and only the occasional smattering of "no" votes.

The principal fiscal questions, including the $7.2 million general government operations article, the $6.4 million Williamstown Elementary School appropriation and the $6.4 million Mount Greylock Regional School appropriation, breezed to passage.

There was a small but vocal minority of opposition to a few of the appropriations under the Community Preservation Act, but nothing that required Town Moderator Adam Filson to call for a standing vote.

But when the meeting reached Article 36, a zoning bylaw "Regulating Medical and Recreational Marijuana Uses," it was clear that the voice vote method would be insufficient.

The narrowest vote of the evening came in the middle of the debate on Article 36, when Sheila Stone moved that the meeting table the question altogether.

The motion required a two-thirds vote of those in attendance, and although a majority agreed with Stone, the vote of 150-102 fell short of the required super majority.

Stone's motion was aimed at setting aside the land-use of question of where marijuana businesses might be allowed in favor of a townwide vote on whether those businesses should be allowed anywhere in the Village Beautiful.

Town Counsel Joel Bard explained to the meeting that the process of banning marijuana businesses in town would require two steps: a ballot vote and a two-thirds vote by town meeting to disallow pot businesses in the zoning bylaw's land-use table.

While several residents who spoke from the floor espoused the notion of moving on a ballot vote first and revisiting the zoning issue later, the majority appeared to side with the argument suggested by Selectman Hugh Daley.

"My takeaway [from a panel discussion held on the eve of the meeting] was I'd call the belt and suspenders approach," Daley said. "Pass this bylaw to install a baseline zone and revisit at a later date on a more measured schedule the concept of a ban.

"I'm OK with the town considering a ban. What I don't like is a completely open field right now. Because ... if we don't do the zoning tonight and the ban fails, we have no zoning in place, that feels like an unacceptable place to end up."

The Planning Board's argument for developing the bylaw amendment proposal is that the town needs to have a regulatory framework in place before Boston implements the rules that will govern the recreational pot businesses greenlighted by November's passage of Public Question 4, which decriminalized the drug.

Arguing the other side was Drew Gibson, a teacher at Mount Greylock junior-senior high school, who spoke of his own experience witnessing teens who use the drug.

"We do have to be careful about the message we send [to youths]," Gibson said. "The town deserves to have a vote on the ban before we do the zoning. Once we do the zoning, we're implicitly saying we approve of retail sales."

Planning Board Chairwoman Amy Jeschawitz, whose committee drafted the zoning bylaw amendment, has said the board recognizes that the bylaw could be vitiated by a subsequent townwide ban.

Wendy Penner, who serves on the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee, gave a pared-down version of the presentation she made at the Planning Board's public hearing on the bylaw amendment, citing statistics about marijuana use among teens in Northern Berkshire County and the dangers the drug poses to developing brains.

In the end, the bylaw passed with 207 votes  85 percent of the voters in attendance and considerably more than the two-thirds needed for passage.

But first, the meeting approved two amendments: one suggested by the Planning Board itself to clarify the definition of a "marijuana production facility" and one suggested by Zoning Board of Appeals member Keith Davis to make all commercial pot facilities allowable only by a special permit from the ZBA.

As drafted, the bylaw would have required a special permit for retail in the Southern Gateway District (the Cold Spring Road portion of Route 7) and for production facilities in the Rural Residence 2 District. But the bylaw proposed by the Planning Board would have allowed retail pot by right  i.e. with no special permit required  in the Planned Business District (the east end of Main Street and the north end of Simonds Road), and it would have allowed marijuana production and testing facilities by right in the Limited Industrial District (North Hoosac Road near Cole Avenue and the current Steinerfilm site on Simonds Road).

In other business, the meeting recognized two award winners: Linda Conway, who received the Scarborough/Salomon/Flynt Community Service Award, and Kelly Galusha, a Williamstown Elementary employee who received the League of Women Voters' Town Employee Award.

Three articles generated by citizen's petition passed easily: a move to change the name of Columbus Day in the town to Indigenous People's Day, a statement affirming the Williamstown Police Department's policy on immigration status issues and a non-binding resolution to raise awareness about the impact of landscape practices on pollinators.




iciHaiti - Diplomacy : The Dominican and Taiwanese Ambassadors, decorated by Moise





Tuesday at the National Palace, President Jovenel Moise decorated with the National Order in the Rank of Grand Cross Silver Plaque former Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, Ruben Silie Valdez, and the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Tsai Chiu Hwang, in end of mission in Haiti.



During this ceremony, which was attended by Antonio Rodrigue, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, the Head of State expressed his satisfaction with the work of these two Heads of Mission as well as their dynamism and their contributions to the strengthening of the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Haiti and their respective countries.



IH/ iciHaiti






















iciHaiti - Diaspora : The Haitian flag hoisted officially at Orlando City Hall





The Consulate of the Republic of Haiti in Orlando informs the Haitian community of Central Florida and the Haitian people in general that following the proclamation of May as Heritage Cultural Month in Orlando, the Mayor of the city, Buddy Dyer, accompanied by several political authorities of the zone, organized a great activity Monday 15 May, symbolizing the fraternity and solidarity of the American people towards our country.



The Chief of Post Pierre Pierre Charles accompanied by a delegation of the Mission took advantage of this historic moment when the Haitian flag was officially raised on the Town Hall to thank the Mayor for having thought of such a distinction for our dear Haiti.



IH/ iciHaiti


















Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Han Myoung-Sup, General Director of Samsung Vietnam (Source: VNA)



PM Phuc highlighted Samsungs significant contributions to Vietnams export turnover and job generation.

Applauding Samsungs investment expansion in the country, the leader suggested the group support Vietnam in training and technology transfer, thus enabling local support industry firms, especially small and medium-sized ones, to enhance links and join the supply of materials and components, tourism service and other services for Samsung.

He asked the group to accelerate the implementation of the Samsung Research and Development (R&D) centre in line with pledged progress so to help promote R&D activities in electricity and electronics in Vietnam.

Vietnam will continue supporting Samsungs investment expansion in the country, thus maintaining and boosting the export of Samsungs products manufactured in Vietnam, Phuc affirmed, calling the group to make more efforts for its future stable and constant development to contribute to Vietnams economic development.

For his part, Han Myoung-Sup briefed the host on Samsungs operation in Vietnam in recent time, saying that the firms export and revenue recovered in the first months of this year after the Galaxy Note 7 incident with its export expected to hit USD11 billion in the second quarter.

Samsung Display Vietnam (SDV), a subsidiary of Samsung Vietnam, which has a total investment of USD6.5 billion, is striving to expand its investment, he said.

Samsung Vietnam has set to rake in USD60 billion in revenue and USD50 billion in export turnover in 2017, he noted.

According to the general director, as many as 107,000 Vietnamese are working at factories of Samsung Vietnam. The group plans to recruit more local workers to serve its future production expansion scheme.

He said he hopes that the Vietnamese Government, ministries and sectors will create favourable conditions for Samsung Vietnam in general and SDV in particular to effectively operate in the country./.
Assistant Secretary Brownfield Addresses Judges Nationwide on State Department Joint Efforts With U.S. Judiciary

Washington, DC - Today in Washington, D.C., Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) William R. Brownfield will engage judges and court employees across the country via a panel focusing on the role of the International Judicial Relations Committee of the U.S. Judicial Conference (IJRC). At this event, organized by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Assistant Secretary Brownfield will highlight INLs work with the U.S. judiciary to build strong justice sectors abroad. This partnership enhances the safety of Americans by helping international partners deal more effectively with complex transnational crimes like terrorism and illicit trafficking.

Two U.S. judges and Ambassador John OKeefe, Executive Director of the Open World Leadership Center, will join the Assistant Secretary on the panel. The audience includes staff of Washington, D.C.-based federal judicial agencies as well as federal courts across the United States, which will connect to the panel via a livestream.

Through its innovative program of partnerships with judges, prosecutors, and public defenders nationwide, INL taps the expertise of domestic-based experts to promote good governance and effective approaches to crime overseas, thereby increasing U.S. security.
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Theresa May gave a rather chilly response to one of the more light-hearted questions she faced during a visit to a primary school.

Speaking with pupils at Nishkam Primary School in Birmingham, talk turned to the Harry Potter books, when the Prime Minister said: "I've read them all. They are very good."

Later The Telegraph asked May which character she was most like, to which she reportedly "laughed uneasily" and said: "No you cant ask me that."

I dont think Im similar to any of the characters in Harry Potter but they are a great read for adults as well as for children," she said.

Fortunately people on social media were quick to come up with an answer for her - Dolores Umbridge.

Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn is faring slightly better with popular culture. 

The Labour leader appeared on the Wikipedia page for grime collective Boy Better Know where he was listed as a member, and the Labour manifesto was cited among the official discography.

Several UK artists, including Stormzy, AJ Tracey, Jme and Akala, have been encouraging their followers to register to vote in the upcoming general election.

The 'Grime 4 Corbyn' website urges people to register to vote and features a Soundcloud embed for the track 'Corbyn Riddim', which was produced by DA.

People who register to vote will apparently be eligible to win a pair of tickets to a secret party in London - with a date and venue TBC.

Following the launch of the campaign, the hashtag #grime4corbyn was one of the top trends on Twitter in the UK.
President Tran Dai Quang receives Speaker of Myanmars Parliament and House

of Nationalities Mahn Win Khaing Than (Source: VNA)



He greeted visiting Speaker of Myanmars Parliament and House of Nationalities Mahn Win Khaing Than in Hanoi on May 16th.

Vietnam highly values the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Myanmar, he stressed, noting that the thriving political-diplomatic ties and productive economic relations provide an important prerequisite for the countries to continue expanding their partnership in the coming years.

Quang said he supports the two law-making bodies to ratchet up their affiliation given it this lays down a crucial foundation for the bilateral friendship and cooperation to grow further.

He stressed the need to maintain the existing cooperative mechanisms, and increase visit exchanges and the relations between localities and people to boost mutual trust and understanding.

Vietnamese businesses are keen to invest in Myanmar, Quang said, asking the ASEAN peer to support the Vietnamese investors in banking, aviation, telecommunication, mining, tourism, agriculture and consumption commodities.

He took the occasion to thank Myanmar for backing Vietnam at regional and international forums and wished the countries to hold more political consultations and promote coordination and mutual support at international organizations to which both are members, especially ASEAN and the UN.

The Myanmar Speaker said he is impressed with Vietnams socio-economic development achievements and realizes that Myanmar needs to learn from Vietnams economic development experience.

He introduced his host to the performance of the Myanmar Parliament, noting that his country is working hard to revise the law on foreign investment and the law on foreign companies to lure more foreign investors, including those from Vietnam.

Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than is currently on a week-long official visit to Vietnam, starting from May 10th.

He held talks with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc./.
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Were only a few days away from Twin Peaks highly anticipated return to television screens.

For ardent fans, its been a date circled in red on calendars with the fervent urgency of a thousand birthdays come crashing together; for those new to the show, however, the entire idea can seem a little daunting.

Boasting two seasons and its own prequel film Fire Walk With Me, only those dedicated to a weekend tethered to the couch are likely to be able to catch up now, but that doesnt necessarily mean the uninitiated should be forced to skip out on the new season.

First off, creator David Lynchs own special brand of surrealism likely means even hardcore obsessives wont perfectly understand whats happening in the new episodes, so the experience is unlikely to be too different either way. Its all part of the fun, though.

Beyond that, weve collated together a guide to help you catch up with whats already taken place in the eerie, remote town of Twin Peaks, alongside some of the familiar faces were set to meet once more, 25 years down the line.

*WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD FOR TWIN PEAKS SEASON 1 AND 2, ALONGSIDE TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME*

Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Show all 21 1 /21 Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) Laura's murder is the mystery that sets off Twin Peaks and which brings Dale Cooper to the sleepy town drenched in mystery. Her soul still appears to be trapped in the Black Lodge, along with Cooper. Photograph by Marc Hom Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) The FBI Special Agent sent to Twin Peaks to investigate Laura's murder ended things in a perilous situation. The show's famous final scene sees him smashing his face into the mirror, as the killer BOB's reflection stares back out. Is he possessed? Or is this his evil doppelganger, with the Good Dale still trapped in the Black Lodge? Photograph by Marc Hom Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Shelly Johnson (Madchen Amick) Shelly spent the series trapped in an abusive marriage to trucker Leo Johnson, whose fate was left uncertain at the end of the show, though her own secret affair with Bobby Briggs ended in a marriage proposal. Photograph by Marc Hom Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook) Bobby found himself in a lot danger during his high school days thanks to his involvement in the local drug trade. Though formerly Laura's boyfriend, his secret romance with Shelly blossomed over the series and ended in a proposal. Photograph by Marc Hom Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Nadine Hurley (Wendy Robie) Ed Hurley's eccentric wife, possessing both phenomenal strength and an obsession with drape runners, saw her attempted suicide trigger a bout of dementia-amnesia, where she still believed she was a teenager. After having a sandbag dropped on her head, however, Nadine's memory was restored. Photograph by Marc Hom Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Norma Jennings (Peggy Lipton) The owner of the Double R Diner, she and Ed have been in love since high school, and the show saw them come very close to finally getting together during Nadine's bout of memory loss. Will they still be pining for each other? Photograph by Marc Hom Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) With Nadine's memory returning at the end of the series, the implication is that Ed and Nadine's marriage has remained intact. Ed suffered tremendous guilt over the loss of Nadine's left eye in a hunting accident during their honeymoon, when it was struck by a piece of buckshot from his gun, which has made him feel like it was impossible to ever leave her. Photograph by Marc Hom Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) A master manipulator whose teenage crush on Cooper faded when she met Billy Zane's rich charmer John Justice Wheeler, the show left things open as to whether she died in the explosion at the local bank, having chained herself to the vault door in protest. However, the book The Secret History of Twin Peaks confirms she survived and was taken to hospital in critical condition. Photograph by Marc Hom Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? James Hurley (James Marshall) Twin Peaks' biker with a soul was once Laura Palmer's secret love, though her death saw him realise his true feelings toward her best friend Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle). However, by the end of the series, James had left the town and was en route to Mexico. Photograph by Marc Hom Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Gordon Cole (David Lynch) Cooper's boss supposedly has a fairly prominent role in the new series, though the show saw him fall head-over-heels for Shelly, upon discovering she's the only person the hard-of-hearing chief could understand with perfect clarity. Photograph by Marc Hom Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Ben Horne (Richard Beymer) Audrey Horne's father seems to have changed little in our time away, as he's still apparently managing the Great Northern Lodge in Twin Peaks. Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Lucy Brennan (Kimmy Robertson) and Andy Brennan (Harry Goaz) Neither have Lucy or Andy, still in their respective jobs at the Twin Peaks Police Department, though it's nice to see their relationship has only blossomed with time. Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Tommy "Hawk" Hill (Michael Horse) Hawk is still part of the Police Department too, and it seems like he's been tasked with the mysterious mission of tracking down Agent Cooper. Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? The Log Lady (Catherine E. Coulson) A task entrusted to him by the Log Lady, a bittersweet moment considering Coulson sadly passed away in 2015. Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Denise Bryson (David Duchovny) One individual who's definitely shot up the career path is Denise, now the chief of staff for the entire FBI. Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Beverly Paige (Ashley Judd) We don't know much about Ben Horne's assistant, but it's likely we'll see more of her soon. Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? William Hastings (Matthew Lillard) Is the local high-school principal of Buckhorn, South Dakota really behind the murder of Ruth Davenport? Is this somehow connected to BOB, or Dale Cooper's doppelganger? Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Wally Brando (Michael Cera) Lucy and Andy's son really couldn't have turned out any other way. Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Sam Colby (Ben Rosenfeld) and Tracey (Madeline Zima) Sam's job to watch over the strange glass box in New York came to an abrupt end when both he and Tracey were consumed by a demon which burst outside of it. Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Tammy Preston (Chrysta Bell) A new partner for Gordon Cole, who's taken her on as a kind of protege. Twin Peaks season 3: Who's back? Who's new? Janey-E Jones (Naomi Watts) The wife to Dougie Jones, the strange other Cooper, with the pair having a son together.

Who Killed Laura Palmer?

Shes dead. Wrapped in plastic. Its the mystery that enraptured TV audiences of the early Nineties: who stood behind the murder of the homecoming queen, the shining star of a quaint, peaceful Washington state town?

It turns out, Twin Peaks is a town only serene on the outside; there are secrets everywhere, and even Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) is discovered to be living a secret double life tinged by drugs and prostitution.

FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is sent to the town to investigate; though everyone comes under suspicion, Cooper is aided in his search by a series of strange dreams and visions.

Agent Coopers Red Room vision involves The Man from Another Place and Laura Palmer

Which is where the shows famous Red Room sequences and use of phonetic reversal (with actors speaking backwards and the audio then reversed) come in, as two supernatural individuals  The Man from Another Place (a dwarf dressed in a red suit) and The Giant  offer a series of cryptic clues.

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The killer, too, is revealed to be of a supernatural origin: BOB, a demonic spirit who takes possession of Lauras own father Leland (Ray Wise) as a young boy. BOB spurs Leland to kill Laura, kidnapping both her and another girl, Ronette Pulaski (Phoebe Augustine).

Leland is also discovered to be responsible for the earlier murder of Teresa Banks (Pamela Gidley) in a neighbouring town, alongside the death of Lauras doppelganger cousin Madeleine Ferguson (Lee).

What is the Black Lodge?

BOB is an inhabitant of a place called the Black Lodge, described as the extradimensional source of great evil, and a kind of opposite to the place of purity, the White Lodge.

Season 2 did expand the shows narrative scope to introduce the villainy of Windom Earle (Kenneth Welsh), Coopers former partner and the man responsible for the death of his first true love (and Earles wife) Caroline; however whats more important here is the shows final episode.

It sees Cooper follow Earle into the Black Lodge after he kidnaps new love interest Annie (Heather Graham); here, he becomes trapped in a strange maze of two apparent Red Rooms linked by a hallway, each offering new nightmarish visions that bring together BOB, Laura Palmer, The Man from Another Place and The Giant. He even faces a sinister doppelganger of himself.

However, what may prove particularly crucial for season 3 is what happens once Cooper leaves the Black Lodge and returns to the normal world; everything is seemingly back to normal, until Cooper enters the bathroom, looks in the mirror, and sees BOB in the reflection.

The final scene of Season 2... but is this the real Dale Cooper?

Smashing his face into the mirror and laughing manically, this is exactly the place where Twin Peaks left us.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

Its easy to assume that the Cooper we see at the end of Twin Peaks is possessed by BOBs spirit, as Leland was. However, Lynch has said the prequel film Fire Walk with Me is key to understanding the new series, and its here that a different interpretation is offered.

The film tracks Laura Palmers last week alive, illuminating events only spoken of in the original series, and creating a nightmarish vision of her torture by BOB and eventual murder at the hands of her father.

Lauras dream in Fire: Walk With Me hints at the fate of Cooper

However, we also see her dream of the Black Lodge, where shes visited (somehow) by both Cooper and Annie, with the latter telling Laura to write in her diary that the good Dale is trapped in the Lodge and cant leave.

Which seems to hint that the Cooper we see smashing his face into the mirror isnt Cooper at all, but the evil doppelganger he comes across in the Black Lodge.

The new episodes take place 25 years down the line, echoing one of the strange utterances of Laura to Cooper in the Red Room in Twin Peaks: Ill see you again in 25 years. What that means for Cooper, Laura, and the Red Room will surely be uncovered soon.

The new Twin Peaks will premiere at 2am on Monday 22 May on Sky Atlantic and NOWTV, in a simulcast with the US airing on Showtime. The episode will then be shown again at 9pm on 23 May. You can catch up now on season one and two via Sky Box Sets.
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Cannes Film Festival has just begun, Arnaud Desplechins French drama Ismaels Ghosts kicking off the prestigious affair.

Despite starring Mathieu Amalric, Marion Cotillard, and Charlotte Gainsbourg, the film has already been met with scathing reviews, being labelled atrocious by one critic.

Ismael's Ghosts is as atrocious as you might expect from the festival that once opened with Grace of Monaco, writes Deadlines Joe Utichi, referencing the Nicole Kidman-starring 2014 opener that was widely panned.

Jason Gorber added: Opener leaves press screening with stunned silence. Maudlin and meandering, a French tale of sombre cliches.

In their written review, Variety compared Ismaels Ghosts to Tommy Wiseaus The Room, widely known for being one of the worst films of all time.

As phoney emotional showcases go, the reviewer writes, this ones full of unintentionally comedic melodrama, rivalling cult favourite The Room at times as Amalric (reprising his role as the chronically unstable Ismael Vuillard from Kings and Queen) overturns furniture and heatedly berates Marion Cotillard (as the wife who walked out on him) before making sweaty love to her.

Films to get excited about in 2017 Show all 13 1 /13 Films to get excited about in 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi Director: Rian Johnson Rian Johnson Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Lupita Nyong'o Plot: No details yet, but it will continue directly on from Rey coming face-to-face with Luke at the end of The Force Awakens. Release Date: 15 December 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Thor: Ragnarok Director: Taika Waititi Taika Waititi Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, and Mark Ruffalo Plot: Story details are minimal as of now, but Thor's third return to screen has already been teased to feature a loose adaptation of the famous 'Planet Hulk' storyline. Release Date: 27 October 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 You Were Never Really Here Director: Lynne Ramsay Lynne Ramsay Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Alessandro Nivola Plot: A war veteran's attempt to save a young girl from a sex trafficking ring goes horribly wrong. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Annihilation Director: Alex Garland Alex Garland Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, and Oscar Isaac Plot: A biologist's husband disappears. She thus puts her name forward for an expedition into an environmental disaster zone, but does not quite find what she's expecting. The expedition team is made up of the biologist, an anthropologist, a psychologist, and a surveyor. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Wonderstruck (image from Far From Heaven) Director: Todd Haynes Cast: Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, and Amy Hargreaves Plot: The story of a young boy in the Midwest is told simultaneously with a tale about a young girl in New York from fifty years ago as they both seek the same mysterious connection. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Mother (image of Darren Aronofsky) Director: Darren Aronofsky Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer, Domhnall Gleeson, and Ed Harris Plot: A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 The Killing of a Sacred Deer (image from The Lobster) Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Cast: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, and Alicia Silverstone Plot: A surgeon forms a familial bond with a sinister teenage boy, with disastrous results. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Blade Runner 2049 Director: Denis Villeneuve Denis Villeneuve Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright, and Jared Leto Plot: Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. Release Date: 6 October 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Lady Bird (image of director Greta Gerwig) Director: Greta Gerwig Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, and Lucas Hedges Plot: The adventures of a young woman living in Northern California for a year. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara (image of director Steven Spielberg and star Mark Rylance) Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Mark Rylance, Oscar Isaac Plot: The Kidnapping Of Edgardo Mortara recounts the story of a young Jewish boy in Bologna, Italy in 1858 who, having been secretly baptized, is forcibly taken from his family to be raised as a Christian. His parents' struggle to free their son becomes part of a larger political battle that pits the Papacy against forces of democracy and Italian unification. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 How to Talk to Girls at Parties Director: John Cameron Mitchell John Cameron Mitchell Cast: Elle Fanning, Ruth Wilson, and Nicole Kidman Plot: An alien touring the galaxy breaks away from her group and meets two young inhabitants of the most dangerous place in the universe: the London suburb of Croydon. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 The Dark Tower Director: Nikolaj Arcel Nikolaj Arcel Cast: Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, and Tom Taylor Plot: Gunslinger Roland Deschain roams an Old West-like landscape in search of the dark tower, in the hopes that reaching it will preserve his dying world. Release Date: 28 July 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Suburbicon Director: George Clooney George Clooney Cast: Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Josh Brolin, and Oscar Isaac Plot: A crime mystery set in the quiet family town of Suburbicon during the 1950s, where the best and worst of humanity is hilariously reflected through the deeds of seemingly ordinary people. When a home invasion turns deadly, a picture-perfect family turns to blackmail, revenge and betrayal. Release Date: 24 November

IndieWire are slightly more positive with their review, awarding the film a B and saying: Like the fictional director, Desplechin seems to be lost in the rabbit hole of his winding narrative and unable to complete its journey  and while Ismaels Ghosts isnt his best movie, its almost certainly his most personal statement on his tangled relationship to his art.

The A.V. Clubs AA Dowd was also somewhat more positive, admitting the film loses the three but in a delightfully digressive Desplechin way.

According to the director, an extended cut, adding 20 minutes of footage to the two-hour flick, will be released at some stage but wasn't screened in Cannes.
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Michael Moore has been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump. But, unlike others who couldnt believe the mogul actually became President, Moore predicted his victory.

Before the final result was announced, the controversial filmmaker released Michael Moore in TrumpLand, a one-man show in Ohio.

Now, Moore returns once more with Fahrenheit 11/9, a reference to the day Trump was declared President of the United States, teaming up once more with Weinstein brothers to release the film.

No matter what you throw at him, it hasnt worked, Moore said. No matter what is revealed, he remains standing. Facts, reality, brains cannot defeat him. Even when he commits a self-inflicted wound, he gets up the next morning and keeps going and tweeting. That all ends with this movie.

Previously, Moore released Fahrenheit 9/11, an investigative documentary into the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the Bush administration. The film won the Palm dOr in 2004 and is the highest grossing documentary of all time.

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

Recently, Moore endorsed The Rock for President, calling on the Democrats to run Dwayne Johnson: "Run the Rock! Run the Rock. Who do you want for commander in chief? I want the f**king Rock! It would scare anybody that would hurt us. Think about how safe we would be if the Rock was president. Not Vin Diesel! The Rock.

This summer, Moore will make his Broadway debut with the solo show The Terms Of My Surrender, with Tony winner Michael Mayer staging the production.
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Harry Styles has said that he doesn't feel any need to label his sexuality or identify with one sexual orientation.

In an interview with The Sun, he said he didn't feel "like it's something I've ever had to explain about myself".

"Being in a creative field, its important to be progressive. People doing stuff like [Miley Cyrus] is great," he continued.

"Its weird for me  everyone should just be who they want to be. Its tough to justify somebody having to answer to someone else about stuff like that."

Styles looks set to knock Kasabian off the top of the album charts this week with his debut solo record.

The former One Direction member, who will appear on James Corden's Carpool Karaoke this week, released his self-titled album on 12 May.

According to the Official Charts Company, Styles is No.1 in the midweek update and is 24,000 equivalent sales ahead of Ed Sheeran, who is currently at No.2.

Kasabians new album For Crying Out Loud is down to number seven, after ending Sheeran's two-month reign at No.1 upon its release last week.

Also performing well with his debut album Common Sense is east London rapper J Hus, currently at No.6 on the charts.
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Google is preparing the next version of its mobile operating system, currently known as Android O.

It will succeed Nougat, which was released late last year, and will introduce brand new functionality to Android smartphones and tablets.

Android is the most popular mobile platform in the world and, as ever, there will be plenty of pressure on the company to deliver the features that millions of its users want.

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

What will it be called?

Google has had a lot of fun teasing possible names for different versions of Android in the past, and the company looks likely to do the same this time around. O will be named after a sweet treat and, unsurprisingly, Oreo is the current frontrunner.

The current version of Android, called Nougat, followed Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop and Marshmallow.

Dont be surprised if Google holds a vote later in the year.

New features

One of the key improvements Google wants to make with Android O concerns battery life. The software will limit the activity of apps running in the background, focusing on location updates, broadcasts and background services, which should help your phone last longer.

Android O should also make it easier for you to handle lots of notifications from lots of apps. It will introduce a snooze function, which could come in handy for meetings and general peace of mind, and allow you to prioritise certain alerts over others.

Youll also be able to group notifications by channel, which should let you neatly bundle certain alerts together depending on subject matter.

Picture-in-picture mode is likely to prove hugely popular, particularly amongst YouTube and Netflix fans. It will allow you to continue watching clips while using another app without having to hit pause, with a shrunken video window appearing on top of something like Gmail or Maps.

'Copyless' pasting sounds really handy too, and would see the Android system guess what text you want to copy in one app and make it available to paste in another. For instance, if you were looking at a restaurant in Chrome and subsequently opened Maps, the keyboard would offer up its address as a suggestion.

Google is also working on bringing better audio to Android, by adding new audio codecs to improve the sound quality of music played through wireless speakers and headphones.

It appears that Android O wont introduce a great deal of significant design changes, but app icons could look slightly different. Google is letting developers experiment with different shapes for icons, and it looks like Android O could also bring support for badge notifications, similar to those in iOS.

Release date

The developer preview of Android O is already available to download, but we wouldnt recommend getting on board with it yet, unless youre a developer of course. Thats because the software is a work in progress, and could end up damaging your device and wiping your data.

Fortunately, Google is expected to release an official beta preview of Android O this week, which should be more stable and easier to install.

Android O will launch later this year, most likely on the upcoming Google Pixel 2, which is expected to arrive in October. It will almost certainly be available on Pixel- and Nexus-branded devices first - the developer preview is limited to the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel, Pixel XL or Pixel C - before gradually making its way to new handsets from brands like Samsung, HTC and LG.
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Google's Doodle is celebrating the Antikythera mechanism, which might just be the first computer. But it might not.

The mechanism was found in 1902  exactly 115 years ago  and the discovery changed the way we saw the ancient Greeks. The man who found it, Valerios Stais, initially thought that the bronze mechanism he could see was a gear or a wheel  but on closer inspection, the metal turned out to be part of the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient and mysterious analogue astronomical computer.

The machine could be used to track and predict where the planets were, understand lunar and solar eclipses, and count towards the next Olympic Games. But its uses were various  it might also have been used for unknown forms of mapping and navigation.

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It did all that with the work of more than 30 sophisticated gears. That machinery is hidden inside the case, which is the size of a shoebox, and have been revealed using computer models and special scanning techniques.

The mechanism is thought to have been created around 150BC, and was more intricate than relatively modern clocks. Its old age and spectacular workings give it a good claim to being the first computer  but is that really true?

But first  what are computers?

The first known use of the word computer was in 1613, and described a person who did the kind of work that electronic computers do today. That meaning of the word clung on right until the 20th century  the film Hidden Figures shows human computers at Nasa who are in the process of having their work taken over by electronic ones  but started to change through the 19th century.

As such, the word "computer" has always been fairly broad, encompassing everything that can do calculations and solve problems. There's no strict definition  and so it's impossible to say exactly what makes a computer  meaning that a lot of different things can claim to be the first one.

What were the very first computers?

In the broadest sense, computers have existed for years  long before Antikythera mechanism was made, and certainly before it was found. They might have been around for as long as we've had the capacity to count and calculate.

A notable example is the Ishango bone  a legbone of the baboon that might have a good claim to being the predecessor of the computer, if not the first. The bone has a series of notches carved into it, and though it's not known what those notches represent, it's often been suggested that they are a way of counting or calculating calendars.

From there, people used a wide variety of tools to aid in their calculations, often based on a similar idea. The abacus is thought to have first been used in 2400 BC, and helped people count everything from money to animals  some of the processes and principles used in what we know as the Roman abacus continue to inform the high-powered computers that we continue to use today.

So what are analogue computers, like the Antikythera mechanism?

The first analogue computers began to appear relatively soon after that. Such computers make use of mechanisms  not the digital, on or off systems that we mostly rely on today  but rely on much of the same logic to help people work things out.

The first of those analogue computers is said to have been the Chinese "south-pointing chariot", which emerged in the first milennium BC. As its name suggested, it had a pointer mounted on it that was set to go south at all times. It did so not by using magnets, but with gears: so long as it was pointed south at the beginning of its journey, it would use a complex system that offset any turning of the chariot so that the pointer on top was always going in the same direction.

Then came the Antikythera mechanism, which is commonly known as the first example of such analogue computers. It used its complex mechanism to calculate a range of different things  and with the kind of complexity that wouldn't been known for centuries. As such, it is a worthy thing to give the title of first computer to  even if it doesn't fit many modern definitions.

How did we get from the Antikythera to today's computers?

Development continued on such computers, much of it focused on mapping and understanding the planets. Muslim astronomers in particular provided a range of different innovations that helped increase the accuracy and complexity of such analogue computers.

Eventually, in the 17th century, many of those same principles helped people create the first mechanical calculators. They were much larger than today's calculators  and analogue  but allowed people to do much the same things: adding and subtracting numbers, at first, and eventually adding more complexity like multiplication and division.

When was the first 'real' computer made?

The Antikythera mechanism might take the title of first analogue computer  and has often been referred to as the first computer. But it doesn't do the kind of operations that we'd expect of a computer today, and doesn't do what it does using very similar processes.

The first computer that can really take the name is commonly thought to be Charles Babbage's difference engine, and the work that followed. Among other things, it was the first real general-purpose computing device: it wasn't made just to calculate one thing, but included a range of different components that meant a skilled operator could work out a range of different information.

That realisation was found by Ada Lovelace, one of the heroes of computing. She was the person that realised that Babbage's machine wasn't just helpful in doing calculation  it was in that realisation that the algorithm, and the modern idea of computing programming and programmers, was born.

What are the other firsts?

The first programmable computer  perhaps the first modern, functional computer  came in the late 1930s. It was called the Z21 and was made by German Konrad Zuse in his parents' living room.

The first electric programmable computer arrived soon after, in the early 1940s. It was called the Colossus and was used by British code breakers to decrypt German messages and read them.

The first digital computer arrived properly very soon after, with the ABC. This is one of the "first computer" claims that has official backing  in the 1970s, a US judge granted that the ABC's creator, John Vincent Atanasoff, was officially the inventor of the electronic digital computer.

But the most famous example of an early digital computer is called the EINAC. Though it isn't officially the first digital computer, it was the first fully functional one  and so perhaps wins the more meaningful first.

From there would come a range of other leaps: the first computer that could store programmes, built in Manchester; the first commercial computer, which was sold in the 1950s; the first to include RAM. Over time they would become much smaller and much faster.

Perhaps the next remaining "first" to be broken is the first properly working quantum computer. That for now is just theoretical  but if researchers pull it off, it could vastly increase the world's computing power in one tiny step.
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The prospect of paying for sex, in the minds of most people, conjures up the idea of prostitution. However, there is another very different scenario where this occurs.

Its called sex surrogacy, which is a controversial form of sex therapy.

It entails pairing up patients with trained sexual partners and is used to help people with problems including physical disabilities, anxiety, autism, schizophrenia, PTSD, vaginal spasms and erectile dysfunction. Practically all of them are nervous about intimacy.

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The Defence Ministry even pays for severely wounded soldiers to have sex surrogacy.

One of the therapists who provides the treatment is Dr. Ronit Aloni, whose clinic is in Tel Aviv.

Sex therapy is by definition couples therapy, and those people who dont have a partner cant have the therapy, Aloni, 64, told the Jerusalem Post. Surrogacy allows us to do the ethical thing and provide therapy to the people who need it.

Aloni is a sex therapist with a distance-learning doctorate in sexual rehabilitation, and although sex surrogacy has many critics in what is a relatively conservative society, many people - including sex therapists, Israels Defence Ministry and civil courts - praise her for her work.

She employs sex therapists, physiotherapists, social workers and doctors as well as sex surrogates, and about a third of her patients undergo sex surrogacy.

This takes place in either the green room or the red room - private rooms furnished with a futon, private shower, erotic artwork, candles and a CD player.

Its not really about sex, Aloni says. I sometimes tell my staff that were really an anxiety clinic.

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Of course, the idea might sound appealing to some people who just want casual sex, but the high price-tag of the treatment deters them - the cost goes up to $2,000 (1,540) a month, which is over half the average Israeli salary.

I believe some people come in wanting to get laid, says Idan Milchan, a co-director of the sex therapy clinic at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv who used to work for Aloni and refers patients to her.

But the therapists are professional enough to understand if a guy or woman has a sexual problem or not, and its so expensive that people can find cheaper sex.

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The sex surrogates are regular people who are trained at the clinic. Patients usually see their surrogate for months, but treatment can go on for years.

The surrogate and patient usually meet in public, at a coffee house, for example. Once theyve established some initial contact and intimacy - such as light touching - they move on to the green or red room, where sessions last 90 minutes.

Before getting started, however, both parties are tested for STIs and must use contraception.

Maybe it sounds like a cliche, but I have an ability to love and not be afraid of being compassionate, sex surrogate Talia* explains. I cuddle the patients in a very, very secure place and let them grow. I dont like humanity to suffer.

Although Aloni is against sexual conversion therapy, some of her patients are young Orthodox and haredi men whove expressed attraction to other men - they tend to be sent by rabbis to learn to have sex with women.

These men are treated by Orthodox therapists and kosher sex surrogates who are willing to use the mikvah, or ritual bath, before the session begins.

Its not about conversion. We dont do that, Aloni said. If youre homosexual, youre homosexual. But we know sexuality is on a spectrum.

Some people can function both ways. We go through the process with them and talk about what theyll win and what theyll lose. Its not for me to judge.

Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Show all 18 1 /18 Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health

Aloni says sex surrogacy is more mainstream in Israel than other countries. She is well-respected in sex therapist circles, many of whom refer their patients to Aloni.

And apparently it does work.

Like every profession, its not 100 percent effective, said Milchan, a former chair of the Israel Society for Sexual Therapy Training. But if it didnt work period, it would have extinguished already. Its still here. It does work.

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But not everyone is on-board: I do not refer patients to surrogacy ever. Ive been in this business more than 40 years, and Ive never encountered a situation where surrogacy would be the only way out, David Ribner, a Jerusalem-based Orthodox sex therapist, says.

And as an Orthodox Jew, I believe sex only takes place in the context of marriage, and this is not marriage.

The relationship between the surrogate and the patient is complex, he said. I think the ending can be highly problematic, especially with patients for whom this might be their first meaningful sexual experience.

And testimonies on the website suggest this problem can be very real: My treatment is over and I dont know what will happen in the future. At the moment, my heart is broken and I am quite unhappy, one female patient wrote.

All that remains is for me to hold on to the belief that I will continue to enjoy [my surrogates] positive and constructive influence on my future interpersonal behaviour and sexuality.

*Name has been changed
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The Government has officially offloaded its final shares in Lloyds Banking Group, marking the end of an era for the lender that was bailed out during the financial crisis.

Lloyds on Wednesday confirmed that Financial Investments Limited, the arm of the Government which had been managing the holding on behalf of the Treasury, had cut its stake to zero late on Tuesday.

The Government has owned shares in the bank since saving it from collapse in 2008 and has steadily been reducing its holding of more than 40 per cent since 2013.

Last week, the bank told shareholders at its annual meeting in Edinburgh that the stake was down to just 0.25 per cent.

Shares in Lloyds are currently trading well below the average purchase price of 73.6p that the Government paid for them during the financial crisis, but Lloyds on Wednesday said that the sale had returned 21.2bn to the taxpayer, almost 900m more than the initial investment.

Thats because of more than 400m in dividends paid by the bank over the years, the fact that most of the shares were sold for more than the Government paid, and a 2.5bn fee Lloyds paid to avoid entering the Asset Protection Scheme that insured bailed-out banks riskiest loans.

Six years ago we inherited a business that was in a very fragile financial condition, the banks chief executive, Antonio Horta-Osorio, who joined Lloyds in 2011, said.

Thanks to the hard work of everyone at Lloyds, weve turned the group around.

Lord Blackwell, Lloyds chairman, said that the groups work was not done.

While we are proud of the progress we have made over the last few years, we recognise there is still a lot to do to transform Lloyds Banking Group into the best bank for customers and play our full role in helping Britain prosper, he said.

Last month, Lloyds reported that profits for the first three months of 2017 had doubled to 1.3bn compared to the same period last year. Underlying profits remained steady at 2.1bn.

Lloyds fortunes contrast sharply with those of fellow bailed out bank RBS, which is still more than 70 per cent government-owned.

In April, Chancellor Philip Hammond admitted that taxpayers were likely to make a loss on 45bn of shares it purchased to save RBS. We have to live in the real world, he told MPs.
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KitKat-maker Nestle has been foiled again, after a UK Court of Appeal ruled that the consumer goods giant cannot trademark the shape of its popular four-fingered chocolate bar.

The ruling is the latest in a long running legal battle between the Swiss-based company and its rival Cadbury. Nestle argues that the KitKats shape is iconic and should be protected by law but Cadbury objects.

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Cadbury, dismissing the claim.

Despite the setback, Nestle hinted that it could now take its claim to a higher court.

In a statement the company said: Nestle is disappointed by the court of appeal judgment and is considering next steps.

KitKat is much loved around the world and its four-finger shape is well known by consumers. Nestles four-finger shape has been granted trademark registration in many countries of the world, for instance Germany, France, Australia, South Africa and Canada, further protecting it from imitations.

A spokesperson for Cadbury's owner, Mondelez, said the company was pleased with the decision.

"As we have previously stated, we do not believe the shape of the KitKat bar should be protected as a trademark in the UK," the spokesperson said.

Tania Clark, partner and trade mark attorney at intellectual property firm, Withers & Rogers said the ruling means rival manufacturers could start making and selling products that look similar, with a reduced risk of litigation.

This case highlights the difficulties that often accompany attempts to obtain commercial protection for the shape of a product. To secure trade mark protection, it would be necessary to prove that the shape of a product alone is enough to denote a brand in the mind of the consumer, she said.

In December, an EU court dismissed Nestle's attempt to register the KitKat shape.

The General Court in Luxembourg ruled against Nestle, arguing it was not enough for the firm "to show that a significant proportion of the relevant public throughout the EU, merging all the member states and regions, perceives a mark as an indication of the commercial origin of the goods designated by the mark,"

Logos that became legends: Icons from the world of advertising Show all 6 1 /6 Logos that became legends: Icons from the world of advertising Logos that became legends: Icons from the world of advertising 12201.bin Darren McCollester/Newsmakers/Getty Logos that became legends: Icons from the world of advertising 12202.bin Logos that became legends: Icons from the world of advertising 12204.bin Logos that became legends: Icons from the world of advertising 12203.bin Logos that became legends: Icons from the world of advertising 12206.bin Logos that became legends: Icons from the world of advertising 12205.bin

A decade-long dispute between Nestle and Cadbury began when the latter sought to trademark the colour purple for its brand. Nestle succeeded in overturning that trademark in 2013.

Sally Britton, Intellectual Property lawyer at Mishcon de Reya said the court's decision sets a high bar for the registration of shape marks.

This case is interesting as it examines the type of use and consumer recognition required to obtain monopoly protection over a shape mark. Businesses seeking to protect non-traditional trademarks such as shapes or packaging will need to provide evidence that consumers are relying on that trade mark to identify the origin of the product, she said
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Donald Trump could be impeached under the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution following his alleged sharing of classified information with the Russians, according to a top lawyer.

Richard Painter, former ethics lawyer for George W Bush, tweeted that "any other President would have been out of there within 48 hours" for distributing the information from a US ally without their permission.

Cabinet and VP need to read Amendment 25, Mr Painter added.

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Under section four of the 25th Amendment, a President can be removed if deemed unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.

Although the amendment was designed to cover illness and death, such as in the cases of former Presidents John F Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, the wording could be interpreted to cover other inabilities to carry out Presidential duties.

Mr Painters assessment follows reports that Mr Trump said he had an absolute right to discuss sensitive information with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov last week.

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety," the President wrote.

 National Security Advisor HR McMaster says Trump's conversations with Russian officials were 'wholly appropriate'

"Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against [IS] & terrorism."

Mr Trumps alleged disclosure is not illegal, but will be seen as a potential act of incompetence by his critics and a breach of trust within the intelligence community.

His national security adviser, H R McMaster, denied that his boss had shared classified information without authorisation, and said Mr Trump was not even aware of the source and method of obtaining information about an Isis plot to use laptops to bring down planes.

Mr Trump was reported to have discussed the information to the extent that the Russians could have worked out who the source was, however, potentially putting informants lives at risk.

 Congressman Al Green calls for impeachment of Donald Trump

A new poll from Public Policy Polling found that more Americans support Mr Trumps impeachment than oppose it, for the first time.

Under Amendment 25, however, the task would fall to Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan to make a written assertion that the President was unable to continue in the White House - an unlikely scenario.

Mr Trumps meeting with the Russians, which barred US journalists and did not produce a transcript of the discussion, follows his firing of former FBI director James Comey while Mr Comey was investigating the Presidents and his teams alleged links to Russia before and after the campaign.

After the meeting with the two Russian officials, other attendees realised Mr Trumps alleged mistake and informed the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, who had to tell the US ally about the slip-up.

"If I had told White House staff 'dont leak classified information to the Russians' they would have laughed," Mr Painter tweeted.

He added that the UK and other US allies would be "nuts" to continue sharing sensitive material with Mr Trump.

Security adviser Mr McMaster defended Mr Trump to reporters.

What the President discussed with the foreign minister was wholly appropriate to that conversation and is consistent with the routine sharing of information between the President and any leaders with whom he's engaged," he said.
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Four men have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a terror attack in the UK as part of an investigation by MI5.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter terrorism command detained the suspects during raids on their homes.

The men, aged between 18 and 27, remain in custody while searches continue at five homes in east London and a nearby business address.

A spokesperson for Scotland Yard said they were detained on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

These arrests were pre-planned as part of an ongoing investigation by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and MI5, he added. The arrests are linked to activity in the UK.

Investigators gave no further details on the operation, which follows a series of stings targeting alleged Isis supporters in Britain.

In pictures: Westminster attack Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Westminster attack In pictures: Westminster attack An air ambulance lands after gunfire sounds were heard close to the Palace of Westminster in London PA wire In pictures: Westminster attack MPs wait until the situation is under control in Westminster. 'The alleged assailant was shot by armed police,' David Lidington, leader of the House of Commons, told the house. BBC News In pictures: Westminster attack Crowds gather in Westminster after shooting incident, which police are treating as terror attack BBC News In pictures: Westminster attack Police were also called to an incident on Westminster Bridge nearby AP In pictures: Westminster attack Early reports indicate the car, which mounted the pavement on Westminster Bridge and mowed into around a dozen people, was the same vehicle which then rammed into the railings of the Palace of Westminster, just around the corner Reuters In pictures: Westminster attack Security sources described the suspected assailant as a middle-aged Asian man, who is understood to have left the car before attacking a police officer with a seven-to-eight inch knife PA wire In pictures: Westminster attack Police have asked people to avoid the immediate area to allow emergency services to deal with the ongoing incident AP In pictures: Westminster attack One woman has died and a number of others, including the police officer, have been hurt, according to a junior doctor at St Thomas' Hospital Reuters In pictures: Westminster attack At least three gun shots were heard by those inside Westminster, and proceedings in the House of Commons have been suspended AP

Security has been intensified in the capital since alleged Isis supporter Khalid Masood killed five people in a car and knife attack in Westminster in March.

Last month, a man was arrested while carrying several knives in Whitehall. Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali, 27, has since been charged with preparing a terrorist act and two explosives offences dating back to time spent in Afghanistan in 2012.

In an unconnected case that emerged on the same day, three women have been charged with preparation of a terrorist act and conspiracy to murder following a police raid in Willesden that saw one of the women shot.

Rizlaine Boular, 21, her mother Mina Dich, 43, and Khawla Barghouthi, 20, remain in custody ahead of a hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Separately, 24-year-old Sabbir Miah pleaded guilty to spreading Isis propaganda videos on Tuesday.

British security services have prevented 13 potential terror attacks since June 2013, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley revealed.

Intelligence agencies have been monitoring suspected extremists, as well as tracking the return of some of around 800 Brits who went to fight for Isis in Iraq and Syria.
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A couple have been found guilty of a large scale property fraud following what is believed to be the longest criminal trial in UK legal history.

Edwin McLaren, 52, put together the 1.7 million property fraud scheme, which involved duping vulnerable victims in financial difficulty to sign over their homes, police said.

He and his wife Lorraine McLaren, 51, were convicted following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow which began in September 2015 and heard evidence over 320 days.

They will be sentenced next month.

Police welcomed the conviction of the couple, from Renfrewshire.

Detective Superintendent Andy Lawson said: The result of today's lengthy court proceedings follows an extremely complex inquiry that is probably one of the largest, most complicated property fraud investigations ever carried out in Scotland.

"A team of officers has investigated cases involving a number of victims the length and breadth of the country, who have been left completely distraught, some penniless and homeless, who have been disadvantaged financially - and all at the hands of the McLarens.

"For over four years, detectives have worked tirelessly to unpick the network of banking transfers and legal documentation for 24 properties as part of this 1.7 million fraudulent conspiracy spanning a six-year period.

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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 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"McLaren orchestrated a series of scams including a 'sell and rent back' con, which involved duping vulnerable victims in financial difficulty to sign over their homes and subsequently by further deception, to trick them into transferring the proceeds of sale into an account controlled by Edwin McLaren.

"In some instances, he pretended to individuals that he would give them a loan to pay off their mortgage and other debts when in fact, he had arranged the sale of their property to an associate.

"He then continued to further deceive those victims by obtaining proceeds from the fraudulent sale from the victim. The fraud continued by using this cash as deposits for the next fraudulent transaction."

He said that a team of specialist search officers, telecommunications and computer forensics experts, financial investigators and criminal analysts pored over hundreds of thousands of documents to follow the trail and identify those behind the racket.

Mr Lawson added: Undoubtedly, the shameless actions of Edwin McLaren, who had the ability to persuade and dupe innocent victims and professionals into agreeing to his dishonest scheme, has wreaked devastation on many people, whilst they continued to live a life of luxury.

These are heartless individuals, driven by greed, who were ruthless financial predators, and who despite pleas for help from their victims, chose to disregard them as they focused on their financial gain.



Press Association
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A dramatic increase in screen time is putting children's health at risk, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.

A rise in social media usage and increasing amounts of time spent in front of tablets, computers and smartphones is causing children as young as 11 to suffer an increased risk of poor health, new research revealed.

The report also suggested the vast majority of young people were failing to take the recommended level of exercise each day.

The findings showed a continuous steep increase between 2002 and 2014 in the number of children using technology for two hours or more each weekday.

Usage rates increased for both sexes, but tripled for girls aged 15 or over.

In 2014, 74.6 per cent of girls and 76.5 per cent of boys aged 11 to 15 in England used a computer, tablet or phone for two or more hours on a weekday.

In Scotland, these figures rose further to 79.9 per cent for girls and 83.6 per cent for boys.

Of 42 countries studied by the WHO, Scotland came top for computer use by girls, while Wales was fourth and England seventh.

More than 200,000 children were surveyed by the WHO in schools in 42 countries, including 5,335 in England, 5,932 in Scotland and 5,154 in Wales.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters

A breakdown by age showed children as young as 11 spending a large chunk of time online.

Lead author Dr Jo Inchley, from the University of St Andrews, said the rise in social media was having an impact on young people.

"We know that a positive impact of social media is social connectedness and the sense of interaction. But we also know there are risks, such as cyberbullying and impact on mental health, as well as things like missing out on sleep, she said.

"Also, there are longer-term impacts on physical health from being sedentary. One of the main challenges for us is that this kind of activity (social media and computer use) is so much part of young people's lives these days, how do we manage this and the health risks associated with it? It's about reducing time being spent sedentary, and ensuring that children still have opportunity to be active. We really need to start addressing these challenges now."

Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said gadgets were taking their toll on childrens wellbeing.

He said: "Adolescents are now slaves to handheld devices and this is doing nothing for their health.

"Incredibly, teenagers believe that playing computer games with their friends from the privacy of their bedrooms is a form of physical activity and rebel if grounded from their Facebooks or Instagrams."

The report also found that while TV-watching is declining, only a minority of youngsters watch less than two hours a day.

Recommended New sugar tax confirmed in fight to combat rising obesity

Only about a fifth of boys in England, Wales and Scotland meet the Government recommendation of exercising for an hour a day. The figure is worse for girls, with only 14 per cent in Scotland and 12 per cent in England and Wales reaching the target.

Dr Inchley said: "We need to find ways to make young people more active.

"Maybe they are getting lifts in the car, or are not out playing in the streets any more in the way they used to."

The report is being presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Porto, Portugal.

Additional reporting by Press Association
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Ireland will have a new prime minister in June after Taoiseach Enda Kenny quit as leader of his party.

Mr Kenny stood down from the helm of Fine Gael at an emotionally-charged meeting of party colleagues in Leinster House in Dublin after delaying the announcement for several months.

The veteran politician, from Castlebar, Co Mayo, led the party for 15 years and has been at the head of two governments for more than six years.

Nominations for the contest to replace him close on Saturday with the successor due to be elected by June 2 and Ireland's Dail parliament due to vote in the new leader as taoiseach in the following days.

Mr Kenny made his announcement at a brief parliamentary party meeting where some supporters were said to have been visibly upset at his long-awaited plans for departure.

"I want to assure people that throughout this internal process, I will continue to carry out my duties and responsibilities as Taoiseach in full," he said.

One party figure described how Mr Kenny's voice quivered as he finished his address to colleagues before making a swift exit rather than waiting for questions or commendations.

Another senior member said: "The body language of some of his loyal supporters said it all, there were a few teary eyes."

Mr Kenny was said to have been composed, making the announcement on his own terms.

"I would like to stress the huge honour and privilege that it has been for me to lead our party for the past 15 years, in opposition and into government on two successive occasions," Mr Kenny said in a statement.

"I thank all our members, past and present, for that privilege."

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA 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 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty 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

Mr Kenny paid tribute to constituents and supporters in Mayo who he has represented since 1975.

He thanked his personal staff and gave a special mention to his wife Fionnuala and their children and extended families "for their understanding of my work, and indeed for accepting the many intrusions of politics into family life in the interest of building our country".

Mr Kenny added: "I could not have engaged as I did without that base."

The father of the Dail leaves a legacy of steering the Republic out of a crippling recession, albeit with an agenda of austerity.

Aside from the economics, his achievements will include gay marriage rights, an apparent determination to stand up to the Vatican and legislating for abortion in limited circumstances.

Failures will list his inability to convince the public on water-metering and charges, painful tax hikes, unprecedented homelessness and a myriad of police corruption and negligence crises.

Fine Gael party chairman Martin Heydon described Mr Kenny as a "compassionate, pragmatic and inclusive" leader.

"Having inherited a country and an economy that was decimated by mismanagement, Enda's strong leadership and ability to make hard decisions was recognised both at home and abroad and saw our international reputation restored and strengthened," Mr Heydon said.

The front-runners to replace Mr Kenny as Fine Gael leader and subsequently as taoiseach are Leo Varadkar, Social Protection Minister, and Simon Coveney, Housing Minister.

Mr Varadkar, a doctor from Dublin and the favourite for the job, is Ireland's first openly gay member of cabinet.

In recent weeks his campaign to clampdown on welfare cheats has been fiercely criticised in some quarters, including by a former social welfare inspector, and opponents who questioned the level of fraud in the system.

Mr Coveney, from Cork, has also held a number of ministries but faces weekly criticism of his efforts to tackle the country's unprecedented housing and homelessness crisis.

He set himself a deadline of the end of June to end the practice of putting up thousands of families who need emergency accommodation in hotels and B&Bs.

Other outsiders include Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Education Minister Richard Bruton, who launched a failed bid to oust Mr Kenny back in 2010.

The contest is decided by an electoral college that gives the parliamentary party, made up of TDs, senators and MEPs, 65% of the vote.

The rank-and-file members of the party have 25% and councillors 10%.

Mr Kenny delayed his resignation on a number of occasions this year.

Recommended The election could leave Northern Ireland without any government

He asked colleagues for time to visit the US for the annual St Patrick's Day celebrations and to meet President Donald Trump, continuing the unique tradition Ireland has of access to the White House every March 17.

He stayed on to attend the European Council summit in Brussels at the end of April where the priorities for the Brexit negotiations were agreed.

Last week his role on the international stage continued when he held talks with EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier at Government Buildings in Dublin.

Among Mr Kenny's final official overseas engagements will be a two-day trade mission to Chicago and the centenary commemoration of the start of the First World War Battle of Messines.

PA
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A six-year-old girl who was snatched by a carjacker in London has been found safe and well, according to police.

Beatrice Felicia was sitting in the back of her father's car in Leyton High Road, east London, when a man jumped in and drove off on Tuesday evening.

Her father had been trying to sell the car to the man when he jumped in with Beatrice in the back around 18:30.

The brown VW passat car had last been seen heading towards the Chadwell Heath Area. However it was unclear whether the car had also been found by police.

Police said the man who took the car is described as Asian, in his 30s, with short dark hair and a dark beard. He was wearing a dark jacket with white fur lining on the hood and green Nike TN trainers.

Detectives from Waltham Forest police are leading the investigation and appealed for anyone with information to call 999.
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Pregnant refugees and asylum seekers are facing unacceptable delays in receiving essential maternity support, a leading charity has warned.

Women are being left unable to eat properly during pregnancy or buy essential equipment such as car seats once their babies are born due to administrative delays in financial support they are entitled to from the Government, according to the British Red Cross.

The charity came to the aid of 5,438 people without adequate access to food, housing or healthcare between January and March this year, including providing nappies to 70 women and baby packs to 94.

Destitute women who are asylum seekers are eligible for additional financial support during pregnancy of 3 a week, a one-off maternity grant of 300 (250 for refused asylum seekers who receive Section 4 support), and additional payments for children under the age of three. 

But the Red Cross has warned that these payments  which it says are "arguable not enough anyway"  are frequently delayed, leaving vulnerable women unprepared for their babies arrival, and charities having to stand in to provide support.

One woman living in Portsmouth had received no additional payments 40 weeks into her pregnancy before the charity intervened and provided cash for food and other essential costs. It also fell to the charity to provide the new mother with a car seat  without which it is impossible to leave hospital  as well as nappies, baby wipes and money for a taxi when she went into labour.

Lilly Barritt, refugee support coordinator at the British Red Cross, said pregnant women who hadnt received their support were sometimes left with no means to get to hospital for appointments, unable to afford a car seat or sometimes even without the cash to buy a bus ticket.

There has definitely been an increase in delays in the last year and a half. Some women arent getting support until after the babys born, which means many of them have no means of getting to hospital, Ms Barritt told The Independent.

They have no means of travelling particularly women on Section 24 who dont get any cash support whatsoever  so they couldnt even get a bus to the hospital if that was their only option.

They cant buy a car seat, or nappies or clothes or anything. Obviously car seats are quite expensive when you only get 36.95 a week, and if youre not even getting the additional payment, which is only 3 anyway  arguably not enough.

Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The Solidarity With Refugees group said Saturdays protest aimed to show our Government and the world that Britain is ready to welcome more refugees. Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis People march through central London as they take part in a protest rally organised by Solidarity with Refugees in a bid to urge the Government to take more action on the migrant crisis Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The protest comes days before world leaders meet to discuss crisis at UN General Assembly Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Demonstrators made their way from Park Lane to Parliament Square in London on Saturday afternoon Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Marchers chanted refugees are welcome here and waved banners reading no-one is illegal and lets help people Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The march was supported by charities and groups including the Red Cross, Asylum Aid, Save the Children, Hope Not Hate, Oxfam and the UN Refugee Agency Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis In the wake of Alans death, David Cameron pledged to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK over the coming five years but there have been additional calls to re-home those who have already reached Europe, as well as asylum seekers coming from other conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan Rex Features

Ms Barritt added that female asylum seekers were already vulnerable by the fact that, due to the Home Offices system of dispersing asylum seekers across the country, they are often located far from family and other support networks.

These women are made vulnerable already by the fact that theyre here as an asylum seeker. Theyre often very socially isolated. They dont have the same support networks because of the lack of choice in where theyre dispersed to in the asylum accommodation, Ms Barritt said.

So they are isolated and going through really quite an emotional experience of having a baby without actually having any support, and theyre not even able to get those practical essential things in place.

Recommended Thousands of asylum seekers and migrants wrongly denied NHS healthcare

Alex Fraser, director of refugee support at the British Red Cross, described the delays as "shameful", saying: These figures show how our asylum system can leave anyone destitute, even new mothers with infant children. Many of these women have already suffered appallingly, arriving in the UK after fleeing conflict or persecution and hoping for sanctuary.

Its shameful that bureaucracy and administrative delays are leaving women to rely on charity to eat sufficiently during pregnancy and to get hold of nappies for their new babies. We are extremely concerned by the unnecessary stress this causes to women who are already significantly vulnerable because of the fact they are seeking asylum.

Financial support for asylum seekers is set to be restricted further when Immigration Act regulations are published and enacted, repealing Section 95 support  which provides accommodation and 37 a week for each member of the family  for families with children who have been refused asylum.

The Red Cross warned these cuts could leave even more families with infants in poverty, and has urged the Government that pregnant women and families with children must continue receiving Section 95 support, regardless of immigration status.

A report released by the British Red Cross in November 2016, A Healthy Start?, found that pregnant asylum seeking women and new mothers in Scotland were being housed in dirty and cramped housing with carpets which were infested.
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Doctors, academics and public health officials have called on the Conservative Party to include in its general election manifesto a commitment to spend 350m a week on the NHS, in keeping with the notorious posters of the Vote Leave campaign.

In an open letter organised by Vote Leave Watch and the Healthier In campaign, the group of medical doctors, academics and public health experts say that for the mandate of the referendum to be respected, the Conservatives must promise in their manifesto to spend 350m extra per week on the NHS once Britain leaves the European Union.

They continue to say that failing to do so would reveal the hollowness of their pledge. Labours Chuka Umunna, chair of Vote Leave Watch, said that failure to deliver the promise would show the Conservatives to be a cynical shower of hard Brexiteers.

The letter has been signed by a number of the countrys leading medics, including Dr Kailash Chand OBE, the former deputy chair of the British Medical Association.

In the open letter, the 40 health professionals say: As health professionals with long experience in the National Health Service and medical research, we know that the NHS faces a critical funding situation.

"The Government bases its mandate for leaving the EU on the vote in the referendum. Yet the iconic symbol of the campaign to leave was the claim that there would be 350m extra every week for the NHS.

Tomorrow, the Conservative Party is expected to set out its manifesto for this general election  an election, we should not forget, that they called in order to gain a bigger mandate for Brexit negotiations with the EU.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA 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 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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 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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

"We are absolutely clear that they must promise in their manifesto to spend 350m extra per week on the NHS once Britain leaves the European Union.

"Such an injection of funding would have a transformational impact on our National Health Service. Failing to do so would reveal the hollowness of their pledge, and let down everyone who works in, cares about and depends on our NHS.

The Conservative Party will publish its election manifesto on Thursday.
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to scrap the so-called rape clause for child tax credits if he is elected as prime minister.

The Tory policy, which limits tax credits to two children with an exemption for women who have conceived as a result of rape, was introduced in April as part of wider welfare reforms. It was passed into law without a debate or vote in March.

Mr Corbyn said Conservative politicians should be ashamed of the abhorrent measure.

The rule is part of a policy restricting child tax credits to the first two children in a family. Labour branded it an attack on low-income families in its manifesto.

Campaigners, human rights groups and some politicians have condemned the new law.

Last month Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale read aloud a powerful letter in the Scottish Parliament from a woman who became pregnant after being raped.

 Theresa May says rape clause forcing victims to prove they were attacked is about 'fairness'

The woman told of how the "need to protect my children from the truth came above all other considerations" to avoid "the permanent and damaging stigma attached to rape".

Mr Corbyn said his party would "end the abhorrent rape clause across the UK."

He added: Kezia Dugdales powerful speech in the Scottish parliament demonstrated the heartbreaking reality of the rape clause. Theresa May and [Scottish Conservative leader] Ruth Davidson should be ashamed of this policy. Only a Labour government that works for the many, not the few, can bring this policy to an end.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA 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 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty 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

Mr Corbyn said the two-child tax credit policy would increase child poverty and said he would redesign the law if he was elected.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has said the policy could violate human rights laws, adding that the Department for Work and Pensions had not completed a sufficiently detailed impact assessment before implementing the reforms.

After facing backlash, Scottish Ms Davidson said she could be open to a review of how the rape clause works.
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If Tony Blair was Labour leader today he would be less popular than Jeremy Corbyn, a new poll has found.

Almost a third (31 per cent) of voters said they would consider voting for the party under its current leader, while just 23 per cent said they would do the same if Mr Blair was still in charge.

Mr Corbyn was also more popular than past leaders or potential future ones, including Ed Miliband, Sadiq Khan and rumoured leadership hopeful Yvette Cooper.

Among those polled, only 24 per cent said they would consider voting for the party under Mr Miliband or Ms Cooper, while 25 per cent would do so if Mr Khan was at the helm.

Just 23 per cent said they would consider casting their ballot for Labour if Mr Blair was in charge.

However, 61 per cent said they would not even consider voting for the party if he became leader again.

Mr Miliband was almost as unpopular, with 56 per cent saying they would not consider voting for the party under his leadership. The figure for Mr Corbyn was 53 per cent.

Both Mr Khan and Ms Cooper are less toxic with the electorate. Fewer than half (49 per cent) of voters say they would not consider voting Labour under the current London Mayor, while for Ms Cooper, the former Shadow Home Secretary, the figure was 45 per cent.

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 poll, carried out by GfK for Business Insider, is likely to come as a boost to Mr Corbyn who, as The Independent exclusively reported last month, is expected to stay on as leader even if Labour suffers a crushing defeat at next months general election.

Allies of the left-winger are likely to highlight the fact that alternative candidates do not appear to be significantly more popular with voters.

However, the findings will be welcomed by Mr Khan and Ms Cooper who could point to the fact that they alienate fewer voters than Mr Corbyn does.

A number of potential candidates are believed to be eyeing up a bid for the Labour leadership should Mr Corbyn step aside.

Mr Khans term as Mayor of London does not finish until 2020, but Ms Cooper is rumoured to be planning to enter a crowded field that could also include Chuka Umunna, Dan Jarvis, Sir Keir Starmer and Clive Lewis.

Corbyn allies Angela Rayner and Rebecca Long-Bailey, as well as Stephen Kinnock, the son of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, have also been touted as a possible candidates.

"Yvette Coopers numbers are interesting," GfK Research Director Keiran Pedley told Business Insider. "She is clearly the least toxic of the Labour politicians we tested but it is fair to say that she remains something of an unknown quantity for now among the British public, therefore voters are hardly clamouring for her to lead the Labour Party yet."

 General Election polls and projections: May 17

"These results cast doubt on how successful any political comeback by Tony Blair would be. Much has been written on Corbyns unpopularity but these results suggest that Tony Blair is even more unpopular with the public. His biggest problem in terms of political credibility is that he no longer has an obvious constituency in British politics.

"He is even divisive among Labour voters."

Mr Blair recently hinted at a political comeback, telling the Daily Mirror he wanted to get my hands dirty.

This Brexit thing has given me a direct motivation to get more involved in the politics, he said.

The GfK poll found Mr Corbyn has gained popularity since the start of the election campaign. While his approval rating is still -30, it is higher than the -41 it sunk to in March.

Theresa May, by contrast, has a positive approval rating of 16, while Lib Dem leader Tim Farron is on -11. Mr Corbyn is more unpopular than Ukip leader Paul Nuttall and the SNPs Nicola Sturgeon, who are on -28 and -23 respectively.
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As the general election ploughs on, a different type of campaign is raging in the sleepy constituency of Buckingham. In the territory, nestled between Oxford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes, more than 75,000 voters have not been heard in Parliament since 2009.

Their representative is John Bercow, better known to the wider public as Speaker of the House of Commons. Unlike other MPs, Mr Bercow is independent and left his former party, the Conservatives, when he was elected to his position by the countrys politicians.

As a consequence of his impartiality, Mr Bercow - who keeps order in the Commons - cannot vote on legislative issues, unless it is to break a tie. Furthermore, it is a long-held tradition for the mainstream parties to respect the constituency of the Speaker and not to field candidates against him, whatever the constituency.

John Bercow tells off MP during Therea May's Brexit speech

Were really disenfranchised. Our MP hasnt got a vote! says Phil Harriss, the man behind a petition which has been snowballing since the election was called.

Mr Harriss, an editor from the village of Brill, began his Give us a voice, not a Speaker! campaign several years ago, after he learned of the convention.

The petition calls for a change in the way the parties approach the issue of Speaker.

When the Speaker is elected [by other MPs], they should automatically resign their seat and trigger a by-election, Mr Harriss tells The Independent. The constituency would then be properly represented and the Speaker would still have a mandate.

Buckingham's voters spoiled 1,289 ballots in 2015, some 700 more than anywhere else in that year's general election.

"Its good that theres someone independently minded in Parliament, Mr Harriss says. John Bercow showed he was before he became Speaker. But now it doesnt matter what his opinions are because he has no vote.

Mr Harriss believes for other parties not to stand is archaic and blatantly anti-democratic. The fragile state of British politics, coupled with the fact that no one in Buckingham was ever consulted, has made the issue particularly contentious this election.

He says: It just feels like a cosy deal. The parties wont stand against the Speaker, and to hell with the voters in that constituency.

I think Parliament needs modernising and it should be along democratic lines.

The campaign has widespread support in the local area. Harriet Coles, an entrepreneur also from Brill, says the system is appalling and she feels utterly disenfranchised.

Philippa Watt, a teacher from Oakley, says she is livid about the situation. This will be the most important election I could have voted in since 1975, she says. "When I think of what the Suffragettes went through to ensure my vote, this disenfranchisement makes my blood boil!"

Numerous similar comments appear on the petitions web page. Locals have also reported strong support echoed in the pubs and halls of the villages which scatter the strongly Conservative rural constituency.

In April, Buckingham Liberal Democrat Sarah Lowes announced she would stand for the party to give Buckingham a genuine alternative -- but withdrew her candidacy just days later. The move greatly angered voters who demanded an increased choice of candidates.

I was devastated, says Ms Coles. I felt cheated. First it was tuition fees, now this.

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. 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The only candidates against Mr Bercow are from the Green Party and Ukip, and neither is likely to perform well in an area traditionally dominated by Tories.

Also standing is independent Scott Raven, who hopes his candidacy will highlight the issue of representation.

What kind of a choice are the Greens and Ukip? the 25-year-old politics teacher says. Mr Raven, standing on a liberal ticket, hopes residents will be encouraged to vote for him instead of spoiling their votes.

He says: The local [mainstream] parties not standing shows that they dont care about us or our local issuesI want to engage people more so that they know they can have a vote and it will make a difference.

But Mr Raven describes the current situation as total disenfranchisement. We dont have a say, he says. The people that you are voting for dont give a crap about us, it's just about party politics.

Mr Bercow holds a huge 22,942 majority  though campaigners claim this is partly because there is no alternative  and is held in high regard by many constituents and other MPs.

He defended the present circumstances in a statement to The Independent. By very longstanding convention, the three major political parties do not contest the seat in which the Speaker seeking re-election is standing, although this does not mean that he or she is unopposed, it read.

"Following the 2010 General Election, Mr Bercow asked the House of Commons Procedure Select Committee to look into the Speakers Seat convention. The Committee did so, and decided in favour of preserving the status quo. Any change to the Speakers Seat would be a decision for the House of Commons, and not the Speaker."

But Mr Harriss called the Committee obscure and it became lost in the web of Parliamentary intrigue.

Even now, many voters dont realise the situation until they get into the booth, he says. Some even still think Mr Bercow is a Conservative.

He hopes his campaign will publicise the issue, engage more citizens and change attitudes. And like Mr Raven, he worries about the impact the current system will have on young voters.

This is about the principle, not the person, Mr Harris says. Right now, the Speaker is from Buckingham, so its on our watch.
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The Chancellor has admitted he has occasionally sworn at Theresa Mays aides, after claims of angry clashes over economic policy.

Philip Hammond dismissed as tittle-tattle reports that relations with the Prime Ministers closest advisers have deteriorated over proposals on tax and energy prices.

But he said: Im not going to say that I have never occasionally sworn, but I work extremely well and closely with Theresa Mays team.

I work extremely closely with Theresa. We have got a huge job to do here and we are getting on with the job together, as a team.

The comments came after Mr Hammond finally emerged onto the election campaign trail, after playing a strikingly low-key role for the man in charge of Britains finances.

Last week, The Times reported that the Chancellor had infuriated No.10 aides by trying to commit the Government to ditching a promise not to raise VAT, tax or national insurance.

It's self-evidently clear that the commitments that were made in the 2015 manifesto did, and do today, constrain the ability of the government to manage the economy flexibly, he said, three days after the snap election was called.

The statement was seen as a clear hint that the so-called tax lock pledge would be dropped  a policy that will only be confirmed when the Conservative manifesto is published tomorrow.

Mr Hammond is also believed to have initially opposed Ms Mays flagship promise to cap energy bills for 17m households.

Nick Timothy, one of the Prime Ministers chiefs of staff, was said to be incandescent over briefings, blamed on the Chancellors aides, that he is economically illiterate.

There was a lot of swearing and angry phone calls, one source told The Times, with Mr Timothy suspecting an attempt to tie his hands as he prepared the manifesto.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Mr Hammond said: This is tittle-tattle. I dont recognise any of this stuff.

The Chancellor also again refused to say whether income tax or national insurance will rise if the Conservatives retain power, saying: You will have to wait and see when our manifesto is published.

Instead, he turned his fire on Labour, claiming Jeremy Corbyns manifesto had exposed a 58bn black hole in the partys spending plans.

Claiming the manifesto would bankrupt Britain, Mr Hammond said: Labours plans dont add up.

Thats 58bn that either has to be borrowed, or it has to be raised from taxpayers. Theres nowhere else for it to come from  theres no magic money tree.

However, Mr Hammond appears to have reached his figure of a 58bn gap by including capital spending and the possible costs of renationalising the water and energy industries.

Labour has not said it would take those industries back into public ownership immediately, insisting its plans for an extra 48.6bn of day-to-day spending are fully matched by tax-raising proposals.
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The Liberal Democrats have made a second EU referendum on the terms of any Brexit deal the central pledge of their election manifesto, and pledged to use the next parliament to protect Britains place in Europe.

Leader Tim Farron said voters dont have to accept Theresa May and Nigel Farages extreme version of Brexit that will wreck the future for you, your family, your schools and hospitals.

The Liberal Democrats have been harshly criticised by Brexiteers for their policy of offering a second referendum, which Brexit Secretary David Davis has said would incentivise Brussels to offer the UK an especially poor deal, in the hope it might force British voters to back staying in the EU.

He recently told one of the partys nine MPs, Tom Brake, to engage your brain on the issue.

No other party manifesto provides a route through which the UK could remain in the European Union.

Elsewhere, the party has said it could raise 1bn in taxes by legalising cannabis.

The party had also pledged to protect per-pupil funding in England, which will cost 7bn over five years.

In the manifesto it is goes further, saying it will extend free school meals to all primary schools and triple funding for the early years pupil premium, boosting it to 1,000.

It has also announced a scheme by which social housing tenants could own their homes after paying rent on them for 30 years.

They are also pledging to slash the cost of bus passes for 16- to 21-year-olds by two thirds.
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Theresa May says Britain will continue to hand intelligence information to Donald Trump, but refused to say she had full confidence in him personally.

Quizzed about the latest scandal in America, the Prime Minister said only that she had confidence in the relationship between us and the United States  that it helps to keep us all safer.

And she said: We continue to work with the United States and we continue to share intelligence with the United States, as we do with others around the world.

We are all working together to deal with the threats that we face, the key threat of course being the threat of terrorism  predominantly from Daesh [Isis], but we must never forget that al-Qaeda is still out there.

The Prime Minister had been asked whether she had full confidence in Mr Trump and whether she was still content for British intelligence to be shared with the United States.

The questions came after the President insisted he has the absolute right to share highly classified information with the Kremlin.

It emerged Mr Trump may have disclosed Israeli intelligence in last weeks Oval Office meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US ambassador, Sergei Kislyak.

The intelligence involved an Isis plot to use bombs hidden in laptop computers to bring down planes, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the incident.

The conversation came hours after he fired FBI director James Comey, who was probing his election team over links to the Kremlin.

But Mr Trump tweeted: As President, I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled WH meeting), which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the reports that it was the source of the intelligence, but its embassy in the US insisted it has full confidence in the intelligence-sharing relationship between the two nations.

Ms Mays relationship with Mr Trump has been in the spotlight since she was captured holding his hand as they walked out of the White House together, back in January.

The Prime Minister was accused of rushing to Washington within days of the inauguration, desperate to secure a trade deal with America because of Brexit.

Ms May told a press conference in east London yesterday: This is the most important defence and security relationship that we have around the world.

I was very pleased that when I went to the United States, shortly after President Trumps inauguration, he was able to commit to his 100 per cent commitment to Nato, which is an important bedrock of our security and the bedrock of the security of Europe.

In the United States, it has now been reported that Mr Trump asked Mr Comey to drop an inquiry into links between his former national security adviser and Russia.

I hope you can let this go, Mr Trump reportedly told the then-FBI director after a White House meeting in February, according to a memo written by Mr Comey.

The memo was allegedly written immediately after the meeting, a day after Michael Flynn resigned. The White House has denied the allegation.
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Signs of a split between Downing Street and the Treasury intensified on Wednesday after Theresa May refused to confirm Philip Hammond would continue to be Chancellor after the general election.

At a joint press conference with the two Cabinet colleagues the Chancellor dismissed reports of a rift between him and the Prime Minister as media tittle-tattle.

But standing beside him, his boss Ms May twice failed to confirm that Mr Hammond would stay as Chancellor if the Conservatives returned to government after 8 June.

Ms May said she was very happy to endorse Mr Hammond but shied away from actually pledging to keep him in the post.

She added: Weve worked together over the years for many years, longer than we could care to identify. Thats an age-related comment, nothing else, just in case you try and relate anything into that.

Speaking at the same press conference, Mr Hammond said: We do work very well together as a team and all this media tittle-tattle is just that, media tittle-tattle.

Rumours of a split between the pair emerged after the Government took a sharp U-turn on Mr Hammonds plans to raise National Insurance for self-employed workers just days after he delivered his Budget.

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. 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Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to elect a new parliament in a general election AFP/Getty Images

Mr Hammond did not deny rumours that he had sworn at one of Ms Mays top aide Nick Timothy.

He said: What I candidly admitted, and my family will confirm this, is that I do occasionally swear. I wasnt referring to any particular conversation, but I do occasionally swear.
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The Liberal Democrats have denied claims that their party leader is opposed to abortion after an old interview emerged in which he said the medical procedure was too widely available.

Tim Farron, who is a practising Christian, spoke to a Salvation Army publication in 2007 in which he said the medical procedure was wrong.

Take the issue of abortion. Personally I wish I could argue it away. Abortion is wrong, he told the publication, unearthed by the Guardian newspaper.

In the interview Mr Farron went on to say that abortion was wrong at any time and that it was too widely available and needed tighter restrictions.

Asked about the comments on Twitter he said the publication was not a publication Ive ever heard of or read or seen.

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said Mr Farron had actually always been pro-choice and would not discuss the interview in question.

Tims view is that he is pro-choice and abortion should be safe and legal, that is what he believes, the spokesperson said.

However Mr Farrons Lib Dem colleague Ed Davey took a different line, claiming that his party leader had changed his mind.

Tim has made very clear he has changed his mind, Sir Ed told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

He's made it clear that he is pro-choice and the Liberal Democrats believe that women should have the right to choose.

The row over abortion comes after Mr Farrons views on gay rights came under scrutiny.

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 Lib Dem leader repeatedly refused to answer whether he believed gay sex was a sin, then later said he did not believe it was.

Polls suggest the Liberal Democrats have struggled to make significant in-roads with their national vote share during the election campaign, confounding some expectations of a comeback.
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Uganda's media council has banned a film because it "glorifies homosexuality", the Dutch embassy has said.

Made in the Netherlands The Dinner Club also contains "steamy sex scenes"; "lurid language"; and "smoking especially by women", according to officials in the landlocked African nation, where gay sex is illegal.

"While glorifying homosexuality two women say marriage (presumably to men) is hard work! This is against Ugandan values," the council added in its rejection letter.

It claimed the dinner club formed by the women in the film "is in reality a sort of brothel". The council also objected to one man in the film calling another a "hot chick".

They have banned it from being screened in the country as a result.

Released in 2010, the film was due to be screened at the European Film Festival in Uganda.

The Dutch embassy, which posted the list of objections on Facebook, said it "deplores" the decision to ban the film and would withdraw from participating in the festival .
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Barack Obama reportedly branded Donald Trump a bullsh***r after the pairs election night phone call.

Mr Obama congratulated President Trump on his win after he won the election in November and it has now emerged the billionaire property tycoon professed his newfound veneration for former President Obama during the phone call.

Two friends of the former President have now told People magazine Mr Trump suddenly professed his respect and admiration for him despite their years-long feud and fraught relationship.

But the former President is said to have been so vexed by the flattery that he argued Mr Trump was being disingenuous.

Hes nothing but a bullsh****r, Mr Obama reportedly told two friends early last November while describing the election night call.

When pressed about whether the former Presidents straight-talking assessment of Mr Trump had changed since his arrival in the White House the source said: Well it hasnt gotten any better.

At the time, Mr Obama addressed the phone call during a speech at the White House but ceased to mention the actual contents of the conversation.

I had a chance to talk to President-elect Trump last night, he told listeners the day after the election. At about 3:30 in the morning, I think it was, to congratulate him on winning the election and I had a chance to invite him to come to the White House tomorrow to talk about making sure that there is a successful transition between our presidencies.

Now, it is no secret that the president-elect and I have some pretty significant differences.

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

The source's apparent revelation marks something of a break from Mr Obamas attitude towards President Trump in the public sphere. The Chicago native has adhered to the convention of giving new President's some leeway in the early period of the administration and ceased to mention his successor President Trump by name in a speech accepting the John F Kennedy Library Foundations Profile in Courage Award at the beginning of May.

He has also opted against directly remarking on the new President in his three public appearances since leaving the White House in January.

Nevertheless, he has made subtle references to Mr Trump since leaving the White House. In April, he took to the stage in Chicago for his first public appearance since President Trumps inauguration and warned of the increasing polarisation of US politics. He even joked: "So, whats been going on while Ive been gone?

What's more, while holidaying on the British Virgin Isles in February, he condemned President Trumps hardline immigration order.

The President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion, Mr Obama's spokesman said in a statement.

Citizens exercising their Constitutional rights to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake.

Mr Trump signed an executive order restricting travel from seven majority-Muslim countries days after arriving in the White House. After prompting chaos across airports worldwide, a federal judge blocked the order in February.

The President issued a revised hardline immigration ban in March that blocks new visas for people from six Muslim-majority countries and temporarily halts the US refugee programme. However US District Judge Derrick Watson issued a temporary restraining order against the revised ban after the state of Hawaii filed a lawsuit challenging it.
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Chelsea Manning has taken her first steps of freedom as a woman, and commemorated the occasion like any 27-year-old might celebrate a big day: posting a photo on Instagram.

Ms Manning posted a photo of her black Converse soon after being released from military prison where she served seven years of a 35-year sentence for leaking classified information to WikiLeaks.

First steps of freedom!! she wrote on Instagram alongside a smiling emoji and the hashtag chelseaisfree.

Recommended Chelsea Manning released from prison

Ms Mannings sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama in what was one of his final acts as president earlier this year. Mr Obamas decision to cut the transgender soldiers sentence angered his successor, Donald Trump, who called the former intelligence analyst an ungrateful traitor and said she should never have been released from prison.

First steps of freedom!!  . . #chelseaisfree A post shared by Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea87) on May 17, 2017 at 6:39am PDT

In a statement released by her legal team, Ms Manning expressed joy and optimism for her future.

After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived, Ms Manning said of leaving the US military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me, is far more important than the past. Im figuring things out right nowwhich is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me.

Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Show all 12 1 /12 Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence torbakhopper/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Garry Knight/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence People hold signs calling for the release of imprisoned wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning while marching in a gay pride parade in San Francisco, California June 28, 2015. Manning has appealed to an Army court to overturn her court-martial conviction, a court filing released on Thursday said. Reuters Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Around twenty activists associated with the Chelsea Manning support group rally in front of the White House in Washington DC, Sunday May 11, 2014. Stephen Melkisethian/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Daily Chalkupy/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Around twenty activists associated with the Chelsea Manning support group rally in front of the White House in Washington DC, Sunday May 11, 2014. Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Twitter Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Abigail Edward holds up a sign advocating the release of WikiLeaks whistle blower Chelsea Manning along the Gay Pride parade route in San Francisco, California on Sunday, June, 26, 2016. Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Demonstration for Chelsea Manning in London, England, United Kingdom. Chelsea Manning (born Bradley Edward Manning) is a United States Army soldier who was convicted by court-martial in July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses, after disclosing to WikiLeaks nearly three-quarters of a million classified or unclassified but sensitive military and diplomatic documents. Manning was sentenced in August 2013 to 35 years imprisonment, with the possibility of parole in the eighth year, and to be dishonorably discharged from the Army. Manning is a trans woman who, in a statement the day after sentencing, said she had felt female since childhood, wanted to be known as Chelsea, and desired to begin hormone replacement therapy. From early life and through much of her Army life, Manning was known as Bradley; she was diagnosed with gender identity disorder while in the Army. Mike Kemp/Getty Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Chelsea M Queer Friends/Twitter Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Instagram Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Jil Love Revolution/Instagram

Ms Manning was convicted in 2013 of 20 charges, after leaking diplomatic cables and military files she gained access to as an Army intelligence analyst. Those charges included six Espionage Act violations, theft, and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge she faced, aiding the enemy.

Those leaks revealed abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan by the US military, the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, killings by military contractors in Iraq, Afghan civilian deaths and other incidents.

Those astonishing revelations sparked global outrage over what seemed to be a disregard by the US military for the impact of war on civilians. The leaks were also criticised by some who said that exposing the countrys most sensitive secrets endangered information sources. The State Department quickly moved to protect sources in the aftermath.

In prison, Ms Manning also became an inspiration for transgender people as she struggled with identifying as a woman while in American military custody. Her representatives allege that she was subjected to violence in prison and that she was mistreated by the military, which forced her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison. They allege that her physical and mental health care was restricted and that she was not allowed to keep her feminine haircut.
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Chelsea Manning has been released from prison after being convicted of passing classified information to WikiLeaks.

Ms Manning served seven years of her 35-year sentence, which was commuted by Barack Obama as one of his final acts as President.

Donald Trump called the former intelligence analyst an ungrateful traitor following the decision, claiming she should never have been released from prison.

I appreciate the wonderful support that I have received from so many people across the world over these past years, Ms Manning told ABC News.

As I rebuild my life, I remind myself not to relive the past.

The past will always affect me and I will keep that in mind while remembering that how it played out is only my starting point  not my final destination.

A spokesperson for the US Army confirmed to the BBC that Ms Manning had left Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas on Wednesday.

In her final tweet before leaving jail, Ms Manning said she was looking forward to the freedom of civilian life, before taking a swipe at Donald Trumps healthcare policy.

 Obama uses final news conference to defend Chelsea Manning decision

The nightmare will end, soon, Ms Manning added, previously saying she planned to move to Maryland.

After being arrested in 2010, she filed a transgender rights case in prison and attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers.

They refused to give details of how she would be freed over security concerns for the transgender soldier, who was known as Bradley Manning before transitioning in prison.

She was convicted in 2013 of 20 charges, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud, but was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

The diplomatic cables and military files she passed to WikiLeaks, gained on assignment as an Army intelligence analyst, exposed abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan by the American military and provoked global outrage.

They included secret documents on the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, killings by military contractors in Iraq, civilian deaths in Afghanistan and individual incidents including the killing of two Reuters war correspondents in Baghdad.

Ms Manning said she wanted to expose the US military's alleged disregard of the effects of war on civilians and chose to release information that she believed would not harm the US.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy (PA) (PA Wire/PA Images)

Critics said the leaks laid bare some of the nation's most-sensitive secrets and endangered information sources, prompting the State Department to move to protect their safety.

Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.

Mr Obama's decision to commute Ms Manning's sentence to about seven years, including the time she spent in custody before being convicted, drew strong criticism from some American politicians including Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, who called the move outrageous.

The Obama administration argued the case was fundamentally different to that of former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who fled to Russia after leaking documents on its secretive spying programme.

It has been my view that given she went to trial, that due process was carried out, that she took responsibility for her crime, that the sentence that she received was very disproportionate relative to other leakers, Mr Obama said at the time, stressing that he was not pardoning Ms Manning but believed justice has been served.

In a statement last week, Ms Manning thanked that former President and said that letters of support from veterans and fellow transgender people inspired her to work toward making life better for others.

For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea, she said.

Ms Manning was imprisoned at the US Army's Fort Leavenworth base in Kansas. (EPA)

I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world. Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine.

Ms Mannings representatives said she was subjected to violence in prison and argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison, restricting her physical and mental health care and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut.

The conditions in my cell were far beyond what is normally associated with solitary confinement. I needed permission to do anything in my cell. I was not allowed to move around the cell to exercise. I was not allowed to sit down with my back against the wall, said a testimony last year.

Amnesty International, which is among the groups campaigning for Ms Mannings release, called for protections to be put in place to ensure other whistleblowers are never again subjected to excessive and cruel treatment.

Pointing out that her original sentence was longer than those handed down to military personnel convicted of murder, rape and war crimes, the group attacked antiquated legislation that denied the opportunity for a public interest defence.

Chelseas treatment is especially galling given that nobody has been held accountable for the alleged crimes that she brought to light, said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.

The US authorities vindictive treatment of Chelsea Manning after she exposed potential military wrongdoing is a sad reflection of the extremes those in power often go to in order to deter others from speaking out.

The Army said she would remain on active duty in a special, unpaid status of excess leave that will legally entitle her to military medical care along with commissary privileges, while her court-martial conviction is under review.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Donald Trump can only stay focused on intelligence reports if his name is in them, according to officials close to him.

Staff members are being forced to strategically include the President's name in the reports to ensure that he keeps reading and doesn't get distracted, they said. National Security Council officials make sure "as many paragraphs as we can because he keeps reading if he's mentioned", they told Reuters.

The trick is part of a range of techniques developed by officials to keep Mr Trump's infamously short attention span focused on important information.

 Will Donald Trump be impeached?

Officials have also learnt to keep all reports to a single page, and to include as many pictures, maps, charts and graphs as possible.

The President also likes to look at a map of wherever he is reading about, officials said.

"He likes to visualize things," said a senior administration official. "The guy's a builder. He has spent his whole life looking at architectural renderings and floor plans."

The details emerged as people close to the President worried that he may not be able to stick to the script and avoid more problems as he heads out on his first foreign trip. Officials are worried that Mr Trump's lack of focus and attention to detail could cause problems as he visits Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia, Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Israel and the West Bank, the pope at the Vatican, NATO leaders in Brussels and G7 counterparts in Sicily.

One Republican official, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, said after meeting Trump recently he did not think the president had a firm enough grasp on the nuances of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"I don't think he understands it," said the official, adding that Mr Trump needed more detailed briefings before leaving on Friday. "I think it's a very difficult challenge and I hope he's going to talk to a lot of smart people."

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Mr Trump's supporters hope that trip could be an opportunity to put scandals like the firing of James Comey behind him and to launch new diplomatic relationships.

The President's trip will see him visit the birthplace of Islam  a gesture apparently meant to show that he doesn't consider the religion to be an enemy of America, as some of his campagn rhetoric had suggested. But officials were worried that he may slip up during the meetings.

Aides are worried that Mr Trump could end up speaking off-the-cuff and ruin the meetings, said one official.

"It can backfire, I mean it can seriously backfire," the official said.

Ari Fleischer, former press secretary to Bush, said that since the trip would be Trump's first overseas, the stakes were higher.

"The meaning and importance of his first trip abroad will be exaggerated, but it gives him a chance to get bipartisan accolades, or a chance to fail badly and have the failure exaggerated," Fleischer said.

Additional reporting by Reuters
At least UAH 2 billion is required in 2018 to support production and promotion of Ukrainian movies and series, Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine Yuriy Rybachuk has said.

"The implementation of the law on support of cinematography would require large expenses of the budget. According to our estimates, at least UAH 2 billion should be foreseen for these purposes in 2018," Rybachuk said at a meeting in Kyiv on Tuesday.

He said that the new law foresees support of not only movie production by the state, but also production of series and their promotion.

Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Rozenko said that the law envisages the attraction of not only funds from the national budget as sources of financing, but also funds of the Ukrainian Cultural Fund, grants and donors' aid.
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Ivanka Trumps book did not have quite the reception the first daughter hoped for. Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules for Success not only has an average of just 1.7 stars on popular US bookseller Barnes and Nobles site but was almost unanimously derided by the critics.

However, if this was not enough, President Donald Trumps daughter has now had her self-help book's display subverted by an upset customer at Barnes & Nobles store in Long Beach, California.

Ms Trumps book, which was released at the very beginning of May and has been dubbed a career manual for the one per cent, has been replaced with a whole host of other titles.

These books include everything from Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grown-Ups Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents to Disarming the Narcissist: Surviving and Thriving with the Self-Absorbed, The Fatherless Daughter Project: Understanding Our Losses and Reclaiming Our Lives, Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life, No More Narcissists!: How to Stop Choosing Self-Absorbed Men and Find the Love You Deserve, and The New Codependency: Help and Guidance for Todays Generation.

Strategy consultant, Ryan J Davis, shared a photo of the bookstores makeover, saying: Ivanka Trump look your book is getting the perfect bookstore placement.

Since the story was first reported, Chloe Pascual, a librarian, has admitted it was her who rearranged the display. I was acting in my role as a cheeky bookstore customer, she told The Cut.

There is one particular extract of the first daughter's book, which centres on providing career advice for working mothers, which has garnered the most criticism. This is the part where Ms Trump reveals she was so busy during her fathers election campaign that she was forced to go into survival mode and forego her usual massages.

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

Ms Trump, who is married to fellow White House advisor Jared Kushner, writes: During extremely high-capacity times, like during the campaign, I went into survival mode: I worked and I was with my family; I didnt do much else. Honestly, I wasnt treating myself to a massage or making much time for self-care. I wish I could have awoken early to meditate for twenty minutes.

Readers immediately jumped upon this extract and mocked the first daughter, who is said to be the Presidents favourite child, for the revelation on Twitter.

"Awww poor Ivanka Trump couldn't get a massage during the campaign. Most working women can't afford a message. Clueless and heartless," said one.

"#WomenWhoWork are a class you don't understand. It's not having a massage as a break but having a second to breathe... is the reality," said another.
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Tuesdays report by The New York Times that President Donald Trump asked James B. Comey, then the FBI director, in February to drop the investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, has fuelled accusations that the White House is obstructing justice.

Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat-Connecticut, wrote on Twitter: Just leaving Senate floor. Lots of chatter from Ds and Rs about the exact definition of obstruction of justice.'

Trump abruptly fired Comey last week, and later told NBC News that he was thinking about the FBIs investigation into contacts between his campaign associates and Russia, which he has derided as fake news, when he did so. (The investigation into Flynn is separate but related.)

Trump also then appeared to threaten Comey in a post on Twitter. After a report that Trump had asked Comey whether he was loyal to him, the president said Comey better hope that there are no tapes of our conversations.

Trump has denied that he asked Comey to close the FBI investigation into Flynn. In a statement Tuesday, the White House said, The president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.

The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations, the White House statement said. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr Comey.

What is obstruction of justice?

Several federal statutes criminalise actions that impede official investigations. While some examples of illegal ways to thwart the justice system are specific  like killing a witness or destroying evidence  the law also includes broad, catchall prohibitions. For example, Sections 1503, 1505 and 1512 of Title 18 have variants of language making it a crime if someone corruptly obstructs, influences or impedes any official proceeding.

Could that cover asking the FBI director to drop part of an investigation, and later firing him?

In theory, yes. Such statutes were broadly drafted. Julie OSullivan, a former federal prosecutor who now teaches white-collar criminal law at Georgetown University, said the power relationship between a president and the FBI director could elevate a request to shut down a case into an act that amounts to impeding an official investigation.

He really needs a lawyer, OSullivan said of Trump. He is building a beautiful case against himself.

Did Trump have lawful authority to fire Comey?

Yes. But courts have ruled that otherwise lawful acts can constitute obstruction of justice if done with corrupt intentions. In a 1998 case, for example, a federal appeals court upheld the conviction of a lawyer who had filed legal complaints and related motions against a government agent who was investigating an illegal gambling operation. The court ruled that the defendants nominally litigation-related conduct was unlawful because his real motive was to safeguard his personal financial interests in the corrupt enterprise.

What would such a case entail, in theory?

Obstruction of justice cases often come down to whether prosecutors can prove defendants mental state when they committed the act, legal specialists said. It is not enough to show that a defendant knew the act would have a side consequence of impeding an investigation; achieving that obstruction has to have been the specific intention.

Samuel Buell, a former federal prosecutor who led the Justice Departments Enron task force and now teaches criminal law at Duke University, was initially sceptical about whether the mere firing of Comey could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump had an improper mental state. But he said on Tuesday that subsequent revelations have made the evidence much more robust.

The evidence of improper purpose has gotten much stronger since the day of Comeys firing, Buell said. Trump has made admissions about that. And we now have evidence that he may have indicated an improper purpose previously in his communications with Comey about the Russia investigation.

What impediments would there be to charging Trump?

Sullivan said it was not realistic to expect the Trump administrations Justice Department to charge the sitting president. And Buell argued that the developments had strengthened the case for Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, who is overseeing the investigation because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself, to appoint a special counsel to handle it.

The issue right now is whether there needs to be a serious impartial investigation, and there can be no doubt about that at this point, said Buell, who said the developments showed that Comey needed to be interviewed as a witness. This kind of drip, drip, drip  we keep addressing this scenario as here is the evidence, what is the result, but thats only good until tomorrow when something else comes out. It is not at all clear that this is the end. If anything, it has become clearer that there is more to know.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

What about impeachment?

Asking FBI to drop an investigation is obstruction of justice, Representative Ted Deutch, Democrat-Florida, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. Obstruction of justice is an impeachable offence.

Both American presidents who were subjected to impeachment proceedings in the last century  Bill Clinton in 1998 and Richard M. Nixon in 1974  were accused of obstruction of justice.

While it can be a murky task in court to interpret the obstruction statutes, said David Sklansky, a former federal prosecutor who teaches at Stanford, impeachment proceedings are different. They are a quasi-judicial, quasi-political process, he noted; the House and the Senate determine for themselves whether the standards are met.

In other words, as a practical matter, the Constitutions standards for impeachment and removal of a president  if he has committed treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours  are met by anything that a majority of the House and two-thirds of the Senate are willing to vote for.

That makes prognostication an exercise in vote counting, not legal analysis.

Copyright The New York Times
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Donald Trump may have committed an obstruction of justice by allegedly asking then-FBI Director James Comey to end an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, members of Congress have warned.

The White House said a memo written by Mr Comey after he met with Trump in February, first published by The New York Times, was not an accurate portrayal of the conversation.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Mr Trump said to Mr Comey, according to his memo. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

 Donald Trump 'in impeachment territory', says adviser to Nixon, Reagan, and Clinton

Last week, the President fired Mr Comey, who had been leading an investigation into the Trump presidential campaign's possible collusion with Russia to influence the outcome of the election.

Mr Flynn resigned in February after disclosures that he had discussed US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Mr Trump took office and misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.

Asked if Congress was nearing impeachment proceedings on CNN, Independent Senator Angus King said: "I have to say yes simply because obstruction of justice is such a serious offence.

"And I say it with sadness and reluctance."

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal told CNN: "What we're seeing... is an obstruction of justice case unfolding in real time. And I'm still stunned that more of my Republican colleagues are not standing strong and speaking out."

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

But Republican Representative Trey Gowdy told Fox News: "We're a long ways from a conviction - the fact that we simply have a headline in The New York Times."

In a statement, Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi said: "If these reports are true, the president's brazen attempt to shut down the FBI's investigation of Michael Flynn is an assault on the rule of law that is fundamental to our democracy.

"At best, President Trump has committed a grave abuse of executive power. At worst, he has obstructed justice."
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The former head of Mossads intelligence directorate has expressed reservations about Donald Trumps claim that he has the absolute right to share secret information with foreign officials.

Israel is believed to be the source of classified intelligence on Isis allegedly passed by the President to Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador Sergey Kislyak in a closed-door meeting last week.

There are fears the reported disclosure of information gained under an intelligence sharing agreement could damage global security cooperation with the US.

Brigadier General Amnon Sofrin, a retired senior official in Israels foreign intelligence agency, said such agreements are subject to unwritten rules observed for decades.

They say that you [the US] cannot make any use of sensitive information without any coordination or without asking my [Israels] permission, he told journalists in a call organised by a pro-Israel advocacy group.

For every use you want to make use of this information, firstly you have to ask my permission and second you have to take in consideration the sensitivity of the source.

 National Security Advisor HR McMaster says Trump's conversations with Russian officials were 'wholly appropriate'

Brigadier General Sofrin said restrictions do not apply to heads of state, who have the ability and mandate to use classified information according to political considerations.

But nevertheless the leader should ask his people about the sensitivity of the information, or consult at least with senior intelligence officers on its uses, he added.

We dont know what was transferred between Mr Trump and Mr Lavrovit may cause big problems for us because it can put sources at risk and damage our activities.

Brigadier General Sofrin said any complaint by Mossad would normally be made directly to the CIA, to understand what information was passed over and try to mitigate any risks.

He does not believe the scandal will cause lasting damage to the very intimate security relationship between the US and Israel, adding: None of us in the Israeli intelligence community like this event but I think it can be put aside and allow Mr Trumps visit to be successful.

The allegations broke just days before Mr Trump visits Israel during his first foreign tour, which has already been beset by disagreements over a planned trip to the Western Wall, which sits in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israelis ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, said it has full confidence in our intelligence sharing relationship with the United States, while Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said a deep, meaningful and unprecedented security relationship would continue.

The White House has reportedly refused to allow Benjamin Netanyahu to accompany Mr Trump on a trip to Jerusalem's Old City (Getty)

But the claims have sparked disquiet following a series of apparently contradictory statements from the White House and Mr Trump.

Hours after top officials claimed the original Washington Post report on disclosures was false, the President tweeted that he had the absolute right to share facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety with Russia.

The information appears to be related to the basis for a ban imposed by the US and UK in March on laptops and tablets from being taken in hand luggage from 10 airports in Muslim-majority countries, which could be expanded to Europe.

Aides have maintained that no inappropriate information was shared but repeatedly failed to deny the intelligence passed on was classified.

HR McMaster, the national security adviser, claimed the real threat to national security was leakers "releasing information to the press."

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

In an off-camera briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer repeatedly refused to comment on specific allegations but at one point appeared to confirm intelligence was passed on.

When a journalist asked whether the US had reached out to the ally that provided the information, he replied: I'm not going to comment on specifically where it came from.

He added: My understanding is the President, of course, has classification authorityso the President can always discuss common threats or common issues with other heads of government or other government officials as he deems appropriate to tackle the threats our country faces.

The fact the information reportedly went to Russia during investigations into alleged links between Mr Trumps campaign team and the Kremlin has generated alarm, as well as Moscows ties with Iran, China and the Syrian government.

Vladimir Putin told a press conference Mr Trump did not pass secrets to his foreign minister and claimed he was prepared to provide a transcript of talks to prove it.

The Russian President dismissed the scandal as a symptom of political schizophrenia in the US but did not elaborate on the source of transcript.

His announcement on Wednesday followed security fears over revelations American media were barred from the White House meeting but a photographer from a Russian state news agency was allowed inside after officials were apparently misled over his role.
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Donald Trump has praised Turkeys leadership and partnership with the US amid international alarm over an intensifying crackdown on dissent in the country.

The President made no mention of human rights concerns during a friendly press conference with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying: We've had a great relationship and we will make it even better.

Mr Trump described Turkey as friends and allies in the fight against terror and said he discussed reinvigorating trade ties with his counterpart, as well as military sales.

Mr Erdogan said the US-Turkey relationship was based on common democratic values, shortly before his security guards attacked a peaceful protest in Washington.

Keeping our outstanding relations stronger than ever will be very important not only for our common interests, but also stability of the globe and peace around the world, he added.

We are determined to expand our relations, and I believe my current official visit to the United States will mark a historical turn of tide.

 Cops struggle to break up stunning brawl between Erdogan supporters and protesters in D.C.

Critics compared the warm meeting with awkward encounters between Mr Trump and allies Justin Trudeau, Malcolm Turnbull and Angela Merkel.

Mr Erdogan described himself as disillusioned by Barack Obamas administration after it raised human rights concerns and refused to extradite Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based cleric Ankara blames for the coup.

The UK and Germany are among countries dismissing Turkeys claims, while the Gulen movement has rejected allegations opponents argue are being used to crack down on legitimate opposition.

"Turkey has become the dominion of a President who is doing everything he can to amass power and subjugate dissent," Mr Gulen wrote in a column for the Washington Post.

"I pray that the downward authoritarian drift can be stopped before it is too late."

Mr Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said he and Mr Trump discussed possible steps against FETO, referring to what Ankara calls the Gulenist Terror Organisation but gave no details.

Hours after the pair held talks, chaos broke out at the Turkish embassy in Washington as Mr Erdogans security staff violently broke up an anti-government protest.

President Donald Trump meets with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey in the Oval Office of the White House (OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP/Getty Images)

Footage showed men in suits beating and kicking unarmed protesters holding pro-Kurdish and anti-Erdogan signs, leaving some lying on the ground and covered in blood.

Emergency officials said nine people were injured, while two men are facing charges over the incident, which provoked dramatically different responses in Turkey and the US.

Turkey's official Anadolu news agency labelled the protesters supporters of terror, saying they chanted anti-Erdogan slogans as the President entered the embassy after meeting Mr Trump.

The report claimed his security team moved in to disperse the protesters because police did not heed to Turkish demands to intervene, although footage showed American police officers attempting to drag them off demonstrators.

Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington DC, said the violent attack on a peaceful demonstration is an affront to our rights as Americans.

The White House has made no comment on the protest following a marked lack of criticism from Mr Trump on increasingly authoritarian moves in Turkey.

The President was criticised for congratulating Mr Erdogan as he won a controversial referendum to dramatically expand his powers last month, sparking alarm among European leaders and human rights groups.

The biggest dispute between the two Nato allies in recent days has been American plans to arm Kurdish against Isis, despite Turkish pressure to drop support for separatist groups it regards as PKK-linked terrorists.

In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Show all 17 1 /17 In pictures: Turkey coup attempt In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey Burak Kara/Getty Images In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016 Gokhan Tan/Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 REUTERS/Murad Sezer In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Brigde Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Pierre Crom/Twitter In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square AP In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Murad Sezer/Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup Reuters

Last month, the Turkish military bombed Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq, in one case with American forces only about six miles away  and claims it would do the same again.

Mr Trump and Mr Erdogan met the day after dozens of Turkish civil servants joined more than 150,000 security personnel, judges, prosecutors, journalists and academics detained, dismissed or suspended in the wake of Julys attempted coup.

Arrest warrants were issued for 60 energy ministry-linked workers and 25 education ministry staff, state media reported, saying they were believed to have used an encrypted messaging app linked to the Gulen movement.

On Monday, a court jailed an opposition news editors online editor pending trial on a charge of spreading terrorist propaganda.

Editor Oguz Guven joined a dozen journalists from Cumhuriyet, a pillar of the secularist establishment, who are already in jail facing sentences of up to 43 years in prison for allegedly supporting Gulenists.

The German government is campaigning for the release of another journalist, Die Welt correspondent Deniz Yucel, after dismissing terror charges as absurd.

As well as thousands of arrests in Turkey, the crackdown has spread around the world with the deportation of alleged Gulen supporters from countries including Malaysia.

Mr Erdogans hold on the Turkish judiciary has also been strengthened with the election of seven members of his AK Party and ally the MHP to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Women and children will die after the Trump administration instituted a new "global gag rule" that blocks aid groups from providing information about abortions if they receive US funding, it has been claimed.

The restriction now applies to groups receiving US funds to fight HIV/Aids or even malaria and covers nearly $9 billion (7 billion) in aid, rather than the $600m (465 million) restricted by the original Mexico City Policy.

The Mexico City rules, brought in by President Ronald Reagan, force NGOs to agree to "neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations" if they want to apply for federal funds.

Suzanne Ehlers, president of the PAI reproductive health NGO, said the move would "cause unspeakable damage to integrated care efforts across all health sectors". She added: "It will cost many around the world their lives, especially women."

PAI said the rules  dubbed the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance programme  would cause unsafe abortions, unintended pregnancies and child mortality to rise.

Shannon Kowalski, policy director at the International Women's Health Coalition, called the programme "cruel and unusual punishment".

She told The Independent: "Instead of protecting life, it will increase maternal deaths by putting essential sexual and reproductive health care out of reach for far too many women."

The International Planned Parenthood Foundation said it was "set to lose $100m (776,000)" and that the expansion, called for by Mr Trump in a January executive order, "will have devastating effects on HIV, family planning and maternal health programmes". It claimed 20,000 new mothers could be at risk of dying.

Nisha Varia, women's rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, told The Independent Mr Trump's move "hurts the international standing of the US".

She said: "It shows that the US is willing to ignore evidence at the cost of women and girls lives, and to exploit its role as an important donor to impede freedom of speech and the private relationship between doctors and their patients.

"This policy undermines the global campaign to end maternal mortality, which is largely preventable. If we look at the effects of previous versions of this policy, we know it meant more unplanned pregnancies, more abortions, and more maternal deaths.

"This time, far more is stake, since the restrictions will affect critical health services on HIV, malaria, and newborn and maternal health. The restrictions will hurt everyone  women, men, girls, and boys."

A State Department official told reporters Mr Trump believed "US taxpayer money should not be used to support foreign organisations that perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations".

Clarifying what constituted "family planning", they added: "Referrals for the termination of a pregnancy in cases of rape, incest, or endangerment of the life of the woman are not prohibited under this policy."

They said: "The United States remains deeply committed to supporting health programmes around the world. This change will have no impact on the total amount of US Government funding for health programmes around the world.

"Departments and agencies will reprogramme to other organisations any funding they would have awarded to NGOs that do not agree to the terms."

In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales EPA In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A young Thai girl holds a "women's rights are human rights" sign at Roadhouse BBQ restaurant where many of the Bangkok Womens March participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A Thai woman takes a photo of a "hate is not great" sign at the women's solidarity gathering in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok American expats and travellers gather with the international community in Bangkok at the Roadhouse BBQ restaurant to stand in solidarity in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protetesters gather outside The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Women's March at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Protestors hold placards reading 'My body my choice, my vote my voice' during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome A person holds a sign during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activist Sarah Annay Williamson holds a placard and shouts slogan during the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activists participate in the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A Women's March placards are rested on a bench outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A women carries her placard ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila Women protesters shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Protesters take part in the Melbourne rally to protest against the Trump Inauguration in Melbourne, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters take part in the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Womens march on Melbourne protestors marching during a rally where rights groups marched in solidarity with Americans to speak out against misogyny, bigotry and hatred Rex In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau, Macau. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydeney Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. The marches in Australia were organised to show solidarity with those marching on Washington DC and around the world in defense of women's rights and human rights Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters march from The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square towards Trafalgar Square during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, as they stand in Trafalgar Square, in central London Reuters

Last month, leaked State Department budget documents showed that for 2018 Mr Trump's administration was planning to axe its Office of Global Women's Issues. The office promotes the rights and empowerment of women and girls, and aims to include them in how US diplomacy is conducted.

Charities including Oxfam and the Global Fund for Women reacted with outrage to the news, while Tarah Demant, senior director of Amnestys identity and discrimination unit, told The Independent the plan was "a clear middle finger to women globally".

Since it was unveiled by President Reagan in 1984, the Mexico City Policy has been routinely rescinded under Democratic administrations and reinstated under Republican ones, and is used by presidents to signal where they stand on abortion rights.

President Trump, a Republican, reinstated the policy in January, just days after taking office, but he went further and directed government agencies to apply it "to global health assistance furnished by all departments or agencies".

The Trump administration has taken a staunchly anti-abortion stance since its earliest days. In January Vice President Mike Pence addressed the March for Life in Washington, and Mr Trump tweeted his "full support". Mr Pence, a devout Christian, told demonstrators: "Life is winning again in America."

February saw the leak of a draft order that would have enshrined a slew of conservative Christian beliefs, including that life begins at conception, in executive policy. The eventual incarnation of the order did not include that language, however.

However, the "global gag rule doesn't reduce abortion," Ms Demant claimed in an email to The Independent, because "US law already restricts US foreign assistance dollars from paying for abortion as a method of family planning".

She added: "What it does do is threaten the lives and health of countless communities by poisoning the water of US foreign aid.

"Any clinic, any hospital, any nutrition program that receives US foreign assistance dollars will now be required to certify that it doesnt even give information about safe abortion or tell women where they can find out about abortion."

The expansion "threatens to exclude some of the most effective health organisations in 60 low and middle income countries," she said.
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Donald Trumps alleged divulgence of highly classified information to Russia's foreign minister and ambassador, has confirmed Israels worst fears, an intelligence official from the Middle Eastern state has reportedly said.

The US President is said to have spontaneously told Sergey Lavrov and Sergei Kislyak top secret information about Isis at a meeting in the White House last week, according to The Washington Post.

It is thought the information came from Israel through a sensitive intelligence sharing arrangement and White House officials took steps to contain the damage after the meeting, placing calls to the CIA and National Security Agency.

Now an Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Buzzfeed News, has said the President's leak confirmed his country's "worst fears".

 National Security Advisor HR McMaster says Trump's conversations with Russian officials were 'wholly appropriate'

"We have an arrangement with America which is unique to the world of intelligence sharing," said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We do not have this relationship with any other country,"

To know that this intelligence is shared with others, without our prior knowledge?" he added. "That is, for us, our worst fears confirmed.

Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot reported in January that US intelligence agents had warned Israels officials against sharing sensitive information with Mr Trump's administration.

Israeli intelligence agents were concerned that information given to Russia could be passed on to Iran, it reported.

Moscow and Tehran have formed alliances in conflicts such as in Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. Iran severed all diplomatic ties with Israel following the 1979 revolution in the country.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

The White House initially denied reports about Mr Trump's cooments.

The story that came out tonight as reported is false, HR McMaster, The US's National Security Adviser, told reporters.

He added that the leaders reviewed a range of common threats including to civil aviation.

At no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed," he said. "The President did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known... I was in the room. It didn't happen."

However, in an early morning tweet, Mr Trump said he had the "absolute right" to share facts pertaining to terrorism.

Under current US law, the president has the power to declassify information as he or she sees fit.

In an off-camera briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer appeared to confirm intelligence was passed on by Mr Trump.

Asked whether the US had reached out to the ally that provided the information, he replied: I'm not going to comment on specifically where it came from.

He added: My understanding is the President, of course, has classification authorityso the President can always discuss common threats or common issues with other heads of government or other government officials as he deems appropriate to tackle the threats our country faces.
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Officials in President Donald Trump's administration have expressed despair after a series of scandals rocked the White House.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday the President had asked former FBI Director James Comey to end an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn during an Oval Office visit in February.

The newspaper said Mr Comey recorded the conversation in a memo written shortly afterwards.

The existence of the memo is the latest piece of evidence to suggest Mr Trump attempted to shut down investigations into his campaign's dealings with the Russian government during the 2016 election.

The article came the day after it was reported Mr Trump had spontaneously revealed highly classified intelligence from a US ally to the Russian foreign minister.

I dont see how Trump isnt completely f*****, one senior official in Mr Trump's administration reportedly told The Daily Beast.

Another told the publication they felt "like running down the hallway with a fire extinguisher" in response to the leaked memo.

The FBI and Justice Department declined to comment on the memo's existence on Tuesday. The White House disputed the account.

The conversation is said to have occurred weeks after the FBI interviewed Lt Gen Flynn regarding his contacts with the Russian ambassador and after the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, warned the White House that Lt Gen Flynn had misled them about those conversations and could be vulnerable to blackmail.

Mr Flynn was forced to resign on 13 February after reports of the conversation between Ms Yates and officials in the White House.

 National Security Advisor HR McMaster says Trump's conversations with Russian officials were 'wholly appropriate'

The reports of Mr Trump's request to Mr Comey renewed concerns from congressional Democrats about Mr Trump's links to Russia.

We are witnessing an obstruction of justice case unfolding in real time, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Judiciary Committee member and former federal prosecutor, said in a statement. He called for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate.

Some Republicans also called for action, asking Mr Comey to speak to Congress and demanding that any memos or recordings of his conversations with the president be presented to them.

Mr Comey, appointed as FBI director in 2013 by President Barack Obama, spoke often about his desire to be as transparent as possible about FBI actions and about proving to the public that his agency was independent, competent and thorough.

We're not on anybody's side, ever, he said in a March speech. We're not considering whose ox will be gored by this action or that action, whose fortunes will be helped by this or that  we just don't care and we can't care.

He riled administrations of both parties with his moral certitude and decisions that critics said strayed from ordinary protocol, such as his public announcement  without the involvement of the Justice Department  that the FBI would not recommend criminal charges against Hillary Clinton for her email use.

Testifying before Congress is familiar to Mr Comey, a former Justice Department official in the George W Bush administration.

As FBI director, he was accustomed to hours-long oversight hearings before Congress, including one a week before his firing. In 2007, he recounted to a rapt congressional audience the dramatic hospital room clash three years earlier with Bush officials over the approval of a domestic surveillance program.

Mr Comey was abruptly fired on 9 May, learning of the dismissal as he was giving a talk in Los Angeles. While the White House initially cited a Justice Department recommendation and Mr Comey's very public handling of the Clinton email investigation as reasons, those explanations quickly shifted.

Mr Trump later admitted in a television interview about Mr Comey that he was bothered by this Russia thing and said he would have sacked him regardless of the Justice Department recommendation. He also tweeted a veiled threat warning the ex-director against leaking information.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Soon after the firing, an associate of Mr Comey told the Associated Press that the former FBI director recounted being asked by Mr Trump at a January dinner if he would pledge his loyalty. The White House has denied that report.

After Tuesday's revelation, the White House said in a statement, While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.

There is no sign the FBI's Russia investigation is closing. Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe told Congress last week the investigation is highly significant and said Mr Comey's dismissal would do nothing to impede it.

Associated Press contributed to this report
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A senior German politician has called Donald Trump a security risk to the Western world amid reports the US President disclosed classified information from a vital ally to Russia.

Burkhard Lischka, who sits on the Bundestags intelligence oversight committee, said: If it proves to be true that the American president passed on internal intelligence matters that would be highly worrying."

Noting that Mr Trump has access to exclusive and highly sensitive information including in the area of combating terrorism the Social Democratic Party (SDP) politician said that if the President passes this information to other governments at will, then Trump becomes a security risk for the entire western world.

Mr Lischkas party is part of Germanys governing coalition led by Angela Merkels conservatives.

The Chancellor visited the White House in March, where Mr Trump  already a hugely unpopular figure in Germany - appeared to refuse to shake her hand during an awkward joint press conference.

Counter-terror operations were among the issues discussed by the two leaders, with Germany standing as Nato and intelligence partner.

 National Security Advisor HR McMaster says Trump's conversations with Russian officials were 'wholly appropriate'

Having led Germany under three presidents, Ms Merkel has also negotiated extensively with Vladimir Putin, who is expected to meet Mr Trump for the first time at Julys G20 summit hosted by the German Chancellor in Hamburg.

Allegations that the President passed Russian officials classified intelligence on Isis threats relating to a widening laptop ban on passenger aircraft have threatened to damage the US relationship with allies.

The information reportedly shared in last weeks closed-door meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador Sergey Kislyak is said to have been received under an intelligence sharing agreement with Israel.

The scandal comes days before Mr Trump visits the country on his first foreign trip, with the Israeli ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, saying it has full confidence in our intelligence sharing relationship with the United States.

The claims have sparked condemnation by both Republicans and Democrats following a series of apparently contradictory statements from the White House and Mr Trump.

Hours after top officials claimed the original Washington Post report on disclosures was false, the President tweeted that he had the absolute right to share facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety with Russia.

A Russian foreign ministry photo showing Donald Trump with Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during their meeting in the White House on 10 May (EPA)

The information appears to be related to the basis for a ban imposed by the US and UK in March on laptops and tablets from being taken in hand luggage from 10 airports in Muslim-majority countries, which could be expanded to Europe.

Aides have maintained that no inappropriate information was shared but repeatedly failed to deny the intelligence passed on was classified.

HR McMaster, the national security adviser, claimed the real threat to national security was leakers releasing information to the press".

In an off-camera briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer repeatedly refused to comment on specific allegations but at one point appeared to confirm intelligence was passed on.

When a journalist asked whether the US had reached out to the ally that provided the information, he replied: I'm not going to comment on specifically where it came from.

He added: My understanding is the President, of course, has classification authorityso the President can always discuss common threats or common issues with other heads of government or other government officials as he deems appropriate to tackle the threats our country faces.

Before disclosing intelligence to another country, there would normally be an evaluation of costs and benefits, close consultation with American agencies and detailed consideration of how to mitigate risks.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

The US has several intelligence-sharing agreements with allies, including the Five Eyes programme with Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The fact the information reportedly went to Russia during investigations into alleged links between Mr Trumps campaign team and the Kremlin has generated alarm, as well as Moscows ties with Iran, China and the Syrian government.

John McCain, the Republican former presidential candidate and Senate Armed Services Committee chairman said the reports were deeply disturbing.

He said the claims sent a troubling signal to American partners around the world, and that if the information was shared without an allys knowledge, other countries could be from sharing intelligence in the future.

Regrettably, the time President Trump spent sharing sensitive information with the Russians was time he did not spend focusing on Russias aggressive behaviour, including its interference in American and European elections, its illegal invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, its other destabilising activities across Europe, and the slaughter of innocent civilians and targeting of hospitals in Syria, Mr McCain added.

Steny Hoyer, one of the most senior Democrats in the House of Representatives, said Mr Trumps presidency was dangerous and the claims were the latest example a White House riven by incompetence, chaos and conflicts of interest.

I think there is an erosion of confidence among the American people and an erosion of confidence of the international community, he added.

Mr Hoyer added that it was too early to consider impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump, but that it is time for Republicans to say, 'enough.

Additional reporting by AP
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President Donald Trump welcomed his honored guest, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House recently, but forgot one important thing: how to pronounce his visitor's name.

In a joint press conference with the Turkish president, Mr Trump repeatedly mispronounced Mr Erdogans name, saying it with a hard g instead of the soft w sound used in many Turkish words.

Reporters covering the press conference quickly took note.

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Has no one told POTUS how to pronounce Erdogan? tweeted NBCs Katy Turr.

Someone should have told @realDonaldTrump that Erdogan is pronounced Er-do-wan, not Air-da-gahn, said Boston Globe reporter Kimberly Atkins.

The meeting was controversial for other, more substantial reasons, however.

Mr Erdogan is seen by many as an increasingly authoritarian ruler, extending his control over Turkey past the bounds of their democratic system. Former President Barack Obama maintained a strained relationship with the Turkish leader, which further deteriorated after the failure of a violent coup attempt last summer.

In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Show all 17 1 /17 In pictures: Turkey coup attempt In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey Burak Kara/Getty Images In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016 Gokhan Tan/Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 REUTERS/Murad Sezer In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Brigde Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Pierre Crom/Twitter In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square AP In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Murad Sezer/Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup Reuters

Mr Edogan recently lead a country-wide referendum to cement his rule and consolidate much of the governments power under his office. Mr Trump called to congratulate him on the referendums passage last month, even as independent experts disputed the votes authenticity.

However, the US president also drew Turkey's ire by election to arm Kurdish militias in Syria in order to push Isis out. Mr Erdogan's government sees the Kurdish forces as terrorists.

The day of Mr Erdogans visit, nine people were injured in protests outside the Turkish embassy in Washington, DC. They were said to be protesting Mr Erdogan's policies in Turkey, Syria and Iraq.

Neither leader mentioned these issues in their joint press conference. Instead, both stuck mainly to comments about terrorism and the fight against Isis.

I look forward to working together with President Erdogan on achieving peace and security in the Middle East, on confronting the shared threats, and on working toward a future of dignity and safety for all of our people, Mr Trump said.
Over the past day the militants have opened fire 43 times on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Anti-Terrorist Operation area (ATO), the press center of the ATO headquarters reported.

The ATO staff of the Ukrainian army said on Facebook on Wednesday its positions came under 43 attacks during the day.

"The Ukrainian army had no casualties in the past 24 hours," the report said.
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A Democratic congressman has become the first to call for Donald Trumps impeachment from the floor of the House.

Al Green, of Texas, told fellow representatives in Congress: "This is where I stand. I will not be moved. The President must be impeached," he said.

"The American people do not participate in democracy just on election day. I'm speaking to the American people. It's time to tell us where you stand. It's time to let us know."

It signals mounting pressure on the President, following revelations he had pressured James Comey, then the director of the FBI, to drop the investigation into General Mike Flynn.

Mr Flynn, formerly the national security adviser, resigned over undisclosed contact with a Russian diplomat.

Detail of Mr Trump's intervention came in a memo, written by Mr Comey and read by the New York Times, in which he said the President had also suggested he try to imprison journalists who published classified information.

During a news conference on Monday afternoon, Mr Green accused the President of obstructing the ongoing investigation into his campaigns ties to Russia and said "the mantra should be ITN: impeach Trump now".

The congressman initially said he would wait a few weeks before starting the impeachment process.

"Its not the political expedient thing to do, this is what we must do to maintain our democracy," Mr Green said.

Earlier on Wednesday a former adviser to three presidents said Mr Trump was in "impeachment territory".

David Gergen, who advised presidents Clinton, Reagan and Nixon, told CNN: "After watching the Clinton impeachment, I thought I would never see another one. But I think were in impeachment territory for the first time. I think that the obstruction of justice was the number one charge against Nixon that brought him down.

"I'm a lapsed lawyer, I can not tell you if it meets all of the legal definitions, but I can tell you from a lay point of view, it looks like [Mr Trump] was trying to impede the investigation, he was using his power to do that, and when James Comey didn't go along with him, he wasn't his boy, he fired him, which I think is also relevant to the question of what he was trying to do.

"So, from my point of view, this is of enormous consequence for his presidency."

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Meanwhile, David Axelrod, Barack Obama's campaign manager and former adviser, tweeted: "I've been resistant to impeachment talk until now, but if Comey memo is true - and Comey is very credible - we are into a whole new deal here."

The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee is requesting the FBI turn over all documents and recordings that detail communications between Mr Comey and President Trump.

Representative Jason Chaffetz, Republican-Utah, says in a letter to the FBI that he's making the request to determine whether the president attempted to influence or impede the bureau's investigation into Mr Flynn.

Mr Chaffetz's letter came just hours after the disclosure of Mr Comey's memo. His letter to acting FBI director Andrew McCabe requests all memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings that relate to any communications between Mr Comey and the President.

The letter gave the FBI a week to produce the records.
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Donald Trump said his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was "successful," in terms of discussing a joint effort to fight terror group Isis.

He was giving a joint statement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan when posed a question by the press regarding a Washington Post report that Mr Trump allegedly leaked "highly classified" information from a US ally to Mr Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak during that particular Oval Office meeting.

The meeting took place just one day after Mr Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who led the investigation into purported ties between Mr Trump's campaign team and Russia as well as their possible interference into the 2016 US election.

This is code-word information, one US official told the newspaper, a reference to one of the highest classification levels used by the American intelligence agencies, adding that Mr Trump had revealed more to Russia than the US does to some allies.

National Security Advisor HR McMaster said that at no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed and no military operations were disclosed that were not already known publicly.

Mr McMaster said he was in the room and "it didn't happen."

However, the Washington Post report did not include any information about "sources and methods," causing some to speculate why Mr McMaster would deny something that was not reported.

He briefed the press today again in a somewhat heated exchange, saying that Mr Trump's conversation with Mr Lavrov and Mr Kislyak was "wholly appropriate" and that what was shared could have been learned from open sources.

The New York Times later reported that the intelligence Mr Trump shared came from Israel, an ally of the US. Mr Trump also had a call with King Abdullah of Jordan earlier today, another US ally in the Middle East.

However, Mr McMaster said Mr Trump "wasn't even aware of where this information came from" at the time of the meeting with Russian officials. He had not been briefed on it according to the national security advisor.

In fact, he said the president made the decision to share the information "in the context of the conversation." In other words, Mr Trump decided spontaneously to share the sensitive information.
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Republicans are struggling to navigate through the latest Trump-Russia scandal, with several demanding that the White House provide more information about the highly sensitive intelligence that Donald Trump divulged during a meeting with Russians.

Senators on Tuesday continued to be bombarded with questions by the press over the Washington Posts report  which was quickly confirmed by other news outlets  that Mr Trump had revealed classified information about an Isis terrorist plot to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, who has been mostly quiet on Mr Trumps increasing number of scandals involving Russia, told Bloomberg Television: I think we could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so that we can focus on our agenda.

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Later, during a news conference, when asked if he had concerns about Mr Trumps ability to handle classified information, Mr McConnell only replied: No.

The revelation that Mr Trump revealed classified details to the Russians has drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike.

Once again we are faced with inexplicable stories coming from the White House that are highly troubling, said Republican congresswoman Barbara Comstock in a statement.

We need to have immediate classified briefings on what occurred at this meeting so that Congress can at least know as much as Russian leaders and know the impact on our national security, our allies, and our men and women protecting our country.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Other Republican senators said they wanted to wait for more information from the White House before commenting further on the press reports.

The dust is still settling, Republican senator Jeff Flake told reporters.

Were still waiting to make sure the reporting is accurate, and well wait for more statements, Mr Flake said.

Republican senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he would not discuss Mr Trumps conduct until Congress is briefed by the CIA and the intelligence committee.

Democrats are also calling for more information, with many pushing for access to transcripts of Mr Trumps meeting with the Russians.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said Congress should issue subpoenas for the transcripts if the White House won't provide them.

The only way to know reliably whether there are such transcripts or tapes is to issue a subpoena, Mr Blumenthal told the Today show.
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Donald Trump will use his upcoming Saudi Arabia trip to announce one of the largest arms sales deals in US history - somewhere in the neighbouhood of $98bn to $128bn worth of arms. That could add up to $350bn over ten years.

The deal will be what the Washington Post said is a cornerstone of the proposal encouraging the Gulf states to form its own alliance like the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) military alliance, dubbed Arab Nato."

Nato is comprised of 28 countries including the US. Mr Trump been an outspoken critic of the organisation but after a face-to-face meeting with Nato Secretary General Jens Stollenberg, he said the alliance was "no longer obsolete."

The White House said the president will propose it as a template for an alliance that will fight terrorism and keep Iran in check.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman began negotiations on this deal shortly after the 2016 US election when he sent a delegation to Trump Tower to meet with the presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is serving as a senior advisor of sorts to Mr Trump.

The idea of an Arab Nato is not new.

There was talk in 2015 of a response force in Egypt, comprised of approximately 40,000 troops from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and a few other Gulf nations.

The response force would have had a Nato-like command structure, with soldiers paid for by their own countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council made up of wealthy oil economies finance operations and management of the force.

However, intra-regional tensions and centuries-old disputes prevented it from ever being established.

The Trump administration has not addressed that problem as yet, but the America First doctrine seems to be driving the arms deal and proposal.

More American involvement, a more entrenched Nato-like military structure, and increased professional capability to match Nato forces may come about in the new Arab Nato alliance in part due to the motivation of Saudi Arabia.

President Barack Obama's administration brokered more arms sales than any US administration since World War II - estimated at $200bn. They sold Saudi Arabia alone $60bn in arms, which sparked criticism by Democrats concerned with Saudi Arabia's alleged human rights violations.

Mr Trump benefits by bringing about a more fair deal; he has claimed several times that Nato is unfair to the US because of the amount of contributions and support provided by the US compared to countries like Germany.

If Arab Nato succeeds, the White House official said the US could shift the responsibility for security to those in the region and create jobs at home through the arms sales.

Mr Trump is set to arrive in Riyadh on 20 May after which he will travel to Israel, the Vatican, and Italy for the group of seven meeting.
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The boyfriend of a popular British video blogger (vlogger) who died in a moped crash, has been charged by Thai police in connection with her death.

Sophie Rose was six-month's pregnant with Danny Glass's child when the pair hit an 18-wheel truck on the island of Phucket, where they were living.

Mr Glass, who was driving, escaped relatively unscathed, but his 41-year-old partner, who was riding pillion, suffered severe head injuries and later died.

Thai police told Phuket News, the 29-year-old had been charged with reckless driving causing death.

The truck driver, Thai national Nattawoot Kimchue, 30, had also been charged with the same offence.

Lt Col Sanit Nookong told the newspaper: Right now, the investigation is not yet closed because we are still waiting for the autopsy to be released. Then they will go to court.

Ms Rose, who hailed from Blackpool, ran a YouTube channel advocating breastfeeding for older children.

Sophie Rose ran a YouTube channel on breastfeeding (Youtube/screengrab ) (Youtube/screengrab)

Some of her videos have received hundreds of thousands of views. In many videos, she appeared breastfeeding Shaye, her five-year-old son from a former relationship.

He will reportedly go to live with his father in Bangkok.

Mr Glass, from Margate, also ran a YouTube channel where he published videos on health and wellness.

After Ms Roses death, he published several videos, including one announcing the tragic accident. He said he would be releasing more as part of the process for me moving through this emotionally intense time.

But earlier this week, he announced he would no longer be publishing vlogs to his channel.

Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 Show all 10 1 /10 Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 1. PewDiePie ($15 million) (Real name Felix Kjellberg) Getty Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 2. Roman Atwood ($8 million) Getty Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 3. Lilly Singh ($7.5 million) Lilly Singh Getty Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 4. Smosh ($7 million) (Real names Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla aka Smosh) Getty Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 5. Rosanna Pansino ($6 million) Getty Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 6. Tyler Oakley ($6 million) Getty Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 7. Markiplier ($5.5 million) (Real name Mark Fischbach) Getty Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 8. German Garmendia ($5.5 million) Getty Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 9. Rhett and Link ($5 million) (Real names Rhett McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln 'Link' Neal) Getty Forbes' Highest-Paid YouTubers of 2016 10. Miranda Sings ($5 million) (Real name Colleen Ballinger) Getty

The reason why I'm not making videos, it's not the right time at the moment, he said. I just need to get my life in order, my life on track and get through this sad death that happened with Sophie.

So that's it, basically. Don't be concerned I won't come back I have such a strong desire to come back to YouTube. But it's not the right time and I will know when the right time is.
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China appears to be laying the groundwork for the mass collection of DNA samples from residents of a restive, largely Muslim region that's been under a security crackdown, rights observers and independent experts said Tuesday.

Police in western China's Xinjiang region confirmed to The Associated Press that they are in the process of purchasing at least $8.7 million in equipment to analyse DNA samples.

Observers from Human Rights Watch said they've seen evidence of almost $3 million in additional purchases related to DNA testing. They warned such a collection programme could be used as a way for authorities to beef up their political control.

The move comes after Chinese authorities last year reportedly required Xinjiang residents to submit DNA samples, fingerprints and voice records to obtain passports or travel abroad.

Xinjiang borders several unstable Central Asian countries, including Afghanistan. It's experienced numerous bombings and vehicle and knife attacks blamed on ethnic separatists from the native Uighur Islamic minority.

In one of the most recent attacks, eight people, including three assailants, were killed in a February knife attack in southern Xinjiang's Pishan County, which borders Pakistan.

Recommended Islamophobia in China on the rise fuelled by online hate speech

Chinese authorities seeking to counter religious extremism among the Uighurs have taken increasingly aggressive steps to quell the unrest. Those have included mandatory satellite tracking systems for vehicles in some areas, rewards for terror-related tips and prohibitions against women wearing veils and men growing beards.

The purchases of DNA testing equipment in Xinjiang were confirmed by an official at the regional Public Security Bureau. The official, who gave only her surname, Huang, said a supplier already had been found. In Xinjiang's Sheche County, suppliers were being sought for voiceprint collection systems and 3-D portrait systems, according to a security official surnamed Yin, who declined to give further details.

If used at full capacity, the new equipment could be used to profile up to 10,000 DNA samples a day and several million a year, said Yves Moreau, a computational biologist specialising in genome analysis and DNA privacy at the University of Leuven in Belgium.

The scale of the purchases raises a legitimate concern that Chinese authorities could be planning to DNA profile a large fraction, or even all of the Uighur people in Xinjiang, Moreau said.

Since it started collecting DNA profiles in 1989, China has amassed the unique genetic information on more than 40 million people, constituting the world's largest DNA database, according to a study last year by forensic researchers at the China Ministry of Public Security.

Unlike many other countries, China lacks legal protections to guard people's privacy and prevent their genetic information from being misused, said Helen Wallace, founder of the British group GeneWatch.

Xinjiang is already an oppressive region with a high level of surveillance, said Human Rights Watch researcher Maya Wang. To collect even more information on a mass scale unrelated to criminal investigation opens the door for an even greater level of surveillance and control.

Government-sponsored DNA databases compile the genetic markers present in each individual, typically from blood, saliva or hair samples. They're used by law enforcement agencies around the globe as evidence in criminal prosecutions and to monitor prior offenders.

In the United States, where laws generally limit DNA collection to people who have been arrested, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has 12.8 million offenders in its DNA database, according to the agency. That's almost 4 percent of the total US population. The United Kingdom has 5.2 million people in its database, or about 8 percent of its population, according the British government.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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China's database now covers about 3 percent of its population. It's been used by authorities to reunite abducted children with their parents. It was also used in a highly publicised case last year to help track down a serial killer who authorities said admitted to the murders of 11 women and girls over a 14-year period.

It's clear there's a fairly large infrastructure being built for DNA collection and they're planning to expand that further, Wallace said. I would like to see China put their legal database on clear legal footing. That includes the kinds of safeguards we see in other countries.

Copyright Associated Press
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China has installed rocket launchers on a disputed reef in the South China Sea as it continues its ongoing military build-up.

Beijing, which insists military construction on the islands will be limited to necessary defensive requirements, installed the launchers to ward off Vietnamese combat divers.

It said it can do what it likes on its own territory, despite the islands being hotly disputed.

 Rex Tillerson calls China's actions in the South China Sea 'illegal'

The state-run Defence Times newspaper said Norinco CS/AR-1 55mm anti-frogman rocket launcher defence systems with the capability to discover, identify and attack enemy combat divers had been installed on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands.

Fiery Cross Reef is administered by China, but also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

The report did not say when the defence system was installed, but said it was part of a response that began in May 2014, when Vietnamese divers installed large numbers of fishing nets in the Paracel Islands.

The United States has criticised what it has called China's militarisation of its maritime outposts and stressed the need for freedom of navigation by conducting periodic air and naval patrols near them that have angered Beijing.

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

China has conducted extensive land reclamation work at Fiery Cross Reef, including building an airport, one of several Chinese-controlled features in the South China Sea where China has carried out such work.

More than $5 trillion (772bn) of world trade is shipped through the South China Sea every year.

Besides China's territorial claims in the area, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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South Korean President Moon Jae-in has said there is a "high possibility" of war with North Korea, as he warned its recent missile launch is a serious threat to global peace.

"The reality is that there is a high possibility of a military conflict at the NLL (Northern Limit Line) and military demarcation line," Moon was quoted as saying by the presidential Blue House.

"We will sternly deal with the North, together with the international community," Mr Moon said during a visit to the Defence Ministry in Seoul, Younhap News Agency reported.

He also said the the country's military was ready and capable of striking back should the North attack.

 North Korean defector: Kim Jong-Un would launch a nuclear attack if his rule was threatened

"North Korea launched a missile four days ago and claims to have succeeded in launching an intermediate-range ballistic missile," Mr Moon said.

"Launching ballistic missiles is a serious provocation that violates UN Security Council resolutions, as well as being a serious challenge to global peace and stability. We will never tolerate such North Korean provocations and nuclear threats," he added.

Mr Moon's comments came hours after the South, which hosts 28,500 US troops, said it wanted to reopen a channel of dialogue with North Korea as the South Korean president seeks a two-track policy involving sanctions and dialogue to try to rein in its neighbour.

South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Lee Duk-haeng told reporters the government's most basic stance is that communication lines between South and North Korea should reopen.

"The Unification Ministry has considered options on this internally but nothing has been decided yet," said Lee.

In pictures: North Korea military drill Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: North Korea military drill In pictures: North Korea military drill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video

North Korea has made no secret of the fact that it is working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the US mainland and has ignored calls to rein in its nuclear and missile programmes, even from China, its lone major ally.

The reclusive state claimed to have successfully conducted a missile test proving it has the capacity to carry a "large scale nuclear warhead".

North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
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A woman kidnapped her ex-boyfriend at gunpoint from his own wedding just moments before he was due to marry another woman, it has been claimed.

Ashok Yadav was about to exchange vows with his future wife in the Uttar Pradesh region of India when a car pulled up at the wedding venue and his ex-girlfriend got out with a gun, according to India Today.

Alongside three armed men, she forced the groom into the car before speeding off, it was claimed.

According to local media, Mr Yadav had worked with his ex-girlfriend in a medical clinic in Banda and the pair had agreed to marry.

However, he reportedly started to avoid her after his parents arranged a marriage with another woman in the nearby town of Hamirpur.

Mr Yadav repeatedly refused to see his ex-girlfriend and cut off all ties with her without explanation, local media claims.

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

Hamirpur police said officers were investigating the incident and a search operation has been launched to locate the pair.

One officer from Maudaha police told Times of India he believed the kidnapping was staged and that the couple had eloped together.
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Chinese officials are set to ban the sale of dog meat at the notorious Yulin festival, activists have claimed.

Thousands of animals are slaughtered every year at the event, which was founded by traders in 2010 hoping to boost sales. But a new Communist party official wants to change image of the city and turn into a cultural hub, activists told The Independent.

Traders who break the law would be subject to fines of up to 100,000 yuan (11,202) and risk arrest, according to the Humane Society International, who cited numerous sources in Yulin.

Once implemented, the move would be strongest step yet against the dog meat trade in the city, which draws criticism from around the world every year. But the ban is not expected to prevent cats and other animals from being sold at the festival.

 Animal rights activist saves dogs from Yulin festival

Even if this is a temporary ban, we hope this will have a domino effect, leading to the collapse of the dog meat trade," said Andrea Gung, executive director of Duo Duo Animal Welfare Project.

"This ban is consistent with my experience that Yulin and the rest of the country are changing for the better. I am very impressed that the younger generation in Yulin and in China is as compassionate as their counterparts in the rest of world."

While the majority of Chinese people don't eat dogs, the Yulin festival has become a focal point for the country's trade in canine meat. Around 10 million dogs and four million cats are slaughtered for the meat in China each year.

Tens of thousands of killings occurred in Yulin at the festival's peak, many of them strays and stolen pets, some still wearing their collars.

But following domestic and international protests, authorities cracked down on the festival and the number of animals slaughtered was reduced. Last year, roadblocks were also introduced in order to regulate the flow of animals into the city.

Now, the ban on the sale of dog meat will affect vendors, market traders and restaurants. The apparent severity of the punishment shows the Chinese authorities are serious about the ban, Wendy Higgins of the Humane Society told The Independent.

"This is a key moment and the strongest indication yet the authorities are serious about this," she said.

In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Dog meat market, Yulin In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Dogs in holding pen at slaughterhouse, Yulin In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Cats crammed in wire cage, delivered to slaughterhouse in Yulin In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Dogs held at slaughterhouse, Yulin In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Cat looks out from its crate as arrives at slaughterhouse, Yulin In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Dogs in blood-covered holding pen at slaughterhouse, Yulin In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Dogs at slaughterhouse, Yulin In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Dog meat market, Yulin In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Dog meat market, Yulin In pictures: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2016 Cat slaughterhouse, Yulin

Ms Higgins added: "Implementation will be key. Many of the traders who come in trucks are not local and may not know about the ban. Some travel for days to reach the city."

The newly appointed Communist Party Secretary for Yulin, Mo Gong Ming, is said to be behind the drive to end the trade, as part of a public relations overhaul.

"We understand this is a personal decision from the new Secretary," Ms Higgins said. "He wants to turn Yulin into a cultural centre and the festival is obviously at odds with that."

Duo Duo's chief Ms Gung congratulated Mr Mo Gong for his "progressive and visionary leadership".

 Footage shows dogs ready to be slaughtered in Yulin

Peter Li, China Policy specialist at Humane Society International, said: The Yulin dog meat festival is not over just yet, but if this news is true as we hope, it is a really big nail in the coffin for a gruesome event that has come to symbolise Chinas crime-fuelled dog meat trade.

"Regrettably, many dogs and cats will still be killed for the Yulin festival in advance of the ban, so their suffering is not over yet, but this is certainly a milestone victory and we commend the Yulin authorities for taking this action.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) at present does not use software made in the Russian Federation, the press service of the central bank has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Since 2014, the NBU has been pursuing the coherent policy of refusing to use Russian software. Now the NBU's information network uses systems and application software from leading IT companies (Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, SAP and others), Ukrainian IT specialists and programs designed in house," the press service said.

In the future, when the central bank considers proposals to use software the bank will check if the software designers and suppliers are placed to the sanctions list.

The press service also said that only the corporate nongovernmental pension fund of the NBU uses 1C software in the NBU system (its uses it only offline without upgrades from the designer).

"The corporate nongovernmental pension fund of the NBU has no relation to operations of the NBU and it is not threatening to its financial stability. Nevertheless, taking into account the imposed sanctions, soon the NBU would consider the switch to similar software of Ukrainian or international designers by the fund," the press service said.
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An Australian chef who was caught boiling his wifes feet in his kitchen, killed her after she threatened to expose him as a sex worker, an inquest has heard.

Markus Volke murdered Mayang Prasetyo, a transgender sex worker, before dismembering her body and boiling it on the kitchen stove in an attempt to hide the evidence.

Brisbane Couriers Court heard that the pair treated their marriage as a business transaction. Ms Prasetyo agreed to help Volke pay off heavy debts in exchange for help with an Australian visa, according to the The Courier Mail newspaper.

The chef had been working as an escort to pay off his debts when the couple met in 2013, a secret that he had kept from his family, who were also unaware of his marriage, the court heard.

There was evidence that Ms Prasetyo had threatened to expose him, the newspaper reported.

Neighbour said the pair had a volatile relationship and they heard screaming coming from their apartment on 2 and 3 October 2014. Volke is thought to have killed her after the second row.

Police do not believe the murder was pre-meditated.

Police were alerted to the murder after Volke called out an electrician to fix his stove after a stock pot boiled over and caused the power to cut out. He had been boiling his wifes feet at the time.

Marcus Volke

When the electrician arrived at the apartment he was told to excuse the smell, which had been described during the inquest as being like dog food.

However, the electrician saw the rubber gloves and bleach Volke had recently bought, along with blood on the floor. After he informed the building manager about them, the police were called.

Marcus Volke (Facebook)

When officers arrived at the apartment, Volke claimed he needed to tie up his dogs before the officers entered and instead closed and locked the door.

He left the apartment through an alternative exit. Police found his body shortly afterwards in an industrial rubbish bin nearby, the Brisbane Times reported.

He died from self-inflicted wounds to his neck and wrists.

Returning to his apartment, officers believed they had walked in on a Halloween prank when they discovered Ms Prasetyos feet in the pot in the kitchen, the inquest heard.

There were pools of blood on the floor near the fridge and Ms Prasetyos body parts were discovered in a garbage bag in the washing machine.

The court heard that Volkes death was unavoidable and the police on the scene had acted in a way authorised, justified and supported by law.
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A cat measuring almost four feet is vying for the title of the world's longest after taking Instagram by storm.

Omar, a Maine Coon, measures 120cm from nose to tail, according to his owner.

The 14kg feline is fed on raw kangaroo meat and needs a dog crate to be taken to the vet, the BBC reported.

"It's the only meat we could find that he actually wants to eat," owner Stephy Hirst, of Melbourne, Australia, told the broadcaster.

"He does take up a bit too much room on the bed so he gets locked out of the bedroom at night," Ms Hirst added.

The current official longest cat  according to Guinness World Records  is another Maine Coon named Ludo, who is 118.33cm.

Ludo lives in Wakefield, Yorkshire with owner Kelsey Gill.

Ms Hirst has submitted Omar for consideration for the record.

Guinness said of the Maine Coon breed: "There is a myth, impossible in reality, but encouraged by its typical brown tabby colouring and abundant fur, that it resulted from matings between semi-wild cats and raccoons.

"The Maine Coons robust health and companionable, lively personality has ensured its popularity as a family pet for well over a century."
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Chechnya has been accused of carrying out a genocide against gay people in a complaint filed at the International Criminal Court.

Three French gay rights groups blamed the Russian republic's leader Ramzan Kadyrov and state officials for a "wave of persecution".

Stop Homophobie, Mousse and Comite Idaho France urged the ICC to investigate the persecution of gay men, citing the case of a teenager reportedly thrown out of a ninth-floor window after his uncle discovered he was gay.

Etienne Deshoulieres, a lawyer representing the three gay rights groups, called Mr Kadyrov the architect of a genocide.

He said the Chechen leader was "the organiser of torture camps with the desire to exterminate homosexuals".

 Hundreds protest at Russian embassy over 'gay concentration camps' in Chechnya

Alexandre Marcel, chairman of Comite Idaho France, said the complaint was the only way to pursue Nazi behaviour at an international level.

Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported last month that authorities in the majority Muslim republic had rounded up over 100 men suspected of being gay and tortured them.

At least three of the men had been killed, the newspaper reported.

Chechen officials denied the reports, with a spokesman for Mr Kadyrov calling them "absolute lies and disinformation" and claiming gay people did not even exist in the region.

You cannot detain and persecute people who simply do not exist in the republic, he told the Interfax news agency.

If there were such people in Chechnya, the law-enforcement organs wouldnt need to have anything to do with them because their relatives would send them somewhere from which there is no returning.

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin backed a report into the inquiry after German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked him to investigate.

Last week, five activists were detained as they tried to deliver a petition to prosecutors in Moscow.

The police said they had been arrested because their actions amounted to an unsanctioned protest.

The activists said the petition was signed by "more than two million people around the world".
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Polands Prime Minister has claimed the country cannot accept refugees as the EU threatens legal action against nations failing to comply with quotas.

Alongside Hungary and Austria, it is one of only three countries not to have relocated a single refugee, in breach of their legal obligations and commitments.

This cannot be the responsibility of just a few member states  this must be shared be all, said Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Commissioner for migration.

But Prime Minister Beata Szydo told a press conference there had been no formal agreement to compulsory quotas, which Hungary and Poland voted against.

A critical attitude towards the mechanism of migrant relocation is becoming increasingly widespread in the European Union, she claimed, according to a translation by state broadcaster Poland Radio.

Poland cannot accept refugees.

Austria has finally pledged to accept eligible asylum seekers from Italy, but the EU has warned Poland and Hungary that they have until June to start accepting refugees or face sanctions.

The ruling Law and Justice Party has taken a hard line on migration (Agencja Gazeta/Slawomir Kaminski/via Reuters)

I call on Poland and Hungary who have not relocated a single person ... to start doing so right now, Mr Avramopoulos told reporters.

If no action is taken by them before the next report in June, the Commission will not hesitate to make use of its powers under the treaties and to open infringement procedures.

In September 2015, EU states committed to relocating up to 160,000 refugees from overcrowded camps in Greece and Italy countries within two years  later lowering the target - but the total is on track to hit less than 40,000 by its deadline.

But fewer than 18,500 people have been resettled so far and while Poland has been assigned 6,200 refugees, none have been admitted.

The country committed to taking in up to 10,000 migrants at the start of the crisis but after winning the 2015 elections, the populist Law and Justice party (PiS) reversed the decision.

Mariusz Blaszczak, the interior minister, stuck by the position on Wednesday despite the EUs warnings.

Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily.

Claiming that accepting migrants would have certainly been worse for Poland than facing EU action, he told state radio that the security of Poland and of the Poles was at stake and drew a link to terror attacks in Europe.

At a meeting on Tuesday, 28 European ministers told EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans to increase efforts to bring Warsaw in line on what many see as weakening democratic standards in Poland.

Dialogue is the only really constructive way we can solve this problem, he said, amid concern over steps taken by the PiS to reduce the Constitutional Tribunal's ability to check executive power.

Amnesty International accused the Polish government of trampling over the EU's founding principles and urged the EU to take action.

The disputes come amid record deaths in the Mediterranean Sea, where more than 1,300 people have drowned attempting to reach Europe this year.

While crossings to Greece have plummeted since the controversial EU-Turkey deal, the number of migrants arriving in Italy has continued to rise, seeing almost 13,000 people disembark last month alone.

Asylum seekers trapped in squalid camps have killed themselves amid increasing desperation, as charities warn of attempted suicide, rape, sexual abuse and prostitution.
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Vladimir Putin has said he is willing to provide a transcript of Donald Trump's meeting with senior Russian officials, insisting the US President did not share classified intelligence.

News agencies had initially suggested the Russian leader had offered to release an audio recording of the contentious meeting with foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, but subsequent reports showed he had used a word more accurately translated as transcript.

It was not immediately clear whether the meeting had been recorded by the Russian officials, and if so whether the US Government was aware the meeting was being taped.

Mr Putin said: "If the US administration deems it possible, we are ready to provide a transcript of the conversation between Mr Lavrov and Mr Trump in the US Senate and the US Congress in the event the American administration would want it, of course."

The Russian president has repeatedly denied Mr Trump passed secrets to Mr Lavrov and has dismissed the scandal engulfing the former real estate mogul as "political schizophrenia."

It comes after Mr Trump reportedly revealed highly classified information about Isis to Mr Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak in a White House meeting last week, according to the Washington Post.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

The information revealed by the President while in the Oval Office, was said to have been provided to the US by an American ally through a sensitive intelligence sharing arrangement.

White House officials took steps to contain the damage after the meeting, placing calls to the CIA and National Security Agency. It was unclear which country passed on the intelligence to US officials.

One the most worrying aspects of the slip, was that Mr Trump revealed the city in Isis territory where the US intelligence partner detected the threat. There were claims that Russia could use the information to undermine the US, or its ally.

The development comes after the Republican leader dismissed FBI Director James Comey, who was leading an investigation into Russian collusion in the President's 2016 election campaign.
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US President Donald Trumps administration has reportedly refused to allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accompany him to to one of the holiest Jewish sites in the region during a visit next week.

While Mr Trump is set to become the first serving US president to visit Jerusalems Western Wall, Mr Netanyahu will not be present, the White House said on Tuesday.

The two leaders will meet for talks and dinner but the US president will visit the place of prayer accompanied by the Western Walls rabbi before going to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Holocaust Museum and the Israel museum, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters.

 Trump says he will fight for peace deal between Israel and Palestine

Israels Channel 2 news reported Monday that the Israeli authorities had asked whether Mr Netanyahu could accompany the president and whether Israeli news would be allowed to film there, but were rudely told by a member of the US consulate in Jerusalem: What are you talking about? Its none of your business. Its not even part of your responsibility. Its not your territory. Its part of the West Bank.

The Western Wall runs along the perimeter of one side of Jerusalems holy Temple Mount, as it is known in Judaism, or Haram al-Sharif, as it is called in Islam.

The neighbouring al-Aqsa mosque compound is currently reserved for and administered by Muslims, but Jewish worshippers have the right to visit and pray at the Wall.

Israel: From independence to intifada Show all 7 1 /7 Israel: From independence to intifada Israel: From independence to intifada 26973.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26974.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26975.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26976.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26977.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26985.bin Robert Capa/Magnum Israel: From independence to intifada 26986.bin Robert Capa/Magnum

The comments about the Western Wall were not authorised communication and they do not represent the position of the United States and certainly not of the president, a senior administration official later clarified to the The Times of Israel.

In Tuesdays White House briefing Mr McMaster refused to clarify whether the administration considers the Western Wall to be a part of Israel or not.

The presidents intention is to visit these religious sites to highlight the need for unity among three of the worlds great religions, unity in confronting a very grave threat to all of civilisation, and unity in embracing an agenda of tolerance, he said.

Mr Trump is also due to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem in the West Bank - their second meeting in the space of a month.

Benjamin Netanyahu invited his American counterpart to visit following his own trip to Washington DC in February.

The new US president has repeatedly stressed that a lasting peace deal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the top goals of his administration.

His upcoming trip to the Vatican, Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia - Mr Trumps first as president - is being overshadowed by accusations that he shared classified information concerning an Isis plot with visiting Russian diplomats last week.

Several foreign intelligence agencies have condemned the reports, which they say pose a risk for future intel gathering and sharing. German politician Burkhard Lischka told the AP it would be highly worrying if the story was true, adding such behaviour would make Mr Trump a security risk for the entire world".

The New York Times and NBC news reported that Israel was the intelligence partner compromised in the alleged leak.

In a statement on Tuesday, Israeli ambassador to the US Ron Dermer reaffirmed that Israel has full confidence in its intelligence-sharing relationship with the US.
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The allegation that an espionage agent spying for Israel is in danger of losing his life because President Trump revealed classified information is deeply damaging to him. It is said that he told senior Russian officials that the spy had disclosed details of an Isis plot to blow up planes by placing explosives inside laptops carried on board.

The Israeli spy story is so damaging to Mr Trump because it is simpler and more concrete than vague accusations that his presidential election campaign was aided by Russia. But in both cases the allegations should be treated with caution because they come from US intelligence agencies and mass media that are engaged in a fierce struggle for power and influence with Mr Trump and are hence highly partisan.

Recommended Erdogan and Trump clash over role of Kurds in fight against Isis

Generally speaking, Western and regional intelligence agencies have a poor record in penetrating or gathering intelligence about Isis since it re-emerged as a military force in 2012-13. The identity of many of its leaders remains unknown and others who were reported killed have turned out to be alive. Isis itself is obsessively secretive and has executed many whom it accused of gathering information about it.

The degree to which classified information was disclosed remains uncertain. According to the report in The New York Times, claiming that Israel was the source of the secret intelligence Mr Trump disclosed to the Russians, it was only after his meeting with them that the information was flagged as too sensitive to be shared, even among many American officials.

The most specific accusation is that Mr Trump revealed the name of the city where the spy learned that Isis was developing a bomb to be hidden in batteries that could be placed in a laptop, kindle or iPad to be carried aboard a plane by a passenger. This has led to such items being banned by US and UK from the passenger compartments of aircraft flying from airports in ten Muslim countries. Critics of the move say these items may pose an even greater threat to a plane when stored in the hold of an aircraft.

Isis does not now control many cities or town in Iraq and Syria, having lost them over the last two years. In Syria, it still controls Raqqa, though this is expected to be attacked soon, part of Deir Ezzor not held by the Syrian armed forces and Mayadeen further east. In Iraq, it no longer controls significant urban areas as the siege of Mosul draws to a close, but in both countries it holds large rural areas. If there is a spy working for the Israelis, it is just possible that Isis might be alerted to his identity by the naming of a city such as Raqqa but it is not very likely.

The defence of Mr Trump by his National Security Adviser, Gen HR McMaster is being treated with scepticism by the US media, but may well be true on present evidence. He said that no secrets had been revealed and what was said was nothing that you would not know from open source reporting.

Israel has been quick to say that it still has confidence in its security relationship with the US, which is scarcely surprising since it is very much the junior partner. The reputation of Mossad tends to be higher abroad than inside Israel, where in the 1990s it was discovered that the countrys most trusted spy in Syria for over a decade had been invented by an Israeli security official who was pocketing large sums of money supposedly paid to the source who was meant to be working as a top level official in Damascus.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Mr Trump starts on his first foreign tour as President on Friday beginning in Saudi Arabia and going on to Israel, but the unrelenting furore in Washington since he fired James Comey as head of the FBI is likely to overshadow his talks with regional rulers. Saudi Arabia and the coalition of Sunni states that it leads will seek to draw the US into its escalating confrontation with Iran. While Saudi Arabia and Israel makes belligerent noises towards Iran, their policy has always been to encourage the US to fight for regime change in Tehran, but not to do so themselves.

The political battles between Mr Trump and his opponents in the US are now so intense that it will be difficult for him to initiate new policies in the Middle East or elsewhere. There are growing doubts about his political longevity in states like Saudi Arabia, Israel and Turkey who welcomed his election last November. They are finding that his policies in Syria and Iraq are so far very similar to those of President Obama whose military interventionism was greater than he was credited for. It is possible, however, that Mr Trump may feel that military action against Isis will help him survive the mounting political crisis at home.
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Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on an Afghan state TV station that killed at least six people as well as the attackers and wounded 17.

The attack, in the eastern province of Nangarhar, was the latest in a series on Afghan journalists and media in recent years. It came just over a week after it was confirmed that the leader of Isis in Afghanistan had been killed in a US drone strike.

Isis, or Daesh as it is generally known in Afghanistan, has established a stronghold in Nangarhar province bordering Pakistan, where it fights both the Taliban and Afghan government forces.

The raid on the RTA state broadcaster in the provincial capital of Jalalabad was carried out by four attackers, one of whom had detonated a suicide bomb at the entrance to the compound, said provincial governor Gulab Mangal.

As the attack unfolded, heavy gunfire could be heard from around the RTA building, which is close to the governor's compound

"Isis fighters are currently carrying out an attack inside the state broadcasting building in the city of Jalalabad," the movement's AMAQ news agency said in a statement on instant messaging service Telegram.

The three others were killed by security forces in the gun battle.

The Taliban, who also have a strong presence in the region, denied responsibility.

Isis has recently been hit hard by US air strikes and special forces operations.

The head of Isis in Afghanistan, Abdul Hassib, was reported this month to have been killed in a joint Afghan-US operation in Nangarhar at the end of April.

Isis has also claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile attacks in the capital, Kabul, including one in March on Afghanistan's largest military hospital.

Reuters
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More than a dozen South African politicians and several anti-apartheid activists and public figures have completed a day-long fast to draw attention to the fight of hunger-striking Palestinians protesting conditions in Israeli prisons.

Cabinet members including deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and deputy minister of international relations and co-operation Nomaindia Mfeketo  who herself was detained several times in the 1980s for anti-government activism  did not eat or drink for 24 hours from Sunday evening to Monday evening in solidarity with Palestinians who have now entered their second month of a hunger strike.

The Freedom and Dignity strike involving about 1,600 Palestinian prisoners in eight jails is over a range of issues, from access to telephones, lawyers and better medical care to ending solitary detention.

To many of us our solidarity in this campaign is very personal because of our own experience under apartheid. We too, like the heroic Palestinians, were once called terrorists. We, like the Palestinians, were detained. We, like the Palestinians today, embarked on hunger strikes from our prison cells in protest against apartheid South Africas human rights violations.

We also note the growing number of South African Jews who have joined this 24-hour fast and are in protest against Israels discriminatory policies. They remind us of our own white comrades who refused to let the apartheid government speak in their name, Ms Mfeketo said in a statement on Monday.

Former Robben Island political prisoner Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, artist Natalia Molebatsi and a number of other civil society leaders spoke at a public event on Johannesburgs Constitution Hill on Monday in support of the Palestinian protest. Dozens more public figures and organisations pledged solidarity with the prisoners.

Mark Steel: So what have the Palestinians got to complain about? Show all 64 1 /64 Mark Steel: So what have the Palestinians got to complain about? 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Around 6,500 Palestinians are currently detained in Israeli prisons, most for terrorism convictions, although Palestinian leaders and prisoners groups maintain that many have been unfairly tried or are political prisoners.

A further 500 are detained under what is known as Administrative Detention, which allows suspects to be held without charge for six-month intervals.

There have been several hunger strikes mounted in the past, but never on so large a scale.

The current protest is being led by Marwan Barghouti, a popular Palestinian leader jailed by Israel for life for five murders.

Israeli authorities have condemned the strike and the countrys prison service has said it will set up a field hospital to treat hunger strikers if necessary.

After 30 days of consuming nothing but salt water, many protesters are growing increasingly weak  but a statement from one striking faction said prisoners were considering also refusing water since their demands have not been met.

There is widespread support for the strikers across both the West Bank and Gaza. More than 50 restaurants in the Gaza Strip took everything off the menu except salt water in a publicity stunt earlier this month.

Online, a social-media campaign dubbed the salt water challenge has attracted attention across the world after Palestinian pop star Mohammed Assaf downed a glass in a YouTube video, spurring on thousands more to take part.
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Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan did their best to present a united front during the Turkish presidents visit to Washington DC despite anger over the US decision to supply more arms to Kurdish militias fighting Isis in Syria.

Speaking during a joint media conference on Tuesday, the US President said his country sought to rebuild the military and economic partnership between the two Nato allies, and called Turkey an important ally in the fight against terrorism.

We've had a great relationship and we will make it even better, Mr Trump said.

 Donald Trump can't pronounce President Erdogan's name

In a later statement Mr Erdogan hailed the outstanding relations between the nations - positive words considering much to Ankaras consternation the White House last week announced it had approved a fresh supply of weapons to the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in Syria.

Under Barack Obamas administration, the US has long given quiet support to Kurdish fighters in the region, which are widely viewed as the most effective ground force against Isis.

Turkey has protested the alliance for years because it views the Kurdish separatist PKK movement and its affiliates in Syria as terrorist organisations.

My reporting on the Kurds landed me in a Turkish prison Show all 3 1 /3 My reporting on the Kurds landed me in a Turkish prison My reporting on the Kurds landed me in a Turkish prison 442629.bin GETTY My reporting on the Kurds landed me in a Turkish prison 442630.bin AP My reporting on the Kurds landed me in a Turkish prison 442631.bin REUTERS

The new administrations decision to continue Mr Obamas policy means the YPG will likely spearhead the coming operation to retake the northern Syrian city of Raqqa from Isis.

Turkey has previously tried and failed to persuade the US to let up to 10,000 Turkish-backed troops lead the assault instead.

It is absolutely unacceptable to take the YPG-PYD into consideration as partners in the region, and its going against a global agreement we reached, Mr Erdogan said later, referring to the both the fighting and political units of the Kurdish autonomous movement in Syria.

In the same way, we should never allow those groups who want to change the ethnic or religious structures in the region to use terrorism as a pretext, he added, suggesting that the Kurds were using the fight against Isis as cover for separatist nationalism.

 Cops struggle to break up stunning brawl between Erdogan supporters and protesters in D.C.

Mr Erdogan's visit was further complicated by his repeated call for the US to extradite Pennsylvania resident Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric widely blamed by the presidents supporters for instigating last Julys failed military coup.

Mr Gulen has denied all involvement. International intelligence has also suggested he was not behind the attempt to overthrow the government.

Elsewhere in DC on Tuesday, Mr Erdogans security detail was accused of beating up pro-YPD protesters outside the Turkish ambassadors residence in the city.

Video filmed by eyewitnesses showed several men in dark suits - later identified as members of the visiting Turkish delegation - rushing at the protesters, punching and knocking several of them to the ground.

Local police said nine people were hospitalised and two arrested in the incident.

News agencies contributed to this report
JKX see 5% fall in average daily production in Ukraine in Jan-April

JKX Oil&Gas Plc saw a 5% fall in average daily fossil fuel production in January-April 2017 year-over-year or by 202 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), to 3,828 boepd.

The company reported on the website of the London Stock Exchange, gas production in Ukraine fell by 2.6%, to 18.7 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd), and oil and condensate output  by 12.9%, to 720 boepd.

In Russia, gas production is lower: average daily production fell by 21% or 1,330 boepd, to 4,996 boepd. Gas production fell by 21.1%, to 29.6 MMcfd and oil and condensate output  by 19.1%, to 55 boepd.

The decline in Ukraine and Russia was partially compensated thanks to new production in Hungary. Over the period average daily production in Hungary totaled 203 boepd.

As reported, in Ukraine JKX owns Poltava Petroleum Company.

The largest shareholders of JKX are Eclairs Group of Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholiubov with 27.54% of the shares, Glenary Overseas Limited of Oleksandr Zhukov with 11.45% of the shares, and Russia's Proxima Capital Group with 19.92%.
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Donald Trump has decided not to announce a plan to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem during his visit to the country, though that reportedly remains his ultimate goal.

During the election campaign, Mr Trump vowed to switch the embassys location, something that pleased conservatives and supporters of Israel. The vast majority of countries, including the US, locate their embassies in Tel Aviv, out of respect of the disputed status of Jerusalem.

Many had expected Mr Trump would make the announcement when he visits Israel, one of five countries he is taking in during his upcoming first foreign trip as president.

But the White House said that a decision had been taken to postpone the announcement, out of concern the move could drive Palestinians away from peace talks.

Bloomberg News said a White House official said the administration considers its discussions with both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority to be promising, with the Palestinians in particular agreeing to talk without preconditions. Mr Trump recently hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House and talked of his optimism of securing a peace deal, a task to which he has entrusted his son-in-law, Jared Kuchner.

The Palestinians and Israelis must work together to reach an agreement that allows both peoples to live, worship and thrive and prosper in peace, Mr Trump said.

 Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets Theresa May

And I will do whatever is necessary to facilitate the agreement, to mediate, to arbitrate anything theyd like to do, but I would be a mediator or an arbitrator or a facilitator.

Mr Trump said in a speech to the American Israeli Political Action Committee conference in March 2016, that he would move the embassy to Jerusalem, calling it the eternal capital of the Jewish people.

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 city is claimed as a capital by both Jews and Palestinians, however, and relocating the US embassy - a move that would in effect declaring Jerusalem to be Israeli territory - would raise tensions. Earlier this week, White House spokesman Sean Spicer refused to declare it such.

We dont think it would be wise to do it at this time, the official said. Weve been very clear what our position is and what we would like to see done, but were not looking to provoke anyone when everyones playing really nice.

As president, Mr Trump has said brokering a deal between Israel and the Palestinians would be the the ultimate deal. He sent an envoy, Jason Greenblatt, to the region in March to open talks. Mr Trump has also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
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Why go now?

Barcelona is working hard to shed its image as ideal stag and hen party territory and show its smart and sophisticated side, which existed long before hordes of tourists arrived. Whats more, the citys energising art and food and drink scenes have matured rapidly. Earlier this year, for example, Martin Berasateguis restaurant Lasarte was the citys first to receive three Michelin stars. Visit this spring to enjoy recent hip hotel openings, grown-up tapas from Michelin-starred chefs such as Albert Adria and Carles Abellan, and explore the revival of Barcelonas vermouth culture.

Day one

Get your bearings

Barcelona is surrounded by worthy vantage points but the best is Parc Guell (1) (parkguell.cat), one of Catalan dreamer-cum-architect Antoni Gaudis most famous creations. From here gaze across the city towards the Med, gawping at Gaudis other colossal undertaking, the Sagrada Familia cathedral (2). The park was conceived as a residential site for Gaudis eponymous patron at the beginning of the 1900s. It sits on a breezy hillside which you can roam for free, but the 7 entrance fee for the park also permits entry to a museum of Gaudis signature work, and the much-snapped dragon stairway and terrace area. From May to August opening hours are 8am-9.30pm, but buy a ticket online if you dont want to be disappointed at the gate.

Parc Guell offers the best views across the city (iStockphoto) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Lunch on the run

Grab lunch before you drop into the touristy areas of Passeig de Gracia (3) and La Rambla (4). Charming Can Codina (5) (0034 935 161 584) was opened 85 years ago by current owner Tony Codinas grandparents and pleases all-comers from tourists to weathered locals and the ever-growing ex-pat community. Follow a local vermouth (from 1.80) with plates of clams, mussels, artichokes and baby squid to share.

Take a hike

Descend quickly through the neighbourhood of Gracia (6) and past Gaudis other popular buildings  La Pedrera (7) and Casa Batllo (8). Walk through bustling Placa Catalunya (9) at the top of infamous promenade La Rambla (4) before wandering left into Barcelonas bewitching Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) (10), a medieval maze of squares, shops and secret alleyways. Here youll find the behemoth gothic cathedral (11), home to a cloister planted with palm trees and populated by geese and Harry Potter-worthy gargoyles.

Work on Gaudis gothic cathedral is expected to be completed in 2026, the centenary of his death (iStockphoto) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Window shopping

Despite a weaker pound, Barcelona remains a good place to stock up on delicious food products. On Carrer Comtal (12), cheese lovers will delight in Formatgeria Simo (13) (formatgeriasimo.com) and wonder at the fishmongers, La Casa del Bacalao (14) (0034 933 016 539). Head to Carrer de Petritxol (15), a narrow run of chocolate and nougat shops and granjas, the tiny tiled nooks selling crispy churros and hot chocolate. Be aware that many local shops close for a few hours over lunch.

An aperitif

Pep yourself up with a carajillo  a short coffee with a shot of alcohol  at Quillo (16) (quillo-bar.com), a 15-minute walk north-east of Carrer de Petritxol. This new bar sits at the junction of four streets at the head of the Born district (17), an ideal spot to watch the city prepare for a Saturday night.

Gaudis famous Casa Batllo is a must-see (iStockphoto) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Dine with the locals

Youll spot the queue waiting to descend upon Tapas 24 (18) (carlesabellan.com) before you see the restaurant. Its a typical elbow-jostling tapas affair with fresh takes on classics. Start with the bikini  here the ham and cheese toastie is pimped with truffle and iberico ham. Or book in advance for Tickets (19) (ticketsbar.es), Albert Adrias eccentric tapas playground.

Day two

Out to brunch

Barcelona likes to sleep in on a Sunday and brunch is a recent import found mainly in hotels. For a real blowout head to Cecconis (20) (cecconisbarcelona.com) on the ground floor of the new Soho House Barcelona (sohohousebarcelona.com) where 40 buys you five hours (12-5pm) to feast upon classics such as eggs Benedict alongside Italian meats, cheese and antipasti, pasta and pizza, local seafood including oysters and prawns, and puddings like crema catalana and tiramisu.

Barcelona is surrounded by rugged hills (iStockphoto) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Cultural afternoon

A stroll north-east along Passeig de Colom brings you into the elegant Born district (17). Here youll find the least showy of Barcelonas cathedrals, Santa Maria del Mar (21); the Picasso Museum (22) (museupicasso.bcn.cat), open Tuesday to Sunday 9am-7pm (11); and the Museum of Modern European Art (23) (meam.es), open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-8pm (9).

A walk in the park

A 10-minute walk from the Picasso Museum brings you to Parc Ciutadella (24), the largest green space in the city centre and a lovely spot to watch dusk fall across Barcelona.

Take a ride

Youll miss the best of Barcelona if you dont walk it. But you can take the metro, which opens at 5am every day and closes at midnight Monday to Thursday, 2am on Fridays and runs non-stop over the weekend. A 10-journey T10 ticket (9.95) is much better value than a single (2.15) and you can share it. To get round as many tourist attractions as efficiently as possible, take taxis or hop on and off those big red tourist buses (barcelona.city-tour.com), 29 for one and 39 for two days.

The Gothic Quarter is a maze of squares, shops and secret alleyways (iStockphoto) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The icing on the cake

If you have a few days to relax after a demanding city break, head to Sitges, a beautiful and chic beach town  think Cannes but much less brash  40km south of the city. This weekend escape has avoided the over-development of the towns directly north of Barcelona, and the shops, hotels and restaurants meet metropolitan standards.

Travel essentials

Getting there

A plethora of airlines fly to Barcelona from regional and London-based airports around the UK. Barcelona El-Prat Airport (25) (barcelona-airport.com) lies 12km south of the city and the journey is easy by public transport. Either take the 35-minute Aerobus (single 5.90/return 10.20) to Placa Catalunya (9) and walk to your lodgings in the city centre, or board the half-hourly train to Passeig de Gracia (3) and travel onwards on the Metro system. Taxis cost upwards of 30.

Staying there

For contemporary luxury at the citys hottest new hotel, head to the 57-bedroom Soho House Barcelona. It boasts a 36-seater cinema, speakeasy bar, spa, gym and rooftop pool. From 260, room only.

Soho House Barcelona is the citys hottest new hotel (Soho House)

Casa Bonay (27) (casabonay.com) is a more lighthearted alternative. First opened in 2016, it boasts stunning bar and restaurant spaces, a rooftop terrace and the best coffee in town courtesy of Satans Corner. From 130, room only.

Seasoned visitors are now escaping the city centre for the Poblenou district, which has its own bustling Rambla (28), free of rowdy tourists, and is adjacent to Balearic-esque beach life at Mar Bella (29) and Bogatell (30). Stay at recently renovated The Level at Melia Barcelona Sky (31), a soaring tower with an open-air pool terrace and breakfast room on the 24th floor with 360 views of the city. From 200, B&B.

Find more hotels in Barcelona
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A passenger travelling with his disabled son has accused Air Canada of abandoning his family at Toronto Pearson airport.

Euan McGilp, 56, was flying back from Ohio to London with his wife and two teenage sons, one of whom has Down Syndrome, when delays meant they missed their connecting flight from Toronto Pearson airport.

Euan says that when they landed in Canada on 20 April, Air Canadas treatment of them added up to a catalogue of failures. After wed all checked in everything started to go wrong, he told The Independent.

Formerly a head teacher for 15 years, Euan had to retire on medical grounds after he suffered a sudden brain injury six years ago. He had been working with a specialist team for the past two years to prepare him for the trip to the States to see some old friends. He said: This was the first break weve taken since I collapsed. Im not sure Ill ever be able to fly again. We cant even talk about the holiday because I keep flashing back to the problems and getting angry and upset.

Upon arrival at Toronto, the family were left on the tarmac in freezing temperatures according to Euan, while waiting for his sons wheelchair to be unloaded from the plane. David, 14, has various other complex needs in addition to Down Syndrome, yet the family were left shivering in the cold for 15 minutes. David has no internal temperature regulation, he was practically turning blue, said Euan.

The McGilp family had an amazing holiday before the nightmare return journey (Euan McGilp)

They were then taken to the special assistance area and told to wait to be taken onwards to their connecting flight. All the lights were off and there was no one around, said Euan. We were dumped and abandoned there in the dark  we seemed to be too much trouble for anybody.

The family had already missed their original 8.40pm flight to London Heathrow due to delays on the first leg of the journey, but had been rebooked onto the 11.10pm flight and assured by Air Canada that they would make their connection.

After half an hours wait, having been ignored by the various Air Canada staff members theyd asked for help, one man took pity on the McGilps and directed them to the flight connections desk. It transpired that, due to the wait at special assistance, the family had missed their connecting flight and would have to be rebooked to fly the following evening.

The connections team were incredibly rude  Ive never met such rude people in my life, said Euan. They couldnt do enough for first class passengers and didnt give a damn about economy ticket holders. Youd think airlines would be concerned about getting it right for vulnerable people, whether its youngsters or the disabled.

Recommended Black woman sent to back of the plane on American Airlines flight

One chap clearly struggling with PTSD was told to shut up. There were threats and intimidation, it was awful.

The family were eventually given a voucher for a stay in a hotel, but by this point they were also worried about Davids health issues. We explained that we had a doubly incontinent disabled child with us and that, at Air Canada's original instruction, we only had enough sanitary and medical products to last him the expected flight plus a few hours. According to staff, this was not their problem.

The nightmare journey continued, as the family were taken outside to await a shuttle bus to their hotel. It was 12.50am. After waiting for an hour and a half for transport that never came, they eventually discovered from another driver that their hotel no longer offered a shuttle service.

When asking for help, another member of staff told my wife that 'Travelling is stressful for everyone' and that we should just 'Deal with it', said Euan. She then got in the lift and left, leaving my wife in tears and clearly having no care for our situation with my disabled son.

Finally, at 3.30am, the McGilp family say they managed to speak to a customer service advisor who was willing to help. She moved them onto a 9am flight  but the family were subsequently forced to spend the remainder of the night in the departure lounge. When they boarded the plane, they discovered they werent seated together, despite Melanie and their older son Rogan, 17, being designated carers for Euan and David.

The icing on the cake came when the family arrived into Heathrow to find only one bag out of seven waiting for them. The other six had been left in Toronto.

After complaining to Air Canada about their treatment, the McGilps were offered 25 per cent off if they booked more Air Canada flights in the next 12 months. Theyve saved some money in compensation because theres no way I would ever travel Air Canada again  I cant, said Euan. Im really frightened about whats going to happen now. Part of my brain injury is to look for the worst in things. Well have to find an airline we can work with and try again in a few years.

 Man brutally dragged off United Airlines flight: "I want to go home"

Euan paid more to fly with Air Canada because it claims to offer support for those with additional needs; the family could have saved over 1,000 by flying with a cheaper airline, says Euan. We chose this airline because we thought it was a reputable company. We thought, with two disabled clients in a family, they would be able to get it right.

The McGilp familys dream holiday will be forever tarnished by the return journey from hell, says Euan: We had the most fantastic time, a wonderful experience  but its been completely trashed, whether by incompetence or sheer callousness on Air Canadas part, Im not sure.

I know things go wrong. Im just asking people to do their job with a little bit of sympathy and compassion. That was frighteningly lacking from Air Canada.

Air Canada has not yet responded to The Independent's request for comment.

This follows an incident where a 15-year-old passenger was abandoned overnight at Toronto airport by Air Canada, despite being a minor.
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Travel industry experts have warned that an extension of the laptop ban on flights from Europe to the US could spell economic disaster.

The Business Travel Coalition (BTC) said yesterday that forcing passengers to stow electronic devices in the hold rather than being able to take them on in hand luggage would create an economic tsunami.

A ban from Europe could affect 3,500 flights a week this summer and 65 million passengers per year, wrote BTC chairman Kevin Mitchell in a letter to European transport commissioner Violeta Bulc. The economic risk to airlines and the travel and tourism industry is orders of magnitude greater than the threat from pandemics, volcanoes or wars.

He added: Simply put, the ripple effects of this could create an economic tsunami the likes of which terrorists are dreaming of, but instead it will be at the hand of government directive.

 Simon Calder reports from Istanbul airport on new ban on electronic devices in hand luggage for specific UK-bound flights

Most organisations  corporations, universities, governments  will not allow employees to check laptops, most of which have sensitive information on them. IT chiefs and risk managers are very conservative and assume everything on a laptop is sensitive  emails, contacts, hiring, marketing and sales strategies, new product diagrams, etc.

As such, well beyond lost inflight productivity, the significantly larger consequence of a potential electronics ban is if, for example, a business traveller is going to London for a week, he will not have his laptop with him. That, for most business travellers, will be an absolute no-go, a deal breaker. Thats where a dramatic fall off in business travel demand would be based. A monthly trip to London becomes a once-a-quarter one.

Mitchell explained that it only takes a relatively small number of business travellers to decide not to fly to make a flight unprofitable and consequently drive down demand and yields on all business and first class seat sales.

There is evidence that this already is happening, he said. Despite creative efforts by Gulf carriers such as gate-side check-in, separate secure inflight storage and dedicated arrival pick-up, not to mention onboard loaner tablets, early indications are that the negative impact on bookings has been significant.

The ban was introduced on in-bound flights to the US and the UK in March, stipulating that when flying from certain countries in the Middle East and North Africa passengers would be forced to stow any electronic devices bigger than a smart phone in their hold luggage, rather than being allowed to have them in the cabin.

The rule applies on UK inbound flights from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Turkey and US inbound flights from Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar and the UAE.

However, rumour has been rife that the ban will be rolled out to include all flights from Europe to the States too. Confirmation is expected imminently, despite warnings from the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) that storing laptops in the hold could cause a catastrophic fire due to their lithium batteries.

The ban may not just affect business people  ordinary holidaymakers could also be put off flying if it comes into play.

Over a third of people said theyd reconsider their flights if faced with having to put their electronics in the hold, according to Holiday Extras, the UK's market leader for travel extras. In a poll of 3,500 people, 35 per cent responded that an extension of the ban would make them rethink flying. Some 18 per cent said they would fear for the safety of their belongings in the hold, while 17 per cent said they couldnt be parted from their devices during their journey.

The laptop ban, seen here in Tunisia (AFP/Getty Images)

Whether theyre used to update social statuses, translate local languages or plan our journeys, electronic devices are a huge part of modern travel, said Ant Clarke-Cowell, communications director at Holiday Extras. According to our survey, two thirds of Brits now pack a gadget to help them travel better, with women being more likely to take them than men.

Considering how much easier or enjoyable such items can make our journeys, and how fragile and expensive they can be, its easy to see why the restrictions have sparked so much debate and caution among passengers. However, wed hate to see this stopping people from flying to the affected destinations and we were surprised to see just how many people were considering this move in our poll.

In lieu of devices, most people would read on a flight according to data from budget holiday website HolidayPirates. Some 66 per cent of those surveyed said they would get stuck into a good book, 28 per cent intended to catch up on their sleep and 14 per cent would talk to the person next to them.
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As the US and Europe prepare to settle their differences over the extension of Americas laptop ban, the likely effects are being hotly disputed.

Donald Trumps administration wants to extend the current ban on larger electronic devices to cover all international flights to the US. But European safety officials and British pilots have warned of the risk of on-board fires if equipment powered by lithium batteries is carried in aircraft holds.

In a survey of 3,600 travellers polled for Holiday Extras, one in three said they would reconsider their flights if faced with having to check in their electronic devices in the hold of an aircraft. The leading concern is safety  not of themselves but of their belongings. Almost one-fifth of those polled say the risk of theft or damage is unacceptable. One in six said they would not want to make a long trip without their devices.

Ant Clarke-Cowell, Communications Director at Holiday Extras, said:

 Simon Calder reports from Istanbul airport on new ban on electronic devices in hand luggage for specific UK-bound flights

Whether theyre used to update social statuses, translate local languages or plan our journeys, electronic devices are a huge part of modern travel.

But a leading travel industry figure believes a ban would not damage the numbers flying the Atlantic  and speculates that positive profiling could ease the effects of the US laptop ban.

Gordon Wilson, CEO of the travel distribution and technology platform, Travelport, said a ban wont have a material long-term effect on transatlantic booking. He told The Independent: We havent seen any diminution in travel since the existing ban took effect.

"Travelport booked one million UK-US transatlantic journeys between January and March, with one in four in business class.

The traveller is ultimately adaptable, and despite the stricter rule on shoes and toiletries, the volume of travel has continued to increase."

Mr Wilson is flying transatlantic on Sunday. Were a ban on electronic devices to be introduced by then, he said he would check my laptop in, carry a lot more paper, and work on paper. Temporarily it may not be a bad thing  we can do more thinking.

In time, he foresees that the US authorities will develop a Trusted Equipment programme, in parallel with the existing Trusted Traveler scheme  which provides lighter-touch security at US airports for positively vetted passengers.

The harsh reality of the world is that if you travel regularly and are prepared to give more information about yourself, in return you can expect an easier ride.

At present there is an impasse between the US Department of Homeland Security, which is determined to roll out the ban to all foreign airports, and European officials who believe that risks to travellers could be increased if more devices powered by lithium batteries are carried in aircraft holds.

Laurie Price, former Aviation Advisor to the Transport Select Committee, said: Its a classic case of the US knee jerk reaction, of wanting to be seen to be doing something, rather than working collectively on a solution and the root cause of such issues.

With the current administration agenda, I fear that is only likely to get worse, he said.
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Everyone needs a new look from time to time  and apparently villages are no exception. Last month Kampung Pelangi in Randusari, Indonesia, unveiled an extreme makeover that has seen it dubbed Rainbow Village.

The formerly unassuming village in southern Indonesia was assigned 300,000,000 Indonesian Rupiah (17,000) for the facelift by the local council committee, who hoped to attract more tourists to the area with a bold new colour scheme.

Indonesia's Rainbow Village Show all 13 1 /13 Indonesia's Rainbow Village Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village This once struggling village in Indonesia was given a rainbow makeover last month. Instagram/Arief Rakhman Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village The village in Randusari was formerly known as Kampung Wonosari but has been renamed Kampung Pelangi. Instagram/Ilham Juwarto Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village Local government allocated 17,000 for the bold new look. Instagram/Ribekti_H Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village It was hoped that by painting the village in bright colours it might attract more tourists to the area. Instagram/Jalidin Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village Alongside the rainbow stripes adorning the buildings, there are also interesting murals on the walls. Instagram/Ilham Juwarto Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village The village has been trending on social media and tourists are flocking there for Instagram shots. Instagram/Safir Makki Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village The project took just over a month to complete and was unveiled in April. Instagram/Ditopapaojan Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village A local teacher was the brains behind the project, inspired by similar makeovers in other parts of Asia. Instagram/nicolas_ertaf Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village The village was considered a slum before the local government officials decided to turn things around. Instagram/jogjajateng Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village A total of 232 buildings were transformed, and coloured flags line the streets. Instagram/mzndoet Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village The face lift has given a new lease of life to Kampung Pelangi, turning it into a must-visit attraction. Instagram/mzndoet Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village Most of the manpower and material was provided by The Indonesian Builders Association. Instagram/puchy.nisa Indonesia's Rainbow Village Rainbow village Even the Mayor of nearby Semarang, Hendrar Prihadi, got involved by doing some painting. Instagram/Cindy Kurnia Lestari

The project took just over a month to complete and was revealed at the end of April. A true community venture, even the Mayor of nearby Semarang, Hendrar Prihadi, got involved according to Lonely Planet, painting some of the 232 houses himself. Most of the manpower and material was provided by The Indonesian Builders Association.

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From afar the buildings simply appear covered in coloured stripes, but take a closer look and there are pieces of art around every corner. One wall features a pair of angel wings surrounded by rainbow rays; another displays a 3-D shark appearing to try and bite passers-by. One wall is completely covered in bright coloured spots and there are poles with fluttering multi-coloured flags attached. Even the steps are painted. Every inch of the village looks colourful and vibrant  a stark contrast to the before picture, when the buildings were grey and rundown-looking.

Slamet Widodo, a 54-year-old teacher, came up with the idea for Rainbow Village after being inspired by other Asian areas which have undergone similar transformations. The idea to create Kampung Pelango came after we saw the beauty of Kampung Warna-warni and Kampung Tridi in Malang, and later Kampung Kali Code in Yogyakarta, he told the Jakarta Post.

A makeover has transformed Kampung Pelangi (Instagram/Safir Makki)

Hopefully Kampung Pelangi will be the biggest one in Indonesia and offer a new tourist attraction in Semarang.

So far the makeover seems to have done the trick, escalating Kampung Pelangi into a must-see attraction and trending on social media. Visitors have flocked to the village for the potential to capture Instagram-friendly shots of the colourful surroundings.

"Rainbow Village" before its transformation (Anom Harya)

Saffir Makki, an Instagram user based in Jakarta, posted a shot of the new look village with the caption: The rainbow village in Indonesia, called Kampung Pelangi, is trending on social media after a government-funded project transformed it into a vibrant Instagram hotspot. The once struggling village, originally named Kampung Wonosari, located in Randusari in the South Semarang district, was considered a slum before the local government officials decided to turn things around.
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Despite continuing problems in Tunisia, air links to the troubled North African are expanding rapidly.

The latest Foreign Office bulletin tells British travellers that the State of Emergency has been extended by one month, and warns Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Tunisia.

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In June 2015, 30 British holidaymakers were among those killed by a lone gunman at a beach hotel in the resort of Sousse. Shortly afterwards, the UK Government warned against travel to Tunisia. Anyone choosing to go is likely to find their travel insurance is invalid.

Yet London now has a daily connection with the capital, Tunis. The national airline, Tunisair, has added an extra Gatwick service. Four flights each week are from Heathrow, the remaining three from Gatwick.

A British Airways spokesperson said restoring the airlines link with Tunis is not on the agenda at present: We constantly review our route network and customer demand, but we have no current plans.

But BAs sister airline, Vueling, has launched a link from Barcelona to the Tunisian capital, and plans a second weekly service from next month.

The Independent has analysed information from the aviation schedule specialist OAG, comparing flights for June 2017 with December 2016. Only routes to and from the capital, which are less seasonally sensitive, have been considered.

Air France has added two extra weekly flights from Paris.

From Frankfurt, Lufthansa has increased services from seven to 11 flights a week. Tui, which owns Thomson, has many holiday flights from Germany to Tunisia, such as Frankfurt to Enfidha and Berlin to Djerba.

Across the Atlantic, Tunisair is putting on a third weekly service from Montreal to Tunis.

Tunisia is one of the six countries from which passengers are banned from carrying laptops on direct flights to the UK. The Department for Transport says: We are confident these measures are proportionate and effective.
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Donald Trump didn't need to add angry face emojis to his tweet, for people to realise that he was seething.

I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community, he wrote.

This was the morning after the Washington Post had revealed, in an article by its leading national security correspondent, the President had, in an apparent breach of known precedent, shared sensitive intelligence material with the Russians.

 Fox News host say there are no Republicans willing to defend Trump on TV

The next day, the New York Times reported that according to a memo written by then FBI Director James Comey, Trump had asked him to drop an investigation into his sacked national security advisor Michael Flynn. Three months later, Trump fired Comey.

HR McMaster, Flynns successor and one of the few people in the White House able to maintain the same narrative for more than 12 hours, held a press conference to claim the leaks behind the articles were a threat to national security.

I think the real issue - and I think that I would like to see really debated more - is our national security has been put at risk by those violating confidentiality and those releasing information to the press, he said.

If this is true, and McMasters claim may be difficult to prove, then Trump and his cohorts in the White House can hardly be surprised. Since wining the election last November, Trump has repeatedly condemned the US intelligence services, accusing them of handing fake news to the media.

For months, he appeared to reject their assertion that Russia had sought to influence the 2016 election, dismissing their claims as coming from the same people who said, wrongly, that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.

At one point, he even found himself likening the people within the 17 US intelligence services, to the Nazis. This was something that earned a rebuke from Barack Obamas CIA Director, John Brennan.

What I do find outrageous is equating an intelligence community with Nazi Germany, he said. I do take great umbrage at that, and there is no basis for Mr Trump to point fingers at the intelligence community for leaking information that was already available publicly.

Has the worm now turned? It appears so. This week, as the Post and the Times published their blockbusters, US media noted how quickly other outlets were able to confirm the claims. The suggestion was that that there were an awful lot of people out there willing to dish the dirt.

The mood among many in the intelligence community may have been summed up by Leon Panetta, who served as both Defence Secretary and CIA Director. Trump, he told CNN, was a loose cannon.

Hes got to have some lines here, said Panetta. Hes got to have some guardrails. The president of the United States cannot just do or say or speak whatever the hell he wants.

During the election campaign, Trump got his way by his bullying and bluster. He attacked everyone and anyone he wanted, from the Pope to Ted Cruz's father, and appeared to get away with it. But in attacking the intelligence services - the people who know, so to speak - where all the bodies are buried - he has committed a fatal error.

Two points need to be made.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Firstly, Trump is a long way from being impeached, if indeed he ever is. Despite the mounting clamour from those who hate him, and despite the claims of those who say he has broken his oath of office, the President has, based on the evidence that is publicly available, committed no criminal offence. Whether he had broken his oath of office is moot, and an issue that would be decided by the House Judiciary Committee.

Impeachment is about politics, not justice. At the moment, the Republicans control both the House and the Senate.

The only scenario in which they could decide to turn on Trump, would be if they calculated having him in the White House undermined their own reelection prospects in the 2018 midterms. Many members, in districts where Trumps support is strong, would have to weigh up the fish of his voters abandoning them.

It may be that the Democrats ride such a wave of anti-Trump disgust that they take control of the House at that point, but is 18 months away.

Secondly, if Trump is eventually toppled by leaks from the intelligence services, this should give everyone cause to stop and think

Trumps supporters have been was mocked for their references to the USs so-called deep state. But there is no doubt that Americas intelligence and military complex is alive and powerful.

Intelligence officials, from Brennan to James Clapper, Obamas Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, have all been given repeated platforms, both before Congressional committees and on 24-hour cable news, to denounce Trump and his actions.

Yet, whatever one thinks about Trump, about his haplessness, his bigotry, his apparent inadequacy to do the job, the New York tycoon was elected, by more than 60m of the American people. Clapper and Brennan were not.

Nobody who thinks Donald Trump is a danger to American democracy, should cheer if he is brought down by unelected forces.
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We live in an age that denigrates knowledge, dislikes expertise and demonises experts. But now we have proof that experts are sometimes right.

Look at where we are: Last week, President Donald Trump impulsively fired his FBI director, apparently on the grounds that he didn't like the FBI's investigation into his election campaign's possible collaboration with Russia and apparently unaware that this might constitute obstruction of justice. The following day, he agreed to meet the Russian foreign minister in the Oval Office, a major concession to the Russian president, though he and his staff don't appear to have been aware that this was the case. He and his staff also allowed Russian journalists carrying cameras into the Oval Office, although the US press was barred. They apparently did not think about whether the cameras might contain recording devices and were surprised when the Russian state news agency published photographs afterward.

None of those disastrous decisions was part of a deliberate plan. Each one was made because of the president's willful ignorance, impulsiveness and inexperience. It is not at all surprising to learn that  during a conversation that shouldn't have been happening, one that was photographed by a Russian journalist who shouldn't have been there  the president revealed details of an ongoing intelligence operation. Once again, this was not part of a deliberate plan. Instead, it happened because the president is a braggart who wanted to show off his access to great intel and to impress his important guests.

All of this was not only predictable  it was also predicted. Read, again, the statement issued by 50 prominent Republican national security experts issued last August. Note that it was not pro-Clinton or left-wing, or even ideological at all. It simply pointed out that Trump  a man who would not, under normal circumstances, ever be given a high-level security clearance  was unfit to be president. Here is the central section:

At the time, Trump dismissed this letter as nothing more than the failed Washington elite looking to hold onto their power. But the elites were right. The experts were right. Next time maybe more people will heed them.

In our experience, a President must be willing to listen to his advisers and department heads; must encourage consideration of conflicting views; and must acknowledge errors and learn from them. A President must be disciplined, control emotions, and act only after reflection and careful deliberation. A President must maintain cordial relationships with leaders of countries of different backgrounds and must have their respect and trust. In our judgement, Mr. Trump has none of these critical qualities. He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behaviour. All of these are dangerous qualities in an individual who aspires to be President and Commander in-Chief, with command of the US nuclear arsenal.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

At the time, Trump dismissed this letter as nothing more than the failed Washington elite looking to hold onto their power. But the elites were right. The experts were right. Next time maybe more people will heed them.

Copyright The Washington Post
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We are supposed to be held equal before the law. But if were clever, white, and have great prospects, could it be (with apologies to George Orwell) that some of us are more equal than others?

Aspiring heart surgeon Lavinia Woodward, a student at Christ Church College, Oxford, was told that she is likely to be spared a jail sentence after stabbing her boyfriend in the leg before hurling a laptop, glass and jam jar at him in a drug-fuelled rage. She admitted to a charge of unlawful wounding at Oxford Crown Court.

It seems to me that if this was a one-off, a complete one-off, to prevent this extraordinary, able young lady from not following her long-held desire to enter the profession she wishes to, would be a sentence which would be too severe, Judge Ian Pringle said. What you did will never, I know, leave you  but it was pretty awful, and normally it would attract a custodial sentence, whether it is immediate or suspended."

There are good grounds for according Woodward mercy, regardless of her career prospects. The court was told she had led a very troubled life including being abused by a former boyfriend. The Secret Barrister blog has looked at the the case and makes the point that this, and her prior experience with substance abuse, serve as powerful mitigation. She also has no prior convictions. If she conforms to the expectations of the court before she appears again at the end of September, the sentencing guidelines for the offence she committed provide scope for the judge to be lenient.

The Secret Barrister also says this: Lest anyone be seduced by the reflexive narrative that such merciful sentences are only afforded to white, middle-class defendants, let me assure you: this course is not unusual.

Not unusual. But less usual when the defendant is non-white, or poor. Thats where it gets interesting.

Labour MP David Lammys review of the criminal justice system suggests that might be the case when it comes to black and minority ethnic defendants. Commissioned by the former Prime Minister David Cameron, the Lammy Reviews emerging findings, published at the end of last year, stated that among those found guilty at Crown Court in 2014, 112 black men were sentenced to custody for every 100 white men.

When drugs were involved, the difference was even more striking. Some 141 black men were imprisoned for every 100 white men. With women, a staggering 227 were handed custodial sentences at Crown Courts for every 100 white women. These statistics imply that when mercy is applied, it is not applied equally, and especially in cases where drugs are involved.

Reporting crimes via Skype

Then there is the issue of poverty. In a study for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published in 2014, the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies opined that the risks of poor people ending up in prison over the long and the short-term remain to be properly assessed and understood. But it did find that in a selective study of prisoners released in 2008, the mean periods of P45 employment observed in the year prior to custody fell below 16 weeks. Earlier studies found prisoners were more likely to be on low wages prior to imprisonment, if they were even in work.

Of course, those studies arent looking at how judges sentence people, just at the experiences of those in prison prior to being jailed. But, lets be honest, if you get into a spot of bother and have access to a nice suit, youre going to wear it, because its the sort of thing that counts with judges and juries. It shows you treat the court with respect and take the proceedings seriously. If youre using food banks, however, then the opportunity to impress the judge in that way might not be open to you.

We should remember, as the Secret Barrister was at pains to stress, that we dont know the full facts of Woodwards case. And judges remarks are, of course, capable of being taken out of context. The blog urges Judge Pringle to publish his sentencing remarks in full and I agree that, given the attention the case has received, that would be a sensible course of action.

For the record, I think Woodward's troubled background, and the struggles she has endured, are very relevant to her sentencing. But the fact that a promising career has been put at risk? That shouldnt matter.

The same mercy should be accorded to another Lavinia Woodward, with a similar troubled background, who was simply attending courses laid on by Jobcentre Plus with the aim of becoming a care assistant. Or one who was a checkout assistant at Tesco with aspirations towards becoming a supervisor.

Richard Garside, director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, said this to me in the course of researching this piece: While we are all formally equal before the law, the justice system reflects and reinforces the great inequalities in wealth and power of British society.

I fear that he is right about that.
The Individuals' Deposit Guarantee Fund has joined the new four-year international technical assistance project "Financial Sector Transformation," implemented by DAI Global LLC with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

According to the fund's website, on May 12 Fund Deputy Managing Director Andriy Olenchyk and Manager of the USAID Financial Sector Transformation Project Robert Bond signed a protocol on cooperation during the implementation of the project in Ukraine.

According to the head of the USAID financial sector programs, Natalia Berezhna, one of the main objectives of the new project is to increase confidence in the banking system and increase the level of using banking services, therefore it is very important that the fund join its implementation.

The USAID Financial Sector Transformation Project in Ukraine will last until December 2020. The main components of the project are increasing confidence in the banking system and the level of using banking services, transformation of the regulatory environment of the non-banking financial sector, expanding access to financial services and increasing the use of digital financial solutions, expanding access to financing for small and medium-sized businesses, support for the balance and stability of the pension system.
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A quarter of a century after the end of the Cold War, interest in nuclear weapons has revived, not reduced. But still a taboo surrounds our nuclear legacy. For all the debate over the tensions between the United States and North Korea, a taboo still surrounds the lingering impacts of nuclear weapons testing and fears for their future use in conflict.

Our latest research looked not only at the implications of a potential future nuclear conflict, but also the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons testing for more than seven decades.

Between 1946-1996, more than 2,000 nuclear weapons tests were conducted by the US, UK, Soviet Union, France and China. Most of these took place in locations selected on the basis of colonial history, and in lands belonging to indigenous peoples. And the impacts were severe.

As well as devastating costs to their health and environment, many affected communities still live with the social, cultural and economic consequences of these tests. Subjected to forced displacement, they lost their land and connection to that land forever. Many were prevented from pursuing their traditional livelihoods. Not everyone was compensated, and those affected reported a lack of official accountability.

Nuclear tests have adversely impacted mental health, by fostering climate of fear over radiological exposure in test locations, and through the creation culture of social stigma and discrimination.

 North Korean defector: Kim Jong-Un would launch a nuclear attack if his rule was threatened

One of the less tangible legacies of nuclear tests has been a sense of humiliation and alienation from society. This was seen following the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, when hibakusha women - survivors of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki - faced marriage discrimination, but it echoed at testing sites. As a UNIDIR study noted, women from the Marshall islands suffered humiliating examinations by US military medical and scientific personnel as a result of the American nuclear weapons testing programme until 1958.

Today, the potential use of nuclear weapons, deliberate or accidental, represents a great risk to humanity. Two decades on from its inception, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) - an agreement to ban all types of nuclear detonations, including atmospheric, underground, space and underwater tests - has still not entered into force. The international nuclear order is in peril: the US and Russia have increased investment in nuclear modernisation; North Korea has conducted five tests in the past decade and has the will to continue, regardless of sanctions or threats of action.

Nuclear testing is part of weapons research and development: several steps ahead of a test is the decision to be ready, in principle, to use a nuclear weapon. There is an important connection between the widely-supported comprehensive ban on nuclear testing, and attempts to ban nuclear weapons altogether. A ban on testing has been pursued largely due to unacceptable effects on human life and the environment; precisely the same concerns drive current efforts to prohibit nuclear weapons.

Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Show all 12 1 /12 Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman stands near the grave of her brother, a "liquidator" or an emergency worker who fought the blaze at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, during a commemoration ceremony on the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster at the Mitino cemetery in Moscow Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Belarussian soldiers of an honor guard carry wreaths during a memorial service for the victims of the Chernobyl disaster in Minsk EPA Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman holds a portrait of her relative, a victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as she visits the memorial during a commemoration ceremony in Kiev Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko lays flowers during a commemoration ceremony at a monument to "liquidators", emergency workers who fought the blaze at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman puts flowers to a monument to Chernobyl liquidators at Mitino Cemetery in Moscow AP Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Nataliya Khodemchyuk, 64, from Ukraine, a widow of Chernobyl liquidator Valery Khodemchyuk, sits at his grave at the Mitino Cemetery in Moscow AP Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman holds portrait of her relative, a victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as she visits the memorial during a commemoration ceremony in Kiev Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Ukrainians light candles and lay flowers at the memorial for 'liquidators' who died during cleaning up works after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, during a ceremony in Slavutich city EPA Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A rescue worker which served during the Chernobyl nuclear disaster visits a memorial during a commemoration ceremony in Kiev Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Women hold portraits of their lost husbands near a monument honoring people who were killed during cleanup efforts after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, during a memorial ceremony in Kiev EPA Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman lays flowers at the Chernobyl victims' memorial in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev Getty Images Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman holds a photograph of her husband who died following the clean-up operations for the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion, at the Chernobyl's victim monument in Ukraine's capital Kiev AP

Last week, the British and Australian governments announced healthcare aid for the indigenous communities who were exposed to radiation as a result of British nuclear tests 50 years ago. In a personal interview with us last year, Sue-Coleman Haseldine, a first-generation nuclear test survivor in Australia, told us the only possible compensation to her community would be a world free of nuclear weapons.

Its time to start talking about the long-lasting effects of nuclear weapons. After all, unless we do, the nuclear taboo will only exist until a devastating detonation occurs somewhere in the world.

Dr Beyza Unal is a research fellow in nuclear weapons policy at Chatham House
A wreath from the band U2 was laid in Talbot Street Dublin to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings

The Government has vowed to pressure the next British prime minister to agree to let a judge inspect classified security files linked to the worst day of atrocities in the Troubles.

Thirty-three people were killed, including a pregnant woman at full term, when loyalist paramilitaries detonated four no-warning bombs in Dublin and Monaghan on May 17 1974.

The Justice for the Forgotten group has fought a long-running campaign for an open inquiry into allegations that British security agents colluded with the terrorists to plot the co-ordinated and sophisticated attacks.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan laid a wreath at a ceremony organised by the group at the site of one of the bombings on Dublin's Talbot Street.

"I know that the pain of families and of survivors continues to endure. That pain is compounded by the absence - after more than four decades - of the full truth of what happened," he said.

Mr Flanagan said his Government was determined to "continue, and to complete" efforts to uncover the truth about the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.

He said he had pursued the British Government over the last 12 months to give an independent international judge access to all original documents on the atrocities.

"We will continue to do so, proactively and at the highest level, including with the next British government, so that the questions around the attacks will finally be answered," he said.

As well as the Talbot Street bomb, two others were detonated in Dublin on Parnell Street and South Leinster Street. The attacks were co-ordinated in the middle of the evening rush hour.

About an hour and a half later the fourth bomb was set off in Monaghan town. The atrocities were blamed on the Ulster Volunteer Force.

Among those to leave a wreath was U2. The band wrote the song Raised By Wolves about the 1974 bombings.

Denis Bradley, who co-chaired a consultative body on dealing with the legacy of the Troubles, spoke at the commemoration and said issues of "national security" over the opening of police files can be resolved.

"This is not a serious issue to be solved. It can be solved in days or hours," he said.

"People have become very skilled at actually getting around and past that and it is not a serious issue for serious men and women."

But Mr Bradley said he believed the survivors, victims' families and campaigners were a "reasonable distance" from getting to the truth of what happened in 1974.
Some 385 suspected offenders have been linked to crimes since the state's national DNA database was launched, it has been revealed.

In the first 15 months that Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) has operated the directory it linked suspects to two murders, five sexual assaults, 42 robberies or thefts and 295 burglaries.

The agency uploaded 9,048 DNA profiles on to the database last year and it is currently adding another 1,000 a month.

Under laws brought in two years ago, genetic samples can be collected from crime scenes and stored indefinitely by the FSI and other samples can also be taken from sex offenders, prisoners and suspects arrested for crimes which carry a prison sentence of five years or more.

The FSI can also hold samples from relatives of missing people to aid in the investigation of unidentified remains.

Dr Sheila Willis, director of the agency, said: "The fact that the database has been operating for just over a year and yet it is already linking one in every five crime scene samples to individuals is really encouraging. It identified 428 hits in 2016 which assisted 625 cases.

"The database really is proving itself to be a very valuable crime intelligence tool."

The lab highlighted the case of a suspected sex offender who was found in the first three months that the database was operational after he was detained over a traffic offence and his genetic make-up was found to match traces of semen found on a 15-year-old girl.

The FSI said it put significant resources into operations linked to the bloody feud involving the Kinahan-Hutch groups following the Regency Hotel gun attack in early 2016.

It said its staff worked on urgent analysis of a wide range of exhibits following raids by the Garda's organised crime units and drugs squad, including guns, clothes and drugs.

The FSI lab also said its scientists detected or identified 27 new recreational drugs in Ireland last year.

They included four benzodiazepine psychoactive types, 12 stimulants under the c athinone bracket which are chemically similar to the active ingredient in the khat plant and another three known as tryptamines which cause hallucinations. It found three lab-created synthetic cannabis drugs and three fentanyl or opiate-type chemicals.

The lab also identified the lethal 25I-NBOMe, which has the street name N-Bomb.

It is a powerful synthetic hallucinogen which Alex Ryan, 18, from Liscahane, Millstreet, Cork, was said to have taken at a house party four days before he died in hospital.

The FSI said the drug had only been seen six times in Ireland and commonly appeared as soaked blotter paper.

It said the partygoers had taken highly toxic quantities of the drug in white powder form. They thought they were taking a different drug and took 100 times the normal dose, it said.

Dr Willis said: "The speed with which new highly toxic synthetic drugs and psychoactive substances are being created overseas and made available for sale online is presenting new challenges for our scientists because these drugs are so new and unpredictable.

"They are up to 100 times more toxic than regular substances and so are highly dangerous.

"Our scientists are working closely with our international colleagues to ensure that we can quickly identify these new substances and help the gardai in their efforts to secure convictions against guilty parties."

Other major breakthroughs involving analysis at the FSI lab included identifying Kenneth O'Brien from Clondalkin, Dublin, whose dismembered remains were found in bags in the Grand Canal in early 2016.

Work on the FSI's new 60 million laboratory in Co Kildare is to be gin later this year.
Irish exports in March were up 10pc year-on-year to 11bn on an adjusted basis, and the value of goods exports for the first three months of 2017 was 30.2bn - an increase of 2.9bn on the first three months of 2016.

According to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office, sectors which experienced the largest improvements in the 12 months to March 2017 were medical and pharmaceutical, where product exports increased by 720m or 30pc to just over 3bn.

Exports of electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances also performed strongly, increasing by 350m, or 60pc, to 931m year-on-year. Meanwhile the country's exports of food and live animals increased by 125m to over 1bn for the same period.

During the 12-month period, exports to Great Britain decreased by 9m, or 1pc, to 1.1bn suggesting that the Brexit vote and sterling fluctuations have yet to have a significant impact on Irish exports to Britain. However, imports from Great Britain into Ireland increased by 76m or 6pc to 1.3bn in March 2017 compared with March 2016.

The main increase was in the imports of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.

The EU accounted for 5.4bn, or 49pc, of total goods exports in March 2017, an increase of 450m in comparison to March 2016.

The biggest EU destination for exports was Belgium, which accounted for 1.3bn of Irish exports. The US was the main non-EU destination accounting for almost 3bn or 27pc of total exports in March 2017. Exports to non-EU countries increased by 508m in March 2017 to 5.6bn compared with March 2016.

The figures come after Enterprise Ireland this week launched plans to increase exports by 50pc from its client companies to the rest of the eurozone by 2020, as it tries to assist and encourage Irish firms to focus on markets other than the UK as their primary export market.

Speaking at the launch of the Enterprise Ireland Euro Zone Market Strategy 2017-2020 this week, Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon warned that Irish companies cannot afford to be complacent in the face of Brexit.

"The fact that the growth of exports to the UK has slowed suggests that the impact of Brexit on Irish companies has already started. Companies cannot afford to wait until the Brexit negotiations conclude," Sinnamon said.

As part of the Euro Zone Market Strategy Enterprise Ireland has said that their staff numbers in the eurozone markets will be increased. Enterprise Ireland will work with Irish companies in a holistic way, supporting them with funding, advice, and trade missions, Sinnamon said.

Meanwhile, the value of imports into Ireland for March 2017 was 5.8bn representing a decrease of 992m or 15pc on an unadjusted basis when compared with March 2016.

Petrol imports increased by 128m or 65pc in March 2017 when compared with March 2016, while imports of chemicals and related products increased by 211m over the same comparative period.

However vehicle imports saw a significant decrease of 17pc to 307m.

In terms of where our imports come from, the EU accounted for 64pc of the value of goods imported in March 2017, down 6pc to 3.7bn when compared with March 2016.

The US accounted for 13pc, with 6pc coming from China.
Transport, Tourism and Sport Minister Shane Ross has failed to meet with any of his British or EU counterparts since the Brexit vote last June.

Despite the implications of the UK's EU withdrawal for the transport and tourism industries in Ireland, the minister has revealed that only his civil servants have met with EU and British government representatives.

"I have not had the opportunity to meet with my UK counterpart or my other EU counterparts since the British referendum on Brexit took place," Mr Ross said.

A spokesman for Mr Ross told the Irish Independent that the minister had met with his Northern Ireland counterpart.

But he confirmed that no meeting had taken place with his counterpart in Britain or counterparts from other EU countries on issues related to transport or tourism since the UK's EU referendum.

Mr Ross would have been due to meet his transport counterparts at an EU council meeting in December, but could not attend because it clashed with a road safety event at home, the spokesman added.

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The next transport council meeting is due to take place in June.

Brexit has significant implications for many sectors that fall under Mr Ross's brief, including the haulage and aviation industries.

There are concerns about whether Britain will be able to retain access to the EU's Open Skies agreement after Brexit. This has implications for carriers such as Ryanair.

Halted

Open Skies, which allows EU airlines to fly to and from any airport within the bloc, has been a key element in Ryanair's business model.

The carrier has already warned that flights from the UK could be halted for weeks or months if an early aviation deal is not reached.

The admissions came in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy. Mr Troy said that it was "simply incredible" that Mr Ross had yet to meet with his EU or British counterparts to discuss the implications of Brexit for Irish aviation.

Read More

The news came as John Callinan, the second secretary general in the Department of the Taoiseach dealing with Brexit, said there were "huge issues" in aviation that needed to be addressed.

Mr Callinan also confirmed that the Government did not seek "special status" for Northern Ireland because it would not be clear what that means.

Liam Irwin, of the Revenue Commissioners, said the volume of customs declarations handled by Revenue is expected to surge tenfold in the event of a hard Brexit. He also said scenario planning includes having 'trade facilitation' posts sited about 15km from the Border to allow for checks, but he said locations have not been identified.

Meanwhile, the ACI European Regional Airports group told its conference in Cork yesterday that Brexit remained a source of major concern for the aviation industry. ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec stressed that the imminent UK withdrawal from the EU remained a major concern.

"With the clock ticking for the exit of the UK in less than two years, this is becoming a deeply concerning and consuming issue for many regional airports across Europe," he said.

In a statement, Mr Ross said his department had engaged extensively at official level with other government departments and agencies; with transport and tourism stakeholders both North and south and with UK and EU counterparts on a range of issues relating to Brexit.

"I have been fully briefed on these engagements and I also met directly with stakeholders, particularly when hosting, with Minister of State (Patrick) O'Donovan, the All-Island Sectoral Dialogues on both transport and tourism, held in Dundalk in January. I will be attending the EU Transport Council of Ministers in Luxembourg on June 8 where I will meet with my EU counterparts. I also intend to arrange a meeting with [EU Transport] Commissioner (Violeta) Bulc on a number of matters, including Brexit."
Potential benefits for sheep farmers from taking a slice of the UK's lamb export trade post-Brexit will likely be wiped out by lower subsidies, a Teagasc economist has warned.

Opportunities for lamb sales may rise if the 100,000t of UK sheepmeat exports destined for the EU are hit by penalties and tariffs, the Irish Grassland Association sheep conference heard.

However, any gains may be wiped out by other potential costs, a dip in beef prices and a slashing of EU payments.

Dr Kevin Hanrahan, head of Teagasc's rural economics unit, estimated direct payments to farmers from the EU may fall by as much as 10pc or 130m as the UK has been the second largest net contributor to the European budget.

He told farmers there would be a "hole" in the EU budget, with EU payments a key part of drystock farmers income.

"Almost certainly post-Brexit, the basic payment will get smaller in Ireland," he said. However, he stressed the key negotiators pledged to battle hard for the payments.

Sheep farmers heard a historical relationship between the UK and New Zealand and Australia had influenced the agreements struck to allow sheepmeat from 'Down Under' into the EU tariff-free.

Bord Bia's sheep market analyst Declan Fennell explained a large volume of New Zealand lamb goes to the UK, with the rest going to the EU. "In a post-Brexit era, where does the New Zealand quota end up?" he asked.

"In a situation post-Brexit, will they have issues in terms of exporting product into the EU. I suppose that gives us a competitive edge and positions us as the number one exporter in the EU market," he said.

"We will never out-manoeuvre New Zealand in terms of scale or being more price competitive," he said; however, Irish lamb has a far superior taste.

Mr Fennell warned New Zealand was coming under huge pressures on water usage and to improve inland water quality.

"To achieve that, they have to put in the equivalent of 56,000kms of fencing to ensure the minimum amount of pollution to waterways. That is the equivalent of putting a fence from New Zealand to Europe three times," he said.

Ireland imports around 350,000 to 400,000 sheep from Northern Ireland every year. "In a Brexit situation, there is going to be a logistical and production issue there," said Mr Fennell.

With Bord Bia set to travel to Shanghai this week for a 3.7m campaign to promote European beef and lamb, Joe Ryan from Meat Industry Ireland said they still believed the country's sheep breeding flock could be expanded to hit three million and add an extra 150m into the sector.

He warned if the volume of lamb travelling from Ireland through the UK to France was hit by extra tariffs and checks, it would cause major issues.
RYANAIR has launched a long-anticipated service that enables passengers to book connecting flights on its network.

But the service is initially limited to 10 routes in and out of Romes Fiumicino Airport. However, if successful, it will be rolled out across the airlines network.

The carrier had initially planned test the service last year and its seen as a trial run for plans Ryanair has for wider cooperation its planning with airlines including Aer Lingus and Norwegian.

Ryanair passengers can browse connecting flights at the Rome airport on the airlines website and currently connect to and from flights to destinations including Barcelona, Alicante, Brussels and Malta.

Passengers transfer to their connecting flight without having to go through time-consuming security checks. Their luggage is also transferred. Flyers will also have just one booking reference for their entire journey.

This new service... will be rolled out across the entire Ryanair network, (with further Rome routes to be added in the coming weeks and months) as long as the Rome Fiumicino trial proves to be a success, said Ryanair chief commercial officer David OBrien. We are also continuing our discussions with Aer Lingus and Norwegian  and other potential partners  with a view to launching connections with third party airlines later this year.

Last month, Ryanair chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said the airline eventually expects to have feeder deals struck with all IAG-owned airlines, which apart from Aer Lingus include Iberia, British Airways and Vueling. He also said Ryanair expects to have agreements with carriers such as Lufthansa and Air France-KLM.
The head of one of Bank of Ireland's most lucrative divisions has jumped ship to Bridgepoint, a European buyout group, just as the bank continues to search for a new chief executive.

David Walsh has been the long time head of the acquisition finance unit, which invests in European and US leveraged loans, including those funding large scale private equity backed takeovers.

Bank of Ireland's annual report shows the unit's loan book expanded to 4.4bn in 2016 - up from 3.9bn in the previous year with the division counted as a substantial part of the bank's international lending arm.

Bridgepoint's swoop for Walsh comes at an awkward time for the bank. A search is already underway for a replacement to CEO Richie Boucher who announced he would step down earlier this year.

Mr Walsh's move to Bridgepoint comes after the bank has funded a number of transactions for the buyout firm, including its purchase in 2015 of a controlling stake in Jersey-based fund services company Estera, as well as the 300m acquisition of French software solutions provider, eFront.

Last week the Irish Independent revealed that Patrick (PG) Flynn, the former chief financial officer at Dutch lender ING is among the names in the frame for the top job at Bank of Ireland.

A spokesman for the bank declined to comment on Mr Walsh's move.
EP head, representative of Maltese Presidency of EU Council sign legislation on visa-free regime for Ukrainians

President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and a representative of Malta, which currently holds rotating EU Council presidency, have signed a legislation on the introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also attended the signing ceremony in Strasbourg on Wednesday, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

The visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens will come into force 20 days after the publication of this document. According to the agency, the document will be published on Wednesday evening.

As reported, the European Parliament members voted for granting the visa-free regime by the EU to Ukrainians on April 6, 2017, while the Council of the European Union backed this decision on May 11, 2017.
DCC will continue to deploy the most of its acquisition capital in Europe over the next 18 months as it eyes opportunities to expand its fuel activities in the region, according to outgoing CEO Tommy Breen.

The Irish FTSE-100 company - which also has technology and medical distribution businesses - announced last month that it had made its first every foray outside Europe, agreeing to buy Shell's LPG activities in Hong Kong and Macau in a deal that places a 120m enterprise value on the business.

"We do believe there'll be an opportunity in southeast Asia to build a bigger LPG business, but that's in the medium term," Mr Breen told the Irish Independent.

"We're not saying that the only acquisitions will be in Europe, but in the next 12 to 18 months the likelihood is that there's still plenty of opportunity for us in Europe and that's where the lion's share of the capital will go."

DCC committed 554m (645.3m) to acquisitions in the past financial year.

In February it announced plans to buy Esso's 142-strong company-owned forecourt chain in Norway for 273m. In January, DCC bought 97pc of France's Gaz Europeen.

Mr Breen was speaking as DCC reported full year results, with its operating profit rising 21pc to 345m (402m) as it benefited from a euro translation effect given the weakness of sterling. On a constant currency basis, operating profits were 13pc higher.

Revenue in the 12 months to the end of March, excluding fuel, rose 9pc to 3.2bn (3.7bn). The company plans to raise its final dividend by 16.3pc, resulting in a 15pc rise in the total dividend for the year. Including fuel sales, revenue was up 17.4pc to 12.2bn (14.2bn).

Despite what analysts said were good results and strong cash flow generation by DCC, shares in the company fell more than 3pc soon after the opening bell in London.

The group's fuel sale volumes in the financial year rose 12.5pc to 14.6bn litres and its operating profit at its energy division - its biggest unit - rose 24.3pc to 254.9m (297m).

The company benefited from the full-year inclusion of the Butagaz LPG business and Esso's unmanned motorway service stations it acquired in France in 2015.

DCC also said that from now on it will report its LPG and Retail & Oil activities as two separate divisions.

Mr Breen will be succeeded as CEO In July by Donal Murphy, who was managing director of DCC Energy.

Mr Murphy said that DCC will expand its LPG presence in France through organic growth as the market there is already consolidated.
Cairn Homes returned to profit in 2016 on the back of surging demand for new homes and more flexible lending conditions for first-time buyers

Cairn Homes, the London-listed residential developer, has failed to clearly explain how its executives are compensated, according to influential proxy advisory firm, Glass Lewis.

The censure may contribute to another display of shareholder discontent at the company's annual general meeting in Dublin this morning.

Cairn, which tapped markets for 52m yesterday, returned to profit in 2016 on the back of surging demand for new homes and more flexible lending conditions for first-time buyers. The company faced acrimony from investors last year when 13pc of the register voted against the remuneration report. Glass Lewis and ISS both urged shareholders to greenlight the issue this year.

But Glass Lewis caveated its support, raising concerns over the structure, and lack of detail, on Cairn's short and long-term bonus schemes and cautioned shareholders to "remain mindful of the issues raised in our analysis".

Michael Stanley, the CEO and founder of the home builder, raked in total compensation of 924,000 in 2016, which included a 446,000 bonus.

Glass Lewis emphasised the annual bonuses awarded to Cairn's executives are higher than the sums offered under a long-term incentive plan (LTIP), encouraging a focus on short-term gains, "potentially at the expense of long-term growth".

Glass Lewis also criticised the lack of disclosure over "specific metrics and targets" used under the bonus scheme. It also argued there was "no clear description" of the performance hurdles used for the company's discontinued LTIP. Cairn, which was listed in 2015, is seeking investor support today for an overhaul of its LTIP. The new scheme will enable employees to earn 200pc of base salary.

Despite the focus on remuneration, analysts are quick to point out the company remains on course to meet upgraded management targets of 375-400 completed home sales this year.
C&C saw its net revenue reduce 6.9pc year-on-year, primarily due to declines in wholesale, own label, and US revenues.

The company behind brands such as Bulmers and Magners said that the impact of the devaluation of sterling following the Brexit vote had cost the company 8m in the eight months following the UKs decision to leave the EU.

Operating profit at the company was 95m, in line with the previous year, while its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortization was down 3.1pc to 110m in the twelve months to 28 February 2017.

C&Cs export division continued to grow, with total volumes of exports increasing 3.9pc in twelve months. The Tennents brand was particularly successful delivering 17pc growth.

Read more: Bulmers owner C&C expects currency and negative market pressures to impact profits

Announcing the results, C&C said that it had significantly increased its brand investment, up 12pc across core brands. The investment helped finance a number of campaigns including the 100pc Irish campaign for Bulmers.

While trading remained tough, we invested in and delivered volume growth across our core brands, completed a major rationalisation of our production foot print, drove efficiencies across the business, and continued to grow our premium portfolio and export business, Stephen Glancey, ceo of C&C, said.

The company said that it was increasing dividends to shareholders by 5pc to 9.37 cent per share.

During the year the company completed its 17m investment programme at its Clonmel facility, while its production rationalisation programme delivered 15m in cost savings.
Gardai have been called into another credit union hit by suspected fraud, with accounts believed to have been raided by a staff member, the Irish Independent has learned.

Gurranabraher Credit Union in Cork is understood to have lost 200,000 and will now have to make an insurance claim to refund members.

It comes after similar suspected crimes at credit unions in Rush, Dublin, and Fermoy, Cork.

In a statement, the chief executive of Gurranabraher, Philip Hosford, confirmed that a staff member had been dismissed and a "matter" was reported to gardai.

"Gurranabraher Credit Union Ltd confirms that a matter arose internally. This matter was identified and investigated by Gurranabraher Credit Union, and as a result of the investigation a staff member has been dismissed," it said.

"The matter has now been referred by Gurranabraher Credit Union to An Garda Siochana, and the Central Bank has been informed."

Mr Hosford said the credit union, which is based outside Cork city, is insured to cover the loss.

Asked how many member accounts were affected, Mr Hosford said: "Gurranabraher Credit Union confirms that no member is exposed to a loss as a result of this matter, and that the matter identified has no impact on the provision of services provided by the credit union."

The CEO said his credit union is financially strong and stable, with over 96m in assets.

It operates in the mainly working-class areas of Gurranabraher, Sunday's Well, Knocknaheeny, Hollyhill and Shanakiel and has 15,000 members.

The investigation into the raid is understood to be at an early stage. Officials at the lender are likely to have to engage forensic accountants to conduct a full trawl of all accounts.

Last week, Synergy Credit Union in Fermoy called in gardai when a staff member was suspected of taking members' money.

The fraud was estimated at 400,000, but another 160,000 is to be spent on a full probe into the missing money. Synergy Credit Union insisted all the money taken from members' accounts has been returned.

These two cases come months after Rush Credit Union, in Co Dublin, was shut down after a series of fraudulent activities were discovered.

Some 1.3m has been set aside to cover the cost of that fraud at the now closed credit union. The Central Bank told the High Court car draws at Rush were rigged. Some 450,000 has had to be returned to members, many of whom were entered into a draw without giving their consent.

The regulator for credit unions, Anne Marie McKiernan, last month warned that standards of regulatory compliance were too low.

Asked about the spate of suspected frauds, a spokeswoman for the Irish League of Credit Unions said incidents of this nature remain very isolated.

She said that as credit unions are democratic and fully accountable to their members, where such incidents occur it often comes to public attention.

"This is distinctly different to other financial institutions where such incidents may be dealt with via a closed internal process," she added.
The European Commission has warned it is closely monitoring house prices in this country.

It comes after prices in the first three months rose at their strongest rates since the peak of the boom in 2007.

Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici has confirmed in a letter to Brian Hayes MEP that the commission is closely monitoring property value movements here.

It said it will examine the issues as part of the commission's post-bailout surveillance mission, which takes place this week.

It is expected the EU Commission will closely examine the controversial help-to-buy scheme.

The Government's help-to-buy scheme became operational in January. It offers a tax rebate of up to 200,000 to first-time buyers.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said this month that the help-to-buy scheme for first-time buyers is pumping up demand in the property sector.

Prices rose close to 10pc in the year to March, after an increase of 0.1pc in the month, according to Central Statistics Office figures.

Mr Hayes said: "Commissioner Moscovici has made it absolutely clear that the Commission considers the rising levels of house prices in Ireland a significant threat to the stability of our economy."

He added that this week sees the start of the seventh post-bailout surveillance mission to Ireland.

"It is very likely that housing will be the main issue of focus. Housing supply will be a persistent problem for many governments to come and we need to use all the expertise we can get to resolve it.

"Mr Moscovici has rightly said that the only durable way to address the lack of affordable housing is to build an adequate supply."

Mr Hayes said the Government's 2020 housing strategy is tackling this issue but it will obviously take time for new builds to be completed and to address persistent housing supply bottlenecks.
The UK is set to sell its remaining stake in Lloyds Banking Group today, making the lender the first to re-emerge from British state ownership in a symbolic step for the country's recovering banking sector.

The sale will draw a line under one of the largest bailouts from the 2007-2009 global financial crisis.

This involved Lloyds, Britain's biggest retail lender, being rescued after an ill-fated government-brokered takeover of rival HBOS.

The takeover of HBOS in 2008 caused Lloyds to suffer more than 25bn in losses and the bank's subsequent rescue cost the British government more than 20bn and left it with a 43pc state shareholding.

This holding has gradually been sold back into the market over and now represents less than 1pc of Lloyds shares.

About half of the 137bn of direct cash injected into Britain's five bailed-out banks has so far been recovered.

Britain will make at least a 500m pound profit from its bailout of Lloyds, the bank's chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said last week.

Lloyds itself is set to announce the sale by UK Financial Investments (UKFI), which manages the government's holdings in banks it has rescued, on Wednesday, sources told Reuters.

UKFI and Lloyds declined to comment.

Lloyds has overhauled the way it is run since its bailout and a series of high-profile scandals, scaling back its global footprint and reducing its reliance on short-term funding.

The sale ends a lengthy, and at times politicised, government disposal of its stake that underscores Britain's banking industry's slow recovery from the crash. (Reuters)
Klly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest discuss the meaning behind Aer Lingus on 'Live with Kelly and Ryan'.

Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest on 'Live with Kelly and Ryan'.

American TV hosts Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa think that the 'Lingus' in Aer Lingus is a place.

The talkshow hosts were discussing the changes that will be made to LAX airport in Los Angeles during a segment on Live with Kelly and Ryan on Tuesday morning.

They mentioned that a number of airlines will have to swap terminals at the airport and among those affected is Aer Lingus.

That then prompted a discussion on air carrier names and meanings.

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"If you're going to Canada, Air Canada. If you're going to Lingus, Aer Lingus. I don't know where that is... I think it's in Ireland somewhere," said Seacrest.

"Is that true?" asked Ripa.

"I've always been curious about Aer Lingus but too embarrassed to ask. I'm like 'What is Aer Lingus?' and I want to go on it," she added.

But as we're sure you know, the name Aer Lingus derives from the Irish term 'aerloingeas' which means 'air fleet'.

You remembered that from school, didn't you?

Nope?
The stunning trailer for The Breadwinner, executive produced by Angelina Jolie, has landed.

The animated film comes from Oscar-nominated Kilkenny company Cartoon Saloon, who previously brought us The Secret of Kells and song of the Sea.

Based on the popular children's novel by Deborah Ellis, it tells the story of Parvana, a girl growing up in Afghanistan in 2001.

Jolie said she was delighted to be working with such a talented and creative production team.

"I know they will do justice to the richness, creativity and strength of Afghan culture and to little girls like Parvana," she said.

"Millions of young girls like Parvana are growing up today under oppression or conflict and helping their families to survive in those conditions. This story is a reminder of the immense value of their contribution."

'The Breadwinner' is directed by Nora Twomey.

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Naftogaz Ukrainy has proposed the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to entrust the company with the functions of a gas supplier to the population within the framework of the special obligations mechanism, Naftogaz chief commercial director Yuriy Vitrenko has said.

"In fact, the only role of gas suppliers [private companies belonging to the owners of regional gas companies] is to raise money from the population for gas produced and imported by Naftogaz... Naftogaz does not need such monopoly intermediaries, especially considering a very low level of payments by these companies to Naftogaz and a lack of opportunity to verify whether our gas was actually delivered to the public," he wrote on his Facebook page.

Vitrenko added the company would initiate changes in the Cabinet resolution on the special obligations mechanism with a view to exclude "gas suppliers" from the chain of gas supply to the public in the framework of special obligations.

"We offered the government to change its resolution, which obliges Naftogaz to sell gas to these monopoly intermediaries. If people do not choose another real supplier, the volume of their consumption could be automatically attributed to Naftogaz as a real owner of this gas and a real supplier," he noted.
A non-binary couple appeared on Good Morning Britain on ITV on Wednesday to talk about their gender and it sparked a heated debate with host Piers Morgan.

Morgan branded the gender of Fox Fisher and Owl Stefania as "a massive fad" and "gobbledigook" and children identifying as non-binary as "a contagion".

The host also said that he completely supports transgender rights for people who feel they were born in the wrong body. However, he said his confusion comes with the "gender neutrality aspect".

On Tuesday Morgan had said he "might wear a skirt to work tomorrow as part of my gender-neutral, non-binary identity" and asked if he could identify as black.

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Picking up where he left off today he asked Fox and Owl if he could identify as a black woman..

"If I turned round right now and said I am a black woman... I made a joke yesterday but I'm being partly serious," he said, "If I decided to identify myself as a different skin colour, would you respect that?"

Owl replied, It doesnt really change anything about my life how another person identifies, you can identify in any way you want and thats up to you.

Owl continued: The problem is this is a hypothetical intellectual discussion for you, but this is about our actual identity.

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Fox added, This is our lives, this is every day, not just a four minute segment."

Owl added, If you truly want to identify in that way, you can, but I know that you dont. I respect anyones right to identify as they want.

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Morgan had previously caused controversy over his views when he condemned Emma Watson's win at the first gender-neutral MTV Movie and TV awards earlier this month.

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Morgan then asked if he could identify as an elephant.

The couple told Piers that he was "fear-mongering" and, when speaking about their book, 'Are you a Boy or Are You a Girl' Fox said, "Read the book, it's for three and up, so it should be good for you, Piers."

Many people took to Twitter to voice their outrage over his comments while some tweeted their support to him.

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The British Government had fears that a large rock off the Donegal coast could be used as a spy base 60 years ago, according to declassified documents released this week.

Concerns that the landmass known as Rockall could be used to spy on the Scottish military testing site, Hebrides Rocket Range, spurred the British to claim the territory.

A small team of military personnel were taken to Rockall in September 1955, where they raised a Union Jack and installed a plaque on the rock, the BBC reported.

The recently declassified NATO documents reveal that: "This decision of the UK government was connected with the fact that the UK government had recently decided to set up a guided missile range in South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides.

"The island of Rockall was uninhabited but this government wished to guard against the possibility of hostile agents installing themselves on the island in order to observe the effects of the tests on the South Uist range."

Rockall is an eroded volcano that stands 30m wide and 21m high above sea level. It is 230 nautical miles north of Donegal and has long been the subject of ownership disputes.

Ownership of Rockalls nearby fisheries and the oil-rich sea-bed has been contested by Ireland, the UK, Iceland and Denmark. The dispute was finally settled in 2014, granting sovereignty to Scotland.

Last month the decades-old controversy was ignited once more, as fears came to light that Brexit could restrict Irish use of the sea area.

Eamon O'Cuiv, Fianna Fail's island affairs spokesman from Galway in Ireland's west, said: "In the event of a hard Brexit, there is a strong desire by many in the UK fishing industry to 'pull up the drawbridge' and push for a ban on non-UK fishing fleets fishing in UK waters so that the currently shared fishing zone will be the UK's and the UK's alone."

Sean O'Donoghue, CEO of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation on the west coast of Co Donegal agreed that Brexit could create access issues for Irish fishermen.

He said: "We can fish at the minute in Rockall as we have fishing rights there but when the UK leaves they will no longer be part of the Common Fisheries Policy and there will have to be some detailed discussions around the fisheries which are very difficult to resolve.

Ireland has never tried to claim Rockall, but has long disregarded the UKs ownership of it. This was formalised in 2014 when the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) limits were drawn up, following an investigation by the United Nations.
A wreath from the band U2 was laid in Talbot Street Dublin to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan is putting pressure on the British government to open its files on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings to an independent, international figure.

Speaking at a ceremony to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the atrocity, Mr Flanagan said the Government was committed to securing the truth for survivors and the victims' families.

Mr Flanagan referred to unanimous cross-party support for a motion on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, as well as the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973 and other atrocities.

"This (motion) reiterates the call on the British government to allow access by an independent international judicial figure to all original documents in their possession relating to these appalling events.

"Indeed both the Taoiseach and myself have pursued this request vigorously over the past 12 months," he said.

Loyalists planted bombs which killed 27 people in Dublin and seven others in Monaghan town on May 17, 1974. A commemoration was today held on Talbot Street, Dublin, at the memorial for those who died there.

Mr Flanangan said he believed it was incumbant on all parties to make sure the truth is uncovered and that he was raising the issue with British Prime Minister Theresea May and he was anxious for an update.

"The Taoiseach and I raised this issue with Prime Minister May in January. I've repeatedly raised the matter with my colleague, Secretary of State Brokenshire.

"I would hope that over the next few months that we could see a situation where we can move forward," he said.

He also said there should be no amnesties or exemptions for British soldiers who are prosecuted for killings during the Troubles.
Julie Dowson, of The Green, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England pictured leaving the Four Courts after a Circuit Civil Court action Pic: Collins Courts

A woman who walked into the ceiling of her hotel room and knocked herself out, has lost a 60,000 damages claim against the Ashling Hotel in Dublins Parkgate Street.

Julie Dowson, of The Green, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England, told the Circuit Civil Court today that when she hit the low slanting ceiling in her room she was knocked unconscious.

Dowson, a hairdresser, said she had visited Dublin in October 2013 to celebrate her daughters birthday and had booked into a dormer type room on the top floor of the Ashling.

On October 25, the morning after the family had booked into the hotel, she was preparing to go down for breakfast with her husband and walked towards a bedside locker to lift her handbag.

She told barrister Adrianne Fields, counsel for the hotel, that she had just left the bathroom and was walking towards her handbag when the accident happened.

I just banged my head and I was knocked out, Dowson, a part-time hairdresser, told the court.

She said she had fallen to the floor and after recovering consciousness her husband had been trying to talk to her.

I was feeling numb and thought I was paralysed. I remember saying I cant feel my body. My whole body was numb and I couldnt move my head at all, she said.

She told the court she had been taken by ambulance to the Mater Hospital but had been released that afternoon.

She had decided to make the best of the family break and had later gone out for walks around Dublin.

Dowson told Ms Fields, who appeared with Newman Solicitors for Foxfields Inns, trading as Best Western Ashling Hotel, that when she returned home she had attended her own doctor and a specialist.

She had claimed over 5,000 for loss of earnings as a result of her injuries.

She said she had not seen the dormer part of the alcove ceiling which she had walked into as the ceiling was all the same colour. The alcove ceiling was not distinguishable from the rest of the ceiling.

Dowson said that prior to the accident she had suffered from pains in her neck, right arm and in her shoulders but following the accident the pain had become much worse, sometimes excruciating.

Ms Fields said Ms Dowson had not provided the court with any medical reports from her doctors in England that would show evidence of her injuries being directly related to having walked into the ceiling.

Judge Linnane, dismissing Dowsons claim, said the low clearance of the sloping ceiling in the dormer bedroom was plain to see from photographs provided to the court and she believed Ms Dowson was aware of it.

They had arrived in the hotel room the previous evening and I believe she was aware of the sloping ceiling and had walked into it because she had not been watching where she was going, Judge Linnane said.

The judge said the hotel manager had told the court that planning permission for a 1996 refurbishment had insisted on dormer rooms being constructed on the top floor.

The hotel had a 90 per cent occupancy and in all of that time he had never received a complaint of anyone being injured because of the low ceilings in the 25 dormer bedrooms.

It seems to me that Ms Dowson wasnt looking where she was going and possibly was rushing to retrieve her bag as her husband was waiting for her. That was the cause of the accident and I must dismiss the case, Judge Linnane said.

Costs were awarded against Dowson.
THERE was blood everywhere, on the floor and on the walls, when a man at a party in a residents club was glassed in the face by an unknown psychopath, a judge has been told.

Anthony Cervi, who had to have 10 stitches in his face, was giving evidence in support of a claim in the Circuit Civil Court by his brother, Gerard Cervi, whose left hand had been gashed in the attack.

Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke heard the glassing of both brothers happened at a 30th birthday party attended by about 100 people in Grange Woodbine Residents Association Club in December 2009.

Edward Higgins, who had thrown the 30th birthday party for a friend, told barrister John Nolan, counsel for the club, that there were tables and chairs being thrown and people hitting each other left, right and centre.

Higgins told Mr Nolan, who appeared with Newman Solicitors, that he had been meeting and greeting party-goers and there had been an exchange of verbals for a number of minutes between two men who had bumped into each other on the floor.

Then a guy came over and grabbed Anthony Cervi, picked him up and crashed him off the wall. He tried to break his back off it, Higgins said.

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He said the unknown assailant had the neck of a broken bottle in his hand and had pushed it several times into Anthony Cervis face. Part of Anthonys face skin had been hanging off.

Gerard Cervi, a 30-year-old steel fixer, of Russell Avenue, East Wall, Dublin 3, who sued the Grange Woodbine Club, said the man with the glass had also attempted to hit him in the head. He put up his left hand to save himself and had been struck between his index finger and thumb.

Anthony Cervi said: There was blood everywhere. I was bleeding and I remember being covered in blood. There was blood on the walls and on the floor. I was taken to hospital by ambulance and had to have 10 stitches in my face.

All of the witnesses said there were only one security man, a club member, on duty. They said an adequate security presence could have sorted out the initial verbals and avoided the assault. Anthony Cervi told Mr Nolan the incident happened out of the blue and no-one could have foreseen it happening.

Judge Groarke, dismissing Gerard Cervis 60,000 damages claim against the club, said it did not appear to him that it would be reasonable to determine that the assault on him was either foreseeable or expected.

The judge said the club had such a good and peaceful reputation that it may have been lulled into a false sense of security. It would not, however, be reasonable to expect it to have anticipated that a person, who had been described as psychopathic, would have emerged to repeatedly assault Mr Cervi and his brother.

He made no order as to costs against Gerard Cervi.
Gardai at the scene of the murder of Benny Whitehouse (inset).

A FATHER carried his daughter's school bag and they walked into her classroom together minutes before he was shot dead, an inquest heard.

Benny Whitehouse (35) Ring Commons, Balbriggan, Co Dublin walked his two daughters into their respective schools with his partner Natasha White on the morning of September 25, 2014.

"Benny went into class with our daughter. He carried her school bag for her. We didnt stop and talk to anyone. We were flirting and playing. Benny was in good form," Ms White said.

Dublin Coroners Court heard that the couple sat into their car and were putting on their seat belts when a gunman approached and opened fire.

"I heard a loud bang and the drivers window smashed. I saw Benny turn to the window and put his hands up to protect himself. Then I head three or four loud bangs. I jumped out of the car," Ms White said.

She saw the gunman over the top of the car and said he was tall with a black hat "like something a hunter would wear".

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"It all happened so fast. I realised there was blood on my boots and there was blood coming from my leg. I started screaming for help," Ms White said.

Witness Michael Brophy watched the shooting unfold as he drove down Clonard Street, Balbriggan, around 9.20am.

"I saw a man hunkered down, carrying a hand gun in his right hand. I couldnt see his face. There were two people sitting in a VW Polo car facing Deli Burger, putting their belts on. As he reached the VW the man raised the gun," Mr Brophy said.

"He shot through the window of the car about four or five times. I saw the driver flinch and turn away from the person with the gun," he said.

Witnesses heard screeching tyres as a Mayo registered Ford Focus sped off and was later found burned out.

Garda Gerard Moroney of Balbriggan Garda Station received an emergency call at 9.20am and attended the scene along with members of Balbriggan Fire Bridage. Attempts to resuscitate Mr Whitehouse failed and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.41am.

The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, according to a post mortem conducted by Dr Michael Curtis. A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosectutions (DPP) who directed no prosecution due to lack of evidence. Det Sgt Dave Kemp said the case remains open but Gardai "have exhausted all current lines of inquiry".

The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing by person or person's unknown.
A MOTORIST who claimed a clone of her car was responsible for more than 300 unpaid journeys on the M50 has been fined 7,000.

Lyndsey Morgan from Brookhaven Park, Dublin 15, had pleaded not guilty to five sample counts of failing to pay the 3.10 motorway charge on dates in September last year.

However, a witness from eFlow, the company that operates the system, said Morgans 01-reg Peugeot made 339 passages on the barrier-free motorway but only 29 toll payments were made.

Judge John Brennan at Dublin District Court did not accept her claims that a replica of her car was responsible and he said he was satisfied that the mother-of-one had attempted to mislead the court. However, he spared her a jail sentence and maximum fines that could have run to 25,000.

The court heard about 800 letters were sent to her in relation to the unpaid tolls but she claimed she did not get them.

The prosecution was brought by the National Roads Authority (NRA).

Downloaded images of the car passing the toll were brought to court and she was prosecuted because she was the registered owner, the judge was told. She claimed she asked an NRA representative if it was possible that someone had "cloned" her car registration number and put it on the exact same type of car.

She was shown the images but denied it was her driving the car as one picture was taken at 3am when she said she is normally in bed.

In cross-examination she agreed with Thomas Rice BL (instructed by Pierse Fitzgibbon Solicitors) that she had a red Peugeot. When questioned by the judge she replied: I asked can a car be cloned, every day it happens.

Counsel asked her who was driving and she answered nobody is driving my car.

The barrister suggested to her that if her car had been cloned she would be going to the gardai. I will go to the police now, someone is driving a car that is the exact same as mine, she replied.

In relation to the approximately 800 letters eFlow sent her about the unpaid tolls she claimed she did not receive any of them. The judge heard she was eventually served with the court summons by a private investigator after she allegedly refused to accept a registered letter.

She also said that she found the case stressful and she had offered to settle with the NRA.

Convicting her, Judge Brennan said he should be giving her a more severe fine but he had to take into consideration the circumstances of the woman who is in receipt of the one parent family social welfare payment. In addition to fines totalling 7,000, he also ordered her to pay 750 in prosecution costs.

The judge also stipulated that she would have 12 months to pay.

The standard M50 toll for an unregistered car is 3.10 and must be paid before 8pm the following day or else there is a 3.00 penalty for having missed the deadline. Motorists have 14 days from the date of issue to pay for the journey and the initial penalty; otherwise a further penalty of 41 is applied. After a further 56 days there is an additional penalty charge of 103 and if it remains unpaid legal proceedings follow with the possibility of a court fine of up to 5,000 as well as a jail term of six-months, or both, per offence.

The registered owner of a vehicle is responsible even if they were not driving the vehicle.
Vodafone-Ukraine blocks VK, to shut down user access to other sanctioned websites later on Wednesday

Mobile network operators Kyivstar, Lifecell and Vodafone-Ukraine have begun technical procedures blocking user access to the Russian websites which fall under the latest sanctions.

The consolidated position of Ukraine's biggest operators has been expressed in a statement from Vodafone-Ukraine.

"In compliance with the Ukrainian president's decree, the telecom operators will from now on start technical procedures to restrict the provision of services on said websites in accordance with technical capabilities," the company said in a statement.

The VK site has already been blocked on Vodafone-Ukraine's network, the spokesperson said.

"Throughout this day [Wednesday] we are planning to complete the blocking of all Russian websites from the sanctions list," the spokesperson said.

The country's biggest fixed-line operator, Ukrtelecom, on Tuesday said it had already started implementing the sanctions decree: "Work will be carried out in stages and, according to specialists' preliminary estimate, will take several days up to a week." The company explained this time span as governed by the complexity of the process and the need to engage significant resources.

Cable TV operator and Internet provider Lanet is planning to complete the blocking process by the end of May.

According to the telecom operator Vega, it could block the sanctioned Russian websites within a few days. "With the time constraints and limited resources, the best option is to block user requests at the level of URL, IP, DNS and so on. According to preliminary estimates, this might take a few days," Vega said.

Cable TV operator and Internet provider Volia says complying with the presidential decree will be a labor-intensive and resource-consuming process. "This sanctions decision has unquestionable impact on most of our company's business processes as well as our relations with users, i.e. directly affects the company's relations with individual and business customers," the company said.

The provider will need time to coordinate further steps to comply with the decree.

"Specialists at the company's technical and legal departments are already working to ensure compliance with the decree. We are assessing in detail the risks and consequences, so it is too soon to talk about when the decree will be finally implemented," the statement says.

It was reported that President Petro Poroshenko enacted the National Security and Defense Council decision on sanctions against social-media sites VK and Odnoklassniki, as well as the Mail.ru and Yandex companies and their services. Access to all of Yandex and Mail.ru services has been banned for three years.
A teenager was stabbed in a Dublin pizza restaurant on Monday night.

The young man stabbed in a branch of Dominos Pizza in Ongar, near Blanchardstown, at around 8pm.

He was taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital with injuries described as non life-threatening.

Gardai in Blanchardstown are investigating the incident and no arrests have been made. Anyone with any information can contact them on 01-666-7000.
Cartel crimelord Daniel Kinahan rang a relative of chopped-up canal murder victim Keith Ennis to insist that his organisation had not sanctioned the 29-year-olds slaying.

It is understood the phone call was made from Spain by Kinahan because of media and garda speculation linking his mob to the gruesome murder in Holland.

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Sources say Kinahan expressed his sympathy and made reassurances that drug dealer Ennis was not killed on the cartels orders.

The call is believed to have been made within days of Ennis body being identified in Amsterdam in April, 2009.

At the time of his murder, Ennis was on the run from the Irish authorities - he was facing serious drugs and firearms charges but the murdered Walkinstown mans close associates always maintained that he was planning to return home to fight the allegations.

It is understood that the haul that he was caught with was ultimately owned by the Kinahan cartel.

At the time that Ennis body was found there was massive speculation that he had been killed by organised criminal gangs from Dublin.

This theory was bandied about because Ennis had been accused of tipping off gardai about a major drugs factory in Walkinstown in October 2007 after he was caught with cocaine, a Glock firearm and 16,000 in cash.

Ennis, at that time living in Oak Way, Clondalkin, was targeted on the street by members of the Pearse Street drugs unit because of his known association with members of the Kinahan cartel.

On searching him, they found 23,000 which they confiscated. A follow-up search of his house led to the discovery of a Glock pistol and 2,000 worth of cocaine.

Two days after his arrest gardai raided a warehouse on Ballymount Industrial Estate and seized five pistols and 9kg of cocaine.

Ennis fled Ireland shortly after being charged but quickly became fearful of being murdered.

Meanwhile Keith Ennis family has reacted with disappointment and sadness at this weeks court ruling in Holland.

His brother Aaron posted on Facebook that Monday, the day of the ruling, didnt go as planned.

Got guilty verdicts for some stuff and other stuff has been put off till further investigation has been done, he said.

Once we have full details Ill let anyone interested know everything I know.

Feel positive after today but with courts you just never can know for sure what theyll do.

He thanked all his friends and followers for their messages of support.

Thanks for all messages and comments, means a lot to family, he wrote.

In a separate message Aaron wrote that he had lost a Sim card containing texts and messages to and from Keith.

Nine years Ive had the phone that I used to text Keith. For the first year I would read back over texts he had sent and then I just put it away.

Bought a charger to charge it up and when it turned on the Sim card was gone. All texts are gone.

Ive been keeping that phone safe like it was one of my kids, Aaron wrote.

Feeling c**p. Searched house top to bottom looking for the Sim. Just has me feeling miserable, he added.

Meanwhile, an associate of one of the men accused of Ennis murder, Barry McArdle, has said he is innocent.

McArdle, from Davitt House in Drimnagh, Dublin was sentenced along with Philip County and Kenneth Brunell, to two years in prison for chopping up and disposing of Ennis body, which is a felony under Dutch law.

However, Brunell has served his time while awaiting trial and McArdle was freed while waiting for an appeal.

The court has made its decision, he is innocent, the associate of McArdle told the Herald.

He declined to comment further.

Dublin men County (28) from Lucan, Brunell (29) from Palmerstown and McArdle (30) were found not guilty of the murder of Ennis at the court hearing earlier this week.

They were, however, convicted of dismembering Ennis with a chainsaw and dumping his body parts in a lake in Amsterdam.

Despite being given prison sentences none of them will serve time in prison, with McArdle and Brunell allowed to return to Ireland.

County is reported to be in Brazil.
Dr.Sheila Willis Director General of Forensic Science Ireland at their offices in the Phoenix Park. Photo: Kyran O'Brien

One out of every five crime scene samples has been linked to an individual since the DNA database came into operation a year and a half ago.

Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) said it achieved 428 hits in 2016, which assisted in the investigation of 625 cases.

Expand Close Swab team: A technician at Forensic Science Ireland examines a crime scene sample; and inset, Dr Geraldine O'Donnell, director of DNA at FSI. Photo: Kyran O'Brien / Facebook

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Whatsapp Swab team: A technician at Forensic Science Ireland examines a crime scene sample; and inset, Dr Geraldine O'Donnell, director of DNA at FSI. Photo: Kyran O'Brien

These matches led to 385 people being linked to specific offences or multiple crimes.

The cases included two murders, five sexual assaults, 295 burglaries, 42 robberies and thefts and 57 cases of criminal damage, according to the FSI annual report for 2016, which was published today.

The report said DNA profiling played an extensive role in assisting investigations into gangland crime in the second half of last year.

FSI diverted significant resources into assisting the investigation of murders in the Kinahan-Hutch feud in the aftermath of the Regency Hotel attack in February last year.

Expand Close Dr.Geraldine ODonnell Director of DNA at Forensic Science Ireland at their offices in the Phoenix Park. Photo: Kyran O'Brien / Facebook

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Whatsapp Dr.Geraldine ODonnell Director of DNA at Forensic Science Ireland at their offices in the Phoenix Park. Photo: Kyran O'Brien

This work has involved obtaining DNA profiles from weapons, clothing and items relating to gangland activities, analysing large seizures of drugs, and analysing clothing and items for firearm residue.

FSI director Sheila Willis said: The database really is providing itself to be a very valuable crime intelligence tool.

Dr Willis warned forensic scientists were seeing that many new synthetic drugs are becoming a feature of the Irish drugs scene. In total some 27 new synthetic recreational drugs were discovered last year.

In some cases the drugs were 100 times more toxic than other similar drugs.

Despite the rise in synthetic drugs, traditional street drugs remained the most common encountered by FSI. These include cannabis, cocaine, heroin, benzodiazepines and ecstasy.

The report said 9,048 DNA profiles were uploaded onto the database by the end of 2016.

Profiles are currently being uploaded at a rate of almost 1,000 a month;

The report detailed several cases where DNA profiling helped gardai investigate serious crime.

These included the case of a 15-year-old girl who gardai fear was sexually assaulted after going missing while out socialising with friends.

A semen sample taken from the girls body was entered onto the database when it commenced operation in November 2015.

Three months later a suspect was identified after a match was found with DNA taken from a man who had been detained for traffic offences.

DNA testing was used to identify Kenneth OBrien, the man whose torso was found in a suitcase at the Grand Canal near Celbridge, Co Kildare in January last year.

It was also used to identify other body parts found in bags.

A suspect has been charged with his murder and is due to go on trial later this year.

The report outlined the difficulties encountered by scientists in identifying certain types of synthetic drugs.

It detailed the case of a house party in Cork after which a young man, student Alex Ryan (18), died.

Gardai arrived at the house to find a number of young people heavily intoxicated, partially clothed and dancing on broken glass.

Initial media reports indicated that the party goers had consumed a designer drug called 2CB. But FSI identified the drug as N-Bomb, a highly toxic hallucinogenic drug.

This drug had rarely been seen in Ireland and was most commonly presented as blotter paper soaked in the drug. It was consumed as a white powder on this occasion.

As the partygoers thought they were taking a different drug, the amount of white powder consumed turned out to be highly toxic.

They ended up taking a hundred times the normal dose.

The report said this case highlighted analytical challenges encountered by FSI when dealing with newly synthesised drugs where there is no reference material available to assist in identification.

The report also outlined how FSI did a major analysis of the purity of drugs seized in Ireland.

It found large cocaine seizures typically had a purity of 40pc, which is consistent with other European countries.

Among the compounds found present in cocaine were levamisole, a drug used by vets to treat parasitic worms, benzocaine and lignocaine, local anaesthetics used by dentists, and phenacetin, which is a painkiller banned in a number of countries.

Bulk heroin was approximately 33pc pure. They found heroin also contained different combinations of phenacetin, paracetamol and caffeine, amongst other substances.
Gardai and members of the Army bomb squad were called to an area in North Dublin on Tuesday night.

Ferrycarrig Road in Coolock was sealed off after reports were received about a suspicious device.

A garda spokesman confirmed to Independent.ie this morning that the incident has been declared a hoax.
A drawing of Fr John Sullivan, who was held in great affection by ordinary Dubliners

Jesuit priest Fr John Sullivan, who died in 1933, was declared blessed in a beatification ceremony at St Francis Xavier Church on Dublins Gardiner Street last Saturday.

I was deeply disappointed that I couldnt attend, as I have a very special interest in Fr John due to an extraordinary experience I had over 40 years ago.

In 1976 I was a detective attached to the CDU in Dublin Castle. In October of that year, 24-year-old Gda Michael Clerkin was murdered by the IRA in an ambush near Portarlington, Co Laois. I was a member of the investigation team sent to pursue those IRA killers.

On a Sunday in early November, we arrested a suspect and took him in for questioning at the old garda station in Kildare.

At 7.30pm I decided to get some food in Newbridge and review the days developments.

I told the young garda who was acting station orderly that Id be back in half-an-hour.

As I returned at about 7.50pm I saw through the half-glass door to the public office an elderly man standing at the counter.

He was no more than six feet away from me. He was tall, slightly stooped and appeared to be in his early 60s. His face was solemn, pale and worn and he had a sad but gentle appearance.

He had a full head of greying black wavy hair and wore a beige trenchcoat buttoned up to the neck.

He stood directly opposite the station orderly, who was seated behind the table at the other end of the room.

For some reason that I will never know, I retreated back out the front door and walked down the side of the station.

Through the side windows of the public office I saw this man still standing in the same spot.

I walked on down to the back yard and lit a cigar before returning about five minutes later.

As I walked up the side entrance, I could see the elderly man still in the same spot at the counter and the young garda at the table.

Without any further hesitation I walked around the station and pushed back the glass door into the public office. There was no sign of the man in the trenchcoat.

I asked the station orderly where the man had gone, and he replied that nobody had come in for the past 25 minutes.

I realised in that instant that the visitor was not of this world. As if I was being guided by an unseen hand, I took down a Sacred Heart badge that was wedged behind a wall socket and on the reverse there was a photo of the man I had seen standing at the counter.

The text under the photo read Fr John Sullivan, died Sunday, February 19, 1933.

The photo was identical to the man I had been surveying for the past 10 minutes. I have no doubt that the man in the trenchcoat was indeed Fr John Sullivan.

I froze, but in truth I experienced not fear but an emotional jolt. As an experienced police officer I was not then nor am I now possessed of a fanciful notion. However, what happened to me that night defied all logic.

While I was still standing there clutching the badge, a local detective who was working on the investigation walked into the public office and I told him what had happened.

He looked at me in disbelief and told me he had been present at the ceremony of exhumation in Clongowes Wood of the mortal remains of the same Fr John Sullivan on February 27, 1960. This was the first phase in the beatification of this holy man.

Still reeling from the shock, I took myself off duty as I was in no mood to continue any further interviews.

That remarkable night was the final link in a chain of events that began one day in June 1968.

I was walking that morning through St Stephens Green when I felt a tug on my jacket.

It was a very old man with a long white beard wearing a long, black, heavy coat.

In a firm but gentle voice he asked me to sit down and told me his name was Mr French and that he had a life-long devotion to Fr John Sullivan.

He showed me a miraculous medal that had been given to him by Fr John and told me details of his saintly life.

He pleaded with me to pray to him and warned me never to forget what he had told me that morning.

I never thought about that until my experience in Kildare eight years later.

During the course of the Clerkin investigation another remarkable coincidence occurred.

At one stage, accompanied by a colleague, I had called to interview Mr Pocock, the director of a textile factory in Tullamore, in connection with the movements of one of his employees, a suspect in the Clerkin murder.

As we were about to take our leave of him, I noticed a photo of Fr John Sullivan over the door with a lamp lit beneath it.

When I asked Mr Pocock about it, his face brightened. He told me that Fr John had been a living saint and he, Mr Pocock, had devoted much of his life to his canonisation.

He then told me an incredible story.

Years before, he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and doctors had held out no hope. He prepared himself for the inevitable and, as he lay on his deathbed, he heard a voice call his name.

He looked up and saw a man standing at the foot of his bed, who said: Im Fr John Sullivan, dont worry.

He awoke the next morning, rang the bell for breakfast and got out of bed. Nurses, doctors and consultants crowded around in amazement.

X-rays revealed no cancer and, within three days, he was back at home with his family.

I then told Mr Pocock of my incredible encounter in Kildare.

Out of curiosity, I made enquiries about the Sacred Heart badge in the station, and an old garda revealed to me where the badge had come from.

He said that many years ago an old man with a long white beard and a black coat called to the station one cold night looking for tea and lodgings.

The garda told me he gave him a bed for the night and a cup of tea. As he was leaving in the morning, the old man handed him the badge.

I have no doubt whatsoever that it was Mr French, who I had met all those years ago on Stephens Green.

That night in November 1976 defies all logic and remains a mystery.

However, I do now believe one great truth  that there is life after death.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland downplays the lives of people who died in road accidents by reducing them to "an insignificant statistic", the Road Safety Authority has claimed.

The RSA's CEO Moyagh Murdock backed the Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty-Drink Driving) Bill 2017, which calls for anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol level of 51-80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to automatically lose their licence for three months.

She said: "The VFI have attempted to downplay the value of the lives of these people, as well as the lives of their families, by reducing them to an insignificant statistic."

Ms Murdock was speaking as she appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport this morning and she stressed why she thinks the proposed legislation could save lives.

She said: "The RSAs Pre-Crash Report on Alcohol, which the Vintners Federation have presented in their statement, shows that 8 drivers and motorcyclists involved in fatal collisions, for whom a blood alcohol reading was available had a BAC between 51mg and 80mg.

"A further 17 drivers and motorcyclists had a BAC below 50mg/100ml.

"There was therefore a total of 25 drivers and motorcyclists with a confirmed BAC between 21mg and 80mg who were responsible for killing themselves and/or others because they consumed alcohol."

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Ms Moyagh hit out at the VFI - who oppose the Bill - as she claimed the group are "disingenuous" and "show a lack of understanding" when it comes to drink-driving.

She said: "Alcohol, even in small quantities, immediately affects the brain.

"Effects on the human body and behaviour range from anaesthesia after large amounts of alcohol to impairment of behavioural and cognitive capabilities after small doses.

"Alcohol may also decrease motivation to comply with safety standards, which may result in an active search for dangerous situations (such as competitive behaviour, or excessive speed).

"In general, all functions which are important in the safe operation of a motor vehicle can be affected by the levels of alcohol well below current legal limits operating in EU countries."
Coal Energy S.A. (Luxembourg) with assets in Ukraine in April 2017 reduced coal production by 66.4% (by 15,300 tonnes) compared to the same period in 2016, to 7,700 tonnes, the company said on the website of the Warsaw Stock Exchange .

At the same time, in comparison with the previous month production increased by 3.8 times (by 5,700 tonnes), the report says.

As reported, Coal Energy includes ten coal mines, rock dumps processing facilities and objects for enrichment. The company sold coal to thermal power companies, coke chemical, cement plants and municipalities. It also exports goods to Bulgaria, Slovakia, Moldova and Turkey. The company's business was significantly affected by the hostilities in Donbas.
Briana O'Doherty, from Tallaght, at Connolly station, Dublin, after she took a train with other pro-choice campaigners from Dublin to Belfast. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Three Irish women a day access online abortion pills, according to a pro-choice group who praised the newly-released study pronouncing such pills safe and highly effective.

ROSA (for Reproductive rights, against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity), a group initiated by the Socialist Party, welcomed the British Medical Journals report, which found that abortion pills were safe to use and were generally as successful as terminations carried out through the health service.

Speaking to Independent.ie, ROSA spokesperson Rita Harrold said that awareness of online abortion pills was growing in Ireland and praised the study for confirming what we already know based on anecdotal information.

The BMJ study surveyed Irish women who had obtained abortion pills through the online telemedicine clinic, Women on the Web. The Netherlands-based service provides an online consultation with a licensed doctor for people seeking abortion pills. They specifically consult with people who are less than 10 weeks pregnant and live in countries where abortion is restricted.

Researchers analysed questionnaire responses from 1,000 women living in the Republic and Northern Ireland who had purchased abortion pills from Women on the Web. It found that the pills supplied by the organisation had high effectiveness rates and few reported adverse outcomes.

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The report added: Reported rates of successful medical abortion are comparable with protocols in clinics, and women report successfully self screening for potentially serious complications and seeking medical assistance when necessary.

Ms Harold said the pills were essential in providing women with safe access to abortion and were often the only affordable option for Irish citizens.

ROSA launched a Bus 4 Repeal campaign in the lead up to International Women's Day this year, which saw members travel the country distributing abortion pills from a bus. Over the course of the three day campaign, pills were given to 20 women who requested them.

Ms Harold said the campaign had an impact in terms of people knowing about the pills, which are a relatively new phenomenon.

The BMJ study reported that 2,150 women contacted Women on the Web between 2010 and 2013, though 514 cancelled their request and did not receive medication. Current figures state that 10 Irish women per day present in UK abortion clinics.

Irish women who order pills from Women on the Web have them shipped to an address outside of Ireland, as taking abortion pills is illegal and incoming prescription medications are seized by customs. According to Women on the Web, most women use an address in Northern Ireland and travel to physically collect the pills.

Spokesperson for the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC), Linda Kavanagh said that while the reports findings are positive, Irish people are not in an ideal situation.

She said: Its not an ideal situation, relying on other people to break the law and having to break the law yourself and risking 14 years (in prison). Its not what we, as a country should be aiming for. Were just fortunate that we live in a time where the methods available to women illegally are safe.

Women have always tried to end pregnancies and in the past that has been through unsafe means and in other parts of the world it is through unsafe means. 43,000 women a year die due to unsafe abortions. Thats an epidemic, you know. If that was another type of medical issue I think it would be made a bigger deal of. So were lucky that we live in a time where what is available to us is safe.

Ms Kavanagh said that ordering the pills is not dissimilar to attending an abortion clinic.

She said: They are the same medication that youll get when you go to the UK. Even when you go the UK you take the medication in front of the doctor and then you go home. So its not an incredibly medical procedure. You go through the abortion at home.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny will end his 15-year tenure as Fine Gael leader at midnight tonight and world leaders have paid tribute to his political career.

Mr Kenny was first elected as a TD in 1975 and became known as the 'Father of the Dail' due to being the longest serving Taoiseach in Fine Gael history.

Leading tributes to the Mayo man were British Prime Minister Theresa May and former Prime Minister David Cameron.

Theresa May described the outgoing Taoiseach as a "strong and consistent friend to the UK."

"I wish him all the very best for the future," she wrote.

David Cameron took to Twitter to pay tribute, writing: "Enda Kenny TD was a strong leader for Ireland, a great partner for the UK, and remains a good friend.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon also had kind words to say about Mr Kenny.

"Sending best wishes. I enjoyed working with him in the British/Irish Council and he has always been a good friend to Scotland."

Fellow Fine Gael TDs Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney - the two frontrunners to succeed him - also paid tribute to their outgoing leader.

"When Enda took over the leadership of our Party we were broken and demoralised," Mr Coveney said.

.@EndaKennyTD was a strong leader for Ireland, a great partner for the UK, and remains a good friend.  David Cameron (@David_Cameron) May 17, 2017

PM: Enda Kenny has been a strong and consistent friend to the UK. I wish him all the very best for the future.  UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) May 17, 2017

Sending best wishes to @EndaKennyTD. I enjoyed working with him in the British/Irish Council & he has always been a good friend to Scotland. https://t.co/8VtmHcCLS8  Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 17, 2017

"With his vision, determination, positivity and relentless work-rate he led our Party back from defeat and to sustained electoral success, culminating in victory in the 2011 General Election and a record result for our Party.

"I am proud to have served in Opposition and then in Government with Enda. I saw at close quarters how skilled and driven he was to succeed for our Party, in Government and for our Country. His record in Government since 2011 will be viewed very positively by historians, not least how he led the restoration of our economic financial independence over that period, which was a landmark event.

"But it is not just these high profile moments that I reflect on, I recall the energy and excitement of a number of elections campaigns - any day on the campaign trail with Enda was a lively one; or those early days in Government when the economy teetered on the brink and Endas calm and clear headed leadership helped guide us through; or the late nights and long hours trying to construct a new coalition Government in 2016."

While Leo Varadkar described him as an "extraordinary Taoiseach and Fine Gael's most successful leader ever."

"He brought Fine Gael from the edge of extinction to its current position as the largest party in the State. He brought Ireland from the brink of bankruptcy back on to the road to prosperity, Mr Varadkar said.

"Enda gave hope to a battered and bruised Ireland in 2011. His dedication and determination gave Fine Gael a landslide in that years general election. But more importantly, he brought this country back from the brink of economic collapse, and offered political stability when countries across Europe were staring into the abyss."

Mr Varadkar said hell never forget the day that "Irish democracy was handed back from Troika".

"Its incredible to think that we have climbed from those depths and are once again the fastest-growing economy in Europe.

"On a personal level, I owe him so much. He appointed me to the Partys Front Bench following my first election as a TD. I was honoured to accept a Ministerial position from him after the 2011 election. I have learned a lot from Enda, in particular how to lead a team of people with many talents and diverse views."

Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin thanked Enda for bringing Ireland "back from the brink."

"The period from 2011 to 2016 was a difficult time to hold public office in Ireland. But regardless of the challenges we faced, Enda Kenny took them on with humour, grace, and determination.

"He did his country much service, and I wish him the very best in the next chapter of his life."
AFTER months of speculation Enda Kenny has announced that he is stepping down as leader of Fine Gael.

Mr Kenny has been at the head of his party since 2002 and also holds the title of being the longest-serving TD, having been elected in 1975.

Expand Close Enda Kenny Photograph taken in 1977. Photograph : Phocus. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Enda Kenny Photograph taken in 1977. Photograph : Phocus.

While there have been numerous criticisms of decisions made or not made by Mr Kenny down the years, there is also no doubt that he has - in the words of one of his predecessors - "done the State some service".

Here we look back at some of the highlights of his lengthy political career:

2011 General Election

Fianna Fails extraordinary implosion did not guarantee Fine Gael success in February 2011.

Enda had taken Fine Gael from the brink of extinction in 2002 and fended off doubts by his own lieutenants who led a botched heave against him in June 2010.

The 36pc vote share and 76 TDs were an all-time record by any Fine Gael leader.

Economic Recovery

After the EU-IMF-ECB Troika handed back the reins in December 2013, Irelands steady economic recovery continued on Kennys watch.

The country was buoyed by international events  but unemployment fell from a high of 15pc in 2012 to just above 6pc currently.

International Image

After our reputation suffered internationally largely due to the decisions of the previous administration, Kenny succeeded in presenting Ireland as a country following prudent economic management towards recovery at EU and other international levels.

Expand Close Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny listens to questions during a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny listens to questions during a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)

Despite doubts at home he was well received in London, Brussels and Washington.

His apology to the Magdalene women

Enda gave an emotional apology on behalf of the State to the 10,000 women who had been in the Magdalene Laundries.

Speaking in the Dail in 2013, he described the laundries as the "nation's shame" and announced a Government compensation fund would be established to help the survivors.

Legislating in the X Case

The country was divided in 1992 when a teenager (14) was pregnant as a result of rape and had to take her case to the Supreme Court to be granted permission to travel for a termination.

After 21 years Enda Kenny was the Taoiseach who oversaw a Bill being passed to legislate for the Supreme Court ruling and it means that abortion is legal in specific circumstances.

Mr Kenny said: "The pro-life argument centres on the right to life of the foetus but a woman has a right not to be raped.

"If her right is violated, I believe she has a right to end that pregnancy at her discretion."

His speech after the publication of the Cloyne Report

The Taoiseach was at the centre of one of the most significant moments in recent Irish history when he gave a scathing speech against the Vatican in 2011 following the publication of the Cloyne Report.

The report detailed allegations of sexual abuse against children which was carried out by clerics and accused church leaders of not doing enough to investigate the claims or to protect minors.

Enda said in his powerful Dail address: "The rape and torture of children were downplayed or 'managed' to uphold instead, the primacy of the institution, its power, standing and 'reputation'."

The Marriage Equality referendum

Ireland made history in May 2015 by becoming the first country in the world to vote for marriage equality.

The Taoiseach had canvassed for a yes vote in the months leading up the the ballot.

Just days before the public went to the polls, Mr Kenny appeared on television to say: "There is nothing to fear for voting for love and equality."

His immigration speech in front of Donald Trump

While there was some controversy about whether the Mayo man should should meet with Donald Trump for the traditional St Patrick's Day visit this year, he was widely praised for a speech he gave on the importance of immigration.

Just weeks after Trump's infamous travel ban on people from six predominantly Muslim countries, Kenny spoke passionately about the contribution of the Irish diaspora in America.

Expand Close Enda Kenny at the launch of the Fine Gael Marriage Referendum / Facebook

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He said: "Four decades before Lady Liberty lifted her lamp we were the wretched refuse on the teeming shore.

"We believed in the shelter of America, in the compassion of America, in the opportunity of America. We came and became Americans.

"We lived the words of JFK long before he uttered them  we asked not what America could do for us but what we could do for America. And we still do."
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD during the launch of "Finite Lives Dying, Death and Bereavement earlier today. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

Enda Kenny departs the Government buildings after resigning as party leader in Dublin, Ireland May 17, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

An emotional Enda Kenny walked out of a Fine Gael meeting immediately after announcing his resignation as party leader this evening.

As TDs and senators gave him a standing ovation and broke into applause the Taoiseach choked up with emotion and asked: "Is it OK if I go now?"

He then left stunned colleagues, many of whom were said to be in tears.

The new leader of Fine Gael will be in place by June 2 after Mr Kenny formally announced his intention to step down.

The Taoiseach had told a meeting of party TDs and senators that he will continue to carry out his duties in an acting capacity until a successor is elected.

Expand Close Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Photo: PA / Facebook

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It clears the way for Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar to launch their campaigns to take over the party and become Taoiseach.

In a statement Mr Kenny paid special tribute to his wife Fionnuala, children and siblings for their understanding of my work, and indeed for accepting the many intrusions of politics into family life in the interest of building our country.

Simon Coveney has said Enda Kenny has been a towering figure in modern Irish history.

When Enda took over the leadership of our Party we were broken and demoralised. With his vision, determination, positivity and relentless work-rate he led our Party back from defeat and to sustained electoral success, culminating in victory in the 2011 General Election and a record result for our Party, he said.

I am proud to have served in Opposition and then in Government with Enda. I saw at close quarters how skilled and driven he was to succeed for our Party, in Government and for our Country. His record in Government since 2011 will be viewed very positively by historians, not least how he led the restoration of our economic financial independence over that period, which was a landmark event.

But it is not just these high profile moments that I reflect on, I recall the energy and excitement of a number of elections campaigns - any day on the campaign trail with Enda was a lively one; or those early days in Government when the economy teetered on the brink and Endas calm and clear headed leadership helped guide us through; or the late nights and long hours trying to construct a new coalition Government in 2016.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has said Enda Kenny worked diligently for his county, party and country over a long period of time.

While over the years we have had our differences on many political and policy issues, I have always appreciated Endas decency, good humour and approachability.

I wish him well after he leaves office and I know that Fionnuala and the children will be happy to have much more time to spend with him in the coming months and years, Mr Martin said.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the entire Fianna Fail Party I would like to acknowledge and thank Enda Kenny for his years of public service and to wish him good health and best wishes in all future endeavours.

Sinn Feins Gerry Adams was less gracious in his comments, saying Mr Kenny tried his best but it wasnt enough.

He said Mr Kenny came into office during crisis and leaves at a time of crisis.

After the Fine Gael leadership contest Mr Kenny will remain in place as Taoiseach for a brief but appropriate period. This will allow his successor to meet with Fianna Fail and the Independent members of government before a Dail vote to become leader of the country.

I would like to stress the huge honour and privilege that it has been for me to lead our party for the past 15 years, in opposition and into Government on two successive occasions.

I thank all our members, past and present for that privilege.

I thank all my loyal constituents and supports in Mayo for their unstinting loyalty since 1975, and for their support for my family previously in providing unbroken service to the County in Dail Eireann since 1954, Mr Kenny said.

Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Housing Minister Simon Coveney are the early frontrunners for the job. However Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has not yet ruled herself out of contention, and there is speculation that Richard Bruton may run.

Mr Varadkar has tonight described Mr Kenny as an extraordinary Taoiseach and Fine Gaels most successful leader ever.

Mr Kenny's announcement brings to an end months of speculation about his departure, prompted by his own admission that he would not lead Fine Gael into the next general election.

The statement in full reads:

"Last year I indicated that I would not lead the Fine Gael Party into the next General Election. I have decided to implement that decision today. Therefore I will retire as Leader of Fine Gael effective from midnight tonight, 17th May 2017.

"I will continue to carry out my duties as Party Leader in an acting capacity, until my successor is elected through the Fine Gael Leadership election process.

"I have asked that the Fine Gael Executive Council expedite this process and to have it concluded by close of business on Friday June 2nd.

"I want to assure people that throughout this internal process, I will continue to carry out my duties and responsibilities as Taoiseach in full.

"I intend to provide a brief but appropriate period for my successor to engage with groups and members supportive of Government, and with other Parties in the Dail regarding provision of Government for the future.

"I would like to stress the huge honour and privilege that it has been for me to lead our party for the past 15 years, in opposition and into Government on two successive occasions.

"I thank all our members, past and present for that privilege.

"I thank all my loyal constituents and supporters in Mayo for their unstinting loyalty since 1975, and for their support for my family previously in providing unbroken service to the County in Dail Eireann since 1954.

"I thank my personal staff for their commitment over many years to their duties.

"I especially want to thank my wife Fionnuala, our children, my siblings and their families for their understanding of my work, and indeed for accepting the many intrusions of politics into family life in the interest of building our Country. I could not have engaged as I did without that base."

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Fine Gael party chairman Martin Heydon has tonight said Mr Kenny helped repair the economy and assist in the rebirth of a self-confident ireland.

His leadership of Fine Gael since 2002 has brought us to our most successful period in Government as the largest Party in Dail Eireann for the last two terms.

His leadership style was compassionate, pragmatic and inclusive, building a strong team which he led with energy and enthusiasm. Having inherited a country and an economy that was decimated by mismanagement, Enda's strong leadership and ability to make hard decisions was recognised both at home and abroad and saw our international reputation restored and strengthened, he said.

In focusing on job creation, which saw 206,000 jobs created since the establishment of the Action Plan for Jobs in 2012, Enda Kenny followed Fine Gaels key guiding principles of enterprise and reward for those who look to work and contribute to society, while creating and supporting a fairer society for those who are vulnerable and in need of support.

Our principle of equality of opportunity was never more evident than when Enda led the marriage equality referendum to a resounding victory in 2015. His determination to deal with longstanding issues such as an apology for survivors of the Magdalene laundries, the children's rights referendum, and legislating for the X Case after over two decades of inaction by several previous governments who ignored a Supreme Court ruling, are a mark of the man.

Since he was first elected as TD, his career as Fine Gael leader has been a series of ups and downs.

In 2002, party leader Michael Noonan led Fine Gael to its then worst performance, losing 23 seats. Taking over, Kenny rebuilt the party, winning back 20 seats in the 2007 election and a further 25 in the 2011 election.

He subsequently became the first Fine Gael Taoiseach to be elected to a second consecutive term on 6 May 2016, after two months of negotiations following the 2016 election, forming a Fine Gael-led minority government.

He is the first taoiseach from Fine Gael since John Bruton (1994-1997), and the first Fine Gael leader to be be re-elected to government since Garret FitzGerald in 1982. He became the longest-serving Fine Gael Taoiseach in April 2017.
As Enda Kenny finally announces his intentions to step down as Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, Independent.ie Political Editor Kevin Doyle looks back on a career that few expected to reach such heights.

TAOISEACH

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Enda Kenny has been both the baby and the father of the Dail. In many ways he is the great survivor who rose to the top while all those around him fell away. Nowhere in the newspaper clippings is there any evidence that his colleagues saw him as a future Taoiseach. Garret Fitzgerald didnt rate him and the media has given him a tough time. However, the story of how he stayed at the helm of Fine Gael for 15 years and as Taoiseach for over six years suggests theres a lot more to Enda Kenny than jovial fist-pumping and quirky stories.

When necessary he has dispatched inconvenient partners such as Alan Shatter and Frank Flannery. He ruthlessly cut down the career of Lucinda Creighton and has taken the risky strategy of repeatedly side-lining his constituency colleague Michael Ring who is desperate to hold a Cabinet portfolio. Time and again Mr Kenny has shown a vicious streak that is needed to survive at the top of the political ladder.

As he steps away from Government Buildings he will point to the economic recovery as his greatest achievement. In 2011 he took over a country that had lost its sovereignty, its pride and its international standing. For five years he led what was effectively a national government along with the Labour Party. And although that coalition wasnt re-elected he will claim their work set Ireland back on the path to prosperity. If the test of his leadership was an ability to restore confidence and stability then he rates highly. There are plenty of statistics to back up this argument but there were mistakes along the way too, most notably the setting up of Irish Water.

As he leaves office the country is on the brink of full employment again and the economy is growing fast than any other EU country. At the same time a 2007 promise to end the scandal of patients on trolleys remains unfulfilled. The housing market is once again in a mess and Brexit is looming large over every decision the Government makes.

Marks: Six out of 10

MINISTER

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Its rarely mentioned these days but Enda Kennys only Cabinet experience before becoming Taoiseach was two and a half years in the Department of Tourism and Trade between December 1994 and June 1997. His office became known as happy valley due to Mr Kennys good humour and the fact that the period coincided with plenty of good news stories. In his book The Unlikely Taoiseach, John Downing suggested that Mr Kenny was easily managed by officials. He was criticised for not taking the role seriously enough as a reputation for enjoying the Dublin nightlife and being a bit of a joker followed him into his ministry.

However, the position gave Mr Kenny a chance to engage in plenty of foreign travel and he gained a substantially higher national profile. His supporters argued that criticism of his easy-going nature was simply because he was pompous like other ministers.

Years later as he launched his first leadership bid, Mr Kenny said: I dont know where this notion of Enda Kenny not having dealt with the substantial issues over the years has come form.

When I became Minister for Tourism, Bord Failte was in chaos after Charlie McCreevy. The industry was in a very fragile state. I dealt with that sur-footedly, very competently, brought people with me, restored confidence.

Marks: Five out of 10

PARTY LEADER

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While it might seem as if Enda Kenny has been Taoiseach forever, he was actually the leader of the Opposition for far longer. After Fine Gaels election drubbing in 2002 Mr Kenny took over a massively depleted party with just 31 seats. He set about trying to reinvigorate the troops, telling them: There will be no talking down to members of Fine Gael. This is your party.

Aside from raising morale, his biggest task was to try take on the Teflon Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. The then Fianna Fail leader once remarked: I dont think Enda ever managed to lay a glove on me. He certainly never got a knockout punch.

There was no eureka moment for Mr Kenny but in 2004 Fine Gael out-performed expectations in the Local and European elections, winning five seats in the European Parliament. It was the first time the party had ever defeated Fianna Fail in a national election. Mr Kenny had more joy in head-to-head battles with Brian Cowen as Taoiseach  but Fine Gaels ultimate win over Fianna Fail in the 2011 General Election had more to do with the economic crash than Kennys leadership.

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Few would have believed when he survived Richard Brutons heave in June 2010 that Kenny would be hoisted into the Office of Taoiseach so smoothly the following February. In the process Fine Gael won 76 seats and Mr Kenny secured the enduring respect of his party colleagues.

Last years election campaign was not Mr Kennys finest moment in the Fine Gael jersey but everyone in the party recognises that he leaves it in a toe-to-toe battle with Fianna Fail ahead. When he took over they werent even at the races.

Marks: Eight out of 10

CONSTITUENCY TD

Expand Close Back in the day: Taoiseach Enda Kenny (front right) in a school photograph with his brothers Henry and John. He later taught at the Glenisland National School, which closed last week Photo: Keith Heneghan / Facebook

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Enda Kennys father Henry died in September 25, 1975 at the age of 62. Then Taoiseach Liam Cosgrove let it be known that he wanted a Kenny to stand in the subsequent by-election. Fine Gael HQ felt it was the only way of retaining the seat. It was decided that Enda should run after his older brother Henry decided he wasnt interested.

Mr Kenny arrived at the Dail on November 18 to take his seat for the first time, accompanied by a group of supporters carrying a green and red banner, reading The Wests Awake!. However, it would be a year before he made a significant speech in the chamber. When he did speak it was mostly on local issues and an effort to get a mention in the local newspaper.

Throughout the 1980s and much of the 1990s he had plenty of time to focus on constituency issues such as the automation of the Castlebar telephone exchange, fixing potholes, the development of hospital and even the future of the local bacon factory. While Minister for Tourism and Trade he delivered heavily for the constituency, ensuring special development tax incentives for Westport and Achill.

He made no qualms about what it took to survive as a rural TD. One of the reasons for a rural Deputy speaking at all in the House is that he has the opportunity of sending details of his contributions to local newspapers, thereby keeping his name before the people he represents. This enables constituents to read what their Deputy had been advocating, he said.

Marks: Seven out of 10

EUROPE

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When Enda Kenny met Donald Trump in the White House last March he spent much of the conversation trying to educate the new US President on the important of the European Union. It was a divergence from the usual March 17 script which focuses on the illegal Irish in America. Brexit brought with it exception circumstances but perhaps knowing his days were numbered Mr Kenny was seeking to impress his European colleagues.

However, his relationship with the EU can be split in two. Theres no doubt that Mr Kenny is committed wholeheartedly to the project and has influence among EU leaders  but sometimes these were overplayed. In October 2012 he let it be known that a flurry of phone calls between Dublin and Berlin led to a joint statement from himself and German chancellor Angela Merkel. It said the Irish case for relief on our gigantic bank debt was indeed a "special" case. Little consequence came of that promises as it later emerged that ECB chief Jean Claude Trichet threatened to set off a bomb in Dublin if senior bondholders were burnt.

Yet part of the reason Mr Kenny has avoided a heave in recent months is his reputation in Europe. Irelands stewardship of the EU Presidency in 2013 was widely seen as a success. And in more recent times Mr Kennys non-stop tour of European capitals has helped Ireland gain a unique position in the Brexit negotiations. Few would be surprised if Mr Kenny went on to secure a role in the European institutions.

Marks: Seven out 10

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

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Strangely Enda Kenny is never more comfortable than when hes not in the country. On foreign trips he excels at working the room, promoting Ireland and on occasion enjoying himself. Any political correspondent who has followed Mr Kenny on these trips will tell you they are far from relaxed. His agenda tends to be action packed from early morning meetings to late night receptions.

In recent times his many trips across Europe have been business-like as he sought support from places like Spain, Poland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Malta for Irelands special status in the Brexit talks.

However its not surprising that he will make one final trip to the United States before stepping down. The June trade mission to Seattle and Chicago will be his sixth trip across the Atlantic in little over a year. Mr Kenny seems to love the United States and they love him. While at home we cringe at the fist-pumping and paddywhackery, the US audience revels in it.

At the same time many of his biggest gaffes, such as the story of the army around the ATMs have been while overseas.

Marks: Seven out of 10

ECONOMY

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Time and again Enda Kenny has struggled when faced with technical questions on economic issues and yet his government led Ireland out of recession. He leaves behind a country with the fastest growing economy in Europe and an unemployment rate of just 6pc  down from 15pc at the height of the downturn.

During the 2011 election campaign Mr Kenny vowed to make Ireland the best small country in the world to do business. We might not be number one but various studies suggested we rank highly. To some extent the key he key to his success has been to allow the experts take care of figures. He started last years election campaign on the wrong foot when he dismissed questions on the fiscal space, saying: Im not going to get into economic jargon here because the vast majority of people dont understand.

In his old foe Michael Noonan he found a solid pair of hands for the Department of Finance over the past six years. Along the way there were rows over water charges and the growth of protest politics. But for most people there is money to spend again and the financial mood of the nation is on the up. It has been remarkable turnaround, even recognised by Time magazine who featured Mr Kenny on the frontpage with the headline: 'The Celtic Comeback'.

Marks: Eight out 10

SOCIAL ISSUES

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Enda Kenny has taken more than a few personal journeys over the years, especially on issues such as marriage equality and abortion. Back in 2012 he famously tripped over a flowerpot while trying to run away from the media who were merely curious as to where he stood on same-sex marriage. Three years later he was boosting that Ireland had set an example for other countries to follow with our referendum. With today's Yes vote we have disclosed who we are - a generous, compassionate, bold and joyful people, he said, adding: Our people have truly answered Ireland's Call.

Similarly on abortion his stance has been conflicting over the years. A devout Catholic he is seen as conservative. However, after the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar he pushed through the Protection of Life During Pregnancy bill in 2013  even refusing to allow some of his up-and-coming TDs like Lucinda Creighton to vote with their conscience.

Since then he has changed the Fine Gael line to allow TDs and senators a free vote on issues of conscious. In 2015 he was effectively bounced into paving the way for an abortion referendum by two of his most loyal ministers, Frances Fitzgerald and Paschal Donohoe. Both argued behind closed doors that the party needed to address the growing demand for changes to the Eighth Amendment. Ironically this will now become a major issue for Mr Kennys successor following the publication of the Citizens Assembly report.

Mr Kenny also leaves behind a country that is still trying to establish the groundrules for a separation of Church and State. He has said that he was a Catholic and a Taoiseach but not a Catholic Taoiseach. This was evidenced in his reaction to the 2011 Cloyne report which made worldwide headlines. In an unprecedented attack on the Vatican he told the Dail the report highlighted the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism and narcissism that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day.

The rape and torture of children were downplayed or 'managed' to uphold instead the primacy of the institution, its power, standing and 'reputation'," he said.

However, he has met Pope Frances twice in the past year and at one point was suggesting that he wanted to remain as Taoiseach until August 2018 in order to welcome him to Ireland. Theres no doubt that this country is attitude to social issues is changing  but Mr Kenny was changing with the country rather than initiating the change.

Marks: Five out 10
It would take at least six weeks to formally relieve Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan of her duties if a decision was taken to sack her, Government sources have said.

Senior ministers believe Ms O'Sullivan would be likely to fight for her position and could seek an inquiry into the reasons for her removal.

Under the legislation which sets out the reasons for which a commissioner can be replaced, she is entitled to "an opportunity to make representations as to why he or she ought not to be removed from office".

Sources said Ms O'Sullivan would want to "defend herself and it could lead to a long, drawn-out row that would stall reforms already under way".

People with knowledge of the process suggested it could take six to eight weeks and even then the Commissioner "could win the argument".

The Irish Independent previously revealed the Attorney General warned the Cabinet that any attempt to sack Ms O'Sullivan without sufficient evidence of wrongdoing would require a hefty financial settlement. Ministers are worried they would then struggle to find a suitable person to take over the demoralised force.

However, a senior Fianna Fail TD has said one of his party's first acts if it returns to power would be to oust Ms O'Sullivan as Garda chief.

The embattled Commissioner has been grappling with a series of controversies in the force, including the revelation that almost a million bogus breath tests were recorded by gardai and concerns over financial irregularities at the Templemore Training College.

Fianna Fail has said it does not have confidence in Ms O'Sullivan but says it is up to the Government to take action.

Asked whether a future Fianna Fail government would immediately move to sack the Commissioner, the party's finance spokesman Michael McGrath replied by saying "yes".

Mr McGrath claimed the various Garda controversies have been mishandled by Ms O'Sullivan and Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald.

He said public confidence in the force has been eroded and "the work of the ordinary men and women who serve in An Garda Siochana has been undermined".

"That's not good enough. So these issues need to be dealt with and dealt with comprehensively once and for all," said Mr McGrath.

Ms Fitzgerald attacked the Fianna Fail position last night, saying she was "very disturbed" by Mr McGrath's comments.

"It's profoundly undemocratic to say what they have said about sacking a Garda Commissioner. It suggests a Starr Chamber, it suggests no fair process.

"It's against all natural justice and constitutional justice to suggest that you've already made up your mind about somebody without giving them an opportunity to put their case," she said.

Speaking on RTE's 'Six One News', Ms Fitzgerald said such a move would be "empty gestures" by Fianna Fail. "That's extraordinarily serious in a democracy," she said.
Fianna Fails promise to sack the Garda Commissioner if it returns to government is akin to Donald Trumps behaviour in Washington, Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald has said.

The Justice Minister has today sought to draw parallels between Mr Trumps sacking of FBI chief James Comey.

Ms Fitzgerald said it is extremely disturbing in a democracy that a political party would commit to removing the head of police without following due process.

Its like what happened last week in Washington. The idea that somebody wouldnt be subject to fair procedures, to the rule of law... They dont seem to know the law in relation to this issue.

Theres very clear producers laid down. Theres a question of natural justice. Theres a question of constitutional rights. If this was being said about any other person there would be outrage about it, Ms Fitzgerald said.

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Her comments came after Michael McGrath confirmed that if re-elected one of the first acts of a Fianna Fail government would be to relieve Noirin OSullivan of her duties.

The embattled Commissioner remains under attack for a series of scandals that have rocked the force including financial irregularities in Templemore Garda College and the million fake breath tests.

The Tanaiste said Fianna Fails position is very prejudicial. It is like what happened in Washington last week and you can see the furore about that.

I think its really extraordinary to see the main Opposition party taking this approach to the question of law and individual rights.

It really would put a shiver down every officer holder in this country if a government was to take an approach as outlined by Fianna Fail, she said.

Meanwhile Ms Fitzgerald remained coy about whether she will put herself forward as a potential replacement for Enda Kenny as Fine Gael leader.

She said the Opposition would continue putting pressure on her but she will get on with doing the job Im doing to the very best of my ability.
Now that he's stepping aside as leader of Fine Gael, perhaps a career in rock and roll will beckon for Enda Kenny.

After leading the country for more than six years the Mayo man is bound to need to let his hair down and blow off some steam.

Who can forget the footage that emerged last year when Enda attended a Bruce Springsteen gig at Croke Park with his wife Fionnuala?

He could be seen in the crowd singing along to The Boss' hits, enthusiastically playing air guitar, waving at onlookers and indulging in a spot of dad dancing.

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Mr Kenny later admitted to Independent.ie that he knows he's not the best dancer in the world but said he should be able to enjoy himself at rock concerts too.

He said: "When I see some of the stuff that has been written, I wonder whether I am supposed to sit there with my arms folded in a kind of a, just a look on the face.

"I am a big believer in Springsteen, I like his social comment, I like the commitment he puts into his work. I just think he is really a world-class operator.

Expand Close THE BOSS: Taoiseach Enda Kenny with his wife Fionnuala at Bruce Springsteens Croke Park gig. Photo: Arthur Carron / Facebook

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"I enjoy his concerts and OK, maybe - I can't sing, I can't dance, I can't play the guitar but I am going to go a long way if I keep following Springsteen."

Although Enda may not be confident in his dancing abilities, that didn't stop him getting into the swing of things at Cruinniu na Casca last month.

The Taoiseach enjoyed a jig with well-wishers to traditional tunes at the cultural event in Dublin's St Stephen's Green.
NATO believes that Ukraines decision to block Russian Internet resources in Ukraine is a matter of national security and has nothing to do with freedom of speech, the press service of the alliance said.

"The Ukrainian government has made clear that this decree is an issue of security, not one of freedom of speech. NATO works with Ukraine to strengthen its reforms, including in the fields of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Freedom of speech is covered by this dialogue. We have trust in Ukraines commitment to its international obligations and the system of checks and balances in place in Ukraine," the website of 112.Ukraine says referring to the statement of the NATO press service.

As reported, On May 16 Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree enacting a resolution by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) dated April 28, 2017 on the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions).
Paul Malone is greeted by Ava Malne (7) both from Mullingar during homecoming scenes involving members of the 109th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force at Dublin Airport following a six month deployment to Lebanon. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

Tiernan Kelly with children Aron Kelly (4) and Leah Kelly (70 all from Carrickmacross during homecoming scenes involving members of the 109th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force at Dublin Airport following a six month deployment to Lebanon. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

Marie Martin & Sgt Mark Doherty both from Athlone during homecoming scenes involving members of the 109th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force at Dublin Airport following a six month deployment to Lebanon. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

Fran Kelly is greeted by son Francis Kelly (7 months) both from Blanchardstown during homecoming scenes involving members of the 109th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force at Dublin Airport following a six month deployment to Lebanon. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

During homecoming scenes involving members of the 109th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force at Dublin Airport following a six month deployment to Lebanon. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

There were scenes of joy, laughter and tears as families greeted the return of the UN Defence Forces in Dublin airport this morning.

The 109th Infrantry Battalion arrived home from Lebanon to a sea of family members at the arrivals lounge of Terminal 1.

Speaking to Independent.ie, Sergeant Joanne Smith said it was "a great feeling" to be home.

Its a great feeling. A long time away from home, but its great to see the little faces.

Expand Close Gerry Duff (Damien Duff's Brother) is greeted by his wife Tracy Daniel (18 months), Cillian (3) & Jack (7) all from Drogheda during homecoming scenes involving members of the 109th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force at Dublin Airport following a six month deployment to Lebanon. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins / Facebook

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Whatsapp Gerry Duff (Damien Duff's Brother) is greeted by his wife Tracy Daniel (18 months), Cillian (3) & Jack (7) all from Drogheda during homecoming scenes involving members of the 109th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force at Dublin Airport following a six month deployment to Lebanon. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

"You can be operationally prepared, but nothing prepares you for missing the family, so its just great to be home, she added.

The highlight for several soldiers was being reunited with their children.

Were gonna relax, do a few fun things and take it easy for the next few weeks, Corporal Shane Kavanagh said.

For others though, a trip home means going straight back to doing some hard work around the house.

Expand Close Tiernan Kelly with children Aron Kelly (4) and Leah Kelly (70 all from Carrickmacross during homecoming scenes involving members of the 109th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force at Dublin Airport following a six month deployment to Lebanon. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins / Facebook

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I have a list as long as his arms with jobs to do, hell be very busy, Michelle Allen, partner of Seamus Ward said.

Minister of State with Responsibility for Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe, T.D also welcomed soldiers home this morning, as well as thanking their families.

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Ireland could not make such a substantial contribution to international peace support operations without the ongoing commitment of Defence Forces personnel to serve overseas in often difficult and dangerous circumstances.

I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all of your families and friends and to thank them for their support, which enables you to serve abroad and thereby help to protect and save the lives of countless numbers of some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world.
It is a story that began and ended in two hotels, 9,500km apart. It started at the Wellington Park Hotel in south Belfast, and ended at the five-star Lux Hotel in northern Mauritius.

I first met John McAreavey on a wet Wednesday in Belfast last December. Four months later, I interviewed him outside the hotel where his wife Michaela was killed.

I had a number of key questions. Why was he prepared to go back to Mauritius? Why would he ever want to set foot on the island again?

It was not an easy meeting. We had never met before. I got the feeling he didn't trust the media.

We talked for an hour, and gradually the ice started to melt.

"I'm ready to speak out about what happened," he said.

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"On the record?" I asked.

"Yes," he said.

"On camera?" I asked.

"Yes," he said.

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"In Mauritius?" I asked.

"Yes."

There was only one thing he insisted he did not want to do - to go back into the hotel where Michaela was murdered.

What intrigued me at that first meeting with John was the timing of his decision. It had been six years since the killing. Two hotel workers accused of the murder had both been found not guilty five years previously. It appeared the investigation had run its course.

The Co Down man had recently remarried. However, it became clear that even though his circumstances had changed, he remained as determined as ever to keep fighting for justice - no matter how big a challenge that may be.

"You move forward with life, you enjoy the good things, but you don't shy away from the hard things either. You face them head on," he said.

John married Tara, an accountant from Co Kildare, in September. She was fully behind his decision to return to Mauritius.

"I'm very happy now and Tara is such wonderful person and amazes me because she supports me so much in this," he said. "Anyone that loves you, and loves you in the right way, will know that they'll support you in anything that's important in your life."

John arrived back in Mauritius on the first Saturday in April. With him were his sister Claire, who is a lawyer, and Mark Harte, the eldest of Michaela's three brothers.

For the next five days, a BBC 'Newsline' team followed them. We were surprised how calm John was when he first arrived. In his own words, he had his "business head" on.

He treated it like a job he had to do, he hid his eyes behind his sunglasses and tried not to let his emotions get the better of him. For the most part it worked. Only once did he crack in public. It happened 24 hours after returning to Mauritius.

The reality of being back seemed to suddenly hit John. Along with Claire and Mark, he went on a visit to the hideaway where they had all stayed five years ago, during the trial of the two hotel workers.

It was a novitiate, a training college for Catholic priests, deep in the countryside. There was no better place to escape the glare of media attention.

No one bothered him here. But returning brought back painful memories. He had flashbacks to the eight-week trial, hearing how Michaela had been killed and the daily ordeal of listening to all the evidence. It was all too much for John. He broke down.

He later admitted it had been by far the most difficult part of the entire five-day visit. The main purpose of the return to Mauritius was to make a public appeal for help in bringing the killer or killers to justice.

At a news conference in the Mauritian capital Port Louis, Mark Harte stared down the barrel of a local TV camera and made a direct appeal to the people.

He said: "The reality is that there are killers walking around. Are your families safe? Please come forward."

John, Claire and Mark had booked an evening flight home, leaving enough time for a final meeting with the police on their final day.

Just after 2pm, John phoned. Change of plan. He wanted to go back to the hotel where Michaela had been killed. I couldn't believe it. He had been adamant he would never go back.

The next few hours were among the most tense I have encountered in my 25 years in journalism.

Looking at John as he travelled to the hotel, I could see he was conflicted. He kept putting his hand over his mouth, and looking down at his feet.

The hotel changed its name from Legends to Lux after Michaela's murder. The reason John, Claire and Mark decided to go was because they wanted to put across their appeal directly to the hotel management. They wanted them to hear it face to face.

At the same time, John knew he was voluntarily returning to the scene of his worst nightmare. It took an hour to get there. It felt like a week.

The meeting with the hotel management was supposed to be brief. It went on well over an hour.

They made their flight home on time. Just.

It is now more than a month since John, Claire and Mark returned from Mauritius. Their visit did have an impact. The police have been given some new information, but not enough yet to make any new arrests.

It is hard to imagine what more they could have done. Yet that is not how they see it. They are determined to do more - much more. John insists he will keep going back to Mauritius, again and again, if necessary. He will not rest until he gets justice.
Ruth Finlay was inspired to become a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse after her own parent's experience with premature babies.

A Dublin nurse said she was inspired to work with critically ill infants after hearing emotional stories about her own time spent in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Ruth Finlay (27) and her twin sister Emma were born in Dublin's Coombe Hospital in 1990, eight weeks premature. As the twins grew up, their parents Charlie and Finola often told stories of just how tiny they were, and how the support of nurses and doctors helped them through an incredibly difficult time.

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Whatsapp Ruth Finlay with her dad Charlie in 1990.

"My mum Finola was only told she was expecting twins at 30 weeks. We were her first babies so she was very excited. However, two weeks later she went into spontaneous labour and my twin and I were born.

"Emma was initially a lot more poorly than me. She was ventilated for a day, whereas I was just placed on oxygen. We were in the Coombe for a few weeks, and were tube-fed and treated for jaundice.

"I grew up hearing my family tell stories about how tiny and sick we were. My Nana would get emotional speaking about it. It's funny because we were so small but now we're both almost 6ft," said Ruth, from Lucan.

For as long as she can remember, Ruth said she dreamed of being a nurse and later studied General Nursing in Trinity College. After university, Ruth moved to London, where she worked on an adult surgical ward, before accepting a job in the neonatal intensive care unit in King's College Hospital in the city, where she now is a junior sister.

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Whatsapp Ruth Finlay with her twin Emma and her mum Finola in 1990.

"For as long as I can remember I've wanted to be a nurse, I even have pictures of me as a child in my nurse's uniform. It's what I always saw myself doing.

"It's been an amazing four years, and it's lovely to see some of the babies I would have worked with now, thriving three and four-year-olds.

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Whatsapp Ruth said she always dreamed of being a nurse.

"It's a difficult job, but sometimes even when you're having the most intense day someone will come and say 'Ruth, there's someone outside for you,' and it will be one of the children I worked with smiling and happy. Things like that are what make it worthwhile," she said.

Of course, the job can be incredibly difficult, as many of the children Ruth works with don't make it through.

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Whatsapp Ruth works as a junior sister in the NICU in King's College Hospital in London

"It is a really emotionally and physically taxing job.

"Some of the nurses find it helps them to go to funerals, while others find it is better to have that distance.

"If a family invites me, I do like to go. It makes me remember that this little baby was here and they were important. Sometimes I've probably spent more time with babies than some of their relatives, as it's usually only two visitors at a time allowed into the unit."

Ruth said it has made her family incredibly proud to see her become a nurse and help families in the position they were once in.

"My Nana is super proud. She's always asking how the babies are doing and I do love to talk about them. I had twin cousins who were sadly born premature and passed away in Temple Street, so nurses have meant a lot to my family down through the years. It's great to be able to give back to other families what the nurses in the Coombe did for Emma and I," she said.
It is a common problem among all ages and both genders but dont let snoring ruin your relationship or a good nights sleep. Learn what causes snoring and how you can put it to bed with our expert advice.

If anyone has ever told you that you snore, be aware that he or she has first very carefully considered the pros and cons of letting you live: next time you get into bed with that person, bear in mind the danger you might be putting yourself in.

But even for those who sleep alone, snoring is no laughing matter. According to the National Sleep Foundation in the US, snorers are more likely to experience thickening or abnormalities in the carotid artery, which can lead to atherosclerosis; a hardening of the arteries that triggers numerous vascular diseases.

Daytime grogginess, irritability and mood swings, problems concentrating and remembering, and an increased likelihood of car or other accidents are just some of the complications arising from self-interrupting, snore-ridden sleep. Since almost half of us regularly snore, isnt it worth knowing more on whats likely to be causing it, and what are the most effective measures of putting it to bed?

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 The Snoring Symphony

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Whatsapp We snore because of a relaxation of muscle tonus  a natural relaxation in muscles.

"Snoring occurs as a result of vibrations in the tissues of the soft palate, mouth, nose and throat during sleep, and when the muscles that keep your airways open are relaxed," says Irish doctor, Pixie McKenna (pixieandsera.com), a GP at the London Clinic.

McKenna says that as the body tries to breathe normally, the pressure to push air in and out causes the tissues to vibrate, and so begins the snoring symphony.

"Anyone can be a snorer. I have to confess to being one, but more men than women snore. This can be down to fewer trigger factors in women, such as being less likely to be heavy drinkers and anatomical differences too. But, that said, given the right variables anyone can snore. Alcohol consumption, excess weight, smoking, nasal problems caused by allergies and medication such as sedatives all can cause you to snore."

So, just like other maladies, the scale and management of the problem is wholly dependant on the exact cause.

"The first step to tackling snoring is to capture some sound bites. You can do this by downloading a recording app, which will provide you with excellent collateral evidence of snoring, as well as sleep quality and duration," says McKenna.

However, it may be that some heavy, regular snorers have sleep apnoea, a condition where the airways become completely blocked during sleep; symptoms include large pauses in breathing, and waking-up gasping for air. Regardless of whether its snoring or sleep apnoea, the first step is visiting your GP, says McKenna.

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 Cause Before Cure

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Whatsapp Try elevating your bedhead by a few inches, or else encourage a more comfortable side-sleeping position by using an orthopaedic pillow

"We snore because of a relaxation of muscle tonus  a natural relaxation in muscles. Our airway is basically a muscular tube: it has the ability to close fully, which it does while we swallow," says Dr John OBrien, a dentist working out of the Crescent Clinic in Clontarf, among other locations in Dublin.

He says many heavy snorers tend to wake themselves frequently in sleep, with the resulting patchy sleep leading to daytime sleepiness.

"These people often feel they are very good sleepers as they will sleep for hours if able to, in order to try compensate for poor sleep quality with increased sleep quantity. But, even still, they may confess to not feeling refreshed on waking, no matter how long they sleep for."

When trying to locate the cause or causes for your snoring, be methodical: without identifying where the source of the problem lies, it may prove difficult to cure.

"The first thing to consider is body fat, as obese people are very likely to snore" says OBrien. In short, men are more prone to putting on fat in the neck area than women; fat which squashes the throat, leaving less room to breathe. Then theres the smoking factor, since smokers are twice as likely to snore as non-smokers.

Also, ask your partner to observe if you sleep with your mouth open. "We were designed to breathe in through our noses so that the air is filtered, warmed and humidified before entering the lungs," says OBrien. "When we breathe through the mouth, however, the air hits the back of the throat head-on and can create enormous vibrations in this soft tissue."

However, in other cases, a snorers noise derives from the base of the tongue, in which case a device worn in the mouth that brings the lower jaw, or the mandible, forward may be the best solution.

 Age, Sex & Position

According to OBriens personal, and highly informative, website, snoringsolutions.ie, nasal dilators can also be used to great effect if one or both of your nostrils tend to naturally collapse when inhaling  check in front of a mirror.

Take heed, too, of sleeping position. Try elevating your bedhead by a few inches, or else encourage a more comfortable side-sleeping position by using an orthopaedic pillow, such as the Pro-Pil-O.

"Lying on your back is the worst possible sleeping position because the tongue falls backwards into the throat and partially restricts the air flow, causing turbulence and snoring," says OBrien.

Furthermore, dont underplay the role alcohol serves, as well as sedatives such as sleeping tablets. Both increase the state of muscle relaxation in the throat, while depressing respiratory drive. Then there is age and sex, as both men and women tend to snore more as they grow older. However, most women tend to start snoring during or after the menopause, with some reporting that Hormone Replacement Therapy subsequently resolved their snoring problem.

For both sexes, anatomical defects can lead to snoring and it may be worth having your nose and throat checked out by an ear, nose and throat specialist. Lastly, the use of nasal sprays and nasal strips may reduce the level of snoring by opening up the nasal passages, though this wont necessarily mean you mount will remain shut through sleep.

 Success Solution

"We can now treat people with sleep apnoea and snoring with an oral appliance," says OBrien. "Most people arent aware that an oral appliance can eliminate snoring in the vast majority of cases, even though its been around for over 30 years."

The Mandibular Advancement Appliance effectively opens-up the airways by pushing the lower jaw forward. There at least 120 such oral appliances licensed in the US, for example, but all are variances of the original appliance and stick to the same principle.

"Ive been using oral appliances for about 17 years now, after I received specialised training in UCLA in Los Angeles. At that point, I would have said they had an 80pc success rate in stopping snoring. But Ive been using one appliance for the last 10 years, with a success rate between 95 and 100pc."

While Mandibular Advancement Appliances can be bought over the counter, or online, much like an effective gumshield, it usually pays long-term to have a customised one sourced and fitted by your dentist, says OBrien. "It feels more comfortable, works better and lasts longer. Having a custom-made one can, in time, become more cost effective, and more effective overall."

This viewpoint is seconded by irishhealth.com, which says the appliances are "more effective if the snoring is at its worst when sleeping on the back and if lower jaw tends to be set back. If one of these devices is to be used long-term, it should be fitted by a dentist experienced in this area. Long-term use of over the counter versions is not recommended, as it may lead to bite problems or pain in the tempero-mandibular joint," says the website, which is promoted by Dublin-based specialist healthcare publishing company, MedMedia.

The website also suggests that nasal surgery may be useful if polyps  soft, painless, non-cancerous growths on the lining of your nasal passages or sinuses  are present, or if there are breath complications following a nose injury.

It says laser surgery to the back of the throat is effective in around 70pc of snorers who are not obese, though snoring is reported as recurring in about 20pc of cases in the subsequent two years. In addition, the removal of tonsils and adenoids can be successful in particular cases of snoring.

 Snore Management

After a few years of regular, heavy snoring, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) can develop. Its understood that OSA occurs to a significant degree in 2-4pc of all adults, but as many as 10pc may suffer from a mild form of the condition. Nonetheless, sufferers are more likely to suffer from heart disease and Type 2 diabetes than non-OSA snorers.

OSA is a partial or complete temporary blockage of the airway, with complete stoppage of breathing for ten seconds or more being the result. Consequently, very little oxygen gets into the lungs. Your unconscious survival mechanism will then kick-in, causing a partial arousal from sleep to enable breathing to re-start. Only this re-start button will often be accompanied by loud gasping  to get air into the lungs  or, in some cases, tossing and turning and flailing of arms and legs.

Following several hours of this stop-start, fragmented sleep pattern through the night, daytime tiredness is almost unavoidable. As for whoever you might share a bed with, they should be knighted  assuming theyre not sectioned first.

A self OSA test can be taken on the snoringsolutions.ie website, but as OSA is a serious medical condition, it must be diagnosed by a physician. The most typical diagnosis is based on the results of an overnight sleep study, called a Polysomnogram.

While the standard snoring reliefs will also be suggested for the treatment of OSA, aside from surgery or an oral appliance, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure may possibly be recommended to you. In this, pressurized air is delivered through a tube, connected to a mask, covering the nose and mouth. Generated from a bedside machine, the force of the pressurized air blows the airway open.

 Can surgery stop snoring?

"50pc of people who have surgery to stop snoring will find they still snore after," says Dr John OBrien, a dentist working out of the Crescent Clinic in Dublins Clontarf. He adds that although the most common form of snore surgery entails the removal of the soft palate, there can be no verifiable way on ascertaining where the noise is coming from.

But no surgery for snoring should proceed without a prior sleep study: only then you might better locate the exact source of the problem. For example, if tonsils or adenoids are clogging up your airway, they can be removed. Or if the snoring is caused by a deformity in your nasal passages, it can be operated on, requiring a general anaesthetic.

According to sleep.org, the website of the National Sleep Foundation in the US, more complex surgery may be available, which has close to a 100pc success rate, only it is usually reserved for very severe cases of OSA that cannot be controlled with other methods.
Wedding etiquette warns not to talk about the ex or use any bad language, but what if you sing it instead?

Bridesmaid Ciara Whoriskey from Derry changed some of the lyrics of One Direction song 'Perfect' to describe how newlyweds Kerrie and Rachael met and their funny qualities.

The song, covering everything from ex girlfriends to bathroom habits, even let guests in on what the couple get up to between the sheets.

"If you'd like someone to cater to your every need,

If you like someone to fart then stick you head in the sheets,

Then Rachael is perfect, perfect for you."

She's very talented and I knew her speech would not disappoint. said bride Kerrie Costello whos been friends with Ciara for 10 years.

Kerrie Costello married her partner Rachael in the Radisson Blu hotel in Letterkenny on the 12th May. She had proposed to her wife a year beforehand.

The Derry couple are flying to Tenerife tomorrow for two weeks for their honeymoon.
Just last week, Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan described Brexit as one of the greatest challenges facing Ireland since independence was secured in 1922.

The full impact of Brexit won't be known until after it actually happens in 2019.

But already the seismic economic, political and social waves are pulsing through Ireland and the UK.

Weakened sterling means that Ireland has become a more expensive destination for holidaymakers coming from Britain.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office last month showed that the number of British visitors to these shores fell 6.5pc to 796,100 in the first quarter of the year.

Expect further declines as the year progresses and British consumers batten down the hatches in the face of the unknown storm to come.

Aviation plays a crucial role in delivering most of the visitors to Ireland.

But Ryanair has already raised the possibility - even if it seems far-fetched right now - that unless the UK can agree a new aviation agreement with the EU, flights will be grounded in the weeks and maybe even months following Brexit.

Its chief executive Michael O'Leary even suggested: "Explaining passporting of financial services doesn't appeal to the guy in Hull or Grimsby or in Leicester. That he can't go on holiday to Spain, now he begins to understand the risk.

"That there will not be flights to and from the UK for a couple of months or a couple of weeks after March 2019 is one of the ways that you demonstrate to Joe Public that this is what is happening."

It appears unlikely that such a scenario will play out, but there undoubtedly remains a huge amount of uncertainty for airlines.

Imagine the catastrophe if flights between Ireland and the UK were indeed stalled in a post-Brexit world - even for a matter of days. It would have very nasty economic and social side-effects.

Just that alone means it's incumbent on Government ministers such as Shane Ross to work the European political circuit, in order to press home just how important it is that a satisfactory aviation agreement is quickly hammered out between the UK and the EU.

It's one area where a get-tough stance by the EU would have real impacts for both sides in the divorce. Visibility and interaction by Irish ministers in Europe is essential. Without it, weathering the Brexit hurricane becomes even tougher.
The presidential administration has announced a DDOS attack on the site of the Ukrainian president after the publication of a decree on the implementation of the NSDC's decision about blocking a number of Russian websites.

"Starting from 15:15 of May 16 we could see the Russian reaction to the president's decree, where access to Russian social networks had been banned. The president's website undergoes an organized attack - we see a simulation of transitions and DDOS attacks from Yandex and VK resources, which creates artificial traffic to download and break down the servers of the presidential administration, a commentary of the Presidential Administration Deputy Head Dmytro Shymkiv says, published on the Facebook page of the presidential administration.

According to information, IT specialists of the presidential administration are keeping the situation under control, say there is no threat to the Internet resource.

As reported, Ukraine included Moscow-based LLC Mail.ru Group, St. Petersburg-based LLC VKontakte, Kyiv-based LLC VKontakte and Kyiv-based Mail.ru Ukraine in a list of companies to receive special economic sanctions.
US whistle-blower Chelsea Manning has celebrated her release from military prison in a way she would not have been able to seven years ago when she was arrested  through an Instagram post.

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First steps of freedom!!, the 29-year-old wrote, accompanied by a picture of her shoes  which was also posted to Twitter.

Manning, from Oklahoma, was arrested in May 2010 for leaking classified government materials to WikiLeaks  five months before Instagrams release.

After leaving Fort Leavenworth, a military prison in Kansas, Manning has clearly been making the most of her freedom  posting a picture of herself enjoying a slice of pizza.

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The former member of the US military was given a 35-year sentence in 2013 before former president Barack Obama granted her clemency during his final days in office.

There have been protests held to have Manning released from prison, and on the most part her posts on social media were warmly received.

On Instagram one user, Drake Shipway, wrote Iconic!!! We love you Chelsea. Thank you for your bravery and another, username demonickalfun, wrote Thank you for your sacrifices. Welcome home Chelsea.

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Although some thought the topping on Mannings pizza was a little stingy.

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However, not everyone had positive things to say on Mannings release. Manning was convicted of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud  and some dont appear to agree with her actions.

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Manning said in a statement following her release: Im figuring things out right now  which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me.

I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me is far more important than the past.

Manning is transgender and was formerly known as Bradley Manning before transitioning in prison.
With dispute raging over the tax plans set out in Labours manifesto, here are some of the questions being asked:

How much does Labour want to raise?

The party has calculated it can bring in an extra 48.6 billion a year from its proposed hikes, to match the additional spending it is planning.

Who will end up paying?

Labour says its plans hit the wealthy and big business, with income tax rises to 45p on earnings over 80,000 and 50p over 123,000 to raise 6.4 billion, as well as 19.4 billion revenues from increasing corporation tax to 26%, 5.6 billion from a Robin Hood tax on financial transactions, and 1.3 billion from an excessive pay levy on companies with staff earning more than 330,000.

What do the Conservatives think of it?

They say there is a 58 billion black hole in the Labour manifesto  a figure disputed by Jeremy Corbyns party, which insists the plans are fully costed. However, the Tory claim relates mostly to the cost of nationalising rail, water, the energy grid and Royal Mail, as well as Labours plans to borrow for investment. A Tory analysis released on Tuesday did not challenge Labours estimates of the cash that could be raised from its new taxes.

Would Conservatives raise tax if they were elected?

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We wont know for sure until their manifesto is launched later this week. But senior Tories have been careful not to rule out hikes in income tax, national insurance and VAT, as David Cameron did in 2015. Theresa May often describes the Tories as a lower-tax party, compared with a Labour Party whose natural instinct is to raise tax. But Philip Hammonds plea for more flexibility on the issue suggests the Chancellor wants the freedom to dial tax up where necessary in the next parliament.

What about the Liberal Democrats?

Tim Farrons party has proposed adding 1p to all rates of income tax to raise 6 billion for the NHS, social care and public health.

Will Labours proposed rises bring in the money envisaged?

The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says that is highly uncertain. It points out that rises are targeted at businesses and individuals able to change their behaviour to reduce liabilities, by emigrating, shifting activities overseas or working less. The flagship income tax policy could raise the sums Labour expects or nothing at all.

Are Labours proposals historically excessive?

It depends how you look at it. The top rate of income tax peaked at 99.25% during the Second World War and was still at 83% when Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979. Even that famously tax-cutting prime minister kept it as high as 60%  10p in the pound higher than Corbyns proposed top rate  until 1988, when it was reduced to 40%.

What about the overall tax take?

IFS director Paul Johnson says Labours plans would take the tax burden to its highest level in 70 years. Following a sharp rise during the Second World War, the government was taking around 40% of national income in tax by the end of the 1940s and the figure spiked around that level again in 1970 and 1983, but since 1997 it has fluctuated between 35% and 38%. A return to the level of the 1940s could mean a rise back above 40%.

How does that compare with other countries?

Tax as a proportion of GDP varies wildly from less than 2% in some of the oil-rich Gulf states to more than 50% in Denmark. Britains current level of around 36% is close to the EU average and comparable to countries such as Portugal, Spain and Poland, but well below Germany, France and Belgium, which have all topped 40% in recent years.
From unanswered questions at a Conservative press conference to Boris putting his foot in it  here are some of the key moments from Wednesdays General Election campaign.

Quote of the day

We do work very well together as a team. All this media tittle-tattle is just that, media tittle-tattle  Chancellor Philip Hammond on his relationship with Theresa May.

Whos had a good day?

The Liberal Democrats have really got into the head of one voter who decided to get Lib Dem shaved into his hair.

Supporter Jack Haines, 18, from Hull, said his new do is the purest example of his passion for the party, of which hes been a member since 2015.

And a bad day?

May refused to confirm that Hammond would keep his job as Chancellor after the election.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the PM didnt answer the question of whether the pair would stay next-door neighbours if the Tories win.

Considering he was stood right next to her at the time, it made for some awkward viewing.

Tweet of the day

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Caroline Lucas remarked on the focus on young people in the Lib Dems manifesto, which was launched today, and reminded her followers of the issue that has dogged the party since they were partners in the coalition government.

The Green Party co-leader tweeted: Lib Dems focussing on young people after trebling the cost of university followed by a thinking-face emoji.

Picture of the day

It wouldnt be a day on the campaign trail without Jeremy Corbyn posing for a selfie with a member of the public.

The Labour leader was spotted chatting to a neighbour as he left his home in Islington.

What do the polls say?

After gaining one percentage point yesterday, the Conservatives have lost it again and are back at 47% in the poll of polls. No real movement among the other parties at all.

Gaffe of the day

Boris Johnson has been criticised for discussing the export of Scotch whisky in a Sikh temple.

The Foreign Secretary used alcohol as an example of the benefits of a trade deal between the UK and India during a Conservative Party visit. In some Sikh teachings, alcohol is considered prohibited.

A worshipper at the temple told Johnson  whose mother-in-law is a Sikh  that his comments were absolutely outrageous.

A spokesman for Johnson said the other 30 attendees at the temple had warmly welcomed his remarks.
Chelsea Manning, the soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks, has been released from a Kansas military prison.

Here is a timeline of her story so far.

2009

Manning, then known as Bradley, was a private in the US army. In 2009 she was sent to Iraq as an intelligence analyst.

May 2010

She was arrested in 2010 after leaking 700,000 secret military and state department documents to WikiLeaks.

Included in the leaked files were sensitive messages and video footage of a US helicopter killing 12 civilians in Baghdad in 2007.

July 2010

A few weeks later, she was charged with the leaking of classified material.

August 21 2013

In August 2013 Manning was convicted of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

The trove, which included classified battlefield videos, was one of the biggest breaches of intelligence in US history.

She acknowledged leaking the files while working in Iraq, but protested that she had acted to raise awareness of the impact of US military action on innocent civilians. She was sentenced to 35 years behind bars.

August 22 2013

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The day after her sentencing, Manning said she had felt female since childhood and now wanted to be referred to as Chelsea, not Bradley. She said she wanted to begin hormone therapy and be referred to using female pronouns.

2016

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In 2016 Manning made two attempts to take her own life, citing ill-treatment behind bars. She was imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth, a male military prison.

She also went on hunger strike, before the army agreed to provide her with gender reassignment surgery.

January 2017

In his final days in office, Barack Obama granted Manning clemency and commuted her sentence. He did not grant a pardon, which would have symbolically forgiven her for the crime.

Obama said his decision took into account the fact that Manning took responsibility for her crime, and had been given a harsher sentence than other leakers.

May 17 2017

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Manning was released from prison after serving seven years of her initial 35-year sentence.

In a statement, she said she hopes to use the lessons she received in prison to help others.

She added: I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world.

Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine.
The cyber attack which threatened computer security across the globe, including Ireland, may have links to North Korea.

Security experts are examining if the WannaCry ransomware virus is similar to malware distributed by Lazarus, a hacking group behind attacks on Sony Pictures in 2014 that were linked to North Korea.

Researchers from global cyber security company Kaspersky Lab, whose European headquarters is in London, identified clear code similarities between the WannaCry virus and attacks by Lazarus in 2015.

"The similarity, of course, could be a false flag operation," it said.

"However, the analysis of the February sample and comparison to WannaCry samples used in recent attacks shows that the code which points at the Lazarus group was removed from the WannaCry malware used in the attacks started last Friday."

The ransomware virus crippled the computers of a HSE-funded agency in Wexford but it was isolated and brought under control.

The wider health service here has withstood any damage, although the systems of major hospitals were in its sights.

The HSE carried out a reboot of its servers across the network yesterday afternoon to activate additional security updates designed to shield computers against the WannaCry ransomware virus.

HSE chief information officer Richard Corbridge said more than 1,200 servers across the network were rebooted.

Patient care was protected during the process, he added.

Read More

HSE internal email, which was down since the weekend as a precaution, has been restored. It is expected to resume receiving inward emails from today.

He said there had been "no reports of any additional suspected cases of the ransomware attack".

More than 300,000 computers in 150 countries have been infected with the WannaCry ransomware virus since the attack, crippling organisations from government agencies and global companies.

The NHS in the UK was also badly affected, with 47 trusts in England and 13 Scottish health boards compromised when the virus targeted computers with outdated security.

The Revenue Commissioners in Ireland said yesterday it had not been targeted by the cyber attack in recent days.

A spokeswoman said: "Revenue takes the security of our systems very seriously and extensive information in this regard is provided here on our website. In relation to the recent cyber attack, all Revenue systems are protected, and the relevant patches had previously been applied.

"Security across all Revenue systems is constantly monitored."

She added by way of advice to the public: "Revenue does not recommend sending personal or confidential information by email.

"Email is sent via public networks, and can be intercepted and read unless it is protected with encryption. Revenue cannot guarantee that personal data, sent in plain text via standard email, is fully secure.

"Customers who choose to use this channel are deemed to have accepted any risk involved.

"MyEnquiries is the fully secure alternative online communication method offered by Revenue."

The Cabinet discussed the need for investment in cyber security yesterday.
A woman in Pakistan has reportedly been set on fire by her husband and his parents for failing to conceive after three years of marriage.

Aasia Bibi told police that her husband, Ameer Islam and his parents doused her in petrol and set her on fire in their house in Okara, a small city in the country's north east.

The womans neighbours heard her screaming and rushed to her house, according to a local police report.

She was then taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Okara, according to the Dawn newspaper.

Ms Bibi is reportedly in a critical condition in hospital, which could have been worse were she not immediately taken to hospital by her neighbours, the Express Tribune reports.

She is said to have been admonished on a daily basis by her husbands parents for not conceiving throughout her marriage.

Police have arrested Ms Bibis in-laws and two other accomplices in connection with the crime.

District police officer Hasan Asad Alvi told the newspaper Ms Bibis husband was not at home at the time of the crime but that he will be questioned as part of the investigation.
The White House defended President Donald Trump's discussions with senior Russian officials as "wholly appropriate" (AP)

US President Donald Trump has complained that "no politician in history" has been treated worse as pressure mounted over his firing of FBI director James Comey.

Democrats demanded an independent commission to dig into his sacking of Mr Comey, but Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan cautioned against "rushing to judgment".

Mr Ryan said Congress needs to get the facts, but "it is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president".

Elijah Cummings, top Democrat on a key House oversight panel, countered that Mr Ryan and the Republicans had shown "zero, zero, zero appetite for any investigation of President Trump".

The White House has denied reports that Mr Trump pressed Mr Comey to drop an investigation into Mr Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

In addition Mr Trump is facing pointed questions about his discussions with Russian diplomats during which he is reported to have disclosed classified information.

In an extraordinary turn of events, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to turn over to Congress records of Mr Trump's discussions with the diplomats.

The White House has played down the importance and secrecy of the information Mr Trump gave to the Russians, which had been supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement.

Mr Trump himself said he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia.

Yet US allies and some members of Congress have expressed alarm.

Republicans and Democrats alike were eager to hear from Mr Comey, who has increasingly emerged as a central figure in the unfolding drama.

The Senate intelligence committee on Wednesday asked Mr Comey to appear before the panel in both open and closed sessions.

The committee also asked acting FBI director Andrew McCabe to give the committee any notes that Mr Comey might have made regarding discussions he had with White House or Justice Department officials about Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Mr Putin told a news conference that he would be willing to turn over notes of Mr Trump's meeting with the Russian diplomats if the White House agreed.

He dismissed outrage over Mr Trump's disclosures as US politicians whipping up "anti-Russian sentiment".

Asked what he thinks of the Trump presidency, Mr Putin said it is up to the American people to judge and his performance can be rated "only when he's allowed to work at full capacity", implying that someone is hampering Mr Trump's efforts.

Mr Trump himself has not directly addressed the latest allegations that he pressured Mr Comey to drop the Flynn investigation.

But the swirling questions about his conduct were clearly on his mind when he told graduates at the US Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut that "no politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly".

Striking a defiant stance, he added: "You can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams. ... I guess that's why we won. Adversity makes you stronger. Don't give in, don't back down. ... And the more righteous your fight, the more opposition that you will face."

As for Mr Comey, whom Mr Trump fired last week, the FBI director wrote in a memo after a February meeting at the White House that the new president had asked him to shut down the FBI's investigation of Mr Flynn and his Russian contacts, said a person who had read the memo.

The Flynn investigation was part of a broader probe into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.

Mr Comey's memo, an apparent effort to create a paper trail of his contacts with the White House, would be the clearest evidence to date that the president has tried to influence the investigation.

Representative Jason Chaffetz, Republican chairman of the House oversight committee, sent a letter to the FBI on Tuesday requesting that it turn over all documents and recordings that detail communications between Mr Comey and Mr Trump.

He said he would give the FBI a week and then "if we need a subpoena, we'll do it".

John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said late on Tuesday that the developments had reached "Watergate size and scale".

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said: "It would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the White House."

The existence of the memo was first reported on Tuesday by The New York Times.

The White House vigorously denied it all.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House statement said.

Mr Trump fired Mr Flynn on February 13, on grounds that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russians.

The intensifying drama comes as Mr Trump is set to embark on Friday on his first foreign trip, which had been optimistically viewed by some aides as an opportunity to reset an administration floundering under an inexperienced president.

Senator Lindsey Graham said: "He's probably glad to leave town, and a lot of us are glad he's leaving for a few days."

AP
Pope Francis kisses a child as he arrives at the Catholic University during his one-day visit to Albania, in Tirana

Pope Francis condemned the "distortion and manipulation" of religious belief by extremists yesterday during a one-day visit to Albania in which he held up the tiny nation as a model of religious harmony.

In what was interpreted as a reference to the savage rule of Isil and the sectarian violence sweeping other parts of the Muslim world, the pontiff said that nobody should use God as a "shield" with which to justify "acts of violence and oppression".

On his first European trip outside Italy, and his first to a Muslim-majority country, the Pope said that "authentic religious spirit is being perverted" in many parts of the world and that "religious differences are being distorted and manipulated".

The Pope was greeted by flag-waving crowds as he was driven through the capital, Tirana, in an open-topped car, despite warnings by the Iraqi ambassador to the Holy See that Isil might be plotting to kill him while there.

Security was tight, with snipers on rooftops, hundreds of officers controlling the crowds and frequent bag checks, but a Vatican spokesman said there were "no particular reasons for concern".

He spoke warmly of Albania, a country of three million people where around 60pc are Muslim, 15pc Catholic and the rest Christian Orthodox, but where religion was suppressed for decades under the Communist dictator Enver Hoxha.

"There is a rather beautiful characteristic of Albania, one which gives me great joy: I am referring to the peaceful coexistence and collaboration that exists among followers of different religions," the Pope said. "The climate of respect and mutual trust between Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims is a precious gift to the country."

Later he met representatives of Albania's Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim communities and told them that religious intolerance was an "insidious enemy".

Elderly men wearing fez-like hats stood next to women in traditional costumes, as Catholics who had travelled from neighbouring Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro waved flags. One man held up a placard which read "I love the Bible and Koran because I am Albanian."

The Pope celebrated Mass in a square named after Mother Theresa, one of Albania's most revered national figures. He said he had once met the formidable nun, an ethnic Albanian born in Macedonia.

"I remember thinking, I'm glad she wasn't my Mother Superior," he joked. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
Ian Brady made a final request that his ashes be scattered on the moors where he buried his victims, a coroner has suggested.

The British serial child killer is believed to have made the demand in his will, but an inquest into his death heard that such an act would be offensive and morally improper. A coroner refused to release his body last night until assurances were given that any such demand was not met. Brady died of heart failure on Monday night.

At the inquest into his death, held at Southport Town Hall yesterday, senior coroner Christopher Sumner said Bradys ashes should not be scattered on Saddleworth Moor  the place where he and Myra Hindley buried their victims bodies.

Terry West (66), whose sister Lesley Ann Downey was murdered by Brady, said: It is the final act of a twisted, evil man. For the coroner to order this ban must mean Brady stipulated his ashes should be scattered on Saddleworth Moor.

Mr West was informed by police that Brady had died in a telephone call at 9pm on Monday. He opened a bottle of wine to mark the event. We have been waiting for him to die for 50 years, he said.

Bradys lawyer visited him before his death to discuss his funeral arrangements, but would not disclose what requests the killer made.

But Chief Insp Ian Hanson, of the Greater Manchester branch of the Police Federation, said: When somebody dies, it is natural in a civilised society that we show compassion. However, there are exceptions  and this monster is one of them.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Promising renationalisation of some services, measures to curb corporate excess and an end to healthcare cuts, Britain's Labour Party made its case yesterday for voters to back its move to the left and throw out the Conservatives at next month's election.

Unveiling what leader Jeremy Corbyn called "a blueprint of what Britain could be", Labour said it was the only party that would make leaving the EU "work for ordinary people" but would not support a second independence vote for Scotland.

Labour wants to fight Prime Minister Theresa May on domestic policies, particularly healthcare, at the June 8 election, which, if the polls giving the Conservatives a runaway lead are right, could reshape the political landscape for years to come.

Critics say the manifesto evokes the party's 1983 offering, described then by a Labour lawmaker as "the longest suicide note in history" for helping the Conservatives win, and the ruling party questioned its funding plans.

Mr Corbyn said his manifesto, which also included scrapping university tuition fees and ending cuts to the National Health Service, was costed and accused the Conservatives of stepping back in time by backing fox hunting and new selective schools.

"This manifesto is the first draft of a better future for the people of our country.

"A blueprint of what Britain could be and a pledge of the difference a Labour government can and will make," he told supporters at a university in Bradford.

"Our country will only work for the many not the few if opportunity is in the hands of the many.

"So our manifesto is a plan for everyone to have a fair chance to get on in life, because our country will only succeed when everyone succeeds."

The Conservatives said Mr Corbyn's numbers did not add up and that "every single working family in this country would pay for his chaos with higher taxes".

"It's clear that proposal after proposal in this manifesto will mean more borrowing and debt: from promises on benefits, to promises on prison guards, to promises on nationalising the water network," chief secretary to the finance ministry, David Gauke, said in a statement.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) will update its resolution on sanctions No. 654 dated October 1, 2015 in line with the new list of persons hit by Ukrainian sanctions, the press service of the central bank has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"The updates will be made, as new president order No. 133 dated May 15, 2017 revokes orders issued by the head of state earlier. NBU resolution No. 654 referred to old orders. The updates would be of technical character. The contents of the document would not be changed," the press service said.

The NBU recalled that resolution No. 654 sets a mechanism for applying sanctions to persons hit by sanctions by Ukrainian banks, non-bank institutions and the national postal operator, which are payment organizations of the domestic and international payment systems and/or their members. Ukrainian banks are obliged to submit reports on ending stocks on bank accounts of persons hit by sanctions to the financial monitoring department of the NBU every month. Banks are obliged to report on attempts to settle financial transactions by individuals and companies hit by the sanctions or their relatives.

"After updating resolution No. 654, it will be sent to Ukrainian banks, non-bank institutions and the national postal operator," the press service said.
Ukraine will block access to the country's most popular social networking sites and other Russian-based web businesses under new sanctions against Moscow for its annexation of Crimea and the war in east Ukraine.

Access to Yandex, a Russian equivalent of Google that provides search engines, maps and other popular tools, and social media sites Vkontakte and Odnoklassniki, will be banned under a decree signed by Petro Poroshenko, the president of Ukraine, yesterday. The decree banned Ukrainian web hosts from linking to the Russian websites, effective immediately.

The decision was described in a decree posted on the presidential website as part of economic sanctions against Russia, which annexed Crimea in 2014 and has sent weapons, equipment, and troops to support the separatists in the war in eastern Ukraine.

However, some Ukrainian officials have also described it as a national security measure.

"The servers of these Russian social networks... store the personal data of Ukrainian users and information on their movements, contacts, communications," Volodymyr Ariev, an MP from Mr Poroshenko's political faction, said on Facebook.

Other websites blocked under the order include those of the cyber security firms Kaspersky Lab and DrWeb.

The decrees also impose asset freezes and broadcast bans on a range of Russian television channels. It is not clear how Ukraine will enforce the ban.

About 60pc of Ukrainian internet users are active on Vkontakte, a survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology found last year.

About 50pc use Odnoklassniki and 40pc use Facebook, the same survey found.

Leonid Slutsky, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the State Duma, Russia's lower house, called the Ukrainian move "destructive and unlawful".

"Everything is done to forcibly break Ukraine's citizens from Russia's information space," he said.

He did not say whether Moscow would consider taking retaliatory measures.

In comments to Russian newspaper 'Kommersant', Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the sanctions a "manifestation of politically motivated censorship".

Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations from Kiev it has been waging a "cyber war" against Ukraine.

It also denies accusations President Vladimir Putin is fuelling the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine by supporting rebels with troops and weapons.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet EU leader Donald Tusk. (Yoan Valat/AP)

Newly named French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, right, shakes hands with outgoing Interior Minister Matthias Fekl. (AP/Francois Mori)

French President Emmanuel Macron's first government of 18 Cabinet ministers includes a mix of experienced politicians and newcomers from civil society.

Half of the appointees announced on Wednesday are men and half are women.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, whom President Macron named on Monday, will lead the government, at least until the parliamentary elections scheduled for June.

Mr Philippe and Mr Macron chose experienced politicians from the left, the centre and the right for the main positions.

Socialist Jean-Yves Le Drian was named foreign minister and prominent centrist Francois Bayrou as justice minister.

Another centrist, Sylvie Goulard will lead the Defence Ministry, while Socialist Gerard Collomb will head the Interior Ministry.

High-profile conservative Bruno Le Maire was the pick for the Finance Ministry.

Other positions were filled by ministers from civil society.

Nicolas Hulot, the well-known host of a television show focusing on nature and the environment, was named minister for environment transition.
US President Donald Trump sought yesterday to repair relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is alarmed about a US plan to arm Kurdish fighters in Syria.

Mr Trump said he and the Turkish president would have a "long and hard discussion" as he welcomed Mr Erdogan to the Oval Office for a meeting three days ahead of a Trump trip to the Middle East.

Mr Erdogan said the US shouldn't work with the YPG Kurdish militia, a group Turkey considers a terrorist organisation, that Mr Trump plans to arm.

"Taking them into consideration in the region will never be accepted and it is going to be against the global agreement that we have reached," Mr Erdogan said in a statement.

Mr Trump has worked since his election to improve relations with Mr Erdogan that grew tense by the end of Barack Obama's presidency.

Some of the people who shaped Mr Trump's presidential campaign also have worked on the Turkish president's pet causes. A firm owned by Mr Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, received more than $500,000 during the election campaign, initially undisclosed, for work intended to discredit an Erdogan political rival.

Mr Erdogan is also seeking the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher exiled in Pennsylvania, whom Mr Erdogan considers a terrorist.
Syrian government forces inspect a tunnel in Damascus' north eastern al-Qaboun suburb after they retook the formerly rebel-held neighbourhood. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Residents in al-Qaboun wait in a government designated area for their cases to be processed after the suburb was retaken by Syrian government forces, two of whom are pictured below inspecting a tunnel in al-Qaboun yesterday. Photos: Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty

The Syrian government has "categorically" denied US accusations of mass killings at a prison near Damascus, including executing political opponents and burning the victims in a crematorium at the site.

The Foreign Ministry said the allegations are a "new Hollywood plot" to justify US intervention in Syria.

It described the allegations as "lies" and "fabrications", noting what it called a US track record of using false claims as a pretext for military aggression.

The US State Department said it believes about 50 detainees are being hanged each day at the Saydnaya military prison, a 45-minute drive north of Damascus.

Many of the bodies are then burned in the crematorium "to cover up the extent of mass murders taking place", said Stuart Jones, the senior US diplomat for the Middle East, accusing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government of sinking "to a new level of depravity".

The allegation came as US President Donald Trump weighs options in Syria, where the US launched cruise missiles on a government air base last month after accusing Mr Assad's military of killing scores of civilians with a sarin-like nerve agent.

Expand Close Syrian special forces take a selfie picture a mobile phone in al-Qaboun, a formerly rebel-held north-eastern suburb of Damascus, after it was retaken by the Syrian government forces yesterday. Photo: AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Syrian special forces take a selfie picture a mobile phone in al-Qaboun, a formerly rebel-held north-eastern suburb of Damascus, after it was retaken by the Syrian government forces yesterday. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

The latest accusations have cast a shadow over peace talks in Geneva, where Syrian government and opposition representatives sat down separately with the UN envoy as talks got under way.

The meetings were the sixth round of talks brokered by special envoy Staffan de Mistura.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said: "The US administration's accusations against the Syrian government of a so-called crematorium in Saydnaya prison, in addition to the broken record about the use of barrel bombs and chemical weapons, are categorically false."

Atrocities

The allegation could test the Trump administration's willingness to respond to alleged atrocities other than chemical weapons attacks, which Washington blames on Mr Assad's government.

Western monitors and watchdog groups say they have evidence of mass killings in Syrian government prisons, although there have been no substantiated allegations on the use of a crematorium.

Syrian opposition spokesman Salem Meslet said the US allegations were "credible" and not surprising. Mr Meslet, in Geneva for the UN-mediated talks, told Saudi-owned TV station al-Hadath that the Syrian government was known to move prisoners from site to site for interrogations and, in some instances, executions.

The US State Department released commercial satellite photographs showing what it described as a building in the prison complex that was modified to support the crematorium. The photographs, taken over the course of several years, beginning in 2013, do not prove the building is a crematorium, but show construction consistent with such use.

The revelations echoed a February report by Amnesty International that said Syria's military police hanged as many as 13,000 people in four years before carting out bodies by the truckload for burial in mass graves.

Meanwhile, Syrian activists said government forces were escalating attacks on opposition-held areas protected under a recently brokered ceasefire.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had recorded the first fatalities inside the country's four "de-escalation zones" since the agreement came into effect 10 days ago. The deal was brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran.

Rocket

The Observatory said two women were killed by rocket fire in a Damascus suburb and another was killed in aerial bombardment in central Homs province.

Local activists reported higher death tolls. Wael Abou Rayan, a media activist in the Homs countryside, said the bombardment of Homs had eased since the agreement came into force, but never completely stopped.

Two children were killed by government artillery fire in the rural town of Rastan two days ago, while another woman was killed in an air strike in the village of Kafrlaha yesterday, according to Mr Abou Rayan.

Outside Damascus, the Syrian Civil Defence search and rescue group said three surface-to-surface rockets struck the Hamouriya area, killing six people and wounding dozens of others, including women and children. Video from the group showed rescuers pulling children from the rubble of a multi-storey building.
Chelsea Manning will remain on active duty in a special status after her release from prison (US Army/AP)

Private Chelsea Manning, the soldier who was sentenced to 35 years in a military prison for giving classified materials to WikiLeaks, says she is excited about what lies ahead.

"I'm figuring things out right now - which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me," Pvt Manning said in an emailed statement.

She tweeted a picture of her feet in trainers - with the caption "First steps of freedom!!" - after walking away from the Fort Leavenworth lock-up in Kansas having spent seven years behind bars.

Pvt Manning's immediate plans, including living arrangements, remained unclear.

She tweeted after then-President Barack Obama granted her clemency in January that she planned to move to Maryland, where she has an aunt.

Pvt Manning originally comes from Crescent, Oklahoma.

"After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived," Ms Manning said in Wednesday's statement.

"I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me is far more important than the past."

Ms Manning, who is transgender and was known as Bradley Manning before she transitioned in prison, was convicted in 2013 of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud.

She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.

Pvt Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, has acknowledged leaking the materials, which included battlefield video.

She said she wanted to expose what she considered to be the US military's disregard of the effects of war on civilians and that she released information that she did not believe would harm the US.

Critics said the leaks laid bare some of the nation's most-sensitive secrets and endangered information sources, prompting the State Department to help some of those people move to protect their safety.

Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.

Pvt Manning, who was arrested in 2010, filed a transgender rights lawsuit in prison and attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers.

"We can all finally truly celebrate the strength and heroism she has shown in surviving and sharing her truth and life with all of us," Chase Strangio, Ms Manning's attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in Wednesday's statement that included her post-release comments.

"Through extended periods of solitary confinement and up against the government's insistence on denying her medical care and existence as a woman, Chelsea has emerged with grace, resilience, and an inspiring amount of love for others," Mr Strangio added.

"I am humbled to fight alongside such a fierce advocate for justice."

President Obama's decision to commute Pvt Manning's sentence to about seven years, including the time she spent locked up before being convicted, drew strong criticism from members of Congress and others, with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan calling the move "just outrageous."

In a statement last week - her first public comments since Mr Obama intervened - Ms Manning thanked that former president and said that letters of support from veterans and fellow transgender people inspired her "to work toward making life better for others".

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea," she said.

"I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world. Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine."

Her lawyers have said that Ms Manning was subjected to violence in prison and argued the military mistreated her by requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison, restricting her physical and mental health care and not allowing her to keep a feminine haircut.

The Department of Defence has repeatedly declined to discuss Pvt Manning's treatment in prison.

The Army said that Pvt Manning would remain on active duty in a special, unpaid status that will legally entitle her to military medical care, along with commissary privileges.

An Army spokeswoman, Lt Col Jennifer Johnson, said Ms Manning will be on "excess leave" while her court-martial conviction is under appellate review.

AP
Chelsea Manning walked out of a US military prison today, seven years after being arrested for passing secrets to WikiLeaks in the largest breach of classified information in US history.

The 29-year-old was released from the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, at about 2 am, according to a brief statement released by the U.S. Army.

The former military intelligence analyst, once known as Private First Class Bradley Manning, is likely to become a transgender advocate following her release, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who has represented her.

Manning tweeted a photo this afternoon writing: "First steps of freedom!!"

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Manning was convicted of providing more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks, an international organization that publishes such information from anonymous sources.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a target of criminal investigations in Sweden and the United States, has promised to accept extradition if Manning was freed. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said Assange's arrest was a priority.

Manning said in 2014 that she chose to disclose the classified information to expose truths about the civil war in Iraq "out of a love for my country."

Before he left office, president Barack Obama commuted the final 28 years of Manning's 35-year sentence. The decision angered national security experts who say Manning put US lives at risk, but it won praise from transgender advocates who have embraced her transition to a female gender identity.

Manning announced her gender transition while the U.S. Army kept her in the men's prison. Her lawyer said she twice tried to commit suicide and faced long stretches of solitary confinement as well as denial of healthcare.

INTELLIGENCE ANALYST

Last year, the US Defense Department lifted a long-standing ban against transgender men and women serving openly in the military.

Although transgender people still complain of widespread discrimination in education, employment and medical care, awareness of the issue has exploded since Manning went to jail. Transgender celebrities such as Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox have become part of the mainstream.

In a statement to ABC News, Manning said she appreciated the support she had received from people all over the world.

"As I rebuild my life, I remind myself not to relive the past," the statement said. "The past will always affect me, and I will keep that in mind while remembering that how it played out is only my starting point  not my final destination."

WikiLeaks began revealing secrets in 2007 and then burst onto the wider public consciousness three years later with a series of releases, including material gathered by Manning during her stint as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad.

Among the material from her was a 2007 gunsight video of a U.S. Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people, including two Reuters news staffers.

More recently, WikiLeaks published Democratic National Committee emails in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the email accounts were hacked by Russian intelligence as part of a campaign by Moscow to influence the election.

On April 13, Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo called WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service."

Assange has been Ecuador's London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for the investigation of allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape there in 2010. He has said he fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks.
Allegations that Donald Trump asked FBI Director James Comey to end an investigation into Michael Flynn's links to Russia have spurred calls for the president to be impeached.

The explosive new development, stemming from a memo written by Mr Comey, followed a week of tumult at the White House after Mr Trump fired the FBI director and then discussed sensitive national security information about Islamic State with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Even before the latest bombshell had hit the White House, at least two congressional Democrats had demanded the president be impeached, but Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi had pushed back against those isolated calls.

However, the clamour grew in the wake of the latest claims. David Axelrod, Barack Obama's former senior advisor, tweeted: "I've been resistant to impeachment talk until now, but if Comey memo is true-and Comey is very credible-we are into a whole new deal here."

Here's a look at what needs to happen for Mr Trump to be impeached.

What is impeachment?

Impeachment is the process by which Congress puts certain officials, namely the president, on trial. The constitution lays out a broad scope of offences that can lead to impeachment: Treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

It does not mean the president will necessarily be kicked out of office. It proceeds like a bill passing through legislature. First, a majority in the House of Representatives - 218 out of 435 members - must approve articles of impeachment previously approved in committee.

Consequently, the current make-up of the House favours Mr Trump. As it stands, Republicans hold 238 seats while Democrats hold 193. (Four seats are vacant.) That means 25 Republicans would need to be persuaded to vote to impeach Mr Trump, which seems an unlikely scenario.

Then it goes to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote is needed to convict the president and consequently remove him from office - even getting the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster is difficult for either party these days.

What does history tell us?

History books show impeachment is far from straightfoward. There have been two presidents who have been impeached in the past and neither were removed from office.

Andrew Johnson was the first leader to go through the process in 1868. He was charged with breaking the law after he tried to replace the US secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, without congressional permission. At the time - in the aftermath of the civil war - the president was required to consult the senate about such decisions. His impeachment passed to the Senate, where he escaped being removed from office by a one-vote margin.

The other president was, of course, Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky scandal. He was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice in 1998, but he was acquitted in the Senate trial.

Richard Nixon would almost certainly have faced impeachments proceedings in 1974 over the Watergate scandal and undoubtedly would have been removed from office. However, the disgraced president resigned before it got that far and he handed the presidency over to Gerald Ford.

What could Trump be charged with?

Many people have said Mr Trump is not fit to be president, but this is not an impeachable offence, even under the broad terms of the constitution. So what could he be charged with?

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There were calls for action against him over the allegations that he shared classified information with the Russians. But if true, it is unlikely he has broken any law. As president, he has broad authority to declassify government secrets, which is why he defiantly defended himself by saying he had the "absolute right" to do so.

Other have pointed to his conflict of interest over his business dealings. Legal scholars have pointed out that as soon as he was sworn into office, he was in direct violation of the foreign-emoluments clause in Article I, Section 9, of the Constitution, which states: "... no person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office or Title of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State. With significant financial interests all over the world, this indeed a murky area for Mr Trump but he has taken enough steps away from his business empire to ensure this is a non-starter.

The latest controversy could be trickier for Mr Trump. Obstruction of the justice was one of the charges against Mr Clinton and the same charges were being levelled against the president as soon as he fired Mr Comey, who was leading an investigation into the Trump campaign's links to Russia. Mr Comey's memo claiming that Mr Trump urged him to end the investigation into Mr Flynn has only fuelled those accusations.

"The memo is powerful evidence of obstruction of justice and certainly merits immediate and prompt investigation by an independent special prosecutor," said Democratic US Senator Richard Blumenthal.

So did he break the law?

Legal experts say Mr Trump is certainly on thin ice over his comments, as quoted in the memo.

"For the president to tell the FBI to end a potential criminal investigation, that's obstruction of justice," said Erwin Chereminsky, a constitutional law professor and dean of University of California, Irvine School of Law. "This is what caused President Nixon to resign from office."

But the experts said intent was a critical element of an obstruction of justice charge, and the president's words could be subject to interpretation and possibly put into the context of other actions, like Mr Comey's termination.

The fact that the president apparently said he "hoped" Mr Comey would end the Flynn investigation rather than more directly ordering it "makes for a weaker but still viable case," Christopher Slobogin, a criminal law professor at Vanderbilt University Law School, told Reuters.

Mr Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks earlier that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russia's ambassador, Sergei Kislyak, before Mr Trump took office on January 20.

What next politically?

The case against Mr Trump would have to be damning and watertight for Republicans to act against him.

Republican US Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of a House of Representatives oversight committee, said his committee "is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready".

The White House remained defiant as it denied the report.

"While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the President has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," the White House said in a statement.

Not only are Republicans and Democrats demanding to see the memo, they also want Mr Comey to testify.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said: "Let's get to the bottom of what happened with the director. And the best way to get to the bottom of it, is for him to testify. ... I'm not going to take a memo, I want the guy to come in. If he felt confident enough to write it down, he should come in and tell us about it."

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said Mr Comey needed to come to Capitol Hill and testify, while Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he would ask Mr Comey for additional material as part of the panel's investigation. "Memos, transcripts, tapes - the list keeps getting longer," he said.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Yanukovych defense on May 18 to ask Kyiv court to help organize video conference with ex-president

Lawyers for disgraced ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych will ask Kyiv's Obolonsky district court on May 18 for a preparatory hearing on the state treason case to explain procedural issues involving the possible appearance of Yanukovych in a video conference.

An attorney from the Aver Lex law firm told the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency that the Obolonsky district court had not determined the jurisdiction of the location in the Russian Federation where Yanukovych would testify via video link.

Yanukovych's lawyers want to know what norms of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine will apply.

"It's not clear how and with the assistance of what technical means procedures involving Yanukovych will take place during the video conference and how information security will be provided," the ex-president's lawyers said.

They are also asking the court whether Yanukovych's lawyers should be present when he testifies during the video conference.
President Donald Trump asked then-FBI director James Comey to shut down an investigation into ties between former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia, an associate of Mr Comey, who has seen a memo on the subject, said yesterday.

The associate told Reuters that the details of the document as first reported by 'The New York Times' were accurate.

"I hope you can let this go," Mr Trump told Mr Comey, according to the language of the memo, which the source confirmed.

The White House denied the report in a statement to reporters, saying it was "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr Comey".

The memo was written by Mr Comey immediately after his meeting in the White House Oval Office with Mr Trump one day after Mr Flynn resigned over his contacts with Russians.

Mr Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks earlier that Mr Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak before Trump took power on January 20.

A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment on the details of the memo.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell said yesterday that Mr Trump should choose an "apolitical" FBI director, while adding he'd like to see "less drama" from the White House.

In an interview with Bloomberg News, the Kentucky Republican said he recommended that Mr Trump choose former Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland to replace Mr Comey.

Last year, Mr McConnell refused to allow a Senate confirmation hearing for Mr Garland, who was nominated by President Barack Obama.

"I think the most important thing is for the president to pick somebody who's apolitical, who clearly has a deep law enforcement background," Mr McConnell said. Someone like Mr Garland, a judge and former federal prosecutor, would "create a kind of wow factor that the president fully understands the role of the FBI director".

"Historically, it's been a solid law enforcement professional without a background in elective office," Mr McConnell said.

"That's the kind of person who ought to be in the job and I think it would also make an important statement about the president himself."

Mr McConnell, in saying he'd like to see less drama from the White House, said, "I think it would be helpful if the president spent more time on things we're trying to accomplish and less time on other things."
Joshua French is back in Norway, according to reports.

Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Foreign Minister Borge Brende speak at press conference after the release of Norwegian-British Joshua French from a DR Congo prison. (Terje Pedersen/NTB Scanpix/AP)

A man with dual Norwegian and British citizenship who had been sentenced to life in prison for murder in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been freed on humanitarian grounds and returned to the Scandinavian county.

"I am very pleased to confirm that the Congolese authorities decided yesterday to transfer Joshua French to Norway," Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a news conference.

"French came to Norway today and is now receiving necessary medical follow-up. I am relieved that he is now in Norway."

French and his friend Tjostolv Moland were found guilty in 2009 of murdering their driver in DR Congo and were sentenced to death.

Then in 2014, French was found guilty of strangling Moland, who was found dead in his cell.

French claimed Moland had killed himself.

The 35-year-old French had not been pardoned, but a "humanitarian deal" had been reached with DR Congo's government, Foreign Minister Borge Brende said.

DR Congo's justice and foreign ministers were present at the president's office in Kinshasa where the deal was made on Tuesday, he said.

Ms Solberg said French's mother, Kari Hilde French, had made an "impression" on Congolese authorities and was instrumental in reaching a deal.

"There is no conviction against him," Mr Brende said, implying that French was now a free man.

The minister said no money had been paid in the release.

Ms Solberg said French needed medical care, but did not elaborate on his condition.

French and Moland had been in Congo to do research for a potential company that would arrange extreme tourism holidays.

They denied killing driver Abedi Kasongo, saying they were ambushed by gunmen.

The two also were convicted of spying for Norway because they were carrying military ID cards at the time.

They denied the charges, and the Norwegian government denied that the men were spies.

Congolese Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba told Norwegian media outlet NRK in February that French would be pardoned this year.

In London, the Foreign Office had no immediate comment.

Kari Hilde French wrote May 7 on her blog that her son's health in recent years had been "very bad".

She said he had been hospitalised several times, most recently in 2016 for five-and-a-half months.

"Our greatest wish is to get Joshua French home alive before it is too late," she wrote.

On Wednesday, she wrote: "We have finally gotten you home and the joy cannot be described."

AP
President Donald Trump waves as he arrives to give the commencement address at the US Coast Guard Academy. (AP/Susan Walsh)

President Donald Trump has lashed out at his "critics and naysayers" following more than a week of negative news coverage beginning with his sudden decision to fire James Comey as FBI director.

In an address to the newest group of US Coast Guard officers, President Trump urged the 195 graduates in the Class of 2017 to "put your head down and fight, fight, fight" when life presents them with challenges and adversity.

Mr Trump's appearance at the academy came the day after reports that he had personally appealed to Mr Comey to abandon the FBI's investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

President Trump fired Mr Flynn earlier this year for misleading top White House officials about his contacts with Russian officials.

The White House has denied the latest report, which landed amid a furore over the president's recent Oval Office meeting with Russian diplomats in which Mr Trump is said to have disclosed classified information.

The White House has said it was "wholly appropriate" for President Trump to share the information.

"Look at the way I've been treated lately, especially by the media," President Trump said.

"No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly.

"You can't let them get you down. You can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams."

"I guess that's why we won," he said, before continuing to offer the graduates his advice.

"Adversity makes you stronger. Don't give in, don't back down and never stop doing what you know is right," Mr Trump said.

"Nothing worth doing ever, ever, ever came easy and the more righteous your fight, the more opposition that you will face."

President Trump also praised the newly minted Coast Guard officers, emphasising that they will be an asset to his efforts to protect the homeland, protect US harbours and seas from drug smuggling and human trafficking and keep out "all who seek to do harm to our country".

But his own political troubles were not far from his mind.

"Things are not always fair," Mr Trump said, adding that sometimes "things happen to you that you do not always deserve".

AP
Donald Trump's tweets did not say whether he revealed classified information about IS

The White House has defended US President Donald Trump's disclosure of classified information to senior Russian officials as "wholly appropriate".

It came as officials tried to beat back criticism from fellow Republicans and concerns from international allies.

One day after officials declared that reports about Mr Trump's discussions with the Russians were false, national security adviser HR McMaster said the president had been engaging in "routine sharing of information" with foreign leaders.

Mr Trump himself claimed the authority to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia, saying in a pair of tweets he has "an absolute right" as president to do so.

Mr Trump's tweets did not say whether he revealed classified information about Islamic State (IS), as published reports have said and as a US official told the Associated Press (AP).

The official said the information Mr Trump divulged came from a US intelligence partner.

The revelations sent a White House accustomed to chaos reeling anew and drew rare serious criticism of the president from some Republicans.

His action raised fresh questions about his handling of classified information and his dealings with Russia, which is widely considered an adversary by many US officials and Western allies.

A senior US official told the AP that Mr Trump shared details about an IS terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak.

The classified information had been shared with the president by an ally, violating the confidentiality of an intelligence-sharing agreement with that country, the official said.

The official said that Mr Trump boasted about his access to classified intelligence in last week's meeting with Mr Lavrov and Mr Kislyak.

An excerpt from an official transcript of the meeting reveals that Mr Trump told them: "I get great intel. I have people brief me on great intel every day."

Mr Trump was later informed that he had broken protocol and White House officials placed calls to the National Security Agency and the CIA looking to minimise any damage.

The official would not say which country's intelligence was divulged.

As president, Mr Trump has the ability to disclose classified information largely as he chooses.

Yet his decision to discuss an ally's information on IS with other countries could damage his standing with world leaders and lead some countries to start second-guessing their own intelligence-sharing agreements with the US.

A senior European intelligence official told the AP his country might stop sharing information with the United States if it confirms that Mr Trump shared classified details with Russian officials.

Such sharing "could be a risk for our sources", the official said.

Mr McMaster, in a White House briefing, said: "In the context of that discussion, what the president discussed with the foreign minister was wholly appropriate to that conversation and is consistent with the routine sharing of information between the president and any leaders with whom he is engaged."

He cast some of Mr Trump's revelations as information that was available from publicly available "open-source reporting" and added that the president did not know the precise source of the intelligence he had shared, suggesting that Mr Trump could not have compromised confidential sources.

The Kremlin dismissed the reports of Mr Trump's actions as "complete nonsense".

On Capitol Hill, Democrats and Republicans alike expressed concern.

Senator John McCain called the reports "deeply disturbing" and said they could affect the willingness of allies and partners to share intelligence with the US.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the intelligence uproar a distraction from Republican priorities such as tax reform and replacing the healthcare law.

"I think we could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so that we can focus on our agenda," he told Bloomberg Business.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Congress to have immediate access to a transcript of Mr Trump's meeting with the Russians, saying that if Mr Trump refuses, Americans will doubt that their president is capable of safeguarding critical secrets.

Mr Trump ignored reporters' questions about whether he disclosed classified information.

Following a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Trump said only that his meeting last week with Mr Lavrov was "very, very successful".

Asked why the NSA and CIA were put on notice if the revelations were not problematic, Mr McMaster cast the notification as being provided "from an overabundance of caution".

The disclosure put a source of intelligence on IS at risk, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the disclosure on Monday.

On Monday, Mr McMaster told reporters: "The president and the foreign minister reviewed a range of common threats to our two countries including threats to civil aviation.

"At no time, at no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed and the president did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known."

The revelations could further damage Mr Trump's already fraught relationship with US intelligence agencies.

He has openly questioned the competency of intelligence officials and challenged their high-confidence assessment that Russia meddled in last year's presidential election to help him win.

His criticism has been followed by a steady stream of leaks to the media that have been damaging to Mr Trump and exposed an FBI investigation into his associates' possible ties to Russia.

AP
Bill Clinton and James Patterson's upcoming political thriller is likely headed to the big screen.

Aaaand that took a hot second: That political thriller that novelist James Patterson and former president Bill Clinton are penning is probably going to wind up a movie.

The authors of the upcoming "The President is Missing" are planning to woo Hollywood directors in meetings "later this spring," per the Hollywood Reporter. They've enlisted CAA agent Richard Lovett to help with the film deal. The co-bylined novel was announced only Monday.

We don't know much about the plot, other than there's a president who can't be immediately located (duh), though the publishers are promising it will entail the kind of insider-y insights that can come only from someone who knows the office intimately.
Poltorak announces measures for returning uncontrolled areas of Donbas and Crimea under Ukraine's jurisdiction

Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has said Kyiv has no plans to return control over occupied areas in Donbas and Crimea, using military means.

"We have no plans to do this militarily. But every Ukrainian citizen will defend each centimeter of their land if Russia resorts to open aggression," Poltorak told the Berlin-based Deutsche Welle news agency during an interview.

He said ceasefire violations are Russia's fault because Russians supply military equipment to militant groups in eastern Ukraine.

"We recognize Donetsk and Luhansk as Ukrainian territory," Poltorak said, announcing a number of important measures to be taken by the Ukrainian government and the president to return uncontrolled areas in the country's east and annexed Crimea under Ukraine's jurisdiction.

However, he did not mention the measures, Deutsche Welle said.
CLAREMORE  Dennis Christie has a place to call his own.

Its great to finally have a nice place, he said. Its good to have some place that I can call home.

Christie is the first Cherokee Nation member to receive rental assistance under a new program to help homeless veterans. He now lives in a small one-bedroom apartment in Claremore.

Its helped me out a lot, Christie said. Its a nice place. I can walk to everything. Its life-changing.

Gary Cooper, director of the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation, said Christies story is what the tribe wants to hear.

Thats exactly what we hoped would happen, Cooper said. We got involved in this program hoping to give people a helping hand, not to give a handout.

Obviously, through this program were able to help a veteran who has served his country, a place he or she can call home. Thats the purpose of what were doing.

The Cherokee Nation is among 26 tribes that received funding to provide housing for homeless veterans.

Under the program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $5.9 million in grants to offer permanent homes and supportive services to Native American veterans who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.

Using $200,000 from the grant, the Cherokee Nation is aiming to provide rental-assistance vouchers to as many as 20 veterans.

Dennis is our first recipient, but were very optimistic about this program, Cooper said. We work with the private sector.

We help locate a place to live for these veterans, and then we help arrange to pay the rent.

Christie, who was born in Tahlequah, joined the Army a few years after graduating from Fort Gibson High School. He was deployed to Germany and was serving in Berlin when the Berlin Wall came down.

As a veteran, he has suffered from chronic substance abuse, other health issues and homelessness. He recently completed a treatment program in preparation for getting off the street and into the apartment.

Its a good location, he said. This is a really nice neighborhood.  Its close to everything. I can walk to the hospital and stores if I need something.

The Cherokee Nation has a veterans center that offers resources and services to those who served. It also has a contract with the VA to treat Native American veterans with routine health care in tribal facilities.

The housing grant program was announced in January 2016 in Tulsa by then-HUD Secretary Julian Castro during the Inter-Tribal Council for the Five Civilized Tribes.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker praised the program, saying, The partnership between HUD and the VA will ensure our Cherokee patriots get the assistance they need after serving our country.

The Cherokee Housing Authority started working with Christie several months ago to get him into the program.

He has been in his apartment about a month.

Id been staying in the Salvation Army shelter in Tulsa, Christie said. That was kind of uncertain.

Here I know I have a place to live. Having my own place will hopefully help me get back on track.
An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2019 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of i...
New Delhi, May 17 (IBNS): The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave its approval for signing and ratifying, an Agreement between India and Tajikistan on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters.

The Agreement will help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention and investigation of Customs offences, read a government statement.

The Agreement is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between the countries.
Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. Receive information of your transactions directly from Exchanges on your mobile / email at the end of day and alerts on your registered mobile for all debits and other important transactions in your demat account directly from NSDL/ CDSL on the same day." - Issued in the interest of investors.

KYC is one time exercise while dealing in securities markets - once KYC is done through a SEBI registered intermediary (broker, DP, Mutual Fund etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when you approach another intermediary.

No need to issue cheques by investors while subscribing to IPO. Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account."

www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others.
The Verkhovna Rada has ratified the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Czech Republic on scientific and technological cooperation.

Some 230 people's deputies voted for the bill on ratification of relevant agreement (No. 0140) on the plenary session on Wednesday.

This agreement was signed in Prague on December 19, 2011.

The agreement is aimed at creating the appropriate legal framework for the development of relations between Ukraine and the Czech Republic in the field of science and technology. It facilitates the integration of Ukrainian research institutions and universities into the European scientific community and will promote further joint participation of the two states in pan-European scientific projects.
Life is not a bed of roses for actors and they have their own shares of struggles and hardships and yes, that goes for actors like Salman Khan too. Salman, who is probably at the highest point in is acting career has given back to back hits and time and again proved that he is one of the most bankable actors we have today.

Every producer yearns to work with Bhaijaan but he has always been careful and picky, which surely is understandable. Salman Khan, who flew down to Dubai a few days ago to launch the song of his upcoming film Tubelight interacted with the media and that's when he spoke about his facial nerve disorder for the first time.

Instagram/Salman Khan

For those who don't know, Salman Khan suffers from Trigeminal neuralgia and even with all the pain that comes with the disorder, work commitment always came first for the actor.

Even during intense pain, he made sure that he finishes all his professional commitments and films. However, during the media interaction, he revealed how the pain used to be highly intolerable at times and he even had to fly to the US for his elaborate treatment.

Salman Khan Films

Thanks to his well-wishers and friends that he has fully recovered and is back in the business. According to a report in Gulf News, Salman Khan was quoted talking about his disorder and tough phase. He was quoted saying,

Salman Khan Films

No matter how much pain you are going through, it made me realise that you cant put any subtitles  your ligament is torn, you have the flu or that your knee is hurting  in any of your scenes. Your fans dont care about it and that you really need to give your best on screen. Once its printed, its lifelong.

Talking about the disorder and the pain that comes along with it, Salman also added how the pain can get so excruciating at times that several patients have even contemplated suicide.

We are glad that Salman came out stronger than ever and is back in the business. On the professional front, the actor is busy shooting for Tiger Zinda hai.
After completing his jail sentence, Sanjay Dutt was released a year back. Since then, apart from making his smoothest possible transition to resume his normal life, he has been actively speaking about his drugs addiction too.

BCCL

A few months ago, Sanjay Dutt confessed about spreading awareness about drug abuse. Talking about his drugs addiction, Dutt had made some really personal and striking revelations.

Sanjay Dutt took another positive step in the same direction and will now be setting rehabilitation centers across the country. In all his interviews, one thing was consistent- he has had his own shares of biggest regrets in life and majorly all of them were related to his drug addiction.

BCCL

Talking to media, Sanjay Dutt revealed that he is now all set to launch drug de-addiction centres across India. The actor is already in talks with the government and he is now waiting to get all the approvals.

(Also read: Sanjay Dutt Opens Up About His Drug Addiction, Says He Once Carried 1KG Heroin On A Flight!)

He further added that as soon has all the necessary permissions are in place, he would finalise all the details. The de-addiction centers plan will offer effective facilities and counseling. The major aim behind setting up the centers is to make these facilities affordable and accessible for people.

BCCL

He also revealed that even though he could afford expensive de-addiction treatment and rehab in America, it does not make it easily affordable for people who might need it.

This is really thoughtful.
1. For The First Time Ever, Salman Makes Heartbreaking Revelations About His Facial Nerve Disorder

SALMAN KHAN FILMS

For those who don't know, Salman Khan suffers from Trigeminal neuralgia and even with all the pain that comes with the disorder, work commitment always came first for the actor.

2. To Fight The Menace Of Drugs, Sanjay Dutt Will Set Up Affordable Rehab Centres Across India

BCCL

Talking to media, Sanjay Dutt revealed that he is now all set to launch drug de-addiction centres across India. The actor is already in talks with the government and he is now waiting to get all the approvals.

3. Sushant Singh Rajput Is All Set To Provide Free Education To Underprivileged Kids

Everything that should've been but was not, and now will be, and perhaps, You my love, are also everything that is... #selfmusing A post shared by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) on Mar 4, 2017 at 4:37am PST

My team is working on the idea where we are selecting a group of schools, and we will take a merit test of the kids. If the kids pass the exam, we will take care of their education cost for a year.

4. Ssumier Pasricha AKA Pammi Aunty Urges PM Modi To Break His Silence On The Issue Of Rape!

PAMMI AUNTY THE WRITER...part 2 #pammiaunty #sarlabhenji #SaasvsBahu #horki #callforaction A post shared by Ssumier S Pasricha (@ssumier.official) on May 16, 2017 at 1:08am PDT

Ssumier Pasricha, who is known for creating viral videos, in which he plays the role of a fictional character Pammi Aunty has made an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his latest video, he asks the PM to break his silence on the issue because its high time to do so.

5. This Cute Video Of Sushmita Sen Bonding With Random Kids Will Turn Your Heart To Mush

The actress has shared a video in which she can be seen bonding with random tiny tots who are basking in the glory in her warm motherly love.
The only reason people dream of while getting into a B-School is to walk out of it not just with a degree, but a notable placement.

But Raghav Baldwa, a 24-year-old from Indore, didn't dream of it. Instead, Raghav decided to grow food organically and help farmers come out debt.

thebetterindia

Mangalam Organic Foods, Raghav's brainchild was found after loads of research on organic farming. The more time he spent learning about it, the more he was convinced about ways he could help Indian farmers.

A critical problem in this field according to Raghav was that no matter how educated people were, they had no idea where their food was coming from and how it was being grown.

Furthermore, it's their sheer ignorance that many people are claiming to sell organic food sans certification, at a higher price. Food, which was in no way organic, only worse than the normal one in some cases.

cultivatinghope

The kind of pesticides and chemicals that were put into making those vegetables look beautiful exacerbated their benefits, let alone being any benefit to the consumer.

In order to mitigate the burgeoning problem, he purchased 20 acres of barren land in Harjipura village, about 80 km from Indore to start organic farming.

He used natural methods to convert the barren land into a highly fertile one and started producing food. Using a couple of naturally grown fertilisers and chemical free products, he started producing organic food.

cultivatinghope

His products are MPSOCA (Madhya Pradesh State Organic Certification Agency) certified.

Other than engaging farmers on his land, he is also taking their lands on a lease, especially from those who have no resources to cultivate. He is currently managing some 42 acres of land and has more than 150 farmers working under him.

They have cut all the middlemen from the selling system, thereby selling products at a 15-20 percent lower than those in the market.

ICTPOST

His idea may not sound highly unconventional, but it is as quintessential as it can be. Simple solutions to big problems are the most suitable ones, especially the ones that bear the fruits of hard work and perseverance.
Many sailors from the Western world sailed to discover the land in the Far East called India - a land fabled to be richer than all the known worlds put combined.

But none succeeded except for Vasco Da Gama, a Portuguese sailor who became the first European to land in India on 17 May 1498 when he landed on the shores of Calicut in Kerala with four vessels.

Christopher Columbus who had started his voyage in 1492, five years before Da Gama too wanted to discover the sea route to India, but instead reached the Americas, the world completely unheard before then.

By then India had already seen many foreign invaders in the form of Alexander -The Great, the Arabs, and the Mongols. But they all came through the land route or precisely via the infamous Khyber Pass.

Vasco Da Gama, The Royal Museum Greenwich

But the sea route to India was still unknown. That was until Da Gama discovered a route sailing adjacent to the western coast of Africa, reaching the last point of Africa which the Portuguese garrulously called Cape of Good Hope and then sailed along the eastern coast of Africa till Mozambique and then sailed through the Arabian sea to reach Calicut.

Discovery of India by Da Gama is considered to be the milestone in the field of navigation and riches of Silk and Spices of Far East lands like India and China turned the otherwise curiosity of Western countries into greed and lust for wealth.

Vasco Da Gama voyaged to India thrice (1497-98, 1502-03, and 1524) before he died in India in 1524.

Here is the story of Vasco Da Gama, how he discovered the sea route to India and how his discovery paved way for the arrival of Dutch, French, Danish, and the British.

Born in 1460

Vasco Da Gama was born in 1460 to a family of nobles in Sines, Portugal. His father, Estevao, was also an explorer. Da Gama joined the Portuguese navy in the 1480s where he learnt how to navigate.

His predecessor navigators helped him understand sea routes

Henry of Portugal, aka Henry - The Navigator who was the Duke of Viseu had patronised several successful voyages in North and West Africa. The voyages funded by him were first steps in making Portugal, a maritime and colonial power. In 1487, Bartolomeu Dias discovered that the Indian and Atlantic Oceans were connected.

Da Gama who was keenly interested in navigation knew that if Indian and Atlantic Oceans connect at the end of Africa, he could find the way to reach India through the last point of land in Africa. And thats why later when he reached the last point of Africa, known as Cape of Good Hope, he felt that his dream could turn into reality.

In 1597, Da Gama started his first Voyage

Crossing the Ocean Sea

On July 8th, Da Gama began his voyage from Portugal with four vessels. Da Gama himself rode in the 200-ton St. Gabriel and his younger brother Paulo led the St. Rafael. Passing through the Canary Islands near present-day Morocco, the fleet reached Cape Verde islands and remained there until August 3. He carried Padrao, the pillar to mark the route and installed Padrao at various important halts.

Da Gama took detour and reached South Africa

In order to avoid the current of Gulf of Guinea, Da Gama took a long detour in Atlantic ocean before he took a turn toward East to round the Cape of Good Hope, his first major destination on the discovery of India.

The fleet reached Santa Helena Bay (Yes, where Napoleon was imprisoned) in modern South Africa on November 7. Unfavourable winds and the adverse current delayed the rounding of the Cape of Good Hope until November 22.



Left Cape of Good Hope after installing another Padrao

Padrao, the pillar to mark the route (Padrao at Cape of Good Hope)

Da Gama started the voyage on December 8 and his fleet reached the coast of Natal on Christmas Day. By crossing various rivers inward and outward, the fleet head towards Mozambique, another mainstay of the journey. In between, the fleet took rest at one place where the fleet took rest there for one month. Meanwhile, ships were repaired. On March 2 the fleet reached the Island of Mozambique, the inhabitants of which believed the Portuguese to be Muslims like themselves.

Cape of Good Hope, AP

There Da Gama learned that they traded with Arabs and he also found four vessels laden with gold, jewels, silver and spices were there on the port. Da Gama knew he was heading in the right direction as during the course he met local people who frequently had travelled to Indian coasts.

The interaction with them helped Da Gama to understand the direction in which he had to head.

Stopped at Mombasa, Kenya and met a Gujarati pilot

Reuters

On April 7, 1598, the fleet reached another important stoppage Mombasa (present day Kenya).dropped the anchor at Malindi (also in Kenya) on April 14. Here he met a Gujarati pilot who knew the route to Calicut, on the South-West coast of India. He was taken aboard.

And he reached Calicut

Emaze

After a 20 day run across the Indian Ocean, Da Gama could see the ghats and mountains of India. On 17 May 1498, the first European landed on Indias Calicut port.

He returned with Spices and silk

When Da Gama returned to Portugal with spices and silk, the legend says that he earned four times the money he spent on voyage just by selling the spices. This lucrative trade made Da Gama instant sensation back home and the king of Portugal again sent him to India in 1502-03. He died in 1524 in Calicut when he was on his third voyage of India.

He paved way for other European traders

Once the sea-route to India was discovered, Da Gamas fame reached to whole Europe and other countries too sent expedition India via the same route. After Portuguese, the Dutch, the Danish, the British and the French came to India. And the rest is history.
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia And Biphobia is celebrated on May 17 and marks a worldwide commemoration of sexual and gender diversity. Despite the varied opinions of the Indian government and people, this day is celebrated here as well.

The fight for equal rights has not been easy for the LGBT community, and this struggle to get equal rights will go on until the country and the world considers them a part of the society.

Reuters

In India, we see transgenders still begging for money on traffic signals, and homosexuals being ragged and looked at differently only because of certain beliefs that people have. They still do not have the right to completely be a part of the society without being a victim of prejudice. While the society is changing slowly, the laws are not. Here are a few major concerns of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in India that thwart their progress as individuals.

1. Cannot have stable careers

The criminalisation of Section 377 has affected the community so much that nobody would come out to the world even if they wanted to. It is not just the fear of being judged, but there are also no laws, or quotas for the community. It is impossible to even begin a career, forget to have a stable one where the taboo around the community is so much that there is no inclusion of hiring someone who is a transgender.

2. Financial pressures

A person from the community, especially the transgenders, have a tough time in finding financial stability and availing schemes for the government that straight couples can. There are laws required to include the LGBT community into the financial schemes and plans of the government that everyone else can.

Reuters

3. Accomodation

As the financial pressures build, one finds it difficult to find an accommodation too. If a person from the community wishes to live with a partner, it is really difficult in India as individuals who are single have a hard time finding a home.

Sonal Giani, an LGBT activist has initiated Agents of Ishq movement, in order to spread awareness about the LGBT community, and talks about falling in love through the eyes of a homosexual or transgender. Giani says, the rent agreements are very stringent so it is hard for someone to be open about who they are and live with their partners if they wanted to.

4. Harassment

At workplace or otherwise, it has become difficult for the people of the LGBT community to stay peacefully, or even come out of the closet. They face either sexual harassment, or blackmail from the ones who have the knowledge of their sexual orientation. It is quite possible that a person might just choose not to come out of the fear that peoples perception towards him or her will change.

The Hijras for example, get arrested for public nuisance, which is quite ambiguous, but creates problems for the community members when there are none.

Reuters

5. Political prejudice

Giani says that while the society is slowly opening its minds towards the thought of homosexuality being acceptability, There are also political and legal factors at work here. Along with the society, the laws also need to protect the communitys interests and the political scenario should also portray an acceptance of homosexuality, she explained.

While many countries in the world are overcoming homophobia and bringing in inclusive practices, India still has a lot to do in order to secure people with different sexual orientations.
You wouldn't be here if you didn't love chugging a beer as much as we do!

Cancel all your plans and head to Pune for this surprisingly pleasant Beer Olympics being held by Doolally on May 20.

beerolympics

What's the big deal anyway?

In case you're stuck with an uninvited hysteria after reading this news, we will break it down for you here.

Everyone at the competition will compete for the glorious prize of 10 litres of beer.

Here are all the games that you can compete in:

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Game 5

Are you still looking for more?

Well, apart from the free beer at the event you can also win more beer worth Rs 50,000!

Get your A game on and head to Pune for this scrumptious, slightly inebriated beer chugging fest.
As tension with Vietnam is growing, China has reportedly installed rocket launchers on a disputed reef in the South China Sea toward off Vietnamese military combat divers.

reuters

China has said military construction on the islands it controls in the South China Sea will be limited to necessary defensive requirements, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory.

According to Reuters, the United States has criticised what it has called China's militarisation of its maritime outposts and stressed the need for freedom of navigation by conducting periodic air and naval patrols near them that have angered Beijing.

Reuters

The state-run Defense Times newspaper, in a Tuesday report on its WeChat account, said Norinco CS/AR-1 55mm anti-frogman rocket launcher defence systems with the capability to discover, identify and attack enemy combat divers had been installed on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands.

Fiery Cross Reef is administered by China but also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

reuters

China has conducted extensive land reclamation work at Fiery Cross Reef, including building an airport, one of the several Chinese-controlled features in the South China Sea where China has carried out such work.

More than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped through the South China Sea every year. Besides China's territorial claims in the area, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.
In one of the biggest crackdowns against the Maoist insurgents post the Sukma attack last month, which left 25 CRPF men dead, the security forces have gunned down 10-15 Maoists in a massive operation after "storming the core area" of the rebels in Bastar's Dantewada on Sunday.

bccl/representational image

"Our forces, who went deep into the forests to carry out the operations, saw Maoists falling down after being hit by bullets. However, neither bodies nor weapons could be recovered during these operations," a senior officer of the Chhattisgarh police told The Times of India.

bccl/representational image

The operation was carried out in Bijapur's Basakura area by a joint team of CRPF, CoBRA, Special Task Force and District Reserve Group, according to a CRPF officer.

Also Read: With 46 Deaths Every Year, Here Are Major Reasons Why CRPF Jawans Are Sitting Ducks For The Maoist

The mission was coordinated by a joint command and control centre and closely monitored from Raipur, DIG Dantewada P Sunderraj told ANI. Sunderraj said the mission was a "very successful operation."

bccl/representational image

There were reports a few days ago of CoBRA commandos being heli-dropped into the jungles of Bastar, and on Sunday, a wounded STF was flown to Raipur for treatment, indicating something was on in the forests. He died on Monday.

Also Read: Government Goes On An All Out Offensive Against The Naxals, Asks For Results In The Next Few Weeks!
Ten days after the deadly attack on CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh's Sukma area by 400-odd Maoists, the security forces have arrested four Maoists involved in the case.

bccl/representational image

Top sources told TOI that the cadres were arrested on Wednesday evening from Phoolbadri area in Sukma, which is not very far from the attack site in Burkapal.

Also Read: "Proud Of My Son, He Killed Five Naxals", Says Mother Of CRPF Constable Sher Mohammad Injured In Sukma Attack

"Two of them have confessed they were part of the attacking team, which was headed by the commander of 1st battalion of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PGLA) Hidma. They are being further interrogated about the whereabouts of Hidma, their other senior leaders and further plans," said a source.

Following the April 24 attack, CRPF commandos, Chhattisgarh police and other forces have been looking for Maoist cadres and leaders in the dense jungles and they are being provided technical and air assistance by the Indian Air Force and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO).

bccl

The action comes in the wake of home minister Rajnath Singh asking security forces to go all out against the Naxals and focus on high-value targets. Sources told TOI that the offensive by security forces after the Burkapal ambush, the second major attack since March 11, has forced Naxal leaders to seek refuge deeper inside the jungle.

Also Read: With 46 Deaths Every Year, Here Are Major Reasons Why CRPF Jawans Are Sitting Ducks For The Maoist

Apart from the four arrests, security forces have detained three persons in Dantewada and 12 in Sukma, who are suspected to be sympathisers of Maoists. "We are looking for Jan Militia members, sympathisers and active Naxal cadres in Sukma, Dantewada, and other areas," said the official.

New CRPF DG Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar is also travelling to Raipur on Friday to attend the unified command meeting called by CM Raman Singh to further discuss the strategy to deal with the Maoists.

ap/representational image

In another major blow to the Maoists, their senior zonal commander from Jharkhand, Nakul Yadav, with a Rs 15 lakh reward on his head, and his deputy Madan Yadav have surrendered before the CRPF in Ranchi. Officials said Nakul was wanted in over 100 cases and operated in Lohardaga, Chatra, Gumla, Palamau and Ranchi districts.

Also Read: Government Goes On An All Out Offensive Against The Naxals, Asks For Results In The Next Few Weeks!

The CRPF has also recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunitions during the operations in Jharkhand's Lohardaga district.
Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada has ratified the agreement on economic cooperation signed by the Ukrainian and Croatian governments in Kyiv on March 27, 2013.

A total of 231 lawmakers backed the bill on ratification of the agreement on economic cooperation signed by the Ukrainian and Croatian governments (No. 0138) on Wednesday.

The agreement is intended to help developing partnership mutually beneficial relations between Ukraine and Croatia in the economic sphere, in particular, ship building, engineering, energy and electrical engineering industries, infrastructure, agriculture and food industry.

The document envisages the creation of a joint commission for economic cooperation that would discuss development of bilateral economic relations, determine new opportunities for the further development of future economic cooperation and draw up proposals to improve the conditions for economic cooperation between the companies of the two states.

Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister, Trade Representative of Ukraine Natalia Mykolska said that in 2016 Ukrainian exports to Croatia totaled over $40 million. It almost doubled compared to 2015.
Amid the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is set to hold its annual meeting in Jammu and Kashmir in July for the first time.

The meeting is expected to send out a message to separatists that the valley is an integral part of the country.

BCCL

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, BJP president Amit Shah and leaders from VHP will attend the three-day meeting which is scheduled from July 18-20, sources in the Sangh said.

"The time and place of meeting was decided to send out a clear message to separatists in the Kashmir valley that the region is an integral part of India and the Sangh is committed to its unity," they added.

PTI

"This is an annual review meeting of the prant parcharks (state publicity officers) to take stock of events and activities of the year gone by, and at the same time, draft out a plan of action for the coming days," Akhil Bhartiya Prachar Pramukh of RSS, Manmohan Vaidya told PTI.

Vaidya said there would be no major decisions in the meeting but various issues facing the country may be taken up for discussion.
Nothing compares to power of love. It can blur out all sorts of differences between people, and nothing matters, as long as you are going to spend the rest of your life with that special someone.

Japan

That's exactly what love did to Japanese Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito. The 25-year-old is all set to be engaged to a former classmate at her university and is expected to marry him next year.

Philstar.com

Mako's unofficial fiance, Kei Komur graduated from International Christian University. He holds a master's degree from the University of Leicester and has been working as a researcher at a museum, reports the Telegraph.

Japanese Emperor Akihito with his family/Reuters

The couple met at a restaurant in Tokyo's Shibuya district five years ago and fell in love at the very first sight. According to public broadcaster NHK, Mako has already introduced Komuro to her parents and they fully accepted their relationship.

But according to the Imperial House Law, Mako will have to renounce her royal status after her marriage.

Kenh14

The news stirred a widespread debate in Japan on the ever-shrinking royal family. According to reports, there are only four heirs to the throne and law allows the royal lineage to continue only with males.

If this trend of marrying outside the royalty continues, Japan's youngest prince remaining may also be the last.

As of now, Japanese public hold feelings of openness and familiarity toward the emperor and his family. They all are looking forward to the couple's wedding as a celebration.

AP

First there will be an announcement of an engagement, and then a date for the wedding will be decided after which, couple will make a formal report to the emperor and empress, state reports.
The United States on Monday accused Syria of mass executions and burning of bodies in a crematorium built inside a prison complex -- charges, that if true, are reminiscent of methods used in Nazi Germany during World War II.

reuters/representational image

The US allegations came via what it called ''newly declassified reporting and photos'' released Monday, which it said ''underscore the depths to which the Syrian regime has gone with the continued support of its allies with Russia and Iran,'' thereby accusing Moscow and Teheran of being complicit in the crimes.

Reporters were given satellite pictures purportedly showing snow melting on the roof of the prison facility with additional structures said to be a newly built crematorium, to back the claims of mass executions of up to 50 people a day.

reuters/representational image

''Beginning in 2013, the Syrian regime modified a building within the Saydnaya complex to support what we believe is a crematorium," acting assistant secretary for the State Department Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Stuart Jones told reporters, referring to a military jail north of Damascus.

''Although the regime's many atrocities are well documented, we believe that the building of a crematorium is an effort to cover up the extent of the mass murders taking place in Saydnaya,'' he added.

Jones did not give an official estimate for the total number killed but cited an Amnesty International report that between 5,000 and 11,000 had died between 2011 and 2015 in the prison.

reuters/representational image

If the allegations are true then it would solidify a "crimes against humanity" charge against the Assad regime, but reporters noted that the Amnesty report cited by US officials was based on reports from several months ago and Washington did not elaborate on its own intelligence reports.

"The last testimony for this report was in December 2015, but there is no reason to think the executions have stopped. There are thousands more who have been killed," the author of the Amnesty report had said in interviews to wire services, adding, ''It's not a perfect science, and what we really want is for an investigation into the prison to get more precise figures.''

Jones also said the US had not forwarded the new ''evidence'' to Russia.
Microsoft has announced a milestone five-year-long partnership with the United Nations to "better predict, analyze and respond to critical human rights situations," according to a public statement today.

Aside from research and development, the company also stated it will donate $5 million to the UN Human Rights Office to support its work in countries across the globe, something the world organisation calls an "unprecedented level of support from a private-sector organization."

One area where the two groups intend to focus their work is to develop advanced technology efficiently detect and respond to human rights violations, an issue not only spreading to more areas of the world, but also growing in complexity.

"As a global company that sees the problems of the world, we believe that we have a responsibility to help solve them," said Microsoft President Brad Smith, in a press statement. "We have an untapped opportunity to use the power of technology to collect data, analyze that data and equip the United Nations to advance human rights around the world."

One example of such technology is something called Rights View, a dashboard that would allow UN staff to gather large quantities of internal and external data on human rights violations in specific countries in real time. That data can then be plugged into analytics to provide a form of early warning system for emerging critical issues, where the UN may need to step in.

In addition, Microsoft will also be working with the UN Human Rights Office to raise awareness among tech companies and business of their role in preserving human rights, as well as promote the adoption of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

"This could be a truly groundbreaking agreement," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein. "We live in a rapidly evolving age, where technology can either be used to solve human rights problems or misused to erode human rights. Similarly, companies can infringe peoples rights, or they can be a major progressive force."
The multiverse is a common trope in graphic novels and sci-fi literature. Its a concept where scientists theorize that an infinite number of universes exist side by side (each slightly unique in its own way) none of which were able to perceive with our limited senses. Now, scientists have reason to believe theyve found evidence to suggest that theory is real.

UKs Royal Astronomical Society has published a study on something called the Cold Spot, a region of space estimated to be 13 billion-years-old, one thats remained unexplained to this day. Stretching across 1.8 billion light years, this particular void is inexplicably 0.00015 degrees Celsius cooler than its surroundings. Despite being first glimpsed by NASA in 2004, most astronomers and cosmologists have been unable to puzzle out why it exists, as traditional theories on the expansion of the universe suggest it wasnt produced by the birth of the universe.

The study now being conducted by the Durham University explores a last gasp explanation for the void; that its an oddity, a fluctuation in the standard patterns generated by the Big Bang. However, the group intends to rule out that argument, as the team believes the only viable explanation is that it was created by the collision of two universes within the multiverse.

We cant entirely rule out that the Spot is caused by an unlikely fluctuation explained by the standard theory of the Big Bang, says Professor Tom Shanks from Durham University, a co-author on the study, in a report by The Guardian. But if that isnt the answer, then there are more exotic explanations. Perhaps the most exciting of these is that the Cold Spot was caused by a collision between our universe and another bubble universe. If further, more detailed, analysis  proves this to be the case then the Cold Spot might be taken as the first evidence for the multiverse.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to revoke a ban on Russian social media platforms and news outlets, as it infringes the right to freedom of expression and information in Ukraine and called for repealing the ban for VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, RBC and Yandex.

"By this sole step, Petro Poroshenko inflicted a terrible blow to freedom of speech in Ukraine. This is an unpardonable violation of the right of Ukrainians to receive information of their choice. The EU and other international partners of Ukraine should immediately urge Ukraine to abolish it," Tanya Cooper, Ukraine's researcher at Human Rights Watch, said, the organization's website reads.

As of April 2017, 78% of all internet users in Ukraine, or around 20 million, had a VK account, Cooper said.

"This is yet another example of the ease with which President Poroshenko unjustifiably tries to control public discourse in Ukraine. Poroshenko may try to justify this latest step, but it is a cynical, politically expedient attack on the right to information affecting millions of Ukrainians, and their personal and professional lives," said Tanya Cooper.

"Poroshenko should immediately reverse the ban, which affects such internet platforms as VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, RBC, and Yandex, and take steps to protect freedom of expression and information in Ukraine," HRW said in a statement on May 16.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has conducted Computer Based Test, CBT, for 1,144,198 candidates since the test began on Saturday.

JAMBs Head of Information and Media, Fabian Benjamin, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja that results were being released within 24 hours of completion of the test.

The CBT is the mode JAMB is conducting its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

A total 1,736,571 candidates registered for the 2017 UTME taking place in 642 centres in the country.

Mr. Benjamin advised candidates to check their results in their electronic mail boxes or JAMB portal.

We have sent results to the candidates respective e-mail boxes.

If it is not there, they should check on the portal.

Saturday and Monday examination results are out, and we are already processing those of Tuesday, May 16, Mr. Benjamin said.

The spokesperson said that the breakdown of the results would be published after the last set of candidates would have completed the examination.

The examination is still on, when we finish, we will come up with the statistics, he told NAN.

He said that the examination had been hitch-free, adding that JAMB set up a team to receive and address complaints about the examination.

The examination will end on May 20 in all centres.

(NAN)
The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has announced a permanent ban on the State Vehicles Inspection Officers, VIOs from operating in all Lagos roads on Tuesday.

The governor also advised the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC to restrict their operations to highways and stay off streets in the Lagos metropolis.

Ambode spoke while commissioning the pedestrian bridge, lay-by and slip road at Ojodu-Berger bus stop on Tuesday.

The governor said it had been observed that VIOs and FRSC contributed significantly to traffic gridlock in the Lagos metropolis.

He said the state would employ technology to track and monitor vehicle registration and MOT certifications.

In his words: Let me use this opportunity to reiterate that Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) have been asked to stay off our roads permanently. We also advice the Federal Road Safety Corps to stay on the fringes and highways and not on the main streets of Lagos.

It has become evident that these agencies contribute to the traffic challenges on our roads. We will employ technology to track and monitor vehicle registration and MOT certifications.

Source: ( PM News )
Pili Hussein wanted to make her fortune prospecting for a precious stone thats said to be a thousand times rarer than diamonds, but since women werent allowed down the mines she dressed up as man and fooled her male colleagues for almost a decade.

Pili Hussein grew up in a large family in Tanzania. The daughter of a livestock keeper who had many large farms, Pilis father had six wives and she was one of 38 children. Although she was well looked after, in many ways, she doesnt look back on her upbringing fondly.

My father treated me like a boy and I was given livestock to take care of  I didnt like that life at all, she says.

But her marriage was even more unhappy, and at the age of 31 Pili ran away from her abusive husband.

In search of work she found herself in the small Tanzanian town of Mererani, in the foothills of Africas highest mountain, Kilimanjaro  the only place in the world where mining for a rare, violet-blue gemstone called tanzanite takes place.

I didnt go to school, so I didnt have many options, Pili says.

Women were not allowed in the mining area, so I entered bravely like a man, like a strong person. You take big trousers, you cut them into shorts and you appear like a man. Thats what I did.

I acted like a gorilla  I could fight, my language was bad, I could carry a big knife

To complete the transformation, she also changed her name.

I was called Uncle Hussein, I didnt tell anyone my actual name was Pili. Even today if you come to the camp you ask for me by that name, Uncle Hussein.

In the tight confines of the hot, dirty tunnels  some of which extend hundreds of metres below the ground  Pili would work 10-12 hours a day, digging and sieving, hoping to uncover gemstones in the veins in the graphite rock.

I could go 600m under, into the mine. I would do this more bravely than many other men. I was very strong and I was able to deliver what men would expect another man could do.

Pili says that nobody suspected that she was a woman.

Media caption Pili Hussein tells Outlooks Matthew Bannister how she succeeded in becoming a miner

I acted like a gorilla, she says, I could fight, my language was bad, I could carry a big knife like a Maasai [warrior]. Nobody knew I was a woman because everything I was doing I was doing like a man.

And after about a year, she struck it rich, uncovering two massive clusters of tanzanite stones. With the money that she made she built new homes for her father, mother and twin sister, bought herself more tools, and began employing miners to work for her.

And her cover was so convincing that it took an extraordinary set of circumstances for her true identity to finally be revealed. A local woman had reported that shed been raped by some of the miners and Pili was arrested as a suspect.

When the police came, the men who did the rape said: This is the man who did it, and I was taken to the police station, Pili says.

She had no choice but to reveal her secret.

Im proud of what I did  it has made me rich, but it was hard for me

She asked the police to find a woman to physically examine her, to prove that she couldnt be responsible, and was soon released. But even after that her fellow miners found it hard to believe they had been duped for so long.

They didnt even believe the police when they said that I was a woman, she says, it wasnt easy for them to accept until 2001 when I got married and I started a family.

Finding a husband when everyone is accustomed to regarding you as a man is not easy, Pili found, though eventually she succeeded.

The question in his mind was always, Is she really a woman?' she recalls. It took five years for him to come closer to me.

Pili has built a successful career and today owns her own mining company with 70 employees. Three of her employees are women, but they work as cooks not as miners. Pili says that although there are more women in the mining industry than when she started out, even today very few actually work in the mines.

Some [women] wash the stones, some are brokers, some are cooking, she says, but theyre not going down in to the mines, its not easy to get women to do what I did.

Pilis success has enabled her to pay for the education of more than 30 nieces, nephews and grandchildren. But despite this she says she wouldnt encourage her own daughter to follow in her footsteps.

Im proud of what I did  it has made me rich, but it was hard for me, she says.

I want to make sure that my daughter goes to school, she gets an education and then she is able to run her life in a very different way, far away from what I experienced.
Friday work free day in the state to honour the former Military Governor of the old Western Region, the late General Adeyinka Adebayo (retd.). The Ekiti State government has declaredwork free day in the state to honour the former Military Governor of the old Western Region, the late General Adeyinka Adebayo (retd.).

This is to enable workers in the state to attend the state burial at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, on Friday before interment on Saturday in Iyin-Ekiti.

The governor who spoke in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday during a meeting with members and executives of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools.

He said the late Adebayo had paid his dues and contributed immensely to the growth and development of Yorubaland and nothing would be too big to honour him with.

He said, It was in that respect that the new Government House was named after him as well as the General Hospital, Iyin-Ekiti.

We need to celebrate our heroes irrespective of political leanings. We are quick to chastise those who do bad and we must not shy away from recognising people who have done well.

He said, I also want you to come out in large number to be part of the programmes to be held for him in the state. The work free day does not affect the banks in the state.
Hours after he was released from Kirikiri prison after fulfilling his bail conditions estranged husband of actress Mercy Aigbe, Lanre Gentry took to his IG page early this morning to call for prison reforms as he shared on his experience while he was in Kirikiri prison awaiting the fulfillment of his bail conditions.

While advocating for prison reforms, Lanre stated that government should not leave what they ought to do, such as prison decongestion, and focus on issues such as domestic violence.

This got some of his followers infuriated, asking him if it is when he had killed his wife that the government should have stepped in. Lanre in response said, everyone has Freedom of speech, as well as he does and doesnt need anyones advice on what to post.
The sanctions imposed under the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine against Russian IT services concern individuals or companies, not software, Head of the information security service of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Valentyn Petrov said at a roundtable devoted to the new sanctions against the aggressor state held in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"In this case if we touch the IT sphere, they concern designers, distributors and software updating firms in the IT industry," he said.

Petrov recalled that once an investigation into attacks on the financial sector recorded in December 2016 was conducted. It occurred that the most of infected PCs had Russian software installed.

"We believe that Russian software, first of all, allows the potential unlawful access to information and causing damage to information. In addition, the undeclared war continues for the third or fourth year. We cannot afford financing the aggressor state using the national budget. This logic was taken as a basis for the NSDC decision," Petrov said.

As reported, the Ukrainian president's decree imposing sanctions on the social networking sites VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, and also the companies Mail.ru, Yandex and their services took effect on Wednesday. User access to all Yandex and Mail.ru services has been banned for three years.
Hoodlums murdered a Muslim cleric, identified as Sheik Yusuf Amzat-Salam, 35, his wife and four children in the early hours of Tuesday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the incident occurred in Atiba area of Odogbolu Local Government Area.

It was gathered that the couples eldest child, a girl, was aged 11, followed by her twin brothers, aged 8 and the last female child, aged 2.

All the victims have since been buried in accordance with Muslim rites amid wailing.

The attackers, whose motive could not be ascertained, butchered the entire household with machetes.

The victims were discovered in the pool of their blood when school bus came to pick the children.

A close family friend, Mr. Yusuf Oludaisi, described the act as dastardly and wicked, wondering what the victims must have done to warrant such treatment.

He was someone with whom I grew up together. I have known him for 30 years to be humble and kind to everyone who crossed his path.

Its really sad because this was someone you will never see quarreling or being disrespectful, said Oludaisi.

The younger brother of the victim, Alfa Ishaaq Amzat-Salam, however, said he would leave the matter for God to judge.

I leave those who perpetrated such evil in Gods hands, for He alone will judge them. The deed cannot be undone.

I will always remember my brother forever for his loving kindness, as he was a shining light to us all, said Ishaaq.

Ex-Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), who was at the burial of the victims, described the incident as very sad.

I am a close friend to the father of the victim and when I heard what happened, I was in bitter shock. It is unimaginable what these people did and it brings much sadness to my heart.

I dont even have the words to describe it, Kaka said.

Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun, Bimbola Oyeyemi, said the command was aware of the incident.

We are already doing all to investigate and apprehend the culprit, he said.

Sympathisers described the cleric as a peace-loving, humble and caring individual.

NAN
The Lagos State Government have announced that total number of workers under the employment of the government has hit 100,433,according to the State Head of Service, HOS, Olabowale Ademola who disclosed this on Tuesday.

Ademola, who spoke at a ministerial press conference in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria also disclosed that the state government had employed about 5,000 new workers in the last one year.

She also said the government had instituted the policy of rewarding officers identified to have consistently met or exceeded agreed set targets and exhibited exceptional work ethics, diligence, innovation and creativity in the discharge of their duties.

The new policy, she said, was in furtherance of the state governments objective to have a world class public service where staff had the right attitude to the implementation of the vision of government and to encourage creativity and innovation amongst officers in the State Public Service.

Ademola stated that henceforth, Permanent Secretaries/Accounting Officers in the State Civil Service would issue letters of commendation to such deserving offficers.

The HOS asserted that the core values of probity, transparency, accountability, discipline and efficient and effective service delivery would continued to be entrenched in the State Public Service structure, adding that as the hub of public service activities in the State, her office was not unaware of its clear mandate to provide leadership and direction to the State Public Service.

Let me add that the office is conscious of its onerous responsibilities and appreciates the enormity thereof. As a result, we have always been guided by our stated objectives in order to ensure the realization of the state governments avowed commitment to professionalism in the Public Service, the welfare of Public Servants and the existence of industrial peace.

The HOS noted that the government had designed a programme termed One-Day Re-orientation for Students on Industrial Training/Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (IT/SIWES) for the purpose of improving the IT experience of students in higher institutions.

According to her, the programme, which was the first of its kind in the Public Service, would serve as a platform for IT students to learn good work ethics such as dignity of labour, sense of responsibility, accountability and professionalism.

The essence of the programme is to contribute to the development of a crop of hardworking and responsible young people who will become tomorrows leaders, she said.

Ademola added that the government had already embarked on a customer perception survey of the six most customers facing Service Chartered Agencies such as the Ministries of Health, Education, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lands Bureau, LAWMA and MVAA in order to ascertain their level of Service Charter compliance and customer satisfaction in accessing Government services.

She stated that the core values of probity, transparency, accountability, discipline and efficient and effective service delivery would continued to be entrenched in the State Public Service structure, adding that as the hub of public service activities in the State, her office was not unaware of its clear mandate to provide leadership and direction to the State Public Service.

Let me add that the office is conscious of its onerous responsibilities and appreciates the enormity thereof. As a result, we have always been guided by our stated objectives in order to ensure the realization of the state governments avowed commitment to professionalism in the public service, the welfare of public servants and the existence of industrial peace.

Source: ( PM News )
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has dissociated himself and the group, from a certain Radio Biafra based in the United States.

In a statement issued on Kanus behalf by his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, he made it clear that Radio Biafra in London, remains the official voice of IPOB.

He also said a reorganisation has been effected in the leadership of the group and urged IPOB members to observe the sit-at-home planned for May 30 this year peacefully.

Part of the letter reads: Nnamdi Kanu remains the founder, and director of Radio Biafra London and accordingly Deputized by Mazi Uche Mefor. Radio Biafra London is the officially sanctioned channel of communication of IPOB, through which every information concerning the affairs of IPOB are disseminated. At the same time, all members of IPOB and the general public are hereby duly informed that the position of C.O.C (Coordinator of all Coordinators) overall, has been abolished following the recent reorganisation carried out by the leadership of IPOB worldwide.

Henceforth any person parading himself with the title C.O.C should be regarded and treated as a criminal.

Following this radical change in the structural setup of IPOB, the world Administrative Headquarters of IPOB is now situated in London and Germany respectively.

The officers with the mandate of the leadership of IPOB and through whom the supreme leader Nnamdi Kanu speaks remains Radio Biafra London with satellite stations in South Africa, Malaysia, Germany and soon to be opened United State of America.

The two persons appointed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as being responsible for communicating his thoughts and views to IPOB membership and the rest of the world remains Uche Mefor (the Deputy Leader of IPOB) and Mazi Chika Edoziem (the Head of the Directorate of State of the IPOB).

All authority to issue directives rests with the Deputy Leader, Uche Mefor and Mazi Chika Edoziem. Any press release, announcement or communication purportedly issued by any other person other than the above-named principal officers or officers acting on their instruction are to be discountenanced and ignored by the general public.

Above named officers of (IPOB) are the authorized representatives, appointed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the helm of affairs of IPOB.

Anybody transacting or relating with any other person, other than Uche Mefor and Chika Edoziem or those appointed by them are doing so at their own risk.

Source: Naijaloaded
The Nigeria Police Force has placed a N30 million reward on the head of a wanted kidnap kingpin identified simply as Evans.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, told newsmen on Tuesday, that a N30 million reward, awaits anyone who gives information that leads to the arrest of the elusive Evans.

We are encouraging Nigerians to blow the whistle on this kidnapper.

Whoever blows the whistle that will lead to his arrest will get a N30 million reward, as stated by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, the commissioner said.

Vanguard reports that operatives of the Lagos state police command had traced the wanted kidnapper to his hideout at Igando area of Lagos last Friday, May 12, but he fled before their arrival, abandoning a catchment of arms.

Following the raid on the hideout, the police recovered four AK-47 rifles; two automatic pistols; four magazines loaded with 60 rounds of ammunitions each; 1,272 ammunition, 59 AK-47 ammunition; a police bullet-proof vest; a Toyota Hiace bus, suspected to be the gangs operational vehicle, and a motorcycle.

Owoseni also disclosed that another kidnappers den belonging to the kingpin was uncovered at Ijagemo creeks, Festac Town, with the recovering of some arms and ammunition.

The police boss said like the Igando raid, no arrest was made as the kidnappers, who apparently sighted the operatives from far, fled the creeks in their speed boats.

Owoseni said two suspects, who were later arrested, confessed to be members of Evans kidnap gang.

Evans has been on the wanted list of the Police in Anambra, Edo and Lagos states, for four years. The suspects arrested have given us valuable information, which the Command is working on to ensure that he is apprehended by all means.

The Command is already doing what is necessary in accordance with the laws of Lagos State on kidnapping. That is by taking over the house used by Evans to keep abducted victims or demolish it.
The Police Command in Borno on Tuesday confirmed the killing of five persons in a suicide bomb attack iKonduga Local Government Area of the state.

The Spokesman of the command, Mr Victor Isuku, made the confirmation in a statement in Maiduguri.

Information received from Konduga has it that on Monday at about 2130 hrs, three Female suicide bombers detonated explosives strapped to their bodies at Shuwa settlement of Mandarari Ward Konduga, killing themselves and two others.

While six persons sustained injuries, Normalcy has been restored in the area, Isuku said

The command had on May 13 confirmed a twin suicide attack that rocked the premises of University of Maiduguri.

According to the commands Spokesman, Victor Isuku, three suicide bombers hurriedly detonated IEDs strapped to their bodies, killing themselves and a university security personnel.

Source: (NAN)
An elderly woman has stunned people with her dramatic actions after she stripped n*ked in front of many people to make a point.

Tshidi Nyembe, a 68-year-old South African grandmother took an innocent protest over school toilets too far yesterday.

The woman undressed herself in full view of schoolkids, cops and parents, apparently to make the point that kids also deserve dignity.

According to Daily Sun SA, Tshidi Nyembe said she took off her clothes out of desperation as parents were tired of waiting for proper toilets at Barcelona Primary School in Etwatwa, Ekurhuleni.

Our kids cannot be using the bucket system after 23 years of democracy. This is unfair. The toilets are unhygienic and by protesting, we want to force the department to take us seriously.

Our kids pick up diseases from these dirty toilets. SGB chairman Fraser Komane said the portable toilets at the school were disgusting and the mobile classrooms were also in a terrible state.

The department tells us we are not on the priority list. They are building better schools in other areas but they have forgotten us. We need schools like all the other places in the province, he said.

Komane said they had locked the school gates and there would be no teaching until the department delivered materials to build better toilets.

These toilets are dangerous and we fear our grade R pupils will fall in.

Komane said parents had a meeting on Sunday and decided not to allow any teachers or pupils into the school until the department listened to them.

Protest is the only thing our government listens to. We have been trying to negotiate peacefully but its not getting us anywhere.

Officials from the Gauteng Education Department visited the school yesterday and a meeting was planned for today to discuss ways to resolve the problem.
The trio of Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA,according to statistics impounded 78,567 vehicles on Lagos roads in the last one year for violating the states road law.

The amount gathered by these agencies, VIO, LASTMA and the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, MVAA, generated to the sum of N11.35 billion as fines, road worthiness certificates and issuance of drivers license and documents in the last one year.

Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Anofiu Elegushi disclosed this on Tuesday at a ministerial press conference in Alausa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

A breakdown of the revenue showed that the VIO generated N2.48 billion, comprising road fines of N856.746 million and issuance of road worthiness certificate at N1.627 billion.

LASTMA generated N743 million while the MVAA raked in N8,125 billion.

According to Eleguhi, the combined contribution of both Agencies represents 0.6% of the states annual revenue portfolio. By implication this cannot justify such claims that our enforcement effort is to generate revenue, he said.

Also, a breakdown on the number of the 78,567 vehicles impounded showed that VIOs impounded 68,101 vehicles while LASMA impounded 10,466 vehicles in the last one year during their enforcement.

However, Elegushi restated the commitment of the state government in reducing travel time across the major arteries of the state.

We had adopted various engineering solutions along with improving the traditional methods by which traffic is measured, he said, adding that the introduction of lay-bys had reduced travel time along the Ojodu Berger-Obalende axis to about 20 minutes.

While also stating plans for two others lay-bys along Ikorodu and Ketu along Ikorodu, the commissioner said the perennial logjam witnessed due to activities of commercial buses picking and discharging passengers would be a thing of the past as both would lead to 45 minutes travel time from Ikorodu to CMS.

The acting commissioner also stated that the investment in water transportation and its promotion, targeted a move toward 8% share of transportation activities from its present 2% position.

Elegushi averred that the provision of water transportation infrastructure and safety gadgets had significantly made Lagos waterways safer and more acceptable to the people, adding that proper channelization, route delineation and a broadly agreed operational guideline for operators have been key to the new boost the sector is showing.

Elegushi explained that the reviving of the state-owned Lag-Ferry by its restructuring would ensure that government was actively promoting water transportation.

He stated that various promoters and partners to provide ferries and manage ferries operations were being considered, adding that boats/ferries for transportation and leisure was to be purchased by the state government.

Source: ( PM News )
A woman who got dumped by her fiance just about three days to their wedding, has gone ahead to do what has gotten many people surprised.

A heartbroken bride-to-be has told how she still had to go to her wedding even though she got dumped by her fiance three days before the big day.

Carly Akers, from Faversham, Kent, was excited to be marrying Shaun (not real name), whom shed been with for nine years and has two children with, in April 2016.

But three days before the couple were due to get hitched, Shaun called off the wedding. As theyd organised a joint celebration with Carlys brother, the devastated bride-to-be still had to go.

Having promised her two daughters, aged two and six, that they would be bridesmaids, Carly walked down the aisle clutching her bouquet in front of a room full of baffled friends and family.

Carly claims she was told Shaun cheated on her on his stag do, which he denies. But Shaun said he called off the wedding after finding out Carly was the one who was unfaithful years ago  something she denies.

Carly, 30, said: I dont know if Ill ever get over being jilted at the altar. A wedding is supposed to be the best day of a womans life. But it was the worst day of mine.

The mum recalled how Shaun had made her feel like the luckiest girl alive when he popped the question on Valentines Day in 2015.

When the couple told Carlys brother and his fiancee they were getting married, they decided to have a double wedding and booked the date for April 29, 2016.

I launched into full wedding planning mode, said Carly. We chose a hotel, separate wedding cakes and even booked to go on honeymoon together in Tenerife.

I bought my dress and my daughter chose dresses for her and her sister.

I also had two friends as bridesmaids who both bought aqua green dresses to wear.

We sent 100 invites out to guests for the ceremony and a further 100 for the evening do.

A week before the wedding, Carly travelled to Mallorca with three friends on her hen do, while Shaun went to Bournemouth on his stag with 20 mates  including her brother.

But when she returned to the UK, she told how a friend whose boyfriend had been on the stag said there were rumours Shaun had strayed.

When she confronted him, on April 26, she told how Shaun called off the wedding and stormed out, refusing to talk about it.

Two days before the big day, Shaun wasnt talking to me, Carly said. On Friday morning, the day of our wedding, I got the keys to the bridal suite and laid my white dress out on the bed.

I thought Shaun would turn up. I called him and told him me and the girls were all dressed up ready.

But his voice was cold as he said hed told me the wedding was off and he hung up.

I broke down in tears as I looked out of the window. Friends and family were arriving all dressed up ready for the double wedding.

Carly had been with Shaun for nine years before he popped the question on Valentines Day in 2015

Carly admitted that friends and family thought she was joking when she went downstairs and tearfully told them it was off.

She then returned upstairs and broke the heartbreaking news to her daughters.

I told them Mummy and Daddy werent getting married anymore  but that didnt mean we couldnt go to the wedding, she said.

It was my my brothers big day too.

Carly couldnt bring herself to wear her dress so she borrowed one of her bridesmaids, whod brought a spare outfit.

She recalled: As the wedding march began I walked down the aisle holding my bouquet with the girls at my side.

Only as the bride said I do, my eldest daughter burst into tears and shouted, That should be my mummy and daddy!

We didnt pose for the official wedding photos and I couldnt face cutting into our wedding cake.

But I forced myself to sit down with the guests and enjoy the wedding breakfast. Wed paid for this, the girls were looking forward to it  I wasnt going to let good food go to waste.

That night I slept in the bridal suite with a girlfriend, and a few days later we flew out on the honeymoon.

As she said, I thought I might as well enjoy the holiday.

Now Im determined to keep strong. My wedding dreams may have been ruined but I wont let what happened ruin my life.

Shaun said: It was a joint wedding and she didnt have to go to the wedding.

Three days before I decided I didnt want to marry her, and I told guests the wedding was off.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved an agreement with the government of Turkey on mutual trips of citizens on the basis of internal passports in the form of ID cards.

The corresponding decision was made at a government meeting on Wednesday. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman read out this decision among the list of decisions accepted by the government without discussion, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

The agreement on the entry of citizens stipulates that citizens of Ukraine and citizens of Turkey, who use passports in the form of ID cards with a contactless electronic chip, will be able to enter, leave, follow transit and stay without visas on the territory of Turkey and Ukraine, respectively, for up to 90 days within 180 days.

As reported, on March 14, Ukraine and Turkey signed an agreement on the conditions of mutual trips of citizens on the basis of internal passports in the form of ID cards.
Last year, Ugandan authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Nigerian pop star Wizkid, who cancelled a planned concert due to health reasons.

Due to his inability to perform and wow his Ugandan fans, the Daddy Yo crooner, Wizkid has announced that he would be holding free shows in Uganda this year.

Via his twitter handle, Wizkid said it would be a 2 day show to make up for last year. However, the Starboy Worldwide lead act is yet to announce dates to the event.

He tweeted saying; Im doing free shows in Uganda this year! 2days free to make up for last time!

See tweet below;

Source: Naijaloaded
Ransomware attacks are all the rage these days among hackers, and many people are worried about becoming victims. Are Linux users secure against such attacks?

This topic came up recently in a thread on the Linux subreddit, and the folks there had some interesting thoughts to share about Linux and ransomware attacks.

Rytuklis started the thread with this post:

I thought I was safe on Windows in Lithuania where such attacks are very rare but saw this hack also hit Lithuania pretty hard too, so it makes me contemplate Linux again.

I am sure you guys heard the news about that huge hacker attack that locks peoples personal fines and demands ransom. Is Linux secure enough to protect against such attacks?

His fellow redditors responded with their thoughts about Linux and security:

Chrisoboe: These attacks only worked because people didnt update their Windows, or used an out of support version. Every operating system is insecure if you dont update it or if you use out-of-support versions. Linux distros usually provide security updates way faster than Microsoft, but that doesnt matter much when users decide not to do updates. 

ArcadeStallman: Linux and Windows are both secure enough if you exercise caution and keep your system updated. Its easier to keep Linux updated, though, since you can update with one or two commands and not have to restart immediately.

This particular attack wont affect Linux AFAIK, but attacks targeted at Linux systems do happen occasionally.

Tscs37: Short answer: No.

Long answer: No, but not many people find it profitable or lucrative to make Linux-based ransomware.

No software is 100 percent bulletproof. Linux may be a bit better but its hard to estimate by how much in hard numbers. CVEs are a good start but dont cover possible exploits or overall security at all.

Destiny_functional: More secure than Windows.

Windows has a 20 year history of leaving its users vulnerable on the internet. Frequent major vulnerabilities too. We had MSBlast which easily could have been ransomware too if it had been invented / famous then. MSBlast basically made any new Windows 2000 or XP version that you would connect directly (i.e. not behind a router) to the internet useless within a minute. I dont see that much has changed.

Seeing which Windows version patches were released for the last couple of days you see how extremely old (XP era) vulnerabilities carry over from version to version seemingly. Thats Microsoft for you and has always been.

Is Linux secure enough? Security always can be (and needs to be) improved.

Anyway, if you have backups you have nothing to fear.

Perillamint: MO, limit scope to this issue, Linux is better then Windows.

At least, nobody (unless theyre crazy enough and smart enough to patch kernel) runs SAMBA on Ring 0 on Linux unlike Microsoft did (and allowed RCE to Ring 0 :( ).

Audioen: Security needs to be designed in, and then the implementation itself must be correct. Linux shares the history with Windows in that its security resembles that of an egg: a hard exterior meant to keep intruders out, but once through the shell, you meet a soft interior that offers little resistance.

Many Windows vulnerabilities require a vector that allows code execution, then the payload facilitated by that tends to use any of the numerous unpatched security holes to do whatever it wants on the system. Additionally, recovery to uncompromised state requires treating the machine to a complete reinstall. Categorically, Linux is very much in the same boat in that services running on the system can serve as the vector to inject a payload, which can then burrow into the system so deep that the only way you can be sure you have got rid of it is by reinstalling the OS. (In fact, some proof-of-concept virus-type programs are so advanced that they can in infect e.g. certain hard disk firmwares, in which case reinstalling does not necessarily help.)

However, many vectors used on Windows are not working well on Linux: e.g. people dont usually download random executables from the web and run them, people dont blindly execute attachments they received by email, etc. Still, the situation is not ideal and requires constant vigilance, and there are tools youre supposed to install by sudoing a Bash script you download from GitHub etc. At the current state of security, allowing users to learn to do things like that invites disaster.

A hardened operating system would be basically impossible to destroy by any user action, and could be brought back to a known-safe state at any point the user wants. It would probably substantially remind one of iOS, Android, or ChromeOS in that the user (and by extension any program the user can run) always has less than full control of the machine, and even then security can fail due to implementation errors.

Ironfish: Linux, just like Windows, is as secure as you make it. Ive seen plenty of Linux boxes get rooted over the years so its not a magic bullet to just switch to another OS.

Turin231: Both OSs can be secure enough if you follow good practices. Basically keep everything updated.

Linux is just more secure because vulnerabilities are patched faster (easier to find and cannot be hidden by the developer), CVE practices tend to be more complete, and there is usually no data-mining software that can be potentially exploited by third parties.

But more secure does not mean fully secure. No system can provide this.

More at Reddit
WEAT, 9.05 target ONE44 Analytics - 1 hour ago Educational and Actionable! WEAT : 8.35 (-2.22%)

***Market Wrap-up Nov 9 RJO Futures - 1 hour ago Summary of today's events, Stocks/Bonds (Sorry no election talk)

Hogs Mixed Mostly Lower Barchart - Wed Nov 9, 4:48PM CST Hogs close with a 30 cent loss in the Dec contract, but 2 to 65 cent gains in the other nearbys. The USDA National Average Base Hog Price for Wednesday was $0.48 higher to $87.70. The CME Lean Hog Index... HEZ22 : 85.275s (-0.35%) HEJ23 : 94.625s (+0.45%) KMZ22 : 95.450s (-0.55%)

Cotton Ends Red on Wednesday Barchart - Wed Nov 9, 4:48PM CST Cotton futures faded on report day with losses of 36 to 118 points. USDA reduced their average farm price for cotton by a nickel to 85 cents/lb. Monthly USDA projections had a 13 lb/acre cotton yield... CTZ22 : 86.50s (-1.35%) CTH23 : 84.73s (-1.18%) CTK23 : 83.79s (-1.24%)

Cattle Futures Fade on Wednesday Barchart - Wed Nov 9, 4:48PM CST Live cattle futures ended the day with 25 cent losses in the August 23 contract to 62 cent losses in the Feb. Dec cattle dropped by $1.47 on the day to close at $151.57. USDA confirmed some moderate... LEZ22 : 151.575s (-0.96%) LEG23 : 154.150s (-0.40%) LEJ23 : 157.775s (-0.30%) GFX22 : 177.725s (-0.31%) GFF23 : 179.650s (-0.14%)

Soybeans Close Higher on Strong Soy Oil Barchart - Wed Nov 9, 4:48PM CST Soybean futures had a wild roller coaster day for the midweek trade, leading the Jan contract back and forth within an impressive 24 1/4 cents (from +11 to -13 cents). Ultimately the board ended the session... ZSX22 : 1464-0 (+0.29%) ZSPAUS.CM : 14.2141 (+0.53%) ZSF23 : 1453-6 (+0.12%) ZSH23 : 1458-2 (+0.07%)

Wheats Drop on Report Day Barchart - Wed Nov 9, 4:48PM CST Wheat futures ended the session with some double digit losses. Notably, Dec SRW was down 2.5% to the lowest print since Sep 6th, the $8 mark did hold at the low. KC HRW futures traded 1.3% to 1.7% lower... ZWZ22 : 808-6 (+0.28%) ZWH23 : 830-6 (+0.36%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.3919 (-2.76%) KEZ22 : 932-2 (+0.24%) KEPAWS.CM : 8.8808 (-1.74%) MWZ22 : 940-2 (+0.21%)

Lower Close for Midweek Corn Market Barchart - Wed Nov 9, 4:48PM CST Corn futures printed a volatile intra day chart, leading to a 14c range from +5 to -9 1/2. Ultimately, corn futures closed the day 3 to 5 cents in the red. New crop December weakened by more, leaving the... ZCZ22 : 665-6 (+0.19%) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.6266 (-0.41%) ZCH23 : 671-6 (+0.19%) ZCK23 : 671-6 (+0.19%)
Ukraine's Culture Ministry has said that conducting archeological work in temporarily occupied Crimea without official permission from Ukraine is a violation of international law.

"The Culture Ministry expresses its concern over the situation involving archeological excavations in Crimea in light of the illegal actions of the occupying force  the Russian Federation. It is currently harming or will harm Ukraine's cultural heritage on the peninsula with this work," the statement posted to the Culture Ministry's website reads.

The document says Culture Ministry employees have learned about sand mining activities near the ancient city Artezian which endangers ancient artifacts. Some 450 square hectares containing ancient graves from the first centuries AD are in danger, as well as 20 burial mounds.

"Ukraine's Culture Ministry views these activities as illegal and contravening the norms of international legislation," the post says, adding that it has appealed to the UNESCO's General Director Irina Bokova and other international organizations with a request to ask the Russian Federation to abide by the norms of international laws.
WETASKIWIN, AB (May 17, 2017) Edmonton Intl Raceway is excited to host the NASCAR Pintys Series, July 28th and 29th, 2017. This is the fourth year in a row that EIR has hosted a NASCAR Event, and it is the only NASCAR Sanctioned event held in Alberta.

EIR is also extremely pleased to announce that Bayer Canada will be the lead partner and major corporate sponsor of the Pintys Series feature race on July 29th, to be known as the LUXXUR 300 presented by Bayer.

Gary Hartl, Regional Sales Manager for Bayer says, Bayer is pleased to be a partner with Edmonton Intl Raceway in Wetaskiwin with the announcement of the LUXXUR 300 NASCAR Race on July 29th, 2017. Its a time of the year when our growers, who we all rely on to put food on the table, can take a step back from the fast pace of growing season to enjoy time with their families & friends.

Bayer looks forward to this world class stock car event & the participation of some of Canadas most elite drivers.

EIR Promoter, Loretta Thiering says, Working with Bayer brings immediate impact and profile to this event. Their network across Alberta and all of Western Canada is second to none.

Anticipation is building for this years race, featuring the likes of Daytona 500 racer DJ Kennington, the winner of last years EIR Pintys Series Alex Tagliani and 2016 NASCAR Pintys Series champion Cayden Lapcevich.

To alleviate the demand for tickets to this traditionally sold out event, Edmonton Intl Raceway in Wetaskiwin has added another 3,000 seats on turn 4 with an awesome view of the entire oval.

EIR Promoter, Loretta Thiering also announced today that Tickets for EIR May Events (May 20 and May 27) are only $5 with Kids 6 years & Under Free. Other Special Events this Race Season include two Super Late Model 200 Lap Events (June 10 and August 12) and the Canada 150 NASCAR Super Stock Event on July 1.

Tickets are available online at www.edmontonraceway.com.
More and more sovereign wealth funds are betting big on technology companies and start-ups. But they're late out of the starting gate  and some fear that inexperience may cost them.

In a rare embrace of modernity for deeply conservative Saudi Arabia  which faced violent clashes after the introduction of television 50 years ago and still doesnt allow women to drive  Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman revealed last summer that the kingdoms future will be digital. Prince Mohammed, the brash young face of the House of Saud and chair of the countrys Council of Economic and Development Affairs, boarded a private jet to California in June to mingle with Silicon Valley whiz kids and the venture capital gods who can make or break them. Swapping his traditional thobe for a pair of blue jeans and a blazer, the grinning 31-year-old posed with Mark Zuckerberg for a photo shoot at Facebooks headquarters in Menlo Park. Just a few weeks earlier, Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund had broken the record for the all-time biggest single investment in a venture-backed company when it cut a $3.5 billion check to Uber Technologies.

PIF may be one of the most aggressive state-owned investors in tech these days, but its not alone. A number of sovereign wealth funds, their portfolios hobbled by years of heavy investment in low-yielding bonds, have been plowing billions into new technologies and start-ups, hoping to bag the next Facebook. According to data from Institutional Investors Sovereign Wealth Center, these government-owned investment funds poured nearly $7 billion into private technology companies in 2016, shattering their previous record of $2.5 billion, set in 2014. But the Uber investment raises the question of whether PIF  and investors like it  are in over their heads.

Saudi cash took the unicorn club (venture-backed private companies valued at more than $1 billion) to new heights when Ubers valuation topped $68 billion last June. But shortly after that news broke, the San Franciscobased taxi app rode into a maelstrom of controversies: CEO Travis Kalanick got caught berating an Uber driver in a viral video, hundreds of thousands of users staged a boycott over Kalanicks support of President Donald Trump, a former employee published an account of sexual harassment, and the company continues to face an exodus from key management positions.

Ubers troubles are a bad omen for a market that pundits and soothsayers have been calling a bubble. The number of venture-backed companies worth $1 billion or more soared from 45 in January 2014 to 154 as of December 2016, according to data from the Wall Street Journal. As unicorns multiplied at a speed that would put rabbits to shame, sovereign wealth funds, which collectively manage about $6.5 trillion, emerged as a promising source of long-term private capital. But some experts question whether the funds have the technical know-how to avoid getting burned in todays frothy technology markets.

Long considered a trailblazer and role model in the sovereign community for both its prudent approach to direct investing and its tech savvy, Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC, which holds about $354 billion, according to Sovereign Wealth Center estimates, decided years ago to devote special attention to the risks and opportunities arising from the breakneck speed of technological adoption and innovation across all sectors, from health care to energy to manufacturing.

Its increasingly hard to categorize which are technology companies and which are not, says Lim Chow Kiat, GICs chief executive and group chief investment officer. To the extent the traditional definition of technology sector is still relevant, we look at it as comprising the entire chain, from start-ups to established industry giants. There are strong linkages amongst the firms at various stages, but the key is not in top-down allocation but bottom-up, name-by-name selection.

Over the past decade state-owned investors have pumped $25.7 billion into direct technology equity investments, with more than 80 percent of that total coming in since the start of 2014. GIC and its sister institution, Temasek Holdings, accounted for about two thirds of those investments, committing $7 billion and $10.2 billion, respectively, since 2006.

Though publicly listed tech companies typically have received the lions share of sovereign dollars, last year marked a significant turnabout, with private market investments accounting for more than 84 percent of the total. Sovereign funds have been known to err on the side of risk aversion, but lately these institutions have been allocating more to high-risk start-ups and later-stage growth companies, popping up as anchor investors in pre-IPO funding rounds  sometimes even taking the lead. Robert Nelsen, co-founder of ARCH Venture Partners, actively tries to recruit sovereign wealth funds into earlier rounds because theyre prone to buy and hold up to and through an IPO.

Instead of thinking about how to sell after the IPO, theyre thinking about how to buy more, says Nelsen, who specializes in biotechnology. The life sciences segment, including biotechnologies and medical devices, attracted 11.5 percent of sovereign funds direct technology spending in 2016. Mobile companies received a little over half thanks to Saudi Arabias investment in Uber, which accounted for 43 percent of the total. Otherwise, Internet companies would have taken the lead, with nearly $2 billion deployed in 13 investments. The remaining $1.1 billion was divided among software, hardware, and consulting companies. About $200 million went to online and mobile financial technology companies.

Biotech has been a natural fit for large sovereign wealth funds because the lab work involved typically requires a larger amount of capital up front than start-ups in other industries need. Because these institutions manage tens of billions of dollars, Nelsen says, they usually wont even consider an investment opportunity of less than $50 million. If youre a sovereign wealth fund, a $10 million check is immaterial, he says. It has to be a reasonable amount of capital that can reasonably be put to work in a company to have an impact.

The challenge of investing at scale is one of the biggest reasons some sovereigns are eschewing venture capital funds in favor of direct investing. Venture capital as an asset class is tightly constrained by the size and number of start-up companies available. Moreover, many of the top-performing venture firms stopped taking on new limited partners years ago. When Bessemer Venture Partners was raising its most recent, $1.6 billion, fund in 2015, partner Ed Colloton says, there was no need to market the fund beyond the firms existing investors, which are mostly foundations, university endowments, and family offices. Youre not going to raise a bigger fund, so everybody just comes back to the table and reups for the new one, he says.

Taking matters into its own hands, Saudi Arabias PIF announced in October that it would put a stunning $45 billion toward the creation of a technology fund run by Japanese telecommunications giant SoftBank Group Corp. Despite the kingdoms vast oil wealth, thats not exactly pennies for PIF. Originally created as a development fund to divert a portion of Saudi Arabias oil money into strategically important industries and projects, the fund managed $157 billion in assets as of June 2016, mostly in domestic stocks and loans to local businesses.

The fund, which started in 1971 but until recently had little or no international visibility, emerged as the linchpin in Prince Mohammeds economic reform agenda to wean the country off its dependence on hydrocarbons. Under new leadership PIF reengineered itself before taking the international stage in a full-blown tech offensive. It has since received a $27 billion transfer from the kingdoms central bank, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, as well as the kingdoms ownership stake in the worlds biggest oil producer, Saudi Arabian Oil Co. Saudi officials insist the latter could be worth as much as $2 trillion, but thats all tied up until the companys planned IPO  if and when that happens.

In November, PIF dumped half a billion dollars on Noon, an online shopping website under development in Dubai that aspires to be the Amazon.com of the Middle East.

But in a not too shocking twist, it turns out Amazon also aspires to be the Amazon of the Middle East: The U.S. e-commerce behemoth reached an agreement to acquire Souq.com, an established online marketplace operated out of Dubai, for more than $650 million in March.

The development underscores just how unpredictable and cutthroat the tech business can be  and just how bold Saudi Arabias PIF is for throwing a quarter of its current assets behind the imperfect science of technological disruption. Historically, its always been hard to judge which companies are going to make money, warns Colloton, who chairs the investment committee at Bessemer, a top-performing venture firm. This business is not for the faint of heart.

For anyone keeping tabs on sovereign wealth funds, Saudis investment in Uber felt like deja vu. Two years before PIF arrived on the scene, the Qatar Investment Authority, which manages $338 billion by Sovereign Wealth Center estimates, raised eyebrows when it wrote a nine-digit check to Uber in 2014, for a $40 billion valuation. Founded in 2005, QIA had a reputation for hoarding glamorous hotels and luxury brands but relatively little experience identifying innovations outside its high-end comfort zone.

The Qatari sovereign fund announced in March that it will open a Silicon Valley office later this year. According to the Sovereign Wealth Centers transaction database, QIA made its first independent foray into the tech sector in 2011, directly taking minority stakes in U.S. e-commerce start-up Coupons.com and French chip maker Altis Semiconductor SNC, for an estimated total of $50 million. That may only represent a basis point of the funds total portfolio, but neither company appears to be the next big thing: Altis was sold during insolvency proceedings last year, and Coupons.coms share price has collapsed by 65 percent since its 2014 IPO.

In April the $23.5 billion New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZSF) revealed that its investment in cleantech start-up Ogin had gone bust; the company is now being wound down. The Kiwi sovereign fund invested $30 million in the Massachusetts wind turbine developer in 2013, a deal sourced through a little-known sovereign wealth fund coalition dubbed the Innovation Alliance. Hoping to pool skills and resources to better uncover, research, and invest in venture capitalstyle deals, New Zealand established the partnership in 2012 with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), which manages some $600 billion for the emirate by Sovereign Wealth Center estimates, and Alberta Investment Management Corp., which oversees $70 billion-plus in public funds for the Canadian province, including the $14 billion Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. The trio had mostly stayed out of the public eye before NZSF announced it had written down its investment in Ogin. AIMCo had also invested in the company; ADIA had passed.

Commercially, this has not been a successful investment for the NZ Super Fund, and we are disappointed with the outcome, chief investment officer Matt Whineray said in a statement. We went into this investment knowing that the company was early-stage. We accepted that because of the earlier-stage investment there were a broader range of possible outcomes associated with the potential for high returns.

In Silicon Valley, where companies that have yet to turn a profit receive mind-boggling valuations, its even harder for investors to know whether theyre getting a raw deal. And sovereign funds arent the only new kids in town. In the past few years, mutual funds, hedge funds, pensions, and endowments have flocked to private tech companies in hopes of juicing their performance. Yet top entrepreneurs tend to gravitate toward established firms with legendary venture capitalists. Its against all odds to try to build a great company, says Bessemers Colloton. If youre an entrepreneur, you want people in your boardroom who have experience in a particular area and understand the challenges and pitfalls out there.

A common approach for large asset owners that want a little more bang for their buck is to partner with venture capital or private equity firms through co-investment opportunities, but building trust and credibility in this insular community is no walk in Menlo Park. Even funds like GIC, with hundreds of billions in the bank, have deemed it necessary to set up shop halfway around the world in Silicon Valley. Malaysias Khazanah Nasional opened an office there in 2013, and Singapores $180 billion state-owned investor Temasek opened a San Francisco office in February.

While our investments are largely anchored in Asia, we recognize North America as a geography that offers good investment opportunities, particularly in the areas of technology, health care and life sciences, a spokesman for Temasek tells Institutional Investor. In January the firm bought an $800 million minority stake in Mountain Viewbased medical technology company Verily Life Sciences (formerly Google Life Sciences) from parent company Alphabet. The setting up of our San Francisco office brings us closer to these opportunities and complements our existing team in New York, thereby increasing our coverage and connectivity across the U.S., the spokesman adds.

Russia has taken a similar approach. RUSNANO Corp., an investment company established by the Russian government in 2011, opened an office around the corner from Stanford University that same year. Its mission: to develop the Russian nanotechnology industry through co-investment in nanotechnology projects with substantial economic potential or social benefit.

Although sovereign funds represent the financial interests of foreign governments, these notoriously passive shareholders typically dont have a political agenda unless theyve been given an explicit policy objective, usually in the form of economic development goals. I think the larger, more global SWFs are mostly about financial gain, and Ive seen little on the strategic side, says Steve McLaughlin, founder and CEO of Financial Technology Partners, a San Franciscobased investment bank. On the other hand, some SWFs, like EDBI in Singapore, have specific mandates to help bring business relationships to Singapore over time.

EDBI, the investment arm of Singapores Economic Development Board, participated in a $105 million funding round, led by Temasek in July, for Sprinklr. Valued at $1.8 billion, the New Yorkbased social media management software developer planned to use the fresh capital to expand into Singapore.

Saudis PIF may have led the sovereign community in terms of dollars invested in tech companies in 2016 thanks to its one-off investment in Uber, but Singapores state-owned investors participated in the most deals: Temasek invested $1.3 billion in 22 deals, according to Sovereign Wealth Center data, while GIC invested $2.2 billion in 12. Khazanah Nasional rounded out the top three with six direct equity investments totaling $380 million.

In the past decade Temasek has made 143 direct equity investments in tech companies  and cashed in. For example, a well-timed 2011 investment of about $37 million in Chinas e-commerce platform Alibaba Group Holding is now worth nine times that amount. So its no surprise that in 2016, when Temasek posted losses for the first time since the financial crisis, its solution was to double down on the tech sector. Last year telecommunications, media and technology overtook financials as the largest sector in Temaseks portfolio, with a weighting of 25 percent. The firms roots in the TMT sector date back to 1974, when the government of Singapore established Temasek as a holding company to manage state-owned enterprises, including Singapore Telecommunications.

Alibaba has also proved to be a winning investment for sovereigns including GIC, Khazanah, and China Investment Corp. But like Uber and so many other tech giants, its valuation is hotly disputed. Alibabas 2014 IPO was the largest in history, luring tech bears out of hibernation to talk about the perceived market bubble on cable news. Bubble or no bubble, a report published last year by SharesPost, which researches private market investments, estimated that roughly one in three unicorns in the U.S. will experience a drop in its valuation when it goes public or sells out.

Thats exactly what happened to Square. At first blush, it would appear that GIC got burned after it led a $150 million Series E round for the U.S. mobile card reader maker only to see the companys valuation slashed in half at its IPO a year later. But the Series Eround investors had in place an IPO protection  known as a ratchet  that promised them additional shares if the companys stock priced below $18.56 a share, for a guaranteed return of 20 percent in the event of an IPO. Moreover, Squares share price is up 40 percent since the IPO.

All of this makes GIC look downright savvy  hardly an inexperienced, deep-pocketed sovereign recklessly throwing money at the first unicorn it saw. Indeed, some experts say state-owned funds, though late to the venture capital party, have proved to be fairly sophisticated investors. As FT Partners McLaughlin sees it, sovereign wealth funds are anything but dumb money. Weve got a ton of respect for these firms, he says. We find the talent and diligence levels equal to or greater than some of the established funds.

Ashby Monk, executive director of Stanfords Global Projects Center (and a columnist for Institutional Investor; see Avenue of Giants, page 32), agrees with this assessment but warns that the interests of large institutions arent always aligned with those of the general partners at private equity and venture capital firms. They arent dumb, says Monk, who offers advisory services to sovereign funds entering Silicon Valley. But theyre stepping out of their comfort zone and trusting their GPs to do right by them, and thats not always the case.

That concern may be among the reasons Norways $930 billion Government Pension Fund Global, the worlds biggest sovereign wealth fund, has yet to enter the pre-IPO tech fray. Since establishing its rainy-day fund with excess oil revenue in 1996, the Norwegian government has kept private equity and unlisted stocks off-limits. Restricted to an ultraconservative mix of stocks, bonds, and real estate, Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), the arm of Norways central bank that oversees the fund, has explored innovations in passive investing but has grown discontented with sitting on 1.3 percent of all shares in listed companies around the globe.

These days the fund is in the minority. A poll taken at Institutional Investors Sovereign Investor Institutes Global-West Government Fund Roundtable in London last May found that 60 percent of the funds in attendance were already investing in venture capital. The sample represented a geographically diverse group of investors, with 24 percent coming from institutions with more than $100 billion in assets and an additional 11 percent representing funds with over $50 billion.

Theyre missing out on an entire asset class, says ARCHs Nelsen of sovereign funds that dont invest in private markets. In a portfolio theory sense, as that asset class grows as a percentage of global wealth, theyre actually accepting more risk because they dont have a balanced portfolio. And theyre left out of large segments of excess returns as the financial markets change.

Those potential dangers are not lost on NBIM, which was forced to forgo an offer from Facebook for a pre-IPO investment. The firms executives have expressed dismay in the past about the slowdown in new corporate listings and their inability to access innovative and fast-growing companies, like Uber and Airbnb, that are staying private for longer.

For the first time ever, we have a set of companies that have pushed off going public, and theyre raising capital when the companies are valued at tens of billions of dollars, says Bessemers Colloton. At any other prior period, those wouldve been public companies.

In a forthcoming paper in the Hastings Law Journal, Duke University associate law professor Elisabeth de Fontenay explains how booming private markets are sucking the life out of public markets. No longer the promised land for companies poised to grow, the public stock market is quickly becoming a holding pen for massive, sleepy corporations, de Fontenay writes.

Historically, the two main incentives for going public have been the ability to raise large amounts of capital and the ability to create liquidity for investors. But as sovereign wealth funds have gotten bolder and regulatory changes have allowed private equity and venture capital firms to get larger, more-innovative companies are putting off the day when they will tap public markets and subject themselves to the pressures of quarterly earnings targets.

We can provide greater financial support for companies with proven technologies and help them avoid the rush to IPO, Colm Lanigan, head of principal investments at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, told the Sovereign Wealth Center in a 2014 interview.

While creating liquidity is still a plus for private equity and venture capital firms that ultimately need to sell a company or take it public to pay back investors, sovereign wealth funds may have a different endgame entirely.

For the liquidity piece, sovereign wealth funds are playing a really significant role in the sense that they really dont need an exit for a long time, and they may not want an exit for a long time, Dukes de Fontenay tells II. From that standpoint, you have something that didnt used to exist: a huge chunk of equity capital that can stay in place for a long time without requiring an exit.

Otherwise forced to reconcile low growth prospects in public markets to their boards, even the most conservative asset owners may be pressured into private markets. Norways Parliament has said it will consider letting its sovereign fund invest in private equity at the beginning of next year. Even if the funds private equity allocation was capped at 5 percent of its total portfolio, as its real estate allocation is, NBIM would have about $47 billion to put to work. Its sheer size would put it on equal footing with buyout heavyweights  Carlyle Group, for example, has $51 billion in assets in its corporate private equity division  but whether this unabashed index-investing enthusiast could hold its own against these rivals is an open question.

On the other hand, averaging real growth of just 3.79 percent a year since inception and short of its 4 percent target, Norway may have more to gain than it does to lose. That may well be whats driving its peers to dive into private markets.

I dont understand this idea that public markets are somehow pure, says ARCHs Nelsen. In the deals we do, our investors know way more about a company and all its gory details than any public investor would ever know.

Jess Delaney is head of research and data for Institutional Investors Sovereign Wealth Center.
SCM Direct co-founder Gina Miller says investors in London arent realistic about their access to European markets once the U.K. leaves the trading bloc.

Gina Miller, co-founder of fund manager SCM Direct and outspoken critic of the U.K. governments approach to Brexit, says investors should lower expectations for how much access theyll have to Europes markets following Britains divorce.

Many investors in London still arent being realistic about the level of access theyll have to clients in the regions economy after the U.K. leaves the European Union in 2019, Miller said in an interview. The European Economic Area, or E.E.A., consists of the 28 E.U. member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Everyone is saying, we are going to be members of the E.E.A., but how realistic is that? said Miller. Being a member, but not being in the E.U., will mean we will still have to incorporate all E.U. regulations without E.U. representations and we would still have to make considerable contributions to single market access.

The European Securities and Markets Authority is considering charging countries outside the trading bloc to regulate them, according to ESMA Chairman Steven Maijoor, who said earlier this month that such payments would help cover the costs of assessing risks that non-E.U. firms pose to the European financial system. Liberal Democrat treasury spokesperson Susan Kramer has expressed concern the U.K. government isnt listening to what European policymakers are saying on regulation.

It is like two conversations are taking place and one is not listening to the other, she said. Everybody is worried about the ability to access E.U. Quite a number of British entities will be harmed by the loss of passporting.

Passporting is the term given to rules that allow fund managers to offer their funds in E.U.

The European Fund & Asset Management Association estimated in a report this month that the region had 22.8 trillion ($25.4 trillion) of assets under management at the end of last year.

Firm are starting to consider how they will serve existing clients and how they can manage costs post-Brexit, according to Andrew Gray, the head of PwCs U.K. regional financial-services practice.

A firm that does not have a legal entity within the E.U. will need to create a legal entity, and it will need to have that authorized by the appropriate legal authority to conduct business, he said.

At the annual Finance Malta conference, the U.K.s former trade envoy Jonathan Marland is expected to speak May 18 about the opportunities that exist for cross-border financial services within the Commonwealth, according to conference organizers. Marland, who had served under former British Prime Minister David Cameron, is now chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.

Miller said that the U.K. government appears over-reliant on The Commonwealth nations to bring about post-Brexit deals.

There is a naivety on free trade deals happening and a reliance on The Commonwealth, which is a really interesting one, she said. I was at a Commonwealth event not so long ago and people were telling me that Britain doesnt seem to understand that we now hold all the cards.

A spokeswoman for Marland said he wasnt immediately available for comment. A spokeswoman for the U.K. Department for Exiting the European Union declined to comment. The Department for International Trade did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Small businesses should be particularly wary following the global ransomware attack that crippled businesses globally, an expert has said.The WannaCry cyberattack, which was launched over the weekend, hit around 200,000 firms in 150 countries and highlighted the importance of cyber mitigation and insurance as a downloadable patch could have protected many.Leon Fouche, national leader for cyber security at advisory firm BDO, said that small businesses are the ones that need to remain vigilant as the aftermath of the attack dissipates.Small businesses are an easy target for criminals as they dont have IT teams to look after their environments and often pay the ransom to get their systems and data back, Fouche said. Any attack would immediately damage their reputation  to a point where they could have to cease trading overnight.Andrew Faber of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers in Sydneys Parramatta noted that the attack highlighted the vulnerability of small businesses to cyberattacks if they fail to stay on top of the issue.Australia got off comparatively lightly from this attack, but the sheer speed by which the ransomware spread should be enough to place this issue at the front and centre of business owners across the country, Faber said.A recent BDO/AusCERT survey found that nearly a quarter of organisations surveyed had suffered a ransomware attack in the last year.Faber stressed that while cyber insurance will not stop an attack, it should form part of an approach to mitigate cyber threats.
It takes eight minutes to sign up for coverage on Next Insurances digital platform - and the company has been growing at a pace of 20-25% every month since it started selling insurance online six months ago.Guy Goldstein, company co-founder and chief executive, said in an interview with Insurance Business that the company has found that providing tailored products has been key to the accelerated adoption of the platform among its target verticals.The company is currently serving personal trainers, photographers, and construction-related professionals on its platform. These are mostly made up of small and medium enterprises, which comprise a $150 billion insurance market across the globe, according to industry estimates. He added that as the company rolls out products and services to this sector, they have observed that pricing is an important factor in providing coverage to SMEs, and that they are very comfortable with buying insurance online.Next Insurance provides policies at a cost of $200 for the simplest plans, and $1,000 for the more complex plans annually, but clients can access them by paying monthly for their policies, which it believes makes insurance more accessible to a broader market. Goldstein said this subscription type scheme is popular among 99% of the companys clientele, although there are a few exceptions that still prefer to pay for insurance on an annual basis. .In the works is a policy renewal system, he added, although the company is still fine tuning the details of the service, specifically with respect to regulatory requirements.The company recently secured $29 million in Series A funding from Munich Re /HSB Ventures, while Nationwide and Markel are also investors. The Palo Alto company also received an initial $13 million fund from Ribbit Capital, TLV Partners and Zeev Ventures.Insurance is changing to meet the needs of micro businesses, Jacqueline LeSage Krause, Munich Re/HSB Ventures managing director said in a statement. She also observed that the company is in a good position to precisely tailor insurance solutions for client needs because of its deep knowledge base of their requirements.Were excited to use this funding to expand to other business verticals, Alon Huri, co-founder at Next Insurance, also emphasized in the same statement.
The City of Philadelphia sued Wells Fargo & Co. on Monday, accusing the largest U.S. mortgage lender of predatory lending, which violates the federal Fair Housing Act.

The lawsuit came two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case also involving Wells Fargo, said cities can sue lenders for alleged discrimination that causes many defaults by minority borrowers, and harms cities through lower property tax revenue and increased costs to combat crime and blight.

Philadelphias complaint adds to legal woes afflicting San Francisco-based Wells Fargo, which has since September been beset by a scandal over its employees creation of unauthorized customer accounts to meet sales goals.

The citys unsubstantiated accusations against Wells Fargo do not reflect how we operate, Wells Fargo spokesman Tom Goyda said in a statement. Wells Fargo has been a part of the Philadelphia community for more than 140 years and we will vigorously defend our record as a fair and responsible lender.

Philadelphia accused Wells Fargo of having since 2004 steered minority borrowers into higher-cost, riskier loans than white borrowers, even if they qualified for loans with easier terms, and refused to let minority borrowers refinance.

The city said black borrowers were more than twice as likely to receive high-cost or high-risk loans than similar white borrowers, and Hispanic borrowers were roughly twice as likely.

It also said home loans in predominantly minority neighborhoods were 4.7 times more likely to be foreclosed.

Wells Fargo suffers from a long history of red-lining, and practices that reflect a total breakdown of appropriate internal controls similar to its creation of bogus customer accounts, the complaint said.

Philadelphia had 1.57 million residents in 2015, ranking just ahead of Phoenix as the fifth-most-populous U.S. city.

According to the 2010 census, roughly 43 percent of Philadelphians were black and 12 percent were Hispanic.

The complaint filed in Philadelphia federal court seeks unspecified damages, plus an injunction against discriminatory lending.

It was brought by many of the lawyers who represented the city of Miami, Florida, in its SupremeCourt case against Wells Fargo and Bank of America Corp.

In that case, Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the majority that cities could sue under the Fair Housing Act by showing a direct link between the alleged misconduct and the asserted injuries.

The case is City of Philadelphia v Wells Fargo & Co et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, No. 17-02203. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler)

Topics Lawsuits USA
The owners of a New Jersey diner who burned it down to collect insurance money have been spared prison terms.

Forty-nine-year-old Tina Diakos and 40-year-old Ozkan Cengiz were both sentenced to five years of probation on Friday. They had each pleaded guilty to arson charges in March.

Sussex County prosecutors say the pair decided to burn down the Jerzeez Diner in Vernon because it wasnt doing well and they were also facing the cost of replacing its septic system. So they drove from their home in Butler and set the diner on fire in March 2016.

No one was injured in the fire.

Besides their probation sentences, Diakos and Cengiz were also ordered to pay $323,000 overall in restitution and perform community service.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New Jersey
President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani believes that after the signing of the agreement on the visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union, the relations between the two countries will simplify.

The new rules are a good signal for Ukraine, and both the EU and Ukraine should work together for the sake of peace and stability, Tajani said after signing the legislation on visa-free regime for Ukrainians in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

The EP president said they realize the situation is difficult and the parties need to work hard. After this important decision, the relations between Ukraine and the European Union will simplify, he said.

He also stressed that the European Union will support Ukraine on the path of European integration, but also said he counts on active actions on its part.

The president of the European Parliament also noted that the EU would like to find the best solution for the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
Governments turned their attention to a possible new wave of cyber threats on Tuesday after the group that leaked U.S. hacking tools used to launch the global WannaCry ransomware attack warned it would release more malicious code.

The fast-spreading cyber extortion campaign, which has infected more than 300,000 computers worldwide since Friday, eased for second day on Tuesday, but the identity and motive of its creators remain unknown.

The attack includes elements that belong to the U.S. National Security Agency and were leaked online last month.

Shadow Brokers, the group that has taken credit for that leak, threatened on Tuesday to release more recent code to enable hackers to break into the worlds most widely used computers, software and phones.

A blog post written by the group promised from June to release tools every month to anyone willing to pay for access to some of the tech worlds biggest commercial secrets.

It also threatened to dump data from banks using the SWIFT international money transfer network and from Russian, Chinese, Iranian or North Korean nuclear and missile programs. More details in June, it promised.

The spread of the WannaCry attack  which encrypts a users data and demands a ransom be paid electronically to free it up again  slowed to a trickle on Tuesday, with few, isolated examples being reported.

In Canada, the Universite de Montreal was hit, with 120 of the French-language universitys 8,300 computers affected, according to a university spokeswoman.

There were no new, major incidents in the United States. Fewer than 10 U.S. organizations have reported attacks to the Department of Homeland Security since Friday, a U.S. official told reporters on Tuesday.

The attack has caused most damage in Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine and India, according to Czech security firm Avast.

The United States likely avoided greater harm as the attack targeted older versions of Microsoft Corp.s Windows operating system, and more U.S. users have licensed, up-to-date, patched versions of the software, compared to other regions of the world.

The Department of Homeland Security began an aggressive awareness campaign to alert the tech industry to the importance of installing the patch that Microsoft issued in March that protected users from the vulnerability exploited by the attack, a U.S. official working on the attack told Reuters.

Microsoft said on Tuesday it was aware of Shadow Brokers most recent claim and that its security teams monitor potential threats in order to help us prioritize and take appropriate action.

Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith said earlier this week the WannaCry attack used elements stolen from the NSA. The U.S. government has not commented directly on the matter.

North Korea Link Probed

Cyber security researchers around the world have said they have found evidence that could link North Korea with the WannaCry cyber attack.

A researcher from South Koreas Hauri Labs said on Tuesday their own findings matched those of Symantec and Kaspersky Lab, who said on Monday that some code in an earlier version of the WannaCry software had also appeared in programs used by the Lazarus Group, identified by some researchers as a North Korea-run hacking operation.

It is similar to North Koreas backdoor malicious codes, said Simon Choi, a senior researcher with Hauri who has done extensive research into North Koreas hacking capabilities and advises South Korean police and National Intelligence Service.

Both Symantec and Kaspersky said it was too early to tell whether North Korea was involved in the attacks, based on the evidence that was published on Twitter by Google security researcher Neel Mehta.

FireEye Inc, another large cyber security firm, said it was also investigating, but it was cautious about drawing a link to North Korea.

The similarities we see between malware linked to that group and WannaCry are not unique enough to be strongly suggestive of a common operator, FireEye researcher John Miller said.

U.S. and European security officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity that it was too early to say who might be behind the attacks, but they did not rule out North Korea as a suspect.

The Lazarus hackers, acting for impoverished North Korea, have been more brazen in their pursuit of financial gain than others, and have been blamed for the theft of $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank, according to some cyber security firms. The United States accused it of being behind a cyber attack on Sony Pictures in 2014.

North Korea has denied being behind the Sony and banking attacks. North Korean officials were not immediately available for comment and its state media has been quiet about the matter.

No Information to Share

In China, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she had no information to share, when asked about the origin of the attack and whether North Korea might be connected.

Several Asian countries have been affected by the malware, although the impact has not been as widespread as some had feared.

In Malaysia, cyber security firm LE Global Services said it identified 12 cases so far, including a large government-linked corporation, a government-linked investment firm and an insurance company. It did not name any of the entities.

We may not see the real picture yet, as companies are not mandated to disclose security breaches to authorities in Malaysia, said LE Global CEO Fong Choong Fook.

The real situation may be serious. In one of the cases, the attack was traced back to early April.

Vietnams state media said on Tuesday more than 200 computers had been affected, but one of the countrys leading anti virus companies, Bkav, later put the figure at 1,900.

Taiwan Power Co. said that nearly 800 of its computers were affected, although these were used for administration, not for systems involved in electricity generation.

(Additional reporting by Eric Auchard in Frankfurt, Julia Edwards Ainsley in Washington, Jim Finkle in Toronto, Allison Lampert in Montreal, Jess Macy Yu in Taipei, My Pham and Mai Nguyen in Hanoi, Ju-min Park in Seoul, Michael Martina in Beijing and Liz Lee in Kuala Lumpur; writing by Jeremy Wagstaff in Singapore and Bill Rigby in New York; editing by Sam Holmes)

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Topics USA Cyber
German automaker BMW AG, U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp. and parts maker Delphi Automotive PLC on Tuesday said they would collaborate on development of a highly-automated self-driving platform for BMW, with Delphi handling integration of components and software.

BMW said the new platform is intended to be sold to other vehicle manufacturers, which in turn may choose their own systems integrators to customize the platform to suit their vehicles.

The cost, complexity and accelerated pace of development of self-driving vehicles continue to spark sweeping alliances between automobile manufacturers and suppliers.

In April, rival German automaker Daimler AG formed a similar alliance with supplier Robert Bosch GmbH to speed development of self-driving vehicles.

BMW on Tuesday said it expects that over time there will be a fairly small number of self-driving platforms shared by most carmakers because of the tremendous costs of integrating hardware, software and data.

In April, Chinese internet search firm Baidu Inc. said it would make its new Apollo self-driving platform available to other companies.

On Monday, Alphabet Inc.s Waymo self-driving unit and ride services startup Lyft Inc. announced a self-driving vehicle partnership. Waymo has been shopping its self-driving platform to global automakers and has modest deals with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and Honda Motor Co. Ltd .

Delphi will share with the BMW alliance some of the work it has been doing on a separate self-driving platform it is developing with Intel and Mobileye NV, the Israeli vision system and mapping expert that is being acquired by Intel, said Glen De Vos, Delphis chief technology officer.

Delphi also may provide radar and other sensors to the BMW self-driving platform, which is targeted for production in 2021.

BMW, Daimler and Intel jointly own Here, a high-definition mapping service, along with Volkswagen AG and Tencent Holdings Ltd, the Chinese internet giant. Here is positioning itself to be a key supplier of maps for self-driving cars.

(Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit; editing by Nick Zieminski)

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Topics Personal Auto
AXA has appointed Joyce Phillips as chief executive officer of a new business unit dedicated to customer innovation and new business models.

Phillips becomes a member of the management committee of AXA Group and reports directly to Thomas Buberl, CEO of AXA.

Most recently, she was CEO of Global Wealth at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (See below for Phillips complete biography).

The new business unit will consolidate AXAs initiatives aiming at expanding the value chain of insurance services by leveraging new technologies as well as the groups innovation ecosystem, the company said in a statement.

It will operate on a global level with dedicated resources, including existing ventures such as AXA Partners, AXA Next and AXA Strategic Ventures, the company added. It will also allow the development of new business propositions aligned with AXAs 2020 strategy.

Phillips has a proven execution track record in the financial industry and a passion for new technologies and innovation, said Buberl.

The insurance sector is at a turning point with new trends and opportunities which AXA has started to capture, he said, adding that the launch of this new business unit under Phillips leadership will allow us to further leverage our existing capabilities and develop new business models and services in order to accelerate the pace of change for our customers.

Phillips Biography

During a 25-year career, has worked across every sector, in banking, financial services and the insurance industry, and held senior roles with global and regional responsibilities in the United States, Asia and Australia.

From 1997 to 2007, she held senior executive roles for Citigroup in New York and Tokyo, including global head of International Retail Banking. Subsequently, she was president and chief operating officer at American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), a subsidiary of American International Group. In 2009, she joined Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (ANZ) as group managing director, Strategy, M&A, Marketing and Innovation. She was most recently CEO of ANZ Global Wealth Division and group managing director, Marketing and Innovation.

Phillips holds an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University and is fluent in Japanese. She was named on the U.S. Banker 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance list in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and was recognized as one of the Top 100 Fintech leaders in Asia in 2016.

Source: AXA

Topics InsurTech New Markets AXA XL Australia
JLT Re, the London-based reinsurance broker and consultant, has appointed Graham Barden and Jon Warner as partners in its aviation team.

Barden has over 40 years of experience in the aviation market having worked in both reinsurance and insurance. He has held key positions at Bradstocks, Alexander Forbes and most recently he was the managing partner of aviation at Lockton LLP.

With more than 35 years of aviation experience, Warner also joins from Locktons aviation team where he was a senior vice president. Previous to that he was at Aon Risk Solutions.

Commenting on the appointments, Paul Smith, head of Aviation, JLT Re said, Graham and Jon are well recognized market figures with long standing expertise in the aviation market. I am delighted to welcome them to our growing team here in London and know that they will bring benefits to our clients, prospects and the rest of the team.

Barden and Warner will be based in JLT Res London office.

Source: JLT Re

Topics Aviation London
Managing general agency and surplus lines broker J.M. Wilson has promoted Chris Russon and added Travis Lankerd in its Portage, Mich., office.

Russon was promoted to property/casualty underwriter. She is responsible for quoting new and renewal accounts for a wide variety of commercial property and casualty risks, as well as issuing policies and servicing accounts for independent insurance agents.

Russon was hired in 2014 as a transportation technician, before being promoted to senior property/casualty technician in 2016. Prior to joining J.M. Wilson, Russon worked in the banking industry.

Lankerd was hired as a brokerage underwriter, responsible for quoting and binding new and renewal business submissions with the appropriate markets.

Previously, Lankerd was a brokerage intern for Worldwide Facilities Inc. and CRC Swett, and an underwriting intern for Navigators Excess Specialty. Lankerd is a recent graduate from Olivet College where he earned his BA, majoring in Risk Management.

Source: J.M. Wilson

Topics Michigan Property Casualty
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Strong Financial Resources Inc., with offices in Aurora and Lincoln, Nebraska. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1996 by Calvin Strong, Aurora-headquartered Strong Financial offers a broad variety of group and individual health, welfare and retirement products and services to clients primarily throughout central and southeastern Nebraska. Strong and his associates will continue to operate from their current locations under the direction of Jerry Roberts, head of Gallaghers Heartland Region employee benefit consulting and brokerage operations.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

Source: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions A.J. Gallagher Nebraska
Electronic signature service DocuSign said on Tuesday hackers had temporarily gained access to a database containing customer emails, which the company linked to a surge in phishing emails sent to its users.

The company said the emails imitated the DocuSign brand to trick recipients into opening a Microsoft Word document containing malicious software.

DocuSigns service is widely used by big bank and insurers for keeping track of financial transactions, with 12 of the top 15 U.S. financial services companies using the companys software.

The privately held company, valued at about $3 billion, makes software to add legally compliant electronic signatures to documents.

DocuSign said only email addresses were accessed. Names, physical addresses, passwords, social security numbers or credit card data were not accessed, the company said on its website.

San Francisco-based DocuSign said earlier this month that it was tracking the malicious e-mail campaign.

DocuSign has about 200 million users and has been embraced as a quick and secure way to sign contracts and other official documents using a finger on a mobile device.

(The company is publishing updates on the situation on its blog.)

(Reporting by Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)

Topics Cyber Market
A Russian billionaire with ties to Vladimir Putin sued The Associated Press on Monday for defamation over a story about his connections to a former Trump campaign chairman.

Aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska claimed in the federal defamation and libel lawsuit that the APs March 22 story about his business dealings with Paul Manafort was inaccurate and hurt his career by falsely accusing him of criminal activity.

The APs general counsel, Karen Kaiser, said the news organization stands by its story and will defend itself vigorously.

The AP reported that before signing up with Donald Trump, Manafort secretly worked for Deripaska with a plan to greatly benefit the Putin government.

The story was based on interviews with people familiar with payments to Manafort and business records obtained by the AP. Those records included strategy memoranda and records of international wire transfers for millions of dollars.

The story said Manafort proposed as early as June 2005 that he would influence politics, business dealings and news coverage inside the United States, Europe and former Soviet republics to benefit President Vladimir Putins government. Manafort pitched the plans to Deripaska, an aluminum magnate and close Putin ally with whom Manafort eventually signed a $10 million annual contract beginning in 2006. The story said how much work Manafort performed under the contract was unclear.

The story said Manafort and Deripaska maintained a business relationship until at least 2009 but noted the two later had a falling out laid bare in 2014 in a Cayman Islands bankruptcy court.

After the AP story was published, Deripaska purchased advertisements in U.S. newspapers calling the reporting a malicious assertion and lie, saying he never made any commitments or contracts to covertly promote or advance Putins interests.

He also said he was willing to take part in U.S. congressional hearings to discuss his past business relationship with Manafort.

Related

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics USA Russia
LevelFirst, the Dallas-based wholesale broker and MGA binding facility owned by IIAT Services Co., has promoted Kate Innocent to vice president.

The promotion coincides with Innocent receiving a life/health insurance license.

Innocent joined LevelFirst in 2014 as associate underwriter and most recently served as assistant vice president. She also holds the designations of Commercial Insurance Counselor and Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist.

IIAT Services Co. is owned by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT). IIAT acquired LevelFirst in 2014 to continue its tradition of providing insurance markets for independent insurance agents.

Source: LevelFirst

Topics Agencies Texas Insurance Wholesale
The United States Supreme Court says a Kentucky nursing home can require the families of two former residents to pursue claims against the home outside of court.

The justice ruled 7-1 on Monday that the home could enforce contracts signed by relatives of the residents that subjected all disputes involving the home to arbitration. The relatives had been authorized to sign the admission documents.

Kentuckys highest court had refused to enforce the agreements, saying the relatives lacked the power to waive a divine God-given right to a jury trial.

The nursing home argued that such agreements are allowed under federal law, which overrides state laws that protect the right to sue in court.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics USA Kentucky
Leonid Kuchma, Ukraine's representative in the Trilateral Contact Group, said he believes a lot of work has been done on the issue of verification of lists for prisoner exchange, but representatives of some areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions do everything to delay the process.

"I believe we have done a lot of work on verification. Our people should be thanked, especially the ombudsman. We differ on one issue - the 160 people who are now free - they said they will not go to the territory uncontrolled by Kyiv. And if the team went 14,000 kilometers to all prisons and received a signature from every person on the list stating their unwillingness to return, we cannot come to free people and demand that they write an application, and the Donetsk and Luhansk party is using that to delay the process and not to release our people," Kuchma told reporters in Kyiv on Wednesday, responding to a question from Interfax-Ukraine.

He also mentioned the statement by Ukrainian ombudsman Valeria Lutkovska on readiness to inspect the Ukrainians' living conditions in some areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"Our ombudsman said she is ready to visit those prisons and see how our 128 people are doing there, in what conditions they now live. But her request was declined," Kuchma said.

At the same time, Kuchma said he is firmly confident that the process of verification and prisoner exchange will be successfully completed.

Responding to a question about the possible timeframes of achieving accord on this issue, Kuchma said: "Regarding this situation generally, no one can ever say when all this will end."

According to earlier reports, Ukraine verified the lists of prisoners in the period between April 28 and May 12. In that period of time, the group travelled over 14,000 kilometers and its representatives visited 20 regions of Ukraine and 37 penitentiary establishments.
A group of Oregon farmers has filed a $6.7 million lawsuit against a bank for allegedly interfering with sales of radish seed and thus causing its value to decrease.

The Capital Press reported the Radish Seed Growers Association suit filed last week against Northwest Bank comes after the 2015 insolvency of seed company Cover Crop Solutions, which was unable to pay several Oregon farmers after falling into financial trouble caused by oversupply and weather disruptions.

The lawsuit aims to recover about $5.5 million in reduced seed value and another $1.25 million in storage costs and additional expenses caused by Northwest Banks wrongful interference.

A Northwest Bank representative said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Agribusiness Oregon
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Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) Facial and Body Recognition Patent Application Received a Notice of Allowance

San Diego, CA - November 9, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) with GBT Tokenize Corp. ("GBT/Tokenize") received a notice of allowance for its facial and body recognition non-provisional patent application.

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Breaking EV Stock News: Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) Enters into Agreement with Newgate Motor Group, one of Ireland's most Recognized Auto Groups, to Distribute the Mullen I-GOTM in Ireland and United Kingdom

BREA, Calif. - November 9, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer, announces today that it has entered into an agreement to appoint Newgate Motor Group, one of Ireland's most recognized dealership groups, as marketing, sales, distribution and servicing agent for the Mullen I-GO in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea

Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) AI Driven Financial Technology Patent Application Received a Notice of Publication

San Diego, CA - November 3, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) received a notice of publication for its financial software patent application.

Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea

Breaking AI Stock News: Intellagents, a FatBrain AI (OTCQB: LZGI) Company, Announces Hiring of Insurtech Industry Veteran as Chief Revenue Officer

NEW YORK, NY - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, announces the hiring of Euan King, an experienced and respected Insurtech industry leader as Chief Revenue Officer for insurance technology-focused subsidiary Intellagents.

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Today was the start of Googles yearly developers conference, Google I/O, and, of course, they started with their keynote speech.

The keynote is meant to talk about some of the biggest new additions to Googles services, apps, and more. This year wasnt any different, with a variety of different executives and employees walking out on stage and debuting new features baked into services that Google has introduced in the past.

This year wasnt as exciting as last years, as far as new features or services are concerned, but it did bring plenty of new features to what is already available from Google. That includes things like Google Photos, Google Assistant, and Google Photos. All-in-all, Google was just doubling down on its services, building them out, making them better, and providing new reasons to keep using them.

So, here we are with a quick roundup of what Google announced today at Google I/O 2017:

With the standalone Google Assistant app, iPhone owners will be able to enjoy the same functionality that Google Home and Android users enjoy. This includes being able to control their home automation devices, music systems, TVs, lights, and other compatible devices.

Smart Reply was available to Inbox users so far. The feature had first made its way to Inbox app in 2015, with the web version getting the feature last year.

Similar to how it has worked in Inbox, Smart Reply in Gmail will also provide you with three responses depending on the content of the email you have received. Since the feature makes use of machine learning, it will learn from your typing habits and improve over time.

Google Lens will let users use the camera in their smartphone identify objects, dates, businesses, and much more. Google showed a variety of examples, including being able to identify a flower, use Google Lens to buy tickets for a concert just by identifying a marquee publicizing the event, and letting people get contact info for a business.

Inside Google Photos, Google Lens will identify the noteworthy buildings in a new area, even pull up directions for a location, and learn more about a painting and an artist when you see it out and about. With Lens, users can also use the camera to learn the phone number for a business they might not be near.

Google Lens in Photos will roll out later this year.

Google Lens will roll out to Google Assistant first, and then beyond the digital personal assistant at a later date.

Google Home

Google Home is getting an update that will bring Bluetooth support to the smart speaker, so users an stream audio content from their smartphones and tablets right to it. In addition, Google Home is also seeing Spotify integration, as far as the free tier is concerned, so they can stream their playlists more easily. The smart speaker will also see Deezer integration in the future, as well as other streaming music platforms.

And Google confirmed that Home will be made available in a variety of new regions in the coming months. Specifically, the smart speaker will arrive in Canada, Australia, France, and Japan before the end of the year.

Finally, Google Home is also getting support for making phone calls. Google announced that its smart speaker, Google Home, will support calling phones in the United States and Canada for free. Whats more, Google Home supports recognizing each user, so if you call your mom, Google Home will recognize your voice and call that associated number.

All existing Google Homes will get this feature over the next few months. No set up required, call anyone including personal contacts and businesses, and dial out with your personal number if you prefer that.

Google announced new features being baked into Google Photos. That includes a new shared library feature, as well as a new way to easily share photos between friends and family members.

Suggested Sharing will automatically recognise the people in your photos and recommend you to share it with that person. This way, the best photo of a person at a party that you accidentally clicked will no longer just end up being in your library. When you share photos with the suggested person, they will automatically get a notification or an SMS message. If they are not on Google Photos, they will still be able to view and download the photos on their device.

As for Shared Libraries, it allows one to share their photo library with their friend or family. This way, one does not have to keep manually sharing photos of their family with rest of the family members as all the photos will simply show up under the shared library.

These new features will be rolling out to Android and iOS users soon.

Android O

Android O is the next iteration of the operating system, and while Google wasnt quick to reveal too many new features, or even the official name, they did opine on a few new features. The main talking point was Notification Dots, which will show a small dot on an application that has a notification tied to it. This can be dismissed by dismissing the notification within the Notification Shade or accessing the app directly.

In addition to that, Google released the public beta program for Android O, so those interested can take a look at the pre-release software months ahead of its launch.

This is a new program from Google to make sure that Android works on low-end devices, basically for emerging markets.

Internally called Android Go, the project will be based on Android O. To make the OS run smoothly on low-end budget devices, Google will be optimising the System UI and other aspects of the OS to ensure that there are no performance issues on devices with 512MB and 1GB of RAM.

Additionally, Android Go devices will come with smarter Google apps with multilingual support. For example, Chromes Data Saver feature will be enabled by default on Android Go devices so as to save data usage. Similarly, the normal version of the YouTube will be replaced with YouTube Go on these devices, which is lighter and consumes less data than the normal app. It also features Offline Sharing and the ability to save videos for offline viewing.

Lastly, Android Go will come with a version of Play Store that will highlight apps optimised for budget devices. Android Gos version of Play Store will come with dedicated new categories that are suited for low-end Android devices.

Google Daydream

Google didnt have a lot to talk about when it comes to Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR), but the substance was there. The company confirmed that it is indeed working on standalone VR headsets, for instance, and that companies like HTC and Lenovo will be joining them in the effort.

Additionally, Google also announced that two major players will be supporting the Daydream VR platform moving forward. Samsung will be updating the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ to support it, and LGs next flagship phone (probably the V30), will also support Daydream VR out of the box.

That is the general gist. What do you think of Googles latest I/O announcements?
Running your own business can be a rewarding experience, but it also comes with many risks. It's important to know what those
By Eoin English

A man who was seriously injured in a two-vehicle collision in Co Cork this morning has been rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH).

A section of the main N22 Cork to Killarney road was closed to traffic for about two hours following the accident west of Macroom early this morning. The road has now re-opened to traffic.

The man was the driver of a car which was in collision with a truck on a stretch of the road between Macroom and Ballyvourney.

The car flipped onto its roof.

The accident happened in the townland of Coolnacaheragh, on a section of road which has a series of dangerous bends.

Forensic collision investigators and emergency services are still at the scene. Traffic remains very heavy on approach, so some continued delays may be encountered.
Police investigating a number of incidents of sexual assault have arrested a 15-year-old boy.

Detectives had linked the sexual offences in the Clapham and Wandsworth areas of south-west London after they occurred over the past week.

The Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday that a 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape.

He is in custody at a south London police station.

In the first incident, a woman reported to police that she was being followed by a male in Battersea High Street at around 2.30am on May 11.

It is believed he also committed a sexual assault later that morning, when a woman in her 40s was attacked by a man in Clapham Common at around 4am.

It is believed the same male followed a woman in her 20s after she got off a train at Clapham Junction, then sexually assaulted her as she tried to enter a block of flats at around 11pm on Tuesday.

Officers have been carrying out extra patrols around the area to provide a greater police presence.

PA
China's annual output of automobiles is poised to break 50 million, said Dong Yang, executive vice chairman of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Dong made the announcement at the 2017 China Auto Forum held in Shanghai on May 15.

The growth of automobile sales in China in the next few years is expected to be maintained at 7 percent, the vice chairman said. Dong noted that 80 percent of annual production will be domestically oriented, while the rest will be shipped overseas. Previous statistics from the association show that domestic automobile production and sales in 2016 were 28.11 and 28.02 million respectively.

Though market demand has been reduced by purchase and traffic restrictions in some major cities, emerging second-tier cities will help to revitalize the energy of the automobile market, said Zhang Liqun, vice-inspector of the Department of Macroeconomic Research under the Development Research Center of the State Council.

China's domestic automobile brands have performed quite well in recent years, especially buses, trucks, small sport-utility vehicles and small multi-purpose vehicles. Sales of Chinese brands in 2016, which breached the 10-million barrier for the first time ever in that year, accounted for 43.19 percent of total vehicle sales in China. In addition, the country's electric vehicle output reached 500,000 in 2016, accounting for half the world's total production in that year.

The technology behind China's electric vehicles will be updated every two years. Dong believes that in the next five to 10 years, China's electric-vehicle manufacturing will catch up with that of those countries currently ranking at the top.
IDA chief Martin Shanahan is obviously convinced of this strategy. Not wishing to lose key ground to competitor countries, he participated in a series of events in London to promote Irelands attractiveness as a venue for any UK-based institutions of a mind to jump ship in the event of a no deal.

After weeks of speculation, Wall Street giant JPMorgan this week confirmed it was basing some of its London posts in Ireland, with plans to expand the workforce in the Dublin docklands by about 500 people after Brexit. And this paper reported that, in the coming weeks, Ireland hopes two more investment banks  Morgan Stanley and Bank of America Merrill Lynch  will commit to basing jobs here. The Irish campaign is also likely to be a response to the European Commissions plans to present legislative proposals, in June, affecting Londons future as a major financial centre.

France and Germany have previously suggested Brexit will curb Londons dominance in euro-clearing; it handles three-quarters of all euro currency exchanges and euro derivatives trading. 8,000 jobs may migrate from the City of London, if it were to lose its clearing functions. The EU draft policy document proposes more centralisation of supervision of clearing businesses in the EU, if they provide critical capital market functions, which London obviously does.

The problem for Ms May, and the British government, is that they want to get outside the EUs regulatory reach, but retain the UKs strong position in EU financial markets, the second-largest in the world. The EU plans further legislative proposals to ensure the financial stability of central counter-parties, also known as clearing houses, which manage risk, collect collateral, and guarantee trades in the event that one side defaults. Thats all very reasonable to those within the EU, but presents difficulties for Ms May, who wishes to reject freedom of movement in the bloc and all its institutions. This includes the European Court of Justice, which is one of her redline Brexit pledges.

Financial institutions are opting for an alternative, which is to move their European headquarters from the UK to another jurisdiction inside the EU, from which to passport their financial services.

Ireland will hope to lure more US financial institutions to Ireland, which is the only remaining English-speaking member state in the EU.

Last month, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the leaders of the Netherlands and Denmark called a mini Brexit summit, at which they urged EU states not to do anything that risks an agreement with Britain. But the latest tweaking of the Brexit guidelines indicates that other EU members have also moved the goalposts on free movement and will now insist that any EU citizen who has been living in the UK for five years must be granted permanent residency.

This marks a significant shift from the original guidelines, which only stated that any future trade agreement should not endanger financial stability in the union and encompass safeguards against unfair competitive advantages.

We can only hope that cooler heads will prevail, after the UK general election, when the actual Brexit negotiations start.

John Whelan is a leading consultant on Brexit and Irish trade
A roadshow in Dublin, Galway and Cork was conducted to outline the contents of the programme and its virtues.

Alongside the ISE, itself, both Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) contributed to each event.

Enterprise Ireland, like the IDA, is an important enabler of entrepeneurship in Ireland. EI will be a partner in the IPO Ready process and can help assist company management teams to prepare for the opportunities and challenges that a stock market listing entails.

ISIF is effectively the sovereign wealth fund for Ireland and has firepower of about 8bn at its disposal. Over the past couple of years it has been carefully deploying capital alongside known investment experts to support private equity type funding for Irish companies. There is now a more pronounced message coming from ISIF that is especially interesting for companies seeking capital.

For those companies that undertake the IPO Ready programme, and follow through with a listing on the ISE, ISIF is willing to become an anchor investor. It is a major turbo charge to both the IPO process and the Irish Stock Exchange.

The reality in the world of capitalism is Ireland is competing for both finance and platforms on which to trade shares. The London Stock Exchange, NYSE and others are marketing their capabilities to Irish companies. In some countries local investors are co-investing in IPOs on their domestic markets.

Ireland Inc has to fight its corner in this environment. By combining the skills of the ISE with EI and ISIF corporate Ireland is not getting alphabet soup but rather a group of powerful backers to build international success from an Irish base.

Joe Gill is director of corporate broking with Goodbodys . His views are personal.
Vodafone Ireland generated revenues of 996m for the 12 months to the end of March, down from 1.02bn a year earlier. It closed the year with 1.95m customers, down from 2.24m five years ago.

However, the communications giants Irish division saw adjusted operating profit rise from 25m to 55m, while its contract phone customers grew by almost 49,000  an increase of almost 5%.

Vodafone Ireland chief executive Anne OLeary said it had been another year of operational progress and that the business could continue to invest to make Ireland a gigabit society, referring to super-fast connectivity in everyday life. It committed 500m in March to improve services.

Vodafones share price rose more than 4%  to its highest level in 10 months  despite the group, which has operations in 26 countries, recording an overall annual loss of 6.1bn.

The group forecast a jump in cash generation this year, allowing it to reward shareholders with a higher dividend as it eases back on network investment and moves to solve problems in India where a price war has broken out.

The share price jump was a relief to investors after a tough year that saw the group dragged down by last years $5bn write-down on Vodafone India.

CEO Vittorio Colao said that excluding the Indian business, adjusted core earnings rose 5.8% to 14.1bn, beating market expectations and growing faster than revenues as the company improved efficiency.

He said earnings would grow between 4 and 8% this year up to 14.5bn  analysts had predicted 13.8bN  and it would generate about 5bn of cash, up from 4.1bn last year.

The company said the level of cash generation, combined with growth and a robust balance sheet enabled it to confirm a progressive dividend policy.

Mr Colao said: We are getting into a space where we see a balance between our investment needs, rewarding our shareholders and having good enough cash flow to pay for spectrum. The broad direction is that these three things are becoming compatible.

Mr Colao has been reshaping Vodafone with joint ventures to maximise profit and fight competition in markets like India. The carrier is vying with better-integrated rivals, leading to speculation it will be drawn into more deals, particularly in Europe.

Additional reporting: Reuters and Bloomberg
The Irish Examiner has learned that the application to the local authoritys planning department seeks a derogation order stating the project, earmarked for city council-owned land in Carrigrohane and which is within the county councils administrative area, does not require planning permission.

The application has been made by a steering group overseeing the project, details of which were first reported by this paper last February.

It is understood the application has been made within the last two weeks and that the county councils planning officials have a number of weeks to make a decision.

Ballincollig-based Cllr Daithi O Donnabhain said there are concerns locally about the project earmarked for a 35-acre site west of the city, on the northern banks of the River Lee at the Carrigrohane end of the Lee Road.

There is concern amongst residents about the feasibility of the site, about the impact of traffic in the area, and about animal welfare, given that the proposed site is a floodplain which floods for up to half a year, he said.

I hope to explore these and other issues at a public meeting called by residents for Thursday night.

Plans for this project emerged from a horse seminar held in the city in March 2013 which heard evidence that such Traveller horse projects have reduced the number of impounded horses, reduced levels of anti-social behaviour, and reduced costs to local authorities of dealing with various horse issues.

The project has been developed in recent years by an inter-agency group which includes representatives of the Traveller Visibility Group (TVG), An Garda Siochana, Cork City Council, the ISPCA, the Department of Agriculture, Cork Healthy Cities Traveller Unit, the HSE and Cork City Partnership.

The earmarked site, which has been owned by the city for several years and which was recently leased to local farmers, has been identified as suitable to facilitate the grazing of up to 20 horses owned by 10 families.

The horse owners have formed a Traveller Horse Association and have agreed a strict set of rules and regulations governing the operation of the proposed site which will be licensed for 11 months to the Traveller Visibility Group (TVG) and will be subject to annual review.

It has also been proposed to give local residents a named contact for any issues which may arise.

A spokesperson for the steering group overseeing the project said the members of the Traveller Horse Association have a deep commitment to animal welfare.

And the spokesperson said at the time that it would be a grazing only project with no permanent structures on site.

The grazing site will be secure, well-fenced, well-run and monitored by CCTV, she said.

Horses in the project will be subject to ongoing review by the ISPCA and Department of Agriculture officials in accordance with their remit for all horse welfare.
The two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation concluded on May 15 in Beijing. A total of 68 nations and international organizations signed cooperation agreements with China over the course of the event. The forum also led to more than 270 outcomes and a joint communique.

During the past two days, the Peoples Daily Online interviewed many people at the forum, including officials, scholars, entrepreneurs, NGO leaders and media figures. The below summaries are based on abstracts from several interviewees, sharing their understanding of the initiative, commenting on the forum and describing their expectations for future actions.

The initiative was significant and bold

The Belt and Road Initiative is not Chinas Marshall Plan, but rather a long-term economic project to promote communication and cooperation, and to benefit, together, all of us, said Jing Huang, director of the Centre on Asia and Globalization at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at Singapore National University. He stressed that the purpose of the Belt and Road Initiative is to promote joint development and globalization.

Huang pointed out that Chinese President Xi Jinping has laid out a fundamentally peace-oriented approach for Chinas foreign policy. It not only gives us a very good, clear description of what to do in terms of foreign policy, but also make a great contribution to international relations theories, Huang said.

Peter Drysdale, a professor at the College of Asia and Pacific at Australian National University, told the Peoples Daily Online that the Belt and Road Initiative offers a huge opportunity. He pointed out that the initiative is Chinas boldest attempt yet to spell out the way it might engage with the world, seeking more certainty in its relations with neighbors across Asia and countries around the world.

Eric Heitz, CEO and co-founder of the U.S.-based Energy Foundation, said that the Belt and Road Initiative is a significant attempt of Chinas participation in global economic, environmental and social governance, and also an essential node to consolidate Chinas global leadership. Heitz also said that the initiative should make wider use of existing international communication and cooperation platforms.

The forum bodes well for future successes

Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the forum that China will scale up financial support for the Belt and Road Initiative. Huang opined that President Xis speech was an expensive talk, acknowledging Chinas financial commitment to the development of the initiative. Huang also described this commitment as solid, long-term and full-hearted.

Heitz remarked that "it's inspiring to see the leaders of China and so many other important countries work together on the Belt and Road as a new model of collaborative and sustainable development. This bodes well for future success."

Drysdale commented that Chinas plan to scale up financing for the Belt and Road Initiative constitutes a substantial contribution. He said the big challenge will be to establish the right frameworks of cooperation to ensure that the massive financial commitments are productively spent on lifting productive capacities.

Ikenna Emewu, online editor from the Sun Daily in Nigeria, noted that President Xi created a link between the ancient Silk Road and modern Silk Road. He sees the initiative as an emerging new world economic order, second largest global economic platform, just next to the World Bank and IMF.

Claude Leblanc, a journalist from LOpinon in France, said President Xis speech deeply impressed him. He believes the Belt and Road Initiative will build a new model of international relations in the future.

It is something very huge, because it gives hope to a lot of people around the world, Leblanc said.

Expectations and future actions

Steve Howard, secretary general of the Global Foundation in Australia, opined that the foundation will strongly advocate for Australian politicians and communities to support a role for Australia in the Belt and Road Initiative, just as we were successful in advocating for Australia to join the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Howard is an international advisor for the latter institution.

Heitz stressed that the Energy Foundation hopes all counties take an active part in the initiative, no matter if they are developed counties or developing ones. The foundation will keep working to improve international cooperation, supporting the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Huang emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative is more than just a project for China, but also an economic activity. He pointed out that enterprises are essential participants in the initiative. Therefore, the Chinese government should offer policy support, legal protections and financial credit to businesses that have joined the project.
ARM Holdings has been angling for the data center for a number of years but has yet to make significant inroads against Intels dominance. But with enterprises of all stripes looking to foster greater diversity across their distributed data footprints, time is growing short for both ARM and its legion of chip manufacturers to show it can deliver what the market demands.

One of the key drivers for ARMs particular style of processing is the Internet of Things (IoT), which will drive the need for distributed processing architectures to new levels. But as the Next Platforms Jeffrey Burt points out, it takes more than user demand to pull ARMs into the data center; it requires broad software support as well. So far, however, developers like Red Hat, which leads the commercial Linux market, have yet to extend the level of support to ARM that it gives to other platforms like Xeon, Power and System z. Red Hat has been vocal in its support of ARM, going so far as to back the ARM Server Base System Architecture (SBSA) and to incorporate the architecture in projects like the Ceph object storage platform. But without a full RHEL stack supported on ARM, enterprises will continue to face more hurdles running Linux workloads on ARM than on Intel, AMD or IBM solutions.

Interestingly, it seems that Microsoft is becoming more serious about shifting its cloud infrastructure toward ARM. At the Open Compute Summit last March, the company announced it was working with Cavium and Qualcomm on ARM server designs with an eye toward converting more than half of its cloud center infrastructure before long. As Datacenter Knowledges Yevgeniy Sverdlik noted, this is more significant than the typical murmurings from hyperscale providers that they are looking at ARM along with a number of other solutions in the quest for low-cost, high-scale infrastructure. With Microsoft pushing a hybrid cloud vision to the enterprise, its support for ARMs in the cloud may translate to greater deployment in the data center as well.

The biggest knock against ARM is that it is designed to provide low-power support for high-speed, low-packet workloads  the kind that populate mobile environments. In the data center, however, applications often require massive, coordinated processing for large loads, which the ARM can provide but only through additional software overhead to implement large-scale parallel processing. Recently, however, a company called Cadence Design Systems released its Cache Coherent Interconnect for Accelerators (CCIX) that provides an open chip-to-chip standard for data-intensive processing. Working with ARMs CoreLink mesh solution, the company is aiming to boost multichip connectivity to support advanced functions like machine learning and data analytics.

Probably the best thing ARM has going for it is its low-power design, which the company expects to see in greater demand as the enterprise transitions to software-defined infrastructure. As Director of Market Development Bill Neifert told Semi Engineering recently, developers are increasingly writing code to take advantage of application-specific processors that provide just enough power to get the job done. This will naturally lead to higher demand for smaller processors to take on specified tasks, leading to greater diversity in silicon-level solutions within the enterprise data center and on the cloud. So in the end, ARM might gain more of the enterprise workloads almost by default.

But entrenched infrastructure is difficult to replace, and after nearly three decades of primarily Intel-best data infrastructure, it will require a convincing argument to get organizations to give up what they know for an entirely new chip architecture.

Fortunately for ARM, this is a time of momentous change for the enterprise, and the old ways of doing things are no longer delivering optimal results.

Arthur Cole writes about infrastructure for IT Business Edge. Cole has been covering the high-tech media and computing industries for more than 20 years, having served as editor of TV Technology, Video Technology News, Internet News and Multimedia Weekly. His contributions have appeared in Communications Today and Enterprise Networking Planet and as web content for numerous high-tech clients like TwinStrata and Carpathia. Follow Art on Twitter @acole602.
The huge and unexpected attack that happened last Friday mainly hit businesses and established organizations. The affected groups include the UK hospitals, FedEx, a Spanish telecom, the Russian Interior Ministry and much more. Now, the question is, how to protect yourself from the WannaCry Ransomware.

What Is WannaCry Ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of wicked and malicious software that takes over the system of a computer. It locks the user out in order to prevent them from accessing any saved files until they pay a certain amount of money. This particular application is what we call the WannaCry Ransomware, which asks for at least $300 from the user.

WannaCry takes the influence of a Windows flaw discovered by the National Security Agency (NSA) and made public by hackers last month. With that, Microsoft releases a patch for the vulnerability in March. However, computers, operators and networks that didn't update their operating systems were still at risk.

How To Protect Yourself From WannaCry Ransomware?

According to The New York Times, users of Macs or other non-Windows computers were not affected with this. Security experts believe that WannaCry has initially infected computers by getting people to download it via email. After that, a malicious code will be able to easily travel to a much larger network of machines that were linked together with the use of Windows file-sharing system.

Here are the steps to prevent your computer from the attack, as reported by CNET.

Update Windows immediately Turn Windows Update on if it's disabled Install a dedicated ransomware blocker Block port 445 for extra safety Keep watching for mutations Backup files using cloud storage

The ransomware attack exploits a vulnerability in older Windows OS, including Windows 8, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. If a more recent version of Windows is running on the computer and it stays up-to-date, it should not be vulnerable to the current attack or WannaCry. Take note that it is designed to target devices running Windows OS and the files contained therein, therefore it's not a threat to Android and iOS mobiles.
A new Moto X will finally be unveiled. The long-rumored Moto X 2017, which will officially be known as the Moto X4, is just one of nine smartphones that Lenovo and Motorola will release this year. Also coming this year is the new Moto C, Motorola's most affordable smartphone in the new line-up.

A few juicy tidbits were shared from the Motorola presentation held in China in which the nine new handsets were introduced. Evan Blass tweeted a photo showing all nine Motorola smartphones with the new Moto X 2017 arguably the most interesting of the bunch while another downloaded a short video of the Moto X4 on YouTube.

According to Trusted Reviews, a Reddit user managed to transcribe the audio of the footage. The result was quite interesting as the Moto X4 is supposedly powered by the Snapdragon 660 instead of the previously rumored Snapdragon 835 processor. The Moto X4 will also come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage. It will have a 3800mAh battery, a fingerprint sensor at the front, and a laser autofocus camera. The leaked video also showed that the Moto X4 will be made of metal and 3D glass and that it will have Turbo Charging capability, always-on voice, an IP68 rating, a smart camera, and what could be its own artificial intelligence.

Motorola will also launch the Moto C and Moto C Plus, the most affordable smartphones in its 2017 line-up. The company is pushing the Moto C as everyone's "first smartphone" and has set its sights on emerging markets where cheap smartphones with impressive features are expected to make a killing.

The Moto C and Moto C Plus come with 5 megapixel and 8 megapixel rear cameras, respectively. Both versions also have 2-megapixel front-facing cameras. The C Plus will sport a 5-inch HD display as well as a 4000mAh battery.

Other Motorola smartphones coming in 2017 are the Moto E and Moto E Plus, Moto GS and Moto GS+, and the Moto Z Play and Moto Z Force. The Mote E will come with a 5-inch HD screen while the E Plus will be larger at 5.5 inches. It will also have a powerful 5000mAh battery. The Moto GS and GS+ will have 5.2- and 5.5-inch Full HD displays, respectively. The Moto Z Play and Moto Z Force will have Moto Mods compatibility.
Today, hackers claim to have stolen the latest Disney movie for a ransom. The title of the film was not disclosed yet, nor how much the hackers required to get. Disney studio has two big films slated for this summer, which are "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" which opens Friday, and "Cars 3" set to air June 16. Since the nearest movie to come is the Pirates of the Caribbean, many are suspecting that it is the one that is stolen.

As of now, Walt Disney Company is refusing to give any comments about the matter. However, the news and the accusation was claimed by Bob Iger on Monday. Robert Allen "Bob" Iger is an American citizen who is known as the chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company. Iger served as the president of ABC Television from 1994 to 1995 before finally going to Disney. According to him, hackers warn the company that they will release the initial five minutes of the stolen movie, as well as the 20-minute segment if the California-based company does not pay the fee via bitcoin.

As reported by CNBC, this news follows a statement that hackers stole 10 complete episodes of Netflix's upcoming series, "Orange is the New Black." The people behind this cyber attack uploaded the said episodes after Netflix refused to pay a ransom. A Twitter user with a name of @thedarkoverlord claimed to be behind the Netflix attack. He also boasted that he had more movies and series from other media companies.

Movie piracy and stealing have long been a scourge. Also, ransoms via a certain amount of money appear to be a new twist nowadays. In fact, according to The Hollywood Reporter, rumors circulated on the Internet last week that a workprint of the upcoming movie "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" had been pirated and was held for ransom. However, few days have passed, online gossip tipped that rumor is just a hoax. Again, no comments or any announcement are made from the Walt Disney.
(Photo/CGTN)

Could it be? WeChat  China's popular instant messaging app  is apparently more popular as a main communication tool among foreigners in China than locals, according to a new official report published by the app.

The report shows the average foreigner in China sends 60 percent more message every month than a Chinese user. With audio and video messages, the average frequency is respectively 42 percent and 13 percent

Emotion stickers are also popular among international users in China, who send 45 percent more wacky and silly gifs and images than local users, WeChat said in the report.

At the same time, international WeChat users in China have also been keen on digital red envelopes, whereby they can send sums of money to friends or others. The statistics showed the average foreigner sent on average 10 red envelopes per month on WeChat. Six out of 10 foreign users were also now accustomed to WeChat Pay services at present, the report showed.
Since last year, Fidelis Cybersecurity Threat Response observed two man-in-the-browser attacks on South Korean financial institutions that used the Blackmoon banking trojan. An earlier attack last July stole credentials of more than 150,000 Korean users.

The July and later attacks had the same goal: stealing login information from financial services website users. The attacks also targeted services from a range of websites where people can manage money including banks, wealth management firms and retirement investment services. Blackmoon, also known as KRBanker or Banbra, captures users account name and password when they type them inthe so-called man-in-the-browser attack.

Whats different about the latter attacks is the way in which Blackmoon was delivered. This version used what Fidelis has named the Blackmoon Downloader Framework. That framework uses three separate downloader pieces that seem to work together to deliver the Blackmoon payload to systems in targeted geographiesin this case, users devices and financial institutions in South Korea. Those institutions include Samsung Pay, Citibank Korea, Hana Financial Group and KB Financial Group. The Blackmoon Downloader Framework delivers malware in a variety of ways, including via adware campaigns and exploit kits.

(A full list of known targets and more technical details of the attack are available in Fideliss report.)

Fidelis Cybersecurity Blackmoon Downloader Framework sequence

Although Blackmoon targets users, financial institutions will feel the effects. Targeted services and their users should be on guard since successful theft through such malware could significantly impact the confidence users place in affected financial services companies, says Hardik Modi, vice president, threat, at Fidelis.

[Related: -->Windows Trojan hacks into embedded devices to install Mirai]

South Korea being the target has led some to suggest that North Korea instigated the Blackmoon attack, but that may not be the case. South Korea is a market with advanced internet usage, making it a natural target for a banking trojan, says Modi. In terms of the culprit, its not uncommon for multiple threat actors to be using a common framework that they have each acquired. While we cannot rule out North Korea for having involvement in this campaign, it is likely that the attacks involve common cybercrime actors.

Modi adds that similar attacks have occurred in the U.S., Italy, Germany and New Zealand. It would not surprise me if the targeting is changed and the trojan is used in other regions. We see it all the time, he says. Modi adds that this latest Blackmoon delivery method and other similar tools may be available for purchase on the dark web.

Key findings from the Fidelis report include:

The unique and involved tri-stage Blackmoon Downloader Framework provides multiple capabilities to be deployed in separate, but closely related, components.

The framework is tightly coupled and designed to operate in sequence to facilitate multiple objectives, including evasion as well as geo-location targeting. The multistage downloader is another tactic used presumably to avoid detection, as functionality is distributed among the three separate but related components.

The framework itself is configured to deliver the malware only to systems where the default language is set to Korean.

Blackmoon prevention

Blackmoon has two sets of victims, says Modi: the financial institutions and the users of their services. The financial institutions are in the best position to prevent damage to themselves and their customers from a targeted attack like Blackmoon.

The best protection for themselves and their users is for financial institutions to use multi-factor authentication, says Modi. Attackers count on websites requiring only a username and password, he adds. Making multi-factor authentication the primary line of defense adds layers to crack and will encourage most attackers to move on to easier targets.

[Related: -->Open-source developers targeted in sophisticated malware attack]

Modi advises consumers of financial services, who might be individuals or businesses, to use providers that have multi-factor authentication in place. He also says that organizations should secure all devices that employees use to access services. There is more opportunity at the enterprise level to provide better endpoint security, he says. Have the financial procedures in place to ensure that not one person or one computer are compromised in a way that can result in theft.
U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster answers questions during a press briefing at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 16, 2017. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said on Tuesday that it was "wholly appropriate" for President Donald Trump to share classified information with Russian officials during their meeting in the Oval Office last week. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said on Tuesday that it was "wholly appropriate" for President Donald Trump to share classified information with Russian officials during their meeting in the Oval Office last week.

Trump decided to mention the information in the "context of the conversation" with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, McMaster told reporters in the White House, calling it "wholly appropriate to that conversation" and "consistent with the routine sharing of information between the president and any leader with whom he's engaged."

During those conversations, Trump disclosed the city from which the intelligence was derived, McMaster confirmed.

However, McMaster did not make clear if the information was highly classified as the Washington Post reported one day earlier.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump tweeted that he has "the absolute right" to share certain information with Russia.

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism," he said in a pair of tweets Tuesday morning.

But the president also didn't specifically say whether he spilled highly classified information to Russian officials.

Trump reportedly relayed information from a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria when meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. The related information-sharing arrangement was considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the U.S. government, according to the Post report.

In response, McMaster, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell all issued statements later on Monday, claiming such reports are wrong.

Powell said in a statement, "This story is false. The president only discussed the common threats that both countries faced."

"At no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed, and no military operations were disclosed that were not already known publicly," said McMaster, who participated in the meeting.

The Post report said Trump appeared to be boasting of the "great intel" he receives when he described a looming terror threat, citing an official with knowledge of the exchange.

The information was provided by a U.S. partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement. The partner did not give the United States permission to share the information with Russia, the Post said.

Following the meeting, the White House contacted the CIA and National Security Agency to contain the damage, according to the Post.

As U.S. president, Trump has broad authority to declassify government secrets, making it unlikely that such disclosures broke the law. However, he is facing a deepening trust crisis as a new poll released Tuesday finds nearly half of U.S. voters (48 percent) said they would support Trump's impeachment, while only 41 percent would oppose such charges.

The White House is in a "downward spiral" and needs to do something to get "under control," Republican Senator Bob Corker said following the Post report.

Trump's approval ratings have been hovering in the high 30s and 40s. According to Gallup, Trump has the lowest approval of any new president since the surveys began in 1953.
KUNMING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- China's poverty-relief campaign brings benefits not only to its citizens, but also to people in neighboring countries.

In Houqiao Village of Tengchong City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, the local government has been encouraging people to participate in cross-border trade to increase their income.

"Houqiao was a poor village with about 1,780 residents, but now more than 300 have joined cross-border trade," said villager Cai Fuhui. "We have earned more than 600,000 yuan (90,000 U.S. dollars) in the past half year."

Myanmar residents are also doing well. According to He Yuanshu, general manager of a trading company in Tengchong, the company currently employs more than 5,000 Myanmar workers, and the number could exceed 7,000 during busy harvesting seasons.

In Yunnan's Zhangjialaozhai Village, which borders Myanmar, the local government has just built a cement road linking the once secluded village with a nearby town. The village produces some of the best tea, but poor transportation blocked its sales. With the new road, the tea is accessible to the outside world, with each kilogram fetching as much as 400 yuan.

"The Myanmar village several kilometers away also benefited from the road," said villager Ai Shuaixiang. "Because they grow tea on the mountains next to ours, they now sell their tea in our village too, which can reach many customers thanks to the new road."

In mid-April, Chinese authorities held a "village head seminar" in a border county in Yunnan. About 100 village heads, entrepreneurs and government officers from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand attended.

During the seminar, they expressed hope for better incomes for their farmers and enhanced international cooperation.

"We hope there will be more agricultural training and exchanges on China's poverty-relief experience," said an attendant at the seminar.
Some arrested gang members (photo/Chinanews.com)

XI'AN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Over 200 people have been caught for their alleged involvement in an online lottery fraud worth 100 million yuan (14.5 million U.S. dollars), police in northwest China's Shaanxi Province said Tuesday.

Among the 203 arrested, more than 100 will face criminal charges as they were allegedly trained to lure victims in their fake lottery scheme online, said a police officer in the provincial capital Xi'an.

Gang members were asked to develop "clients" via social networking software such as QQ and WeChat as "honey traps," and lure them to buy lottery tickets by sending them fake winning screenshots and promising them high rate of winning.

Police started investigating the case in January, when a victim surnamed Hong said to have paid a total of 45,000 yuan via Alipay or WeChat for the "lottery investment" via a young woman net friend surnamed Li.

After three months' investigation, more than 200 policemen made the arrests in three locations on May 5. More than 200 computers and other equipment were also seized.

Since 2015, the gang had made 50 million yuan from transactions worth of more than 100 million yuan, with victims spread across the country.

Further investigation is under way.
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Chinese PresidentXi Jinpingmeets with Fijian Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama after the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China is ready to enhance all-round cooperation with Fiji for the benefit of the people in both countries.

China is willing to expand cooperation with Fiji on agricultural technology, green development, investment and trade, Xi said during a meeting with Fijian Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, who attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing from May 14 to 15.

China and the Pacific island country forged a strategic partnership based on mutual respect and common development in 2014, lifting bilateral relations to a new height.

Xi noted that the two countries are enjoying deeper political mutual trust, stronger pragmatic cooperation and closer people-to-people exchanges, while calling for continued mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

China will encourage more tourists to visit Fiji, and support Chinese enterprises to expand business in the country, he told Bainimarama.

Xi expected closer communication and cooperation with Fiji in such areas as education and culture, as well as more local-level exchanges and cooperation.

He expressed China's willingness to boost coordination and cooperation with Fiji under the United Nations framework, and maintain communication and coordination on major issues such as climate change.

Voicing support for the Belt and Road Initiative, Bainimarama said Fiji is willing to boost cooperation with China under the initiative.

Bainimarama said Fiji will stick to the one-China policy.

Fiji will deepen cooperation with China in areas including agriculture, infrastructure, trade and people-to-people exchanges, while furthering coordination on climate change and sustainable development, Bainimarama said.

While meeting Bainimarama, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the two countries should align their development strategies, expand cooperation, and push forward common development.

Li said China has always been a responsible player in the global fight against climate change and actively implementing the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, in an effort not only to fulfill the country's obligations, but also to restructure its economy.

Li expressed China's willingness to support Fiji's presidency of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Bainimarama welcomed China's long-term support for Fiji and expected greater industrial and trade cooperation between the two countries.
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The independent board members of Reynolds American Inc. turned British American Tobacco Plc away three times before settling on an acquisition price in January, the companies disclosed in a regulatory filing.

In the end, the willingness of BATs board of directors to add a one-thousandth share of BAT ordinary stock to the offer  raising it to 0.526 shares for each Reynolds share, or a $30.20 value per share was enough to seal the deal.

A narrative of the negotiations was released Friday by Reynolds.

Reynolds independent directors announced Jan. 17 they had accepted what proved to be BATs fourth offer to acquire the 57.8 percent of Reynolds it doesnt already own. The overall offer was valued at $59.64 per share when adding a cash component of $29.44 a share.

BAT acquired a 42.2 percent stake in Reynolds in July 2004 as part of selling U.S. subsidiary Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. to Reynolds for $4.4 billion.

The value of the accepted BAT offer is $49.4 billion, up $2.4 billion from the original nonbinding offer made Oct. 20.

The breakdown is $24.4 billion in cash and $25 billion in BAT depository receipts, known as ADR. According to Investopedia, an ADR is a stock that trades in the U.S. but represents a specified number of shares in a foreign corporation.

The deal has received all regulatory approvals and awaits shareholder votes, likely to occur in mid-August.

BATs board of directors and management began considering in September buying the remainder of Reynolds, citing positive changes in the global tobacco industry.

The Oct. 20 nonbinding offer from Nicandro Durante, BATs chief executive, to Thomas Wajnert, then-Reynolds non-executive chairman, triggered a required regulatory public disclosure.

Reynolds formed a transaction committee of independent directors, which determined it was unlikely that a third party, whether a rival tobacco manufacturer or a private-equity group, would try to counter any BAT offer.

The Reynolds committee rejected the BAT offer Nov. 9, saying it inadequately valued Reynolds at 0.5502 of a share and $24.13 in cash.

BAT returned Dec. 5 with 0.4923 of a share and $29.44 in cash. The Reynolds committee rejected the revised two days later, though Wajnert told Durante there may be a strategic basis for a transaction between the parties at the right value.

Durante said BAT had made the highest offer he thought would be acceptable to BAT shareholders.

Reynolds willingness to allow BAT to conduct limited due diligence on the company kept negotiations simmering.

On Dec. 20, BAT returned with an offer of 0.5105 of a share and $29.44 in cash. The Reynolds committee rejected the offer and countered with 0.535 of a share and $29.44 in cash, which was rejected by BAT on Dec. 21.

Negotiations continued through the holiday period, with Lionel Nowell III replaced the retired Wajnert as lead independent director for Reynolds.

On Jan. 10, BAT offered the equivalent of 0.525 a share and $29.44 in cash. After another round of talks, the offer was raised to 0.526 a share.

The Reynolds committee determined that offer represented the maximum value that would be offered from BAT and was worth entering into formal negotiations.

BAT said Reynolds would become its largest global subsidiary, with Reynolds shareholders owning 19 percent of BAT. There is a $1 billion breakup fee for each company.

Reynolds is estimated to have between 2,000 and 2,200 local employees, the majority of whom work at its Tobaccoville plant.

BAT said in a Jan. 18 regulatory filing that it has no plans to close or move the head office in Winston-Salem, nor make any significant changes to the current high-quality manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Tennessee, nor to the trade marketing team.

Durante stressed Jan. 17 that BAT has a strong track record of successfully integrating acquisitions and remains committed to Reynolds Americans U.S. workforce and manufacturing facilities.

BAT has identified three main areas for cost synergies that are expected to produce at least $400 million in annual savings by completion of the third year of the deal. They are in procurement, product development and head office roles that need to be relooked at, Durante said.
(Photo/www.cyol.com)

DALIAN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- A team of 190 officers and soldiers Tuesday departed from northeast China's Dalian for a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali.

The team is part of China's 395-strong fifth peacekeeping force to Mali, which consists of security personnel, military engineers, and medical staff.

The remaining teams will depart on May 24 to relieve the fourth peacekeeping group. Some 79 members of the fifth group had previously taken part in the third peacekeeping force sent to Mali.

The fifth group will stay in Mali for one year, covering tasks including ensuring security, repairing roads, bridges, airfield runways and campsites, as well as emergency rescue and medical treatment.
A new book offers a look inside the growing industry of craft distilleries in North Carolina.

Still & Barrel: Craft Spirits in the Old North State ($19.95), by John Francis Trump, has just been published by John F. Blair, based in Winston-Salem.

Trump will have a launch party and book signing for the book at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Broad Branch Distillery downtown.

Trump, 53 and no relation to President Donald Trump, is the managing editor of the Carolina Journal, which covers state government.

But in his spare time, Trump is known to enjoy a drink or two. His interest in the burgeoning craft distillery industry in North Carolina began after a trip to Kentucky.

A couple of years ago, my wife and I took a trip to Kentucky and did the complete Bourbon Trail (a self-guided tour of bourbon distilleries), he said. I was just fascinated the by the process, the stories, the whole tradition of it.

When the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences put out a booklet outlining a trail of N.C. distilleries, Trumps curiosity was aroused and he started visiting them.

I wrote a couple blogs about it, and my wife said, If youre going to keep writing blogs, you might as well get paid for it.

He got in touch with Blair and soon was hard at work on Still & Barrels.

The book is essentially a travel guide that lists 36 distilleries in the state. Each entry includes details for a visit as well as a short essay about a distillerys owner, origins and products.

Sidebars cover such topics as the current state of liquor legislation, distilleries ties to the local food movement and more.

Though Trump includes 36 N.C. distilleries in the book, the ABC Commission now lists 46 as having liquor for sale in stores. More are on the way.

Unlike Kentucky, North Carolina is full of young, small companies. Its more grassroots and there are such rich stories. In Kentucky, the distilleries are all owned by big companies and they have hundred years of history, Trump said. Here, they are all new. Sutlers Gin (based in Winston-Salem) has been out only a couple of years. And its just two guys putting out this wonderful gin.

So in North Carolina, its more of a hands-owned thing  small operations  where you know the people making it.

Many N.C. distillers, including Piedmont Distillers in Madison, start with clear corn liquor in a nod to our moonshine industry. Piedmont even partnered with NASCAR legend and former moonshiner Junior Johnson to develop an authentic recipe.

But more and more distillers are moving on to create other types of liquor  often with North Carolina products. Covington makes a vodka with sweet potatoes. Several, including Sutlers, are barrel-aging rum. Others, such as TOPO, now are barrel-aging whiskey.

There still will be a market for (corn liquor), Trump said. Its a good replacement for vodka or tequila, and it makes a good mixer. But many distilleries have a plan to barrel and age down the line.

Because barrel-aging can take years and so many distilleries are young, a lot of N.C. liquor is in the works but not yet for sale.

As the industry grows, Trump said that N.C. liquor laws need to be updated. Most of our laws date back to Prohibition, he said. Its important to catch up.

Recently, the N.C. General Assembly allowed distilleries to offer tours and to sell customers one bottle a year. N.C. Senate Bill 155, introduced earlier this year, would allow distilleries to sell a customer up to five bottles a year, and would allow distilleries to get permits to offer free liquor tastings at special events such as street festivals, trade shows and agricultural festivals. Distillers could also offer tastings at ABC stores.

It also would allow restaurant sales of drinks before noon Sunday.

Trump said that Kentucky allows distilleries to sell mixed drinks.

Like the craft beer and wine industries, the distillery industry will need some state support to grow, Trump said.

Its about promoting tourism, promoting agriculture and having a free market.
Winston-Salem police said they are following several leads in hopes of finding a missing local woman.

Police are investigating the disappearance of Mary Magdalene Smith, 61, who was reported missing on May 3 from an eastern Winston-Salem home. Smith was last seen March 1, and her last known location was at the Roadway Inn at 3801 N. Patterson Ave.

Police Capt. Mike Weaver said an officer spoke with two of Smiths relatives about the case on Tuesday. Weaver declined to discuss the details of the investigation.

We are following up with numerous leads, Weaver said. We are exploring all possibilities and not discounting any possibility.

Doris Peoples Hairston, Smiths sister, and Faye Hairston, Hairstons daughter, said Monday they believe Smith is the victim of foul play.

The family members say Smith cashed her disability check, then a male acquaintance took her to the Roadway Inn. The Hairstons said a hotel employee reported seeing Smith on a balcony with three men.

The hotel no longer has surveillance video from the day Smith disappeared, a hotel manager said.

Members of the familys church, Messiah Community Christian Church, and others have organized searches of the area near the hotel.

Weaver said investigators are treating Smiths disappearance as a missing person case and not as a homicide.

Faye Hairston said police Cpl. Michael Griffith called her Tuesday and asked her if there is anyone who might have associated with Smith before she disappeared.

Faye Hairston said she told Griffith that she didnt know anyone who spent much time with her aunt. Griffith couldnt be reached Wednesday for comment.

The Hairstons said Smith has heart disease and a mental disorder.

It hurts me because I dont know where shes at. Im doing all I can trying to locate her, Doris Hairston said Monday.
During an interview last June in his New York office, I asked Donald Trump about his use of language that many considered insulting and divisive. Will there be a pivot for you from the primaries to the general election campaign?

The candidate said I agree about the tone of the campaign and that he intended to pivot. Its starting very soon, he promised.

Were still waiting.

The president was within his rights to discharge FBI Director James Comey, but it is the way he did it, sending a letter instead of a face-to-face meeting or even a phone call, that was disturbing. Comey was not only blindsided when he learned of his dismissal during a speech in Los Angeles, the president called him names and then tweeted that Comey ...better hope that there are no tapes of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press! Intimidation is ugly and unbecoming for any president. Comeys sudden dismissal is fueling suspicions there is more to discover about alleged connections between the Trump campaign and Russia, something that has yet to be proved.

Whatever Comeys shortcomings  and there are more than a few  he deserved better, even if only to make the president look good. In an interview with Lester Holt of NBC News, the president called Comey a showboat and said he was guilty of grandstanding. Maybe so, but wouldnt the president have benefited by thanking Comey for his years of public service? Wouldnt it have been better if hed said, I want to see the FBI move in a different direction?

The president has threatened to cancel the daily White House briefings because he says he is moving so fast his spokespeople dont always get it right. Fine, let him brief the press directly as FDR and Calvin Coolidge did.

I voted for Trump and have appreciated his promises to take the country in a better and more prosperous direction. His selection of Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court and his promise to fill lower courts with constitutional conservatives has the potential to place government back within the boundaries the Founders set for it. His businessman instincts to reform a government that has become bloated, dysfunctional and burdened with debt are much needed. However, the presidents goals are hurt when he, instead of his policies, becomes the story  especially a negative story.

Anger is not policy. Insults do little to change anyones mind. The latest Quinnipiac University Poll shows the presidents approval rating has dropped to 36 percent, a near record low. His disapproval has risen to 58 percent. Astonishingly, the poll also shows the media, which Trump has often called fake news, and worse, is now trusted more than him. That is bound to harm his policy goals as Democrats smell blood and feel empowered to oppose him on everything.

Here are some positive suggestions that might turn things around. An old Glen Campbell song should be his theme: Try a Little Kindness. Find some positive things to say and do. Unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since 1988. Have some newly employed people in, as he did with the coal miners, some of whom were unemployed or underemployed during the Obama years. They could thank the president for reducing expensive regulations on businesses that allowed them to hire more people.

Trump should remind Americans where he is trying to take the country. Turn those constant tweets into positive statements. Just as light overcomes darkness, so, too, do positives overcome negatives.

Americans respond to optimism (read Ronald Reagans speeches). Let the Democrats own gloom and doom. The president should rise above that and rekindle an optimistic spirit that has always led America to new heights. Please knock off the insults, Mr. President. They are poisoning your presidency and the good you and a Republican Congress can do.
UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- There is "ample possibility" for the UN Security Council to impose new sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in response to its missile launch, said council President Elbio Rosselli on Tuesday.

He made the remarks after a closed-door meeting among the 15 council members on the issue of the DPRK. The meeting was convened two days after the DPRK test fired a ballistic missile.

Rosselli, the Uruguayan ambassador to the United Nations, voiced absolute rejection of the continued nuclear tests and missile launches conducted by the DPRK, adding the council will be working on ways to resolve the threat.

There is ample possibility for the council to use sanctions to respond to the current situation without closing other options "through creative, subtle and peaceful diplomacy," Rosselli said.

He said the council emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia at large, while urging the DPRK to show sincere commitment to de-nuclearization immediately.

He also called on all UN member states to honor their obligations under Security Council resolutions on sanctions on the DPRK.

According to previous Security Council resolutions, the DPRK is banned from conducting any launches that use ballistic missile technology, nuclear tests or any other provocation.

The council has already imposed tough sanctions on the DPRK, including banning the sale and transfer of coal, iron and iron ore from the country's territory.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) holds a welcome ceremony for Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen before their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed Tuesday that the two countries will enhance economic cooperation and work together to ensure regional stability and prosperity.

The Chinese government is committed to upgrading cooperation with Cambodia, and wants to align their development strategies to increase bilateral trade in both quantity and quality, Li said when meeting with Hun Sen.

Hun Sen is on an official visit to China from May 13 to 17. He attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on Sunday and Monday.

Li urged more cooperation with Cambodia in multiple areas including industrial capacity, investment, agriculture, education, tourism, defense and law enforcement.

China is also ready to maintain high-level exchanges and strategic communication with Cambodia, promote people-to-people ties, and strengthen coordination on international and regional issues, the premier said.

The Chinese side supports Cambodia's role in regional and sub-regional platforms and stands ready to work with Cambodia for regional peace, stability and prosperity, Li said.

For his part, Hun Sen said his country is willing to deepen cooperation with China in trade, investment, infrastructure, law enforcement, security and other areas, while pledging to advance bilateral friendly relations to a higher level.

Cambodia will continue to actively promote China-ASEAN ties and Lancang-Mekong cooperation, and safeguard regional peace, stability and development, Hun Sen said.

After the meeting, China and Cambodia signed a number of documents on cooperation in strategy coordination, infrastructure as well as economic and technological areas.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), and Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also held meetings with Hun Sen respectively on Tuesday.

Zhang said the NPC will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Cambodia's National Assembly and Senate to contribute more to the development of China-Cambodia ties.

Yu said the CPPCC National Committee is ready to have more exchanges with Cambodia's Senate and sustain the momentum of high-level visits.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 62F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 62F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
JURIST Guest Columnist Oday T. Mahmood, an S.J.D. candidate for 2019 at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law discusses needed legal and constitutional reforms in Iraq post Islamic State

In 2014, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) seized three large cities in Iraq which were Anbar, Salah al-Din and Mosul. In fact, the fall of these cities posed a threat to the entire territory of Iraq, prompting the U.S. to form an international coalition to support Iraqi forces and combat the militants. Currently, military reports in Iraq show that there has been noticeable progress toward the liberation of cities under the control of ISIS. Salah al-Din has been completely liberated, as well as almost 95% of Anbar in western Iraq. Furthermore, the military efforts have led to the liberation of 90% of Mosul in the north of Iraq. These Military achievements must be reinforced by legal reforms which will prevent the justification of an oppressive presence of any extremist force which will work to the detriment of the Iraqi people in future. These reforms should be conducted in two phases: the amendment of the constitution and the obtainment of support for the establishment of a strong constitutional court. These reforms are aimed towards achieving political, security and economic stability in Iraq.

The current constitution [PDF] was drafted in a rush over the course of less than five months because the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) wanted the transfer of power to the Iraqis as soon as possible after the fulfillment of the Transitional Administrative Law of 2004. In addition, the political and religious groups insisted that this constitution should be drafted and developed by representatives of the Iraqi people. As a matter of national urgency, elections for the National Assembly of Iraq were held on January 30, 2005. Soon thereafter, in May 2005, a committee entrusted with the drafting of the constitution was formed, and a referendum held in October 2005. In this process, the drafters detected several defects in the constitution which lead to the enactment of Article 142, which opened the door for future constitutional amendments. The draft of the constitution was rejected by the province of Salah al-Din and Anbar, and it was accepted in Mosul, but 55.08 percent of people did not approve of the constitution. Subsequently, the constitution was signed anyway in accordance with the rules of the democratic game. As a result, the cycle of violence in Iraq is, in part, constitutional because it did not receive the consent of all major national communities. Ironically, the cities that rejected the constitution in 2005 are the same cities which were occupied by ISIS in 2014. Thus, we can recognize the importance of maintaining a balance between the popular legitimacy and the derived legal positions to ensure solidarity between the Iraqi government and Iraqi people.

Article 142 states that the Council of Representatives shall establish a committee from among its members which will reflect the diversity of the Iraqi population in order to provide the Council of Representatives with a report containing the suggestions for necessary amendments to the constitution. The circumstances in which the constitution was created, showed completely different attitude among the populace compared to the current situation, in terms of the desire of the liberated population to coordinate more closely with the central government, after confirming that this cooperation is an important step towards stability in Iraq. Therefore, the enactment of the amendments must be accelerated to take advantage of this momentum. Even if the Council of Representatives has reached an advanced stage of designing the amendments, it is necessary to move on to the process of their promulgation in order to guarantee the political, security and economic stability of Iraq. The process of amending the constitution must be carried out by a technical committee comprised of jurists specialized in constitutional law and political science, as well as members of the Iraqi Council of Representative.

The second important point in the process of legal reforms is to obtain support for and strengthen the Federal Supreme Court (FSC), which has the exclusive authority to interpret the constitution and to review the constitutionality of laws. Despite Article 89 of the constitution of 2005 which asserted the need for the enactment of a law regulating the work of the Federal Court, the Iraqi Parliament has not yet succeeded in the promulgation of such a law. In any case, the enactment of a law that is compatible with the spirit of the current constitution is necessary. Currently, the FSC applies a law which was enacted before the current constitution came into force. This is a clear stain on the legitimacy of the court, which operates under the provisions of a pre-constitution law. This will certainly affect the legal situation in Iraq, which will, in turn, affect other factors such as undermining legal status, various rights and freedoms of its people.

The activation of the constitution through the revival of its articles is an important step in the correct direction. Introducing constitutional amendments is an important step towards accommodating the people who initially opposed the constitution. The more the rule of law is accepted by those subjected to the provisions of the constitution, the bigger the chances are of the successful implementation of any legislative act. In addition, the judiciary branch is a cornerstone of the democratic system which ensures the executive and legislative commitment to the constitution as well as the effectiveness of the law in line with ongoing developments within the country, which restrain political parties and ensure the sovereignty of law.

Oday T. Mahmood is an S.J.D. candidate for 2019 at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Suggested citation: Oday T. Mahmood, Iraq after ISIS: Urgent Legal Reforms, JURIST  Student Commentary, May 16, 2017, http://jurist.org/dateline/2017/05/Oday-Mahmood-iraq-after-isis.php
BANGKOK, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The construction of Thailand-China railway project from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, which will be further extended to Nong Khai on the Thai-Lao border in the future, will start in 2017 for sure, Chatchai Thipsunaree, Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Ministry of Transport, said on Tuesday.

"We (Thailand and China) are almost done with the contract, 90 percent I will say, the construction will start in this year for sure," Chatchai told Xinhua after a press conference of the Transport Ministry.

Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith also mentioned the railway project at the press conference, saying it is a project of great importance to the kingdom, as it will connect Thailand with neighboring countries.

The current project, 252 km high speed railway from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, will be extended another 355 km to Nong Khai on the Thai-Lao border, connecting with China-Lao railway from Vientiane to Kunming in China's southern Yunnan Province, according to Arkhom.

The railway is also to be extended to the south, to Kuala Lumpur and finally Singapore, Arkhom said.

The Thai government also plans to build a public-private partnership high-speed rail from Bangkok to Rayong to connect with the Thailand-China railway project.

Several Thai experts told Xinhua earlier that they want the railway plan to be implemented in a faster way.

Aksornsri Phanishsarn, director of Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Centre, National Research Council, told Xinhua that she hopes that China can help to push the Thailand-China railway project for it to become a "successful case" of cooperation between countries.

Swai Visavanant, senior researcher at Chulalongkorn University's China Study Center, urged the Thai government to quickly move toward the implementation of the railway project, otherwise, Thailand may lose a good chance in its development.

According to Arkhom, China and Thailand still need to agree on three things, such as materials for the construction, consulting fee and whether it is necessary for Chinese engineers to get Thai engineering certifications before they come to work in the kingdom.
[JURIST] The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit [official website] on Monday denied [opinion, PDF] Georgia death row inmate J.W. Ledfords request that his execution be carried out by firing squad rather than lethal injection. Ledfords counsel argued that lethal injection would violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment because Ledford has been taking a prescribed drug that would prevent the lethal injection protocol from operating as intended. The court ruled that because execution by lethal injection has already been ruled constitutional, Georgia did not need to experiment with execution by . . .firing squad. Ledford was convicted after robbing and murdering his neighbor in 1992 and was unanimously recommended imposition of the death penalty. Ledfords attorneys will likely appeal [Reuters report] to the Supreme Court, but if the execution goes through, it will be the 70th execution in Georgia since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.

Use of the death penalty remains a controversial issue throughout the US. Earlier this month, the Delaware House of Representatives [JURIST report] passed a bill [text] that would reinstate the death penalty. In April, Arkansas planned [JURIST op-ed] to execute eight people over ten days, but this planned was later blocked by US District Court Judge Kristine Bakerby issuing [JURIST report] a temporary injunction [text, PDF]. In March, Florida Governor Rick Scott [official website] signed a new bill [SB 280, materials] which stated that the death penalty may only be imposed [JURIST report] by a judge upon unanimous recommendation from the jury.
Germanys Federal Court of Justice [official website] ruled [press release, in German] Tuesday that government websites can store personal data as long as they provide adequate justification. Patrick Beyer sued the German government over the storing of IP addresses, which he believed to be in violation of data protection laws. The Federal Court of Justice presented the case to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg which gave [press release] its decision in October of 2016. The ICJ ruled similarly to the Federal Court in that the data collection did not violate law. The court stated that is the storing of an IP address can be legal if the operator of the website has a legitimate interest to do so.

Privacy on the internet remains a prominent issue around the world. In the United States, President Donald Trump in April officially repealed [JURIST report] internet privacy regulations set by the Federal Communications Commission during the end of former president Barrack Obamas term. This decision made it no longer necessary for providers to seek consumer consent before sharing or selling their private information. JURIST guest columnist Andreas Kuersten discusses the recent trend of governments selling personal data [JURIST op-ed] to without their consent.
[JURIST] The International Court of Justice [official website] (ICJ) on Monday heard the case [press release] of the coming execution of Indian officer Kulbhushan Jadhav [The Hindu backgrounder] who was sentenced to death [JURIST report] by a Pakistani Field General Court Martial earlier this year. Both India and Pakistan made their arguments before the court, wherein India accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention [text] and conducting a farcical trial. India also demanded an immediate suspension of Jadhavs death sentence, expressing fears that Pakistan would execute him prior to the end of the ICJ hearing. In response, Pakistan argued that the case is a matter of national security and the ICJ lacks jurisdiction over the outcome. Jadhav, an Indian national and former member of the Indian Navy, has been in Pakistans custody since March of 2016.

Pakistans use of the death penalty since December 2014 in both the civilian and military courts has faced widespread criticism. When the countrys six-year death penalty moratorium was lifted [JURIST report] that month, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif [official profile] said the death penalty would only be applied to terrorism-related cases. However, in March of last year the Pakistan Ministry of Interior lifted the countrys moratorium on the death penalty, permitting hangings for all prisoners [JURIST report] who have exhausted all possible appeals. The UN estimates that several hundred of the 8,000 inmates on Pakistans death row are minors [JURIST report].
A Mississippi man was sentenced [DOJ statement] to 49 years in prison and a fine of $20,000 on Monday in the first-ever conviction under the Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act [text], a federal hate crime statute. Joshua Vallum murdered Mercedes Williamson in May 2015. Vallum initially claimed [CNN report] that he killed Williamson in a panic upon learning that she was transgender. He later admitted to lying when he pleaded guilty and that he had decided to kill her after a friend learned that Williamson was transgender. As a member of a crime gang, the Latin Kings, Vallum said believed his life would be in danger if other members learned that he engaged in sexual relationship with a transgender woman. Todays sentencing reflects the importance of holding individuals accountable when they commit violent acts against transgender individuals said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The Justice Department will continue its efforts to vindicate the rights of those individuals who are affected by bias motivated crimes. Vallum also plead guilty to an earlier murder charge for which he is serving a separate life sentence.

Transgender rights have been a controversial issue in recent months, mostly concerning access to bathrooms. In April the Department of Justice [official website] dropped a lawsuit [JURIST report] against North Carolina concerning a bill requiring transgender people to use the public bathroom associated with their birth gender. North Carolina repealed [JURIST report] House Bill 2 last month with the passage of House Bill 142. In February, six Democrats in the North Carolina House of Representatives filed a bill [JURIST report] to repeal HB2. Last May, former governor Pat McCrory filed a complaint for declaratory judgment asking the federal court to weigh in on the legality of the bill, but withdrew [JURIST reports] from the lawsuit in September. In March 2016 North Carolina individuals and civil rights groups filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] against McCrory, claiming that the bill was unconstitutional and discriminatory. Earlier that month McCrory signed the bill into law [JURIST report], preventing local governments from enacting their own nondiscrimination ordinances and making them unable to pass laws allowing transgender people to use the public restroom or locker room that corresponds with their gender identity.
Cybersecurity researchers on Tuesday said they have found evidence [Kapersky Lab report] that could link North Korea to the recent cyberattack that affected 300,000 computers in 150 countries over the weekend. The so-called WannaCry ransomware has lines of code that are identical to the malware used by a group of hackers called Lazarus that have been connected to North Korea in the past. Lazarus has also been linked to the hacking of Sony Pictures [official website] in 2014 and accused of stealing millions of dollars from a Bangladeshi bank in 2016. Although North Korea denied allegations that it was behind those events, Simon Choi, a senior researcher who has done extensive investigations into North Koreas hacking programs said the WannaCry program is similar to North Koreas backdoor malicious codes. WannaCry also includes software that was stolen from the US National Security Agency [official website] and illegally published online in April. The software, which targeted Microsoft Windows [official website] operating systems, encrypts data and demands ransom payments in the form of Bitcoins [organization website]. The breadth and speed of the attack was described [BBC report] by Europol [official website] as unprecedented.

Cyber security is a growing threat around the world. On Thursday US President Donald Trump signed an executive order [JURIST report] designed to strengthen IT and cyber security frameworks in the country by having agency heads manage security risks and modernize the IT infrastructure.The National Control Commission for the Election Campaign for the Presidential Election (CNCCEP) last week cautioned [JURIST report] media outlets against sharing information leaked from an alleged hack of a presidential candidate. in April Roman Seleznev, the son of a member of the Russian Parliament, was sentenced [JURIST report] for hacking into more than 500 US businesses, stealing then selling millions of credit card numbers. Also in April the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced [JURIST report] that it had effectively disrupted the Kelihos botnet, a network of thousands of virus ridden computers used to glean personal information and login credentials by distributing malicious software through spam email.
Malaysia's Tan Chong Motor Holdings (TCMH) has filed a US$33m counter-lawsuit against Narita Motorcare (Cambodia) in defence of its sole right to import and distribute Nissan vehicles in Cambodia.

TCMH said that, in 2010, through its local Cambodian subsidiaries Tan Chong Motor (Cambodia) and ETCM Cambodia, it signed an agreement with Nissan Motor to exclusively distribute its vehicles in the country. This also includes the right to appoint dealers.

TCMH said that, as a result of the agreement, it took over as the sole Nissan distribution operations from Denmark's Kjaer Group for which Narita Motorcare was a non exclusive Nissan dealer.

Narita maintains it had been appointed by Kjaer Group as the sole distributor of Nissan vehicles in the country and that it was also the de facto distributor.

TCMH said it wanted to appoint Narita as a non exclusive dealer in the capital city Phnom Penh, but that Narita contented its right to import Nissan vehicles directly and filed a lawsuit in 2015 to claim these rights.
French food giant Danone is teaming up with AccelFoods, a US investment vehicle that is looking to support the expansion of companies in the disruptive natural and healthy food sector.

Free Report Whats the forecast for the food and grocery industry? Market drivers and inhibitors

Five-year forecasts and the impact of COVID-19

The performance of the online channel versus offline

Major trends in the market including rapid delivery, ambient retailing, supply chain disruption, and inflation Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. The food and grocery sector thrived during the pandemic, largely due to the shutdown of the food service industry and the sectors subsequent necessity, panic-induced bulk purchasing, and spending more time at home. The market has grown as a result of inflation. Consumer unwillingness to go out and socialize, and the reopening of several hospitality facilities, helped maintain the demand for groceries, particularly online, in 2021. As consumer behavior changes, we consume more food and drink at home, and inflation increases basket sizes. GlobalData predicts that the sector will continue to hold a higher share than had been predicted prior to the pandemic. This is true despite the fact that the food and grocery sector's share of overall retail will decline from its peak in 2020. This report will discuss market forecasts and key themes in the global food & grocery industry in 2022 and beyond. It covers:Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. by GlobalData Enter your details here to receive your free Report. Please enter a work/business email address Country United Kingdom United States Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic of The Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D"ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People"s Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People"s Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Timor-leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Download free Report By clicking the Download Free Report button, you accept the terms and conditions and acknowledge that your data will be used as described in the GlobalData privacy policy By downloading this Report, you acknowledge that we may share your information with our white paper partners/sponsors who may contact you directly with information on their products and services.



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AccelFoods confirmed the move in a tweet saying it was thrilled to partner with the dairy-to-baby food groups in-house investment unit, Danone Manifesto Ventures, which is making the investment  the details of which have not been disclosed.

AccelFoods managing partner Lauren Jupiter told just-food earlier this year the vehicle was looking to increase its backing of companies through the expansion of its second investment fund, which is now worth US$35m.

AccelFoods first fund was launched in 2014. Under AccelFoods second fund, which began searching for investment targets in 2016, the vehicle acquired stakes food start-ups such as Good Day Chocolate, which produces supplement-enriched chocolate products; Koia, a manufacturer of plant-based protein beverage products; and Bou, a GMO-free bullion maker.

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(Photo/CGTN)

South Koreas ruling Democratic Party has put forward the possibility of returning the controversial THAAD anti-missile system to the United States.

National Assembly member Woo Won-shik said in a radio interview that the deployment of THAAD required parliamentary approval. He added that if there were any legal issues related to its deployment, the Democratic Party would recommend returning the system to the US.

In July 2016, Washington and Seoul agreed to deploy THAAD in South Korea, with the procedure beginning in March of 2017. Several neighboring nations have been strongly opposed to its deployment, including China and Russia.
Mondelez International has announced plans to invest AUD4m (US$2.9m) in producing new lines at its Cadbury chocolate factory in Hobart, Tasmania, while still going ahead with the closure of its Dunedin plant in New Zealand.

The food group said it is ploughing the money into new equipment at the Claremont plant to produce two new lines  Cadbury Dark Milk and Cadbury Dairy Milk Marvellous Creations Spider  while the Dunedin site is scheduled to close next year with production moving to Australia.

Mondelezs vice-president for operations across Australia, New Zealand and Japan Amanda Banfield said: We have an AUD25m annual investment fund for Claremont which is continuing to help us improve the site, our products and to become globally competitive.

Banfield said the investment demonstrated the companys commitment to Tasmania.

The fact that we can bring to life two brand new products here in Tasmania is a testament to the Claremont site, Banfield said.

Meanwhile, Mondelez said it plans a six-fold expansion of the site of its existing Cadburys Chocolate World tourist attraction, that adjoins the Dunedin factory, after the plant closes.

In April, Mondelez announced it was launching the Cadbury Dark Milk brand in Australia. The snacks giant said the new product would play a distinct role in the Cadbury portfolio, and will appeal to a new segment of Australians.
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PYONGYANG, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has justified its latest long, medium-range ballistic missile test-firing as "routine work to raise nuclear capability for self-defense," rejecting a UN Security Council statement of condemnation.

"The successful test-fire of Hwasong-12 is of great and special significance in ensuring peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the region, and it is the greatest victory of the Korean people," a spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The DPRK is also stepping up diplomatic actions to seek support and understanding from other countries over its missile launch.

The DPRK Foreign Ministry on Monday briefed diplomatic envoys of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the present situation, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

DPRK officials accused the United States of openly pressuring other countries into severing or degrading diplomatic ties with it by misusing "sanction resolutions" against it.

They were referring to a recent meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and ASEAN officials in Washington, during which Tillerson called on ASEAN countries to degrade diplomatic ties and cut commercial interactions with the DPRK.

"Such pressure by use of 'sanction resolutions' devoid of legality, morality and impartiality is a blatant infringement on the independence of a sovereign state and act of interference in others' internal affairs," said a senior DPRK diplomat at the briefing.

The DPRK test-fired a ballistic missile on Sunday which "accurately hit" the targeted open waters 787 km away after flying to a maximum altitude of 2,111.5 km, according to the KCNA.

Both the UN Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday slammed recent ballistic missile launches conducted by the DPRK.

The UN Security Council "strongly condemned the most recent ballistic missile launches" conducted by the DPRK on April 28 and May 13, the 15-nation UN body said in a press statement. Enditem
Dallas, TX, USA, 05/17/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (which covers Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi), recently decided an important case about the right of citizens to sue the police for retaliating against them. The case is Alexander v. City of Round Rock, No. 16-50839 (5th Cir. April 18, 2017). In Alexander, a man refused to cooperate with an officer who attempted to question him about his potentially suspicious activity in a parking lot. The officer and another officer who arrived on the scene allegedly pulled the citizen out of his car, threw him on the ground, kneed him in the back, and forced his head against the concrete, allegedly injuring him. They did this, according to the citizen, because he would not answer the officers questions when the officer approached him, reports Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms.

As a criminal defense lawyer, I defend people who are accused of crimes. I do not handle civil lawsuits against the police. From my perspective, the case is interesting because of its discussion of whether the police had reasonable suspicion to detain the citizen. If they did not, any evidence they found after they detained the citizen cannot be used against him.

In many cases involving possession of illegal drugs or the illegal possession of guns, the police detain a person and search the person and/or the persons car. If they find illegal drugs or a gun that the person cannot legally possess, such as because the person is a convicted felon or because the person is also in possession of illegal drugs, they arrest the person and charge the person with a crime. If the police detained the person in violation of their constitutional rights, however, the drugs or gun normally cannot be used against the person, and the case collapses. Because our Constitution does not allow the police to detain a citizen without reasonable suspicion that a person is committing a crime, it is important to understand when the police have reasonable suspicion.

In the Alexander case, the Fifth Circuit discussed whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to detain Mr. Alexander. The facts that the court assumed to be true indicated that Mr. Alexander was looking around in the grass next to a hotel parking lot at night and that he got into his car as the police approached. The police officer approached Mr. Alexander in his car and began asking what he was doing. Mr. Alexander refused to respond to the officers questions. The officer and a backup officer then detained him by pulling him out of his car and handcuffing him. The Fifth Circuit held that the officers did not have reasonable suspicion that Mr. Alexander was doing anything illegal.

The court identified a number of factors that can, in some circumstances, lead to reasonable suspicion. One is flight from police officers. The court explained, though, that there is a difference between headlong flight, which can indicate fear of being caught doing something illegal, and simply walking away from the police while going about ones business. In this case, the court said that Mr. Alexander did not engage in headlong flight just because he got into his car.

Another factor is an informants tip of criminal activity, but prior Fifth Circuit case law says that an informants tip must be specific and have indications of reliability, and there was no informants tip in the Alexander case.

Presence in a high crime area is another factor, according to the court, but the United States Supreme Court case of Illinois v. Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119 (2000), establishes that, for a high crime area to be an important factor, it should be a specific location in which crime is known to occur, rather than just a broad geographic area.

Another factor is the time of day. According to the Fifth Circuit, if activity occurs very late at night, such as around 2:00 a.m., this can increase the likelihood that there is enough suspicion. The Alexander case involved a stop at about 9:15 at night, though, and this was not considered late enough to favor reasonable suspicion.

The law is also well-established that a police officer can pull over a motorist who violates the traffic laws, but there was no allegation that Mr. Alexander had done so.

All in all, the court said that the circumstances of this case that the court assumed as true did not create reasonable suspicion. Therefore, if the police had found any drugs or guns on Mr. Alexander or in his car, they would probably not be able to charge him with a crime relating to them.

The Alexander case is important because it reviews a number of factors that courts will consider in determining whether the police were justified in detaining a suspect. If you or a loved one have been arrested based on drugs or a gun found after a police detention, these factors may come into play in your case, and they may mean the difference between whether the case must be dismissed or allowed to continue.

The law about reasonable suspicion is very complicated and depends on the unique facts of each case. Anyone charged with a crime who believes their rights may have been violated by a police detention should always consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer who knows the law in this area.

One final word of caution. Neither the Alexander case, nor this article, should be read as encouraging citizens to refuse to talk to the police. If you are doing nothing wrong, you are almost always better off by politely answering the officers questions so that the officer knows why there is no reason to suspect you. The vast majority of police officers will leave you alone and let you go about your business if you do this. On the other hand, if you are defiant with a police officer and try to play lawyer, you will probably make the officer mad, and you risk being hassled or even arrested. That will almost never be worth the point you are trying to make.

If you or a loved one have been charged with a crime in the Dallas area, you should strongly consider hiring someone who really knows the ins and outs of the law. Contact Dallas criminal defense lawyer John Helms at (214) 666-8010 or fill out the online contact form. You can discuss your case, how the law may apply and your best legal options to protect your rights and freedom.

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John Helms

(214) 666-8010

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source: http://johnhelms.attorney/dallas-criminal-lawyer-reasonable-suspicion-update-drug-gun-crimes/

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Photos Credit: Emperor Cruises

The Emperor Cruises fleet is designed to be a sanctuary that ensures every moment aboard is special. The overnight artful cruises accommodate 16 people in eight en-suite cabins for one or two-night cruises and private charters options. All eight cabins are equipped with private balconies, panoramic ocean views, and a full butler service.

On the upper deck, The King and Queen Suite covers 70 square meters and are among Emperor Cruises Halongs largest rooms. The room is ideal for travelers seeking to enjoy charming accommodation, beautiful sightseeing and majestic sunsets and sunrises. The suite comes with a royal butler and limo service.

The benefit of a luxury cruise with Emperor Cruises is that apart from being on a smaller boat with traditional sails, ultra-personalized service and outstanding facilities on an all-inclusive basis, there are no additional charges at the end of the cruise. Experience the first five star, all-inclusive cruise with butler and limo services in Bai Tu Long and Ha Long Baya must-see on the list of all travelers to Vietnam.

Inspired by the lavish lifestyle of Emperor Bao Dai, the last Emperor of Vietnam, this masterpiece is designed to reflect the style of the 1930s. It is a place for the most sophisticated travelers to enjoy Vietnamese culture, history, and gourmet cuisine. Each guest is treated to an emperor's experience in idyllic privacy, with every detail attended to. All suites are named after the most beautiful villas and palaces of the late Emperor Bao Dai.

The boats are available for FITs, GITS, and charters. This authentic experience is ideal for new or repeat travelers to Bai Tu Long Bay and Ha Long Bay, who seek something different, unique, exotic and out of the ordinary.

Bai Tu Long Bay

Off the beaten track, Bai Tu Long means "the place where the dragon children descended." Renowned for its unspoiled beauty that surpasses even Halong Bay, it is rich in biodiversity, with a pristine environment and spectacular landscape. The bay is dominated by thousands of limestone karsts and islets which rise out of the water and are dotted with floating villages, unspoiled beaches, caves, and grottos.

Getting There

A self-drive car hire is not available for short-term visitors to Vietnam, so most travelers to Halong Bay usually book a cruise package, which includes a private car with chauffeur driver (3 hours) or shuttle bus (3.5 hours). Helicopter or seaplane transfers are also available to the Bay from Hanoi (1 hour).
The Ethiopia-Shandong Production Capacity Cooperation Forum (photo/Chinanews.com)

Eastern Chinas Shandong province is prepared to enhance its cooperation with Ethiopia on production capacity of textile and garments, agriculture, machinery and infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative, China News reported on May 16. The two sides shared their resolution at the Ethiopia-Shandong Production Capacity Cooperation Forum, held in Jinan, capital city of Shandong, on May 16.

According to Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, Ethiopia had received investment from 22 enterprises in Shandong by 2016, and the import and export volume between the two reached $280 million that year.

As a coastal province in eastern China and one of the countrys economic hubs, Shandong is home to Chinas anchor companies engaged in manufacturing, chemicals, machinery, metallurgy, textiles and construction, said Gong Zheng, provincial governor of the Peoples Government of Shandong Province.

The governor added that Shandong will continue to support its companies in their endeavors to go global. The government encourages them to expand their cooperation with Ethiopia and invest in Ethiopian agricultural products, building materials, tiles and machinery.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn also noted that Ethiopia, taking advantage of momentum from the Johannesburg summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, is willing to strengthen production capacity with Shandong, especially in garments, agriculture, machinery and infrastructure, under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Photo taken shows a Chinese agricultural expert teaching Burundi farmers on the demonstrative field. The rice grown on demonstrative field cultivated by the third Chinese high-level agricultural expert team assisting Burundi harvested in early 2017, yielding 924 kilograms/mu (667 square meter) at most, setting a new record for rice yield in Africa. The average yield per mu reached 725.3 kilograms. (Photo by Chinese agricultural expert team)

Efforts will be made to ensure the assistance China pledged at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and will benefit related countries and their public as early as possible, an official with the Ministry of Commerce vowed on Monday.

The statement came after Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to provide assistance worth 60 billion RMB in the coming three years to developing countries and international organizations participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The decision aims to improve people's well-being by launching more projects, Xi said in his keynote speech delivered on the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on last Sunday.

According to the ministry, the 60 billion RMBs assistance mainly consists of non-reimbursable assistance and interest-free loans.

The Belt and Road countries could, based on their core concerns, keep close contact with related Chinese embassies as well as economic and business institutions to confirm development priorities and make specific requests in terms of policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds, said the official with the Department of Foreign Assistance.

Cooperation should be launched in each chain covering feasibility studies, consultation, agreement signing and project implementation, so as to ensure that development and cooperation accomplishments would benefit en-route countries and their public, the official added.

Xi has also promised that China will provide emergency food aid worth 2 billion RMB to developing countries along the Belt and Road and make an additional contribution of $1 billion to the Assistance Fund for South-South Cooperation.

In addition, China will launch 100 "Happy Home" projects, 100 poverty alleviation projects and 100 health care and rehabilitation projects in countries along the Belt and Road.

China will also provide relevant international organizations with $1 billion to implement cooperation projects that will benefit the countries along the Belt and Road, the president promised.

The official explained that the 2-billion-RMB emergency food aid comes amid the current severe global challenge of food security which has left more than 70 million people in need for food aid. The challenge has already resulted in serious humanitarian crisis.

The aid will be offered through multilateral and bilateral channels based on each country's specific demands, in a bid to save lives, relieve food shortage, improve nutritional status and gradually increase agricultural production in these countries. China is ready to work together with the international community to enhance global food security.

According to the official, Xi announced the establishment of the Assistance Fund for South-South Cooperation when attending the summits marking the 70th anniversary of the UN in Sept. 2015. The initial contribution of $2 billion he pledged aimed to support developing countries to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The additional $1 billion, which will expand the total capital to $3 billion, will further promote South-South cooperation, especially in helping developing countries accelerate economic and social development and improve people's livelihood.
Recent remarks from Japanese officials appeared to indicate a willingness to move forward with China-initiated development proposals, yet many are adopting a wait-and-see attitude, hoping that Japan can first solve the problem of tense bilateral ties.

During a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking as a representative of the Japanese government, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai said Japan and China need to cooperate. Xi said that Japan has clearly endorsed the Belt and Road Initiative, and is welcome to talk with China about cooperating within its framework, China Daily reported.

Nikai later told reporters that the key would be how quickly Japan decides whether to participate, Reuters reported.

As a major political figure in Prime Minister Shinzo Abes LDP, Nikais comments received careful attention, as they were thought to offer clues into whether Japan is changing its attitude toward Chinas proposals.

Japan had previously shown reluctance to get involved in China's Belt and Road Initiative, and only recently decided to send a delegation to the forum. Japan and the U.S. are the only G7 members not to have signed up for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Global Times reported.

According to Sankei Shimbun, former Japanese Prime Pinister Yukio Hatoyama took to Twitter to say that the Belt and Road Initiative "eyes peace and prosperity," and that he feels "Japan is somehow lagging behind.

Japan has undoubtedly been facing serious socioeconomic issues, and a vast market overseas can support its economic development in the coming decades. This market can mainly be found in rising powers and third-world countries, since the European economy is witnessing unsatisfying growth and the U.S. will be challenged to maintain rapid growth, Xiakedao, a WeChat news account run by the Peoples Daily, pointed out.

All this has forced Japan to rely on regional projects like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to integrate resources in the Asia Pacific, the commentary in Xiakedao explained, adding that Japans persistent conflicts with China have also prevented it from enjoying the development offered by Chinas proposals.

Prior to Nikais comments, Abe has previously said that he could be open to joining the AIIB, if only questions surrounding the environmental impact of its projects and a few other issues were resolved, Kyodo News reported.

What lies beneath Abes statement is doubt and concern that AIIB may become a tool for Chinas economic expansion, yet Japan cannot deny what it has been missing over the past months, as AIIB has grown into a 77-member international body and the TPP has fallen apart, the commentary stated.

Remarks by Japanese officials have indicated the countrys unwillingness to miss out on more of the benefits to be gained from Asian infrastructure development. The remarks also indicate a possible intention by Japan to cast more influence over the AIIB, even though it could not enjoy the rights of a founding member, according to the commentary.

Lu Yaodong, a Japanese diplomacy researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that being part of the initiative and the bank would help Japan to improve its ties with China, though it remains to be seen whether Japan will take further action in that regard, China Daily reported.

Both countries should think deeply about the problems underlying their strained ties, and take measures to change the situation. Many in China hope that Japan will work with China to eliminate such disturbances and promote the positive development of Sino-Japanese relations, Xi said during the meeting with Nikai.

What we would like to know is whether Japan is completely changing its strategy of confronting China, or if it is merely a strategic easing. We would definitely offer a warm welcome in the first case; in the second, we show welcome and also regret, the commentary read.
Chinese bank governors pledged to fund projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative, saying that special loans will be offered to finance cooperation projects among en-route countries in terms of infrastructure, capacity building and finance.

The promise came after Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Sunday that two of Chinas banks, the China Development Bank (CDB) and the Export-Import Bank of China (EIBC) will set up special lending schemes respectively worth RMB 250 billion ($3.6 billion) equivalent and RMB 130 billion ($1.9 billion) equivalent to support Belt and Road cooperation on infrastructure, industrial capacity and financing.

Hu Huaibang, Chairman of CDB, vowed to implement the Presidents proposition, saying the bank will press ahead with the special fund in a timely order. The special loans will give full play to the advantages in development finance.

Chinas loan commitment to the Belt and Road countries will be fulfilled in the next 3 years or so, Hu predicted. CDB will adhere to the market-oriented operating principle of the fund, offering key support to infrastructure construction, production capacity and financial cooperation, he added.

The projects are funded in a self-liquidating and sustainable development basis, and each project will be put into operation once it is mature. CDB will closely follow a green and inclusive principle when its capital flows to a host country, Hu explained.

He said CDB will pay attention to risk control when mobilizing the special fund, adding that the development financing strategy will be adopted to build market, credit and policy.

A win-win and mutually-beneficial outcome will be achieved if the projects cash flow and risk control ability is beefed up, which can be achieved by developing and selecting projectsindependently, Hu continued.

CDB will enhance cooperation with multilateral international development financial organizations, as well as policy- and finance-based financial institutions from home and abroad, to unite various forms of capitals in order to push forward the Belt and Road construction toward more fruits, Hu explained.

Hu Xiaolian, Chairman of the EIBC said the bank always adheres to the market-oriented operating principle to fund the Belt and Road projects, stresses long-term investment and pays attention to risk control, in order to attain small but guaranteed profit as well as sustainable development.

EIBCs special fund will be allocated in infrastructure construction and cooperation in terms of international production capacity, equipment manufacturing, economy and trade, park construction as well as energy and resource sectors, Hu Xiaolian said.

There are so farover 1,200 EIBC-financed Belt and Road projects still with cash balance, signed with 50 or so en-route countries with a total investment of over 700 billion yuan ($105 billion).

The projects include infrastructure connectivity of transportation, electricity, water resource and communication sectors, as well as export of high-tech products, large and complete set of equipment, mechanical and electrical products and resource exploitation.

The projects mainly distribute in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Central Asia, with economic and trade cooperation receiving the biggest sum of loan, followed by resource cooperation, infrastructure construction and industrial investment, data showed.

Statistics revealed that the connectivity of infrastructure construction embraced a faster growth in 2016, with the contracting value increasing 150 percent year on year.
Fruitful results have been achieved by the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation held in Beijing on May 14 and 15. A list of major deliverables of the BRF including 76 items comprising more than 270 concrete results has been put together, providing a strong boost to the sustainable global cooperation on Belt and Road development.

China has signed Belt and Road cooperation documents, made bilateral and multilateral cooperative plans, and confirmed cooperation projects at ministerial level with many foreign governments and international organizations.

China also vowed to host the China International Import Expo starting from 2018, contribute an additional 100 billion yuan (about $14.5 billion) to the Silk Road Fund, and provide assistance worth 60 billion yuan in the coming three years to developing countries and international organizations participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Russian President Vladmir Putin said the timely initiative and forum helped boost economic cooperation and exchanges among countries.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev promised a firm support to the Belt and Road Initiative, saying that his country will actively align it with the nation's Bright Road strategy.

The initiative has reflected Chinese leader's courage and strong sense of historical responsibility, Czech President Milos Zeman believed.

The forum has demonstrated to the world the tangible fruits of the far-sighted Belt and Road initiative, providing a historic platform for developing and developed nations to discuss cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said.

Erik Solheim, executive director of United Nations Environment Program noted that one will lose once isolated, but will achieve common prosperity if opening to the world.

Since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, 68 countries and international organizations have signed cooperation agreements with China to build the routes together.

The 6 major economic corridors including China-Pakistan and China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridors have played a leading role. Indonesian high speed rail between Jakarta and Bandung and the China-Laos rail are both under accelerated construction.

In addition, China has undertaken the renovation projects of the Gwadar Port and Piraeus Port.

Chinese enterprises have established 56 economic and trade cooperation zones in 20-plus countries, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund have started operation.

The Belt and Road Initiative has yielded many fruits since it was proposed. For instance, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has relieved electricity shortages for Pakistani families. The Qamchiq Tunnel of the AngrenPap railway has helped Uzbekistan shake off the awkward situation when its trains had to cross neighboring countries in order to reach certain destinations..

A total of 3,900 China-Europe freight trains have started service so far, opening a new passage for China-Europe trade. The opening of the China-built Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway endowed the inland Ethiopia on the ridge of East Africa with a port, greatly facilitating the trade of the country.

The initiative and the UN sustainable development agenda are both aimed to achieve sustainable development, create more opportunities, provide global public products, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation. In addition, they will also enhance policy coordination, facilities connectivity, financial integration and people-to-people bond among countries.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the Belt and Road Initiative as a very remarkable proposal that will benefit the whole world.

At a press conference to close the 1st BRF, Xi announced that Beijing would hold the second Belt and Road summit in 2019. The announcement soon received worldwide attention.
The abuses and exploitation that refugees face at the hands of human traffickers fail to explain or justify the level of opprobrium in the Western media.

When I was a child I loved reading novels about escape. They were mostly stories of people escaping from areas under Nazi control, being smuggled across borders into neutral countries, or trying to get hold of the right papers, or at least ones convincing enough to allow them to escape from imprisonment, torture and death. Along the way they would meet some people who would help them and some who would betray them  the suspense and drama came from sharing the characters uncertainty as to whether or not theyd make it, and whether or not the person theyd just met could really be trusted. The escapees, exhibiting bewildering levels of courage and ingenuity, were occasionally assisted by networks of resistance, anonymous people of staggering bravery who were prepared to face torture and give their lives to save others and to combat injustice.

This kind of fiction was everywhere when I was a kid, which was still within the broad cultural aftermath of the excitement and traumas of the war. You could still buy Victor annuals which revelled in imagery of armed conflict  Im pretty sure the very first phrase I learnt in German was Achtung! Ich bin hit!. By the time I came into being there had already been a good couple of decades of this stuff. As an adult I read A Night in Lisbon by Erich Maria Remarque, a more complex account of the brutalities of the struggle for escape and survival, and also Austerlitz by WG Sebald, which explores the deeper implications of what it is to be rescued and to start a new life elsewhere. They depicted deep, intense psychological and moral battles, in a way conditioned by a profound sense of empathy at suffering and loss. There was always a great deal of romance in these stories: divided couples and also people with divided emotions and divided loyalties who were forced by the threat of violence or by their conscience to do the wrong or the right thing. Intense human drama, in other words.

Brave and principled people who, despite not being perfect human beings, clearly did the right thing

The people who helped potential victims of Nazi persecution to escape were heroes and still are. Oskar Schindler himself is only one of them. In Portugal a few years ago there was a spate of articles about Aristides de Sousa Mendes, the Portuguese Consul-General in Bordeaux in France who defied the orders of Portugals Salazar dictatorship to issue visas and passports to a number of refugees. There is also the similar story of Gilberto Bosques Saldivar, Mexican Consul in Marseilles, who directed his employees to issue a visa to anybody wanting to flee to Mexico. Two weeks ago in the UK press there were a number of obituaries of Nicholas Winton, who organized the rescue of 669 children, most of them Jewish, from Czechoslovakia.

These were all extremely brave and principled people who, despite not being perfect human beings, clearly did the right thing, and they were not few in numberit is remarkable that in a few minutes googling I was actually quite hard-pressed to find any nation that doesnt have a claim to their very own saviour-of-the-Jews (one might even argue, given the ending of the film, that Schindler in Spielbergs film is the Israeli Schindler, a stand-in for the state of Israel itself as the only possible refuge for the Jewish people).

Another example is closer to home. When my mother was trying to open a kindergarten in the UK about 20 years ago, she was temporarily stymied in her efforts by a group of local residents who didnt want to hear the sound of screaming kids on their street day in day out. My father looked at their petition and recognised a name from many years ago. He went to the house and introduced himself to the son of a man whose family my fathers father had, by means of his travel agency, helped to escape from Nazi Germany sixty years or so before. They soon dropped their opposition to the nursery.

What about the wars of today? Where are the 21st century Schindlers?

All of the Schindlers above are dead and buried. The war they fought seemingly has a happy ending: tyranny was defeated, and a handful of good people tried to do the best they could to help the helpless. Its a comforting tale which allows us to get on with our lives without dwelling too much on our own standing in relation to the events weve seen. Schindlers List flatters ordinary people by putting us partly in the position of helpless victims, partly in the role of the heroic saviour, helpfully allowing us to forget what we know full well: that ordinary people like us were actually the protagonists of the Nazi genocide. But that was seventy years ago. What about the wars of today? Where are the 21st century Schindlers?

It is worth playing devils advocate in relation to the massive refugee crisis engulfing the world, a world in which 1 in every 122 people is now exiled from their home by war, the changing climate, or extreme poverty.

There are two recent must-read articles which can help us begin to do this. One of them has a happy ending: it tells the story of Hashem Alsouki, who managed, over the course of three hellish years, to make his way from Syria to safety in Sweden, suffering enormous tribulations along the way, managing to keep at all times his identity papers and a Human Rights Watch report about the destruction of his hometown hanging from his neck in a waterproof pouch. In the other story we dont meet the main protagonist, who met a less happy fate.

In both cases many people helped them along the way. Some of them were activists serving as a point of contact for people escaping from horror. Others were fellow refugees in an equally desperate plight. But some were traffickers, people who promised that they could take them the next stage of the journey in return for everything they possessed.

Its probably fair to regard the majority of these traffickers as exploitative and abusive, but

Its probably fair to regard the majority of these traffickers as exploitative and abusive. It is a brutal and horrifying trade. A great deal of stories involving people smugglers resemble tales of kidnapping rather than transport. People fleeing are extremely vulnerable to fake promises and attempted rip-offs, and women, particularly those travelling on their own, are especially at risk. Cases abound of those piloting ships and boats in the Mediterranean simply abandoning their human cargo to the waves.

But given the near-impossibility of refugees reaching safe countries in which they may be able to exercise their fundamental human right to claim asylum through anything approaching conventional means, it cannot be denied that such people are also serving a fundamental human need.

Clearly not all involved in the trade are, in the words of the former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, among the vilest form of people on the planet. Confronting such hyperboles, the following truism bears endless repetition: if European society (and, for that matter, Australia) were truly concerned with the fate of refugees, they would allow them to reach their countries and claim asylum. Yet instead of this the EU demonises people smugglers to the point of seriously proposing bombing parts of North Africa in order to deter their trade, while Australia maintains concentration camps on Nauru island in order to prevent migrants setting foot on Australian soil.

We endlessly hear that human smugglers are evil people motivated only by the desire for wealth, an effective explanation as it relates to our increasing conviction that personal advancement is the only motivating factor in human affairs (indeed, we have actually come to believe that such aspiration is not only natural but also moral). The stories of people smugglers or the stories of those they have saved are hear much less often.

Of course there is enormous and widespread abuse. Of course there are, as in pretty much any industry, those at the top of the pile who get enormously rich on the basis of the brutal exploitation of basic human need, not to mention those at the bottom under very great pressure to avoid treating their passengers as anything other than human beings. But there are also staggering achievements mixed up in these cases of abuse, inspiring tales of bravery, suspense, drama and excitement.

Why is so little effort made in the media in particular to give a voice to those who have sacrificed everything at enormous risk in order to reach safety and try to protect and provide for their friends and families back home? Almost all refugees are ready-made heroes with astonishing stories to tell, tales of human endurance, ingenuity, bravery, desperation and abuse, but also of generosity and ultimately of survival and hope. However, there doesnt seem to be much of an appetite for hearing them, possibly because at some level our feelings are conditioned by a sense of guilt and helplessness.

Libya is a case in point. We Europeans first stabilised the country by supporting its dictator and then we destabilised it by bombing it to pieces without the slightest regard for the consequences. And let us be honest: the British did much the same to Iraq. We co-created the conditions for ISIS to thrive. The victims in this situation, people who were going about their lives, developing their societies, looking to the future, these people need help from someone, somewhere. We share responsibility for their fate, and we are not in a position to blithely condemn all those who are, whatever their motivations, trying to help them escape from the hell we have helped creating.

But increasingly were not inclined to help. Were full, we tell each other. We have our own problems to deal with. And so we demonise those who help them. Were happy to go along with the story that those people stuffing desperate people onto tiny leaking boats are doing so only out of self-interest, that the human desire to help others cannot possibly be a factor.

Perhaps the Schindler stories are a form of romanticising the past, even while we disown our present responsibilities.

Perhaps the stories of all these Schindlers were never more than a comforting fairy tale about how we would all (as British, Mexican, Portuguese people) do the right thing in such circumstances, that we, and our kind, are essentially good people at heart, a form of romanticising the past in order to show ourselves in the best light, even while we disown our present responsibilities. But out there right now there is an Afghan Schindler, a Moroccan Schindler or a Libyan Schindler. We dont get to hear about the lives that theyve saved. Wed rather not hear their stories or the stories of the people theyve managed to rescue.

There are millions of our fellow human beings exactly like us crammed into refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon, the Jungle in Calais, in Melilla, Kos and Lampedusa. But theyre Muslims. They might be armed, or diseased. There are far too many of them. They dont share our values of liberalism, tolerance and generosity. They want to scrounge off our society. This is the story that we seem to find more comforting and more compelling.

Of course, back in the 1930s and 40s there were a number of people who talked in this way about European Jews. They were a minority. This time round, in addition to the very worst that humanity has to offer, the countless digital equivalents of this emblematic product of European civilisation, theres most of us, and theres those who we increasingly choose to represent us: people indifferent to the fate of our/their fellow humans facing tyranny, torture, starvation and death, unwilling to take responsibility for their fate, and prepared to assume the worst of those who are risking their lives to help them escape. We should learn and share their stories if we are to have the slightest chance of rescuing our humanity.
Chinese students studying in Australia have expressed discontent over the countrys decision to cancel 457 visas, warning that the change may make many Chinese students think twice about seeking education in Australia.

The Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457), which was scrapped by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in April, allows skilled overseas workers to enter Australia to work for a sponsoring Australian employer, and stay in the country for up to four years.

The 457 visa scheme used to be a perk of studying in Australia, as it grants foreign students easy access to becoming a permanent resident. Its cancellation will definitely dampen our enthusiasm for studying here, said Stacy Cui, a Chinese student majoring in accounting at Melbourne University.

Cuis opinion is shared by many Chinese students in the country. According to Australias Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), Chinese citizens are the third-largest national group utilizing 457 visas, behind Indians and Brits. Chinese holders of the 457 visa comprise 5.8 percent of the total holders. Workers in IT, science and hospitality are the most likely to utilize the special visa.

Ive been several times to the Melbourne Big Meeting, a regional career fair targeting undergraduates and recent graduates. Most companies post eye-catching signs sayingAustralian citizens only or Australian permanent residency required to exclude foreign students. Without 457 visas, we may lose our only chance to work here, not to mention that following the ban, the list of over 600 eligible immigration careers will be slashed by 200, Chen Li, a Chinese student in Australia who holds a master's degree in IT engineering, told the Peoples Daily Online.

The ban has also worried the Australian public, who fear that the policy change may strike a blow to Australias international education industry, which was worth $20 billion in 2015. According to a poll conducted by Iscah Migration, an Australian immigration services company, 93 percent of 495 foreign student respondents said the visa change disappoints them. Eighty-nine percent said they would not have chosen Australia as their study destination if they had known about the revised visa rule.
The Omaha man whose daughter was left in a vegetative state after a crash made a series of bad decisions before the crash, a prosecutor said Tuesday as the mans trial began.

Benjamin M. Thompson, 36, is charged with fifth-offense driving under the influence in connection with the Oct. 24, 2016, crash that occurred about 2 p.m. near 30th Street and Sorensen Parkway. Police said Thompsons blood-alcohol level was .115, well above the legal limit of .08.

Thompson also faces two counts of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of child abuse not resulting in serious bodily injury.

In a 20-minute opening statement, Molly Keane, a deputy prosecutor in the Douglas County Attorneys Office, told the jury that Thompson decided to take prescription drugs, drink alcohol and not just drive (but) accelerate, pushing on the gas as he entered the intersection against a red light.

Police have said Thompson was driving a 2013 Nissan Altima east on Sorensen Parkway when the car ran a red light at 30th Street and crashed into a northbound 1997 Oldsmobile LSS sedan driven by Randall Plugge, 61, of Blair, Nebraska.

Defense attorney Zoe Wade said Plugge was the person who ran the red light. She acknowledged that an accident investigator for the Omaha Police Department determined that Thompson was at fault but asked the jurors to carefully weigh the evidence and find the fault in that determination.

Plugge, she said, had the advantage of speaking to law enforcement first because he remained at the scene of the crash. Thompson left the area, Wade said, to seek medical help for his three daughters.

Both sides agree that Thompson drove north and was found by a police officer a short time later in Miller Park. They also agreed that Thompson discarded alcohol containers in a trash can.

Thompsons three daughters were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center. Eight-year-old Kazlynn Thompson was critically injured and is now at a rehabilitation center in a persistent vegetative state, Keane said.

Aly Thompson, 6 at the time of the crash, was treated for head injuries. Jade Hetrick, 17 months, was in a child-restraint seat and treated for minor injuries. Both later were released from the hospital.

Thompson could think only about his daughters as he was given field sobriety tests, Wade said.

Officers will say that he asked about his daughters over and over and over again, she said.

The time to worry about the girls, Keane said, was before he began to drive.

That morning, he woke up and decided to take prescription drugs and drink beer and wine coolers, Keane said. He decided to get behind the wheel of that vehicle.
Its almost over, but its far from over. The 2017 Legislature is groaning toward a June 2 finish, but the situations created in the final days will probably have an impact on the 2018 session and definitely on the 2018 election. The tax plan favored by Gov. Pete Ricketts is dead for now. For the first time in a long time, passage of the two-year-budget has been an uphill battle.

The tax plan doomed itself with the inclusion of income tax cuts in a bill that was supposed to provide property tax relief. For three years, Ricketts has been beating the drum for property tax relief. He has said that he has heard from people all across Nebraska who want property tax relief. In fact, his constant use of that line has almost become annoying.

All of a sudden, with state Sens. Lydia Brasch of Bancroft and Jim Smith of Papillion carrying the water on his omnibus bill, LB461, the focus became income tax cuts. Brasch, elected by the Gang of 27 to lead the Agriculture Committee, proposed a change in farmland valuation that became part of the measure. Promoted by the Gang to lead the Revenue Committee, Smith also brought income tax cuts triggered by revenue growth to the table.

Ricketts started talking about income tax cuts growing the economy. Thats what they said in Kansas  it didnt work. They tried the triggers in Oklahoma  they didnt work. Rural interests and their senators looked at the numbers and asked for more property tax relief. But Ricketts clung to the income tax cuts, egged on by the Americans For Prosperity.

The train ran off the tracks when lawmakers rejected a cloture motion that would have freed LB461 from a filibuster. There were 22 senators who either voted against the cloture motion or did not vote. Ricketts denounced the 22 senators and said they had voted against taxpayers. The state Tea Party director vowed retribution.

Lawmakers are well aware of Gov. Deep Pockets penchant for using his own money to support candidates running against senators who disagree with him.

Sen. Burke Harr of Omaha, one of 15 Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, said he led the filibuster because the proposal was tilted too heavily toward income tax cuts, while most Nebraskans want property tax relief. He said it is irresponsible to be cutting taxes at the same time that the state is dealing with a budget shortfall. He countered Ricketts scolding by saying, Were not saying no to taxpayers, were saying no to a bad bill.

Ricketts pushed hard for the bill with telephone town halls, mailers and statewide appearances. The bill included Ricketts proposals for cutting the top individual income tax rate and changing how agricultural land is valued as well as cuts in the top corporate income tax rate and increased tax credits for most taxpayers.

So, where to from here? Theres always next session, but the same senators and lobbyists and issues and faltering economy will be in place. While Ricketts and the Tea Party make their list of incumbents to defeat, supporters of property tax reduction may take the matter to the people. A ballot question could come either in the form of an initiative that writes a new law or a constitutional amendment that makes a more permanent change.

And then theres the legislative races. Brasch, Smith and Harr are among six senators who will be term-limited out. Another 18 will be facing election for their second and final term. Ricketts and the Americans for Prosperity Nebraska branch will have their lists. The Republican Party will likely be pushing for the election of more Republicans to further tip the scale, which now counts 32 Republicans, 15 Democrats, one Independent and one Libertarian.

As the 2016 elections proved, there is no magic in simply being a Republican. Several fell out of favor with Ricketts who pumped money into the campaigns of other Republicans to replace them.

J.L. Schmidt, a registered Independent, is the Nebraska Press Associations statehouse correspondent.
This undated photo provided by Lorenzo Hagerty shows Nicholas Sand and his partner, Gina "Usha" Raetze. Sand, who with fellow chemist Tim Scully, created the legendary version of LSD known as "Orange Sunshine" that first hit the streets of San Francisco in 1967, died at age 75 on April 24, 2017, at his home in the Northern California community of Lagunitas. Sand had spoken just the day before at a "Psychedelic Science Conference" in Oakland, Calif., where the film "The Sunshine Makers" was screened. (William Radacinski/Lorenzo Hagerty via AP)
Czech President Milos Zeman visits the Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre on Tue.

Czech President Milos Zeman on May 16 visited the Memorial Hall for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, becoming the first incumbent foreign president and second foreign head of state to visit the hall, following the Denmark's Queen Margrethe II in 2014.

The hall commemorates the more than 300,000 Chinese lives lost at the hands of Japanese invaders after Japan occupied the city beginning Dec. 13, 1937.

Zeman 's visit to Nanjing followed his attendance of the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which convened on May 14 and 15 in Beijing. He will stay in China for a week for a state visit.

On May 15, Prague Daily Monitor reported that Zeman plans to rebuke the Czech ambassador to Beijing, Bedrich Kopecky, for having signed an appeal for human rights observance in China, citing Czech daily newspaper Lidove noviny (LN).

The report said Kopecky signed a letter penned by 11 diplomats from EU countries, Australia, Canada, Japan and Switzerland calling for human rights observance in China. It was not a public letter, and the Czech embassy did not inform anyone about it officially. The letter was addressed to China's public security minister, but was later released to the media after Chinese diplomats responded by calling reports on lawyers detained in China "fake news." The diplomats' statements were quickly spread by Western journalists.

Zeman expressed surprise at the fact that he had not known about Kopecky's signature. The letter directly contradicted another letter from four supreme constitutional officials that Zeman initiated last October. In the latter letter, the Czech Republic pledged not to interfere in China's internal affairs, according to the report. LN sources said that Zeman was outraged by Kopecky's actions.

"He said right away that [Kopecky] had nothing to do in an important post in Beijing," a source from within Zeman's circle of aides told LN, adding that Kopecky's dismissal is being considered.

On Sept. 3, 2015, Zeman attended a massive military parade in Beijing that marked the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. Meeting Zeman in the Great Hall of the People on that occasion, Xi said his appearance at the parade "showed a spirit of respecting historical facts," Xinhua reported.
FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2006 file photo, passengers en route to London check in at Biarritz airport, southwestern France. U.S. and European officials will discuss Wednesday, May 17, 2017, plans to broaden a U.S. ban on in-flight laptops and tablets to include planes from Europe. (AP Photo/Bob Edme, File)
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Decades ago, far beneath the surface of a coastal Kent town, a network of tunnels formed an underground metropolis where many families lived for months at a time without seeing the light of day.

In fact, hundreds of Ramsgate residents adopted a completely subterranean life during the Second World War, after 500 bombs fell in just five minutes on August 24, 1940, destroying people's homes and businesses.

Some 300 families took to living in the tunnels on a permanent basis. Life underground became normal for the people of Ramsgate and street signs, canteens, shops and other services were set up.

There were concerts within the tunnels, numerous latrines and even a hospital in this wartime hub of human activity. In 2011, the Thanet Gazette was shown treasured photos by Muriel Lilley from Dumpton, whose late husband grew up in Ramsgate and visited the tunnels while on leave from the commandos during the war.

(Image: Muriel Lilley)

Mrs Lilley said: "It was like one big family down there, everyone knew each other. You'd bump into neighbours or people that used to go to the same shops as you.

"After so many people were made homeless by the bombs they just moved into the tunnels permanently. There were barbers down there, greengrocers, everything. Some people would play music, and there were concert parties to keep morale up."

The design of the two and a half miles of tunnels built under Ramsgate meant that no-one was ever more than a quarter of mile from an entrance.

The huge maze of tunnels was big enough to be like an underground city. Phil Spain, of the Ramsgate Tunnels heritage group, told Kent Live in 2014: "The reality was that a lot of Ramsgate residents were evacuated, so the tunnels could hold the whole town.

"At one point, there were just under 1,000 people living down there. They're unique in being the only civilian and not for military use tunnel network.

"It's the most extensive underground public shelter system in the country, if not the world."

One of the deepest points of the tunnels stretches 90ft below the surface and was accessed by three steep flights of stairs, which surfaces outside the Holy Trinity Church in Bellevue Road.

And despite every tunnel being carved from the cliffs by hand, the air raid section of the maze was constructed in just nine months.

It was this vast burrow, measuring over three miles, that saved hundreds of lives in the town during the war.

(Image: Muriel Lilley)

Ramsgate and the surrounding area had been badly bombed during the First World War and in 1938, with war on the horizon, Borough Engineer RD Brimmell applied to central government to build a vast network of underground tunnels under the town.

After initial refusals, Ramsgate council's third application in 1939 was approved by the Home Office, and work commenced using local labour.

By June of that year, the first section had already been finished and the Duke of Kent did the honours at the official opening.

"There's a story of a man who got shellshock and spent four years down here," Mr Spain explained: "When he finally climbed the stairs to get out, he collapsed from a heart attack and died!"

But despite their wartime connection, the largest of the tunnels actually dates back much further than the Second World War and opened in October 1863 as a railway tunnel serving Ramsgate Harbour Station.

The line closed in 1926 when the current Ramsgate station opened, but the tunnel was brought back into use in 1936 when a narrow gauge railway ran between Hereson Road and the seafront.

You can now take a guided walk through these very historic tunnels, which re-opened as a tourist attraction in 2014. Tickets are 6.50 for adults and 4 for children and can be purchased here.
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MTR Corporation Cairman Frederick Ma Si-hang (center).

The chairman of Hong Kong's rail operator MTR Corporation, Frederick Ma Si-hang, said his company was interested in partnering with China Railway to bid for the 350-kilometer rail project linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Ma made the statement while attending the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which convened in Beijing on May 14 and 15, South China Morning Post reported.

Thepaper.cn confirmed the news, reporting that MTR insiders said the company would provide any assistance to the Chinese rail giants potential bid for the multi-billion-dollar rail line.

If the bid is successful, the project would be MTRs first attempt to capitalize on Chinas global trade and commerce strategy. It would also be MTRs first investment under the umbrella of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative.

Ma learned from Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai that tender for the rail project was due at the end of this year, with completion expected in 2026, the newspaper reported. Once complete, the transport time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore will be shortened to just 90 minutes. It will be the first high-speed rail project in Southeast Asia, and companies from China, Japan, South Korea and some Eastern European nations are all vying for the contract, according to media reports.

MTR Corp and China Railway Corp signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation last December, paving the way for future partnership in more than 60 countries along the Belt and Road route.

MTR manager Jin Zepei told Thepaper.cn that China Railway tops the world in manufacturing and rail project management, with a colossal 2,200 kilometers of railway laid in the course of about a decade. MTR is now ready to tap into the global market via partnership with China Railway, while also providing support in business operations, contract management and international law.

In January 2017, a direct cargo train linking southeastern Chinas Yiwu to London was launched. The new freight network, operated by China Railway, requires just 18 days to travel over 12,000 kilometers, running through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France before arriving in London.
HOUSTON, May 17 (Xinhua)-- China and the United States are highly complementary with great potential for deepening cooperation in the field of technology innovation, government officials and entrepreneurs said here on Tuesday.

The 2nd U.S.-China Innovation and Investment Summit (UCIS) kicked off in Houston on Tuesday with the participation of senior officials and entrepreneurs from the two countries.

Li Qiangmin, the Chinese consul general in Houston, said at the summit that innovation has become a new engine for the cooperation between China and the United States.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said "we have about 18 billion dollars worth of business with China, and that is between the city of Houston and China on the annual basis. It is my hope that I am going to do everything I can to increase that relationship between the two."

U.S.-China Innovation Alliance President Bernard Harris told Xinhua that the summit is important for the companies in the two countries.

"I think everything is important in this conference, and it provides a platform where U.S and Chinese companies can come together," he said.

In a congratulatory letter to the summit, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said decades of relations between Texas and China have brought advantages to both, in the forms of mutually beneficial trade and valuable cultural exchange.

"In the decades to come, this relationship will continue to be one of the world's most significant as the United States and China work toward common goals of prosperity, strength and peace," he said.

According to Chen Hongsheng, the consul at the Chinese Consulate General in Houston, the UCIS, which was jointly organized by China Science and Technology Exchange Center and U.S.-China Innovation Alliance, provides a unique opportunity for U.S.-based technology companies to connect with investors, strategic partners, leading incubators/accelerators, and professional services firms from China.

"It is an excellent platform for companies to leverage significant resources from China to accelerate their growth and to expand their market potential," he said.

The UCIS aims to facilitate collaboration between innovative technology companies, venture capitalists, private equity, startup accelerators and incubators.

It is also expected to help Chinese investors access and invest in the best-in-class technologies and products located in the U.S., as well as help U.S.-based technology companies source investors and partners who can help them to access the Chinese market.

This year's summit brought together more than 500 participants, including about 150 representatives of technology companies, 200 investors from China, and 150 representatives of innovative technologies companies from the U.S., who are seeking cross-border opportunities across a range of focused industries.
BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory letter to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) on the 40th anniversary of its founding.

Xi praised the academy's work in serving the decision-making of the Party and the nation.
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An excerpt from Confessions of an American Doctor: A true story of greed, ego and loss of ethics.

The Medical Board of California attorney, Mr. Arnold, proceeded to read the discussion I had with the undercover agent regarding the source of the human growth hormone, including the part where she specifically asked whether the drug was from China, and I replied, No. When he finished reading, Mr. Arnold spun away from Dr. Morgan, the boards medical expert, raised the transcripts above his head and stared at me for a few moments before resuming his questioning.

Dr. Morgan, is the conduct displayed by Dr. Kepler in this exchange consistent with the responsibilities of a physician?

No. This conduct is an outrageous break of the trust relationship between a patient and doctor. Dr. Kepler was dishonest with patients. Dr. Kepler was asked a direct question and lied. By doing so, he misled the patient.

By this time, I had slipped back into my familiar place of self-loathing. Maybe they were right; I wasnt worthy of being a doctor. My very existence demeaned the whole medical profession. I sank into a progressively deeper and darker place as these feelings washed over me. I was nothing more than a common criminal. It didnt matter that the medical board attorney and his expert witness were telling everyone I was a bad doctor, because I already knew that.

I remembered a Christmas party in San Francisco, attended almost entirely by doctors, where I had felt completely out of place after my arrest. As I looked around that night, I became convinced I didnt belong with those respectable members of society. If they had known my history, surely they would have cast me out.

Dr. Kepler violated multiple ethical and professional principals, including beneficence, do no harm, patient-doctor relationship, good faith examination, accurate assessment of benefits and risks of a treatment, adequate follow-up and the use of a medication for non-approved purposes.

Thank you, Dr. Morgan. I have no further questions, your Honor.

The judge stared down my attorney and asked, Mr. Fanning, do you have any questions of Dr. Morgan?

My attorney grabbed the legal pad and quickly scanned the few notes he had there. He leaned back and slid his thumbs up and down his suspenders for a few moments. Then he shook his head.

No questions, your Honor, he said, the obliteration of my reputation now complete.

This hearing took place exactly ten years ago in the California Office of Administrative Hearings in Oakland, California. One year earlier, I had been convicted of a misdemeanor for the illegal importation of human growth hormone from China, although that was not my only unethical behavior in the proceeding two years. And for that misbehavior, I had spent three months in a San Francisco halfway house and then three months under house arrest.

As much as the criminal process was difficult, it did not compare with my experience with the Medical Board of California. For me, being formally branded as a criminal was easier than being called an unethical doctor and facing the prospect of losing my medical license.

We had all learned in medical school the absolute central importance of the doctor-patient relationship, but my conduct had sullied the inviolate. In doing so, I had sacrificed the awesome responsibility conferred by a medical degree. And without that essential trust, how can one truly be a physician? And once that violation occurs, is it ever pardonable, whatever punishment is served? How can the public entrust their lives with a profession that has members who have contaminated the integrity of the relationship? Should I have been given a second chance?

I can say, without hyperbole, that not a single day passes when I dont consider one or a combination of the above questions. Perhaps they dont always come with the same emotional intensity as those first few years, but they still come, and they can transport to a dark place. I wish they would just go away. Or maybe I dont. Maybe its part of my self-imposed retribution.

One thing I do know, however, is that not one day passes when I dont have supreme gratitude for each and every patient that welcomes me into his or her life. And I guess thats one good thing that came out of this.

Max Kepler is the author of Confessions of an American Doctor: A true story of greed, ego and loss of ethics.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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Although every technology product released today seems as if it is powered by artificial intelligence, the actual AI revolution is ahead of us. When it arrives, it will be on par with the industrial revolution in changing our lives, especially in the world of medicine.

John McCarthy, a legendary computer scientist, coined the term AI in 1955. He defined it as the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs. It is related to the similar task of using computers to understand human intelligence, but AI does not have to confine itself to methods that are biologically observable.

There are two broad types of AI: general and narrow.

Think of general AI as replacing humans (something that is a long way off  think science fiction such as Westworld or Ex Machina), while narrow AI automates some of our tasks (think Siri or Cortana), something that has been happening for years and is set to change entire industries such transportation.

Machine learning and health care

Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence. A program is said to have learned if it can improve its performance on a task from past experience or data without being explicitly programmed to do so. The standard computer program has hard-coded conditions and responses. For example, a tic-tac-toe program might be programmed to place its X in front of its opponents two Os, or in the center spot if its available. However, a tic-tac-toe algorithm that uses machine learning may start off with just knowing the basic rules of tic-tac-toe, and then determine its own strategies to win.

Machine learning is poised to revolutionize medicine and health care delivery. Crowdsourcing health care data will also accelerate the incorporation of machine learning into health care, even improving the speed at which research is done. One example is Apples ResearchKit, which is collecting data on Parkinsons disease patients assessment of their condition. In a study conducted by Sage Bionetworks and Rochester Medical Center, participants downloaded the app and completed tasks that measured their performance in balance, speech, memory and dexterity over time. Information was collected through their iPhones data sensors. This is a vast improvement over the typical model of patients coming into a facility, getting hooked up to expensive and complicated machinery and performing tasks in an artificial environment. These data are already being used to measure the association between medication use and symptom improvement through machine-learning algorithms.

AI in the lab

Pharmaceuticals are now reflecting the effects of machine learning. Today, the drug-discovery process takes many years. Millions of compounds are synthesized and tested against a target to find viable drugs. Often this process is conducted through automated high-throughput screening, which uses robots to sample each compound and a reagent in microplates. This process is time-consuming and very expensive.

Work is now being done to enable virtual drug screening using machine-learning algorithms called neural networks. Using previously obtained drug-screening data from a particular disease, a neural network can predict which compounds will act on the target of interest. In the paper Massively Multitask Networks for Drug Discovery, researchers at Stanford University and Google discuss using data from a variety of sources to accelerate this process even more. By combining drug-screening data for multiple diseases with a variety of biological processes, a neural network has even more data available to help it make predictions about which compounds are viable for further development. Not only will this lower the cost of drug development, it will accelerate getting drugs to trial and lower the barriers to entry, allowing smaller companies to enter the pharmaceutical industry.

Paging Doctor data?

The possibility of your physicians being replaced by a machine is many, many years away. Instead, I believe the future of machine learning and medicine is a merging of algorithms, technology companies, and health care providers. You can see the stage being set for this by big-data collections and partnership formations.

For instance, Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) has partnered with IBMs Watson to treat cancer patients. MSK shares information about individual patients with Watson, which will match that information with data from similar patients and use published literature to optimize treatment. No individual physician can match Watsons speed in combing through the massive amounts of literature released each year. However, its also clear that no algorithm can currently take a good history and physical, assess a patients physical exam and incorporate the entire clinical picture into an automated regimen for patient care.

A physician knows that the human ability to understand quickly and empathetically a patients facial expressions, family dynamics and goals for care has a major role in decisions about a course of treatment. Being hands-on allows a level of interaction  looking forward and backward  not yet possible via AI. Machine learning requires previously gathered data to make predictions, but there will always be some combination of history and physical conditions that is unique to each patient  not seen in any previous patient dataset. This is where the art of medicine becomes intertwined with science and technology.

Dinesh Rai is a medical student who blogs at the Doctors Tablet.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Mexico will participate in the 23th Exhibition of International Food Industry of Azerbaijan, which will take place in Baku on May 17-19, Mexican Embassy said in a message.

It is the first time when Mexico takes part in the food industry exhibition in Baku.

In order to present detailed information on agriculture and food industry in Mexico, the economic advisor of ProMexico, Mexican trust fund promoting international trade and investment, in Istanbul, Jorge Alberto Cruz Abascal arrived in Baku.

Within the visit he will hold meetings with Azerbaijani authorities and local businessmen to analyze the prospects of bilateral trade ties.

Mexico is among the world leaders in the production and distribution of food. In a short period of time it multiplied sevenfold its exports of food products. Mexico is the world leader in export of beer malt, tomato, avocado, raspberry, blackberry, pumpkin, guava and mango. Moreover, Mexico is the second largest supplier of cucumber, asparagus, lemon, onion, watermelon, Brussels sprouts, papaya and cocoa powder and other food products.

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Many states recognize federal retirees public service by specifically exempting federal government pensions from taxation or treating them more favorably than other forms of income, including private pensions.

When evaluating retirement destinations, avoiding the states that do tax federal government pensions could save a federal retiree thousands of dollars in state taxes every year throughout retirement.

Of course, beware the states that take aim at all pension income. Those are California, Connecticut, Nebraska, North Dakota and Vermont  as well as the District of Columbia. (All these states except North Dakota are on our list of the Least Tax-Friendly States for Retirees.) The same goes for Wisconsin, which does make notable exceptions for the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service (the Surgeon General is an example of this cadre). Their pensions are exempt along with those of their military brethren.

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But people collecting pensions from Uncle Sam need to look askance at four other states: Arizona, Montana, Ohio and Utah. Like many states, these exempt some retirement income  including income from federal sources  from taxation. The difference is that their exemptions are quite scanty compared with the average.

In Montana, only $4,110 of income can be exempt, and your adjusted federal gross income must be less than $34,260 to even qualify. Arizonas exemption is even lower ($2,500), but its not limited by income. Ohio offers a tax credit (a credit is usually more powerful than an exemption because it lowers your taxes dollar for dollar), but the most you can knock off is $250. Utah is also a tax-credit state, with a maximum credit of $450. Both Ohio and Utah limit this credit based on income.

(Note: Military pensions and Railroad Retirement Benefits enjoy special exemptions, even in many states that are not so generous with traditional federal pensions and other forms of income.)

To find out more about how states tax different forms of retirement income, see our Retiree Tax Map and our list of the 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirement  where you won't find a single one of these locations looking to take a bite out of your federal pension.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 16

Trend:

Armenian armed forces have opened fire at Azerbaijani positions on the frontline in the direction of the countrys Aghdam district and settlements since May 16 evening using mortars of different caliber, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said May 17.

Armenian armed forces were also using combat drones, but due to their poor quality, no damage was caused, said the ministry.

As a result of urgent measures, Azerbaijani armed forces suppressed the enemy shelling, and there were no casualties among the forces personnel, the ministry noted.

The shells fired by the enemy fell mainly on empty sowing areas and nearby settlements, according to the ministry.

The operational situation is under full control of the Azerbaijani armed forces, the ministry added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Kiplinger's interviewed Scott Keyes (pictured above), who writes an e-mail newsletter, Scotts Cheap Flights (opens in new tab), that sends out international airfare deals to 350,000 subscribers. Read excerpts from our interview below.

Whats your number-one rule for finding cheap airfare? Flexibility. Once you have an origin airport, a destination airport and a date thats set in stone, about 95% of what you can do to get the price down is already out the window. Most folks look at a map and say, I want to go to Spain. And then they start searching. But there might not be a deal to Madrid and there could be a deal to London. Going where theres a dealrather than deciding where you want to go and then looking for a dealmay sound counterintuitive, but it will really help get the airfare down.

Whats the best way to build flexibility into a search? I recommend using Google Flights because you can enter five origin airports and five destination airports. Lets say you live in New York City. You can check flights from LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy, Newark, Philadelphia and Hartford. Then you can say you want to fly to London, Paris, Rome or Madrid. Instantly, it will pull up two months worth of the cheapest prices.

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Why do you think your site has taken off? People dont like to spend a lot of time monitoring airfares, and having someone to do it for them is a service that some people are willing to pay for. A lot of the best fares often dont last very long. So being able to pull the trigger quickly can be pretty important when it comes to getting cheap fares.

Is there a sweet spot for buying tickets? I generally recommend buying overseas airfare about two to six months in advance. You should not expect the airlines to offer cheap fares to fill seats at the last minute. That was the model for a long time. But over the past 10 or 15 years, airlines realized that business travelers, who tend to be less price sensitive than leisure travelers, were buying those empty seats. Now, rather than cut the prices, they tend to raise prices closer to the departure date.

What constitutes a bargain fare to Europe now? The new transatlantic budget carriers, such as Norwegian Air and Wow Air, regularly offer flights to Europe for less than $400 round-trip from all over the country, not just from New York, L.A. or Miami. So Id say $450 to $650 is acceptable, depending on connections and how well the fare jibes with your preferred dates. Anything over $650 or $700, unless youre buying at the last minute or for very specific dates around holidays, is too much.
TOKYO, May 17 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda has arrived at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's residence, Jiji news agency reported on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
SHANGHAI, May 17 (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Finance auctioned on Wednesday 36 billion yuan ($5.23 billion) of three-year bonds and another 36 billion yuan of seven-year bonds at an average yield of 3.6739 percent and 3.7250 percent, respectively, traders said, both above market expectations.

For the three-year bonds, market forecasts had centred on 3.64 percent and ranged from 3.57 percent to 3.71 percent.

The auction yield came in above Tuesday's benchmark secondary market yield of 3.6057 percent for three-year government bonds .

For the seven-year bonds, market forecasts had centred on 3.67 percent and ranged from 3.63 percent to 3.71 percent.

The auction yield also came in above Tuesday's benchmark secondary market yield of 3.6496 percent for seven-year government bonds .

For stories on Chinese debt issues, click on . ($1 = 6.8839 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by the Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Sunil Nair)
HONG KONG, May 17 (Reuters) - Chinese drugmaker Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd said it planned to sell HK$2.3 billion ($295 million) worth of new shares to repay debt, replenish working capital and to fund acquisitions.

The company, which is part of billionaire Guo Guangchang's Fosun Group, plans to sell 80.66 million H shares to third party investors at HK$28.80 apiece, representing a 7.25 percent discount to the stock's last close, it said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse.

The stock price had risen 31 percent so far this year, outpacing a 15 percent gain in the benchmark .

Chinese conglomerates, who are hungry for overseas purchases, have been leveraging a range of overseas assets, including listed subsidiaries, privately held affiliates and insurance cash, to raise capital from equity and bond issuance. ($1 = 7.7881 Hong Kong dollars)

(Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)
By Mark Hosenball | WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to shut down an investigation into ties between former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia, an associate of Comey, who has seen the memo, said on Tuesday.

The associate told Reuters that the details of the document as first reported by the New York Times were accurate.

I hope you can let this go, Trump told Comey, according to the language of the memo, which the source confirmed.

The White House denied the report in a statement to reporters, saying it was "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey."

The memo was written by Comey immediately after his meeting in the White House Oval Office with Trump one day after Flynn resigned over his contacts with Russians.

Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks earlier that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak before Trump took power on Jan. 20.

A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment on the details of the memo.

(Reporting by Mark Hosenball, writing by Julia Edwards Ainsley)
* Wesfarmers hoped to raise up to A$1.5 bln from Officeworks IPO

* Says dropping IPO plans "in light of current equity market"

* Pullback highlights challenges in Australia's retail sector

(Updates with share comparison, adds context)

SYDNEY, May 17 (Reuters) - Australia's Wesfarmers Ltd said on Wednesday it was dropping plans to sell shares in its Officeworks stationary division which it had hoped would raise as much as A$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion), citing unfavourable equity market conditions.

The cancellation is another set-back for Australia's retail sector, which has fallen out of favour with investors amid a sluggish economy and heavy discounting as it tries to compete with new online rivals.

The outlook for established domestic players darkened further last month when global retail juggernaut Amazon announced plans to open its online shopfront service in Australia, increasing competition. "In light of current equity market conditions, Wesfarmers has determined that an IPO of Officeworks at this point in time would not realise appropriate value and would not be in the best interests of its shareholders," the company said in a statement.

Among its peers, JB Hifi shares are down 15 percent in the past 3 months while Harvey Norman has lost 24 percent. Wesfarmers shares are up 1.8 percent in the period while the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index has climbed 1.7 percent.

Last week, department store Myer Holdings Ltd said third-quarter sales were down 3.3 percent, while luxury handbags maker Oroton on Tuesday downgraded earnings guidance citing "soft trading conditions". Earlier this month, Wesfarmers had distributed marketing materials to fund managers about the share offer in what one broker described as a "bull-market set of numbers." Wesfarmers purchased the then-struggling office supplies network as part of its A$19.3 billion takeover of supermarket chain Coles. Officeworks' earnings have nearly doubled in the meantime. ($1 = 1.3463 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook and Swati Pandey; Editing by Stephen Coates)
(Recasts with Reuters sourcing; adds details on products and background; adds byline; adds cities to dateline)

By Sarah N. Lynch and Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is putting on hold a recent decision to approve an exchange-traded fund that promises four times the daily price moves of S&P 500 futures contracts, according to people familiar with the matter.

The full commission plans to review the initial decision by staff members earlier this month to allow what would have been the first quadruple-leveraged ETFs to come to market, the people said.

In most circumstances, a decision by the SEC staff stands as final, but in some cases the commission chooses to review the decision.

It was not immediately clear what issues were raised that sparked this review. Leveraged ETFs, which are risky investments, have been the subject of regulatory scrutiny before.

The SEC and the exchange declined to comment and the product's distributor could not immediately be reached.

This decision concerns two potential products: ForceShares Daily 4X US Market Futures Long Fund, which would have listed under the ticker UP, and ForceShares Daily 4X US Market Futures Short Fund, with the ticker DOWN.

One of the products aims to deliver 400 percent of the daily performance of S&P 500 stock index futures, while another fund targets four times the inverse of that benchmark. That means a fund could go up 8 percent on a day the index it tracks falls by 2 percent.

ETFs offering three times leverage already trade in the United States, but more reactive products have been limited to listing in Europe. The request to list was filed by Intercontinental Exchange Inc's NYSE Arca exchange.

The commissioners could reverse or uphold the initial staff decision pending a more complete review, people familiar with the matter said. The Wall Street Journal earlier reported the SEC's decision to reconsider its approval of the product.

(Additional reporting by Diptendu Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Leslie Adler)
SYDNEY, May 17 (Reuters) - Anti-bribery law reforms that Australia recently proposed risk discouraging overseas investments by firms, some of the nation's top companies said.

Australia's national government last month proposed tougher rules that would widen the definition of bribery and create some new offences with lower burdens of proof. It sought feedback on the reforms from companies.

In submissions to the government, oil and gas major Woodside Petroleum and explosives maker Orica said much stricter anti-bribery laws may dissuade overseas deals.

Woodside said a proposal to introduce a lesser offence of "reckless" bribery, where prosecutors would not be required to prove a payment influenced a public official, might stop Australian companies from investing in some foreign countries altogether, for fear of violating the law.

"Such companies may feel compelled to decline legitimate investment opportunities out of concern that if a foreign public official was indirectly and unintentionally to receive an improper benefit from the company, then the company could still face criminal liability," Woodside said in its submission of May 4.

Anglo-Australian miner BHP Billiton , in its submission dated May 10, said reforms should also allow companies to make deals with investigative authorities and avoid prosecution where appropriate.

The submissions were posted online by the government. Woodside and BHP were not immediately available to comment. Orica spokeswoman Sam Stevens said the company has nothing to say beyond what it said in the submission.

Australia has been reviewing its foreign bribery laws since 2015 and has not set a timeline for introducing reforms in parliament.

The latest proposals come as Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto is embroiled in probes over payments totalling $10.5 million to a consultant in Guinea, which have already resulted in the sacking of two executives. Rio has alerted U.S., British and Australian regulators about the Guinea payments, but there is no suggestion that the officials or consultant acted illegally. BHP in 2015 agreed to pay $25 million to settle charges arising from a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into possible corrupt practices over the company's handling of sponsorship arrangements at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. (Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - Barclays has named former Goldman Sachs banker Ulrich Kratz as co-head of its consumer retail group in Europe and the Middle East, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

Kratz will partner with Gavriel Lambert to lead the bank's coverage of consumer companies in those regions, the memo said.

Reuters reported last week Barclays is reshuffling its investment bank leadership team under new chief Tim Throsby as it seeks to boost returns. A spokesman for Barclays confirmed the contents of the memo.

(Reporting by Lawrence White, editing by Louise Heavens)
BRUSSELS, May 17 (Reuters) - Belgian carpet maker Balta said on Wednesday it was planning to list on the Brussels stock exchange in the near future to raise about 138 million euros ($153.1 million) to reduce its debt.

The company, which had revenues of 668 million euros in 2016, said the listing would allow it to reduce its net debt to 2.5 times core profit from 3.9 times at the end of March.

Along with the initial share sale, private equity owner Lone Star would also sell a part of its shares in a secondary offering, the group added.

Balta said it was looking at merger opportunities as a way of growing its business, having bought U.S. based group Bentley in March.

J.P. Morgan Securities and Deutsche Bank were joint global coordinators of the offering, Balta said. ($1 = 0.9011 euros)

(Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; editing by Philip Blenkinsop)
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 18

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Twenty-five years have passed since the occupation of Azerbaijans Lachin district by Armenia.

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.

On May 8, 1992, after the occupation of Shusha city of Azerbaijan, Armenian armed forces, having occupied settlements around Lachin, opened intensive artillery fire at the district's center.

On a night from May 16 to 17, 1992, starting their occupation from the place named Turshsu (Shusha city) and Gor region of Armenia, Armenian armed forces occupied Lachin district. Majority of the enemy forces could get into the region through Lachin corridor.

At that time, the key part of the Azerbaijani armed forces withdrawn from Lachin and surrounding regions, were fighting the political confrontation in the capital city of the country. The Army taking part in the military demonstrations in Baku did not have a control over the positions in the frontline which resulted in the occupation of Lachin district of Azerbaijan following other regions.

On May 18, 1992, Armenian occupiers destroyed hundreds of cultural facilities, tens of settlements, villages and historical monuments and 63,341 Azerbaijani citizens were driven out their home lands as a result of the occupation.

More than 300 servicemen and civilians were killed or missing during the occupation of the Lachin district. The occupation of Lachin, region of great geostrategic significance, caused a serious blow to Azerbaijans economy.

Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.



Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Councils four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Companies wanting to operate in Iran have paused majority of their mining agreements due to uncertainty of sanctions in the near future, this according to a top government official.

Fearing they might get placed on a blacklist in the wake of the return of sanctions, the companies with whom we have made these deals have suspended almost all of the agreements and maintained a wait-and-see attitude pending the fate of new sanctions, Deputy Minister of Irans Ministry of Industries, Mines and Trade Mehdi Karbasian told Bloomberg in an interview in Tehran.

Only small-scale projects, which are less than $100 million each, have been negotiated and are proceeding.

Earlier in April, U.S. President Donald Trumps administration notified Congress that the current sanctions relief for Iran will still be reviewed. Iran remains a leading state sponsor of terror, through many platforms and methods, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Iran is looking to get $50 billion in foreign investment in the mining sector by 2022, Karbasian said, but the plan could be in question now.

There are over 5,000 active mines in Iran and majority of them are privately owned, the U.S. Geological Survey said in its 2013 report. Mining and manufacturing represent around 13% of the countrys GDP, according to the report.

As the international community was preparing to ease sanctions against the Islamic republic in 2015, Iran received investment interest from mining companies across the globe, including Italy, France, Brazil and Australia, the minister said.

Karbasian added that Iran was planning to even double its steel production by 2025, as German, French and Dutch industry representatives all visited the country two years ago.

Even though Karbasian could not name specific mining companies, he said Iran was hoping to sign contracts within the next two months to expand Hormozgan Steel and Isfahan Steel operations.
By Nidhi Verma

NEW DELHI, May 17 (Reuters) - Iraq replaced Saudi Arabia as top crude supplier to India in April as refiners moved to boost their processing margins by purchasing the cheaper Basra Heavy oil grade, ship tracking and Thomson Reuters trade flow data showed.

India's April imports from Iraq topped 1 million barrels per day (bpd) for the first time, up by about a third from March and 8 percent from a year ago, according to ship tracking data obtained from sources and data compiled by Thomson Reuters Oil Research & Forecasts.

"Basra heavy is good for refineries with coker units, it is also good for conventional refiners that make bitumen as that is in demand in India. Also (the crude) is available at discounts so it is value for every dollar that we spend," said M. K. Surana, chairman of Hindustan Petroleum Corp .

Indian refiners in recent years have invested heavily in modernising plants to more efficiently process low grade crudes into diesel and gasoline, helping to boost operating margins and giving greater flexibility in the oil grades they can buy.

This has allowed refiners in the third-largest oil consumer to shop around during periods of tightness, and remain profitable in a fast-growing, cost-sensitive market.

India's crude mix is highly diverse as a result, with just over 15 percent of its flows stemming from Africa in April, nearly 13 percent from Latin America, and most of the rest coming from the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, usually India's main supplier, shipped about 750,000 bpd to the South Asian nation in April, a decline of about 5 percent from the previous month and 8 percent from a year ago, the data showed. With each barrel of Iraq's Basra Heavy oil trading at roughly $2.85 less than a barrel of Saudi Arabia's Arab Heavy mix when the deals were done, Indian importers were able to realise a substantial cost-savings by making the switch, without much impact on product output. India's lower Saudi purchases were partly due to firmer Saudi prices following the production cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since January.

Iraq is OPEC's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia, but so far has been resistant to an aggressive cut given its reliance on oil revenues to fund its economy.

"Iraqi oil is a good alternative to other heavy grades from OPEC. Basra is sold at a huge discount to Dubai or other heavy grades in spot markets, whereas Saudi oil is available only at the OSP (Official Selling Price)," said Ehsan Ul Haq, Senior Analyst at KBC Energy.

A delay to Venezuelan oil loadings due to problems at a major port helped to boost India's demand for Iraqi oil, and India also took more Russian Urals crude. Iran emerged as the third-biggest oil supplier to India in April, replacing Venezuela, which slipped to the fifth spot, behind Nigeria, the data showed.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ TABLE: India's April oil imports ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Tom Hogue)
YENAGOA, Nigeria, May 17 (Reuters) - Nigeria's refineries processed 10 million barrels of crude oil in the first quarter, more than they did for the whole of 2015, after talks with militants reduced attacks on facilities, the head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said.

OPEC member Nigeria has a refining capacity of 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) but imports most of its fuel as its three refinery plants have been shut or are running at reduced capacity due to years of neglect, vandalism and theft on pipelines.

"Refining activities peaked at 10 million barrels of crude oil in the first quarter," said NNPC Group Managing Director Maikanti Baru said in a statement.

That compared with just 8 million barrels for all of 2015 and 24 million for the whole of last year, Barus said during a presentation to a team from the UK's Royal College of Defence Studies.

Last year's militancy in the southern Niger Delta region cut crude output by as much as a third, but there has been a lull in attacks this year.

Baru said that was due to government peace talks with community groups in the region.

Militants said they carried out the attacks because they wanted a greater share of Nigeria's energy wealth to go to the impoverished Niger Delta.

The 10 million barrels processed in the first quarter equates to around 111,000 barrels per day (bpd), or around 25 percent of capacity.

Italian oil company Eni plans to build a crude refinery in Nigeria with a capacity of 150,000 barrels a day through its Agip subsidiary, the minister of state for petroleum said last week. (Reporting by Tife Owolabi and Libby George in London; writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; editing by Jason Neely)
May 17 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

- President Donald Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to back off the investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn shortly after Flynn had resigned. - U.S. industrial output rose sharply in April, the latest evidence that economic growth is picking up following a lackluster start to the year. Industrial production jumped 1.0 percent from a month earlier, the Federal Reserve said. - Twitter's co-founder Biz Stone is rejoining the company to focus on its culture, in an attempt to revive morale amid many executive departures and slumping growth. In his new role, Stone will also aim to convey elements of Twitter's culture externally, he said in a blog post. - France's privacy watchdog slapped Facebook with a 150,000 euro ($166,515.00) fine on allegations the social media giant's privacy policy breaching French law. France's Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertes, or CNIL, accused Facebook of compiling massive amounts of personal data for targeted advertising without granting users the option of objecting to it. ($1 = 0.9008 euros)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
By Anusha Ravindranath

May 17 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets were subdued on Wednesday, with Indonesia hitting a near four-week low, while Singapore extended losses to touch its lowest in two weeks after the city-state's exports growth contracted in April.

Regional markets were in line with the weakness in broader Asia, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan down 0.5 percent, amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's ability to push through an aggressive stimulus programme after he reportedly asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end a probe into his former national security advisor. Indonesia fell as much as 0.7 percent, dragged down by financial and consumer cyclical stocks.

"Because of the political uncertainties, it is now unlikely that S&P would upgrade Indonesia to investment grade," said Harry Su, head of research at Jakarta-based Bahana Securities.

Political unrest has ensued in Indonesia, after its outgoing Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama was jailed last week on the grounds of insulting the Koran in the Muslim-majority country. Bank Central Asia Tbk PT lost 2.4 percent, while Astra International Tbk PT shed 2 percent.

Meanwhile, Singapore stocks fell for a second session, driven by losses in financials and consumer services stocks.

Singapore's non-oil domestic exports unexpectedly dropped in April after five consecutive months of growth, due to a sharp decline in pharmaceutical exports. In the wake of weakening demand, the country's exports to China also took a hit in April, compared with March. "The pullback of Singapore's April NODX into the contraction zone may have alarmed many market watchers, especially since it was growing at an average growth of 14 percent over the past 5 months," United Overseas Bank said in a note.

Jardine Cycle & Carriage and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp were among top losers, falling 2.3 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively.

Malaysian shares hit a one-week low, with utility stocks and financials weighing on the index. Malaysian consumer prices rose 4.4 percent in April due to rising transport and food costs, government data showed. Petronas Gas Bhd was the worst performer, dropping 4.6 percent.

Bucking the trend, Thai shares edged higher, while Philippine shares rose as much as 0.7 percent. Data showed the region saw more foreign buying during the month of April, after two months of outflows. ( )

For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS STOCK MARKETS Change at 0441 GMT Market Current Previous Pct Move

Close Singapore 3213.92 3227.71 -0.43 Bangkok 1548.65 1546.35 0.15 Manila 7829.83 7791.07 0.50 Jakarta 5625.783 5646.999 -0.38 Kuala Lumpur 1771.48 1778.15 -0.38 Ho Chi Minh 725.25 725.03 0.03

Change so far this year Market Current End 2016 Pct Move Singapore 3213.92 2880.76 11.57 Bangkok 1548.65 1542.94 0.37 Manila 7829.83 6840.64 14.5 Jakarta 5625.783 5296.711 6.21 Kuala Lumpur 1771.48 1641.73 7.90 Ho Chi Minh 725.25 664.87 9.08

(Reporting by Anusha Ravindranath in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)
HANOI, May 17 (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 0417 GMT.

May 17 USD/VND mid-point 22,370 USD/VND interbank 22,680/22,687 USD/VND unofficial 22,700/22,720 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.45/36.67

Interbank offered rates Overnight 4.1-4.7

1 week 4.3-4.8

1 month 4.3-4.85

3 months 4.6-5.2

NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016, the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources.

One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co.

For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on .

For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
The following Spanish stocks may be affected by newspaper reports and other factors on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy:

BANKS

Seven banks are at the center of a probe by Mexico's antitrust regulator COFECE looking into possible collusion to manipulate bond prices, U.S. news agency Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing a person with knowledge of the matter. BBVA BBVA said on Tuesday it has agreed to carry out an issue of contingent preferred securities convertible into newly issued ordinary shares of BBVA, with exclusion of pre-emptive subscription rights for shareholders, for a nominal amount of 500 million euros. BANKIA Bankia said on Tuesday it had agreed to execute a reverse share split, increasing par value of shares from 0.25 euros per share to 1 euro, effective as of June 5. POPULAR Several Spanish banks, including state-owned Bankia, have shown interest in a potential merger with Banco Popular, as its new management considers options for how to cope with billions of euros in toxic assets. For today's European market outlook double click on .

For real-time moves on the Spanish blue-chip index IBEX please double click on For IBEX constituent stocks highlight .IBEX in the command box and press the F3 button on your keyboard

For latest news on Spanish stock moves double click For Spanish language market report double click on For latest Eurostocks report please double click on
COLOMBO, May 17 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan shares ended at their highest level in over a year as foreign investors continued to buy blue chips after an annual trade concession worth $300 million from the European Union (EU) added fuel to a rally that started towards the end of March.

Index heavyweight John Keells Holdings Plc ended almost one percent higher on foreign buying. The benchmark index has risen nearly 11 percent since March 31.

The EU on Tuesday said Sri Lanka has regained a lucrative trade concession, mainly for its top exports garments. The Colombo stock index ended 0.39 percent firmer at 6,718.34, its highest close since Jan. 8, 2016.

Turnover stood at 1.75 billion rupees ($11.48 million), well above this year's daily average of 899.5 million rupees.

"Foreign interest is continuing in blue chips," said Atchuthan Srirangan, a senior research analyst at First Capital Holdings PLC.

Foreign investors net bought shares worth 902.6 million rupees, extending the year-to-date net foreign inflows to 18 billion rupees.

Reduction of 11-38 basis points in T-bill yields in the last four weeks, stable currency on expectation of inflows from foreign borrowing, and an IMF statement on the disbursement of the third tranche of a $1.5 billion loan, have helped boost sentiment, analysts said. , , Shares in Ceylon Cold Stores Plc rose 4.4 percent while Ceylon Tobacco Company Plc rose 1.4 percent and John Keells Holdings Plc gained 0.9 percent. ($1 = 152.4000 Sri Lankan rupees)

(Reporting by Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez; Editing by Vyas Mohan)
ZURICH, May 17 (Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMI was seen opening down 0.36 percent at 9,095 points on Wednesday, according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer .

The following are some of the main factors expected to affect Swiss stocks:

ROCHE Chief Executive Severin Schwan said in an interview with Finanz und Wirtschaft that price erosion from biosimilar versions of the Swiss drugmaker's medicines including Herceptin and Rituxan will be "less dynamic" than with generic versions of simpler small molecule drugs For more click COMPANY STATEMENTS * Schindler Chief Executive Thomas Oetterli told Finanz und Wirtschaft the elevator and escalator maker is open to making acquisitions in China. Oetterli also said he sees no reason why the company should not catch up to margin levels of its competitors. * Evolva said shareholders approved proposals at the annual general meeting after the board of directors withdrew three of the proposals related to authorised and conditional capital increases. The company said its withdrawals will not have an effect on immediate business operations. * Newron Pharmaceuticals said it was expanding its STARS study to include patients under 13 years of age suffering from Rett syndrome. * Sulzer said it was buying Simcro, a New Zealand-based pharmaceutical delivery device maker for livestock and companion animals, for enterprise value of 90 million Swiss francs ($91.46 million).

* Clariant said it is investing in a new additives facility in China, to ensure local manufacturing of customized, solutions for the Plastics, Coatings & Inks industries. * Flughafen Zuerich said it named a new chief operations officer, Stefan Tschudin. * Burckhardt Compression said it will modernize Mol Petrochemicals' third-party hyper compressor at a plant in Hungary. * VAT Group said first-quarter sales rose 42 percent, while orders were up 35 percent year on year. * Baloise published the provisional outcome of its takeover bid for all publicly held registered shares in Pax Anlage AG . Up to the end of the additional acceptance period on April 16, 21,151 Pax Anlage Shares were offered to the offeror, equating to 11.75 percent of all Pax Anlage Shares listed or 41.1 percent of the to which the offer related at the time the additional acceptance period ended. * Myriad Group said it will propose Michel Tombroff, chief executive of Jack Media, as a new non-executive member of Myriad's board of directors, subject to election at its annual general meeting on May 24. * SHL Telemedicine said it will record additional revenues of 5.3 million euros ($5.88 million) in 2016 from a contract in Germany. ECONOMY ($1 = 0.9013 euros) ($1 = 0.9840 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Zurich newsroom)

Daily Swiss stock market report in German................ All SMI constituent stocks............................ News on major Swiss stock price moves.................. FTSE Eurotop 300 index................................ DJ STOXX index........................................ Top 10 STOXX sectors............................. Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors........................ Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors....................... Top 25 European pct gainers... , losers... Swiss mid-cap index SMI futures Swiss all-share index Market statistics Swiss market digest Sector overview All Swiss news Swiss research news All equity news INTERNET ADDRESSES: Swiss Exchange / Eurex STOXX Ltd SPEED GUIDES: ))

Keywords: MARKETS SWISS STOCKS/
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday will interview four candidates for the position of director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters. Spicer, who was aboard Air Force One with Trump, said the president would meet with acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, former Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman and former senior FBI official Richard McFeely. The position was left vacant after Trump fired James Comey. (Reporting By Ayesha Rascoe)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

Trend:

Armenia released the footage depicting the shelling of Azerbaijani settlements and positions, as well as information stating that Azerbaijan allegedly suffered losses, said the press service of Azerbaijans Defense Ministry.

The Defense Ministry earlier said that Armenian armed forces fired at Azerbaijani frontline positions and settlements in the direction of Azerbaijans Aghdam District on May 16 evening using mortars of various calibers.

There were no casualties among the Azerbaijani armed forces personnel or civilians, according to the Defense Ministry.

The Defense Ministrys press service said that by releasing the video, Armenia demonstrated that it regularly shells not only army positions but also settlements of Azerbaijan, and once again confirmed its vile acts against Azerbaijani civilians.

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.
By Trevor Hunnicutt

NEW YORK, May 17 (Reuters) - U.S. fund investors are snapping up foreign stocks, giving international equity managers the most cash in two years, Investment Company Institute data for the latest week showed on Wednesday.

U.S.-based funds that primarily buy stocks outside of the country attracted $8.2 billion in the week ended May 10, while investors pulled $991 million from domestic equity funds, the trade group said.

That is the best week for the foreign-focused funds since April 2015 as European stocks rallied on hopes of growth sparked by very easy monetary policy.

The latest reporting period for flows included the days following the victory of centrist Emmanuel Macron over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the French presidential runoff but came before Wednesday's selloff.

In U.S.-dollar terms, the Pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 has returned 16.8 percent this year, compared to the S&P 500's 6.9 percent return in the United States.

"International equities have performed very well in 2017 and yet many U.S. investors have been underexposed. The strong relative returns, coupled with improved sentiment in Europe following the Macron election, has likely sparked greater interest," said Todd Rosenbluth, director of ETF and mutual fund research at CFRA.

"However, if investors become nervous about U.S. equity markets, a focus on taxable bond funds will persist."

Taxable bond funds attracted $5.7 billion in their 23rd straight week attracting cash, ICI said.

Commodity funds, including those that buy safe-haven gold, pulled in $288 million. That is their first week netting cash out of the last three weeks.

The following table shows estimated ICI flows, including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (all figures in millions of dollars):

5/10 5/3 4/26 4/19 4/12/2017 Equity 7,243 3,534 11,601 4,725 3,101 -Domestic -991 -4,264 6,757 1,253 -2,666 -World 8,234 7,798 4,844 3,472 5,767 Hybrid 121 -1,387 566 -596 -665 Bond 6,353 7,171 8,614 3,229 4,275 -Taxable 5,717 6,937 7,960 2,743 2,963 -Municipal 636 234 653 487 1,312 Commodity 288 -14 -7 740 111 Total 14,004 9,305 20,774 8,099 6,821 (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Tom Brown)
(Adds details on assets owned, valuation, strategy)

FRANKFURT/JOHANNESBURG, May 17 (Reuters) - South African retail group Steinhoff on Wednesday said it was kicking off a process to separately list its African retail businesses on the Johannesburg stock exchange which it said would avoid those assets being undervalued.

The proposed listing is the latest move by billionaire Christo Wiese to bring more of his African retail assets under one roof to create a shopping giant.

Steinhoff said it would give emerging market investors the opportunity to independently assess its high profile and fast growing African brands.

Prior to the listing, Steinhoff will consolidate its African retail businesses, including Pepkor South Africa and rest of Africa, JD Group, Unitrans Automotive, Steinbuild, Poco South Africa and Tekkie Town, under a single holding company which bankers estimated could be valued at about $6 billion.

The announcement comes after Steinhoff and grocery retailer Shoprite called off a deal in February to create an African shopping giant after Wiese and other investors including state-owned pension fund the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) could not agree on the value of a share exchange. Steinhoff, which sells beds and cupboards to less affluent shoppers, said it would continue to hold a controlling stake in the African unit following the listing, which will include a capital raise and be completed in the third quarter of 2017.

"It is the vision of Steinhoff to create a diversified multi-format listed retail company of significant size and scale with its roots in Africa," the company said in a statement.

"A separation of Steinhoff's emerging market retail business and developed market retail business will be a natural progression for the respective businesses given the divergent strategic focus in each market."

Steinhoff has operations across Europe, Australasia, the United States and Africa and has embarked on a series of acquisitions, the latest being U.S. bedding retailer Mattress Firm and Britain's Poundland .

Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Investec Bank Limited , Morgan Stanley & Co International Plc and Rand Merchant Bank have been appointed to advise on the proposed listing.

Shares in Johannesburg listed Steinhoff closed 1.33 percent down to 67 rand and fell 2.82 percent in Frankfurt.

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz in Frankfurt and Nqobile Dludla in Johannesburg; Editing by Arno Schuetze and Elaine Hardcastle)
(Adds detail, quote)

HARARE, May 17 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe is planning to build a $200 million platinum refinery next year in a joint venture with Australia's Kelltech Ltd, the Mines Minister said on Wednesday.

The southern African nation holds the world's largest deposits of platinum after South Africa and has been pushing mining firms operating in the country to build refineries to stop the export of raw platinum ore.

Walter Chidhakwa said the government's mining arm, Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, would own 30 percent of the refinery, privately-owned Kelltech would own 49 percent and the balance would be held by Golden Sparrow, a Zimbabwean firm.

Kelltech director Keith Liddell said the refinery would be built using new technology that would cut costs and reduce construction time.

"For us to achieve total beneficiation at a cost of $200 million and for a plant to be constructed between 18 and 24 months, it's an unbelievably good solution," Liddell said after signing the deal with the government.

In 2015, the government imposed a 15 percent tax on raw platinum ore exports to force companies to process locally but suspended the levy after the mines agreed to support local platinum processing.

The world's two largest platinum mining companies, Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum Holdings , have operations in Zimbabwe.

It was not possible to immediately establish Golden Sparrow's ultimate owners.

(Reporting by Kuda Chideme; Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Ed Cropley)
* Bain and Cinven have bid 5.3 bln euros ($5.9 bln) for Stada

* Shanghai Pharma has held talks with Advent re possible bid

* Shanghai Pharma says reported bid price of 70 euros unrealistic

(Adds reference to Lazard and context)

By Adam Jourdan, Pamela Barbaglia and Alexander Hubner

SHANGHAI/LONDON/FRANKFURT, May 17 (Reuters) - Shanghai Pharmaceutical Holding Co Ltd said it may bid for Stada Arzneimittel AG - a move that would pit it against buyout firms Bain and Cinven which have made a joint offer of nearly $6 billion for the German generics drugmaker.

The Chinese company said in a filing it had recently discussed the matter with "a couple of financial investors" but added it had not made a concrete offer and there were still many uncertainties.

Shanghai Pharma, which has a market value of $9 billion, needs to submit its bid by June 8 if it wants to challenge an existing 66 euro-a-share bid by Bain and Cinven which was agreed on April 10 but was conditional on securing 75 percent of Stada's shares. Any new offer would trigger a separate offer period, which might run in parallel to the existing one. Bain and Cinven, in turn, would have to decide whether to top up their offer, which would prolong their offer period, or let their offer run out on June 8.

But any takeover attempt by Shanghai Pharma would need to be vetted by Beijing which recently introduced restrictions on outbound foreign investment in a bid to curb capital outflows.

Sources close to the matter said Lazard is advising Shanghai Pharma on its takeover plan which would involve forming a consortium with a private equity investor.

European buyout fund Advent has held talks with Shanghai Pharma, another source said, while cautioning that it was unclear whether an agreement for a joint bid has been reached.

Lazard, which was not immediately available for comment, would need to help Shanghai Pharma navigate governance and financing hurdles that may prove a major stumbling block, the sources said, adding it was unclear whether private equity investors would be offered a majority stake.

Buyout funds typically seek control of the companies they buy to maximise their investments in three to five years and then sell or list them for a profit. Any joint offer with an industry player may limit their ability to decide on future strategy.

Shanghai Pharma would also need to secure financing for its offer in a short period of time, the sources said, with one adding the Chinese firm faced the same funding issue when it started working on the dossier earlier this year.

Bloomberg reported this week that Shanghai Pharma, along with Advent, was discussing a bid of about 70 euros a share.

But Shanghai Pharma, which last year posted 120 billion yuan in sales, said the reported offer price was "inconsistent with reality".

Stada said on Tuesday it had not been notified of any rival offer.

Bain and Cinven's 5.3 billion euro offer had beat a rival consortium of Advent and Permira, and had carried a premium of 49 percent over Stada's Dec. 9 share price, before the first report of a takeover approach. Shanghai Pharma said in March it was in early-stage contact with several U.S. and European drug firms.

Founded in 1895 in Dresden as a pharmacists' cooperative, Stada's generic drug business has come under price pressure as medical insurers in Germany, its largest market, are seeking bulk procurement deals at low prices.

Shanghai Pharma, which is in both drug manufacturing and distribution, last year bought a 60 percent stake in Australian vitamin maker Vitaco for around 938 million yuan, as part of a take-private deal with Primavera. ($1 = 0.8998 euros) ($1 = 6.8871 Chinese yuan)

(Additional reporting by Arno Schuetze and Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and David Evans)
Amy Adams announced:

The Government today has announced a Crown land and building programme that will see tens of thousands of new houses built in Auckland over the next decade.

Social Housing Minister Amy Adams announced that the Governments Crown Building Project will replace 8300 old, rundown houses in Auckland with 34,000 brand new purpose-built houses over 10 years. 24,300 of these will be built by Housing New Zealand through their Auckland Housing Programme.

Over the next ten years, the Crown Building Project will deliver around:

13,500 newly built social houses

20,600 new affordable and market homes.

This is a significant undertaking for the Government, for taxpayers, and for our Social Housing reforms. Its the equivalent of three and a half new houses on every street across Auckland, Ms Adams says.

These houses will be for our most vulnerable families, for first-home buyers, and for the wider market. We are building more social houses for Aucklanders and helping provide a pathway into independent, affordable housing.

The Crown Building Project is the Government making the most out of the available residential land it owns to meet Aucklands social housing needs.

These 34,000 new houses are a substantial redevelopment and construction programme on a scale not seen since the 1950s.
The Washington Post reports:

President Trump asked the FBI to drop its probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn and urged former FBI director James B. Comey instead to pursue reporters in leak cases, according to associates of Comey who have seen private notes he wrote recounting the conversation. According to the notes written by Comey following a February meeting with the president, Trump brought up the counterintelligence investigation into Flynn and urged Comey to drop the probe in the wake of the national security advisers resignation. The conversation between Trump and Comey took place after a national security meeting. The president asked to speak privately to the FBI director, and the others left the room, according to the Comey associates, who, like other officials, spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal internal discussions. I hope you can let this go, Trump said, according to the Comey notes, which were described by the associates. Comeys written account of the meeting is two pages long and highly detailed, the associates said.

I doubt even this will be enough to convince Trump fanatics that he simply does not have the right judgment or temperament to be President. Because Trump is the enemy of their enemy, they will defend him regardless. You wonder what he would have to do for them to actually change their minds.

For those about to defend Trump, imagine this happened in New Zealand. Say Helen Clarks national security adviser had just resigned for lying about his contacts with (say) China. And that adviser was being investigated by the Police.

Then suddenly Clark sacked the Commissioner of Police, and it transpired that a few weeks earlier she had urged the Commissioner to stop the investigation into her former adviser.

Would you be defending Clark, as you do Trump, and saying she did nothing wrong. That it was all the fault of the Police for investigating a bogus allegation, and that the Prime Minister has every right to ask the Police to stop an investigation and then sack the Commissioner when he carries on? Or would you be demanding Clark resign?

We all have a natural tendency to be softer on the team we support. But when that tendency becomes an obsession and you can see no evil and hear no evil, you become what you claim to oppose.

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Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

The article by Joshua Kuchera, As Islamic Games Open, Azerbaijan Wrestles with Muslim Identity, published on May 15, 2017, by Eurasianet news organization (Eurasianet.org) does not reflect the objective religious situation in Azerbaijan, wrote Spokesperson of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev in his article published on the same website.

The author in his article puts in the contradictory context the notions of secularism and Muslim identity, fight against radicalism and religious freedom in Azerbaijan, noted Hajiyev.

For centuries Muslims, Christians and Jews are living side-by-side in Azerbaijan in peace and dignity. It is an inherent character of Azerbaijani society and way of living of its people, wrote the spokesperson in his article.

If there were only 17 Mosques in Azerbaijan in the Soviet period, the number reached 2,166 at the beginning of 2017. The biggest synagogue in the Caucasus was also recently built in Azerbaijan. Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, during his visit to Baku in September 2016 characterized Azerbaijan as a bridge between different religions and civilizations.

There is no contradiction between secularism and Muslim identity of the majority of Azerbaijanis as argued by the author, noted Hajiyev.

Secularism in Azerbaijan is not only a constitutional norm, but way of living as well. In a sense, it is a complementary process, where secularism is closely accompanied with high respect for religious values. To understand the essence of secularism in Azerbaijan, one should closely read the late 19th- and early-20th century philosophers and writers of Azerbaijan, says Hajiyevs article.

The growing tendency of radicalism and extremism is matter of serious concern for the world, as well as for Islamic societies. The impact of radical and extreme religious ideologies is also not far away from Azerbaijan. If left unnoticed, they can provide fertile ground for terrorism. Therefore, the author incorrectly tries to depict Azerbaijans efforts against certain radical elements and terrorism as a violation of religious freedom. All religious freedoms are effectively provided for in Azerbaijan, added Hajiyev.



Azerbaijan on the basis of its successful national experience of hosting the Islamic Solidarity Games makes its contributions to the isolation of radical religious ideologies, the setting aside of sectarian divisions and the popularization of the values of fair competition among the youth in Islamic countries. It is also an effective response to the growing tendencies of Islamaphobia. In the spectacular opening ceremony, the Islamic Games demonstrated that Islam is about peace, understanding, culture, science, knowledge and more, noted the spokesperson.

It is symbolic that in a short span of time, the European Games are followed by the Islamic Solidarity Games in Azerbaijan. It once again demonstrates that Azerbaijan has become the center of dialogue of civilizations and religions. As a secular Muslim attending the opening ceremony of the Islamic Solidarity Games, I felt proud of my country, wrote Hajiyev in his article.
Details added (first version posted on 12:57)

Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

Trend:

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received former president of the Senate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, chairman of the Dutch Friends of Azerbaijan Group Rene van der Linden.

Rene van der Linden noted that economic collaboration between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Azerbaijan contributes to the efforts to promote Azerbaijan in the world, saying this could be an example of fruitful cooperation to other countries located in the same region with the Netherlands.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked Rene van der Linden for the kind words, saying his efforts towards strengthening cooperation play a crucial role in the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Hailing mutual interest in expanding the Dutch-Azerbaijani bilateral ties, the head of state underlined the importance of reciprocal visits at different levels.

President Ilham Aliyev praised the fact that more and more Dutch companies are being involved in Azerbaijan`s important projects. The head of state hailed the Netherlands` traditionally active participation in the Baku-hosted Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition, underlining good prospects for cooperation in the field of agriculture between the two countries.

The head of state pointed out the expansion of Azerbaijan's export potential, saying the countrys non-oil exports increased by 22 percent in the last four months.

The sides exchanged views on the expansion of cooperation in a number of areas, including education, tourism and agriculture.

Rene van der Linden then presented a keepsake to President Ilham Aliyev.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

The capitals of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan became brotherly cities back in 1972 as parts of two today nonexistent states  Yugoslavia and the USSR, says an article dedicated to the 45th anniversary of these relations, published by the Sarajevo Times.

Not even pedantic socialist arbitrators of that time could see all the similarities between the two cities, two cultures, and countries, says the article.

After the collapse of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, Sarajevo and Baku found themselves exposed to great historical changes, as well as their countries Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan, which went through the same cruel aggression of their neighboring countries, noted the author. One of them, unfortunately, ended in Srebrenica genocide, and the second one in terrible genocide in Khojaly town in Azerbaijan.

According to the article, almost half a century later, besides the rich and very similar cultural heritage  medieval and Ottoman and despite everything that happened to them in the last century, these cities continue to nurture tolerance, coexistence and religious diversity, which is witnessed by a large number of religious objects.

Therefore, the number of tourists that are visiting Sarajevo and Baku is constantly growing, says the article.

Strong bilateral cooperation in fields of economy and culture testifies the current relationship between the two cities and countries almost half a century later, noted the author adding that one of the most beautiful city parks in Sarajevo, was named after the city of Baku and the central sculpture is there to remind of horrors of crimes that were committed in Khojaly, as well as crimes that were committed in other places.

Sarajevo and Baku are brother cities, as well as cities whose culture and heritage represent a valuable bridge between Europe and Asia with all of their common characteristics, concluded the author.

On February 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of the former Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly.

As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed as a result of the massacre. A total of 1,000 civilians became disabled as a result of the onslaught. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

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.
SBS TV's legal thriller "Whisper" maintained its lead in the Monday-Tuesday late night TV race, while its nearest rival "Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People" ended its run with moderate success, according to data Wednesday.



The rating for Tuesday night's episode 15 of "Whisper" stood at 16.4 percent nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea.



In "Whisper," actress Lee Bo-young plays Shin Young-joo, a homicide detective seeking revenge against Lee Dong-joon, a judge played by Lee Sang-yoon, who wrongfully convicts her father of murder. But Shin ends up falling in love with her nemesis, as they work together to fight the corruption by a weapons manufacturing company related to her father's case.



The final 30th episode of "Rebel," MBC TV's period series based on the lore of Joseon-era bandit Hong Gil-dong, came in second with 14.4 percent, followed by "Becky's Back," a four-episode miniseries on KBS 2TV, standing at 2.9 percent.



Earlier episodes of "Whisper" were mostly panned by TV critics, many of whom saw the character and plot development as being half baked and at times overdramatic.



But the show later gained momentum by better highlighting the core conflict and as the lead characters' initially antagonistic relationship evolved into an intimate one. (Yonhap)




By Nam Hyun-woo



The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) conference on Jeju Island is attracting keen attention as it could be the venue for President Moon Jae-in's first summit with President Xi Jinping.



The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said it is seeking to invite President Moon to deliver a keynote speech at the annual forum, which will take place from June 16 to 18.



"The ministry wants to invite Moon to the conference and is coordinating with Cheong Wa Dae," a ministry official said.

If Moon attends the conference, he will make his first diplomatic debut there.



The official said China' Finance Minister Xiao Jie will likely be joining the forum to represent his country.



"Even if there is a presence of figures ranking higher than the minister, he or she would not be the official representative of a member country," he said.



Observers say a Moon-Xi summit on Jeju could pave the way for the two sides to mend their ties, which have been weakened amid a dispute over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in Korea.



Rep. Park Byeong-seug of the Democratic Party of Korea said he had a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sunday, during his participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation forum in Beijing.



"Xi said he was satisfied with his earlier phone conversation with Moon, adding he highly recognizes Moon's political philosophy and that they have much in common," Park said.



Under the theme of sustainable infrastructure, the meeting is expected to offer opportunities for participants to boost their network through one-on-one business meetings, investment forums and other events.



According to the ministry, World Bank Public-Private Partnerships Senior Director Laurence Carter, IMF Director of the Asia and Pacific Department Rhee Chang-yong, China Mobile Chairman Shang Bing and SingTel CEO Chua Sock Koong will attend as panelists for discussions on infrastructure development.



KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu will also participate.



The AIIB is an international financial institution aimed at addressing infrastructure needs in Asia's developing and underdeveloped countries.



Of its 52 regional and non-regional members, China contributed $29.78 billion, or 32.38 percent of the total, contribution to the bank.



China has the largest voting right of 27.8 percent.



Korea's share in the bank stands at $3.74 billion, or 4.06 percent with a voting right of 3.75 percent.




Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on celebration of the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

The order says that May 28, 2018 will mark the centenary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first parliamentary republic in the East.

The president instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to draw up a plan of action on the celebration of the centenary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
By Nam Hyun-woo



Local banks are moving to turn their irregular workers into regular employees, in line with President Moon Jae-in's pledge to reduce the number of irregular workers in the labor market.



The Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) said Wednesday it plans to make its 3,000 bank tellers, who were hired as irregular employees, to regular workers.



This also follows the bank's plan last year to increase its hiring of regular workers.



In Korea, irregular workers include contract and temporary workers. Even though they receive social and health benefits, they face discrimination compared to regular, full-time workers. Employers often break the law and do not guarantee their social benefits, nor pay their minimum wage on time.



Citibank Korea also said it will change 300 of its contract workers to regular status.



"In pursuit of a broader benefit, we will convert about 300 contract tellers and general administrative employees to regular staff within this year," Citibank Korea CEO Park Jin-hei said in an email to his employees.



The bank's management and labor union has been at odds over Park's digital transformation plan, which includes integrating and downsizing its branches to boost its digital business.



The labor union has been defying and criticizing Park's move, saying the plan is its first step toward restructuring, which would ultimately result in layoffs and the bank's withdrawal from Korea.



The union and management have been engaging in a series of negotiations, but they failed to narrow their differences.



The union said it will protest Citibank's downsizing.



"The bank has emphasized many times that the transformation won't involve restructuring of its human capital and that the bank will ensure their job security," Park said. "Although the union has left the table, the bank has been responding to some of the union's major requests."



Citibank has been changing some of its contract employees to regular staff every year.



President Moon pledged that he will reduce the number of irregular workers in the public sector to "zero."



This is expected to push other local banks to follow suit.



The number of irregular workers in the local banking sector remains low compared to other industries.



However, that of NH NongHyup Bank's irregular workers is relatively high.



An official at the bank said that it has no plan to convert them to regular workers.



But it said, "The bank will come up with plans when the government's labor policy takes shape."




By Yoon Ja-young

Prof. Kim Sang-jo

President Moon Jae-in tapped a progressive professor nicknamed "chaebol sniper" as head of the country's anti-trust agency, Wednesday.

Moon nominated Kim Sang-jo, an economics professor at Hansung University in Seoul, as chairman of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), according to Cheong Wa Dae.

The nomination signals the administration's strong drive to reform conglomerates which were involved in the corruption scandal that removed former President Park Geun-hye from office.

"President Moon tapped Prof. Kim because he believes Kim is the right person to reestablish the relationship between small and big companies," said Cho Hyun-ok, the senior presidential secretary for personnel management.

Cho said the nomination of the FTC chairman reflects Moon's determination to create a fairer market environment in order to revitalize the livelihood of ordinary people.

Kim also told reporters that he will do his utmost to establish a fairer business environment for small- and medium-sized companies.

"I think the establishment of a fairer market environment is essential for the revitalization of the economy," Kim said.

Born in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, the 55-year-old majored in economics at Seoul National University.

He got a Ph.D. in economics at the same school.

After starting work as an economics professor in 1994, he began leading small shareholder activism following the Asian financial crisis.

Kim has been calling for structural reform of corporate governance structure at conglomerates.

He also participated in the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, the country's leading NGO, pushing for a consensus on the need for chaebol reform.

The professor joined Moon's camp during the presidential election, devising policies related to chaebol reform and anti-trust regulations.

While meeting with reporters, he said that a bureau in charge of investigating chaebol should be re-established to help small businesses suffering from their power abuse.

The bureau was set during the late President Kim Dae-jung government, but was scrapped in the following administration of President Roh Moo-hyun amid demand for deregulation by conglomerates.

In a media interview, the professor said that it was his idea to focus on the biggest conglomerates. President Moon pledged that he would focus on reform of the country's top four chaebol, Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK and LG. Pointing out that it is unrealistic for the FTC to regulate over 3 million businesses, Kim has said that strengthening supervision on the top four chaebol will lead to changes in other conglomerates as well.

He also supports revising the Commercial Law to introduce diverse measures to restrict chaebol owner families from abusing their power in management. By strengthening the rights of small shareholders and the National Pension Fund, which holds a major stake in key conglomerates, he believes the market will work more efficiently.

The revised law is likely to lead to the introduction of an electronic voting system and voting through mail, as well as the restriction of large shareholders' rights in selecting auditors. The multiple derivatives suit, which enables shareholders of a mother company to file lawsuits against executives of affiliates, is also in the reform plan.
President Moon Jae-in's special envoys began embarking on trips Wednesday to discuss possible summit talks between the new South Korean leader and his counterparts in the United States, Japan, China and Russia.



Rep. Moon Hee-sang of the ruling Democratic Party headed to Tokyo where he was expected to meet with top Japanese leaders, possibly including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.



Moon's special envoy to the United States was set to depart later Wednesday while a special envoy to China will fly to Beijing on Thursday, according to officials from the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.



Departures by the presidential envoys to Russia and the European Union are scheduled for next week or later, they added.



Most of the special envoys were named shortly after Moon's telephone conversations with the leaders of their host nations, during which he promised additional discussions over summit talks and other urgent issues, such as North Korea's provocations.



The special envoy to Japan was widely expected to focus on bilateral issues, rather than a summit.



The relationship between South Korea and Japan deteriorated after Tokyo recalled its chief of its diplomatic mission and consul general in protest against the erection of a statue symbolizing Korean victims of sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II.



Japan argued the erection of the statue violated the countries' 2015 agreement, which it claims has given it a clean slate from its war atrocities in exchange for the 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) it will provide under the agreement to a support group for Korean victims of sexual slavery.



The Japanese ambassador and consul general returned here early last month after nearly three months.



Moon, however, has repeatedly stressed a need to at least renegotiate the 2015 agreement with Tokyo throughout his election campaign.



During his telephone conversation with the Japanese prime minister following his election and inauguration last week, the new South Korean president flatly laid out that most of his people could not accept or agree with the agreement signed by the former conservative Park Geun-hye administration.



Instead, he urged Abe to honor previous statements released by former Japanese leaders, such as Yohei Kono, who had acknowledged and apologized for Japan's wartime sexual slavery of Asian women, according to Yoon Young-chan, Moon's chief press secretary.



President Moon "asked me to deliver his message without fail that the direction of his diplomacy will be tailored to serve the country's national interest," the special envoy to Japan said shortly before his departure here.



"He has also asked me to deliver his message that from now on, the country's diplomacy will focus on legitimacy and democratic procedure" of securing public consent, the ruling party lawmaker added.



Despite hinting at the possible scrapping of the 2015 agreement, the South Korean president has also stressed the need for increased cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo to deal with the communist North.



"(President Moon) said he saw a need for the two countries to work together and wisely overcome historical disputes, including the comfort women issue, while separately continuing their joint efforts to deal with the North Korean nuclear issue," Yoon said earlier.



"It is my personal belief and also the government's policy that the two should meet quickly and frequently," said Moon, the special envoy. "As it is also the president's wish, I will certainly deliver the message."



Hong Seok-hyun, a special envoy to the United States, was also set to leave for Washington later Wednesday.



The former ambassador to the United States was expected to fine-tune the agenda and schedule for a summit between Moon and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump already set to be held in Washington next month.



The South Korean president is also sending special envoys to China and Russia.



A special envoy to the European Union was set to double as an envoy to Germany. The president has also named Archbishop Kim Hee-joong as his special envoy to the Vatican. (Yonhap)




By Yi Whan-woo



President Moon Jae-in's special envoy to Japan conveyed the Korean people's opposition toward a disputed agreement reached between the two countries on "comfort women" during a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Wednesday.



"Most Korean citizens do not accept the agreement emotionally," Rep. Moon Hee-sang of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) told Kishida at the latter's office in Tokyo.



The presidential envoy arrived in Japan, Wednesday, to deliver the President's letter about improving relations between the two neighbors.



The DPK lawmaker's remark came after the President hinted at renegotiating the verbal agreement during a telephone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, May 11.



The President said then that most Korean citizens do not accept the agreement reached between the Park Geun-hye government and Abe's Cabinet in December 2015 on an emotional level, and that the two countries should make joint efforts by "acknowledging public sentiment and reality."



Rep. Moon said the two sides should work together to resolve the diplomatic row over "comfort women" based on relevant statements and declarations issued in the past.



Although Japan has been insisting that Korea carry out the agreement, Kishida did not convey such a message during the 40-minute meeting with the DPK lawmaker.



Kishida instead offered a congratulatory message for the Moon administration, which began its term on May 10.



He referred to Korea and Japan as "precious neighbors who share strategic interests" and that Tokyo will pursue a future-oriented relationship with the new Seoul government over various issues.



Rep. Moon and Kishida also renewed a call to bolster trilateral cooperation with Washington against Pyongyang's ballistic missile threats.



"The meeting was really profitable. We talked in an earnest manner and had many similar thoughts," Moon said after the meeting.



Meanwhile, the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), an intelligence-sharing pact between Korea and Japan, was not discussed at the meeting, according to the presidential envoy.



The DPK lawmaker is scheduled to meet Abe, Thursday, and also other high-profile Japanese figures such as senior legislators during his stay.



President Moon's administration has come under growing pressure to use a recent U.N. report concerning the disputed agreement on "comfort women" between Korea and Japan as leverage to push for a renegotiation.



Analysts said that Abe's Cabinet may ignore the report, which is not legally binding. The two governments called the verbal agreement "final and irreversible."



However, the report released by the U.N. Committee against Torture recommended revising the deal on the wartime sex slavery issue because it failed to consider the victims.



This makes the President's push for renegotiation justifiable, the analysts said.



The U.N. report states that the agreement should be modified to "ensure that the surviving victims of sexual slavery during World War II are provided with redress, including the right to compensation and rehabilitation and the right to truth, reparation and assurances of non-repetition."



It was released a day after Moon hinted at renegotiating the agreement in a telephone conversation with Abe.



"I understand the U.N. report is just a recommendation but at least it gives our logic the upper hand over Japan," said Shin Yul, a professor of political science at Myongji University. "The report certainly can be used as leverage to press Japan."



Hwang Tae-soon, a political analyst, agreed, although he was pessimistic about revising the deal completely.



"I think Korea can capitalize on the U.N. report to pave a third way concerning the sex slavery agreement as suggested by Rep. Moon," he said.



Rep. Moon said Sunday that seeking a "third way" other than scrapping or renegotiating the deal will be needed to resolve the diplomatic row.



"There must be certain points of the agreement that both Korea and Japan think should be supplemented for their respective sakes, and that is where the U.N. report can come in," Hwang said. "It will not be possible to revise the deal from scratch but the two sides could consult each other and develop the agreement."



The two countries have been poles apart in interpreting the 2015 deal.



The dispute has centered on whether the Korean government is responsible for removing two statues of girls installed outside Japanese diplomatic missions here in return for receiving 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) from Tokyo.



The statues symbolize former sex slaves during the 1910-45 Japanese colonization of the Korean Peninsula. Japan offered the money to help the surviving victims.












South Korean President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with Matt Pottinger, senior director for East Asia at U.S. National Security Council, in a brief meeting at his presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on May 16, 2017. / Yonhap



By Lee Han-soo

President Moon Jae-in's national security aide has reaffirmed Moon's position on the need for National Assembly ratification of the deployment of an American missile defense system in a meeting with Matt Pottinger, the East Asia director on the White House's National Security Council.

"Problems have been raised regarding the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system," Chung Eui-yong, head of Moon's security and diplomatic task force, said during the Tuesday meeting. "This has to be talked through in the National Assembly."

Pottinger and the U.S. delegation did not comment on Chung's remarks during the meeting, according to presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

But Pottinger, after a meeting with Lee Jung-gyu, the assistant vice minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the THAAD deployment was a "settled matter" and was agreed on by South Korea and the U.S.

During his presidential campaign, Moon expressed negative views on the former government's push for the THAAD deployment.

"President Moon has repeatedly addressed that the deployment of the THAAD lacked democratic justification," a security and diplomatic task force official said. "The matter needs to be ratified by the National Assembly and only afterward can be discussed with our counterpart with the consent of the public."

Pottinger, head of the U.S. delegation to South Korea, arrived in Seoul on Monday. He visited Cheong Wa Dae and delivered President Donald Trump's congratulations to Moon.

He is the first senior White House official to visit South Korea since Moon was inaugurated last week.




A fire broke out at a shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries in the southeastern port city of Geoje on Wednesday, but it was put out without any casualties, firefighters said.





The blaze, which began in air conditioning equipment in the shipyard at 10:07 a.m., was extinguished around 10:30 a.m., they said.








Employees watch an electronic board to monitor possible ransomware cyberattacks at the Korea Internet and Security Agency in Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap



South Korea's state-run cybersecurity agency said Wednesday that 14 companies have been struck by the crippling ransomware "WannaCry" so far, which has been emerging as one of the biggest threats to global cybersecurity.

Ransomware refers to malware that locks up files on a computer with encryption until the victims pay a certain amount of money to hackers. The latest instance of ransomware, called "WannaCry," first surfaced last week, damaging some 200,000 computers in 150 countries around the globe.

The Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) said it has received 5,012 calls inquiring into ransomware through its hotline so far.












A taxi driver was sentenced to jail on Tuesday for falsely accusing his customers of upsetting his business and fleeing a karaoke salon without paying his bill. / Korea Times file



By Eom Da-sol

A taxi driver who made hundreds of false accusations against his customers over 20 years was jailed for 15 months on Tuesday.

The Seoul Southern District Court was told that the false accusation charge against the driver, surnamed Kim, who pleaded guilty, arose after an incident on Sep. 21, 2016, involving customers surnamed Roh and Jang. They got into Kim's taxi that day to go to Gimpo International Airport from Gangseo-gu, western Seoul.

The court heard that Roh had an argument with Kim over not fastening the seatbelt. Roh, upset, tried to leave the car but Kim grabbed his arm, forcing him to stay. Kim then drove about 50 meters while the passenger door was open.

Kim later sued Roh and Jang for disturbing his business.












TV celebrity Sam Okyere takes photos with children from African countries at the Seoul Africa Festival in April 2016. / Courtesy of Seoul Africa Festival



By Eom Da-sol

A festival showcasing the culture of African countries will be held at Seoul's Dongdaemun Design Plaza from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The Seoul Africa Festival will introduce the "diverse charms of African nations unknown to most Koreans," according to the festival's Facebook page.

Nearly 50 organizations related to Africa will run booths at the festival. Eight African countries' embassies, including Morocco and Angola, will also set up booths.

The festival will have five zones. The "Community," "Friends" and "Knowledge" zones will offer visitors opportunities to meet Africans and learn about their culture. In the "Experience" zone, people can try traditional outfits, instruments and food from the continent. Visitors can buy African items at the "Market" zone.

Korean show business celebrities Sam Okyere from Ghana and Bronwyn Mullen from South Africa will attend the opening ceremony as special guests. Dancing and singing, fashion show and a DJ performance will follow.

The festival was launched in Seoul last year in Cheonggye Square.

"I hope this year's festival becomes a chance for visitors to learn more about African culture and be more open-minded toward the continent," festival chief manager Heo Sung-yong told The Korea Times.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/seoulafricafestival.
Attendees at this week's ceremony to mark a pro-democracy uprising in 1980 will be allowed to sing a controversial protest song in unison for the first time in nine years, the war veterans' ministry said Wednesday.



President Moon Jae-in last week ordered the song "March for the Beloved" to be officially sung by all participants at an annual ceremony to mark the May 18 pro-democracy movement.



In 1997, the government designated the day as a national memorial day to mark the pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju, 329 kilometers south of Seoul, which left hundreds of people dead or missing due to the then military government's bloody crackdown.



But since 2009 during the conservative administration of former President Lee Myung-bak, the signature song has been sung by a choir, leaving ceremony attendees to choose whether to sing along or not.



In a departure from the nine-year practice, the song will become an official part of the ceremony starting this year, according to the Ministry of Patriots and Veteran Affairs.



Thursday's event is expected to bring about the largest number of participants ever estimated at about 10,000, it added.



The controversy over the song reflects the still-divided public sentiment about the May 18 uprising.



The movement is widely viewed as a key event in bringing about a pro-democracy victory in ending the authoritarian rule of former general-turned-President Chun Doo-hwan. But some conservative groups see it as an armed revolt against the government.




Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) has successfully concluded an annual PR campaign at local secondary schools aimed at strengthening the Higher Schools community relations and informing upper-form pupils about the Higher Schools achievements in training highly skilled specialists and opportunities to study at BHOS to become a professional engineer.

Within the campaign, BHOS representatives including Head of Student Affairs department Habiba Sadigli, staff members and students made a series of presentations for management, teachers and pupils of secondary schools. At the meetings, they provided detailed information about the Higher School development, teaching process, academic programs, and conditions created at the BHOS new campus for students and staff members. The participants were also informed about the higher school long-term cooperation with leading universities from around the world and local and transnational companies operating in the oil and gas industry. Within this cooperation, the companies arrange workshops, training and internship for BHOS students and set up modern training centers and laboratories at the new campus.

During the meetings, BHOS representatives presented photo, audio and visual materials telling about the Higher Oil School and distributed BHOS leaflets and other promotional publications. Several BHOS students who graduated from the schools covered by the campaign also participated in the meetings and told about BHOS students life, their social, scientific and cultural activities, and youth societies and clubs operating at the Higher School. All meetings were concluded with question and answer sessions.

In the framework of the campaign, a number of study tours and visits of schoolchildren to the Baku Higher Oil School were also arranged. In total, more than three thousands upper-form pupils from more than 50 schools the PR campaign covered more than 50 schools located in Baku, Sumqayit, Xirdalan, Abseron and Bilasuvar districts participated in the PR campaign conducted by the Baku Higher Oil School.
By Choi Ha-young







Hong Joon-pyo

Hong Joon-pyo, former presidential candidate of the Liberty Korea Party (LKP), harshly criticized LKP lawmakers affiliated with the ousted President Park Geun-hye, Wednesday, describing them as "cockroaches."

Hong's condemnation came after some pro-Park lawmakers revealed their intention to seek the leadership of the main opposition party. Hong himself has indicated that he may join the leadership race despite a pending bribery trial at the Supreme Court.

"It's so contemptible to see what the Park loyalists are doing. They were unseen like cockroaches in the darkness when she was impeached, and now creeping out to regain party control," Hong, who is now staying in the United States, said on Facebook.

Rep. Hong Moon-jong, one of the pro-Park lawmakers, fired back.

"He is certainly out of his mind. Hong speaks like a drunk man," the lawmaker said in a party meeting.

The clash between Hong and the pro-Park faction indicates that factional infighting may escalate inside the LKP. The party is expected to hold a convention as early as July to elect its new leader.

During the presidential race, Hong embraced the pro-Park faction, despite criticism that they were responsible for the ex-president's influence-peddling and corruption scandal. He even helped them regain their party membership.

It was the then-candidate's strategic choice to join hands with the majority of the LKP, in a bid to integrate the scandal-ridden party and unite conservative voters. By coming in second with support of 24.03 percent in the May 9 poll, pundits expected that the anti-Park politician would eye the next leadership of the main opposition party, even though it was likely to bring about another factional dispute.

Hong's tough words against the pro-Park faction is a response to loyalists to the former president  Reps. Kim Jin-tae, Kim Tae-heum, Yi Wan-young, Lee Jang-woo  who reportedly have called for a reshuffle of the party leadership to regain their dominance. Hong also urged it, looking forward to his leading role in the reorganization.

"While all parties are renewing themselves with fresh blood, pro-Park lawmakers have gathered and are seeking to rebuild their faction," he said, Wednesday.

In the face of the plummeting support rate of the LKP, he further blasted the pro-Park faction. According to an opinion poll released Monday, the largest opposition party stood at 13 percent, down 4.5 percentage points compared to a week earlier.

"The LKP enjoyed growth of support rate during the election," he said Monday, boasting his contribution to the party. "If old conservatives pull the strings in the party affairs, citizens cannot help but abandon the LKP."

However, Hong's efforts are unlikely to take effect, analyst said.

"Considering the lack of Hong supporters in the party, it would be difficult to reach the goal" political analyst Hwang Tae-soon said. "It is partly inevitable for the opposition party to stay divided and exchange barbs, like the Democratic Party of Korea did earlier."

Further, Hong is facing a final trial, having been embroiled in a bribery scandal.

The tricky situation around Hong was palpable in the comment of Rep. Chung Woo-taik, floor leader of the party. "By convention, defeated presidential candidates retired from politics. At least, they stayed cautious," Chung told reporters, Wednesday.

Amid the looming factional showdown, 43 rookie lawmakers there called for unity and ideological renovation of the party. "The LKP was defeated, since the young generation recognized the party as a far-right force," one of them, Rep. Kim Sung-won said, Tuesday.

However, without detailed alternatives to solve this feud, their reformist voice would be difficult to gain influence, Hwang said.
By Kim Bo-eun







The annual ceremony commemorating the May 18 Gwangju Uprising will take place with the government's support today.



The two previous conservative administrations under former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak did not support the event, as the pro-democracy movement in 1980 was regarded as a symbol of anti-government protests.



However, there has been a shift in the government's stance since liberal President Moon Jae-in took office last week. In the days since, Moon ordered that a symbolic pro-democracy song be sung by all participants at the event.



Up to 2008, all participants sang along to the song "Imeul Wihan Haengjingok" (March for the Beloved), but in 2011 former President Lee had the song performed by a choir.



Conservatives have taken issue with the piece because it was created with inspiration from pro-democracy activists, and became a symbolic song sung by student activists and liberal civic groups during protests.



Moreover, right-wing groups claim the song is pro-North Korean, as it was featured in a 1991 North Korean film.



In addition to reviving the singing of the song, the ceremony will be open to all citizens who wish to take part.



Under previous administrations, only those who signed up were permitted to do so.



All civic groups which took part in the uprising have been invited.



Since 2010 up until last year, bereaved family members of the Gwangju Uprising have held separate ceremonies from the official government ones, in opposition to the lack of government support for the event.



The ceremony is expected to have around 10,000 participants this year, which will be the largest number yet.



A recitation of the historic significance of the movement will be given by the head of a civic group commemorating the uprising. This had been the convention since 1997, but in 2009 under the Lee administration, the head of the Gwangju Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs assumed the role, inviting controversy that the government was attempting to downplay the importance of the movement.



The ceremony, which for the past several years finished in about 20 minutes, will be lengthened to around an hour.



The 37th ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. today at the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju.








By Jun Ji-hye

The Moon Jae-in government will push for the reopening of an inter-Korean hotline at the truce village of Panmunjeom, a security adviser said Wednesday.

The liaison office in Panmunjeom was shuttered last February after North Korea severed the hotline in protest of former President Park Geun-hye's closure of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, an inter-Korean joint venture in the North Korean border city. The shutdown was in response to Pyongyang's nuclear test and missile launches.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies who was a key adviser to Moon on security issues during campaign, said normalizing the liaison channel will be the first step toward reopening inter-Korean dialogue.

"There will be a relevant announcement by the government soon," Yang said in an article published by Yonhap News Agency, Wednesday.

Yang also said the previous day that it would be too passive for the government to just wait for the North to ask for reopening the hotline first.

"It would be more realistic for the new government to first make efforts to normalize the liaison channel," he wrote in his contribution to a government website promoting its policies.

"Once inter-Korean communication through the hotline takes place, the dialogue will be able to be expanded to working-level as well as high-level talks."












By Jacob Lotinga





As the 37th anniversary of Chun Doo-hwan's five-day crackdown on protesters approaches, it seems fair to ask: has the Gwangju massacre been forgotten?

Not in Gwangju, certainly. Dr. Shin Gyong-gu, director of the Gwangju International Center, says that May 18 remains a significant date for most South Koreans  except ultra-conservatives, who claim the uprising was instigated by North Korea.

In Seoul, too, the anniversary is respected. Dr. Cho Hyo-je, a professor who teaches sociology at Sungkonghoe University and writes about human rights, tells me the Gwangju uprising marked the "defining watershed" for the development of democracy in South Korea.

Such is Gwangju's national importance, says Dr. Shin, that even conservative candidate Hong Jun-pyo stopped at the May 18 cemetery to pay his respects in the run-up to the presidential election.

Oddly, however, the uprising is less well known overseas. China's Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, when Deng Xiaoping brought in tanks to disperse peaceful student protesters, has been seared into the collective consciousness; in contrast, Gwangju is largely unremembered, its anniversary unmarked.

I decided to test this view out by heading to Nottingham University to quiz students and staff on Northeast Asian history.

Danny, 20, a student of electrical engineering, was familiar with the events of June 4th in Beijing: "Is that when the gentleman stood in front of a tank?"

But when asked about May 18 in Gwangju, Danny was stumped.

Abdul, 22, a history graduate, agreed that the Tiananmen Square massacre was far better known: "Because of that famous photo, isn't it?" He hadn't heard of the Gwangju uprising.

Library staff member Kate, 32, not only knew about Tiananmen Square  and that picture in which the "iconic man stands in front of a tank"  but recalled James Fenton's haunting poem Tiananmen,' which she had studied as part of an English Literature anthology at school.

When quizzed about May 18, Kate was on less firm ground: "I'm going to blame the fact that I was born in '85 for that one."

The same pattern was repeated when I spoke to Raquel, 21, a sociology student, and Andrei, 19, studying mathematics: both mentioned the photo of the man blocking the tank's path in Beijing; neither knew the significance of May 18.

There is an irony to this. The Gwangju massacre is openly discussed in South Korea, a flourishing democracy, and even spurred bestselling author Han Kang to pen her acclaimed novel "Human Acts," whereas the Tiananmen Square crackdown is taboo in mainland China, with references to it expunged.

When I put this to Professor Rana Mitter, a historian and broadcaster based at the University of Oxford, he highlights a paradox: the taboo surrounding Tiananmen has raised the massacre's profile outside of mainland China. Its status as an "unresolved wound," unacknowledged by Beijing, adds to its potency  whereas the Gwangju massacre, while "immensely controversial," is "not a secret."

Other factors, too, are at play. Dr. Shin, in Gwangju, observes that Western media pay greater attention to anti-establishment incidents in communist bloc countries. Professor Mitter agrees: the Gwangju massacre, he tells me, fits into a pattern in which America paid less attention to human rights abuses by authoritarian regimes that were its allies  another example being the Philippines under Marcos.

Prof Mitter, whose BBC series Seoul Power on South Korean pop culture was broadcast last year, admits that  despite the splash made by the Korean wave  awareness of South Korea in Western countries lags behind perceptions of China, which is more prominent in the news.

Paradoxically, then, May 18 seems little known overseas precisely because of its impact on South Korean history. Dr. Cho, in Seoul, says of the Gwangju uprising: "It not only exposed the naked face of the military authoritarian rule, but it crystallized citizens' resolve to live as free people whatever the cost."





Jacob Lotinga is an author based in Sheffield, U.K. Write to jblotinga@yahoo.com.
By Do Je-hae





It has only been slightly over a week since President Moon Jae-in assumed office, but the new President has already brought some noticeable changes to Cheong Wa Dae's rigid culture.

Moon had lunch at the cafeteria for Cheong Wa Dae employees, which would have been unthinkable during the Park Geun-hye administration. He took a walk with his aides with a takeout coffee in his hand. For the first time, he announced his first key appointments himself. Even those who did not support President Moon during the election cannot help but be surprised by his willingness to communicate, in contrast to his predecessor. In addition, his friendly wife Kim Jung-sook has been indispensable in creating an image of a Cheong Wa Dae that actively reaches out to the people.

A huge change in Moon's Cheong Wa Dae is that there is a first lady for the first time in more than four years. Moon's predecessor was a single woman so the nation got used to seeing the president alone. Before Park, Korean first ladies rarely took the spotlight from their husbands with their subdued presence and demeanor. Yuk Young-soo, the wife of Park Chung-hee who is the father of the impeached former President Park, remains one of Koreans' favorite first ladies. She succeeded in building a lasting image of a "nation's mother" despite the harsh rule of her husband in the 1960s and 70s.

The current first lady is certainly different from her predecessors in that she is not afraid to be in public. She does not walk behind her husband but with him, taking huge strides and waving vivaciously. She affectionately holds hands with supporters and cried when approached by a citizen who wanted to share her grievances with the first lady. She dresses like the mom next door and lugged her own trunk around on moving day. For the first time in years, the nation has a first lady many citizens can relate to.

Moon is the biggest beneficiary from the media spotlight on the first lady. With active people skills and effervescent character, Kim seems equipped to be Moon's most effective agent for communicating with the people. During the campaign, Moon sent his wife to the Jeolla provinces to connect with people in the southwestern region, giving her the nickname of "special aide for Honam." Now she should carry out the role of a special aide delivering the people's sentiments to the president by meeting actively with people from all walks of life.

The former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama was a great example for first ladies. Cheong Wa Dae should groom Kim to be the kind of first lady Obama was, considered to be her husband's top asset during his presidency by giving captivating speeches. The former lawyer was, above all, a great communicator. Wearing a phenomenal pink dress, she wowed the Democratic National Convention in 2012 with a deeply moving speech about her husband's values. After that, former U.S. President Bill Clinton took the stand at the DNC to nominate Barack Obama as their party's candidate for the presidential race. Many Americans gave a thunderous ovation for Michelle when Clinton said "After last night, I want to nominate a man who had the good sense to marry Michelle Obama."

Mrs. Obama was popular among Americans throughout the two terms of the 44th U.S. President Barack Obama and many Americans showed in public polls that they liked the lifestyle of their first family.

It would be refreshing to see our first lady lead projects of her own. Mrs. Obama led a public health campaign "Let's Move," which aimed to reduce childhood obesity and promote a healthy lifestyle in children. She put a lot of passion into the campaign, which had specific goals like decreasing childhood obesity to 5 percent by 2030. She was often seen promoting sports, physical activity and healthier food in schools. The former U.S. first lady announced the campaign herself shortly after her husband began his first term. It was a great idea because she was a mom of two young daughters and surely cared from the heart about educating kids all over America about healthy lifestyles. She also became a role model for young girls, a fashion icon and an advocate for poverty awareness.

In a short period, Korea's new first lady has succeeded in connecting the people with the first couple in a new way and providing a breath of fresh air in the formerly gloomy Cheong Wa Dae. Let's hope she becomes much more than a ceremonial figure and takes an initiative with causes that promote the people's happiness and wellbeing. This will no doubt be beneficial for the people's steady support for President Moon.
There are growing signs that North Korea may be behind the ransomware attacks that have disrupted nearly 300,000 computers around the world since Friday.



Google security researcher Neel Mehta was first to raise the possibility, pointing out similarities between the code found in the latest "WannaCry" malware and that used by the Lazarus hackers linked to North Korea. The Lazarus group has been blamed for the Sony Pictures hacking in 2014 and for stealing $81 million from the Bangladeshi central bank last year. An Israeli-based security firm even said it had confirmed Pyongyang's link to the WannaCry malware.



Of course, it may be too early to point the finger to North Korea merely because of the similar code. But the chances are high that the rogue state is looking for new financial sources for its nuclear and missile programs.



The North's cyber assaults are nothing new. Since its July 2009 online attacks on South Korea's government offices, banks and media companies, North Korea's cyberattacks have occurred almost every year. In 2016, our military intranet and internet networks were breached.



Fortunately, the latest ransomware attacks have left little damage domestically, with only 12 companies hit by the virus. But this is no time for complacency, considering the North's cyberattacks could imperil even our national security at any time.



More worrisome is that Pyongyang's electronic warfare capabilities seem to boast a world-class level. On the contrary, our ability to respond is far from satisfactory. One cannot help but feel uneasy that the North Korean authorities have trained thousands of hackers and programmers, compared with our military's fewer than 600.



Given the rapid progress of digital technologies, malware attacks will be more frequent in the future. It's imperative our authorities extensively reexamine their systems to combat the North's growing digital threats.



The investigation is now ongoing globally and the perpetrators could be identified soon. If North Korea is proved to be behind the latest malware assaults, the newly launched Moon Jae-in administration will have to do whatever it can to thwart the North's new type of provocations.




By Joshua James

Joshua James

Last Friday a ransomware virus named WannaCry began spreading across the internet. By Sunday, it had infected computers in an estimated 150 countries, including Korea. Victims included hospitals and the U.K.'s National Health Service.



Once a computer is infected with ransomware, the virus encrypts data on that computer. For a home user, ransomware may encrypt family pictures, videos and word documents, data with huge sentimental value. For companies, this could be trade secrets. For hospitals, this could be things like patient data, finances, surgery schedules and blood work results.



After the data is encrypted, the ransomware asks for payment to unlock the files in a difficult-to-trace bitcoin digital currency.



The first version of WannaCry was somewhat mitigated by malware researchers. However, it is very likely that a new version of WannaCry will be released early this week. Make sure you have the latest Windows updates for all of your systems.



WannaCry so far has raised only about $30,000, and likely caused millions of dollars worth of damage. While $30,000 may seem like a lot of money, the attack is very ineffective. When the criminals are caught, they will likely go to prison for a long time, and didn't even get rich in the process.



More interesting than the money is how the ransomware moves from one computer to another. There are two methods. First, an infected file is sent in an email. When the file is opened, the virus runs. This is normal social engineering. The second method of attack uses an exploit called "EternalBlue" that was developed by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). NSA hacking tools were leaked online last April. Microsoft issued a patch for the vulnerability last March, but many systems were still not patched.



Many countries including Korea are developing cyberwarfare capabilities and these capabilities are usually heavily focused on vulnerability detection and exploitation. Basically, finding flaws in software and using these flaws against other countries for intelligence or other purposes.



From a national security perspective, this may make sense. But as the WannaCry ransomware shows us, the efforts of governments to exploit software instead of helping to fix it can also have extremely negative consequences for national security.



There have been calls for a Digital Geneva Convention that would help change the responsibilities of technology companies and governments. Such a convention will probably be a priority in the future.



For now, however, governments should evaluate their cyber-weapon development programs, and ask if they want these weapons to be used against their own citizens. Governments would do much better to help secure critical systems than to exploit them.



The writer is a professor at Hallym University's legal informatics and forensic science institute.
Samsung SDS Executive Vice President Kim Hyung-tae, left, shakes hands with Kerry Logistics Executive Director Edwardo Erni after signing a contract to establish a joint venture for logistics business in China at the Samsung SDS office in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, on May 4. / Courtesy of Samsung SDS



By Yoon Sung-won



Samsung SDS is expanding logistics service in China through a partnership with Chinese firm Kerry Logistics, the company said Tuesday.



The system integration affiliate of Samsung said it has signed an agreement with Kerry Logistics to establish a joint venture, named SDS Kerry Supply Chain Solutions, in Shanghai earlier this month.



Samsung SDS said the joint venture will contribute to expanding its global logistics in Asia's largest market.



"Through the joint venture, the two companies will be able to combine respective strengths to create synergy effects in the global logistics business," Samsung SDS Executive Vice President Kim Hyung-tae said. "We pledge to become a world-class logistics service provider by continuing to boost business capabilities in this sector."



The move came as a part of the company's aggressive drive to expand its presence in the Asian logistics service market. Samsung SDS has established joint ventures in Thailand and Vietnam. To do so, the company is working with Thailand's customs clearance service provider Acutech and Vietnam's air cargo terminal business ALS.



Established in 1981, Kerry Logistics has provided services not only in China but also in 42 countries including Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and the United States.



"We will be able to discover more potential business opportunities by combining Samsung SDS' information technology and business process outsourcing capabilities in the logistics sector to Kerry's networks in China," Kerry Logistics executive director Edwardo Erni said. "The partnership will make us a solid leader in the Chinese logistics market."



In particular, Samsung SDS said it expects the combination of its expertise in global logistics service and Kerry Logistics' local infrastructure can be extended to China's rapidly growing e-commerce logistics sector for food, beverage and healthcare items.
Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President Lee Hyo-gun introduces the company's vision for its Tizen 4.0 operating system (OS) at a developer conference in San Francisco, California, Tuesday. The tech giant said it will develop the OS for use in its future smart home appliances. The upgraded OS will be released in September. / Yonhap





By Lee Min-hyung



Samsung Electronics has unveiled its new Tizen 4.0 operating system (OS), seeking to expand its internet of things (IoT) software ecosystem for developers here and abroad.

The Seoul-based company said Wednesday that the latest open source platform was designed to help developers of IoT devices and software to generate profits in a more convenient and easy manner.

The 4.0 platform is available not just for traditional IoT devices  such as televisions and smartphones  but other products including boilers, scales and bulbs, the company said during its annual Tizen Developer Conference (TDC) in San Francisco, Tuesday (local time). The TDC has been held for seven years since 2012, drawing thousands of developers and clients.

Samsung launched its own Tizen OS in 2010, in its bid to reduce its heavy reliance on the Google Android mobile OS. The ambitious bet has, however, fallen short of its expectations at least in the handset industry.

As of the first quarter of this year, smartphone users with the Tizen OS accounted for less than 0.1 percent all across the world, according to data from Strategy Analytics. The market researcher said a market share for the Samsung OS has continued to decline in recent years. In 2015, Tizen took up 0.2 percent in the mobile market share, down 0.1 percent from the previous year, according to the data.

For this reason, Samsung is turning its eyes to the IoT industry combined with the Tizen ecosystem.

In an effort to expand the Tizen market share, Samsung is running the Tizen Mobile Incentive program each month by providing $1 million (1.11 billion won) to developers and venture firms whose apps reach the top 100 in the Tizen Store. This program is targeting global app developers, running from this February to October.

"Samsung has teamed up with Microsoft to establish a more convenient Tizen app-developing environment," a Samsung official said. "Tizen 4.0 is particularly expected to offer the best IoT app development environment."

During the event, the company also unveiled its latest Z4 Tizen-based smartphone, which will go on sale in India from Friday. Samsung is also planning to launch the device in Indonesia and in countries in Africa soon.

Samsung also launched its ARTIK module, a lightweight and small IoT device comprised of an application processor, memory and sensor.

To speed up its IoT drive, the company showcased other Tizen-based appliances  such as quantum dot light-emitting-diode (QLED) televisions and refrigerators  demonstrating how the Tizen devices can be interconnected.

More than 1,000 visitors are expected to join this year's Tizen conference which runs through Thursday.
Will Korean won continue to gain ground against US dollar?
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Samir Ali  Trend:

On the evening of May 16, Azerbaijans Tartar District, which is adjacent to the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, was shelled by Armenian armed units, Mustagim Mammadov, head of Tartar District Executive Authority, told Trend May 17.

Armenians were using mortars when shelling the territory, he said.

Our territories were fired at approximately at 22:30 (UTC/GMT+4). Mostly uninhabited areas were subjected to fire. At about 22:30, the Azerbaijani armed forces suppressed the enemys fire with reciprocal fire, Mammadov said, adding that now, the Azerbaijani armed forces are fully controlling the situation.

Azerbaijans Defense Ministry earlier said that Armenian armed forces fired at Azerbaijani frontline positions and settlements in the direction of Azerbaijans Aghdam District on May 16 evening using mortars of various calibers.

Armenian armed forces were also using combat drones, but due to their poor quality, no damage was caused.

As a result of urgent measures, Azerbaijani armed forces suppressed the enemy shelling, and there were no casualties among the forces personnel.

The shells fired by the enemy fell mainly on empty sowing areas and nearby settlements.

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.
By Lee Hyo-sik



The Supreme Court ended a three-year-old patent dispute among Korea's three major shipbuilders Wednesday, siding with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Samsung Heavy Industries.



The nation's top court dismissed an appeal filed by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), nullifying its patent over a technology that reliquefies evaporated liquefied natural gas (LNG).



In January, DSME took the case to the Supreme Court after the Patent Court of Korea issued a ruling which invalidated the struggling shipbuilder's patent over boil-off gas (BOG) liquefaction technology.



The patent court said DSME's knowhow is not different from those developed and used by the two other shipbuilders.



The BOG liquefaction technology is important for LNG makers as it is a must to liquefy evaporated LNG gas into a liquid form while being transported in carriers.



The dispute began in January 2014 when DSME registered the technology as a patent. The shipbuilder then began threatening HHI and Samsung Heavy not to use the technologies when building LNG ships.



In protest, HHI and Samsung filed a lawsuit against DSME with the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board. But the court sided with DSME, ruling its patent valid in May 2015.



Following the ruling, DSME secured the most orders of LNG carriers of the three shipbuilders from 2014 to 2016, at 47. In contrast, Hyundai and Samsung won only 12 and eight orders, respectively.



"Both Hyundai and Samsung were misunderstood by some foreign buyers that they infringed on DSME's patents. This made it more difficult for them to secure LNG carrier deals over the past three years," said an industry analyst, who declined to be named.



"But the Supreme Court's ruling will clear any obstacles for the two shipbuilders and make it easier for them to win new orders. But this is definitely not good for DSME, which has been struggling to stay afloat under huge debt," he said.




Details added (first version posted at 17:21)

Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Samir Ali  Trend:

On the evening of May 16, Azerbaijans Tartar District, which is adjacent to the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, was shelled by Armenian armed units, Mustagim Mammadov, head of Tartar District Executive Authority, told Trend May 17.

Armenians were using mortars when shelling the territory, he said.

Our territories were fired at approximately at 22:30 (UTC/GMT+4). Mostly uninhabited areas were subjected to fire. At about 22:30, the Azerbaijani armed forces suppressed the enemys fire with reciprocal fire, Mammadov said, adding that now, the Azerbaijani armed forces are fully controlling the situation.

Azerbaijans Defense Ministry earlier said that Armenian armed forces fired at Azerbaijani frontline positions and settlements in the direction of Azerbaijans Aghdam District on May 16 evening using mortars of various calibers.

Armenian armed forces were also using combat drones, but due to their poor quality, no damage was caused.

As a result of urgent measures, Azerbaijani armed forces suppressed the enemy shelling, and there were no casualties among the forces personnel.

The shells fired by the enemy fell mainly on empty sowing areas and nearby settlements.

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 17

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry has invited Azerbaijans Energy Minister Natig Aliyev to joint participation in solving global energy issues, said the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry in a message.

Perry, in his response letter to the Azerbaijani minister, expressed gratitude for congratulations on the occasion of his appointment to the post of the US Secretary of Energy.

The US official added that he wants to meet with Natig Aliyev in order to discuss the issues of mutual interest.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Export of Azerbaijans agricultural products rose by 44 percent in January-April 2017 as compared to the same period of 2016, said the countrys Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov.

He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition in Baku on May 17.

The minister noted that Azerbaijan aims to increase its export annually while the main problem of the world is to ensure the food security.

The main growth of export over the past four months was observed in plant products, in particular, in the export of fruits and vegetables. As for our expectations for the future, we expect an even greater increase in exports in the coming years, said Asadov.

The 23rd Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition WorldFood Azerbaijan 2017 and 11th Azerbaijan International Agriculture Exhibition CaspianAgro 2017 will be held on May 17-19 in Baku.

WorldFood Azerbaijan 2017 is one of the most important and significant events in the regions food industry. The event is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and National Confederation of The Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic (AEC). The organizers of WorldFood Azerbaijan are Iteca Caspian and ITE Group.

A number of leading companies from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Russia, Spain and other countries are taking part in the annual exhibition.

CaspianAgro 2017 brings together both manufacturers and distributors of agricultural products and equipment from Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Italy, Turkey, Russia and Sri Lanka, as well as other countries.

Moreover, the CaspianAgro 2017 exhibition will provide participants with an opportunity to get acquainted with the latest trends. It will also create opportunities to expand cooperation and establish new business relationships that will boost investment inflow and introduce new technologies in the agricultural sector of Azerbaijan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

The Center of Simplified Support of Family Business (ABAD) is ready to help family businesses in Azerbaijan to export their products abroad, ABAD director Rufat Elchiyev told Trend May 17.

The Azerbaijani market is not big. We are well aware that sooner or later our customers family businesses can grow and get ready for export. In this case, we will assist them in exporting their products abroad, Elchiyev said.

He noted that one of ABADs goals is to help people gain confidence in starting a business.

We help families register their businesses, obtain a taxpayer identification number and render the necessary legal assistance, Elchiyev said, adding ABAD helps to turn a clients family business into a business item, which operates under the laws of the market and economy.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Azerbaijans Accessbank has announced new appointment.

Anar Hasanov has been appointed first deputy chairman of board, chief operating officer in the bank, the bank said on May 17.

Moreover, four more executive directors have been appointed in the bank, namely, Elshan Pirmaliyev - executive director of retail and business customers, Sabina Gurbanova - executive director of branchless banking, Aynur Suleymanli - executive director of human resources, administration and security, Nizami Gadirov - executive director of risk management and researches.

At present, there are six executive directors in the bank.

AccessBank was founded in 2002 by the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), German development bank KfW, German LFS Financial Systems consulting company and AccessHolding. Being one of the leading banks of Azerbaijan, AccessBank offers a full range of banking services.
Amid the steep hills of coastal Bird Rock sits Moss Lane, a 20-foot-wide, 200-foot-long alley that runs from Abalone Place through Dolphin Place to a public ocean lookout. Recently, the City posted two Notices of Application at the entrances to the lanes east end to herald a proposal to vacate the street between 5725 and 5735 Dolphin Place, made by the applicants lawyer Jorge Palacios at the Development Permit Review (DPR) committee meeting, May 9.

The proposal was met with protest, chiefly from beach-access advocate Melinda Merryweather, who stated, We have so few places left in La Jolla to walk through and see through that every inch should be preserved.

Palacios explained that the street has been maintained by the adjacent homeowners for a number of years, and nobody uses it except for vandalism or something like that.

The grass-covered 100-foot section of the alley between Abalone Place and Dolphin Place features a variety of landscaping, including white roses and an assortment of wild flowers (in bloom at this time of year), birdfeeders and a gate on the north side (5735 Dolphin Place), and on the south side (5725 Dolphin Place) is a five-foot hedge that turns into a 10-foot bamboo buffer.

If the application to vacate the lane is approved, the 0.044-acre section will be divided in two and attached to the adjacent properties. Were not asking for any development on the vacation, just vacating it (from City ownership) so we can put a fence in the middle and secure the side yards so people dont pass through them, Palacios explained.

On the Dolphin Place side of the alley, a five-step brick stair adjacent a retaining wall allows pedestrians to avoid the slope. People dont walk that way because theres a retaining wall, Palacios pointed out, so unless youre really young, I dont advise you walk down to the beach that way.

Two of the four steps are slightly bigger than the average (approximately 12 inches), but Merryweather alleges she walks up and down them with no problem. I went down there, and sat for about an hour and watched six people go through. People do use it, and divers use it and go in the ocean there (from Moss Lane).

Property owner Larry Tannenbaum told Merryweather she was mischaracterizing the use of the lane. Its rarely used and if you wanted to see the ocean, theres a City-maintained walkway on Bird Rock Avenue.

Moss Lane appears in the La Jolla Community Plan as an improved dedicated street off Dolphin Place. Provides bluff-top viewing. Steps are located in bluff edge, but access to the beach is not recommended. Well defined bluff trail leads to rock point to the south. However, in Appendix G Figure H, the map showing the area, only the western part of Moss Lane (Dolphin Place to the ocean) is highlighted.

The California Coastal Commissions (CCC) review of the project identifies nine issues, including the paths identification within the La Jolla Community Plan. Its closure would be incongruent with the plan and possibly require a (plan) amendment. An accessway does not necessarily have to be directly on the shoreline to be of service to the public, and it is the provision of accessways inland from the coast that encourages visitors to park elsewhere, knowing there is access nearby, rather than trying to crowd along the nearest shoreline road.

CCC adds in its comments that Moss Lane provides an ocean view from Abalone Place, which would be adversely impacted in case the vacation went through. As it currently stands, there is private landscaping blocking public views westward toward the ocean from Abalone Place that should be addressed through removal or trimming to restore public views.

The CCC also requires the applicant to submit documents proving the motive behind the vacation, chiefly nuisance activity, in the form of police reports or City records.

DPR committee members were not ready to make a decision on the vacation at the May 9 meeting. Trustee Diane Kane requested the applicant bring forward more information about pedestrian use of the area. People have been using (Moss Lane) for 50 years. The public has established their right to pass through that area, she said.

DPR board member Angeles Leira opined that the alley should be preserved for pedestrian access because, These are large, long blocks and every time you have an opportunity to break through the block, especially for pedestrians, we should be able to do it. We never think of the pedestrians.

The discussion was tabled to the 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 20 DPR meeting at La Jolla Rec Center, 615 Prospect St.
Belarus plans to sign agreements on a system for the promotion of mutual trade with China, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus Yuri Senko said when answering a question from member of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Maksim Misko on 17 May, BelTA has learned.

Such an agreement has already been signed with Moldova. We have established information exchange. Work is underway to draw up similar agreements with China, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The drafting is nearing completion. We plan to sign the documents in the near future, Yuri Senko said.

He believes that once the agreements are signed, the time spent on customs formalities at border checkpoints and at internal customs checkpoints will be reduced.

On 17 May, the House of Representatives ratified the intergovernmental agreement on the promotion of mutual trade with Turkey signed in Minsk on 11 November 2016. The document allows for boosting efficiency and reducing the time of customs clearance, which will have a positive impact on the trade between Belarus and Turkey.
La Jolla Shores Association (LJSA) held its annual election May 10 at Martin Johnson House, where 11 candidates were up for 11 seats  eight two-year terms and three one-year terms.

Jenny Feinberg, Steve Chapple and Pam Boynton secured the one-year terms, and the board members elected for two years are Brian Earley, Angie Preisendorfer, Janie Emerson, John Sheridan, Coco Tihanyi, Dave Gordon, Sharon Luscomb and Nick LeBeouf.

Ballots with the 11 names went out in previous weeks, and Shores residents or business owners age 18 or older were eligible to participate in the election. Votes could be send by mail, e-mail or in person, 6-7 p.m. at 8840 Biological Grade. After counting three times, election committee member Dede Donovan announced the results.

The new and returning trustees were seated and the new board elected its officials for the next year. Nick LeBeouf will be chair for a second term, Janie Emerson replaces Mary Coakley Munk as vice-chair, Shahar Compton continues as secretary, Angie Preisendorfer as corresponding secretary and Susan Tschirn replaces Jenny Feinberg as treasurer.

Newly elected vice-chair Emerson, who has lived in The Shores since 1961 and is a retired business owner, said, I enjoy helping the community become a better place for everybody. For new board member Chapple, This is where Democracy begins.

In other LJSA news:

Fall Fest Street Closure: LJSA voted to approve a request to close Avenida de la Playa, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 for the Fall Fest. This Halloween-themed, child-oriented event features trick-or-treating with local businesses where children in costumes get a taste of November fun early in the month.

Tickets are usually $5-$10, and though the fest has been celebrated since 2007, this is the first time a street closure was requested.

Dead Street Lights Update: Board member Preisendorfer sent a letter May 9 to San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and District 1 City Council member Barbara Bry reporting that there are 14 non-working street lights in The Shores, even after circuit outages were repaired in March.

La Jolla Shores is a very busy pedestrian part of San Diego (with) residents, hotel guests, businesses and, of course, the more than 3 million beach-goers who come to The Shores and Kellogg Park (every year).

We need to be able to safely walk our sidewalks and streets, the letter reads.

Airplane Noise: The board voted to send a letter to elected representatives seeking support on the issue of air traffic noise over La Jolla. If we dont speak up now, were going to end up like Point Loma or Ocean Beach, having aircraft constantly overhead. Theres so much noise that the quality of life is compromised, said board member Sheridan.

 LJSA next meets 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 14 at 8840 Biological Grade. ljsa.org
FONTANA  As a faith-filled child, Avery McCarthy loved God and focused her life on finding ways to help people feel less alone or afraid. Those who knew her said she adored telling others about Jesus.

Bridget McCarthy, Averys mother, said her daughter was passionate about finding ways to assist children in Haiti.

Avery was killed instantly in a car accident four and a half years ago. She was 11.

But while Avery is gone, her mission still lives on.

McCarthy, in her daughters honor, has spent the last 4 1/2 years building Averyday Ministries, which raises funds for mission trips and is building a home for girls in Haiti.

Faced with a decision

McCarthy said her daughters tenacious plan to assist Haiti children wasnt fully understood until she was gone.

When she died, I realized all the plans that she had were good ones, and I felt sad that they werent going to happen, McCarthy said. But then I said, wait a second. She paved the way and she showed us what was important. And it was up to us to decide if we wanted to continue that or not.

Averys goal was to get others to join the journey of good will.

She didnt just want to tell people about Jesus, she wanted to tell other people about Jesus and have others tell people about Jesus, McCarthy said. She wanted to help people in Haiti, but not just by herself. She wanted everyone to join in.

After Averys passing, McCarthy said she was faced with a decision.

There was a point where I realized that all of her ambitions could have died with her, or we could pick up the pieces and continue, she said.

McCarthy, despite her grief, held a Christian concert in honor of Avery soon after the accident, with the help of her friend, Ginger Leyda.

That concert became the foundation for Averyday Ministries.

We formed the organization and became an official nonprofit, but it started with the first concert, Leyda said. She was a friend who needed help and I thought I could help her.

Averyday Ministries

The nonprofit focuses on gathering funds for mission trips to Haiti and supports ministers already in the third-world country.

It also is halfway done building The Avery House in Haiti, a home for young girls.

Its not just finding the property and building it, its being able to also continue to provide food, safe water, continued education fees and school uniforms, teaching them business skills (and) providing medical care, she said.

Often, these girls have between a 6th to 8th grade education level and have little marketable skills, McCarthy said.

Many will end up in the homes of abusive men or in the sex industry to make ends meet.

Which is why McCarthy said The Avery House is especially important.

I might not be able to take care of my own daughter anymore, but I do have the ability to help care for someone elses, she said. These girls need our love and our protection and they deserve a future.

Averyday Ministries also supports programs that Avery was passionate about when she was alive, like the Delavan Christian School, a free library and the UW-Whitewater Gymhawks, a youth gymnastics program.

Haiti hesitation

At first, McCarthy had no intention of visiting Haiti.

I had no desire to go, and didnt even know where it was, McCarthy said. The whole time she was alive, I didnt look at a map once. It was something she was constantly talking about, and you take that for granted ... but when she passed and we started the program, my thought was that we were going to raise funds so others would go to Haiti.

However, things changed after an unexpected phone call from a woman going to Haiti, who told McCarthy she was compelled to invite her on the trip.

I said that I dont go, I just give money for others to go, McCarthy said. But this woman said she felt she was supposed to ask me to go on this trip, and I told her I would pray on it and if God wants me to go, he will find a way.

McCarthy soon found out the deadline was the next morning. Still hesitant, she called the group leader who immediately said yes.

I walked into it thinking, I have never been to this church before and I dont know who these people are, she said. I was thinking, this is ridiculous, what am I doing? But I walked in and all these people were people who were tied to Avery in a way.

From a parent whose daughter went to daycare with Avery to a group leader who had met Avery, everyone on the trip had been touched by the 11-year-old.

We called it the Avery Trip because everyone who went was connected to Avery somehow, she said. Heres this trip that I wasnt interested in, and everyone there had a connection. I was overwhelmed.

Since then, McCarthy has visited Haiti more than six times in the past four and a half years.

Continuing the mission

Leyda said that the continued growth of Averyday Ministries allows McCarthy to give a voice for her daughter.

Her mission is to make people aware that kids can make a difference, Leyda said. Whether it is in your local community or whether it is in a little community in Haiti, just little things we can do to help each other and be thankful. And I think that is her mission  to empower ourselves and others and to keep Averys spirit of giving and generosity and thoughtfulness alive.

And there are no signs of slowing down.

The nonprofit is hosting a concert at the Young Auditorium in Whitewater on Friday, May 26 at 7 p.m. Christian signer and songwriter JJ Heller will perform.

Tickets for the concert are $12 and can be purchased by calling (262)-472-2222.

The concert is so important because I think this is Averys chance to get everyone in a seat together and hear about what she loved  and that is Jesus, McCarthy said. She wanted people to have fun, she loved music and this is what we do to continue it.

The concert is a reminder for people who may be suffering, she added.

You can grow something really beautiful out of something that, at first, appears ugly, she said. And so, for other families out there who are going through something hard, this is an example of you dont have to be in this dark pit that you are left in. You can grow something beautiful from this.
ELKHORN  A Whitewater man was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography and said he never reported the videos because he was afraid of getting into trouble.

Walworth County Judge Phillip Koss sentenced Cedric Braxton, 39, to six years of initial confinement and seven years of extended supervision.

Braxton, who has a lengthy list of previous charges including sexual assault, failure to register as a sex offender, battery, absconsion and disorderly conduct, downloaded two videos of child pornography between April 20, 2015 and April 21, 2015.

The court requires a three-year minimum prison sentence for each count of possession of child pornography.

Victim impact

Prosecuting Attorney Haley Johnson said the videos Braxton downloaded picture real children in compromising situations, with the victims ranging between 1 to 10 years of age.

Johnson added that each victim remained emotionally scarred.

The mother of the victim in one of the series said, to quote her daughter, imagine having your worst picture taken and shared on the internet. Now picture yourself naked, abused, raped for all to see. That is how she feels every day, wondering who will see her next, Johnson read from the victim impact statement.

Public threat

Johnson also mentioned Braxtons lengthy criminal history, including a sexual assault of an unconscious female in 1994 when Braxton was a minor.

Johnson also said another child claimed Braxton forced her to watch an adult pornography video, saying he wanted to replicate the video with her.

Johnson said because of these examples and Braxtons past criminal history, he is a high-risk to the public.

He has a history of noncompliance and sexual abuse and he fails to see the seriousness of his actions and is deemed to be a high risk, Johnson said. Prison  is clearly the only option because of the gravity of his actions and the need to protect the public.

Defense Attorney James Duquette disagreed and said Braxton isnt a threat to the public.

These are all situational crimes, Duquette said. There is no risk of random violence or abuse. These are crimes based on a specific time, place and circumstance.

He argued that deeming Braxton a high-risk offender isnt appropriate based on a Department of Corrections test, which, through seven factors, determines the risk of a reoffense.

There were only two indicators present for Braxton, Duquette said. He is a low risk to reoffend, and he has made no attempt to contact or meet minors.

Duquette said that sentencing Braxton to a long confinement wouldnt be appropriate because he only possessed the child pornography and didnt film, share, buy or spread it.

An appropriate sentence would be four years of initial confinement and four years of extended supervision, he said, adding that Braxton should participate in rehabilitation services through the court.

Sentencing

An emotional Braxton gave his statement after both attorneys spoke.

I apologize to everyone in this court, to my kids, my family and myself, he began. I take full responsibilities for my actions.

He asked Koss to consider Duquettes recommendation for a shorter confinement.

I will do what I need to do to be successful for my family and my children and myself, he said. Im not a monster or a creep, I am none of the above.

Koss found it hard to believe Braxton.

He takes responsibility, but for what? Koss said. He hasnt said what he is remorseful for.

Furthermore, Koss said, he never mentioned any of the victims from the videos or from his life.

If you look at the victim impact statements, you will see that these cases follow the victims forever, he said. It destroys their self-worth and image, because every time there is a court hearing, we have to contact their attorney and get a victim impact statement. This will likely continue past (one of the victims) death.

And Koss said Braxton is partly to blame.

This (type of porn) only exists because of people like you, he said to Braxton. You sought it out, looked for it and downloaded it.

In Koss opinion, Braxton remains a high threat to the public.

He is a risk to every woman and child he meets, and the computer makes him that much more dangerous.

After being sentenced, an angry Braxton spoke up.

You have the wrong idea of me, he said to Koss.

Koss disagreed.

You said that you werent a monster, Koss said. But, in my opinion, you are.
Honoring Cesar Chavez

Op Ed by Ruben Martinez, Ph.D.

Cesar Chavez died near his hometown of Yuma, AZ on April 22, 1993 at the age of 66. Chavez was in San Luis, AZ to assist UFW attorneys defend the union against a lawsuit brought by Bruce Church Inc. (BCI), a giant California-based lettuce and vegetable producer.

Eastern Michigan University's 12th annual Cesar Chavez celebration

YPSILANTI: Eastern Michigan University is the most diverse university in Michigan, which it holds as a defining and singular strength. As part of that, EMU is proud to host various events throughout the year that celebrate all races, cultures and ethnicities.

Por: Isabel Flores, corresponsal La Prensa

DETROIT, MI: La Comision Nacional de Libros de Textos Gratuitos (Conaliteg) cuenta en su portal de internet con el acervo digital de todos los libros de texto gratuitos para el ciclo escolar 2019 - 2020. El catalogo puede consultarse en la direccion: http:/libros.conaliteg.gob.mx De esta manera, los ninos podran mantenerse entretenidos con informacion en su propio idioma y estar al dia con sus materias, mientras se encuentran en casa por la contingencia.

Census 2020: Todos Debemos ser Contados
PRESS RELEASE

American Companies Should Be Involved in Belt and Road Projects, Says Trump Rep at Beijing Forum

May 16, 2017 (EIRNS)National Security Council director for East Asia policy Matthew Pottinger, attending the Beijing Belt and Road Forum for the White House, granted an interview to Chinese financial periodical Caixin, which published excerpts today.

Pottinger said about the forum:

"You can really see there is a shared interest in expanding infrastructure connectivity through high-quality investment, financing. Thats why American companies should really be involved in a lot of projects we are hearing [about]."

He said there will be created a partnership between the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and U.S. companies, in an American Belt and Road Working Group, to serve as the "one node for collaboration in this area." Pottinger stated that there are leading U.S. companies in sectors ranging from engineering to construction materials, and,

"We want to learn about specific projects and make sure there is open and transparent bidding so that American companies can be involved."

He added that the United States and China would not be signing any agreements in the B&R for the moment.

But in an article about the interview in Global Times, Pottinger is quoted saying that the United States has invited China to attend the SelectUSA Investment Summit, which will be held June 18-20 in the Washington, D.C. area. According to their website, the focus of the summit is investment opportunities in U.S state, regional, and local economic development. It includes exhibits of projects and technologies, and is an opportunity to explore foreign investment in American projects.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

Trend:

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the private sector arm of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Association For Azerbaijan-Arab Countries Cooperation (AACC) in order to introduce Islamic banking products in Azerbaijan and to lobby for changes in Azerbaijan banking legislation in order to incorporate Islamic banking.

With the signing of the MOU, the two institutions agreed to cooperate to facilitate information and expertise exchange in order to develop effective cooperation, which may include organising joint investment forums, professional programs, market research, workshops, publications, study tours, qualifications, and much more.

On this occasion, Mr. Khalid Al-Aboodi declared that this MoU is strategic for both parties. We believe it will enhance cooperation between ICD and AACC in the Islamic business and finance sectors, which reflects ICDs determination to deploy all efforts to encourage Islamic finance in the development of the private sector in Azerbaijan and in CIS region.

Mr. Elshan Rahimov, Chairman of AACC added that the political will of Azerbaijan President of Ilham Aliyev plays an important role in the formation of the friendly relations existing between Azerbaijan and Arab countries. Mr. Rahimov said that high-level economical and political relationship in recent years between Azerbaijan and Arab countries, expansion of cooperation between businesses, increasing visitors from Arab countries to Azerbaijan create favorable conditions for the development of the relations.

We consider ICD as strategic partner in Arab region and by signing this MoU we cemented our relationships and it will also help us to define our strategy for coming months. AACC together with ICD plans to host First investment Forum for the investors from Arab countries in October 2017 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD)

ICD is a multilateral organization and a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group. The mandate of ICD is to support economic development and promote the development of the private sector in its member countries through providing financing facilities and/or investments which are in accordance with the principles of Shariaa. ICD also provides advice to governments and private organizations to encourage the establishment, expansion and modernization of private enterprises. ICD is rated AA/F1+ by Fitch and Aa3/P1 by Moodys. For more information, visit www.icd-ps.org.

About Azerbaijan-Arab Countries Cooperation

The decision to create the Cooperation of Azerbaijan and Arab Countries Public Association is timed to President Ilham Aliyevs initiative that 2017 has been declared the Year of Islamic Solidarity in Azerbaijan, and Baku currently hosting the Islamic Solidarity Games. The aim of establishment of the Association, in which, along with Azerbaijani businessmen, entrepreneurs from Arab countries will also be represented, is the strengthening of economic

partnership between Azerbaijan and Arab countries through the promotion of mutual trade and investment, development of friendly relations between the states.


PRESS RELEASE

President Putin: Dialogue with North Korea, Stop the Threats

May 16, 2017 (EIRNS)Before leaving Beijing yesterday at the conclusion of the Belt and Road Forum, President Putin answered questions from the press. On North Korea, which had just carried out a missile test, Putin made clear that Russia opposes any missile or nuclear tests, but put the blame for the situation squarely where it lies:

"...we understand that the recent global developments, in particular blatant violations of international law, invasion of foreign states, regime change and the like, are spurring this arms race,"

he stated. In this context, he advised,

"We should act comprehensively to strengthen the system of international guarantees with reliance on international law and the UN Charter."

He added:

"Dialogue with North Korea must be resumed; attempts to intimidate must stop, and a way to settle these matters peacefully, must be found."

Britains obviously destabilized Daily Mail headlines its coverage:

"Putin tells the West to stop intimidating North Korea: Astonishing comment just hours after Kim Jong-un launches nuclear capable missile."

President Putin also answered questions concerning the Belt and Road summit. He said that representatives of European big business told him,

"It is amazing to see how China is showing greater openness and commitment to an open economy, while the countries that we always looked to as the locomotives of open markets, are acting and talking in a way that frightens us."

Putin reported that, thanks to all that was accomplished at the forum,

"Furthermoreand this was not Chinas initiative, but that of participants in todays meetingwe epxressed the desire to make this a regular event. The President of China, Xi Jinping, who chaired the event, said that the next forum would take place in 2019."

Asked about Russian relations with China, Putin pointed to cooperation in "very promising high-tech areas such as space exploration and aircraft manufacturing." There is also economic cooperation, and "there is military-technical cooperation."

About the recent cyber attack, about which there have been "continued allegations of a Russian hand," Putin reviewed the damage in Russia, and then said,
PRESS RELEASE

South Korean President Moon To Meet Trump in U.S. in June

May 16, 2017 (EIRNS)President Trumps National Security Council senior director for East Asia Matthew Pottinger, after representing America at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, visited Seoul today, arranging for a meeting between President Trump and South Koreas newly elected President Moon Jae-in to occur in late June in Washington.

According to Joong Ang Ilbo, the summit was arranged at a meeting between Chung Eui-yong, the head of Moons security and foreign affairs task force, and Mr. Pottinger at the Blue House, the Presidential Office in Seoul. President Moon joined the meeting for about seven minutes.

Joong Ang Ilbo reports that, according to a Presidential spokesman, Chung and Pottinger

"confirmed that Moon and Trump share the same vision on how to handle the North. Calling the complete dismantlement of Pyongyangs nuclear programs an ultimate goal, Moon and Trump both believe that all possible means including sanctions and talks should be used."

Confirming what both Moon and Trump have said in the past weeks, the spokesman said that both men

"shared views that dialogue witha Pyongyang could be possible when conditions are right and that the two countries should seek a bold and practical plan to achieve that goal."

President Moon said he was pleased with the phone discussion he had held with President Trump, and will send a special envoy to the United States this week to follow up that talk and prepare the official visit.

At the Belt and Road Forum, South Koreas representative to the event, Rep. Park Byeong-seug from Moons Democratic Party, met with Chinese State Councilor for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi, who called for joint efforts to repair South Korea-China relations, which have been severely tense since the decision by former President Park Geun-hye to accept President Obamas demand that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system be deployed in South Korea, despite strenuous objections from China, Russia, and from now-President Moon. Moon had demanded that the new government be allowed to make the decision on THAAD, but the Park government rushed the deployment in before the election.

Although Yonhap News Agency did not report any agreement on THAAD, Park was reported to have told Yang that
PRESS RELEASE

Trump Hardens in Face of Assault: We Will Cooperate with Russia

May 16, 2017 (EIRNS)Twice during the day, Tuesday, President Donald Trump doubled down on his decision to seek strategic and security cooperation with Russia, in the face of howling for his impeachment by the New Cold War yellow press.

In Twitter messages this morning, Trump said that he has "an absolute right" to share information with other nations: "I did it for humanitarian reasons, and I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS and terrorism." He said he wanted to present Russia with "facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety."

Then, after statements at noon with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with some reporters yelling questions, Trump said:

"We had a very successful meeting with the Foreign Minister of Russia. The fight is against ISIS. Our relations are successful on this, and we are going to improve them. Our relations are going to be successful with Turkey as well."

Before the two Presidents met at the White House, the Washington Post edition which charged President Trump with passing secrets to "adversary" Russia, had also given exiled right-wing cleric Fethullah Gulen an op-ed to urge that Trump tell Erdogan to stop purges in Turkey. Trump went into the meetings saying that the two would have "long and hard discussions." "Our relationship is successful, our meetings here today will make it more successful."

After the lunch meeting, they made statements to the press. Erdogan said,

"We agree that we are going to expand our relations in the fields of economy, trade, reciprocal investments, and defense industries. We will cooperate more closely in fighting terrorism. We will not repeat the mistakes of the past." ....

"President Trumps election victory has led to new expectations and hopes in our region."
"Eli Rosenbaum Speaks" Review - Renowned Nazi Hunter at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, Skokie

On Thursday, May 11, 2017, exactly 57 years to the day after the capture of Adolf Eichmann, the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, sponsored a talk by Eli Rosenbaum, former Director, US Department of Justice Office of Special Investigations, (OSI). OSI was the branch of the Justice Department that had been primarily responsible for identifying, denaturalizing and Nazi War criminals from 1994 to 2010, when it merged into the new Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section (HRSPS). Rosenbaum, the current Director of Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy for the DOJs Criminal Division/HRSPS, has been called The worlds most successful Nazi hunter.

The speech at this venue was made even more poignant due to the Museums current feature exhibit, Operation Finale, The Capture and Trial of Adolf Eichmann, closing June 18th. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Adolf Eichmann was one of the most pivotal actors in the deportation of European Jewry during the Holocaust. Eichmann had found refuge in Argentina and lived under the assumed name Ricardo Klement. However, at least one of his sons still retained and sometimes used the name Eichmann, enabling the Mossad to observe, plan and execute a daring capture resulting in a forced removal to Israel, where he was ultimately tried in 1961 and executed by hanging in 1962. Among the fascinating items in the exhibit is the actual bulletproof booth from which Eichmann testified.

Rosenbaum is a passionate and skilled speaker, very generous in extending praise to his colleagues, and his talk was laced with anecdotes and enlivened with slides, but the gist of his speech was eye opening. Despite his 111 successful prosecutions, many of those he prosecutes dont really come to justice- as if any form of retribution could ever be enough- for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the U.S. has no criminal jurisdiction over individuals who were citizens of another country (mainly, of course, Germany), and who committed crimes against persons who were citizens of other countries. Next, many of the former perpetrators hired lawyers skilled in delaying tactics. Finally, the countries of origin resist accepting these individuals, some of whom die before they can be deported. That being said, however, cases investigated and prosecuted under Rosenbaums direction- intriguingly, more than a few involving persons living in Illinois-have resulted in deportations to Europe of Nazi perpetrators subsequently convicted there of participation in tens of thousands of Holocaust murders.

One striking example of Rosenbaums exemplary prowess was his direction of the World Jewish Congress investigation that resulted in 1986 in the exposure of former U.N. Secretary General Kurt Waldheims Nazi past. Subsequently, Rosenbaum was the main author of the much praised book Betrayal: The Untold Story of the Kurt Waldheim Investigation and Cover-Up. Parenthetically, and sadly, even after Waldheims exposure, Austria elected him its President in 1987!

Rosenbaum was most effective in explaining the signal importance of the prosecution of Eichmann, both in terms of the status of such events at the time in question, and in paving the way for the further efforts in this field. By 1960, 15 years after the Nuremberg trials, there was very little worldwide interest in dealing with the perpetrators of this darkest of chapters in the long history of mans inhumanity to man. The sensationally skilled and effective capture and trial of Eichmann focused attention on pursuing justice, attention that Rosenbaum and his colleagues still bring to bear on this issue today.

The trial, widely followed in the worlds media, was later the subject of a number of books, including political theorist Hannah Arendts Eichmann in Jerusalem, 1963. In this work, Arendt coined a phrase with which Rosenbaum took direct and distinct issue, the banality of evil. Arendt theorized that Under conditions of terror most people will comply. Eichmann had emphasized at trial that he was not simply following orders, he himself was a victim!

Like the goal of the Museum itself, the vision of Rosenbaums unit is not simply to redress the Shoa, but to act as a guiding light toward the prevention of genocidal atrocities wherever they exist.

For information and tickets to "Operation Finale" and all the fine programs and exhibits of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Information Center, go to the Illinoisholocaustmuseum website.
Ford Motor Co. is getting leaner as it faces an onslaught of challenges, including slowing U.S. sales, high-tech challengers and its own disgruntled shareholders.

The 114-year-old automaker said Wednesday that it is cutting 1,400 nonfactory jobs in North America and the Asia Pacific region. The company will offer voluntary early retirement and separation packages to about 10% of its salaried workers in departments such as sales, marketing and human resources. It expects the actions to be complete by the end of September.

The cuts are the biggest to Fords U.S. white-collar staff since 2007, when 7,200 workers took voluntary buyout packages.

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In an email to employees, Ford said it wants to strengthen its core business and invest aggressively in new opportunities. Reducing costs and becoming as lean and efficient as possible also remain part of that work, the company said.

Ford isnt the only automaker looking to slim down. Last month, General Motors Co. Chief Financial Officer Chuck Stevens said GM was considering cutting its white-collar staff to rein in costs.

After seven straight years of growth, U.S. auto sales are starting to slow down, which will hurt automakers profits. Sales in Asia are volatile and not as profitable. Turbulence in other markets, such as South America, hasnt helped.

Automakers are also investing heavily in self-driving cars and other new technology. Ford, which has promised an autonomous vehicle by 2021, bought a shuttle service and invested $1 billion in Argo AI, an artificial intelligence startup. Such investments may not pay dividends for years, but automakers cant risk being left behind by nontraditional rivals such as Waymo and Uber.

But some of Fords problems are of its own making. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said Ford should consider exiting unprofitable vehicle lines, such as small cars, or markets, such as India.

Fords U.S. sales are down in part because the automaker doesnt have offerings in popular segments like subcompact SUVs and midsize pickups. And Ford hasnt kept up with rivals in the electric car market. GMs Chevrolet Bolt electric car, with more than 200 miles of range, went on sale last year; Ford is working on an electric SUV with 300 miles of range, but its not due out until 2020.

Ford also recently embarked on an expensive, 10-year plan to remake its Dearborn, Mich., campus.

Fords early-retirement and separation offers will be open to about 15,300 workers, including 9,600 in the U.S., 1,000 in Mexico, 600 in Canada and 4,141 in Asia. The company said it will release more details to employees in June.

Certain areas of the business wont be targeted, including Fords product development and credit divisions. Factory workers and white-collar employees in Fords plants wont be affected. Ford also isnt likely to cut jobs in its emerging businesses, such as its research center in Palo Alto, Calif. Ford said in August that it planned to double its Palo Alto staff, which would mean hiring more than 100 researchers and engineers.

Jonas said he was impressed with Fords decisive action to cut jobs, but he still thinks Ford stock is overvalued. He has a $10 price target on the shares.

Fords shares fell 1.6% to $10.76 on Wednesday.

Fords stock price has fallen nearly 40% in the three years since Mark Fields became chief executive. The automakers executive chairman, Bill Ford, told investors at the companys annual meeting last week that hes as unhappy about the decline as they are.

Were frustrated, but our business is performing well. Were making investments for both today and tomorrow, and I believe thats the right thing to do, he said.

Barclays analyst Brian Johnson, who has a $15 target on the shares, said Fords stock has suffered because the company isnt making splashy moves, like GMs investment in Lyft or Fiat Chryslers tie-up with Waymo, which is owned by Googles parent company, Alphabet Inc.

But Johnson said Ford has a solid strategy and is making quiet moves that could pay off, such as introducing a plug-in hybrid commercial vehicle in Europe.

There was no immediate comment from President Trump, who has needled Ford about taking jobs to Mexico but celebrated the companys U.S. investments.

Ford has been hiring steadily in the U.S. since the recession as vehicle sales roared back to reach record highs. Ford hired more than 15,000 factory workers between 2011 and 2015. In March, it hired 400 engineers from BlackBerry Ltd. to work on connected cars.

But in other regions, it has taken the same strong medicine its now taking at home. Ford offered voluntary buyouts to hundreds of European salaried workers last year as it worked to get that region back to profitability.

UPDATES:

2:30 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details.

This article was originally published at 6:40 a.m.
Orange County firm Five Point Holdings  the master developer behind several marquee California communities  said this week that it closed its IPO, taking in more than $300 million.

The Aliso Viejo company said that underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional 3.15 million shares beyond the 21 million Five Point sold last week at $14 a share. Five Point said it earned a total of about $320 million from the IPO, before offering expenses.

Miami-based home builder Lennar Corp., which had a 40.2% stake in Five Point following the IPO, also agreed separately to invest $100 million in the company.

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Five Point, which was spun off from Lennar in 2009, is planning to use its cash hoard to help build its master-planned communities amid a persistent housing shortage in the state, especially along coastal areas.

The companys projects include Newhall Ranch in the Santa Clarita Valley, Great Park Neighborhoods in Irvine and the Shipyard and Candlestick Point projects in San Francisco.

The companys stock, which trades under the ticker FPH on the New York Stock Exchange, closed Wednesday at $15.99 a share. That was up $1.99, or 14.2%, from the IPO price.

andrew.khouri@latimes.com

Follow me @khouriandrew on Twitter
As U.S. security officials consider expanding a ban on laptops, tablets and other such electronic devices in the cabins of commercial flights, an airline trade group proposed tightening security measures instead.

Passengers on flights to the U.S. from eight Middle Eastern and African countries already are banned from carrying on electronic devices larger than a cellphone. On Wednesday, U.S. Homeland Security officials were in Brussels talking with European Union leaders about possibly banning those devices on flights from Europe too.

An official who attended Wednesdays meeting told the Associated Press that an extended ban to include Europe was off the table for now. The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement Wednesday saying only that further discussions with European Union officials will continue next week in Washington, D.C.

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Expanding the ban to flights from Europe could cost travelers $1.1 billion a year in lost productivity and added travel time, the International Air Transport Assn., which represents 265 airlines worldwide, said in a Tuesday letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly and Violeta Bulc, the European Commissions transport commissioner.

The current ban affects 350 flights a week from the Middle East and Africa; a ban on European flights would affect 390 flights a day, according to IATA. Flights from Europe carried 31 million passengers to the U.S. last year.

 The ban applies to anything electronic other than a smartphone. (March 22, 2017) (Sign up for our free video newsletter here http://bit.ly/2n6VKPR)

Instead, the trade group suggested, regulators could increase the testing of passengers and their bags and electronic devices for traces of explosives, boost the use of explosive-sniffing dogs and deploy more security agents to interrogate travelers.

It is imperative that governments consult with industry to identify ways to maximize the security benefits of proposed measures while minimizing the negative impact on airline operations and their passengers, Alexandre de Juniac, director general and chief executive of IATA, said in the letter.

The current ban  affecting travelers on flights from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Morocco  was imposed in March.

Homeland Security officials declined to elaborate on the reason for the ban, but CNN has reported that terrorists may have developed a way to hide explosives in laptop computers. The reports say that the terrorists may not have the ability, however, to remotely detonate the explosives, and that security officials say a bomb in the cargo hold of a plane might do less damage than one in the cabin.

Banning laptops on flights from Europe would hit business travelers hardest, IATA argued, saying such a ban would keep executives and others from working during the long transatlantic flights.

Businesses will cancel trips rather than risk having laptops checked due to risk to confidential information, IATA said in its letter. This would have implications for future investment and business transactions.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.

UPDATES:

3:15 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect the ending to the Brussels meeting.

This article was originally published at 11:10 a.m.
A warning to the hundreds of thousands of people publicly urging the Federal Communications Commission to keep its tough net neutrality rules:

You might be wasting your time.

Three years ago, a historic outpouring of about 4 million public comments  fueled by a viral video rant by HBOs John Oliver  led the then-Democratic-controlled agency to install strict oversight of Internet service providers to ensure they allow the unfettered flow of online content.

But President Trumps election shifted control of the FCC to Republicans. They oppose the current rules and on Thursday are expected to vote to formally start the process of repealing them.

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This time, the FCCs Republicans have indicated they wont be swayed by the electronic messages flooding the agencys website.

Commission outcomes are not and cannot be decided by poll numbers or letter counts, Mike ORielly, a Republican commissioner, said in a speech last month. A top aide to FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, who is leading the charge to repeal the rules, echoed that view.

Robert McDowell, a former Republican FCC commissioner who has known Pai for years, said the facts on the issue will outweigh the volume of public comment.

Ajit Pai will be data-driven and not poll-driven, McDowell said.

Supporters of the regulations said its still important for members of the public to express their views: The opinions of average Americans could influence judges if a rule change is challenged in court as well as members of Congress if they decide to write net neutrality legislation.

More than 1.6 million comments have been filed in the three weeks since the FCC began accepting them, many spurred again by another net neutrality segment on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on May 7.

Now, as in 2014, a majority of the comments are believed to support the tough rules.

Pai and ORielly could be taking a big risk if they dismiss public sentiment, said Gigi Sohn, who served as counselor to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat who pushed the rules into place.

I say defy the American people at your own peril, Sohn said.

To the extent the FCC is supposed to act in the public convenience interest and necessity, it might be important what the people think, she said, quoting a phrase from the telecommunications law regarding the FCCs oversight of the public airwaves.

In 2015, after a months-long rule-making process, the FCC voted 3-2 along party lines to prohibit broadband providers from slowing Internet speeds for video streams and other content, selling faster lanes for delivering data or otherwise discriminating against any legal online material.

To enforce the rules, the FCC took the controversial step of classifying broadband as a more highly regulated utility-like service under Title 2 of federal telecommunications law. Broadband providers strongly opposed the move.

Wheeler initially had not proposed a reclassification as he began the rule-making proceeding. The process allows interested parties to file comments through the FCCs website. The agency also set up a special email address to receive public input on net neutrality, an issue that had become extremely popular among liberals.

Consumer advocates and digital-rights groups jumped into action. They urged Americans to write to the FCC advocating the tougher Title 2 oversight. Net neutrality supporters also demonstrated outside the FCCs Washington headquarters and one morning blocked the driveway outside Wheelers home.

Oliver turbo-charged the effort with a segment on his show in which he urged people to contact the FCC and push for strong net neutrality rules. A surge in comments in the weeks after the show overwhelmed the FCCs website and led the agency to extend the comment deadline by three days.

In all, about 4 million comments were filed  quadruple what the FCC had received on any previous topic, Sohn said. The FCC had a consulting firm analyze the comments and determined that 75% supported the tough regulatory oversight, she said.

ORielly disputed those figures last month, saying 40% of the comments were opposed to the tough approach.

Later in 2014, then-President Obama cited the large number of comments in publicly calling for the FCC to reclassify broadband providers. And when the FCCs Democrats voted a few months later to enact the rules, they each cited the public input in deciding to reclassify broadband providers.

We heard from nearly 4 million Americans who overwhelmingly spoke up in favor of preserving a free and open Internet, Wheeler said at the time. We listened. We learned.

Sohn said those comments helped push Wheeler toward the tougher approach.

Without a doubt, the fact that there was that kind of public sentiment helped to turn him both on the merits and on the politics, she said.

But Pai and ORielly werent swayed by the public outpouring. They opposed the rules because they said heavy-handed federal regulation would squelch broadband investment. Pai said last month that was why he wanted to repeal them.

The two Republicans shouldnt be swayed by simple comment counts this time either, said Jeffrey Eisenach, a visiting scholar at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute think tank. Eisenach advised the Trump transition team on telecommunications policy.

The job of the FCC is to make decisions based on the evidence about what are very complex markets and technologies, he said.

Eisenach and others have said that many of the public comments arent substantive. In Olivers May 7 segment, he directed people to go to gofccyourself.com  a site his team created  to help them more easily file comments with the FCC. Oliver directed people to tell Pai that you specifically support strong net neutrality backed by Title 2 oversight of ISPs.

Many people did just that, writing short comments with similar, if not the exact, wording. More than 1,800 people filed under the name John Oliver. About 440 people filed under Pais name.

When you get millions of comments that basically say, Net neutrality is a principle that has to be upheld. I dont really know the facts. If you vote against this rule, youre the scum of the Earth, thats not the kind of evidence that the commission should be weighing, Eisenach said.

But Sohn said Americans are busy and even filing a short statement to the FCC shows that the issue is important to them. The agencys leaders should care about that.

To simply kind of wipe your hands of the public submissions is really not what an administrative agency should be doing, she said. Theyve got to take them into account.

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

Twitter: @JimPuzzanghera

ALSO

A brief, strange history of net neutrality (including a series of tubes, a dingo and James Harden)
Marion Anderson, a noted Los Angeles philanthropist who gave more than $100 million to the UCLA graduate management school that now bears the Anderson name, has died.

She was 86, according to L.A. County public records.



For the record: A previous version of this story said that Marion Anderson grew up in Los Angeles. She was born and raised in New York City.

Anderson died on Mothers Day, May 14, the dean of the UCLA Anderson School of Management announced this week. She was the widow of billionaire Los Angeles businessman John Anderson.

Marion believed philanthropy was about purpose and responsibility to the next generation, especially to those less fortunate, Judy D. Olian, the schools dean, wrote in a letter addressed to the Anderson community.

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That the school has lost its matriarch on Mothers Day is especially poignant.

Anderson was born and raised in New York City. She later moved to Los Angeles and married John Anderson in 1967, after his first wife died of cancer.

Following her husbands death in 2011, she served as chairwoman of the familys holding company, Topa Equities Ltd., and helped run the conglomerate he founded.

Topa, based in Century City, counts insurance, real estate and wholesale beverage distribution among its holdings.

Anderson, who the Los Angeles Business Journal estimated this year had a net worth of $3.91 billion, also helped groom the next generation of Southern California business leaders through generous donations.

She and her husband, who attended UCLA as an undergraduate on a scholarship, donated $15 million to the UCLA business school in 1987. The gift put the Anderson name on the institution, and at the time, the money was described as the largest donation by an individual to the University of California.

The couple later gave an additional $25 million, and in 2015, Anderson upped that, donating another $100 million to the school, making her among the 25 Americans who gave away the most money that year, according to a tally from Forbes.

Philanthropy doesnt have to be just about money. No matter how much or how little, get involved, Anderson was quoted as saying, in Olians letter. When you do, you really begin to understand the meaning of what philanthropy is, of what caring is. You get so much back.

Anderson was generous beyond education as well. She gave to the YMCA, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and other organizations.

Since 1989, she served as a Childrens Hospital Trustee and one of her favorite things to do was to conduct walking tours of the hospital so people could meet the faculty and staff, said Paul S. Viviano, the hospitals chief executive.

Marion and her late husband John were fond of the saying, Do the right thing. In this, her actions spoke louder than words ever could, Viviano said in a statement.

Anderson is survived by relatives that include a sister and four children from her husbands previous marriage and their 15 children and 24 grandchildren.

andrew.khouri@latimes.com

Follow me @khouriandrew on Twitter
Misha Govshteyn and his colleagues at the cybersecurity start-up Alert Logic dropped all their projects about a month ago, except for one they deemed a graver threat than the rest.

Someone had stolen never-before-seen hacking tactics from the National Security Agency and posted them online. Working in shifts for 36 hours straight, dozens of Alert Logic engineers in Belfast in Northern Ireland, Cardiff in Britain, and Houston devoted their attention to analyzing the leaked computer code.

What they found could undermine the privacy of the crucial corporate files they protect for 4,000 media companies, retailers and app makers. They developed a way to stop their clients from falling victim to the spying and issued warnings to the public through blogs and social media.

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Several security firms around the world echoed that sentiment, blasting alerts in mid-April instructing systems administrators to tighten defenses because the NSA leak was sure to lead to a cyberweapon, and signs of a brewing attack had emerged.

Its clear the advice didnt reach or sway everyone: The so-called WannaCry ransomware offensive seized an estimated 300,000 computers within the last week, with repairs and other associated costs possibly running into the billions of dollars globally.

WannaCry illustrates the challenge faced by cybersecurity companies as data breaches, credit card theft and phishing become more common. Security researchers regularly sound the alarm  but they fear their warnings are getting lost in a sea.

The problem, they acknowledge, is partially their own making as researchers and firms sometimes overhype threats to gain publicity. But there also remains a gap between external advice and internal action across the corporate cybersecurity landscape.

This is a concern for Govshteyn and others in the industry. Even though WannaCry marked only a temporary inconvenience for most, cybersecurity experts continue to fear the next onslaught could take someones life.

What were doing now with warnings by Alert Logic and other companies in the security industry clearly isnt working, Govshteyn said.

The answer, he says, could be governments holding companies accountable for failing to take proper precautions, especially in the face of warnings.

About a month ago, private researchers announced they had identified computers compromised by breach methods held by the NSA. The fact that they emanated from the intelligence agency was a sign to the researchers that the tactics were more likely than others to prove virulent and highly effective.

At that point, hackers arent believed to have deployed a weapon such as ransomware to lock users files. But they had an entryway to do so if they wanted.

Its highly likely what we saw were precursors to WannaCry, said Govshteyn, Alert Logics co-founder and senior vice president of products.

Alert Logic quickly informed clients, including about two dozen customers whose security practices left open dangerous holes. Other information security companies shared news of thousands of infected computers.

Matthew Hickey, co-founder of Hacker House in Britain, said his teams had been tracking several similar leaks since late last year and saw this NSA-related batch as the most worrisome. As the days went on, Hacker House kept issuing ever-heightened warnings of a Microsoft apocalypse.

The early detection should have led people to update their systems with a patch from Microsoft and adjust firewall settings, said Vladimir Vlaski, founder of Milwaukee firm BelowDay.

Some heeded the advice. But many more apparently ignored it or werent aware. The number of infected computers rose to more than 428,000 from 50,000 in five days, he said.

British computer security researcher Kevin Beaumont said people mocked his prediction that the NSA intrusion tactic would be used to set off a worm  malware that automatically crawls from computer to computer across networks. Many again sidestepped his concerns in the early hours of the eventual worms launch last Friday. It wasnt until hours later, as computers worldwide fell into its grip, that more of the industry galvanized.

Prediction: ransomware worm. E.g. SMB. Somebody uses Equation Group exploit to worm across world and encrypt in process.  Kevin Beaumont  (@GossiTheDog) April 19, 2017

The chatter about the need to intensify security because of the NSA leak may have been drowned out by the news cycle surrounding President Trump in recent weeks, security consultants suspect. The lack of focus on cybersecurity in some corners of the world outside of the U.S. may have also contributed to the damage.

People who were aware of the specter of WannaCry may have brushed aside the issue as overblown. Tiago Henriques, chief executive at Swiss company Binary Edge, can understand why. To many, people such as Henriques might just be the boy who cried wolf one too many times when no creature was lurking.

Its very hard for us in the industry to work through all the noise, so you can imagine what it looks like to people outside, he said. Every time a new vulnerability is released everyone tries to sell it as the most critical thing in the world when sometimes in reality they arent so. Im not surprised that sometimes people dont really listen to us anymore.

At Alert Logic, Govshteyn admits they certainly yelled fire unnecessarily to drum up customers in one case years back.

And we made a decision we would never do it again, he said. It wasnt trivial, but we added to the noise.

He suggested an impartial government institution perhaps could step in to prioritize threats. Until then, he described the closest thing as the Internet Storm Center  a global threat-sharing group sponsored by a for-profit technology training institute in Maryland.

Even if a warning comes from a source widely seen as credible, many of those affected by WannaCry may continue to defer upgrades, whether because of possible software malfunctions or complacency.

Its a horrific idea to run outdated, unsupported systems in mission-critical environments, Govshteyn said. But when someone has made bad decisions this many times, I wouldnt be expecting a warning to matter much.

A test of whether they prove him wrong could soon. The same entity that released the NSA files last month proclaimed Tuesday that it would share more tactics to paying subscribers in the coming months.

Govshteyn said Alert Logic would subscribe, depending on the cost, and the cycle of analysis and warning would begin anew.

paresh.dave@latimes.com / PGP

Twitter: @peard33

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Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

Trend:

The Bavaria-Azerbaijan Business Forum will be held on the occasion of the delegations visit under the direction of the Secretary of State in the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs and Media, Energy and Technology, Mr. Franz Josef Pschierer and the Bavarian companies in Azerbaijan on May 31, 2017, AHK Azerbaijan said May 17.

The forum is organized as part of the delegations trip by Bavarian state officials and Bavarian companies to Azerbaijan in cooperation with the Bavarian Association for International Economic Relations (mbH).

Following the official opening ceremony and company presentations, B2B meetings will be held between German and Azerbaijani companies in the field of mechanical and plant engineering, construction, information and communication technologies, environmental technology, medical services, consumer goods and tourism.

According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Germany amounted to $260.75 million in January-April 2017, 4.66 percent of which accounted for Azerbaijan's total trade turnover.
A Snap Inc. shareholder sued the company Tuesday for allegedly misrepresenting how many people used its Snapchat app.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, James Erickson of Suffolk County, N.Y., blamed Snaps alleged misrepresentations for a drop in the price of the companys shares. Hes seeking unspecified damages and a class-action designation. Such lawsuits  commonly filed after a stocks drop in value  are often struck down.

Ericksons concerns, according the lawsuit, are rooted in allegations lodged by former Snap employee Anthony Pompliano. In ongoing lawsuits in both federal and state courts, Pompliano claims that Snaps metrics tools were insufficient and that executives boasted Snapchat had 100 million users when internal data showed a few million less. Snap has denied Pomplianos allegations and cast him as a disgruntled former employee.

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The Los Angeles company had warned investors before its initial public offering that measuring usage can be challenging. Snap said it adjusted some counting procedures in 2015, and that it was now using what employees believe to be reasonable estimates.

Ericksons attorney, Jennifer Pafiti, didnt respond to a request to comment about whether she had collaborated with Pomplianos legal team.

Snap said in a statement that lawsuits such as Ericksons were not uncommon and that it remained focused on growing our business.

Snap shares closed at $20.78 Tuesday, down from their listing debut of $24 in March.

paresh.dave@latimes.com / PGP

Twitter: @peard33
A note in the press packet for the West Coast premiere of Guillermo Calderons Kiss at the Odyssey Theatre requests that critics not give away details of the plot in their reviews. That will make discussion of the play virtually impossible because any information that would shed light on the experience would qualify as a spoiler. But let me attempt to communicate some aspects of the meaning of the work without completely ruining the surprises the author engineers.

This is the first play written in English by the rising Chilean playwright and director, whose work (Neva, Villa, Diciembre) Ive come to know through productions at REDCAT and the Kirk Douglas Theatre. A rigorously experimental theater artist who is also a screenwriter (Neruda), Calderon is inexorably drawn to those points where art and politics uneasily intersect.

His playfully intellectual style can come across as distantly abstract, as though secrets are being guarded. Access to Calderons dramatic worlds is earned through unhurried attention. The work resists being used by both hostile and friendly agendas; it exists wholly on its own terms.

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The biographical roots of Calderons performance aesthetic invite speculation. An article by Alisa Solomon in American Theatre notes that Calderon was born two years before Augusto Pinochet overthrew Chiles socialist president, Salvador Allende, in a violent coup. His upbringing, clouded by the murder of his uncle by Pinochets security police, stressed caution. Politics were discussed by his middle-class family, but the conversation stayed inside the home.

Theater has provided a vehicle for free expression for Calderon, but he has used it more for exploration than editorializing. Committed to the process of making art, he has found in the politics of collaboration expansive material for his questing intelligence.

Calderon sees the political universe in an artistic grain. Social relations in the rehearsal room not only reflect patterns in the wider society, but they bring a heightened awareness of the ironies and contradictions in how we negotiate between fictional realms and the workaday world.

Kiss, directed by Bart DeLorenzo, revolves around the performance of a Syrian soap opera that plays like the Middle Eastern equivalent of a telenovela. A group of actors from an unspecified country discovered this script, set in Damascus in 2014, on the Internet. The presentation is intended as a gesture of solidarity with the people of the war-ravaged country.

Calderons play is divided into three movements, each of which forces us to reconsider what weve seen before. I had some difficulty making sense of the final section of the play  uncertain whether the staging was compounding the dramas blurriness or honoring it. My faith in DeLorenzos actors was shaky at times. I appreciated their energy, but Calderons work requires more severity before havoc can be meaningfully unleashed.

The questions posed by the play are profound. How can one culture ever know the circumstances of another? What is lost when a work of art is divorced from its communal context? How does the challenge of playing a character mirror the fumbling guesswork in all our relationships? Can the trauma of war be shared?

Kiss isnt easy for a critic to discuss, but its gratifying to contemplate.

         

Kiss

Where: Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A.

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays (check for additional performances); ends June 18

Tickets: $25-$34

Information: (310) 477-2055, Ext. 2, or www.odysseytheatre.com

Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

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A Star Is Born: Morgan Freeman turns 80 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) I like to play characters who are the absolute opposite of me. I think the farther you get from yourself, the more fun you have because the real you is hidden away. Those are the kind of parts where you can become totally empty and let the character fill you up. Thats what I look for -- a role that gives me a chance to be someone completely different.  Morgan Freeman, 1993 FROM THE ARCHIVES: No Sweat: Morgan Freeman Slides Into the Directors Chair Facebook

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Chloe Grace Moretz addresses body-shaming controversy over Snow White movie By Josh Rottenberg (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Actress Chloe Grace Moretz has long been known as a strong voice when it comes to issues of feminism, whether its over-sexualization of female characters or equal pay for women. Now shes speaking out against the marketing campaign behind one of her own projects. Moretz went on social media Wednesday to address criticism that marketing for the animated film Red Shoes and the 7 Dwarfs  an updated tweak on the Snow White story, with Moretz as the voice of the classic fairy-tale character  engages in body-shaming. I have now fully reviewed the [marketing] for Red Shoes, I am just as appalled and angry as everyone else, this wasnt approved by me or my team, the actress wrote. According to the website of the South Korean animation studio behind the film, its story centers on a Princess who doesnt fit into the celebrity world of Princesses  or their dress size. When she puts on a pair of magical red shoes, she instantly becomes skinnier. The films synopsis promises an empowering message in which Snow White learns not only to accept herself, but to celebrate who she is, inside and out. But the films trailer and other marketing materials have been blasted as fat-shaming. Plus-size model Tess Holliday took to Twitter to criticize a billboard for the film that appeared at the Cannes Film Festival, where Red Shoes was seeking distribution, that suggested that the less svelte Snow White was no longer beautiful. How did this get approved by an entire marketing team? Why is it okay to tell young kids being fat = ugly? @ChloeGMoretz pic.twitter.com/PVhgwluGTM  Tess Holliday  (@Tess_Holliday) May 30, 2017 Hearing the complaints about the films tone-deaf marketing, Moretz agreed  and told her more than 3 million followers so in a pair of tweets. I have now fully reviewed the mkting for Red Shoes, I am just as appalled and angry as everyone else, this wasn't approved by me or my team  Chloe Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) May 31, 2017 Pls know I have let the producers of the film know. I lent my voice to a beautiful script that I hope you will all see in its entirety https://t.co/IOIXYZTc3g  Chloe Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) May 31, 2017 Even as she apologized, she promised that the marketing doesnt represent the complete picture and the films ultimate message is a far more positive one than initial impressions may suggest. The actual story is powerful for young women and resonated with me. I am sorry for the offense that was beyond my creative control https://t.co/HZP2ydPCAX  Chloe Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) May 31, 2017 Facebook

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Singing tween ventriloquist from Americas Got Talent is the cure for what ails you By Christie DZurilla Had enough outrage? Heres the cure for what ails you, courtesy of Americas Got Talent. Take a deep breath, exhale slowly and witness one Darci Lynne Farmer, a 12-year-old singing ventriloquist from Oklahoma City, who on Tuesday night got the Golden Buzzer from AGT judge Mel B for a performance that exuded unadulterated joy. Armed with bunny-puppet pal Petunia on lead vocals, Darci Lynne delivered a surprising version of Summertime for her audition. She ended up earning a ticket straight to the competitions live shows. You made my heart melt, said Mel B, who Darci Lynne later dubbed the best Spice Girl. I believe that that rabbit is a real separate person, judge Howie Mandel said. I love you. I believe youre gonna go far. You just changed your life tonight, young lady. https://t.co/VZmgRXv4PZ  Darci Lynne (@ItsDarciLynne) May 31, 2017 Facebook

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John Legend makes case to take canceled drama Underground elsewhere By Nardine Saad (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) John Legend is making a case for the recently canceled TV drama Underground to be picked up by other content providers. The Oscar-winning musician, who is an executive producer and played abolitionist Frederick Douglass on the Underground Railroad-centered show, rallied fans to give it a second life when cable broadcaster WGN America announced Tuesday it would be canceling the series after two seasons. The network has been scaling down its investment in original programming as part of a deal that its parent company, Tribune Media, made with conservative-leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. Sinclairs purchase of Tribune gives it control of more than 200 local TV stations and WGN America. The shift was not lost on Legend, who fired off a series of tweets to promote the content brought forth by Underground and its creators, Misha Green and Joe Pokaski. WGN America has been bought and is going a different direction strategically. We will find a new home for Underground! he tweeted, adding, Content wins. Were not reliant on a particular network to make great content. Were so proud of our show and the audience that supported! Legend, who has made no secret about his liberal politics, cautioned fans to be wary of Sinclair and claimed that theyre trying to make local stations mini Fox Newses that lean even further to the right. He completed his plea by asking followers to feel free to drop some hints to the network/streaming services you want to pick up #Underground. Show them who will be watching! View Instagram post Despite Underground being a terrific and important series, it no longer fits with our new direction and we have reached the difficult decision not to renew it for a third season, Peter Kern, president and CEO of Tribune Media, said in a statement. It is our hope that this remarkable show finds another home and continues its stories of courage, determination and freedom. Sony Pictures Television, the studio that produces Underground, is said to be trying to find it a new home. See The Times roster of new, returning and canceled series here. Facebook

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Liam Gallagher plays new music at Manchester benefit show By August Brown In the wake of the terrorist attack outside an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, scores of artists joined forces to raise money for the victims. Among them was Liam Gallagher, the former singer and frontman for the citys most beloved rock band, Oasis. Gallagher played a benefit show for the bombing victims on Tuesday at the O2 Ritz Manchester. At the show, his first as a solo artist, he played several new songs, including the single Wall of Glass, which you can watch above. It was a preview of his forthcoming solo LP, As You Were. (Previously, Gallagher fronted the post-Oasis rock band Beady Eye.) For Oasis fans, he played several classic tracks, including Be Here Now with Oasis guitarist Paul Bonehead Arthurs and an a cappella take on Live Forever. Facebook

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CNN fires Kathy Griffin from New Years Eve show over controversial Trump picture By Christie DZurilla (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) Kathy Griffin is out of a job at CNN. The cable network on Wednesday terminated its agreement with the comic, who for years has co-hosted its New Years Eve program with Anderson Cooper, after a photo of Griffin holding a bloody, severed head in the likeness of President Trump went viral on social media. The image, taken by photographer Tyler Shields, elicited strong criticism from liberals and conservatives alike. Griffin apologized for the gory image in a 30-second video posted online Tuesday night. I beg for your forgiveness, Griffin said in the video. I went too far. Trump denounced the image Wednesday, calling it Sick! and saying Griffin should be ashamed. CNN has terminated our agreement with Kathy Griffin to appear on our New Year's Eve program.  CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 31, 2017 Facebook

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Lebanon officially bans Wonder Woman from theaters By Josh Rottenberg If you live in Lebanon, Wonder Woman wont be coming to a theater near you anytime soon. On Wednesday, the country officially banned the superhero film just hours before it was set to arrive in theaters. The ban followed an effort by a group called Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel, which urged the Lebanese governments Ministry of Economy and Trade to block the film because its star, Gal Gadot, is Israeli. News of the ban, which had been the subject of speculation since Monday, was announced on social media by Lebanons Grand Cinemas and Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel. Lebanon has had a contentious relationship with the state of Israel for decades and has an official law on the books that encourages boycotts of products from its neighbor to the south. Israeli citizens and anyone whose passport shows theyve traveled to Israel are prohibited from entering Lebanon. Earlier films featuring Gadot, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Furious 7, have successfully screened in theaters in Lebanon, however. Batman v Superman, which introduced Gadots Wonder Woman, was the third biggest hit at the box office in Lebanon last year. And, as has been pointed out, Wonder Woman was, in fact, made by three companies based in America and two based in China, so calling it an Israeli product is debatable. But, on its Facebook page, the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel complained that Gadot had served two years in the Israeli Defense Forces (national military service is mandatory for Israeli citizens over 18) and boasted about the army training her for Hollywood. Wonder Woman lands in American theaters on Friday and, fueled by overwhelmingly positive reviews, is expected to perform strongly. Read our recent profile of director Patty Jenkins, in which she explains why the world needs Wonder Woman, right here. Facebook

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If President Trumps got the whole world in his hands, Trevor Noah says were in trouble By Robert Lloyd Having caught fire too late Tuesday for late-night TV, and with several hosts extending their Memorial Day weekend, the #covfefe hashtag would have to wait at least until Wednesday for its monologue moment. There were, however, some late-night-related tweets reacting to Twitter addict @realdonaldtrumps since-deleted mistyping of what is assumed to be the word covering or coverage. What makes me saddest, wrote Jimmy Kimmel, is that I know Ill never write anything funnier than #covfefe. The account for CBS Late Late Show poked some fun at Trumps gaffe, too. who do you want to see on the next covfefe karaoke  The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) May 31, 2017 Meanwhile, Trevor Noah and Comedy Centrals The Daily Show were back after a week off, above, catching up with President Trumps whole first trip abroad. International Hand Stuff was the name of the segment, which framed the excursion in terms of the presidents mitts. There were references to Trump touching the glowing white orb and Jerusalems Western Wall (they build one wall 2,000 years ago, Noah said in his Trump voice, zero Mexicans in their whole country); the question of whether First Lady Melania Trump swatted away her husbands hand on the tarmac in Tel Aviv (leave it to Fox News not to recognize what rejection from a woman looks like); and Trumps power handshake from new French President Emmanuel Macron (the first time that President Trump was on the receiving end of an unwelcome hand grab). The last manual metaphor was given to the German chancellor, who, after her visit with the American president, said, We Europeans must take our fate into our own hands. Yeah, said Noah, clearly Angela Merkel got one look at Trump and was like, All right, our fate is in our own hands, because his clearly ruin everything they touch. Jimmy Kimmel also looked at Trumps trip abroad, which he described, with probable irony, as spreading joy and optimism all over the world. Titled Drunk Donald Trump: Sicily, the segment replayed a portion of Trumps speech at half-speed. The effect is uncanny. Later, sitting outside on some steps -- urine-stained steps, apparently -- Kimmel asked a series of kids, who really do say the darnedest things, about the state of the union. If we measure a late-night host solely by an ability to engage with children in a way thats friendly, direct, deadpan and mostly honest, Kimmel is in a league with David Letterman, nearly. How did he think Donald Trump was doing, Kimmel asked one boy. Not really well, the child replied. My sister told me that Donald Trump is against another state. Which state? Is it  Nebraska? Yeah, Nebraska. A lot of people are happy that he is bombing Nebraska, said Kimmel. (I did say mostly honest.) Do you think it was a good idea? No, replied the boy, cause they have, like, better bombs. I think theyre going to be OK, though, I really do, the host said. Once football season starts, theyre usually pretty solid. Facebook

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Kathy Griffin apologized for that bloody severed-head stunt. But few are forgiving her By Nardine Saad (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) First Lady Melania Trump is the latest detractor of Kathy Griffins bloody depiction of the presidents decapitation. As a mother, a wife, and a human being, that photo is very disturbing, FLOTUS said in a statement to NBC News. When you consider some of the atrocities happening in the world today, a photo opportunity like this is simply wrong and makes you wonder about the mental health of the person who did it. Griffins photographs and video by photographer Tyler Shields showed the comic straight-faced, holding up a blood-splattered severed head that appeared to be Trumps. The president denounced Griffins stunt, saying that she should be ashamed of herself and that the piece greatly disturbed his 11-year-old son, Barron. Griffins apology wasnt accepted by some on Twitter either, which spewed a variety of reactions, including several right-wing jabs that Griffin had been radicalized by Islamic State, the terror group that frequently beheads its victims. Several also sympathized with the presidents family, citing TMZs story about Barron believing that something horrible had happened to his father when he saw the images on the news. CNN subsequently fired Griffin from her co-hosting duties for its New Years Eve broadcast, and she has also been dropped as a spokesperson for Squatty Potty. Trumps eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., was delighted by the bathroom footstool makers response but criticized CNN for not immediately doing the same. So Squatty Potty pulls the plug on Kathy Griffin, but CNN still evaluating and weighing their options, the presidents eldest son tweeted. Insane whats going on there!!! He then added, Apologies for my last tweet. I didnt mean to group Squatty Potty with CNN. Obviously one of them has moral/ethical standards. Griffins CNN compatriot, Anderson Cooper, who co-hosts the giggle-filled New Years Eve show for the cable news channel, did not come to his pals defense. For the record, I am appalled by the photo shoot Kathy Griffin took part in. It is clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate, Cooper tweeted. CNN host Jake Tapper also said on the air that he thought the beheading imagery by Griffin about the president was disgusting and inappropriate. For the record, I am appalled by the photo shoot Kathy Griffin took part in. It is clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate.  Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) May 31, 2017 For those asking, I said on air that I thought the beheading imagery by Griffin about the president was disgusting and inappropriate.  Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 30, 2017 Meanwhile, others believed that Griffins apology was a step in the right direction. Kathy Griffin did the right thing by apologizing. That sort of behavior, that sort of message, isn't acceptable in any setting.  George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 31, 2017 I think she did the right thing asking for forgiveness and acknowledging that this was a horrible mistake, so I think she can, Minnesota Democrat and former Saturday Night Live writer Sen. Al Franken told CNN on Wednesday. Kathys a friend and shes a terrific comedian, but this had no business being in our public discourse..., Franken said. And I talked to her. She has apologized  a real, fulsome apology. Shes actually begged for forgiveness, and I believe in forgiveness. Still, there was more snark to be had. Kathy Griffin's stupid photo was gross & offensive. She should lose her leadership role in the DNC and no longer be a candidate for office.  Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) May 31, 2017 Update, 10:55 a.m.: Story added news that CNN has fired Griffin from its New Years Eve broadcast. Facebook

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Melania Trump questions Kathy Griffins mental health after inflammatory photo shoot By James Reed President Trump and Melania Trump (Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images) As a mother, a wife, and a human being, that photo is very disturbing. When you consider some of the atrocities happening in the world today, a photo opportunity like this is simply wrong and makes you wonder about the mental health of the person who did it.  Melania Trump, responding to Kathy Griffins controversial stunt involving a severed head in the likeness of President Trump Read More Facebook

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A Star Is Born: Clint Eastwood turns 87 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) If you want to be in for the long haul, you just have to trust your judgment about the material. ... If you go whoring for the money, the audiences will figure you out. They know when youre being a jerk, when youre just trying to get them in a room and show them a movie you dont even care about.  Clint Eastwood, 1993 FROM THE ARCHIVES: Clint, closing in on El Dorado Facebook

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This Is Us not moving to Thursdays, after all By Yvonne Villarreal Consider it a flash-forward flashback: Poised to help NBC reclaim its Must See TV glory on Thursday nights, This Is Us is now staying put in its Tuesday time slot before the switch even happened. The breakout drama from last season will keep hold of the 9 p.m. hour on Tuesdays where it performed mightily in its debut season, the network announced Tuesday. Itll retain its lead-in, The Voice. The move means some rejiggering for Thursdays. The revival of Will & Grace, which was slated to open the night, will now kick off the 9 p.m. hour. It will be surrounded by comedies Superstore, The Good Place and Great News to create a two-hour comedy block. Chicago Fire will take up the 10 p.m. hour instead of Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders. That drama will keep its This Is Us lead-in by moving to Tuesdays. Heres NBCs revised schedule: Tuesdays 8 p.m.  The Voice 9 p.m.  This Is Us 10 p.m.  Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders Thursdays 8 p.m.  Superstore 8:30 p.m.  The Good Place 9 p.m.  Will & Grace 9:30 p.m.  Great News 10 p.m.  Chicago Fire Facebook

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Erin Moran died of cancer, autopsy report confirms By Christie DZurilla Erin Moran is shown in 1992. (Wally Fong / Associated Press ) The coroner reportedly says Happy Days actress Erin Moran died of complications from cancer and cancer alone. Thats in line with what her husband said in an open letter written shortly after her death on April 22 at age 56. Tests showed no illegal narcotics were involved in her death, according to an autopsy report obtained by TMZ on Tuesday from the coroners office in Harrison County, Ind. Moran struggled with substance abuse earlier in her life, and media assumptions about her cause of death were amplified by a comment from Scott Baio during an early morning radio interview April 24. When Baio learned his former costar had been battling cancer, he fell all over himself trying to set the record straight. I was asked ONLY about Erins troubled past due to drug & alcohol abuse. I was still upset and said I felt that living that kind of a lifestyle will catch up with you and nothing good would come of it, he said on Facebook. THIS WAS BEFORE THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS ANNOUNCED STATING STAGE 4 CANCER. One of the former child stars brothers, Tony Moran, told the Sun on May 30: My first thoughts were she must have had a heart attack caused by years of substance abuse. She has always battled demons and in recent years things have gone from bad to worse. In reality, as described by her husband, Moran had discovered last December that she had squamous cell carcinoma of the throat. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, by April she could no longer speak, eat or drink. She had a feeding tube. Baio posted the open letter from Steve Fleischmann, Morans husband of nearly 24 years, on his own Facebook page April 25. It got so bad so fast, Fleischmann said. The coroner told me it was really really bad. It had spread to her spleen, she had alot of fluid in her lungs and part of her brain was infected, Fleischmann wrote. The coroner said even if she was in the hospital being pumped full of antibiotics she still would not of made it. He said it was the best that she was with me and went in her sleep. Facebook

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WGN America cancels Underground, but will it really be the end? By Yvonne Villarreal  A chat with Aisha Hinds and Jurnee Smollett-Bell, the badass women from Underground. WGN America has canceled slavery-era-set drama Underground. The fate of the series, which centered around the Underground Railroad, seemed doomed given how the network has been scaling back its investment in original programming. Until now, the drama, from creators Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, had stood as the lone original scripted series on the network following the recent cancellation of Outsiders. The shift away from original programming comes after Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., the conservative-leaning Baltimore-based company, announced it had agreed to buy Tribune Media in a deal that would give it control of more than 200 local TV stations and WGN America. As WGN America evolves and broadens the scope and scale of its portfolio of series, we recently announced that resources will be reallocated to a new strategy to increase our relevance within the rapidly changing television landscape, Peter Kern, president and CEO of Tribune Media, said in a statement. Despite Underground being a terrific and important series, it no longer fits with our new direction and we have reached the difficult decision not to renew it for a third season. Kern added: It is our hope that this remarkable show finds another home and continues its stories of courage, determination and freedom. Sony Pictures Television, the studio that produces Underground, is said to be trying to find it a new home. When Underground stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Aisha Hinds stopped by the Los Angeles Times video studio last week, both seemed hopeful that Undergrounds story wasnt over. We havent heard anything yet on the status of Season 3, said Hinds, who joined Season 2 portraying Underground Railroad icon Harriet Tubman. But I do know there is quite a bit more of this story to tell. And I know that we have engaged viewers waiting to see the story. If WGN is not our home, well find a home. Facebook

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Lebanon might ban new Wonder Woman because of stars Israeli heritage By Libby Hill A new foe has arisen to oppose Wonder Woman at the box office: Lebanon. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Lebanon is seeking to ban Warner Bros.'s new Wonder Woman movie because lead actress Gal Gadot is an Israeli. On Monday, Lebanons National News Agency reported that the Ministry of Economy and Trade was adopting measures necessary to ban the film from screening. Relations between Israel and Lebanon have been strained since Israels independence in 1948, with Lebanon still abiding by the Arab League boycott of Israel adopted in 1945. Lebanon does not recognize the State of Israel and does not accept Israeli passports or passports indicating a person has entered Israel. But is Wonder Woman an Israeli product? The film is produced by five production companies DC Films, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel and Unusual Films, Tencent Pictures and Wanda Pictures  three companies based in the United States and two in China. Gadot, however, is proud of her heritage. She served two years in the Israel Defense Force as required by the countrys conscription requirements and has posted in the past in support of IDF during the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. The ban of the film would have to move quickly, as screenings are scheduled to begin in Beirut on Wednesday. But such action would require approval from a six-member committee from the Ministry of Economy, a process that had yet to begin, according to the Associated Press. Wonder Woman debuts in U.S. theaters Friday. 4:10 p.m.: This article was updated with information from Lebanons National News Agency. Facebook

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Olivia Newton-John has a new cancer diagnosis; her June shows are postponed By Christie DZurilla (Esteban Felix / Associated Press) Olivia-Newton John has reluctantly postponed her June concert dates after learning that the back pain shes been waylaid by recently is caused by breast cancer that has metastasized to her sacrum. I decided on my direction of therapies after consultation with my doctors and natural therapists and the medical team at my Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia, the 68-year-old singer said Tuesday in a statement on social media. Those therapies include a short course of photon radiation therapy in addition to natural wellness therapies, the statement said. Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, at which time she underwent chemotherapy after a modified radical mastectomy with reconstruction. Her treatment also included acupuncture, which she said helped her with nausea, as well as yoga, meditation and massage. Three weeks ago, Newton-John postponed her May shows, with her team citing a bad issue with Olivias sciatica. Now, her June shows in the U.S. and Canada have been put off. Ticket-holders are being directed to venues for refunds, and any rescheduled dates will be posted on Newton-Johns official website. Olivia ... is confident she will be back later in the year, better than ever, to celebrate her shows, the Tuesday statement said. Facebook

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After Cannes delay, Victoria & Abdul trailer debuts By Amy Kaufman One week after Focus Features scrapped plans to unveil the trailer for Victoria & Abdul during the Cannes Film Festival, a preview of the upcoming British drama has debuted online. Set in 1887, the film stars Judi Dench as Queen Victoria and follows the monarch as she strikes up an unlikely friendship with a Muslim Indian (Ali Fazal) who has traveled to the U.K. to deliver a ceremonial coin to her majesty. Focus, which is owned by Universal Pictures, was set to debut the trailer last Wednesday but postponed the release after the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, on May 22. A source told The Times the decision was made in part because a big piece of marketing right after the attack could seem insensitive. Directed by Stephen Frears, Victoria & Abdul is set for release at the start of awards season in September. The trailer centers on the real-life relationship that blossomed between the two, with Abdul going from servant to teacher while informing the queen about everything from the Koran to the joys of Indian mangoes. Facebook

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Ready for Alanis Morissettes Jagged Little Pill as a musical? Its happening By August Brown (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) Alanis Morissettes angsty, groundbreaking 1995 album, Jagged Little Pill, always seemed like it had enough melodrama to make it into a theatrical production. Now its coming to a stage in Massachusetts. The new production of Jagged Little Pill, helmed by Juno writer Diablo Cody and director Diane Paulus, will debut at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge next May. The musical will feature songs from the LP  famed for its unsparing look at relationships  along with other music from Morissettes catalog and Pill producer Glen Ballard. This team that has come together for this Jagged Little Pill musical is my musical theater dream come true, Morissette said in a statement. The chemistry between all of us is crackling and I feel honored to be diving into these songs again, surrounded by all of this searing talent. Facebook

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Reunited Brady Bunch kids fondly remember Florence Henderson on Today By Nardine Saad It was a very Brady reunion on Tuesday. The Brady Bunch kids Barry Williams (Greg), Christopher Knight (Peter), Mike Lookinland (Bobby) and Susan Olsen (Cindy) came together on NBCs Today show to reflect on the iconic family sitcom and pay tribute to its late matriarch, Florence Henderson, nearly 50 years after the show debuted in 1969. The syndicated series about a blended family of six children and their housekeeper has permeated the pop culture zeitgeist with its unmistakable style and earworm theme song. With numerous parodies and attempted reboots in its wake, the comedy has endured because of its wholesome values, the cast members said. What you have on The Brady Bunch is something youre not going to see these days, which is a family where the parents and the kids respect each other today the formula is get the parents out of the show for the kids shows, said Olsen, a.ka. the youngest one in curls. You know how you dont grow old for yourself until you see yourself in a photo? Somehow you just dont see it, Knight explained. Its as though the show keeps us young in everyones mind, but were really this old. Added Williams: Everyone always refers to us as kids. No matter how we mature, were still the kids. After acknowledging that they would always be best known for The Brady Bunch, the actors said, they realized early on that they would never be able to walk away from the series at different stages of their careers. For Williams it was when a teenage girl asked him to sign an autograph for her mother and for Lookinland it was when he realized that his fans now had grandchildren. Knight said the show was always going to be in the room before me and it was always going to be in the room after me. Olsen, who claimed that she had written some off-color lyrics attached to the theme song, added that you spend a little while trying to run away from it, but you cant. Its like having a hunchback. You cant disguise it, so you might as well dress it up. As for their TV mom, Henderson, who died in 2016, the kids remembered her fondly. Everyone she met felt better about themselves and about the world around them after having spent a moment with Florence, Knight said. She was a mentor, a friend. We learned from her, added Williams. We learned how to interact with the public. She was so gracious with her fans, and we all learned how to do that graciously. Mostly she loved to make people laugh. You probably know that if youve been in her space. Facebook

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Prince William talks about taboo of mental illness and death of Diana in new interview By Libby Hill As the 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales approaches, her son Prince William has opened up to British GQ about the loss. I would like to have had her advice, William told the magazine. I would love her to have met Catherine and to have seen the children grow up. It makes me sad that she wont, that they will never know her. The prince was just 15 when his mother was killed in a high-speed car crash on Aug. 31, 1997, and he and younger brother Harry were left to deal with their grief under great public scrutiny. While Prince William has of late found the words to speak publicly about his mother, the journey to that place has not always been easy. It has taken me almost 20 years to get to that stage, William said. I still find it difficult now because at the time it was so raw. And also it is not like most peoples grief, because everyone else knows about it, everyone knows the story, everyone knows her. View Instagram post It may have taken years, but William and Harry have found a way to honor their mother in a fashion that she would likely greatly appreciate: charitable work. Known as the Peoples Princess, Diana was a tireless advocate for those in need and worked to destigmatize AIDS in the 1980s, to fight the use of landmines and to better the lives of the underprivileged. In the last year, William and his brother, alongside Williams wife, Kate, have expanded their involvement in Heads Together, a mental health campaign led by the Royal Foundation, which aims to start a productive conversation about the reality of mental illness. Smashing the taboo is our biggest aim. We cannot go anywhere much until that is done. People cant access services till they feel less ashamed, so we must tackle the taboo, the stigma, William said. The Heads Together campaign has sparked several headlines for the royal family in recent months. In April, Prince Harry admitted that the death of his mother left him very close to a complete breakdown for which he finally sought professional help three years ago. The experience that Ive had is once you start talking about [mental health], you suddenly realized, actually, youre part of a big club ... and everybodys gagging to talk about it, Harry said during the Mad World podcast with Bryony Gordon. The GQ interview is not the only conversation that Prince William has had recently about mental health, either. He participated in a highly publicized FaceTime chat with Lady Gaga on the matter. In the interview, Prince William acknowledged that his public persona might suggest otherwise, but privately, he is impassioned about the issue. I cannot understand how families, even behind closed doors, still find it so hard to talk about it. I am shocked we are so worried about saying anything about the true feelings we have, the prince said. Prince Williams full interview with British GQ is available in its July issue, on newsstands June 1. Facebook

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Ariana Grandes mom has a message for Manchester bombing victims By Christie DZurilla Joan Grande, left, and Ariana Grande in September 2015. (Kevin Mazur / Getty Images) Days after daughter Ariana Grande issued a statement about last weeks post-concert bombing in Manchester, England, mom Joan Grande posted her own thoughts about the incident that left 22 dead and scores more injured. I join my daughter in extending my help & services to all those affected by the diabolical act of terror which occurred in Manchester! she wrote on Twitter as a Memorial Day message that also thanked U.S. servicemen and women. My heart goes out to all the victims: those who lost their lives, those injured, those recovering & all survivors of that night, along with the families and friends whose grief knows no bounds. The elder Grande was still in her front-row seat at the show, about to go see her daughter backstage, when the suicide bomb went off, TMZ reported. Mama Grande took about 10 kids who were seated around her to safety backstage, the website said. Ariana Grande similarly offered her assistance to those in need on Friday in a statement declaring her intention to return to the incredibly brave city of Manchester for a benefit concert. We will never be able to understand why events like this take place because it is not in our nature, which is why we shouldnt recoil, the Bang Bang singer said. We will not quit or operate in fear. We wont let this divide us. We wont let hate win. #MemorialDay pic.twitter.com/oUDmB7VD6x  Joan Grande (@joangrande) May 29, 2017 Facebook

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A Star Is Born: Annette Bening turns 59 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) "[W]hen they teach you to act, they teach you about objectives. You have a need -- a kind of emotional imbalance -- its not neurotic, but you want something. I try to consciously beef up that motivation in order to intensify what Im doing. You get an image in your head of what you want and then you find a way of expressing that.  Annette Bening, 1991 FROM THE ARCHIVES: Regarding Annette Facebook

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Swedens The Square wins Palme dOr and Sofia Coppola wins best director at Cannes By Los Angeles Times Swedish director Ruben Ostlund reacts on stage after he was awarded with the Palme dOr for the film The Square during the closing ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP / Getty Images) Ruben Ostlunds The Square, a ferocious drama of conscience, according to Times critic Justin Chang, about how a single lapse in judgment can cause a mans entire life to unravel, won the Cannes top prize, the Palme dOr on Sunday. The Grand Prix award went to Robin Campillos 120 Beats per Minute. Sofia Coppola won best director for her film The Beguiled, which stars Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell. Kidman also won the festivals 70th anniversary prize. Joaquin Phoenix won best actor for Lynne Ramsays You Were Never Really Here and Diane Kruger won best actress award for Faith Akins In the Fade. More coverage to come. Meanwhile... Here is what Justin Chang wrote about Ostlunds The Square, and Steven Zeitchiks interview with the director, who talked about the element of surprise in his movies: I really like scenes that when they end where you dont know 100% where to put them. It starts funny or it starts sad and then it becomes something else. When you get that shift, you know youve succeeded. Read More Facebook

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A Star Is Born: Kylie Minogue turns 49 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Axel Koester / For The Times) I have this following  mainly young girls. This album had to appeal to those fans. If the singing was too R&B, they wouldnt like it, I guess. These producers think pop music is candy music. Theyre saying: Here, kids, have a piece of candy.  Kylie Minogue, 1988 FROM THE ARCHIVES: Fame, fortune, but no respect Facebook

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Gregg Allman, pioneer of Southern rock, dies at 69 By Nardine Saad Gregg Allman performs with the Allman Brothers Band in 1979. (George Rose / Los Angeles Times) Gregg Allman, the gravel-voiced singer who helped lift the Allman Brothers Band to prominence with a hard-churning brand of soulful rock that became part of the soundtrack of the 1960s and 70s and set the coordinates for a musical genre known as Southern rock, died Saturday at the age of 69. According to a statement posted on his official website, Allman, who had canceled concerts and entire tours in recent years as he battled a variety of health issues, passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Ga. Read More Facebook

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70 years of Cannes in 17 seconds: The art of the yacht deal, from Steven Spielberg to Steve Bannon By Steven Zeitchik  Steven Zeitchik, Justin Chang and Kenneth Turan are bringing us Cannes moments from the 70 years of the international film festival -- in 17-second increments (or thereabouts). Here, Zeitchik, with Chang behind the camera, recalls the time he wound Steven Zeitchik, Justin Chang and Kenneth Turan are bringing us Cannes moments from the 70 years of the international film festival -- in 17-second increments (or thereabouts). Here, Zeitchik, with Chang behind the camera, recalls the time he wound up on a yacht with a future member of the Trump administration. Facebook

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70 years of Cannes in 17 seconds: The time Sofia Coppolas Marie Antoinette was booed By Justin Chang Steven Zeitchik, Justin Chang and Kenneth Turan are bringing us Cannes moments from the 70 years of the international film festival -- in 17-second increments (or thereabouts). Here, Chang, with Zeitchik behind the camera, recalls the year Sofia Coppolas Marie Antoinette played in competition and was booed by certain members of the media audience.  Steven Zeitchik, Justin Chang and Kenneth Turan are bringing us Cannes moments from the 70 years of the international film festival -- in 17-second increments (or thereabouts). Here, Chang, with Zeitchik behind the camera, recalls the year Sofia Cop That same year, when the film debuted in theaters, Times critic Kenneth Turan looked back on the boos at Cannes and concluded the reaction wasnt just about the filmmaking. Here is the essay he wrote on Oct. 13, 2006: -------------------- WHO OWNS HISTORY? And, more to the point, who owns Marie Antoinette? Though theyre not usually phrased that way, those questions have swirled around Sofia Coppolas quietly exuberant new film about the doomed young French queen (only 18 when she ascended the throne, 37 when she was executed) since it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year to some scattered  and widely misunderstood  boos. For the displeasure came not, as might be expected, from the French critics -- whod already seen the film and whose generally positive notices were already on record in Le Film Francais, the French trade paper -- but from political types who had an ax to grind about the films portrait of the woman in question. Read More Facebook

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Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor split after 17 years of marriage By Christie DZurilla (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor have split up after 18 years together, 17 of them as husband and wife. With tremendous love and respect for each other, and the 18 years we spent together as a couple, we have made the decision to separate, they said Friday in a joint statement. Our priority will continue to be raising our children as devoted parents and the closest of friends. We kindly ask that the media respect our privacy at this time. The Zoolander director and the Brady Bunch Movie actress met in L.A. in 1999, while he was developing a pilot in which she was going to star. They started dating that April and by November were engaged. They got married in May 2000. Stiller, 51, who proposed to Taylor while he was doing Meet the Parents, told Parade in 2013 that art imitated life when he was about to pop the question. I asked her father for permission before I did it, he said. It was like Meet the Parents in real life, because Christines father is an intimidating guy who owns a security company; were good friends now, but at the time I was in the basement rec room saying, I really would like to marry your daughter... Why the basement? " He was trying to find a place to sort of secretly ask my dad if it was OK to ask my hand in marriage, Taylor told New York magazine in 2008. The Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story costars have two kids together, daughter Emma, 15, and son Quinlan, 11. Facebook

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70 years of Cannes in 17 seconds: The home away from home for luminaries By Kenneth Turan  Kenneth Turan, Justin Chang and Steven Zeitchik are bringing us Cannes moments from the 70 years of the international film festival -- in 17-second increments (or thereabouts). Here, Turan, with Chang behind the camera, brings us to the historic Hot Kenneth Turan, Justin Chang and Steven Zeitchik are bringing us Cannes moments from the 70 years of the international film festival -- in 17-second increments (or thereabouts). Here, Turan, with Chang behind the camera, brings us to the historic Hotel Splendid, which over the last 146 years has been a home away from home for luminaries ranging from the French composer Jacques Offenbach to the late critic Roger Ebert. Facebook

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L.A. music fixture Rodney Bingenheimer will leave KROQ next month By Mikael Wood Rodney Bingenheimer, the veteran radio DJ and rock-scene insider familiar to several generations of Los Angeles music fans, is ending his long-running show on L.A.'s KROQ-FM (106.7) after more than 40 years. Rodney on the ROQ will air for the final time on June 4 at midnight, Bingenheimer, 69, wrote on Facebook Thursday. It has been an amazing run, and I will be thanking all of you when I say goodbye to KROQ next week, he said in the post. I am planning on some special callers and special music as I say a proper goodbye. In a statement to The Times, KROQ program director Kevin Weatherly called Bingenheimer one of the most influential voices on the radio and said he and his staff will forever be grateful for the indelible mark that Rodney on the ROQ has left on this station, our listeners and the alt-rock music scene. Bingenheimer launched his show on the influential modern-rock station in 1976, four years after he opened Rodneys English Disco, a nightclub on Sunset Boulevard popular among the decades glam acts. On the radio, Bingenheimer quickly became known for championing new artists including the Sex Pistols and Blondie; he continued playing music by up-and-coming talent over the years, throwing his considerable enthusiasm behind the likes of Oasis and Coldplay. In his Facebook post, Bingenheimer  the subject of a 2003 documentary called Mayor of the Sunset Strip  didnt say why he was leaving KROQ. But he noted that hes not retiring from music. As this chapter closes, he wrote, I will be opening another chapter of my rock life soon. Heres his full statement on Facebook: Facebook

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Ariana Grande to hold benefit concert in incredibly brave city of Manchester By Christie DZurilla (Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images) Ariana Grande on Friday announced her intention to return to the incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with fans and play a benefit concert to assist victims of the suicide bomb attack launched after her show in the British city earlier this week. I have been thinking of my fans, and of you all, non stop over the past week. The way you have handled all of this has been more inspiring and made me more proud than youll ever know, the 23-year-old singer said in a statement on social media. The compassion, kindness, love, strength and oneness that youve shown one another this past week is the exact opposite of the heinous intentions it must take to pull off something as evil as what happened Monday. YOU are the opposite. Grande gave no details about when she would return other than to say theyd be coming as soon as things were confirmed. The statement was her first since a brief tweet after the bombing saying she was broken and so so sorry. That day, Grande and her mother left Britain for Florida. She acknowledged her own reaction to the incident in saying she was sorry for the pain and fear you must be feeling and the trauma that you, too, must be feeling. She also talked about not wanting to go the rest of the year without being out there for her fans; at this point, her tour has been suspended only until June 5. There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you are feeling or to make this better, she said to the victims of the attack and their loved ones. However, I extend my hand and heart and everything I can possibly give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way. Those who were most tragically affected, Grande said, will be on my mind and in my heart everyday and I will think of them with everything I do for the rest of my life. View Instagram post Facebook

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Equality, not feminism, is the watchword at Wonder Woman premiere By Sonaiya Kelley Victoria Ikerd from San Diego, left, and Sylvia Vale from Culver City strike their best Wonder Woman pose. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) The stars of Warner Bros. Wonder Woman took to the red carpet outside Hollywoods Pantages Theatre Thursday night to celebrate the films premiere with a unified message. It just wasnt the message some people might expect. I think the world needs all types of superheroes, director Patty Jenkins said when asked why we need Wonder Woman. What a beautiful message right now because were in a dark place, and thats the only way were going to get to the other side, if everyone becomes a hero. (Warner Bros. canceled the films London premiere after Mondays attack in Manchester.) Despite the obvious girl power on display, many of the films stars and creators shied away from identifying it as a feminist film, hoping not to isolate the male fans in attendance. SEE PHOTOS FROM THE WONDER WOMAN PREMIERE  I think that the film just takes a great character and tells a great story about how that character came to be, Charles Roven, the films producer, told the Los Angeles Times. Obviously the character wouldnt be who she is if she wasnt a woman, but shes a very specific woman, Roven added. Theres no other superhero character in the DC Universe who embraced their legacy and knew what they wanted to be and became [it]. And thats completely inspirational to everyone, not just women. Read More Facebook

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Bella Thorne and Scott Disick together in Cannes? Legit nothing By Christie DZurilla (Joshua Blanchard / Getty Images, left; Lars Niki / Getty Images) In whats been called a battle of strategic hookups between exes Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, Bella Thorne has put up a white flag and flown away. Disick, 34, and Thorne, 19, were seen Monday at LAX on their way to the Cannes Film Festival, where  surprise!  Kardashian, 38, was already hanging out and getting handsy with Younes Bendjima, a 24-year-old boxer-turned-model. According to E! News, the latter twosome is for real but keeping it light. The Kardashian ex and the actress from The DUFF? Perhaps not so much. Thorne and Disick raised eyebrows Wednesday with a high-profile cuddle-fest by a pool in Cannes. Alas, by Thursday, word has it via TMZ, Thorne wasnt comfortable with her party-boy travel partner when he got his drink on: After tweeting Thursday that Yo this #cannes fancy life isnt for me, she told one person that she had been doing Legit nothing trolololo with Scott and another, Hahahah Im not talking to scott or anyone else. Scott is partially using Bella and a few other girls as a crutch to make Kourtney upset and feel jealous, a Keeping Up With the Kardashians"-related source told People on Thursday, sounding like a description of an upcoming episode of the show. They are both playing this game with each other and at the moment neither one of them are backing down. Around 3 a.m. Friday, Cannes time, Disick was paying attention to another lady, putting this pic of his and Kardashians 4-year-old daughter, Penelope, up on Facebook: Um, hashtag #supersad? Bye Cannes you were boring Thorne said Friday on Snapchat, posting video from the seat of what appeared to be a private plane. Kardashian, Bendjima and half-sis Kendall Jenner left Cannes on Friday as well. Yo this #cannes fancy life isn't for me  BITCHIMBELLATHORNE (@bellathorne) May 25, 2017 @bellathorne bells, what were you doing with Scott?  chrystal (@justintheslayer) May 25, 2017 Legit nothing trolololo https://t.co/t9eW4B17oI  BITCHIMBELLATHORNE (@bellathorne) May 26, 2017 Facebook

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Netflix cancels London premieres of Orange Is the New Black and GLOW By Libby Hill The fatal terrorist incident at an Ariana Grande concert Monday in Manchester, England, continues to resonate throughout the entertainment industry. Netflix canceled its plans for a London premiere for Season 5 of Orange Is the New Black and the pilot for GLOW, the latest series from Orange creator Jenji Kohan. Following the terrible events in Manchester on Monday night, we have decided to cancel our special screening of Orange Is the New Black and GLOW on Tuesday [May 30], a Netflix spokesperson told The Times on Friday. Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragedy. According to those knowledgeable about the decision, the streaming services choice to forgo its screenings comes from internal discussions only, not from any pressure from local authorities. This is just the latest cancellation in the wake of Mondays tragedy, which took the lives of 22 individuals, including victims as young as 8 years old. On Wednesday, Warner Bros. scuttled plans for a London Wonder Woman premiere, originally scheduled for May 31. Similarly, Universal Pictures announced Thursday that it had canceled its London premiere for The Mummy originally slated for June 1. Facebook

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Oasis Liam Gallagher schedules Manchester benefit show By Mikael Wood (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times) Former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher will play a hometown concert next week in Manchester, England, to benefit the families of Mondays bombing at the Manchester Arena. Its outrageous, the singer told the Manchester Evening News regarding the terrorist attack that killed 22 people following a concert by Ariana Grande. There are kids and people dying all over the world. And for what? He went on to say, I want to try and help pick people up. People like me, doing what we do, its our duty to give people a good time. The show, scheduled for Tuesday night at the O2 Ritz, will serve as Gallaghers first solo gig and comes ahead of the release of his debut solo single, Wall of Glass, from an album expected in October. Facebook

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Body-slamming? Late-night hosts remind us that Donald Trump once did that on TV By Yvonne Villarreal Lest America forget the nations history of political candidates with body-slamming tendencies, the late-night circuit offered a refresher course Thursday night. Playing catchup to Wednesdays news that Greg Gianforte, the billionaire Republican candidate in Montanas special congressional election, had allegedly body-slammed a Guardian reporter after the journalist asked him about the Republican healthcare bill, TV hosts weighed in on the matter. Think about that, Late Night host Seth Meyers said. The GOP healthcare plan is so bad, Republicans would rather body-slam reporters than answer a question about it. His response to the question, Meyers continued, was to give the reporter a preexisting condition. Late Show host Stephen Colbert expressed faux skepticism about Gianfortes ability to move past the incident and win the election. That happened the night before the election, Colbert said. I just dont know how anyone could vote for a candidate who body-slams people. Cue a clip of Donald Trump performing such a move in 2007 when he appeared on WrestleMania 23" and tackled WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to the ground before shaving his head. I forgot, Colbert said after playing the clip. Nothing matters. During his A Closer Look segment, Meyers also played the Trump clip. That was a thing, a real thing that happened. and we still said Yeah, he should be president. For the record: Gianforte won Montanas special election Thursday. Facebook

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A Star Is Born: Stevie Nicks turns 69 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times) I think if people like to dress like a gypsy and they get a little inspiration from me to do it, then its great. Its definitely something everyone should try at least once in their lives. Dress like a gypsy!  Stevie Nicks, 1997 FROM THE ARCHIVES: Airy Godmother Facebook

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For the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, see how fans packed L.A. theaters in 1977 By Los Angeles Times Staff When the original Star Wars opened on May 25, 1977, only about 40 theaters across the country initially screened the movie. In Los Angeles, fans packed showings in ways theater managers and moviegoers had never seen. For the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, we revisit this story examining the earliest stages of the Star Wars phenomenon. The Times originally published this story on June 4, 1977. Read More Facebook

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George Lucas predicted Star Wars Disney future in 1977 interview with The Times By L.A. Times staff Happy 40th anniversary, Star Wars! Before the first-ever Star Wars premiered on screens across America on May 25, 1977, Los Angeles Times writer Paul Rosenfield sat down with the creator of a galaxy far, far away. Then 33, George Lucas was just a few days shy from the release of his space opera, prophetically claiming that Star Wars was the movie he thinks Disney would have made when Walt Disney was alive. Who knew decades later that the droids and the mouse would reside in the same castle? This story was originally published on June 5, 1977, and titled, Lucas: Film-Maker With the Force. (Also from our archives, read The Times original Star Wars review here.) I think of this as a movie Disney would have made when Walt Disney was alive ... I call it space opera. Thats a genre thats been around a long time, in the books of Burroughs and Heinlein, but never really done on film.  George Lucas in 1977 Read More Facebook

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Guns N Roses is playing Los Angeles again By Mikael Wood Guns N Roses will play two hometown concerts this fall, the reunited Los Angeles hard-rock band announced Thursday, one Nov. 24 at Staples Center and another Nov. 25 at the Forum. The dates are part of a new extension of GNRs Not in This Lifetime Tour, which launched in April 2016 with a show at the Troubadour that marked the first time in decades that frontman Axl Rose had performed in public with guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan. The tour went on to hit Coachella and Dodger Stadium. Opening acts for the L.A. shows werent announced, but GNR revealed that country singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson will warm up crowds at stadium shows in August in Denver; Little Rock, Ark.; and Miami. Other acts with opening slots on the tour include ZZ Top, Deftones and Royal Blood. Tickets for the newly scheduled concerts go on sale June 3. Facebook

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Claire Foy shoots down Lisbeth Salander rumors: I dont know about any of this By Glenn Whipp Claire Foy (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times) Claire Foys sister called her last week, none too pleased that her sibling hadnt told her that shed be playing Lisbeth Salander in The Girl in the Spiders Web, the long-delayed follow-up to the 2011 David Fincher film The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. My sisters like, Oh, what are you doing? and I was like, Im not doing anything! I dont t know about any of this! Foy told The Times Wednesday in an interview before an Emmy season promotional event for the actress Netflix series, The Crown. Its really weird, Foy added. Ive never experienced that before where theres a rumor about a possible job like this. Its very surreal. News broke last week that Foy was either in talks, eyeing or had been all but cast to play Lisbeth in the reboot of the Stieg Larsson book series. So is Foy, who plays Queen Elizabeth on The Crown, even in the running? No. Im not even in the same arena, Foy said. I cant even contemplate doing anything at all, to be honest, at this present time. The 33-year-old British actress just finished shooting Season 2 of The Crown last week. The ambitious series requires a nine-month commitment, meaning that Foy hasnt had much down time the last two years. She also has a 2-year-old daughter with her husband, actor Stephen Campbell Moore. So you can understand why, when asked about her immediate future, she emphatically states: Good God, no. I have got no plans to do anything. Those sentiments would seem to preclude her from The Girl in the Spiders Web, which is scheduled to begin filming in September to make an Oct. 15, 2018, release date. Then again, when asked what kind of role shed like to do after playing the reserved Elizabeth, a woman nicknamed Shirley Temple, Foy replied: I think I need to play somebody who expresses themselves and is able to communicate on a more open level, something really different. Like the avenging anti-heroine Lisbeth? Well ... Foy answered, with a hint of a smile. Well just have to wait and see. Facebook

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Sony taps Gina Prince-Bythewood to direct Spider-Man spinoff Silver & Black By Libby Hill (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times) Sony continues to get its superhero ducks in a row, with Deadline reporting Thursday that the studio had tapped Gina Prince-Bythewood to direct Silver & Black, a film centered around comic book characters Silver Sable and Black Cat. Prince-Bythewood also will rewrite the script for the film, originally written by Christopher Yost, screenwriter of Thor: The Dark World. Silver Sable and Black Cat are characters that originated in correlation to Spider-Man and have served as both allies and antagonists to the web-slinging superhero over the years. Silver & Black is the latest Spidey-related endeavor for Sony, with Spider-Man: Homecoming, starring Tom Holland, premiering July 7, and Venom, starring Tom Hardy as the sometimes villain, sometimes anti-hero, hitting theaters Oct. 5, 2018. The film will not be Prince-Bythewoods first dalliance with superheroes. She directed the pilot for Freeforms upcoming series Marvels Cloak & Dagger, about two teenagers learning to deal with both superpowers and love. Prince-Bythewood is an experienced director of critically acclaimed films including Love & Basketball and Beyond the Lights, and she is well-versed in the world of television, where Foxs Shots Fired, the show she created and produced with husband Reggie Rock Bythewood, just concluded its first season. The director becomes the latest woman tapped to helm a superhero film, with Patty Jenkins Wonder Woman debuting in theaters June 2. Facebook

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Happy puking: Baywatch is the summer blockbuster critics love to hate By Christie DZurilla  Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron and Priyanka Chopra star in Baywatch. Whats more fun than seeing the new Baywatch movie? Having movie reviewers see it for you! Los Angeles Times critic Jen Yamato was in the Enjoy It for What It Is camp, describing the film thusly: "[I]t not only owns its dumbness but hurtles itself all the way back around through a flurry of genitalia jokes and F-bombs to splash unapologetically in an R-rated surf of winking postmodernism, led by the charismatic Dwayne Johnson, Hollywoods most unsinkable movie star. But although not everyone hates it  64% of audiences dug it, according to Rotten Tomatoes  a lot of reviewers put the bouncing-beach-bodies flick firmly in its place, damning it, and then damning it with faint praise. That said, here are a few snacks, both bad and (relatively) good, from the Baywatch snark buffet. Over at the Chicago Tribune, they took the Yeah, and ...? approach to the review. The Bad: The movies comic instincts... are consistently coarse and frequently scrotal. The Good: The bodies on screen are pretty, which I seem to remember was a selling point of the 1989-2001 TV series. As we said, yeah, and ...? The Roger Ebert website perhaps cut closest to the bone, pulling few punches. The Bad: "[T]his is another one of those raunchy comedies thats barely a movie, that looks like it was edited by dumping a bunch of footage into whatever movie-cutting software theyre using and hitting randomize. The Good: "[T]he movie has a pervading air of crass amiability about it  its almost like a two-hour end-credits gag reel. (Nevertheless, it contains an end credits gag reel.) Now could you tell us what you really think?: Rolling Stone painted a vivid picture of the Baywatch experience. The Bad: Think of yourself sitting down for a big two-hour wallow in instant stupid with a vat of popcorn, slathered in fake butter and possibly a mound of melted M&Ms on top. It feels great chugging it down, then your stomach hurts, your head aches and you puke the whole thing up so you can forget about it in the morning. Thats Baywatch in a nutshell. Happy puking. The Good: Of the recent spate of moldy TV material morphing into movies, with 21 Jump Street on top and CHIPs bringing up the rear, Baywatch barely escapes the basement. One reason it does: The Rock. Helpful! Turns out if you liked 21 Jump Street and CHiPs, this flick is for you! The New York Times loosened up its necktie for this one. The Bad: The digital effects  fire and water, mostly  are lackluster, and the whole thing has a crummy, overcast, second-rate-theme-park look to it. The Good: Like its source material, Baywatch is sleazy and wholesome, silly and earnest, dumb as a box of sand and slyly self-aware. Its soft-serve ice cream. Crinkle-cut fries. A hot car and a skin rash. Tacky and phony and nasty and also kind of fun. Tacky? Phony? Nasty? We didnt know it was a date movie. The Washington Post, of course, just couldnt leave politics out of it. The Bad: Its no shock that the women in Baywatch dont have much to do beyond look good. ... Maybe dodging bad lines was a relief for the actresses. Its not like the screenplay, by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, gives performers a lot to work with. The Good: If, indeed, Dwayne the Rock Johnson ditches Hollywood to become our next commander in chief, Baywatch may be singled out as the low point of his pre-political career. Well, at least Johnson has that out of the way. The Tampa Bay Times went deadpan. The Bad: Imagining Johnson and genetically gifted co-stars in swimsuits is all it took to pitch Baywatch. Director Seth Gordon and six writers didnt come up with much beyond that. The Good: What Baywatch has in its favor is Dwayne Johnson fireman-carrying a dead weight comedy to safety. We think thats a compliment. Maybe. Variety noted the films nods to current market and societal trends. The Bad: Baywatch ... is a stupidly entertaining trash folly, the kind that could only be made today: an obscenity-and-insult-laced, aggressively competent adaptation of a 25-year-old TV show that manages to repackage every aspect of the series except, perhaps, the reason it was popular in the first place. The Good: They wear their butt-hugging red bathing suits with dignity and pride, which makes this a highly sexually responsible Baywatch. The reviewer at the New York Post appeared to be familiar with the TV series global success. The Bad: Even the action scenes need CPR, often undermined by effects so chintzy, you wonder if the money intended for them was instead eaten up by the productions seven-figure waxing budget. The Good: On the bright side, itll probably do killer business in Germany. Wait, were they just dissing the Hoff? Finally, one need go no further than the AV Club to understand Rotten Tomatoes 19% positive critics rating. The Bad: "[N]obody not even the filmmakers cares about Baywatch all that much. Yet the jokes on them: In spoofing something so forgettable, theyve made something even less memorable. The Good: Nobody cares about Baywatch. Nuff said. Facebook

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Seth Meyers says Trumps cruel budget cuts would harm the presidents supporters most By Chris Barton After a number of weeks filled with late-breaking developments on the Trump administrations apparent ties to Russia, Wednesday night was a chance for late-night hosts to sort of catch their breath and essentially choose their own adventure. Jimmy Kimmel focused on the seemingly less-than-happy photos of the pope with President Trump that circulated on Wednesday, while Stephen Colbert took a brief swipe at the $2-trillion double-counting error in Trumps budget. Seth Meyers, however, took advantage of his shows A Closer Look segment to make time for all of the above. After addressing the photo of the stone-faced pope with Trump, Meyers recapped the latest developments in the investigations into whether, among other things, the president engaged in obstruction of justice by firing FBI Director James Comey. But then Meyers took on the administrations proposed federal budget, which could cause harm to many. While noting the budget amounts to a wish list that Congress will battle over, Meyers said the proposals harshness was not to be discounted. What someone wishes for tells you a lot about that person, Meyers said before recounting the many cuts the budget proposes to Social Security and Medicaid. The show then rolled a number of clips in which Trump the candidate promised not to do just that. This budget lays bare just how much of a fraud Trumps campaign was, Meyers added, noting how hard many of these cuts to the social safety net would hit Trump supporters. He then squared off the pointed words of Trump the candidate versus his actions as president to underscore his point. Maybe its better those two never meet, Meyers said. I think they would hate each other. Watch the clip above. Facebook

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Universal Pictures cancels London premiere of The Mummy in wake of Manchester bombing By Libby Hill  Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, Annabelle Wallis and Sofia Boutella star in The Mummy. The specter of Mondays terrorist attack in Manchester, England, continues to loom large. Universal Pictures announced Thursday morning the cancellation of next weeks London premiere of The Mummy, the second such development this week. All of us at Universal have been devastated by the terror attack in Manchester and continue to stand with the community and country as it recovers, the statement from the studio read. Out of respect to those affected by this tragedy we have decided not to move forward with the London premiere for The Mummy scheduled to take place next week. The film, starring Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe, serves as the launch of Universal Pictures Dark Universe, an extended universe that will see the reboot of several classic monsters from the Universal vault, including the Invisible Man and Frankensteins Monster. Cancellation of the June 1 London premiere for The Mummy comes just a day after Warner Bros. nixed its May 31 Wonder Woman London premiere. Ariana Grande, whose concert was targeted in the Manchester attack that killed 22 people, similarly suspended her tour through June 5 on Wednesday. A statement from the artists representatives said the suspension comes until we can further assess the situation and pay our proper respects to those lost. Facebook

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Al Gore on the French Riviera: Why he was reluctant to make An Inconvenient Sequel By Kenneth Turan Former Vice President Al Gore arrives on the red carpet for the screening of The Killing of a Sacred Deer at the Cannes Film Festival. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP / Getty Images) It has not been a very good year for those concerned with climate change. The U.S. is considering leaving the landmark Paris climate pact, a hostile appointee leads the Environmental Protection Agency, and right-wing websites chortle, Trumps Latest Move Will Make Al Gore Fry. But is Al Gore himself despondent or depressed about it all? Not in the slightest. Ive been inoculated in the year 2000, he says, combining a burst of genial good humor with a reference to his presidential election loss to George W. Bush. I now have a resistance to being disheartened, the antibodies are still thriving in my bloodstream. As we all learn, one of the hidden secrets of the human condition is we learn the most from our most painful experiences. Former Vice President Al Gore at the Carlton hotel for the Cannes Film Festival, which is screening his documentary An Inconvenient Sequel. (Stephanie Cornfield / For The Times) To spend time with Al Gore is to meet a man enough at ease with himself to dress as if for a Senate hearing in white shirt, suit and tie even though hes in the south of France; a warm, engaged, surprisingly funny individual whose innate courtesy has him personally hang a reporters sports coat on a nearby hotel room hanger. Yes, he does tend to stay on message when he talks (how could he not) and he likes to draw graphs in the air with his hands (Im going to get a little geeky for a moment, he apologizes with a smile, Im sorry, its a failing). But he combines this with good-humored self-awareness and a fiercely committed intelligence. If you think Im earnest now, you should have seen me earlier, he says. You cant change who you are. At times Ive tried, but Im old enough to stop worrying. Gore is in Cannes to promote the worldwide release of an impassioned and involving new documentary, An Inconvenient Sequel. Due in U.S. theaters on July 28, it brings us up to speed on where the battle against climate change stands more than a decade after the Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Im here for a lot of to-ing and fro-ing is how Gore puts it. I think Ive done 75 seven-minute interviews  Japan, Russia, Brazil, everywhere. The day before yesterday I was live on [the French cable channel] Canal Plus when the interpreter talking in my earpiece was evacuated from his building because of a bomb scare. The questioner was going a mile a minute in French, but because of those 75 seven-minute interviews, I picked up enough key words to fight my way through it. Gore has been concerned with climate change since he took a class with pioneering global warming theorist Roger Revelle as a college student in the 1960s. Not only did Gore never imagine when I was a young man that this would become an all-consuming body of work for me, he also never anticipated that the work would involve the movies. More than that, he was frankly dubious about both of his films. Read More Facebook

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Ellen DeGeneres says shes in for a Netflix stand-up comedy special By Christie DZurilla Ellen DeGeneres is working on a new comedy special  for the first time in a very long time  and this time shes working with Netflix. Looks like its been 15 years since you did a stand-up special. ... How about one for Netflix? the streaming service asked her Wednesday on Twitter. Minutes later, DeGeneres replied, Let me think about it. Ok Im in. Heres how in she is: Im writing it now, I cant wait, DeGeneres said in a statement confirming the upcoming gig. Ill keep you posted when and where Im gonna shoot my Netflix special. Im excited to do it; Im excited for you to see it. Previously, HBO was home for DeGeneres comedy specials: her One Night Stand in 1992, Ellen DeGeneres: The Beginning in 2000 and Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now. The second and third shows notched two Emmy nominations each. In March, the former sitcom star announced shed be returning to prime time with Ellens Game of Games, which shes hosting for six episodes on NBC. No air dates have been set. Its going to be like a combination of American Ninja Warrior, RuPauls Drag Race and a water park, DeGeneres said in a statement. OK, its nothing like that, but you should still watch. Looks like it's been 15 years since you did a stand-up special, @TheEllenShow. How about one for Netflix?  Netflix US (@netflix) May 24, 2017 Let me think about it. Ok I'm in. https://t.co/kUAdHyXAjS  Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) May 24, 2017 UPDATES 2:30 p.m.: This article was updated with confirmation from Netflix and a statement from DeGeneres. Facebook

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Chris Cornells body has been cremated, report says; funeral set for Friday By Christie DZurilla Chris Cornell in 1991. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) The body of Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, who died last week in Detroit, was reportedly cremated Tuesday in Hollywood, and a funeral is planned for later this week. Widow Vicky Cornell, brother Peter Boyle and friends Linda Ramone and singer J.D. King were at Hollywood Forever Cemetery for the cremation, sources familiar with the service told TMZ. Cornells body was flown to Los Angeles from Detroit on Sunday, family attorney Kirk Pasich told Rolling Stone on Monday, and a private funeral will be held Friday. Pasich told Variety on Sunday that public memorials will be held when its decided. The short time between the end of Soundgardens May 17 show and 52-year-old Cornells death was chronicled in a police report obtained by the Detroit News. He and the band walked offstage around 11:15 p.m. May 17. Fifteen minutes later Cornell was in his hotel room, the report said, where bodyguard Martin Kirsten (who used to work for and date Heidi Klum) helped him fix his computer and gave him two Ativan. At 11:35 p.m. Cornell was talking to his wife, Vicky, who said Friday through her attorney that she had been concerned because her husband was slurring his words and told her he might have taken a few too many anxiety pills. She called Kirsten at 12:15 a.m. Thursday and asked him to check on the singer, the report said; the bodyguard kicked in the hotel room door, then the locked bathroom door, and found Cornell. At his final show, Cornell seemed high and was out of character from note 1, lead sound engineer Ted Keedick told TMZ in an interview published Wednesday. He said the Soundgarden frontman did not appear depressed. However, Keedick said: Id never heard his voice that way before. He was having serious control problems. One concert-goer told the Detroit News last week that as far as she could tell, Cornells final show was honestly great. Nothing seemed off. Tuesday at Detroits Fox Theatre, the site of that last performance, Norah Jones played a tribute to Cornell: an acoustic version of Black Hole Sun. Facebook

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Ariana Grande suspends tour through June 5 By Christie DZurilla Ariana Grandes tour has been suspended through June 5, her management team said Wednesday. That includes the cancellation of concerts planned for Thursday and Friday at Londons O2 Arena. Twenty-two people died and at least 59 were injured in a suicide attack Monday night outside Manchester Arena, where Grande had just concluded a stop on her Dangerous Woman Tour. We ask at this time that we all continue to support the city of Manchester and all those families affected by this cowardice and senseless act of violence, the singers reps said in a statement. Our way of life has once again been threatened but we will overcome this together. The dates that have been put on hold until we can further assess the situation and pay our proper respects to those lost, the statement said, are: London, May 25-26

Antwerp, Belgium, May 28

Lodz, Poland, May 31-June 1

Frankfurt, Germany, June 3

Zurich, Switzerland, June 5 The next tour stop after that is a June 7 concert in Paris. Speculation that the tour would be put on hold has been rife since the day after the bomb went off  actually, immediately afterward and before the number of casualties was known, many on social media were already worried that shows would be axed  but the situation had been in limbo until now. An exhausted"-looking Grande returned home Tuesday to Florida, where she and her mother were met at the airport by Mac Miller, who hugged and kissed his girlfriend in an emotional reunion. Facebook

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Warner Bros. cancels London Wonder Woman premiere following Manchester attack By Josh Rottenberg In the wake of Mondays deadly terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, Warner Bros. has announced it is canceling a planned premiere in London next week for its superhero film Wonder Woman. Our thoughts are with those affected by the recent tragedy in the UK, the studio said in a statement. In light of the current situation, we will not be proceeding with our plans for the premiere and junket activities in London. Starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins, the highly anticipated film  which is set in Europe during World War I  will hold its U.S. premiere on Thursday in Los Angeles. It arrives in theaters June 2. The studio faced a similar situation last year when its European premiere of Batman v. Superman was scheduled to be held in London just hours after terrorist attacks struck Brussels, killing 32 people and injuring many others. In that case, the studio said in a statement that it had decided to go ahead with the event rather than yield to terror. But as Britain mourns the 22 people killed in the Manchester bombing, with scores more wounded, and with the countrys security threat level raised to its highest, signaling the possibility of another imminent attack, Warner Bros. clearly determined that the circumstances called for a different course of action. Facebook

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New Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer shows off Spideys tricked-out, Iron Man-style super-suit By Josh Rottenberg Spider-Man has a few new tricks up his spandex sleeve, with the latest trailer for Sonys upcoming franchise reboot Spider-Man: Homecoming offering a deeper look at Spideys newfangled, tech-enhanced super-suit. Courtesy of billionaire inventor/playboy Tony Stark, the suit is embedded with Iron Man-style technology. A Jarvis-like computer assistant informs Peter Parker (Tom Holland) of the 576 possible web shooter combinations he has at his command. A parachute can also be deployed out of the back of the suit when needed, and the chest piece can detach and turn into a drone. For those who prefer their Spidey old-school, though, the trailer also promises a return to Parkers teenage roots  though with a decidedly cockier spin than the shy, alienated high school nerd weve often seen depicted in the comics and onscreen. Hollands Parker is clearly feeling his superhero oats, boasting to Stark of taking down a petty bike thief and raring for bigger challenges, Spanish quiz or no Spanish quiz. (Cue Michael Keatons villainous Vulture.) Informed by his best friend Ned that Stark has installed a training-wheels protocol on his super-suit to disable some of its abilities, Parker gripes, Im sick of Mr. Stark treating me like a kid. But you are a kid, Ned reminds him. Yeah, Parker says, a kid who can stop a bus with his bare hands! Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters July 7. Watch the trailer below. Facebook

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Performers move U.K. concerts after Manchester bombing, but for some, the show goes on By Christie DZurilla Floral tributes in Manchesters St. Anns Square on May 24, 2017. (Jeff J. Mitchell / Getty Images) Manchester Arena has postponed concerts by Take That, an English pop group from the city that was to play there Thursday, Friday and Saturday. But its working to see that a KISS show proceeds next week. Unfortunately, due to the tragic events that unfolded on Monday night, it is not possible for the concerts to take place, the arena said in a statement. These have now been postponed and more information will follow. In another statement, the arena cited the ongoing police investigation. Take That had previously postponed a show at another location, saying Tuesday on its website, Out of respect to all of the people and their families that were affected by the horrific incident last night at the Manchester Arena, we have decided to postpone our show tonight in Liverpool. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. KISS is scheduled to play Manchester Arena on Tuesday, and the venue said it is working on that show with promoters and police. pic.twitter.com/HkR9ilSTSt  Manchester Arena (@ManchesterArena) May 23, 2017 As far as the Ariana Grande concerts set for Londons O2 arena on Thursday and Friday, as of Wednesday morning no decision had been made. Were still in contact with the tour promoters regarding a final decision, the O2 team said on Twitter Wednesday morning. As yet the tour is not officially postponed or canceled, despite media reports. Katy Perry, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Imagine Dragons, Shawn Mendes and the Chainsmokers will all go ahead with performances this Saturday and Sunday in Hull, England, at BBC Radio 1s Big Weekend, according to TMZ. Hull is about two hours from Manchester. Blondie postponed a Tuesday-night show at the Round Chapel in London, saying in a series of tweets the day of the show that the move was out of respect for the victims of the terrible attack at the Manchester Arena, and noting that plans to reschedule the show were in the works. The Afghan Whigs have moved their Friday show to the O2 Ritz Manchester from Manchester Cathedral, which, as of Wednesday morning, was still cordoned off by police. The Ritz said Tuesday that it would stay silent on social media for two days in sympathy with those who lost their lives or were injured, physically or mentally, but that it would have news Thursday about any rescheduled shows. Other acts that had been scheduled to perform in the Manchester area but not in the arena in coming days, including Colour of Noise, Damien Dempsey, Shriekback and the Cranberries, canceled their shows for reasons unrelated to the suicide attack. Most announced those plans well before Monday. Facebook

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A Star Is Born: Bob Dylan turns 76 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times) When people think of me, they are not necessarily going to buy the latest record anyway. They may buy a record from years ago. Besides, I dont think interviews sell records.  Bob Dylan, 1985 FROM THE ARCHIVES: Bob Dylan -- Still A-Changin Facebook

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Late-night TV hosts, U2 plead for love after Manchester bombing By Robert Lloyd After the news, late-night talk shows are televisions most topical forum. We turn there for the satirical distance and perspective that might allow us to process the day and get to sleep  for laughs when laughter is appropriate, but also for a thoughtful response when events go beyond ordinary human folly to the terrible and unthinkable. Mondays suicide bombing after an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, was on the minds of some late-night hosts Tuesday night. Theres really nothing you can say that can approach the shock and the grief of the victims and their families, said Stephen Colbert on Late Show, asking his audience to go online to hear what his CBS colleague James Corden, who follows him on The Late Late Show, had to say the night before. All we can add here, said Colbert, is that following acts of senseless violence like this, its all the more important not to be controlled by fear, but instead to be reminded by the action of people of Manchester who rushed to the aid of their friends and strangers alike. It is just more proof that evil cannot succeed as long as good people are willing to love each other. On NBCs Late Night, host Seth Meyers had similar thoughts. At its best, being at a concert is an incredible collective experience, he said. Its a chance through a shared love of music to connect with, to sing with and to dance with people you dont know.... And so this comes down to the way we treat strangers, and while some cowards chose to treat strangers with hate, from everything I read, Manchester was filled with people last night who provided aid and comfort to help victims who were total strangers to them. He ended with a plea for all of us to not need a tragedy to remind us of the importance of treating those we do not know with love instead of hate. The Irish band U2, in Los Angeles to perform concerts of their own, were among Jimmy Kimmels guests on ABCs Jimmy Kimmel Live. Kimmel brought up Manchester. I imagine that is something you guys have been thinking about, he said. They hate music, they hate women, they even hate little girls  they hate everything that we love, lead singer Bono replied. The worst of humanity was on view in Manchester last night  but so was the best, as people took perfect strangers into their houses and queued up for blood banks. Manchester has an undefeatable spirit, I can assure you. Kimmel wondered how growing up in Northern Ireland in an era of political and sectarian violence had affected their music. It was so commonplace for a number of years, answered the Edge, the bands guitarist, that it just became a constant background to life. And occasionally something particularly awful would happen and it would really affect you  but that was almost the worst of it. You got to the place where [it was] just ongoing every week, every month. Punk rock helped, added Bono. It made us suspicious of partisanship, it made us up suspicious of sectarian ideas. Facebook

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Elisabeth Moss and BBC America join forces for Typhoid Mary limited series By Libby Hill (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) The Handmaids Tale star Elisabeth Moss is wasting no time in lining up new projects. BBC America announced Tuesday its partnership with Moss and Annapurna Television in developing Fever, a limited series focused on the tale of Typhoid Mary. The series will adapt the novel of the same name, written by Mary Beth Keane and set in early 20th century New York, where Mary Mallon is unknowingly transmitting typhus to those around her. She was an immigrant in turn-of-the-century New York, a time of huge change and progress in America, Moss said of the character in a statement released by the network. She was incredibly unique, stubborn, ambitious and in fierce denial of any wrongdoing until her death where she lived out her days imprisoned on an island just off of the Bronx in N.Y. She is incredibly complicated, something I seem to enjoy playing, said Moss. Moss will star in the series and serve as executive producer alongside director Phil Morrison (Enlightened, Junebug) and writer Robin Veith (The Expanse, True Blood). Annapurnas Sue Naegle and Megan Ellison will also serve as executive producers. Facebook

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Universal Music Group CEO on Manchester attack: A level of evil beyond comprehension By Christie DZurilla Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music Group, in November 2016. (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images) Lucian Grainge of Universal Music Group sent a company-wide memo Tuesday, calling it a day of remembrance of victims of the suicide attack in Manchester, England, and acknowledging that emotions were raw. "[W]e grieve for all of those lost there, offering our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones, said the chief executive of UMG, parent company of Ariana Grandes recording label Republic, in a note obtained by Variety. Twenty-two people, one only 8 years old, were killed Monday night and at least 59 were hurt when a bomb exploded as Grandes concert at the Manchester Arena was ending. This hits home for us as a music company, Grainge said, because so many of us, myself included, spend so much time out seeing our artists perform, let alone attending concerts as fans. Thats why weve chosen music as our career  or rather music has chosen us. No UMG employees, including Grande and her crew, were injured in the blast, he confirmed, and help from human resources and security was offered to those with questions or concerns. That said, Grainge continued, the fact that such an unspeakable act can be committed at a place where innocent people  including so many young people  come together peacefully to enjoy music reflects a level of evil beyond comprehension. READ MORE: Suspected Manchester suicide bomber identified as U.K. son of Libyan immigrants>> Facebook

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Ariana Grande returns home to Florida after Manchester attack By Christie DZurilla People attending a vigil for Mondays suicide-attack victims brought flowers to St. Ann Square in Manchester, England, on Tuesday. (Jeff J. Mitchell / Getty Images) Ariana Grande reportedly returned home to Florida on Tuesday after the bombing outside her Manchester, England, concert that left 22 dead and at least 59 injured. As they exited a private plane, Grande, her mom and her dog were met on the tarmac in Boca Raton, E! News said, by family members and rapper Mac Miller, whom the 23-year-old has been dating since last summer. Miller gave Grande a long hug and a kiss, a source told E! It was a very emotional reunion and they stood talking for a minute before getting into the car, t
For a long time, comedy has generally been considered too frivolous for the hallowed halls of academia  the stuff of clubs, not classrooms. But the University of Southern California is determined to shift that attitude, and now comedy legend Robin Williams will be a part of the change.

On June 6, nearly three years after Williams death, USCs School of Cinematic Arts  which in 2011 launched one of the first programs devoted to teaching comedy at a major university  will dedicate a new Robin Williams Endowed Chair in Comedy.

Endowed by the George Lucas Family Foundation, the chair not only honors Williams brilliant comic mind, says Elizabeth M. Daley, dean of the School of Cinematic Arts, but will help further legitimize the notion that comedy is a subject worthy of in-depth study.

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It sets a standard, said Daley. More than anything it says, This is the standard to which we aspire. Its a crown jewel in our comedy program.

When Williams himself was starting out, there were few places within the traditional academic system where a fledgling comedic talent could go to actually study his craft. When he told his father of his dream of being an actor and comedian, his dads response, he recalled while accepting the Academy Award for his turn in Good Will Hunting, was somewhat skeptical:  Wonderful. Just have a backup profession, like welding. 

For Williams family, the naming of a chair in comedy in his honor at a major academic institution like USC is a deeply moving tribute to the late actor  albeit a somewhat surprising one.

I think Dad would find it really exciting, said the actors daughter, actress, writer and director Zelda Williams. I also think hed find it fascinating and confusing. She laughed. Hed be, like, What? Theyre actually going to do that now? Comedy isnt something that I think for a long time anyone even tried to teach. When he was at college, a lot of the way he learned it was by busking on the street.

Williams son Zak says his father always felt that being funny was serious business, a conviction he backed up with a tireless work ethic. He definitely believed comedy should be explored and thought about, he said. Just like there are institutions that focus on acting or dramatic writing, there is a craft thats associated with comedy, and I think its important that people take a critical and thoughtful approach to developing that art.

Robin Williams performs at the Improv in Hollywood in 1979. (Margaret Hartnett / Los Angeles Times)

USCs comedy program allows students in the School of Cinematic Arts to minor in comedy; courses include Foundations of Comedy, Writing the Half-Hour Comedy Series and Directing the Comedy Scene. The school has also mounted three comedy festivals. According to the university, a number of students whove passed through the comedy program since its inception have landed writing, directing and producing jobs in the film and television industries.

Director and producer Barnet Kellman, who teaches film and television production at the School of Cinematic Arts and helped found the comedy program, will be the first holder of the Robin Williams Chair. He says the actor  who committed suicide at age 63 after struggling with a degenerative brain disease called Lewy body dementia  is virtually without equal as an icon in the comedy world.

Robins work and his life represents a level of achievement and a proud identification point for everybody in comedy, Kellman said. He marries the two extremes that those of us who love comedy value. His antic nature and invention on the one hand and the root seriousness which was his driving force on the other.

Indeed, though his comedy could often be gleefully silly, from his earliest days on TVs Mork & Mindy and on the stages of clubs like San Franciscos Holy City Zoo and L.A.s Comedy Store, Williams approach to his work was anything but. He seemed to hold to the same philosophy as the inspiring boarding-school English teacher he played in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society: Just when you think you know something, you have to look at it in another way.

When someone is as good as Robin, what people dont see is the hours and hours of work behind it, says Susan Schneider Williams, Robin Williams widow. (Charles Sykes / Associated Press)

Long after he had achieved wealth and fame, says his widow, Susan Schneider Williams, he considered himself a student of the craft, routinely pushing himself outside his comfort zone to take on new creative challenges and showing up at comedy clubs to watch other comics do stand-up and lend his support. Among his numerous philanthropic endeavors, he funded a scholarship at New Yorks Juilliard School, which he attended, to enable students to study acting.

When someone is as good as Robin, what people dont see is the hours and hours of work behind it, said Schneider Williams. He would read and study and write and learn and rehearse over and over again to find that brilliant point that only he could find.

Whenever he was traveling for work, she added, hed hit the clubs. Other comedians would flock around him like ducklings to their mama duck, and that never got old for him. He really enjoyed that one-on-one contact.

That kind of devotion to craft gives the lie to the pervasive notion that comedy cant be taught, says Kellman. With comedy, theres this attitude that its kind of like sex: You have to learn it on the street  find somebody who does it well and do it with them, he said. Of course, thats crucial to ones development. But to say theres not a time and a place where one can dedicate oneself to developing ones voice, ones craft, ones practice  I just dont buy it.

As for the idea that comedy is somehow too frothy or trivial a subject for an academic setting, Daley rejects that as well. My argument is always: Whats more powerful? she said. You want to talk about the shows that changed society  should we talk about All in the Family? Should we talk about Fresh Off the Boat? Or we can go centuries back and talk about Lysistrata. If you can get people to laugh at things, you can often get them to deal with things.

Kellman says the endowment in Williams name to USCs comedy program  the 30th endowed faculty chair at the School of Cinematic Arts  will help attract more students, draw more Hollywood luminaries to teach and guest lecture, and support new course work in comedy.

When Judd Apatow came to USC, he was there for a while and he left because he didnt feel he could develop his comedy there, he said. If one kid like Judd can now find their way to USC and stay and blossom within our program  I certainly think the credibility the name Robin Williams has is going to help that.

Schneider Williams says shes especially moved that the chair has been endowed by Lucas, who was a close friend of Williams and is one of a number of major filmmakers, including comedy directors like Paul Feig and Jay Roach, who have come out of USCs School of Cinematic Arts.

This gift is made possible out of one mans genius and his love for another mans genius, said Schneider Williams. Thats a beautiful thing. This chair allows Robins efforts to move into the realm of mentorship in a way that he didnt get a chance to do. He and I had started talking about this idea that its important to pass on what youve learned in life, what your path has taught you. This is his opportunity to pass that on.

Im sure Robin is relieved that all of these students wont have to take up welding, she added with a laugh. No offense to welders out there, but were all born for something.

josh.rottenberg@latimes.com

Twitter: @joshrottenberg

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Before the close of the May 17 ASCAP Screen Music Awards, a group of composers and lyricists gathered around a piano to pay tribute to Stephen Schwartz , the legendary Broadway composer as well as an Oscar winner for the scores and songs from Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt.

Having all been mentored by Schwartz, this groups song from Schwartzs smash musical Wicked ended appropriately with the line, Because we knew you, we have been changed for good.

The event

Held at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, the evening honored creators of the most performed music in film, television and video games, concluding with Schwartz receiving the organizations Founders Award. ASCAP is the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

Angela Parrish performs songs from La La Land at the 2017 ASCAP Screen Music Awards at the Wiltern on May 16, 2017. (Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for ASCAP) (Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for ASCAP)

The show

Performances punctuated the award ceremony. Angela Parrish, the first voice heard in the film La La Land, sang the musicals Audition and City of Stars, written by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek (lyrics) and Justin Hurwitz (music). The Gay Mens Chorus of Los Angeles performed a medley of Schwartzs movie music, and composers played their award-winning themes from television, film and video games.

From onstage, Megan Hilty of Smash said Schwartzs music has changed my life in so many ways. Hilty, who starred in Wicked as Glinda the good witch for 4  years for the Broadway, Los Angeles and touring productions opposite 17 different Elphabas, then sang Corner of the Sky from Pippin, which she said had been her audition song for Carnegie Mellon University.

The praises

In conversations before the show, guests couldnt praise Schwartz enough. Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary whose musical First Date has appeared on Broadway and in 75 other productions in U.S. cities and around the world, said they first met their future mentor during high school.

He wrote us a note, Weiner said. He said, You guys are great, and hes mentored us ever since.

Before beginning work on the Tony Award-winning revival of The Color Purple, songwriter Stephen Bray, known for his collaborations with Madonna, said he and his co-writers attended ASCAPs Musical Theatre Workshop, where Schwartz serves as artistic director.

Coming from the pop world, with no real knowledge of how you tell stories with songs, we thought wed better run to the person who knows the most about creating a show, Bray said.

The Gay Mens Chorus of Los Angeles sings a medley of movie music composed by honoree Stephen Schwartz. (Lester Cohen / Getty Images for ASCAP) (Lester Cohen / Getty Images for ASCAP)

The honoree

Early in the evening during a private chat, Schwartz talked of his work with young composers, You have to have talent, but talent alone is not enough. You need very thick skin and you have to have perseverance, adding of his work with young composers, It sounds so noble and altruistic, but its fun to spot talent and find ways to encourage them, and then it enriches my life because then I get to see the great work they do.

Later, while accepting his award, Schwartz said, These amazing composers and lyricists who were out here tonight  the fact that they feel that in some way I have helped them or supported them or encouraged them is a source of immense pride for me.

He then thanked ASCAP for always having his back and allowing him to make a living from what I do.

Ellen Olivier is the founder of Society News LA.

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If you were to find yourself parked outside Thao Family Farm in Fresno  on an outlying side road, surrounded by a seemingly endless swath of farmland  youd likely have no idea you were a few hundred feet from some of the best and most revered produce in California. Odds are, you might not be sure you were outside a farm at all. There is no signage, no public entrance, no stand selling bunches of rainbow chard. Theres just a dirt driveway, an electric gate and an address.

Its a relatively small property, as farms go: The 34 acres translates into about 25 of usable farmland, where all the picking, weeding and planting is done by hand. The farm was founded by Vang Thao, 58, and his wife, Khoua Her, 52, in the early 1990s, but they didnt actually purchase and move to their current property until 2010.

Now, acclaimed Los Angeles chefs  among them Walter Manzke of Republique, Kris Yenbamroong of Night + Market, Jeremy Fox of Rustic Canyon and Josef Centeno, chef and owner of several downtown L.A. restaurants, including Baco Mercat, PYT and Bar Ama  rave about Thao Family Farms produce.

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The Thao family has an unrelenting drive for quality, says Centeno. A big part of my menus come from their vegetables. Its spring now, so the farm is filled with green produce: favas, snap peas, cucumbers, leeks and basil, many of which have made it onto Centenos menu.

Kong Thao, 31, is the third of 10 children and the public face of the company. His job description is that of a modern farmer, and thus includes regularly texting chefs to let them know what produce hell be driving down to the farmers markets  Thao Family Farm attends markets in Santa Monica, Hollywood, Palos Verdes and Torrance. Five of the siblings still live on the farm and work actively, while the rest have jobs and careers in different fields.

On a recent afternoon, Kong walked around his familys property, lifting the front flap of one of several hothouses and showing off the beautiful leafy greens that his farm is known for: bok choy, yu choy, amaranth, murungay (a tropical green also known as moringa), bitter melon tendrils, arugula, Malabar spinach and sweet potato leaves.

Over time, arugula, various chards and collard greens have been added, but those ingredients dont make it to the Thao family dinner table. For them, Kong says, a typical farmers breakfast would be rice, greens and lots of stews. They essentially farm what Vang and Khoua want to eat  and its mostly the same Southeast Asian vegetables they farmed and ate growing up in Laos.

While the Central Valley has an ideal growing climate for a lot of the produce at Thao Family Farm, such as sprouting broccoli, fava beans, snap peas and English peas, it doesnt exactly mimic the climate of Southeast Asia. So the more tender of the greens, such as bok choy and basil, are grown indoors.

People ask, Whats Hmong food?  Kong said of his familys culture and cuisine: The Hmong are a group of mountain-dwelling people of Southeast Asia, many of whom immigrated to the U.S. after the Vietnam War. Kong talked over boiled bamboo shoots and shots of lao-lao, his mothers fermented rice wine. Later, he and his parents, wife Pang Vang and daughter Hailey would gather for a meal of water buffalo prepared two ways, sticky rice, chilled greens and fish. Our food is what we could find, Kong said. My folks, my grandparents, my great-grandparents, we were nomadic people.

In 1975, Im still young, maybe about 15 or something, said Kongs father, Vang. The Communists controlled Laos, so I lived in the jungle for four years. There, while trying to find a way to get to Thailand, he survived mostly on bamboo shoots and mountain yams.

In 1980, the family made it to Thailand and settled in the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp, where Kong and two of his siblings were born. Then in 1988, thanks to family members willing to take them in, and an interest-free loan from a local church, they moved from Thailand to Fresno.

There, the family began farming as laborers, while also learning where to buy seeds and supplies from their cousins. Finally, they got to a point where they could get like two acres, said Kong, grow zucchini and then sell it to a wholesaler.

The growth was incremental. Eventually, they had the space to start farming the food they wanted to eat. Kongs mother knows precisely what she wants, and most important, how it should taste and feel. Everything we do, said Kong, honestly, its all in my moms head.

They began selling at the Palos Verdes farmers market about 25 years ago. A couple years later, a neighbor at the market recommended they start selling at the Santa Monica market, the largest and oldest farmers market in the Los Angeles area, because products like theirs werent available. That also drew the Thaos to the Torrance market, where their produce connected with the large Asian population. The business continued to grow.

But the level of obsessiveness and precision the Thao family is known for also makes theirs a difficult business to scale. Currently, the farm grows close to 300 different fruits or vegetables  not only all those greens but also ginger, tomatoes, Fresno chiles, sprouting Napa cabbage, multi-colored cauliflower, daikon, beets and carrots  over the course of a year.

I want my parents to really back off what they do, said Kong, whose mother and father still work between 100 and 120 hours a week. Physically, emotionally, theyre at the age where they need to retire.

Kong had a lucrative career working on cars while still helping out at the farm on weekends, but he left that job two years ago to work at the farm full-time. He didnt come back because his parents asked him to, he said. My dad wants us to be doctors, lawyers and engineers, Kong said. The way I look at it is, I left my job to help them retire. But Im one of those people where Ive got all these freaking ideas now and Im getting really passionate about it.

Despite their success, larger questions loom: How do you move the business forward? How do you remove the demands on the first generation of family farmers, who already have an unreasonable, irreplaceable job description? To Kong, the simple answer is to limit the quantity of products and sell directly to restaurants and wholesalers.

My dad is like, No. He wants to have a huge display at the market and let people pick whatever they want. Kong muses on the topic a little longer, walking alongside a waterway and looking out over a small crew of workers manually weeding rows of jicama and peanut plants. And thats the hardest part about having Asian parents, he says, laughing.

Find Thao Family Farm at local farmers markets, including Saturdays in Santa Monica and Torrance, Sundays in Hollywood and Palos Verdes, and Tuesdays in Torrance. On Instagram at @kongthao03.

food@latimes.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Wednesday to turn over to Congress records of President Trumps discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Russian ambassador to the U.S., Sergei Kislyak.

Trump came under fire earlier this week after it was revealed that he shared sensitive intelligence with Lavrov and Kislyak. That information had been supplied to the U.S. by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement.

 MORE ON ESSENTIAL WASHINGTON

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Putins offer, made during a news conference in Russia, came as the White House played down the importance and secrecy of the information Trump gave to the Russians.

Trump himself said he had an absolute right as president to share facts pertaining to terrorism and airline safety with Russia. Yet U.S. allies and some members of Congress expressed concern bordering on alarm.

Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting Italian prime minister, Putin said that he would be willing to turn over notes of Trumps meeting with the Russian diplomats if the White House agreed.

Putin joked that that he would reprimand Lavrov because he hasnt shared those secrets with us.

--

President Trump faces big test of his presidency with Republicans, who so far are failing to come to his defense

6:26 a.m.

President Trump faced another threshold day in his presidency Wednesday as Republican allies edged away from him and the Wall Street Journal issued one of its toughest editorials to date

Reactions from Republican members of Congress will play a large role in how deeply Trumps spate of controversies wound his presidency as he prepares for his first trip abroad later in the week.

The Journal, owned by the nations most powerful conservative media figure Rupert Murdoch, titled its editorial Loose Lips Sink Presidencies and warned Trump that his dual storms over his interactions with fired FBI Director James Comey and the security secrets he shared with Russian diplomats could prompt allies in Congress to drift away if he looks like a liability.

Mr. Trump needs to appreciate how close he is to losing the Republicans he needs to pass the agenda that will determine if he is successful, the Journal wrote.

Trump was notably silent on Twitter, at least through the evening and morning, when he tends to send his most incendiary comments to fire up his core supporters and drive the news of the day.

Likewise, top Republicans stayed away from the morning shows.

Charlie Rose said on CBS This Morning that 20 Republicans had declined invitations Wednesday.

Some Democrats and commentators were beginning to talk impeachment. Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, warned them to take a deep breath.

Those Republicans who did appear in public on Wednesday kept their distance from Trump. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) responded incredulously to Russian President Vladimir Putins offer to share information that Trump discussed with his diplomats.

The idea that we would accept any evidence from President Putin is absurd, she told CNN.

Trumps only scheduled public comments will come during a commencement speech at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut. Because the president is traveling, his embattled press secretary, Sean Spicer, will hold an off-camera briefing with a handful of pool reporters on Air Force One rather than his customary televised briefing from the White House.

--

Speaker Ryan urges caution over Trump allegations; rank-and-file GOP stick with president

8:23 a.m.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan declined to weigh in on allegations that President Trump attempted to pressure former FBI Director James B. Comey in the bureaus investigation of links between Russia and Trumps campaign.

Dismissing some of the reports as innuendo, Ryan brushed aside calls for a special investigation or prosecutor.

The Times and other media outlets have reported that Trump asked Comey to back off the FBIs probe of fired national security advisor Michael Flynn. The White House has denied the account, which was first reported by the New York Times.

We need the facts, Ryan said after a morning meeting of House Republicans at GOP headquarters.

He cited the current investigations by congressional intelligence committees and House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetzs request for transcripts and tapes of Trumps conversations.

There are a lot of unanswered questions, Ryan said.

The last thing I want to do is pre-judge anything. ... Were going to keep doing our jobs.

Several lawmakers said they would like to review any available tapes and transcripts of Trumps conversations with Comey, and with Russian diplomats during an Oval Office visit last week. During that meeting, Trump shared intelligence about Islamic State terrorists with the Russians.

But many Republicans dismissed the issues swirling around the White House as media hype that isnt resonating with voters back home.

"I dont get all wee-weed up about this, Rep. Rod Blum (R-Iowa) said. People in Iowa care about jobs."

House Republicans said they didnt spend much time, if any, discussing the events at the White House.

Instead, the meeting largely focused on upcoming special elections for vacant GOP seats that are facing stiff challenges from Democrats.

Freshman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said Trump is sometimes a victim of his off-the-cuff style.

He jokes a lot, said Comer, who has spent time with the president. This is a guy that doesnt measure everything he says like most politicians, and this is the kind of leader Americans voted for, and I think he deserves a chance.

--

Newt Gingrich tells GOP Congress to fight for Trump, or else Democrats will take power

8:45 a.m.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a close ally of President Trump, said its time for Republicans in Congress to either surrender or fight for the president. But surrender, he said, would bring House Democrats and their leader, Nancy Pelosi, to power.

Republicans in general  not just Trump  are in a crossroads, Gingrich said in an interview. And if they dont get their act together, Pelosi is going to become speaker and shes going to impeach Trump. Thats how big the stakes are.

You think the hard left would do anything less? added the man who as Speaker in the 1990s led House Republicans impeachment of Bill Clinton.

Gingrichs rally round advice is in stark contrast to that of some on the right who say this is a moment for Republicans to challenge the president, especially after the latest leaks opened Trump to questions of obstruction of justice. Gingrich has been one of Trumps most stalwart supporters. His wife, Callista, is expected to be nominated as ambassador to the Vatican soon.

Other Republicans have been reticent to speak up in Trumps defense. But Gingrich was fired up and in a chatty mood, speaking by phone during a layover in Frankfurt after several days of speaking engagements in Kiev. He was infuriated with the media, particularly CNN, which he said is giving the rest of the world the impression that America is terrifying right now.

He said questions from his foreign audiences included How close are we to a dictatorship?

Gingrich had advice for Trump and his advisors: Get tougher on the media. He said the White House should cancel briefings  an idea Trump himself has floated  and refuse to respond to damaging stories, which he labeled garbage.

The reason theyre having a tough time in the White House is that they keep kidding themselves about the environment theyre working in, Gingrich said. If youre surrounded by lions and hyenas, feeding them just increases their hunger.

Yet Gingrich worried that his Republican allies in Congress are growing wobbly.

Theyre totally rattled, he said, citing local town hall meetings disrupted by the hard left, other forms of intimidation and even death threats.

You either decide youre going to cave and let the left own America, Gingrich said, or youre going to fight.

Essential Washington: Full coverage of the Trump administration 
Theme-park heaven Orlando, Fla., is the top Memorial Day destination for Americans in what is predicted to be another record holiday travel year, AAA announced Wednesday.

The total number of U.S. travelers expected to take a trip is 39.3 million, a million more than last year and the highest number since 2005.

Southern Californians will account for 3.03 million of those getting away for the long weekend, the Auto Club of Southern California predicts.

As far as destinations go, Seattle and Las Vegas are among the top 10 cities for the May 26 to 29 weekend. Figures are based on reservations made with AAA.

Seattles Space Needle is centerpiece to the skyline view from Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill. Seattle will be a popular place to go for Memorial Day weekend. (Christopher Reynolds /Los Angeles Times) (Christopher Reynolds /)

Top 10 Memorial Day destinations

A lots of Americans are heading overseas, many to Europes top cities. The AAA forecast says 2.9 million people will choose to fly to their destination this year, a more than 5% leap over last year,

1. Orlando, Fla.

2. Rome

3. London

4. Dublin, Ireland

5. Vancouver, Canada

6. Seattle

7. Las Vegas

8. New York City

9. Paris

10. Honolulu

More than 39 million Americans this year will take a Memorial Day trip more than 50 miles from home. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Road trippers dominate travel

Among Memorial Day travelers who are expected to take a trip at least 50 miles from home, most will be hitting the road.

Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City may have the biggest traffic jams on the Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day, according to predictions by AAA and traffic app Waze.

And some travelers may be leaving the family car behind. AAA has seen a jump in car rentals this year  19% higher than last Memorial Day.

U.S. Army soldiers last year marched with miniature American flags that were placed at graves in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. (Brendan SmialowskiI / AFP/Getty Images) (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP/Getty Images)

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USC names retired aerospace executive Wanda Austin as acting president, announces Nikias departure By Harriet Ryan USC appointed a retired aerospace executive as interim president and laid out a detailed plan for selecting a permanent leader Tuesday, ending speculation about whether outgoing President C.L. Max Nikias might remain in the post. Nikias, embattled over his administrations handling of a campus gynecologist accused of sexually abusing patients, relinquished his duties after a meeting of USCs board. The trustees tapped one of their own, Wanda Austin, an alumna and former president of the Aerospace Corp., to temporarily run the university. The trustees also approved the formation of a search committee and the hiring of firm Isaacson, Miller to coordinate the selection of a successor. A second search company, Heidrick & Struggles, will also advise trustees. Read More Facebook

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Ex-student sues elite Brentwood School after teacher is charged with sexually abusing him By Richard Winton A former student sued the elite Brentwood School on Monday in the wake of a female teacher being charged with repeatedly having sex with the minor, alleging that other faculty members encouraged the unlawful behavior and failed to report it to authorities. The lawsuit accuses the private school, whose students include the children of many of Hollywoods elite and L.A.s powerful, of acting negligently and allowing Aimee Palmitessa to abuse and batter the teenager sexually. The suit alleges that the student was abused in summer 2017 after one of the schools counselors offered words of encouragement to the then-17-year-old, identified in the suit as only John Doe, to engage in an illegal relationship with the teacher. Read More Facebook

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Civil jury vindicates fired Montebello school executives in whistleblower case By Howard Blume The Montebello school district is in dire straits  at risk of insolvency and under apparent criminal investigation. An outside audit in July found some teachers earning more than $200,000 a year, as well as improper raises, excess paid vacation time and inappropriate overtime, sick leave and car allowances. Fixing the district and pinpointing blame could take time. Read More Facebook

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L.A. schools fall short on safety measures, new report warns By Howard Blume After the mass shooting at Floridas Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, Los Angeles school officials reassured parents that much had been done to keep local schools safe. California had tougher gun laws, after all, and the school district paid close attention to students mental health. But a new report issued Monday by a panel convened to take a close look offers some cause for concern, flagging inconsistent campus safety measures, thinly spread mental health staff and inadequate coordination between the school district and other public agencies. With the stakes this high, we must strive to do better, said L.A. City Atty. Mike Feuer, who assembled the panel. Read More Facebook

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L.A. school district says more are graduating, but rate may not show it By Howard Blume The L.A. Unified School District has hopes of continuing its winning streak this year with another record graduation rate, but the official numbers may not show it. A senior district administrator warned the board Tuesday that graduation rates were likely to decline 2% to 3% across the state, even though L.A. Unified is likely doing better than ever in producing graduates, he said. The issue is that the state will now count high school students who transfer to adult school as dropouts, said Oscar Lafarga, who heads the districts office of data and accountability. Previously, schools treated these students as though they had simply enrolled in another high school, he said. Read More Facebook

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Betsy DeVos to California: Not so fast on that federal education plan By Joy Resmovits In April, Californias top education officials breathed a sigh of relief. After months of debate and back-and-forth with Betsy DeVos staff, they had finalized a plan to satisfy a major education law that aims to make sure all students get a decent education. The state focused on aligning its plan to fulfill the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act with Californias Local Control Funding Formula, which gives extra money to districts to help students who come from low-income families, are in the foster system or are English learners. But this week, DeVos team said not so fast. Jason Botel, the U.S. Department of Educations principal deputy assistant secretary, sent California education officials a letter asking for more information in such areas as measuring student progress, graduation rates and English learners. In an unsigned statement, the California Department of Education declared itself surprised and disappointed because officials thought  after a meeting with federal officials in Washington  that they were on the right track to get approval. Now the Every Student Succeeds Act plan will be up for discussion once again at the July meeting of the State Board of Education. The U.S. Department of Education has already approved most state plans. Every Student Succeeds is the Obama administrations 2015 replacement for the No Child Left Behind Act. Facebook

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L.A. school board sets a new goal: prepare every grad to be eligible to apply for Cal State or UC By Sonali Kohli Last month, Los Angeles school board president proposed a spate of highly ambitious mandates aimed at ensuring that every district graduate be eligible to apply to one of the states public four-year universities by 2023. By the time the L.A. Unified school board unanimously approved the resolution Tuesday, the original language had been watered down. The goal is no longer that in five years 100% of students meet the long list of benchmarks, which include not just college eligibility for graduates but first-grade reading proficiency and English fluency by sixth grade for all students who enter the district in kindergarten or first grade speaking another language. The original college-readiness goal, for example, called for 100% of all high school students to be eligible to apply to one of the states four-year universities. Now the goal seems to offer more wiggle room: Prepare all high school graduates to be eligible to apply to a California four-year university. Read More Facebook

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We have been hurt. More women say they were mistreated by USC gynecologist By Richard Winton USC student Anika Narayanan says she vividly recalls her first appointment with Dr. George Tyndall at the campus health center, alleging that he made several explicit comments during an examination she felt was inappropriate and invasive. When she came back for a second visit in 2016 after a nonconsensual sexual encounter, he allegedly chastised her, she said in a civil lawsuit and at a press conference Tuesday. He asked me if I had forgotten to use a condom again,  said Narayanan, 21. At one point, she said, Tyndall asked if I did a lot of doggy style,  she said. Read More Facebook

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L.A. Unified gives inspector general brief contract extension By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school board on Tuesday extended the contract of Ken Bramlett, its inspector general, by three months, though his job is far from secure and questions remain about the future direction of his watchdog office. Board members also unanimously promoted Vivian Ekchian, who had been the runner-up for the superintendents job, to deputy superintendent  the districts No. 2 position. Both moves had elements of peacemaking between different factions on the board. Read More Facebook

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USCs handling of complaints about campus gynecologist is being investigated by federal government By Harriet Ryan The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that it has launched an investigation into how the University of Southern California handled misconduct complaints against a campus gynecologist, the latest fallout in a scandal that has prompted the resignation of USCs president, two law enforcement investigations and dozens of lawsuits. In revealing the inquiry by the departments Office of Civil Rights, officials rebuked USC for what they alleged was improper withholding of information about Dr. George Tyndall during a previous federal investigation. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who has been criticized for taking a less vigorous approach to examining sexual misconduct than predecessors, called for a systemic examination of USC and urged administrators to fully cooperate. Read More Facebook

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Judge to sentence woman and her boyfriend for the murder of an 8-year-old that led to L.A. child welfare reforms By Marisa Gerber A woman and her boyfriend are expected to be sentenced Thursday for the torture and murder of an 8-year-old boy whose killing in 2013 provoked public outrage, prompted sweeping reform of Los Angeles Countys child welfare system, and led to unprecedented criminal charges against social workers who handled the childs case. Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, 34, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for her role in the death of her son, Gabriel. A jury decided last year that her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, 37, should be executed. When paramedics arrived at the boys Palmdale home in May 2013, Gabriel had slipped out of consciousness. He had a fractured skull, broken ribs, burned skin, missing teeth and BB pellets embedded in his groin. A paramedic would later testify that every inch of the boys small body had been abused. Read More Facebook

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L.A. Unifieds spending out of step with similar school systems, task force says By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school district is out of step with similar school systems, spending more on teachers pay and health benefits and less on activities that could enhance student learning, according to a new report by an outside task force. The L.A. Unified School District Advisory Task Force did not make specific recommendations, but instead posed a series of questions it said the district needs to answer to make sure its funding is aimed at providing a full opportunity for all students to succeed. What were trying to say is: Lets put the data on the table. Lets look at the truth. Lets be transparent and here are the numbers, said task force member Renata Simril. This is not to say that  we should cut teachers salaries. Read More Facebook

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Top USC medical school official feared dean was doing drugs and alerted administration, he testifies By Paul Pringle A former vice dean of USCs Keck School of Medicine testified Tuesday that he feared the schools then-dean, Dr. Carmen A. Puliafito, could be doing drugs and expressed concerns about his general well-being to the universitys No. 2 administrator before Puliafito abruptly left his job in 2016. Dr. Henri Fords testimony at a hearing of the state Medical Board marks the first suggestion that any USC administrator had suspicions about Puliafitos possible drug use before he stepped down. A Times investigation in 2017 found Puliafito led a secret second life of using illegal drugs with a circle of young criminals and addicts. Puliafito testified about his behavior at the hearing Tuesday, saying he took drugs with one young woman on a weekly basis. Ford said that he decided to alert USC Provost Michael Quick after receiving reports in early 2016 that Puliafito was partying in hotels with people of questionable reputation, and that he came to worry about his mental stability. Read More Facebook

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Why L.A. Unified may face financial crisis even with a giant surplus this year By Jessica Calefati With more than half a billion dollars socked away for next school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District hardly seems just two years from financial ruin. Its a scenario that is especially tough to swallow if youre a low-wage worker seeking a raise or a teacher who wants smaller classes. But budget documents show that todays $548-million surplus cannot be sustained  and that even basic services face steep, seemingly unavoidable cuts because of massive problems barreling the districts way. Theres a disconnect between the rosy short-term picture and what we know is coming, said board member Kelly Gonez. Read More Facebook

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We have failed: Top USC officials try to reassure students amid gynecologist scandal By Joy Resmovits Top administrators at USC are reaching out to students in the wake of misconduct allegations against the universitys longtime gynecologist, acknowledging failings and vowing reforms as they try to address growing outrage over the revelations. Several USC deans have sent out messages trying to reassure students and faculty that the university is committed to changing. We have failed, wrote Jack H. Knott, dean of USCs Sol Price School of Public Policy, in a May 24 letter. What happened is antithetical to everything we know is right. Read More Facebook

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Rick Caruso is named chair of USCs trustees, vows swift investigation of gynecologist scandal By Thomas Curwen The University of Southern Californias board of trustees has elected mall magnate Rick Caruso to be the new chair of the board, giving fresh leadership as the university navigates a widening scandal involving a longtime campus gynecologist. The move marks the latest effort by USC to address the case, which has sparked a criminal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and dozens of civil lawsuits. More than 400 people have contacted a hotline that the university established for patients to make reports about their experience with Dr. George Tyndall. In his first act as chairman, Caruso announced that the white-shoe L.A. law firm OMelveny & Myers would conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the gynecologists conduct and reporting failures at the clinic. He set an ambitious timeline for the review, pledging it would conclude before students return for the fall semester. Read More Facebook

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UC Berkeley students persistence helps win more liberal rules for in-state tuition By Teresa Watanabe Ifechukwu Okeke thought shed be a shoo-in for in-state tuition when she was admitted to UC Berkeley for fall 2016. She had moved to the United States from Nigeria in 2012 to go to Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga. By the time she got her acceptance to transfer to UC to study molecular and cell biology, she had lived in California four years. She had a California drivers license, bank account and rental records as proof. UC Berkeley, however, ruled she was a nonresident  which meant she would have to pay nearly $27,000 more. Read More Facebook

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State medical board calls former County-USC doctor a sexual predator, suspends his license By Matt Hamilton A UCLA cardiologist has been temporarily stripped of his medical license after state regulators described him as a sexual predator who assaulted three female colleagues when he was working and training at L.A. County-USC Medical Center. Read More Facebook

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Global California 2030 aims to get more students learning more languages By Joy Resmovits Tom Torlakson (Andrew Seng / Associated Press) Outgoing state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson on Wednesday announced a new statewide effort to encourage students to learn more languages. Called Global California 2030, its goal is to help more students become fluent in multiple tongues. Torlakson said that by 2030, he wants half of the states 6.2 million K-12 students to participate in classes or programs that lead to proficiency in two or more languages. By 2040, he wants three out of four students to be proficient enough to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy. Torlakson announced the initiative at Cahuenga Elementary School, which offers a dual-language immersion program in English and Korean. Californias public school students speak more than 60 languages at home, and 40% come to school with knowledge of a language other than English. Torlakson called his plan a call to action that invites parents, legislators, educators and community members to pool resources to expand language offerings in schools and get more bilingual teachers trained. He said the state already is working with Mexico and Spain to expand a teacher-exchange program. Fluency, the plan argues, can help students succeed economically  and language acquisition can help their overall critical thinking. The initiative builds on Proposition 58, a ballot initiative passed in 2016 that undid an earlier requirement that English learners be taught in English-immersion classes unless their parents signed waivers. Torlakson recently visited Mexico and met with that countrys education secretary. They later signed a pact to increase collaboration, particularly in language education. This [Global California 2030] is great follow-through on Toms part and very important, Patricia Gandara, a UCLA education professor who hosted the Mexico meeting, said in an email. It hands over a plan to move forward in an area in which California has a unique advantage, but must seize the opportunity. Facebook

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Jury convicts man of murder in 2015 slaying of UCLA student found inside her burning apartment By Marisa Gerber A jury on Tuesday convicted a man in the 2015 slaying of a UCLA student found dead inside her burning apartment  a gruesome stabbing case that led to a fierce rebuke of the police response amid concerns that the killing could have been prevented. The panel deliberated for about six hours before finding Alberto Medina, 24, guilty of murder, arson, burglary and animal cruelty. On Sept. 21, 2015, firefighters found the charred body of Andrea DelVesco inside her apartment after responding to the complex a block from campus. The 21-year-old student  an Austin, Texas, native known to her sorority sisters as a fearless giver who befriended others with ease  was stabbed at least 19 times, authorities said. Read More Facebook

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LAPD begins sweeping criminal probe of former USC gynecologist while urging patients to come forward By Adam Elmahrek The Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday it is investigating 52 complaints of misconduct filed by former patients of USCs longtime campus gynecologist as detectives launch a sweeping criminal probe into the scandal that has rocked the university. LAPD detectives also made an appeal for other patients who feel mistreated to come forward, noting that thousands of students were examined by Dr. George Tyndall during his nearly 30-year career at USC. More than 410 people have contacted a university hotline about the physician since The Times revealed the allegations this month. Tyndalls behavior and practices appear to go beyond the norms of the medical profession and gynecological examinations, said Asst. Chief Beatrice Girmala. We sincerely realize that victims may have difficulty recounting such details to investigators. We are empathetic and ready to listen. Read More Facebook

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At L.A.'s only school for the deaf, parents want leaders who speak the same language By Anna M. Phillips Ever since her son was 6 months old, Juliet Hidalgo has been bringing him to the Marlton School, a low-slung building in Baldwin Hills that for generations has been a second home for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Los Angeles. Marlton staff taught Hidalgos brother and sister, both of whom are deaf. The school was where her deaf son learned to make the signs for milk and food. Hidalgo had planned to enroll her daughter, taking advantage of a popular program that allows hearing children to learn American Sign Language alongside their deaf siblings. But after more than a decade of involvement, she and other family members are considering withdrawing their children. They are not alone. Read More Facebook

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Fueled by unlimited donations, independent groups play their biggest role yet in a California primary for governor By Ryan Menezes An unprecedented amount of money from wealthy donors, unions and corporations is flowing into the California governors race, giving independent groups  unrestricted by contribution limits  a greater say in picking the states chief executive than ever before. The groups have already spent more than $26 million through Thursday, the most ever spent by noncandidate committees in a gubernatorial primary, according to a Times analysis of campaign finance reports. California elections have always been expensive, and the future is even more expensive, said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College and a former state Republican leader. The stakes are very real. Read More Facebook

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2 hurt in Indiana middle school shooting; suspect in custody, authorities say By Associated Press Authorities say two victims in a shooting at a suburban Indianapolis school are being taken to a hospital and the lone suspect is in custody. Bryant Orem, a spokesman for the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, said in a news release that the victims in Friday mornings attack at Noblesville West Middle School are being taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and their families have been notified. He says no other information is available about the victims. Orem said the suspect is believed to have acted alone and was taken into custody. No additional information about the suspect was made public. Read More Facebook

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For new L.A. schools chief Austin Beutner, some key unions are giving no honeymoon period By Howard Blume In the less than two weeks since Austin Beutner took charge of Los Angeles schools, unions representing teachers and administrators have staged a job action and a protest. Theyve made it clear that they will not give the new superintendent the traditional honeymoon period, and they are bashing him for his wealth and lack of experience running either a school or a school district. Beutner is a billionaire investment banker with zero qualifications, local teachers union President Alex Caputo-Pearl told members in a phone alert urging them to participate in a Thursday afternoon rally in Grand Park. The board is saying that billionaires who made their money blowing institutions up and making money off it know best  not the education professionals who have dedicated our careers to working with students. Read More Facebook

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Pressure grows on Board of Trustees amid USC gynecologist scandal By Paul Pringle USCs large and powerful Board of Trustees is coming under growing pressure to provide a stronger hand as the university faces a crisis over misconduct allegations against the campus longtime gynecologist that has prompted calls for President C.L. Max Nikias to step down. Allegations that Dr. George Tyndall mistreated students during his nearly 30 years at USC have roiled the campus, with about 300 people coming forward to make reports to the university and the Los Angeles Police Department launching a criminal investigation. USC is already beginning to face what is expected to be costly litigation by women who say they were victimized by the physician. So far, the trustees to whom Nikias reports have expressed sympathy for the women who have come forward and launched an independent investigation while also publicly backing the president. Read More Facebook

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UC regents approve leaner budget for Janet Napolitano By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents on Thursday unanimously approved a leaner, more transparent budget for President Janet Napolitano, moving to address political criticism over the systems central office operations. The $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 reflects spending cuts of 2%, including reductions in staffing, travel and such systemwide programs as public service law fellowships, carbon neutrality and food security. Napolitano shifted $30 million to campuses for housing needs and $10 million to UC Riverside to support its five-year-old medical school. She also permanently redirected $8.5 million annually to help enroll more California students, as required by the state. Read More Facebook

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USCs Academic Senate calls on university president to resign after a series of scandals By Matt Hamilton The body that represents USCs faculty called on President C.L. Max Nikias to resign Wednesday in the wake of relevations that the universitys longtime gynecologist faced years of accusations of misconduct by students and colleagues at the campus health clinic. The Academic Senate took the vote late Wednesday afternoon after a fiery town hall meeting attended by more than 100 faculty members, many of whom voiced outrage over Nikias and the Board of Trustees leadership. The vote came a day after the trustees executive committee stood firmly behind Nikias, saying it has full confidence in his leadership, ethics and values. At the town hall meeting, Senate President Paul Rosenbloom said he did not think Nikias or Provost Michael Quick committed wrongdoing but that the university president deserved criticism for a lack of transparency. Read More Facebook

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Californias public universities on the way to getting a big longed-for boost in funding By Teresa Watanabe The University of California and California State University systems are poised to get major funding boosts that will help them enroll thousands of additional state students and eliminate the need for tuition increases in the coming school year. A key Assembly budget panel on Wednesday approved $117.5 million in new funds for the UC. A Senate panel approved a similar sum last week. The same committees recently approved even more funding for the Cal State system. Read More Facebook

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UC regents to scrutinize Janet Napolitanos office budget in a step toward stronger oversight By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents this week plan to scrutinize the budget of President Janet Napolitano, whose office came under political fire last year for questionable spending and murky accounting. Regents will vote on the proposed $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 during their two-day meeting, which starts Wednesday, at UC San Francisco. They also will discuss state funding, financial aid, online education and transfer student policies. Board Chairman George Kieffer said regents are stepping up to exert stronger oversight of the presidents office after a blistering state audit last year found financial problems including an unreported $175 million budget reserve. Read More Facebook

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State legislative panels approve major funding boost for Cal State By Teresa Watanabe After months of intensive lobbying, Cal State University has convinced two key legislative panels to approve funding to enroll nearly 11,000 more students, hire more faculty and expand housing aid to those without shelter this fall. An Assembly budget panel on Tuesday approved $215.7 million more for Cal State, adding to Gov. Jerry Browns proposed $92.1 million general fund increase. A Senate budget panel approved a similar increase last week. The extra funding  which went beyond Cal States own request to the Legislature of $171 million  is still subject to final budget negotiations with Brown. But the actions by the Senate and Assembly panels amount to a demand from Democrats that the governor hike higher education spending. Cal State University is the workhorse undergraduate university serving hundreds of thousands of Californians, said Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who heads the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. We need more graduates for the California workforce and higher education is the ticket to the middle class. Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White hailed the actions, but said it was too soon to celebrate. The CSU has a singular focus on helping students earn high-quality degrees sooner, and the entire university community has rallied to reinforce that message to our states lawmakers, he said in a statement. The actions taken thus far by the Assembly and Senate are promising and show that our message is being received, but there is still work to be done. Funding for the University of California was not taken up Tuesday as originally scheduled. McCarty would not comment on sticking points but said he was confident that a resolution would be reached this week. Were looking to provide resources above whats in the governors budget, but negotiations are ongoing, he said in an interview. State per-student funding is not what it once was, leaving both Cal State and the UC in a tough financial squeeze. Both systems raised tuition last year after a six-year freeze on higher costs. For this year, Cal State had asked for funding to enroll an additional 3,621 students, but both the Senate and Assembly panels approved three times that amount. Cal State, the largest public university system in the nation, turned away 32,000 eligible students last year because its campuses werent able to accommodate them. The panels asked that at least $50 million of the extra funding be used to hire more tenure-track faculty to help boost graduation rates. The Assembly panel also approved one-time funding of $5 million to ease hunger on campuses and $14 million for rapid rehousing pilot projects at three campuses, offering needy students rental support and short-term case management. Other items approved include $5 million to support the CSU Long Beach Shark Labs research on sharks and beach safety and $2 million for equal employment opportunity practices. This post has been updated to include comments from Assemblyman Kevin McCarty and Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White. Facebook

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Faculty members call for USC president to step down: He has lost the moral authority to lead By Matt Hamilton Two hundred USC professors on Tuesday demanded the resignation of university President C. L. Max Nikias, saying he had lost the moral authority to lead in the wake of revelations that a campus gynecologist was kept on staff for decades despite repeated complaints of misconduct. Read More Facebook

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Gun battle, negotiations lasted 15 minutes before Texas school shooter was apprehended, sheriff says By Molly Hennessy-Fiske Minutes after a school shooter opened fire in an art class last week, killing 10 people and wounding 13, including a local police officer, fellow officers returned fire in a protracted gun battle before isolating the suspect, the local sheriff said Monday. Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset praised first responders as well as Santa Fe Police Officer John Barnes, who was working as a resource officer at the school the day of the shooting. Their actions, he said, prevented the attack from spreading to other classrooms and potentially claiming additional victims. As officials continue to probe last Fridays shooting at Santa Fe High School, students are worried about returning to the scene of the attack when classes resume next week. Read More Facebook

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6 women sue USC, alleging they were victimized by campus gynecologist By Richard Winton Six women filed civil lawsuits Monday alleging that a longtime gynecologist at the University of Southern California sexually victimized them under the pretext of medical care and that USC failed to address complaints from clinic staff about the doctors behavior. One woman alleged Dr. George Tyndall forced his entire ungloved hand into her vagina during an appointment in 2003 while making vulgar remarks about her genitalia, according to one of the lawsuits. Another woman alleged that Tyndall groped her breasts in a 2008 visit and that later he falsely told her she likely had AIDS. A third woman accused the doctor of grazing his ungloved fingers over her nude body and leering at her during a purported skin exam, the lawsuit states. The wave of litigation comes as USC continues to grapple with the scandal, which legal experts said could prove costly to the university as scores of former patients come forward about their experiences with the gynecologist. Read More Facebook

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Fatalities reported in Texas high school shooting; suspect arrested, officials say By Associated Press Houston-area media citing unnamed law enforcement officials are reporting that there are fatalities following a shooting at a local high school Friday morning. Television station KHOU and the Houston Chronicle are citing unnamed federal, county and police officials following the shooting at Santa Fe High School, which went on lockdown around 8 a.m. The Associated Press has not been able to confirm the reports. The school district has confirmed an unspecified number of injuries but said it wouldnt immediately release further details. Assistant Principal Cris Richardson said a suspect has been arrested and secured. Read More Facebook

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This student followed the new L.A. schools chief on his first-day tour Melissa Barales-Lopez, a senior at Garfield High School followed Supt. Austin Beutner on his first day on the job, as he toured a variety of programs around the Los Angeles Unified School District. Heres what she took from the experience. LAUSD students and staff alike are looking for a personal champion, someone who will address and improve the difficulties afflicting their education.  What LAUSD students need is someone whos willing to listen and learn, someone who can understand the current issues affecting their schools and act to efficiently amend them, someone who can unlock the full potential of LAUSD students and enable them to reach their goals. During the entirety of his first day, superintendent Austin Beutner did indeed demonstrate a willingness to learn. Posing questions to teachers and students, Beutner engaged with the student communities he encountered to gain a better comprehension of the minutiae and nuances that distinguish each school inside an overwhelmingly large district. From inquiries about Grand View Boulevard Elementary Schools dual language program to questions regarding the services of LAUSDs after-school program, Beyond the Bell, Beutner revealed he has a lot to learn about the system. But, Beutner also showcased a willingness to tackle challenges head-on on his first day. Read More Facebook

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USC let a gynecologist continue treating students despite years of misconduct allegations By Matt Hamilton For nearly 30 years, the University of Southern Californias student health clinic had one full-time gynecologist: Dr. George Tyndall. Tall and garrulous with distinctive jet black hair, he treated tens of thousands of female students, many of them teenagers seeing a gynecologist for the first time. Few who lay down on Tyndalls exam table at the Engemann Student Health Center knew that he had been accused repeatedly of misconduct toward young patients. The complaints began in the 1990s, when co-workers alleged he was improperly photographing students genitals. In the years that followed, patients and nursing staff accused him again and again of creepy behavior, including touching women inappropriately during pelvic exams and making sexually suggestive remarks about their bodies. Read More Facebook

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Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook

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On his first day as L.A. schools chief, Beutner plans a day of visits across the district By Howard Blume L.A. Unifieds new superintendent, Austin Beutner, will kick off his first day of work on Tuesday with a choreographed tour of the nations second-largest school district, from the San Fernando Valley to Carson. His day is scheduled to begin at 5:15 a.m. at a school bus depot and end more than 12 hours later at a parent meeting at Garfield High School. Along the way, Beutner is expected to be joined by school district administrators, L.A. Unified board members and the vice president of the union that represents school bus drivers. Though he will be covering a lot of ground, Beutners tour has him skipping Tuesdays school board meeting, when board members are expected to discuss labor negotiations in closed session. Read More Facebook

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Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook

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Why a handful of rich charter school supporters are spending millions to elect Antonio Villaraigosa as governor By Ryan Menezes California voters have seen a barrage of sunny television ads in recent weeks touting former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosas record on finances, crime and education, aired by Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018. But the group is, in fact, largely funded by a handful of wealthy charter-school supporters. Together they have spent more than $13 million in less than a month to boost Villaraigosas chances in the June 5 primary  at a time when his fundraising and poll numbers are lagging. Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix, jump-started the group with a $7-million check, by far the largest donation to support any candidate in the election. Their efforts are part of a broader proxy war among Democrats between teachers unions  longtime stalwarts of the party  and those who argue that the groups have failed low-income and minority schoolchildren. Read More Facebook

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Talking schools with L.A. Unifieds new superintendent By Anna M. Phillips Austin Beutner, who officially starts Tuesday as the new superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is taking on a famously difficult job at a particularly difficult time. The school board is divided and did not back him unanimously. The nations second-largest school district has deep-seated problems, including declining enrollment, lagging academic achievement and rising pension and healthcare costs that eat away at its budget. The 58-year-old former investment banker and former L.A. Times publisher has years of experience in the financial world but none as an educator. Earlier this week, he sat down with the Times education team to discuss the challenges facing the district, which has about 60,000 employees and 500,000 students in traditional public schools. He did not talk about his plans  saying repeatedly, stay tuned  but he spoke in broad terms about his mindset in approaching the tough decisions ahead. Read More Facebook

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Suspect detained, authorities search campus after reports of armed man at Palmdale high school By James Queally One person has been detained after a report of an armed man at a Palmdale high school sparked a massive law enforcement response Friday morning. The suspect was spotted at 7:05 a.m. on the campus of Highland High School in Palmdale, according to Sheriffs Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida. The person was detained in a nearby parking lot, according to Nishida, who did not know whether that person was an adult or juvenile. Deputies at the scene are clearing the school methodically, and students will be transported home via school buses once the campus is deemed safe, Nishida said. Read More Facebook

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The education of Bertha Perez: How a UC Merced custodians disenchantment led to a political awakening By Robin Abcarian Its the third day of a three-day strike, and UC Merced custodian Bertha Perez is taking a break from a picket line at the universitys unremarkable entrance, an intersection with stop lights. Photos from other UC campuses this week have shown big crowds of striking service workers  members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees  marching and chanting pro-labor slogans as they try to force the University of California back to the negotiating table. But here, at UC Merced, whose handful of big buildings rise from a flat expanse of farmland, the picket line is tiny, maybe two dozen workers and a few students. Its not a big-city-style show of force. Then again, a union sympathizer is banging relentlessly on a snare drum, so its noisier than youd expect. Read More Facebook

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Ref Rodriguez resigns from teacher credentialing commission By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez appears during a court appearance. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez has resigned from the states Commission on Teacher Credentialing, which oversees the integrity and quality of Californias teachers. Rodriguez faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. Separately, his former employer, a charter school organization, has accused him of improperly authorizing checks to a nonprofit under his control. Rodriguez has denied wrongdoing. Rodriguezs resignation from the state body was effective May 4, days after he cast a crucial vote as part of a narrow majority that voted to authorize contract negotiations with Austin Beutner to become superintendent of the L.A. Unified School District. Beutners first official day on the job is Tuesday. Rodriguez remains in his $125,000-a-year position on the Los Angeles Board of Education. The mission of the state body is to ensure integrity, relevance, and high quality in the preparation, certification, and discipline of Californias teachers. Critics had questioned Rodriguezs continued service on the commission, given that teachers can be suspended from work if they face criminal charges. They also can lose their jobs for lapses in personal behavior, such as excessive drinking, with the potential to affect their performance. Police in Pasadena arrested Rodriguez on a Friday afternoon in March for public drunkenness. He was not charged in the incident and has apologized. The state commission reviews teacher discipline cases and can take action to remove a teachers credential to work in a California classroom. The commission has 15 members. Rodriguezs departure was disclosed in a one-sentence announcement on the agencys website. Facebook

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School board members request for restraining order against blogger is rejected By Priscella Vega An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a school board members petition for a permanent restraining order against a Huntington Beach blogger. Attorney Jeffrey W. Shields filed the petition on behalf of Ocean View School District trustee Gina Clayton-Tarvin, 46, who alleged in court documents that Charles Keeler Johnson, 56, has threatened her on social media and at school board meetings, causing her to fear for my own safety and for that of my immediate family members. Johnson, who goes by Chuck and publishes HBSledgehammer.com, said the trustee tried to stifle his freedom of speech. He also contended that Clayton-Tarvin took his blog posts and Facebook comments too seriously and out of context, saying anyone who is afraid of metaphors has serious issues. Read More Facebook

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Deal with workers averts one-day strike that could have shut down L.A. schools By Howard Blume Los Angeles school district and union officials announced a contract agreement Tuesday night that averted a one-day strike planned for next week. The pact, which runs through June 2020, removes one labor problem from the desk of incoming Supt. Austin Beutner  whose first day on the job would have coincided with the strike. Plenty of other challenges remain. Read More Facebook

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UC labor strike expands with show of support from more unions By Teresa Watanabe Fong Chuu is a registered nurse who has assisted with countless liver transplants, kidney surgeries and gastric bypasses during 34 years at UCLA. Working with her are scrub technicians who sterilize equipment, hand medical instruments to the surgeon and dress patient wounds. They are a team, Chuu says, which is why she walked off her job Tuesday in support of those technicians and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299. The 25,000 member AFSCME local, the University of Californias largest employee union, launched a three-day strike Monday. Read More Facebook

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We are humans too: Voices of UCLAs striking custodians, hospital aides and imaging technicians By Joy Resmovits Demonstrators parade in front of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) This week, thousands of UC employees are staging a three-day strike for better pay and working conditions. On Monday, more than 20,000 custodians, cooks, lab technicians, nurse aides and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 walked off their jobs. By Tuesday, two more unions joined in sympathy strikes. The union and UC reached a bargaining impasse last year. The university has said it wont meet the workers demands. The strikers said they wanted better pay, more equity in the allocation of work, stable healthcare premiums and an end to the universitys use of contract workers. These are their stories. Read More Facebook

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Massive UC workers strike disrupts dining, classes and medical services By Joy Resmovits A massive labor strike across the University of California on Monday forced medical centers to reschedule more than 12,000 surgeries, cancer treatments and appointments, and campuses to cancel some classes and limit dining services. More than 20,000 members of UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, walked off their jobs on the first day of a three-day strike. They include custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Two altercations involving protesters and people driving near the rallies were reported at UCLA and UC Santa Cruz. At UCLA, police took a man into custody Monday after he drove his vehicle into a crowd, hitting three staff members. They were treated for minor injuries at the scene and released, said Lt. Kevin Kilgore of the UCLA Police Department. Read More Facebook

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Sen. Kamala Harris to skip UC Berkeley commencement in support of striking workers By Teresa Watanabe California Sen. Kamala Harris has canceled plans to deliver UC Berkeleys commencement address this weekend in support of UC workers who are on strike over wages and health benefits. Due to the ongoing labor dispute, Sen. Harris regretfully cannot attend and speak at this years commencement ceremony at UC Berkeley, said a statement from Harris office issued Monday. She wishes the graduates and their families a joyous commencement weekend and success for the future. They are bright young leaders and our country is counting on them. UCs largest employee union, the 25,000-member American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees Local 3299, launched a three-day strike Monday and had earlier called for a speakers boycott. The union and university reached a bargaining impasse last year and subsequent mediation efforts have failed to produce an agreement. The union is asking for a multiyear contract with a 6% annual pay increase while the university is offering 3% annual increases over four years. UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ will deliver the keynote address instead, the university announced. About 5,800 students are expected to participate in the ceremony Saturday. Facebook

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School mural depicting Trumps bloody, severed head sparks controversy By Gary Warth A Chula Vista school mural that depicts the bloody, severed head of President Trump on a spear sparked a controversy that prompted officials to cover it and issue a response distancing themselves from the work. The statement also said the artist will alter the painting. We understand that there was a mural painted at the event this past weekend that does not align with our schools philosophy of non-violence, read the statement from MAAC Community Charter School director Tommy Ramirez. We have been in communication with the artist  who has agreed to modify the artwork  to better align with the schools philosophy. Read More Facebook

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New blackface incident at Cal Poly prompts calls for state investigation By Kim Christensen Cal Poly San Luis Obispo officials have asked the state attorney generals office to investigate after a new photo of a white student in blackface surfaced on a fraternity groups private Snapchat. I am outraged, Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said in a video address Friday to the campus. These vile and absolutely unacceptable acts cannot continue. We must not allow these acts to define us as an institution. Armstrong said the latest photo was intended to imitate an incident last month in which a white member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity was photographed at a party wearing blackface. Read More Facebook

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More than 50,000 UC workers set to strike this week but campuses will remain open By Teresa Watanabe More than 50,000 workers across the University of California are set to strike this week, causing potential disruptions to surgery schedules, food preparation and campus maintenance. The systems 10 campuses and five medical centers are to remain open, with classes scheduled as planned. UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, plans to begin a three-day strike Monday involving 25,000 workers, including custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Read More Facebook

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New L.A. schools chief Beutner pledges to listen, learn and take action By Howard Blume New Los Angeles schools Supt. Austin Beutner proved Wednesday that hes a quick learner even without an education background. Like countless public officials before him, he appeared at an important event  his first speech and news conference  with a photogenic background of students. His message  that he would put those students first  seemed heartfelt if hardly original. Nor was it a huge surprise that he pledged to push cooperatively but unflinchingly to improve the districts academic performance and stabilize its finances. As an introduction, Beutner, a former investment banker who made a fortune on Wall Street, offered little flash, but that was partly the point. Read More Facebook

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In a school lockdown, one student takes stock of the stressful scene At the beginning of lunch one day late last month, Duarte High School, Northview Middle School, and California School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley were advised by the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department to go into lockdown mode due to police activity in the immediate area. Phalaen Chang, a junior at the California School of the Arts, wrote a series of notes on her iPhone while she sat in a room with her classmates. By the time the lockdown ended an hour later, she wrote, she knew which of her friends would hold open the door for others, be the ones calming others down, be the ones barricading the doors. She knew that all of them have the potential to be such strong people. Read More Facebook

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Tale as old as time: L.A. Unified superintendent pick follows a historical pattern of outside-the-box choices By Joy Resmovits L.A. Unified has long gone back and forth between picking insiders and outsiders to run the nations second largest school district. The choice of Austin Beutner, announced Tuesday, places the district squarely back in the outsider camp  months after a consummate insider, Supt. Michelle King, announced that she had cancer and would not return to the job. Check out this timeline of former L.A. superintendents to see how the school board members have changed their minds, sometimes favoring leaders who come from the world of education and sometimes executives from elsewhere, recruited to shock the system into change. At one point, the district hired someone from the military  retired Navy Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, who served as superintendent from 2006-2008. In hiring Brewer, board members had opted for a non-educator  largely because they sought a fresh thinker, unwedded to the bureaucracy, unafraid to make bold, even unorthodox moves, reads a 2008 Times story. Facebook

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Austin Beutner named superintendent of Los Angeles schools By Howard Blume Austin Beutner, a philanthropist and former investment banker, on Tuesday was named superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nations second-largest school system. His selection was the biggest move yet by a Los Angeles school board majority elected with major support from charter school advocates. The decision came after lengthy public testimony, most of it in support of the other remaining finalist, interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian, who is well known within the school system. Beutner, 58, has no background leading a school or school district. Less than 2 years ago, a school board with a very different balance of power named Michelle King, a former teacher who rose through the district throughout her career, to L.A. Unifieds top job. Read More Facebook

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Hearing delay gives both sides more time in Ref Rodriguezs potential trial By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez and his attorneys will have more time to prepare their defense against charges of political money laundering, a judge ruled Monday. The preliminary hearing in the case had been scheduled to begin May 9, but that date will now be pushed back to July 23 per the ruling from L.A. Superior Court Judge Deborah S. Brazil. Rodriguez, 46, faces three felony charges of conspiracy, perjury and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. Read More Facebook

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L.A. school board poised to name Beutner as superintendent By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education is poised to select philanthropist and former investment banker Austin Beutner to be the next superintendent of the nations second-largest school system. Barring a last-minute development, the only mystery is whether Beutner emerges with four or five votes from the boards seven members. Terms of his contract already have been under discussion, according to sources close to the process who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak. The selection of Beutner, 58, who has no experience managing a school or a school district, would be a signal that the board majority that took control nearly a year ago wants to rely on business management skills instead of insider educational expertise. Read More Facebook

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Teacher walkouts in Arizona and Colorado continue national debate on money for schools By Michael Livingston Following the lead of teachers who walked off the job in other states in recent weeks, thousands of teachers and their supporters took to the streets in Arizona and Colorado for the second day in a row to demand better pay and more funding for education. Read More Facebook

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Three decades before the #MeToo movement, UC San Diego led the way against sexual assault By Teresa Watanabe When Nancy Wahlig first started her fight against sexual assault, one company was marketing a capsule for women to stash in their bras and then smash to release a vile odor. Because of the very nature of society, the only person who can prevent rape is the woman herself, read a 1981 advertisement for the Repulse rape deterrent. Ideas about how to prevent sexual violence have come a long way since then, and Wahlig has helped lead that evolution on college campuses. In 1988, she started UC San Diegos Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC), the first stand-alone program at the University of California. Today, she remains the systems most senior specialist. Read More Facebook

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Andres Alonso withdraws from consideration for L.A. schools job By Howard Blume Andres Alonso, believed to be one of three remaining finalists to lead the Los Angeles school system, has withdrawn from consideration. The remaining known candidates in the confidential search are former investment banker Austin Beutner and interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian. Alonso, 60, announced his decision on Twitter on Thursday night, saying he had notified the L.A. Unified School District on Monday. The exit of Alonso, the former Baltimore schools chief, seems to solidify the front-runner status of Beutner, who also was a former L.A. Times publisher and a Los Angeles deputy mayor. He held each of those positions for about a year. Read More Facebook

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Heres why the apparent increase in autism spectrum disorders may be good for U.S. children By Karen Kaplan The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among American children continues to rise, new government data suggest. And that may be a good thing. Among 11 sites across the U.S. where records of 8-year-olds are scrutinized in detail, 1 in 59 kids was deemed to have ASD in 2014. Thats up from 1 in 68 in 2012. Normally, health officials would prefer to see less of a disease, not more of it. But in this case, the higher number is probably a sign that more children of color who are on the autism spectrum are being recognized as such and getting services to help them, according to a report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More Facebook

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UC shelves tuition increase for now, in hopes of getting more state funding By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents will not vote on a tuition increase next month, shelving the plan for now in hopes that state lawmakers will come through with more funding. Raising tuition is always a last resort and one we take very seriously, UC President Janet Napolitano said Thursday in a statement. We will continue to advocate with our students who are doing a tremendous job of educating legislators about the necessity of adequately funding the university to ensure UC remains a world-class institution and engine of economic growth for our state. Last week, Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White said the 23-campus system no longer would consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year. But unlike Cal State, UC officials have not taken a tuition increase off the table entirely. Read More Facebook

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A chemical spill, unchecked eyewash stations, poor training: Audit details Cal States lax lab safety By Joy Resmovits In May 2016, two bottles tumbled off a poorly supported shelf and broke, leading to a chemical spill in a Sacramento State University lab. The liquid got onto one students legs and soaked anothers feet. Five employees cleaned up the mess, even though no one knew for sure what it was and whether it was dangerous. They called fellow employee Kim Harrington, their union representative, to let her know what happened. Read More Facebook

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After blackface incident, minority students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo say they dont feel welcome By Hailey Branson-Potts Aaliyah Ramos was walking through the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus last year when a prospective student approached her. Ramos was the only black person, the young woman said, that she and her mother had seen that day. They asked about the quality of education and the diversity of the student body. Ramos, a mechanical engineering student, didnt want to sugarcoat the truth: Cal Poly long has been predominantly white. But she told the young woman  who also was black  that she didnt want to discourage her from applying, because that wouldnt help with diversity at a school where only 0.7% of students are African American  the lowest percentage of any university in the California State system. Read More Facebook

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El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills wins the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon By Carlos Lozano El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills has won the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon, officials said. The winner was announced early Saturday at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas. More than 600 students from the U.S., Canada, China and the United Kingdom gathered there over the last three days to compete in the 37th annual U.S. Academic Decathlon. Congratulations to El Camino Real Charter High School for another impressive victory, said Vivian Ekchian, interim superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Your academic stamina and competitive spirit to win is remarkable. The entire L.A. Unified family is so proud of you. Read More Facebook

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Anticipation mounts as L.A. school board meets over superintendent selection By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education is reconvening in closed session Friday at noon as anticipation mounts about the choice of the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. The presumed front-runner is former investment banker and philanthropist Austin Beutner, but interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian and former Baltimore Supt. Andres Alonso also are in the running. Most district insiders appear to be rooting for Ekchian, who has spent her entire career in education within the school system. After her 10 years as a teacher, her roles have included head of human resources, chief labor negotiator and regional administrator for campuses in the west San Fernando Valley. Shes managed the district since September, when then-Supt. Michelle King went on medical leave and chose Ekchian to fill in for her. King, who is battling cancer, never returned and announced her retirement in January. Numerous influential civic leaders have urged  and pressured  the board to select Beutner. Also lending their weight have been advocates for charter schools, which are independently operated, growing in number and competing for students with district-operated campuses. Four of the seven board members  enough to control the outcome  were elected with major financial support from charter supporters. Beutner has two ongoing connections with the L.A. Unified School District. The first is his leadership of an outside task force that is making recommendations on how to improve the school system. The second is his charity, Vision to Learn, which supplies glasses to low-income students. The charity and the school system are in a dispute at the moment over who is responsible for delays in providing services to students as part of a $6 million contract, half of which is paid for by L.A. Unified. Unlike Ekchian and Buetner, Alonso, who currently teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, has no deep-seated local constituency, but the prospect of his selection has generated some excitement. While in Baltimore, Alonso was recognized for pushing for progress at low-performing schools, and for being willing to take strong action. While in Baltimore, he also weathered a test-score cheating scandal and occasionally rocky relations with the teachers union. But by the time he resigned, after six years, he and union leaders seemed to be working together without rancor. Leaders of some community groups have split from the pro-Beutner camp. They worry that Beutners approach to confronting the districts financial problems could shut out their voices or involve severe economic cutbacks that would undermine programs that are helping students. Some prefer Ekchian; some Alonso. Theyve been reluctant to speak out publicly because theyll have to work with whoever is selected, but they have tried to get the ear of board members. On Friday morning, one leader of a community group decided to come out in favor of Alonso. L.A. Unified has the opportunity to bring in an instructional leader of color with a history of success, said Alberto Retana, president and chief executive of Community Coalition, which works on behalf of low-income students and families in South Los Angeles. If we have a shot at that, we should go for it  because its in the best interests of our kids and of our community. Retana said his statement was not meant to criticize Beutner or Ekchian but to alert board members that there also is community support for Alonso. Facebook

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Cal State leader shelves proposed tuition hike: Its the right thing to do, but its not without risk By Joy Resmovits Cal State, the nations largest public university system, will no longer consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year, Chancellor Timothy P. White announced Friday. The decision is a bet that Sacramento will come through in the end. If Cal State loses that bet, it could mean cuts to campus programs. White said in an interview that Californias economy is strong enough that families should not be shouldering the burden of higher college costs. Read More Facebook

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L.A. students to participate in national walkout activities on Friday By Joy Resmovits Students are taking to the streets again Friday to protest gun violence on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. Starting at 10 a.m., students at many schools will spend 13 seconds honoring the 13 people  12 students and one teacher  killed on that day in Littleton, Colo. After that, theyll participate in a host of different activities. Within L.A. Unified, one school is having an open-mic event for students to talk about school violence, and lawmakers are visiting campuses to hear students thoughts. According to a central hub for organizing the protests  written by the students of Ridgefield High School in Connecticut  the walkouts are intended to drive the political change necessary to curb school violence. The day is also a time for students to interact on an elevated platform they have never had before, the site states. It is a day of discourse and thoughtful sharing. Bringing together communities and students to get a national discussion rolling. Organizers have suggested using the event to convey the importance of curbing gun violence to legislators. They are encouraging students to push legislation that would ban assault weapons and tighten up rules around who can buy guns and how. Over 2,500 schools nationwide are expected to participate. In L.A., some students  at campuses including Eagle Rock High School, the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts and Bravo Medical Magnet  plan to walk out. Students from various schools expect to join area marches, including those in Santa Monica and Huntington Park. Other schools are hosting career days and voter registration drives. At 1 p.m., students plan to start a rally in front of L.A. Unified headquarters. For the record: An earlier version of this article stated that 12 teachers and one student were killed in the Columbine shooting. The opposite is true: twelve students and one teacher died. Facebook

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Stabbing of popular student devastates South El Monte High School; teen friend suspected in slaying By Sonali Kohli When administrators at South El Monte High School called Jeremy Sanchezs parents to say he never showed up for class Wednesday, his father began to worry. It was unusual for the 17-year-old junior to miss school, so his father filed a missing persons report and assembled two of Jeremys close friends to look for the popular student-athlete. Their search took them to a scenic stretch of the San Gabriel River Trail, where one of the friends  a 16-year-old boy  made a tragic discovery. Among the bushes in the riverbed near Thienes Avenue and Parkway Drive was Jeremys body, punctured with stab wounds, according to Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Read More Facebook

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Racist fliers spark outrage at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo By Alene Tchekmedyian Soon after Neal MacDougall arrived on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus Tuesday, the professor noticed university police standing outside a restroom near his office. A racial slur against African Americans had been scrawled in red marker on a stall wall. Later, he discovered a series of racist fliers pinned up next to his door. Someone had also slashed posters hed hung outside his office supporting students in the country illegally. The discovery was the latest controversy on the prestigious campus  which the president said is less than 55% white  that MacDougall said demonstrates a culture of racism at the university. Last week, photographs emerged of white fraternity members, including one in blackface, flashing gang signs. Read More Facebook

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The superintendent waiting game, paying for L.A.'s College Promise, Princetons slave history: Whats new in education By Joy Resmovits Acting LAUSD superintendent Vivian Ekchian is a finalist for the permanent job. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) In and around Los Angeles: The L.A. Unified school board spent 10 hours interviewing and discussing candidates for superintendent. When they adjourned after 10 p.m., they said they would reconvene on Friday. Who is paying for Mayor Eric Garcettis much-touted College Promise, a program that promises two years of community college for LAUSD grads? In California: The Legislature is considering a proposal that would boost K-12 education funding for black students. When the cost of living is taken into account, California has the highest rate of child poverty. Nationwide: The families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School are suing Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never occurred. Princeton will name two spaces  an arch and a garden  after slaves who lived or worked on the campus. Facebook

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L.A. school board meets privately with finalists and debates choice for school district leader By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education adjourned late Tuesday after spending more than 10 hours interviewing candidates and trying to reach a decision on who would be the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. When the meeting finally recessed at 10:11 p.m., a spokesman announced only that the school board would reconvene Friday at noon. Going into the days meetings, there were apparently four finalists, according to sources who could not be named because they were unauthorized to speak. Read More Facebook

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Two Sandy Hook families sue Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never happened By David Altimari Families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School have filed lawsuits in Texas against controversial radio host Alex Jones for continually claiming the massacre never happened. Neil Heslin, the father of Jesse Lewis, and Leonard Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa, whose son Noah Pozner died in the massacre, filed separate lawsuits late Monday in Travis County, Texas. The lawsuits allege that Jones defamed the parents by constantly calling them crisis actors and insisting the shooting was a false flag operation; they also claim Jones accusations have led to death threats against the Sandy Hook families by Jones followers. Read More Facebook

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Beutner emerges as a top pick for L.A. schools superintendent amid last-minute jockeying By Howard Blume Austin Beutner has emerged as a leading contender to run the Los Angeles school district, with backers saying he is smart enough and tough enough to confront its financial and academic struggles. Though he does not have a background in education, the former investment banker has in the last year examined some of the districts intractable problems, serving as co-chair of an outside task force with the support of then-Supt. Michelle King. Sources inside and outside the school district said Beutner appears to have more support on the seven-member board than other finalists, and his name could come up for a vote as early as Tuesday. Read More Facebook

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Challenge at Chicago school construction site: Watch for 38,000 unmarked graves By Nereida Moreno A 15-year effort to build a school in Chicagos Dunning neighborhood is underway with an unusual complication: Construction workers are taking careful steps to avoid disturbing human remains that may lie beneath the soil. The $70-million school is to be built on the grounds of a former Cook County Poor House, where an estimated 38,000 people were buried in unmarked graves. Among the dead are residents who were too poor to afford funeral costs, unclaimed bodies and patients from the countys insane asylum. There can be and there have been bodies found all over the place, said Barry Fleig, a genealogist and cemetery researcher who began investigating the site in 1989. Its a spooky, scary place. Read More Facebook

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Oklahoma teacher walkout winds down despite lawmakers failure to meet demands By Washington Post Oklahomas largest teachers union has announced an end to a walkout that has drawn thousands of educators out of classrooms and to the state Capitol demanding greater investment in the states schools, which have endured the nations steepest funding cuts. The announcement Thursday from the Oklahoma Education Assn. does not necessarily end the protests at the Capitol, as teachers not affiliated with the union vowed to stay longer. Instead of a walkout, the union and school districts across the state have said they plan to send delegations of teachers to Oklahoma City to keep the pressure on lawmakers. Teachers and their supporters have also promised to push education issues to the forefront of November elections, when the state chooses a new governor. As school districts begin to reopen, the protests may lose steam. The Legislature is not in session Friday, and observers are waiting to see what happens Monday, when lawmakers return. Read More Facebook

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Most Californians are worried about school shooting threats and oppose arming teachers, survey finds By Joy Resmovits Hamilton High School student Aiyana Dabriel holds a sign during a March 14 walkout in support of the Parkland shooting victims. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Most Californians are worried that a school shooting like the one that occurred in Parkland, Fla., in February could shed blood closer to home, a new survey found. Some 73% percent of adults and 82% of public school parents said they were very concerned or somewhat concerned about school shootings. The Public Policy Institute of California surveyed 1,704 adults in the state by phone just after the March for Our Lives protest against gun violence. Latino and black respondents were significantly more likely to be concerned about school violence than white or Asian respondents, the institute found. Two-thirds of adults and public school parents said they opposed letting more educators carry weapons in school. The response differed across party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 69% of independents voicing their opposition, while 60% percent of Republicans said they would support a measure to arm educators. The poll, which had a margin of error of 3.2% in either direction, also asked Californians about school funding, educational issues in the governors race and the impact of immigration enforcement on students. You can find the full results here. Facebook

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Californias largest virtual charter school network agrees to contract with its teachers By Anna M. Phillips Nearly four years after teachers at Californias largest online charter school voted to unionize, they have reached a deal to increase pay and create job protections, according to a spokesman for the California Teachers Assn. The contract, which is still tentative and subject to ratification, is a victory for the teachers union. Although charter schools are publicly funded, most are privately managed and their employees arent protected by labor contracts. Under the terms of the contract  the result of years of negotiation and legal wrangling  approximately 500 teachers working for California Virtual Academies will no longer be at-will employees who can be dismissed for almost any reason. Their average salary will rise to just over $45,000, according to union estimates, a figure that remains far below the norm for traditional public school teachers. Still, it is an improvement over the previous average of $38,000. The accord also places a limit on the number of students each teacher is responsible for monitoring in online homeroom classes. Were very satisfied with the gains we made, said teacher Brianna Carroll, president of California Virtual Educators United. I think were going to see some extraordinary changes in our schools. According to Carroll, teachers at California Virtual Academies  better known as CAVA  had grown frustrated with the organizations foot-dragging and were making preparations to go on strike when CAVAs leadership agreed to the deal. CAVA and K12, the Virginia-based for-profit company linked to its schools, did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday asking for comment. The network currently operates nine virtual charter schools across California. In 2016, the charter network agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle claims of false advertising, misleading parents and inadequate instruction. The state attorney generals office had also accused K12 of controlling the charters for its own financial benefit. Neither CAVA nor K12 admitted to wrongdoing in the settlement. A year later, the state imposed a $2-million fine on CAVA after an audit found that it had misspent public funds. The network disputed the findings. Facebook

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School board approves a new formula for funding high-need schools By Sonali Kohli L.A. schools will soon get more money if they are located in neighborhoods with such problems as high levels of gun violence and asthma. The Los Angeles Unified school board voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a new formula to determine how to dole out some funding to schools, based not only on the characteristics of the student populations but on the traumas that affect the communities around campuses. The new formula will be applied to $25 million in funding next fiscal year and about $263 million annually in future years  a small part of the districts $7.5 billion annual budget. Read More Facebook

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Protesters demand Ref Rodriguez resignation outside school board meeting By Sonali Kohli Students, parents, teachers and UTLA marching outside the board meeting chanting "Ref resign" pic.twitter.com/W0LRWZSIXY  Sonali Kohli  (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 A few dozen parents, students and teachers marched outside the Los Angeles Unified School Board meeting Tuesday, some calling for board member Ref Rodriguez to resign the week after news broke that he was taken into custody on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena bar and restaurant. Rodriguez was not cited or charged in that incident, but was held for more than five and a half hours before being released. The school board member faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. He is accused of getting more than two dozen people people to donate to his campaign for his school board seat with the understanding that he would reimburse them. He stepped down from his post as school board president after he was charged last fall, but he did not give up his seat on the board. He has pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of conspiracy, perjury, and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May. He cant give his full focus to our students, said Rebecca LaFond, a Highland Park parent whose three children marched with her as she chanted, Ref resign. One daughter marched in front of her, using a drum stick to hit the bottom of a gallon-size empty water jug. Our kids deserve someone who has the utmost ethical standards representing them, LaFond said. The protests continued into the board meeting, where some addressed Rodriguez directly, calling on him to step down during public comment portions of the meeting. Rodriguez, through his chief of staff, declined to comment. Some parents outside the board meeting did not know about the charges against Rodriguez but came out to protest the possibility of sharing their school campuses with charter schools. Protesters also oppose colocation  not all of the parents are here to ask Ref Rodriguez to step down pic.twitter.com/1Co8zQ9zSi  Sonali Kohli  (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 Cynthia Martinez said her son, who goes to Christopher Dena Elementary School in Boyle Heights, has been bullied in the past by students from a charter school sharing the campus. She said she didnt know who Rodriguez was. Some parents and teachers are worried about losing computer labs, robotics rooms and fitness centers if they are required to share their campus with charter schools, said Ilse Escobar, a parent community organizer for United Teachers Los Angeles. The issues of Rodriguez and colocation are related, Escobar said. Rodriguez is part of a majority on the school board elected with financial backing from charter school supporters, and many parents, she said, feel that the school board is compromised if he is a part of it. Staff reporter Howard Blume contributed to this post. Facebook

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Delaine Eastin tries to gain momentum in the California governors race, one voter at a time By Seema Mehta Delaine Eastin was a sophomore in high school when a drama teacher urged her to try out for a part in The Man Who Came to Dinner. She hesitated until he told her: This is a metaphor for your whole life. If you never try out, you will never get the part. Eastin auditioned and won the role. Decades later, the advice sticks with the former state schools chief, this time in her unlikely run for governor. Despite calls for more women in leadership roles in state politics following sexual misconduct allegations in Sacramento, Eastin has been largely overlooked in the race, lagging far behind her Democratic rivals in fundraising and the polls. Read More Facebook

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Arizona high court rejects in-state tuition for DACA recipients By Associated Press Young immigrants granted deferred deportation status under a program started by President Obama are not eligible for lower in-state college tuition, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Monday. The unanimous ruling will affect at least 2,000 students attending the states largest community college district and hundreds more at other colleges and the states three public universities. The Maricopa County Community Colleges District and state universities said they would begin raising tuition immediately for the coming school year. Read More Facebook

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New York high school students injured when bus strikes overpass By Associated Press A charter bus carrying teenagers returning from a spring break trip Sunday night struck a bridge overpass on Long Island, seriously injuring six passengers and mangling the entire length of the top of the bus. The crash happened shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday on the Southern State Parkway in Lakeview, according to New York State Police. One of the six injured passengers had very serious injuries, said State Police Maj. David Candelaria. Thirty-seven other passengers suffered minor injuries. Read More Facebook

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Some good news for California in national student test scores By Joy Resmovits Every two years, the nations fourth- and eighth-graders are tested in math and reading  and newly released results from last years tests give California at least a little reason to be pleased. The 2017 results  out Monday night  were mostly flat nationwide compared with 2015, though the average score in eighth-grade reading went up. But while that improvement largely came from the increased scores of the highest-performing students, California eighth-graders showed some reading progress from the lowest levels to the highest. Read More Facebook

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Under state control, Inglewood school districts financial picture worsened By Anna M. Phillips When Eugenio Villa agreed to return to the Inglewood schools for a second tour last summer, he knew the district remained one of Californias most troubled. Inglewood Unified had been nearly insolvent when it was taken over by the state Department of Education in 2012. Six years later, its enrollment was still declining. Its school buildings were tired  some edging into decrepitude. Its test scores and graduation rates were still below the state average. And the public was out of patience. Still, Villa, who had signed back on as the districts chief business official, was shocked at what he found when he arrived in June 2017. Two years earlier, he had left the school system on what he thought was firm ground. Read More Facebook

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Charter school group drops two lawsuits against L.A. Unified By Howard Blume A charter schools advocacy group last week announced that it would end two long-running lawsuits in which it was seeking more classroom space and construction money from the Los Angeles school district. The decision, the California Charter Schools Assn. said, reflects better relations between charter schools and the L.A. Unified School District. But the move also suggests that the litigation, which already contributed to significant gains for area charters, was unlikely to produce much more. It takes time, money and effort to litigate, said Ricardo Soto, general counsel for the charter group. Maybe its better to see if we can find the time and opportunity for collaboration. Read More Facebook

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L.A. school board member Ref Rodriguez is arrested on suspicion of public intoxication By Richard Winton Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez was arrested recently on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena restaurant, the latest trouble for an elected official who faces political money-laundering charges. Pasadena police took Rodriguez into custody on March 16, according to city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. Officers arrested Rodriguez at about 4:30 p.m. at the Yard House restaurant and bar at the Paseo Mall and held him in jail for more than five-and-a-half hours. Rodriguez was ultimately released without being cited or charged, Derderian told The Times. Other details about the arrest were not available, she said. Read More Facebook

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Kentucky teachers rally at Capitol over state budget By Associated Press Thousands of Kentucky teachers filled the streets near the state Capitol in Frankfort on a cold, overcast Monday to rally for education funding. Teachers and other school employees gathered outside the Kentucky Education Assn. a couple of blocks from the Capitol chanting, Stop the war on public education and holding or posting signs that say, Weve Had Enough. Were madder than hornets, and the hornets are swarming today, said Claudette Green, a retired teacher and principal. Read More Facebook

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Baku, Azerbaijan, May 18

Trend:

Today (May 17) Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club have hosted the fourth CEO Lunch in Baku.

CEO Lunch is one of the key tools of networking, and is being held to create opportunities for CEOs to communicate in informal surroundings and establish new contacts. Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club host CEO Lunch with participation of top-managers of CEIBC member companies on the third Wednesday of each month in Baku, First Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club Telman Aliyev said.

Addressing the event, Telman Aliyev said that Caspian Energy Georgia company will start operating in Georgia from September and organize business forums, CEO Lunch events, trainings, workshops, round tables, annual Caspian Energy Forum and a ceremony of presenting national and international prizes in Tbilisi and Batumi.

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During the CEO Lunch hosted today at Hyatt Regency Baku each member of the board of the Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club spoke about the plans of the Club and suggestions for its further development. The top managers of the companies also briefly described their activities.

The companies that joined and continued their participation in the Caspian European Club and Caspian American Club were awarded the membership certificates.

Caspian Energy, Caspian Energy Forum, Caspian Energy Award, Caspian Energy Club, Caspian European Club, Caspian Business Club, Caspian American Club, Caspian American Forum, CEO, CEO Lunch, Brand Award and many others are the registered trademarks owned by Caspian Energy International Media Group.
The Los Angeles Unified School District underwent a dramatic political shift Tuesday night, as the curtain dropped on what has been the most expensive school board election in the nations history.

The election has been a proxy war between wealthy charter school advocates and public employee unions. Charter supporters appeared to secure their first-ever majority on the seven-member Los Angeles Board of Education, a move that could accelerate the already-rapid expansion of charter schools across the city.

Election day brought to an end a more than $14-million campaign fueled by outside spending. The latest figures show charter supporters outspent their union opponents. But union spending, mainly under the banner of United Teachers Los Angeles, also reached into the millions.

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The president of the school board, Steve Zimmer, conceded his race. Addressing a crowd of supporters, Zimmer called his loss to candidate Nick Melvoin devastating and vowed never to run for office again. In a sign of how deeply polarizing this election has been, and how difficult it will be to forge consensus in the weeks and months to come, Zimmer said he would not call Melvoin.

LAUSD board president and incumbent District 4 member Steve Zimmer, left, embraces Anika Fernandez, right, following an impassioned concession speech at his election night gathering in Venice. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

I may have lost an election  but my soul is intact, he said. Of his opponents supporters, he added darkly: They know what they did.

Returns showed charter-backed Kelly Gonez, 28, leading against her union-supported opponent, Imelda Padilla, 29, in the race to fill a vacant seat in District 6. The district encompasses the east Valley. Both candidates were running to replace Monica Ratliff, who did not seek reelection.

Just after midnight, Gonez declared victory.

In District 4, where Zimmer faced a challenge from Melvoin, charter school advocates spent millions of dollars to unseat the incumbent. The district stretches from the Westside to the west San Fernando Valley.

The record level of cash contributed to the blistering campaigns, in which both sides sought to sow division among public school parents, teachers and advocates.

For residents who arent devoted followers of district politics, discerning exactly who the candidates were was difficult.

Kelly Gonez is joined by supporters during an LAUSD School Board District 6 election night event for candidate Kelly Gonez at Magaleys Tamales. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

Outside groups funded by charter advocates painted Zimmer as a charter school foe. Anti-Zimmer mailers characterized him as a gun-happy militant, a protector of pedophiles and the mastermind of the school districts iPads-for-all debacle.

Groups bankrolled by public employee unions tried to link Melvoin, 31, to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and President Trump, both of whom are extremely unpopular in Los Angeles.

Neither of these portrayals were accurate. Zimmer has voted many times to approve new charter schools and Melvoin is a Democrat who has been critical of the Trump administrations education policies.

At times, even the candidates appeared frustrated by the spending and their inability to control the outside groups messages. Amid the accusations and counterclaims, they sometimes were reduced to caricatures of themselves.

The historically high campaign spending levels are partly due to the fact that Los Angeles is the largest school system in the country with an elected Board of Education. And political spending seems to increase with each election. Both the teachers union and charter backers also are well entrenched in L.A. and have deep pockets, and both sides played hard to win, aware of the real and symbolic stakes.

UTLA is probably one of your three most visible and prominent teacher unions in the country, said Frederick M. Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. And theyve chosen to make this a visible fight. Obviously, youve got a whole concentration of prominent progressive charter school supporters in the greater L.A. area. They see this as making a difference on their home turf.

Candidate Imelda Padilla, left, looks at voting results with Gemma Jimenez during an LAUSD School Board District 6 election night event agthering in Mission Hills. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

L.A. Unified has more charters and more charter students than any other school system, but they still account for only about 16% of enrollment. A clear dividing line in the campaign was the extent to which L.A. Unified would be willing to authorize additional charter schools, which receive the bulk of their funding from the state but are privately managed.

On this issue voters in District 4 had a clear choice.

Zimmer said that he would prefer to limit charter school expansion, when possible, to charters that bring real innovation. He said the district should focus on making sure that existing charters and district-operated schools offer high-quality programs.

Melvoin said he would not limit charter growth but would rely on the market forces of parent choice while also doing his best to make district schools a viable option.

Charter supporters see much room for growth, and they say low-income minorities in schools with low test scores should have more options.

This and other relevant differences between Zimmer and Melvoin frequently were obscured by the overblown campaign rhetoric.

The unions spent more than $2.5 million on behalf of Zimmer. Support came from labor groups across the county, with teachers unions spending the most. UTLA anchored this campaign, helped by the National Education Assn., American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Assn., and California Federation of Teachers.

Melvoins campaign was buoyed by more than $5.69 million from charter school advocates.

The spending in District 6 was more evenly matched. Outside spending on behalf of union-backed Imelda Padilla surpassed $2.34 million. For charter-backed Gonez, the outside spending was more than $3.3 million.

Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings, a longtime charter school backer, was particularly active, donating about $5 million since last September to California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, which coordinated much of the pro-charter spending. Hastings is a Democrat and represents the wing of that party that is strongly pro-charter.

Other big donors to the pro-charter side were familiar names in Republican circles as well as conservative and anti-union causes. These backers have broad ideological overlap with the Trump administration and DeVos.

For that reason, union attack ads attempted to link Melvoin with Trump and DeVos and said he was their puppet  though Melvoins allies spent plenty of money to remind voters of his Democratic credentials. They also tried to make voters think that Zimmer, a liberal, pro-union Democrat, was actually a Trump confederate.

The Zimmer versus Melvoin contest embodied real differences in part because a challenger, talking of the need for change, faced an incumbent, who focused on progress and the need for stability.

Gonez and Padilla, on the other hand, were both newcomers, battling for a seat that became available when incumbent Monica Ratliff decided not to run for reelection. They had similar messages and voiced support for all kinds of schools and for employee unions.

A victory by charter advocates could throw into doubt the job security of L.A. schools Supt. Michelle King, who took office about 14 months ago. New boards frequently want to pick new leadership because the ultimate job of a board is to select and evaluate the superintendent.

One of Kings key aims is to increase enrollment to confront a looming budget crisis, which means competing with charter schools for students. To do this, she plans to launch an online enrollment system, which would help parents discover, find and apply for varied L.A. Unified programs. At present, there are no plans to include charters in that unified system.

It isnt clear that charters want to be part of it, but they do want faster and more complete access to district-owned campuses. And theyd like a larger share of school-construction bonds that are under L.A. Unified control.

Whatever their allegiance, the winners of the board seats will confront an ocean of challenges, including the seemingly inevitable growth of charters and the strain that places on the districts budget and its ability to serve students at its own schools.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

Staff writers Sonali Kohli, Joy Resmovits and Benjamin Oreskes contributed to this report.

howard.blume@latimes.com

@howardblume

anna.phillips@latimes.com

@annamphillips

UPDATES:

5:50 a.m.: This article was updated with later results.

May 17, 12:43 a.m.: This article was updated with Kelly Gonez declaring victory.

10:50 p.m.: This article was updated with quotes from Zimmer.

9:55 p.m.: This article was updated to report that Steve Zimmer had conceded.

9:30 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with mail-in returns and additional background.

This article was originally published on May 16 at 8:30 p.m.
Since Donald Trump was elected president in November, Los Angeles police officials have sought to assure the public that deporting immigrants is not their job.

In media interviews and dozens of community meetings, Chief Charlie Beck and others have pointed to Special Order 40, a 1979 city directive that prohibits police officers from initiating contact with a person to ask about immigration status.

But at a Police Commission meeting Tuesday devoted to immigration, immigrant rights advocates urged the Los Angeles Police Department to do more to distance itself from federal immigration enforcement.

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L.A. Police Chief Charlie Beck attends a special Police Commission meeting to hear testimony from immigrant rights advocates and discuss LAPD policies towards immigrants in the age of Trump. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

They suggested measures such as a new policy against biased policing and a halt to sharing data with federal authorities. The meeting comes at a time when the Trump administrations threats to increase deportations have made some immigrants afraid to leave the house, advocates said.

Progress has been made, but we still must do more in Los Angeles to create an environment where immigrants are not confused about the role of the police and their relationship with ICE, said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Weve come a long way in building trust, but I want you to understand that the fear is real.

Beck agreed with the advocates that since Trumps election, Los Angeles has been a city on edge. At stake, he said, is the trust the LAPD has built among immigrants who are in the country illegally, encouraging them to report crimes and cooperate as witnesses without fearing that police officers will hand them over to immigration authorities.

That trust may have already eroded. This year, in addition to a drop in reported sexual assaults among Latinos, the LAPD has seen a 10% drop in 911 calls in the predominantly Latino Hollenbeck Division, compared with a 1% drop citywide, Beck said.

The Trump administration has indicated that it plans to have local police agencies play a larger role in immigration enforcement and has threatened to withhold federal funding to so-called sanctuary cities. The administration has not offered a definition of the term, and Los Angeles has not officially declared itself a sanctuary city.

L.A. Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff talks about the need to reach out to the communities most affected by the LAPDs policies toward immigrants. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Beck noted that Latinos are the largest ethnic group in both the city and his police department. When he met with Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly and Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions last month, he emphasized why local police should not enforce immigration laws, he said.

One thing you have is a very stubborn chief, Beck said. I will not change what we do in this respect, not only because its the legal thing to do but because its the moral thing to do.

According to the Pew Research Center, about 1 million of the 11.1 million immigrants in the United States without legal status live in Los Angeles County. Within city limits, Pew estimates that about 375,000 of Los Angeles nearly 4 million residents are in the U.S. illegally.

Arif Alikhan, the LAPDs director of constitutional policing, said that in many cases, immigrants in the country illegally have violated civil laws but not criminal laws.

In 2014, Alikhan said, the department stopped honoring requests from ICE to hold jail inmates past the time they would otherwise be released. And although Los Angeles police officers do participate in joint task forces with ICE on criminal cases, they do not work with ICE on civil immigration enforcement.

Several of the immigrant rights advocates said the LAPD needs to cut back on the joint task forces because people who are not involved in crimes can be arrested by ICE during the operations.

Any tendency for immigrants to fear the LAPD because of ICEs actions is not a misunderstanding or a messaging problem, said Jordan Cunnings, an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the public interest law firm Public Counsel. Thats actually what happens if the LAPD continues to work on these joint task forces.

Michael Kaufman, a senior staff attorney and deputy director of advocacy at the ACLU of Southern California, said the LAPD should reduce arrests for minor crimes such as graffiti or sleeping in a car, which put immigrants at risk of deportation because ICE reviews arrest databases.

Kaufman also urged the LAPD to make fewer pedestrian stops and to endorse a proposed state law, SB 54, that would largely prohibit local law enforcement from sharing data with immigration authorities.

Beck said Alikhan has been working with representatives of Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), the measures author, to refine some details.

Theres a constant evolution, and were pretty sure we can get there, but we want to make sure it works on every level, Beck said.

The proposed bias-free policing policy would expand on Special Order 40 by detailing the types of immigration enforcement that are off-limits for the LAPD. It would prohibit participation in joint task forces that focus on immigration violations and bar the sharing of most information with federal immigration authorities.

Police Commissioner Cynthia McClain-Hill said she supports taking a look at the policy. Another commissioner, Shane Murphy Goldsmith, asked police officials to provide a status report on immigration issues within 60 days.

Beck said he is open to updating Special Order 40, noting that he is one of the few Los Angeles officers who joined the department before it was enacted.

Almost all of our 10,000 officers were hired in and trained in and believe in Special Order 40 as the way they do business, Beck said. Most have never done it any other way.

cindy.chang@latimes.com

@cindychangLA

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A ballot measure to significantly change the way the Los Angeles Police Department handles serious officer misconduct has won easily, despite warnings from some community activists that it will result in more lenient treatment for problem cops.

With 99.9% of precincts counted, Charter Amendment C passed with 57.1% of the vote, according to unofficial results released early Wednesday. The measure, backed by both Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council, will deliver one of the most significant changes to the LAPDs disciplinary process in decades, allowing more civilians on the panels that review officer terminations.

The results provided a major victory to the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which championed the measure. Union officials had long argued that disciplinary proceedings handled by the three-member Boards of Rights are frequently unfair to officers. Currently, each board consists of one civilian and two LAPD command staff ranked captain or above.

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Union spokesman Dustin DeRollo said Tuesdays results showed that voters want to see officers get a fair shake when it comes to discipline.

Were pleased that the voters are choosing increased civilian oversight and are going to help fix our broken disciplinary system, he said.

Opponents have called Charter Amendment C a City Hall giveaway to a politically connected union and warned it would send the LAPDs reform efforts backward. Peter Bibring, director of police practices for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, also described the measure as a deceptive piece of legislation.

Many voters thought they were voting for greater police accountability, when in fact this does just the opposite, he said.

The LAPD has been grappling with the right approach to discipline since the 1991 videotaped beating of Rodney King by officers, an incident that became a national embarrassment for the department and helped spark devastating riots a year later.

Garcettis team began working behind the scenes with the union on changes to the disciplinary process two years ago. Advocacy groups that were locked out of those talks  including Black Lives Matter and other organizations that are vocal on police accountability  portrayed the measure as the product of a backroom deal.

The ball has been hidden from the general public since 2015, said Pete White, executive director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network, one of the groups campaigning against Charter Amendment C. [The measure] was strategically timed to give the opposition the least amount of time possible to mobilize and respond.

Charter Amendment C would give officers the option of having their disciplinary cases heard by boards composed entirely of civilians. They could also continue to choose the current setup.

The union put at least $839,000 into the campaign for Charter Amendment C, relying heavily on Garcetti to promote it. The City Council will need to draft an ordinance implementing the changes, said Council President Herb Wesson, who played a key role in placing the measure on the ballot.

Wesson said he wants to spend the coming months finding ways to make the pool of civilian panelists more racially and ethnically diverse  and look at bringing retired officers into the process.

I think that people do want to begin a serious conversation about reform, he said. And I think this is what cracks the door open to have a larger conversation.

Charter Amendment C would represent one of the biggest changes to police disciplinary practices since 1992, when voters passed a measure adding civilians to the Boards of Rights. That measure was initially resisted by some police officers.

In recent years, officers have voiced concerns over the role played by commanding officers on those panels. They argued that high-level officers feel pressure to follow the police chiefs recommendations in disciplinary cases, rendering the process unfair to those accused of misconduct.

Foes of Charter Amendment C have also complained about the Boards of Rights process, noting that disciplinary reviews are conducted in secret. They also asserted that the civilians, typically lawyers and others with a background in arbitration or mediation, are not representative of the larger public. Nevertheless, they said Charter Amendment C is not the solution.

Opponents pointed to a city report, issued in January, that concluded that civilians have been consistently more lenient than their sworn counterparts on the Boards of Rights. They criticized city leaders for sending the proposal to voters in a low-turnout election.

In many parts of the city, Charter Amendment C was the only item on the ballot.

Charisma Johnson, a voter who lives in Echo Park, said she wrestled with her decision on Charter Amendment C. Johnson said she didnt know if an all-civilian panel would do a better job than one that has includes two commanding officers. But she voted in favor because she wants something to change.

If you vote no, nothing will happen, she said.

Opponents of the measure said they were heavily outspent by the union-funded campaign, which sent at least 10 campaign mailers featuring endorsement messages from Garcetti, Wesson and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.

Opponents never managed to put an argument against Charter Amendment C on the ballot. High-profile critics of the proposal, including Rep. Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), went public with their opposition just before the election.

Times staff writer Emily Alpert Reyes contributed to this report.

david.zahniser@latimes.com

Twitter: @DavidZahniser

kate.mather@latimes.com

Twitter: @katemather

ALSO

Trumps pick for a top Interior post has sued the agency on behalf of powerful California water interests

Republican couple who lost a son want their GOP back, fewer guns, and a return of statesmanship

Advocates urge LAPD to do more to distance itself from federal immigration enforcement

UPDATES:

1:10 a.m. May 17: This article was updated with the measures passage.

11:05 p.m.: This article was updated with new vote totals.

9:50 p.m.: This article was updated with early returns and reaction.

This article was originally posted at 8 p.m. May 16.
Incumbent Gil Cedillo handily won reelection Tuesday night over challenger Joe Bray-Ali in a heated runoff for a Los Angeles City Council seat representing a swath of northeast L.A.

With 100% of precincts reporting, Cedillo had received more than 70% of the votes cast in District 1, which includes Westlake, Highland Park and Chinatown.

In March, Cedillo was forced into a run-off by Bray-Ali, a Lincoln Heights resident and bicycle advocate who had been a vocal critic of the councilmans positions on street safety, development and gentrification.

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Spirits were high at Cedillos election night party at a rooftop bar in Chinatown. Cheers greeted Cedillos arrival, and he stopped to dance with one supporter, as a group of women shouted, Si, se puede!

Late Tuesday night Cedillo gave what amounted to a victory speech, as members of the crowd snapped photos of him.

These voters in the 1st District are smart, Cedillo said, prompting cheers. They chose experience. They chose an incredible record.  They chose someone who wants to bring people together.

With 100% of precincts reporting early Wednesday, former city commissioner Monica Rodriguez built a five-point edge over Karo Torossian, an aide to Councilman Paul Krekorian, in the District 7 runoff. Rodriguez captured nearly 53% of the vote in the northeast San Fernando Valley district.

The seat representing neighborhoods including Sylmar, Pacoima and Sunland-Tujunga has been empty since September, when Felipe Fuentes resigned to take a job as a lobbyist.

The results are unofficial pending a tally of late absentee and provisional ballots.

Shortly after 10 p.m., Rodriguez, 43, addressed a crowd of supporters at a Mexican restaurant in Sylmar, saying she was very anxious about getting the next set of numbers, but  incredibly optimistic.

At an election night party in Tujunga, held in a campaign office that was formerly a Dennys, Torossian, 33, opened the early results on his phone and showed them to a friend, saying, Its going to be a long night.

Tuesday was at least the fourth election in a year for many local voters, and turnout was expected to be low, though figures were not immediately available.

The District 1 race capped a bitter, months-long contest between Bray-Ali and Cedillo, who was formerly a state senator and assemblyman. Cedillo, 63, faced criticism from constituents that his office has not been responsive to residents concerns.

1 / 14 L.A. Unified School Board candidate Nick Melvoin is congratulated by supporters Tuesday night. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 14 LAUSD District 4 candidate Steve Zimmer with supporters Sharon Delugach, left, and Anika Fernandez, right, at a subdued election-night party in Venice. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 14 Supporters join Kelly Gonez at an LAUSD School Board District 6 election-night event in San Fernando. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 4 / 14 LAUSD School Board District 6 candidate Imelda Padilla, with niece Alejandra Lepe, watches early results at an election-night event in Mission Hills. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) 5 / 14 L.A. City Councilman Gil Cedillo takes a congratulations phone call during his election-night party in Los Angeles. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 14 Supporters cheer L.A. City Councilman Gil Cedillo at his election-night party in Los Angeles. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 14 Voter Susan Chivaratanond casts her ballot while her dog, Mookie, waits at the Hollywood Recreation Center. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 14 LAUSD School Board President Steve Zimmer casts his ballot the voting booth at the Hollywood Recreation Center. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 14 An elderly woman exercises near a polling station in the Angelino Heights area of Los Angeles Tuesday morning. Voters will choose two new school board members, two new L.A. City Council members and weigh in on a police discipline ballot measure. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 14 Ruben Sedano was the first voter to cast his ballot at Lincoln Heights Senior Center on Tuesday morning. On the ballot are two L.A. City Council races and a ballot measure that would create an all-civilian review board for police disciplinary hearings. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 14 Voters arrive early to cast their ballots at the Hollywood Recreation Center for the Los Angeles municipal election. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 14 Los Angeles City Council candidate Joe Bray-Ali, who already voted by mail, arrives at the Lincoln Heights Senior Center with his wife Susan Wong and dog Rosie on Tuesday morning. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 14 Francisco Cobos gets ready to raise a flag at the Lincoln Heights Senior center polling place Tuesday morning. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 14 Poll workers at the Hollywood Recreation Center prepare the polling place. Voters will choose two new school board members, two new L.A. City Council members and weigh in on a police discipline ballot measure. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Cedillo, who heads the City Councils housing committee, also has been criticized for not doing enough to stop displacement in his district, which has seen a wave of gentrification that has contributed to rapidly rising rents.

Cedillo said Tuesday night that he had listened to voters during the campaign and learned a lot.

Bray-Ali, 38, formerly ran a Highland Park bike shop and has advocated for bike lanes on Figueroa Street.

He came under fire last month for comments he made on a provocative website that encourages fat-shaming and racism. He later posted a Facebook video that contained a litany of admissions. He said in the video that he slept with several other women who were not his wife, and owed nearly $50,000 in state business taxes and fees.

The comments cost Bray-Ali the endorsements of The Times, City Councilman Mitch OFarrell and Bike the Vote, a transportation advocacy group.

Bray-Ali was greeted Tuesday night by dozens of cheering volunteers and supporters at the Huron Substation, an event space in Cypress Park. He said he felt elated, despite early results that showed him behind.

Addressing the crowd, Bray-Ali said his campaign had been heavily outspent by a City Hall political machine.

If he won, Bray-Ali said, he had work to do. He added: And if I lose, on day one, Im ready to hold [Cedillo] accountable for every misstep, every false move, every idiotic proposal.

In an interview, Bray-Ali said he hadnt been prepared for personal smear attacks and had been hindered by some campaign staffers who didnt react effectively.

People have still asked, Why didnt you scrub your Web history? he said. But he said that failing to do so wasnt his regret and that he had lived a life where Ive sort of intellectually let a lot of things fly. ... Its part of the package of who I am.

As guests lined up for Nicaraguan food at Cedillos party, City Council President Herb Wesson reflected on the race, which took a dramatic turn after Bray-Alis comments were discovered.

Im glad its over, said Wesson, who endorsed Cedillo. Its not the type of race you would like to see, but Gilbert ran hard and proved he could do the job.

Other councilmen at Cedillos party included Joe Buscaino, David Ryu and Curren Price. Several top staffers from Mayor Eric Garcettis office were also in the crowd, as was former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is now running for governor.

In the District 7 race, Rodriguez and Torossian advanced to the runoff after beating 18 other candidates in the March primary. Most of those candidates endorsed Torossian, but Rodriguez won the endorsements of Wesson and Garcetti, as well as fundraising support from the mayors longtime political advisor Rick Jacobs.

Rodriguez  a resident of Mission Hills and a former Board of Public Works commissioner  would become the second woman on the City Council. She would join Nury Martinez, who represents a district that includes Panorama City, Arleta and Van Nuys.

If her lead holds up, Rodriguez will face voter discontent on issues as varied as homelessness, illegal dumping and the proposed route of the California bullet train through Sunland.

Torossian, a Tujunga resident, opposed the rail project. Rodriguez supports high-speed rail, but said the route should connect Palmdale to downtown, rather than going through the district.

Tuesdays election was the last one in Los Angeles scheduled for an odd-numbered year.

A change in the election schedule, approved by voters in 2015, will shift municipal races to even years to coincide with the gubernatorial and presidential schedules. The move is expected to improve voter turnout.

To adjust to the new schedule, the winners of Tuesdays races and the incumbents who won reelection in March, including Garcetti, are set to serve 5-year terms that end in 2022.

Outside a polling place in Mt. Washington Elementary School, Rick Keyes said he cast a ballot in Tuesdays election but not for Bray-Ali or Cedillo.

I didnt have a good reason to vote for either of them, Keyes said.

Cedillo, he said, had failed to impress him as a leader. But he had heard that Bray-Ali, in turn, had been a Republican  something that left Keyes with a lot of questions.

Originally a Democrat, Bray-Ali registered as a Republican in 2012 and later switched his affiliation back, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk said.

Outside a green house on Edgeware Road that served as a polling place, Pedro Mateo said he had just voted for Cedillo, saying in Spanish that he liked his way of working for the community.

Times staff writer Laura J. Nelson contributed to this report.

dakota.smith@latimes.com

Twitter: @dakotacdsmith

emily.alpert@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesemily

nina.agrawal@latimes.com

Twitter: @agrawalnina

ALSO

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UC regents to tackle hot-button issues of state audit and nonresident enrollment

UPDATES:

12:50 a.m.: This article was updated with final unofficial vote totals in districts 1 and 7.

May 17, 12:20 a.m.: This article was updated with new vote totals in District 7.

11:40 p.m.: This article was updated with Cedillos victory.

11 p.m.: This article was updated with new vote totals and reaction.

10:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction.

9:30 p.m.: This article was updated with details about early returns and comments from Cedillo, Bray-Ali and Torossian.

This article was originally published on May 16 at 8:05 p.m.
Fresno County authorities say they have uncovered a nearly $1-million beehive theft operation that targeted Central Valley almond orchards.

Investigators say Pavel Tveretinov, a 51-year-old beekeeper from Sacramento, was behind the thefts and likely stole hives from all over California during the last three years, according to the Fresno County Sheriffs Office. Tveretinov was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property and released on $10,000 bail.

The beehive thefts triggered concerns last year within the apiary industry, and an advisory went out to beekeepers, bee brokers and almond growers urging them to stay vigilant.

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Detectives got a break in the case on April 28, when they visited an orchard in Fresno to follow up on a theft report. There, they spotted Tveretinov in a beekeeper suit tending to more than 100 beehives.

Authorities later discovered the beehives were stolen from a Madera County orchard in March, said Cmdr. Bill Ward, a spokesman for the Madera County Sheriffs Office.

Tveretinov is accused of stealing 2,500 hives worth about $875,000, according to Fresno sheriffs investigators.

Authorities believe Tveretinov stole the hives at night, when bees are dormant, and moved them on flatbed trailers around California and to other states, sheriffs investigators said. Tveretinov likely rented the hives out for cash, authorities said.

Most of the stolen hives recovered by sheriffs investigators belonged to out-of-state beekeepers, who rented out their colonies to California almond tree growers looking to pollinate their crops.

One of those beekeepers is Lloyd Cunniff, whose beehives were stolen in January.

Cunniff, who owns the Beeline Honey Co., relied on Californias almond pollinating season to make additional money during the winter and before the honey harvest in July. Last December, Cunniff shipped his bee colonies from his home in Choteau, Mont., to a rural property in Northern California.

The hives were supposed to remain on the property for a few months before being trucked to almond tree fields in Fresno.

Cunniffs bees never got to pollinate the almond trees though, because they were stolen.

Last week, Cunniff flew to Fresno County and picked up his stolen bee colonies. Tveretinov had kept the bees on a large piece of property with bees of other breeds, which Cunniff said was a problem. Interbreeding can lead to problems such as aggressiveness and poor bee health.

It was a nightmare, he said.

Cunniff recovered 622 colonies and most of his pallets, which had been repainted and branded with the name of another beekeeping company. He has quarantined the bees, which he said could contain mites or other diseases.

Some of it looks kind of good, he said. Most of it is not that good.

Cunniff hasnt ruled out returning to California for the pollination season, but he said he has concerns about the safety of his bees and worries they could be stolen again.

This theft ring is a big operation, he said. They are just beginning to scratch the surface.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA
Twenty-one people accused of being part of the notoriously violent MS-13 gang were arrested Wednesday as federal and local investigators forced their way into homes and businesses across Los Angeles County in a pre-dawn sweep that came as a result of a more than two-year racketeering investigation.

At least two dozen locations were raided by investigators with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and officers with the Los Angeles Police Department.

The detainees were among 44 gang suspects facing federal charges  including murder and racketeering  listed in a 41-count federal indictment unsealed Wednesday, officials said. Twenty suspects were already in custody, and three are considered fugitives.

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Acting U.S. Atty. Sandra Brown said the operation against MS-13 was the largest ever conducted in Los Angeles and is expected to deal a critical blow to its leadership.

A significant number of those named in the indictment are in the U.S. illegally, Brown said.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, preys on immigrants without legal status.

They extort them. They rob them. They rape them. They murder them. Without their cooperation as witnesses, none of this would be possible, Beck said, noting that LAPD officers do not check immigration statuses before talking to witnesses.

Shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday, heavily-armed ATF agents  wearing helmets and bulletproof gear and carrying rifles  forced their way into a storefront and a back building near Exposition Boulevard and Western Avenue in Exposition Park. Agents approached in an armored vehicle down a narrow alleyway behind the small business.

Once inside, federal agents and police detectives found what they described as gang members involved in human trafficking, as well as possible victims. The storefront, which appeared to be locked from the outside, was full of garbage.

A few of the people detained were handcuffed and lined up facing a metal fence in the alleyway next to the armored vehicle.

The sweep was based on sealed federal indictments orchestrated before President Trump  who has cast MS-13 as a deadly domestic scourge that his administration will wipe out  took office.

Federal prosecutors have repeatedly used charges of racketeering and conspiracy to undercut the growth of MS-13. This week, authorities used the charges to target the suspects, who officials say traded drugs and weapons across Southern California.

The indictment names the former leader of the gang and a dozen people who acted as a joint council of leaders, Brown said.

The lead defendant in the indictment is 43-year-old Jose Balmore Romero, known as Porky. Romero called the shots for the gang in Los Angeles in 2013 and 2014 and oversaw the gangs drug-trafficking activities and coordinated the collection of extortion money, some of which was distributed to the Mexican Mafia, according to the U.S. attorneys office in Los Angeles. Romero has been in custody since 2015, charged with ordering a gang-related slaying.

Three men were charged with murder in connection with the gangs activities, authorities said.

Carlos Alfredo Cardoza Lopez, 23, known as Little Boy, faces a violent crime in aid of racketeering murder charge in the fatal shooting of a innocent bystander inside the gang-controlled Little San Salvador Nightclub and Restaurant on Western Avenue, federal prosecutors said in a statement. A friend of the victim also was stabbed.

Two others accused of being in the gang also are facing federal murder charges. Alexander Paredes Rivas, 39, known as Blacky, is accused of killing a man in August 2015 at a strip mall in Pacoima. Joffri Molina, 24, known as Espia, is accused of killing a man in September 2015 on a North Hollywood street, officials said.

Lopez, Rivas and Molina are eligible for the death penalty if they are convicted, officials said. Prosecutors will decide at a later date whether to seek the death penalty.

Last month, Trump administration officials blamed what they called lax immigration enforcement for the rise of MS-13 and promised a stronger federal response.

Trump tweeted, erroneously, that the Obama administration allowed MS-13 to form in America.

The weak illegal immigration policies of the Obama Admin. allowed bad MS-13 gangs to form in cities across U.S. We are removing them fast! the president tweeted.

MS-13 was started in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s by Salvadoran immigrants  many of them young ex-soldiers  fleeing their countrys civil war. Salvadorans congregated in large numbers in the Pico-Union neighborhood and the area near MacArthur Park.

Beck said he arrested his first MS-13 gang member more than 35 years ago.

Since that time, I have seen MS evolve from a small-time group from El Salvador that banded together after fleeing the civil war to protect themselves from other street gangs into a transnational organization that has tentacles that have spread all over North America, he said.

MS-13 was the first street gang to be designated a transnational criminal organization. That designation, which came in 2012, gave the U.S. Treasury Department the power to freeze any financial assets from the gang or its members and to prohibit financial institutions from engaging in any transactions with members of the group.

The gang has developed a reputation for ruthlessness. Tales of torture, cutting off body parts and killing innocent relatives have made it a feared entity as it has spread across the nation.

In Los Angeles, MS-13 members have been convicted of a long list of crimes including assault, murder, conspiracy, racketeering, extortion, kidnapping, human smuggling, robbery and drug trafficking.

The gang vaulted to national notoriety in 2004 when members used a machete to hack off the hand of a 16-year-old rival gang member. In the run-up to that incident, the gang had been linked to at least five killings in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.

A Times investigation in 2007 found that the push to send gang members back to El Salvador had unintended consequences. Deporting MS-13 members to El Salvador allowed the gang to expand its foothold there. Meanwhile, newly organized cells in El Salvador established beachheads in the United States.

The gangs grip on immigrant neighborhoods of Los Angeles has loosened in recent years amid a drop in crime and a crackdown by the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies.

The LAPD chief said seven joint task force operations by law enforcement in L.A County since 2007 have weakened the gangs grip in the city, sending about 200 of its members to prison, many of them to remote federal prisons. The gangs ranks have decreased to about 800 members, down from more than 1,200 at one point, Beck said.

richard.winton@latimes.com

hailey.branson@latimes.com

Twitter: @lacrimes @haileybranson

UPDATES:

12:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from LAPD Chief Charlie Beck.

9:35 a.m.: This article was updated with additional information about the charges.

7:20 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the raid.

This article was originally published at 6:55 a.m.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Currently, the total length of the transnational pipelines operated in Azerbaijan exceeds 5,500 kilometers, said president of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev.

He made the remarks during the roundtable titled Oil and gas cooperation held within the One Belt, One Road concept at the main office of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Beijing, reads a message from SOCAR.

Abdullayev addressed the first session with a report titled Transnational main oil and gas pipelines and mutual infrastructure relations.

He pointed out that taking into account the facilities under construction, the total length of Azerbaijans transnational pipelines will reach 9,000 kilometers.

We see on the example of Azerbaijan that the right choice of strategy regarding main oil and gas pipelines can be the locomotive of economic growth, said SOCARs president. Azerbaijan really believes that the transnational main pipelines will become the "silk parts" of the new great Silk Road. This in turn, will allow us to fairly share the profits between hydrocarbon producers, transit countries and consumers.

The event was attended by heads and representatives of such companies as CNPC, Gazprom, Rosneft, SOCAR, Uzbekneftegas, KazMunaiGas, Sinopec, Silk Road Fund and China Development Bank.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Los Angeles latest election has doubled the number of elected women leaders at City Hall. The total is now two.

In unofficial results, former Board of Public Works Commissioner Monica Rodriguez beat out Karo Torossian, a planning and environment deputy for Councilman Paul Krekorian, in Tuesdays runoff for the City Council seat representing District 7 in the northeast San Fernando Valley.

If the result holds up, Rodriguez will join Nury Martinez, also representing the East Valley, as the only women on the 15-member body.

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It really is a shame in one of the most progressive cities in the country that we dont have more women on the City Council, said Wendy Greuel, a former council member and former city controller.

It wasnt always this way. L.A. elected its first female City Council member in 1915. At the time, Estelle Lawton Lindsey championed issues that hadnt previously been taken up by the all-male council, including public health and more female police officers to investigate crimes against women.

By the 1980s, four women sat on the council, and for a brief period in the late 1990s, five women served at the same time. But by July 2013, the number had dwindled to zero.

Meanwhile, four out of five members of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors are women, and women comprise 22% of the state Legislature and more than one-third of Californias delegation to Congress.

A 2015 report by Mount Saint Marys University found that men accounted for 80% of all candidates in several recent district races and elections for citywide office in Los Angeles.

Female candidates win at similar rates to male candidates, the report stated. In order for Los Angeles to elect more women to public office, more women  need to run.

Why dont they?

One of the biggest reasons is frankly the cost to run for city office in Los Angeles, said Rachel Michelin, executive director of California Women Lead, a nonpartisan group that helps women run for office.

Being able to raise money is an essential prerequisite for a successful campaign, but its not always something women are prepared for, political observers and former elected officials said.

Its not the most glamorous part of running for office  its one of the most uncomfortable parts of running for office, said former City Councilwoman Jan Perry.

Michelin said candidates often have access to more money if they are running for statewide, rather than local, office. Large unions and their political action committees, for example, will give more money to a state candidate because they want to influence statewide legislation, she said.

Once donors have given money to a candidate, and that candidate also has name recognition, it becomes much easier, in turn, to run at the local level.

Thats partly what happened in the late 1990s and early 2000s, after California voters approved term limits and reduced the retirement benefits of state legislators.

A lot of people suddenly discovered the virtues of L.A. City Hall, including better salaries, living in Los Angeles and still wielding considerable influence, said Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State L.A.

That influx meant stiffer competition, and those who had previously held elected office had a leg up.

I think thats a temporary thing thats going to change, Sonenshein said.

Current and former female elected officials said running for office is a combative, time-consuming and labor-intensive process thats not for everybody.

To be competitive, to put yourself out on the line, is challenging for a lot of women, said Greuel, who now works, among other things, to expand the pool of women running for office.

Its also not something many women with families can or want to put themselves through.

I always had to engage on a very block-to-block, very relationship basis, and at the same time raise money, mobilize my community, make sure I was out there talking to people, Perry said. For women who have children  you have to have a support system in place in order to do that.

Women also continue to face stereotypes that men dont. Greuel said she remembered being pregnant in her first year of office.

People would ask, Are you going to quit your job? How can you be a good mom and a good elected official? Those stereotypes and those challenges still exist, she said.

Rodriguez said Tuesday that despite being a native of her district, having a decade more experience than her opponent and having run for office before, she still faced doubt from others.

I had to validate myself. As someone who had all the credentials, it was still like, Well, I dont know,  Rodriguez said of peoples initial reactions to her campaign.

By Wednesday morning, that validation had come. Though Torossian had yet to concede, Rodriguez was welcomed warmly at a City Council meeting.

I have been waiting for this moment for four years, said Martinez, who was elected in 2013.

Martinez and Rodriguez, who both grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Pacoima, are only the second and third Latinas to be elected to the Council. Gloria Molina was the first, in 1987, and there have been several Latino councilmen.

Women bring a different perspective to any debate, said Martinez, who has led efforts to stop human trafficking and prostitution and brought a focus to homeless women and children. She is currently pushing to overhaul the Los Angeles Fire Departments maternity leave program.

In a race in which high-speed rail and homelessness dominated voter attention, Rodriguez has so far not made womens issues an explicit focus, but she said having two strong Latina voices from Pacoima is a good thing for all of L.A.

We know the struggles of women, she said.

Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.

nina.agrawal@latimes.com

Twitter: @AgrawalNina

UPDATES:

3:35 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from Martinez.

This article was originally posted at 10:15 a.m.
Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann may have invented LSD, and Timothy Leary was clearly its most prominent frontman.

But it was a self-taught chemist and obscure-by-choice figure named Nicholas Sand who was the true wizard behind the curtain, the man who launched tens of millions of acid trips across generations by producing the best, most pure, highest-quality acid ever consumed across generations.

Sands  who with fellow chemist Tim Scully created the legendary version of LSD known as Orange Sunshine, which hit the streets of San Francisco in 1967  died April 24 at his home in the Northern California community of Lagunitas.

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He was 75 and had spoken the day before at a Psychedelic Science Conference in Oakland, where the film The Sunshine Makers was screened.

Nick had commented to some friends afterward that it was like the best weekend of his life, and then he went home and died in his sleep, so I guess he went out on top, said longtime friend Lorenzo Hagerty, host of the Psychedelic Salon podcast.

Born in Brooklyn on May 10, 1941, Sand was the son of prominent chemist Clarence Hiskey, who had worked on the top-secret Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb until authorities caught him spying for the Soviet Union. After Hiskeys wife divorced him, she restored her maiden name and gave it to her son.

Nicholas Francis Sand would earn a degree in anthropology and sociology from Brooklyn College in 1966, but by then he already had begun to chart a different career path.

Two years before, when LSD was still legal, the longtime devotee of yoga had sat naked in the lotus position in front of a roaring fire at a farmhouse in upstate New York and taken his first hit.

I was floating in this immense black space, he recalled years later. I said, What am I doing here? And suddenly a voice came through my body, and it said, Your job on this planet is to make psychedelics and turn on the world.

If we could turn on everyone in the world, he said, then maybe wed have a new world of peace and love.

Sand had been invited to the farmhouse by former Harvard University professor Richard Alpert, who soon would be better known as psychedelic guru Baba Ram Dass. Alperts former Harvard colleague Leary had formed the League for Spiritual Discovery (LSD) there.

A year later, Sands reputation as a drug chemist had spread to San Francisco, where another self-taught chemist, Owsley Stanley, was cranking out millions of doses of LSD.

Stanley introduced Sand to Scully, and they began cranking out Orange Sunshine doses.

They had produced about 4 million when the government, which had outlawed LSD in 1966, busted them.

Sentenced to prison, Sand vanished into Canada, living on the run for the next 20 years while cranking out LSD hits by the millions.

He said he had distributed them to U.S. soldiers in Vietnam in an effort to stop the war, given them to jail inmates, even taken them to India after becoming a follower of the Indian guru Shree Rajneesh. When authorities raided his lab in 1996, he boasted that they seized enough doses to turn on every Canadian citizen twice.

He was imprisoned for three years and sentenced to a halfway house for four more. Returning home unapologetic, he told National Geographic in 2009 that hed produced an estimated 140 million hits of LSD in his lifetime. It was a claim no one disputed.

He was dedicated to the proposal that psychedelics, when used properly, could really change the world, Hagerty said Tuesday. He really believed in what he was doing, and of course he paid the price.

Sand is survived by his partner, Gina Usha Raetze. Details on other survivors were not immediately available.
When President Trump nominated David Bernhardt for the No. 2 spot at the Interior Department, the administration cited his extensive expertise.

What the announcement failed to mention was that much of that experience was lobbying and doing legal work to elude or undermine Interior Department policies and protections.

As a partner in one of the nations top-grossing lobbying law firms, Bernhardt has represented major players in oil, mining and western water  all areas that fall under the purview of Interior agencies that Bernhardt would oversee if confirmed as the departments deputy secretary.

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Bernhardts firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, has sued Interior four times on behalf of Westlands Water District, the nations largest irrigation district. Bernhardt personally argued one appeals case challenging endangered species protections for imperiled California salmon.

Here are a few of the potential conflicts a key Interior Department nominee may face 

Since 2010, Brownstein Hyatt has collected $2.75 million in lobbying fees from Cadiz Inc., a private company that wants to build a water pipeline on a railroad right-of-way that crosses federal land managed by an Interior agency. Bernhardt has done legal work for Cadiz and one of his colleagues is the chief executive of Cadiz, which has paid the law firm partly with stock shares.

The web of potential conflicts of interest is likely to be a major focus of Bernhardts confirmation hearing Thursday before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The committees top Democrat, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, last week sent Bernhardt a letter asking for more details on his work for clients who probably will have continued dealings with Interior agencies.

Trumps ethics order bars executive branch appointees for two years from getting involved in matters on which they lobbied.

In a May 1 letter to Interiors ethics officer, Bernhardt wrote that if confirmed, he will withdraw from his law partnership. He said he would recuse himself from client-related matters for one year  unless I am first authorized to participate in them.

Environmentalists argue that Bernhardt would have to remove himself from so many important issues facing Interior that he would be unable to do his job  or, in the alternative, will receive administration waivers to deal with them despite his history of representing department adversaries.

The idea that Mr. Bernhardt would recuse himself from a long list of all the major issues that Interior faces in California is just not credible, said Barry Nelson, policy representative of the Golden Gate Salmon Assn., which has fought Westlands over fish protections.

Bernhardts nomination in some ways echoes other Trump picks.

Scott Pruitt, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, sued the EPA multiple times while he was Oklahomas attorney general. Energy Secretary Rick Perry once vowed to abolish the department he now heads.

If the full Senate approves Bernhardts nomination, it will mark the second time he has moved through Washingtons revolving doors.

Bernhardt went to work as a Brownstein Hyatt associate in 1998 and left the firm in 2001 for a series of posts at Interior under President George W. Bush. He rose to the position of Interior solicitor, the departments top lawyer, and rejoined Brownstein Hyatt after Obama was elected.

The firms website, along with ethics filings required of nominees, shows that Bernhardt and Brownstein Hyatt have performed legal services or lobbied for clients that have dealings with virtually every branch of Interior.

Among those clients are:

Cobalt International Energy, which holds major oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico

Rosemont Copper Co., which wants to develop a large open-pit copper mine in Arizona

The Navajo Nation, which has been involved in water rights settlements

The Independent Petroleum Assn. of America, which represents oil and gas producers.

Until his recent resignation, Bernhardt also served on the board of the Center for Environmental Science Accuracy and Reliability, a California organization that has challenged listings under the Endangered Species Act.

In a May 8 letter to the Senate energy committee, Interior ethics official Melinda Loftin said that after reviewing Bernhardts financial disclosure report and his ethics agreement, she was satisfied that he would comply with the departments conflict-of-interest rules.

Democrats disagree.

Bernhardts [client] representation covers a range of special interests that are constantly doing business with the Department of Interior seeking approvals and engaged in regulatory relationships with the department, said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael). It would be hard to find anyone in the United States that is more conflicted and disqualified for this job than Mr. Bernhardt.

In her letter, Cantwell asked Bernhardt if he played any role in a recent decision that eased the way for Cadizs potentially lucrative groundwater project.

In late March, an acting assistant director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management revoked two legal guidances that underpinned the agencys 2015 decision that Cadiz could not use an existing federal railroad right-of-way for a new water pipeline.

That decision threw a huge roadblock in the companys plans to pump groundwater from beneath its desert holdings and sell the supplies to Southern California communities.

Cantwell asked Bernhardt if he served on Trumps Interior transition team and whether he discussed the Cadiz project with the team, the Trump administration or Interior staff. She also wondered whether Bernhardts payout when he leaves the law firm would reflect any compensation from Cadiz.

According to Cadiz filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company has issued 200,000 shares of common stock to the Brownstein firm and could award another 200,000 shares if the project is built.

Bernhardt was registered as a Westlands lobbyist from 2011 through late 2016, during which time Westlands paid his firm nearly $1.4 million in fees.

Bernhardt lobbied Congress and Interior on the terms of a settlement of a long-standing legal fight over toxic irrigation drainage in the Westlands district. The agreement  approved by the Obama administration and now pending before Congress  turned out to be far more favorable to Westlands than originally proposed by Interior.

Bernhardts extensive experience serving under Secretary [Gale] Norton and his legal career is exactly what is needed to help streamline government and make the Interior and our public lands work for the American economy, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said in a statement.

bettina.boxall@latimes.com

Twitter: @boxall

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Previously deported hit-and-run suspect criminally charged with federal immigration violation
Tustin police fatally shot a suicidal man who fired a gun in his vehicle during a two-hour standoff Tuesday night, authorities said.

The Orange County coroners office on Wednesday identified the man as 24-year-old Edwin Fuentes, of Tustin. The police department had not confirmed his identity as of Wednesday afternoon.

Police officers responded to a call of a suicidal man at 7:12 p.m. in an alley near an apartment complex in the 16200 block of Main Street, said Lt. Robert Wright, a spokesman for the Tustin Police Department.

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When police arrived, Fuentes was in his vehicle, which was moving, Wright said. Officers pulled in front of him and commanded him to stop. He then displayed a handgun and did not obey orders to put it down, authorities said.

A nearly two-hour standoff ensued, Wright said. At times, Fuentes pulled his vehicle forward and backward.

While in his vehicle, Fuentes fired multiple rounds from his gun, Wright said. It was unclear whether he fired at the officers.

At least one officer shot Fuentes. Officers provided first aid at the scene before he was taken to a local hospital, according to the police department.

It is a pretty big apartment complex, so the officer [who fired] either felt for his safety or the safety of the public, Wright said.

Fuentes was pronounced dead at 9:29 p.m. at Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, according to the coroner.

No police officers or civilians were injured, Wright said.

The Orange County district attorneys office is investigating the incident, as it does in all police shootings.

hailey.branson@latimes.com

Twitter: @haileybranson
The State Department issued a strong protest to Turkey on Wednesday, a day after visiting President Recep Tayyip Erdogans security guards and supporters kicked and beat protesters in a scuffle in downtown Washington.

The brief but bloody altercation  the second time in 14 months that a visit by Turkeys president led to a clash with demonstrators opposed to his authoritarian policies  threatened to escalate into an international incident.

We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms, the State Department said in a statement. Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech.

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Police said two people were arrested and 11 others, including a police officer, were injured. Police said they are working with the State Department and Secret Service to identify Erdogan guards who they believe instigated the melee.

The Secret Service said it was working to aggressively pursue accountability for those involved in yesterdays protests.

In a statement, Peter Newsham, police chief for the District of Columbia, complained of a brutal attack on peaceful protesters.

He said some of the Turkish security guards carried weapons under their suits, making efforts by police to intervene during the clash especially dicey.

He said police were investigating whether it was legal for the guards to be armed given Washingtons strict gun laws.

This is not something we will tolerate in our city, Newsham said at a news conference. This is a city where people should be allowed to come and peacefully protest.

Video of the clash showed several men in black suits, and apparently some of Erdogans civilian supporters, charging about two dozen protesters in a park across from the Turkish ambassadors residence.

In the video, the groups fight back and forth while police try to separate them. Some of the security guards can be seen beating male and female demonstrators, and repeatedly kicking a man with a bullhorn who had been knocked to the ground.

One man was charged with aggravated assault and another with assault on a police officer. It wasnt clear if either was attached to Erdogans security detail.

Two of Erdogans guards were detained by the Secret Service and reportedly released. Newsham said diplomatic immunity may be a factor.

The Turkish Embassy in Washington blamed the violence on sympathizers of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, a separatist group that Ankara and Washington have labeled as terrorists.

The embassy said in a statement that PKK sympathizers aggressively provoked peaceful demonstrators who wanted to welcome Erdogan and said it was incumbent on U.S. authorities to prevent such outbursts.

The Atlantic Council, a nonpartisan Washington think tank, was hosting an event for Erdogan at the ambassadors residence when the fighting broke out. Erdogan had met with President Trump earlier at the White House.

The anti-Erdogan demonstrators included Kurdish and Armenian groups, both of which have long-standing grievances with Turkey. In addition, Erdogans government has arrested tens of thousands of people, including political opponents, since a failed military coup last summer.

Is there no line that cannot be crossed? asked Aram Hamparian, head of the Armenian National Committee of America, which helped organize the protest. A repressive government sends its goons to a foreign country to repress the free speech rights of citizens? You cannot do that here.

In March last year, Erdogans security detail also roughed up demonstrators and some journalists when he appeared at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter

UPDATES:

4:55 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the Secret Service and Turkish Embassy

This article was first posted at 4:15 p.m.
Chelsea Manning, the American soldier behind one of the largest leaks of classified government documents in U.S. history, was released Wednesday from the military prison at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence.

President Obama, in one of his final acts in office in January, commuted her sentence after deciding that she had been punished enough for handing a trove of military and diplomatic reports to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.

After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived, Manning said in a statement released by her legal team. I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me is far more important than the past. Im figuring things out right now  which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me.

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She posted a photograph on her social media accounts of two feet in black Converse sneakers. First steps of freedom!! she wrote.

Mannings lawyers confirmed that she had been released safely but provided few details about her plans, saying that they want to give her time to adjust to life outside prison in privacy.

An online fundraising page set up by her supporters said she was headed to Maryland, where she has family. As of Wednesday afternoon, the page had raised more than $157,000 to help with her living expenses and healthcare.

Army officials said she would remain on active duty, although on unpaid leave, while she appeals her court martial conviction. Under this status, she is eligible to receive care at military medical facilities and other benefits.

Manning, a transgender woman who was known as Pfc. Bradley Manning when she was arrested in 2010, began her transition in prison after lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union brought a lawsuit against the Department of Defense over her medical treatment for gender dysphoria.

But she struggled to cope at the all-male facility, where her lawyers said she endured long stretches in solitary confinement and was not permitted to adhere to female grooming standards. She twice attempted suicide last year.

In a statement last week, Manning thanked the many supporters whose letters she said had lifted her spirits in dark times.

For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea, she said. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world.

Manning, whose actions launched a new era of massive security breaches in the Internet age, was lauded by antiwar and anti-secrecy activists as a hero, even as others, including President Trump, branded her a traitor.

She was a 22-year-old junior intelligence analyst at a forward operating base outside Baghdad in early 2010 when she began to illegally copy more than 700,000 U.S. military field reports from Iraq and Afghanistan, battlefield videos and diplomatic cables from classified computer accounts.

They included detainee assessments from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and a now-infamous 2007 video of an Apache combat helicopter firing on civilians in Iraq and killing 12 people, including two employees of the Reuters news agency. The military said the helicopter crew mistook a camera lens for a weapon.

Some Republican lawmakers and intelligence officials criticized Obamas decision to commute Mannings sentence, saying it would encourage others to leak sensitive information. But administration officials said Obama believed the sentence  the longest ever imposed in the United States for a leak conviction  was excessive.

The officials contrasted her case to that of Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who sought refuge in Russia after leaking what were regarded as far more sensitive documents about U.S. surveillance programs to news outlets in 2013.

Manning, they noted, did not try to avoid justice for her crimes.

She was convicted in 2013 of numerous charges, including six Espionage Act violations. But a military court acquitted her of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy, which could have sent her to prison for life. Her sentence included a demotion and dishonorable discharge order that, if carried out, would cause her to lose her military benefits.

Mannings legal team hailed her release, noting that she had already served the longest sentence of any whistle-blower in the United States.

Although her supporters say she wont be giving interviews for at least a few weeks, she will probably continue to champion the rights of transgender people, a subject she has written about from behind bars.

The first thing Chelsea always says when we talk about her freedom is that she wants to give back to the trans community  to fight for the many trans people, largely trans women of color, held in custody; to continue to connect with trans young people  to continue to transform the public narrative about what it means to be trans, one of her ACLU attorneys, Chase Strangio, said in a blog post this week. She has an unrelenting sense of compassion and justice despite all that she has faced.

The rights group Amnesty International also welcomed Mannings long overdue release but noted that no one has been held accountable for the alleged abuses she brought to light.

While we celebrate her freedom, we will continue to call for an independent investigation into the potential human rights violations she exposed, and for protections to be put in place to ensure whistle-blowers like Chelsea are never again subjected to such appalling treatment, Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA, said in a statement.

alexandra.zavis@latimes.com

Twitter: @alexzavis

ALSO

U.S. prosecutors weighing charges against WikiLeaks, reports say

Clinton blames the FBI, Russia, WikiLeaks and also herself for 2016 loss

Ahead of Senate hearing on Russia, Trump tweets about Obama and leaks

UPDATES:

May 18, 1:46 p.m.: This article was updated to clarify that Manning, who had been demoted to the rank of private in the Army, is not currently authorized to use any rank as she is permanently off-duty pending discharge.

2:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information about the Manning case.

12:50 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction to Mannings release and more details about her case.

8:45 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from Manning.

5:40 a.m.: This article was updated with Mannings release.

This article was originally published at 3 a.m.
Alex Jones backed down. Again.

The far-right conspiracy theorist agreed Wednesday to settle a defamation lawsuit filed against him by Greek yogurt manufacturer Chobani. The key component of the settlement agreement required him to retract inflammatory comments about refugees and the company he made on his Infowars broadcast last month.

During the week of April 10, 2017, certain statements were made on the Infowars, Twitter feed and YouTube channel regarding Chobani LLC that I now understand to be wrong. The tweets and video have now been retracted, and will not be re-posted, Jones said. On behalf of Infowars, I regret that we mischaracterized Chobani, its employees and the people of Twin Falls, Idaho, the way we did.

It marks the latest blow to Jones, who in March apologized and issued a retraction to a Washington, D.C.-based pizzeria for his broadcasts role in pushing a false story about a child sex ring that involved Hillary Clinton.

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And just over two weeks ago, Jones ex-wife won the right to determine who his three children would live with in a high-profile custody case in which his lawyers argued his on-air personality was a performance.

Jones, whose YouTube channel has more than 2 million subscribers, drew the ire of Chobani when in early April he published a video and promoted it on Twitter with a headline that read Idaho Yogurt Maker Caught Importing Migrant Rapists.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Twin Falls last month, said that link had received more than 22,000 views as of April 21 and the tweet pushing it had more 147 retweets.

Chobani said in its lawsuit that Jones statements have caused and continue to cause harm to Idaho residents, including Chobani employees, their families and other members of the Twin Falls community.

The lawsuit sought damages in excess of $10,000 and a retraction and removal of the posts. Chobani didnt issue a comment on the settlement and would only say the matter has been resolved.

The yogurt company was founded in 2005 when its founder, Hamdi Ulukaya, bought a shuttered Kraft yogurt plant in New York and began making and selling Chobani Greek yogurt.

Six years later, the yogurt had become so popular the New York facility was operating at full capacity and Ulukaya bought and built a large $450-million plant in Twin Falls.

An immigrant from Turkey, Ulukaya made no secret of his desire to employ refugees. In 2015, Ulukaya was honored with a Global Leadership Award from the United Nations Foundation for humanitarian efforts for refugees.

He saw a good fit in Twin Falls, given its dairy production capability, open space and employment base coupled with the towns commitment to refugees. Twin Falls takes in between 150 and 300 refugees annually and has been doing so since the 1980s. The plant has more than 1,000 employees, which includes hundreds of refugees.

Ulukaya told the Financial Times magazine last year: If a refugee has a job, they are no longer a refugee. Chobani starts employees between $12 and $15 an hour with benefits. Last year, Ulukaya gave shares of the company to its employees as a way to thank them and possibly turn some into millionaires.

But Chobani drew the fire of Jones, who is allied with President Trump and has been a vocal supporter of travel bans for refugees. Idaho  and Twin Falls  may have looked like a sympathetic audience given it went solidly for Trump in November.

So Jones targeted Chobani when, last summer, three children assaulted a 5-year-old girl. The story spread through right-wing media that the attackers  14, 10 and 7  were from refugee families. The false narrative pushed by Jones included the involvement of Syrians, rape and urinating in the victims mouth. Jones linked it  along with some unrelated cases of tuberculosis  to Chobani. All of it was untrue.

But Twin Falls pushed back.

Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said the lies were amplified and the facts were being discarded in favor of pushing an anti-refugee narrative that said refugees were bringing crime and disease to the community.

City leaders and residents were angry about what Jones was broadcasting and some said they were glad Chobani filed the lawsuit.

Mayor Shawn Barigar said Twin Falls had been welcoming refugees for decades and the City Council passed an ordinance saying they were a welcoming city for refugees. And a proposed ballot measure pushed by a small anti-refugee segment in Twin Falls last year failed to qualify  only collecting 855 signatures  well short of the 3,842 needed.

Barigar complained Jones had never even been to Twin Falls and knew nothing about the community. He said Chobani has been a great employer and has boosted the regional economy.

Just a few weeks ago, Jones had dug in his heels when Chobani filed the lawsuit.

You just ran into a Texan, Jones said. So you get ready because were never backing down and our audience is never backing down.

Until Jones did. Again.

david.montero@latimes.com

Twitter: @davemontero
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, who built a following among conservatives with his provocative social media presence and strong support of Donald Trump, said Wednesday that he has taken a job as an assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security.

The tough-talking, cowboy hat-wearing firebrand said in an interview with WISN-AM talk radio host Vicki McKenna that he will work in the Office of Partnership and Engagement as a liaison to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. He will start in June.

Im both honored and humbled to be appointed to this position, Clarke said.

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In response to a question from the Los Angeles Times, the department gave this statement: The position mentioned is a secretarial appointment. Such senior positions are announced by the department when made official by the secretary. No such announcement with regard to the office of public engagement has been made.

A spokesman for the sheriff didnt immediately respond to messages.

According to the Homeland Security organizational chart, the office Clarke is slated to head is one of 18 that report to the deputy secretary of the sprawling department. Thats in addition to the departments operating divisions, such as Customs, the Border Patrol and the Transportation Security Administration.

Clarke has made himself a darling of the political right through his brash social media presence, his staunch support for Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration and his support for patrolling of Muslim neighborhoods. Hes one of the most polarizing figures in Wisconsin politics.

Our country deserves better, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, who repeatedly has clashed with Clarke, said of Clarkes appointment to the DHS position.

Abele said Clarke has engaged in gratuitous name calling, insults of other public officials, questioning judges sentences. In general the focus is on what you should be angry about, not what to like.

Clarke was one of the few African Americans to speak at the Republican National Convention last year. He has been vocal about gun rights and critical of what he called the hateful ideology of the Black Lives Matters movement, saying at times, Stop trying to fix the police; fix the ghetto.

Clark has been sheriff of Milwaukee County since 2002 and spent more than two decades before that with the citys police department.

A lengthy inquest into the dehydration death of a Milwaukee County Jail inmate raised troubling questions about how Clarke manages the jail, just as the White House was said to be considering him for the job. Seven jail staffers could face criminal charges after the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office outlined a case for the jury suggesting that disobedient inmates were routinely deprived of water as punishment, and pleas for help were ignored.

Clarke wasnt among the seven staffers on the jurys list because prosecutors say he wasnt directly involved in the events that led to the death last year of 38-year-old Terrill Thomas, who was deprived of water for seven days. But the death happened under his leadership, which his critics said was sufficient cause for Clarke to be fired. Clarke has said little about Thomas death.

Despite the investigation into his jail, Clarke remained popular with many conservatives, including some who had been trying to get him to run for U.S. Senate next year against Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Last year, the frequent Fox News guest earned more than $105,000 in speaking fees  almost as much as his sheriffs salary  at more than three dozen events across the country.

UPDATES:

2 p.m.: This article was updated with background about Clarke and the office he says he will occupy.

1:30 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.

This article was originally published at 1:25 p.m.
The Turkish government and Washingtons mayor are trading blame for violence outside the countrys embassy, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogans security staff moved in to break up an antigovernment protest.

Turkeys official Anadolu news agency labeled the protesters Kurdish supporters of terror. It said they chanted anti-Erdogan slogans as the president entered the embassy on Tuesday after meeting with President Trump. Erdogans security team moved in to disperse the protesters because police did not heed to Turkish demands to intervene, according to the news agency.

In a statement Wednesday, the State Department expressed concern over the violence: We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms.

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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Wednesday that the violent attack on a peaceful demonstration is an affront to our rights as Americans.

Emergency officials say nine people were injured. Police say two men are facing charges and they intend to pursue charges against others involved.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 17

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

A meeting with the delegation of France took place in the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, the migration service said in a message May 17.

Following the exchange of views on the possibilities of the Turkmen-French cooperation, a mutual desire was expressed to establish closer contacts between the two countries in the sphere of migration, said the message.

Turkmenistan was one of the first countries in the Central Asian region to issue e-passports to its citizens.

These passports meet international standards and guarantee Turkmenistans protection of its citizens both inside and outside the country.

In this context, the Turkmen side was acquainted with the skills of the Identite division of the Oberthur Technologies company in the field of manufacturing passports, IDs, the message said.

During the meeting it was noted that the large-scale infrastructure projects, which are being implemented in Turkmenistan, and the course for integration into the global economic system, cause interest of leading French and, in general, European companies for cooperation.
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Wednesday, May 17, and heres whats happening across California:

TOP STORIES

L.A. schools political earthquake

Tuesday was shaping up to be a watershed election for the Los Angeles Unified School District, where supporters of charter schools were on track to win a majority on the school board, based on early ballot tallies. It would mark a political earthquake with big implications for how students are taught in Americas second-largest school district.

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Some key takeaways:

-- L.A. Unified has more charters and more charter students than any other school system, but they still account for only about 16% of enrollment. With a majority on the board, charter forces could significantly increase those numbers.

-- Teachers unions have long been a dominant force in school politics. But this time, charter forces significantly outspent the unions. Campaign spending was expected to top $15 million, making this the most expensive school board election ever.

-- Charter forces have long been critical of how the LAUSD is run. Now they will have to show they can steer the massive, often frustrating, bureaucracy better. Los Angeles Times

Dealing with LAPDs problem officers

A ballot measure that would significantly change the way the Los Angeles Police Department handles serious officer misconduct was leading in early returns Tuesday, despite misgivings from some community activists that it would result in more lenient treatment for problem cops. Los Angeles Times

Plus: Gil Cedillo appears to have beaten back a challenge in an especially ugly City Council race in northeast L.A. Los Angeles Times

The GOP tent

We hear a lot about Trump voters and how experts say they were ignored before election day. But columnist Steve Lopez goes to Orange County to meet two self-proclaimed Reagan Republicans who feel ignored from the party theyve long called home. Should they be allowed into the tent? Los Angeles Times

L.A. STORIES

Comedians honor: Nearly three years after his tragic death, actor Robin Williams will have a chair endowed in his honor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Los Angeles Times

Slow down: City officials are trying to crack down on street racing on one notorious boulevard by adding special strips to the roadway. Will it work? Daily News

Bookish: Touring the surprising number of vintage bookstores in L.A. New York Times

Hotel stories: Unlocking the many mysteries that lie inside the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel. The 80s were bad for our hotel. LAist

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Presidential highway: The renaming of a stretch of the 134 as the Obama freeway in L.A. looks as if its going to happen, despite the Obamajam jokes. Los Angeles Times

Old school vs. new age: A pivotal election is underway that could push the Democratic stronghold of California even further left and recalibrate the direction of arguably the most influential state political party in the nation. Staunchly liberal and pro-union, the top two contenders for chair of the California Democratic Party offer a sharp contrast in style and strategy. Los Angeles Times

Homeless test: Plans for a homeless shelter in the heart of Irvine are shaping up to be a big political test for Orange County. Orange County Register

Igers not going anywhere: Amid the talk of political office, it appears longtime Disney chief Bob Iger is in no hurry to leave his day job  and has no clear plans for what happens when he goes. Wall Street Journal

CRIME AND COURTS

Busted: Authorities swarmed a remote compound in northeast Los Angeles County and seized 7,000 birds in what officials described Tuesday as a raid on the largest illegal cockfighting cache in U.S. history. Los Angeles Times

Execution ruling: A judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a state law that gives prison authorities responsibility for establishing procedures for lethal injection executions. Los Angeles Times

Snapchat and murder: An Escondido teen accused in his friends murder posted cryptic messages on Snapchat about the killing, as well as images of bloodied clothes and an audio recording of the victim crying during the attack, police testified Tuesday. San Diego Union-Tribune

Oakland tragedy: Does this video catch the operator of the Ghost Ship  where 36 people died in a fire last year  in a lie? East Bay Times

Costly plan: A new legislative committee analysis predicts that overhauling the bail system in California could be costly, adding a significant hurdle for Democratic lawmakers seeking to pass sweeping reform in the face of heavy opposition from law enforcement and the bail industry. Los Angeles Times

THE ENVIRONMENT

Grave warning: Californias native trout and salmon could be pushed toward extinction in the next century, some experts say. Sacramento Bee

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Hollywood hack: Hackers have once again struck at Hollywood, this time claiming one of the summers biggest blockbuster releases  Disneys Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, the fifth installment in the highly profitable swashbuckling franchise, starring Johnny Depp. Los Angeles Times

New beach thing: With better technology and a lot of sharks off the Southern California coast, sharkwatching has become a new ocean obsession. Orange County Register

Rivalry fail: This effort by Dodger fans to troll the Giants didnt work out so well. SF Gate

New winner: Depending on who you talk to, In-N-Out Burger might have just lost its crown to Five Guys in the epic burger battle. Business Insider

The mothership: Inside Apples wild new headquarters. Crazy good or just a little crazy? Wired

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area and San Diego: partly cloudy with highs in the mid- to upper 60s. San Francisco area: cloudy with highs in the mid-60s. Sacramento: partly cloudy with highs in the upper 70s. More weather is here.

AND FINALLY

Todays California memory comes from Dave Linton:

I have fond memories of our 2nd-grade field trips during the 1950s. A dusty tour of Albers Mill, where we each were given a bag of flour to take home. The Southwest Museum, where we viewed dioramas peopled with topless Indian maidens. And the Barbara Ann Bakery, famed for piping the smell of baking bread out over the adjacent Arroyo Seco Parkway. Best of all, we each got a box of donuts. Not all of them made it home.

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad.
The claim by fired FBI Director James B. Comey that President Trump asked him to shut down an investigation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn is potentially the most explosive development in the unfolding saga of investigations into possible collusion between Russia and Trumps 2016 campaign. It has led some members of Congress to begin talking about impeachment, while others are seriously discussing the possibility that the president may have committed obstruction of justice.

This is disturbing stuff that requires the immediate attention of Congress, and the earliest possible testimony by Comey  in public session.

At issue is a note Comey wrote to himself describing a conversation with Trump on Feb. 14, the day after Flynn was dismissed for having misled Vice President Mike Pence about a telephone conversation with Russias ambassador. According to the New York Times, which first reported the notes existence, it was written as part of a paper trail Comey was creating to document what he saw as the presidents improper efforts to influence the investigation.

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According to the note, which associates of Comey have shared with the media, Trump asked to speak to Comey privately in the Oval Office after a national security meeting. I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, Trump supposedly told Comey. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

Comeys account would be troubling under any circumstances. But it comes at a moment when the credibility of the White House is already being questioned.

The White House denied Comeys version of what happened, saying that the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end an investigation, including any investigation involving Gen. Flynn.

Comeys account would be troubling under any circumstances. But it comes at a moment when the credibility of the White House is already being questioned. Just a few days earlier, Trump fired Comey under suspicious circumstances. Originally the White House said the FBI director had been fired because of the way he handled the investigation of Hillary Clintons use of a private email server as secretary of State. But that explanation imploded when Trump admitted in a television interview that when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story.

Comeys account of his conversation with Trump raises serious questions about whether the president engaged in obstruction of justice by pressuring the FBI director to shut down the investigation. That conduct would be outrageous even if it proved unsuccessful and the investigation continued anyway. Its vital that Congress establish, and quickly, whether Trump sought to pervert the process by putting undue pressure on an employee.

House and Senate committees have immediately  and rightly  requested copies of the memos related to this controversy. (Four members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, including Californias Sen. Dianne Feinstein, have also asked the FBI and White House for records relating to Comeys communications with the Obama administration in relation to the Clinton email investigation.) The FBI and the White House should promptly comply with these congressional requests, and Trump shouldnt hide behind executive privilege.

It is important not to rush to judgment about this allegation. But the comments attributed to Trump by Comey are deeply disturbing and the presidents past prevarications make it hard for Americans to take his denials at face value. That is why Congress needs to focus on establishing the truth about this matter, and soon.

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In January, when Xavier Becerra stepped down from the Los Angeles congressional district hed represented for more than two decades to become Californias attorney general, two dozen people stepped up to replace him.

The group running in the special election was extraordinarily diverse, if you ignore the fact that it was composed almost entirely of Democrats  unsurprising for a district that backed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president in June. The vast majority of the candidates vying to represent Californias 34th Congressional District, which stretches from Pico-Union to Eagle Rock, were Latino, Asian or African American, and more than half were women. Also noteworthy: More than a few of the candidates were solidly qualified.

Given the quality of the contenders, it was no surprise that two smart Democrats advanced from the April 4 special election to the runoff on June 6. But only one of them is up to the job of serving in Congress during this uniquely challenging time for California Democrats, and that is Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Eagle Rock).

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Gomez has virtually the entire Democratic establishment behind him, with support from big names such as Gov. Jerry Brown and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Between Gomez and Ahn its no contest.

But his resume shows that Gomez doesnt just have establishment backing; he also has substance. A state legislator since 2012, he has a solid resume and progressive track record. Among other things, he pushed bills in Sacramento to expand paid family leave benefits, increase transparency in campaign donations and create a single-payer healthcare system in California. Before running for office, he held a number of government-related jobs, including serving as political director for the United Nurses Assns. of California and as an aide to then-Rep. Hilda Solis (D-El Monte) and then-L.A. City Councilman Mike Feuer.

Gomez was among the handful of candidates in the first round who stood out because they had the right skills, clear policy platforms and significant experience. We were also impressed with his wonky understanding of the legislative process. Ultimately, however, we endorsed Maria Cabildo, a longtime community activist, affordable housing developer and former city planning commissioner. But Cabildo came in third in that race, after attorney Robert Lee Ahn.

Between Gomez and Ahn its no contest, though Ahn certainly has his virtues. One of them is his experience on the city redistricting commission and later on the city Planning Commission. Hes thoughtful and intelligent, and people who have worked with him say hes good at bringing opposing factions together. And having a Korean American in Congress at a moment when tensions are so high with North Korea could be a good thing.

His deficits as a candidate, however, outweigh those pluses. His positions on big issues facing Congress  healthcare, immigration, how to deal with the Trump administration  are for the most part general and vague, indicating a lack of knowledge or an unwillingness to commit. In the rare cases in which he offers details, his positions can sound more Republican than Democratic, such as his support for allowing people to buy insurance across state lines as a way to reduce premiums (an idea, by the way, which wouldnt work as advertised). That may have something to do with the fact that, up until 2012, Ahn was a Republican. Ahn explains that his views have always been progressive, but his parents were Republicans so he became one too. It was only after getting involved in local politics that he said he realized the GOP affiliation carried a stigma and didnt really match his beliefs.

Ahns main pitch for why he is the better candidate is that hes a native-born Angeleno. Its not clear why that matters, especially since Gomez was raised in nearby Riverside and spent much of his adult life working in Los Angeles. It certainly seems relevant that Gomezs life experiences are similar to those of many who live in this district  he grew up in a working-class immigrant family, worked for low-wage service jobs and attended community college as a way into university.

Gomez would be both a solid representative for the district and a strong addition to the states Democratic caucus. Voters should send him to Washington on June 6.

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If Donald Trump is forced to leave office early  a prospect that is no longer as unimaginable as it once was  May 9-16 will become known as the seven days that shook the world.

It is almost hard to remember now the media hoopla that accompanied Trumps 100th day in office on April 29. Many pundits, myself included, wrote that Trump was normalizing. The past seven days have been anything but normal; indeed, they constitute the most bizarre week of the U.S. presidency since the dark days of Watergate.

Trumps Time of Troubles began with the Tuesday Night Massacre: the shocking firing of FBI Director James Comey. The ostensible explanation was Comeys improper public comments about the Hillary Clinton email investigation, as laid out in a memorandum from Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. But within two days Trump had blown that explanation to smithereens, admitting he would have fired Comey regardless, simply because he wanted to bring the investigation of his own links to Russia (a made-up story) to an end.

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The very next day, Trump hosted the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in the Oval Office, producing embarrassing photos of the president yukking it up with Americas inveterate foes. It turns out that he shared with the Russians code-word secrets  that is, some of the most highly classified information in the entire government. In the process Trump burned Israel, which had provided the information, and risked exposing an invaluable source of intelligence on Islamic State. The president at first sent his aides to falsely deny what he had done, and then, just as in the Comey case, came clean.

For the good of the country, Trump should resign before our new national nightmare gets worse.

Meanwhile, Comeys counterattack unfolded. Last week his friends reported that Trump had invited the FBI director to dinner in January, demanding his loyalty and a reassurance that he, the president, was not a subject of the FBI investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. election.

And now Part II of the counterattack: reports that in February Trump pressured Comey to end the investigation of Mike Flynn, the national security advisor who had been fired for lying about his contacts with the Russian ambassador. Before telling Comey, I hope you can let this go, Trump asked other participants in the meeting to leave the Oval Office, suggesting that he knew what he was about to say was improper.

Comey documented the conversation in a contemporaneous memorandum that he distributed to his confidants. Immediate, pro forma White House denials carry little weight because of how often the president and his spokesmen have lied about matters big (the Comey firing) and small (the inaugural crowd size).

More is sure to come out because Comey documented other conversations, and Congress is now demanding access not only to those memoranda but also to their author, who has said he is willing to testify in open session. What the White House tapes were to Nixon, the Comey memos may be to Trump: the evidence that definitively exposes his villainy.

It is too soon to say this is the beginning of the end for a president who has already defied predictions of his political demise. Impeachment still is a long shot in a Congress so firmly dominated by the presidents own party. But it is no longer unthinkable, and it no longer depends on having to prove a nebulous connection between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the past week, copious evidence has emerged of Trump obstructing justice, proving the old Washington adage that the cover-up is always worse than the crime.

Republicans who have been incorrigible in their defense of the indefensible are suddenly showing glimmers of self-respect. On Tuesday night, Fox News, which performs the same function for this White House as RT (Russia Today) does for the Kremlin, was reporting that it couldnt find any Republicans willing to defend Trump in public. Let us hope this is not just a temporary aberration, as was the case when the Access Hollywood videotape was released in October, with craven partisans first un-endorsing and then re-endorsing the genital-grabber.

No Republican should aspire to be known as the Rabbi Korff of the Trump administration  Baruch Korff was the Nixon diehard who was advising the president not to resign right up until the day that he actually did. Instead Republicans should aspire, as suggested by Tom Wright of the Brookings Institution, to be the second coming of Leo Amery.

Who was Leo Amery? He was the Conservative member of Parliament who in 1940 quoted Oliver Cromwell to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, the architect of appeasement: You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!

Trump has been in office only 117 days, but he has already overstayed his welcome. For the good of the country, he should resign before our new national nightmare gets worse.

Max Boot is a contributing writer to Opinion and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

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Trumps downward spiral

It took heroes inside the administration to bring down Nixon. We should be so lucky in 2017

Sorry, Trump supporters. Unlike the presidents Russian adventures, the Seth Rich story is nothing but noise

Dear Vice President Pence: What are you thinking?
There is now credible evidence that President Trump pressed then-FBI Director James B. Comey to end the investigation of Michael Flynn, the administrations first national security advisor. If true, Trump could be guilty of obstruction of justice. But there is no mechanism in place to ensure a truly independent inquiry of this or other possibly illegal actions by high-level Trump officials.

Congress should therefore renew the independent counsel statute providing for the appointment of a special prosecutor, one who cannot be fired by the president or the attorney general.

On Wednesday, Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein announced he was appointing former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III as special prosecutor to take over the Justice Department investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Without the protection of the independent counsel law, however, Trump can order Rosenstein to fire Mueller, and fire Rosenstein if he refuses.

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Nor is an investigation by Congress or an independent commission enough. Criminal charges, if warranted, cannot be brought unless there is a prosecutor.

Without the protection of the independent counsel law, Trump can order Rosenstein to fire Mueller, and fire Rosenstein if he refuses.

Only a special prosecutor appointed under a new independent counsel law can both safely investigate the many serious allegations swirling around this administration, and prosecute if necessary. To name one irregularity beyond Trumps possible obstruction of justice, it appears that Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions violated federal law by lying to Congress about his contacts with Russian officials. Additionally, there is the question of whether Flynn violated federal law by not registering as an agent of a foreign government and not disclosing payments he received.

The original independent counsel law was inspired by Watergate.

The scandal implicated top-level officials from the Nixon administration and the Campaign to Reelect the President. Atty. Gen. Elliot Richardson appointed Archibald Cox as a special prosecutor, who obtained a federal court order requiring President Nixon to produce tapes of White House conversations. Nixon refused to comply and told Cox not to seek additional tapes. Cox insisted that the president obey the subpoena and any subsequent ones.

Nixon responded by ordering his Justice Department to fire Cox. Only the resulting firestorm, during which top members of the Justice Department, including Richardson, defied the president by resigning in the Saturday Night Massacre, forced Nixon to appoint a new special prosecutor, Leon Jaworski. Jaworskis investigation ultimately produced evidence that Nixon had engaged in illegal obstruction of justice and led to the only resignation by a president in American history.

These events taught Congress the need for a reliable mechanism to guarantee the independence of such investigations in the future. The Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which was revised several times, addressed the problem by providing that investigations of high government officials and their close associates be conducted by a truly independent official, one named by a panel of judges and judicially protected from arbitrary removal.

In 1988, in a 7-1 opinion, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the law as a legitimate response to the conflicts of interest that could arise in situations when the Executive Branch is called upon to investigate its own high-ranking officers.

The statutory independent counsel mechanism was not perfect. For example, when Lawrence Walsh investigated the Iran-Contra affair, the Reagan administration managed to block part of his work by refusing to reveal classified documents.

Nonetheless, the system worked: The Iran-Contra investigation resulted in seven guilty pleas and two jury convictions that survived appeals. Moreover, when executive branch officials such as Edwin Meese III and Theodore Olsen were cleared by independent counsel investigations, those results had a credibility that would otherwise have been lacking.

From a congressional viewpoint, the real problem was that the system worked too well. Republicans were particularly upset about the Iran-Contra investigation. Democrats complained about Kenneth Starrs inquiry into Whitewater, which expanded to include potential perjury and obstruction of justice by President Clinton arising out of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

The result was that, as Clintons extramarital affair became the subject of highly publicized impeachment proceedings, the parties colluded to allow the independent counsel statute to die in 1999.

Congress should on a bipartisan basis now correct its bipartisan mistake and enact a new independent counsel statute. Trump, who says that there has been no wrongdoing by his administration, should sign it. If he vetoes it, Congress should override his veto.

Erwin Chemerinsky is dean and professor at UC Irvine School of Law. Eric M. Freedman is professor of law at Hofstra Law School.

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Republicans need to screw up their courage and tell Trump to go

It took heroes inside the administration to bring down Nixon. We should be so lucky in 2017

Sorry, Trump supporters. Unlike the presidents Russian adventures, the Seth Rich story is nothing but noise

Dear Vice President Pence: What are you thinking?
Well, he better start fighting for me or hes gonna be out! I want him to do right, but he must not cut the president!

That was Richard Nixon, caught on tape shouting about his attorney general, Elliot Richardson, who had just insisted on his independence during the Watergate investigation. Nixons ire was prescient  Richardson would, indeed, go on to cut the president. On Oct. 20, 1973, the attorney general very publicly resigned rather than carry out a White House order to fire Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

Within hours, Richardsons deputy, William Ruckelshaus, would likewise refuse to follow Nixons command. Cox was finally ousted (then-Solicitor Gen. Robert Bork did the deed), but not before the Saturday Night Massacre reassured some in the nation that not all the presidents men were deep in his pocket. We should be so lucky in 2017.

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As the Nixon scandal unfolded, a few prominent Republicans stepped forward to take on the president. Sen. Howard Baker, the minority chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (better known as the Watergate committee), and Sen. Barry Goldwater famously spoke up in the latter stages of the saga. What is little known is that they were preceded by Republican civil servants inside the administration who stood in the way of some of the White Houses most nefarious plans. Without those less-publicized efforts, the nation could have succumbed to an even more serious constitutional crisis.

Republican civil servants inside the [Nixon] administration stood in the way of some of the White Houses most nefarious plans.

In the summer of 1971, the Nixon White House began compiling an enemies list that ultimately included hundreds of Democrats, antiwar activists, reporters and administration critics. The goal, in the words of a memo by White House Counsel John Dean, was to use the available federal machinery to screw Nixons political opponents.

The worst of what Dean and others contemplated, however, didnt come to pass. Johnnie Walters, a Republican from South Carolina, was commissioner of the IRS. He consistently fought against the White Houses attempts to politicize his agency. When Walters was given the enemies list, he locked it inside a personal safe because he believed the Enemies Project was a serious threat to the nations tax system. With the support of Secretary of the Treasury George Shultz, Walters told the White House that he would not move forward with its request to audit those on the list. It was an improper use of the IRS, and I wouldnt do it, recalled Shultz, in an oral history taped in 2007 for the Richard Nixon Presidential Library.

Well before the enemies list was drawn up, Nixon had campus activists in his sights. He told his advisors he wanted to find a way to cut off federal funding to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other elite universities as punishment for rampant student antiwar protests. In 1972, as a massive U.S. bombing campaign in North Vietnam reignited protests, Nixon put more pressure on his administration to find a way to punish the schools. I want those funds cut off, for that MIT, the president told H.R. Bob Haldeman, his chief of staff.

The order was eventually relayed to three assistant directors at the Office of Management and Budget  Kenneth Dam, William Morrill and Paul ONeill. Two of the three were registered Republicans (Dam and ONeill), but all three were united in their opposition to the order and threatened to resign in protest. Theres no basis in law to carry out this order, ONeill remembered when he was interviewed by the Nixon library. Once again, Shultz stepped in, and with his help, the men at OMB successfully blocked the order and kept their jobs.

Republicans like these who said no to Nixon are evidence that the presidents downfall was not the product of a single misstep or tantrum, but rather a sustained effort to institutionalize abuses of power. Nixon began his second term, telling Haldeman and White House special assistant Fred Malek, on tape, that there must be absolute loyalty among his staff and inner circle. We can be thankful he didnt achieve it.

I think the trouble is that weve got too many nice guys around who just want to do the right thing, an exasperated Nixon told his closest advisors in the Oval Office when discussing Shultzs refusal to help politicize the IRS.

One after another, the revelations of the last week have revealed President Trump leaning on his appointees, trying to close out the FBIs investigation into this Russia thing, tweeting to deny any missteps on his part and to deflect criticism. When he fired FBI Director James B. Comey he was within his rights, but it was uncomfortably similar to the Saturday Night Massacre. And this time, the attorney general and his deputy not only acquiesced, they participated.

Trumps obsession with personal loyalty among his staff and party is well documented. The danger now, as in the Watergate era, is that such obedience will threaten the separation of powers, the Constitution and democracy itself. The U.S. survived Nixon because enough good men said no. We can only watch and wait to see whether such heroics will be matched in this administration.

Historian Michael Koncewicz is the Cold War Collections specialist at New York Universitys Tamiment Library. He is working on a book on the Republicans who stood up to Nixon.

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Trumps downward spiral

Lets take a moment to remember Barack Obama

Sorry, Trump supporters. Unlike the presidents Russian adventures, the Seth Rich story is nothing but noise

Dear Vice President Pence: What are you thinking?
When Donald Trump was elected president six months ago, his supporters thought hed soon grow into the job. Hed surround himself with smart people, listen carefully to their advice, and run his administration with the efficiency of a successful businessman. That seems a long time ago. Trump hasnt grown, and now were seeing the consequences.

In domestic affairs, the president assembled a staff of family members, ideologues and hangers-on, some competent, others not, that quickly divided into warring factions jostling for a snippet of his short attention span.

In foreign policy, he appointed some of the nations best and brightest, such as national security advisor H.R. McMaster, but its not clear how much of their advice he actually absorbs.

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The result is an administration that has lurched from one crisis to another.

Take the controversy over the intelligence Trump divulged to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov when they met in the Oval Office last week.

Trumps unintended intelligence leak fits into a broader pattern of general incompetence, compounded by hubris.

According to the Washington Post, the president recounted intelligence reports that the Islamic State has devised a thin bomb hidden inside a laptop computer. (That wasnt a secret.)

I get great intel, Trump bragged to Lavrov, according to the Post. In the newspapers account, he went on to tell the visiting Russians just enough  including the city where the information originated  to enable a smart spy service to deduce the source.

Thats a problem  compounded by the fact that the intelligence came from a friendly foreign intelligence government (later identified by the New York Times as Israel), and wasnt Trumps to give away. The White House even had to warn the CIA that Trump might have blown a foreign governments secret.

Theres far more at stake here than the etiquette of information-sharing among friends. The United States depends heavily on foreign governments for on-the-ground espionage against terrorists in the Middle East.

The cost for us, just on the intelligence level, is the likelihood that we wont get similar information again  at least for a little while, former CIA officer Paul Pillar told Vox. Foreign partners will say, my goodness, even if were given assurances of how carefully our information will be used, as long weve got this guy at the top who does this sort of thing, those U.S. assurances dont mean very much.

The larger issue is that Trumps unintended intelligence leak fits into a broader pattern of general incompetence, compounded by hubris.

He is very inexperienced; this is an absolutely new world to him, former CIA Director Michael Hayden said on CNN. If I fault him for anything, its not that hes inexperienced. He doesnt have humility in the face of his inexperience.

Here is a president who does not seem to prepare in detail, is a bit disdainful, even contemptuous of the normal processes of government, Hayden said. [He] seems to go into these encounters with, frankly, an unjustified self-confidence in the ability of his person to make these things come out right.

Thus does each of Trumps missteps  his bungled ban on immigration from Muslim countries, his confused proposals on healthcare and tax policy, plus the controversies surrounding the firings of Michael Flynn and James B. Comey  contribute to a growing crisis. The latest wrinkle, on Tuesday, was the news that Trump asked Comey to end the FBI investigation of Flynn, according to notes Comey made in February. (By the time you read this, a new revelation may have succeeded that one.)

In private, Republicans in Congress have grumbled for weeks about a White House that doesnt know what its doing. Now theyre beginning to do the grumbling in public.

Incompetence erodes support for a president in his own party, even among people who generally agree with his policy views. (See: George W. Bush after Hurricane Katrina.)

They are in a downward spiral right now, said Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who was one of the people Trump considered as a potential vice president and who, until now, had been the gentlest of critics. The chaos that is being created by the lack of discipline is creating  a worrisome environment, Corker said.

Republican chieftains who would normally be duty-bound to defend their president were mostly silent this time  or, in the case of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, acerbic.

I think we could do with a little less drama from the White House, McConnell said.

Trump has created his own troubles, and they are far from over. Republicans are joining Democrats in asking for tape recordings of White House meetings (whose existence the president hinted at in a tweet) and, now, a transcript of what he told the Russians. Hes renewed his war with U.S. intelligence agencies, accusing them of leaking secrets to undermine him  a gambit that rarely ends well.

The presidents supporters, echoing Hayden, say he doesnt mean any harm. Some of his actions have appeared careless, they acknowledge. Hes still learning the job, they say. And he is, in truth, surrounded by adversaries.

But as examples of carelessness multiply, the ranks of Trumps critics will swell. And theyll begin, soon, to point out that carelessness isnt much of an excuse. Not for a man whose job description, right there in the Constitution, says his first duty is to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com

Twitter: @DoyleMcManus

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It took heroes inside the administration to bring down Nixon. We should be so lucky in 2017

Lets take a moment to remember Barack Obama

Sorry Trump supporters. Unlike the presidents Russian adventures, the Seth Rich story is nothing but noise

Plead guilty, go home. Plead not guilty, stay in jail
One night in their apartment, Arthur and his boyfriend had a fight. The police came and spoke first to the boyfriend, who claimed Arthur had battered him. They arrested Arthur, who told them that he had been attacked and had defended himself. In the courthouse lockup two days later, he told his appointed lawyer the same thing. His lawyer agreed that they should take the case to trial.

Arthur pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge and asked the judge to release him while awaiting the trial that would decide who was telling the truth. His lawyer explained that Arthur had no criminal record, was working two jobs, and had another place to stay so the fight would not be repeated. But the prosecutor argued that Arthur was too dangerous to be released, and the judge took the prosecutors side, setting a bail that Arthur could not possibly pay.

Arthur (whose name I have changed to protect his privacy) would have to stay in jail for 30 more days before trial. He would lose his jobs and he feared exposure to violence, so he asked his lawyer if there was anything he could do to get out. His lawyer spoke to the prosecutor, who made him an offer  plead guilty now and get three years of probation, pay fines, attend classes and do community labor. Get out of jail right away, in other words, but accept a criminal record.

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Pretrial detention leads to more and quicker convictions, but it also leads to innocent people pleading guilty.

So he changed his plea and took the deal. The prosecutor agreed to the immediate release of a man who had supposedly been too dangerous to set free just a few minutes earlier.

Arthurs case is not unusual; in California, its perfectly routine. Hundreds of times a day, people accused of crimes plead guilty, not because they dont want a trial, but because the judge sets a bail they cannot pay, and they cannot risk the harm to their lives caused by spending days, weeks, even months in pretrial detention.

Human Rights Watch recently studied the California bail system and found that, in the six counties whose data we examined closely, 70% to 90% of all misdemeanor or non-serious felony defendants plead guilty and were released before their first possible trial date. This suggests that California is coercing people into giving up their right to contest their cases by giving them an ugly choiceif you assert your innocence, you stay in jail; if you plead guilty, you go home.

We spoke to defendants, lawyers and court officials who acknowledged the coercive effect of custody. As a deputy public defender and private criminal defense lawyer for over 20 years, I saw it constantly.

Prosecutors know that defendants in custody will plead guilty more quickly than those who are out. So they request bail and enjoy the leverage custody gives them. Judges, feeling pressure to move their calendars rapidly, set bail recognizing that defendants in jail resolve their cases more easily.

California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, a former prosecutor herself, said: Ive seen it. A time-served offer on a custody defendant on a low-level charge, all they think about is, Do I get out today? Can I get out today?

Pretrial detention leads to more and quicker convictions, but it also leads to innocent people pleading guilty. It is unfair and undermines respect for the courts.

Our justice system should not be about coercing guilty pleas and processing tainted convictions as quickly as possible. It should not provide one quality of justice for people with enough money to pay for pretrial freedom and a lesser quality of justice for those without wealth.

Arthurs guilty plea will bring him a lifetime of negative consequences. Even after he completes his probation, attends his classes and pays his fees, he will have a criminal record. That record will limit his employment, education and housing opportunities. And we will never know if he did in fact commit any crime. All we know is that he couldnt afford the steep personal and financial cost of going to trial.

Instead of using the bail system to keep the truly dangerous few in custody until their cases are decided, we use it to coerce guilty pleas. The result is that justice in our courts depends on wealth.

John Raphling is a senior U.S. criminal justice researcher at Human Rights Watch.

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If youre on the left side of the U.S. political axis, your news feed for the last three days has probably been filled with outraged stories about President Trump disclosing sensitive intelligence to Russian officials as they visited the Oval Office.

If youre on the right side of that axis, your news feed has been dominated lately by a very different Russia story: a private investigators claim that a former Democratic National Committee analyst named Seth Rich sent thousands of DNC emails to WikiLeaks last May, then was murdered a few weeks later. To countless Trump-friendly observers on the right, the claim proved that the whole Russia-meddling-in-the-U.S.-election thing was, ahem, #fakenews.

Granted, both sides exhibited the sort of credulity and confirmation bias that have helped cement the polarization of the electorate. Many of Trumps critics took the Washington Posts initial report as Gospel, even though it relied entirely on leaks from anonymous sources that couldnt possibly be verified.

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(Think about it: Unless and until we find out that Trump has in fact been taping all the conversations in the Oval Office, we cant know for sure whats being said in there. That might actually be a boon for those who want to accuse Trump of everything under the sun, because all the president can do is issue a denial  like the ones his aides have issued and subsequently recanted several times this year.)

But at least the Posts report was echoed by several competing national publications with their own sources within the administration. And while Trump and key aides offered a somewhat different spin on the proceedings, the essence of the Posts story  that the president shared classified intelligence information gathered by another country with Russian officials in a way that disturbed some of our allies  has not been contested.

Though Trumps critics were losing their minds over the intelligence-sharing story, Trumps defenders were rejoicing over a report by the Fox television station in Washington that breathed new life into speculation launched last year by WikiLeaks honcho Julian Assange. The piece quoted Rod Wheeler, an investigator working for Richs family, saying there was evidence on Richs laptop showing he had communicated with WikiLeaks, and that the police and the FBI were engaged in a cover-up.

Fox News followed that up with its own story, which cited an unnamed federal investigator who claimed that he had seen and read emails Rich had exchanged with Gavin MacFadyen, a now-deceased filmmaker with links to WikiLeaks. This investigator told Fox that 44,053 emails and 17,761 attachments between Democratic National Committee leaders, spanning from January 2015 through late May 2016, were transferred from Rich to MacFadyen before May 21 of that year.

Those are oddly precise numbers, and theyre large enough to make Rich seem like the source. WikiLeaks released two caches of emails from the DNC  19,252 on July 22, 2016, and 8,263 just before election day.

For its part, Richs family has denounced the conspiracy-mongering while saying that Wheeler violated his contractual obligation not to talk to the press without the familys consent. The Washington police denied the alleged cover-up, and NBC News offered its own anonymous law-enforcement source saying the FBI never was involved and there were no emails related to WikiLeaks on Richs laptop.

Wheeler, a former homicide detective and a Fox News contributor, is best known in some circles for advancing the theory that violent lesbian gangs were raping young girls and terrorizing people across the country. According to the family, Wheelers work for them was arranged and financed by a Dallas financial advisor whos a contributor to Breitbart News. And hours after the initial Fox story broke, Wheeler told CNN that he had not actually seen any evidence connecting Rich to Wikileaks  hed gotten that information, he said, from the reporter interviewing him.

Even the right-of-center Washington Examiner has suggested that maybe, just maybe, readers shouldnt put their faith in this particular version of history.

The bigger problem for Trumps defenders is that the DNC wasnt the only organization hacked  there were at least two other successful thefts of emails from people allied with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, both of them apparently after Richs death. Also, security researchers at Crowdstrike found compelling evidence that a) two highly sophisticated entities had intruded into the DNCs computers, b) those entities methods matched the modus operandi of two groups that had hacked various countries governmental and industrial networks over the years, and c) security researchers were convinced that those groups were tied to the Russian government.

Oh, and yes, a shadowy hacker (or hackers) known as Guccifer 2.0 whos been linked to the Russian government claimed responsibility for the DNC hack and released a bunch of stolen documents to support that claim. These and other pieces of evidence were enough to convince the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence that Russia was behind the hacks.

Josephine Wolff, an assistant professor at Rochester Institute of Technology and a fellow with the New America think tanks cybersecurity initiative, is skeptical of the proof the FBI offered of Russian culpability. But she said there was pretty good evidence to suggest that either the DNC had been hacked by an external intruder, or thered been a very, very sophisticated attempt to make it look like there was an external intruder. Applying Occams razor, the simplest and best explanation is that somebody hacked the DNC.

But Occams razor has never applied to any story even tangentially related to the Clintons, particularly not one involving a dead body. WorldNetDaily, a conservative website known to traffic in conspiracy theories, has helpfully compiled 33 such cases, and because Seth Rich is one of them, it may be a while before he can rest in peace.

jon.healey@latimes.com

Twitter: @jcahealey

MORE FROM OPINION

Trumps downward spiral

Trump leaks state secrets and self-incriminating boasts

It took heroes inside the administration to bring down Nixon. We should be so lucky in 2017

Plead guilty, go home. Plead not guilty, stay in jail

UPDATES:

4:30 a.m. May 18: This post was updated with an additional detail about one of the sources connecting Rich to Wikileaks.
To the editor: Finally, a lawmaker in Sacramento is concerned about handicap placard abuse. (California legislator proposes new law to address misuse of disabled parking placards, May 10)

Now 66, I suffer a small amount of chronic pain from an old knee injury along with arthritis in both legs, yet I have never requested a placard. I feel some pride in working through the pain. Eventually, perhaps I will need more help and I may need to apply for the permit. For now, I can go without it.

At the same time, I constantly see folks near my business use their placards to gain free, all-day metered parking in a busy commercial district. Such spaces are intended for local visitors and business customers, but they are often rendered unavailable all day by those with disability parking permits.

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For my disabled friends and neighbors, I hope they can always find a handicap space near their destinations when they need it. But whats with the payment being waived at parking meters?

Greg Golden, Van Nuys

..

To the editor: Im pleased to see the Department of Motor Vehicles and lawmakers take action.

When the elderly hobble past disabled parking spaces filled with luxury cars, some quip bitingly, I wish I could be disabled so I could become wealthy to afford an expensive car like that.

Doesnt anyone find it a bit odd that so many wealthy people happen to be in need of a placard? It would seem logical to start with placard holders in expensive cars to identify the physicians who signed their applications and what physical problem required it.

Would anyone be surprised to learn that a small group of doctors have a soft spot for signing applications?

James Clark, Torrance

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Dalga Khatinoglu  Trend:

Iran exported 290,000 barrels per day of oil products during the last fiscal year (ended on March 20), but for the current fiscal year, it plans to increase the volume to 550-600 thousand barrels per day, Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) Mansour Riyahi said.

In the first half of the last fiscal year, Iranian officials had put the oil products export at about 400,000 b/d.

Riyahi said that cutting Turkmen gas deliveries to Iran in January 1, 2016 as well as cutting 60 million cubic meters per day of gas output (in South Pars for several weeks) led to increasing domestic gas oil and fuel oil demand in last winter and pushed the average oil product exports down, Mehr reported.

Turkmenistan cut gas flow to Iran at the beginning of 2017 due to its long-delayed $2 billion debts. Turkmenistans gas export volume to Iran was 9 bcm in 2015.

Iran has increased gas supply to power plants during the last several years and decreased fuel oil and gas oil consumption in this sector from 26 billion liters in 2012 to about 11 bcm in 2016, which led to increasing Irans oil products export capacity.

The statistics of Iranian Energy Ministry indicate that Iran only increased gas supply to power sector by 7 percent (to 61 bcm), while it should have delivered 65 bcm during the last fiscal year, based on a plan.

However, Irans gas supply to power plants has increased by 19.2 percent during the first five weeks of the current fiscal year (March 21 to April 27).

According to the latest weekly report of Irans Energy Ministry, some 5.992 billion cubic meters of gas was supplied to the countrys power plants, while gas oil and fuel oil deliveries decreased by 36.3 percent and 75.8 percent to 51 million and 69 million liters respectively.
To the editor: President Trumps terrifying braggadocio, exemplified by his disclosure of highly classified intelligence to Russias foreign minister and its ambassador to the U.S. during their visit to the White House last week, has me much less enthusiastic about his possible removal from office. (McMaster: It was wholly appropriate for Trump to share intelligence with Russians, May 16)

I owe my reaction to the absolute spinelessness of Republican leaders. What makes otherwise honorable men such as national security advisor H.R. McMaster and White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer act like children in defending this president? Why hasnt Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), an 80-year-old with nothing to lose, come out with both barrels blazing?

I watched my young sons reaction to all this discord, and it makes me think we have let his generation down. We should have been greater than this.

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Skip Maison, Laguna Beach

..

To the editor: Perhaps McMaster, an Army general, forgot his West Point pledge: A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.

It is a lifetime pledge, not just for the four years you are a cadet.

Suzanne Wojcik, Claremont

..

To the editor: Trump has now risen to his own level of incompetence, the Peter Principle in action.

We can only hope there are still thinking adults in Washington working to rectify this horror show now playing out on the world stage.

Elaine DiBlasio, Valley Glen

..

To the editor: Just what does it take for Republicans to be dismayed at Trumps actions?

McMaster believes the president might not have even known what he was saying. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) wishes Trump would show a little more restraint. The president routinely contradicts what his aides say and an hour later contradicts himself. Why worry?

Our allies might not share information with us because our president is untrustworthy and unpredictable. Trump considers that an asset. No one else does except Russian President Vladimir Putin, who decidedly is not looking out for Americas best interests.

What will it take for the few patriots left in the GOP to rise up and declare our current president unfit for his job?

Randal Tamayei and Marcy Bregman, Agoura Hills

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
The old phrase never a dull moment should be inscribed on whatever marble monument is erected to commemorate the Trump administration for a mystified posterity (Trump? President? What in Gods name were they thinking? posterity will ask). Or perhaps the words should be painted in gold over the entrance to the future Trump Presidential Library (which wont actually be a library, just a warehouse filled with TV screens playing reruns of Hannity and The Apprentice).

The onslaught of far-from-dull moments has been unrelenting since Jan. 20, when Donald Trump took the oath of office before a modestly-sized crowd that he saw as epically huge. Not only has the cascade of craziness not let up, it has intensified.

Just in the last few days, America has been whipsawed from former-Deputy Atty. Gen. Sally Yates testimony about Trump national security advisor Michael Flynns vulnerability to Russian blackmail to Trumps abrupt firing of FBI Director James Comey to Trumps televised admission that the FBI investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election played a part in his decision to dump Comey.

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1 / 51 la-1491523602-y7ephyarj1-snap-image (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 51 la-1491368625-0bgh58ihw8-snap-image (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los angeles Times) 6 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 51 Trump inspires millions to take to the streets -- to oppose him. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 51 Cartoon caption contest winner at the DENT conference in Sun Valley, Idaho: Jon Duval, executive director of the Ketchum Community Development Corporation. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 51 Old radicals and big media descend on Selma (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 51 Horsey imagined the creation of the Ann Coulter phenomenon in this cartoon from 2007. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 51 This David Horsey drawing is a reconfiguration of a cartoon he first published in 2006. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 51 Donald Sterling, owner of the L.A. Clippers, should give Cliven Bundy a call. After Sterling loses his NBA franchise and the deadbeat Nevada rancher loses his cattle, the two old racists will both need a buddy. Maybe they can team up together and open an all-white rodeo. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 51 Besides sending a chill up the spine of the international community, Vladimir Putin has accomplished one other thing by seizing Crimea and threatening the rest of Ukraine: Putin has brought back the bear. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 51 The right-wing insurrection at the Bundy ranch in Bunkerville, Nev., has taken another weird turn with new revelations about the family history of Cliven Bundy. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 51 David Horsey / Los Angeles Times (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times)

But wait, theres more! There was also the weird scene of chief White House spokesman Sean Spicer hiding in the bushes outside the executive mansion, avoiding cameras on the night the official story about Comeys dismissal was blown apart by Trumps self-incriminating chatter. There was Trumps Oval Office meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and the resulting photograph (taken by a Russian cameraman since no American media were allowed in the room) that showed Trump looking exceedingly gleeful in the company of Vladimir Putins men. There was the subsequent revelation that the loose-lipped Trump shared intelligence secrets with those two Russian diplomats, thereby endangering a sensitive spy operation being run by Israel. And then came the bombshell New York Times story that revealed that Comey had kept notes detailing a meeting in which Trump urged Comey to desist from his investigation of Flynn.

Before all of this, the idea that Trump might be forced from office prematurely seemed like desperate wishful thinking on the part of Democrats and the establishment conservatives who loathe the man. This week, that changed. Arizona Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee for president, told a dinner gathering on Tuesday that Trumps scandals were reaching Watergate size and scale. Few other Republicans were going nearly that far, but neither were they rising to Trumps defense. It is still hard to believe the GOP-run Congress will decide to impeach their own president, but it is no longer unimaginable.

Trump is a loose cannon on the deck of a creaky ship in a howling gale, and every shot from his muzzle blasts a new hole in the deck. For months, Trump has complained about leaks emanating from the intelligence agencies and from his own staff, but, in an odd way, he is the ultimate leaker. He shares secrets with Lavrov and Kislyak. He sends out tweets that expose his own communications staff as prevaricating shills. He gives interviews in which he cannot resist taking credit for actions that cross the line into obstruction of justice. He seems unable to control his own mouth and ends up leaking like a rotting roof in a downpour.

Trumps enormous self-regard will not allow him to entertain the thought that his attempts to manage the crisis consuming his presidency are only making things worse. He is his own worst enemy, and that is giving a weary citizenry a glimmer of hope that this bizarre spectacle might actually be brought to an end.

David.Horsey@latimes.com

Follow me at @davidhorsey on Twitter
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 
Its not the first time James B. Comey and Robert S. Mueller III find themselves together at the center of an unfolding Washington drama.

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller named special prosecutor for Russia investigation 

In March 2004, Comey, then deputy attorney general, was summoned to the hospital bed of his boss, Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft.

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Ashcroft, weak from gallbladder surgery, was under pressure from White House officials Alberto Gonzales and Andrew Card to sign papers reauthorizing the domestic surveillance program secretly launched after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Ashcrofts wife was distraught about the visit from the White House counsel and chief of staff, according to testimony Comey later gave to a Senate committee.

She called Comey to stop the uninvited visitors. Just the previous week, her husband had agreed not to reinstate the program.

Comey called in help, asking Mueller, then the FBI director, and several top aides to meet him at the hospital.

It was the start of a battle between the Justice Department and the White House. According to Comey, the White House renewed the program the next day without his approval.

Since the White House had ignored the departments legal advice, Comey, Mueller and several other officials made plans to resign. It was only when President George W. Bush agreed to listen to Comey and Mueller and restructure the program did resignation plans go away.

It was almost exactly 10 years ago, May 16, 2007, that Comey recounted the sequence of events before a Senate committee. That testimony examined the justification of the firing of eight U.S. attorneys during the previous year, and called into question whether Gonzales, at that point the attorney general, was fit to run the Justice Department.

During the hearing, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, made a reference that will be familiar to anyone following President Trumps firings of Acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates and Comey.

It has some characteristics of the Saturday Night Massacre,  Specter said of Comeys account.

On Wednesday, Mueller was named by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein to be special counsel to take over the Justice Departments Russia investigation.

My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that prosecution is warranted, Rosenstein said. I have made no such determination.

colleen.shalby@latimes.com

Twitter: @cshalby
The disclosure of a memo written by James B. Comey saying that President Trump had asked him to shut down the FBIs investigation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn followed months of intrigue.

Trump has frequently belittled investigations underway into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. His comments, often on Twitter, have only heightened the suspicions of his detractors about Russias ties to Flynn and other senior Trump campaign advisors.

Last month, Trump fired Comey. Democrats have accused the president of trying to obstruct the inquiry by ousting the man who had been heading it. The existence of a memo documenting private conversation between Comey and Trump, first reported by the New York Times, has set off widespread speculation that Trump could now be vulnerable to impeachment.

Heres a timeline on the drama that has unfolded since Trump won the Nov. 8 election:

Trump wins election

Trump, defying polls, shocks the political establishment and beats Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. Its widely considered to be one of the biggest upsets in American political history.

Obama warning

President Obama warns Trump during a 90-minute meeting at the White House that Flynn, a former U.S. Army lieutenant general and Defense Intelligence Agency chief, is a problem. The warning comes out in May during former acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates  testimony before Congress .

President Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump. (Olivier Douliery / Tribune News Service) (Olivier Douliery / Tribune News Service)

Putin congratulates Trump

Putin calls Trump to congratulate him on his victory. According to a release by Trumps transition team, the two men discuss "a range of issues including the threats and challenges facing the United States and Russia. It goes on to add that Trump looks forward to "a strong and enduring relationship with Russia and the people of Russia."

Trump picks Flynn

Trump names Flynn as his choice for national security advisor. The decision is controversial. Flynn had attended a lavish dinner in Moscow in 2015 at which he sat next to President Vladimir Putin. Hed also received a speaking fee from a Russian government-run television network that U.S. officials consider a propaganda outlet.

Flynn's son out

Trump's transition team cuts ties with Flynns son, who had spread false stories on Twitter.

(Colleen Shalby)

Sanctions imposed on Russia

The Obama administration imposes sanctions on Russia in retaliation for Russia's hacking of the Democratic National Committee in the summer and other efforts to interfere with the U.S. election.

Flynn contacts Russian ambassador

Flynn contacts Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak several times, including more than one telephone call.

Putin responds

Putin says he will not retaliate against the U.S. sanctions, surprising the Obama administration. Trump praises Putin.

Flynns Russia connection

Intelligence officials, looking for clues to why Putin decided not to retaliate, discover Flynn's conversations with Kislyak, whose communications the U.S. government routinely monitors.

Trump speaks

At a news conference, Trump denies that he has ties with Russian officials.

Trump compares intelligence community practices to Nazi Germany after dossier is leaked

Trump criticizes the U.S. intelligence community  comparing its practices to Nazi Germany  after a dossier, which suggested Russia had compromising information to use as blackmail against Trump, was leaked.

News report

Washington Post columnist David Ignatius first reports on Flynn's contacts with Kislyak. What did Flynn say, he asks, and did it undercut the U.S. sanctions? At a news conference, Trump again denies that he has ties with Russia.

White House denial

Trump transition spokesman Sean Spicer denies that Flynn and Kislyak discussed sanctions.

Pence defends Flynn

Vice President-elect Mike Pence, in an interview on CBS Face the Nation, denies that Flynn discussed sanctions with Kislyak. The timing was strictly coincidental, Pence said. What I can confirm, having spoken to him about it, is that those conversations ... had nothing whatsoever to do with those sanctions.

Inauguration

Trump takes the oath of office and is sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press) (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

Trump visits CIA

Trump visits CIA headquarters, lauding agents for their tactics.

There is nobody that feels stronger about the intelligence community and the CIA than Donald Trump," he said.

Flynn starts his job

Flynn is sworn in as national security advisor.

During a public reception at the White House attended by Comey, Trump hugs his FBI director and affectionately says, Hes become more famous than me.

Trump and Comey at the White House on Jan. 22. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

FBI talks to Flynn

The FBI interviews Flynn. Flynn denies that he discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with Kislyak, the Russian ambassador.

Spicer says Flynn didnt discuss sanctions

Spicer, now White House press secretary, tells reporters at the daily news briefing that he had talked with Flynn the night before about the calls with Kislyak and that there had been no discussion of sanctions.

Yates warns White House

Yates, then the acting attorney general, tells White House Counsel Donald McGahn that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed the sanctions and that Flynn, having misled Pence and others, might be subject to Russian blackmail. McGahn briefs Trump.

Comey dines with Trump

At a one-on-one dinner at the White House, Comey is asked by Trump for his loyalty, according to a New York Times report of the encounter published after Comey is fired in May. Comey reportedly tells him he can offer his honesty. Comey would corroborate that version of events in congressional testimony in June.

Trump calls Putin from Oval Office

In a one-hour phone call made while White House aides look on, Trump and Putin discuss combating terrorism, confronting Islamic State militants, the crisis in Ukraine and the Iranian nuclear deal, according to a statement from the Kremlin.

The leaders agree to a set a possible date and venue for a personal meeting, and vow to maintain regular personal contacts, the Kremlin statement says. The call is among a number Trump places to world leaders.

Trump speaks by phone with Putin as White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images) (Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

Trump tweets, I dont know Putin

Trump responds to a controversy stemming from comments he made during an interview with Fox News Bill OReilly.

OReilly observed during the interview that Putin is a killer.

Trump answered: You think our country is so innocent?

Another denial

Flynn, responding to questions from the Washington Post, once again flatly denies any discussions with Kislyak about sanctions.

Denial retracted/Pence discovery

A spokesperson for Flynn retracts that denial, saying he does not remember talking about the sanctions but can't be 100% sure.

Pence discovers for the first time, from a Washington Post article, that Flynn had misled him, his spokesman confirms. Pence subsequently learns that Trump had known about Flynn's deception since Jan. 26, but hadn't told him.

Flynn calls Pence

White House officials say Flynn called Pence to apologize for misleading him. Trump, asked by reporters on Air Force One, says he is not familiar with the Post report.

Michael Flynn at the White House on Feb. 10. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press) (Carolyn Kaster / AP)

White House aide appears on talk shows

White House advisor Stephen Miller, dispatched by the administration to appear on several Sunday TV interview programs, declines to say whether Trump has confidence in Flynn.

Mixed messages, then Flynn resigns

Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway says Flynn has Trump's full confidence.

Spicer says Trump is evaluating the situation.

The Post and the New York Times disclose that Yates had warned the White House about Flynn's conversations.

White House announces Flynn's resignation. Officials say he chose to step down.

Eroding trust

Spicer says at the daily news briefing that the White House had been investigating Flynns conduct for more than two weeks and that he had been fired because of an eroding level of trust.

Several hours after Spicer's briefing, Pence spokesman Marc Lotter says that the vice president became aware of incomplete information that hed received on Feb. 9 based on media accounts. He did an inquiry based on those media accounts.

Comey-Trump Oval Office meeting

Trump meets alone with Comey in the Oval Office and asks him to drop the investigation of Flynn, according to a memo of the encounter written by Comey and first reported May 16 by the New York Times.

I hope you can let this go, Trump said to his FBI director, according to the reports, later confirmed by Comeys congressional testimony.

Trump calls Russia story line nonsense

Trump calls the Russia story line fake news!

Trump, again, calls the Russia story line fake news!

Investigation confirmed

Comey confirms that the FBI is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials to influence the 2016 election.

Nunes visits White House

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, goes to the White House to review classified information regarding the Russia inquiry.

After the meeting, Nunes says that conversations by Trump transition officials may have been inadvertently picked up by U.S. surveillance.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes speaks to reporters after a meeting at the White House on March 22. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) (Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

Hearings canceled

House Intelligence Committees Russia hearings are canceled indefinitely.

Flynn asks for immunity

Flynn asks for immunity in exchange for testifying to the House and Senate intelligence committees investigating Russias involvement in the 2016 election, negotiations that were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

'Fake News Media'

Trump talks to Putin

Trump calls Putin to condemn a terrorist attack that killed 11 and injured dozens in a St. Petersburg subway. Putin was in St. Petersburg, his hometown, at the time of the attack.

Nunes steps aside

Nunes steps aside from the Russia investigation  because he himself is under investigation. The House Ethics Committee, in a separate announcement, said it was looking into allegations that Nunes had improperly disclosed classified material, the same material involved in his nighttime White House meeting. Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas) takes over as head of the Intelligence Committees Russia inquiry, with help from Reps. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) and Tom Rooney (R-Fla.).

Carter Page under investigation

The FBI obtains court permission to monitor the communications of Trump campaign advisor Carter Page since last summer, according to a Washington Post report. The U.S. believed he was acting as a Russian agent.

Carter Page speaks at a news conference in Moscow in December. (Pavel Golovkin / Associated Press) (Pavel Golovkin / Associated Press)

Pentagon investigation

The Pentagon inspector general is investigating whether Flynn violated military rules by accepting foreign payments from Russia and Turkey, which is disclosed by a House committee. According to documents released, Flynn was warned in 2014, when he was retiring from the military, not to accept payments from foreign governments without advance approval from the Pentagon.

The Pentagon. (AFP/Getty Images) (AFP/Getty Images)

Trump and Putin speak

For the first time since tensions rose over U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian air base, Trump and Putin talk by phone. After those strikes, Trump had said relations with Russia "may be at an all-time low." White House officials later said that during this phone call, Putin asked Trump to meet with Russian officials.

Trump tweets that 'Comey was the best thing that ever happened to Hillary Clinton'

Comey testifies

Comey defends his decision to alert Congress just days before the presidential election that he would further investigate Hillary Clintons emails.

It makes me mildly nauseous to think that we might have had some impact on the election, he said.

Yates testifies

Yates, the former acting attorney general, testifies that she warned the Trump administration about Flynn on three occasions. On the same day, former Obama administration officials confirm that Obama had warned Trump about Flynn, just two days after the election.

Former acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates gives her first public account of her role in the ouster of former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Trump says Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax

Trump fires Comey

Trump ousts Comey, and the White House releases memos from Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein and Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions . Rosenstein ties his recommendation to dismiss Comey to his handling of the Clinton email investigation.

In his dismissal letter to Comey, Trump includes this passage: While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the bureau.

The White House says that in addition to Trump and the Justice Department , the FBIs rank-and-file had lost confidence in their director.

Trumps meets with Russians

Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at the White House.

The New York Times later reported that during their meeting Trump said, I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job.

From left, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, President Trump and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office on May 10. (Shcherbak Alexander / Tass) (Shcherbak Alexander / Tass)

Holt interview

NBC News Lester Holt interviews Trump about Comeys firing. Holt asks Trump whether Comey was truthful in telling the president that he wasnt under investigation. Trump responds: I know that Im not under investigation. Me. Personally. Im not talking about campaigns; Im not talking about anything else.

NBCs Lester Holt interviews President Trump on May 11. (Joe Gabriel / Associated Press) (Joe Gabriel / Associated Press)

McCabe backs Comey

Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, testifying at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, contradicts the White House when asked whether the rank-and-file of the FBI had lost confidence in Comey.

No, sir, that is not accurate, he told Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), adding, I hold Director Comey in the absolute highest regard.

Trump references tapes

Trump tweets, James Comey better hope that there are no tapes of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!

Classified intelligence

The Washington Post reports that Trump shared highly classified information about Islamic State with Russian diplomats during a meeting the previous week. The information came, according to the report, from a source that had not authorized the U.S. to share it with the Russians.

Report, citing memo, says Trump asked Comey to end Flynn inquiry

The New York Times reports that a memo written by Comey to document a Feb. 14 conversation with Trump includes Comeys account of the president asking him to end the Flynn investigation. Comey would confirm that information in his June testimony.

Putin offers to release meeting records Putin calls the concern over the Trump administrations ties to Russia political schizophrenia. He also offers to share Russian records of the meeting between Trump and Lavrov with the U.S. Congress, if the White House approves.

Robert Mueller , then FBI director, testifies at a 2013 hearing. (Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images) (SAUL LOEB / AFP/Getty Images)

Mueller named special prosecutor in Russia inquiry

Former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III is named the special counsel to take over the Justice Departments Russia investigation.

Trump refers to Russia inquiry as a witch hunt

FBI investigates another White House aide

News outlets report that the FBI is investigating a Trump aide in connection to the Russia inquiry. Six days later, it was revealed that it is Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner .

May 22

Report says Trump asked intelligence officials to deny existence of collusion

The Washington Post reports that at a meeting in March, Trump asked Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Adm. Michael S. Rogers to publicly deny any existence of evidence that the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia. The Posts sources said the men did not comply.

Coats is questioned about meeting

During a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting, Coats is asked about the Washington Post report.

Its not appropriate for me to comment publicly on any of that, he says.

More details emerge about Kushner. (Ettore Ferrari / European Pressphoto Agency) (Ettore Ferrari / European Pressphoto Agency)

Kushner asked for back channel to communicate with Russia, report says

The Washington Post reports that Trumps son-in-law proposed a private back channel between the Kremlin and Trumps transition team during a meeting in December.

NSA contractor leaks documents to news organization

Reality Leigh Winner, an NSA contractor with a top security clearance, is arrested for allegedly leaking classified documents to the Intercept about Russian hacking during the election.

Winners arrest marks the first time under the Trump administration that someone was charged with leaking classified information.

Comeys opening statement is released

One day before he testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Comeys seven-page opening statement is released. It details five one-on-one meetings that Comey had with Trump, either in person or by phone.

The statement says Trump asked Comey to drop the investigation on Flynn, lift the cloud of the Russia investigation and publicly state that Trump was not under investigation.

Former FBI Director James Comey answers questions from the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill. (Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images) (Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images)

Comey testifies

During his testimony, Comey addresses 15 senators questions over the course of three hours. In regards to the Russia investigation, he says:

There's no doubt that Russia meddled in the U.S. election.

He took Trumps expression of hope that he end the Flynn investigation as a directive.

He won't publicly discuss the FBI investigation of Flynn or possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia during the election.

Sessions testifies

Less than a week after Comey testifies, the spotlight turns to Sessions, the attorney general. During nearly three hours of answering Senate Intelligence Committee questions about his actions pertaining to the Russia investigation, he:

Says he does not remember meeting any Russia diplomat at the Mayflower Hotel.

Hotel. Denies colluding with Russia.

Says he in effect had recused himself from the Russia inquiry from his first day on the job, before he officially did so, and had never been briefed on the status of the investigation. He says his letter to Trump recommending Comeys firing did not conflict with his recusal.

Washington Post says Trump is being personally investigated

The Washington Post, in an exclusive story, reports that officials requesting anonymity have confirmed Mueller, the special counsel, is investigating Trump for possible obstruction of justice. The Post notes that this is a major development in the Russia investigation, as Trump had previously been told that he, personally, was not under investigation.

The FBI leak of information regarding the President is outrageous, inexcusable and illegal, said Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Trumps lawyer Marc Kasowitz.

Senior officials were concerned Flynn was susceptible to blackmail in January, report says

The New York Times reports that despite a concern in January among senior government officials that Flynn was vulnerable to Russian blackmail, he sat in earshot of CIA Director Mike Pompeos daily briefings to Trump nearly every day for three weeks.

Trump tweets that he doesnt have any tapes

Forty-one days after Trump tweeted Comey better hope there are no tapes, the president puts a damper on the rumor he started.

I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings, he tweets.

UPDATES:

5 p.m., June 22: This article was updated with information from June 20 and 22.

5 p.m., June 14: This article updates with details from Sessions testimony before a Senate committee and the Washington Post report on a change in the scope of the investigation.

12:45 p.m., June 8: This article has been updated with news from May 18 onward.

3:15 p.m., May 17: This article was updated with news about Mueller.

8:14 a.m., May 17: This article was updated with reporting on phone calls between Trump and Putin and on Putins offer to share meeting records with the U.S. Congress.

This article was originally published May 16 at 8 p.m.

Questions? Comments? Tweet @cshalby and @finneganLAT or email colleen.shalby@latimes.com and michael.finnegan@latimes.com.

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It looks to many like a textbook case of obstruction of justice.

President Trump fired James Comey several weeks after the FBI director says the president asked him  during a private White House meeting  to shut down the investigation of Michael Flynn, the ousted national security advisor who was suspected of having secret dealings with the Russians.

I hope you can let this go, Trump allegedly said, according to a memo written by Comey that was described to multiple media outlets.

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Assuming Comeys memos are accurate, the basis for an obstruction of justice charge suddenly got a lot stronger, said Jennifer Daskal, an American University law professor.

We now have an allegation that the president cleared the room of both the vice president and attorney general before expressing his not-so-subtle hope that the Flynn investigation be dropped, followed by the firing of Comey when the hope was not met, Daskal said.

The White House has denied Comeys characterization of the meeting. And some prominent lawyers urge caution in jumping to conclusions, noting that obstruction of justice is not easy to prove.

Under the law, it is a crime to corruptly seek to obstruct or impede what it refers to as the due and proper administration of the law.

Much depends on an assessment of the presidents motive, legal experts say. Its also noteworthy that in this case that the dispute probably will not play out in a courtroom, but in a public arena and in Congress, which has the final power to prosecute the president.

Former prosecutors and legal academics say they foresee at least three lines of defense for the president.

First, they can argue he was simply trying to protect a loyal advisor who he believed was wrongly put under a legal cloud, and was therefore not acting on a corrupt motive.

He could say he felt bad for Flynn. He didnt have a corrupt intent and was not trying to curtail a criminal case. He was just saying [to Comey,] It would be great if you gave him a break, said Peter Zeidenberg, a Washington attorney and former federal prosecutor.

It will be important to focus on exactly what was said, added David B. Rivkin, a Washington lawyer who served as a White House lawyer under President George H.W. Bush. The question is, did this amount to a specific directive? If Mr. Trump had issued a clear-cut order to stop the investigation, Comey would have resigned. That did not happen. Therefore, what he said was much more attenuated.

Second, the presidents lawyers could argue there was no crime here. The FBIs investigation was at a preliminary stage and had not yielded indictments. Some lawyers say obstruction of justice charges are limited to interference in an actual criminal case, not an early stage of an FBI probe.

Elizabeth Price Foley, a law professor at Florida International University, said obstruction of justice law refers to a pending proceeding, and courts have interpreted that to refer only to prosecutions and agency hearings. This would not include an FBI investigation that has yet to lead to criminal charges, she said.

While there may be understandable angst surrounding the purported Trump-Comey exchange, there does not appear to be a fair legal argument that the exchange constituted an obstruction of justice, she said.

And third, the presidents lawyers could argue the Constitution gives the president very broad powers over investigations and prosecutions. Conservatives in recent decades have invoked the theory of the unitary executive, which puts the ultimate power in the presidents hands.

Rivkin, who played a lead role in formulating a constitutional challenge to President Obamas healthcare law, said the president is the chief law enforcement officer.

We have a unitary executive. Under the Constitution, he is the chief executive, and there is a perfectly reasonable argument that says he was capable of directing all the activities of executive branch officials, he said. If so, the president may lawfully intervene in federal investigations under certain circumstances.

Suppose, he said, a president calls the attorney general to the White House and tells him he wants him to shut down all pending federal investigations involving low-level drug crimes. This would not be viewed as an illegitimate interference by the president in a pending law enforcement matter, he said, but an example of the president acting within his constitutional authority.

Rivkin acknowledged, however, that President Trumps alleged interference in the Flynn probe could raise other concerns, since the investigation could turn up evidence that implicates him or his campaign aides.

He and others agreed the public and political debate will turn on the presidents motives.

Zeidenberg, the former federal prosecutor, said Trump has helped build a case against himself.

Most presidents in this kind of situation say: We want to get to the bottom of this. They feign transparency because it looks good. He did the opposite. He put out statements and tweets saying this was a hoax and should be shut down, he said. That furthers the impression the president has something to hide, he said.

Prosecutors in a normal case would also focus on the detail from Comeys memo that he asked the attorney general and vice president to leave the room.

That seems highly suspicious. If it were an innocent request, why do you want the witnesses to leave the room? he said.

All these facts go to the motive, and thats crucial, he said. I could take my computer and throw it in the Potomac River, and that could be legal. Its mine. But if the FBI had subpoenaed my computer, then its probably an obstruction of justice.

david.savage@latimes.com

On Twitter: DavidGSavage
They fume privately at President Trumps coziness with the Russians. They wince almost every time he tweets. They talk among themselves about what might have been with a different Republican in the White House.

Yet even as each new crisis seems like it might be the event that moves GOP lawmakers away from Trump, key Republican leaders and rank-and-file members circle the White House, protecting the president from attack and shifting the blame to Democrats and the media.

Tuesday brought the sternest test yet of Republican willingness to stand with the president, as multiple news organizations reported that Trump had personally asked then-FBI Director James B. Comey to drop the bureaus investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

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The news  denied by the White House  hit a Congress that already was stunned by Trumps firing of Comey last week and his sharing of intelligence with Russian diplomats.

Whether the latest allegations will prove to be the tipping point for more GOP lawmakers remains to be seen, but initial reactions suggested many were standing behind the president.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard M. Burr (R-N.C.), who had voiced frustration over Trumps information-sharing with the Russians, cast doubt Tuesday evening on news reports that Trump had tried to stop the Flynn probe.

I actually believe the director might have told us that thered been a request like that, and it was never mentioned by him, Burr said. So somebodys going to have to do more than have anonymous sources on this one for me to believe that theres something there.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said it almost sounds like fake news.

But centrist Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida said that if the Comey allegations were true, it would be deeply, deeply troubling, disconcerting and it would open a new chapter of scandal."

In some ways, its little surprise that Republicans in Congress are supporting Trump. Lawmakers are largely reflecting their constituents, and polling shows Republican voters, and those who cast ballots for Trump, still overwhelmingly back the president.

But more to the point, if Republicans were to break ranks with the White House and begin to question Trumps ability to govern, what would happen next?

Any acknowledgement by Republicans that Trumps actions are unacceptable would lead to inevitable questions about what exactly Congress planned to do about it. And Republicans dont appear ready to answer that.

Very few Republicans have joined Democrats in seeking a special prosecutor or independent panel to investigate the Trump campaigns possible ties to Russian meddling in the election  much less in the calls for impeachment.

On Tuesday, however, Rep. Steve Knight of Palmdale became the third House Republican from California to back a special prosecutor. There is so much conflicting information from many sources; Americans deserve the opportunity to learn the truth, he said in a statement.

The dilemma for Republicans was on full display Tuesday in conversations and statements on Capitol Hill. While a handful of GOP lawmakers voiced rising concern over Trumps behavior, many stood by the president.

This man is subject to more criticism than anybody, any predecessor that I know of, said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah). It was a remarkable election and they cant stand it, so theyre going to do everything they can to destroy him. Its just that simple.

Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.), former chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said most new administrations have a rough start.

Look at President Clinton: When he started off, he had a real bumpy road for about a year and a half, Shelby said. Lets see what happens the next six-seven months. Everythings another day.

Republicans are loath to derail their opportunity to make good on promises to cut taxes, repeal Obamacare and undo federal regulations as they control the White House and Congress. They know a Trump White House embroiled in scandal and investigations would be effectively crippled, and already the GOP legislative agenda has been overshadowed.

Trump is trying to accomplish a number of things we ran on, so hes got quite a bit of support, said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). It doesnt help to have a controversy swirling, but I cant say thats its distracting us from getting things done.

Democrats, appalled by Trumps behavior, are pushing Republicans to move beyond partisanship.

The country is being tested in unprecedented ways, said Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer. I say to all of my colleagues in the Senate: History is watching.

Democrats are demanding transcripts of Trumps conversation with the Russian ambassador and foreign minister as well as any tape recordings Trump may have made in relation to his contact with Comey.

After the New York Times reported that Comey had kept private memos of his conversations with Trump, including the one in which he claimed Trump asked him to drop the Flynn probe, Democrats are pushing to see those records as well.

A few Republicans are ready to join that effort. I have my subpoena pen ready, said Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chair of the House oversight committee.

But Democrats plea to Republicans so far has proved little match for Trumps staying power and ability to survive political missteps that would fell other politicians.

During the presidential campaign, when a recording emerged of Trump boasting about sexually groping women with impunity because of his celebrity status, many Republicans, including House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, distanced themselves from his campaign.

But then Republican voters by and large gave their candidate a pass, and Ryan and others had to scramble to mend their relationship with him.

Many GOP lawmakers continue to say the media is treating Trump unfairly.

He is, I think, having a volatile ride from a media perspective, but the underlying policies that I think are good for the country  tax reform, healthcare reform, rolling back the regulatory agenda of the past administration  all of these have a very consistently positive impact, said Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

Others could not easily put an optimistic spin on the concerns churning from the White House.

These are daily  well, not daily, hopefully, but seems like lately daily  distractions, and you just have to manage around it, said the Senates slightly exasperated No. 3 Republican, John Thune of South Dakota. Were proceeding according to plan, but less drama on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue would be a good thing.

Centrist Republicans were those most eager to distance themselves from Trump.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) tweeted Tuesday: Sharing classified info to one of our enemies is a threat to our national security, troops on the ground & relationships w/ trusted allies.

Said Rep. Barbara Comstock, who is in a highly competitive swing district in the affluent North Virginia suburbs: Once again we are faced with inexplicable stories coming from the White House that are highly troubling.

Asked whether he trusted Trump to handle classified information, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)  who Monday warned of the White Houses downward spiral  turned and shrugged: Sure.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

@LisaMascaro

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Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation are the main winners of the upcoming presidential election, no matter who becomes president.

Khamenei made the remarks during a meeting with a group of Iranians ahead of the presidential election, which will be held on May 19, the official website of the Iranian leader reported May 17.

He said the Islamic Republic is preparing for election in peace and security, while regional countries suffer insecurity.

This peaceful and calm environment is invaluable, Khamenei said, adding that discipline and people's commitment to abide by the law before the election, on the day of the election and after the election, is important.

The Iranian nation has learned through experience that discipline is beneficial, and indiscipline, unlawfulness can be so harmful, he said.

President Hassan Rouhani, the custodian of Razavi holy shrine Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi, former culture minister Seyed Mostafa Agha Mirsalim and reformist politician Mostafa Hashemi-Taba are campaigning for the upcoming presidential election.

The conservative wing in Iran supports Raeisi.

During the previous presidential election in June 2013, Rouhani garnered 50.7 percent of over 36 million votes.

According to Ali Asghar Ahmadi, the head of the Interior Ministrys State Elections Committee, over 56.4 million Iranians can cast their ballots in the election this year.
The White House on Tuesday confronted what could be the most serious allegation to date against President Trump  reports that in February he asked the FBI director, James B. Comey, to drop an investigation of the presidents former national security advisor.

Comey, who was fired by Trump last week, wrote a memo shortly after the Oval Office encounter on Feb. 14 to make a record of Trumps words, according to a close associate of his who had read the document and described it in an interview.

Comey wrote several other memos describing encounters with Trump that he found troubling, the associate said.

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I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, Trump told Comey, referring to the FBI investigation of Michael Flynn, according to the memo. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

The existence of the memos was first reported by the New York Times.

The meeting between Trump and Comey took place one day after Flynn was fired as national security advisor. At the time, White House officials said the president had dismissed Flynn because he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

The White House issued a statement Tuesday denying that Trump asked Comey to close the investigation of Flynns ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign, when Flynn was an advisor to Trump.

While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that Gen. Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, the statement said.

The report on the Trump-Comey meeting raised serious questions about potential presidential interference in a criminal investigation. It prompted several Republicans to demand that Comey testify to Congress and seemed certain to complicate Trumps efforts to pick a new head of the FBI or push major elements of his legislative agenda.

Tuesday night, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter to the FBI demanding that all memorandums, notes and recordings between Trump and Comey be delivered to his panel by next week.

I have my subpoena pen ready if necessary, he said.

The news broke even as White House officials were still trying to grapple with another Russia-related controversy that had erupted the day before.

That involved Trumps decision to share information with two Russian diplomats during an Oval Office meeting last week. On Monday, the Washington Post and the New York Times reported that Trump had disclosed highly classified information to the two Russians that a U.S. ally had provided on condition that it not be shared.

The White House had denied the accuracy of those news reports.

But on Twitter on Tuesday morning, Trump said he had, in fact, shared information with the two Russians, Kislyak and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He said he had an absolute right as president to do so.

His tweets, which confirmed much of the information in the stories, undermined the carefully crafted denials his aides had offered the day before.

The back-to-back controversies hit the White House as it was still trying to contain the damage from last weeks unexpected firing of Comey.

And it all happened just days before Trump was scheduled to leave for his first overseas trip as president, an eight-day journey through the Mideast and Europe that already posed numerous potential problems for the administration.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who conducted his briefing for reporters off-camera on Tuesday, brushed off a question about whether Trump, amid the furors, has been able to adequately prepare for meetings with foreign leaders. Trump, however, several times on Tuesday mispronounced the last name of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with whom he was meeting.

The new report on Trumps February meeting with Comey added to the intense scrutiny over the presidents decision to fire the FBI director and raised the legal and political exposure for the administration.

Trumps aides initially said he fired Comey based on a Justice Department recommendation that criticized the FBI chiefs handling of the investigation into Hillary Clintons email practices as secretary of State. Trump contradicted that account days later in an interview with NBC News, saying that he had made up his mind to sack Comey before the recommendation and that he was thinking about the Russia thing when he made the decision.

The FBI since last summer has been investigating Russias meddling in the 2016 election and potential collusion by the Trump campaign  an investigation that Trump days ago decried as a waste of taxpayers money.

White House officials began Tuesday by struggling to reconcile their earlier denials that Trump had disclosed classified information to the Russian officials with the presidents own acknowledgment that hed done so.

It is wholly appropriate for the president to share whatever information he thinks is to the advancement of the security of the American people, national security advisor H.R. McMaster told reporters.

He denied that Trumps discussions with the Russians had endangered cooperation with the source of the intelligence, a U.S. ally, which the New York Times identified as Israel. .

McMaster said that Trumps disclosure to the Russians was impromptu, not the sort of scripted talking point more typical of such diplomatic exchanges. He said the president was unaware of the source of the intelligence he shared. McMaster confirmed that the intelligence involved an Islamic State plot to use laptop computers as explosive devices aboard commercial aircraft.

McMaster also confirmed reports that after Trumps meetings with the two Russians, the presidents counter-terrorism advisor, Thomas Bossert, was concerned enough by Trumps disclosure to alert the National Security Agency and the CIA  maybe from an overabundance of precaution, McMaster said.

McMaster said he was not concerned at all that Trumps disclosure had compromised intelligence-sharing relationships with allies. He said the details Trump discussed with the Russians were considered within the bounds of what the expectations are of our intelligence partners.

Trump himself, in brief public comments during a joint appearance with Erdogan at the White House, suggested that his very, very successful meeting with the Russians had been intended to enlist their help in battling Islamic State in Syria. Our fight is against ISIS, he said, using an acronym for the militant group.

To date, however, Russias military efforts in Syria have been in support of the government of President Bashar Assad and against Syrian rebels fighting it, not in alliance with the U.S.-backed campaign against Islamic State.

Administration officials sought to turn reporters attention to the leaks about Trumps interactions with the Russians, as well as past leaks about the presidents conversations with foreign officials. Spicer described the leaks as a danger to national security.

Although many Republicans continued to stand with Trump, a growing number of members of Congress in both parties expressed impatience with the White House responses to the controversies piling up.

With work on Trumps legislative agenda all but halted, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a television interview, We could do with a little less drama from the White House.

Sen. Richard M. Burr of North Carolina, the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, peevishly suggested that White House officials had failed to respond to his requests for information about the Trump meeting with Lavrov and Kislyak.

Id like to think somebody from the White House who was in the room is going to get on the phone and tell me what they said, Burr told reporters. Ive been trying to get it [phone call] all morning. Maybe theyre busy.

Some Republican lawmakers also called for Comey to testify and said they were dismayed by Trumps reported request to end the Flynn investigation.

Rep. Carlos Curbelo, a Florida Republican in a swing district, said that if the allegations about Trumps conversations with Comey were true, it would be deeply, deeply troubling, disconcerting, and it would open a new chapter of scandal.

Democrats stepped up calls for independent investigations as well as for a special prosecutor.

On a day when we thought things couldnt get any worse, they have, said Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer of New York.

Republican veterans of past administrations expressed exasperation at the latest series of White House crises.

He has to exercise more discipline, Andrew Card, who was chief of staff to President George W. Bush, said on MSNBC.

Taste your words before you spit them out, he added, as if advising Trump directly. Show more respect to that bureaucracy that exists, not just in the White House but throughout the executive branch.

As Trumps aides responded to the latest controversies, the White House took on the air of a place under siege. Aides scrambled to respond even as their jobs were widely reported to be in jeopardy. Anonymous sources described to reporters a president seething in frustration at the negative publicity and his staffs inability to contain it, though Trumps actions and words were  as so often is the case -- the spark for the controversies.

You have people that try to cause problems, one administration official said, referring to leakers within the government. Sometimes we get in our own way.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

joseph.tanfani@latimes.com

Times staff writers David Lauter, Lisa Mascaro and Michael A. Memoli contributed to this report.

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Theres a reason youve awoken this morning with a bit of a woozy feeling: Its only been one week since President Trump fired James Comey as director of the FBI.

What a week, folks.

Good morning from the state capital. Im Sacramento Bureau Chief John Myers, and with the speed of news events right now, theres no telling what we will be talking about tonight. Or even by lunchtime today.

A key question, it seems, is this: Will the president feel the need to directly address the swirl of allegations himself? Or will his advisors be able to keep him from doing so?

But lets start from the start, so to speak.

I HOPE YOU CAN LET THIS GO

Tuesdays blockbuster allegation was that Trump asked Comey to drop the FBIs investigation into retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. The source of the information was a set of notes that Comey wrote shortly after his private meeting with the president in the Oval Office in February.

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I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, the memo reportedly recollected Trump saying, referring to the FBI investigation of Flynn. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

The memos existence, first reported by the New York Times and then confirmed by the Los Angeles Times and others, was the second major allegation into the presidents actions in less than 24 hours.

By early evening, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee had asked the FBI to deliver all items relating to Trump-Comey conversations to Capitol Hill by next week. The chairman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), had earlier tweeted that he had his subpoena pen ready.

THE KERFUFFLE ON CAPITOL HILL

For the rest of Trumps fellow Republicans, many of whom in the House had just returned to Washington when the news broke, the allegations are just the latest chapter of an increasingly turbulent presidency.

As Lisa Mascaro writes, Tuesdays news may prove to be the biggest test yet when it comes to party loyalty.

Our politics team is keeping a running list of reactions from members of Congress to news of Comeys letter. Well be updating it as more lawmakers go on the record.

THE MEMO

Unlike other controversies, the existence of a memo written by a man who was then director of the nations top law enforcement organization could carry significant weight.

That memo is significant because it predates him being fired and it basically precludes anybody from making the claim that hes testifying about that situation because he was fired, former federal prosecutor Richard Drooyan said.

If youre looking for a quick overview of the news on the Comey letter, weve got a quick Q&A on what we think happened, and what we think it means. For now, at least.

AND THEN THERES THE WHOLLY APPROPRIATE RUSSIAN MEETING

Of course, by this time on Tuesday morning the talk was how the White House would have to explain the recent meeting with Russian officials and the allegations that Trump shared classified information on terror threats.

Trump took to Twitter early Tuesday and essentially confirmed the premise of Monday nights news.

Gen. H.R. McMaster, the presidents national security adviser, later spoke to reporters at the White House and said that Trumps behavior in that private meeting was wholly appropriate. Of course, on Monday night McMaster had called the premise of the Washington Posts original story false.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the whole thing sloppy.

Meanwhile, the actual content of the meeting is still a serious issue. U.S. officials are scheduled to be in Brussels today to brief European allies about the aviation threats that reportedly came up when the president briefed Russian officials.

And these latest allegations, writes David S. Cloud, are likely to make the contentious relationship between intelligence professionals and the commander in chief even worse.

By the way, heres our overview of everything known so far about the investigation into the Trump campaign and Russian connections.

What will happen next? That seems to be the question -- the only question -- at this point. Our political team will keep you up to date, with updates as they happen on our Essential Washington news feed.

WHO WILL LEAD CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS?

In California, Democrats are stoking the fire of the Trump allegations and preparing for their state party convention this weekend in Sacramento. At that convention, a pivotal battle for will determine the future of the California Democratic Party.

The top contenders for state party chair, Eric Bauman and Kimberly Ellis, share a liberal ideology but offer a sharp contrast in their views of the party and in political style. As Phil Willon and Seema Mehta report, its an echo of the debate raging among Democrats nationwide as they reckon with the schism exposed by the contentious party primaries between Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

THE GENDER PAY GAP PERSISTS

California likes to tout its efforts to promote pay equity, but when it comes to paying state government workers, the rhetoric falls short of the reality. The 20.5% disparity in pay between male and female state workers is a wider gap than in the federal civil service and the private sector.

But as Melanie Mason reports, closing that gap is trickier than just ensuring equal pay for equal work.

L.A. GOES TO THE POLLS (AGAIN)

There have been so many election days in the city of Los Angeles these past few months, its easy to lose track. But on Tuesday, voters considered an amendment to the citys charter regarding how police misconduct cases are handled and some of them cast ballots in runoff elections for school board (the most expensive school board race in the nations history) and City Council positions.

Councilman Gil Cedillo defeated challenger Joe Bray-Ali, while Karo Tarossian and Monica Rodriguez vied for an open seat and were in a tight race as returns trickled in.

TODAYS ESSENTIALS

-- One of San Diegos most politically connected businessmen is Trumps choice to be ambassador to the Bahamas: Doug Manchester.

-- Sweeping reform of Californias bail system would come with a hefty price tag, says new a analysis at the state Capitol.

-- A lawsuit seeking to block new rules on executions in California was dismissed by a state judge on Tuesday.

-- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti warned progressives not to let winning the argument with Trump eclipse progress.

-- Garcetti was in Washington pushing for transportation officials to fast-track $1.3 billion for the final stage of the citys new Metro line to Westwood ahead of a decision on the citys 2024 Olympic bid.

-- No dough, no go: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she will oppose the confirmation of every Transportation Department nominee until the Trump administration releases money for a popular commuter rail system in the Bay Area.

-- Palmdale Rep. Steve Knight joined two California Republican colleagues in saying its time for a special prosecutor to take over the FBIs investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

-- A state legislator proposed this week to make whats known as stealthing a form of a rape under California law.

-- Sen. Kamala Harris urged the U.S. Dept. of Justice not to restart the war on drugs.

-- The state Senate approved a bill on Monday to repeal mandatory sentence enhancements for some drug convictions.

-- Silicon Valley venture capitalist Sam Altman said hes considering running for governor, a move that would jolt the 2018 gubernatorial race.

-- The Times Editorial Board has endorsed Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez in the runoff for Congress in L.A. over challenger Robert Lee Ahn.

-- Speaking of Ahn, he called himself a lifelong Democrat in a previous candidate statement, but no longer. The main reason: Its not true.

-- Former President Barack Obama is making $400,000 for a single speech. But as Mark Z. Barabak reports, thats not so unusual when it comes to former presidents.

-- The Obama Freeway on the way from Pasadena to Glendale? Yes, said the state Senate on Monday.

LOGISTICS

Essential Politics is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

You can keep up with breaking news on our politics page throughout the day. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics?

Miss Mondays newsletter? Here you go.

Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com.

Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox.

john.myers@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter at @johnmyers and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast
The commercial plays as a blend of perky exuberance and conservative fever dream.

The characters are a fantasia of Left Coast lunacy: the earnest millennial, the retro-hippie, the girl in chunky glasses, the dude in dreadlocks. Together they happily praise higher taxes, a weak military and the virtues of one Jon Ossoff.

It may be confusing, especially for its audience in the Atlanta suburbs. With the sound off and flashes of Fishermans Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge and a cable car, it could be a tourist promotion for one of Americas most enchanting cities.

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But thats not at all the point.

The purpose of the TV spot is to tie Ossoff, the Democratic candidate in a tight Georgia congressional race, to the supposed depravity and twisted liberalism of San Francisco and its elected representative, Nancy Pelosi. The strategy is older than some of the actors involved.

For more than a generation, Republicans have used this overwhelmingly Democratic city as political code for woolly thinking and moral turpitude. In 1984, a few weeks after Democrats gathered here to nominate their candidate for president, U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick appeared at the Republican convention in Dallas and assailed San Francisco Democrats and their blame-America first foreign policy.

From there, in the spirit of fear and loathing, the shorthand broadened to a more generalized attack on big cities, urban dwellers, gay rights, permissiveness and an alleged attack on what were then known as traditional family values.

The assault gained heightened currency and a public face in 2003 when Pelosi was elected as the Democrats House leader and, four years later, the first woman speaker in history, making her a fixture in Republican attack ads nationwide.

So, like a person standing before a funhouse mirror, San Franciscans easily recognized the image presented to voters in Georgias 6th Congressional District. (The advertisement was paid for and produced by a political action committee supporting Karen Handel, the Republican facing Ossoff in Georgias June 20 runoff.)

Its clear what theyre trying to do, said Maz Ameli, a 35-year-old software engineer, after watching the ad on YouTube. Its the whole fruits and nuts thing.

Maz Ameli said a political ad parodying San Francisco makes him feel that outsiders dont understand his city. (Mark Z. Barabak / Los Angeles Times)

Theyre playing to a stereotype, agreed Barbara Deuel, 58, who designs and sells inspirational jewelry for a living. The idea that anything goes, were all heathens and drug addicts.

Those were among the printable responses gathered in two dozen sidewalk interviews around the Haight-Ashbury and Castro District, two of San Franciscos iconic neighborhoods.

Its not as though residents didnt have plenty of complaints about this lovely, complicated place: about taxes, bureaucracy, through-the-roof housing costs and, especially, the flood of rich, entitled young techies turning the city into a playground for the privileged.

Even some who consider themselves proudly progressive say San Franciscos prevailing left-wing philosophy can go to extremes. This is, after all, a place where Pelosi has been picketed as a right-wing warmonger (for refusing to cut funding for troops fighting in Iraq) and recently drew a Democratic challenger assailing her as insufficiently liberal.

But its something else to hear that criticism from outsiders.

Richard Lee, 53, is a native who has spent decades working for the citys public transit system. Since 2001 hes been a streetcar operator on Munis F line   F is for fun  which runs between the Castro, San Franciscos gay mecca, and Fishermans Wharf.

Theyre playing to a stereotype. The idea that anything goes, were all heathens and drug addicts.  San Franciscan Barbara Deuel

During a cigarette break, he griped about the citys chronic homeless problem and its hyperactive protest scene. On a recent weekday, he said, the main thoroughfare, Market Street, was shut down by separate demonstrations over President Trump, the Dakota Access oil pipeline and Chinas policy toward Tibet.

Things have gotten way too far to the left, he said.

Still, he didnt appreciate the parody presented in the anti-Ossoff ad.

I dont like people mocking us, Lee said, a swagger in his voice as he leaned against his red-and-orange vintage rail car. It can be annoying, but this is still a great town.

(For the record, though the spot ends with an exuberant dreadlocked fellow exclaiming, San Francisco loves them some Jon Ossoff! only three of the 24 people interviewed could identify the Democrat without prompting.)

For many who live here, the caricature fails to capture not just the beauty and vibrancy of their city but also the forward thinking and tolerance which, since Gold Rush days, has made San Francisco a magnet for the venturesome, the entrepreneurial and free-spirited. That, they say, is a large part of the attraction.

For me, San Francisco has always been a test bed for being open with yourself and culture and society and being accepting of that openness, said Lee Farless, 44, a biologist, as he paused in the Haight, the old hippie haunt on the fringe of Golden Gate Park. And from there, people can go down different paths, conventional or otherwise.

Lee Farless says part of San Franciscos appeal is its openness and acceptance (Mark Z. Barabak / Los Angeles Times)

Sometimes truth is stranger than the portrayal on screen.

In the 2006 midterm election, when Republicans were desperately fighting to hang on to control of the House, they warned of the perils of Pelosi and a Democratic majority.

Do we really want Nancy Pelosis San Francisco values leading the culture war? Dennis Hastert, then the GOP House speaker, sneered in a column for the National Review Online.

Hastert is now federal prison inmate No. 47991-424, serving a 15-month sentence involving hush money he paid to cover up his sexual abuse of teenage boys.

Talk about twisted.

mark.barabak@latimes.com

@markzbarabak on Twitter

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Offended, harassed, violated. Those are some of the words voters used to describe their reactions to a letter they received this week from a group calling itself the California Voter Awareness Project.

Several people who spoke to The Times said the letter arrived just hours before polls opened in Tuesdays citywide election in Los Angeles, and included each recipients voting history in the last three elections, along with names and addresses of neighbors and acquaintances and whether or not theyd voted. An updated chart would be mailed out after Tuesdays election, the letter warned, and other people you know will all know who voted and who did not vote.

Exactly who sent the mailer and why is unclear: No return address or contact information was on the envelopes. Simple Google searches and a look at state and county business records turn up nothing on the California Voter Awareness Project, the name of the group that appears on the letters.

Heres what we know:

Those who received letters say theyre not happy about it

All of the letter recipients who spoke to The Times said they felt their privacy had been violated.

The opening line of the letter poses a question in all caps: WHAT IF YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND YOUR COMMUNITY KNEW WHETHER OR NOT YOU VOTED?

Terri Maynez, a 53-year-old L.A. Unified School District cafeteria worker who lives in Sylmar, said she thought the tone of the letter was threatening.

So what does that mean? I wont be on the bad list if I vote? Maynez said. Thats an invasion of peoples privacy. Who wants to be harassed about whether or not they voted by your neighbors?

Elizabeth Hines, 58, a court reporter who lives in Burbank, said she was so offended that she decided not to vote Tuesday.

I dont give a rats ass who votes, she said, adding that she wants to know whos responsible for sending the letter. Tell me who they are. I have that right. They know who I am, they know where I live.

George Van Duzer, 53, of Westchester, called the letter vulgar and invasive. Van Duzer, whose voting record was listed on a letter his wife received, said he grew angrier when he realized there was no public information about the group named on the letter.

They are obscuring who they are. This is a shadow organization.

People who received the letters live in two school board districts with competitive, multimillion-dollar campaigns

The Times spoke to nearly a dozen people who received the letter and verified their addresses. All of them live in L.A. Unifieds District 4 or District 6  school board seats in both were up for election Tuesday. Charter school advocates and teachers unions are waging expensive fights trying to influence who wins those seats.

Its not clear if the people who sent the letters hoped to influence those races or the outcome of Charter Amendment C, the citywide voter initiative on police misconduct boards  or none of the above.

(Courtesy of George Van Duzer) (George Van Duzer)

In some cases, the people named in the letters are neighbors. In others, theyre friends and family

Laura Yazdi, a 28-year-old fashion blogger who lives in Encino, said her mother, who lives in Pacific Palisades, was named in her letter, but the rest of the names listed were strangers to her who have Hollywood addresses. A near-identical letter sent to her mother listed neighbors instead.

Another voter who declined to be named said she received a letter at her Westchester home that listed her voting history and the records of about a dozen neighbors, while a separate letter sent to her husband included the names of one of his clients, a high school friend and others he knew in various ZIP Codes.

Theres no readily available information about the group that sent the letters  and its causing some confusion

Theres no entity called the California Voter Awareness Project registered with the California secretary of state or in Los Angeles County, and a search of court records for the name turned up empty. Spokespersons for the candidates in Districts 4 and 6 say they had nothing to do with the mailer. So did representatives for teachers union United Teachers Los Angeles and the California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, which are running expensive independent expenditure campaigns against each other in both races.

All of the envelopes were sent using stamps, and a few of them bore a Santa Ana postmark.

When voters become aware that theyre being profiled, especially by people they dont know, it can definitely creep people out.  Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation

Some voters have mistakenly blamed two other organizations for the letter: the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, which said it received a handful of angry calls, and the San Diego-based political committee California Voter Project, which said dozens of people contacted them to complain.

The California Voter Foundation says it has encouraged people to file a complaint with the California secretary of state. The agency also has a voter complaint hotline: (800) 345-8683.

Voter shaming isnt new  and its been shown to be effective

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas caught flak in last years presidential primary for using a similar play, assigning recipients letter grades for their voting history. Other similar mailers have been sent by conservative groups to voters in Washington and New Mexico.

Nationally, its a common tactic, says Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc., which sells voter data to political campaigns. Research has shown that this kind of social pressure can positively affect voter turnout, Mitchell said, in the same way I Voted stickers can serve as positive reinforcement. But one thing is key, Mitchell said: The vote shaming cant be perceived as coming from a specific campaign or candidate for risk of possible blowback.

Election officials say theyre looking into it  but theyre not sure what they can do about it

The L.A. County registrars office says its received about 20 calls about the letter and its attorneys are looking into whether any laws were violated.

Secretary of State Alex Padilla says his office has received complaints, too. While state law allows for the use of election data for election purposes, Padilla said in a statement, we believe that better strategies exist, besides public shaming.

Those who employ such tactics should be aware that state law expressly prohibits the use of election data to harass voters or voter households, Padilla added.

L.A. city ethics rules require that campaign mailers sent by candidates and independent expenditures clearly disclose who is sending them. But the letter, which does not advocate voting for any particular candidate or measure, might not be interpreted as a campaign communication.

Times staff writers Javier Panzar, Howard Blume and Anna Phillips contributed to this report.

christine.maiduc@latimes.com

Twitter: @cmaiduc

Charter advocates bid for first L.A. school board majority

The L.A. school board race: Brutal, expensive and important

Robert Lee Ahn's 'misleading' mail tactics helped him get into L.A.'s congressional runoff. Will he use them again?

UPDATES:

May 17, 6:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information about where voters can file complaints about the letter.

This article was originally published at 10:22 p.m. May 16.
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
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Irans conservative candidate Ebrahim Raisi victory at the presidential election on May 19 would put Iran on an unpredictable path, Shahram Akbarzadeh, Professor of Middle East and Central Asia Politics in Deakin University, Australia and author of publications on Iran told Trend.

The conservative camp was excited when Donald Trump won the American presidency and threatened to tear up the nuclear deal. That would have been a welcome outcome for them, Akbarzadeh said.

On May 15 Irans conservative candidate Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has stepped down and said that he would support other like-minded candidate Ebrahim Raisi in the presidential race. According to poll survey, the rating of Ebrahim Raisi for the first time exceeded the rating of incumbent president Hassan Rouhani after this change, Iranian Fars News agency reported.

Akbarzadeh believes that incumbent president Rouhani is still the most popular candidate. However he noted that at least a quarter of the voters are still undecided.

This should be worrying for Rouhani, because in his last electoral victory he only managed to win by 51 percent of the vote. There is every chance he will not make the absolute majority in the first round of voting on Friday, he said.

The expert noted that this is largely due to the slow pace of economic recovery and Iran continues to be subject to US sanctions which have kept international financial sector out of Iran.

The gains Rouhani won through the nuclear deal with P5+1 and the UN removal of sanctions, are blunted by new US sanctions in relation to Irans ballistic tests and support for Hezbollah, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, he said.

According to Akbarzadeh, to win, Rouhani needs to convince the undecided voters that his agenda of reintegrating Iran in the global economy will pay off and produce tangible results. He added that the incumbent president also needs to keep the reformist bloc on side as they have become disillusioned with the absence of progress on social and political reforms.

However, given the alternative, the reformist camp has no alternatives, he said.

The expert noted that Rouhanis re-election would give him an opportunity to continue on his diplomatic out-reach to the region and also the West.

This is a complicated agenda as Rouhani cannot deviate from the script of the Islamic revolution too far. The Supreme Leader remains the Head of State and can veto Rouhanis initiatives at any time. But the fact that this has not happened suggests that Rouhanis foreign agenda has the tacit approval of the Supreme Leader. This would prove instrumental in a second term, he said.

Akbarzadeh believes that the alternative, however, could be very damaging for Irans standing in the region and beyond.

Raisi has been on public record, repeating the stereo-typical slogans of the 1979 revolution  attacking Saudi Arabia and United States. His victory would push Iran back on the course of antagonism with the international community and isolation, he said.

On the contrary, Rouhani has made a commitment to the nuclear deal, the expert noted, adding that there is every indication that he will seek to leverage the deal to bring Iran out of isolation.

His re-election would allow him to make progress on what he has achieved in his first term, Akbarzadeh said.
A memo in which former FBI Director James B. Comey says President Trump asked him to shut down a criminal investigation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn is likely to emerge as a key piece of evidence in the case, legal experts say.

During a Feb. 14 meeting in the Oval Office, the president urged Comey to let this go, according to a memo Comey wrote afterward. An associate of Comey who had read the memo described its contents to the Los Angeles Times. News of the memo was first reported by the New York Times.

Flynn had been fired one day before the purported conversation between Trump and Comey for misleading White House officials about the nature and extent of his contacts with Russias ambassador to the United States. Last week, Trump fired Comey.

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Former national security advisor Michael Flynn. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press )

Why the memo is important

If Comey were called to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee, which has launched one of several investigations into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, the existence of the memo could lend credence to any testimony he gave, said Richard Drooyan, a former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles.

That memo is significant because it predates him being fired and it basically precludes anybody from making the claim that hes testifying about that situation because he was fired, Drooyan said.

The White House denied that Trump asked Comey to end the Flynn investigation.

President Trump. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

Why Comey would write the memo

Drooyan said it was not unusual for FBI officials to document meetings with people connected to high-profile investigations.

Its not surprising to me at all that Comey would have memorialized a conversation like that if he felt that the president was potentially trying to influence him in the conducting of that investigation, Drooyan said.

The Senate Intelligence Committee could subpoena the memo, according to Drooyan, who said the document might be exempt from rules governing hearsay if it was found to be a public record that detailed FBI activities.

Its arguably a memo that sets out the offices activities, namely what Comey was doing having a conversation with the president, Drooyan said.

Members of the House Intelligence and Oversight committees suggested on Tuesday they would seek to subpoena the memo.

How could Trump try to blunt the memo

Trump could claim executive privilege to block a subpoena of the memo, but he would be unlikely to succeed, Drooyan said.

The only issue is sometimes presidents do claim executive privilege of communications with their subordinates, Drooyan said. In U.S. vs. Nixon, a court clearly ordered the president to turn over tape recordings that he had with his closer aides. I dont see any reason why this would not be subpoenaed by the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The veracity of Comeys recollection of the meeting could be called into question, according to Eugene ODonnell, a former New York prosecutor who is now a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Then you get into an issue like how precise his documentation was. Did he exactly write word for word what the president said? ODonnell asked.

Do Trumps alleged actions amount to a crime?

Determining whether or not Trumps comments constitute an effort to obstruct or impede an FBI investigation is complicated. The federal criminal statute for obstruction of justice requires prosecutors to prove someone acted with a corrupt intent to influence, intimidate or impede an investigation, according to Drooyan.

That conduct must happen in conjunction with some type of criminal proceeding, such as a grand jury investigation or the issuing of subpoenas. A federal grand jury in Virginia issued subpoenas for records related to Flynn in recent weeks, but the conversation between Trump and Comey took place before those subpoenas were issued.

Thats a tricky statute, ODonnell said. Was it intentional? Was it his conscious objective to thwart the investigation? Could you prove that beyond a reasonable doubt?

james.queally@latimes.com

For more breaking crime and cops news in Southern California, follow me on Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT

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Not the tweets, the Russian issue or Comeys firing: So what will it take for Republicans to break with Trump?

Trumps war with U.S. intelligence agencies just got a lot worse

Q&A: Heres what you need to know about Comeys memo on Trump conversation
The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority is still a long way from proceeding with any type of construction of its replacement terminal.

On Monday, John Hatanaka, the authoritys senior deputy executive director, gave airport commissioners the rundown on the status of the project, which is to build a new 14-gate terminal in the northwest region of the Hollywood Burbank Airport, known as the B-6 site.

Authority members have been trying to move quickly to start the construction process. In February, commissioners signed off on soil and soil-vapor tests that needed to be conducted at the B-6 property, which was once the home of Lockheed Corp.s Skunk Works operation.

Testing was completed in April, and the report is expected to be finished by mid-June, Hatanaka said.

While authority members wait for the report to be completed, Hatanaka said they can move forward with other tasks that need to be done, such as a revision of the airport layout plan, which is a document that identifies all of the buildings, aircraft approaches and takeoffs and other activities at the airfield.

He said that because Hollywood Burbank does not have an airport master plan, the Federal Aviation Administration is allowing the authority to thoroughly update its layout plan so a consultant approved by the airport and the FAA can move forward with preparing an environmental-impact statement study on the terminal project.

The authority will be working with the FAAs Los Angeles Airport District Office to ensure that the layout plan meets all of the current federal standards, Hatanaka said.

One phase of updating the layout plan involves completing an FAA airport geographic information survey, which will include a new base map of the airfield, the facility elevations of the new project and the ground contours. Airport staff members expect to submit the information to the federal agency by May 21, Hatanaka said.

The second phase of the survey will include the arrivals and departures to and from Hollywood Burbank. It is expected to take about five months to complete.

Hatanaka said he is expecting the airport layout plan to be completed and submitted to the FAA by the end of June.

While all of that is being worked on, Hatanaka said authority members are looking to send out requests for information on various tasks. One request would be to have someone validate the development agreement and estimate the costs for the entire project.

Another request would be for a contractor to coordinate charrettes, or community meetings, with Burbank residents and those in the surrounding communities. The authority is also seeking a consultant to conduct the environmental impact statement study.

anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpio
The memory of fallen Burbank police officer Matthew Pavelka will always stay with Sgt. Henry Garay.

Garay was just starting with the Burbank Police Department when Pavelka was shot and killed in November 2003. Pavelka had been on the force for 10 months when he and his partner, officer Gregory Campbell, made a routine traffic stop that turned deadly when the occupants of the car began firing on the officers.

Campbell was wounded in the gunfire exchange, while the 26-year-old Pavelka died.

His death really impacted me. It made me realize what the job can ultimately mean, Garay said. You dont see that as a young officer I got to see that firsthand, unfortunately.

One way Garay keeps Pavelkas memory alive is by taking part in the annual Police Unity Tour. Held since 1997, the event is a nearly 300-mile bike ride from New Jersey to Washington, D.C., undertaken by police officers across the country in honor of those who have died in the line of duty.

Part fundraiser, the ride also collects money for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum in Washington D.C. This year, more than $2 million was raised.

Garay is one of three officers from the Burbank Police Department who took part in the ride this year. A retired officer also joined them on the three-day trek.

If you were to talk to everybody, Im probably the last person that would ever be on a bike ride, Garay said.

This is his fifth year participating.

Next year will be the 15th anniversary of Pavelkas death, and Garay said he hopes to get more officers to participate in the 2018 event.

Also participating in the unity tour were 12 officers from the Glendale Police Department, who rode an extended tour as they started at the World Trade Center in New York on their way to Washington D.C.

This years trek carried a special significance for the Glendale officers because it was the 20th anniversary of officer Charles Lazzarettos death.

In 1997, the 30-year-old Glendale officer was chasing down a man suspected of trying to kill his girlfriend. Lazzaretto followed the man into a Chatsworth warehouse, where a shootout ensued and Lazzaretto never came out alive.

Since his death, several members of his family have participated in the ride. This year, his brother, Dominic, and his son, Andrew, rode the 300 miles.

Like his father, Andrew Lazzaretto is an officer with the Glendale Police Department  and he also wears the same badge number as his father.

Officer Sue Shine has been participating in the unity tour since 2005 and has ridden with many members of Lazzaretto family  including his father and another son.

[I feel] a sense of complete satisfaction for the family, that each of the members have gone on this pilgrimage, she said. That our department has fully supported this family as much as we can  It made me feel very proud to be a member of the Glendale Police Department.

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_Truc
Chriss Street, a former Orange County treasurer-tax collector, has been awarded nearly $10 million in a malpractice lawsuit against his former attorney Phil Greer, a candidate for Newport Beach City Council last year.

An Orange County Superior Court jury Thursday awarded Street $7.5 million for professional negligence and $2.4 million for fraudulent representation.

Greer did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. His attorney, Steve Young, did not respond to a call from the Daily Pilot on Tuesday but told the Orange County Register on Monday that his client plans to appeal.

Street alleged in the lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in 2011, that Greer botched his case while he was representing him in a civil matter.

In that case, Street was ordered to pay more than $7 million in damages for mismanaging a bankruptcy trust he operated for eight years before he was elected county treasurer in 2006.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Richard Neiter ruled in 2010 that Street had kept improper records and used the trust to pay himself an additional $240,000 salary and cover personal expenses, including charges on a company credit card and a trip to South America, the Los Angeles Times reported at the time.

Street ended his campaign for reelection as treasurer and unsuccessfully appealed the judgment twice.

I appealed, but theres no appeal in a civil case for lawyer insufficiency, Street said Tuesday. Its just tough luck.

So Street decided to sue Greer, claiming that he mismanaged his case.

Street alleged that Greer missed a series of hearings, including a pretrial conference that resulted in the judge accepting facts submitted by the plaintiff. He also alleged that Greer failed to correctly enter evidence into the record.

By the time the trial rolled around, Street said, he didnt have evidence he was allowed to present because it hadnt been properly introduced.

However, Young told the Register that Mr. Street never demonstrated that he [Street] didnt do the things that he was found liable for  which to me is the first step before you ever point your finger at someone else.

On the other hand, Streets attorney, Russel Myrick, said Tuesday that the jurys decision last week exonerated his client from all previous allegations.

It was a fantastic day in Orange County Superior Court, Myrick said. The jury was required to determine whether Mr. Street breached his fiduciary duties. They weighed all the evidence and found that he did not.

Myrick said he plans to file paperwork intended to overturn the $7 million judgment against Street.

Greer, a 19-year Newport Beach resident, ran unsuccessfully in November for a seat on the City Council representing District 7, which includes Newport Coast and Newport Ridge.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
Tensions between two UC Irvine student groups continue after a protest led by a Palestinian support group interrupted an on-campus event presented by an Israeli support group. The incident is under review by university administrators.

Students Supporting Israel sponsored a May 10 panel featuring Israeli military veterans. During a Q&A period, about 40 members of Students for Justice in Palestine arrived at the Student Center and began asking questions. The discussion became heated, with shouting and chanting for several minutes, according to a statement from the university on Tuesday.

Assistant Vice Chancellor Edgar Dormitorio, who helped moderate the discussion, contacted the UCI Police Department, but the protesters left before police arrived. Officers escorted the panelists to the parking lot after the event, according to the statement. No arrests were made.

UCI campus leadership immediately met to discuss the situation, the statement said. The Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct is reviewing the incident and will make a recommendation on the appropriate course of action, if any. There is no outcome at this time and the review process is ongoing.

UCI actively supports diverse views and civil discourse, the statement added. We stress thoughtful, respectful dialogue with the idea that unfettered speech is more powerful when accompanied by respect for others.

UCI spokesman Tom Vasich said he could provide no further details until after the review is completed.

Videos of the incident have surfaced online. Protesters can be heard chanting, Israel, Israel, you cant hide. We charge you with genocide and Hey hey, ho ho, these colonizers have got to go.

Groups on both sides expressed frustration with how the university handled the incident.

It was the second time in a year that Students for Justice in Palestine interrupted an event presented by Students Supporting Israel.

In May 2016, the group disrupted a screening of a film about Israeli soldiers. UCI administrators later said the Palestine group violated student conduct policies, though the university said several other allegations of wrongdoing were unfounded.

The group was given a warning that its behavior was under increased scrutiny and that another violation could lead to harsher consequences.

Now, Students Supporting Israel is calling on the university to suspend the Palestinian support group for an academic year and took to Facebook to encourage students to email UCI Vice Chancellor Thomas Parham.

We want the university to take action against them and the students involved, Kevin Brum, president of Students Supporting Israel, said Tuesday. They received a warning last year and they (interrupted) our event again. Theres a clear and present pattern to clearly disrupt.

Brum said that before the Palestinian supporters were let in, he told them they could enter as long as they remained respectful of the Q&A format and promised not to be disruptive.

Brum said group members nodded in agreement.

Students for Justice in Palestine issued a statement saying it protested and disrupted the event to show that the Israeli veterans were unwelcome on campus because they enforce Zionist settler colonialism and military occupation of Palestinian land by the Israeli nation-state.

The groups questions were aimed at the panelists, the statement said, not toward UCI students or Students Supporting Israel.

The groups statement alleged that a camerawoman, a non-UCI student, tried to assault one of its members and that Dormitorio was protecting (the panelists) and not the students because he didnt ask the camerawoman to leave.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscella
Maybe they would have liked to enjoy more of our sunny beaches and a cold beer; perhaps they wouldve preferred to play catch with the son or daughter they never knew. But they didnt get the chance. More than a million men and women died, whether it was in the Marine barracks in Beirut, at Fallujah, or Hill-861, Khe Sanh, or Con Thien in Vietnam. They froze at the Chosen Reservoir and were shot at the Pusan Perimeter. They drowned in the surf at Omaha Beach or fell in the fetid jungles of Guadalcanal and Hacksaw Ridge. They died in the ice and snow of the Bulge. They were at the Somme, at San Juan Hill, Gettysburg, or Valley Forge.

They couldnt be here this coming Memorial Day weekend, but theyll understand if we dont spend the day in tears. Grief is not why they died. They died so we could go fishing. They died so another father could hold his laughing little girl over the waves. They died so a family could go for some ice cream. The battle is the toss of the dice. Who decides who lives or dies?



For the record: A previous version of this column misspelled the name of the commander of the color guard. His name is David Miketta, not David McKenna.

This Memorial Day, which will be marked on Monday, May 29, we should all take a moment to save them a place inside our hearts and give them one backward glance when we leave for places they can no longer go.

In preparation for this years La Canada Memorial Day Commemoration, Ive established a command post at Starbucks and have been diligently summoning the volunteers, the children of La Canada who will reverently conduct the service. Im writing the script, researching, rehearsing the children, and sending and receiving a myriad of emails attempting to form my volunteer troop. The ceremony is driven entirely by children. My staff, Jack Joy, Elizabeth, Brent and Arland Whitfield; Jack MacKenzie, Ashley Lawrence, Jessica Stephen and my daughter Simone Puglia, will assist the children in the conduct of their duties.

Typically, I have a macro-perspective. However, as I sit at the bar at Starbucks enjoying a latte designed and built by Scarlet, I realize, the devil is in the details. Scarlets brew  made with love and a pinch of honey  is my saving grace.

The commemoration follows the guise of the Landing Party Manual, a style book on drill and ceremony. Its evolution dates back to Valley Forge where General von Steuben molded Washingtons Continental Army on the great parade field, teaching them the basics of drill and formation.

Our service is a child-driven event. Watching the color guard comprised of uniformed scouts moving ceremoniously en masse toward the flagpole is a visual metaphor. This year when the ceremonial adjutant, John Moore, orders the commander of the color guard, David Miketta forward, he attests that the children are the future and they shall inherit the earth.

Building relevant memories for children is the link between the past, present and future. If they understand the significance of what holds our democracy, as well as the components of virtue that solidify the human soul, theyll ensure our collective survival.

Carrying the flag, citing the names of the La Canada fallen, leading the Pledge of Allegiance and reading assorted prose are concrete experiences that bridge the gap between the abstract and an understanding of why this is significant.

The veterans who will be honored during the service will remember the deal they made with a buddy: If I dont make it back, drink a beer for me. Ill do it for you. On Memorial Day, drink that beer for those who didnt make it home, go to the beach for them or have that barbecue. Theyll be there with us. Lets celebrate the life they gave us.

You never lived to see, what you gave to me. One shining dream of hope and love Life and liberty. With a host of brave unknown soldiers for your company, you will live forever here in our memory. (Requiem for a Soldier, theme of Band of Brothers.)

JOE PUGLIA is a practicing counselor, a retired professor of education and a former officer in the Marines. Reach him at doctorjoe@ymail.com. Visit his website at doctorjoe.us.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Oil producers will easily agree on further reduction of oil production at the upcoming OPEC meeting in late May, Oleg Anashkin, associate professor at the Russian National Research University Higher School of Economics, told Trend May 17.

Anashkin, who is also PhD in Economics and National Economy Management,said that oil production will decline soon following a decrease in the number of investment programs, especially in Russia.

He added that the oil price will increase up to $60 per barrel or even slightly more despite the agreement or disagreement among the oil producers.

"These are rather political and strategic methods to show that OPEC can influence pricing, he added. But today the oil price depends little on these actions or does not depend at all.

Anashkin added that today the oil price is more determined by futures trading, which is able to swing the price parameters in a rather wide range and in a very short period.

"Nevertheless, the trend of rising oil prices will be kept and by the end of the year the oil prices will probably exceed $60," Anashkin said.

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. OPEC agreed to slash the output by 1.2 million barrels per day from Jan. 1, with top exporter Saudi Arabia cutting as much as 486,000 barrels per day. Non-OPEC oil producers such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, Sudan, and South Sudan agreed to reduce the output by 558,000 barrels per day starting from Jan. 1, 2017 for six months, extendable for another six months.

The next OPEC meeting will be held on May 25. Non-OPEC producers will also attend the meeting. The extension of the agreement on reduction of oil production will be discussed at the meeting.

---

Follow the author on Twitter:@E_Kosolapova
Laguna Beach police on Saturday arrested a Lake Elsinore man on suspicion of violating probation related to a case in which he is accused of stealing another persons property in Irvine, according to the Orange County district attorneys office and court records.

Police took Anthony Brian Palusso, 32, into custody after county probation officials issued a warrant for his arrest, Sgt. Jim Cota wrote in an email.

Palusso pleaded not guilty to one misdemeanor count of petty theft for an incident that occurred March 24, 2016, the Orange County Superior Court website said. Further details were not immediately available.

A Laguna officer stopped Palusso at 6:30 p.m. May 13 at the intersection of Monterey Drive and Myrtle Street.

Police are sorting through packages found in the car, Cota said, adding that authorities are investigating cases of mail and package theft.

Palusso pleaded no contest in September 2016 to four misdemeanor counts of petty theft and pleaded guilty in June 2016 to one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property, according to court records.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for May 22.

bryce.alderton@latimes.com

Twitter: @AldertonBryce
Savor the cuisine and culture of Singapore and Malaysia on a week-long tour led by Muffie Fulton of Bold Food.

The excursion begins in Singapore, where participants will have an opportunity to sample its specialty, chili crab, take a six-hour tour of the Joo Chiat/Katong neighborhood, sampling food along the way, and dine at Restaurant Andre, one of Asias top eateries.

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After a brief flight to Penang, Malaysia, theres time to explore the Penang Harmony Food Trail and experience Indian, Muslim and Chinese street food, tour a local farm and collect ingredients for a Malaysian cooking class and lunch, and go to the Whispering Fish Market and auction.

Group size limited to 12.

Dates: Oct. 8-15

Price: From $3,499, double occupancy; $500 single supplement. Includes hotels, most meals, guides, entrance fees, gratuities and airfare from Singapore to Penang. International airfare not included.

Info: Bold Food, (888) 884-5702

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travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel
The two-day Bel Air/Brentwood brush fire destroyed nearly 500 homes, but no lives were lost. The fire damaged or destroyed several homes belonging to Hollywood celebrities.

In 2006, Los Angeles Times writer Cecilia Rasmussen wrote:

Among the most notorious California wildfires, the Bel-Air/Brentwood fire began in a trash heap.....a blaze that left hundreds of the rich and famous homeless in what LIFE magazine called A Tragedy Trimmed in Mink and prompted brush clearance laws and an eventual city ban on wood shingle roofs.

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On a warm November morning in 1961, a Sherman Oaks construction crew, working just north of Bel-Air, noticed smoke and flames coming from a nearby pile of rubbish. Within minutes, Santa Ana winds swept burning embers from roof to roof, spreading fire across the affluent enclaves of the Santa Monica Mountains. ...

Actor Burt Lancaster, comedian Joe E. Brown, composer Lukas Foss, Nobel laureate chemist Willard Libby and Zsa Zsa Gabor lost homes.

The above photo by George Fry appeared on the front page of the Nov. 7, 1961, Los Angeles Times. This image and several others were recently scanned from the original negatives. An older version of this post was published Nov. 7, 2010.

November 7, 1961: Burned out homes along Linda Flora Drive in Bel-Air. (Steve Fontanini / Los Angeles Times)

See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here
To understand the hunt for the villains behind the WannaCry ransomware attack, imagine the cybersleuthing in this whodunit unfolding like a Hollywood flick.

In one story arc, you have cops and detectives from an alphabet soup of U.S. and international investigative agencies, learning to work together while fighting over jurisdiction and pushing the boundaries of what the law allows to catch a crook.

In the other plotline, you have a hodgepodge of private researchers, hackers and cybersecurity companies  a melange of meddling youths, amateur Sherlock Holmes and technology-savvy private investigators who are less bound by the constraints of rules and regulations.

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Faced with an explosion of hacks and viruses from increasingly sophisticated pirates and nation-states, it often takes a combination of these detectives  sometimes working in harmony, sometimes at odds  sifting through the intricacies of a cyberattack to unmask those responsible and, occasionally, bring them to justice.

Its something we started to see more and often in the past few years, said Matt Suiche, founder of the Dubai-based Comae Technologies, who played a key role in unearthing a vital clue in the WannaCry mystery. What we see is that security needs to be a joint effort. Open source collaboration and cooperation are very important to help us work together on these issues.

The WannaCry hack is far from resolved. Still, actions by Suiche and others slowed the virus march and show how cybersleuths can team up to combat an elaborate blackmail scheme that slowed factories, froze computers and forced hospitals to cancel surgeries. Victims discovered their hard drives had been encrypted and were told to pay $300 in the electronic currency bitcoin as ransom for their data.

First reports of WannaCry in Britain, one of the harder-hit countries, surfaced Friday about 9 a.m. The virus moved quickly, but so too did the efforts to contain it.

Later Friday, the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team issued a nationwide alert in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security, the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center and the FBI.

By Saturday, the virus had hit 126,000 computers in 104 countries. A day later, there were 200,000 victims in 150 countries. By Monday, the infections exceeded 300,000.

The European Union Agency for Network and Information Security announced that, due to the gravity of the attack, it had set up, for the first time, a continent-wide task force to coordinate a response.

Europol, the continental police force, called the attack unprecedented and began working closely with cybercrime units in countries worldwide. I think what is important to mention is that everyone  public and private sector  joined forces and are doing their best to get to the bottom of this, said Europol spokesman Alex Niculae.

The trick, according to security experts, is to preserve as much evidence as possible while trying to cripple the virus.

Phil Lieberman, president of the security firm Lieberman Software, said that includes protecting and examining infected servers, trying to trace any paths a virus may have taken to enter a system and tracking any ransom payments.

The problem from here becomes working across borders. Even with allies, it very quickly becomes complex in terms of what agencies can share when dealing with information about corporations or individuals. And when it comes to nations such as Russia and China, cooperation can be nonexistent.

Agencies like the FBI and [Department of Justice] have jurisdiction for crimes against citizens and companies in the U.S., but they dont have the ability to project power outside the U.S., so if the criminals are outside the U.S., then law enforcement has little power or options, Lieberman said.

When it comes to borders, amateur cybersleuths and private companies have more freedom and often are able to work much faster.

The first hero of this story did not come from the ranks of the cops, but rather was an unsung security expert toiling away alone in the bedroom of his parents house in a quiet English seaside town.

About 5 hours after WannaCry began spreading through Britain, 22-year-old Marcus Hutchins realized the virus was sending messages to an Internet domain that had not been registered. Hutchins, who works for the Los Angeles-based firm Kryptos Logic, registered the domain to fool the virus and then walked away.

My job is to look for ways we can track and potentially stop botnets (and other kinds of malware), so Im always on the lookout to pick up unregistered malware control server domains, he wrote in a blog post recounting his work. In fact I registered several thousand of such domains in the past year.

He thought that he had perhaps disrupted some small portion of the attack involving versions of the virus linked to that domain. Hed actually done much more. What he realized only later was that because WannaCrys creators werent very clever, all the infected computers were trying to reach the same domain  and that action halted the virus.

Humorously at this point we had unknowingly killed the malware, he wrote.

It takes time for a new domain registration to be recognized across the Internet, so several hours would pass before his domain registration triggered the kill switch for all newly infected machines.

But even as Hutchins found himself becoming an unwitting international media celebrity, a new variation of the virus had been launched. From his office in Dubai, Suiche spotted it and likewise registered a domain that blunted its effects.

Its worked pretty well, Suiche said. Its stopped more than 50,000 infections.

But as Suiche was focused on that work, he also spotted a cryptic tweet from Neel Mehta, a well-known Google security researcher.

Mehta gained a measure of fame for discovering Heartbleed, a vulnerability in a computer program that provided encryption for about two-thirds of all servers on the public Internet. On Monday at 10:02 a.m. Pacific, Mehta tweeted to his 5,893 followers:

9c7c7149387a1c79679a87dd1ba755bc @ 0x402560, 0x40F598

ac21c8ad899727137c4b94458d7aa8d8 @ 0x10004ba0, 0x10012AA4

#WannaCryptAttribution

Attribution is the term the security industry uses to refer to finding the person responsible for something.

9c7c7149387a1c79679a87dd1ba755bc @ 0x402560, 0x40F598

ac21c8ad899727137c4b94458d7aa8d8 @ 0x10004ba0, 0x10012AA4#WannaCryptAttribution  Neel Mehta (@neelmehta) May 15, 2017

One Twitter user dismissed the code Mehta shared as fairly routine, but Suiche quickly went to work. He realized the jumble of numbers and letters were two remarkably similar lines of computer code, with one coming from Mehtas analysis of the WannaCry virus. But what was the other one?

He soon unlocked the mystery: The second line of code came from a virus used by the Lazarus Group, an organization that has been linked to the 2014 hack of Sony Pictures that was attributed to North Korea.

About an hour after Mehtas tip, Suiche referred to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in a tweet: Similitude between #WannaCry and Contopee from Lazarus Group ! thx @neelmehta - Is DPRK behind #WannaCry ?

If validated, this means the latest iteration of WannaCry would in fact be the first nation-state-powered ransomware, Suiche wrote in a blog post detailing his work. This would also mean that a foreign hostile nation would have leveraged lost offensive capabilities from Equation Group to create global chaos.

A few minutes later, researchers for the Moscow-based global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab tweeted a similar conclusion. In a statement, Kaspersky was quick to note there could be an alternative explanation, for instance, the possibility that someone planted the code to throw detectives off the trail.

This can be an attempt to cover traces conducted by orchestrators of the WannaCry campaign, said the Kaspersky statement.

Suiche declined to say whether he had teamed up with any law enforcement agencies, but Hutchins told British media that he was now working with the FBI and Britains National Cyber Security Center to help prevent the ransomware attack from causing further damage.

Travis Farral, director of security strategy at Anomali, a cybersecurity firm based in Redwood City, Calif., said that even when government and private experts team up, identifying the culprit generally remains a long shot.

Due to the inherently difficult task of attributing computer-based crimes, he said, finding an individual author or authors will likely boil down to mistakes made by the actor or actors behind the malware.

Becky Pinkard, vice president of service delivery and intelligence at the British cybersecurity firm Digital Shadows, said a slip-up might occur when crooks try to access the ransom money. They will either have to transfer it to other accounts, try to exchange or sell it for real-world currency, or use it to buy something from a vendor that accepts bitcoins.

In any of the cases, the thieves will start to leave digital footprints, or create interactions with other humans that could reveal more personal information.

To get that money out, theyre going to have to engage middlemen, Pinkard said. Essentially, they are going to have to find a way to launder this money and it will have to pass through several different hands before they are going to be able to use it.

And that could mean an end to the whodunit.

OBrien is a special correspondent.

Special correspondent Christina Boyle in London contributed to this report.

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Sekesai Hwiza, an 82-year-old Zimbabwean grandmother, spends most mornings sitting on a park bench talking to people who are emotionally broken by the stresses of life. She has met with more than 2,000 people in her community over the last three years, most of them young people who are depressed and suicidal. Each person who joins Hwiza on the bench finds a patient listener who gives nonjudgmental advice based on the best practices of psychology.

But not everyone has access to grandmothers like Hwiza.

One evening last August in Harare, a 26-year-old woman named Tanaka fed her two young children cups of cornmeal porridge laced with poison. She then read them a bedtime story before drinking a cup of the concoction herself. Hours later, her husband and neighbors rushed Tanaka, unconscious, to the emergency room. Five days later, she was dead. Neither of her children survived.

The young mother had been suffering from untreated depression for more than three months. Her family had noticed her illness, but there was no one in their community who could treat it. In fact, there are only 10 psychiatrists in Zimbabwe  a country in dire need of trained mental health workers.

Across the developing world, we are failing to address a silent crisis in global health.

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Tanakas story is not unique. Globally, suicide is the leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 29. More than 1 million people kill themselves each year, with most of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. These deaths are often triggered by negative life events, such as experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse or loss and isolation. The World Health Organization estimates that one person commits suicide somewhere in the world every 40 seconds.

Despite these figures, funding for global mental health has remained consistently poor over the last 20 years, with most low- and middle-income countries allocating less than 1% of their healthcare budgets to mental health.

The single most common cause of suicide is depression, which is also the leading disability globally. We know that treating depression can avert suicide, but global resources to treat the illness are limited, particularly in poorer countries where there is often only one psychiatrist for populations of over a million (Zimbabwe has more than 15 million people). Most people who need mental healthcare simply dont have access to it.

Over the last decade, growing evidence from several countries, including Zimbabwe, shows that there is an alternative approach to bridging the treatment gap for depression. The solution emphasizes the use of community health workers and volunteers.

And that is where grandmothers like Hwiza can help. In Zimbabwe, we developed a talk therapy program that is carried out on park benches by trained elderly community health workers. We call them grandmother health providers. While all are not actual grandmothers, they are all elderly women who are culturally referred to as grandmothers.

The program, known as the Friendship Bench, was developed under my charge as the only psychiatrist in the country working in a public health facility. This approach  engaging in individual problem-solving therapy by trained lay health workers  is backed up by research proving its effectiveness in reducing depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide. The findings were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.

Already deeply respected in their communities for their wisdom, the grandmothers undertake a monthlong training program in the use of basic principles of cognitive behavior therapy, with emphasis on problem solving, and are given access to psychiatrists and psychologists who support them via mobile phone platforms such as Skype and WhatsApp. They are then set up with a park bench in their communities and begin seeing patients referred by local clinics and other sources.

Using three locally developed techniques  kuvhura pfungwa (opening the mind), kusimudzira (uplifiting) and kusimbisa (strengthening)  the grandmothers have successfully treated depression and anxiety and reduced suicidal thoughts. For instance, only 2% of those who initially reported having suicidal thoughts were still thinking about taking their own lives six months after receiving therapy from a grandmother.

While talk therapy sessions delivered by nonprofessionals can reach more people and are cost effective, concern has been raised by professionals in the field about the ability of nonprofessionals to address complex mental health issues. These are genuine concerns. But the growing body of evidence shows the success of such approaches, even for relatively difficult cases, has grown exponentially in recent years. Cases that the grandmothers are unable to manage are referred to professionals.

Student members of the Sources of Strength suicide prevention awareness program at Logansport High School in Logansport, Ind., in May. (J. Kyle Keener / Associated Press)

The grandmothers working in Zimbabwe can address complex emotional and behavioral challenges faced by HIV patients, who are dealing with mental health problems stemming both from the emotional burden of receiving their diagnosis and from the physical effects of the disease.

While this example from Zimbabwe focuses on elderly women, similar findings have been reported from India, Pakistan, South Africa and Tanzania, where a diverse age range of health workers is deployed. The evidence is strong enough for a global call to action to scale up treatments delivered by community mental health workers.

Care for depression in most low- and middle-income countries could be made more widely accessible through the existing strategies of the World Health Organization. These include training programs for nonprofessionals that are freely available and help to guide and assess the qualities required to do this work.

Developed nations could also benefit from this simple approach, offering initial care to those affected by depression or experiencing suicidal thoughts before the more serious cases are referred to the next level.

In the United Kingdom, thousands of people attempt suicide while waiting, sometimes for months, on the National Health Service list to see a psychologist. Similarly, long waiting lists have been reported in the United States. Rolling out programs involving grandmothers could help speed treatment for those who need it most.

Sadly, young mother Tanaka did not have access to a grandmother sitting on a park bench. If grandmother Hwiza could sit on benches in all local communities, it could be the first step toward providing treatment for depression globally and reducing the number of lives lost to suicide.

Dixon Chibanda is a psychiatrist based in Harare, Zimbabwe, and an Aspen New Voices Fellow. Follow him on Twitter @DixonChibanda
A sharia court in Indonesias conservative Aceh province has sentenced two gay men to public caning for the first time.

The court on Wednesday said the men, aged 20 and 23, would each be subjected to 85 lashes for having sexual relations.

The couple were arrested in late March after neighborhood vigilantes in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, suspected them of being gay and set out to catch them having sex.

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Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia to practice Islamic law, or sharia, which was a concession made by the national government in 2006 to end a years-long war with separatists. It implemented an expanded sharia code two years ago.

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The bright, 14-year-old Jordanian girl lived with her family in the capital, Amman.

Her cousin, a taxi driver 10 years her senior, had twice asked the girls father for permission to marry her.

Both times she and her father had demurred: Lubna was too young, they said, and besides, she routinely ranked at the top of her class, and hoped to finish her studies and go on to become a doctor.

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Soon after, Lubnas cousin picked her up from a hair salon in his taxi, drove her to a secluded spot and raped her.

Back then, in 1983, activist Asma Khader was a lawyer appointed by the criminal court to evaluate the damage inflicted on Lubna.

He brought me half conscious to my parents house, the teenager told Khader. He boasted, Ive taken her. Now you have to marry her to me, and Im still ready to do so even though shes damaged.

Lubna was referring to a long-reviled section of Jordans penal code, Article 308, that allows rapists to avoid prison if they marry their victims for at least three years in what its proponents said was a bid to protect victims honor.

The law was amended last year to allow a rapist to marry a victim only if she was between the age of 15 and 18 and if the act was consensual. The cases were classified as rapes even if the sex was consensual because of the girls age.

And last month, Jordans Cabinet revoked Article 308, following the recommendations of a royal judiciary committee tasked with reforming the countrys penal code. The decision requires ratification by Jordans parliament, which is expected to discuss and vote on the countrys penal code in the coming months.

It has taken us almost 35 years to get here, Khader said in a phone interview. In the intervening decades she has become a top womens rights campaigner and is executive director of the Sisterhood Is Global Institute, a nonprofit think tank.

According to Jordans Ministry of Justice, 159 rapists avoided punishment by marrying their victims from 2010 to 2013. The government, Khader said, stopped reporting figures after 2013 to avoid controversy. Victims advocates say cases of rape are underreported in Jordans conservative society, as they are many places.

Other countries with similar conditions include Lebanon, where activists have been pushing parliament to abolish a law allowing rapists to marry their victims, known as Article 522.

We did a survey, and found that only 1% of Lebanese knew of this article. We set it as a challenge to create a wave of support to cancel this law, said Alia Awada, advocacy and campaign manager for the womens rights organization ABAAD in a phone interview.

Among the ways activists have protested the law was to hang wedding dresses by nooses in a haunting display along Beiruts corniche area. Billboards also featured tattered wedding dresses with the tagline, White does not cover rape.

In Jordan, supporters of Article 308 saw it as satter, or protection, for the victim, Khader said.

They believe that if the rapist doesnt marry the victim then she will have no chance to marry, and will even bring shame to the family and she could be killed so as to protect the familys honor.

Khader said Lubnas case has stayed with her through the years.

Most people submit, but Lubna and her father refused that she marry her cousin. And her refusal was something everyone mocked, in her extended family and even in the court, Khader said.

Her teacher didnt let her go back to her school. The family had to move ... to another area. All this because a man wanted this girl and took advantage of this law.

Khader said she and Lubna have stayed in touch. (Lubna declined to be interviewed for this article, and asked not to be identified by her surname for privacy reasons.)

Shes now a doctor, and she married one of her colleagues. She lives well, said Khader. But she was the exception: The fight to repeal 308, Khader said, is for those women who werent able to refuse.

Our problem in all of these things, whether its human rights or womens rights, is ignorance.  Ghada Saba, activist

Rana Husseini, a journalist and author of Murder in the Name of Honor, is among those who are hopeful that Jordans parliament will take the final step to eliminate the law.

Its timely. In the past, the government didnt even acknowledge we had a problem and it wasnt interested in changing any laws, Husseini said in a phone interview.

She said previous attempts to repeal articles that were unfair to women, including 308 and 98, which allowed perpetrators of so-called honor killings to go free after six months, had been met with a lot of resistance. Article 98 remains on the books.

Society wasnt ready, and we didnt do proper lobbying, so there was a backlash, Husseini said.

Egypt and Morocco ended their rape marriage laws in 1999 and 2014, respectively. But most countries in the region still have such laws.

Suad Abu-Dayyeh, a regional consultant for Equality Now, a human rights organization, said the move against Article 308 had come as a result of the accumulation of the efforts of civil society over the years to change such laws.

Abu-Dayyeh said there was also political will from government leaders.

Its a shame that we have some article in our penal code that deals with sexual assault and rape in this way  and Jordan is a signatory to a number of international agreements, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, she said.

Every time Jordan goes to review the situation of human rights in the country, it finds itself embarrassed because of a number of laws, including 308.

Jordanian lawmaker Wafaa Bani Mustafa said she believes parliament will eliminate 308 but expects to face some resistance.

The conservatives believe the article renders the solution in a tribal fashion. They say canceling it will lead to major social problems. Others want to retain some exceptions, said Bani Mustafa in a phone interview.

One person who wishes to modify the law rather than scrap it is Taghrid Abu Sarhaan, a social worker.

This article does not force a woman to accept marriage. In my work, Ive met dozens of women who realize that this event must end in marriage in a society which does not give other choices to women, wrote Abu Sarhaan on local media outlet Sawaleif.

When taking a final decision to cancel this article decision-makers need to think of the available alternatives for the woman. What are the services and care and protection she and her child will receive after the partner is imprisoned?

But even if the law is changed, said activist Ghada Saba in a phone interview, it is more about changing the mind-set in society.

Our problem in all of these things, whether its human rights or womens rights, is ignorance, she said. People  see women as a container that holds their children, nothing beyond that.

Bulos is a special correspondent.

Twitter: @nabihbulos

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If North Korea is confirmed as the culprit behind the massive ransomware attack known as WannaCry, it raises a question: Why would a country so unpopular around the world risk alienating its few remaining friends?

Among the hardest hit of the 150 countries where the virus spread were China and Russia, North Koreas traditional allies and its only defenders on the U.N. Security Council. Was Pyongyang trying to send them a message, strutting its technical prowess by holding their computers hostage? Or were the motives purely mercenary rather than strategic?

Theres an obvious reason why the North would get into the ransomware business, and its the same reason that Willie Sutton robbed banks  because thats where the money is, suggested Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst on North Korea.

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One of the worlds poorest countries, North Korea trolls for hard currency through a multitude of criminal schemes that range from drugs to counterfeit currency to smuggling rhinoceros horns. Its missile program is also a money-making operation, but its ability to sell weapons abroad is hampered by U.N. sanctions.

Just as North Korea proliferates almost everything under the sun for hard currency, it wouldnt surprise me if they see their hacking skills as another money-making opportunity, Terry said.

In the past, North Koreas army of hackers has taken aim at more obvious targets. The 2014 hacking of Sony Pictures was apparently in retaliation for the film The Interview, a comedy in which a television journalist was recruited to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The North Koreans have staged hundreds of cyberattacks against media and government organizations, banks and others in rival South Korea.

A poster for The Interview is displayed on the marquee of the Los Feliz 3 theater on Dec. 25, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)

North Korea might now be shifting the focus of its cyberunits to making money rather than simply mischief. The North Koreans were implicated in last years $81 million heist of the Bangladesh central bank account at the Federal Reserve. So far, this attack has been far less lucrative; as of Tuesday morning, less than $70,000 had been paid out in bitcoin.

This time, the victims included about 30,000 organizations in China, universities, hospitals, traffic police, shopping malls, gas stations and railroad stations. China is North Koreas chief protector and the source of most of its imports, including fuel oil, so it would seem an unlikely target. Some analysts have suggested that the virus spread accidentally to computer users in China and Russia, which were poorly protected because of the prevalence of pirated software, which lacked the necessary security upgrades.

I dont have a good answer to why the North Koreans would target China or Russia, said Gi-Wook Shin, director of the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University.

Shin notes that North Koreas missile test on Sunday came at an embarrassing time for Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was inaugurating his signature trade policy, the Belt and Road Forum, on that same day. They could be sending a message to China that they are going their own way, said Shin.

Despite its image as a backwater with smoke-belching vintage trucks and 1960s fashion, and despite the fact that few of its people are connected to the Internet, North Korea has nurtured an army of highly skilled hackers made up of top math students picked as young as elementary school.

Kim Heung Kwang, a North Korean computer science professor who defected to South Korea in 2004, has claimed that North Korea has 6,000 military hackers. They report to the Reconnaissance General Bureau, the elite organization that was blamed for the recent assassination of Kim Jong Uns half brother, Kim Jong Nam, in Malaysia.

It sees the Internet as inherently weak and thus an easy target, and cyberwarfare is asymmetrically advantageous for [North Korea], wrote the Center for Strategic and International Studies in a report last year. As the country is almost entirely not connected to the Internet, it is much less exposed to such attacks.

They are among the best in the world and the best organized, Gen. Vincent Brooks, now the head of U.S. forces in South Korea, told a Senate committee last year of North Korean hackers.

Still, North Korean analysts are perplexed by the allegations that the country was behind the unprecedented WannaCry attack.

It could be counterproductive for the North Koreans. The downside is if they are really fingered and they are stealing a lot of money this way it could mobilize countries to respond against them, said Joel Wit, a former diplomat who has been involved in negotiations with the North Koreans since the 1980s. They might have seriously miscalculated, thinking they would get a lot more money.

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barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick
Venezuelan university professor Sergio Contreras went to demonstrate in central Caracas against President Nicolas Maduros government last week and never came home.

After a couple of days of searching for him, his frantic wife, Mariana, caught a glimpse of him being transported to a military base before a closed tribunal charged him with treason and stealing a police firearm.

The accusations  which Mariana Contreras described as absurd, saying her husband is a nonviolent social activist  could bring a sentence of several years in prison. Neither she nor her lawyer have seen or communicated with her husband for days.

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Sergio Contreras, who teaches at Andres Bello Catholic University, is one of an estimated 2,300 protesters arrested since demonstrations broke out across Venezuela in late March.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets over the last seven weeks to protest food shortages, rising crime and anti-democratic measures taken by Maduro, including the suspension of elections, neutering the powers of the National Assembly and the barring of opposition candidates from running for office .

The protests have led to frequent violent clashes with police and the national guard in which at least 43 have died and thousands have been injured.

Many of those detained are, like Contreras, being subjected to military justice in violation of Venezuelan law, and held incommunicado, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Its been an exhausting road because we have yet to receive any official information on his situation, Mariana Contreras said during an interview at her home in the San Bernardino neighborhood of Caracas.

She said images of her 38-year-old husbands arrest sent to her via social media show police dragging him away by the neck. She insisted that authorities must have planted a gun and explosives on her husband.

Who knows how because video taken during his arrest shows him speaking into a megaphone with nothing but the jeans and a T-shirt he was wearing, she said. I cant stop thinking of the picture of him getting thrown to the ground. I dont want our 8-year-old son to see it.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has condemned Maduros militarization of the management of the protests, referring to the imprisonment of hundreds of detainees in military installations and subjecting them to summary military justice without the presence of family or attorneys.

Based on interviews with lawyers and family members, Human Rights Watch this week accused the Maduro government of subjecting detainees to physical and other abuses that may in some cases amount to torture at the moment of arrest or during detention.

The arrest of Contreras, who is a member of a charitable group that brings food to homeless people, was one of several highlighted Monday by Human Rights Watch in a statement issued jointly with the Venezuela Penal Reform civil society group.

The arrests include examples of abusive prosecutions of at least 275 civilians by military courts, the statement said.

Mariana Contreras said she cautioned her husband when they parted company on the morning of May 10. He was headed to a demonstration planned near the Sambil shopping center in central Caracas by opposition legislators, including Freddy Guevara, whom Contreras advises.

I told him to be careful because the demonstration was planned in a barrio thats been taken over by colectivos, a Spanish term used for armed and motorcycle-riding Maduro supporters who have been accused of harassing and on occasion shooting at opposition demonstrators. All he said was that there would be many opposition assemblymen there.

After reading later that day on a group Twitter message that her husband had been arrested, she began a two-day search to find out where he was being held.

I went to five police stations in Caracas until hearing he had been taken to Venezuelas military counter-intelligence headquarters, which made us suppose he would be brought before a military tribunal, which in fact he was, she said.

She last saw him being transported in a military truck to his tribunal appearance at Fort Tiuna on May 12.

The Human Rights Watch statement cited the Venezuelan constitution, which limits military jurisdiction to crimes that are of military nature. It also cited Venezuelas signature on a 1978 international civil rights covenant that guarantees the right to a timely trial by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal.

But certain civil rights in Venezuela probably will remain suspended for at least another two months because of Maduros renewal last week of a decree giving him special discretionary powers under a state of emergency. It is the eighth time he has renewed the two-month decree since January 2016.

On Mothers Day last Sunday, I finally had to tell our son, Andres, what had happened to his father, that he had been arrested by police. It took me a few days to be able to, Mariana Contreras said. He cried and said, Not my papa.

Special correspondents Mogollon and Kraul reported from Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogota, Colombia, respectively.
Former Israeli intelligence officials expressed grave concern over reports President Trump divulged secrets to the Russians provided by Israel, breaking with the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which in the wake of the revelation sought to portray the bilateral ties as business as usual.

Amid questions over the leak, Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Wednesday reported that Trump spoke with Netanyahu by phone. It further stoked speculation about Israels involvement in the controversy.

What Trump did is liable to cause heavy damage to Israels security, as well as the source, and U.S. security, Danny Yatom, a former chief of the Mossad, Israels international spy agency, said in an interview with a Tel Aviv radio station. Especially if this information reaches our good friends the Iranians.

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Yatom said that if such shared intelligence information isnt guarded, the relations will be undermined.

There will be a loss of faith between the intelligence services, he said.

Speaking to Israel Radio, Ofer Shelah, an opposition lawmaker who is a member of the parliaments foreign affairs and defense committee, said intelligence and security officials must exercise extra caution when dealing with Russia because of its direct involvement in the Middle East and alliances with Israeli foes.

From our point of view, theres room for worry, regardless of this specific report, he said.

In contrast, less than a week before Trump is scheduled to arrive in Israel for an official visit, Israeli government officials were either tight-lipped or hailing the relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

The uproar in the U.S. over Trumps divulging of classified intelligence to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about Islamic State threatened to overshadow Trumps visit.

Trump is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday from Saudi Arabia and is slated to give a speech at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. He will also visit Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank and make private visits to holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem before departing for Italy the next day.

The visit has stirred expectations that Trump would unveil some sort of initiative to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations while making a gesture recognizing Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem  part of which is claimed by the Palestinians as a capital of their future state.

The security relationship between Israel & our greatest ally the United States, is deep, significant & unprecedented in volume.  Avigdor Lieberman, Israeli defense minister

Israeli government officials on Wednesday issued statements that bilateral intelligence cooperation would remain unaffected, while omitting any reference to the controversy.

The security relationship between Israel & our greatest ally the United States, is deep, significant & unprecedented in volume, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman tweeted Wednesday morning. This is how it has been and how it will continue to be.

Israeli government spokespeople and intelligence experts recalled instances when Israeli politicians had unwittingly divulged secrets in the course of public remarks, and said leaks of sensitive information are part of the risks of intelligence sharing.

Netanyahus office confirmed that the two leaders had spoken for about 20 minutes on Tuesday, but would only say that the discussion dealt solely with the upcoming visit.

Clearly, the last thing Netanyahu needs now, on the eve of a visit in which Trump is likely to saddle him with a new and ambitious initiative for peace with the Palestinians, is an intelligence crisis with the Americans, wrote Amos Harel, a military columnist for Haaretz. Even if Israel was harmed by Trumps behavior, it wont rush to make this public.

Before Israel became a part of the controversy, Netanyahu was struggling with the fallout over U.S. comments regarding Trumps campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem  which has yet to be fulfilled.

After Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday that the U.S. was still conferring with Israelis on whether moving the embassy would help the peace process or be a distraction, the prime ministers office released multiple statements insisting that Netanyahu encouraged the president to move ahead.

Trumps visit comes a week before a deadline for him to exercise a semiannual waiver to postpone action on a congressional decision two decades ago calling for the relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem. Israeli right-wing politicians have been hoping he wont postpone the decision, and have attacked Netanyahu for not making a strong enough case.

After the flap over the secretary of States remarks, Israels Channel 2 television news reported that during preparations for Trumps visit to the Western Wall in the Old City, a U.S. diplomat referred to the location  one of Judaisms holiest sites  as part of the West Bank and not belonging to Israel.

All of the Old City was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War. Although Israel annexed it along with all of Jordanian East Jerusalem, the Palestinians and most of the international community consider it part of the occupied West Bank.

The expectations from Trump were for him to act as if he were an Israeli citizen, said Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, a lawmaker from the opposition Zionist Union party. People on the right will let Trump get away with anything as long as he acts as if the only interest that he has is Israel. And as we all know, the situation in the region is more complex than that.

Mitnick is a special correspondent.
Iraqi government forces, backed by allied fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, have managed to establish control over nearly 90 percent of western Mosul as they are battling to drive Takfiri Daesh terrorists out of the countrys second largest city, Press TV reported.

Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC) spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told a news conference in the capital Baghdad on Tuesday that Daesh was still in control of 10.5 percent of... the right bank of the Tigris River.

He added, We reassure everyone that... in a very short time, God willing, we will declare the liberation and clearing of western Mosul and raise the Iraqi flag over... [Mosul's] Old City.

The Iraqi military spokesman noted that Iraqi soldiers and fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Shaabi, had killed 16,467 Daesh members since the operation to liberate western Mosul began on October 17 last year.

Rasool went on to say that 679 car bombs, 11 militant command centers, 47 drones, and 76 bomb-making workshops were also destroyed during military operations in the western flank of Mosul.

He added that a total of 6,661 bombs and 217 explosives-rigged belts were defused as well.

Meanwhile, the JOC has ordered civilians in the Daesh-controlled areas of western Mosul to immediately stop using any vehicle to avoid being mistaken for militants.

Iraqi military planes will strike any vehicle that moves on the streets of these districts from the evening of May 15 until their liberation. The decisive hour has approached, a copy of the leaflet dropped over Mosul read.

Separately, Iraqi forces have found a mass grave of slain Takfiri Daesh terrorists at a liberated western Mosul district.

Colonel Mortada Hassan told Arabic-language Basnews news agency that members of the Counter Terrorism Service discovered the grave in the al-Haramat neighborhood on Monday.

Furthermore, Federal Police Forces Commander Lieutenant General Raed Shaker Jawdat said Iraqi rapid response forces have released six families, who had been locked up by Daesh terrorists for several days inside booby-trapped houses at western Mosul's 17 Tamuz district.

Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units have made sweeping gains against the Takfiri elements since launching the Mosul operation.

The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19.
The Argentine bank is monitoring market conditions but will likely return to the cross-border space next year, CFO says
All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced.  19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc.
Demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduro administration in Venezuela keep growing. The death toll has risen to at least 42 and more than 750 people injured, according with the states prosecutor's office.

What started as peacful rallies have descended into violent clashes between activists and the police department. For more than 6 weeks, people have called for the release of political prisoners and to hold new elections.

Rt"@MariaCorinaYA: La Protesta. Esto es Venezuela hoy. Que estas imagenes le den la vuelta al mundo!!! Ayudanos! pic.twitter.com/vnc4ocLHch"  Villca Fernandez (@VillcaFDEZ) May 17, 2017

Maduro blames the opposition for trying to oust him with the support of Washington.

Nevertheless, a statement released by the European Union this week declared that "the release of jailed political opponents and the respect of the constitutional rights of all political actors to vote and to participate in elections are also crucial steps to building trust and helping the country to regain political stability".

According with several experts, the country that possessed one of the world's largest oil reserves had no reason to collapse, but the government and economy became dependent on oil revenue at the expense of other industries, such as food production.

Today, as long as oil prices stay low, Venezuela will struggle to grow. This once prosperous nation now suffers from food, electricity and medicine severe shortages.
The search for survivors after a plane went missing in the "Bermuda Triangle" entered its third day today.

The U.S. Coast Guard published a picture that appears to show debris found close to Eleuthera, Bahamas.

#Update @USCG image of debris, confirmed components of an MU-2B aircraft recovered 15 miles E of Eleuthera, Bahamas; search continues. pic.twitter.com/lP0lSX0bld  USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 17, 2017

Authorities are searching for Jennifer Blumin, a fashion world figure of New York, her 2 young sons and Nathan Ulrich, her pilot boyfriend. The air traffic control in Miami lost radio contact with the plane that was coming from Puerto Rico and never made it to its destination in Titusville, Florida.

#Update @USCG Cutter Charles David Jr. continuing search for Isabella Hellman west of Cay Sal, Bahamas pic.twitter.com/ZATn5gjhP5  USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 17, 2017

Debris that appeared to be from the plane was found today, but authorities are still trying to confirm if it came from the missing plane, said Lt Cmdr Ryan Kelly, Coast Guard spokesman. "There's no indication of significant adverse weather at the time," Mr Kelly added.

There is more than half a million square miles of ocean located between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico, also known as the "Bermuda Triangle".

Rescue crews have searched for over 30 hours covering more than 8,200 square miles.

Customs and Border Patrol, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and the Air Force have also assisted in the search.

A National Transportation Safety Board accident investigator has been assigned to this case, according to the latest Coast Guard statement.
President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussed ways to strengthen the Turkish-American relationship during their first face-to-face, the White House said after they met Tuesday, Anadolu reported.

"President Trump reiterated the commitment of the United States to the security of our NATO ally Turkey and the need to work together to confront terrorism in all its forms," the executive mansion said in a readout of the meeting.

At the White House earlier Tuesday, Erdogan said, "We are committed to fighting all kinds of terrorism, without any discrimination whatsoever, that impose a clear and present threat upon our future.

"There is no place for terrorist organizations in the future of our region," he added.

The two leaders met amid strong disagreements between the U.S. and Turkey regarding Washington's support for the YPG as Turkey views the group as the Syrian offshoot of the terrorist PKK organization.

The Pentagon said last week the U.S. would begin directly arming the YPG.

Engaging the YPG, and its political wing, the PYD, as partners, "no matter which country does it, certainly does not fall in line with the global agreement that has been reached" on terrorism, Erdogan said.

During their joint news conference, Trump voiced support for Ankara in its fight against Daesh and the PKK, saying the U.S. would work to ensure that terror groups have no safe quarter".

And during a meeting with Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik, Defense Secretary James Mattis "reaffirmed support for Turkey in its fight against the PKK and plan to increase cooperation on Turkey's counter-PKK efforts.

"The leaders firmly agreed on concerns regarding the PKK, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization that has orchestrated the killing of innocent Turkish civilians and Turkish soldiers," Pentagon spokesman Dana White said in a statement.

Mattis also "recognized the generosity of the Turkish government" in hosting refugees from the Syrian conflict, White said.
Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm, Charge dAffairs at the US Embassy in Macedonia, welcomes the progress made as regards the formation of a new government saying she hopes it will be formed as soon as possible. The United States, she stresses, remains a partner of Macedonia, MIA reported.

"It is a great thing for Macedonia and the people of Macedonia that the government formation process is moving on to the next phase and that we are in sight of seeing a new government formed. It is also important to note that President Ivanov and the leaders of the majority coalition parties found a way to collaborate in a constructive way to get to this positive place for the people of Macedonia," read Schweitzer-Bluhm's comments posted on the embassy's website.

"We look forward to working with the new government once it is formed; we hope that it will form quickly. There is much work to be done for Macedonia to move forward on urgent reforms and to advance on its path into the Euro-Atlantic community."

The United States, she notes, remains a friend and partner of Macedonia, and we look forward to working with the new government to support those reforms and that progress.
May 17, 2017, 10:45am ET

Hyundai recall prompts criticism of Korean corporate culture

The debacle has renewed calls for strengthened legal provisions to protect whistleblowers from retaliation.

Hyundai's recent recall of 240,000 vehicles in South Korea has prompted criticism of the country's corporate culture and treatment of whistleblowers.

Former Hyundai engineer Kim Gwang-ho is credited with successfully pressuring the company to address an alleged defect. He reportedly leaked internal company documents to government officials to back allegations of wrongdoing, accusing the company of failing to report potential safety issues.

"The issues raised were being monitored before his request was made, as part of our stringent internal procedures," Hyundai said in a statement, denying claims of a cover-up.

A New York Times report suggests the dispute has shed light on an unflexing corporate culture that demands loyalty and a strict chain of command. Critics argue the South Korean government is partly to blame, lacking legal protections to prevent retaliation against whistleblowers.

Hyundai reportedly fired Kim and followed up with lawsuits last year, accusing the former employee of breach of trust and violating confidentiality agreements. South Korea's civil rights commission later ordered Hyundai to rehire him, however he resigned as part of a settlement to end the legal battles.
May 17, 2017, 11:50am ET

Italy faces potential EU showdown over Fiat emissions tests

The European Commission has demanded that Italian officials explain the technical necessity of Fiat\'s alleged emissions \'defeat device.\'

The European Commission has stepped up its showdown with Italian authorities over alleged emissions test discrepancies involving Fiat vehicles.

German officials last year accused Fiat Chrysler Automobiles of selling cars with illegal emissions systems. The concerns were outlined in a petition to the European Commission and Italy's Transport Ministry, however the latter agency dismissed the findings and claimed the Fiat vehicles are in compliance with regulations.

The Commission has now demanded a better explanation from Italy's regulators to justify Fiat's emissions control systems, referring to certain software provisions as 'defeat devices' akin to Volkswagen's diesel emissions cheat.

"The Commission is now formally asking Italy to respond to its concerns that the manufacturer has not sufficiently justified the technical necessity - and thus the legality - of the defeat device used," the Commission said in a statement published by Reuters.

Italy must provide a response within two months that satisfies the European Commission's concerns, otherwise the country faces additional legal proceedings. Italian officials have requested more time before the dispute escalates toward enforcement action.

The EU currently allows each member nation to perform emissions validation testing for their domestic automakers. Critics suggest the system creates conflicts of interest.

Proposed changes to EU regulations would increase enforcement penalties for countries that are found guilty of violating testing regulations.
May 17, 2017, 3:49am ET

MINI designer returning to the brand?

Frank Stephenson is currently at the head of McLaren\'s design department.

Designer Frank Stephenson is returning to the head of MINI's design department, according to a recent report.

Stephenson played an instrumental role in re-launching the brand after BMW purchased it. He designed the F50/F53-series MINI (pictured), the model that transformed the car from a completely outdated British icon to one of the world's best-selling premium city cars. He left in 2001, shortly after the F50 hit the market.
A pair of Parkland students are demanding the high school allow them to create an anti-abortion club, after initially being denied.

District spokeswoman Nicole McGalla said the district Wednesday received a letter from the pair's attorney, demanding the club be allowed to form.

The district was consulting with its solicitor, but McGalla said because it is a legal matter, the district would not have a comment at this time.

Senior Elizabeth Castro and junior Grace Schairer proposed a student group called Trojans for Life, a branch of Students for Life of America, a nonprofit organization based in Virginia whose stated mission is to abolish abortion.

The teens said they approached the high school's administration about starting the club, and were told they would need an adviser and would have to submit a club proposal.

The girls found an adviser and submitted their proposal in March, but said the proposal was denied by Assistant Principal Jude Sandt, who reportedly said the group was too "political" and "controversial."

Sandt did not immediately respond to a phone message asking about the proposal.

Schairer said she sent an email in April asking what the group could do to overcome the denial, but allegedly received no response.

"As a club, our purpose is to create a life-affirming culture at our school, educate our peers on the issue of life, hold diaper drives to support pregnant and parenting students, and become a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves," Castro said in a news release. "The school is not only denying our right to start a group but also denying the opportunity for others at our school to learn about the greatest human rights social injustice of our time."

The students are now represented by the Thomas More Society, a nonprofit law firm. Their attorney says the school's denial is unconstitutional, violating the group's First Amendment rights.

A letter that demands the club be permitted was sent Wednesday to Superintendent Richard Sniscak and high school administrators:

Thomas More Society letter to Parkland officials by Anonymous arnc2g2N on Scribd
A 32-year-old high school band and chorus director from south-central Pennsylvania is out on bail after several female students said he sexually assaulted or attacked them, a published report and court papers say.

Nicholas Oaster. (Photo courtesy | pennlive.com)

Nicholas Oaster, of Hanover, Pennsylvania, was put on administrative leave after allegations dating to 2011 and beyond at Littlestown High School came to light in April when a student alerted the principal who then called police, pennlive.com reported.

The high school is in Adams County, near the Pennsylvania-Maryland border.

He was arraigned Tuesday morning before District Judge Daniel S. Bowman on 16 charges including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful sexual contact with a minor and indecent assault, court papers say.

Cash bail of $50,000 was posted the same day and Oaster was released pending a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled May 24 in Bowman's court, records show.

Littlestown police are conducting the investigation.

One girl told authorities that Oaster forced her to her knees and sexually assaulted her after marching band practice, the news website reported. Another said the band leader would ask her to sit on his lap and say things such as, "Are you ready to have sex with me?" pennlive.com said.

Yet another girl said Oaster often grabbed her buttocks, pennlive.com reported.

One girl said she was abused more than 100 times, according to the report.

Another girl said he pushed her into a cabinet and threw a water bottle at her face, pennlive.com reported.

The district released a statement saying it is working with area authorities to make sure the investigation is timely, "full and thorough."

"My heart goes out to any person indirectly or directly affected by the conduct," Superintendent Christopher Bigger wrote.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Lehigh Valley residents who heat their homes with natural gas from UGI should expect a 12.5 percent price increase starting in June, the Reading-based utility said Wednesday.

But the company said it does not expected a second increase on Dec. 1.

"Wholesale natural gas prices have been subject to upward price pressure over the past six months, and this adjustment reflects those higher costs," UGI Chief Regulatory Officer Paul Szykman said in a news release. "Nevertheless, with the abundant shale gas resources in Pennsylvania, UGI anticipates natural gas to remain an excellent value compared to other energy sources."

A typical residential customer who uses 60.8 hundred cubic feet of natural gas per month should expect their bill to increase from $64.63 to $72.71 on June 1, the company said.

A typical commercial retail customer would see their 43.9 thousand cubic feet per month go up from $412.39 to $469.68, the company said.

A typical industrial retail customer would see 149.8 thousand cubic feet per month rise from $1,361.52 to $1,564.53, the company said.

The company, which files its gas rates annually on June 1 with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, cannot profit on the increases; it simply passes them on to the customer without markup, UGI said. The company's cost to buy gas is going up 12.5 percent on June 1, it said.

Customers with questions can call UGI at 800-276-2722. The company said it offers a budget program which spreads payments out over 12 months. Those on a fixed income can call the company at 800-UGI-WARM to see if they qualify for energy assistance programs, the company said.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Watches are not rocket science. Or are they? Watches are not rocket...

Perhaps you dont have a PhD. Well, thats a shame, because with some watches, youll need one to understand how to tell the time. Perhaps you dont have a PhD. Well,...
This investigation was for the birds.

A Riegelsville woman reportedly went away for a night with her peacocks caged up and returned home to find their coop's lock broken and the fowl roaming free.

Sheila Jewett, 64, called Pennsylvania State Police, who opened a brief and ultimately fruitless investigation, a trooper at the Dublin barracks says in a news release Wednesday.

Nothing was reported stolen or missing, and there was no indication from police any of the birds were injured.

Jewett called police about noon May 8, after leaving her home on Lehnenberg Road in the Bucks County borough the morning of May 6 and returning the evening of May 7.

"Neighbors were interviewed, and no criminal activity was observed," Trooper Ian Stewart says in the release. "No suspects have been identified at this time. This case will be closed due to a lack of investigative leads."

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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Leicester City owners King Power have had a takeover proposal accepted by Belgian second-tier side OH Leuven.

The club released a statement on Tuesday evening confirming the board of directors had unanimously sanctioned King Power's bid.

The Thai company, owned by City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, were, according to the statement, "the only bidder who made a clear and coherent proposal within the time limit imposed by the board".

"OHL has chosen a project that guarantees the future of the club, both financially and in sporting terms," the statement continues. "The project provides sufficient financial resources to aspire to the earliest possible return to First Division A (Belgian top flight).

"The King Power Group remains firmly anchored in the community and their priorities, good cooperation with the various fan groups and a further development of the youth team, are all linked to a large sporting ambition for the first team."

Original reports on the takeover bid stated King Power's ownership of OHL would be spearheaded by City vice-chairman, and Vichai's son, Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha, although his role in Leicester would be unaffected.

Leuven, based in a university city 15 miles outside the Belgian capital Brussels, narrowly avoided relegation to the third tier this campaign having dropped down from the top division the previous season.
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More than 60 jobs are set to be axed at a county pet food manufacturer.

Mars Petcare UK has told staff it plans to shed 64 positions on its Melton production line.

A consultation with the workforce is now underway.

The business employs about 300 people at the plant in Mill Street, Melton, manufacturing well-known brands such as Pedigree, Whiskas and Chappie.

The redundancies are on the tinned pet food production line.

It is understood the changes are being made to manufacturing as consumers move away from traditional tins to more convenient pouches.

Chris Sackree, plant manager, said: "We have proposed a restructure relating to our canning line, to ensure that our factory in Melton Mowbray remains fit for the future.

"Our priority at this time is supporting our associates who are aware of the proposal and are taking part in a consultation process.

"A final decision on the restructure will be made following this period of consultation."

The wider Mars company is one of the biggest private, family-owned businesses in the world, and has been operating in the UK for more than 80 years.

It employs more than 4,000 people across 12 sites nationwide.

Sectors covered by Mars UK include pet care, chocolate, chewing gum, food and drinks, while the business manufactures consumer brands including Maltesers, Bounty, Uncle Ben's rice and Extra chewing gum.

As well as the factory in Melton, there is a pet nutrition research facility a couple of miles away in Waltham on the Wolds.

Latest accounts for Mars Petcare UK, posted at Companies House, show profits after tax for 2015 were 32.7 million, compared to 30.7 million a year earlier. Turnover was down slightly to 518 million.

The 2015 annual report said: "Sales declined, but the business is well placed due to investment into the products, brands, processes, and consumer relationships."

The accounts said the petcare business employed 1,052 people, including 437 in production, and had a wage and pensions bill of 100 million.
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A spate of savage dog attacks on sheep flocks has left farmers in the Mountrath and Camross areas reeling, as they count the financial and personal cost of the destruction.

The most recent attack on Damian Delaney's farm at Clonin, Mountrath took place last Saturday night and left three sheep dead. It was the second onslaught which Damian's flock suffered in the past three weeks.

A dog attack on Wednesday night a fortnight ago, left six animals dead - two ewes and four lambs. Three of the animals had to be put down due to their horrific injuries.

"To my knowledge two dogs are doing this," said Damian. "We are looking out for a black Labrador and a terrier.

"This is an ongoing problem in this area for myself and other farmers. The scale of the problem is so bad that one farmer decided to get out of sheep altogether. This woman had her sheep on an out farm and she did not know what she would be facing every morning she went out to it.

"I myself work full time off the farm. I'm 19 and I put a lot of work and savings into getting a flock up and running. It's hard going at the best of times, but when you are faced with this devastation, it's heartbreaking.

"The owners of these dogs must know what is going on. They have to be going home covered in blood. People need to lock their dogs up at night."

Joe Burke, Chairman of Laois IFA Sheep Committee issued a stark warning to all dog owners in the county that they are fully responsible for ensuring that their pets are under control at all times.

They are liable for any losses as a result of dog attacks, with serious financial and legal consequences. He said farmers have a right to protect their sheep flock and can shoot a dog worrying, or about to worry their flock

Statistics collated by IFA indicate that the problem of dog attacks on sheep may be in the order of 300 to 400 attacks per annum, with 3,000 to 4,000 sheep injured and killed. Data on dog attacks gathered by the IFA shows an average of 11 sheep killed or injured per attack.

Joe Burke restated that marauding dogs can inflict horrendous damage on a sheep flock. "A number of dog attacks have been highlighted in recent weeks across the county, where major financial losses have been incurred. In the last week there was very severe cases in the Camross and Mountrath area.

"Unfortunately, I am taking calls on a frequent basis from sheep farmers around the county who have suffered attacks. There are far too many dog owners not taking the responsibility that goes with owning a pet. Dog owners have an obligation to have their dog under control at all times."

IFA has a Protocol to help farmers who encounter a dog attack on their sheep flock. It is an easy-to-follow, 10-point Plan of Action covering what a farmer should do following a dog attack or sheep kill.

"Based on the feedback IFA gets from farmers who have had to deal with a dog attack on their flock, one of the biggest problems is the lack of information on what they should do, who they should contact and where can they get help."

Click on the below link for theIFA Protocol for Farmers on Sheep Kills by Dogs:

http://www.ifa.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/New-IFA-Protocol-for-farmers-to-follow-after-sheep-kills-by-dogs.pdf
A priceless stained glass window by the most famous Irish stained glass window designer of all time which was feared lost has turned up safe at Portlaoise Prison.

The window, by Dublin-born artist and book illustrator, Harry Clarke (1889 - 1931), was previously installed in the chapel at the prison, but went missing about two years ago, according to Cllr Noel Tuohy.

Speaking to the Leinster Express, Cllr Tuohy explained that the window was in the prison chapel from around the 1930s, but sometime in the 70s the chapel fell into disuse. The then-Governor, Mr Bill Reilly decided that the window was in danger of being broken and removed it for safekeeping.

For the last few years the window was believed to be lost, until a tradesman at the prison "accidentally found it," said Cllr Tuohy.

He said that the State currently has plans to use the window in Brian Stack House in Portlaoise. He said he would be happy with this, but also proposed that the window remain local in a number of other venues.

Cllr Tuohy discussed the window at todays (Wednesday, May 17) meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District in Laois County Hall.

He called on the Department of Justice and the OPW to arrange for the return of the Harry Clarke stained glass window, so that this important cultural, artistic and heritage artifact can be restored to its rightful location as a centrepiece in the Dunamaise Arts Centre, a Laois museum or at the new Portlaoise Library.

Cllr Tuohy said the window was literally priceless, as it had been crafted by "the most famous Irish stained glass window designer of all time".

He said that the window had gone missing the last two years, but Cllr Jerry Lodge had been able to tell him exactly where it was.

Explained Cllr Lodge: I happened to be talking to the Governor of the prison and the topic came up. They have the window safe.

In response to Cllr Tuohys motion, Mr Kieran Kehoe, director of services, said that Laois County Council will write to both the Dept of Justice and the OPW in relation to this issue.
A strict regime is understood to be in place to police the movements of a Mountmellick native who murdered a teenager in 2003.

Darren Goodwin was the subject of a court hearing in recent weeks which the Leinster Express understands came about as a result of the frequency of Mr Goodwin's movements in Mountmellick in recent times.

Local people claimed that he was working and living in the Mountmellick and could be seen openly.

During the hearing Mr Goodwin, who was jailed in 2004 for the murder of Darragh Conroy, gave a committment to stay 8 kms away from Mountmellick.

Darraghs mother Patricia was in court to hear the ruling.

Its the first time I had seen him since his release last year, which was difficult, she told the Herald newspaper aferwards.

While she does not live in Mountmellick anymore she vitis Darraghs grave up to four times a week.

Since Darren Goodwin got out last year I have been afraid I would meet him on the street.

It would be in the back of your mind. Relatives of mine have seen him.

At least now I can relax a bit and not be nervous that I would see him. Its a good decision.

Patricia said there is not a day that goes by that she doesnt think about Darragh or cry over him.

My hopes, rather than my expectations, were that Darren Goodwin would get a sentence to reflect his crime, she said.

He hit Darragh once with a hammer from behind and then five times more as he lay on the ground. This was a sustained attack.

It has changed me so much. Nothing could hurt me as much as losing him, she said.

While Mr Goodwin has served his sentence, he is released under licence. The Irish Prison Service declined to make the terms of his licence available to the Leinster Express last week.

The Leinster Express understands that the court hearing came about due to the amount of time Mr Goodwin was spending in Mountmellick.

Under the terms of the order, Mr Goodwin must get permission from the Probation Service any time he wants to visit Mountmellick. It is understood that his visits will have to be for special reasons..

Gardai will be notified by the probation services every time he visits the town.

Mr Goodwin's situation has been addressed at the highest levels in the Laois Offaly Garda Division.
Kildare south TD and spokesperson on Equality Fiona OLoughlin has called on the Government to put in place greater supports to assist migrant children in accessing education in Ireland.

Deputy OLoughlin made the comments after the ESRI published a new report which highlights how migrant children face significant challenges in progressing from primary to second level education.

The ESRIs Social Relationships and the Transition to Second-Level Education report clearly outlines the difficulties facing migrant children in progressing through Irelands education system, she said.

The report highlights how migrant children usually have a smaller family support network as compared to other children. This in turn makes it more difficult for migrant children to successfully transition into second level education.

The report also points out how migrant children tend to have weaker relationships with teachers.

The Irish refugee resettlement programme has been in operation since 2000 and to date 1,723 vulnerable persons from 27 different countries, including Iraq and Syria, have been admitted as programme refugees for resettlement purposes with a further 520 persons expected to arrive during the course of 2017.

Currently in Kildare there are 120 refugees in accommodation at the Hazel Hotel orientation centre in Monasterevin which can accommodate up to 143 at any one time.

While in the Eyre Powell in Newbridge there are currently 79 asylum seekers including 6 children there at the moment.

Local volunteer Mick Power said that in his experience young children settle in the best but the refugee teenagers and adults tend to struggle the most.

The asylum seeker children go into the schools here in Newbridge and the schools have been fantastic with them, he said.

But for the migrant refugee children it can be more difficult for them especially for the teenagers, some of whom are approaching adult hood, as they are only here in Kildare for a short period of time before they are re-orientated. It is more difficult for them to settle in and also for the adults who often come here with a very high stand of education. It would be important for them to be close to a third level institution so they could continue with their education.

The response from a spokesperson from the Department of Justice said that a new strategy called the Migrant Integration Strategy contains 12 specific actions in the area of education which will be monitored by a committee made up of representatives of government departments; key public bodies; local authorities and NGO's.

The Strategy proposes to include a language component in education and training programmes for unemployed migrants with poor knowledge of English.

"The role of the Education and Training Boards will be crucial in ensuring that these opportunities are available, including to enable migrants to develop the language skills to access skilled employment," the spokesperson said.
A Newbridge councillor has called for action to end a one-way traffic system on a popular road in the town which he believes is badly effecting local businesses.

Sinn Fein Cllr Mark Lynch has called for access on the top portion of Cutlery Road (Athgarvan Road/Water Tower end) to be changed to a two-way system.

At the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting this morning (May 17) Cllr Lynch asked the council to assess the current system to help local businesses.

He said the top of the street closed several years ago, and has forced heavy traffic such as jeeps and trucks onto Cutlery Road causing traffic disruption.

He asked the area engineer to meet with local businesses so they could vouch their concerns.

It is vitally important to a lot of businesses, and they would be positively effected, said Cllr Lynch.

In response, the council said that it is awaiting the Traffic Management Plan for Newbridge.

The widening of the road would bring with it knock-on effects to the adjacent signalised junction, SCOOT traffic system and pedestrian facilities.

These concerns will all form part of the Traffic Management Plan study.
Dunnes Stores has got the go ahead for the revamp of Newbridge Shopping Centre, however there was no mention of the 'Great Wall of Dunnes' in the decision.

In two previous requests for information, the councils planner asked the company to submit plans to demolish the wall to reopen the access point from the centre to Newbridge Retail Park.

Dunnes held its ground and refused, accusing the council of acting outside its parameters in its dealings with the planning application.

It said the development would not give rise to an unacceptable traffic hazard, and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

READ MORE: Company defends status of Newbridge's 'Great Wall of Dunnes'

However, last Monday's decision includes 37 conditions, none of which mention the controversial wall.

Cllr Paddy Kennedy (Ind) expressed his disappointment at the news. He had pushed for the gap to be reinstated along with his fellow councillors in the Municipal District.

I cannot understand how its not even mentioned in the decision. I am very disappointed and I think it is affecting the traffic situation, he told the Leader.
Kildare South TD Martin Heydon, chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, has paid tribute to the outgoing Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Mr Kenny announced he will step down as Fine Gael party leader as of midnight tonight, although he will stay on as Taoiseach until a successor is elected.

Deputy Heydon said that, under the Taoiseach, there had bee the rebirth of a self-confident Ireland.

Having inherited a country and an economy that was decimated by mismanagement, Enda's strong leadership and ability to make hard decisions was recognised both at home and abroad and saw our international reputation restored and strengthened, said Deputy Heydon.

He also noted Mr Kennys contribution to job creation, his role in the marriage equality referendum and his encouragement of intergenerational change in Fine Gael.

On behalf of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, I would like to thank Enda Kenny for his remarkable service to our country and our Party. I would also like to acknowledge the sacrifices made by his wife Fionnuala, and their children Aoibhinn, Ferdia and Naoise, which allowed Enda to be the great leader that he has been.
Speaking from Leinster House yesterday, May 16 Sinn Feins agriculture spokesman, Martin Kenny TD, expressed deep concern at the remarks of French farm leader, Christophe Hillairet, calling for a hard border between North and South, post-Brexit.

Deputy Kenny said, M. Hillairet, who is the leader of the French farmers association, has called for a hard border in order to protect the French market from non-EU goods entering though the North and coming to the South.

We can assure him that Irish farmers do not want an influx of non-EU produce either, but it is a pity that, instead of listening to us and supporting designated special status for the North within the EU in order to secure the integrity of the customs union, he should take a Franco-centric approach. Calls for a hard border are not helpful.

Bringing back customs posts along the border in Ireland will not work for anyone and is a politically unacceptable solution. A solution must be found to keep the North of Ireland in the EU and in the customs union.

That is the innovative, flexible and imaginative remedy to M. Hilliarets concerns, not a simplistic suggestion which includes customs posts, tariffs, and long delays for cross-border communities.
Chinese President Xi Jinping presides over a symposium on cyberspace security and informatization. (Photo : Getty Images)

Several trade groups that are representing companies from Asia, Europe and the United States are calling on China to delay its cybersecurity law that will be effective on June 1. In their opinion, this cybersecurity law may discriminate against foreign businesses.



China's Cybersecurity Law was approved by the government November last year. This law will require agencies and enterprises to improve their defense when it comes to network intrusions. The law also enables the government to punish individuals and organizations who hack into China's critical infrastructure.



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What made the cybersecurity law controversial is the part where it states that the government requires foreign security software and equipment that are supplied to the Chinese government to be reviewed. The list of sectors affected by this includes information services, telecommunications, transportation, energy and finance.



This requirement rattled global tech companies, as the provisions were unclear about what specific companies should submit their technology for a security review. If a company is ordered to be reviewed, it is required to submit technology disclosure and encryption details of its product.



A letter from the trade groups stated: "Our concerns encompass enormously consequential issues for China's economy, its relations with economic and commercial partners, and the global economy."



This letter was signed by 54 trade groups across Asia, Europe and the United States.



Last December, the provisions of the cybersecurity law were softened due to criticism of trade groups, removing the requirement of companies to submit their "source code" in order to prove that their product is secure.



Some provisions, however, are still existing and are vaguely worded, enabling Chinese regulators to some extent to block products of a technology company in the country.



Now that the law has been approved, China's Internet regulator allayed concerns by saying that the provisions of the law are neutral and nondiscriminatory. The body hasn't yet made any comment on the letter created by the trade groups.


Theres a super article in the Independent by Rahul Mansigani. In 2010, he led a protest against the Lib Dems and Nick Clegg over tuition fees. However, he is now a Lib Dem Newbie  because of Brexit:

as Eurosceptic Corbyn obstinately stayed put while his MPs deserted him, and as Theresa May declared that if you believe you are a citizen of the world, you are a citizen of nowhere and the Conservatives demanded that companies publish the numbers of foreigners they employed, I saw that the only party that would fight for our values and battle against a hard Brexit was the Liberal Democrats. Like thousands of others, I signed up.

He explains why this issue is so crucially important:

Brexit is the defining issue of this election and of our political generation. The way it is conducted will go to the heart of all the issues we protested about in 2010. Back then, the broadest aim of our protests was to give our young people the best chance of success in an open, prosperous, tolerant Britain. We must now support the Liberal Democrats to continue that wider campaign; a Tory Brexit undermines the existence of the Britain we believe in, not to mention the very existence of the UK. The Lib Dems are and have always been proudly European, and (unlike the policy issue of tuition fees) this is fundamental to the party. Labour, despite its sudden clarity on scrapping tuition fees, remains hopelessly divided on its own vision of Brexit. The Liberal Democrats are the only party left to stand up for the 48 per cent, for the millions of voters, particularly the young, who voted to remain part of Europe, to be free to study in Paris or Berlin, to marry in Rome or Amsterdam and to work in Stockholm or Sofia.

He urges people to forgive the Lib Dems for mistakes like tuition fees:

The Liberal Democrats are the only party that is fighting for an open, tolerant Britain in Europe. Supporting them is the only way to show that we do not want a disastrous, closed, hard Brexit.

If you agree, and havent registered to vote yet, you can do so here  but you must do it by the end of next Monday, 22 May.

* Newshound: bringing you the best Lib Dem commentary in print, on air or online.
Tonight, at an event in Londons East End, Tim Farron formally launched the Partys manifesto for the General Election. This is what he had to say

A couple of weeks ago, in Kidlington near Oxford, I met a guy called Malcolm. I say methe came up to me in the street and started shouting at me.

You might have seen it on the news. Or the Internet.

In the end we actually got along. But he was angry with me for not getting behind Theresa May and backing Brexit. I think I calmed him down a bit when we spoke, but I dont think I changed his mind.

And thats fine. You see, when last years referendum took place I campaigned harder than anyone else to remain. I believed passionately that our children would have a brighter future if Britain remained in the European Union.

But we lost  and I accept that.

But that doesnt mean I have changed what I believe.

I believe that our children will have a brighter future if we are inside the European Union. That they will be safer and better off. That our economy will be stronger and our country will have more influence in the world.

But just because I believe that doesnt mean I think people who voted to leave are bad people. Of course theyre not. We just disagree.

You see, I grew up in Preston in Lancashire. And most of the people in Preston voted to leave. There are parts of Lancashire where two-thirds of people voted to leave.

Friends of mine did. Members of my family did. They dont all admit that to my face, but I know they did.

Those people, theyre my people. I like them. Theyre good people. Decent people.

And, as it happens, I liked Malcolm too. Once he stopped shouting at me.

But heres the difference between me and Theresa May  I want Malcolm, and everyone in Preston, and every single one of you, to have your say over what comes next.

Nobody knows what Brexit will look like.

The choices Theresa May will make will affect your life and our country for decades  your job, your weekly shop, your environment, your safety, where you can travel to and where you can live.

And shes already making choices that will affect those things, including the most profound choice she could make  taking Britain out of the Single Market.

That decision alone is a time bomb under our economy. And when it blows up it is going to take our NHS and our schools down with it.

It is going to wreck our childrens future for decades to come.

And it is a choice. Plain and simple. It wasnt inevitable.

There was nothing on the ballot paper last June that said we were choosing to pull out of the Single Market. There are other countries that are outside the EU but inside the Single Market  just look at Norway or Switzerland.

There was nothing on the ballot paper that said that people and families from Europe who have made this country their home would be left in limbo, not knowing if they can stay in the country they raise their kids in.

And there was definitely nothing on the ballot paper that said we would turn our allies into enemies. Yet here we are, with our government making accusations of our neighbours and even threatening war with Spain.

The choices Theresa May makes  and the compromises she negotiates with bureaucrats in Brussels  will affect our childrens future for decades to come.

My children, your children, Malcolms grandchildren.

In June last year we voted for a departure, but we didnt vote for a destination.

So I want you to have your choice over your future.

Someone is going to have the final say over the Brexit deal.

It could be the politicians or it could be the people.

I believe it should be the people.

You should have the final say on whether Theresa Mays Brexit deal is right for you and your family in a referendum.

And if you dont like that deal, you should have the choice to remain in the European Union.

Giving you the choice over your future is exactly what our manifesto is about.

I want you to imagine a brighter future.

Imagine a future where our children can grow up in a country where people are decent to each other.

Where we have good schools and hospitals.

Where we take the challenge of climate change seriously.

Where give our teachers and nurses and soldiers the pay rise they deserve for the service they give our country.

Where we have an open, innovative economy.

Where we treat the poorest and the most vulnerable with compassion.

Where we dont turn our back on desperate refugees.

Thats the Britain I love. Thats the Britain I want to lead.

But thats not the future Theresa May is offering you. If you want to know the most revealing thing that has been said during this election, look at Nigel Farages Twitter.

He wrote: Theresa May is using the exact words and phrases Ive been using for twenty years.

Think about that for a minute. The exact words and phrases.

The Prime Minister of our great country saying the same things that Nigel Farage has been saying for twenty years.

And not just the words and phrases. The policies too, thats what UKIP MEP Patrick OFlynn said this week.

Brexit never did just mean Brexit. For Nigel Farage, Brexit was always part of a package, a world view.

Its a world view that includes shunning climate change

that includes shrinking the state by starving our schools and our NHS of the funding they need.

that includes turning our backs on some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world, as Theresa May did when she shamefully closed the door to desperate child refugees.

Thats Nigel Farages world view. The same one that leads to Donald Trump banning Muslims and building a wall. The same one that Marine Le Pen tried to impose on the decent people of France.

Nigel Farages vision for Britain is now Theresa Mays. He has taken over the Conservative Party.

Anti-Europe. Anti-refugees. Slashing funding to schools and hospitals.

No wonder UKIP is standing down candidates and backing the Tories.

After all, who needs UKIP if the Government is doing what they want anyway.

Somebody has to stand up to them. Someone has to fight for the decent, compassionate Britain we love.

But it wont be Jeremy Corbyn.

On the biggest issue facing us all in a generation, when all this is at stake, Jeremy Corbyns Labour hasnt shown up.

Jeremy Corbyn even ordered his MPs and Peers to vote with the Tories and UKIP.

Not against them. With them.

Before the vote on Article 50, he said he would order his party to vote in favour even if the Government made no concessions to them whatsoever.

So, surprise surprise, they didnt.

Jeremy Corbyn didnt have to do that. He could have voted with us to stay in the Single Market, or to give European citizens living here the right to stay. He chose not to.

Jeremy Corbyn has always been pro-Brexit  he campaigned against Europe for years  so we shouldnt be surprised. But we should be disappointed.

Labour are supposed to be the opposition, but they havent opposed anything.

They are supposed to stand up for working people, but they havent stood up for anyone.

They are supposed to care about our childrens future, but they are letting the Conservatives wreck it.

They have lost the right to call themselves the opposition.

Labour has lost its purpose but we have found ours.

The brighter future we want for all our children is at stake. Our economy is at stake. Our schools and hospitals are at stake.

This is about the future of the open, tolerant, united country we love.

I am here tonight to tell you that we wont roll over.

A few weeks ago in France, the two parties that had run the country for decades came third and fifth in the election.

Third and fifth.

The decent people of France decided that they did not want to just simply accept one of the two tired old parties. So they rejected them.

And when the two old parties had been eliminated, the decent people of France faced a stark choice: a liberal, pro-European candidate who believes in an open, tolerant and united France, and the leader of the National Front.

Hope versus fear. A brighter future versus a cold, mean-spirited one.

Nigel Farage pinned his colours to the mast. Just like when he backed Donald Trump in America, he backed the candidate who represented his world view  anti-Europe, anti-refugees.

He backed the National Front.

Well, the decent people of France chose hope over fear. And the National Front lost.

Dont let anyone tell you the only choice you have in this election is between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn.

This election is about your choice and your future.

You can choose a brighter future where our children grow up in a country where people are decent to each other

where we have good schools and hospitals so that our children have a fair chance in life and our elderly are treated with dignity

where we have a clean environment and an innovative economy.

The more Liberal Democrat MPs you elect, the better the deal we will get on Europe.

The more Liberal Democrat MPs you elect, the more jobs and more money for the NHS and schools.

The more Liberal Democrat MPs you elect, the brighter the future for our children.

Theresa May and Nigel Farages cold, mean-spirited Britain is not the Britain I love.

The Britain I love is generous and compassionate.

The Britain I love is one where we are decent to each other.

The Britain I love is open, tolerant and united.

If that is the Britain you love too then this is the moment to stand up.

This is your chance to change Britains future.

I am here tonight because when my children are my age I want to be able to look them in the eye and tell them honestly that when the moment came to stand up for their future, I stood up.

I am determined that our children will grow up in a country where people are decent to each other.

I am here tonight because the Britain I love is not lost yet.

Thats the country I want to lead.
ONE of the tangible legacies of Limericks designation as National City of Culture in 2014 has been the newfound confidence our film community is witnessing.

Behind the scenes, film production in Limerick has been happening for some time but perhaps not at a level that made it stand out as a cultural genre of note, locally, nationally or internationally.

The announcement in 2015 that Limerick was to be home to the new Troy Studios was a major boost to the local film community, a legacy of the old Dell building in Castletroy being showcased during the year of culture in 2014.

I do not claim to be an expert when it comes to how our local film community operates but one thing did seem to stand out for me: we had a heck of a lot of activity in the film festival sphere yet we seemed to have no strategy for tying our many film production assets together.

One of the stand-out successes in recent years has been the development of the Richard Harris International Film Festival.

Led by a small group of dedicated individuals, this initiative has evolved relatively quickly into a celebration of film that is getting noticed here and abroad.

The Harris festival is still in its infancy but its potential is clear. It has a good brand. It has some major players in the world of international film on its side - including film star Jared, a son of Richard Harris. Finally, it has a team who are willing to put in the hard graft and go the extra mile.

It is so refreshing, therefore, to hear that the Richard Harris International Film Festival and Limerick Film Festival have now joined forces.

Limerick Film Festival was founded in LIT almost eight years ago and over the years attracted a following of filmmakers and visitors from across the world in turn giving the filmmaking talent of Limerick a chance to show off their skills to a wider national and international audience.

Simon McGuire, a stalwart of the world of film, was the founder of Limerick Film Festival and is now set to join the board of the Richard Harris Film Festival as both entities now merge their individual offers.

This announcement is significant.

Limerick is not Hollywood. While it has a strong reputation in terms of our ability to produce quality film-making talent it wouldnt traditionally have been seen as the go-to place in terms of film production or showcasing.

Pooling the experience of the Limerick Film Festival and the Richard Harris Film Festival makes total sense. They will both share their connections.

They now have a platform to successfully apply for shared funding opportunities. They both have a huge opportunity to work together and very quickly create a celebration of film, based in Limerick, that rivals any of the more recognised film festivals in Ireland and further afield.

The merger of the Richard Harris Film Festival and Limerick Film Festival is a positive step forward for the citys cultural community. What excites me most about this announcement is the fact that it demonstrates a very clear recognition within our arts community that collaboration can reap great rewards.

Merging any established entities requires maturity, vision, co-operation and a desire for success.

The partnership of both festivals coincides with the continued development of Troy as well as the launch of the new third level programme in Creative Broadcast and Film Production at LIT.

The Richard Harris Festivals existing collaboration with Newport Beach Film Festival in Orange County, California is continuing to reap rewards with further partnerships expected to follow.

RH LFF Promo D2 from Simon McGuire on Vimeo.

It is anticipated that this years newly merged festival will receive a significant boost in terms of local authority funding, a move that will give the organisers a huge opportunity to attract other sources of funding or sponsorship opportunities.

Simply put, we are in exciting times in terms of how we develop our reputation as a film centre in Ireland.

The film community in Limerick is now showing real ambition in terms of how it plans for the future. It is interesting to note that this comes as the new Creative Ireland strategy outlines a clear vision to create a single proposition based on Irish culture and creativity that represents a considered, compelling and imaginative view of how we wish to be seen by the outside world  the outward expression of our identity  for everyone who wishes to know about or to engage with Ireland.

When considering Creative Irelands concept of creating a single proposition it must also be noted that Limericks innovative film community is not solely limited to the Richard Harris Festival or Limerick Film Festival.

Mary Immaculate College is tackling the issue of gender inequality in the Irish film industry through its hosting of a day-long colloquium entitled Women in the Irish Film Industry: Moving from the Margins to the Centre.

Alliance Francaise hosts the Tres Court International Film Festival in Limerick, an event with simultaneous screenings over 10 days in nearly 100 cities in France and 30 other countries.

And then we have the Light Moves Festival of Screendance, Irelands international festival of dance on film, a response to the vibrant and expanding field of dance film in Ireland and internationally.

As our film community continues to gain confidence further collaborations might be considered. When viewed in isolation, Limericks many individual offerings in terms of film might not be perceived as packing a big punch.

However, when viewed as a whole, it is clear that we are well placed to develop our burgeoning film reputation  be it academic, technical, written, performance or celebratory  through a single entity that not only we can be proud of but is one that is the envy of the film industry worldwide.
THREE generations from a well known Cappamore family travelled to Athenry for the Irish Limousin Cattle Societys annual bull sale  and they certainly didnt come home empty handed.

Paddy Ryan Luke, his son Sean and grandson, eight-year-old James set off with Sliabh Felim Kenny in tow.

The September 2015 son of the renowned Fieldson Alfy was crowned reserve senior champion at Athenry Mart.

Ann Curtin, PRO of the south west Limousin club, said Sliabh Felim Kennys dam  the homebred Sliabh Felim Delia is a daughter of Sliabh Felim Ursula who has the distinction of representing Ireland at the prestigious Paris Limousin International Cattle show in France back in 2005.

Ursula was selected to travel based on her show record in Ireland. In 2004 she enjoyed immense success with an unbeaten record in her inaugural show season during which she was crowned All Ireland Calf Champion. She topped all her previous successes with an unprecedented first prize in her class in Paris.

This truly remarkable heifer was a daughter of Nenuphar and the imported dam F056 Ostie. This was a remarkable achievement by winning as the show featured pedigree Limousin cattle from 10 European countries - France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Holland, Poland, Luxembourg and Ireland, explained Ann.

Born in September 2015, Sliabh Felim Kenny boasts five star ratings in terminal index, docility, carcass weight and carcass conformation. After a flurry of bids, Kilrush dairy farmer John Gibsons final bid of 4,700 secured this outstanding bull.

The Sliabh Felim herd commenced breeding pedigree Limousin cattle in 2001. The herd, initially ran in conjunction with Ryans highly regarded dairy herd, was established upon the birth of Sliabh Felim Susie (a Festin daughter) from the foundation female Cave Court Nancy.

In 2006 the dairy herd was disbanded, whereupon the suckler herd began to grow to its current size of 10 pedigree cows and 20 commercial cows, said Ann.

Sliabh Felim Limousin genetics are much sought after and regularly top the show and sales rings both commercially and in the pedigree arena. John Gibson has run Limousin bulls with his dairy cows for the past number of years and saw Kenny as an ideal fit for his herd.

Along with their farming enterprise, Sean Ryan also works for Dairygold, both Paddy and Sean are tireless advocates for their local Cappamore Show. Paddy has served as secretary to the show since 1960.

He is by far the countrys longest-serving honorary show secretary. Cappamore Show, which is one of the foremost in the Munster region, will be held this year on Saturday, August 19.

In 2014, Paddy was honoured with the prestigious Paddy Fitzgerald Memorial Award for a lifetime of service to rural life. Three years on he shows no sign of stopping!

He believes the voluntary work being done by thousands of farmers and others in communities across rural Ireland is an extension of their families.

In any local organisation it is not just a one man show. It is a community effort, said Paddy, who his a lifelong member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association.

He is married to Peggy and they have three grown up children  Gerard, Helen and Sean. Dr Gerard Ryan is highly regarded in cattle breeding circles. Along with breeding his own cattle, he is the general manager of Dovea Genetics.

Sean and his wife Aoife are parents to Megan, James and Grace, all of whom take an interest in both the farm and Cappamore show.

It is great to see Limerick breeders producing Limousin bulls that are among the best in the country, said Ann, on behalf of the south west Limousin club.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte (L) prior to their bilateral meeting during the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. (Photo : Getty Images)

Rodrigo Duterte, the current president of the Philippines, recently concluded his three-day visit to China. The visit resulted in agreements in four areas such as infrastructure funding, human resource development, energy cooperation and news/publishing.



The primary purpose of Duterte's visit was to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, a forum that focuses on Chinese President Xi Jinping's project in reviving the ancient Silk trading route.



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The Philippines is participating in the Belt and Road initiative in order to improve the aging infrastructure problem and inter-island transportation of the country.



The visit was also capped by a meeting with Xi. The meeting yielded four agreements; the one on economic and technical cooperation grants the Philippines 500 billion yuan for the construction of bridges and drug rehabilitation facilities along the Pasig River.



According to Duterte, the grant from China is a testament of the deepening ties between the two countries despite the result of the South China Sea arbitration case.



Since Duterte assumed the presidency in the Philippines, he has chosen to downplay the territorial dispute in order to have improved economic relations with China. He has also turned to Beijing over the United States when it comes to improving the country's infrastructure and military.



Details on the other three agreements are as follows:



The Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation was signed by the energy administrations of China and the Philippines. This MOU aims to strengthen the ties of each country when it comes to electric power, oil, natural gas and other energy sectors.



The Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Human Resources Development was signed by China's Ministry of Commerce and Philippines's National Economic Development Authority. This will promote employee and personnel exchanges between the two countries



The Memorandum of Understanding for News and Publishing was signed by China's State Council Information Office and the Presidential Communications Operations Office of the Philippines. The MOU aims to promote joint activities between the news organizations in both countries as well as to enhance capabilities in the field of international communication and publishing.


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One Belt One Road Summit (Photo : Getty Images)

A number of U.S. companies are positioning to get their share in the $1 trillion worth of investments as China's Belt and Road initiative is drawing both companies and countries into the plan's economic and geopolitical influence, The New York Times reported.



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State leaders and officials from more than three dozen countries, including Russia and the U.S., arrived in Beijing to attend the "One Belt, One Road" forum and enact a plan to build the biggest infrastructure project across Asia, Africa and Europe, reviving the ancient Silk Road trade route.



One of the U.S. companies to benefit from the anticipated OBOR spending is General Electric. About $400 million worth of equipment from G.E. were order by Chinese companies in 2014. The orders totaled $2.3 billion last year, and an additional $7 billion orders for natural gas turbines and other power equipment are planned in the next 18 months.



Other Western companies have also joined the plan, while some have tweaked their businesses to get more orders. Last month, Citibank secured the contract from Bank of China to manage its $3 billion bond offering to raise money to open branches across Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.



Honeywell International, a tech and manufacturing company, is selling equipment for natural gas processing in Central Asia.



But China has assured local companies, such as steel and cement factories, that they will become the biggest beneficiaries, although the money for the plan has yet to be allocated.



Companies engaged in construction such as Caterpillar (a Chinese maker of construction machinery), the Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (known as XCMG) is planning to add robots to its assembly lines.



The major stimulus to the OBOR plan is the country's industrial overcapacity. With nearly 1.1 billion tons of steel produced every year, and the domestic demand is only 800 million tons, the excess steel could be absorbed by the initiative, about 30 million tons a year, a recent study by the European Union Chamber of Commerce shows.



For American companies, taking part in the plan would mean they would have to manufacture more in China, not in the U.S. According to G.E., they would find ways to meet China's requirements and produce the goods locally.



"When the roads are built, when the ports are built, when the power plants are built, I think the other opportunities will come," Rachel Duan, the chief executive of General Electric China, said.


Pacific Rim: Uprising (Photo : Hybrid Network/YouTube)

Although the giant Qingdao Movie Metropolis in Huangdao District is still under construction, a Hollywood movie has bitten the offer of the Dalian Wanda Group, the owner of the movie complex. Dalian Wanda, owned by Chinas richest man, Wang Jianlin, is offering a 40 percent rebate to producers that would film in Qingdao.



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Legendary Movies Shoot in Qingdao Facility



Pacific Rim: Uprising is the second Hollywood movie that has filmed in the Qingdao Movie Metropolis. The first was The Great Wall which unfortunately flopped. Pacific Rim: Uprising just finished shooting in the $8.2-billion movie metropolis which would officially open in August, The Guardian reported. The two films shot in the Dalian Wanda facility because the Chinese conglomerate became the owner of Legendary Pictures which produced the two movies.



With 45 sound stages spread in 400 acres of land, the facility would make some Hollywood studios look small. One of the stages would break the record because of its size of 10,000 square meters when Qingdao Movie Metropolis would finish in August.



The movie complex is not the only infrastructure being built in Qingdao. There are also an artificial island, apartment blocks, marina, hospital, and hotels.



Actor Picks Papillon over Pacific Rim 2



According to Steven DeKnight, director of Pacific Rim: Uprising, the upcoming movie would no longer star Raleigh Becket who starred in the original Pacific Rim movie, Slash Film reported. Because the first Pacific Rim movie was a hit in China, Legendary wanted to make a sequel.



In the early draft of Pacific Rim: Uprising, made by director Guillermo del Toro, Charlie Hunnam was tapped to play the lead role, but things changed after Wanda Dalian acquired Legendary Pictures as timetables changed. The actor came to a point if he would do the sequel or the remake of the 1973 classic prison film Papillon.



DeKnight picked Papillon where Hunnam would play the lead role of Henri Charriere, originally played by Steve McQueen who won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actor Drama for his role. The other key character  played by Dustin Hoffman in the 1973 version  went to Rami Malek.


Egyptian border guards have discovered a 10-metre-deep smuggling tunnel along the frontier region of North Sinai, while conducting counter-terrorism activities in the region, the army said.

The tunnel had been used by Islamist militants to smuggle arms, the military said in a statement on Wednesday.

The army said it found the tunnel while carrying out operations to stem the Islamist insurgency taking place in North Sinai -- an insurgency which the military says has killed hundreds of police and army personnel in recent years.

Egypt has launched a campaign to destroy a network of smuggling tunnels connecting the besieged Gaza Strip with the Sinai Peninsula, which authorities see as a weapons smuggling route for the insurgents in Egypt's Sinai desert.

In October 2014, the Egyptian military said it has destroyed a total of 1,813 tunnels in Sinai since 2011.

Wednesday's statement added that border guards also foiled a recent attempt to smuggle weapons, ammunitions and drugs through the country's western border.

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Egypt's Defence Minister Sedki Sobhi met on Wednesday in Cairo with US Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Air Force General Joseph L. Lengyel and his accompanying delegation, where they discussed several issues of mutual interest.

According to an official statement by the Egyptian armed forces, the meeting came in light of growing special relations between the two friendly nations. That relationship has developed based on joint efforts and in response to challenges in the region, primarily the war on terrorism and the struggle for peace and security.

Sobhi expressed appreciation for the military partnership and cooperation between the Egyptian and American armed forces. That partnership, he added, has extended over years of work to strengthen the pillars of security and peace in the Middle East.

Earlier Wednesday, Egyptian armed forces Chief of Staff Mahmoud Hegazi met with Lengyel to discuss cooperation on training and exchanging military experience in several fields.

The US National Guard Bureau Chief expressed his hopes for continued coordination and new efforts that would achieve both countries' mutual interests.



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Shiprock, a stunning rock formation in New Mexico, stands out even from space. This image was taken April 12, 2017, by an instrument aboard NASA's Landsat 8 satellite.

Shiprock thrusts up from the surrounding New Mexico desert without warning. It's no wonder this abrupt landform is the center of a Navajo legend involving a giant bird that turned to stone  it's impossible to look at the sheer cliffs without wondering what created them.

A new view of Shiprock from space offers a few hints. Leading toward the rugged rock formation in San Juan County is a dark dike, a part of the volcano that created the 1,969-foot-tall (600 meters) cliff formation.

The formation is on Navajo Nation land and is known as Tse Bit'a'i, or "winged rock" in Navajo, according to the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR). Legend holds that the rock was Earth that became a bird and carried the Navajo people to the desert on its back, settling down and turning to stone again after the journey, according to Atlas Obscura. Navajo tradition holds that people should not climb or disturb the rocks, so they have been closed to recreation since the 1970s. [Earth from Above: 101 Stunning Images from Orbit]

Geologically, Shiprock originated from a volcanic eruption about 30 million years ago, according to the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. At the time, the rocks were up to 3,280 feet (1,000 m) below the ground and formed the "neck" of a region of volcanic rocks that has otherwise eroded away. The formation is made from a potassium-rich magma called "minette," according to the bureau, and is heavily fractured into a type of angular fragmented rock called breccia. While the surrounding rock has eroded away, Shiprock and some of its accompanying lava dikes remain.

The new image of Shiprock was taken by the Operational Land Imager on NASA's Landsat 8 satellite on April 12, 2017.

Original article on Live Science.
What looked like a hunk of corroded metal lying at the bottom of the Aegean Sea near the Greek island of Antikythera turned out to be a piece of a mysterious astronomical calculator. That was 115 years ago, on May 17, 1902, when archaeologist Valerios Stais discovered the bronze bit among other artifacts discovered on the Roman cargo ship called the Antikythera shipwreck.

Today's Google Doodle celebrates that discovery with an illustration showing the biggest part of the Antikythera mechanism, which looks like a gear or wheel. Dating to about 85 B.C., or even earlier, the shoebox-size computer is intricate, with dials on the outside and 30 bronze gear wheels inside. Long ago, Greeks could have turned a hand crank on the device to reveal everything from the positions of the sun and the moon and the lunar phases to the cycles of the Greek Olympics. [Photos: Ancient Greek Shipwreck Yields Antikythera Mechanism]

The Antikythera mechanism was also equipped with a dial to predict eclipses. (The Google Doodle includes illustrations for some of these uses, such as the Olympic Games.)

To this day, historians and scientists continue to study the 2,000-year-old computer to reveal more of its secrets. For instance, scientists reported last summer that they found a user's guide of sorts hidden in text on the 82 corroded metal fragments that make up the Antikythera mechanism. Much of the Greek text is unreadable to the naked eye, but with new imaging methods, such as 3D X-ray scanning, scientists have been able to view the once-hidden letters and words.

This ancient Greek "computer" called the Antikythera mechanism continues to puzzle scientists as to what it was used for. (Image credit: Wikipedia Commons)

"Before, we could make out isolated words, but there was a lot of noise letters that were being misread or gaps in the text," Alexander Jones, a professor of the history of science at New York University, told Live Science last year. "Now, we have something that you can actually read as ancient Greek. We can tell what these texts were saying to an ancient observer."

Jones and colleagues found that those inscriptions on the front and back of the mechanism would have been a key for all of the dials and what they were used for.

"That's where we get the key information that there was a full-blown display of planets moving through the zodiac on the front," Jones said last year. This display, which is now lost, had pointers with small spheres representing the sun, moon and planets known at the time (Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) arranged in a geocentric system with circular orbits around Earth, according to the inscription on the back cover. Researchers had proposed the existence of this feature before, but they never had any physical evidence for it, Jones said.

Also last year, archaeologists discovered the 2,000-year-old skeleton of a young man found on the Antikythera shipwreck. The skeleton could divulge the first DNA evidence from the famed wreck, researchers said.

Original article on Live Science.
The outgoing French governments decision to charge a 40 fee for every worker operating in France on a temporary basis and employed by a foreign company is a restrictive practice that will severely curtail the ability of non-French logistics operators to work effectively in mainland Europe, according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA), the UKs largest membership association in the freight sector.

FTA said that it discovered this week day that French authorities intend to charge a fee of 40 per posted worker for companies providing services on French soil but which are established outside France, a move which is set to come into force from 1 January 2018 at the latest. The fee will be used to maintain a database that will handle all documents required by French authorities for posted workers  including drivers.

Pauline Bastidon, FTAs head of European policy, said: In practice, in our sector, this new charge amounts to a restrictive tax on international transport carried out by foreign operators. The fee of 40 per driver is excessive and, simply put, is a protectionist measure designed to close the French transport market to any operator established outside of France.

It will disproportionately increase the cost of operating in France and could have negative consequences for international transport to and from the country. Coming on top of already burdensome requirements, such as the need to have a permanent representative in France, the decision to implement an additional charge on the working of international operators is nothing more than a protectionist tax benefitting the domestic French market, and is one which our members wholeheartedly oppose.

On behalf of the UK freight and logistics industry, FTA is calling on the European Commission to react strongly and speed up its ongoing legal case against France, to ensure that trade can continue to flow across borders in a seamless manner and to protect the integrity of the single market. Mr Macrons new French government, due to be appointed later today, will have the power to reverse this decision which was made by its predecessors, and we urge him to do so, to ensure that the EUs trading routes remain open and frictionless to all operators.

Image: Shutterstock.com
Egypts interior ministry announced on Wednesday the reclaiming of 421 feddans of state-owned land that had been illegally appropriated by private parties in recent decades, state news agency MENA reported.

Authorities reclaimed land in 10 governorates including Cairo, Minya, Aswan, Luxor, Qena and Kafr El-Sheikh.

The national committee formed by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to redeem stolen state land is meeting today to take all necessary measures to reclaim these lands by the end of the month, Ahram Arabic website reported.

At a televised conference on Sunday, El-Sisi expressed frustration at delays in the ongoing process of reclaiming state land, urging the interior ministry and the Armed Forces to put an end to such transgressions.

In an interview with state-owned newspapers on Wednesday, the president announced that he will hold a conference in two weeks that will include the defence and interior ministers, governors, and the heads of the military and police, who will report on their efforts to reclaim the illegally appropriated land.

Transgressions on the lands of the Egyptian people and the rights of the poor are a threat to Egypts security, the president stated, calling on the media to take part in this battle to reclaim the rights of the state and the people.

Last December, the committee announced that it had restored 80,000 feddans of land illegally acquired at the expense of the state.

The committee is headed by Egypt's former prime minister Ibrahim Mahlab and includes the minister of local development, the presidents aide for security affairs and counter-terrorism, and representatives from the justice, defence and finance ministries and the countrys general intelligence.

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A roundup of upcoming events:

Thursday

Abortion rights fundraiser: NARAL Pro-Choice America holds a happy hour to raise money to support its fight for reproductive freedom. The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. at Tank18, 1345 Howard St. in San Francisco. For tickets: http://naral.org/MenforChoiceSF.

Farming film: A screening of Sunu, a documentary about the struggle of Mexican farmers to grow traditional, non-genetically modified corn. The screening is from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 Sixth St. in Santa Rosa. For information, contact Occupy Sonoma County at (707) 877-6650 or www.occupysonomacounty.org.

Saturday

GMO marches: March to protest Monsantos use of genetically modified seeds, 10 a.m. at San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St. For information: www.facebook.com/events/185914998570163. A march will also be held in Santa Cruz at noon at San Lorenzo Park, 137 Dakota Ave. For information: www.facebook.com/events/999957133482531/.

War forum: A discussion, Korea and Syria: Stop the Wars Before They Start, with a Korean scholar and journalist and a member of the Syria Solidarity Movement. The free event is from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Starry Plough Pub, 3101 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley. For information: cuyleruyle@mac.com.

Sunday

Free speech discussion: Ben Stein, a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor and Berkeley resident, will discuss his documentary, Near Normal Man, and free speech versus hate speech. The discussion will be followed by a screening of his film. The free event is at 9:30 a.m. at Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St. in San Francisco. For information: www.gracecathedral.org/events/ben-charlene-stern/.

Trump opposition panel: A discussion on the first 100 days of President Trumps administration and strategies for Trump opponents. Speakers include staffers from House Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosis office and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The panel is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, Rainbow Room, 1800 Market St. The event is free but has limited seating. RSVP: http://bit.ly/2qRwcf4.

North Korea talk: A conversation with Conn Hallinan, a foreign policy analyst, on North Korea, China and the U.S. Free, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo, 300 E. Santa Inez Ave. For information: www.sanmateopeaceaction.org.

Monday

Policing talk: A conversation on policing reform, led by Ronald Davis, former director of the U.S. Justice Departments Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The event is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Creekside Community Church, 951 MacArthur Blvd. in San Leandro. For information: http://bit.ly/2pWJwtr.

Wednesday

Fake news discussion: A conversation with Joaquin Alvarado, CEO of the Center for Investigative Reporting, on the obligation of the government and media to filter fake news. The event is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the World Affairs Auditorium, 312 Sutter St., Suite 200, in San Francisco. For information: http://bit.ly/2qw0OCF.

May 27

Immigration discussion: The Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity will host a discussion on immigration, followed by postcard writing to support social justice. The event is from 10 a.m. to noon at the Northern Police Station Community Room, 1125 Fillmore St. in San Francisco. For information: info@owlsf.org.

June 1

Elizabeth Warren event: A conversation with Sen. Elizabeth Warren and MSNBC host Joy-Ann Reid at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St. in San Francisco. The discussion is part of an all-day event organized around opposition to President Trump. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at www.joyouspersistence.com.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

The Chevron refinery in Richmond was responsible for a mysterious rotten-egg smell that reached as far as San Francisco in December, regulators said Wednesday.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District said it issued four violations Tuesday to the Chevron refinery related to the late-December incident that stumped local authorities as dozens of people in San Francisco and throughout the East Bay complained of the noxious smell.
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State Sen. Carlos Uresti, a San Antonio Democrat, was indicted Tuesday along with three other individuals in two separate cases for bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and other charges in connection with his involvement in bankrupt frac-sand company FourWinds Logistics and public corruption in Reeves County.

Uresti, who was indicted on 13 different charges that carry more than 200 years in prison if found guilty on all counts, denied any wrongdoing.

The charges against me are groundless and I look forward to proving my innocence in a court of law at the appropriate time. I will enter a plea of not guilty and immediately return to work representing District 19, Uresti said in a statement.

Uresti, former FourWinds CEO Stanley Bates, 45, and consultant Gary L. Cain, 60, each face conspiracy and numerous other charges related to their work at FourWinds, a now-defunct oil-field services company accused of defrauding investors, according to the indictment that was unsealed Tuesday afternoon.

Three other FourWinds officials already have pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

The indictment accuses Uresti, Bates and Cain of developing an investment Ponzi scheme to market hydraulic fracturing (fracking) sand for oil production, according to statement issued by the Justice Department.

The San Antonio Express-News published an in-depth investigation into FourWinds and accusations of fraud against Uresti and Bates in August.

Cain didnt return a call for comment after normal business hours, Bates couldnt be located for comment and Bates defense attorney didnt return a call for comment after normal business hours.

Uresti, 53, and Lubbock businessman Vernon C. Farthing III, 44, are accused in a separate indictment of conspiring with others from January 2006 through September 2016 to pay and accept bribes to secure a Reeves County Correctional Center medical services contract for Farthings company.

Farthing couldnt immediately be reached for comment after normal business hours.

That indictment accuses Farthing of paying Uresti $10,000 a month as a consultant. Half of that amount allegedly went to a Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo for his support and vote to award the contract to Farthings company, the indictment says. Galindo, who served as county judge from 1995 to 2006, only is identified as a co-conspirator.

The case is being prosecuted by the Justice Departments public corruption task force. Federal prosecutors, led by U.S. Attorney Richard Durbin Jr., and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs have given Uresti a chance to turn himself in.

Uresti, Bates and Cain are scheduled to make an initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad in San Antonio.

Sen. Urestis indictment comes as no surprise, said Andrew Wheat, research director for Texans for Public Justice, a left-leaning watchdog group in Austin. He gave an unsophisticated investor insane advice.

Uresti advised a legal client of his to take $900,000 she received from a wrongful death case and invest it in a risky startup he worked for, the Express-News has previously reported.

Why did he do that, if not to line his own pockets? Wheat asked.

That investor, described as Victim 1 in the indictment, was Denise Cantu of Harlingen.

She was a legal client he helped in a personal-injury case following the 2010 death of two of her children, the Express-News previously reported. He suggested she go see Bates; Uresti later received a $27,000 commission on her $900,000 investment with FourWinds.

Uresti previously told the Express-News that he disclosed the commission to Cantu and used Turning Point to collect it from FourWinds.

According to the indictment, Uresti told Victim 1 that her investment would obtain a better return with Four Winds than with her current investments.

Cantu lost most of the money.

Uresti, who isnt a registered securities broker, said he consulted with legal counsel who told him he didnt need to register with the Texas State Securities Board. He also wasnt registered as a broker with the Securities and Exchange Commission

Uresti is the second Democratic state lawmaker to be indicted during this legislative session.

In January, a state grand jury indicted state Rep. Dawnna Dukes of Austin on 13 felony counts of tampering with a government record and two misdemeanor counts of abuse and official capacity. She has said she is innocent.

Urestis indictment comes more than three months after agents from the FBI and IRS raided his San Antonio offices.

At the time, Uresti said the search was part of a broad investigation of FourWinds. But law enforcement sources told the Express-News that another target of the raid was his consulting firm, Turning Point Strategies.

We have a responsibility to the families we represent to be effective and anytime there are news stories about corruption and wiretaps floating around, it hurts your effectiveness, said state Rep. Roland Gutierrez, a San Antonio Democrat. It is unfortunate that Uresti has found himself in this position.

Uresti has been the cornerstone of a mini-political dynasty on the South Side. He was re-elected to the Senate for a third time in November.

Prior to his election to the Senate in 2006, Uresti was the state representative for House District 118 for nine years. That seat now is occupied by his brother Tomas Uresti. The Express-News last month reported that the FBI tapped Tomas Urestis cellphone, according to a letter notifying the recipient that a wiretap was used to eavesdrop on his conversations.

At the time of the wiretap, Tomas Uresti was a Harlandale ISD board trustee running for the House seat.

Another brother, Albert Uresti, is the Bexar County tax assessor-collector.

FourWinds went bankrupt in 2015 with more than $14 million in debt. Some investors accused Bates of wasting their money on personal expenses, expensive gifts, exotic car rentals and a wild lifestyle. Those investors claim Bates lured them, in part, by presenting allegedly forged bank documents and financial statements that vastly inflated the companys cash holdings and receivables. Bates has disputed the allegations.

Uresti had multiple roles with FourWinds. He provided legal services and served as outside counsel for the company for four or five months at the end of 2014. He said that ended prior to the 2015 legislative session.

He had a 1 percent ownership interest in FourWinds and was promised a 10 percent cut of the profits from any investments he brought in, the indictment states. His share of the profits would increase to 20 percent for any subsequent investments from those initial investors.

The indictment accuses Uresti and Bates of using the senators position in sales pitches to investors. The indictment says Uresti brought in four investors and charges him with illegally selling securities. None of the investors was named.

I was not selling a security, Uresti said in an August interview.

He faces one count of being an unregistered securities broker and two counts of securities fraud. He also has been charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in monetary transactions with property derived from specified unlawful activity, among other charges.

The indictment says Uresti, Bates and Cain never invested any of their own money in FourWinds.

But Uresti allegedly transferred a portion of three victims money from his law firms trust account to FourWinds bank account. That money then was mixed with other funds that were used to pay a different investor, which is why prosecutors describe it as a Ponzi scheme.

Cain was brought on to help find funding for FourWinds' operations in September 2014, just two months after being cleared in an unrelated criminal trial.

In that case, he was accused of defrauding managed-cloud company Rackspace Hosting Inc. out of millions of dollars in a land scheme he orchestrated. He was represented by Nico LaHood, who was elected Bexar County district attorney in November 2014.

Testifying at a 2015 hearing in his personal bankruptcy case, Bates said he was introduced to Cain by Uresti but that LaHood recommended that FourWinds hire Cain as a consultant. Uresti also has represented Cain in a divorce case.

In the other indictment, Farthing is identified as the president of a company that provided medical services to prison inmates. In 2006, the Federal Bureau of Prisons awarded Reeves County a contract to house federal inmates at the countys detention facility. The Reeves County Commissioners Court awarded Farthings company a contract to provide services at the facility. Galindo presided over the vote.

Galindo helped Farthings company negotiate, price and secure the contract from Reeves County, the indictment charges. In exchange, Farthing agreed to hire Uresti as a consultant and pay him $10,000 a month, the document says.

Uresti acted as a conduit for the payments from Farthings Company and Farthing to Galindo, the indictment states. Uresti kept half the money and other half he sent to Galindo over about a 10-year period ending last September. From some of the payments to Galindo, Uresti deducted about $250 to $500 for office rent, even though Galindo never rented office space from Uresti, the filing adds.

The indictment says Uresti used Turning Point Strategies, his consulting firm, and his law firms trust and operating accounts to pay Galindo and his companies and to hide and cover-up this conspiracy.

Elena Mejia-Lutz contributed to this article.
State Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, sat sullen and in handcuffs at a U.S. court hearing after turning himself in to the FBI about 8 a.m. Wednesday  the morning after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on 13 criminal charges in two separate cases.

The hearing was short, just 20 minutes. But whatever the outcome, the arrest will leave a permanent scar on Urestis long record as a Texas lawmaker.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee, for which hes vice chairman, was holding a meeting right about the time of Urestis arrest. His absence from the days meeting of the full Senate was excused with the traditional wording that he was attending to matters of personal business  in this case, appearing at the courthouse in shackles to answer the fraud and bribery charges against him.

It was the first time Uresti, an attorney, was sitting on the defense side in his own criminal case.

Two alleged co-conspirators  Stanley Bates, 45, and Gary L. Cain, 60,  also turned themselves in about 8 a.m, law enforcement officials said.

All three were arrested and in handcuffs at the hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad in San Antonio. The three men were escorted by federal marshals to the courthouse in handcuffs and leg irons.

Bemporad ordered all three to turn in their passports, restricted travel outside the U.S. and advised the men not to speak about their case to avoid perjuring themselves. They were released with unsecured bonds set at $50,000 apiece.

Uresti also was ordered to refrain from excessive use of alcohol.

They are facing a combined 22 felony counts that each carry a maximum of between 10 years and 20 years in prison and between $250,000 to $5 million in fines if found guilty. The U.S. also is demanding forfeiture of any ill-gotten gains from all three. Theyre scheduled to appear in court again May 31 when theyre expected to formally plead not guilty.

Uresti, 53, disputed fraud charges relating to his involvement in bankrupt San Antonio oil-field services company FourWinds Logistics and public corruption in Reeves County. He could face more than 200 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Although my lawyers have asked me not to talk to the press, I think its very important that I tell the people that I am innocent of the charges. I look forward to my day in court when all the facts come out and the truth and not just what's been written in the press, Uresti told reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing. He appeared shaken as he left with his wife. In the meantime, I have a job to do. I am headed back to the Capitol today to do what I was elected to do by the voters, and that's to fight.

Uresti attended meetings of the Education, Health and Human Services and Veteran Affairs committees, voting on bills in all three, including legislation he sponsored.

As I said this morning, Im back to work ... I was in three committees voting out bills for foster kids, for education, for veterans, he said after leaving the last committee hearing. So, back to work.

His indictment didnt come as a surprise in the Texas Capitol.

I think with the type of coverage and the reporting by newspapers, it was pretty obvious that at some point, more than likely Sen. Uresti would get indicted, said Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen.

His co-defendant, former FourWinds CEO Bates, denied any wrongdoing.

I havent gotten all of the discovery to review it all. At this time, we are denying all the charges, said Karl Basile, a court-appointed lawyer for Bates.

Chad Muller, Cains lawyer, said: We have no comment at this time. We will address the charges in the courtroom.

Cain was a consultant for FourWinds.

The San Antonio Express-News reported in an in-depth investigation in August that Uresti provided legal services and served as outside general counsel for FourWinds for four or five months in 2014.

He also was a 1 percent owner in FourWinds, which purportedly traded sand used in fracking to extract oil and gas from shale rock. The company went bust in 2015.

The indictment describes the trio and three other FourWinds officials who already have pleaded guilty as conspirators who misused investors funds to enrich themselves and others. Prosecutors called FourWinds a Ponzi scheme, paying earlier investors with proceeds from more recent investors.

FourWinds entered bankruptcy in 2015 with more than $14 million in debts. Some investors accused Bates of misspending their money on personal expenses, expensive gifts, exotic car rentals and a profligate lifestyle. Bates has disputed the allegations.

Uresti and Lubbock businessman Vernon C. Farthing III are charged in a second indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Farthing allegedly paid Uresti $10,000 a month as a consultant for about 10 years, ending in September.

Half of that amount allegedly went to a Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo for his support and vote to award the contract to Farthing's company. Uresti acted as the conduit, passing the money between Farthing and Galindo, the indictment says. The document identifies Galindo as a co-conspirator.

Farthing, 44, is expected to make an initial court appearance today.

He is not guilty of those offenses, said San Antonio lawyer Cynthia Orr, who represents Farthing. He looks forward to defending against those charges in court and being vindicated, ultimately.

Galindo couldnt immediately be reached.

Hinojosa said he was surprised by the timing of the indictment  before the Legislature adjourns its regular session on May 29. He said Uresti was upset after the charges were unsealed Tuesday.

Obviously hes very much concerned and devastated, said Hinojosa, adding that he spoke with Uresti when the San Antonio lawmaker was on his way back home Tuesday night.

Hinojosa said Uresti might have mentioned FourWinds to him, but he wasnt asked to invest in the company. He had a whole bunch of brochures and information but I dont have that kind of money, No. 1, Hinojosa said.

Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, said Uresti might not be able to effectively represent his constituents with this shroud over him.

Ive read the full indictment and theyre very serious charges, Gutierrez said. I dont think this is a judgment on the Democratic Party, I think people sometimes fall prey to their devices, and its unfortunate that the Senator has allowed himself to go down this path.

Gutierrez said Uresti was innocent until proven guilty, but the facts outlined in the indictments raised significant concern for his effectiveness of his ability to lead District 19 voters and his effectiveness in the Senate.

If you read the full indictments, full facts, that are contained in there that the grand jury saw, it raises a significant cause for concern, he said, adding that Urestis pension and other state benefits may be at risk if he is convicted.

Uresti is represented by Jorge Aristotelidis and nationally renowned attorney Mikal Watts, who was accused by U.S. prosecutors of making up fake clients to sue BP in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. Watts was eventually charged, tried and acquitted of all 66 charges he faced in the case.

Staff Writer Elena Mejia Lutz contributed to this report.

pdanner@express-news.net

Twitter: @AlamoPD
Two San Francisco brothers accused of running a drug trafficking organization that pumped methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine throughout California and over state lines were indicted following a five-month wiretap operation that netted both their girlfriends and 19 others, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday.

Felix Lopez-Galindo, 32  nicknamed Fanta  and his brother, Pedro Lopez-Galindo, 30  nicknamed Zorro  were indicted last month on charges of possession with the intent to sell and conspiracy to sell drugs, as were their girlfriends, Natalie Hernandez, 21, and Carolina Soto, 28.

According to the complaint, Drug Enforcement Administration agents had been investigating the brothers and their organization since November, using GPS trackers, vehicle trackers, location monitoring of cell phones and pole-mounted cameras, as well as a tap of Felix Lopez-Galindos phone.

While their investigation led them to believe that Felix Lopez-Galindo was the leader and Pedro Lopez-Galindo the right-hand man, Special Agent Brandon Cahill wrote in the complaint that he believed Soto handled the money and Hernandez helped conceal evidence.

Two Fresno men also played a key role in the organization, Cahill said, in that Ismael Rodriguez Loreto, 33, was the organizations source of cocaine and Rafael Romero-Rodriguez, 20, was his runner.

From March 22 to April 27, agents listened to Felix Lopez-Galindo communicate with a number of the defendants using code words for different drugs. In one call with Hernandez, he told her to quit her job because her husband was a drug dealer.

On one occasion, agents followed Felix Lopez-Galindo and Hernandez as they drove to Fresno to pick up Rodriguez Loreto so Felix Lopez-Galindo could meet his source in Long Beach. Agents saw them leave with a heavy cardboard box that they then transferred to Pedro Lopez-Galindo and Soto in Madera.

Pedro Lopez-Galindo was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol on his way back to the Bay Area, and a drug-sniffing dog sniffed out more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, the scent of which Lopez-Galindo had allegedly been trying to mask with air fresheners, Cahill wrote. Soto had her 4-year-old son with them at the time.

The arrests of the others followed soon after, with several taken into custody Monday. In total during this time period, the brothers, their girlfriends and 14 others conspired to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and more than five kilograms of cocaine and heroin, Cahill wrote. Four more were in possession of drugs for sale, and one was indicted as a felon in possession of a firearm.

The other defendants tied to this drug trafficking operation are:

Carlos Ferran Leon, 33, of Hayward

Jesus Chavez Espinoza, 26, of San Jose

Efrain Torres, 28, of San Jose

Henry Javier Lopez Alverto, 29, of San Francisco

Xavier Eriberto Sanchez Hernandez, 25, of San Francisco

Juan Jose Flores Jr., 38, of Daly City

Yader Rubi-Morales, 25, of San Pablo

Branko Budimir, 29, of San Francisco

Julio Covarrubias, 38, of San Francisco

Theresa Carter, 27, of San Francisco

Jose Villanueva-Canchola, 28, of San Francisco

Anthony Balenzuela, 56, of San Francisco

Lillian Larios, 37, of San Francisco

Antonio Serranorivas, 21, of San Francisco

Stephen Asmus, 25, of Redding

Lucy Lopez, 40, of San Leandro

Robert Zander Seaton, 33, of San Francisco

The first court appearance in this case is scheduled for June 15.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo
Every single sight gag in "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" telegraphs its punchline for what seems like an eternity. Anyone, young or old, who sees the movie - the fourth in a series of films based on Jeff Kinney's books - can probably predict how each setup will pay off. It's about as subtle as an anvil landing on your foot.

Whether the joke involves exploding baked goods, pigeon poop raining through a sunroof or teen antihero Greg Heffley (Jason Drucker) searching for his baby brother in a ball pit and coming up with a dirty diaper instead - an image that goes viral - the comic mayhem plays out in a slow, wait-for-it rhythm. When Greg's trickster of a big brother Rodrick (Charlie Wright) eats a stick of fried butter at a country fair, then goes on a gravity-defying ride, you know exactly what's going to happen. Every situation heralds a shameless ba-dum-BUM payoff.

Still, as a low comedy about crazed middle-American family life, "The Long Haul" pretty much delivers on its promise, diapers and all. At least the ratio of giggles to groans runs about 50/50.

The inspiration for the film is the ninth book in Kinney's "Wimpy Kid" series about a small-for-his-age middle-schooler who longs to be cool and popular - and fails miserably. While "The Long Haul" has a totally new cast from the earlier movies - whose child actors are college-age now - director David Bowers helmed the last two releases (2011's "Rodrick Rules" and 2012's "Dog Days") and co-wrote the latest screenplay with author Kinney. Thus, the tone strongly echoes the earlier films, and the animated line drawings based on Kinney's illustrations still wittily punctuate the action. But the level of gross-out humor feels amped up, and the absence of Greg's school friends on this road trip leaves a comedic void.

In addition to Drucker, a near look-alike for his predecessor Zachary Gordon, and Wright (replacing Devon Bostick), Owen Asztalos fills in for Robert Capron as Greg's apple-cheeked best pal, Rowley. Alicia Silverstone and Tom Everett Scott ably replace Rachael Harris and Steve Zahn as Greg and Rodrick's harried parents.

Alas, the new Rowley registers only briefly, before disappearing on vacation and leaving Greg to his fate. Missing altogether are Greg's and Rowley's magnificently nerdy schoolmates: the freckle-faced yuckiness connoisseur Fregley and the diminutive know-it-all Chirag (played by Grayson Russell and Karan Brar in the earlier films).

Greg, the diarist of the title and our narrator, notes early on that as a kid, "You have zero control over your own life." He wants a lazy summer, but his parents opt for a road trip to his great-grandmother's 90th birthday party. Even worse, Mom rules that it's going to be an "unplugged" trip, meaning no cellphones or other electronic devices. They set off, with Dad's overpacked motorboat hitched to the car, and with Greg, Rodrick and toddler Manny (Dylan and Wyatt Walters) in the back seat, with Manny's training potty. There's also a piglet at one point.

What could go wrong?

At a nightmarish motel, Greg accidentally infuriates a hairy guest he dubs "Beardo" (Chris Coppola), who thereafter tries to throttle Greg whenever their paths cross.

For Greg, the only upside to the trip is his plan to sneak off with Rodrick to a video-game expo. There, Greg hopes to expunge his "Diaper Hands" humiliation by appearing in a YouTube video with a star gamer. The rather flat third act cries out for the presence of Greg's friends, as does the rest of the film.

The family dynamics enlighten and amuse, but only up to a point. Like the long-suffering title character, viewers may be left wondering: Where are Greg's nutty buddies when we need them?

---

Two stars. Rated PG. Contains lots of gross-out humor and at least one scene with young Greg stuck outside in his underwear. 90 minutes.

Ratings Guide: Four stars masterpiece, three stars very good, two stars OK, one star poor, no stars waste of time.

Advance fri may 19
Grasshopper Film

A centerpiece of the Oscar-winning 2016 documentary short "The White Helmets" was footage of the rescue of a baby from the rubble of a bombed building in Aleppo by volunteers from the Syrian Civil Defense, the group whose nickname lends the film its title. In the new, feature-length documentary "Last Men in Aleppo," we're again shown another viral YouTube clip of a dramatic rescue of a baby, while also meeting one of the baby's rescuers, Khaled Omar Harrah.

Although there are other parallels between the two films, the Sundance prize-winning "Aleppo" is a deeper and more artful film, allowing us to get to know not just Khaled, but also his co-worker Mahmoud as they go about their lives away from work. Scenes of Mahmoud rushing off from a bombing to freshen up for the wedding of a friend, or of Khaled playing with his children before whisking them home when a bomber is sighted, are powerful and poignant reminders of the tragic and surrealist nature of life in this city besieged by its own government and Russian bombers.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and King Abdullah II of Jordan stressed the importance of fostering international efforts to fight terrorism in the region during a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday.

Abdullah arrived in Cairo for a short visit earlier today to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional issues, including the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

During the meeting at the presidential palace in Cairo, the two leaders praised the level of cooperation between the two countries in the face of regional challenges.

President El-Sisi discussed ongoing development projects in Egypt, including the construction of the new administrative capital, as the two leaders discussed means of cooperation in infrastructure projects.

On regional issues, El-Sisi and Abdullah stressed the importance of direct peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israel based on the two-state solution, given the current momentum to reach peace created by the expressed desire of the administration of US President Donald Trump to do so.

On the Syrian crisis, the two Arab leaders praised the latest agreement reached in Kazakhstan's capital Astana between Russia, Turkey, and Iran to set up four safe zones in Syria in an attempt to reduce violence in the war-torn country.

They also vowed to intensify support for international efforts to end the suffering of the Syrian people by reaching "a political solution to the crisis that preserves the unity of Syrian territories."

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With San Antonios population projected to grow by 1.1 million over the next quarter century, increasing the citys population to 2.4 million by 2040, were going to need a lot more housing  most experts predict at least 500,000 units.

How will we build it affordably? How will that kind of large-scale construction effort affect the environment? Where, in a nutshell, are we going to put everybody?

Two architecture students at the University of Texas at San Antonio have what they think is at least a partial solution.

The American Institute of Architects agreed. The national trade association recognized Estefania Barajas, 23, and Jorden Gomez, 21, for their design proposal, called Housing a Million, which envisions micro-houses in peoples backyards.

The AIAs Committee on the Envirnoment, in partnership with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, placed Housing a Million among the top 10 projects in a competition that challenged students to design sustainable infill urban housing. Gomez and Barajas emerged from a field of more than 600 participants from 38 schools in the United States and Canada.

They were recognized at the AIA convention in April, and their project will be exhibited at the architecture school associations annual meeting in March 2018. Its the second year in a row that UTSA has placed an architectural project in the top 10.

This is a major competition, said Ian Caine, an assistant professor at UTSAs College of Architecture. It was the only project from Texas. This proposal was so important because at current densities, the citys population growth will expand beyond its infrastructure at an alarming rate, so the students had to take into account where to put 1.1 million people. Architects cant just design in a vacuum. Every line you draw has some impact.

With assistant professor Rahman Azari, Caine designed the San Antonio 2040 UTSA studio course  a two-pronged laboratory combining building performance (how a building uses energy) and architectural design  which was the incubator for Housing a Million.

Gomez and Barajas were all smiles during a recent interview, but they grew serious when they talked about Housing a Million.

Yes, we are putting housing in peoples backyards, said Barajas, who is from Laredo, with roots in Queretero, Mexico, and will graduate later this year. We are trying to densify one urban block.

The proposal places micro-units  each featuring a small studio apartment with a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom  in the backyards of existing homes in a block in south San Antonio, transforming little used space into a new community featuring shared space, parking, bioswales and walkways.

The alley becomes a main thoroughfare, while the street remains untouched, Caine said. The single family home will continue to dominate the street, while family housing dominates the alley, so they have effectively flipped the equation.

Expanding the plan  up to six homes per backyard  to block after block, it would create a dense urban neighborhood and limit the citys overall footprint growth, which in turn saves energy.

The students believe that their micro-unit proposal could accommodate 10 percent of San Antonios projected population growth, or about 50,000 people.

The small homes would be constructed of load-bearing SIPs, or modular Structural Insulated Panels, offering quick, low-cost installation.

As we researched, the more the design would change, said Gomez, whos from El Paso and just graduated. And we realized the houses could be put in kits, so they could be built quickly, easily and cheaply on site.

Clad in Western red cedar, the rectangular micro-units, with slightly pitched roofs, are modular and minimalist. Other sustainability factors in each kit would include a water collector system, photovoltaic panels and a native planting scheme.

This process challenges the students to think holistically about architectural design, Azari said, considering such issues as community density and energy usage. They must know the synergies and trade-offs from these various design issues.

Working on the Housing a Million project in the UTSA studio has had a tremendous impact on the students thinking, Gomez said.

This process has really changed the way I will think about design in the future, she said. Its not just about the way it looks, but the way it performs.

sbennett@express-news.net
On this date in ...

1917: In a written statement, Mrs. Hilmor Zehner, mother of 16-year-old Clara Zehner, who was being held by police along with her father and 20-year-old sister, Ida, in the alleged disappearance and possible murder of an infant, said that her youngest daughter did give birth to a baby on April 17 despite her family's denials, but that she did not know what happened to it. Many of the mothers in their neighborhood along Schenectady Road confirmed her story, with several adding that they often saw Clara slip out of her home late at night and head to the shack where Charles Hedrick, the 48-year-old handyman and alleged father of her baby, lived.

1967: The Helderberg Workshop had leased a 270-acre tract of land containing a house, barns and other structures with an option to buy for $100,000. The land, at the foot of the Helderberg Escarpment bordering state-owned Thacher Park in New Scotland, was owned by Aaron Crounse. A theater, amphitheater, dormitory, classroom, art studio and junior science building were among the facilities envisioned there. Money for purchase of the land was to be raised through donations.

1992: The ghost of Erastus Corning II never surfaced at former County Executive James J. Coyne Jr.'s trial, but Albany County politics still weighed heavily in both the prosecution and defense cases. Defense attorney Stephen Coffey had vowed in his opening statements to deliver Corning, telling the jury he would weave a tale ripe with political history. But Judge Lee P. Gagliardi's strict rules gave both sides little latitude and moved the trial at a breakneck pace. The case was soon expected to go to the jury.

Want to read more about the Capital Region's past? Have any memories or thoughts about how our history relates to today's events? See http://blog.timesunion.com/history/
Issa Qaraqe, head of the Palestinian Commission of Detainee and Ex-Detainee Affairs, denounced on Tuesday the Israeli government's decision to transfer a number hunger-striking Palestinian detainees to small medical units.

According to a statement issued by the commission  which is directly subordinate to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO)  Qaraqe said that such units lack efficient medical systems and the equipment necessary to help the detainees.

"This is an Israeli trick that aims to deceive the world and will be led by trained nurses," said Qaraqe.

The Palestinian official pointed out that the decision to transfer the detainees to the medical units came in response to their deteriorating health status, which "threatened the lives of the hunger-strikers."

On April 17, more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners began a hunger strike in response to a call by Marwan Barghouti  a Palestinian political figure and current detainee  to protest poor prison conditions and the detention of thousands of Palestinians by Israeli authorities without trial since the 1980s, said a Reuters report.

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A couple has been arrested for allegedly stashing marijuana at their home in El Eden neighborhood in south Laredo, authorities said.

Miriam Lizette Castro, 27, and Esteban Magana, 19, were each charged with felony possession of marijuana.
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A couple wanted in Texas since September was arrested in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, authorities said Monday.

Mexicos federal police did not identify the suspects.

They said the man was wanted for drug possession and aggravated assault charges while the woman is accused of helping him evade arrest.

READ MORE: Affidavit: Laredo woman stabbed husband because he's 'always intoxicated'

Police said officers came across the duo after they caused a disturbance.

They tried fleeing when officers arrived at the scene. Police caught up to them in Colonia Los Palmares in south Nuevo Laredo, according to reports.

Both were turned over to the National Institute of Migration.

Click through the gallery above to see photos of Nuevo Laredo from the past two decades.
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The co-defendant of a man standing trial in the 406th District Court for the 2014 slaying of a 3-year-old told the jury Tuesday that she is testifying so that there can be justice for her daughter.

Cristian Yepez and his girlfriend, Janette Irene Pantoja, face charges of murder and tampering with evidence in relation to the death of Pantojas daughter, Jasleen Valdez. Their cases are being tried separately, meaning the jury is solely focusing on charges against Yepez, 27.

The prosecution alleges the child died as a result of a vertical force on her head, caused by Yepez, that caused fractures to her skull.

By the time this trial is over, the evidence will be overwhelming that the defendant murdered Jasleen Valdez, said assistant district attorney Linda Garza-Martinez.

The defense says the prosecutions allegations are based upon the word of Pantoja, who they said told lies to her family, friends and the police, as well as the flawed findings of an expert witness and raw emotions that come when a dead child is discussed.

READ MORE: On the hunt for 71-year-old's killer, Laredo police release more details regarding 2014 slaying

Once the initial shock of the subject matter goes by and you look at the actual evidence, you will see that the state cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Yepez killed Jasleen by beating her to death, Uriel Druker said.

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.

LPD Investigator Greg Cantu testified about discovering Valdezs burial site on Sept. 11, 2014.

The prosecution said Valdezs body was reduced to a clump of hair, pile of bones and rotting clothes by the time it was discovered.

On the witness stand, Pantoja described the events that led to Cantus discovery.

At the time of the alleged incident, Yepez was working for a vehicle nationalization business that transports vehicles from Chicago to Laredo.

He traveled to Laredo with Pantoja and Valdez to deliver a vehicle.

Yepez insisted Valdez join them on what he considered to be a vacation for the couple, Pantoja told the jury.

"(Valdez) was enjoying the trip for a little while and then she started playing with Cristian. They were biting each other on the arm. She was laughing," Pantoja said.

Yepez's attitude allegedly changed after their arrival in Laredo.

"Cristian was acting very strange. He seemed very angry, like if he didn't want us to be there," Pantoja said.

RELATED: Trial upcoming for man accused of beating 3-year-old to death in Laredo motel restroom

Pantoja claims she sustained bruises and a black eye during several arguments with Yepez in a Monterrey Inn room during their stay in Laredo.

Yepez allegedly assaulted Valdez too, grabbing her by her feet and dropping her on her head twice during their motel stay.

I didnt realize it was going to be life-threatening, Pantoja said when asked why she didnt take her child and leave or call the police.

After waking up on Aug. 14, 2014, Pantoja said she went to the restroom to get ready at Yepezs request before he allegedly locked her inside.

I was in the front of the sink  and then the bathroom door slammed  I tried to get him to open it, someone to open it, but nobody would so I panicked.

The door didnt open so I started yelling and then Cristian opened the door and he had my daughter in his hands  she looked like she was sleeping. She wasnt moving and she had her eyes closed. He just came in and was like, Janette help, Janette help, Pantoja said.

Then, Yepez carried Valdez to the shower and tried splashing water on her face before running out of the bathroom with the child, according to Pantoja.

Taking Valdez in her arms, Pantoja said she tried to revive her child.

I didnt know what to do. She was dead, Pantoja said.

MORE CRIME: Mugshots: 17 arrested in Webb County's Operation GOTCHA

Pantoja testified that Yepez threatened her life, saying if she called the police that he was going to kill her.

He threatened my parents. He literally laughed in my face and said that I just didnt know. He said he knew the owner of the motel and said he had my parents watched, Pantoja said.

At some point after trying to revive the child, Pantoja said Yepez moved Valdez to the sofa and wrapped her in a sheet, where she remained on the sofa for the entire day.

At that point I was out of it. I couldnt believe what had happened. I couldnt believe she was dead  I was scared that he was going to go through with what he said about killing me and killing my parents, Pantoja said.

Pantoja testified that Yepez made arrangements over the phone with someone who was going to send a man from Chicago to assist in burying Valdezs body. Yepez spoke in code on the phone, saying he needed to throw out the trash, Pantoja said.

Awaiting the unknown mans arrival, Valdezs body allegedly remained wrapped in a sheet on the bed of the truck overnight. The body also allegedly remained in the truck during trips to Home Depot, K-Mart and Golden Corral over the span of two or three days.

Around Aug. 17, 2014, Pantoja claims she, Yepez and an unknown man drove to an empty lot off Del Mar Boulevard. There, Yepez and the man retrieved Valdez from the truck and buried her, Pantoja said. She allegedly remained in the vehicle.

Still believing her and her parents lives were in jeopardy, Pantoja said she took a bus ride back to Chicago with Yepez. Shortly thereafter, she traveled to Houston with Yepez, where she remained until an incident in September 2014, when the couple got into a fight.

That day is when I just snapped and I started yelling and being defensive  I yelled if someone could call the police, Pantoja said.

Police were able to connect the altercation between Pantoja and Yepez with a missing child report filed in Chicago before discovering Valdezs body and charging the couple with murder, the prosecution said.

Pantoja, who said she wasnt promised leniency or a plea bargain in exchange for her testimony, is expected to resume testifying today.
Wanted for allegedly beating his estranged wife to death, a member of the Texas 10 Most Wanted list is now in custody after being arrested Friday in Laredo, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Eusebio DeLeon, 44, is currently being held in Brooks County jail in Falfurrias, Texas, after being located by DPS officials in Monterrey, Mexico. The arrest came as the result of tip information, and a reward of up to $5,000 will be paid.
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A woman landed behind bars Monday after she allegedly stabbed her husband following a domestic disturbance reported in the Quail Creek neighborhood in northwest Laredo, authorities said.

Nancy Jacklyn Saucedo Palomo, 37, was charged with aggravated assault with a knife.

On Monday, officers responded to a stabbing report in the 9600 block of Ashton Loop. Saucedo allegedly called authorities saying she had stabbed her husband and had left the knife inside the residence.

READ MORE: Mother of child allegedly beaten to death in Laredo motel bathroom testifies against boyfriend

Authorities encountered the husband sitting on a chair in front of the entrance. He appeared to have an open wound on his inner bicep, according to police.

He was uncooperative. Police said he told them that he fell and hit himself with something.

But Saucedo had a different story. She stated she had stabbed him following an argument about him being always intoxicated, according to an arrest affidavit.

Click through the gallery above to see violent crimes in Texas cities.
Like Crazy (the Italian title is better: La Pazza Gioia) arrives in America on a wave of approbation, and all of it deserved. A big hit in Italy, where it won top prizes, its the story of two very different women who go on a road trip. What they have in common is that they have just escaped from a mental institution.

For one of the actresses, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, this is not the first time she has been institutionalized. Tedeschi became famous in 1993 for playing a woman who blossoms in the nuthouse (Normal People Are Nothing Exceptional), and, in her acting, she has made several visits to the padded walls over the years. But Like Crazy provides her with her best opportunity to depict mental instability, and her performance couldnt be better.

This is a movie that can be enjoyed in different ways and for lots of reasons. Its dramatic and its funny, and it has a warm humanity at its center. But you might also watch it as a tailor-made showcase for a world-class actress. For the comparatively few Americans who already know Tedeschi, nothing more needs to be said. For the rest, Like Crazy is a golden entry into one of the great careers, a chance to discover one of the most idiosyncratic and endearing actresses working today.

The opening scene is a perfect introduction to the character and to what Tedeschi can do with her. We see her breezing through the tended grounds of a great palazzo, dressed impeccably and looking magnificent, barking instructions at everyone she sees. She is grand and sure of herself and yet faintly ridiculous, and soon we realize that no one is listening to her. She is not a landowner ordering her servants around. This is a sanitarium, and Beatrice (Tedeschi) is one of the inmates.

Beatrice is a wonderful comic character. She is erratic, swinging at will from magnificence to insecurity, and from diffidence to rage. She is compulsively honest and says the most appalling things without realizing. She is always having her dignity undercut, which means that she is invariably warding off shame even as she is asserting herself. And because she was born fabulously rich, Beatrice has a social ease that belies her reduced situation.

Paolo Virzi, who wrote and directed the film, must have had Tedeschi in mind as he was conceiving it. Like Beatrice, Tedeschi was also born into great wealth. And Virzi cast Tedeschis own mother (Marisa Borini) to play the mother of Beatrice.

The film traces a bond that grows between the overbearing Beatrice and a woman who is her complete opposite, Donatella (Micaela Ramazzotti), who is withdrawn and poor, with a tortured past. Ramazzotti (who is married to Virzi) gives the films other extraordinary performance, one in a very different register from that of Tedeschi. Watching them is like watching a muralist and a miniaturist create masterpieces side by side.

By the way, though Tedeschi was born in Italy, she moved to France with her family when she was 10 years old, and she has made the vast majority of her films in France. But in recent years, she has been going back to her roots and taking a lot more roles in Italy. Tedeschi combines the raw sensuality of an Anna Magnani with the melancholic introspection of a Monica Vitti and is well worth discovering.

Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @MickLaSalle

Like Crazy

Comedy-Drama. Starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Micaela Ramazzotti. Directed by Paolo Virzi. In Italian with Engish subtitles. (Unrated. 118 minutes.)
Islamic State (IS) militants are planting bombs near front doors in Mosul to prevent civilians leaving, a federal police commander and witnesses said on Wednesday, as Iraqi forces make their final push against the Islamist militants after seven months of fighting.

Trapped in a shrinking area of the city, the militants are increasingly using the several hundred thousand civilians under their control as human shields to avoid being targeted or perhaps tarnish what Iraqi leaders describe as imminent victory.

Backed by a U.S.-led coalition, Iraqi forces have made rapid gains since opening a new front in northwest Mosul this month and have now dislodged IS from all but about 12 square km (5 square miles) of the city.

The militants, however, still control the Old City, where they are expected to make their last stand in the densely populated, narrow streets that are impassible for armoured vehicles, forcing Iraqi forces to advance on foot.

The Iraqi government is pushing to declare victory by the holy month of Ramadan - expected to begin on May 27 - even if pockets of resistance remain in the Old City, according to military commanders.

Lieutenant-General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi told state TV his elite Counter Terrorism Services (CTS) were advancing steadily in the Rifaie and Najjar districts, aiming to reach the western bank of Tigris river and complete the Old City's encirclement.

"God willing the coming hours we will complete our assigned task," he said on Wednesday.

The militants had deployed 30 suicide car bombs against his troops in Mosul over the past two days, he said.

In the Siha district, Assadi said, IS had chained civilians by the hands and used them as human shields to move around. "We saw them moving with their weapons in the midst of the civilians but we did not strike them," he said.

The civilians were unchained and released once the militants reached cover, Assadi said.

Hundreds if not more civilians have been killed under bombardment by the U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi airforce during the Mosul campaign and the rest are eating weeds and boiled wheat grain to surivive as food runs out.

Fearful of triggering bombs if they open the front door, civilians are fleeing through the same holes IS knocked through interior walls to move around the city without being targeted from the sky.

The number of people fleeing Mosul has surged since the re-intensification of hostilities this month.

Nearly 10,000 people were displaced from the city on Tuesday, according to Iraqi government figures, joining an exodus of nearly 700,000 who have left Mosul since the start of the campaign last October.

Two civilians were killed when they returned to the Islah al-Ziraei district days after it was retaken by Iraqi forces when they accidentally triggered a bomb that IS had planted to prevent them leaving their home.



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Five-year-old Kate Earnest remembered a bang, a flash and then screaming.

She and her classmates at The Yellow School, a day school at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in the Memorial Villages area, had been watching their teacher conduct a seemingly innocuous science experiment Tuesday.

The teacher poured an accelerant - in this case methanol - onto chemical salts in bowls, said David Foster, police chief with the Village Police Department.

The salts would burn at different light frequencies, creating a rainbow.

But when the teacher didn't see an undetected flame already in one of the bowls, the teacher poured in more methanol from a plastic bottle, Foster said.

The results were frightening. The additional methanol onto the flame essentially created a rocket effect, shooting fire out of the bottle and into Kate and her classmates, seated about 10 feet away.

The so-called Rainbow Fire experiment is common nationwide as a way to show differences in atomic structures, said Kristen Kulinowski, a board member of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board.

But adding extra accelerant to an undetected flame is a common problem with dangerous consequences, Kulinowski said.

The safety board has been asking teachers since 2013 to question whether the experiment is really necessary in their classrooms. And, in a setting like The Yellow School, where students are between 3 and kindergarten, Kulinowski questioned whether it was worth the risk.

Students were sitting outside watching the experiment around 12:30 p.m. , supervised by at least half a dozen teachers, Foster said.

"It appeared they took as many precautions as they could," Foster said. "Short of not doing the experiment."

Two of the three small bowls containing methanol and chemical salts had been lit successfully. The third - boric acid - posed the problem. It should have burned green, Kulinowski said. Instead, it propelled flames at the children.

"This is a violent, explosive, rapid production of gas," Kulinowski said. "That's how a rocket works. You take some fuel, and it turns it into gas very suddenly. It's a propulsive effect."

About 12 students at school got first- and second-degree burns on their faces, arms and legs from the flame.

Six students wound up at the hospital. Five were discharged Tuesday afternoon.

Another six were taken by their parents to separate medical providers - five for burns and one who was trampled by classmates after the blaze.

In the pandemonium, a mom rushing to pick up her child from the day school rammed into a car passing by, resulting in yet another hospitalization.

The safety board does not track injuries specifically caused by the Rainbow Fire experiment, Kulinowski said.

Similar fires erupted in August 2015 at a science museum in Nevada and, in 2016, at a high school in Virginia, said Andrew Minister, chief fire protection engineer for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

"We're seeing an alarming trend," Minister said.

Between 2006 and 2016, 224 chemical incidents were reported in labs and classrooms nationwide based on data from media reports, Kulinowski said. About 22 percent of those occurred in elementary, middle and high schools, she said.

Having the Rainbow Fire experiment performed in a preschool or kindergarten classroom is unusual because students would not be able to understand the science - atomic structure - behind it, Kulinowski added.

"There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of pedagogical value to doing this," Kulinowski said.

There are safer ways to conduct the experiment. Teachers could add smaller amounts of accelerant, instead of dumping in significant portions out of a large bottle, Kulinowski said.

Foster, the Village Police chief, wasn't familiar with the experiment before Tuesday. But his takeaway was that perhaps this is one science experiment teachers should skip.
The managers voted to approve the final payment remaining from the construction projects funded by the 2007 bond Tuesday night, left unpaid through the state takeover.

The $163, 152.23 will be paid to Morganti of Texas, Inc. for work on the renovation of the West Brook Field House.

The company was awarded a $1.9 million contract on October 25, 2011, according to district financial documents, and three change orders were approved, raising the total to just under $2.5 million.

Robert Calvert, BISD's Director of Special Projects, wrote in the board agenda that "reconciliation of invoices and payments has been completed and there is no evidence that the remaining payment to Morganti has been budgeted or paid by the district,"

The payment will empty the remaining $73,631 in bond funds, according to BISD spokeswoman Nakisha Burns, and the General Fund will cover $89,251.

The West Brook project was delayed repeatedly due to problems with leaking, construction and architecture.

The district's project managers for the bond, Parsons, were heavily criticized for financial mismanagement in a 2015 forensic audit, which found that substantial funds were reallocated for change orders when costs far exceeded estimates on several of the bond-funded projects.

Board members were initially asked to approve the payment at their April 20 meeting, but delayed the vote until they could consult with counsel.

Burns said the district is "not aware of any other invoices that are remaining to be paid" from the bond projects.
Who knew firing an FBI director could be so hard?

Indisputably now, Donald Trump had no idea what he was getting himself into when he took office four months ago. The same president who allegedly asked James Comey to drop the FBI's probe into Michael Flynn - potentially imperiling his grip on power - has also said "nobody knew health care could be so complicated," volunteered that he only learned containing North Korea is "not so easy" when the Chinese president tutored him on the region's history and expressed surprise that government cannot be run like a business.

Exactly one week, to the hour, after Comey found out via cable television that Trump had fired him, The New York Times published a bombshell story: The president asked the then-director to stay in the Oval Office at the end of a February meeting on counter-terrorism. Once Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Vice President Mike Pence left the room, Trump urged Comey to drop the investigation in the wake of the national security adviser's resignation. This comes from a detailed, two-page memo that the director wrote up immediately after their conversation.

"I hope you can let this go," Trump said, according to Comey's account.

Several media outlets, including The Post, quickly confirmed the existence of these notes.From Devlin Barrett, Ellen Nakashima and Matt Zapotosky: "Comey's account of the February talk made it clear that his understanding of the conversation was that the president was seeking to impede the investigation . . . Comey's notes also made it clear he felt that the conversation with the president was improper and decided to withhold details of it from the case agents working on the Russia probe. According to the director's notes, Comey did not respond directly to the president's entreaties, only agreeing with Trump's assertion that Flynn 'is a good guy.'"

"An F.B.I. agent's contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations,"Michael Schmidt notes on the front page of the Times. "Alone in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Mr. Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information . . . Mr. Trump then turned the discussion to Mr. Flynn."

Comey apparently prepared memos after "every phone call and meeting he had with the president." "He wrote down every word Trump said to him as soon as he could," one of his friends told Politico.

Only an amateur would be surprised that Comey took notes after a meeting like this and that they would emerge if he got fired while the investigation in question was still ongoing. How the last several days have played out was entirely foreseeable for anyone who has even a basic grip of how Washington works and how Comey operates.

What did Trump think Comey was going to do? We know he underestimated Democratic attacks because he believed they were mad at Comey for hurting Hillary Clinton. But Comey is obsessed with his personal integrity. Did the president really think he was going to take all of this lying down?

Why did Trump want to protect Flynn? What might he know that the president doesn't want to get out? Many unanswered questions remain about why it took 18 days for Flynn to resign after the acting attorney general warned the White House counsel that he had been compromised and was susceptible to blackmail by the Russians. Could Trump have secretly authorized Flynn's contacts with Sergey Kislyak during the transition?

Why did the president ask Pence and Sessions to leave the room when he talked to Comey? "This is the kind of conversation that rational, experienced presidents know not to have," Ruth Marcus writes. "It is the kind of conversation that a White House counsel should make sparklingly, crystal clear to a president that he is not to engage in, not even close. It is the kind of conversation that seems completely in character for Trump, who, over the course of the campaign and now in office, has betrayed no - zero - understanding of the necessary separation of the president and his Justice Department when it comes to making independent judgments about political matters and political opponents."

Did White House counsel Don McGahn know that his boss had talked with Comey one-on-one about the Flynn probe as Trump prepared to terminate him? Executive privilege means we'll never know for sure what these deliberations were like, but there is good reason to believe he was out of the loop. Sally Yates told the New Yorker in an interview published Tuesday, for example, that he did not even know FBI agents had interviewed Flynn until she told him.

Every lawyer worth his or her salt creates a copious paper trail for C.Y.A. purposes, but Comey especially is legendary within elite Washington legal circles for doing so. McGahn, 48, was a partner at Jones Day and before that an FEC commissioner. Jeff Sessions and Rod Rosenstein, the Justice Department officials who hastily created the documents used to justify Comey's ouster, have also been around long enough that they should have known.

Perhaps more importantly, did anyone warn Trump about what role Comey had played in George W. Bush's U.S. attorney scandal? This week marks the 10th anniversary of his gripping testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. In case you don't remember, here is the lead of The Washington Post's story from that day : "On the night of March 10, 2004, as Attorney General John Ashcroft lay ill in an intensive-care unit, his deputy, James Comey, received an urgent call. White House Counsel Alberto R. Gonzales and President Bush's chief of staff, Andrew Card, were on their way to the hospital to persuade Ashcroft to reauthorize Bush's domestic surveillance program, which the Justice Department had just determined was illegal. In vivid testimony . . . Comey said he alerted FBI Director Robert Mueller and raced, sirens blaring, to join Ashcroft in his hospital room, arriving minutes before Gonzales and Card. Ashcroft, summoning the strength to lift his head and speak, refused to sign the papers they had brought. Gonzales and Card, who had never acknowledged Comey's presence in the room, turned and left. The sickbed visit was the start of a dramatic showdown between the White House and the Justice Department in early 2004 that, according to Comey, was resolved only when Bush overruled Gonzales and Card. But that was not before Ashcroft, Comey, Mueller and their aides prepared a mass resignation, Comey said."

Legal experts say Comey's allegation provides the strongest support yet for a criminal obstruction-of-justice case against Trump, though more evidence would probably be required to warrant action.From the Post's Matt Zapotosky: "The laws governing obstruction require prosecutors to show a person 'corruptly' tried to influence a probe - meaning investigators have to find some evidence of what a person was thinking when taking a particular action. In this case, analysts said, that would mean analyzing the specific details of Trump and Comey's conversation, assessing what else was happening at the time and possibly talking to Trump associates who had talked with the president about what he wanted to do."

"There's definitely a case to be made for obstruction," said Barak Cohen, a former federal prosecutor who now does white-collar defense work at the Perkins Coie law firm. "But on the other hand you have to realize that - as with any other sort of criminal law - intent is key, and intent here can be difficult to prove." Cohen said that while it was "highly improper" for Trump to insert himself in an investigation in any way, charging him would be difficult. With a lower-profile target, he said, "maybe prosecutors might be aggressive enough to bring a case," but "it also arguably undermines democracy for prosecutors to go after a sitting president with only circumstantial evidence."

This is where the president's credibility gap is creating a crisis for the White House. Predictably, the White House denied Comey's account. But of course the administration would deny it, just as officials have denied other stories that Trump himself later acknowledged to be at least partially correct. Notably, no one put their name on the statement sent out by the White House. It was emailed to reporters "on background." Perhaps no one in the press office wanted to take responsibility for another denial that may soon be proven false? "It seems as though the flood of information over the past 10 days has been pushing us to a point that we haven't yet reached, forcing an explicit choice between the word of the White House and the word of an outside party," Philip Bump notes.

The latest disclosure ratchets up the pressure on Trump to put up or shut up when it comes to the tapes. He has hinted very strongly that he has a recording of his one-on-one dinner with Comey on Jan. 27 (in which he allegedly asked for a pledge of loyalty) and, possibly, their other meetings. The president has a long history of surreptitiously taping conversations. At this point, if Trump has any tapes that might clear him of wrongdoing, why wouldn't he release them? If the tapes contradict his story, which seems more plausible, they may never see the light of day - unless congressional Republicans agree to subpoena them. If after refusing to answer questions about the tapes for the past five days, the White House suddenly declares there are no tapes after all, many serious people will be suspicious and assume that Trump destroyed possible evidence that could have been used against him.

As Omar Little told Wee-Bey on "The Wire" after a failed assassination attempt, "You come at the king, you best not miss." If you come at Comey, you best not miss.

Here is the bottom line: Comey is going to testify, and Congress is going to get his full memo. It's not a question of if - but when.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Tuesday night he is prepared to use a subpoena if necessary to get a copy of the Comey memo. "I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready,'' he tweeted. Chaffetz told the Post's Carol Leonnig Tuesday night that he wants to get to the truth: "Let's see how real these memos are.... And see where they take us. . . . We will let the evidence take us where it does." In a letter to the acting FBI director, Chaffetz has set a deadline of May 24 for the internal documents to be handed over to his committee.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Wednesday morning that "it is important that Congress call . . . Comey before the Judiciary Committee to obtain a full understanding of what President Trump may or may not have done regarding the Russian investigation, including . . . Flynn." From his statement: "I'm hopeful we can reach agreement in a bipartisan fashion on how to move forward in a professional manner. The country deserves answers to the questions raised and former Director Comey deserves an opportunity to be heard and, if appropriate, challenged. The sooner Mr. Comey testifies publicly before the Judiciary Committee, the better for our nation. For all practical purposes the political process will be ground to a halt by these allegations."

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., another Judiciary subcommittee chairman, said he will remain skeptical until Congress obtains Comey's memos, but "there's a lot here that's really scary." "It's obviously inappropriate for any president to be trying to interfere with an investigation," Sasse said on Hugh Hewitt's radio show Wednesday morning, adding that he wants all the Comey memos as soon as possible.

-- John McCain said Tuesday night that Trump's scandals have now reached a "Watergate size and scale."The Daily Beast's Tim Mak attended a dinner where the Arizona senator was receiving the International Republican Institute's Freedom Award. "I think we've seen this movie before," McCain told the crowd. "I think it appears at a point where it's of Watergate size and scale. . . . The shoes continue to drop, and every couple days there's a new aspect." McCain told retired CBS anchor Bob Schieffer, who was interviewing him on stage, that the advice he would give to Trump is "the same thing that you advised Richard Nixon, which he didn't do: Get it all out! It's not going to be over until every aspect of it is thoroughly examined and the American people make a judgment. And the longer you delay, the longer it's going to last."

Deja vu? McCain holds the seat previously occupied by Barry Goldwater, who was the GOP's nominee for president 44 years before him. Goldwater played a key leadership role in getting Nixon to step down.

While most Republicans are still standing squarely behind the president, we're seeing other cracks emerge: California Rep. Steve Knight, already facing a tough 2018 reelection fight, just became the latest Republican to call for a special prosecutor. (Read his statement. Here's our running whip list of GOP lawmakers who have supported this approach.)

GOP rep Adam Kinzinger from Illinois:

"These serious allegations effect our nat'l security & they carry very real consequences. It's time for Comey to testify before Congress.

Florida Republican Rep, Carlos Curbelo:

"If recent allegations are true, they mark the beginning of a new and very sad chapter of scandal and controversy in our country."

Frustration has been a theme in some private conversations among Republican lawmakers, but publicly many of these same people have tried to pretend the problem isn't there. The Post's Elise Viebeck, Sean Sullivan and Mike DeBonis explore the dynamic:"Both lawmakers and aides within the GOP described feeling a sense of weariness as they stare down the latest Trump-related controversy. 'It's just a very surreal environment where you have a president who is self-destructing,' said one Senate Republican aide. . . . Another GOP staffer described the situation as 'constant chaos.'"

Many Hill Republicans are trying to make themselves scarce:

"Wow: @CBSThisMorning says it asked 20 GOP lawmakers to be a guest this AM to talk about Trump. And asked the WH for someone. ALL declined," tweeted the Post's Ed O'Keefe.

Congressional leaders are facing increasing pressure:

"As Trump has lurched from one crisis to another, Republicans have chosen a strategy of compartmentalization over confrontation, preferring to look away in hopes that the storm would pass. Now . . . that approach may have run aground," writes Dan Balz, The Post's chief correspondent. "For the GOP, this has become a moment of reckoning. . . . Increasingly, it will be difficult for Republicans to avoid recognizing the responsibility that comes with being the majority party in separate branch of government, rather than seeing events primarily through the prism of a political alliance, no matter how awkward at times, between members of Congress and a president who won the November election as their nominee."

Speaker Paul Ryan struck a careful tone during a press conference Wednesday morning, saying congressional committees would continue to gather facts and conduct oversight "regardless of what party is in the White House." But Ryan did hit a couple of skeptical notes in his brief remarks, suggesting that any allegations made by Comey should not be taken at face value, The Post's Mike DeBonis reports. "If this happened as he described, why didn't he take action at the time?" Ryan asked, echoing a question other skeptical Republicans have asked. Later, he noted that the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign and administration's ties to Russia would continue, conducted by career professionals. And he noted that the bureau's deputy director, Andrew McCabe, who is serving as interim director, "said just the other day that no one has tried to impede that investigation" -- a reference to a congressional hearing that, some Trump defenders have argued, would undercut Comey's claims of presidential interference.

SOME PEOPLE ARE EVEN STARTING TO USE THE "I" WORD:

Republican Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan went there Wednesday morning:

Katie Bo Williams of The Hill tweeted: "Amash tells reporters that if Comey memo allegations are true, it's grounds for impeachment. Says he trusts Comey more than Trump."

And from the Post's Ashley parker: "In CNN interview just now, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) uses the I-word - "impeachment" - for the first time."

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said he has "no doubt" that Republicans would have already voted to impeach Hillary Clinton if she had done what Trump did. "For one millionth of what has happened with Trump, they would have impeached her," Cummings said in a radio interview picked up by CNN. "I'm just telling you. They would have been going crazy. That's what makes this so egregious."

Impeachment remains much less likely than many Democrats want to think: They would need to persuade 25 House Republicans and 14 Senate Republicans to cross over - without any defections. History is not on their side, the Post's Peter Stevenson notes.

New York Times conservative columnist Ross Douthat floats another idea for removing Trump: "Ultimately I do not believe that our president sufficiently understands the nature of the office that he holds, the nature of the legal constraints that are supposed to bind him, perhaps even the nature of normal human interactions, to be guilty of obstruction of justice in the Nixonian or even Clintonian sense of the phrase. I do not believe he is really capable of the behind-the-scenes conspiring that the darker Russia theories envision. And it is hard to betray an oath of office whose obligations you evince no sign of really understanding or respecting. Which is not an argument for allowing him to occupy that office. It is an argument, instead, for using a constitutional mechanism more appropriate to this strange situation than impeachment: the 25th Amendment to the Constitution . . . The Trump situation is not exactly the sort that the amendment's Cold War-era designers were envisioning. But his incapacity to really govern, to truly execute the serious duties that fall to him to carry out, is nevertheless testified to daily - not by his enemies or external critics, but by precisely the men and women whom the Constitution asks to stand in judgment on him, the men and women who serve around him in the White House and the cabinet."
Poland made European Union history on Tuesday.

For the first time ever, EU ministers came together to discuss the state of the rule of law in a member country.

Poland, the country in question, had received a series of criticisms from Brussels over the course of 2016 about just how vibrant the rule of law really was there. The ruling party, Law and Justice, effectively took over the constitutional tribunal in December by refusing to seat those justices appointed by its predecessor, Civic Platform - meaning it blew off the EU's concerns.

But apparently the vast majority of EU members think it's still an open question, coming together Tuesday to discuss the issue, and vowing to keep talking with Warsaw about the rule of law.

"There was broad agreement around the table today that rule of law is a common responsibility and we should continue dialogue with Poland," Frans Timmermans, vice president of the European Commission, told reporters.

European diplomats characterized the meeting to Politico Europe as a "small but significant step," and the European Council released a statement saying, "Ministers emphasised the importance of continuing the dialogue between the Commission and Poland."

Poland's deputy foreign minister, Konrad Szymanski, seems happy to keep talking, but didn't signal much willingness in Warsaw to change the government's ways.

"A one-sided expectation that we will implement recommendations is not dialogue but diktat," Szymanski said.

Poland wasn't entirely isolated on the question. Hungary, Poland's illiberal brother-in-arms, backed Poland in Tuesday's discussions, and would likely block a vote to strip Warsaw of EU voting rights, a move that requires unanimity.

Hungary is also under EU pressure to shape up. Members of the European Parliament are reportedly coming closer to an agreement that they should somehow sanction Budapest over a law that would effectively shut Central European University, a violation of EU law on academic freedom.

And both Poland and Hungary received a June deadline from the EU to take responsibility for some share of migrants, or risk sanctions. Both countries have pushed back against Brussels's plans to parcel out the responsibility for housing refugees from Africa and the Middle East to all member states to relieve some of the pressure currently largely borne by Greece and Italy.Based on their behavior so far, both Poland and Hungary seem comfortable taking that risk. That will leave the ball in Brussels' court - at a time when voters across Europe are reassessing just how much membership in the the European Union is really worth.
At Fort Sumter, he ordered the attack that opened the Civil War.

At Manassas, he helped rout the Union army and send its rookie soldiers fleeing back to Washington.

And after the battle there in 1861, he championed use of the distinct Confederate flag that would vex the nation for generations after he died.

He was Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, the Confederate States of America's first mega hero, and early Wednesday morning a statue of him astride his horse was removed from its pedestal in New Orleans under the watchful eye of mounted police and police snipers.

Before Robert E. Lee, "Stonewall" Jackson, and Jefferson Davis, the South had P.G.T. Beauregard. He was handsome, and dashing, with carefully slicked hair, a neat moustache and chin whiskers. As he got older, it was said, he dyed his hair. Raised in the slave-owning Louisiana aristocracy, he had grown up speaking French on a sugar plantation in St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans.

He attended a French school in New York founded by two men who had served with Napoleon, then went to West Point. He fought in the Mexican War with West Point classmates Lee and future Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and had been appointed superintendent at West Point when the war broke out.

He threw in with the cause of the Confederacy, and was sent to command in Charleston, South Carolina, where he besieged and attacked Fort Sumter, starting the war.

He was an instant Southern hero -- 43 years old and glamorous in his tightly buttoned uniform with its embroidered collar and sleeves. A special march was later composed for him, according to Encyclopedia Virginia, and he was welcomed by large crowds when he was summoned to Richmond.

On July 21, 1861, at the chaotic Battle of Manassas, or Bull Run as it was known in the North, his southern forces were victorious. But there confusion on the battlefield because some northern soldiers wore gray uniforms and some rebel forces wore blue -- the reverse of the eventual uniform colors of blue and gray. And, crucially, some officers mistook the red, white and blue American flag for the red, white and blue "Stars and Bars" Confederate flag.

After the battle, Beauregard lobbied for a more distinctive Confederate ensign to avoid further battlefield confusion. The result was the red banner with the blue St. Andrew's Cross that most people recognize today as the Confederate flag.

Beauregard's record later in the war was mixed. He bickered with superiors, especially Confederate President Davis, and was moved among several different commands.

That feud with Davis continued after the war, and in 1889 when Beauregard was asked to lead the cortege at Davis' funeral, he refused.

The New Orleans statue, unveiled in 1915, depicted him on horseback, as he might have been at the height of his fame at Manassas. But late last year, the city council voted to remove monuments to Beauregard, and other Confederate figures.

"The statues. . .were erected decades after the Civil War to celebrate the 'Cult of the Lost Cause,' a movement recognized across the South as celebrating and promoting white supremacy," the city said in a statement Wednesday.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu added: "Today we take another step in defining our City not by our past but by our bright future. While we must honor our history, we will not allow the Confederacy to be put on a pedestal in the heart of New Orleans."
WASHINGTON - Congressional Republicans are increasing pressure on the administration to produce records related to the latest string of controversies involving President Donald Trump, amid flagging confidence in the White House and a growing sense that scandal is overtaking the presidency.

As the White House sought to contain the damage from two major scandals, leaders of two key Senate committees asked the FBI for documents related to former director James Comey, who was leading an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election before Trump fired him last week.

The Republican chairmen and ranking Democrats on the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary committees asked the FBI to hand over Comey's notes about his communications with the White House and senior Justice Department officials related to the Russia investigation.

The Judiciary Committee leaders also asked the White House to provide any records of interactions between Trump officials and Comey, including audio recordings. In a nod to lawmakers' strong desire to hear from the former director, the Intelligence Committee leaders asked him to testify in both open and closed sessions.

Meanwhile, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday about whether Trump interfered in the FBI's investigation and invited Comey to testify.

The requests came after news reports revealed Trump's disclosure of highly classified material to Russian officials and an alleged attempt to shut down an investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. On Thursday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will brief the full Senate on Comey's firing.

On Wednesday, some members of the GOP began predicting that the party will rally behind some sort of independent investigative body to probe the two issues.

Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., co-chairman of the moderate Tuesday Group, said Wednesday that the collective political fallout from the past week "will make it difficult" for Republicans to resist a change in approach.

Dent said he does not like investigations by independent prosecutors because they "tend to take on a life of their own" and instead preferred an independent commission of outside experts.

"We may have to move in that direction," Dent said Wednesday at a forum moderated by Center Forward, a moderate Democratic organization.

The collision of the two stories Tuesday night left Republicans reeling, with a senior GOP senator comparing the situation to Watergate, and Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., directing the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to immediately seek records from the FBI.

Ryan was careful to strike an evenhanded tone Wednesday, saying congressional committees would continue to conduct oversight "regardless of what party is in the White House" but seeming to dismiss some concerns that have arisen in the wake of news about a memo by Comey suggesting that Trump had pressured him to drop the Flynn investigation.

"There's clearly a lot of politics being played here," Ryan said.

He noted FBI acting director Andrew McCabe's recent comment that there has been "no effort to impede our investigation." McCabe made the remark in a congressional hearing when asked whether the firing of Comey had affected the bureau's work.

Ryan also sounded a skeptical note about Comey's actions after the meeting in which Trump allegedly asked him to "let this go," referring to the Flynn probe.

"If this happened as he described, why didn't [Comey] take action at the time?" Ryan said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has not directly commented on allegations that Trump tried to pressure Comey. He did not mention the president or the controversies facing the White House during his morning remarks on the Senate floor and ignored questions from reporters in the halls of the Capitol.

As they pleaded for more information from the White House, lawmakers from both parties rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's unusual offer Wednesday morning to provide a record of the meeting in the Oval Office in which Trump shared the classified information.

"The idea that we would accept any evidence from President Putin is absurd," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in an interview with CNN.

"I don't talk to murderous dictators like Vladimir Putin, so Putin's word to me doesn't mean a whole lot," Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, a member of the Republican leadership, told the network.

"Probably the last person the president needs to vouch for him right now is Vladimir Putin," Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said in an interview with CBS News. "Its credibility would be less than zero." Concerns about Trump are clearly growing among Republican lawmakers.

On Tuesday night, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., compared the current situation to the Watergate scandal while speaking at an International Republican Institute dinner.

"We've seen this movie before. I think it's reaching the point where it's of Watergate size and scale and a couple of other scandals that you and I have seen," McCain told Bob Schieffer of CBS News. "It's a centipede, and the shoe continues to drop."

Asked Wednesday whether the imbroglio could lead to impeachment, McCain responded: "I have no idea on that - come on."

The senator's spokeswoman, Julie Tarallo, said the comparison was "simply meant to convey that the constant revelations of events surrounding Russia's interference in the 2016 election are reminiscent of past scandals, are not good for America, and require further scrutiny."

When asked what he'd say to Trump, McCain replied: "Get it all out. It's not going to be over until every aspect of it is thoroughly examined and the American people have made a judgment. And the longer you delay, the longer it's going to last."

Other Republican senators, while saying they need to review documents before making a final judgment, voiced doubts about Trump.

"There's a lot here that's really scary," Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said Wednesday morning in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. "It's obviously inappropriate for any president to be trying to interfere with an investigation."

Collins, a member of the Intelligence Committee, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, reissued calls Wednesday for the Justice Department to consider appointing a special prosecutor to probe Russia's election interference.

Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., is calling for a Democrat to replace Comey as head of the FBI. Toomey believes "changes are needed at the White House," spokesman Steve Kelly told The Washington Post in an email Wednesday.

And one of two House Republicans to endorse an independent investigation of the Comey matter said that if the details reported this week are true, it could be grounds for impeaching Trump. "Yes," replied Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, a member of the Oversight Committee, when posed the question by a reporter.

The White House has been largely silent since The New York Times first reported on Trump's alleged effort to end the Flynn investigation by pressuring Comey. Trump aides have not directly commented on the story and were absent from television shows starting Tuesday night, a notable difference from last week, when they blanketed the networks to defend Comey's firing.

Before the Times story broke, Trump aides had sought to tamp down the controversy over Trump sharing classified information with Russian officials. National security adviser H.R. McMaster called the action "wholly appropriate" to the conversation that occurred in the Oval Office.

Both Republicans and Democrats have called on Trump, who has suggested that he records his conversations, to provide a transcript of the meeting to congressional intelligence committees so they can assess what took place.

White House aides have neither confirmed nor denied the possibility that Trump keeps tapes of his meetings.

Democrats blasted House Republicans on Wednesday for doing little to probe Trump's potential ties to Russia.

"They do as little as humanly possible just to claim that they're doing something," said Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee.

"Our committee should already be conducting robust and transparent investigations," said Cummings, who joined 32 other Democrats on Tuesday night in calling for his panel to partner with the Judiciary Committee on a new probe of Trump's White House.

"Speaker Ryan has shown he has zero - zero, zero - appetite," the Democrat said.

Democrats' priority is advancing a bill from Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., creating a bipartisan congressional commission to investigate Russia's cyberintrusions, how the intelligence community handled the matter and the president's potential involvement.

The Democrats are hoping to file a discharge petition - which requires the signatures of a majority of all House members - to compel GOP leaders to schedule a vote on the proposal. But they could have trouble gathering enough support: As of Wednesday, The Post found only five GOP senators and 10 House Republicans open to some kind of independent investigation.

While several Democrats have called for Trump to be impeached over the Comey firing, the party's leaders reiterated that their priority was a special investigation.

Schiff cautioned that hasty talk of impeachment would distract from the need for a bipartisan probe - and mire the investigation in partisanship.

"It cannot be perceived as an effort to nullify the election by other means," he said.

Some rank-and-file Republicans dismissed the controversies out of hand.

"It's being made a bigger deal than what it is," Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., said, maintaining that leaks to the media were a more serious matter.

Trump "doesn't fit the model of a typical politician, and that's what the real issue is here. He's a business guy, and he wants to get things done."

Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., also was unperturbed by the latest reports. Back in Alabama, he said, there is "a lot of frustration that they're not allowing him to do his job."

"So far I have not seen anything that's that alarming," Aderholt said.

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The Washington Post's Karoun Demirjian, Carol Leonnig, Ed O'Keefe, Amber Phillips, Kelsey Snell and David Weigel contributed to this report.
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Last summer, the Drug Enforcement Administration warned law enforcement across the country that fentanyl, the dangerously potent and often deadly synthetic opioid, could not only kill drug users, but officers exposed to small amounts.

So like many cautious departments, police in East Liverpool, Ohio, began arming themselves with masks and gloves when processing drug-related crime scenes.

And that's what Officer Chris Green did late Friday night when he responded to a traffic stop and found the driver and his car covered in a white powder, he told Morning Journal of Lisbon, Ohio. But about an hour later, back at the police station, a colleague told Green he had something on his shirt.

Green, without thinking, brushed it off with his bare hand.

Within minutes, he fell to the floor.

"I started talking weird. I slowly felt my body shutting down. I could hear them talking, but I couldn't respond," Green told Morning Journal. "I was in total shock. 'No way I'm overdosing,' I thought."

Paramedics were already on scene tending to Justin Buckle, 25, the driver of the car, and diverted their attention to Green. They gave him one dose of Narcan, an FDA-approved nasal spray version of a lifesaving medication called naloxone that can reverse the lethal effects of an opioid overdose.

Green was transferred to East Liverpool City Hospital and given three additional doses of Narcan, East Liverpool Police Capt. Patrick Wright told TV station WKBN.

"If he would have been alone, he would have been dead," Police Chief John Lane told Morning Journal. "That's how dangerous this stuff is."

The accidental overdose was a grave reminder for East Liverpool and law enforcement that even the slightest exposure to drugs like fentanyl can be life-threatening.

"Think about this," Lane told Inside Edition. "Nobody sees that on his shirt. He leaves and goes home, takes off that shirt, throws it in the wash. His mom, his wife, his girlfriend goes in the laundry, touches the shirt - boom. They drop. He goes home to his kid. 'Daddy! Daddy!' They hug him - Boom. They drop. His dog sniffs his shirt, it kills his dog. This could never end."

Green had returned to work by Monday but was having headaches and chest pains, Lane told NBC News.

"He's lying on the couch," Lane said. "He's still miserable."

The incident rattled local officials enough that it became a topic of conversation at the city council meeting Monday night in East Liverpool, where Service-Safety Director Brian Allen called for legislation that would prevent anyone from entering a home where drugs like fentanyl or its more potent cousin, the elephant tranquilizer carfentanil, have been found, reported Morning Journal.

And in a Facebook post Monday, the city of East Liverpool called on state lawmakers to act.

"It's time our state government drafts legislation to protect our safety forces from these harmful drugs," the city wrote. "Those in possession not only pose a risk to themselves but everyone they come into contact with as well."

Fentanyl and carfentanil have been blamed in part for exacerbating America's deadly opioid epidemic. Drug dealers, in an attempt to stretch their supply and deliver a stronger, longer high, are cutting heroin with the two substances. Because both are odorless and colorless, it's almost impossible for authorities to immediately tell on scene what kind of heroin cocktails overdosing users have injected.

Fentanyl is said to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and carfentanil is 10,000 times stronger than morphine.

"It only takes one granule (of carfentanyl) to kill an adult," Lane told Morning Journal. "These people have no regard for anybody, not themselves, not the police, not their kids. Their priority is not about anything but that next high."

Buckel and his passenger, 24-year-old Cortez Collins of Cleveland, were arrested Friday night after officers witnessed what they believed was a drug transaction. Officers boxed in the vehicle and found white found scattered throughout the vehicle and on one of the suspects, police told WKBN.

The men said the substance was cocaine, but a field test came back negative and the men allegedly admitted it was fentanyl, reported Inside Edition. The white substance will be tested further in a lab.

Buckel and Collins were charged with tampering with evidence. Police told Morning Journal that additional felony assault charges are expected to be filed in the case.

East Liverpool made headlines in Sept. 2016 when the city decided to share harrowing photos of a man and woman overdosing in their car with a toddler watching from the back seat.

"It is time that the non drug using public sees what we are now dealing with on a daily basis," the city wrote in an accompanying Facebook post. "We feel we need to be a voice for the children caught up in this horrible mess."
The Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on an Afghan state television station on Wednesday that killed at least six people as well as the attackers and wounded 24.

The attack, in the eastern city of Jalalabad, was the latest in a series on Afghan journalists and media in recent years. It came just over a week after it was confirmed that the leader of IS in Afghanistan had been killed in a US drone strike.

IS group, or Daesh as it is generally known in Afghanistan, has established a stronghold in Nangarhar province bordering Pakistan, of which Jalalabad is capital, where it fights both the Taliban and Afghan government forces.

The raid on the RTA state broadcaster was carried out by four attackers, one of whom had detonated a suicide bomb at the entrance to the compound, said provincial governor Gulab Mangal.

The IS group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on an Afghan state television station on Wednesday that killed at least six people as well as the attackers and wounded 24.

The attack, in the eastern city of Jalalabad, was the latest in a series on Afghan journalists and media in recent years. It came just over a week after it was confirmed that the leader of Islamic State in Afghanistan had been killed in a US drone strike.

IS group, or Daesh as it is generally known in Afghanistan, has established a stronghold in Nangarhar province bordering Pakistan, of which Jalalabad is capital, where it fights both the Taliban and Afghan government forces.

The raid on the RTA state broadcaster was carried out by four attackers, one of whom had detonated a suicide bomb at the entrance to the compound, said provincial governor Gulab Mangal.

As the attack unfolded, heavy gunfire could be heard from around the RTA building, which is close to the governor's compound

"[IS group] fighters are currently carrying out an attack inside the state broadcasting building in the city of Jalalabad," the movement's AMAQ news agency said in a statement on instant messaging service Telegram.

The three others were killed by security forces in the gun battle.

Among the dead were four RTA employees, including a driver, a guard, and two technical personnel, as well as two policemen, according to Mangal.

Seventeen civilians and seven members of the security forces were wounded, he added.

The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee condemned the attack and said it was a violation of the rules of war that protect media as civilians.

IS group has recently been hit hard by US air strikes and special forces operations.

The head of IS group in Afghanistan, Abdul Hassib, was reported this month to have been killed in a joint Afghan-US operation in Nangarhar at the end of April.

IS group has also claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile attacks in the capital, Kabul, including one in March on Afghanistan's largest military hospital.

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Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny laid out plans to step down, after steering the economy through one of the most turbulent periods in the nation's history.

Kenny, 66, confirmed his plans to resign as leader of the ruling Fine Gael party at midnight at a meeting of his party's lawmakers in Dublin on Wednesday. His announcement fires the starting gun in a leadership race between Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar and Housing Minister Simon Coveney, with the contest set to be concluded by June 2.

Whoever wins the contest will inherit one of Europe's fastest-growing economies. Under Kenny, who took power in 2011, Ireland restored its economic sovereignty by exiting an international bailout and stabilizing the financial system. The European Commission last week forecast the Irish economy will expand 4 percent this year.

Kenny, whose official title is taoiseach, also continued Ireland's modernization path, pushing through gay marriage against Catholic Church opposition.

"History will judge Enda Kenny's reign favorably," said Philip O'Sullivan, an economist with Investec in Dublin. "While the execution was not always perfect, his administration's willingness to take often unpopular decisions was a key ingredient in restoring the country's creditworthiness and turning the economy around."

Lauded abroad by bankers and investors, Kenny is regarded less favorably at home, and support for his coalition collapsed in last year's election. That forced him into a so-called rainbow alliance to keep power, and he pledged to step aside before the next election, due within five years.

Varadkar, the openly gay son of an Indian immigrant, has moved into the favorite's slot to become prime minister, Paddy Power Betfair odds show.

"While the Fine Gael leadership election will generate no shortage of media coverage, we struggle to identify meaningful policy differences between the two front-runners," said O'Sullivan. "Irrespective of who wins, we think 'business as usual' will be the real result."

The new leader will be chosen by early June, as talks on the U.K.'s departure from the European Union near. While Ireland is considered to be the European economy most vulnerable to Brexit, the economy is in better shape to withstand such a shock than when Kenny took power from Brian Cowen in 2011.

Unemployment has fallen to about 6 percent from a peak of 15 percent in January 2012, borrowing costs have dropped below the U.K.'s and Ireland has remained a favored destination for U.S. companies seeking a foothold in Europe.

JPMorgan Chase this month agreed to buy a new office building in Dublin, with room for more than 1,000 workers, as it continues to plan for Brexit.

Kenny also won plaudits for his moves on social issues. In 2015, Irish voters backed a proposal to allow gay marriage by almost a 2-to-1 margin, making the nation the first in the world to back wedlock for same-sex couples in a referendum.

He also took on the Catholic hierarchy, saying in 2010 that the Vatican's handling of abuse scandals smacked of "elitism and narcissism," some of the sharpest language an Irish leader has ever used against the church.

At times, though, Kenny's tenure has been marked by missteps. Last year, the premier apologized for describing opponents as "whingers," and drew fire after saying that the "vast majority of people don't understand economic jargon."

Kenny's penchant for homespun wisdom can also grate. In 2015, he spoke of a "man who stopped me with two pints of beer in his hand" to complain about the introduction of water charges. "Two pints in one hand?" Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams asked. "They must be some big hands, right?"
WASHINGTON - Former FBI director James Comey's allegation that President Donald Trump pressed him to shut down the bureau's investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn provides the strongest support yet for a criminal obstruction-of-justice case against Trump, legal analysts say, though even more evidence would probably be required to warrant action.

Comey wrote in a memo that Trump asked him to walk away from the Flynn probe, declaring that Flynn was a good man and asserting to his FBI director, "I hope you can let this go."

That, legal analysts say, provides a plausible case that the president obstructed justice. The FBI is investigating Flynn's dealings, as well as possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin to influence the 2016 presidential election.

"There's definitely a case to be made for obstruction," said Barak Cohen, a former federal prosecutor who now does white-collar defense work at the Perkins Coie law firm. "But on the other hand you have to realize that - as with any other sort of criminal law - intent is key, and intent here can be difficult to prove."

On Tuesday, all 33 Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees sent a letter to their Republican counterparts asking to launch an investigation into whether Trump and those in his administration were "engaged in an ongoing conspiracy to obstruct" the various probes by the Justice Department, FBI and Congress. House Oversight Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, sent his own letter to the FBI's acting director asking him to turn over all records of communications between Comey and Trump, noting that reports about the communications "raise questions as to whether the President attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation."

The existence of the Comey memo was first reported by the New York Times. Associates of Comey later confirmed the details of it to The Washington Post. Spokespeople for the FBI and the Justice Department declined to comment on it.

The laws governing obstruction of justice require prosecutors to show a person "corruptly" tried to influence a probe - meaning investigators have to find some evidence of what a person was thinking when taking a particular action.

In this case, analysts said, that would mean analyzing the specific details of Trump and Comey's conversation, assessing what else was happening at the time and possibly talking to Trump associates who had talked with the president about what he wanted to do.

"It depends on what he said and how he said it," said Edward MacMahon Jr., another criminal defense lawyer. "I call all the time and ask prosecutors to stop investigations. It just depends on how it's done."

MacMahon noted there are circumstances - such as the CIA worrying about disclosure of classified information - in which one component of the executive branch discourages prosecutors from pursuing a case.

"If the reason you wanted it stopped was because it was going to lead to the prosecution of one of your friends, that would be one thing," he said. "If you wanted it stopped because you didn't want to disclose national security information, that's something provided by statute."

In a statement, the White House disputed Comey's characterization of his conversation with Trump, saying "the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end an investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn. . . . This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey.''

That is important, analysts said, because if the president were merely asserting that "he personally knows the target of the investigation and he's just trying to provide his two cents," that might not present him any legal problems, Cohen said.

"You have Comey's word against Trump, right?" Cohen said. "You need somebody else that Trump may have spoken to that provides evidence of intent."

Trump has suggested on Twitter that there might exist tapes of his conversations with Comey. If that is true, those could be critical to proving whose account of the meeting is accurate.

At worst, Cohen said, prosecutors' theory of the case would be that Trump pressured Comey to stand down on Flynn because he feared the investigation could affect him personally. Last week, Trump removed Comey from his post as FBI director and claimed that Comey had told him three times he was not under investigation.

"While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau," Trump wrote to Comey.

Cohen said that itself could be a piece of circumstantial evidence that Trump was trying to impede an ongoing probe. Trump also said in an NBC News interview that the Russia probe was on his mind when he fired his FBI director.

Cohen said Comey's memo was "direct evidence" against Trump, but he noted "it only comes out after the termination."

"The question is, if the president committed the crime or attempted to commit the crime of obstruction, and you serve the Constitution and not the president, why didn't you say something about this before you were fired?" Cohen said.

When the FBI was investigating Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, President Barack Obama notably said in an interview with Fox News, "I continue to believe that she has not jeopardized America's national security." Obama insisted the White House was not meddling in the probe - though his comments undeniably struck at the heart of the matter.

Cohen said that while it was "highly improper" for Trump to insert himself in an investigation in any way, charging him would be difficult. With a lower-profile target, he said, "maybe prosecutors might be aggressive enough to bring a case," but "it also arguably undermines democracy for prosecutors to go after a sitting president with only circumstantial evidence."

The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel has opined in the past that the president cannot be indicted or prosecuted at all, "because it would impermissibly interfere with the President's ability to carry out his constitutionally assigned functions and thus would be inconsistent with the constitutional structure."

Trump could be impeached, though, for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." In the articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon - which were never taken up by the full House of Representatives - legislators cited obstruction of justice.
Some graduating seniors at the University of Notre Dame say they planning to protest the presence of Vice President Mike Pence at their commencement by standing up and quietly walking out of the ceremony. School officials say they won't try to stop them.

Pence will give the commencement address at the nation's most prominent Catholic university on Sunday, May 21, at the campus in South Bend, Indiana. In the past, the university invited newly inaugurated presidents to give the address in their first year of office - and the six presidents previous to Donald Trump accepted - but this year was different.

Thousands of students and faculty members signed a petition asking Notre Dame's president, the Rev. John Jenkins, not to invite him, saying that they did not think Trump's actions and behavior were in line with the school's values. While there were Trump supporters who wanted him to speak, the school decided to instead invite Pence, a former Indiana governor.

A coalition of student activist groups at Notre Dame called We StaND For is planning the walkout to protest policies Pence pursued as governor that they say targeted the most vulnerable. Other groups from outside the school community will, at the same time, hold a protest just south of campus to show solidarity with the students, according to Bryan Ricketts of We StaND For. One of the participating groups, South Bend Equality, wrote in a statement about why it is participating:

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Our members lived in South Bend when Mike Pence was governor. We know all too well how his policies endangered or caused direct harm to public education, health care, women's rights, the environment, LGBTQ individuals, immigrants and refugees, reproductive rights, local infrastructure, the economy of our state, and more.

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Other groups participating in the off-campus protest are We Stand For; We Go High! of St. Joe County, Indiana; Michiana Alliance for Democracy; Alliance for Democracy; the Nu Black Power Movement; Inclusive Michiana; Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky; and the IWW Local 26.

Paul Browne, vice president for public affairs and communications at the University of Notre Dame, said that student protest leaders have already talked to security police and other officials on campus about their plans, and the school isn't trying to stop them. He said the protesters plan to silently leave commencement "at some point and do it in a respectful manner."

The action, he said, does not surprise school officials because the university has repeatedly been the scene of protests.

For example, some antiabortion activists protested President Barack Obama when he spoke at the 2009 graduation ceremony, and even more protested Vice President Joe Biden at the 2016 commencement, he said. Biden was there to receive the Laetare Medal, along with then former Republican House Speaker John Boehner; the award is the highest given to Catholics in the United States and recognizes service to the Catholic Church and society. There were protesters on campus, too, for a recent talk by conservative political scientist Charles Murray.

"It's not unusual for us," he said.

Pence protest organizers are using the hashtag #WalkOutND to build support for their effort, and said they expect scores of students and many more family and friends in the audience to participate. There will be about 2,000 graduating seniors at the ceremony.

Browne said the school was not concerned about the protests. "Virtually our entire discussion at the moment is about the weather," he said. Thunderstorms may drive the ceremony from an outside venue, where students can have unlimited tickets for guests, to an inside auditorium where tickets will be limited, he said.
Related Palestinians commemorate 69th anniversary of 1948 Nakba

An Israeli military court on Wednesday sentenced to 25 years in jail a Palestinian who had stabbed four Israelis in 2015, the army said.

Imad Tardeh was found guilty of attempted murder, the army said in a statement.

The court also ordered him to pay compensation to his victims totalling 220,000 shekels ($60,000, 55,000 euros).

Tardeh was 19 when he stabbed the four Israelis in the central city of Rishon LeTzion, near Tel Aviv, in November 2015, wounding three, one of them seriously, before being arrested by police.

Israeli media said that the occupied West Bank resident struck a deal with authorities and made a full confession.

A wave of unrest that broke out in October 2015 has claimed the lives of 263 Palestinians, 41 Israelis, two Americans, two Jordanians, an Eritrean, a Sudanese and a Briton, according to an AFP count.

Some of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks.

Many were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

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MAYBROOK (AP)  A man suspected of shooting a New York village police chief in the shoulder and barricading himself inside a home has been found dead there.

Orange County officials say Chief Arnold "Butch" Amthor was wounded Tuesday morning in Maybrook, 55 miles north of New York City. State police Maj. Joseph Tripodo says the injury isn't life-threatening.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Tuesday pledged continued support for Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting the importance of the U.S.-Turkish alliance despite mounting tensions over Washington's support for Kurdish rebels in Syria.

Speaking alongside Erdogan at the White House, Trump said Turkey and the United States would act together against extremist groups including the Islamic State. "Again, we seek to face this threat together," he told reporters.

Trump welcomed Erdogan, fresh off a narrow electoral victory that granted him wide-ranging new powers, to Washington just a week after the Pentagon announced a plan to directly arm Kurdish militiamen in Syria for the first time.

While Erdogan's government had long warned U.S. officials against expanding support for the People's Protection Units (YPG), empowering a group Turkey sees as an existential threat, the warm public remarks from both leaders reflect the NATO allies' need to hold together a key partnership at a time of intense strain.

Aaron Stein, a Turkey scholar at the Atlantic Council, said the modest goals for Erdogan's two-day visit reflected the constraints of a relationship that has generated friction on both sides but that both nations cannot afford to jettison.

It was "mission accomplished, if your expectations are that you want people who are smiling in the photographs," he said.

For the United States, Turkey has been a key ally in the Middle East. Most recently, the use of Turkish military facilities has been critical in the U.S. campaign against the Islamic State in Syria. For Ankara, the backing of NATO's most powerful member has been an important boost as Turkey has asserted itself on the world stage.

In a reflection of those mixed sentiments, Erdogan heaped praise on his host - saying Trump had presided over a "legendary triumph" after last year's elections - but reiterated his objections to the U.S. partnership with the YPG.

"We should never allow those groups to manipulate the religious structure and the ethnic structure of the region, making terrorism as a pretext or an excuse," he said. Turkey views the YPG and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the political wing of the same organization, to be an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Turkish group that Ankara and Washington have labeled a terrorist movement.

"Taking YPG and PYD into consideration in the region will never be accepted and it is going to be against a global agreement that we have reached," Erdogan said.

While U.S. military officials have acknowledged Turkey's concerns, they say they have little choice in backing the YPG, the most effective fighting force they have been able to recruit in their bid to dislodge the Islamic State from Raqqa, the Syrian city that is the militants' de facto capital.

Erdogan also made reference to another of the issues creating friction in U.S.-Turkish ties: Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish cleric who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, whom Erdogan has accused of plotting a coup attempt last July.

Turkish officials have repeatedly asked the United States to extradite Gulen, who oversees a vast educational and religious network in Turkey, over his suspected involvement in that episode.

The Justice Department must decide if Turkey has a case; if it does so, a federal court would then rule on extradition. So far, despite Turkey's submission of what it says is voluminous evidence, Justice has made no determination.

In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post on Tuesday, Gulen denied any involvement in the coup attempt.

Turkey has issued threats on the U.S. stance on Gulen and the YPG, saying future ties would hinge on its extradition request, and more recently saying it would take further military action against Kurdish militiamen if the United States provides new support.

The official visit was also an opportunity for the Trump administration to demonstrate its backing for Erdogan, who faces growing criticism for his government's crackdown against an array of perceived opponents, including the arrest of tens of thousands of people from the media, military and judiciary.

On Tuesday, dozens of people demonstrating for and against Erdogan's visit clashed outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington. Nine people were injured and two were arrested, District of Columbia police said.

In the latest sign of his administration's reluctance to publicly criticize allies on matters of human rights, Trump made no mention of those issues.

Erdogan expressed optimism that his visit would mark an improvement in U.S.-Turkey ties.

"President Trump's recent election victory has led to the awakening of a new set of aspirations and expectations and hopes in our region," he said. "We know that by the help of the new U.S. administration, these hopes will not be lost in vain."

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The Washington Post's Karen DeYoung, Victoria St. Martin and Martin Weil contributed to this report.

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Video: Trump's news conference with Erdogan, in less than 3 minutes

Here are key moments from President Trump's news conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House May 16. (Sarah Parnass / The Washington Post)

Short URL: http://wapo.st/2pRv7iX

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The Virginia Court of Appeals is considering two cases that could determine whether young undocumented immigrants can seek special visas intended for those who can't return to their homelands because their parents have neglected, abused or abandoned them.

Across the nation, immigration lawyers increasingly have turned to the federal Special Immigrant Juvenile visa program to secure permanent legal residency for young people, mostly from Central America, who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, in many cases joining a parent who is already here.

During fiscal 2016, a total of 15,100 of the visas were approved, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, compared to 1,600 in 2010. There is a two-year backlog for applications to be processed.

In order to apply, immigrants need an order from a family judge in the state court system, affirming that they are in need of protection and cannot be safely reunited with a parent in their native country.

But different judges have interpreted the program differently, with some - including those in the cases under appeal from Loudoun and Arlington counties in Virginia - saying they lack the authority to make rulings in what will ultimately become a federal immigration case.

The result, advocates say, is confusion and inconsistency over what should be a straightforward government program.

"There is a lot of misunderstanding," said Greg Chen, director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "You may have courts in the same state but in different counties that have different policies in how they want to handle these."

Some states have taken steps to clarify how judges should weigh such cases. For example, in Maryland a 2014 law raised the age of who comes under a family court's jurisdiction to 21 from 18, in order to match the maximum age of eligibility for the federal program.

Virginia, where nearly 12,000 unaccompanied minors have arrived since 2014, is among the states that have left local judges to navigate the program themselves. Though there are no state-by-state statistics on Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions, a group of Virginia lawyers known as the Commission on the Needs of Children estimates that 1,382 were filed in the commonwealth last year, a calculation based on the nationwide number of visa applications and the percentage of unaccompanied minors living in Virginia.

In jurisdictions like Fairfax County, Virginia, with large numbers of unaccompanied minors, family judges see many visa cases and are comfortable issuing rulings, advocates say. But their counterparts in places where such cases are rare tend to hesitate, according to legal experts in Virginia and across the country.

"A state court judge, especially when they are seeing this for the first time, their first response is: 'Well, I'm not an immigration judge. I can't possibly make this decision,' " said Abigail Trillin, executive director of Legal Services for Children in San Francisco. "So we've had to explain: 'Well, you're not being asked to make an immigration decision.' "

The Loudoun case being appealed deals with a 13-year-old boy from Honduras whose mother claimed his father was emotionally abusive and threatened to kidnap his son for ransom money. The Arlington case was filed by the mother of a 16-year-old boy from Guatemala who she claims was conceived during a rape, and whose father she says has been mostly absent.

In each case, the juvenile court judge ruled the court had no authority to make a finding - decisions that were upheld in Circuit Court.

"As soon as the General Assembly gives us the authority and the jurisdiction to hear these matters, I'd be happy to do so," Loudoun Circuit Court Judge Jeanette Irby said, according to court records.

In an amicus brief on behalf of the plaintiffs, the office of Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, D, argued that the local courts do have jurisdiction. Rulings on whether a child should live with one parent or another, the brief says, "are exactly the determinations that courts routinely make in custody matters."

Tanishka Cruz, an attorney with the nonprofit Legal Aid Justice Center who represented the mothers before the appeals court, said that the federal statute governing the visa program clearly requires a ruling from a local judge.

"The order . . . in no way confers immigration status on the child," Cruz said. "But without that order, the door is closed; They can't even knock."

William Hurd - a former Virginia solicitor general who was appointed to argue against overturning the Circuit Court decisions - raised questions about the facts in both cases, including whether the fathers were aware of the proceedings, and said neither case should be the source of a broad-based ruling.

In the Arlington case, Hurd said, the boy's father was never properly notified of the petition. Cruz said an announcement of the hearing published in a local Virginia newspaper met the state's notification requirements.

In the Loudoun case, Hurd said, Irby ruled that there wasn't enough evidence to prove the boy had been mistreated by his father. Hurd also questioned the motivations of the boy's mother, saying she had technically abandoned her child when she left him with her mother and came to the United States in 2006. The mother arranged for the boy to join her in Sterling in 2013.

"Here you have a father who is in Latin America who does not even know there are proceedings against him," Hurd said.

Critics of the visa program have raised similar concerns, alleging that some immigrant parents are making false claims of mistreatment in hopes of keeping their children from being sent back to their homelands, and that in many cases the journey to the U.S. is arranged by both parents. They also question whether a young immigrant who crosses the border illegally to join a parent who is also here illegally can legitimately be considered "unaccompanied."

A bill introduced in Congress this year by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, seeks to address those concerns by proposing that the term "unaccompanied minor" no longer apply to those with a parent or adult relative in the United States who can assume custody. A separate bill by Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, would restrict eligibility for the visa program to applicants who don't have parents in the United States.

"If you're a parent in Central America and you can pay a smuggler to get your kid to the United States, that sort of fulfills the requirement for abandonment, even though the parents very often finance the trip to the United States," said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for Immigration Reform, which has pushed for such reforms.

Jennifer Podkul, director of policy for the Washington, D.C.-based Kids in Need of Defense, said the visa program already includes reviews "at every level" to confirm the applicant has no safe option to return to their country.

The appeals court is expected to rule by late June. The 10-judge panel began considering the two cases last week, after an initial hearing before a three-judge panel in January.

At last week's hearing, several judges questioned whether state law requires juvenile courts to make any ruling beyond which parent gets custody, and noted that in the Loudoun case it appeared that there wasn't enough evidence to prove parental mistreatment.

Advocates say their to goal is to make clear that family court judges do have the power - and the obligation - to rule on abandonment petitions.

"It's still case by case," Podkul said. "Local judges have a lot of autonomy in determining whether the specifics of a case merit the findings the child is seeking."
After President Donald Trump fired former FBI director James Comey, Trump dangled the prospect that there were tapes of their conversations - suggesting he might use them if Comey leaked information to the press.

Trump tweeted: James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!

It turns out Comey has his own records of those conversations. And that should make Trump very worried.

The Washington Post has confirmed the existence of contemporaneous notes from February in which Comey wrote that Trump had asked him to close the investigation into Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and instead focus more on leaks to reporters. The White House is denying the account.

Here's the gist:

---

"I hope you can let this go,'' Trump said, according to the Comey notes, which were described by associates. Comey's written account of the meeting is two pages long and highly detailed, the associates said. The details of Comey's notes of the meeting were first reported by the New York Times.

Officials have previously said that Trump and his senior staff have been pressing the FBI to prioritize leak investigations over the bureau's ongoing probe into possible coordination between Russian officials and Trump associates. On Tuesday, people close to the matter said Comey kept detailed notes of his multiple conversations with Trump.

---

That last sentence should strike fear into the White House. This one story is significant enough and will lead to more allegations of Trump obstructing justice. Those allegations are already very much in the news thanks to Trump firing Comey - the man leading an investigation into his campaign's alleged ties to Russia - last week.

But the possible existence of a trove of Comey memos may be the real story here. Comey is known to be a pretty meticulous keeper of notes, and CNN's Jake Tapper reported that Comey kept extensive notes of his conversations with Trump for the precise reason that they made him uneasy - presumably because of Trump making requests such as the Flynn one that crossed a line for Comey.

And the reason Trump tweeted what he did about Comey is because the New York Times had just reported Trump sought a loyalty pledge from Comey at a dinner shortly after Trump's inauguration. It's difficult not to presume that Comey has notes about this meeting, too.

Former top Justice Department spokesman Matthew Miller pretty much called it on all of this about a week ago, tweeting:

One thing I learned at DOJ about Comey: he leaves a protective paper trail whenever he deems something inappropriate happened. Stay tuned.

---

As the New York Times notes, these memos "are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations." The Times pointed to that famous incident back during the George W. Bush administration when Comey testified that there had been a race to reach the bedside of an ill Attorney General John Ashcroft as the FBI and senior White House officials fought over warrantless wiretapping. When the White House disputed Comey's version, then-FBI Director Robert Mueller's contemporaneous notes were used as confirmation.

Rep. Adam B. Schiff, Calif., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, is already calling for Comey's notes to be subpoenaed. If they do see the light of day, we could have a whole lot of stories like the one about the loyalty pledge and Trump asking Comey to shut down the Flynn investigation.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Utah, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, is also talking about subpoenas.

Alex Moe tweeted: Chaffetz:"I do have ability to unilaterally issue subpoena if need be hopefully if memo exists they will turn it over voluntarily & swiftly"

The reason we've learned about the Flynn memo appears to be because Comey shared it with others who are providing its details to the news media now. Perhaps other memos weren't shared with others, or not with people who would leak their details to the press. And if those other memos do come to light and show similar exchanges with Trump, that's going to be very difficult for the White House to combat in the court of public opinion.

That's because the notes will have been written before Trump fired Comey, and before Comey had an ax to grind. At that point, the White House would basically have to argue that Comey created a fictitious paper trail without a clear motivation.

There are a lot of ifs and assumptions in the above. We don't know how extensive Comey's notes are, how many of these situations there may have been with Trump or what will come to light. But the prospect of those memos seeing the light of day has to be frightening for a White House that is already taking on water.

And for a president who issued a pretty outlandish threat last week, it's a remarkable turn of events.
Militants stormed the national television and radio station in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Wednesday, triggering a gunfight as journalists remained trapped inside the building, officials and eyewitnesses said.

No insurgent group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack in Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State (IS) militant group, where the US military dropped a massive bomb last month.

"Three gunmen entered the RTA (Radio Television Afghanistan) building this morning," government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP.

"Two of them have been killed and one is still resisting."

An RTA photographer said he fled the building as soon as the gunfight erupted, but some of his colleagues were still stuck inside.

IS are active in Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital.

Last month the US military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb in Nangarhar, killing dozens of IS militants.

Dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs", the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast was unleashed in combat for the first time, hitting IS positions in a remote area of the province.

The unprecedented attack triggered global shock waves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban.

According to the US Forces-Afghanistan, defections and recent battlefield losses have reduced the local IS presence from a peak of as many as 3,000 fighters to a maximum of 800.

The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan to break the deadlocked fight against the Taliban.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, who also mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.

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KRESS -- Kress Independent School District will host a retirement reception for Doug and Tonya Setliff from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, May 20, in the Kress Cafeteria.

The Setliffs came to Kress in 1998. Doug Setliff became Kress High School principal while Tonya was employed as an elementary teacher at Kress Elementary. He became the superintendent in 2001.
South Korean President Moon Jae-In warned Wednesday there was a "high possibility" of military clashes along the border with North Korea as tensions mount over Pyongyang's weapons ambitions.

"We are living in the reality where there is a high possibility of military clashes" along the disputed sea border off the Koreas' west coast or along the heavily-fortified land frontier that divides them, Moon said during a visit to the defence ministry.

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Brianna Garza, 18, wasnt planning to have a baby girl.

When she found out last fall, she notified her school and became involved in the School-Age Parenting Program at North East Independent School District, which provides a support system for pregnant teens, connects them to community resources and teaches them when they can no longer attend classes.

On Tuesday, the program added one more service: free baby boxes to expectant and recent mothers  small, portable cribs that contain diapers, wipes, nursing pads, clothes and other items.

RELATED: Births to teen mothers in Bexar County school districts

I think as younger adults we feel were not educated as much on parenting because we dont think its going to happen to us in high school, Garza said.

North East is the first school district in the city to distribute the free boxes and Garza was the first NEISD student mother to receive one. The district acquired 40 of the new mother starter kits from the Baby Box Company, a firm that has partnered with many Texas organizations and institutions to distribute 400,000 of them in the next year.

The concept originated in Finland, where the government doles out free baby boxes to every pregnant woman. In May, San Antonio mothers and expectant mothers received the first of these boxes in Texas.

San Antonio is renowned, sadly, for the neglect and abuse of kiddos. So its our duty as educators to prevent that as much as possible, said Tyler Shoesmith, director of family support services at NEISD.

More than 100 babies have died this year from sharing a bed with an adult or older child, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. And suffocation or strangulation in bed is the No. 1 cause of accidental infant deaths in the state, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

When we were here learning about it, I didnt realize it was such a problem, Garza said. I didnt understand that babies could just die like that.

The boxes normally cost $65 each but the district received them for free. Garza must complete a quick quiz on how to use the box and other parenting basics to begin using it.

Garzas baby girl will be named Bella Jo Garza. She said shes most looking forward to reading her favorite childrens books to her daughter, like Where the Wild Things Are and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

It wasnt planned so its been hard as a young person. Parenting is always hard, I think, but as a teenager you have to accept the judgment you get, Garza said.

But she took that judgment and turned it around. Garza is about to graduate with honors from Winston Churchill High School and plans to attend San Antonio College in the fall, majoring in political science and business administration.

My mom always told me not to become a statistic. And theres that stereotype of being a teen mom that I didnt want to be a part of, Garza said. They always say teen moms can barely graduate on time and  its just always barely, barely, barely. So I felt graduating with honors will prove to my family, my friends and to other people that you can really do it.

sfosterfrau@express-news.net
Jon Shapley /Houston Chronicle

AUSTIN  The Dallas-area court of appeals issued Attorney General Ken Paxton a small win Tuesday, agreeing to stay all proceedings in his criminal securities fraud case while the court decides whether the current judge should stay on the case.

The 5th District Court of Appeals issued an order Tuesday that buys Paxtons team time and an audience to try to remove Tarrant County Judge George Gallagher from the high-profile case. The decision also halts all proceedings in the trial court and cancels a court hearing scheduled for Thursday in Houston.
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The city is looking to formalize a relocation assistance policy that would help residents who are forced out of their homes because of new development.

The city dusted off the idea  originally proposed by staff in December 2014, and presented to the citys Housing Commission to Protect and Preserve Dynamic and Diverse Neighborhoods on Tuesday  following the release of a report two weeks ago by Vecinos de Mission Trails. The advocacy group formed after a controversial, split decision by City Council in May 2014 to rezone the Mission Trails mobile home park, allowing for the propertys redevelopment. Hundreds of residents were forced to move out of the South Side park.

The developer, White-Conlee, provided residents with varying levels of financial relocation assistance but some said what they received wasnt enough.

Currently, relocation assistance is given to residents on a case-by-case basis in situations where a new development results in their displacement.

The city would like to make that a formal policy, said Richard Keith, assistant director of the citys Department of Planning and Community Development.

The Vecinos report is a reminder that we have this relocation policy we need to get finished, Keith said Tuesday.

The proposal, as initially drafted, included a requirement that developers provide relocation assistance if they receive financial incentives from the city; that residents receive at least 120 days notice before they had to move; and suggested an additional $400 stipend for people 65 and older. Keith said the city could update those proposals.

The citys Department of Human Services does have an existing relocation assistance policy, but it only applies to residents who are forced to leave a home because of code violations or safety concerns, much like the situation at the Oak Hollow mobile home park on the Northwest Side. Twelve households were asked to leave that park last year because of poor conditions at the property, including overflowing septic tanks.

A handful of members from Vecinos de Mission Trails gathered in front of City Council chambers before Tuesdays meeting to voice their concerns that the city hasnt included Mission Trails residents in the discussions.

Vecinos released a report two weeks ago, based on interviews with more than 50 households who lived in Mission Trails. The document describes how the move disrupted their lives, financially and emotionally. Members of Vecinos want the city to consider the report findings before moving forward with any relocation assistance policy.

They also want Mission Trails residents at the table because they know this experience better than anyone, said Jessica Guerrero, a member of Vecinos who recently lost her bid to unseat District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, who represents the Mission Trails area.

At least two housing commission members at Tuesdays meeting specifically cited the Vecinos report and said they hoped city staff would consider it. Commission member Carol Rodriguez also said she hoped the city would meet with some of the residents to get their input, calling Mission Trails a true life example of what has already happened when displacement occurs.

The housing commission policy subcommittee will discuss the policy at its next meeting.

vdavila@express-news.net
Mayor Ivy Taylor will host her third annual Housing Summit next week, an event that will assess the housing market, changing neighborhoods and homelessness.

The summit, happening all day May 23 and 24 at the Convention Center, is open to anyone willing to pay a registration fee of up to $25 per day.

Those who can only attend weekend events are welcome at an abridged version of the event scheduled for 9 a.m. until noon June 3 in San Antonio Colleges gymnasium.

I dont think that there are a lot of other metropolitan areas in the country that put on these events, so I think were very fortunate, said Kim Bragman, a member of the board of directors for the San Antonio Board of Realtors. It just shows that were forward thinking here in San Antonio and that were planning for growth in the future.

The citys Housing Summit was a regular event in years past, but was later discontinued. Taylor, who had a long career in housing and community development, revived the summit three years ago after becoming mayor.

When I was a city employee, I didnt think the city was being aggressive enough on these issues, Taylor recalled. We paid $500,000 for  a consultant to develop a housing master plan and then we quickly put it on a shelf and didnt hardly do anything in the plan. Then when I got on the council, I didnt really see a lot of momentum outside of the downtown housing focus.

Housing is an important priority to tackle if San Antonio wants to remain competitive, Taylor said.

The first day of the summit will be a professional development day for government and nonprofit employees, those working in private housing development and members of neighborhood associations. Topics on the agenda include youth homelessness, reverse mortgages for baby boomers, building green and information on how to properly set prices.

The second day includes a panel discussion of how tax reform under a Republican-controlled Congress could change the low-income housing tax credits used to build affordable housing. Also scheduled are a roundtable discussion on financing housing development and sessions on homelessness, permanent supportive housing and management of neighborhood change.

City officials are hoping to attract a capacity crowd of 350 people to next weeks summit. So far, 210 people have registered. Those interested in attending can visit www.sanantonio.gov/Housing-Summit to register.

pohare@express-news.net
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A former San Antonio police crime scene investigator testified Wednesday that the bullets that hit the residence of a Stone Oak homeowner shot by a door-to-door salesman trying to sell him a security system appeared to have come from in front of the house and not from the street, as the defendant told police.

Richard Luis Amezquita was 35 years old when he told police he was attacked Nov. 7, 2015, by Kerry OToole, 53, a self-employed contractor who worked out of his Far North Side home in the 1000 block of Visor Drive in Stone Oak. Amezquita, who worked for Vivint, was in the neighborhood that day and was selling home security systems and solar panels.

Amezquita, now 37, said he was in his vehicle when he fired at OToole, whom he said kicked and choked him and also threw rocks at him and his car.

But under questioning by prosecutor Kimberly Gonzalez, Robert Ross, who worked for 17 years as an SAPD crime scene investigator, said it was likely whomever fired the four bullets found inside the home was outside the house, possibly on the porch, and not in the street.

The vertical trajectory does not support that theory because of the height of the house, Ross said.

He told the jury that if Amezquita was inside his car, about 25 feet away from the front door, he would have to raise his arm and fire from a steep angle, which would have given him a finite range of motion.

On the first day of the trial Tuesday, jurors listened to the 911 call Amezquita made after the shooting in which he told police OToole had attacked him.

I need the police here at Visor Drive. I was just assaulted, Amezquita said during the 911 call. I feared for my life, and I had to shoot him. I need you to send the police ASAP.

Amezquita, who pleaded not guilty, has said he fired in self-defense. Prosecutors said Amezquita could have called the police to report the altercation, but instead decided to shoot.

Testimony is expected to continue Wednesday morning in the 186th state District Court, presided by Judge Jefferson Moore. If convicted, Amezquita faces up to life in prison.

ezavala@express-news.net

Twitter: @elizabeth2863
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WASHINGTON  Houston Democrat Al Green on Wednesday became the first member of Congress to go to the House floor to call for President Donald Trump impeachment, citing last weeks firing of FBI Director James Comey in the midst of an investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

There is a belief in this country that no one is above the law, and that includes the president of the United States of America, Green said. Our Democracy is at risk ... This offense has occurred before our very eyes.

Green, a former NAACP leader in his 12th year in Congress, joins a chorus of Democrats  including California's Maxine Waters  who have talked about Trump's impeachment, but is believed to be the first to urge impeachment on the House floor.

RELATED: Report: Betting odds that President Trump will resign or be impeached in his first term

Greens speech  delivered, he said, with a heavy heart  also comes a day after Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, suggested on CNN that Trump could be headed for impeachment after allegedly asking Comey to end his inquiry into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

I have to say, King said, simply because obstruction of justice is such a serious offense.

Green also cited obstruction of justice as a grounds for impeaching Trump. I do not do this for political purposes, he said. I do this because I believe in the great ideals that this country stands for: Liberty and Justice for all.

RELATED: A poll asked people the first word that came to mind with Trump  and the results were brutal

While recent revelations about Trumps sacking of the FBI director have alarmed Democrats, actual impeachment proceedings would require the participation of Republicans who control both chambers of Congress.

While some Republicans have expressed concerns about Trumps response to allegations of collusion between Trump campaign associates and the Russian government, his party has so far defended him.

Green acknowledged that his impeachment call might seem a long shot. I am a voice in the wilderness, he said. But I assure you that history will vindicate me.

kevin.diaz@chron.com
A small but growing number of Republican US lawmakers called on Wednesday for an independent probe of possible collusion between President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia, spurred by a memo from the fired FBI chief that Trump had sought to impede the agency's investigation.

The tumult in Washington deepened on Tuesday over allegations Trump had sought to end the FBI's investigation into ties between Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and Russia.

James Comey, whose firing as FBI director last week triggered a political firestorm, wrote a memo detailing Trump's comments to him in February saying "I hope you can let this go," referring to the Flynn probe, according to a source who has seen a memo written by Comey.

The Comey memo caused alarm on Capitol Hill and raised questions about whether Trump attempted to interfere with a federal investigation. The White House denied the report, saying it was "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey."

U.S. stocks opened sharply lower on Wednesday after the reports of the memo.

Democratic lawmakers have demanded that the Justice Department name a special prosecutor to investigate potential ties between Trump's campaign and Russia.

But most Republicans have said the current Federal Bureau of Investigation probe and investigations in the Republican-led Congress are sufficient.

House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan stuck to that line and told reporters on Wednesday he still has confidence in Trump. Ryan also insisted the Trump controversies were not paralyzing Republican legislative efforts in Congress.

"We need the facts," Ryan said. "It is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president. But we have an obligation to carry out our oversight regardless of which party is in the White House."

"I'm sure we're going to go on to hear from Mr. Comey about why, if this happened as he allegedly describes, why didn't he take action at the time? So there are a lot of unanswered questions."

A few Republicans have began to call for an independent probe.

"If in fact what was in the memo is true, it's very concerning, and we need to get to the bottom of that," Republican Adam Kinzinger, a member of the House of Representative Foreign Affairs Committee, said on CNN. "I think we are in the position now where it's time for an independent commission or a special prosecutor or whatever."

The latest developments have overshadowed the policy goals of Trump's Republican Party inCongress, including major healthcare legislation and tax cuts.

Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said pressure was mounting on Ryan to allow a vote on legislation creating an independent commission to take up the investigation.

'FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE'

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AUSTIN  Airplanes and trains allow it. And buses can soon, too, if Gov. Greg Abbott agrees.

The Texas Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to legislation that for the first time will legalize alcoholic beverage service on passenger buses in Texas.

That means when you hop an air-conditioned ride between Texas' major cities, an increasingly popular commute, you may soon be able to enjoy a delicious beverage in your seat.

Until now, only airlines and trains have been able to get a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission license to serve alcoholic drinks on board.

The bill by Rep. John Kuempel, R-Seguin, earlier passed the House. It was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury.

Approved 28-2 in the Senate, with Republican Sens. Charles Perry of Lubbock and Bob Hall of Edgewood voting against, the measure now goes to Abbott for a decision on whether it should become law.

"This is a pro-business bill," Birdwell said in explaining the bill before the Senate approved it.

Alex Danza, founder and president of Vonlane, a premium bus service serving Texas' top metro areas, applauded the vote.

"This effort was about leveling the playing field with airline carriers and railroads and updating an antiquated Texas law to reflect the desires of business travelers," he said. "Mostly, we're delighted that we will be able to serve our passengers a cold beer or glass of wine after a long day. We're appreciative of all involved in making this new law to better serve Texas travelers."
AUSTIN  No longer would voters in Texas be able to vote for all of their party's candidates at once under legislation tentatively approved Wednesday by the Texas Senate.

State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, said House Bill 25 would do away with the longstanding straight-ticket voting practice  which 63 percent of Texans chose when they vote, according to polls  in the hope that voters will better familiarize themselves with down-ballot candidates instead of just voting for all candidates of one party.
Brazil's ambassador to Venezuela, withdrawn last year during tensions between the two neighbors, will return to Caracas next week, Defense Minister Raul Jungmann said Wednesday.

"Next Monday, the ambassador of Brazil will return to his place in Venezuela as a gesture of goodwill," Jungmann told journalists in Brasilia.

Referring to the economic collapse and violent political standoff in Venezuela, Jungmann said: "We cannot lose any opportunity to help mediate."

Both countries recalled their ambassadors in August 2016 during a row over the Brazilian Congress's impeachment of leftist president Dilma Rousseff and her replacement by center-right President Michel Temer.

Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro has been criticized by Brazil and numerous other countries for violent clashes between riot police and anti-government protesters. Since the start of April, 42 people have died.

The oil-rich country has been suspended from the regional economic trade group Mercosur.

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1 Refugee center: Immigration officials in Papua New Guinea have told asylum-seekers and refugees being held in a detention center financed by Australia that they need to leave the camp so it can be shut down, detainees said Monday. Parts of the center, on Manus Island, will close in weeks, according to the detainees, who said they were told of the decision during a meeting Monday. The rest of the compound would shut later this year. Asylum-seekers and refugees have been sent to the island, in northern Papua New Guinea, as part of an agreement between the country and Australia. Under the deal, people who tried to reach Australia by boat were placed in the detention center as their refugee claims were being considered. Human rights groups and the United Nations have criticized the complex, one of two offshore centers that Australia has financed in the South Pacific, describing cramped conditions, inadequate medical facilities and episodes of violence and abuse.

2 Iran election: Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis re-election campaign received a lift as a fellow moderate withdrew from the race, and he was endorsed by the influential grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic. Eshagh Jahangiri, who from the outset had used his speeches to encourage support for a second Rouhani term when Iranians vote on May 19, said Tuesday that he was pulling out. He had appeared at a Tehran rally alongside Rouhani on Saturday, where he was cheered by the presidents supporters. The move  along with the endorsement of Hassan Khomeini, whose grandfather Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led the 1979 Islamic Revolution  came a day after conservatives united behind the candidacy of cleric Ebrahim Raisi in an effort to combine their votes and narrow the gap to the president. Khomeinis proximity to the moderate camp was known but his public backing of Rouhani wasnt expected.
The parliament in Belgium's Wallonia region on Wednesday banned the slaughter of animals without first stunning them despite opposition from Jewish and Muslim communities defending their rituals.

With 66 votes for and three abstentions, the parliament in Namur, the main city of southern French-speaking Wallonia, adopted a ban that will generally take effect in June 2018, though ritual slaughter will be exempted until September 2019.

The ban on slaughter without first stunning or anaesthetising the animals does not apply to imports of kosher or halal meat into the Wallonia region.

Animal rights activists from groups like GAIA pushed for the ban which violates both kosher and halal ritual slaughter where the animals are required to be conscious when their throats are slit.

The three abstentions were from the radical leftist PTB party, according to a vote tally on the parliament's website.

Brussels-based European Jewish Association spokesman Alex Benjamin told AFP just before the vote that the Wallon parliament's adoption of the legislation plays "into certain hands" at a time of a rising populist right.

"Either unwittingly or wittingly, it has a negative effect. It sends a signal to the Jewish population here... that we don't really respect you or your practices."

He said there is no scientific evidence that kosher slaughter is less humane than other practices.

"There's no nice way of taking an animal's life," Benjamin said.

Belgium's Jewish population is estimated at 40,000 people, with most in the port city of Antwerp and few in southern Wallonia.

Benjamin said the ban will affect the slaughter of about 100 animals a year.

The Executive of Belgium's Muslims, which represents the country's estimated 600,000 to 800,000 Muslims, on Monday voiced "serious doubts" over the law's compatibility with the free exercise of religious rituals."

The parliament in Belgium's northern Dutch-speaking region of Flanders is gearing up to adopt a similar ban from January 2019.

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David Fitzsimons, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Excellence, will visit Longford on Tuesday, May 30 for 'A Discussion on Retail Excellence' at 6.30pm in the Longford Arms Hotel.

The seminar, organised by Longford County Council, in conjunction with Longford Chamber of Commerce, is open to anyone involved directly or indirectly in retailing in the county.

David was involved with the establishment of Retail Excellence in 1995 and he oversees the strategic direction and operations of this not for profits organisation.

David will give an honest assessment of what is needed in Longford to raise the countys profile as a retail destination.

A number of topics will be covered in his presentation under the three pillars of, (i) The Offer, (ii) Public Realm and thirdly, Citizen Engagement.

This event will provide an opportunity to begin the conversation around developing a road map for the continued development of Longford's retail sector, improvements in public realm and positive engagement with consumers.

It will also provide an opportunity to build on the recently launched Framework for Town Centre Renewal.

The event will also consider the challenges and opportunities for those involved in the retail business and look at positive ways to attract consumers to the towns and villages in Longford.

After David's presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and debate issues relevant to their own businesses.

A reception will be held after the event to facilitate networking and sharing of ideas.

Register your interest by email to info@leo.longfordcoco.ie, by phone to 043 3343346 or book online at www.localenterprise.ie/longford
Local News, Crime, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: May 17 2017

Attorney Generals Investigation Found That German American Settlement League Historically Excluded Individuals Of Non-White And Non-German Heritage  Violating Federal, State, And Local Laws.

New York, NY - May 17, 2017 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a settlement agreement with the German American Settlement League (GASL), in Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a settlement agreement with the German American Settlement League (GASL), in Yaphank , Long Island, to overhaul the non-profits policies and end its practice of housing discrimination on the basis of race and national origin. The settlement resolves the Attorney Generals investigation of the GASL following reports that the organization historically excluded non-white, non-German individuals from membership and home ownership in its community. At the time the Attorney General initiated his investigation, the GASLs by-laws expressly limited membership in the organization and home ownership on GASL property to individuals primarily of German extraction and of good character and reputation explicitly excluding non-Germans from membership or homeownership in the GASL community.

Todays settlement prohibits the GASL from discriminating against individuals on the basis of race or national origin and requires the organization to fully reform membership policies, governance structure, and internal controls in order to ensure compliance with existing federal, state, and local fair housing and not-for-profit corporation laws  including replacing its President and Treasurer, and regularly reporting to the Attorney Generals office to demonstrate compliance.

The GASLs discriminatory practices were a remnant of a disgraceful past that has no place in New York or anywhere, said Attorney General Schneiderman. This agreement will once and for all put an end to the GASLs discrimination, ensuring that all New Yorkers are afforded equal access to housing opportunities  regardless of their race or national origin. My office will continue to uphold and protect all New Yorkers fundamental right to equal access to housing.

The GASL functions as a membership organization: the majority of the GASLs land is reserved for residential use and, at its Boards discretion, the GASL leases individual parcels to private member-residents. When a particular member purchases a home in the GASL community, he or she purchases the dwelling structure only and leases the underlying parcel on a periodic basis from the GASL. The Attorney Generals investigation of GASL practices included reviewing: the GASLs bylaws and corporate documents; its procedures relating to membership applications and advertising; sworn testimony from GASL leadership; complaints related to discriminatory housing practices; and publicly available information.

The Attorney Generals investigation found that GASLs housing policies and practices violated federal, state and local laws by historically excluding individuals of non-white, non-German heritage from homeownership and membership in the organization. The investigation also found that the GASL home sale advertising policies further prevented any substantial turnover among GASL homeowners. At the time the Attorney General opened his investigation, GASL prohibited public advertisement of properties for sale by existing GASL members; instead, members seeking to sell their homes could only announce a listing in person at GASL member meetings or through internal flyers and meeting minutes circulated to the existing membership.

The GASL revised its by-laws and policies in 2016 pursuant to the terms of a civil settlement entered before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in a matter titled Long Island Housing Services, Inc. v. German-American Settlement League, Inc., 15-cv-5987 (E.D.N.Y.) (Azrack, J.). The Eastern District settlement awarded monetary relief to three private plaintiffs and required the GASL to institute a number of reforms, including revising its by-laws to no longer exclude membership to people of German extraction and to permit members to advertise home sales to the public. The GASL also agreed to revise its membership practices to comply with fair housing laws; participate in fair housing training; conduct community outreach; and keep records of documents demonstrating its compliance with the agreement, among other reforms.

Despite these changes, the Attorney Generals ongoing investigation found that the GASLs membership application processes and property lease-ownership structure continued to make new membership and property re-sale within the GASL community unreasonably difficult. The Attorney General concluded that these conditions disparately impacted non-white, non-German prospective members who had historically been explicitly excluded from membership under the GASLs previous policies, and prevented any substantial turnover among GASL homeowners.

The Attorney General further found that GASL lacked sufficient transparency to its membership. The GASL failed to implement any internal operational controls to prevent leadership conflicts, ensure reliable organizational records, or protect the organizations assets.

Under the agreement announced today, GASL agrees to:

cease discriminating against any individuals on the basis of race or national origin and fully comply with fair housing and nonprofit corporation laws;

adopt broad remedial governance reforms, including the immediate replacement of its current President and Treasurer;

regularly report to the Attorney General over a period of three years to demonstrate compliance with the agreement, including any changes to the by-laws, revised membership applications, meeting minutes, financial reports, and documents related to complaints of possible discrimination against individuals applying for membership or seeking to buy property from the GASL or its members;

publish notices within the Yaphank community publicly affirming that the GASL is committed to equal housing opportunity and does not discriminate against potential members or home buyers based on any protected status; and

implement a written record retention policy that will ensure proper storage of the organizations corporate records, including the record of revised application screening processes imposed by the agreement that will enhance transparency and ensure the GASL does not discriminate against any individuals on the basis of their race or national origin.
CANCELLED - Nassau Missing Persons Squad Seeking Elderly Man Last Seen Leaving Westbury Residence

Local News, Crime

By Long Island News & PR Published: May 17 2017

Charles Daniel, 85, may be heading to the state of Georgia and possibly has the onset of dementia, officials say.

NCPD are seeking Charles Daniel, 85, a Missing Person from Westbury.

UPDATE - Man 18, 2017 - Police report that Charles Daniel has been located.

Below is the original report.

Westbury, NY - May 17, 2017 - The Missing Persons Squad is investigating a Missing Person that occurred on Sunday, May 14, 2017 at 12:00 pm.

According to detectives, Charles Daniel, 85, was last seen leaving his Westbury residence and driving a silver 2003 Mercedes Benz, New York registration # JYG460 on Sunday, May 14, 2017. The missing person may be heading to the state of Georgia and possibly has the onset of dementia.

Charles Daniel is described as being male, black, 60 tall, 190 Lbs, clean shaven, bald, average build, medium complexion, no clothing description.
School & Education, Local News

By Long Island News & PR Published: May 17 2017

The competition is designed to help students learn essential communication and networking skills, gain self-confidence and more.

Pictured are students who placed at the top of the Elevator Pitch competition: (l-r) Terence Jackson (honorable mention), Isabella Harkin (first place), Joshua Soto (second place) and Kaitlyn Hedges (honorable mention). Not pictured Jarod Scott (third place).

Mastic Beach, NY - May 17, 2017 - The William Floyd High School Business Department recently hosted an Elevator Pitch competition in which students were tasked with coming up with a memorable presentation about themselves and delivering it to a chief executive officer (CEO) of a company in 90 seconds or less. Eleven WFHS students in grades nine through 12 competed in the competition, which is designed to help students learn essential communication and networking skills, gain self-confidence and more.

The idea behind having an elevator speech is that students are prepared to share information about themselves with anyone, at any time, said Karen Poidomani, William Floyd High School business teacher and Career and Technical Education chairperson. At a career fair, students can use an elevator speech to introduce themselves to prospective employers.

During the competition, students tried to make a lasting first impression by telling about themselves, what they offer and more. The CEO was played by William Floyd High School business teacher and Future Business Leaders of America co-advisor, Lee Cillo, and took place in front of the judges from the WFHS Industry Advisory Board and fellow business teacher, James Rugolo. To provide the effect of a real meeting in an elevator, each impromptu encounter took place in front of an elevator pictured on a whiteboard complete with instrumental elevator music playing in the background.
A team of several jihadists raided the offices of the National Radio Television of Afghanistan (RTA) in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, earlier today. The assault was quickly claimed online by the Islamic State.

Citing local officials, TOLOnews reported there were five attackers in total, one of whom blew himself up. Three others were killed in a firefight and the fifth was arrested. The siege lasted approximately three to four hours. According to Reuters, initial casualty reports indicate that at least six civilians were killed and two dozen others wounded.

The Islamic State issued a statement of responsibility via its Amaq News Agency as the siege was ongoing, then a separate message online, followed by an update on Amaqs website (seen above).

The group claims the death toll was much higher than independent reporting indicates and other minor details differ as well. The Islamic State says approximately 30 from the murtadd [apostate] Afghan media and security personnel were killed in the inghimasi operation. Inghimasis are well-trained guerrilla fighters who immerse themselves in battle and are willing to blow themselves up.

The Islamic State identifies two of its inghimasi soldiers by their aliases, Abu Ibrahim al-Khurasani and Abu Aishah al-Khurasani, and says they attacked the TV station of the murtadd [apostate] government in Jalalabad. The pair parked their explosive motorcycles near the building before they detonated them on two gatherings of the murtadd Afghani police and security personnel.

Other inghimasi brothers then entered into the building and attacked the murtaddin inside it for three continuous hours, according to the Islamic States claim.

Wilayah Khorasan (the Islamic States Khorasan province) has controlled territory in Nangarhar, but its safe havens have shrunk since early 2016. The US is leading a counterterrorism operation against the group, which currently controls all or parts of a handful of districts in Nangarhar. At its peak in late 2015 and early 2016, Wilayah Khorasan controlled upwards of ten districts.

The jihadists have not given up ground easily. Three American service members died during two counterterrorism raids in Nangarhar in April. The emir of Wilayah Khorasan, Abdul Hasib, met his demise during the second American-led operation on Apr. 27.

Even as its grip on territory has slipped, however, Wilayah Khorasan has launched a string of high-profile attacks in Afghanistan.

For example, in Jan. 2016, Wilayah Khorasan claimed responsibility for an inghimasi assault on the Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad. Several members of Afghan security forces were reportedly perished.

In early March, an Islamic State inghimasi squad raided the Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan Hospital, killing or wounding dozens of people. The hospital serves military service members and their families in Kabul, the Afghan capital.

On May 3, an Islamic State jihadist detonated his vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) near a security checkpoint in Kabul, close to where the US Embassy is located. The bombing targeted a NATO convoy. At least eight civilians died from the blast and three coalition service members were also wounded.

For additional background information on Wilayah Khorasan, see FDDs Long War Journal report: 2 American service members killed fighting Islamic State in eastern Afghanistan.

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.
Photo released by JNIM showing the shelling of the UNs base in Timbuktu

The Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), al Qaedas branch in West Africa, has claimed a mortar barrage on UN peacekeeping forces in the northern Malian city of Timbuktu. Four peacekeepers were wounded, while three Malian soldiers were also wounded in a near simultaneous barrage.

In the early morning hours of May 15, JNIM launched several mortars into the main UN base near the airport in Timbuktu. The surprise attack left at least four Burkinabe peacekeepers wounded, while some sources indicated the number may be higher at six. Around the same time, mortars were fired into Malian army positions in the town of Kabara, just south of the Timbuktu airport. Local sources reported that at least three soldiers were wounded in that barrage.

Mondays barrage came just a week after a similar attack left one peacekeeper dead and around a dozen others wounded in the same camp. Last week, one Liberian peacekeeper was killed and nine others wounded after JNIM launched mortars into the camp. The Swedish military contingent in Mali, which is also largely based in the Timbuktu camp, reported that at least three of its soldiers were injured in the attack.

Al Qaedas forces have long targeted foreign troops in Timbuktu and the wider region. Earlier this year, AQIMs Sahara branch  which is now part of JNIM  claimed an attack targeting the Timbuktu airport with Grad rockets. Last year, the branch targeted the French military base in Timbuktu. In 2014, both AQIM and Al Murabitoon targeted the airport. The UN base in Ber, which sits just east of Timbuktu, has also been targeted in the past.

The UNs camps in Kidal, Aguelhok, Tessalit, as well as the French Amachach military base near Tessalit, are also often targeted by mortar or rocket barrages. Earlier this year, one Chadian peacekeeper was killed in a rocket assault on the UN camp in Aguelhok.

Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft and Italian energy company Eni have signed an agreement to broaden cooperation, including in possible joint oil product supplies to Egypt, Rosneft said on Wednesday.

The deal was signed as part of Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni's visit to Russia, during which he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Rosneft said the agreement calls for expanded cooperation in hydrocarbon production, refining, marketing and trading, including in the Egyptian Zohr offshore project, where Eni controls 50 percent, Rosneft owns up to 35 percent and BP - up to 15 percent.

Rosneft also said it had agreed with Eni to look into cooperation in oil refining in Germany.

Eni has been operating in Egypt since 1954 through its subsidiary International Egyptian Oil Company (IEOC).

In August 2015, Eni made a major natural gas discovery at the Zohr site off Egypt's Mediterranean coast.

Zohr is the largest natural gas field ever found in the Mediterranean Sea, with an estimated 850 billion cubic metres of gas.

Last December, Rosneft agreed to acquire a 30-percent share of the Shorouk concession, which contains the Zohr gas field.

New natural gas discoveries in Egypt recently encouraged the government to defer several import deals.

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Lifestyle / Alcohol

Craving a slice of Italy? Thanks to SSMA, you can now enjoy a glass of fine Italian wine without leaving the sunny shores of Singapore

May 17, 2017 | By Robbie Wilson

The market for quality imported wines in Singapore is growing. As such, local importers are looking to attain the best. I sit down with Mr. Manoj Premanathan, the founder of SSMA and the importer of some of the finest quality wines in the city.

How did you come up with the idea to form SSMA and what challenges have you faced?

As a marble importer to Singapore, I travel to Italy quite often. On one trip to Suvereto to inspect marble blocks, the owner of the quarry had a heated dispute with my partners and moved his jacket to show us a pistol, holstered to his waist. We didnt get shot, but the atmosphere at our lunch later that afternoon was tense. In an attempt to break the ice, I asked the quarry owner whether he had any wine that had never been exported out of Italy. He immediately mobilised his friend and sent me samples to bring to Singapore. The rest, as they say, is history and Ive been importing wine from Italy ever since.

Starting any new business is a challenge and we had to move quickly to make this great opportunity a reality.

What does SSMA stand for?

SSMA are the initials of names of important people in my family. The first S is my wife Shamini. The second S is my niece Sharaveena, whom I used to look after. M is of course myself and A is for my daughter, Adela.

How many brands do you feature and where do they come from?

We feature about 10 brands from Italy. They come from the beautiful regions of Tuscany, Botticino, and another nearby Bologna.

There are a lot of grapes to choose from, which are your favourites?

I like 100% Grenache grapes and 100% Amarone grapes.

What sets you apart from other wine distributors?

You will not be able to attain the wine I import from anyone else. They have never been exported from Italy until now.

Which types of wine are most popular in Singapore?

There are a lot of good wines, but the most popular ones are the Amarone and Barolo.

Tell us about the lounge and shop you are constructing.

It is on the sixth floor of our building in Genting Lane. Inside, youll find a lounge and bar area as well as our store. We plan on having tasting sessions where visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about our fantastic Italian wines.

Of all the places youve travelled, where did you have your most memorable glass of wine?

The Masselina Vineyards in Italy.

This article was first published in Palace magazine.
Properties

May 17, 2017 | By Palace

With over 1,000 islands spread across 90,000 square kilometers in the Indian Ocean, white sand beaches and tranquil, crystal clear waters, The Republic of Maldives has long been regarded as one of the best holiday destinations in the world. Over the recent decades, the expansion of high-end tourism in the Maldives has allowed the republic to make tourism the key industry in its economy, with 96.5% of the total GDP coming from the industry, according to HVS Asia Pacific. With the Maldivian government putting a strong emphasis on its public sector investment program to meet the growing visitor demands, the Maldives real estate market is expected to remain stable, with the hotel industry to continue to grow in the near to medium-term future.

Dependency on the tourism industry

Tourism, the main economic lifeline in the Maldives, has been paramount to the countrys image and appeal to foreign investors. While generally reliable in the tourism sector, the countrys dependency on the industry has not been without its risks. With the growing popularity of nearby holiday destinations, particularly Sri Lanka as a rising competitor, the length of stays in the Maldives hotels and resorts declined by 20% from 2010 to 2014. Moreover, political and economic uncertainty in key global markets  China, Russia, Europe  has negatively impacted growth in tourist arrivals, with records falling short of the governments target of 1.5 million visitors in 2015, according to the Horwath HTL Special Market Reports Issue 61: Maldives.

Influence of the Chinese market

Although Europe has been historically the main source of tourism-related revenue, the Maldives has grown increasingly dependent on the Chinese market, which in 2015 accounted for almost one-third of total tourist arrivals. However, according to Horwath HTL, the Chinese market figures have been on a downward trend since August 2015, with the trend attributed to the Chinese Yuan devaluation and the slowdown of the Chinese economy. The Chinese traveller has been the one reason why the true effects of the Global Financial Crisis that hit western countries in 2009 were not felt so badly in the Maldives, said Mifzal Ahmed, co-founder and vice president of strategy of the Maldives largest international airline Mega Maldives in an interview for newspaper Mihaaru in July 2016.

Despite the challenges, the performance of the tourism and hospitality sector has remained resilient showing general improvement in 2016, as compared to 2015. Although coming short of achieving the governments targeted goal of visitor numbers, Hotelier Maldives reported in the 2016 Maldives Tourism Industry Review that the industry recorded 4.2% tourist arrival growth rate (compared with 2015s 2.4% growth rate). Strong positive growths were also identified from most European markets following the Eurozones mild recovery in 2016, while the tourist numbers from other key markets like India, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Australia also picked up.

Government investment in infrastructure

In 2016, the government of the Maldives took expansive measures to anticipate the increasing regional competition and cater to the growing demand in the tourism industry, particularly in the area of public infrastructure. Major developments already on the way are the expansion of the countrys international airport and the entry of several new airlines that will improve the accessibility from key markets. Diversification of tourism offerings, such as resorts and new types of attractions, are also expected to bring in new markets into the country. A total of 11 new upscale and luxury resorts are planned for construction by 2018 according to the Ministry of Tourism, with the average daily rate expected to see notable improvement in the second half of 2017 as the new supply in the ultra-luxury segment begins to enter the market.

Scarcity of residential offerings

With hundreds of resort offerings in the Maldives, a residential property for sale remains rare. Development of new properties is not easy as all materials have to be brought in from abroad and many developers are not willing to take the associated risks. With limited residential properties available, the surging demand for housing has spurred several on-going developments, including Hulhumale, an artificial island built in three phases, with the culmination of Phase I in 2020. The island, catering to a total population of 100,000 once all phases of development are completed, will incorporate commercial, industrial and residential components that will include mid-to-luxury housing and beach bungalows.

This article was written by Olha Romaniuk and first published in Palace 19.
Egypt is set to embark on a plan to upgrade Alexandrias tram network  the oldest tram system in Africa and one of the oldest in the world  in a 360 million euro project to be partially financed by the French Development Agency (AFD).

The Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation signed a 100 million euro deal on Tuesday with AFD to upgrade Alexandria's Raml tram line, known as the Blue Tram, which connects the city's western and eastern sections.

The project aims to extend the route of the 150-year-old tram line and renovate stations and cars. It would also eventually double capacity from 100,000 daily passengers to 230,000, said a statement published on the ministry's website on Tuesday.

Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city of 4.5 million people, does not have an underground metro system and relies solely on above-ground means of transportation.

The Alexandria tram system, which was constructed in 1860 and began operating in 1863, is used by only 12 percent of the city's daily commuters, according to AFD.

The renovation plan aims to optimise the alignment and construction of the tramway, provide faster service by minimising the intersection of the tramway with roads through the construction of viaducts and underpasses and the prioritisation of the tramway at traffic lights, the AFD said in a project document emailed to Ahram Online on Wednesday.

Stations will be upgraded by installing shelters, seating, ticket dispensers and signposts, it added.

The budget for the project, which will be carried out over three years, is 360 million euros; 100 million from AFD, 180 million from the European Investment Bank, and the equivalent of 80 million euros in the local currency from the ministry, transport minister Hisham Arafat was quoted as saying in the statement.

Arafat said the price of the tram ticket will be set when the upgrade is completed.

He added that development will later include the city's other extensive tram network that connects the city centre with the western section.

The AFD said that the project will halve the current travel time across 27 stations, covering 11km, to 30 minutes, AFD said.

The rehabilitation project will "considerably improve comfort for tramway users... [and] encourage Alexandrians to switch from car and taxi use to public transport," the agency said.

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Faced with pressure from Microsoft and declining iPad sales, Apple will announce updates to its MacBook laptops at the companys Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Citing people familiar with the matter, Apple will reveal three new laptops. A new MacBook Pro will sport Intels Kaby Lake processor, an upgrade over the current Skylake-based models. Bloomberg says that the MacBook will also get a faster CPU, but doesnt specify what Intel part will be used. And perhaps to the surprise of Mac users, Apple may introduce a 13-inch MacBook Air with a faster processor. Bloomberg states that sales of the MacBook Air remain strong, despite the fact that Apple killed the 11-inch MacBook Air last October.

Bloomberg reports that the new laptops wont have any design changes; the updates are speed bumps. But the update is important to help reinforce the idea that Apple is committed to the Mac, even if Mac sales make up only 11 percent of the companys revenue. In April, Apple met with select members of the media to discuss the companys Mac commitment and a revamp of the Mac Pro.

WWDC tends to focus on Apples operating systems. Expect to see major updates to iOS and macOS during the WWDC keynote on June 5. Theres also been speculation that Apple could release a Siri Speaker to compete with the Amazon Echo and the Google Home.
The Cannes Film Festival kicks off Wednesday with an exciting as well as politicised lineup of events, films, and talks including stories from and about the restless and culturally rich Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Ahram Online highlights the participation of MENA filmmakers, jury members and programmes to watch out for in the 12-day cinema extravaganza.

In the festival's selection

Three films spearhead Arabic representation in the official Cannes lineup this year.

In the Un Certain Regard section, which features films that fell short of the official selection, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben-Hanias Aala Kaf Ifrit (Beauty and the Dogs) and Algerian director Karim Moussaouis Until the Birds Return will be contenders in a heated list that includes Michel Franco, Sergio Castellitto and other important filmmakers.

Aala Kaf Ifrit follows a Tunisian woman hunting her previous abusers, in a manner that examines gender roles and police brutality in the Arab world.

Meanwhile, Until the Birds Return captures the thin lines and collisions between tradition and so-called modernity in contemporary Algeria, following three characters of different genders and positions in that society.

Throughout the years the Un Certain Regard has become known for featuring the festivals masterpieces, acknowledged for their innovative and aspiring approaches.

Veteran Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof is also returning to the festival with a feature film titled Dregs, which tells the story of a worker in Iran who stands up to an exploitative corporation.

In the Cannes Classic section, which screens the festivals vintage greats, filmgoers will see Georges Nasser's 1957 film Ila Ayn (Whither?), the first to represent Lebanon at the festival.

The film tells the story of a Lebanese man who leaves his family behind for 20 years, and eventually returns to a different Lebanon.

It is anticipated that immigration will be the center of attention during the festival.

In an interview with Screen Daily, Cannes Film Festival delegate-general Thierry Fremaux said, When the selection has a political edge, its not that the festival is trying to be political; its the artists who are being political. Immigration wasnt really a subject 10 years ago, but today it is. Filmmakers often make films situated in the world in which they live, and that is one of todays realities.

Indeed, Vanessa Redgraves Sea Sorrow, Kornel Mundruczos Jupiters Moon, and Michael Hanekes Happy End all take unorganised immigration as a focal point of their stories.

Competing for Best Short Film is Danish-Palestinian director Mahdi Fleifel, whose film A Drowning Man captures the tale of an unorganised migration to Athens.

German-Turkish director Fatih Akins film In the Fade will compete for the festival's highest prize: the Palme d'Or. The film tells a story of vengeance in modern Germany, influenced by conservative Islamists and radical Neo-Nazis.

Juries

Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Diab returns to the festival as a jury member in the Un Certain Regard section, the same section that applauded his film Clash in 2016.

Also on the same jury list is French-Algerian actor Reda Kateb, who returns to Cannes after the premiere of his short film Pitchoune in the Directors' Fortnight section in the 2015 edition.

Events and talks

The Arab Cinema Center (ACC) will hold the first Arab Critics Awards on 21 May in parallel with the festival. The ceremony will grant awards for best film, best director, best scriptwriter, and best actor and actress. Best Film nominees include Eshtebak (Clash, Egypt), Inhebek Hedi (Tunisia) and In the Last Days of the City (Egypt, UAE).

Fitting with the unofficial focus on refugee experiences at the festival, an event will be held on 21 May dubbed Refugee Voices in Film in cooperation with the UNHCR. The event will investigate how the humanitarian issue of immigration is being dealt with on the silver screen.

In the Short Film Corner, which is part of the Cannes Court Metrage, three whole sections will be dedicated to Arab short films: the Lebanon Factory, Shorts from the Dubai International Film Festival and Made in Qatar.

Meanwhile, five films will represent Egypt, all outside the main competition: Mastoura by Mohanad Diab, Sayeda by Nesma Zazou, Madiha by Elfaisal Badr, Photoshop by Soha Samir, and Piece of Wood by Yassein Koptane which was featured in Zawyas Second Short Film Festival.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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The channel will film national productions by both professionals and amateurs

The Artistic Theatre House has announced that Ahmed Taha, director of the new DMC Masrah (DMC Theatre) satellite television channel, met with Egyptian Minister of Culture Helmy El-Namnam to cement a protocol between the two entities on filming and documenting national theatre productions.

The plays in question are those produced by national theatre institutions in Cairo and other cities, including works by professionals and amateurs alike.

El-Namnam has already approved the channel to start video documentation of plays presented by the Artistic Theatre House troupes, El-Hanager Center troupes, Creativity Center troupes, Culture Palaces troupes, and Folk Art House troupes.

Taha added that during their meeting, the minister expressed his full support for the channel, and stressed the importance of documentation in the development of the Egyptian theatre scene, as well as the benefit of expanding exposure for these productions through television.

The agreement is being finalised and will be signed by both parties in the coming days.

DMC Masrah is part of the DMC public network, which launched last January.

The channel specialised in theatre is set to launch soon, with the exact date yet to be announced.

The channel has reportedly acquired a number of plays, both classic and contemporary, to air on television, and has signed agreements with a number of stars, including Mohamed Heneidy and Sherihan, to star in plays to be produced by the channel.

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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Saturdays decision by the general assembly of the State Council (the administrative law judiciary) to nominate solely Judge Yehya El-Dakrouri as its president came as a surprise, constituting a clear challenge to the law issued just two weeks ago and signaling the start of a new standoff between the state and the judiciary.

For those who have not been following: parliament on April 26 approved changes to the laws governing the Cassation Court, State Council, and State Disputes Authority; while previously a presidential decree appointed the sole nominee selected by judges, under the new law, the judges should nominate three candidates for the president to choose from.

The president ratified the changes the next day and they were published in the Official Gazette the same day, entering into force on April 29.

The changes passed despite objections from the judicial community and warnings from commentators about the danger of the state entering into a needless battle.

The decision by State Council judges to submit only one nominee for the head of the Council does not, however, contravene the law, as their detractors maintain. The law now states that if three nominees are not submitted to the president, he may select the head of the judicial body in question from among the seven most senior judges.

So the judges move to nominate only Yehya El-Dakrouri may indeed be a challenge to the law or a rejection of it, but it is not, strictly speaking, unlawful.

The state thus finds itself in a tricky spot because of its hasty, insistent adoption of the amendments, despite many observers cautioning about the repercussions not only for judicial independence, but for the unity of the judicial community and its status in society.

With all due personal and professional respect for Judge El-Dakrouri, I think more important than searching for a diplomatic way out of this predicament is to seize the opportunity to reassess the status of the judiciary and justice in Egypt as a whole, not only as it affects judges and appointments to judicial bodies.

Justice in Egypt is in a perilous state. The reasons are legion and the symptoms even more so. If a section of the public supported the recent stance of the State Council, which rejects fetters on judicial autonomy, this obliges these judges and their peers in other bodies to take a stand for comprehensive judicial reform and in defense of the constitution whenever it is disregarded, citizens rights and liberties whenever they are violated, and judicial independence in all formsnot only when it affects the appointment of chief justices.

We urgently need to look at the issue of justice in Egypt comprehensively: from the teaching of the law, the selection and training of judges, and the provisions of resources and capacities that enable them to work in adequate conditions, to guarantees for their independence, and the reform of judicial procedures that obstruct the course of justice.

Todays debate shouldnt be limited to resolving the standoff between the state and judges. The future of justice and the rule of law affect the entire Egyptian people, not only members of judicial bodies.

*The writer holds a PhD in financial law from the London School of Economics. He is former deputy prime minister, former chairman of the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority and former chairman of the General Authority for Investment.

A version of this article was published in Arabic in El-Shorouq newspaper on Monday, 15 May.

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Got no plans this weekend? Well, youd be glad you kept it free, because youre in for a splendid treat! Join Asias very first celebration of the American whiskey, steeped in centuries of heritage and produced by the finest craftsmanship. An amalgamation of Americas most famous whiskey brands, snazzy cocktail bars and lip-smacking grub, Whiskey Weekend will prove itself to be one of the most exhilarating events of the year.

What to expect

What to expect? More like what not to expect! Whiskey Weekend promises a spectacular line up of festivities that will have you partying like theres no tomorrow.

Whats Whiskey Weekend without the whiskey? Tantalise your tastebuds with the finest and rarest whiskeys at the complimentary Whiskey Tasting Bar from highly acclaimed partners such as Willett Distillery, Luxco and High West. Do more than just taste it  understand it. At the Master Classes, youll be delving into the world of whiskey alongside master distillers, industry experts and brand ambassadors.

Indulge in an array of world-class American grub, such as juicy hulking burgers dished out by Blue Label Burgers and mouthwatering BBQ fare from the fiery grills of Meatsmith. Although its called Whiskey Weekend, theres no drink that goes better with burgers and grilled meat than ice cold beer. Take your pick from the wide selection of American handcrafted beers and ciders served up by The Drinkery.

If youre just here for a light drink, four incredible cocktail bars await, carrying the renowned names of 28 HongKong Street, Employees Only, Manhattan and Skinny Lounge. Youll be sipping on inventive whiskey cocktails that have been concocted with American rye whiskey, which have undergone a sterling aging process in barrels for the past few years.

Of course, alcohol isnt the only thing youll find at this festival. Youll be lavished with decadent bakes as well! The Bourbon Bake Off Booth brings together Singapores best chefs and home bakers, where they will battle against each other in an apple-pie-baking showdown. Did we mention that youll be sampling these delicious pies topped with Old Fashioned Ice Cream? Its the ultimate saccharine treat for a hot weekend evening. If youre not one to merely watch from the sidelines, youre invited to participate in the Open Division! Come on, the nation is ready to witness your baking flair!

Now, what kind of festival would it be if there was no music? Groove to sick beats from talented DJs, with their music ranging from American rock to hip hop. You can bet the atmosphere is going to be absolutely smashing.

Details

When: Saturday and Sunday, 20 to 21 May; 3pm to late

Where: The Great Escape, 6001 Beach Road, #05-00

Head over to our gallery to see the full range of whiskeys available at this event!

Lim Han

Photos: Proof & Company

Read More:

Our pick of exciting events in Singapore from 11 May

Groovy Booze: 10 Best bars with live music in Singapore

Drink Up: 8 Best sake bars in Singapore that will impress you
The official poster for this year's Cannes Film Festival sparked an outcry Wednesday over claims that Italian actress Claudia Cardinale's thighs had been airbrushed to make them thinner

French media poured scorn on the festival for seemingly tampering with a photograph of Cardinale swirling her skirt on a Rome roof in 1959.

"Claudia Cardinale dropped a dress size in one swirl," said the left-lea ning Liberation, while the culture magazine Telerama questioned why it was necessary to retouch the famously sexy star when she was in her heyday.

"While the poster is magnificent, the photograph has clearly and deplorably been airbrushed to thin the actress's thighs. What a pity," it said.

There was a similarly hostile reaction on social media, with one Twitter user saying, "If even Claudia Cardinale cannot represent beauty without being retouched, we really are in trouble."

Others bemoaned the "dictatorship of thinness" or claimed that "Cardinale wasn't thin enough for Cannes".

Claire Serre-Combe, of the French women's group Osez le feminisme! ("Dare to be Feminist"), said it was a scandal that Cardinale who was "thin and magnificent in the original photo", should have to "lose kilos" for the poster.

But the festival's director Thierry Fremaux told AFP that the poster had been "very well received".

'Happy about the choice'

The actress, now 78, said in a statement released by the festival that she was honoured to feature on the poster for its 70th anniversary year.

"I am very happy about the choice of the photo," she said.

"That dance on a roof in Rome... reminds me of a time when I could never have imagined climbing up the red-carpeted steps of the most celebrated" film festival in the world.

Tunisian-born Cardinale starred in some of the greatest European films of the 1960s and 1970s including Federico Fellini's "8" and Luchino Visconti's "The Leopard".

The furore comes as Fremaux is whittling down the line-up for the festival, which runs from May 17 to 28.

Sofia Coppola's US Civil War story "The Beguiled", starring Colin Farrell as a wounded soldier who is given refuge in a girl's boarding school, is hotly tipped to make the main competition.

Coppola's previous hits "Virgin Suicides" and "Marie Antoinette" also premiered on the Croisette, and her new film comes with the starry trio of Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning and Kirsten Dunst.

Brad Pitt, Matt Damon

Fellow US indie director Todd Haynes is also among those thought to have made the cut with "Wonderstruck", his time-shift story of two deaf children starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams.

Speculation is also swirling around "War Machine", the big-budget Afghan war story starring Brad Pitt.

Matt Damon could end up being in two films at the festival, Alexander Payne's sci-fi comedy "Downsizing" and George Clooney's new family drama "Suburbicon".

There has been much talk too of a special screening of Cannes favourite David Lynch's revival of his cult television series "Twin Peaks".

There are also likely to be films from Palme d'Or winners Roman Polanski -- "After a True Story" starring Eva Green -- and the unsparing Austrian director Michael Haneke tackling the migrant issue in "Happy End", which reunites him with French actress Isabelle Huppert.

Another winner of the festival's top prize, the Franco-Tunisian Abdellatif Kechiche ("Blue is the Warmest Colour") is expected to return with "Mektoub is Mektoub" (Fate is Fate).

French Oscar winner Michel Hazanavicius ("The Artist"), whose film on the cinema revolutionary Jean-Luc Godard is called "Redoutable", is also likely to be back this year.

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-- The famous von Trapp family of "The Sound of Music" fame will be participating in a

from 6-9 p.m. Friday, May 19, at the

, arguably the region's best-known German eatery.

The special event is the landmark Springfield restaurant's way of honoring Maifest, a traditional German celebration marking the arrival of spring.

The event will feature beer, food and an appearance by Sam von Trapp, grandson of Maria von Trapp, the famous singing nun from "The Sound of Music." He will be on hand to preside over the dinner and share stories about his famous Austrian family.

The dinner includes unique selections from the von Trapp Brewery in Stowe, Vermont, including Munich Helles, Vienna, Pilsner, German IPL, and a special bonus brew. The beers have been carefully selected to pair with a each course of the five-course dinner, featuring cast-iron seared pork, chicken and dumplings, salmon and more.

During the dinner, The Fort Carolers will perform songs from The "Sound Of Music" and other Springtime selections.

"Maifest is a great tradition on Fort Street," says Andy Yee, managing partner of the Student Prince, "and we're very excited to bring the famous von Trapp family here to share their amazing beer and celebrate with us."

As part of the Maifest celebration, the restaurant is offering traditional German favorites such as homemade bockwurst sausages, sweet strawberry Maiwine, and limited engagement Maibock beer.

To round out the festivities, spring flowers are in bloom all over the restaurant, servers are wearing dirndls -- a traditional Bavarian dress -- and a Maipole has been erected in the dining room.

A special Maifest German menu is available all month long at The Fort. The full Maifest and von Trapp Beer Dinner menus are available online at studentprince.com. The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Springfield and can be reached at 413-734-7475.
A former Whitman police sergeant pleaded guilty to embezzling money from disabled veterans and preparing false tax returns for clients by concocting fictitious tax deductions and credits.

Glenn Pearson, 60, appeared in federal court Tuesday to to plead guilty to wire fraud, misappropriation of a federal fiduciary, preparation of fraudulent tax returns and obstructing the IRS.

Pearson was a fiduciary to the accounts of disabled veterans and was appointed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Federal prosecutors say that Pearson leveraged his positions to defraud disabled veterans and enrich himself.

"Glenn Pearson took advantage of disabled military veterans who could not manage their own financial affairs, by diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars in VA payments to his personal benefit," said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart Goldberg.

Between 2007 and 2012, Pearson was the fiduciary for eight disabled veterans, a position he took advantage of by taking VA-issued benefit money out of their accounts and into his pockets.

In 2012, Pearson created his own tax return service called FTS Tax Services. FTS was the platform for Pearson to enact his tax fraud scheme, federal authorities said.

From 2012 to 2015, Pearson promised his clients larger refunds than they were entitled to receive. He did so by creating fictitious deductions and including fake credits in their tax returns.

Federal authorities say Pearson racked up more than $1.5 million in "refunds."

The faulty returns were flagged by the IRS, which audited Pearson's clients. Federal authorities say Pearson prepared false documents and statements on his client's behalf.

"Mr. Pearson now finds himself on the opposite end of the very laws he was once sworn to uphold," said Special Agent in Charge Harold Shaw, of the FBI's Boston Field Division. "He took advantage of his position as a fiduciary to steal thousands of dollars from disabled veterans."

Pearson's charges carry several $250,000 fines and hefty prison time, although federal sentencing are usually much different than the prescribed maximum sentencing. He will reappear in Boston Federal Court on Sept. 19 for sentencing.

According to the terms of Pearson's plea agreement, he has agreed to pay restitution to the VA and IRS.

"The American tax system is designed to provide vital government services to our citizens, especially disabled veterans, who have paid the highest price for our freedom," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kristina O'Connell of the IRS Criminal Investigation. "Mr. Pearson took advantage of both, motivated by greed and his desired lifestyle. The IRS will use all lawful means to identify and prosecute those, like Pearson, who prepare false tax returns."
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Boston police officers arrested a man in Allston overnight on Monday after he allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at two men sitting inside a parked car.

Andrew Regan, 41, was arraigned on Tuesday in Brighton Municipal Court on charges of carrying a firearm while intoxicated and assault with a dangerous weapon, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.

Around 2:30 a.m. on Monday, Regan allegedly stopped in front of a parked car on Linden Street in Allston. The two men inside the car, ages 21 and 22, reportedly asked if he was okay, which they said prompted Regan to pull out a firearm and point it at one of them. The two drove off and called 911.

Boston police officers found Regan around Harvard and Brighton Avenues, who the two men later confirmed was the man who pointed a gun at one of them. Prosecutors said he was slurring his words and stumbling when officers spoke to him. Regan was found carrying a licensed Smith & Wesson 9 mm that was loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.

Prosecutors asked Regan be held on $5,000 bail, but Judge David Donnelly ordered he be held on $1,000 bail. Donnelly also ordered Regan to have no contact with the witnesses in the case, remain free of any drugs or alcohol and not seek reinstatement of his license to carry a firearm. Regan is due back in court on June 13.
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Nine men, several of whom are shown here with their wives, will be ordained permanent deacons Saturday at St. Michael's Cathedral. They will serve as part-time unpaid ministers in parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, where there are fewer numbers of priests to do pastoral care and where there is a need for Spanish-speaking ministers. Their ordination will bring to 86 the number of such active deacons in the diocese. From left, they are John Fox, Alina Sanmiguel, Lino Sanmiguel, Margarita Rivera, Jose Rivera, Lauretta St. George-Sorel, Gilbert St. George-Sorel, Deb Bergeron, David Bergeron, Sandra Picard, David Picard, Linda Patten, Rodney Patten Jr., Margaret Solitario, Gerald Solitario, and Adalberto Santiago-Martinez

(Submitted)

SPRINGFIELD - Hampden resident Leo Coughlin Jr. became a deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in 2001. For the past several years, the 76-year-old Coughlin, who is retired from a 33-year career with Friendly's, has served as director of the diocese's diaconate formation program that requires four years of study.

In this position, Coughlin has helped facilitate the ordination of about 11 deacons every 24 months in recent years to serve on a part-time basis in the diocese's more than six dozen parishes staffed by increasingly fewer numbers of priests.

Permanent deacons cannot perform all the sacramental duties of a priest, but they can minister in a variety of ways, including preaching during Mass and blessing a marriage.

The ordination of nine permanent deacons this weekend, four of whom are Spanish speaking - a need in some diocesan parishes - and the majority married, will bring to 86 the number of active permanent deacons in the diocese where about 108 priests actively serve in parish ministry throughout four counties, sometimes ministering to one parish's multiple worship sites alone and sometimes assisted by retired priests who number about 40.

While stressing deacons and priests have "their unique roles and responsibilities in the church," Bishop Mitchell Rozanski called the permanent diaconate a "great blessing to our diocese," in part for its "helping priests by providing assistance in pastoral ministry in many parishes."

While stressing deacons and priests have "their unique roles and responsibilities in the church," Bishop Mitchell Rozanski called the permanent diaconate a "great blessing to our diocese," in part for its "helping priests by providing assistance in pastoral ministry in many parishes."

The position of permanent deacon, which has generally brought a more ethnically mixed group into ordained ministry in the Church across the country, is not a paid one in this diocese.

Parishes in this diocese continue to be headed by a priest, although elsewhere in the country the pastoral care of parishes has been assigned to deacons and full-time deacons as well as some part-time deacons are paid.

Deacons here are asked to give about 12 to 15 hours of weekly service.

"We can't consecrate the Eucharist; we can't anoint the sick and we can't absolve your sins," said Coughlin, in reference to sacramental work only performed by priests.

"But we can perform weddings, do baptisms and serve at funerals."

Coughlin called being a deacon "rewarding and wonderful" in assisting "our brothers and sisters."

"The majority of our deacons volunteer a lot more than 15 hours a week. They visit hospitals, the jails and those who have lost loved ones. They teach religious education classes," Coughlin said.

"We do whatever we can do to assist our priests."

In his statement about the permanent diaconate, Rozanski called it "especially helpful in light of fewer priests and religious available to staff our parishes," - the number of active priests has dropped by about three dozen in the last two years in a diocese that has continued to close or merge parishes - but said it "isn't just about that important work."

"In many parts of our diocesan community deacons have been instrumental in developing new programs and outreach. The very popular 'Take and Eat' Sunday shut-in meal delivery ministry was started many years ago by a deacon and his wife - Frank and Kathleen Ryan. The new low-power Spanish language Catholic radio station here in Springfield, Catolica Springfield 102.5 FM, is managed by Deacon Angel Diaz. So each deacon brings their unique talents to their ministry, and in turn generously shares those gifts with the faith community," Rozanski said.

The permanent diaconate is an ordained ministry separate from the ordained ranks of priesthood and bishop in the celibate male hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church.

Married men may be ordained permanent deacons though they may not remarry if their wife dies, as well as single men with a commitment to celibacy. Applicants must be at least 35, and undergo four years of study.

The permanent diaconate ministry, which was restored in the Catholic Church by the Second Vatican Council, was started in this diocese in 1983 with the ordination of 19 men by Bishop Joseph Maguire.

Rozanski, who will ordain the deacons, has said he would not be opposed to women as deacons, something under study by a Vatican commission.

Coughlin, who ministers at St. Michael's Cathedral where the class of 2017 deacons will be ordained Saturday at 11 a.m., said those preparing for the diaconate study a number of fields including theology, liturgy and canon law during their twice weekly classes at the Elms College, in Chicopee.

He said the program generally attracts candidates who are married, range in age from their mid-40s into their 60s, and increasingly represent a variety of backgrounds.

He added 15 more candidates are in the classes of 2019 and 2021, and noted some of the first men ordained in the program remain active in their 80s. There are about a dozen retired permanent deacons in the diocese.

"This year, we have three Spanish-speaking individuals and a fourth who speaks Spanish (as a second language)," Coughlin said.

"This is the largest growing population in the diocese, and we want to make sure we make ourselves accessible to them and to the priests who help them."

Coughlin said sometimes deacons will get a "Have a good day, Father, I mean Deacon" from parishioners, even in their home parishes, when they are seen in their church vestments, but he said other than that "little confusion" there are "no major issues" in ministering and being accepted as deacons in a Church where lay men and women have been called to take on increasingly active roles.

Wives of deacons, Coughlin said, sometimes elect to be "very active" in parish work as well, but said that any such involvement is "not mandatory," but a personal decision and one between the couple and parish priest.

"I am always very impressed by each class of deacons I get," said Coughlin, noting that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of a diaconate program in Roman Catholic churches in the United States.

"Deacons are there to help in the parishes any way they can and to take some of the stress out of the lives of the pastor and the parishioners."

The candidates scheduled for ordination as permanent deacons Saturday in a ceremony that will be available via streaming video at diospringfield.org represent three of the diocese's four counties and their assignments and backgrounds are below as provided by the diocese:
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Matthew Malke

(Mike Wilk)

CHICOPEE - A man was arrested after he crashed into a light pole, a fire hydrant and a parked vehicle and caused homes to be evacuated when his car burst into flames early Wednesday.

The driver, Matthew Malke, 26, of 83 Robak Drive in Chicopee, was arrested at the chaotic scene and charged with driving under the influence of drugs, resisting arrest, leaving a property damage crash and marked lines violation, Michael Wilk, Chicopee Police public information officer said.

The crash happened at about 12:53 a.m. on East Street, near the intersection of Carew Street. When officers arrived they found debris scattered across the road and a light pole that was split in half and part of it was in the road, he said.

The driver was not in the car but a witness told officers a man laying on the ground was the operator. The man then tried to get up and run away but a nearby witness stopped him for police, Wilk said.

The driver then fell to the ground again and tucked his hands under his body to resist being handcuffed. Officer Missy Lyman, with the help of an off-duty Springfield officer, was able to remove his hands, handcuff him and place him under arrest, Wilk said.

Lyman, who has been an EMT for 13 years and serves as a tactical medic for the Police Department, said she believed the man was showing signs of being under the influence of a stimulant. "(He) was sweating profusely, had dilated pupils, extremely jumpy and out of touch with reality," Wilk said.

An ambulance was called and Malke was taken to the hospital as a precaution, he said.

During the arrest, the vehicle involved in the crash burst into flames. Officers Joseph Conroy and John Mikkola, who also responded to the crash, evacuated nearby houses, he said.

The Chicopee Fire Department extinguished the fire. East Street was closed for some time between the intersections Carew Street and to Beauchamp Terrace because of the fire and so officials could clean up the pole and other debris from the accident, Wilk said.
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Springfield- The East Springfield Neighborhood Council will host a business and community fair on May 20 and will raffle off two free bikes to children.

(Submitted photo)

SPRINGFIELD -- For the past 20 years, the East Springfield Neighborhood Council has hosted a Business and Community Fair to promote local businesses.

"This year, we have more than 65 local businesses, mostly from Springfield, who are participating," said Kathleen Brown, president of the council.

The free event will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m at Mary Mother of Hope Church, 840 Page Blvd.

Brown said the event is family-friendly and open to anyone who wants to meet their neighbors and local business owners.

"It gives people in the community an opportunity to meet with the police officers and firefighters and even the Water and Sewer Department," she said. "We want people to know the resources that are available to them."

ProShred will offer shredding of personal documents.

"The service has always been very well received. We encourage people to bring any documents they want shredded. It's one way to prevent identity theft," Brown said.

There will be plenty of raffles and door prizes, but this year there are two special door prizes just for children.

"We have two bikes that we will be giving as prizes to children, so we hope the whole family will attend. It's a lot of fun and a great chance to see what Springfield businesses have to offer," Brown said.

Door prize tickets are free for children and youths 6 to 17 who must be present to enter and must have a parent or guardian's permission to participate. There is a limit of one ticket per child. Winners do not have to be present at time of the drawing.

The event will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit the council's Facebook page.
americanhealthcare.JPG

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La., left, joined by Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., holds up a copy of the original Affordable Care Act bill during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as the GOP leadership talks about its work on the long-awaited Republican plan to repeal and replace "Obamacare."

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WORTHINGTON -- As changes brew in Washington, a panel of elected officials and experts plan to discuss the future of health care in Western Massachusetts.



A May 24 forum at Worthington Town Hall will "profile the current health care situation and look to what might be done in the future."

In addition, health insurance navigators will be available to answer questions or schedule appointments for private consultation.

The event is hosted by Citizens 4 Healthcare Action, a group which formed over the winter in response to changes to the health care system being discussed at the federal level.



Panelists at the event will include:



* Michael Knapik, director of Gov. Charlie Baker's Western Massachusetts office. Knapik spent 22 years in the state Legislature, first as a Republican representative and then a senator.



* State Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington. Kulik is vice chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, which helps craft the state budget.



* Eliza Lake, CEO of Hilltown Community Health Centers. The organization "has worked for more than six decades to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to residents of Western Massachusetts."



* Jackie Wolf, Ph.D., is affiliated with MassCare: The Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care. She is chair of the League of Women Voters of Amherst Health Care Committee.



"We formed Citizens 4 Healthcare Action because we are concerned about the future of our healthcare," said coordinator Peggy Klineman. "Threats from Washington to our healthcare system demand a proactive approach."



If you go:



What: Healthcare Forum: Facts, Options, and Action

When: May 24, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Worthington Town Hall, 160 Huntington Rd.
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James Comey's firing and disclosure of a memo detailing a request from Trump that Comey end the inquiry into Michael Flynn have led to more to sign a petition to impeach Trump.

(Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press file)

AMHERST - Tens of thousands of people on Wednesday added their names to an online petition to impeach Donald Trump, bringing the number of signers to more than 1 million.

Organizer John Bonifaz is hopeful Congress will act. The number of signers "demonstrates all across the country that people want to see our constitution defended at this critical moment in history," he said.

Co-founder and president of Free Speech for People, Bonifaz has been leading the campaign to impeach Trump for allegedly violating the U.S. Constitution's foreign and domestic emoluments clause and other federal laws.

The emoluments clause in Article I of the Constitution states: "No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state."

Recent news has exacerbated concerns, Bonifaz said, and more people have joined the call to impeach.

On Monday, The Washington Post reported that Trump revealed highly classified information to senior Russian officials during an Oval Office meeting last week. Then, on Tuesday, news accounts said Trump personally appealed to former FBI Director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Flynn resigned in February after White House officials said he misled Vice President Mike Pence about conversations he had with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. Trump fired Comey last week.

Wednesday morning, U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, in a speech from the House floor, called for Trump's impeachment. The congressman accused Trump of obstructing a lawful investigation into possible ties between the Republican's 2016 campaign and Russian meddling in the election -- something he called "an impeachable act."

"President Trump is not above the law," Green stated in a press release on his website. "He has committed an impeachable act and must be charged. To do otherwise would cause some Americans to lose respect for, and obedience to, our societal norms."

Bonifaz said Green mentioned the online impeachment campaign in his speech, which was driving traffic. Free Speech for People has been in touch with Green's office and the petition campaign will continue even if impeachment procedures are initiated, Bonifax said.
SPRINGFIELD -- One more juror is needed to complete a 16-person jury in the Robert Honsch murder trial.

Jury selection will resume for a fourth day Thursday before Hampden Superior Court Judge Constance M. Sweeney.

Four jurors were selected Wednesday to add to the 11 already selected.

About 100 prospective jurors have been called in each day of jury selection for the trial of Honsch, 73, who is accused of killing his wife, Marcia Honsch.

Opening statements in the case will not be given until the selected jury is taken by bus on two "views," each on a different day, where it will see important locations in the case.

One view will be at Tolland State Forest. On Oct. 6, 1995, a partially decomposed body with a gunshot wound to the head was found in the forest. The killing remained a cold case until 2014, when the body was identified as that of Marcia Honsch, 53, of Brewster, New York.

Robert Honsch was arrested in July 2014 in Dalton, Ohio, where investigators said he was living under an assumed name with a new wife and three children.

According to Assistant District Attorney Karen J. Bell, Robert and Marcia Honsch -- who had been estranged for about seven years -- got back together for a month or two before Marcia Honsch was killed.

In Connecticut, Robert Honsch is charged in the fatal shooting of Elizabeth Honsch, 17, his daughter with Marcia Honsch. Elizabeth Honsch's body was found behind a shopping plaza in New Britain, Connecticut, on Sept. 28, 1995. The jury will visit that spot as well.

The Springfield trial for Marcia Honsch's killing is being held before a separate Connecticut trial for Elizabeth Honsch's killing.

Over the objection of defense lawyer Paul Rudof, Sweeney at a pretrial hearing ruled testimony about Elizabeth Honsch's killing can be presented in the trial here.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 19, 2016, file photo, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, right, joined by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, speaks during a news conference, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

(Mark Lennihan)

A state fund that helps Massachusetts cities and towns buy Narcan, medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, is almost empty, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said Tuesday.

She asked the Greater Boston business community to pitch in.

"Think about the fact that Narcan is administered 60 times a day in this state," Healey told business leaders who attended a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast.

According to Healey, 2016 figures show Massachusetts first responders administered more than 20,000 doses of Narcan, the brand name for naloxone.

Healey said the state fund, created in 2015 with the help of the state Legislature and the Department of Public Health (DPH), is running low.

"This fund helped supplement and expand resources already being invested by DPH and by district attorneys in counties across the state," she said. "But with thousands of doses already distributed to police and fire departments, this fund has almost run out."

Healey's office said the fund started at $425,000, with payments made by towns for naloxone also heading into the fund. The fund now stands at $44,000.

In August 2015, Healey announced that they had received a $325,000 payment from Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a naloxone manufacturers, after the price of the opioid reversal medication spiked. The Legislature also threw in $100,000.

Healey continued: "So, today, I am asking you, this community, to consider making donations to this fund to keep this valuable resource available as long as we need it."

Healey urged interested attendees to speak with one of her staffers at the end of the breakfast or visit a section on her site dedicated to the Narcan fund.

According to the site, "Under state law, funds from public or private sources or from appropriations authorized by the Massachusetts Legislature and specifically designated to be credited to the fund are applied to provide price reductions for municipalities purchasing naloxone through the program and are not subject to further appropriation."
A Massachusetts man will spend more than five years in prison for selling heroin and crack cocaine in Vermont, officials said Wednesday.

Childlove Gelin, a 25-year-old year who last lived in Springfield, pleaded guilty to federal charges that he distributed heroin and cocaine base and that he conspired to distribute heroin and 28 grams or more of cocaine base, according to the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont.

Gelin and associates sold heroin and cocaine to an informant on 10 separate occasions between July 2015 and April 2016. When he was arrested on April 18, 2016, officials found 44.7 grams of cocaine base and $2,871 in Gelin's Brattleboro apartment, the U.S. attorney's office said in a statement.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss sentenced Gelin to 66 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.

"In imposing that sentence, Judge Reiss considered the severity of the offense, the harm heroin has caused the Vermont community, and Gelin's criminal record, among other factors," the statement said.

Gelin has been in federal custody since his arrest. He faced a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence for his charges.
Blumin/Ulrich

Jennifer Blumin (left) and Nathan Ulrich (right)

(Courtesy Jennifer Blumin and Nathan Ulrich's Instagram )

A small plane containing a New York designer, her boyfriend and two young sons mysteriously disappeared from radar while flying over the Bermuda Triangle on Monday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

A search for the missing aircraft, a twin-engine MU-2B, continues after authorities on Tuesday located a debris field 37 miles east of the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas.

#BreakingNews @USCG searching for overdue airplane 37 mi E of Eleuthera, Bahamas. Read more https://t.co/hA5TaVUgr4  USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 16, 2017



Passengers on board the plane included Jennifer Blumin, 40, of New York, her 3 and 4-year-old sons and boyfriend Nathan Ulrich, 52, of Lee, N.H.



Blumin, CEO of the prominent New York City event planning firm, Skylight Group, makes her trade turning downtrodden properties into gala event spaces.



Ulrich, who was flying the plane, is an engineer and ex-husband of Rae Dawn Chong, daughter of famous comedy actor Tommy Chong, according to New York Daily News.



"He's an excellent pilot. You couldn't get a better pilot," Chong told the Daily News, saying an equipment failure must have occurred.



She added, "The whole thing is horrible. I'm in shock."



The plane departed Borinquen, Puerto Rico around 11 a.m. Monday bound for Titusville, Fla.



At last transmission, Ulrich said he was flying at 24,000 feet at a speed of 300 knots, according to the Coast Guard. The plane disappeared from radar around 2:10 p.m.



A Coast Guard helicopter crew found the debris field around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.






Prospera Business Network is the lead non-profit organization advancing and supporting community-centered economic development in southwest Montana. Our focus is helping people start and grow their business  in turn strengthening our regions economy and communities.
If Northern is honest, the problem will take a lot of time, and much more transparency than what weve seen in the past month.

By THE BILLINGS GAZETTE EDITORIAL BOARD

Full Story: http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion/gazette-opinion-the-much-bigger-problem-at-msu-northern/article_675649ed-8498-5546-afe5-e508ac5e1faa.html
In a new brief, NASCIO said blockchain  now the subject of five pilots by the state of Illinois  may be a game changer.

by Theo Douglas

Full Story: http://www.govtech.com/security/Blockchain-a-Next-Big-Transformational-Technology-in-Government.html
Managing Boston effectively using data has been a central focus for Mayor Marty Walsh since he took office in January of 2014.

Now in its third year, the team has grown significantly, worked with nearly every department, and launched dozens of successful projects to improve life in the city.

by Katherine Hillenbrand

Full Story: http://www.govtech.com/data/How-Bostons-Citywide-Analytics-Team-Holds-Lessons-for-Other-Cities.html
Ledition du mois de septembre 2022 de la lettre dinformation mensuelle du Bureau du Directeur de Poursuites Publiques est disponible et met en avant a la liste de feu Elisabeth II dans le pays avec photo a lappui.

Attrayant, vous allez connaitre levolution du drot penal a Maurice sur trois pages et sur le Prosecutors  Network Forum in Kenya qtu a eu lieu au Kenya du 29 aout jusquau 1er septembre 2022..

Il sera aussi question dInsanity dans un article et aussi dIndecent act in public et loo indique :

Any person who commits a grossly indecent act in public shall commit an offence under Section 248 of the Criminal Code Upon conviction by a court of law, such person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years and to a fine not exceeding Rs 10 000

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Hisense, fournisseur de televiseurs et dappareils electromenagers hautes performances, a livre avec succes au Royaume-Uni son premier lot de refrigerateurs combines fabriques en Afrique du Sud. Il sagit la de la premiere exportation par Hisense de produits fabriques en Afrique du Sud vers le marche europeen, reaffirmant la transformation actuelle de lusine en un centre de production mondial.

Lusine Hisense en Afrique du Sud a ete etablie en 2013 en tant que base de fabrication regionale pour les marches locaux et dexportation. Depuis sa creation, lusine na cesse dameliorer ses capacites technologiques et daugmenter sa capacite de production de televiseurs et de refrigerateurs. Lexportation des refrigerateurs  Made in South Africa  de Hisense vers lEurope temoigne a la fois de lenvergure des ameliorations apportees et de la qualite exceptionnelle des produits fabriques dans la region.

Respect des normes de qualite mondiales grace a des produits de haute qualite

Tous les produits electromenagers entrant au Royaume-Uni doivent etre conformes aux normes britanniques devaluation de la conformite (UKCA). Lusine Hisense en Afrique du Sud repond a ces exigences strictes grace a une planification minutieuse de la pre-production qui tient compte des differents materiaux, processus et exigences techniques pour le marche dexportation. Une fois en production, lusine met en uvre les processus de controle de qualite les plus strictes pour garantir les normes du produit, comprenant des controles quotidiens de performances et de securite, des inspections de routine et des tests mensuels de consommation denergie et de capacite de congelation.

En outre, 18 autres modeles de refrigerateurs Hisense sont egalement fabriques ici en Afrique du Sud. Lusine Hisense est capable de produire des refrigerateurs de la serie Side By Side avec la meilleure technique de fabrication.

Soutien a leconomie sud-africaine

Lusine Hisense en Afrique du Sud favorise le developpement durable de la fabrication regionale en generant des opportunites demploi local. Hisense a embauche plus de 1 000 employes locaux et, grace a ses activites, a cree indirectement plus de 5 000 emplois dans la communaute.

Au-dela de lemploi local, Hisense favorise les talents de demain grace a ses programmes de developpement de premier plan. En 2019, Hisense a contribue a former environ 1 000 jeunes chomeurs issus de zones rurales. Lentreprise a egalement construit la base de formation Hisense South Africa Technology Research and Development, qui a forme pres de 1 400 apprentis a ce jour.

A lavenir, Hisense continuera dameliorer la qualite et lefficacite de la production de son usine en Afrique du Sud. Ce faisant, la societe creera davantage dopportunites demploi local et mettra en valeur la qualite des produits  Made in Africa  sur la scene mondiale.

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WASHINGTON - Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., collapsed while running a race in Washington on Wednesday morning, but later said he was "doing well."

Tillis, a Republican elected in 2014, tweeted at about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday that he planned to run in the American Council of Life Insurance's Capital Challenge three-mile team race, a charity event attended by many members of Congress and the media.

At about 8:50 a.m., the Associated Press reported that Tillis first appeared unconscious, but was breathing when taken from the race. While near the finish line, he was taken away by a U.S. Park Police helicopter to a hospital.

About an hour later, Tillis posted a message on Twitter, saying "I'm fine."

"Just running about two-and-a-half miles in, got overheated," he said. "See you back on the Hill."

The race is held annually in Anacostia Park.

Members of Congress posted well-wishes on Twitter.

"Thinking about my good friend @SenThomTillis this morning and praying for a quick recovery," wrote Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., tweeted, "Please keep my colleague @SenThomTillis in your prayers. Wishing him a quick recovery."

Tillis is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Judiciary, Veterans Affairs and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committees, and the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
Morgan County Veterans Day Parade slated Nov. 11 Audio Article The Morgan County Veterans Day Parade will be held on Friday, Nov. 11. The parade will form at the Commons, in McConnelsville, at 9:30 a.m. and set out at 10 a.m. The American Legion Post 24 will render honors at the monuments at the Commons, Riecker Building, the Square, at...

A concert with two purposes Audio Article Wednesday, Nov. 30, a concert with dual purposes is being held at the Twin City Opera House in McConnelsville, Ohio. Its a thank-you to healthcare workers, who can attend for free, and its a benefit for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. In September 2021, Rick Shriver contracted COVID-19. He collapsed...

BOE reminder of early voting hours and polling location change Audio Article Remaining early voting hours at the Morgan County Board of Elections are as follows: from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov, 2 through Friday, Nov. 4; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6; and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m....

Lions Club announces annual Wreaths Across America Audio Article On Saturday, Dec. 17, the Chesterhill Lions Club will be joining with National Wreaths Across America in the laying of wreaths at each of the seven cemeteries located in Marion Township. The mission is to honor the local veterans who have served our nation so their families can rest assured...

Governor DeWine awards $6.7 million for domestic violence survivor programs Audio Article Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that he is awarding $6.7 million to support the work of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) to offer mobile and health advocacy services and temporary residential services for domestic violence survivors across the state. The announcement comes during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month....

CDC committee vote wont change Ohio school vaccine requirement Audio Article Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA has released the following statement: The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine to be added to the formulary or schedule of vaccines for children does not mandate this vaccine for school children. Ohio law determines...
L'agence de communication marocaine PR Media a recu un Diamond Sabre Award, quatre Gold Sabre Awards et deux "Certificates of excellence" lors des Sabre Awards Africa, organises le 11 mai dernier a Casablanca.

L'agence a ete recompensee pour ses campagnes pour Mawazine, Credit du Maroc, Ford et Kasperksy.

Pour Ford, PR Media a recu deux Sabre Awards: un Diamond Sabre Award dans la categorie "Brand Building" et un Gold Sabre Award dans la categorie "Marketing to consumer new product", pour la campagne du programme Ford Innovative Challenge Mobility, un challenge mondial de creation dapplications dediees au developpement de la mobilite urbaine.

Pour Mawazine, l'agence a recu deux Gold Sabre Awards dans les categories "Northern Africa" et "Digital campaign" pour la communication off et online du festival.

Pour Credit du Maroc, elle a recu deux Sabre Awards: un Gold Sabre Award dans la categorie "Financial Communications" pour la campagne #Maymkench et un "Certificate of excellence" dans la categorie "Reputation management" du Diamond Sabre Award.

Pour Kaspersky, PR Media a obtenu un "Certificate of excellence" dans la categorie "Brand building" du Diamond Sabre Award pour la campagne de sensibilisation a limportance de la cybersecurite.

Decernes chaque annee par le groupe americain Holmes, les Sabre Awards (Superior achievement in branding and reputation) sont consideres comme les prix les plus prestigieux dans lindustrie des RP et du digital.
RECALL OF METFORMIN EXTENDED RELEASE In May 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that some makers of metformin extended release remove some of their tablets from the U.S. market. This is because an unacceptable level of a probable carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) was found in some extended-release metformin tablets. If you currently take this drug, call your healthcare provider. They will advise whether you should continue to take your medication or if you need a new prescription. Diabetes develops when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot respond to it appropriately, leading to high levels of sugar in the blood. Managing blood sugar levels can be challenging, but ongoing research is increasing the chance of living a full life with diabetes. In the past, type 1 diabetes was always fatal within months or even weeks. The introduction of insulin as a treatment changed this. There is still no cure for diabetes, but newer drugs and an awareness of possible causes have further improved the outlook for people with this condition. In this article, we look at the history of diabetes, how its treatment has progressed, and current developments.

The early science of diabetes Understanding the history of diabetes and its early treatment can help us appreciate how far the understanding and treatment of this condition have come. Discovery of diabetes Share on Pinterest Joseph von Mering (pictured) and Oskar Minkowski are credited with discovering in 1899 that the removal of the pancreas from a dog allowed it to develop diabetes.

Image credit: PD-US Over 3,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians mentioned a condition that appears to have been type 1 diabetes. It featured excessive urination, thirst, and weight loss. The writers recommended following a diet of whole grains to reduce the symptoms. In ancient India, people discovered that they could use ants to test for diabetes by presenting urine to them. If the ants came to the urine, this was a sign that it contained high sugar levels. They called the condition madhumeha, meaning honey urine. During the third century B.C.E., Apollonius of Memphis mentioned the term diabetes, which may have been its earliest reference. In time, Greek physicians also distinguished between diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus has no link with diabetes mellitus. While it also leads to thirst and urination, it does not affect the bodys production or use of insulin. Diabetes insipidus results from a problem with a hormone called vasopressin that the pituitary gland produces. The ancient Roman doctor Galen mentioned diabetes but noted that he had only ever seen two people with it, which suggests that it was relatively rare in those days. By the fifth century C.E., people in India and China had worked out that there was a difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They noted that type 2 diabetes was more common in heavy, wealthy people than in other people. At that time, this might have implied that these individuals ate more than other people and were less active. Nowadays, the ready supply of processed food has weakened the association between wealth and eating more, but obesity, diet, and a lack of exercise are still risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The term diabetes mellitus comes from the Greek word diabetes (to siphon or pass through) and the Latin word mellitus (honey or sweet). In the Middle Ages, people believed that diabetes was a disease of the kidneys, but an English doctor in the late 18th century found that it occurred in people who had experienced an injury to the pancreas. In 1776, Matthew Dobson confirmed that the urine of people with diabetes could have a sweet taste. According to an article that the journal Medical Observations and Enquiries published, he measured the glucose in urine and found that it was high in people with diabetes. Dobson also noted that diabetes could be fatal in some people but chronic in others, further clarifying the differences between type 1 and type 2. By the early 19th century, there were no statistics about how common diabetes was, there was no effective treatment, and people usually died within weeks to months of first showing symptoms.

Early treatments The early Greek physicians recommended treating diabetes with exercise, if possible, on horseback. They believed that this activity would reduce the need for excessive urination. Other treatment options have included: a nonirritating milk-and-carb diet, for example, milk with rice and starchy, gummy foods to thicken the blood and supply salts or milk and barley water boiled with bread

powders of fenugreek, lupin, and wormseed

narcotics, such as opium

foods that are easy of digestion, such as veal and mutton

rancid animal food

tobacco

green vegetables

a carb-free diet

fasting One doctor recommended a diet consisting of 65 percent fat, 32 percent protein, and 3 percent carbohydrate. However, he advised avoiding fruits and garden produce. Various experts have also recommended several chemicals and drugs, including ammonium sulfide, digitalis, magnesia, chalk, lithium salts, and potassium salts. Doctors did not always agree on which diet or drugs to use as a treatment. Some also recommended lifestyle measures, such as: exercising

wearing warm clothing

taking baths, including cold baths and Turkish baths

avoiding stress

wearing flannel or silk near the skin

getting massages These ways of managing diabetes did not prove particularly effective, and people with this condition experienced severe health problems.

The pancreas, insulin, and insulin resistance Share on Pinterest Sir Frederick Grant Banting (pictured), alongside Charles Herbert Best, demonstrated the reversal of diabetes in a dog using insulin in 1921.

Image credit: Wellcome images In 1889, Joseph von Mering and Oskar Minkowski found that removing the pancreas from dogs led them to develop diabetes and die shortly afterward. This discovery helped scientists understand the role of the pancreas in regulating blood sugar levels. In 1910, Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer proposed that diabetes developed when there was a lack of a particular chemical that the pancreas produced. He called it insulin, meaning island, because the cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas produce it. In 1921, Frederick Banting and Charles Best introduced an extract of pancreatic islet cells from healthy dogs into dogs with diabetes. Doing this reversed diabetes and marked the discovery of the hormone insulin. They worked with two other scientists to purify insulin that they took from the pancreas of cows and produce the first treatment for diabetes. In January 1922, 14-year-old Leonard Thompson was the first person to receive an injection of insulin to treat diabetes. Thompson lived another 13 years with the condition and eventually died of pneumonia. Understanding insulin resistance In 1936, Sir Harold Percival Himsworth published research that differentiated between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. He theorized that many people had insulin resistance rather than insulin deficiency. Insulin resistance is one factor that leads to type 2 diabetes. When a person has insulin resistance, their body cells lose their sensitivity to insulin and are not able to take in glucose. In response, the pancreas increases its output of insulin. As this continues to happen, it puts stress on the pancreas, resulting in damage to this organ.

Modern treatment People with type 1 diabetes and some people with type 2 diabetes need to use insulin every day. People continued to use injectable animal-based insulin for many years, but recent years have seen further advances in treatment. These include the introduction of insulin analogs and the development of new ways to deliver insulin. Both of these factors have made diabetes treatment more effective. Human insulin In 1978, scientists created the first human-based insulin, which they named Humulin. Humulin is identical in structure to human insulin. Lispro, the first short-acting insulin, appeared on the market in 1996. Lispro begins to work about 15 minutes after injection and keeps working for 24 hours. Long-acting insulins, such as insulin glargine, take longer to absorb and remain active for up to 24 hours. People who use insulin tend to combine long- and short-acting types. The long-acting dose works throughout the day, while the short-acting dose boosts insulin levels around mealtimes. Insulin delivery systems Share on Pinterest Nowadays, it is normal for people to manage diabetes at home. Over time, not only have new forms of insulin become available, but there are also new methods of delivery. In the 1980s, the first blood glucose monitors became available for home use, providing an accurate way to monitor blood sugar. People who use insulin have to measure their glucose levels to determine how much insulin they need and how well their treatment is working. In 1986, the insulin pen delivery system appeared. These prefilled syringes, which come in specific measures, are a safe and convenient way of delivering the required dose of insulin. The 1990s saw the invention of external insulin pumps, which, with correct use, can provide: better results

more flexibility

easier treatment management These and other inventions help people manage their condition themselves. By increasing their awareness and skills, people can take more control over their health and feel more confident that they are managing their condition.

Non-insulin treatment Not everyone with type 2 diabetes uses insulin. Research has increasingly shown that a healthful diet is crucial for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes. Ongoing research is investigating the most appropriate diet to follow and the role of other lifestyle factors, such as cigarette smoking, stress, and sleep. Non-insulin medications A number of non-insulin therapies for diabetes emerged during the 20th century. People can take each of these by mouth. They include: Metformin: The discovery of metformin stemmed from the use of Galega officinalis (also known as goats rue or French lilac) as a medieval treatment for diabetes. Metformin is a biguanide. Scientists developed several biguanides during the 19th century, but they either had severe side effects or did not reach the market. Metformin became available in the United States in 1995. Sulfonylureas: These contain a type of chemical called sulfonamides, some of which can reduce blood sugar. Carbutamide became available in 1955, and since then, other sulfonylureas have appeared. Pramlintide: Doctors sometimes prescribe this drug for people with type 1 diabetes to slow the rate at which the stomach empties, reduce glucagon secretions from the pancreas, and help a person feel full. In this way, it can help with weight loss and reduce the amount of insulin that a person needs. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors: These reduce blood glucose independently of insulin by decreasing the amount of glucose that the body absorbs. They can also help lower blood pressure and body weight. Current guidelines recommend that doctors prescribe them for people with type 2 diabetes who have a risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not approved them for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor inhibitors: These can reduce glucose levels in the body and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk of a heart attack or stroke. The FDA have not approved them for treating type 1 diabetes. People can take these medications by mouth or in the form of an injection. Since 1996, a range of oral medications have emerged that can treat diabetes and its complications. Newer medications include both oral and injectable medicines.

Future possibilities Scientists are looking into various options that may help people with diabetes in the future. Immunotherapy: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) have funded several research projects, including one that is attempting to identify the possible trigger for type 1 diabetes, which doctors believe relates to a problem with the immune system. Artificial pancreas: Another emerging treatment option is the artificial pancreas. The device, which some refer to as closed-loop glucose control, involves using an external pump and continuous glucose monitoring to deliver insulin in a single system. It uses a control algorithm and automatically adjusts the dose according to readings from sensors. In 2018, researchers writing in the BMJ concluded that the artificial pancreas is efficacious and safe for people with type 1 diabetes to use.
By combining a conventional laboratory measurement of blood clotting time (known as the International Normalized Ratio or INR) with a new test of blood clot strength, based upon thrombelastography (TEG), researchers at the University of Colorado's Department of Surgery, Denver, are able to quickly and efficiently assess the overall ability of blood to clot and identify trauma patients who were most in need of a massive blood transfusion. The investigators believe that in the not too distant future these tests, when used in combination, will be able to personalize trauma care, help surgeons save lives, and make better use of scarce blood bank resources. The ability of the tests to predict the need for massive transfusion was described in an "article in press" published on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print publication.

More than 80 percent of deaths in the operating room and 50 percent of deaths in the first 24 hours after injury are due to massive blood loss and impaired coagulation. While only 3 percent of civilian trauma patients receive a massive transfusion in the first day of treatment after trauma, these patients account for 70 percent of all blood transfused in a trauma center.1

"When someone is massively bleeding, you need to give certain blood products early, and the blood bank has to mobilize blood products that are resource scarce, such as platelets, which have only a five-day shelf life. You want to quickly identify patients who will require a large quantity of blood products to save lives and mobilize the blood bank only when you need it," according to lead study author, Hunter B. Moore, MD.

However, clinical scoring systems for predicting the need for massive transfusion are problematic. Some rely on vital signs, such as blood pressure and heart rate, which are subjective and highly variable; others require multiple diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests.2

Dr. Moore and his colleagues at the University of Colorado's Department of Surgery developed a new test to predict which patients would require massive transfusion. This test modifies a currently available test of blood clot strength, thrombelastography (TEG), by adding tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to a patient's blood sample. Thrombelastography is a point-of-care assay of coagulation that measures the viscoelastic properties of whole blood and determines the ability of blood to clot. Tissue plasminogen activator is a protein involved in the breakdown of blood clots.

"When patients go into hemorrhagic shock, they activate the blood's fibrinolysis or clot degradation system at the local or organ level so organs continue to be perfused with blood. At the systemic level, there are backup inhibitors - platelets and proteins - that prevent clot degradation from affecting the whole body. Activators of fibrinolysis include tissue plasminogen activator. As patients progress toward hemorrhagic shock, clot degradation intensifies, and their tPA levels increase. We can unmask this process in the early stages by giving extra tPA to blood samples and forecast if the patient is at high risk of progression to hyperfibrinolysis," Dr. Moore said.

Dr. Moore and associates studied more than 300 patients who were treated for trauma between 2014 and 2016. Seventeen percent of the patients required a massive transfusion, and one third of deaths were due to uncontrolled hemorrhage. The investigators assessed how effectively each clinical score could determine the need for massive transfusion, and compared their effectiveness to their new developed test.

The analysis showed that this tPA-challenged TEG assay was highly sensitive and specific and took only a few minutes to provide results - up to 30 minutes faster than existing tests. Moreover, when the tPA-challenged TEG assay, was used in combination with the INR, it improved the predictive value of identifying patients who needed transfusion by roughly 40 percent. Additionally, the two-test combination identified 97 percent of patients who did not require blood products, thereby preventing unnecessary transfusions. The researchers therefore propose that trauma teams use the INR as a screening test to determine if someone is at risk for bleeding and then follow up with tPA-challenged TEG to ensure that this result is accurate.

The tPA-challenged TEG assays currently require trained technicians to conduct the testing. However, newly available fully automated TEG instruments will streamline this process, according to Dr. Moore.

"The fully automated assays will have a standardized methodology for obtaining samples and may be used as a point-of-care test by prehospital providers to screen for the risk of massive transfusion before patients enter the trauma center. These assays will help us move one step closer to the time when the trauma team can tailor or personalize resuscitation to each patient," Dr. Moore said.

Article: Viscoelastic Tissue Plasminogen Activator Challenge Predicts Massive Transfusion in 15 Minutes, Journal of American College of Surgeons, doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2017.02.018, published online 15 May 2017.
Data being presented at the 112th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) shows harmful links between the use of e-cigarettes and bladder cancer risk, and associates the intensity of smoking traditional cigarettes to a higher risk of mortality among bladder cancer patients. Even a small decrease in the amount of traditional smoking a bladder cancer patient makes may help them live longer. Researchers shared data highlighting these links during a joint press conference at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on Monday May 15. Sam S. Chang, MD, MBA, professor of urologic surgery at Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center moderated the session.

Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), which is also known as "vaping", has grown drastically since first entering the marketplace more than a decade ago. While traditional cigarette smoking is a clear cause of bladder cancer, much less has been studied about the bladder cancer risk associated with e-cigarettes. Furthermore, there is limited information regarding the association between the amount of traditional cigarettes a bladder cancer patient smokes per day and their mortality risk.

Study Details

Smoking Intensity as a Predictor of Survival in Bladder Cancer Patients: Results From a Population-Based Florida Cancer Registry (1981-2009) - (#MP04-18): Survival rates were compared between more than 14,000 smoking adults with bladder cancer living in Florida between 1981 and 2009. Median and five-year overall survival rates were compared between patients who smoked less than one pack of cigarettes a day, to those who smoke 1-2 packs per day and patients who smoked more than two packs per day.

Results showed:

Smoking more packs per day was associated with an increased risk of mortality among patients with bladder cancer.

Patients smoking a minimum of 1-2 packs per day were significantly more likely to have a higher risk of mortality compared to patients that smoke less than one pack per day.

Even a small reduction in the amount of smoking a patient makes may potentially allow them to survive longer with bladder cancer.

Evaluation of E-Cigarettes Users Urine for Known Bladder Carcinogens (#MP88-14): Researchers compared the urine of e-cigarette users to that of non-smokers. Urine samples were examined for five known bladder carcinogens that are either present in traditional cigarettes or common solvents believed to be used in some e-cigarette liquids.

The users were mostly male with an average age of 39 years old. The non-smokers had abstained from traditional cigarettes for at least six months prior to the test.

Results showed:

Urine from 92 percent of e-cigarette users tested positive for two of the five carcinogenic compounds.

Further study is needed to clarify the contribution e-cigarettes make to the development of bladder cancer, given the greater concentration of carcinogenic compounds in the urine of e-cigarette users in this study.

E-Cigarette Smoke is Potentially Bladder Carcinogenic - It Induces Tumorigenic DNA Adducts and Inhibits DNA Repair in Urothelial Cells (#PI-11): E-cigarettes have been advertised as a way of delivering the stimulating effects of tobacco smoke, without the harmful health risks. Since 90 percent of inhaled nicotine is excreted to urine, New York University researchers set out to examine if e-cigarette smoke induced DNA damage in bladder mucosa. Researchers also looked at the effect of nicotine and its metabolites, nitrosamines and formaldehyde on DNA repair and mutational susceptibility in cultured human urothelial cells. Urothelial cells form the tissue that lines much of the bladder.

Results showed:

E-cigarette smoke induced tumorigenic DNA damage in bladder mucosa.

Nicotine, nitrosamine and formaldehyde also induced the same types of DNA damage in human urothelial cells, as well as inhibited DNA repair and enhanced mutational susceptibility.

Nicotine can be nitrosatized in urothelial cells, then further metabolized into carcinogenic nitrosamines and formaldehyde.

Overall, researchers predicted e-cigarette smokers have a high bladder cancer risk.

"These studies raise new concerns about the harmful impact of e-cigarettes on bladder cancer," said Dr. Chang. "We've known traditional smoking raises bladder cancer risk, and given the surge in popularity of e-cigarettes, it's imperative we uncover any potential links to e-cigarette smoke and bladder cancer.

This research underscores the importance of smoking cessation (of both traditional and e-cigarettes) for people with bladder cancer, and people looking to avoid it."
New research from the University of Liverpool, in collaboration with the Mario Negri Institute in Milan, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, has identified a protein that could help patients with epilepsy respond more positively to drug therapies.

Epilepsy continues to be a serious health problem and is the most common serious neurological disease. Despite 30 years of drug development, approximately 30% of people with epilepsy do not become free of fits (also called seizures) with currently available drugs.

New, more effective drugs are therefore required for these individuals. We do not fully understand why some people develop seizures, why some go onto develop epilepsy (continuing seizures), and most importantly, why some patients cannot be controlled with current drugs.

Inflammation

There is now increasing body of evidence suggesting that local inflammation in the brain may be important in preventing control of seizures. Inflammation refers to the process by which the body reacts to insults such as having a fit. In most cases, the inflammation settles down, but in a small number of patients, the inflammation continues.

The aim of the research, undertaken by Dr Lauren Walker while she was a Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Training Fellow, was to address the important question of how can inflammation be detected by using blood samples, and whether this may provide us with new ways of treating patients in the future to reduce the inflammation and therefore improve seizure control.

The research focused on a protein called high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), which exists in different forms in tissues and bloodstream (called isoforms), as it can provide a marker to gauge the level of inflammation present.

Predicting drug response

The results showed that there was a persistent increase in these isoforms in patients with newly-diagnosed epilepsy who had continuing seizure activity, despite anti-epileptic drug therapy, but not in those where the fits were controlled.

An accompanying drug study also found that HMGB1 isoforms may predict how an epilepsy patient's seizures will respond to anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dr Lauren Walker, said: "Our data suggest that HMGB1 isoforms represent potential new drug targets, which could also identify which patients will respond to anti-inflammatory therapies. This will require evaluation in larger-scale prospective trials."

Innovative scheme

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, Director of the MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science and Programme lead for the MRC Clinical Pharmacology scheme, said: "The MRC Clinical Pharmacology scheme is a highly successful scheme to train "high flyers" who are likely to become future leaders in academia and industry.

"Dr Walker's research is testament to this and shows how this innovative scheme, which was jointly funded by the MRC and Industry, can tackle areas of unmet clinical need, and identify new ways of treating patients with epilepsy using a personalised medicine approach".

Article: Molecular isoforms of high-mobility group box 1 are mechanistic biomarkers for epilepsy, Lauren Elizabeth Walker et al., Journal of Clinical Investigation, doi: 10.1172/JCI92001, published 15 May 2017.
Colombia

TORONTO

May 17, 2017

Colombia

Colombia's

Federico Cock-Correa

Colombia's

Canada

Colombia's

RIONEGRO,and/CNW/ - PharmaCielo Ltd. today announced the acquisition of 3.37 hectares (8.32 acres) of land in the historic cannabis producing region of northeastern Cauca,by its wholly owned subsidiary PharmaCielo Colombia Holdings SAS, for the establishment of a greenhouse facility.An agreement announced earlier this year with Cooperativa Caucannabis, a Cauca region cooperative, committed PharmaCielo to constructing a fully secure, scalable cultivation facility that will house open-air greenhouses similar to those at its nursery and propagation centre in Rionegro. The Cauca land acquisition is a key element in fulfilling the agreement and essential to regional participation in the development ofcannabis oil extract industry."Building our greenhouse facility here in Cauca department will enable social inclusiveness as regional campesinos participate in the development of a new, legal cannabis industry," said, director and CEO of PharmaCielo Colombia Holdings SAS.Cooperativa Caucannabis and its 52 local regional farmer members will participate inlegal cannabis industry by working together with PharmaCielo in Cauca to cultivate cannabis for the production of standardized, medicinal-grade oil extracts and related products.The land purchase agreement is expected to be finalized and closed in the next month, with construction of the new greenhouse facility commencing immediately thereafter.PharmaCielo Ltd. is a global company privately held and headquartered in, with a focus on processing and supplying all natural, medicinal-grade cannabis oil extracts and related products to large channel distributors. PharmaCielo's principal (and wholly-owned) subsidiary is PharmaCielo Colombia Holdings SAS, headquartered at its nursery and propagation centre located in Rionegro, Colombia.The boards of directors and executive teams of both PharmaCielo and PharmaCielo Colombia Holdings are comprised of a diversely talented group of international business executives and specialists with relevant and varied expertise. PharmaCielo recognized the significant role thatideal location will play in building a sustainable business in the medical cannabis industry, and the company, together with its directors and executives, has built a compelling business plan focused on supplying the international marketplace.SOURCE PharmaCielo


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The current ongoing social media ban in Kashmir is only adding more fuel to the fire. The place is already a barren land of people trying to live a normal life. The government has now imposed a ban on around 22 websites including Facebook and Whatsapp, owing to the fact that anti-government organisations were using them to carry out illegal activities. However, there are two sides to every coin and while on this side, we are trying to curb terrorism in the state, on the other hand, and we forget that the people who are living in that horror also have these mediums to express what and how they feel.

 Twitter

Since necessity is the mother of all invention, a young 16-year-old boy has ended the woes of this endless social media exhaustion. Zeyan Shafiq from the Anantang district has come up with Kashbook, an exclusive social media platform for people living in the Valley.

 Kashbook

Kashbook came into existence in 2013 but has suddenly gained tremendous popularity amongst citizens there. It already has an Android app and soon an iOS app is also going to be launched. The website does not require a VPN and is hence easily accessible. In a place which is finding its own voice, Kashbook is a blessing in disguise.

 Facebook

Zeyan fears its ban but is currently overwhelmed with the love that his site is garnering, as all of it is in the larger interest of the public. This is totally along the lines of the Make in India scheme that our PM seems to endorse ardently and it is something to be proud of.
In the television interview, Bossert described the malware that paralyzed 200,000 computers running factories, banks, government agencies, hospitals and transportation systems across the globe as an "extremely serious threat."

He told reporters at the White House that "less than $70,000" has been paid as ransom to those carrying out the attacks. He urged all computer users to make sure they install software patches to protect themselves against further cyberattacks.

In the United States, Tom Bossert, a homeland security adviser to President Donald Trump, told the ABC television network the global cybersecurity attack is something that "for right now, we've got under control."

He said "the level of criminal activity is at the lower end of the range that we had anticipated."

Health officials in Britain, where surgeries and doctors' appointments in its national health care system had been severely impacted Friday, were still having problems Monday. But health minister Jeremy Hunt said it was "encouraging" that a second wave of attacks had not materialized.

The worldwide ransomware cyberattacks appeared to ease Monday, although thousands more computers, mostly in Asia, were hit as people signed in at work for the first time since the infections spread to 150 countries three days ago.

Cybersecurity experts say the unknown hackers behind the "WannaCry" ransomware attacks, who demanded $300 payments to decrypt files locked by the malware, used a vulnerability that came from U.S. government documents leaked online. The attacks exploited known vulnerabilities in older Microsoft computer operating systems.

During the weekend, Microsoft president Brad Smith said the clandestine U.S. National Security Agency had developed the code used in the attack.

Bossert said "criminals," not the U.S. government, are responsible for the attacks. Like Bossert, experts believe Microsoft's security patch released in March should protect networks if companies and individual users install it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country had nothing to do with the attack and cited the Microsoft statement blaming the NSA for causing the worldwide cyberattack.

"A genie let out of a bottle of this kind, especially created by secret services, can then cause damage to its authors and creators," Putin said while attending an international summit in Beijing. He said that while there was "no significant damage" to Russian institutions from the cyberattack, the incident was "worrisome."

"There is nothing good in this and calls for concern," he said.

Even though there appeared to be a diminished number of attacks Monday, computer outages still affected segments of life across the globe, especially in Asia, where Friday's attacks occurred after business hours.

China said 29,000 institutions had been affected, along with hundreds of thousands of devices. Japan's computer emergency response team said 2,000 computers at 600 locations were affected there.

Universities and other educational institutions appeared to be the hardest hit in China. China's Xinhua News Agency said railway stations, mail delivery, gas stations, hospitals, office buildings, shopping malls and government services also were affected.

Elsewhere, Britain said seven of the 47 trusts that run its national health care system were still affected, with some surgeries and outpatient appointments canceled as a result. In France, auto manufacturer Renault said one of its plants that employs 3,500 workers stayed shut Monday as technicians dealt with the aftermath of the Friday attacks.

Computer security experts have assured individual computer users who have kept their operating systems updated that they are relatively safe, but urged companies and governments to make sure they apply security patches or upgrade to newer systems.

They advised those whose networks have been effectively shut down by the ransomware attack not to make the payment demanded, the equivalent of $300, paid in the digital currency bitcoin.

However, the authors of the "WannaCry" ransomware attack told their victims the amount they must pay will double if they do not comply within three days of the original infection, by Monday in most cases. The hackers warned that they will delete all files on infected systems if no payment is received within seven days.
The decision was made after a local court accepted the recommendation of doctors at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in the state of Haryana.

The girl, who is about five months pregnant and reports being raped repeatedly by her stepfather, appealed for a termination. Indian law does not permit abortions after 20 weeks unless doctors can prove that the mother's life is at risk.

The pregnancy came to light last week when the girl's mother suspected her daughter was pregnant and took her to a doctor. The girl was reportedly often left at home during the day when her mother was at work.

The stepfather, who is also the child's paternal uncle, was arrested and is currently in jail, according to police, who added that the abuse had been going on for years.

Child rape is extremely common in India, where it often goes unreported for fear of losing family respect. Local reports say the stepfather had warned the girl to keep quiet.
Ukraine ordered the blocking of access to a number of Russian websites Tuesday in the latest round of sanctions since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

President Petro Poroshenko's office announced the decree, which he signed a day earlier, banning operations of popular Russian websites, such as search engine Yandex, for three years.

The listed websites were still functioning in Ukraine Tuesday, and it is unclear how and when the government plans to block them.


President Moon Jae-in will go to Washington in late June to meet with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.

The trip comes at an anxious time for Seoul amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and a heavy U.S. naval presence in nearby waters. Trump has also threatened to revise a bilateral free trade agreement and make South Korea pay more for the upkeep of U.S. forces here.

On Tuesday, Moon met with Matthew Pottinger, the visiting senior director for East Asia at the White House's National Security Council, and told him he would like to meet Trump "to reaffirm the strength of the bilateral alliance and to continue close cooperation in dealing with the North Korean nuclear threat," presidential spokesman Yoon Young-chan told reporters.

"They agreed to mobilize all available means including sanctions and dialogue" to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear program, Yoon added.
Alternate Foreign Minister G. Katrougalos met at the Foreign Ministry today with the Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Neris Germanas.



During their meeting they discussed the strengthening of bilateral economic relations, cooperation in the tourism sector, the refugee crisis and the Brexit.






L. ZAORALEK: Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to welcome my friend and partner, Mr. Kotzias, to the Czernin Palace. I am particularly pleased to have been able to invite him and welcome him warmly to the Czech Republic today.

I want to stress in particular that many Czechs will visit Greece. Today, I can say that nearly half a million will be visiting your country, because they greatly prize Greece's beauty and security.

We looked at bilateral cooperation issues, as Greece is a partner with whom we want to develop our relations, particularly in the field of enterprises. We are very pleased that the refugee/migration wave that hit Greece has stopped almost completely, and the situation in this sector has shifted for Greece.

The issue that interests us in particular is the future of the European Union, because we are countries of approximately the same size in terms of population, though Greece's is a little larger, and we are interested in the future of Europe as a whole.

I would like to mention an issue that is of particular interest to our audience and all of the Czech Republic, and it concerns the court case of Czech citizens, Messrs. Buchta and Pezlar. I would like to stress that we have assisted our citizens, we have given them legal support. They have not been convicted of a jailable offence, but given a suspended sentence, and the charge has changed on this matter. I would like to stress, once again, that there was a change in the charge, from a jailable offence to an offence carrying a suspended sentence, and I would be very pleased if it were just a misdemeanour. We are awaiting the result from the appeal that has been lodged with the Greek court.

I am of the opinion that Greek-Czech relations are very good, and, once again, I am pleased to receive Mr. Kotzias here in the Czech Republic.

N. KOTZIAS: Thank you very much for the interpretation. I thank my friend Lubomir very much for the invitation to come to Prague, a city with a great history; a city that Greeks love, especially for its arts, history and literature. First of all, I would like to wish my colleague every success now that the Czech Republic  in a few days, in Nicosia  will be assuming the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers. I can assure you that the Committee will be in good hands.

The future of the European Union is of great interest to me  it is of concern to both of us. We have to help for there to be a substantial debate among our partners, our societies and the institutions regarding the future of Europe. A debate on the future of Europe means our agreeing on how we imagine the European Union and what we aspire for it to be and develop into in the 21st century. On what our vision is for Europe and our Union, and what principles and values we will strengthen it with. How we will make it attractive to the younger generation again. How we will develop a social Europe, so that it once again becomes more attractive to our citizens. We have to avert the trends toward the fragmentation of Europe.

We have two major and difficult geoeconomic, geostrategic problems before us in Europe: to optimise our organisation of the Brexit  for both sides  and to stabilise our relations with Turkey. I always say that Greece has every interest in wanting a European and democratic Turkey, but it is up to the Turks themselves to decide whether they really want to work and to promote the necessary reforms so that they can join the European Union.

My colleague and I also talked about the Western Balkans. How we can strengthen the region's course towards the European Union and Euroatlantic structures. How we can contribute to the further development of a political culture of consensus and compromise.

The last thing I would like to mention is that there is also broad scope for our bilateral cooperation. In particular, we want to enhance  and I have a number of proposals and thoughts on this  the cooperation between our Ministries of Foreign Affairs and between the two states as a whole, in the sectors of education, research, culture and new technologies. Our meeting today, which follows on our meeting in Athens, will not suffice. I hope Lubomir finds time to come to Athens again, and it is certain that we will take a big step in our good relations. Thank you again for the invitation.

JOURNALIST: A question for Mr. Kotzias: When do you think the package of measures will be approved by Parliament?

N. KOTZIAS: On Thursday evening.

JOURNALIST: What can you tell us in regard to this?

N. KOTZIAS: If I could sum up the situation of the Greek economy in a single phrase, I would say this: it isn't what we would like it to be, but it is much better than what we found two and half years ago. After eight years of a crisis that was the biggest economic crisis in the world, I would say, since the Second World War, given that we lost 27% of our GDP.

We are now once again on a growth track. We managed to get our surpluses to three times the level set by the programme. Unemployment fell by nearly 5%. Nevertheless, unemployment remains high. We have new investments: I have just returned from China, where we signed agreements on a total of 1.7 billion in investments, with the largest being that of ZTE, which comes to 500 million and concerns fibre optics. We are in a position to adopt a relief programme for the poor, as poverty has reached very high levels in Greece, and, with certain exceptions, all of the players have understood that these austerity programmes must stop and that we must move on to growth programmes.

In brief: We took major steps forward, but this isn't enough for us to be satisfied. We have a lot of difficulties to face, but this time we have a plan for how to deal with the crisis and return to strong growth rates.

In fact, all of the data indicate that this year we will have a record in foreign trade between Greece and the Czech Republic. While last year we saw a reduction in tourist flows from the Czech Republic, with under 300,000 arrivals, this year we will see a return to over 400,000  towards half a million. The development of our relations with the Czech Republic is another element that helps in the stabilisation and growth of our economy. This is why I want to thank every Czech who comes to see the beauties of the land, history and culture of Greece, and every Czech who contributes to the growth of trade between the two states. Thank you.
Choi was indicted first and has been on trial for months while Park was protected by her presidential immunity before she was impeached. Prosecutors finally indicted Park in April and added bribery charges against Choi that the first investigation by prosecutors and a probe by independent counsel Park Young-soo had lacked the time to put together.

Park and Choi are charged with taking or demanding W43.3 billion in bribes from Samsung and demanding W8.9 billion in bribes from SK and W7 billion from Lotte. They are also suspected of extorting billions more from other conglomerates, most of which went into Choi's slush funds.

The objection came in Park's second pre-trial hearing, in which she pleaded not guilty to all 18 criminal charges against her. Park was not present at the hearing but entered the plea through her lawyers. The formal trial starts next Tuesday.

Ex-President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday objected to a court decision to make her stand trial alongside her fatal confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is charged on many of the same counts of extortion and soliciting bribes.

The Seoul Central District Court earlier said it will combine the two cases since many of the witnesses and documents entered in evidence are the same. At the time, Choi's lawyers read out a typically histrionic statement from their client objecting to the decision, saying she feels "unbearable shame" at having to stand trial next to Park and likening the prospect to "gouging out her own eyes."

Park's fresh objection on Tuesday argued that she is not an accomplice to Choi and should be tried separately on the bribery charges.

"Choi's trial has progressed significantly already and combining the two cases will lead to possible bias from the judges," Park's lawyer said. "We will be faced with serious limitations from the start."

In the face of a fairly solid case, the defense tactics throughout Park's impeachment trial and now at her criminal trial have been to filibuster and complain of an obscure conspiracy against their client.

The pre-trial hearing, which usually takes half an hour, dragged on for an hour as Park's lawyers wrangled with the judge.

The judge said, "A separate trial would lead to the same witnesses being summoned twice," but added he will decide on their objection by the day the formal trial begins.

The case involves an army of witnesses and could drag on for months. The full lists have not been submitted, but there is speculation that up to 200 witnesses could be summoned.

The court has until October to reach a ruling and proposed to hold four sessions a week, but already Park's lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha claimed this is impossible considering Park's health, though he did not elaborate. The court agreed to reduce the number of sessions to three a week.

The trial has been delayed because Park reneged on pledges to submit to questioning from prosecutors while she remained holed up at Cheong Wa Dae. That has had a knock-back effect on the trials of other Cheong Wa Dae officials and Chois cronies.

The trial of Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong for bribing Park and Choi is expected to be wrapped up by late June, but he is likely to be sentenced at the same time as Park.


President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday had lunch with special envoys he is sending to the U.S., China, Japan, Russia, and the EU.

Moon said their dispatch marks the start of "normalization" in Korea's diplomatic activities after months where little could be done as ex-President Park Geun-hye battled impeachment.

They are Hong Seok-hyun, a former chairman of the Joong-ang Ilbo, who will go to the U.S., former prime minister Lee Hae-chan, who goes to China, Minjoo Party lawmaker Moon Hee-sang, who heads to Japan, fellow Minjoo lawmaker Song Young-gil (Russia), and Cho Yoon-je (EU and Germany), a professor at Sogang University.


A ransomware attack that hijacked computers in vital business and services around the globe since last Friday has been linked to hackers connected to North Korea.

Global cybersecurity firms have pointed at North Korea as the mastermind behind the latest cyberattack.

Symantec, Intezer Labs of Israel and Russia's Kaspersky Lab on Monday agreed that a considerable part of the "WannaCry" ransomware is identical with a hacking program used by the Lazarus group, which has ties to North Korea.

Desperate users whose data had been taken hostage paid some US$70,000 in bitcoin to the hackers, who targeted computers that run on the Windows operating system across 150 countries.
Samsung has sold more than 10 million Galaxy S8 smartphones just three weeks after its release. At this rate, sales are expected to surpass the 50-million milestone set by the S7 last year.

Samsung said Tuesday that global sales of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus passed the 10 million mark on May 12. It was launched in the U.S. on April 21. It has been taking less and less time for the Galaxy S series to break the 10-million mark every year. The Galaxy S1 needed seven months.

A Samsung staffer said the reason for the fast sales is that the phone was released in 50 countries at the same time whereas previous models were rolled out more gradually.

Korean pre-orders alone totaled 1 million units, and another 260,000 were sold on the first day of its release here.

Samsung plans to expand the number of countries selling the S8 from 100 to around 120 later this month. Sales in China start Thursday.


Shanghai takes cyber attack in its stride

From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-05-16 10:24

Shanghai was relatively unaffected by the worldwide ransomware attack over the weekend.



Yesterday, the citys gas stations, stock exchange, entry-exit administration, hospitals and universities were working normally. However, security experts were warning people returning to work to be cautious and take precautions.

Hospitals and the stock exchange escaped the effects of the virus as they separate their core databases from public Internet networks while systems at places such as gas stations and entry-exit administrations had been restored yesterday.

Though more than 4,500 computers in Chinese universities had been affected, none of the computers at the citys Jiao Tong University were hit, according to Jiang Kaida, who is in charge of information security at the university.

Wang Dong, chief information officer at Shanghais Zhoupu Hospital, said Chinas hospital systems are specially designed with a safety box which separates the core patient and hospital database from external networks.

PetroChina, whose online payment system didnt work at some gas stations during the weekend, has now restored the service nationwide, the oil giant said yesterday.
BAY CITY  A group of Laker High School students recently attended the STEM conference at Delta College.

Students heard presentations from Dow, Michigan Tech University, Ford and Delta College representatives about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers.

There were more than 30 student research posters presented at the conference that were evaluated on science, engineering and popular vote.

The team of Lance Gascho and Joy Bonke earned second place in engineering with their research on DEEP Dive into Chemistry, in which they designed a floating, waterproof and workable cell phone case, and Delta College reproduced the designs on a 3-D printer.

All Laker chemistry students completed the cell phone case project earlier this school year in Deb Hasselschwerts class.

The team of Isiah Gray, Elly Hyzer and Liberty Cloutier won over the crowd and earned first place for the popular vote with their DEEP Dive Physical Science project about wind turbine blades. All Laker physical science students designed turbine blades using CAD software, and Delta College produced the prototype blades using a 3-D printer. The students then tested their blades to see how well they worked. This was part of Scott Lebsacks physical science class.
BAD AXE  Pieces of legislation, recently signed by the governor, now make it a crime in Michigan to intentionally shine a laser at an aircraft.

Although its currently a federal law, Gov. Rick Snyders recent signature made it a law in the state.

Chris Jackson said laser pointers have not been an issue at the Huron County Memorial Airport in Bad Axe since hes taken over as manager about a month ago.

If it ever does happen here, it would be a problem, Jackson said. The reason being is this airport relies on visual flight.

The airport doesnt have a control tower  such as the Detroit Metropolitan Airport  so pilots rely on visual flight. The pilots need to be able to see runways and lights when landing, Jackson said.

The Huron County Memorial Airport currently has 21 aircrafts, according to AirNav  a supplemental resource for pilots and aviation enthusiasts. Of those 21 aircrafts, 17 are single-engine airplanes.

You (pilots) need to be able to see the runways and see the lights at night, he explained. ... When it (laser pointer) hits the windshield of a plane, it spread outs and blinds them.

The law makes shining a laser a felony with a maximum punishment of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. State police said the law will help investigators quickly pursue people who are pointing lasers near airports.

That little tiny dot will create a blinding effect on a windshield of a plane, Jackson said. Thats why its dangerous.

The law also makes it a crime to shine lasers at moving trains.
Immediate family members of fallen troops now can receive long-term access cards for Air Force bases thanks to a program launched this month.

The Gold Star Base Access ID program started at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on May 1 and was implemented servicewide May 15, officials said.

"The chief of staff of the Air Force expressed consideration for more outreach to Gold Star families so they know they will always be part of the Air Force family," said Brooke Brzozowske, an Air Force spokesperson.

"These families have had access to and have received long-term care and support through the Air Force Families Forever program located with Airman and Family Readiness Centers," she added. "The base access cards will make it easier to access support services, attend ceremonies and events."

In the past, Gold Star family members had to be escorted on Air Force bases by a current ID card holder, despite the presence of survivor services programs on base specifically for their use. The new card will allow families to come on base without an escort.

The Army and Navy have similar programs, officials with those services said. The Navy's program, in place since 2014, has issued 559 cards, officials said. Army officials said their program, launched in 2015, issues cards through the DA Form 1602 or "civilian ID card" system. Officials with the Marine Corps did not respond by deadline for requests for information.

Air Force officials said surviving family members will be notified about the new program through mail sent from their closest base. Family members eligible for the card are the same as those eligible to receive the official Gold Star lapel button, including parents, siblings and adult children of those killed in combat.

Widows and minor dependents already have base access through the dependent ID card system.

The ID cards allow only base access and are not good for entrance into Morale, Welfare, Recreation (MWR) activities, medical facilities, exchange or commissary services, officials said.

Card applicants are run through a background check before they are issued the ID.

-- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com.
NEW LONDON, Connecticut -- Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly jokingly told President Donald Trump on Wednesday that a ceremonial sword gift from the Coast Guard could be put to good use against his enemies in the media.

"Use that on the press, sir," Kelly, a retired Marine general, was caught saying on the open mic on the lectern after Trump's commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy here.

Related story: Trump to Coast Guard: I Saved You Money on F-35, Aircraft Carrier

In honor of his first address as commander-in-chief to one of the service academies, the Coast Guard presented Trump with the sword to the applause of the 195 newly commissioned ensigns in the graduating class and several thousand of their family members.

As Trump sat down with the sword in his lap, Kelly leaned in with a smile to suggest how he should use it.

Much of Trump's address to the graduates dealt with complaints that the media consistently fails to acknowledge his accomplishments and good intentions.

He said that in their Coast Guard careers the graduates will often run up against the trials he faces daily. "You will find things are not always fair," he said.

"You have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight," Trump said, to get past the "naysayers" who oppose change. "Look at the way I've been treated lately, especially by the media. No politician in history, and I say with surety, has been treated worse, more unfairly."

The president did not comment directly on a range of controversies currently besetting the White House, including his firing of FBI Director James Comey and allegations arising from Russian attempts to influence the November elections.

Instead, Trump focused on his push to bring jobs back into the country, strengthen border security, and put in place major tax cuts.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

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Retired Marine Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger made it his mission to tell the world that if they lived or served on Camp Lejeune...
An effort to move Tricare Prime users from civilian doctors and into the military treatment facility system continues, military medical officials told Military.com, with some families involuntarily reassigned to their nearest hospital.

Army, Air Force and Navy officials said at least some of their facilities continue to move or "invite" Tricare Prime users back into the system.

At Air Force-led Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska, for example, some users within a 30-minute drive of the hospital were recently notified by mail that they had been reassigned, officials confirmed.

In 2014, the Army and Navy launched an effort to involuntarily move Tricare Prime users who saw civilian primary care providers near bases to doctors within a military treatment facility. Troops and their families were notified by mail with about 60 to 90 days' notice that they would receive a new primary care provider. The Air Force did not have an organized program, but did move some users.

In 2016, Adm. Raquel Bono, director of the Defense Health Agency, told Military.com that moving patients back into the MTF system, which carries lower costs than allowing them to be seen by civilian doctors through Tricare, continued to be a priority.

Service officials said the effort is still underway. Twelve Army bases are currently part of the ongoing recapture program, said Maria Tolleson, an Army medicine spokesperson, while the Navy has focused its efforts systemwide, officials said.

"Every Navy military treatment facility continues to actively identify and implement opportunities to fill excess capacity," Jessica Alexander, a Navy medicine spokesperson, said in a statement. "Our effort to increase enrollment to our direct-care system was an enterprise-wide endeavor to ensure optimal use of taxpayer funds."

Between 2014 and 2016, more than 85,000 Tricare Prime users were moved to Navy and Army hospitals through the recapture program, officials said.

The Air Force does not have an ongoing organized servicewide recapture effort, officials said, instead leaving management up to individual locations.

In 2016, about 4 percent of available Air Force MTF primary care appointments went unused, officials said, up from 1.6 percent in 2013.

And the number of Air Force Tricare Prime patients located near a military treatment facility and enrolled on base has also dropped. In 2013, about 77 percent of those users were enrolled on base; that number decreased to 66 percent in 2016.

In 2016, 85 percent of eligible Tricare Prime nearby users were enrolled at Navy MTFs, up from 80 percent in 2013.

Data on Army enrollment rate were not available.

-- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com.
The commanding officer and executive officer of the amphibious transport dock Anchorage were relieved of their duties Tuesday in the wake of an investigation into damage the ship sustained when it returned to its San Diego homeport in March following training at sea.

Naval Surface Force Commander Vice Adm. Tom Rowden relieved Capt. Jeffrey Craig and Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Johnson, citing a "loss of confidence in their ability to effectively lead and carry out assigned duties," according to a statement provided by Naval Surface Force Pacific. Navy Times was first to report on the reliefs Tuesday night.

Rowden lost confidence in the officers after being briefed on the results of an investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the 'engineering incident' that damaged the Anchorage, the announcement said.

A spokesman for the force, Cmdr. John Perkins, declined to provide any information about the nature of the incident or the damage sustained by the Anchorage. The San Diego Tribune reported that maintenance problems were found in the ship's propulsion system, though no damage was sustained to the ship itself.

Craig had taken command of the Anchorage in December, replacing Capt. J. J. Cummings. Johnson had been with the ship since July. Both officers have been temporarily reassigned: Craig to Naval Air Forces Pacific, and Johnson to Expeditionary Strike Group 3.

A career aviator, Craig received his wings in 1995, serving first on Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139, an EA-6B Prowler squadron. He has served as the executive officer and commanding officer of VAQ-132, leading the first operational deployment of an EA-18G Growler squadron, supporting operations in Iraq. He would later lead that squadron's first combat mission into Libya, according to his official biography.

Craig would go on to command VAQ-129. In 2014, he was assigned to the carrier Theodore Roosevelt as executive officer, completing a deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the coalition mission to destroy the Islamic State.

His awards include the Air Medal with Combat "V," Strike Flight Air Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, according to the biography.

The Anchorage is the seventh of 12 San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks, and was commissioned in May 2013. Capt. Tom Workman has been temporarily assigned as commanding officer of the ship, according to the Navy release, and Cmdr. Brian Bethea has taken over duties of executive officer. Officials plan to identify permanent reliefs for both positions in the near future.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
In the military, body language sends definitive messages of respect, authority, rank, and compliance. In the civilian world, the subtleties of body language account for much of how information is communicated (or miscommunicated!).

Studies have shown that non-verbal communication (body language, tone, and posturing) accounts for a huge part of how information is received. For instance, if a mother reprimands her toddler and smiles or giggles as she does it, the child notes the joy and disregards her stern words.

As a personal branding expert, body language is one of my favorite topics! There are so many tips to being more effective in building influence and communicating with confidence by integrating specific body language techniques. In my presentations to veterans about reputation management and how your behavior reinforces how you are perceived, I highlight these ten mistakes most people make, which often send the wrong message to your target audience:

Eye Contact: When you don't look someone in the eyes, it comes across as being arrogant, untrustworthy, disingenuous, or standoffish. Look people in the eyes when you speak to them. It makes them feel validated and seen (literally). Eye Contact: Creepy staring implies threatening posture. While it's good to hold eye contact while speaking, if you go so far as to stare and fixate your eye contact, it makes people uncomfortable and insecure. Handshake: Gripping someone's hands in a bone crushing fashion implies over aggressiveness, insecurity, and power. Instead, strive for a confident and approachable handshake that does not hurt the other person. Handshake: Shaking hands with what feels like a wet, limp fish communicates a lack of confidence and fear. Your handshake should be friendly and assertive, not weak and unsure. Head motion: Nodding aggressively when someone is talking to you indicates you are impatient and want him or her to finish speaking quickly. This makes other people feel invalidated and rushed. Instead, nod your head to indicate agreement and interest in what the other person is telling you. Head motion: Shaking your head side to side when saying "yes" indicates disagreement and contradicts what your words are saying. Your head motions should be consistent with your words. When you are in agreement, nodding up and down in approval is expected. Hand gestures: Fiddling with jewelry or keys suggests you are anxious or unsure, projecting lack of confidence in your words. Keep your hand motions consistent with your words. Instead of playing with your hair, jewelry, keys, or pen, keep your hands on a notebook or by your side to focus on your message and not distract. Hand gestures: If you touch other people too much when you talk to them, you could be infringing on their personal space, making them feel uncomfortable and even threatened. Too much physical contact in a professional setting can communicate neediness or an overly assertive personality. It is fine to touch someone's arm or shoulder if the conversation fits the gesture. Be responsive if they are uncomfortable with the move, and resist touching them again as you build your conversation. Posture: Sitting too erect and "at attention" can put someone off and make them feel uncomfortable. It projects a formality that is appropriate in the military but not as much in civilian life. Your posture should communicate confidence and approachability to new people and situations. Posture: Standing with your weight on your back foot and your hands in pocket communicates an aggressive posture, as if you are ready to leap forward or attack at a moment's notice. Put your body weight on both feet, equally, and relax your shoulders and hands. If you put one hand in your pocket, be sure to show the inside of your other palm as you speak. This indicates you have nothing to hide and are approachable.

While you might feel your body language is appropriate, always be mindful of the response you receive. If someone backs away from you or suddenly becomes defensive or closed off, you might have crossed the line. You can recover by simply changing the subject, stepping back one-step, or opening up your posture or hand gestures to indicate approachability.
BRIGHTON, MI - Michigan State Police submitted their investigation into a police-involved shooting to the Livingston County Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday, May 16.

The prosecutor's office will make any determination on charges in connection with the May 9 incident near Brighton, said Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw, who is special enforcement section commander and public information officer at the agency's Second District.

Michigan State Police have said a state police trooper was forced to retreat and call for backup about 10 p.m. May 9 when the subject of a welfare check - identified by family as 36-year-old Ian Little - exited a home in the 4800 block of South Old U.S. 23 Highway. He began walking toward the trooper with a pistol, police said.

Police said additional personnel from state police, the Livingston County Sheriff's Office and the Brighton Police Department arrived, but the subject continue to ignore commands to drop the gun and continued to walk toward officers as they continued to retreat. Eventually the man pointed his gun at police and police fired, striking him, police said.

Though Michigan State Police declined to comment on which agency's personnel were involved in the shooting, CBS Detroit reports a state trooper and a Livingston County Sheriff's deputy fired the shots.

Police have said the man shot suffered non-life threatening injuries, but Little's brother, 34-year-old Michael Little of Tennessee, said his brother was shot seven times and remains in critical condition.

Ian Little was shot in the right knee, right leg, left leg, left hand, left arm, side and buttocks, and remains under sedation, Michael Little said.

To Michael Little's understanding, a welfare check was requested because Ian Little's wife had left him and he was posting concerning statements on Facebook.

Michael Little said his brother has a history of mental illness and suicide attempts, but has not been violent in the past. He said Ian Little does not own a gun, but possibly has a BB gun and said his family supports police, if the shooting was justified.
ANN ARBOR, MI - A home built in 1907 at the southwest corner of Main Street and Davis Avenue is slated for demolition to make way for new condos.

The large, four-bedroom house faces Main Street, with steps leading up from the sidewalk to a large front porch with white railings and columns.

The fact that the four-unit condo building that's proposed to replace it would turn away from Main Street and would be oriented toward Davis Avenue was a concern for some city planning commissioners Tuesday night, May 16.

"It's very disappointing that there is no presence on Main Street," said Commissioner Julie Weatherbee, who lives across Main Street from the proposed development, which is being brought forward by a team that includes Cabrio Properties, Maven Development and Rueter Associates Architects.

At least two other commissioners voiced concerns about what they viewed as a lacking Main Street presence, but it wasn't enough to keep them from voting for the development. The project received a mix of praise and polite criticism from commissioners before the Planning Commission voted 6-0 to forward it to the City Council with a recommendation of approval.

Voting for the project were Erica Briggs, Sarah Mills, Wendy Woods, Scott Trudeau, Shannan Gibb-Randall and Weatherbee.

Ken Clein, Alex Milshteyn and Zachary Ackerman were absent.

Some commissioners said they like that a new sidewalk is being added along Davis Avenue and they think the project will be a good fit for the neighborhood.

The development site, a stone's throw from Michigan Stadium, is just east of where Maven Development is already building a similar, four-unit condo building called Davis Row Condominiums on the south side of Davis near First Street.

The submitted plans also show a sketch for a proposed residence at 211 W. Davis Ave., which is the empty lot between the proposed condo building and the condo building that Maven is already building on Davis Avenue.

Given that there would be a row of porches oriented toward Davis Avenue, Woods said it seems the developer is creating a sense of community and making the best out of a site that's on a corner at 904 S. Main.

And though the four townhouse-style condos at 904 S. Main would have front doors and porches along Davis Avenue, Briggs noted a drawing by the architect shows one of the units would have a small side patio facing Main Street.

"Which potentially brings some, you know, folks sitting out there, sort of a porch situation," she said.

Architect Marc Rueter said the issue of having a Main Street presence came up at a meeting with neighborhood residents. He said the project already included the patio facing Main Street at the time of that meeting, but the design has been revised to provide a more articulated canopy over the patio door with a bay window above the door facing Main Street to provide a sense of interest.

He said he expects the patio to be actively used by the future owner of that condo, creating some activity on the Main Street side.

The development plans show there would be two driveways leading to four separate two-car garages at the building front along Davis Avenue.

The 11,098-square-foot building would stand nearly 29 feet tall, with a garage level, first floor, second floor and attic floor.

The four condos would be marketed to young professionals and empty nesters, according to the plans.

Weatherbee said the home at 904 S. Main St. that's slated to be demolished if the development is approved is a "big, imposing house" sitting atop a hill with a presence on Main Street. She said she walks along Main Street to get downtown and every single house has a front door or porch, "something that looks out on Main Street and has a good presence on Main Street."

The new condo building being proposed, she argued, has very little presence on Main Street.

"It's not good for the community, I don't think, when buildings face away from Main Street. I think that's unfortunate," she said.

Speaking as someone who lives on Main Street, she said, "People actually come and they sit on our porch when we're not there. They ask if they can come sit on our porch on Main Street because it's so cool, and it's a neat place to be, and having that presence on Main Street is actually a really big deal."
ANN ARBOR, MI - There was one homicide in the city of Ann Arbor between November 2015 and December 2016. During the same period, three people died and two were seriously injured for another reason - they jumped or fell from parking structures in the city.

None of Ann Arbor's more than 20 parking garages have fencing or rails high enough to prevent someone from falling or jumping off them. Some of the garages are eight stories tall.

"We are very aware. It is an industry concern. It's a public health concern," said Ann Arbor Downtown Development Director Susan Pollay.

The DDA has control over city-owned parking, which includes seven garages. Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Republic Parking operates the garages for the city. Other parking structures are owned by the University of Michigan and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

After months of discussion, the DDA plans to install signs this spring in city-owned parking structures that include crisis hotline phone numbers.

The city also hopes to get rooftop safety fencing up this summer or fall on the city owned parking structures, Pollay said, a project that will cost $400,000. The funding has not been approved and the DDA board will likely vote on the project when it is sent out for a bid, Pollay said.

The fencing plan isn't a perfect solution, she admits, since someone could still jump from a lower level.

The city's efforts to improve safety also won't apply to parking structures at the University of Michigan or the university's hospital. While UM police patrol university garages and respond to attempted suicides, the university has no plans to install signs or fencing on the garages, an official there said.

The city of Grand Rapids installed fencing at several downtown parking ramps in 2014 and 2015 to prevent people from falling or jumping.

Improving Safety

Other cities in recent years have taken a variety of actions in an effort to improve parking-structure safety.

Grand Rapids installed 4-foot steel fencing on a roof and a pre-cast concrete wall at four garages at a cost of $34,000 per garage.

The city installed the fencing downtown in 2014-15 in response to at least three suicides from parking structures in the previous six years, The Grand Rapids Press reported.

Lincoln, Nebraska, installed about 250 suicide prevention signs at 12 city and five University of Nebraska-Lincoln parking structures in July 2016. The push for the signs came after a university cheerleader fell from a garage and died, the Lincoln Journal Star reported.

Bel Air, Maryland, installed signs and motion sensors that activate when the garage is closed in an effort to prevent suicides after three people died by jumping off a six-story garage in the past two years, the Baltimore Sun reported. Officials are considering installing fencing as an additional preventative measure.

In Ann Arbor, safety currently is up to police and the employees who maintain parking structures.

Republic Parking has zero tolerance for loitering in its parking garages, Pollay said. Employees receive training to recognize when someone needs help and intervene.

If someone is on the roof not being active, she said, employees will go up to them and engage in a friendly way.

Ann Arbor-area law enforcement officers also are trained to handle suicide attempts, officials say.

Ann Arbor Police Department Public Information Officer Renee Bush said police officers go through a variety of training to help people who are in distress and considering suicide to deescalate the situation.

"We take this very seriously," she said.

University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security officers also routinely patrol the university's structures, said UM spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen.

Officers are trained to handle suicide attempts, she said.

The university is always exploring best practices, Broekhuizen said, but right now, there are no plans to install signs or fencing on parking structures.

Fatalities, injuries continue

Since late 2015, five people were killed or injured at parking structures in the city. All of them were in their teens to mid-30s.

On Nov. 22, 2015, a woman in her mid-30s

A man in his 20s was

On Sept. 27, 2016, a teenager

On Oct. 9, 2016, a 19-year-old man jumped from the Forest Parking Structure, 650 S. Forest Ave., but survived, according to Ann Arbor police.

On Nov. 8, an Ann Arbor high schooler

The most recent data available from the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner shows there was one suicide death by jumping in 2015, none in 2014, two in 2013, one in 2012, none in 2011 and two in 2010.

The parking structure at South State and East Washington streets in downtown Ann Arbor, where police investigated a death on Sept. 27, 2016.

Nationwide, there were 42,773 deaths by suicide in 2014. Two percent of them were jumps or falls, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of those were in transportation areas such as railways, bridges or parking garages.

A group called The International Parking Institute released an 11-page report about parking garage suicides in 2016. The study found parking garages are attractive for people who are suicidal because of the accessibility, low cost and perceived certainty of completion. Most suicides from the structures were when the facilities were open to the public with patrols in the area.

Parking garages cater toward a young person's natural tendency toward impulsiveness, said Brian Todorow, clinical director of the Ozone House in Ann Arbor. The The Ozone House offers counseling and help for youths in the community.

To a young person, Todorow said, a parking structure seems free of barriers.

An industry concern

Ann Arbor DDA officials looked at national reports and did research about the best methods to reduce suicides and attempts from parking garages, Pollay said.

Law enforcement intervention was the most effective means of preventing suicides from the top of parking structures, making up 64 percent of successful interventions, the parking study stated. Parking staff was the second most-effective factor in prevention at 29 percent of those attempting suicide.

The International Parking Institute found warning signs are not particularly effective. There are other means of making parking decks less attractive to someone considering suicide, such as small-gauge fencing and adding screens and landscaping to prevent people from seeing the ground below.

The parking institute's report noted barriers such as chain-link fencing, security netting, vinyl-coated mesh and metal grating are possible measures to prevent suicides.

The Ann Arbor parking garages are constructed in accordance with the code at the time they were built, so each garage would need a slightly different approach, Pollay said.

The new signs, which are in place on the city's parking garages, cost about $3,000, she said. The DDA worked with the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Department to create the signs.

If approved, security fencing would come after the signs are installed.

Two DDA board members support the city taking measures to prevent jumps or falls.

"Even one incident is enough to make it a point to focus on it and do whatever is possible to prevent that," said Rishi Narayan, board chairman.

Vice chairman Al McWilliams said he knows the DDA has discussed some preventative measure every time there's a tragedy.

He supports the DDA installing some kind of barrier on parking garages.

Ozone House Executive Director Katie Doyle believes signs would help people who are considering suicide and normalize discussions about suicide for people who see the signs.

A sign adds a barrier to committing suicide, she said.

"When you're considering suicide, you're not thinking rationally," Doyle said. "A sign could jolt someone back to reality."

A sign on Detroit's Z Garage warns people to not lean over the edge of the 10-story parking structure.

A fence can make it harder for someone to die by suicide, but Doyle cautions it's only one mechanism. A person who is bent on dying by suicide will find a way, she said.

Doyle recommends preventative measures such as fences mixed with a consistent health education program.

Reducing the stigma and making it normal for people to talk about why they are considering suicide, what's not OK in their lives and how to get help are essential in reducing the number of suicides, she said.

Those experiencing thoughts of suicide can get help from:
YPSILANTI, MI - Knowing your rights when encountering police is the focus of a program Thursday, May 18, by the Vanzetti Hamilton Bar Association.

Scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at RCCG Mountain of the Lord church in Ypsilanti, the program will feature the subjects of immigration, ethnic intimidation and employment discrimination.

The free event, which is also being sponsored by The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, will feature a panel discussion with Ypsilanti Police Chief Tony DeGiusti, criminal defense attorney Robyn McCoy and ACLU attorney Mark Fancher, among others.

"I think that it is essential that attorneys, community leaders and law enforcement come together to educate the public on these pressing issues," McCoy said.

RCCG Mountain of the Lord church is located at 907 W. Michigan Ave.
YCS principals.png

Aaron Rose (left) and Seth Petty will take on new roles with Ypsilanti Community Schools in the 2017-18 school year. (Photos courtesy of YCS)

YPSILANTI, MI - Two Ypsilanti Community Schools principals will swap roles starting in the 2017-18 school year.

Aaron Rose, who is currently principal of Ypsilanti Community Middle School, will become principal of Holmes Elementary School. Holmes' current principal Seth Petty will become principal at YCMS.

"Both gentlemen are excited about the opportunity and challenges that lie ahead. These are changes that will continue to move the District forward in terms of our culture and climate and are in our best interest," states a May 16 letter to YCS families about the staffing changes that was signed by Superintendent Benjamin Edmondson; Linda Kuzon, director of secondary schools; and Karla Graessley, director of elementary schools.

Rose has been principal of YCMS for two years, and he previously was principal of Ypsilanti's Erickson Elementary School. Rose graduated from Ypsilanti High School, and he has spent his 18-year education career in various roles with Ypsilanti schools.

Petty was hired at Holmes in 2015 as part of the school district's plan to improve student achievement and get the school off the state's "priority school" list. Holmes successfully exited priority school status this year. Previously, Petty was a principal at an elementary school in Detroit as well as with Ann Arbor Public Schools.

YCS administrators have discussed making changes at the middle school level in the coming years. In January, the school board heard a proposal to start an alternative middle school program to help address student discipline issues, but that has been put on hold and will not be implemented for the 2017-18 school year, said Taryn Reid, communications and marketing coordinator for YCS.

In the 2018-19 school year, Ypsilanti's middle schools will move to different buildings and leave the current YCMS building at 235 Spencer Lane available for sale or lease.
BAY CITY, MI -- Construction is full steam ahead at Bay City's new indoor public market with an opening scheduled for early next month.

As many as 200 construction workers are on site at City Market, located at the corner of Adams Street and Center Avenue in downtown Bay City. The market, which is going to feature about 30 vendors, from fresh produce farmers to a bakery focused on cinnamon rolls, is now slated to open June 7, pending city inspections. A grand opening is scheduled or 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 13.

Crews on Tuesday, May 16, were busy on all aspects of the building. Under sunny skies, some were installing black panels on the built-out facade of the building. Inside, distressed wood on the south side of the building covers the top section of a wall. Corrugated metal is going up on the north side of the building's interior.

Some vendors have already started building out their space. That Guys Barbecue, for instance, has installed a larger smoker on the east side of the building.

Since announcing an initial list of vendors last month, there have been some changes.

Ian Diem, who was going to bring his "Chubby Duck" asian restaurant and "Burdock Root," a farm-to-table restaurant from the Flint Farmers' Market to City Market, has backed out, market officials said.

Matthew Meehan, co-owner of the market, said another restaurant focused on organic food has signed a lease in place of the two restaurants. He declined to name that restaurant, but said it focuses on organic Japanese street food and sushi.

Laura Horwath, owner of Ferne Boutique and Albert's General Store, is also leasing a booth at City Market called "Market Fresh Threads by Ferne Boutique." She plans on selling apparel with funny farmers market sayings.

One of the big question marks for the market is if it's going to be able to install its large marquee-style sign installed by the opening. According to city officials, it likely won't happen in time.

Steve King, the city's community development director, said it's going to be at least another month before the Bay City Commission could vote on any ordinance updates.

The city currently limits the size of signs to 75-square-feet. City Market owners requested a sign that's roughly 200-square-feet, but it was denied.
Meanwhile, staff of the corporation told the Crime Branch that the letter pad issued in the name of the mayor was fake.
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Hindustan Unilever Ltd has informed BSE that the Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on May 17, 2017, inter alia, has recommended a final dividend of Rs. 10/- for the financial year ended March 31, 2017 on Equity Shares of Re. 1/- each.Source : BSE
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The Board of Directors of the Company at its Meeting held on 17th May, 2017 have decided following:- 1. Dividend: The Board declared that interim dividend which is already declared is the final dividend. 2.Annual General Meeting: The 34th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company will be held on Radio Room, The Bombay Presidency Radio Club Ltd., 157, Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba, Mumbai-400005 on 25.07.2017 at 11.30 A.M 3.Re appointment of Mr. Ramesh Kothari, Chief Financial Officer The Board has approved the re-appointment of Mr. Ramesh Kothari as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company commenced at 11.30 a.m. and concluded at 12.50 p.m. Kindly take the above on record and acknowledge the receipt.Source : BSE
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Notice is hereby given that the Extra Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) of OK PLAY INDIA LIMITED will be held on Sunday, 11th June, 2017 at 10.00 A.M. at Hakim Ji ki Choupal, Opposite Batra Hospital, Vill-Ujina, P.S. - Nuh, Dist. Mewat (Haryana). Electronic copies of the Notice of EGM have been sent to all the members whose email IDs are registered with RTA /Depository Participant(s). The same is also available on the Company's website www.okplay.co.in. Physical copies of the Notice of EGM have been sent to all other members at their registered address in the permitted mode. The dispatch of Notice of EGM shall be completed on 18th May, 2017.Source : BSE
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Pressman Advertising Ltd has informed BSE that the Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on May 17, 2017, inter alia, has recommended a dividend of Rs. 1.30 per equity share of face value of Rs. 2 each, subject to the approval of theshareholders at the ensuing Annual General Meeting.Source : BSE
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The Board of Directors in their meeting held on 16th May, 2017 at Kolkata, approved the following: 1.Resignation of Mr. Dipak Rudra and Ms. Sunanda Lahiri, Independent Directors, from the Board of Directors of the Company. 2.Appointment of Ms. Surabhi Sanganeria, as an Additional Director (Independent ) in the Board of Directors of the Company. 3.Reappointment of Mr. Sunil Khaitan as Chairman & Managing Director of the company for a further period of 3 years w.e.f. 1st April, 2017.Source : BSE
Mitessh Thakkar of miteshthacker.com told CNBC-TV18, "Ceat made a fresh high. The stock which is lagging in the last few days is MRF and is on the verge of breaking out on the intraday charts which could give a short-term up move. I would want to see the stock get past Rs 66,600 and then possibly take a long position over there."

"The other one which I also like is Apollo Tyres. I think that has gone through a good correction, it is trying to bounce back from lower levels. As long as the stock remains above recent swing low of Rs 227, good chances that we will hit Rs 250 again," he said.

"I think there is some rub-off effect happening on Steel Authority of India (Sail), both Tata Steel and SAIL from a trading point of view appear interesting. I would buy Tata Steel with a stop loss below Rs 463 and look for target close to about Rs 495."

"SAIL possibly after doing a lot of base building around Rs 59-60, I think it is just trying to get up. So maybe you would want to buy it with a slightly tighter stop loss at Rs 61 and look for a rally till about Rs 65-66."

"A stock that I like a lot and I have been recommending this stock earlier as well is Amara Raja Batteries. It gave a pullback yesterday to the 200-day average, bouncing back again from there with a good setup on the medium-term charts. That is a buy with a stop loss at Rs 914 and I would look for target of around Rs 965-970 to begin with."

"Edelweiss Financial did a good base building starting from sometime in April 2017 and then we saw about a month of consolidation. It has broken out on the upside. So as long as the stock is above Rs 183-184 I would be positive and I would look at target of around Rs 210."
Amit Gupta of ICICIdirect told CNBC-TV18, "In the infrastructure space, we are looking at two stocks, Container Corporation (CONCOR) and Reliance Infrastructure because both of these stocks are looking much better from the risk reward perspective."

"CONCOR has just now taken out the supply zone of 2016 which was Rs 1,150. That happened in the month of April, last month and then for the last five weeks it has been holding above Rs 1,150 levels. In the current series almost 42 percent of long additions have come in the stock. It has already announced the bonus and became ex-bonus and now these positions are coming back into the stock. Still the stock is trading near Rs 1,200. So, the risk reward is favorable, it can move towards Rs 1,270-1,280 in the coming days," he said.

"Another one is Reliance Infrastructure because there was a positive announcement in the stock when it won the arbitration case against Delhi Metro. It opened with a gap up above Rs 600 which was a supply zone of 2016 and 60 percent of long additions we have seen in the stock. It is possible that the stock can move towards Rs 645," he said.
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Staffing firm Quess Corp today reported a 39.8 per cent increase in profit after tax at Rs 113.5 crore for the fiscal year to March 2017. The company had posted a PAT of Rs 81.2 crore in 2015-16, Quess Corp said in a statement.

Revenue during 2016-17 stood at Rs 4,157.4 crore as against Rs 3,435 crore in the same period last year, up 21 per cent. "On the back of strong top line growth, we expanded margins by 96 bps and significantly improved cash generation.

Over five years, we have grown our company's EBITDA by around 8 times," Quess Corp CMD and CEO Ajit Isaac said. "We believe we are well positioned to leverage opportunities in a growing Indian market and opportunistically make investments in international markets and related areas of Quess operations," Isaac added.

Quess announced six acquisitions and investments in 2016- 17. The financial results of 2016-17 are not reflective of these acquisitions. It is expected that the financial consolidation of these acquisitions will commence in full form in 2017-18.

Employee headcount as on March 31 stood at around 1,59,200 compared to 1,22,500 in the corresponding quarter of the last year, registering a growth of 30 per cent. Based out of Bengaluru, Quess has a Pan-India presence with 65 offices across 34 cities along with overseas footprint in North America, the Middle-East and South East Asia.
business Saw overwhelming response for Touch Range; may look at buyback in future: Symphony A buyback is one of the options they would consider but in the foreseeable future, said Achal Bakeri, CMD, Symphony.
business Three years of Modi Government: Progress report on "Smart Cities Mission" Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ambitious "Smart Cities Mission" in 2015. However in the 3 years since, just how much has changed on the ground? CNBC-TV18's Shruti Malhotra puts this mission under the lens to find out.
The layoffs in the past few months seen in IT and telecom sectors have resulted in increased activity on job portals.

With a pink slip in hand and few jobs in their own sector, individuals are rushing in to fill in applications on online job portals so that they find a different job. While consultants in the human resource space have also been flooded with applications, it is job portals which are seeing a higher accretion of talent.

Ajay Kolla, Founder & CEO, Wisdomjobs.com, said that they have seen increased activity on their website from IT profiles, and expect this trend to continue in the near future.

The suddenness of the present job crisis in the IT industry has really hit those who have been retrenched. With most companies not being prepared for the automation wave or lacking concrete plans to reskill the impacted employees, most of them will soon be flooding the job market, he explained.

Cross-industry opportunities are also being explored, since the number of vacancies are also limited in companies in their own sector. Kolla said that the projected numbers of those who will lose their jobs is huge, and the IT industry might not be able to absorb them, thus opening the doors for cross-industry hiring.

Due to this, the job applicants are going for roles across industries where their expertise can be put to use. This includes sectors like financial technology, e-commerce and banking, financial services and insurance. With digitisation being the new agenda for companies across sectors, IT employees with four to six years of experience would be the most preferred.

According to the Monster Employment Index (MEI), the online hiring sentiment for the month of April 2017 exhibited signs of recovery with a 10 percent year-on-year growth.

Among prime sectors, there was a surge in the online recruitment activity for the BFSI sector in which year-on-year growth rate improved from 24 percent in March 2017 to 31 percent in April 2017.The telecom/ISP led all monitored sectors charting a 40 percent year-on-year growth.

In occupations, there was an increase in demand for sales & business development professionals, year-on-year, demand increased from nine percent in March 2017 to 19 percent in April 2017.

City-wise data shows that Kolkata (up 28 percent) followed by Baroda (up 27 percent) recorded the steepest annual growth. While Mumbai witnessed a flat growth at 6 percent, the annual growth trend in Delhi-NCR eased to 4 percent followed by Bangalore at one percent.

Sanjay Modi, Managing Director, Monster.com, APAC & Middle-East said that demonetization has had its fair share of detractors and this followed by the global slowdown amalgamated with automation, is leading to demand for a workforce with different skillsets than what was there 5-10 years ago.

Sources among the leading job portals said that with paucity of time, applicants are also ready to pay for premium services that would lead them to get a better chance at a particular job post. While this would mean applicants would have to pay a higher price for getting access to some job roles which are locked in the general job portal profiles, officials said that they are ready to do that.

In the past few weeks, several companies in the IT sector have given pink slips to employees on account of performance issues and changes in visa regime in countries like the US which have forced them to hire local talent from that region.

Similarly, the telecom space has also seen heightened activity with mergers of players and consolidation happening in the industry.

With this, existing employees have been asked to leave and those with new-age skillsets like data analytics, cloud computing and artificial intelligence are being preferred. This holds true for the banking sector as well which has gradually reduced headcount in the past one year owing to automation.
business Market may be close to its peak; upbeat on auto, BFSI space: Dalton Cap With the Indian equity market continuing to scale new highs, the big question is how to read the fundamentals of the market and what is the way forward.
Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com told CNBC-TV18, "Vedanta is a short sell. I am not upbeat on metals. It had a rally and that rally failed yesterday. So it is not really a bear market rally, a relief rally that is now coming to an end."

"Tata Communications is making a bearish head and shoulder. I have been going long repeatedly but now it is doing the exact opposite. It is a short sell again," he added.

"I have three buying ideas but because I do not have much conviction on the day itself, the viewers can take it as they come."

"Bharti Infratel has been consistently going up; Rs 5 a day, 5 points a day and then it comes down and goes up again it is breaking out. So there is a short-term swing trade or maybe a day trade in Bharti Infratel as a buyer, so it is on the long side."

"I am upbeat on oil marketing companies (OMC) because crude will come down much more than it has and for today also HPCL is a buy."

"You cannot go wrong buying HDFC Bank ," he said.
Sequoia-backed mobile app analytics firm Clevertap plans to raise USD 20 million from new and existing investors at a time when it looks at extending its offering to merchants in sectors such as banking and airline.

The company will utilise the fund in improving the product, marketing and sales.

"We are just kicking off our effort for Series B (which would be) about USD 20 million. It should take anywhere from three to six months for the round to close. They (existing investors) are fully backing us and will also participate in our next round of funding," Anand Jain, co-founder of CleverTap told Moneycontrol.com in an interaction.

The company currently works with over 4000 clients such as HotStar, Sony, McDonalds and Cleartrip among others.

Clevertap offers insights on how users use their product and how to make them keep coming back. It uses these insights to help companies run targeted campaigns across the user lifecycle.

Clevertap charges its clients on the basis of data shared. "It would depend on the number of user action a client would want to store with us," said Jain.

He claims that the company helps a client reduce the uninstall rate and increase their revenue -- 20 percent plus for mid to larger companies and more in smaller companies.

"There is phenomenal growth on mobile. But the problem is that the companies are not able to retain the users. People may download the app but then just forget that or delete the app .... ignore the app... We help reduce uninstall rates and increase the revenue of a company," he said.

A lot of the company's clients are in the travel and events segment. It plans to tap major sectors such as banks and airlines soon. The company which currently has a few foreign clients is also targeting bigger foreign companies across Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

CleverTap was by Jain, Sunil Thomas and Suresh Kondamudi in 2013. It has so far raised USD 9.6 million from investors such as Accel Partners besides Sequioa. It last raised USD 8 million in 2015.

In February, Clevertap (formerly known as WizRocket) also appointed Almitra Karnik as its head of marketing.

The company locks horns with user engagement and analytics platform MoEngage that in December raised an undisclosed amount of investment from former Snapdeal executive Anand Chandrasekaran.

priyanka.sahay@nw18.com
May 17, 2017 / 09:17 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, Kunal Saraogi, Sumeet Jain and Vishvesh Chauhan battle it out for top honours.

Below their top stock picks and analysis:

Kunal Saraogi of Equityrush

Buy KEC International with a stoploss at Rs 245 and target of Rs 253

Buy Karnataka Bank with a stoploss at Rs 170 and target of Rs 177

Buy Bank of India with a stoploss at Rs 185 and target of Rs 193

Buy Granules India with a stoploss at Rs 149 and target of Rs 155

Sumeet Jain of Destimoney Securities

Buy KEC International with a stoploss at Rs 239 and target of Rs 264

Buy Ceat with a stoploss at Rs 1696 and target of Rs 1782

By Anant Raj with a stoploss at Rs 67 and target of Rs 76

Buy NCC with a stoploss at Rs 97.70 and target of Rs 108

Vishvesh Chauhan of Monarch Networth Capital

Buy NCC with a stoploss at Rs 97 and target of Rs 107

Buy Bodal Chemicals with a stoploss at Rs 160 and target of Rs 189

Buy Engineers India with a stoploss at Rs 167 and target of Rs 182

Buy Andhra Bank with a stoploss at Rs 68 and target of Rs 76
crude_300_64552660

Achiievers Equities' commodity report on Crudeoil

Crudeoil trading range for the day is 3085-3183.

Crude oil dropped as investors awaited a fresh weekly batch of U.S inventory data amid growing support from energy ministers for prolonged supply cuts to March 2018.

Energy ministers from Saudi Arabia and Russia said they would support an extension of the supply-cut agreement into March 2018.

U.S. crude oil inventories rose by 882,000 barrels to 523. 4 million, compared with expectations for a decrease of 2.4 million barrels, API data showed.

SELL CRUDEOIL MAY 2017 @ 3140 SL 3180 TGT 3110-3080.MCX.

For all commodities report, click here

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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Copper cooking pots still in use today, some dating back to King George IV, sit on racks in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace in London March 25, 2011. Staff at Buckingham Palace have lifted the lid on preparations for Prince William's wedding next month, giving an insight into what guests can expect and the amount of work they have put in to make the event a success. REUTERS/Nick Ansell/POOL (BRITAIN - Tags: ROYALS ENTERTAINMENT POLITICS FOOD) - RTR2KJGP

Angel Commodities' report on Copper

LME Copper prices traded flat at $5611/t as latest disappointing economic data releases from China has raised demand concerns from the worlds biggest consumer. Industrial production expanded by an annual 6.5 percent in April, dropping from 7.6 percent in March while fixed asset investment data suggested a slowdown to 8.9 percent in April from 9.2 percent the previous month.

Outlook

LME Copper prices are currently trading lower by 0.1 percent at $5614/t. Prices are expected to trade lower today as Chinese growth remains a major cause of concern with the list of disappointing data releases.

However, weakness in the DX on latest reports that US President Trump has asked FBI Director James Comey to drop investigation into Trump's former national security advisor. We expect MCX copper prices to trade sideways today.

For all commodities report, click here

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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In an interview to CNBC-TV18's Latha Venkatesh, Anuj Singhal, and Sonia Shenoy, SP Tulsian of sptulsian.com shared his readings and outlook on market, and specific stocks and sectors.

Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview.

Sonia: Rakesh Arora was mentioning that the best for the steel industry is behind us and all of the good news is pretty much back dated. Tata Steel has rallied significantly over the past one year or so, do you think that there is more to go or is it done now?

A: If I need to take a call on the Indian context, maybe Rakesh referred this in context with Tata Steel which has more than 50 percent presence in global scenario that is more in the South East Asia and Europe where the situation is still looking dillydallying and it all depends on China. However, if I take a call on the Indian atmosphere which I have been in fact giving my view for last three months, I am extremely positive on the steel sector for the simple reason that the China dumping has totally stopped, China is on the cutting spree for the capacity, the induction furnace kind of things are all getting phased out.

If you see the kind of revival of interest because of the extremely increased margin, the EBITDA margin which we have seen for Tata Steel, Rs 13,000 per tonne, only for Indian operations I am referring, because for Europe the EBITDA margin has been sub Rs 7,000 per tonne. So, if you take the situation going forward for the steel sector and when you talk to the people, I am extremely positive on the Indian steel stocks.

Taking cue from the Tata Steel numbers, again purely on the standalone numbers which represents the Indian operations, Kalinganagar, the capacity of 3 million tonne which they have created, is also playing a positive role. I am getting a lot many ideas taking this cue from the Tata Steel results and many of the ideas or the stocks which I am really positive on, on which we have given recommendations also, I will be closely watching JSW Steel numbers because obviously the increase in their EBITDA margin will also be seen along with the increase in their quantity because they have now reached to the capacity of 18 million tonne.

If I need to identify some of the stocks in the similar space, or maybe at the smaller level, maybe I will go with the stocks like Surya Roshni, Prakash Industries, Sarda Energy, Godawari Power, these are the stocks which are really doing very well. Many of them are seen to have integrated operations, if I say like the case of Sarda Energy or Prakash Industries where they have the coal supply, where they have the iron ore all having got from their respective government.

So, I am keeping very positive view and that is the reason in fact I have been giving the buy call on Bhushan Steel and Monnet Ispat also for the reasons of the NPA resolutions and the interest which has been shown by the potential acquirer in this company. So, I continue to have my positive view on the Indian steel makers and at least I dont see any reason for that bullishness to get derailed at least for next 12 months or so.

Anuj: The other space to focus on has been the PSU banks. You have been positive on most of them. Now having seen the numbers of Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Andhra Bank, most of the numbers are out now, we are still awaiting the big ones of course, but what would be your pecking order in the PSU banks now?

A: Coming on these two numbers, Andhra Bank has definitely disappointed, but if I go on the PNB, there may be various parameters of analysing each results. Suppose if you look from the slippages probably you may find discomfort, if you look from the reduction or improvement in the asset quality, you may find the comfort. However, overall going forward I have been satisfied with the numbers having posted by many of these banks more specially like PNB, Canara Bank, or even with the results like Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) where the things have looked very negative because of the huge losses having posted by the bank because of the higher provisioning.

However, I am keeping the positive stance on the PSU banks for the simple reason that as we have discussed that NPA resolution seen concentrated in 20-30 accounts and largely this 14-15 banks have exposure practically in all the accounts where the exposure is to the extent of Rs 10,000 crore or more. So, going in the same order, now we are awaiting for the results, in fact three big banks are yet to declare their numbers i.e. State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Bank of India (BoI) and I am keeping positive stance on all three ahead of the Q4 numbers due to be seen from these three banks.

However, having declared the numbers by the PSU banks, I will be taking positive call in the pecking order of PNB, Canara Bank, OBC, and then Union Bank. These are the four banks on which I am keeping my positive stance.
Shahina Mukadam, Independent Market Expert told CNBC-TV18, "Six months would be a reasonable period to hold Allahabad Bank because it would be a trading bet for me also, not more than that. However, I do see stabilisation coming into the numbers that they would report. So, from a loss to a profit and stabilisation I think I would look for a slightly higher price target somewhere close to Rs 95, hold it with a deep stoploss of about Rs 80; I would hold it for some more time and then book profit."

Allahabad Bank ended at Rs 87.70, down Rs 1.75, or 1.96 percent on the BSE.
Tata Steel

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Shares of Tata Steel closed 8 percent higher as investors cheered the companys strong Q4 results.

The Tata Group firm narrowed its consolidated net loss to Rs 1,168 crore against a loss of Rs 3,042 crore posted during the same period last year. An exceptional loss of Rs 4,068.6 crore was posted by the firm.

Tata Steel reported consolidated revenues of Rs 35,304.9 crore, up over 30 percent against Rs 27,071 crore posted during the corresponding quarter of last year.

The strong performance was visible in its standalone numbers, which explains the narrowing losses on a consolidated basis too. The companys standalone net profit was more than double than its year ago period at Rs 1,415 crore against Rs 520 crore year on year.

Revenues were up 45.8 percent at Rs 17,113 crore against Rs 11,736 crore year on year. Its standalone EBITDA was up a whopping 97.6 percent at Rs 4,360.9 crore against Rs 2,206.7 crore, while margins came at 27.9 percent against 20.8. Its Europe operations EBITDA came in at Rs 1,972 crore.

Analysts have largely remained positive on the stock, highlighting the stellar EBITDA performance and likely lesser capex plans.

Brokerage: Axis Cap | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 576

The brokerage said that the companys consolidated EBITDA beat its and consensus estimates. Higher domestic volumes, EPCG benefit of higher exports, and inventory normalisation, among others lead to the higher than expected EBITDA.

Axis Cap upgraded the stock to a buy rating due to favourable macro and MIP support to average realisation in domestic steel business.

Sharp depreciation of Pound, favorable steel prices, better product mix (Differentiated product proportion increased to 37% in Q4FY17 against 32% in Q4FY16) and closure of loss-making plants were the key reasons for turnaround, it said in its report.

Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Underperform | Target: Rs 370

The companys EBITDA beat was driven by significant surprise in India and Europe margins, said Macquarie. The guidance of no capex expansion in this fiscal and UK pension talks being in final stages are key positives for the company, it said. Macquarie sees Q4FY17 as the peak of margins and earnings and any near term rally is a chance to exit.

On margins, it does not feel that current levels are sustainable. The contraction in margin in India and Europe business are key catalysts for the stock, it added.

Brokerage: Morgan Stanley | Rating: Overweight | Target: Rs 575

Morgan Stanley believes that earnings momentum, though currently strong, may moderate from current levels. The better than expected momentum in the FAMD (Ferro Alloys and Minerals Division) business in current quarter is a positive.

Brokerage: CLSA | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 570

The brokerage observed that the firm witnessed strong margin expansion in both India and Europe in Q4. Margins are likely to recede from Q4, but expectations for FY18 still get a lift. If UK Pension negotiations go through, chances of a joint venture with ThyssenKrupp brighten, it feels. Overall, it remains positive on the firm given pension talks and improving industry environment.

Brokerage: JPMorgan | Rating: Overweight | Target: Rs 690

The global brokerage has increased FY18-20 earnings per share (EPS) estimates by 7-8 percent. It believes that any JV in Tata Europe should drive a re-rating and hence there is an upside to the target price. Meanwhile, downside risks include collapse in margins in India and Europe businesses.

Brokerage: Emkay | Rating: Hold | Target: Rs 453

Emkay has revised volume and margins estimates for the domestic business. It believes that current performance will be tough to repeat given RM volatility and steel prices.

Brokerage: Credit Suisse | Rating: Outperform

The brokerage highlighted that the companys numbers comfortably beat expectations by a wide margins due to improvements across operations.

In Europe, EBITDA was recorded at a 9-year high due to higher ASPs, lagged flowthrough of coking coal prices and 10 percent higher than usual sales.

Meanwhile, the debt situation looks like it has peaked. Tata's net debt fell Rs 43 billion QoQ. With a modest capex guidance for next year (Rs64-70 bn), and healthy profitability, its net debt has most likely peaked. It is also now close to resolving the pension issue, the report added.

Global brokerage firm Macquarie said that the companys EBITDA beat was driven by significant surprise in India and Europe margins, said Macquarie. The guidance of no capex expansion in this fiscal and UK pension talks being in final stages are key positives for the company, it said.

Macquarie sees Q4FY17 as the peak of margins and earnings and any near term rally is a chance to exit. On margins, it does not feel that current levels are sustainable. The contraction in margin in India and Europe business are key catalysts for the stock, it added.

The stock has seen strong movements in the recent past, rising 4 percent in the past one month, while its three-day gain stood at 10 percent. At 09:36 hrs, Tata Steel was quoting at Rs 478.75, up Rs 21.75, or 4.76 percent on the BSE. It touched an intraday high of Rs 479.00 and an intraday low of Rs 466.00.
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Umang Dairies share price rose more than 5 percent intraday Wednesday as it has resumed operations at its Gajraula plant.

Hon'ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) has passed an order permitting the company to start operations at its Gajraula plant.

The company had temporarily shut down its plant in Gajraula to comply with the order of the Hon'ble National Green Tribunal.

At 10:25 hrs Umang Dairies was quoting at Rs 86.30, up Rs 4.20, or 5.12 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
Moneycontrol News

Indian travelers are packing their suitcases a lot more than before and a chunk of that demand is coming from non-metro cities and towns.

Between February and April, Indian travelers initiated 70 percent more holiday-related searches on Google, compared to last year.

Among the spiritually inclined netizens, Tirupati, Amritsar, Puri, Varanasi and Shirdi were the most searched destinations, in that order.

"Overall travel related queries including planning, transport, accommodation, vacation packages and travel documentation witnessed a 53 percent growth in the same period," Google India said in a statement.

Google search data did not specify how much of these searches actually get converted to planned itineraries.

The surge in usage of smartphones and mobile data in smaller towns and cities, more affordable stay options catapulted by budget hotel aggregation startups, have made it easy for travelers to plan their travels independently.

Over 40 percent searches were from cities and towns beyond Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.

Interestingly, the number of queries for International destinations has also seen a rise in a matter of three months, indicating that Indians are planning their travels abroad, well in advance.

The most searched international destination on Google India was the US, followed by UAE and Thailand.

The searches peaked starting mid-February with an 18 percent increase in queries for international accommodations.

For domestic travel, Goa continued to be the top destination, but hill stations such as Manali, Shimla, and Ooty also managed to feature in top 10.
Electronic voting machine

The Trinamool Congress made major inroads in the hills on Wednesday as counting began in seven municipal corporations across West Bengal.

The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led party won six out of the nine wards in Mirik municipality and romped home in one ward in Darjeeling, a big gain for the party since its inception and a setback to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).

The party also won Domkal with 18 of 21 wards and Pujali with 12 wards.

The GJM won Darjeeling with 31 wards but the TMC managed to make inroads with one ward.

Speaking to News18.com, TMC leader Gautam Deb said, We are happy that for the first time, people in the hills have voted for a party from the plains. This shows that people in the hills now understand that they were cheated by the GJM.

Mamata didi is the only option before the people of Bengal in terms of development. The poll results in Mirik and the one ward in Darjeeling will help us in serving the people in the hills, he said.

Soon after the poll results were declared in Mirik, Trinamool Congress leaders began celebrations with state leaders Mukul Roy and Partha Chatterjee conveying their wishes to local leaders.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had in March declared Mirik as a new sub-division of the Darjeeling district. Mirik was earlier a block under the Darjeeling district. The party had promised to fulfil the long-standing demand of land rights to people in Mirik, which is a popular tourist destination.

Read More: http://www.news18.com/news/politics/west-bengal-civic-polls-gjm-sweeps-darjeeling-tmc-makes-major-inroads-in-hills-1403455.html
Regulator Trai may look into the issue of testing and quality of mobile phones and set-top boxes as part of a wider consultation to boost manufacturing of telecom and broadcasting products in the country.

The issue assumes significance as telecom operators had blamed mobile handset quality for call drops and approached the government saying the role of devices in issue of service quality has not been considered adequately.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai) discussion paper pertaining to incentivising manufacturers of telecom and broadcasting equipment is currently in the works, two persons familiar with the matter told PTI.

It is likely to be released over the next one month. The paper may explore, amongst other aspects, possible sweetners for operators who use indigenous products in their networks.

"The operators had raised the issue that the poor quality of some handsets affects the quality of service and network performance. There is likely to be a larger consultation paper on manufacturing that will include this issue," one of the persons cited above said.

In March this year, telecom operators - under Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) - demanded that the government chalk out a mechanism to control the quality of mobile handsets in India.

Drawing the government's attention to the absence of regulations governing the handset quality, the COAI had rued that there was no visibility or control over the large number of "rogue devices affecting the network quality".

This was, however, contested by the Indian Cellular Association, an industry body that includes handset makers. The ICA had countered COAI's claims saying phones sold in India "diligently" followed the prescribed norms.

The ICA has maintained that inadequate infrastructure, and not device quality, was responsible for the call drop and network throughputs.

Trai is looking into the issue, a source said, adding that one of the aspects was "testing of prototype models".

"If the network performance is affected then it will certainly be looked into...the paper will look at aspects like should there be testing benchmarks or quality of service in case of consumer equipments in the telecom and broadcasting sector," the person said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Lakshadweep in November, BJP president Amit Shah, who is on a three-day visit to the islands, said.

He said Kavaratti will be included in the Smart city project of the Centre and thrust would be given for development of infrastructure in the inhabited islands of Lakshadweep.

Also, steps will be taken to provide drinking water to all the 10 inhabited islands -- Agatti, Amini, Androth, Bitra, Kadamath, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Minicoy and Chetlat -- within two years, the BJP chief said.

"The prime minister will visit the island territory on November-end and will stay the whole day," Shah said at a public meeting here last night.

The BJP president said after returning to Delhi he would prepare a project for the 10 islands of Lakshadweep and more cargo vessels, cold storage facilities and 4G connectivity would be provided.

He also interacted with members of the BJP's Lakshadweep state committee here.

In a tweet yesterday, Shah had said, "Reached Lakshadweep for my 3-day booth pravas.. Different states, different people, different cultures but same passion and support for BJP.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved USD 250 million corpus as part of Biopharma Mission to fund biotech startups and accelerate innovation in the areas of vaccines, bio-therapeutics and medical devices. World Bank has agreed to line up USD 125 million for the fund.

In addition to funding startups and research projects, the corpus will also be used to establish world class bio-clusters to help build next generation health technologies.

The Biopharma Mission will be implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)  a public sector undertaking of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) with involvement of industry and academia.

The programme will leverage global expertise and provide a holistic and integrated approach to strengthen and support the entire product development value chain for accelerating the research leads to product development, DBT said in a statement.

This will help not only in immediate product development addressing public health needs, but will also help to create an ecosystem which will facilitate development of a continuous pipeline of products, the statement added.



Game changing $250 m DBT-World Bank Biopharma Product devment Mission cleared by cabinet - @BIRAC_2012 to implement pic.twitter.com/2cf6VRKvP7

 Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (@kiranshaw) May 17, 2017

Kiran Majumdar-Shaw, chairperson of Biocon called the government move as "game changing" on Twitter.

India aims to capture 5 percent of the global pharmaceutical market by 2022, from the current share of 3 percent.

This will provide a huge support to create all the infrastructure and human resource through start-ups, researchers and SMEs, said Prof G Padmanaban, former director of IISc, Bangalore.

This will help to realise the full potential to make vaccines, bio therapeutics, diagnostics and devices in the country, Padmanaban added.

Despite having a first-mover advantage in production of affordable vaccines and biopharmaceuticals through recombinant DNA technology, India is falling behind China and South Korea. The two countries have now emerged as major producers of vaccines and biopharmaceuticals with massive push from their governments.

Government funding is critical for biotech startups, given the inherent risk, lack of private funding and long gestation projects, said Narasimha Rao Nedunuri, chief executive officer (CEO) of Clonz Biotech, which develops biosimilars or copies of complex biological drugs, tougher and expensive to develop as they are made from living cells and cannot be identically replicated.

Nedunuri while appreciating government initiative complains says that from the date of call to see the fund into the account of an entrepreneur, it takes at least a year. For academics thats fine but for a biotech startup it makes things difficult given the high burn rate we have.
U.S. President Donald Trump reacts after signing an executive order on education during an event with Governors at the White House in Washington

Donald Trump has been embroiled in a controversy following a pair of media reports accusing him of trying to quash an FBI investigation against his former NSA James Flynn, and disclosing highly classified information to Russia.

According to a report published in the New York Times yesterday, Trump asked sacked FBI Director James Comey to end the investigation against Flynn.

"I hope you can let this go," the US president told Comey, a memo, written by the former FBI chief, published in the report said.

Comey was abruptly fired at a time when he was leading an investigation into whether Trump's election campaign had links with Russia's alleged interference in the US polls.

The request was made by Trump after Flynn resigned as the national security advisor following surfacing of reports that he had maintained links with the Russians.

Sourcing its story based on two people who read the memo, the daily claimed that Comey wrote the memo detailing his conversation with Trump immediately after the meeting, which took place a day after Flynn resigned.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," the US president asked Comey.

"He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go," Trump said, adding that Flynn had done nothing wrong.

"I agree he is a good guy," Comey said, according to the memo.

The Washington Post also published a report which alleged that Trump shared "highly classified" information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a White House meeting last week.

The report cited current and former US officials, who said the president's disclosures jeopardised a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State.

The revelations swung the White House into action which strongly refuted the allegations.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the resident has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House official said.

"The president has utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr Comey," the official said requesting anonymity.

Last week, FBI Deputy Director McCabe told a Congressional in a testimony that the White House had not interfered with any investigation.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democrats demanded an investigation into the allegations and Trump's relations with Russia.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said he was shaken by the report in the New York Times.

"And we are only one day removed from stunning allegations that the president may have divulged classified information to a known adversary. Concerns about our national security, the rule of law, the independence of our nation's highest law enforcement agencies are mounting," he said on the Senate floor.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said if the reports are true, the Trump's brazen attempt to shut down the FBI investigation is an "assault on the rule of law" that is fundamental to the American democracy.

"At best, President Trump has committed a grave abuse of executive power. At worst, he has obstructed justice.

"With each passing day, Trump's actions give greater and greater urgency to the need for a full and independent investigation of the Trump-Russia connection," she said.

Pelosi said the Democrats will file a discharge petition to demand a vote on the bipartisan bill to establish an independent, outside commission to investigate the president's ties with Russia.

"Soon, the Democrats will also introduce a legislation to create an independent counsel to get the facts free of President Trump's meddling," she said.

"If the President has nothing to hide, then he should welcome independent investigations to remove all doubt of a cover-up. The American people deserve to know what President Trump is so desperate to keep hidden," she added

Indian American Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi termed the revelations as "a serious breach of the law".

"Today we learned that former FBI Director James Comey documented his conversations with President Trump in a series of memos. In one memo, Mr Comey claims that after clearing the room, President Trump asked him to end the investigation of General Michael Flynn. If true, this would be a serious breach of the law," he said.

"What comes next is uncertain but investigations into this matter must begin, as those into the President's Russia ties must continue. All the Comey memos should be turned over to Congress, any unclassified memos should be released to the public and President Trump should submit to investigators the tapes with which he threatened Mr Comey," he demanded.

Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley said this is a "blatant abuse of power," and a thorough, independent, and bipartisan investigation should be completed as quickly as possible.

"If true, Donald Trump's attempt to influence and intimidate the FBI director to block an investigation is a textbook definition of obstruction of justice and it would be an impeachable offense," Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said.

"If this continues, the Republicans will lose any remaining credibility" Jayapal said while calling for an independent investigation into the issue.
US President Donald Trump

Donald Trump has been accused of sharing "highly classified" information with the Russian foreign minister and the country's ambassador here during a White House meeting last week, but the defiant US president asserted today that he has an "absolute right" to do so.

Trump had revealed highly classified details to minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the meeting, The Washington Post reported, citing current and former US officials, who said the president's disclosures jeopardised a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State.

"The information the president relayed had been provided by a US partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the US government," the report said.

Though the US president is allowed to declassify and share classified information at any moment, the issue has sparked a huge uproar over whether Trump compromised national security by disclosing the details to Russia, long considered a hostile country to the US.

The report alleges that Trump shared information about laptops on planes, which was given to the US by an ally who did not give consent for it to be shared with Russia.

Reacting to the allegations, Trump tweeted, "As president I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled White House meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining...to terrorism and airline flight safety."

"Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS and terrorism," he said.

In another tweet, Trump warned those who were "leaking" information. "I have been asking director Comey and others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the leakers in the intelligence community," Trump said.

Comey, who was leading a probe into possible collusion between the Trump presidential campaign and Russia, was fired as FBI director a day before last week's White House meeting.

During a media interaction with visiting Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, Trump continued to appear defiant in the face of criticism over the meeting with Russian officials.

"We had a very, very successful meeting with the foreign minister of Russia. Our fight is against ISIS," Trump said.

"So we're going to have a lot of great success over the next coming years and we want to get as many to help fight terrorism as possible and that's one of the beautiful things that's happening with Turkey," he said.

"The relationship that we have together (US and Turkey), we'll be unbeatable," Trump said, side-stepping questions over the meeting with Russian officials.

Earlier at a White House briefing, his National Security Adviser H R McMaster defended Trump saying, "Conversation with Russian foreign minister was wholly appropriate with our national security. No compromise with national security."

"The president was meeting with a foreign minister on terrorist threat. It was wholly appropriate to share the information as a basis for common action against terrorist.

"The president in no way compromised sources and method of national security. National Security is at risk by leaks like this," said McMaster, who was present at the meeting with Russian officials at the White House.

From the very beginning of the Trump presidency, his administration has been hit by a series of leaks. Trump and his team allege that this was being done at the behest of those who are still loyal to the previous Obama government.

The Post has stood by its report, saying the president acknowledges that "facts" were shared with Russian envoys.

"Trump's tweets tried to explain away the news, which emerged late Monday, that he had shared sensitive, 'code-word' information with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador during a White House meeting last week, a disclosure that intelligence officials warned could jeopardise a crucial intelligence source on the Islamic State," the daily said.

The allegations were earlier refuted by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and also by McMaster, who said that there was no discussion of specific threats with the Russians.

Tillerson said: "During that exchange, the nature of specific threats were discussed, but they did not discuss sources, methods or military operations."

McMaster has previously said Trump and Lavrov "reviewed common threats from terrorist organisations to include threats to aviation." "At no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed and no military operations were disclosed that were not already known publicly."

He described the story as false to reporters.

"Two other senior officials who were present, including the Secretary of State, remember the meeting the same way and have said so. Their on-the-record accounts should outweigh those of anonymous sources. I was in the room. It didn't happen," McMaster said.

The report, quoting an unnamed US official, said, "This (the information shared) is code-word information." Code-word information is a terminology that refers to one of the highest classification levels used by American spy agencies, the daily reported.

Trump "revealed more information to the Russian ambassador than we have shared with our own allies," the newspaper said, adding that following this, US officials have gone into damage-control mode.

According to the daily, the sensitive, classified information was given to the US by one of its allies, which had not given it permission to share it with the Russians.

The Trump administration has also vehemently denied the allegations. "This story is false. The president only discussed the common threats that both countries faced," said Dina Powell, Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategy, who also attended the meeting.

But Opposition Democratic party and several lawmakers from Trump's own Republican party expressed concern over the episode. The Democratic party and its leadership called for appointment of a special prosecutor to probe for links between Trump, his team and the Russians.

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that if the news reports are true, Trump has "compromised a key source of intelligence collection" against the Islamic State and jeopardised the security of the American people.

"Even if President Trump unwittingly blew a highly classified code-word source to the Russians, that would be dangerous enough.

"If the president outed a highly classified code-word source intentionally, that would be even more dangerous," Pelosi said.

She demanded that Congress must be given a full briefing on the extent of the damage President Trump has done in compromising highly classified code-word intelligence to the Russians.
Letter to editor: Voting is necessary to protect democracy
Rabbis installation at Keneseth Israel will get a boost of student creativity
May 17, 2017

James Comey Is Losing His Game With Another Non-News Leak

This is a short follow up on yesterday's false news stories topped with a Comey leak.

1. The New York Times tries to add to the story of the WannaCry ransom virus (which is based on NSA exploits), hyping the unfounded claim that North Korea is behind it: Focus Turns to North Korea Sleeper Cells as Possible Culprits in Cyberattack. The story curiously does not even mention the nonsensical claim of a Google staffer that points to common code snippets in reused software stacks. Instead we get a long elaboration on how North Korea sends students abroad to be trained in IT and programming. In paragraph 4 the story asserts:

As evidence mounts that North Korean hackers may have links to the ransom assaults ...

But no evidence, none at all, is cited in the piece. The "mounting evidence" is a molehill without the hill. Eleven paragraphs later we learn that:

It also is possible that North Korea had no role in the attacks,

Duh. Six NYT reporters collaborated in writing that twenty paragraph story which contains no reasonable news or information. What a waste.

2. The State Department claim that Syria built a crematorium inside a prison to burn executed prisoners saw no follow up. But it had consequences. The presented "evidence" was too thin to make it believable. Even the staunchly anti-Syrian SPIEGEL doubted it: USA bleiben Beweise fur Assads Leichenofen schuldig. Translated: "U.S. fails to give evidence for Assad crematorium claims."

The State Department claim was presented in a special news conference by Stuart Jones, the acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. A day later Jones announced that he would retire:

Jones, 57, told colleagues the decision was his own and that he had not been pushed out or asked to leave the department.

Ahem. Sure. Maybe. Or Secretary of State Rex Tillerson disliked the lame propaganda shows Jones presented under the official State Department seal.

3. Yesterday's "Trump revealed critical intelligence to Russia" nonsense is already dying down. Even regular NYT readers criticize their paper's reporting of it:

Its quite strange that the media is giving such prominence to and broadcasting so much detail about supposedly highly secret information and its source in order to show how irresponsible President Trump is.

...

It seem that of the two, the media and the President, the media is by far the most at fault for leaking state secrets. Strange indeed: it seems the goal of bringing down Trump overrides all other considerations.

To recap - in March the U.S. and the UK had issued a ban on laptops for fights from certain Middle Eastern airports:

The U.S. officials said intelligence "indicates terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation" by "smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items."

It was known from other reports that the threat was from ISIS. Trump repeated this to the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and added that the origin of the treat is the ISIS capital Raqqa. Anyone would have guessed that. It was no secret. But "current and former officials" phoned up reporter after reporter to claim that Trump revealed critical intelligence because the Russians might now guess which country the information was coming from. A few hours later the Washington Post and the New York Times, not Trump, revealed that the original information came from Israel. It will be difficult to blame Trump for "leaking to the Russians" less information than "current and a former American official" leak to mainstream paper.

But as that smear against Trump and Russia has failed a new one is needed.

A week ago Trump unceremoniously fired FBI boss James Comey:

After six months of investigation the FBI had no evidence for any of the rumors about Russian interference [in the U.S.] that were thrown around. It should have closed the case with a clear recommendation not to prosecute the issue. That Comey kept the case open was political interference from his side. Hearings and public rumors about the case blocked the political calendar. Instead of following the facts, and deciding based upon them, he was himself running a political campaign.

Comey had hoped that he would not be fired as long as the investigation was running. Since Trump kicked him out Comey tried to get a public hearing in Congress to spill the beans and get some revenge. The Republican majority leaders smelled the trap and did not invite him. Today he upped his game: Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation

President Trump asked the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, to shut down the federal investigation into Mr. Trumps former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, in an Oval Office meeting in February, according to a memo Mr. Comey wrote shortly after the meeting. I hope you can let this go, the president told Mr. Comey, according to the memo.

Comey leaked the memo to raise new allegations against Trump and to finally get his day in Congress. But Trump's I hope you can let this go is not a clear interference in a judicial investigation. Trump just wished that the FBI would use its resources to look into other issues, like the extensive leaking of secret intelligence that occurred during recent months. Nothing nefarious can be constructed from that reasonable explanation. The investigation into Flynn, for violating the Foreign Agent Registration Act with relation to Turkey(!), continues. Trump has had no influence on it. If this talk has been so important as to possibly constitute a breach of law why did Comey wait months, until after he was fired, to leak it?

The Comey claim is another non-issue and non-story. The Republican congress leaders will not jump on Comey's bandwagon (- or will they?) If this was the worst Comey can present he has lost the fight.

The deep-state, which opposes any collaboration with Russia and wants Trump impeached (RealNews vid), will now have to find a new angle for its attack.

Posted by b on May 17, 2017 at 9:17 UTC | Permalink

Comments
A group of 15 protesters demonstrated Wednesday in front of the Winston-Salem office of U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., demanding that Burr call for Congress to appoint an independent commission and a special prosecutor to investigate possible links between President Donald Trump and Russia.

The demonstration lasted an hour in front of Burrs office at 2000 W. 1st St.

The fallout from Trumps firing of FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday reached Winston-Salem as protesters held signs such as Indivisible Piedmont N.C. Resisting Trumps Agenda, Special Prosecutor Now, Defend Our Democracy and Investigate! Impeach!

A spokeswoman for Burr couldnt be reached Wednesday to respond to the protesters demands. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which Burr chairs, has asked Comey to appear before the committee Tuesday in a closed session.

In addition, Burr and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D.Va., the committees vice chairman, announced Wednesday that their committee has issued a subpoena for Michael Flynn, the former National Security Advisor to Trump, for documents relevant to the committees investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 election.

At the demonstration, Jeanne Ormsby of Winston-Salem said she is concerned about the Trump administrations attitude toward the law.

There seems to be a lack of understanding of how the Constitution operates and how the government works, Ormsby said. The only way to go is with a special prosecutor. Its gone beyond congressional investigations.

Andrew Heisler, a demonstrator from Troutman in Iredell County, said he is angry with Trump and other Republicans in Washington.

It seems like its a whole big corruption, Heisler said. Everyone is hiding something.
New Ratings

Jeffrey Schumacher

We think the fund follows a promising strategy for a conservative dividend investor, but we need more team stability to become convinced. The fund has been managed by Stuart Reeve since its inception in November 2010, and co-portfolio manager Andrew Wheatley-Hubbard has been with the fund since 2013. Both are not overly experienced managers, while Wheatley-Hubbard is not fully dedicated to the strategy.

They have ample resources to support them, but there has been more turnover than we would like to see. The strategy is a global quality approach to income investing, focusing on companies that pay a sustainable and growing dividend. The team applies a long-term, low-turnover approach where it aims to manage the downside carefully.

As a result, the portfolio has some significant style biases, preferring defensive sectors, large caps, and stocks with above-average return on equity, return on assets, and economic moats. The fund has performed in line with expectations, limiting its maximum drawdowns during turbulent markets while it did reasonably well in rising markets. It comfortably beats its typical rival on a risk-adjusted basis but slightly lags the MSCI World High Dividend Yield Index.

Kenneth Lamont

We think this fund is a strong investment proposition. Its underlying benchmark, the MSCI Japan, is broad and representative and has proved a difficult hurdle for many Japan large-cap managers to clear over the medium to long term. With an ongoing charge of just 0.12%, the W share class is the lowest cost index fund in the Japan Large-Cap category. This fee advantage has contributed to a strong risk-adjusted performance since inception. Given its strengths, we can be confident that over a full market cycle this fund will continue to outperform its peers on a risk-adjusted basis.

Upgrades

Monika Dutt

We have upgraded this fund from a Bronze to a Gold rating following the fee reduction in April 2017 from 0.40% to 0.07%. The change makes the fund one of the cheapest in its category. With a low fee and a soundly constructed and reasonably representative benchmark, this fund is well positioned to continue its long streak of producing superior risk-adjusted returns relative to its category.

Downgrades

Fatima Khizou

Bart Geer, who had managed this fund since joining Blackrock from Putnam Investments in late 2012, was replaced in March 2017 as a result of the BlackRocks restructuring of its active equity lineup. Former co-manager Carrie King, who has worked as an analyst on the fund for more than two decades and with every previous listed manager, now manages the fund with Joe Wolfe, a BlackRock employee since 2012 who helped Geer build the quantitative screens he used as part of his process.

The duo continues to use the same investment process, combining quant and fundamental techniques. While the overall approach remains the same, it is not clear how well this new management team will implement it. In addition, we think it will take time for the newly-formed group of analysts in the income and value team to settle and learn how to serve this strategy along with the others in its sphere. The fund therefore earns a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Neutral.

Mark Laidlaw

Hiren Dasani was appointed lead portfolio manager in April 2017 following the unexpected departure of former manager Prashant Khemka. We believe this is a sensible appointment, and that the proven investment framework remains intact. However, we have some concerns about Dasanis additional responsibility co-managing an emerging markets equity strategy, which he expects to face a steep learning curve. Along with Indian equities being a competitive asset class with a number of strong managers, we have downgraded the fund's rating.

Peter Brunt

Mark Barnett stepped back from the funds management at the end of March 2017, leaving James Goldstone as his replacement. Goldstone has worked in the industry for over 15 years, but only the last five have been on the investment side, making him considerably less experienced than his predecessor.

He has managed a UK equity pension fund for the group for the last three years, following a somewhat flexible approach that centres primarily around bottom-up research and follows a total return mind-set. Goldstone will manage this fund in a similar fashion to the pension fund, with a greater focus on dividends.

He will apply some sensible self-imposed limits on portfolio construction, but ultimately it remains a highly flexible mandate. While he has shown promise on the pension fund and benefits from the guidance of an experienced team, we would like to see more evidence that he can add value through more varied market conditions.

Jeffrey Schumacher

The fund's rating was put Under Review after the announcement of a strategy revision and team overhaul in December 2016. The fund, formerly known as Robeco NV, will adapt to the more concentrated investment style of its sibling, the Luxembourg-domiciled Robeco Global Stars Equities Fund. Furthermore, lead manager Mark Glazener and comanager Dirk Hoozemans are no longer at the helm.

The fund is now managed by Jan Keuppens as lead manager and Michiel Plakman as comanager; they are managers at the concentrated Lux-domiciled version. In the last 12 months, the team supporting this strategy has shrunk from 11 to just five, putting pressure on the managers to pick up stock coverage. The significant reduction in the team is a concern, in terms of depth and breadth of coverage and also the execution of the process, and we no longer have conviction in the offering.
Jonathan Miller: Welcome to the Morningstar Manager Check-up. We start with the JP Morgan Emerging Markets fund, where in July 2016 Leon Eidelman was formally recognised as the lead manager. He continues to work closely with Austin Forey, whos head of the Global Emerging Market team and ran the fund since 1997. The dynamic between the two today sees issues debated on a daily basis.

All this gives us comfort that the investment process, that focuses on quality growth firms, will continue to be consistently applied. This is reflected when you drill into the portfolio and identify the funds return on equity. Theres also a pronounced bias towards sectors positively affected by domestic demand and consumption. Given the consistent approach, the established process and considerable investment resources behind this fund, it retains a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze.

Next up we have the Jupiter European fund which Alexander Darwall has managed since its in launch in February 2001. With style in mind, this sits firmly in the growth camp. Darwall seeks companies with proven track records, clear business plans, an entrepreneurial spirit and above-average earnings growth prospects.

They also require a dominant market position and thereby superior pricing power. The wholly bottom up process sees Darwall have regular contact with company management. What you get is a high conviction approach with low turnover, significant sector deviation and a higher mid cap weighting than the index and peers.

The style was out of vogue last year which affected performance but theres much to like here and we have confidence the fund can continue to deliver strong risk adjusted returns over the long term. It therefore maintains its top Morningstar Analyst Rating of Gold.

Finally, its the Mercantile Investment Trust, managed by Guy Anderson of JP Morgan. He stepped into this role in 2016, having spent a few years co-managing the trust with long-standing manager Martin Hudson. This is a UK mid cap trust, whose philosophy follows JP Morgans behavioural finance process. This looks to exploit anomalies based on biases of market participants. With that in mind the universe is narrowed down based on price momentum, earnings revisions, value and quality.

A thematic overlay is then applied to construct the portfolio. The team dynamic continues to evolve here, as the final decision now resides with Anderson alone, as opposed to the more collegiate arrangement previously. At this stage we have therefore kept our Neutral Morningstar Analyst Rating on the trust.
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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.
In its latest expansion attesting to its continued growth and strength, Avison Young has opened its first location in the GlobalWorth Plaza in Bucharest, Romania.



The announcement marked the newest addition to the commercial real estate consultancys European operations, which service multi-market transactions in the continent.



We believe that Bucharest is an underserved market, offering great potential for increased local, national and international investment. Bucharest, which has a young, educated workforce, is a gateway to Eastern and Central Europe and aligns well with our other European operations. The new Bucharest office will also enhance our ability to facilitate multimarket transactions on both sides of the Atlantic, Avison Young chair and CEO Mark E. Rose said.



The Bucharest office will be managed and led by David Canta, who previously worked with CBRE Romania and served as associate director / co-founder of the Bucharest-based firm Momentum Consulting.



At present, Avison Young covers 80 offices and over 2,400 real estate professionals in North America and Europe.
According to a fresh report from a major lender for seniors, the aging segment of Canadian population is now contending with multiple barriers to maintaining ownership of their homes, most notably the unprecedented level of household debt in the present market.In a study titled The Home Stretch: A Review of Debt and Home Ownership Among Canadian Seniors, HomEquity Bank found that old Canadians ability to retain and maintain a home is progressively compromised by record household debt levels, modest long-term savings, the decline of defined-benefit pensions and extended life expectancies.The study results also indicated that while fully 91 per cent of Canadians aged over 65 said that retaining their residences is important, only 78 per cent have access to savings and investments with 40 per cent of those having less than $100,000 set aside.The data also shows that 15 per cent of Canadian seniors have a mortgage (compared with 34 per cent of non-seniors) and 17 per cent have car loans (compared with 34 per cent of non-seniors). But when it comes to unsecured lines of credit (LOC) that gap narrows: 30 per cent of seniors carry this form of debt compared with 33 per cent of non-seniors, and 10 per cent of Canadian seniors have a home equity line of credit (HELOC) compared with 9 per cent of non-seniors, the report added.On the income side, 77 per cent of the respondents said that the Canada Pension Plan is their primary expected source of funds. 73 per cent will rely on Old Age Security, and 57 per cent will utilize RRSPs. Meanwhile, 48 per cent will be leaning upon work pensions, with the same proportion having access to savings.HomEquity Bank has long called for an honest, national conversation regarding the financial health of Canadian seniors. This study further solidifies that need, president and CEO Steven Ranson said.Ranson emphasized the crucial role that this data would play in ensuring a better policy regime for Canadian seniors, and for the populace as a whole.We cant rely on a status quo approach. Collectively, we will have to think about finances, home ownership and debt in new, strategic ways to ensure seniors can plan for a stable, worry-free retirement, Ranson stated
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 63F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 63F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Imagine a world where you could get H-E-B groceries delivered to your home. Its perhaps the dream of many Texas shoppers before they head out into the busy streets, but this week its slated to become reality.

Grocery delivery service Instacart will launch its Instacart Express membership program Thursday in Midland and Odessa, according to a company press release. Instacart Express offers unlimited same-day, one-hour grocery deliveries on orders of $35 or more.

The company has looked to enter the Midland-Odessa market for quite a while. Weve been interested in the area for a couple years now, General Manager Chad Shepler said via email. What changed is earlier this year we saw zip code signups increase. A good sign that potential customers are gaining general awareness of Instacart and online delivery service.

And the company is growing nationwide. Instacart currently serves 30 percent of the households in America, but we plan to bring our service to over 100 more markets this year and to serve 80 percent of American households by 2018, Shepler said.

The delivery company has partnered with stores such as H-E-B, Natural Grocers and Petco in Midland-Odessa and will serve more than 99,000 residents.

Customers can use the Instacart app or website to place their orders and schedule deliveries. Instacart personal shoppers, who work as independent contractors, fill orders and deliver the goods to customers homes. The company said it plans create more than 50 new jobs in the area.

Instacart is offering a free trial for the first year, with no strings attached, the release said. The cost the following year is $99 annually or $14.99 per month. The free trial is a limited-time promotion. The minimum order is $35.

Instacart will serve the following zip codes:

 In Midland: 79701, 79703, 79705, 79706, 79707 and 79708.

 In Odessa: 79760, 79761, 79762, 79763, 79764, 79765, 79766, 79768 and 79769.
Are Midland and Odessa headed to a different congressional district?

The chairman of the Texas Democratic Party said last week he believes that is a real possibility. In fact, Gilberto Hinojosa said there is a good chance Midland and Odessa will be part of a new 23rd Congressional District -- which will extend south and west. Such a move means a Republican candidate for U.S. representative could inherit a qualified Democratic candidate, Pete Gallego, according to Hinojosa, who spoke to area Democrats last week during a stop in Midland.

Currently Congressman Mike Conaway of Midland represents District 11 which extends east and includes communities such as San Angelo, Brownwood, Stephenville and Brady.

The reason for speculation is that -- according to a previous Texas Tribune report -- a federal judge panel has set July 10 as the start date for a trial over the states House and congressional political maps.

In March, the Tribune reported, the panel ruled lawmakers knowingly discriminated in drawing the states congressional map and flagged particular violations in specific districts, including Congressional District 27, represented by Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi; and CD-35, represented by Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin.

The judges also found in a 2-1 ruling that the 2011 Texas Legislature intentionally diluted the clout of minority voters statewide and specifically in a litany of state House districts across Texas, according to the Tribune. Changes could impact the 2018 election cycle.

A Conaway spokesperson said last week that any discussion of what the final redistricted map will look like is just speculation. There is a five-day trial set for July, and there is no way of knowing what specific instructions the ruling will prescribe, if any.

The current District 23 extends from the San Antonio area, moves along the border and all the way to El Paso. Its representative is Republican Congressman Will Hurd of Helotes. A spokesman for Hurd also wasnt going to speculate on a result.

Midland County Republican Chairman James Beauchamp said he believes its doubtful anything would happen that would impact Mikes district.

He expects the fix to include adding a block of minority voters from an area of San Antonio or El Paso.

It would be limited to those districts that have a problem and we aint one of them, Beauchamp said.

The topic of redistricting came up as Hinojosa mentioned he expects all Republican congressmen to face competition in 2018, something he said is a stark contrast to 2012 when he became chairman and when competition for Republicans was hard to find.

Midland County Democratic Chairman David Rosen said Democrats will have a challenger, no matter the configuration of the district. Rosen said even if Conaways district doesnt change, there are Democrats interested in running and that a name will come out when the time is right.

Im ready for whatever happens, Rosen said. I wish Pete Gallego was my congressman, I can say that.
Shouldering On to New York Pro | D-Day For Jon & Juan

Written by Ron Harris

17 May 2017

Shouldering On to New York Pro



D-Day for Jon Delarosa & Juan Morel

The careers of IFBB pros, and close friends, Jon DeLaRosa and Juan Morel have followed similar paths. DeLaRosa turned pro in 2012 and through 2015 he gradually moved up the ranks. In that year he won the Chicago Pro and was second at the Vancouver Pro. However 2016 wasn't a great year as the improvement curve he had enjoyed wasnt maintained and he didn't qualify for the Olympia.





Morel turned pro in 2012 and actually won his first contest, the Europa Battle of Champions. Through 2016 he continued to improve and fill out his massive frame. However come 2017 and in finishing fifth at the Arnold Classic in Columbus last March, he was not at his best. The same was true when he subsequently competed at the New Zealand Pro and the Arnold Classic in Brazil. Thus against that backdrop the duo return to their Big Apple home turf driven to kick start their progress at this Saturdays New York Pro. A bodypart priority is delts  the bodybuilders calling card  and in this feature Jon and Juan John get into the nuts and bolts of effective shoulder construction.



RH: What was your early shoulder training like, and how has it evolved over the years?

JD: My early training can best be described as obnoxiously stupid and too heavy. Like most aspiring bodybuilders, I would watch Ronnie Coleman DVDs and see him doing military presses with 315 and figure OK, thats what I need to do. It never crossed my mind that it took him many years to build up to that, and that he wasnt just throwing the weight around any old way and using practically every muscle in his body. As time went on, I learned to remove my ego from lifting and back off the weights. I shifted the focus to contracting the muscles, and gradually added weight. Good form is a must, especially with shoulder training. You are not going to get nice, rounded caps swinging up a pair of 60s for lateral raises when you should really be using 30s.

JM: People look at my shoulders now and assume they were always big and wide and round, but they were actually a very average body part when I started out. They sloped and had no caps to them at all. My workouts then were pretty similar to what I do now. Ive always done presses, but laterals were what I found brought my side delts up the most and got them rounder and fuller. I do six to eight sets of them. I also like supersets. Pumping the shoulders up with blood works really well for me.

RH: Do you guys think shoulders are something bodybuilders need to be careful not to overtrain, since we do use them every time we hit back or chest too?

JD: Im a firm believer that overtraining is very rarely going to be a problem as long as you are taking in enough good food and quality supplements. That being said, you certainly wouldnt want to train them every day. I like to do a full workout for them on their own, then lateral movements for them after I train chest on a different day.

JM: I train everything twice a week. I really dont believe in overtraining. I think if you eat enough and your strength is still good and not falling off, youre not overtraining. So many guys are so worried about doing too much, when a lot of them would be bigger if they did more. I train shoulders the day after chest, which is also supposed to be a bad idea. But my chest and my shoulders keep growing. Rules are made to be broken, not that there are really any rules to this stuff anyway.

RH: Free weights versus machines is something we debate all the time. Do you feel that dumbbells and barbells do a better job at stimulating shoulder growth than machines and cables? How does your ratio go as far as which you use more on shoulder day?

JD: I believe machines and cables can give you a better pump, which is part of the process of making gains. Machines in particular help keep you strict and isolating the target muscle. I like to use them on shoulder day to warm up, and a lot of times I might use them at the end too. The bulk of your workout should be done with free weights.

JM: Free weights are the best, but I also think some machines are very effective too. They do a perfect job of isolating the target muscle. But free weights force you to balance them, so you recruit more muscle groups. They also allow you to adjust the motion to your own structure, while machines lock you into one position all the time. Overall, I use mostly free weights; but I do like to use machines as parts of supersets and tri-sets near the end of the workout when youre going for that crazy pump. Thats when I find them to be the most beneficial.

RH: Where do you feel that most trainers go wrong in their shoulder workouts, or to put it in a more positive way, what could they be doing better?

JD: The best approach to working any muscle is to back off the weight and work hard on strict form and mastering the mind-muscle connection. Feel the muscle contracting and stretching with each rep. I was reading that Big Ramy says he never feels his muscles working when he trains them, which is crazy.

RH: I have to wonder if that has anything to do with his lack of muscle detail and maturity, which we have been assuming is only because hes so new to training.

JD: I cant say. But imagine how much better he might be if he was getting those quality contractions? As a bodybuilder, Im always learning and evolving and trying to make my training better. Only pretty recently have I been able to feel my chest muscles fully contract, which I do feel has held back its development. Learning how to properly isolate and engage every muscle group takes time and effort.

RH: Juan, where do you see guys going wrong in their shoulder workouts?

JM: Not just with shoulders, but in general, I see a real lack of intensity. Very few guys in the gym actually train heavy and hard. Most of them are afraid to. I understand injuries and the fear of them, because Ive been hurt more than once myself. But you cant let that stop you from putting out serious effort and intensity. If you dont have that in your training, youre not going to grow.

RH: If you had time for only three exercises to train shoulders, which three would you pick?

JD: Behind-the-neck presses, lateral raises and seated bent laterals.

JM: Military presses, dumbbell laterals and rear laterals. Thats about as basic and effective as it gets for shoulders.

RH: Whats your favorite type of overhead press, and why? Also, do you think presses should always be done first in a shoulder workout?

JD: I would go with behind-the-neck presses. My entire focus with my shoulder training is to create more width. Thats critical when you arent as tall as a lot of the other guys. Military presses hit more of your front heads. When you have your elbows back, its a lot more side delt activation.

JM: I loved the standing press for years because its the hardest type to do. When it comes to training, easier is never better. Dumbbell presses are also tough to do, but they give you great results. They do become tough to get into position and balance as you get heavier. As far as when to press, that depends on the person and what they need more of. If you are seriously lacking side delts, do your laterals first when youre fresh.

RH: Two things not everyone does for shoulders are direct front delt work, and upright rows. Do you think those are optional movements, or should everyone be doing them?

JD: I love upright rows. For me, I get all three deltoid heads involved. I do them at every workout. Front delt work is something I dont bother with. They get plenty of work from chest and shoulder presses.

JM: I dont do either one of those exercises for shoulders. I do think upright rows are a good exercise for traps, though. Not for me. I dont train traps anymore because they just grow too easily. I could have no neck if I wanted to look that way! But thats me. If you like upright rows for shoulders, go ahead and do them. I dont see the point in doing front raises, honestly. If youre doing presses for your shoulders, theres no need to work front delts directly.

RH: Lets talk about rear delts for a second. You see so many guys with decent mass in their front and side delts, but they turn to the side and theres nothing back there. Why do you think this is so common, and whats the solution?

JD: its just neglect, which is probably because theyre behind you. Out of sight, out of mind. Its also tough for a lot of guys to get the form down right on rear laterals.

JM: Guys usually dont train them much, or if they do they do them wrong and wind up hitting their lower traps. You need to learn to squeeze them and get a pump. If youre not feeling them work and youre not getting a pump, youre not doing them right. Pick a really light weight and learn how! I feel the rear delts are so important that I do two or three different exercises for them. I want to have all three heads of my delts popping.

RH: Its been said that shoulders are one body part that can never be too big. Agree or disagree?

JD: I disagree. Some people have told me I need to make an effort to make either my arms or legs into a freaky body part so I stand out more. That makes no sense to me, and goes against what I believe bodybuilding should be. My dad was a bodybuilding fan going back to the days of Arnold, Frank Zane, Bob Paris and others who had complete, symmetrical, proportionate physiques. Nothing really stood out, and nothing lagged behind, either. Now you have some guys known just for giant arms or freaky quads, which is silly to me. Any body part, even shoulders, can be too big if it doesnt match the rest of the physique.

JM: I agree, even though some critics have said my shoulders are so big that they make my arms look like they lag a bit. My arms are 22 inches, and the reason they dont look as impressive as they should yet isnt because of my big shoulders. Im taller and my arms are longer. They need to be 23 or 24 inches, and they will be!

FAVORITE SHOULDER EXERCISES

1) Military Presses

JM: This is the best overall shoulder builder you can do. It allows you to use the absolute heaviest resistance to overload the delts. Just make sure you take your time and warm up, and dont go so heavy that you can only get a few reps. You need to respect your shoulder and elbow joints if you plan on doing this a while.

JD: I usually use a barbell for these, and its been a staple in my shoulder training from day one. I remember seeing pictures of Arnold doing them when I was a kid.

2) Behind-the-Neck Presses

JM: A lot of guys are terrified to do this exercise, but I have never had a problem with it. But thats an individual thing. If it doesnt feel right for you, dont do it. But if it feels fine, dont be afraid to press behind the neck.

JD: Any exercise can technically be considered risky, because youre putting extra loads on the joints. I do a few things to make this exercise safer. For one thing, I dont throw 315 on the bar. 135 is what I use most of the time, and 185 at the most. I do my reps slowly and under control, and only lower the bar to the tops of my ears. Lowering down to the traps will wreak havoc on your rotator cuffs.

3) Machine Presses

JM: This is a unique machine they have in Bevs Powerhouse Gym that hits the front delts perfectly. It feels like a military press, but obviously youre locked into position and dont have to balance anything. Even toward the end of my shoulder workout, I can load a few plates on each side for good reps.

JD: This machine to me is more like a high-angle incline press, which is fine. I can always use a little more upper chest! Usually if I use it, its at the end of a workout as part of a superset.

4) Dumbbell Lateral Raises

JM: You will never get your delts to be as round and capped as they can be without plenty of laterals, period. I like to do six supersets of these with bent laterals for the rear delts. I tried that one time and the pump was so unreal that I kept doing it.



JD: Form is so, so critical on lateral raises. If you arent feeling your side delts contracting, you need to check that ego and go grab a pair of lighter dumbbells. Forget about going heavy. I have yet to see anyone using heavy dumbbells on these and using proper form, and I have seen some very big guys train shoulders.

5) Rear Lateral Raises

JM: If you have lagging rear delts, it would be a good idea to do these first in your shoulder workout while youre fresh. Aside from not doing rear laterals at all, another reason a lot of guys have weak rear delts is because they only do a couple of half-assed sets at the end of their shoulder workouts.

JD: I actually dont do either laterals or rear laterals anymore. Instead, I came up with a hybrid movement that gets both the side and rear heads very well. What I do is start the reps bent over with my torso parallel to the ground, then raise up to about a 45-degree angle as I am doing the rep. It takes a little while to get the hang of and you definitely want to start very light until you do, but its a very effective combo exercise.





Jonathans Shoulder Routine

Seated Lateral Raise Machine 3 x 20-30 (warm-up)

Military or Behind-the-neck Presses 4 x 15-20

Hybrid Side/Rear Lateral Raises 4 x 15-20

Upright Rows 4 x 15-20

Juans Shoulder Routine

Smith Machine Presses to Front, 4 x 5-20

Behind-the-Neck Smith Presses, 3 x 15-20

Standing Side Lateral Raises 3 x 15-20

Superset with

Seated Rear Lateral Flyes 3 x 15-20

Standing Side Lateral Raises 3 x 15-20

superset with

Rear Delt Machine Flyes, 3 x 15-20

Smith Machine Presses 3 x 10 reps to front, 10 reps behind neck (20 reps total)

To see how Jon and Juan fared at the New York Pro this coming Saturday, May 20, stay tuned to musculardevelopment.com. Look forward to more articles, interviews and videos as we ramp up our coverage of the 2017 New York Pro. Then over the weekend there will the usual on site video interviews, reports, contest wrap-ups and play-by-play commentary in real time. Stay tuned for unrivalled coverage.

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Some lawmakers are accusing President Donald Trump of obstruction of justice after revelations that FBI Director James Comey wrote a private account of the president asking him to shut down an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Congressional Democrats were already concerned that Trump was trying to stifle a probe into possible coordination between his campaign and Russia's election meddling by firing Comey last week. The latest development only heightened their outrage, renewing calls for a special prosecutor. And Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said in a statement that "we are witnessing an obstruction of justice case unfolding in real time."

But obstruction of justice is a tricky issue both criminally and politically. And legal experts say it could be difficult to prove the president crossed a line.

Some questions and answers about obstruction of justice:

WHAT IS OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE?

Simply put, it's preventing authorities - such as police or prosecutors - from doing the work of investigating and applying the law.

---

WHAT IS TRUMP ACCUSED OF DOING?

Comey wrote that Trump asked him to end an investigation into Flynn during a February meeting in the Oval Office. Comey, who was known to keep a paper trail of sensitive meetings, chronicled the president's request in a memo he produced soon after the conversation, according to a Comey associate who reviewed the document and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. Flynn had just been forced to resign after lying about the nature of his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

The White House disputed the account of the Comey memo.

---

IS SUCH A REQUEST OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE?

Criminally speaking, obstructing justice applies to a variety of scenarios - like threatening a juror, retaliating against a witness, or impeding a grand jury proceeding - and Trump's alleged request would not fit neatly into any of them, legal experts said.

"No one would write a federal statute with this situation in mind because it's such an extraordinary situation," said Jens David Ohlin, a dean at Cornell University Law School.

Meddling in a federal investigation could qualify as impeding a judicial proceeding under the obstruction statute. But to bring an obstruction charge, a prosecutor would have to show the president was trying to "corruptly" influence the investigation, and proving an improper intent can be hard.

Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, said Trump would have some lines of defense.

"The president can claim he was raising an issue of concern for a longtime associate," Turley said. "That doesn't mean that the question was not wildly improper, and frankly, would border on the moronic."

---

BUT ISN'T THERE EVIDENCE?

Comey's memos could be valuable in any obstruction investigation.

"What you have is contemporaneous documentation of Comey's recollection of what the president said," said Bob Bauer, who served as White House counsel under President Barack Obama. "That's obviously a very powerful piece of evidence."

But barring recordings, a memo still becomes a case of "he said, she said," said former prosecutor Jonathan Lopez.

Still, there's also a witness: Comey.

"He's around and the best evidence of what happened in that meeting would be to call him as a witness," said Barbara McQuade, former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

---

ARE THERE OTHER POSSIBLE ACTIONS?

Even if this didn't lead to a criminal conviction, such a request could add to the basis for impeachment for obstruction of justice.

"It's the whole pattern here, it's firing Comey and also directing him to end the investigation against Flynn, all of these things are done because he wants to stop an investigation from reaching the highest echelons of the administration and possibly him personally," Ohlin said. "It's the type of political self-dealing that is intolerable."

But Turley said that may not be enough.

"What we have is a memo of a president asking highly inappropriate questions of an FBI director," he said. "This would be pretty thin soup for even an impeachment proceeding."
A man was shot and killed following what appears to be an argument between a vehicle owner and an employee of an Orlando towing company, police said Tuesday.

1 dead in shooting following argument at Orlando tow yard

Shooting happened at about 6 p.m. at Tow Truck Co.

Suspect taken into custody, investigation is ongoing

Orlando Police responded at about 5:51 p.m. to the Tow Truck Co. tow yard at 639 W. Robinson St. to a report of a dispute between a vehicle owner and the company.

As patrol units were responding to the area, the call was updated as the dispute escalated to a report of shots fired.

Officers reported they heard the shots as they were arriving at the scene. They entered the business and located a white male on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound.

Witnesses provided officers with a description of a black male suspect, and other arriving units observed the suspect running away from the scene on foot and holding a firearm, according to a report.

Orlando Police officers located the suspect by a nearby business loading dock in the 600 block of West Livingston Street. He was eventually taken into custody without incident.

The victim was taken to an area hospital, where he died. No other victims were located.

The suspect is the owner of a vehicle that is in the tow yard and the victim worked for the company in an unknown capacity, police said.

The investigation is active and ongoing, and Orlando Police officials said they aren't looking for any other suspects.
The Justice Department has appointed a special counsel to oversee a federal probe into possible ties between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller tapped as special counsel

Dems have pushed for lead investigator outside Justice Department

RELATED: House committee leader wants Comey to testify next week

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller will lead the investigation, the department said early Wednesday evening.

Democrats have been pushing for a special counsel from outside the Justice Department.

The appointment comes a day after news reports that ousted FBI Director James Comey crafted a memo detailing a February conversation between him and Trump that said Trump had asked him to shut down an FBI investigation into former Trump aide Michael Flynn.

Trump issued the following statement Wednesday: "As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know  there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity. I look forward to this matter concluding quickly. In the meantime, I will never stop fighting for the people and the issues that matter most to the future of our country."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Mark Sterkel/Odessa American

Federal statistics show that since a seat belt usage campaign began 15 years ago, there have been 5,068 fewer fatalities on the nations roadways, while deaths resulting from not wearing the belts in Texas resulted in a 9 percent uptick last year, officials said Tuesday during an event with the Texas Department of Transportation.

One in 10 Texans were still not buckling up from 2015 to 2016, which analysts said resulted in the percentage increase. This means that 994 people died in 2016 because they werent wearing seat belts, compared to the 908 fatalities that were reported in 2015, according to TxDOT.
MERIDEN  Senior citizens living at Community Towers were anxious Wednesday to receive the first of their monthly free food boxes as part of a program the Meriden Housing Authority is now offering through Connecticut Food Bank.



Its a lot of happiness, resident Blassina Peldono DeRamos said through a translator. Its very good.



About 60 residents who live at the Willow Street apartment complex were pre-screened based on income to participate in the Elder Food Box Program.



Its a free box of food to those that qualify, said Edward Siebert of the Meriden Housing Authority. The demand is going to be huge.



The Meriden Housing Authority, which operates Community Towers, found out about the program through housing authority board member Scott Griffin. Siebert contacted Frederick Goodman, who runs the program at the Connecticut Food Bank, and received a tour of the massive food warehouse on Research Parkway in Wallingford.



We were invited to the facility, Siebert said. Its not just a fly-by-night operation. Its massive, like an Ikea.



Goodman is the coordinator of mobile and senior projects for the Connecticut Food Bank. The Elder Food Box Program is a federally funded commodity food program. Federal funds cover the administrative and logistics of distributing the food to seniors.



Weve been doing it for a few years, Goodman said. This is a new location.



The food bank teams up with housing authorities or senior housing centers to find seniors who are eligible for an extra $50 a month in food staples. Each box contains non-perishable items from the four food groups such as pasta, canned beans, fruit, juices, cereal and a brick of cheese.



David Sunshine, resident services director for the Meriden Housing Authority, went door-to-door recently signing up residents.



After people see what everyone is getting, theyll get on board, Sunshine said. People who have difficulty will have some additional income to spend on other things because they have the staples.



mgodin@record-journal.com 203-317-2255 Twitter: @Cconnbiz






MERIDEN  A city church is hosting a unity event at the Meriden Green on Saturday.



Assurance Christian Outreach Ministries, housed in the First Congregational Church of Meriden, is hosting a Day of Unity in Our Community from noon to 6 p.m. at the greens amphitheater.



Church, choir and worship groups of all denominations are welcome to participate. There will be music and dancing. For more information, call 203-215-7358.






A California air monitoring agency hit San Antonio-based refiner Valero Energy Corp. last week with six violations by for a flaring incident at its Benicia refinery.

The 165,000 barrel-a-day Benicia crude oil refinery  located on the northeastern side of the San Francisco Bay Area  experienced a flaring incident on the morning of May 5 when the site lost power from Pacific Gas & Electric around 6:45 a.m.

The refinery began flaring or burning off of hydrocarbons as an emergency safety measure, creating thick plumes of smoke that forced local authorities to declare some evacuations and shelter-in-place advisories for areas downwind of the refinery before 8 a.m.

During the May 5 flaring incident Valero spokeswoman Lillian Riojas confirmed the flaring was due to power outages and that decisions on evacuations were up to local authorities or local emergency planning committees.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District or BAAQMD said on May 9 that Valero had committed four violations for excess visible emissions that it described as excess smoke, and two public nuisance violations for the evacuations and shelter-in-place advisories.

Valero does not comment on pending or potential notice of violations from the power outage caused by Pacific Gas & Electric on May 5 at Valeros Benicia refinery, Riojas said when asked for comment.

Valero Refining Co., a subsidiary of Valero Energy, agreed in April to pay $340,000 to settle 28 notices of violation issued for non-compliance of air quality regulations.

A news release from the AAQMD said most of the violations occurred in 2014 and included 11 brief violations of emission limits, five for emission limit violations due to upsets in the refinerys fuel supply, and five for minor leaks from storage tanks.
Bristol Palin, the reality star daughter of former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, has put roots down in Texas with her husband and three kids, she said earlier this week.

Palin, who previously competed on Dancing With The Stars and was in a number of reality shows, recently gave birth to her third child May 8, and included the Texas confirmation in a one-week update blog post on her daughter.
The San Antonio River Walk hasn't always been know for its concrete walkways, shops and restaurants that define it today.

Its reputation as a popular downtown destination took years of work, but the river has always had a special place in the city's heart.
BRIDGEPORT  Jazmine Melendez had mixed feelings about seeing the mayor at her brothers funeral.

Joe Ganim was among those who attended an invitation-only service Wednesday morning at Funeraria Luz de Paz, followed by a burial attended by 300 or so people at Lakeview Cemetery, where 15-year-old Jayson Negron was interred eight days after being shot dead by police.

I know (Ganims visit) is out of respect but ... we (also) want justice, Melendez said. This is just part one.

The ceremony ended in the noontime heat under the shade of maple trees, as organizers released 50 orange monarch butterflies out of a box and into the air.

A State Police investigation of the shooting remains a long way from over.

The Park City and Ganims police chief, Armando Perez, were named Tuesday in a lawsuit by a surviving victim of the shooting, 21-year-old Julian Fyffe. Boulay remains on paid leave, pending an investigation by state officials.

Perez has said Officer James Boulay fired after Negron launched a stolen car in reverse, putting the officer at risk of being run over.

Negrons family members have also criticized the citys handling of the shooting, including the dissemination of incorrect information about Negrons death.

Ganim did not speak with the scores of mourners outside the funeral home, who mostly dressed in black. Dozens of mourners wore T-shirts bearing images of Negron  as an infant, a small boy, and a teenager.

Half of the mourners appeared to be in their teens and 20s. They hugged, cried, and checked in with each other.

How you doing, bruh, you straight? one boy asked another, peach fuzz on both of their faces. The other boy hesitated, then muttered Yah.

Ganim and his driver were the first out of the funeral service, and left in the mayors black sport utility vehicle.

Around 100 mourners filled in the sidewalk and on the street around the funeral home. They waited for Negrons white casket to be moved into a black hearse.

Some members of Negrons immediate family wore white, in the Caribbean tradition. When six men emerged from the funeral doors bearing the coffin, dozens in the crowd wept. One woman wailed no, and told family members not to restrain her.

Negron and Melendezs mother Natasha Tosado, 34, was not at the funeral Wednesday because she is in prison, according to family members. According to Department of correction records, she serving a two-year sentence for possession of an assault weapon.

Tosado visited her sons casket in a separate service Tuesday, according to family members. The practice  of an isolated, separate service  that is typical for inmates, according to a cemetery worker familiar with the process.

Around 20 vehicles with orange funeral tags on the windshields followed the hearse to the cemetary, its American and Puerto Rican flags flapping.

Many cars bore messages on the rear window written in glass chalk, the markers used to decorate cars for graduations and weddings.

Justice for Jayson, read one. Sleep in Paradise, read another, Sunrise 9-16-2001 Sunset 5-9-2017, read another.
An outdoor science experiment involving fire at a Texas Presbyterian preschool went terribly wrong Tuesday, injuring 12 students - six of whom were transported to a local hospital with burns.

Just before 12:30 p.m., a group of preschoolers from the Yellow School, an early childhood program at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, were gathered outside to watch a teacher change the color of fire using different chemicals, Village Fire Department Chief David Foster told TV station KPRC 2.

The teacher mixed boric acid with methanol, Foster said, and tried to light it on fire. Nothing happened, so the teacher added more alcohol and lit the mixture again. Then there was an explosion.

"I don't want to make any pre-dispositions that anything went wrong here," Foster told TV station KHOU. "It was an unfortunate accident."

Six of the students were transported to the burn unit of Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, and the other six were picked up by their parents and taken for treatment elsewhere, reported the Houston Chronicle.

"Fire was changing colors and the last one wasn't working, so we put it a little bit more, and then it exploded," Kate Earnest, a 5-year-old who was part of the group that participated in the experiment, told ABC 13. "That's how the other kids got burned, and they were crying."

Those children taken to the hospital were in good condition Tuesday afternoon and all but one had been released, a spokeswoman told the Houston Chronicle.

"It's just scary, you know?" Randy Kenney, whose 3-year-old son was burned during the experiment, told KPRC 2. "We were just coming here to have an end-of-the-year picnic and there was a lot of fire trucks."

Officials said the children injured were three and four-year-olds.

"This incident will be investigated swiftly and thoroughly, and we will keep the congregation up to date as more facts emerge," the church said in a statement on its website. "Our primary concern is the health and safety of our children, and the Yellow School asks for your prayers for the injured and their families, as well as staff and students."

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is investigating, reported KPRC 2.

"Child Care Licensing is currently investigating the incident at the Yellow School this afternoon," the agency said in a statement. "We will interview staff and children and their parents, and make sure the area will be safe for children to return."
WASHINGTON - As President Donald Trump has lurched from one crisis to another, Republicans have chosen a strategy of compartmentalization over confrontation, preferring to look away in hopes that the storm would pass. Now, after a pair of stunning revelations about the president, that approach may have run aground. For the GOP, this has become a moment of reckoning.

Events of the past eight days have robbed Republicans of the luxury of trying to keep focused on their agenda while believing that a sense of calm and normalcy will eventually settle around the president and his White House. Reality long has suggested something different, and cascading events have driven home that this president operates under a new definition of normal.

Last week brought the unexpected firing of James Comey as FBI director and shifting explanations of the reasons. On Monday, The Washington Post dropped another bombshell, reporting that Trump has shared highly classified intelligence with Russian officials. As the White House went into full damage control over that revelation on Tuesday, the New York Times published another stunner, reporting that in February the president sought to persuade Comey to back off the FBI investigation into fired national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The successive blows have shifted - or more accurately expanded - the focus beyond the president. Increasingly, it will be difficult for Republicans to avoid recognizing the responsibility that comes with being the majority party in separate branch of government, rather than seeing events primarily through the prism of a political alliance, no matter how awkward at times, between members of Congress and a president who won the November election as their nominee.

In that context, the reaction of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., to the news that Trump had shared intelligence with the Russians was telling. Corker has been, generally, restrained in his criticism of the president. In this case, he sent a message to the White House that reflected exasperation that must be widespread within the president's party.

"Obviously, they are in a downward spiral right now and have got to figure out a way to come to grips with all that's happening," he said of the operations of the White House and senior officials around the president. "And the shame of it is, there's a really good national security team in place."

Republicans desperately have wanted this to be a mutually beneficial relationship. They have a big policy agenda they want to see turned into law. They want to move on health care and taxes, government regulations and budget priorities. They waited through the last years of the previous administration for the opportunity to hold all the levers of power. Now that they have the power, they want to do as much as they can as quickly as they can to undo what President Barack Obama did and to advance a series of long-sought conservative policies.

Up to now, the calculus has been easy, if somewhat strained. To pursue a course of confrontation or conflict with the president - whether over Trump's evidence-free claims that Obama ordered wiretapping of Trump Tower or of unprecedented electoral fraud - was, in the estimation of many Republicans, counterproductive.

On big matters, such as the report about Trump sharing intelligence with the Russians that was provided by a key ally, Republicans have reacted with shock but not condemnation. They have hoped to create some distance while avoiding building barriers with a volatile president who came to office largely independent of the party he claims as his own.

When the president tweets something provocative, they prefer not to give the fire more oxygen. But the regularity of these fires is taking its toll. On Tuesday morning, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., expressed his frustration in the way he often does, through understatement. "I think we could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things so we can focus on our agenda," he said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

That was before the Times' report, widely confirmed by other news organizations, that Comey had made a memo of a Feb. 14 conversation with the president in which Trump had said of the Flynn investigation, "I hope you can let this go." That meeting came a day after an apparently conflicted Trump fired his national security adviser, who had been one of his most loyal acolytes during the campaign, for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about contacts with the Russian ambassador.

The White House has denied the report, just as it attempted to dismiss the Post story about the president's sharing intelligence with the Russians. But as with the firing of Comey a week ago, White House officials have offered shifting explanations of what happened in the Oval Office meeting with Russian officials last week and provided a denial that was anything but an outright repudiation of what had been reported.

For congressional Republicans, the hope for a productive relationship with the president has always been a fraught exercise. He won the Republican nomination by defeating the favored candidates of the party establishment. Ever since, those in the establishment have grappled with the terms of what has been an uncomfortable bargain.

On issues, they and the president often have been on different pages. On their mutual political enterprise, they have approached one another warily, with distrust emanating from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Even without the controversies, Trump has proved to be an unsteady partner. He has provided limited leadership on health care and limited leadership on taxes. He has offered direction that does not always conform to the preferences of conservatives in Congress. He has offered guidelines but no detailed blueprints. His priorities are not always those of congressional Republicans. He retains the power to sign legislation but in all other ways seems to frustrate or complicate efforts by congressional Republicans to bring those measures to his desk.

Nor has the president proved to be the master dealmaker that some had hoped. His efforts to produce the necessary votes the first time the House was preparing to take up health care came up short. For the most part, he washed his hands of the effort to revive the bill, which barely proved successful. It was revived by House members, though White House officials were pushing for action. Now the Senate is mostly starting from scratch on its own bill.

The White House is now in perpetual crisis mode, scrambling to keep up with the mercurial president, consumed by talk of a possible staff shake-up, with officials pointing fingers at one another as things spiral away from them. All that also affects the legislative process. It's not that congressional committees cannot go about doing basic business, but in a 24/7 media environment, coupled with the power of social media to accelerate events, elected leaders have not had the ability to avoid responding. The big story saps the energies of everyone.

Calls for a special prosecutor or an independent investigation will intensify, though many Republicans will continue to resist, at least until their own political standing is in real danger. But the double revelations of the past two days show that events are forcing a change in everyone's calculations.

As the controversies grow worse, so, too, will the tensions increase between the desire of congressional Republicans and the president to maintain a positive relationship and the responsibility of one branch of government to provide a check against another when that becomes necessary.
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When Tam Nguyen's family immigrated to Port Arthur more than 40 years ago, her father made a living owning and operating shrimp boats, the same thing he did in Vietnam.

But Nguyen, who works as a quality inspector at JBS Shrimp Packing Inc. in Port Arthur, said she is glad her six children have left the family business.

Conditions on the Gulf are rough, and her children earn more money working in welding and construction jobs, she said.

"It's not good. It's too hard. You don't sleep," said Nguyen, 57.

Texas' once-robust shrimping industry has taken a brutal hit in recent years, fighting a multi-front war against rapid increases in imported shrimp, plummeting prices and a decline in shrimp numbers.

In the face of an unstable future, families like Nguyen's are pushing their children out of the industry into more stable, less-labor intensive careers, which raises the question of where shrimping goes from here.

Nguyen, whose family once owned several shrimp boats, said most of her family members have left the business. Her husband gave up working on a boat 18 years ago to become a welder.

Her brother took over the family business when her father retired, but none of his children are succeeding him.

"They want to sit in offices. They want to be lawyers or doctors," Nguyen said.

'A dying breed'

The Vietnamese began coming to the U.S. in 1975, aided by the federal government's refugee resettlement program.

Having worked as shrimpers back home, many carved out a place in the industry, which was dominated by Cajuns at the time.

On the Port Arthur dock, Vietnamese make up about 95 percent of the shrimpers, and the industry has traditionally been a family business, said Terrie Looney, a Texas A&M Extension Agent for Jefferson and Chambers counties.

"When they came over as refugees, it was a niche they could fill, and as they've gotten integrated into the community, they've found easier things to do," she said.

Looney said she has watched the older generation work hard on the boats to send their kids to college so they can avoid the hard work and unpredictable income that comes with shrimping.

Before Hurricane Rita in 2005, Looney estimates there were more than 350 boats in Port Arthur. The Port Arthur Shrimpers Association now has 95 members, she said.

The decline is statewide.

A little fewer than 3,000 commercial shrimp boat licenses were issued in Texas in 2005, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. In 2016, that number dropped to 1,411.

Trey Pearson, general manager of JBS Packing Inc., said he thinks fewer than 10 shrimpers under the age of 50 operate boats in the area.

He said he never sees kids on the boats.

Pearson blames the decline on the job's tough conditions. Shrimpers spends weeks at sea in dangerous weather.

"Being on one of these boats is one of the hardest jobs you can do in your life. It's a dying breed," he said.

Nederland resident Kyle Kimball, a third-generation shrimper, loves the work but expects the family business will end when he retires.

"It's grandfather to dad to me to nobody. You don't want your family to do something like this," said Kimball, 53.

His daughter, Bella, 17, said she plans to go into nursing - a decision her father strongly supports.

"It's too much work. I don't like going out on the ocean on a tiny boat," she said.

Sinclair Oubre, a Catholic priest and treasurer of the Port Arthur Shrimp Association, said many young people are taking jobs in refineries. That career comes with steadier hours and pay but doesn't offer the excitement of being out on the open sea and learning to operate a boat.

"We're doing nothing but discouraging people from going into the industry. Public schools aren't doing anything to encourage people to go on the boats," he said.

Not enough workers

Unable to find enough American workers to fill the gaps, some Texas shrimpers and local packing plants have turned to hiring low-skilled migrant workers on H-2B visas to fill gaps.

Andrea Hance, executive director of the Brownsville-based Texas Shrimp Association, said because shrimping is a tough job, less than 1 percent of American workers will stay more than one season.

"You have to be born into it," she said.

Pearson said his plant has relied on migrant workers to fill 50 inspection and packing jobs for the past 12 years, he said.

This year he said he's short-staffed because he has been unable to secure enough of the visas.

The federal government capped the program at 66,000 visas, and that limit was reached in March.

Pearson said shrimpers in Port Arthur still have enough family members to fill their boats - for now.

He said he expects to see migrant workers on those ships in the next 5 to 10 years.

A perfect storm

Several factors have converged to create a perfect storm of challenges for shrimpers.

Weather is one. Hurricanes Ike and Rita were major blows, but the Gulf also has experienced declines in the shrimp population caused by cold fronts and droughts. These conditions disrupt the shrimp eggs that are laid off shore, Looney said.

Rising fuel costs have made it more expensive to run a boat, and the catch can be as unpredictable as the weather, Looney said.

A shrimp boat can burn through up to $45,000 worth of fuel on a 30- to 45-day fishing trip. It costs another $30,000 a year per boat for the state-required turtle excluder net, Hance said.

"It's expensive to go out, and it's a gamble," Looney said. "They go out for four to six weeks at a time. They may or they may not bring back shrimp."

"There's a very fine line between red and black in this industry," said Hance, who owns several shrimping boats and hires a crew to operate them.

"Any point in time, we'll get a phone call, and the engine needs overhauling. Any one repair can kick (them) out of making a profit," she said.

A crew's pay is linked to how much shrimp they catch, which can vary significantly. Crew members make anywhere from $15,000 to $40,000 a year, Hance said.

According to industry experts, the industry took its biggest hit in the early 2000s, when the U.S. started importing millions of pounds of foreign shrimp, which forced domestic shrimpers to push down their prices.

The local industry continues to struggles to compete with foreign imports from countries that aren't subject to the same strict regulations as U.S. plants.

"They're not playing on the same field we are," Pearson said.

He said on average, imported shrimp is a dollar to a dollar and a half cheaper per pound than Gulf shrimp.

The U.S. imported just over 1.3 billion pounds of shrimp in 2016, compared to 760 million pounds in 2000. The majority comes from India, Indonesia, Thailand, Ecuador, Vietnam, China and Mexico, according to the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration.

Nearly 140 million pounds of that shrimp came from Vietnam.

By comparison, commercial shrimpers in Texas in 2015 caught more than 70 million pounds of shrimp, bringing in nearly $148 million dollars.

Not abandoning ship

For now, local experts say shrimp prices have stabilized, and some officials are pushing measures to help the industry.

The average price per pound of shrimp has dropped slightly this year, according to the NOAA. It was $9.80 in March for jumbo shrimp, down slightly from 2016's average of $10.23.

In April, the Texas House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Dade Phelan, a Republican from Beaumont, that would create a new occupational license for out-of-state commercial shrimpers to unload shrimp at Texas docks. The bill is now in a Senate committee.

According to a statement prepared by Phelan, the new law would open the Texas seafood market to 7 million pounds of Gulf shrimp and provide an economic boost of over $100 million.

"The ability for non-Texas shrimpers to unload in Texas also means that they will refuel, gather supplies, and perform maintenance on their boats, providing more jobs and generating sales tax revenue that will positively impact the coast," Phelan said.

Pearson said weather conditions have been perfect for shrimp this year. He expects shrimpers will have the best season in 15 years.

"I think they industry is still strong. Things are moving in the right direction," he said.

But the industry is still far from what it was 20 years ago.

Looney, who has been part of the local shrimping scene for 18 years, said it's hard to watch the decline of something so ingrained in the Port Arthur community.

"We've got this history of fishing here. This income for people. It'd be a shame to lose it," she said.

NKrebs@BeaumontEnterprise.comTwitter.com/Natalie_Krebs
Washington

Texas Sen. John Cornyn has told the Trump administration he isn't interested in serving as FBI director, the second member of Congress to take himself out of the running this week.

Cornyn, a former Texas attorney general and judge on the state supreme court, was interviewed for the position after President Donald Trump abruptly fired James Comey last week. But Cornyn said in a statement Tuesday that he would rather remain in the Senate.

"Now more than ever the country needs a well-credentialed, independent FBI director," Cornyn said. "I've informed the administration that I'm committed to helping them find such an individual, and that the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate."

Another Republican whose name had been mentioned as a possible candidate, Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, said Monday that he had taken himself out of the running. A friend of federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland, someone recommended by several senators, also said Tuesday that Garland is happy in his job and has no interest in leaving the judiciary.

The administration has interviewed at least eight candidates to replace Comey, of more than a dozen being considered. Trump has said a decision could come before he leaves Friday for a trip to the Mideast and Europe. In addition to members of Congress, the list includes current and former FBI and Justice Department leaders and federal judges.

Cornyn is the No. 2 Republican in the Senate behind Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said Tuesday morning that he'd recommended that Trump nominate Garland for the post.

Garland's name began to surface as a possible replacement last week when GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah suggested it on Twitter.

President Barack Obama nominated Garland to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, but McConnell declined even to hold a hearing. Senate Republicans insisted at the time that the next president should replace Scalia.
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer / /

Erwin Chemerinsky, an influential legal scholar, author and founding dean of UC Irvine School of Law, was named the dean of UC Berkeley School of Law, officials said Wednesday.

Chemerinsky, 64, is a constitutional law scholar and will serve as Berkeley Laws 13th dean, replacing interim Dean Melissa Murray, who took the job after Dean Sujit Choudhry resigned in March 2016 amid sexual-harassment allegations.
WASHINGTON - President Trump asked the FBI to drop its probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn and urged former FBI director James B. Comey instead to pursue reporters in leak cases, according to associates of Comey who have seen private notes he wrote recounting the conversation.

According to the notes written by Comey following a February meeting with the president, Trump brought up the counterintelligence investigation into Flynn and urged Comey to drop the probe in the wake of the national security adviser's resignation.

The conversation between Trump and Comey took place after a national security meeting. The president asked to speak privately to the FBI director, and the others left the room, according to the Comey associates, who, like other officials, spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal internal discussions.

"I hope you can let this go,'' Trump said, according to the Comey notes, which were described by the associates. Comey's written account of the meeting is two pages long and highly detailed, the associates said.

The conversation described in the notes raises new questions about whether Trump may have crossed any legal lines into criminal behavior by pressuring the FBI to end an investigation.

"There's definitely a case to be made for obstruction," said Barak Cohen, a former federal prosecutor who now does white-collar-defense work at the Perkins Coie law firm in the District. "But, on the other hand, you have to realize that - as with any other sort of criminal law - intent is key, and intent here can be difficult to prove."

The revelation also marks the second major challenge for the White House this week, coming just a day after a report in The Washington Post that the president disclosed highly classified information to Russian diplomats during a private meeting last week at the White House. And it comes at a particularly precarious time for the Trump administration as it searches for someone to nominate to succeed Comey as the next leader of the FBI - the official who will take over investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election and any coordination between Trump associates and Russian officials.

Comey's account of the February talk made it clear that his understanding of the conversation was that the president was seeking to impede the investigation, according to people who have read the account or had it read to them. Comey's notes also made it clear he felt that the conversation with the president was improper and decided to withhold details of it from the case agents working on the Russia probe, according to the associates.

The details of Comey's meeting notes were first reported by the New York Times.

According to the director's notes, Comey did not respond directly to the president's entreaties, only agreeing with Trump's assertion that Flynn "is a good guy.'' The notes also described how the president said that he wanted to see reporters in jail for leaks and expressed his dissatisfaction with what he viewed as the FBI's inaction in pursuing whoever leaked his conversations with foreign leaders, according to Comey associates.

Current and former officials have described ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the FBI over the issue of the Russia probe and leaks. The president and others have repeatedly pressed the FBI to focus more of its energy on pursuing leakers than on the Russia investigation, these officials said. While the FBI is investigating disclosures of classified information, other issues that Trump and the administration wanted to be investigated did not involve classified information, and FBI officials have resisted demands that they pursue such issues.

Details of Comey's notes have been shared with a very small circle of people at the FBI and the Justice Department, these people said.

A Justice Department spokeswoman and an FBI spokesman declined to comment.

A White House statement denied the version of the conversation described by those who had seen Comey's notes, saying "the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end an investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn. . . . This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey.''

Democrats reacted sharply to the news, calling for Comey to testify about what he knows.

"If true, this is yet another disturbing allegation that the president may have engaged in some interference or obstruction of the investigation,'' said Rep. Adam B. Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. He said Comey "should come back to the Congress and share with us what he knows in terms of the president's conversations with him on any of the Russian investigations.''

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said he was prepared to use a subpoena if necessary to get a copy of the Comey memo that has been described.

"I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready,'' he tweeted.

At the time of the Trump-Comey conversation in February, Flynn had just been forced to resign after it was revealed that public statements made by Vice President Pence and others on his behalf were not true. In those statements, White House officials had denied that Flynn had discussed easing U.S. sanctions against Russia when he spoke to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in late December. U.S. intelligence intercepts showed that they had discussed the topic, according to people familiar with the matter.

Flynn has been under investigation for a variety of issues, including his payments from foreign entities; whether he violated laws requiring registering as an agent of a foreign government; and his communications with Russian officials. The FBI has also probed other Trump associates for possible connections to Russian officials.

Throughout his long career in law enforcement, Comey has been known to write down what transpired in important meetings and conversations, particularly ones in which he felt there were potentially tricky legal or ethical issues.

The notes taken by Comey appear to contradict testimony offered last week by his temporary successor, acting FBI director Andrew McCabe.

"There has been no effort to impede our investigation to date,'' McCabe said last week in response to a question posed by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). "Simply put, sir, you cannot stop the men and women of the FBI from doing the right thing, protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution.''

From the question and answer, it is unclear whether McCabe was speaking only about Comey's firing not interfering with the Russia investigations, or whether he was saying that there was no effort to impede in any Trump-related matter.

Law enforcement officials declined to explain the apparent contradiction between Comey's notes and McCabe's testimony.

Last week, as he sought to explain his rationale for firing Comey, the president also sparked another controversy by contradicting his own aides' claims that Comey had been fired over his handling of the investigation into former secretary of state Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.

Instead, the president said, he was thinking of the Russia probe when he decided to fire the FBI director. He also suggested that there might be recordings of his conversations with Comey. Since then, White House officials have steadfastly refused to say whether the president's conversations have been recorded.
When President Donald Trump arrives in Riyadh this week, he will lay out his vision for a new regional security architecture White House officials call an "Arab NATO," to guide the fight against terrorism and push back against Iran. As a cornerstone of the plan, Trump will also announce one of the largest arms-sales deals in history.

Behind the scenes, the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia have been conducting extensive negotiations, led by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The discussions began shortly after the presidential election, when Mohammed, known in Washington as "MBS," sent a delegation to meet with Kushner and other Trump officials at Trump Tower.

After years of disillusionment with the Obama administration, the Saudi leadership was eager to do business. "They were willing to make a bet on Trump and on America," a senior White House official said.

In that meeting and during a follow-up meeting three weeks later, the Saudis proposed a broad elevation of the U.S.-Saudi relationship and proposed various projects to increase security cooperation, economic cooperation and investment, White House officials said. The Trump team gave the Saudis a list of Trump priorities, calling on the kingdom to step up actions to combat radical Islamic extremism, intensify the fight against the Islamic State and share the burden of regional security.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has tasked various government agencies to develop a series of announcements Trump will make this weekend. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is now heavily involved. One main objective is to put forth a framework and basic principles for a unified Sunni coalition of countries, which would set the stage for a more formal NATO-like organizational structure down the line.

"We all have the same enemy and we all want the same thing," the official said. "What this trip hopefully will do is just change the environment."

The idea of an "Arab NATO" has been bandied about for years -- and has always had strong Saudi support -- but until now was never openly endorsed by the U.S. government. Officials said the concept fits three major tenants of Trump's "America First" foreign-policy frame: asserting more American leadership in the region, shifting the financial burden of security to allies and providing for U.S. jobs at home (through the massive arms sales).

The president is looking for an answer to the question of how the United States can eventually hand over security responsibility in the region to the countries that are there, officials said.

Reports from the region about early discussions of the project said that in addition to Saudi Arabia, initial participants in the coalition would include the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan, with the United States playing an organizing and support role while staying outside the alliance.

The White House admits that many of the details of how the new alliance will operate remain to be worked out. The countries of the region harbor deep historical grievances and don't agree on key issues, including the way forward in Syria. A 2015 effort by Egypt to establish a pan-Arab fighting force collapsed due to squabbling among the countries involved.

"This is the sort of gesture many of America's security partners have been looking to get from the United States for many years," said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center of American Progress. "The value of any such a pact would depend on the results it produces -- whether it achieves greater stability, helps resolve conflicts like Yemen and Syria, and achieves progress in the fight against terrorist groups across the region."

The most concrete part of the idea is a mammoth U.S. arms package for Saudi Arabia that Trump will also announce in Riyadh. Final details are still being worked out, but officials said the package will include between $98 billion and $128 billion in arms sales. Over 10 years, total sales could reach $350 billion.

The sales include huge upgrades for the Saudi army and navy to include Littoral Combat Ships, THAAD missile defense systems, armored personnel carriers, missiles, bombs and munitions, officials said. Some of the production and assembly could be located in Saudi Arabia, boosting MBS's project to build a Saudi domestic defense industrial capability. But most of the items would be built by American defense contractors.

"The U.S. has sought for a long time to get the Saudis to do more to focus on its navy, to modernize and make the forces in the Gulf more effective," said Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "From the U.S. perspective, the stronger the Saudi deterrent is, the lower the risk of any military confrontation with Iran."

The pending announcements of the new security framework and the huge arms deal are evidence that the Saudi courtship of the Trump White House has been successful beyond expectations. Whether that results in real stability in the region, real progress against terrorism or real deterrence against Iran depends on what happens after Trump's overseas trip is over.
As the backlash over President Donald Trump's various controversial decisions escalates - the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey and divulging classified secrets to Russian officials, just to name two - Trump's critics are starting to use the "i" word more and more.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said last month that she will "fight every day until he is impeached." Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said last week that Trump's actions "may well produce impeachment proceedings." Other Democrats have repeatedly echoed their thoughts.

And now it's not just Democrats; Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., was asked by reporters Wednesday whether, if reports that Trump asked Comey to drop his investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn are true, Trump's actions are grounds for impeachment. Amash paused and responded, "yes." Amash's comments weren't a full-throated call for impeachment, but they're significant, coming from a conservative congressman from the Midwest.

HOW IT WORKS: Impeachment talk is in the air, but how does a president get removed?

But while some Democrats, and Trump's opponents in general, might be clamoring for an impeachment, it isn't as simple as Democrats deciding they don't like him. There are two big reasons for that. First, impeachment is actually a relatively lengthy legal process - and no president has ever actually been removed from office. Second, removal from office requires a vote of two-thirds of the Senate, and Republicans - who still publicly back Trump, although some have criticized some of his recent decisions - still broadly support him.

Let's be clear: Trump hasn't been accused of any crimes. His opponents say he's unfit for office, but that's a judgment call, not a standard by which presidents can be impeached. Legal analysts say Trump may have obstructed justice if he asked Comey to drop his investigation of Flynn, but caution that proving intent is key in obstruction of justice cases. Story continues below

In the end, it comes down to members of Congress deciding that Trump did something that meets constitutional requirements for impeachment.

The Constitution states that "The President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors."

OUSTER CALL: Texas rep calls for Trump's impeachment from the House floor

But how those high crimes and misdemeanors are defined is largely up to House members themselves.

Actually removing a president from office is a three-step process. First, a majority of the House of Representatives would have to vote in favor of impeachment. That means at least 218 out of 435 members of the House would need to cast ballots to impeach the president. As of today, Republicans hold 238 seats while Democrats hold 193, and four seats are vacant. That means Democrats would need to persuade 25 Republicans to vote to impeach Trump, which doesn't seem likely.

Second, the president would face trial in the Senate. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. would preside over the trial.

More for you Houston's Al Green calls for Trump's impeachment on House floor

Third, the Senate would vote on whether to convict or acquit Trump. Two-thirds of the Senate would have to vote in favor of conviction for Trump to be removed from office - a pretty high bar, given that it's hard for either party to get even the 60 votes needed to overcome a legislative filibuster these days.

And history is on Trump's side. Only two presidents have been impeached, and none has ever been removed from office.

Andrew Johnson became the first president to be impeached in 1868. In the wake of the Civil War, Johnson clashed with Republicans who wanted Southern states to pay a higher price to rejoin the union. They eventually impeached him for attempting to replace his secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, without congressional permission, a contravention of the Tenure of Office Act, which stated that the president couldn't relieve members of his Cabinet without consulting the Senate. Johnson's impeachment went to trial in the Senate, and he escaped being removed from office by a one-vote margin.

Bill Clinton became the second president to be impeached, in 1998, as the Monica Lewinsky scandal unfolded. He was charged with four counts, two of which he was impeached for: perjury and obstruction of justice. When it came to the Senate trial, all 45 Democrats voted to acquit him of both charges; they were joined by 10 Republicans in acquitting Clinton of the perjury charge, and five in acquitting him of the obstruction of justice charge.

In perhaps the most famous presidential scandal in U.S. history, the president wasn't impeached. When Richard M. Nixon left office in 1974, he faced almost certain impeachment, and likewise almost certain removal from office. But he chose to resign instead, handing the presidency to Gerald Ford.

Johnson, Nixon and Clinton were all publicly accused of transgressions for which there was publicly revealed evidence. While scandal swirled around all three, and their political opponents howled for their removal from office, none was actually removed by the political process laid out in the Constitution.

And as long as Trump retains the backing of Congress, he's very unlikely to be removed either.

- - -

David Weigel contributed to this report.

Scroll through the above gallery to see how impeaching and removing a president works
President Donald Trump is clearly worried that former FBI director James Comey is going to come after him, through the media. That's what Friday's tweet about "tapes" was all about.

Trump tweeted: James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!

Four days later, a person described by the New York Times as "one of Mr. Comey's associates" leaked a portion of Comey's notes from a February meeting with the president. According to the notes, Trump expressed to Comey his desire for the FBI to drop an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The revelation certainly doesn't reflect well on Trump; it contributes to an appearance that he has been trying to obstruct probes related to his campaign and its possible collusion with Russia during the election.

In other words, the leak was exactly the kind of thing Trump fears. On "Fox & Friends" Wednesday morning, co-host Brian Kilmeade said he believes Comey was behind the sharing of his notes with the New York Times.

"You don't get that memo unless James Comey gives you that memo," Kilmeade said. "You don't make that phone call unless James Comey tells you to make the phone call."

We don't know whether that is what actually happened. The Times might not even know whether its source was authorized by Comey or not. But it is worth considering whether Comey would, indeed, go to war with Trump by leaking damaging information to journalists.

An examination of his record in government leads to one inexorable conclusion: If Comey were to become a leaker, he would turn into the very thing that he fought against as a public servant.

"I've spent most of my career trying to figure out unauthorized disclosures and where they came from," Comey said in congressional testimony March 20. "It's very, very hard."

In that same hearing, before the House Intelligence Committee, Comey spoke at length about his disdain for leaks. He said that "any unauthorized disclosure of classified conversations or documents is potentially a violation of law and a serious, serious problem."

He said that "a lot" of information leaked to the media "is just dead wrong."

He also seemed to endorse the view that Trump has been hit by more leaks than his predecessors and even flirted with support for the president's claim that reporters make things up, when he said this: "It does strike me there's been a lot of people talking - or, at least, reporters saying people are talking to them - in ways that have struck me as unusually active."

These are words that could come back to haunt Comey - especially the words that were designed to cast doubt on the veracity of news reports based on leaks. If Comey were to attempt to hurt Trump by leaking information, his effort could only be effective if people were to trust the ensuing press coverage. Comey has told the public - quite recently - that reports based on leaks should be eyed skeptically.

Comey testified again May 3, before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and had this exchange with Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa:

---

GRASSLEY: Director Comey, have you ever been an anonymous source in news reports about matters relating to the Trump investigation or the Clinton investigation?

COMEY: Never.

GRASSLEY: Question two, relatively related, have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton investigation?

COMEY: No.

---

When Comey was deputy attorney general, in 2003, he appointed special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald to lead an investigation into whether George W. Bush administration officials illegally leaked the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame to a journalist. When New York Times reporter Judith Miller refused to name her confidential source, she spent almost three months in jail for contempt of court.

In 2005, Comey submitted written testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee opposing a federal shield law that would have protected journalists from going to jail, as Miller did, when they are unwilling to identify leakers.

"The bill would create serious impediments to the department's ability to effectively enforce the law and fight terrorism," Comey wrote, referring to the effect on the Justice Department.

Comey's testimony in March suggested that he has not softened in the past 12 years. "I do think it should be investigated aggressively," he said of leaks, "and, if possible, prosecuted so people take as a lesson, this is not okay. This behavior can be deterred, and it's deterred by locking some people up who have engaged in criminal activity."

However! My colleague, Aaron Blake, spoke Wednesday with former Justice Department spokesman Matthew Miller, who thinks it would not be unprecedented for Comey to leak a document that could help protect his reputation. Miller recalled an episode that began in 2005 with Comey signing off on waterboarding as an interrogation tactic but also documenting his qualms in an email to his chief of staff.

"In 2009, when the Office of Professional Responsibility at the DOJ was investigating this issue and the New York Times wrote a story about it, magically Comey's email to his chief of staff appeared in that story - and made its way to OPR," Miller said. "I was at DOJ at the time, and what it told me was Comey had the presence of mind to write the email in the first place, print a copy of it when he left the department, sit on it for four years and be ready to give it to a reporter when someone questioned why he had signed off on torture."

Also, at the Senate hearing in May, Comey answered questions about his decision to write a letter to members of Congress shortly before the election, informing them that the FBI was reopening the Clinton email investigation. He said this: "I sent that letter only to the chairs and [ranking members]. Yes, did I know they were really going to leak it? Of course, I know how Congress works, but I did not make an announcement at that point."

Comey has been an anti-leak crusader, but there is at least some evidence that he is willing to make exceptions or furnish information in private that he knows someone else is likely to make public.
AUSTIN  Talk about a big blue light special.

Gov. Greg Abbott said the storied Governor's Mansion, an 1854 Greek Revival manse just across the street from the much-younger State Capitol, will be lit in blue on Wednesday to commemorate National Police Week.

Abbott said the event will serve as a shining beacon of respect and remembrance for our peace officers.

In addition, the governor said the unusual display will serve as a sign of solidarity with the Dallas community, which (Wednesday) honored officers killed in the line of duty, including the victims of the ambush last July.

mike.ward@chron.com
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The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested a 27-year-old man on a murder charge Tuesday for his alleged role in the death of a man found at a Cibolo business, according to police.

Ishmael Jabari Debrow was taken into custody at about 10 p.m. Tuesday and taken to the Bexar County Jail on a murder warrant for the death of Rand Cameron Vanwert, of Lockhart, according to online records and previous reports.

Vanwert was found dead Monday at the Jumping For Joy Inflatables business in the 400 block of FM 78 East. He worked at the business and was found by his colleagues. Initial reports said he died by "unnatural causes."

RELATED: Police identify 27-year-old man found dead at Cibolo business, say killer is at large

Debrow is currently awaiting transfer to the Guadalupe County Jail, where he will be arraigned on the murder charge, the Cibolo Police Department said.

Friends and colleagues expressed great sadness to the news of Vanwert's passing, sharing posts on social media memorializing him. Debrow and Vanwert were friends on Facebook, and several people shared their disbelief and outrage Wednesday as news of Debrow's connection to the killing was made public.

Details regarding the specifics of Vanwerts death were not immediately made available.

RELATED: Suspected teen car thieves wreck stolen car then flee into woods on North Side

Vanwert was last heard from by the owner of the business around 5 p.m. Sunday when he asked permission to use the company vehicle, the police department said.

Debrow has a criminal history, including resisting arrest, assault causing bodily injury and driving with an invalid license.

Staff writer Caleb Downs and news researcher Misty Harris contributed to this report.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
As talks of impeachment swirled Tuesday night, former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro took a moment to reminisce on a simpler time.

A Twitter user posted a photo of Castro and his twin brother Joaquin as small children and said: "Taking a break from Trump to show you @JoaquinCastrotx and @JulianCastro as kids."
An Odessa man faces numerous criminal charges after he allegedly assaulted an officer and was found with numerous drugs in his vehicle during a traffic stop, according to the Odessa Police Department.

Alejandro Monares Tabarez, 35, was arrested Monday on felony charges of aggravated assault on a public servant, aggravated robbery warrant, evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, as well as several felony and misdemeanor drug possession charges.
To the editor:

When I read the headline "Local lawmakers cheer signing of bill banning 'sanctuary cities'" in The Courier May 9, it struck me this could be an economic development opportunity. We already have the Joe Corley Center and an immigration holding facility near Willis and are about to have a third one coming. We have all the setup for a tourist attraction. If we could build an immigration holding facility on Texas 242 near the college with a classy Immigration and Customs Enforcement sign and maybe one in Magnolia, Montgomery and one in between Porter and Kingwood, we would have the setup for anti-immigration tours.

Then every spring we could have an anti-immigration festival. Just book country and western bands at Town Center Park with booths, so people can buy their build-a-wall T-shirts and ball caps. The main event would be to watch American political discourse in action. Tourists could pay to watch the anti and pro-immigration protesters do battle. I am sure we could get Congressman Brady to come up with federal dollars to pay the overtime for law enforcement. It would be like a bonus for deputies. I am sure they could use the extra money.

Since many biker clubs are anti-immigration, they would flood into the county. It won't be as large as Sturgis, but there would be enough to fill the hotels. Then after the festival, they could ride the scenic roads in North County by the National Forest. We might even get Trump or Pence to show up.

Then when things slow down, there still would be the thousands of tourists coming in to visit their relatives at the holding facilities. We have plenty of bilingual restaurants and merchants in the county and they would fill the hotels. What an economic boom. It would be fine way to show off our anti-sanctuary city credentials to the rest of the nation.

Another plus is that all of those folks who write anti-immigration letters to the paper could then go out on the streets to besmirch the pro-immigration folks in person. There will be plenty of targets for their ire.

I am sure there would be few, if any, large publicly traded corporations willing to sponsor the events and we will lose some other conventions, but there are enough small businesses to fill the gap. We can place large signs all over the county stating we are not a sanctuary city, then when the protesters vandalize them we can rebuild them. This will allow the local sign companies to hire more workers.

And since Houston wants to be a sanctuary city, they could send Montgomery County their detainees, so there will be no shortage of illegal immigrants to implement the plan. With the right advertising, we could become a destination for the raucous crowds of "proud deplorables." Like an anti-immigration Disneyland. How cool and profitable would that be? Our local elected officials would be really cheerful if we could make this plan work. Think about it. It kills two birds with one stone.

Tim Doherty

Conroe

Liberal AP articles

To the editor:

The Associated Press is the mouthpiece of the Liberal Left. Any article that has an AP byline will definitely not have a Conservative slant. If you don't believe it, all you have to do is read the AP articles on the Conroe Couriers' 'Nation' page. Definitely not fair and balanced.

Tom F Noble

Willis
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump warmly welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House.

Just hours later, we found out that Trump would like to put reporters in jail.

There's a connection here. And it's not good news for America's journalists or the citizens who depend on them to hold their government accountable.

Both as a candidate and as president, Trump has shown no regard for the role of a free press in a democracy.

New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet told me he found appalling Trump's suggestion (which surfaced in a leaked memo from former FBI director James B. Comey), but not entirely surprising.

"He doesn't understand our role. He wants 'Fox & Friends' coverage instead," Baquet said.

So Trump's embrace of Erdogan - who may be the leading jailer of journalists in the world - should come as no surprise. The same goes for his regard for the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin or Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, clear enemies of a free press in their countries.

The lack of criticism from the Trump administration about Turkey's human rights and journalistic abuses "sends a bad signal to the rest of the world," said Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron.

"What's happening in Turkey is just outrageous," Baron said. "They hardly have an independent press. There are hundreds of journalists in jail at this moment."

The news about Trump's wish to jail journalists came in a New York Times report based on conversations with former associates of the fired FBI director. It's exactly the kind of story Trump would like to stamp out, along with Monday's Washington Post piece that Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador. (The two papers have been answering each others' major scoops like smitten teens volleying text messages.)

Those who think that reporters can't be jailed in America for doing their jobs may be wrong, said Geoffrey R. Stone, the University of Chicago law professor who wrote "Perilous Times: Free Speech in Wartime."

The law seems clear enough on leakers themselves; in many cases, especially during the Obama administration, they have been successfully prosecuted. (Chelsea Manning's 35-year prison sentence testified to that; the former Army intelligence analyst was released Wednesday after seven years because President Barack Obama commuted her sentence.)

And, on the other end of the spectrum, Stone said, news organizations that publish leaked information seem to be safe. The Pentagon Papers case, which torpedoed prior restraint, "remains a pretty strong precedent."

But, in between leakers and publications are the reporters themselves. There, the legal lines are far less clearly drawn.

"The law is not clearly resolved for the journalist who actively encourages the leak," Stone told me. "That's a case the court has not addressed." And that's just where Trump seems to want to go.

Baquet made the case for exactly the kind of journalism the president wants to punish.

"The biggest and most important stories of recent years" wouldn't have been done without classified leaks, he said. One example is the expansion of America's drone warfare in Yemen and Pakistan; another is the U.S. government's widespread surveillance of its own citizens.

"These are not even debatable as things the American people need to know," Baquet said.

Imprisoning journalists is not unheard of in America. New York Times reporter Judith Miller was jailed in 2005 for refusing to reveal a confidential source. And the Times' James Risen was threatened with jail during the Obama administration for his refusal to testify about a government employee who was under investigation.

But what Trump talked about would take things to a whole new level. His administration apparently wants to use the Espionage Act not just to go after leakers but to directly prosecute journalists. The 1917 law, once obscure, is so broadly worded that it might well serve the purpose.

Trump's attorney general, Jeff Sessions, refused to pledge during his Senate confirmation hearing that he wouldn't pursue journalists for doing their job. And the Justice Department has made it clear that it wants to go after Julian Assange of WikiLeaks - a successful prosecution there might make the next ones much easier.

That, said Baron, could shut down a fair amount of accountability journalism: "It would take the government into very new territory."

Would the current Justice Department really follow through on Trump's expressed desire?

Hardly out of the question.

"Hopefully, it's typical gibberish," Stone said of Trump's comments to Comey. "But it's so unpredictable. Would they really bring that prosecution? I can imagine these characters doing that."

We need journalism to break through government secrecy and inform citizens. Punishing reporters has no place in a country that calls itself a democracy.

But as far too many Turkish journalists could tell you, it can be done.
Disclosures that the president gave sensitive intelligence to Russian officials dont indicate that he is a Putin puppet, what his harshest critics allege. But there is evident a propensity for President Trump to view one of the nations premiere adversaries more favorably than deserved.

And this makes possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia all the more believable  as if the firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was directing an investigation into those ties, hadnt already taken us there. As if reports of a Comey written memo  that purports to say Trump pressed him to drop the investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynns Russian ties  doesnt get us there as well.

Ignorance, bad judgment, naivete and gross inexperience likely prompted President Trump to reveal highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador last week in a White House meeting. (In a moment of horrid optics, this meeting, closed to the U.S. press, came soon after the firing).

The release of the information jeopardizes continuing sharing from the source  Israel, it appears. This is not a trifling matter. Nor is the Comey memo.

Top officials and the president said this sharing was within his legal rights as the nations ultimate declassifier of state secrets, that the president was seeking Russian aid in combatting terrorism and that he did not speak of sources or methods for obtaining the intelligence. And they deny the president making the request of Comey about Flynn during a meeting in February.

According to the Washington Posts story about the president sharing classified information, enough was disclosed that the Russians could deduce both source and method. Yes, the president broke no laws. But it is telling that anyone other than the president doing this might be subject to criminal sanction.

As for the memo: Which of the two, Comey or Trump, have had serious past issues with the truth?

Members of Congress, mostly Democrats, demand the president release a transcript of the meeting and that the FBI release the Comey memo. They should  and from the White House any tapes of conversations with Comey. The president, in a veiled threat last week to Comey, hinted such tapes exist.

At issue in much of this is possible obstruction of justice. An independently named special prosecutor or investigative committee could get to the facts. This should happen.
Sheriffs across Texas are worried about another "unfunded mandate" if the Sandra Bland Act is signed into law. We understand. If the state orders cities or counties to do certain things but doesn't provide the money for them, local taxpayers can suffer. But if more sheriffs oversaw their jails better, they wouldn't have to worry about inmates committing suicide in the first place.

A case in point would be Orange County, where taxpayers had to give up $3.1 million to the family of Robert Montano, who died in the jail in 2011. He was apparently having a psychotic episode and was put in an isolation cell without much - or any - care until he died four days later.

That death could have been prevented. It shouldn't take something like a new state law to motivate jailers to do what they should be doing all along.

A basic point here is that jail inmates should be under some level of supervision at all times. Not only will that reduce suicides, it will cut down on the other problems common to jails from contraband to violence.

Jailers should know from Day One that they will be dealing with many people who could have mental health or drug problems that could affect their conduct inside.

Technology can help. Digital cameras are getting more and more affordable. More cameras can improve supervision and allow jails to reduce overstaffing, which can save a lot of money.

Texas jails had 26 suicides last year and 16 so far this year in just five months. Orange County has had five in five years.

Numbers like that suggest that more can be done on the front end to reduce problems on the back end.

No one is saying that prisoners should be coddled. The safety of jail staffers must never be compromised.

But operating a jail professionally isn't an unfunded mandate. It should be standard practice in Texas.

-----------------------------------

This is our opinion; what is yours? Email us a letter to the editor at opinions@beaumontenterprise.com Make sure to include your name, mailing address and phone number so we can contact you to verify the letter, but only your name and city of residence will be published. You can also mail letters to The Enterprise, P.O. Box 3071, Beaumont, TX, 77704. The limit on letters is 200 words.
WASHINGTON  On Monday, NACS filed comments in response to the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) request for information in its Evaluation of Existing Regulations process.

In February, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13777, Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda, which established a federal policy to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens on the American people, and directed federal agencies to establish a Regulatory Reform Task Force to evaluate existing regulations and make recommendations. In accordance with the order, EPA is seeking input on regulations in their purview that may be appropriate for repeal, replacement or modification.

The NACS comments focused on two areas: the Point of Obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, and the Underground Storage Tank (UST) program.

EPA is currently reviewing comments on whether to formally deny petitions to change the point of obligation under the RFS program. Under the program, refiners, manufacturers and importers are obligated parties. Merchant refiners want to move the point of obligation downstream to fuel retailers. NACS supports keeping the point of obligation where it is and opposes efforts to shift the burden of compliance downstream. In its comments, NACS reiterated its position and recommended EPA deny these petitions.

On July 15, 2015, EPA published its final rule updating its Underground Storage Tank regulations. These revisions focused on spill prevention and proper operations and maintenance, and imposed new requirements for secondary containment and operations training. This final rule contained several improvements, which NACS recommended, from the original proposed rule. However, technological developments have rendered some of these provisions unnecessary and overly burdensome. In its comments, NACS shared, alternative technology-based solutions for spill prevention and secondary containment, which have developed since 2015, are at least as effective as some requirements contained in the final rule and substantially less burdensome to operators.

NACS asked EPA to review the existing regulations and update and modify them to reflect this new technology and lessen the burden on regulated entities.
LONDON, Ontario  The number of gas stations in Canada increased last year after a 10-year drop, The Canadian Press reports. This is the second consecutive year of growth for the industry.

In its annual survey, the Kent Group found a net gain of 15 stations last year, bringing the total to nearly 12,000, or around three gas stations for every 10,000 people. In 2015, more than 100 new stations opened.

The survey found that 39% of Canadian stations sold fuel branded by three major refining companiesImperial (Esso), Suncor (Petro-Canada) and Shell. The three companies owned or managed only 11% of those locations.

Jason Parent, vice-president of consulting for Kent, pointed out that the average gasoline margin rose 8 or 9 cents per liter over the past two years, up from the 20-year average of 4 or 5 cents, giving owners more profit from the pump. Parent said that fewer gas stations are going under because those higher profit margins help low-volume performers more.

Fewer big box stores like Walmart and Costco opening gas stations in 2016 also contributed to the industrys growth. That said, big box sites are very unique in that they do a ton of volume and they have a big impact on the market even if there are only a couple of them, he said.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente

Readers, Ill have more on politics in a sec. lambert

Trade

Whats the Likelihood that TPP Actually Carries on Without US? [Sourcing Journal]. Japan seems to want the Trans Pacific Partnership to happenU.S. or notbut with certain stipulations outlined in the original deal, pushing it forward could prove just as tricky as trying to get it signed. The first hurdle to get over will be the provision that stipulates at least six of the agreements original signatories, which combined account for at least 85 percent of the collective GDP, have to agree to implement the TPP for the trade agreement to come into force. With the U.S. accounting for upward of 60 percent of that GDP, reaching the 85 percent threshold would be impossible. The question now is whether that threshold might be amended or if that 85 percent will be based on the total GDP of the remaining 11 member countries.

Politics

Policy

Does the FCC Actually Care About Net Neutrality? [PC Magazine]. As for what we as citizens and consumers can do to preserve net neutrality, Clyburn pointed right back to this Thursdays official call for open comments. For a quick path around the red tape and directly to the FCC public comment section on the forthcoming vote, you can use this link, courtesy of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Once public comment officially opens on Thursday, the link will work. To those looking for resources to register their opinion, [FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn] said thats where you start.

2020

Joe Biden most likely to beat Donald Trump in 2020 if he runs, poll finds [Indepedent]. [Bidens] brand  an authentic guy with working class roots  has led many to speculate that he would be a good choice to take on Mr Trump in 2020. [Oh gawd! [runs from room seeking bucket as stomach heaves]]. The headline is deceptive: Biden beats Trump by 14, Sanders by 13, and Warren, Franken, and Booker also beat Trump. Franken! I went to the Onward Owned Together contributions page, and found this at the bottom: I have to be a member to give them money? What does membership entail? Nowhere explained. Then theres the motto: As Jezebel points out, this is a proverb of unknown origin. Now, generally its cited as an African proverb, so kudos to the Clinton campaign for leaving that out, but the vagueness and pseudo-profundity remain. Then there is the matter of what Together really means. Together with whom? Politco: Specifically, Clinton mentioned Swing Left, Emerge America, Color of Change, Indivisible and Run for Something as the five groups Onward Together will initially support. In some cases, well provide direct funding to these organizations. For others, well help amplify their work and do what we can to help them continue to grow their audiences and expand their reach, she emailed. So, apparently togetherness doesnt apply to Our Revolution or Brand New Congress. So Im guessing that Clinton and her party faction will continue their passionate opposition to #MedicareForAll. At Center for American Progress, a Tryout for 2020 Ideas [Roll Call]. But the surprise star for the liberal audience, maybe because of the current series of foreign policy and intelligence crises plaguing the Trump administration, was former national security adviser Susan Rice. Swell. Many top Democrats are furious that Bernie Sanders appears to be running for president again, or at least planning to drag out his decision long enough to freeze the race around him [Politico]. Too funny. The most popular active politician in America should sit down and shut up, while the Democrat candidate who collected $1.4 billion, stuffed it down the toilet of her campaign, and flushed, isnt whipped from the field with scorpions, but instead is forming a new PAC.

Trump Transition

Pressed by another reporter as to whether he was concerned about Trumps handling of sensitive information, McConnell paused and said simply, No' [Roll Call]. No Drama Mitch [T]he 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which allows for the removal of the president if the vice president and a majority of the cabinet informs the Congress that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office and (should the president contest his own removal) a two-thirds vote by Congress confirms the cabinets judgment [Ross Douthat, New York Times]. Well, that seems likely.

Realignment and Legitimacy

According to a PPP poll released Tuesday that 10 percent of Trump voters now wish theyd voted for Clinton [New York Magazine]. You can divide Trumps vote, nationally, into his base and his margin of victory. As many have pointed out, Trumps voters skew upper income on the average; there are plenty of Trump supporters out there in the wealthy suburbs Clinton (and Ossoff (and the DNC)) hope to win over. Thats Trumps base. However, at the margin, Trumps voters are in the counties that flipped from Obama to Trump (as I show and even CAP agrees). And those voters will happily flip again, if Trump doesnt deliver. The Impeachment Trap: Be Careful What You Wish For [In These Times]. Indeed: I am most concerned about the scenario where one or more leading Republicans come on board and entice Democrats to lead a successful impeachment. [T]he robot-like Pencedespite his extreme right-wing viewswould be packaged as a comforting return to normalcy. The relief at no longer having an egotistical lunatic at the helm could provide Pence with a long and generous public opinion honeymoon. Republicans could claim that Trump was never one of theirs, and approach the 2020 campaign with the benefit of incumbency and without Trumps liabilities. Democratic ownership of impeachment would also cement the loyalty of working-class Trump voters to the Republican Party. Republican incumbents in swing districts could spin impeachment as a partisan witch hunt. Trump would become a martyr, and his voters would blame Democrats. This is a terrible outcome for progressives who want to move the Democratic Party back to its economic justice roots. Most important to progressives, Democratic ownership of impeachment would sacrifice the historic opportunity to integrate the massive anti-Trump resistance into a revitalized progressive movement and Democratic Party. A short-term focus on impeachment would divert the focus of many activists away from less glamorous, but more important, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and policy advocacy, and decrease the likelihood of mass grassroots mobilizations on critical issues such as health care, immigration, Planned Parenthood, electoral reform, climate change, and so many others. Americas military and intelligence services are therefore [sic] faced with a difficult dilemma. The only way to preserve Americas assets will be to routinize the violation of the chain of command by cordoning off the president from information that he properly needs to make informed decisions. Moreover, in order to reassure foreign allies, military and intelligence services will need to show their willingness to violate the chain of command in this fashion. It will need to become an open secret that the president of the United States is, in effect, no longer the president [The Week]. The threat this poses to Americas democratic and constitutional system should not be minimized. Makes you wonder whether this has already happened, where already means in previous administrations. In Defense of the Blob (podcast) [War on the Rocks]. The sycophancy and self-congratulation is really thick. But we won the Cold War! And we built the Imperium post-war security architecture! Yeah, but what have you done for me lately? Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya. Krasner, who has represented clients including Occupy Philly and Black Lives Matter, has won the Democratic primary and will represent the party on the November ballot. And in a city with a 7-to-1 Democratic voter registration advantage, the odds are high that come January, hes going to be the DA [Billy Penn]. Krasners win is politically significant. For one thing, a civil rights attorney winning a local election like the Philadelphia district attorneys race has national implications. Its one of the first tests of the anti-Donald Trump resistance movement in Philadelphia, and it showed nationalizing a race in this way  thanks to George Soros, John Legend, Susan Sarandon, etc.  can work. Soros? Oh, no.

Stats Watch

MBA Mortgage Applications, week of May 12, 2017: Mortgage applications activity retreated from 8-year highs  [Econoday]

Debt: NY Fed: Household Debt Surpasses its Peak Reached During the Recession in 2008 [Calculated Risk]. While most delinquency flows have improved markedly since the Great Recession and remain low overall, there are divergent trends among debt types. Auto loan and credit card delinquency flows are now trending upwards, and those for student loans remain stubbornly high.

Five Horsemen: Ward  Im worried about the Faceborg [Hat Tip Jim Haygood].

Todays Fear & Greed Index: 52 Neutral (previous close: 66, Greed) [CNN]. One week ago: 61 (Neutral). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed. Last updated May 17 at 1:52pm. Big swing!

Dear Old Blighty

We think we have it bad, I:

We think we have it bad, II:

Is there a problem? pic.twitter.com/Fj9PEEJ7xL  Stop The Wars (@leftjew) May 13, 2017

We think we have it bad, III:

The alacrity with which certain Labour Rightists are working to throw the election, urging people not to vote for the party or to consider a punt on Tim Farrons salvation army, while MPs queue up to resign and burden the party with maximum organisational difficulty in the coming weeks, gives the lie to their moral browbeating of Corbyn supporters. The latter are routinely accused of sacrificing electoral adequacy for fanatical objectives, imagined to be lurking behind the current leaderships iteration of Wilsonite social democracy. However, the putchists claim that through their sabotage they are only trying to limit the damage of a hard left leadership rings hollow: Labour, under Corbyns first embattled year, was weak, but not in the dire polling straits it is in now. They are destroying the party because they have lost control of it: a fanatical objective if ever there was one. Yet, hypocrisy aside, these tactics work and demonstrate an almost admirable single-mindedness  a willingness to raise the stakes to the point of mutual destruction, a suicide attack of sorts [Salvage]. This attitude seems strangely familiar

Our Famously Free Press

Doxing the hero who stopped WannaCry was irresponsible and dumb [The Next Web]. Enter the British tabloid press, which late last night doxxed the man behind MalwareTech for literally no apparent reason. And I dont use the term doxxed lightly. They pored through his online footprint until they eventually had enough evidence to identify someone who literally didnt want to be identified.

People want it to be true: Inside the growing influence of a mysterious anti-Trump website [Business Insider]. The body is more nuanced than the headline.

A Conversation With Liz Spayd, the Controversial Public Editor of The New York Times [The Atlantic]. Spayd: Id first like to say that the definition of the job as public editor is to collect and absorb the reader email.

Class Warfare

Notes from an Emergency [Maciej Cegowski, Idle Words]. This is really a must-read; its an angle on the tech world (and Haygoods FIve Horsemen) that we rarely see. Heres a sample, and save us from squillionaires with bright ideas:

World-class invective, but Cegowski has serious and interesting policy concerns and proposals as well.

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Readers, feel free to contact me with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, and (c) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi are deemed to be honorary plants! See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here.

And heres todays plant (AM):



AM writes: Continuing the pink flowering tree theme, here is a dogwood from my mother in laws house in Rehoboth, MA. Things are a couple weeks behind NYC up there.

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Readers, Water Cooler is a standalone entity, not supported by the Naked Capitalism fundraisers. Please use the dropdown to choose your contribution, and then click the hat! Your tip will be welcome today, and indeed any day. Water Cooler will not exist without your continued help.
By Jason Smith, a physicist who messes around with economic theory. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in math and a degree in physics, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in theoretical physics. Follow him on Twitter: @infotranecon. Originally published at Evonomics

The inspiration for this piece came from a Vox podcast with Chris Hayes of MSNBC. One of the topics they discussed was which right-of-center ideas the left ought to engage. Hayes says:

The entirety of the corpus of [Friedrich] Hayek, [Milton] Friedman, and neoclassical economics. I think its an incredibly powerful intellectual tradition and a really important one to understand, these basic frameworks of neoclassical economics, the sort of ideas about market clearing prices, about the functioning of supply and demand, about thinking in marginal terms. I think the tradition of economic thinking has been really influential. I think its actually a thing that people on the left really should do  take the time to understand all of that. There is a tremendous amount of incredible insight into some of the things were talking about, like non-zero-sum settings, and the way in which human exchange can be generative in this sort of amazing way. Understanding how capitalism works has been really, really important for me, and has been something that I feel like Im a better thinker and an analyst because of the time and reading I put into a lot of conservative authors on that topic. Putting aside the fact that the left has fully understood and engaged with these ideas, deeply and over decades (it may be dense writing, but its not exactly quantum field theory), I can hear some of you asking: Do I have to?

The answer is: No.

Why? Because you can get the same understanding while also understanding where these ideas fall apart  that is to say understanding the limited scope of market-clearing prices and supply and demand  using information theory.

Prices and Hayek

Friedrich Hayek did have some insight into prices having something to do with information, but he got the details wrong and vastly understated the complexity of the system. He saw market prices aggregating information from events: a blueberry crop failure, a population boom, or speculation on crop yields. Price changes purportedly communicated knowledge about the state of the world.

However, Hayek was writing in a time before information theory. (Hayeks The Use of Knowledge in Society was written in 1945, a just few years before Claude Shannons A Mathematical Theory of Communication in 1948.) Hayek thought a large amount of knowledge about biological or ecological systems, population, and social systems could be communicated by a single number: a price. Can you imagine the number of variables youd need to describe crop failures, population booms, and market bubbles? Thousands? Millions? How many variables of information do you get from the price of blueberries? One. Hayek dreams of compressing a complex multidimensional space of possibilities that includes the state of the world and the states of mind of thousands or millions of agents into a single dimension (i.e. price), inevitably losing a great deal of information in the process.

Information theory was originally developed by Claude Shannon at Bell Labs to understand communication. His big insight was that you could understand communication over telephone wires mathematically if you focused not on what was being communicated in specific messages but rather on the complex multidimensional distributions of possible messages. A key requirement for a communication system to work in the presence of noise would be that it could faithfully transmit not just a given message, but rather any message drawn from the distribution. If you randomly generated thousands of messages from the distribution of possible messages, the distribution of generated messages would be an approximation to the actual distribution of messages. If you sent these messages over your noisy communication channel that met the requirement for faithful transmission, it would reproduce an informationally equivalent distribution of messages on the other end.

Well use Shannons insight about matching distributions on either side of a communication channel to match distributions of supply and demand on either side of market transactions. Lets start with a set of people who want blueberries (demand) and a supply of blueberries. These represent complex multidimensional distributions based on all the factors that go into wanting blueberries (a blueberry superfood fad, advertising, individual preferences) and all the factors that go into having blueberries (weather, productivity of blueberry farms, investment).

In place of Hayeks aggregation function, information theory lets us re-think the price mechanisms relationship with information. Stable prices mean a balance of crop failures and crop booms (supply), population declines and population booms (demand), speculation and risk-aversion (demand)  the distribution of demand for blueberries is equal to the distribution of the supply of blueberries. Prices represent information about the differences (or changes) in the distributions. And differences in distributions mean differences in information.

Imagine you have blueberries randomly spread over a table. If you draw a grid over that table, you could imagine deciding to place a blueberry on a square based on the flip of a coin (a 1 or a 0). That is one bit of information. Maybe for some of the squares, you flip the coin two or more times. Thats two or more bits.

Now say you set up a distribution of buyers on an identical grid using the same process. If you flipped more coins for the buyers than the blueberries on the corresponding squares, that represents a difference in information (and likely an excess demand).

There can be an information difference even if theres no difference between the results of the coin flips. For example, you can get one blueberry on a square because you flipped a coin once and it came up heads or you flipped a coin twice and it came up heads once and tails once. However as the number of coin flips becomes enormous in a huge market, the difference between the results of the coin flips (excess supply or demand) will approximate the difference in the information in the coin flips. This is an important point about when markets work that we will come back to later. It is also important to note that these are not just distributions in space, but can be distributions in time. The future distribution of blueberries in a functioning market matches the demand for blueberries, and we can consider the demand distribution information flowing from that future allocation of blueberries to the present through transactions.

Coming back to a stable equilibrium means information about the differences in one distribution (i.e. the number of coin flips) must have flowed (through a communication channel) to the other distribution via transactions between buyers and sellers at market prices. We can call one distribution D and the other S for supply and demand. The price is then a function of changes ( or delta) in D and changes in S:

p = f(D, S)

Price is a function of changes in demand and changes in supply. Thats Economics 101. But what is the function describing the relationship? We know that an increase in S thats bigger than an increase in D generally leads to a falling price, while an increase in D that is bigger than the increase in S generally leads to a rising price. If we think in terms of distributions of demand and supply, we can try

p = D/S

for our initial guess. Instead of a aggregating information into a price, which we cant do without throwing away information, we have a price detecting the flow of information. Constant prices tell us nothing, but price changes tell us information has flowed (or been lost) between one distribution and the other. And we can think of this information flowing in either space or time if we think of the demand distribution as the future allocation of supply.

This picture also gets rid of the dimensionality problem: the distribution of demand can be as complex and multidimensional (i.e. depend on as many variables) as the distribution of supply. The single dimension represented by the price now only measures the single dimension of information flow.

Marginalism and Supply and Demand

Chris Hayes also mentions marginalism. Its older than Friedman or Hayek, going back at least to William Jevons. In his 1892 thesis, Irving Fisher tried to argue (crediting Jevons and Alfred Marshall) that if you have gallons of one good A and bushels of another good B that were exchanged for each other, then the last increment (the marginal unit) was exchanged at the same rate as A and B, i.e.

A/B = A/B

calling both sides of the equation the price of B in terms of A. Note that the left side is our price equation above (p = D/S), just in terms of A and B (you could call A the demand for B). In fact, we can get a bit more out of this equation if we say

p = A/B = A/B

We add a little subscript a to remind us that this is the price of B in terms of A. If you hold A constant and increase B (supply), the price goes down. For fixed demand, increasing supply causes prices to fall  a demand curve. Likewise if you hold B constant and increase A, the price goes up  a supply curve. However if we take tiny increments of A and B and use a bit of calculus (A/B becomes dA/dB) the equation becomes a differential equation that can be solved. In fact, it is one of the oldest differential equations to be solved (by Bernoulli in the late 1600s). However, the solution tells us that A is linearly proportional to B. Its a quite limited model of the supply-demand relationship.

Fisher attempts to break out of this limitation by introducing utility functions in his thesis. However thinking in terms of information can again help us.

If we think of our distribution of A and distribution of B (like the distribution of supply and demand), each draw event from those distributions (like a draw of a card, a flip of one or more coins, or roll of a die) contains I information (a flip of a coin contains 1 bit of information) for A and I for B. If the distribution of A and B are in balance (equilibrium). Each draw event from each distribution (a transaction event) will match in terms of information. Now it might cost two or three gallons of A for each bushel of B, so the number of draws on either side will be different in general, but as long as the number of draws (n) is large, the total information from those draws will be the same:

n  I = n  I

Rearranging, we have

n  (I / I) = n

Well call I/I = k (for reasons well get into later) so that

k  n = n

Now say the smallest amount of A is A and likewise for B. One bushel or one gallon, say. That means

n = A/A

n = B/B

i.e. the number of gallons of A is the total amount of A divided by 1 gallon of A (i.e. A). Putting this together and rearranging a bit we have

A/B = k  A/B

This is just Fishers equation again except theres our coefficient k in it expressing the information relationship, making the solution to the differential equation mentioned above a bit more interesting than being linearly proportional  now log(A) = k log(B) + b, where b is another constant. The supply and demand relationship found by holding either A or B constant and varying the other is also more complex than the one you obtain from Fishers equation (it depends on k). Its essentially a more generalized marginalism where we no longer assume k = 1. But theres a more useful bit of understanding you get from this approach that you dont get from simple price signaling. What we have is information flowing between A and B, and weve assumed that information transfer is perfect. But markets arent perfect, and all we can really say is that the most information that can get from the distribution of A to the distribution of B is all of the information in the distribution of A. Basically

n  I  n  I

Following through with this insight in the derivation above, we find

p = A/B  k  A/B

Because the information flow from A can never be greater than As total information, and will mostly be less than that total, the observed prices in a real economy will most likely fall below the ideal market prices. Another way to put it is that ideal markets represent a best-case scenario, one out of a huge space of possible scenarios.

Theres also another assumption in that derivation  that the number of transaction events is large, as we mentioned before. So even if the information transfer was ideal, the traditional price mechanism only applies in markets that have a large volume of trade. That means prices for rare cars or salaries for unique jobs likely do not represent accurate information about the underlying complex multidimensional distributions of market supply and demand. Those prices are in a sense arbitrary. They might represent some kind of data (about power, privilege, or negotiation skills), but not necessarily information about the supply and demand distributions or the market allocation of resources. In those cases, we cant really know from the price alone.

Another insight we get is that supply and demand doesnt always work in the simple way described in Marshalls diagrams. We had to make the assumption that A or B was relatively constant while the other changed. In many real world examples we cant make that assumption. A salient one today is the (empirically incorrect) claim that immigration lowers wages. A naive application of supply and demand (increased supply of labor lowers the price of labor) ignores the fact that more people means not just more labor, but more people to buy goods and services produced by labor. Thinking in terms of information, it is impossible to say that youve increased the number of labor supply events without increasing the number of labor demand events, so you must conclude A and B must both change. More immigration means a larger economy; the effect on prices or wages does not simply follow from supply and demand based on a population increase.

Instead of the simplified picture of ideal markets and forces of supply and demand, we have the picture advocates on the left (and to be fair most economists) try to convey of not only market failures and inefficiency but more complex interactions of supply and demand. Instead of starting with the best-case scenario, we start with a huge space of possible scenarios  all but one of them less-than-best.

However, it is also possible through collective action to mend or mitigate some of these failures. We shouldnt assume that just because a market spontaneously formed or produced a result, that it is working optimally, and we shouldnt assume that because a price went up either demand went up or supply went down. In that case, the market might have just gotten better at detecting information flow that was already happening. We might have gone from non-ideal information transfer where n  I  n  I to something closer to ideal where n  I  n  I, meaning the observed price got closer to the higher ideal price.

The equations above were originally derived a bit more rigorously by physicists Peter Fielitz and Guenter Borchardt in a paper published in 2011 titled A generalized concept of information transfer (there is also an arXiv preprint). The paper includes both the ideal information transfer (information equilibrium) and non-ideal information transfer scenarios. They call the coefficient k the information transfer index. As they state in their abstract, information theory provides shortcuts that allow one to deal with complex systems. Fielitz and Borchardt primarily had natural complex systems in mind, but as we have just seen, the extension to social complex systems  especially pointing out the assumptions necessary for markets to function  is straightforward.

The market as an algorithm

The picture above is of a functioning market as an algorithm matching distributions by raising and lowering a price until it reaches a stable price. In fact, this picture is of a specific machine learning algorithm called Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN, described in this Medium article or in the original paper) that has emerged recently. Of course, the idea of the market as an algorithm to solve a problem is not new. For example one of the best blog posts of all time (in my opinion) talks about linear programming as an algorithm, giving an argument for why planned economies will likely fail, but the same argument implies we cannot check the optimality of the market allocation of resources, therefore claims of markets as optimal are entirely faith-based. The Medium article uses a good analogy using a painting, a forger, and a detective, but I will recast it in terms of the information theory description.

Instead of the complex multidimensional distributions, here we have blueberry buyers and blueberry sellers. The supply (B from above) is the generator G, the demand A is the real data R (the information the deep learning algorithm is trying to learn). Instead of the random initial input I  coin tosses or dice throws  we have the complex, irrational, entrepreneurial, animal spirits of people. We also have the random effects of weather on blueberry production. The detector D (which is coincidentally the terminology Fieltiz and Borchardt used) is the price p. When the detector cant tell the difference between the distribution of demand for blueberries and the distribution of the supply of blueberries (i.e. when the price reaches a relatively stable value because the distributions are the same), weve reached our solution (a market equilibrium).

Note that the problem the GAN algorithm tackles can be represented by the two-player minimax game from game theory. The thing is that with the wrong settings, algorithms fail and you get garbage. I know this from experience in my regular job researching machine learning, sparse reconstruction, and signal processing algorithms. Therefore depending on the input data (especially data resulting from human behavior), we shouldnt expect to get good results all of the time. These failures are exactly the failure of information to flow from the real data to the generator through the detector  the failure of information from the demand to reach the supply via the price mechanism.

When asked by Quora what the recent and upcoming breakthroughs in deep learning are, Yann LeCun, director of AI research at Facebook and a professor at NYU, said:

The most important one, in my opinion, is adversarial training (also called GAN for Generative Adversarial Networks). This is an idea that was originally proposed by Ian Goodfellow when he was a student with Yoshua Bengio at the University of Montreal (he since moved to Google Brain and recently to OpenAI). This, and the variations that are now being proposed is the most interesting idea in the last 10 years in ML, in my opinion.

Research into these deep learning algorithms and information theory may provide insight into economic systems.

An Interpretation of Economics for the Left

So again, Hayek had a fine intuition: prices and information have some relationship. But he didnt have the conceptual or mathematical tools of information theory to understand the mechanisms of that relationship  tools that emerged with Shannons key paper in 1948, and that continue to be elaborated to this day to produce algorithms like generative adversarial networks.

The understanding of prices and supply and demand provided by information theory and machine learning algorithms is better equipped to explain markets than arguments reducing complex distributions of possibilities to a single dimension, and hence, necessarily, requiring assumptions like rational agents and perfect foresight. Ideas that were posited as articles of faith or created through incomplete arguments by Hayek are not even close to the whole story, and leave you with no knowledge of the ways the price mechanism, marginalism, or supply and demand can go wrong. Those arguments assume and (hence) conclude market optimality. Leaving out the failure modes effectively declares many social concerns of the left moot by fiat. The potential and actual failures of markets are a major concern of the left, and are frequently part of discussions of inequality and social justice.

The left doesnt need to follow Chris Hayes advice and engage with Hayek, Friedman, and neoclassical economics. The left instead needs to engage with a real world vision of economics that recognizes the limited scope of ideal markets and begins with imperfection as the more useful default scenario. Understanding economics in terms of information flow is one way of doing that.
As a valued NATO Partner, Finland will host the 13th Annual NATO Conference on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation from 29 to 30 May 2017 in Helsinki.

This is one of NATOs largest outreach activities, held with increasing success since 2004, involving Alliance member states and partners from around the world. Participants from five continents and major international organisations will gather together for this informal event. The conference will be opened by Timo Soini, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland. A statement will be delivered by NATOs Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller.

Following the repeated use of chemical weapons in Syria and nuclear and ballistic missile tests in North Korea, as well as the discussions in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and UN framework on new disarmament instruments, this dialogue between NATO Allies with NATO partners around the globe is important to ensure a better understanding of the global security challenges.

Reinforcing non-proliferation

NATOs Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, will chair this forum which provides an opportunity for open and informal dialogue. The conference will address topical issues, such as:

The state of play and future of the multilateral non-proliferation regimes and initiatives in view of a changing international security environment;

regional proliferation challenges in the Middle East and in Asia, including in Syria and North Korea;

NATOs contribution and other international organisations efforts in the area of WMD arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

More than 100 participants from nearly 50 NATO and Partner countries and international organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union will gather in Helsinki, among them many senior non-proliferation officials from around the globe, including Assistant Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors and Directors-General.

Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) will be a keynote speaker at the opening of the conference and Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu, Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013, will address the conference with a keynote speech at dinner.

Previous conferences on the challenges of WMD proliferation were held in Rome (2004), Sofia (2005), Vilnius (2007), Berlin (2008), Warsaw (2009), Prague (2010), Bergen (2011), Budapest (2012), Split (2013), Interlaken (2014), Qatar (2015), and Ljubljana (2016).
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 by: Ethan Huff Tags: protests , rioting , Venezuela This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author

(Natural News) Tensions continue to rise in Venezuela, where a defenseless population stripped of its right to bear arms is facing the heavy hand of a socialist government hellbent on eradicating freedom. Reports indicate that demonstrators throughout the destabilized country are now being assaulted by government military vehicles simply for making their voices heard, and that in some cases tank-like armored cars are plowing into crowds of people, injuring and killing them.

In just one day, more than 300 people were reported injured, and one dead, after clashes between protesters and state police escalated into full-blown violence. Venezuelas El Nacional newspaper published a series of video clips highlighting one incident in particular in which an armored vehicle drove straight into protesters congregated on the street  this after a firebomb was reportedly thrown, setting the scene on fire.

The Wall Street Journal published its own video as well, highlighting the incident from multiple angles captured on individuals mobile phones. Protesters, many in masks and bandanas, can be seen trashing a motorcycle as the armored vehicle approaches them, running over several of them as it continues to make its way through the streets.

In a tweet he published to Twitter, Mayor Ramon Muchacho of Caracas, the city where the incident took place, reported that only 134 traumas occurred, as well as 17 cases in which protesters were overcome by tear gas. Among those confirmed to be injured were two state politicians, Freddy Guevara and Julio Montoya. But the opposition reported many more injuries from the altercation. (RELATED: Social unrest isnt limited just to third world countries anymore. Learn more at SocialUnrest.news)

Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans take to the streets in protest of authoritarianism

All of this turmoil stems from public opposition to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his continued abuses of power, including his recent announcement that he intends to rewrite his countrys constitution to consolidate more power for himself. According to Bloomberg, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent weeks to oppose Maduros actions, which threaten to bring Venezuela even further into the depths of autocratic authoritarianism.

Since the start of the protests, at least 30 people, including several politicians opposed to Maduros power grab, have been confirmed dead after getting caught in the fray of protest violence. And all the while, Maduro couldnt care less about this continued loss of life, nor has he shown any interest in quelling the unrest that is ravaging his country. Instead, a video posted to Twitter shows Maduro dancing it up on state television as protests take place in the streets below.

Maduro is so disconnected and divorced from the countrys reality that he was having a good time dancing while he ordered Venezuelans murdered, the opposing coalition to Maduros reign of terror announced in a response to the disturbing footage, which was also posted to Twitter.

One of the more tragic examples of the fallout from these protests was the recent fatality of a 17-year-old young man who was reportedly struck in the neck by an unknown object during a bout of violent protests. The young mans death brought the official death toll to 34, according to Breitbart, reiterating the severity of this resistance movement.

President Nicolas Maduros government went from autocracy to dictatorship in just a few weeks, wrote The New York Times correspondent Hugo Prieto. Today, its only a step away from tyranny. But the people arent giving up. Theyre no longer afraid. At long last, liberty and democracy have become an existential struggle, a matter of life and death.

Follow more news about civil disobedience at MartialLaw.news.

Sources:

Breitbart.com

El-Nacional.com

Bloomberg.com

NYTimes.com
(Natural News) It would seem that Swedens Parliament truly cares about doing what is best for its people. Rather than bowing to pressure by pharmaceutical companies or the scare-tactics of the mainstream media, the Swedish government recently adopted a decision to refuse to enforce the compulsory or mandatory vaccination of its citizens. Such a mandate, they noted, would violate the countrys Constitution.

Other factors also influenced the decision. For one thing, many people had called politicians or the Parliament directly to express their outrage at the concept of forced vaccinations. The text of one of the motions related to the decision noted that Parliamentary politicians had observed massive resistance to all forms of coercion with regard to vaccination.

The politicians also cited data from NHF Sweden which revealed frequent and serious adverse reactions to the MMR vaccine, and noted that such reactions are warned about in the vaccine package inserts. The politicians noted that since children would be expected to receive two doses of this vaccination, these considerable risks would be doubled. They also stressed that such risks were not limited to the MMR vaccine, but that other vaccines caused similar adverse reactions.

The Parliamentarians also referenced the additives found in these vaccines, which in their words, are not health food and certainly [do] not belong in babies or children.

And how right they are! Natural News previously reported on some of these unhealthy and downright disgusting ingredients:

Bovine cow serum

Sorbitol

Gelatin

Sodium chloride

Thimerosal

Human albumin

Other nasty ingredients like formaldehyde (yep, thats embalming fluid), aluminum phosphate and MSG  not to mention fibroblast cells from aborted human fetuses, and African Green Monkey kidney cells!

But we need vaccinations or well all die of diseases like measles, right? All those unvaccinated people are putting the herd immunity of the community as a whole at risk, arent they?

Well, in researching this article I found two very interesting sources of information from the mainstream media, which when looked at collectively, provide some real insight into the way our thinking is being manipulated on this issue.

Lets first consider an article by NBC News entitled 7 Vaccine Myths Debunked by Doctors. One of the myths they supposedly debunk is the idea that more people die from the vaccine than from measles. They claim that while measles kills 140,000 people around the world each year, only 57 claims of death from the measles vaccine have ever been filed with the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Now, its interesting to note that this article looks at deaths worldwide, but only cites vaccine death rates for the United States, where the VICP was established in 1986.

Lets move on to the second article talking about the evils of measles. This article by Very Well actually does give the number of people who died from measles in the U.S.A. The article only gives figures as far back as 2000, but angrily proclaims that there have been 11 measles deaths since that year.

So, the one article tells us that 57 measles vaccine death claims have been filed with VICP (presumably since 1986), while the other tells us that a grand total of 11 people died from the disease itself between 2000 and 2015. Even if we were to double that number to account for the years between 1986 and 2000 (taking it from 11 to 22), that would still mean that more than twice as many people died from the measles vaccine than from actual measles!

And yet Big Pharma and the self-righteous mainstream media continue to bully us into vaccinating our children for the greater good!

Fortunately, more and more people are becoming informed about the very real dangers of vaccination, and are weighing those dangers against the comparatively smaller risks associated with contracting diseases like measles.

And, hopefully other countries will follow Swedens example and refuse to force their citizens to vaccinate their children. Follow more news on health freedom at HealthFreedom.news.

Sources:

ActivistPost.com

VeryWell.com

NBCNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Not her fault for openly advocating for the violent, humiliating and torturous deaths of US citizens for the crime of talking about corruption.

So it was THEIR fault that people were angry with her for calling for the lynching of people whose loved ones, or who themselves, had been harmed by vaccines.

Specifically for one of their members who was the individual addressing the Somali families at the event in question.

Ms. Cohen declined the invitation. Her reasoning? That she had received angry and harassing messages from the public for calling for the deaths of vaccine injury parents, and that it was Health Choice MAs fault.

Health Choice Massachusetts, of which Boston resident Mark Blaxill is a member, formally reached out to Ms. Cohen and requested a meeting, so that the upsetting and incorrect column could be addressed properly.

 These are the facts: Vaccines dont cause autism. Measles can kill. And lying to vulnerable people about the health and safety of their children ought to be a hanging offense.  Editorial: Preying on parents fear, Boston Herald editorial staff Monday, May 08, 2017

( Natural News ) Last week in the Boston Herald, Rachelle Cohen wrote about the presentation on vaccine information by Mark Blaxill and the Vaccine Safety Council of Minnesota given to the Minneapolis Somali community, errantly reporting that they had given false information to those in attendance, and expressing her opinion that they should be killed for holding the event.

Because apparently a large percentage of the public would have been just fine with Ms. Cohen targeting them for assassination, if only Health Choice MA had not organized a protest of said shout out for mass termination? I guess?Health Choice Massachusetts has allowed me to share their exchange with her here:

























Cohen to hundreds of thousands of innocent people: You should be killed.

Angry people who dont want to be killed: No, YOU should be killed.

Cohen: How DARE you say that to me! HATERS!

Emphasizing again this woman is a newspaper editor. I dont even allow this kind of behavior in the comments on my facebook page, but she is making plublic calls for mass murder of disability parents in the name of a newspaper.

Also congratulations to Health Choice Massachusetts for being so powerful that they can control the entire publics reaction to Ms. Cohens plea to extinguish the lives of vaccine injury moms and dads. Who knew they had so much influence! I must know the secret of their mind control.

Dear Ms. Cohen,

It is not ok for you to call for the murder of people for saying things you dont want to hear.

Also, humans have this thing called, The Will To Live, and when their lives are threatened, they tend to display this knee jerk reaction to hate the people who are calling for their murder, and do a thing called, fighting back. Look up the phrase, self-defense, if you want to learn more.

And here is the thing either your call for their extermination is morally acceptable, in which case their calls for you to die are in bounds as well; or their calls for your demise are both morally reprehensible and wrong, which means your call for their slaughter was evil, and you owe thousands of families in the country an apology and a retraction.

Please consider picking a moral standard, sticking to it, and taking responsibility for your words and actions.

Sincerely,

Ginger Taylor

An autism mother whose public execution you have prescribed

Of course there is an irony in all this. We aint the ones who are lying. From where we sit, we know that when Cohen states that, lying to vulnerable people about the health and safety of their children ought to be a hanging offense, she is actually condemning Offit, DeStefano, Boyle, Yeargen-Alsopp, Thorsen, Verstraeten and Gerberging to death. Their decades of lies and deceit and corruption and fraud have decimated child health in our country. And beyond.

God sees it all. He is the judge.

A reminder that a peaceful protest against the Boston Herald, by the people whom the newspaper wants to swing from the gallows, will be held on Thursday, May 18th, at 11am, at 70 Fargo St, Boston, MA. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1941790046105098/

Read more at: AgeOfAutism.com
Client Earth James Thornton & Martin Goodman. Scribe: 2017.

9781911344087

Three stories intertwine in Client Earth, a study of the innovative European public-interest environmental-law firm of that name, founded by James Thornton. The first is about how one person can make a difference through creative collaboration and persistence. The second is on the role of litigation in advancing social change. The third details how collaborative enforcement actions in multiple countries can build on one another to address immense planetary challenges, from climate change to pollution of air, water and soil. James Thornton (centre) of environmental law firm ClientEarth. Credit: ClientEarth

Thornton, who co-wrote the book with his husband, author Martin Goodman, expresses his goal simply, as systemic change to protect people and nature. In his view, the most efficient way to achieve it is through law. He began his career as a litigator for the US Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) during the presidency of Ronald Reagan; he brought 88 citizens' suits against polluters. One of his important successes at the NRDC was a suit to enforce the US Clean Water Act against food company Gwaltney, for 666 days of violations as it discharged pollutants into a river. The court awarded a US$1,285,322 penalty to deter possible future violations.

For the past decade, Thornton has led ClientEarth's work in Europe, China and Africa. The book details some of the organization's notable environmental enforcement victories and what went into them. In 2015, ClientEarth succeeded in its challenge against Defra, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, over its failure to comply with its obligations under the European Union's Ambient Air Quality Directive. ClientEarth has also been involved in a mixed legal and political action in Krakow, Poland, to ban burning of coal in domestic stoves.

The book provides an unusual and much-needed inside view of the development of environmental enforcement litigation, and its broader implications. It conveys the complex scales at which environmental protection works. Individual cases may be pinned to one location, but Thornton and Goodman reveal how the aim is to leverage them in a layered, strategic way with an eye to the long term. Goodman's chapters detail Thornton's journey and the evolution of ClientEarth as a complex dance among the diverse groups of people who shape transnational environmental policy, nature conservation and governance. Thornton's contributions explain his motivations and strategic decisions.

Each case, despite differences between legal systems, used law as a tool to enforce or develop environmental protections. A difficult question underlies this strategy: how can the transnational environmental movement  and specifically, a law firm  most effectively connect diverse problems in many places to broaden its impact? Scaling up is easiest across places with similar problems and systems, as shown by ClientEarth's efforts to address air quality across Europe, building from its UK victory to cases in Germany and plans for a further roll-out. Even there, the strategies must be different in each country.

To protect the planet more broadly, regional and national environmental enforcement movements must collaborate. Recently, Thornton worked with judges from China's Supreme People's Court to establish litigation cost structures that make it financially possible for plaintiffs to bring lawsuits. This builds on similar efforts he has made in Europe.

The story of ClientEarth's work raises crucial questions about the nature of transformative change. Is it brought about through major victories, like enforcing the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive? Is it through cumulative, highly specific cases, such as fights to reduce coal use in central European power plants?

These questions have also arisen in the United States, where most climate-change litigation takes place. There have been high-profile victories such as the 2007 Supreme Court decision Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, in which the court required the agency to regulate greenhouse gases or better justify its refusal to regulate; this provided the basis for the Barack Obama administration's regulation of emissions from vehicles and power plants. But numerous lower-profile cases have challenged coal projects and together had significant impact.

Strategic decisions also go beyond substantive framing of cases to addressing procedural barriers and navigating legal cultures. Thornton's focus on reducing litigation costs and building country-specific strategies reflects an understanding of these concerns.
Size matters, if this new study is anything to go by. At least it does in the animal world as scientists discovered that female gorillas preferred mating partners that had larger bony head crests. The new information could shed some light on the social practices of ancient human relatives.

According to a report from the Australian National University (ANU), researchers from the university examined the sagittal crest of four species of apes. The sagittal crest is a bone ridge on the top of their skull. It's been long believed that its function was to provide extra space for the muscles used for chewing, but the team realized that it could also be for sexual selection.

"We found that for male gorillas and orangutans, it is not just chewing that drives crest formation," lead researcher Dr. Katharine Balolia of the ANU School of Archaeology and Anthropology explained. "There is also a social element to it. For example, females prefer male gorillas with larger sagittal crests."

It offers some insight on human relatives because earlier humans also had the sagittal crest.

"And if sagittal crest size and social behaviour are linked in this way, then we could potentially establish that some of our extinct human relatives had a gorilla-like social system," she added. "This would be a first, because otherwise, the human fossil record provides precious little about how our extinct relatives chose their mates."

In gorillas, the researchers found that the crest appears shortly after the wisdom tooth emerges. This fits in with the timing of social dominance or puberty. Orangutans come into their dominance a little later and their sagittal crest also appears later.

The scientists used 3D scans of the skulls to study the crests. As additional evidence for their social function, statistical models also indicated that existing sagittal crests are much larger than they would be if they're only used for chewing.

The findings have been published in the Journal of Anatomy.
The smoke and flames that killed 36 people at Oaklands Ghost Ship warehouse were subdued by the time fire Lt. George Freelen began his shift that morning. But as the sun rose over the charred wreckage, the toughest work was yet to come.

Thats when we had to recover the dead, Freelen said. The first dead. The victims that were on the surface.

Freelen and his crew set to work pulling bodies from the rubble that used to be a live-work space for artists. The scale of the tragedy was unprecedented in Oaklands history, but after 19 years on the job, Freelen had seen plenty of death before.

[Its] tragic to have to see these innocent victims and see them in the last moments of their life and zip them up in a body bag, Freelen said.

Its hard for Freelen to talk about what he saw that day, but he said they recovered nine bodies before returning to Station 13 just around the corner from the warehouse few had heard of before it burned to the ground.

Despite the horrific nature of the mornings work, Freelen said he was managing to keep his emotions in check. The veteran firefighter had seen a lot over the years, and so far, never lost control.

NBC Bay Area

But that would soon change as his crew continued to run calls into the night.

A young girls dad passed away in his sleep, Freelen said. The worst part of our job, delivering bad news; I had to deliver to that girl. She had to tell her family; she was the translator.

A Punch to the Heart

Freelen said delivering the news to that young girl triggered something inside him that told him he wasnt OK. It was like a punch to his heart, Freelen said, and in the days that followed, he had trouble sleeping. Other firefighters told him he wasnt acting like himself. After dropping an F-bomb over the radio one day, Freelen did what many firefighters in previous generations were sometimes too proud to do: He asked for help.

The breaking point is different for every firefighter. Most are exposed to ongoing trauma over a 30-year career, and NBC Bay Areas investigation found that stress is taking a toll.

NBC Bay Area developed a confidential online survey with help from California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) to hear directly from firefighters about the impact of post-traumatic stress on their lives and to learn what services are available when they need help.

CPF distributed the survey to local unions representing firefighters serving 25 large California cities, including 20 in the Bay Area.

Firefighters Respond

More than 700 firefighters from at least 13 different departments responded, overwhelmingly saying stressful or traumatic experiences on the job have impacted their mental health. They say stigma continues to be a substantial barrier to seeking help.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, long associated with veterans returning from combat, is just now becoming a priority in the fire service. Many in the field say mental health services available to first responders are years behind whats offered to combat veterans. Just look at the suicide numbers for firefighters, they say, which have outpaced line of duty deaths in each of the past two years, according to data from the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance.

We bring a young man or woman into the fire academy, and we put them on the street as a firefighter, and for 30 years, we expose them to the worst of the human condition, said Long Beach fire Chief Mike DuRee, who serves as president of the California Fire Chiefs Association. Tragic accidents, family tragedies, car crashes  the myriad of things firefighters respond to. We as an organization, the fire service organization, havent done enough to admit that its real.

Of the 550 firefighters who said stress on the job caused lingering or unresolved emotional issues, 70 percent said they had trouble sleeping, 64 percent said they were easily angered or withdrawn, 31 percent developed substance abuse issues, and 14 percent had thoughts of suicide. The majority of respondents dont believe there are adequate behavioral health services available to firefighters.

Freelen looks at post-traumatic stress as an injury, not a permanent disorder. An injury, he said, can heal if treated properly.

I have to do the work, but I can heal from it, do my job, finish my career and serve the citizens like I do every day, Freelen said.

Improving Services

Awareness of post-traumatic stress in the fire service is without a doubt on the rise. But that doesnt always translate to concrete behavioral health services for firefighters that need help.

NBC Bay Area sent a second survey to fire department administrators in 25 California cities, mostly in the Bay Area, asking about the mental health services available to the rank and file. Although they all have at least one program in place, NBC Bay Areas investigation found some are further along than others.

Half of those departments, for instance, dont have a standard operating procedure or guidelines in place that outline mental and behavioral health services in the department. More than a third of them dont offer behavioral health awareness training in their fire academies.

To find out more about firefighters mental and behavioral health, NBC Bay Area developed a survey with input from the International Association of Firefighters and California Professional Firefighters. California Professional Firefighters sent the survey to the local firefighter unions in large California cities, including 20 in the Bay Area. More than 700 responded. Here are some of the key figures.

The expectation of my community is that those firefighters are going to show up and do their job in a world class way the way they always do, DuRee said. If they cant do that because they are dealing with behavioral health issues, I feel like I not only failed the firefighters, but I failed my community.

The California Fire Chiefs Association is now partnering with California Professional Firefighters (CPF) on the labor side to address mental health services for firefighters and change the suck it up culture thats persisted in firehouses for decades.

In February, DuRee co-wrote a letter with CPF president Lou Paulson committing to working together on mental and behavioral health issues. The letter announced the formation of the California Fire Service Task Force on Behavioral Health, now charged with developing a strategy and plowing ahead on these issues.

Peer support and mental health training for current and new generations of firefighters are the cornerstones of that effort.

Most importantly, we believe the most important step we all must take together is to end the stigma by normalizing the issue of behavioral health, the letter states. No matter how tough, none of us is immune from the anguish that can build from a career of difficult calls. As weve seen all too frequently of late, silence can be fatal.

Most cities have an Employee Assistance Program, which generally constitutes a network of therapists to assist struggling public employees on a variety of issues. Its the resource Freelen used when he needed help, and after a few initial bumps in the road, he says the program has really helped him.

But those programs arent tailored specifically to firefighters, and half of those who responded to NBC Bay Areas survey did not find the program helpful.

In 2013, the Yarnell Hill Fire claimed the lives of 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew in Arizona. Brendan McDonough, who served as the lookout during the fire, was the only member of the crew that was left unharmed. After the event left him with emotional scars, McDonough sought ways to heal from his invisible wounds. He says...

Now, CPF and its local partners are pushing for a peer support model, where firefighters are trained to recognize signs of stress in their colleagues and step in when needed. They say that ongoing support is more important than the department-mandated debriefs, known as critical incident stress management, that are typically only triggered by major incidents such as the Ghost Ship fire.

Capt. Chris Foley is leading those efforts in Oakland.

There is no middle ground right now, and thats something we would like to see established, Foley said.

Foley says cities need to be funding additional mental health services for firefighters, but he also recognizes the need to stamp out the fire service culture thats historically frowned on asking for help.

Were an industry steeped in tradition, Foley said. We hold near and dear traditions that probably arent great for us.

After decades of bearing the unwanted memories of his toughest calls, Freelen said hes living proof firefighters can begin healing from their invisible wounds.

I think were an industry, when given the resources, will use them to help us be better firefighters, Freelen said. Im hoping this will make me a better firefighter down the road.

Angeline Bernabe contributed to this story. Have a story you want the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit to look into? Email or call 888-996-TIPS. Like Liz on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. Follow Investigative Producer Michael Bott on Twitter here.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Services on Tuesday extended the duration of an emergency closure of the commercial rock crab fishery in Northern California.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife closed the commercial rock crab fishery north of Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to the Oregon border after state health agencies determined last fall that rock crabs north of Pigeon Point had unhealthy levels of domoic acid.

The closure was to expire Tuesday, Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Jordan Traverso said.

However, in February it was then determined that the commercial rock crab fishery was clean from Bodega Bay south along the entire California Coast.

The closure of the commercial fishery between Bodega Bay and the Oregon border remains in effect until domoic acid levels no longer pose a threat to public health, Traverso said.

The recreational rock crab fishery remained open statewide, but it included a warning from the California Department of Public Health to recreational anglers to avoid consuming the viscera of rock crab caught in the closure area north of Pigeon Point.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is working with the California Department of Public Health to monitor the levels of domoic acid in rock crabs and other species that are not affected by the closure, Traverso said.

The acid is a potent neurotoxin produced naturally in marine algae whose levels can increase under certain ocean conditions.
Police are investigating a violent robbery where an unconscious man was robbed by a group of people in Worcester, Massachusetts Monday evening.

A 41-year-old male victim was attacked from behind on Mt. Pleasant Street while walking to his car around 11:20 p.m., according to police. The attacker struck the victim in the head and knocked him unconscious before striking him again when he fell to the ground.

The attacker took something from the victims pockets and fled the scene.

A group of people walked to the victim and began to go through his clothes. They took his keys and used them to enter his car. They took several items before leaving the scene.

The victim regained consciousness and was able to give a lucid description of the events when police arrived. He was transported to the hospital with a possible head injury

This investigation is ongoing.
Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger called for an independent commission or special prosecutor to investigate recent allegations against President Donald Trump Wednesday, making him among the first Congressional Republicans to push for further investigation of the growing controversies.



It seems like every day theres some new information to pop, Kinzinger said in an interview on CNN Wednesday. Yesterday it was this idea of speaking and giving intelligence information, today its the idea of did in fact -- was there a quote-unquote coverup or an attempt to cover up or an attempt to obstruct justice. This is very concerning.

Kinzinger said during the interview that the circumstances surrounding the president and an investigation into Russias alleged interference in the 2016 election has become too political.

I think its time that we look at the idea, whether its an independent commission or a special prosecutor, Im not sure the best venue, but I think its time that we do whatever is necessary, he told CNN.

Trump faced fallout Wednesday over revelations that he personally appealed to now-fired FBI Director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, allegations based on notes Comey wrote after the meeting.

The White House has denied the report, which came amid a furor over the president's discussions with Russian diplomats in which Trump is said to have disclosed classified information.

Kinzinger wasn't the only Republican speaking critically of the allegations Wednesday.

These are troubling revelations," Rep. Peter Roskam said in a statement. "It is the Presidents responsibility to protect Americas secrets from Americas enemies. It is alarming to read reports suggesting President Trump revealed classified information to Vladimir Putins adversarial regime."

John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said late Tuesday that the developments had reached "Watergate size and scale."

But House Speaker Paul Ryan argued against a rush to judgment on the revelations while Congress exercises its oversight authority over the president.

"Our job is to be responsible, sober and focus only on gathering the facts. That is what Congress does in conducting oversight of the executive branch," he said.

Kinzinger echoed that sentiment Wednesday, saying he hasnt lost faith in Congress investigation and thinks it should continue.

When this is done, the American people need to know that justice was served, either way, Kinzinger said.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is warning that there will be poor air quality for some groups in parts of Connecticut Wednesday and Thursday.

There will be elevated levels of ozone across the state, leading to unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups, such as children or asthma and other respiratory disease sufferers. Experts say elevated ozone level exposure can cause breathing problems and increase the chance of respiratory infection.

Sensitive groups should limit outdoor activities as much as possible. Peak ozone levels are expected between 2 to 8 p.m. and DEEP recommends any exertion like exercise or yard work to be done outside that timeframe.

The unhealthy air will be caused by a combination of sunny skies and a steady southwest wind that is expected Wednesday into Thursday, which will bring air pollution along the Interstate 95 corridor across the state.

The NBC Connecticut meteorologists are forecasting record-breaking warmth in the coming days.



To help reduce the air pollution, DEEP suggests being as energy efficient as possible by conserving electricity and following the Wait til 8 method for large appliances like washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers. Experts also encourage driving as little as possible and considering carpooling or public transit to get around.

DEEP tracks air quality and pollution across Connecticut for ozone from May 1 through September 30 every year. This week will be the first unhealthy air day for the 2017 season.
Former Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman is President Donald Trump's top pick to be the next FBI director.

During a joint press conference on Thursday, Trump was asked if Lieberman was the front-runner in the race to head the bureau, and he responded, "he is."

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Lieberman is one of four candidates for the job that will be meeting with President Trump on Wednesday afternoon.

NEW: Spicer says Trump will meet with FOUR FBI director candidates: Andrew McCabe, Frank Keating, Richard McFeely & Joe Lieberman.  Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) May 17, 2017

The other three were the current acting director, Andrew McCabe, former Oklahoma governor Frank Keating and Richard McFeeley, a former executive assistant director in the FBI.

Lieberman served 24 years as a Connecticut senator before retiring in 2013 after his fourth term.

He was the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, running with Al Gore in 2000. The pair lost the election to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney in a result that needed to be decided by the Supreme Court.

Lieberman, who also served as Connecticut's Attorney General and spent 10 years as a state senator.
Theyve been together from the beginning and theyll be together still - a set of quadruplets is about to graduate high school and head off to Quinnipiac University this fall.

The Ciacciarella siblings were the first set of quadruplets to be born at Yale-New Haven Hospital 18 years ago. Michael, Vincent, Sofia and Anna, who were born in that order, visited around 50 colleges and universities from coast to coast trying to find a good fit for each of them Eventually, they all came to the same decision about where to go.

I think thats the great thing about Quinnipiac is that it does offer something for each of them and they can grow here individually but also together, said their mother Anne Ciacciarella.

The twins are sticking together for now, but they have a wide variety of academic interests.

Im planning on majoring in civil engineering, Michael said.

And I plan on majoring in communications, Vincent explained.

Im majoring in biology, Sofia added.

They have an amazing English program and Im helping them with a new environmental studies program, Anna finished.

Anna, the youngest, was the last to settle on QU.

Theres a lot of pressure. I wasnt really sure it was a last minute decision but we came to campus one night and I just had a really good feeling, she told NBC Connecticut.

The quadruplets said after 18 years of living together at their home in Naugatuck, when they arrive on campus in August they plan to live in different dorms.

Mom is just thrilled theyre sticking together, not too far from home.

If I go the long way and I go slow it's 28 minutes, Anne said.

I think they always wanted us to be close to home and they always wanted us to be together, Michael commented.

But we made it clear that were in Hamden, they stay in Naugatuck, we stay in Hamden, Vincent added.
During his commencement address at the 136th graduation of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, President Donald Trump briefly discussed his upcoming overseas trip, put the spotlight on some of his policy priorities -- including the border wall, his tax plan and health care -- and discussed his thoughts on how he has been treated lately.

Look at the way Ive been treated lately, especially by the media. No politician in history, and I say this with great assurity, has been treated worse or more unfairly, Trump said. You cant let them get you down. You cant let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams. I guess thats why I won.

Earlier in the speech, Trump commended the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

(Secretary of Homeland Security) John (Kelly) and all of his folks are also doing an incredible job protecting our homeland and our border and I am thrilled that my first address to the service academy is the graduation ceremony of the United States Coast Guard. Believe me, its a great honor, Trump said.



Trump also took a moment to criticize the costs of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the USS Gerald Ford.

He said the Coast Guard has done tremendous work with fewer people and fewer resources and you did it with skill and with pride and Id like to say, under budget and head of schedule.

Were doing a lot of that now in the United States, Trump said. I wont talk about how much I saved you on the F-35 fighter jet  or how much we're about to save you on the Gerald Ford, the aircraft carrier.

"When we build the new aircraft carriers, they are going to be built under budget and ahead of schedule," Trump said.

Trump told the cadets that, as leaders, they have to act properly under great pressure as they bring law and order to the dangerous waters; block illegal shipments of cash, weapons and drugs; and battle human trafficking.



Trump, whose professional background was in business before he entered the political realm, also mentioned the role Coast Guard plays in U.S. commerce.

Not only do you defend American security, you also protect American prosperity, Trump said. Today, the Coast Guard helps keep our waters open for Americans to do business and keeps our rivers flowing with commerce and it keeps our ports churning with American exports. You help billions, and billions of dollars in goods to navigate our country every day.

We are becoming very, very prosperous again. You can see that, he added.

This was the president's first trip to Connecticut since being inaugurated and the second commencement speech since being elected.

His speech came amid fallout over revelations that Trump personally appealed to now-fired FBI Director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, allegations based on notes Comey wrote after the meeting.

Before the president arrived, protesters and supporters gathered, chanting dueling messages, voicing their thoughts on his presidency and policies.

President Trump Comes to Connecticut for Coast Guard Academy Commencement
A private citizen is trying to protect children online, and hes taking unusual steps to do it.

NBC Connecticut spoke to the founder of a controversial vigilante site that helped tip off authorities about racy conversations a West Hartford man allegedly had with what he thought was a teenage girl.

Wearing a mask and only wanting to be called "Incognito" the man we met at a Bristol park said he posed as a young girl online led police to the arrest of 39-year-old Scott Backer.

According the arrest warrant, Backer thought he was chatting with 15-year-old girl, but he was actually talking to 29-year-old Incognito, who was pretending to be a young girl.

"There are risks that are involved," said POP Squad Founder "Incognito."

"I never contact them first. They always contact me first. I let them guide the whole conversation," said Incognito.

The arrest warrant states that Incognito posed as "Emily" on the social media app called Yik Yak.

The warrant details messages between Backer and Emily saying things like the following:

Backer - "I have to be careful"

Backer - "Too much to lose"

Emily - "like what?"

Backer - "Jail???!!!!"



In another conversation, Emily tells Backer that she is only 15.

Emily - "I'm really 15. I"ll be 16 in a couple months. Is that okay?"

Backer - "of course,"

"I let them know within the first five messages I am a minor. If they continue the conversation we move over to texting, we move over to a messaging app, and we set up a meet," said Incognito.

Officers say Backer's "meet" happened at a Walmart in Cromwell back in January. Incognito says he recorded the encounter with a chest-harnessed GoPro. Then posted the video on his website, POPSquadCC. POP stands for prey on predators.

Attorney Jim Bergenn says Incognito's methods are in fact legal.

"If he poses as a 15-year-old girl and people come to him, no entrapment," said Bergenn.

Police warned that Incognito's acts are dangerous.

"We have contingency plans put in place. We have safety plans put in place. We pick certain places so the public is not jeopardized," said West Hartford Police Sgt. Tony Anderle.

Incognito said one of his videos prompted an investigation into a Plainville High School teacher who has not been charged but ended up resigning.

Police told NBC Connecticut they discourage what Incognito does, but Incognito said hell continue doing it.

"There's a lot of guys out here who are creeping in the shadows," said Incognito.

Backer has been charged with use of computer to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. He has bonded out on $150,000.

Police said parents are the first defense from online predators - and if they have concerns about their child, to contact authorities as soon as they can.
Two people died and dozens were injured when tornadoes flattened a mobile home park in Wisconsin and a housing subdivision in Oklahoma during powerful spring storms that battered an area from the South Plains of Texas to the Great Lakes.

The storms hit late in the afternoon Tuesday and into the evening, leveling the Prairie Lake Estate Mobile Park near Chetek, Wisconsin, about 110 miles northeast of Minneapolis. When first responders arrived at the scene, they could hear the people crying for help in the rubble, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald told KMSP-TV.

One person died at the mobile home park, the Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center said in a statement late Tuesday. No details of the fatality were given. More than 25 people were injured, the state said, without giving their conditions. Helicopter video from WCCO-TV and KARE-TV shows extensive damage at the trailer park, with several homes reduced to rubble.

Firefighters battled a large fire Wednesday afternoon at a private school in Mesquite.

"It's a mess," Fitzgerald told the Leader-Telegram of Eau Claire. "We have at least one deceased so far and we're still in a search pattern."

A mobile home is a particularly dangerous place to be during a tornado, according to the National Weather Service. The high winds during a tornado can rip a mobile home, which frequently would not have a foundation, from its moorings. In 2011, when devastating tornadoes struck in Joplin, Missouri, and in Alabama and Mississippi, 111 of the 551 people killed nationwide in tornadoes, or 20 percent, were in mobile homes, according to the Storm Prediction Center website.

Raw storm chaser video captures a tornado on the ground near McLean, Texas, along Interstate 40 in the Texas Panhandle, Tuesday, May 16, 2017.

In Oklahoma, another tornado damaged much of a subdivision on the southern fringe of Elk City, Oklahoma, about 110 miles west of Oklahoma City. Fire Chaplain Danny Ringer told reporters at the scene late Tuesday that one person was known dead from the twister, although details were lacking. He also said the storm destroyed 40 homes and damaged 50 to 75 others severely. It was not immediately known if there were injuries.

More than two dozen tornado sightings were reported to the National Weather Service Tuesday night across the five states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The storm also brought numerous reports of large hail and strong winds.

Devin Feuerhelm told KMSP-TV that his sister, Lenna Samuelson, lives in the Wisconsin trailer park with her two daughters, Ashley and Brenna. He said his sister also had a 2-month-old grandson, Nolan, in the home when the storm hit, and they had nowhere to go but the bathtub.

Amazingly, the infant grandson escaped with just a couple of scratches, he said. Samuelson's daughters suffered minor injuries, and the mother suffered a gash on her head, but he said all are expected to be fine.

While their home was flattened, the SUV next to it was untouched.

Storm chances increase in the Dallas-Fort Worth area early Wednesday, with damaging wind gusts possible along a squall line that moved into the western counties of North Texas after midnight. The storms weakened as they reached DFW, though.

[NATL] Extreme Weather Photos: Record Heat Threatens Europe
At the University of California, San Diego Contextual Robotics Institute, students are building innovative robots that can be used for military applications and in daily life.

For the U.S. military, those robots can be lifesaving when troops are faced with the unknown on the battleground.

"The last hundred meters is where we have the most casualties because of snipers, because of booby traps, because of some people that are hiding in buildings," said Henrik Christensen, Ph.D., Director of UC San Diego's Contextual Robotics Institute.

Having flying and walking autonomous robots to provide intelligence for troops preparing to enter a building can have significant impact on the outcome, Christensen added.

"You take away some of their stress and we give them the situational awareness," he said.

Dylan Drotman, a student in the program, is working on a six-legged robot he built in the lab with a 3-D printer using soft flexible material.

It will be able to walk a larger range of types of terrain, Drotman said.

He told NBC 7, he will be interning with SPAWAR this summer.

There are other robotics that will add a new dimension to virtual reality, including a robotic glove which gives a user the sensation they are actually doing a certain action, such as playing the piano.

That type of technology could also be useful in military training and gaming.

Christensen said he is also a big proponent in making robotic technology affordable because he feels it should one day be available to everyone.

He told NBC 7, currently, students are also developing autonomous robots that will provide medicine, food and physical assistance to the elderly.

So that they can have still a very high quality of life," Christensen added.

Students at UC San Diego are designing robots that can be used in various real world and virtual reality settings. NBC 7's Bridget Naso has more.

He said San Diego is an ideal place for this development to take shape.

Many defense and technology companies benefit from the research and development at the UC San Diego Contextual Robotics Institute and are eager to hire the students coming up with next generation ideas, he told NBC 7.

There are very few places where you have strong companies, strong end-users and the strong economy, Christensen said.
If you were planning on going to the DMV on Wednesday, it may not be a good time.

Connectivity issues were affecting the agency's offices across California, hampering driver's license and vehicle registration transactions, the agency said.

In an email to NBC4, the DMV said "a number" of locations were dealing with the issue. The agency said it was working with the California Department of Technology to find the root of the problem and apologized for the inconvenience.
A Louisiana man suspected of stealing luggage was in custody Tuesday after his arrest at Los Angeles International Airport.

Officers responded about 1:45 a.m. Monday to a report of two unattended bags in a restroom in LAX Terminal 2, according to Los Angeles Airport Police Officer Rob Pedregon.

"When officers arrived it was clear that the bags were connected to a baggage belt theft and that the suspect had fled the area," Pedregon said.

"As officers were returning to the station to catalogue the items, airport police Officer Aston Chan and his partner Officer Eric Brown observed a subject walking along the arrivals area that they recognized as a person of interest from a recent airport police `BOLO' (be on the lookout) bulletin."

When the officers stopped to question the man, who had two bags in his possession, he initially said they were his, but the luggage turned out to contain women's garments, Pedregon said.

The suspect then fled, scaling fences with the officers in close pursuit, before he was caught, the officer said.

The man was identified as 25-year-old Okello Wheeler of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who was arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary, Pedregon said.

Airport police detectives Vincent Roddy and Ben Spolarich subsequently went through hours of security camera video and "isolated footage that linked Wheeler'' to the theft of the bags that were found in the airport restroom, Pedregon said, adding that Wheeler is facing possible charges in connection with the theft of those bags as well.

Wheeler was being held in lieu of $40,000 bail, according to sheriff's inmate records.

"The use of technology is a great supplement to our mission but there is no better means of policing our airports than having boots on the ground with vigilant and intuitive patrol officers wearing them,'' Chief of Airport Police David Maggard said.

The BOLO bulletin -- which included images of Wheeler, whose name was unknown to police prior to his arrest -- referred to April 8 thefts of baggage at LAX.
The mother of a South Pasadena boy who has been missing for nearly a month made a tearful plea for her 5-year-old son's return, saying she believes he is alive and wants to come home.

Aramazd Andressian Jr. was reported missing on April 22. On Wednesday, a day after a reward to find the child was doubled to $20,000, his mother Ana Estevez spoke in front of TV news cameras at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles.

"My son's disappearance is my worst nightmare," Estevez said as she held back tears. "It has been 32 days, almost three hours, since I last hugged my son, kissed him or told him how much I love him. There are no words how devastated and heartbroken I am. Although I do not know his whereabouts I do believe he is alive, missing his family and desperately wants to come home."

Her emotional plea came as detectives released new details in the investigation surrounding the boy's father, who was caring for the child at the time of the boy's disappearance.

Aramazd Andressian Sr. allegedly told investigators had taken medication that was not prescribed to him on April 22, the day he and his son went to Arroyo Seco Park in South Pasadena before a custody exchange, said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Joe Mendoza.

The father and son arrived waiting for the golf course to open, Mendoza said. Andressian Sr. was later discovered unconscious at the park and the boy was nowhere to be found.

The last confirmed sighting of the boy was April 20, the night the father and two family members took the child Disneyland, sheriff's investigators said.

Estevez said she's received an outpouring of support during the frantic search.

"To my son, papa, this message is for you my love. Be brave, honey. Know that mama and a lot of people are working hard to bring you home," Estevez said.

"Don't ever forget that mama loves you to the moon and the stars," she added. "I'm counting the days until I see you again honey, and I will never stop looking for you."

The search for the boy has spanned several Southern California counties, including Santa Barbara, where authorities searched last Tuesday in the Lake Cachuma Recreation Area where the boy may have been with his father on April 21.

Investigators were unable to verify that the boy had been seen at the lake by witnesses.

After being found unconscious at the park, Andressian Sr. was arrested April 22 and released from jail three days later. He was initially held in lieu of $10 million bail.

A prescription bottle was found inside his vehicle, Mendoza said.

"There was gasoline in the interior and doused all over the exterior. There (were) matches in there and there was a gas container," Mendoza said, noting that a rag that had been doused with gasoline was found in the area near the vehicle's gas cap. "As to how those items play into what occurred, he has not been cooperative, so we do not know."

On April 28, the day a search warrant was served at his South Pasadena home, Andressian released a statement through his attorney about his son's disappearance.

"In one moment, I was at the park with my son, and then I found myself waking up in Huntington Memorial Hospital hours later. I was told that a good Samaritan found me unconscious on the ground near my car, with young Aramazd nowhere in sight. I can only speculate that I must have been attacked in the park, given my unresponsive state and subsequent physical condition," the statement said.



"My family and I are heartbroken and grief-stricken that Aramazd Jr. is missing and may be in harm's way. I am pleading with the public to come forward with any knowledge of Aramazd Jr.'s whereabouts or information regarding the circumstances leading up to his disappearance."

When Andressian was released from custody, the sheriff's department said it had decided "not to present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office for filing consideration at this time. The matter remains under investigation."

Sheriff's Capt. Chris Bergner said the weekend the child disappeared that his father's statements had "been convoluted and not consistent."

Mendoza said Andressian's statements were "inconsistent and misleading" and he had not offered any additional information.

The boy's mother contacted police at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 22 to report her son missing. She said her estranged husband, with whom she shares custody of their son, had failed to drop off the child at a pre-arranged meeting place.



Andressian Jr. was last seen by his mother on April 18 on a Skype video call from an unknown location, South Pasadena police said.

The child is 4 feet 1 inches tall and 55 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a plaid shirt and plaid shorts and has a small mole on the bottom of his right shoulder.

Anyone with information about the boy's whereabouts was urged to call South Pasadena police at 626-403-729 or sheriff's detectives at 323-890-5500.

City News Service contributed to this report.


Federal and local law enforcement officials arrested close to two dozen suspected gang members Wednesday morning in the largest crackdown on the notorious MS-13 gang in Los Angeles at more than 50 locations, officials said.

"The case we're announcing today is the culmination of a three-year investigation," said Deidre Fike, FBI Assistant Director in Charge. The investigation, which started in June 2014, targeted the leadership and violent members in the gang, along with their ties to the Mexican Mafia.

Charges against 44 alleged members of MS-13 and Mexican Mafia associates were unsealed Wednesday morning, Fike said. Some 34 were charged with federal RICO violations, and five Mexican Mafia associates were charged "in a narcotics conspiracy." Two others were arrested for probable cause for narcotics and weapons violations, she added.

Another defendant "is named in a case filed under seal because he was a juvenile at the time of the alleged offenses," according to the Department of Justice. Three defendants who are not in custody are now considered fugitives.

FBI Media Relations

Of those who were charged, 21 were arrested during the raid Wednesday morning. Federal authorities said 20 of the other defendants were already in custody.

"The lead defendant in the RICO indictment is Jose Balmore Romero, also known as "Porky," 43, who in 2013 and 2014 was the overall shot-caller for MS-13 Los Angeles," according to the Department of Justice. Balmore allegedly oversaw the gang's drug trafficking activities, and coordinated collections of "extortionate 'taxes' and 'rent,'" which at times was given to Mexican Mafia members. He has been in custody since 2015.

"This gang is responsible for murders  both of rival gangsters and innocent bystanders  as well as drug dealing and extortion in many communities in the Los Angeles area," said Sandra R. Brown, Acting United States Attorney. "Today's charges and arrests, however, will deal a critical blow to the top leadership of this criminal organization and will significantly improve safety in neighborhoods across this region."

Acting United States Attorney Sandra R. Brown, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Deirdre Fike, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck and other officials discussed a MS-13 crackdown in Los Angeles Wednesday, May 17, 2017.

Three MS-13 members were charged in a racketeering indictment for murders they committed in connection with the gang, a statement from the Department of Justice read. They face a violent crime in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder charge for the alleged killings of three people in 2015, and are eligible for the death penalty if found guilty.

MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, is "one of the largest and most deeply entrenched gangs in Los Angeles. A gang that started here in Los Angeles but which has spread its mayhem across the United States and Central America," Brown said.

"In 2012 to 2014, we ranked them as number one as far as violence and criminal activity in a city known for violent street gangs," said Charlie Beck, Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. "That has changed. Over the last seven years we've seen a steady decline in Los Angeles in MS activity."

"This is an example of what has been effective," he said.

[2017 UPDATED 12/19] 2017 Southern California Images in the News

The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that the raid was "based on sealed federal indictments orchestrated before President Trump  took office."

Trump signed an executive order in February specifically directing federal law enforcement to focus resources on combating street gangs and transnational criminal organizations.



In April, Trump tweeted about the gang, blaming the Obama administration as a cause for their formation in American cities.

The weak illegal immigration policies of the Obama Admin. allowed bad MS 13 gangs to form in cities across U.S. We are removing them fast!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2017

MS-13 leaders in El Salvador were targeted for financial sanctions by the Obama administration in 2012 as part of an earlier executive order targeting such groups.

The investigation was led by the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department, and was conducted by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Authorities in Florida say a man fatally shot the owner of a tow truck company during a dispute over $285 he owed for his impounded vehicle.

Orlando police tell news outlets that 35-year-old Tremain Polk was arrested Tuesday evening. He is accused of first-degree murder in the death of 53-year-old Paul Gren.

The Orlando Sentinel reports Polk went to the Tow Truck Company to pick up his vehicle. Polk became angry when an employee said the bill was $285.

Police say Polk tried to enter the office, but stopped when the employee said she'd call police. He then jumped a fence, got into his car and was confronted by Gren.

An affidavit says Polk fired three shots at Gren from point-blank range.

Jail records don't list a lawyer for Polk.
When she visits Miami, Jennifer Leung enjoys spending time on Lincoln Road  savoring its fun vibe, the food, the people and of course the shopping. And it was during one of those visits, last November, that she ended up inside a boutique beauty store.

I got recruited off the street from young ladies giving out free samples of lotion, she said.

She made two separate transactions  the first for $321.

And before I left, they tried to sell me some more, she said.

She bought more items and signed a second receipt for $535, thinking the initial purchase would be credited, she said.

After I signed the second receipt with that understanding, then its no refunds, just exchanges and you need to contact our corporate store, she said.

She said she wasnt aware of the no refund policy, even though its written on the receipt. Jennifer was upset about what she considered a misunderstanding and returned to the store the following day. She left the unopened products on the counter, she said, and also filled out a customer claim form requesting a refund. The company initially offered to give her a partial refund of $300, she said.

But I really didnt like how they handled it and I was at the point where I just wanted nothing to do with them, [I] wanted the full refund  period, she said.

Jennifer filed complaints with different agencies and posted about her experience online. Months later, the company emailed her saying they would like to issue a full refund but first, she had to sign a settlement and send proof that she had removed all the complaints.

Im like what does that have to do with anything at all? she said. This was my honest experience.

In an email, the company told us Jennifers original request for refund was rightfully turned down since their refund policy is clearly started on the receipts she signed. But the company said they were still willing to issue a full refund, if she signed a settlement agreement. They did not address our questions about the request to remove the complaints, but FIU marketing professor Anthony Miyazaki told NBC 6 it isnt unusual for companies to do this.

Because online reputation matters so much, I think companies are becoming more aggressive in trying to protect their online reputation, Miyazaki said.

Jennifer, meanwhile, told us she decided to sign the agreement, so she can get back all of her money and move on.

It has been stressful dealing with it, she said.

We went online and searched for the review Jennifer wrote about the company, but couldnt find it.

Even though a company can ask you to remove a negative review, there is a new law that went into effect in 2016 that prevents them from punishing customers who post one. Its call the Consumer Review Fairness Act.
South Florida activist and women's rights champion Roxcy Bolton died early Wednesday at her home in Coral Gables at age 90.

Bolton was one of the founders of Florida's National Organization for Women chapter, founded the country's first rape treatment center at Jackson Memorial Hospital which was later named for her, and was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 1984.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen called Bolton a "trailblazer who helped rape victims and dedicated her life to women's rights" in a tweet Wednesday morning.

Among Bolton's achievements were gaining access for women to all-male restaurants at department stores, having hurricanes be named for men as well as women, and persuading President Richard Nixon to declare "Women's Rights Day" in 1972.

Bolton also founded the Women in Distress shelter for homeless women.
Several South Florida lawmakers were swift to deliver their reaction to a report that President Donald Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to shut down the Michael Flynn investigation. Congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle had stern words for the Trump administration.

Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo said if the allegations are true, "they mark the beginning of a new and very sad chapter of scandal and controversy."

"It's concerning and it opens up a new chapter of scandal and controversy in this country now we need to get to to the truth," said Rep. Curbelo.

"We need to find out what happened and no president. No government official no one in this country should be allowed to obstruct justice." Curbelo demanded an independent investigation into the matter.

Republican Rep. Mario-Diaz Balart issued a more reserved statement.

"As more concerning details emerge, it's important to reserve judgment until all of the facts are clear. I hope to get a full and complete briefing on said details when they become available," Balart said in a statement.

Retiring Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen had not released a statement regarding the Comey memo report.

Meanwhile, Democrats condemned President Trump. Rep. Frederica Wilson said she believes Trump will be impeached. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz added that "Trump is single handily eroding the rule of law."
What to Know When Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning walks out of prison Wednesday, she still wont be entirely free, NBC News reported

After five consecutive years of coverage gains, progress toward reducing the number of uninsured Americans stalled in 2016, a report says

Michael Moore is making a documentary about Republican President Trump and says the president should be worried, producers announce

Get the top headlines of the day in your morning briefing from NBC 4 New York, Monday through Friday. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Delta Tops in On-Time Flights, Spirit Worst for Complaints

Delta Air Lines scored the best for on-time flights in the latest government rankings, and United and American weren't far behind. Virgin America had the highest rate of delayed flights, and discount carrier Spirit Airlines drew the highest rate of consumer complaints. The Transportation Department released figures for March. The report covers the 12 largest U.S. airlines. Through the first three months of the year, airlines bumped one in every 16,000 passengers off a flight  the same rate as in early 2016. More commonly, airlines find volunteers to give up their seats on overbooked flights  that happened to about one in every 1,500 passengers, slightly less often than in early 2016. JetBlue had the highest rate of bumping, which it says can occur when a smaller plane replaces a larger one. Delta had the lowest bumping rate and the highest number of volunteers who gave up their seats.

Manning Set to Be Released From Prison, But Won't Quite Be Free

When Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning walks out of prison, she still wont be entirely free, NBC News reported. Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking a trove of military intelligence records, but President Obama commuted the sentence in January. Private First Class Manning, 29, will remain an active duty soldier in the U.S. Army. She won't be paid a salary and it's highly unlikely that she will be called to serve. But being placed on voluntary excess leave rather than discharged makes her vulnerable to new military punishment or charges if she steps out of line, said one of her attorneys.

Bullying Persists in School, Reports of Sex Crime Up, Study Shows

One in every 5 middle and high school students has complained of being bullied at school and the number of reports of sexual assault on college campuses has more than tripled over the past decade, according to a federal study. Even though the overall prevalence of bullying has been declining in American schools over the past decade, 21 percent of students aged 12-18 reported being bullied in 2015, the report found. That was slightly below the international average. The picture was bleaker for gay, lesbian and bisexual students. Thirty-four percent of students who identified as LGBT complained of bullying, compared to 19 percent who identified as heterosexual. The report also found a significant rise in reports of sexual assault on university campuses. Such instances jumped from 2,200 in 2001 to 6,700 in 2014.

Efforts to Reduce U.S. Uninsured Stalled in 2016, CDC Says

After five consecutive years of coverage gains, progress toward reducing the number of uninsured Americans stalled in 2016, according to a government report that underscores the stakes as Republicans try to roll back Barack Obama's law. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 28.6 million people were uninsured last year, unchanged from 2015. The uninsured rate was 9 percent, an insignificant difference from 9.1 percent in 2015. The numbers suggest the two main components of the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, were reaching their limits in Obama's final year as president. Premiums for private insurance were about to jump, and 19 states continued to refuse the ACA's Medicaid expansion. The number of uninsured could start climbing again under some of the policies now being considered by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. The politically unpopular GOP bill passed narrowly by the House would limit Medicaid financing and curtail subsidies for many consumers buying their own private policies.

Michael Moore Preps Surprise Documentary for Donald Trump, Producers Announce

Michael Moore is making a documentary about Republican President Trump and says the president should be worried. Producers Harvey and Bob Weinstein announced they have secured worldwide rights to the film, which Moore had dubbed "Fahrenheit 11/9." The name is taken from the day after the Nov. 8 election when Trump was declared the president-elect and is a reference to Moore's 2004 President George W. Bush documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11." Moore has been secretly working on the film for months and promises it will be explosive. Moore released "Michael Moore in Trumpland," based on a one-man show of his, shortly before the November election. Moore premiered that film just days after shooting it. He released it in theaters and on various other platforms, all the while warning liberals that Trump was going to win the election.

Rosario Dawson Finds 26-Year-Old Cousin Dead in Her Home

Rosario Dawson's cousin has died after she was found unresponsive in her Venice home, according to multiple reports. The 38-year-old actress discovered her 26-year-old cousin, Vaneza Ines Vasquez, was unconscious, TMZ reported and People Magazine later confirmed. Dawson called the paramedics straightaway, according to reports, but they were unable to revive Vasquez on the scene. She was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Vasquez was working for Dawson at the time of her death. A toxicology report is still pending, but an early autopsy report allegedly indicates that her death was likely due to natural causes. According to TMZ, Vasquez had been suffering from migraines and hypertension. Dawson has not publicly commented on her cousin's death.

The Bachelor's Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell Call It Quits

The wedding is off. "The Bachelor's" Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell have broken up. It is with heavy hearts that we announce our decision to go our separate ways," Higgins, 29, and Bushnell, 27, told People in a joint statement Monday. "We feel fortunate for the time we had together, and will remain friends with much love and respect for one another. We wish nothing but the best for each other, and ask for your support and understanding at this time." The couple met on Higgins' season of "The Bachelor," which premiered in January 2016. They went on to star in a spinoff, "Ben &Lauren: Happily Ever After?," that aired for a single season. Rumors of turmoil swirled in late January. At the time, Higgins denied there was anything wrong, saying, "I am still extremely lucky to be able to share life with her and be by her side."
What to Know A Coast Guard statement says air traffic control in Miami lost radar and radio contact with the twin-engine plane east of Eleuthera

The plane was en route from Puerto Rico to the small city of Titusville on the east coast of Florida when authorities lost contact Monday

The people on board the plane were identified as Jennifer Blumin and her young sons, all from NY, and Nathan Ulrich of New Hampshire

The search for a vanished plane carrying a high-end New York City event space designer, her two young boys and a pilot from New Hampshire stretched into a third day Wednesday, with rescuers scouring thousands of square miles of ocean.



Debris that appeared to be from a plane and an oil slick was spotted in the search area 15 miles east of Eleuthera, Bahamas, Tuesday afternoon, and Coast Guard officials say some of the debris was brought ashore for identification. It was confirmed to be components of a twin-engine MU-2B, the same kind 40-year-old Jennifer Blumin, her 3- and 4-year-old boys and 52-year-old Nathan Ulrich of New Hampshire were on when it disappeared.

#Update @USCG image of debris, confirmed components of an MU-2B aircraft recovered 15 miles E of Eleuthera, Bahamas; search continues. pic.twitter.com/lP0lSX0bld  USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 17, 2017

Officials say Blumin's plane was east of the island Monday when air traffic control in Miami lost radar and radio contact. It was en route from Puerto Rico and never made it to its destination of Titusville, on the northeastern coast of Florida. More than 8,200 square miles were covered in the first 30 hours of the search, Coast Guard officials say. The investigation is ongoing, and the National Transportation Safety Board tweeted Wednesday it was joining the probe.

Blumin is founder and CEO of Skylight Group, which provides event space around New York City, specializing in the fashion industry. The company released a statement Tuesday confirming that she and members of her family were on the plane.

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"Her family is working with investigators and we politely ask that you respect their privacy at this time," the company said.

Their plane was at about 24,000 feet when air traffic control lost contact, but authorities said adverse weather was not considered a factor.

Ulrich was listed as the pilot but it was not known who was flying it at the time, the spokesman said. Blumin owned the plane through a consulting company, according to New York State and aviation records.

Dramatic Images: Plane Crashes Near Teterboro Airport

Blumin has been in a long-term relationship with James Ramsey, president of RAAD Studio, an award-winning architecture and building design practice based in the city. Blumin's Twitter bio bills her as a "seeker of forgotten architecture hidden in urban grit. Believer that history should inspire the future." The description ends simply: #Entrepreneur.

The Cornell grad founded Skylight Group in 2004; the firm specializes in re-imagining historical spaces and developing them for high-end use, whether for the biggest icons in fashion or some other client. The firm's website pledges "access to the previously inaccessibly by creating and operating venues in unprecedented locations," and media praise suggests weight to the claim.



The people on board the plane were identified as Jennifer Blumin and her young sons, all from NY, and Nathan Ulrich of New Hampshire. Erica Byfield reports.

One 2014 New York Times article says, "If you have attended runway shows for Ralph Lauren, Prabal Gurung or Edun, or been to parties for the Whitney Museum of American Art or Google product debuts, youve been to an event held with the Skylight Group."



Skylight's New York portfolio includes One Hanson and Moynihan Station.



Ulrich is from Lee, New Hampshire, and is the ex-husband of Canadian-American actress Rae Dawn Chong. Chong, known for her roles in "The Color Purple" and "Commando," but perhaps best known as the daughter of comedian and actor Tommy Chong, acknowledged his disappearance in a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon.



"My ex-hubby's plane is missing over the Bermuda Triangle," Chong wrote. "I am sad and in shock. So send prayers to his family."



Ulrich's brother released a statement on behalf of the family as well.

"We were devastated and shocked to learn that Nathan, Jennifer and her children have been missing since leaving from Puerto Rico on Monday," the statement from Karl Ulrich said. "Nathan is our beloved son, brother and uncle and we wish for resolution as the Coast Guard search continues. Our prayers and thoughts are with the Blumin family and James Ramsey in this difficult time."

Karl Ulrich asked for privacy for the family going forward.

Authorities say Ulrich was a Coast Guard Auxiliarist out of Air Station Cape Code from 2005 to 2014. Auxiliarists usually work primarily on community outreach like boating classes, but in some cases, auxiliarists with private planes may assist in Coast Guard searches.

Surveillance video captured the chilling moment a small plane crashed as it was approaching Teterboro Airport on Monday afternoon.
What to Know A Coast Guard statement says air traffic control in Miami lost radar and radio contact with the twin-engine plane east of Eleuthera

The plane was en route from Puerto Rico to the small city of Titusville on the east coast of Florida when authorities lost contact Monday

The people on board the plane were identified as Jennifer Blumin and her young sons, all from NY, and Nathan Ulrich of New Hampshire

Authorities searched in the Bahamas on Tuesday for a small private plane carrying a high-end New York City event space designer, her two young boys and a pilot from New Hampshire that disappeared the day before.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the twin-engine MU-2B was east of the island of Eleuthera on Monday when air traffic control in Miami lost radar and radio contact with the plane. It was en route from Puerto Rico and never made it to its destination of Titusville, on the northeastern coast of Florida.

Debris that appeared to be from a plane and an oil slick was spotted in the search area east of Eleuthera but authorities were still trying to determine whether it came from the missing plane, said Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Kelly, a Coast Guard spokesman.

The people on board the plane were identified as Jennifer Blumin and her young sons, all from NY, and Nathan Ulrich of New Hampshire. Erica Byfield reports.

"We are still searching and that search is going to go on through the night and into tomorrow," Kelly said.

The people on board the plane were identified as Nathan Ulrich, 52, of Lee, New Hampshire, and Jennifer Blumin of New York, 40, along with her 3-year-old and 4-year-old sons.

Blumin was founder and CEO of Skylight Group, which provides event space around New York City, specializing in the fashion industry. The company released a statement confirming that she and members of her family were on the plane.

"Her family is working with investigators and we politely ask that you respect their privacy at this time," the company said.

Their plane was at about 24,000 feet when air traffic control lost contact. "There's no indication of significant adverse weather at the time," Kelly said.

Ulrich was listed as the pilot but it was not known who was flying it at the time, the spokesman said. Blumin owned the plane through a consulting company, according to New York State and aviation records.

Coast Guard aircraft were searching along with Customs and Border Patrol and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Eleuthera. A Coast Guard cutter was dispatched to the area and was expected to arrive later Tuesday to assist with the search.

Authorities say the mission is considered a rescue operation and it is actively ongoing; the Coast Guard says 810 square miles are being searched by multiple crews. A Coast Guard cutter was dispatched to the area and was expected to arrive later Tuesday to assist with the search as well.

According to data obtained from the plane's tail number, the aircraft is owned by a company called Ithaca Consulting Inc. on Waterview Drive in Southhold.



An online search for that company finds no business number or official website, but does list Blumin as CEO. The Coast Guard confirms she owns the plane. A Google search of the address connected to the tail number leads to a five-bedroom, three bathroom house at the location. Neighbors had no additional details Tuesday afternoon.



Blumin has been in a long-term relationship with James Ramsey, president of RAAD Studio, an award-winning architecture and building design practice based in the city. Blumin's Twitter bio bills her as a "seeker of forgotten architecture hidden in urban grit. Believer that history should inspire the future." The description ends simply: #Entrepreneur.

The Cornell grad founded Skylight Group in 2004; the firm specializes in re-imagining historical spaces and developing them for high-end use, whether for the biggest icons in fashion or some other client. The firm's website pledges "access to the previously inaccessibly by creating and operating venues in unprecedented locations," and media praise suggests weight to the claim.



One 2014 New York Times article says, "If you have attended runway shows for Ralph Lauren, Prabal Gurung or Edun, or been to parties for the Whitney Museum of American Art or Google product debuts, youve been to an event held with the Skylight Group."



Skylight's New York portfolio includes One Hanson and Moynihan Station.



Ulrich is from Lee, New Hampshire, and is the ex-husband of Canadian-American actress Rae Dawn Chong. Chong, known for her roles in "The Color Purple" and "Commando," but perhaps best known as the daughter of comedian and actor Tommy Chong, acknowledged his disappearance in a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon.



"My ex-hubby's plane is missing over the Bermuda Triangle," Chong wrote. "I am sad and in shock. So send prayers to his family."



Authorities say Ulrich was a Coast Guard Auxiliarist out of Air Station Cape Code from 2005 to 2014. Auxiliarists usually work primarily on community outreach like boating classes, but in some cases, auxiliarists with private planes may assist in Coast Guard searches.
What to Know Goya had sponsored the parade every year for its 60-year existence; it calls the move to pull sponsorship a business decision

Remaining sponsors for the parade include AT&T, Coca Cola and the New York Yankees

The parade will honor Oscar Lopez, who was freed Wednesday after 36 years in federal custody; Obama commuted his sentence in January

Goya Foods has decided not to sponsor New York City's annual Puerto Rican Day parade, calling the move a business decision.

The New Jersey-based Goya Foods had sponsored the parade every year for its 60-year existence, including the first parade in 1958.



Parade organizers say they're disappointed in the decision, which they say will jeopardize the 100 college scholarships the parade provides to students.

Remaining sponsors for the parade include AT&T, Coca Cola and the New York Yankees.

The June 11 parade will honor Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera. He was a member of the ultranationalist group Armed Forces of National Liberation, or FALN, that claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings across New York, Chicago, Washington and Puerto Rico in the 1970s and early 1980s.



Lopez was freed from federal custody Wednesday after 36 years. Former President Obama commuted his sentence in January.

Parade organizers say they do not condone violence.

(Disclosure: NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47 have been sponsors of the Puerto Rican Day parade.)
The men seen on video beating protesters outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in D.C. Tuesday are bodyguards for the country's president, senior U.S. officials tell NBC News.

Nine people were hurt and two arrests were made after an altercation broke out between two groups at the protest on 23rd Street NW, about a half-mile from Dupont Circle.

According to senior U.S. officials, the men seen beating the protesters were Erdogan's bodyguards and part of his official party.

"Thats something we will not tolerate here in Washington, D.C. This is a city where people should be allowed to come and peacefully protest," Metropolitan Chief of Police Peter Newsham said at Wednesday's press conference.

"We are going to pursue anything that is within our legal powers to hold the folks that were responsible for their actions," Newsham added.

Hours after Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, met with President Donald Trump, nearly a dozen people have been hurt outside the Turkish Ambassador's Residence. News4's Shomari Stone was live on the scene Tuesday night.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer had no comment on the reported incident. When asked if President Donald Trump had seen footage from the altercation, Spicer referred to the State Department's official comment released Wednesday.

"We are concerned by the violent incidents involving protesters and Turkish security personnel Tuesday evening," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. "Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest."

"We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms," the statement continued.

The Turkish Embassy released a statement late Wednesday, calling the melee an act of "self-defence" after members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party provoked people there to see President Erdogan.

"Groups affiliated with the PKK, which the U.S. and Turkey have designated as a terrorist organization, gathered yesterday without permit in Sheridan Circle in the immediate vicinity of the Ambassadors Residence, while the President of Turkey was visiting the Residence," the statement read. "The demonstrators began aggressively provoking Turkish-American citizens who had peacefully assembled to greet the President. The Turkish-Americans responded in self-defense and one of them was seriously injured. The violence and injuries were the result of this unpermitted, provocative demonstration. We hope that, in the future, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that similar provocative actions causing harm and violence do not occur.

[[414127913, C]]

The executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, Aran Hamparian, witnessed and recorded the incident.

"It was a pretty aggressive assault by people who were very well-prepared. I think they were security or bodyguards or part of that contingent that traveled with President Erdogan," Hamparian said.

Two men were arrested, including one who was charged with assaulting a police officer. The bodyguards were not among those arrested.

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More

D.C. police say they intend to pursue charges against other individuals involved.



The incident came the same day that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with President Donald Trump at the White House.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned what she called an "attack" at the ambassador's residence.

"What we saw yesterday -- a violent attack on a peaceful demonstration -- is an affront to DC values and our rights as Americans. I strongly condemn these actions and have been briefed by Chief Newsham on our response," she said in a statement. "The Metropolitan Police Department will continue investigating the incident and will work with federal partners to ensure justice is served."

The diplomatic immunity that foreign leaders typically are afforded usually applies to their security details as well, John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor Joseph Giacalone told NBC News.

Samantha Power, former President Barack Obama's ambassador to the United Nations, tweeted about the incident.

"Clearly Erdogan's guards feel complete impunity, drawing on tools of repression they use at home & knowing he has their back, no matter what," she wrote.
Surrounded by multiplying questions, President Donald Trump complained Wednesday that "no politician in history" has been treated worse. Democrats demanded an independent commission to dig into his firing of FBI Director James Comey, but Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan cautioned against "rushing to judgment."

Trump spoke about the importance of the Coast Guard, then pivoted to address the criticism he's receiving over revelations that Trump personally appealed to now-fired FBI Director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, allegations based on notes Comey wrote after the meeting.

"You will find that things happen to you that you do not deserve and are not always warranted, but you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight. Never, ever give up," he said. "No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly" by the media.

The White House has denied the reporting about Trump's meeting with Comey, amid a furor over the president's discussions with Russian diplomats in which Trump is said to have disclosed classified information. Congressional committees requested Comey's memo and other documentation from the FBI.

John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said late Tuesday that the developments had reached "Watergate size and scale," but House Speaker Paul Ryan argued Wednesday against a rush to judgment on the revelations while Congress exercises its oversight authority over the president.

"Our job is to be responsible, sober and focus only on gathering the facts. That is what Congress does in conducting oversight of the executive branch," he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice on Wednesday appointed Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, as special counsel to oversee the Rusia investigation.

In a twist on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to turn over to Congress his diplomats' records of Trump's Oval Office discussions with them.

The White House has played down the importance and secrecy of the information Trump gave to the Russians, which had been supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement. Trump himself said he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia. Yet U.S. allies and some members of Congress expressed concern bordering on alarm.

Putin told a news conference that he would be willing to turn over notes of Trump's meeting with the Russian diplomats if the White House agreed. He dismissed outrage over Trump's disclosures as U.S. politicians whipping up "anti-Russian sentiment."

As for Comey, whom Trump fired last week, the FBI director wrote in a memo after a February meeting at the White House that the new president had asked him to shut down the FBI's investigation of Flynn and his Russian contacts, said a person who had read the memo. The Flynn investigation was part of a broader probe into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.

Comey's memo, an apparent effort to create a paper trail of his contacts with the White House, would be the clearest evidence to date that the president has tried to influence the investigation.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Republican chairman of the House oversight committee, sent a letter to the FBI on Tuesday requesting that it turn over all documents and recordings that detail communications between Comey and Trump. He said he would give the FBI a week and then "if we need a subpoena, we'll do it." He also tweeted that he scheduled a hearing for Comey on Wednesday, May 24.

Cummings, the panel's top Democrat and a constant Trump critic, called the allegation of Trump pressure on Comey "explosive" and said "it appears like a textbook case of criminal obstruction of justice."

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said simply, "It would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the White House."

The person who described the Comey memo to the AP was not authorized to discuss it by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The existence of the memo was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times.

The White House vigorously denied it all. "While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House statement said.

Trump fired Flynn on Feb. 13, on grounds that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russians.

The intensifying drama comes as Trump is set to embark Friday on his first foreign trip, which had been optimistically viewed by some aides as an opportunity to reset an administration floundering under an inexperienced president.

When Trump fired Comey, he said he did so based on Comey's very public handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe and how it affected his leadership of the FBI. But the White House has provided differing accounts of the firing. And lawmakers have alleged that the sudden ouster was an attempt to stifle the bureau's investigation into Trump associates' ties to Russia's meddling in the campaign.

The leaders of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said Wednesday they had invited Comey to appear in open and closed sessions.

Senator Richard Burr, R-NC, and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., also said they sent another letter to Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe "seeking any notes or memorandum prepared by the former director regarding any communications he may have had with senior White House and Department of Justice officials related to investigations into Russia's efforts."

The Senate Judiciary Committee requested the memos from the FBI as well, and asked for "records of interactions with former Director Comey, including any audio recordings," wrote senators Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa; Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Lindsey Graham, R-SC, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI.

According to the Times, Comey wrote in the February memo that Trump told him Flynn had done nothing wrong. Comey said he replied that "I agree he is a good guy" but said nothing to Trump about limiting the investigation.

The newspaper said Comey was in the Oval Office that day with other national security officials for a terrorism threat briefing. When that ended, Trump asked everyone to leave except Comey, and he eventually turned the conversation to Flynn.

The administration spent the first half of Tuesday defending Trump's disclosure of classified information to senior Russian officials. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said the president's comments were "wholly appropriate." He used that phrase nine times in his briefing to reporters.

The highly classified information about an Islamic State plot was collected by Israel, a crucial source of intelligence and close partner in the fight against some of the America's fiercest threats in the Middle East.

Some of the intelligence Trump provided is so secret that American news organizations are still being asked not to report it, two U.S. officials told NBC News, casting doubt on the assertion that sharing it was appropriate.

Trump's disclosure of the information threatened to fray that partnership and piled pressure on the White House to explain the apparently on-the-spot decision to reveal the information to Russian diplomats in the Oval Office.

A U.S. official who confirmed the disclosure to The Associated Press said the revelation potentially put the source at risk.

Associated Press writers Vivian Salama and Jill Colvin contributed.
School bus drivers and crossing guards will soon be able to administer potentially life-saving medications without fear of being sued.



Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed what is now called Act No. 2 Tuesday.

"The new law amends the Public School Code to provide civil immunity to school bus drivers and crossing guards who administer an epinephrine auto-injector, or EpiPen, to a student who experiences an allergic reaction," House Bill 224 sponsor Rep. Justin Simmons, R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton, said in a news release.

"I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to finally get this important piece of legislation enacted," Simmons said. "In this case, perseverance paid off, and now bus drivers and crossing guards can administer this medication to a student in medical distress without the fear of any legal consequences, possibly saving a life." [[238427591, C]]

The new act doesnt mandate that school districts or school bus operators enact an EpiPen policy, but allows for policies to be enacted without the fear of civil litigation, Simmons said. Bus drivers or crossing guards will need to complete a state Department of Health training program and meet school district policies to administer an EpiPen in case of emergency.



Senator Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, sponsored companion legislation in the state Senate.

The new law takes effect in 60 days.
A judge has rejected a motion to overturn the death sentence of a sniper who killed a Pennsylvania state trooper and wounded another outside their barracks.

Michael Weinstein, one of the attorneys for 34-year-old Eric Frein, says Monday's ruling by a Pike County judge was "anticipated" and that the case will likely eventually wind up before the state Supreme Court.

The defense motion was the first since Frein was convicted last month in the 2014 murder of Cpl. Bryon Dickson II outside the Blooming Grove barracks. Trooper Alex Douglass was also wounded by Frein, who was caught after a 48-day manhunt. [[238427591, C]]

Frein's attorneys argued that emotional testimony by Dickson's widow unfairly overrode any "logical reasoned moral decision the jury could make" to spare Frein's life.

District Attorney Ray Tonkin has praised Monday's ruling.
A Delaware pursuit ended on a Pennsylvania highway Wednesday morning.

Delaware State Police confirmed they chased a suspect who fled on Interstate 95.

SkyForce10 captured footage of police surrounding a pickup truck on the side of the highway in Tinicum Township, Pennsylvania, near the Philadelphia International Airport.

The police investigation caused a backup on I-95 north.

No word yet on where the chase began.
A Philadelphia student who was injured in a charter tour bus crash is speaking out for the first time as she and her classmates continue to recover.

On Monday Kayla Daniels, 13, was on a bus carrying 25 other students at Charles W. Henry School along with three chaperones and a driver. The students were headed to a field trip in Washington, D.C. Daniels told NBC10 it was a trip she and her classmates had been looking forward to.

"We're all going to different high schools so it was fun that we would actually have the chance to be all together on one trip," she said.

Timeline of Philly Students' Tour Bus Crash on I-95 in Maryland

Daniels said they were all singing songs as the bus drove on I-95 in northeastern Maryland near Havre de Grace when a blue sedan began to pass them on the left. The car lost control and clipped the front of the bus, causing it to overturn, according to State Police.

"Then all of a sudden the bus started swerving and one of the kids yelled," Daniels said. "The first time it flipped over I guess I hit my head because after that I went to sleep and I don't remember anything else happening."

Dozens of students from a Philadelphia school were injured during a tour bus crash on I-95. NBC10s Brandon Hudson has the details and speaks to the grandmother of one of the students.

Daniels suffered bruises to her face. As of Tuesday, four of her classmates as well as a teacher, Brittany Jacobs, remain hospitalized. Jacobs, a special education teacher, is in critical condition.

"Miss Jacobs, she's always there whenever I need a problem solved," Daniels said.

After local students and teachers were among the passengers on a bus that crashed in Maryland on Monday, members of the Charles W. Henry School in Philadelphia are reacting.

Parents are thankful to the first responders, including a bus full of Philadelphia Police officers who were at the right place at the right time on I-95.

Vai Sikahema and Tracy Davidson talk with the President of the FOP, John McNesby, who has details about the Philadelphia Police who were directly behind a bus crash in Maryland. The bus was transporting children from the Philadelphia area on a class field trip.

"Give a thanks out to the officers who actually jumped out and helped them," said Kayla's father Haidache Daniels. "Put my hands out and clap. Because God sent them and if they weren't there, this situation might have been worse."



A police officer who helped rescue Philadelphia students and teachers following a tour bus crash on I-95 in Maryland spoke to NBC10s Denise Nakano in an exclusive interview.
Police arrested a man accused of filming a teen girl and then attacking and tying her up at knifepoint inside the bathroom of a Barnes and Noble store in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

The 14-year-old girl told police she was visiting the store in the Broadcasting Square shopping center in Wyomissing with her boyfriend and his mother around 8 p.m. Tuesday. The girl said she entered the womens restroom and noticed a man holding a cellphone over the top of the bathroom stall she was in. The girl told investigators she believed the man was using it to photograph or record her.

Police say the man then attacked the girl as she walked out of the stall. He allegedly forced her at knifepoint into another stall, threatened her and bound her with zip ties. The girl struggled with the suspect, causing him to cut himself with the knife and bleed, police said.

The girl told investigators the man continued to hold her inside the stall while he bled on the floor, but eventually agreed to cut the ties from her wrists. The girl said her boyfriends mother then went into the bathroom to check on her and she broke free from his hold. The suspect then ran out of the bathroom, police said.

Responding officers apprehended the suspect, identified as Dustin Cornelius, 19, of Richland, Pennsylvania. Police found him in possession of the knife and they also recovered his cellphone and zip ties. Cornelius was treated for a cut at a local hospital and committed to the Berks County Prison after failing to post bail.

Cornelius was charged with unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, simple assault and harassment.

The girl told police she had never seen Cornelius prior to the incident.


One San Diego-area lawmaker told NBC 7 it's the president's "prerogative" to share intelligence.



U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R - 50th District) issued a statement Tuesday that it's not "truly known to what extent information was actually relayed."

The President has a prerogative to share certain details or not share certain details in settings of his choice," Hunter said.

Israel was the key American partner who provided ISIS-related intelligence that President Donald Trump shared with Russian diplomats at a meeting last week, NBC News reported.

Israel's involvement, first reported by The New York Times, was confirmed by three government officials with knowledge of the matter.

On Tuesday, the White House defended Trump's discussing information, reported to be highly classified and involving an ISIS plot on airplanes, with Russia. But the disclosure ignited a firestorm of controversy in Washington, D.C.

Reached through a spokesperson, Rep. Hunter said, "Its a lesson to do better understanding the threat of leaks especially, although its important to fully understand the extent of information conveyed and whether it compromises any relationship or asset."


San Diego police are investigating the deaths of a husband and wife, found with gunshot wounds inside their multi-million dollar home on Mount Soledad.

A 911 caller reported the woman was found dead on the couch inside the Avenida Fiesta home at approximately 7:30 p.m. The woman's son made the discovery and asked a friend to call police.

Officers responded and searched for a possible gunman inside the home. They found the woman's husband dead inside.

Parvaneh Jilavi, 60, and her 80-year-old husband, John Mattiace, used to run a hospice inside the home and had recently renovated it and put it on the market, according to neighbors.

A motive has not been determined, SDPD homicide detectives said.

NBC 7 spoke to neighbor Mary Castro, who said her father was still inside their home and unable to leave due to the police activity.

Castro said her dad told her the body had been removed from the home. SWAT was called out in case there was a suspect still inside with a gun.

"This is a quiet neighborhood, none of this stuff ever happens," she added. "I'm just kind of worried that if there is gunfire, my family is going to be in danger."
Hepatitis C rates in the United States soared to a 15-year high, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week, but while the virus kills more Americans than any other infections disease reported to the CDC, now theres a cure.

Hepatitis C was officially discovered and named in 1989. Up to 3.5 million Americans live with hepatitis C, and the majority of them are baby boomers. Because it is often asymptomatic, the only way to diagnose it is through a blood test.

In general, it's a silent killer because you don't really know you have it, hepatitis C patient Duncan MacInnes.

The virus can eventually lead to severe liver damage, cancer or cirrhosis, and death.

It is transmitted by blood -- transfusions or sharing dirty needles are two common ways to get it.

MacInnes believes he got it while working overseas for the State Department. He said a doctor used a dirty needle. A routine blood test showed something was wrong.

At that time they didn't treat hepatitis C because they didn't have a handle on it, he said.

That has changed and health officials are urging diagnoses because there is a cure.

Nowadays, hepatitis C is easily treated with one pill, once a day for eight to 24 weeks, said Andrea Keller, a physician's assistant from MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute who has treated Duncan.

In Duncan's case, he was one of our very first rounds, he was treated with DAAs, which are direct acting antivirals, where he needed two pills once a day for a period of 24 weeks, Keller said.

In 2013, MacInnes was free of hepatitis C after many years of unsuccessful treatment.

A new variety of antivirals that are direct acting that can interfere in the lifecycle of the virus by inserting themselves into the lifecycle of the virus, MacInnes said. Definitely a miracle drug.

Hep C used to be a death sentence for people when they were first diagnosed, similar to HIV when it was initially diagnosed, but now with new treatments and companies continuing to create new treatments, people are surviving much longer, Keller.

With cases of hepatitis C being cured, the rate of liver transplants due to hepatitis C is going down and the liver disease concerning doctors is fatty liver disease, according to Dr. Rohit Satoskar of MedStar Georgetown.

So fatty liver disease is where there is abnormal deposition of fat in the liver, he said. And that can occur from two different things. One, from excess alcohol use, though when we talk about fatty liver disease, we usually talk about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, so these are people that dont drink, but they have excess fat in the liver.

Obesity is a leading cause. Satoskar said he believes up to 30 percent of the population has fatty liver disease.

Blood tests can help, and a FibroScan can test for liver damage and also for fatty liver disease, bypassing the need for a biopsy.
Families who bought benches in Ocean City, Maryland, to memorialize lost loved ones thought they would be able to sit on the benches forever and look out onto the Atlantic Ocean.

But the town now says the families will each need to pay a restoration fee of more than $1,100 if they want to keep the benches in place.

Families who bought memorial benches in Ocean City were told by letter that they have three options: pay a $1,161 fee to have their bench restored and kept in place, donate the bench to the town, or remove the bench and keep it.

The Seaton family was dismayed when they recently received the letter. They bought a bench for $1,370 and dedicated it to their daughter, Stacey Seaton. She was murdered in 2005, at age 17.

"I know they're looking at it strictly from a business point of view, running a city, but there's more to it than that. It's an emotional thing," Stacey Seaton's father, Mike Seaton said.

Her family and friends visit the bench every year and say it gives them a sense of peace.

"We don't have a grave site for her, so we talk to Stacey there," Mike Seaton said.

Before Stacey Seaton was killed, she said she wanted a memorial bench, her mother recalled.

"I said, 'Sweetie, these are memorial benches for when people die.' And she goes, 'I want you to buy me one of those.' I said, 'Eighty years down the road, when you die, your family will buy you one.' Five days later, she was murdered," Gale Seaton said.

Right away, the Seatons looked into getting a bench to honor their daughter's wishes.

"I thought that might be a little steep, but then I thought, this is forever," Gale Seaton said.

The benches need to be repaired or replaced because they did not hold up as well as expected, Ocean City spokeswoman Jessica Waters said.

This is a tough decision. We understand people are upset," she said.

If the town cannot reach the owner of a bench, it will be removed and stored, Waters said.

About 975 people have purchased memorial benches. And they may get asked to pay another fee in the future; the benches are only expected to last 10 years.

The Seatons said they're still figuring out what to do. They're leaning toward bringing Stacey's bench home.
D.C. police said they are still actively investigating the death of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich as a botched robbery, despite a news report that resurrected a conspiracy theory about the case.

The Metropolitan Police Department and the deputy mayor for public safety, Kevin Donahue, told News4 they are still actively investigating the Rich homicide, and the conspiracy theories surrounding the case are not true.

"Our homicide branch is actively investigating Mr. Richs murder, and we continue to work with the Rich family to bring closure to the case as we do with all homicide cases," said Dustin Sternbeck, a spokesman for the police department.



"This is a robbery that ended tragically. Thats bad enough for our city, and I think it is irresponsible to conflate this into something that doesnt connect to anything that the detectives have found," Donahue said. "No WikiLeaks connection."

Richs family also released a statement on Tuesday, denying the details of a story on Fox News.

"As weve seen through the past year of unsubstantiated claims, we see no facts. We have seen no evidence. We have been approached with no emails and only learned about this when contacted by the press," Richs family said in a statement. "We are a family who is committed to facts, not fake evidence that surfaces every few months to fill the void and distract law enforcement and the general public from finding Seths murderers."

Rich was killed early on July 10, 2016, as he was walking to his home in the Bloomingdale section of Washington, D.C. Police have been investigating the case as a robbery that turned deadly, but a news report from Fox News Monday night stirred up old conspiracy theories surrounding this unsolved case.

A private detective, Rod Wheeler, told a Fox news station there is evidence of email exchanges between Rich and WikiLeaks, an organization that publishes secret information, news leaks and classified media from anonymous sources. It was WikiLeaks that exposed embarrassing DNC emails that impacted Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016.

The Fox report said the FBI examined Richs computer, and it showed more than 44,000 DNC emails and 17,761 attachments were sent to a person with connections at WikiLeaks.

However, the FBI Washington field office said they have never examined Richs laptop, because the D.C. police never asked for their assistance.

Wheeler also claimed D.C. police detectives investigating the case were told to stand down.

Totally false, Donahue said in response to that claim.

Lobbyist lawyer Jack Burkman has posted a $105,000 reward for information in this case. He said he is doing his own investigation and doesnt know about the alleged emails between Rich and WikiLeaks.

"I dont know. I dont know," Burkman said. I want to see the emails that (Wheeler) says he has. Ive got to see the evidence. We just dont have any evidence."

Burkman said he does not think it was a robbery gone bad.
Officers shot and killed a Virginia woman armed with a gun in southwest D.C. Tuesday, police said.

D.C. police received a report of a crash in the 100 block of Joliet Street SW, near the Bald Eagle Recreation Center. When officers arrived before 7 p.m., the situation had escalated to a report of a woman with a gun, police said.

After 41-year-old Isabelle Duval of Winchester was involved in a crash, she got out of her vehicle armed with a semiautomatic pistol, Police Chief Peter Newsham said. She waved the gun around, according to witness Troy Scott.

On her knees right in front of the rec center, she ignored several commands from police to drop the weapon and raised it toward officers, Newsham said. Two officers fired their weapons.

A witness said he heard at least four shots. News4 found six bullet holes in the rec center's wall.

The woman was taken to a local hospital. Shortly before 10 p.m., authorities announced the woman had died.

Newsham said investigators are speaking with witnesses. He voiced concern about gunfire in an area where children were playing.

We shouldnt have a firearm discharge in this city at all, he said. It is extremely dangerous. Not only is it dangerous, it scares people, especially young people.

Police said they will review surveillance footage from street cameras and from a Metrobus that was in the area. The officers' body cameras were on, Newsham said.

The officers involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave, per department policy.
There was a visual protest against the Trump administration Monday night as words were projected onto the front of the Trump Hotel in northwest Washington.

"Pay Trump bribes here" and part of a clause in the U.S. Constitution, which bars the president from receiving gifts or payments from foreign governments or heads of state, appeared on the hotel exterior throughout the night.

Artist Robin Bell told Washingtonian Magazine he wanted to bring attention to what he sees as corruption in office.
Authorities believe they have found debris from a Florida-bound private plane that vanished in the Bermuda Triangle, but have not given up searching for the four people on board, including a prominent New York businesswoman and her two children.

Material recovered from the sea east of the Bahamian island of Eleuthera was determined to have come from a twin-engine MU-2B aircraft, the type that air traffic control lost contact with as it traveled from Puerto Rico to Titusville on Monday, said Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Kelly, a Coast Guard spokesman.

"The debris does match up with that style of aircraft and we have notified the family," Kelly said.

A search for the people on board was ongoing and expected to continue, he said, noting that water temperature, weather and ocean conditions were "favorable for survivability."

#Update @USCG image of debris, confirmed components of an MU-2B aircraft recovered 15 miles E of Eleuthera, Bahamas; search continues. pic.twitter.com/lP0lSX0bld  USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 17, 2017

"We're optimistic. And we'll remain optimistic throughout the search," Kelly said.

#Update @USCG crews have covered more than 8,200 sq mi over 30 hrs in search E of Eleuthera, Bahamas, for overdue plane. Search continues  USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 17, 2017

The people on board the plane were identified as Nathan Ulrich, 52, of Lee, New Hampshire, and Jennifer Blumin of New York, 40, along with her 3-year-old and 4-year-old sons.

Blumin is the founder and CEO of Skylight Group, a New York-based event space company specializing in the fashion industry. Skylight confirmed Blumin and members of her family were on the plane in a statement.

"Her family is working with investigators and we politely ask that you respect their privacy at this time," the company said.

Ulrich was listed as the pilot but it was not known who was flying it at the time, Kelley said.

Karl Ulrich, Nathan's brother, said in a statement Tuesday evening that the family was "devastated and shocked" by news of the missing plane.

"Nathan is our beloved son, brother and uncle and we wish for resolution as the Coast Guard search continues," the Ulrich family statement said. "Our prayers and thoughts are with the Blumin family and James Ramsey in this difficult time."



Ulrich served as a Coast Guard Auxiliary pilot out of Air Station Cape Cod from 2005 to 2014. According to neighbors in Lee, Ulrich co-owned Xootr, a company that manufactures kick scooters and folding bicycles.

Their plane was at about 24,000 feet when air traffic control lost contact. Officials said it's unknown why the plane never made it to its destination.

"There's no indication of significant adverse weather at the time," Kelly said.

Asked during a press conference Tuesday whether the plane's disappearance in the fabled Bermuda Triangle confounds the rescue mission, Kelley said the Coast Guard doesn't take "folklore or myth into consideration when we're conducting a search and rescue mission."

The Coast Guard said it had covered more than 5,260 square miles in a search that was centered about 15 miles east of Eleuthera.



According to New York State and aviation records, the plane was registered to Ithaca Consulting, the same Southold, New York, address for Blumin and Manhattan architect James Ramsey.



The couple's renovated Tribeca loft was featured on an episode of "Open House NYC" in 2015. It was not immediately clear if the two were still married.

This episode of Open House featured architect James Ramsey and his wife Jennifer Blumin. The video from the 2015 episode shows the couples New York living space. The U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday is actively searching for a small plane, with Blumin and her 2 children on board, that went missing on a Florida-bound flight from Puerto Rico.
A car hit a house and crashed into an attached barn at a mobile petting zoo location in Derry, New Hampshire Tuesday evening.

Police say the crash happened at 21 Kendall Pond Road around 9:46 p.m.

An Audi sedan had left the road, struck an embankment, wooden fence, and became airborne before striking the side of the house and landing in the barn.

The driver of the car was able to get out of the car before arrival of fire crews. He was evaluated and transported to Parkland Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries.

The owners of the residence run a mobile petting zoo at the location, but luckily the car struck the section of the house used for storage of supplies and equipment.

There were no injuries to the residents or any animals.

A husband and wife were home at the time of the crash, and stated that it felt like a "freight train" had just gone through their yard.

Derry PD

The damage left one corner of an enclosed porch unsupported, and a corner support post of the barn was destroyed leaving that corner of the barn unsupported. There was also significant damage to non-load bearing walls of both the porch and the barn.

Crews constructed a door shore for the porch, a T-shore for the barn and laced them together.

The accident is under investigation by the Derry Police Department.
Neighbors of Lee, New Hampshire, resident Nathan Ulrich say they are stunned by the news he was on board a plane that has gone missing in the Caribbean.

"I hope that he's OK," said neighbor Nathaniel Meyer.

Ulrich was on board a private plane with Jennifer Blumin and her 4-year-old and 3-year-old sons. Blumin is a well-known event space designer in New York City.

Neighbors say Ulrich is a researcher who also owned a scooter manufacturing business.

"Nate was easy to get along with," said neighbor David Stafford. "He was real friendly."

Ulrich, Blumin and her boys flew from Puerto Rico Monday Morning for Titusville, Florida. According to the Coast Guard, the plane disappeared from radar and Miami Air Control lost contact with the plane near the Bahamas on Monday afternoon.

The Coast Guard recovered debris from the search area near the island of Eleuthera on Tuesday afternoon. But they could not confirm it was from the missing plane.

"I hope they got out," Meyer said. "I hope the debris field is minor and it's just floatation devices and that they made it out OK."

The missing plane in is a twin engine MU-2B, investigators say it belonged to Blumin.

Ulrich is a licensed pilot, who also served as a Coast Guard Auxiliary pilot at air station Cape Cod.
A New Hampshire lawmaker has been arrested and charged with two counts of driving while intoxicated, stemming from a May 4 incident in Pembroke.

The Concord Monitor reports Rep. James Spillane of Deerfield is scheduled for an arraignment Friday. Spillane could not immediately be reached for comment.

House Speaker Shawn Jasper says such incidents reflect poorly on the entire New Hampshire House. But he says the House must "let due process take its course."

Spillane pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in 2010.

He is serving his third term in the Legislature, where he sits on the Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee.
The search for a 20-year-old Duke University student who went missing after leaving a late-night party over the weekend is continuing on Wednesday.

Search teams expanded their range from Franklin, Massachusetts, to neighboring Bellingham on Tuesday to look for any sign of Michael Doherty, who never made it home from a party over the weekend.

"We are desperately hoping Michael is going to come home," his mother, Nancy Doherty, said on Wednesday. "That's all we want. We are devastated, heartbroken... Our son was the love of our life. We're not sure what to do."

The 2015 Xaverian Brothers High School graduate was last seen leaving a gathering of about 25 childhood friends on Phyllis Lane in Franklin at 1:30 a.m. Sunday. He had just returned home from college for summer break last week.

His parents reported him missing after he didn't return home from the party. His family said Doherty texted his brothers asking for a ride at 12:30 a.m., but they were already asleep. Doherty ultimately decided to walk roughly a mile to his home.

"He probably thought it was a shortcut through the woods," his mother said.



Police searched a wooded area and stream nearby on Monday. On Tuesday, police dispatched additional resources to the search, with K9 units on land and dive teams in Mine Brook. Helicopters and drones are also participating in the search.

Authorities also announced Tuesday that they found a shirt and shoe on one side of the water and another shoe on the opposite embankment. They said it does not appear they washed up there, based on their condition.

Residents in Bellingham's Maple Street area received reverse 911 calls Tuesday afternoon asking them to check their sheds after a bloodhound followed Doherty's scent through the woods at the end of Oak Street Extension in Franklin. They were continuing to search on the Bellingham side of the marshy area on Wednesday.

"I think everybody out there can understand what this family is going through. It's unimaginable," Deputy Franklin police Chief James Mill said Wednesday. "Everybody - all the searchers, the rescuers, all the volunteers - they're desperate to find him."



Mill said the searchers were out at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday and will continue searching until nightfall.

"It's still very marshy and watery in areas," he said, "but there's some upland area, so it's not going to be as difficult as the past two days."

Doherty was wearing a blue shirt with a Nike symbol along with black pants and sneakers when he disappeared. He is described as about 5'10" tall, with brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Franklin police at 508-528-1212.

There is no indication of foul play at this point.

On Tuesday evening, hundreds of people gathered at Franklin Commons for a candlelight vigil, showing support to Doherty's family. Those in attendance were asked to wear blue and white for Duke University, or their jerseys if they played a sport with Doherty.


A Vermont woman is facing drunken driving and child cruelty charges after crashing her car with a young child inside the vehicle.

Vermont State Police say 24-year-old Shannon Pinsonneault of Bennington was driving a Hyundai Sonata northbound on Route 7 in Pownal on Wednesday just before 4:30 a.m. when her vehicle left the road and hit a telephone pole.

Responding troopers arrested her for driving under the influence of alcohol and cruelty to a child after finding a young child inside her vehicle.

Pinsonneault was released on a citation to appear in Bennington Superior Court on June 5.

It's unclear if she has an attorney.
Lawmakers around New England are already reacting to the latest bombshell to rock the White House.

Maine's independent Sen. Angus King told CNN that if the reports of President Donald Trump asking former FBI Director James Comey to drop the agency's investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, are true, then it comes close to obstruction of justice, which are grounds for impeachment.

"It certainly appears to meet the definition in the [obstruction] statue," King said while on on "Hardball With Chris Matthews" later.

WCSH6 reports King later clarified with Maine reporters that it's too early to talk about removing President Trump, insisting he didn't want to get ahead of facts.

Trump's alleged conversation with Comey emerged in an internal memo the former FBI director wrote after the fact, multiple sources with first hand knowledge of the memo told NBC News Tuesday.

The memo was first reported by The New York Times.

Meanwhile, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) called the memo a "textbook ... case of an attempt to obstruct justice."

Rhode Island's other Democratic senator, Sen. Jack Reed, called the Comey memo reports "alarming."

"The allegations in this memo depict a President who doesn't seem to fully grasp the responsibilities of his office, lack integrity, and thinks he's above the law," Reed said in a statement.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) continued to call for a special prosecutor to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

"I am not a psychologist," Sanders said while at a town hall debate with Ohio Gov. John Kasich. "But there is something strange going on with Mr. Trump, who lies all the time. This is not a typical president."

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) tweeted out, "Memos, tapes, testimony, appt [sic] of special prosecutor -- all are needed ASAP to get to the bottom of this cascading crisis."

The Comey memo news came a week after Comey learned he was fired from TV reports while speaking at the bureau's Los Angeles office, which sparked a massive backlash from both Democrats and Republicans. Trump also stirred controversy with a visit from Russia's foreign minister and ambassador to the U.S. on Wednesday, and reversed his White House's story regarding his decision to fire Comey while in an interview with Lester Holt for "NBC Nightly News" Thursday.

On Monday, The Washington Post reported President Trump revealed classified information with Russia during Wednesday's meeting regarding ISIS, which was information provided by a third country. The White House has denied Monday's report.
Lawmakers across New England are calling reports of President Donald Trump sharing classified intelligence with Russians "troubling" and "disturbing."

Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, said that while Trump has the legal authority to declassify information, it would be very "troubling" if he did. She also called for the Senate Intelligence Committee to be immediately briefed.

"Jeopardizing the sources and methods that support our intelligence gathering apparatus, or those of an ally, are of grave concern," Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said in a series of tweets.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) also took to Twitter in the aftermath of the Washington Post's explosive report.

"Congress must investigate Trump's irresponsible action & take steps to ensure he does no addl [sic] damage to natl sec [sic] in his dealings w [sic] #Russia," he wrote.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, another independent who caucuses with Democrats, said in a series of tweets that Trump is "failing" at protecting the country.

"A week ago Trump fired Comey. Now this," he tweeted. "It's vitally important that Trump make public any recordings he has of talks in the Oval Office."

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) couldn't help but wonder on Twitter why Republicans would chant "Lock her up" in reference to former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's email server scandal, but are staying relatively quiet regarding Trump allegedly revealing classified information to Russia.

"President Trump has long been careless with the truth, but now he appears to have gone further," he tweeted.

Rhode Island's other Democratic senator, Jack Reed, called Trump's recklessness "deeply disturbing and clearly problematic."

"I don't believe the President intentionally meant to reveal highly secretive information to the Russians," he continued. "But if the Washington Post report is accurate then the President crossed a line that could have a real negative impact on national security and harm relations with our allies."

New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she was "very concerned" about President Trump's alleged intelligence sharing and called for a classified briefing for members of the Senate.

"All potential Trump tapes should be subpoenaed to uncover truth and preserve evidence - both Comey and meeting with Russians," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) tweeted.

Connecticut's other Democratic senator, Chris Murphy, was succinct with a tweeted statement.

"It didn't start last week," he said. "This Administration has been off the rails since Spicer went to the podium to complain about inauguration totals."


Donations of Surplus Food  The Horstead Centre Donations of Surplus Food  The Horstead Centre

Feeding up to 60 residents a day at this Norfolk Broads residential activity centre can lead to the problem of surplus food but Centre Manager, Josie Barnett ensures that it is not wasted by donating surplus food to Bishopbridge House night shelter in Norwich.

The Horstead Centre is a residential activity centre set on the edge of the Norfolk Broads. As an independent charity, run on behalf of the Diocese of Norwich, it provides residential breaks and activity days to youth groups, schools, community and church groups.



Feeding up to 60 residents a day can lead to the problem of surplus food but Centre Manager, Josie Barnett ensures that this is not wasted. When she arrived at The Horstead Centre Josie informally introduced the practice of regularly donating any surplus in-date cooked or packaged food left over following residential stays to Bishopbridge House in Norwich.



The food donated can be enough to provide up to 30 meals twice a week to those seeking shelter from the streets at this direct access and resettlement hostel run by St Martins Housing Trust.



Josie said: As a family we have always taken food to the night shelter when we have over catered. When I came to work at The Horstead Centre it seemed a natural thing to take surplus food in the same way.



Bishopbridge House has 30 bedrooms available to single people who would otherwise be sleeping rough. 10 rooms are used to provide direct access accommodation from the street and these residents have their meals provided. 20 rooms are used to prepare residents to move into independent accommodation, providing a route out of homelessness.

Factfile
Microsofts top lawyer has blamed the governments stockpiling of hacking tools as part of the reason for the WannaCry attack, the worldwide ransomware that has hit hundreds of thousands of systems in recent days.

Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer, pointed out that WannaCrypt is based on an exploit developed by the National Security Agency (NSA) and renewed his call for a new Digital Geneva Convention, which would require governments to report vulnerabilities to vendors rather than stockpile, sell, or exploit them.

Smith said:

The governments of the world should treat this attack as a wake-up call. They need to take a different approach and adhere in cyber space to the same rules applied to weapons in the physical world. We need governments to consider the damage to civilians that comes from hoarding these vulnerabilities and the use of these exploits.

Smith said he hopes the recent WannaCry attack will change the minds of government agencies and stop developing hacking tools in secret and holding them for use against adversaries, especially since the technology for WannaCry was stolen from the NSA.

Smith made this call in February for an international convention on the use of cyberwarfare similar to the Geneva Convention rules governing war and protections of noncombatants.

The governments of the world should treat this attack as a wake-up call, Smith said. They need to take a different approach and adhere in cyberspace to the same rules applied to weapons in the physical world.

WannaCry has proven so nasty and ubiquitous that Microsoft took the unusual step of releasing security fixes for long-abandoned operating systems, including Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, since they are still widely used in some corners of the world and WannaCry has been a worldwide problem.
21-year-old had expressed 'dark thoughts' before her death

A YOUNG woman from Thatcham intentionally took her own life while on holiday in Lithuania, a coroner has ruled.

Rachael Perkins, 21, had been expressing dark thoughts and had created a series of morbid drawings of her own death, the inquest heard.

Her body was discovered on the morning of Monday, July 11, in a play park in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, where she had been visiting the family of her boyfriend.

The cause of death was given as hanging.

Assistant coroner for Berkshire, Emma Jones, recorded a verdict of suicide  telling the inquest she was satisfied that Miss Perkins, of Druce Way, had intended to take her own life.

The former Reading College student, who had a history of mental illness and cannabis use, had not been seen since walking off from her partner, Edwyn Jarosevic, the previous evening at around 11pm.

The inquest heard how Mr Jarosevic had to run to catch up with his girlfriend, before stopping to light his cigarette.

In a statement given to the Lithuanian authorities, which was read out at the inquest, Mr Jarosevic said: At that point Rachael did not stop and kept on walking.

I turned around to light my cigarette  I turned back, but could not see her.

I just turned my back for a second and could not understand how she could disappear.

Mr Jarosevic reported her missing to the police the following afternoon when she failed to return to his parents home.

Speaking to the Lithuanian authorities, Mr Jarosevic had said his girlfriend did not seem annoyed and had been acting normal before she disappeared.

A previous inquest hearing had been adjourned in November owing to a lack of information surrounding the death from the Lithuanian authorities.

In a separate statement to the English coroner, Mr Jarosevic had described Miss Perkins as feeling stressed in the moments before she went missing, which had caused him to become agitated.

Miss Perkins had previously been diagnosed with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder, and had suffered a breakdown in 2012, which had been linked to her use of cannabis at the time.

According to Mr Jarosevics statement, Miss Perkins had stopped using drugs 10 days prior to her death.

A post mortem examination found traces of cannabis in Miss Perkins blood and urine.

However, the drug can remain in the body for a number of weeks.

No alcohol was found in her system and no other injuries were noted.

In a further statement read out at the inquest at Reading Town Hall on Thursday, May 4, Mr Jarosevic had said he was aware of Miss Perkins previous mental health issues and talked about conversations he had had with her.

Once she said she did not see any point in living, he told police.

She had dark thoughts.

The inquest also heard how, after arriving in Lithuania on July 3, concerns had been raised by Mr Jarosevics family when Miss Perkins revealed a drawing she had made of (what was believed to be) herself lying in a coffin.

Miss Perkins parents told the inquest how a series of similar drawings had been discovered in her room following her death.

After considering the evidence, the coroner told Miss Perkins parents: In my opinion, it was very important to obtain this file of evidence from the Lithuanian authorities.

Concluding the inquest, Mrs Jones said: She obviously thought about how shes going to do it, coupled with past mental health difficulties, that drawing she did of the coffin and expressing dark thoughts.

Taking all the evidence into account, Im satisfied that she did intend to take her own life on this occurrence and that it was more than a cry for help.

Therefore, I will record a verdict of suicide.
Crisis will "cause dreadful and permanent damage to our schools and the futures of our children"

WEST Berkshire parents have been warned of a funding crisis in schools  and Green Party candidate and headteacher Paul Field has said it will cause dreadful damage to children.

In a letter sent to parents, 53 West Berkshire primary school headteachers said that changes in the way the Government funds schools will not bring the benefits that we had hoped to see for West Berkshire children.

The headteachers say they will raise their concerns with West Berkshire Council, local MPs and the Government.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) says more than half of school leaders in England and Wales feel their budget will be untenable by 2018/19.

Spending on education as a percentage of the countrys GDP has fallen every year since 2010.

The Green Partys general election candidate for Newbury, Paul Field, is also the headteacher at Basildon Primary School and is one of the 53 local primary head signatories.

A former chairman of the Primary Heads Association and current president of the local NAHT branch, he attended the NAHT conference in Telford (pictured).

He said: The current funding crisis will be familiar to many local voters.

For a Government to deliberately mislead people with statements about funding being better than it has ever been is outrageous.

They know that in real terms schools will lose 3bn by 2020 and their dishonesty is an insult to both the electorate and the professionals who serve our communities.

The consequences of this current policy will be devastating and wide ranging.

They will cause dreadful and permanent damage to our schools and the futures of our children.

Education is at the heart of any civilised society and impacts every one of us.

Conservative candidate Richard Benyon said he had held frequent conversations with headteachers and ministers about the issue.

I know that while the majority of schools continue to have rising budgets, some of them dont, he said.

In one sense ,its good news that theres very low levels of deprivation in West Berkshire.

In terms of school funding, high levels of deprivation have seen very large increases in some areas.

In West Berkshire they have seen small decreases.

Mr Benyon said he thought that schools could survive the funding arrangements, but the impact of increases to wages, national insurance and changes to pensions and the apprenticeship levy was causing concern.

He pledged to support local schools in parliament if he was re-elected as MP.

The Labour Party announced their education policy on Tuesday, promising to increase school funding by 4.8bn and introducing free, life-long education in colleges.

Labour candidate Alex Skirvin said concern over education was an issue with voters.

He said: Education matters to me because it was my passport to a more secure, skilled and prosperous life.

Im proud to have attended a state school and been the first person in my family to attend university.

He backed Labours education plan announced by shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, which includes restoring the educational maintenance allowance scrapped in 2010.

The policy would be paid from 20bn by reversing cuts to corporation tax introduced by the Conservatives.

Mr Skirvin said: The parents weve talked to say that we should be spending more on education rather than wasting it on pursuing an obsession with grammar schools.

Im a firm opponent of the Tory grammar schools agenda.

Every child has a right to a quality education  not the right to sit a single, life-defining exam at the age of 11.

Liberal Democrats broke their pledge to oppose an increase in fees when they entered a coalition with the Conservatives in 2010.

The Lib Dems plan to invest 6.9bn into schools to protect pupil funding.

Candidate Judith Bunting said that West Berkshire schools would benefit from an additional 28m from her partys policy.

Mrs Bunting, who has worked in education and as a science and medical journalist and broadcaster for more than 20 years, said: Education is at the heart of everything we believe in and everything we do.

When headteachers write to parents like this its time to be worried. We must protect the education of kids.
By Express News Service

MUMBAI: Kishore Biyani-led Future Group on Tuesday said it will foray into the international market for fashion and consumer products through a 50:50 joint venture with Oman-based Khimji Ramdas (KR).

The joint venture  KR Future Fashions  will have an investment of Rs 150 crore and will open about 18 exclusive fbb stores in the Middle East in the next few years. The proposed stores will be about 15,000 sf in size and will cater to the value segment.

We will open the first fbb store early next year in Oman. We plan to open 5-6 stores next year initially, and about 18 stores in the Middle East in the next few years, said Future Group CEO Kishore Biyani.

Biyani also said that the strategic partnership was a step towards making fbb a global fashion brand.

We are optimistic that the combination of our fashion know how and KRs local in-market expertise will get us closer to our goal of getting fbb to our goal of getting fbb to the helm of top 10 preferred international fashion brands, he said.

fbb will focus on growing

volume sales, and targets a production of 100 crore garments a year in the next five years. The international foray will help us meet this target. Presently, we produce about 22 crore garments a year and will touch 30 crore garments next year, he added.

Going forward, the company will also leverage the joint venture to strengthen the distribution of the companys food and FMCG brands internationally.

MUMBAI: Kishore Biyani-led Future Group on Tuesday said it will foray into the international market for fashion and consumer products through a 50:50 joint venture with Oman-based Khimji Ramdas (KR). The joint venture  KR Future Fashions  will have an investment of Rs 150 crore and will open about 18 exclusive fbb stores in the Middle East in the next few years. The proposed stores will be about 15,000 sf in size and will cater to the value segment. We will open the first fbb store early next year in Oman. We plan to open 5-6 stores next year initially, and about 18 stores in the Middle East in the next few years, said Future Group CEO Kishore Biyani. Biyani also said that the strategic partnership was a step towards making fbb a global fashion brand. We are optimistic that the combination of our fashion know how and KRs local in-market expertise will get us closer to our goal of getting fbb to our goal of getting fbb to the helm of top 10 preferred international fashion brands, he said. fbb will focus on growing volume sales, and targets a production of 100 crore garments a year in the next five years. The international foray will help us meet this target. Presently, we produce about 22 crore garments a year and will touch 30 crore garments next year, he added. Going forward, the company will also leverage the joint venture to strengthen the distribution of the companys food and FMCG brands internationally.
By Reuters

MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever Ltd, maker of products ranging from Lakme cosmetics to BRU coffee, reported a 6.2 percent rise in quarterly profit, helped by strong sales of its Pears and Dove products.

Net profit rose to 11.83 billion rupees ($184.57 million) in the quarter ended March 31, compared with 11.14 billion rupees a year earlier, the company said on Wednesday. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated a profit of 10.80 billion rupees on average.

Revenue from the company's personal care segment, which houses brands such as Vaseline and Pond's, rose about 8 percent to 40.75 billion rupees.

MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever Ltd, maker of products ranging from Lakme cosmetics to BRU coffee, reported a 6.2 percent rise in quarterly profit, helped by strong sales of its Pears and Dove products. Net profit rose to 11.83 billion rupees ($184.57 million) in the quarter ended March 31, compared with 11.14 billion rupees a year earlier, the company said on Wednesday. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated a profit of 10.80 billion rupees on average. Revenue from the company's personal care segment, which houses brands such as Vaseline and Pond's, rose about 8 percent to 40.75 billion rupees.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Staffing firm Quess Corp today reported a 39.8 per cent increase in profit after tax at Rs 113.5 crore for the fiscal year to March 2017.

The company had posted a PAT of Rs 81.2 crore in 2015-16, Quess Corp said in a statement.

Revenue during 2016-17 stood at Rs 4,157.4 crore as against Rs 3,435 crore in the same period last year, up 21 per cent.

"On the back of strong top line growth, we expanded margins by 96 bps and significantly improved cash generation. Over five years, we have grown our company's EBITDA by around 8 times," Quess Corp CMD and CEO Ajit Isaac said.

"We believe we are well positioned to leverage opportunities in a growing Indian market and opportunistically make investments in international markets and related areas of Quess operations," Isaac added.

Quess announced six acquisitions and investments in 2016- 17. The financial results of 2016-17 are not reflective of these acquisitions. It is expected that the financial consolidation of these acquisitions will commence in full form in 2017-18.

Employee headcount as on March 31 stood at around 1,59,200 compared to 1,22,500 in the corresponding quarter of the last year, registering a growth of 30 per cent.

Based out of Bengaluru, Quess has a Pan-India presence with 65 offices across 34 cities along with overseas footprint in North America, the Middle-East and South East Asia.

NEW DELHI: Staffing firm Quess Corp today reported a 39.8 per cent increase in profit after tax at Rs 113.5 crore for the fiscal year to March 2017. The company had posted a PAT of Rs 81.2 crore in 2015-16, Quess Corp said in a statement. Revenue during 2016-17 stood at Rs 4,157.4 crore as against Rs 3,435 crore in the same period last year, up 21 per cent. "On the back of strong top line growth, we expanded margins by 96 bps and significantly improved cash generation. Over five years, we have grown our company's EBITDA by around 8 times," Quess Corp CMD and CEO Ajit Isaac said. "We believe we are well positioned to leverage opportunities in a growing Indian market and opportunistically make investments in international markets and related areas of Quess operations," Isaac added. Quess announced six acquisitions and investments in 2016- 17. The financial results of 2016-17 are not reflective of these acquisitions. It is expected that the financial consolidation of these acquisitions will commence in full form in 2017-18. Employee headcount as on March 31 stood at around 1,59,200 compared to 1,22,500 in the corresponding quarter of the last year, registering a growth of 30 per cent. Based out of Bengaluru, Quess has a Pan-India presence with 65 offices across 34 cities along with overseas footprint in North America, the Middle-East and South East Asia.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Anti-Corruption Branch, probing tanker scam on Wednesday questioned Delhi CMs private secretary. According to the ACB, they will question 6 staffers working with Delhi CM. Sources in ACB has confirmed that Bibhav Kumar has not told anything and didnt get files which he had been asked to bring.

Kejriwals PS Bibhav Kumar was summoned last week to join investigation but he met the officials on Wednesday. He arrived at 11.30 AM for the questioning at the ACB office. He had been asked to bring some files but he didnt get some, an official investigating the matter said.

Earlier, The ACB recorded sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra's detailed statement who is also a complainant in the case now. Mishra has been asked to join investigation on Thursday. According to the ACB officials, so far no concrete document has been provided to the officials by Kapil Mishra. He has given old documents and a summary letter.

The Kejriwal-led AAP government had in June 2015 constituted a fact-finding committee to go into alleged irregularities in procuring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the DJB. The Delhi government in June 2016 sent a report of the fact-finding committee to Jung following which an FIR was registered in the case.

NEW DELHI: The Anti-Corruption Branch, probing tanker scam on Wednesday questioned Delhi CMs private secretary. According to the ACB, they will question 6 staffers working with Delhi CM. Sources in ACB has confirmed that Bibhav Kumar has not told anything and didnt get files which he had been asked to bring. Kejriwals PS Bibhav Kumar was summoned last week to join investigation but he met the officials on Wednesday. He arrived at 11.30 AM for the questioning at the ACB office. He had been asked to bring some files but he didnt get some, an official investigating the matter said. Earlier, The ACB recorded sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra's detailed statement who is also a complainant in the case now. Mishra has been asked to join investigation on Thursday. According to the ACB officials, so far no concrete document has been provided to the officials by Kapil Mishra. He has given old documents and a summary letter. The Kejriwal-led AAP government had in June 2015 constituted a fact-finding committee to go into alleged irregularities in procuring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the DJB. The Delhi government in June 2016 sent a report of the fact-finding committee to Jung following which an FIR was registered in the case.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Commenting on the ongoing feud in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday demanded Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resignation while asserting that duplicity in philosophy is the biggest scam of the party.



Its most ironic that people from within the AAP have finished the party and exposed the double trappings of Kejriwal. Its high time he resigns as Chief Minister because there has never been a bigger scam than duplicity in philosophy, BJP leader Shaina N.C. told ANI.



BJP leader Shyam Jaju also sought Kejriwals resignation while saying that he has not right to remain in power as long as the charges levelled against him were proved.



AAP member himself exposed the party. He has not only levelled charges against Kejriwal but has also furnished evidences regarding it. Kejriwal, who talks about simplicity, has not right to remain in the power anymore and should immediately resign from the post of chief minister, he told ANI.



Submitting evidences related to scams and money laundering by the AAP to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), ousted minister Kapil Mishra yesterday said that party convener Kejriwal stands totally exposed.



"Every document and evidence related to fraud companies and donation scams has been submitted to the CBI. There are many corrupt cases coming out now, and each of these issues, will be thoroughly probed. The man who used to say he would contest the elections fairly, his reality is in front of us now," Mishra told media here.



After ending his six-day long indefinite hunger strike, Mishra yesterday approached the CBI and the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to submit evidences of corruption against the AAP chief.



Before heading to the CBI, Mishra told ANI, "Kejriwal's game is over. He should now get prepared to go to Tihar."



Mishra earlier alleged that for three continuous years, black money was converted into white and spent on the foreign trips of the AAP leaders.



"The AAP did not inform about some of its funding which it received from fake companies," he said.



Mishra targeted Kejriwal and revealed that 16 shell companies deposited money worth crores in the AAP's bank accounts.



"These fake companies are registered in the name of the AAP MLA from Moti Nagar, Shivcharan Goyal. These companies have given Rs. two crore to Kejriwal at 12 a.m. The funds received from these companies were sent to the same branch of the Axis Bank where there were allegations of converting black money into white at the time of demonetisation," he added.



The AAP, however, refuted all the allegations made by Mishra.

NEW DELHI: Commenting on the ongoing feud in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday demanded Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resignation while asserting that duplicity in philosophy is the biggest scam of the party. Its most ironic that people from within the AAP have finished the party and exposed the double trappings of Kejriwal. Its high time he resigns as Chief Minister because there has never been a bigger scam than duplicity in philosophy, BJP leader Shaina N.C. told ANI. BJP leader Shyam Jaju also sought Kejriwals resignation while saying that he has not right to remain in power as long as the charges levelled against him were proved. AAP member himself exposed the party. He has not only levelled charges against Kejriwal but has also furnished evidences regarding it. Kejriwal, who talks about simplicity, has not right to remain in the power anymore and should immediately resign from the post of chief minister, he told ANI. Submitting evidences related to scams and money laundering by the AAP to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), ousted minister Kapil Mishra yesterday said that party convener Kejriwal stands totally exposed. "Every document and evidence related to fraud companies and donation scams has been submitted to the CBI. There are many corrupt cases coming out now, and each of these issues, will be thoroughly probed. The man who used to say he would contest the elections fairly, his reality is in front of us now," Mishra told media here. After ending his six-day long indefinite hunger strike, Mishra yesterday approached the CBI and the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to submit evidences of corruption against the AAP chief. Before heading to the CBI, Mishra told ANI, "Kejriwal's game is over. He should now get prepared to go to Tihar." Mishra earlier alleged that for three continuous years, black money was converted into white and spent on the foreign trips of the AAP leaders. "The AAP did not inform about some of its funding which it received from fake companies," he said. Mishra targeted Kejriwal and revealed that 16 shell companies deposited money worth crores in the AAP's bank accounts. "These fake companies are registered in the name of the AAP MLA from Moti Nagar, Shivcharan Goyal. These companies have given Rs. two crore to Kejriwal at 12 a.m. The funds received from these companies were sent to the same branch of the Axis Bank where there were allegations of converting black money into white at the time of demonetisation," he added. The AAP, however, refuted all the allegations made by Mishra.
By PTI

GURGAON: Gurgaon police today announced a Rs 2 lakh reward for anyone giving information on the men behind the gang-rape of a young woman from the north east last week.

The appeal was sent out after police failed to find any clues to trace the three men who are believed to have abducted the 26-year-old woman from Gurgaon Saturday night and raped her in a moving car before throwing her out in Najafgarh.

"A reward of Rs 2 lakh has been announced for anyone who will give information leading to the arrest of the criminals involved in raping the north east girl," Gurgaon Police Commissioner Sandeep Khirwar said.

The men had kidnapped the girl from Sector 17 in Gurgaon when she was returning to her paying guest accommodation after watching a movie with a friend in Connaught Place in Delhi.

A sketch of one accused person had been made but police could not find any concrete clue to trace him.

GURGAON: Gurgaon police today announced a Rs 2 lakh reward for anyone giving information on the men behind the gang-rape of a young woman from the north east last week. The appeal was sent out after police failed to find any clues to trace the three men who are believed to have abducted the 26-year-old woman from Gurgaon Saturday night and raped her in a moving car before throwing her out in Najafgarh. "A reward of Rs 2 lakh has been announced for anyone who will give information leading to the arrest of the criminals involved in raping the north east girl," Gurgaon Police Commissioner Sandeep Khirwar said. The men had kidnapped the girl from Sector 17 in Gurgaon when she was returning to her paying guest accommodation after watching a movie with a friend in Connaught Place in Delhi. A sketch of one accused person had been made but police could not find any concrete clue to trace him.
By PTI

CHANDIGARH: Nearly 90 girl students in Haryana's Rewari district, who had been striking for over a week -- some of them on hunger strike -- for upgradation of their school to senior secondary level, today called off their stir after the government ceded to their demand.

Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said a notification has been issued for upgrading the Government High School at the Gothra Tappa Dahina village.

A principal has been deputed there and the admission process commences tomorrow, he said in a press conference today.

The group of 86 girls of class IX and X had gone on an indefinite strike, which lasted for over a week, demanding upgradation of the school in their village, saying they would have to face harassment and even molestation while travelling to a senior secondary school three kms away.

Thirteen of them were on hunger strike. The health of most of the fasting girls had deteriorated.

Despite Sharma assuring them on Monday that the school would be upgraded, the students had continued with the stir, saying that until they received official word from the government, they would not relent.

With news pouring in that the government had issued the formal notification, there were scenes of jubilation as the girls called off their stir.

Officials of the Rewari district administration and those from the education department offered a glass of juice to the girls who were on hunger strike.

"We are happy that our efforts have yielded fruit," said a beaming girl student who had sat on fast.

For higher education after Class X, girls of the village had to go to Kanwali village, located 3 km from Gothra Tappa Dahina, village head Suresh Chauhan said.

"We fear harassment and molestation by youths of other villages and hence, we are demanding upgradation of our school up to Class XII," one of the protestors had earlier said.

Officials had earlier said the school could not be upgraded as it did not meet the condition of a minimum of 150 students required for the senior secondary level.

The education minister today said the rules had been relaxed after discussion with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the Additional Chief Secretary of the school education department, P K Das.

Asked to comment on the harassment of girls by antisocial elements while going to other villages for studies, Das said that besides the state government, it is also the responsibility of Panchayats and other prominent people of the village to come forward to confront such elements.

Haryana has one of the lowest Child Sex Ratios (CSR) in the country. The state has also witnessed horrific crimes against women in the recent past, including the gangrape and killing of a 23-year-old woman, and the rape of a minor girl by her stepfather.

Opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Singh Chautala told reporters today that the BJP government, which had tom-tommed the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign, had failed to assure the girl students, due to which the condition of many of the students on fast had deteriorated.

"This government is failing in its duty. This means people have no faith in this government as people are not ready to even believe and take assurance of a senior Minister (Ram Bilas Sharma) on face value," Chautala said.

CHANDIGARH: Nearly 90 girl students in Haryana's Rewari district, who had been striking for over a week -- some of them on hunger strike -- for upgradation of their school to senior secondary level, today called off their stir after the government ceded to their demand. Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said a notification has been issued for upgrading the Government High School at the Gothra Tappa Dahina village. A principal has been deputed there and the admission process commences tomorrow, he said in a press conference today. The group of 86 girls of class IX and X had gone on an indefinite strike, which lasted for over a week, demanding upgradation of the school in their village, saying they would have to face harassment and even molestation while travelling to a senior secondary school three kms away. Thirteen of them were on hunger strike. The health of most of the fasting girls had deteriorated. Despite Sharma assuring them on Monday that the school would be upgraded, the students had continued with the stir, saying that until they received official word from the government, they would not relent. With news pouring in that the government had issued the formal notification, there were scenes of jubilation as the girls called off their stir. Officials of the Rewari district administration and those from the education department offered a glass of juice to the girls who were on hunger strike. "We are happy that our efforts have yielded fruit," said a beaming girl student who had sat on fast. For higher education after Class X, girls of the village had to go to Kanwali village, located 3 km from Gothra Tappa Dahina, village head Suresh Chauhan said. "We fear harassment and molestation by youths of other villages and hence, we are demanding upgradation of our school up to Class XII," one of the protestors had earlier said. Officials had earlier said the school could not be upgraded as it did not meet the condition of a minimum of 150 students required for the senior secondary level. The education minister today said the rules had been relaxed after discussion with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the Additional Chief Secretary of the school education department, P K Das. Asked to comment on the harassment of girls by antisocial elements while going to other villages for studies, Das said that besides the state government, it is also the responsibility of Panchayats and other prominent people of the village to come forward to confront such elements. Haryana has one of the lowest Child Sex Ratios (CSR) in the country. The state has also witnessed horrific crimes against women in the recent past, including the gangrape and killing of a 23-year-old woman, and the rape of a minor girl by her stepfather. Opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Singh Chautala told reporters today that the BJP government, which had tom-tommed the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign, had failed to assure the girl students, due to which the condition of many of the students on fast had deteriorated. "This government is failing in its duty. This means people have no faith in this government as people are not ready to even believe and take assurance of a senior Minister (Ram Bilas Sharma) on face value," Chautala said.
By ANI

SRINAGAR: The joint search operation by the Indian Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) in Shopian has concluded here today and the cordon has also been lifted off from the villages.

Earlier today, Shopians two villages  Heff and Shirmal were on lock down as security forces swept through the area for untoward elements.

Around 1,000 army personnel and police force had been deployed for the operation, which began at midnight yesterday.



Meanwhile, repetitive ceasefire violations by Pakistan still continue, wherein yesterday itself the Pakistan Army initiated ceasefire violation in Balakot sector here.

The Indian troops gave a befitting reply to Islamabad's attack.



Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir.



The Pakistan Army, earlier on Sunday, instigated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars along the Line of Control (LoC) in Chiti Bakri area of Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir.



The Indian Army also retaliated to the unprovoked act strongly and effectively.



At least two civilians including a minor girl were killed and nine people, including four soldiers were injured in the unprovoked firing by Pakistan in Rajouri district.



Earlier on Saturday, two civilians were killed as Pakistan Army continued its unprovoked firing in state's Nowshera sector.



Later in the day, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat will on Wednesday review the security situation and take stock of counter-terror operations in the Valley, which has been rocked with soaring turbulence recently besides the steady stream of ceasefire violations.

Jaitley is visiting Srinagar today and the Army Chief is already in the valley.



The visit comes in the wake of beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani Army in Poonch district earlier this month which was termed "barbaric" by India.

SRINAGAR: The joint search operation by the Indian Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) in Shopian has concluded here today and the cordon has also been lifted off from the villages. Earlier today, Shopians two villages  Heff and Shirmal were on lock down as security forces swept through the area for untoward elements. Around 1,000 army personnel and police force had been deployed for the operation, which began at midnight yesterday. Meanwhile, repetitive ceasefire violations by Pakistan still continue, wherein yesterday itself the Pakistan Army initiated ceasefire violation in Balakot sector here. The Indian troops gave a befitting reply to Islamabad's attack. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistan Army, earlier on Sunday, instigated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars along the Line of Control (LoC) in Chiti Bakri area of Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army also retaliated to the unprovoked act strongly and effectively. At least two civilians including a minor girl were killed and nine people, including four soldiers were injured in the unprovoked firing by Pakistan in Rajouri district. Earlier on Saturday, two civilians were killed as Pakistan Army continued its unprovoked firing in state's Nowshera sector. Later in the day, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat will on Wednesday review the security situation and take stock of counter-terror operations in the Valley, which has been rocked with soaring turbulence recently besides the steady stream of ceasefire violations. Jaitley is visiting Srinagar today and the Army Chief is already in the valley. The visit comes in the wake of beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani Army in Poonch district earlier this month which was termed "barbaric" by India.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: The month-long ban imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir government on social media applications and internet sites to curb the unrest in the valley has come a cropper with almost everyone accessing these platforms using Virtual Private Networks.

The state's Home department, through an order issued on April 26, had banned 22 social media applications and sites including Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter in a vain bid to curb the street protests in Kashmir.

"In the interest of maintenance of public order, the government hereby directs all internet service providers that any message or class of messages to or from a person or a class of persons relating to any subject or any pictorial content through the following social networking sites shall not be transmitted in Kashmir Valley with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders, whichever is earlier," Principal Secretary, Home Department R K Goyal had said.

The inaccessible sites included Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Wechat, QQ, Qzone, Google Plus, Skype, Line, Pinterest, Snapchat, Youtube, Vine and Flickr.

"On careful examination of all relevant factors, it is observed that the use of social media platforms, which are being misused by anti-national and anti-social elements by transmitting inflammatory messages in various forms are immediately required to be regulated/curbed," the order read.

While the government order put the onus on Internet service providers to ban the access to these sites, it was silent on the possibility of users being able to bypass the ban.

Top politicians and officials of the government, including the Director General of Police have been using some of the banned applications like Twitter to put out posts on the current situation in the valley.

Opposition National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah is one of those seemingly unaffected by the ban. He frequently tweets about the developments in Kashmir and other parts of world.

The ruling PDP has also used Twitter to put out press releases and at times counter the criticism levelled by opposition parties.

Both the National Conference and PDP entered into a war of words on Twitter yesterday over the raising of 'azaadi' (freedom) slogans at a self help group function presided over by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Some of the senior police officials of the state frequently use Whatsapp and Facebook to put out updates.

"Whatsapp is supposed to be out of bounds for internet users in Kashmir but we still receive press releases and invitations for official functions through this application. They probably know the ban has been ineffective ....it is high time the government revokes it," Yusuf Jameel, a journalist, told.

Although the ban initially limited the common man's access to these applications, the discovery of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by the people has made the ban redundant.

"The use of VPNs has helped in accessing most of the banned sites ...these applications and sites have become the communication lifeline not only in Kashmir but across the world," Umar Bhat, a businessman, said.

Bhat, however, loathed the slow internet speed in Kashmir which has made online business transactions almost impossible.

"I frequently travel between Srinagar and Delhi and the difference in the internet speed is huge. This has severely affected my business as I find it difficult to make online transactions," he said.

SRINAGAR: The month-long ban imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir government on social media applications and internet sites to curb the unrest in the valley has come a cropper with almost everyone accessing these platforms using Virtual Private Networks. The state's Home department, through an order issued on April 26, had banned 22 social media applications and sites including Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter in a vain bid to curb the street protests in Kashmir. "In the interest of maintenance of public order, the government hereby directs all internet service providers that any message or class of messages to or from a person or a class of persons relating to any subject or any pictorial content through the following social networking sites shall not be transmitted in Kashmir Valley with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders, whichever is earlier," Principal Secretary, Home Department R K Goyal had said. The inaccessible sites included Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Wechat, QQ, Qzone, Google Plus, Skype, Line, Pinterest, Snapchat, Youtube, Vine and Flickr. "On careful examination of all relevant factors, it is observed that the use of social media platforms, which are being misused by anti-national and anti-social elements by transmitting inflammatory messages in various forms are immediately required to be regulated/curbed," the order read. While the government order put the onus on Internet service providers to ban the access to these sites, it was silent on the possibility of users being able to bypass the ban. Top politicians and officials of the government, including the Director General of Police have been using some of the banned applications like Twitter to put out posts on the current situation in the valley. Opposition National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah is one of those seemingly unaffected by the ban. He frequently tweets about the developments in Kashmir and other parts of world. The ruling PDP has also used Twitter to put out press releases and at times counter the criticism levelled by opposition parties. Both the National Conference and PDP entered into a war of words on Twitter yesterday over the raising of 'azaadi' (freedom) slogans at a self help group function presided over by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Some of the senior police officials of the state frequently use Whatsapp and Facebook to put out updates. "Whatsapp is supposed to be out of bounds for internet users in Kashmir but we still receive press releases and invitations for official functions through this application. They probably know the ban has been ineffective ....it is high time the government revokes it," Yusuf Jameel, a journalist, told. Although the ban initially limited the common man's access to these applications, the discovery of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by the people has made the ban redundant. "The use of VPNs has helped in accessing most of the banned sites ...these applications and sites have become the communication lifeline not only in Kashmir but across the world," Umar Bhat, a businessman, said. Bhat, however, loathed the slow internet speed in Kashmir which has made online business transactions almost impossible. "I frequently travel between Srinagar and Delhi and the difference in the internet speed is huge. This has severely affected my business as I find it difficult to make online transactions," he said.
By PTI

JAMMU: Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire again today by firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector of Jammu of Kashmir.

"Pakistan army resorted to firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector from 0050 hours today," a defence spokesman said.

Pakistan troops also fired on forward posts and civilian areas last night along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. The firing continued till 0130 hours, the spokesman said.

He said the Pakistan army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 1830 hours last night along the LoC in Nowshera sector. The firing continued till 2100 hours yesterday.

The Pakistan Rangers fired shells on the intervening night of May 15 and 16 on forward areas and civilian belts along the LoC in three belts of Rajouri district.

The firing and shelling from across the border has affected over 10,000 people.

Civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera sector were pounded with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three others.

On May 13, Pakistani troops had pounded civilian areas and forward posts in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three.

On May 15, Pak troops resorted to fresh ceasefire violation along the LoC in Nowshera sector since 1600 hours till late night. Four villages in Nowshera have come under small arms fire from across the LOC in Nowshera.

"Shelling started in Ans Bhandhaar areas of Nowshera in Rajouri at 2255 hours night of May 15 and 16. Lam and Kalsian areas were also affected," Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

"Interdepartmental teams deputed by District Administration for damage assessment reported small arms firing begins at 4 PM on May 15 in village Sarya followed by villages Khamba, Anwas and Bhandar," Choudhary said.

Nearly 1700 people have already been evacuated from the LoC hamlets hit by shelling from Pakistani side and shifted to relief camps.

Around 10,042 people from over 2,694 families have been affected by the continued shelling from across the border, the DC said.

The district administration has provided an immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the dead and financial assistance to the injured, he said.

Choudhary said the administration is prepared to make more relief camps as more than 25 buildings have been earmarked.

He added that students' classes will be resumed this week to ensure that education doesn't suffer.

"Six ambulances have been pressed into action for shifting of injured and treatment. One mobile medical unit was stationed at Nowshera and another deputed to forward areas," he said.

According to a Home Ministry reply to an RTI, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) 449 times in 2016 as compared to 405 violations in 2015. 23 security personnel were killed in the two-year period.

JAMMU: Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire again today by firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector of Jammu of Kashmir. "Pakistan army resorted to firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector from 0050 hours today," a defence spokesman said. Pakistan troops also fired on forward posts and civilian areas last night along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. The firing continued till 0130 hours, the spokesman said. He said the Pakistan army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 1830 hours last night along the LoC in Nowshera sector. The firing continued till 2100 hours yesterday. The Pakistan Rangers fired shells on the intervening night of May 15 and 16 on forward areas and civilian belts along the LoC in three belts of Rajouri district. The firing and shelling from across the border has affected over 10,000 people. Civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera sector were pounded with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three others. On May 13, Pakistani troops had pounded civilian areas and forward posts in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three. On May 15, Pak troops resorted to fresh ceasefire violation along the LoC in Nowshera sector since 1600 hours till late night. Four villages in Nowshera have come under small arms fire from across the LOC in Nowshera. "Shelling started in Ans Bhandhaar areas of Nowshera in Rajouri at 2255 hours night of May 15 and 16. Lam and Kalsian areas were also affected," Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said. "Interdepartmental teams deputed by District Administration for damage assessment reported small arms firing begins at 4 PM on May 15 in village Sarya followed by villages Khamba, Anwas and Bhandar," Choudhary said. Nearly 1700 people have already been evacuated from the LoC hamlets hit by shelling from Pakistani side and shifted to relief camps. Around 10,042 people from over 2,694 families have been affected by the continued shelling from across the border, the DC said. The district administration has provided an immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the dead and financial assistance to the injured, he said. Choudhary said the administration is prepared to make more relief camps as more than 25 buildings have been earmarked. He added that students' classes will be resumed this week to ensure that education doesn't suffer. "Six ambulances have been pressed into action for shifting of injured and treatment. One mobile medical unit was stationed at Nowshera and another deputed to forward areas," he said. According to a Home Ministry reply to an RTI, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) 449 times in 2016 as compared to 405 violations in 2015. 23 security personnel were killed in the two-year period.
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Gujarat for two days early next week, during which he will attend the annual general meeting of African Development Bank to be held in Gandhinagar on May 23.

The state unit of BJP said today during his May 22 and 23 visit, Modi will also go to Kutch district in the state to inaugurate development works at Kandla and dedicate to the nation Narmada Water pumping station at Bhachau in the same district.

"The prime minister will arrive at Bhachau in Kutch district on May 22. After attending a programme there, he will reach Kandla, where he will attend a programme of Kandla Port Trust. He will make a night halt in Gandhinagar," state BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said.

At Bhachau, Modi will dedicate the pumping station of Narmada Water Project to the district. With this pumping station, the Narmada water will reach the remote areas of Kutch district, which lies in the arid western part of the state.

Modi will then attend another programme at Kandla Port Trust, one of India's largest seaports along the Gulf of Kutch in Kutch district, where he will dedicate to the nation various developmental works.

After a night halt at Gandhinagar, he will attend the AGM of African Development Bank the next day.

"On May 23, the prime minister will attend the annual general meeting of the African Development Bank, which is being organised at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. After that, he will leave for Delhi," Pandya said.

The AGM is likely to see a participation by private sectors from across Africa, ministers of finances from 80 countries, and also heads of states from several African countries.

This is Modi's third visit to the state this year. On April 7, he had visited Botad to inaugurate the Link 2 of the state government's ambitious SAUNI (Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation) project by formally releasing Narmada water in Krushnasagar dam.

Earlier, on March 8, he had visited Gandhinagar to address women sarpanch from across the country on the International Women's Day.

AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Gujarat for two days early next week, during which he will attend the annual general meeting of African Development Bank to be held in Gandhinagar on May 23. The state unit of BJP said today during his May 22 and 23 visit, Modi will also go to Kutch district in the state to inaugurate development works at Kandla and dedicate to the nation Narmada Water pumping station at Bhachau in the same district. "The prime minister will arrive at Bhachau in Kutch district on May 22. After attending a programme there, he will reach Kandla, where he will attend a programme of Kandla Port Trust. He will make a night halt in Gandhinagar," state BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said. At Bhachau, Modi will dedicate the pumping station of Narmada Water Project to the district. With this pumping station, the Narmada water will reach the remote areas of Kutch district, which lies in the arid western part of the state. Modi will then attend another programme at Kandla Port Trust, one of India's largest seaports along the Gulf of Kutch in Kutch district, where he will dedicate to the nation various developmental works. After a night halt at Gandhinagar, he will attend the AGM of African Development Bank the next day. "On May 23, the prime minister will attend the annual general meeting of the African Development Bank, which is being organised at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. After that, he will leave for Delhi," Pandya said. The AGM is likely to see a participation by private sectors from across Africa, ministers of finances from 80 countries, and also heads of states from several African countries. This is Modi's third visit to the state this year. On April 7, he had visited Botad to inaugurate the Link 2 of the state government's ambitious SAUNI (Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation) project by formally releasing Narmada water in Krushnasagar dam. Earlier, on March 8, he had visited Gandhinagar to address women sarpanch from across the country on the International Women's Day.
By ANI

CHENNAI: Former union minister P Chidambarams son Karti, whose residence was raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the grant of FIPB approval to INX media private Ltd, said here on Wednesday that the drama was finally over.



Speaking to ANI over the phone, Karti said that the drama is now over.

This comes after his asserting that all charges against him are completely bogus and he will stand vindicated one day.



"Whatever I heard is only from the media. Nothing of substance. All charges on me are completely bogus and I will stand vindicated one day," Karti told the media.

However, CBI Joint Director Vineet Vinayak said the investigation is still underway and some important evidences such as hard disks, mails and documents have been recovered.



Vinayak said a criminal case was registered yesterday under various sections of conspiracy, illegal gratification to influence a public servant, cheating and misuse of official position against five main individuals and entities, unnamed officials of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and others in the matters related in the grant of FIPB approval to INX media private Ltd, represented by its then directors Indrani Mukerjea and Pritam Mukerjea alias Peter Mukerjea.



An FIR has been lodged against Karti, Indrani Mukerjea, unknown officers of FIPB Unit of Ministry of Finance and others over alleged financial misappropriation over Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to Peter and Indrani's media company INX Media in 2008.



The charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating, taking gratification in order by corrupt or illegal means to influence public servant and criminal misconduct.



The case has been registered under section 120-B r/w, section 420, section 8 and section 13(2) r/w and 13 (1) (d) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

CHENNAI: Former union minister P Chidambarams son Karti, whose residence was raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the grant of FIPB approval to INX media private Ltd, said here on Wednesday that the drama was finally over. Speaking to ANI over the phone, Karti said that the drama is now over. This comes after his asserting that all charges against him are completely bogus and he will stand vindicated one day. "Whatever I heard is only from the media. Nothing of substance. All charges on me are completely bogus and I will stand vindicated one day," Karti told the media. However, CBI Joint Director Vineet Vinayak said the investigation is still underway and some important evidences such as hard disks, mails and documents have been recovered. Vinayak said a criminal case was registered yesterday under various sections of conspiracy, illegal gratification to influence a public servant, cheating and misuse of official position against five main individuals and entities, unnamed officials of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and others in the matters related in the grant of FIPB approval to INX media private Ltd, represented by its then directors Indrani Mukerjea and Pritam Mukerjea alias Peter Mukerjea. An FIR has been lodged against Karti, Indrani Mukerjea, unknown officers of FIPB Unit of Ministry of Finance and others over alleged financial misappropriation over Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to Peter and Indrani's media company INX Media in 2008. The charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating, taking gratification in order by corrupt or illegal means to influence public servant and criminal misconduct. The case has been registered under section 120-B r/w, section 420, section 8 and section 13(2) r/w and 13 (1) (d) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Three tourists from Assam, travelling by a special train, died in north India apparently due to a heat wave, but a section of fellow tourists attributed the deaths to lack of facilities, particularly water.

The non-AC train, Aastha, started from Guwahati on the night of May 9, carrying 547 tourists, mostly from Assam, and travelled across places in north India. When reports last came in, it was in Uttar Pradesh on its way back to Guwahati.

According to passengers, the three deceased, including a woman, were elderly people. Two of them died on Tuesday while another died on Wednesday.

The railway authorities had rented the train to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). IRCTCs joint general manager (tourism) who organised the tour, had charged Rs.8,100 from each passenger for food, travel and two nights accommodation in north India.

Some passengers complained that they were going through a harrowing time due to lack of water. We are being served little water. As a result, many of us are suffering from dehydration and are dying. Also, the toilets are stinky and cannot be used, some passengers complained in videos which they sent to local news channels.

Its a special train but it stops at every station. And in every station, it is halted for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Only God knows when we will reach Guwahati, they said. A passenger, Umakanta Mali, told the New Indian Express that the people were suffering due to the extreme heat wave.

The temperature in Uttar Pradesh is now around 43 degree Celsius. So, the extreme heat is making us sick because we dont experience such high temperatures in the Northeast, he said.

We are being served water thrice a day along with meals. But as it is not sufficient, we should also spend money from our pocket to buy extra water. We cannot expect the IRCTC to serve 10 litres of drinking water to each of the 547 passengers every day, Mali added.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said it was in touch with the IRCTC to ensure the comfort and treatment of the passengers.

We have spoken to the IRCTC which is running the train. The passengers were given medical attendance. According to them, the complaint about water has been taken care of, NFR chief spokesman, Pranab Jyoti Sarma, said.

The IRCTC said most of the tourists were aged and quite weak and suffering from high blood pressure. The heat of north India has taken its toll at the end of the trip on their return journey. Adequate care was taken and medical help provided whenever the tourists had fallen ill, IRCTCs joint general manager (tourism), SA Karim, said.

The next time we organise such a tour, we will make sure that the passengers are medically examined, IRCTC regional manager, PK Dutta, said.

GUWAHATI: Three tourists from Assam, travelling by a special train, died in north India apparently due to a heat wave, but a section of fellow tourists attributed the deaths to lack of facilities, particularly water. The non-AC train, Aastha, started from Guwahati on the night of May 9, carrying 547 tourists, mostly from Assam, and travelled across places in north India. When reports last came in, it was in Uttar Pradesh on its way back to Guwahati. According to passengers, the three deceased, including a woman, were elderly people. Two of them died on Tuesday while another died on Wednesday. The railway authorities had rented the train to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). IRCTCs joint general manager (tourism) who organised the tour, had charged Rs.8,100 from each passenger for food, travel and two nights accommodation in north India. Some passengers complained that they were going through a harrowing time due to lack of water. We are being served little water. As a result, many of us are suffering from dehydration and are dying. Also, the toilets are stinky and cannot be used, some passengers complained in videos which they sent to local news channels. Its a special train but it stops at every station. And in every station, it is halted for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Only God knows when we will reach Guwahati, they said. A passenger, Umakanta Mali, told the New Indian Express that the people were suffering due to the extreme heat wave. The temperature in Uttar Pradesh is now around 43 degree Celsius. So, the extreme heat is making us sick because we dont experience such high temperatures in the Northeast, he said. We are being served water thrice a day along with meals. But as it is not sufficient, we should also spend money from our pocket to buy extra water. We cannot expect the IRCTC to serve 10 litres of drinking water to each of the 547 passengers every day, Mali added. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said it was in touch with the IRCTC to ensure the comfort and treatment of the passengers. We have spoken to the IRCTC which is running the train. The passengers were given medical attendance. According to them, the complaint about water has been taken care of, NFR chief spokesman, Pranab Jyoti Sarma, said. The IRCTC said most of the tourists were aged and quite weak and suffering from high blood pressure. The heat of north India has taken its toll at the end of the trip on their return journey. Adequate care was taken and medical help provided whenever the tourists had fallen ill, IRCTCs joint general manager (tourism), SA Karim, said. The next time we organise such a tour, we will make sure that the passengers are medically examined, IRCTC regional manager, PK Dutta, said.
Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: The daring murder of dreaded gangster Babloo Dubey on the premises of a crowded court in Bihar was perpetrated by two minor inmates of a remand home who had escaped, investigations by police have found out. Police arrested one minor and another two persons involved in planning the murder on Monday.

One minor boy has been arrested and a hunt is on for the other. The two boys were hired by some rivals of Dubey, who are lodged in the same jail as the murdered gangster, said Vinay Kumar, SP, West Champaran.

Dubey, who faced as many as 36 murder cases and was allegedly running a crime network in northern Bihar and Nepal, was shot dead on the premises of the additional chief judicial magistrates court in Bettiah, the headquarters town of West Champaran district, on May 11 morning.

Policemen escorting him had said two unidentified assailants pumped five bullets on his chest and escaped taking advantage of the large crowd on the court campus. Dubey was brought to the court from Bettiah jail, where he had been lodged, for an appearance in a murder case.

The two minor boys were lodged at a remand home in Motihari, the headquarters town of neighbouring East Champaran district 45 km away, said police.

They travelled to Bettiah, committed the murder in broad daylight and returned to remand home the same day, said an official.

PATNA: The daring murder of dreaded gangster Babloo Dubey on the premises of a crowded court in Bihar was perpetrated by two minor inmates of a remand home who had escaped, investigations by police have found out. Police arrested one minor and another two persons involved in planning the murder on Monday. One minor boy has been arrested and a hunt is on for the other. The two boys were hired by some rivals of Dubey, who are lodged in the same jail as the murdered gangster, said Vinay Kumar, SP, West Champaran. Dubey, who faced as many as 36 murder cases and was allegedly running a crime network in northern Bihar and Nepal, was shot dead on the premises of the additional chief judicial magistrates court in Bettiah, the headquarters town of West Champaran district, on May 11 morning. Policemen escorting him had said two unidentified assailants pumped five bullets on his chest and escaped taking advantage of the large crowd on the court campus. Dubey was brought to the court from Bettiah jail, where he had been lodged, for an appearance in a murder case. The two minor boys were lodged at a remand home in Motihari, the headquarters town of neighbouring East Champaran district 45 km away, said police. They travelled to Bettiah, committed the murder in broad daylight and returned to remand home the same day, said an official.
By Express News Service

PATNA: A dreaded gangster in Bihar, wanted in several murder and robbery cases, was killed in an encounter with police in Madhubani district on Wednesday.

Ranjeet Don, aged about 50, had been evading the police dragnet for more than six years and was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head. Police had got a tip-off that he had arrived in Gobrahi village in the district and planned to execute some serious crime. A 30-member joint team of the district police and the Special Task Force (STF) surrounded a brick kiln in the village where he was hiding.

Police asked him to surrender, but he fired at them. The cops fired in self-defence and Ranjeet Don alias Ranjeet Mahto was killed on the spot. Two sophisticated carbines and live cartridges were found at the encounter site, said Deepak Barnwal, superintendent of police (SP) of Madhubani.

At least three members of Ranjeets gang who were with him at the brick kiln at the time of the encounter managed to escape, said the police. The encounter lasted for about 40 minutes, said villagers.

Sources said Ranjeets close aide Bala Mishra, who was arrested recently, had tipped off police about his plans to visit Gobrahi on Wednesday.

Ranjeets name used to spell terror in Bihars three northern districts of Madhubani, Sitamarhi and Supaul. He was accused of direct involvement in three murders, two attempt to murder cases, at least a dozen robberies and three extortion cases lodged in Madhubani and Sitamarhi districts.

Barnwal said Mahto and his gang members had robbed a petrol pump at Khajauli near Madhubani recently and escaped after firing at a police team that tried to nab them.

PATNA: A dreaded gangster in Bihar, wanted in several murder and robbery cases, was killed in an encounter with police in Madhubani district on Wednesday. Ranjeet Don, aged about 50, had been evading the police dragnet for more than six years and was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head. Police had got a tip-off that he had arrived in Gobrahi village in the district and planned to execute some serious crime. A 30-member joint team of the district police and the Special Task Force (STF) surrounded a brick kiln in the village where he was hiding. Police asked him to surrender, but he fired at them. The cops fired in self-defence and Ranjeet Don alias Ranjeet Mahto was killed on the spot. Two sophisticated carbines and live cartridges were found at the encounter site, said Deepak Barnwal, superintendent of police (SP) of Madhubani. At least three members of Ranjeets gang who were with him at the brick kiln at the time of the encounter managed to escape, said the police. The encounter lasted for about 40 minutes, said villagers. Sources said Ranjeets close aide Bala Mishra, who was arrested recently, had tipped off police about his plans to visit Gobrahi on Wednesday. Ranjeets name used to spell terror in Bihars three northern districts of Madhubani, Sitamarhi and Supaul. He was accused of direct involvement in three murders, two attempt to murder cases, at least a dozen robberies and three extortion cases lodged in Madhubani and Sitamarhi districts. Barnwal said Mahto and his gang members had robbed a petrol pump at Khajauli near Madhubani recently and escaped after firing at a police team that tried to nab them.
By AFP

SOCHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow could provide a recording of the exchange between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US President Donald Trump, who is accused of sharing classified intelligence.

"If the US administration finds it possible, we are ready to provide a recording of the conversation between Lavrov and Trump to the US Congress and Senate," Putin said during a press conference.

He mocked the idea that Trump went off-script to share secrets with the Russians, saying he could issue a "reprimand" to Lavrov since he hasn't passed on the information.

"(Lavrov) didn't share these secrets with us -- neither with me nor with the representatives of the Russian security services. That is very bad of him," Putin said to sniggers from the audience as he answered questions after talks with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

Citing unnamed sources, The Washington Post reported that Trump had shared intelligence with Lavrov regarding an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on airplanes.

According to sources cited in the report, that intelligence came from a US ally who had not authorised Washington to pass it on to Moscow.

Putin slammed critics who spread allegations about Trump's ties with Russia.

"What else will the people generating such drivel and nonsense think of next?" he said. "They are shaking up their internal politics while using anti-Russian slogans."

"They either don't understand that they are hurting their own country, and then they are simply dumb, or they understand everything and then they are dangerous and corrupt," Putin added.

SOCHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow could provide a recording of the exchange between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US President Donald Trump, who is accused of sharing classified intelligence. "If the US administration finds it possible, we are ready to provide a recording of the conversation between Lavrov and Trump to the US Congress and Senate," Putin said during a press conference. He mocked the idea that Trump went off-script to share secrets with the Russians, saying he could issue a "reprimand" to Lavrov since he hasn't passed on the information. "(Lavrov) didn't share these secrets with us -- neither with me nor with the representatives of the Russian security services. That is very bad of him," Putin said to sniggers from the audience as he answered questions after talks with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the southern Russian city of Sochi. Citing unnamed sources, The Washington Post reported that Trump had shared intelligence with Lavrov regarding an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on airplanes. According to sources cited in the report, that intelligence came from a US ally who had not authorised Washington to pass it on to Moscow. Putin slammed critics who spread allegations about Trump's ties with Russia. "What else will the people generating such drivel and nonsense think of next?" he said. "They are shaking up their internal politics while using anti-Russian slogans." "They either don't understand that they are hurting their own country, and then they are simply dumb, or they understand everything and then they are dangerous and corrupt," Putin added.
By AFP

SANAA: A suspected raid by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen killed more than 20 civilians Wednesday, the latest in a spate of deadly strikes by the alliance that have drawn condemnation.

Saba news agency, which is controlled by the Iran-backed rebels, said a vehicle carrying civilians in the town of Mawzaa, southwest of third city Taez, was hit in the raid.

It said 23 civilians, including six children and women, were killed in a suspected raid by the Arab coalition led by regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia and that six bodies were burned beyond recognition.

A military source with loyalist forces confirmed the strike, saying 20 civilians had died in what appeared to have been the result of a "mistake".

The air raid targeted an area held by the Huthi rebels, said the source who confirmed that a vehicle had been struck.

The passengers were heading back to Mawzaa after a shopping trip to the nearby town of Barah, the military source said, adding several bodies had been torn to pieces.

There was no immediate reaction from the Saudi-led coalition, which has been battling the Huthis opposed to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The raid comes days before US President Donald Trump is to arrive Saturday in Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

Washington provides intelligence as well as aerial refuelling to coalition warplanes conducting air strikes in Yemen with American-supplied weapons.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis warned during an April visit to Saudi Arabia of Iranian efforts to create a Yemeni militia "in the image" of Lebanon's powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah.

Mattis stressed the need to overcome Iran's efforts "in destabilising yet another country and create another militia in the image" of Lebanon's Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside government forces in Syria.

He said it was in Washington's "interest to see a strong Saudi Arabia", adding however that the United States wanted a return as "quickly as possible" to UN-backed Yemen peace talks.

Repeated criticism

The conflict in Yemen has killed more than 8,000 people and wounded around 40,000, according to the UN's World Health Organization.

Seven ceasefires alongside UN-brokered peace efforts have so far failed to stop the fighting.

The Saudi-led coalition, which intervened on the side of the Hadi government two years ago, has come under repeated criticism over civilian casualties in Yemen.

It has acknowledged responsibility in some cases, including for an air strike in October 2016 that killed 140 people and wounded 525 others at a funeral in Sanaa.

But the coalition denied responsibility for a September 2015 air strike that hit a wedding hall in southwestern Mokha, killing 131 people.

Coalition planes have dropped banned cluster munitions and killed two times more civilians than other forces, according to the UN.

Trump's Yemen focus has so far been on a major escalation of attacks against jihadists from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, which has taken advantage of the chaos in the impoverished country.

Saudi leaders worry about Iran interfering in Arab countries by using local Shiite communities, as in Bahrain, Lebanon and Yemen.

They have found a more favourable ear in Washington under Trump, who has denounced Iran's "harmful influence" in the Middle East.

The coalition mounted its air campaign in support of Hadi in March 2015, a year after the rebels overran Sanaa forcing the president to seek first refuge in the southern city of Aden and then exile in Saudi Arabia.

SANAA: A suspected raid by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen killed more than 20 civilians Wednesday, the latest in a spate of deadly strikes by the alliance that have drawn condemnation. Saba news agency, which is controlled by the Iran-backed rebels, said a vehicle carrying civilians in the town of Mawzaa, southwest of third city Taez, was hit in the raid. It said 23 civilians, including six children and women, were killed in a suspected raid by the Arab coalition led by regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia and that six bodies were burned beyond recognition. A military source with loyalist forces confirmed the strike, saying 20 civilians had died in what appeared to have been the result of a "mistake". The air raid targeted an area held by the Huthi rebels, said the source who confirmed that a vehicle had been struck. The passengers were heading back to Mawzaa after a shopping trip to the nearby town of Barah, the military source said, adding several bodies had been torn to pieces. There was no immediate reaction from the Saudi-led coalition, which has been battling the Huthis opposed to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. The raid comes days before US President Donald Trump is to arrive Saturday in Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip since taking office in January. Washington provides intelligence as well as aerial refuelling to coalition warplanes conducting air strikes in Yemen with American-supplied weapons. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis warned during an April visit to Saudi Arabia of Iranian efforts to create a Yemeni militia "in the image" of Lebanon's powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah. Mattis stressed the need to overcome Iran's efforts "in destabilising yet another country and create another militia in the image" of Lebanon's Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside government forces in Syria. He said it was in Washington's "interest to see a strong Saudi Arabia", adding however that the United States wanted a return as "quickly as possible" to UN-backed Yemen peace talks. Repeated criticism The conflict in Yemen has killed more than 8,000 people and wounded around 40,000, according to the UN's World Health Organization. Seven ceasefires alongside UN-brokered peace efforts have so far failed to stop the fighting. The Saudi-led coalition, which intervened on the side of the Hadi government two years ago, has come under repeated criticism over civilian casualties in Yemen. It has acknowledged responsibility in some cases, including for an air strike in October 2016 that killed 140 people and wounded 525 others at a funeral in Sanaa. But the coalition denied responsibility for a September 2015 air strike that hit a wedding hall in southwestern Mokha, killing 131 people. Coalition planes have dropped banned cluster munitions and killed two times more civilians than other forces, according to the UN. Trump's Yemen focus has so far been on a major escalation of attacks against jihadists from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, which has taken advantage of the chaos in the impoverished country. Saudi leaders worry about Iran interfering in Arab countries by using local Shiite communities, as in Bahrain, Lebanon and Yemen. They have found a more favourable ear in Washington under Trump, who has denounced Iran's "harmful influence" in the Middle East. The coalition mounted its air campaign in support of Hadi in March 2015, a year after the rebels overran Sanaa forcing the president to seek first refuge in the southern city of Aden and then exile in Saudi Arabia.
By Associated Press

DAKAR: Authorities have documented more than 300,000 children migrating alone worldwide over a two-year period, marking a dramatic escalation of a trend that has forced many young refugees into slavery and prostitution, the U.N. children's agency said Wednesday.

UNICEF said 170,000 of those children sought asylum in Europe in 2015-2016, many after making the treacherous trip across the Mediterranean Sea where hundreds of children are estimated to have drowned last year.

Nearly 92 percent of the boys and girls arriving by boat in Italy in 2016 and early 2017 came unaccompanied or had been separated from their relatives along the way, the report said. They came mainly from the African nations of Eritrea, Gambia, Nigeria, Egypt and Guinea, UNICEF said.

"Ruthless smugglers and traffickers are exploiting their vulnerability for personal gain, helping children to cross borders, only to sell them into slavery and forced prostitution," UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Justin Forsyth said. "It is unconscionable that we are not adequately defending children from these predators."

Those who survived the journeys recounted harrowing stories of abuse along the way, including a 17-year-old girl from Nigeria who told officials that she was raped in Libya by a man who had promised her passage to Europe.

UNICEF said the girl spent months in Libya deprived of contact with her family back home until she finally was sent to Italy by boat. Upon arrival, she was rescued from a life of prostitution but she told the U.N. agency her prospects are dire.

"Now the people who paid for my trip are saying to my mother, it's time for money," she said. "They say I have run away, and that they paid for my trip and I owe them. They say that if I don't pay, they will put a curse on me to make me be deported."

UNICEF said the number of recorded children traveling unaccompanied had risen nearly fivefold since 2010-2011, coinciding with a major increase in refugees worldwide. The figure includes only solo children who were registered at a border or as part of an asylum claim and the actual total is believed to be much higher.

One-third of the children covered in the report  100,000 boys and girls  were counted at the U.S.-Mexican border, UNICEF said. Some 90,000 young migrants from the Horn of Africa were displaced either internally or across borders due to conflict in South Sudan and other regional instability.

While some of the unaccompanied children are orphans, others are seeking to join relatives who already reached prosperous countries. Other times, relatives believe children "would have a greater chance of being allowed to stay" than adult migrants, the report said.

UNICEF called Wednesday on the countries where children have sought refuge to provide better services, saying many "languish in overcrowded shelters, end up in makeshift camps or are left exposed to the dangers of life on the streets."

Unaccompanied migrant and refugee children should not be placed in adult detention facilities and ideally should be in foster care, the report said.

In March, Italy's Parliament approved a law setting out comprehensive standards of care for unaccompanied migrant children who arrive in Italy by sea. The law includes a strict prohibition on turning unaccompanied minors away at the border.

The law also set a 10-day window for officials to confirm migrant children's identities, with the aim of reducing the amount of time they have to spend in preliminary welcome centers. The law also guarantees them access to health care.

Among those hailing its passage at the time were the UNICEF and the humanitarian group Save the Children.

DAKAR: Authorities have documented more than 300,000 children migrating alone worldwide over a two-year period, marking a dramatic escalation of a trend that has forced many young refugees into slavery and prostitution, the U.N. children's agency said Wednesday. UNICEF said 170,000 of those children sought asylum in Europe in 2015-2016, many after making the treacherous trip across the Mediterranean Sea where hundreds of children are estimated to have drowned last year. Nearly 92 percent of the boys and girls arriving by boat in Italy in 2016 and early 2017 came unaccompanied or had been separated from their relatives along the way, the report said. They came mainly from the African nations of Eritrea, Gambia, Nigeria, Egypt and Guinea, UNICEF said. "Ruthless smugglers and traffickers are exploiting their vulnerability for personal gain, helping children to cross borders, only to sell them into slavery and forced prostitution," UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Justin Forsyth said. "It is unconscionable that we are not adequately defending children from these predators." Those who survived the journeys recounted harrowing stories of abuse along the way, including a 17-year-old girl from Nigeria who told officials that she was raped in Libya by a man who had promised her passage to Europe. UNICEF said the girl spent months in Libya deprived of contact with her family back home until she finally was sent to Italy by boat. Upon arrival, she was rescued from a life of prostitution but she told the U.N. agency her prospects are dire. "Now the people who paid for my trip are saying to my mother, it's time for money," she said. "They say I have run away, and that they paid for my trip and I owe them. They say that if I don't pay, they will put a curse on me to make me be deported." UNICEF said the number of recorded children traveling unaccompanied had risen nearly fivefold since 2010-2011, coinciding with a major increase in refugees worldwide. The figure includes only solo children who were registered at a border or as part of an asylum claim and the actual total is believed to be much higher. One-third of the children covered in the report  100,000 boys and girls  were counted at the U.S.-Mexican border, UNICEF said. Some 90,000 young migrants from the Horn of Africa were displaced either internally or across borders due to conflict in South Sudan and other regional instability. While some of the unaccompanied children are orphans, others are seeking to join relatives who already reached prosperous countries. Other times, relatives believe children "would have a greater chance of being allowed to stay" than adult migrants, the report said. UNICEF called Wednesday on the countries where children have sought refuge to provide better services, saying many "languish in overcrowded shelters, end up in makeshift camps or are left exposed to the dangers of life on the streets." Unaccompanied migrant and refugee children should not be placed in adult detention facilities and ideally should be in foster care, the report said. In March, Italy's Parliament approved a law setting out comprehensive standards of care for unaccompanied migrant children who arrive in Italy by sea. The law includes a strict prohibition on turning unaccompanied minors away at the border. The law also set a 10-day window for officials to confirm migrant children's identities, with the aim of reducing the amount of time they have to spend in preliminary welcome centers. The law also guarantees them access to health care. Among those hailing its passage at the time were the UNICEF and the humanitarian group Save the Children.
Princess Madeleine and her family, that is, Chris O'Neill, Princess Leonore and Prince Nicolas were seen during a supermarket shopping in Florida where they are having a holiday. Svensk Damtidning newspaper wrote that the family will return to Sweden in early June for the National Day based upon an interview made with the family last week. The outfit of Princess Madeleine: A skirt by Joie Shandon and sandals by Valentino Rockstud.
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
A study published now on Nature Communications shows that breast cancer cells undergo a stiffening state prior to acquiring malignant features and becoming invasive. The discovery made by a research team led by Florence Janody, from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia (IGC; Portugal), identifies a new signal in tumor cells that can be further explored when designing cancer-targeting therapies.

The progression of breast cancer disease takes several stages, from a benign lesion to an invasive carcinoma, possibly with metastasis. But actually, only 20 to 50% of benign tumors end up as invasive cancer. Predicting what lesions are within this group could result in a better use of therapeutics accordingly to the severity of the disease.

Florence Janody's group has been looking for signals inside the cells that could help predicting benign tumors that will progress to invasive carcinoma. Their attention focus on the cell skeleton - the cytoskeleton --, an intricate network of fibers that can either exert or resist forces, and that may have an impact on tumor invasion and malignancy. These fibers can be organized into distinct architectures to confer cells a more rigid or soft structure.

"Previously, it had been shown that cancer cell invasion requires cell softening. What we observed now is that prior to becoming invasive cells undergo a transient stiffening state caused by the accumulation of cytoskeleton fibers ", explains Sandra Tavares, first author of this study.

The research team discovered that cell stiffening induces the activity of proteins that promote cell proliferation, driving the growth of benign tumors. Most importantly, this cell rigidity state also triggers the subsequent progression into invasive cancer. The proteins involved in this mechanism were identified by studies on a human breast cell line, which recapitulates the multistep development of breast cancer, and biopsies of breast cancers. The importance of these proteins for the formation of tumors was further confirmed in the fruit fly.

Florence Janody says: "Our work adds an important piece to the intricate puzzle of breast tumor progression. Knowing what happens inside the cell before a cell becomes pre-invasive and acquires malignant features may help us predict, in the future, which tumors may result in metastasis. Also, it may help designing therapeutics better tailored for each type of lesion."
Sunscreen can be a valuable tool for skin cancer prevention -; but only if it's used correctly. When applying sunscreen, many people make mistakes that could compromise their protection from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, which may increase their risk of skin cancer.

Some of those mistakes are highlighted in new research published online today in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Researchers set up free sunscreen dispensers at the Minnesota State Fair and observed 2,187 people using them over the course of 93 hours.

Only one-third (33 percent) of people applied sunscreen to all exposed skin, and just 38 percent were wearing sun-protective clothing, hats or sunglasses. Additionally, utilization of the free sunscreen dispensers decreased significantly on cloudy days.

"These results highlight some of the ways people use sunscreen incorrectly," says board-certified dermatologist Ingrid Polcari, MD, FAAD, an assistant professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis and one of the study authors. "To get the best possible sun protection, it's important to wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and pants, and to apply sunscreen to all exposed skin, not just your face and arms."

"Everyone should apply sunscreen every time they go outside," Dr. Polcari adds. "Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun's harmful UV rays can reach your skin."

The researchers also observed that more women than men utilized the free sunscreen dispensers at the state fair; while 51 percent of the fair attendees were women, they accounted for 57 percent of the sunscreen users.

"Research has shown that women are more likely than men to use sunscreen, but it's vital that men use it too," says board-certified dermatologist Darrell S. Rigel, MD, FAAD, a clinical professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at New York University. "Men over 50 have a higher risk than the general population of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and UV exposure is the most preventable skin cancer risk factor, so it's important for men of all ages to protect themselves from the sun's harmful rays by seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and applying sunscreen."

Dr. Rigel offers the following tips for choosing a sunscreen:

Choose a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher. While no sunscreen can filter out all of the sun's UVB rays, SPF 30 sunscreens block 97 percent of the sun's UVB rays. Look for the words "broad spectrum." This means the sunscreen will protect against both UVA rays (which cause premature skin aging) and UVB rays (which cause sunburn). Both types of UV rays can lead to skin cancer. Look for the words "water resistant." No sunscreen is completely waterproof, but water-resistant sunscreens can provide protection for wet or sweaty skin for 40 or 80 minutes, as indicated on the label. All sunscreens should be reapplied every two hours, or after swimming or sweating. For sensitive skin, choose a sunscreen with the active ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Those with sensitive skin also should avoid sunscreens that contain fragrance, oils and para-aminobenzoic acid, also known as PABA.

"The best type of sunscreen is one you'll use," Dr. Rigel says, "so find one you like and apply it to all exposed skin before heading outside."

These tips are demonstrated in "What to Look for in a Sunscreen," a video posted to the AAD website and YouTube channel. This video is part of the AAD's Video of the Month series, which offers tips people can use to properly care for their skin, hair and nails. A new video in the series posts to the AAD website and YouTube channel each month.
Being able to monitor drug concentration in the blood of a patient is an important aspect of any pharmaceutical treatment. However, this requires equipment and facilities that are often missing from field healthcare in developing countries, but also inhibits the quality of life for patients elsewhere. EPFL scientists, working through their startup LUCENTIX, have now developed an antibody-linked biosensor that can track drug concentration in the blood by changing its color. The biosensor is incorporated into a full system that can be used in the field or by patients at home. The science behind it is published in Angewandte Chemie.

The lab of Kai Johnsson at EPFL is known for developing biosensors, and the research gave birth to the startup LUCENTIX, which has developed a biosensor that allows patients to easily measure drug concentrations in their system without need for complex lab systems.

The biosensor is a molecule made up of three components: First, a protein that can bind the drug to be monitored. Second, the light-producing enzyme luciferase. And third, a "tagging" molecule called SNAP-tag, which carries a fluorescent ligand that the protein (the first component) recognizes and binds when no drug is present. This causes a reaction between the luciferase and the fluorescent molecule called "bioluminescent resonance energy transfer" (BRET), which produces a red light.

The recent innovation, carried out by postdoc Lin Xue, involves replacing the binding protein of the biosensor with part of an antibody that has been developed against the target drug. When the biosensor detects and binds the drug in the patient's blood or saliva, the antibody "prefers" to bind this rather than the SNAP-tag's fluorescent ligand. As the ligand is displaced, the BRET reaction is progressively disrupted, and now emits a blue light.

Antibodies are naturally able to identify and bind foreign molecules, turning our immune systems against potential infections. In addition, generating antibodies that can specifically identify small molecules like drugs is a routine procedure. This means that the monitoring system can be adapted to virtually an unlimited number of molecules, while patients can carry out the monitoring themselves at home and receive laboratory-level quality information. Current lab methods for doing this are complex and expensive, and reduce the quality of life for patients who have to often be confined within or close to hospitals.

Replacing the binding protein with an antibody establishes a general pipeline for the generation of biosensors that can identify a synthetic drug in a patient's blood sample. As proof-of-principle, the EPFL scientists successfully tested the new biosensors against three drugs - methotrexate, theophylline, and quinine - in the lab. The next step will be to optimize the biosensor's sensitivity so that it can accurately detect the nanomolar or even lower concentrations of drugs/biomolecules in clinical samples.
Healthy mass transit systems could contribute to healthier communities, according to a new study by University of Illinois researchers that determined higher mass transit use was correlated with lower obesity rates in counties across the United States.

"As local communities seek to allocate public funds to projects that will provide the most benefit to their residents, our research suggests that investing in convenient and affordable public transit systems may improve public health by reducing obesity, thereby providing more value than had been previously thought," said Sheldon H. Jacobson, a professor of computer science at Illinois. He conducted the study with graduate student Zhaowei She and Douglas M. King, a lecturer of industrial and enterprise systems engineering.

The study used publicly available county health and transportation data. To get the clearest picture of the relationship between mass transit use and obesity, the researchers controlled for a number of factors that could influence health or transportation, such as household income, poverty rate, education level, leisure physical activity and access to health care among the adult residents of each county.

"By viewing this link at the county level, we provide a national perspective by considering data from counties throughout the United States," King said. "Our research suggests that, in addition to benefits to the environment and greater access to transportation for residents, community-level investments into public transit systems may also benefit public health by reducing obesity rates."

The analysis found that for each 1 percent increase in a county's population who frequently ride public transit, obesity rates dropped 0.2 percent. The study is published in the journal Preventive Medicine.

The latest findings correlate well with previous work by Jacobson and King that found a reduction in daily driving, even by a mile a day, was associated with a reduction in body mass index.

"The choice to ride public transit instead of driving can create an opportunity for physical activity," Jacobson said. "For example, when someone rides a bus, they may begin their trip by walking from their home to a bus stop before boarding the bus. Then, once they get off of the bus, they may still need to walk from a bus stop to their destination. Alternatively, if they had driven a car, they might simply drive directly from their home to their destination and eliminate the walking portion of the trip."
New diagnoses for two types of skin cancer increased in recent years, according to a Mayo Clinic-led team of researchers.

Their paper, published today in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, uses medical records from the Rochester Epidemiology Project to compare diagnoses of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma  both nonmelanoma skin cancers  between 2000 and 2010 to diagnoses in prior years. The Rochester Epidemiology project is a medical records linkage system and research collaborative in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Age, sex lead to different diagnoses

The researchers report that, between 2000 and 2010, squamous cell carcinoma (also called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma) diagnoses increased 263 percent, and basal cell carcinomas increased 145 percent. They compared the 2000-2010 period to two other segments of time: 1976-1984 and 1985-1992.

Women 30-49 experienced the greatest increase in basal cell carcinoma diagnoses; whereas, women 40-59 and 70-79 experienced the greatest increase in squamous cell carcinomas.

Men had an increase in squamous cell carcinomas between the first and second time period studied (1976-1984 and 1985-1992), but experienced a slight decline in the 2000-2010 period. However, for basal cell carcinomas, men over 29 showed similar increases in diagnoses in the 2000-2010 period then the two earlier periods.

Tanning: Beautifying or death-defying?

"We know that the sun and some artificial sunlight sources give off skin-damaging ultraviolet, or UV, rays," says Christian Baum, M.D., a Mayo Clinic dermatologist and the study's senior author. "This skin damage accumulates over time and can often lead to skin cancer."

"Despite the fact that sunscreens and cautionary information have been widely available for more than 50 years, we saw the emergence of tanning beds in the 1980s, and tanning  indoors or out  was a common activity for many years."

Although Dr. Baum notes that tanning has slowed, tanning beds still exist, and beaches will never be empty. But what people should remember is that the damage accumulates, he says, and "eventually those blistering sunburns of your youth and hot, reddened skin, and peeling shoulders of your adulthood can add up to one or more skin cancers."

The authors also reported that shifts in exposure to UV light may be the reason for a location shift in where the cancer tumors are found. In the earlier time periods, both basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas were diagnosed more often on the head and neck. But, in the most recent time period, the records showed that basal cell tumors on the torso increased, as did squamous cell carcinomas on the arms and legs.

Dr. Baum says that the risk of cancer should provide the ultimate argument for using sunscreen  every day, year-round on all exposed skin.

"Use sunscreen," says Dr. Baum. "This includes on your left arm for those who do a lot of driving. UV rays can penetrate car windows and exposed skin  even when the sun isn't shining. UV rays bounce around under the clouds, off the snow, buildings, and more, causing damage  even on gray days.

More on the data

Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project medical records linkage system, the research team was able to identify nearly all of the Olmsted County, Minnesota, adult residents who received an initial diagnosis of the most common nonmelanoma skin cancers -; basal or squamous cell carcinoma (or both), during the 2000-2010 period and the comparison years.

"There is no tumor registry for these types of cancer," says Dr. Baum, "So it is difficult to have accurate estimates of the national or worldwide impact of these cancers. However, because the Rochester Epidemiology Project contains health care information for virtually all residents of Olmsted County since 1966, it provides a good proxy for information on many global population health concerns."
TB bacteria evolve at alarming rate

Researchers from the Vavilov Institute of General Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (VIGG) and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) have established a catalog of mutations in 319 virulence genes of mycobacteria that cause tuberculosis. These genes encode proteins that suppress human immune response. Further analysis identified a set of three mutations which may enable mycobacteria to develop rapidly in an immunocompromised environment. The emerging strains of TB pathogens require new treatment approaches including the development of new genetically engineered vaccines that take into account both the immune status of a patient and the specific virulence features of a pathogen. The article was published in Genome Biology and Evolution (Oxford University Press, UK).

Lost battle

According to the World Health Organization, TB remains one of the most dangerous human infectious diseases, causing over 1.8 million deaths annually. TB is caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Koch's bacillus. It is clear that HIV-positive individuals and patients with other immunodeficiency conditions are mainly at risk. More than 20 percent of TB cases are connected with smoking. TB is no longer a social disease: It affects members of all social strata. This change was caused by the stresses of modern life>M. tuberculosis has become increasingly resistant to both the environmental factors and antibiotics, which used to guarantee effective treatment. At the same time, the symptoms of TB have become less noticeable. The bacterium can remain in the host body for decades infecting other people. According to WHO statistics, one-third of the world's population is infected with TB. The most serious problem we are currently facing is drug resistant TB aggravated by the adaptation of new pathogenic strains to weakened immunity.

Prof. Valery Danilenko of the Department of Biological and Medical Physics at MIPT, the head of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at VIGG, comments on the issue:

Humanity is trying to beat the disease with new drugs and innovative treatment methods, but we have -- tactically speaking -- already lost the battle. During the last 50 years of research, only one antibiotic with a novel type of action has been produced -- Bedaquiline. It has been in use for about two years now. However, mycobacteria have already developed mutations that make them resistant to that drug.

New strains of drug-resistant bacteria with altered virulence have already sensed our weakness: They "know" if some of us have compromised immunity, and they are exploiting precisely this weakness by targeting immunodeficient patients.

Bioinformatics and genetics help identify a dangerous strain of TB pathogens

Researchers currently identify 7-8 major M. tuberculosis lineages (groups). They differ from one another in mutations in various genes. A genome can have from 300 to 1,000 of such lineage-specific mutations, or SNPs. The term SNP (pronounced "snip") means a mutation in a particular gene involving the substitution of only one nucleotide. If the mutation occurs in a functional part of a virulence gene, the protein encoded by that gene will trigger a different host immune response. This enables the pathogen to overcome host resistance mechanisms developed in childhood as a result of BCG (anti-TB) vaccination.

Natalya Mikheecheva, a researcher at the Laboratory of Bacterial Genetics at VIGG with a bioinformatics degree from MIPT, explains:

We carried out research aimed at identifying the genes and mutations in them that allow mycobacteria to thrive in people with altered immune status including HIV-positive patients. We developed a catalog of SNPs in more than 300 virulence genes. Virulence was defined as the ability of a pathogen to cause disease, overcome host resistance via invasion and adhesion to host cells, and adapt to hostile environments, including immune response modulation.

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Each lineage was found to comprise dozens or even hundreds of sublineages, depending on the specific gene and the location of the mutation. Bioinformatics analysis conducted using software developed at MIPT's Department of Biological and Medical Physics (MIPT) revealed mutations specific to an epidemiologically dangerous sublineage within the Beijing-B0 lineage.

The scientists used databases of sequenced and described genomes to track the spread of the epidemiologically dangerous B0/N-90 sublineage in Russia and the neighboring European countries Belarus, Moldova, and Sweden.

Development of new vaccines

To combat drug-resistant TB, an international consortium called TBResist was formed in 2008. Its members include leading experts in medicine, genetics, bioinformatics, etc. from the U.S., Sweden, Russia, the U.K., Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Taiwan, and other countries.

Prof. Danilenko who led the research in Russia says:

Our work with the international consortium involved cooperating with our colleagues from South Africa and China to draft a project aimed at investigating the epidemiologically dangerous strain identified in our study. The project is currently being considered by expert communities of the three countries including the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Our goal is to warn the international community and the health ministries of the BRICS countries of the impending danger. In the '80s, it was the HIV. We may well expect something similar from new mutated TB strains--it's a Pandora's box.

Treatments that are available now can cure the disease within a year or two. However, we could see the emergence of mutant pathogens developing rapidly in certain population groups. With the flu, there is an established practice of making a new vaccine every year to counteract the latest mutated strain of influenza. But unlike the influenza virus, which only has several genes, M. tuberculosis has more than 300 virulence genes, each of them potentially subject to mutations.

For the last 30 years, scientists all over the world have been trying to design a genetically engineered TB vaccine. To do this, only certain genes of the bacterium are used, not its whole genome. These genes are cloned to obtain their protein products, which are then used to vaccinate patients and monitor their immune response. There are, however, hundreds of M. tuberculosis sublineages. The research findings indicate that vaccines need to take into account such factors as the host's immune status and the presence in the pathogen of any of at least a dozen epidemiologically dangerous lineages with mutations in particular virulence genes.

Prof. Danilenko drives the point home:

We detected mutations that may enable the bacteria to thrive by exploiting compromised immunity. From that point, it is basically analogous to the flu: We suggest that vaccines against specific TB lineages need to be developed using the genes identified through the bioinformatics analysis of hundreds of sequenced genomes. This will help us to find a basic approach that could inhibit the spread of the dangerous lineages. We have also developed diagnostic tests to identify such lineages.

Future prospects

On April 13-14, an international academic and research conference titled "Current Methods of Comprehensive Health Care for TB-infected and HIV-positive Patients: Implementation, Development, Resources" was held in Yekaterinburg. The plenary session of the conference featured a report on "Genetically Engineered TB Vaccination: Current Research, Problems, and Prospects." Prof. Igor Krasilnikov, a recognized expert in vaccine development, talked about the plans of several Russian research and government organizations (Federal Agency for Scientific Organizations, the Ministry of Health, Federal Medical and Biological Agency, MIPT) based on new ideas and paradigms that have emerged over the last years.

Source: https://mipt.ru/english/news/tb_bacteria_evolve_at_alarming_rate
Scientists at the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) at the University of Navarra (Spain) have designed a promising gene therapy method to treat Wilson's disease, a rare pathology caused by the lack of or malfunction of a gene. The gene therapy consists in introducing the correct version of the gene into the damaged cells by means of vehicles or vectors, generally viruses which have been modified in the laboratory to eliminate their capacity to cause disease but maintain their ability to penetrate the cells.

With this promising method Dr. Gloria Gonzalez Aseguinolaza, director of the Gene Therapy Program at CIMA, and her team have designed VTX801, a viral vector that corrects an advanced stage of Wilson's disease in animals. The Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE), a hospital associated with Harvard University, has participated in the development process of her innovative therapeutic strategy by contributing an advanced viral capsid (Anc80), the coating of the genetic material of the modified virus.

This advance has been possible thanks to the CIMA agreement and exclusive license, through its foundation for applied medical research (FIMA) with the emerging French bio-technical company Vivet Therapeutics (Vivet). This company, which develops new treatments based on gene therapy for hereditary metabolic rare diseases, has raised 37.5 million in its Series A financing round from a consortium of investors led by Novartis Venture Fund and Columbus Venture Partners and including Roche Venture Fund, HealthCap, Kurma Partners and Ysios Capital. Outstanding is the fact that a project from a Spanish academic institution research center should attract so many international investors in the biotechnology sector.

An injection with beneficial effects that continue for years

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Wilson's disease is caused by a mutation of the ATP7B gene, which is responsible for metabolizing copper. It causes this metal to accumulate in the liver and other tissues and produces hepatic and neurologic damage and potentially death. It affects one in 30,000 people worldwide.

The current treatment attempts to mitigate the progress of the disease and consists of taking several pills daily for life, with great discomfort for the patient and a chronicity which implies high health care costs at a global level. "Our strategy goes to the root of the disease and tries to correct it", stated Dr. Gloria Gonzalez Aseguinozala. And, "it consists in applying a single injection whose effects may last up to seven years, which is, up to now, the follow-up time of a patient treated with gene therapy".

According to the researcher, the successful results in mice at an advanced stage of the disease together with the agreement with Vivet "have allowed us to optimize the VTX801 vector and its production system in order to obtain large clinical grade quantities". Once the CIMA researchers have tested the safety and effectiveness of the new drug, Vivet expects to begin the first clinical trials with VTX801 towards the end of 2018.

Hope for other congenital diseases

Gonzalez Aseguinozala points out that her research "has focused on Wilson's disease because it is the first for which we have satisfactory data and the possibilities of being of benefit to patients are more immediate. However, the potential of this therapeutic strategy opens the doors to other treatments with gene therapy, as, by changing the defective gene, we may be able to address diseases with a similar cause".

Source: Universidad de Navarra
An international study led by Monash University has discovered the molecular mechanism by which the potentially deadly superbug 'Golden Staph' evades antibiotic treatment, providing the first important clues on how to counter superbug antibiotic resistance.

'Superbugs' are bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics, presenting a global health threat. To tackle this global challenge, researchers from Monash's Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) are collaborating with Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science, and the NTU Institute of Structural Biology in Singapore.

Now, the Monash BDI researchers have identified the first important clues on how to 'retool' antibiotics to counter the strategies bacteria enlist to evade the life-saving drugs, with the findings published in the journal

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Researchers used the latest generation electron microscopes at the Monash Ramaciotti Centre for Electron Microscopy to image at the molecular level -- for the first time -- the changes that take place in superbugs that have become resistant to the most modern antibiotics.

Examining bacterial samples of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or 'Golden Staph' taken from a hospital patient, they compared data of a non-resistant strain with their counterparts overseas. These included Shashi Bhushan from NTU, and Zohar Eyal and Nobel Laureate, Professor Ada Yonath from the Weizmann Institute who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2009.

"Using the combined data we could rationalize how the bacteria escapes drug treatment by a really important hospital antibiotic and describe in molecular detail how it becomes like a superbug," said Monash BDI scientist and lead researcher Dr. Matthew Belousoff.

"The bacteria mutates or evolves to change the shape of the molecule to which the antibiotic would bind so the drug can no longer fit there," Dr. Belousoff said.

"Knowing what your enemy is doing is the first step to the next phase of new drug design," he said.

"We've developed a technique that others can use that might help us speed up the arms race of antibiotic development."

Dr. Belousoff said Monash BDI researchers are now using this new tool to investigate other drug-resistant bacteria. The research, involving the expertise of Monash microscopist Dr. Mazdak Radjainia and mentoring of Professor Trevor Lithgow, was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
As thyroid cancer rates rise, more people are having surgery to remove all or part of their thyroid. A new study suggests complications from these procedures are more common than previously believed.

Overall, 6.5 percent of thyroid cancer patients had general post-operative complications in the month after surgery, and 12 percent had complications specific to thyroid surgery within the year after their operation. But the risks were significantly higher for certain groups, suggesting the opportunity for targeted interventions and education to improve outcomes.

"That 12 percent of patients overall had thyroid surgery specific complications is concerning. Most of our surgeons quote a 1 to 3 percent rate. This is quadruple what we had thought," says lead study author Maria Papaleontiou, M.D., assistant professor of metabolism, endocrinology and diabetes at Michigan Medicine.

The majority of previous studies on thyroid surgery complications have been from single institutions, often high-volume centers, which are known to have better outcomes.

The new study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, looked at 22,867 people who had surgery for thyroid cancer between 1998-2011. Data was collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare linked database.

Researchers looked at general post-operative complications  fever, infection, blood clots or swelling  that occurred within the first 30 days after surgery. They also looked at complications specific to thyroid surgery, such as hypoparathyroidism, hypocalcemia, and vocal cord or fold paralysis. These conditions can have lifelong impact on patients.

"When we work with patients to treat thyroid cancer, we're always balancing benefits and risks. This study shows there are more complications from surgery for thyroid cancer than expected. It suggests an opportunity to educate both patients and providers to decrease complications and improve outcomes," says senior study author Megan R. Haymart, M.D., assistant professor of metabolism, endocrinology and diabetes at Michigan Medicine.

The researchers identified three groups for which both general and thyroid surgery specific complications were more common:

Patients older than 65

Patients with more advanced thyroid cancer

Patients with other co-existing medical conditions

Older patients were about three times more likely to have complications than those younger than 65. Ten percent of older patients developed general post-operative complications and 19 percent had thyroid surgery-related complications. For patients younger than 65, 3 percent had general complications and 6 percent had thyroid surgery-related complications.

Advanced disease was associated with the highest number of complications: 23 percent of patients whose cancer had spread throughout the body had thyroid surgery specific complications, a number the researchers call "alarming."

"Thyroidectomy is considered a fairly safe operation in general, but some populations are more vulnerable and need extra attention in pre- and post-operative care," Papaleontiou says.

The researchers suggest better educating patients and providers so that those at risk of complications seek out high-volume surgeons that tend to have better outcomes. Other studies have shown that low-volume surgeons perform a disproportionate number of thyroid surgeries in the United States.

In addition, the researchers say it's crucial to educate endocrinologists  who typically treat hypoparathyroidism or hypocalcemia  on the likelihood of these risks on patients who have had thyroid cancer surgery.

In addition, Haymart says conversations about limiting surgery for those with low-risk disease may be appropriate.

"Even in low-risk patients, the risk of vocal cord paralysis is still 2 percent and the risk of hypoparathyroidism is 8 percent. This is higher than we'd like to see," Haymart says. "Are there options to do less extensive surgery for these patients? If the cancer control benefits are similar but the risks of long-term complications would be less, we need to provide patients with this option."

Source: http://labblog.uofmhealth.org/lab-report/complications-from-thyroid-cancer-surgery-more-common-than-believed-study-finds
A leading psychology professor at The University of Texas at Arlington has focused international attention on how a chronic pain patient's irrational doubts about never getting better can influence both his reactions to pain and even treatment outcomes.

Chronic pain costs the U.S. up to $635 billion each year in medical treatment and lost productivity, and is considered a problem of epidemic proportions. The influence of these irrational beliefs on both patient behavior and chronic pain treatment success is of growing interest to the scientific community.

"We are seeing that patients who tend to have these irrational beliefs are at greater risk of misusing opioid medicines and take longer to return to work when experiencing work disability for acute lower back pain," said Robert J. Gatchel, UTA Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Nancy P. & John G. Penson Endowed Professor of Clinical Health Psychology.

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"A more complete treatment model around this problem would promote changes in lifestyle habits and attitudes, and strengthen social support systems, alongside medical treatments. We need to take into consideration a series of treatment components that people have not considered before," he added.

The irrational or maladaptive beliefs that the pain will never get better are clinically known as pain catastrophizing. Gatchel has edited one of the first special issues dedicated to this subject for this month's Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research, bringing together new studies from Asia, Europe and North America, as well as his recent review of the literature.

"We hope that this special issue will spark more interest in this significant construct and help guide further clinical research," Gatchel said. "New research on brain imaging and the genetics of catastrophizing are highlighting the increased complexity of these beliefs and underline the need for a more complete model for pain treatment."

Perry Fuchs, UTA's chair of psychology, congratulated Gatchel on this achievement and his research program, which contributes to the University's strategic theme of Health and the Human Condition within the Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions|Global Impact.

"There is a long history of evaluating the cognitive appraisal of pain on therapeutic outcomes and Dr. Gatchel's analysis of catastrophizing and comprehensive treatment approaches highlights certain aspects of why patients might feel less pain, why some patients recover faster, and how some better manage their conditions," Fuchs said.

Additional work in the UTA research laboratories of Dr. Fuchs, Dr. Yuan Bo Peng, and Dr. Qing Lin is partially aimed at exploring the biological mechanisms that might help explain how cognition impacts pain processes.
Global engineering and healthcare technologies company, Renishaw, is attending the second annual International 3D Printing in Medicine Conference in Mainz, Germany on May 19th-20th. Renishaw will demonstrate the opportunities that additive manufacturing (AM) creates in craniomaxillofacial surgery, by exhibiting its bespoke implants and providing demonstrations of its new implant design software, Additive-manufacture for Design-led Efficient Patient Treatment (ADEPT).

Renishaw will demonstrate its expertise in patient specific implants (PSIs) for craniomaxillofacial applications, and explain the benefits of a digital workflow. On the Renishaw stand, visitors will be introduced to successful examples of where the companys implant technology has been used to improve patient outcomes, including a recent case where Neurosurgeon Bartolome Oliver, performed a craniotomy using parts manufactured on a Renishaw AM250 metal 3D printing machine. The company will also present further cases with work from surgeons Shakir Mustafa and Adrian Sugar.

During the conference, Renishaw will provide demonstrations of its new award-winning software package, ADEPT, which enables the widespread use of 3D printing to produce bespoke maxillofacial implants by overcoming the cost and efficiency barriers. The collaborative project draws on the academic and industrial expertise of several UK partners; Renishaw, LPW Technology Ltd, the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board and PDR located within Cardiff Metropolitan University.

3D printing is a rapidly growing technology in many areas of medicine, as it has the potential to improve efficiency, accuracy and ease of customisation, explained Ed Littlewood, Marketing Manager of Renishaws Medical and Dental Products Division. Since we presented at the first annual conference last year, we have seen a growing interest and awareness of AM bespoke implants. This is something Renishaw hopes to build on at the 2017 conference.

AM patient specific implant technology offers benefits to the surgeon, hospital and most importantly the patient, explained Amy Davey, Reconstructive Scientist at Southmead Hospital and Renishaws Medical and Dental Products Division. The implants can have a positive impact on hospitals, by improving patient outcomes and speeding up surgery.

Demonstrating successful cases of additively manufactured patient specific implants will help open the industrys eyes to the potential of AM technology, increasing uptake and improving clinical outcomes.

Visitors to the stand will also be introduced to the neuromate, Renishaws commercially available neurorobot, which surgeons can use to decrease procedure time and increase safety in a number of neurosurgical procedures. Surgeons can program the robot to place devices accurately into the desired brain region.

The conference is set to be held at the Electoral Palace in Mainz and brings together physicians, materials scientists and engineers to present the results of their research in medical 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
The blood-brain barrier is biology's proverbial double-edged sword.

An impermeable shield of endothelial cells that protects our brains from toxins and other threats that may lurk in circulating blood, the barrier can also exclude therapeutic drugs and, at times, essential biomolecules required for healthy brain development.

A case in point is the rare but severe psychomotor disease Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS), a congenital condition that affects only males and starves the developing brain of thyroid hormone, resulting in cognitive impairment and atrophied muscles and motor skills. The condition is not only untreatable, but seems to be peculiar to humans, meaning scientists have been unable to study the disease and seek new treatments by modeling it in an animal like the mouse.

But now, a team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles have used the cells of AHDS patients to recreate not only the disease, but a mimic of the patient's blood-brain barrier in the laboratory dish using induced pluripotent stem cell technology.

"This is the first demonstration of using a patient's cells to model a blood-brain barrier defect," explains Eric Shusta, a UW-Madison professor of chemical and biological engineering and a senior author of the new study published today (May 16, 2017) in the journal Cell Stem Cell. "If we had just the (compromised) neural cells available, we wouldn't have been able to identify this key characteristic of AHDS."

The new work not only establishes a laboratory model for Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome, but also hints at therapies that could prevent or reduce the debilitating effects of the disease, says Clive Svendsen, director of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, a senior author of the new study and an expert on diseases of the central nervous system. The Wisconsin-Cedars-Sinai collaboration also included UW-Madison Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering Sean Palecek and Abraham Al-Ahmad, now a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Texas Tech University.

Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome is caused by defects to a single gene that controls the flow of thyroid hormone to the brain. It affects the developing male brain beginning before birth and results in moderate to severe cognitive disability, impaired speech, underdeveloped muscles and involuntary movement, among other symptoms. As patients age, the condition progresses and many become confined to wheelchairs.

The flawed gene, says Shusta, blunts the work of a biomolecule called MCT8, a transporter that shepherds thyroid hormone through the blood-brain barrier. In the earliest stages of development, several studies suggest a fetus obtains significant amounts of thyroid hormones from the mother.

"The blood-brain barrier forms pretty early in gestation, so the thyroid hormone, even from the mother, is probably not getting through the barrier and into the brain, likely leading to developmental deficits," says Shusta, whose group was among the first to develop blood-brain barriers from patient-derived stem cells in the lab dish.

The ability to recapitulate both the affected neural cells and the blood-brain barrier, according to Shusta and Svendsen, provides detailed insight that not only reveals the mechanics of the syndrome, but also raises the possibility of identifying drugs that may help overcome the diminished ability of the hormone to nurture the developing brain.

In addition, several other neurological diseases like Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease may involve dysfunction in the blood-brain barrier, explains Gad Vatine of Cedars-Sinai, the lead author of the report. "The significance of this study expands beyond the limits of AHDS research, to the possibility of stem cell modeling the blood-brain barrier component in many other neurological diseases," Vatine says.

As an example, Leslie Thompson and coworkers at the University of California, Irvine, have used the blood-brain barrier model developed in the Shusta laboratory to study abnormalities in the blood-brain barrier of Huntington's disease patients. That work is published in the May 16 edition of Cell Reports.
Your spit may hold a clue to future brain health. Investigators at the Beaumont Research Institute, part of Beaumont Health in Michigan, are hopeful that their study involving small molecules in saliva will help identify those at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease - a neurologic condition predicted to reach epidemic proportions worldwide by 2050.

Their study, "Diagnostic Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease as Identified in Saliva using 1H NMR-Based Metabolomics" was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 58(2) on May 16.

Investigators found salivary molecules hold promise as reliable diagnostic biomarkers.

The study exemplifies the quest by scientists to combat Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative brain disorder with no cure and few reliable diagnostic tests. In the United States, Alzheimer's is a health epidemic affecting more than 5 million Americans. Investigators seek to develop valid and reliable biomarkers, diagnosing the disease in its earliest stages before brain damage occurs and dementia begins.

Researcher Stewart Graham, Ph.D., said, "We used metabolomics, a newer technique to study molecules involved in metabolism. Our goal was to find unique patterns of molecules in the saliva of our study participants that could be used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease in the earliest stages, when treatment is considered most effective. Presently, therapies for Alzheimer's are initiated only after a patient is diagnosed and treatments offer modest benefits."

Metabolomics is used in medicine and biology for the study of living organisms. It measures large numbers of naturally occurring small molecules, called metabolites, present in the blood, saliva and tissues. The pattern or fingerprint of metabolites in the biological sample can be used to learn about the health of the organism.

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"Our team's study demonstrates the potential for using metabolomics and saliva for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease," explained Dr. Graham. "Given the ease and convenience of collecting saliva, the development of accurate and sensitive biomarkers would be ideal for screening those at greatest risk of developing Alzheimer's. In fact, unlike blood or cerebrospinal fluid, saliva is one of the most noninvasive means of getting cellular samples and it's also inexpensive."

The study participants included 29 adults in three groups: mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease and a control group. After specimens were collected, the researchers positively identified and accurately quantified 57 metabolites. Some of the observed variances in the biomarkers were significant. From their data, they were able to make predictions as to those at most risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Said Dr. Graham, "Worldwide, the development of valid and reliable biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease is considered the No. 1 priority for most national dementia strategies. It's a necessary first step to design prevention and early-intervention research studies."

As Americans age, the number of people affected by Alzheimer's is rising dramatically. According to the Alzheimer's Association, by 2050, it's estimated the number of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease will triple to about 15-16 million.

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia affecting a person's ability to think, communicate and function. It greatly impacts their relationships, their independence and lifestyle. The condition's toll not only affects millions of Americans, but in 2017, it could cost the nation $259 billion.
New Delhi: The government is moving ahead with further opening of print media, construction and retail sectors to foreign investments, and detailed deliberations in this regard were held in the finance ministry today.



The commerce and industry ministry may soon approach the Union Cabinet to get the final approval on the proposals, sources said.



According to them, the government is considering to relax foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in certain areas of print media.



Currently, foreign investment is allowed in areas such as printing of newspapers and publishing of scientific magazines with certain conditions and FDI caps.



The government may also permit overseas retailers to open wholly-owned stores for selling 'Made in India' products only.



Besides, it is considering to allow retail stores, which would attract FDI, to sell domestically manufactured personal and home care products up to 25 per cent of their total turnover, a demand which has been strongly pitched by Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.



Badal has time and again asked to permit FDI in non-food items, along with food products, under the multi-brand retail policy.



There is also a proposal to ease the policy in construction and development sector, under which an Indian company could be allowed to bring FDI even for undeveloped plots in any project.



Currently, 100 per cent FDI is allowed in the construction sector subject to various conditions.



One of the norms is that the Indian investee company is permitted to sell only developed plots, which means plots where trunk infrastructure - roads, water supply, street lighting, drainage and sewerage, have been made available.



Sources said the government may put certain restrictions while making changes in this condition.



The whole exercise is aimed at providing investor friendly climate to foreign players and in turn attract more FDI to boost economic growth and create jobs.



The government is also mulling easing policy in single brand retail trading, under which 100 per cent FDI would be allowed through automatic route with certain conditions.



Currently, FDI up to 49 per cent is permitted under the automatic route but beyond that limit, government's nod is required.



The easing of the policy will be on the lines of the announcements made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget for 2017-18.



The government last year relaxed FDI norms in over a dozen sectors, including defence, civil aviation, construction and development, private security agencies, real estate and news broadcasting.



Foreign investments are considered crucial for India, which needs around USD 1 trillion for overhauling its infrastructure sector such as ports, airports and highways to boost growth.



Foreign investments will help improve the country's balance of payments situation and strengthen the rupee value against other global currencies, especially the US dollar.
Srinagar: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will arrive in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to review the security situation amid heightened tension on the Line of Control (LoC) and student unrest in the valley.



This would be Jaitley's first visit to the state after he took over the additional charge from Manohar Parrikar.



The Defence Minister advanced his visit by a day since he was otherwise scheduled to chair the two-day long Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting beginning in Srinagar on Thursday.



During his visit to the LoC, Jaitley would meet the field commanders.



He will be briefed on the overall preparedness of the army to meet challenges of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the heightened risk of infiltration as the snow starts to thaw on the mountains.



Sources here said the ongoing students' unrest fanning separatist sentiments in the valley would also remain in focus.



"The impact of an unrest on the overall security situation cannot be wished away. Therefore, the visit will also focus on ways and means to help the civil administration bring the situation under control," a top official told IANS.
"If this is so, I would aggravate the charges against the defendant (Kejriwal)," Jaitley said, adding that there was a limit to personal malice.

: The cross-examination of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley by senior advocate Ram Jethmalani in the Delhi High Court took an ugly turn on Wednesday after the Minister objected to the use of the word "crook" against him.The recording of Jaitley's statement in a civil defamation suit of Rs 10 crore filed by him against Kejriwal and other AAP functionaries could not take place after the heated discussion.The Finance Minister, who appeared before Joint Registrar Deepali Sharma, lost his cool and asked Jethmalani whether the word was used as per instructions from Kejriwal.Senior advocates Rajiv Nayar and Sandeep Sethi, who were representing Jaitley, also said that Jethmalani was putting scandalous questions and should restrain himself from asking irrelevant ones "as this matter is Arun Jaitley versus Arvind Kejriwal and not Ram Jethmalani versus Arun Jaitley".To this, Jethmalani said he used the word on the instruction of Kejriwal.A group of lawyers, including Jethmalani who were defending the AAP leaders, also said that Jaitley was not entitled to a claim of Rs 10 crore on account of his alleged defamation.Jaitley has filed the civil defamation suit seeking Rs 10 crore damages from Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders -- Raghav Chadha, Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh and Deepak Bajpai -- for accusing him of financial irregularities in the DDCA of which he was the President from 2000 to 2013.(With PTI inputs)
Patna: The Patna High Court on Wednesday removed two of the seven sets of commitments (Saat Nischay) from the purview of the state government appointed special body and restored rights of local bodies to implement these schemes.



Saath Nischay is similar to a common minimum program which was agreed upon between Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar projected it as a program to develop rural Bihar.



This seven point program includes education for all, skill development, education loan to students, electrification of villages, piped water supply to every household (Nal-Jal yojna) and sewer in every street (Nali-Gali Yojna).



The High Court has struck down Nal-Jal and Nali-Gali Yojna accepting the plea that these two programs were against the spirit of Panchayti Raj system and only Gram Panchayats have the right to implement such schemes.



Union of elected representatives of Gram Panchayats (Mukhiya Sangh) had opposed the state government move to implement the said two schemes by Ward Development Committee, a body specially set up by the government for implementing seven points program.



Chief justice Rajendra Menon accepted this contention and ordered piped water supply and sewer schemes be implemented by Gram Panchayats and not by any other body which is not the part of Panchayati Raj Act 1992.



Ashok Kumar Singh, President of Mukhiya Sangh, termed this as victory of the common people. Nitish Kumar imposed these two schemes on Panchayats which was against the spirit of the constitution and dealt a blow to the rights of elected representatives of local bodies. Only Gram Sabha is entitled to decide and implement such schemes, he said.
New Delhi: The Indian Navy rescued a Liberian flagged vessel from pirates in the Gulf of Aden.



The operation by INS Sharda involved marine commandos and an armed chopper.



PTI reported that INS Sharda, deployed in Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy mission, swung into action after it received a distress call from MV Lord Mountbatten around 4:45 PM on Tuesday.



After reaching out to the vessel, the Navy's 'Marcos' commandos with support from the helicopter onboard the ship,



carried out a 'board and search' operation on two dhows and five skiffs which had shown "malicious intent".



Three skiffs fled the area at high speeds on sighting the Indian warship.



"The ship received a distress call from MV Lord Mountbatten, in position 230 nm South-West in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel had reported an incident of attempted piracy by two suspicious mother vessels along with 7-8 skiffs. Sharda, which was at that time 30 Nm East of the reported position, immediately responded to the distress call and proceeded at best speed to investigate the incident," Navy Spokesperson Capt DK Sharma said.



One automatic Kalashnikov rifle and 28 rounds of magazines were also recovered from one of the dhows, he said.



Indian Naval assets have been increasingly deployed in recent times to address the various maritime concerns of the region, including piracy off the coast of Somalia.



The navies of India and China last month had rescued a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden after it was hijacked by Somali pirates.



Indian Navy's two frontline warships, INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash were part of the operation while the Chinese Navy had deployed missile frigate Yulin. However, China had not acknowledged participation of Indian Navy in the operation.



(With PTI inputs)
India, whose request for consular access to Jadhav was turned down 16 times, had approached the ICJ on May 8, accusing Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention and conducting a "farcical trial" for convicting Jadhav without a "shred of evidence" following which the court had stayed his execution.

While India asserted that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he was involved in business activities after retiring from the Indian Navy, Pakistan claims to have arrested Jadhav from its restive Balochistan province.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will pronounce its verdict in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at 3:30pm IST on Thursday, just 10 days after India approached it demanding immediate suspension of the death sentence given to its former Navy officer by a Pakistan military court."The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will deliver its Order on the request for the indication of provisional measures made by India in the Jadhav Case (India v. Pakistan), tomorrow on Thursday 18 May 2017."A public sitting will take place at noon (3:30pm IST) at the Peace Palace in The Hague, during which Judge Ronny Abraham, President of the Court, will read the court's decision," the international court said in a release on Wednesday.During its submission to the ICJ on May 15 at a public hearing, India had demanded the immediate annulment of Jadhav's death sentence, expressing fears that Pakistan could execute him even before the hearing at the ICJ was over.Jadhav was arrested on March 3 last year and sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities.India is represented by its 'agent' Deepak Mittal, who is the head of the Pakistan division in the external affairs ministry and the case is argued by its lead attorney Harish Salve.It is after 18 years that the two neighbours were fighting it out at the ICJ. Last time, Pakistan had moved the ICJ seeking its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft.(With PTI inputs)
Srinagar: The month-long ban imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir government on social media applications and internet sites to curb the unrest in the valley has come a cropper with almost everyone accessing these platforms using Virtual Private Networks.



The state's Home department, through an order issued on April 26, had banned 22 social media applications and sites including Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter in a vain bid to curb the street protests in Kashmir.



"In the interest of maintenance of public order, the government hereby directs all internet service providers that any message or class of messages to or from a person or a class of persons relating to any subject or any pictorial content through the following social networking sites shall not be transmitted in Kashmir Valley with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders, whichever is earlier," Principal Secretary, Home Department R K Goyal had said.



The inaccessible sites included Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Wechat, QQ, Qzone, Google Plus, Skype, Line, Pinterest, Snapchat, Youtube, Vine and Flickr. "On careful examination of all relevant factors, it is observed that the use of social media platforms, which are being misused by anti-national and anti-social elements by transmitting inflammatory messages in various forms are immediately required to be regulated/curbed," the order read.



While the government order put the onus on Internet service providers to ban the access to these sites, it was silent on the possibility of users being able to bypass the ban.



Top politicians and officials of the government, including the Director General of Police have been using some of the banned applications like Twitter to put out posts on the current situation in the valley.



Opposition National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah is one of those seemingly unaffected by the ban. He frequently tweets about the developments in Kashmir and other parts of world.



The ruling PDP has also used Twitter to put out press releases and at times counter the criticism levelled by opposition parties.



Both the National Conference and PDP entered into a war of words on Twitter yesterday over the raising of 'azaadi' (freedom) slogans at a self help group function presided over

by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.



Some of the senior police officials of the state frequently use Whatsapp and Facebook to put out updates. "Whatsapp is supposed to be out of bounds for internet users in Kashmir but we still receive press releases and invitations for official functions through this application.



They probably know the ban has been ineffective ....it is high time the government revokes it," Yusuf Jameel, a journalist, told PTI.



Although the ban initially limited the common man's access to these applications, the discovery of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by the people has made the ban redundant.



"The use of VPNs has helped in accessing most of the banned sites ...these applications and sites have become the communication lifeline not only in Kashmir but across the world," Umar Bhat, a businessman, said.



Bhat, however, loathed the slow internet speed in Kashmir which has made online business transactions almost impossible.



"I frequently travel between Srinagar and Delhi and the difference in the internet speed is huge. This has severely affected my business as I find it difficult to make online transactions," he said.
Giri was making his submissions where he stated that interventions in personal laws have been made before and there has been verdicts where communities practices were struck down. Giri passed on the Quran to the bench and said that Talaq-e-Biddat finds mention in para 230 of Surah 65 of the Quran. However, the CJI smiled and asked the counsel to read the para again.

The judges read Surah 4 verse 35 and said it needs an arbitrator. Read the complete paragraph, you will see even this excludes triple talaq completely, said the CJI.

Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran also made his submissions and called the verdicts relied upon by the petitioners which had criticized triple talaq as baseless as it had opinion of scholars who form a minority within the community.

On Day 5 of triple talaq hearing, dramatic scenes were witnessed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday as the bench led by Chief Justice of India asked the respondents to show the mention of Talaq-e-Biddat or instant talaq in the Holy Quran.CJI JS Khehar, holding the Quran, read out verses from Surah At-Talaq to a counsel of the respondents. In his reply to senior advocate V Giri, the CJI said there is no mention of Talaq-e-Biddat in the Quran, and only two other forms of talaq  Talaq-e-Ehsan and Talaq-e-Hasan  are mentioned in the holy book.You have to read all the paras before and after to give a complete picture. Even Mr (Kapil) Sibal cited only a select few. If you say the period iddah is compulsory after every pronouncement and it is the third instance after which it becomes irrevocable hence, Talaq-e-Biddat finds no place in the Quran. We are only pointing this out to you because you should know that we also understand what is happening here and its not that we are not getting it, said the CJI.Justice Nariman echoed the sentiment of his brother judge and said, Talaq-e-Biddat is not sanctioned by the Quran at all.Giri then said, I accept it is my mistake and it was just my inference.Holding up a copy of the holy book, Justice Khehar said, This book says that in every Friday prayers, you say that biddat is bad and should not be practised by any means. In every Friday prayer, you say it and now you say it is part of your 1400-year-old faith, the CJI asked.If a judge of a secular court, who coincidentally happens to be a Muslim, tells me that implication of divorce is not what your school of thought is telling you but it is the other one and the one you are saying is wrong, then such a thing cannot happen and is impossible, said Ramachandran.The CJI had also said that applicability of Article 25 of the Constitution is restricted to matters which are essential to religion. Protection of Article 25 is applicable only when it is about a practice which is essential to your religions and not for what is not essential, stated the CJI.
#lending rules S. Korea to begin eased lending rules next month South Korea will carry out eased lending rules for first-time homebuyers and owners of one home next month as the once-hot housing market appears to be entering a downturn amid ris...

#COVID-19 S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases continue on-week growth South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell to below 60,000 but showed a marked on-week growth Thursday as the country is at the onset of another virus wave, health authorities said. ...
New Delhi: Just over a week after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence to all four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, her mother has joined hands with a legal tech platform to provide free legal aid to female victims of violent crimes.



As part of her initiatives under the Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust, which was set up by the family after the gruesome death of her daughter, Asha Devi has set up NyayaJyoti Foundation, in collaboration with LawRato, a leading lawyer search platform.



Many people have contacted Asha Devi over the years, seeking help with their legal hassles.



I faced so many hassles during the fight for justice for my own daughter. I met many people who also had similar problems but they didnt know where to start, legally. I dont wish for anyone to go through what I and my family went through. This is just a small step to help them, Asha Devi told News18.



Most of our partner lawyers are happy providing pro-bono services. Their support for the initiative has only cemented Asha Devis resolve to set up the foundation, says Rohan Mahajan, founder at LawRato. NyayaJyoti will provide legal assistance through LawRato's network of 4500 lawyers, present across 400 cities in India.



According to statistics of National Crime Records Bureau, there has been an increase of over 43 per cent in crimes against women from 2011 to 2015 and 105 per cent over the past decade (2005 to 2015).
Bengaluru: The Rs 35000-crore illegal mining cases in Karnataka may be getting a quiet burial by investigative agencies both at the Centre and state.



Mining baron and former state BJP minister Gali Janardhan Reddy was identified as the main player in these cases.



In a two para missive from December 2016, accessed by CNN-News18, the Central Bureau of Investigations Anti-Corruption Branch told the Industries and Commerce department that no prima facie case is made out to justify registration of a case on the question of illegal export of iron ore from Karnataka through Goan ports.



This comes three years after an inquiry was ordered against Janardhan after the Lokayukta blew the lid off illegal mining in Karnataka. Contrary to the claims of the CBI, the Lokayukta report claimed that more than 12.57 crore metric tonnes of iron ore was transported from Goan ports.



Dismayed by a series of closure reports filed by investigative agencies, former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde said, Can it be disputed that 2.4 lakh worth metric tonnes was deposited in Belekeri port? Can it be said this disappeared? There should be somebody answerable for this, 2, 40,000 tonnes is a huge amount.



It requires dozens of ships to be taken away. And how can it go when it is controlled by the Port Officer, by the Investigating Officers of the Lokayukta. How can anybody explain? he added.



I am so sorry that after all the effort, we get to see this result. VIPs are getting acquitted, appeals are not being filed on time. The SIT has been working there for three years and nothing but filing the reports. A premier organisation like CBI has been filing B reports, he said.



Questioning how the case was handled, Hedge said the Lokayukta team had documented the case properly without any malice against any individual or company. All the documents were produced along with the report. If the material produced by the Lokayukta is of no merit, then I think we have to relook at the judicial system, he said.



So far there are 63 cases against Janardhan in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Out of these, 10 cases with Special Investigation Team (SIT) Lokayukta concerning Belekeri port, the chargesheet hasn't been filed yet. These cases are still under investigation. Around 28 of these cases are with the CBI in which chargesheet has been filed in almost all but the progress is slow.



All cases related to illegal transportation of iron ore from ports in Mangalore, Karwar, Krishnapatnam and Goa have been disposed of due to lack of evidence to investigate.



In the cases lingering in Andhra Pradesh concerning Obalapuram mining scam, investigation hasn't started yet due to an inter-state border dispute.



Vishnu Kamat, an environmental activist, said, In the case of Laksmi Aruna, wife of Janardhan Reddy, the CBI for reasons known to only itself has taken a stand to not appeal against her discharge. In the case of Deccan Mining Syndicate, it is very regrettable that the CBI Special Court has discharged all the accused.



Six months ago, the case against former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa which cost him the CM post where he was accused of taking a bribe by a cheque, also fell apart and all accused were acquitted.

The Karnataka High Court discharged Janardhan and his companies two months ago on a technicality that the Enforcement Directorate had used the wrong provisions of the law in pursuing this case. Surprisingly, the ED has not pursued an appeal, and some activists have sought to file a complaint in the Supreme Court.



Yeddyurappa had two cases against him related to illegal mining which were disposed by a CBI trial court.



Activists allege that both Janardhan and Yeddyurappa enjoy close ties with the Centre because of which they have been bailed out. Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal (Secular) says it is a known fact that Centre is helping them. Hence, cases against BJP leaders are being quashed.



Kumaraswamy, who himself is accused in a mining scandal, said he has nothing to do with any miners.



Yeddyurappa rubbishing the accusations said there is no interference from the Centre. He instead blamed the Congress party for not acting against illegal mining.



The Congress government has set up a committee on mining but hasnt yet brought out an action taken report. Nor has it acted on the 19 big miners indicted by the then Lokayukta. The state governments SIT too has not pursued cases  while some of the closure reports involve cases against sitting Congress Minister Santosh Lad and former BJP MLC Anand Singh.



Its just that everybody is involved in it. The Chief Ministers were involved in it, the political parties. The Congress is there, JD (S) is there, BJP is there. So naturally when it comes to this  you scratch my back, I scratch yours, Hedge said.



Reacting to the report, H K Patil, state Minister for Rural Development and chairman of the cabinet sub- committee on mining, admitted that they were unable to bring out an action taken report. He however said, The committee had given many directions to the concerned authorities. If the investigating agencies and concerned people are not doing their job, how am I responsible?



He said that the Congress government will set up five fast track courts to deal with illegal mining cases. The proposal is of setting up five fast track courts for day-to-day hearing of mining cases and ensure a speedy trial, Patil said.
The market in Mathura would remain closed on Wednesday and if there is no prompt action, it may be extended, Sunil Agrawal of the Nagar Udyog Vyapaar Mandal said. Petrol pumps in the district were also likely to join the protest.

Sub-inspector Prateek Kumar, in-charge of the police outpost in Holi Gate, and two constables were suspended, superintendent of police (city) Ashok Kumar said, adding that local police officials have been given three days to crack the case.

Angered by the killing of two jewellers during a robbery, traders in Mathura have called for a bandh on Wednesday, demanding the arrest of the accused.The incident occurred in the Koyalawali Gali area on Monday night when six armed men came on motorbikes and barged into the jewellery shops in the market, falling under Kotwali police station limits, and opened fire. Two traders, identified as Vikas and Megh, were killed, while two others were injured and hospitalised.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked DGP Sulkhan Singh to visit the spot. The top cop is likely to visit the area at 11am. State Power Minister Srikant Sharma is likely to accompany him.The traders have also demanded compensation of Rs 50 lakh and jobs for the kin of the deceased.An association of jewellers also said that it would organise a protest.(With PTI inputs)
Fort Leavenworth (US) Chelsea Manning, the transgender army private jailed for one of the largest leaks of classified documents in US history, is set to walk out of a military prison on Wednesday after seven years behind bars.



In July 2010, Manning -- then a male soldier known as Bradley -- was arrested over the release of a huge trove of more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks.



On Wednesday, Manning will leave the prison barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas -- the only maximum-security facility run by the Pentagon -- thanks to a commutation of her sentence by president Barack Obama before he left office.



Without Obama's parting gift, Manning, who served as an intelligence official in Iraq, would have remained behind bars until 2045, after serving a 35-year sentence.



Supporters of Manning -- who attempted suicide twice last year alone -- said they feared she would not have been able to survive the long sentence. Now, she can complete her transition as a free, openly transgender woman.



"Two more days until the freedom of civilian life," Manning tweeted Monday. "Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans."



Manning, now 29, also went on a hunger strike during her detention to denounce the disciplinary measures to which she was subjected -- including stints in solitary confinement.



"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world," she wrote last week.



Quiet release



Manning's defense team is intent on protecting her.



The Oklahoma native had a difficult childhood. After her parents' divorce, Manning moved with her mother to Wales, where she repressed her sexuality and was mocked for her effeminate ways.



The military is therefore keen on keeping her release low-key. No press conference is planned and media massing at the military installation may be hard-pressed to even catch a glimpse of Manning.



"To ensure the privacy and security of Inmate Manning, no further information concerning the release will be provided," US Army spokesman Dave Foster said in a statement.



Manning, of whom few photographs are publicly available, could find refuge at an aunt's home in the Washington region.



Unwanted fame



Virtually unknown at the time of her arrest, Manning today is a well-known figure around the world.



Labeled a traitor by President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.



She wasn't able to flee abroad like Edward Snowden, who in 2013 released documents showing that the NSA was sweeping up US citizens' communications metadata.



Ahead of Manning's release, a group of musicians released a compilation album with all proceeds to go to the former soldier as she starts a new life.



"Hugs for Chelsea," a digital album available for a $25 donation, features tracks by artists known for their left-wing activism including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore.



Trans icon



Manning has also surreptitiously become an icon for transgender activists.



"The first thing Chelsea always says when we talk about her freedom is that she wants to give back to the trans community," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who is himself transgender.



Manning was able to start hormonal treatment in prison to begin transitioning toward her female identity. This transition is certain to speed up outside a prison environment Manning said denied her "right to exist."



While Manning's sentence was commuted, her conviction remains intact. Manning, who will turn 30 in December, has appealed.



She is also still employed by the army, and retains its insurance coverage.



"Manning is statutorily entitled to medical care while on excess leave in an active duty status, pending final appellate review," said Foster, the Army spokesman.
#DPBedit That was Deepikas look for the Cannes 2010  Who is excited of her look this year?!!!  Meeeee  A post shared by  THE QUEEN OF HEARTS  (@deepikapadukonebeautiful) on May 16, 2017 at 8:47am PDT

Actress Deepika Padukone, whose Cannes 2017 red carpet appearance is one of the most awaited ones back home in India, made her debut at the illustrious international film festival back in 2010.The 31-year-old star who walked at the prestigious event as brand ambassador of Chivas Regal in 2010, donned a beautiful white and gold Rohit Bal saree for her debut appearance. While Deepika looked splendid in the traditional Indian nine-yard with a strappy back-knotted blouse, her lovely, dimpled smile added the much need charm to her appearance.And although Deepika couldn't make a huge impact with her debut appearance, her decision to wear traditional for her first Cannes red carpet appearance was lauded by one and all. The only thing that didn't go down well with the fashion police was her makeup and gold jewellery which were a huge disappointment.But Deepika's fashion sense and sartorial choices have evolved over the years. Back in 2010 she was an upcoming talent and was less susceptible to criticism. But this year, like a lot of her recent red carpet appearances including her Met Gala look, we are sure Deepika is going to make heads turn at the vent with her fashion choices.Take a look at what she donned back in 2010 when she made her first Cannes 2017 red carpet appearance.
Ethereal is an understatement. Deepika looks spectacular in a Marchesa gown, Jimmy Choo heels & bag & DeGrisogono jewels. #LifeAtCannes pic.twitter.com/FXYEYNpcFd  L'Oreal Paris India (@LOrealParisIn) May 17, 2017

Ready for the red carpet . #DeepikaAtCannes . #Deepika #DeepikaPadukone #DeepikaUniverse #Bollywood #Hollywood #QueenOfBollywood A post shared by DEEPIKA PADUKONE (@deepikauniverse) on May 17, 2017 at 9:12am PDT

Quick change  @galvanlondon dress, @louboutinworld heels and @messikajewelry #cannes2017 #lorealcannes A post shared by TeamSaltzman (@teamsaltzman) on May 17, 2017 at 5:11am PDT

A post shared by @afashionistasdiaries on May 17, 2017 at 5:39am PDT

@DeepikaPadukone steps out to the L'Oreal beach studio in a vibrant red number by @johannaortizofficial and shoes by @charlotte_olympia  A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) on May 17, 2017 at 12:45am PDT

Bollywood diva Deepika Padukone made a stylish entry in a dark purple Marchesa Fall 2017 gown at what is undoubtedly one of the world's most glamourous and talked about red carpet events.Deepika who sported the bold dark purple Marchesa Notte ensemble walked down the Cannes red carpet as the global brand ambassador of one of the largest cosmetics brands - L'Oreal Paris.Needless to say, the sexy siren looked every bit the diva she is. Her bold and beautiful look stunned one and all. In fact, even alluring would be an understatement. Deepika's killer looks and confidence is not only praiseworthy but it adds to her entire look.Deepika wowed everyone, including the onlookers and fashion police, with her oomph and dazzling outfit.The 31-year-old Xander's Cage actress teamed her stunning outfit with Jimmy Choo heels and bag and De Grisogono jewels. Her on point makeup which included a range of cosmetics - bold lips in L'Oreal Paris Tint Caresse in Plum Blossom, Super Liner Black Lacquer and La Palette nude eyeshadow in beige finished with dollops of Superstar Mascara - and hair open in soft waves with center parting only accentuated her look.The actress looked breathtakingly ravishing and ethereal in the impressive outfit.Take a look.Deepika's catchy fashion choices have always been the talking point in fashion circles and on most occasion the B-town beauty has impressed the fashion connoisseurs with her sartorial choices. In fact, her recent Met Gala 2017 outfit too created waves in the fashion circles.And although the stunning actress might have had a few misses here and there, Deepika's sense of style has greatly evolved over the years. From elegant, quirky to bold and beautiful, Deepika is one who never shies away from experimenting with her looks. Probably, this is one reason why we see the actress pushing limits each time she steps out to make a public appearance.Earlier in the day, Deepika donned a Galvan London satin lilac pink evening dress and opted for matching Christian Louboutin heels, accessories by Messika and had her hair tied in a messy top knot to complete the look. Her makeup which included smokey eyes and nude lips, was spot on. The actress had stepped out for media interaction during the day.Deepika's first look for the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival 2017 was a red Johanna Ortiz maxi dress in which the actress looked classy and beautiful. Take a look.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad police have arrested six persons for allegedly trying to extort money from Karan Johar and other producers of the blockbuster film Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, by threatening to circulate a pirated copy.



Among the arrested is the owner of a theatre in Bihar.



The gang demanded Rs 15 lakh from the producers for not uploading a copy on the internet, said deputy commissioner of police Avinash Mohanty here today.



Johar is co-producer of Hindi version of the film.



As per the complaint lodged on April 29, a man called Rahul Mehta, who said he represented an `anti-piracy agency', approached the producers and told them that a pirated high definition print of the film was available.



"Mehta showed them a sample video...and informed that release of pirated copy would be withheld for a few days and demanded money," Mohanty said.



The producers kept up talking with him while informing the police. Mehta was arrested on May 11 from Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad.



He named Jitender Mehta, Taufiq and Mohammad Ali as accomplices. The three were arrested in Delhi the next day. Jitender and Taufiq have past criminal record and were arrested by Jabalpur police in Madhya Pradesh for piracy of the Bahubali-The Beginning in 2015.



Divakar Kumar, owner of a theatre in Begusarai district of Bihar, and one Chandan were arrested from Patna. Monu, who is absconding, and Divakar made digital copy of the film, the DCP said.



For digital distribution of a film, theatre owners get `encryption key'. The accused used this key to make a pirated copy, DCP Mohanty said.



The gang regularly made pirated copies of Bollywood films, he added. Further probe is on.
Image: Genesis Burson-Marsteller

Image: Yogen Shah

diet #Cannes2017  A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on May 15, 2017 at 9:32am PDT

breakfast on board #Cannes2017 A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on May 16, 2017 at 12:08am PDT

lunch the day before! #Cannes2017 @lorealmakeup @lorealhair A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on May 16, 2017 at 7:38am PDT

Actress Deepika Padukone, who recently made her debut at Met Gala 2017, has been making headlines for her much-awaited appearance at the French Riviera. The 31-year-old star arrived looking effortlessly stylish a day before the official opening of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.And if the new photos of Deepika that are out are anything to go by, she is definitely enjoying her stay at Cannes. Dressed in a white bathing robe, Deepika looks both comfortable and chic.The gorgeous actress was snapped leaving Mumbai on Sunday in Alberta Ferretti maxidress and stopped for a day in London.Deepikas next fashion choice wherein she teamed jeans with a summery yellow top by designer label Chloe was impressive too. She opted for brown lace-up boots to complete the look.On Tuesday, Deepika took to social media to share updates of what she had on the flight from London to Nice.Deepika is expected to walk the red carpet on Day 1.She will be joining L'oreal Paris brand ambassadors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and the international counterparts Julianne Moore, Eva Longoria at the 70th Festival De Cannes.
The Crime Branch investigating the case had issued a lookout notice for VC Prakash who was the deputy chairman of the NRI Forum Karnataka, PTI reported.

"It was suspected that he might escape from here and that is why a lookout notice was issued. His statement has been recorded once and he will be questioned again this week," said the officer.

The EC had frozen AIADMK's 'two leaves' symbol after two factions led by Sasikala and former chief minister O Panneerselvam staked claim to it.

The Delhi Police will probe the role of a purported aide of Karnataka's home minister in connection with an alleged attempt by AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran to bribe Election Commission officials to win the partys symbol war.Sources told PTI that Prakash was a close aide of G Parameshwar, the Karnataka home minister. Prakash is also a friend of Mallikarjuna who was arrested along with Dinakaran on April 25. It is suspected that Prakash had helped Mallikarjuna in the money transfer through hawala route, police said.He has already been questioned once and is likely to be grilled again on Friday.Dinakaran was arrested in New Delhi on the night of April 25 after four days of questioning for allegedly attempting to bribe an unidentified EC official to get the undivided AIADMK's 'two leaves' election symbol for his faction for a by-election to the RK Nagar Assembly seat in Tamil Nadu which was later cancelled by the Election Commission.Dinakaran has been accused of allegedly arranging the amount from undisclosed sources and getting it transferred from Chennai to Delhi through illegal channels.His name had surfaced after police arrested an alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrasekar who had allegedly told Dinakaran that he had contacts in the EC and would help his faction get the election symbol.(With PTI inputs)
Kolkata: Lonely as a cloud in the hills, Mamata Banerjee now sees Trinamool Congress bloom in Darjeeling hills.



Results for the seven municipalities in West Bengal that went to polls last week were declared on Wednesday and the Trinamool Congress won four out of the seven. The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha won in three hill municipalities. The figure, though, hardly depicts the true story.



There are three stunning indicators in the municipal poll results. For the first time in the past six years, the Trinamool Congress has left its distinct footprints in the hills, having won the Mirik municipal body and making inroads in the other three  Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.



In the run up to the polls, Mirik had been a focal point for the Trinamool Congress in showcasing how neglect and lack of development initiatives had destroyed the beautiful hill station under GJM dispensation. Victory in Mirik comes as an opportunity for the Trinamool Congress to influence the voters in other hill areas.



Bimal Gurungs supremacy now appears to be restricted to Darjeeling where GJM won 31 out of 32 wards in this poll. Here too, the TMC made a mark having won one ward. Even this single seat victory for TMC in Darjeeling municipality delivers a big message.



The non-GJM political outfits in the hills like the All India Gorkha League, the CPRM and other smaller entities are viewing this result as a return of democracy in the hills.



There was an unwritten law in the hills that political power would be solely concentrated in the GJM and in successive polls its candidates had won without a contest. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has certainly been able to change that perception by her untiring efforts in the hills, often disregarding the might of Gurung and his belligerent men. In the past six years, Didi has visited the hills over a record 50 times.



Political circles in Bengal admit that a party from the plains, for instance the Congress or the CPM, had existed in the hills at least three decades ago. The Gorkhaland agitation under Subash Ghisingh of GNLF in the 80s had wiped out CPM and others from Darjeeling hills.



One miscalculation Mamata Banerjee had done was in Kalimpong where she split from GJM rebel leader Dr Harka Bahadur Chhetri, who formed the Jana Andolan Party (JAP), during the last state assembly polls and fought independently.



The triangular fight in Kalimpong between JAP, TMC-GNLF combine and the GJM obviously gave the GJM an edge. In this municipal poll, too, the results show that vote split between JAP and TMC had given GJM 18 out of 22 seats in Kalimpong.



The other misadventure Mamata Banerjee did in Darjeeling was sending some MLAs from the plains during the campaign, who had little knowledge about the hill peoples psyche.



One of them had said during the campaign that after the polls the TMC would go to the hills with 32 boxes and send 32 GJM leaders packing out of Darjeeling. The hill people read the boxes as coffin boxes and many were angry at such ugly tone and tenor of a campaign pitch.



Some political observers from the hills feel that without such a blunder, the TMC could have done better even in Darjeeling municipality.



THE PLAINS



Trinamool Congress winning streak in the plains was on expected lines. But the highlight was the manner in which the Left, particularly the CPM, was wiped out in this election, having virtually failed to open an account in any of the seven municipalities.



Domkal municipality in Murshidabad was under the control of the CPM-led Left Front for several terms. Even in the last state assembly polls, CPM MLA Anisur Rahman had held his ground here, having won the battle against young and rising TMC leader Soumik Hossain. But the Trinamool Congress wrested it this time having bagged 18 out of the 21 municipal wards.



The result in Domkal had another message. The Congress and the CPM had put up candidates here through mutual understanding. Significantly, it is also the home district of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury.



No sooner the results were out than the two Congress and one CPM candidate, who had won, switched over to the Trinamool Congress camp. It once again reiterated the fact that this incongruous soft alliance between the Congress and CPM in Bengal may never be acceptable to the voters.



If it was a blow to the Congress in Domkol, similar was its fate in Raigang  the home turf of Deepa Das Munshi. The Trinamool Congress here wrested the municipality from the Congress after about 15 years and demolished the Congress stronghold.



The final significant indicator of this poll results appears to be the emergence of the BJP as the second political force in Bengal. The party won some isolated municipal wards in Riganj and Pujali municipalities.



In Pujali, significantly, it won two wards, and in 14 wards BJP came on second position. By virtue of its alliance with the GJM in the hills, BJP will definitely turn out to be the second in the running in this poll.



(The author, a senior journalist based in Kolkata, can be reached at subrata.nagchoudhury@gmail.com)
Whatever I had to say, I told my fans yesterday. I have nothing more to say at present, I will meet my fans and take a decision at the right time, Rajinikanth told CNN-News18.



Chennai: Actor Rajinikanth meets his fans in Kodambakkam's Raghavendra Wedding Hall. pic.twitter.com/DqvL4VB6mo

 ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

Despite frequent speculation  the latest being when Gangai Amaran, the BJP candidate in the RK Nagar bypoll, visited him  the 66-year actor has avoided making any commitment on entering politics.

A day after sending his fans, the media and the political circles into a speculation spree, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Wednesday said he would decide on launching his political career at the right time.ALSO READ | Rajinikanth Spoke Like PM Modi, Says RSS Ideologue On Monday, the actor had triggered rumours of a political plunge saying he would not allow "wrong people" to join him if he decided to enter politics.In an open interaction with his fans, Rajinikanth had said, Right now God is using me as an actor, but I cant say anything about the future. If God decides that I join politics, then I will do so.Reacting to the actors latest statement, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said, Rajini will be a disaster in TN politics. It is up to the BJP leadership to decide if Rajini joins the party.ALSO READ| Up to Rajinikanth Whether He Wants to Enter Politics: DMK Mocking the BJP, AIADMKs Apsara Reddy said the BJP was most welcome to hire Rajinikanth if they cant make inroads in Tamil Nadu.Congress leader Nagma said Rajinikanth would be an asset to any party.
The civic poll result in West Bengal has given a strong mandate to chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The significant win for TMC in the plains and the historic one in Mirik in the Hills in the civic polls have given enough reasons for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) to worry.



TMC leader and Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy spoke to News18s Sujit Nath on what made chief minister Mamata Banerjee click with people, even while the saffron party tried to bury her. Excerpts:



Q: No political party from the plains has won the Mirik municipality in the last 30 years. How did TMC pull it off?



A: This is nothing but a Mamata wave. Our CM works hard for the welfare of people. People in the Hills recognized that. I would like to thank them for their support.



Q: Apart from Mirik, TMC has also managed to win other wards in the Hills, including one in Darjeeling. Do you think Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is now under pressure to perform?



A: Our win in the Hills shows that people there believe in us. I dont know the pressure on GJM, but we have definitely made a mark. We have won in areas where opposition was ruling. My party is going to stand with the poor in the Hills.



Q: Out of 4, GJM has won three municipal bodies. There are chances of them intensifying their demand for Gorkhaland, keeping in view the 2019 elections. What are your views on that?



A: Our partys stand is very clear. We will not allow a separate state of Gorkhaland. GJM can do anything to fulfill their demand but we are not going to agree on this.



Q: Now that TMC has come to the fore in the Hills, do you think there are chances of disruption to law and order in the future?



A: If there are any problems, itll be taken care of. Our CM has undertaken a very aggressive path to development. We will not allow anyone to vitiate the atmosphere in Bengal.




Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress made major inroads in the hills on Wednesday as counting began in seven municipal corporations across West Bengal.



The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led party won six out of the nine wards in Mirik municipality and emerged victorious in one ward in Darjeeling, a big gain for the party since its inception and a setback to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).



The party also won Domkal with 18 of 21 wards and Pujali with 12 wards.



The GJM won Darjeeling with 31 wards but the TMC managed to make inroads with one ward.



Speaking to News18.com, TMC leader Gautam Deb said, We are happy that for the first time, people in the hills have voted for a party from the plains. This shows that people in the hills now understand that they were cheated by the GJM.



Mamata didi is the only option before the people of Bengal in terms of development. The poll results in Mirik and the one ward in Darjeeling will help us in serving the people in the hills, he said.



Soon after the poll results were declared in Mirik, Trinamool Congress leaders began celebrations with state leaders Mukul Roy and Partha Chatterjee conveying their wishes to local leaders.



Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had in March declared Mirik as a new sub-division of the Darjeeling district. Mirik was earlier a block under the Darjeeling district. The party had promised to fulfil the long-standing demand of land rights to people in Mirik, which is a popular tourist destination.
Making major inroads in the hills, Trinamool registered a historic win in Mirik municipality. For the first time in 30 years, Trinamool (a party from the plains) managed to win a municipality in the hills.

Soon after the results, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again & again putting their trust in us. We are honored, privileged & humbled. Congratulations to my brothers and sisters in hill areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik for participating in the democratic process.

Despite massive law and order problem during the polls, we managed to win 2 seats in Pujali and one in Raigunj. The results show that people want the BJP to run this state but our supporters are scared of TMC goons, said state BJP secretary Sayantan Basu.

Speaking to News18, GJM chief Bimal Gurung, said, Mamata played land ownership rights strategy to win Mirik. People in the hills are not fools that they will forget our fight for Gorkhaland. I would like to thank people for reposing faith on us.

TMC leader Gautam Deb, however, said, GJM leaders are now panicking because now it wont be an easy task for them to be involved in malpractice and misuse of official positions. Mirik results shows that people in the hills now understand that they were cheated by the GJM.

Trinamool Congress emerged victorious in four out of the seven municipalities in the Bengal civic polls, while Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) managed to secure the remaining three.Also, Congress, for the first time since Independence, lost the Raigunj municipality to TMC.GJM won in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong. TMC won one ward in Darjeeling, rest 31 wards were wrested by the GJM. In Mirik, Domkal, Pujali and in Raiganj TMC won with six (out of nine wards), 18 (out of 21 wards), 12 (out of 16 wards) and 24 wards (out of 27 wards), respectively.The GJM won Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong with 31 (out of 32 wards), 17 (out of 20 wards) and 19 wards (out of 23), respectively.Special thanks to Mirik for reposing faith in us. We will work sincerely for you. After so many decades we begin a new era in the hills. The hills are smiling, she tweeted.Once a close aide of GJM chief Bimal Gurung, Harka Bahadur Chhetri who formed his own party Jana Andolan Party (JAP) managed to win only 2 wards in Kalimpong. TMC got two wards, while one ward went to an independent candidate.The Left Front once again performed poorly. It managed to win only two wards as compared to the Congress and the BJP (won in only four and three wards respectively in Domkal, Pujali and Raigunj).Expressing happiness after his partys victory, Trinamool general secretary Partha Chatterjee said, I dont have words to express my happiness. During Left regime, the party leaders used to avoid visiting Hills but we pledged to serve the people and therefore the people in Mirik supported us.A TMC statement said, For the first time in decades, a party which is not based in the hills has won majority in a municipality of the hills. Trinamool won Mirik municipality and won several seats in Kurseong, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The people of Bengal have yet again rejected the opposition forces and ploys to play divisive politics.Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had in March declared Mirik as a new sub-division of the Darjeeling district. Mirik was earlier a block under the Darjeeling district. The party had promised to fulfil the long-standing demand of land rights to people in Mirik, which is a popular tourist destination.BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said the party had emerged as the main opposition in Pujali. Now, there will be a direct contest between the BJP and the TMC.Soon after the results were declared in Mirik, Trinamool Congress leaders began celebrations with state leaders Mukul Roy and Partha Chatterjee conveying their wishes to local leaders.In Mirik, the party leaders are planning to a have a grand celebration tonight and in coming few days Mamata is planning to visit the hills to congratulate the people for their support.
"The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilization and to demonstrate America's commitment to our Muslim partners," McMaster said, adding that Trump will help open a center to de-radicalize extremists.

After Saudi Arabia, Trump's voyage will take him to Jerusalem, where he will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visit the Vad Yashem memorial to the Holocaust.

: US President Donald Trump will urge unity between the world's major faiths on an ambitious first foreign trip that will take him to Saudi Arabia, the Vatican and Jerusalem, the White House said on Tuesday.National Security Advisor HR McMaster laid out a detailed itinerary for the "historic trip," due to start late this week, and confirmed that Trump would address a gathering of Muslim leaders on his "hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam."Previous US leaders have generally chosen a US neighbor such as Canada or Mexico for their first presidential voyage, but Trump intends to plunge right into some of the world's most difficult spiritual and political conflicts.In Saudi Arabia, after a day of talks with King Salman and his crown prince, Trump will attend a gathering of dozens of leaders from across the Muslim world.Trump campaigned for office vowing to destroy "radical Islamic terrorism" and impose "a total ban on all Muslim immigration" to the United States, raising concerns that his election would only deepen distrust between America and the Muslim world.In office since January 20, he has already attempted to impose a ban on travellers from a group of mainly-Muslim countries, before his order fell foul of the US courts.But McMaster stressed that Trump would be visiting sites associated with the world's great religions to stress "that we all have to be united and we have to be joined together with an agenda of tolerance and moderation."The next day he will pray at the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites.On the same day, he will meet President Mahmud Abbas of the Palestinian territories in Bethlehem on the West Bank "where he will convey his administration's eagerness to facilitate an agreement that ends" the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Hammam al-Alil, Iraq: Fear and hunger are driving an ever-growing number of Iraqi civilians into a camp in Hammam al-Alil, where they share harrowing tales of deadly violence and jihadist tyranny in Mosul.



Some arrive at the displacement camp, the largest in the Mosul area, on foot, but most of them are crammed into buses and trucks, relieved and exhausted.



Half a million people are currently displaced as a result of the massive seven-month-old offensive to retake Iraq's second city from the Islamic State group.



Thursday saw what the Norwegian Refugee Council said was the biggest single-day displacement since the start of the operation, with around 20,000 fleeing neighbourhoods of west Mosul.



"I feel safe, I did not think I would get out of there alive," said Shams Hassan, a woman in her forties who reached the Hammam al-Alil camp on Friday with 16 members of her family.



She is from the Al-Faruq neighbourhood of Mosul's Old City and lost track of the number of times she and her relatives had to change houses and neighbourhoods in recent months.



"They always wanted us to be in front of them to use us as human shields. They would come to tell us to change houses," she said.



"We would find ourselves in the middle of shelling and car bombs. One of the houses we lived in was struck by a mortar round, it collapsed on us and I was wounded by shrapnel. I had to be carried," she said.



A large population remains in Mosul's Old City, where IS appears to have concentrated most of it remaining resources. Some estimates put the number of civilians still trapped in west Mosul at 250,000.



'Hanged from posts'



Human shields have become a central feature of the vastly outnumbered jihadists' defence and IS has stopped at nothing to deter people from escaping the city.



"Those who tried to flee were executed in the streets and their bodies hung from posts," Shams Hassan said.



Her mother, who reached Hammam al-Alil a few weeks earlier, sat next to her, her gaze lost in the distance.



"Daesh would take our food," the old lady said, using a derogatory Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. "They would come with their guns and take our clothes too."



Trapped residents reached by AFP inside the areas still controlled by IS have warned recently that hunger was beginning to kill more people than the intense fighting itself.



There is no clean water left to drink and even unclean water is hard to come by. People are boiling paper and cartons to fill their stomachs.



"A bottle of oil was 50,000 dinars (around 40 US dollars), a can of tomatoes was 50,000 dinars too. Flour was 5,000 dinars. We ate some of it and got sick," said Shams Hassan.



Eating grass



"We haven't showered the kids in two months, they have lice," she said.



Having moved countless times, they eventually managed to escape when the Iraqi security forces reached their neighbourhood and escorted them out through holes that both sides have punched in walls in people's homes to move up and down blocks undetected.



"We were walking on broken glass and rubble... my son had to carry me," she said.



At age 72, Ahmed Yunis Dawood dodged sniper fire to leave west Mosul through the neighbourhood's water mains.



"For five days, I would go out at night to check out the streets," he recounted.



In the Hammam al-Alil camp he reached early Sunday, the elderly man found safety but little else.



"The people who arrive here have no tent, no bed to sleep in, no food, no water," Dawood said.



Aid groups have been delivering assistance in the camps to tens of thousands of civilians daily but the lack of funding, the recent peak in displacement and soaring temperatures are leaving many outside the relief net.



In the dusty chaos engulfing the entrance of the camp, where new arrivals are screened and in most cases subsequently dispatched to other locations, one man cried in despair.



"We fled death only to face death here... Take us home, it is better for us," he said. "An air strike will come and we will die together. We were eating grass like cows but at least we were in our homes."
Lynchburg College students are learning the history of the Civil War from those who lived it.

As part of a digital history project, 13 students have pored through and archived local documents from the Civil War to understand the life and times of those living in and around Lynchburg during this period.

A lot of the documents they are dealing with come from people who lived in Lynchburg during the war and wrote about their experiences, LC history professor Adam Dean said.

Those documents include letters, diaries, photographs and records. The students focused on three areas: the soldier experience, civilian life in Lynchburg and Civil War medicine used in hospitals.

The class, Common Soldiers of the Civil War, is part of the Westover Honors program at Lynchburg College. The class, which concludes this week, featured lectures Monday and Wednesday, and students worked with the documents and designed the website to catalogue the history project each Friday.

Students used cameras and scanners to digitize the historic Civil War documents and then designed a webpage, which included writing up descriptions and developing a narrative from their research.

I think the advantages of digital history are that youre able to communicate a narrative, or a story, in ways that are much more innovative than a traditional lecture or paper, or even a museum exhibit, Dean said.

Some of the documents come from the Historic Sandusky home in Lynchburg, while others were donated to LC as part of a large collection by a private donor who wished to remain anonymous.

Thats been one really neat aspect of the project  some of these Civil War-era letters, diaries and photographs used to exist in private hands, and they are being publicly exhibited for the first time, Dean said. I thought that doing a digital history website was a great way to showcase [the collection] to the broader public and get students doing the work of historians.

Shelby Miller, a junior history major from Rochester, Indiana, said working with the documents has given her a first-person perspective of the Lynchburg locals living through those times.

I think its a really good way to interpret the Civil War, Miller said.

The documents tell the story of soldiers such as James Risque Hutter, a Confederate soldier in a Union prisoner-of-war camp who was given a prayer book in which he crossed out directions to pray for the president of the United States, replacing those instructions instead with the president of the Confederacy.

Another Confederate soldier, E. Lee Bell, wrote about his chagrin and humiliation at being guarded in a Union prisoner-of-war camp by African-American soldiers from the 154th Massachusetts Colored Troops.

Some of the letters speak to the dynamics of race in the Civil War and the enormous social transformation that the war caused, Dean said.

A portion of the website dedicated to civilian life looks at commerce during the Civil War and notes Lynchburg was an important center for the exchange of goods in the region and of value to the Confederacy because of its position on the James River and its proximity to a railroad, the website reads. Goods exchanged through Lynchburg often included tobacco, pork, corn, and a plethora of other crops native to the area as well. Students studied local purchase documents to understand Lynchburg commerce during that era.

Another source used by students to understand civilian life in Lynchburg was the diary of Adeline Lawrence Hutter, from the family that formerly owned the Historic Sandusky home. The diary captures her feelings about the ongoing war and also includes personal musings and notes about life in Lynchburg.

Those documents reveal so much about the everyday lives of ordinary people, said Teresa Gunter, of Lynchburg, a junior part-time history major at LC who participated in the digital history class project.

Gunter also said she was interested in the Civil War medicine side of the class, which showed some surprising findings about the state of medical care during that time. Gunter highlighted a medical supply request asking for highly dangerous strychnine and mercury as medicines to treat the wounded.

The state of the hospitals also was a far cry from the bright, sterilized medical centers of today.

Most of those were dirty, dark, smelly tobacco warehouses, Gunter said.

The website went live Friday and can be accessed at https://sanduskydigitalhistory.wordpress.com/. Dean said the website will remain up, and all materials displayed on the site also will be available at either Lynchburg College or Historic Sandusky.

The class will not be offered next year, as Dean will be on sabbatical. He plans to teach it with new material when he returns.
Writer: Teachers make a difference

I hesitate to share because I avoid bringing attention to myself. I was both shocked and honored to receive a visit from a former student the other day. He appeared at my door with a balloon, a gift, a card and a huge hug. He graduates from high school in a couple of weeks and is preparing to attend Ferrum College. He told me about his planned major, but in my shock, Ive forgotten. Nonetheless, he told me of my importance to him as a student. I taught him twice as I traveled with his class upward through elementary school. This is what makes my job, my career, a success!

While the state and federal governments may judge my success on one test score on one day, and Campbell County (and its Board of Supervisors) I have faithfully served for 28 years wont compensate me for my knowledge, years of experience, the 50 to 60 hours spent working weekly, my investment in my continued education and the students Ive served and while some parents wont support the very children theyve given life to, this one young man took time to come see me to say thank you and ask if Id come watch him graduate. Yes, I will most definitely and proudly attend his graduation. I made an imprint on his life. Im excited to see what imprint this young man will make as he continues his journey in life.

Teachers are not a special interest group. We are what shape the lives and minds of our future.

KIMBERLY JOHNSON

Hurt

Mulling church and state

I want to comment on two letters to the editor in the May 14 issue of The News & Advance.

First is the question raised in Mark Wilkersons letter in which he argues against Bill Blackwell, an earlier writer, on his position on separation of church and state. What is left out of concerns from Blackwell, Wilkerson and others who write about the issue is this: Church is about faith, and government is about laws. It used to be a pastors job was to guide the flock to the afterlife. Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. clearly wants to guide his flock politically, too. President Trump agrees. To Wilkerson, as this moves forward, the debate should be to recognize how church and state differ and how bringing the two together can be done fairly without being used to tip the political scales.

The other writer, Robert Lucas, also attacking Blackwell, made this alarming statement: Its hard to say who has the greater sin. Blackwell or the editor who published his letter.

I have been published hundreds of times in newspapers from New Jersey to Florida and had the good fortune of growing up with an older brother who owned a newspaper stand.

Having read all those papers and many more, I can say with certainty that The News & Advance has balanced coverage in its news section and opinion page, evidenced at least by the fact that it published Blackwells opinion and those of Wilkerson and Lucas.

The N&A is the conduit of news and opinion to this community and does a very good job. Trump attacks quickly any paper that disagrees with him. Lucas is on the brink of doing the same. Sir, you should be proud of to have such a high-quality paper in this little town that publishes your opinion, too. Dont shoot the messenger.

ROBERT MCELROY

Lynchburg

Cozying up to Russia

Our current Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, certainly is cozy with the Russians, isnt he? On a recent Sunday talk show, he was asked about Russian hacking of our elections, something that has been confirmed by 17 different intelligence organizations.

Apparently, in his recent meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, the subject was not discussed at all and when he was asked why, he simply stated that there were many other important matters to discuss.

Really?

This hacking is still going on in European elections. I cant think of anything that even comes close to being as important. What is also pretty scary is that Secretary Tillerson gave no hint as to what he thought was a more worthy matter to discuss. Why is that?

I, for one, would like to know where on his list this hacking problem actually falls.

Oh, thats right: Tillerson is a Republican, and the Republican Party won that hacked election, didnt they. What was I thinking?

VINCENT HOVDA

Lynchburg
For a few hours on Friday evening, members of the enslaved community at Poplar Forest will walk the grounds once more.

Actors will portray real-life figures  like Thomas Jeffersons manservant Burwell Colbert and a cook named Hannah  as part of Teresa Harris original play The Day is Past and Gone: Three Short Plays on Slave Life at Poplar Forest. It opens during the historic sites overnight event Stories Still Untold: Honoring the History of Poplar Forests Enslaved Community.

Its connected programs and events and initiatives that we hope will create momentum that will move us forward in telling the whole story at Poplar Forest, says Wayne Gannaway, director of programs, marketing and grants.

The Poplar Forest staff first worked with Harris when she presented part of her original play From the Valley to the Peak and Still Climbing, which looked at several generations of black women at key points in U.S. history, at the sites 2014 slavery symposium.

They wanted to do some dramatic presentation as part of the slavery symposium so it would have variety to it and not just be lectures or panels. Something a little different, Harris recalls.

Gannaway asked her if she would work with them to once again dramatize the history of the enslaved population that lived and worked on the plantation for another project aimed at bringing awareness to Thomas Jefferson and slavery.

It's not about diminishing Jefferson. It's about showing Jefferson in the  fullest, most human narrative, Gannaway says. Without understanding Jefferson and the Enlightenment, you dont really understand him, but you dont really understand him if you dont understand slavery either.

Poplar Forests event centers around an overnight experience, where attendees will have the opportunity to sleep in parts of the house or on the grounds where the slave quarters once stood. There also will be a living history presentation the following day.

Both parts of the program are organized in collaboration with the nonprofit organization The Slave Dwelling Project, which brings attention to slave dwellings, sites often neglected in history and preservation.

We're talking about a history that has been  shortchanged, says Joseph McGill, founder of The Slave Dwelling Project. Others wrote about us, others wrote wrongly about us. Others gave us feelings they thought we had.

Preserving the places where enslaved people lived and worked enables researchers to know and share the full story, he says.

When the places are gone, it is very easy to deny the presence of the people who lived in them, McGill says.

Part of this preservation comes through works like Harrisplay.

The Day is Past and Gone  which received its title from a letter written to Thomas Jefferson by his cook Hannah, who quoted a hymn verse of the same name  is comprised of three vignettes focusing on different members of the Poplar Forest enslaved community.

No one took the time to record the daily thoughts and ideas and emotions of the enslaved people here because they didn't care to, says Gannaway. It helps to have a playwright like Teresa Harris and our staff to try and think about what would those conversations have been between, for example, Hannah and her son Billy?

While the dialogue is fictitious, Harris did use the information presented to her by the sites historians and archeologists to create a picture of what their lives might have been like and what they might have said.

One of the vignettes features a poignant conversation between Jeffersons cook Hannah and her son, Billy, following an altercation he had with an overseer  a documented event.

In the scene, Harris says, Hannah and Billy discuss his need to fight for his freedom and her fears of what that will cost him.

I like to connect the past to the present, because slavery, the mindset, is still part of who we are as African-Americans and as a nation. Harris says. Both African-Americans and white people have a hard time understanding that connection to the past still exists.

The conversation between Hannah and Billy reflects similar conversations black mothers are having with their sons in regards to police brutality, she says.

So, they tell them, Just do what youre told, keep your head down, dont cause any trouble and youll live another day. Thats the same conversation.

Another scene involves fictitious slave girl Abby, the product of a sexual encounter between a slave and an overseer. After Abby was sold to spare her the possible wrath of the overseers wife, she returns to the plantation with her new mistress and runs into her sister.

While the play has comedic moments  seeing the girls discuss their respective crushes, for instance  it still hints at the darker overtones of slavery and its repetitious cycles, such as when Abby mentions experiencing unwanted attention from an overseer on the new plantation, says Harris.

Gannaway says he hopes the play will help both those staying the night and those dropping by only for the show to reflect on the stories they hear and what it meant to live on a plantation.

Its good to see these people were more than just historical statistics  invisible people that didnt have voices and didnt have names and didnt have lives, Harris says. Its important for people to know these people did have lives. And I think it helps also in bridging the barriers that exist between the races, especially here in the South.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe today directed the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to begin assembling regulations to reduce carbon emissions from Virginia power plants, a move that was celebrated by environmentalists and renewable energy businesses who see the state as a laggard when it comes to solar and wind capacity and energy-efficiency programs.

"The threat of climate change is real, and we have a shared responsibility to confront it. Once approved, this regulation will reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from the commonwealth's power plants and give rise to the next generation of energy jobs," the governor said in a statement. "As the federal government abdicates its role on this important issue, it is critical for states to fill the void. Beginning today, Virginia will lead the way to cut carbon and lean in on the clean-energy future."

McAuliffe's executive directive instructs the DEQ to develop a proposed regulation for the State Air Pollution Control Board to abate, control or limit carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants that will "allow for the use of market-based mechanisms and the trading of carbon dioxide allowances through a multi-state trading program." The proposed regulation is due to be presented to the board by Dec. 31, just before McAuliffe leaves office.

Last summer, McAuliffe convened by executive order a working group consisting of cabinet officials and leaders of the state Department of Environmental Quality and Department Mines, Minerals and Energy to develop recommendations on cutting carbon from power plants. The market-based carbon trading aspect was a key component of the group's report, which was sent to the governor last week.

Dominion Energy, the state's largest utility, has recently pointed to its emission reductions, a push toward developing new solar installations and acceptance of carbon regulation as "settled public policy."

"Dominion has been preparing for carbon regulation for some time now and appreciates being a part of the stakeholder engagement process," spokesman David Botkins said, adding that the company's two new gas-fired power plants in Brunswick and Greensville counties are subject to some of the strictest carbon-dioxide limits "on record."

***

The working group's report, dated May 12, says climate change and associated rise in sea level, which could increase by 5 feet in Virginia by the end of the century, pose "potentially devastating risk" to the state.

Virginia has seen a 33 percent increase in heavy rainstorms and snowstorms in the past 60 years and an 11 percent increase in precipitation from the largest storms, the report says, citing data from the Georgetown Climate Center and Old Dominion University's Mitigation and Adaption Research Institute. Climate change poses threats to water supplies, agriculture, property and human health in the form of asthma and cardiovascular disease and increasing numbers of disease-spreading insects like ticks and mosquitoes.

"Virginia is uniquely positioned to become a leader in the international efforts to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions and stave off the most dramatic consequences of climate change," the report says. "While carbon-dioxide emissions from Virginia's electric generating units have fallen by 21 percent between 2005 and 2014, they still account for approximately 30 percent of the state's overall carbon-dioxide emissions."

Clean energy businesses such as solar panel installers and energy efficiency workers are also a potent economic engine, the report noted.

"In the last year alone, the number of solar jobs in Virginia has increased by 65 percent, from 1,963 to 3,236," the report says. "Virginia's solar job market is the ninth-fastest-growing solar jobs market in the nation. The commonwealth is already home to over 75,000 energy efficiency workers. Clean-energy business revenue in Virginia has increased from $300 million in 2014 to $1.5 billion in 2016, a five-fold increase."

The group recommended that the state develop regulations that include a "trading-ready carbon-emissions reduction program for fossil-fuel fired electric generating facilities that will enable participation in a broader, established multi-state carbon market."

Some state lawmakers, including Del. Ron Villanueva, R-Virginia Beach, have unsuccessfully pushed legislation that would bring Virginia into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cooperative effort between nine northeastern and mid-Atlantic states that sets regional yearly caps for carbon emissions, regulates emissions from fossil-fuel power plants above 25 megawatts and auctions off those carbon-dioxide "allowances." The proceeds are invested in programs that improve energy efficiency and advance renewable energy technology.

McAuliffe's working group also recommended updating state building codes to reflect current technology and standards and convening an Environmental Justice Advisory Council "to ensure fair treatment and meaningful involvement by all people with respect to policy decisions that impact the environment and health of local communities," among other findings.

***

J.R. Tolbert, vice president of state policy for Advanced Energy Economy, a national association of renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses, called McAuliffe's action "another positive step toward the goal of fully capitalizing on the benefits of advanced energy in Virginia."

Environmental groups, who were some of the largest contributors to his 2013 campaign, also cheered the governor's move, which comes less than two months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Environmental Protection Agency to review the Clean Power Plan, former President Barack Obama's signature regulation aimed at cutting emissions from power plants. Trump's order was seen as a death blow for the plan, which has been stalled in federal courts.

"This bold action demonstrates that when Washington fumbles and falls, with the right leadership, the states can lead," said attorney Will Cleveland of the Southern Environmental Law Center. "Hopefully Gov. McAuliffe's actions today will inspire policymakers in other states to follow a similar course."

The Virginia Conservation Network, a consortium of more than 100 environmental groups that includes the law center as well as the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club and Appalachian Voices, called McAuliffe's directive "the largest step taken in the United States to tackle climate change since President Trump took office."

"Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, especially when it comes to its devastating impacts on Virginia's most vulnerable communities," said Mary Rafferty, the network's executive director. "It is imperative that every level of government steps up to be a part of the solution."
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DC's Batman spotlight is expanding to his sidekicks more and more

Members of Batman's family will seemingly play huge roles in the DCU in 2023
There Was No Red Wave,

'That's for Darn Sure'
The United States as a whole is battling an opioid epidemic, but certain states are harder hit by drugs than others. Colorado, for example, has the highest percentage of teenagers and adults who use illicit drugs, while West Virginia has the most overdose deaths per capita, reports WalletHub. The site ranked the 50 states and the District of Columbia on these factors and others, including drug arrests and opioid prescriptions, to find the states with the biggest drug problems. The top 10:

District of Columbia Vermont Colorado Delaware Rhode Island Oregon Connecticut Arizona Massachusetts Michigan

Click for the full list or see the worst states for drunk driving . (Read more drugs stories.)
The deceased former director of a Dutch sperm bank is being sued by 23 parents and children who claim he switched their chosen donor samples with his own without their knowledge. The New York Times reports the lawsuit against Dr. Jan Karbaat, who died last month at 89, was filed Friday in the Netherlands. Karbaat ran the sperm bank out of his house from 1980 to 2009, when it was forced to close for not meeting storage standards. It's estimated 10,000 children were conceived at the clinic, but because of poor record keeping, the identities of the donors aren't considered legally reliable. Karbaat is said to have fathered 60 children while running the clinic, according to the AFP.

The plaintiffs in the case say they noticed a physical resemblance between Karbaat and themselves or their childrenbut not to their supposed donors, the Telegraph reports. One woman says she visited Karbaat in 2010 and was readily told by the elderly doctor she was probably "a kid of mine." A lawyer for the plaintiffs says "it feels like they were raped." The plaintiffs are suing to have a posthumous DNA test conducted on Karbaat, his personal belongings, or his family. Its a fundamental right to know where one came from," the plaintiffs' lawyer says. But Karbaat's will specified that no DNA samples be taken after he died. A lawyer for his family says the doctor is owed his right to privacy. (This sperm bank's "perfect donor" was mentally ill, fathered 36 kids.)
Last year, a group of boys in the UK made headlines when they wore skirts to school after they were disciplined for wearing shorts on a very hot day. Now the private Highgate School in north London is considering a plan that would allow boys to do just that, reports the BBC, by transitioning its current uniform policy to a gender-neutral, mix-and-match approach. Boys currently have more limited options, as girls are permitted to wear gray pleated skirts or pants, as well as dark blue jackets and ties. "We are asking them, should it be called uniform number one and uniform number two?" says school head Adam Pettitt. The plan is taking some heat from former students, notes the BBC, who Pettitt says are complaining about "promoting the wrong ideas."

The school says the issue has come up because more and more students are questioning their identities, as well as the traditionally binary view of gender. Pettitt says that "absolutely no young people" were raising the issue in years past, and it "seems inconceivable that these sorts of questions simply didn't exist." He adds that "it must be a good thing" if they "feel happier and more secure in who they are." The school currently requires boys to be at least 16 to wear earrings, reports the Telegraph, but it does allow one boy to wear a dress to school as well as all students to request to be addressed by a name of the opposite gender. Meanwhile, Brighton College has replaced its 170-year-old uniform with a gender-neutral one. (There's a transgender doll now, too.)
McDonald's is apologizing after one of its commercials that aired in the UK caused an uproar for exploiting childhood grief. The ad shows a young boy asking his mom to describe his late father, and being disappointed at every turn when he doesn't see any similarities between himself and his dad. That is, until he's eating with his mom at a McDonald's and his mom mentions that he and his dad share the same favorite McDonald's food item, a Filet-O-Fish. If the first word that comes to mind isn't "touching" or "moving," you're not alone. Fortune rounds up the appalled Twitter reactions, with users calling the ad "vulgar" and "trashy beyond belief." McDonald's UK is replying to a host of complaints on Twitter.

In a statement, the company responded by apologizing for the "upset" it caused, saying that was not its intention and, per a spokesperson, "we wanted to highlight the role McDonald's has played in our customers' everyday livesboth in good and difficult times." The BBC reports that a UK bereavement charity says it has received numerous calls from parents of actually bereaved children, who say their kids were upset by the commercial. One critic notes it's particularly upsetting that the ad features no advice for parents and children dealing with the loss of a loved one: "What are children supposed to think after watching it? That a simple meal can solve their emotional pain?" McDonald's says it will pull the ad, but that it may still air through Wednesday, Metro reports. (Read more McDonald's stories.)
Ohio state authorities have charged the brother of one of the eight relatives slain in an unsolved massacre with tampering with evidence and vandalism over the destruction of a GPS tracking device they placed on his truck. The state attorney general's office accused James Manley of destroying the device being used in the investigation of the slayings, the AP reports. The charges "are not uncommon when a witness destroys such a device used in a government investigation," the attorney general's office said Tuesday. Manley is the brother of victim Dana Rhoden. Seven adults and one teenage boy from the Rhoden family were slain in April 2016. They were found shot at four homes near Piketon.

An agent with the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation placed the device on James Manley's truck on April 22, according to his arrest warrant. A search warrant in the case indicated that investigators believe the truck was used in connection with an aggravated murder or by a person intending such a crime, but did not specify a connection to the Rhoden investigation. The suspect's father, Leonard Manley, who also lost three grandchildren in the massacre, tells the Cincinnati Enquirer that his son and his eldest daughter were close and there is no way he could be involved in the killings. He says it seems investigators are "grasping at straws." (Last month, police said fear is holding back witnesses in the case.)
President Trump won't be in Israel until next week, but he may have already angered his hosts: The classified information that he shared with Russian diplomats was provided by Israel, which is unlikely to be thrilled about information gathered by its spy network being given to a country with close ties to Iran, sources tell ABC and the New York Times. American officials tell ABC that Israeli intelligence about an ISIS plot to bring down an airliner with a bomb in a laptop was given to the US on the condition it remain confidential, and Trump may have endangered the life of an Israeli spy inside ISIS by sharing it with Russia.

Trump defended his "absolute right" to share intelligence Tuesday. Critics say that even if no laws were broken, Israel and other allies may now be less willing to provide the US with intelligence. He apparently didn't tell the Russians the source of the intelligence, but officials worried that he provided more than enough information for them to join the dots, the Times notes. American and Israeli officials declined to comment on the source of the intelligence, though Israeli ambassador to the US Ron Dermer says Israel still has "full confidence" in its intelligence-sharing relationship with the US, the BBC reports. (National Security Adviser HR McMaster says the real problem is the leak.)
Authorities say nine people were hurt and two arrested during an altercation Tuesday outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington, DC. Two of those hurt were seriously injured and taken to hospitals, reports the AP. Police say the altercation broke out about 4:30pm between two groups, but didn't elaborate on the circumstances. "We are protesting (President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's) policies in Turkey, in Syria, and in Iraq," Flint Arthur of Baltimore told CNN. He said Erdogan supporters breached police lines to attack them. One of those arrested was charged with assaulting a police officer. (The CNN story includes this Facebook video of the violence.)

The altercation came the same day that Erdogan met with President Trump at the White House. The State Department declined to comment. Before the violence broke out, Trump and Erdogan appeared together and promised stronger relations between the two nations, though the Guardian notes that their meeting came amid strained ties on two main fronts. Turkey is angry that the US is supporting Kurdish fighters fighting the Islamic State in Syria, and it accuses the US of harboring the mastermind of a failed coup in July. (Erdogan recently won sweeping new powers in Turkey.)
The president of a non-profit that helps animals in Washington, DC, calls it a lifesaving measure. Rep. Mark Walker calls it a waste of government funds. Such is the debate raging over a simple duck ramp installed by government officials at the Capitol Reflecting Pool, which is drawing quite a bit of attention, despite its seemingly lighter nature. The New York Times reports two duck ramps were installed at the reflecting pool Monday to make it easier for ducklings that have made their home at the pool to get in and out. The president of City Wildlifewhich worked with the Architect of the Capitol agency to design the rampsexplains the ducklings risk drowning from exhaustion or starving to death if they can't hurdle a "high curb at the water's edge."

A video shows ducklings using the newly installed ramp to avoid the curb. But Walker, a Republican from North Carolina, is not amused. "If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it must be government waste," he tweeted Monday, alongside a photo of one of the ramps. He didn't find much support, though. "I for one am glad American tax dollars paid for you to get mad online about a duck ramp," replied comedian Patrick Monahan. Another user said the ramp "looks like a really cheap way to offset the ecosystem disruption of the concrete structure," while one simply told Walker to "duck off," per the Huffington Post. In related news, Mashable reports ducklings were rescued from the roof of the Library of Congress on Tuesday. Walker has yet to comment on that expense. (Read more Washington DC stories.)
Chelsea Manning is no longer a federal prisoner. The 29-year-old was released from Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas early Wednesday, report NBC News and the BBC. Manning, whose 35-year sentence for leaking classified documents was commuted by former President Obama, is expected to move back to Maryland. "She's ready to finally be able to live as the woman that she is," says attorney Nancy Hollander of her transgender client.

Earlier, USA Today reported that Manning would remain an active-duty, though unpaid, US soldier and thus be eligible for health benefits. Backers have so far raised more than $150,000 for her on GoFundMe. (Even her legal team was surprised that the plea for commutation worked.)
Vladimir Putin says President Trump did not reveal classified information during his White House meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and that a transcript can prove it, reports the Hill. The Russian president said Wednesday that he would be willing to provide the transcript of the meeting to Congress "if the US administration finds it appropriate," reports CNN. He then referred to the scandal as "political schizophrenia" and accused unnamed US politicians of being "stupid" or "dangerous" with "anti-Russian sentiment" and of "causing the damage to their own country," per the AP. (Read more President Trump stories.)
"Utterly unjust." That's how a Colorado judge describes Rene Lima-Marin's 98-year sentence for robbing two stores, a wrong he's righted after nearly two decades. Lima-Marin was just 19 when he and a friend robbed two video stores in 1998, per CNN. No one was injured (Lima-Marin claimed the gun involved was unloaded), and the pair only moved store employees from one room to another, reports the Denver Post, but Lima-Marin was convicted of kidnapping, burglary, aggravated robbery, and use of a deadly weapon. His sentences for these crimes were to be served consecutively for a 98-year sentence and a possible parole date of October 2053. But because of a clerk's error, documents showed they were to be served concurrently.

Based on those documents, a public defender advised Lima-Marin not to file an appeal, believing he would soon be eligible for parole. In 2008, Lima-Marin was indeed released, found a job, got married, and started a family. But when the error was realized in 2014, he was again thrown in prison. In a decision Tuesday, Arapahoe County District Court Judge Carlos Samour Jr. said that move required the government to act with "conscience-shocking" indifference. "Requiring Lima-Marin to serve the rest of his prison sentence all these years later ... would perpetrate a manifest injustice," he added. Lima-Marin's attorney says she expects her client to be released Wednesday or Thursday. Adds his wife: "I'm still a bit in shock. I can't believe it's over." (Read more Colorado stories.)
Indian-origin Google researcher Neel Mehta links WannaCry ransomware attack to North Korea

London/Washington : As the world struggles to identify the cybercriminals behind the global ransowmware attack that hit 150 countries over the weekend, Neel Mehta, an Indian-origin security researcher working with Google, has claimed on Twitter that the hackers may have links to North Korea. According to Mehta's discovery, the "Lazarus Group" that works on behalf of North Koreans may be behind the attack as the hacking group has, in the past, used the same coding and tools as were used in "WannaCrypt" -- the software used in the current hacking into the Microsoft operating software, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

Mehta, a University of British Columbia graduate who earlier worked with IBM Internet Security Systems, posted "codes" on Twitter, potentially pointing at a connection between the "WannaCrypt" ransomware attacks and the malware attributed to the infamous "Lazarus Group", responsible for a series of devastating attacks against government organisations, media and financial institutions.

"Our researchers analysed this information, identified and confirmed clear code similarities between the malware sample highlighted by the Google researcher and the malware samples used by the 'Lazarus Group' in 2015 attacks," Altaf Halde, Managing Director of Kaspersky Lab (South Asia), told IANS.

"Neel Mehta's discovery is the most significant clue to date regarding the origins of WannaCrypt," Kaspersky Lab added.

In 2014, Mehta uncovered the "Heartbleed" security bug that left millions of websites, online stores and social networks with a major security hole in place, exposing user information and financial information to hackers.

"Lazarus Group", that according to Mehta is based in China, was responsible for a major hack on Sony Pictures in 2014 and another on a Bangladeshi bank in 2016.

Kaspersky Lab, however, noted that a lot more information was needed about earlier versions of "WannaCrypt" before any firm conclusion could be reached.

"We believe it's important that other researchers around the world investigate these similarities and attempt to discover more facts about the origin of 'WannaCrypt'," the cyber security company added.

Though North Korea has never admitted any involvement in the Sony Pictures hack, security researchers and the US government are confident in the theory and neither can rule out the possibility of a false flag.

"Although this similarity alone doesn't allow proof of a strong connection between the 'WannaCrypt' ransomware and the 'Lazarus Group', it can potentially lead to new ones which would shed light on the 'WannaCrypt' origin which to the moment remains a mystery," Halde noted.

There are possibilities that skilled hackers might have simply made the hack look like it had origins in North Korea by using similar techniques. Kaspersky noted that false flags within "WannaCrypt" were "possible" but "improbable", as the shared code was removed from later versions.

There is another possibility that "Lazarus Group" may be working independently and without the instructions from North Korea, the report added. Meanwhile, the White House said on Monday that less than $70,000 has been paid in the ransomware attack globally.

"We are not aware of payments that have led to any data recovery," White House Homeland Security adviser Tom Bossert said at a daily briefing.

Specially, no US federal systems are affected, he said.
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Greater Noida:

An ambulance which is conventionally used for carrying patients, was misused for transporting liquor illegally.

The police on Tuesday night seized 40 cartons of liquor which were being smuggled into Uttar Pradesh from Haryana in the ambulance near Kheda village underpass here.

Circle Officer Dilip Singh said the Rabupura police has arrested two persons who were in the ambulance and impounded the vehicle.

Read more: Man dies while dancing during his marriage procession in Vadodara; local liquor suspected for cause of death

During interrogation, the accused, identified as Manoj and Murli, revealed that they were using the ambulance to smuggle liquor for the last few months.

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Lucknow:

Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Ram Govind Chaudhary on Wednesday affirmed had the Babri mosque not been pulled down, the matter would have been resolved by now. He said that BJP has hijacked the issue form the Congress.

It was the Congress which got the locks removed, placed the idols and Rajiv Gandhi got the shilanyas done but you (BJP) hijacked the issue...had you not got the matter spoiled by pulling down the Babri mosque, the issue would have been resolved by now, Chaudhary said.

He was speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint sitting of the state legislature.

The veteran Samajwadi Party leader said that like all the Hindus he too wanted Ram temple (to be built) but the matter is now in the Supreme Court, so it should be done only as per the apex court verdict or through mutual dialogue.

In a long speech laced with humour and sarcasm, he termed the 101-page governors address as a useless commentary.

There is no announcement of peoples welfare scheme in the address and the only talk about loan waiver of farmers is also contradictory, Chaudhary said citing the difference in the cut off date of cabinet decision on the issue and that mentioned in the governors address.

Giving a detailed account of crime cases since the new government came to power, he alleged that BJP got massive majority on false promises and propaganda.

No one is feeling secure in the state today, not even traders, he said, citing the recent murder of two jewellers against which traders were observing bandhs in different places.

He also said that it was a serious matter that the body of an IAS officer was found in the heart of the capital on Wednesday morning.

Also Read | Samajwadi Party family feud: Akhilesh Yadav overlooks Shivpal Yadav in UP Assembly

Charging the government with insensitivity, Chaudhary stressed that the government seems to be in a hurry and is ordering inquiries in all the works done by the previous Akhikesh Yadav dispensation.

People have sent them to resolve the problems but what did they do...become government of inspector raj, he said, adding that people wanted them to solve problems of poverty, unemployment and others but they picked up broom.

They appear not concerned about shortage of medicine but like to sweep the streets, he said.

Also Read | SP feud continues: Mulayam says Akhilesh Yadav betrayed him, cannot be loyal to anyone

The Leader of Opposition, who also gave an account of the works done during the previous government, said that the SP is not afraid of inquiries.

If the state of law and order continues as it is now and pace of development is like this, the government does not take enough interest in peoples problems and we get the blessings of Yogi like this, we will form the next government with 285 to 350 seats (in the 403-member House), Chaudhary said.

The SP leader said that his government was blowing its own trumpet and taking credit for the works done by the previous SP government.

Speaking on the Yogi governments plans regarding gai, Ganga and gokashi, he lamented that a new breed of gau sewaks have emerged who target anyone who is taking cows from one place to another.

To an interruption from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna lauding his theatrics which he said could have forced star of the millennium Amitabh Bachchan to take retirement, Chaudhary retorted by saying that it was the mega star who was advertising on behalf of Gujarat.

On the issue of cow slaughter, the SP leader praised the party leader Azam Khan, who was present in the House, for his concerns and for raising it in the very first cabinet meeting of the SP government.

Give up the drama and propaganda and if you are so concerned about cow, you should ban meat export by bringing a law by the central government, he said, adding that this step has harmed poor both among the Hindus and Muslims.

You propagate sabka saath sabka vikas, stop spewing venom against members of a particular community...are the Muslims not entitled to keep cows and buffaloes, he said, going on to claim that members of the RSS had no role in the freedom struggle but they later hijacked it by making tall claims.

Pointing towards Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said, You are a chief minister and also a saint and you should not have the feeling of Hindu and Muslim in your mind and take all as one and take everyone along in development of the state.

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New Delhi:

At least 26 people were injured after a luxury bus they were travelling in overturned on Mumbai-Pune expressway on Tuesday afternoon. The police said that the driver was was travelling at high speed. As the driver took a turn at Lonavala Bridge near Valvan, he lost controland hit the railings of the bridge.

The injured were taken to Sanjivani hospital in Lonavala and Lokmanya hospital in Nigdi. Although the road was blocked by the bus for half an hour, the highway police showed great efficiency to smoothen the traffic within half an hour.

Chandrakant Patil, police inspector, Lonavala rural, said, Sidhershwar Travels Bus (MH04/GP/4747) travelling from Mumbai to Karad via expressway turned over near Valvan village in Lonavala at km 55:100. The bus had 52 passengers. 26 passengers got injured. In which 5 including two kids, two women and one man got seriously injured. Nine got fractured and three are casually injured. They are taken to Lokmanya Hospital, in Nigdi near Pune. Most of the passengers are from Satara and Sangli.

ALSO READ: Video | Delhi flyover car accident: Fourth student succumbs to injury in hospital

Most of the injured are believed to be from Mumbai and Lonavala police are investigating the reasons of the accident.

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Gurgaon:

Gurgaon Police on Wednesday announced Rs 2 lakh reward for anyone who provides information of the accused behind the gang-rape of 26-year-old women from Sikkim last week.

The appeal was sent out after police failed to find any clues to trace the three men who are believed to have abducted the 26-year-old woman from Gurgaon Saturday night and raped her in a moving car before throwing her out in Najafgarh.

A reward of Rs 2 lakh has been announced for anyone who will give information leading to the arrest of the criminals involved in raping the north east girl, Gurgaon Police Commissioner Sandeep Khirwar said.

Also Read: Northeast girl gang-raped in moving car in Gurgaon, thrown out on road in Delhi

The men had kidnapped the girl from Sector 17 in Gurgaon when she was returning to her paying guest accommodation after watching a movie with a friend in Connaught Place in Delhi.

A sketch of one accused person had been made but police could not find any concrete clue to trace him.

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Ahmedabad:

Quota agitation leader Hardik Patel on Wednesday hinted that he may lend his support to congress as he has pledged to defeat BJP in upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls.

The 23-year-old quota agitation spearhead accused the state government of dilly-dallying on the issue of granting reservation to the Patel community under OBC quota.

Hardik, who leads the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), said he would work to defeat the BJP in the state Assembly polls due later this year, if the state government does not come up with a firm assurance over the quota issue at the earliest.

Despite making numerous representations regarding our demands, including for reservation, during the last two years, the BJP government has not given any assurance, Hardik told mediapersons.

We want the government to make its stand clear on reservation at the earliest, he said.

I want to tell them that our agitation is still very much alive and it will gain momentum in the days to come. We are now planning to make sure that the party, which is dreaming of winning 150 seats, does not go beyond 80 seats in the polls, Hardik said.

Of the total 182 seats in state assembly, the BJP presently has a majority with 121 seats while the main Opposition party, the Congress, has 57 seats.

These polls will not be a battle between just the BJP and the Congress. It will be an election wherein farmers, youths, women, Patels and Dalits will fight the BJP.

Also Read: Hardik Patel moves to court for anticipatory bail in rioting case

We have also kept our options open to supporting the Congress if they promise to fulfil our demands after winning the polls, he said.

The demands include reservation to the Patels under the OBC quota, formation of Patidar Commission, compensation to the families of at least 10 Patel youths who died during the quota violence in 2015 and withdrawal of FIRs against the agitators.

Divulging his plans to defeat the BJP, Hardik said a mega gathering of PAAS workers has been planned on June 11 in the city.

Around 50,000 PAAS workers from over 7,000 villages will converge here on June 11. During that gathering, they will be briefed about carrying out a campaign across Gujarat against the BJP for the next six months, he said.

To raise the issue of injustice to the community by the ruling BJP, Hardik also announced holding a rally, Nyay Yatra, from Botad to neighbouring Bhavnagar town on May 20 and May 21.

Also Read: Gujarat HC rejects Hardik Patel's plea seeking bail conditions relaxation

This yatra, which would commence from Botad on May 20, would pass through nearly 50 villages and converge at Bhavnagar on May 21. Our aim is to raise the issue of injustice to our community, farmers and women, Hardik said.

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Lucknow:

A senior IAS officer of Karnataka cadre was found dead near the Hazratganjs Meerabai Guest House in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, reports said on Wednesday.

An IAS officer of 2007-batch, Tiwari was the resident of Behraich. He was appointed as the Commissioner of Food and Civil Supplies in Uttar Pradesh.

The Uttar Pradesh Police has launched an investigation into the matter. The officials have been deployed to the area where the dead body was found. We have started the investigation, said a senior police officer.

In December 2016, senior IAS officer Sanjeev Dubey had allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at his Gautampalli residence in Lucknow.

The 1987-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre officer was posted as Principal Secretary in the Home Guard department and had held several important posts.

ALSO READ | IAS officers to adopt family of martyred soldiers of Defence Forces, CAPF

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New Delhi:

The Indian Navy has prevented a piracy attempt on a Liberian vessel in the Gulf of Aden, in a swift operation involving marine commandos and an armed chopper.

The Navys warship INS Sharda, deployed in the Gulf of Aden for an anti-piracy mission, swung into action after it received a distress call from MV Lord Mountbatten around 4:45 PM yesterday.

After reaching out to the vessel, the Navys Marcos commandos with support from the helicopter onboard the ship, carried out a board and search operation on two dhows and five skiffs which had shown malicious intent.

Three skiffs fled the area at high speeds on sighting the Indian warship.

The ship received a distress call from MV Lord Mountbatten, in position 230 nm South-West in the Gulf of Aden.

The vessel had reported an incident of attempted piracy by two suspicious mother vessels along with 7-8 skiffs. Sharda, which was at that time 30 Nm East of the reported position, immediately responded to the distress call and proceeded at best speed to investigate the incident, Navy Spokesperson Capt DK Sharma said.

One automatic Kalashnikov rifle and 28 rounds of magazines were also recovered from one of the dhows, he said.

Also Read: Indian Navy reaches Malaysia for six-day visit to deepen bilateral maritime cooperation

Indian Naval assets have been increasingly deployed in recent times to address the various maritime concerns of the region, including piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Sharma said the Indian Navy had started deploying its ships in the Gulf of Aden since October 2008 and has been maintaining 24x7 presence in piracy-infested areas since then.

He said Tuesdays operation was 41st such intervention by the Navy in the last eight-and-a-half years in the region during which the force had escorted 3,749 ships and apprehended 120 pirates.

The Navy had also rescued 74 fishermen during the period while INS Sharda is the 63rd Indian Navy ship to be part of the anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden.

The navies of India and China last month had rescued a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden after it was hijacked by Somali pirates.

Two frontline warships of the Indian NavyINS Mumbai and INS Tarkashwere part of the operation while the Chinese Navy had deployed missile frigate, Yulin.

However, China had not acknowledged the participation of the Indian Navy in the operation.

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New Delhi:

INS Kochi of Western Naval Command on Tuesday successfully conducted trial firing of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile.

The ship successfully tracked and intercepted a low-flying high-speed target at enhanced range with pin-point accuracy.

The firing marks a significant milestone in proving the integration of the missile and the associated Fire Control System (FCS) with the ship-borne Combat Management Suite (CMS), Western Naval Command said in a statement.

This firing assumes importance as it was undertaken through the indigenously developed CMS,

INS Kochi is the second ship amongst the three indigenously built Kolkata class destroyers in the Indian Navy.

Also Read: India test fires surface-to-air missile 'Spyder' in Odisha

What is MRSAM?

The MRSAM is an advanced missile system fitted on all three ships and is designed to defend naval ships against air threats such as missiles and aircraft.

The system has been developed jointly by India and Israel.

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New Delhi:

RJD workers on Wednesday protested outside BJP office against Sushil Modi in Patna, Bihar. The RJD workers' anger spilled out on the streets against IT department's raids on Lalu Yadav's alleged properties in Delhi and Gurgaon.

They tore open their shirts and ran with sticks outside the BJP office as an altercation occurred between them and BJP workers. Further, the RJD workers broke the windshields of various cars outside the BJP office.

As per reports, police has reached the spot and various people have been injured in the altercations. The Income Tax department had on Tuesday conducted raids and surveys at 22 locations in Delhi and Gurgaon on charges of benami land deals worth Rs 1,000 crore involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

ALSO READ: Lalu Yadav benami land deal: IT Dept raids 22 locations in Delhi NCR in alleged corruption scam worth Rs 1,000cr

Officials said the department began raiding the premises of some prominent businessmen and real estate agents in Delhi, Gurgaon, Rewari and few others since early morning on Tuesday.

READ: Lalu Yadav under IT scanner: 'BJP cannot muffle my voice, if you put me down crores more Lalus will stand up'

The searches were also conducted at the premises of the son of RJD MP P C Gupta and few other businessmen.

BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had recently alleged that Lalu Yadav and his family members had amassed "benami property" worth Rs 115 crore in a posh area of New Delhi through a shell company.

RJD, however, dismissed the allegations and dared Modi to get all the charges probed by a central agency.

On Sunday, RJD president Lalu Prasad rubbished money laundering charges against his daughter and Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti. There is no merit in the allegations. Legal notice is being served, Prasad told a press conference in Patna.

The charges of money laundering by a shell company against Bharti were brought by a television channel and then by senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Kolkata:

A top diplomat stated on Wednesday that China hopes that a visit by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the country will materialise in the coming months or by early next year.

"It (the visit) was proposed, she was invited. We look forward to it in the coming months or early next year", Consul General of China in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu said.

"We are still working on it", Zhanwu said.

Banerjee had expressed interest in visiting China in order to attract investments in the agro and manufacturing sectors after she was invited to that country.

Read more: West Bengal civic poll results: Trinamool bags 4 municipalities, wrests Mirik from GJM; Mamata says 'the hills are smiling'

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New Delhi:

Pakistan continued to provoke India and once again violated ceasefire on Wednesday morning in Balakot sector of Jammu and Kashmir while the Indian army too retaliated with full force. As per reports, no one has been injured so far.

The security forces conducted search operations in Shopian district. A few days ago, Pakistan had violated ceasefire for the fourth consecutive day in Chiti Bakri in Chingus area of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri region.

"Pakistan army resorted to firing on forward posts along the LoC in Balakote sector from 0050 hours today," a defence spokesman said. Pakistan troops also fired on forward posts and civilian areas on Tuesday night along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

The firing continued till 0130 hours, the spokesman said. He said the Pakistan army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic weapons and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 1830 hours last night along the LoC in Nowshera sector. The firing continued till 2100 hours on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: Pakistan forces violate ceasefire on fourth consecutive day in Jammu and Kashmir, 1000 border dwellers evacuated

The Pakistan Rangers fired shells on the intervening night of May 15 and 16 on forward areas and civilian belts along the LoC in three belts of Rajouri district. The firing and shelling from across the border has affected over 10,000 people. Civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera sector were pounded with mortars, killing two civilians and injuring three others. On May 13, Pakistani troops had pounded civilian areas and forward posts in Nowshera area with mortars, killing two civilians while injuring three.

On May 15, Pak troops had resorted to fresh ceasefire violation along the LoC in Nowshera sector since 1600 hours till late night.

"Shelling started in Ans Bhandhaar areas of Nowshera in Rajouri at 2255 hours night of May 15 and 16. Lam and Kalsian areas were also affected," Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

"Interdepartmental teams deputed by District Administration for damage assessment reported small arms firing begins at 4 PM on May 15 in village Sarya followed by villages Khamba, Anwas and Bhandar," Choudhary said.

READ: Nowshera ceasefire violation: Pak summons Indias Deputy High Commissioner

The DC further said that nearly 1700 people have already been evacuated from the LoC hamlets hit by shelling from Pakistani side and shifted to relief camps. Around 10,042 people from over 2,694 families have beenaffected by the continued shelling from across the border, the DC said.

The district administration has provided an immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the dead and financial assistance to the injured, he said. Choudhary said the administration is prepared to make more relief camps as more than 25 buildings have been earmarked.

He added that students' classes will be resumed this week to ensure that education doesn't suffer. "Six ambulances have been pressed into action for shifting of injured and treatment. One mobile medical unit was stationed at Nowshera and another deputed to forward areas,"he said.

According to a Home Ministry reply to an RTI, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) 449 times in 2016 as compared to 405 violations in 2015. 23 security personnel were killed in the two-year period.

Continued ceasefire violation since the past week have led to many civilian deaths and injuries along with casualties in the armed forces. Intense shelling by the Pakistani army has forced several families from border areas of Kashmir to migrate to temporary shelters that has been set up at a government higher secondary school in Rajouri district and other places.

Pakistan had on Saturday even accused India of committing ceasefire violations and summoned the countrys Deputy High Commissioner who had countered the allegation by asserting that the cross border firing was initiated by Pakistani troops to give cover to terrorists.

With PTI inputs

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Rewari:

The girl students of Government High School in Rewari finally ended their hunger strike after the Haryana Government ordered upgradation of their school to level of Senior Secondary School.

Earlier on Wednesday, as the hunger strike by 95 girl students entered eighth day, the Haryana Government issued a notification for upgradation of the institute to a secondary school. However, the girl students had earlier refused to end the stir, demanding a written assurance from the Khattar Government.

The Class 9 and 10 girl students had alleged that they will face harassment if they travel to a senior secondary school located in a different village. On the eighth day of the protest, the families of the girls had joined them.



Talking to media, one of the protesting girls had said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the initiative of beti bachao beti padhao but nothing is happening over here.



We fear harassment and molestation by youths of other villages and hence, we are demanding upgradation of our school up to Class XII, one of the protesting students had said.

Here are the Live updates:

#2:20 PM

Girl students of Govt High School in Rewari end hunger strike after upgradation of their school to level of Senior Secondary School



#2:00 PM

Notification issued by Haryana government for upgradation of the Government High School in Rewari to the level of Senior Secondary School. pic.twitter.com/Wqp4FOLwar  ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#1:05 PM



Principal has been deputed there and from tomorrow admission procedure will start: Ram Bilas Sharma,Haryana Education Minister



#1:00 PM



Vidayalaya ka darja hamne badha diya hai: Ram Bilas Sharma, Haryana Education Minister

ALSO READ | Haryana: Fearing molestation, Rewari girls sit on hunger strike for school upgradation



#12:20 PM



Rewari girl students hunger strike: Haryana Government has issued a notification.Details awaited



#11:20 AM



Rewari girl students hunger strike: 10 students have been shifted to hospital



#11:00 AM



Demanding up-gradation of their institution to senior sec school,Girl students of Govt High School in Rewari continue hunger strike

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
India:

A suspected raid by the Saudi-led coalition intervening in Yemen killed 23 civilians Wednesday, including women and children, near the southwestern city of Taez, Shiite Huthi rebels said.

A military source with loyalist forces confirmed the raid, saying 20 civilians had died and said it appeared to have been the result of a mistake.

Saba news agency, which is controlled by the Iran-backed rebels, said a vehicle carrying civilians in the town of Mawzaa, south-west of Taez, was hit in the raid.

Six children were killed, said the agency, adding that six other people also died in the attack but their bodies were burned beyond recognition.

The military source said the air strike targeted an area held by the Huthi rebels and also confirmed that a vehicle had been struck.

The passengers were heading back to Mawzaa after a shopping trip to the nearby town of Barah, the military source said, adding several bodies had been torn to pieces.

Also Read: Emergency declared in Yemen after major cholera outbreak

There was no immediate reaction from the Saudi-led coalition, which has been battling the Huthis opposed to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The raid comes days before US President Donald Trump is to arrive Saturday in Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.

The Saudi-led coalition, which intervened on the side of the Hadi government two years ago, has come under repeated criticism over civilian casualties in Yemen.

Yemens conflict has killed more than 8,000 people and wounded around 40,000, according to the UNs World Health Organization.

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Srinagar:

Security forces on Wednesday conducted the second major cordon-and-search operation in less than two weeks in Kashmir's Shopian district but called it off after hours as no militant could be found but not before stone-pelting mobs hampered it.

The search operation, in which a large number of security forces were involved, was launched in Heff village in the Zainapora area following information about presence of militants there, an Army official said.

The operation, which started in the early hours, was hampered by local residents who pelted the forces with stones, a police official said.

The official said additional security force personnel were sent to the area to disperse the stone-pelters.

No casualties were reported in stone-pelting, he said. The forces did not find any militant or hideouts and as aresult, the operation was called off, the official said.

Read more: Army to re-introduce CASO as 'permanent feature' of counter-terror operations in Kashmir

The search operation was carried out two weeks after a similar but larger operation was undertaken in Shopian district which has witnessed a spurt in militant activities recently.

In the operation conducted on May 4, about 4,000 troops scanned two dozen villages of Shopian district for a day but could not find any militant.

However, while the troops were returning on that day, militants attacked an Army patrol, resulting in the death of a taxi driver and injuries to several security personnel.

Six days after that operation, a young Kashmiri Army officer Lt Ummer Fayaz, who was on leave and unarmed, was abducted and shot dead by militants in the same district where he had gone to attend a family wedding.

Major General B S Raju, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of Victor Force which is responsible for security in south Kashmir, had said on Saturday lat that more than 100 militants are active in that region.

"I am aware of the presence of the militants in the area (south Kashmir) and I must tell you that because of the high vegetation that is there, they are having slight amount of freedom but we are doing operations in a way to restrict their movement and subsequently neutralize them", he had said.

Read more: Pakistan army violates ceasefire in Balakot sector in Kashmir, 1700 shifted from hamlets along LoC

Operations in south Kashmir have been intensified in the wake of videos of large groups of militants -- in some cases as many as 30 -- surfacing on the social media, despite a ban imposed by authorities on 22 such sites and applications.

Security agencies believed the videos had been shot in the south Kashmir area, mostly in the Shopian district.

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New Delhi:

Twitter is buzzing with news alerts from India and rest of the world. Here are the latest updates from the micro-blogging site in one scroll

#10:30 PM

#PodiyamPandu alias Panda, a key Naxal involved in #SukamaAttack, surrendered on May 9 at dist headquarters: SP Abhishek Meena

#10:20PM

21 Naxalites, including a woman, surrender in Chhattisgarh's Bastar dist, SP Sheikh Arif Hussain tells PTI; 3 of them carried rewards -PTI



#10:10PM

Delhi govt declares 89 villages as urban areas, will make #LandPooling easier & help expedite infra development in those localities -PTI

#10:00 PM

US Senate intel panel requests fired FBI chief James Comey to testify: AFP

#9:50 PM

BJP's #PreetiAggarwal (Rohini-F ward) set to be elected NDMC mayor unopposed tomorrow, #VijayKumarBhagat (ward No. 20-N) as deputy mayor

#9:32 PM

They were seen near forest,villagers found thm suspicious&informed district forest officer;case registered,search for accused on:Forest Ranger - ANI

#9:28 PM

Chitrakoot: Six peacocks dead after being allegedly feed poisonous seeds by men posing as herb sellers - ANI

#9:10 PM

Hyderabad (Telangana): Three ISIS suspects detained, questioning underway- Avinash Mohanty DCP, CCS Hyderabad - ANI

#9:05 PM

Three ISIS suspects detained, questioning underway- Avinash Mohanty DCP, CCS Hyderabad

#9:03 PM

Himachal: One person dies of swine flu at Shimla's Indira Gandhi Medical College, the tourist was admitted last night just after his arrival - ANI



#8:50 PM

Delhi govt says SwineFlu has affected 69 in Delhi this year but claimed no lives -PTI

#8:40 PM

Karnataka: Fence on a bridge over Varthur Lake collapsed, in Bengaluru -ANI

#8:30 PM

Kashmir: Defence Minister Jaitley reviewed security situation in Valley, apprised of measures to strengthen counter infiltration grid along LoC

#8:20 PM

Hyderabad: A 17-yr-old allegedly raped by 2 people, case registered under IPC 376,506 & POCSO Act; accused absconding _ANI

#8:05 PM

Banda: 1 child dead, 6 people injured due to falling of trees, following heavy rain and hailstorm

#7:55 PM

Girl's parents and two others came to their house this morning, and a person fired upon the man, who succumbed: Addl DCP Ratan Singh

#7:50 PM

A man was shot dead by people from his in-laws' side in Jagdamba Nagar, wife's family wanted her to leave him: Addl DCP Ratan Singh #Jaipur

#7:45 PM

West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Verma & BJP-SAD MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa accost Arvind Kejriwal for an appointment over issue of water- ANI

#7:34 PM

Girl's parents and two others came to their house this morning, and a person fired upon the man, who succumbed: Addl DCP Ratan Singh - ANI

#7:32 PM

A man was shot dead by people from his in-laws' side in Jagdamba Nagar, wife's family wanted her to leave him: Addl DCP Ratan Singh - ANI

#7:26 PM

23 Yemeni civilians killed in suspected Saudi-led coalition raid: rebels - AFP

#7:16 PM

Newly-freed Chelsea Manning says putting past behind her - ANI



#7:11 PM

Arvind Kejriwal ran away on seeing us,he is not meeting Delhi's MP,MLA but West Bengal CM:Parvesh Verma -ANI(

#6:59 PM

Notorious drug peddler Mushtaq Ahmed Dar detained for 6 months under J&K PIT NDPS, involved in cases including stone pelting incidents - ANI

#6:53 PM

PM Narendra Modi to visit Germany, Spain, Russia from May 29 with an aim of consolidating relations, inviting investments - PTI



#6:50 PM

Delhi gets its first ever fully air-conditioned bus stand, in Lajpat Nagar.

#6:40 PM

J&K: Sargoshiyan, first bollywood film to have held its premier in Srinagar; based on Kashmiri cultures, brotherhood & present situation -ANI

#6:35 PM

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee meets Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. -ANI

#6:30 PM

INS Kochi of Western Naval Command successfully conducted trial firing of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) Tuesday-ANI

#6:26 PM

J&K: Security arrangements ahead of #GST Council meeting on May 18 & 19, in Srinagar - ANI



#6:20 PM

PSL spot-fixing row: PCB bans Mohammad Nawaz for two months

#6:16 PM

67 IPS officers transferred in Uttar Pradesh. - ANI



#6:15 PM

Goa: A 25-yr-old female found dead at Naikawado, Calangute Police have registered a case of unnatural death; investigation underway

#6:00 PM

CBI arrests SR Alam, an official of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000.

#5:55 PM

Sunanda Pushkar death case: A Delhi court seeks response from Delhi Police on how much time they require to de-seal hotel suite where she died

#5:50 PM

International Court of Justice to pronounce verdict on Kulbhushan Jadhav tomorrow -ANI

#5:30 PM

China's stand is clear, it's a dispute between India and Pak and it's up to them to negotiate: Consul General of China on India-Pak relations -ANI

#5:20 PM

It was proposed&she was invited; we still look forward to her visit to China: Consul General of China on WB CM Mamata-ANIA

#5:15 PM

We were against @DalaiLama's visit to disputed areas and had informed India too: MaZhanwu, Consul General of China -ANI

#5:09 PM

Project b/w China & Pak; India & Pak dispute concerned, suggest them to overcome it with dialogues: Ma Zhanwu, Counsul General, China on CPEC- ANI

#5:05 PM

Chhattisgarh: 22 naxals surrender before Police in Jagdalpur- ANI

#5:00 PM

Journalist killed in Karachi by bike borne assailants: Pakistan media - ANI

#4:48 PM

Punjab: Police nabbed 2 Nigerian nationals from New Delhi, recovered two packets of 1 kg Heroin buried in deserted places in Punjab. - ANI

#4:44 PM

Gram Panchayats to rename sports stadium in their area on Bhagat Singh; remove name of Rajiv Gandhi: A Vij,Haryana Min on renaming of stadiums - ANI

#4:25 PM

A Delhi court denies bail to accused, in blackmailing and extortion of BJP MP KC Patel case. - ANI



#4:21 PMA

Fitch India affiliate sees banks adding $41 billion of soured loans by 2018/19 -ANI

# 4:20 PM

India medical board allows abortion for 10-year-old rape victim -AFP

#4:16 PM

If AIMPLB says #TripleTalaq optional, sinful & undesirable then how can it be integral to Islam. - ANI



#4:12 PM

A AG told SC that 'if not present in 25 countries then it can't be said essential to Islam; rights given by Article 25 of Constitution not absolute'

#4:10 PM

Congress president Sonia Gandhi spoke to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav over phone regarding presidential election: Sources - ANI

#4:00 PM

INS Sharda, an Offshore Patrol Vessel foils piracy attempt on LV Lord Mountbatten, by two mother ships & 8 skiffs, in the Gulf of AdenA -ANI



#3:55 PM

Delhi Court grants bail to 13 including Tilkamanjhi Univ employees in fake degree case against former Delhi law minister Jitender Tomar -ANI

#3:50 PM

Union Cabinet approves pan-India implementation of Maternity Benefits Program -ANI

#3:48 PM

Arun Jaitley's civil defamation case against Arvind Kejriwal and 5 other AAP members: The matter listed for 28 July and 31 July

#3:46 PM

Union Cabinet approves four laning of Porbandar-Dwarka Section of NH-8E in Gujarat -ANI

#3:44 PM

Union Cabinet approves setting up of Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Assam _ANI



#3:42 PM

Maulana Nurur Rehman Barkati sacked as the Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque for "objectionable and inflammatory remarks against the country" -ANI

#3:35 PM

Major decision was taken to amend tax treaties related to black money: Power Minister Piyush Goyal at Cabinet briefing #DelhiA -ANI

#3:30 PM

Maharashtra ATS denies any hacking or ransomware virus attack to its website. _ANI

# 3:25 PM

Odisha: More than 30 houses gutted after a fire broke out at a village in Rayagada district; fire tenders rushed to the spot -ANI

#3:20 PM

Sensex rises 76.17 pts to end at new closing peak of 30,658.77; #Nifty gains 13.50 pts to record 9,525.75. PTI

# 03:15 PM

Cabinet nod to ten indigenously built Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors to produce #nuclear energy. PTI

#03:10 PM

#Cabinet approves signing of multilateral convention to check #tax evasion through profit shifting by #MNCs. PTI

#03:02 PM

Demonetisation had no impact on Indian tourists in Australia.-PTI

#02:55 PM

Our workers are peacefully protesting, 'gundagardi' outside BJP office will be dealt with: Bhupender Yadav,BJP on RJD-BJP workers clash pic.twitter.com/FUMlTwrAk6 a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#02:53 PM

US Prez realDonaldTrump asks sacked FBI Dy James Comey to end probe into ties between his former NSA MikeFlynn and Russia: NYT- PTI

#02:41 PM

Delhi Chief Minister's private secretary Bibhav Kumar was questioned by ACB in connection with water tanker scam, today-ANI

#02:24 PM

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (#GJM) wins 31 of 32 seats in #Darjeeling municipality-PM

#02:24 PM

Former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy granted bail in connection with Janthakal mine scam-ANI

#02:20 PM

Sukma:Ex Sarpanch of Chintagufa Podiam Panda surrenders before police, embroiled in cases of murder,abduction&19 major attacksChhattisgarh-ANI



#02:13 PM

BSF begins operation GaramHawa along international border in Rajasthan-PTI

#02:12 PM

Indian Medical Association (IMA) records maximum number of ambulatory blood pressure readings amongst medical fraternity in a single day.-PTI

#01:54 PM

Notification issued by Haryana government for upgradation of the Government High School in Rewari to the level of Senior Secondary School. pic.twitter.com/Wqp4FOLwar a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#01:53 PM

Have put proposal for borrowing from EIB and ADB for Indore and Bhopal rail projects, requested about the same to Jaitley ji: MP CM

#01:53 PM

Want to bring in metro rail projects in Bhopal and Indore, formalities have been completed: MP CM Shivraj Chouhan after meeting FM Jaitley - ANI

#01:42 PM

A NEET exam: Four persons caught in Goa for impersonation-ANI

#01:36 PM

RTA attack was carried out by 4 gunmen. 2 killed so far, one captured and one still fighting-ANI

#01:19 PM

#WATCH: Former employees of a state Govt hospital protest in front of Delhi CM Kejriwal's car, forcefully removed by security personnel pic.twitter.com/tkUUw1xtJj a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#01:16 PM

Chhattisgarh: A wanted Maoist arrested by BSF and police in Kanker. pic.twitter.com/2BU54zIOyX a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#01:06 PM

CCEA approves #coal linkage policy for power plants: Official sources.-PTI

#12:58 PM

Nabeel Ahmed Wani, a BSF officer from J&K wrote to Maneka Gandhi for hostel seat for his sister studying in Chandigarh fearing terror threat-ANI

#12:57 PM

Sent an instruction to grievance redressal team to talk to the hostel, hostel immediately agreed: M Gandhi on BSF officer Nabeel's letter pic.twitter.com/zTStnpPGeI a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#12:57 PM

Principal has been deputed there and from tomorrow admission procedure will start: Ram Bilas Sharma,Haryana Education Minister #Rewari-ANI

#12:48 PM

Any vehicle over-speeding inside Kaziranga National Park shall pay environment compensation of Rs 5,000 besides challan: NGT-PTI

#12:20 PM

Mother of Sai Sri has been getting threatening calls asking her to vacate the house. She has filed complaint: Palaraju,DCP Vijaywada-ANI

#11:56 AM

Punjab: Fire breaks out at a cloth godown on Rahon-Bajra road in Ludhiana, 10 fire tenders on spot. pic.twitter.com/dIGwYduybK a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#11:51 AM

Armed assailants have reportedly stormed the compound of National Radio Television in Afghanistan (RTA) in Nangarhar's Jalalabad-ANI

#11:45 AM

Rewari girl students hunger strike: 10 students have been shifted to hospital #Haryana-ANI

#11:45 AM

Union health min JP Nadda spoke to Uttarakhand CM, assured all kind of medical assistance including doctors team to Char Dham yatra pilgrims pic.twitter.com/8wCG63w3UU a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#11:41 AM

Haryana: Demanding up-gradation of their institution to senior sec school,Girl students of Govt High School in Rewari continue hunger strike pic.twitter.com/fUliya9j2k a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#11:29 AM

Chhattisgarh: Two youths drowned in Dankini river in Dantewada-ANI

#11:24 AM

The AIMPLB lawyer also said that the board accepts the suggestions in all humility and will look into it-ANI

#11:23 AM

One of AIMPLB's lawyers Yousuf Muchala told SC that board's advisory is not mandatory for all Qazis to follow -ANI

#11:14 AM

TMC workers celebrate after winning Mirik municipal election. TMC won 6 out of 9 wards, GJM won 3. pic.twitter.com/Mim52TU6tl a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#11:13 AM

Security forces launch search operation in south #Kashmir's #Shopian district after information about #militants- PTI

#11:11 AM

CJI Khehar asks Kapil Sibal(lawyer for AIMPLB) that is it possible to give bride the right that she will not accept instant triple talaq?-ANI

#11:08 AM

Can woman be given an option to say 'no' to #tripletalaq at time of execution of 'nikahnama': #SC asks #AIMPLB-PTI

#10:51 AM

West Bengal civic polls: TMC won 18/21 wards in Domkal Municipality under Murshidabad district. INC won 1, CPI(M) 2; all 3 joined TMC later-ANI

#10:49 AMA

Tamil Nadu: IT raid at TN health minister Vijaya Bhaskar's residence in Pudukkottai-ANI

#10:41 AM

Chitrakoot (UP): Six peacocks killed using poisonous seeds in Sitapur's Kapsethi village, one peacock under treatment, one poacher arrested pic.twitter.com/pAorarq7x3 a ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 17, 2017

#10:35 AM

The drama is now over: Karti Chidambaram to ANI on CBI raids -ANI

#10:29 AM

We were sidelined,kept waiting,didn't get chance to speak: Col KD Shelly on war veterans allegedly ignored at event attended by Karnataka CM-ANI

#10:18 AM

In notice period,neither pilot will refuse to undertake flight duties nor employer will deprive pilot of legitimate rights:Aviation Ministry-ANI

#10:15 AM

Commanders should give notice period of one year and co-pilots a notice period of 6 months before resignation: Civil Aviation Ministry-ANI

10:10 AM

26-year-old Indian man missing in Boston-PTI

#10:08 AM

J&K: Security cordon in Shopian district has been lifted-ANI

#10:02 AM

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres watching tensions between India, Pakistan closely: spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.-PTI

#9:12 AM

Lucknow (UP): IAS officer of Karnataka cadre, Anurag Tiwari found dead near Hazratganj's Meerabai Guest House.-ANI

#9:10 AM

BJP calls meeting of party media panelists and spokespersons on 19th May at BJP HQ-ANI

#8:42 AM

Vijaywada(AP):13-year-old Sai Sri's video pleading father to pay for her cancer treatment goes viral on social media,days after her death pic.twitter.com/eNmR1MrWQQ a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#8:36 AM

IT raid at Kaleesuwari Refinery Oil Private Limited in Chennai, raids also underway in Madurai,Dindugal and Vellore-ANI

#8:16 AM

5 bookies arrested from Rajasthan's Bhilwara, 43 mobile phones, 1 TV,2 LCDs and 2 laptops seized pic.twitter.com/cFExvfbL4g a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#7:53 AM

J&K: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Balakot sector-ANI

#7:37 AM

Overcast conditions and light drizzle in parts of Delhi pic.twitter.com/QahWeryVmQ a ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

#7:08 AM

The Supreme Court five judge Constitution bench to continue hearing Triple talaq case today-ANI

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New Delhi :

Triple talaq is neither integral to Islam nor a majority versus minority issue but rather an intra-community tussle between Muslim men and deprived women, the Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, in his rebuttal to the arguments favouring the 1,400 year-old practice of triple talaq, made a strong pitch for judicial scrutiny on grounds including violation of fundamental rights like right to equality and gender justice and said that the apex court cannot shy away.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar, asked the Centre as to why it did not legislate to regulate marriages and divorce among Muslims.

You (Centre) said if court quashes triple talaq then you will make a law but why the government did not make a law for last 60 years? the bench, also comprising justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman, U U Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, asked.

Rohatgi replied that the hallmark of a secular court was to reform without waiting for a legislation, when such matters come to it.

I will do what I have to do but the question is what will you (court) do? I have given statement on instruction. I speak for the government and cant speak for parliament, he said reiterating that the top court was guardian of fundamental rights and has to see whether there was any violation of such rights.

AG Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court that this is not an issue of majority & minority community #TripleTalaq  ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

Earlier during the day, the bench asked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) whether a woman can be given an option of saying no to triple talaq at the time of execution of nikahnama (marriage contract).

Can it be made possible to give an option to a wife that she can say that she was agreeable to or not agreeable to it (triple talaq)?

Is it possible to pass a resolution to all qazis to include this condition (giving right to woman to say no to triple talaq) in nikahnama? Give an option to wife to say no to triple talaq, the bench said.

Former Union minister and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the AIMPLB, said that he will respond to after talking to all the board members.

Rohatgi, responding to Sibal and a battery of senior lawyers favouring triple talaq, said even the core of religion has to be tested on the touchstone of fundamental rights.

Referring to the responses of the AIMPLB, he said that even they say that triple talaq was undesirable, sinful but yet valid and wondered then how it can be said to be integral to religion.

He further said this time, Muslim women have questioned the centuries-old hegemony suffered by them at the hands of their male counterparts of the community.

The prism through which you see the case is not like majority versus minority but this is a case where it is an intra-community tussle between Muslim men and women.

This time Muslim women have questioned the centuries-old hegemony suffered by them at the hands of their male counterparts, Rohatgi said, adding that the practice of triple talaq is a tussle between the haves and have-nots inside the community.

AG Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court that it is an issue of a minority community that is Muslim, and that of women within that community  ANI (@ANI_news) May 17, 2017

He said this fight is between men of Muslim community, who are more powerful, empowered and educated and women, not so powerful, not empowered and uneducated.

The court can fill up the void by judicial pronouncements if there is no law on a particular issue, Rohatgi said, adding the guidelines on sexual harassment at work place were framed by it in the Vishakha case.

Rohatgi referred to practises sati, infanticide, devdasi and untouchability among Hindus and said that they have been done away with.

Did courts do it? These were abolished by legislations, the bench asked.

Then why do the court goes into issues like Vishaka. The court cant say that it is helpless and it cannot step in. It is the guardian of fundamental right, Rohatgi replied.

He said that India is secular country with a secular constitution which has kept core of all religions intact but they are subject to fundamental rights.

We had several religions after Partition. There were people from over 600 princely states and tribes practising different faiths and religions. The core of every religion was kept but they were made subject to fundamental rights, he said.

He said under Article 25 (right to practice religion) of Constitution, even the core component of a religion can be tested on the grounds of fundamental rights.

Rights given under Article 25 of Constitution cannot be considered as absolute, he said, adding the court has to look into these aspects as a community cannot decide what is their fundamental rights.

Comparing practices in Islamic countries, Rohatgi said that in 25 nations, religion continued to strive even after abolishing triple talaq and hence, this cannot be termed as integral part of Islam.

What is optional cannot be under Article 25 and it cannot be considered as an essential part of religion. If it had been integral part of religion then the religion will not remain religion in its original form but if it is optional then even if it is taken out, the religion will remain the same, he said.

He said that if the right to religion went against the fundamental rights, then it is the Constitution which will prevail over practices like triple talaq.

Also Read: Centre to bring a new law in case all forms of divorce including Triple Talaq struck down

Sibal, who started arguments today, referred to a Delhi High Court judgement and said that it was wrong in holding that all schools of thought termed triple talaq as sinful.

The Supreme Court cannot be called upon to decide as to what was wrong or right with the practice and belief, he said.

Referring to a judgement, he went to the extent of saying that the personal law is a legitimate basis of discrimination.

AIMPLB also said that the court should not venture into the issue on its own as no one has approached it.

Some persons have come to this court, the bench said. Sibal said challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq, being practised by a small portion of community, may revive the practice which is dying.

He said if a secular court like the Supreme Court decides to undertake suo motu (on its own) scrutiny of the issue with the Centre seeking a ban then, the community may take a tough stand.

The Muslim community is like small birds on which golden eagle preys, he said, adding the communitys nests must have the Supreme Court protection.

Also Read: Banning triple talaq will not benefit Muslim women, says AIMPLB vice-president Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari

Sibal said it is that faith with which the community is before the court today seeking protection of its personal law customs and practices.

Our faith in this court for last 67 years is fundamental and with that faith we have come here, he said.

Today was the fifth day of the hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging triple talaq, polygamy and nikah halala which is going on before a bench comprising members of different religious communities including Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim.

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Kota (Raj):

Swine flu tightens its grip in this district this year as a 23-year-old woman died at a hospital in Jhalawar city a day after being tested H1N1 positive.

According to the chief medical and health officer (CMHO) of Kota, Dr Anil Koshik, with this death, the toll due to swine flu touched four while as many as 24 people have been tested H1N1 positive in Kota division so far this year.

The woman, Parveen, a resident of Modak in this district, was admitted to the SRG Hospital in Jhalawar city on May 12 with labour pain. She was also suffering from severe fever, cough and cold, superintendent of the hospital Dr K K Sharma said.

Read more: Fever that can kill: Mumbai records second swine flu death as toll rises to 196

She delivered a dead baby. The woman was tested H1N1 positive on Monday and was under medical observation. She died around 1 am on Tuesday, Dr Sharma said.

"The rise in the number of swine flu cases is very unusual in this hot weather and it is a matter of research", Dr Koshik said.

Following the rise in the number of swine flu cases in the region, relatives of those who were tested H1N1 positive have been given Tami flu tablets. Doctors are also carrying out the survey in affected areas.

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New Delhi:

Alphabet Incs Google in its biggest event of the year Google I/O 2017 on Wednesday announced its digital assistant to iPhone.

Speaking at an annual developer conference in Mountain View, California, Google CEO Sundar Pichai explained the company's progress with the Google Assistant.

He announced Google Assistant will now also be available to iPhones, and the SDK will allow developers to integrate the virtual helper in all kinds of devices.

Pichai also said that roughly 70 percent of queries to Google Assistant are in natural language, and many of these queries are follow-up queries.

The Assistant debuted last year on Googles own hardware, and the company has gradually extended the tool to devices from other manufacturers running on its Android operating system.

Google CEO Pichai also announced another feature called Google Lens which can recognise objects by simply pointing smartphones camera at them. The Google Lens can also enter wi-fi passwords simply by pointing the camera at the password text.

Also Read: Google CEO Sundar Pichai receives US $200 million salary, double than last year
Washington:

Blaming US president Donald Trump for his alleged involvement in obstruction of justice, a Democratic lawmaker has called for his impeachment after news reports revealed that Trump had asked the FBI to stop investigations against former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

In fact, Congressman El Green from Texas on Wednesday became the first US lawmaker to demand impeachment of Trump from the House floor.

I rise today Mr. Speaker to call for the impeachment of the President of the United States of America for obstruction of justice. There is a belief in this country that no one is above the law. And that includes the President of the United States of America, Green said on the House floor.

The Congressman said that his call for impeachment is a position of conscience for him and asked the American people to speak up.

Each member of Congress has to make his or her decision. This is where I stand, I will not be moved. The President must be impeached, Green said.

At the same time he noted that impeachment does not mean the president will be found guilty.

It simply means the House of Representatives will bring charges against the president, he said a day after the New York Times reported that it found a memo in which the sacked FBI Director James Comey said that he was asked by Trump to stop Flynns investigations.

Also Read | FBI chief Comey was 'not up to the task': White House defends Trump

Soon thereafter another Republican lawmaker was seen supporting the impeachment move.

Yes, he told The Hill newspaper when asked if the details of the memo if true merited impeachment. But everybody merits a fair trail, he was quoted as saying.

However, the House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said that he has full confidence in Trump. I do (have confidence in Trump), he told reporters at a news conference.

He also urged the lawmakers to be sober. That is our job, to be sober, to be passionate and to follow the facts wherever they may lead, he said.

It is obvious ? there are some people out there who want to harm the president. We have an obligation to carry out our oversight, regardless of which party is in the White House. That means before rushing to judgment we get all the pertinent information, Ryan said.

Also Read: US President Donald Trump fires FBI director James Comey

The White House has denied the allegations of obstruction of justice.

While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, it said.

The President has the utmost respect for the law enforcement agencies, and all investigations, the White House said, adding that this is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Comey.

Ryan supported the White House.

There is an FBI investigation going on right now with all things related to Russia, done by the career professionals at the FBI who are going to continue to be career professionals. And the acting director just said the other day that no one has tried to impede that investigation, he told reporters at a news conference.

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New Delhi:

In a queer incident in Pakistan's Punjab province, a dog has been sentenced to death for biting a child.

As per the reports, Assistant Commissioner Raja Saleem in Bhakkar's Klor vicinity in Punjab province issued death sentence for the dog which but a child.

While putting forth a unique and a bizarre argument, Assistant Commissioner Saleem said, "The dog injured the child, hence, it should be killed".

The dog's owner has filed an appeal with the Additional Deputy Commissioner against the unsual punishment.

Read more: Dog in US takes bullet meant for police officer

"The affected child's family registered a case against my dog, following which it completed a one-week prison sentence. Any further punishment for it would be unfair", dog's owner was qouted as saying.

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Jalalabad:

Several journalist and officials were trapped when suicide bombered stormed the national television station in eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Tuesday triggering gunfights and explosions. At least two people were killed and 14 others wounded in the ongoing assault, which underscores the growing dangers faced by media workers in Afghanistan.



No insurgent group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid in Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State jihadists, where the US military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb last month in an unprecedented attack.



"Four attackers entered the RTA (Radio Television Afghanistan) building this morning. Two blew themselves up and two others are still resisting," government spokesperson Attaullah Khogyani told AFP.

He had earlier said there were three attackers. "At least two civilians have been killed and 14 others wounded so far," Kohgyani said, with a health worker telling AFP that many of those brought to hospital suffered gunshot wounds.



An RTA photographer said he fled the building as soon as the gunfight erupted, but many of his colleagues were still stuck inside. Islamic State insurgents are active in Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital.



The US military last month dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" --on IS positions in Nangarhar, killing dozens of jihadists. The bombing triggered global shock waves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban.

Read | Explosion in Afghanistan's religious school kills 8 children, chief cleric



According to the US Forces-Afghanistan, defections and recent battlefield losses have reduced the local IS presence from a peak of as many as 3,000 fighters to a maximum of 800. The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan to break the deadlocked fight against the Taliban.



US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, who also mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.



Wednesday's attack marks the latest militant assault on an Afghan media organisation. Afghanistan suffered its deadliest year on record for journalists in 2016, according to the Afghan Journalists' Safety Committee (AJSC), adding that the country is the second most dangerous for reporters in the world after Syria.



At least 13 journalists were killed last year, AJSC said, claiming that the Taliban was behind at least ten of the deaths. In January last year, seven employees of popular TV channel Tolo, which is often critical of the insurgents, were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul in what the militant group said was revenge for "spreading propaganda" against them.



It was the first major attack on an Afghan media organisation since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 and spotlighted the dangers faced by journalists as the security situation worsens. Dan Coats, the head of US intelligence agencies, warned last week that the security situation "will also almost certainly deteriorate through 2018, even with a modest increase in the military assistance by the US".



US-led forces have been fighting in Afghanistan for almost 16 years, making it America's longest war.

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New Delhi:

The rising tensions between India and Pakistan are being watched very closely by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. He has also reiterated the need for the South Asian neighbours to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue.



The Secretary General is not reluctant to focus on the issue, Guterres spokesperson Stephane Dujarric asserted while responding to a question at the daily press conference on Tuesday.

Also Read: India stands behind 161 nations including Pakistan in ratifying 30-year-old United Nations' Convention Against Torture



I dont think its a matter of reluctance. As I said, hes obviously watching the situation very closely and reiterates his need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue, Dujarric added.



Guterres is following the situation in Kashmir amid escalating tensions at the border between India and Pakistan, Dujarric has repeatedly said.

With inputs from PTI.

Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav row: Not in a position to comment on issue, says United Nations

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United Nations:

Washingtons envoy to the United Nations on Tuesday said the United States would consider talks with North Korea if it halts all nuclear and ballistic missile tests.



We are willing to talk, but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there, the US envoy, Nikki Haley, told reporters ahead of a closed-door Security Council meeting.



Washington and Beijing - the Norths sole diplomatic and military ally - are working on a new Council resolution targeting Pyongyang, she added. Thats what we are working on now. We dont have it done yet. Absolutely, sanctions is something that we are looking at and we are going to continue to see where that takes us, she said.

ALSO READ: US ambassador to UN Nikki Haley gets heckled at global women summit

On Sunday, North Korea launched what appeared to be the longest-range missile it has ever successfully tested, sparking global alarm. Pyongyang said the missile, the Hwasong-12, was capable of carrying a heavy nuclear warhead.



The missile, launched on an unusually high trajectory, flew to an altitude of 2,111.5 kilometres and travelled 787 kilometres before landing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).



That suggests a range of 4,500 kilometres or more if flown for maximum distance, analysts said.

ALSO READ: US ambassador to UN Nikki Haley hails her traditional upbringing by Sikh parents

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DANBURY - City middle schooler Caroline DAngelo won a statewide essay contest about Martin Luther King Jr., according to a release.

DAngelo, a sixth-grader at Broadview Middle School, said her essay was inspired by the courage of the slain civil rights leader.

Martin Luther King wasnt afraid to share what he thought, DAngelo said in a prepared statement. He made a difference and his speech changed laws. It showed that everyone should be respected.

DAngelos essay was among thousands submitted to Sen. Chris Murphys Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Essay Challenge, according to a release.

I launched this year because its clear, perhaps now more than ever before, that our work is not yet complete, Murphy said in a prepared statement. I hope this challenge encouraged young people all across Connecticut to commit to making Dr. Kings dream and the dreams of their own a reality.
NEW MILFORD  Voters approved a combined $101 million budget during Tuesdays referendum for the upcoming fiscal year.

The towns $38.2 million budget passed 1,469 to 1,279.

Voters approved the schools $62.8 million budget 1,403 to 1,342.

When you get a turnout as we did today and the community supports both the schools and the town budget, it allows us to focus our time to educate the students, said Superintendent of Schools Joshua Smith.

The several town and school officials gathered in the Loretta Brickley room in Town Hall cheered when the final district numbers were read and the moderator declared both budgets had passed.

Mayor David Gronbach said he was pleased by voters approval.

There was a lot of engagement this year in the budget process and talking about the positives of the budget and what were trying to do, he said. Hopefully, the word got out that this was a bipartisan budget.

Smith said he appreciated the cooperation of everyone who worked on the budget, including the school board, finance board and Town Council.

We do better when we work together, he said.

Board of Education Chairman David Lawson said he was very happy with the turnout, which at 16.93 percent, was nearly twice last years turnout.

Were very pleased that the budget passed, he said. This allows us to provide a comprehensive education.

Lawson said he believed the comprehensive and transparent budget process helped residents support it.

Not to mention, it was a solid budget, he added.

The combined budget is about 1.2 percent more than the current year.

Each item was voted on separately, as well as an advisory question on whether the amount should be increased if either item failed.

Voters didnt want to increase the amount for either budget if it didnt pass.

Both budgets faced cuts before heading to referendum.

Town Council and the Board of Finance reduced the schools budget by about $757,000 and the finance board cut the town by about $968,000.

The finance board decided to cut $1.5 million off the total budget to offset a miscalculation made by the town that double-counted certain revenue.

Town Council had approved a plan to cover the revenue miscalculation, which included selling town own property and increasing the sewer commissions payments to the town. However, the finance board overturned that because it didnt want to use property sales that didnt happen yet and still needed voter approval. Instead, the board opted to make up the difference by cutting expenditures.

Among the cuts were $550,000 to town personnel.

Even with the cuts, the school budget is about $1.1 million more than the current year, largely due to a $1.2 million health insurance increase. School officials still have to cut their budget by about $757,000. Smith discussed these possible cuts at a recent school board meeting, which included cutting four teaching positions.

Even though we face $757,000 in reductions, this means we can move forward and not have to worry about finding more cuts in the school budget, Smith said.

kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345
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HARTFORD  After a 90-minute closed-door session in Gov. Dannel P. Malloys Capitol office, legislative leaders admitted Wednesday that theres a long way to go to reach a compromise agreement on a new two-year state budget.

With the June 7 legislative adjournment date three weeks away, Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate said they reviewed their proposals with Malloy, who last week offered his own revised budget, following huge shortfalls in tax revenue. In all, there are four competing plans: Malloys, House Republicans, Senate Republicans and legislative Democrats.

Those proposals are in various shapes, Malloy told reporters. Ones a line-item (budget), ones partially a line-item and ones something else. The something else was a broad-brush Democratic plan which, because of the wide-ranging issues and opinions among Democrats, includes a third casino, recreational sales of marijuana and electronic highway tolls.

I think it was a useful meeting to have the leadership of the Legislature and myself sit down and talk about what are are big issues, Malloy said. I can assure you we did not resolve any big solutions.

All three sides  Democrats, Republicans and Malloy  depend on hundreds of millions of dollars in union concessions that are still under negotiation.

Its hard, I think, for the Legislature to move toward a solution without understanding whether there is a labor agreement, Malloy said after brief remarks from Republican and Democratic leaders.

More Information Competing budget bottom lines Malloy: $19.5 billion and $19.87 billion Democrats: $19.8 billion and $20.1 billion Senare Republicans: $19.6 billion and $19.7 billion House Republicans: $19.47 billion and $19.6 billion See More Collapse

I think it was a good session, said Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz. We look forward to having more in the coming weeks.

Earlier in the day, Aresimowicz said he believed that leaders on both sides of the aisle agree on about 85 percent of what will end up in the final spending package.

House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, was less optimistic.

He loves to use that 85 percent number and he knows how I feel about that, said Klarides, standing next to Aresimowicz after they, along with House Majority Leader Matt Ritter and Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, emerged from Malloys office.

If you break the budget down by dollar, the next 15 percent is about $2.7 billion, she said. I dont think thats chump change. So I think the 15 percent is the tough stuff and thats what we have to work on.

And I dont think were at 85 percent either, added Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven.

Malloy will provide critiques on the legislative proposals by next Monday.

Its going to take a nearly unprecedented level of cooperation among the lawmakers and Democratic governor, who each have widely varying visions on how the state can fund government at a time of lower bond ratings, rising expenses and sharply reduced tax revenues.

Aresimowicz, D-Berlin and Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said despite some opposition in their caucus for the three controversial elements, they didnt want to go into the budget endgame without a list of potential areas for compromise.

Were going to let a lot of ideas go forward and well sift through them in the coming weeks, Ritter said. All three of these issues have had public hearings. These ideas have been debated for a very long time in the State Capitol.

Were also including the Republicans because theyre in the room with us talking about these things also, said Rep. Toni Walker, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, whose panel failed last month to produce a spending package. Its always going to be a continuing conversation until we all come with a bottom-line number of what we have to meet.

Both Democrats and Republicans oppose Malloys proposal to shift $400 million in annual costs of public-school teacher pensions to the towns and cities, in attempt to reduce the states exposure. Malloys February budget proposal for the biennium was $40.6 billion, but he revised the plan to $39.2 billion last week.

kdixon@ctpost.com; Twitter: @KenDixonCT
DANBURY - Two city high schoolers are headed to West Point - the prestigious United States Military Academy in New York.

Joseph Waldron and Michael Halas of Danbury High School were presented with their appointments to West Point Academy earlier this month during a presentation at the Danbury Board of Education meeting, according to a release.

It is extremely unusual for any school in the nation to have two students appointed in the same year, said Major Nancy Bates of West Point, who presented the appointments to the high-schoolers. To have two students from the same high school appointed is truly an evening of celebration. It is also a testament to the quality of the education and leadership that Danbury High School provides its students.

West Point has an 8 percent acceptance rate, Bates said.

West Point cadets receive four-year scholarships that include uniforms, health coverage, monthly salary, tuition, development opportunities, and room and board, according to the release. Cadets commit to five years of service as a second lieutenant upon graduation, followed by three years in the reserves, the release said.
I applied to college by filling out an application with a pen and typing my essays on a typewriter. When I wanted to fill out another application, I repeated the entire process over again.

Only a few people applied to many colleges then, in large part because there was no Common Application to make it easy. There was no internet or social media and thus no online presence to help (or damage) your chances for admission.

In previous articles, I have discussed how using social media and building a powerful personal brand can help you be successful in business and how it can help you get the job you always wanted. So, when I recently was asked to speak at a New Jersey high school about personal branding and social media for students, I discovered some very interesting things about the impact of an online brand on college admission.

In a survey of 43 colleges and universities published in a recent Chicago Tribune article, 67 percent of schools said they Googled a prospective student, and a whopping 86 percent researched their social media. Kaplan points out that it often goes the other way, too -- 42 percent of admissions offices reporting that students actually request that admission officers look at their social media. And that number is increasing every year.

Also, according to Kaplan, an eye-opening 35 percent of college recruiters said that, when checking up on a students online presence, they found something that negatively impacted an applicants chances of getting in.

With that in mind, here are my 10 social media tips for students to improve their college admission chances:

1. Professional profile picture

What you look like shouldn't matter, but it can. That's why you should make sure you have a professional profile picture on ALL of your social media platforms (even Snapchat). College admission, testing and tutoring fees can cost thousands. Why not spend a little bit more and hire a professional photographer to take proper profile pictures?

2. Complementary posts only

And I dont mean you need to compliment others. Your posts need to complement you and your brand. Never post anything on social media that you wouldn't want a college recruiter to see. Avoid salacious behavior, suggestions of violence and any kind of bullying. Employ the Grandmother Rule: Dont post anything on social media that you wouldnt show to your grandmother. Google yourself frequently to make sure everything looks good.

Related: 8 Reasons a Powerful Personal Brand Will Make You Successful

3. Consistency of information

Your LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter profiles should always be up-to-date and match the information on your resume and college application exactly! A top reason to get rejected for admission is having contradictory information on your profiles.

4. Untag and unfollow when necessary

Better to upset a friend than get rejected from the college of your choice because you are tagged in an inappropriate post. Untag yourself from any questionable photos or content. Unfriend or unfollow yourself from any friends who post questionable photos or content.

5. Show your interests

Post content that underscores your interests. Share interesting and relevant articles, upload your music and artwork and share photos or videos from your sporting events or performances -- and be authentic. College recruiters are very good at telling when you are not being you.

Related: Habits of the World's Wealthiest People (Infographic)

6. Your own website

Having a website is a good way to show your entire personal brand in one location and in a way that is unique to you. Its a way to show you are an original thinker and can express yourself articulately. Having your own URL (it's best if it's just "yourname.com") and website is a quick way for a college recruiter to learn about you.

Plus, having a website with the proper URL improves your SEO (Search Engine Optimization), so recruiters will find you and see what you want them to when they Google you.

7. Blogging & videos

You should be writing and doing videos about the areas you are interested in. There is no better way to show a college you are articulate, passionate and knowledgeable. If you haven't written articles yet, take some of your better school work and use that. Creating a video of something you are passionate about shows your communication skills, and both blogs and videos are searchable (improved SEO). These also have the added benefit of being tools or added material you can send when a particular subject comes up.

8. Proper social handles & email address

Your social handles and email address should match your name as close as you can. Open a Gmail account for applications if you dont have one. Aol.com and the other oldie domains scream to the college admissions officer that you arent tech savvy and arent with the times. Be professional -- no cutiepie1234 or RedSoxSuck handles.

Related: 11 Habits of Truly Happy People

9. No politics

No politics posting in public places. In todays highly charged environment, one post that says Make America Great Again could mean rejection if your application reviewer is a Democrat. If you need to post about politics, do it in a private or closed group.

10. Follow your college everywhere

This is a big one. Follow the schools you are applying to on all their social platforms in order to stay informed, not just about events relevant to your application, but also to ensure you are up to date for any in-person interview.

There is no doubt that social media, when used the wrong way, can negatively impact a college application. But, its equally apparent that proper use of social media -- building a powerful personal brand through your online presence -- can significantly increase the chances of being accepted. That's why more and more students are using social media technique to supplement their traditional applications.

Follow their lead and use social media regularly to build a powerful personal brand and gain a big advantage when applying to the college of your dreams.

Related:



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
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KIEV, Ukraine - A month before Donald Trump clinched the Republican nomination, one of his closest allies in Congress - House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy - made a politically explosive assertion in a private conversation on Capitol Hill with his fellow GOP leaders: that Trump could be the beneficiary of payments from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"There's two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump," McCarthy, R-Calif., said, according to a recording of the June 15, 2016, exchange, which was listened to and verified by The Washington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a Californian Republican known in Congress as a fervent defender of Putin and Russia.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., immediately interjected, stopping the conversation from further exploring McCarthy's assertion, and swore the Republicans present to secrecy.

Before the conversation, McCarthy and Ryan had emerged from separate talks at the U.S. Capitol with Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Groysman, who had described a Kremlin tactic of financing populist politicians to undercut Eastern European democratic institutions.

News had just broken the day before in The Washington Post that Russian government hackers had penetrated the computer network of the Democratic National Committee, prompting McCarthy to shift the conversation from Russian meddling in Europe to events closer to home.

Some of the lawmakers laughed at McCarthy's comment. Then McCarthy quickly added: "Swear to God."

Ryan instructed his Republican lieutenants to keep the conversation private, saying: "No leaks. . . . This is how we know we're a real family here."

The remarks remained secret for nearly a year.

The conversation provides a glimpse at the internal views of GOP leaders who now find themselves under mounting pressure over the conduct of President Trump. The exchange shows that the Republican leadership in the House privately discussed Russia's involvement in the 2016 election and Trump's relationship to Putin, but wanted to keep their concerns secret. It is difficult to tell from the recording the extent to which the remarks were meant to be taken literally.

The House leadership has so far stood by the White House as it has lurched from one crisis to another, much of the turmoil fueled by contacts between Trump or his associates with Russia.

House Republican leaders have so far resisted calls for the appointment of an independent commission or a special prosecutor to investigate Russian interference, though pressure has been mounting on them to do so after Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey and the disclosure that the president shared intelligence with Russian diplomats.

Late Wednesday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced he had appointed Robert Mueller III, a former prosecutor who served as the FBI director from 2001 to 2013, as special counsel to oversee the Russia probe.

Evan McMullin, who in his role as policy director to the House Republican Conference participated in the June 15 conversation, said: "It's true that Majority Leader McCarthy said that he thought candidate Trump was on the Kremlin's payroll. Speaker Ryan was concerned about that leaking."

McMullin ran for president last year as an independent and has been a vocal critic of Trump.

When initially asked to comment on the exchange, Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Ryan, said: "That never happened," and Matt Sparks, a spokesman for McCarthy, said: "The idea that McCarthy would assert this is absurd and false."

After being told that The Post would cite a recording of the exchange, Buck, speaking for the GOP House leadership, said: "This entire year-old exchange was clearly an attempt at humor. No one believed the majority leader was seriously asserting that Donald Trump or any of our members were being paid by the Russians. What's more, the speaker and leadership team have repeatedly spoken out against Russia's interference in our election, and the House continues to investigate that activity."

"This was a failed attempt at humor," Sparks said.

Ken Grubbs, a spokesman for Rohrabacher, said the congressman has been a consistent advocate of "working closer with the Russians to combat radical Islamism. The congressman doesn't need to be paid to come to such a necessary conclusion."

When McCarthy voiced his assessment of whom Putin supports, suspicions were only beginning to swirl around Trump's alleged Russia ties.

At the time, U.S. intelligence agencies knew that the Russians had hacked the DNC and other institutions, but Moscow had yet to start publicly releasing damaging emails through WikiLeaks to undermine Trump's Democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton. An FBI counterintelligence investigation into Russian efforts to influence the presidential election would open the following month, in late July, Comey has said in testimony to Congress.

Trump has sought to play down contacts between his campaign and the Russians, dismissing as a "witch hunt" the FBI and congressional investigations into Russian efforts to aid Trump and any possible coordination between the Kremlin and his associates. Trump denies any coordination with Moscow took place.

Presidential candidate Trump's embrace of Putin and calls for closer cooperation with Moscow put him at odds with the House Republican caucus, whose members have long advocated a harder line on Russia, with the exception of Rohrabacher and a few others.

Among GOP leaders in the House, McCarthy stood out as a Putin critic who in 2015 called for the imposition of "more severe" sanctions for its actions in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea.

In May 2016, McCarthy signed up to serve as a Trump delegate at the Republican National Convention, breaking ranks with Ryan, who said he still was not ready to endorse the candidate. McCarthy's relationship with Trump became so close that the president would sometimes refer to him as "my Kevin."

Trump was by then the lone Republican remaining in the contest for the nomination. Though Ryan continued to hold out, Trump picked up endorsements from the remaining GOP leaders in the House, including Rep. Steve Scalise, the majority whip from Louisiana, and Republican Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.) - both of whom took part in the June 15 conversation.

Ryan announced on June 2 that he would vote for Trump to help "unite the party so we can win in the fall" but continued to clash with the candidate, including over Putin. While Trump sought to cast Putin as a better leader than then-President Barack Obama, Ryan dubbed him an "aggressor" who didn't share U.S. interests.

On the same day as Ryan's endorsement, Clinton stepped up her attacks on Trump over his public statements praising Putin. "If Donald gets his way, they'll be celebrating in the Kremlin," she said.

Ukrainian officials were unnerved by Trump's statements in support of Putin. Republicans, they had believed, were supposed to be tougher on Russia.

When Trump named Paul Manafort as his campaign manager in April 2016, alarm bells in Kiev started ringing even louder. Manafort was already well known in Ukraine because of his influential role as a political consultant to Viktor Yanukovych, the country's former Kremlin-friendly ruler until a popular uprising forced him to flee to Russia. Manafort had also consulted for a powerful Russian businessman with close ties to the Kremlin.

"Ukraine was, in a sense, a testing ground for Manafort," said Ukrainian political scientist Taras Berezovets, who became a grudging admirer of Manafort's skills in the "dark arts" of political stagecraft while Berezovets was working for one of Yanukovych's political rivals.

At the urging of Manafort, Yanukovych campaigned with populist slogans labeling NATO a "menace" and casting "elites" in the Ukrainian capital as out of touch, Berezovets said. Trump struck similar themes during the 2016 campaign.

The FBI is now investigating whether Manafort, who stepped down as Trump's campaign manager in August, received off-the-books payments from Yanukovych's party, U.S. officials said. As part of that investigation, FBI agents recently took possession of a newly discovered document that allegedly details payments totaling $750,000. Ukrainian lawmaker Sergii Leshchenko, who first disclosed the new document, declined to comment on his contacts with the FBI.

A spokesman for Manafort has said that Trump's former campaign manager has not been contacted by the FBI. Manafort has also disputed the authenticity of the newly discovered document.

Groysman, on an official visit to Washington, met separately with Ryan and McCarthy on June 15 at the Capitol.

He told them how the Russians meddled in European politics and called for "unity" in addressing the threat, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials. Ryan issued a statement after the meeting saying, "the United States stands with Ukraine as it works to rebuild its economy and confront Russian aggression."

Later, Ryan spoke privately with McCarthy, Rodgers, Scalise and Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the deputy whip, among others.

Ryan mentioned his meeting with Groysman, prompting Rodgers to ask: "How are things going in Ukraine?" according to the recording.

The situation was difficult, Ryan said. Groysman, he said, had told him that Russian-backed forces were firing 30 to 40 shells into Ukrainian territory every day. And the prime minister described Russian tactics that include "financing our populists, financing people in our governments to undo our governments."

Ryan said Russia's goal was to "turn Ukraine against itself." Groysman underlined Russia's intentions, saying, "They're just going to roll right through us and go to the Baltics and everyone else," according to Ryan's summary of the prime minister's remarks in the recording.

"Yes," Rodgers said in agreement, noting that the Russians were funding nongovernmental organizations across Europe as part of a wider "propaganda war."

"Maniacal," Ryan said. "And guess, guess who's the only one taking a strong stand up against it? We are."

Rodgers disagreed. "We're not . . . we're not . . . but, we're not," she said.

That's when McCarthy brought the conversation about Russian meddling around to the DNC hack, Trump and Rohrabacher.

"I'll guarantee you that's what it is. . . . The Russians hacked the DNC and got the opp [opposition] research that they had on Trump," McCarthy said with a laugh.

Ryan asked who the Russians "delivered" the opposition research to.

"There's . . . there's two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump," McCarthy said, drawing some laughter. "Swear to God," McCarthy added.

"This is an off the record," Ryan said.

Some lawmakers laughed at that.

"No leaks, all right?," Ryan said, adding: "This is how we know we're a real family here."

"That's how you know that we're tight," Scalise said.

"What's said in the family stays in the family," Ryan added.

- - -

The Washington Post's Andrew Roth in Moscow, Michael Birnbaum in Brussels and Robert Costa in Washington contributed to this report.

- - -

Video: The 2016 conversation Paul Ryan wanted to keep private

The Post's Adam Entous discusses a 2016 conversation between GOP leaders in which House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) made an explosive claim about Donald Trump. (Bastien Inzaurralde / The Washington Post)

Short URL: http://wapo.st/2pY7eFF

Embed code: <iframe width="480" height="290" scrolling="no" src="//www.washingtonpost.com/video/c/embed/83ee6838-3b41-11e7-a59b-26e0451a96fd" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
As always, nothing breeds success quite like success.

Out West, where states first made medical and recreational marijuana legal, the resulting tax money has been a boon for the state and local governments.

In Colorado alone, millions of dollars are going to civic projects, building or renovating schools and even sending kids to college. Oregon has collected $75 million in marijuana taxes although it hasnt been distributed yet. California is expected to take in millions in taxes once recreational sales begin in January 2018.

Thats a lot of cash. It has not gone unnoticed by politicians across the country.

Related: Israel Studies Potential of Medical Marijuana as a Treatment for Autism

Broke in Illinois.

Illinois is focusing on the potential of marijuana taxes to pull it out of a fiscal tailspin. State lawmakers face a staggering $4.6 billion operating shortfall.

Lawmakers, confronted with the potential for yet another credit downgrade, are considering a deal that would raise taxes rather than curtail spending, according to independent watchdog group Illinois Policy.

This month, with the state Legislature extending a budget impasse into the third year, the Civic Federations Institute for Illinois Fiscal Sustainability issued an 86-page report on why the proposed budget from Gov. Bruce Rauner wont work. They deemed state leaders work on the issue a spectacular failure.

Marijuana to the rescue?

Illinois has had a limited medical marijuana program in place since 2016. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and state Sen. Heather Steans have co-authored legislation to make recreational marijuana legal in Illinois. The two lawmakers recently held the first of a series of planned meetings to discuss the issue.

We want to look and understand what is happening around the country on taxing and regulating [marijuana], and if there are other ways to be thinking about this, Steans said at the meeting, according to the Columbia Chronicle.

The pair also authored a commentary for the Chicago Tribune arguing legalized marijuana offers a new approach to the problem but partisan politics is blocking consideration of this as a budget solution. They note Colorado brought in almost $200 million in marijuana tax revenue in 2016, a stunning amount of money but a drop in the bucket for what Illinois needs.

Related: The Wishful Outlook for Marijuana Jobs in 2017

However, Cassidy and Stean wrote that the projected marijuana tax revenue of somewhere between $350 million and $700 million could provide services to those most hurt by the budget impasse, including the elderly, ill and colleges that are leaking students and staff.

The proposed measure would set up a regulatory system in the state to govern production and sale of recreational marijuana. Illinois residents would have the right to possess about 28 grams of marijuana and also to grow up to five plants in their home.

For more articles by dispensaries.com on Entrepreneur.com please visit: https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/dispensariescom. To stay up to date on the latest marijuana related news make sure to like dispensaries.com on Facebook

Related:

Illinois Looks to Marijuana to Plug Huge Hole it Its Budget

Israel Studies Potential of Medical Marijuana as a Treatment for Autism

New Jersey Lawmakers Await Next Governor Before Moving to Legalize Marijuana



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
TORONTO, May 17, 2017 /CNW/ - Yesterday Mark Elias (Steadiwear Inc.) was awarded the winner of the Ontario Brain Institute's (OBI) ONtrepreneurs Pitch Challenge held at the Discovery 2017 conference, hosted by the Ontario Centres of Excellence.

Mark Elias was joined on Discovery's main stage at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre by The Honourable Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science and Tom Mikkelsen, President and Scientific Director of OBI, who together presented the award, which includes $20,000 to be used towards business and product development.

"This challenge is a great example of how entrepreneurship can manifest in any sector, including neuroscience. Our government is proud to support the important work of the OBI, and congratulates each competitor as they strive to make Ontario a world leader in brain research and commercialization."  Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science.

The five finalists, named below, had three minutes to use their pitching skills to showcase their innovative technologies and impress the panel of judges. The judges included Genevieve Lavertu, Senior Director of Medtronic Care Management Services  Canada; Jung-Kay Chiu, Partner, Patent Agent, Lawyer, Trade-mark Agent of Norton Rose Fulbright; Alison Fenney, Executive Director of the Neurotechnology Industry Organization; and Jonathan Rezek, Business Development Executive for Innovation of IBM Canada.

The finalists are participants from the OBI ONtrepreneurs (Ontario Neurotech Entrepreneurs) Program, a program that supports Ontario's next generation of entrepreneurs in accessing funding to help launch or grow their neurotechnology start-up company. The 12-month program awards $50,000 cash and includes mentorship, training, and a number of value-added opportunities to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit in commercializing neurotechnologies.

The finalists also participated in Discovery's first NeuroTech Ontario Zone, which showcased over 12 companies with leading-edge neurotechnologies ranging from medical devices to help prevent concussions, to sophisticated software that can predict, with high accuracy, cognitive impairment through speech.

"Ontario has a fast growing neurotechnology cluster that is contributing to our economy and the well-being of our citizens. The participants in this pitch challenge are evidence of the talent and innovation being fostered throughout the province. We are proud to work with OCE, the Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Science and other partners to support the development of entrepreneurs and their neurotechnologies toward collective impact."  Dr. Tom Mikkelsen, President and Scientific Director, Ontario Brain Institute.

"This year the ONtrepreneurs Pitch Competition brought some incredible innovations in the neurotechnology sector to the OCE Discovery conference. All of the companies that participated in the NeuroTech Ontario Zone should be proud of their accomplishments as they look to improve the lives of many using emerging and existing technical and computational tools." - Dr. Tom Corr, President and CEO, OCE.

Named Canada's Best Trade Show in 2010, 2011, and 2016, and celebrating 12 years of bold, new ideas, OCE's Discovery is Canada's premier innovation showcase. It brings together the best and brightest minds in industry, academia, investment and government to showcase leading-edge technologies, best practices and research in the areas of energy, fintech, cleantech, the environment, advanced health, digital media, information and communication technologies and advanced manufacturing. The annual conference and showcase attracts more than 3,500 attendees and 500 exhibitors.

For more on Discovery, visit www.ocediscovery.com.

ONtrepreneurs Pitch Challenge 2017 Finalists

(listed alphabetically by company name):

Arjun Mali, iMerciv Inc.

iMerciv empowers those living with blindness or partial sight through innovative assistive technology. Their product, the BuzzClip, is a small and discreet wearable for people that are blind or partially sighted.

Robert Brooks , SensOR Medical Laboratories Ltd.

, SensOR Medical Laboratories Ltd. SensOR Medical Laboratories designed a force-sensing skin tool to give surgical residents and students feedback to learn faster, and allows experienced surgeons to better monitor and standardize their work.

Mark Elias , Steadiwear Inc.

, Steadiwear Inc. Steadiwear Inc. has created a glove that is designed to responsively stabilize the wrist joint in essential tremor and Parkinson's disease and reduce hand tremors.

Theo Versteegh , TopSpin Technologies Ltd.

, TopSpin Technologies Ltd. TopSpin has developed a neuromuscular training device for the neck to help prevent concussions by increasing neck strength to absorb more force and therefore decrease the amount of acceleration transferred to the brain during unexpected events.

Liam Kaufman , Winterlight Labs Inc.

, Winterlight Labs Inc. Winterlight Labs has developed an assessment using short, one-to-five-minute recordings of verbal picture descriptions, to quantify changes in language associated with cognitive decline and mental health issues.

About the Ontario Brain Institute:

The Ontario Brain Institute is a provincially-funded, not-for-profit research centre seeking to maximize the impact of neuroscience and establish Ontario as a world leader in brain research, commercialization and care. We create convergent partnerships between researchers, clinicians, industry, patients, and their advocates to foster discovery and deliver innovative products and services that improve the lives of those living with brain disorders.

For more info on the ONtrepreneurs Program, visit http://www.braininstitute.ca/ontrepreneurs-ontario-neurotech-entrepreneurs-program

About Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Inc.

OCE drives the commercialization of cutting-edge research across key market sectors to build the economy of tomorrow and secure Ontario's global competitiveness. In doing this, OCE fosters the training and development of the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs and is a key partner with Ontario's industry, universities, colleges, research hospitals, investors and governments. A champion of leading-edge technologies, best practices and research, OCE invests in sectors such as advanced health, digital media and information communications, advanced manufacturing and materials, and cleantech including energy, environment and water. OCE is a key partner in delivering Ontario's Innovation Agenda as a member of the province's Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE). Funded by the Government of Ontario, the ONE is made up of regional and sector-focused organizations and helps Ontario-based entrepreneurs rapidly grow their company and create jobs.

SOURCE Ontario Brain Institute

For further information: Media Contact: Jordan Antflick, Manager, Knowledge Translation, t: 647.872.1210, [email protected]; Andrew Robertson, Manager, Media Relations, t: 416.861.1092 x 1092, [email protected]

Related Links

www.braininstitute.ca


HALIFAX, May 17, 2017 /CNW/ - Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada's trade finance agency, is reporting that modest export growth in 2017 will amount to a waiting game for Nova Scotia exporters.

According to EDC's Global Export Forecast, Nova Scotia is coming off a small decline in 2016 and export growth will only see a modest one per cent this year. It is expected to rebound in 2018 with a boost of 5 per cent, thanks in part to new opportunities created through the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

"Nova Scotia exporters are in for a second sluggish year," said Peter Hall, EDC Chief Economist and Vice President. "When CETA takes effect this summer, it will unlock new doors of opportunity, specifically for province's seafood and agri-foodindustries."

Record vehicle sales in the U.S. have been fuelling demand for automotive parts, including tires manufactured in the province. The U.S. auto market is running so hot that it's hard to generate further growth. Modest growth in the province's agri-food sector, its top exporter, is also cooling Nova Scotia international sales this year.

That could all change in 2018. While the U.S. and China remain the province's main export destinations, CETA will reduce almost 96 percent of EU tariff lines for fish and seafood when it kicks in later this year. Currently, certain industries like processed lobster and cooked and peeled shrimp face tariff rates of 20 per cent.

"The EU is the world's largest importer of fish and seafood, and elimination of tariffs will only boost Nova Scotia's export opportunities in the future," Hall added.

Despite the good news, Canadian exporters are facing a popular backlash against globalization that is threatening to dismantle the architecture of modern trade. Even so, EDC is convinced that the basic architecture will remain intact, and that trade business and foreign investments will continue to gain steam in the short term.

"Last year, a wave of trade policy paralysis washed over the Western world," said Mr. Hall. "Globalization is at risk, but it's not likely to unravel  the cost would be massive, with everyone paying more. Swing a wrecking ball in a densely-built neighborhood, and it takes out a lot more than just one building.

Mr. Hall is discussing export prospects for Nova Scotia in the context of the current global economy on May 17th at Pier 21. The event, in partnership with Halifax Chamber of Commerce, is part of a month-long, 13-location cross-country Let's Talk Exports tour. The initiative highlights export prospects for Canadian companies around the globe in addition to providing insights into the health of the global economy and how it will impact Canadian exporters. For more information, visit Global Export Forecast to learn more.

About EDC

EDC helps Canadian companies go, grow, and succeed in their international business. As a financial Crown corporation, EDC provides financing, insurance, bonding, trade knowledge, and matchmaking connections to help Canadian companies sell and invest abroad. EDC can also provide financial solutions to foreign buyers to facilitate and grow purchases from Canadian companies.

For more information about how we can help your company, call us at 1-888-434-8508 or visit www.edc.ca.

SOURCE Export Development Canada

For further information: Shelley Maclean, Export Development Canada, (613) 291-3689, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.edc.ca


EASTAMPTON, NJ, May 17, 2017 /CNW/ - Epicore BioNetworks Inc. (TSXV EBN) reported third quarter revenue of $3.0 million and net income of $0.4 million or $0.015 per share for the period ended March 31, 2017.

Third quarter revenue was 3% higher than last year's Q3. Revenue for the first nine months at $8.5 million was 18% higher than last year. Net income was $0.4 million in Q3, a decrease of $0.3 million or 41% less than prior year Q3. Q3 earnings before interest, tax, and depreciation (EBITDA) were $1.0 million or 7% above prior year. Taxes increased by $0.3 million over prior year Q3 because of a reduction in tax provision estimated earlier in the year in anticipation of completing a new building in NJ. The building start is delayed so the tax depreciation will move to fiscal 2018. Sales grew in most business sectors with the largest increase in Latin America.

The shrimp industry continued to recover in Q3 of fiscal 2016 as shrimp prices slowly increase. Early mortality syndrome disease affects most of Southeast Asia so inhibits shrimp production recovery to 2015 levels. The use of improved culturing systems, like raceways, has helped Asia start to recover from disease. But, with higher shrimp prices farmers are more willing to try a crop, which is good for Epicore's hatchery product sales.

Results versus prior fiscal year quarter two are as follows:

Q3 revenue of $3.0 million was 3% higher than Q3 last year

was 3% higher than Q3 last year Q3 gross profit of $2.1 million was 13% higher than Q3 last year

was 13% higher than Q3 last year Q3 operating expenses of $1.2 million were 19% higher than Q3 last year

were 19% higher than Q3 last year Q3 earnings before taxes (EBT) of $0.9 million were 7% higher than Q3 last year

were 7% higher than Q3 last year Q3 net income of $0.4 million was 41% lower than Q3 last year

was 41% lower than Q3 last year Q3 EBITDA 1 of $1.0 million was 7% higher than last year Q3

of was 7% higher than last year Q3 Q3 basic earnings per share of $0.015 were 44% lower than Q3 last year

were 44% lower than Q3 last year Q3 shareholders' equity of $10.8 million was 17% higher than Q3 last year

was 17% higher than Q3 last year Q3 cash balance of $4.4 million was 61% higher than Q3 last year

was 61% higher than Q3 last year YTD cash flow from operating activities was $1.3 million

Gross profit increased 13% in Q3 versus prior year due to the increase in revenues and to a higher average gross margin. The cost of goods sold was lower in Q3 versus prior year and average selling price was lower due to product sales mix. Operating expense increased 19% over prior year Q3 and 8% for the first three quarters. Selling expenses accounted for the largest increase and was due to increased travel. Corporate expenses increased due to increased board activity.

Higher tax expense offset higher EBT so decreased net income by 41% to $0.4 million. The following table summarizes the Q3 results (rounded to thousands of US dollars):



For the Quarter ended March 31

2017 2016 Increase (Decrease) Revenue $3,026 $2,930 $96 3% Gross profit $2,063 $1,829 $234 13% Operating expenses $1,150 $964 $186 19% Net income $386 $656 ($270) (41%) Earnings per share $0.015 $0.027 ($0.012) (44%) Shareholders' equity $10,750 $9,207 $1,543 17% Cash balance $4,372 $2,715 $1,657 61%

Epicore continues to generate positive net income from operating activities. Cash at the end of the quarter was $4.4 million versus $2.7 million at the end of Q3 fiscal 2016. With these funds, expected sales revenue growth and continued relatively low operating costs, management expects there will be sufficient cash to meet the fiscal year's financial requirements, to fund expansion of aquaculture and environmental remediation marketing efforts and to pursue new strategies for enhancing shareholder value.

Over the last two years, Epicore has invested materially in a second building and automated packaging equipment. This added space has been critical to our ability to increase production levels. All automated packaging equipment is in place and operational. The board has approved an ongoing capital program to increase production capacity and enhance operational efficiencies.

The financial statements of the company have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. Epicore BioNetworks Inc. is a public corporation with a registered office in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and with shares listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (symbol EBN). [Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.]

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. The actual results, performance or achievements of the company might differ materially from the results, performance or achievements of the company expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those regarding the future growth of the Company, that investments now in place and planned for new plant and equipment will result in production efficiencies and increased capacities and the expectation by management that there will be sufficient cash to meet the fiscal year's financial requirements to fund expansion of aquaculture and environmental remediation marketing efforts to pursue new strategies for enhancing shareholder value. We can provide no assurance that the expected timing or results of such development will be realized or that the company will be able to generate sufficient cash to meet its obligations. We are subject to various risks, including the uncertainties of product development, markets for our products and regulatory review, our need for additional capital to fund our operations, our reliance on collaborative partners, our history of losses, and other risks inherent in the biotechnology industry.

1EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. For the Company, it is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Management believes that EBITDA is a better indicator of operational performance than net income because it ignores interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Additionally, it does not have a standardized meaning under GAAP and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

SOURCE Epicore BioNetworks Inc.

For further information: Mr. William P. Long (Chief Executive Officer) USA. Tel: 609-267-9118, Email: [email protected]

Related Links

www.EpicoreBioNetworks.com


TORONTO, May 17, 2017 /CNW/ - As Labatt is set to turn 170 years old this year, the brewery is raising a pint to toast Canada's 150th with the celebratory rebranding of one of the country's most beloved heritage brands, Labatt 50. This summer, Labatt 50 is being renamed "Labatt 150" to mark Canada's sesquicentennial. Limited edition commemorative cans of Labatt 150, featuring the official Canada 150 logo, will be available beginning mid-May throughout the summer.

"For as long as Canada has been around, Labatt has played a role in our nation's history. We've grown from a single brewery in London, Ontario into a national brewer with a strong presence in communities across the country," said Todd Allen, VP of Marketing, Labatt Breweries of Canada. "Labatt 50 is steeped in this heritage  it's our longest-standing brand and was Canada's best selling beer until 1979. It was a natural choice to refresh this iconic brand to celebrate such a monumental occasion for Canadians."

First launched in 1950, John and Hugh Labatt  grandsons of founder John K. Labatt  brewed Anniversary Ale (later named Labatt 50) to commemorate 50 years of their brewing partnership. The first light-tasting ale introduced in Canada, Labatt 50 was Canada's best-selling beer for almost 30 years. Today, with its new name, Labatt 150 is sure to become the beer Canadians raise in celebration of Canada's 150th birthday.

"As one of Canada's oldest breweries, founded before confederation, Labatt has been part of creating enduring memories and marking special occasions for Canadians," said Charlie Angelakos, VP of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Labatt Breweries of Canada. "For the past 170 years, we have proudly continued founder John K. Labatt's commitment to helping Canadians, giving back to our communities and brewing great tasting, quality beer."

Labatt 150  brewed in London, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec  is now shipping to retail stores across the country and is available in six and 15-packs of 355 ml cans, and 24-packs of 473 ml cans. They'll be available throughout the summer in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, and Newfoundland.

Print and broadcast assets, including product shots, images and video of the Labatt 150 production line as well as vintage Labatt 50 television and radio spots are available here: https://goo.gl/dRWaTk

About Labatt Breweries of Canada

Founded by John Kinder Labatt in London, Ontario in 1847, Labatt Breweries is one of Canada's founding businesses and leading brewer. The company today has more than 3,000 employees, six breweries, three stand-alone craft brewers, and a portfolio of 60 quality beers, including Labatt 50, Budweiser, Alexander Keith's, Labatt Blue, Kokanee, Stella Artois and Corona. Brands also include ready-to-drink beverages such as Palm Bay and Mike's Hard Lemonade. As part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev family, Labatt is committed to being The Best Beer Company Bringing People Together for a Better World, making a positive contribution through multiple programs that support its communities, promoting responsible drinking and protecting the environment.

SOURCE Labatt Breweries of Canada

For further information: Briar Wells, Labatt Breweries of Canada, [email protected], 647-968-9295; Ashley Agueci, Veritas Communications, [email protected], 416-580-0204
This year, 27 beaches and eight marinas across the country have received the

international eco-certification

TORONTO, May 17, 2017 /CNW/ - As Canadians celebrate Canada's 150th birthday this summer, they will also be able to visit more clean and eco-friendly beaches and marinas.

This year, a record 27 beaches and eight marinas across the country have earned the Blue Flaga world-renowned eco-certification for beaches and marinas. To receive a Blue Flag, beaches and marinas must meet high international standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education, and safety and services.

The latest beaches to fly the flag are Moonlight Beach in Sudbury, Ont. and Outlet Beach at Ontario's Sandbanks Provincial Park. Colchester Harbour Marina in the Town of Essex, Ont. will also raise the Blue Flag for the first time this year.

"Millions of people around the world look for the Blue Flag when choosing a beach or marina to visit. And there's a good reason for that," said Brett Tryon, Blue Flag Program Manager with Environmental Defence. "A Blue Flag means that a beach or marina is clean, sustainably managed, and meets high safety standards. It is truly a symbol of excellence."

The Blue Flag is administered in Canada by Environmental Defence and is managed internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). More than 4,000 beaches and marinas in 47 countries fly the Blue Flag. This year marks the 30th year for the program internationally.

Here is the list of the 27 beaches and eight marinas that have received the Blue Flag in Canada this year:

British Columbia:

Gibsons Marina ( Gibsons )

Manitoba:

West Grand Beach (Grand Beach Provincial Park)

(Grand Beach Provincial Park) Winnipeg Beach (Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park)

Nova Scotia:

Birch Cove Beach ( Dartmouth )

) Halifax Waterfront ( Halifax )

Ontario:

Bayfield Main Beach and Bluewater Marina (Municipality of Bluewater)

and (Municipality of Bluewater) Bell Park Beach and Moonlight Beach ( Sudbury )

and Moonlight Beach ( ) Bluffer's Park Beach , Centre Island Beach, Cherry Beach , Gibraltar Point Beach, Hanlan's Point Beach, Kew- Balmy Beach , Ward's Island Beach and Woodbine Beach ( Toronto )

, Centre Island Beach, , Gibraltar Point Beach, Point Beach, Kew- , Ward's and Woodbine Beach ( ) Canatara Park Beach ( Sarnia )

) City of Barrie Marina (Barrie)

(Barrie) Colchester Harbour Marina ( Town of Essex )

) Grand Bend Beach, Grand Bend Marina and Port Franks Marina (Municipality of Lambton Shores )

) LaSalle Park Marina ( Burlington )

( ) Outlet Beach (Sandbanks Provincial Park)

Port Glasgow Beach (Municipality of West Elgin )

) Port Stanley Main Beach (Municipality of Central Elgin )

(Municipality of ) Victoria Beach ( Cobourg )

( ) Wasaga Beach areas 1, 2 and 5 (Wasaga Beach Provincial Park)

areas 1, 2 and 5 (Wasaga Beach Provincial Park) Waubuno Beach ( Parry Sound )

Quebec:

plage de l'Est, plage de l'Ouest, and plage des Cantons (Ville de Magog )

More details about the Blue Flag program and the certified marinas and beaches can be found at BlueFlag.ca.

About ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is the Canadian Operator of the Blue Flag Program. Environmental Defence is Canada's most effective environmental action organization. We challenge, and inspire change in government, business and people to ensure a greener, healthier and prosperous life for all.

SOURCE Environmental Defence

For further information: For more information, images or interview requests please contact: Jen Mayville, Environmental Defence, 416-323-9521 ext. 228, 905-330-0172 (cell), [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.environmentaldefence.ca/


MONTREAL, May 17, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - To support the efforts by the Red Cross to assist flood victims in Quebec, Valero Energy has made a $50,000 donation to the Red Cross Spring Floods Appeal.

Valero Energy is mindful of the hardships that the flood victims will have to overcome and believes it is important to support the responses of the Red Cross to assist those who have been most affected. More than a hundred volunteers are working in shifts each day to offer a reassuring presence and tend to the various needs of flood victims in terms of housing, food, child care and family services. "We believe it is important to demonstrate solidarity. It is therefore only fitting to provide assistance to individuals and families affected by this situation," explained Louis-Philippe Gariepy, the Director of Public and Government Affairs.

About Valero

Valero Energy Inc. owns and operates the Jean Gaulin refinery in Levis, which has a refining capacity of some 265,000 barrels per day, along with several other logistics infrastructures in Eastern Canada, including the Montreal East oil terminal, the most important of its kind in Canada, and the Pipeline Saint-Laurent that links the Levis refinery and its Montreal facilities. Its Canadian operations also make it a leader, among others, in the field of industrial and commercial sales of petroleum products, and as a supplier to resellers and independent distributors. Valero Energy Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation.

SOURCE Valero Energy Inc.

For further information: Anne-Marie Halle, Communications Advisor, 514-982-8272

Related Links

http://www.energievalero.ca/fr/notre-entreprise/


Japan is restarting unit 4 of its Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui prefecture. The reactor  which together with unit 3 has been offline since March 2016  is expected to re-enter commercial operation next month.

The company said the 830 MWe (net) pressurised water reactor (PWR) was restarted at 3.00pm today and is expected to achieve criticality tomorrow. Kansai plans to resume electricity generation at Takahama 4 and reconnect it to the grid on 22 May as the final stage of the periodic outage inspection following various types of tests. It added that full-scale operation of the unit will resume in mid-June after the completion of the comprehensive inspection performed by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA).

Three other Japanese reactors are currently in operation: Kyushu Electrics Sendai units 1 and 2 and Shikoku Electrics Ikata unit 3. Another 19 have applied to restart.
By GMM 17 May 2017 - 14:24





Red Bull is planning to make the next big step with its chassis at its own Austrian grand prix in July.

The former champions closed the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari with a significant upgrade in Barcelona.

Boss Christian Horner said Red Bull will now assess the next move, after earlier problems arose with correlation between CFD, the wind tunnel and the track.

"We are looking at which of our tools we can rely on and which we cannot," he told Auto Motor und Sport. "The wider tyres have a greater impact on aero than we thought."

Red Bull does now at least have the full attention of Adrian Newey, after the famous F1 designer spent much of his time in the last two years on non-F1 projects.

Indeed, Newey was even in Barcelona.

"Adrian wanted the feedback from the drivers to better understand the car and determine the direction for the future," said Horner.

There will be only minor upgrades for Monaco, while a special low downforce package will debut in Canada.

But a big upgrade is due for Austria, the race promoted and hosted by Red Bull. The team is hoping a better Renault engine is also available by then.

"If we could turn the power up full, we would not be far from Mercedes and Ferrari," an unnamed team member said. "But because of reliability, we cant do it yet."
The Senate on Tuesday gave the Federal Government fresh conditions upon which it would consider and approve its $5.8 billion loan request from the China Exim Bank.The Federal Government had requested the sum for the construction of Standard Guage lines from Lagos-Kano, Kano-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan, and Lagos Calabar.While considering a motion moved by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, (PDP Abia South), the senate resolved that the loan would not be considered except all regions were carried along in the utilisation of the loan.The Senate upheld the argument of Senator Abaribe that there was no reason why the South East should be excluded from the rail project for which the loan was sought.Abaribe in his motion requested the Senate to suspend consideration of the loan request until the Federal Government included the South East as beneficiaries in the project.However, the President of the Senate said that the leadership of the National Assembly had already identified the flaw and had taken it up with the executive.Saraki said that the executive had taken note of the issues and had agreed to reach a resolution with the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt on the matter.He stressed that it was only when the committee submits its report and the South East was not captured that the would be need to take the action being requested by Senator Abaribe.Meanwhile, the Senate okayed the motion to invite the minister of transportation to explain why the Eastern line was excluded from the plan.The minister is expected to appear before the committee on Local and Foreign Debts to explain the exclusion.Abaribe in his motion had queried with dismay why the government wanted to take such a huge loan that would benefit all other regions apart from the South East.He said that the loan would be paid back by all section of the country and as such all section should be taken into consideration.There is railway master plan developed by the Ministry of Transport and of which such plan has not been referred to in the current borrowing plan.For the railway project to have a meaningful impact on the development of the country, it should cover all parts of Nigeria.Therefore the exclusion of the Eastern section that links the four zones of the South-South, South-East, North-Central and North-East and the Key cities such as Port-Harcourt, Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, Lafia, Gudi, Jos, Bauchi and Maiduguri is inexplicable, he said.The Deputy President of the Senate also supported the motion stressing that the whole country would pay for the loan and as such the loan should be beneficial to all.For Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, he said that government was a continuum as as such the South East could still be captured in the future.His comment infuriated many of the senators who shouted him down.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman took office on Tuesday and was immediately met with calls for the U.S. embassy to be moved to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.This happened less than a week before U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit.It is time for the whole world to recognise Jerusalem as the official capital of the State of Israel, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said after receiving Friedman at a ceremony in Jerusalem.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged from a meeting with Friedman saying: we spoke about our countries friendship, and I told him that the U.S. embassy must be moved to Jerusalem, as must all other embassies.Israel has long considered Jerusalem its capital.However, since the Palestinian Authority would like to make East Jerusalem the capital of an eventual state, picking Jerusalem as an embassy site would show clear favour to Israel.To avoid this, most countries have their embassies in Tel Aviv.Friedman himself told Israel that the issue is at the top of President Trumps priority list.The president has chosen Israel as the site for his first international visit this coming week. His love for, and commitment to, the State of Israel is rock-solid and it enjoys his highest priority, Friedman said.Despite the mutual appreciation, it is unclear whether settlement-friendly Friedman will in fact work out of the U.S. embassy building in Tel Aviv.Friedmans hardline position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has sparked controversy.He has gone after US Jewish groups who back a two-state solution and says he does not find Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank illegal.He hinted shortly after his nomination last year that he foresaw himself working from Jerusalem, implying that the embassy would move there.However, Trump has backed off his campaign promises to move the embassy.However, the U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had told U.S. broadcaster NBC on Sunday that the president is being very careful to understand how such a decision would impact a peace process.After arriving in the country on Monday, Friedman immediately went to the Western Wall in Jerusalems Old City.We wanted to come straight to the holiest place in the entire Jewish world, Friedman said in a video taken by the U.S. embassy, adding he had prayed for Trump.The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall or Kotel, is an ancient retaining wall that sits at the foot of the Temple Mount.The site in Jerusalems Old City, known as the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims, is considered one of the holiest sites in Islam and Judaism.Friedman also spoke briefly with Steven Tyler, the frontman for the rock band Aerosmith, who coincidentally was also at the Western Wall ahead of a performance planned for Wednesday in Tel Aviv.
When Chief Ralph Uwazuruike founded the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to push for the independence of Biafra in 1999, many people, especially those of the Southeast region who have been complaining of marginalization, saw it as a welcome development. Other parts of the country and the Federal Government however saw it as an affront.Perturbed by MASSOBs rising profile and struggle for independence of the Biafra Republic, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration began a clampdown on the group and its leader. Many times, Uwazuruike and supporters were arrested, charged for unlawful gathering and later released. He was once arrested in Lome, Togo, for storming the 36th Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Summit, which had in attendance several African leaders.Despite all these, Uwazuruike and his supporters were undeterred by governments harassment and arrests. In 2005, the MASSOB leader was arrested in his Okwe hometown by security agents and flown to Abuja, where he was remanded in Department of State Services (DSS) underground cell.Just like the released leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, every effort to secure an unconditional release of Uwazuruike failed as government and the judiciary made it very difficult. After spending almost three years in prison without trial, coupled with some political interventions and high-wired intrigues in the Presidency, Uwazuruike was on October 26, 2007, granted three-month conditional bail by Justice Binta Murtala Nyako to enable him go and bury his late mother. Other conditions attached to the bail were that Uwazuruike would return to the prison and that he should regularly report to the nearest police station as well as ensure that peace reign during the three-month period. Standing as sureties for Uwazuruike then were two serving senators from the Southeast-Uche Chukwumerije now late and Ikechukwu Obiora and two traditional rulers, Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu (Eze Ndigbo Lagos) and Eze Nwosu Ibe (Eze Ndigbo of Abuja).To the surprise of many, Uwazuruike didnt go back to prison after the period or tried again by the government. He had since then made sure that peace and order reigned. This is even as many Igbo sons and daughters who were charged to court in connection with MASSOB activities were allowed to languish in the prisons, while security agents allegedly killed some during rallies.Since then the tempo of activities of MASSOB and Uwazuruike slowed down drastically. Some have even accused him of politicising and personalising the pro-Biafra group. These were the concerns many expressed when Kanu, who was once a strong ally of Uwazuruike, started another Biafra struggle in 2015 with the formation of IPOB.Like Uwazuruike, Kanu was arrested and jailed for almost two years. While Kanu was in jail and consistently denied bail, many of his followers were allegedly killed by security agents while others were arrested, maimed and incarcerated.After many months of judicial gymnastics, legal fireworks and intrigues between the government and Kanus legal team, he was recently granted conditional bail. Having been in prison custody for almost two years, he quickly met the bail conditions to the surprise of many, including his traducers. Coincidentally or premeditatedly, it was the same judge, Justice Murtala Binta Nyako, who granted Uwazurikes bail some years ago that granted same to Kanu with almost similar conditions.While Kanus release was seen as a huge relief to him and his relations, the fate of the three pro-Biafra agitators-Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi- who are facing trial with him but were denied bail by Justice Binta Nyako, is still hanging.With the stringent bail conditions given to Kanu, what happens to the Biafra struggle? Will the tempo be sustained or die down like that of MASSOB, after Uwazuruike was granted bail with stringent conditions? What next for Kanus supporters? Were these stringent bail conditions not a ploy by government to kill the Biafra struggle and cage its leaders? Was the agitation worth it in the first place, considering the structure of the country and governments disposition to secession bids? What happens when the trial of Kanu and others commences in July?Speaking to The Guardian on the future of Biafra struggle, Chief Chekwas Okorie said that the issue of agitation for political independence is a continuous struggle and that many people approach it from different angles.Okorie said: The most successful and sustainable means of achieving political liberty is anchored on the use of political party or movement. In South Africa, the ruling party, African National Congress (ANC) is a good example. The Biafra struggle is not a violent one, but attempts to avoid being violent sometimes lead to unavoidable violence. The Biafra struggle is no longer about the Igbos. It is now a national question. It has shown that the country needs urgent restructuring for easy development and co-habitation.To the first civilian governor of Enugu State and former national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Okwesileze Nwodo, Biafra struggle will always remain a fallback for the Igbos because they have suffered so much marginalisation since losing the civil war.He said, As far as Igbos are being marginalised and pushed to the wall, they would push for Biafra independence. The agitation will not fizzle out, unless the government does the needful by giving them their place and fair share of the countrys patrimony. What is happening to Igbos is unacceptable and inhuman.When asked if Kanus release with stringent bail condition will affect the tempo of the struggle, Nwodo said, I cannot speak for Kanu. But even if he didnt push further he has tried just like Ralph Uwazuruike. But as long as the marginalisation of Igbos continued unhindered, Biafra agitation will continue unabated. It may not be by Kanu, it will be by another person.In his remarks former president, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife told spoke in the same vein with Nwodo saying that Biafra struggle is not about Kanu or Uwazuruike but about the Igbos that are being oppressed.It is about the push for restructuring of the country for fair representation, equity and justice. It is about quest for self-determination that has not been achieved. So, there is no way Kanus release will be an end to the struggle. It cannot be. I dont know who will be at the forefront of the struggle now, but there are many people talking about it and they will not stop until the independence is achieved.Speaking on the issue, Director-General Voice of Nigeria (VON) Osita Okechukwu told The Guardian that majority of Igbos are more disposed to having more states to level with other zones and the president of Igbo extraction in 2023 than Biafra struggle.Remember that Ebonyi and Enugu delegates voted against zoning during Abacha, Obasanjo and Jonathans constitutional conferences. The records are there.A Lagos-based lawyer, Godson Onwuaso said the current will do everything possible, including applying crude and unconstitutional means, to frustrate the Biafra struggle.The government knows the implications of Biafra independence under its nose. That is why it is applying desperate approach in tackling it. Kanus long incarceration without bail is a governments strategy to dampen his spirit.The stringent bail condition is to make sure that Kanu remains mute. It is quite unfortunate that we are living in a country where government has decided not to obey court orders. It is clear that Biafra struggle will suffer a setback, because as it is now, there is nobody to bell the cat.Meanwhile The Guardian investigation reveals that the Igbo social-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not keeping quiet on the matter as the leadership has concluded arrangement to assemble senior lawyers of Igbo extraction to defend Kanu and others when the trial commences.A source within the leadership of the organisation who pleaded anonymity, said that Biafra struggle has come to stay unless Igbos are given their rightful place in the affairs of the country.The present Ohanaeze leadership is putting everything in place to bring the Igbos together like never before to fight their common cause. Southeast has been marginalized and neglected for too long. It is time to do things. It was in line of this move that the Federal Government was recently sued for abandoning the region in the area of infrastructural development, the source said.A press statement issued at the end of the recent National Executive Committee (NEC) of the body in Enugu by its President-General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo (Jnr) read, I am happy that recently Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB was granted bail. His bail conditions are unprecedented in the judicial history of Nigeria for their rigidity, unconstitutionality and stringency.We do not believe that anyone of those who contributed to the framing of those conditions expected them to be met. It is also clear that having met them the intention would now be to re arrest him. If he cannot be in the company of more than ten people, it means he cannot go to church; he cannot travel in a bus or plane carrying more than ten people. He cannot walk the street lest his presence attracts the attention of more than ten people. This bail condition is a celebrated example of judicial rascality. I have said consistently that the attitude of the Nigerian government to our children who have become completely fed up with Nigerian experiment makes Biafra increasingly inevitable. A stitch in time saves nine. We anxiously await for Kanus co-accused persons to be also released on bail.With Kanus release which has obviously become a cog in the wheel of Biafra struggle, what are other methods ethnic agitators in Nigeria should adopt to avoid taking off and ending the same way, making the whole thing looks like exercise in futility. This is especially as successive governments have adopted the same measure and approach in quelling such agitations.










Residents of Ekiti State are in for hard times as stakeholders in the oil sector have stopped the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, to the state.The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) are angry with a court case instituted against two of the unions by Governor Ayo Fayose.A source said the governor, in the suit, accused IPMAN and NUPENG of economic sabotage during a face-off with oil marketers in March.Even though the case was reportedly withdrawn last Friday, the national unions of the three bodies were enraged that government could take such an action after a peace meeting.Marketers are angry that the governor took the action after the intervention of Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN).Petrol scarcity is already biting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.A visit round the city on Tuesday revealed that many commuters were stranded at bus stops, while there were long queues of at few filling stations dispensing fuel.Black marketers are already cashing in on the situation yo make brisk business. Transport fares have gone up.A marketer who asked not to be named said: After the visit of PEDAN in Southwest, the governor said everything has been resolved and settled but we were shocked that he (Fayose) took IPMAN and NUPENG to court accusing them of economic sabotage.After that, more filling stations were destroyed along Pathfinder in Ado and in Igede with the owner of the Igede filling station charged to court and remanded alongside six of his kinsmen by government.These unions are aggrieved that all their peace efforts have failed and they are disappointed with some extreme actions taken by the governor after the parley.What is happening in Ekiti now is beyond the local marketers; the national unions have ordered the suspension of fuel supply to the state.The implication is that any marketer who smuggles the commodity to Ekiti will be slammed with a six-month suspension and a fine of N1.2 million.Another marketer said: We are being victimized by the Fayose government and this is very unfortunate happening in the week the late Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo will be buried.I only pity the innocent consumers, motorists, motorcyclists and their passengers who are now suffering for the sin they never committed.As we speak, I have three trucks in the depot but they cannot come to Ekiti now because of the order.Many of my colleagues are having their trucks stranded in places like Itawure and Akure because they cannot enter Ado Ekiti.Although government has withdrawn the case but a letter to that effect arrived the national headquarters of the unions late.We need a letter of apology from the state government because we are aggrieved about the court case which we believe was withdrawn because of Adebayos burial.Those of us selling fuel are the ones still having few consignment but the moment they exhaust them, that is the end and the entire state will witness lockdown.
Palm Oil as the New Crude Oil

Palm oil, which used to be Nigerias biggest export produce before the discovery of crude oil has now been adopted by Asian countries earning over $ $25.2 billion in exports.Historically, Nigeria was the world leading producer of palm oil as at independence. But unfortunately, Indonesia and Malaysia have overtaken Nigeria. Today, Nigeria imports palm oil. With crude oil still the countrys major source of foreign exchange earning, the call to diversify the countrys revenue source has been a mantra over the years.Palm oil is gotten from palm fruit and is used as cooking oil. It is also used as raw material to manufacture margarine, non-dairy creamers, ice cream, soaps and detergents. In addition, it is used in the production of greases, lubricants and candles. More recently, the biofuels market has provided a significant new non-food use for palm oil where it is used as the feedstock for the production of biodiesel and as an alternative to mineral oils for use in power stations.Furthermore, fatty acid derivatives of palm oil are used in the production of bactericides, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and water-treatment products.Global palm oil market demand was 74.01 million tons in 2014 and is expected to reach 128.20 million tons by 2022. However, Nigeria presently produces at a deficit as local production and importation of palm oil into the country, presently stands at 55 per cent. However, with improved practices and technology, Nigeria could make more than $35 billion dollars from palm oil, if farmers followed the correct processing system.Speaking on the matter, the Chief Executive Officer, Red Palm Oil, Mrs. Eno Udoh whose company produces palm oil said: In the early years, Nigeria used to be one of the largest exporter of palm oil, producing more than 40 per cent of the world production. The British administrators took the plant to Malaysia and they later surpassed Nigeria and are now the largest producers with Indonesia.Presently, there are small groups of people who harvest the wild palms using manual processing techniques. Majority of these groups are women in the village especially in Akwa Ibom.Udoh whose previous business venture was predominantly import-based said the exchange rate fluctuations forced her and others who were majorly importing to look inwards, saying that she decided to go into the business by setting up a factory in Akwa Ibom.Udoh added: Due to the recent economic issues in the country, I decided to look inwards. So I decided to go back home and look at what we can export to earn foreign exchange and what I can give to the community.Growing up, my aunt back in the village would always give us a keg of palm oil and so I decided to go into palm oil. Also, I enjoy the processing especially going through the process to see how you can get an organic refined oil. Also to the process that brings to organic low cholesterol process which is an extra process to be clarified. Low cholesterol is preferred by a lot of people because of health issues, which means it would cost double.Looking around, most people end up buying adulterated or mixed oil. The difference between my oil and others is that it is purely organic.To export this product poses both challenges and rewards. The major challenge is that a lot of the farmers in the business still operate as small scale and in most cases, do not meet the required standard for export. Also, the documentation, certification, accreditation and packaging is a major obstacle for these farmers.Udoh said: I am still going through the process, but the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is encouraging people like us through capacity building and tools to empower us. Recently, the Chief Executive Officer, NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo had a seminar on packaging for export products and also encouraging us on how to go about exporting the products.Not until recently, agriculture was abandoned; everyone was going into politics and we had oil money so people werent thinking about agriculture. Now, reality has hit in and people are going back into the farms and agriculture is the big thing now.Furthermore she added: As many hands go into agriculture, there would be more production of agriculture products which in turn increase variety of exportable produce and then creates multiple FX earnings for Nigeria.Speaking on the process it takes to export, she said: It is not easy. There is a process and standard we need to meet and it involves a whole lot of money. It is not an easy process but it is a process we are going through. However, it is not difficult and it does not discourage others. NEPC is doing a whole lot to encourage us to export. The last time they brought in a Japanese man to talk on the right ways to package for export. They have given us a lot of tips and education on how best to get your goods ready for export.I would want government to encourage the small scale farmers in processing, production and export. Government should provide land areas for rural farmers to encourage mass production of palm oil and also improve seedlings for small farmers and machines to process.With the array of end products this fruit can get as well as the demand for it in the international market, various practitioners have argued that palm oil should be given attention, just like some other agricultural produce.The potential in palm oil is huge and if the federal government decides to put in funds to aide farmers to produce, process as well as export, it would be a major foreign exchange income earner.Udoh added: There are so many things you can get from the palm fruit. The palm fruit cake is used as stock feed; the nut itself has oil as is used for pomade for the hair so it has so much functions.So this is something government should put in more money like they did in the north with ground nut. They should put in more money to grow more palm fruit type that takes less time to harvest. Malaysia that is leading in palm oil production now, got it from Nigeria. If governments are able to put in more funds into agriculture and palm oil especially we wouldnt need to bring in engine oil, palm oil, soaps the list goes on.Governments could help give out mills to local governments or encourage palm farmers in processing. It would make things much easier in producing, she added.Furthermore she posits: I think government should put in more funds and educate those that are into palm oil, and help create an easy way. The palm process in the village is still very crude way and I might say not totally hygienic. The government can provide these machines and also educate farmers on how to use them.
All is set for the pathologists, who carried out autopsy on Senator Isiaka Adeleke, to testify before the coroner inquest set up by Gove...

All is set for the pathologists, who carried out autopsy on Senator Isiaka Adeleke, to testify before the coroner inquest set up by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to probe the death of the former governor.The Consultant Anatomic Pathologist , Dr. Olufemi Solaja is in the witness box.The DPO Dugbe Police Station and the Officer in Charge of Homicide are also present at the coroner sitting.
The of the Muhammadu Buhari administrations anti-corruption war got a reply yesterday. The administration has a good story to tell, M...

The of the Muhammadu Buhari administrations anti-corruption war got a reply yesterday.The administration has a good story to tell, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said.He said the government had taken on corruption at its core in the last two years.Very soon, there will be more prosecutions and convictions of treasury looters than the nation has ever seen, the minister said.Mohammed spoke at the Special (10th) Edition of the Town Hall Meeting in Abuja, following swipes from Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara.Mohammed said: Let me say straightaway that in giving this mid-term report, I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that this Administration has a story to tell, a story of achievements that  if we are able to continue along this path  will stand the test of time and put our dear nation on the path of sustainable growth and development.We have taken on corruption at its core. There are more prosecutions and there will be more convictions for public sector corruption than Nigeria has ever seen.We have acted to address the leakages in government spending that make corruption possible. Through the zero- based budgeting and the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the governments efficiency unit and the hugely successful whistle-blower policy.The minister said the government was waging the war against corruption because of its interest in a prosperous future for all NigeriansHe added: At the same time, corruption levels in our society had become completely unacceptable. The brazenness and impunity of those involved, and the lack of accountability at all levels of society had to be addressed if we were to create the foundations for future prosperity.That future prosperity, for all Nigerians, was the overriding objective of the administration. We were, and remain, 100% committed to delivering an economy that enables all Nigerians to achieve their ambitions, no matter how big or small.Finance Minister Mrs Kemi Adeosun said the anti corruption fight was not only yielding fruit but had become acceptable among Nigerians.In her view, the whistle-blowing policy has made every Nigerian a detective and many of them are not requesting for any compensation.According to Adeosun, the Federal Government had got more than 2,500 tips that are likely to lead to the recovery of looted funds and blocking of leakages.She said the government was taking measures that would get the country out of recession, adding that Nigeria would come out stronger.Mohammed spoke on other achievements of the administration.He said: When President Buhari was inaugurated on May 29th, 2015, he set out an ambitious agenda to take on the most pressing challenges our nation faces. Its important to remember the context of that speech, and the situation that we faced at that time.As he was speaking, Boko Haram was in control of a significant part of Nigerias North-East. In Borno State alone, Boko Haram occupied 24 out of the States 27 local councils. The territorial integrity of Nigeria was threatened. Our first and most pressing assignment, therefore, was to restore security to the nation.We have restored security to the North-East and ended the scourge of Boko Haram.We are addressing comprehensively the issues in the Niger Delta that make the production of our oil resources so vulnerable. We are restoring the sanctity of our judicial system, and. We are implementing and Economic Recovery and Growth Plan designed to reset our economy and remove our reliance on oil production, and oil revenues, forever.These are just a few of the initiatives that government is delivering on and it is this last message on the economy that I want to focus on now:We must be able to own our own future. We cannot be a hostage to oil price or production levels. That means taking back control of our economy and making it productive, and delivering value for all of our people.By building an economy that is no longer reliant on income from one commodity, thanks to the ongoing diversification process, we will create a sustainable basis for long term and inclusive growth for all.The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan sets out the framework for achieving that, and the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning is 100% focused on implementation. He will tell you more about his plans shortly.At the heart of this is the need for Nigeria to rebuild the social contract between its government and its people. Government must be accountable, and this government is very accountable. We are providing security; we are providing an enabling environment for business and we are delivering strong and effective public services.Our citizens need to see the value that their taxes are delivering in order to have faith in government, and for us to attract the revenue we need for even greater investment in the future. We are here today to show Nigerians that we are and will continue to deliver our side of that bargain.That is why we are front loading borrowing to fund capital expenditure and build the infrastructure we need. You can see the work going on and it will only grow as we implement the 2017 budget.President Buhari has made these commitments to the Nigerian people. He, and his team, are delivering. We are building a future in which all Nigerians can access opportunity and a Nigeria of which we can all be proud.
The outgoing Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu has attributed successes re...

The outgoing Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu has attributed successes recorded so far in the fight against Insurgency in the North East to doggedness, hard work and determination of troops while urging them to increase momentum in the campaign to flush out the remnants of the terrorists in the region.

The Acting GOC made this remarks on Wednesday, in his farewell address to Officers and Soldiers at the headquarters of the division in Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, Borno State.

He commended troops for their support and loyalty accorded to him throughout his tenure as the Acting GOC.

Successes recorded so far is as a result of collective efforts of all of you here. I cannot take this glory alone because I could not have achieved anything without your support and encouragement, he said.

General Ezugwu also paid glowing tributes to the past GOCs of the division whom he said laid solid foundation at the formative age of the Division.

We cannot forget the efforts of our past GOCs who laboured to build this division before my assumption of duty as the 6th GOC, he added.

He also paid tribute to fallen heroes of the war against insurgency and prayed for God mercy upon them and repose of their souls.

The death of these gallant men and women will not be in vain. We that are still alive must double our efforts towards total elimination of insurgency in the region so that their death will not be in vain, he stressed.

The GOC also used the opportunity to appreciate the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai for keying into the change mantra of the Federal Government by bringing so much change in the Nigerian Army.
A 32-year old man, Obinna Arthur and his wife, Chinyere Arthur have been arrested and brought before an Ejigbo Magistrate in Lagos for al...

A 32-year old man, Obinna Arthur and his wife, Chinyere Arthur have been arrested and brought before an Ejigbo Magistrate in Lagos for allegedly raping the wifes friend, videotaping the act, and sharing it on social media. .

The couple, who reside at Ogundipe Street in Santos Layout in Akowonjo, Lagos, were said to have lured the victim to Greenland hotel in Egbeda where they drugged her before taking her to one of the rooms in the hotel.





In the room, the victim, a mother-of-4, was stripped, raped and the sexual violation was recorded with a video phone. The victim told the court: after I was persuaded to come to the hotel, they offered me juice to drink, which I later found to have been mixed with a substance that made one feel dizzy.





In my state of dizziness, they took me to a room within the hotel premises where the husband forcefully had sex with me, while the wife was videoing the romp with her phone but covered her husbands face from being seen in the video.





After the dastardly act, they went ahead to upload the act to the Internet and shared it on the social media and among my neighbours. I reported the matter to the police who later arrested the couple and charged them to court. .





Obinna, who hails from Ogidi, Anambra State has admitted in his confessional statement to the police that he did so as a revenge over the business transaction between him and the victims husband, Kenneth, which later turned sour.





According to the father-of-2, he collected the sum of N1.2m from the victims husband and when he was unable to pay, he then planned to blackmail Kenneth by sexually assault his wife so he could forget the money.





The victim said her husband loaned the suspect the money for importation of clothes and when her husband started demanding the money from him, he then planned to blackmail the family.
A former minister, who is serving a 10-year jail term for corruption, has passed a school final examination at the age of 82, his son said Wednesday.Prakash Chautala, a four-time chief minister of the northern state of Haryana, India, took the class 12 school-leaving exam conducted by Indias open schooling system at its centre in Tihar jail, said his younger son Abhay Chautala, a legislator in Haryana.He sat for the last exam on April 23, and has got a first division, the younger Chautala said.First division is similar to an A grade.He decided early on to use his time in jail purposefully. He goes daily to the jail library where he reads newspapers and books.Sometimes he asks us to send him textbooks and reference books, Abhay Chautala said.The minister was convicted in 2013 along with 53 others for forging documents to appoint no fewer than 3,000 teachers in 1999 and 2000.The prosecution said they took bribes from these candidates and ignored those who were more meritorious.The trial court conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2015 and Chautala has been serving his sentence in New Delhis Tihar jail.His older son Ajay Singh Chautala was sentenced along with him.Prakash Chautala is a leader of the Indian National Lok Dal, a political party founded by his father Devi Lal.
Governor Ayodele Fayose has challenged his predecessor in office, Dr Kayode Fayemi to tell Ekiti people what he has done with his positi...

Governor Ayodele Fayose has challenged his predecessor in office, Dr Kayode Fayemi to tell Ekiti people what he has done with his position as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the last one and half years.Fayose said his predecessor, as the Minister of Mines and Steal Development was holding the ministerial position in trust for the people of the state, querying that Fayemi had allegedly failed to use the position to influence Ekiti positively.Fayose wondered why Fayemi, who has been busy touring sites of minerals deposit in other states has refused to help tap the huge mineral potentials of the state.He also dropped a bomb shell that critical stakeholders loyal to Alhaji Ahmed Makarfis group in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will defect to another party, if Senator Ali Modu Sheriff wins the appeal pending at the Supreme Court.The Governor said these, yesterday, while interfacing with youths between ages 18 and 22 at the governments house ground in Ado Ekiti.Meanwhile, the APC has reacted to the decision by Fayose to rename Ekiti government house on Oke Ayoba Hills, Ado-Ekiti, after the late Military Governor of the old Western Region and elderstatesman, the late Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo, who died recently in Lagos.Fayose on Monday renamed the edifice and the General Hospital in Iyin-Ekiti, Adebayos country home, after the late nationalist, who will be buried this weekend in Iyin-Ekiti.Reacting to the governors decision in a statement in Ado-Ekiti by the partys Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, APC said Fayoses decision was in right direction and confirmation that the administration of Fayemi that built the structure thought well in giving Ekiti State a legacy that towers above other monuments in the state.
On May 9, Mercy Aigbe's estranged husband, Lanre Gentry was arraigned before an Ogba Magistrate court on a three count charge offence...

On May 9, Mercy Aigbe's estranged husband, Lanre Gentry was arraigned before an Ogba Magistrate court on a three count charge offence bordering on breach of public peace, assault and causing grievous bodily harm on his wife. He entered a not guilty plea and the presiding magistrate, Mrs O. Aje-Afunwa granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in the like sum.





Both sureties were to show proof of tax payment and own a verifiable house in Lagos with title documents.





Gentry was earlier remanded in Ikoyi Prison as he couldn't meet up with his bail conditions. He has now been released. This he confirmed in a post on Instagram (even after denying ever being in charge of any social media account) and has promised to grant an interview to reveal his experience in Prison.









Hours after he was released from Kirikiri prison after fulfilling his bail conditions, the estranged husband of actress Mercy Aigbe, Lanre Gentry took to his IG page early this morning to call for prison reforms as he shared his experience while he was in Kirikiri prison awaiting the fulfillment of his bail conditions.









While advocating for prison reforms, Lanre stated that government should not leave what they ought to do, such as prison decongestion, and focus on issues such as domestic violence.





This got some of his followers infuriated, asking him if it is when he had killed his wife that the government should have stepped in. Lanre in response said, everyone has Freedom of speech, as well as he does and doesn't need anyone's advice on what to post.
















A serving Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who is being prosecuted before a Federal High Court in Abuja on money laundering and passport fraud charges, said on Wednesday that he was innocent and anxious to defend himself.He spoke through his lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), following a request for adjournment by the prosecution on Wednesday.The lead prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Olufemi Fatunde, had earlier on Tuesday requested an adjournment till Wednesday to enable to the prosecution to produce some certain exhibits in court.A Staff Officer of the Department of State Service, Mr. John Utazi, through whom the prosecution sought to tender the said exhibits, had started his testimony on Tuesday and was scheduled to continue on Wednesday in anticipation that the exhibits would have arrived court.But after the case was called and lawyers announced appearances on Wednesday, the lead prosecutor, Fatunde, expressed regret that she would have to seek an adjournment due to the unavailability of the exhibits being expected.She said, I am still waiting for the exhibits.The exhibits are not here for reasons unknown to me. Till now the exhibits have not arrived.My lord pray for the short adjournment.
There's a new drama surrounding Tonto Dikeh and her nanny who has been taking care of Tonto's son, King Andre for over one year. Re...

There's a new drama surrounding Tonto Dikeh and her nanny who has been taking care of Tonto's son, King Andre for over one year. Read the gist HERE





The recently sacked nanny of her son King, Mgbechi Enyinnaya, has made shocking revelations in an interview with a media outfit. If you recall, Tonto Dikeh alleged that her short marriage was filled with domestic violence and her now estranged husband, Olakunle Churchill, beat her number of times and even cheated on her with his personal assistant

Her son's nanny has denied all of the allegations, claiming that Churchill is not a woman beater. She said;

"I never saw two of them fight, talk of Churchill to beat her. For my own eyes as old woman, I never see one day Churchill carry hand. When they argue too much, she herself (Tonto) will raise her hand on Churchill. I never him beat her, he did not. She herself was even beating Churchill and pushed his mother down."



When asked if she was willing to go back to work for Tonto, who allegedly threw her things out after the hospital bill scandal, the nanny replied;

"No. God will keep King (Tonto and Churchill's son), give her the grace to take care of King.

She denied Tonto's claims saying she's only been taken to Ghana. In her words,

'If Tonto says she has taken me to 15 countries, let her bring the passport and evidence. Tonto has not taken me to any country except Ghana. I don't even know where America is in my life. If we travel to Abuja I always sit down at the back and madam sits in front in the plane'.

When asked if she was recently sacked by Tonto Dikeh because she falls sick alot, Mrs Mbechi in the interview said,

'Tonto never sacked me, I'm still with her, I only traveled and came back because of my leg pain. It was just yesterday she threw my things out and pushed me, I had to sleep outside'.

The nanny also alleged that Tonto tried to force her to lie that Churchill used to beat her, but she refused.

"Tonto dey vex because she tell me say make I go lie against her husband, make I go tell the world or record my voice say 'your husband dey beat you', although she know say I never see say her husband beat her. Make I talk, even if say I now

Do any other thing for am, make I do that one. I no gree. Is that why she dey vex for me? Ahh. Na was oh. Make she just change."

Watch the video below:
The first set of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination has been released.This is just as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board asked candidates in Ogbomoso to print notifications of their new examination centres from their email addresses.The Head, Public Affairs, JAMB, Mr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement on Tuesday said that the results of 742, 906 candidates who sat for the examination on Saturday and Monday was released within 24 hours.Candidates are to check their email addresses or visit the boards website for the results. A total of 742, 906 candidates sat for the examination on Saturday and Monday. Another 401,292 candidates are expected to join them today, raising the number to 1, 144, 198 out of 1, 718,425.According to Benjamin, the candidates, who have been posted to nearby towns such as Saki, Ago-Amodu and Ibadan are to sit for the examination between Thursday and Saturday at the new locations.
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has said the six years Goodluck Jonathan spent as Nigerias president, was a wasted opportunity for the Ijaws.Dickson alleged that this was because some Ministers and other presidential aides from Bayelsa were after selfish interests.The Governor said this while speaking at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, where Ijaw leaders and youths gathered for the annual celebration of their hero, Major Adaka Boroh, on Tuesday.Dickson claimed those who served in the Presidency for six years, failed to work with him in the quest to bring development to the state, because they suffered from the Bayelsa-Ijaw disease of pulling-him-down syndrome.It is true that we are celebrating Boroh, but ask yourself whether you are doing your bit. Boroh came, saw and did his bit and has gone. I and my team have come and we have taken up the battle from where Boroh stopped and we are doing our duties.Each of us must examine ourselves and to be frank we have not done very serious examination in this state and in the Ijaw nation. We cannot blame God. God has been very merciful and kind to us particularly of late, he added.
For the second time in two consecutive days, the Department of State Service failed to produce the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja, for the continuation of his trial on charges of alleged diversion of funds meant for procurement of arms.The case scheduled to come up before the court on Wednesday was one the two relating to diversion of arms funds instituted against Dasuki and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.Due to the DSS failure to produce the ex-NSA in court on Wednesday, the trial judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, was forced to grant the request for an adjournment by EFCCs lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).But while adjourning the case Justice Baba-Yusuf warned that the trial should not be taken lightly.The judge ruled, I only want to say that the proceedings of the court should not be taken lightly.Extraneous considerations must not be allowed to interfere with course of justice.EFCCs prosecutor, Jacobs, told had told the judge on Wednesday that the DSS Director of Legal attributed the failure of the agency to produce the ex-NSA in court earlier on Tuesday to an oversight.Jacobs explained further that after he discovered that the ex-NSA had not been produced in court at the scheduled time on Wednesday, the EFCC contacted the DSS, which according to the prosecutor, said the ex-NSA was unwilling to attend court because he (Dasuki) was indisposed.Jacobs said, I contacted the Director of Legal of DSS to explain the absence of the first defendant in court yesterday (Tuesday).He (the Director of Legal) told me it was an oversight and that the first defendant would be produced this morning (Wednesday).I made series of efforts when I discovered he was not yet in court this morning, but I was unable to contact the DSS.I immediately contacted my client, the EFCC, for them to approach the DSS.My client later told me that the first defendant said he was indisposed and would not come to court.On the account of that, I will be asking for an adjournment.In response, Dasukis lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), said he had no objection to the prosecutors application for an adjournment.But he described the situation as an inter-departmental issue.He added that it further highlighted the state of powerlessness of the court that a defendant granted bail by the court was unable to enjoy the bail.Daudu said, From all that the prosecuting counsel has said, it is an inter-departmental issue.I think this highlights the powerlessness of the court; the court granted him bail which he has not been allowed to enjoy.On his part, another defence lawyer in the case, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), described as irritating the excuse of an oversight given by the agency as the reason for the failure to produce the ex-NSA in court earlier on Tuesday.Olujinmi said although he had no objection to the application for adjournment, the judge should direct the DSS to produce Dasuki in court on the next trial date.He said, I also want to put it on record that we have been coming to court ready for trial; it is the prosecution that has not been allowing the trial to proceed.My lord, quite honestly, I find it irritating that somebody said their failure to produce the first defendant in court was an oversight.If they elected to keep him, they have the duty to ensure that they keep track of the dates of trial in court and they cannot say their failure to produce him was an oversight without any apology rendered to the court.I find myself in a position that I cannot oppose the application for an adjournment.But I pray to your lordship to direct that those keeping the first defendant in custody should be alive to their responsibility by producing the first defendant in court at the next date.Other defence lawyers  Messrs Felix Abiodun (who was later led by Mr. Solomon Umoh, SAN, before the court adjourned), O.I Arase and A.O Ayodele  also said they had no objection to the application for adjournment.Justice Baba-Justice, while adjourning the case, warned that the courts proceedings should not be taken lightly.He asked the prosecuting counsel to contact all relevant agencies of government to ensure that Dasuki was produced in court on the next trial dates.The judge then adjourned until July 10, 11 and 12.The DSS has been detaining the ex-NSA since December 2015, and Wednesday was about the umpteenth time when the failure of the agency to produce him in court would stall the two pending cases instituted against him by the EFCC.The EFCC preferred against Dasuki and four others before the court presided over Justice Baba-Yusuf 19 counts in which the defendants were accused of diverting about N32bn meant for arms procurement.Dasukis co-accused in the case are a former Director of Finance and Administration in the office of NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Aminu Baba-Kusa.Two of Baba-Kusas companies  Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited  are also part of the defendants.Also pending before Justice Baba-Yusuf is another EFCCs case of 22 counts of diversion of N13bn meant for arms procurement preferred against Dasuki, Salisu, and others, including former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa.The case involving the alleged diversion of N32bn was scheduled to come up on Tuesday.While the other defendants in the case were in court, the DSS did not produce Dasuki.
The story of the release of 82 Chibok schoolgirls will not be complete without mentioning the lawyer who negotiated the release of the girl...

The story of the release of 82 Chibok schoolgirls will not be complete without mentioning the lawyer who negotiated the release of the girls from Boko Haram captivity.

Novelist and writer Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani profiles the lawyer, Zannah Mustapha, who brokered the release of 82 women captured by Nigerias militant Islamist group Boko Haram.





When 57-year-old Zannah Mustapha arrived for the handover of the 82 Chibok girls freed from Boko Haram after three years in captivity, a militant read out the girls names from a list.





One by one, the abducted schoolgirls, now women, lined up along the outskirts of a forest near Kumshe town, on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. Each of them was covered from head to ankle in a dark-coloured hijab.





I went ahead of the Red Cross. They [the militants] brought the girls to me, said Mr Mustapha, the lawyer from Borno state in north-east Nigeria.

He has been mediating between the government and militants for the release of the Chibok girls and for an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.





In 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari told the media that his government was willing to negotiate with credible leaders of Boko Haram for the release of the girls.





More than 200 of them were abducted a year earlier from the north-eastern town of Chibok, sparking global outrage.





Previous attempts had failed, with different groups coming forward, each claiming to be the militants in possession of the missing schoolgirls.





It was Mr Mustapha who succeeded in convincing the Nigerian authorities that this particular group should be taken for what they say, presidential spokesman Garba Shehu told me.

He had dealt with them in the past and they keep to their word, he said.





Mr Mustaphas role as a mediator dates back to his founding the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation School in 2007, to provide free Islamic-based education to orphans and the poor.

When the Boko Haram insurgency erupted in 2009, the school offered admission to the children of soldiers and government officials killed by the militants, as well as those of militants killed by the state.





Mr Mustapha then sought the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which began providing free meals to the pupils.





He also encouraged parents to form an association which would reach out to other widows and convince them to send their children to his school.





The ICRC soon extended its humanitarian services to the mothers, providing them free food and other items every month.



This was at a time when the wives of Boko Haram militants were being arrested and their houses demolished, so Boko Haram saw me and the ICRC as neutral parties, Mr Mustapha said.

During the previous government of President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo visited Maiduguri, the epicentre of the insurgency, to intervene in the escalating crisis.

He then set up a group to discuss peace with Boko Haram. Mr Mustapha was included in it because of the relationship he had forged with the families of Boko Haram militants.





After the Swiss ambassador to Nigeria paid a visit to the Future Prowess school in 2012, he arranged for Mr Mustapha to go to Zurich and Geneva to receive formal training as a mediator.

We were already trying to negotiate peace with Boko Haram before the Chibok girls were kidnapped, Mr Mustapha said.





The initial negotiation was for a batch of 20 Chibok girls to be released.

But, as a sign of commitment to their relationship, Boko Haram added an extra woman, whom Mr Mustapha said was their gift to him, hence the number 21.

\





When they were released in October 2016, she was chosen by Boko Haram to read out the names of the other 20 women from a list.

Mr Mustapha said the 21 women were lined up and asked by Boko Haram militants if they had been raped. They all said they were not.





When a militant approached a woman who was carrying a baby, she said that she was pregnant at the time of her abduction, having got married a few weeks earlier.

The baby girl in her arms, she said, was her husbands child.





For some reason, Boko Haram, a group that has cultivated a reputation for brutality, wanted it to be known that it was only after the women agreed to get married that the militants had sexual relations with them.

I felt that I have done something that is worth saying to the world that I have done this, Mr Mustapha said.

This process of lining up the women, pointing at each one and asking the same question, was repeated at the beginning of May when 82 more women were released.

One of about seven Boko Haram militants, who accompanied them, went from woman to woman asking: Throughout the time you were with us, did anyone rape you or touch you? Mr Mustapha said, adding that each of them replied in the negative.

None of the second batch of 82 captives came with a child.





But one had an amputated limb and was walking with crutches, an injury she sustained, according to what Mr Mustapha was told, during Nigerian military airstrikes against Boko Haram.





You are free today, Mr Mustapha announced to the 82 women after all the names were called out.

They all smiled, he said.

He believes that their subdued reaction was as a result of the presence of the militants, all armed with guns, some wearing army camouflage uniforms and boots.

Mr Mustapha then took some photographs with the women. The militants also had their video camera on hand and recorded the event. ICRC vehicles eventually arrived.





When I told them to go to the cars, they all ran, Mr Mustapha said. Immediately they entered the vehicles, they started singing for joy. Some shed tears.

Mr Mustapha has received a number of accolades for his work with Future Prowess School. He was a finalist for the 2016 Robert Burns humanitarian award, given to those who have saved, improved or enriched the lives of others or society as a whole, through self-sacrifice, selfless service, hands-on charitable or volunteer work, or other acts.





He was also given a 2017 Aurora Prize Modern Day Hero award, for those whose life and actions guarantee the safe existence of others.





However, he described handing over the 82 freed girls to the Nigerian government as the highest point in my life.

I felt that I have done something that is worth saying to the world that I have done this, he said.

















BBC




A 35 year old Muslim cleric, Sheik Yusuf Amzat-Salam, his wife and four children have been stabbed to death by unknown assailants at thei...

A 35 year old Muslim cleric, Sheik Yusuf Amzat-Salam, his wife and four children have been stabbed to death by unknown assailants at their home at the Atiba area of Odogbolu Local Government Area in Ogun state today May 16th.





According to the state police command, Sheik Amzat-Salam, his wife, their 11 year old daughter, eight year old set of twin boys and their last child, a 2 year old daughter, were found in the pool of their blood with serious stab wounds.

Speaking on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told newsmen that the state commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has ordered a full scale investigation into the crime. According to Opeyemi, the state commissioner of police has immediately deployed operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and men from the Homicide section to the area and that the police would apprehend the killers and make them face the law.





We are profiling the identity of the killers. The CP has deployed men of FSARS, Divisional Police Officers in the area and the bordering towns as well as other policemen to the scene. Preliminary investigation is ongoing to unravel the mystery behind the killing which happened over night. We assure members of the public that the suspects will be apprehended and brought to book he said.

Younger brother of the deceased cleric, Alfa Ishaaq Amzat-Salam, says his family has left everything in the hands of God.





I leave those who perpetrated such evil into Gods hands for He alone will judge them. The deed cannot be undone. I will always remember my brother forever for his loving kindness as he was a shining light to us all, he said.

Meanwhile the remains of the deceased persons were buried today according to Islamic rites.
Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria condemned in strong terms the recent developments in Co...

Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria condemned in strong terms the recent developments in Cote dIvoire in which a small fraction of the countrys Armed Forces mutinied against the Government.





This is contained in a statement by Laolu Akande, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.

It said Nigeria presses strong and unflinching support for the Government of President Alhassan Ouattara and welcomes ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis.

In this context, the Federal Government urges the parties to the crisis to exercise maximum restraint, remain calm and continue with dialogue and negotiations with the Government of President Ouattara.

Nigeria also urges the mutineers to return to their barracks and to refrain from any action capable of undermining the peace, security and democracy in the country.

The Federal Government further urges the people of Cote dIvoire to remain steadfast in their support for the Government and to refrain from giving support to the mutineers in the overall interest of peace, tranquillity, good order and prosperity of the country.

The coup in Cote dIvoire occurred at a time Nigerias Army Chief, TY Buratai, Tuesday, personally confirmed that politicians were holding meeting with Army officers and soldiers.

He vowed to punish any indicted officer or soldier taking part in such meetings, warning that the Army hierarchy will not sit back and allow mutiny against constituted authority.

His alarm was an affirmation that powerful forces may be enticing Army personnel to come out of the barracks to topple President Muhammadu Buharis government.

The unholy alliance, it was gathered, followed the health crisis of the President which some elements are trying to use to seize power

Nigerians have been expressing concern over the alarming statement by the Army chief and more worried over the safety of Acting President Osinbajo due to absence of his principal, Buhari.
A Nigerian woman, Mrs Ajibola Adeboye has delivered a set of sextuplets after 17 years of marriage. Mrs Adeboye delivered her six c...

A Nigerian woman, Mrs Ajibola Adeboye has delivered a set of sextuplets after 17 years of marriage.





Mrs Adeboye delivered her six children, 3 boys and 3 girls, at the Virginia Commonwealth University Teaching Hospital (VCU) Richmond VA. USA, on May 11th, 2017. Mother and children are said to be doing fine.



According to her husband, Mr Adeboye Taiwo, they were asking for just one child but God surprised them with six. He said they didn't know they were having a set of sextuplets until they had an ultrasound.
A plane carrying a family of four has gone missing in the Bermuda Triangle.

A plane carrying a family of four has gone missing in the Bermuda Triangle.The twin-engine MU-2B was flying from Puerto Rico when air traffic control in Miami lost radar and radio contact with the plane on Monday, the US Coast Guard said.It was east of the island of Eleuthera, an island which forms part of the Bahamas archipelago, which is inside the infamous Bermuda Triangle.Four people from New York, including two children were onboard the plane.They had been flying from Puerto Rico to Titusville, along the northeastern coast of Florida, but never made it to their destination.Those onboard have been identified as Nathan Ulrich and Jennifer Blumin, along with her four-year-old and 10-year-old sons.Their plane was at about 24,000feet when air traffic control lost contact.Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Kelly, a Coast Guard spokesman, said: There's no indication of significant adverse weather at the time.The flight came from Puerto Rico and was due to land in Titusville yesterdayCoast Guard aircraft were searching along with Customs and Border Patrol and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force about 40 miles east of Eleuthera.A Coast Guard cutter was dispatched to the area and is expected to arrive later today to arrive with the search.The Bahamas are inside the Bermuda Triangle which has three vertices, in Miami, Florida, San Juan in Puerto Rico and in the mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda.It is estimated to cover an area ranging from 500,000 sq mi to 1,510,000 sq mi.Several planes and ships have gone missing in the Bermuda Triangle, with differing explanations including paranormal.However, most experts have put the disasters down to natural compass variations, the Gulf Stream, violent weather or human error.
Following information circulating in the social media that President Muhammadu Buhari has died, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Hon Bamidele Faparusi , has warned Nigerians against conceiving evil intentions against their leaders.Faparusi, a governorship aspirant and member of the seventh House of Representatives, said no nation can develop where citizens bear ill-feelings against their President, advising Nigerians to refrain from the tendency and learn how to treat their leaders with love, respect and dignity.On the former Governor of Western Region, General Adeyinka Adebayo, who will be buried on Saturday, Faparusi called on Buharis government to name a national monument after the departed military man to remember his contributions to the country.In a statement in Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday, Faparusi said President Buhari doesnt deserve death-wish from Nigerians considering the zeal and patriotism he had displayed in curbing the menace of corruption and insecurity that had crippled the country before he mounted the saddle.Faparusi added that no state, with the exemption of Lagos that had reached an enviable height in internally generated revenue would have been able to operate effectively by now but for Buharis selfless and austere policy he introduced to bail the country out of recession.He said: No nation can progress where the citizens are bearing ill-feelings against their leaders. In actual fact, President Buhari has demonstrated sacrifices right from his days as a military Governor, Minister and later as president in leading the country.President Buhari believed that the countrys commonwealth shouldnt be plundered by the privileged few and that accounted for why he won the 2015 presidential poll 30 years after he quitted the stage.I expect every Nigerian to be on their kneel no matter the political divides and inclinations and pray for this great Nigerian in this trying period, rather than wishing him dead or incapacitated.The pertinent questions to ask are, where would Nigeria starts if President Buhari dies? Would it go back to its worst days under Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)? Do the opposition PDP, who was the proponent of the death-wish has a man of unblemished records as a better alternative to lead Nigeria?, he asked.Faparusi lauded the contributions of General Adebayo to the country, saying he was one of the unifying factors that fought against secession for the nation to stand united and forge a common frontI want to acknowledge with warm regards the contribution of Ekiti State which had immortalized General Adebayo by naming the Oke Ayoba Governors Lodge and General Hospital, Iyin Ekiti after him but this hero was not a sectional leader. He worked and died for Nigeria, so the federal government must complement what Ekiti has done in this regard, he stated.
A former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed concern over soldiers protest in Cote dvoire over wage and bonus. The ...

A former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed concern over soldiers protest in Cote dvoire over wage and bonus. The West African country is currently facing mass protest by her soldiers over wage and bonus dispute.





This was contained in a statement signed by Obasanjo in Abeokuta. The former president who described the protest as unwholesome, appealed to the soldiers to embrace dialogue, and allow the government to look into their complaints.

He noted that though they were entitled to their wages and bonuses, they must act within the code of good conduct and military discipline.

He said, I believe most of us in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, have been worried and felt concerned about the standoff and unwholesome situation in the Republic of Cote dIvoire where the disgruntled Ivoirian soldiers broke out of their barracks and embarked on sporadic shootings and threats to civilian lives over a wage and bonus dispute.

While as a former Comrade of those soldiers, I would wish that they have their required bonuses and enhanced wages but as military men, they must act within the code of good conduct and military discipline.

I appeal to these disgruntled soldiers to peacefully return to their barracks and await the Ivoirian Governments consideration of their complaints and demands.

Collectively and individually, our countries in West Africa make peace for development, growth and progress and nothing must be done to reverse the progress so far made by the Republic of Cote dIvoire under President Alassane Ouattara.

Obasanjo, however, urged the government of Cote dIvoire to speedily attend to the complaints of the agitated soldiers to bring the country to normalcy.
Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Dino Melaye, in a point of Order (43) Wednesday, stated that the Director General of Na...

Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Dino Melaye, in a point of Order (43) Wednesday, stated that the Director General of National Lottery Commission, Mr. Adolphus Joe Ekweremadu was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari without confirmation of the Senate.





He explained that the appointment has seen the Director General discharging responsibilities in clear breach of section 8(1) of the lottery act.

Dino cautioned that if the illegality was allowed, it would create disrespect for the rule of law, noting that Nigerians must be respected for Democratic norms they yearned for.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, as I speak, the DC has resumed at the Commission without passing through the checks of Senate as required by laws. Nigerians must be respected, he submitted.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki in response noted that the issues are weighty despite the fact that the matter came through order of personal explanation.

He stated that thorough investigation would be carried out; adding that the Senate will make sure that the appointee is stopped.

The issues raised by Dino are weighty, though it came through a personal explanation. I think the matter may come through a motion so that the gentleman can stop the nonsense he is doing, he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump did not pass any secrets onto Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Washington on May 9 and that he could prove it.Speaking at a news conference alongside Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Putin quipped that Lavrov had not passed what he said were the non-existent secrets onto him either.Putin said Russia was ready to hand a transcript of Trumps meeting with Lavrov over to U.S. lawmakers if that would help reassure them.Two U.S. officials said on Monday that Trump had disclosed highly classified information to Lavrov about a planned Islamic State operation, plunging the White House into another controversy just months into Trumps short tenure in office.On Tuesday, Trump said that he had an absolute right to share intelligence information with Russia.As President, I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining  to terrorism and airline flight safety, he wrote on Twitter.Plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism, he continued.The Washington Post reported Monday that Trump revealed highly classified information about the Islamic State extremist group during a meeting last week with Russian envoys in the Oval Office.
The Senate, explained yesterday, that the need for authentication of the passed 2017 Appropriation Bill was the rationale behind the delay in the transmission of the document to the executive arm of government for assent.The defence on the delay is coming five days after the National Assembly passed the Appropriation Bill of N7,441,175,486,758, which represents an increase of N143 billion from what was presented last December by President Muhammadu Buhari.Meanwhile, the Senate disclosed, yesterday, that the document will be transmitted any moment from now, to the Presidency.Addressing newsmen, yesterday on the delay in the transmission, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North), explained that the passage of the budget document does not automatically mean that the document would be transmitted immediately, adding that the Joint Committees on Appropriations still must carry out its assignment, which they are concluding.Senator Abdullahi said, After the budget is passed, the Appropriation Committee has to do some authentication, to avoid just any document flying around. Any moment from now, it will be transmitted to the Presidency. Let us allow those who have been given certain responsibilities to do their job, which must include certain protocols.Remember that we had to adjourn and reconvene to approve the votes and proceedings to allow them continue the process. If not, they will not be able to do anything on the document. If we had waited till today (yesterday) to approve the votes and proceedings, it means they will have to start today, the spokesman added.It will be recalled that the passed N7,441,175,486,758 Appropriation Bill by the National Assembly last week Thursday, is projected on a daily crude oil production of 2.2 million barrels, a benchmark price of crude oil of $ 44.50 as against the proposed rate of $42.50 and exchange rate of N305 to $1, just as both the exchange rate and that of crude oil production as proposed by the executive was retained.
CHICAGO: Chicago Board of Trade corn futures ended mixed on Friday as traders awaited news on trade talks between Washington and Beijing that could accelerate Chinese imports of US farm goods.



CBOT March corn sagged 1/4 cent to $3.75-1/4 per bushel. May corn rose 1/4 cent to $3.84-1/2 per bushel.



US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he expects to meet Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, soon and said they may nail down the final points of a trade deal.



Traders hope China may agree to buy US corn as part of progress toward a trade deal. However, they want to see confirmation of such purchases.



The USDA pegged 2019/20 corn ending stocks at 1.650 billion bushels, down from 1.735 billion bushels in 2018/19.Reuters




MANILA: Chinas benchmark iron ore futures ticked higher in volatile trade on Friday, but posted their first weekly loss this year as demand for the steel-making raw material remained weak, despite concerns over supply.



The most-active iron ore contract, for May delivery, on the Dalian Commodity Exchange ended the session just 0.1 percent up at 618.5 yuan ($92.05) a tonne, after trading lower by as much as 3.2 percent earlier in the day. It fell 3 percent from a week ago.



Chinas steel mills appeared reluctant to restock despite the supply outage from Brazil, ANZ Research said.



Dalian iron ore has risen more than 3 percent this month and rallied to record-high 657.5 yuan last week amid worries over supply disruptions following the collapse of top miner Vale SAs Brumadinho tailings dam in Brazil.



In another bad news for Vale, Brazils mining regulator has ordered the miner to suspend activity at its Fabrica and Vargem Grande complexes, as authorities crack down after last months fatal dam break.



Vale did not offer an estimate on how much production would likely be lost from the suspension.



It remains uncertain if there are miners who could produce and export more iron ore to offset whatever is lost from Brazils supply.



Major producers, including BHP and Fortescue, have indicated they are unable to raise exports significantly to cover the losses from Brazil, ANZ said.



But any restocking by Chinese steel mills is expected to be subdued in the short term considering their pressured margins, tight credit conditions, and sintering cuts as pollution levels in China continue to worsen, according to Marex Spectron.



Dalian coking coal futures was 0.7 percent higher at 1,295 yuan a tonne, ending a volatile week with market participants closely monitoring Chinas stepped-up environment and safety checks on coal imports.



Coke rose 1.6 percent to 2,163 yuan.



Chinas foreign ministry said on Friday that Australian coal imports continue as normal, denying that the northern port of Dalian has banned coal from the worlds top supplier.



Steel prices extended gains, with the most-active rebar contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange up 1.6 percent at 3,731 yuan a tonne. Hot rolled coil edged up 0.9 percent to 3,706 yuan.Reuters




PARIS: Euronext wheat futures ended flat to higher on Friday, with front-month prices buoyed by larger-than-expected US export sales, while further out positions were more subdued.



May milling wheat, the most active contract on Paris-based Euronext, settled unchanged on the day at 194.50 euros ($220.62) a tonne.



Front-month March futures ended 1.00 euro higher at 196.00 euros after reaching a one-week top at 197.50 euros.



A bigger than anticipated volume of US wheat export sales - as the US Department of Agriculture released figures for six weeks up to Feb. 14 to clear a backlog caused by a government shutdown - sparked a rally in spot prices as it suggested strong short-term demand.



There were decent US export sales for the past month so people thought there could be a short-term squeeze in export supply, a futures dealer said.



There was an idea that traders may need to take delivery of March futures to get physical supply.



Traders have long anticipated an upturn in demand for US and EU wheat as supply dwindles in top exporter Russia.



But concern that US and EU shipments were lagging too far behind contributed to a price slide that pushed Chicago and Paris futures to seven-month lows earlier this week.



Chicago wheat also rallied after Fridays USDA export data. But it later pared gains as the US grain market focused on developments in ongoing trade talks between Washington and Beijing that could bring fresh demand for US crops. Reuters




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.
OMAHA  Local law enforcement has banded together with the FBI on a unified hunt targeting bank robbers, the agency announced Tuesday  with a hefty reward for those who help police.

Randall Thysse, special agent in charge of the FBIs Omaha Division, announced formation of the Bank Robbery Task Force, the first of its kind since his tenure began.

In 2016, there were more than 40 bank robberies in the Omaha area, Thysse said.

But what makes these robberies stand out is the sheer viciousness of the suspects, he added, and the relation of the crimes to gang activity.

Law enforcement has noticed a growing trend during robberies for suspects to enter two or three at a time, using masks or hoods to hide their faces while producing firearms, Thysse said.

Lately, suspects have taken to the tactic of leaping over the counter if possible, trying to reach the bank vault when they can, he said.

And criminals are planning.

Theyll usually steal a car beforehand and abandon it near the bank before committing the robbery, Thysse said.

The task force seeks to catch thieves and would-be robbers alike. Included are the Nebraska State Patrol, Sarpy County Sherriffs Office and police departments from Bellevue, La Vista, Papillion, Omaha and Council Bluffs.

Omaha Crime Stoppers Board President Mark Johnson said the reward for those who give information leading to the arrests of suspects has been doubled to $20,000. The reward will stay at that amount until law enforcement feels theyve made enough progress, he said.

Thysse said other measures were being undertaken to help protect the community, from increased security at banks to asking residents to be more observant.

Council Bluffs Police Chief Tim Carmody echoed that sentiment and said its critical agencies and communities share information with each other.

The sheer force of these robberies affect people in many ways. They fear for their lives, he said.

While the department employs 113 officers, more can be done if the community keeps their eyes open, he added.

Its all about seeing the clues, Carmody said. Its like a jigsaw puzzle. If we can see enough of the pieces, we can solve it.
A memorial service was held last Monday evening, 50 years to the day after the death of a beloved Gunn School janitor.

In a tribute to the late Gerald Dixon in Kimball Park, David Van Houten, a Gunn School student at the time of the schools boiler explosion took Dixons life, introduced several surviving members of the Dixon family.

Van Houten explained that as children, we were devastated to hear the news of Mr. Dixons death the morning after the explosion and fire. He had been like a grandfather to all of us students.

There was no mention of him after his death; there was no memorial service for the students; there were no grief counselors in those days for the students or the staff. Monday nights ceremony paid the first ever public tribute to Dixon since his funeral.

Several of the surviving Dixon family members had come to Kimball Park for the tribute, including grandson Gerald Brock, of Menomonie, Wisconsin. In emotional comments, Brock thanked Van Houten and the North Broadway Neighborhood Association for the long-overdue tribute.

It was also announced that a fundraising effort by the association is now underway to raise $30,000 for the construction of the Gerald Dixon Memorial Pavilion, which would become the centerpiece of what the neighborhood hopes will be the redesigned and rebuilt Kimball Park.

Emphasis on rebuilding the park has been a neighborhood priority since the closing of Gunn School and the removal of the schools playground equipment.

There wasnt a need for a Kimball Park playground prior to the Gunn School closing, said Dave Christiansen, president of the neighborhood association. The schools playground was our neighborhoods playground. The immediate need to update the antiquated Kimball Park facilities, just behind us, is now painfully obvious to everyone.

The neighborhood and the citys Parks and Recreation Department have been working together for several months on the development of a Kimball Park Master Plan. The Dixon Memorial Pavilion will be an integral feature in the proposed plan.

The neighborhood hopes to present the proposal to the City Council within the coming few months.
BISMARCK, N.D.  Opposition to the Dakota Access oil pipeline has persuaded some banks to stop supporting projects that might harm the environment or tread on indigenous rights, but calling the divest movement a success might be a stretch.

It doesnt appear to be hurting the ability of energy companies to get financing and it doesnt seem to concern lenders broadly. Yet pipeline opponents see victory in the fact that they have made financial institutions more aware of indigenous rights  and theyre intent on keeping up the fight on projects such as Keystone XL even after failing to stop the Dakota Access line.

We arent ignoring the fact we couldnt stop that pipeline, said Vanessa Green, a campaign director with the DivestInvest initiative. Theres a battle, and then theres a war.

The $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline from North Dakota to Illinois will be fully operational by June 1, a half-year later than planned by Texas-based developer Energy Transfer Partners. The project was delayed by lawsuits from American Indian tribes, who fear it threatens cultural sites and drinking water, and months of protests by tribal members and their supporters. President Donald Trump pushed the project through shortly after taking office.

While the protests centered on a camp in North Dakota that at times housed thousands of people, opponents also picketed banks in major U.S. cities and urged banks in Europe and even Japan to take a stand against the pipeline.

Some did. Paris-based BNP Paribas USA, Netherlands-based ING and Norway-based DNB sold off their shares of a Dakota Access loan. Private investor Storebrand and Odin Fund Management, both in Norway, sold shares in companies linked to the project. Dutch bank ABN-AMRO stopped providing credit to a parent company of ETP.

Pipeline opponents also targeted cities with some success, including in Seattle, where leaders in February voted to cut ties with San Francisco-based banking giant Wells Fargo in part due to its role in funding Dakota Access.

In all, the DefundDAPL movement claims that divestments from that project total more than $80 million from individuals and $4.3 billion from cities.

But that didnt stop ETP from completing the Dakota Access pipeline, and the company has a number of other projects underway across the U.S.

We do not have a concern about our current or future financing options, ETP spokeswoman Vicki Granado said.

TransCanada Corp., which is planning the $8 billion Keystone XL pipeline through the central Plains, wouldnt say whether it has secured the necessary financing. But its first-quarter 2017 financial report indicates that finding funds overall hasnt been a problem: The company raised $2.6 billion toward a $23 billion capital program.

As for Wells Fargo, which lists $2 trillion in assets, it calls the city divestitures symbolic and notes that other communities and tribes are still clients.

Certainly, the protests have had some limited negative impact to the companys reputation, which is a shame because it overshadows all of the tremendous work our team members and the company does to support those very same communities and local nonprofits across the country, spokesman Alan Elias said.

In the meantime, opponents of such projects continue to seek to broaden their efforts to educate people about the potential effects not only on the environment, but on Native Americans.

Theres a whole widening narrative woven into what was once an environmental movement, said Green, with the DivestInvest initiative. Now its much more integrated, with a social justice, indigenous rights focus.

In March, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer in partnership with First Peoples Worldwide, an indigenous advocacy and funding group, convened an educational meeting in Washington for global investors with Dave Archambault, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux, the tribe that started the opposition to Dakota Access.

Were just going to continue to build awareness for companies that have no regard for the environment, have no regard for people, and hopefully the companies, banks, lenders, financial institutions understand that if you want to be socially responsible, not to invest in companies like ETP, Archambault said in an interview.

Tom Sanzillo, director of finance at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, said that while market forces ultimately determine industry practices, public opinion can be a factor.

Market factors and public opinion worked together to substantially reduce the market share of coal, he said. You have those two factors working together, thats how change takes place.
The following editorial was published in the Sioux City Journal on May 11:

No one  at least no one outside North Korea  will argue North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is unpredictable, if not unstable.

And hes working to achieve a goal of nuclear-armed missiles.

To say thats a volatile mixture is to define the word understatement.

In what arguably is the most difficult overseas threat to the United States and its allies facing the administration of President Donald Trump, North Korea continues to launch missile tests, thumb its nose at pressure to stop and make threats, including threats against the United States.

Where does this end?

Today, the answer to that question is as murky as the view from outside North Korea is of life inside the secretive country. Troubling doesnt begin to describe this tension-filled standoff for which no simple answers exist.

As America and other nations, including China, strategize (together, we hope) about North Korea, we prefer to hear measured instead of aggressive rhetoric from our leaders here at home.

In our view, saber-rattling serves no useful purpose in dealing with Kim. Certainly, American power is no secret to him; we dont need to flex our military muscles, they speak for themselves.

In other words, we see little to no upside, but a possibly dangerous, provocational downside to remarks like this one, offered by President Donald Trump in an April 27 interview with Reuters: There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely.

Rather, we believe more potential value exists in the kind of talk we heard from Trump during an interview with Bloomberg News on May 1 when the president said he would be honored to meet with Kim face to face under the right circumstances.

We cringed at use of the word honored, but we do not dismiss altogether the idea of a high-level meeting of some kind between U.S. and North Korean leaders (as well as leaders of other nations in the region because this isnt only Americas problem) at some future point if it would reduce nuclear stress and uncertainty.

Of course, a spectrum of considerations would require discussion before any such meeting happens.

Nuclear weapons raise stakes. Nuclear weapons in the hands of someone like Kim raise them still more. In response, nations involved in and impacted by this dispute, including the U.S., should seek to turn down the heat and pursue constructive dialogue. The alternatives are, frankly, unthinkable.
Landowner elk applications to be available June 2

Eligible landowners may apply for one 2017 Nebraska elk hunting permit through June 2.

To download an application form, eligibility rules and hunting unit descriptions, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/huntingseasons.

In addition, the 2017 Big Game Guide, a summary of Nebraskas regulations, orders and statutes pertaining to big game hunting, is available online.

The guide includes season dates and information for deer, elk, antelope and bighorn sheep. It also has permit requirements and fees and hunting unit maps.

To view or download the guide, visit outdoornebraska.gov/guides.

Third District Service Academy Open House set for Saturday

WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman Adrian Smith, R-Neb., in conjunction with the offices of U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse, will host the 2017 Third District Service Academy Open House.

It will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Mid-Plains Community CollegeSouth Campus, 601 W. State Farm Road.

This event is an opportunity for young people in Nebraska to learn more about all service academies and other opportunities for military service.

Any Nebraska high school or college students interested in military opportunities, as well as their families, are encouraged to attend.

Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and Army ROTC will attend to answer questions and provide information. Materials from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy will also be available.

Staff from the offices of Smith, Fischer and Sasse will be at the event to answer questions about the Service Academy nomination process.

For questions about the 2017 Third District Service Academy Open House, contact Smiths office at 308-384-3900 in Grand Island.
A medical transport company being sued by two North Platte residents paid off its Quality Growth Fund loan to end potential litigation.

In late April, Priority Medical Transport, LLC paid the city of North Platte $350,000 to cover the cost the loan, plus just over $363 in interest in an effort to avoid further litigation costs.

In 2015, the residents, Donna Tryon and Ryan Sellers, alleged that the loan violated the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act, and asked the loan be discontinued.

Trent Kleinow, assistant North Platte fire chief, and Dr. Jim Smith, emergency room director at Great Plains Health, own two-thirds of Priority Medical Transport. Smith also serves at the fire departments medical director.

Therefore, Tryon and Sellers argued in court documents, the Quality Growth Fund Citizens Review Committee failed to provide adequate notice that the loan contract involved public employees, and asked that the loan be voided.

David Pederson, who represents the city as well as Priority Medical Transport, argued that Dr. Smith was not a city employee, but instead donated his time to the fire department.

Tryon and Sellers also said in their complaint that the city violated the Open Meetings Act by only publishing (a) bare bones notice of meetings. State law states that public employees are unable to enter a contract at more than $2,000 a year with a government body, unless the contract is awarded through an open and public process.

The suit was originally dismissed in October 2015, because Tryon and Sellers failed to state a cause of action against either Priority Medical Transport or the city, according to the ruling.

In February, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the case had been wrongfully dismissed, as the cases claims were valid in that both the Open Meetings Act and the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act were violated.

In an email, Pederson said his clients were confident the city would have prevailed, but chose to instead pay off the loan and avoid spending time and money on litigation.

This is a Quality Growth Fund success story, Pederson and the two entities said in a statement. While the fund was significant in helping start the medical transport company, the company increased from 0 to 42 employees, expanded to locations in Kearney and McCook and brought revenue to North Platte, they said.

No longer needing the loan, those working with Priority decided to pay off the loan and request that the case be dismissed as moot, the parties and Pederson said in a statement.

Tryon and Sellers issued a second amended complaint requesting attorneys fees and costs. The parties are scheduled to have a teleconference in June.

Doug Stack, an attorney for the city, and Tryon and Sellers attorney, J.L. Spray, of Lincoln, didnt return calls for comment.
The city of North Platte on Tuesday received an unmodified report, which is the highest level of assurance a government body can receive from an independent audit firm.

The audit was of the 2016 budget year that ended Sept. 31.

Congratulations on a very good report, Terry Galloway said.

Galloway, certified public accountant at Almquist, Maltzahn, Galloway and Luth, P.C., in Grand Island, presented the report during a work session.

He said the city is in line with most of the 12 cities in its peer group. The peer group includes cities with more than 10,000 population and less than 100,000 in Nebraska.

One of the important aspects, Galloway said, was the outstanding debt reduction achieved in the 2016 budget year.

Basically last year you retired about $2.5 milion or about 5 percent of your overall debt in the community, he said. Thats a pretty big chunk of principal that you paid down in 2016.

After the work session, the council voted 7-0 to advance Ordinance No. 3965 on a second reading. The third and final reading will take place at the next council meeting June 6. The ordinance is for annexing lands owned by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, just south of Walker Road between Buffalo Bill Avenue and Highway 83.

In other action, the council:

>> Accepted bids for a 2017 paving project to include part of street improvement district No. 310. The district consists of the intersection of West Philip Avenue and South Willow Street, the North Platte Public Library parking lot and street improvement district No. 321. The street improvement district is East Francis Street from Tabor Avenue to 450 feet west of Tabor Avenue. Steeles Roofing and Construction was awarded the contract and Mayor Dwight Livingston was authorized to sign the agreement.

>> Adopted a resolution approving claims and authorizing warrants to Western Engineering Co., Inc. for $848,947, to Midlands Contracting Inc., for $4,027 and to First National Bank for $2.73 million for various construction and improvement projects referring to and incorporating the terms and conditions of Ordinance No. 3874.

>> Adopted a resolution providing for First National Bank as a warrant lender concerning Ordinance No. 3874.
LINCOLN  State Corrections Director Scott Frakes told a group of lawmakers Tuesday that another special investigation of his troubled agency is unnecessary and would take away time from enacting reforms and attacking problems like high staff turnover.

This would be another consumer of very precious resources, Frakes said. Theres only so many hours that go around.

On Tuesday, the Legislatures Executive Board took testimony on a proposal to create the third special investigative committee of the state prison system since 2014.

State Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha said that recent prison riots, the slayings of five inmates and lingering problems with high staff turnover and overcrowding require another probe of the agency.

A normal interim study of corrections isnt enough, Krist said. Whats needed is a special investigative committee staffed by an attorney and a clerk with the power to subpoena witnesses and compel testimony, to determine why more improvements havent been seen.

(An interim study) has no teeth. It has no direction, Krist said.

The senator, who was involved in two previous legislative studies of corrections, said that creation of a Nebraska Justice System Special Investigative Committee was even more important because term limits were removing senators who were involved in the past studies.

The new committee would follow one formed in 2014 that probed several issues, including the case of Nikko Jenkins, a mentally troubled inmate who murdered four people in Omaha shortly after being released from prison. A subsequent committee, with more of an oversight role, was formed in 2015 to track steps to improve rehabilitation programs in prison and alleviate overcrowding that has reached 160 percent of capacity.

The state employees union, the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, and ACLU of Nebraska, which has pledged to file a civil rights lawsuit against the state for its overcrowded prisons, testified in favor of the new committee.

While much has been done ... conditions in our prisons are still extremely problematic and constitutional violations are rampant, said ACLU lawyer Spike Eickholt.

Frakes testified against the proposal, while Doug Koebernick, a staffer involved in the previous prison studies, testified in a neutral capacity. Koebernick, who now holds the recently created position of inspector general for corrections, said that past prison investigative committee provided valuable insight and recommendations.

But Frakes, as well as Heartwell Sen. John Kuehn, said there are plenty of other means for the Legislature to obtain information and ensure that corrections is taking appropriate steps to reduce staff turnover and reduce overcrowding.

Koebernicks new position is one such option, they said. The state also has a Justice Reinvention Oversight Committee that meets to track progress in adopting reforms passed in a 2015 law, Legislative Bill 605. That bill reduced sentences to help alleviate prison overcrowding, and increased supervision and preparation of inmates for their release from prison in hopes of preventing repeat crimes.

And, Crete Sen. Laura Ebke has proposed an interim study of prison issues later this year.

There is more oversight over my agency than my peers across the country, Frakes said.

Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, who has been active on prison issues for years, took exception to Frakes opposition. He said more slayings have occurred in the prison system since Frakes was hired 27 months ago than from 1970, when Chambers was first elected to the Legislature, until Frakes hiring in January 2015.

Chambers charged that Frakes was being evasive with committee members on Tuesday when he declined to answer questions about whether he reneged on a promise to return the Tecumseh State Prison to regular, eight-hour shifts.

Frakes has retained 12-hour shifts at the prison, maintaining that a staffing emergency still exists two years after a riot left two inmates dead and more than $2 million in damage. A second riot left two dead in March, and last month an inmate was slain in his cell. Prosecutors have charged his cellmate, who was serving a life sentence for murder at Tecumseh, with first-degree murder. No charges have been filed in the other four deaths.

The corrections director said he could not comment about the issue with the union because NAPE has pledged to file a formal labor complaint with the State Commission on Industrial Relations.

Said Chambers, I think youve shown exactly why the (special) committee needs to be formed.

The Executive Board is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday to decide that question. If recommended by the board, the full Legislature would debate the issue on Thursday, the next-to-last day of the 2017 legislative session.

At least two members of the board, Syracuse Sen. Dan Watermeier and Venango Sen. Dan Hughes, said they had not yet made up their minds.

Krist said that an interim study by the Legislatures Judiciary Committee wouldnt have the priority or focus of a special legislative committee.

The two previous special legislative committees on corrections proposed several changes and reforms which Frakes said Tuesday have either been completed or are on task to be done.

Turnover of prison security staff is now at 28 percent, which, while a reduction from a high of 32 percent last year, is still too high, the director said.

While prison overcrowding is still nearly 160 percent of capacity, corrections should not be blamed for that, according to Norfolk Sen. Jim Scheer, the speaker of the Legislature. Scheer said an unexpected increase in felony convictions caused an increase in prison discharges to be offset by newly arrived inmates.
Schick Hydro Preview: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys

Southern Cross Group Stadium

Thursday, 7.50pm

With State of Origin fast-approaching, both the North Queensland Cowboys and the Cronulla Sharks will be eager to have an extra two points under their belt given the number of players that will leave both teams. The Sharks are likely to be missing Andrew Fifita, Jack Bird and James Maloney, while the Cowboys will be without Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan and Justin O'Neill on top of their current omissions, most notably Matt Scott.

The Sharks have been doing just enough to get the win in the past weeks, as seen in their 18-14 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons with a 68 per cent completion rate. Despite this they are still sitting in second place on the ladder with a 7-3 win-loss record. Heading into the Origin period the Sharks will either rise to the occasion, putting in complete performances; or drop down the ladder due to their missing representative stars.

The Cowboys' win over the Bulldogs went a long way to getting their season back on track, and it was Michael Morgan who righted their listing ship last week, with the help of returning fullback and hooker Lachlan Coote and Jake Granville. Theyll be eager to get over the Sharks who knocked them out of the finals one shy of the big dance last year, and will need to be pumped up to do it at Shark Park.



Match Draw Widget

[2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 11: Sharks vs Cowboys

Why the Sharks can win: The Sharks seem to be doing just enough to get the job done, and their positon on the ladder is evidence of that. They have strike all over the field, from Valentine Holmes at fullback, to Sosaia Feki and Jack Bird in the centres and Luke Lewis and Wade Graham in the second row. The Sharks operate off the back of their strong forwards, especially Andrew Fafita, while Paul Gallen provides his experienced leadership and contributes a healthy average of 181 run metres per game. The Sharks' formula for field position is evidently successful, and with Maloney and Chad Townsend directing the show it's no surprise they made seven line breaks against the Dragons last week out of only 23 complete sets.

Why the Cowboys can win: They've gained nothing but confidence after beating the huge Bulldogs pack last week, and the Cowboys forwards will need to up their performance in all areas this week to beat the Sharks. They'll have no doubt they can do it, and the Sharks will have a lot more than that to worry about, with Ethan Lowe and Gavin Cooper contributing strong performances, while Coen Hess re-found his form after coming off the bench, scoring two tries. The Cowboys have struggled to execute in previous weeks with Thurston out, but Morgan appears to be riding a wave of confidence after being in the Australian camp with the world's best players. The 92kg five-eighth looked tied-down at halfback, but the return of Coote and Granville added direction to the team and Morgan was able to roam freely. After a shaky start against the Bulldogs, the Cowboys' defence was also unrecognisable from their previous games, missing just 16 tackles and conceding the majority of their points when they were reduced to 12 men.



Player Comparison Widget

[2017] Telstra Premiership: Paul Gallen vs Jason Taumalolo

All Run Metres, Tackles, Tackle Breaks, Offloads.



The history: Sharks v Cowboys: Played 41; Sharks 25; Cowboys 16. The Sharks have had it over the Cowboys in the history between these clubs, but the Cowboys will only be thinking about their preliminary final defeat to the Sharks last year.

What are the odds: This is the most even betting game of the round with Sportsbet reporting 52 per cent of money on North Queensland and 4 per cent on Cronulla. Both sides have been backed to win 1-12 with very little interest in 13-plus for either side. Latest odds at sportsbet.com.au.

Match officials: Referee: Ashley Klein. Assistant referee: Alan Shortall. Touch Judges: Nick Beashel and Chris Sutton. Review officials: Ben Galea and Bernard Sutton.

Televised: Channel Nine and Fox League  Live coverage from 7.50pm

How we see it: Given the recent history between these two teams this game could go down to the wire. The Sharks play for every minute, and the Cowboys are a re-built team after the return of Coote and Granville. Despite the confidence boost the Cowboys received from taming the Bulldogs on their home turf, it won't be enough to get over the determined Sharks. We're backing the home side by four.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) meets with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, US May 16, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged on Tuesday to repair bilateral relationship fraught with difficulties in the past. However, division between the two sides still run deep.

Speaking at the White House with Erdogan, Trump hailed the Turkish people as "friends and allies for many, many decades" for the United States and pledged support for Turkish fight against the Islamic State (IS) and a Kurdish militant group known as the PKK.

However, the pledge was made as the United States and Turkey were involved in stark disagreement over the Trump administration's recent decision to arm Syrian Kurds, a key force in the fight against the IS in Syria.

Currently, the US-led coalition against the IS is backing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), comprised of mostly the People's Protection Units (YPG) Kurds and some local Arabs.

Also on the eve of Erdogan's meeting with Trump, the Pentagon was reportedly preparing to further arm Syrian Kurds with antitank weapons.

While the antitank weapons could be used to thwart IS' suicide bombing attacks by trucks, the weaponry could also be used to strike Turkish tanks in Syria.

The Turkish government had made clear their objection to US arming of YPG Kurds, whom Ankara has for long regarded as Syrian branch of the outlawed PKK.

Before Erdogan's meeting with Trump, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told his party members the US cooperation with Syrian Kurds "is not something acceptable" for Turkey.

During his joint press conference with Trump, Erdogan stressed that militant groups like the PKK and YPG "will never be accepted."

"We should never allow those groups to manipulate the religious structure and the ethnic structure of the region, making terrorism as a pretext or an excuse," he added.

According to Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, the issue of arming the YPG by the US was among the top priorities on Erdogan's agenda.

"They see this as the United States siding with terrorists and midwifing a terrorist state on Turkey's border," said Cook in a briefing with reporters.

"President Erdogan was hopeful that he could make it clearer to President Trump why this order (to arm Syrian Kurds) that President Trump has signed is wrongheaded," he added.

While it remained unknow whether Trump would change course on arming Syrian Kurds, recent response from the US State Department and the Pentagon indicated that a consensus had been reached across the Trump administration to arm Syrian Kurds in the fight against the IS.
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The new Coyote Cantina in Schererville aims to to offer diners modern "elevated" Mexican cuisine like they might find in Chicago.

Coyote Cantina moved into the space at 1090 U.S. 41 vacated by Bagger Dave's next to Region Ale. The new chef-driven restaurant employs about 30 workers and seats 200, including an outdoor patio and a well-appointed bar.

"We're doing a unique, modern take on Mexican food," Robert Mendoza said. "Everything we're doing is fresh and from scratch, including our tortillas. We make our tortillas daily. We're making them constantly."

The menu was developed by chef Dudley Nieto, who's opened a number of restaurants such as Mezcalina, Adobo Grill and Chapuline in Chicago, and Bar Taco, Rosa Mexicano-Lincoln Center and Dos Caminos Park Avenue in New York City.

"He's been all over in Chicago, New York, France and Mexico," Mendoza said. "He's opened a lot of restaurants."

The menu includes street tacos, such as a steak taco with cilantro, onion and avocado sauce, and chicken with sour cream, cilantro and caramelized onions.

"Each has its own ingredients, whether it's steak, pork, chicken or shrimp," Mendoza said. "Each is garnished differently."

The mixologist Tippling Bros. developed specialty cocktails, which are all tequila-based and feature fresh fruits, flowers and peppers. Coyote Cantina serves keg cocktails, which are made in batches and use nitrogen to preserve carbonation and consistency.

"This isn't the normal Mexican restaurant," Mendoza said. "It's more fine modern Latin cuisine. It's elevated and contemporary. We care more about presentation and quality and flavor."

Coyote Cantina also is planning to offer live after-hours music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There will be no cover charge.

"We want to appeal to a middle-aged older crowd," he said. "There's nothing like that. Schererville needed this kind of ambiance. We're bringing a downtown feel without the need for traveling."

For more information, call 219-319-0902 or visit coyotecantinanwi.com.
HOBART  Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, now president of Purdue University, told a business crowd at Avalon Manor Tuesday the Region had great untapped potential and that Purdue eventually may build a high school here.

Daniels returned to the Region to give a keynote speech at the Times Business and Industry Hall of Fame in Hobart. He replayed some of his greatest hits, such as how when he famously described Illinois' financial woes as "living next to the Simpsons," and quipped after Chicago lost its 2016 Olympic bid that "what's the world coming to when Chicago can't fix an election?"

Times Media Co. Publisher Chris White noted in his introduction the popular ex-governor won more votes than any candidate for statewide office in Indiana history  "a record that still stands today."

Daniels touted how he's reined in tuition expenses at Purdue; how the university aims to serve a new demographic by acquiring Kaplan University so it can break into the online education space; plans for a statewide network of Purdue Polytechnic Institute high schools; and recent progress made in Northwest Indiana.

The Region, however, first needs to put "what's in it for me?" government behind it, Daniels said.

"I still see articles about local officials doing things they shouldn't," he said.

"You've had leadership, you've spoken out, but it's just not tolerable. It gets in the way of a better life for you and succeeding generations. I see real success happening here. Act more in concert, act in the common good. Act as one community, not with everyone chiseling and protecting their own turf."

He cited the example of the $120 million carved from the Indiana Toll Road bonanza to fund the Regional Development Authority, which finances infrastructure projects that seek to benefit the entire region rather than individual counties or communities.

"You're a powerhouse if you put the whole Region in the same harness," Daniels said. "I'm still of the same mind as I was during the first of those 100 visits (as governor). This is a great area. There's so much to be grateful for, but there's so much room for improvement."

Daniels noted more Northwest Indiana high school graduates are applying to, getting into and attending Purdue University, which the Wall Street Journal recently ranked as tied with with University of California-Berkeley as the fourth best public university in the nation.

About 1,733 Northwest Indiana residents applied to enter Purdue-West Lafayette's 2017 freshman class, up from 1,197 in 2013. The number of admitted students from the Region grew to 1,022 in 2017, up from 605 in 2013, while the number to enroll rose to 601, up from 373 when Daniels took over as president.

The university is pursing several initiatives including a Purdue Polytechnic Institute offering K-12 education in inner-city Indianapolis that would prepare high school students for a STEM education at Purdue. The hope is eventually to roll it out statewide, including with a high school in the Region.

"My vision is that we hand them admission to Purdue University in their diploma," he said. We would like to do a network across the state, including somewhere in the Region."

Purdue also is looking to serve more nontraditional students by taking over the academic operations of Kaplan University, which currently serves 32,000 students, 60 percent of whom are older than 30 and 55 percent of whom hail from households where neither parent attended college.

"The Purdue of tomorrow will educate beyond its historical audiences," he said.

Daniels said he believed colleges should not leave behind working adults, just as he believed as governor that the often-overlooked Northwest Indiana mattered.

"Indiana cannot be great until all parts of Indiana are great," he said.

"This is the second largest concentration of people and potential in the state. There's been some progress lately, but the sky's the limit, especially with the travails of our neighbors to the west."

At the end of his talk, the former governor was presented with a few gifts, including a special pen from Albert's Jewelers, in Schererville, an iconic independent Region retailer.
The 10th class of the Times of Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame includes a billionaire who changed the way people invest in mutual funds, a pair of catalysts who have sought to revitalize downtown Hammond, a tech leader who protects NASA's information technology assets, a CEO who built a bank into a regional powerhouse with more than $3 billion in assets, a pioneering agritourism destination and arguably Northwest Indiana's leading voice for economic development.

They join prestigious company. Previous inductees include late billionaire Dean White, Munster booster Don Powers and Peoples Bank Executive Chairman David Bochnowski.

The class of 2017 included Morningstar Founder and Executive Chairman Joseph Mansueto, It's Just Seredipity owner Karen Maravilla, longtime El Taco Real manager Raymundo Garcia, Cimcor Founder and President/CEO Robert E. Johnson III and Horizon Bank CEO Craig Dwight.

Fair Oaks Farms was named Enterprise of the Year and NIPSCO Director of Economic Development Don Babcock was honored as Partner in Progress.

Mansueto, a Region native who graduated from Munster High School and has since donated $1 million to teachers there, appeared by video before the packed house in Avalon Manor in Hobart Tuesday.

"It was an ideal setting for kids to grow up in," he said.

"The steel mills certainly give the Region a lot of its character, instilling a strong work ethic. People are friendly and save their money. The values instilled in me is if you apply yourself and work hard, great things can happen."

Maravilla, Downtown Hammond Council president who's trying to lure more people there with events like Arts on the Avenue, said her approach to life has been shaped by the poem, "The Dash."

"The dash is the time between the year you were born and the year you died," she said. "So, think about this long and hard./Are there things you'd like to change?/For you never know how much time is left/that can be rearranged. So, when your eulogy is being read,/ with your life's actions to rehash ... /would you be proud of the things they say/about how you spent your dash?"

Garcia, who's long run the popular El Taco Real restaurant in downtown Hammond, encouraged business leaders in the audience to give positive affirmation the way the Times Media Co. has with its Hall of Fame.

"I saw a bit online where the comedian Jerry Seinfeld was talking about how all these awards shows are useless, self-serving and stupid. Well, I beg to differ," he said. "An attaboy or attagirl is a valid motivational gesture."

Dwight praised his employees at Horizon Bank, saying "we all know it's not one person who contributes to a successful business operation." He stressed the importance of family and talked about how he overcame initial skepticism about whether he was qualified to lead a publicly traded bank.

"The last 19 years has been an incredible ride," he said. "To go from $360 million to $3.2 billion in 19 years is phenomenal. The first year we made less than $1 million. Now we make $3 million a month. We were located in two counties; now we're located in 29 counties. I think it's really cool that a little bank from Michigan City, Indiana, with employees from Northwest Indiana was able to become a regional player."

Johnson, whose clients include the U.S. Air Force and the Milwaukee Brewers, said it was hard for him to understand how doing what he was passionate about and loved led him to share a podium with such esteemed business luminaries.

"Put in computer terms, it does not compute," he said. "This honor, this recognition today, only serves to strengthen my commitment, my dedication to Northwest Indiana and Cimcor, a commitment that extends far beyond the walls of our offices and into the communities, both locally and regionally. I will remain steadfast in my wish to have Cimcor being an internationally recognized leader."

Fair Oaks CEO Gary Corbett talked about how the agritourist farm in Jasper and Newton counties would continue to build on its success by adding new facilities, including a hotel that should open next year and a John Deere equipment exhibit.

"We're excited about the future," he said. "We'd like to grow and grow. The best is yet to come."

Babcock, who Times publisher Chris White described as "Mr. Region" and "Northwest Indiana's biggest cheerleader for economic development," urged the audience in an emotional speech to work to make Northwest Indiana a better place. He said Northwest Indiana can continue to lure large manufacturing facilities and attract people with lakefront hotels, restaurants and parks.

Lawmakers are increasingly starting to share a vision about how to grow the Region, and South Shore Line projects will bring progress, Babcock said.

"As we get bolder and hopefully wiser and more driven for a better future for Northwest Indiana, there's always going to be naysayers," Babcock said.

"There are going to be people who don't want something in their backyard or their community. They're afraid of change. Those naysayers have some points that need to be incorporated in our plans ... but we're not stopping. So when those naysayers bring their sledgehammers and their pitchforks and their venom and their negative political agendas, just leave them on the side. Just leave them on the side.

"Stay with the yeasayers. Stay with the brave hearts. Stay with the people who believe Northwest Indiana's best days are ahead of us, and that our collective energies can make it so."
Area universities are ramping up marketing efforts geared to international students to combat growing fears that President Donald Trump's travel ban and stance on immigration reflect a United States that may be growing less welcoming to foreigners.

Critics of the travel ban are concerned it might have a chilling effect on international students interested in studying and earning degrees in the United States.

Three months after the federal appeals court in California blocked President Trump's first travel ban, a three-judge panel of the same court heard arguments this week in a challenge to his revised ban, this one limiting travel from six predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also would temporarily bar new visas for citizens of those countries.

In February, a federal judge in Seattle halted the original travel ban nationwide, and a three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to reinstate it.

There also is a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals case dealing with the decision of a federal judge in Maryland to block a portion of the revised travel ban. There is no word yet on when that court might rule.

By contrast, a 2016 Open Doors Report on international education, released in November, said the number of international students at U.S. colleges and universities surpassed 1 million for the first time during the 2015-16 academic year. That number was up 7 percent from the previous year.

Purdue University Northwest spokesman Wes Lukoshus said although it is difficult to determine exactly how much the current national political climate will affect international student enrollment at Purdue Northwest, the university expects a slight decline.

"That expressed, other factors have affected our international enrollment the past year and beyond, including reduced scholarships and other financial aid made available by international constituents to their students," he said.

Meantime, we continue to have excellent relationships with our international constituents, and we have received no indication of concern or anxiety from our currently enrolled international students. As a university committed to student-centeredness, Purdue Northwest is always exploring new strategies for making Purdue Northwest an attractive choice for all of our students to obtain a high quality education while enjoying a positive university experience, Lukoshsus said.

Purdue Northwest has 760 international students enrolled in graduate and undergraduate programs. Of the total number, 509, or 67 percent, come from the following countries: China (207); Saudi Arabia (196); and India (109). The remainder are from a variety of different countries.

VU working to allay concerns of foreign students

Laura Coleman, Valparaiso University's associate director for international admission, said VU has an International Recruitment Committee made up of professionals from various departments around the campus whose focus is to increase international student enrollment.

She said university representatives have had a lot of one-on-one conversations with students who have expressed anxieties about studying in the U.S. and discuss the benefits of coming to a school like Valparaiso University to earn their degree.

Coleman said the university has been in frequent communication with prospective students over the past several months, assuring students that VU and the Valparaiso community are a safe and welcoming place to live, and have produced videos and email campaigns that support that message.

"We tell them about our helpful faculty and staff, the classmates that will become their friends, and the kind members of our community they'll meet around town. While this is perhaps a confusing time for students and their parents, we hope to reassure them that our international students have an excellent experience here at Valpo," she said.

"I have had conversations with students who are concerned about coming to the U.S.A. after the presidential election or subsequent executive orders, but there are also students who are affected by currency exchange rates, student visa issuance rates and other factors that affect their ability to study in the U.S.A., too."

She said there currently is an increase in international undergraduate applications, and a slight decrease in graduate applications.

"We often see application numbers shift slightly from year to year due to a number of external factors," she said.

"While our application numbers remain relatively strong, I believe it will be more telling to see how many students enroll in August. We are working hard with every single admitted student to help them realize their goal of studying here in the U.S.A."

The university also has joined the #YouAreWelcomeHere project, led by Temple University, in Philadelphia, which has brought together hundreds of colleges to spread the message that international students are an important part of American university campuses, and are committed to continue welcoming and supporting them at schools in the U.S.

The campaign has been adopted by more than 100 American colleges and universities.

According to Indiana Universitys Office of University Institutional Research and Reporting, 16 international students were enrolled at IU Northwest for the spring 2017 term. IU officials said IU Northwest does not actively recruit international students.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
HOBART  The Indiana Youth Institute is hosting a workshop for educators and youth workers to help them better involve parents in their student's high school life.

IYI representatives say studies show that as students progress through school, parental involvement decreases dramatically.

As a result, IYI decided to host workshops around the state to talk about the critical role that parents play in their child's development and future success, and how to help young people make a successful transition from high school into college.

The workshop will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. today at Hobart High School, 2211 East 10th Street. This training is presented in partnership with the Regional Education Services Center.

The guest speaker is Rachel Gonzalez. Gonzalez is the director of school partnerships for California-based Families in Schools, and she will lead the session using the organizations nationally recognized family engagement training program.

Attendees will participate in a highly interactive and practical workshop, designed to provide them with new strategies to create meaningful partnerships with families that improve youth outcomes, specifically focusing on college and career planning.
LAPORTE  New life is breathing into the legacy of the LaPorte native who was Indiana's 40th governor.

A seven-mile stretch of Ind. 2 from LaPorte's east side to U.S 20, outside Rolling Prairie, is now called the Harold W. Handley Highway.

It's an honor many felt was long overdue for a man whose long list of accomplishments during his four years as governor included a push to repeal the state property tax, which was drastically reduced as a result. He also spearheaded the consolidation of 141 state agencies into 11 departments and placed more resources into mental health.

Perhaps his most controversial move was advocating for a 50-percent increase in Indiana's gasoline tax to balance the state's budget, earning him the nickname "High Tax Harold."

Handley was governor from 1957 to 1961. Prior to that, he was lieutenant governor and twice a state senator. The son of a LaPorte furniture store owner, he gave up his seat in the state Senate to enlist in the U.S. Army when the nation became involved in World War II. He came back to regain his seat in the Senate.

In addition to the portion of Ind. 2 named after the former governor, LaPorte Community Schools will retain his name on a new elementary school under construction.

The new Handley Elementary School is being constructed adjacent to the present building, which was constructed in 1962.

Former mayor Leigh Morris was attending Ball State University when he got to know Handley. Morris was an intern during a session of the General Assembly when Handley was lieutenant governor. He was impressed not only by Handley's abilities to get things done, but also how well he treated others and made them feel so welcome.

"When you met him, you just felt like you knew him. He almost had his arms around you even though he really didn't," Morris said. He thought so much of Handley that on special occasions he wears a blue and white polka dot bow tie like the one Handley was known for always wearing.

Handley died of a heart attack at age 62 in 1972. After leaving the governor's office, Handley remained in Indianapolis, where he started a public relations business.

His son, Ken, was among the dozen or so family members attending the recent unveiling of a highway sign carrying his father's name.

"Although there are no longer any living members of our family who remain in LaPorte, our roots will always remain in place here and will be forever found along the banks of Pine Lake," said Ken Handley. "I can only regard this day as one of the most special days of my life."
VALPARAISO  A 20-year-old South Haven man has been charged with attempted murder on allegations he shot another man early Monday over accusations both men had sex with each other's girlfriends, police said.

Daniel Moro, of the 700 block of Fremont Road, is accused of shooting the other man in the side of the head around 1 a.m. along Creekview Court, west of Ash Street in Portage, according to charging information.

He is also charged with felony counts of aggravated battery and possession of a handgun without a permit, after having a felony conviction within 15 years. Moro was convicted of resisting law enforcement April 10, according to court records.

Witnesses told police Moro and the shooting victim had engaged in a physical fight Sunday. They encountered one another again early Monday because the victim believed Moro had his hat and cellphone.

Moro showed up with his girlfriend in the area on Creekview Court where the victim lived and tried to attack the other man, according to charging information. When Moro was stopped, he allegedly ran to the vehicle he arrived in, pulled out a handgun, and fired four or five rounds at the victim.

The victim had a bullet entrance wound on the left side of his head just in front of his ear and a cut on his nose, police said.

Moro's girlfriend said she brought the .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun, police said. She does not have a permit for the gun, which she said she bought from a friend and carries for safety, police said.

Police said they recovered the gun from a ditch along County Road 700 North, where the girlfriend said she pitched it as she and Moro fled the scene.
A longtime Highland business may soon move to Griffith if its new location matches up with a zoning change made by the Town Council on Tuesday.

Guardian Pest Control, Inc. wants to consolidate its offices into one location at 1535 N. Cline Ave., the former site of another longtime business, Jeanne's Dance Academy.

Guardian currently operates offices in Valparaiso and at 3045 45th St. in Highland.

The move was approved by the Plan Commission last month. It still needs to be determined if it falls within the approved business zone.

"We've instructed our attorney to review all the issues," including whether a pest control operation falls under the umbrella of the business zone, said Council President Rick Ryfa, R-3rd.

The council will vote accordingly, to approve or deny, at its next meeting, Ryfa said.

Prior to its rezoning vote, the council allowed a large audience to offer opinions on the relocation.

Most of the speakers were residents who live near the site.

"I do not condone the killing of wildlife or the storing of chemicals," said Patti Reyome, who advised that she has a petition signed by other opposing residents.

Her husband, Jack, questioned whether the business falls under the zoning classification.

"Gone are the days of the 55-gallon drum," Guardian attorney George Patrick said.

He explained that pest control chemicals arrive in small containers and that only a handful of them are stored at the business.

"All of the chemical side is heavily regulated by the state," Patrick added.

Resident Jennifer Long said she is upset that some animals will be euthanized at the business.

Patrick noted that some wildlife, such as raccoons removed from residential attics, are required by the state to be terminated instead of relocating them and upsetting the wildlife balance of other locales.

He added that the bodies are frozen and picked up, usually within 24 hours, by the town's refuse collection provider, Republic Services of Indiana.

"You won't smell them, you won't notice them," Patrick assured the residents.

While residents said they had nothing against a pest control company, some questioned how dangerous the chemicals are.

"These products are very low (in) toxicity," technician Nathan Comanse said.

Ryfa noted that Tuesday's rezoning of the site should have been done many years ago since the house is in a business area along Cline Avenue.

Patrick told the Plan Commission last month the owner hopes to make the move in early July.
GARY  By a 6-3 vote, the City Council approved a welcoming city ordinance designed to provide some protection for non-citizen residents living in Gary.

Among the provisions, the ordinance prohibits requesting or investigating the legal status of an individual unless required by a court order. It also says immigration enforcement actions are a federal responsibility and city resources shall not be commandeered to enforce federal immigration law.

The ordinance covers a broad range of other issues relating to immigrants as well. For instance, when it comes to applications related to municipal benefits, the ordinance calls for the city to delete questions regarding citizenship or immigrant status  other than those required by statute, ordinance, federal law or court order.

Gary resident Ruth Needleman, a member of an organization called Northwest Indiana Resist and perhaps the most vocal proponent of the ordinance, was among a group of residents applauding the council's decision Tuesday.

"I think it is a very important step for the city and for the Region to support our residents and to support the law," Needleman said. "Because the law says clearly  the 10th Amendment of the Constitution  that local police forces cannot be commandeered to do the work of the federal government. And we need to insist on this because it is what brings safety to our community and it also brings solidarity among our communities and that's the most important thing we need."

Attorney Alfredo Estrada, representing local groups trying to have the ordinance approved in Gary and elsewhere in Northwest Indiana, said he and others have also approached Hammond, East Chicago, Highland, Lake Station and Michigan City.

Councilwoman Ragen Hatcher, D-at large, thought it was important for Gary to lead the way in adopting the ordinance.

In addition to having the support of the majority of the Gary City Council, the ordinance was also supported by Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson.

One of the council members voting against the ordinance, council President Ron Brewer, D-at large, had earlier questioned the need for the ordinance. He suggested at a committee meeting that some of the policies in the ordinance were already covered by other federal laws and city ordinances or could be included in a policy manual. He also contended the city does not have a large immigrant population.

Freeman-Wilson, however, said even if there was only one undocumented immigrant in the city, especially one with children, "we need to make sure that they are in some way protected."

One of President Donald Trump's executive order limits federal funding if a state or municipality doesn't adhere to 8 U.S.C. 1373 regarding cooperating or communicating with the federal government, although it has been challenged in court.

Estrada and Freeman-Wilson have both said they do not think the passage of the ordinance would endanger federal grant money for the city. Freeman-Wilson has said that local law enforcement officials cooperate and will continue to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service officials.

The sponsor of the 2011 state law dealing with immigration issues, state Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, suggested last week, however, that the city might be opening itself up for a lawsuit, which could be filed by any resident of the state as well as the attorney general. Delph said with all the limitations in the ordinance regarding cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, it is at minimum in violation of the spirit of the state law. In regard to federal immigration law, Delph believes that by approving the ordinance, the city also would be "inviting a major standoff with the U.S. Department of Justice."
Portage Kiwanis Club is celebrating 20 years in the community by doing what it does besthelping Portage Township children, families, and local nonprofit organizations in Portage, the State of Indiana, and around the world.

We support many nonprofit organizations in town that help our local children said Nancy Simpson, club president. And our affiliation with Kiwanis International also brings attention to the needs around the world." Kiwanis International has partnered with UNICEF to eliminate Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) in developing countries. It is a project that has been going on since 2010 when Kiwanis pledged to raise $110 million to eradicate a deadly disease afflicting newborn babies and their mothers. UNICEF and Kiwanis previously worked together for the Worldwide Service Project to virtually eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) from the globe.

On the state level, Portage Kiwanis and Kiwanis clubs throughout the state have traditionally been strong supporters of Riley Childrens Hospital, raising funds for a helipad, construction of their newest hospital wing and other projects, big and small, as needed.

Here at home, Kiwanis proudly raises funds for their Myron Fessler Scholarship fund, awarding graduating seniors pursuing higher education with a $500 scholarship. The club also raises money for the Dictionary Project in which dictionaries are provided, annually, for all third grade students in the Portage Township School system. Weve been doing The Dictionary Project for 10 years now, I believe this is the first high school graduation class coming through school that received a dictionary from us," said Shannon Burhans, club member and Dictionary Project chair.

The club awarded several worthy nonprofit organizations with donation checks. Organizations included: Family Youth Services Bureau, Portage Township Food Pantry, Rebuilding Together-Portage, Chasing Dreams, Portage Fire Department/Police Department for the DOS Program (Infant Mortality Education) and Royal Family Kids Camp.

To learn more about Portage Kiwanis, the club is inviting the community to attend a Meet the Club membership/information breakfast meeting at 7:30 a.m. May 23 in the cafe at Porter Hospital-Portage Campus. Call 219-781-3295 or visit the club @PortageK.
VALPARAISO  The Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity (PAD) and the Womens Law Student Association (WLSA) donated $5,142 to the American Cancer Society.

The two groups came together to present their donation to Janet Wartman from Relay for Life and Nicole Van Duyn from Making Strides Against Cancer.

"I am so honored as community manager of the American Cancer Society to work with such an amazing and inspiring group of men and women as the Valparaiso University Law School students who work so hard not only toward their degree but also in their efforts to help our mission come alive. As a four-time survivor, I am overjoyed that a team of students would work so hard to make such a difference in our community," Wartman said.

WLSA raised more than $3,500 through multiple events during the 2016-2017 academic year including a month-long Paint Valpo Pink Drive, Valparaiso University Law School apparel sales, a Mr. Valpo law competition, pink hair extension sales and by supporting the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.

The American Cancer Society is an amazing organization that truly cares not only about the research but about the community and helping those locally and nationally fighting the battle against cancer. The people that run Relay and Making Strides and all of the people that assist in making the walks possible are people who believe and care about the cause. The passion and dedication of all of those involved make me excited to be involved in raising money for such wonderful organizations, said Erika Butler, third-year law student and president of WLSA.

The PAD group was able to raise $1,600 for Relay for Life by hosting the second annual Valparaiso Law Date Auction. During the event, a local survivor spoke about her personal journey and how the American Cancer Society (ACS) and Relay for Life helped her during her fight against cancer.
WASHINGTON  Surrounded by multiplying questions, President Donald Trump complained Wednesday that "no politician in history" has been treated worse. Democrats demanded an independent commission to dig into his firing of FBI Director James Comey, but Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan cautioned against "rushing to judgment."

Ryan said Congress needs to get the facts, but "it is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president." Elijah Cummings, top Democrat on a key House oversight panel, countered that Ryan and the Republicans had shown "zero, zero, zero appetite for any investigation of President Trump."

The White House has denied reports that Trump pressed Comey to drop an investigation into Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn. In addition Trump is facing pointed questions about his discussions with Russian diplomats during which he is reported to have disclosed classified information.

Also Tuesday, in an extraordinary turn of events, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to turn over to Congress records of Trump's discussions with the diplomats.

The White House has played down the importance and secrecy of the information Trump gave to the Russians, which had been supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement. Trump himself said he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia. Yet U.S. allies and some members of Congress have expressed alarm.

Republicans and Democrats alike were eager to hear from Comey, who has increasingly emerged as a central figure in the unfolding drama.

The Senate intelligence committee on Wednesday asked Comey to appear before the panel in both open and closed sessions. The committee also asked acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe to give the committee any notes that Comey might have made regarding discussions he had with White House or Justice Department officials about Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Putin told a news conference that he would be willing to turn over notes of Trump's meeting with the Russian diplomats if the White House agreed. He dismissed outrage over Trump's disclosures as U.S. politicians whipping up "anti-Russian sentiment."

Asked what he thinks of the Trump presidency, Putin said it's up to the American people to judge and his performance can be rated "only when he's allowed to work at full capacity," implying that someone is hampering Trump's efforts.

Trump himself hasn't directly addressed the latest allegations that he pressured Comey to drop the Flynn investigation. But the swirling questions about his conduct were clearly on his mind when he told graduates at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut that "no politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly."

Striking a defiant stance, he added: "You can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams. ... I guess that's why we won. Adversity makes you stronger. Don't give in, don't back down. ... And the more righteous your fight, the more opposition that you will face."

As for Comey, whom Trump fired last week, the FBI director wrote in a memo after a February meeting at the White House that the new president had asked him to shut down the FBI's investigation of Flynn and his Russian contacts, said a person who had read the memo. The Flynn investigation was part of a broader probe into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.

Comey's memo, an apparent effort to create a paper trail of his contacts with the White House, would be the clearest evidence to date that the president has tried to influence the investigation.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Republican chairman of the House oversight committee, sent a letter to the FBI on Tuesday requesting that it turn over all documents and recordings that detail communications between Comey and Trump. He said he would give the FBI a week and then "if we need a subpoena, we'll do it."

John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said late Tuesday that the developments had reached "Watergate size and scale."

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said simply, "It would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the White House."

The person who described the Comey memo to the AP was not authorized to discuss it by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The existence of the memo was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times.

The White House vigorously denied it all. "While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," a White House statement said.

Trump fired Flynn on Feb. 13, on grounds that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russians.

The intensifying drama comes as Trump is set to embark Friday on his first foreign trip, which had been optimistically viewed by some aides as an opportunity to reset an administration floundering under an inexperienced president.

Mark Warner of Virginia, top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said he would ask Comey for additional material as part of that panel's investigation. "Memos, transcripts, tapes  the list keeps getting longer," he said.

According to the Times, Comey wrote in the February memo that Trump told him Flynn had done nothing wrong. Comey said he replied that "I agree he is a good guy" but said nothing to Trump about limiting the investigation.

___

Associated Press writers Vivian Salama and Jill Colvin contributed.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has a long track record of picking fights with Mayor Bill de Blasio, but the political feuding does not seem to be hurting him with New Yorkers. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.

Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have clashed over everything from the fate of one-antlered deer in Harlem to tax policy, often with no clear winners emerging unscathed. But when it comes to the battle over approval ratings, the governor can chalk up a victory in the five boroughs.

Fifty-eight percent of New Yorkers give him high marks. That's five points more that de Blasio got from his constituents. It is, however, a slight dip for the governor from the last time we polled back in December.

"He's got a big majority that's in favor of him. He does it among all groups except Republicans. He's in fine shape," said Baruch College pollster Doug Muzzio.

New Yorkers are also supportive of a White House campaign by Cuomo. By a nearly two to one margin, New Yorkers say they would want to see the governor run for president in 2020. Back in December, before President Donald Trump's inauguration, it was just the opposite, with a plurality of New Yorkers saying they did not want him to run.

"It's another sharp reversal," Muzzio said. "In December, they said, 'Don't go.' They are saying, 'Go, go, go.' And again, all the groups are in favor of it except Republicans."

New Yorkers are sending a very different message to de Blasio, a frequent and forceful critic of the president and his policies.

"It's real. The opinion toward de Blasio is far less favorable than it is toward the governor," Muzzio said.

By a two to one margin, New Yorkers say they do not want to see the mayor run for president.

They also oppose a bid by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, with 43 percent of residents saying they do not want her to run in 2020. 24 percent say they do want to see her get in the race.

Gillibrand has already said shes not running, but thought Cuomo could make a good candidate.

It's also not clear whether the governor or mayor would actually run for president in three-and-a-half years. But speculation about the political plans for all three has already begun.
NEW YORK - A top leader of a Puerto Rican militant group that said it was responsible for more than 100 bombings during the 1970s and early 1980s, including one in New York, was freed Wednesday.

Oscar Lopez Rivera has been under house arrest in Puerto Rico since February after serving 35 years in prison.

His sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama in January.

The 74-year-old belonged to a separatist group that claimed responsibility for a string of bombings across the U.S. including one at Manhattan's Fraunces Tavern in 1975.

He was never tied to any specific bombing, but he was convicted on a number of charges including seditious conspiracy.

Lopez Rivera is set to be honored with a special "National Freedom Hero" award at next month's Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan.
NEW YORK - The New York City Police Department is investigating after a woman was struck and killed by a privately owned garbage truck Tuesday night in Greenwich Village.

The 60-year-old victim was hit by the truck as she crossed the street near Sixth Avenue and 8th Street around 11:30 p.m.

She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police have not yet made any arrests.
Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed residents at a town hall meeting in Brooklyn Tuesday night.

The mayor spoke to voters in Borough Park about issues like water bills, sidewalk space and speeding on Ocean Parkway.

The area favored de Blasio's Republican opponents during his first bid for mayor. Instead of trying to win residents over, he touted the city's growth under his leadership.

Meanwhile, a local activist wants the conservative community to look past de Blasio's party affiliation this time around.

"I know a lot of people, to their great credit in this room, stood by New York City when times weren't so good, but everyone should be proud of the progress we have made together," de Blasio said.

"He's done things for the community, the security, the UPK, which Yeshivas are eligible for. He could've made it very easy, Yeshivas not eligible. So he's done a lot of things that really help the community," said Leon Goldenberg, a community activist and a de Blasio supporter.

The mayor has held several town halls around the city over the past year.
Shaesta Waiz, Afghanistan's first female certified civilian pilot, arrives in Montreal, Canada, on Monday on the third leg of her round-the-world solo flight.Catherine Legault / Agence Francepresse

MONTREAL, Canada - An Afghan pilot hoping to become the youngest woman in history to complete a solo round-the-world flight was preparing on Monday to start the Transatlantic leg of her journey.

Shaesta Waiz, 29, was born in a refugee camp at the end of the war in Afghanistan before immigrating with her family to the United States in 1987.

There, she discovered a passion for flying and obtained her pilot's license - becoming the youngest certified civilian female pilot from Afghanistan.

Now she wants to share that sense of freedom of soaring high above ground with other young women.

"When I found my passion - flying - that's when I started to challenge myself. I started to read. I started to do better in maths. I started to look at the world differently, the sky differently," Waiz said as she made a stopover in Montreal, Canada.

"What's important is finding your passion and going after it."

Waiz took off from Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday and has mapped out a route that will take her aboard her Beechcraft Bonanza A36 aircraft approximately 25,800 kilometers to more than 18 countries, including Spain, Egypt, India, Singapore and Australia, before ending the trip back in Florida in August.

During her 30 stopovers, the engineering graduate and the International Civil Aviation Organization, which is backing her trip, will host events to try to get schoolchildren interested in science - notably aeronautics.

According to ICAO figures, less than 5 percent of commercial pilots are women.

"If you really break it down into science, technology, engineering and math and explore what those career fields offer, it's very exciting," Waiz said.

"We hope to present to the young kids at these events what those careers are ... and hopefully get them to pursue these careers that are in need of more talent."

On the website of her nonprofit Dreams Soar, she said: "Every time I open the door of an aircraft, I ask myself, 'How did a girl with my background become so lucky?' The truth is, anyone can be me."

Agence France-presse
Forget the so-called First 100 days benchmark. Its been only a month, and Alabamas new governor Kay Ivey already has done more in that leadership role than what many feel the state has seen in years.

Granted, some of the early fruit to show for it was hanging low on the trees, but nonetheless, Ivey already has restored some semblance of desperately needed leadership and credibility to the governors office.

The question now will be can she maintain that ability? Followed by the question, will she want to continue when elections roll around in 2018?

Iveys early track record, however, is a good one, and she deserves credit.

Down to business

It also comes much to the surprise of many statehouse colleagues and observers, some of whom scoffed at the notion of Ivey being a strong-willed governor. Few saw her as emerging from a social firefly to a take-charge, down-to-business woman willing and skillful enough to make a difference so soon.

She began by saving the state $91,000 on her first day in office.

There was no room on her cabinet for inherited baggage, and thats how she saw Jon Mason, the director of former Gov. Robert Bentleys faith-based services and the husband of Rebekah Mason, the woman whose relationship with Bentley helped lead to his downfall.

So Ivey, within 24 hours, dismissed Jon Mason and ended that connection.

Beyond that, she seems to have developed an early habit of being at the right place at the right time and saying the right things. Sometimes, being a lobbyist for and supporter of Alabama is what is needed most from the governors office.

Showing her strength

From the bolder side, she wasted little time changing the end-run-around Bentley did with the recently vacant U.S. Senate seat by his appointing the man leading an investigation of Bentley. Or so we thought.

Bentley said new Sen. Luther Strange could have at it until at least the 2018 election cycle. Ivey wasnt shy in the least bit in making her first power play by rewriting the future of that Senate seat, calling for special elections  this year, and not waiting until 2018.

Ivey, 72, is no stranger to public office, having served the state in some capacity since the 1980s. But she seems to relish the role of governor, and more importantly, she seems to understand why a sense of stability and credibility are so important.

Especially now, in the wake of so much political corruption and backwash that has occurred in the last year. Alabama has an image black eye that needs a slow heal.

And that certainly is one reason why many lawmakers are no doubt willing to share an extended political honeymoon with Ivey. Such probably is a wise move.

Voters, beware

The future political scene leading to the 2018 elections will be a live wire for Alabama voters and should be fun to watch.

More meaningful is the duty to watch. Alabama voters dont need to make the same mistakes they have in the past and elect leaders based on personality, name recognition or anything else other than merit, dedication and ability to serve.

Ivey, whether she chooses to run again herself or bows out, is providing us in the early going a nice bridge from a stormy past to a sunnier future.

Alabama needs it.

Troy Turner is editor of the Opelika-Auburn News. He can be contacted at tturner@oanow.com.
A countrys electoral system is the method used to calculate the number of elected positions in government that individuals and parties are awarded after elections. In other words, it is the way that votes are translated into seats in parliament or in other areas of government (such as the presidency). There are many different types of electoral systems in use around the world, and even within individual countries, different electoral systems may be found in different regions and at different levels of government (e.g., for elections to school boards, city councils, state legislatures, governorships, etc.). Electoral systems can be divided into three general types: 1. Plurality electoral systems Also called first-past-the-post or winner-take-all systems, plurality systems simply award a seat to the individual candidate who receives the most votes in an election. The candidate need not get a majority (50%+) of the vote to win; so long as he has a larger number of votes than all other candidates, he is declared the winner. Plurality systems normally depend on single-member constituencies, and allow voters to indicate only one vote on their ballot (by pulling a single lever, punching a hole in the ballot, making an X, etc.) Plurality electoral systems also tend to encourage the growth of relatively stable political systems dominated by two major parties (a phenomenon known as Duvergers Law). Such an electoral system, though, clearly does not represent the interests of all (or even most) voters. In fact, since a candidate need have only a plurality of votes to be elected, most voters may actually have voted against the winner (although their votes are split among several candidates). Elections for the House and Senate in the United States and for the House of Commons in the United Kingdom use the plurality system. The US presidential election is also generally considered a plurality system, but the existence of the Electoral College actually makes it a strange hybrid of plurality and majority systems. 2. Majority electoral systems Also called second ballot systems, majority electoral systems attempt to provide for a greater degree of representativeness by requiring that candidates achieve a majority of votes in order to win. Majority is normally defined as 50%-plus-one-vote. If no candidate gets a majority of votes, then a second round of voting is held (often a week or so after the initial ballot). In the second round of voting, only a select number of candidates from the first round are allowed to participate. In some countries, such as Russia, the top two vote-getters in the first round move on to the second round. In other countries, such as France, all candidates with a minimum threshold percentage of votes (in the French case, 12.5% of all registered voters) move on to the second round. Like plurality systems, majority systems usually rely on single-member constituencies, and allow voters to indicate only one preference on their ballot. Presidential elections in Austria, Finland, Portugal, Russia and other east European states, as well as presidential and National Assembly elections in France, make use of various forms of majority electoral systems. The US Electoral College also has components of a majority system, because a presidential candidate must get 50%-plus-one electoral votes (270 out of 538) in order to win. If no candidate reaches the 270 mark, the election is decided by the House of Representatives. In determining who votes for whom in the Electoral College, though, the US presidential race is a strict plurality system: The candidate who gets a plurality of the popular vote in a state gets all that states electoral votes. 3. Proportional representation Also known as PR, proportional representation is the general name for a class of voting systems that attempt to make the percentage of offices awarded to candidates reflect as closely as possible the percentage of votes that they received in the election. It is the most widely used set of electoral systems in the world, and its variants can be found at some level of government in almost every country (including the United States, where some city councils are elected using forms of PR). The most straightforward version of PR is simply to award a party the same percentage of seats in parliament as it gets votes at the polls. Thus, if a party won 40% of the vote it would receive 40% of the seats. However, there are clear problems with such a system: Should parties that receive only 0.001% of the vote also be represented? What happens if the voting percentages do not translate evenly into seats? How do you award a party 19.5 seats if it got 19.5% of the vote? More sophisticated PR systems attempt to get around these problems. Two of the most widely used are discussed below. Party list sytems Under party list forms of PR, voters normally vote for parties rather than for individual candidates. Under a closed party list system the parties themselves determine who will fill the seats that they have been allocated; voters vote only for a particular party, and then it is up to the party to decide which party members will actually serve as representatives. Legislative elections in Israel and Germany are conducted according to such a system. Under an open party list system, voters are given some degree of choice among individual candidates, in addition to voting for entire parties. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland all have versions of open party list systems. Under all party list systems, though, one still needs some method for allocating seats to individual parties. One commonly used method is named for the nineteenth-century Belgian mathematician Victor dHondt, and is normally referred to as a highest average method using the dHondt formula. For example, assume that we have an election with 1,000 total voters in which five parties (A, B, C, D, and E) have gained 100 (10%), 150 (15%), 300 (30%), 400 (40%), and 50 (5%) votes, respectively. Assume also that, in our electoral constituency, there are 3 seats up for election; that all votes cast are valid; and that the electoral system has a 7% vote threshold. (That is, parties must get at least 7% of the total valid votes cast in order to participate in the distribution of seats.) Party E would thus be elimiated from competition at the outset. The dHondt method of seat allocation then proceeds in the following steps. 1. Place the total number of votes garnered by the competing parties (A, B, C, and D. E has been eliminated) in a row. 100 150 300 400 2. Divide each figure in the row by 1, 2, 3, . . ., n. (How far you take the division varies. The more seats you have to allocate, the further you have to divide. For our purposes, 3 or 4 divisions should do the trick.)



Party A Party B Party C Party D











100 150 300 400 div. by 1 100 150 300 400 div. by 2 50 75 150 200 div. by 3 33 50 100 133 div. by 4 25 37.5 75 100 3. Pick the highest quotient in the list (including the quotients obtained by dividing the votes by 1). The highest quotient is 400 in the Party D column. We therefore award one seat to Party D. 4. Pick the next highest quotient in the list. The next highest quotient is 300 in the Party C column. We therefore award one seat to Party C. 5. Pick the next highest quotient in the list. The next highest quotient is 200 in the Party D column. We therefore award another seat to Party D. We have successfully filled all the seats available in this constituency. The final results of the election are therefore: Party C 1 seat (or 33% of the total available seats)

Party D 2 seats (or 66% of the total available seats) Notice why we call this system proportional representation: Under a plurality system, Party D would have received 100% of the seats because that party received a plurality (40%) of the vote--even though 60% of voters voted against Party D by choosing other parties. Under PR, however, we are able to represent some of the interests of the other voters. Party Ds representation in parliament is reduced to 66% of seats, while Party Cs is increased to 33% of seats. The system yields a result that is clearly not perfectly proportional. But the distribution more closely approximates the actual percentage of votes that each party received than would a plurality or majority system. The dHondt method is only one way of allocating seats in party list systems. Other methods include the Saint-Lague method where the divisor is the set of odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, . . ., n) and the modified Saint-Lague method used in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, where the divisor is 1.4 plus the set of odd numbers (1.4, 3, 5, 7, 9, . . . , n). Other methods divide the votes by a mathematically derived quota, such as the Droop quota or the Hare quota (see below) One other feature of party list systems is called the vote threshold. Party list systems normally establish by law an arbitrary percentage of the vote that parties have to pass before they can be considered in the allocation of seats. The figure ranges from 0.67% in the Netherlands to 5% in Germany and Russia, or even more. Any party that does not reach the threshold is excluded from the calculation of seats. The vote threshold simplifies the process of seat allocation and discourages fringe parties (those that are likely to gain very few votes) from competing in the elections. Obviously, the higher the vote threshold, the fewer the parties that will be represented in parliament. Single transferable vote (STV) STV is another important form of proportional representation. In various forms, it is used widely in many countries, although only Ireland, Australia, and Malta have used it in major national elections. Other countries have used it in local elections, and even some communities in the United States (such as Cambridge, MA) use it today. Many student organizations in Europe also use this system for election to university student associations, because it yields an even more proportional result than party list systems, and certainly more proportional than plurality or majority voting. STV was originally developed by Thomas Hare (1806-1891), a British politician whose writings greatly influenced the views of the philosopher John Stuart Mill. Under STV, voters vote for individuals, not for parties as in the party list system. The key feature of STV is that individual voters rank candidates according to their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, . . ., nth choices. Rather than simply voting for a single candidate, voters have the opportunity to express a range of preferences for several candidates on the ballot. Like party list systems, though, STV depends on having multi-member constituencies. The complicated part of STV is tabulating the seats to be awarded after the votes have been cast. As with party list systems, there are a number of mathematical formulas that one can use to accomplish this task. One of the most widely used methods is known as the Droop quota, named for the nineteenth-century thinker and mathematician H. R. Droop. The Droop quota is used to determine the minimal number of votes that an individual candidate must get in order to be awarded a seat. It is calculated using the formula: [V/(S+1)] +1 where V is the total number of valid votes cast in the constituency, and S is the total number seats up for election in the constituency. Hence, if we have 1,000 votes cast for 3 seats, the Droop quota is [ 1,000 / (3 + 1) ] + 1 = 251. That means that any candidate who is able to get at least 251 votes will be assured of winning a seat. Once the Droop quota has been calculated and all the votes collected, we still have to allocate the seats. In this example, assume that we have 5 candidates (A, B, C, D, E) for 3 seats. In accordance with STV, individual voters have ranked each of these candidates (1 to 5, with one being the first-choice candidate) on their ballots. The allocation of seats then proceeds according to the following steps--but remember that there are a variety of STV methods in use. We will try to keep things very simple here: 1. Pull each ballot out of the ballot box one at a time and place them in piles according to the first-choice candidate marked on the ballot (e.g., if a ballot indicates candidate C as the first choice, place it in a pile marked C). 2. As soon as one pile of ballots reaches 251, that candidate is awarded a seat. Let us assume that candidate C was the first to reach the Droop quota of 251 first-choice ballots. 3. Continue drawing ballots out of the ballot box and placing them in piles according to the first-choice candidate marked on the ballot. But since C has already been elected, place any ballots that indicate candidate C as first choice in the pile of the candidate indicated on that ballot as the voters second choice. For example, if you pull out a ballot that indicates candidate C as first choice and candidate A as second choice, place the ballot in the pile for candidate A, since candidate C has already been awarded a seat. In this way candidate Cs surplus votes (i.e., the votes beyond those needed to win a seat under the Droop quota) are transferred to the next-choice candidate--hence the name single transferable vote. 4. Continue with Step 3 until another candidate reaches the 251 mark. Then, continue carrying out Step 3 until you fill all the available seats. For example, let us assume that we have already elected candidate C on first-choice ballots alone, and that by combining second-choice ballots from candidate C with further first-choice ballots from the box, we have also been able to award a seat to candidate A. How do we fill the third seat? We continue in a similar manner as before. Any ballots that list candidate C as the first-choice will be transferred to the second-choice candidate; if the second-choice candidate turns out to be candidate A (who has also already been elected), then we will transfer them to the third-choice candidate. Similarly, all first-choice ballots for candidate A will be transferred to the second-choice candidate indicated on the ballot; if the second-choice candidate turns out to be candidate C (who has already been elected), the ballot is transferred to the third-choice candidate. And so on. 5. But what happens if, after distributing all first-choice ballots, no further candidates have reached the Droop quota and we still have empty seats to fill? In this case, simply eliminate the candidate with the lowest number of first-choice ballots and transfer those votes to the second-choice candidates. Repeat this step as many times as necessary (always eliminating the lowest vote-getter) in order to reach the number of votes mandated by the Droop quota. As with party list systems, there are a variety of ways of conducting an STV election. For example, instead of using the Droop quota, we might use the Hare quota (V / S) or the Imperial quota [V / (S + 2)]. A countrys choice of which system to use depends on its history and the degree to which policymakers value genuinely proportional representation. STV can clearly be rather confusing. Some voters may feel that a plurality system is somehow more natural, or that STV and other forms of PR are simply tinkering with the numbers. But PR in general, and STV in particular, can yield results that are more truly representative of the choices of individual voters. There is a strong movement for PR in the United Kingdom, with some political leaders arguing that STV should replace the current plurality system for electing parliamentarians to the House of Commons. There is a similar movement in the United States, although since few Americans could even explain how the Electoral College works, they are probably not going to learn STV any time soon.
Jordan Peele To Produce Jim Crow America Horror Series For HBO Elijah C. Watson Elijah Watson serves as Okayplayer's News & Culture Editor. When

Get Out creator Jordan Peele is prepping for his next project, which follows in suit with his directorial film debut.

Peele, alongside Misha Green (of Underground fame) J.J. Abrams and Warner Brothers Television, will be adapting Matt Ruffs Lovecraft Country into a series for HBO. The show will be a one-hour drama that has been given a straight-to-series order by HBO.

Here is a synopsis of Ruffs novel via publisher Harper Collins:

Chicago, 1954. When his father Montrose goes missing, 22-year-old Army veteran Atticus Turner embarks on a road trip to New England to find him, accompanied by his Uncle Georgepublisher of The Safe Negro Travel Guideand his childhood friend Letitia. On their journey to the manor of Mr. Braithwhiteheir to the estate that owned one of Atticuss ancestorsthey encounter both mundane terrors of white America and malevolent spirits that seem straight out of the weird tales George devours. At the manor, Atticus discovers his father in chains, held prisoner by a secret cabal named the Order of the Ancient Dawnled by Samuel Braithwhite and his son Calebwhich has gathered to orchestrate a ritual that shockingly centers on Atticus. And his one hope of salvation may be the seed of hisand the whole Turner clansdestruction.

When I first read Lovecraft Country I knew it had the potential to be unlike anything else on television, Green told Deadline. Jordan, JJ, Bad Robot, Warner Bros, and HBO are all in the business of pushing the limits when it comes to storytelling, and I am beyond thrilled to be working with them on this project.

In related news, Peele has also turned down the offer for director of the live-action adaptation of Akira, which he was rumored to have been offered earlier this year.

I think [I could do it] if the story justifies it, Peele said during an event centered around Get Outs upcoming DVD release. Akira is one of my favorite movies, and I think obviously the story justifies as big a budget as you can possibly dream of. But the real question for me is: Do I want to do pre-existing material, or do I want to do original content? At the end of the day, I want to do original stuff.

Source via Deadline
Agricultural News

Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation Committee Meets to Begin Distribution Process of Fire Relief Funds







In early March of this year, hundreds of thousands of acres across the western Great Plains, were scorched by wildfires, 320,00 acres in Oklahoma alone, leaving behind millions of dollars in damage to farmers and ranchers in the affected areas. Jeff Jaronek, coordinator of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation, has been working since the fires first broke out, leading the relief effort. Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays invited Jaronek to visit him in studio to give an update on the progress of the relief efforts undertaken thus far.





"The first immediate needs were hay and feed, and we've gotten that dispersed," Jaronek said, describing the Foundation's initial response to the crisis when it began. "We had a lot of fencing supplies come in, too, and distributed about 40 miles worth, to over 80 different individual producers. That's about $125,000 worth of supplies right there, not including the hay and feed."





Jaronek added that the Foundation has also collected approximately $1.2 million in donations from around the country. The goal has been to have this money in the hands of affected producers within 90 days of the fire event. A committee has been formed to review the applications and allocate the funding. This committee is scheduled to meet in mid-May to begin the process.





"We've gotten about 150 applications in, so it's quite a bit to sort through, but they're going to do their best to get through those and distribute those funds as equitably as possible, based on need," he said. "The grass is greening up, those cows need to be turned back out onto those pastures, so we want to provide them the means to do that."





Jaronek will join Hays for his weekly In the Field segment on KWTV News9 in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m. Be sure to catch him then. In the meantime, you can listen to their off-camera conversation right now, by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below, for today's Beef Buzz.





The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.

























Listen to Jeff Jaronek of the OK Cattlemen's Foundation update Ron Hays on the wildfire relief effort

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Agricultural News

Already Thinking About Fall Planting? Westbred Varieties Can Help Get the Most Bang for Your Buck

John Fenderson is a commercial manager with Monsanto brand Westbred, covering the Enid, Oklahoma area. He took time during the Oklahoma State University Wheat Tour in Kildare, Oklahoma this week to speak with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays about how some of the varieties have performed this year and what Westbred has to offer wheat farmers as they begin considering what to sow this fall. You can hear their complete conversation, by clicking the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of this story.





"We've had a good year and Northcentral Oklahoma I think as a whole - the wheat is fantastic. I don't know that I've seen it look a whole lot better than it is this year," Fenderson said, despite some concerns he has about the weather's impact on the crop and some issues with disease. "Hopefully, we got in there, got it sprayed appropriately and I think we're going to see some really good yields coming out this year."





And while many farmers haven't even got their wheat out yet, they are still already thinking about what they will be putting back in, come fall. Fenderson says with market prices as low as they are currently, he can understand how wheat may not be the most attractive to farmers right now. However, he suggests a few options that he thinks will help farmers get the most for their money, and round out their investment, with dual-purpose varieties that can be used to graze cattle in addition to harvesting grain.





"We understand the economics that farmers are facing today," he said. "And cattle are attractive right now. We've had a nice rebound in price so products like WB-4458 in particular is an older variety that we have. It's a very, very good dual-purpose with high yield potential to it as well."





Fenderson also recommends WB-4515, for big farmers that like to get a head start when it comes to planting in the fall. This variety's delayed break from dormancy allows the plant to mature later and avoid late freezes. While this variety won't perform as well as a dual-purpose crop, it will produce a high-quality product with above average test weight and good milling qualities.

























Listen to Ron Hays and Westbred's John Fenderson discuss wheat variety options available this fall

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Felipe Basarte learned the hard way that words can hurt.

Basarte watched helplessly late last month as corn prices on the Chicago Board of Trade spiked on rumors of President Donald Trumps desire to withdraw the U.S. from the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Basartes company every month imports into central Mexico thousands of tons of U.S.-grown corn and other grains used to feed dairy cattle and swine.

For Basarte and thousands of other Mexicans working in and around agribusiness, a full U.S. withdrawal from the trade agreement would be disastrous, advocates say.

Mexico is the top importer of corn grown in the U.S. No other country buys more corn from Nebraska farmers, who sold $287 million worth of the crop across the southern border in 2015. Mexico accounted for 29 percent of total corn exports of $987 million that same year.

Trump has since softened his stance on NAFTA, which he assailed on the campaign trail as unfair to American workers, particularly in the manufacturing industry. He now says hes open to renegotiating the agreement.

But, Trump tweeted on April 27: If we do not reach a fair deal for all, we will then terminate NAFTA.

The ripple effects from that rhetoric have generated waves of concern in agriculture circles both in Mexico and in the U.S.

I have not seen in some time the level of concern and the active reaction by our growers to such a rumor, said Jon Doggett, executive vice president of the National Corn Growers Association. This rhetoric is making a difference  and not a good difference  and if we continue down this road, its going to have a negative impact.

How much, we dont know, but we need to be very careful about what we say and how we do it.

Accordingly, Basarte, Doggett and a group of officials representing Nebraska and U.S. agricultural trade groups at a press conference with Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts at the State Capitol on Tuesday made their case to leave the trade agreements agricultural provisions alone.

In his opening comments, Ricketts cited the magnitude of trade relations between Nebraska and Mexico. Later, he even batted down the notion that other industries in the state have suffered as a result of NAFTA, which was signed in 1993 and significantly reduced trade tariffs among the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

No industry in Nebraska has approached me and told me theres a problem with NAFTA, he said.

Yet market volatility in the wake of Trumps threats against the deal has already prompted Basarte and associates in Mexican agribusiness to consider how to continue doing business in the face of such volatility that hits importers squarely in the wallet.

Any rough comments make us as buyers wary of a decision to buy (U.S. grains), Basarte said.

In fact, some of Basartes associates trekked to Brazil last week to scout out potential new sources of grain imports as a contingency.

Perhaps most troubling to industry advocates like Tom Sleight, president and chief executive of the U.S. Grains Council, is that NAFTA has greatly benefited American farmers.

Since the agreement took effect, agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have grown by factors of three and five, respectively, Sleight is quick to point out. And through more than 20 years of lower cross-border trade barriers, infrastructure has sprung up to support continued trade among member countries, he said.

They have really come to depend upon a reliable source of quality grain from the U.S. They have developed a just-in-time inventory management system, Sleight said of Mexican importers. You dont replace those systems overnight.
LINCOLN  Nebraska lawmakers set the stage Tuesday for what could become a pitched battle over the governors budget vetoes.

One day after those vetoes were unveiled, senators filed six motions to restore more than $40 million worth of vetoed spending.

Among them were motions to reverse the cuts made in services for abused and neglected children, along with reversing cuts in Medicaid, developmental disability services and behavioral health.

Other motions address funding for probation, juvenile justice and specialized courts, such as drug and veterans courts. One would restore money to the University of Nebraska. The motions will be taken up today.

Ricketts on Tuesday urged lawmakers to uphold all his vetoes, saying they represented a thoughtful and measured approach that would protect Nebraska taxpayers.

A vote to sustain the vetoes is a vote to put the state on firm financial footing, he said. A vote to override the vetoes places the state on shaky ground.

But Jim Blue, head of Cedars, a child welfare service provider based in Lincoln, said the governors vetoes would worsen problems in child welfare.

He said the state already pays his agency only about 40 percent of the cost of providing emergency shelter for children and of supporting families to overcome their problems and keep their children at home.

Blue said the spending cuts could make it harder for state child welfare workers to find placements for children and to keep families together.

I think this is absurd to balance the budget on the backs of children, he said.

Cuts to child welfare services were among the $56.5 million worth of line-item budget vetoes that Ricketts announced on Friday and Monday.

The bulk of his vetoes  $33.8 million  came out of funding for Medicaid, child welfare, behavioral health and developmental disability services.

The vetoes would cut payment rates for service providers in those areas between 1.9 percent and 3 percent below current levels.

By contrast, the $8.9 billion budget passed by lawmakers last week called for freezing provider payment rates at current levels for the two fiscal years ending June 30, 2019.

The Appropriations Committee backed a motion Tuesday that would restore funding for Medicaid, behavioral health and developmental disability service providers, which added up to $32.4 million.

The committee also backed the restoration of $300,000 for probation services, which was part of a one-half percent across-the-board cut to most state agencies.

But committee members let the rest of Ricketts vetoes stand, including the $1.2 million cut to child welfare services and the one-half percent cut to the University of Nebraska.

The child welfare cut does not affect services in Douglas and Sarpy Counties. The budget provides for an $11 million annual increase for the private contractor managing cases in those counties.

State Sen. John Stinner of Gering, the Appropriations Committee chairman, said the committee looked to protect its priorities, which include serving vulnerable Nebraskans and fixing the troubled corrections system.

He said probation services affect corrections by providing alternatives to prison.

Stinner said he could not predict whether the override motions can get the 30 votes needed to succeed. Other committee members said they expect the votes to be close.

The committee members split on every proposed override motion, as they had on advancing the budget.

Other lawmakers introduced their own override motions. Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue offered the motion on funds to pay child welfare providers.

Omaha Sen. Bob Krist introduced a motion to override the $717,000 cut in juvenile justice, while Omaha Sen. John McCollister had one to override a $26,000 cut in specialized court operations.

Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln offered a motion to restore the vetoed $5.7 million of funding for the university, which would be in addition to the $13 million reduction in the main budget bill.
Cherry County officials have released the name of a South Dakota woman who was killed in a crash north of Valentine on Monday.

Philomene R. Redbull, 68, of Sioux Falls, was killed when the pickup truck she was driving collided with a vehicle driven by Jesus Aragon Rodriguez, 35, of Houston, Texas. Rodriguez was taken to Cherry County Hospital with life-threatening injuries. A hospital official said Wednesday afternoon that he no longer was at the hospital.
WASHINGTON  Capitol Hill lawmakers faced the question repeatedly this week  would President Donald Trump be guilty of obstructing justice if he really did tell then-FBI Director James Comey to halt an investigation of Michael Flynn?

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee but even he demurred when asked what exactly he would consider presidential obstruction of justice.

Ive had an opportunity to listen to so many lawyers on TV over the last 24 hours that quite frankly its difficult, if they cant draw a line, its difficult for me to draw a line, Grassley told reporters on his weekly conference call.

The situation has been evolving quickly this week, with news breaking late Wednesday that the Justice Department had named a special counsel in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

That followed this weeks New York Times report that, as director, Comey detailed in a memo how Trump pressed him to drop the Flynn investigation. And that story came right on the heels of a Washington Post report that Trump had shared sensitive information with the Russians last week.

Many Republican lawmakers would like to bear down on their legislative agenda that includes deregulation, tax cuts and repealing the Affordable Care Act. But instead they face what feels like a never-ending stream of bombshells dropping at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Earlier Wednesday, Grassley and other top members of the Judiciary Committee issued a bipartisan request for the FBI to provide all memos related to Comeys interactions with superiors and also called on the White House to hand over records of interactions with Comey, including any audio recordings.

Grassley said he thinks that a hearing into the matter is a foregone conclusion but that he wanted to wait to lock that in until after an all-senators briefing with the deputy attorney general that is scheduled for today.

He said there is conflicting information about what happened.

All of this underscores the need for us to get a better understanding of what led to Flynns removal and Comeys removal, he said.

Grassley said he respects the decision to appoint as special counsel former FBI Director Robert Mueller to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Mueller has a strong reputation for independence and comes with the right credentials for this job, Grassley said.

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said of Mueller: His record, character and trustworthiness have been lauded for decades by Republicans and Democrats alike.

Sasse, who is chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on oversight, also has called for the committee to have access to Comey memos and any White House recordings.

Sasse told The World-Herald that if Comey was pressured to shut down the Flynn investigation, that would be a really, really big deal, but he said that more information gathering is required and that he didnt want to speculate on possible outcomes.

He called for lawmakers to pick up the pace as they delve into the matter and pointed to joint bipartisan press conferences by those leading the Senate Intelligence Committee about their efforts.

I think that kind of work needs to accelerate, Sasse said.

Congress should be looking ahead to the 2018 and 2020 elections, Sasse said, when Russia is likely to step up its attempts at interference.

Russia was clearly trying to interfere in the American election, Sasse said of 2016. We dont know how far that went in terms of what their successes and failures were in trying to build relationships with the Trump Organization and the Trump campaign. And we should be focused on that urgently and at the same time we should be focused on talking about and exploring what kinds of cyberattacks are we going to see in the future.

In reaction to the story about Trump disclosing information, Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, noted that the president has discretion to share classified information, but he said that should be done under the umbrella of protecting sources and third parties.

I am troubled by the reports of the president possibly sharing this kind of classified information, and if proven true, this is not how we should treat sensitive information and our sources, Young said.

Other congressional Republicans have indicated that they want to know more about both the disclosures and the Comey memo:

 The American people deserve a thoughtful, measured approach by elected officials as we gather facts and learn more from the administration and the FBI, Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said in a one-sentence statement.

 These are breaking stories and Id like more information as we move forward, Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., told The World-Herald.

 I have a lot of questions and it is important that we learn the facts, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said in a statement. We must take a look at the relevant documents and hear from former FBI Director James Comey.

 Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., hailed Muellers appointment as special counsel and called for Comey to testify before Congress and provide pertinent memos.

This is a first step to cut through the various competing interpretations, Fortenberry said. All of this movement should enhance one goal: restoring trust.

 Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said there are conflicting accounts of the presidents disclosures to the Russians.

On the Comey situation, he called for the FBI to turn over relevant documents to Congress and said hes reserving judgment until he has more information.

I want to get the facts before I shoot, Bacon said.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, did not respond to a request for comment.
Do RAW, others get a raw deal in the name of 'intelligence failure'?

Keep it clean, keep it safe: How the federal agencies raided the PFI

1,000 member Army team carries out search operation in Shopian, J&K

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A major search operation involving over 1,000 security personnel is being undertaken in Shopian district of Kashmir. The operation was launched following Intelligence Bureau reports regarding the presence of a large number of terrorists in the area.

Several villages have been cordoned off as the Indian Army with the help of security forces launched the operation. There has been a rise in the number of militants has led to this operation.

It may be recalled that on May 4 a similar operation had taken place in the same place. The South of Kashmir is infested with militants. IB reports place the number of militants in the Kashmir Valley at 200.

While the search operations will continue through the day, the security cordon in the area has been lifted.

OneIndia News
Girl thrashes boy black and blue in Bharatpur for allegedly defaming her

50 vehicles ram into each other due to dense fog in Jhajjar; 8 dead, 10 injured

I support scrapping of Article 370, my party has lost its way: Ex-Haryana CM BS Hooda

At Rohtak, Modi thanks 130 cr Indians for inspiring change in 100 days

10-year-old girl raped and impregnated by stepfather to undergo abortion

India

oi-Madhuri

Doctors at the leading Haryana government hospital said that the 10-year-old girl who was raped and impregnated by her stepfather will undergo abortion this week.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act prohibits abortion after 20 weeks, except when the mother's life is under risk.

A medical board in Haryana determined that the minor is five months pregnant and that it posed no danger to the mother. However, the girl's stepfather was arrested and detained pending a full investigation after her mother reported him to police.

The incident came to light after the girl complained of an aching leg, her mother took her to a doctor last Friday and tests revealed her pregnancy. Investigators found that the girl's stepfather, a day laborer in his early 20s, had raped her repeatedly when her mother went to work on construction sites.

In 2015, the Supreme Court allowed a 14-year-old rape survivor to abort a foetus after the 20-week limit.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 8:20 [IST]
60% Indians die of non-communicable diseases every year: Health Ministry

India

oi-Gulam Rabbani

New Delhi, May 16: The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday revealed that 60% people die due to Non-Communicable Diseases. In order to reduce the burden of NCDs, the health ministry has called all Indian over the age of 30 to have a check on diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers.

According to reports, the screening will be conducted under the training for universal screening and control of five common NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes and common cancers that include cervix, breast and oral cavity.

Union Health minister J P Nadda on Wednesday inaugurated the programme on the same.

Going by phases, the screening will be conducted in 100 districts which will include the common cancers like cervix, breast and oral cavity in the first phase.

More than seven crore people in the country are believed to be suffering from diabetes, while another 7 to 8 crore are suffering from cardio-vascular diseases.

Reports said that more than 13 lakh patients are diagnosed with common cancer every year and about 90 lakh persons die each year due to NCDs.

Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said that the figures explain the intensity of the problem in the hand, adding that these ailments are lifestyle-generated and can be prevented.

Addressing the issue, J P Nadda said that the programme will cover the entire nation and around 50 crore Indians will be screened for NCDs so that timely intervention can reduce the disease burden in the country.

In the recent past, 60 per cent deaths in India occur due to these NCDs dominating the deaths caused by the infectious diseases.

To control these NCD diseases, clinics are operational in over 400 districts.

Nadda said that the government has adopted 10 national targets in the action plan to control the NCDS, adding that 20 State Cancer Institutes and 50 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres are being set up for providing treatment. He also said that National cancer Institute in Jhajjar with a bed capacity of 710 and a second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata are also being set up.

The government aims to scale up screening to cover the entire population by 2018 under the programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardio-vascular diseases and Strokes.

Last but not the least, In 2013, out of five crore screened for NCDs, diabetes and hypertension pegged at 6.14% and 5.12% respectively. In 2016-17 it has increased to 10% and 13% of the two crore people who were screened on the same.

OneIndia News
7th Pay Commission: What CG employees got and what they did not get

7th Pay Commission: Bihar's state employees to get pay hike soon

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

There is some good news on the way for state government employees in the wake of the recommendations made by the 7th Pay Commission. The Bihar Pay commission which is headed by former state chief secretary G S Kang, on has submitted its report to chief minister Nitish Kumar.

We have submitted our report to chief minister Nitish Kumar today," Kang said. He said the commission has made its recommendations for effecting a hike for state government employees and pensioners on the lines of the centre's recommendations base don the 7th Pay Commission.

The state cabinet had on 21 December last year set up a three-member pay commission headed by Kang to decide the hike in salaries and allowances of government employees and pensioners. The recommendations, if accepted by the state government, will impact around 4.5 lakh state government employees and 3.5 lakh pensioners.

The commission was supposed to submit its report within three months, which was later extended by another two months, Kang said, adding that it took time because more than 350 representations were made before the commission by various groups, associations and individuals.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 8:33 [IST]
First formula

All the Civilian personnel including CAPF who retired prior to January 1 2016 would be first fixed by the Pay Matrix recommended by the pay panel. This would be done on the basis of the Pay Band and Grade Pay at which they retired at the minimum corresponding level in the matrix. The amount would be raised to arrive at the notional pay of the retiree by adding the number of increments he or she earned in that level while in service at a 3 per cent rate. 50 per cent of the total amount arrived at would be the revised pension.

Second calculation

As per the second calculation, the pension as had been fixed at the time of the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission recommendations shall be multiplied 2.57 to arrive at an alternate value for the revised pension.

Options

The pensioners may be given the option of choosing the formulation which is beneficial to them. According to 7thpaycommissionnews.in, the fixation of pension as per formulation in (i) above may take a little time since the records of each pensioner will have to be checked to ascertain the number of increments earned in the retiring level.

Recommendation

It is therefore recommended that in the first instance the revised pension may be calculated as at (ii) above and the same may, be paid as an interim measure. In the event calculation as per (i) above yields a higher amount the difference may be paid subsequently.

The two options that have been recommended by the 7th Pay Commission with regard to pension revision will be accepted as per feasibility of the implementation. The revision of pension based on the second option based on the fitment factor of 2.57 per cent will be implemented immediately.
Modi is keen

The NJCA has been holding a series of meetings with the Group of Ministers comprising Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. During the meetings it has been assured that the arrears on allowances will be released. The NJAC were also told that Modi himself is keen on the anomalies being addressed. Modi has told the GoM that these issues must be addressed so that there is no inconvenience caused to the employees.

Apprehensions

The NJCA has been raising apprehensions against the Empowered Committee of Secretaries for not paying heed to their concerns related to the 7th Pay Commission report prepared by Justice (retd) AK Mathur. The GoM had assured the union leaders of a time-bound redressal of their demands.

The central government employees are no doubt upset with the delay. However they also say that they have full hope in Modi and he would come up with a settlement plan for central government employees. While the basic pay was hiked from January 1 2016, the central government employees are still waiting for their higher allowances.

Hope in Modi

It may be recalled that NJCA convenor, Shiv Gopal Mishra had said that he has full hope in Modi. He would not like to confront the government employees to maintain a good relation. He will find a good negotiated settlement for a large number of employees, he also said.

Suggested modifications

The Ashok Lavasa committee had on April 28 suggested modifications in some allowances applicable universally to all employees and also for those in specific categories, including railways and defence, after examining the 7th Pay Commission recommendations.

Last month, the Union Cabinet approved important proposals relating to modifications in the 7th CPC (Central Pay Commission) recommendations on pay and pensionary benefits in the course of their implementation.

The benefit of the proposed modifications will be available with effect from 1st January, 2016. With the increase approved by the Cabinet, the annual pension bill alone of the Central Government is likely to be Rs 1,76,071 crore.

While recommendations of the CPC on pay and pension were implemented with the approval of the Cabinet, allowances continued to be paid at old rates.

The CPC had recommended that of a total of 196 allowances, 52 be abolished altogether and 36 be abolished as separate identities by subsuming them in another allowance.
A problem of plenty: The reason why intelligence in India is failing

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

In the month of April the Parliamentary standing committee on Home Affairs stated in its report that there were deficiencies in the intelligence agencies. The report also stated that there was lack of analysis of the "failure of the intelligence agencies to provide credible and actionable inputs regarding the attacks at Pathankot, Uri, Pampore, Baramulla and Nagrota.

Let us examine the recent Sukma attack in which 25 CRPF personnel lost their lives. It was a horrific attack and what was very noticeable was that intelligence had failed on every count. Be it Kargil or the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, the focus post these incidents have been on the failure of intelligence.

Post Kargil:

Following the Kargil intrusion, the government felt the need to go in for a complete overhaul. The Intelligence Bureau was made the premier counter-terrorism agency. It was authorised to create a Multi Agency Centre of MAC which would be the intelligence-sharing centre in New Delhi.

In the year 2002, the Defence Intelligence Agency or the DIA was created. Its job was to collate and evaluate intelligence from other agencies in the services. The DIA is functional, but is not utilised in full. Moreover it continues to run without a chief.

Formation of the NTRO:

In 2004, the National Technical Research Organisation or the NTRO was set up. This led to a clash as it was given the job which was already being performed by the other intelligence agencies. Four years, the attacks in Mumbai took place and this led to the creation of the National Intelligence Agency. The National Security Guards also went ahead and set up regional hubs. The MAC was directed to better its coordination among the central and state agencies.

The then UPA government decided to spruce up the security mechanism. This led to the creation of the National Counter Terrorism Centre or NCTC and the National Intelligence Grid or NatGrid. The NCTC it may be recalled got entangled in tussle between the centre and the state. The states felt it amounted to central interference as law and order was a state subject as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

MAC continues to struggle

The NatGrid on the other hand never took off. It continues struggling to make ground. The Parliamentary committee rightly notes that there is no unified authority to coordinate the operations of these agencies and also ensure a quick response in times of crisis.

The functioning of the MAC too is nothing to tom-tom about. It derives most of its intelligence from the central units. The role of the state units is very limited. This is a clear pointer to the fact that the state intelligence units are extremely weak as a result of which they have no intelligence to share.

The Parliamentary committee goes on to note that the contribution from the state agencies was a meagre 11 per cent. The DIA contributed 24.05 per cent while the Research and Analysis Wing contributed 20.75 per cent.

Lack of direction:

Experts say all this clearly indicates that there is no clear direction. There is an overkill of intelligence agencies and no single driving force. Each agencies is doing its bit and there is no common intelligence pool. When an intelligence input is received it needs to fall urgently into a common pool.

The same would have to urgently be intimated to the police in the case the intelligence is actionable.

The big minds in the corridors of powers and policy making need to take urgent note of these facts and ensure that these agencies are put to best use. For a start a common driving force could be set up to ensure that there is some amount of sanctity and intelligence is not messed up.

OneIndia News
Kejriwal now claims BJP offered to spare Sisodia, Jain if AAP backs out of Gujarat polls

AAP \"merely a party of UT Delhi\", only Cong can challenge BJP in Gujarat, HP: Azad

AAP crisis: After CBI, Mishra wants to file case in CBDT

India

oi-Gulam Rabbani

New Delhi, May 17: There seems to be no relief for Aam Aadmi Convenor Arvind Kejriwal as the party sacked minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday asserted that he would go to Central Board of Direct Taxes on Wednesday to file a complaint against AAP supremo.

"I will go to the CBDT today. Whatever complaint I have filed in the CBI, I will now file the same in CBDT. It is regarding hawala, corruption, money laundering and about the racket of fraud company that they are running," Mishra told ANI.

Mishra has alleged that Kejriwal has been to the office just two times in the last year.

In his blog, sacked minister said that he questioned that whether Kejriwal as a Chief Minister is ready to put forward and evaluate his performance report, adding that Kejriwal turned up in the office only twice in past one year.

On Tuesday, Mishra claimed that the income tax authorities had begun probing the allegations raised by him against the fake companies registered in the name of AAP MLA Shivcharan Goyal.

"The income tax department has started investigations against the fake companies registered in the name of AAP MLA Shivcharan Goyal," Mishra told media.

On Monday, the sacked minister Mishra had said that he will approach Central Bureau of Investigation and the Central Board of Direct Taxes to file complaints on money laundering and black money against Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party.

"Whenever I would be discharged from the hospital, I will make a written complaint to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Central Board of Direct Taxes under black money, hawala and money laundering cases (against Kejriwal and the AAP)," Mishra tweeted.

Lashing out at Mishra, the wife of the Kejriwal said that the suspended Aam Aadmi Party leader would face the consequences of the false allegations he has made.

Sunita Kejriwal tweeted: "Law of nature never errs, seeds of betrayal, false allegations sown, so shall he (Kapil Mishra) reap. Inevitable."

On Sunday, in a dramatic press conference that ended with him fainting, Mishra accused Kejriwal of money laundering and dared him to resign by Sunday evening.

While addressing Mishra said that Kejriwal and those close to him were involved in converting black money to white. For three continuous years, black money was converted into white and spent on foreign trips.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 13:00 [IST]
At 82 Om Prakash Chautala clears Class 12 exam from Tihar jail with A grade

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Congratulate former Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala for passing the

higher secondary examination ("first division") at the age of 82 years from jail. Convicted in the teachers' recruitment scam, the former CM now is planning on pursuing an undergraduate course.

Chautala appeared for the Class XII exam conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) at the centre set up for prisoners at Tihar Jail, where he is lodged after being convicted.

The NIOS, formerly known as National Open School (NOS), was established in 1989 as an autonomous organisation under the HRD Ministry. According to its official website, NIOS provides a number of vocational, life enrichment and community-oriented courses, apart from general and academic courses at the secondary and senior secondary level.

Chautala who was on parole in April went back to jail to appear for the examination since the centre was in Tihar. Chautala secured an A grade (first division) in the results that were announced recently. In jail, Chautala spends most of his time at the library. His favourite books are on politics.

Chautala was charged with corruption ion the recruitment scam involving 3,206 basic trained teachers in Haryana in the year 2000. He was convicted by a trial court in 2013 and two years later the same was upheld by the Supreme Court of India.

OneIndia News
Should Kashmir be given to Pakistan: Row erupts after this question appears in MP civil service exam

From hijab to Kashmir, Zawahiri was Al-Qaeda's voice for everything anti-India

Ban on social media is a joke in Kashmir? Youths, officials, politicos are freely accessing net

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Srinagar, May 17: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday indicated that it may continue with the social media ban in the Kashmir Valley as the ground situation has still not improved.

The state government on April 26 ordered a one-month ban on 22 social media sites, mobile phone messengers and video-uploading sites in the Valley by invoking the provision of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.

However, it looks like right from the tech-savvy youngsters, politicians to government officials of Kashmir--all are making mockery of the ban by accessing all the "banned" sites.

Reports say that while civilians of Kashmir are using Virtual Private Networks to access the banned sites, even government officers and its functionaries based in Kashmir regularly use Facebook and other banned networks.

The politicians, belonging to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and opposition parties are also using social media on a regular basis.

Last week, the Director General of Police, SP Vaid tweeted: "2 fidayeen of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) killed by JKP SOG/Army of Magam District Handwara in a brief encounter. #JaiHind."

2 fidayeen of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) killed by JKP SOG / Army of Magam District Handwara in a brief encounter. #JaiHind  Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) May 14, 2017

The press meet of the former IGP of police, SIM Gilani, held in Srinagar was broadcasted live on Facebook recently.

Politicians like Omar Abdullah have remained active on social media, in spite of the ban. Education minister of the state, Altaf Bukhari, is one politician from the ruling PDP who is regularly updating his status on social media sites.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 9:37 [IST]
In pictures, grandeur of Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport which PM Modi will inaugurate

Bengaluru pays homage to braveheart Lt Ummer Fayaz

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Bengaluru paid its homage to the martyred Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz at the National Military Memorial on May 14 2017. Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, defense veterans and citizens paid tearful homage to the braveheart.

MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar paying his homage said, "Large numbers people came forward in Delhi and Chandigarh to mourn the brutal murder of Braveheart Lt Umar Fayaz of Rajputana Rifles. On Sunday evening it was the turn of Bengaluru and Bengalureans who came out in large numbers. The people are coming out and reaffirmed that their Faith in and respect and support for the men and women in Uniform - the soldiers who lay down their lives every day to protect our nation."

Lt Ummer Fayaz was and abducted and killed by Hizbul Mujahideen militants in Shopian in South Kashmir. Son of a farmer, Lt. Ummer was born on June 8, 1994. Trained at NDA, he had joined the Indian Army recently. He was part of the Rajputana Rifles in Akhnoor commissioned in the Indian Army in 2016. Some of his colleagues remember him as a brave soldier who was passionate about the Indian Army.

Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar with Bengalureans Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Bengalureans paying tribute martyred Lt Ummer Fayaz at National Milittary Memorial. Vetrans lighting candles at the National Military Memorial Armed Forces veterans and MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar lighting candles at the memorial Senior citizens, women and students were present in good numbers Bengalureans from all walks of life gathered the venue to express their solidarity with the Ummer Fayaz's family in Kashmir A girl is seen holding the poster and a candle Even children paid their respect at the memorial. Serving defense personnel were also present Serving defence personnel raised patriotic slogans in memory of Lt Ummer Fayaz at the memorial

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 15:54 [IST]
Beware, WannaCry cyber attack may just be the beginning

India

oi-Prabhpreet

With the world still getting to grips with the unprecedented global cyber attacks through the WannaCry ransomware, the group that made such an attack possible has promised that it would soon be making tools available, which could lead to similar attacks in the future.

The cyber ransomware attack infected at least two lakh computers in various countries according to European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol. The malware locked down computers and threatened businesses and individuals of wiping out files from systems in a week's time if the victim did not pay a ransom between 300 to 600 dollars.

And now, the group named Shadow Brokers, that had leaked the tools from the US national security agency's stockpile of cyber weapons, which were used by hackers for the recent attacks has said in a blog that it would be releasing hacking tools every month.

WannaCry ransomware had spread using a loophole in Microsoft windows operating systems that were initially found by the US national security agency (NSA), which according to reports was using it in order to find a way to hack networks of terrorist groups, and was leaked by Shadow Brokers, which said that it had found the tools in agency's servers which the group had breached earlier.

According to a leading news agency, the group promised in a blog published on Tuesday to release similar tools every month from June to anyone willing to pay for them for access to the tech world's biggest secrets.

It has reportedly also threatened to release data from banks which use SWIFT, an international money transfer network, and also information from nuclear and missile programs of countries such as Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. "More details in June," it added.

Microsoft, the company who's network were the prime focus of the attacks, said on Tuesday that it was aware of the group's most recent claim and that the companies security team was monitoring threats to "help us prioritise and take appropriate action."

While earlier this week the company's president and chief legal officer Brad Smith had reportedly confirmed that the attack had used elements stolen from the NSA, the US government has not given any direct comments in the matter till date.

Though the group behind the WannaCry malware are yet be identified, experts have pointed at clues that point to a possible involvement of North Korea.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 15:07 [IST]
CBI raids on Chidambaram, son and Sheena Bora murder inter-connected?

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Sheena Bora murder case and the raids by the CBI at the residence of P Chidambaram and his son Karti could well be inter-connected. On Tuesday the CBI raided 14 different locations including a sprawling mansion owned by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea.

The CBI raided the mansion at Worli, Mumbai to determine if the couple which owned INX Media had colluded with with former Finance Minister P Chidambaram to allegedly bring in illegal amounts of foreign investment in the year 2007. Both Indrani and Peter are in jail for the murder of the former's daughter Sheena Bora.

The CBI which is also probing the murder of Sheena Bora said that it was collecting details of a Singapore bank account opened in her name. CBI sources also say that it is finding out details if funds were transferred to that account before she was killed.

In the Sheena Bora probe, the CBI is also trying to find out if there was a financial motive behind the killing. The agency says that in 2009, the Mukerjeas had sold their media business amid charges of fund embezzlement.

In the FIR that the CBI filed, it has been alleged that Chidambaram as the finance minister allowed the Mukerjeas to get foreign investment of Rs 305 crore although the Foreign Investment Promotion Board had sanctioned only Rs 4 crore. The CBI further alleges that in return for the same,

Chidambaram's son Karti had got kickbacks to the tune of over Rs 3 crore through the companies linked directly and indirectly to him.

A CBI source informed that they are probing the alleged links with the murder of Sheena Bora and the instant case on hand. When the officer was asked further about the link, he said that Karti's alleged criminal misconduct was gained from the probe into the murder case. It is still under probe and hence we cannot comment any further on this, the officer also informed.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 10:23 [IST]
Great tolerance, the CBI is sitting idle in Goa says its SP

Chidambaram or WannaCry RansomWare: Why no PC is safe

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The CBI raids at the residence of P Chidambaram on Tuesday had the social media cracking dozens of jokes. The raids at the residence of Chidambaram fondly called PC saw the social media comparing the same to WannaCry, the ransomware which hit millions of systems across the world.

"No PC is safe now.... Either Ransomware or CBI raids," This was one of the most shared posts on the social media on Tuesday.

The comparison was drawn between P Chidambaram and Personal Computers. Social media users said that while the former union minister PC was not safe from CBI raids, the personal computer or the PC was not safe from ransomware.

The CBI on Tuesday carried out searches in 14 different places including the residence of Karti Chidambaram. The raids were conducted in connection with the alleged criminal misconduct in grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board approval to foreign investments received by INX Media Pvt Ltd formerly owned by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea.

A red-coloured critical alert was issued in connection with the WannaCry attack that hit over 90,000 systems across 75 countries across the world including India. Neel Mehta, a security researcher at Google first pointed the shared code on Monday on Twitter.

Cybersecurity firms Symantec and Kaspersky have independently found distinct instances of overlapping code between WannaCry and Lazarus Group.

OneIndia News
Defeating BJP in Gujarat main aim, may support Congress: Hardik Patel

India

pti-PTI

Ahmedabad, May 17: Asserting that defeating the BJP in Gujarat is his prime aim, quota agitation leader Hardik Patel on Wednesday hinted that he may consider supporting the Congress in the assembly polls to reach the goal.

The 23-year-old quota agitation spearhead accused the state government of dilly-dallying on the issue of granting reservation to the Patel community under OBC quota. Hardik, who leads the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), said he would work to defeat the BJP in the state Assembly polls due later this year, if the state government does not come up with a firm assurance over the quota issue at the earliest.

"Despite making numerous representations regarding our demands, including for reservation, during the last two years, the BJP government has not given any assurance," Hardik told mediapersons.

"We want the government to make its stand clear on reservation at the earliest," he said.

"I want to tell them that our agitation is still very much alive and it will gain momentum in the days to come. We are now planning to make sure that the party, which is dreaming of winning 150 seats, does not go beyond 80 seats in the polls," Hardik said.

Of the total 182 seats in state assembly, the BJP presently has a majority with 121 seats while the main Opposition party, the Congress, has 57 seats.

"These polls will not be a battle between just the BJP and the Congress. It will be an election wherein farmers, youths, women, Patels and Dalits will fight the BJP.

"We have also kept our options open to supporting the Congress if they promise to fulfil our demands after winning the polls," he said.

The demands include reservation to the Patels under the OBC quota, formation of Patidar Commission, compensation to the families of at least 10 Patel youths who died during the quota violence in 2015 and withdrawal of FIRs against the agitators. Divulging his plans to defeat the BJP, Hardik said a mega gathering of PAAS workers has been planned on June 11 in the city.

"Around 50,000 PAAS workers from over 7,000 villages will converge here on June 11. During that gathering, they will be briefed about carrying out a campaign across Gujarat against the BJP for the next six months," he said.

To raise the issue of "injustice to the community" by the ruling BJP, Hardik also announced holding a rally, 'Nyay Yatra', from Botad to neighbouring Bhavnagar town on May 20 and May 21.

"This yatra, which would commence from Botad on May 20, would pass through nearly 50 villages and converge at Bhavnagar on May 21. Our aim is to raise the issue of injustice to our community, farmers and women," Hardik said.

PTI
Delhi: Cops nab couple in gang-rape case, learns duo involved in running sex racket

India

oi-Gulam Rabbani

New Delhi, May 17: After the arrest of a couple in a gang-rape case, the Delhi police on Wednesday were shocked to hear that the duo was actually running a sex racket with its branches in various locations of Delhi-NCR.

According to police, acting on a tip-off that a person identified as Gaurav Anand and his close aide Nina Soni alias Sonu Bangalan alias Ameena Khatoon, the residents of Madhu Vihar area in Delhi were alleged offenders in a gang rape case were arrested when they reached Garhi village in south-east Delhi on Monday.

The anti-auto theft squad team of south-east district raided the identified place and the duo was arrested. During the interrogation, the duo confessed that they have been operating a sex racket in the city, said south-east DCP Romil Baaniya. It is suspected that the couple had rich businessmen as their clients.

During the interrogation, Gaurav revealed that he used to work as a driver at a call center but was fired for demanding more salary. He fought with his wife and left his home. Later, he came in contact with Sonu Bangalan and began to live with her. By then, Sonu was already running a call girl racket and Gaurav joined her business, the DCP said.

On the other hand, Sonu, a native of West Bengal was abandoned by her husband after she gave birth to a second child. Later, she moved to Delhi and started living with a man identified as Atul Soni and got involved in the business providing call girls to the clients.

When she came into contact with Gaurav she left Soni and started living with Gaurav.

Sonu is said to be accused in three cases. Efforts are on to nab the other accomplices.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 15:24 [IST]
Don't link India-Pak dispute with OBOR: China tells New Delhi

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Asserting that the dispute between India and Pakistan should be resolved by means of dialogue, Consul General of China in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu on Wednesday said the One Belt and One Road (OBOR) initiative has got nothing to do with it.

Ma Zhanwu said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is between Islamabad and Beijing, suggested that India shouldn't drag Kashmir dispute into it.

India boycotted the OBOR summit as it opposes the key component, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The CPEC passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on its way to Xinjiang in northwest China and India does not want any compromise on its territorial integrity.

"The project is between China and Pakistan. As far as India and Pakistan dispute is concerned, we suggest them to overcome it with dialogues... It's up to them to negotiate," Ma Zhanwu said.

Last week, in listing out his objections to the scheme, MEA's official spokesman Gopal Baglay said, "No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity."

[OBOR snub: Why BJP is confident that India-China relations are fine]

The OBOR summit was hosted by China from May 14-15 in Beijing. A total of 29 foreign heads of state and government and representatives from more than 130 countries and 70 international organisations participated in the meet.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 18:02 [IST]
EC bribery case: Dinakaran seeks bail, court to hear plea on Thursday

India

oi-Anusha

Accused of attempting to bribe election commission officials, TTV Dinakaran has moved a bail petition. A Delhi court will hear Dinakaran's plea on Thursday. Dinakaran who continues to hold the post of AIADMK deputy secretary had earlier moved court seeking bail but his petition was rejected.

On May 15, Dinakaran was produced before the Tiz Hazari court through video conferencing. The court had extended the judicial custody of all accused in the case including TTV Dinakaran until May 29. Dinakaran's advocated moved a fresh bail plea and the same would come up for hearing on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Dinakaran's advocates have also asked the court to direct the Delhi crime branch police to share the copies of CDs that reportedly have conversations between Dinakaran and Sukesh Chandrasekhar. The Delhi police had told the court that a CD in their possession could turn out to be incriminating evidence against the accused and sought voice samples. Dinakaran's advocates filed an objection to the same and sought copies of the CD that Delhi police claimed to contain conversations between the accused duo.

TTV Dinakaran is expected to be produced before a court in Chennai in a FEMA case in June. Charges are yet to be framed against Dinakaran in a FEMA case filed by the Enforcement directorate. The Egmore court has already issued a 'prisoner on transit' warrant against Dinakaran.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 13:20 [IST]
Former bosses file criminal case against Arnab Goswami

India

oi-Anusha

A criminal case has been filed against journalist and founder of Republic TV, Arnab Goswami. His former employers Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd filed a complaint accusing Goswami and reporter of Republic TV Prema Sridevi of copyright infringement.

A complaint filed with the Azad Maidan Police Station in Mumbai accused the journalists of theft, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and infringement of IPR of BCCL. The contention in the complaint was that the duo used material belonging to Times Now on their new media venture Republic TV on multiple occasions on May 6 and May 8, 2017.

BCCL claimed that Arnab Goswami and Prema Sridevi breached copyright by broadcasting audio and video material which was in their possession when they were employees of BCCL on Republic TV.

Arnab Goswami's Republic TV, on May 6, broadcast audio tapes of conversation between former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad and Shahabuddin. The channel claimed that the Shahabuddin was in prison when the conversation took place. On May 8 the channel broadcast conversation between Sridevi who was a former news reporter for Times Now, and Sunanda Pushkar. BCCL has alleged that both the audio tapes were procured when the duo was employed with Times Now but was used on another channel.

The complaint alleges that Goswami and Sridevi have 'willfully, deliberately and with knowledge converted for their benefit and used the aforesaid intellectual property of Times Now and thereby dishonestly misappropriated the said intellectual property, thereby committing the offence of criminal misappropriation of property punishable under section 403 of IPC and several other provisions under applicable laws'.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 12:51 [IST]
Morbi Bridge is not the only Incident - Quality of Bridges, roads and Highways in BJPs government!

Fresh Income Tax raids at TN minister Vijaya Bhaskar's properties

India

oi-Anusha

Officials of the Income Tax department carried out fresh raids at properties belonging to Tamil Nadu minister Vijaya Bhaskar. While reports of raids at Pudukottai emerged, the minister maintained that no raids were being conducted at his residence in Pudukottai.

A team of 5 officers reportedly entered his residence at Ilupur in Pudukottai on Wednesday morning. The raids come a month after his residence in Chennai and properties belonging to his associates across Tamil Nadu were raided. The income tax officials had seized documents that reportedly held details of money spent during campaigning for the R K Nagar bypolls. The election commission of India had countermanded the elections in R K Nagar constituency following the seizures during raids at Vijaya Bhaskar's properties.

Income tax sleuths also conducted raids on a prominent business house in Tamil Nadu. Offices of Kaleesuwari Refinery Oil Private Limited in Chennai, Madurai, Dindigal and Vellore districts of Tamil Nadu were raided on Wednesday morning.

OneIndia News
Hyderabad police arrest 6 people for trying to blackmail Baahubali producers

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Six people have been arrested by the Hyderabad police for allegedly trying to extort money from Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and other producers of 'Baahubali: The Conclusion', by threatening to circulate a pirated copy.

According to reports, the gang demanded Rs 15 lakh from the producers for not uploading a copy on the internet.

Johar is co-producer of Hindi version of the film.

As per the complaint lodged on April 29, a man called Rahul Mehta, who said he represented an anti-piracy agency', approached the producers and told them that a pirated high definition print of the film was available.

"Mehta showed them a sample video...and informed that release of pirated copy would be withheld for a few days and demanded money," Mohanty said.

The producers kept up talking with him while informing the police. Mehta was arrested on May 11 from Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad. He named Jitender Mehta, Taufiq and Mohammad Ali as accomplices. The three were arrested in Delhi the next day.

Boxofficeindia.com reported that 'Baahubali 2: The Conclusion' is all set to create yet another record soon as it inches close to the 1500 crore mark. The SS Rajmouli'a magnum opus, starring Prabhas in the lead, has had a triumphant run at the worldwide box-office till date, garnering an estimated Rs 1,294 crore in all languages.

The movie was premiered at the British Film Institute and was theatrically released over 9000 screens worldwide on 28 April 2017.

(With agency inputs)

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 12:12 [IST]
IAS officer Anurag Tewari died of asphyxia, says autopsy report

India

oi-Anusha

By Anusha Ravi

A team of four doctors in Uttar Pradesh have concluded that IAS officer Anurag Tewari died of asphyxia. The panel including a forensic expert recommended that forensic tests were required to ascertain the specific cause of asphyxia which led to the young public servant's death.

The autopsy report further stated that blood and visceral samples were preserved for chemical analysis and heart was preserved for histopathological examinations. The team of doctors are now awaiting results of these forensic tests to ascertain the actual cause of death. The report, that is in possession of OneIndia, claims that forensic team conducted an analysis of the dead body before sending it for an autopsy. The spot where Anurag Tewari's body was found was also inspected.

According to the report, at around 6.10 AM the local police were informed by passersby that a body was lying near the state guest house. The local police who arrived at the spot managed to establish the identity of the deceased. A purse recovered by the police contained Rs 5,380 in cash, plastic money and one identity card. Anurag Tewari had been staying at room number 19 of the guest house since three days. The local police contacted the IAS officer's family immediately to inform about the same.

The report has now given way to more speculation with uncertainty looming large. The officer was going through a rough patch on the personal front and was reportedly experiencing bouts of depression. Colleagues of the officer from the Food and Civil Supplies department claimed that the officer was visibly disturbed owing to personal problems. He was on a training break after which he extended his leave. Anurag Tewari's body was incidentally found on his birthday.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Thursday, May 18, 2017, 0:29 [IST]
Is RSS expanding its Sangh in Jammu?

India

oi-Gulam Rabbani

New Delhi, May 17: To expand its organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh is going to conduct its annual review meeting in Jammu, according to the reports. It is the first time that RSS is holding the meeting in Jammu.

Pant Pracharak, an annual affair that takes stock of the year in the Sangh is going to be conducted in Jammu, an RSS sources said. It also said that the Sangh is looking to send out a strong message to the separatist in Kashmir that J&K is an integral part of India.

Issues related to CRPF jawans and stone-pelting in the state are likely to be discussed at the annual meeting, adding that Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, BJP president Amit Shah and Vishva Hindu Parishad leaders will attend the three-day meeting which is scheduled from July 18 to 20.

Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Manmohan Vaidya said that the annual review meeting in held in July every year but the venue changes accordingly, and it will be in Jammu this year.

He added that it is just a review meeting where the Sangh will hold discussions on various camps that were organised by RSS and its other activities. He clarified that it is not a decision-making meeting. According to sources, the incidents of stone-pelting and attacks of CRPF jawans in Jammu will be the key points of discussion during the meeting.

Vaidya hinted that if the stone-pelting and CRPF jawans issue are a cause of concern then it will be discussed. He said that speculations should not be drawn from the choice of Venue.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 13:47 [IST]
Jaitley asks Army to give befitting reply to any 'misadventure' by Pak

India

pti-PTI

Srinagar, May 17: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday asked the Army to remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across the border, days after two security personnel were beheaded by the Pakistani Army.

Jaitley, while reviewing the security situation of Jammu and Kashmir at a high level meeting in Srinagar, also asked the forces to deal firmly with the inimical elements but ensure safety of the innocent people, officials said.

The meeting, where newly-appointed Defence Secretary Amit Mitra and Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat were also present, took place against the backdrop of spurt in militant attacks and incidents of stone-pelting in Kashmir and repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the LoC.

The Defence Minister, who arrived this evening and soon after chaired the meeting, was briefed on the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and steps being taken to restore normalcy in the Valley through close coordination amongst all the government agencies, officials said.

He was also apprised of various measures to strengthen the counter-infiltration grid along the Line of Control (LoC), where Pakistani forces have been indulging in shelling and attacks.

Jaitley "lauded the valour, sacrifice and patriotic fervour of every soldier who is serving in these challenging situations for national integrity", saying the entire country is proud of them, the officials said.

He urged all soldiers to continue the good job being done and ensure safety of the innocent people while dealing firmly with the inimical elements. He also impressed upon the commanders to maintain strict vigil along the LoC and remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across.

Jaitley, who also holds the fianance portfolio, will preside over the GST Council meeting in Srinagar on Thursday. He is also likely to meet Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The visit of Jaitley and Rawat to Kashmir comes against the backdrop of beheading of two Indian security personnel by Pakistani military in Poonch district earlier this month which was termed "barbaric" by India.

While Rawat hinted at retaliation to avenge the killings, Jaitley had said the sacrifice of the two soldiers will not go in vain and that the armed forces will react "appropriately".

Pakistani troops have also been repeatedly violating the ceasefire on the LoC and have been shelling Indian Army posts and civilian areas. The Kashmir valley has witnessed a spurt in incidents of violence and militant attacks in the last couple of months. The Pakistani troops were involved in 67 ceasefire violations in the first four months of 2017, with maximum of 26 incidents reported in April, according to Army sources. They said a total of 27 militants were killed between January and April in counter-insurgency operations.

PTI
Karnataka cadre IAS officer Anurag Tiwari found dead in Uttar Pradesh

India

oi-Anusha

A Karnataka cadre IAS officer Anurag Tiwari was found dead in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday morning. A 2007 batch officer was a native of Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich and has discharged duties as the Deputy Commissioner of Bidar in Karnataka.

The 35-year-old officer's body was found in Hazratganj in Uttar Pradesh. His identity was established following credentials recovered from his belongings. Officials said that Tiwari's body was found near a guest house. Tiwari's body was found with injuries to the chin, suspected to have been caused when he collapsed near the guest house. Officials claimed that a cardiac arrest may have led to his death. Detailed autopsy reports are, however, awaited.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to condole the death of the young IAS officer. The Chief Minister claimed that another IAS officer from the state would be sent to Uttar Pradesh to help the family and gather details about what led to the death of Anurag.

Anurag was posted as the DC of Bidar in June 2015. The 2007 batch IAS officer was an electrical engineer from Lucknow University. He had served as Assistant Commissioner of Madhugiri, Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu and Deputy Secretary (Finance) in Bengaluru.

The IAS officer had been in the news for a tiff with Karnataka minister Umashree in 2015. The minister had pulled him up over farmer protests in Bidar. The video of the minister pulling up the IAS officer had made it to the headlines.

OneIndia News
At least 9 students killed after boat capsizes in Cambodia river

Assam govt to award meritorious students with over 35,000 scooters

As the countdown clock struck zero, rocket of Aakash BYJUS took off from Bandra Bandstand

Kashmir: Know how posters of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen fanning students protests

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Since Monday, Kashmir is once again boiling as clashes between students and security forces broke out in various parts of the Valley. In fact, on Tuesday, 18 students were injured when police resorted to baton-charge, teargas shelling and pellet firing to break up student protests in Pattan area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district, say local media reports.

Reports indicate that terror outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, has pasted posters in parts of Kashmir, urging students to protest.

"Posters urging students to stage protest after morning prayers were seen pasted on the walls near the educational institutions in Pattan town on Tuesday. The posters carried the symbol of militant outfit Hizbul-Mujahideen," witnesses told Greater Kashmir.

Students-led protests were reported from Pattan, Old Srinagar, Hajin, Pulwana, Budgam and Srinagar, to name a few places on Monday and Tuesday.

Here we bring you a few images from students' protests in the Valley...

Oh boy! Dont be stubborn Police detains a protesting student during fresh clashes which erupted across the Valley in Srinagar on Tuesday. Stone pelters of Kashmir Students pelt stones on police during fresh clashes which erupted across the Valley in Srinagar on Tuesday. Girls at the forefront Female students participate in the protest. Masked protesters Students conceal their identity as they pelt stones on security personnel. Smoking anger Students amid tear-smoke, throw stones on police during a clash at SP College in Srinagar on Monday.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 7:37 [IST]
IRCTC update: 151 trains cancelled on Nov 09; here is the complete list

Kejriwal's private secretary questioned over tanker scam

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, May 17: The Anti-Corruption Branch is questioning Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's private secretary Bibhav Kumar in connection with its probe in the alleged Rs 400 crore tanker scam.

"He arrived at 11.30 am for the questioning at the ACB office. His questioning is currently underway," said a senior officer. Kumar had been asked to bring some files and they are being examined.

The ACB had recorded sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra's detailed statement last week and he will be questioned on certain points on Thursday.

Mishra had alleged that "Kejriwal had influenced the probe into the tanker scam that dates back to Sheila Dikshit's tenure as chief minister."

The sacked minister also claimed that Kejriwal's aide had asked him to delay sending of a few reports to the then Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung in connection with the alleged scam, sources said.

Mishra had alleged that "the investigation into the tanker scam was repeatedly delayed and influenced by Kejriwal and "his two men".

Last year in August, Dikshit was examined by the ACB officials in connection with her alleged involvement in the tanker scam besides being handed over a set of 18 written questions.

Till some time back, Mishra had been accusing the BJP of shielding Dikshit in the case but a couple of weeks back, he alleged that the AAP government tried to protect her.

The Kejriwal-led AAP government had in June 2015 constituted a fact-finding committee to go into alleged irregularities in procuring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the DJB.

The Delhi government in June 2016 sent a report of the fact-finding committee to Jung following which an FIR was registered in the case.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 15:59 [IST]
'Is this acceptable?' Mamata Banerjee on Hindu Mahasabha's depiction of Mahatma Gandhi as Asura

Amit Shah to chair two-day 'Chintan Shivir of Home Ministers'; Mamata to skip the meet

Mamata Banerjee accepts Lalu's invite to mega rally

India

oi-PTI

Kolkata, May 17: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accepted RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's invitation to attend a rally of political parties opposed to the BJP-led central government in August next.

"Lalu Ji, We accepted your invitation to be there on August 27. We will be there," Banerjee said in a tweet.

Banerjee's acceptance of the invitation came on a day when IT raids were carried out at various locations in Delhi and adjoining areas in search of the alleged benami properties linked to Lalu Prasad and others.

The former Bihar chief minister earlier this month had said he would convene in August in Patna an all-India rally of parties opposed to the BJP-led government at the Centre.

According to the RJD, the meeting would be a precursor to a Bihar-like grand alliance at the national level to dethrone the Narendra Modi government from power in the 2019 general election.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 10:30 [IST]
How Baahubali 2 became a shining example of Make in India campaign

On Google Indians searched for Baahubali 2 the most: What else did people look for

Mulayam watches Baahubali 2 to sharpen his political skills?

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Lucknow, May 17: Patriarch of the Samajwadi Party, Mulayam Singh, too could not resist himself from watching the magnum-opus of filmmaker SS Rajmouli--Baahubali 2.

Mulayam was accompanied by a few of his SP loyalists to watch the blockbuster movie at Gold Lounge of Lucknow's Wave Mall on Tuesday.

We wonder is it just to know why Katappa killed Baahubali that Mulayam, not a typical movie-buff like Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, went to catch the film on the big screen. Or, the 77-year-old, who of late is witnessing a few political mishaps, was looking for cues in the film to revamp his political career?

After the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections debacle, the SP is almost wiped out by the Bharatiya Janata Party from the state. Moreover, the feud in the Yadav family involving father Mulayam and son and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has almost brought down the party like a house of cards.

We hope, Mulayam got enough lessons in political maneuvering and one-upmanship in the field of statecraft from the movie.

The SP leader had earlier watched the prequel of Baahubali 2, Baahubali 1, in 2015. Mulayam is a big fan of the Baahubali franchise. In fact, Baahubali 1 was the first film he watched after a gap of 14 years, as most of his time was earlier occupied by politics.

Even Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too watched and enjoyed the film recently. Union minister Venkaiah Naidu praised the movie profusely at a function a few days ago.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 13:24 [IST]
Did courts stop Sati and Devdasi, no legislation did SC says in triple talaq hearing

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Supreme Court on Wednesday suggested that Muslim women must be given the option to say no to triple talaq. The Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, J S Khehar sought to know that if such an option could be given. The Supreme Court is likely to wind up the arguments tomorrow after giving each party a maximum of 20 minutes more to argue.

The Bench also sought to know from the AIMPLB if an advisory by it would be followed by the Qazi at the ground level. To this the one of the counsel for the board said that an advisory by the AIMPLB is not mandatory for Qazis to follow.

The Bench further said that instant talaq is not part of the Quran. It is a latter-day practise. If biddat is a sin, then why not triple talaq, the court also said.

Kapil Sibal arguing for the All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board said when the court takes a matter like this suo-motu it gives a wrong message. It is not as though Muslims wake up and give divorce. He further went on to say that a new modern nikhanama has been issued and we are working on social reforms with respect to triple talaq.

Sibal while defending the practise of triple talaq also said it is the faith in the court that they have for 67 years is what brought them here. Sibal went on to quote the skies of Alaska. " Look at Alaska, it is massive in size. The golden eagle there is covering the sky, but the birds are comfortable in their nests. The faith of the minorities needs to be in the comfort of the nest, he also said.

Sibal further went on to add that challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq could have a reviving impact on the dying practise. Triple talaq is practised by a small portion of the Muslim community and is dying. But if a secular court like the SC entertains its scrutiny suo motu and Centre pitches in for its ban, Muslim community may take a rigid stand. The Muslim community is gradually giving up triple talaq and polygamy. There is a good chance this may clam up fearing an onslaught by the government and judiciary, Sibal also argued.

The government argued that the call to ban triple talaq is not a battle between the majority and minority community. It is a tussle between Muslim men and women. Women have questioned for centuries the hegemony suffered by them at the hands of their own men, the government also said.

When the SC pointed out that as per the board, a legislation is the solution, the centre said, hallmark of a secular court is to reform without waiting for a legislation.

The centre also pointed out that practises such as Sati and Devadasi among Hindus were stopped. The CJI then asked if the courts stopped these systems. No it was legislation that did, the CJI also pointed out.

OneIndia News
Kerala: Man gets 5-year jail term for sexual assault of mentally challenged girl

Navy successfully test fires MR-SAM from INS Kochi

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

The Indian Navy has successfully test fired Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM), developed jointly by India and Israel, from INS Kochi.

The Western Naval Command on Tuesday successfully conducted trial firing of MR-SAM, which is an advanced air defence system being jointly developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

The previous tests of MR-Sam were conducted from land at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha. MR-SAM is a variant of long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM), Barak-8, which is used by Navy.

Each MRSAM weapon system comprises of one command and control system, one tracking radar, missiles, and mobile launcher systems. The MRSAM surface-to-air missile is powered by a dual-pulse solid propulsion system developed by DRDO.

The 4.5 meter long missile can strike down an enemy aircraft at a range of 70 kms. The missile's explosive warhead, featuring a self-destruct fuse, provides high-probability of kill against enemy targets with minimal collateral damage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet had in February this year given its nod to deal worth Rs 17,000 crore to acquire the Medium Range Surface to Air Defence Missile (MR-SAM) system from Israel to protect India's airspace from enemy aircraft and drones.

The Air Force had got clearance for its MR-SAM programme in 2009.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 19:16 [IST]
SpaceX launches satellite atop Falcon 9 rocket

A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket carrying a communications satellite lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, on May 15. The satellite will add to Inmarsat's Global Xpress network linking airplanes, ships and other mobile terminals with broadband Internet and data services.

Mamata Banerjee meets Sonia Gandhi, says no discussion on names

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gestures at the media after meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi. "We did not discuss any names for the presidential election. The Opposition should create a consensus to work together", Banerjee said after the meeting.

Heavy Pak shelling again in Nowshera

Villagers show the damaged wall of a house after shelling from Pakistan side at Lam village in Nowshera sector of Jammu on Wednesday.

Recalling Tibet's Panchen Lama on this day in 1995

Exiled Tibetan nuns carried out a protest march demanding the release of their religious leader Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, in Dharamsala on Wednesday. He was put under house arrest by China on this day in 1995.

Heat wave intensifies in Uttar Pradesh

Two persons have died owing to the scalding heat wave across Uttar Pradesh. There will be no respite in the coming days, the weatherman said on Tuesday. The mercury is rising both during day and night. Warm winds loo' blowing across the state was adding to the woes.

Colombia teachers strike for better schools

A street artist creates a huge bubble during an anti-government protest in support of a nation-wide teachers' strike in Bogota, Colombia, Tuesday. Colombia's main union groups called for a strike to protest the economic policies of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos' government, and to demand higher wages and better health services.

Hunting for Pythons:

This photo shows Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez Cantera with a 15-foot-4 inch python caught in the Everglades in Florida. Cantera went python hunting with the district hunters.
Hukumdev Narayan Yadav

Hukumdev Narayan Yadav could be a front-runner to the post of vice president. Hamid Ansari's term has already been extended once and the BJP has no plans to grant him another extension. In some quarters, Yadav's name has been doing the rounds. He is a BJP MP and a former Union minister and represents the Madhubani constituency in Bihar. His OBC credentials are one of the main factors why the BJP is suggesting his name. The BJP has been battling allegations of being anti-poor and in such a scenario, Yadav's appointment as VP is likely to help the BJP.

Yadav is known for his speeches in the Lok Sabha. He is very appreciative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has defended the party several times successfully in Parliament. Yadav joined the BJP in 1993. He has held several portfolios in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. He has been the minister of agriculture, surface transport and shipping.

Venkaiah Naidu

Although the BJP is not firm about this name, some within the party's think-tank feel that his appointment as the next Vice President of India could help the party in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Amit Shah has made whirlwind tours of Telangana and the BJP is already indicating that it wants to fight alone in AP. The BJP which is looking to take back Karnataka has ambitious plans in the rest of South India. With AP and Telangana being the next destinations for the BJP, Naidu may not be a bad choice after all.

Next President of India: It is Draupadi Murmu vs Gopal Krishna

S C Jamir

Senayangba Chubatoshi Jamir, popularly known as S C Jamir is currently the Governor of Odisha. A veteran Congress leader from North East his name has cropped up several times. Some within the BJP are not entirely averse to his candidature. He incidentally is one of the few UPA appointees who continues to serve as as Governor-the others being E S L Narasimhan and Lt. General Nirbhay Sharma (Mizoram). His candidature was being considered owing to his seniority, minority, tribal status and North East background. Jamir has served as a Governor of Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. he He was appointed the Governor of Odisha by the Manmohan Singh Government in March 2013.

Electoral College: Here is how the next President of India will be elected

E S L Narasimhan

After Jamir, he is the other UPA appointed Governor who has not been replaced by the Modi government. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Narasimhan is one of the front-runners to the post. Narasimhan, who was appointed the governor of Andhra Pradesh on January 23, 2010, has been holding the office ever since. Apart from Andhra Pradesh, he has been holding the charge of Telangana, which came into existence on June 2, 2014. Narasimhan was the Director of the Intelligence Bureau until 2006 and then became the Governor of Chhattisgarh from 2007 to 2010. Narasimhan belongs to the 1968 batch of IPS from Andhra Pradesh cadre. He served as the First Secretary in the Embassy of India in Moscow from 1981 to 1984.
NGT bans mechanised sand mining in UP, orders probe

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, May 17: The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday banned illegal extraction of minor minerals through mechanised mining in Gonda and Faizabad districts of Uttar Pradesh and ordered a probe into the unauthorised activities there.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar ordered that there should be no mining activity within 50 metres from the end of the railway track on Mankapur in Faizabad and 150 metres from railway or any other bridges.

The tribunal passed the judgement on the plea filed by Lok Sabha MP Kirti Vardhan Singh from Gonda who had written to it seeking ban on large-scale illegal sand mining going on in his constituency in Gonda and railway track on Mankapur in Faizabad.

In a detailed verdict, the bench said that "mechanical extraction of minor minerals in large quantity near the railway track was bound to endanger not only the environment and ecology of that area but also enhance the chances of collapsing of the track."

"The forest area should be demarcated and be in accordance with the conservation plan, such forest area should be duly protected against illegal, unauthorised and mechanised mining," the bench, also comprising Expert Member B S Sajwan, said.

The NGT constituted a team comprising Gonda Deputy Commissioner, senior officer from UP Pollution Control Board senior scientist from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, senior most officer from Department of Geology and Mining of UP government and an expert officer from the Environment Ministry.

The green body also directed the panel to investigate the role of former UP minister Vinod Kumar Singh and his brother Narendra Singh while conducting the probe and state whether they have any role in illegal mining activity or not.

"The committee shall make a complete and comprehensive study and submit an exhaustive status report before the tribunal. In this report, all the persons shall be identified who are and have been involved, directly or indirectly in illegal and mechanical mining or otherwise, with their complete details," the bench said.

"It should also report about the damage caused to the environment in the nearby villages, quantum of money required for restoration and also state the loss of revenue to the state government in terms of minerals and revenue within four weeks, the bench added."

The tribunal had appointed advocate Rachit Mittal as amicus curiae to assist the green panel in the matter.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 13:42 [IST]
No country for soldiers? Karnataka CM keeps veterans waiting for hours

India

oi-Anusha

Dozens of veterans in Bengaluru were compelled to wait in the hot sun on Tuesday after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah turned up late for an event. Veterans were asked to be seated for an event by 10.30 AM while the Chief Minister himself arrived a couple of hours late.

Veterans were further agitated when the Chief Miniter along with other politicians took their seats on the dais and not a single veteran was accommodated on the stage. Siddaramaiah was to inaugurate TenderSure roads in the central business district of Bengaluru. While veterans were seated at the time given to them, the Chief Minister turned up two hours late with a posse of his partymen. Many veterans condemned the Chief Minister for 'insulting' veterans and families of martyrs and keeping them waiting for almost two hours.

Siddaramaiah who realised that the veterans were agitated told them that he regretted the delay and was held up at a prior event. "We have immense respect for veterans. There is no question of insulting them. Our government holds them in high regard," Siddaramaiah said when the media asked him about the delay and insult to veterans. The inaugural event was organised at the war memorial on brigade road junction.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 9:31 [IST]
No nuke MoU for Kudankulam programme if Russia does back India at NSG

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

India would stall cooperation with its foreign partners for development of civil nuclear programmes if it is unable to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. India has threatened to put on the back burner an MoU with Russia for developing 6 reactor units at Kudankulam.

India feels that Russia must work more pro-actively for its NSG bid. Signs of India's resistance was made known when it gave no assurance to Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin when the issue relating to the MoU was taken up.

Rogozin took up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting last week. However Modi offered no assurance on the issue, thus signalling India's disappointment about Russia not playing a pro-active role on the NSG bid.

India has signalled that without an NSG membership in the next two years, it would be forced to go for a indigenous nuclear energy programme.

Russia has made several attempts to get India to sign the MoU. The MoU which was meant to be signed on the sidelines of the BRICS summit at Goa last year has not yet seen the light of the day. Moscow on the other hand is concerned that there has been no assurance from India weeks ahead of the Putin-Modi meeting.

India at various levels has urged Russia to persuade China to support its NSG bid. China has been blocking India's bid at the NSG. India feels that Russia has not done enough to convince China to back India's NSG bid.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 6:16 [IST]
On camera: Varanasi folks in panic as 'ghost in white' goes for a walk on rooftops

Varanasi to light up for Deep Deepavali, a festival of lights that is not Diwali

Politics over Ganga continues: Nobody cares about Kaali river?

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Lucknow, May 17: Ganga is not just a river for India. It's a holy entity closely associated with the Hindu religion and the lifeline of crores of Indians. In recent times, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has taken up various steps to clean the river and make it pollution-free under the National Mission for Clean Ganga, a registered society under the ministry of water resources, river development and ganga rejuvenation.

In March, the Uttarakhand High Court declared that the rivers Ganga and Yamuna were "living persons." Did it change anything for the Ganga, which is fighting a massive battle against pollution?

The residents of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, through which the river flows, feel that the river is fighting a lonely battle against pollution, as politics over the river continues.

"The water of Ganga is turning black every day. Politics over Ganga is continuing, but nobody cares about the river. (Ganga ka paani lagatar kaala ho raha, Ganga pe rajneeti ho rahi hai lekin fikar koi nahi kar raha hai)," Govind, a corporator of Varanasi, told ANI.

A boatman, who ferries people in the Ganga ghats of Varanasi, says that since the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the reins of the nation in 2014, the river looks much cleaner, however, the water-level is receding fast. In fact, Varanasi is the Parliamentary constituency of PM Modi.

"Yes, in three years, the ghats are much cleaner, but receding water-level in the Ganga is a major worry which needs attention," Virendra, a boatman, told ANI.

The PM Modi government is all set to celebrate three years in power beginning from May 26 to June 15.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 8:31 [IST]
Rewari gangrape case: CM Khattar warns of strict action against those who shield the accused

We will pay Rs 20 lakh if a BJP leader agrees to get gangraped by 10 people: AAP's Naveen Jaihind

Rewari rape victim's plight: Could not appear for job exam as she is in hospital

35-year-old man rapes 7-year-old girl while she was returning from school in Rewari

Rewari girls' end hunger strike after Haryana government issues notification

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Girl students of government high school at Dahina village in Rewari District ended their hunger strike on Wednesday after Haryana government issued a notification for upgradation of the school. Around 10 students were hospitalised who were hunger strike for the last eight days.

Notification issued by Haryana government for upgradation of the Government High School in Rewari to the level of Senior Secondary School. pic.twitter.com/Wqp4FOLwar  ANI (@ANI_news) 17 May 2017

The school girls complained of harassment and misbehavior by boys on the way to school, therefore, the girls want upgradation of the school in their own village. They sat on hunger strike to get their demand fulfilled.

One of the girls on hunger strike said: "We fear harassment and molestation by youths of other villages and hence, we are demanding upgradations of our school up to Class XII."

Haryana: Demanding up-gradation of their institution to senior sec school,Girl students of Govt High School in Rewari continue hunger strike pic.twitter.com/fUliya9j2k  ANI (@ANI_news) 17 May 2017

However, the district education authorities had said since the school did not fulfil the minimum condition required for the senior secondary level, it could not be upgraded.

(With agency inputs)
Rohtak: Minor girl writes to cops, alleges rape, blackmail

India

oi-PTI

Rohtak, May 17: A minor girl from Rohtak has written to the police alleging rape and blackmail by two persons at gunpoint. The police have requested the girl to come forward as they could not find her at the address mentioned in the letter.

The SHO of the women's police station in Rohtak said that "they received the letter on May 11, in which the girl, who claimed to be around 17-year-old, alleged that she was gang-raped in March this year." She also alleged that the two accused filmed the act in order to blackmail and threaten her.

"We have questioned the two youngsters named in her complaint, but they deny having committed the crime. We appeal to her to come forward and provide us more details. We will take care of her safety," the SHO said.

A case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act and the Arms Act and investigation is on, police said.

Last week, the decomposed and mutilated body of a 23-year-old woman, who went missing from Sonipat on May 9 and was gang-raped and brutally murdered, was found in a vacant plot in Rohtak's Industrial Model Township on May 11. She lay in the plot for four days before someone spotted her. Her skull was in pieces and stray dogs had bitten off parts of her body.

Just a few days later, a 22-year-old woman from Sikkim was allegedly raped by three men in a moving car in Gurgaon and thrown out on a road in Delhi.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 13:13 [IST]
Saffron India: BJP ruled states after Modi came to power

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

It has been three years since Narendra Modi won India. In an emphatic victory in 2014, Modi occupied the Prime Minister's office following a whirlwind campaign that was hailed by almost the entire world.

In the three years that he has ruled India there have been setbacks and successes as well. On the election front while Delhi and Bihar were major setbacks, the win at Uttar Pradesh in 2017 could be considered as one of his biggest achievements.

There has been a saffron surge since Modi came to power in 2014. The party would also look to conquer Karnataka and retain Gujarat in a big way in the forthcoming elections.

Here are the BJP ruled states after Modi came to power:

The Modi led BJP also recorded impressive wins at Maharashtra and Haryana. The party also scaled Jammu and Kashmir where it is in a coalition with the PDP. Even in Andhra Pradesh, the BJP is ruling with the TDP. The BJP also managed to form governments in Goa and Manipur despite not being the single largest party.

OneIndia News
SC questions WhatsApp's dual standards for India and rest of world on data sharing

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

WhatsApp is good, but fundamental rights of a citizen more important, the Supreme Court observed. A five judge constitution bench headed by Justice Dipak Mishra was hearing petitions which had raised concerns over the privacy issues surrounding the popular messaging service WhatsApp.

The court said that there was a need to put in place a mechanism for data protection. The centre informed the court that it was in the process of framing a law on data protection. The court said that the fundamental right of citizens must be protected. It is alleged that rights of 160 million users in the country were being violated by WhatsApp, which was sharing information with Facebook.

WhatsApp does have great advantages, but fundamental rights of a citizen are more important, the court said.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the Centre was committeed to protect the rights of citizens and the government would soon frame a law to protect vital personal details people hand over while opening bank accounts, joining social media platforms and using various apps.

The court sought to know why WhatsApp was sharing information of its users in India when it had been restrained from doing so in other countries. You must maintain a global standard. We can protect rights of citizens and it is our constitutional duty. We are not concerned about your business interest and our concern is rights of citizens. We do not think that anyone would want to share data, the Bench observed.

The counsel for WhatsApp said that videos and pictures shared through their platform were fully protected and they agreed to make a statement on oath that the companies did not share data. They also said that the petition filed by two students against privacy policy of WhatsApp was not maintainable.

OneIndia News
Rahul appears before ED: 'Bulldozers missing', says Karti as he takes dig over heavy deployment near Cong HQ

The drama is now over, says Karti Chidambaram on CBI raids

India

oi-Madhuri

Former Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram on Wednesday while reacting to the CBi raid against him and his father and said that the drama of is now over.

On Tuesday, Karti said that the CBI has no proof against him and that the corruption charges are a ploy by the Centre to stifle his father's dissenting voice.

CBDT chairman held a meeting with the Prime Minister's Office hours after Karti Chidambaram's house in Chennai and his office in Gurgaon and other places were raided by the CBI on Tuesday. Raids were also conducted at former media baron Peter Mukerjea's house in Worli, Mumbai.

The firm was owned by media tycoon Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani, and had been greenlighted by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board in May 2007, when Chidambaram was Finance Minister.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 10:46 [IST]
Excerpts of Baderiya's notes

"There is tremendous pressure from the honourable Chief Minister's office as well as the honourable Chief Minister regarding the issue of working permission. This case has been followed by Vijay Kumar, suspended police officer Daya Nayak of Maharashtra, Darshan Goel and Vinod Goel. Honourable CM has given an ultimatum that the permission should be given within two hours, without loss of time."

Daya Nayak claims innocence

A native of Karnataka, Daya Nayak had earlier distanced himself from the case. Despite notes of Baderiya naming him specifically, the police officer maintained that he had never spoken to the IAS officer. After former Lokayukta of Karnataka Santosh Hegde blew the lid off the scam following a complaint by an activist T J Abraham, the SIT had summoned Daya Nayak. He claimed that he had no connection with the case whatsoever. He even denied calling the IAS officer leave alone pressurising him, a claim that the investigating authorities are unwilling to buy. With the arrest of the IAS officer, fresh probes are likely to be launched into the official notings made by him. Daya Nayak now faces the possibility of being summoned once again in the case.

IAS officer received lakhs in bribe

Baderiya was arrested after the SIT found credibility in a complaint alleging that Vinod Goel, the owner of Janthakal mining company paid bribes to the IAS officer. Money was paid through ICICI Bank in two instalments to Baderiya, investigations revealed. While Rs 10 lakh was deposited into the account of Gagan Badreia, son of Gangadhar Baderiya, at HDFC Bank, Cauvery Bhavan branch. Another Rs 10 lakh was deposited into an account in the SBI branch in HSR Layout.

Under the scanner, H D Kumaraswamy granted bail

A court in Bengaluru granted anticipatory bail to former Chief Minister of Karnataka H D Kumaraswamy. The state president of the JD(S) claimed that the case was nothing but political witchhunt. "I know how this government works and this is nothing but political witchhunt. I have booked under four different cases for the same incident. I have already received bail in three cases and now another one," Kumaraswamy told the media. H D Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister of the state when permits were illegally granted to favour Janthakal mining company.

What the case is all about

In 2009, the Holalkere Range Forest Officer filed a complaint that iron ore was illegally transported from abandoned mines at Hirekambhavadi village. The complaint said that the ore was transported after producing forged documents including a letter from Ministry of Environment and Forest, allowing transport of "waste material" from the mined area.

1,17,800 metric tonnes of iron ore transported illegally

SIT that probed the matter stated that at least 1,17,800 metric tonnes of iron ore were transported out of an abandoned mine between 2007 and 2009. Janthakal Mines had extracted iron ore at Hirekambhavadi village between 1965 and 1985 but had abandoned the dump till 2004. When the price of iron ore in the international market started skyrocketing, the mine suddenly became active. Despite a ban on lifting the ore, forged documents were produced and permissioms were granted illegally to make way for the scam.
Will Rajinikanth join the BJP? 'No comments', says the star

India

oi-Anusha

Superstar Rajinikanth neither refused nor confirmed his willingness to join the BJP if he entered electoral politics. Leaving his decision open-ended, Rajinikanth told the media that he had 'no comments' to make when asked if he would consider joining the BJP. Leaders like Pon Radhakrishnan have extended an invitation to the superstar after he dropped hints of taking the political plunge on May 15.

On day three of his meeting with fans from across the state, Rajinikanth made way for more speculation about him joining politics. "Will take a decision to join politics at the right time," he told a media house. Leaving much to speculation, Rajinikanth continued to keep his followers on tenterhooks. While the DMK in Tamil Nadu claimed that entering politics was Rajinikanth's personal choice, parties like the PMK opposed it vehemently.

While BJP's Tmailisai Soundarajan and Pon Radhakrishnan claimed that they would welcome it if the superstar joined politics, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy called it a joke. "Rajinikanth has no ideology and the following he has is cult following which is never good," Swamy had claimed. He had also mocked Rajinikanth and stated "leave alone becoming a politician from Tamil Nadu, he is not even a Tamil. He is a Marathi from Bengaluru. He will fail."

Rajinikanth on more than one occasion has taken sides and supported parties. He has been considered an opinion maker, so much so that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited him ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. During campaigning for R K Nagar bypolls, BJP's candidate Gangai Amaran had shared a picture with Rajinikanth to create an impression of enjoying the star's support. Rajinikanth had later issued a statement that he did not support any party or candidate.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 12:30 [IST]
A month on, why Kashmir unrest continues after 56 deaths

No change in rank parity of armed forces personnel: Defence Ministry

10 armed men break into Punjab jail, free KLF chief Mintoo, four others

UN says around 1.4 lakh people displaced in Myanmar due to armed conflicts

Is Gorkhaland agitation turning into an armed underground movement?

2 killed after gunmen attacked Afghan state TV office

International

oi-Madhuri

Some unidentified gunmen stormed into National Radio Television's compound in Afghanistan in Nangarhar's Jalalabad on Wednesday.

According to the officials, shots were heard close to governor's compound and National Radio Television of Afghanistan offices in Jalalabad.

Local officials said that the attack was launched around 10 am. The assault involved a bombing and gunshots. Bordering Pakistan, Nangarhar is top regional stronghold for Islamic State militants.

Accordng to multiple sorces, RTA attack was carried out by 4 gunmen. Out of them, 2 gunmen were killed so far, one captured and one attacker is still fighting.

Some 40 people work in the compound every day and, while many managed to flee, some remain trapped inside, an RTA employee told TOLOnews.

OneIndia News
China installs rocket launchers on disputed reef in South China sea

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Chinese have installed rocket launchers on a disputed reef in the South China sea. This according to a state-run newspaper was done to ward off Vietnamese military combat divers.

The state-run Defense Times newspaper, in a Tuesday report on its WeChat account, said Norinco CS/AR-1 55mm anti-frogman rocket launcher defense systems with the capability to discover, identify and attack enemy combat divers had been installed on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands.

Reuters reported that the Fiery Cross Reef is administered by China but also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. The report did not say when the defense system was installed, but said it was part of a response that began in May 2014, when Vietnamese divers installed large numbers of fishing nets in the Paracel Islands.

The report also stated that China had conducted extensive land reclamation work at the Fiery Cross Reef including building an airport.More than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped through the South China Sea every year. Besides China's territorial claims in the area, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 15:14 [IST]
Despite growing tensions, only 36 % Americans know where North Korea is

International

oi-Prabhpreet

As tensions between United States of America and North Korea keep increasing, especially following a series of missile tests conducted by the latter and the former calling on the world to impose stronger sanctions, it would be assumed that discourse related to it in the US would be more informed.

But according to the latest experiment conducted by a group, following a request by The Newyork Times, a leading national daily in the US, of the 1,746 adults who took part in it only 36 per cent could tell where North Korea was located.

The rest of the answers varied from thinking it was in India, China along with a host of other Asian countries, to as far as Australia.

The knowledge of the positioning of the country had a direct relationship with what policies they thought their country should follow with respect to the Asian country.

According to the results, those who knew the country's exact location preferred more diplomatic and non-military strategies such as imposing further economic sanctions, increasing pressure on China to influence its neighbour and even conducting cyberattacks against its military installations.

And this group stayed away from choosing direct military engagement against North Korea as well as the option of not doing anything about it. While those who could not find it where more open towards both these options.

According to the newspaper, these findings are similar to the results of a similar experiment conducted during the increase in tensions between Russia and the US, after the former had supported the separation of the state of Crimea from Ukraine.

That experiment had asked the people to identify Ukraine on a map and whether they supported a military intervention from the US. According to those results too, the farther the respondents was from the actual location of the country the more likely they were to support military intervention.

Which groups did best?

Three categories of people- Republicans, more educated, and older people- came out better when it came to identifying the location of North Korea on a world map.

Republicans, especially men, were able to locate it more correctly compared to those from the Democrat's side. Where as women from both the parties had the same per centage. And the Republicans were also more in favour of almost all diplomatic solutions which the researchers had posed.

Education was the other major factor when it came to locating North Korea. Post graduate degree holders had more success in locating the country except for the group that said they knew someone of Korean ancestry. Another group that was successful was made up of those who had visited foreign countries.

And after the highly educated, the second most successful group was made up of older people with nearly half of the respondents who were 65 or older found the located it correctly.

Such geography skills are not new for Americans

In a survey conducted in 2006, while the Iraq war was going on, six out of 10 young adults were not able to locate Iraq on a map of the Middle East and 75 per cent could not correctly find Iran or Israel and more surprisingly only half could find the New York state.

According to the paper, in "Why Geography Matters," Harm de Blij wrote, "the American public is the geographically most illiterate society of consequence on the planet, at a time when United States power can affect countries and peoples around the world."

And geographers believe this can leave citizens without a framework to think about foreign policy questions more substantively.

Alec Murphy, a professor of geography at the University of Oregon, is reported to have said, "The paucity of geographical knowledge means there is no check on misleading public representations about international matters."

But, irrespective of political views most Americans hold a remarkably consistent view on North Korea, with the latest survey by YouGov showed that the country topped the list of 144 countries described as 'enemy' of the US and a Gallup study showed it as the least favourite country of the Americans.

Though such low interest in their country among Americans is not the case when the roles are reversed.

The Newyork Times quoted Barbara Demick, the former Bejing bureau chief for The Los Angeles Times, from her interview with the New Yorker, where she said, "North Koreans are obsessed with the United States." She added, "They hold the U.S. responsible for the division of the Korean peninsula and seem to believe that U.S. foreign policy since the mid-20th century has revolved around the single-minded goal."

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 19:04 [IST]
On its judge voting in Russias favour at ICJ, this is what China said

Can Pakistan hang Kulbhushan Jadhav: ICJ verdict today

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The International Court of Justice will pronounce it verdict in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case on Thursday at 3.30 pm. The ICJ at The Hague had reserved orders earlier this week.,

India said that it feared that Jadhav would be hanged before the hearing is concluded. Hence an urgent order is needed. India also said that the trial against Jadhav was farcical and hence he was urging for provisional measures.

Harish Salve representing India said in his arguments said that Pakistan had violated the Vienna pact. India repeatedly stated that over 16 requests for consular access were denied. Even Jadhav's mother appealed for access but the same was denied, Salve argued. The situation is grave and urgent, Salve also said.

Further India refuted Pakistan's claim that Jadhav was a spy. He was kidnapped from Iran. The appeal has been filed as a desperate measure Salve said while calling for the suspension of the sentence.

Pakistan during its arguments sought to broadcast the confessional video of Jadhav. The ICJ however did not permit the same. Pakistan said that there are flaws in the defence taken by India. It also said that the request made by India is flawed while seeking that India's application be dismissed.

The ICJ had stayed the execution of Jadhav by Pakistan last week. India ie being represented by one its best advocates Harish Salve who had on the last date argued and obtained a stay.

India has for the second time since 1971 moved the ICJ and this is an indicator of growing confidence in facing multilateral forums. India would argue that several requests for consular access had been rejected by Pakistan and hence the sentence be put off. India would also contend that Jadhav was sentenced on wrong evidence and hence the sentencing be set aside.

OneIndia News
Talented, driven and great potential: President Putin is all praise for India and Indians

OBOR snub: Why BJP is confident that India-China relations are fine

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Of late, the "cordial" relationship shared between the two Asian giants--India and China--has become a major concern for governments of both the nations and geopolitical experts.

After New Delhi decided to skip the One Belt, One Road summit which concluded on Monday in Beijing, the rift between the neighbouring countries is out in the open, say observers.

India boycotted the mega-event as it opposes the key component, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The CPEC passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on its way to Xinjiang in northwest China and India does not want any compromise on its territorial integrity.

The OBOR summit was hosted by China from May 14-15 in Beijing. A total of 29 foreign heads of state and government and representatives from more than 130 countries and 70 international organisations participated in the meet.

In spite of all the talks of souring relationships between the two countries, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party maintains that India's decision to stay away from the OBOR mega show won't affect the bilateral relations adversely.

Ram Madhav, the national general secretary of the BJP, in a column written for The Indian Express, said that there was no reason to assume that India's decision would affect bilateral relations with China adversely.

"Both India and China have a mature leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. Both work together on many other multilateral forums like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank, BRICS Forum, etc.

In bilateral relations, there are certain irritants that have either been inherited over time or are a result of realpolitik. That includes China's position on Pakistan and terrorism sponsored by it on Indian soil. India hopes that China appreciates its concerns and takes mutually satisfactory and reassuring measures," wrote Madhav.

While the ruling dispensation of India wants to "lighten up" the tense situation currently, but it looks like the Chinese establishment has taken to its heart New Delhi's snub.

The leading state-run Chinese newspaper, Global Times, in its editorial said that India needs to look beyond rifts with China.

"Rising nationalism has made Indian public opinion extremely sensitive on China-related issues. Indians are keen to compare themselves with China on development and international status, but meanwhile strongly object to China developing friendly cooperation with Pakistan, for fear that Sino-Pakistani ties are targeting India.

"Indian's objection to the B&R is partly a show for domestic politics, partly to pile pressure on China. However, the absence of New Delhi in the B&R has not affected the forum in Beijing, and it will exert even less effect on the progress the initiative will make in the world," wrote Global Times.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 11:15 [IST]
Take care of your minorities first: India slams Pakistan

Pakistan: Dog sentenced to death for biting child

International

oi-PTI

Lahore, May 17: In a peculiar punishment, a dog was on Tuesday sentenced to death in Pakistan's Punjab province for biting a child. The dog, which bit a child, was sentenced to death by Assistant Commissioner Raja Saleem in Bhakkar's Kalor vicinity in Punjab province, Geo TV reported.

Assistant Commissioner Saleem said that "the sentence was announced on humanitarian grounds. "The dog injured the child hence it should be killed," Saleem ruled.

An official was also instructed to check the dog's registration, he said, stating that a case against the dog's owner is in progress in a civil court.

"The affected child's family registered a case against dog, following which it completed a one-week prison sentence. Any further punishment for it would be unfair," the channel quoted the dog's owner Jamil as saying.

Jamil added that he would knock on the doors of all courts to get justice for his pet.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 14:12 [IST]
"Reports on Trump revealing secrets to Lavrov is political schizophrenia," says Vladimir Putin

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin said that reports about US President Donald Trump revealing security secrets to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were 'political schizophrenia'. "If the US administration deems it possible, we are ready to provide the Senate and Congress with the transcript of the conversation between Lavrov and Trump," Putin said at a press conference. The press meet was held following a meeting with the Italian prime minister on Wednesday.

Putin's statement was followed up by Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov who clarified that 'there was no audio recording of the Trump-Lavrov meeting, and the only form of record available was a transcript'. The statement from the Russian premiere comes after the Washington Post claimed that President Trump had revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador during a White House meeting on May 10.

"We are seeing in the US a developing political schizophrenia. There is no other way I can explain the accusations against the acting US president that he gave away some secrets to Lavrov," Putin said mocking the claims made by the US press. He did, however, add that it was an internal matter of the United States and Russia had no plans to interfere.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 17:52 [IST]
US midterm elections: Voting underway, Americans to decide who will control Congress

Russia not reliable for energy or security, US warns India

US Cong asks FBI to handover fired Comey docs on Trump

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, May 17: A United States House Committee has requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation to provide all documents that its former director James Comey had on President Donald Trump, a media report said.

The request, signed by Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Republican Jason Chaffetz on Tuesday, includes 'memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings' held by the FBI. The documents have to be delivered by May 24, Efe news said.

"If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the President attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation as it relates to Lt Gen Flynn (former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn)," Chaffetz said in a letter to the agency's acting director Andrew G. McCabe.

This request comes after The New York Times revealed on Tuesday the existence of documents that Comey wrote shortly after having conversations with Trump.

In one of these documents, Comey picked up Trump's request to end an investigation into Flynn's ties with Russia.

"He's a good guy. I hope you can let this go," Trump told Comey, according to the FBI's former director memo quoted by The New York Times.

Trump on May 9 fired Comey, who led the FBI investigation into the ties between Russian officials and Trump's presidential campaign, an issue that Congress also addresses.

Flynn has been at the centre of that investigation shortly after Trump's arrival to the White House.

Flynn advised Trump on foreign policy during the campaign and was later appointed NSA, a position he was forced to resign after lying about his contacts with the Russian Ambassador in Washington.

Last week, the Senate Intelligence Committee ordered him to hand over all documents related to Russia, after his refusal to cooperate with the investigation without prior immunity.

IANS
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U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's campaign entered the final stretch of the race with a large cash advantage over..
The Media Council has described as unacceptable recent harassment and violence targeting media personnel covering Papua New Guineas 2017 General Election.The MCPNG said an incident last Thursday May 11 resulting in the harassment and assaulting of an EMTV camera crew in the Moresby South electorate in the National Capital District is unacceptable and unwarranted.The media have an important role to play in the dissemination of information and awareness on the 3331 candidates contesting the 89 open electorates and 22 provincial seats, says council president Alexander Rheeney.Papua New Guineas 4 million-plus eligible voters are depending on the media for critical information on the 2017 General Election, the candidates as well as political parties and their policies. The media should be allowed to report without fear or favour in this general election as they have in previous general elections, he said.The incident last Thursday involving an EMTV camera crew and the supporters of a particular candidate is unacceptable. All candidates should accept responsibility for the conduct of their supporters so any unruly behavior should and will be reported to the appropriate authorities.The media industry remains united and vigilant in its strive to inform, educate and make aware the attributes of the various candidates running for political office, for the benefit of PNGs eligible voters according to Mr Rheeney.Our journalists, reporters, photographers and camera crew should be given access to political rallies and community gatherings for news purposes. It is their job to report on the activities and conduct of the candidates and their supporters during the campaign period and polling.Mr Rheeney said if candidates and supporters had issues with the coverage they should contact the individual news organization and make a complaint or bring it to the attention of the MCPNG, which can liaise and raise it with the organizations management.Harassment and violence is not a solution and can never be a solution in the resolution of disputes relating to press coverage. All media organizations have protocols to address reader and viewer concerns so that is the best path to take, he added.
Professional Growth of Diamond Mining in Botswana Industry 2017-2020

http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=676648

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ALBANY, NY, May 16, 2017 : ResearchMoz presents professional and in-depth study of "Diamond Mining in Botswana to 2020".Timetric's 'Diamond Mining in Botswana to 2020' report comprehensively covers Botswana's reserves of diamond by deposits and grade, the historic and forecast data on rough diamond production and historic and forecast production by selected diamond mines.The report also includes factors affecting demand for diamonds, profiles of major diamond producing companies and information on the active and development diamond projects.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The Fiscal Regime section provides information about the countrys regulatory authority, laws, licenses and other fiscal regime information such as taxes, rates and other charges applicable to the mining of the commodity in the country.It is an essential tool for companies active in Botswana's mining and for new competitors considering entering the industry.SummaryBotswana has deposits of diamond, copper, nickel and silver and mining plays an important role in the countrys economy, accounting for 22.9% of the countrys GDP in 2014. The diamond mining industry is export oriented and rough diamonds contributed approximately 70% of the countrys total exports revenue, valued around US$1.7 billion in the first six months of 2015.Botswana had the worlds third-largest diamond reserves at the end of 2014, with 130 million carats (Mct) or 17.8% of the global total. Significant diamond reserves are found in the Central and Kgalagadi districts.ScopeThe report contains an overview of the Botswana's diamond mining industry together with the key factors affecting the industry and demand for the commodity.It also provides information about Botswana's diamond reserves, historic and forecast data on rough diamond production and production by selected mines, the competitive landscape and active and development diamond projects.Reasons To BuyGain an understanding of the diamond mining industry in Botswana, diamond reserves, historic and forecast data on rough diamond production and production by selected mines, demand drivers, active and development diamond projects, the competitive landscape and the country's fiscal regime.Make an Enquiry of this report @Key HighlightsThe country was the worlds fourth-largest rough diamond producing nation, producing 24.7Mct in 2014, up by 8.7% compared with 2013 on account of 6.1% increase in production at the Orapa mine in 2014.Diamond deposits at Orapa mine located in the Central district is one of the worlds largest kimberlite-type deposits which contain two kimberlite pipes, each 1,500m long and 1,000m wide.The countrys mining industry is governed by the Ministry of Mineral, Energy and Water Resources (MMEWR), and sub-departments such as the Department of Geological Survey (DGS), the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) and the Department of Mines (DoM).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
Global Polo Shirt Industry 2016 Market Research Report

Market Research Reports

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Polo Shirt Industry 2016 Market Research Report" to its huge collection of research reports.The report focusing on the global Polo Shirt market offers answer to some of the most pertinent questions faced by stakeholders. The research provides a comprehensive overview of the current market status, key dynamics, share and size of the major segments. The study covers key drivers and restraints, prominent trends and emerging opportunities, and other primary factors influencing the markets growth between 2017 and 2022. It evaluates the impact of recent technological advancements on the competitive landscape.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @With intensifying competition in the coming years, several companies are striving to improvise their brand positioning strategies to gain a better foothold in the market. The research study takes a closer look at the regulatory landscape prevailing in major regions and assesses their influence on the offerings of top players. The analysis helps market participants identify imminent investment pockets by identifying which trends will gain momentum and which will fall by the wayside in the coming years.Clear indications are offered in the study to track changing trajectory of the Polo Shirt market, which will help numerous players to find their sweet spots. The research zeroes in on most important factors out of a plethora of them to assist companies in the formulation of impactful growth strategies, organic and inorganic. To gain a holistic view of the vendor landscape, the report profiles several companies from across the entire spectrum of the market and elaborates on their product portfolio, recent financial reports, distribution channels, and recent partnership and collaboration activities. The key strategies adopted by them to consolidate their market shares are also analyzed.Browse full table of contents and data tables of Report @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Polo Shirt1.1 Definition and Specifications of Polo Shirt1.1.1 Definition of Polo Shirt1.1.2 Specifications of Polo Shirt1.2 Classification of Polo Shirt1.3 Applications of Polo Shirt1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Polo Shirt1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Polo Shirt1.5.1 Industry Overview of Polo Shirt1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Polo Shirt1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Polo Shirt1.7 Industry News Analysis of Polo Shirt2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Polo Shirt2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Polo Shirt2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Polo Shirt2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Polo Shirt2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Polo Shirt2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Polo Shirt2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Polo Shirt3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Polo Shirt3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Polo Shirt Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Polo Shirt Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Polo Shirt Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Polo Shirt Major Manufacturers in 20154 Capacity, Production and Revenue Analysis of Polo Shirt by Regions, Types and Manufacturers4.1 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Polo Shirt by Regions 2011-20164.2 Global and Major Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Polo Shirt 2011-20164.3 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Polo Shirt by Types 2011-20164.4 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Polo Shirt by Manufacturers 2011-20165 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Polo Shirt by Regions, Types and Manufacturers5.1 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Polo Shirt by Regions 2011-20165.2 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Polo Shirt by Types 2011-20165.3 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Polo Shirt by Manufacturers 2011-20166 Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Sale Price Analysis of Polo Shirt by Regions, Types and Applications6.1 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Polo Shirt by Regions 2011-20166.2 Global and Major Regions Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Growth Rate of Polo Shirt 2011-20166.3 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Polo Shirt by Types 2011-20166.4 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Polo Shirt by Applications 2011-20166.5 Sale Price of Polo Shirt by Regions 2011-20166.6 Sale Price of Polo Shirt by Types 2011-20166.7 Sale Price of Polo Shirt by Applications 2011-20166.8 Market Share Analysis of Polo Shirt by Different Sale Price Levels7 Supply, Import, Export and Consumption Analysis of Polo Shirt7.1 Supply, Consumption and Gap of Polo Shirt 2011-20167.2 Global Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Polo Shirt 2011-20167.3 USA Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Polo Shirt 2011-20167.4 EU Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Polo Shirt 2011-20167.5 China Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Polo Shirt 2011-20167.6 Japan Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Polo Shirt 2011-201611 Development Trend of Analysis of Polo Shirt11.1 Capacity, Production and Revenue Forecast of Polo Shirt by Regions and Types11.1.1 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Polo Shirt by Regions 2016-202111.1.2 Global and Major Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Polo Shirt 2016-202111.1.3 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Polo Shirt by Types 2016-202111.2 Consumption Volume and Consumption Value Forecast of Polo Shirt by Regions, Types and Applications11.2.1 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Polo Shirt by Regions 2016-202111.2.2 Global and Major Regions Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Growth Rate of Polo Shirt 2016-202111.2.3 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Polo Shirt by Types 2016-202111.2.4 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Polo Shirt by Applications 2016-202111.3 Supply, Import, Export and Consumption Forecast of Polo Shirt11.3.1 Supply, Consumption and Gap of Polo Shirt 2016-202111.3.2 Global Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Polo Shirt 2016-202111.3.3 USA Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Polo Shirt 2016-202111.3.4 EU Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Polo Shirt 2016-2021QYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a 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Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States
Global Activated PEGs Sales Market Report 2017 : NOF, Sinopeg, Pegbio

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In this report, the global Activated PEGs market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (Kg), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Activated PEGs for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Activated PEGs market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Activated PEGs sales volume, Price (USD/Kg), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingMerck MilliporeNOFSinopegPegbioThermo FisherIris BiotechBiomatrikMerck MilliporeEnquiry For Discount Visit @On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (Kg), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/Kg), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPEGmPEGOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Activated PEGs for each application, includingPharmaceutical IndustryScientific ResearchOthersAbout Us :QYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Antidepressants Market: New Tech Developments and Advancements to Watch Out for 2024

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Antidepressants are drugs used for the treatment of depressive disorders including dysthymia, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, chronic pain, eating disorders, and neuropathic pain. Depression is a medical disorder which is related to the brain. Symptoms of depression include feeling sad and tired, lacking energy, and having difficulty enjoying routine daily activities. According to CDC, depression affects about 1 in every 5 individuals in the U.S. According to WHO (World Health Organization), at present an estimated 350 million people worldwide are affected by depression. Depression affects 10% to 15% men and about 10% to 25% of women.Browse Market Research Report @The antidepressants market has been segmented based on the drug classes commonly used for the treatment of various types of depressive disorders. There are different types of antidepressant drugs available in the market such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (RIMA), tetracyclic antidepressants, etc. The different types of antidepressants are used in the treatment of depressive disorders.The different classes of antidepressants are as effective as each other, but some patients respond better to one antidepressant compared to another antidepressant. Side effects can also be different between these groups of antidepressants. Different types of depression disorders include dysthymic disorder, postpartum depression, psychotic depression, major or clinical depressive disorder, and seasonal affective disorder.Factors driving the antidepressants market are declining side effects and rising efficacy of drugs in various classes as well as growing geriatric population where rate of mental illness is higher. However, the overall antidepressants market growth would decrease due to patent expiry of key antidepressants, fragile pipeline of new drugs, increasing number of generic drug alternatives, and growing prevalence of treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders.Region wise, the global fermented ingredients market is segmented into five regions; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is the most dominant market for antidepressants due to the presence of a large patient population suffering from various types of anxiety disorders and depression. However, the antidepressants market in the U.S. is currently saturated, as several antidepressant drugs are available on prescription for the same indication. Hence, the future growth of the market would depend on introduction of efficacious drugs for new indications.Moreover, loss of patent exclusivity, market maturity, generic infiltration, and shortened drug lifecycles are the additional factors that contribute to the decline in market growth in the region. Asia Pacific is expected to witness appreciable growth due to multiple factors such as high prevalence of psychiatric disorders and rapid economic growth in countries such as China, Japan, and Australia. Additionally, positive marketing approval for innovative medicines is likely to drive the market in the near future.For more information on this report, fill the form @Currently, the market is highly fragmented and competitive in nature due to the involvement of both large and small pharmaceutical companies. AstraZeneca plc, Eli Lilly and Company, Forest Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline plc, H. Lundbeck A/S, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer, Inc. and Sanofi S.A. are major companies operating in the antidepressants market. Majority of the market players are focusing on expanding distribution network as well as expanding geographical presence, as Asia Pacific, the Middle East& Africa, and Latin America are developing regions with an increasing prevalence of various types of depressive disorders and improving economic conditions.Differences in clinical efficacy between drugs are generally small because most modern antidepressants work through a common biological mechanism. As a result, drug makers use direct-to-consumer advertising and tweak side effect profiles in order to differentiate their products.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Studio Lamp 2017 Global Market by Types, Countries and Manufacturers to 2022  JB, Stadio, ETC, Visage, SGM, PR Lighting, Martin and more

Studio Lamp Market

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Studio Lamp Market 2017Report Details:Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Studio Lamp Market Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.In this report, the global Studio Lamp 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 Studio Lamp market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingJBStadioETCVisageSGMYajiang PhotoelectricPR LightingRobeMartinChauvetADJ GroupRequest for Sample report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Studio Lamp in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoAstigmatism LightsModeling LampOn 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 Studio Lamp for each application, includingConcertMallStreetAny Enquiry @Key Points in Table of Content:Global Studio Lamp Market Research Report 20171 Studio Lamp Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Studio Lamp1.2 Studio Lamp Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Studio Lamp Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Studio Lamp Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Astigmatism Lights1.2.4 Modeling Lamp1.3 Global Studio Lamp Segment by Application1.3.1 Studio Lamp Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Concert1.3.3 Mall1.3.4 Street1.4 Global Studio Lamp Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Studio Lamp Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison 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)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Studio Lamp (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Studio Lamp Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Studio Lamp Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)..7 Global Studio Lamp Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 JB7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Studio Lamp Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 JB Studio Lamp Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Stadio7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Studio Lamp Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Stadio Studio Lamp Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 ETC7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Studio Lamp Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 ETC Studio Lamp Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Visage7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Studio Lamp Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Visage Studio Lamp Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 SGM7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Studio Lamp Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 SGM Studio Lamp Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Yajiang Photoelectric7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Studio Lamp Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Yajiang Photoelectric Studio Lamp Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 PR Lighting7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Studio Lamp Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 PR Lighting Studio Lamp Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Robe7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Studio Lamp Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Robe Studio Lamp Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Martin7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Studio Lamp Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Martin Studio Lamp Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Chauvet7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Studio Lamp Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Chauvet Studio Lamp Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 ADJ GroupContinueBuy this report @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTSales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Follow on LinkedIn @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Market Research Report 2017 Key Player - Continental ,Bosch ,BMW Motorrad ,Honda ,Ducati ,Garmin Analysis and forecast 2022

Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)

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Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)Get Sample Report @Covered In This Report:In this report, the global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaIndiaGlobal Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingContinentalBoschBMW MotorradHondaDucatiGarminZF FriedrichshafenBWIMotorcycle Cruise ControlsNXP SemiconductorsSuzukiTVS MotorOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoTraction Control System (TCS)Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)OtherOn 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 Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) for each application, includingAftermarketOEMsIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Make An Enquiry Before Buying This Report@ .Table of ContentsGlobal Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Market Research Report 20171 Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)1.2 Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Traction Control System (TCS)1.2.4 Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)1.2.5 Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)1.2.6 Other1.3 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Segment by Application1.3.1 Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Aftermarket1.3.3 OEMs1.4 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison 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 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 United States Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 EU Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 South Korea Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 United States Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 EU Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 South Korea Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Motorcycle Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)Continued...Buy Now @Contact Us:Norah TrentPartner Relations & Marketing ManagerSales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +1-646-845-9349 (Us)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (Uk)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Dog Bowls 2017 Global Key Players Neater Feeder, PetFusion Elevated, Crown Majestic Diamond, Outward Hound Fun, MidWest Bowls Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022

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Dog BowlsReport Details:This report focused on global and regional market, major manufacturers, as well as the segment market details on different classifications and applications.Major Key PlayersNeater FeederPetFusion ElevatedCrown Majestic DiamondOutward Hound FunMidWest BowlsJW Pet SkidStopOurPets Premium DuraPetLoving Pets BellaBergan EasyClick here for sample report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Dog Bowls 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 intoStainless Steel BowlsCeramic BowlsPlastic BowlsElevated BowlsAutomatic FeedersOn 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 Dog Bowls for each application, includingPet ShopsHome UseAnimal ClinicsOthersSome Major Points from Table of content:Global Dog Bowls Market Research Report 20171 Dog Bowls Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Dog Bowls1.2 Dog Bowls Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Dog Bowls Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Dog Bowls Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Stainless Steel Bowls1.2.4 Ceramic Bowls1.2.5 Plastic Bowls1.2.6 Elevated Bowls1.2.7 Automatic Feeders1.3 Global Dog Bowls Segment by Application1.3.1 Dog Bowls Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Pet Shops1.3.3 Home Use1.3.4 Animal Clinics1.3.5 Others1.4 Global Dog Bowls Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Dog Bowls 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 Dog Bowls (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Dog Bowls Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Dog Bowls Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)For Detailed Reading Please visit @7 Global Dog Bowls Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Neater Feeder7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Dog Bowls Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Neater Feeder Dog Bowls Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 PetFusion Elevated7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Dog Bowls Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 PetFusion Elevated Dog Bowls Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Crown Majestic Diamond7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Dog Bowls Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Crown Majestic Diamond Dog Bowls Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Outward Hound Fun7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Dog Bowls Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Outward Hound Fun Dog Bowls Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 MidWest Bowls7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Dog Bowls Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 MidWest Bowls Dog Bowls Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 JW Pet SkidStop7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Dog Bowls Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 JW Pet SkidStop Dog Bowls Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 OurPets Premium DuraPet7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Dog Bowls Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 OurPets Premium DuraPet Dog Bowls Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)..ContinuedBuy now @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042Mail :info@wiseguyreports.com
Psoriatic arthritis Therapeutics Pipeline Analysis, 2017 - Clinical Trials & Results, Collaboration, and Other Developments

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The number of drug candidates in pipeline for psoriatic arthritis are expected to increase on account of increase in the prevalence of psoriasis, globally. Psoriasis is the skin disease which is more common in Caucasian as compared to the African American and Asian Americans. The disease is symptomatized by white and scaly red patches. The prevalence of psoriatic arthritis has been increasing mainly in the patients, who are more susceptible to infection that may activate their immune system. Increase in mortality rate, other inflammatory disease complication and awareness regarding health issues are the main reasons, that are responsible for the growth of psoriatic arthritis therapeutics pipeline. According to the data published by National Institute of Health in 2014, the incidence of psoriatic arthritis ranged from 0.1 out of 100000 people in Japan to 23.1 out of 100000 people in Finland, in the Europe and America the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis varied from 0.02-0.42% of the total population. Indians have highest prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in, Singapores multi-ethnic population.Explore Report at:Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease which involves inflammation of skin, synovial tissue and usually gives seronegative results for rheumatoid factor. Other complex diseases which are associated with psoriatic arthritis include ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease and reactive arthritis. The psoriatic arthritis is diagnoses is done on the basis of the medical or family history and physical examinations such as magnetic field resonance imaging and x-ray of the affected joints. Currently, researchers are looking for better ways to diagnose psoriatic arthritis accurately, since at times a lot of similarity exist between psoriatic arthritis and other inflammatory form of arthritis. Contrast-enhanced MRI has also been developed by the researchers that can differentiate between psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in hand and wrist.Request for Table of Content at:Some of the companies having a pipeline of Psoriatic arthritis therapeutics include Novartis AG, Amgen Plc, Galapagos NV, AbbVie, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Celgene Corporation, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K.Browse Other Related Report at:About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:KundanManager  Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:
Future of the Myanmar Defense Industry  Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2022-Market Research Report Store

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"Future of the Myanmar Defense Industry  Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2022-Market Research Report Storepublished in May 2017. It is a professional and in-depth study.Complete Report Available at: @Request a sample, click here Ann@marketresearchreportstore.comSummaryThe Future of the Myanmar Defense Industry  Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2022, published by Strategic Defence Intelligence, provides readers with detailed analysis of both historic and forecast defense industry values, factors influencing demand, the challenges faced by industry participants, analysis of industry leading companies, and key news.Scope The Myanmars defense budget values US$2.15 billion in 2017, and registered a CAGR of 0.76% during the historic period. The urgent need to modernize the countrys defense arsenal, especially in the wake of the current European migration crisis and Russia military aggression in Ukraine has woken the concerned authorities to the possibility of an armed conflict in Europe. Coupled with the countrys participation in peacekeeping operations and counter terrorism, this has driven the Myanmar defense expenditure during the historic period. The capital expenditure allocation, which declined at an average of -5.2% during the historic period, is expected to increase significantly by an average of 12.4% during the forecast period. Key opportunities for equipment suppliers are expected in sectors such as military radar, transport aircraft, infantry vehicles, and military helicopters. The MoD expected to invets in ammunition, weaponry, and equipment including new types of armament, new multi-role helicopters, infantry fighting vehicles, and air defense systemsIn particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following  The Myanmar defense industry market size and drivers: detailed analysis of the Myanmar defense industry during 2018-2022, including highlights of the demand drivers and growth stimulators for the industry. It also provides a snapshot of the countrys expenditure and modernization patterns Budget allocation and key challenges: insights into procurement schedules formulated within the country and a breakdown of the defense budget. It also details the key challenges faced by defense market participants within the country Porters Five Force analysis of the Myanmar defense industry: analysis of the market characteristics by determining the bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitution, intensity of rivalry, and barriers to entry Import and Export Dynamics: analysis of prevalent trends in the countrys imports and exports over the last five years Market opportunities: details of the top five defense investment opportunities over the next 10 years Competitive landscape and strategic insights: analysis of the competitive landscape of the Myanmar defense industry. It provides an overview of key players, together with insights such as key alliances, strategic initiatives, and a brief financial analysisReasons to buy This report will give the user confidence to make the correct business decisions based on a detailed analysis of the Myanmar defense industry market trends for the coming five years The market opportunity section will inform the user about the various military requirements that are expected to generate revenues during the forecast period. The description includes technical specifications, recent orders, and the expected investment pattern by the country during the forecast period Detailed profiles of the top domestic and foreign defense manufacturers with information about their products,alliances, recent contract wins, and financial analysis wherever available. This will provide the user with a total competitive landscape of the sector A deep qualitative analysis of the Myanmar defense industry covering sections including demand drivers, Porters Five Forces Analysis, Key Trends and Growth Stimulators, and latest industry contractsSome points from Table of Contents1. Introduction 71.1. What is this Report About? 71.2. Definitions 71.3. Summary Methodology 91.4. About Strategic Defence Intelligence 102.Executive Summary 113. Market Attractiveness and Emerging Opportunities 133.1. Current Market Scenario 143.1.1. Primary threat perception 143.1.2. Military Doctrine & Strategy 153.1.3. Military Fleet Size 173.1.4. Procurement Programs 203.1.5. Social, Political and Economic Environment & Support for Defense Projects 213.1.6. Political & Strategic Alliances 223.2. Defense Market Size Historical and Forecast 243.2.1. Myanmar defense expenditure is expected to grow at CAGR of 4.84% over 2018-2022 243.2.2. Modernization of Myanmar Navy, an ongoing insurgencies and ethnic conflicts expected to drive defense expenditure over the forecast period 263.2.3. Myanmars defense expenditure as a percentage of GDP expected to decrease marginally over the forecast period 283.3. Analysis of Defense Budget Allocation 303.3.1. Share of capital & revenue expenditure is anticipated to remain steady over forecast period 303.3.2. Capital expenditure expected to increase at CAGR of 5.25% over the forecast period 323.3.3. Myanmar to spend US$1.66 billion cumulatively on revenue expenditure over the forecast period 343.3.4. Per capita defense expenditure set to increase over the forecast period 363.3.5. Myanmar faces significant risk from insurgent groups and ethnic conflicts 383.3.6. Myanmar falls under highly affected terrorism category 393.3.7. Myanmar has a terrorism index score of 4.2 413.4. Benchmarking with Key Global Markets 423.4.1. Myanmars defense budget expected to grow at a slower rate than its neighbors over the forecast periodContact:AnnSales ManagerMarket Research Report StoreTel: +00-1-626-3463946 - U.SEmail: Ann@marketresearchreportstore.comEmail: info@marketresearchreportstore.comWeb:Since the establishment, Market Research Report Store has determined to take the online market research reports platform to the next level. With our passion and profession, we are designed to be the best among the bests.Market Research Report Store is one of the most fast-growing and professional online platforms for industry reports, market reports, and professional surveys. Our collection covers more than 100 global markets. We have cooperated with leading publishers and consultant companies to offer the best market intelligence products to our clients with instant access to our database.US
How to Detect High Quality Coating Steel Pipe

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Coating steel pipe is now a very high rate of a pipe, we racked our brains, in order to allow you to pick a better coating steel pipe to provide you with a test method.1.Impact testIn addition to the appropriate room temperature range, but also in accordance with the relevant national standards, the impact of its operation, in order to see the changes in the coating.2. Visual inspectionThis is the best way to look at coated steel tubes. On the appearance of steel pipe should be what kind of standards, the relevant state laws are provided.3. Bend testIf you are not allowed to buy their own coated steel pipe is good goods, may wish to ask the store to bend test. In accordance with the provisions of qualified coating steel pipe, bending angle should be about thirty, and the room temperature should be controlled in a certain range, too high or too low, are not up to the detection standard.4. Pinhole testPipe coating length of about 1000mm, with the EDM leak detector on the test tube under the specified test voltage, the coating thickness of not more than 0.4mm, the test voltage of 1500V, coating thickness greater than 0.4mm, the test voltage of 2000V The Check the presence or absence of spark, the test results should be consistent with the provisions of 5.5.5. Adhesion testThe adhesion test shall be carried out in accordance with CJ / T 120-2008 and the test results shall comply with the requirements.6. Flatten testDN> 50 mm coated steel pipe for flattening test. The length of the test piece is (50  10) mm. At a temperature of (20  5)  C, the test pieces were placed between the two plates and were gradually compressed on the pressure tester to a distance of two fifths of the outer diameter of the test piece. The pipe weld is perpendicular to the load application direction. After the test, check the coating, the test results should be consistent with the provisions.Hunan Great Steel Pipe Co.,Ltd:Address: Hunan Steel Industrial Zone,No.9 Xiangfu Road, Yuhua District, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaPostcode:410116Tel:0086-731-88678502Fax:0086-731-88678508E-mail: info@great-pipe.comcoating steel pipe:Hunan Great Steel Pipe Co.,Ltd is a world-class production and service provider of submerged arc straight seam welded pipe as the first subsidiary of Shinestar Group. Hunan Great Steel Pipe Co.,Ltd pays more attention to in the pipeline engineering research areas as a pioneer of China Petroleum Pipeline & Gas Pipeline Science Research Institute, Such as: the use of oil and gas pipelines, pipe welding technology innovation, high-end plumbing materials research and development, as well as special tools technological innovation pipeline construction, pipeline corrosion protection science and technology research, science and technology research pipeline non-destructive testing, pipeline quality assessment, and research pipeline standards and so on. In the future, we will try to use new technology to create new business value and to contribute to research and product development for the pipeline.Hunan Steel Industrial Zone,No.9 Xiangfu Road, Yuhua District, Changsha, Hunan, China
Common Causes of 304 Stainless Steel Pipe Corrosion

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1 Chemical corrosion1.1 Surface contamination: attached to the surface of the oil, dust and acid, alkali, salt and other under certain conditions into the corrosive medium, react chemically with some elements of stainless steel pipe, chemical corrosion and rust.1.2 Surface scratches: various scratch destruction of the passive film, reduced ability to make stainless steel protection, prone to chemical reaction medium, chemical corrosion and rust.1.3 Cleaning: Cleaning is not clean after pickling passivation resulting residue retention, direct corrosion of stainless steel (chemical etching).2 Electrochemical Corrosion2.2.1 Carbon pollution: in contact with the corrosive medium scratches caused by carbon steel with a galvanic cell to produce electrochemical corrosion.2.2.2 Cutting: cutting slag, spatter and so easy to produce electrochemical corrosion rust and corrosion medium adhesion material form the original cells.2.2.3 Roasted school: Ingredients flame heating zone to produce electrochemical corrosion and microstructure changes and uneven, and corrosive media, a galvanic cell.2.2.4 Welding: physical defects (undercuts, pores, cracks, lack of fusion, incomplete penetration, etc.) and chemical defects in the weld zone (coarse grains, the grain boundary chromium depletion, segregation, etc.) and corrosive media, a galvanic cell generated electrochemical corrosion.2.2.5 Material: stainless steel chemical defects (uneven composition, S, P impurities, etc.) and physical surface defects (loose, sand holes, cracks, etc.) in favor of a galvanic cell with the corrosive medium to produce electrochemical corrosion.2.2.6 Passivation: stainless steel pickling passivation effect caused by bad or uneven surface passivation film is thin, easy to the formation of electrochemical corrosion.2.2.7 Cleaning: product and stainless steel parts remaining residue with a stainless steel pickling passivation chemical corrosion formation of electrochemical corrosion.2.3 stress concentration is liable to cause stress corrosion In short, due to its special stainless steel microstructure and surface passivation film, making it generally more difficult to react chemically with the medium is corrosive, but not not to be under any conditions corrosion. In corrosive media and incentives (such as scratches, splashes, cutting slag, etc.) the presence of stainless steel and corrosion can occur to produce medium slow chemical corrosion and electrochemical reactions, but under certain conditions the corrosion rate is quite fast corrosion phenomenon, especially pitting and crevice corrosion. Corrosion mechanism of stainless steel mainly electrochemical corrosion.Therefore, industrial stainless steel pipe products should take all effective measures in the course of processing operations, to avoid corrosion conditions and incentives to produce. In fact, many corrosion conditions and incentives (such as scratches, splashes, cutting slag, etc.) also have a significant adverse effect on the appearance of product quality, and should also to be overcome.Hunan Great Steel Pipe Co.,LtdAddress: Hunan Steel Industrial Zone,No.9 Xiangfu Road, Yuhua District, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaPostcode:410116Tel:0086-731-88678502Fax:0086-731-88678508E-mail: info@hunantube.comStainless Steel Pipe:Industrial Stainless Steel Pipe:Hunan Great Steel Pipe Co.,Ltd is a world-class production and service provider of submerged arc straight seam welded pipe as the first subsidiary of Shinestar Group. Hunan Great Steel Pipe Co.,Ltd pays more attention to in the pipeline engineering research areas as a pioneer of China Petroleum Pipeline & Gas Pipeline Science Research Institute, Such as: the use of oil and gas pipelines, pipe welding technology innovation, high-end plumbing materials research and development, as well as special tools technological innovation pipeline construction, pipeline corrosion protection science and technology research, science and technology research pipeline non-destructive testing, pipeline quality assessment, and research pipeline standards and so on. In the future, we will try to use new technology to create new business value and to contribute to research and product development for the pipeline.22nd Floor, Royal Wing Tower, Long Champ International Building, No.9 Xiangfu Road, ChangshaNo.9 Xiangfu Road,
Smartphone 3D Camera Market - Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2015-2022

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Smartphone 3D Camera Market report, published by Allied Market Research, forecasts that the global market is expected to garner $4.4 billion by 2022, registering a CAGR of 49.6% during the period 2015 - 2022. Stereoscopic 3D camera technology is the most preferred and cost-effective technology for Smartphone 3D camera market as compared to the time-of-flight (ToF) technology.Stereoscopic would drive the market significantly by 2022 and would maintain its dominant position in the market. Whereas, the time-of-flight 3D camera technology segment, is expected to exhibit a faster growth with a CAGR of 54.4% during the forecast period owing to its accurate sensing of the object feature.Read More @Smartphone 3D camera is available in three resolutions that include below 8MP, 816 MP and above 16MP. 3D cameras use sensors, camera lenses, and processors to perform all operations. High resolution cameras cost more than low resolution cameras, owing to the high cost of the components. Presently among these three categories, about 60% of the market revenue is garnered by smartphone 3D camera with 8MP16MP resolution. During the forecast period above 16 MP will be the fast growing resolution type among others and it will attain for the $448.7 million value by 2022.Asia-Pacific has emerged as a prime region for smartphone 3D camera, exhibiting an increased demand due to rapid rise in smartphone penetration and increase in purchasing power of consumers. In addition, presence of numerous companies in countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and China offering 3D camera component is expected to boost revenue in this region.Do Enquiry for Sample Report @Key Findings of Smartphone 3D Camera Market Global smartphone 3D camera market is expected to grow rapidly owing to increased smartphone adoption, technological advancements, and availability of unique features such as picture clarity and depth sensing In 2015, 8-16MP smartphone 3D camera had the highest share in the overall market of about 60% and is expected to generate maximum revenue in the forecast period. This segment would dominate the market in the forecast period 20162022 and will grow at a CAGR of 49.7%. LAMEA proves to be one of the fastest growing regions, in terms of growth. The market in the region is expected to grow at a CAGR of 55.8% from 2016 to 2022.Many prominent players operating in the smartphone 3D camera market adopted product launch as their key strategies. Companies such as Sharp Corporation, Infineon Technologies AG, and Pelican Imaging have introduced innovative and technologically advanced products to capture more market share in smartphone 3D camera market. Prominent companies profiled in the report include Toshiba Corporation, Sony Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, SoftKinetic Systems S.A., PMD Technologies AG, and Others.Do Enquiry before purchasing Report @About Us:Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of Market Research Reports and Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.Contact:Rahul Thakur5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free : +1-800-792-5285UK : + 44-845-528-1300Hong Kong : + 852-301-84916India (Pune) : +91 20 66346060Fax : +1855550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.com
Fireproof Insulation Market Driven by Flourishing Construction Industry and Stringent Safety Regulations, 2024

Fireproof Insulation Market

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Barring natural disasters that cannot be completely controlled, fire poses the biggest threat to building structures. In this scenario, it is paramount to install best possible protective measures while the buildings are constructed. Fireproof insulations combat the flames from spreading and hence protects the load bearing structure on which the building stands, saving human lives and significant investments. According to a recent study by Transparency Market Research, owing to rapid urbanization across the world, especially in Asia Pacific, the demand in the global fireproof insulation market is expected to increase at a strong CAGR during the forecast period of 2016 to 2024.What are the primary factors favoring the fireproof insulation market?Apart from rapid industrialization and urbanization across the world, the market for fireproof is gaining significant traction from stringent government regulations set for the players in the construction industry. Compliance with proper safety measures against fire disaster is now mandatory in several developed and emerging economy. In addition to that, rising environmental concerns pertaining to GHG reduction, reduced installation cost, and rising awareness for efficient use of energy and side-effects of greenhouse gas emission are some of the other factors augmenting the demand in the global fireproof insulation market. With fireproof insulation, heat is transferred, which helps in maintains the temperature levels and energy consumption in a built structure. On the other hand, lack of awareness regarding the availability of these fireproof insulation in building construction is hindering the expansion of the market to a certain extent.Browse Market Research Report @Which countries have most lucrative markets for fireproof insulation?Owing to strict government regulations pertaining to fire safety, the U.S. currently serves the maximum demand for fireproof insulation. Steadily increasing disposable income of the citizens of the U.S. has contributed to an extended demand for appliances, furniture, and bedding household products. This factor has further incremented the demand for polyurethane (PU) foam, which is one the material used for fireproof insulation.Asia Pacific is expected to turn into a highly profitable region for the stakeholders of the fireproof insulation market, gaining substantial demand from emerging economies such as China, India, and Japan. In these countries, governments are focused on improving building safety. Moreover, technological advancements in protective clothing demand owing to developments in oil and gas and petrochemicals sectors is also expected to expand the demand for fireproof insulation in these emerging economies.For more information on this report, fill the form @What is the nature of competition among the leading players?The global fireproof insulation market is fairly fragments among a large number of players. Some of the leading vendors of fireproof insulation are BASF SE, Rockwol International, Bershire Hathway, Saint Gobain, and Owens Corning. While BASF has recently introduced Palusol protection panels, which are non-combustible building materials and protect pipes, doors, and cables against fire. Elastopor and Elastocool from the same company are used for insulation applications in freezers and refrigerators.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:
Flexographic Printing Inks Market - Innovation to be Key Focus of Market Players to Tighten Hold over Market By 2024

Flexographic Printing Inks Market

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The market for flexographic printing inks has gained significant momentum in the last couple of years. The market owes its extensive growth to the outstanding progress of the packaging industry in the global level. With the growing demand for packed and convenient food and beverages, the demand for attractive packaging has increased exponentially, thus benefitting the market for flexographic printing inks in return. Other than this, the demand for sustainable and flexible packaging from the healthcare sector is expected to add to the growth of the global flexographic printing inks market.The global market for flexographic ink was valued at US$6.56 bn in 2016 and is likely to touch US$10.91 bn by 2025. The market is anticipated to rise at a 5.8% CAGR from 2017 to 2025.Browse Market Research Report @How is the packaging industry likely to act as a boon for the global flexographic printing inks market?Generally, flexographic inks are employed publication and packaging. Amongst these two, the packaging segments has been incessantly supporting the growth of the market with high demand for flexographic printing inks. The outstanding growth of the packaging industry is expected to further help the market to expand across several regions with untapped opportunities. With consumers shifting their focus towards duly labelled and packaged food and beverages products, the demand for flexographic printing inks from the packaging industry is expected to further rise.Other applications, comprising publication, are expected to witness a slack growth in the years ahead owing to the considerable evolution in digitalization and extraordinary level of propagation of e-commerce and e-books trade. Crenelated containers, flexible packaging, tags and labels, metal cans, and folding cartons are the vital packaging materials, which need flexible printing inks.Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @How is environmental regulations both an opportunity and barrier for the markets growth?Regulations governing the level of emissions from printing inks are causing players to look for alternative options in order to sustain in the market. Normal flexographic printing inks are coming under federal control. Thus, water based and UV-cured inks are gaining prominence across several industries in several regions. For instance, Sun Chemicals announced the introduction of a new and innovative high performance UV flexo ink during the Label Summit held in Latin America recently.Which region is likely to be the main focus of the players in the market?The global flexographic printing inks market has been categorized into Europe, Latin America, North America, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific led the global market for flexographic printing inks in 2016 with an overall share of 37%. The rising investments from India, China, and the ASEAN countries in the packaging industry is likely to directly and positively impact the market for flexographic printing inks in the coming years.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:
Dental Diagnostic And Surgical Equipment Market To Set At CAGR Of 8.34% Between 2017-2021

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"The Report Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment Market in China 2017-2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Dental Diagnostic and Surgical EquipmentThe dental industry in China is an underpenetrated market. The ratio of dentists to population in China is 100 per one million. The number of dentists in the country is less compared with the US, Germany, France, Sweden, Australia, and South Korea. In addition, most of the dentists in the country still prefer traditional techniques to advanced dental technologies. For instance, instead of using 3D imaging-based robot-assisted technologies, they mostly use X-ray imaging procedures.Technavios analysts forecast the dental diagnostic and surgical equipment market in China to grow at a CAGR of 8.34% during the period 2017-2021.Get Sample Copy of this report @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the dental diagnostic and surgical equipment market in China for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of various dental diagnostic and surgical equipment.Technavio's report, Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment Market in China 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 vendorsDJO GlobalStrykerSmith & NephewTEKNIMEDZimmer BiometView Report @Other prominent vendorsBYBO Dental GroupCarestream HealthFONA DentalFujian Meisheng Medical Science & TechnologyHefei Meiya Optoelectronic TechnologyHung Kuo Medical InstrumentJ. MoritaNewTomPlanmecaQ & M Dental Holdings (China)Shanghai Fosun PharmaceuticalSHINVA MEDICAL INSTRUMENTThommen MedicalTrausim Medical InstrumentVATECH NETWORKSXiya Optoelectronic TechnologyYoshidaMarket driverIncrease in incidence of orthodontic and periodontal diseases.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengePaucity of dental workforce.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendGrowing investments by foreign investors.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.Table of ContentsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: IntroductionDental industry in ChinaImpact of healthcare reforms (2015-2020) on dental market in ChinaPART 05: Market landscapeMarket overviewFive forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by productDental systems and equipment market in ChinaDental radiology equipment market in ChinaDental lasers market in ChinaPART 07: Market segmentation by end-usersHospitalsDental clinicsOthersPART 08: Decision frameworkPART 09: Drivers and challengesMarket driversMarket challengesMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Medical Gas Pressure Regulators Market 2017 Companies Covered - Praxair, Acare, Ceodeux Meditec, Essex Industries

Medical Gas Pressure Regulators

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Medical Gas Pressure Regulators Market Research ReportA market study based on the " Medical Gas Pressure Regulators Market " across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Medical Gas Pressure Regulators Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Medical Gas Pressure Regulators industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Medical Gas Pressure Regulators market on the basis of this analysis.Ask For Sample Copy of Report :Top Manufacturers Companies Covered In This Research Report -1. Emerson2. Amico3. Praxair4. Acare5. Ceodeux Meditec6. Essex Industries7. Greggersen Gasetechnik8. Megasan Medical Gas Systems9. VTI Ventil Technik10. Arigmed11. DELTA12. Flow-MeterOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into: Oxygen Pressure Regulator Carbon Dioxide Pressure Regulator Nitrous Oxide Pressure Regulator OtherMedical Gas Pressure Regulators market users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Photo Medical Gas Pressure Regulators for each application, including - Hospital Clinic OtherThe report studies the industry for Medical Gas Pressure Regulators across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Medical Gas Pressure Regulators market & dynamics of demand and supply of Medical Gas Pressure Regulators into consideration. The ' Medical Gas Pressure Regulators ' research study covers each and every aspect of the Medical Gas Pressure Regulators market globally, which starts from the definition of the Medical Gas Pressure Regulators industry and develops towards Medical Gas Pressure Regulators market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Medical Gas Pressure Regulators market is classified and analysed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Medical Gas Pressure Regulators market. The geographical segmentation of the Medical Gas Pressure Regulators industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Medical Gas Pressure Regulators is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Medical Gas Pressure Regulators market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Medical Gas Pressure Regulators market worldwide.Enquiry Here :The global Medical Gas Pressure Regulators market 2017 is also analysed on the basis of product pricing, Medical Gas Pressure Regulators production volume, data regarding demand and Medical Gas Pressure Regulators supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tool of Medical Gas Pressure Regulators such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in Medical Gas Pressure Regulators market research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Medical Gas Pressure Regulators across the globe.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
Global Specialty Gases MarketTo See At CAGR Of 7.46% Between 2017-2021

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"The Report Global Specialty Gases Market for Healthcare Industry 2017-2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Specialty Gases marketSpecialty gases are a class of high-purity gases that require precise blending of component gases in a gas mixture. Specialized preparation methods and laboratory analysis are used to quantify the component gases in the mixture of gases. This is to obtain high-quality gases with minimal impurities. Advanced production processes, instrumentation, and analytical measurements require high-purity gases for minimal interference in the processes. Specialty gases are different from industrial gases in the sense that they can be a highly pure single gas or can be a mixture of 20-30 gases. The impurity tolerance for specialty gases is set by the end users that require an accuracy of 1%.Technavios analysts forecast the global specialty gases market for healthcare industry to grow at a CAGR of 7.46% during the period 2017-2021.Get Sample Copy of this report @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global specialty gases market for healthcare industry 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:AmericasAPACEMEAView Report @Technavio's report, Global Specialty Gases market for Healthcare Industry 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 vendorsAir LiquideAir Products and ChemicalsThe Linde GroupMesser GroupPraxair TechnologyOther prominent vendorsAdvanced Gas TechnologiesAdvanced Specialty GasesMaine OxyNorcoShowa DenkoTAIYO NIPPON SANSOWelscoMarket driverFlourishing medical tourism industry in APAC.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeHigh dependence on gas distribution systems and gas handling systems.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendIncreasing per capita expenditure on healthcare.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.Table of ContentsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsOutlookSpecialty gas productionClassification of specialty gasesApplications of specialty gasesPART 05: Market landscapeGlobal specialty gases market for healthcare industryFive forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by typeGlobal specialty gases market for healthcare industryGlobal atmospheric gases market for healthcare industryGlobal noble gases market for healthcare industryGlobal carbon-based gases market for healthcare industryGlobal halogen-based gases market for healthcare industryGlobal market for other specialty gases used in healthcare industryPART 07: Market segmentation by applicationGlobal specialty gases market for healthcare industry by applicationGlobal specialty gases market for healthcare industry by analytical and laboratory applicationGlobal specialty gases market for healthcare industry by sterilization applicationGlobal specialty gases market for healthcare industry by other applicationsPART 08: Geographical segmentationGlobal specialty gases market for healthcare industry by geographySpecialty gases market for healthcare industry in AmericasSpecialty gases market for healthcare industry in APACSpecialty gases market for healthcare industry in EMEAMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Market industry Analysis, Size, Share, Professional Survey, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017

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"The Report Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Market Report 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Eldercare-Assistive Robots MarketIn this report, the Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split Asia-Pacific into several key Regions, with sales (Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Eldercare-Assistive Robots for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), includingGet Sample Copy of this report @ChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanIndiaSoutheast AsiaAustraliaAsia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Eldercare-Assistive Robots sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingParo RobotsView Report @AldebaranTogo Seisakusyo CorporationHasbro...On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (Units), revenue (Million USD), product price (K USD/Unit), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoMedical Assistance RobotsDaily Support RobotsSpiritual Support RobotsOtherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume (Units), market share and growth rate of Eldercare-Assistive Robots for each application, includinPersonalPublic UseTable of ContentsAsia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Market Report 20171 Eldercare-Assistive Robots Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Eldercare-Assistive Robots1.2 Classification of Eldercare-Assistive Robots by Product Category1.2.1 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)1.2.2 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Medical Assistance Robots1.2.4 Daily Support Robots1.2.5 Spiritual Support Robots1.2.6 Other1.3 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 Personal1.3.3 Public Use1.4 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Market by Region1.4.1 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 South Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.8 Australia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Asia-Pacific Market Size (Value and Volume) of Eldercare-Assistive Robots (2012-2022)1.5.1 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application2.1 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Sales Volume and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots (Volume) by Application2.4 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots (Volume and Value) by Region2.4.1 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4.2 Asia-Pacific Eldercare-Assistive Robots Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3 China Eldercare-Assistive Robots (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 China Eldercare-Assistive Robots Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 China Eldercare-Assistive Robots Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 China Eldercare-Assistive Robots Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 China Eldercare-Assistive Robots Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 China Eldercare-Assistive Robots Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.3 China Eldercare-Assistive Robots Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Deep-groove Ball Bearings Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Forecast Report To 2017

Deep-groove Ball Bearings Market

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QY Research Groups has announced the addition of the "Global Deep-groove Ball Bearings Market Research Report 2017" report to their offering.The Global Deep-groove Ball Bearings Market Research Report 2017 renders deep perception of the key regional market status of the Deep-groove Ball Bearings Industry on a global level that primarily aims the core regions which comprises of continents like Europe, North America, and Asia and the key countries such as United States, Germany, China and Japan.The report on Global Deep-groove Ball Bearings Market is a professional report which provides thorough knowledge along with complete information pertaining to the Deep-groove Ball Bearings industry a propos classifications, definitions, applications, industry chain summary, industry policies in addition to plans, product specifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures, etc.Get Sample Copy Of Report From:The potential of this industry segment has been rigorously investigated in conjunction with primary market challenges. The present market condition and future prospects of the segment has also been examined. Moreover, key strategies in the market that includes product developments, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, etc., are discussed. Besides, upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also conducted.Report Includes:-The report cloaks the market analysis and projection of Deep-groove Ball Bearings Market on a regional as well as global level. The report constitutes qualitative and quantitative valuation by industry analysts, first-hand data, assistance from industry experts along with their most recent verbatim and each industry manufacturers via the market value chain. The research experts have additionally assessed the in general sales and revenue generation of this particular market. In addition, this report also delivers widespread analysis of root market trends, several governing elements and macro-economic indicators, coupled with market improvements as per every segment. Furthermore, the report contains diverse profiles of primary market players of Deep-groove Ball Bearings Market. SKF NSK Timken JTEKT Nachi Europe GmbHTo Browse the Entire Report, Visit:The report is generically segmented into six parts and every part aims on the overview of the Deep-groove Ball Bearings industry, present condition of the market, feasibleness of the investment along with several strategies and policies. Apart from the definition and classification, the report also discusses the analysis of import and export and describes a comparison of the market that is focused on the trends and development. Along with entire framework in addition to in-depth details, one can prepare and stay ahead of the competitors across the targeted locations. The fact that this market report renders details about the major market players along with their product development and current trends proves to be very beneficial for fresh entrants to comprehend and recognize the industry in an improved manner. The report also enlightens the productions, sales, supply, market condition, demand, growth, and forecast of the Deep-groove Ball Bearings industry in the global markets.Every regions market has been studied thoroughly in this report which deals with the precise information pertaining to the Marketing Channels and novel project investments so that the new entrants as well as the established market players conduct intricate research of trends and analysis in these regional markets. Acknowledging the status of the environment and products up gradation, the market report foretells each and every detail.So as to fabricate this report, complete key details, strategies and variables are examined so that entire useful information is amalgamated together for the understanding and studying the key facts pertaining the global Deep-groove Ball Bearings Industry. The production value and market share in conjunction with the SWOT analysis everything is integrated in this report.Check for Discount @Some points from TOC:-7 Global Deep-groove Ball Bearings Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 SKF7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Deep-groove Ball Bearings Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 SKF Deep-groove Ball Bearings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 NSK7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Deep-groove Ball Bearings Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 NSK Deep-groove Ball Bearings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Timken7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Deep-groove Ball Bearings Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Timken Deep-groove Ball Bearings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 JTEKT7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Deep-groove Ball Bearings Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 JTEKT Deep-groove Ball Bearings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Nachi Europe GmbH7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Deep-groove Ball Bearings Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Nachi Europe GmbH Deep-groove Ball Bearings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business OverviewDo Inquiry Before Purchasing Report Here:Email- sales@qyresearchgroups.comWeb-About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:Jia WangRoom B1510, ShijiKemao Building, No.66, Zhongguancun East Road,Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
The New Version of The KISS ORM for Android has Arrived

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Software Tree announces version 2.0 of JDXA ORM product for Android.Campbell, CA, USA -- Software Tree, an innovator in data integration technologies, today announced JDXA 2.0, a versatile and lightweight Object Relational Mapping (ORM) software framework for Google's Android platform. JDXA significantly simplifies and accelerates the development of mobile apps by eliminating the need for low-level coding that involves tedious SQL programming. On top of an already available comprehensive set of ORM features, JDXA 2.0 adds performance improvements and new APIs to further provide flexible mapping capabilities like bulk updates, lazy fetching, and auto-initialization of primary key attributes.JDXA offers a non-intrusive POJO (Plain Old Java Objects) friendly programming model to Android developers. Based on some well thought-out KISS principles (), JDXA easily supports complex object modeling including inheritance, one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many relationships. JDXA also offers convenient persistence for JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) objects."JDXA is one of the easiest Android ORM frameworks I have worked with so far," says Lakitha Samarasinghe, Mobile Tech Lead at Fidenz. "I was up and running with JDXA in literally a few minutes. I am really impressed by its non-intrusiveness and comprehensive feature set, especially its support for JSON object persistence.""We take delight in increasing developers' productivity with practical products," says Damodar Periwal, Founder, President & CEO of Software Tree. "Thanks to great feedback from many JDXA users, we have carefully enhanced our product and the associated documentation. These enhancements and many new sample projects will make it easier for mobile developers to write intuitive object-oriented code to efficiently access SQLite databases on Android devices."A free 30-day evaluation version of JDXA ORM is available from Software Tree's website atAbout Software TreeFounded in 1997, Software Tree is a Silicon Valley-based technology leader in providing superior software infrastructure that simplifies data integration. Software Tree has licensed its ORM products to leading-edge organizations around the world, such as British Telecom, Xerox, Los Alamos National Labs, UAB Medical Center, Electronic Arts, and Darden Business School. For more information, visitNote: JDX, JDXA, "JDX for Android", "The KISS ORM" are trademarks of Software Tree, LLC. Android is a registered trademark of Google. Java is a registered trademark of Oracle. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.Media Contact:Damodar PeriwalSoftware Tree, LLC1999 S. Bascom Avenue, Suite 700Campbell, CA 95008408-282-3606dperiwal@softwaretree.com
Cellular Imaging Market is Progressing Towards a Strong Growth by 2020

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Cellular imaging is a technology used to detect and analyze organelles and macromolecules with the help of microscopy and computer programming. It also helps in measuring properties of cells including shape, size and protein presence. Cellular imaging also helps in knowing biomolecules nature. Confocal laser scanning microscopy, fluroscence resonance energy transfer and multiphoton are some of the advanced cellular imaging techniques which helps in understanding molecular and functional systems in the cell. Hospitals, academic institutions, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies uses cellular imaging systems as an important tool for drug discovery, research and diagnosis. Cellular imaging also helps in generating high throughput mode to discover the biomarkers and drug target candidates. Microscopic and macroscopic techniques are two types of intravital cellular imaging technologies.A sample of this report is available upon request @North America is the largest market for cellular imaging followed by Europe due to increasing incidence of cancer and rising number of R&D activities. Asia is expected to experience high growth rate in next few years due to rising government investments for cell based research activities. In addition, growing demand for outsourcing of drug discovery services is also fuelling the growth of cellular imaging market in Asia.In recent times there is increased use of cellular imaging due to increasing cancer treatment and diagnostics. Improved accuracy of cellular analysis, cellular imaging and rise in government funding for cell based research activities are some of the key factors driving the growth of global cellular imaging market. In addition, growing healthcare and medical spending is also fuelling the growth of cellular imaging market. However, huge capital requirements and lack of skilled personnel for carrying out the high content screening process are some of the major factors restraining the growth of global cellular imaging market.Availability of less number of skilled and knowledgeable professionals poses major challenge for the global cellular imaging market. Adoption of cell analysis for cell identification and cell signaling pathways and rising number of contract research organization are some of the key opportunities for the global cellular imaging market.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the major companies operating in global cellular imaging market are Agilent Technologies, Inc., Beckton, Dickinson and Company, Danaher Corporation, Olympus Corporation, GE Healthcare, Promega Corporation and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global And Chinese Workforce Management Software Industry, 2017 Market Research Report

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"The Report Global and Chinese Workforce Management Software Industry, 2017 Market Research Report provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Chinese Workforce Management Software MarketThe 'Global and Chinese Workforce Management Software Industry, 2012-2022 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Workforce Management Software industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Workforce Management Software manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2012-2017 market shares for each company. Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of Workforce Management Software industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates 2017-2022 market development trends of Workforce Management Software industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Workforce Management Software Industry before evaluating its feasibility. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2012-2022 global and Chinese Workforce Management Software industry covering all important parameters.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Tables Of ContentsChapter One Introduction of Workforce Management Software Industry1.1 Brief Introduction of Workforce Management Software1.2 Development of Workforce Management Software Industry1.3 Status of Workforce Management Software IndustryChapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Workforce Management Software2.1 Development of Workforce Management Software Manufacturing Technology2.2 Analysis of Workforce Management Software Manufacturing Technology2.3 Trends of Workforce Management Software Manufacturing TechnologyView Report @Chapter Three Analysis of Global Key Manufacturers3.13.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Product Information3.1.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.1.4 Contact Information3.23.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Product Information3.2.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.2.4 Contact Information3.33.2.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Product Information3.3.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.3.4 Contact Information3.43.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Product Information3.4.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.4.4 Contact Information3.53.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Product Information3.5.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.5.4 Contact Information3.63.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Product Information3.5.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.6.4 Contact Information3.73.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Product Information3.7.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.7.4 Contact Information3.83.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Product Information3.8.3 2012-2017 Production Information3.8.4 Contact InformationMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Packaged Wastewater Treatment Market 2016-2020 - Presents Key Companies ( GE Water & Process Technologies Inc., Ovivo Inc., Pollution Control System (PCS) Inc., RWL Water LLC, Smith & Loveless Inc. )

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Global Packaged Wastewater Treatment Market 2016-2020: Worldwide Market Size, Shares, Trends, Growth, Survey and Forecast report " to it's Large Report database.Packaged wastewater treatment plants are pre-engineered and custom designed treatment facilities used to treat wastewater for small communities, municipalities, and industries. These plants are typically constructed in a factory and simply transported to and installed at the site of requirement. They are designed to treat 0.002- 5 MGD water, depending on the requirement. Packaged wastewater treatment plants are not only compact and easy to operate but also customizable. When compared to conventional treatment plants, these plants require less time to commission. Packaged wastewater treatment plants are ideal for communities and industries in remote areas with no connection or access to centralized treatment facilities. Once the water is treated, it can either be safely discharged into water bodies or reused for industrial or agricultural use.The global packaged wastewater treatment market to grow at a CAGR of 8.56% during the period 2016-2020. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global packaged wastewater treatment market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the capital cost incurred by commonly used technologies, such as extended aeration, sequencing batch reactors (SBR), moving bed biological reactor (MBBR), and membrane bioreactor (MBR), that are used to treat the wastewater. These systems enable to meet the stringent effluent norms that are applicable in some of the countries without incurring high capital costs.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global Packaged Wastewater Treatment Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- GE Water & Process Technologies Inc.- Ovivo Inc.- Pollution Control System (PCS) Inc.- RWL Water LLC- Smith & Loveless Inc.- Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies S.A.Other prominent vendors- Corix water systems- CST wastewater solutions- Dynamic aqua science inc- Enviroquip- Global treat inc- MWH- Trident group- Winelco- WPL international- ZenonMarket driver- Demand for clean water- 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 Disposable Plastic Blood Bags Market is Projected to Register at a Healthy CAGR of 9.1% by 2020

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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Disposable Plastic Blood Bags: Single Blood Bags to Witness Highest Growth by 2020 the global Disposable Plastic Blood Bags market was valued at USD 2,44,286.8 thousand in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2014 to 2020, to reach an estimated value of USD 4,13,084.8 thousand in 2020.A disposable blood bag refers to a bio-medical device that is used for collection, storage, processing, transfusion, separation and transportation of human blood and blood components. There are different types of disposable plastic blood bags based on the need of blood infusion; single blood bag, double blood bag, triple blood bag, quadruple blood bag and transfer blood bag.Globally, the disposable plastic blood bags market is witnessing significant growth due to increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, rising aging population and advanced features of disposable plastic blood bags. In addition, increasing initiatives undertaken by various government associations spreading awareness about importance of blood donations are driving the disposable plastic blood bags market. However, factors such as risks associated with blood transfusion and lack of awareness and poor blood collection and storage infrastructure in various parts of the world restrain the global market for disposable plastic blood bags market. In addition, lack of primary healthcare infrastructure in developing countries negatively impacts the growth of the disposable plastic blood bags market. The global disposable plastic blood bags market is estimated at USD 2,44,286.8 thousand in 2014 and expected to reach USD 4,13,084.8 thousand in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 9.1%.North America has the largest market for the global disposable plastic blood bags market. This is due to increased prevalence of blood disorders in the region. North American market for disposable plastic blood bags is estimated at USD 83,670.7 thousand in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 1,42,983.2 thousand in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 9.3%. Asia is the fastest growing region; this is due to large population base in the region. In terms of type of blood bags, single blood bags are the fastest growing segment. In terms of end users, blood banks are the fastest growing.Some of the latest trends that have been observed in the global disposable plastic blood bags market include increasing use of RFID technology in blood bags and increasing number of mergers and acquisitions by companies.A Sample of this report is available upon request @Terumo Corporation is a leading player in the global market for disposable plastic blood bags market. Some of the other major players in disposable plastic blood bags market are Grifols, S.A., Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Haemonetics Corporation and MacoPharma SA.To Buy Full Report for a Single User @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Baby Cream Market 2017 - Pigeon, Johnson & Johnson, YMJ, Jahwa, Sebamed

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The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Baby Cream industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.The report begins with a broad introduction of the Baby Cream market and then drills deeper into specific segments such as application, regional markets, end-users, policy analysis, value chain structure, and emerging trends. The Baby Cream market report makes a case for investments in particular regions based on a realistic view of their regulatory environment, manufacturing dynamics and availability of skills and resources. Also, recommendations are made based on regions and market segments that are not poised for appreciable growth in the near future.The Baby Cream market and its dynamics are evaluated using industry leading tools and techniques. A qualitative analysis forms a sizeable portion of the research efforts as well. With emerging changes on the horizon, the Baby Cream market is poised for certain important change. It is imperative that market players gear up for these changes. The report helps companiesboth new and establishedto identify white spaces and opportunities for growth in the Baby Cream market.The leading companies in the Baby Cream market are profiled to offer a complete overview of their growth strategies, financial standing, product and services pipeline, as well as recent collaborations and developments.The reports analysis is based on technical data and industry figures sourced from the most reputable databases. Other aspects that will prove especially beneficial to readers of the report are: investment feasibility analysis, recommendations for growth, investment return analysis, trends analysis, opportunity analysis, and SWOT analyses of competing companies. With the help of inputs and insights from technical and marketing experts, the report presents an objective assessment of the Baby Cream market.Download Free Sample Report @A detailed segmentation evaluation of the Baby Cream market has been provided in the report. Detailed information about the key segments of the market and their growth prospects are available in the report. The detailed analysis of their sub-segments is also available in the report. The revenue forecasts and volume shares along with market estimates are available in the report. The competitive landscape of the market presented in the study profiles the most prominent players in the market.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global Radar Sensors Market Estimated To Grow Worldwide By 2017

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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 Radar Sensors in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapan Etc.Global Radar Sensors market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, and revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingRobert Bosch, Continental, Denso Corporation, ZF Friedrichshafen, Delphi Automotive ,HellaInfineon Technologies ,Autoliv, Airbus Group, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Raytheon CompanyNXP Semiconductors, Escort, Smart Microwave Sensors, OmniradarTo Receive a Sample Copy Global Radar Sensors Market @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoImaging RadarsNon-Imaging RadarsOn 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 Radar Sensors for each application, includingAutomotive, Aerospace & Defense, Industrial ,Security & SurveillanceTraffic Monitoring & Management ,Environmental & Weather MonitoringMedical & Healthcare, Agricultural, Smart Electronic DevicesBuy a Copy of Global Radar Sensors Market for single user price of $2900 @Key Chapters1 Radar Sensors Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Radar Sensors1.2 Radar Sensors Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Radar Sensors Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Radar Sensors Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Imaging Radars1.2.4 Non-Imaging Radars1.3 Global Radar Sensors Segment by Application2 Global Radar Sensors Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Radar Sensors Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Radar Sensors Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Radar Sensors Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Radar Sensors Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Radar Sensors Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)3 Global Radar Sensors Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Radar Sensors Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Radar Sensors Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Radar Sensors Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Radar Sensors Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Radar Sensors Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 United States Radar Sensors Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 EU Radar Sensors Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)To View Full Report @Who we areResearch Trades has team of experts who works on providing exhaustive analysis pertaining to market research on a global basis. This comprehensive analysis is obtained by a thorough research and study of the ongoing trends and provides predictive data regarding the future estimations, which can be utilized by various organizations for growth purposes.We distribute customized reports that focus on meeting the clients specific requirement.Our database consists of a large collection of high-quality reports obtained using a customer-centric approach, thus providing valuable research insights. The research encompasses information gathered and examined by subject-matter experts, laying down growth opportunities and developmental strategies for enterprises.Reach at us:Flat No.10, Wing C,S. No. 245/4/2+245/5/1,Baner, Pune-411045Email: sales@researchtrades.comCall us: +91 7507349866Skype ID: researchtradesconWeb:
Global Diabetic Nephropathy Market is Envisaged to Result in its Impressive CAGR of More than 5.6% by 2020

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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Diabetic Nephropathy Market  Asia to Witness Highest Growth by 2020,.The global diabetic nephropathy market was valued at USD 2,262.2 million in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2014 to 2020, to reach an expected value of USD 3,145.9 million in 2020.Diabetic nephropathy is a disease of the kidney glomerulus and one of the most significant complications in terms of mortality and morbidity for patients with diabetes. Globally, the diabetic nephropathy market is witnessing significant growth due to increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity in different regions of the world. In addition, increasing R&D investments in drug discovery and development and raising awareness about diabetes and kidney-related disorders are also driving the growth of the market. However, stringent regulatory requirements and longer approval time for drugs as well as the lack of comprehensive therapeutic management for diabetic nephropathy are inhibiting the growth of diabetic nephropathy market. The global diabetic nephropathy market is estimated at USD 2,262.2 million in 2014. It is likely to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2014 to 2020 to reach USD 3,145.9 million in 2020.In North America, various government programs are spreading awareness about diabetes and related renal complications. For instance, the National Kidney Disease Education Program, one of the major programs organized by the U.S. government, for increasing awareness about the various kidney diseases. In addition, the number of diabetic patients are also increasing in the region; according to the SciELO Public Health, approximately 35 million people were affected with diabetes mellitus in 2000 and this number is expected to reach 64 million by 2025 in North America.In Europe, rise in healthcare expenditure for diabetes treatment and increasing prevalence of diabetes in the various part of Europe is boosting the growth of the European diabetic nephropathy market. According to IDF, approximately 55.4 million people had diabetes in 2010 and the number is expected to reach 66.5 million by 2030 in Europe. According to the IDF, healthcare expenditure for diabetes treatment was approximately USD 105.5 billion in 2010 and is expected to reach USD 124.6 billion by 2030 in Europe.Asia represents the fastest growing region in the diabetic nephropathy market due to the rise in a diabetic population in various countries such as Japan and the Southeast Asian countries. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), developing countries, such as India and China, are expected to have the highest number of diabetes mellitus patients compared to developed countries, such as the U.S. and Germany.A Sample of this report is available upon request @Sanofi is one of the leading players in the diabetic nephropathy market. Other major players in diabetic nephropathy market include Eli Lilly and Company, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Inc., Bayer AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Bayer AG and Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.To Buy Full Report for a Single User @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Application Program Interface as a Service Market 2016-2020 - Presents Key Companies ( CA Technologies Inc., IBM Corp., MuleSoft Inc., TIBCO Software Inc. )

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Global Application Program Interface as a Service Market 2016-2020: Worldwide Market Size, Shares, Trends, Growth, Survey and Forecast report " to it's Large Report database.In todays era of business transformation from rational IT services to cloud hosting services, organizations leverage integrated business services through cloud computing platforms. At times, when greater levels of customization are required, API as a service is deployed to enhance cloud experience and also integrate applications in the cloud environment.API as a service allows businesses to attain digital transformation and drive revenue channels. A large number of businesses adopt API management services, which exposes their internal services to internal developer communities to drive application development consistency, promote the standard use of enterprise-approved services, and reduce IT costs across organizations.The global API as a service market to grow at a CAGR of 30.1% during the period 2016-2020. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global API as a service market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from segments hosted over the software as a service (SaaS) platform, i.e., cloud-based management software and solutionsThe market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAGet a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global Application Program Interface as a Service Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- CA Technologies Inc.- IBM Corp.- MuleSoft Inc.- TIBCO Software Inc.Other prominent vendors- 3scale- Akana- Apigee- Axway- Citrix Systems- Forum Systems- Intel- Microsoft- Rackspace- SAP- VMware- WSO2Market driver- Strong control over cloud product development- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Lack in standard security measures in using IoT- 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 Gamma Knife Market is Likely to be Worth a Cumulative US$ 651,241.9 Thousand by 2020

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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Gamma Knife: Asia to Witness Highest Growth by 2020, the global Gamma Knife market is valued at USD 526,733.2 thousand in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2014 to 2020 to reach an estimated value of USD 651,241.9 thousand in 2020.Radiation therapy is a procedure entailing the precise delivery of high doses of radiation to tumors and other relevant anatomical targets. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a major form of radiation therapy. It is mainly used to treat brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations, trigeminal neuralgia, acoustic neuroma, and pituitary tumors. Globally, the Gamma Knife market is witnessing significant growth due to increasing prevalence of cancer and obesity and growing aging population. In addition, rising number of initiatives undertaken by various government associations and the advanced features of Gamma Knife systems are also driving the growth of the market. However, stringent regulatory requirements and prolonged approval time for Gamma Knife systems and a high cost of implementation and shortage of skilled manpower inhibit the growth of the market. The global Gamma Knife market is anticipated to grow from an estimated USD 526,733.2 thousand in 2014 to USD 651,241.9 thousand by 2020 at a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period.In North America, the Gamma Knife market is growing due to the rising incidence of cancer in the region. In addition, increased awareness about Gamma Knife technology for cancer treatment is also boosting the growth of the market in the region. According to WHO, approximately 2.8 million people had cancer, including brain cancer, in the U.S. in 2000. Moreover, according to the Hindawi Publishing Corporation, an international journal of surgical oncology, approximately 98,000 to 170,000 new brain metastases cases occur every year in North AmericaIn Europe, increasing prevalence of cancer is boosting the growth of the Gamma Knife market in the region. According to WHO, Europe accounts for only one-eighth of the worlds population. However, the region records around a quarter of global cancer cases. Several government associations, such as the Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe (WALCE) and European Head and Neck society (EHNS), are trying to increase awareness about breast cancer, lung cancer, and head and neck cancer and their brain metastases effects in Europe.However, Asia represents the fastest growing region in the Gamma Knife market due to the rise in cancer patients in various countries such as India, China, and Japan. According to WHO, the occurrence of cancer in India and China is set to climb at a rate of 78% from 2013 to 2030. In addition, growing aging population is also supporting the growth of the Gamma Knife market in the region.A Sample of this report is available upon request @In Latin America, construction of manufacturing and research facilities by many companies is driving the Gamma Knife market in Latin America. Furthermore, the governments of Latin American countries have recognized the growing epidemic of cancer and are actively devising several patient awareness programs to raise awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer, including brain cancers.To Buy Full Report for a Single User @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Automotive LED Fog Lights Market 2017 - Osram, GE Lighting, Philips, Hella, Magneti Marelli

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The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Automotive LED Fog Lights industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Global Automotive LED Fog Lights Industry 2017 is a comprehensive, professional report delivering market research data that is relevant for new market entrants or established players. Key strategies of the companies operating in the market and their impact analysis have been included in the report. Furthermore, a business overview, revenue share, and SWOT analysis of the leading players in the Automotive LED Fog Lights market is available in the report.Combining the data integration and analysis capabilities with the relevant findings, the report has predicted strong future growth of the Automotive LED Fog Lights market in all its geographical and product segments. In addition to this, several significant variables that will shape the Automotive LED Fog Lights industry and regression models to determine the future direction of the market have been employed to create the report.The report begins with a market overview and moves on to cover the growth prospects of the Automotive LED Fog Lights market. The current environment of the global Automotive LED Fog Lights industry and the key trends shaping the market are presented in the report. Insightful predictions for the Automotive LED Fog Lights market for the coming few years have also been included in the report. These predictions feature important inputs from leading industry experts and take into account every statistical detail regarding the Automotive LED Fog Lights market.Download Free Sample Report @Statistical forecasts in the research study are available for the total Automotive LED Fog Lights market along with its key segments. The key segments, their growth prospects, and the new opportunities they present to market players have been mentioned in the report. Moreover, the impact analysis of the latest mergers and acquisition and joint ventures has been included in the report. The report also provides valuable proposals for new project development that can help companies optimize their operations and revenue structure.The competitive landscape of the market presented in the study profiles the most prominent players in the market. The business overview, recent developments, key strategies, and revenue share of key market players in the global Automotive LED Fog Lights market have been covered in the research report. Moreover, the latest events and their impact on the Global Automotive LED Fog Lights industry have been presented in the report. In addition to this, the report features strategic recommendations that will help new entrants or established players optimize their ROI.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Function-as-a-Service Market : Trends, Regulatory Landscape and Operational Strategies 2025

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Global Function as a Service (FaaS): SnapshotServerless computing is all the rage these days as it shifts the task of running and managing the infrastructure from the company to its cloud provider. While software as a service (SaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS) are already well known and popular in the domain of serverless computing, there is another upcoming technology  function as a service (FaaS)  which is primed to become mainstream soon enough.Function as a service (FaaS) is essentially a software framework offered by a service provider. It can be tailored easily to serve the business needs of the user by helping them to quickly develop an application or system. By doing away with the need for heavy investments in infrastructure and hardware, FaaS results in tremendous cost savings. Some of prominent participants in the market are also big guns of the likes of Microsoft Corporation, SAP SE, Amazon Web Services, Google, Inc., and IBM.Request Sample Copy of the Report @From a geographical perspective, North America outshines all others due to the presence of a large number of FaaS providers and savvy companies increasingly looking to up business agility and flexibility, particularly in the advanced U.S. and Canada market. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is slated to expand at a good clip in the foreseeable future due to businesses booming in the developing economies in the region. China, India, Taiwan, South Korea, and other nations in the region, which are home to a growing number of software firms, are frontrunners in driving expansion in the Asia Pacific market.Global Function-as-a-Service Market: OverviewFunction-as-a-service (FaaS), a.k.a. serverless computing, is creating an evolution in the field of cloud computing as it plays a pivotal role in boosting IT agility by releasing developers from the taxing job of managing and provisioning servers. The next step in cloud infrastructure as a service (IaaS), FaaS cancels the need to administer servers and pay for them when not in use while making it a whole lot easier to leverage and scale complex automation areas. It is an event-driven computing service which executes functions and codes only when required.Request TOC of the Report @Global Function-as-a-Service Market: Key TrendsThe international FaaS market is prophesied to grow in the black at a knockout CAGR as organizations shift from DevOps to serverless computing. During the forecast period, there could also be other factors supporting the market growth, which include maturity of hosted services, scalability, and agility. The global market could be driven by the constant need articulated by most companies regarding the optimization of microservices and management of multiple platforms. As a result, services such as microservice management and monitoring and automation and integration are anticipated to gain a relentless impetus.Issues pertaining to portability to the cloud could act as an obstacle in the global FaaS market. Nonetheless, the availability of robust pre-existing cloud infrastructure and easy management and deployment need are forecasted to make up for the market disincentive. Companies around the world are now implementing FaaS as a means to run, manage, and deploy applications. Keeping this ability of the product in view, the market is expected to see the domination of operator-centric FaaS and developer-center FaaS in the coming years. Besides for the deployment of different applications such as those relating to research and academic and mobile and web, FaaS can be employed to optimize their performance.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Function-as-a-Service Market: Market PotentialDelineated as the first serverless database, FaunaDB Serverless Cloud, introduced by a San Francisco startup, is making rounds on technology news columns with its real-time data replicating ability to ensure multi-cloud availability. The serverless revolution by Fauna Inc. is proud to seamlessly span Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services. Later in 2017, the company is planning to offer support to the Microsoft Azure cloud. This latest offering is based on the adaptive operational database of FaunaDB that is capable of leveraging pay-as-you-go pricing, reduced operational overhead, elastic scaling, enhanced marketing time, and other cloud capabilities.Global Function-as-a-Service Market: Regional OutlookThe North America FaaS market is prognosticated to lean on a colossal count of FaaS providers, surging want for business agility and flexibility, and towering rate of penetration into a gamut of industry verticals in the U.S. The researchers envisage the regional market to rake in a larger share of revenue in the coming years. Asia Pacific, on similar lines, is envisioned to secure a higher rate of growth during the forecast period. This could be due to the need to streamline business operations and enhance customer experiences with the help of significant investments in cloud service providers. As a result, Asia Pacific is predicted to register a telling CAGR.Global Function-as-a-Service Market: Competitive LandscapePlayers in the global FaaS market could be looking to boost customer satisfaction and focus on perpetual innovation in technology with a view to fortify their status in the industry. Additionally, partnerships, acquisitions, and new product developments are prime strategies projected to take precedence in the market. Some of the leading companies in the market are Dynatrace LLC, SAP SE, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corporation, Google, Inc., and IBM.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
Organic Coconut Syrup market Spicing Up due to Changing Consumer Preferences towards Healthy food

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Organic Coconut Syrup refers to a Syrup which prepared from the nectar of coconut flower. The liquid collected from the coconut flower is processed to form coconut syrup which is obtained after removal of moisture. To avoid fermentation and caramel formation the treatment of the nectar is done as soon as it is received. Organic coconut syrup is commonly used as a natural sweetener. Organic Coconut Syrups helps in maintaining the underlying basis for organic agriculture and interaction of the ecological effects of the inputs into our food supply. Organic Coconut Syrups do prefer over natural and artificial sweeteners due to the negative impact of other sweeteners on ecology and the human body. One of the biggest problems with genetically modified Syrup is the genetic engineering in which a gene is done into the DNA of food plant is random, and scientists have no idea where the gene goes. This engineering can disrupt the functioning of other genes and can create novel proteins which are not there in our food supply and can create toxins and allergies in the human body. Organic Coconut Syrup is misguided as Non-GMO Syrup; Organic Syrup is 95%-100% organic (might contain up to 5% non-organic components which are not supposed to be GMO) whereas, Non-GMO Syrup can still contain a certain amount of pesticides, herbicides, and other harmful components. Despite all the positive and negative things, Organic Coconut Syrup market has witnessed an exponential growth in the global market which is expected to continue because of high demand among the consumers.Obtain Report Details @Organic Coconut Syrup: Market DynamicsOrganic Coconut Syrup market is mainly driven by the changing consumer preferences towards healthy and non-genetically modifies food. Adverse effects have reduced the demand for GMO and Non-GMO food. Organic Coconut Syrup doesnt create any harmful consequences on soil and human health whereas GMO Syrups have both the problems. Organic Coconut Syrup has low glycemic index (35) as compared to other forms of sweeteners such as Cane Sugar (68), Honey (55) and Agave (42). Consuming low glycemic index food can help in avoiding chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Coconut syrup also contains Vitamin C, Vitamin B Complex, amino acids and various minerals. Organic Coconut Syrup market is large as compared to GMO Coconut Syrup market and Non-GMO Coconut syrup market due to the vast plantation of coconut trees globally. A coconut tree lives for around 40 years which removes the burden of replantation and continuously produce fruits and flower further used in various applications. Organic Coconut Syrup market will face a surge in demand as many food producing companies started focusing on Organic foods. As per the experts, there is no scarcity of Organic Coconut Syrups and farmers are willing to grow coconut crops, but in the long run, the supply-demand chain will disrupt due to the low yields which will create an opportunity for Organic Coconut Syrup suppliers and farmers. Hence, Organic Coconut Syrup market is expected to grow during the forecast period due to its versatile benefits.Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @However, Organic Coconut Syrup comes along with many restraints. Organic Coconut Syrup is high in calories almost equivalent to cane sugar. A person needs to consume a large quantity of Organic Coconut Syrup to fulfill its taste buds which can be done with a much smaller amount of cane sugar. Thus a person might end up consuming plenty of calories for the same taste. Also, Organic Coconut Syrup is made of 70-80% sucrose of which half is fructose. Thus, Organic Coconut Syrup will supply the same amount of fructose to the human body as compared to Cane Sugar. Crop produced for Organic Coconut Syrup still can persist use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, the residue of hexane, sewage sludge, growth promoting antibiotics and ractopamine drug residue which are harmful to nature and humans. The commercial scale production of Organic Coconut Syrups needs to be reviewed carefully because a change in the quality of nectar up can improve the quality of syrup and finished food product. Changes in water sources and quality of water and growth methods are the most important factors to be taken care of in crop production.Organic Coconut Syrup market has an opportunity to replace Cane Sugar because of changing food preferences and health hazards. Organic Coconut Syrup can give tough competition to honey market which is costly and requires special care.Organic Coconut Syrup: Market SegmentationOrganic Coconut Syrup market can be segmented on the basis of form, which include:LiquidPowderOrganic Coconut Syrup market can be segmented on the basis of types, which include:PlainFlavoredOrganic Coconut Syrup market can be segmented on the basis of application, which include:FoodBakery and ConfectionaryDairy ProductsBreakfast CerealOthersBeverageAlcoholic BeveragesTea and CoffeeOthersOthersOrganic Coconut Syrup: Segment OutlookOrganic Coconut Syrup market can be segmented on the basis of form which includes liquid and powder. Organic Coconut Syrup market can be segmented on the basis of the type which includes plain and flavored. Organic Coconut Syrup market can also be segmented on the basis of applications which include Food (Bakery and Confectionary, Dairy Products, Breakfast Cereal and Others), Beverage (Alcoholic Beverages, Tea and Coffee and Others) and OthersOrganic Coconut Syrup: Regional OutlookRegional coverage for Organic Coconut Syrup market includes North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and China and the Middle East and Africa. Organic Coconut Syrup market witnesses a high demand in APEJ region due to the vast plantation and historical presence. Changing consumer perceptions in these areas will boost the growth of the market. However, the Organic Coconut Syrup market is expected to grow significantly in North America and Europe region as consumers have widely adopted this Syrup.Organic Coconut Syrup: Market PlayersThe market participants in Organic Coconut Syrup market are Honest to Goodness Organic Food & Natural Food, Wholesome Sweeteners Inc., Rockwell's Whole Foods, Wilderness Family Naturals, Bali Nutra Ltd Niulife, Wuhu Deli Foods Co., Ltd. and many more.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:
Inductor Market : Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players

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Global Inductor Market: OverviewAn inductor, in its simplest form, is a passive electronic component that can form a magnetic field and store electric energy. Inductors find various applications in several fields including the industries of power, automotive, aerospace, telecommunication, military and defense, and consumer electronic goods. With undying demand for energy, surging requirements for communication, and thriving automotive owing to rapid urbanization, several of these industries are touching new peaks in the recent times. Consequently, the demand in the global inductor market is anticipated to expand at a significant growth rate during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.Global Inductor Market: Key TrendsWith sustained energy demand across the world, the demand for variety of fixed inductors such as multi-layered inductors, RF inductors, coupled inductors, coils, and chokes continue to drive the global market for the same. These inductors are used in transformers, energy storages, filters, motors, and sensors. Fixed inductors, which are light weight and are compact in size, aid in achieving smaller form factors for consumer electronic products. The inductors also continue to gain traction from its applications in the design of inductive sensors for traffic control, industrial use, and as a means of energy storage in Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) units.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Several developed and emerging economies are upgrading the mobile network spectrum from 3G to 4G, which is proving to be a boon for the telecom sector and is reflecting positive on the global inductor market. Latest 4G technologies, LTE-Advanced and WiMax 802.16m for instance, are capable of sustaining peak download speeds from 100 mbps to 300 mbps, and maintain an average speed of 3 to 5 mbps. Advancements of the end-use market technologies is another prominent factor for this market, gaining traction from the development of miniature products with low inductance and higher frequency.Legislation of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) regulations, with which the demand for EMI/RFI shielding inductors is escalating, the rise of smart grids, popularity of high performance miniature inductors, and stringent regulations enforcing TPMS system integration are some of the other factors fueling the demand in the global inductor market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Inductor Market: Market PotentialThe prosperity of the automotive industry, owing to rapid urbanization and increasing disposable income among the population in the developed and emerging economies is opening new opportunities for the players in the global inductor market. New generation vehicles now incorporate a range of electronic and electrical components, such as safety system, navigation and communications systems, control area networks, controllers, DC motors, and media & infotainment systems. Inductors are at the backbone of these advancements.Global Inductor Market: Regional OutlookWith the presence of some of the leading manufacturing companies in countries such as China, India, South Korea, and Japan, Asia Pacific is the most lucrative region in this market. Moreover, several major vendors of electronic goods outsource their production to the Asia Pacific region owning to skilled labor at cheap cost. This sector being cost-sensitive, Asia Pacific is expected to remain the most profitable region in the global inductor market during the forecast period.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Inductor Market: Competitive LandscapeSome of the leading companies currently operating in the global inductor market are TDK Corporation, Pulse Electronics Corporation, API Delevan Inc., AVX Corp., TT Electronics Plc., Chilisin Electronics Corp., Caddell-Burns Manufacturing Co. Inc., Datatronic Distribution Inc., Coilcraft, Inc., Delta Electronics Inc., Murata Manufacturing Company Ltd. , Houston Transformer Company, Ltd., Vishay Intertechnology Inc., TOKO Inc., Panasonic Corporation, Sumida Corporation, Taiyo Yuden Co. Ltd., and BI Technologies Corporation.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
Home Infusion Therapy Market to grow at 9.0% CAGR from 2016 to 2023

Global Market Insights, Inc.

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Home Infusion Therapy Market size is driven by growing geriatric population and increasing incidence of chronic diseases will be the primary factors propelling the industry over the coming years. Increasing preferences for home-based therapies and medication coupled with the favorable reimbursement policies will further enhance the global industry outlook significantly. According to Global Market Insights, Inc., Home Infusion Therapy Market size is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9% over the period of 2016-2023.Prolonged stays in the hospitals may result into rising prevalence of nosocomial infections caused by bacteria, virus, and fungal pathogens. Rising consciousness towards these infections will favor the home infusion therapy industry in the coming six years. The home infusion therapy industry size is estimated to surpass USD 26 billion by 2023. Furthermore, new advancements in the infusion pumps will generate attractive growth avenues in the home infusion therapy market. For instance, the introduction of smart pumps and Wi-Fi enabled pumps have escalated the demand for the home infusion therapy services.Request for a sample of this research report -Some of the prominent application areas of the home infusion therapy industry include Anti-infective, Parenteral Nutrition, Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Hydration Therapy, Chemotherapy, and Enteral Nutrition. The anti-infective application in the home infusion therapy market is projected to exceed USD 7 billion by 2023, owing to growing geriatric population and rising occurrence of transferable & infectious diseases. Enteral nutrition is another lucrative application in the home infusion therapy market, which is anticipated to grow at an annual rate of 9% over the period of 2016-2023. The industry growth is subject to the growing incidence of chronic disease including diabetes, cancer, and gastrointestinal infections. Moreover, growth in disposable income and increasing demand for home-based therapy will fuel the industry outlook.Browse key industry insights from the report, Home Infusion Therapy Market Size By Product [Infusion Pump, Intravenous Sets, IV Cannulas, Needleless Connectors], By Application [Anti-infective, Hydration Therapy, Chemotherapy, Enteral Nutrition, Parenteral Nutrition, Specialty Pharmaceuticals] Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, China, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa), Application Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016  2023 in detail along with the table of contents:Considering the product segmentation of the home infusion therapy market, infusion pumps accounted for more than 50% of the overall industry share. Need for high precision and new technological advents with feature including alarms, barcode technology, etc. will majorly drive the infusion pumps market. Apart from this, needleless connectors market is another profitable product segment, which is projected to register a CAGR of 9.5% over the period of 2016-2023. Rising concerns over needle stick injuries and increasing demand for safety will spur the industry growth. Needleless connectors are the fastest growing product segment anticipated to surpass USD 7.9 billion by 2023.Geographically, U.S. home infusion therapy market led the industry by accounting for 90% of the regional revenue in 2015. Favorable government policies and access to care facilities in healthcare will augment the industry growth. The U.S. home infusion therapy industry is anticipated to surpass USD 10 billion by 2023. Europe home infusion therapy market will continue to be the second largest regional industry, driven by the promising reimbursement schemes and adoption of home care services.Mergers and acquisitions, new product development and strategic alliances with healthcare institutes are the major growth strategies implemented by the market players. Notable industry participants include Baxter, CareFusion Corporation, Smiths Medical, Terumo Corporation, B. Braun Melsungen, ICU Medical, and Fresenius Kabi.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Browse Related Reports:Enteral Feeding Devices Market Size By Product (Giving Set, Enteral Feeding Pump, Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Devices, Low Profile Gastrostomy Device, Nasogastric Tube, Gastrostomy Tube), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China, India, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016  2024About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:
Global Dental Anaesthetics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 - Astra Zeneca, Septodont, Dentsply Sirona

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Dental Anaesthetics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022" to its huge collection of research reports.The global Dental Anaesthetics market is driven by the various trends, a detail analysis of which is included in the report. Factors impacting the markets growth across various segments is analyzed and reviewed. The data is obtained from various trusted sources and is analyzed using the industry-leading analytical tools. Data regarding the leading segments of the market, historical figures, and key players are also included in the report. The data compiled in the report comes from various research methods gain information about the trends driving the market, the hierarchy of the key players in the market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report discusses the growth prospects and factors positively influencing the global Dental Anaesthetics market. The impact of prevailing economic trends and regulatory policies is also included in the report in detail. Information related to the critical growth drivers, restrains, and trends is presented in the concise manner to give readers a clear idea about the global Dental Anaesthetics market. Each segment of the market is examined thoroughly in order to provide in detail view of the global Dental Anaesthetics market to the reader.The report also sheds light on the various government policies, which are help companies operating in the global Dental Anaesthetics market. It uses analytical tools to gauge the impact of such favorable regulations. Data obtained from the analysis is intended to help stakeholders understand the market scenario in detail. Each vendor has been carefully examined in the report on key parameters such as business overview, financial status, product portfolio, growth strategies, and recent developments. A SWOT analysis has also been included to provide readers a clear idea about the key players in terms of strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats.For more information on this report, fill the form @Table of ContentsGlobal Dental Anaesthetics Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Dental Anaesthetics1.1 Dental Anaesthetics Market Overview1.1.1 Dental Anaesthetics Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Dental Anaesthetics Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Dental Anaesthetics Market by Type1.3.1 Lidocaine1.3.2 Mepivacaine1.3.3 Prilocaine1.3.4 Bupivacaine 0.5% With Epinephrine1:200,0001.3.5 Articaine1.3.6 Other1.4 Dental Anaesthetics Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Hospital Clinics1.4.2 Clinics1.4.3 Pharmacies and Drug Stores1.4.4 E-Commerce1.4.5 Other2 Global Dental Anaesthetics Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Dental Anaesthetics Market Size (Value) by Players (2016 and 2017)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Astra Zeneca3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Dental Anaesthetics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Septodont3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Dental Anaesthetics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Dentsply Sirona3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Dental Anaesthetics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 GlaxoSmithKline Plc3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Dental Anaesthetics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Gilead Sciences3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Dental Anaesthetics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Johnson & Johnson3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Dental Anaesthetics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments4 Global Dental Anaesthetics Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017)4.1 Global Dental Anaesthetics Market Size by Type (2012-2017)4.2 Global Dental Anaesthetics Market Size by Application (2012-2017)4.3 Potential Application of Dental Anaesthetics in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Dental Anaesthetics5 United States Dental Anaesthetics Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Dental Anaesthetics Market Size (2012-2017)5.2 United States Dental Anaesthetics Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)6 EU Dental Anaesthetics Development Status and Outlook6.1 EU Dental Anaesthetics Market Size (2012-2017)6.2 EU Dental Anaesthetics Market Size and Market Share by Players (2016 and 2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Injectable Drug Delivery Market Expected Advancements & Global Industry Analysis 2025

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Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market: OverviewInjectable drug delivery is the process of administering drugs into a patients body through injection-based delivery devices. It allows maximum bioavailability at a rapid transportation of the pharmaceutical drug as it bypasses the first pass metabolism. Thus, it is considered to be one of the most effective routes of administration. Some of the common routes for this type of drug delivery are intramuscular, intravenous, intracardiac, intraarterial, intradermal, subcutaneous, intrathecal, and intraperitoneal. Injectable drug delivery systems find their application in autoimmune diseases, orphan diseases, hormonal disorders, and cancer.Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market: Key TrendsThe growing incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes is translating into the greater global demand for injectable drug delivery systems. Rapid technological advancements and increasing focus on new product launches are ensuring that the systems being manufactured and marketed are built so as to meet the specific needs of the patients. This, in turn, is working in favor of the growth of the global injectable drug delivery market. Players in the market are also benefitting from the flourishing growth of the biologics market. Moreover, the surging demand for self-injection devices is stoking the growth of the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @However, the infections associated with needlestick injuries and their growing occurrence are keeping the market from realizing its utmost potential. Furthermore, the uncertainties related to reimbursement scenario are acting as an impediment to the growth of the market.Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market: Market PotentialThe development of novel injectable drugs has given the global injectable drug delivery market a major boost. The impact of this driver will be high in the near future with several pharmaceutical giants attempting to widen their pipelines into injectable drugs. For instance, Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd. in October 2016 announced its association with Gland Pharma Ltd. for marketing and distribution of eight injectable abbreviated new drug applications in the U.S.In addition, market players are acquiring or forming partnerships with injectable drug manufacturers to maximize their revenue generation. To put this in perspective, in December 2016, Baxter International purchased three manufacturing facilities and a diverse portfolio of 11 approved injectable drugs from Claris Lifesciences.Request TOC of the Report @Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market: Region-wise OutlookThe key segments analyzed based on geography are North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Europe. North America will be a prominent destination for players in the global injectable drug delivery. The wide base of patients suffering from autoimmune disorders and chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes is one of the primary factors propelling the growth of the region. The continuous technological advancements and research activities in the field is also providing a competitive edge to the region over other regions.Asia Pacific is expected to post a noteworthy CAGR during the review period. The increasing partnerships between global participants and local players are providing a significant momentum to the market in the region. The growth of the region can also be attributed to the sizeable investments in research and development in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. Emerging countries such as China and India will be at the forefront of growth, owing to the rising healthcare awareness and improving healthcare infrastructure.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market: Competitive LandscapePlayers are allocating substantial funds for research and development activities to introduce innovative drug delivery systems in order to enhance their visibility in the global injectable drug delivery market. Mergers and acquisitions are commonly adopted growth strategies by key market participants to consolidate their presence. Some of the prominent companies operating in the market are Becton, Dickinson and Company, Nova Nordisk A/S, Baxter International, Sanofi, Pfizer, Schott AG, Eli Lilly and Company, and Terumo Corporation.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 Desktop Pc Market  Share, Size, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017-2025

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IndexBox has just published a new report World: Desktop Pcs - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025. (This report has been designed to provide a detailed analysis of the global desktop pc market. It covers the most recent data sets of quantitative medium-term projections, as well as developments in production, trade, consumption and prices. The report also includes a comparative analysis of the leading consuming countries, revealing opportunities opened for producers and exporters across the globe. The forecast outlines market prospects to 2025.Countries coverage: Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the largest consuming and producing countries (United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Italy, Russian Federation, India, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Norway, Austria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore, Egypt, Philippines, Finland, Chile, Ireland, Pakistan, Greece, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Czech Republic, Qatar, Peru, Romania, Vietnam).Product coverage: Digital automatic data processing machines, comprising in the same housing at least a central processing unit and an input and output unit, whether or not combined.Data coverage:- Desktop pc market size and volume;- Desktop pc market trends and prospects;- Global desktop pc production and its dynamics;- Per capita consumption;- Breakdown of production by region and country;- Medium term outlook;- Desktop pc trade (exports/imports);- Prices for desktop pc;- Profiles of the main manufacturers.The report will help you:- Get a bigger picture of the market;- Rewire your business around market trends;- Devise your marketing strategy;- Operate with increased effectiveness.TABLE OF CONTENTS1. INTRODUCTION1.1 REPORT DESCRIPTION1.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2.1 KEY FINDINGS2.2 MARKET TRENDS3. MARKET OVERVIEW3.1 MARKET VOLUME AND VALUE3.2 CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY3.3 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES BY COUNTRY3.4 MARKET FORECAST TO 20254. PRODUCTION4.1 PRODUCTION IN 2007-20154.2 PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY5. IMPORTS5.1 IMPORTS IN 2007-20155.2 IMPORTS BY COUNTRY5.3 IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY6. EXPORTS6.1 EXPORTS IN 2007-20156.2 EXPORTS BY COUNTRY6.3 EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY7. COUNTRY PROFILES8. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERSDownload a free sample of the report now!Browse Related Reports:World: Laptop Pcs And Palm-Top Organizers - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025EU: Desktop Pcs - Market Report. Analysis And Forecast To 2025U.S. Electronic Computer Market. Analysis And Forecast to 2025IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world.You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.We collect this data from hundreds of highly reliable sources, verify it and carry out market analysis, uncovering new business opportunities and empowering you with actionable insights.The structure of our reports is intuitive and clear. We do our best to allow you to make strategic decisions and take immediate action. If you want to go further and be a step ahead of the market, just tell us your goals and we will tailor a report to your needs.With IndexBox, simply take the data from our Box and think outside it.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QWWebsite:
Molecular Diagnostics Market : Segment and Key Trends 2017 - 2025

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Global Molecular Diagnostics Market: OverviewMolecular diagnostics refers to a collection of techniques used to analyze biological markers in the individuals genetic code. The technique is used in diagnosing and monitoring diseases, detecting risks, and deciding suitable therapies for individual patients. It finds applications in blood screening, oncology, microbiology, and genetic tests. The technologies commonly employed in this technique are polymerase chain reaction (PCR), hybridization, isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology (INAAT), and DNA sequencing and next-generation sequencing. Some of the products and services used in the technique are instruments, reagents and kits, and software and services.Global Molecular Diagnostics Market: Key TrendsThe transformative and dynamic nature of molecular diagnostics has facilitated it in evolving as an attractive segment in the global in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry. It has paved way for advancements in medical research and treatment of numerous diseases. The global demand for molecular diagnostics methodologies is largely supplemented by high sensitivity, accuracy, easy workflow, cost-effective testing, and fast turnaround time offered by these testing modalities.Request Sample Copy of the Report @In addition, these merits have created a gateway for personalized medicines, thus providing momentum to the global market. Moreover, the increasing prevalence of various types of cancer and infectious diseases is augmenting the market. Furthermore, reforms in the U.S. reimbursement scenario are working in favor of the overall market. However, delays in approvals of new molecular diagnostic tests due to the complex regulatory framework are limiting the market from realizing its full potential.Global Molecular Diagnostics Market: Market PotentialAcquisitions and partnerships have emerged as a common trend in the global molecular diagnostics market over the past few years and are anticipated to continue in the coming years as well. For instance, in September 2016, Danaher acquired molecular diagnostics firm Cepheid for approximately US$4 bn. Another case in point is Qiagen N.V., which in July 2015 collaborated with multiplex clinical molecular diagnostics and multiplex molecular technologies developer Seegene Inc. Such deals are likely to make way for the development of novel diagnostics, which will not only help players in broadening their product offerings but also in making the future of the overall market bright.Request TOC of the Report @Global Molecular Diagnostics Market: Geographical SegmentationIn terms of geography, the report presents an analysis of the market in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. North America will represent a large share in the market throughout the forecast period. The growth of the region can be attributed to the presence of well-established and advanced laboratory accreditation infrastructure, government initiatives promoting PoC facilities and awareness regarding the benefits of early diagnosis, and the increasing expenditure on healthcare.Asia Pacific is expected to register a significant CAGR during the same period, with emerging countries such as India and China being the sights of high growth. The improving healthcare infrastructure, high unmet needs, and growing geriatric populations are attracting global players to invest in the region. The increasing external funding for clinical studies is likely to drive the growth of the region.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Molecular Diagnostics Market: Competitive LandscapeA raft of players in the global molecular diagnostics market is entering into strategic partnerships with biotech firms to provide novel diagnostics solutions in order to enhance their visibility. Companies are investing hefty funds in research and development activities to introduce cost-effective and innovative products that will help them in expanding their product portfolio. Several participants are focusing towards business expansion through mergers and acquisitions, which is likely to intensify the competition in the market in the near future.Some of the prominent companies operating in the market are Abbott Molecular, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Alere Inc., Dako, Siemens Healthcare, Novartis AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Bayer AG, Danaher Corporation, Hologic, Inc. (Gen Probe), and Qiagen.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
Synthetic Lubricant Industry Key Vendors Exxon Mobil, DOW Chemical, Total Lubricants, Demitsu, BP PLC, Chevron and Pennzoil

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Market ScenarioSynthetic lubricant consisting of chemical compounds which are artificially made, it is used as alternative for petroleum-refined oils when working in high temperature. Synthetic lubricants can be manufactured using chemically modified petroleum components rather than whole crude oil, but can also be synthesized from other raw materials.Major end users industries for synthetic lubricant are automobile, construction, power & energy, mining, oil & gas, food processing, and others for various application such as engine oil, process oil, hydraulic oil, marine lubricants, metal working fluids, and others. Growing populations, developing economic and increasing in demand automotive industry are major drivers of the global synthetic lubricant market.Request a Sample Report@Regional analysis:The global synthetic lubricant market is classified on the basis of mixed geographic segmentation which involves regions such as America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Out of all, Asia Pacific synthetic lubricant market is largest market owing to robust industry growth of application industry in China, Japan and India. Asia Pacific synthetic lubricant market size is likely to witness highest gains over the forecast period.North America global synthetic lubricants led due to the US and Canada countries end user industries Ester based synthetic lubricants are expected to witness significant gains in terms of volume over the forecast period.Europe synthetic lubricants market share led by UK and Germany due to automotive, construction and food processing. The demand for synthetic lubricants in Europe is anticipated to increase at a significant rate.Key Players Exxon Mobil Corporation (US) The DOW Chemical Company (US) Fuchs Petolub SE (Germany) Total Lubricants (Europe) Demitsu Kosan Co. Ltd (Japan) BP PLC (US), Chevron Corporation (US) Lubrizol Corporation (US) Pennzoil (US) Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Malaysia)Browse Full S-L Market @SegmentationThe global synthetic lubricant market is majorly segmented on the basis of types, application, end users and region. Based on types of synthetic lubricant the market is segmented into silicones, esters, polyalphaolefin (PAO), polyalkylene glycol (PAG), and others (alkylated aromatics, polybutenes). Based on application of synthetic lubricant the market is segmented into engine oil, process oil, hydraulic oil, marine lubricants, metal working fluids, and others (compressor oils, gear oils, synthetic greases oils). Based on end user the market segmented into automobile, construction, power & energy, mining, oil & gas, food processing, and others (turbines, vacuum pumps, soap & paint industries). Furthermore, based on region, market is segmented into North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.About Market Research FutureAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research Future Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312
Steam Trap Monitor market to Record an Impressive Growth Rate During Forecast 2025

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Global steam trap monitor market: OverviewSteam trap monitor system is designed to improve the steam system performance and provides the non-intrusive and easy installation with perfect wireless monitoring functions. It is essential to keep the record of steam traps performance for Steam users because blocked or leaking traps waste water and energy whereas a healthy steam trap inhabitants allow condensate to be removed and recycled from the steam system. Wireless steam trap monitor operates based on wireless sensor networks which include Routers, Sensors, and Coordinators. This makes a cluster tree network of devices where coordinator or router works as a parent and sensor works as a child and measure the steam conductivity and temperature. Steam trap monitor is helpful in online computation energy saving or loss due to leakage of steam traps and provides complete trap health analysis and status generated by the steam trap system. It is widely used in automotive and manufacturing industries, owing to a high demand for automation in these industries.A sample of this report is available upon request @Global steam trap monitor market: DynamicsThe key driving factor of global steam trap monitor market is the rapid growth of automotive industry, owing to a high demand of steam trap monitor systems. Due to strong demand for packaged food and beverages in food and beverages industries is also a major driving factor of global steam trap monitor market. Furthermore, global steam trap monitor market is majorly driven by the increase in high internet penetration and high technological advancement, attributed to the high adoption of smart devices based on the internet of things in various industries. Another factor which helps to grow global steam trap monitor market is rapidly increasing chemical as well as the pharmaceutical industry due to high usage of steam trap monitor systems. The microeconomic factors which drive the global steam trap monitor market are the rapid rate of industrialization and emerging economy such as Brazil, China, and India. The key restraining factor of global steam trap monitor market is higher maintenance cost and govt. Safety regulations related to global steam trap monitor market. Continuously rising in energy cost will increase the steam cost produced by site utility operations which will restrict to grow steam trap monitor market globally. Various large market players such as Forbes Marshal and Spirax Sarco released wireless steam trap monitor system which is the key trend which helps global steam trap monitor market to grow at a rapid pace over the forecasted periodGlobal steam trap monitor market: SegmentationGlobal steam trap monitor market can be segmented by end-use industry types, technology types, material type, trap types and region types. Global steam trap monitor market can be segmented by end-use industry types as follow: Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Food & Beverages, Automotive, Downstream Hydrocarbons, Defense, Water & Wastewater, Power generation, Oil & gas, Pulp & paper. Global steam trap monitor market can be segmented by technology types as follow: Wired, Wireless. Global steam trap monitor market can be segmented by trap types as follow: Mechanical Traps (inverted bucket & Float and Thermostatic), Thermodynamic Traps, Venturi or Orifice Traps, Thermostatic Traps. Global steam trap monitor market can be segmented by material types as follow: Steel, Iron, Others.Global steam trap monitor market: Regional OutlookBased on the geographies, global steam trap monitor market is segmented into seven regions  Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Western Europe, North America, Japan and Middle East & Africa. Among region mentioned above, North America accounts high market share in steam trap monitor market across the globe followed by Western Europe. Western Europe and Middle East & Africa is estimated to grow with a rapid rate in global steam trap monitor market due to its high usage in manufacturing industries in these regions. Due to low manufacturing cost in Asia-Pacific countries such as China and India is estimated to witness a rapid growth in steam trap monitor market across the globe.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Few prominent market players of global steam trap monitor market as follow: Forbes Marshall, Emerson Electric Co., Spirax-Sarco Engineering Plc., ThermaXX Jackets, LLC., Mosto Technologies, Inc., Armstrong International Inc., Flowserve Corporation, GESTRA AG, CIRCOR International Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Regenerative Medicine Market Overview by Region, Type, Application and Forecasts to 2025

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Global Regenerative Medicine Market: OverviewThe global market for regenerative medicine market is expected to grow at a significant pace throughout the forecast period. The rising preference of patients for personalized medicines and the advancements in technology are estimated to accelerate the growth of the global regenerative medicine market in the next few years. As a result, this market is likely to witness a healthy growth and attract a large number of players in the next few years. The development of novel regenerative medicine is estimated to benefit the key players and supplement the markets growth in the near future.Global Regenerative Medicine Market: Key TrendsThe rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the rising focus on cell therapy products are the key factors that are estimated to fuel the growth of the global regenerative medicine market in the next few years. In addition, the increasing funding by government bodies and development of new and innovative products are anticipated to supplement the growth of the overall market in the next few years.Request Sample Copy of the Report @On the flip side, the ethical challenges in the stem cell research are likely to restrict the growth of the global regenerative medicine market throughout the forecast period. In addition, the stringent regulatory rules and regulations are predicted to impact the approvals of new products, thus hampering the growth of the overall market in the near future.Global Regenerative Medicine Market: Market PotentialThe growing demand for organ transplantation across the globe is anticipated to boost the demand for regenerative medicines in the next few years. In addition, the rapid growth in the geriatric population and the significant rise in the global healthcare expenditure is predicted to encourage the growth of the market. The presence of a strong pipeline is likely to contribute towards the markets growth in the near future.Global Regenerative Medicine Market: Regional OutlookIn the past few years, North America led the global regenerative medicine market and is likely to remain in the topmost position throughout the forecast period. This region is expected to account for a massive share of the global market, owing to the rising prevalence of cancer, cardiac diseases, and autoimmunity. In addition, the rising demand for regenerative medicines from the U.S. and the rising government funding are some of the other key aspects that are likely to fuel the growth of the North America market in the near future.Request TOC of the Report @Furthermore, Asia Pacific is expected to register a substantial growth rate in the next few years. The high growth of this region can be attributed to the availability of funding for research and the development of research centers. In addition, the increasing contribution from India, China, and Japan is likely to supplement the growth of the market in the near future.Global Regenerative Medicine Market: Competitive AnalysisThe global market for regenerative medicines is extremely fragmented and competitive in nature, thanks to the presence of a large number of players operating in it. In order to gain a competitive edge in the global market, the key players in the market are focusing on technological developments and research and development activities. In addition, the rising number of mergers and acquisitions and collaborations is likely to benefit the prominent players in the market and encourage the overall growth in the next few years.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Some of the key players operating in the regenerative medicine market across the globe are Vericel Corporation, Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd., Stryker Corporation, Acelity L.P. Inc. (KCI Licensing), Organogenesis Inc., Medtronic PLC, Cook Biotech Incorporated, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., Integra Lifesciences Corporation, and Nuvasive, Inc. A large number of players are anticipated to enter the global market throughout the forecast period.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.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.
Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC - Strategic SWOT Analysis Review

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Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC - Strategic SWOT Analysis Review provides a comprehensive insight into the companys history, corporate strategy, business structure and operations. The report contains a detailed SWOT analysis, information on the companys key employees, key competitors and major products and services.This up-to-the-minute company report will help you to formulate strategies to drive your business by enabling you to understand your partners, customers and competitors better.Scope- Business description  A detailed description of the companys operations and business divisions.- Corporate strategy  GlobalDatas summarization of the companys business strategy.- SWOT analysis  A detailed analysis of the companys strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats.- Company history  Progression of key events associated with the company.- Major products and services  A list of major products, services and brands of the company.- Key competitors  A list of key competitors to the company.- Key employees  A list of the key executives of the company.- Executive biographies  A brief summary of the executives employment history.- Key operational heads  A list of personnel heading key departments/functions.- Important locations and subsidiaries  A list of key locations and subsidiaries of the company, including contact details.- Key manufacturing facilities  A list of key manufacturing facilities of the company.HighlightsPharmaceutical Product Development LLC (PPD) is a contract research organization (CRO), which offers drug discovery, development and lifecycle management services. The companys service portfolio encompasses early development clinical trial services, drug research and development, regulatory support and late-stage clinical trial management, among others. It has expertise in clinical trials in therapy areas including cardiovascular system, central nervous system, dermatology, gastroenterology, hematology, cancer, infectious diseases, ophthalmology, respiratory and endocrine systems, metabolism, rare diseases and urology. PPDs clients include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and academic and government organizations. The company has a presence in North America, South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. PPD is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, the US.Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC Key Recent DevelopmentsMar 23,2017: PPD Announces Industry-First Apprenticeship for Clinical Research AssociatesMar 02,2017: PPD Awarded National Institutes of Health Contract for HIV Research SupportFeb 28,2017: PPD Introduces Rare Disease and Pediatric Center of ExcellenceJan 30,2017: PPD to Open New Clinical Research Unit in Las VegasDec 14,2016: PPD Expands Stability Storage and Sample Distribution at Wisconsin GMP LabReasons to Buy- Gain key insights into the company for academic or business research purposes. Key elements such as SWOT analysis and corporate strategy are incorporated in the profile to assist your academic or business research needs.- Identify potential customers and suppliers with this reports analysis of the companys business structure, operations, major products and services and business strategy.- Understand and respond to your competitors business structure and strategies with GlobalDatas detailed SWOT analysis. In this, the companys core strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are analyzed, providing you with an up to date objective view of the company.- Examine potential investment and acquisition targets with this reports detailed insight into the companys strategic, business and operational performance.Note: Some sections may be missing if data is unavailable for the company....Read More @If you are interested in purchasing this report or reading the sample , please email @ Milly@marketresearchreportstore.comAbout Market Research Report Store ( MRRS )Market Research Report StoreMRRS is a professional organization related to market research reports in all directions .To provide customers with a variety of market research reports , MRRS cooperates with a large of famous market report publishers all over the world . Owing to our good service and the professional market reports in the wide range ,MRRS enjoys a good reputation in the market . In pace with the development of MRRS, more and more customers and market report publishers choose to cooperate with us . As a specialized platform , MRRS upholds the supremacy of customers and aims to provide customers with better service and richer select.Contact :Tel: +00-1-626-3463946- U.SEmail: Milly@marketresearchreportstore.comWeb:
Respiratory Care Devices Market : Outlook, Forecast and Analysis up to 2025

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Global Respiratory Care Devices: OverviewRespiratory care devices are medical devices focusing on the diagnostics, treatment, control, and management of patients suffering from disorder in cardiopulmonary system. These devices are known to be reliable in providing enhanced care to patients suffering from acute and chronic respiratory abnormalities. They are primarily used as therapeutic devices, diagnostic devices, monitoring devices, and consumables and accessories. Their demand is high among end users such as hospitals, ambulatory care, and home care.Global Respiratory Care Devices: Key TrendsThe increasing prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and other respiratory diseases such as asthma and tuberculosis is the primary factor augmenting the global respiratory care devices. The growing global population of aged people is creating a staggering demand for respiratory care devices owing to the fact that they are more susceptible to respiratory disorders. Moreover, skyrocketing pollution levels and rising incidence of tobacco smoking are working in favor of the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @However, the lack of reimbursement policies is limiting the widespread adoption of respiratory care devices. The low-cost products offered by local manufacturers are creating pricing pressure on international players. As a result, large manufacturers are selling their products at competitive pricing, which in turn is adversely affecting the overall revenue generation of the marketGlobal Respiratory Care Devices: Market PotentialVarious studies indicate that over 1 billion people across the world suffer from respiratory challenges such as CHF (congestive heart failure), COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and asthma, with about 80 million cases in the U.S. alone. The high prevalence is creating a pressing need for reliable breathing monitoring, training, and therapeutic devices for these patients in the hospitals and at home. This is prompting players to develop technologically advanced devices that can be cost-effective and improve patient outcomes across the continuum of care at home and hospitals. For instance, in November 2016, ADM Tronics Unlimited Inc. entered into a strategic agreement with QOL Devices Inc., regarding new respiratory training and therapy platform trademarked "Alvio" by QOL. Alvio is based on cloud technology and will be designed for use in non-regulated respiratory training applications and medical respiratory indications. Therefore, the birthing of advanced products in the near future is likely to revolutionize the global respiratory devices market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Respiratory Care Devices: Geographical SegmentationNorth America and Europe will account for a substantial cumulative share in the market throughout the review period. The presence of highly developed healthcare infrastructure and high technical acumen among end users to operate technologically advanced respiratory devices are contributing to the growth of the market in the regions. The widening base of patients suffering from respiratory diseases due to the increasing adoption of smoking and drinking habits is also fuelling the growth of these regions.Moreover, the growing geriatric population and rising funding by governments in the healthcare sectors are supplementing the growth of Europe and North America. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is expected to rise at a tremendous CAGR during the same period. The robust growth of the healthcare sector along with increasing expenditure on healthcare is one of the primary factors propelling the growth of the region. The rising per capita income and burgeoning demand for cutting-edge technologies are translating into the greater uptake of respiratory care devices in the region.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Respiratory Care Devices: Competitive LandscapeThe majority of players in the global respiratory care devices market are focusing towards expanding their shares through product launches and technological advancements. The trend is likely to render the market a highly competitive arena in the near future. Some of the prominent companies operating in the market are Philips Healthcare, Medtronic Plc., Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Limited, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, CareFusion Corporation, Becton, Dickinson and Company, and Hamilton Medical AG.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
Cloud-RAN (Radio Access Network) Market Volume Analysis, size, share and Key Trends 2014-2020

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Cloud-RAN,orCentralized-RAN (C-RAN) is an advanced cellular network architecture for mobile network infrastructure that can support 2G, 3G and 4G system and meet wireless communication benchmarks. Cloud-RAN is outpacing traditional cellular network system as it doesnt require RF (radio frequency) equipment, antenna, BTS (baseband unit) and digital processor to be deployed in the cell site. Traditional cellular network architecture demands more power, space, additional big cell towers and directional antennae to support new air interface technologies such as LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and multi-frequency bands. Moreover, enhancement of traditional cellular network in a wireless network to support data traffic demand becomes economically unsustainable. In contrast, Cloud-RAN enhances mobile communications and helps cellular network operators in delivering qualitative and effective mobile communication services at a reasonable cost.Cloud-RAN ensures centralization of baseband processing in one location. To connect to RRH (remote radio heads), fibre optical cables are required.Cloud-RAN is based on new technologies,viz. cloud computing thatcan take advantage of advanced remote antennae or radio head techniques and SDN (software-defined network) approaches.Request For Report Sample@Cloud-RAN offers various benefits like reduction in cost of network operations. The three types of cost reductions are energy consumption, site rental expenses and operational & maintenance cost of network. These savings can be balanced against cost incurred on fibre optical cables required to meet fronthaul capacity and latency requirements. Cloud-RAN also enhances capacity due to coordinated multipoint and ensures speedy performance. Aforementioned benefits of Cloud-RAN architecture automatically increase the value of service to end-users. However, initial high investment required to deploy Cloud-RAN architecture acts as one of the major challengesfor the growth of Cloud-RAN market.The Cloud-RAN market can be categorizedinto component, services and geography.The market is segmented on the basis of thenatureof its components, which includes six major categories -BBU (Baseband Units), RRU (Remote Radio Units), optical transport network, servers, processors and measurement device. On the basis of services segment, the Cloud-RAN market can be categorized into network services, custom services and system integration services. The market can also be segmented on the basis of major geographies, into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Eastern Europe and Middle East & Africa.Cloud-RAN is a global multi-billion dollar market which is expected to exhibit a considerable growth in CAGR, from 2014 to 2020. The key drivers include need to reduce increasing data traffic and Capex&Opexexpenditure, which are the biggest revenue generators for the Cloud-RANmarket. The key restraint to this market is high initial cost of deployment and dependency on availability of fibre. Major players in Cloud-RAN market focuses on partnerships, joint ventures, and acquisition &merger strategies in order to outperform their competitors. For instance, in 2013 Intel Corp. acquired Mindspeed Technologies and extended its offerings with new mobile system services i.e. Cloud-RAN.Visit For TOC@Some of the key players identified in the Cloud-RAN market are Ceragon Networks Ltd.,Actix Ltd., Aricent Technologies, JDSU, 6WIND, MTI Radiocomp, Altera Corp., Mindspeed Technologies, Inc., Intel Corporation, VitesseSemiconductor, Telco Systems, VPI Systems, Telco Systems and TEOCO among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Tomato Puree & Puree Concentrate Market Witness Healthy Growth Opportunities in Food Industries

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Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate are processed tomato products which are useful in cooking food. The production of Tomato Puree Concentrate requires extraction of nectar from tomato and removal of moisture, whereas Tomato Puree can be prepared from fresh tomato by cooking the nectar as well as from puree concentrate. Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrates helps in maintaining the underlying basis for organic agriculture and interaction of the ecological effects of the inputs into our food supply. Both Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrates retains most of the nutrients of tomato and thus preferred in cooking food at home. Tomato puree is widely consumed globally whereas puree concentrate has consumption limited to North America, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe. In other regions, tomato puree concentrate use is limited. Recent innovations and launch of GMO tomato in the market is increasing the production of tomato due to high yield and thus bridging the demand-supply gap. One of the biggest problems with genetically modified Tomato is the genetic engineering in which a gene is inserted into the DNA of food plant is random, and scientists have no idea where the gene goes. This engineering can disrupt the functioning of other genes and can create novel proteins which are not there in our food supply and can create toxins and allergies in the human body. Despite all the positive and negative things, Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market has witnessed an exponential growth in the global market which is expected to continue because of high demand among the consumers.Browse Market Research Report @Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate: Market DynamicsTomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market is mainly driven by the changing consumer preferences towards healthy and non-genetically modifies food. Adverse effects have reduced the demand for GMO and Non-GMO food. Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate doesnt create any harmful consequences on soil and human health whereas GMO Purees have both the problems. Tomato is misguided as Non-GMO Tomato; Organic Tomato is 95%-100% organic (might contain up to 5% non-organic components which are not supposed to be GMO) whereas, Non-GMO Tomato can still contain a certain amount of pesticides, herbicides, and other harmful components. Changing preference toward nutritious and healthy products is the new trend for which companies are launching innovative products to supplement the demand of modern society. Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market is large as compared to other Puree and Puree Concentrate market due to the vast plantation of Tomato trees globally. A Tomato tree lives for around 3 to 5 months which increases the burden of replantation and continuously produce fruits and flower further used in various applications. Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market will face a surge in demand as many food producing companies started focusing on Organic foods. As per the experts, there is no scarcity of Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrates and farmers are willing to grow Tomato crops, but in the long run, the supply-demand chain will disrupt due to the low yields which will create an opportunity for Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate suppliers and farmers. Hence, Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market is expected to grow during the forecast period due to its versatile benefits.Make an Enquiry @However, Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate comes along with many restraints. Tomato Puree has a small shelf life due to the availability of moisture in it; however, puree concentrate can have a shelf life of 1 to 3 years due to powder form syndicate process through which it is produced. Tomato Crop can persist use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, the residue of hexane, sewage sludge, growth promoting antibiotics and ractopamine drug residue which are harmful to nature and humans. Changes in water sources and quality of water and growth methods are the most important factors to be taken care of in crop production.Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market has an opportunity to replace raw tomato consumption due to changing food preferences.Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate: Market SegmentationTomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market can be segmented on the basis of type, which include:Tomato PureeTomato Puree ConcentrateTomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market can be segmented on the basis of form, which include:LiquidPowderTomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market can be segmented on the basis of application, which include:FoodCooking foodSauce and ketchupJam and CondimentsDessertsOthers (paste, etc.)BeverageJuiceOthers (Cocktails, mocktails, etc.)Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate: Segment OutlookTomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market can be segmented on the basis of type which includes tomato puree and tomato puree concentrate. The Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market can be segmented on the basis of form which includes liquid and powder. Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market can also be segmented on the basis of the application which includes Food (Cooking food, Sauce and ketchup, Jam and Condiments, Desserts and Others (paste, etc.)), Beverage (Juice and Others (Cocktails, mocktails, etc.))Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate: Regional OutlookRegional coverage for Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market includes North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and China and the Middle East and Africa. Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market witnesses a high demand in APEJ region due to the vast plantation and historical presence. Changing consumer perceptions in these areas will boost the growth of the market. However, the Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market is expected to grow significantly in North America and Europe region as consumers have widely adopted this Puree.Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate: Market PlayersThe market participants in Tomato Puree and Puree Concentrate market are Del Monte Foods, Inc., Heinz Watties Ltd., Conserve Italia Group, Conagra Brands Inc., Sainsbury's and many more.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:
Electronic Toll Collection Market Dynamics, Segments and Supply Demand 2014-2020

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Electronic toll collection system is an automated system, eliminating manual operations by toll payers and receivers. The global ETC market is expected to steer towards a strong double-digit growth rate in the coming five years (2015-2020). The primary drivers of the upcoming growth comprise the need to save travel time, cashless travel facility, the need to stop/minimize the traffic congestion and fast toll transaction. However, factors like high installation cost and a high dependence on government are hindering the growth of this market to some extent. The ETC market is expected to continue its rapid expansion to meet the surging demand for an improved, safe and secure infrastructure. The ETC system provides fast, efficient and cost-effective services. They have easy to operate buttons with a user-friendly design. They are also beneficial for traffic agencies and companies as these systems eliminate the need for multiple toll plazas, acting as a cost-saving factor for road operator agencies. Electronic toll collection systems have a positive impact on the environment as it reduces the amount of exhaust emitted from vehicles during start-up and stop at manual toll booths.The ETC market can be categorised into products, technologies, applications and geographies. Transponders, antennae, communication systems, treadles, inductive loops, scanning devices, weigh-in-motion devices, cameras and film storage devices are some of the major products of the system. An electronic toll collection system consists of various subsystems, such as automatic vehicle identification (AVI), automatic vehicle classification (AVC), back-office &integration and violation enforcement system (VES). These subsystems are useful for specific functions -AVI for vehicle identification, AVC for vehicle classification, toll collection transaction by integrating the back-office and payment system and VES to reduce unpaid tolls, by vehicle imaging.Request For Report Sample@On the basis of technologies, the ETC market can be segmented into various categories, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID), dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), video analytics, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and global positioning system (GPS).Currently RFID and DSRC are the leading technologies. On the other hand, the GNSS and GPS are expected to show a high growth rate in following five years (2015-2020).Based on applications, the ETC market can be categorized into segments like highway, urban and bridges. Undoubtedly, ETC systems have been installed majorly on highways, but installation in urban areas and on bridges has a bright future opportunity.Geographically, the ETC market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Japan, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Present market scenario represents a strong presence of ETC system in the US, Canada and Mexico in North America, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines and Singapore in Asia Pacific, and the UK, Ireland, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Spain in Europe.Visit For TOC@Some of the key players in the ETC market are Honeywell International, Inc., Transurban, Transtoll Pty Ltd., Transcore Holdings, Inc., Toll Collect GmbH, TRMI Systems Integration, Sensor Dynamics, Xerox Corporation, 3M, Connect East, EFKON, SAIC, DENSO, Q-Free, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Perceptics, Thales Group and Kapsch TrafficCom AG. The ETC ecosystem participants offer a wide range of solutions, such as software services and system integration and toll system operations including maintenance, payment handling and revenue assurance. It is the future solution to alleviating traffic congestion problems.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Convenience Foods Market Analysis and Value Forecast Snapshot by End-use Industry 2014-2020

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The convenience foods market is driven by busy lifestyles and ageing population. It includes a range of processed foods that has longer shelf life and are easy to use. The major attributes that consumers look for in convenience foods are ease of use, packaging, nutritional value, safety, variety and product appeal. These are prepared by adding various preservatives at specific conditions and few of them need an efficient supply chain and storage to retain their properties. Convenience foods save time and energy for preparing food at home or hotels. Technology and innovative packaging options have widened the food choices that are available in the market in various categories such as frozen, chilled, packaged foods, etc.The market has been segmented by type as canned foods, frozen foods, ready-to-eat snacks, meals, chilled foods and others. The market can also be segmented on the basis of distribution channels into supermarkets and hypermarkets, departmental stores, mom-and-pop shops, convenience stores and others. Geographically, the market can be segmented into Asia-Pacific, North America (the U.S., Canada and Mexico), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & North Africa and RoW (Rest of the World, including Latin America and South Africa).Request For Report Sample@With more women in the workforce, the demand for convenience foods is rising, primarily in emerging economies. The rapid growth of the food service industry in large number of developing markets is also expected to fuel the demand of packaged ready-to-eat snacks such as potato fries, bakery products and meat products. However, lack of proper storage and logistics is a threat to the frozen and chilled category of convenience foods in developing countries. There are stringent regulations on labelling and manufacturing of convenience foods in both developed and developing nations. One of the major drivers for convenience foods industry growth is widened distribution channels and tendency of consumers to buy off-the-shelf especially in emerging markets of BRICS and MENA.The U.S. is the largest market for convenience foods in the world and the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Latin America would fuel the future growth of the same. The U.S. will remain a strategic market for convenience food processors in the forecast period due to declining trend towards away-from-home dining and at-home cooking. There is a rising demand for meal solutions/ready-to-eat meals that can be prepared in two-step cooking. For instance, in December 2013, ConAgra Foods launched 23 new varieties of quality meals and desserts in Bertolli and P.F. Changs brands to enhance consumers at-home dining experience with convenience. In addition, consumers are looking for meals with foraged, hyper-local ingredients with different flavours and blends such as mushrooms, nettles, blackberries, rose hips, seaweeds, truffles, etc.The global convenience foods market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR from 20142020. Some of the emerging markets may even experience a double-digit growth rate through the forecast period in significant categories.Large multinational corporations follow multiple strategies to develop and penetrate the market for convenience foods in different regions. However, providing products that match local consumer taste is of utmost importance. Pricing is another important factor for convenience foods, however nowadays, consumers are ready to pay a premium price if they get to buy quality convenience foods with health benefits. Some of the common strategies that companies have adopted in recent times are portion controlled packaging, in-store promotions, mergers & acquisitions and health claims in labels. There is a growing trend towards healthy convenience foods that are rich in proteins, functional fibres, vitamins, probiotics and omega-3 fatty acid. For this, many market leaders are integrating their operations by acquiring ingredient manufacturers to increase their technical know-how. Availability of customized food ingredients has become a boon for convenience food manufacturers as they can provide large varieties in each category.Visit For TOC@Some of the key companies manufacturing and distributing convenience foods are Amy's Kitchen, Inc., Cargill, Incorporated, ConAgra Foods, Inc., General Mills, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., Mondel?z International, Inc. and Kraft Foods Group Inc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Self-checkout Systems Market : Trends, Business Strategies and Opportunities with Key Players Analysis

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Global Self-checkout Systems Market: OverviewContinuing to extend its popularity in global retail and shopping stores, self-checkout systems cancel the need for human assistance or a retail agent by automating the checkout process, which includes making payments and scanning and bagging purchased items. These systems are a massive investment for retailers and thus, they need to be user-friendly and intuitive. While the systems are still far from being perfect, it opens an opportunity for vendors to showcase their innovation and make a competitive progress in the self-checkout systems market.Global Self-checkout Systems Market: Key TrendsWith a probable double-digit CAGR, the international self-checkout systems market is projected to aggravate its growth as it witnesses an expanding deployment of the systems in different retail arrangements such as convenience and department stores, hypermarkets, and supermarkets. Retailers are expected to adopt these systems at a telling rate because of their business-profiting benefits such as reduction in the operational cost of stores, more personalized services in store offerings, and decrease in checkout time. Hardware offerings such as weighing scale, payment related hardware, price reader, and display device are prognosticated to gain impetus in the coming years.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The inflated risk of inventory loss on the part of retailers and unwillingness of customers to use the product could affect the growth of the global self-checkout systems market. However, lesser complexity, lower price, and other key advantages facilitated by the cashless model are anticipated to augment the adoption rate of self-checkout systems. Market players can look to penetrate large as well as small retail formats by allowing retailers to offer greater control, privacy, and convenience to their customers with self-checkout systems.Global Self-checkout Systems Market: Market PotentialThe Las Vegas ecommerce and retail event Shoptalk unveiled the reimagined future design of Targets Houston store as the chairman and CEO said the company is set to spend billions of dollars to give a new experience to its customers. Installed only a few steps away from each other, the reimagined store will feature an order pickup counter and self-checkout lanes for the time-starved customers. By the latest in October 2017, 40 additional Target stores will receive the new design along with the store in Houston. This reimagine design is part of the companys aim to meet its customers shopping needs by creating a smart network to work alongside supply chain and digital channels.Request TOC of the Report @Long Island Expressway (LIE) Welcome Center, a rest stop in New York, has also publicized its intentions to replace cashiers with self-checkout kiosks.Global Self-checkout Systems Market: Regional OutlookDue to the sweeping presence of various retail formats in the region, North America is forecasted to lead the global self-checkout systems market, putting behind other significant geographies of the industry. Followed by Mexico and Canada, the U.S. could be attributed for North Americas larger share in the market. Next to be lined under the list of top regional markets for self-checkout systems are Europe and Asia Pacific with decent growth opportunities for manufacturers.The growing retail industry in India coupled with a rising count of modern retail stores installed, Asia Pacific is predicted to emerge as a promising ground for market players. Europe, too, is envisaged to exhibit a continuous and steady growth in demand as an elevating number of convenience stores adopt self-checkout systems. Other regions could show some progress in the world self-checkout systems market as they feel the need to cater to the dynamic demands of customers and the urge to operate in line with todays technological advancements.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Self-checkout Systems Market: Competitive LandscapeSome of the crucial players functioning in the worldwide self-checkout systems market are ITAB Scanflow, Diebold Nixdorf, Inc., Fujitsu Limited, Toshiba TEC Corporation, and NCR Corporation. Industry players could be focusing on supermarkets, hypermarkets, and other large retail formats to increase their presence as these stores accommodate a high flow of customers and more number of checkout counters. Likewise, they are prophesied to find opportunities in other leading segments of the market.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 Xenon Market 2017 - Praxair, Linde Group, Chromium, Air Product, Messer Group

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Xenon Market 2017 Industry research report provides important information to identify and analyze the market need, market size and competition. This market research report used in maintaining competitiveness over competitors.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Xenon in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request For Sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversAir LiquidIce BlickPraxairLinde GroupChromiumAir ProductMesser GroupCryogenmashAir WaterCoregasWisco OxygenShougang OxygenBOC-MA Steel GasesMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversEurope: Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Benelux;Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE and Iran;Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria.Do Enquiry Before Buying Report @Market Segment by Type, coversPurity?99.99999%Purity?99.9995%Purity?99.999%Purity?99.995%Purity?99.99%Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoLightingSatellitesResearch & OthersLaser MixturesPDP BacklightingXenon market report provides a detailed view based on applications and segment. Key applications included in the report.It also provides market volume and revenue for each application and product under every country level segment.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and methodology of the report are offered.About Us:"SpireMarketResearch" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
Global Market Study on Pyrogen Testing North America Estimated Regional Market

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Albany, New York, May 17, 2017: Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has included a new study titled, Global Market Study on Pyrogen Testing-Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016  2024.Pyrogens are substances that cause fever post administering injection. Increase in body temperature and body ache are the prominent reactions caused due to injection of harmful pyrogens in the body. Pyrogen testing determines the presence of endotoxin substances. The global pyrogen testing market has been segmented on the basis of test type, application, end user, and regions.Request Sample Report :The global pyrogen testing market was valued at US$ 538.8 Mn in 2015 and is estimated to be valued at US$ 594.4 Mn by 2016 end. The market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 11.0% during the forecast period in terms of value. Global pyrogen testing market value is expected to increase to US$ 1.37 billion by the end of 2024.Market dynamicsGrowth of the global pyrogen testing market is mainly driven by growing number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies globally, increasing research and development investments and rising new drug approvals. In addition, other factors such as rising healthcare expenditure, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and favorable government initiatives support the market growth. However, high barrier for new entrants is one of the prime factor that restrains the growth of the market over the forecast period. Increasing medical tourism in Asia Pacific and Latin American regions coupled with a growing healthcare industry in emerging economies define the future landscape of the pyrogen testing market.Segment analysisBased on test type, the market has been segmented into recombinant factor C assay, limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), monocyte activation assay (MAT), and rabbit pyrogen test. Limulus amebocyte lysate test is expected to dominate the global pyrogen testing market owing to rising preference for animal-free detection tests coupled with reliable detection of pyrogens support the dominance of this market segment. Rabbit pyrogen test is the oldest commercially available pyrogen testing method. However, rising preference for animal-free detection tests is a prominent factor that restricts uptake of this test type to some extent during the forecast period.Based on application, the pyrogen testing market is segmented into injections, vaccines, tablets, medical devices and others. Injections and tablets segment are expected to dominate the global pyrogen testing application market over the forecast period.Based on the end users, the market has been segmented into pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology industry, medical devices industry and others. Other segment includes cosmetic industry, food industry and others where pyrogen testing is utilized for the detection of pathogens. Pharmaceutical industry dominates the pyrogen testing market owing to increasing utilization of pyrogen testing in the pharmaceutical industry coupled with rising number of manufacturers and increasing healthcare awareness.Regional analysisThe global pyrogen testing market has been segmented into five major regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and Middle East & Africa (MEA). In terms of value, North America is estimated to be the dominant market for global pyrogen testing market in 2016 owing to majority of the key players based in the region coupled with rising research and development activities and growing health care awareness. The North America pyrogen testing market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.8% over the forecast period. Limulus amebocyte lysate test (LAL) test type segment is expected to dominate the North America pyrogen testing market in 2016. The market segment is expected to register a CAGR of 11.3% over the forecast period. Asia Pacific and Latin America are estimated to be the fastest growing markets in terms of CAGR during the forecast period.Browse Full Reports :Key market playersSome of the key players having presence in the global pyrogen testing market are Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., Lonza Group, Ltd., Merck & Co., Associates of Cape Cod, Inc., Genscript, Wako Chemicals, and others. Companies operating in the global pyrogen testing market are focusing on expanding their product portfolio, owing to substantially high demand for pyrogen testing. Key market players are focusing on expanding their presence in Asian countries to meet the growing demand. Furthermore, increasing government initiatives for healthcare awareness in the region are also supporting growth of the market.Market 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.State Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comGoogle+:Linked in:Twitter:
Logistics Outsourcing Market Revenue, Opportunity, Forecast and Value Chain 2014-2020

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Logistics outsourcing, most commonly known as third-party logistics is a process or operation of sub-contracting industrial functions like cross-docking, inventory keeping, warehousing and transportation to a third party or supply chain management provider. Third party logistics providers include raw material suppliers, distributors and other value-added service providers. These services are generally integrated and used together to provide end-user convenience. The decision for outsourcing logistics by a parent company is generally dependent on company size, complication of logistics and relative economic benefits of outsourcing.Logistics outsourcing includes contracting of material management, supply chain management, distribution management, shipment packaging and channel management. E-business web portals and stores are in extensive need of on-clock dispatch and delivery services offered by outsourced logistics providers. The advantages associated with the logistics outsourcing market are  improvement of suppliers capability due to the use of information technology, specialization of operation, focus on core competencies and uniform growth. However, lack of monitoring control over logistics and risks associated with vendor reliability are some of the drawbacks of this market.Request For Report Sample@Regions across the globe with an attractive logistics outsourcing market, in terms of contract logistics, include North America and Southeast Asia. RoW (Rest of the World) is showing growth in inter-regional logistics. Major factors driving the development of logistics outsourcing market are globalization, time-proportional economy, presence of virtual organizations, improved customer awareness, strategic concerns to achieve more flexibility and better IT infrastructural support. On the other hand, loss of logistics, poor transportation, local protection regulations and lack of post-outsourcing measurements are some of the factors hampering growth of this market.The global logistics outsourcing market is segmented on the basis of service type, transport media used and geography. The market can vary in service type as simple service, combined service, consulting service and value-added service. On the basis of transport media used to handle logistics, it can be classified into air freight, ocean carriers, railways and trucking. The market can be categorised on the basis of geography into North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Middle East & Africa.Globalized product availability, demand for product individualization in terms of logistics, on-time delivery, just-in-time inventory, agility in time response transport, big data analytics and atomization of shipment are some of the global market trends guided by technological innovations like remote tracking and monitoring using RFID tags and EDI-based location of the shipment. Analytics based on big data is providing better accuracy of frequency of tasks and decision-making capabilities. There is a continuous insourcing trend by online retailers (like Amazon.com) for inventory so as to be more cost-effective and unified in terms of operations, and to emphasize on outsourcing for end-product transportation services only. These technological up gradations continuously enhance services provided by outsourced logistics providers.Exel Logistics (U.K.), Menlo Worldwide Logistics (U.S.), FedEx (U.S.), Ryder Logistics (U.S.) and Tibbett and Britten (U.K.) are some of the key outsourced logistics providers. These companies have a wide global presence and provide multi-sector services. They are continuously trying to reach influential market and customers by means of removing bottlenecks related to international shipments and reducing cost through geographical spread of inventory. The market in Asia-Pacific region shows a steady and consistent growth through service innovations by companies, so as to attract economic customers. The companies need to shift their focus from integrated services to offering broad range of products & services portfolio. With more focus on growing B2C sector, the scope for logistics outsourcing will extend towards value-added and specialized services.Visit For TOC@The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the logistics outsourcing market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data and projections with a suitable set of assumptions and methodology. It provides analysis and information by categories such as service type, transport media used and geography.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Hydro-processing Catalysts Market Globally Expected to Drive Growth through 2020

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In last two decades, the business of refining catalyst has grown from regional to global level. Refinery product values are dependent on process catalysts of refined products, petrochemical products and chemicals alongwith other refinery operations. One of the major concerns in the refinery is to reduce the sulphur content to the required limit. Hydro-processing catalysts (HPC) are primarily consumed in the hydro-processing operation of crude oil fractions. Such crude oil fractions include kerosene, naphtha and diesel. As a common practice, hydro-processing of crude oil fractionsis carried out at an elevated temperature and pressure.Hydro-processing is required to remove pollutants such as sulphur, heavy metals and nitrogen from fuel oils. These catalysts also help in the catalytic hydrocracking process to crack larger hydrocarbon molecules into smaller sizes,to be used as fuel oils. Thus, hydro-processing catalysts enable conversion of heavy feedstock into lighter products for efficient processing. Hydro-processing catalysts market is the fastest growing refinery catalysts market segment in the world. In addition, hydro-processing catalysts supplement the process control and operational efficiency improvement activities. Therefore, it is expected that the hydro-processing catalyst market will dominate the global refinery catalyst market by 2020.The global hydro-processing catalysts market can be categorized on the basis of its product type as molybdenum oxides, cobalt oxides, nickel oxidesand tungsten oxides. These metal oxides are carried on a carrier or matrix of silica, alumina and silica/alumina. Further, global hydro-processing catalysts market can also be categorized on the basis of their applications such as creating cleaner fuels, ultra-low sulphur levels in diesel fuels (ULSD) and others. On the basis of technology, global hydro-processing catalysts market can be segmented as hydro-treating catalysts, hydrogenation catalysts, hydrocracking catalysts, isomerisation catalyst and reforming catalyst. Among these, hydro-treating catalysts are dominant segment at present,accounting for more than half of the global hydro-processing catalysts market.Request For Report Sample@Refiners are more focusing to maximize residue feedstock yield through hydro-processing catalysts as petroleum product prices are rising globally. This is one of the key supply side drivers of the global hydro-processing catalysts market. Moreover, stringent environmental regulations and legislations are expanding, which, in turn, affects the heaviercrude processing and sulphur elimination process market.Enhanced refinery capacities coupled with the rising oil production are driving the growth of global hydro-processing catalysts market.Environmental fuel specifications regulations introduced by Europe, the U.S.and few Asia Pacific countries have been driving the global hydro-processing catalysts market.Further, developed countries have mandate to reduce sulphur content whereassulphur restrictions are implemented in the developing countries such as India, China and Mexico. As hydro-processing catalysts are advantageous to reduce sulphur content, these countries are likely to open up opportunities for hydro-processing catalysts market.Due to presence of giant oil and gas chemical manufacturers in the refinery catalyst market; the market competition is quite high. Expansion of production facilities in oil producing fields along with the strategic alliances are few of the major market strategies in the global hydro-processing catalysts market.Visit For TOC@Some of the major market participants of global hydro-processing catalysts market include HaldorTopse, W. R. Grace and Company, Albemarle Corporation, Axens, UOP- Honeywell International Inc., Chevron Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell plc, BASF SE, Criterion Catalysts & Technologies, Criterion catalysts & Technologies and others. Among these, BASF has increased its R&D efforts since it acquired Engelhard. Further, BASF SE has come up with new developments in the processing of residue to increase the quality of yield.W.R. Grace and Companyhas introduced new products inthe hydro-processing catalysts market in the past five years. Thus, it is clear that global hydro-processing catalysts market participants are focused to expand their business through innovative product launches with specific market application. These innovative products include catalyst to eliminate sulphur content upto mandate limits. The worldwide hydro-processing catalysts market stands ready to meet the challenges, where energy costs significantlyfluctuate. However,fluctuating raw material prices, price spike, price collapse along with the governments enact legislation for certain related products or technologies, the demand of hydro-processing catalyst market are expected to undergo fluctuation.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Metering Pump Market: Impact of Existing and Emerging Market 2016  2024

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Growing demand for the modernization and environmental friendly water treatments and waste water management are driving this metering pump market. APAC is growing economy and have the great potential for this market. Development and launch of new products is a trend observed in this market. The players in this market are focusing of research and development in order to develop improved new products.A sample of this report is available upon request @Government regulations and promotions or the energy efficiency, product standards, precision stimulates digitization and high growth application areas such as demand in pharmaceutical product, growing need for water treatment and waste water management and rising demand for oil and gas expansion are driving forces for this market. Maturity in North America and Europe market, market recession and lack of Greenfield investments are some factors restraining the growth of market. Players in this market have opportunity in Coal bed Methane reserves.Global metering pump market is segmented on the bias of pump types, applications and geography. On the basis of pump types the market is segmented into Diaphragm Metering Pumps, Plunger/Piston Metering Pumps and Other Type of Metering Pumps. On the basis of applications the market is segmented into Water Treatment, Water & Waste Water Treatment, Oil & Gas, Chemical Processes, Pharmaceuticals, Food & Beverages, Pulp & Paper, Agriculture & Pesticides and textiles with others. And on the basis of geography the global market for metering pump is segmented into North America, Europe, APAC and rest of world (RoW).Request to view Table of content @Alltech Dosieranlagen GmbH, Blue-White Industries Ltd., Emec S.R.L., Grundfos Water Treatment GmbH, Idex Corporation, Injection Tecnical Control Inc., KNF Neuberger GmbH.,Lewa GmbH, Lutz-Jesco GmbH, Mcfarland-Tritan LLC, Milton Roy Company, Moyno Inc., Neptune Chemical Pump Company, Prominent Dosiertechnik GmbH, Seepex GmbH, Seko S.P.A.,SPX Flow Technology Norderstedt GmbH, Swelore Engineering Pvt. Ltd., Walchem and Watson-Marlow Pumps Group are some of the major players in metering pump market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Metrology Software Market Global Industry Analysis and Forecast Till 2020

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Metrology is a field of science which involves study of all practical and theoretical aspects of measurements. With the rising sophistication and growing demand for metrology services from different industries, automation has become key criteria to achieve desired levels of efficiency and accuracy. Thus, software solutions used for achieving automation have become critical to ensure metrology devices/equipment perform with utmost efficacy. These metrology software solutions affect the ways through which users interact with measurement systems required in a manufacturing processes. It includes monitoring, controlling, displaying and reporting every part of the measuring process. It also includes understanding and analysis of measurements, surface defect analysis and performance review solutions. Metrology software is recognized for its high accuracy, design flexibility and hardware independent features allowing software support for multiple hardware combinations. Additionally, its capability to integrate several functions within a single unit helps to minimize the size and space requirements of the measuring equipment.Metrology software is useful in a number of applications that include evaluation and measurement of positional and structure tolerances. Since past three decades, industries have been shifting towards computer aided measurement systems for improvement in quality of the products. Moreover, through accurate measurements, it is possible to reduce the wastage of resources such as fuel, energy and time in manufacturing of a product. Core industries such as automotive, electrical, pharmaceutical, and aviation find extensive use of metrology software. Electrical industry relies on the metrology software for accurate measurement of the electrical components due to growing concerns regarding safety and reliability of these components. In pharmaceutical industry, due to stringent government regulations, metrology software finds use to ensure accuracy in proportion of chemical compounds.Request For Report Sample@With emerging trend of precise engineering in instrumentation, the shift towards development of advanced metrology software witnessed a massive boost. This led to the improvement of ground breaking solutions in metrology, delivering accurate results. The next generation metrology software solutions are highly perceptive, fully featured, easy to use and customizable. As the manufacturing industry moves towards complete automation, healthy demand for metrology software is expected in near future. Growing industries such as automobile and aviation that heavily depend upon measurement systems are expected to be major drivers of metrology software market. In addition, international standardization of metrology, which decides upon common issues such as how often each quantity should be measured and what instrument technology be used to measure the same, is another driver for metrology software. Other factors driving growth opportunities of metrology solutions include the increasing application of software in the manufacturing of various parts and products in industries such as biomedical, textile, heavy equipment, shipbuilding, electronics, renewable energy, defense, telecommunications, consumer goods and satellite among others.Geographically, North America and Europe are pioneers in adoption of metrology software solutions due to extensive growth in automobile industry. Asia-Pacific region, however, is expected to show high growth rate in metrology market due to increasing industries in this region. . Furthermore, the aerospace companies in North America and Europe are expanding their manufacturing units in Asia-Pacific region owing to rising demand and low cost of operation in this region. This is expected to maintain high growth rate of metrology software in near future.Visit For TOC@Some of the leading vendors of the metrology software include AICON 3D Systems GmbH, 3D Systems Corporation, Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, ., Hexagon Metrology Inc., Image Metrology A/S, New River Kinematics Inc., Innovative Metrology Solutions, Konica Minolta Sensing Inc., Kotem Technologies Inc., Metrologic Group SA, Micro-Vu Corporation, Nikon Metrology Inc., Optical Gaging Products, Renishaw Plc, , Rudolph Technologies Inc., Verisurf Software Inc. and others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
TVS Diodes Worldwide Market Analysis by Major Countries, Growth and Forecast To 2021

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Publisher's TVS Diodes 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 discusion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry players.Global TVS Diodes Market: Product Segment AnalysisUni-polar TVSBi-polar TVSGlobal TVS Diodes Market: Application Segment AnalysisConsumer electronicAutomotive electronicsPower SuppliesIndustrialComputerTelecommunicationsFor More Information About This Report:Global TVS Diodes Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropean UnionJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaThe players mentioned in our reportVishayLittelfuseSTMicroelectronicsBournsNXPDiodes Inc.InfineonBrightKingANOVAON SemiconductorRequest Sample Copy At:Table of ContentChapter 1 About the TVS Diodes IndustryChapter 2 World Market Competition LandscapeChapter 3 World TVS Diodes 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 TVS Diodes 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
Government Regulations Plays Central Part in Development of EMEA Bio-based Lubricants Market

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"The Report EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Bio-Based Lubricants Market Report 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"MarketResearchReports.biz has announced the addition of a report, titled EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) Bio-Based Lubricants Market Report 2017, to its depository. The report provides a detailed analysis of all the important aspects and serves as a reliable source of information regarding the bio-based lubricants market in EMEA. The data has been provided for the period between 2017 and 2022, keeping 2016 as the base year.The demand for bio-based lubricants in EMEA is following a notable growth trajectory, thanks to stringent government regulations. The rising awareness regarding the benefits of bio-based lubricants is augmenting the market. These lubricants offer advantages over synthetic and mineral oil based lubricants in terms of performance. These lubricants are less toxic, environment-friendly, and highly biodegradable in nature and therefore, they do not give a way to environmental concerns. However, the high cost of production of bio-based lubricants is restricting the EMEA market from realizing its utmost potential. On the other hand, the increasing industrialization and urbanization, especially in emerging countries, is opening new avenues for market players.Based on product, the EMEA bio-based lubricants market is bifurcated into vegetable oils and animal oils. Each segment is analyzed on the basis of revenue, sales volume, market shares, product price, and growth rates. The demand for vegetable oils is likely to remain strong throughout the forecast period. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the favorable government policies, which includes providing incentives to encourage companies for using vegetable oils as base oils for manufacturing lubricants. Due to the natural abundance and excellent lubricating properties of vegetable oils, they are being increasingly used in engine oils, petroleum fuel additives, hydraulic fluids, and metalworking fluids.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @On the basis of end-user industries, the market is divided into automotive, aviation, industrial, and marine. Each segment is reviewed based on market share, growth rate, and sales volume. The constant need to prevent wearing and tearing of metal parts and subsequently boost the life of machinery is promoting the uptake of bio-based lubricants across these industries. However, the market is likely to witness higher demands from the industrial and automotive sectors.In terms of geography, the market is broadly classified into Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Europe is expected to account for a large chunk in the revenue pie of the market in EMEA. Stringent government regulations pertaining to the use of traditional lubricants and continuous research and development activities are translating into the greater uptake of bio-based lubricants in the region. Germany is anticipated to be at the forefront of growth.View Press Release @Some of the prominent players operating in the EMEA bio-based lubricants market are ConocoPhilips, Fuchs Lubricants, DMS, SINOPEC, BP, BioBlend Renewable Resources, Royal Dutch Shell, Environmental Lubricants Manufacturing Inc., Total, Panolin, Houghton International, Exxon Mobil, Cargill, Chevron, and Renewable Lubricants. Each of these players is profiled in the report along with their price and revenue structure, market share, and sales volume.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Bariatric Surgery Devices Market 2015-2025 by Segmentation Based on Product, Application and Region

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Market OverviewUndertaking a bariatric surgery has become relatively necessary for the majority of the global population, especially the obese and the overweight demographic. The fact that obesity is one of the most prevalent and endangering health disorders has increased the awareness about bariatric surgery and devices. The demand for bariatric surgery devices has registered a considerable surge by the virtue of growing preference for less-invasive bariatric surgeries. Additionally, the rising expenditure on weight loss procedures has promoted the sales of bariatric surgery devices at the individual level. Regional government initiatives are also influencing the growth of the global market for bariatric surgery devices.Demand for Bariatric Surgery Devices: Drivers & RestraintsThe high occurrence of obesity cases is regarded as the primary driver of the global bariatric surgery devices market. The growing awareness among the obsess population is expected to fuel the demand for bariatric surgery devices. Apart from that, the other factors driving the growth of the bariatric surgery devices market include,Request For Report Sample@Availability of surgeons specialised in bariatric surgical techniquesSince bariatric surgeries are gaining demand, the existing as well as the new medical surgeons are developing and qualifying their surgical skills accordingly. As a result, the demand for bariatric surgery devices is experience a positive impact.Prevention of weight-related risksIncidence of diabetes, hypertension, gastric reflux disorders and blood pressure complications are at a higher risks among obese patients. As the surgeries intend on preventing occurrence of such diseases, the demand for bariatric surgery devices has surged extensively.Less-incisive methodsBariatric surgeries such as the sleeve gastrectomy require lower incision, which helps the patients adopt the surgeries without apprehension. This results more consumption of bariatric surgery devices by hospitals and weight-loss clinics.However, the implications arriving post-surgery are posing to be the major challenge in the global market for bariatric surgery devices. Since the surgical procedures are operated on the stomach and the intestines of the patient, there is a high risk of acquiring infections. Gastrointestinal ulcers, internal bleeding, small bowel obstruction, gastric band slippage, and hernias are some of the common implications that lower the use of bariatric surgery devices.Market Segmentation & Regional OutlookThe global market for bariatric surgery devices can be segmented on the basis the type of bariatric surgery and the device used.Based on the different kinds of bariatric surgery procedures, the market is classified into,Gastric Bypass SurgerySleeve Gastrectomy SurgeryGastric Banding SurgeryOthersBy device-type, the global market is further segmented into,Stapling DevicesGastric BandsGastric BalloonsBased on the regional segmentation, North America is expected to lead the global bariatric surgery devices market on the account of the high obesity levels in the US and Canada. Subsequently, the higher risks of diabetes and blood pressure disorders are equally inciting the demand for bariatric surgery devices. Asia Pacific & Japan are anticipated to expand at a remarkable CAGR, owing to the rising expenditure on weight-loss treatments in APEJ countries.Visit For TOC@Key PlayersJohnson & Johnson, Covidien Plc, Cousin Biotech, and Pare Surgical, Inc., among others are the some of the key companies in the global bariatric surgery devices market. Pharmaceutical and medical devices leaders such as Medtronic has launched flagship devices for sleeve gastrectomy, indicating the positive expansion of the global market. The government funding is also playing a major role in providing manufacturers with the capital required to produce enhanced devices for bariatric surgeries.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Medical Polymers Market Global Industry Analysis Forecast 2014 - 2020

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Medical polymers is the collective term used for biodegradable plastic, elastomers such as thermoplastic elastomers and natural, and polymers such as fibers and resins which is employed in several forms in healthcare and medical applications. Generally, ceramics, glass, and metals have been employed as medical supports, devices, and implants. Nevertheless, polymers are considered to be more suitable for medical applications owing to low cost, better biocompatibility, and less weight. Medical polymers are mainly used in equipment and devices such as implants for cranial injuries, joint and hip replacement, and spinal implants. However, the implementation of strict regulations pertaining to the launch of new products along with fluctuating prices of raw materials may impede the growth of the market to some extent.Obtain Report Details @:Over the next couple of years, the demand for medical polymers is likely to gain momentum. The demand for medical polymers is also expected to be fueled due to the mounting geriatric population and growing preference on home healthcare treatments. Ongoing development in the field of polymer science and increasing awareness among consumers are also likely to play a crucial role in the growth of the market. The global medical polymers market is likely to expand at an 8.3% CAGR from 2014 to 2020. It is anticipated to be worth US$17.13 bn by the end of 2020 from a valuation of US$9.80 bn in 2013.Fiber and Resins to Emerge as Dominant Product TypeIn 2013, fiber and resins surfaced as the leading product type with a share of over 85% in the global medical polymers market. The product type which is likely to witness the leading growth rate during the forecast period is biodegradable plastics. Growing need for materials that are biocompatible, especially in implants, is likely to propel the demand for biodegradable polymers in the coming years. Although fiber and resins lead the market at present, it is likely to lose its market shares along with elastomers to biodegradable polymers over the forecast period. The medical packaging and medical equipment and devices segments together held a share of 90% in the global market based on volume in 2013. The demand for medical procedures is likely to rise over time owing to lifestyle changes and growing health issues among people across the globe. The rise in surgical procedures is further expected to bode well for the growth of the market.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @:North America to Retain Lead with Enhanced InfrastructureIn 2013, North America emerged as the leading region with over 40% of the total share in its bag. The region was closely trailed by Europe which held over 35% in 2013 itself. Asia Pacific is likely to witness the leading growth among all the regions owing factors such as easy obtainability of medical services, enhanced medical infrastructure, and growing awareness among consumers. Europe and North America are likely to emerge as leading consumers of medical polymers. However, Asia Pacific is expected to snip shares from the developed economies.Some of the top drawer companies operating in the global medical polymers market are Victrex plc., Formosa Plastics Corporation USA, The Dow Chemical Company, Evonik Industries AG, Eastman Chemical Company, and Celanese Corporation.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.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207
Global Carbon Brush Market 2017 - Mersen, Morgan, Schunk, AVO, Helwig Carbon Products, E-Carbon, Ohio, Fuji, Tris

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This report studies Carbon Brush in Global market, especially in United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, India, Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil, Middle East and Africa,focuses on the top Manufacturers in each country, coveringMersenMorganSchunkAVOHelwig Carbon ProductsE-CarbonOhioFujiTrisToyo TansoDremelHarbin Electric Carbon FactoryDononSunkiNantong KangdaMorxinMarket Segment by Countries, this report splits Global into several key Countries, with sales, revenue, market share of top 5 players in these Countries, from 2012 to 2017 (forecast), like1 United States2 Canada3 Mexico4 Germany5 France6 UK7 Italy8 Russia9 China10 Japan11 India12 Korea13 Southeast Asia14 Australia15 Brazil16 Middle East17 AfricaRequest For Sample Report @Split by Product Types, with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type, can be divided intoElectrographite BrushGraphite BrushMetal Graphite BrushSilver Graphite BrushSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Carbon Brush in each application, can be divided intoIndustrial EquipmentAutomotive applicationHome applicationMicro motorsAbout Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Need to Monitor Crucial Business Data Drives Global Environmental Monitoring and Sensing Market

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"The Report Global Environment Monitoring and Sensing Market 2017-2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"MarketResearchReports.biz has announced the addition of a new report, titled Global Environment Monitoring and Sensing Market 2017-2021, to its expanding repository of research reports. The report looks into the market indicators, growth trends, and technological innovations to determine the growth trajectory of the global environment monitoring and sensing market for the 2017-2021 period. The reports studies the regions of the Americas, EMEA, and APAC to ascertain how the global market for environment monitoring and sensing is expected to develop over the forecast period.Environmental monitoring involves learning environmental impact as well as assessing circumstances in which human activities pose a risk to have a harmful impact on the environment. While viruses, spyware and network pose a maximum threat to IT equipment, environmental factors such as heat, airflow, humidity, smoke, and electricity can have an equally devastating effect, and consequently on companys operations.According to the report, the global environmental sensing and monitoring market is expected to rise at a CAGR of 5.48% between 2017 and 2021.Some of the leading companies in the global environment sensing and monitoring market include Aeroqual, HORIBA, Thermo Fisher Scientific, General Electric, and In-Situ. Some other vendors in this market include Agilent Technologies, Hach, Honeywell International, OAKTON Instruments, Optiqua, Sea-Bird Scientific, Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Xylem, Atlas Scientific, Hanna Instruments, Hydro International, OptiEnz Sensors, OTT Hydromet, Siemens, and SUTRON. Each of these companies is profiled for their distinguishing business attributes of business positioning, financial standing, and SWOTs.Get Sample Copy Of this Report @The report points out the various factors driving the growth of the environment sensing and monitoring market. Innovations in monitoring and sensing technology is the foremost reason that is positively influencing this market. In present times, generation of multiple types of data and the rising importance of monitoring data has led to the use of commercial software that is becoming commonplace in regulated industries.Today, the dynamic nature of virtualized data centers poses new environmental monitoring challenges. This has necessitated organizations to look for a radical change in order to monitor their data centers. Thus, the solutions need to handle powerful servers that are combined with virtual operations.However, the growth of this market is challenged due to technical issues pertaining to equipment and high cost involved in monitoring these equipment.View Press Release @The analysis presented in the report is useful for its many offerings. The report is compiled after an extensive research phase that included conducting interviews with industry experts. The comprehensive evaluation of the market presented in the report is useful for market participants to formulate informed business decisions.The report is presented in a chapter-wise format for easy browsing. It includes an array of tabular representations and graphs that depict the growth of this market pictorially.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Stringent Environmental Regulations to Create Exciting Opportunities in EMEA Synthetic Lubricants Market

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"The Report EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Synthetic Lubricants Market Report 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"MarketResearchReports.biz has announced the addition of a new report, titled EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Synthetic Lubricants Market Report 2017 to its offering. The comprehensive report on the Europe, the Middle East and Africa market for synthetic lubricants provides in-depth insights into the current market status, key market dynamics, notable trends and lucrative opportunities, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. The research study offers a detailed analysis of the estimated market share and size of key application segments along the forecast period from 2016 to 2022.The report highlights the recent investments in research and development in making improved grades of synthetic lubricants and elaborates on prominent technological advancements. The study takes a closer look at the key regional regulations and evaluates their impact on emerging opportunities. The major countries covered in the research analysis are Germany, the UK, France, Russia, Benelux, and Italy (Europe); Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Israel (the Middle East); and South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria (Africa). The recent developments in major end-use industries expected to boost the sale of synthetic lubricants are covered in the study.The increasing use of synthetic lubricants for a wide range of industrial applications and the burgeoning automotive and mining industries across various regions are the key factors driving the EMEA market for synthetic lubricants. The rapid pace of industrialization in developing regions has propelled the demand for high-performing lubricants, thereby boosting the EMEA synthetic lubricants market.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @The soaring demand for synthetic lubricants is stimulated by the number of advantages they offer such as high viscosity, enhanced energy efficiency, wide operating temperature range, and remarkable water-solubility. In addition, the use of synthetic lubricants in engines helps in reducing maintenance and a safer operation.The higher cost of synthetic lubricants when compared to conventional mineral oils is likely to impede the market to an extent. In addition, the advent of environment-friendly and bio-based products is expected to hinder the demand for synthetic lubricants in the EMEA in the near future. Nevertheless, increasing awareness of consumers about these features catalyze the demand for synthetic lubricants in the EMEA. Strict governmental regulations in some countries of the EMEA are expected to boost the uptake of synthetic lubricants.View Press Release @The report highlights the raw material sources of major manufacturer and the measures taken by distributors to strengthen their presence in the EMEA market. Furthermore, the strategies adopted by leading manufacturers in the EMEA to consolidate their market shares across various regions are analyzed in the report. Top players are actively making product innovations, improving their distribution channels, and devising impactful brand positioning strategies to gain a competitive over others.Some of the major players operating in the EMEA synthetic lubricants market are Fuchs Petrolub SE, BASF SE, Idemitsu Kosan, Ashland Valvoline, Chevron, JX Group, BP P.L.C., Royal Dutch Shell plc, and Exxon Mobil Corporation.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Market Study on Managed Security Services: North America Market Expected to Expand 7X in Terms of Value by 2026.

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Albany, New York, May 17, 2017: Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has included a new study titled, Global Market Study on Managed Security Services-Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016  2026.Persistence Market Research analyzes the global managed security services market over a ten year period from 2016 to 2026 in a newly published report. The study demonstrates market dynamics and trends across regions that are expected to influence the current status and future prospects of the global managed security services market over the forecast period (2016 - 2026). The primary objective of the report is to offer information on market drivers, restraints, trends, opportunities, and value chain analysis; and updates on developments in the global managed security services market.Request Sample Report :The report is categorically divided into five sections namely, by deployment type, by service type, by organization, by application type and by region, to understand and offer insights on the global managed security services market. The report provides analysis of the global managed security services market in terms of market value (US$ Mn).The report starts with an overview of the global managed security services market which includes market description and taxonomy. Moreover, the value chain of managed security services and pricing models followed by managed security service providers for outsourcing the managed security services in the organization are also included in this section. Thereafter, analyses of key trends, opportunities, drivers and restraints from the supply and demand perspectives are included.The section that follows analyses the overall market by providing the overall market size, absolute dollar opportunity and growth rate comparison of the overall market.The next section describes the market on the basis of deployment type and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next 10 years. On the basis of deployment type, the global managed security services market has been segmented into:Cloud-based deploymentWeb-based deploymentAnother section included in the report is on the basis of service type that analyses the market and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next 10 years. On the basis of service type, the global managed security services market has been segmented into:IDS/IPSDDoSThreat ManagementFirewall ManagementEndpoint SecuritySecurity Information and Event ManagementThe section that follows analyses the market on the basis of organization and presents the forecast in terms of value over the next 10 years. On the basis of organization, the global managed security services market has been segmented into:Send An Enquiry :Small & Medium EnterpriseLarge EnterprisesAnother section included in the report is on the basis of application type that analyses the market and presents the forecast in terms of value over the next 10 years. On the basis of application type, the global managed security services market has been segmented into:BFSIHealthcareRetailTelecommunicationOthersThe following section of the report includes analysis of the global managed security services market on the basis of region. The global managed security services market is segmented into seven key regions:North AmericaLatin AmericaEastern EuropeWestern EuropeAsia Pacific Excluding JapanJapanMiddle East and AfricaIn the final section of the report, the managed security services market competitive landscape is included to provide report audiences with a dashboard view of the market players, based on categories of providers across the value chain, their presence in the managed security services portfolio and key differentiators. Some of the major market players featured in this section are IBM Corporation, Symantec Corporation, Fortinet, Inc., Computer Science Corporation, Accenture PLC, AT&T Inc., Intel Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Checkpoint Software Technologies Limited, Trustwave Holdings, Inc.Research methodologyTo deduce market size, the report considered the average IT spending in managed security services across geographies. Furthermore, data points such as regional split and market split by deployment type, organization, service type and application type are analyzed and qualitative inputs from primary respondents have been incorporated to arrive at suitable market estimates. The forecast presented in the report evaluates the total revenue that is expected to be generated across the managed security services market over forecast period (20162026). When developing the market forecast, the starting point involved sizing up the current market, which forms the basis for forecasting how the market is anticipated to take shape during the forecast period. Given the characteristics of the market, PMR triangulated the data on the basis of various analysis based on both supply side and demand side.It is imperative to note that in an ever-fluctuating global economy, we not only conduct forecasts in terms of CAGR, but also analyze the market on the basis of key parameters, such as Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) growth, to understand the predictability of the market and identify the right opportunities in the managed security services market.As previously highlighted, the market for managed security services is split into various segments, on the basis of deployment type, service type, organization, application type and region. All these segments have been analyzed in terms of Basis Point Share (BPS) to understand the individual segments relative contribution to market growth. This detailed level of information is important for identification of many key trends in the global managed security services marketAnother key feature of this report is the analysis of the managed security services market by deployment type, service type, organization, application type and region and its revenue forecast in terms of absolute dollar opportunity. This is usually 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 in the global managed security services market.Browse Full Report :In order to understand key growth segments in terms of growth and performance of the managed security services market, PMR developed a market attractiveness index. The resulting index should help providers identify real market opportunities.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 StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comGoogle+:Linked in:Twitter:Albany, New York, May 17, 2017: Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has included a new study titled, Global Market Study on Managed Security Services-Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016  2026.Persistence Market Research analyzes the global managed security services market over a ten year period from 2016 to 2026 in a newly published report. The study demonstrates market dynamics and trends across regions that are expected to influence the current status and future prospects of the global managed security services market over the forecast period (2016 - 2026). The primary objective of the report is to offer information on market drivers, restraints, trends, opportunities, and value chain analysis; and updates on developments in the global managed security services market.Request Sample Report :The report is categorically divided into five sections namely, by deployment type, by service type, by organization, by application type and by region, to understand and offer insights on the global managed security services market. The report provides analysis of the global managed security services market in terms of market value (US$ Mn).The report starts with an overview of the global managed security services market which includes market description and taxonomy. Moreover, the value chain of managed security services and pricing models followed by managed security service providers for outsourcing the managed security services in the organization are also included in this section. Thereafter, analyses of key trends, opportunities, drivers and restraints from the supply and demand perspectives are included.The section that follows analyses the overall market by providing the overall market size, absolute dollar opportunity and growth rate comparison of the overall market.The next section describes the market on the basis of deployment type and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next 10 years. On the basis of deployment type, the global managed security services market has been segmented into:Cloud-based deploymentWeb-based deploymentAnother section included in the report is on the basis of service type that analyses the market and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next 10 years. On the basis of service type, the global managed security services market has been segmented into:IDS/IPSDDoSThreat ManagementFirewall ManagementEndpoint SecuritySecurity Information and Event ManagementThe section that follows analyses the market on the basis of organization and presents the forecast in terms of value over the next 10 years. On the basis of organization, the global managed security services market has been segmented into:Send An Enquiry :Small & Medium EnterpriseLarge EnterprisesAnother section included in the report is on the basis of application type that analyses the market and presents the forecast in terms of value over the next 10 years. On the basis of application type, the global managed security services market has been segmented into:BFSIHealthcareRetailTelecommunicationOthersThe following section of the report includes analysis of the global managed security services market on the basis of region. The global managed security services market is segmented into seven key regions:North AmericaLatin AmericaEastern EuropeWestern EuropeAsia Pacific Excluding JapanJapanMiddle East and AfricaIn the final section of the report, the managed security services market competitive landscape is included to provide report audiences with a dashboard view of the market players, based on categories of providers across the value chain, their presence in the managed security services portfolio and key differentiators. Some of the major market players featured in this section are IBM Corporation, Symantec Corporation, Fortinet, Inc., Computer Science Corporation, Accenture PLC, AT&T Inc., Intel Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Checkpoint Software Technologies Limited, Trustwave Holdings, Inc.Research methodologyTo deduce market size, the report considered the average IT spending in managed security services across geographies. Furthermore, data points such as regional split and market split by deployment type, organization, service type and application type are analyzed and qualitative inputs from primary respondents have been incorporated to arrive at suitable market estimates. The forecast presented in the report evaluates the total revenue that is expected to be generated across the managed security services market over forecast period (20162026). When developing the market forecast, the starting point involved sizing up the current market, which forms the basis for forecasting how the market is anticipated to take shape during the forecast period. Given the characteristics of the market, PMR triangulated the data on the basis of various analysis based on both supply side and demand side.It is imperative to note that in an ever-fluctuating global economy, we not only conduct forecasts in terms of CAGR, but also analyze the market on the basis of key parameters, such as Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) growth, to understand the predictability of the market and identify the right opportunities in the managed security services market.As previously highlighted, the market for managed security services is split into various segments, on the basis of deployment type, service type, organization, application type and region. All these segments have been analyzed in terms of Basis Point Share (BPS) to understand the individual segments relative contribution to market growth. This detailed level of information is important for identification of many key trends in the global managed security services marketAnother key feature of this report is the analysis of the managed security services market by deployment type, service type, organization, application type and region and its revenue forecast in terms of absolute dollar opportunity. This is usually 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 in the global managed security services market.Browse Full Report :In order to understand key growth segments in terms of growth and performance of the managed security services market, PMR developed a market attractiveness index. The resulting index should help providers identify real market opportunities.Market 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.State Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comGoogle+:Linked in:Twitter:
Plywood Market Explores New Growth Opportunities By 2017 - 2027

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Plywood is a type of wood product, an engineered wood. It is a panel made of wood, manufactured from thin sheets of wood veneer that are stuck together. Due to its improved qualities, such as resistance to shrinkage, splitting, cracking and twisting, it finds application as a substitute for wood. Plywood also displays high strength as compared to plain wood and it is flexible, workable, reusable and inexpensive.Rising construction activity worldwide, increase in the number of homes and the rising application of plywood in the interior designing of home floorings, walls, and ceilings, especially in high-cost residential spaces, along with a growing furniture industry are expected to drive the global plywood market for the next few years.The advantages of using plywood as a low-cost yet durable substitute for raw wood, along with its growing demand make it imperative to study the global plywood market.Market SegmentationThe global plywood market can be segmented in several ways, two of the prominent ones being on the basis of product type and application type.Request For Report Sample:On the basis of product type, the global plywood market is segmented as follows:Commercial plySemi-waterproof plyWaterproof plyOn the basis of application type, the global plywood market is segmented as follows:Softwood plywoodHardwood plywoodTropical plywoodDecorative plywoodKey Trends, DriversIn recent times, manufacturers of commercial vehicles require increasing quantities of chequered plywood for applications in automotive flooring. This is expected to propel global plywood market growth in the near future.Plywood also finds applications in the marine industry for the construction of decks. The structural panel industry has also been a major consumer of plywood, thereby driving the market.However, the cost associated with plywood is relatively high as compared to oriented strand board (OSB), which provides similar features to that of plywood. Thus, growth rate of the plywood market could be hampered as a result of a shift of usage from plywood to oriented strand board (OSB).It should be noted that the North American region has been consistently dominant globally, in terms of the market demand for plywood. This has been primarily due to high plywood consumption by the construction sector. In terms of plywood demand, North America is followed by the European region, which is mainly driven by the high demand from Germany and the U.K. However, the region displaying a relatively high market growth is Asia Pacific, as China, India and Japan have been witnessing massive construction, thereby driving the demand for plywood applications to a considerable extent.Request For TOC:It could be observed that countries with rich forest resources and wood plantations, such as India, Brazil and South-East Asian countries have a potential to be key suppliers of plywood in the near future, as they could look at possible vertical integration to produce plywood after making relevant infrastructural investments for the same, thereby driving the supply side of the plywood market. For instance, the rich and varied forest wealth of India with a variety of deciduous, coniferous, tropical and evergreen trees could be an important resource for the wood panel industry in the future. Also, the growing indigenous demand for plywood in India as a result of rising disposable income among the growing middle and affluent class and the growing infrastructure in recent times is expected to make India an important consumer of plywood in the near future.However, it should be noted that the plywood demand growth has been facing resistance from the packaging industry, which has been finding preferences of other materials, such as metals, plastics and cardboards.Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants in the global plywood market are as follows:Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd.Boise Cascade LLCAtlantic Plywood CorporationEksons Corp. BhdCentury Plyboard (India) Ltd.Greenply Industries Ltd.Georgia-Pacific CorporationUniply Industries Ltd.Weyerhaeuser CompanyJaya Tiasa Holdings BerhadRoseburg Forest Products Co.Browse Full Report:ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Silicon Photonics Market is Expected to Reach USD 1000 Billion by 2023

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Market Research Future published a half cooked research report on Silicon Photonics Market.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 30 market data tables and figures spread over 100 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Silicon Photonics Market Research Report - Forecast to 2023.Market Highlights:In this technology driven environment with development in each and every sector, the silicon photonics market is coming up with whole new innovation in access to organization. Silicon photonics refers to the application of photonic systems using silicon as an optical medium. The silicon material used in such photonic systems is designed with sub micrometer precision and is deployed into the micro photonic components. This technology enables data transfer at low power consumption over an optical fiber. Moreover, silicon photonics satisfies the mounting need of high data transfer rate and enhances the capabilities such as computational and processing needs of data centers.The Silicon Photonics Market is growing rapidly over 22% of CAGR and is expected to reach at approx. USD 1000 billion by the end of forecast period.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Silicon Photonics Market: Infinera Corporation (U.S.) Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.) Intel Corporation (U.S.) IBM Corporation (U.S.) Mellanox Technologies Ltd. (U.S.) Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. (Japan) STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland) Finisar Corporation (U.S.) Luxtera Inc. (U.S.), Das Photonics (Spain)Silicon Photonics Market Segmentation:The silicon photonics market has been segmented on the basis of component, product and application. On basis of product type the silicon photonics market consists of mainly transceivers. The transceivers implement physical layer protocols for various communications and serial bus interface standards. Maxims transceivers integrate a wide array of features to increase reliability and simplify designs while providing the highest levels of protection on the market.Brief TOC:1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Type2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model2.4.1 Market Data Collection, Analysis & Forecast2.4.2 Market Size Estimation3 Market Dynamics3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Drivers3.3 Market Challenges3.4 Market Opportunities3.5 Market Restraints4 Executive Summary5. Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis5.2 Supply Chain AnalysisContinueMarket Research Analysis:Market Research Future Analysis shows the demand for high-speed data transfer in data centers is expected to boost the market for silicon photonics technology. In this application, silicon photonics enhances performance in terms of computation, communication, and measurement to fulfill the needs of consumers and enterprise cloud services. This would drive the growth of the silicon photonics market for the data communication application.Regional analysis for silicon photonics market is studied in different geographic regions as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and rest of world. North America region is the leading player in silicon Photonics market because of major advanced technology market present in the region and dominance of cost and power effective technologies in the development of the silicon photonics system. And because of the increasing adoption of power effective solutions is significantly growing. Asia-Pacific region is growing because of major electronics components manufacturing players present in the region. The reason for this growth is adoption of new technologies, economic growth, and increasing use of cloud-based and networking services in the corporate world.Access Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. . Our market research studies by Solutions, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash AnandMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Fireproof Insulation Market is Predicted to Grow at Approximately 4.5% of CAGR by 2023

Fireproof Insulation Market

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Market HighlightsFireproof insulation is an insulating material that is prepared with the help of a fire retardant material. Fireproof insulations are usually employed to tackle and encounter the dispersion of flames when situations such as fire disaster occur. The demand of the market is driven by the increasing government regulation to reduce the greenhouse gasses emissions as well as it is driven by the lower cost of installation. However, the lack of awareness is the restraint to the growth of the market.The Global Fireproof Insulation Market was valued at USD 18.05 Billion in 2015, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period.Key PlayersThe key players of Fireproof Insulation Market are: ROCKWOOL International A/S (Denmark) Knauf Insulation GmbH (Germany) Saint-Gobain S.A. (France) Owens Corning Corporation (U.S.) Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (U.S.) BASF SE (Germany) Paroc Group Oy (Finland) Arango Insulation (U.S.) Airkrete Inc. (U.S.) ROXUL Inc. (Canada).Request to Get a Sample Copy @Market Research AnalysisOn the basis of regions, global fireproof insulation market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). European region dominates global fireproof insulation market. Building safety codes in countries such as U.K., Germany, and France are driving the demand of the market in the region. Increasing government regulation to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions is also fuelling the demand of the market in this region.Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period mainly due to rapid growth in construction industry in countries such as China, and India.Access Report Details @Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the global fireproof insulation market, tracking two market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global fireproof insulation market by its type, end user and region. By Materialso Mineral Woolo Plastic foamo Glass woolo Celluloseo Others By Applicationo Residential Buildingso Commercial Buildingso Industrial Buildings By Regiono North Americao Asia Pacifico Europeo Rest of the WorldAbout 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
Automotive Seat Recliners Market: Information, Figures and Analytical Insights 2016  2026

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Automotive Seat Recliners Market: OverviewAutomotive industries are prominent field in todays experimental world with constant innovative technologies playing in to deliver better comfort and secured ride for occupants. Automotive recliner is a type of seating which reclines backwards upon leaning and raises its footrest by means of a lever. Automotive seat recliner is a key component in automotive seating systems to provide comfort for neck, spine and foot while driving so that one feel relaxed. Automotive seat recliner mechanism consists of seat cushion and seat back with upper and lower arm mounted, spiral springs to exercise radial forces on a rotatable cam for locking and unlocking operation. High quality chromium steel or magnesium are mostly used as materials to withstand high impact forces during accidents which can otherwise harm the occupant. For the increased seat size twin recliners are used to endure static and fatigue loads. Growing automotive industries globally and major players launching innovative models generates bright prospectus for automotive seat recliners market.Request for the Report sample:Automotive Seat Recliners Market: Drivers and RestraintsAutomotive seat recliners market is driven by the demand for comfortable and relaxed seating and also with new trends in seat designs and increasing demand for premium vehicles has opened opportunities for automotive seat recliners market. The emerging technological advancements in automotive seat recliners is also fostering the growth for automotive seat recliners market. For instance, one of the major player Faurecia has launched a technologically innovative seat recliner in the market which detects persons health conditions such as respiration, heart rate and replies with solution such as energizing massage, warming or cooling according to the need, this emerging trend is expected to foster growth in the automotive seat recliners market globally. However, the increased seat recliners cost with variety of features in-build is limited to premium vehicles which might restraint the global automotive seat recliner market causing lesser impact in low economic regions.Automotive Seat Recliners Market: SegmentationOn the basis of vehicle type automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows: Passenger Cars, Light commercial vehicles, Heavy commercial vehicles. On the basis of type of recliners automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows: Lever type recliner, Rotary type recliner, Slider type recliner, Slider cum latch recliner, Walk in recliner, Rear seat recliner.Request TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:On the basis of recliner mechanism automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows: Ratchet / Tooth engagement Recliner, Taumel Recliner,Power Taumel Recliner. On the basis of distribution channel automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows: Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Aftermarket.Automotive Seat Recliners Market: Region Wise OutlookThe global automotive seat recliner market is divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Among the aforementioned regions the APEJ market for automotive seat recliner market is expected to hold the largest market share by the end of forecast period. The exponentially growing automotive sector with advanced technologies in China is contributing to the growth of automotive seat recliner market in the region. The Latin America market and Western Europe market is followed by the APEJ market for automotive seat recliners. Japan being the automotive manufacturer hub, automotive seat recliner market in the region is expected to show significant growth. The market in Middle East and Africa are expected for improvement during the forecast period.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:
Epoxy Composite Market Trends, Application and Forecast: Global Market worth USD 38.19466 Billion by 2023

Epoxy Composite Market

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Synopsis of Epoxy Composite MarketMarket HighlightsEpoxy composite have been widely used for manufacturing aerospace and automotive industries applications due to particular mechanical and physical properties such as high specific strength and high specific stiffness. Another important application for Epoxy composite is in the electronic industry, in which they are used for producing printed wiring boards. Composite epoxy materials (CEM) are a group of composite materials typically made from woven glass fabric surfaces and non-woven glass core combined with epoxy synthetic resin. They are typically used in printed circuit boards. Epoxy composite is low-cost, flame-retardant, cellulose-paper-based laminate with only one layer of woven glass fabric. Major end users industries for epoxy composite are automotive, transportation, aerospace & defense, sporting goods, electronics industry, construction industries, and others.The Global Epoxy Composite Market is expected to witness a significant growth of USD 38.19466 billion by 2023 with CAGR of 7.4% between 2016 and 2023.Global Epoxy Composite Key Players:Key Players of the Global Epoxy Composite Market are: Axiom Materials, Inc. (US) Hexcel Corporation (US) Cytec Solvay Group (Belgium) Koninklijke Ten Cate NV. (Netherlands) Teijin Limited (Japan) Toray Industries, INC. (Japan) Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd. (Japan) Rotec Composite Group B.V. (Netherlands) SGL Group (Germany) Gordon Composites, Inc. (US)Request a Sample Report @Regional Analysis:The global epoxy composite market is classified on the basis of mixed geographic segmentation which involves regions such as America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Out of all, Asia Pacific epoxy composite market is largest market owing to robust industry growth of end user industry in China, Japan and India. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for epoxy composite. Positive stance on end-use industries such as automotive, transportation, aerospace & defense, sporting goods, electronics industry, construction industries, and others in countries like China & India is expect to drive demand. Increasing demand from the automotive & transportation, sporting goods, aerospace & defense, and construction industries, due to increase urbanization of various countries in the APAC region including India, japan and south Korea, fuel the growth of the global epoxy composite market during the forecast period.Furthermore, North-America region stand on second positions in terms of global epoxy composite market. The demand of epoxy composite in this is becoming essential due to due to its features, such as low maintenance, durability, and lightweight and high flexibility in end user industries, including automotive, aerospace & defense, transportation, sporting goods, electronics industry, and others.Access Report Details @The North American epoxy composites industry has strong demand for its high volume usage with automated processes, decent design and advance expertise. Additionally, wind turbine industry is predicted to growing industry, increased output of aerospace & defenses industrial applications will also drive the growth for epoxy composites in North America. Due to low cost and good performance of glass fiber, will be the leading reinforcement substantial through the forecasted period.The third largest market of epoxy composite is Europe, witnessed in growth of epoxy composite market due to various application such automotive, construction and sporting goods countries like Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Netherland, Poland, and rest of Europe. Latin America and Middle East also witnessed in growth of epoxy composite market due to various end user industry such as automotive, electronics industry, construction industries, and others including the countries like UAE, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and rest of Middle East & Africa.SegmentationThe global epoxy composite market is majorly segmented on the basis of types, end users and region. Based on types of epoxy composite the market is segmented into glass epoxy composite and carbon epoxy composite. Based on end user the market segmented into automotive, transportation, aerospace & defense, sporting goods, electronics industry, construction industries, and others (Wind power industry, Oil & Gas, Marine) and based on region market is segmented into North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, Middle East & Africa.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
Global Transplantation Market 2017-2021; New Report Launched

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DrugPipeline.net has announced the addition of Global Transplantation Market 2017-2021 research report to their websiteTransplantation is a procedure wherein diseased or injured cells, tissues, or organs are replaced with healthy cells, tissues, or organs to restore normal functioning of the body. Donor and recipient cells, tissues, and organs should match or be compatible, or can lead to transplant rejection. The surface of the transplanted organs contains antigens, which the recipient's immune system may not adapt to. This can lead to rejection of an organ. Hence, serological and human leukocyte antigen (HLAs) tests are conducted to help identify the antigens and help in successful organ transplantation. With HLA testing, immunosuppressive drugs are provided to minimize graft rejection. In humans, major histocompatibility complex controlled by the genes located on chromosome 6 is responsible for ensuring compatibility between donors and recipients.Report forecast the global transplantation market to grow at a CAGR of 9.76% during the period 2017-2021.The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global transplantation market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of various types of products, which are used for treatment purposes.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAGlobal Transplantation 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- Bio-Rad Laboratories- Illumina- Thermo Fisher ScientificOther prominent vendors- Abbott Laboratories- Acelity- Avioq- AxoGen- BD- BioLifeSolutions- CARMAT- CareDx- Chronix Biomedical- Dr. Franz Kohler Chemie- GenDx- HistoGenetics- Luminex- Miromatrix Medical- Medipex- Nano Dimension- Organovo- Ortho Clinical Diagnostics- Oxford Immunotec- Pacific Biosciences of California- Pandorum Technologies- Qiagen- Roche- Siemens Healthineers- SynCardia- Transplant Biomedicals- XVIVO PerfusionMarket driver- M&A between small specialized hospitals and tier-1 hospitals.- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- High cost of transplant and unfavorable reimbursement scenario.- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Government initiatives on transplant research programs.- 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 vendors?Spanning over 70 pages Global Transplantation Market 2017-2021 report covers Executive summary, Scope of the report, Research Methodology, Introduction, Market landscape, Market segmentation by product, Market segmentation by procedures, Market segmentation by end-user, Geographical segmentation, Decision framework, Drivers and challenges, Market trends, Vendor landscape, Key vendor analysis, Appendix.For more information Visit at:Find all Pharma and Healthcare Reports at -About DrugPipeline.netDrugPipeline.net is a market research reports distribution platform which hosts research reports from all leading global market research firms related to pharma industry. It also assist decision makers locate the right market research solution from a single place.Mr. Sudeep ChakravartyDirector - OperationsDrugPipeline.netTel USA: +1-302-703-9904
Global Mobile Application Testing Solution Market Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment

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Albany, New York, May 17, 2017: Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has included a new study titled, Mobile Application Testing Solution Market-Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016  2024.venue generated by the global mobile application testing solution market is estimated to reach US$ 2.2 Bn by 2016, witnessing an increase of 17.2% over 2015. The market is estimated to reach US$ 13.3 Bn in revenues by 2026, increasing at a CAGR of 19.5% during the forecast period. Requirement for immediate regression testing with enhanced growth of m-commerce is expected to drive the demand for mobile application testing solutions worldwide. Trends such as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and enterprise applications are likely to boost demand in the corporate sector.Request Sample Report :The global mobile application testing solution market is segmented on the basis of  Type (Interactive Testing, Automated Testing); Platform (Android, iOS, Windows, RIM, Others); Device (Smartphones, Tablets); and End Users (Residential, Corporate). The Interactive Testing segment is estimated to be the largest segment by value in the mobile application testing solution market by 2016, accounting for US$ 1.2 Bn by 2016. In the platform segment, Android is estimated to increase at the highest growth rate in the forecast period (20.2% CAGR), followed by iOS (19.7% CAGR). The smartphones segment is expected to expand at the highest CAGR of 19.6% in terms of value during the forecast period, followed by the tablets segment (19.2% CAGR).Trends and factors influencing the marketThe global mobile application testing solution market is anticipated to witness significant revenue growth during the forecast period, owing to a rising demand across commercial and corporate sectors. Requirements for regression testing, the need to tackle issues caused due to device diversity, and increasing mobile applications such as m-commerce are the major drivers for the rise in demand for mobile application testing solutions globally. Demand for mobile application testing solutions is strongly associated with the growth of the IT sector globally. IT firms are investing more money to meet increasing customer demands to improve mobile application testing. This is expected to drive growth of the mobile application testing solution market worldwide over the forecast period.An increasingly agile mobile environment and higher demand for interactive testing over automated testing are the major challenges faced by mobile application testing solution providers globally. Major opportunities for growth in the global mobile application testing solution market lie in the expansion of the IT sector and introduction of new technologies. These factors are expected to help enhance the quality of mobile application testing solutions in the near future.Browse Full Reports :Market projections based on geographyThe global mobile application testing solution market is expected to represent incremental opportunity of US$ 11.04 Bn between 2016 and 2026. North America is expected to be the largest revenue generator for the mobile application testing solution market by 2016 and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 18.1% over the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region is estimated to be the second largest global mobile application testing solution market and is expected to register high Y-o-Y growth through the forecast period. The Asia Pacific market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 25.3% in terms of value over the forecast period.Market 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.State Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comGoogle+:Linked in:Twitter:
Global Welding Helmet Market - Global Industry Analysis, Segments, Major Geographies and Current Market Forecasts 2022

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Welding helmets are a type of headgear used while performing welding in order to protect you from harmful radiations emitted during the process; welding helmets also protect your face, neck against the flame and flashes generated during the welding.Get Free Sample Copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Welding Helmet in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers:Lincoln ElectricIllinois Tool WorksKimberly-ClarkESABOptrel AG3MHoneywellArcOneKEMPER AMERICAGYSJSPEnseeChangzhou Shine Science & TechnolWelhelOptechMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, covers:Passive Welding HelmetAuto Darkening Welding HelmetsMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into:Metal Inert Gas (MIG) ApplicationTungsten Inert Gas (TIG) ApplicationManual Metal Arc (MMA) ApplicationPlasma Welding (PAW) ApplicationPlasma Cutting (PAC) ApplicationBrowse full report with Table of Content @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Welding Helmet market.Chapter 1, to describe Welding Helmet Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Welding Helmet, with sales, revenue, and price of Welding Helmet, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Welding Helmet, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Welding Helmet market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Welding Helmet sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceCheck for discount @Some points from TOC:-1 Market Overview1.1 Welding Helmet Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Passive Welding Helmet1.2.2 Auto Darkening Welding Helmets1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Application1.3.2 Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Application1.3.3 Manual Metal Arc (MMA) Application1.3.4 Plasma Welding (PAW) Application1.3.5 Plasma Cutting (PAC) Application1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 USA Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)Enquiry Before Buying@About Us:GIR Market Research is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. GIR Market Research is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:+1-888-376-9998 (US)Email- sales@globalinforeports.com
Orthokeratology Lens Market Size 2022: by Key Manufacturers covers EUCLID, E&E Optics, Paragon, Alpha Corporation

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Market Size Forecasters released a new research report of 116 pages on title Global Orthokeratology Lens Market 2017-2022 with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions that includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and important Manufacturers such as EUCLID, E&E Optics, Paragon, Alpha Corporation.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers EUCLID, E&E Optics, Paragon, Alpha Corporation, Brighten Optix, Autek, MeniconOrtho-K is a non-surgical refractive treatment. In order to correct your short-sightedness and astigmatism, the cornea has to be re-shaped. Our optometrists tailor your Ortho-k lenses with highly permeable lens materials according to the precise measurement by the Corneal Topographer.Request a sample copy of Global Orthokeratology Lens Market Research Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Orthokeratology Lens in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (USA, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, covers Boston Material, Paragon Material, Others MaterialMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into General Hospital, Eye HospitalRequest Discount for Global Orthokeratology Lens Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Orthokeratology Lens market.Chapter 1, to describe Orthokeratology Lens Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Orthokeratology Lens, with sales, revenue, and price of Orthokeratology Lens, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Orthokeratology Lens, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Orthokeratology Lens market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Orthokeratology Lens sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Global Orthokeratology Lens Market Report @Related Reports: -World Plant Growth Chamber Market by Product Type, Market, Players and Regions-Forecast to 2021Plant Growth Chamber 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.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:
Global Microswitch Market 2017 - Omron, Alps, Johnson Electric(Burgess), Panasonic, TROX, ZIPPY, Honeywell, CHERRY

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This report studies Microswitch in Global market, especially in United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, India, Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil, Middle East and Africa,focuses on the top Manufacturers in each country, coveringOmronAlpsJohnson Electric(Burgess)PanasonicTROXZIPPYHoneywellCHERRYSCI-SHIN CHIN INDUSTRYC&KSalecomCamscoSolteamTendNTEKaihuaTTCOmronXurui ElectronicHuizhou Greetech ElectronicsMarket Segment by Countries, this report splits Global into several key Countries, with sales, revenue, market share of top 5 players in these Countries, from 2012 to 2017 (forecast), like1 United States2 Canada3 Mexico4 Germany5 France6 UK7 Italy8 Russia9 China10 Japan11 India12 Korea13 Southeast Asia14 Australia15 Brazil16 Middle East17 AfricaRequest For Sample Report @Split by Product Types, with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type, can be divided intoStandard TypeUltraminiature TypeSub-miniature TypeSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Microswitch in each application, can be divided intoElectronic EquipmentInstrumentPower SystemAppliances EquipmentOthersAbout Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global Small Caliber Ammunition Market 2017 - Orbital Atk, Olin Corporation, FN Herstal, Nammo As, Rosoboronexport

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This report studies Small Caliber Ammunition in Global market, especially in United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, India, Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil, Middle East and Africa,focuses on the top Manufacturers in each country, coveringOrbital AtkOlin Corporation (Winchester Ammunition)FN HerstalNammo AsRosoboronexportCBC Ammo GroupIMI (Israel Military Industries)BAE SystemsGeneral DynamicsNexterDenel Soc Ltd (Denel Pmp)Remington Outdoor Company, Inc.Ruag Group (Ruag Ammotec AG)Australian MunitionsLiberty AmmunitionPoongsan DefenseChina North Industries Corp (NORINCO)CSGCMarket Segment by Countries, this report splits Global into several key Countries, with sales, revenue, market share of top 5 players in these Countries, from 2012 to 2017 (forecast), like1 United States2 Canada3 Mexico4 Germany5 France6 UK7 Italy8 Russia9 China10 Japan11 India12 Korea13 Southeast Asia14 Australia15 Brazil16 Middle East17 AfricaRequest For Sample Report @Split by Product Types, with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type, can be divided into5.56mm Caliber7.62mm Caliber9 mm Caliber12.7 mm CaliberOthersSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Small Caliber Ammunition in each application, can be divided intoMilitaryLaw EnforcementCivilianAbout Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global ATM Machine Market Shares, Size, Forecast, Research Report 2017 : Cash Dispenser, Automated Deposit Terminal, Recycle Type

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In this report, the global ATM Machine market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of ATM Machine in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal ATM Machine market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingNCRDIEBOLDWincor NixdorfTritonHITACHIFUJITSUOkiTidelItautecNautilus HyosungSPL GroupSYNKEY GROUP INCOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCash DispenserAutomated Deposit TerminalRecycle 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 ATM Machine for each application, includingBankApplication 2Download Sample Copy Of This Report :If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of ContentsGlobal ATM Machine Market Research Report 20171 ATM Machine Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of ATM Machine1.2 ATM Machine Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global ATM Machine Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global ATM Machine Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Cash Dispenser1.2.4 Automated Deposit Terminal1.2.5 Recycle Type1.2.4 Type II1.2.4 Type II1.3 Global ATM Machine Segment by Application1.3.1 ATM Machine Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Bank1.3.3 Application 21.4 Global ATM Machine Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global ATM Machine 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 ATM Machine (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global ATM Machine Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global ATM Machine Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global ATM Machine Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global ATM Machine Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global ATM Machine Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global ATM Machine Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global ATM Machine Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global ATM Machine Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers ATM Machine Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 ATM Machine Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 ATM Machine Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 ATM Machine Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global ATM Machine Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global ATM Machine Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global ATM Machine Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global ATM Machine Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global ATM Machine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America ATM Machine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe ATM Machine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China ATM Machine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan ATM Machine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia ATM Machine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India ATM Machine Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global ATM Machine Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global ATM Machine Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America ATM Machine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe ATM Machine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China ATM Machine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan ATM Machine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Southeast Asia ATM Machine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India ATM Machine Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global ATM Machine Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global ATM Machine Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global ATM Machine Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global ATM Machine Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global ATM Machine Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global ATM Machine Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global ATM Machine Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global ATM Machine Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesMarketResearchReports.biz supports your business intelligence needs with over 100,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Germany PESTEL Analysis, SWOT Analysis and Risk Analysis Market Research Report Launched

Market Research Reports, Inc.

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As per International Monetary Fund (IMF) Germanys real gross domestic product is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.43% from its 2015 level of Euro 2782.80 billion and reach euro 3074.43 billion by 2022.Germany had estimated population of 82.732 million in the year 2016 and expected to reach 83.454 million by 2022. Germanys 49.81% population (around 41.212 million) was employed in 2016 and the unemployment rate was 4.158% of total labor force.Germanys real gross domestic product (GDP) was around Euro 2832.18 billions in 2016 whereas the nominal GDP was Euro 3132.67 billions. This resulted in GDP deflator 110.61. Per capita GDP was estimated at USD 41902.28 whereas purchasing power parity (PPP) based per capita GDP was estimated to be at USD 48110.85.The output gap for Germany in 2016 was 0.383% of the potential GDP which indicates that German economy was outperforming by managing actual output higher than its maximum potential.In 2016, German governments revenue was Euro 1411.38 billions whereas the expenditure was Euro 1387.68 billions. This resulted German governments net lending / borrowing at Euro 23.705 billion in 2016 indicating that enough financial resources were made available by the government to boost economic growth.The current account balance for Germany was estimated to be at USD 294.34 billions for the year 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 0.56% and reach USD 291.342 by 2022. This positive current account balance indicates the Germany is net lender to the whole world.The newly launched market research reports featuring Germanys PESTEL analysis, SWOT analysis and Risk analysis are aimed at providing insights about German economy and market.Scope of the Germany PESTEL Analysis, SWOT Analysis and Risk Analysis Market Research Reports These reports provide information about key macroeconomic indicators for Germany. These reports provide PESTELE (political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal) analysis for Germany. These reports provide SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis for Germany. These reports provide risk analysis for Germany.For more information and to purchase Germany PESTEL Analysis Market Research Report please visit:For more information and to purchase Germany SWOT Analysis Market Research Report please visit:For more information and to purchase Germany Risk Analysis Market Research Report please visit:About Market Research Reports, Inc.Market Research Reports Inc. is world's largest store offering quality market research, SWOT analysis, competitive intelligence and industry reports. We help Fortune 500 to Start-Ups with the latest market research reports on global ional markets which comprise key industries, leading market players, new products and latest industry analysis & trends.Mr. Sudeep ChakravartyDirector - OperationsMarket Research Reports, Inc.Tel USA: +1-302-703-9904
Global Laundry Bags Market 2017: Focuses on top players SKUBB, JALL, KLUNKA, Polymark, Coghlans

Laundry Bags

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The Laundry Bags research report by QY Research represents an inclusive evaluation of the Global Laundry Bags 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 Laundry Bags market and its corresponding segments that are based on technology, geography, and applications.The examination on value chain of Laundry Bags 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 Laundry Bags 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 Laundry Bags 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 Laundry Bags 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 Laundry Bags 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 Laundry BagsRevenue, means the sales value of Laundry BagsThis report studies sales (consumption) of Laundry Bags 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, coveringSKUBBJALLKLUNKAPolymarkCoghlansAbout 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 Swamp Coolers Market Research Report 2017 Evaporative cooler, Air conditioning, Home Depot, Window, Sales

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This study highlights current dynamics and developments in the Swamp Coolers Market. The report incorporates in-depth analysis of the Industry growth drivers as well as the inhibiting factors in the Swamp Coolers Market. The scope of the report covers an extensive evaluation pertaining to the winning imperatives and stakeholder strategies through a presentation of the segmentation of Swamp Coolers Market in the report.Do Inquiry before Purchasing Report Here:The numerous factors stimulating this Industry have been evaluated in the sections of this report. Along with the regional analysis, the current trends in the Swamp Coolers Industry, coupled with the reasons behind the development of some unique segments, have additionally been described in this Swamp Coolers Industry report. The report highlights the competitive landscape by elaborating on the current mergers and acquisitions (M&A), product developments, and venture funding that took place in the Swamp Coolers Industry in the recent past.The section pertaining to the company profiles explains the dominance of the key players in the Swamp Coolers Industry and an evaluation on the major strategies employed by these key players in order to gain a bigger share in the Swamp Coolers Industry. This will help enhance the understanding on the competitors as well as help in gaining strong insights for strengthening ones position in the Swamp Coolers Industry.Related Topics of Aluminium Nitride MarketRISING TopicMobile homeSearsDenverColoradoVertical draftRequest For Sample Report Here:There are numerous factors that are considered in order to provide the analysis and forecast of the Swamp Coolers Industry. Some of the factors are technological, political, social, and economic Swamp Coolers Industry factors. Various analytical tools such as Porters Five Forces Analysis and Swamp Coolers Industry SWOT analysis are utilized to analyze the data of the Swamp Coolers Industry and help provide a better understanding of the Industry. The data has been presented via charts, tables, and graphics in Swamp Coolers Industry research report. This visual presentation of the data is very useful in providing a clearer view of the leading applications, end users, and key segments of the Swamp Coolers Industry.9Dimen Group 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 JohnTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales@9dimengroup.comWeb: 9Dimen Group
Global Waterjet Cutting Machines Market will Procure US$ 2.7 Billion by 2024

Waterjet Cutting Machines Market

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Considering the fact that cutting will remain a crucial operation across various industrial verticals, companies are compelled to adopt the most efficient machines that will serve this purpose. Waterjet cutting machines are likely to be at the top of this list, and are widely used for cutting wide range of materials without the use of abrasives. Persistence Market Research projects that towards the end of 2024, the value of global waterjet cutting machine market is likely to get doubled, reflecting a raise from US$ 1.37 Bn in 2016 to US$ 2.7 Bn.Sample of this report is available upon request @During this forecast period, the global market for waterjet cutting machines will exhibit a value CAGR of 8.9%. According to Persistence Market Researchs report, titled Waterjet Cutting Machine Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2024, the global waterjet cutting machine market will also witness sizeable growth in terms of sales. In 2016, the global sales of waterjet cutting machines surpassed 13,600 units. By the end of 2024, the global market for waterjet cutting machine is anticipated to record sales of 25,872 units, registering a volume CAGR of 8.3%.The report also reveals that North America will be the largest market for waterjet cutting machines. With more than 35% share in global revenues, North Americas waterjet cutting machine market will dominate the global market throughout the forecast period. US-based companies such as WARDJet, International Waterjet Machines, OMAX Corporation, Semyx, LLC, Plasma Automation Inc. (VICON), Hypertherm Inc. (Accustream), Hornet Cutting Systems, Koike Aronson, Inc., KMT Waterjet, and Jet Edge, Inc. are profiled among the markets key players in the report.Request to view Table of Content @With over 15% share in global waterjet cutting machine market value, Europe is also expected to be at the forefront of market expansion. Caretta Technology s.r.l., TrennTek GmbH, CMS Industries, Water Jet Sweden, Metronics Technologies S.L., PTV, spol. s r.o., and STM Stein-Moser GmbH are European companies actively participating in the growth of global waterjet cutting machine market. However, North America and Europes presence in the global waterjet cutting machine market will witness marginal dip towards the end of the forecast period. Meanwhile, the waterjet cutting machine market in Asia-Pacific (APAC) region will record fastest revenue growth at 10% CAGR. The report has also assessed that waterjet cutting machines are available at the lowest price across the APAC countries. This is certainly expected to boost the sales for companies such as Sugino Machine Limited, DARDI International Corporation, Foshan Yongshengda Machinery Co., Ltd., TECHNI Waterjet, and A Innovative International Ltd., which are also major contributors to the markets overall growth.To Buy Full Report for a Single User @The global waterjet cutting machine market is also anticipated to witness rampant sales of intensifier pumps. Since intensifier pumps will be observed as top-selling products in the global waterjet cutting machine market, they are likely to showcase revenue growth at 8.9% CAGR during the assessment period. In 2017 and beyond, a little over 55% of the markets revenues will be accounted by application of waterjet cutting machines in two-dimensional cutting. In 2016, more than 6,500 waterjet cutting machines were sold across the world for 2D cutting applications. Likewise, over 70% of waterjet cutting machine sales will be attributed by high demand for machines with a pressure range of up to 4200 Bar. Metal fabrication and automotive are expected to be recognized as largest end-user industries for waterjet cutting machines. Revenues arising from these two end-users are predicted to showcase CAGRs of 9% and above.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Solar Thermal Power Market Global Market Opportunity Assessment Study 2026.

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Energy is considered a prime factor in the economic development of the country. Demand for new sustainable energy sources is rising due to the limited availability of fossil resources and environmental issues associated with these. Solar thermal power is a type of energy that is converted from solar energy in the form of electricity. This energy is consumed in industrial and residential sectors.Obtain Report Details @:Based on the system, the solar thermal power market can be segmented into linear concentrated systems, solar power, and solar dish. The linear concentrated systems segment accounted for significant share of the solar thermal power market in 2015 owing to the high efficiency of these systems. Increase in awareness about renewable energy and rise in demand for electricity have boosted the demand for solar thermal power. Solar thermal power generation is expected to play a significant role in addressing the electrical issues in rural areas. The technology is anticipated to help electrify remote places where supply of electricity is scarce. Integration of solar thermal power systems with coal thermal power plants or steam turbines is estimated to lower capital investment and increase electricity output.In terms of region, the global solar thermal power market has been segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Europe dominated the solar thermal power market in 2015. Germany has been leading the way, being the country with high number of installed photovoltaic cells. The global solar thermal power market has been expanding significantly since the last few years due to the availability of high government subsidies in countries around the world. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand due to the increase in developments in renewable energy in the region. Asia Pacific is projected to be a rapidly growing region for the solar thermal power market during the forecast period. The market in Latin America is also anticipated to expand substantially during the forecast period. The U.S. held significant share of the solar thermal power market in North America in 2015. The country is projected to dominate the regional market in the near future. Global demand for solar thermal power is likely to increase due to the rapid industrialization and urbanization in developing economies. Rise in awareness about renewable energy and increase in government subsidies on solar products have encouraged the usage for solar energy in many developing regions. The Government of China plans to develop 16 solar thermal plants by 2020. This is expected to propel the demand for solar thermal power systems in the country during the forecast period.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @:Global demand for utilization of solar energy is anticipated to rise significantly in the near future, thereby offering high growth opportunities for solar thermal power market. Rapid increase in demand in end-use applications, competitive manufacturing costs, and high economic growth rate are propelling the solar thermal power market in Asia Pacific. These factors are prompting companies to adopt expansion and R&D strategies in the region. Companies are focusing on Asia Pacific to gain higher market share. Producers of solar thermal power have been compelled to adopt expansion and acquisition strategies to meet the global demand. Large numbers of producers are shifting their plants to countries such as China and India due to factors such as high demand and low raw material and labor costs.Major players operating in the global solar thermal power market include Abengoa Solar, S.A., ACCIONA, GlassPoint Solar, Inc, Rackam, ABROS green GmbH, Torresol Energy Investments, S.A, AREVA Solar, Novatec Solar, Sopogy, and BrightSource Energy, Inc.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. 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.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207
Numerous Health Benefits Offered by Hemp-based Food Products Boosts Demand, Ensuring Growth

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The report titled, Hemp-based Food Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024 provides insights on the major factors accelerating and preventing the growth of the market, alongside key trends and developments. The competitive landscape and the regional segments have been assessed in details.Browse Market Research Report @By virtue of their easy digestibility and gluten-free properties, a number of gluten intolerant people have been embracing hemp-based food products. These products are also free from genetically modified organisms, phytoestrogen, allergens, and pesticides. As a result, a growing number of health conscious population has been consuming hemp-based food of late. Another key benefit of these products is their high mineral, vitamin, and fiber content. Rich in vitamin E, magnesium, iron, and zinc, hemp seeds aid in the maintenance of a trouble-free, healthy digestive system.Moreover, being a rich source of protein, hemp seeds are being increasingly used in the manufacturing of packaged foods including pretzels, cereals, bread, and granola bars. By ingredient, the market can be divided into seeds, oil, and protein. Of these, the hemp seeds segment is gaining traction, propelled by the convenience of incorporating the seeds in various recipes and food products. For instance, hemp seeds are being added to food products such as corn chips, snack bars, and nut butter. These products are witnessing high popularity among global consumers.By geography, the global market for hemp-based foods can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Europe. Europe and North America have been displaying greater degree of demand when compared with other regions.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @However, with the growing disposable incomes of people in the developing economies and the rising sense of awareness about the benefits offered by hemp-based food, countries such as China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, and Nigeria are likely to represent a major share in the global market for hemp-based foods. The growth of these regions can also be attributed to the growing adoption of western food trends among the people.The global market for hemp-based food is fragmented in terms of competition. A number of small and large vendors have been competing with each other by adopting strategies such as product innovation and product differentiation. Higher quality, newer flavors, and healthier ingredients are the key concerns of these companies.Mettrum Originals, Braham and Murray, Hemp co, Manitoba Harvest, Naturally Splendid, Healthy Brands Collective, The Cool Hemp Company, Laguna Blends, Elixinol, Canada Hemp Foods, Nutiva, and Hemp Foods Australia are some of the major companies operating in the global market for hemp-based food.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Automotive Accelerometer Industry Trends and Forecast Report 2017 | Researchmoz

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Automotive Accelerometer Industry 2017, Trends and Forecast Report" to its huge collection of research reports.Automotive Accelerometer Report by Material, Application, and Geography Global Forecast to 2021 is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) and the main countries (United States, Germany, united Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and China).The report firstly introduced the Automotive Accelerometer basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.The report includes six parts, dealing with:1.) basic information;2.) the Asia Automotive Accelerometer Market;3.) the North American Automotive Accelerometer Market;4.) the European Automotive Accelerometer Market;5.) market entry and investment feasibility;6.) the report conclusion.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of ContentsPart I Automotive Accelerometer Industry OverviewChapter One Automotive Accelerometer Industry Overview1.1 Automotive Accelerometer Definition1.2 Automotive Accelerometer Classification Analysis1.2.1 Automotive Accelerometer Main Classification Analysis1.2.2 Automotive Accelerometer Main Classification Share Analysis1.3 Automotive Accelerometer Application Analysis1.3.1 Automotive Accelerometer Main Application Analysis1.3.2 Automotive Accelerometer Main Application Share Analysis1.4 Automotive Accelerometer Industry Chain Structure Analysis1.5 Automotive Accelerometer Industry Development Overview1.5.1 Automotive Accelerometer Product History Development Overview1.5.1 Automotive Accelerometer Product Market Development Overview1.6 Automotive Accelerometer Global Market Comparison Analysis1.6.1 Automotive Accelerometer Global Import Market Analysis1.6.2 Automotive Accelerometer Global Export Market Analysis1.6.3 Automotive Accelerometer Global Main Region Market Analysis1.6.4 Automotive Accelerometer Global Market Comparison Analysis1.6.5 Automotive Accelerometer Global Market Development Trend AnalysisChapter Two Automotive Accelerometer Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Materials Analysis2.1.1 Upstream Raw Materials Price Analysis2.1.2 Upstream Raw Materials Market Analysis2.1.3 Upstream Raw Materials Market Trend2.2 Down Stream Market Analysis2.1.1 Down Stream Market Analysis2.2.2 Down Stream Demand Analysis2.2.3 Down Stream Market Trend AnalysisPart II Asia Automotive Accelerometer Industry (The Report Company Including the Below Listed But Not All)Chapter Three Asia Automotive Accelerometer Market Analysis3.1 Asia Automotive Accelerometer Product Development History3.2 Asia Automotive Accelerometer Competitive Landscape Analysis3.3 Asia Automotive Accelerometer Market Development TrendChapter Four 2012-2017 Asia Automotive Accelerometer Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast4.1 2012-2017 Automotive Accelerometer Capacity Production Overview4.2 2012-2017 Automotive Accelerometer Production Market Share Analysis4.3 2012-2017 Automotive Accelerometer Demand Overview4.4 2012-2017 Automotive Accelerometer Supply Demand and Shortage4.5 2012-2017 Automotive Accelerometer Import Export Consumption4.6 2012-2017 Automotive Accelerometer Cost Price Production Value Gross MarginChapter Five Asia Automotive Accelerometer Key Manufacturers Analysis5.1 Company A5.1.1 Company Profile5.1.2 Product Picture and Specification5.1.3 Product Application Analysis5.1.4 Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value5.1.5 Contact Information5.2 Company B5.2.1 Company Profile5.2.2 Product Picture and Specification5.2.3 Product Application Analysis5.2.4 Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value5.2.5 Contact Information5.3 Company C5.3.1 Company Profile5.3.2 Product Picture and Specification5.3.3 Product Application Analysis5.3.4 Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value5.3.5 Contact Information5.4 Company D5.4.1 Company Profile5.4.2 Product Picture and Specification5.4.3 Product Application Analysis5.4.4 Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value5.4.5 Contact Information......Chapter Six Asia Automotive Accelerometer Industry Development Trend6.1 2017-2021 Automotive Accelerometer Capacity Production Overview6.2 2017-2021 Automotive Accelerometer Production Market Share Analysis6.3 2017-2021 Automotive Accelerometer Demand Overview6.4 2017-2021 Automotive Accelerometer Supply Demand and Shortage6.5 2017-2021 Automotive Accelerometer Import Export Consumption6.6 2017-2021 Automotive Accelerometer Cost Price Production Value Gross MarginMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Propineb Market 2017 : Coromandel, Limin Chemical, Bayer Cropscience, Breeding Company

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A market study based on the "Propineb Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Propineb Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Propineb industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Propineb market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research ReportBayer CropscienceCoromandelLimin ChemicalJiangsu Sword AgrochemicalsBreeding CompanyThe report studies the industry for Propineb across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Propineb market & dynamics of demand and supply of Propineb into consideration. The 'Propineb' research study covers each and every aspect of the Propineb market globally, which starts from the definition of the Propineb industry and develops towards Propineb market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Propineb market is classified and analyzed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Propineb market. The geographical segmentation of the Propineb industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Propineb is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Propineb market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Propineb market worldwide.Enquire Here :The global Propineb market 2017 is also analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Propineb production volume, data regarding demand and Propineb supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Propineb across the globe.About Us :Business Worldwide are a trusted brand in the research industry with capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, we believe in building long term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries such as Automotive and Aerospace, Medical Devices, Technology, Machinery & Manufacturing.Contact Us :Business WorldwideUnited States
New Study Reveals Cutaneous Squamous cell Carcinoma-Market Insights, Epidemiology and Market Forecast-2023

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Cutaneous Squamous cell Carcinoma-Market Insights, Epidemiology and Market Forecast-2023" to its huge collection of research reports.DelveInsights Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC)- Market Insights, Epidemiology and Market Forecast-2023-7MM report provides an overview of the disease and global market size of the Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma for the United States, EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) and Japan. It also includes historical and forecasted epidemiological data for the Incident cases of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma from 2013-2023.Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a keratinocytic or non-melanoma skin cancer. cSCC is considered the second most common human malignancy after basal cell carcinoma (BCC).Actinic keratosis is the premalignant precursor for cSCC and early treatment might reduce patient morbidity. Unlike almost all basal-cell carcinomas, cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas are associated with a substantial risk of metastasis. The prognosis is favorable and only 2-5% of SCC metastasize.According to DelveInsight, the market size for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of 7MM is estimated to be USD XX Million by 2023 at a CAGR of 6.1% for the forecast period i.e., 2013-2023.The report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house Forecast model analysis by Publisher team of industry experts.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @ScopeThe report will help in developing business strategies by understanding the trends shaping and driving the Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma market.Organize sales and marketing efforts by identifying the best opportunities for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in US, Europe (Germany, Spain, Italy, France and United Kingdom) and Japan.To understand the future market competition in the 7MM of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Insightful review of the key market drivers and barriers.The report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the 7MM.To understand the regulatory scenario in major marketsThe Report also covers the detailed historical and forecasted Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma market covering United States, Europe (Germany, Spain, Italy, France and United Kingdom) and Japan from 2013-2023.Table Of ContentReport Introduction 2Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) Market Overview at a Glance 87 Major Market Size of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) (2013-2023) 8Total Market Share Distribution of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma for 7MM in 2016 9Total Market Share Distribution of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma for 7MM in 2023 9Introduction 10Signs and Symptoms 10Pathophysiology 10Sub-types of cSCC 12Risk Factors 13Staging of cSCC 15Diagnosis 16Epidemiology and Patient Population 18Total number of Incident cases 7MM Countries (2016 & 2023) 19United States 20Germany 22France 23United Kingdom 25Spain 27Italy 28Japan 30Treatment Algorithm 32United States 32NCCN Guidelines 32Europe 35British Association of dermatology (BAD) Guidelines 35French Dermatology Recommendations Association (aRED) 36European Dermatology Forum 37London Cancer Skin Pathway Board 39National Cancer Institute 40Unmet Needs 41Marketed Drugs 425-Fluorouracil (5-FU) 42MOA 42Study 42Xeloda 44MOA 44Study 44Cisplatin 45MOA 45Study 45Make 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 @
Emerging Submarine Power Cables Industry Grows More Vital by 2022

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The research report titled Submarine Power Cables Market Shows latest Insights, Opportunity, Analysis, Growth Potential & Forecast During 2017 to 2022 with competitive landscape and latest trends globally.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 Submarine Power Cables Market is confident in meeting their needs and expectations. The 2017 market research report on Global Submarine Power Cables 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 Submarine Power Cables Market report is a noteworthy.Request a sample of this report @The Global Submarine Power Cables 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 Submarine Power Cables 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 Submarine Power Cables Industry. Accurate forecasts and expert opinion from credible sources, and the recent R&D development in the industry is also a mainstay of the Submarine Power Cables Market report.Purchase a copy of Global Submarine Power Cables Market visit @For more information contact sales@orbisresearch.com .The report also focuses on the significance of industry chain analysis and all variables, both upstream and downstream. These include equipment and raw materials, client surveys, marketing channels, and industry trends and proposals. Other significant information covering consumption, key regions and distributors, and raw material suppliers are also a covered in this report.Finally, the Submarine Power Cables 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 Submarine Power Cables Industry is the holy grail of information which serious knowledge seekers can benefit from. The report which is the result of ultimate dedication of pedigree professionals has a wealth of information which can benefit anyone, irrespective of their commercial or academic interest.Browse Complete Report @Some points from TOC:Chapter One: Submarine Power Cables Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Submarine Power Cables1.2 Submarine Power Cables Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Submarine Power Cables Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Submarine Power Cables Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Single Core Cable1.2.4 Multi Core Cable1.3 Global Submarine Power Cables Segment by Application1.3.1 Submarine Power Cables Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Offshore Wind Power Generation1.3.3 Inter-country and Island Connection1.3.4 Offshore Oil Rigs1.3.5 Other1.4 Global Submarine Power Cables Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Submarine Power Cables 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 Submarine Power Cables (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Submarine Power Cables Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Submarine Power Cables Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Chapter Two: Global Submarine Power Cables Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Submarine Power Cables Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Submarine Power Cables Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Submarine Power Cables Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Submarine Power Cables Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Submarine Power Cables Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Submarine Power Cables Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Submarine Power Cables Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Submarine Power Cables Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Submarine Power Cables Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, ExpansionFor any enquires before buying, connect with us @ enquiry@orbisresearch.comAbout Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Information:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:Follow us on Twitter:Like us on Facebook:
Global Pulp, Paper and Paperboard Making Machinery Market Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2021

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Pulp, Paper and Paperboard Making Machinery Market to 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.This publication enables readers the critical perspectives to be able to evaluate the world market for pulp, paper and paperboard making machinery. The publication provides the market size, growth and forecasts at the global level as well as for the following countries:Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, VietnamTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The market data covers the years 2010-2021. The major questions answered in this comprehensive publication include:What is the global market size for pulp, paper and paperboard making machinery?What is the power driven hand tool market size in different countries around the world?Are the markets growing or decreasing?How are the markets divided into different kinds of products?How are different product groups developing?How are the markets forecast to develop in the future?The market information includes the total market size for pulp, paper and paperboard making machinery as well as the market size and trends for the following kinds of products:Pulp making machineryPaperboard and paper making machineryPaperboard and paper finishing machineryPulp, paper and paperboard cutting machineryPaperboard and paper bag, sack and envelope making machineryPaperboard and paper carton, tube, box, case, drum and other container making machineryPulp, paper and paperboard moulding machineryOther paper, paperboard and pulp making machineryParts of paper, paperboard and pulp making machineryThe publication is designed for companies who want to gain a comprehensive perspective on the global power driven hand tool market. This publication makes it easy to compare across different countries and product groups to be able to find new market opportunities and make more profitable business decisions.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 @
Advanced Battery Energy Storage System Market - Detailed Analysis of Restrain and Growth Factors

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Global Advanced Battery Energy Storage System Market: OverviewEnergy storage is referred to as the capturing of energy produced at one point of time for future use. A device that is used for storing energy is often known as an accumulator. Energy is found in multiple forms such as kinetic, latent heat, elevated temperature, electricity, electrical potential, gravitational potential, chemical, and radiation. Battery energy storage comprises converting energy into a form that can be easily stored in the form of battery and are more convenient and economically feasible. Battery energy systems are gaining prominence among residential, commercial, and transportation sectors as a mean of storing natural energy and using it at the time of emergency. Manufacturers seek huge growth potentials in the micro-grid developments in advanced battery energy storage systems for disaster relief and military purposes. Batteries such as lithium ion used for energy storage are witnessing high demand owing to factors such as low cost, long battery life, fast charging, light weight, and low requirement for space.Request a Brochure of the Report @The report examines the growth of the global advanced battery energy storage systems market that occurred in the last over the last few years and is likely to occur in the coming years. The research publication additionally explains the causes of the fluctuations in the global market. It does this by assessing of the facets and the different trends that have been prevalent from past few years and also the aspects that are anticipated to maintain a strong impact on the market over the coming years. The Porters five forces analysis has been considered by analysts to present a clear picture of the vendor landscape to readers. Agreements, mergers, acquisitions, and other dealings have been further mentioned in the study. It focuses on the strategies, products, and market share along with position of the companies operating in the market.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Advanced Battery Energy Storage System Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe global market for advanced battery energy storage systems is likely to benefit from the growing emphasis on decreasing the dependence on fossil fuels and magnifying the share of clean resources in the energy mix. The burgeoning demand for enhanced power quality, time shifting, improved grid network utilization, and the availability of emergency power source for protecting and controlling equipment is expected to further drive the global advanced battery energy storage system market. These advanced battery energy storage systems have application in sectors such as forklifts, UPS, telecom, grid storage, and transportation. The growing demand from these sectors is likely to boost the growth of the market over the coming years. In order to enhance business productivity, there is an incessant need for uninterrupted supply of power in telecommunications and data centers. As a result of this, the demand for these storage systems is likely to exponentially rise.Read Complete Report @Global Advanced Battery Energy Storage System Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, the global market for advanced battery energy storage system can be segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World. North America and Europe are likely to emerge as prominent regions in the market owing to high availability of natural resources and advanced means of converting and storing them. Asia Pacific is also expected to catch up in the run owing to rising focus on the use of the available natural sources for energy needs.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
U.S Lime Market Anticipated to Register a CAGR of 3.0% in Terms of Volume, 2016 - 2026

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Future Market Insights presents an analysis of the U.S lime market in a new publication titled Lime Market: U.S. Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026. The consumption of lime in the U.S. was pegged at 19,600 KT in 2015 and this is expected to increase to 27,074 KT by the end of 2026. The U. S lime market is projected to represent incremental $ opportunity of US$ 1,096.8 Mn during 2016  2026. In this report, Future Market Insights throws light on the various drivers and restraints likely to influence the market during the forecast period (2016  2026).Segmentation highlightsThe U.S lime market is segmented on the basis of Product Type into Quick Lime and Hydrated Lime; and on the basis of Application into Cement Manufacturing, Metal Manufacturing, Chemical (Water Treatment, Flue Gas, Others), Fertilizer, Pulp & Paper, and Others.Request Report Sample@The Quick Lime product type segment is expected to account for a market value share of 83.3% by 2016 end and is expected to gain 90 BPS over the forecast periodThe Hydrated Lime product type segment is projected to account for a market value share of 16.7% by 2016 end and is estimated to be pegged at 2,967 KT in terms of volume by 2016 endThe Metal Manufacturing application segment is anticipated to account for a market value share of 32.8% by 2016 end and is estimated to be pegged at 6,614 KT in terms of volume by 2016 endThe Chemical application segment is likely to account for a market value share of 33.3% by 2016 end and is anticipated to be pegged at 6,724 KT in terms of volume by 2016 endRegional projectionsThe U.S lime market is segmented into the key regions of Northeast, Midwest, South, and Western. The Northeast U.S. lime market is estimated to account for a value share of 7.1% of the U.S lime market by 2016 end. Demand for lime in the Northeast U.S lime market is expected to be driven by water treatment plants. The Western U.S. lime market is estimated to account for a market value share of 16.7% by 2016 end, owing to an increasing production in the paper and pulp manufacturing industries.Send An Enquiry@Vendor insightsThe report profiles a few leading companies operating in the U.S lime market such as Mississippi Lime Company, Linwood Mining & Minerals Corporation, United States Lime & Minerals Inc., Lhoist, Valley Minerals LLC., CHENEY LIME & CEMENT COMPANY, Pete Lien & Sons Inc., CARMEUSE, and Graymont Limited. Top market players are increasing their production facilities and introducing advanced technology and tools to cater to market demands, besides adopting strategies such as acquisitions and partnerships to expand geographically and increase market share.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Coating Resins Sales Market Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2017

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Coating Resins Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Coating Resins market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (MT), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Coating Resins for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Coating Resins market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Coating Resins sales volume, Price (USD/MT), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingDow Chemical CompanyMomentive Specialty ChemicalsRoyal DSMBASFValspar CorporationArkema S.A.Allnex BelgiumAllnexNuplex IndustriesPCCR USA?On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (MT), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/MT), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoAcrylicAlkydVinylOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Coating Resins for each application, includingArchitectural CoatingsAutomotive CoatingsHigh Performance CoatingsGeneral Industrial CoatingsPackaging CoatingsTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of ContentsGlobal Coating Resins Sales Market Report 20171 Coating Resins Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Coating Resins1.2 Classification of Coating Resins by Product Category1.2.1 Global Coating Resins Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Coating Resins Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Acrylic1.2.4 Alkyd1.2.5 Vinyl1.3 Global Coating Resins Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Coating Resins Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Architectural Coatings1.3.3 Automotive Coatings1.3.4 High Performance Coatings1.3.5 General Industrial Coatings1.3.6 Packaging Coatings1.4 Global Coating Resins Market by Region1.4.1 Global Coating Resins Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Coating Resins Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Coating Resins Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe Coating Resins Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Coating Resins Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Coating Resins Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Coating Resins Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Coating Resins (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Coating Resins Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Coating Resins Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Global Coating Resins Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Coating Resins Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Coating Resins Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Coating Resins Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Coating Resins (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Coating Resins Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Coating Resins Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global Coating Resins (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Coating Resins Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.3.2 Global Coating Resins Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4 Global Coating Resins (Volume) by Application3 United States Coating Resins (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Coating Resins Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Coating Resins Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Coating Resins Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Coating Resins Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Players3.3 United States Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Application4 China Coating Resins (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Coating Resins Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 China Coating Resins Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 China Coating Resins Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 China Coating Resins Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 China Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Players4.3 China Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Type4.4 China Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Application5 Europe Coating Resins (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Coating Resins Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 Europe Coating Resins Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 Europe Coating Resins Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 Europe Coating Resins Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 Europe Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Players5.3 Europe Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Application6 Japan Coating Resins (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Coating Resins Sales and Value (2012-2017)6.1.1 Japan Coating Resins Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.2 Japan Coating Resins Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.3 Japan Coating Resins Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)6.2 Japan Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Players6.3 Japan Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by Type6.4 Japan Coating Resins Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
United States Chinese Car Carrier Market Analysis, Market Size, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies, and Forecasts, 2022

Chinese Car Carrier

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Welding helmets are a type of headgear used while performing welding in order to protect you from harmful radiations emitted during the process; welding helmets also protect your face, neck against the flame and flashes generated during the welding.Get Free Sample Copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Chinese Car Carrier in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers:Miller IndustriesCIMCBoydstunCottrellK`ssbohrerDongfeng TrucksMANLandollKentucky TrailersDelavanWally-Mo TrailerInfinity TrailerMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:CaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMarket Segment by Type, covers:Open-Air Car CarrierEnclosed Car CarrierMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into:Automobile Sales Servicshop 4STerminalsOthersBrowse full report with Table of Content @There are 17 Chapters to deeply display the United States Chinese Car Carrier market.Chapter 1, to describe Chinese Car Carrier 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 Chinese Car Carrier, 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 Chinese Car Carrier, 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;Chapter 12, Chinese Car Carrier market forecast, by States, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Chinese Car Carrier Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source.Check for discount @Some points from TOC:-Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Chinese Car Carrier Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Open-Air Car Carrier1.2.2 Enclosed Car Carrier1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Automobile Sales Servicshop 4S1.3.2 Terminals1.3.3 Others1.4 Market Analysis by States1.4.1 California Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Texas Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 New York Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Florida Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Illinois Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Miller Industries2.1.1 Profile2.1.2 Chinese Car Carrier Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 2Enquiry Before Buying@About Us:GIR Market Research is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. GIR Market Research is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:+1-888-376-9998 (US)Email- sales@globalinforeports.com
Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Industry 2017 Deep Market Research Report Analysis, Forecast and Outlook

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Global Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Market: OverviewRotor blades are attached to the rotor and thus, form an important part of a wind turbine. The material of turbine rotor blades holds high significance as it provides the preferred density, stiffness, and fatigue life features to wind turbines. Material cost, reliability, and light weight are some of the factors imperative in material selection. Blades are usually made up of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP). The adoption of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and composites is estimated to gain traction in the forthcoming years as these are useful in reducing weight and cost up to a certain extent.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Market: Key TrendsThe increasing global population and improving economic conditions in several parts of the world are among the key stimulants of the global market for wind turbine rotor blade. The growing concerns regarding environmental stability coupled with the rising awareness about the environmental and economic advantages offered by wind power are prompting governments worldwide to pour funds into the development of wind turbines and their paraphernalia.Moreover, the falling cost of per kWh of wind energy is working in favor of the market. Growing emphasis on repowering and rapid technological advancements are also providing a fillip to the market. However, manufacturers need to focus towards addressing critical challenges such as difficulties in transportation and high development cost to capitalize on potential opportunities.Global Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Market: Market PotentialAs companies operating in the global wind turbine rotor blade market strive for enhancement in manufacturing capacities, mergers and acquisitions and geographical expansion are expected to be common trends in the market over forthcoming years. This, in turn, is likely to provide significant momentum to the global market. For instance, General Electric (GE) acquired Denmark-based LM Wind Power in October 2016 for US$1.65 bn and got it approved from the European Commission in March 2017. By acquiring its largest supplier of rotor blades, the deal is anticipated to help GE in in-source turbine blade design and manufacturing. Another case in point is Siemens, which in December 2016, inaugurated its new plant for in Hull, U.K. for offshore wind turbines, assembly, and logistics.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Market: Region-wise OutlookThe key segments studied in the report on the basis of geography are Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific will account for a substantial share in the revenue pie throughout the review period, owing to the burgeoning demand for electricity in emerging nations such as India and China along with the increasing government initiatives promoting the production of wind energy.Europe is anticipated to rise at a healthy pace during the same period. The demand for wind turbine rotor blades is expected to post a sharp rise, especially in Western Europe, due to the strong demand for technologically advanced turbines and the presence of favorable environmental conditions.Read Complete Report @Global Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Market: Competitive LandscapeThe abundance of wind power is rendering the global market for wind turbine rotor blade a high potential arena, which is attracting new players to venture into the market. This, in turn, is likely to trigger the competition in the market in the near future. In order to ensure minimum transportation costs and regulation compliance, prominent participants are trying to install their set-ups in proximity to their target markets. Some of the key companies operating in the global market for wind turbine rotor blade are LM Wind Power Group, Moog Inc., Blade Dynamics, Kemrock Industries And Exports Limited, Siemens AG, SGS SA, and TANG Energy.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Global 360-Degree Camera Market To Grow At A CAGR Of 34.85% During The Period 2016-2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global 360-Degree Camera Market 2016-2020" to its huge collection of research reports.360-degree cameras are considered to be revolutionary VR products. A 360-degree camera records a video simultaneously from all angles of a scene. Spherical view originated from street view. It converts a 360-degree view into a landscape image. 360-degree cameras were primarily used for mapping. Over the years, 360-degree cameras have found applications in various domains. 360-degree cameras can be used to take panoramic photos, shoot interactive videos, and make films.Technavios analysts forecast the global 360-degree camera market to grow at a CAGR of 34.85% during the period 2016-2020.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global 360-degree camera market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of 360-degree cameras for VR applications.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global 360-Degree Camera 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 vendorsLG ElectronicsNikonGoProSamsung ElectronicsOther prominent vendors360flyBublcamFacebookGIROPTICIC Real TechImmersive Media CompanyEastman KodakLucidCamNokiaRicohSphericamMarket driverGlobal brands increasing awareness of VR.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeLimitations of 360-degree camera hardware and software.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendGrowing acceptance of 360-degree camera as next-generation technology.For 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 @
Managed Security Service Market : NextGen Technological Advancements, Professional Survey and Future Industry Trends 2025

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Global Managed Security Service Market: OverviewNetwork security services when outsourced to a third-party service provider is known as managed security services (MSS). A company providing such a service is referred to as a managed security services provider (MSSP). A managed security service provider monitors and manages security of devices and systems. Some of the popular services provided by them include intrusion detection, managed firewall, virtual private network, vulnerability scanning, and anti-viral services.Managed security service providers leverage high-availability security operation centers, either from their own in-house facilities or from other data center providers, to bring round-the-clock services. This helps to bring down the number of operational security personnel needed to hire, train and maintain proper security.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Managed Security Service Market: Key TrendsTwo of the unique perceived benefits of managed security service is the convenience and effectiveness in providing high level of security. This has resulted in their uptake among end users and will continue doing so in the near future as well, thereby stoking growth in the global market. Further, its ability in bringing down the expenditure on IT and enabling quick resolution of problems is also slated work in favor of its markets growth.Other factors stoking the market is the soaring uptake of public cloud and the shared responsibility model for security in the cloud. Besides, major dearth of skilled cyber security professionals along with the changing contours of cyber security is also pushing demand in the global managed security service market.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Managed Security Service Market: Market PotentialAmong the different end users, the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) segment is seeing a rapid change in consumers behaviors which has resulted in massive usage of mobile applications and other online platforms. This has resulted in increased susceptibility to cyber-attacks. In December 2016, for example, the Russian central bank along with other private banks lost US$3 mn in cyber-attacks.Such incidents have necessitated robust security which in turn has driven up demand in the managed security service market. Other end use sectors driving the market are government, healthcare, retail, telecommunication and information technology, energy and utilities, and industrial manufacturing, among others.At the forefront of driving growth are the market is small and medium businesses that are increasingly ramping up their current business models and infrastructure to stay competitive. In the process they are increasingly taking to managed security services that helps them optimize business processes and enhance operational efficiency within their budgets.Global Managed Security Service Market: Regional OutlookFrom a geographical perspective, currently North America is a key market. One reason why the market has seen good growth is the presence of many organizations  large, medium, and small  in the economically advanced nations of the U.S. and Canada. In the near future, the market for managed security service is predicted to grow fast on account of rising demand for mobile workforce and proliferating mobile devices and digital technologies.Read Complete Report @Moving forward, however, the market is slated to lose some of its sheen because of the powerful emergence of the Asia Pacific market on the back of swift uptake of cloud-based managed security services by enterprises of different sizes.Global Managed Security Service Market: Competitive AnalysisThe global managed security services market is characterized by stiff competition owing to the presence of a copious number of small and large vendors. In order to bolster their positions further, established players are trying to acquire niche vendors. This would enable them to expand their product portfolio and up market shares. Some of the prominent vendors profiled in the report are IBM Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, Verizon Communications, Inc., AT&T, Inc., Symantec Corporation, and Rapid7, Inc.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Test Automation Market Studies Research 2017 Detailed Analysis of Restrain and Growth Factors

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Global Test Automation Market: OverviewThe emergence of test automation has been the biggest boon to the IT sector. This software development tool has thoroughly helped the sector in optimizing test processes, reducing time, and bringing in efficiency. Functional testing, web services testing, compatibility testing, load testing, security testing, mobile testing, and QA process design among others. The growing expenditure on development of the IT sector for improving their software services, QA, and other applications are expected to nurture the growth of the global test automation market.Global Test Automation Market: Drivers and TrendsThe research report states that the rapid development of mobile applications is expected propel the growth of the global market in the recent years. Uptake of mobile applications in communications, multimedia travel, and utilities is expected to fuel the rise of this market in the near future. Analysts expect that the usage of cloud applications is also expected to improve the revenue earnings for the global test automation market. The growing awareness about deploying test automation amongst the IT sector has been a definite positive influence on the overall market.Request a Brochure of the Report @Despite the steady market drivers, the global test automation market is likely to face a few challenges such as high operating costs and high initial investments. However, emergence of newer and better technologies such as cloud computing services, big data analytics, and data virtualizations are expected to offer several lucrative opportunities to the global market.Global Test Automation Market: Market PotentialMobile Labs Introduced its deviceConnect Hosted Cloud, a solution for QA professionals and developers to efficiently manage their mobile testing lab. This will allow organizations to pick a well-suited mobile device cloud that caters to their need. The deviceConnect Hosted Cloud and deviceConnect On-premises Cloud and are private cloud-based mobile application testing platforms. The primary aim of these products is to ensure simple management of multiple devices for the purpose of enterprise application testing. The only difference between the two is who is managing these devices and where are they being hosted.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Test Automation Market: Regional OutlookIn terms of geography, the global test automation market is fragmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Of these, North America is projected to lead the global market in the coming years due to a growing base of QA units in various organizations in a wide range of industrial verticals. Analysts expect that functional testing segment will dominate the region in the near future. Additionally, the rising investments in upgrading the current automation testing tools is also projected to drive the regional markets growth.Read Complete Report @North America will also aid the progress of security testing segment during the forecast period. The high adoption of mobile applications and Software as a Service (SaaS) on cloud will be the primary growth drivers for test automation in North America. Analysts expect that Asia Pacific will also offer lucrative growth opportunities to the global test automation market in the near future as the IT sector witness tremendous growth. The growing investments of foreign firms in the IT sector of various developing countries of Asia Pacific are expected to propel the regional markets growth.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todayas supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clientsa conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Ceiling Fans Market 2017 Hunter Fan Company, Casablanca, Emerson Ceiling Fans

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Global Ceiling Fans Market 2017 report spread across 120 pages gives Market Segment Analysis by Key Manufacturers, Countries, Types and Applications. A ceiling fan is a mechanical fan, usually electrically powered, suspended from the ceiling of a room that uses hub-mounted rotating paddles to circulate air.Complete report is available atScope of the Report:This report focuses on the Global Ceiling Fans market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers: Hunter Fan Company, Casablanca, Emerson Ceiling Fans, Minka, Monte Carlo, Craftmade, Litex, Fanimation, Kichler, Panasonic, Crompton Greaves, Orient fans, Usha, Havells India, SMC, ACC, Midea, MOUNTAINAIR, King of Fans, Inc, AirmateMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico); Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy); Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia); South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.); Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, covers: AC Ceiling Fans, DC Ceiling FansMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into: Home, CommercialRequest for discount atThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Ceiling Fans market.Chapter 1 to describe Ceiling Fans Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2 to analyze the top manufacturers of Ceiling Fans, with sales, revenue, and price of Ceiling Fans, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3 to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4 to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Ceiling Fans, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11 to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Order copy of report atChapter 12 Ceiling Fans market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15 to describe Ceiling Fans sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.ReportsnReports.com is your single source for all market research needs. Our database includes 500,000+ market research reports from over 95 leading global publishers & in-depth market research studies of over 5000 micro markets.Ritesh Tiwari,+ 1 888 391 5441sales@reportsandreports.com
Bio Based Construction Polymers Market 2017: Analysis and Information for Every Aspact of the Industry

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Global Bio Based Construction Polymers Market: OverviewBio-based construction polymers are the polymers which are derived from renewable biomass sources such as living organisms, microbiota, corn starch, and vegetable oils and fats. As they are polymers, these biopolymers contain units that are monomeric that are bonded to form large structures. Bio based construction polymers can also be made using agricultural by-products. It can also be produced by using microorganisms on used containers and plastic bottles. Normal plastics are derived from fossil fuels such as natural gas and petroleum. The production of these types of plastics require more fossil fuels than the ones which are bio based and also produce excess amount of greenhouse gases. Recent breakthroughs in the technology used to manufacture bio based polymers has shifted the focus of consumers towards the use of bio based polymers made from bacterial fermentation. This technology comprises synthesizing monomers via renewable sources such as starch, cellulose, and fatty acids.Request a Brochure of the Report @The report examines the growth of the global bio based construction polymers market that occurred in the last over the last few years and is likely to occur in the coming years. The research publication additionally explains the causes of the fluctuations in the global market. It does this by assessing of the facets and the different trends that have been prevalent from past few years and also the aspects that are anticipated to maintain a strong impact on the market over the coming years. The Porters five forces analysis has been considered by analysts to present a clear picture of the vendor landscape to readers. Agreements, mergers, acquisitions, and other dealings have been further mentioned in the study. It focuses on the strategies, products, and market share along with position of the companies operating in the market.Global Bio Based Construction Polymers Market: Trends and ProspectsThe global market for bio based construction polymers is likely to expand at an extensive rate over the coming years owing to growing concerns over the use of petrochemical products along with rising adoption of products made from renewable sources. One of the prime sources of green-house gas emissions is related to the high usage of fossil fuels across several industrial facilities. Burgeoning concerns towards the growing footprint of carbon dioxide in large and medium scale manufacturing units has impelled the industrial units to shift towards the use of bio based polymers. The employment of bio based polymers has significantly increased in the construction industry owing to the growing research and development activities for developing eco-friendly and renewable products. The growing use of bio based polyurethanes in buildings for insulation is expected to further supplement the growth of the market.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Bio Based Construction Polymers Market: Regional AnalysisRegionally, the global market for bio based construction polymers can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World. Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as an important region in terms of consumption of bio based construction polymers owing growing infrastructural projects in India and China along with a bio based product framework. The markets in Europe and North America are also expected to grow steadily over the coming years.Read Complete Report @Global Bio Based Construction Polymers Market: Companies Mentioned in the ReportSome of the key companies in the market are Metabolix, Synbra, Kaneka TEPHA, Bio-On, DuPont de Nemours, Toyobo, Nature Works LLC, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Evonik Industries, BASF SE, and SK Chemicals.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todayas supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clientsa conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Top Robotics Market Detailed Analysis and Forecast by 2025

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Global Top Robotics Market: OverviewThe surging demand for industrial robots with Internet of Things capabilities is transforming production lines, especially in the automotive and electronic industry. Next generation robots possess human-like attributes such as intelligence, recognition of objects, flexibility, memory, and ability to learn.Industries implementing robotic technologies receive huge financial benefits due to reduced overheads, flexibility, increased productivity, and waste reduction.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Top Robotics Market: Key TrendsThe top factor driving the top robotics market for industrial robots is the increasing adoption of automated systems and the rising demand for industrial robots from medium and small-sized enterprises in developing countries. This is because deployment of robotic solutions ensures quality production and caters to meeting market demand in a timely manner. However, factors such as high upfront costs and high R&D expenses and unreliable performance in untested environment and absence of a high level of interface are restraining the markets growth.Amongst industrial robots, articulated robots is expected to be leading product segment owing to their structural and operational capabilities. Articulated robots are extensively used in electrical and electronics, and automotive industries.Request for TOC of the Report @On the other hand, the service robotics segment of this market is driven by the increasing demand for mobile robotic solution for warehouse automation and logistics, increasing demand from healthcare industry, and the increasing deployment of service robots for educational pursuits.Logistics currently holds the dominant position among the application segments of service robotics and is expected to retain its position in the near future. This is mainly due to the deployment of automated guided vehicles in production units and warehousing facilities for inventory management and freight handling.Global Top Robotics Market: Market PotentialFrom a leap from robotic vacuum cleaners, butlers, or medical assistants, industrial robots account for the greatest slice of the global robotics market, as per a recent industry news. Unlike the classical industrial robot that were used to carry out repetitive tasks, the next-generation robots are supported by software and peripheral vision systems and can perform varying tasks reliably that matches human capabilities.Read Complete Report @Global Top Robotics Market: Regional OutlookAsia Pacific is the leading regional market for industrial robotics market is led significant revenue contributions from China, Japan, and South Korea. The high concentration of robotic machines in South Korea and Japan to support the expanding electronics industry in these countries is benefitting the industrial robotics market in Asia Pacific. As per statistics of the International Federation of Robotics, Japan is the leading market for industrial robotics trailed by China.Moreover, the increasing deployment of automated systems in the automotive industry in Australia is anticipated to positively influence the regional markets growth. Strong focus on improving production techniques combined with efforts for the modernization of factories for improved productivity is one of the major factors driving robotic installations in the U.S. and Brazil.Global Top Robotics Market: Competitive LandscapeThe key players in the global top robotics market for both industrial and service robots are ABB Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corp. FANUC Corp., Yaskawa Electric Corp., iRobot Corporation, Intuitive Surgical Inc., Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Aethon Inc., Lely Holding S.a.r.l., KUKA AG, Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Northrop Grumman Corporation, DJI, Parrot SA, Adept Technology Inc., DeLaval International AB, and The LEGO Group.Due to being capital-intensive, the industry restricts the entry of new market players in the market. New players are anticipated to face challenges pertaining to insufficient venture capital for innovation and product differentiation, thus limiting their presence in the robotics industry.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todayas supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clientsa conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: Global Industry Information, Research, Outlook, Analysis and Forecast to 2025

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Global Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: OverviewUbiquity of smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other portable electronic devices in the past decade has had a pied piper effect on the electronic industry. Innovation is in full swing too, consistently introducing new products that offer improved performance, are durable, and cost efficient. In this scenario, the demand for semiconductor wafers, which are among the basic building blocks of any electronic device along with PCBs, ICs, MEMS, and memory devices, has escalated exponentially in the recent past. Wafer cleaning an essential operation in the fabrication of semiconductor devices, particularly for the advanced ULSI silicon circuits in next generation electronic devices. Consequently, the global wafer cleaning equipment market is projected for a robust growth rate during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: Key TrendsDiversifying conventional application of MEMS and increase in the number of cleaning steps required by the wafer manufacturing sector are two of the key factors that are expected to fuel the demand in the global water cleaning equipment market. In addition to that, the shift to single wafer processing from conventional processes and increasing demand for smart gadgets and printed electronics are other two favorable factors that may positively influence the global wafer cleaning equipment market.The growing popularity of light emitting diode (LED) is a trend that may prove to be a boon for the global wafer cleaning equipment market in the near future. Involvement of smaller players in the recent past has substantially reduced the prices of LEDs and demand has surged, owing to their strikingly better lighting and longevity. Conversely, high capital required to establish in this market is restricting the emergence of new players with novel concepts, and thereby challenging the prosperity of the market.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: Market PotentialWith constant research in the field in the past few years, the understanding of defects and surface contamination in the semiconductor industry has evolved multi-fold. Moreover, researchers are now more aware of factors such as particle adhesion, measurement, and deposition, which has enabled them to device better removal strategies. This advancement in the technology pertaining to semiconductors is expected to boost the global market for wafer cleaning equipment during the forecast period.Global Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: Regional OutlookChina is the most prominent country-wise market for wafer cleaning equipment, but with growing demand from the countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, Asia Pacific overall has quickly turned into the most lucrative region for the players in this market. Constantly evolving production quality standards and rapidly increasing demand for portable consumer electronics is expected to maintain an escalating demand from this region. North America is showing steady progress in the market for wafer cleaning equipment for the lack of manufacturing industries in the region.Read Complete Report @Global Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market: Competitive AnalysisSCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd., Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation, and Tokyo Electron Limited are three of the leading players dominating the Chinese demand in the global wafer cleaning equipment market, while Applied Materials, Inc., Lam Research Corporation, Modutek Corporation, Entegris, Inc., and PVA TePla AG dominate in other parts of the world. Research and development of new products with enhanced attributes and partnerships with regional players are the common strategies adopted by these players to maintain their stronghold over the market.Quantumclean, SEMES Co. Ltd, Onboard Solutions Pvt Ltd., Tokyo Electron, Ultron Systems, Inc., Strabausch, Speedline Tech, and Stoelting Llc are some of the other notable players in this marketAbout TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Nano Silver Market 2017- DuPont, Sumitomo Metal, Ferroco, NovaCentrix, US Research Nanomaterials, Nanomas

Nano Silver Market

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MarketReports.biz, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Nano Silver Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Nano Silver Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Nano Silver industry, and estimates the future trend of Nano Silver market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Nano Silver Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportDuPontSumitomo MetalFerrocoNovaCentrixUS Research NanomaterialsNanomasHeraeusGoldsmithTanaka HoldingsMitsui KinzokuHitachi ChemicalCangzhou Nano-Channel MaterialXuzhou JiechuangBeijing Dk Nano technologyGRIKINThe market research report explores the Nano Silver market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Nano Silver Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Nano Silver market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Nano Silver. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Nano Silver market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Nano Silver is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Nano Silver market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Nano Silver market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The worldwide Nano Silver market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Nano Silver production volume, data pertaining to demand and Nano Silver supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Nano Silver along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Nano Silver across the world.About UsMarketReports.biz offers elevating market research worldwide. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different fields. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank Valadez155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Toll Free: +1-855-918-5551 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +17739042683Web:Email: sales@marketreports.biz
Global Stable Isotope Labeled Biomolecules Market 2017 - Sigma-Aldrich, Thermo Fisher Scientific, LGC Standards, Toronto Research Chemicals

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An important tool for high-resolution structure determination for NMR spectroscopy is the use of stable isotopically labeled biomolecules. By either selectively or uniformly incorporating stable isotopes into proteins, the user is able to significantly reduce the complexity of their spectra. D Labeled Biomolecules, 15N, and deuterium are the most common isotopes incorporated into proteins. Microbial expression systems, cell-free extracts, peptide synthesis and custom synthesis provide a variety of options for accomplishing the incorporation of the labels. Microbial expression systems are cell-based protein expression systems in which the microbes are grown in either a defined or complex media with D Labeled Biomolecules labeled glucoses and 15N Labeled Biomoleculeslabeled ammonium salts as the sole sources of carbon and nitrogen respectively. Ease of use, adaptability and high protein yields have made these expression systems the most popular technique for stable isotope incorporation. Cell-free extracts and custom synthesis also present their own individual advantages with the use of uniformly or selectively labeled amino acids. Cell-free extracts allow the user to more readily implement high-throughput in vitro protein expression as many proteins are difficult to express in vivo due to complications such as toxicity. Custom synthesis allows for unique, site-specific incorporation of isotopes into peptides allowing the user to study distinct structural regions.Request For Sample Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Stable Isotope Labeled Biomolecules in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversCambridge Isotope LaboratoriesSigma-AldrichThermo Fisher ScientificLGC StandardsToronto Research ChemicalsIsoLifeWITEGA LaboratorienOmicron BiochemicalsIcon IsotopesMedical IsotopesMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversD Labeled Biomolecules15N Labeled Biomolecules13C Labeled BiomoleculesOthersAccess Full Report With TOC @Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoScientific ResearchMedicalIndustrialOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Stable Isotope Labeled Biomolecules market.Chapter 1, to describe Stable Isotope Labeled Biomolecules Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Stable Isotope Labeled Biomolecules, with sales, revenue, and price of Stable Isotope Labeled Biomolecules, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Stable Isotope Labeled Biomolecules, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Stable Isotope Labeled Biomolecules market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Stable Isotope Labeled Biomolecules sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global Strain Gages Market 2017 - VPG, HBM, Zemic, Yiling, HYCSYQ, NMB, KYOWA, LCT, Omega, TML, BCM, Piezo-Metrics, Hualanhai

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"Strain gages are devices whose resistance changes under the application of force or strain. They can be used for measurement of force, strain, stress, pressure, displacement, acceleration etc.Strain gages are of the stucture, in which a metallic foil film in the thickness of a few microns is glued on a thin electrically insulated sheet (such as polyimide, polyester and so on). This foil film is cut down by photo-etching method in the shape of strain gages which can be made with the negative film masks of the strain gage patterns. These photo-etched strain gage patterns are trimmed to have a standard resistance value satisfying requirements as the strain gages. In addition, for strain gages in general applications, thermal resistance factors of the foil films are controlled to have three categories to match with the thermal elongation factors of 3 major and most popular materials of mild steel/11ppm, stainless steel/16ppm and aluminium alloy/23ppm, for which our strain gages can be self-temperature compensated to minimize temerature effects if specified so when ordering."Request For Sample Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Strain Gages in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversVPGHBMZemicYilingHYCSYQNMBKYOWALCTOmegaTMLBCMPiezo-MetricsHualanhaiMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversStress Analysis TypeTransducer TypeOther (for Special Applications)Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoElectrical EquipmentCivil EngineeringBuilding ConstructionChemicals and MedicineOtherAccess Full Report With TOC @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Strain Gages market.Chapter 1, to describe Strain Gages Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Strain Gages, with sales, revenue, and price of Strain Gages, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Strain Gages, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Strain Gages market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Strain Gages sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global Trehalose Market 2017 - Meihua Group, Hayashibara, Lianmeng Chemical, Visionbio Technology, Sinozyme Biotechnology

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This report studies the Trehalose market, Trehalose (C12H22O11) is a white or almost white crystal powder. It is a disaccharide formed by a 1, 1-glucoside bond between two -glucose units. It is a disaccharide that occurs naturally in insects, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Trehalose is an alternative to sugar as a sweetener. It is widely used in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other fields.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Trehalose in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request For Sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversMeihua GroupHayashibaraLianmeng ChemicalVisionbio TechnologySinozyme BiotechnologyMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversFood gradePharmaceutical gradeOthersAccess Full Report With TOC @Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFoodPharmaceuticalsCosmeticsOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Trehalose market.Chapter 1, to describe Trehalose Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Trehalose, with sales, revenue, and price of Trehalose, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Trehalose, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Trehalose market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Trehalose sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Hand Hygiene Agents Market Global Industry Volume By Region 2016 - 2024

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Hand hygiene means to keep ones hands clean by washing hands (with soap and water), or disinfecting them with an antiseptic agent, using antiseptic handwash, antiseptic hand rub or surgical hand antisepsis to remove dirt, soil, and microorganism. Antiseptics has been recognized for more than 150 years as the single cost-effective and most prominent means of preventing hospital-acquired infection, as well as for reducing the spread of potential and deadly germs and hence risk of infections from the germs in the society which may lead to hospitalization. It is admissible in all expanse such as workplace, home, and schools. However, the importance of hand hygiene is very high in hospitals or other healthcare related setups.Obtain Report Details @The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World health organization (WHO) and other leading healthcare organizations has given the specific guidelines and indications for hand hygiene in healthcare. The CDC has estimated that hand hygiene reduces the number around 31% of people getting sick with diarrhea, 58% with weakened immune systems and 16-18% of respiratory illness like cold in the general population. Increase widespread of hand hygiene products will prevent infections and promote the patient's safety. There are different types of hand hygiene methods which include routine hand wash, antiseptic hand wash, antiseptic hand rub and surgical antisepsis. Preventing sickness by maintaining hand hygiene will reduce the antibiotics overuse and can also prevent people from getting sick with the germs which are resistant to antibiotics which can be difficult to treat.The healthcare-acquired infections (HCAI) prevention and control need is driving the hand hygiene market. While the outbreaks of several infectious diseases like a spread of diarrheal and respiratory illness in many countries offering positive growth for the market. Government initiatives are also contributing to the growth of this market by launching various awareness campaigns and programs such as SAR Hand Hygiene Campaign and SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands annual global campaign by WHO, which was focused on patient safety and reducing health care-associated infection.The Hand Hygiene Agent Market has been segmented on the basis of types of antiseptic agents used for washing hands in different expanses from household to heathcare sector and based on geographical regions. By types of antiseptic agents, the market has been divided into alcohols, chlorhexidine gluconate, iodine and iodophors, and quaternary ammonium compounds. An alcohol-based hand rub must contain at least 60% -95% alcohol for use in a healthcare settings for optimum results. The concentration of chlorhexidine in antiseptic hand wash should be at least 4%, while the maximum number of iodophor preparations in hand hygiene contain 7.5%10% povidone-iodine. The quaternary ammonium compounds have a slow speed of action and used only in combination with alcohols. Due to the efficiency and the ease of using the alcohol-based hand rubs it is expected to become most popular. The alcohol based antiseptics contributing for the major share in this market, followed by Chlorhexidine and iodine based antiseptics. The rate of healthcare-associated infections was lowered when adherence to recommended hand hygiene practices were improved and antiseptic hand washing was implemented.On the basis of geographies, the market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Because of the high awareness towards hygiene, standard guideline, and proper training to the healthcare professional and general public, North America contributes for the highest share in this market. The Adoption of hand hygiene compliance monitoring (HHCM) devices in hospitals place Europe at the second position. Followed by Asia- Pacific and Rest of the world.The key players operating in the hand hygiene agents market are EcoHydra Technologies Ltd, GOJO Industries, Inc., Kutol Products Company, Inc., Deb Group, 3M Co., STERIS Corporation, Win-Medicare etc., are among other significant players worldwide. On the other hand, Kimberly-Clark Meritech are major companies in hygiene monitoring systems.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.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
High Awareness in Female Population Regarding Hormonal Disorders Drives the Prescription Hormonal Drugs in Gynecology Market

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Global Prescription Hormonal Drugs Market in Gynecology: DescriptionHormonal imbalance in women is caused due to abnormalities in the secretion of estrogen, progesterone and as well as androgens. A wide array of symptoms might be experienced by patients depending on the type of abnormality such as hot flushes, depression, vaginal dryness, excessive hair growth and abnormal vaginal bleeding. Environmental and genetic factors have an influence on women's fertility through their effect on hormonal function. Similarly, dysfunction of the HPO (hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian) axis and/or other endocrine systems may cause infertility and other gynecological disorders. The correct clinical decision for treating these diseases can be made on pathogenetic basis.Browse to unlock the hidden opportunities in Prescription Hormonal Drugs in Gynecology Market:Global Prescription Hormonal Drugs Market in Gynecology: Disease OverviewDisturbances related to the menstrual cycle lead to various syndromes such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), amenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Of all the above, PCOS is a common hormonal disorder seen among women that in the reproductive age. PCOS is a condition in which appearance of the ovaries in most, but not all women, is enlarged and features a number of tiny cysts located along the outer edge of each ovary. PCOS symptoms are observed in nearly 5% to 10% of women who are in their reproductive age (typically between 12 to 45 years).PCOS is perceived to be among the leading causes of female sub-fertility. It is also among the most frequently reported endocrine problems in women in the reproductive age. Amenorrhea is a clinical condition wherein menstrual periods do not occur. Besides phases such as childhood, breastfeeding, pregnancy, and menopause, the absence of periods may point toward a problem in the female reproductive system. However, hormonal disruption is also a common cause for the absence of menstrual periods. Similarly, PMS is a medical condition that affects many women with childbearing age and causes variety of physical and psychological symptoms that occur just before menstrual cycle.The prevalence of hormonal imbalance rate in women is high as the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that PCOS affected 116 million women worldwide as of 2010 i.e. nearly 3.4% of the global female population. While in case of PMS, according to World Health Organization (WHO), in 2010, 199 million women had premenstrual syndrome i.e. nearly 5.8% of the global female population.Global Prescription Hormonal Drugs Market in Gynecology: Drivers and RestraintsThe major drivers of the hormonal drugs in gynecology market includes high awareness in female population regarding hormonal disorders, continuous research and development activities in the field of women healthcare and various government and organizational programs to educate women about the symptoms, precautions and treatments. The market for hormonal drugs in gynecology can be segmented on the basis of different drugs available in the market, different disease conditions and geography. Various drugs available for the treatment of hormonal disorders includes Depo-Provera, Prometrium, Provera, Alesse, Apri, Desogen, Junel Fe 1/20, Kariva, Loestrin Fe1/20, Vestura and others. Geographic segment of prescription hormonal drugs in gynecology market can be categorized into following regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World.Brisdelle (low-dose paroxetine mesylate) product of Noven Pharmaceutical received approval in July 2013 against treatment of menopause condition. Brisdelle is a low-dose formulation of paroxetine mesylate, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Similarly, the new entity AZD4901 (Oral) is currently under phase II clinical trial for treatment of PCOS and this study is sponsored by Astra Zeneca. It is an interventional type of study including 56 as the target sample size.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on Prescription Hormonal Drugs in Gynecology Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market:The major players of prescription hormonal drugs in gynecology market includes Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., Berlex Laboratories, Inc., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, S.A., Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bayer AG and others.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Packaging Industry Will Undergo a Revolution Due To the Increasing Applications of Digital Printing

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Digital Printing Packaging Market, valued at USD 11.10 billion in 2015 is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period.Market HighlightsPackaging industry will undergo a revolution due to the increasing applications of digital printing. Digital printing for packaging is a concept specifically introduced to attract consumers. This method includes printing of digital images or text on the product package. The increasing demand for flexible packaging coupled with growing demand for sustainable printing has been driving the global digital printing packaging market. Digitally printed packages improve workflow and enable innovative marketing. They help the brand owner for quicker marketing and promotion of the brand. These are the main factors fueling the market growth.Request for Sample Report@Asia-Pacific Is the Largest Growing MarketOn the basis of region, global digital printing packaging market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and RoW. Asia-Pacific region dominates the digital printing packaging market. Rapid growth in e-retail sector is the primary driving factor of digital printing packaging market in Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, the rising consumer awareness and increase the demand of packaged food are also fueling the demand of this market. This region is expected to grow at the fastest pace during the forecast period.Europe is also expected to contribute significantly to the global digital printing packaging market mainly due to major demand from food & beverage industry. North America region and Rest of the World are expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period.Key Players W S Packaging Group, Inc (U.S.) Weber Packaging Solutions Inc. (U.S.) Xerox Corporation (U.S.) Xeikon N.V. (Netherlands) Hewlett-Packard Inc. (U.S.) Mondi Group (South Africa) E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.) Quad Graphics, Inc. (U.S.) Labels in Motion (U.S.) Reel Appeal Limited(U.K.)Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 85 market data tables and figures spread in 140 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global Digital Printing Packaging Market Information from 2016 to 2023"Browse Full Digital-Printing Packaging Market Report @Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the global digital printing packaging market, tracking four market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the Global digital printing packaging market as packaging type, technology, application and end user.By Packaging Type Labels Flexible Packaging OtherBy Technology Inkjet Electrophotography OthersBy Application Boxes Bottles Cans OthersBy End-User Food & Beverages Personal care Pharmaceuticals Electronics Goods OthersMarket Research AnalysisOn the basis of end user, global digital printing packaging market is segmented as food & beverages, personal care, pharmaceuticals, electronics goods and others. Out of them, the food & beverages sector dominate the end user segment of global digital printing packaging market. It accounts for the largest share mainly due to the growing demand for packaged food from developing as well as developed country. Additionally, the rising health consciousness among consumers also drives the growth of this market.About Market Research FutureAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research Future Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312
Global Worsted Yarn Market 2017 - Red Heart, Lion Brand, Yarnspirations, Premier, Darn Good Yarn, Sullivans USA

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"Worsted yarn is also called combed yarn, refers to the combing process of processed yarn,Evenness, smooth, but the cost is high, high yarn count. Combed yarn is mainly used for advanced fabrics and knitwear, such as finespun, Hua Dane, tweed and woolen sweater etc."Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Worsted Yarn in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request For Sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanOtherThe players listRed HeartLion BrandYarnspirationsPremierDarn Good YarnSullivans USALornas LacesBrown Sheep CoAncient ArtsPatonsCascadeDebbie BlissHengyuanxiang GroupSanliQIfa Merino Woolen YarnMalabrigoRavelyMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversMerino WoolCashmere WoolPeruvian Highland WoolTeeswater WoolsShetland WoolsOthersAccess Full Report With TOC @Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoApparelBlanketOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Worsted Yarn market.Chapter 1, to describe Worsted Yarn Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Worsted Yarn, with sales, revenue, and price of Worsted Yarn, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Worsted Yarn, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Worsted Yarn market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Worsted Yarn sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Adult Malignant Glioma Therapeutics Market Size & Share Analysis & Industry Outlook - 2024

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Adult Malignant Glioma Therapeutics Market: OverviewGlioma is a type of tumor that occurs in brain or spine. It is a group of brain tumor that includes oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas. Gliomas include all types of brain tumors arising from supportive tissue of the brain. Malignant glioma is the most common type of brain tumor observed in adults globally. Collectively they contribute around 40% of the total cases diagnosed with brain tumor. In the last decade, there has been a consistent rise in the number of people diagnosed with malignant glioma. The American Brain Tumor Association has estimated around 69,720 new cases of brain tumor in 2013. Thus, rising number of people diagnosed with malignant glioma supports the growth of the global adult malignant glioma therapeutics market. Headache, physical weakness, memory loss and seizures are some of the common symptoms of malignant glioma. Thus, with symptoms getting worse size of tumor increases that destroys brain cells, creates swelling in the brain and increases the pressure on skull.Browse to unlock the hidden opportunities in Adult Malignant Glioma Therapeutics Market:The global malignant glioma market can be segmented as follows:By Type of Cell> Astrocytoma> Oligodendroglioma> Ependymoma> Unspecified GliomaBy Grade> Low - grade Gliomas> High - grade GliomasBy Location> Supratentorial> InfratentorialCancer Research U.K. estimated that around 45% of the total primary brain tumor cases are gliomas. There are majorly four types of gliomas such as astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, ependymoma and unspecified glioma. Astrocytoms is the most common type of glioma diagnosed globally, more than 30% of the total cases diagnosed with brain tumors are astrocytomas. These types of tumors are not curable as they spread easily through normal brain tissue. Astrocytomas are primarily classified on the basis of grades from one to four as per the speed of their growth in brain cells. American Brain Tumor Association have analyzed that around 7% of all the primary brain tumors represent astrocytomas.Hence, a rising number of people diagnosed with astrocytomas accentuates the uptake of therapeutics for the treatment of the same. Currently, majority of the therapeutics for the treatment of malignant glioma is under clinical trials, key players are engaged in research and development activities.Adult Malignant Glioma Therapeutics Market: Region-wise InsightGeographically, North America and Europe accounted for the largest share in the global adult malignant glioma therapeutics market. This dominance was mainly attributed to key players domiciled in these regions coupled with increasing incidences of brain tumor. Brain tumor is the third most common type of cancer in adults in North America. According to North America Brain Tumor Coalition over 44,500 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with primary tumor in the brain in 2014. Thus, rising incidences of primary brain tumor supports the growth of malignant glioma therapeutics market in North America. In addition, increasing healthcare awareness also supported the growth of malignant glioma therapeutics market in North America and European market.Similarly, Asia Pacific is considered as the most lucrative market for the growth of malignant glioma therapeutics. The growth in Asian market is fueled by the presence of untapped market opportunities due to increasing and expanding healthcare infrastructure in this region. Asia Pacific is considered as an emerging market owing to growing market penetration coupled with increasing number of manufacturers expanding their geographic presence in this region. Thus, all the mentioned factors collectively propel the growth of malignant glioma therapeutics market during the forecast period from 2014 to 2020.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Adult Malignant Glioma Therapeutics Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market;Adult Malignant Glioma Therapeutics Market: Key PlayersMajor players and universities engaged in the development of therapeutics for the treatment of malignant glioma include Eli Lilly and Company, Insys Therapeutics, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Amgen, Inc., Duke University, Shinshu University, Medical Research Council, Osaka University and others.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Snow Tires Market 2017 - Sumitomo, Toyo Tire, Zhongce, Maxxis, Yokohama

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The report studies Snow Tires in Global market Professional Survey 2017 : Size, Share, Trends, Industry Growth, Opportunity, Application, Production, Segmentation, Cost Structure, Company Profile, Product Picture and Specifications during the Forecast period by 2022The Global Snow Tires Market Industry report gives a comprehensive account of the Global Snow Tires Market. Details such as the size, key players, segmentation, SWOT analysis, most influential trends, and business environment of the market are mentioned in this report. The report features an up-to-date data on key companies product details, revenue figures and sales. The business model strategies of the key firms in the Snow Tires Market are also included. Key strengths, weaknesses, and threats shaping the leading players in the market have also been included in this research report.Additionally, the region-wise segmentation and the trends driving the leading geographical region and the emerging region has been presented in this report.Download Sample Report @In this report, the global Snow Tires market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Snow Tires in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaIndiaGlobal Snow Tires market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingBridgestoneMichelinGoodyearContinentalPirelliHankookSumitomoYokohamaMaxxisZhongceGITI TireToyo TireCooper TireKumho TireApollo Tires LtdTriangle GroupNexen TireHengfeng RubberNokian TyresAccess Full Report With TOC @On the basis of product,Diagonal TiresRadial TiresOtherOn 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 Snow Tires for each application, includingAutomobileAgricultureOtherIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment Market to Hit 8.34% to 2021: Growth Analysis, Company Profiles & Trends

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The Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment market 2017 research offers a feasibility analysis for investment and returns supported with data on development trend analysis across important regions of the world.The Report analysts forecast the global Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment market to grow at a CAGR of 8.34% during the period 2017-2021.The dental industry in China is an underpenetrated market. The ratio of dentists to population in China is 100 per one million. The number of dentists in the country is less compared with the US, Germany, France, Sweden, Australia, and South Korea. In addition, most of the dentists in the country still prefer traditional techniques to advanced dental technologies. For instance, instead of using 3D imaging-based robot-assisted technologies, they mostly use X-ray imaging procedures.Request a sample copy of Global Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment Market Research Report @The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas, APAC, EMEAGlobal Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment 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 DJO Global, Stryker, Smith & Nephew, TEKNIMED, Zimmer BiometOther prominent vendors BYBO Dental Group, Carestream Health, FONADental, Fujian Meisheng Medical Science & Technology, Hefei Meiya Optoelectronic Technology, Hung Kuo Medical Instrument, J. Morita, NewTomThe listed pricing for this Global Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment Market report starts at $ 3500. Request Discount for Global Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment Market Research Report @Market driver - Increase in incidence of orthodontic and periodontal diseases, For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge - Paucity of dental workforce, For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend - Growing investments by foreign investors, For a full, detailed list, view our reportBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Global Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment Market Report @Related Reports: -Global and Chinese Dental Amalgam plugger Industry, 2017 Market Research ReportThe 'Global and Chinese Dental Amalgam plugger Industry, 2012-2022 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Dental Amalgam plugger industry with a focus on the Chinese market.MarketSizeForecasters.com, a Skyline Market Research LLP brand, is an online aggregator of market research reports. MarketSizeForecasters.com offers a comprehensive collection of full length reports on global and regional markets in 100+ industry verticals. We have partnered with some of the leading business and market research publishing houses and regularly update our online library to offer wide range of reports to our customers.Market size forecastersThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketsizeforecasters.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter
Dental Fittings Market Trends, Business Strategies and Opportunities 2024

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Orthodontics mainly deals with the correction of improper alignment of teeth by braces or apparent loss of teeth by dentures/artificial teeth. Orthodontics was initially chosen for children but now it is used ubiquitously. Technological advancements have reduced the stigma related with this treatment and now many dental fittings such as tongue and teeth colored braces are available commercially. Rising awareness of dental aesthetics and related advantages has resulted in increased acceptance of dental fittings amongst all age groups.Browse to unlock the hidden opportunities in Dental Fittings Market:The dental fittings include dentures, archwires, anchorage appliances and ligatures. The braces or the brackets are meant to place the misaligned or crooked teeth in place. Braces are small squares attached to the front of the teeth by an orthodontic bonding agent and connected to each other via connectors or bands. Orthodontic bands are stainless steel, tooth colored material or transparent. Spacers are separating parts that fit between the teeth before the bands. Archwires guide braces with the movement of the teeth. Ligatures are small rubber bands which hold on to the archwires together. Traditionally braces were made up of metals, however, with technological advancements they are now available in ceramics. The braces are also made up of stainless steel, titanium or a mixture of both. The orthodontic archwires are of two types: coated metal and transparent non-metallic. Coated metal archwires are made up of nickel- titanium or of stainless steel and are coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), parylene-polymer, and an epoxy-resin. Transparent nonmetallic arches are similar to metal arches which are made from glass spindle and are embedded in polymer matrix. The growing demand for aesthetic archwires has led to many advancements in archwires technology. These wires will continuously be developed on the basis of appearance, durability and flexibility. Non-metallic archwires may take over the future market as they are more preferred over the conventional metallic wires. Dentures are used to replace and support the missing teeth and the surrounding gum tissues. Dentures are of two types: complete ones and the partial ones. The partial ones are plastic partials or the metal partials, on the basis of the material used to attach to the teeth.The dental fittings market is on an all-time high due to many regulatory reforms in most of the countries like reimbursement coverage, access to advanced technology, increased disposable income and increased rate of awareness about dental fittings treatment. Aspects such as rising awareness about dental fittings, cheaper availability of treatment and increasing health care expenditure may boost the growth of the dental fittings market in Asia Pacific. Attributing to rapid development in healthcare, infrastructure, government reforms and access to advanced dental fittings, China and India are most profitable markets in Asia. Also, easy availability of skilled orthodontists and supporting economy is expected to spur the growth of the dental fittings market in China and India.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Dental Fittings Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market:Many of the companies are manufacturing dental fittings, and are adopting acquisitions and mergers, extensive R&D as measures to expand their geographic reach and introduction of novel products in to the market. Asia Pacific dental fittings market is expected to rise with context to volume, on basis of low product prices, less market penetration, disposable earning and improving healthcare expenditure. Also the awareness of dental aesthetics systems and dental cosmetic surgery will expectedly drive this market in North America and Europe. The advanced CAD/CAM technology and 3 Dimensional digital imaging may lead to growth in the industry. The CAD technology can support in making digital prostheses much faster. The global dental fittings market is dominated by few key players such as GC Orthodontics, Dentaurum, Henry Schein, Hangzhou Shinye, and Dental Morelli.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Infant Incubator Market 2016 Industry, Analysis, Research, Share, Growth, Sales, Trends : Drager, Fanem, Cobams, Phoenix

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Infant Incubator Market 2016 Industry, Analysis, Research, Share, Growth, Sales, Trends, Supply, Forecast to 2021 to its huge collection of research reports.The report on the global Infant Incubator market is prepared to help the stakeholders get a better perspective of the prevailing trends impacting its growth. The study provides in-depth knowledge of the global Infant Incubator market, covering the impact of various regulations and policies adopted by the leading market players. The key drivers of the market, restrains, and trends influencing the global Infant Incubator market are assessed through qualitative and quantitative investigation. The analysis also helps evaluating the degree of competition prevailing in the market. The report provides an assessment of the regulatory policies influencing the global Infant Incubator market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The regional segmentation of the global Infant Incubator market is described in detail in the report. The historical development of each segment in the global Infant Incubator is charted in the report. The report provides details such as supply chain, and leading players competing in the market. The publication also offers readers a chapter-wise assessment of the market. The report on the global Infant Incubator market discusses the overall competitive scenario, with an emphasis on the leading players that compete on a domestic as well as global level.The systematic analysis of the global Infant Incubator market will assist prospective players figure out the strategies to implement for the sustainable expansion. The report focuses on the recent innovations in products and technologies in order to understand the overall impact of these innovations on the market. The product portfolio and strategies adopted by the leading companies are discussed and analyzed in detail. On the basis of various parameters the contribution of the leading companies have been studied in this report.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Infant Incubator1.1 Definition and Specifications of Infant Incubator1.1.1 Definition of Infant Incubator1.1.2 Specifications of Infant Incubator1.2 Classification of Infant Incubator1.3 Applications of Infant Incubator1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Infant Incubator1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Infant Incubator1.5.1 Industry Overview of Infant Incubator1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Infant Incubator1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Infant Incubator1.7 Industry News Analysis of Infant IncubatorTo Browse a Complete Report with TOC Visit @2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Infant Incubator2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Infant Incubator2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Infant Incubator2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Infant Incubator2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Infant Incubator2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Infant Incubator2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Infant Incubator3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Infant Incubator3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Infant Incubator Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Infant Incubator Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Infant Incubator Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Infant Incubator Major Manufacturers in 20154 Capacity, Production and Revenue Analysis of Infant Incubator by Regions, Types and Manufacturers4.1 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Infant Incubator by Regions 2011-20164.2 Global and Major Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Infant Incubator 2011-20164.3 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Infant Incubator by Types 2011-20164.4 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Infant Incubator by Manufacturers 2011-20165 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Infant Incubator by Regions, Types and Manufacturers5.1 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Infant Incubator by Regions 2011-20165.2 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Infant Incubator by Types 2011-20165.3 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Infant Incubator by Manufacturers 2011-20166 Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Sale Price Analysis of Infant Incubator by Regions, Types and Applications6.1 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Infant Incubator by Regions 2011-20166.2 Global and Major Regions Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Growth Rate of Infant Incubator 2011-20166.3 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Infant Incubator by Types 2011-20166.4 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Infant Incubator by Applications 2011-20166.5 Sale Price of Infant Incubator by Regions 2011-20166.6 Sale Price of Infant Incubator by Types 2011-20166.7 Sale Price of Infant Incubator by Applications 2011-20166.8 Market Share Analysis of Infant Incubator by Different Sale Price Levels7 Supply, Import, Export and Consumption Analysis of Infant Incubator7.1 Supply, Consumption and Gap of Infant Incubator 2011-20167.2 Global Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Infant Incubator 2011-20167.3 United States Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Infant Incubator 2011-20167.4 EU Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Infant Incubator 2011-20167.5 China Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Infant Incubator 2011-20167.6 Japan Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption of Infant Incubator 2011-2016QYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. 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Oncology Information System Market: Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments

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Oncology information system is an image and information management system that allows to check all parts of oncology care for patients. Oncology information system combines medical, surgical, and radiation oncology information into a comprehensive, oncology electronic medical record that allows to manage patient's details from start of the patients admission through diagnosis and follow-up details.The factors driving the growth of the oncology information system market are increase in technological adaption and technological advancement. Increase in health care infrastructure in developing nations, growth in prevalence of secondary tumor, and rise in incidence of cancer are the other factors anticipated to propel the growth of the oncology information system market during the forecast period. According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide; in 2012, there were 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths worldwide. However, lack of health care IT professionals and strict regulation are likely to restrict the growth of the oncology information system market.Obtain Report Details:According to a report by the American Cancer Society, 50% of men and 30% of women are estimated to develop cancer in some form or the other in their lifetime. Increase in amount of cancer patients is a major driver of the sales of the oncology information system market. Additionally, rise in amount of tobacco consumption and increase in amount of carcinogens present in the polluted air or in any other form are projected to drive the oncology information system market in the near future. Some of the factors driving the growth of the market are rising disposable income, which enables patients to avail expensive treatments, easily available medical insurance policies, and growing medical tourism activities. Heavy investments in R&D further act as an opportunity for the growth of the market since innovative and technologically advanced products always have the capability of substituting its predecessors.The oncology information system market has been segmented by product, application, end-user, and geography. Based on product, the oncology information system market is classified into patient information system, treatment planning system, consulting/optimization, implementation, maintenance, services, and others. Based on application, the market is segmented into care management, treatment management, and knowledge management. Based on end-user, the oncology information system market is segmented into hospital, government institution, research center, and others.Geographically, the oncology information system market in segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to account for a large market share in terms of revenue, followed by Europe. The oncology information system market in North America is expected to grow due to technological advancement and increase in demand for advanced product. The growing need to implement advanced systems in the health care sector in the region and, at the same time, deliver quality care to patients are the factors likely to drive the market in the near future. Asia Pacific is expected to rise at a high CAGR owing to increase in adoption of technological advanced products, growth in disposable income, and rise in health care infrastructure in countries such as India, China, Australia, and other countries in the region. The Latin America oncology information system market is mainly driven by the increasing adoption of technological products in countries such as Brazil and Mexico. The Middle East & Africa oncology information system market is estimated to grow in the near future due to rise in incidence of cancer. According to World Health Organization, women in the African region had the highest incidence of cancer of the cervix uteri.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report :Major players operating in this market include CureMD Healthcare, Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Flatiron Health, Inc., Epic Systems Corporation, Bogardus Medical Systems, Inc., Cerner Corporation, McKesson Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Elekta AB, and Accuray Inc.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Semiconductor Packaging Material Market Analysis and Foresight to 2022

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Semiconductor Packaging Material Global Market Synopsis & ScenarioSemiconductor packaging material global market is growing with the up surged Sales of Smartphones and Smart Devices, however the growth may get restricted by the high Dependency on Performance of Semiconductor Equipment Industry Redistributed Chip Packaging is is very popular in the market; this has ultimately become a trend followed by almost every manufacturer of the global market of Semiconductor Packaging Material.Semiconductor Packaging Material Global Market Key PlayersSemiconductor packaging material manufacturers and subcontractors are experiencing a severe pricing pressure from their customers. Thus, manufacturers are pushing cost reduction at a faster pace to offset erosion in semiconductor average selling prices (ASP).Identified by MRFR Analysts, as the leading market players operating in the global semiconductor packaging material market primarily include Henkel AG Hitachi Chemical Sumitomo Chemical Kyocera Chemical Mitsui High-Tec Toray Industries Corporation Alent PLC LG ChemicalRequest a Sample Report @Semiconductor Packaging Material Global Market SegmentationSemiconductor packaging material global market has been segmented in to 2 key dynamics for an enhanced understanding and convenience of the report.By Types: Organic substrates, bonding wires, encapsulation resins, ceramic packages, solder balls, wafer level packaging dielectrics and others.By Technology: Grid Array, Small Outline Package, Dual Flat No-Leads, Quad Flat Package, Dual In-Line Package and others.The World of consumer electronics shapes (Changes) depending upon the changes taking place in semiconductor devices world ie the thickness of the semiconductor device, die (diodes) attached and bonding wire and encapsulated with materials playing a major role enabling the development of newer packaging technologies.Semiconductor Packaging Material Market Regional AnalysisGeographically, Asia-Pacific is one of the crucial markets due to the presence of vast electronic industry in China, Japan and South Korea. This factor has placed Asia-Pacific the leading market in near future followed by North America and Europe.Semiconductor Packaging Material Global Market  OverviewA semiconductor package refers to a metal, plastic, glass or ceramic casing containing one or more semiconductor electronic components. Individual discrete components are typically etched in silicon wafer before being cut and assembled in a package. The package provides protection against impact and corrosion holds the contact pins or leads which are used to connect from external circuits to the device, and dissipates heat produced in the device. Thousands of standard package types are made, with some made to industry-wide standards and some particular to an individual manufacturer.Browse Report @Semiconductor Packaging Material Market has witnessed a remarkable growth over the past few years, globally, owing to the rising demand for mobile phones, tablets and other communication devices and as per the MRFR estimation the market will keep on growing during the forecast year. The global semiconductor packaging material market had valued in billions in 2015, the market is expected to grow further surpassing its previous growth records by 2027 with a remarkable CAGR during the forecasted period (2017-2027), predicts the Market Research Future in the recent study report - Global Semiconductor Packaging Material Market.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Digestive Health Drinks Market: Demand to Surge as Consumers Incline Toward Healthier Lifestyle, says TMR

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As consumers around the world become increasingly health conscious, they are getting more inclined toward products that promise health benefits. In a report, titled Digestive Health Drinks Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016  2024, Transparency Market Research (TMR) presents insights into the various growth drivers and restraints chalking the markets trajectory between 2016 and 2024. The report thoroughly assesses the markets historical trajectory, besides analyzing its present condition using industry-leading analytical tools.Obtain Report Details @The demand for digestive health drinks is gaining pace, as they help easing and overcome the symptoms of overburdened digestive tract. Digestive health drinks also prevent various health problems such as bloating, gallstone, indigestion, and peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcerative colitis, which is a chronic ailment affecting large intestine. These variants of health drinks are available in the market as ginger tea, buttermilk, vegetable soups, yogurt, herbal tea, lemon water, coconut water, and in other forms. Because these drinks are derived from natural and active ingredients and contain high nutritional value, their demand is expected to increase in the coming years.The global digestive health drinks market can be studied on two fronts: Based on fermented dairy products, digestive fruit drinks, probiotics, and prebiotics. In terms of digestive food enzymes, the market comprises segments such as lactase, amylase, pancreatic lipase, sucrose, and pepsin. Regionally, North America, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Western Europe, Asia Pacific (excluding Japan), Japan, and the Middle & Africa make the key market segments. Among these regions, Asia Pacific held the largest share in the global digestive health drinks market on back of the rising demand from emerging nations such as India and China. Over the forecast period, the region is expected to showcase more lucrative opportunities as India and China boast rising affordability of consumers. Besides this, rising health consciousness and paradigm shift in lifestyle choices among consumers in France, Italy, Spain, and Germany will place Europe as an attractive market for digestive health drinks.Make an Enquiry @To study the competitive trends, the report profiles some of the most prominent companies operating in the global digestive health drinks market. These enterprises are Yakult Honsha Pvt Ltd, Danisco A/S, Nestle SA, Danone SA, Clover Industries Ltd, General Mills Inc., Biogaia AB, Arla Foods Inc., Probi AB and Lifeway Foods Inc. Of these, Danisco and Danone are currently enjoying a stronghold in terms of revenue in the overall market. It has a diverse product portfolio, on account of which Danisco and Danone exhibit an extensive geographic reach. Besides focusing on product differentiation, several companies are also investing in research and development to strengthen their market position.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:
Demand of Endobronchial Cancer Market in Global Industry : Analysis, Insights, Research and Forecast 2017-2021

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ALBANY, NY, May 17, 2017 : Endobronchial cancer are characterized by small size, slow growth and usually misdiagnosed as asthma or chronic bronchitis due to their common symptoms. These cancers are usually benign and rare. Due to these reasons, they may remain undiagnosed for a long time and lead to serious complications. The term bronchial adenoma encompasses a diverse group of tumors of mucous glands, trachea or bronchi. Common symptoms of endobronchial cancer include difficulty in breathing (dyspnea), wheezing due to obstructed windpipe, cough and in some cases fever. Cigarette smoking and alcohol addiction have been found to be in close association of endobronchial cancer. Scientists also suggest that various lung cancer cases have shown endobronchial metastases.The cancer is diagnosed through various radiology tests such as X-ray, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Octreotide scan, also known as somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, is also used for diagnosis of endobronchial cancer. It is a non-invasive diagnostic method used to detect presence of tumor cells. Bronchoscopy is a routine method to visualize cancer growth. A bronchoscope is a thing flexible tube which possesses a camera at its tip. A clear image of the cancer and its progression can be obtained through bronchoscopy method. Tissue biopsy by endoscopic methods also helps in gaining more insight to cancer type and its further assessment.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Surgical removal of the cancer can be done through open lung surgeries or endoscopic methods. Although choice depends on size and nature of the tumor. Small and localized tumor can be excised through bronchoscopic surgeries. Certain tumors can also be ablated through laser treatment. This method is usually accompanies with chemotherapy, as there are chances of cancer relapse.Brachytherapy, Argon beam coagulation, photodynamic therapy and other radiation methods have also shown promising results in treating endobronchial cancer. Steba Biotech S.A. is conducting phase II clinical trials for its investigational drug WST11. Pinnacle Biologics manufactured PHOTOFRIN (porfimer sodium) has been widely employed in photodynamic therapy for treating endobronchial cancer. Pinnacle Biologics has also received FDA approval for the treatment of oesophageal and endobronchial cancer and high-grade dysplasia in barretts oesophagus.Cancer has been a major cause of mortalities worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that 60% of the new cases occur in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. Over 8 million mortalities were recorded in 2012 globally, with lung cancer accounting for approximately 3 million cases, while oesophageal cancer accounting for 400,000 deaths worldwide. Over one-fifth of all cancer cases are diagnosed in India. Despite high smoking rate, prevalence of lung cancer in China is lower than European countries. According to Cancer Research, U.K., approximately 43,000 individuals in the UK were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011. Such high prevalence of cancer has demanded for quicker and effective treatment. Advances in biotechnology have introduced innovative methods of cancer diagnosis and cure, however because of high cost these technologies have not yet available to low and middle income countries. Countries such as India, China, Brazil and Japan have been the most attractive geographies for endobronchial cancer. Japan is the second largest individual healthcare market after the U.S. Constantly developing healthcare sector in China, India and Brazil have created promising opportunities in these countries. Higher cancer prevalence, increasing per capita income and evolving government policies are other factors favoring market growth.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 includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldMake an Enquiry of this report @This report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.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
Cannabis Testing Market Trends Global Industry Analysis, Top Manufacturers, Share, Growth, Statistics, Opportunities & Forecast up to 2022 Global Cannabis Testing Industry Report offers market overview, segmentation by types, application, countries, key manufactures, cost analysis, industrial chain, sourcing strategy, downstream buyers, marketing strategy analysis, distributors/traders, factors affecting market, forecast and other important information for key insight.



Growing at a steady pace, this Cannabis Testing market research values the industry size in USD million terms for 2016 and expected USD million value by the end of 2022 is provided for decision makers and stakeholders interested in Cannabis Testing market.



Geographically, Cannabis Testing market report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Cannabis Testing in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering such as North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India.



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Global Cannabis Testing market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players including such as AB Sciex LLC, Accelerated Technology Laboratories, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Digipath, Inc., Millipore Sigma, Perkinelmer, Inc., Pharmlabs LLC, Restek Corporation, SC (Science of Cannabis) Laboratories, Inc., Shimadzu Corporation, Steep Hill Halent Laboratories, Inc., Waters Corporation.



On the basis of product, global Cannabis Testing market report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into: Potency, Pesticides, Heavy Metal, Genetic Testing.



On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Cannabis Testing for each application, including are Lab, Pharmaceutical, Research.



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Major Points in Table of Contents:

Global Cannabis Testing Market Research Report 2017

Cannabis Testing Market Overview

Global Cannabis Testing Market Competition by Manufacturers

Global Cannabis Testing Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)

Global Cannabis Testing Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)

Global Cannabis Testing Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Global Cannabis Testing Market Analysis by Application

Global Cannabis Testing Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis

Cannabis Testing Manufacturing Cost Analysis

Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders

Market Effect Factors Analysis

Global Cannabis Testing Market Forecast (2017-2022)

Research Findings and Conclusion



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Various Functions Handled By Learning Management System in Global Market During The Period 2014 - 2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Various Functions Handled By Learning Management System in Global Market During The Period 2014 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.A LMS (Learning Management System) is a web based technology that is used for planning, implementing and assessing learning processes. This system enables educational institutions to augment on-campus courses and deliver online courses. Apart from handling courses, this system can also handle various other tasks like skill analysis, reporting and tracking. It enables students to use interactive features like video conferencing, threaded discussions and discussion forums. This system enables teaching staff in creating and delivering content, assessing student performance and monitoring student participation. Corporate bodies are also implementing LMS for online training and to automate certain tasks like employee registration and record keeping. The various functions that are handled by LMS include automating and centralizing administration procedures, rapidly collecting and delivering learning materials, consolidating training initiatives, supporting standards and portability, personalizing content and enabling knowledge reuse.The learning management system market is segmented on the basis of end users of the product. The end users of this product are majorly categorized into educational institutions, corporate bodies, government sectors, healthcare industry, manufacturing units, retail segments, telecom and information technology, and others. There are various drivers that are contributing to the growth of this market. One of the major factors driving the growth of this market includes growing adoption of e-learning. Most private companies are adapting e-learning systems because of the requirement to train employees at/from remote locations. Also, this system permits customizations and flexibility of training programs in terms of methodology and content. Implementing such system reduces travel time for employees and costs apart from easy access from convenient locations. Another factor that contributes to the growth of this market is that implementing LMS enables continuous learning. At a professional level, it is about expanding skill sets in response to rapidly changing environments and new developments at the workplace. For example, introduction of computer management systems to automate certain work processes creates a need for employees to be trained so that they can perform their tasks more efficiently. Implementing LMS to train employees is less time consuming and also large number of employees can be easily addressed and managed. However, integration with the existing systems in an organization may not be always possible. Some organizations already have certain systems implemented for training their employees.Implementing LMS may take lot of time to understand the working of the system, keeping the cost factor in mind. Also, there is no assurance that the skills that shall be fostered using such systems can be transferrable to new situations. In educational institutions, students tend to feel isolated from their classmates and instructors and managing such systems with beginner level can be a complex task. These factors are affecting the growth of LMS market. The customizations that are demanded by certain organizations in LMS are not feasible in terms of costs in all situations. Smaller organizations would prefer using the traditional methods of training while large organizations would be reluctant in terms of investing time to actually understand the customizations needed by their companies. In manufacturing industries, practical training to operate machines is not possible in a simulated training lab.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Implementing mobile applications of such systems due to increase in usage of smart phones and increasing on-the-go work culture can create significant opportunities in LMS market. Companies in this line of business include McGraw-Hill Education, Blackboard Inc, Skillsoft Ireland Limited, Desire2Learn Incorporated and SumTotal Systems, LLC among others.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 includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt 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 futureMake 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 @
Integration of Latest Technologies into Existent Offerings to Mark Growth Strategy of Micro Irrigation Systems Manufacturers

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The presence of a large pool of participants characterizes the competitive landscape of the global micro irrigation systems market. As the market faces intense competition, major players are focusing on innovations as well as the integration of latest technologies into their existent offerings in order to retain their position, finds Transparency Market Research.In the recent times, a number of leading companies have introduced advanced micro irrigation systems. For instance, Netafim launched its next-generation low-flow drippers and Toro introduced Aqua-Traxx Flow Control drip tape in 0.13 GPH emitter flow rate. However, over the coming years, manufacturers will undertake strategic partnerships to expand their product portfolios as well as to increase their sales, notes TMR.Obtain Report Details @Water Scarcity Provides Ground for Growth to Micro Irrigation SystemsMicro irrigation systems are widely recognized as one of the fast-emerging segments in the worldwide agriculture industry. The immense rise in the adoption of these systems is mainly attributed to the encouragement by various governments across the world.With water scarcity being a looming concern, micro irrigation can prove beneficial as it is capable of saving 50 to 60% of the ground water compared to other conventional irrigation practices. Consequently, governments in Asian and African countries, where water scarcity is severe, are offering subsidies over the installation costs of micro irrigation systems, prompting farmers to adopt these systems. Besides, farmers are also preferring micro irrigation systems over traditional ones as the former allow them to water plants evenly and when required, optimizing crop yields and improving their quality.Considering these factors, the future of the global micro irrigation systems market looks teeming with opportunities. However, the high cost associated with the installation and maintenance of these irrigation systems may limit their application to large-scale and corporate farming in the coming years.Sprinklers to Remain Dominant among Micro Irrigation Products, Europe to Lose Ground to Asia PacificAnalysts at TMR estimate the global opportunity in micro irrigation systems, which stood at US$2.6 bn in 2014, to expand at a CAGR of 15.10% during the period from 2015 to 2023 and possibly worth US$9.1 bn by the end of the forecast period.Currently, sprinklers dominate the market with a majority share and are expected to remain dominant in the near future. However, drip irrigation systems are poised to report their adoption at the fastest rate over the forecast period. While the demand for pumping units is the highest in the sprinkler segment, filters draw the maximum demand in the drip irrigation systems segment.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Regionally, Europe led the global market with a revenue share of 32% in 2014. The region, however, will lose its ground to Asia Pacific in the coming years, thanks to the increasing involvement of technology in agriculture in countries such as Australia, China, India, and Japan.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Telecoms : Myanmar Industry Status, Size, Share, Trends and Application 2017

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ALBANY, NY, May 17, 2017 : The telecom services revenue is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% during 2016-2021, driven by growth in mobile and fixed data revenues. In the coming years, operators plan to invest in network infrastructure and expand 4G services. Vendors will have significant opportunities to support operators' 4G rollout initiatives.Key Findings- The overall telecom service revenue in Myanmar is estimated to generate $3.1bn in 2016 and will expand at a CAGR of 4.0% during 2016-2021, supported by data segment growth.- Mobile revenue will account for 94.9% of the total telecom revenue in 2021, with the mobile data segment expected to experience significant growth.- 3G will be the most adopted mobile technology through 2021. Its share in overall mobile subscriber base will further increase during 2016-2021, as 2G customers will increasingly migrate to 3G networks for faster data rates.- The top two operators, MPT and Telenor Myanmar will account for nearly 84.2% share of overall service revenue in 2016.- Operators in Myanmar are increasingly investing in 3G and 4G network expansion, as demand for data increases.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @SynopsisMyanmar: 4G Investment and New Market Entrants to Boost Burgeoning Telecoms Market, a new Country Intelligence Report , provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Myanmar today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2021. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband, and mobile, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following:- Regional context: telecom market size and trends in Myanmar compared with other countries in the region.- Economic, demographic and political context in Myanmar.- The regulatory environment and trends: a review of the regulatory setting and agenda for the next 18-24 months as well as relevant developments pertaining to spectrum licensing, national broadband plans, number portability and more.- A demand profile: analysis as well as historical figures and forecasts of service revenue from the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, and mobile data markets.- Service evolution: a look at changes in the breakdown of overall revenue between the fixed and mobile sectors and between voice, data and video from 2016 to 2021.- The competitive landscape: an examination of key trends in competition and in the performance, revenue market shares and expected moves of service providers over the next 18-24 months.- In-depth sector analysis of fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, and mobile data services: a quantitative analysis of service adoption trends by network technology and by operator, as well as of average revenue per line/subscription and service revenue through the end of the forecast period.- Main opportunities: this section details the near-term opportunities for operators, vendors and investors in Myanmar's telecommunications markets.ReasonsToBuy- This Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of Myanmars telecommunications markets, service providers and key opportunities in a concise format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.- Accompanying Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in Myanmars mobile communications, fixed telephony, broadband markets, including the evolution of service provider market shares.- With more than 20 charts and tables, the report is designed for an executive-level audience, boasting presentation quality.Make an Enquiry of this report @- The report provides an easily digestible market assessment for decision-makers built around in-depth information gathered from local market players, which enables executives to quickly get up to speed with the current and emerging trends in Myanmars telecommunications markets.- The broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive, actionable detail will help operators, equipment vendors and other telecom industry players succeed in the challenging telecommunications market in Myanmar.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
Industrial Gear Market - Global Industry Trends and Forecast Analysis For 2015 - 2023

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Global Industrial Gear Market: OverviewAs opposed to gear that are used for the manufacturing of consumer and commercial products, industrial gears have added properties such as durable metal composition and heavy duty construction. Since industrial gears are vital components for the functioning of industrial equipment and products, the excellent progress of several other industries has resulted in a surge in the demand for industrial gears. Concurrently, the global market for industrial gear is projected for a healthy growth rate during the forecast period of 2015 to 2023.The report, which is a comprehensive analysis of the market along with profiles of some of the prominent players, overviews that industrial gears are manufactured as per the standard industrial norms for the use of optimum quality materials. One of the standard for industrial gears is ISO 9001:2008, DIN Standards and American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) standards. Industrial gears find application in several sectors including steel manufacturing, steel processing, machine tool industry, material handling, engineering industry, and in plastic, paper, sugar, and rubber industries. The report finds that the vendors in the global industrial gear market manufacture all types of gears including helical, worm gears, bevel, herringbone, spline, sprocket, double helical, internal, and rack. The size of the gear sets also vary vastly, from pitch diameters of 80 to 2000 mm.Request For Sample Report, Download Brochure@Industrial gear boxes, marine drives, pulverizer, conveyor drives, transportation systems are some of the applications that relate to the industrial gear sector. The gears used in these applications are manufactured by job shops that specialize in small batch production over large varieties. Economics of production and rigid machine construction are two of the key factors that define the leading technology for this market. Additionally, ability to withstand high mechanical loads and climatic stresses, low noise emissions, service life, and low weight are few some of the other parameters ensured by the vendors in the industrial gears market.Global Industrial Gear Market: Trends and OpportunitiesVast population and the incremented income in the emerging economies such as China, India, and Brazil have urged several industries to extend their facilities to meet the demand of the consumers. These industries include textile, oil and gas, pulp and paper, and food and beverage. The flourishing state of these industries is reflected on the robust growth rate of the market for industrial gear. However, the market for industrial gear is cost sensitive, and hence the increasing prices of raw materials such as stainless steels, hardened steel, aluminum, cast iron, bronze, and brass is seen as a factor that may hinder the growth rate during the forecast period. To overcome this restraint, the vendors vary shapes, sizes, speed ratios, and designs of the gears as per the requirement to remain competitive in the market.Global Industrial Gear Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, the global market for industrial gear can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world. Currently, Europe and North America contribute to the most of demand for industrial gear, feeding off technological advancements and increased competition among the players. However, Asia Pacific is expected to expand the demand at the most prominent rate during the forecast period due to the presence of nearly half of the worlds population.Browse Report@Companies Mentioned in the Research ReportTo retain their market shares, companies such as Precipart Corporation and Ashoka Machine Tools Corporation are offering customized industry-specific gears, while Cleveland Gear Company, Inc. refurbish industrial gears produced by other manufacturers along with customization services. Intelligent integration of components is also a recent trend in this industry. Some of the key players in the global industrial gears market are Klingelnberg GmbH, Cleveland Gear Company, Inc. Essential Power Transmission Pvt. Ltd., Griffin Gear Inc.,Precipart Corporation, NORD drivesystems Pvt. Ltd., SEW-Eurodrive, Renold plc, GearTech, Inc., (United Stars, Inc.), Allied Precision Gears Inc, and Ashoka Machine Tools Corporation.About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Global Electrical Steel Sheet Market 2017 - Nippon Steel, The Precision Thin Metals, POSCO, JFE Steel

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The market research report on Global Electrical Steel Sheet 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 Electrical Steel Sheet Market report is a noteworthy.In this report, the global Electrical Steel Sheet 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.Download Sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Electrical Steel Sheet in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Electrical Steel Sheet market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingNippon SteelThe Precision Thin MetalsPOSCOJFE SteelAccess Full Report With TOC @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoThin TypeUltra-Thin 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 Electrical Steel Sheet for each application, includingElectrical AppliancesBatteries and Power DevicesRenewable EnergyAutomotiveIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Hermetic Packaging Market - Prevent Any Sort Of Outside Physical And Chemical Or Environmental Contamination And To Protect Highly Sensitive Electronic Components

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Hermetic packaging is defined as an advanced level packaging technique which has it primary applications in passive and active electronic devices and it also has usage in semiconductor and electronics industry. Increasing demand for solutions primarily for high reliability and often advanced performance applications, and are extensively used in defense, aerospace and military along with commercial applications are fueling the demand for hermetic packaging across different regions. The hermetic packaging market has been segmented into by type which includes ceramic-metal sealing, reed glass, transponder glass, passivation glass among others. The market has been segmented into by end use industry which includes automotive, aerospace and defense, healthcare, telecommunication, industrial equipment, among others. The geographical segmentation of the hermetic packaging market includes, Asia Pacific, Europe, South America, North America and Middle East and Africa (MEA).Obtain Report Details @In order to prevent any sort of outside physical and chemical or environmental contamination and to protect highly sensitive electronic components used for critical applications which include aerospace, military and defense is one of the major driving factors for the market. Hermetic packaging prevents liquids and gases from entering the package cavity where the die is mounted. Additionally, owing to the hermetic package materials, these are able to withstand and work in higher temperatures. Furthermore, hermetic packaging prevents the semiconductor component from any sort of corrosions more efficiently than any other equivalent plastic packaging. There is different sort of hermetic packaging technique possible which includes multilayer ceramic packages, metal can packages, pressed ceramic packages. In case of multilayer packages, the ceramic tape layers are primarily metalized, laminated and then fired to create the package body. Moreover, pressed ceramic packages are usually a three part construction which includes base, lid and leadframe. Furthermore, metal can packages consist of a metal base with leads exiting through a glass seal. Transistors, lasers, sensors, photodiodes, MEMS switches among others are some of the prime application area of hermetic packaging. Increasing demand for high end packaging techniques in automotive and telecommunication industry is one of the prime factors behind d the growth of hermetic packaging market. Additionally, rising application of hermetic packaging in the medical industry is another major factor fueling the market. High electrical insulation, mechanical stability, protection against corrosion and prevents chemical contamination and pressure transmission are some of the major attributes of hermetic packaging which in turn is increasing the usage of hermetic packaging across different end use industries. Semiconductor components are primarily made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) or silicon (Si) are highly sensitive and require protection against, soiling, damage, aggressive chemical substances or humidity. In order to avoid any sort of contamination the application of the hermetic packing is growing in different industrial components. Strict rules and regulations regarding the packaging materials and increasing packaging cost are some of the restraining factor for the market. Growing adaptation of hermetic packaging across research and labs instrument application along with aeronautics and space and automobile are some of the major opportunities for the market.In 2016, Asia Pacific accounted for the largest market share in terms of revenue for the hermetic packaging market, followed by North America and Europe. China is leading the market for hermetic packaging in Asia Pacific. Additionally, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and India are holding prominent position in the hermetic packaging market in Asia Pacific. In North America, the U.S. accounted for the highest market share I n terms of revenue, followed by Canada and Mexico. Moreover, Germany, Italy, the U.K., France is major contributors contributing of the hermetic packaging market. In South America, Brazil and Argentina both are anticipated to encounter positive development over the forecast period from 2017 to 2025.In Middle East and Africa (MEA), there has been positive development and advancement in the field of semiconductor and electronics packaging and other industries for instance; healthcare, automotive and high growth of industrial sector is fueling the demand for hermetic packaging market.There are some of the major players of the hermetic packaging market operating globally which include Texas Instruments Inc. (The U.S.), and AMETEK, Inc. (The U.S.), Amkor Technology, Inc. (The U.S.), Schott AG (Germany), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (The U.S.) among others.Fill The Form For An Exclusive Sample Of This Report @The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Metals Powder Market 2017 - Eramet, GKN Hoeganaes, Advantage Metal, Allied Sinterings, Carpenter

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The market research report on Global Metals Powder 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 Metals Powder Market report is a noteworthy.In this report, the global Metals Powder 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.Download Sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Metals Powder in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Metals Powder market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingErametGKN HoeganaesAdvantage MetalAllied SinteringsAMETEKArcam ABAVLCarpenterCEACDaidoDiamondDr. FritschEpson AtmixErasteelFengdaFerroFUKUDAFusionGGPHuanghexuanfengLINBRAZE S.r.l.Makin MetalMetalysisMiyouAccess Full Report With TOC @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSingle Metal PowderAlloy PowderOn 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 Metals Powder for each application, includingAlloy ProductionAgriculturePolishingAerospaceOthersIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global Poultry Feed Market 2017 - Cargill, Brazil Food, Land Olakes, Tyson Foods, Nutreco

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The market research report on Global Poultry Feed 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 Poultry Feed Market report is a noteworthy.In this report, the global Poultry Feed 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.Download Sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Poultry Feed in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Poultry Feed market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingC. P. GroupCargillBrazil FoodLand OlakesTyson FoodsNutrecoZen-Noh Co-OperativeAB AgriAgrifirmDLGGLON SANDERSDE HEUSADMDOUXINVIVOVERONESIMNFBOCMKENTZuellig GroupNew Hope GroupCOFCOEastHope GroupGuangdong Wens GroupAccess Full Report With TOC @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoChicken FeedDuck FeedGeese FeedOthersOn 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 Poultry Feed for each application, includingFarmHouseholdOthersIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Veterinary Examination Tables Market: Understanding the Key Product Segments and their Future

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Veterinary care or animal care has experienced increased demand in the past few years. Animal health, especially farm animals has gained key focus after human invasion of animal viruses. Increased food safety and related government policies have fueled veterinary healthcare market globally. In addition, there is also a surge in regular check up of pets in the developed countries. According to American Veterinary Medical Association, in 2012, over 36% households owned dogs while 30% owned cats in the U.S. To meet these demands, it is expected that there would be an increase in veterinary practitioners.Global veterinary examination tables market is anticipated to grow at a faster rate owing to worldwide increasing number of veterinary clinics. Various types of veterinary examination tables are available in the market which includes wall-mount, pedestal base exam table, fold-up exam table, hydraulic lift table and electric lift table. Wall-mount and fold-up examination tables are beneficial to manage clinic space. They provide flexibility and also avoid any accidents caused by animals. The market for veterinary examination tables has a wide product portfolio, thus providing most suitable options to veterinary doctors. Fragmented market with low product differentiation and easy availability of raw materials has reduced the barriers to entry.Request For Sample Report, Download Brochure@Currently the market is dominated by large number of local layers. In spite of such lucrative opportunities in the future, the market would suffer from low profit margins due to constant increasing competition. Low volume sales and numerous options to choose from, makes the market even competitive.North America leads the veterinary examination tables market. According to statistics published by American Pet Products Association (APPA), total United States pet industry expenditure increased from USD 32 billion in 2003 to over USD 55 billion in 2013. Of the total expenditure in 2013, approximately USD 27 billion was spent on supplies, OTC medicines and vet care. Another contributing factor is regular annual check-ups due to increasing awareness about animal diseases and their threat to human health. International Federation for Animal Health Europe published data suggesting that Europes animal health industry in 2012 was over 3% of the European human pharmaceutical industry. The data also mentions that in the EU there are more than 200 million pets of which 66 million are cats while 60 million are dogs. Thus a huge market opportunity exists for veterinary examination tables in these regions. Asia Pacific is expected to witness faster growth rate owing to changing life style and growing per capita income. Rising disposable income and increasing fear of acquiring animal diseases has also added to the market surge. A survey conducted in 2012, by the Pet Food Institute of Japan, reveals that over 25% of domestic households have a pet cat or dog. Various publications suggest that the pet industry in Japan is on the rise and has created lucrative opportunities for global veterinary medical care providers. Being the second largest healthcare market globally, Japan has been on the main focus for veterinary care market.Browse Report@Some of the key players in the global veterinary examination table market include Paragon Medical Supply, Inc., DRE Medical, Inc., VSSI, Inc., Olympic Veterinary, Midmark Corp., Alvo Medical, Shor-Line, Technik Technology, McDonald Veterinary Equipment and Diagnostic Imaging Systems.About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Excimer Laser Market - High-Power Ultraviolet Output Which Is Making It Useful For Surgery

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An excimer laser, also known as exciplex laser, is one of the form of ultraviolet laser which is has major applications in the production of microelectronic equipment and devices, eye surgery, semiconductor based integrated chips or circuits and micromachining. An excimer laser primarily consists of reactive gas, for instance chlorine or fluorine along with noble gas, for example, krypton, argon, xenon. The excimer laser market has been segmented into by emission wavelength which includes less than 200 nm, 200 nm  300 nm and more than 300 nm. The market has been segmented into by end use industry which includes industrial equipment, aerospace and military, automotive, healthcare among others. The market for excimer laser by region has been segmented into, Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, South America and MEA (Middle East and Africa).Obtain Report Details @The major industrial end use of excimer lasers has been in microelectronic equipment and devices along ultraviolet photolithography. Moreover, excimer lasers have high-power ultraviolet output which is making it useful for surgery, which is one of the driving factors which fuel the application of excimer lasers in medical devices. Furthermore, excimer lasers have major applications in research laboratory equipment. Major end use of excimer lasers include laser ablation, photolithography for semiconductor chips, pulsed laser deposition, the microstructuring of transparent media, laser marking, eye surgery, dye-laser pumping and psoriasis treatment. With the growing technological advancement and research activities in the field of excimer lasers, the advanced and upgraded excimer lasers are having a positive impact on the market. Advanced excimer lasers primarily offers combination of short pulse duration and high pulse energy in the UV wavelengths. These prime attributes combine to offer a unique photonics tool primarily for the commercialization of novel end uses which include LTPS (low temperature poly-Si) annealing in FPD (flat panel display), pulsed laser deposition in thin-film manufacturing, direct patterning in advanced packaging markets and surface hardening in automotive sector. The lifetime of an excimer laser is limited by gas contamination, dust created by the electric discharge, corrosion processes, apart from problems with the high-voltage electronics. These challenges may inhibit the application of excimer laser in different end use industries which is considered as one of the restraining factor for the market. Cyclical nature of semiconductor industry may be considered as one of the challenging factor which may inhibit the growth of the excimer laser market. However, application of excimer laser for different end use industries which include manufacturing, construction and power generation is one of the prime opportunities for the market.In 2016, North America accounted for the largest market share in terms of revenue for the excimer laser market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The U.S. is leading the market for excimer laser in North America. Germany, the U.K., Italy, France among others are contributing positive share in the excimer lasers market. In Asia Pacific, China, Japan, and India, South Korea among others are some of the major market contributing in the positive development of the market for excimer lasers. In Middle East and Africa, there has been considerable advancement and development in the field of electronics and other industries for example; automotive sector is fueling the demand for excimer lasers market. In South America, Brazil and Argentina are anticipated to contribute positive growth over the forecast period from 2017 to 2025.Coherent, Inc. (The U.S.), Alcon Inc. (The U.S.), Wavelength Opto-Electronic (S) Pte Ltd. (Singapore), NIDEK CO., LTD. (Japan), AMS Technologies AG (Germany), Laser 2000 GmbH (Germany), Radiant Dyes Laser & Accessoires GmbH (Germany), Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG (Switzerland) among others are some of the prime companies operating in the excimer laser market globally.Fill The Form For An Exclusive Sample Of This Report @The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Metal Aerosol Can Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Forecast Report To 2021

Metal Aerosol Can Market

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Metal Aerosol Can Market Report by Material, Application, and Geography Global Forecast to 2021 is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) and the main countries (United States, Germany, united Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and China).The report firstly introduced the Metal Aerosol Can Market basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on.Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.Get Full Copy of this Report @The report includes six parts, dealing with:1.) basic information;2.) the Asia Metal Aerosol Can Market;3.) the North American Metal Aerosol Can Market;4.) the European Metal Aerosol Can Market;5.) market entry and investment feasibility;6.) the report conclusion.If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Some points from TOC:-Part I Metal Aerosol Can Industry OverviewChapter One Metal Aerosol Can Industry Overview1.1 Metal Aerosol Can Definition1.2 Metal Aerosol Can Classification Analysis1.2.1 Metal Aerosol Can Main Classification Analysis1.2.2 Metal Aerosol Can Main Classification Share Analysis1.3 Metal Aerosol Can Application Analysis1.3.1 Metal Aerosol Can Main Application Analysis1.3.2 Metal Aerosol Can Main Application Share Analysis1.4 Metal Aerosol Can Industry Chain Structure Analysis1.5 Metal Aerosol Can Industry Development Overview1.5.1 Metal Aerosol Can Product History Development Overview1.5.1 Metal Aerosol Can Product Market Development Overview1.6 Metal Aerosol Can Global Market Comparison Analysis1.6.1 Metal Aerosol Can Global Import Market Analysis1.6.2 Metal Aerosol Can Global Export Market Analysis1.6.3 Metal Aerosol Can Global Main Region Market Analysis1.6.4 Metal Aerosol Can Global Market Comparison Analysis1.6.5 Metal Aerosol Can Global Market Development Trend AnalysisAsk for Discount @Chapter Two Metal Aerosol Can Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Materials Analysis2.1.1 Upstream Raw Materials Price Analysis2.1.2 Upstream Raw Materials Market Analysis2.1.3 Upstream Raw Materials Market Trend2.2 Down Stream Market Analysis2.1.1 Down Stream Market Analysis2.2.2 Down Stream Demand Analysis2.2.3 Down Stream Market Trend AnalysisPart II Asia Metal Aerosol Can Industry (The Report Company Including the Below Listed But Not All)Chapter Three Asia Metal Aerosol Can Market Analysis3.1 Asia Metal Aerosol Can Product Development History3.2 Asia Metal Aerosol Can Competitive Landscape Analysis3.3 Asia Metal Aerosol Can Market Development TrendEnquiry before Buying @Market Research Globe is a competent consulting company in the field of Global Market Research. We provide our clients a wide range of customized Marketing and Business Research Solutions to choose from, with the help of our ingenious database developed by experts. We help our clients understand the strengths of diverse markets and how to exploit opportunities. Covering a diverse range of business scopes from Digital products to Food industry, we are your one- stop solution right from data collection to investment advices.We provide qualitative analysis of the current market scenario, latest market trends, price and cost changes, product growth rate and market share of the competitors through our exclusive syndicated research. Our comprehensive syndicated reports penetrate deep into micro levels of each target segment of the referred industry. We begin our journey into market research for every project through extensive primary data driven researches, from key suppliers in the industry.Liberty Society,Koregaon Park, Pune- 411001,Maharashtra, India.
Global Microarray Market to be Driven by Increasing Awareness among the People Regarding Genetic Diseases, Education, Government Initiatives

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Microarray is an advanced molecular biology technique used to spot expressions of many genes at the same time. Gene expression is a crucial part of normal gene functioning and plays significant role in understanding normal growth and development of life. Any abnormalities in gene functioning can lead to critical disease. Research involving the study of many genes by traditional method is next to impossible. Microarrays serve the purpose. Thousands of genes can be arrayed at one time and analyzed accurately. It is fast, accurate, cost effective and easy to do assay design.Microarray can be used for many micro molecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and also for enzymes, carbohydrates, and tissues. It can be used for gene expression profiling, molecular interactions, biomarker profiling, enzyme activity, pathway identification, and mutations. Microarray is not limited to basic research, but has expanded to clinical research and diagnosis.Obtain Report Details @Based on type, microarrays can be segmented into DNA microarrays, protein microarrays, and antibody microarrays. DNA microarrays can be used for single nucleotide polymorphism-based diagnostics, forensic detection, gene expression profiling, etc. Large number of applications of DNA microarrays makes it a major segment of the microarray market. Protein microarrays are used in biomarker screening, enzyme substrate profiling, small molecule profiling, protein-protein interaction, etc. Antibody microarrays find applications in immunology in antibody specificity profiling, electronic immunoassays, etc.In terms of application, microarrays can be segmented into gene expression profiling tool, comparative genomics tool, disease diagnosis, drug discovery, and toxicological research involving the uncharacterized microbial populations exposed to toxins and pollutants. With the help of microarrays some of the uncharacterized microbes can be identified and their original gene pattern and functionality can be studied. Microarray technology has provided a new insight into the evolutionary studies, as many arrays can be studied parallel that are specific for particular species.Microarrays can be used in comparative genomics and pathway probing. Microarrays provide information, though not complete but useful, about the gene or group of genes that can be studied further, illuminating the biological pathways. Microarray has helped in better understanding of some diseases, their pathogenesis, and genetics. Scientists are able to differentiate cancer on the basis of organs harboring tumor, leading to a better understanding of gene pattern in the tumor cells. Microarray has also benefitted therapeutics development.Better understanding of any drug addiction followed by better treatment in any patient is an example of it. In diagnosis of diseases, particularly at the time of outbreaks, where a quick and accurate diagnosis is required, microarray has gained recognition in identifying the causative agent or the pathogen and the specific strain or antigen (serotype).Based on product type and analysis, the microarray market can be segmented into consumables and instruments. Large number of applications of microarray has led to high demand for consumables such as reagents, primers, buffers, DNA chips, and reagent kits.Microarray has widespread applications in genomics as well as proteomics. The progressively evolving information and software technology and emerging bioinformatics are some of the factors driving the microarray market, making it economical, unfailing, and durable. The development of biological products such as vaccines and therapeutic proteins involving microarray technologies could lead to promising results. However government protocols have mentioned that minor changes in the biological process may lead to distinguished end product, there is an urgent need of extensive testing and authentication. And these factors may hamper the market.For more information on this report, fill the form @In terms of region, the microarray market can be segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America was the largest market for microarrays. Advanced technology, high quality result oriented research, public awareness about personal health, and government initiatives are the factors contributing to the growth of the microarray market in North America. Europe was the second largest market for microarrays, followed by Asia Pacific. Increasing awareness among the people about genetic diseases, education, government initiatives, and modern technology in diagnosis and treatment of diseases are propelling the microarray market in Asia Pacific.Key players in the microarray market are Agilent Technologies, Illumina, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific and Merck. Other companies include Applied Microarrays, BioGenex, Perkin Elmer, QIAGEN, and Phalanx Biotech.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Market Growth, Trends, Demand by Application

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SummaryThis report helps to analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Market.DescriptionThe Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Market report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales industry. This report evaluates the Global market for "Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales".The Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Market report provides complete analysis of the Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Market by analysing all round market dynamics such as regional market opportunities, drivers, challenges, constraints, threats, and other market trends.The Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Market report contains latest Business Data resulting from various Research sources that helps Decision Makers to deliver a Distinctive and Trustworthy Analysis for Companys Growth.Get a PDF Sample of Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Market report at:The Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Market Survey starts with Industry overview of Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Market covering Major Regions Status, Industry Chain Structure, Definitions and Specifications, with a detailed focus on Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis including Raw Material Suppliers, Equipment Suppliers and Manufacturing Process.In Next Part, the researchers has collected and presented information on Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis which comprises of Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source of Major Manufacturers in 2015.In following segment, with Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin, Business Region Distribution Analysis, Competition between various Company Profile has been given along with Product Pictures and Specifications in Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Industry Report.The Key Players Mentioned in Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Market Report are: Cuisinart Havells Kenstar Koninklijke Philips Tefal Waring AvalonBay Breville Hamilton Beach Brands Jarden Consumer Solutions National Presto Industriesou can Purchase the Full Report Here:The Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Industry Report is also a Great Source of Marketing Type Analysis consisting:1. Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Regional Marketing Type Analysis2. Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales International Trade Type Analysis3. Traders or Distributors with Contact Information of Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales by Regions4. Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales Supply Chain AnalysisSome Points From TOC:Chapter One: Residential Electric Fryers Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Residential Electric Fryers1.2 Classification of Residential Electric Fryers by Product CategoryChapter Two: Global Residential Electric Fryers Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Residential Electric Fryers Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Residential Electric Fryers Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)Chapter Three: United States Residential Electric Fryers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Residential Electric Fryers Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Residential Electric Fryers Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)No. of Report Pages: 117For Any Query, before Purchasing Report Click Here:Lastly, the Report provides Development Trend Analysis for 2016-2021 years which will forecast Market Size (Volume and Value), Sales Price, Consumption Forecast, Market Trend (Product Type) and Market Trend (Application). Also the List of Major Consumers is analyzed and Contact Details are provided to easy communicating.Finally, the Report is concluded with Various Methodology, Analyst Introduction and Data SourcesOrbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:
Bizerba SliceCheck for Visual Inspections of Sliced Products

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Bizerbas visual inspection system SliceCheck enables visual 100-percent inspections of sliced products before packaging. The real-time check detects mechanical damages and visual flaws including torn edges, holes or false orientation and rejects faulty products in time, thus saving material and cost.SliceCheck enables visual 100-percent inspections of sliced products before packaging.Following the slicing process, SliceChecks visual inspection technology checks the top slice of each product stack for criteria like shape, size, position and composition. Faults including folds, cracks and imperfections result in the products ejection from the process before entering the packaging stage. Depending on the product, the inspection system checks and measures the products appearance with respect to fat content, bloodstains and marbling. For instance, the system checks cooked ham for the position and thickness of the crust. Raw ham, in turn, is checked for slices penetrated by fat or parts of the knuckle. In addition, SliceCheck detects spots that are penetrated by dark veins and do not meet the quality requirements. Thus, product quality can be ensured before the packaging process.Continuous monitoring and adjusting of parameters while slicing and shaping ham helps to improve equipment productivity. By providing detailed information including the appearance, fat content and completeness of each product stack, the system creates a database that can be used to analyze and optimize the upstream slicing process. End-to-end traceability is also enabled by archiving images and production data.SliceCheck also detects the height and orientation of the entire product stack, thus enabling precise placement in the package. This avoids flaws like inclusions of material in the sealed seam or leaky spots. Contactless quality checks also improve the hygiene conditions of the entire operation by reducing the risk of contamination due to human intervention.Checking up to 100 stacks per minute per lane, the system can be straightforwardly connected to existing monitoring software or the companys internal ERP system. Synchronous checking on two parallel lanes or asynchronous checking on multiple lanes is equally possible.Apart from sliced products, SliceCheck can also be used for pastry including cookies or donuts.About BizerbaBizerba offers its customers in industry, trade, and logistics a globally unique solutions portfolio of hardware and software around the central value "weight". This portfolio includes products and solutions related to slicing, processing, weighing, cashing, checking, commissioning and labeling. A wide range of services from consulting and service, labels and consumables to leasing complete the portfolio.Since 1866 Bizerba has made a significant contribution to the developments in the area of weighing technology and today is represented in 120 countries. The customer base includes globally operating companies in trade and industry as well as retailers, bakeries and butcheries. With around 3.900 employees worldwide and with its headquarters in Balingen, Baden Wuerttemberg, Bizerba has been in the same family for five generations. Additional production facilities are located in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, China and USA. Bizerba also has a global network of sales and service locations.Bizerba (UK) Ltd2-4 Erica RoadStacey BushesMilton KeynesMK12 6HSPhone +44 1908 682-740Fax +44 1908 682-777E-mail info@bizerba.co.uk
Global Vial Adaptors for Reconstitution Drug Market: Reduced Risk of Needlestick Injuries Ups Demand

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The 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%.Obtain Report Details @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.Make an Enquiry @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 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. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Europe Smoke Alarms Market Research Report 2017

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is report studies the Smoke Alarms market status and outlook of Europe and major countries, from angles of players, countries, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in Europe and major countries, and splits the Smoke Alarms market by product type and applications/end industries.As for the European smoke alarm industry, the industry structure is relatively concentrated. The top three manufacturers have 29.32% sales revenue market share in 2016. Kidde, which has 10.75% market share in 2016, is the leader in the smoke alarm industry. The manufacturers following Kidde are Ei Electronics and First Alert, which respectively has 9.78% and 8.79% market share in Europe. The X-Sense is the leader of China smoke alarm industry. It sells a total of 61.2 million dollar smoke alarm products in Europe in the year of 2016.Get sample report @Second, the European consumption of smoke alarm products rises up from 49501 k units in 2012 to 89942 k units in 2016, with an average annual growth rate of 16.10%. At the same time, the revenue of European smoke alarm sales market has a leap from 940.4 m dollars to 1885.4 m dollars. The reason causes this increase is the growing demand for the smoke alarm products in German policies.Figures Global and Europe Market Size (Million USD) Comparison 2012-2022Source: Annual Reports, Secondary Information, Press Releases, Expert Interviews and QYResearch, Mar 2017Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Smoke Alarms in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringGermanyUKFranceBeneluxItalySpainOn the basis of product, the Smoke Alarms market is primarily split intoPhotoelectric Smoke AlarmsIonization smoke alarmsCombination Smoke AlarmsOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversHome smoke alarmPublic Places smoke alarmBrowse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Smoke Alarms Overview11.1 Product Overview and Scope of Smoke Alarms11.1.1 Definition of Smoke Alarm11.1.2 Specifications of Smoke Alarm11.2 Classification of Smoke Alarms by Product Category21.2.1 Europe Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)21.2.2 Europe Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) Market Share (%) by Types (Product Category) in 201631.2.3 Photoelectric Smoke Alarms31.2.4 Ionization smoke alarms41.2.5 Combination Smoke Alarms51.3 Europe Smoke Alarms Market by Applications/End Users51.3.1 Europe Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)51.3.2 Home smoke alarm61.3.3 Public Places smoke alarm71.4 Europe Smoke Alarms Market by Countries71.4.1 Europe Smoke Alarms Revenue (Million USD) Comparison by Countries (2012-2022)71.4.2 Germany Smoke Alarms Status and Prospect (2012-2022)81.4.3 France Smoke Alarms Status and Prospect (2012-2022)91.4.4 UK Smoke Alarms Status and Prospect (2012-2022)101.4.5 Italy Smoke Alarms Status and Prospect (2012-2022)111.4.6 Benelux Smoke Alarms Status and Prospect (2012-2022)121.4.7 Spain Smoke Alarms Status and Prospect (2012-2022)121.5 Europe Market Size (Revenue and Sales) of Smoke Alarms (2012-2022)131.5.1 Europe Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2022)131.5.2 Europe Smoke Alarms Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2022)142 Europe Smoke Alarms by Players, Type and Application162.1 Europe Smoke Alarms Market Competition by Players/Suppliers162.1.1 Europe Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) of Key Players (2012-2017)162.1.2 Europe Smoke Alarms Revenue (Million USD) and Share (%) by Players (2012-2017)182.2 Europe Smoke Alarms (Revenue and Sales) by Type202.2.1 Europe Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Type (2012-2017)202.2.2 Europe Smoke Alarms Revenue and Market Share (%) by Type (2012-2017)222.3 Europe Smoke Alarms (Revenue and Sales) by Countries242.3.1 Europe Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Countries (2012-2017)242.3.2 Europe Smoke Alarms Revenue and Market Share (%) by Countries (2012-2017)262.4 Europe Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) by Application283 Germany Smoke Alarms (Revenue, Sales and Price)303.1 Germany Smoke Alarms (Revenue and Sales) (2012-2017)303.1.1 Germany Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)303.1.2 Germany Smoke Alarms Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)313.1.3 Germany Smoke Alarms Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)323.2 Germany Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Players/Supplier323.3 Germany Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Type333.4 Germany Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications354 UK Smoke Alarms (Revenue, Sales and Price)364.1 UK Smoke Alarms (Revenue and Sales) (2012-2017)364.1.1 UK Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)364.1.2 UK Smoke Alarms Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)374.1.3 UK Smoke Alarms Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)384.2 UK Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Players/Supplier384.3 UK Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Type394.4 UK Smoke Alarms Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications40About 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
Worldwide Modified Starches Market is expected to rise at a remarkable CAGR of 4.22% By 2022.

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Global Modified Starches market Information- with respect to source (corn, wheat, cassava, potato, and others), form (powder, liquid , and gel) application {Food & Beverages (Confectionery, Processed food, Beverages, others), Non-Food (Corrugating & Paper making, Pharmaceutical, textiles, Personal Care, and others)} and Region - Forecast till 2022Report DescriptionMarket ScenarioModified starches are starch derivatives which are prepared from processing modified starches. Modified starches have better functionality in terms of solubility with cold water, stable viscosity with variations of temperature, hot fluidity and constant stability. Modified starches finds its application in the food industry (microwaveable ready meals, powdered soups, jams, and others.) and in the pulp and paper industry particularly in corrugated cardboard and paper to improve paper strength, surface appearance and others.Versatility of starches especially modified starches, makes it suitable for wide variety of food application. They are highly used as food additives as they enhances texture, viscosity, gel formation, adhesion, binding, moisture retention, film formation and more. In recent years, modified starches are also used as fat substitutes in the production of low calorie food. Globally the market for modified starches is estimated to grow at the rate of about 4.22% from 2016 to 2022.Key PlayersThe leading market players in the global modified starches market primarily are Cargill, Incorporated (U.S.), Archer Daniels Midland Company (U.S.), Ingredion Incorporated (U.S.), Tate & Lyle PLC (U.K.), Agrana Beteiligungs-AG (Austria), Grain Processing Corporation (U.S.), and Roquette Freres (France)Get a Sample Report @Market SegmentsModified starches market has been segmented on the basis of source of modified starches, market is segmented into corn, wheat, cassava, potato, and other sources. On the basis of form, market is segmented into powder, liquid and gel. On basis of application, market is segmented into food & beverages and non-food application, food application includes confectionery, processed food, beverages, and others. Non-food applications includes corrugation and papermaking, personal care, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and others includes mining & drilling, construction & building, adhesives, chemicals and animal feed.Target AudienceModified starches manufacturersFood and beverages manufacturersTextilesPharmaceuticalsPersonal CareRetailers & wholesalersE-commerce companiesTraders, importers and exportersKey FindingsCorrugation & paper making is projected to dominate the market and will grow at a CAGR of 4.22%Rise in demand for confectionery from the range of food & beverage sector will grow at CAGR 4.25%In European region Germany dominates the market, followed by FranceGet a Browse Report @Regional and Country Analysis of Modified starches Market Development and Demand Forecast to 2022 MarketAs per the MRFR analysis, the global modified starches market is poised to reach 33.10 MMT in 2022, to grow at a CAGR of 4.22 % during the forecasted period.Regional AnalysisThe global modified starches market is in the entire world; to name few regions where this market exist are North America, Europe, China and Asia Pacific. Among these APAC has the major market share followed by North America. Europe is projected to grow at the fastest rate in the coming years owing to rising demand for modified starches from the paper industry, and textiles. Due to the cheap raw materials & low production costs as well as less stringent environment regulations Asia-Pacific region is in a better position to produce starch at more competitive prices than developed countries in European and North American region.The reports also cover country level analysis:North AmericaUSCanadaMexicoEuropeGermanyFranceK.ItalyAsia  PacificChinaIndiaThailandJapanRoWLatin AmericaAfricaMiddle-EastAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Smart Education and Learning Market Projected to grow at USD 952 Billion between 2017 and 2023 with CAGR of 26%

Smart Education and Learning Market

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Market Scenario:The upcoming revolution in education system is replacing traditional classroom and learning methods. The implementation of information technology is driving the smart education and learning market. Educational institutes are adopting advanced teaching methods and tools which includes white boards, projectors and smart notebooks. Implementation of such technologies in classroom improves understanding of students and provide with a clearer view about what to learn. Coordination between hardware provider, software innovator and education material provider is making learning easy for students. The smart education and learning market is segmented on the basis of software, hardware, service, application and deployment and organization size. The software segmentation includes learning management system, learning content management system and adaptive learning platform and assessment services. The LMS is the software that powers eLearning, and in its most common form it consists of two separate parts. In the first part, a server component performs the core functionality, such as creating, managing and delivering courses, authenticating users, serving data and notifications. The second part is the user interface that runs inside the browser as a web (like Gmail or Facebook), that is used by administrators, instructors and students.The Smart Education and Learning market is expected to grow at approximately USD 952 Billion by 2023, at 26% of CAGR between 2017 and 2023.Request a Sample Report @Market Segments:Smart education and learning market for segment on the basis of software, hardware, service, application, deployment and organization size.Smart Education and Learning Market by Software: Learning Management System (LMS) Learning Content Management System Adaptive Learning Platform Assessment ServicesSmart Education and Learning Market by Hardware: Interactive White Boards (WBS) Interactive Displays Interactive Tables Student Response SystemsSmart Education and Learning Market by Service: Managed Services Professional ServicesSmart Education and Learning Market by Application: Government Enterprise/Business Education NGOs and Association Professional Services HealthcareSmart Education and Learning Market by Deployment: Cloud On-PremiseSmart Education and Learning Market by Organization Size: Small And Medium Organization Large OrganizationBrowse Report Details @Study Objectives of Smart Education and Learning Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the smart education and learning market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the smart education and learning market based 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 on the basis of software, hardware, service, application, deployment and organization size.Key Players:The prominent players in the smart education and learning market are  Adobe Systems Inc. (U.S.) Blackboard (U.S.) Educomp (India) Cisco Systems Inc. ( U.S.) McGraw-Hill Education (U.S.) NIIT Limited (India) Pearson Plc. (U.K.) Desire2Learn (Canada) SumTotal System Inc. (U.S.) Smart Technologies (Canada) Ellucian Company L.P (U.S.) Tata Interactive Systems (India) Promethean Inc. (U.K.) Saba Software Inc. (U.S.)Request Table of Contents for this Report @Intended Audience Investors and consultants System Integrators Government Organizations Research/Consultancy firms Technology solution providers IT Solution Providers Educational InstitutesRegional Analysis:The regional analysis of smart education and learning market is being studied for region such as Asia pacific, Americas, Europe and Rest of the World. The increasing demand for high-tech education is driving the market. North America to dominate the smart education and learning market. AsiaPacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market due to the high adoption of smart education and learning techniques in developing countries.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Sterility Testing Market Size, Trends, Growth, and Forecast to 2021

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The report firstly introduced Global Sterility Testing Market including classification, application and industry chain overview; Then we deeply analyzed global growth forecast indicators by the as well as the regional market conditions that including the product price, profit, utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc.Make an Enquiry @In the end, the report introduced medical suction device market SWOT analysis, PEST analysis, market share analysis and competitive landscape, company profiles by analyzing the major players. It is a depth research study on Global Sterility Testing Market. We are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Sterility Testing Market. industry chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.Access report Details @Table of Contents1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope Of The Study1.3 Market Structure2 Research Methodologies2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model3 Report Excerpt4 Forecast Indicators4.1 Introduction4.2 Growth Drivers4.3 Growth Barriers4.4 Growth Opportunities4.5 Macroecnomical Indicators5 Market Analyses6 Global Sterility Testing Market, By Type6.1 Introduction6.2 Sterility Testing Services6.2.1 Direct Inoculation (Immerson)6.2.2 Membrane Filtration6.2.3 Others6.3 Consumables Reagents & Assay Kits Other Consumables6.4 Instruments7 Global Sterility Testing Market, By End User7.1 Introduction7.2 Pharmaceutical Companies7.3 Medical Device Manufacturers7.4 Research Laboratories7.5 Other Industrial Laboratories8 Geographical Explorations8.1 Introduction8.2 North America8.2.1 Usa8.2.2 Canada8.3 Europe8.3.1 Germany8.3.2 France8.3.3 U.K.8.3.4 Italy8.3.5 Spain8.3.6 Rest of Europe8.4 Asia-Pacific8.4.1 Japan8.4.2 China8.4.3 India8.4.4 South Korea8.4.5 Rest of Asia8.5 Rest of The World9 Competitive Analyses9.1 Introduction9.2 Competitive/Strategic Scenario10 Company Profiles11 Appendixes11.1 Discussion Blue Print11.2 Industry Expert Quotes11.3 BibliographyContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Sterility Testing Market Research Report  Forecast 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
Smart Light and Control Market Outlook and Global Forecast 2027

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The Global Smart Light and Control Market are expected to grow Rapidly with good CAGR. There are many market growth factors for Global Smart Light and Control Market, some of the market growth influencers are, Continuously Declining Average Selling Price (Asp) Of Led Bulbs, Influx of Smart Apps, Internet of Things and Remote Access & Control by Software Providers, smart light and control market also address the current issue of global energy crisis.Make an Enquiry @Key Market Players Acuity Brands, Ams Ag, Bytelight, Commscope, Inc., Daintree Networks, Eatons Cooper Lighting, Enlighted, Inc, Lutron, Nxp Semiconductors, Tvilight.Objective of Study: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Smart Light and Control Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To Analyze the Global Smart Light and Control 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 segments 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 Smart Light and Control Market.Market Segments:For the Better understanding of this report the Global Smart Light and Control Market has been segmented on the basis of types Fluorescent Lamps, Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL), Light Emitting Diodes (LED), High Intensity, Discharge Lamps (HID) Others. On the basis of Components LED Drivers & Ballasts, Sensors, Dimmers & Switches, Microprocessor & Controllers, Wireless Receivers & Transmitters and Others. Segmentation by connective technology Wired Connectivity Technology, Wireless Connectivity Technologies. Segmentation by application Residential, Commercial and OtherAccess Report Details @Table of Content1. Report prologue2. Global smart light and control market: introduction3. Global smart light and control market: research methodology4. Global smart light and control market: market dynamics5. Global smart light and control market: market factor analysis6. Global smart light and control market: by type (us $ million)7. Global smart light and control market: by applications (us $ million)8. Global smart light and control market, by region market value & volume forecast (us $ million)9. Global smart light and control market: by components10. Global smart light and control market: by connectivity11. Global smart light and control market: company lanscape12. Global smart light and control market: end users13. Global smart light and control market: company profile14. Conclusion15. AppendixContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Smart Light and Control Market forecast to 2027 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
Global Meat Tenderizing Agents market is estimated to grow at a higher rate-Forecast to 2023

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Market Synopsis of Meat tenderizing agents:Market Scenario:Tenderizing is a process so as to to reduce the toughness of meat fibers in a cut of meat. Tenderizing agents breaks down the meat collagen and softens the meat. The tenderness of meat depends on various factors including the meat grain, the amount of connective tissue, and the fat %. Tenderness can be improved by various techniques, generally enzymes and acids are used in this process. Enzymes are extensively used in commercial methods and acids are used on a smaller scale. The two main enzymes that are extensively used are papain, extracted from papayas, and bromelain, extracted from pineapples. Both enzymes breaks down the muscle fibers and the collagen making it softer, this major application of these enzymes will drive the market during the forecast period.The global meat tenderizing agents market is estimated to grow at a higher rate during the forecast period. The growing demand for frozen and processed meat products across the globe will be key driving factor for the global meat tenderizing agents market during the forecast period 2017-2023. Changing consumption pattern has led to a large number of consumers preferring natural protein-rich food items such as meat. Moreover, with growing disposable income among the working class in developing economies, tightly scheduled work life, and rapid urbanization will continue to support this market during 2017-2023.Request a Sample Report @Market Segmentation Meat tenderizing agents market has been segmented on the basis of agents such as protease, papain, bromelain, acids, minerals, and others. Papain dominates the market, as it is most heat stable compared to other enzymes, however bromelian will be highest growing segment, as it requires lower heat for inactivation. But combination of both these enzymes has shown huge potential. Meat tenderizing agents has been segmented on the basis of source which include plant, bacterial, fungal, and others. Plant source dominates the market followed by fungal sources, as papain is extracted from papaya and bromelian is extracted from pineapple. Hence plant source will dominate the market. Meat tenderizing agents has been segmented on the basis of application such as marinades, ready-to-cook meat and others. Ready-to-cook meat will dominate the market, as there is higher demand for processed meat.Key PlayersThe key players profiled in the Meat tenderizing agents market are Enzyme Bioscience Pvt. Ltd (India), Specialty Enzymes and Biotechnologies Co. (China), Amano Enzyme Inc. (Japan) Enzybel Internationa (Belgium), AB Enzymes (Germany), National Enzyme Company (U.S.), Enzyme Solutions (U.S.)Browse Report Details @Intended Audience Enzymes manufacturers Raw material suppliers Meat processors End users (food industry) Retailers and wholesalers E-commerce companies Traders, importers and exportersRegional AnalysisThe global meat tenderizing agents market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (ROW). Among these, North America region is estimated to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is attributed by the increasing disposable income coupled with the rising demand for processed meat. However, in Asia-Pacific region especially China and India offer a lucrative opportunity in the Asia Pacific region for the meat tenderizing agents manufacturers as the meat processing industries are expanding due to high demand & rising consumption of processed meat. Europe is also projected to witness a steady growth during the reviewed period.The Meat tenderizing agents market is segmented under the following regions mentioned below:North America U.S. Canada EuropeEurope Germany France Italy Spain U.K. Rest of EuropeAsia-Pacific China India Australia Singapore Rest of Asia PacificRest of the world Brazil Argentina Saudi Arabia South Africa OthersAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Fire, Smoke, Toxicity Retardant Composite Resin Systems -Global Industry Analysis 2024

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A new research report by Transparency Market Research offers a comprehensive evaluation of the global Fire, Smoke, Toxicity Retardant (FST) Composite Resin Market. The study, titled Fire, Smoke, and Toxicity Retardant (FST) Composite Resin Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024, is available for sale on the firms website.FST composite resins are materials that decreases the range of fire, smoke, toxic gases or postpones their access into sensitive regions. This group includes chemical agents as well as physically acting materials, e.g. fire-retardant gels, fire-fighting foams or cooling the fuels. They are called composite resins because one or more materials are mixed together to acquire the preferred properties in the end product. FST resins can be applied as coatings to an item. They have become a very distinguished in the fire retardant industry because of significance of prevention. In general, FST resins work either by starting a chemical reaction that ends the fire or by decreasing the flammability of items.Browse Market Research Report @FST resins are used in all areas to circumvent major damage. Particularly, they are very crucial in chemical laboratories and nuclear fields. Since they are offered in variety of types, they are usually used in all areas. The major advantages associated with FST composite resins are ultimate fire retardancy, low smoke emission and low smoke toxicity.Phenolic prepregs are mainly used in those businesses that require FST properties, such as interior aircraft parts, e.g. side walls and flooring. Exceptional FST properties and high glass transition temperatures (>200oC) are offered by thermoplastic resins. Thus, they can be useful in thermally challenging applications. Laminates formed from cyanate ester or polyester prepregs are volatile-free and provide very low gas permeability. Epoxy resins are used when there is a requirement of heightened mechanical properties.In pre-preg (pre-impregnated) composite fibers, matrix material (e.g. epoxy) is already present. Weave formation occurs in the fibers and the matrix functions as a medium that binds fibers and other components together during production. The matrix is only partially cured to allow easy handling.The FST composite resin market is driven by defense, aerospace and transportation industries. Use of FST composite resin is increasing in interior application of rail and aircraft, which is a major driver responsible in growth of FST composite resin market. This is due regulatory authorities strict implementation of public safety protocols. It is expected that highest growth rate will be observed in aerospace and deference applications since there is increasing use of FST composites in the interior parts of commercial aircrafts. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) are mandating the implementation of public safety protocols. Because of this, demand of FST composite in transportation and expected growth in aerospace and deference applications, the global market is driven forward.Based on varying applications, FST composite resin market is segmented into : transportation, aerospace, defense, construction, etc. Based on the material used in FST composite resin, the FST composite resin market is segmented into : phenolic, thermoplastic, polyester, epoxy, etc.In terms of value and volume, FST composite resin market is supposed to be dominated by North America. Some of the reasons for growth in this region are increasing manufacturing industries, developed environment for R&D and improvement of new product by several prominent companies. Increased use of FST composite resin in aerospace and transport sector along with U.S. possessing the largest aircraft manufacturer, the market is foremost in this region.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Fire, Smoke and Toxicity Retardant (FST) Composite Resin market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@Some of the key players include AOC LLC, Ashland Inc., BASF SE, BUFA Composite Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Hexion Inc., Huntsman International, Mader, NORD Composites, Polynt, Reichhold LLC, SABIC, Scott Bader Company Limited.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)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. 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.Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Industrial Silica Sands Industry Trends and key Insights by 2024

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A new research report by Transparency Market Research offers a comprehensive evaluation of the global Industrial Silica Sands Market. The study, titled Industrial Silica Sands Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024, is available for sale on the firms website.Industrial silica sand is high purity silica sand with almost similar sizing of particles. Silica sand is a low priced product but acts as the primary ingredient for a wide range of products. Industrial silica sand is found mostly in the crystalline form although amorphous forms are also available. Deposits of silica yielding substances with at least 95% silicon dioxide (SiO2) content is preferred for industrial and manufacturing applications.Browse Market Research Report @Industrial silica sand finds application in a wide range of industries. These include glass making, metal casting, metal production, chemical production, construction, paints & coatings, ceramics and refractories, oil & gas recovery, and recreational products. Initially, foundry casting was an important market for industrial silica sand. However, as heavy manufacturing in various regions started declining, demand for foundry sand too declined gradually. This demand is slowly stabilizing due to certain typical applications served by foundries in military, aerospace, and precision automotive parts.A relatively recent end use of industrial silica sand is in the hydraulic fracturing process employed in North American shale plays. The growth of the shale gas recovery industry is a key driver for the industrial silica sands market. According to the US Geological Survey, from a mere market share of around 5% in 2000, demand for industrial silica sand in hydraulic fracturing operations increased to around 40% of the US silica sand production by volume, making it the major market for the material in the U.S. In the UK, glass production is the major end use for industrial silica sand followed by foundry and other industrial uses.A major market opportunity for industrial silica sand exists in the utilization of new shale plays for natural gas recovery via the hydraulic fracturing process in countries other than the U.S. Some of the upcoming shale plays identified are found in countries such as Australia, China, India, Mexico, and a few Middle Eastern countries.The fall in crude oil prices acts as a restraint for the growth of the industrial silica sands market. Due to this scenario, oil producers have started to source low cost sand over high quality material due to cost competitiveness. As a result, low cost brown sand is increasingly preferred over high quality uniform and round industrial silica sand, leading to high rate of inventory of industrial silica sand with producers.North America is the largest consumption market for industrial silica sand. The U.S. and Canada contribute a very large chunk of the market in North America. Europe and Asia Pacific follow North America, with considerably lower market shares. Unimin Corp., U.S. Silica Co., Fairmount Minerals Ltd., Oglebay Norton Co., Sibelco UK Ltd, Hanson Aggregates, and Surrey and Kent Tarmac Group are some of the major producers of industrial silica sand.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Industrial Silica Sands market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@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)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. 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.Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Pinoxaden Market - Research Report

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Pinoxaden, a white fine powder belonging to the phenylpyrazole class of chemicals, was developed by Syngenta Crop Protection AG in 2005. Herbicide prevents the growth of weeds through a mechanism that does not harm crop or environment. Hence, farmers prefer pinoxaden over other chemical herbicides that adversely affect the environment. Pinoxaden is a grass-weed herbicide, which inhibits the synthesis of membrane lipids. This results in desiccation of the target grass. Spring and winter wheat and barley are the major target crops across the globe. It can be applied during early to late growth stages. Globally, it is used against wheat and barley weeds such as Apera (bentgrass), Lolium (ryegrass), Alopecurus (blackgrass), Avena (wild oats), Phalaris (canary grass), Poa (meadowgrass) and Setaria (foxtails). Pinoxaden is usually applied at a rate of 36-62 g a.i/hectare, depending upon the region and target grass species. Pinoxaden is primarily used along with safeners such as cloquintocet-mexyl and clodinafop-propargyl. Pinoxaden was first launched under the AXIAL brand in 2006. It was launched in Italy in 2008 under the AXIAL brand (pinoxaden + cloquintocet-mexyl safener) and TRAXOS (pinoxaden + clodinafop-propargyl + cloquintocet-mexyl).This 30 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Pinoxaden Market. Browse through 10 data tables and 6 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market.The pinoxaden market is expected to expand in the near future, led by rising need for higher yield of grains due to increasing population and the subsequent need for supply of food. Globally, the loss of wheat and barley due to weeds stands at 20% to 40% on an average in a year. Thus, demand for pinoxaden is rising globally, as it acts as an excellent grass-weed control herbicide. Furthermore, application of cereals in the food industry is growing and manufacturers demand for high quality cereals. This is estimated to boost demand for pinoxaden in the next few years. However, high prices of pinoxaden are anticipated to hamper market growth.Europe dominated the global pinoxaden market, accounting for over 45% share in 2013. Currently, the region accounts for nearly 30% of wheat production and more than 65% of barley production globally. Moreover, Russia, France and Germany are top three producers of barley. Hence, demand for pinoxaden is strong in Europe. North America emerged as the second-largest consumer of pinoxaden in 2013, due to rising production of wheat and barley, and increasing weed resistance of existing herbicide products. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing region from 2014 to 2020. China and India are leading producers of wheat globally. The growth of Rest of the World market is moderate owing to availability of other herbicides.Production of wheat is higher than barley owing to high demand or wheat, as it is consumed on a large scale globally. Wheat crop constituted nearly 80% of the global demand for pinoxaden in 2013. Market share of the wheat crop is further expected to increase by 2020. Demand for pinoxaden for barley is likely to rise by double digit between 2014 and 2020. Demand for high-quality barley by brewers is projected to boost the pinoxaden market in the near future.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Pinoxaden Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Currently, Syngenta AG holds the patent for pinoxaden; however, the patent is likely to expire in 2020. A large number of new entrants are anticipated to enter the pinoxaden market after the expiry of the patent. This would result in an increase in competition and reduction in prices of the product.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:
Construction Chemicals Market - Research Report

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Global Construction Chemicals Market: SnapshotThe global construction chemicals market has been gaining a steady momentum in recent years due to the growing construction and building activity. Construction chemicals or specialty chemicals are used for giving the buildings an additional layer of protection from changing climatic conditions and weathering. The demand for construction chemicals has been high in recent years as they impart aesthetic as well as functional value to the design of the structure. The various products available in the global construction chemicals market are adhesives, sealants, concrete admixtures, asphalt additives, and protective coatings. In the light of these factors, the global construction chemicals market is projected to reach a valuation of US$37.68 bn by the end of 2020.This 80 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the () market. Browse through 13 data tables and 15 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market.BRICS Emerge as Major Consumers of Construction Chemicals with Soaring Investments in InfrastructureThe booming construction industry in the BRICS countries is estimated to be the key growth driver for the global construction chemicals market. The growing number of government initiatives to improve infrastructure and housing has propelled the uptake of construction chemicals. Usage of various types of construction materials has enabled designers and builders to achieve sustainable solutions that match higher standards with minimum hazards to the environment.The growing consciousness amongst consumers about green living has also upped the demand for various types of construction chemicals. The increasing awareness about safety regulations have also augmented the uptake of construction chemicals. On the flip side, the global market for construction chemicals is expected to experience a sluggish growth rate in the developed economies as the construction industry has taken a hit due to a mature market.Out of the various products, the concrete admixture product segment held a share of more than 50% in the global construction chemicals market in 2015. Analysts estimate that this product segment will progress at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period of 2014 and 2020. These admixtures are added to concrete mix as they help in controlling the set time along with various other aspects of fresh concrete. The growing construction activities, especially of new buildings, are expected to generate a huge demand for concrete admixtures in the near future.Asphalt Additives Remains Popular due to Rapid Urbanization in Developing CountriesOn the other hand, the demand for asphalt additives is expected to be high in developing countries as these are used for making roads, parking lots, and airports among others. The infrastructural developments in the emerging economies, rapid urbanization, and growing demand for better facilities are expected to increase the uptake of asphalt additives in the near future.China to Lead Global Market are Construction Industry Gathers PaceFrom a geographic point of view, Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the global market. China is projected to be the leading consumer of construction chemicals due to the booming construction activities in the region. The increasing investments by the government in building infrastructure are expected to propel the countrys uptake of construction chemical throughout the forecast period. As of 2013, China held a share of 42% in the global market. Europe follows Chinas lead closely, but is projected to show a sluggish growth rate due to a high rate of unemployment.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Construction Chemicals Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @The key players operating in the global constructions chemicals market are BASF SE, W.R. Grace, Sika AG, The Dow Chemical Company, RPM International Inc., and MAPEI S.p.A.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:
Printing Toners Market: Global Industry Analysis 2020 | Research Report

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Digital printing involving printing toners is an integral part of the contemporary printing industry. Printing toners are composed of colored micro particles, which can be used to produce around 12 million color variants in digital presses. Furthermore, the use of laser printers for printing jobs eliminates lengthy set up times that are needed for offset printing. This makes laser printers suitable for short run printing required for quick, just-in-time and on-demand printing. Additionally, toners allow modification of the digital image, thus enabling short run printing with multiple originals. Toners used in the digital presses dry instantly as they are fused by application of heat during the printing process. This accelerates the binding process of books, manuals and catalogs. However, printing toners are costlier compared to the iPrinting Toners Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Forecast 2014 - 2020 | TransparencyMarketResearchnks used in offset printers. This cost difference is offset by the time saving benefits and image modification flexibility offered by laser printers using printing toners employed in digital presses.This 85 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Printing Toners market. Browse through 19 data tables and 28 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market.The folding carton printing and labeling industry has been one of the primary consumers of the printing toners. This trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. Additionally, the shift in consumer preference from ink to toners due to the cost effectiveness and reduction in wastage provided by laser printers is expected to boost the printing toners market in the near future. Furthermore, the increase in commercial printing applications led by the growth in the advertising & branding industry has been fuelling the printing toners market over the past few years. Large-scale printing of user manuals, catalogs, banners, bookmarks, brochures and other materials requires extensive use of printing toners. However, the adverse environmental effect of printing toners is expected to hamper market growth during the forecast period. Bio-based printing toners are anticipated to reduce the level of fossil fuels consumed during the manufacture of toners. This is anticipated to open new avenues of opportunities for the printing toners market over the next few years.Depending on the production technology, toners can be segmented into two types: conventional toners and chemically prepared toners. In 2013, conventional toners constituted over 70% share of the global printing toners market, while chemically prepared toners held the remaining share. Conventional toners are manufactured through the process of extrusion and grinding of a resin mixture into small particles. These particles are unevenly shaped, and thus, require high temperatures to melt and fuse the toner particle to the paper. Chemically prepared toners is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the market during the forecast period as these toners offer superior printing capabilities coupled with time and cost savings. Additionally, economical printers that are compatible with chemically prepared toners are expected to drive the chemically prepared toners market.The printing toners market can be segmented into three types based on the raw material used: polyester, styrene acrylic and other blends, and specialty polymers. Polyester and styrene acrylic dominated the printing toners market in 2013. Together, these accounted for over 95% share in the year. Growth in the printing market is expected to augment demand for printing toners over the next few years. Polyester and other blends and specialty polymers are expected to witness above average growth, due to their low melt viscosities and excellent color, during the forecast period.Based on the application, the global printing toners market can be segmented into monochrome printing and color printing. The color segment is expected to garner around 51% share of the global printing toners market in terms of volume by 2020. Growth in color applications of printing toners in desktop publishing, commercial printing, folding cartons printing and labeling is anticipated to drive the market for color toners during the forecast period. Monochrome printing was the preferred method for most printing needs until a few years ago.Together, North America and Europe constituted over 65% share of the global printing toners market in terms of volume in 2013. Growing demand for printing toners in the Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW) from end user industries such as packaging & printing, commercial printing, and branding & advertising is expected to boost the market for printing toners in these regions.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Printing Toners market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Canon Inc, Xerox Corporation, Samsung Fine Chemicals and Astro-Med Inc were the leading manufacturers of printing toners in 2013. Several companies have been actively expanding their printing toners business. For instance, Xerox announced the expansion of its toner manufacturing plant in Webster, New York, in August 2013. The company invested USD 5 million to expand the facility and USD 30 million on new equipment.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:
Energy Harvesting Market - Research Report

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Energy harvesting, or energy scavenging, is a process that extracts small amounts of energy that would otherwise be lost in the form of heat, light, sound, vibration or movement. It uses this captured energy to improve efficiency and enable new technology. The efficiency is enhanced in computing costs which would otherwise be altered significantly. If this left-over heat energy were harvested, it would be used to help to power other devices with lower power rating.Browse Market Research Report @Large-scale ambient energy (e.g. solar, wind and tide), is widely available and various technologies are being developed to utilize it efficiently. On the other hand, fossil Fuels are limited and an expensive sources of producing energy, which also pollutes environment. Sustainable energy can be obtained from these ambient sources. Considering the energy sector scenario there are small amounts of residual energy that could be useful if captured. Recovering these sources of energy would have a substantial economic and environmental impact. This is the incident where the energy harvesting practices need to be relied upon for energy efficiency and conservation.Rising demand of energy, increasing awareness of efficient use of energy and government support for energy conservation are driving the growth of energy harvesting market. The factor which can restrain the growth of the market are high initial investment in the technology and lack of awareness about the technology in some economies.Energy harvesting can be found in various application areas such as consumer durable electronics sector, industrial sector, building and home automation sector, military and aerospace sector, wireless sensor network (WSN), automotive sector, among others. Consumer electronics forms one of the major application areas in energy harvesting market.The application of energy harvesting technology can also be done in the building of smart cities where the practices like energy saving, resource saving can be created which will lead to a safe and secured environment from the point of view of energy usage.Energy harvesting market can be classified on the basis of different energy sources/fields. The market can be divided among: radiation (solar, electromagnetic and light, etc.), mechanical (fluid, elastic, kinetic and potential), chemical (battery, fuel cells and phase change), nuclear, magnetic, electric, thermal and gravitational. The utility of these energy sources depends upon the location of the energy harvester and can be restricted to a specific application for a given location. Among these, energy harvesting using electric and magnetic fields is most common.Energy harvesting market can also be segmented on the basis of technology used which includes light energy harvesting, thermoelectric energy harvesting, electromagnetic energy harvesting, vibration energy harvesting, and fluid energy harvesting.Energy harvesting market is segmented among various geographies like North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Europe and South and Central America for the ease of the study.Among these regions, Europe is the fastest growing market, followed by North America, Asia Pacific and other regions. In North America, the U.S. accounts for the maximum share; whereas, in Asia Pacific, Japan accounts for the largest market share in the energy harvesting market. The global energy harvesting market is expected to grow at a fast pace over the next six years.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Energy Harvesting Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Some of the key players in the energy harvesting market are Arveni, Perpetuum, SolePower, EnOcean, GreenTeg, Fujitsu, G24 Innovations, Honeywell International, ABB Ltd., Siemens AG among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel:USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Mining Truck Market - Global Industry Analysis 2023 | Research Report

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The growing mining industry is expected to increase the utilization rate of mining trucks across the globe. Furthermore, increasing industrialization is also likely to propel an additional demand for mining trucks worldwide. Increased need for mined minerals and metals is anticipated to fuel an additional global demand for the mining trucks. Furthermore, growing wealth in emerging markets across the world are key factors of growth for mined minerals and metals such as diamond.Browse Market Research Report @Increased consumption of lead in the battery and increased number of end-user applications in bullets, lead-acid batteries and as a radiation shield is likely to increase growth in the lead mining market. Increasing use of coal as an energy source in steel, cement and power sector. The above mentioned industries use mining trucks for transportation of loosened rocks on technological haul roads at open-pit mining sites. Thus, a growth in the mining industry is likely to result in a significant growth in the global mining truck market. Moreover, increased need for energy is expected to augment the global demand for mining truck market.Mining trucks, also known to as a haul truck, are rigid dump trucks engineered for their use in off-road and off-highway conditions. Innovative design and technology allows the market players to avoid production delays due to slippery roads. This truck is specifically engineered for the use in heavy-duty construction and high-production mining environments. The global mining truck market can be segmented on the basis of their payload capacity, product type, drive options, and number of axles. On the basis of payload capacity, the global mining truck market can be segmented as 90-110 metric tons, 127-150 metric tons, 154-190 metric tons, 218-255 metric tons, 290 metric tons, and 308-363. However, several market players are continually developing their product to increase payload capacity. OJSC Belaz in 2013 launched worlds largest mining truck with a payload capacity of 450 metric tons.The global mining truck market on the basis of product type can be segmented as bottom dump, rear dump, lube, tow, water and others. The mining dump trucks are large bottom dump truck or rear dump truck which transport or haul large amount of materials. The choice of the type and size of mining dump truck would depend upon numerous factors including size of mine, type of mine, mined minerals, excavation machinery available, and capital investable or invested. This type of dump truck is mostly suited for open-cut operations or open-pit mining. On the contrary, smaller articulated trucks are mostly used for underground mining. Bottom dump trucks discharges mined material below the machine. This type of truck is mostly used for coal transportation to dump stations. They are designed to allow the coal to fall below the truck into a crusher or hooper.On the basis of drive options, the global mining truck market can be segmented as a mechanical or electrical drive. The market on the basis of the number of axles can be given as 2, 3, 4 or more axle trucks. Advances in transmission and drive trains in mechanical trucks are likely to boost demand for this market segment in the near future. Stringent production standards set by mining companies to meet the unprecedented demand for materials mined, various equipment manufacturers are laying emphasis on building larger and efficient trucks to suit unique challenges and environment.The need for efficient and smooth transfer of large quantity mined material is likely to play an important role in the growth of this market. Technological advances by the market players, such as Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) by Komatsu, are anticipated to provide ample growth opportunities in the global mining truck market. The market is likely to grow at a significant rate in the future. Product development by various market players such as Komatsu, Hitachi, Belaz and Terex is likely to boost growth across all the regions.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Mining Truck Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Some of the key players in the global mining trucks market include BAS Mining Trucks, Caterpillar, Inc., European Truck Factory GmbH, H-E Parts International, LLC, Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., Komatsu Ltd., Liebherr, OJSC Belaz, Terex Corporation, and The Parker Bay Company.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:
Global Polycarbonate Glazing Market is Expected to grow at a Healthy CAGR during 2016-2022

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Global Polycarbonate Glazing Market Information- by Application (Architectural Glazing, Skylights and Sidelights, Conservatory Roofing, windscreens, Illuminated Signage and Displays, and Others), by End User (Warehouses, Factories, Automotive, Horticulture & Agriculture, Commercial Buildings, Hospitals, and Others) and by Region - Forecast till 2022Polycarbonate glaze is a substitute to glass which is a lightweight sheet with higher durability and high class thermal insulation. Moreover, polycarbonate glaze is higher impact-resistant and has 3D molding properties. Additional some feature such as solar cells, heating filaments, and reflecting foils are also increase the requirement of polycarbonate glaze.In roof lights, conservatories and vertical glazing applications require thicker, thermally insulating structures provide free natural daylight into a building with slight heat loss increasing the overall energy efficiency of the building. Solar controlling dual tinted sheets reduce heat build-up and solar glare and create a private internal environment which required in industrial application such architectural roof lights, conservatories. Polycarbonate glaze used in various applications such as architectural glazing, skylights and sidelights, conservatory roofing, windscreens, illuminated signage and displays, and others.With improvements in the technology, polycarbonate glaze became a recommendable substitute to glass, making it an ideal choice for architectural delighting. Polycarbonate glaze provides improved impact resistance and flammability behavior compared with acrylic, without damage well-being and security against toxic.Increase in demand of automotive industry with the application light-weight glaze at a global market positive impact on the market growth for polycarbonate glaze in the near future. Growing demand for automotive sunroofs in automotive will boost the growth of the global polycarbonate glazing market.Request for sample report atAsia-Pacific is hold to be the biggest market for polycarbonate glazing in, due to large production and increasing demand of automobile industries such as automotive windscreens, sunroofs, and others, with North America following at a second position due to rapid technological upgrading. North American standards for polycarbonate glazing materials are the most demanding as they requires high resistance and durability in various technologies. Europe observe the growing global polycarbonate glazing market due to advancement in horticulture & agriculture and automotive industry followed by Middle East.The major key players of this market are: Brett Martin Plastic Sheets (UK) Access Plastics ltd (Europe) Palram Industries Ltd. (Middle East) Chi Mei Corporation (Taiwan) Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd (Japan) Sheffield Plastics Inc. (US) Webasto Thermo & Comfort UK Ltd (UK) Freeglass GmbH & Co. KG (Germany) Guangdong Amuse Plastic Products Co., Limited (China) Haiyan Huashuaite Plastics Electric Appliances Co. (China)The global polycarbonate glazing market is majorly segmented on the basis of application, end users and region. Based on application of polycarbonate glazing the market is segmented into architectural glazing, skylights and sidelights, conservatory roofing, windscreens, illuminated signage and displays, and others. Based on end user the market segmented into warehouses, factories, automotive, horticulture & agriculture, commercial buildings, hospitals, and others.Browse complete report atTABLE OF CONTENTS1 Executive Summary2 Scope of The Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope of The Study2.2.1 Research Objectives2.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations2.3 Markets Structure3 Market Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Secondary Research3.3 Primary Research3.4 Forecast Model4 Market Landscape4.1 Five Forces Analysis4.1.1 Threat of New Entrants4.1.2 Bargaining power of buyers4.1.3 Threat of substitutes4.1.4 Segment rivalry4.2 Value Chain/Supply Chain of Global Polycarbonate Glazing Market5 Industry Overview of Global Polycarbonate Glazing Market5.1 Introduction5.2 Growth Drivers5.3 Impact analysis5.4 Market Challenges5.5 Impact analysis6 Market Trends6.1 Introduction6.2 Growth Trends6.3 Impact analysis7. Global Polycarbonate Glazing Market by Region10. Company Profiles10.1 Brett Martin Plastic Sheets10.2 Access Plastics ltd10.3 Palram Industries Ltd.10.4 Chi Mei Corporation10.5 Idemitsu Kosan Co10.6 Sheffield Plastics Inc.10.7 Webasto Thermo & Comfort UK Ltd10.8 Guangdong Amuse Plastic Products Co10.9 Haiyan Huashuaite Plastics Electric Appliances Co.10.10 Freeglass GmbH & Co. KG11 ConclusionAt 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 AnandP: +1 646 845 9312W:
Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) Devices Market: Use extensively in the telecommunication industries, defense, consumer electronics, and military sectors

Global Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) Devices Market, Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) Devices Market

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Over past few decades, there have been many investments aimed at the development and commercialization of bulk acoustic wave devices. These devices are being used extensively in the telecommunication industries, defense, consumer electronics, and military sectors. Bulk acoustic wave devices are basically used for applications that need high frequency filters. Owing to an increase in the replacement of the conventionally used surface acoustic wave principle with bulk acoustic wave, especially in mobile application, the global bulk acoustic wave devices market is flourishing. Several advantages are associated with bulk acoustic wave devices over surface acoustic wave devices and they are: Enhanced efficiency, ability to operate above 2.4 GHz, and more compactness. In addition to all these benefits, a drop in the price of these devices, on account of extensive R&D is also boosting their adoption.The report segments the global bulk acoustic wave devices market on the basis of device, end use industry, and geography. It studies the main factors having an impact on the market and this includes factors driving the growth and factors hampering the growth of the bulk acoustic wave devices market. In addition to this, key opportunities in the market as well as latest trends in the bulk acoustic wave devices industry have also been given, making this research report a valuable resource for making profitable business decisions regarding investment in this market.Obtain Report Details @Some of the factors boosting the global bulk acoustic wave devices market are their increasing use in the automotive industry, in microwave devices, and in 4G technology for smart phones, Big automobile companies such as Audi, Mercedes, BMW, and Toyota are investing extensively in the research and development with the motto of developing products that integrate smart devices. Bulk acoustic wave devices are being used and will also be useful in the future so that devices inside vehicles can remain connected and users can get enhanced driving experience. Thus, the trend of connected vehicles will assure a growth for the global bulk acoustic wave devices market. Moreover, the integration of bulk acoustic wave devices with active integrated circuits is expected to create key growth opportunities in the market worldwide.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) Devices Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@On the basis of geography, the global bulk acoustic wave device market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Of these, Asia Pacific followed by North America led in the bulk acoustic wave device market. The flourishing automotive and consumer electronics markets are behind the high growth of the market in Asia Pacific. On the other hand, it is the aerospace and defense sectors which are creating a heightened demand for bulk acoustic wave devices in North America and driving the market in the region. The leading factor boosting the growth of the market in Europe is the high demand for these devices in wireless sensing in harsh environments. Moreover, Europe is the base for some of the largest automotive companies, which is also behind the growth of the European bulk acoustic wave devices market.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. 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:
Wi-Fi Extender Market: Geological and Competitive Dynamics, Report Overview 2025

Wi-Fi Extender Market, Wi-Fi Extender Market share, Wi-Fi Extender Market size

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Wi-Fi Extender technologically known as Wi-Fi range expander. This is a type of wireless repeater that is used to expand the reach and capacity of a wireless LAN. This devices is placed in between an access point or base router and a client that is far enough not to receive acceptable service or that is on the other side of the barrier. The Wi-Fi extender picks up the signal and resends it or retransmits it and thereby connects without any wired connectivity.These Wi-Fi extenders are helpful to those clients who has very limited access or weak signal in comparison to the one who does not have any access at all. The Wi-Fi Extender market has been segmented into type, product, application, end user industry and geography.In terms of type, the Wi-Fi Extender market can be segmented into outdoor Wi-Fi, indoor Wi-Fi and transportation Wi-Fi. In terms of product the Wi-Fi Extender market can be segmented into wireless local area network, wireless hotspot gateways, access points, repeaters and relays among others.Additionally, in terms of application, the Wi-Fi Extender market can be segmented into installation, support, maintenance, survey and analysis, network planning and design. Moreover, the Wi-Fi extender market is also segmented in terms of end user industry into healthcare, defense and military, retail and hospitality, transportation and logistics, public sector , oil and gas, Banking and financial services , manufacturing and education among others. In terms of geography, the Wi-Fi Extender market can be segmented into five geographies namely North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA) and Latin America.Obtain Report Details @Increased usage of wi-fi extenders in smart devices and increase in investment on smart devices by the key vendors across the globe has contributed to the growth of wi-fi extenders market.. Moreover,the concept of smart cities and smart buildings and connected cities are also going to drive the demand in wi-fi extender market. Due to these concept there is an increase in demand of public wi-fi networks, for safety management, waste and water management, traffic management, healthcare management and infrastructure management among others Increased deployment of LTE technology in the telecommunications industry is a major factor driving the expansion of the Wi-Fi Extender market.Increased technological need to reduce the data cost and increased usage of internet and internet based applications are also important factors prompting the expansion of the Wi-Fi Extender market. Rapid expansion and development of the consumer electronics industry, safety and defense industry has set a trend that is making way for new business opportunities. This, in turn, is driving the expansion of the Wi-Fi Extender market globally. Increasing awareness of various technological modifications is a key factor driving the demand for Wi-Fi Extender in the market.Fast-changing trends and consumer preferences such as customization and industry-specific testing services are key factors that have led to the rise in demand for Wi-Fi Extender in the market. Furthermore, increased demand for cloud computing services and applications is playing a vital role in the expansion of the Wi-Fi Extender market.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Wi-Fi Extender Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@By geography, Wi-Fi Extenders market has been segmented into five regions as Asia-Pacific (APAC), North America, Europe, South America and Middle East & Africa (MEA). North America is the dominant segment in the global Wi-Fi Extender market followed by South America and Asia Pacific (APAC). In terms of revenue and market share, North America leads the market globally. Expansion of the telecommunications and network industry and rise of regional players has led to the expansion of the Wi-Fi Extender market. The U.S. is expanding consistently in the Wi-Fi Extender market.APAC is a rapidly expanding segment in the Wi-Fi Extender market. The U.S. is among the leading contributors to the North America Wi-Fi Extender market.The top players in the market include Cisco Systems, Inc, Alcatel-Lucent, Aruba Networks, Ericsson, Netgear, Ruckus Wireless, Juniper Networks, Motorola Solutions and others. Apart from top players in the market, the Wi-Fi market report also covers small and mid-sized vendors such as Arqiva, WiFi Spark, C-3 Wireless, Digital Wireless, Aeroscot, Acrylic, Fluke Networks, Intello, Dvois, Airangel, Connect 802, Purple Wi-Fi, TIS ltd, Transbeam, and others. Key players such as Cisco and Juniper Networks offer Wi-Fi products and services for enterprises, service providers, and indoor and outdoor networks.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:
Bills release multiple artist renderings of new stadium The morning of Oct. 27 was a day Buffalo Bills fans have been patiently waiting for  a reveal of what the new stadium will potentially look like. The team...

County officials, law firm representatives host public hearing on new stadium SEQR Erie County officials, representatives from Phillips Lytle LLP, power players for a new stadium and interested Buffalo Bills fans packed into one of the community rooms of the Brush Mountain...
Oregonians in the individual insurance market should brace themselves for yet another year of double-digit rate hikes.

Eight insurance companies are seeking increases ranging from 6.9 percent to 21.8 percent over 2017. The companies had until Tuesday to submit their 2018 rate requests with the Oregon Insurance Commission.

Some consumers will also face dwindling choices for insurance. In Lane, Lincoln and Tillamook counties, just two insurance companies applied to do business in the individual market.

State regulators will consider the rate requests and negotiate final numbers by July. The ratemaking process always requires a good deal of educated guesswork about the health and likely medical claims of the customers.

It's even more fraught with uncertainty this year as President Donald Trump and a Republican controlled Congress hope to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, the Obama-era legislation that radically changed the insurance market. While Obamacare has been hailed for extending medical coverage to millions of additional Americans, it's been far from a smooth rollout.

In Oregon, medical claims were far higher than expected, and the federal programs reneged on financial assistance to some insurance companies, like Moda Health of Portland, that were counting on it.

Some insurers have suffered big losses. Some have folded and others have exited the state or certain regions of the state.

"We continue to be concerned about the level of choice for Oregonians across the state," said Patrick Allen, DCBS director. "In the coming weeks, we will be exploring our options to ensure all Oregonians have access to plans that fit their needs."

Oregonians who get their coverage through their employers have been relatively lightly impacted by the Affordable Care Act.

In the newly filed 2018 rate requests, companies offering so-called "small-group" policies are seeking rate hikes from 2 percent to 8.5 percent.

Those in the individual market were not so lucky. Premiums for an individual policy on average jumped 23 percent in 2016 and 27 percent in 2017.

Individual policies will likely increase in price again in 2018. Of Oregon's big four insurers: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest wants a 12.4 percent hike, Moda Health Plan is proposing a 13.1 percent increase, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon is asking for 18.7 percent and Providence Health Plan wants 20.7 percent.

Atrios Health Plan submitted the biggest rate increase proposal at 21.8 percent over last year.

Starting Monday, May 22, Oregonians will be able to search rate filings and submit comments at oregonhealthrates.org.

It's unclear what will happen if Republicans in Washington succeed in killing Obamacare. They claim the repeal bill that passed the House last month will give Americans more choice. Critics say it will result in millions of Americans losing health care coverage.

-- Jeff Manning 503-294-7606

jmanning@oregonian.com
Note: This story has been updated to reflect clarifying comments the company made after the story appeared about renewable energy investments.

Students, ratepayers, "raging grannies," developers, politicians, and environmental activists packed a public meeting hall Monday to give state regulators and executives from Portland General Electric an earful about staying away from natural gas.

There was no misinterpreting their strident message for the Oregon's three public utility commissioners, punctuated by frequent bursts of applause and even some singing: Don't allow PGE to build new "fracked gas" power plants to replace the coal-fired plant it plans to close in 2020. Move toward sustainable, renewable energy. Now.

"I'm here to ask you to act responsibly," said Sophia Smith, a Cleveland High School student who kicked off two and a half hours of public comments at the Portland Building Monday night. Her fellow students stacked boxes of written comments in front of the commissioners. "If they build new gas plants, they'll be running them when I'm 56, and we all know we need to get on 100 percent renewables before that.

"It's very scary realizing that your future isn't as important as some company's profits."

It was a refrain repeated again and again as commenters raised the specter of methane leaks from gas drilled using the controversial technique of hydraulic fracturing, unhealthy pollution from gas-plant operations, uncontrolled global warming -- even "total ecosystem collapse."

"This decision is personal. Our children are at stake," said one 80-year-old Portland ratepayer.

Another customer asked commissioners not to replace one fossil fuel with another, and reminded them of previous regulators' approval of PGE's controversial Trojan Nuclear Plant in the late 1960s; its dirty Boardman coal plant in the '70s; and the utility's disastrous merger with Enron in 1997, which was approved over staff's objections.

"We're sick and tired of paying for these bad decisions," he said to loud cheers.

The sentiments expressed at Monday's meeting might be dismissed as a lot of hot air from a self-selected group of protesters, most of whom were dressed in red. But the Oregon Public Utility Commission has already received a record 7,000 public comments on Portland General Electric's newest integrated resource plan. And as it happens, the commissions own staff thinks it's a lousy plan, too.

PUC staff members issued their own comments Friday. They eviscerated the plan, suggesting that while new technologies, customer expectations, regulatory mandates and climate change are driving a profound transformation of the industry, PGE's action plan is business as usual.

They contend that PGE's plan to acquire new long-life thermal resources -- potentially building new natural gas fired plants in Boardman  poses significant risks to customers. They said PGE's forecast demand growth was too high, and urged the utility to buy what's needed in the short term rather than invest in new plants with a 40-year life.

"Staff recognizes that PGE's need for some capacity is real, though the amount remains uncertain," the staff report said, adding that PGE hadn't fully explored alternatives "outside of generation that generally fits the profile of new thermal plants."

In fact, PGE withdrew permitting requests last Friday for two gas plants in Boardman, saying it was in negotiations to acquire existing resources instead. The company said the withdrawal did not result from staff's comments, but that it had heard the criticism from a broad spectrum of stakeholders and was exploring other options.

PGE chief executive Jim Piro, who was in the audience Monday, said another gas plant at Boardman would have been a very efficient resource that displaced dirtier plants around the west. But he acknowledged that "so far, the negotiations are indicating that we can buy capacity cheaper than we can build it. And that's a good thing."

For some time, PGE has been playing up the possibility of big new infrastructure for Wall Street analysts, as such investments drive its stock price. At least one analyst has downgraded the company's stock recently as the prospect of those investments shrink.

The company is still hoping to make

a

near-term investments in new renewables  possibly a 500 megawatt wind farm -- so it can take advantage of federal tax credits that cover 30 percent of project costs before the program sunsets.

"This is good to sit and listen to our customers," Piro said Monday. "Unfortunately, the conversation here is about avoiding natural gas, not adding renewable energy."

Some advocates did urge the commission to give its blessing to PGE's renewable plan, suggesting it would help the utility integrate renewables going forward and that the economic benefits would work to ratepayers' advantage.

The PUC staff, however, didn't like that part of PGE's plan, either. They recommended that commissioners decline to bless it, saying the projected savings from the tax credits were minimal, that PGE had failed to analyze potentially cheaper alternatives, and that the utility doesn't need add renewables before 2029 to satisfy state mandates.

By that time, technology and other market changes could substantially increase the efficiency and reduce the costs of those investments.

"PGE's request for early acquisition of a renewable resource based on a need so far in the future is actually unprecedented," the staff said.

Piro disagreed, and said PGE may move forward with or without the commissioners blessing.

Update: PGE spokesman Steve Corson later said the company will not move forward with the renewables investment absent an okay from commissioners, which provides reassurance that they will approve the associated rate increases when the wind farm is up and running.

Piro said the utility would have a shortage of energy when the Boardman coal plant shuts and that acquiring the renewables "sooner is better" for customers.

The depth of staff's dissatisfaction with PGE's plan was also apparent in its rejection of the utility's demand response plans, which involves working with customers to automatically cut their electricity consumption during periods of peak demand. That's normally a slam dunk, as cutting peak electricity demand can eliminate the need for entire power plants. But staff said the utility was being too conservative, and was stuck in a cycle of running pilot projects that rarely if ever develop into full-blown programs. They recommended a variety of ways the utility could accelerate those efforts.

Most participants on Monday, however, stayed focused on heading off new investments in plants that burn gas, whether in Boardman or elsewhere.

"We're going to continue to watch this very closely and push the commission and PGE not to opt for any additional fracked gas," said Dan Serres, conservation director with the advocacy group Columbia Riverkeeper. "That's the next phase of this tug of war. We watch really closely to see where this pops up next."

- Ted Sickinger

503-221-8505; @tedsickinger
By Jeff Manning and Hillary Borrud

The Oregonian/OregonLive

SALEM -- The state of Oregon said Tuesday it had dispensed millions of dollars in Medicaid assistance to thousands of Oregonians with no idea whether they were eligible.

The Oregon Health Authority says it is working to clarify whether as many as 115,000 Medicaid recipients have incomes low enough to qualify for the benefits they have been receiving.

As the Affordable Care Act vastly expanded the Medicaid population in Oregon, the state got approval to skip the normal once-a-year eligibility check on its Medicaid clients. Recipients did qualify initially, agency officials said, but the state failed to check to ensure they still qualified. The lack of regular checks, coupled with lingering technological issues with the agency's computer systems, has led to the current situation, they said.

Officials declined to offer a ballpark estimate of how much Medicaid assistance may have been wrongfully dispensed. But they confirmed they are in the process of terminating 14,000 Medicaid recipients who were receiving benefits but failed to respond to their queries. The agency continues to analyze 17,000 more who did respond to determine if they still qualify. That leaves 84,000 who still must be checked out.

The stakes are huge. The average Medicaid recipient costs the state and federal government about $430 a month. At that rate, even if it is determined that just the 14,000 recipients actually shouldn't have qualified, the annual outlay could top $72 million a year.

Auditors in the Secretary of State's office recently began investigating the Health Authority's handling of the eligibility checks, after discovering the problem during a different audit. The new financial audit is months away from completion, but Secretary of State Dennis Richardson plans to release an "auditor alert" outlining some of the early findings Wednesday morning, according to deputy secretary of state Leslie Cummings.

Richardson campaigned on the promise of auditing several controversial state programs, including Cover Oregon, its disastrous attempt to build an e-commerce website for health insurance.

Republicans have pointed out state auditors within the Secretary of State's office never audited the program after it failed to launch in fall 2013.

The revelations come as Democrats are trying desperately to save the Affordable Care Act and the increase in the Medicaid rolls that came with it. Obamacare, as it became known, nearly doubled the Medicaid ranks in Oregon to just over a million. Oregon has staked its reputation as a health care innovator in part on the 16 coordinated care organizations established to serve the enlarged Medicaid population.

But President Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress want to repeal the Affordable Care Act claiming, among other things, the program is too expensive to sustain. Defenders, including Gov. Kate Brown and Oregon Health Authority Director Lynne Saxton, contend hundreds of thousands of Oregonians will lose health care coverage if the law is repealed.

At the same time, Brown and lawmakers are working on a state budget deal that would raise taxes on health care to prevent cuts to Oregon's Medicaid program. Those budget problems are unrelated to Trump's and Congressional Republicans' attempts to repeal or overhaul the Affordable Care Act.

The explosion in the number of Medicaid recipients due to Obamacare posed a record-keeping nightmare for Oregon. The state was already behind the curve due to the failure of Cover Oregon.

Recognizing this, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid granted several waivers - the first in 2013 -- to the state allowing it to put off routine "redetermination" checks on individual eligibility.

The information technology system intended to replace Cover Oregon had its own issues. The health authority was forced to hire new employees to manually input the names, addresses and other information of Medicaid recipients into the system, a process that took much of 2016 and further delayed the resumption of the normal re-qualification schedule.

"The data transfer required more work, more time and more employees than we expected," said Jon Collins, a senior technology employee at the health authority.

The health authority has been conducting its own analysis of the backlog, which it says will be complete by the end of the month. The health authority confirmed last year that 700,000 of its Medicaid recipients did qualify, said spokeswoman Courtney Crowell. At the same time, total enrollment in the program fell by more than 90,000, which Crowell said is attributable in part to the stepped up redetermination process.

It has hired Deloitte, the big consulting and accounting firm, to assess its case files.

The federal government covers the bulk of Medicaid costs while Oregon's share varies from 10 percent to 30 percent of the total. To qualify, an individual in Oregon cannot earn more than $16,643 a year, a family of four no more than $33,948.

Collins and state Medicaid director Lori Coyner said the Health Authority has kept the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid informed of the situation in monthly calls, and also briefed lawmakers and advisers to the governor.

Brown's spokesman declined to say when she learned of the situation, which wasn't explicitly addressed in her December budget proposal.

"Governor Brown's recommended budget includes several cost-savings measures in the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) budget, including $15 million in savings through strengthening the program's integrity capabilities," spokesman Bryan Hockaday said in an emailed statement. "This increased investment will help OHA improve its program to investigate Medicaid and non-Medicaid fraud."

In a written statement, the health authority said "we are in the final stages of ... reconciling data and cleaning up cases to ensure that all Oregonians who are eligible get the care and benefits they need."

-- Hillary Borrud, Jeff Manning
A Vancouver man who died March 28 in a house fire died of carbon monoxide intoxication and his death was an accident, the Clark County Medical Examiner's Office said Wednesday.

Brian Willoughby, 56, was found dead in his house at 516 W. 30th St. A cat and dog also died in the fire.

Willoughby worked for The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver for 12 years ending in 2002 and later advocated for diversity, homelessness and mental health. He went on to work at the American Civil Liberties Union, as an outreach director for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. and most recently as the director of Community Benefit at Legacy Health, The Columbian reported.

-- Allan Brettman
By Ruth Marcus

WASHINGTON -- So why did the president ask his vice president and attorney general to leave the room?

The New York Times reports -- and The Washington Post and other news organizations confirm -- that President Trump, at a meeting with then-FBI Director James Comey the day after national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned, asked Vice President Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to leave him and Comey alone in the Oval Office.

At which point Trump, according to a contemporaneous memo written by Comey, asked the FBI director to drop the Flynn probe. "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump told Comey, according to the memo as reported by the Times. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

Does this rise to the level of criminal obstruction of justice? We don't yet know enough. What was Trump's tone? How insistent was he? Perhaps it wasn't obstruction at the time -- merely enormously unwise and even more improper. The scope of that impropriety is underlined by the reported fact that the president apparently wanted to convey his desire -- his implicit instruction? -- that the Flynn investigation be ended behind closed doors, with no other witnesses.

This is the kind of conversation that rational, experienced presidents know not to have. It is the kind of conversation that a White House counsel should make sparklingly, crystal clear to a president that he is not to engage in, not even close. It is the kind of conversation that seems completely in character for Trump, who, over the course of the campaign and now in office, has betrayed no -- zero -- understanding of the necessary separation of the president and his Justice Department when it comes to making independent judgments about political matters and political opponents.

Trump's plea on Flynn's behalf -- perhaps it was prompted by the belief that his aide was a "good guy," perhaps by fear about what goods that good guy might have on him -- is the mirror image of his debate pronouncement that "if I win, I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation." The candidate who threatens to jail his opponent easily becomes the president who instructs his FBI director to close an inconvenient investigation.

But the Trump-Comey Oval Office encounter, however Comey took it at the time, becomes even more sinister in light of the FBI director's firing. In January, Trump reportedly sought a pledge of loyalty from Comey and failed to obtain it. In February, he pressured Comey to drop a pending investigation. In May, he fired him over "this Russia thing." The lawyers can debate whether this satisfies the technical elements of obstruction. As a political matter, it more and more looks that way.

Ruth Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.

(c) 2017, Washington Post Writers Group
Blaine Cooper, who testified against the second round of Oregon standoff defendants charged with conspiracy in the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, is expected to testify for the government in the Bunkerville case in Nevada this summer.

Cooper, 37, entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to impede federal workers in the Oregon case and guilty pleas in Nevada to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and assault on a federal officer.

He acknowledged that he agreed to cooperate with the government in the hope of reducing a recommended six-year prison sentence.

Cooper has been described by prosecutors as a recruiter, calling men to come to the Oregon refuge with guns in January 2016 and to Bunkerville, Nevada, in April 2014 during a standoff with federal agents outside the ranch of patriarch Cliven Bundy.

In a court filing Tuesday, Oregon defense lawyer Krista Shipsey asked that Cooper's scheduled sentencing in the refuge case, set for next week, be delayed until September as he remains in custody in Nevada.

Shipsey said Cooper "likely will be called as a witness on behalf of the government'' in the Bunkerville retrial of several defendants after a mistrial was declared earlier this year. The retrial is set or June 26. She added that his plea petitions in both Oregon and Nevada require him to testify truthfully in all matters.

Federal prosecutors in Oregon aren't challenging the delay.

Also Tuesday, prosecutors in Nevada moved to dismiss two conspiracy counts that resulted in a hung jury against Greg Burleson, who was convicted of eight other charges in the Bunkerville case.

They also are moving to dismiss eight counts against Nevada defendant Todd Engel, who was convicted of two other federal charges in the Bunkerville case. They asked for dismissal of those counts to save the government the time and cost of a second trial.

Burleson and Engel were among six defendants who went to trial in Nevada earlier this year.

In the Oregon case, Cooper testified in Portland in February, saying Ammon Bundy had called a clandestine meeting around the dining room of their host's home in Burns on Dec. 29, 2015, and directed the six other men there to leave their cellphones and laptops behind in a separate room.

Bundy then discussed his idea of taking over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Cooper testified.

Four defendants -- Jason Patrick, 43, of Bonaire, Georgia, Duane Ehmer, 46, of Irrigon, Darryl Thorn, 32, of Marysville, Washington, and Jake Ryan, 28, of Plains, Montana - were on trial at the time, charged with conspiring to impede federal employees from carrying out their work at the federal refuge through intimidation, threat or force.

Patrick and Thorn were convicted of conspiracy, while Ryan and Ehmer were acquitted of that charge. The jury, though, found both Ehmer and Ryan guilty of willfully damaging the refuge, or depredation of government property, by using a refuge excavator to dig two deep trenches early on the morning of Jan. 27, 2016. The jury also found Thorn guilty of possessing a firearm in a federal facility.

Their sentencing dates are expected to be scheduled for this fall.

Cooper didn't testify against Ammon Bundy, his brother Ryan Bundy and five other defendants who went to trial last fall in Oregon and were acquitted of conspiracy charges in the refuge occupation case.

A group of people took over the eastern Oregon refuge on Jan. 2, 2016, in an armed occupation that lasted 41 days to protest the return to federal prison of two Burns-area ranchers and federal control of public land.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
A central Oregon organic farm and officials from Sherman County are locked in a dispute over enforcement of a weed ordinance that's turned into a social-media firestorm.

Azure Standard, which is owned by Ecclesia of Sinai and operates 2,000-acre Azure Farms near Moro, claims the county is changing the interpretation of its statutory code from controlling noxious weeds to eradicating them. The farm says the county is threatening to issue a court order that would force it to spray fields with a herbicide. That would cost the farm its organic certification, which it has had for 18 years.

They also say the county might do the spraying itself, and could put a lien on the farm forcing them to pay for the labor and chemicals used to eradicate the weeds.

Sherman County officials say their weed ordinance hasn't been changed or reinterpreted, and that Azure Farms needs to do adopt better methods for controlling weeds to keep their seeds from spreading to neighboring farms.

On Wednesday, the clash could come to a boil at a meeting of the county's Board of Commissioners, where enforcement of the weed ordinance is on the agenda. Because they are expecting a large crowd representing both sides of the issue, the county has moved the meeting from the county courthouse to the Sherman County School gym.

The conflict started after wheat farmers complained that their fields were increasingly contaminated with weeds like Morning Glory and Canada thistle that take root from airborne seeds blown in from Azure Farms. They say that forces them to spend a lot more money on weed control.

That prompted the county to send a weed violation letter to the farm, asking it to come up with a weed management plan by May 22. Otherwise, it might ask the state Department of Agriculture to quarantine the farm.

David Cross, Azure Standard's marketing director, said last week in a video that has gone viral that it is very difficult to eradicate weeds using organic methods. The only way to eliminate them is with products like Roundup and Milestone, which contains the chemical glysphosate, which has been linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"What Sherman County has decided to do in its far-reaching wisdom, is to actually force Azure Standard  Azure Farms  by court order to have 2,000 acres of organic land sprayed with the toxic and noxious and repugnant chemicals," Cross said.

Publicity of the dispute has prompted organic food advocates across the country to lobby county officials with phone calls and emails expressing support for Azure Farms and organic farming. The fight is also the subject of a Change.org petition, asking Sherman County to reverse its position on spraying for weeds. By late afternoon Tuesday, it had more than 3,000 supporters.

On the Azure Standard Facebook page, their initial response to Sherman County has been shared more than 10,000 times and has generated almost 700 comments, most of them supportive of the farm. Subsequent posts have had similar traffic.

On Tuesday, Rod Asher, the Sherman County Weed District Director, released an online statement in response to the social media outcry, saying that controlling weeds like Canada thistle by mowing and tilling them can actually hasten their spread. He also specified that the ordinance does not require spraying with herbicides.

According to the Associated Press, Ecclesia of Sinai, which is the parent company of both Azure Standard and Azure Farms, has cited religious beliefs for refusing to spray, including a biblical passage stating that the land should not be defiled.

Alfred Stelzer, of Ecclesia of Sinai, told the AP that the farm "made a covenant" to follow the Bible and cited a passage from the Book of Numbers 35:34 that says the land must not be polluted.

David Stelzer, the chief executive officer of Azure Standard, said he was impressed with how people have reacted via social media.

"I didn't realize it would blow up on social media the way it has," Stelzer said.

"I felt like we were running into a brick wall with the county, and they were just hearing from a few neighboring farmers who thought it was in their best economic interest to railroad us. I thought the thing to do would be to get a few people to comment that they depend on Azure grain. I was hoping to get a few comments, but social media is like Pandora's box. I think they're paying attention now."

-- Grant Butler

503-221-8566; @grantbutler
Updated Wednesday at 11:25 a.m.

Police didn't use deadly force against a Florence jail inmate who attacked a pair of officers, struggled against two more and later died at a hospital, an official said Tuesday.

A Florence police officer was in David Keith Brickey's cell to release him from custody May 8 when Brickey put him in a choke hold, rendering him unconscious, said Lane County District Attorney Patty Perlow. Brickey assaulted the second officer and two other officers; they were eventually able to cuff his wrists and restrain his legs during a struggle, Perlow said.

Brickey later didn't appear to be breathing, Perlow said, and authorities performed CPR. He died later that day at a Florence hospital.

In a statement issued by their lawyer Wednesday, Brickey's family said video footage released by the Lane County District Attorney's Office don't show what happened to Brickey after additional officers arrived on the scene. They also said he suffered from severe mental illness throughout his adult life.

"We hope that the investigation by the Lane County District Attorney and the Oregon State Police also looks into why he was held at the jail from May 4 to May 8 and what medical or mental health attention he received during that time," they said.

They said they looked forward to the results of the investigation and they "simply want to know how and why (Brickey) died."

Perlow said preliminary autopsy results show Brickey, a 40-year-old Florence resident, had an enlarged heart and severe arterial blockage. He didn't have any signs of injuries that would have killed him, she said.

Florence police officers Ken Larson and Stephanie Sansom remained on paid administrative leave Tuesday while recovering from their injuries, Perlow said. She said both suffered concussions.

Officers would have been justified in using deadly force against Brickey under the circumstances, Perlow said.

He had been booked into the jail four days prior on suspicion of disorderly conduct at a restaurant, Perlow said, and was being released from custody with a court date scheduled.

She said the encounter began as Larson entered Brickey's cell to release him from custody. Brickey assaulted him, Perlow said, and put him in a choke hold from behind.

Brickey then turned to Sansom, the second officer, who had arrived on scene. She tried to deploy her Taser, Perlow said, but only one prong hit him. Surveillance footage shows Brickey chasing Sansom down a hallway, slamming her head into a wall and struggling with her on the ground.

Inmates reported he stomped on her face at some point, Perlow said.

He eventually headed back to the cell, where Perlow said the first officer remained unconscious. Surveillance footage shows Brickey, who had been wearing a towel, was naked when he exited the cell and began chasing Sansom for the second time.

Perlow said two more officers arrived, and Brickey was punching Sansom in the face.

The two additional officers also tried to use Tasers on him, Perlow said, but the weapons had no effect. She said those two officers got Brickey to let the Sansom go, however, and struggled with him until they got him into handcuffs and leg restraints.

Brickey later stopped breathing, Perlow said. The Register-Guard newspaper reports he was breathing after being handcuffed and that he soon became unresponsive.

An officer began CPR and then medics arrived and took over, Perlow said.

Medics showed up because inmates were pushing their cells' "call buttons" and saying Brickey was going to kill officers, Perlow said.

A Springfield police detective who's part of the Lane County Interagency Deadly Force Investigation Team said police don't know what prompted the attack, according to the Register-Guard.

 Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
A Salem man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for threatening a police officer with a machete, prompting the officer to shoot him earlier this year.

Salem Police Cpl. Jacob Pratt shot 34-year-old Casey Duane Howe outside an Applebee's restaurant Jan. 13. A Marion County jury determined the shooting was justified.

Howe pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted murder, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and felon in possession of a restricted weapon, said Brendan Murphy, Marion County deputy district attorney.

In a news release, Murphy gave additional details about the shooting:

On the day of the shooting, a 911 caller reported that Howe had a warrant for his arrest. Pratt responded to the call and found Howe outside an Applebee's at 2625 Liberty St. NE.

Pratt stopped his car and called out Howe's name "in an effort to make friendly contact," Murphy said.

Howe then turned, acknowledged he had an arrest warrant and pulled a machete out of his waistband.

He began to walk toward Pratt, who told him to stop and drop the weapon. Pratt then fired three shots, striking Howe twice.

Howe was taken to Salem Health then Oregon Health and Science University Hospital. Pratt was uninjured.

Investigators later found machete with an 11-inch blade, stolen property, an electronic stun device, meth and other knives among Howe's possessions.

 Samantha Matsumoto

503-294-4001; @SMatsumoto55
Multnomah County voters delivered several school board members decisive victories Tuesday evening and saw two incumbents go down to defeat.

Following the release of partial returns Tuesday, The Oregonian/OregonLive has called the following races for school board elections in Multnomah County:

Gresham-Barlow

Three of the four races in this district had candidates running unopposed. In the only competitive race, for Position 5 in Zone 4, Blake Peterson won against Jason Dugan and Danielle Curry with 50.5 percent of the vote. Currey came second with 29 percent.

Peterson is the executive directors of Good News Community Health Center.

Three races for Reynolds

Voters overwhelmingly voted Valerie Tewksbury into Position 1 over Sara V. Garcia Gonzalez with 66 percent of the vote.

Incumbent Diego Hernandez, who won election to the Oregon Legislature last year, similarly beat out Matt Craven for the Position 2 seat with 59 percent of the vote.

The three-way race for Position 7 shows incumbent Stevie Chao trailing both newcomers with 29 percent of the vote. Ricardo Ruiz had 37 percent and Richard Brown trailed with 33 percent.

Ruiz is a Reynolds High School grad while two of Brown's children attend Margaret Scott Elementary.

David Douglas

The race for Position 1 between Cheryl A Scarcelli Ancheta, the incumbent, Ana del Rocio and Timothy Crawley had del Rocio taking the victory with 42 percent of the vote Tuesday evening. Both Ancheta and Crowley had 28 percent.

At Position 2, Stephanie D. Stevens won over Michael Gray with 74.3 percent of the vote.

And the Position 3 race had incumbent Christine Larson keeping her seat against Mike Ewald and Dennis Secrest with 56 percent of the vote. Ewald came second with 23 percent.

--Eder Campuzano | 503.221.4344

@edercampuzano

ecampuzano@oregonian.com
More than 400,000 Oregon voters cast ballots in Tuesday's election, deciding the fate of school board candidates, money measures and other questions in communities all around the state.

Here are four big takeaways

>> A big price tag didn't deter voters in Portland Public Schools, who overwhelmingly approved the largest school bond in state history. The $790 million package of school upgrades will more than double homeowners' tax bills for school construction, adding hundreds of dollars to most property tax bills. But, as of a 3 a.m. Wednesday tally, 66 percent of voters said yes, slightly more than approved a slimmed-down $482 million bond in 2012.

>> Voters are open to putting newcomers, including younger candidates and candidates of color, on their local school boards. In the three-county metro area, nine of 11 school board incumbents who drew challenges were shown the door. Winners included Ana del Rocio, a daughter of immigrants and the first in her family to graduate from college, who now works as a policy director for Multnomah County, and Kathy Wai, the Myanmar-born civic engagement manager for the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon who also was the first in her family to go to college.

>> Mount Hood Community College just can't win. Voters handed it the sixth bond defeat in 40 years. The lost was decisive.

>> Familiar faces with years in the trenches won out in races for the Portland school board. Scott Bailey has served on Portland Public Schools budget and policy advisory committees for two decades. Julia Brim-Edwards served on the school board from 2001 to 2005 and has remained a supporter and a critic in the decade since. Rita Moore knows the district's policies, budget, players and flaws from years advising and watch-dogging it.

More results can be found at oregonlive.com/politics or below:

-- Betsy Hammond
Voters in Coos County rejected a ballot measure Tuesday that would have banned the controversial Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas export terminal and its 231-mile feeder pipeline.

Measure 6-162, titled the Coos County Right to Sustainable Energy Future Ordinance, did not mention Jordan Cove specifically. But it took direct aim at the proposed Coos Bay terminal and pipeline by banning the development of "non-sustainable energy systems" and the bulk transportation of fossil fuels in the county.

Jordan Cove and its parent company, Calgary-based Veresen Inc., have spent the past dozen years and hundreds of millions of dollars trying to win approval for the project. Their application was rejected by federal regulators last year, but the company reapplied in January in hope that a fossil-fuel friendly Trump Administration could help them get a green light.

In the meantime, Jordan Cove donated an unprecedented $600,000 on the campaign to defeat the ballot measure, blanketing the county with television, radio and newspaper ads against the initiative. In an effort to win over the counties 41,000 registered voters, they spent 50 times as much as the yes campaign's $12,000.

The ballot measure was broadly written, and in the opinion of many observers, likely unconstitutional. County commissioners said they were reluctant to spend any taxpayer money defending it if passed, as they considered the measure illegal.

Even some of the most prominent opponents of Jordan Cove opposed the measure, as they felt it was too broad and potentially unconstitutional.

The Jordan Cove terminal and Pacific Connector pipeline are designed to pipe natural gas from Canada and the Western United States onto the North Spit of Coos Bay, super-chill it into a liquid, and load it aboard tankers for shipment to customers in Asia. Backers say it could be at least a $7.5 billion construction project, with thousands of construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs at the terminal.
Voters were called on to decide dozens of local measures and community college races in Tuesday's election. Here are some highlights after The Oregonian/OregonLive called races following the release of preliminary ballot returns:

Lake Oswego bond

In Lake Oswego, voters approved a $187 million school district bond to upgrade district buildings, according to preliminary returns Tuesday evening, with 58 percent voting for the bond and 41 percent voting against it.

School officials said the bond will pay for seismic retrofitting, new classroom technology and replacing Lakeridge Junior High School. The bond increases property taxes by an estimated $125 per $100,000 of assessed value.

Hillsboro police, fire and parks levy

In Hillsboro, voters approved 81 percent to 18 percent a levy to renew taxes supporting city police, fire and parks departments. Most of the levy pays for emergency response services, and keeps a property tax levy of $172 per $100,000 of assessed value.

Voters approved 75 percent to 24 percent a five-year levy to sustain funding for Washington County's Enhanced Sheriff's Patrol District, which serves urban area outside city boundaries. The levy increases property taxes by an estimated $68 for every $100,000 of assessed value to pay for detectives and training.

Portland Community College board

Valdez Bravo won a three-way race in the only contested race for a Portland Community College board seat.

Candidates Moses Ross, a small-business owner; Bravo, a health care professional and member of the PCC advisory board; and retiree David Squire, who previously served on the college board, all sought the Zone 5 seat.

Partial returns showed Bravo with 53 percent of the vote, Squire with 31 and Ross with 14 percent. Zone 5 represents Southwest Portland and eastern Washington County.

Mohamed Alyajouri ran unopposed for the Zone 6 seat left by former board chairman Gene Pitts, who resigned to protest the board's decision to classify the school a "sanctuary" for undocumented students.

PCC is Oregon's largest post-secondary institution.
Josephine County voters approved a levy to bolster funding for public services Tuesday breaking a drought of unsuccessful attempts to aid an ailing public safety system after federal timber subsidies began to dry up at the turn of the decade.

Five separate attempts at funding a depleted sheriff's office failed at the polls from 2012 to 2016, according to county records. As of midnight, the new measure had a 1,100-vote lead  at this stage, county officials say, ballot totals may sway one way or the other by a few dozen, but rarely more than 100.

County Commissioner Simon Hare told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the focused nature of the public safety levy  asking for money specifically to re-open the juvenile detention center and accommodate more jail beds  largely contributed to its success.

The Josephine County Jail has a 262-bed capacity but funding only allows for the use of 130. Levy funds will help open the remaining 132.

The juvenile detention center has capacity for 14. The county's juvenile department currently rents three beds from Douglas County.

"We didn't ask for the world, just what we really needed," Hare said when reached by phone.

Hare also said the fact county officials asked for a raise in property taxes of less than $1  93 cents, to be precise  also helped. In 2013, voters rejected a levy that would raise taxes by $1.48 of assessed value and, in addition to jail beds and juvenile detention, would have hired more sheriff's deputies and funded a school security program.

The lack of patrols  late at night, two or three Oregon State Police troopers are responsible for keeping track of the county's sprawling rural roads  often drew national media attention. And over the last few years, citizen patrol groups began sprouting up in far-flung communities like Cave Junction.

(In Grants Pass, the county seat, municipal taxes fund round-the-clock police patrols.)

Hare partly credits the ballot measure's precise language and an energetic board of commissioners for the levy's passing.

"And the new economy was no small matter," he said. "Of all the campaigns I've been involved in, everything went the way it was supposed to (this time.)"

In addition to the public safety levy, Josephine County voters also:

-Renewed a levy for animal control and the county shelter of 8 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

-Approved a five-year levy to hire firefighters and EMTs to serve Illinois Valley residents, a 144-square mile jurisdiction.

-Formed and funded library districts in the following precincts: The Illinois Valley, Williams, Wolf Creek, Grants Pass and Cave Junction.

-Renewed another four-year tax to fund operations in the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District.

--Eder Campuzano | 503.221.4344

@edercampuzano

ecampuzano@oregonian.com
SALEM -- Oregon budget writers plan to meet Tuesday with state health officials to discuss concerns that the state has kept thousands of people on Medicaid while their eligibility is in question.

The state's failure to check that as many as 115,000 Medicaid recipients still have incomes low enough to qualify for the costly benefits they have been receiving was disclosed Wednesday, first by The Oregonian/OregonLive and then by the secretary of state's office.

Lawmakers scheduled the meeting after Secretary of State Dennis Richardson on Wednesday called for Oregon Health Authority leaders to tell lawmakers the potential budget impact of the situation.

Richardson issued his alert after The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that the state dispensed millions of dollars in Medicaid assistance to thousands of Oregonians without conducting routine annual eligibility checks, or "redeterminations." The state did conduct initial qualification checks. The newspaper also reported that auditors at the secretary of state's office recently launched an investigation into the situation, after learning about it while working on a separate audit.

Oregon received several waivers from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to skip the redeterminations starting in 2013, as part of the triage of the failed launch of Cover Oregon and the workload from the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

The state cannot legally kick someone off Medicaid until it determines the person is ineligible. But the last waiver only extended to June 2016. Richardson and Oregon Audits Division director Kip Memmott pointed out that nearly a year later, the Oregon Health Authority still has not determined the eligibility of thousands of Medicaid enrollees. Health authority officials said on Tuesday that they are conducting their own eligibility analysis which they plan to complete by the end of the month.

"As of May 1, 2017 preliminary analysis by the (Oregon Health Authority) has identified approximately 86,000 individuals, representing about 8 percent of the state's entire Medicaid population, who have not undergone the federally required annual benefit eligibility determination process," Richardson and Memmott wrote in a one-page "auditor alert" issued Wednesday morning. "About 14,100 people have been sent renewal notifications but have not returned applications. The preliminary analysis did not clearly identify why the remaining 71,600 have not been redetermined."

On average, an individual on Medicaid costs the state and federal government $430 a month. If 86,000 individuals are ineligible to receive that coverage, the total coverage cost could be approximately $37 million a month, according to Richardson and Memmott.

"(Oregon Health Authority) should work with the federal regulatory authorities to ensure federal Medicaid funding is not jeopardized while (the Health Authority) resolves these eligibility determination issues," Richardson and Memmott wrote.

The Oregonian/OregonLive story and Richardson's auditor alert prompted both Democrats and Republicans to comment on the state's Medicaid program during a floor session on Wednesday.

Rep. Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, said he was "frustrated and disappointed" with the news article because it seemed like "a politically motivated attempt to grab headlines and not necessarily an attempt to inform the public about this brand new concern that we've been having in this state."

"This is something that the Oregon Health Authority has been proactively working with in a bipartisan effort to reduce this problem," Rayfield said. Health officials have kept lawmakers updated on the Medicaid eligibility problems, and "it appears the only person who has not been aware of this is our secretary of state."

Rayfield noted that he and three other Democratic lawmakers from the Legislature's budget writing committees met with the secretary of state's office last week to provide information about Medicaid eligibility. Richardson said the lawmakers asked him to delay the release of the auditor alert  initially planned for last week  and he agreed.

"It was not an unreasonable request," Richardson said. "But I didn't realize at that point OHA's budget was being considered tomorrow." A public hearing on an Oregon Health Authority spending bill had been scheduled for Thursday, but it was cancelled.

Republicans also chimed in during the House floor session on Wednesday, pointing out that news of the Medicaid eligibility issues came at a politically sensitive time. Rep. Julie Parrish, R-West Linn, said the Legislature should make sure the state has a grasp on the actual number of people eligible for Medicaid, before passing a package of health care taxes to fund a budget shortfall in the program.

"We're having conversations about how much money to raise in hospital provider taxes, in insurance taxes, in (coordinated care organization) taxes and all manner of taxes based on a (Medicaid population) number that may or may not be correct," Parrish said.

-- Hillary Borrud

503-294-4034; @hborrud
Voters on Tuesday soundly rejecting a $75 million bond for improvements to Mt. Hood Community College's campus in east Multnomah County.

57 percent voted against the bond and 43 percent were for it -- the sixth defeat for a MHCC bond since 1974. The bond would have allowed the school to build a new technology center and seismically upgrade campus buildings.

The college said it needed the funds to prepare the college, Oregon's fourth largest community college, for the future.

The estimated tax rate would have been $23 per $100,000 of assessed value and cost the average homeowner less than $50 per year, according to figures provided by the college.
UPDATE: Man suspected in fatal NW Portland stabbing indicted on aggravated murder charges

Updated May 17 with additional information

A Portland disc jockey and hair stylist critically injured in an apparently random stabbing attack has died.

Jacob Pedro Shroyer

Jacob Pedro Shroyer, also known as Jakob Jay, was stabbed multiple times May 8 at the Pacific Tower Apartments in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood, police said. Michael Lee Williams is facing attempted murder and first-degree assault charges, among others, in his death.

Police said Tuesday they expect Williams, 33, to face more charges. He has been convicted of numerous crimes in Oregon and Washington, including robbery and taking a motor vehicle without permission, court records show.

A statement on the crowdfunding page in Shroyer's name says, "Our hearts are suffering that he is no longer in this world. His was a light that brought many people together this last week and in the ... years prior."

Shroyer worked as a DJ, as well as a stylist at a Bishops Barbershop, according to the crowdfunding page. Memorial or vigil details weren't posted to the page by Wednesday evening.

A probable cause affidavit details the attack and shows how police connected Williams to the crime.

Shroyer was returning to his apartment building from a nearby Safeway store late that night when his assailant, who had been "mulling around" a corner of his parking lot, walked toward him, according to the affidavit.

The assailant, later identified as Williams, looked like he briefly confronted someone else in passing, and that person fled the area, according to surveillance footage detailed in the document. Williams then began to chase Shroyer, and the video appeared to show Shroyer running away, according to the affidavit.

Footage shows Shroyer being stabbed several times in at least two separate attacks, according to the affidavit. He ended up calling 911 to say he had been attacked and stabbed, and an officer found him in the lobby of his apartment building.

Surveillance footage also captures Williams running away with what looked to be a blade or knife after the assault, according to the affidavit.

Police didn't immediately identify the assailant. Williams was arrested the next day, however, on suspicion of robbing a man of his wallet on a TriMet bus in downtown Portland, the affidavit says.

A detective who had been searching for potential suspects near the apartment building the day after the stabbing attack said he recognized Williams, having seen him about an hour before near Northwest 5th Avenue and Everett Street.

The detective saw a police flyer with a better surveillance photo of the stabbing suspect the next day, May 10, and recognized him as the man arrested in the alleged TriMet robbery, the affidavit says.

Detectives reviewed surveillance imagery and Williams' booking photo and connected Williams to the stabbing based on consistencies in his appearance and clothing, according to the affidavit.

A criminalist later found blood on Williams' baseball cap, shirt and shoes, the affidavit says.

 Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Samantha Matsumoto of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report
No candidates have been identified in the mayor's national search for a Portland police chief. No interviews have been conducted or finalists selected.

But already Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and the head of the Portland police union are trading barbs, and it's over the wording of the job description for the top cop's job.

After the job description was posted on a city website Monday, Officer Daryl Turner, president of the Portland Police Association, issued a lengthy statement Tuesday night, decrying the mayor's reference to the state's and the city's history of "systemic racism.''

The job description prominently points out that Portland has a history of "legally sanctioned systemic racism with legally enforced exclusionary practices.'' It said that the successful candidate must have the "capacity and commitment'' to improve relationships with members of minority communities, "ensuring that equity is a bedrock of policing.''

Turner wrote that the description left the rank-and-file "angry and confused, as the clear implication from the posting is that the Police Bureau and its members have supported a racist culture in the City.''

He criticized the mayor for not mentioning the positive work of the bureau's Behavioral Health Unit that pairs officers with mental health workers, officers' challenges working amid a significant staffing shortage and the decline in gang-related violence this year.

"The first paragraph of the Mayor's job posting shows blatant disregard for the decades of forward progress and is not representative of the Portland Police Bureau today,'' Turner wrote. " I urge our elected officials not to discount the relationships, partnerships, and friendships that our officers have built in our city. The job announcement does not accurately reflect our Police Bureau and its members. Certainly, it does nothing to aid in recruiting and retaining a police chief, let alone rank and file officers.''

The mayor quickly responded Wednesday, calling Turner's comments "needlessly inflammatory and divisive.''

Wheeler, in his prepared statement issued in a news release, reiterated the state's history and argued that anyone applying for the chief's job needs to know about it.

"Our city and state have a shared history of racial injustice, from our state's original constitution  which contained an exclusion law banning black people from living here  to the hardships faced by those in Vanport before and after the flood, to the disparate outcomes for people of color in our legal system,'' Wheeler wrote.

"Anyone applying for the job should be fully aware of our state's history, and prepared to join me in ensuring that this history is just that...in the past.''

This is the mayor's full statement:

"Our city and state have a shared history of racial injustice, from our state's original constitution  which contained an exclusion law banning black people from living here  to the hardships faced by those in Vanport before and after the flood, to the disparate outcomes for people of color in our legal system. I have spoken about this shared history at length. I have never called into question the values and beliefs of our rank and file police officers. I have tremendous respect for the hard work they do every day in the community. At a time that calls for a shared vision and unity of purpose regarding the future of the Portland Police Bureau, today's letter from the Portland Police Association is needlessly inflammatory and divisive. We are conducting a national search, fulfilling a commitment I made to the community last year. Anyone applying for the job should be fully aware of our state's history, and prepared to join me in ensuring that this history is just that... in the past."

The search comes as the bureau is struggling with a staffing shortage, its controversial handling of large-scale protests, a recent officer-involved fatal shooting of a black teenager and the adoption of policy, training and accountability reforms required under a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.

The job description was drafted based on input from selected community representatives, according to the mayor's office.

The Portland Police Association, representing rank-and-file officers, sergeants and detectives, recently announced that it supports current Chief Mike Marshman as chief and opposes the national search for an outside candidate.

Marshman was named chief in late June by former Mayor Charlie Hales after the retirement of Larry O'Dea amid a criminal investigation into his off-duty shooting of a friend during a camping trip in eastern Oregon. Marshman plans to apply to retain the job as part of the national search.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
Chelsea Manning, the transgender Army private who passed a trove of sensitive government documents to WikiLeaks in 2010, walked out of the disciplinary barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on Wednesday morning after serving an abbreviated sentence in connection with one of the most notorious leaks of classified documents in U.S. history.

Manning's 35-year sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama, who concluded that seven years in federal custody was enough for her crimes. She now heads to Maryland, according to supporters who set up an online fundraising site that collected more than $150,000 for housing and other essentials as she re-enters society.

Wednesday morning, Manning - who wrote columns and posted to Twitter with the help of supporters while in prison - posted a photo on her social media accounts of two feet in black Converse shoes. "First steps of freedom!!" she wrote on her social media accounts.

Manning, who was previously known as Bradley Manning, also issued a statement through the American Civil Liberties Union, which helped her get treatment for gender dysphoria while in prison. Manning's representatives have declined interview requests.

"After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived. I am looking forward to so much!" Manning said. "Whatever is ahead of me is far more important than the past. I'm figuring things out right now - which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me."

Army officials said Manning will remain on active duty - but will be on leave - as she pursues an appeal of her court-martial conviction, according to Army officials. That means she will not be paid but will be eligible for benefits, including health care, during that time.

Manning, 29, was an intelligence analyst for the Army at the time of her arrest in 2010, when she gained international attention for being implicated in one of the largest leaks of state secrets in U.S. history. The trove of material she provided to anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks - documents known as the Iraq and Afghanistan "War Logs" - included video of a U.S. Apache helicopter opening fire on a group of suspected insurgents in Baghdad. Among the dead were two journalists who worked for the Reuters news agency.

She also leaked documents related to detainees at the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and about 250,000 State Department cables.

Manning has been lauded as a hero by some and decried as a traitor by others, including President Donald Trump. Her lengthy initial sentence and at times severe treatment while incarcerated - she spent long stretches of time in solitary confinement and at one point was made to sleep naked - made her a cause celebre for antiwar and government transparency advocates. Critics, meanwhile, said she put U.S. lives and operations at risk as an attention-getting antic.

Obama commuted Manning's sentence as one of his final acts in office, concluding that she had served enough time. The decision marked a surprising turnaround for the president, who brought more leak prosecutions than the previous administrations combined.

Manning announced after her conviction that she was in fact a woman. Her protracted battle to receive treatment for gender dysphoria at an all-male facility increased her profile in the LGBT community. She emerges from prison as one of the most high-profile transgender people in the country.

"Chelsea is someone who has taken on a great personal risk and tremendous personal cost to do something she thought was in the best interest of the public," said Chase Strangio, a staff lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union and a well-known transgender activist.

He called Manning "an advocate for herself and others at a time when people wanted and needed a voice for government transparency, for trans rights, for principles of democracy."

The possibility that Manning could become a prominent face in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights movement has sparked concern among some, however. Gregory T. Angelo, president of the Log Cabin Republicans, an organization advocating for LGBT conservatives, said he finds it "perplexing" that Manning would be idolized.

"I think that it is great that Chelsea Manning is going to be able to live her life authentically, and she should most definitely be allowed to do so, but that does not excuse past behaviors that put lives at risk and put her into prison in the first place," Angelo said. "There are far better representatives of the LGBT community."

That Manning will speak out publicly now that she has been released seems a given. While in prison, she wrote a column in the Guardian newspaper, maintained a blog and posted to Twitter with the help of supporters, who took her dictation over the phone. Her writings touched on issues including the ethics of solitary confinement and the Orlando nightclub shooting, but it also detailed her efforts to gain access to gender-related treatment recommended by her doctors.

In 2014, a federal judge granted her request to formally change her name to Chelsea Elizabeth Manning. The Army also eventually allowed her to use makeup and receive hormone therapy. But it denied a plea to let her grow out her hair, which, according to photos posted on the GoFundMe site, remains trimmed into a side-swept, masculine cut.

Manning's attorneys disclosed in September that she had been approved for gender reassignment surgery. The assurances from the Army that she could have the procedure came two months after Manning tried to commit suicide, and after a hunger strike that lasted four days, the ACLU said. Her sentence was commuted before that surgery could take place.

In the weeks leading up to her release, Manning's Twitter account has counted down the days. On April 20: "You know you've been in prison for a while, when the prospect of freedom is nerve wracking. =|" And just Monday was the message, "Two more days until the freedom of civilian life ^_^ Now hunting for private #healthcare like millions of Americans =P".

"I personally would love for Chelsea to sit on a beach for a month and sip whatever drinks she likes to sip and relax," said Evan Greer, campaign director for Fight for the Future, a digital rights organization, who has been helping to raise money for Manning's return.

But Manning, whom Greer considers a friend after speaking with her over the phone almost every week, is "an incredibly driven person, and I would expect that we will be hearing from her in her own voice," he added.

--The Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

The Republican chairman of a House oversight committee says he will ask former FBI Director James Comey to testify at a hearing next week that will look into whether President Donald Trump pressured Comey to shut down an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz said in a tweet Wednesday that he still hasn't spoken with Comey about testifying. But he has set a hearing for May 24.

The moves comes a day after it was disclosed that Comey had written a memo detailing how Trump had asked him to shut down the investigation into Flynn. The FBI has been looking into Flynn for months as part of a counterintelligence investigation.

Chaffetz has demanded that the FBI turn over Comey's memos. He says he wants to determine whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation into Flynn.

___

2:35 p.m.

President Donald Trump is telling graduates of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy that no other politician has been treated more unfairly by the media. But he says, "you cannot let them get you down."

Trump is offering his advice at the academy's commencement in Connecticut, telling the graduates that they will find that "things are not always fair." But Trump says, "you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight."

The president says they can't let the critics get in the way of their dreams.

Trump was speaking amid reports that he appealed to then FBI Director James Comey to shut down the bureau's investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn earlier this year.

He made no mention of Comey in his speech.

__

2:30 p.m.

Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee say they expect the panel to ask ousted FBI Director James Comey to testify to Congress.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Wednesday he expects the committee leadership to send a letter shortly to the former director.

Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island also said he expects a request will be made to Comey.

Comey wrote a memo after one February meeting at the White House stating that President Donald Trump had asked him to shut down the FBI's investigation of sacked national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The Judiciary committee has requested memos and other documents.

Graham said: "I think the legislative process is pretty much ground to a halt until you get the Comey episode dealt with."

__

1:55 p.m.

A senator wounded in combat says she's concerned that President Donald Trump's "unpredictable behavior and rhetoric" is undercutting the Pentagon's ability to combat the threat Russia poses to the U.S. and its allies.

Democrat Tammy Duckworth of Illinois says Trump's sharing of top-secret information with senior Russian officials and his firing of former FBI Director James Comey show he's refusing to confront the "clear and present threat from our adversary." The FBI is investigating Russian ties to the Trump campaign and Moscow's meddling in the 2016 election.

She detailed her concerns in a letter sent Wednesday to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. She's asking Mattis to assess how Trump's disclosure to the Russians could affect military operations.

Duckworth lost her legs and partial use of her right arm during the Iraq war.

___

1:20 p.m.

Top members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are asking the FBI to provide memos from former director James Comey and for the White House to turn over any audio recordings that might exist of conversations with the now-fired director.

Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California sent the letter to the Justice Department and the White House on Wednesday. They called on the White House "to provide records of interactions with former Director Comey, including any audio recordings."

The letter came after the Senate Intelligence Committee made a similar request for Comey's memos. The Intelligence panel also sought his testimony in open or closed session.

___

1 p.m.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham says President Donald Trump's trip to the Middle East and Europe comes at a good time.

The South Carolina lawmaker says Trump's probably happy to leave Washington now, "and a lot of us are glad he's leaving for a few days."

Trump's Friday departure comes with his White House rocked almost daily by damaging revelations that are troubling growing numbers of Republican lawmakers.

Trump in February asked the since-fired FBI director, James Comey, to drop the bureau's investigation of White House national security adviser Michael Flynn. That's according to a Comey memo. Trump also shared sensitive classified information data with senior Russian officials.

Graham says the controversies will follow Trump abroad. His advice to the president: "Stay disciplined, stay focused and deliver on the world stage."

__

12:20 p.m.

The Senate intelligence committee wants former FBI director James Comey to appear before the panel in both open and closed sessions.

The committee said Wednesday that it is also asking Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe to give the committee any notes that Comey might have made regarding discussions he had with White House or Justice Department officials about Russia's efforts to influence the election.

Comey wrote a memo after one February meeting at the White House stating that President Donald Trump had asked him to shut down the FBI's investigation of ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Comey's memo -- an apparent effort to create a paper trail of his contacts with the White House -- would be evidence that president has tried to influence the investigation.

__

12:05 p.m.

House Republican Justin Amash of Michigan says it could be grounds for impeachment if President Donald Trump urged FBI Director James Comey to end a probe of former adviser Michael Flynn.

Responding to a question, Amash said Wednesday that could be grounds, "if the allegations are true." He said that "everybody in this country gets a fair trial, (whether) it's the president or anyone else."

Amash became the first Republican lawmaker to raise the specter of impeachment. However, Amash has been a consistent critic of Trump, as well as an opponent of House Republican leadership and his views are not widely representative.

The New York Times was the first to report on a February memo by Comey that suggested Trump asked him to lay off Flynn. Trump later fired Comey.

__

11:35 a.m.

The top Democrat on a key House oversight panel says Speaker Paul Ryan "has shown he has zero appetite for any investigation of President Trump."

The comments by Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings came as Democrats sought to force a House vote to establish an independent commission to investigate Donald Trump's ties to Russia.

Cummings said the Government Reform and Oversight panel needs to subpoena documents for its Russia probe and summon former FBI Director James Comey for a public hearing.

Cummings reminded reporters that panel chairman Jason Chaffetz held a hearing featuring Comey just 48 hours after Comey announced there was no evidence warranting charges against Hillary Clinton after an investigation found she had improperly handled classified information on a private email server.

__

10 a.m.

House Speaker Paul Ryan says Congress must gather all relevant information before "rushing to judgment" on President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Ryan told reporters Wednesday that Congress "can't deal with speculation and innuendo." He says there is "clearly a lot of politics being played."

Ryan says a House committee has "appropriately" requested a Comey memo describing a February meeting he had with Trump. A person familiar with the document says Comey wrote that Trump asked him to drop the bureau's investigation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Ryan raised questions about Comey's account of that meeting. The Wisconsin Republican says Congress will want to know if Trump asked Comey to end the probe, "why didn't he take action at the time."

__

8 a.m.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lashed out at U.S. politicians whipping up what he described as "anti-Russian sentiment" for being either "stupid" or "dangerous."

Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting Italian prime minister, Putin said on Wednesday Moscow initially found debates about Russia's meddling in U.S. politics as "funny" but said Moscow is now "concerned because it's hard to imagine what the people who produce such nonsense can come up with next."

Putin dismissed the U.S. politicians, whom he did not identify, as either being "stupid" or "dangerous and unscrupulous" who are wittingly "causing the damage to their own country."

Asked what he thinks of Trump presidency, Putin said it's up to the American people to judge but his performance can only be rated "only when he's allowed to work at full capacity," implying that someone is hampering Trump's efforts.

___

7:35 a.m.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the ongoing scandal around President Donald Trump sharing classified intelligence with Russian officials as "political schizophrenia."

Trump came under fire earlier this week after it was revealed that he shared the sensitive intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak.

Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting Italian prime minister on Wednesday, Putin said he had "no other explanation" as to why Trump came under attack other than "political schizophrenia." Putin even suggested that Russia share the records of last week's talks between Trump and Lavrov with the U.S. Congress, if the White House approved.

Putin joked that that he would reprimand Lavrov because "he hasn't shared those secrets with us."

__

6:45 a.m.

The Kremlin isn't commenting on the details of the classified information that President Donald Trump shared with the Russian foreign minister and the Russian ambassador last week.

The White House on Tuesday defended Trump discussing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak an Islamic State group terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft.

Speaking to Russian news agencies on Wednesday Yuri Ushakov, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, would not comment the contents of last week's talks among Trump, Lavrov and Kislyak.

Ushakov said "any contacts" with the U.S. president are "important" but he would not reply to the question whether the classified information that Trump reportedly shared with Lavrov and Kislyak was valuable for Russia.

___

3:10 a.m.

President Donald Trump personally appealed to FBI Director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to notes Comey wrote after the meeting.

The White House issued a furious denial after the notes were disclosed late Tuesday, near the end of a tumultuous day spent beating back potentially disastrous news reports from dawn to dusk.

The bombshell Comey news came as the beleaguered administration was still struggling mightily to explain Monday's revelation that the president had disclosed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and the country's ambassador to the United States.

Defending Trump's actions, officials played down the importance and secrecy of the information, which had been supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement, and Trump himself said he had "an absolute right" as president to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia.

--The Associated Press
MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he would be willing to provide the U.S. Congress a record of President Donald Trump's meeting with top Russian envoys, bringing scoffs on Capitol Hill that the Kremlin could help shed light on the disclosures of reportedly highly classified intelligence.

The provocative offer for the Kremlin to share evidence with U.S. oversight committees about the Oval Office meeting came with the caveat that the request for the transcript would have to come from the Trump administration.

Presenting a transcript is the Kremlin's latest gambit in denying that Trump shared classified secrets last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russia's ambassador to the United States during an Oval Office meeting.

But the tactic may have more to about attempts to sow further chaos in Washington than assuage suspicions about the talks.

The Kremlin has denied reports that Trump shared classified secrets last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russia's ambassador to the United States during an Oval Office meeting. But the full extent of Trump's comments to the Russian envoys has not been made public.

As reported first by The Washington Post, Trump in a meeting with Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak shared classified information about an Islamic State plot to smuggle a bomb disguised as a laptop aboard a passenger plane. Subsequent reports have suggested the intelligence was provided by the Israeli government, and was so sensitive that it was not shared even with the United States' closest allies.

Putin's remarks left some ambiguity as to the nature of the records. While the word "zapis'" in Russian could indicate an audio recording, an aide told reporters that Putin was referring to a transcript, the Reuters news agency reported.

If there was any question as to whether Putin was trolling the White House, he playfully ribbed his foreign minister during the press conference, saying he would have to censure Lavrov "for not sharing these secrets with us."

"Neither with me nor with our intelligence services," he continued. "That's very bad on his part."

On Wednesday, Putin denied that Lavrov had shared any intelligence with him or with Russia's secret service, instead declaring that a "political schizophrenia" had gripped the United States and that it was "eliciting concern" in Russia.

"If the administration of the United States deems this possible, we will be ready to provide a transcript of the Lavrov-Trump meeting to the U.S. Senate and Congress," Putin told reporters during a news conference with visiting Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. Putin added, "it will happen if the U.S. administration wishes so."

U.S. Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, dismissed Putin's offer as a potentially important piece of the puzzle.

"Probably the last person the person [Trump] needs to vouch for him right now is Vladimir Putin," he said about Russia's offer on the CBS show "This Morning."

He doubted the Kremlin would send anything worth trusting, saying: "Sure, send it our way. But its credibility would be less than zero."

In a morning interview on Fox News, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., quickly dismissed the Russian president's announcement.

"I wouldn't put much credibility on what Putin's notes are, and if it comes in an email, I wouldn't click on the attachment," he said.

Speaking on CNN, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, added: "The idea that we would accept any evidence from President Putin is absurd."

On Tuesday, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman denied that Trump revealed classified information during last week's meeting, while Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, called the report "another piece of nonsense, and we do not want to have anything to do with this nonsense at all."

"There is nothing here to confirm or deny," he added.

Shortly after the Russian statements, however, Trump posted tweets saying that "facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety" were shared during the White House meeting May 10.

Trump added in the tweets that he has the "absolute right" to share the information, which was described to The Washington Post as highly classified and intended to remain only within a tight circle of allies.

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining . . . to terrorism and airline flight safety," Trump wrote. "Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism," he added, using an acronym for the Islamic State terrorist group.

--The Washington Post
While Taiwanese TV news was devoting most of its attention to the death of a local comedian on May 15, an international summit on China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative was taking place in Beijing. It was attended by 29 national leaders, more than 70 heads of international organizations and representatives from over 130 countries.
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Wednesday 17 May 2017 11:52am



Professor Barbara Brookes

Leading Otago history researcher Professor Barbara Brookes was last night named as a winner of a major literary honour in recognition of the excellence of her book on New Zealand womens history.

Professor Brookes work, A History of New Zealand Women, won a 2017 Ockham book award in the illustrated non-fiction category.

The judges described the work as a sweeping survey that puts women at the centre of our history, and which shows exactly when, how and why gender mattered.

It combines deep research, an immensely readable narrative, superbly well-integrated images and it is distinguished by close attention to both Maori and Pakeha women. General changes in each period are combined effortlessly with the particular, local stories of individual women, many not well-known. A wider sense of womens experiences is beautifully conveyed by the many well-captioned artworks, photographs, texts and objects.

Professor Brookes has been featured in the University of Otago Magazine
Administrators at Northeast Middle School are investigating a verbal threat made by a student Tuesday, according to a letter to parents from the school principal.

The threat, characterized as a specific and potentially dangerous verbal threat was made toward several classmates, Principal Dirk R. DeBoer wrote in the letter that was emailed to parents Wednesday. The threat was quickly reported to staff by students.
When the Midland City Council agrees to a contractor next week for its new streetscape, it will be a decision to pave the way to a new future.

The $9 million Dig in Midland renovation of downtown Midland is designed to cater to pedestrians, including bicyclists and outdoor diners. The plan will, hopefully, be good for local merchants as well.
Oakwood Baptist Church finds a creative way to meet neighboring-community needs.

The Church: Oakwood Baptist Church in New Braunfels, Texas

The Challenge: Find a creative way to meet neighboring community needs.

One Big Idea: Establish a nonprofit entity to address the most pressing needs of the community.

In Matthew 5, Jesus likens his followers to a city on a hill. For Oakwood Baptist Church, this is more than metaphorically true. Sitting at a high elevation on the north end of New Braunfels, Texas, Oakwood is literally a city on a hill. On one hand, the location is strategically brilliant, both easily accessible from a major road and highly visible. But there was a problem.

Near the center of New Braunfels was a lower-income, more racially diverse area of the city that was harder for Oakwood to effectively reach. Rather than persuading people to come up the hill, Oakwood went to them.

Over the past decade, Oakwood has established a connected but separate nonprofit entity called New Braunfels Christian Ministries (NBCM). Located in the middle of Oakwoods target area, NBCM features an after-school mentoring program for at-risk kids, a free medical clinic and a food pantry. Additionally, their location has made it possible to co-partner with more than 20 other local churches that wanted to participate in NBCMs mission.

Oakwood is not that accessible to parts of our city, NBCM Director Brett Mosher says. For some churches it could be on the campus, but we love that NBCM is in the neighborhood. Its with the people we serve.

But for Mosher and Oakwood, it wasnt just enough to be in the neighborhood. They wanted their presence to add value.

Even though our ministry doesnt have a ton of money, its in a place where some of the homes and businesses arent in the best shape, Mosher says. So we were neurotic about every detail, down to the landscaping. We want every part of this place to tell this community, We value you. When you assign value to a part of a neighborhood, its contagious.

Find more ways to serve your community 

OAKWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH

New Braunfels, Texas

OakwoodBaptist.org
This website is intended for U.S. visitors only.
EUREKA  A Bloomington woman who pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in the stabbing death of her husband was described as an athlete, a caring teacher, a mentor and a woman who was patient and respectful of others during a bond hearing Wednesday in Woodford County Court.

Still, Woodford County Judge Michael Stroh denied a request from defense attorney Stephanie Wong to lower Sarah Mellor's bond from $1 million to $20,000; she is expected to remain in custody until her July 18 sentencing.

Character witnesses for Mellor, a former teacher at Bloomington High School, included the father of a student, a former student, a friend, a co-worker and the mother of stabbing victim Mark Mellor.

Diane Hollister said she moved from Peoria to Bloomington in January 2012 and quickly met Sarah Mellor on dog walks at Ewing Park.

She was a mentor to me, Hollister said. She is like a second daughter to me. She is a wonderful person and there is a softness to her. To me, she is like a Renaissance woman.

Katie Agles said she and Mellor were hired at about the same time to teach Spanish at BHS almost 10 years ago.

Sarah is my role model, she said. She put in the time and effort to help students. She would not only work late, she would sometimes stay until 8 or 9 p.m. She would help families who couldnt speak English. She would send e-mails in Spanish, interpret letters and documents to help the families. She always had protein bars or fruit snacks in her drawer for students who came to school hungry.

Jerri Andrew, the mother of Mark Mellor, told the court she still has a picture of Sarah and Mark when both were about 3 years old.

So I have known her for almost 30 years, said Andrew. Her character is impeccable.

Andrew said she has visited Sarah Mellor since her arrest on two different occasions and has also corresponded through letters.

I wanted to see if she was okay and how she was doing, said Andrew, adding she does not believe Sarah Mellor poses a threat to the community or her family and believes that she did not intend to take the life of her son.

They did love each other, said Andrew.

The judge said even though Sarah Mellor had several supporters despite pleading guilty to second-degree murder, the bond should remain where it is.

The fact remains that she had a knife that was plunged deep into the victim, which resulted in injuries to the heart and liver, he said. It wasnt a poke. It was a plunge and was an indication of quite a struggle.

In November, the judge also denied a reduction in bond, saying at that time he was worried about Mellor harming herself because she had been through a traumatic experience. He said there have been no reports of Mellor attempting to harm herself since then.

Wong said if released on bond, Mellor would turn in her passport.

But Stroh did not change his mind.

She is a highly-intelligent woman with a passport, he said. Even though she has long standing and significant ties to this community, there is still some motivation to flee.

Wong said she was hoping for a better result.

The main facts and circumstances surrounding this event were presented, so obviously Im disappointed in the decision and especially in light of the testimony presented from the numerous witnesses attesting to Sarahs stellar quality of character, as well as her contributions and ties to the community, she said.
Streator Fire Department was dispatched to 1401 North Otter Creek at 12:32 a.m. Wednesday. The multi-family housing complex is property of LaSalle County Housing Authority.

The stove fire had extended to cabinets and was put out in less than five minutes. The residents were helped by the American Red Cross.
NORMAL  A new degree in industrial technology aimed at a jack of all trades was approved by the Heartland Community College board on Tuesday night but still needs the go-ahead from two state boards.

The associate in applied science in industrial technology degree would prepare students for entry- to mid-level technician or operator positions in various industrial settings. Students could choose to specialize in one or more industrial areas such as construction, electronics, industrial maintenance or welding.

The college already offers skills certificates in those areas but the degree combining several skills really meets employer demand, Rick Pearce, vice president for learning and student success, told the board.

You might think of this as a jack of all trades thing, said Pearce.

In addition to existing employers within the district, incoming automotive company Rivian also has expressed interest in having employees with this type of education, he said.

The next step is to receive approval from the Illinois Community College Board, then the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

"We're already offering these courses, Pearce said, we just need approval to offer the degree.

In other business, the board approved an employee insurance package that reflects an overall decrease of 10 percent, representing a savings to the college of about $300,000.

College officials credited positive claims experience in the past year for the reduction.

The board also heard a report from Doug Minter, vice president of business services, on the strategic budget forecast. Last month's meeting focused on variables involving state funding  which could make a difference in millions of dollars. The variables covered in this month's presentation, such as tuition rates, enrollment and property tax revenue involve ranges in the thousands of dollars, Minter said.

The stakes are not as high if we miss, he said. But, when it comes to the state, Minter said, What we wouldn't give for a crystal ball that would really tell us what will happen.

A tentative budget for fiscal year 2018 will be presented at next month's meeting.
BLOOMINGTON  Letter carriers are "astounded" after Bloomington-Normal residents donated about 100,000 pounds of non-perishable food in last Saturday's 25th annual National Association of Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

"We're astounded at the amount of food we took in," Kim Marshall, a Bloomington letter carrier and food drive coordinator for letter carriers union Branch 522, said Tuesday. "The mail trucks were packed."

In the Twin Cities, a record-high 80,342 pounds of food was donated by residents and collected by letter carriers, Marshall reported. That food will go to the 18 Twin City food pantries.

Throughout the area, 98,818 pounds of food was donated and collected, Marshall said. That's also a record high, prompted by donations in several communities, including 8,201 pounds of food in Pontiac and 3,205 in El Paso.

Food collected outside Bloomington-Normal stays in those communities and goes to their food banks, Marshall said.

Twelve small-town post offices haven't reported their totals yet. "I'm pretty positive that we'll get over the 100,000-pound mark," Marshall said.

"It amazes me how compassionate people are in Bloomington-Normal," Marshall said. "It's a good feeling to know that we live in a community that's looking out for each other."

Among pantries that will receive food will be Center for Hope Food Pantry Network in Bloomington.

"That's amazing," Center for Hope's Pat Turner said of the donations. "When there is a need, this community responds."

Residents left grocery bags with donations of non-perishable food at their residential mailboxes on Saturday. Letter carriers collected the bags and  with help from retired letter carriers and representatives of other labor unions  loaded donated food onto trucks from Midwest Food Bank.

Representatives of Bloomington-Normal food pantries are picking up food at the food bank beginning this week.
BLOOMINGTON  Mayor Tari Renner and the City Council are gathering information about the kinds of civilian police review boards used by other Central Illinois cities.

Monday night, the council began discussing the idea after five community groups  Not in Our Town, ACLU, NAACP, YWCA of McLean County and Black Lives Matter Bloomington-Normal  asked for a citizen review board for police.

Renner said Tuesday the council probably will discuss the topic again at its June 19 committee-of-the-whole meeting to see if there is consensus on one of several potential types of review boards.

"We want to involve the community and the police in deciding on whatever kind of board we want to have," he said.

Renner said he envisions the group being called the police community relations board because "there might be policy issues they might want to talk about. It doesn't have to be so focused on complaints."

Urbana has had a civilian police review board since 2011. Mayor Diane Marlin views it as an effective tool to help bridge communication gaps between police and the community.

Most of Urbana's complaints come first to the police department "and the vast majority are handled by the police chief," she said.

But if someone is not satisfied with that decision, or things are not resolved to people's satisfaction, "then the civilian review board acts as kind of another set of eyes and ears on the topic," said Marlin.

"I think that is valuable," she added. "I think it also helps contribute to a better relationship between the community and the police department."

Urbana's board acts in an appellate capacity when people request a review of an internal police investigation.

"We have a hearing where we review the investigation conducted by the police department," Marlin said. "Then we render our opinion and we share that opinion with the police chief."

Since 2011, the board has conducted only two hearings, said H. Alex Bautista, Urbana's director of human resources

Urbana's board consists of seven members appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council. Members are chosen from diverse segments of the community and serve without compensation for a three-year term.

In Springfield, Mayor Jim Langfelder is resurrecting its seven-member police community review commission that was established in 2005.

The commission hasn't met in a couple of years because there weren't any cases to hear, said Springfield Deputy Mayor Bonnie Drew.

The Springfield commission operates similar to Urbana's in that it reviews internal police investigations of complaints about officers' conduct.

"We feel like our police department has very good rapport with the community, but that's not to say something might come up, and we want to get our commission activated," said Drew.

Champaign city staff, at the city council's direction, is drafting an ordinance authorizing the creation of a subcommittee of the city's human relations commission, whose members would assist with reviewing complaint investigations and providing recommendations to the chief of police.

Champaign Deputy Police Chief Jon Swenson said subcommittee members would be able to review existing investigations completed by police command staff, but they would not have any role in the disciplinary process of any officers. The city's labor contract states only the police chief or city manager can administer final discipline, said Swenson.

Like Bloomington's union contract with its police force, Champaign's labor contract does not compel its police officers to testify before a civilian review board or subcommittee.

"The one in Champaign sounds like it might very well be a possible option for us or some version of it," said Renner. "Obviously, ours has to be consistent with our police union contract."

Renner also is questioning whether Bloomington's board of fire and police commissions, which has civilians appointed by the mayor and approved by the council, could be tasked with reviewing complaints filed against police officers.

"To me that seems like a logical first step. Why reinvent the wheel," said Renner. "Right now they have a minimal role in hiring. They could also maybe weigh in on policy issues of how we could perhaps diversify our public safety workforce."

Nicole Albertson, Bloomington director of human resources, said she sees nothing that would preclude fire and police commissioners from acting in that additional capacity.
LINCOLN  A Lincoln woman has been killed in a fire in her mobile home.

Lincoln Fire Chief Mark Miller said the Lincoln Fire Department was called at 3:07 p.m. Saturday to 4 Singleton Court and firefighters were advised that a person was trapped inside a burning trailer.

Units reported heavy fire conditions inside and outside of the home, he said. Several citizens and family that lived in the mobile home park attempted to help the victim escape the home. All were pushed away from the home due to heavy fire and heavy smoke conditions.

Sandra Hurst, 65, was identified as the victim and pronounced dead at the scene by the Logan County Coroners office.

The fire is still under investigation but is not believed to be suspicious, he said.

Possible discarded smoking materials are related to the cause, Miller said.

Damage to the home was estimated at $40,000. Homes on each side of the trailer were also damaged by radiant heat, Miller said.

A total of 18 firefighters battled the blaze, Miller said, including off-duty Lincoln firefighters, as well as the Lincoln Rural Fire Department, Atlanta Fire Department, and Mount Pulaski Fire Department. Also assisting at the scene were the Logan County Paramedics, Logan County Emergency Management Agency, Lincoln Police, Logan County Coroner, Office of the State Fire Marshal and Illinois State Police crime scene investigators.

The Latham Fire Department also assisted by handling two incidents while at the Lincoln quarters.
DANVERS  James Earl "Jim" Phelps Jr., 85, Danvers, formerly of Monticello, passed away at 6:30 a.m. Friday (May 12, 2017) in Rockwall, Texas.

His graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Park Lawn Cemetery, Danvers, where he will be interred next to his wife of 57 years, Barbara. Full military rites will be accorded. Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home, Bloomington, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Illinois Cancer Care, American Cancer Society or a charity of the donors choice.

Jim was born Sept. 11, 1931, in Chicago, a son pf James Sr. and Rose Greeley Phelps. He married Barbara Sigmon on Dec. 19, 1954. She preceded him in death on Oct. 27, 2011.

Surviving are his sons, James S. Phelps, Las Vegas, Nev.; Randall M. Phelps, Anchorage, Alaska; and William T. Phelps, Maple Grove, Minn.; daughter, Suzann M. Colthurst, Royse City, Texas; seven granddaughters, Melissa, Carissa, Hannah, Kira, Kayla, Krista and Kiana; and two grandsons, Tyler and Will.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Moving at age 6 to the small, northern Illinois community of Sycamore, he attended schools from first grade through high school. Following high school, Jim attended Grinnell College, earning a bachelor of arts, majoring in chemistry-zoology. Next, he attended the University of Illinois where he received bachelor and doctor of dental surgery degrees in 1957.

Jim then received a first lieutenants commission in the U.S. Air Force where he proudly served for 20 years as a dentist, retiring as a colonel. The Air Force career enabled him to travel extensively in much of the world from Asia to the Arctic Circle. Subsequently, he practiced dentistry in Boulder, Colo., and Urbana. Jim also provided missionary dental treatment in Jamaica.

He was a member of the American Dental Association. Though his vocation was dentistry, his avocation was aviation, having obtained a commercial pilots license with added seaplane and instrument ratings. In Alaska, Jim enjoyed wilderness flying and took hunters, fishermen and sightseers to remote areas that could only be reached by airplane. In route to dental meetings and on vacations, he flew his personal plane to every state except Hawaii. He was also a LifeLine pilot, taking emergency patients to surgical centers.

Jims church was often the great outdoors, where he communed with God by contemplating the wonder of His creations in nature and the world. He thought God to be a superior pastor. Emily Dickinsons poem, "Some Keep The Sabbath," and Joyce Kilmers poem, "Trees," perfectly reflect Jims feelings.

Condolences and memories of Jim may be left for the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.
Canada's Forest Sector Welcomes New Federal Rail Legislation The new transportation legislation tabled by Minister Marc Garneau would promote transparency, system efficiency, and strong private sector investment. May 17, 2017 - The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) welcomes the new transportation legislation tabled by Transport Minister Marc Garneau [yesterday]. FPAC's CEO, Derek Nighbor, says the government understands that a more competitive and efficient transportation system is critical for Canada's forestry dependent communities. The legislation tabled by Minister Garneau [yesterday] would promote transparency, system efficiency, and strong private sector investment. Key measures would include: New data reporting requirements for railways on rates, service and performance, to enhance system transparency;

A new mechanism, Long-Haul Interswitching, to provide captive shippers across all sectors and regions of Canada with access to a competing railway, to ensure they have options;

A definition of "adequate and suitable" rail service that confirms railways should provide shippers with the highest level of service that can reasonably be provided in the circumstances;

The ability for shippers to seek reciprocal financial penalties in their service agreements with railways, to enhance accountability; and

More accessible and timely remedies for shippers on both rates and service, to support fair negotiations. "Transportation costs represent about one third of total costs for the average forest products company. When we presented our industry's recommendations in the fall, we emphasized the need for more reliable service and competitive rates in rail, marine and trucking," says Nighbor. "Most of our mills are in rural and northern communities and have few options on how to get products to market." "Our sector's relationships with our supply chain partners in rail, marine and trucking are very important to us. FPAC looks forward to working together to fully maximize the opportunities within this legislation," Nighbor added. FPAC provides a voice for Canada's wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. To learn more, please visit: www.fpac.ca SOURCE: Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)
Did you camp-out overnight for Anything x Anything? Would you sell your mother's engagement ring for Vetements latest collection? Is your phone case Off White and your hoodie Champion? Then Justin Bieber's SS17 merch is definitely for you!

The new "Purpose The Stadium" line is chock-full of the all the necessities to keep you looking ~cool~ and impractically toasty all summer long. Beware, however: nothing sells streetwear like two chill models leaning against fences on film, so you can bet you're going to need to get in quick to score a couple of these little numbers.

The collection will reportedly be available from June 2 at Justin's Europe and North American tour stops and of course, online at some point. So have a peruse! Enjoy Justin Bieber is fabric-form!

[h/t High Snobiety]

Images courtesy of Purpose the Stadium Tour, Getty


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Taipei, May 17 (CNA) According to a poll published Wednesday by the Chinese-language Want Daily, 63.5 percent of the respondents in Taiwan think that cross-Taiwan Strait relations have worsened since President Tsai Ing-wen () took office on May 20 last year, while 17.7 percent said that cross-strait relations have been almost the same as before Tsai's inauguration.
Yesterday ZNet, Appleinsider and others reported that Samsung's Global sales of their new Galaxy S8 smartphone were far blow their Galaxy S4 peak. Hell, even some Korean press reports backed that up. Overnight however, The Korea Times reports that Galaxy S8 sales top 10 million in 3 weeks. So which is it?



According to the Korea Times today, a Samsung official told them that "The global sales of the Galaxy S8 series have already surpassed the 10 million mark."

In order to keep up the momentum, Samsung plans to expand sales to 120 countries, including China, by the end of this month. Analysts forecast that 20 million Galaxy S8s will be sold during the second quarter and 60 million this year, which would be a new record for Samsung.

Samsung's current best-selling smartphone is the Galaxy S7. According to Strategic Analytics this month, the gadget's combined sales reached 55 million as of the first quarter of the year.

While the Korea Times is now claiming that Samsung has sold 10 million S8 globally, they reported the figure was 5 million yesterday. So which is it?

Yesterday's Korea Times report stated that a Samsung official stated that "Although we cannot provide a detailed figure, the sales are going smoothly around the globe. The combined sales already are beyond 5 million units." The "combined sales" is referring to their Galaxy S8 and S8-Plus models.

This is so off-the-wall that it's beyond fake news. Unless the Korea Times or Samsung can clarify which of the two numbers reflect reality, we'll just have to wait for the official numbers that will be published in the coming months to know the truth.Then again, perhaps there will be a new story tomorrow with newly inflated numbers or a big fat apology from someone for promoting this Fake News. Stay tuned.







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New Delhi: Compounding to the problems of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav who is back in news after the Supreme Court ordered the reopening of the multi-crore rupees Animal Husbandry scam, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday carried out simultaneous raids at 22 different locations in Delhi, Gurgaon, and other places where Yadav and his family members have purchased properties at dirt cheap prices under names other than their own (benami properties).

The combined value of these properties is said to be in excess of Rs. 1000 crore.

According to the reports, raids were conducted in posh localities like the New Friends Colony, Sainik Farm, and farmhouses in Bijwasan and other southern Delhi localities, and in Gurgaon where Yadav or one of his family members have purchased properties in the past 12 to 15 years in other people's name. These properties were later conveniently transferred in either Yadav, his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, or one of the many children of the RJD chief's name.

Income Tax officials, who also took part in the raid, said that all these properties were owned by Yadav or one of his family members adding searches were also being conducted at properties owned by the son of RJD MP P C Gupta.

Not surprisingly, an angry Yadav accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of launching a witch hunt against him and his family members saying the BJP was acting out of political vendetta and was trying to settle score for the party's humiliating defeat in the state Assembly elections.

Yadav said no one could intimidate him and he was more than happy to see them in the court.

In a series of tweets managed by his social media team, Yadav fired back at the BJP saying it did not have the power or guts to scare him away.

"BJP mein himmat nahi hai ki Lalu ki awaz ko daba sake... Lalu ki awaz dabayenge to desh bhar me karoron Lalu khare ho jayenge... Main gidarbhabhki se nahi darne wala hoon (BJP does not have the power to muzzle my voice. If they tried to do so, hundreds of thousands of Lalus across the nation would come out in my favor. I am not the one who would be scared by the BJP's empty threats)," the man who remains a convict in the fodder scam and is out on bail, said in Patna.

BJP leaders rubbished Yadav's allegations saying the NDA government was not in the habit of interfering in the law and order functioning of the nation.

Senior party leader and a minister in the Modi administration Piyush Goyal rejected Yadav's charges saying the BJP did not believe in becoming an obstruction in the way of law enforcement agencies investigating any case.



As recalled, former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi, for the past couple of months, had presented a number of documents relating to the sale or transfer of properties in one of Yadav's family members' name raising suspicion of financial impropriety. The BJP leader has been demanding a high-level probe in Yadav and his family members' financial dealings with a number of businessmen who, Yadav claims, gifted high-valued properties to Yadav's two sons and other members of the family.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, demanding an CBI probe in Yadav family's financial dealings saying Yadav, as the Union Railway Minister in the UPA government, indulged in quid pro quo in return of properties in posh localities.

"Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had passed a law under which the government can confiscate the properties of corrupt officials and auction it. So, when is he going to act against Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members who have amassed properties way beyond their known means of income," Prasad asked.

Raids were also conducted at various known addresses of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in Chennai and other areas on charges of corruption and abuse of power.
Rouhani's Attempt to Adopt UNESCO Educational Guidelines Emerges as 2017 Election Issue in Iran

05/17/17

Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran

In the run-up to Iran's presidential election on May 19, 2017, the country's hardline supreme leader has strongly denounced the Rouhani government's attempt to integrate guidelines from a UN agenda into the country's educational system. Conservative voters have meanwhile been pointing to the document as alleged evidence of centrist President Hassan Rouhani's so-called pro-Western beliefs. Rouhani is currently seeking a second term.



Said Peyvandi

Sociologist and member of UNESCO's Peace and Education Commission



"This document is not connected to any government and, more importantly, it does not force any government to implement it," Said Peyvandi, a sociologist and member of UNESCO's Peace and Education Commission, told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). "It is simply a guideline for the future."

"The argument is over what kind of human beings we want to raise and what kind of society we want to have," he added. "The UNESCO document is diametrically opposed to Ayatollah (Ali) Khamenei's thinking."

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an educational document published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a non-binding guidelines document.







Peyvandi believes that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's opposition stems from the document's emphasis on gender equality.

In a speech to the staff of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council on May 7, Khamenei denounced UNESCO for allegedly "giving itself the right to give instructions to nations with different histories, cultures and civilizations on behalf of influential world powers."

"This UNESCO 2030 document is not something that the Islamic Republic will surrender to," he said. "It's wrong to sign some document and then quietly go ahead and implement it. That's absolutely forbidden."

Khamenei's sharp criticism came some five months after the chairman of the Basij volunteer paramilitary organization's academic committee, Sohrab Salehi, wrote a letter to the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council and Parliament on January 7, 2017 claiming that the 2030 agenda was created by "American spies to take control of Iran's cultural institutions."

Ahead of Iran's May 19 presidential election, conservatives have been urging voters to sign petitions denouncing the document and President Hassan Rouhani's attempts to implement it.

On August 16, 2016, Rouhani's cabinet agreed to put the Education Ministry in charge of integrating the document's guidelines into the country's educational system.

Following Khamenei's expressed opposition on May 7, the head of the Headquarters for the Implementation of the General Education Roadmap, Mansour Kabganian, announced on May 9 that the adoption of the 2030 Agenda has been halted.

However, on May 13, Rouhani said the government would remain committed to the spirit of document and only discard the parts that contradict Islam.

"Some have spread unfair propaganda against the 2030 agenda," said Rouhani at a May 13 campaign rally in Tehran. "I assure the supreme leader of the Iranian nation and the great nation of Iran that the government has pledged to adhere to the document within Iran's laws and cultural parameters."

According to UNESCO, the 2030 agenda was adopted in September 2015 to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." The agency was entrusted to "lead and coordinate" the agenda with "governments and partners on how to turn commitments into action."

"Unfortunately, instead of emphasizing the 2030 agenda's universal educational goals for a better world in the future, what we hear in Iran are statements and excuses that have nothing to with anything," said Peyvandi.

Opposing Progress

"The document has two major parts," Peyvandi, the UNESCO official, told CHRI. "One is for purely educational targets and the application of technology in communications and information management. I don't think there's a difference of opinion between Mr. Khamenei and the government on this part."

"What Mr. Khamenei finds most objectionable is the three social aspects of the document," he added. "One is the principle of equality between women and men in education to prepare the grounds for equality in society and the workforce. This is not something Mr. Khamenei can accept as part of Iran's educational objectives."

"He has taken a position against gender equality many times and opposes women in the workforce," added Peyvandi. "He is more interested in women playing the role of mothers and wives in domestic affairs. He is not too keen on seeing a role for women in society as proposed in the document."

Peyvandi said that the second issue opposed by Khamenei and his supporters is the document's emphasis on human rights.

"In other words, teaching children about different aspects of human rights and its importance for society's future," said Peyvandi. "Also, human rights must be observed in practice in running school affairs (according to the document)."

"We know this culture does not exist in Iran's educational system," the UNESCO official noted. "Even school textbooks include passages that describe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a means to exert pressure on Muslims."

"According to the UNESCO document, education should serve international peace and be included in educational discourse," added Peyvandi. "On the other hand, Iran's educational system and textbooks promote war and violence. They explicitly discuss conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims and war with others as enemies. They introduce violent characters as positive role models. They proudly describe the lives of martyrs and other individuals whose worldview does not promote the culture of peace in relation to minorities or different peoples and countries around the world."

On May 9, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani called on the legislature to "ensure the wishes of the supreme leader are carried out as soon as possible."

A member of the parliamentary education and research committee, Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi, meanwhile told Iran's state TV that he would take steps to oppose the document's "humanistic and secular" designs "against Iranian identity."

"Westerners want to globalize their own culture and the 2030 Agenda is the vehicle for that purpose," another member of the committee, Alireza Salimi, said on May 7.

Reformist member of Parliament Mahmoud Sadeghi reacted by questioning whether opponents know what the UNESCO document is about.

"I asked a few fellow MPs why they were so passionately against the 2030 agenda and to show me the parts they objected to, but it turned out none of them had read it," Sadeghi tweeted on May 9.

Speaking to CHRI, the UNESCO sociologist denied the notion, pushed by hardliners, that the document is being imposed by the West.

"Mr. Khamenei and others have wrongly suggested that the West is trying to impose its lifestyle on the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is false and a lie," said Peyvandi. "First of all, this document has been prepared by educational experts, not governments."

"Secondly, it happens to be that many European countries and even the United States are not so pleased with UNESCO and have a critical opinion of it because of the influence underdeveloped countries have on its development policies," he added.
Iran Bans already Vetted Reformist Candidates from Running

05/17/17

Source: Radio Zamaneh

As the elections draw near, Iran's Supreme Leader warned that any "rebellion" in the course of the elections would provoke a "slap" from state security forces. Meanwhile 37 candidates who had been previously vetted by Iran's Election Committee have been banned from running for City and Village Councils Election in Iran.





Farhad Tajari, a spokesperson for the Central Committee for Monitoring of elections, confirmed that it is not the government of Hassan Rouhani that is banning these candidates. He also confirmed that the forces within the intelligence community affiliated with the Judiciary in Iran are behind the ban.



These candidates according to Tajari are being disqualified for having criminal records and serving prison sentences related to security charges.



Ten days to elections in Iran, the judiciary expressed concern that a number of candidates with a history of "security" convictions have been approved to run in the municipal elections.



Security "convictions" is state lingo to describe political dissidents or opposition groups including those who took part in Iran's Green Movement.

Among the candidates that are being banned there a number of politicians and activists that were imprisoned after the disputed 2009 presidential election including: Abdollah Momeni, Ali Tajernia and Nasrin Vaziri.

Samad Maroof, the only ethnic minority candidate who is Kurdish and was on the list of reformists running for City and Village Councils in Iran has also been banned.



Head of Tehran Justice Department Gholamhossein Esmaili said last week that approval of certain candidates shows lack of regard for the judicial system's views and could lead to "serious harm for city councils" across the country.



He added that the judiciary has reviewed the case of individuals with a history of "security charges" and communicated its findings with the appropriate election administrators but according to Esmaili, these reports have been ignored in issuance of approval for certain candidates.



Esmaili confirmed that the administration has final jurisdiction over issuance of approval for election candidates and the judiciary is only responsible for informing the appropriate authorities with their information. Despite this the ban has become effective in actuality and the candidates have been omitted from lists that were previously supporting them, including the reformists lists.



Esmaili stated that the judiciary feels there has been negligence in considering the background of individuals who have served sentences for "security charges" and this could be highly "detrimental to the composition of councils".



The 2009 elections in Iran dissipated into widespread protests with millions of people taking to the streets with accusations of vote rigging. The government responded violently arresting many protesters and controversial political figures and sentencing them to heavy prison terms. Some of those activists and political figures served long terms and are now released.



The victory of Hassan Rouhani, the reformist and more moderate candidate in the 2013 elections has given a relative opening to more moderate and progressive forces to gradually return to the political scene.



Abdollah Momeni, a prominent student activist was arrested and sentenced to five years in jail following the 2009 elections. He was head of Mehdi Karroubi's campaign committee, one of the moderate candidates of the elections who directly challenged the result of the vote count and was consequently subjected to a house arrest under which he still lingers.



Momeni was running for a seat in Tehran City Council and had been approved by the Election Committee.



Another candidate that has been banned is Emad Bahavar, another political activists who served five years in jail for participating in the 2009 elections protests. While he received an approval in the initial round of selection of municipal election candidates, he was disqualified in the second round.



Iranian elections have become the only platform through which the conservative factions supported by the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei have been forced to slightly loosen their iron grip on power; therefore, in the lead up to any election they step up security measures and threats against protests and public demonstrations.
Google gave its Google Assistant a big promotion on Wednesday, adding the ability to control more devices, make payments, and even run on Apples iPhone as well as consumer appliances.

Googles Assistant runs on more than 100 million devices, according to Google executives. The companys goal is to expand its reach, making it smarter and more capable as it goes.

Expanding Assistants reach

Probably the most important Assistant announcement of the morning was Googles plans to integrate Assistant into a slew of consumer devices. The company said it was working with Sony, Panasonic, and others to control them with the Assistant, and even bake it in to the device itself. A special Google Assistant built-in badge will highlight appliances that include that capability, Google said.

IDG Look for consumer devices to gain additional intelligence with Google Assistant.

Google also plans to release a software development kit (SDK) to allow developers to add Assistant capabilities to other devices as well, without an explicit partnership.

In an interesting twist, one of those third-party devices will actually be the Apple iPhone, which will receive its own version of the Assistant to compete with Apples Siri, right on her own turf.

Finally, Google said Assistant will be expanded to French, German, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese, as well as Italian, Spanish, and Korean, by the end of the year. To add a degree of privacy, users will be able to type directly into Assistant.

and making Assistant smarter

As Google widens the Assistants reach, the company is also making it smarter. One of the ways is with Google Lens, which appears to be an upgraded form of Google Goggles. In a demonstration, Google Lens used the users location and what it saw with the phones camera to identify places like restaurants and automatically supply ratings and other information.

IDG Google Lens can see the world around the phone, and understand it.

Finally, Google announced a significant new capability to Assistant: improving its Actions capability on Assistant to include transactions, including payments. Actions allows third-party services to interact with you, using Assistant as the mediator. When it comes to payments capability, Google Assistant can talk a user through buying a takeout order without talking to a live human. In one demonstration, Valerie Nygaard, the product manager for Assistant, bought a sandwich from Panera via Assistant, even substituting ingredients. When she was done, Assistant provided her with a summary of the bill. Because she had a credit card entered in her Google account, she was also able to make the payment via Assistant.
Government has given the assurance that 70 per cent of taxpayers funded contracts in the country would be subleted to local companies in its quest to empower them to grow.



It said the private sector holds the key to creating wealth and jobs for Ghanaians and would, therefore, create friendly economic environment for them to achieve that objective.



Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia gave the assurance at the maiden Policy Summit, organised by the Ministry of Information, in Accra.



The two-day summit was held on the theme: Building Partnerships for Growth and Jobs.



It provided a platform for stakeholders in the public and private sectors to dialogue on key government policies and programmes and solicit feedback from them to ensure effective implementation.



Dr Bawumia said it was Governments priority to create jobs and wealth as outlined in this years budget statement by growing the economy from dwindling 3.6 per cent to 6.5 per cent this year.



In order to achieve the objectives, he said, there was the need to be transformational in the implementation of policies and programmes by maintaining and sustaining macro-economic stability.



According to him, agriculture would feature prominently in Governments quest to industrialise the economy and would invest huge resources into the sector including irrigation infrastructure and other farming inputs to ensure food security and export surplus food produce to increase the countrys foreign exchange earnings.



Agriculture is the most important sector in terms of job creation therefore we need a marshal plan in agriculture to create surplus for industrialisation, he stated.



The Vice President said it would need both domestic and foreign partners to achieve Governments vision of building an economy that was beyond aid and pledged to treat all partners with mutual respect.



He said the ruling New Patriotic Party considered the promises it made to Ghanaians as sacred contract and would work to make the Ghanaian dream a reality.



According to the Vice President, there were three key elements that would help in the formalisation of the economy and mentioned the issuance of the national identification system, which would commerce hopefully by August or September this year as one of them.



The other two elements were the issuance of unique digital addressing system, which would be rolled-out in July and financial inclusion where all telecommunication companies would be linked in terms of transfer of money or payment system, otherwise known as interoperability.



The event brought together captains of industries, government officials, diplomatic corps and Members of Parliament, as well as civil society organisations and the media.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Martha Amakye, the Stanbic worker who duped customers to the tune of a whopping GH900,000, has finally been arrested, Ghanacelebrities.com has been reliably told.



According to our sources, Ms. Amakye, 33, was arrested at her hideout in Ashaiman, Accra  thanks to a tip-off.



It must be recalled that on January 2nd, the outsourced staff of Stanbic was declared wanted by the Ghana Police Service for defrauding customers. Martha had apparently absconded with the money to an unknown place.



While we are happy that her fraudulent ass has been arrested, we are sad and very angry that many of the customers duped by Martha have still not gotten back their monies. One of the victims who spoke to GC said because of the utter disappointment of not getting her money back, shes doesnt want her money again.



Am not interested they should take the money. You know after everything it affected me soo much,so i dont want to get myself involved in it again. God is my judge, one of the victims of Marthas fraudulence told GhanaCelebrities.com.

Source: ghanacelebrities.com (gc)









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
To activate the text-to-speech service, please first agree to the privacy policy below.

Taipei, May 17 (CNA) As President Tsai Ing-wen () approaches the first anniversary of her inauguration, a survey shows that she remains the front runner for the next presidential election even though her disapproval rating is currently higher than her approval rating, a think tank said on Wednesday.
FORMER PRESIDENT John Dramani Mahamas intention of contesting for the presidency again on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2020 is gathering momentum, even though it is shrouded in secrecy.



The ex-president went to Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, in a private jet last Sunday where he is alleged to have held secret meetings with several top guns in the NDC about his intention of running for the presidency again.



The venue of the said meeting, reportedly held Sunday evening, remains a mystery, as Mr. Mahamas camp doesnt want their potential opponents in the party to monitor their actions and strategies.



But credible sources confirmed to DAILY GUIDE that the main agenda for the confab was about what could be done, in terms of strategy and planning, to help Mr. Mahama become the NDC presidential candidate and get the support of the opinion leaders.



Tough Congress Ahead



Unconfirmed reports have it that a group of experts from South Africa, allegedly employed by Mr. Mahama to plan his presidential bid, has advised that he (Mahama) would not have it easy during the NDC presidential primary.



The experts, who left the country on Saturday for their home country, reportedly admonished Mahama to immediately start wooing people  who are considered to be influential in the NDC across the country  into his camp in order to avert any shock during the NDC polls.



Mr. John Mahama, who is not treating the advice given to him by the experts with kids gloves, had since started criss-crossing some parts of the country, with Kumasi being his latest destination, ostensibly to woo top NDC members into his camp. He will soon embark on a nationwide tour to thank Ghanaians for supporting his government.



Persuasive Message



Mr. Mahama, who was said to sound very convincing throughout his delivery in Kumasi, allegedly told his audience that he has what it takes to lead the NDC to recapture political power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2020.



According to sources, the former Ghanaian leader stated that he has unfinished business, regarding the effective and proper management of the country, recounting his contributions towards Ghanas growth whilst in political office.



The former president, the sources noted, did not sound divisive during his delivery as he did not touch on blame game  regarding who in the party caused the NDCs shocking electoral defeat to the NPPs Nana Akufo-Addo during the 2016 polls.



The sources indicated that he sounded like a person who had done post-mortem to identify what really caused the NDCs overwhelming defeat, as he indicated that returning the NDC to political power was not difficult for him.



Official Announcement



Mr. Mahama was also reported to have given the assurance that in due time he would officially announce his intention of leading the NDC as the presidential candidate for the next national elections.



In the meantime, he said, he was quietly touring the country and meeting with influential people in the party to canvass for their support towards his high ambition, which he claimed is very feasible.



Recent Happenings



The ex-presidents quest to lead the NDC again as its flagbearer was initially considered by political pundits and Ghanaians in general, as one of the usual rumours in the political arena.



Mr. Mahama has reportedly met several power brokers in the NDC in recent times and was able to convince them to rally behind him so that his dream of becoming the NDC flagbearer again would be a foregone conclusion.



Photo Shoot



The former NDC leader, who was said to have lodged at the Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel Sunday night, reportedly engaged in a photo shoot Monday morning with some of his fans in the city before departing for Accra.



His known supporters in Kumasi, led by Appiah Stadium, Kromo and Forty, reportedly rushed to the hotel where other NDC members had converged, to take snapshots with him amidst broad smiles.



2020 Campaign



Later, Forty pasted a video of himself, Mr. Mahama, Appiah Stadium and Kromo at the Kumasi Airport on Snapchat, with deafening shouts of I will be back all over the background as Mr. Mahama jetted off.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Remarks by Guest Speaker, Comrade Brother Sylvester A Mensah, at the National Cadres Conference Held On Tuesday 16th May 2017 at the Jefkings Hotel (On The Dodowa Road)



Topic: Commemorating June 4 - Integrating Cadres Into The NDC, A Cadres Perspective



Senior Comrades;

Comrades;

Distinguished Invited Guests;

Our media friends,



I deem it a great honour to be accorded the place of a Guest Speaker and asked to share a few words at an auspicious gathering of this kind.



Gathered in this audience today are men and women of great valour whose tenacity, perseverance, and determination shaped the destiny of our beloved country and its modern fledgling democracy.



Many among us played crucial roles in the mobilization efforts that returned hope to the hearts and minds of our people across the country.



I am therefore excited at this unique chance to interact, recount, share ideas and experience, and reignite new hopes to guide and usher our country into the blissful future we continue to work for.



Let me express my profound gratitude to the initiators and organizers of this conference, for asking me to speak at a gathering of what I consider the assembly of great Ghanaians with social conscience.



On an occasion like this, it is also important to thank you all for the many ways in which together as cadres we have selflessly used our talents, expertise, and experiences to shepherd our country out of the difficult times of the 1980s and early 1990s.



I consider this conference yet another step to illustrate our perseverance, persistence, determination, tenacity and drive to remain relevant is shaping the future course of socio-political and economic decisions that have implications for the wealth of our people.



Senior Colleagues, the National Democratic Congress as a political party remains our only natural home. As you will recall, it is a house built on the foundations of several social forces including in particular the Eagle Club, the Development Union of Progressive Revolutionary Cadres throughout the country, and the Rawlings Fan Club of Progressive Cadres and other Civilians  as well as functionaries, operatives, supporters, sympathizers and all those who believed and participated in the prosecution of the principles and ideals of the 1979 June 4 Uprising and the 1981 31st December Revolution.



Shall we observe a minute silence for the fallen hero-activists as well as those who were at the receiving end of excesses and avoidable errors? We salute all those who have remained steadfast despite emotionally disturbing life changing circumstances. Indeed social progress comes with its inherent hiccups and coke-ups. While we regret the needless and avoidable, we find solace in how far we have come as a people.



Fellow comrades, permit me to begin with a historical backdrop. I guess this serves our course and the interest of students of Ghanas democratic history to take a snapshot view of some of the past events. As you recall, in July 1990, the then Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), established the National Commission for Democracy (NCD) to hold seminars in all ten regional centres to gather public opinion on the future democratic pathway for the country.



The NCD submitted its report on 1st April 1991, advocating a multi-party system of democratic governance. The PNDC then appointed a nine-member committee of constitutional experts charged with developing proposals for a draft constitution. The prepared draft was then deliberated upon, reviewed and voted on by a larger 258-member Consultative Assembly. The Consultative Assembly concluded its work on March 30, 1992.



After the PNDC received the Assemblys final draft, it put the draft to a public referendum on April 28, 1992. Though only a simple majority was needed to approve the Constitution, the referendum passed with 92% of voters in approval.



This immediately culminated in lifting the ban on political party activity on the 18th of May 1992, which paved way for the emergence of new political parties and the revival of some previously existing ones.



With the approval of the 1992 Constitution, the stage was set for Presidential and Parliamentary elections in November and December 1992 respectively; with the Constitution billed to come into force on January 7, 1993, to usher in Ghanas Fourth Republic.



The above narrative is important because every step along the way, cadres worked as conveyor belts to carry the intent and purpose of the PNDC from the urban centres to every part of the country, making sure that every Ghanaians is given an opportunity to be part of the processes.



I remember the 5 member Prompting Committee constituted in the Greater Accra Region of which I was a member, tasked with the responsibility of creating awareness on the formation of a new political party  the NDC. Comrades and friends, it was seated here and others who went round every district virtually begging individual to become founding members of our dear party.



We again had a historical duty to scout for the first set of Parliamentary Candidates, most of whom became Hon. MPs in the 1st Parliament of the 4th Republic.



Comrades and friends, despite the remarkable achievements, Cadre yielded to the caution to cede front line activities to fresh faces in order to attract greater patronage.



This singular act of understanding and commitment to the collective good has had a frustratingly difficult effect on cadres in general, in the bid to effectively integrate into the structures of the party. In hindsight I guess we appreciate that cadres were not well positioned for the transition to multiparty democracy. Nevertheless, Cadre loyalty and commitment has remained undiminished and continues unabated.



Comrades and friends, irrespective of our individual or collective circumstances, the demands of the time impose on us a historical responsibility to close our ranks and unite like never before with all who believe and share in the desire to wrestle political power from the inhumane NPP government, currently dismissing properly appointed civil and public servants to create space for employing unemployed foot soldiers of the NPP.



Comrades this is not only shameful but significantly elicits a needless cycle of equal or greater reprisals after each successive government going forward.



A bad political culture that our dear late Professor Mill sought to nib in the bud with the concept of Father For All- but no more! Perhaps this can be a subject matter for another discussion.



Ladies and gentlemen, our challenges transcend bread and butter issues for today. Our common enemies are disease, ignorance, poverty, inequality and social exclusion, among others. Indeed our enemy is a bad political culture that invites reprisals of equal or greater magnitude. Our enemy is an ill-funded and suboptimal party apparatus.



Our enemy is the friend and colleague within, with a dagger behind his or her back, dismembering, frustrating and eating-up its own from within. Our enemy is the lack of trust and sincerity in those we look up to, as well as those who look up to us.



We are in the peoples industry and our unique selling proposition must be anchored in trust. What leadership requires is principled loyalty as against gaping sycophancy, which is creeping up on us.



Our enemy is unethical behaviour and the creeping culture of silence at all level of leadership. Our enemy is the tendency of remaining reluctantly subservient and quiet under unacceptable conduct by those we look up to.



It is no secret that many Cadres feel disenchanted and disillusioned about the turn of developments since the return to constitutional rule. But as the foundation upon which NDC was built, and the true soul of the party, we have no choice but to remain resolute and firmly committed to the forces of good over evil; and selfless dedication over selfish arrogance.



As cadres, we must remind ourselves that, the Founding Father of the NDC is Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings upon whose vision and leadership the Party was established. It is no secret that many people became members of our great party through the mobilization efforts of Cadre.



We must be proud of our heritage and sacrifices for the collective achievements so far and resolve to be committed to the total reorganization of the Party as we prepare for the 2020 General Elections, an election beckoning the NDC for victory!



As former President John Mahama recently noted, if you ride a lame horse to battle and you encounter defeat, your first duty is to cure the lameness of the horse, irrespective of the cause of lameness (emphasis is mine). Our party obviously needs to be strengthened, and that enterprise needs your expertise, experience and skills.



Lets take the wise counsel of former President John Mahama to make our NDC party attractive again. Let us reconnect our values to the lived experiences of Ghanaians. Let us show that the idea of building a society of equal opportunities in Ghana is within our reach in the NDC.



Collectively, there is the need for cadres to rededicate to grassroots mobilization at the party branches, communities and workplaces to identify allies and sympathizers and galvanize their support and involvement for the reorganization of the party.



There is opportunity now like never before for cadres to re-locate in all the branches of the party across the country in the first instance and then assess further opportunities into higher structures of the party. Indeed the time has come for the party to create space in the party constitution for cadres as an integral wing.



Today there are new corps of party cadres who have not been adequately oriented to appreciate the partys antecedent, history and sacrifices of those who have come before them.



Even past successive party leadership have had challenges with recognition and appreciation. We have a historical responsibility to integrate into the party as party cadres with shared values and nurture growth through new membership of party cadres if were not to become extinct.



We didnt get where we are today by accident, or by chance, fate or coincidence, but by careful orchestration and navigation with sufficient consultation



As I prepare to take my seat, let me use this occasion to respectfully and humbly entreat all of us as Cadres to return to the branches, wards, constituencies, and the regional levels of the party, and offer ourselves to be elected to position of influence so that our wealth of knowledge and experience can truly become beneficial to the party.



In an environment of competitive elections, we cannot stay outside the vital veins of the party and expect that the change we desire will take place.



Fellow comrades, on the commemoration of the 38th year of the historic June 4 popular uprising I commend all cadres assembled here as well as those whose circumstances could not allow them to be present.



Indeed, your concern for the ordinary man, your selflessness, sacrifice and commitment to the abiding principles and values of probity and accountability, transparency and social justice remain the most enduring legacy of our past.



You dedicated your youth to a cause we remain proud of. You laid the foundation and moulding blocs for a sustainable political edifice for generations yet to come. You defined the values and attitudes consistent with changing societal expectation and a platform for building our world outlook.



This is how far we have come, transforming into a formidable political party with our role diminishing after successive governments of our own party. Posterity would remember and acknowledge our individual and collective contribution and sacrifice.



I commend the organizers of this forum, their collaborators and sponsors for keeping up the spirit.

Finally, as we all know, in less than a month from now, our great party will be celebrating 25 years since the sacrifices and selfless dedication culminated in its birth.



Two years from now, we will be celebrating four decades of the June 4th Uprising, the first of the two Revolutions that ushered our new and stable democratic dispensation. Let us step forward forcefully not only to tell our story, but to provide leadership at all levels.



A bit of introspection can be helpful in our quest to pick ourselves up as a party.



How do we ensure that the party does not suffer a lack of motivation and neglect?



How do we ensure shared values and shared imperatives of our social democratic agenda?



How do we remain effective in opposition to regain the peoples mandate?



How do we interrogate and redefine the Father-For-All philosophy consistent with our experiences in opposition?



How do we give true meaning to social democracy and deepen our social democratic credentials.



How long should it take the party to recognise the Cadre corps as an integral wing of the party with voting rights?



Comrades and friends, making cadres an integral part of the party is long overdue.



Its been a pleasure accepting the invitation to speak.



Its been a great pleasure sharing these thoughts with you.



And I know it would be a much greater pleasure working together with you and the party into the future to fulfil some of the thoughts we have shared.



My pleasure, my gratitude.

Thank you

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed its disgust at the freeing of eight members of New Patriotic Party (NPP) vigilante group, Delta Force.



According to Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu who addressed the news conference said the decision by the Attorney Generals Department to free the suspects amounts to a total disrespect to the judiciary.



The eight members of the NPP militia group, Delta Force, standing trial for assaulting a judge and disrupting court processes were discharged Wednesday following the prosecutions inability to provide evidence.



The Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Justice Patricia Amponsah discharged the suspects, Wednesday, for lack of evidence. But Haruna Iddrisu expressed shock at the shoddy work done by the Attorney Generals Department. He said the decision by prosecution to enter a nolle prosequi in the infamous Delta Force court invasion scandal is bias, and capricious.



Haruna Iddrisu indicated that, the prosecution could have made use of video footage that has been circulating on social media following the attack.



The Minority leader noted that, given the development, it was obvious from the Courts decision, the Attorney-General, Gloria Akuffo and the President Akufo-Addo were not interested in the continuation of the matter.



Haruna Iddrisu is, therefore, calling for a reversal of the cancerous discretion and subsequent arrest of the eight accused persons.



Below is the full statement



PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE MINORITY CAUCUS OF PARLIAMENT READ BY MINORITY LEADER HON. HARUNA IDDRISU ON THE CANCEROUS EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF GHANA IN THE DELTA FORCE SAGA



The attention of the Minority Caucus in Parliament has been drawn to a very bizarre legal development in the country, which at best can be described as a slap in the face of the administration of justice, the rule of law and the judiciary in particular in this Country. I am referring to the decision of the Hon. Attorney-General to curtail the trial of the infamous Delta Force members who stormed a session of the Kumasi Circuit Court and aided the escape of 13 of their colleagues who were standing trial, by entering a Nolle Prosequi  Refuse to Pursue.



We refer to the action by the Hon. Attorney-General as bizarre because this is a Government that claims to be adherents of the Rule of Law.



This is a travesty of justice and a lack of respect for the Judiciary.



The Executive has a duty to uphold the tenets of the Constitution and in particular demonstrate in conduct and action its respect for the other arms of Government, particularly the Judiciary. Justice delivery will suffer a downward spiral with this uninformed action.



The decision by the Hon. Attorney-General is a confirmation of the claim by leading Members of the NPP at the time of the lawless action by the lawless Delta Forces that the culprits will be set free.



We are of the view that the Government is pandering to partisan pressures to the detriment of justice and to upholding the independence of the Judiciary.



Article 296(a) & (b) of the 1992 Constitution circumscribes the exercise of discretion as follows:



Where in this Constitution or in any other law discretionary power is vested in any person or authority 



a) that discretionary power shall be deemed to imply a duty to be fair and candid;



b) the exercise of the discretionary power shall not be arbitrary, capricious or biased either by resentment, prejudice or personal dislike and shall be in accordance with due process of law



We consider the entry of the Nolle Prosequi as a gross abuse of discretion simpliciter and we call on the President H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to demonstrate leadership and not be led by the various lawless forces within his party.



We find it very bizarre that the Hon. Attorney-General, Ms Gloria Akufo, who assured the entire citizenry of her commitment to fairness and strict adherence to ethical principles at her vetting not too long ago, will claim that she exercised the said constitutional discretion on grounds merely that there was a lack of evidence to prosecute the case in question when indeed, the Siting Judge, Court Clerks, Court Bailiffs, Court Warrant Officers (CWOs), Journalists as well as notable public figures in whose presence the said court was physically attacked and the accused persons freed, are alive and available to be interviewed and evidence taken from same.



In these circumstances, we are clear in our minds that the decision by the newly appointed AG to exercise her discretion to file a Nolle Prosequi in this matter is an abuse of discretion, it is capricious, it is an abuse of due process and it is not candid. It was obviously exercised for narrow political expediency.



Our expectations were rather these hoodlums would have been duly cited for Contempt of Court by now and successfully prosecuted.



We demand therefore that this cancerous exercise of discretion be reversed immediately and the accused re-arraigned before court without any further hesitation.



Thank you for your attention and may God bless 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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As late American philosopher and psychologist William James once said, The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.

Compliments are supposed to make our insides feel warm but a lot of us have trouble taking them gracefully.

You might be familiar with the following scenario.

Friend: Your hair looks really shiny and nice today. You: *Smiles before letting out an awkward chuckle* Oh haha its actually just a little greasy. Friend: *Now awkward as well* Oh ha well yeah it still looks good.

And just like that, a perfectly kind comment animorphs into a truly uncomfortable social encounter. Everyone loses.

Dont blame yourself if you do this, though. Especially if youre female. Were told to be humble at all costs, so as to not come across in the least bit up ourselves.

Author, activist and social worker Feminista Jones clearly thinks this approach is bullshit, and so she tweeted this:

Piss a man off today: Tell him you agree with his compliment of you.  TheDevils Sidechick (@FeministaJones) May 12, 2017

The tweet? Well it went off like a Big M in the Darwin sun. She went on:

Men, who dont (as often) have to deal with Men retracting compliments when they agree with them, are really upset in my mentions ??????  TheDevils Sidechick (@FeministaJones) May 13, 2017

Also an interesting observation is how many assume that a woman wouldnt say Thank You when agreeing with them. Lol  TheDevils Sidechick (@FeministaJones) May 13, 2017

Just say Thank You they cry, not knowing what to do after a woman agrees with them.  TheDevils Sidechick (@FeministaJones) May 13, 2017

They even complain when you say Thanks with a straight face instead of Thank you with frilly giggles and fake blushed ????????  TheDevils Sidechick (@FeministaJones) May 13, 2017

Ive had SEVERAL men tell me they found thanks an offensive reply to a compliment given to a woman ??????????????????????  TheDevils Sidechick (@FeministaJones) May 13, 2017

I see it every day because thats my usual response. Thanks and keep walking. I get yelled at. Cursed at. Thats all you gonna say?  TheDevils Sidechick (@FeministaJones) May 13, 2017

That goes back to what most women were saying abt their experiences w/this. The expectations that women should show no self-appreciation  TheDevils Sidechick (@FeministaJones) May 13, 2017

And/or should be overjoyed by a someone (a man) saying something positive about them (that they werent supposed to know already)  TheDevils Sidechick (@FeministaJones) May 13, 2017

Men as teachers. Men as validation. Men as approval. Men as decision-makers of what is hot. Men as arbiters of praise. Men in control.  TheDevils Sidechick (@FeministaJones) May 13, 2017

Its a hot take indeed, and a bunch of other Twitterers were quick to throw in their experiences with male fragility, too:

@FeministaJones This dude, trying to talk to me at a bus station last summer: Youre very pretty. Me: I know. Thanks. Him: pic.twitter.com/LDFsDvkizP  Michelle Obama Jr. (@MonaFeesa) May 12, 2017

And this exchange:

@DetroitQSpider @obbiecole @FeministaJones @absurdistwords One Direction sang a whole song about it. Which I embarrassingly thought was real catchy until I actually thought about it  K (@Kari_T_) May 16, 2017

Jones was clear to point out that shes obviously not taking about all men ever. Rather, the tweets are a good reminder than confidence doesnt equal cockiness. (If you still find it hard to accept a compliment, check out this nifty little how-to).

Source: @FeministaJones / Twitter.
PEDESTRIAN.TV have partnered with Disneys Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Filmed in Australias very own backyard, we wouldnt want you to miss out on the next chances to get in on the action.

The place thats home to Surfers Paradise? I know, I too cast my mind back to Schoolies 2008 and felt confused that home to many a hookups, somehow became a stomping ground for the worlds biggest actors and blockbusters. But look, it is what it is, and what it is, is creating a plethora of jobs for anyone wanting to be involved in bloody uge films.

Disneys Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is the largest ever feature film shot in Oz, projected to inject $100 million into the local economy when it started filming back in 2015. To put that into perspective, during the 2015-16 financial year alone, $207 million was spent from direct investments by domestic and international productions. 3154 jobs were created as a result.

Thats pretty major, and you could have a piece of the action. Take notes from those who have lived and breathed in below, and go ahead an have a piece of the pie.

GET SOME PROFESH TRAINING

Josh Beacham, Head Mould Maker of Props Manufacturing (yes, thats as dope as it sounds) has been working on major production on the GC for the past eight years. Hes 27 and just finished working on Thor: Ragnorak. His sound advice? Doing a class at Sydneys NIDA is a solid bet to crack into the scene.

Every department is always looking for juniors that are at least a little bit knowledgeable and will recruit from there, he told PEDESTRIAN.TV.

You can check out a course that suits you HERE. Itll set you back but the ROI is high. Promise.

VOLUNTEER YO SERVICES

Like all hard-to-crack industries, youre going to need to work your butt off, sometimes for free. Beacham said:

Another good way to get your foot in the door is to just do a bit of volunteer work and show that you are keen and a good worker, and work your way up from there.

How do you become a volunteer? Come on, something tells me youve been here before. Do your research, find out your prime contacts and shine like one of RiRis diamonds. HERE is Village Roadshow Studios info on how to get yourself a gig, which is a nice start.

YOURE GONNA HAVE TO NETWORK

Sorry, but its like, the rules of media.

Stephen Jackson, who has been working as a Set Painter and Brush Hand for the past three-and-half years on films like Disneys Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Gods Of Egypt, Alien: Covenant and more, told P.TV:

The hardest part of getting a job in the movie industry, is getting a job in the movie industry. He was working at Grilld before this, but his housemate knew someone who knew someone. You know how it goes. The most important part of getting a job in the biz is to have someone vouch for you that you can do the job and not be a pain in the arse. When one job is ending you start to put your feelers out so that you arent unemployed for too long. The more time you spend in the biz, the more points of contact you naturally acquire, making it easier to get work.

GET YOSELF ON DATABASES

Heard of StarNow?

I know, social suicide. But who will be laughing when youre an extra in a major film? Feel the sweet satisfaction every time those credits roll or, you know, revel in your celeb stories. Casting agents cant find you if youre nowhere to be found, you know?

Priorities. Have them. Otherwise, you know, pay for the services of an agent. Actor Simon Page told us:

I have representation (an agent) that lands me work in QLD-filmed movies. Ive been fortunate as an actor to be cast as an extra on major film and mini-series projects, providing great insight and opportunity to learn how established actors go through their process, as well as gain insight into the complexities surrounding a production of that magnitude.

While Jackson doesnt recommend trying to become an actor, he does think its a good way to crack in. If i was desperate for a job [in the industry] and had no contacts but skills, I would get as much extra work as possible and talk to people on set and possibly around the studios. Wanna skip that part? You can try and register yourself on Screen Queenslands crew registry HERE.

Look, whether or not you can get a gig (you can) out of QLDs new booming identity as a filming hotspot, having esteemed actors and actresses in town for extended periods of time can only be a good thing. The promotion alone. Remember when Bieber went to Chargrill Charlies? Roxy Jacenko for-sure had a non-chicken-related culinary over it.

Brenton Thwaites, the Aussie babe who plays Henry Turner in the new Pirates instalment told PEDESTRIAN.TV:

Javier [Bardem] was heading down to Byron Bay and Johnny [Depp] was checking out the local sights, and sometimes these guys would come back with stories and I was like, Where was that? Have I seen that place? No, I havent.

Oh QLD Tourism, you loving dis arent ya.

Photo: onset.shotonwhat.com.
Are you ready to scream WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE at your computer screen/phone/random stranger on the train? While you were microwaving your Cup-A-Soup lunch, Aussie model turned international superstar Jordan Barrett was, apparently, paid a cool $100K to walk the runway once at designer Justin Cassins menswear show at MBFWA yesterday.

We did some basic math, and thats around $1,600 bucks per second.

ICYMI, Jordan is a Byron Bay boy made good  real good. Hes taken the modelling world by storm, after being discovered by a scout working for major modelling agency IMG at the tender age of 14. Since then, the 20 year old has gone on to model for massive labels like Tom Ford, Versace and Moschino, and hes even graced the covers of Wonderland and CR Book.

A post shared by JUSTIN CASSIN (@justincassin) on May 15, 2017 at 7:22pm PDT

Hes also got an absolute monster of a celeb posse  think Hailey Baldwin, Anna Ewers, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Sofia Richie, Sara Sampaio and Barbara Palvin, just to name a few.

A post shared by JORDAN KALE BARRETT (@iblamejordan) on May 7, 2017 at 2:10pm PDT

Designer Justin Cassin neither confirmed nor denied the $100K paycheck, but he did wax lyrical about Jordan in general.

If you are going to do it, I think you have to do it right so Jordan is the perfect person for my label, designer Justin Cassin told The Daily Telegraph. I really respect his career and what hes done. Hes a Byron Bay boy who is the face of huge campaigns overseas and he is a massive international name so I couldnt think of anyone better to bring back to Australia to launch my show.

Wish you were getting paid $100K for a few minutes of your time? Well, take 30 secs to enter our current comp c/o Set for Life, and you could win $20K  thats something, right? Enter here:

PEDESTRIAN.TV X SET FOR LIFE $20K GIVEAWAY

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Image: Getty / Matt Jelonek.
museum-pcjpg-2dc97e0e0d0d0d5a.jpg

The State Museum of Pennsylvania is adjacent to the State Capitol Building. Pennlive file photo

(Paul Chaplin)

A number of central Pennsylvania museums will offer active duty military personnel and their families free admission this summer, including The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg and the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum in Hershey, according to a news release.

They join more than 2,000 "Blue Star Museums" across the country participating in the program. It's part of a collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense to offer those who are currently serving "an opportunity to enjoy the nation's cultural heritage and learn more about their community," according to the news release.

The program runs from Memorial Day, May 29, 2017, through Labor Day, Sept. 4, 2017. You can find a full list of participating museums using this map.

It's available to anyone who's a part of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, the National Guard and Reserve, the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corp and up to five of their family members. They just have to present their Geneva Convention common access card (CAC); a DD form 1173 ID card (dependent ID); or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card.

For more information, visit the National Endowment for the Arts' website.
When it comes to picking a college, the attractiveness of the campus isn't the first factor you look at (generally).

But it can play a part, for sure. And some campuses are more beautiful than others.

With that in mind, Travel + Leisure came up with a list of the most beautiful colleges in each state.

The list was determined based on scenery, architectural design and campus ground upkeep, as well as from knowledge garnered from virtual tours, in-person visits, word of mouth, research and a lot of time looking at various photos.

The honor of the most beautiful college in Pa. went to the University of Pennsylvania, with the magazine praising the "eclectic and varied architecture, plenty of trees, and even a park with views of the Philadelphia skyline."

Travel + Leisure did admit it was a tough decision... and we can see why.

Pennsylvania is filled with gorgeous colleges, from the gothic buildings of University of Pittsburgh to the Greco-Roman-influenced Penn State University. There are small school gems too, including La Salle University, Duquesne University and Lehigh University.

You can see the full list of Travel + Leisure's picks for the most beautiful colleges in each state of the U.S. at travelandleisure.com.

This is far from the first accolade for University of Pennsylvania. In 2016, the school was named one of the best in the world by U.S. News and World Report.

Want more stories about Philadelphia? Click here for all our coverage of the City of Brotherly Love.
Donald Trump

President Donald Trump walks back to the White House in Washington after escorting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to his vehicle following Erdogan's visit, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

(Associated Press)

Many Democrats have been calling for President Donald Trump to be impeached amid recent scandals, including the firing of former FBI Director James Comey and leaking intelligence to the Russians.

A congressman from Texas on Wednesday morning made it official, speaking up on the House floor.

"I will not be moved," said Democratic Rep. Al Green. "The president must be impeached."

Rep. Al Green: "I rise today... to call for the impeachment of the President of the United States of America" https://t.co/GdMTFvp9O4 pic.twitter.com/YFxWvX6VGc  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 17, 2017

Green became the first member of Congress to formally request charging the president.

"For those who do not know, impeachment does not meant that the president would be found guilty," Green said. "It simply means that the House of Representatives will bring charges against the president. It's similar to an indictment, but not quite the same thing."

Green added that it's the House's "duty" to start impeachment proceedings.

Impeachment requires majority support in the House, and so far, no Republicans have publicly supported impeaching Trump.

While Green is the first representative to formally request impeachment, several other Democrats have called for the president to be removed from office. They include:
beer 1 0128 dcg.jpg

Several communities in Pennsylvania on May 16 voted on liquor referendums in the primary election.

(DAN GLEITER, THE PATRIOT-NEWS)

Camp Hill residents made it clear at the polls on Tuesday they are ready for booze sales in the borough.

A majority of voters - nearly 73 percent of those who cast their votes in the election - favored a referendum question that will legalize the sale of alcohol at restaurants and grocery stores in the Cumberland County municipality.

Giant Food Stores sent mailers to residents of Camp Hill encouraging them to vote "yes" on a liquor referendum question in the primary election.

"I really don't believe in restricting liquor. The law should be less restrictive," said Paul Spotts of Camp Hill.

He rode his bicycle to his precinct Tuesday evening at the Camp Hill Borough Building. As an independent, he was permitted to vote only on the referendum question.

Like many of those who favored the referendum, Spotts said he prefers the convenience of buying wine and beer at the grocery store.

Debbie Keyes of Camp Hill, who was working at the the polls, said, "It has not been a big contentious issue."

"I think there has been a big shift in population in the borough. There are new people and they say 'Why can't we here? We have in other places,'" she added.

Camp Hill was one of several communities in the state, including Biglerville in Adams County and Shrewsbury in York County, where residents on Tuesday voted to end their alcohol-free status.

In Biglerville, residents voted 66.8 percent in favor of the referendum, allowing for the sales of liquor in the borough. The same story held true in Shrewsbury where 66 percent of voters were in favor of the measure.

A shift toward ending prohibition-era laws has been fueled by changes in state laws. The passage last year of Act 39 allowed retailers to sell wine, expanded hours at Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board operated stores and permitted wine shipments.

In addition, dozens of liquor licenses have been auctioned off in the state and were mostly bought by grocery store and convenience store chains.

Leading the charge for Camp Hill to reverse its status from a "dry" to "wet" town was Giant Food Stores.

"The added service we can provide to our customer also gives them an added convenience, so it gives them a one-stop shop," said Samantha Krepps, Giant spokeswoman, earlier this month.

In the days leading up to the election, the Carlisle-based chain sent mailers to residents encouraging them to vote "yes" on the referendum question. It also sponsored vote "yes" campaign election signs.

Earlier in the year, Giant collected signatures at the Camp Hill store for a petition to allow the measure to be placed on the ballot.

Giant pushed similar referendum questions in Shrewsbury as well as in East Bradford Township, Chester County. Residents in East Bradford Township voted 77.86 percent in favor of its liquor referendum.

On Tuesday, Annette Spahr of Camp Hill said stores such as Giant should be allowed to sell beer and wine because the chain has a proven track record.

"They have managed it well (at their other stores) and so have their competitors," she said.

Spahr added that if the measure had not been approved, she would have been disappointed, adding it would have sent a message of irresponsibility on the part of society.

"There's a judgement call and that's unfair," she said.

Many in the borough have said allowing liquor sales in Camp Hill would be a financial driver. A borough downtown improvement study by the Urban Land Institute said not having liquor sales may have prevented some restaurants from locating there.

But not everyone is ready to rush out and buy booze in the borough.

Gary Ulsh of Camp Hill said the borough does not need to change its liquor laws, mainly because residents can easily purchase beer, wine and spirits in nearby communities such as Lemoyne.

"There aren't many restaurants in Camp Hill and most of them are BYOB and I think people like it. They can bring what they want," Ulsh said.

But he also said allowing liquor sales in the borough could lead to nuisance bars and it also makes it easier for people to purchase booze. He said he is troubled by the rising number of craft breweries, wineries and distilleries opening in the state.

"This alcohol thing is really going wild. I don't know where it's all going. You've got to be careful with it."
If you just read an event description promising "great speakers from around the country, great food and great fellowship," you might be interested to going. That is, until you find out its for a Ku Klux Klan cross burning in Quarryville this weekend.

The East Coast Knights of the True Invisible Empire is planning to have rally sometime this Saturday somewhere in Quarryville. The KKK chapter -- based in Rising Sun, Md. -- posted about the event on Stormfront, an online forum for white nationalists and other racial extremists.

"This is a family event," the post said, "most Klans and [white nationalists] are invited."

In response to the cross-burning, a Franklin & Marshall professor and an equality activist are hosting their own event on Friday.

The "teach-in" will hold a series of workshops discussing a variety of topics including racism, racial inequality, white supremacy culture and people's' implicit bias. The free event will be held at the First Reformed Church in Lancaster.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the East Coast Knights of the True Invisible Empire a hate group.

The group states on its website that while it seeks to "ensure a safe and secure future for Caucasian Americans," their objective is not to "offend anyone of any race, religion, or undermine your beliefs."

The East Coast Knights of the True Invisible Empire's website says it does "not preach hate, and at no time would we react hatefully to any man, woman or child."

The Southern Poverty Law Center found that the number of hate groups rose for the second year in a row following a year that included terrorist attacks, race- and religion-based beatings, a contentious presidential election and divisive rhetoric.

Researchers found the number of hate and extremist groups in the country jumped from

to 917 last year -- an increase of about 3 percent.
SUNBURY -- Charges continue to mount against the Northumberland County bail bondsman accused of marrying a woman while he was still married to her mother.

New charges of illegal possession of firearms as a convicted felon, tampering with public records and unsworn falsification to authorities were filed Wednesday against Christopher Edward Hauptmann.

Since they were filed in Schuylkill County, state police at Frackville co-signed the complaint of Northumberland County Chief Detective Degg H. Stark.

The charges allege Hauptmann, whose real last name is Buckley, purchased a rifle, shotgun and pistol at a gun shop in Ashland since 2011 and later transferred the rifle and shotgun to the wife he is with today, Kaylee.

He also is accused of answering "no" to a question on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms form that asks if the applicant had been convicted of a felony.

Hauptmann, 43, of Shamokin, has a felony drug conviction in New Jersey that prevents him from possessing firearms.

The owner of Pennsylvania Bail & Recovery in Shamokin remains jailed in lieu of what now is $350,000 bail.

Hauptman is awaiting Northumberland County court action on numerous charges including bigamy. He is accused of marrying his current wife while still married to her mother, Shannon Deitrich, who he had wed in Florida in 2015.

He earlier was charged with illegal possession of firearms and falsifying documents related to his July 8 application for a firearm permit in the county sheriff's office in Sunbury.
*This post was updated at 4:30 p.m. to include information from U.S. Rep. Scott Perry*

Pennsylvania lawmakers are expressing concerns about President Donald Trump as the embattled Republican faces an ever-mounting barrage of controversies.

Trump is facing harsh criticism following a string scandals including his firing of FBI Director James Comey, his suggestion that journalists be jailed for reporting on classified information, his possible release of classified information to Russia and that he asked for the investigation into ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn be shut down.

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-TX 9th, officially asked that the president be impeached. It signaled the unrest going on in Washington, D.C. over the recent allegations against Trump.

While some of Pennsylvania's federal lawmakers have expressed concerns about Trump's recent controversies, others are holding off judgement until there's more information.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, said the recent information regarding Trump, if confirmed, would represent a "grave development."

Casey said it's urgent to appoint a special counsel and an independent commission to investigate the president's conduct and his campaign's possible coordination with Russia. The stories of the last week raise serious questions about whether the president respects the independence of the FBI and law enforcement authorities, he said.

It is vital that Congress obtain Comey's memos relating to his interactions with Trump and hear testimony from the former FBI director.

"No one, not even the president, is above the law and the American people deserve answers about President Trump's conduct," Casey said.

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-PA 11th, has been a longtime Trump supporter and is not quite ready to pass judgement on the president. The story, he said, is still developing.

"We currently have conflicting information coming from anonymous sources in the media and officials in the White House," Barletta said. "Before we rush to judgment, we need to gather all of the facts."

Barletta -- who had spoken at a number of Trump's Pennsylvania rallies -- said he is am confident that the FBI will continue to do its job and pursue ongoing investigations in a fair and factual manner, as will the bipartisan congressional committees currently conducting their own investigations.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican, said that while he doubted Comey's ability to lead the FBI effectively for some time, the timing of his dismissal is unfortunate. Toomey also urged the next FBI director to continue pursuing investigations, including the 2016 presidential campaign.

If it's true that Trump released classified information to Russia, Toomey said it would not only be extremely imprudent, but also hamper the country's ability to gather intelligence in the future.

"I appreciate [National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster] and [Secretary of State Rex Tillerson] sharing additional details, but I hope the administration comes forward and provides a full explanation of the facts to Congress soon," Toomey said.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-PA 15th, express concern over Trump's decision to fire Comey -- who he considered "a decent and honorable man who was put in an extremely difficult situation."

"His firing by President Trump is both confounding and troubling, and it is now harder to resist calls for an independent investigation or select committee," Dent said. "The president must provide a much clearer explanation as to the timing and rationale for this action."

Additionally, Dent said, more information is needed about how the director's firing will impact the investigations by the FBI and both branches of Congress.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-PA 16th, said the decision to dismiss Comey raises serious and legitimate questions about timing, intent, and the integrity of ongoing investigations.

"My constituents deserve answers and I hope to see a full explanation soon," Smucker said. "Additionally, while I support current congressional investigations into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election, I believe we need a fresh start."

Smucker said it's time for Congress to fully examine all circumstances surrounding Russia's involvement in the election and to look at ways to ensure a fair and straightforward investigation.

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-PA 4th, joined Barletta in not passing judgement Trump before the allegations are fully investigated.

Perry said there is no verifiable evidence, at this point, that demonstrates Trump told Comey to end his investigation into Flynn. Perry said he remains committed to getting the facts about this situation and judging based on that.

Perry also said that the public needs facts, not speculation, rumor or conjecture in regards to Trump possibly releasing classified information to Russian officials.

"While we recognize Russian hostility toward our national interests at home and abroad, we continue to monitor this situation as it develops," he said.
Susan Kegerise

Susan Kegerise, former superintendent of Susquehanna Township School District (File photo)

(File photo)

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon decided to jump into the battle over whether Dr. Susan Kegerise should be reinstated as superintendent of Susquehanna Township School District.



A ruling by the state's highest court could finally bring to an end a legal battle that has raged in multiple courts since Kegerise sued the school board over her removal in 2014.



The Supreme Court justices agreed to hear an appeal by the school board of a September 2016 ruling by a split Commonwealth Court panel that ordered Kegerise's reinstatement. The Commonwealth Court's 2-1 decision upheld a 2014 ruling by Dauphin County Judge William T. Tully.



The Commonwealth Court majority concluded that Kegerise had not resigned her superintendent job, even when she filed a federal lawsuit against the school board in April 2014. In that suit, which remains active, Kegerise accuses the board of subjecting her to a hostile work environment and seeks millions of dollars in damages.



Commonwealth Court Senior Judge Dan Pellegrini dissented from the majority decision, arguing that Kegerise's lawsuit was as good as a letter of resignation.



Kegerise's most recent superintendent contract is to expire in July.



She returned to work briefly after Tully ordered her reinstatement. However, Kegerise struck a deal with the school board to defer enforcement of Tully's order while the legal fight continues. The district agreed to pay her $100,000 in back wages, with the option to recoup that money if it wins the legal fight.
Stacy Parks Miller may not have a chance to finish the biggest case she ever started.

Parks Miller, the Centre County district attorney since 2010, lost by a landslide in her bid for a third term Tuesday, falling to an accumulation of local controversies and professional feuds that have dogged her for years.

State College attorney Bernie Cantorna defeated her easily in the Democratic Party primary, and, according to sources who've seen precinct postings, also holds a commanding lead in a battle of write-in votes for the Republican nod.

If Cantorna in fact locks up both nominations, he would be considered a lock to win the county's chief prosecutorial position in November.

That means Parks Miller, who gained national attention earlier this month for bringing criminal charges against 18 Penn State students in connection with the February hazing death of Timothy Piazza, will be out of office at year's end.

The voters' decision adds a fresh layer of complexity to a set of criminal cases that was already expected to be heavily scrutinized as a reference point for future college hazing prosecutions.

Nothing is likely to change in the very near term.

For one thing, Parks Miller will continue to run the district attorney's office and lead the prosecution through the end of 2017. That could be more than enough time for any single defendant to strike a plea agreement.

But if the students - especially those facing more severe charges like aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter - are intent on going to trial, the case could fall to Cantorna's caseload.

Parks Miller, for her part, could not be reached by PennLive Wednesday but issued a concession statement late Wednesday morning that noted in part:

"I will continue to do my job with the highest levels of skill and integrity and I have loved every minute of helping victims and Centre County... We will not waiver through the end of this year."

Her special deputy on this case, former Attorney General and Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce L. Castor Jr., said he expects Parks Miller will continue to work as hard as she can to resolve as many of the cases before she leaves office.

"It would be a real difficult case for somebody to pick up (mid-stream), even if they were experienced," Castor said. Parks Miller, he added, knows the facts and the law and is confident in her ability to prosecute the case properly.

"She wants to get the case done, and done right," Castor said.

But a lot depends on the defendants, and their calculus over the coming months.

They will have to figure out for themselves if they see any advantage to getting the case resolved before the coming transition, or if it is better to test a new prosecution team.

PennLive left messages with several defense attorneys working the case Wednesday, but did not get any responses.

Meanwhile, Tom Kline, the civil attorney representing Piazza's parents, said they have to be prepared to put their trust in Parks Miller - who has clearly won their trust and confidence - and her successor.

"We trust that the prosecution will move forward expeditiously in the next seven months under Ms. Parks Miller, and afterwards," Kline said. "The Piazza family is depending on the successor district attorney to also seek a full measure of justice in the brutal death of their son."

Attempts to reach Cantorna, who has apparently not publicly commented on the Penn State case to date, were not immediately successful for this report.

A private attorney with more than 20 years' experience, Cantorna's campaign biography suggests he has never worked as a prosecutor, but has had prior career experience as an accountant and as a public defender.

His campaign has been targeted at restoring trust in what he called "even-handed law enforcement," which he asserted has been missing in Parks Miller's administration.

Here's one thing that is certain.

The next court date in the Piazza case is June 12, when preliminary hearings for all 18 defendants have been scheduled in Bellefonte.
downtown-pittsburgh-at-dusk-a9c0b2d7dd441253.jpg

Pittsburgh's Paid Sick Days Act has been shot down by Commonwealth Court.

(File)

The City of Pittsburgh lacks the authority to require private employers to allow their workers to accumulate paid sick leave, a Commonwealth Court panel ruled Wednesday.

Only the state Legislature can do that, the judges concluded.

"We recognize that paid sick leave for employees is a laudable goal," Judge Michale H. Wojcik wrote in the state court's opinion. "The power to achieve that goal rests with our General Assembly, however, through statewide legislation addressing paid sick leave or, alternatively, through legislation vesting authority to do so in local municipalities."

The decision marks the second legal defeat for Pittsburgh's Paid Sick Days Act. City officials and the Service Employees International Union appealed to Commonwealth Court after an Allegheny County judge ruled the act invalid in December 2015.

An alliance of business owners and the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association won that county court decision.

On appeal to the state court, city officials claimed they had authority to impose the sick days measure as a public health regulation. That was just too much of a stretch, Wojcik concluded.

The city and union could appeal the Commonwealth Court ruling to the state Supreme Court.
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FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 file photo, a 14-year old unaccompanied minor, a migrant from Afghanistan, showers on a cold day near an old train carriage where he and other migrants took refuge in Belgrade, Serbia. More than 300,000 children traveling alone have been recorded in a two-year period, the U.N. children's agency said Wednesday, May 17, 2017 marking a dramatic escalation of a dangerous trend that has forced some young refugees into slavery and prostitution. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen, File)
Local clerks report slightly down percentages in voter turnout

Nearly 75,000 people in five Northern Michigan counties had their ballots counted, according to clerks' unofficial election results.
European Union calls for elections in Venezuela

BRUSSELS

Petroleumworld 05 17 2017

European Union foreign ministers urged Venezuelan authorities to hold elections and release political prisoners to help end six weeks of demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduro that have killed dozens of people.

In the EU's most outspoken reaction yet to events in Venezuela, the ministers said 10 months of efforts to resolve the crisis were "stagnant" and elections were a way out.

"Violence and the use of force will not resolve the crisis," they said in a statement.

There was no immediate response from the Information Ministry in Caracas to a request for comment.

At least 39 people have died since April in the unrest, including protesters, government sympathizers, bystanders, and security forces. Hundreds have also been hurt and arrested.

The European Union called for "the establishment of an electoral calendar so that the people ...can express their will in a democratic way," the ministers said.

It urged "the release of jailed political opponents," after Maduro imprisoned leading opposition figures.

Some 600,000 European citizens live a country also facing its fourth year of a brutal recession.







Reporting by Robin Emmott; editing by John Stonestreet from Reuters .



reuters.com May 16, 2017
Oil workers extend Exxon Mobil strike to Chevron, Agip and Shell in Nigeria ONITSHA, Nigeria

Petroleumworld 05 17 2017 Nigerian workers from an oil labour union have extended a strike to oil majors Chevron, Shell and Eni subsidiary Agip in protest over the sacking of members from Exxon Mobil Corp, the union's general secretary said on Tuesday. Lumumba Okugbara, of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said union representatives would meet Exxon Mobil management on Tuesday for talks. Members of the union began a strike at Exxon Mobil last week.



Reporting by Anamesere Igboeroteonwu; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Mark Potte from Reuters .



reuters.com May 16, 2017

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May 24-25, La Jolla, California
Oregon's Coos county to vote on blocking natural gas terminal

SEATTLE

Petroleumworld 05 17 2017

A coastal Oregon county will vote Tuesday on a ballot measure to block a proposed natural gas terminal, the latest in a series of efforts to thwart energy projects across the Pacific Northwest.

The measure would ban transport of fossil fuels not intended for local use through Coos County, located about 200 miles (322 kms) south of Portland.

Backers have called the initiative a response to a $7.6 billion proposal by Calgary-based Veresen Inc, to build a facility in the county where natural gas would be liquefied and transferred to tanker ships for sale abroad. They have cast the measure as a local refusal to contribute to global warming.

Should the ban pass, it could bring the county into conflict with the administration of President Donald Trump. Gary Cohn, head of the National Energy Council, in April singled out the Veresen project as a priority for the administration.

The Coos County initiative is part of regional resistance in the Northwest to fossil fuel projects that has seen the blockage of several major export facilities.

Last year, the Lummi Nation Native American tribe and environmental groups blocked an export terminal in Northwest Washington state that would have moved Montana and Wyoming coal to markets in Asia.

In January, Washington State denied a permit for a coal export terminal in the city of Longview, citing concerns about the financial viability of the project.

In February, bowing to pressure from activists, Seattle's city council voted to divest approximately $3 billion from Wells Fargo, citing concerns over the bank's support of the North Dakota Access Pipeline, among other factors.

Passage of the Coos Bay measure would be another blow for liquid natural gas projects on the West Coast, even as depots in other areas of the country have moved forward.

Cheniere Energy Inc opened a port in Louisiana last year and several other companies are set to open projects on the Gulf Coast in 2018 and 2019. Dominion Energy Inc plans to open the Cove Point LNG port in Maryland later this year.







Reporting by Tom James; Additional reporting by Valerie Volcovici and Timothy Gardner; Editing by Patrick Enright and Andrew Hay from Reuters .



reuters.com May 16, 2017
OPEC-led oil cut will likely get Iran support if all on board

LONDON/DUBAI

Petroleumworld 05 17 2017

A proposal to extend an OPEC and non-OPEC supply cut for nine months is a postive idea, sources familiar with Iranian thinking said, suggesting OPEC's third-largest producer is likely to go along with such a plan if there is a consensus.

Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's top two oil producers, agreed on Monday on the need to extend output cuts for nine months until March 2018 to erode a glut. That would be longer than the optional six-month extension first agreed.

Kuwait, a Gulf producer usually aligned with the Saudi OPEC view, said on Tuesday it supported the proposal. The Iranian position is less predictable, however, as it was the only OPEC member allowed to increase its output under the supply cut deal and holds presidential elections on Friday.

"This statement shows the commitment by OPEC and major non-OPEC oil producers to bringing stability to the oil market, in which is essential to have security of supply in coming years," said one of the sources.

A second source said he expected Iran would probably agree to a nine-month extension when OPEC and non-OPEC producers meet to set policy on May 25 in Vienna, provided that other producers such as Iraq were also on board.

During talks last year on the supply cut deal, Iran successfully argued it be allowed room to pump more as it lost market share while under Western sanctions, raising the question of whether Tehran would sign up for a longer supply cut.

Iran has not officially reacted to the Saudi-Russian statement. In Friday's election, President Hassan Rouhani is standing for a second term against five other candidates, mostly prominent hardliners.

The current oil minister, Bijan Zanganeh, speaking on May 6, said he believed producers were likely to extend the OPEC-led deal although he did not give a timeframe, and added $55 was a suitable price for oil.

Oil prices have gained support from the supply cut pact but high inventories and rising U.S. production have acted as a brake on the recovery. Brent crude was trading at $52 on Tuesday.

The first source familiar with Iranian thinking said it was necessary to support prices to ensure there is enough investment in supplies to avoid shortages in future, echoing a view often expressed by Saudi Arabia.

"Low oil prices may bring satisfaction for some consuming countries in the short run, but in the long term as a result of reduced investment in new oil production, they could end up paying a much higher price for a barrel of oil," he said.

The second source also saw a modest price recovery as likely in the summer months when U.S. gasoline demand seasonally rises, citing factors such as a likely drawdown in inventories.

"I think prices will move up to $51-$55 and in August may go to even $58," he said.







Reporting by Alex Lawler and Rania El Gamal ;Editing by David Evans from Reuters .



reuters.com May 16, 2017
Campbell Soup Co. says it will install a 4.4-megawatt solar system at its Camden campus, including some mounted to parking lot canopies as seen here in a project rendering. (CAMPBELL SOUP CO.) Read more

Campbell Soup Co. on Wednesday unveiled plans to install a vast solar energy system at its 38-acre Camden headquarters, including panels mounted to canopies built over employee parking lots.

The food company says the 4.4-megawatt (MW) solar array project will generate about 20 percent of the campus' annual energy demand. About 2.7 MW of panels will be installed on rooftops of existing structures and on new canopies erected over parking lots, and 1.7 MW will be installed on an adjacent 4.5-acre brownfield.

The project, which is set to go online in the fall, is being developed by BNB Renewable Energy Holdings, using systems developed by SunPower Corp. The array will be owned by BNB and financial company Orix USA, and is being financed through Public Service Electric & Gas Co.'s solar loan program.

Campbell will purchase the estimated 5 million kilowatt hours of electricity generated from the system through a 20-year power-purchase agreement at a rate that is lower than its current cost for conventional electricity.

Campbell said the project supports its sustainability and clean-energy strategy. It previously opened a 9.8-MW solar system at a plant in Napoleon, Ohio, and a 1-MW system at a Pepperidge Farm bakery in Bloomfield, Conn. Both of those projects were also developed by BNB and SunPower.

"This project contributes clean energy to the local grid and demonstrates to our community the viability of renewable energy sources,

all while supporting Campbell's sustainability strategy to deliver long-term value to our business and

neighborhoods," said Jim Prunesti, Campbell's vice president for global engineering.

The project, which will be Camden's largest solar array, will also include five electric-vehicle-charging stations provided by PSE&G through its EV Workplace Charging Program.

New Jersey has the nation's fifth largest base of solar generation, driven by generous state incentives on top of federal tax breaks. More than 350 MW of solar systems were installed in New Jersey last year, bringing its total to 2,003 MW, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
As U.S. Homeland Security officials met Wednesday in Brussels with European Union leaders to discuss expanding a laptop ban in aircraft cabins on flights from Europe, an airline trade group urged regulators to choose alternative security measures instead.

Extending a carry-on laptop ban, imposed in March, would cost passengers $1.1 billion a year in lost productivity and travel time, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 265 airlines. The current ban at 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa impacts 350 flights a week. A broader ban on carry-on laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices on all flights from Europe would affect 390 flights a day, or more than 2,500 a week, IATA said. Last year, 31 million passengers flew from European airports to the United States.

"Businesses will cancel trips rather than risk having laptops checked due to risk of confidential information," IATA chief executive officer Alexandre de Juniac said in a letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and his European counterpart Violeta Bulc. "This would have implications for future investment and business transactions."

EU officials met Wednesday with a delegation led by Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke to discuss "serious evolving threats to aviation security and approaches to confronting such threats." They agreed to meet again next week in Washington.

IATA urged regulators to increase the screening of passengers, bags, and electronic devices for traces of explosives, and to do visual inspections of electronic devices, including turning on the device. The industry group recommended increasing the use of bomb-sniffing dogs and training more security officers to question travelers. "These alternative measures would also avoid the concentration of lithium battery-powered devices in the cargo hold of passenger aircraft," de Juniac said.

U.S. officials have declined to give reasons for expanding the ban. News reports have said terrorists may have developed a way to hide explosives in laptop computers and detonate them on aircraft mid-flight.
Time for our semiannual roundup of election-day shenanigans and skulduggery in this special edition of Clout.

It wouldn't be a Philadelphia election if candidates didn't wake up and discover that they had been unceremoniously cut from sample ballots by certain ward leaders.

The city's Democratic machine is quite the Rube Goldberg contraption. Lots of things can go wrong on Any Given Tuesday. It's practically tradition.

With the Democratic City Committee issuing no citywide endorsement in the district attorney's race, the table was set for a good ol' fashioned cluster.

Reports started circulating early Tuesday that some wards at the last minute had changed their endorsements in the seven-way primary for district attorney. How Philly of youse!

Then you got the shady PACs.

Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Strawberry Mansion's 32nd Ward and elsewhere to confiscate sample ballots printed by Field and Election Day PAC, which isn't registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State or the city commissioners.

Marni Snyder, an attorney for DA candidate Larry Krasner, confirmed Tuesday night that she had filed that motion and obtained the court order. The illegal sample ballots supported Michael Untermeyer for DA, among other candidates. The 32nd Ward had endorsed Tariq El-Shabazz for DA.

Confused yet?

Sheriff's deputies also confiscated tampered sample ballots in Southwest Philadelphia, as well as ballots printed by illegal PACs in three other wards, according to Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Barbara Grant.

In some African American wards, #blackjudgesmatter sample ballots paid for by "Black Voters Bloc" were being circulated in support of Jack O'Neill for DA. El-Shabazz was the only black candidate in the race. That whole thing smelled fishy to us.

This isn't exactly unusual. In last year's primary, Clout reported that Fairmount's 15th Ward was distributing "Official Democratic Ballots" endorsing Josh Shapiro for state attorney general, even though the Democratic City Committee had endorsed Western Pennsylvania's Stephen Zappala Jr. for the position.

By midafternoon Tuesday, El-Shabazz was tweeting about a "typo" on some sample ballots and urging his supporters to hit Button 56 to vote for him.

And up in Northeast Philly's 58th Ward, Democratic committee people were actually using pens to fix sample ballots that contained the wrong button number for endorsed DA candidate "I'm not a Republican!" Untermeyer. The 58th Ward is led by Lt. Gov. Mike Stack.

Does the printing snafu count as a "Stack moment"?

What a mess. We're glad this is over.

Lunchtime gabfest

If you're in the noble field of political gossip, there's no better place to stir the pot than in the crowded dining room at Relish in West Oak Lane or over the cramped tables at Famous 4th Street Deli in not-quite South Philly.

Your devoted correspondents asked candidates, elected officials, and retired pols to speculate on the future of some notable figures, starting with District Attorney Seth Williams, who is about a month away from going to trial on federal corruption charges.

Where, we asked, will Seth be a year from now?

"Uh, probably in jail," said Rebecca Rhynhart. Her rival, City Controller Alan Butkovitz, was more specific: "Probably Leavenworth."

State Sen. Larry Farnese  who knows a thing or two about surviving a federal indictment  said he hoped Williams would be "surrounded by his friends and family in a nurturing environment."

Former Mayor John Street argued that Williams' fate isn't necessarily sealed.

"People are just assuming the government has a slam-dunk case against him," Street said. "You could violate every single ethics ordinance in the commonwealth and the city and not have broken the criminal law."

Have it both ways, Jack

Out in Delaware County, Jack Whelan, the Republican district attorney, cross-filed and ran on the Republican and Democratic ballots in a County Court judge race.

It's a bold move, but not terribly uncommon in judicial races.

Delco Dems, however, were none too pleased to discover lawn signs at polling places that read, "Democrats Vote Jack Whelan for Judge." The signs seemed to imply that Whelan was a Democratic candidate.

"Truly shameful that when Republicans know voters aren't with them on issues, they resort to disenfranchisement & deception," tweeted Democratic State Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky. In Swarthmore, someone placed a handwritten sign next to Whelan's that read: "Don't be fooled! Jack Whelan is a Republican."

Delco GOP leader Andrew Reilly dismissed the complaints as histrionics. Cross-filing is fair game, and probably worth a shot in a onetime Republican stronghold that's trending Democratic. If Whelan can win both parties' primaries, he'll have the judgeship locked up in November.

"It's near-impossible to win on the other party's ballot, but Jack had a lot of Democratic supporters," Reilly said. "It's more about building up a bipartisan base of support for yourself."

Meanwhile, John Dougherty's Local 98 Electricians union was working for Whelan on Tuesday. Interesting. Dougherty is a former Democratic ward leader in Philadelphia and former treasurer of the Democratic City Committee.

"Local 98 is supporting Jack Whelan for judge. John J. Dougherty is a big fan," union spokesman Frank Keel said in a terse email.

More on that in Friday's Clout column.

Quotable

"In politics, money isn't everything. But it's way ahead of whatever comes in second."  Street, at Relish, opining on the neck-and-neck Democratic primary race for district attorney.

Staff writers William Bender, Chris Brennan, David Gambacorta, and Mari A. Schaefer contributed to this column. Tips: clout@philly.com.
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), which represents more than 26,000 federal agents and officers nationwide, commends President Trump and his Administration for its support and recognition during National Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week.

"Yesterday was National Peace Officers Memorial Day, a somber and reflective day in which we commemorate the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers who throughout our history have answered the call of selfless service and protected our citizens and the foundation of rule of law upon which our nation rests," stated FLEOA National President Nathan Catura.

Last night in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day and in recognition of National Police Week, the White House was bathed in BLUE. Following the assassination of five Dallas police officers last year, FLEOA originated the request to President Obama to light the White House in blue in honor of all law enforcement officers.

"President Trump's action of lighting in blue the White House in visible support for law enforcement, coupled with his personal involvement in the wreath laying ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial sent a powerful message of support to the law enforcement community," said Catura. "The support of the President and his Administration is particularly important during these times of increasing animus towards law enforcement officials and dangers they face carrying out their duties protecting the public."

In 2016, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) reported 135 officer fatalities, a 10 percent increase over the 123 who died in the line of duty in 2015 and the highest total since 2011, when 177 officers made the ultimate sacrifice. Firearms-related incidents were the number one cause of death in 2016, with 64 officers shot and killed across the country. This represents a significant spike56%over the 41 officers killed by gunfire in 2015. Targeted assassinations accounted for 21 officers killed in the line of duty - a 163% increase over 2015.

"These brave individuals voluntarily raise their hand to swear an oath and put their lives between danger and our democracy. These actions are ones filled with selflessness, bravery and courage," Catura stated.

FLEOA salutes all law enforcement officers and asks that we not forget the families left behind and their legacy which is inscribed in the NLEOMF Memorial walls "In Valor - there is Hope!"
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Mike Schmidt at the New York Times just published a game changer that came from notes attributed to then FBI Director James Comey claiming that President Trump asked him to stop investigating General Mike Flynn the day after Flynn was fired.

President Trump asked the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, to shut down the federal investigation into Mr. Trumps former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, in an Oval Office meeting in February, according to a memo that Mr. Comey wrote shortly after the meeting, Schmidt reports based on notes that Comeys associates read to him.*

I hope you can let this go, Comeys note reports Trump saying to him.

Schmidt notes that this looks like clear evidence that Trump tried to influence the investigation into Trump, his campaign, and Russia.

It would be obstruction of justice if this were accurate. That was the first article of impeachment against former President Richard Nixon.

Comey has a history, detailed in Schmidts piece, of keeping notes of conversations, stemming back to the Bush years. Schmidt noted, An F.B.I. agents contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations. Additionally in Comeys corner is the report that he shared his note with senior FBI officials at the time.

Comeys propensity for establishing a protective paper trail was called by Matthew Miller on May 12:

One thing I learned at DOJ about Comey: he leaves a protective paper trail whenever he deems something inappropriate happened. Stay tuned. https://t.co/sENlYyhL5B  Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) May 12, 2017

The White House sent PoliticusUSA a statement in reaction to the NYT story, which asserts that President Trump did not ask Comey or anyone else to end the investigation.

Trump warned Comey against doing what Comey just did, saying he had tapes. If Trump has tapes, now is the time to produce them in order to exonerate himself.

But we might be parsing words again, because Trump would not have had to ask Comey directly to end the investigation in order to influence the investigation. He shouldnt have been speaking about it at all. Perhaps he didnt. If this is the case, and Trump has the tapes, he should produce them for his own sake.

This is yet another reason why Trump shouldnt have fired the FBI Director. Comey is known as a man who keeps records of conversations, especially those he felt would be called in to question according to Schmidt.

But any fool would know not to fire the FBI Director who was in the middle of investigating them. What does Trump think the FBI does all day? Does he think the FBI will be intimidated by his lawyers?

The faction of the FBI investigating Trump is the faction focused on enemies of the U.S. who are within.

The FBI isnt going to play with Trump, and Comey has no doubt more notes where this one came from. This is a serious allegation waged at a already embattled president who just gave the intelligence community yet another reason to view him as a danger to the country by spilling highly classified information about an ISIS plot to Russia.

Donald Trump is bringing a knife to a gun fight with the FBI. These people came to play for their country. They mean business.

*Journalists try to avoid having things read to them, but in this case the need for maintaining the notes chain of custody for evidentiary purposes and the sensitivity of the charges make the case for why anyone would be loath to share the note directly. The note will need to be released and verified.
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CNNs Jake Tapper revealed that the same information that Trump leaked to Russia that is so sensitive that CNN was warned in March not to report it because it would get people killed.

Video:

The Trump administration reportedly revealed information to Russians that CNN was asked not to report https://t.co/FPq6finPDa pic.twitter.com/mGmRMOUqgr  The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) May 16, 2017

Tapper revealed that CNN had learned about the intelligence in March, but had been cautioned by the White House not to report on certain details of the laptop bomb plot because it would get people killed. Tapper said, By reporting the citys name Trump administration officials insisted that would tip off American adversaries about sources and methods used to gather the intelligence. It would, they insisted, get people killed. CNN did not report the details. CNN did not report the name of the city.

However, Trump did give the name of the city to the Russians.

Tapper continued, Its the same city. Its the same city that CNN was cautioned not to report.

Jake Tapper then played the clip of Trump national security adviser H.R. McMaster downplaying Trump revealing the city, and added, Again, this is the same city that intelligence officials say if we told it to you right now, it would get people killed, but somehow, we are simultaneously supposed to believe that President Trump sharing this information and more with a U.S. adversary, Russia, is wholly appropriate, as McMaster said repeatedly today.

The host of CNNs The Lead nailed Trump, He shared information that then, as now, could lead to U.S. adversaries, say I dont know, Russia using counterintelligence to try to figure out how the U.S. knows what it knows. And just so you know, as of today before this broadcast, we are still being told by the Trump administration to not report the name of the city, and we wont.

What Tapper reported was devastating for the White House because it revealed that Trumps babbling to Russia is probably going to get people killed.

The Trump administration and the Republican Party have been trying to downplay what the president did, but if the information is still so sensitive that CNN is being told not to report it, Trump really has jeopardized national security.

Republicans spent years making up conspiracies that involved Hillary Clinton killing people. It took Donald Trump less than four months in office to really get people killed.

If people die because of this leak, their blood will be on Trumps hands.
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was asked Tuesday, Do you have concerns with the Presidents ability to properly handle classified information?

McConnell let out a small nervous laugh, followed by a visible gulp.

He finally replied, No.

Q: Do you have concerns with the President's ability to properly handle classified information?



Sen. McConnell: No.

WATCH  pic.twitter.com/D5OD80AMFZ  Matt House (@mattwhouse) May 16, 2017

This is right after McConnell said No:

After Donald Trump shared classified information with Russia about an ISIS plot that appears to have been given to us by our allies in Israel but not even shared with other members of Five Eyes (intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States), Mitch McConnell isnt worried.

Russia might have shared that information with Iran, but McConnell isnt worried.

BREAKING: European official to AP: Country might stop sharing intel with US if Trump gave classified info to Russian diplomats.  The Associated Press (@AP) May 16, 2017

But McConnell is not concerned with how Trump reportedly leaked classified information.

When Hillary Clinton was running for president in 2016 and FBI Director James Comey criticized her handling of several classified emails, Mitch McConnell said, The question here is Hillary Clinton and her public explanations compared to her private representations to the FBI. Were entitled to know all that. The American people would like to have the answer to that.

That was after Comey said Clinton didnt deceive anyone on purpose and he was not recommending prosecution.

So the public was entitled to know even more about the way Clinton handled her emails, but McConnell is not concerned with the way that Donald Trump, a walking national security threat, handles highly classified information.

The Republican loss of credibility continues as they arent even pretending anymore to have values or principles.
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Rachel Maddow is breaking the news that a criminal subpoena has been issued about a loan that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort took out with a Trump business associate.

Video:

.@maddow breaking news that another subpoena has been issued in fed investigation into Trump campaign pic.twitter.com/lAPpf2j8qG  Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) May 17, 2017

Maddow said, NBC News can confirm tonight that another subpoena has now been issued in the ongoing federal investigations into Donald Trumps campaign and his associatesThis new subpoena relates to a loan that was taken out by Paul Manafort immediately after he resigned from the Trump campaign under a cloud of suspicion about his ties to pro-Putin political interests in Ukraine.A subpoena has gone out. It is related to a specific loan from a company that is related to a previous Trump business associate.

The news that Maddow broke is flying under the radar compared to a Comey that could provide evidence that Trump obstructed justice, but it really shouldnt because it is a reminder that there are already ongoing criminal investigations into the Trump campaign.

This White House doesnt have just one scandal. They have multiple five-alarm fires going on around them on all fronts.

The answers to many of the questions relating to the Russia scandal are likely to be found by following the money, and the money trail may lead us right back to Trump.
The Conservative Senate leadership has kicked Nova Scotia Senator Stephen Greene out of the Tory caucus just hours before he was set to have dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.Greene, who was appointed in 2009 by former prime minister Stephen Harper, said he was "ambushed" this morning during the Conservative Senate caucus meeting and "delivered with an ultimatum to leave."The decision was made by the party's Senate leader, Quebec Senator Larry Smith, sources told CBC News."I was asked to go upstairs to talk to the leader and I was informed I had to make a choice. If I went to the dinner, I'd have to leave caucus. And I said, 'Well, I want to do both," Greene said in an interview outside the chamber."But for some reason, just because I accepted a dinner reservation from the Prime Minister of Canada ... it was too much for the Conservative caucus."I'm a Conservative; I was Preston Manning's chief of staff a long time ago ... and I'm Maxime Bernier's Nova Scotia campaign chair. I'm a Conservative, and I always have been, and this won't stop me from being a Conservative," he said.Trudeau and Peter Harder, the government's representative in the Senate, had invited all senators who introduced government legislation in the upper chamber to a dinner Tuesday night to thank them for their efforts.Greene is the only Conservative to sponsor a government bill during this parliamentary session.He helped usher through Bill S-4, a rather innocuous piece of legislation that enacted a double taxation agreement with Taiwan and Israel. Greene said he sponsored a nearly identical bill on a similar matter during the Harper years."I was amazed, I was disappointed, I was crushed a little bit. The words betrayal and treason and treasonous were also used," Greene said of Smith's ultimatum.Greene said he offered to give the Conservative leadership a "bird's-eye view" of what happened at the dinner meeting, and report back to his fellow Tories, but was rebuffed."I would go to dinner with any prime minister who invited me," he said. "This whole situation is beyond silly. Would my Senate leadership not want me to attend such a dinner so that I can report back on what the Liberals' plans are for the Senate? It makes no sense."Greene said he will now sit as an "Independent Reform senator," a name he crafted this afternoon with his office staff. He will sit on the other side of the chamber now alongside other members of the Independent Senators Group and Liberal Senators.
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House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) says he is ready to use his subpoena power if that is what it takes to get access to James Comeys memos of his conversations with Donald Trump.

Chaffetz tweeted:

.@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.  Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) May 16, 2017

According to The New York Times, Comey immediately wrote a memo detailing his conversation after Trump made the request that the FBI investigation into Mike Flynn is dropped. If there is a memo, it is a government document, which means that Congress will get their hands on it.

The fact that Republican committee chairman wants the Comey memos could be the first sign of a big shift. The firing of James Comey along with the leaking of classified information to Russia, and the possibility of evidence existing that Trump tried to obstruct justice. The Republican firewall protecting Trump has been under relentless assault and is beginning to crumble.

If Republicans stick with Trump, they are going to go down with the sinking ship. Should the choice become Trump or their own seats, the odds are good that enough Republicans will turn on Trump to make something happen.
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Trump is so nuts that his advisers are afraid to leave him alone in meetings with foreign leaders because they are afraid of what he will say.

The New York Times reported, There is a fear among some of Mr. Trumps senior advisers about leaving him alone in meetings with foreign leaders out of concern he might speak out of turn. General McMaster, in particular, has tried to insert caveats or gentle corrections into conversations when he believes the president is straying off topic or onto boggy diplomatic ground. This has, at times, chafed the president, according to two officials with knowledge of the situation. Mr. Trump, who still openly laments having to dismiss his first national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, has groused that General McMaster talks too much in meetings, and the president has referred to him as a pain, according to one of the officials.

It is mindblowing that Republicans continue to cover for a president who is so unstable that his advisers that his advisers cant trust him to be left alone in a meeting. Equally as stunning is the fact that Trump misses the Russia compromised Mike Flynn.

When the President Of The United States cant be left alone in a room with other foreign leaders for fear that he might do something to jeopardize international relations or national security, that is an unprecedented problem in presidential history.

The New York Times had a dozen sources for their story about Trumps behavior and how he is wearing down his staff with his constant creation of scandal and chaos.

A portrait is emerging of Donald Trump as a person who is mentally unfit to be president, and a threat to his country while he occupies the White House.
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Trump hijacked a commencement address to Coast Guard grads to whine about the media and how unfairly he has been treated.

Video:

Trump said, Look at the way Ive been treated lately, especially by the media. No politician in history and I say this with great surety; no politician has been treated worse or more unfairly.

Trump idea of inspiring people who will defend their country is to whine about how badly the press is treating him. How much more of this humiliation can the country put up with until we all Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between agree that enough is enough?

Donald Trump is not acting like a man who is fit to be president.

The media doing its job and reporting on his possible obstruction of justice by firing the FBI Director is not unfair treatment. The media reporting that the President happily leaked deeply classified information to hostile foreign power is not unfair.

Trump thinks that nothing outside of love and praise is good media coverage.

All of the Presidents problems are self-inflicted. If he didnt fire Comey, leak classified information, make insane claims like Obama bugged him, and wasnt colluding with an enemy of America to win an election; one suspects that his coverage might have a different tone.

President Trump is looking like a president on borrowed time, and ranting about the media wont solve his problems.
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Everyone remembers Donald Trumps public statements, campaign promises and website posts where he promised to ban Muslims from the United States. Now the government is struggling to save the second version of what many dub the travel ban. That is probably why Trumps campaign website dumped all references to a Muslim ban down a memory hole  last week.

Just as with many things, be it his confession to obstruction of justice, or admission that he gave Russia intelligence the U.S. got from Israel, Trumps words are his agendas Achilles heel. Its why the governments lawyer is trying to persuade judges to ignore Trumps anti-Muslim rhetoric and why plaintiffs lawyers want the court to consider his numerous anti-Muslim comments including his calls for a complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. At one time, he proposed that American Muslims should be tracked in special registries and should have special IDs just like the Nazis did with Jews.

Throughout the various proceedings in challenges to Trumps first Muslim ban and the revised versions lawyers are citing cases and legal theories to support their respective positions. However, you dont need to have a background in law to understand the thrust of arguments made by both sides in the Hawaii case and the reasons for them. The case brought by Hawaii and Ismail Elshikh, a U.S. citizen of Egyptian descent. He serves as the head of a mosque in Hawaii and he wants to bring his mother-in-law to the United States. A three-judge panel for the 9th Circuit heard argument in this case on Monday.

Hawaii alleges the presidents order violates the Constitutions establishment clause and federal laws pertaining to immigration. Scotusblog summarizes the legal issues as seen by the parties:

Arguing on behalf of the United States, as he did in the 4th Circuit, Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall told the court that both the Constitution and federal law give the president broad authority to prevent non-citizens from entering the country when he deems it necessary to protect the United States. Walls opponent, former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal, countered that a ruling for the Trump administration would allow the president to take a magic eraser to the entire body of federal laws. By contrast, Katyal contended, a ruling for the challengers would preserve a status quo that existed for decades while at the same time leaving the presidents powers intact.

Lets begin with irony that comes with trusting this particular president on national security matters, general, let alone the specifics of immigration. Bear in mind, these are just events within the past week.

1. Trump gave intelligence (obtained from Israel) to the Russians and bragged about it.

2. Trump admitted he fired James Comey because of the FBIs investigation of Trumps ties to Russia.

3. Trump tried to pressure Comey to halt the investigation into Michael Flynns known financial and other ties to Russia.

Honestly, a part of me feels for the governments attorney arguing the importance of deferring to this president on national security matters. Ill wait until you stop laughing, crying or both over the idea of trusting Donald Trump on anything related to national security.

The central issue in the various challenges to the ban are Trumps words. Simply put: the government wants the courts to limit consideration to the text of the Executive Order because people say stuff on the campaign trail. Plaintiffs lawyers want Trumps words to be considered because, they argue, his words go to the motive behind the Executive Order. Since the motive gutted the first EO, leading to the second EO which Trump characterized as the same as the first one, the second order should also be struck down. And contrary to the governments claim this isnt just stuff people say during campaigns. In Trumps case, he remained determined to establish a Muslim ban  after he was elected.

In fact, he asked Rudolph Guilliani to advise him on how to ban Muslims legally  per Guillianis admission days after Trump took office.

Last week, a Michigan Judge ruled that Guillianis memo and other documents related to versions of the Muslim bans are discoverable.

In her order, Judge Victoria A. Roberts says she doesnt see a reason to delay ordering relevant evidence in light of the unmistakable and impermissible message that the United States Government disapproves of Islam and Muslims in the text and history of the revised ban on travel from countries that are predominantly Muslim.

The order reflects nothing more and nothing less than some of the basic rules of procedure that even apply to the Trump Administration. Obviously, this order helps the plaintiffs and hurts the government whose only available strategy is to say ignore your lying eyes, your lying ears, and the work product that led to the original travel ban.

While Trumps administration continues to be in a state of chaos, and congressional Republicans still arent ready to stand up for America, protecting our countrys constitution and the values reflected within it, is left to the courts.
Merged Raiffeisen puts on a great show

Apart from operating expenses, Raiffeisen Bank International reported better-than-expected results for the first quarter of 2017 on Wednesday. After merging with its parent bank, consolidated profit reached 220 million euros, which beat the consensus estimate of analysts in a Reuters poll by a staggering 46%. The Hungarian subsidiary posted EUR 18 million profit in Q1.

as the banking groups risk-weighted assets (RWA) grew by 3% over Q416, the CET1 ratio came in at 12.6% by the end of March;

The ratio of non-performing loans (NPL) dropped further to 8.3%;

risk costs turned out favourably, especially on eastern European markets therefore the contribution of these markets to consolidated profit improved further;

net interest margin stabilised;

operating income was helped by foreign exchange changes, as well.

it targets a CET1 ratio (fully loaded) of around 13% in the medium term.

after stabilizing loan volumes, RBI looks to resume growth with an average yearly percentage increase in the low single digit area.

it expects net provisioning for impairment losses for 2017 to be below the level of 2016 (EUR 758 million).

RBI expects an NPL ratio of around 8% by the end of 2017, and over the medium term it expects this to reduce further.

the bank further aims to achieve a cost/income ratio of between 50 and 55% in the medium term, unchanged from its previous target.

its medium term return on equity before tax target is unchanged at around 14%, with a consolidated return on equity target of approximately 11%.

Highlights of the earnings report:As you can see in the table below, RBIs key profits beat the markets call, only operating expenses were less favourable than expected.Raiffeisen Bank International merged with its parent bank Raiffeisen Zentralbank in March, which shored up the merged units profits and balance. As of 1 January 2017, items from the statement of financial position and income statement, as well as the consolidated subsidiaries of RZB AG were integrated into the RBI Group for better comparability.It is good news for shareholders that as a result of a major 20% drop in interest expenses, net interest income grew by 5% year on year. Net fee and commission income went up 10%. Net provisioning has not been as low as in Q1 since the onset of the financial crisis. Net provisioning for impairment losses amounted to only EUR 80 mn in Q1 and the NPL coverage ratio came in at 74.0%The last time RBIs after-tax profit was this robust was five years ago, in early 2012. The record, of course, also has to do with the merger.The banks loan stock edged up 2% compared to the (subsequently adjusted) base period, and its deposit pool expanded by 5%, while total assets stagnated.As regards the subsidiaries, the Czech, Slovakian and Romanian units continue to perform reliably well, but the Hungarian arm is also catching up. It posted EUR 18 mn net profit in January-March. The biggest contribution was made by the Russian subsidiary. Its EUR 118 mn net profit constitutes more than half of the banking groups total Q1 profits.The bank has given the following outlook:
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Watchdog and Public Service reporter

Thad Moore is a reporter on The Post and Couriers Watchdog and Public Service team and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. To share tips securely, reach Moore via ProtonMail at thadmoore@protonmail.com or on Signal at 843-214-6576.
BC NDP minority government would be best, say most British Columbians

The Liberals got the popular vote, doesn't that account for something.

As we await the final BC election results, a new poll suggests most British Columbians would prefer a BC NDP minority government.Mainstreet Research asked 1,650 eligible BC voters between May 11 and May 13 via landlines and cell phones for their thoughts on the provincial election.It found 51% of respondents thought the BC NDP should form government, as opposed to 28% who believed the BC Liberals should be in charge, and 21% who werent sure.Support for a BC NDP government was highest in Greater Vancouver, at 56%, followed by Vancouver Island, at 46% and the rest of BC, at 44%.However, in all areas, a BC NDP government had more support than a BC Liberal government.As well, the poll found most respondents (58%) preferred a minority government, with the BC Greens supporting or opposing the government on a vote-by-vote basis.And in terms of a possible coalition, a BC Green-BC NDP union received 57% approval from respondents, while only 27% approved of a BC Green-BC Liberals coalition.However, overall, the poll found less than half of those British Columbians surveyed were satisfied with the outcome so far.According to the results, only 48% of respondents were satisfied with the outcome, as opposed to 43% who were definitely dissatisfied and 7% who were not sure.Unsurprising, as we have a hung parliament, no clear winner, five ridings in question, two recounts on the way, and we have to wait until at least May 24 for any final results.To read the full poll results, check here: Mainstreet Research.
The city of Charleston has an amazing opportunity to have a new urban park right in the heart of downtown, on Dominion Energys site between Meeting and King streets, roughly between the City Market and the Four Corners of Law. City leaders and others in the community should seize this chanc Read moreEditorial: Charleston should seize on this unique chance for a new urban park
This handout photo released by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shows President Donald Trump meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The Washington Post is reporting that Trump revealed highly classified information about Islamic State militants to Russian officials during a meeting at the White House last week. The newspaper cites current and former U.S. officials who say Trump jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on IS in his conversations with the Russian foreign minister and the Russian ambassador to the U.S. They say Trump offered details about an IS terror threat related to the use of laptop computers on aircraft.(Russian Foreign Ministry via AP)
MINNEAPOLIS  The Minnesota Department of Commerce kicked off a comment period Monday that will include 22 public meetings as it released a draft environmental review of Enbridge Energy's proposed replacement for its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota.

The draft environmental impact statement, which numbers 1,894 pages not counting appendices, does not recommend Enbridge's preferred route or four alternative routes that were also studied. It's meant instead to provide data for regulators to use in deciding whether to approve a certificate of need for the project and which route it should take.

Environmental and tribal groups oppose the project because of the risks of oil spills in sensitive areas of northern Minnesota, including the Mississippi River headwaters region and lakes where Ojibwe bands harvest wild rice. They also oppose the project because it would carry Canadian tar sands crude, which they say contributes more to climate change than other oil.

The report says it's not possible to determine which route option is best from an environmental justice perspective because each would have "a disproportionate and adverse effect" on tribal resources and members. The review also says differences are not very pronounced for the potential effects on surface water quality because the routes all pass through areas that contain some of the highest quality water resources in the state. And it says the impacts on fish and wildlife habitats vary only slightly.

The $7.5 billion project would replace a deteriorating pipeline from the 1960s that is now restricted to operating at just over half its original capacity. Enbridge plans to spend $2.6 billion on the 364-mile U.S. section to bring its capacity up to 760,000 barrels per day, which was Line 3's original capacity.

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The Calgary, Alberta-based company says Line 3 is a vital link in its pipeline system, and the replacement would help it meet the demand for Canadian crude. Project supporters also tout the more than 1,500 construction jobs it would create in Minnesota.

Line 3 begins in Alberta and clips the northeastern corner of North Dakota before crossing Minnesota on its way to an Enbridge terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. Enbridge wants the replacement to follow the same corridor as far as its terminal in Clearbrook in northwestern Minnesota, then take a more southerly path until reconnecting with the existing corridor near Carlton in northeastern Minnesota.

The Commerce Department has scheduled 22 public input sessions along the preferred route from June 6-22. Written comments are due by July 10.

According to the draft, the department hopes to release the final version in August and hold public hearings in this fall that would shape the recommendations of an administrative law judge, whose report would be due around February. The state Public Utilities Commission would then decide, possibly next April, whether to let the project move forward, and along which route.

The project already has regulatory approval in Canada, North Dakota and Wisconsin. It will also need additional approvals from various federal, Minnesota and local agencies, and potentially tribal governments, depending on the route.

Project opponents said they would carefully scrutinize the massive document.

"The fact remains that it's never a question of whether a pipeline will spill but when," Margaret Levin, director of the Sierra Club's North Star Chapter, said in a statement. "Enbridge's dirty plan to expand and reroute Line 3 will increase the severe risks to Minnesota's communities, pristine waters, and climate."
House for sale in bitcoin on Craigslist upsets Realtor

With thousands of homes for sale in Metro Vancouver one house stands out.It's for sale in bitcoin  a digital form of currency created and held electronically. The ad is on Craigslist's Vancouver and Hong Kong real estate pages.It says the newly-built house at 707 Firdale St., in Coquitlam, B.C., is in "one of the hottest markets on the planet. Voted #1 place to live in the world."The asking price is 2,099 bitcoin or about $5 million in Canadian currency.Realtor Mario Figliola has the house listed in the traditional way for $2.6 million and wants the online ad removed even though, he says, it was an honest mistake."I was telling someone else how difficult it is now to sell a higher end house because the market has changed. There's more rules and regulations on taxes, like the foreign tax has come into effect," said Figliola."He heard that, I guess, and he said I'm going to get you a buyer, so he posted an ad."Unfortunately, said Figliola, it wasn't the best thing to do."This person is not a Realtor. He was just trying to help out, I guess," he said.Figliola refused to identify the friend.Homeowners not working with a Realtor can accept bitcoin for payment but it would take a lot of due diligence."They have to be aware of the Criminal Code," said Christine Duhaime, a legal expert in counter-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering law."It prohibits them from taking bitcoin from a terrorist organization, a sanctioned country or organization or from taking money they know is associated with the commission of a serious offence anywhere in the world."A Realtor, however, cannot accept bitcoin for payment, according to Duhaime.Realtors are reporting entities under the Proceeds of Crime and Terrorist Financing Act and must positively ascertain the identity of the people involved in a real estate transaction before it can be completed.Bitcoin can be received anonymously from anywhere in the world.The Craigslist ad could be an indication that overseas buyers are still interested in the Metro Vancouver market, despite the foreign buyers tax and China's crackdown on cash leaving that country.Investors are not allowed to take more than $50,000 U.S. out of China.Bitcoin or digital transactions bypass controls with the simple click of a computer key.According to the Financial Times, 98 per cent of recent bitcoin transactions have originated in China.The 5,000 square foot house in Coquitlam has been on the bitcoin market since April 2.
American Studies - a class that may strike fear into the hearts of some students and excitement in the hearts of others.

For those that don't know, American Studies (or Amstuds, as most people call it) is a two-hour block class for sophomores at Mayo High School that covers both Honors U.S. History and Honors American Literature. I have the privilege of currently taking that class at Mayo High School and can honestly say that it has been one of the best experiences of my life.

Unfortunately, I have recently been made aware of the fact that as of right now, the class is not being offered for next year's sophomores. Freshmen were given the opportunity to sign up for Amstuds in January of this year, but at some point between then and now the decision was made to instead offer two separate classes, one for history and one for English.

I cannot stress enough the importance of this class and the appreciation for learning that this class has given me and other students. The combined-class schedule format is one unlike any other, and gives students a unique experience that develops important life skills. The dynamic and the environment created by the class as well as the teachers themselves have empowered students and helped them achieve things that they wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

Although students may often complain of the rigors of the class, the parties involved recognize that the combination of these two classes is and always has been one of the best ways that Mayo High School prepares students for tertiary education and a competitive job environment.

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At some point, we also have to consider what the benefits are of splitting the class up. The bottom line is that there are few, and those that exist are far outweighed by the benefits of having a combined class. It might be a small hassle for the administration office to have to schedule other classes around a block hour, but in the end, they've made it work every single year, and students thank them greatly for that.

I have talked to many current and former students from American Studies regarding this issue, and although some may not be as passionate as others about preserving the class, every single student that I have talked to has said that the class enriched their academic high school experience.

Accordingly, the fact that 134 of next year's sophomores signed up for the class in January shows that there is no lack of student interest. In addition, the number of students that have already passed the class and are still strongly against the separation of the class shows the lasting effect that the instruction and the teachers have on students.

In the end, it all comes to down to student representation. And when an overwhelming majority of a school's student body believes that a decision is not one that would enhance education, should the school not take a closer look at what it's really doing?
ST. PAUL  House Republicans are moving to beef up a statewide construction proposal, increasing it from $600 million to $800 million.

House Capital Investment Committee Chairman Dean Urdahl crafted the larger spending package. He is expected to amend it onto his original bill this morning during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing. A vote on the House floor could come as soon as Wednesday. The bigger bonding bill is aimed at trying to win needed support from Democrats.

"The hope is that we can pass it and go to conference committee and come up with bills that everyone can support that do some good things," Urdahl said.

The boost in funding enabled several projects to be added to the bill, but none of those projects are from Southeast Minnesota. Still left out is Rochester Community and Technical College's request for a $21 million to demolish Plaza and Memorial Halls and renovate existing classroom space.

Rep. Duane Sauke, DFL-Rochester, said he is disappointed the RCTC project did not get funded. Nonetheless, he said he is pleased the committee followed Minnesota State's priority ranking system and understands other projects had a higher ranking. In general, he said he is glad to see Republicans are increasing the size of the bonding bill

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"I'm happy that went up. I think that's really good for the state in general," Sauke said.

Other projects failing to make it into the House's bonding bill include $25 million for Winona State University's Education Village proposal, $4.5 million for Red Wing's River Town Renaissance and $500,000 to fund a study of Oronoco's wastewater infrastructure needs. All of those projects are funded in DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's $1.5 billion bonding proposal and the Senate's $1 billion proposal. The RCTC project is only in Dayton's proposal.

Several local projects remain in the revised House bonding proposal. Included in the bill is $3.6 million to repair the Lanesboro Dam, $1.5 million to expand the Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota and $1.7 million for Cedar River mitigation. One of the biggest changes to the Republican bill is it adds $70 million for upgrades at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter.

Unlike other bills, bonding bills require a supermajority in order to pass. That means Republicans will have to convince some Democrats to vote for the bill. Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, said lawmakers who want to see a bonding bill this year need to vote for this proposal

"To me right now it doesn't matter what's in or out (of the bill) or the size of it. Just get it to conference committee so the House, the Senate and the governor's office can put a bill together that's a good bill," Davids said.

Sauke said he is not ready to say whether or not he will vote for the bill. He plans to carefully review it before making a decision.

As always it depends on how it's structured," Sauke said.

Asked whether he believes he will have enough Democratic votes to pass the bonding bill, Urdahl replied, "I have been chatting."
Last November, Hillary Clinton failed to become Americas first female president. Instead, Kellyanne Conway became the first female to manage a successful presidential campaign. Many will never forgive her.

Attacks on Conway have centered on the notion that, in the words of Mika Brzezinski, she shill[ed] for Trump in extensive fashion. But thats the job of anyone who represents a political candidate.

The real beef is with Donald Trump, whom folks like Mika Brzezinski deemed an unacceptable candidate. The fact that they strongly preferred pro-Clinton talking points to pro-Trump ones, coupled with the fact that a female was working so effectively against Clinton, was (and remains) the source of the animosity.

That animosity boiled to the surface again when Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough claimed that that Conway secretly hates Donald Trump and (according to Brzezinski) is only helping him for the money. Conway responded this way:

The hosts of MSNBCs Morning Joe have become virulent critics of the President and those close to him. Ignoring insults and insinuations is a valuable skill. But when sentiments are attributed to me that are not true, it is necessary to respond. My beliefs, commitments and loyalties are plain to see. The notion that I am serving for the money or a paycheck is absurd. As campaign manager, I made a fraction of what other consultants have made on unsuccessful presidential campaigns. Then I walked away from dozens of opportunities for millions of dollars, and instead walked into the White House. I would do it again. It is a privilege to assist President Trump in the White House, just as it was during the campaign. I know him, I respect him, I believe in him, and I am confident in his capacity to be a transformative and successful President.

Conway did not deny Brzezinskis allegation that she once said she felt like she needed a shower after defending Trump during the campaign. Its possible that Conway said something like this after a discussion of, say, Trumps boast about grabbing womens genitals. But to infer from this that Conway hates Trump and only works for him for the money is ludicrous.

If Conway hated Trump, its hard to believe she would accept a job at the White House. And she certainly wouldnt do so for the money. As she says, taking that job will cost her millions of dollars.

Scarborough claimed that Conway said she viewed working for the campaign as a summer vacation. But by signing on to work at the White House, she demonstrated that her association with Team Trump is anything but a lark.

Clearly, Kellyanne Conway doesnt hate Donald Trump. Clearly, she isnt in it for the money.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post decided to take some shots at Kellyannes husband, George Conway, an extraordinarily accomplished litigator. The Posts Bruce Terris chose to focus on George Conways role in Bill Clintons legal difficulties  the ones that centered on Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky. Terris airs unsubstantiated claims of misconduct by Conway, while glossing over Clintons misconduct, including having sex with a young White House intern and lying under oath.

If journalists really wanted to write something insightful about the Conways, they might check out the blog they worked on together in the mid-2000s. It appeared on NRO and was called Reconcilable Differences. I read it regularly.

From their blog it was clear that (1) the Conways are super-smart, (2) George Conway was no fan of President George W. Bush, and (3) he was a fierce critic of the Iraq war. These observations are consistent with my handful of interactions with Kellyanne and my one interaction with George during this period.

Donald Trump, also no fan of Bush and or the Iraq war (though he favored the invasion before it occurred), reportedly has chosen George Conway to run the Civil Division at the Justice Department. The pick will be controversial, of course, but I think Conway is an excellent choice.
Speaking at the Coast Guard Academys Commencement today, President Trump complained about his treatment by the press and others:

[N]o politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly.

If we assume he is talking about American politicians, that is a true statement. The Democratic Party has never accepted the result of last years election. Democrats in the federal bureaucracy are leaking stories (sometimes false ones) to Democrats at the Washington Post, the New York Times and the Associated Press. The television networks are happy to pick up the cudgels for the Democrats, too, and the result is a seeming firestorm of controversy.

But none of this should be surprising. The problem is compounded by the fact that Trump has suffered plenty of self-inflicted wounds. To name just one example, during the campaign he went out of his way to insult John McCain. Now McCain is talking about Watergate. A number of chickens are coming home to roost.

During the campaign, I warned against nominating an amateur for president. The presidency, I wrote, is not an entry-level position. What we are seeing is partly the result of Trumps unique personality, but I think it is more the consequence of his inexperience in politics.

But all is not lost. The intended audience for the Democrats lurid news stories is, in large part, weak-kneed Republicans in the House and the Senate. The Democrats are trying to knock them off their agenda, and tie both the administration and Congress up in knots, with constant hysteria and endless investigations. The proper response to that effort is not to be forced off course. Representatives and Senatorsand the White Houseneed to get on with the business of governing.

The Democrats would love to drive Trump from office, but they cant do it without the collaboration of Republicans. If Republicans focus on legislating rather than wringing their hands over the latest faux White House scandal, they can start making progress again.
Apparently the Democratic Party press has anti-Trump stories lined up and ready to drop every two or three days. The latest comes from the New York Times, which headlines: Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation.

As usual, the papers sources are anonymous moles within the federal bureaucracy, presumably the FBI:

President Trump asked the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, to shut down the federal investigation into Mr. Trumps former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, in an Oval Office meeting in February, according to a memo Mr. Comey wrote shortly after the meeting. I hope you can let this go, the president told Mr. Comey, according to the memo.

Note that the statement attributed to the president does not support either the reporters characterization or the headline. Next comes the reporters editorializing:

The existence of Mr. Trumps request is the clearest evidence that the president has tried to directly influence the Justice Department and F.B.I. investigation into links between Mr. Trumps associates and Russia.

Has the reporter seen Comeys memo? No.

The New York Times has not viewed a copy of the memo, which is unclassified, but one of Mr. Comeys associates read parts of the memo to a Times reporter.

Why only read parts of it? How long can it be?

Mr. Comey wrote the memo detailing his conversation with the president immediately after the meeting, which took place the day after Mr. Flynn resigned, according to two people who read the memo. The memo was part of a paper trail Mr. Comey created documenting what he perceived as the presidents improper efforts to influence a continuing investigation.

This point is elaborated on later in the story:

After writing up a memo that outlined the meeting, Mr. Comey shared it with senior F.B.I. officials. Mr. Comey and his aides perceived Mr. Trumps comments as an effort to influence the investigation, but they decided that they would try to keep the conversation secret  even from the F.B.I. agents working on the Russia investigation  so the details of the conversation would not affect the investigation.

But what did Trump actually say?

Mr. Comey had been in the Oval Office that day with other senior national security officials for a terrorism threat briefing. When the meeting ended, Mr. Trump told those present  including Mr. Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions  to leave the room except for Mr. Comey. Alone in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Mr. Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information, according to one of Mr. Comeys associates.

Is this in the memo? Apparently not. It sounds as thought the Times is just mixing in some hearsay from one of Comeys friends at the Bureau. In any event, what Trump said was correct.

I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey, according to the memo. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go. Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey that Mr. Flynn had done nothing wrong, according to the memo. Mr. Comey did not say anything to Mr. Trump about curtailing the investigation, only replying: I agree he is a good guy.

Thats it? I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go? It may have been ill-advised for the president to say anything to Comey about the Flynn investigation, but I hope you can see your way clear is, I think, a thin basis to claim that Trump asked [Comey] to end the investigation or asked  Comey to shut down the federal investigation.

What seems obvious is that Comey and some of his close associates in the FBI planned to set up President Trump, and have now carried out their plan. But what if Comey hadnt been fired? Would we have heard anything about the memo, or about alleged efforts by the president to influence the Flynn investigation? Presumably not. The conversation documented by the memo took place in February, and we are only now learning about the memo and Comeys purported belief that Trump was improperly trying to influence the investigationa claim that Comey apparently was willing to keep to himself as long as he was retained as FBI Director.

Note that the Timess account includes a purported explanation of why the memo was kept secret until now:

After writing up a memo that outlined the meeting, Mr. Comey shared it with senior F.B.I. officials. Mr. Comey and his aides perceived Mr. Trumps comments as an effort to influence the investigation, but they decided that they would try to keep the conversation secret  even from the F.B.I. agents working on the Russia investigation  so the details of the conversation would not affect the investigation.

But wait! Why arent Comeys friends concerned that the very same disclosures, appearing in the newspaper, will now affect the investigation? The reporter either didnt notice the contradiction, or didnt care.

As described by the Times, the memo indicts James Comey more than it does President Trump, in my opinion. The broader context, of course, is that Donald Trump declared war on the establishment, and the establishment is making war on Trump.
I want to pick up on a point John made in a post earlier tonight regarding the New York Times claim that President Trump asked James Comey to stop the Flynn investigation. John wrote:

[W]hat if Comey hadnt been fired? Would we have heard anything about. . .alleged efforts by the president to influence the Flynn investigation? Presumably not. The conversation documented by the memo took place in February, and we are only now learning about the memo and Comeys purported belief that Trump was improperly trying to influence the investigationa claim that Comey apparently was willing to keep to himself as long as he was retained as FBI Director.

(Emphasis added)

To me this means either that Comey did not believe Trump was trying to influence the Flynn investigation or that Comey acted improperly by not doing or saying anything about the alleged attempt. As Sen. Lindsey Graham says:

If this happened, the FBI director should have done something about it or quit. If the president asked the FBI director to do something inappropriate, the FBI director should have said no and quit.

One thing Comey could have done short of quitting is inform the Senate Intelligence Committee of Trumps alleged statement. But according to Sen. Richard Burr, the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman with whom Comey had a good relationship:

[T]he director might have told us that thered been a request like that [but] it was never mentioned by him. So somebodys going to have to do more than have anonymous sources on this one for me to believe that theres something there.

The excuse offered in the New York Times story for Comeys inaction is that he was afraid the details of his conversation with Trump might influence the investigation. But if Comey had resigned in protest, we would be in the same place were at now  Comey would be out and the alleged conversation would be in the public domain (with more credibility behind it).

In addition, it seems unlikely that Comey telling Sen. Burr about the conversation behind closed doors would have had any influence on the investigation. Comeys excuse, or the one offered on this behalf, seems lame. His apparent claim that Trump told him, in effect, to back off of the Flynn investigation is subject to doubt.

That said, the allegation is serious, as David French explains. If Trump asked Comey if he could see his way clear to letting Flynn go and added that he hoped for this outcome, that would be an improper attempt to influence the investigation, in my view. Add to that the fact that Trump fired Comey when he didnt let the Flynn investigation go, and at first offered a false reason (the Rosenstein memo) for this decision, and the impropriety would be compounded.

My view has been that Trump fired Comey due to unhappiness with the Russia investigation, but that the unhappiness stemmed not from fear that the investigation would implicate Trump. Rather, Trump was upset because he thought the investigation was dragging on too long and causing him too much negative coverage.

If Trump had the conversation with the FBI director that the New York Times says Comeys memo depicts, this would tell us that Trumps unhappiness with the investigation stemmed at least in part from a desire to protect Michael Flynn.

But whatever the source of Trumps unhappiness with the investigation, it would have been improper to ask if Comey could see his way clear to handle it a certain way and to express the hope that Comey would act accordingly. It would also be improper to fire Comey for not complying, or for any conduct short of clear investigative or prosecutorial misconduct, related to the investigation.

Congress will subpoena the Comey memo, if necessary to obtain it. The memo wont be conclusive as to what Trump told Comey. It is possible that Comeys version of the conversation isnt true.

However if comes down to it, many people, including more than a few Republicans, will be inclined to believe what Comey wrote in a memo shortly after the alleged conversation rather than what Trump says now.

Maybe it is President Trump who should be hoping theres a tape recording of the conversation.

UPDATE: Gregg Jarrett of Fox News argues that if Comey believed the presidents statements to him amounted to obstruction of justice, then Comey himself committed a crime unless he promptly reported those statements to the Department of Justice. However, if Comey concluded that Trumps language was vague, ambiguous or elliptical, then he had no duty under the law to report it because the statements werent criminal.

From all that appears, Comey did not report Trumps statements to the DOJ. A memo to the file, even if shared with a few confidantes, wouldnt constitute the reporting required in the event Comey believed Trump committed a crime.
The dormant Power Line podcast is back up today with a fresh edition, featuring me in conversation with Jonathan Rauch of The Atlantic and the Brookings Institution, talking about his new ebook, Political Realism: How Hacks, Machines, Big Money, and Backroom Deals Can Strengthen American Democracy. You can download it for free from this link!

I like Jons counterintuitive thinking, namely, that 40 years of political reform from people like Common Cause, and measures such as McCain-Feingold, have made our government worse. Since he was visiting me at Berkeley, we also talk about the parlous state of free speech on college campuses today.

You can listen to the podcast here at our host Ricochet, or through this link here:
The thing about power outages is that they are unexpected, for the most part, and can create a quick and widespread sense of panic or, at the very least, uncertainty. For instance, when power went out this afternoon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, conference participants quickly began wondering what had happened and how long they would be without power. Laptops, of course, will run for a while, depending on your activities and hardware specs, but other equipment is out of action for the time being.

So, what if you had a portable power protection and backup system in place at your booth space? You could remain operational while your co-exhibitors are in the dark, literally. Imagine being the only exhibitor with power, even for a short period.

Image via @TonyCaufield

Of course, it's such a random and infrequent scenario, but that's the nature of an outage, which is why businesses would be wise to invest in power protection systems in their offices, for multiple reasons in this case. Not only would it allow for business continuity in the short term (depending on the specs of the UPS), but would also protect hardware and data by allowing for proper shutdown of non-essential equipment to conserve power for critical network components.

For frequent conference or other event participants  anyone who needs to set up equipment on a recurring basis at remote locations  portable UPS systems are also a solid strategy. Its true, the odds of an outage are slim but, as todays events show, you cant always play the odds, especially in Las Vegas. But, even if you never experience an outage while at an event, power surges are more frequent, especially when you have so much equipment connected to circuits. Protecting your equipment can mean the difference between business wins and losses.

The outage at Interop (News - Alert) was short-lived and things are back to normal and, judging from the social media posts, most folks in attendance got a good chuckle at MGMs expense, without much damage. But, there is always the possibility, and there is certainly no question the excitement caused more frustration than necessary.



Edited by Alicia Young
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, has restated its commitment towards accelerating the digitisation of Aeronautical Information Service in view of the centrality of data automation to the overall safety of civil aviation.

The Managing Director of the Agency, Fola Akinkuotu, made this known on the occasion of the World AIS Day which held at the agencys headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday.

Mr. Akinkuotu maintained that in view of critical deliverables of the Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) project and given that it represents a global migration to a dynamic data oriented aeronautical information management system that facilitates the timely exchange of aeronautical information in an accurate and standardized format from anywhere to everywhere globally on real-time basis, the automation project is a must-do for NAMA.

The deliverables, the NAMA boss said, include the enhancement of e-NOTAM, e-Flight Planning, e-AIP, e-TOD, e-Charts, e-Flight briefing among others.

He explained that for the dream of AIS Automation to be realized, it behoves staff of the department to put in their best to see that their service both at the individual and group level remain invaluable.

Mr. Akinkuotu, however, maintained that the staff could do this through extensive research and paper presentation at seminars, targeted at enriching the system and taking it to the next level.

He also promised to open his doors to their professional and technical advice which he said would give him the needed guidance in taking key decisions.

The NAMA helmsman lauded staff of the AIS department for their diligence, hard work and dedication to duty.

AIS remains one of the most critical departments in the agency even though they are hardly given the prominence they deserve, because their job most often, is behind-the-scene, he said, stressing that the absence of AIS in the system will bring about chaos in the entire civil aviation.

In his welcome address, the General Manager, AIS, Kabir Gusau, appealed to NAMA management to consider the periodic training and retraining of AIS personnel which according to him, would bring staff up to speed with modern trends in a dynamic aviation industry and also prepare them to effectively embrace automation when fully deployed.

Mr. Gusau also harped on the need for the agency, through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to ensure that qualified AIS personnel were licensed as this would bolster them towards hard work, commitment to duty and enhanced productivity.

Observed in 191 contracting states globally, the World AIS Day is a day providers of the service, regulatory authorities, users of the service, other aviation stakeholders, as well as AIS systems manufacturers, critically assess the performance of the service and recommend appropriate measures for its enhancement.

In Nigeria, the 2017 World AIS Day with the theme: Efficient Data Management System that Supports Digital Aeronautical Information Services, was celebrated on May 15, 2017 simultaneously in all parts of the country.

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Lanre Gentry, the estranged husband of Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe, has finally regained his freedom after spending a week behind bars at Kirikiri Prison.

He was released in the late hours of Tuesday after he met his bail conditions. In a series of Instagram posts, the embattled hotelier decried the state of the Nigerian prison and said the government should not focus on issues like domestic violence, but make the prisons a better place.

He also revealed that his wifes decision to send him to prison made it easy for his observation to be made and he has threatened to open up on the doomed relationship

I think this place should be a rehabilitation center and not a dumping ground, Gentry said, adding, Over 3,600 prisoners where we are meant to have just 1,500. Prisoners are now more or less like beggars, Mr. Gentry said.

Mr. Gentry who was accused of assaulting his wife also disclosed that he would talk on his experience.

I have something to tell the world about my prison life and how it happened. Watch out for my story. Ma lanu bi apere o le panu mi de (courtesy Fela Anikulapo Kuti). I will open my mouth like basket, you cant shut my mouth.

Meanwhile, his wife, has gone online to thank the likes of Toyin Abraham and Omoni Oboli for supporting her during the period of her trial She wrote, My gorgeous sisters Toyin Abraham I have always known you to have a heart of Gold God! You were super supportive, made me laugh even though I was in pains. God bless you sweetheart mi, Omonioboli my beautiful sis, your prayers everyday, words of encouragement kept me going. Even in your loss you still took out time to share in my pain. Thank you both. Love you.

The controversial hotelier who was tried at a Magistrate Court 1 sitting at Ogba, Ikeja, on a three-count charge under the State Criminal law 2011, was initially unable to meet the bail conditions of N500,000; provision of tax verification and two sureties, one of who must own a property in Lagos State.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him by the Lagos State Government.

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, to report the matter.

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Time for licensing a new business at OGFZA now 14 days, down from 28. Time for licence renewal, 48 hours from 14 days. Incorporation of businesses at CAC now a 24/7 online operation.

The World Free Zones Convention held last month in Doha, Qatar, provided a platform to focus on country attractiveness to investment capital based on the Ease of Doing Business index, a World Bank-created measurement for ease of market entry and operations on country by country basis. Nigeria has never fared well on the index.

Nigeria ranks 169 among 190 economies on the ease of doing business index, according to the World Bank 2016 ranking. The latest ranking represents an improvement from 170 in 2015. Over the years the countrys ranking had not been enviable.

The wrong perception of Nigeria, against the background of her classification by AIM Investment Report 2016 as one of the least competitive economies in the world, has led to outward flows of local capital to outside designations and inertia in the inflows of FDI.

It was with this perception problem in mind that the Managing Director of Nigerias Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), Umana Okon Umana, seized the moment when he had to present a paper at the Doha Convention to apprise the global investment community of the significant changes in investment indicators back home in Nigeria in the last two years as a result of the business-friendly policies of the Federal Government, that have made the subsisting perception about doing business in Nigeria an outdated mental picture of an environment that has evolved from stasis into brisk dynamism capable of responding to the global demand for speed and efficiency. It was a fitting occasion to let the world hear of the current realities in Nigeria.

Chaired by Graham Mather, chairman of the World Free Zones Convention and president, European Policy Forum, London and Brussels, the convention was fully represented by countries from all regions of the world. Nigeria, Mexico, India, USA, Tanzania, China, Thailand, Ghana, Uganda, United Arab Emirates and Australia were among the countries ably represented at the convention.

Mr. Umana addressed this distinguished audience in a presentation entitled, Clusters and FDI Promotion StrategiesNigeria in Perspective, which showcased the true facts about Nigeria as an investment destination on the continent that cannot be ignored; a country where more than 92 million people or 48 per cent of the population has internet access; where mobile phone penetration as at 2016 was 216 million lines; a country with a population of about 180 million, representing huge market opportunities, a highly educated workforce and low labour cost; and a country that is rich both in hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon investment opportunities.

In an interaction with journalists on return from Doha, Mr. Umana explained that the case had to be made for the country that Nigeria is doing everything possible to get up to speed with the rest of the world with regard to starting a business and operating within the Nigeria business environment. The facts bear up his position.

Nigeria is currently pushing reforms to improve on her ranking in terms of the Ease of Dong Business. It has embarked on core infrastructure projectsroads, airports, railwaysto spur up growth, aided by resurgent consumer confidence, and is seriously fighting corruption.

Mr. Umana noted that although globally the foreign operations of the top 100 Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) declined because of falling commodity prices, and MNEs especially in oil, gas and mining scaled down their operations abroad in terms of assets, sales and new investments, Nigeria should benefit from the current positive economic outlook because of the ongoing reforms and policy initiatives of the Buhari administration as well as the robust opportunities for FDIs in other areas such as railways, airports, financial services, power, telecoms and agriculture.

Other indicators that the old lethargic order is gradually giving way to a new dispensation of dispatch in business transaction is the strengthening of the regulatory framework for investment such as the reviews of the Petroleum Industry Bill and the OGFZA law. Yet other indicators are political stability, economic diversification policies, transparent and less bureaucratic policy environment.

In a step that shows new urgency reflecting the spirit of a business-friendly policy environment, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has upgraded its business incorporation processes into a 24/7 online operation, just as OGFZA has cut the turnaround time for the licensing of a new business in the free zones from 28 days to 14, and the time for licence renewal from 14 days to 48 hours.

Of special mention should be the Presidential Council on the Ease of Doing Business. The council advises the Federal Government on market reforms and other policy directions meant to make the local market environment more attractive to investors. Some of the reforms are already being implemented.

Proceeding from the same reform framework, the Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar told a stakeholders forum organised by OGFZA in Onne, Rivers State last February that her ministry has developed a plan called the FMITI Plan (Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Plan) which rests on five pillars of 1) industrialization, 2) investment promotion, 3) trade facilitation, 4) creating enabling environment , and 5) promoting the growth and development of MSMEs. The target of the plan is inclusive economic growth and development.

Credit for driving the ongoing initiatives under the FMITI Plan to build enabling environment for FDI and grow the economy goes to the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, who is also the vice chair of the Presidential Council on the Ease of Doing Business headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The FMITI Plan is itself a subset within the Federal Government global economic revival agenda called Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), a four-year economic strategy that seeks coordination and collaboration among the nations federating units, eliminating bottlenecks and enhancing efficiency to accelerate economic progress.

Inspired by efforts at economic reform by the Federal Government, Umana said, OGFZAa government agency for promoting, securing and sustaining investments into the nations oil and gas free zoneshas set in motion its reform process signposted by automation, which has seen to the deployment of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to optimize business processes in the free zones.

With regard to power, OGFZA is making a move to provide embedded power in the free zones to reduce cost of doing business. At present power is a major cost centre at the free zone in Onne, Nigerias largest free zone, because it is not linked to the national power infrastructure. Still on the cost of doing business, OGFZA has activated the process for tariff cut for free zone investors. The downward review of tariffs in the free zones has become necessary, Umana said, because the current regime of tariffs undermines incentives offered to investors by OGFZA. The tariff review move is among a bouquet of incentives offered to free zone investors by OGFZA, a full list of which is available on the agencys website.

Other steps being taken by OGFZA to improve the business environment and attract more investments into the free zones include investment drive such as the recent executive pitch at the World Free Zones Convention in Doha. OGFZA is also partnering with state governments and private sector investors to develop more free zones in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Lagos states and open up more opportunities for investment.

Worthy of critical note among the measures put in place to improve the business environment in the free zones is the security intervention that has driven down incidence of piracy and kidnapping around the Onne Free Zone. The security situation has so improved that investors recently hailed the Federal Government and the management of OGFZA for the return of safety along the shipping lanes and the free zones and its environ generally.

The good turn began with the initiative of the managing director of OGFZA, Mr Umana, who wrote a letter early in the year to the National Security Adviser, expressing serious concern at the deterioration of security around the free zone. The move led to security meetings between the management of OGFZA and heads of national security agencies in the area, and subsequently to the deployment of military hardware and personnel. The happy outcome is a safer business environment.

Among other measures that OGFZA is implementing to attract investment into the free zones are the one-stop-shop policy (which comes with accelerated customs and immigration services); reduced cost of project execution; efficient cargo handling; warehousing, fabrication and residential facilities as well as fiscal incentives.

There is no doubt that perception dies hard, but in the face of new information that contradicts wrongly held views, the world should realign their sights. Nigeria deserves a fresh look. Its business landscape is changing for the better, thanks to the policies of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

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The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday said continuing attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in areas around Sambisa forest have stalled the proposed closure of camps and return of internally displaced persons, IDPs, to their liberated communities by the end of this month.

The governor had last year declared that the end of May 2017 has been fixed as deadline for the closure of all IDP camps around the state.

But with the attacks around the Sambisa forest, a fortress of the Boko Haram that was declared as captured by the military in December last year, the security agencies advised against moving the IDPs back home.

Mr. Shettima disclosed this in Bama town where he took delivery of 11 public structures that were rebuilt by the Victims Support Fund, VSF, after they were destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents two years ago.

The governor informed the people that moving into liberated communities has to be postponed due to the military activities around Sambisa forest.

Our initial goal was for our people to return to their liberated communities before the next Ramadan fasting which comes at the end of May, he said.

But unfortunately, this is no longer feasible because the military are still carrying out operations in some areas around Sambisa as part of the mop up exercise. But we will continue to work with the military to review the situation.

He said despite the setback, the priority of his government was to ensure the safety and security of the people.

Our number one priority was to ensure the security and safety of our people; hence we will not allow any IDP to return to any community that we are not 100 percent sure that they have regained their safety.

When IDPs return to communities they will still need to go to their farms, go to markets and travel for socio-economic purposes. Hence we will make sure the farms are and routes are safe before we allow them to return.

Even while we do the review, we will continue with our aggressive reconstruction work; we will not wait even though we are optimistic that the entire Borno state will be safe.

The governor thanked the VSF for its intervention which involved the rebuilding of schools, hospital and other administrative buildings of Bama Local Government Area as well as the palace of the Shehu of Bama.

He said the Bama intervention was the second major reconstruction project embarked upon by VSF. He recalled that the VSF had in 2015 made a donation of building materials worth N250 million for the reconstruction of 22 public buildings in Dikwa Local Government of Borno State.

We remain eternally grateful to the VSF and the implementation officials especially the executive secretary and the deputy chairman of the foundation for their empathy and passion for Borno, he said.

Earlier, the executive secretary of VSF, Sunday Ochoche, said the VSF had in January this year donated building materials worth N295 million for the reconstruction of the earmarked public buildings in the destroyed town.

The Borno State government, according to the Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rebuilding and Rehabilitation, Babagana Zulum, provided N73 million to complement the VSF donation which he said was to care for labour and logistics needed for the reconstruction.

The Deputy Chairman of VSF, Tijjani Tumsa, who presented the reconstructed buildings to the Borno State Governor, gave assurances that the relief agency would continue to assist Borno State in all its areas of need in the post conflict rebuilding efforts.

The VSF otherwise known as Nigeria Foundation for the Support of Victims of Terrorism was inaugurated in 2014 by the defunct regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan in response to the increasing need for relief to those in areas of conflict.

The foundation was powered by a N50 billion donation made by a cross section of wealthy Nigerians.

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The Senate has issued a two-week ultimatum to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to ensure submission of the budgets of 31 public establishments, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Nigerian Ports Authority, to the National Assembly in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The Senate, following a motion by the Deputy Leader Bala NaAllah on Wednesday, also resolved that the concerned agencies should stop further spending pending compliance.

Many senators, including Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Solomon Adeola, APC-Lagos; George Sekibo, PDP-Rivers; Jibrin Barau, APC-Kano; James Manager, PDP-Delta; Barnabas Gemade, APC-Benue, took swipe on the agencies for disregarding the law and spending trillions, in sum, without appropriation.

Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act provides that estimates of revenue and expenditure of 31 public corporations, agencies and government owned companies, listed in the Schedule to the Act, should submit their annual budgets to their supervisory ministers not later than end of August of each financial year.

Then, The Minister shall cause the estimates submitted in pursuance of subsection (2) of this section to be attached as part of the Appropriation Bill to be submitted to the National Assembly, Section 21(3) of the Act.

The affected bodies listed in the Act are: 1)Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; 2) Nigeria Deposit insurance Corporation; 3) Bureau of Public Enterprise; 4) National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure; 5) Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund; 6) Corporate Affairs Commission; 7) National Clearing and Forwarding Agency 8) Nigerian Unity Line; 9) Nigerian Airspace Management Agency; 10) Nigerian Shippers Council; 11) National Maritime Authority; 12) Raw Material Research and Development Council; 13) Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority; 14) National Sugar Development Council; 15) Nigerian Postal Service; 16) Nigerian Ports Authority; 17) Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria 18) Nigerian Mining Corporation; 19) Nigeria Re-insurance 20) Nigerdock Nigeria PLC; 21) Securities and Exchange Commission; 22) National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria 23) Nigeria Re-insurance Corporation.

Others are: 24) Nigerian Telecommunication; 25) National Automotive Council; 26) Nigerian Tourism Development; 27) National Communication Commission; 28) National Agency for Food & Drug Administration & Control; 29) Nigerian Customs Service; 30) Federal Inland Revenue Service; and 31) Central Bank of Nigeria.

Mr. NaAllah said  what would be the position of the Senate  that none of the bodies had submitted its budget which by law should have come with the annual national budget for 2017, presented last December by President Muhammadu Buhari.

PREMIUM TIMES recalls that though some of these bodies, including the National Communication Commission and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, presented their budgets to the National Assembly for 2016, it was presented well after the passage of the 2016 national budget.

For instance, as at November 2016, the FIRS budget for that year was still under consideration at the National Assembly, six months after the 2016 Appropriations was signed into law by the President.

The non-submission of the budget in line with the FRA amounted to abuse of law, said Mr. NaAllah, who suggested that lack of provision for punishment in the circumstance of violation might have embolden the agencies.

Our commitment to supporting this government in the fight against corruption is 100 per cent, he said. The way to do this is to stop abuse of law and power.

The Lagos West senator, Mr. Adeola, stressed that the non-submission of the budget had become a matter year in year out. He said the combined budget of the agencies was bigger than the national budget.

We are talking about N10 trillion, said Mr. Adeola, who first raised flag against the agencies in March 2015, while still being a member of the House of Representatives.

It is an aberration, said Barau Jibrin, APC-Kano. I dont know where this can be condoned. Money running into trillions can be spent without being budgeted for year in year out.

While others like Messrs Sekibo and Manager urged the Senate to ensure correction and give ultimatum, Mr. Barau canvassed legislative measure to compel compliance through provision of punishment in case of infraction.

We cant keep reminding them, he said.

Although the Act mentions that a minister should submit the budgets of the bodies under him/her to the National Assembly as parts of the annual national budget, Mr. Gemade told the Senate the Constitution of Nigeria does not allow a minister to table appropriation before the National Assembly.

Only the President can write the National Assembly on appropriation, the Constitution says.

So, Senate President Bukola Saraki explained, the duty of submitting the budgets to the National Assembly within two weeks lies on the Acting President, Mr. Osinbajo, who, in line with FRA, will receive the estimates from the concerned agencies and ministers.

It is not expected that this development will constitute a fresh hurdle to the 2017 national budget, just passed by the National Assembly last week.

The Chairman, Senate Rules and Business, Baba Garbai, told NTA in an interview monitored by PREMIUM TIMES, that the Senates demand for compliance with the FRA in respect of the budgets of the 31 bodies would in no way stop the national budget from being given assent by Mr. Osinbajo.

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For the second time in a week, the trial of Sambo Dasuki at a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama, for an alleged N13.5 billion fraud, could not go on as expected, as the former National Security Adviser, NSA, was again absent in court on Wednesday.

Mr. Dasuki, along with Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA; Aminu Babakusa, a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N13,570,000,000.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had at the last sitting Tuesday, told Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf that Im surprised hes not here.

The counsel to Mr. Dasuki, J.B. Daudu, had also expressed concerns about the absence of his client who though has been granted bail by the court has not been allowed by the DSS to have control over his movement.

Mr. Daudu had along with Akin Olujinmi, counsel to Mr. Salisu, who was present with Mr. Babakusa, urged the court to adjourn to May 17, and compel the prosecution to present him.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, however, Mr. Jacobs informed the court that his frantic efforts to ensure that Mr. Dasuki was present, proved abortive.

He said: Yesterday, I promised hell be brought to court today, and I immediately contacted the director, legal department of DSS, who told me that Dasukis absence in court yesterday was an oversight and that the defendant will be produced this morning.

I made series of efforts when I noticed he was not in court this morning to contact the director, but was unable to reach him, and I immediately contacted my client, the EFCC, who also approached the DSS.

The information I received is that the first defendant will not come to court today on the grounds that hes indisposed.

Mr. Jacobs, thus, requested for an adjournment.

While not opposing the application for adjournment, Mr. Daudu noted that this appears to be an inter-agency issue, and urged the court to place on record that were not trying to frustrate this trial as adjournment is at instance of the prosecution.

Mr. Olujinmi, who aligned with Mr. Daudu, added that it is the prosecution that has not allowed the trial to proceed, adding that the excuse of oversight on the part of the DSS (also called SSS), without an apology was irritating.

Your lordship should direct that those keeping him in custody should ensure theyre alive to their responsibility to the court, Mr. Olujinmi added.

While adjourning to July 11 and 12, 2017 for continuation of hearing, Justice Baba-Yusuf, held that the proceedings of the court should not be taken lightly, and strains between agencies should not be allowed to interfere with proceedings, adding the prosecution counsel, whom I know is passionate with his work should be allowed to do his job.

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LINCOLN  Fellowship applications for Nebraska Leadership Education/Action Development (LEAD) Group 37 are now available for men and women involved in production agriculture or agribusiness.

Up to 30 motivated men and women with demonstrated leadership potential will be selected from five geographic districts across our state, Nebraska LEAD Program Director Terry Hejny said.

In addition to monthly three-day seminars throughout Nebraska from mid-September through early April each year, Nebraska LEAD Fellows also participate in a ten-day national study/travel seminar and a two-week international study/travel seminar.

Seminar themes include leadership assessment and potential, natural resources and energy, agricultural policy, leadership through communication, Nebraskas political process, global perspectives, nuclear energy, social issues, understanding and developing leadership skills, agribusiness and marketing, advances in health care and the resources and people of Nebraskas Panhandle.

Hejny said the Nebraska LEAD program is designed to prepare the spokespersons, problem-solvers and decision-makers for Nebraska and its agricultural industry. The program is in its 36th year. The non-profit Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council operates the program in collaboration with the University of Nebraskas Institute of Agriculture and Resources. Nebraska colleges and universities, state business and industry leaders and individuals from across the state all cooperate with Nebraska LEAD goals and activities.

Applications for Nebraska LEAD Fellowships are due no later than June 15. Application forms are available via e-mail from the Nebraska LEAD program office at sgerdes2@unl.edu. People may also request an application by writing to 104 ACB, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 68583-0940 or by calling 402-472-6810.

Information about the selection process is available at www.lead.unl.edu. Nebraska LEAD program offices are located in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Nigeria Army on Wednesday said it had arrested about 126 suspected Boko Haram members at the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in Damboa, Borno.

Lucky Irabor, a major general, who made the disclosure while fielding questions from journalists in Maiduguri, said the suspects were flushed out during mop up operations.

Mr. Irabor said that the mop up was conducted after the Boko Haram terrorists stormed Sabon Gari area in Damboa Local Government area of the state.

During the attack, we lost about six soldiers and equipment, some of our soldiers were also wounded.

After the unfortunate incident, a joint operation was carried out by 3 and 125 task force brigade of the army.

Based on intelligence report available, we learnt there was an attempt by Boko Haram to attack Damboa town and many of the insurgents have infiltrated the IDPs camp in Damboa.

We also have an intelligent report that many of those insurgents that participated in the attack on Sabon Gari have infiltrated into the IDPs camp.

During the raid on the camp, one of the terrorists in particular was identified to have taken part in the Sabon Gari attack.

When we searched him, we found a wallet on him containing the Identity card of one of the soldiers that was killed during the attack.

So, in essence, that gave the purpose for further operations that our troops of 125 Brigade and the Civilian JTF rounded up about 126 of the terrorists in the camp.

As you all know that peace has started returning to the areas, but we realise that the Boko Haram terrorists were hiding under law abiding citizens to continue to cause havoc.

The operation is a continuous one, even though the arrest had elicited reactions from some NGOs working in the camp, also the IDPs, who viewed what we are doing differently.

This was what really happened, though yesterday, there was an incident in Konduga where three suicide bombers detonated their explosives killing themselves and wounded some locals.

Also, we had a case where some of our troops on patrol in Dikwa ran into an Improvised Explosive Device, where two soldiers were wounded, but they are getting better in the hospital.

In Damasak also, we suspected Boko Haram movement looking for logistics and food, we laid ambush and killed four of them and recovered a Hilux truck, weapons, fish and rice.

It will also interest you to note that our Naval component of the operation have been very active in lake Chad.

We are currently strengthening out platforms on that axis toward ensuring that we go deeper in our operations to fish out other Boko Haram terrorists in the area.

Looking back into our operations in the last 14 months that I took over as the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, much has been achieved, Mr. Irabor said.

Mr. Irabor has been transferred by the army to head the Multi Joint Task Force (MNJTF), in Njadmena, Chad Republic.

(NAN)

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The British government has warned against non-democratic change of government in Nigeria, amid speculations about military coup as concerns grow over President Muhammadu Buharis health.

The British government believes that democracy is actually critical in Nigeria, the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, said on Wednesday. There are elections. If youre not happy with your leaders then you should change your leadership through the democratic process and through elections.

The High Commissioner spoke on the sidelines of an event held in Abuja to formally launch a new report on corruption in Nigeria which was put together by UK policy think-tank, Chatham House.

His comments came a day after the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, warned of undue interactions between Army officers and politicians, as concerns mount over Mr. Buharis health.

The president traveled to London last week for medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment, just over a month after returning to Nigeria from an extended medical leave abroad.

Any officer or soldier of Nigerian Army found to be hobnobbing with such elements or engaged in unprofessional conducts such as politicking would have himself or herself to blame, the Army said in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Sani Usman, a brigadier general.

Although the statement cited political reasons as grounds for the purported discussions between some military officers and politicians, it was silent on the specific discussions that took place or the individuals involved.

But earlier in the week, military sources had informed PREMIUM TIMES that the Army leadership was unsettled by growing speculation of possible coup detat by officers within its rank and file.

PREMIUM TIMES further learnt that Mr. Buratai, a lieutenant general, had raised the issue with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and promised to nip it in the bud.

The alleged plot might also have informed Mr. Buratais decision to shake up Army formations with random transfer of senior officers last week.

The UK envoy, Mr. Arkwright, while recognising the rights of citizens to agitate for a more tolerable living condition, said the United Kingdom would only encourage a change of power through the ballot box.

Our position is very clear: we stand for democracy, we stand for the democratic process and we stand for change if that is what the people themselves want, the diplomat said. That has to be a choice the people make and not a choice that is imposed upon them.

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Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged soldiers in Cote dIvoire to end their mutiny and return to the barrack.

Mr. Obasanjo, in a statement issued on Tuesday evening, also asked the Ivorian government to speedily attend to the soldiers complaints.

The mutiny, which has lasted for five days now, began on Friday when soldiers in the West African country took to the streets, firing sporadically, because of a dispute over unpaid bonuses.

While as a former Comrade of those soldiers, I would wish that they have their required bonuses and enhanced wages but as military men, they must act within the code of good conduct and military discipline, said Mr. Obasanjo, a retired general in the Nigerian army.

The former Nigerian president said that he believes that other West African countries, particularly Nigeria, were worried and concerned about the situation in Cote dIvoire.

The Cote dIvoire government, Monday, announced it had reached a deal with the soldiers. But the mutineers refuted the claims, according to a BBC report.

I appeal to these disgruntled soldiers to peacefully return to their barracks and await the Ivoirian Governments consideration of their complaints and demands.

Collectively and individually, our countries in West Africa make peace for development, growth and progress and nothing must be done to reverse the progress so far made by the Republic of Cote dIvoire under President Alassane Ouattara, Mr. Obasanjo said.

Cote dIvoire has experienced two civil wars. The last one ended in 2011.

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The UN says Nigeria is the 146th country to endorse the Paris Climate Change agreement as the country presented its endorsement on Tuesday.

Santiago Villalpando, Chief of the Treaty Section of the UN, stated this at the presentation of the Climate Change Endorsement instrument by Nigerias Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UN, Tijjani Bande.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Paris climate change agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, with 197 parties.

NAN also reports that by presenting its endorsement to the UN, Nigeria has deposited its instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the depository.

Mr. Villalpando, at the historic event in New York, commended Nigeria for taking the bold decision and for its commitment to implementing the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Speaking with NAN after the presentation, Mr. Bande said Nigeria had always lived up to its commitment to the UN and other international obligations.

This presentation of the Climate Change Endorsement is our living up to our commitment.

We have ratified this agreement and President Muhammadu Buhari has signed it and we have deposited the instrument.

This is to underline our commitment to the agreement in Paris and this is important for the world.

Climate change is really important, theres no doubt about it and we are glad that we have become the 146th member of the UN to ratify it.

So, this is good for Nigeria, the Permanent Representative said.

He assured the UN and the international community that Nigeria would fulfil its own part of the agreement but called on other countries to live up to their own commitments.

We operate within the commitment of the agreement and we also expect others to do the same.

It is important and that is why it took a long time to agree to but we have passed it now. It is just to begin to act within the agreement

Nigeria has always shown commitment to international obligations, theres no question about that. Even through our difficult period, were still a very reliable member of the international community, Mr. Bande said.

Mr. Buhari had signed the Paris Agreement on Sept. 22, 2016 on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly, saying it demonstrated Nigerias commitment to a global effort to reverse the effects of the negative trend.

By signing the agreement, Mr. Buhari committed Nigeria to reducing Green House Gas Emissions unconditionally by 20 per cent and conditionally by 45 per cent in line with Nigerias Nationally Determined Contributions.

The president had also signed the instrument of ratification of the agreement on March 28, making the country one of those that had ratified the agreement.

(NAN)

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The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, Umar Danbatta, on Wednesday said more than one million consumers activated the 2442 Do-Not-Disturb code within two months.

Mr. Danbatta made this known during the Lagos Launch of 2017 as Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer.

He said that the response of the consumers came after the initial slow uptake of the code to resolve their problems.

According to him, two months ago (March 15), NCC flagged off a national campaign of the Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer at its Headquarters in Abuja.

Sixty days hence, I am glad, we can report some progress resulting in increase in the activation of the Do-Not-Disturb short code, using the 2442 facility, by more than one million consumers in this short span.

More subscribers reported their unresolved complaints using NCCs 622 toll-free lines in the same period.

NCC Consumer Conversations are going on simultaneously every month in six zones across the country.

When the year is ended, the NCC should be able to measure the success and impact of this initiative by the level of awareness created among consumers and the number of consumers that have activated the 2442 facility.

It is my hope that the Nigerian telecommunications consumer would consistently get the right quality experience and value for money, he said.

Mr. Danbatta said that the Year 2017 had been dedicated to the Nigerian telecommunications consumers.

He said that following a management decision, NCC was compelled to seek to amplify the years activities toward ensuring that the consumer enjoys a customer experience that is enhanced and consistent in time and quality.

According to him, in 2017, and even beyond, the consumer will be NCCs focus, as it intends to inform and educate the consumer with the sole intent of protecting and empowering them to make the right decisions.

Todays event emphasises the position of Lagos state as the telecommunications hub of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its first quarter telecommunications sector report for 2016 placed Lagos voice subscriber base at 19.04 million or 12.8 per cent of the countrys subscribers and 12.62 million internet subscriptions or 13.65 per cent.

The state is home to many of the key players in the telecommunications sector, so it is understandable why it has been selected as the flag-off city after the major event in Abuja on March 15, 2017.

The NCC 2017 Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer is remarkable because the Nigerian telecommunications consumer is centre stage.

We must also remember that these consumers together have made all the success stories we speak about possible in the telecommunications industry today, he said.

Mr. Danbatta said that as a regulator, NCC had the mandate to ensure all its key stakeholders were protected.

He added that NCC had the mandate to ensure that their interests were balanced in an atmosphere of fairness, transparency and within the framework of the NCA 2003 and other subsidiary legislation.

The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, NCC, Sunday Dare said that Year of the Consumer initiative was derivative of the 8-Point Agenda of the present NCC Management.

Dare said that the initiative was leveraging on the two key components of Improving Quality of Service (QoS); and Informing and Empowering Consumers.

He said that the telecommunications consumer embraced the various stakeholders NCC was mandated by the NCA 2003 to protect, inform and educate.

According to him, already, NCC has deployed several activities in its strategic plan to run a successful year of the consumer campaign with the support of the operators.

Our goal is to make the consumer experience of the average Nigerian better.

The drivers of the NCC 2017 Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer are the 2442 Do-Not-Disturb Service Code, the 622 toll free complaints line, Quality of Service, QoS and concerns about the Electromagnetic Field, EMF radiation.

These are the areas the information provided in the course of the campaign would focus on, he said.

The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said that the state was interested in the welfare and happiness of its people.

Mr. Obasa, represented by a member of the house, Tunde Braimoh, said that the services rendered by the operators to the consumers should be relevant and make them satisfied.

He commended the NCC for ensuring that the industry benefited all.

If there is no regulator, we will not have the quality of service we have today, but there is need for improvement, Mr. Obasa said.

(NAN)

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Hours after a lawmaker announced in Abuja that he was dumping his Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress, his former party described his action as political suicide.

The Chairman of the PDP in Plateau State, Damishi Sango, also said the party expelled Edward Pwajok, who represents Jos east/south in the House of Representatives, for anti-party activities.

Edward Pwajok has committed political suicide by leaving PDP, the party chairman said. Nobody should lose sleep because Edward Pwajok has left PDP. He has left for good, this is an opportunity for someone to occupy his place, so we are happy.

There are ungrateful people in the party, I am talking about Edward Pwajok, Pwajok had benefited so much in the party.

The party made him what he is today politically, and he chose to leave us this way; I learnt that Lalong even went there in (Abuja) to receive him into APC.

After the Speaker of the House of Representatives read a letter on Wednesday announcing Mr. Pwajoks decision, the latter was welcomed into the APC by Governor Simon Lalong, who was in the House chamber.

Mr. Sango, whose PDP led Plateau until it lost the 2015 governorship election in the state, however said the party would continue to succeed without the lawmaker, a lawyer.

The party chairman spoke at the PDP secretariat in Jos shortly after receiving two political groups who announced thier royalty to the party leadership.

The party also discussed possible ways of winning future elections, particularly pending local government elections.

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A man appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to head Nigerias lottery regulation commission assumed office without Senate confirmation, in line with the law establishing the body, Dino Melaye said on Wednesday, prompting Senates investigation.

Lanre Gbajabiamila was one of the 23 persons appointed to head various federal agencies by Mr. Buhari, through an announcement made by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on April 14

According to the announcement, the appointments were with immediate effect, brushing aside referral to the Senate for confirmation.

Mr. Melaye, APC-Kogi, came under Order 43  Personal Explanation  of the Senate Rules to raise what he described as selective respect for the of law and negation of the promise made by my party, APC.

Whereas Section 8(1) of the Nigerian Lottery Regulation Commission says the President shall appoint the Director-General subject to the confirmation of the Senate, Mr. Melaye said Mr. Gbajabiamila had resumed office, following the April 14 announcement without waiting for his confirmation by the lawmakers.

He noted that the Executive branch had sought consideration and confirmation of appointments of others, including Resident Electoral Commissioners and Central Bank of Nigeria board members; but wondered why the law on the headship of the lottery commission would be disregarded.

He said what President Muhammadu Buhari and my party, APC, promised Nigeria was absolute respect for rule of law and to combat corruption.

This is not a banana republic. Executive cannot choose which law to obey and which one to disobey.

In his response, Senate President Bukola Saraki said, these are weighty issues.

He ruled that the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, take it up and investigate.

He will stop that nonsensewhen it is communicated to him, said Mr. Saraki. He should wait until his confirmation by the Senate.

Mr. Gbajabiamila could not be reached immediately. But his LinkedIn profile shows he has resumed as DG of the commission since April.

He previously headed the lottery board in Lagos State.

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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said the House is committed to passing the #NotTooYoungToRun bill in order to lower the age requirements for elective offices to ensure youth inclusion in politics and leadership.

He stated this on Wednesday at the National Assembly while addressing the plenary session of the Nigerian Youth Parliament.

He said as elected representatives, it is the lawmakers duty to make sure that their constituents voices are heard especially in a country with a youth population of over 60 per cent.

We committed ourselves in our Legislative Agenda to give priority to  necessary legislative interventions to promote equality and inclusion, and entrench the rights of women, youths and vulnerable groups in the society, he said.

Mr. Dogara added that one of the major challenge affecting Nigerias youth population is unemployment.

As your elected representatives, this gives us nightmares.

The #NotTooYoungToRun bill seeks to alter sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the Nigerian constitution. It is aimed at reducing the age of eligibility for elective offices across board, and to introduce independent candidacy to our electoral process.

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The family of the late senator, Isiaka Adeleke, says it will consider all legal options against the Chief Medical Director of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Akeem Lasisi, over the autopsy result conducted on the late politician.

Deji Adeleke, the younger brother of the deceased, told journalists on Wednesday in Ede that the family had not received the autopsy result and would not speculate on its contents.

Mr. Adeleke, however, said the family was worried over the statement credited to Mr. Lasisi at the coroner inquest that the lawmaker died as a result of overdose of a banned injection when the result of the autopsy was yet to be delivered to the family.

We state that as at now, the family has not received the autopsy report and the family will not engage in speculations over its contents, Mr. Adeleke said.

However, it has come to the knowledge of the family that the LAUTECH CMD on May 15 appeared before the kangaroo inquest set up by the state government and gave evidence of the cause of Sen. Isiaka Adelekes death when neither the family had been briefed nor the autopsy report released. 

Mr. Adeleke said when the family requested the autopsy result from the CMD on May 9, he confirmed that it was ready and that a copy of the result had been given to the Osun Police Command and the Chief Pathologist at LAUTECH.

The family, he said, queried the CMD for releasing a copy of the result to the police without giving same to the family.

Mr. Adeleke said Mr. Lasisi later promised to send a copy of the result to the family on May 15.

The family later called the CMD to remind him of the autopsy result as promised but he changed the story again, saying the report was not ready.

When the family asked him when the report would be ready, he responded that it would be ready as soon as possible, he said.

Mr. Adeleke said unknown to the family, the CMD had already appeared and testified before the coroner inquest the same day.

In his reaction, Mr. Lasisi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the autopsy report was not with him.

Mr. Lasisi said he acted within the law to have testified at the coroner inquest, adding that he did not claim to have seen the result.

I dont have the result with me and the only person that can give the result is the pathologist.

Maybe, they are talking out of ignorance because I dont have the result, he said.

Mr. Lasisi said he was only an administrator of the hospital and not a pathologist.

I am a surgeon and administrator of the hospital, so the person who writes the result is the pathologist.

I have told the Minister of health as well that I dont have the result.

As I am talking to you, I have not set my eyes on the result, he said.

NAN recalls that Lasisi on Monday appeared before the coroner inquest set up by the state government and gave evidence that the deceased died as a result of overdose from a banned injection.

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on May 2 signed an executive order setting up a coroner inquest into the death of Adeleke.

Mr. Adeleke, 62, who died on April 23, was representing Osun West Senatorial District at the Senate under the platform of All Progressives Congress.

(NAN)

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DURHAM, NC  Lea Kalkowski, a 7th-grade student from Louisville Middle School, is among the students being honored by the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) for their exceptional scores on the ACT. She will be recognized at a ceremony at the University of Nebraska Omaha on Thursday, May 18th, 2017

Duke TIPs 7th Grade Talent Search identifies students across the United States who have scored at or above the 95th percentile on a grade-level standardized test. As part of the program, these academically talented students take above-level college-entrance exams to learn more about their abilities. Duke TIP then hosts annual recognition ceremonies to honor the seventh graders who scored the highest on these ACT or SAT exams.

We are extremely proud to recognize our remarkably talented students who have demonstrated key aspects of their academic potential by achieving scores on the ACT or SAT commensurate with half of all college-bound high school seniors, says Shawna Young, Executive Director of Duke TIP. As an alum of our 7th Grade Talent Search, I still remember how it felt to be recognized by Duke and TIP in seventh grade, as well as my excitement and anxiety at taking the SAT at such a young age. As an organization, we cherish the opportunity to celebrate each of our ceremonies honorees for such an outstanding accomplishment.

Working with host academic institutions, Duke TIP sponsors thirty-six ceremonies in sixteen states throughout April, May, and June. Speakers include university administrators and professors from the host institutions, state and government officials, and accomplished former Duke TIP students
Some students from Benue State have reviewed the performance of the state government in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

The students reviewed the various projects embarked upon by the state to achieve the goals.

We are delighted to announce that the hitherto, not well served communities can now access medicare right in their neighbourhood without having to travel distances for medical attention, the National Union of Benue State Students, NUBESS, said in a statement by its president, Agoh Basil.

Read Mr. Basils full statement below.

The National Union of Benue State Students, NUBESS, is the umbrella body of students of Benue State extraction studying in various tertiary institutions of learning. Although the union is apolitical, at one time or the other, we have engaged the government, particularly on issues of welfare, articulating our position as stakeholders in the Benue project.

We do this with the conviction that history will not be kind to us either for our actions or inactions. It is trite that turning a deaf ear to injustice is a tacit approval to the perpetuation of same. Consequently, we have resolved not to sit on the fence but speak out as we have done in times past on issues that would further the cause, not just of students of Benue State origin but the people of the State generally.

Without much ado, we hasten to remind you, gentlemen of the press that early this year, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government in Benue State took turns in addressing members of the press at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) House, Makurdi on their achievements since the coming on board of the Governor Samuel Ortom led administration in the state. Also, be reminded that this government without being immodest came into being by popular vote and by May 29 would have spent two of its four years mandate.

Arising from the briefings, we have painstakingly followed the claims made by the Honourable Adviser to Benue State Governor on Development Corporation, SDGs and NEPAD, Magdalyne Dura, and have reached a conclusion as contained in this text of press statement. This is in view of the centrality of the office in coordinating activities that would give us the future that we want.

Our decision is specifically informed by issues of Post 2015 Development Agenda, which are considered as a successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by the UN General Assembly as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Official Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted on 25th September, 2015 has 92 paragraphs. Paragraph 51 outlines the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the associated 169 targets.

Broadly speaking, SDGs cover issues such as ending poverty and hunger, improving health and education, making cities more sustainable, combating climate change and protecting oceans and forests. Coordinating partners and activities that would result to the achievement of these goals at the state level is the responsibility that the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor of Benue State on Development Corporation, SDGs and NEPAD is saddled with.

So, how has SDGs fared in Benue State in the nearly two years of Ortom led administration?

It is on record that Benue State is the first State in Nigeria to access the funds meant for implementation of SDGs. This was achieved by the payment of counterpart funds by the state government through the office of the Special Adviser, Development Corporation, SDGs and NEPAD. The funds, which were meant for the construction of at least one Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in every single local government area of the state, supply of equipment, water in the PHCs and the development of skills acquisition centres have been judiciously put to use.

NUBESS has found out with satisfaction that the office of the Special Adviser on Development Cooperation, SDGs and NEPAD has been able to extensively intervene in this area, through the construction of fully equipped modern Primary Health Care Centres with referral vehicles and drugs. For too long, primary healthcare service has been neglected and the construction of 23 new ones equipped with modern facility is a serious boost to access to primary healthcare by our populations that are scattered in the hinterlands, which are most often neglected.

We are delighted to announce that the hitherto, not well served communities can now access medicare right in their neighbourhood without having to travel distances for medical attention. In trying to improve the health of the people, the office has also completed and handed over the HIV/Malaria and Tuberculosis Research Centre to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

The office, has also made significant efforts in improving water and sanitation as seen in its intervention with the provision of hand and solar powered bore holes, rain water harvesters and provision of VIP toilets to communities in the state.

We view the construction of the imposing Benue State Centre for Enterprise Development and Innovation (BENCEDI), Makurdi and Skills Acquisition Centres in Apa Agilla and Gbajimba in Ado and Guma Local Government Areas respectively as fundamental, when put to proper use for the much-needed skills by the rising army of unemployed minds some of who have what it takes to get a white collar job.

Indeed, SDGs under Ms. Dura has constructed and installed machinery for the Orange Cleaning and Packaging Plant in Ushongo and Yandev towns, the Soybeans Cleaning and Packaging Plant in Wannune Tarka, the Benniseed Cleaning and Packaging Plant in Oju, and Garri Processing Plants In Ogwule Kaduna and Ogoli Onyangede in Agatu and Ohimini Local Government Areas respectively with the attendant effects of boosting the local economy and to gainfully engage our people thereby also reducing unemployment and crime. It also serves the purpose of value addition for the huge agricultural produce obtainable in Benue State.

One salient achievement by the SDGs is its partnership with Google Nigeria through its vendor, Mind the Gap on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis to train 2,691 youth in Digital Marketing skills. The internet system today provides a whole lot of opportunities and directing young peoples attention to such opportunities would no doubt enable them grab same and break from their economic quagmire and to some extent become employers of labour while providing for themselves and family.

We have also observed remarkable milestones by SDGs through the construction of classroom blocks, construction and supply of steel framed desks and benches and supply of exercise books to all schools in 6 participating Local Government Areas of the state (LGAs) including Agatu, Ohimini, Oju, Ushongo, Gboko and Tarka. It is unfortunate that even in the 21st Century, pupils sit on bare floors to receive instructions from teachers while teachers could barely manage to have seats robbing them of a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning. The exploits of SDGs in this regard is a sure step to the attainment of basic education and improve our literacy rating.

We pause here to say that Ms. Dura deserves our support to even do greater things for the attainment of the future we want. We remember with fond memories her participation at the 2014 National confab where she no doubt made us proud by her apt contributions in the course of the national assignment.

In conclusion, SDGs did not make spurious claims as to its achievements in the period under review; there are verifiable evidence to the claims.

May we add by calling on the Benue State Government to address the problems of students welfare. For too long, we have not collected scholarship unlike our comrades in the past who had the privilege to benefiting from this initiative of our state government to alleviate the challenges faced by us.

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Former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, says he will no longer sue the police over documents they recovered linking him to the murder of a prominent Muslim cleric in Kano.

In a letter to the police, released to journalists on Wednesday, Mr. Shekarau said he was satisfied with the manner the police was investigating the matter.

The police had in a raid on the Abuja residence of a senator, Danjuma Goje, recovered a document purportedly linking Mr. Shekarau to the murder of a sheik, Jaafar Mahmud-Adam.

Sequel to my last letter number IS/SK/SA/Adm/I/137 of May 3, 2017, Im compelled by the fact that you the Police have taken the issue with all seriousness and commenced investigations into the allegations linking me with the murder documents, Mr. Shekarau wrote.

I therefore decided to write this letter withdrawing my moves to take legal actions against you.

According to him, part of the conditions he gave the police in the previous letter was for them to commence immediate and thorough investigation of the case to exonerate him of any complicity.

To this end, based on authentic reports I have received within the last two weeks, I am pleased to write, not only to acknowledge the commencement of police investigation on the matter, but to appreciate the urgency you have attached to the issue.

For this reason therefore, while I consider it appropriate to put on hold my intent to take legal action, to allow you more time to pursue the inquiry, I urge you not to rest on your oars until the investigation has been brought to a conclusive finish, and the reports made public.

(NAN)

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Police in Bayelsa State have confirmed that suspected assassins have killed Pamo Hobobo, a former acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Asinim Butswat, the spokesman for the state police command, confirmed the incident on Thursday in Yenagoa in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

One Pamo Christopher Hobobo of PDP Road, Yenagoa was found dead in his house at about 7000hrs today (Wednesday).

Preliminary investigation revealed he was stabbed on the chest with a sharp object.

His corpse has been deposited at FMC Yenagoa for autopsy and investigation is ongoing, Mr. Butswat told NAN.

NAN reports that Mr. Hobobo, who hailed from Agbere in Sagbama Local Government Area, was attacked in his house at Yenizue-Gene in Yenagoa Local Government Area.

Residents of the area said the assassins broke into his house and stabbed him to death without stealing anything.

They reportedly gained access to his apartment after pulling down the burglary proof attached to the door.

Sound of gunshots from the deceased house attracted neighbours who alerted the police.

The former PDP chieftain was later found dead in a pool of his own blood by the times police arrived the scene in the morning.

Mr. Hobobos uncle said the family was in grief and he was not in a position to comment.

We are in grief; we are still in shock. I am short of words, please let me be for now, he pleaded.

(NAN)

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The death of the first civilian governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke, has been linked to excessive dose of analgesics, sedatives and alcohol.

This was revealed as the pathologist who conducted the autopsy examination on the late senator, Solaja Olufemi, testified before the coroner inquest on Wednesday n Osogbo.

Mr. OIufemi who works at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, also refuted the notion that Mr. Adeleke was poisoned, saying that there were no traces of poison or heavy metal in the examined body of the deceased.

The investigation and autopsy began after the late senators family members and supporters alleged that Mr. Adeleke was poisoned.

Mr. Adelekes family has also rejected the inquest, saying its outcome has been predetermined.

Mr. Olufemi, the Consultant, Anatomic Pathologist at LAUTECH, also indicated in his testimony that the police carried out a toxicological examination on the deceased and the result was only given to him to read on Monday.

Mr. Olufemi said the pathological examination carried out on Mr. Adelekes corpse revealed that the deceased consumed excessive alcohol and was given an overdose of sedative and analgesics.

Being led in evidence by Oyindamola Daramola, a Senior Legal Officer for LAUTECH hospital, Mr. Olufemi explained that histology of the tissues from the body of the deceased was normal except from the heart which showed hypertrophy, adding that the liver showed alcoholic steato-hypatitis.

Death in this case was due to aspiration of gastric content, although the deceased had hypertensive heart disease which could have caused sudden death, but no evidence of such, either grossly or microscopically, he explained.

It is known that excessive alcoholic intake may depress the central nervous system with the blunting of the gas influx.

This may also induce vomiting. The deceased was deeply sedated and was given an overdose of analgesic, these drugs are known to cause central nervous system depression.

The pathologist noted that Mr. Adeleke apparently vomited and aspirated due to the deep sedation, so that gastric contents blocked the airways, depriving his body of oxygen.

This showed up in the body as stinge of colouration. This could cause vital seizure of the system, he said.

The toxicology report also showed abnormally high levels of alcohol, sedative and analgesic in the blood of the deceased.

There were no traces of poising, or heavy metals in the toxicology report. Nigerian police did the toxicology examination and the result was given to me on May 15, 2017.

Mr. Olufemi tendered a copy of the autopsy report and the court admitted it as exhibit EC3.

He informed the coroner that the copy of the toxicology report was not released to him by the police, even though he had the opportunity to read it.

The Chief Medical Director of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Wale Lasisi, who testified before the corona on Monday had spoken in the same vein, saying that one of the drugs administered on Adeleke was Analgin, a drug banned by NAFDAC several years ago.

He also told the coroner that the person who administered the drug was neither a medical doctor nor a nurse.

Mr. Adelekes Health Assistant, Alfred Aderibigbe, who allegedly administered the drugs on the deceased senator, attended the sitting, but had his testimony deferred.

According to his counsel, Lekan Alabi, he was only served the summons on Tuesday, pleading that the evidence be adjourned till Friday.

Mr. Alabi also explained that Mr. Aderibigbe had been going through a psychological trauma and was not prepared to give evidence before the coroner.

He also requested for an interpreter on the ground that Mr. Aderibigbe would give evidence in Yoruba language.

However, instead of the request for the Friday date, the coroner, Olusegun Ayilara, adjourned the taking of Mr. Aderibigbes evidence to Thursday.

The Divisional Police Officer, Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo, Ogunkanmi Gbemileke also appeared before the coroner, and said that he was given the empty samples and vials which he later handed over to officer in charge of homicide for examination.

Mr. Gbemileke added that specimen taken by the pathologist was given to one CSP Benedict.
ATLANTIC CITY  As its new campus rises, Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman says projected enrollment also is increasing, and he is confident the 533-bed beachfront residential complex and academic building will be full when they open in fall 2018.

My biggest concern was building this and not having it filled, Kesselman said during a tour of the Gateway site last week with Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian. But we are getting that momentum.

He said the freshman class for fall 2017 is on track to be the largest ever, possibly as many as 1,400. The university has been averaging between 1,000 and 1,200 freshmen each year for the last few years. And while the main campus has been crowded, filling a new one doesnt happen overnight.

Guardian said he sees the site as a game-changer for the entire city as well as the Chelsea neighborhood, ODonnell Park and the Albany Avenue entrance to the resort.

Stockton is interested in being part of the fiber of the community, he said.

Kesselman said the success of the first Stockton graduation at Boardwalk Hall, held May 12, helped set the tone that the Galloway campus and Atlantic City can be linked.

He said the publicity about the Gateway project has attracted prospective students.

Last year, people didnt know what we were doing here, Kesselman said. This year they do. They can see it. It is real now.

He said Stockton has been aggressively marketing its expansions on both the main campus and the Gateway site. University buses feature a wrap of the Atlantic City Campus with a link to the website.

Brian Jackson, Stockton chief operating officer for the Atlantic City campus, said they have surveyed faculty and staff interest in living in the city, and are monitoring traffic patterns and the potential impact of an additional 1,000 students plus faculty, staff and some 200 South Jersey Gas employees on the neighborhood.

While the Gateway site will not initially house freshmen, Kesselman said they are considering a three-year-degree program that would have students live on campus year-round.

Jackson has met with neighborhood groups and said an advisory committee is planned. Commercial sites on the ground floor of the residential building are also being marketed.

There is space for a second academic building on the site, and Kesselman said they could be interested in expanding even more into the city as enrollment and funding allow.

Im looking forward to phase two, Guardian said.
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EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  The American Federation of Government Employees is joining with other labor organizations to oppose privatizing the Federal Aviation Administrations air-traffic control.

Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania congressman called on lawmakers Wednesday in Washington, D.C., to turn the nations air-traffic control operations over to a nonprofit corporation as a potential way to improve air travel.

President Donald Trump also has called for placing air-traffic control under an independent, nongovernmental organization to make the system more efficient.

The proposal could affect employees at the William J. Hughes Technical Center and NextGen research at the site.

FAA employees have decades of specialized experience maintaining the national airspace system that cannot be replaced without great costs to American taxpayers and great risks to the flying public, said Ron Consalvo, president of AFGE Local 200, which represents more than 340 federal employees at the tech center.

AFGE is one of seven organizations representing FAAs rank-and-file employees and managers that sent a joint letter to leaders from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in opposition to privatization.

The group said privatization would jeopardize the FAAs almost-completed work to develop the nations Next Generation Air Transportation System. NextGen is a system of sensors based around automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast technology. The technology lets air traffic control workers have a better idea of locations of aircraft.

Quite simply, overhauling the entire aviation system by removing air-traffic control from federal oversight and funding will be a serious setback for its development and growth, according to the letter. Our air-traffic control system is a national public asset, and we strongly believe it should remain in the public trust.

Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told colleagues his top priority this year is to overhaul the FAA.

Airline carriers have lobbied vigorously for the changes Shuster seeks.

Shuster said the effort hell pursue will fund the new corporation through fees assessed for air traffic services and will free the operations from government dysfunction and the uncertainty of the annual appropriations process.

He said the FAAs progress on its high-tech system has been too slow. He wants to remove the FAA as a transportation service provider and maintain its role as a regulator of air safety. He said that would decrease flight delays and ease congestion.

The true risk lies in doing nothing, Shuster said.

Shuster faces opposition from the committees Democratic members as well as the unions. They say turning financing decisions over to a corporation would subject the system to economic hardships and particularly could hurt flight operations at smaller airports.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said Americans arent interested in giving more control over to airline carriers, alluding to recent controversies such as the dragging of a passenger off a United flight. He said opponents of privatization were not invited to testify.

DeFazio said the biggest obstacle to updating air traffic systems has been the broken budget process in Congress and unstable funding from lawmakers.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

The privatization debate has been going on for decades. The Clinton administration proposed moving air traffic control operations out of FAA to a corporation owned by the government in 1995. Dorothy Robyn, a special assistant to the president on economic policy, told lawmakers that only four nations at that time had moved traffic control operations outside of traditional government operations, and Clintons proposal was dead on arrival on Capitol Hill. Now, some 60 countries have transferred their air traffic control operations, she said.

I think it is a mistake to view this proposal as ideological, Robyn said.

Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the association will consider supporting a new entity to run air traffic control operations, but it cannot be a for-profit corporation. He said the new system would also have to ensure that air traffic control workers pay and benefits are protected, and that it continue to serve rural communities, which are worried that privatization would lead to less money for their airports.

The last thing we want to do is create a system thats unfair to different users, Shuster told reporters after the hearing.

The congressman said he expects the committee to hold one or two more hearings before voting on a bill. A similar effort stalled last year, but Shuster is counting on an engaged White House to enhance prospects this year.
VINELAND  A teenage boy has been missing since Monday and police are asking the public for help locating him, according to a statement issued Tuesday, May 16 by the Cumberland County Prosecutor.

Thomas L. Williams, 14, is described as black, about 5-feet-tall and 110 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Williams was last seen Monday at his residence on South East Avenue, according to investigators.

Detectives believe Williams was last wearing a white polo shirt, khaki pants, brown shoes and black and white checkered hat.

Williams has prescription glasses, but may not always wear them. He is known to frequent the Atlantic City, Bridgeton and Vineland areas, police said.

Anyone with information on Thomas whereabouts is asked to call the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office-CART Team at 856-453-0486 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 856-455-6886, which is 24 hours, or the Vineland Police Department at 856-691-4111, which is 24 hours.
CAMDEN  State Police Trooper Frankie Williams was just a few credits shy of completing his masters degree in criminal justice when his life was cut short.

On Wednesday, Williams wife, Kimberly, accepted the degree for him posthumously and could enjoy the bittersweet moment as her husband would have done, she said.

I kind of imagined him being here and what that would have been like, Williams, 30, of Egg Harbor Township, said at the Rutgers University-Camden graduate school commencement. I know that Frankie would be extremely excited and would feel so honored that this is being done on his behalf.

Frankie Williams, 31, died Dec. 5 in a head-on crash while responding to a call about an erratic driver on Route 55 in Millville, Cumberland County. He graduated in the 156th New Jersey State Police academy class in January 2016, finally completing his dream to become a trooper.

But Frankie was also always big on education, said his wife, whom he married in September. Before becoming a state trooper, he graduated from Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing in 2009 and from Rutgers University in Camden in 2012 with a bachelors degree in criminal justice. He was finishing his masters degree at the time of the crash.

Before conferring degrees to the graduates and calling them individually up on stage Wednesday, Kriste Lindenmeyer, the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences & the Graduate School at RutgersCamden, called Williams up to the stage.

Some of todays graduates and our faculty knew Frankie Williams, Lindenmeyer said. They know he was an engaging and talented student, as well as a leader among his peers.

Lindenmeyer invited Williams to walk up to the stage and accept his degree, while the arena roared in applause while she walked back to show the diploma to her father and some cousins.

It was a great way to honor him and keep his memory alive, she said. This was his next step in making his family proud.

He was always looking to be challenged and always setting goals and meeting those goals, she said.

Williams just returned this week from National Police Week in Washington, D.C., where her husband was honored in a vigil. She said accepting his masters degree Wednesday was just another great way to pay tribute to him as a person.

Kimberly said she remembers watching him graduate with his bachelors degree in 2012 at that same arena, but this time, she was on stage at the BB&T Pavilion for him.

Im trying to enjoy the moment as he would if he were accepting his degree, he said.
Since the early 1990s, Fremonts Emergency Response Unit comprised of members from both the Fremont Police Department and Dodge County Sheriffs Office have responded to high-risk situations in a vehicle not truly equipped for the tasks they could potentially face.

When dangerous  potentially life threatening  situations arise, the Emergency Response Unit has, in the recent past, arrived at the scene of the incident on a City of Fremont bus, one retired from city use more than 5 years ago, Police Chief Jeff Elliott said. The vehicle has racked up more than 140,000 miles, and simply put, likely wouldnt be up to the task if things turned ugly.

It is in a state of disrepair, and it was never suited for the role of transporting a tactical unit, Elliott said. It has windows in it and its not designed to get tactical officers in and out.

With the department close to entering its new budget cycle, Elliott said that he and his team started looking at viable options that could potentially solve the problem at hand. As one might guess, an armored vehicle tailor-made for a tactical unit isnt cheap. One vehicle the department looked at cost upward of $162,000.

Fortunately, though, the federal governments 1033 Program might be the answer for the Emergency Response Unit. The program, federally ran but administered through the state of Nebraska, provides law enforcement agencies with demilitarized armored vehicles for little to no cost. These vehicles are referred to as MRAPs  Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.

These are vehicles that were used in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect troops that were being transported along highways from ambush by insurgents, Elliott said. The military would transfer these vehicles to police departments for little to no cost.

In Nebraska, Elliott learned that a MRAP vehicle could be transported to a department for as little as a $1,500 transfer fee, followed by an optional $10,000 up-fit vehicle, meaning all military logos would be removed, and the vehicle would be painted with the Fremont Task Forces logos and some other additional work would be completed, too. The vehicle would be fully demilitarized upon arrival.

Its very important to note that this vehicle would not be transferred to us with any weapons systems or any offensive capabilities, Elliott said.  Its completely de-weaponized before we ever lay hands on it. Theres no machine guns, no cannons, no mine layers; and its very important that we get that point across because a lot of people ask why do police departments need military weapons?

And what they have to understand is that this is not a military weapon system. This is a vehicle that is armored to protect SWAT guys who are responding to SWAT-type situations.

During the Fremont City Councils May 9 meeting, the council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the FPD to apply for the transfer of a MRAP vehicle from the 1033 Program to the department to be used by the citys Emergency Response Unit.

The application process is underway, Elliott said, and once that is complete, if approved, a MRAP vehicle could be in Fremont anywhere from the time of 3 months to 3 years.

While people often times dont realize, potentially life-threatening situations happen in Fremont more than they think, he added.

It happens more than just a handful of times, Elliott said. Unfortunately, we have barricaded suspects that occur probably once every 1  years or so, where they are armed with weapons and the Emergency Response Team has to respond and we have to negotiate them out.

This vehicle can be used as a shield to get our team in place, and it can also be used to rescue officers that are in vulnerable positions. We hope we never need this, but I can tell you that I have personally been in situations where people have been armed, have shot at police officers, where a vehicle like this would have been beneficial.

In addition, the vehicle can be used in other emergency situations, such as an instance of flooding. In June 2016, the FPD ran into trouble when 7 inches of rain fell in a very short period of time. The department was unable to get essential police personnel to the station because their vehicles could not get through the flooded streets, preventing personnel from responding to certain situations around the city.

We had to rely on the (Fremont) Fire Department to get us certain places, Elliott said.

A MRAP vehicle is capable of maneuvering through 3 to 4 feet of water, Elliott said.

So while many moving parts still need to settle into place, Chief Elliott hopes that a MRAP vehicle will find its home in Fremont.

Hopefully sooner than later, he said.
Abstracts Include Studies of Cancer Patients and Immuncompromised Patients

SAN DIEGO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Astute Medical, Inc., developer of biomarkers for better healthcare, today previewed three abstracts reporting data on the use of the biomarker combination [TIMP-2]x[IGFBP-7] for the prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients. The abstracts will be presented during poster sessions at the American Thoracic Society's ATS 2017 conference being held in Washington, D.C. May 19-24.

Researchers in all three cases employed Astute Medical's NephroCheck Test, which detects the two biomarkers and calculates an AKIRisk Score, to determine patient risk of developing moderate to severe AKI. Several published studies have demonstrated that elevated levels of the urinary biomarkers [TIMP-2]x[IGFBP-7] can signal kidney stress indicative of AKI risk.1,2,3 Early knowledge that a patient is likely to develop AKI may prompt closer patient surveillance and enable physicians to intervene proactively in order to help mitigate or prevent permanent kidney damage or death.4

The highlighted abstracts include a study authored by clinicians from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) analyzing the use of [TIMP-2]x[IGFBP-7] for the assessment of AKI risk in cancer patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit, It has been estimated that cancer patients represent up to 20 percent of hospital intensive care unit admissions, and up to 50 percent of these patients may experience AKI.5,6

Preexisting kidney disease, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, susceptibility to infections and use of nephrotoxic drugs are some of the factors heightening the risk of kidney injury in cancer patients.5 The development of AKI can jeopardize further cancer treatment, affect the delivery of chemotherapy,5 lead to longer length of hospital stay,7 and increase risk of permanent kidney damage4 or other complications that can undermine a patient's quality of life.8

Details of the presentations follow:

Important Information About The NephroCheck Test

The NephroCheck Test System is intended to be used in conjunction with clinical evaluation in patients who currently have or have had within the past 24 hours acute cardiovascular and or respiratory compromise and are intensive care unit (ICU) patients as an aid in the risk assessment for moderate or severe AKI within 12 hours of patient assessment. The NephroCheck Test System is intended to be used in patients 21 years of age or older.

Astute Medical's NephroCheck Test received 510(k)-clearance through the FDA's de novo classification. The test is CE-marked and available in Europe.

For additional information visit NephroCheck.com.

About Astute Medical, Inc.

Astute Medical is dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with high-risk medical conditions and diseases through the identification and validation of protein biomarkers that can serve as the basis for novel diagnostic tests.

The Company's focus is community- and hospital-acquired acute conditions that require rapid diagnosis and risk assessment. Astute Medical's current areas of interest include abdominal pain, acute coronary syndromes, cerebrovascular injury, kidney injury and sepsis.

Astute Medical is a founding corporate partner of 0by25, a human rights initiative aimed at eliminating preventable and treatable deaths from AKI worldwide by 2025.

For additional information, please visit AstuteMedical.com.

Astute Medical, the AM logo, Astute140, NephroCheck, the NephroCheck logo, and AKIRisk are registered trademarks of Astute Medical, Inc. in the United States. For information regarding trademarks and other intellectual property applicable to this product, including international trademarks, please see AstuteMedical.com/about/intellectualproperty. PN0646 Rev A 2017/05/12



1 Bihorac A, Chawla L, Shaw A, et al. Validation of Cell-Cycle Arrest Biomarkers for Acute Kidney Injury Using Clinical Adjudication. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. Vol 189, Iss 8, pp 932939, Apr 15, 2014.

2 Kashani K, Al-Khafaji A, Ardiles T, et al. Discovery and validation of cell cycle arrest biomarkers in human acute kidney injury. Crit Care. 2013;17:R25.

3 Kellum JA, Chawla LS. Cell-cycle arrest and acute kidney injury: the light and dark sides. Nephrol Dial Transplant. (2015) 0: 17doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfv130.

4 Lewington AJ, Cerda J, Mehta RL. Raising awareness of acute kidney injury: a global perspective of a silent killer. Kidney Int. 2013;84(3):457-467.

5 Hoste EAJ, Bagshaw SM, Bellomo R. Epidemiology of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients: the multinational AKI-EPI study. Intensive Care Med. (2015) 41:1411-1423 DOI 10.1007/s00134-015-3934-7.

6 Lameire et al. Critical Care (2016) 20:209 DOI 10.1186/s13054-016-1382-6.

7 Hobson C, Ozrazgat-Baslanti T, Kuxhausen A, et al. Cost and mortality associated with postoperative acute kidney injury. Ann Surg. 2014;00:1-8.

8 A To Z Health Guide: Acute Kidney Injury. National Kidney Foundation. Available at https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/AcuteKidneyInjury. [Accessed May 3, 2017).]

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Related Links

http://www.astutemedical.com



SOURCE Astute Medical, Inc.
McKayla Ward, a student at Logan View, will be headed to the National FCCLA Convention in June in Nashville, Tenn.

A fundraiser featuring an old west meal will take place from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hooper. Donations will be accepted. These donations will help with the cost of the trip to the FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) convention.
LONDON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb today announced the appointment of Adair, Lord Turner as non-executive Chairman of two of its key European companies, Chubb European Group Limited and Chubb Underwriting Agencies Limited, subject to regulatory approval.

Adair Turner was Executive Chairman of the UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) from 2008 to 2013, overseeing the UK's policy and regulatory response to the Global Financial Crisis. He spent much of his early career in banking and subsequently consultancy with McKinsey, where he advised British and European companies across a wide range of industries. He was Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) from 1995 to 2000 and subsequently returned to banking as Vice Chairman of Merrill Lynch Europe, prior to assuming the FSA Executive Chairmanship.

Over the past two decades, he has also served in several non-executive directorships across a wide range of financial, business, government and not-for-profit boards, including the insurer Prudential since 2015.

In his new role, Adair Turner will work closely with Andrew Kendrick, Regional President for Chubb in Europe, who continues to have executive management responsibility for Chubb's operations across the region. He succeeds John Napier, who recently stepped down from the position and his appointment remains subject to regulatory approval.

Juan Andrade, Executive Vice President of Chubb Group and President, Overseas General Insurance at Chubb, said:

"Adair Turner's exceptional background in business, government and supervision will be of great benefit to our Boards and our business as we continue to navigate the evolving market and regulatory landscape in Europe. I am delighted to welcome him to Chubb."

Andrew Kendrick, Regional President, Europe at Chubb, said:

"I am very much looking forward to working alongside Lord Adair. His extensive knowledge and unique insights will be greatly valued by our board members and will add real value to our customer and market proposition in Europe.

"I would also like to extend my sincere thanks on behalf of the Boards and Chubb management team to John Napier for his counsel, guidance and support over the past four years and we wish him well for the future."

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com/uk

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Related Links

http://www.acegroup.com/eu-en



SOURCE Chubb
LONDON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Through ADYOULIKE ' s native technology, advertisers and Trading Desks will have direct access to programmatic premium native inventory of Conde Nast

The creation of this new ' Private Native Marketplace ' stems from a strong partnership of 3 years between ADYOULIKE and Conde Nast

This collaboration further demonstrates how publishers and adtech companies working together to innovate can provide new ways forward for native advertising

Today, Conde Nast France and ADYOULIKE announce the creation of a programmatic marketplace for native advertising.

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The launch of this new Private native Marketplace will enable Trading Desks to plan and optimise directly in real time their native campaigns, with the opportunity to also implement their data. Conde Nast will rely on the SSP (Supply Side Platform) developed by ADYOULIKE's 'Native Lab', to promote their native programmatic ad campaigns.

Furthermore, this collaboration will reinforce Conde Nast's digital expertise in native advertising and programmatic while providing added value for its sites and different industry sectors as well as being a key element in its sales strategy. Conde Nast France will benefit from ADYOULIKE's programmatic expertise and the ability to work with a leading technology company in native advertising for the French Market.

Tony Nguyen, Head of Programmatic at Conde Nast said: "Conde Nast is leader in programmatic and also amongst the pioneers of native advertising. This form of advertising is extremely relevant and innovative for our industry sectors, especially in fashion/beauty and luxury. It enables to amplify the ways brands can communicate by giving them a dedicated platform where consumers are receptive to their adverts. These are the main drivers that have led us to create a new dimension to native advertising through our partnership with ADYOULIKE."

Yohan Elmaalem, Chief Operating Officer (COO) & Co-Founder - ADYOULIKE commented: "Built from strong partnership of more than three years, we are delighted to have had the opportunity to launch this new Private Native Marketplace with Conde Nast. It is rewarding to see that our expertise and technology will be contributing to developing their sales channel on native advertising and that they will benefit from our Supply Side Platform (SSP) which has already integrated with over 40 DSPs."

About ADYOULIKE

ADYOULIKE is a global leading in-feed native ad platform. Launched in 2011, it is recognised for being a pioneer in native technology and creating advertising experiences for users that mirror the websites they are visiting. Using its own native supply-side platform (SSP) and native technology platform, the company enables brands to scale native advertising campaigns across premium and niche publishers, while publishers benefit from access to ADYOULIKE's marketplace.

In November 2016, ADYOULIKE launched the world's first semantic targeting capability for native advertising by integrating IBM's ground-breaking Watson artificial intelligence software with the ADYOULIKE platform. It is now, for the very first time, being used to create better semantic targeting for native advertising.

The fast-growing firm is now operating in more than 18 countries, has 65 employees and received series B funding in October 2016 to underwrite its continued international growth. Accolades for ADYOULIKE include: BPI France Excellence, Pass French Tech, The Everline Future 50 and The BIMA Hot 100. ADYOULIKE is a member of the IAB in the UK, US and Europe.

About Conde Nast

Conde Nast France was founded in 1920 during the launch of Vogue Paris. Dedicated to media brands in the sectors of luxury, Conde Nast France publishes Vogue, Vogue Hommes International, AD, Glamour, GQ et maintenant Vanity Fair. All these brands are today available in print and online as well as on mobile platforms. In France, Conde Nast is one of the leading publishers of magazine and the one group to have launched the most magazine in the past 10 years, including Vanity Fair in 2003.

SOURCE ADYOULIKE
EASTAMPTON, New Jersey, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Epicore BioNetworks Inc. (TSXV EBN) reported third quarter revenue of $3.0 million and net income of $0.4 million or $0.015 per share for the period ended March 31, 2017.

Third quarter revenue was 3% higher than last year's Q3. Revenue for the first nine months at $8.5 million was 18% higher than last year. Net income was $0.4 million in Q3, a decrease of $0.3 million or 41% less than prior year Q3. Q3 earnings before interest, tax, and depreciation (EBITDA) were $1.0 million or 7% above prior year. Taxes increased by $0.3 million over prior year Q3 because of a reduction in tax provision estimated earlier in the year in anticipation of completing a new building in NJ. The building start is delayed so the tax depreciation will move to fiscal 2018. Sales grew in most business sectors with the largest increase in Latin America.

The shrimp industry continued to recover in Q3 of fiscal 2016 as shrimp prices slowly increase. Early mortality syndrome disease affects most of Southeast Asia so inhibits shrimp production recovery to 2015 levels. The use of improved culturing systems, like raceways, has helped Asia start to recover from disease. But, with higher shrimp prices farmers are more willing to try a crop, which is good for Epicore's hatchery product sales.

Results versus prior fiscal year quarter two are as follows:

Q3 revenue of $3.0 million was 3% higher than Q3 last year

was 3% higher than Q3 last year Q3 gross profit of $2.1 million was 13% higher than Q3 last year

was 13% higher than Q3 last year Q3 operating expenses of $1.2 million were 19% higher than Q3 last year

were 19% higher than Q3 last year Q3 earnings before taxes (EBT) of $0.9 million were 7% higher than Q3 last year

were 7% higher than Q3 last year Q3 net income of $0.4 million was 41% lower than Q3 last year

was 41% lower than Q3 last year Q3 EBITDA [ 1 ] of $1.0 million was 7% higher than last year Q3

of was 7% higher than last year Q3 Q3 basic earnings per share of $0.015 were 44% lower than Q3 last year

were 44% lower than Q3 last year Q3 shareholders' equity of $10.8 million was 17% higher than Q3 last year

was 17% higher than Q3 last year Q3 cash balance of $4.4 million was 61% higher than Q3 last year

was 61% higher than Q3 last year YTD cash flow from operating activities was $1.3 million

Gross profit increased 13% in Q3 versus prior year due to the increase in revenues and to a higher average gross margin. The cost of goods sold was lower in Q3 versus prior year and average selling price was lower due to product sales mix. Operating expense increased 19% over prior year Q3 and 8% for the first three quarters. Selling expenses accounted for the largest increase and was due to increased travel. Corporate expenses increased due to increased board activity.

Higher tax expense offset higher EBT so decreased net income by 41% to $0.4 million. The following table summarizes the Q3 results (rounded to thousands of US dollars):

For the Quarter ended March 31 2017 2016 Increase (Decrease) Revenue $3,026 $2,930 $96 3% Gross profit $2,063 $1,829 $234 13% Operating expenses $1,150 $964 $186 19% Net income $386 $656 ($270) (41%) Earnings per share $0.015 $0.027 ($0.012) (44%) Shareholders' equity $10,750 $9,207 $1,543 17% Cash balance $4,372 $2,715 $1,657 61%

Epicore continues to generate positive net income from operating activities. Cash at the end of the quarter was $4.4 million versus $2.7 million at the end of Q3 fiscal 2016. With these funds, expected sales revenue growth and continued relatively low operating costs, management expects there will be sufficient cash to meet the fiscal year's financial requirements, to fund expansion of aquaculture and environmental remediation marketing efforts and to pursue new strategies for enhancing shareholder value.

Over the last two years, Epicore has invested materially in a second building and automated packaging equipment. This added space has been critical to our ability to increase production levels. All automated packaging equipment is in place and operational. The board has approved an ongoing capital program to increase production capacity and enhance operational efficiencies.

The financial statements of the company have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. Epicore BioNetworks Inc. is a public corporation with a registered office in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and with shares listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (symbol EBN). [Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.]

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. The actual results, performance or achievements of the company might differ materially from the results, performance or achievements of the company expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those regarding the future growth of the Company, that investments now in place and planned for new plant and equipment will result in production efficiencies and increased capacities and the expectation by management that there will be sufficient cash to meet the fiscal year's financial requirements to fund expansion of aquaculture and environmental remediation marketing efforts to pursue new strategies for enhancing shareholder value. We can provide no assurance that the expected timing or results of such development will be realized or that the company will be able to generate sufficient cash to meet its obligations. We are subject to various risks, including the uncertainties of product development, markets for our products and regulatory review, our need for additional capital to fund our operations, our reliance on collaborative partners, our history of losses, and other risks inherent in the biotechnology industry.

[1]EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. For the Company, it is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Management believes that EBITDA is a better indicator of operational performance than net income because it ignores interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Additionally, it does not have a standardized meaning under GAAP and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

Mr. William P. Long (Chief Executive Officer) USA. Tel: +1-609-267-9118, Email: Investors@EpicoreBioNetworks.com

SOURCE Epicore BioNetworks Inc.
VALLETTA, Malta, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Kindred Group's (previously Unibet Group) Integrity Analytics Manager, Maris Bonello, won the prestigious award "Innovator of the Year" at the yearly Women in Gaming Award show on Friday 12 May at the Savoy hotel in London. Maris was nominated for her efforts in developing the award-winning system Player Safety Early Detection System (PS-EDS). The detection system alerts responsible gaming experts at Kindred when customers might be developing a problem, which is then processed/interpreted on a case-by-case basis by Kindred's trained professionals in responsible gaming and player safety.

The proprietary technology combined with expert human discretion and judgment has proven to be a highly effective tool to protect our customers and our business from unhealthy and unsustainable gambling practices

"I am delighted to see Maris yet again be awarded for her dedicated and hard work in ensuring that our customers enjoy gambling in a healthy and sustainable way. It has always been, and will always be, a key priority for Kindred to offer our customers a fun, safe and entertaining experience. The work Maris and her team conduct is critical in achieving this", says Daniel Gambin, Head of Player Safety at Kindred Group.

Kindred Group invests heavily in responsible gaming and sees this as a fundamental pillar in building long-term customer relationships. Helping players stay in control of their gambling, providing a safe and secure online environment and preventing fraud, all contribute to the Group's aim of providing the best customer experience.

For more information, contact:

Daniel Gambin,

Head of Player Safety, Kindred Group

Tel +36-599995542

Email: daniel.gambin@kindredgroup.com

Alexander Westrell,

Group Head of Communication, Kindred Group

Tel +46-737071686

Email: alexander.westrell@kindredgroup.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/kindred-group/r/kindred-s-maris-bonello-wins-innovator-of-the-year-2017,c2267241

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Kindred Group
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(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/513112/Merryn_Somerset_Webb.jpg )

MoneyWeek, through its weekly print title and website, gives insight into personal finance, collecting information from the world's press and commenting on trends in the financial world.

Regular content in the title includes investment recommendations for personal portfolios - from rising-star tech companies to the best dividend payers on the FTSE 100 - as well as market updates, property analysis and in-depth personal finance guides for pensions, taxes and ISAs.

As well as editor-in-chief of MoneyWeek, Merryn is a freelance journalist, writing a regular column for the Financial Times, and is author of Love is Not Enough - The Smart Woman's Guide to Making (and Keeping) Money, a book showing how women can take control of their finances.

Here are just a few top tips that Merryn revealed at the media briefing, which took place on Tuesday 16 May at the Regent Street Cinema in London.

Readers

The MoneyWeek audience is mainly individual investors, who are cash rich and time poor. Some 89% of its readers are male (between 35 and 64-years-old) and more than 17% of the overall readership are at board director level. Merryn thinks PRs would be surprised just how many non-London-based entrepreneurs read the title.

Most read pages

MoneyWeek readers love to read about property, especially around buy-to-let issues. MoneyWeek has a lot of buy-to-let investors, who read the magazine. The most read pages every week will be the double page spread on houses. Pension stories also prove very popular, especially around the changes in regulation.

Pitching to the team

Most PR pitches Merryn reads are used opportunistically when searching for a specific topic or randomly when scrolling through her inbox and something piques her interest. Try to be personal when emailing and remind her if you've discussed what you're pitching about beforehand. If she hasn't replied to your email (never phone!) within two hours, she never will. She doesn't mind an email being sent again, but don't send it more than three times. Press day is Wednesday. The best time to pitch is between Thursday and Monday morning.

When and who to contact

Issues around the markets should be sent to Andrew Van Sickle, personal finance pitches goes to Sarah Moore, and politics stories should go to Matthew Partridge. Stories with strong statistics or interesting numbers should go to Chris Carter or Ben Judge, anything on cars, books or motorbikes should be sent to Stuart Watkins, and investment strategy stories should go to John Stepek or Chris Heaton. "Anything really, really interesting should come to me," says Merryn. Full contact details can be found on the Gorkana Database.

More than 100 PR and comms professionals attended the media briefing, which was chaired by Gorkana's head of news and content, Philip Smith.

Cision, owner of Gorkana, is a leading global media intelligence company, serving the complete workflow of today's communication professionals. Offering the industry's most comprehensive PR, IR and social media software, rich analytics, content distribution and influencer outreach, Cision enables clients to engage audiences, enhance campaigns and strengthen data-driven decision making. Cision solutions include PR Newswire, Gorkana, PRWeb, Help a Reporter Out (HARO) and iContact brands.

Headquartered in Chicago, Cision serves over 100,000 customers in 170 countries and 40 languages worldwide, and maintains offices in North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia. For more information, visit http://www.cision.com or follow @Cision on Twitter.

For more information, on media briefing events, visit http://www.gorkana.com or follow @gorkana on Twitter.

For media information please contact:

Philip Smith

Head of News and Content

philip.smith@gorkana.com

Gorkana

+44(0)20-7674-2480



SOURCE Gorkana
SAN DIEGO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Abide Therapeutics, a developer of innovative pharmaceuticals, announced today that new preclinical and clinical data on ABX-1431, an investigational monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) inhibitor, will be presented in a poster session at the European Federation for Exploratory Medicines Development Annual Meeting 2017 (EUFEMED), taking place in London, May 18-19, 2017. ABX-1431 is a first-in-mechanism, orally-available, selective, and potent inhibitor of MGLL in development for the treatment of neurological disorders, pain, and neuroinflammation.

"The Abide Therapeutics team looks forward to sharing these new data on the preclinical and clinical characterization of our first-in-mechanism MGLL inhibitor, ABX-1431," said Alan Ezekowitz, MBChB, DPhil, CEO and President of Abide Therapeutics. "The ABX-1431 story highlights our unique scientific approach and powerful tools for rapidly and efficiently validating new targets and developing first-in-class drug candidates against those targets."

In the study presented at EUFEMED, Abide evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ABX-1431 in single and multiple ascending doses. The drug was generally well tolerated at doses planned for future studies, with no serious adverse events, and the study data supported further clinical evaluation of this first-in-mechanism MGLL inhibitor in patient populations. A study of ABX-1431 in patients with Tourette Syndrome was initiated in early 2017 and is ongoing.

"Abide's scientific tools produced an extensively characterized clinical candidate, generated a translatable clinical biomarker, and greatly facilitated this first clinical evaluation of a MGLL inhibitor," said Iain Fraser, MBChB, DPhil, Head of Early Clinical Development at Abide Therapeutics, and clinical lead for the ABX-1431 first-in-human study. "These clinical data indicate that ABX-1431 modulates CNS activity in a dose-related fashion, and have refined the anticipated ABX-1431 dose range for further clinical evaluation in patient populations."

Details of the poster presentations are as follows:

Title: Preclinical Characterization and First-in-Human Administration of a Selective Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitor, ABX-1431

Location: Kensington Conference and Events Centre, London

Date & Time: Thursday, May 18, 1:15  2:00 PM GMT

About the Endocannabinoid System

Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) is critical to regulating neurotransmission. It is the most highly expressed G-protein coupled receptor in the brain, and its main endogenous ligand is 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). Monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of 2-AG, and as a result regulates the activation of CB1. A second cannabinoid receptor, CB2, which is found primarily on immune cells and is thought to mediate certain immune functions, also has 2-AG as an endogenous ligand. Preclinical studies with MGLL inhibitors demonstrate that raising the level of 2-AG has multiple therapeutic effects, including reduction of pain responses, control of spasticity, anxiolytic effects, and reduction of neurodegenerative pathology.

Direct activation of cannabinoid receptors by medicinal cannabis demonstrates therapeutic benefits on pain, spasticity, sleep, appetite, and nausea. Cannabis indiscriminately activates cannabinoid receptors throughout the body; this non-selective activity is likely responsible for the numerous psychoactive side effects of medical cannabis, and limits clinical use. In contrast, inhibiting MGLL enhances 2-AG concentrations locally, which is expected to rectify neurotransmitter balance through activation of presynaptic CB1 receptors.

About ABX-1431

Abide Therapeutics is developing ABX-1431, a first-in-class, small-molecule inhibitor of monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL), to treat neurological disorders, pain, and neuroinflammation. ABX-1431, a potent and selective inhibitor of MGLL, has been shown to modulate 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) levels in preclinical species and is expected to produce beneficial effects in humans through selective elevation of 2-AG. MGLL inhibition causes an elevation of 2-AG in the brain and propagates signaling through the CB1 endocannabinoid receptor pathway. Additionally, MGLL inhibition by ABX-1431 is believed to deplete the supply of the inflammatory signaling molecule arachidonic acid, thereby providing another potential mechanism for alleviating pain and inflammation.

In September 2016, Celgene exercised its option to obtain ex-US rights to ABX-1431. Celgene will be responsible for development costs for all indications from Phase 2 clinical trials and beyond, while Abide retains US rights and is conducting a number of Phase 1b studies to explore indications where endocannabinoid modulation may affect disease progression.

About Abide Therapeutics

Abide Therapeutics combines an innovative discovery platform and a library of proprietary small molecules to address biological pathways with therapeutics that enhance the body's normal physiological response to disease. The platform enables Abide to quickly and efficiently identify, modify and validate small molecule inhibitors that target serine hydrolases, a highly relevant but under-explored class of enzymes. Abide's initial area of focus is on addressing neurological disorders with limited treatment options through the endocannabinoid pathway.

Abide is located in San Diego, California. To learn more, visit www.abidetx.com

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Abide Therapeutics

Related Links

http://www.abidetx.com


In 2018, travelers will navigate the diverse landscapes of Iceland, exploring the natural wonders of majestic waterfalls, massive glaciers and stunning volcanos. Rich Icelandic culture and unparalleled natural beauty join forces on this new 8-day, 7-night vacation.

Highlights include:

Experience the splendor of Iceland's Golden Circle with visits to the iconic Thingvellir National Park, Goafoss waterfall and Keri crater.

with visits to the iconic Thingvellir National Park, Goafoss waterfall and Keri crater. Unwind, relax and indulge at the soothing Blue Lagoon and Myvatn Nature Baths.

Come face-to-face with magnificent glaciers on a scenic cruise, and hike on the massive icecaps themselves.

Trot through the scenic countryside on Icelandic horses.

Embark on a humpback whale-watching expedition, capturing the experience in your mind's eye and your camera's lens.

Savor unique culinary experiences and the stories behind them, such as learning to make bread baked using geothermal heat, and discovering the secret to Iceland's traditional smoking process.

traditional smoking process. Embark on a whitewater rafting adventure through the glacial river of Skagafjorur.

Hike along, and even behind, some of the region's most captivating waterfalls, including Seljalandsfoss and Goafoss.

Journey to the past while being immersed in rich Icelandic Viking heritage and exploring traditional turf houses.

"We're excited to offer travelers the opportunity to explore the incredibly popular destination of Iceland in uniquely enriching ways," said Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Adventures by Disney. "With Adventures by Disney, families can experience this beautiful country, it's iconic sights and cultural destinations like never before during a completely hassle-free vacation experience. Disney storytelling, engaging, active experiences and breathtaking natural wonders combine to make this one of our most remarkable itineraries to date."

Discover Iconic Cities and Hidden Gems in Germany, Costa Rica and Ireland

Other popular destinations have also undergone itinerary revisions and additions for 2018. Enhancements to the Germany, Costa Rica and Ireland vacations focus on further enriching an already robust lineup of authentic experiences and local storytelling. Highlights of the reimagined Germany itinerary introduce first-ever experiences centered in Berlin, Ireland adds cultural activities such as learning the ancient sport of hurling, and Costa Rica takes travlers on explorations through the hidden gem of Cano Negro. These additions are sure to surprise and delight even the most seasoned travelers.

Travelers will also see an increase in departure date options for North American vacation offerings from Adventures by Disney in 2018, solidifying the company's focus on making it easy for families to explore the American "Great Outdoors" together.

Bookings for all 2018 vacations open May 19, 2017. Call 1-800-543-0865 or contact a travel agent to book. For more information on the itineraries offered and activities included on an Adventures by Disney vacation, visit AdventuresByDisney.com.

About Adventures by Disney

Launched in 2005, Adventures by Disney provides immersive, hassle-free group guided vacation experiences to destinations on six continents. Families traveling with Adventures by Disney receive exceptional service while taking part in extraordinary and customized experiences at locations including: the South African plains, the great cities of Europe, Costa Rica's rich rainforest, the ruins of Pompeii and Machu Picchu, Australia's Outback, the Great Wall of China and some of America's most iconic destinations.

Adventures by Disney has been recognized by numerous travel organizations for its excellence in family tourism. In Cruise Critic's 2016 Editors' Picks, Adventures by Disney river cruises were honored as the Best River Cruise Line for Families. It was also recently voted Top "Adventure" Tour Operator in the Travel Weekly 2016 Readers Choice Awards, and was previously named North America's Leading Tour Operator at the 2014 World Travel Awards. Adventures by Disney was also named World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator in the 2012, 2010 and 2009 World Travel Awards, and ranked No. 1 among Tour Operators and Safari Outfitters for Families in 2011 by Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards.

Offering Disney-trained Adventure Guides on each trip, engaging activities, VIP experiences and personal touches throughout, Adventures by Disney vacations are crafted to excite and delight everyone. Visit AdventuresByDisney.com to learn more.

SOURCE Adventures by Disney
"As our region continues to grow at a record pace and Sea-Tac Airport nears capacity, the time is right to bring air service to our valued guests living in the North Sound," said CEO of Alaska Airlines Brad Tilden. "Today's news means less time stuck in traffic on Interstate 5 and more time enjoying your vacation or making the most of your business trip."

Imagine spending more time getting to the airport than actually flying to a destination such as Portland, Oregon. That's what many travelers, who live north of Seattle, and drive to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, frequently experience. According to publicly available traffic data, by flying out of Paine Field, Everett residents, for example, could shave up to 80 minutes off their airport commute, during peak traffic congestion.

"This new service is great news for Snohomish County," said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. "Businesses will have easier access to major markets and leisure travelers can skip the commute down south, saving time and fuel. For decades, Alaska Airlines has been a responsible neighbor in our region, and we welcome them even closer to home at Paine Field."

Alaska Airlines plans to operate nine daily departures from Paine Field using a fuel-efficient fleet of Boeing 737 and Embraer 175 aircraft. This new service will deliver all the comfort guests expect on an Alaska Airlines flight, while taking hundreds of cars off of I-5 every day.

"Alaska understands the local market, so having our Seattle-based airline be the first to provide scheduled passenger service from Everett just confirms the value commercial flights will bring to the local economy," Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson said. "Alaska is an industry leader in service and reliability, and our citizens and businesses will benefit from having such a convenient travel option right here in Everett."

Led by Propeller Airports and Snohomish County, construction of the state of the art terminal is slated to begin in June. Alaska plans to announce routes, flight schedules and begin selling tickets early next year.

"Propeller couldn't be prouder than to partner with the hometown airline on this new service. As Alaska does everyday, our goal is to put the customer first, making the travel experience truly exceptional," said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports.

Alaska Airlines Blog: New flying out of Paine Field will ease commuting pain for many

Editor's note: Download a graphic of regional airport locations at https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/multimedia.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines, together with Virgin America and its regional partners, flies 40 million customers a year to 118 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners, customers can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America" in the J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study for 10 consecutive years from 2008 to 2017. Additionally, Alaska Mileage Plan ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Airline Loyalty Rewards Programs" in the J.D. Power 2016 Airline Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report for the last three consecutive years. Learn more about Alaska's award-winning service and unmatched reliability at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).

About Propeller Airports

Propeller Airports is a subsidiary of Propeller Investments. With offices in New York, Seattle and Atlanta, Propeller identifies untapped potential for commercial air travel by working with local governments and communities to maximize airport assets. Propeller Airports is focused on opportunities to invest, develop and manage both general aviation and commercial service airports throughout the U.S.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines

Related Links

http://www.alaskaair.com


RICHMOND, Va., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global insurance provider Allianz Worldwide Partners won the top award in the category of Blogger Campaigns at the 70th Virginia Public Relations Awards hosted by the Public Relations Society of America Richmond Chapter. The company won the Capital Award of Excellence for its Allianz Travel Insurance Three-tiered Blogger Campaign. The award is the company's second win this year for outstanding influencer marketing programs. Earlier this year it won a Gold trophy in the category of PR Campaign  Influencer Marketing during the 60th annual Adrian Awards, presented in February by The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI).

Allianz Worldwide Partners and its marketing communications agency Finn Partners, were recognized for creating a three-tiered influencer marketing campaign, which incorporated brand ambassadors, travel influencers and content partnerships to raise awareness of its travel insurance brand.

"I'm honored to accept this Capital Award on behalf of the talented group of travel influencers we've worked with to achieve our goal in raising awareness of the importance of travel insurance," said Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Worldwide Partners USA.

Travel influencers were tasked to produce and publicize creative content for Allianz Travel Insurance, bringing personality to the brand and elevating travel insurance to a must-have travel accessory when planning vacations. Allianz's influencer program included well-known travel writers, bloggers and influencers such as Lee Abbamonte, the youngest American to visit every country.

"As a brand ambassador for Allianz Travel Insurance, I have the exciting role of finding new, creative ways to bring attention to travel insurance  which is an essential element for ensuring peace of mind when traveling," said Lee Abbamonte, travel blogger at LeeAbbamonte.com.

Allianz Global Assistance branded travel insurance* is offered through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, other travel suppliers and directly to consumers. For more information please visit: http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com.

Allianz Worldwide Partners USA

Allianz Worldwide Partners USA (AGA Service Company) is a leading consumer specialty insurance and assistance company. We provide insurance to over 25 million customers annually and are best known for our Allianz Travel Insurance plans. In addition to travel insurance, we offer Allianz Global Assistance branded tuition insurance, event ticket protection, registration protection for endurance events and unique travel assistance services such as international medical assistance and concierge services. The company also serves as an outsource provider for in-bound call center services and claims administration for property and casualty insurers and credit card companies.

To learn more about Allianz Travel Insurance, please visit allianztravelinsurance.com or Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllianzTravelInsuranceUS.

* - Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all plans. Plans are available only to U.S. residents. Not all plans are available in all jurisdictions. For a complete description of the coverage and benefit limits offered under your plan, carefully review your plan's Letter of Confirmation/Declarations and Certificate of Insurance/Policy. Insurance coverage is underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: Oakbrook Terrace, IL), rated "A-" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: Richmond, VA), rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on state of residence. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are brands of AGA Service Company. AGA Service Company is the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Non-insurance benefits/products are provided and serviced by AGA Service Company.

SOURCE Allianz Worldwide Partners USA

Related Links

http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com


KENSINGTON, Md., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As Mondelez shareholders prepare to gather for the Company's Annual Meeting, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), which represents thousands of members at Mondelez International, maker of Nabisco snack products, issued an open letter to highlight the yawning gap between Mondelez's rhetoric and the reality of its corporate and social responsibility record. The full text of the letter is included below:

Dear Mondelez Shareholders:

As you may have seen, Mondelez's Annual Shareholder Letter  filed as part of the proxy for the upcoming Shareholder Meeting  makes clear reference to the fact that Mondelez's growth is, "directly linked to enhancing the well-being of the people who make and enjoy our products." This builds on Mondelez's oft-cited "Call for Well-Being" program, which purports to care for, among other things, all those who make the company great  including its employees. A broad range of programs are cited to support this claim: sustainable cocoa production initiatives, biodiverse wheat production, and a "Palm Oil Production Plan," among several others. Notably absent from this litany of good corporate deeds, however, is any mention of the plight of the dedicated workers from BCTGM who, for more than 50 years, have been the labor behind the Oreo cookie.

This is merely the latest betrayal of BCTGM and its members. Mondelez's actions since 2012, in particular, have sent a very clear message that it now views its workforce  and their families  as disposable. This is most evident in the company's 2015 closure of its Philadelphia bakery, eliminating hundreds of middle-class jobs, and its massive downsizing of the Chicago bakery in 2016 that extinguished another 600 good American jobs. Despite the Company's altruistic rhetoric, therefore, we must refute any notion that Mondelez practices what it preaches. In fact, we must ask  how can a company that intentionally put at least 1,000 Americans out of work; that pays the workers at its new $450M plant in Salinas, Mexico inhumane wages (reportedly around $1.00 per hour); that continues to ignore our pleas to have a dialogue about renewing the diminished relationship with our Union and the workers we represent  how can such a company have the hubris to extoll its own humanitarian virtues?

As shareholders, you have a unique opportunity to hold Mondelez accountable for these actions and demand answers concerning why it has turned its back on its employees - who provided decades of dedicated service - by moving stable middle-class jobs out of the United States to its facilities in Mexico and taking positions that undermine the basic tenets of the Collective Bargaining Agreement ("CBA"). This short-sighted approach has robbed generations of workers, their families, and their communities of the basic promise of the American dream.

We understand, and respect, that the bottom line is important. We also understand, however, that profit at the expense of the very people who help create it is not success  it is greed. So, today, we ask that you, the owners of Mondelez, hold the Board of Directors and the management accountable for their actions. Find out just what kind of company Mondelez is, and most importantly, tell Mondelez what kind of company it should be in the future.

Sincerely,

David B. Durkee, International President, BCTGM

Contacts:

Ron Baker, BCTGM Strategic Campaign Coordinator

(703) 508-2637

[email protected]

Jonathan Morgan or Alex Hinson, Perry Street Communications

(214) 965-9955

[email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE BCTGM
A bill in the Nebraska Legislature that would require third grade students not reading at grade level to be held back from fourth grade, with exceptions, has drawn the attention and disapproval of many in the Fremont Public Schools system.

Legislative Bill 651, introduced and prioritized by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, is not likely to see action until the next legislative session in 2018, because the session will end early this year, on Tuesday, Linehan staffers told the Tribune.

Kate Heineman, director of curriculum and assessment, Brad Dahl, director of student services, and Kevin Eairleywine, director of human resources and elementary operations, each discussed their concerns with the bill in a roundtable interview with the Tribune on Monday.

The Nebraska Reading Improvement Act would require an accelerated reading intervention program to be given to kindergarten through third-graders who do not meet grade-level expectations according to assessments. The bill also would require parental notification of subpar performance and summer reading camps for third-graders not reading at grade level.

Most notably, it would require retention. Exempt students would include those with a disability, who have less than two years in an English Language Learner program, demonstrate proficiency in a portfolio or have been held back from fourth grade already. Linehan has proposed an amendment to her bill that would allow principals to waive retention and parents to opt out.

Previously, Linehan had said she was close to the 33 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. It was pulled out of committee with a 30-13 vote, so by that measure it appears the bill has a good chance to become law next year.

In the Fremont Public Schools system, the bill is not nearly as popular. Retention, the administrators said, is harmful to students. The school board already has policies on both retention and promotion, so the bill would take some control away from the local level. A very low number of students are held back each year at FPS.

Quite simply, retention is not an effective tool, Dahl said. Retention shouldnt be about a high-stakes test.

The board of educations retention policy is a process, Eairleywine said. A team is put together to look at the needs of the student, provide interventions and have discussions early with the parents. Eairleywine cited a study by John Hattie that shows retention has a negative effect on student achievement.

The board is very careful about it not giving a snap judgement based on one test or even two or three tests, Eairleywine said. Its about data thats pulled together from a variety of sources.

Andrea Hilgenkamp, the reading specialist at Washington Elementary, said she rarely has seen students retained in her 30 years in education. Even if students get better while repeating the grade, she said the student would fall back down the following year and his or her self-confidence would drop.

Can you imagine if you are trying your very, very best, and then somebody says Im sorry, you have to do this all over again, Hilgenkamp said. The only way that retention works  is to have something different. You cant do the same thing and expect it then to make a difference.

Hilgenkamp and the administrators emphasized that they, like Linehan, want kids to learn to read.

We want kids to read early. We strive to make sure they have the tools and the skills necessary, Dahl said. To think that Senator Linehans legislative bill is a silver bullet would be short sighted. Obviously, there is no silver bullet. Its hard work. Its implementing with fidelity.

Heineman said guided reading is used at FPS and reading interventions take place if necessary.

Our reading instruction is already individualized for each student, Heineman said. We do assess regularly throughout the year. Teachers assess regularly throughout lessons and units.

2016 FPS NeSA Reading scores in third and fourth grade are worse than state averages. Across the state, about 15 percent of third- and fourth-graders score below the standards. At FPS, 34 percent of fourth-graders and 25 percent of third-graders are not proficient. Individual schools range from 12 percent of Linden third-graders not proficient to 50 percent of Grant and Washington fourth-graders.

The administrators said it is important to pay attention to growth, rather than a one-and-done summative test like NeSA.

While that may show that were below level in comparison to other students across the state on one assessment, it does not show any growth that students have made throughout the year, Heineman said. It doesnt show their fluency. It doesnt show some of the finer parts of reading.

The bill would require assessments before NeSA begins in the third grade.

I want them to be readers, not necessarily test takers, Hilgenkamp said.

However, FPS is already giving assessments to evaluate progress on reading.

There needs to be multiple assessments, especially with reading, to look at different components, Heineman said.

The district uses a nationally normed test, the Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) tests for grades K-8 three times per year, according to Heineman. The Benchmark Assessment System assessment is given to elementary students two or three times per year.

Those pieces are in place, Heineman said. Thats best done at the local level, because we know our students. We know our community.

Students learn at different paces, Dahl said, including ELL and special education students. Because of this, FPS works to meet (students) where they are. For example, it may be individualized so that an older student would work on letter recognition and phonemic awareness.

They come to us with different backgrounds and skill sets, Dahl said. An example would be we may get a newcomer from another country that has very limited school experience. Even though age-wise they are significantly older and should be more advanced, they dont have the academic skill set that some of our Fremont native students would have.

Linehan says fourth grade is when students begin to read to learn as opposed to learn to read, but Heineman said it is not that simple at FPS. Itll get more difficult, with more non-fiction, but reading skills and strategies are taught beyond fourth grade, including in guided reading groups.

We continue to teach reading, Heineman said. Through fourth grade, fifth grade and beyond  We do more and more in teaching reading in context.

At the introductory hearing for the bill in March, Linehan called the state of reading a crisis. She cited studies that show 85 percent of all juveniles in the court system are functionally illiterate, as are 60 percent of all prison inmates and 75 percent of welfare recipients. She also said 88 percent of high school dropouts were struggling readers in the third grade.

When you get to the eighth grade, Linehan said, and you cant read, and youre struggling, what do you do? You act out.

Regardless, Dahl said its always important to continue to evaluate and improve methods. Heineman said the goal is to identify the root of an issue while pursuing a goal of continuous student growth.

Hilgenkamp has worked with 38 Washington elementary students over the course of a year. She said that, unfortunately, reading is rocket science for some kids. While Linehan says an important part of the bill is a portion that requires parental notification, Hilgenkamp said parents are notified at parent-teacher conferences and, if a student is struggling, a meeting with the parents.

When we see a struggling student, especially in the area of reading, were going to spend extra time, Hilgenkamp said.

At Washington Elementary, Hilgenkamp taught an early intervention first-grade reading program called reading recovery.

Our goal is to get all the kids that work with us to the average of their classmates, Hilgenkamp said. We take the lowest 10 percent no matter what and work with them.
"The judges all agreed that SnapSwap is one of the most promising fintech startups in the world of identity," said Head of Open Innovation for BBVA Marisol Menendez. "SnapSwap has a solid team with a great deal of knowledge in compliance, and it has answered a common issue when it comes to identity, which is creating a compliant and convenient user identity verification experience. We're excited to look for collaboration opportunities with them in the coming months."

SnapSwap was one of ten startups focused on the topic of identity chosen as finalists in the first of seven Open Talent competitions in 2017. It was chosen by a panel of judges representing different units within BBVA. Judges included BBVA Head of Global Business Development and New Ventures Jose Fernandez da Ponte, BBVA Entrepreneur in Residence Louie Gasparini, BBVA Head of Open Platform Shamir Karkal, BBVA Head of Open Innovation Marisol Menendez, BBVA Compass Head of Business Development Pepe Olalla and Propel Venture Partners General Partner Jay Reinemann.

The final of the competition was held at the K(NO)W Identity Conference, a three-day gathering of the world's most influential organizations and smartest minds across all industries that have a stake in shaping the future of identity.

"Having the Open Talent Identity competition at K(NO)W Identity was the perfect convergence of industries interested in identity and those seeking to change what identity is today," said Olalla. "The reality is, disruptors like SnapSwap are here to stay. Working with these disruptors is not only an imperative, it's smart business."

For 2017, BBVA Open Talent has grown to offer more fintech startups around the world the chance to compete and win. The competitions are focused in seven key areas: Identity, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech for Companies, Global Trends, Women in Fintech, Financial Inclusion and a regional competition for finalists from Spain, Latin America and Turkey. The winners from each of these main areas are invited to the Open Talent Global Summit and Immersion Week held in October at the BBVA Group headquarters in Madrid. In addition to time spent networking and collaborating with BBVA executives, one finalist will win 50,000 euros.

Startups can register for remaining competitions at www.bbvaopentalent.com. Registration closes soon for the following competitions:

Artificial Intelligence: May 22, 2017

Fintech for companies: July 3, 2017

Global Trends: July 17, 2017

Regional events in Spain, Turkey and Latin America: Go to bbvaopentalent.com to find which of the 21 events fit.

Click here for more information on SnapSwap.

To learn more about BBVA Compass, visit: www.bbvacompass.com

For more news visit: www.bbva.com and newsroom.bbvacompass.com

About BBVA Group

BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group is the largest financial institution in Spain and Mexico and it has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States; and it is also the leading shareholder in Garanti, Turkey's biggest bank for market capitalization. Its diversified business is focused on high-growth markets and it relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. Corporate responsibility is at the core of its business model. BBVA fosters financial education and inclusion, and supports scientific research and culture. It operates with the highest integrity, a long-term vision and applies the best practices. More information about BBVA Group can be found at bbva.com.

About BBVA Compass

BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 657 branches, including 342 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 63 in Arizona, 61 in California, 45 in Florida, 38 in Colorado and 19 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass ranks among the top 25 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (5th). BBVA Compass has been recognized as one of the leading small business lenders by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and ranked 5th nationally in the total number of SBA loans originated in fiscal year 2016. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com. For more BBVA Compass news, follow @BBVACompassNews on Twitter or visit newsroom.bbvacompass.com.

About the K(NO)W Identity Conference

The K(NO)W Identity Conference brings together the world's foremost identity experts and thought leaders for a unique opportunity to learn, network and collaborate. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with key stakeholders from the companies, educational institutions, government agencies, and development organizations shaping the future of identity. Learn more at www.knowidentityconference.com.

SOURCE BBVA
SPRING CITY, Pa., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- College ranking website BestCollegeReviews.org has released its 2017-2018 ranking of top project management online degree programs.

Experts anticipate careers in project management will keep pace with average job growth up through the year 2024. A bachelor's degree is not strictly necessary to get a foot in the door as a project manager, but in order to succeed and continue the upward climb, it can go a long way.

Schools were ranked according to their affordability, accreditation, and customization opportunities both in program content and format.

Online study affords working professionals the opportunity to study in hopes of advancement while continuing their full-time work schedules. To see the degree of flexibility universities offer within their programs, view the full article at http://www.bestcollegereviews.org/top/online-project-management-degree/.

Here are the programs named in the ranking.

Vista College, Online Bachelor of Science in Project Management

Marist College, Online Bachelor of Arts in Project Management

Southern New Hampshire University, Online Bachelor of Science in Operations Management: Project Management

Saint Leo University, Online Bachelor of Arts in Business Management: Project Management

Liberty University, Online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Project Management

American Intercontinental University, Online Bachelor of Business Administration: Project Management

DeVry University, Online Bachelor's in Business Administration: Project Management

City University of Seattle, Online Bachelor of Science in Project Management

Strayer University, Online Bachelor of Business Administration: Project Management

University of Phoenix, Online Bachelor of Science in Business: Project Management

Ashford University, Online Bachelor of Arts in Project Management

Brandman University, Online Bachelor of Science in Computing Technology: Project Management

Colorado Technical University, Online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Project Management

Baker College, Online Bachelor of Information Systems: Project Management and Planning

Columbia Southern University, Online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Project Management

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide, Online Bachelor of Science in Project Management

Colorado State University- Global Campus, Online Bachelor's Degree in Project Management

Bellevue University, Online Bachelor's in Project Management

Capella University, Online Bachelor of Science in Business: Project Management

BestCollegeReviews.org evaluates publicly available data and produces independent ranking assessments of various educational programs and college facilities. The mission of Best College Reviews is to be a vital resource for potential students making one of the most important decisions of their lives. Best College Reviews recognizes that no ranking system is perfect, and recommends that their ratings be used only as a general guide for choosing a quality school.

Contact: Julie McCaulley, Editor

Phone: 518-496-0845

Email: http://www.bestcollegereviews.org/contact/

SOURCE BestCollegeReviews.org

Related Links

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TROY, Mich., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- What better way to celebrate your 25th birthday than with 50 of your best friends? Bianchi Public Relations, Inc. and the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN)  which are both celebrating 25th anniversaries this year  today announced the addition of two new communications agency affiliates to one of the world's largest PR agency networks. These firms  S&A Communications and asoluto  joined PRGN during the consortium's recent bi-annual meeting in Dallas, Texas. The group also unveiled a new PRGN website, which incorporates powerful search functionality to help companies find the right expertise in the right location around the globe. The new prgn.com also is a new resource for PR professionals searching for tools and templates, including press releases or plans, while serving as one of the first-ever international job search banks for the profession.

"Bianchi PR has been a proud PRGN member since 2014," said James A. Bianchi, president of Bianchi PR. "Our ability to harness the power of more than four dozen independent agencies worldwide allows us to serve clients whenever and wherever they need us."

During the Dallas meeting, PRGN members elected Christina Rytter, managing director and founder of Copenhagen, Denmark-based Scandinavian Communications as its new president. Rytter, who replaces Evelyn Holtzhausen, founder and director of South Africa-based HWB Communications, leads the worldwide network of 50 independently owned firms for the next 12 months. Founded in 1992 by a group of visionary public relations leaders, PRGN is planning a celebration for its 25th anniversary later this year. With more than $101 million in revenues and 900 professionals in 50 locations, PRGN is one of the world's largest international public relations networks.

"As we celebrate 25 years of service to our clients around the world, we're thrilled to reach the 50-member mark for the organization," said Rytter. "The addition of a multi-disciplinary firm in Austria further strengthens our impact across the European Union, while our expansion in the southern U.S. increases our capabilities in such key practice areas as technology, health care and government relations.

The newly inducted agencies are:

S&A Communications: Founded in 1982, this North Carolina -based firm is an integrated marketing brand that grew from deep-seated PR roots. For more than 35 years, it has evolved into a team of strategic marketing professionals whose driving goal is to help clients outthink, outwork and outperform their competition. S&A's nationwide client base looks to them for public relations, marketing, digital, creative, photography, event planning and custom-publishing services. S&A's executive leadership team includes Chuck Norman , APR, owner and principal; Bill Zadeits , owner and principal; and Ron Smith , APR, founder and owner.

-based firm is an integrated marketing brand that grew from deep-seated PR roots. For more than 35 years, it has evolved into a team of strategic marketing professionals whose driving goal is to help clients outthink, outwork and outperform their competition. S&A's nationwide client base looks to them for public relations, marketing, digital, creative, photography, event planning and custom-publishing services. S&A's executive leadership team includes , APR, owner and principal; , owner and principal; and , APR, founder and owner. asoluto: The Vienna, Austria -based agency is among the country's biggest PR and communications organizations. Founded in 2011 by the merger of two long-established firms, asoluto combines traditional PR with integrated digital services, including social media campaigns and web project development under one brand. The team of 20 specialists works for both local and international clients, representing such brands as AEG, Roche, paysafecard and QuintilesIMS. asoluto earned a national award nomination for its non-smoker protection communications campaign, "DON'T SMOKE, " which ultimately led to the passing of new legislation in Austria . asoluto is led by managing partners Robert Bauer , Brigitte Muhlbauer, Andreas Freitag , Beatrice Verdino and Martin Verdino .

The New PRGN.com

PRGN's enhanced website represents a significant milestone for the global network. A complete redesign of the site now allows businesses and corporations worldwide to more easily research and connect with the communications partners that fit their needs.

"The new, search friendly PRGN.com gives prospective clients one-stop access to a curated suite of PR services. Also, it serves as a common conversation point for member agencies to interact with each other and build business together," said Bianchi. "For those on the outside, it's a new resource that anyone can use, including those hunting for a job in one of our 50 markets."

PRGN partners meet twice a year in cities around the world. The next meeting will be held in October 2017 in Kyoto, Japan. At each meeting, the group's leadership teams discuss best practices and find new ways to collaborate and develop business partnerships globally. Agency members are independent, local, owner-operated public relations and marketing communications firms that share expertise and resources, while providing broad-based comprehensive communications strategies to clients worldwide. Companies or organizations interested in the services of PRGN's local agency network can visit www.prgn.com for more information.

Independent agencies interested in joining the network can visit the member recruitment section of the PRGN website for more information or email its membership chair, Layth Dajani, founder of The Content Factory at [email protected].

About Bianchi PR

With special expertise in PR and social media for automotive suppliers, professional service firms and other business to business enterprises, Bianchi PR is now celebrating its 25th year. The firm is ranked the top independent PR agency based in Metro Detroit, according to PRWeek's most recent ranking of public relations firms.

Among Bianchi PR's ongoing automotive, industrial and business-to-business PR clients are Adient, ATA National Title, BASF, Cooper Standard, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, KIRCO, Schaeffler Group, SRG Global and Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. The firm's experience also includes work with organizations such as SAE International, the Automotive Industry Action Group, the Center for Automotive Research and the Steel Market Development Institute.For more information, visit http://www.bianchipr.com or call 248-269-1122.

About Public Relations Global Network (PRGN)

Clients across six continents depend on the combined resources of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) to deliver targeted public relations campaigns in markets around the world. With revenues of more than $101 million (US), PRGN is one of the world's largest international public relations networks. PRGN harnesses the resources of 50 independent public relations firms and more than 900 communications professionals to connect international companies and organizations with individual and culturally diverse markets globally. Visit PRGN online at www.prgn.com or on twitter at @PRGN.

SOURCE Bianchi Public Relations

Related Links

http://www.bianchipr.com


WAKEFIELD, Mass., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second straight year, life sciences workforce solutions and consulting services firm BioPoint (http://biopointinc.com/) has earned a spot on the Boston Business Journal Fast 50  a highly regarded annual list of the 50 fastest-growing private companies in Massachusetts.

Boston Business Journal Fast 50

"The Fast 50 award is a testament to the professionalism, dedication and commitment to excellence of our entire team," says BioPoint co-founder Chris Nash. "Being recognized as a top private company in the state is a great honor; two years in a row is incredible. Looking ahead, we're going to strive to build on the expertise and results which have allowed us to earn our clients' trust, and to forge new client partnerships."

Founded in 2011, BioPoint has experienced strong revenue growth virtually from day one. The firm has met the demands of a burgeoning industry with a client-focused approach that's culminated in both awards and a positive reputation. Last year, BioPoint was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing U.S. companies for the second year in a row; in 2015, the firm was singled out as the fastest-growing private enterprise in Massachusetts.

Fellow co-founder George Kokoros echoed Nash's sentiments regarding this most recent accolade: "BioPoint is honored to be on the Boston Business Journal Fast 50 for the second straight year. The competition this time around was intense, as Massachusetts has become home to many of the world's top biotech and life sciences institutions and companies."

More than 150 companies were nominated for the 2017 edition of the Fast 50. To be considered, nominees had to have generated revenue of at least $500,000 in 2013 and $1 million in 2016. The Boston Business Journal's research department, together with CPA firm Withun, analyzed the relevant financial numbers to determine which companies made the final cut. Revenue growth trends over the prior 3 years is an important variable in the Fast 50 formula; for its part, BioPoint has seen exceptional gains during that span.

BioPoint is a provider of management consulting services designed to help Life Sciences clients bring products/devices to market more effectively and successfully, in an increasingly regulated and value driven healthcare marketplace. Most recently, the firm began its Full Service Provider (FSP) model, which enable clients to secure specialized consulting services on a more flexible as-needed basis. As such, the firm's experts are available at a moment's notice to provide on-site or remote consultations throughout all phases of product development. BioPoint's knowledge and practice areas include Drug Safety/Pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Affairs, Market Access/HEOR and Quality Assurance.

The remainder of 2017 will see continued dynamic growth for BioPoint. The firm has plans to significantly add to its workforce as it opens regional offices in Chicago and San Francisco. Additionally, the BioPoint team eagerly awaits the announcement of this year's Inc. 5000 list, as they anticipate earning a spot for the third straight year.

About BioPoint, Inc.

BioPoint, Inc. is a leading global workforce solutions and consulting services firm that combines deep life sciences industry knowledge with specialized expertise in drug safety, health economics and outcomes research, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, compliance and risk mitigation. Our professionals have assisted clients in optimizing their businesses, improving their operations and risk profile, and advancing their organizational performance to seize key opportunities.

Contact:

Edwin Matos

BioPoint Inc.

401 Edgewater Place  Suite 130

Wakefield, MA 01880

Phone: (781) 218-3790

SOURCE BioPoint, Inc.
Event features industry leaders from the agriculture, protein, food, fertilizer, retail distribution, restaurant and supermarket sectors

NEW YORK, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - BMO Capital Markets hosts its 12th annual Farm to Market Conference on May 17-18 in New York City. The conference brings together industry leaders in the agriculture, food retail, restaurant and farm input sectors, as well as global institutional investors in these industries. Whether it is global trade, technology, food deflation, labor or the new Trump administration, global trends impacting these industries are shaping the future of the agriculture, food retail and restaurant industries.

"As we move through this year, the overarching theme is be prepared for unprecedented and unpredictable change on the horizon. In contrast to past years, companies face a 'wait and see' environment where we are on cusp of potentially monumental changes on economic, trade, and fiscal policies," said Ken Zaslow, Food and Agriculture Analyst with BMO Capital Markets. "So after all these years of working to improve their business models and with new leadership at many companies, we believe these business models will be tested and required to adapt without any warning.

"With the importance of global trade and these potential changes, companies across the entire food value chain continue to make a concerted effort to invest and reengineer their business models to strengthen their long-term growth profiles and reduce volatility."

Mr. Ken Zaslow, Food and Agriculture Analyst, will co-host the conference with Food and Beverage Analyst Amit Sharma, Food Retailing and Distribution Analyst Kelly Bania, Restaurants Analyst Andrew Strelzik, Fertilizer Analyst Joel Jackson and Pharmaceuticals Analyst Alex Arfaei.

"Right now, companies and investors are in an education process as they try to prepare for change from tax to trade policy. This conference provides a timely exchange for ideas where market leaders examine the potential challenges and opportunities they could face in addition to responding to the ongoing secular shifts occurring with U.S. consumers," said Kelly Bania, Food Retailing and Distribution Analyst, BMO Capital Markets.

While global trade, tax policy and food deflation are discussed widely by participating companies, for the restaurant industry, the changing expectations of customers and how to compete effectively are key topics.

"The drivers of restaurant visits are evolving, forcing companies to re-think strategic priorities. For restaurants to continue to compete and grow, technology, operations, service and messaging are paramount. But investing behind those important factors creates uncertainties about companies' margin outlook. Investors at our conference will be examining the potential impacts," said Andrew Strelzik, Restaurants Analyst.

On Thursday, May 18, a keynote discussion with former U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman provides a comprehensive overview of current global trade policy, highlighting his firsthand experience negotiating trade agreements, developing US trade policy and dealing with global relations.

"This keynote could not be more timely," said Mr. Zaslow. "As businesses and investors from across the food and agriculture sectors look ahead, the future global trade landscape is more uncertain than ever."

Senior executives from more than 90 leading agriculture, fertilizer, food, beverage, restaurant and retail companies will discuss leading industry trends. Company participants include:

Agrium (AGU)

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)

Bunge (BG)

CF Industries (CF)

Denny's (DENN)

Ingredion (INGR)

Noodles & Company (NDLS)

Pilgrims' Pride (PPC)

Potash Corp. (POT)

Snyder's  Lance (LNCE)

 Lance (LNCE) SunOpta (STKL)

Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM)

Sysco (SYY)

Tyson Foods (TSN)

About BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American financial services provider. With more than 2,300 employees operating in 28 locations, including 15 in North America, BMO Capital Markets offers corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE:BMO)(TSX:BMO), One of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America, with total assets of $699 billion as of January 31, 2016, and close to 47,000 employees.

Media Contacts:

Mallory Micetich, New York

(212)-499-5808

[email protected]



Internet: www.bmo.com

Twitter: @BMOMedia

SOURCE BMO Financial Group
GOLDEN, Colo., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Market, the rotisserie cooking and contemporary home style meal experts, today announced plans to further expand its "Quality Guarantee" with a strengthened commitment to animal welfare.

"By 2024, our intent is to source only chickens that are certified by the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) and processed via a multi-step, controlled-atmosphere processing system that's widely considered to be the most comprehensive and highest level of animal welfare standards," said George Michel, Chief Executive Officer of Boston Market, also known as 'The Big Chicken'. "We are committed to meeting these objectives in a way that is sustainable for our business and our suppliers, and that honors the proprietary product specifications which make Boston Market best in class in the restaurant industry."

Boston Market continues to deliver on its "Quality Guarantee"  the Company's promise of serving guests all natural and fresh, never frozen, whole chickens that are:

U.S.-farm raised;

Without added hormones or steroids;

100 percent antibiotic-free;

MSG free; and

Gluten free

The Company's expanded and strengthened commitment to animal welfare is an extension of this promise to Boston Market guests.

"Boston Market is going above and beyond with this commitment to be fully certified by GAP and we wholeheartedly applaud their leadership in the market," said Leah Garces, USA Executive Director of Compassion in World Farming.

"We welcome Boston Market's commitment," said Joyana Hunt, engagement specialist at The Humane Society of the United States. "American consumers are increasingly interested in where their food comes from and the welfare of animals in the food supply, making this switch a win for customers and animals alike."

"We are committed to ensuring a high level of animal welfare, and are working jointly with our suppliers to achieve a set of ambitious animal welfare goals," said Daryl Still, Vice President of Supply Chain for Boston Market. "We believe that setting animal welfare goals is the right thing to do for our guests, and we take our responsibilities and leadership position with respect to this issue seriously. We look forward to sharing our progress with our guests as we continue this journey with our vendors and other stakeholders."

About Boston Market

Boston Market Corporation, headquartered in Golden, Colorado, has given time back to busy families and individuals for 30 years with quality, home style meals at a convenient value in more than 450 U.S. locations. The expert in rotisserie cooking, Boston Market prepares its fresh chicken and all natural turkey in signature rotisserie ovens and features an extensive selection of home style sides and made-from-scratch cornbread. As one of the country's largest providers of catering services, Boston Market offers convenient, same-day orders and delivery for corporate and personal events of all sizes. In January 2017, Boston Market officially launched its "Quality Guarantee"  the Company's promise of serving guests all natural and fresh, never frozen, whole chickens that are U.S.-farmed raised, without added hormones or steroids, 100 percent antibiotic-free, MSG-free and gluten-free. For more information, visit the company's website at www.bostonmarket.com. For the latest news and deals, follow @bostonmarket on Twitter or join us on Facebook.

Media Contact

Seth Grugle, ICR

646-277-1200

[email protected]

SOURCE Boston Market
Burns & McDonnell has begun a comprehensive $3 million remodel of 8,800 square feet of space in Thompson Commons. The remodel project will address more than half the available space within the building. Work will begin on the first floor with installation of a variety of mechanical systems, including a new variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system to upgrade and improve heating, ventilation and cooling within the building as it is detached from the legacy campus-wide steam heating system. VRFs use refrigerant to both heat and cool by relying on a rooftop condensing unit to circulate air within the building. These state-of-the-art systems feature individual indoor units that heat or cool as required, saving up to 55 percent over comparable equipment while giving building occupants greater control over interior temperatures.

As classes conclude for the spring semester, the project will move to the second floor where existing food service and seating in the Pirate Cafe will be redesigned and updated. Over the summer months, serving areas will be reconfigured to feature interactive food stations as menu options are expanded. Expanded seating for up to 240 diners will be part of the remodel, incorporating bar tops and a variety of other seating configurations, all integrated with vibrant new color schemes and materials in a new contemporary space. The food service upgrade is scheduled to be completed in August, in time for the beginning of the 2017 fall semester.

"We are honored and thrilled to have been selected by Park University to work with them to improve and beautify a facility that has long been at the center of student life for this iconic institution," says Greg Carlson, vice president of commercial construction for Burns & McDonnell.

"The renovation of Thompson Commons and the Pirate Cafe supports Park University's commitment to student life and engagement," said Jayme Uden, Ed.D., associate vice president and dean of students at Park. "The services and programs in Thompson Commons will greatly benefit from these upgrades and will have a grander ability to impact student retention and success. We are very appreciative that Burns & McDonnell are partnering in this important endeavor."

For photos and support materials, please visit our MEDIA KIT.

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies made up of more than 5,700 engineers, architects, construction professionals, scientists, consultants and entrepreneurs with offices across the country and throughout the world. We strive to create amazing success for our clients and amazing careers for our employee-owners. Burns & McDonnell is 100 percent employee-owned and is proud to be No. 16 on Fortune's 2017 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit burnsmcd.com.

Contact: Roger Dick, Burns & McDonnell

816-822-3339

[email protected]

SOURCE Burns & McDonnell

Related Links

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WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today offered President Trump some advice on a scheduled speech outlining his "hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam" during an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia. Trump leaves for his first foreign trip on Friday, which starts in Saudi Arabia.

[NOTE: Also today, CAIR welcomed a decision by the U.S. Air Force to review course materials offered by a counterterrorism instructor at its United States Air Force Special Operations School (USAFSOS) in Florida who CAIR says is associated with an "anti-Muslim propaganda mouthpiece" and has made a number of false statements about Islam and Muslims. SEE: http://tinyurl.com/AirForceReview ]

White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, who had a key role in the controversial "Muslim ban" executive orders, will reportedly help write the president's speech on Islam.

Report: Travel Ban Architect Drafting Trump Speech on Islam

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/333825-stephen-miller-drafting-trump-speech-on-islam-report

The president's national security adviser H.R. McMaster recently said Trump will "deliver an inspiring yet direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and the president's hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world." "The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilization and to demonstrate America's commitment to our Muslim partners," said McMaster.

In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:

"If President Trump wishes to reach out to ordinary Muslims in the Middle East and around the world, he should avoid the pejorative terminology, anti-Muslim stereotypes and counterproductive policies promoted by Islamophobic advisers such as Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka.

"Instead, he should offer a vision for a future in which Muslims and people of all faiths and backgrounds can live free of the oppression of dictators or the dictates of extremists.

"A truly inspiring speech would focus on the universal desire for justice, freedom and human dignity. As God says in the Quran, Islam's revealed text, 'The Word of thy Lord finds its fulfillment in truth and in justice.'" (6:115)

Awad noted that Trump adviser Gorka has repeatedly refused to answer whether the president believes Islam is an actual religion. "The president's upcoming speech offers an opportunity to clarify whether or not he believes Islam should be respected as a major world faith."

SEE: Adviser Declines to Say if Trump Believes Islam is a Religion

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/sebastian-gorka-trump-islam-a-religion-235562

Last week, CAIR released a report showing a 57 percent increase in anti-Muslim incidents in 2016 over the previous year. This spike in anti-Muslim incidents was accompanied by a 44 percent increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes during the same period.



SEE: New CAIR Report Shows More than 50 Percent Spike in Anti-Muslim Incidents

https://www.cair.com/press-center/14322-new-cair-report-shows-more-than-50-percent-spike-in-anti-muslim-incidents.html

The Washington-based civil rights and advocacy organization urges community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/report

CAIR'S mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La mision de CAIR es mejorar la comprension del Islam, fomentar el dialogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprension mutua.

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational

Subscribe to CAIR's Email List

http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe

Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed

http://twitter.com/cairnational

Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/cairtv

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Related Links

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DOVER, Del., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Company announced today that Michael P. McMasters, President and CEO, and Beth W. Cooper, Senior Vice President and CFO of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) will be hosting a live webcast at 2:15 pm on Sunday, May 21st at the 2017 AGA Financial Forum taking place in Orlando, Florida. Webcast participants and members of the live audience will learn about the projects the Company currently has underway and other strategic initiatives which position the Company for future growth.

To listen to the live webcast, visit Chesapeake's website at www.chpk.com, click on Investors/Events and Webcasts/Other Events then click on the "Listen to Webcast" link under the 2017 AGA Financial Forum section or just click on the following link: Listen to Webcast. You will be prompted to register for the webcast that will start promptly at 2:15 pm where the live audio and slides of the presentation being given will be available.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy company engaged in natural gas distribution, transmission, gathering and processing, and marketing; electricity generation and distribution; propane gas distribution; and other businesses. Information about Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and the Chesapeake family of businesses is available at http://www.chpk.com or through our IR App.

Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation has no affiliation with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

For more information, contact:

Beth W. Cooper

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

302.734.6799

SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation

Related Links

http://www.chpk.com


Critical partners supporting this effort include Discovery Education and AdvancED. Discovery Education is the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms and AdvancED is the world's leading organization of educational quality, school improvement and accreditation. While AdvancED had already established its foot print in the region, Discovery Education's entry into Mainland China is a bold step that will transform the nation's education sector. China is in the initial phase of opening up the education sector to the entire global community and becoming a focal point for the world's leading educational bodies and communities .With a singular focus of creating a set of educational initiatives promoting educational excellence based on research, modern pedagogy, scientific approaches, and cultural competencies, CITIC's M&A Fund will lead the creation of dynamic digital classrooms across China.

By expanding the breadth and quality of educational offerings, China will better position itself to build and sustain the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. The CITIC M&A Fund contributes to this process by leading a group of large financial services organizations and industrial capital management firms investing in this part of the One Belt, One Road initiative focusing on educational development.

The CITIC M&A Fund has gathered a galaxy of leading partners in this effort. The Shenzhen Chamber of International Investment & Financing, Ivy Elite Education Association (IEEA), the US-China Educational Innovation Alliance, SOI Investment Holding Company, Huasheng Capital Group, South China Normal University, Association of Principals of Guangdong Province, and the Educational Science Research Institute of Shenzhen have come onboard as cosponsors. These organizations are working together with the Chinese Society of Education, the Chinese Association for Non-Government Education, Shanghai Educational Press, China Education Industry Alliance, China Mobile Internet Industry Alliance, and the Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Foundation in organizing the "2017 US-China International Summit on Education Industry & Launch of CITIC Securities US-China Education Industry Investment Fund," where both the cosponsors and co-organizers announced Discovery Education's launch in China.

Nearly 200 American and Chinese leaders from the fields of education, investment and business participated in the event and the list of luminaries in attendance included : Professor Wu Yingmin, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Education; Guo Xiaohui, Standing Committee member of Shenzhen's Municipal People's Congress and Executive President of the Shenzhen Chamber of International Investment & Financing; Liu Mingtao, Managing Director with the CITIC Securities Headquarters in Shenzhen; Dr. Sharon P. Robinson, Chair of the US-China Educational Innovation Alliance and President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) ; William F. Goodwyn, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Education; Dr. Annette Bohling, Chief Operating Officer of AdvancED; Dr. Kem Hussain, AdvancED Vice President for the Middle East/Africa and Asia/Australia; Emily Hu, President of Ivy Elite Education Association (China); Dr. Peggy L . Brookins, President and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS); Dr Ray Pecheone, Executive Director of Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning, and Equity (SCALE), Stanford Graduate School of Education; Mr Christopher Mathews, Vice President of Global Partnerships of Discovery Education,Zhu Jianfeng, President of the CITIC M&A Fund; LiangYudong, Executive Vice President of CITIC M&A Fund; Zhong Hui, Managing Director of China Merchants Capital Investment Co., Ltd.; Li Lei, Executive Director of CDH Investments; and Chen Mingxian, President of the Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Foundation.

Mr. Liang Yudong, Executive Vice President of the CITIC M&A Fund, said that this initiative is a key centerpiece project of the CITIC M&A Fund for 2017. Developing an accredited, large-scale industrially organized education investment fund is a long-term, strategic aim for CITIC. Through this step, it will lead the way for other financial and industrial capital investments in advancing education.

This initiative is led by a number of capital management firms and will harmonize educational accreditation standards, resulting in a system of dual-accreditations in the United States and The People's Republic of China.

AdvancED will play a crucial role in organizing and coordinating this process. Dr. Annette Bohling , COO of AdvancED said AdvancED is the largest nonprofit professional organization for education accreditation in the world, and specializes in educational diagnostics, evaluation, school improvement and accreditation in education systems. Within these actions, AdvancED assesses curriculum needs and develops courses and educational programs for both primary and secondary level programs to meet these needs. Its expertise covers a wide range of programs, including vocational, STEM-focused, special educational purpose, online and digital schools. AdvancED's aim is to ensure that all learners have access to high-quality education in different school formats in order that students will have a world of opportunities based on their varying needs to realize and develop their full potential.

China's efforts to develop global standards in education, and to build world class primary and secondary schools, is only one aspect of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. "One Belt, One Road" has moved China into a leading role in promoting globalization, international infrastructure development and integration of markets. CITIC's M&A Fund has taken a lead role in advancing the "One-Belt, One Road" system through its investments and in backing AdvancED's work in China, both organizations can accelerate the process of social impact on the human skills side of infrastructural development and implementation. These efforts will broaden cooperation and coordination across educational markets and regimes, giving students access to more and higher quality educational choices within a dual accreditation framework.

The FOF supports the process of improving international education and private education in China by importing the best global practices

Emily Hu, President of Ivy Elite Education Association (China), an educational expert and chief architect, working behind-the-scenes on the successful launch of Discovery Education China and the AdvancED China Accreditation Council, directly identifies the advantages of partnering with Discovery Education and AdvancED. Discovery Education boasts the world's best digital textbooks and the richest support material for teaching in the STEM fields while AdvancED accreditation system integrates curriculum development with assessment that will help China's private primary and secondary schools to work more closely with international peer schools in more than 70 countries. Emily Hu added that the high-quality teaching resources and educational services directly address the growing needs of China's educational system and international education community for ensuring educational quality and a commitment to equity for all sectors of the Chinese society and the global community at large. This alliance specifically address- es the needs for providing instructional resources, developing materials for curriculum design, improving teaching effectiveness and assessment, offering training, development, and certification for all practitioners, and developing educational environment planning.

* At the 2017 US-China International Summit on Education Industry, which is co-organized by the Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Foundation,CITIC's M&A Fund announced a new education initiative called "US-China Global Alliance in Education Industry Investment".

SOURCE Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Foundation
WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CleanChoice Energy announced the Washington Business Journal has named it a 2017 "Best Places to Work in Greater Washington" honoree. The company was recognized within the "Medium Companies" category, and will be honored at a ceremony on June 22nd in Washington, D.C.

CleanChoice Energy is at the vanguard of Washington D.C.'s renewable energy and clean tech industry, and is revolutionizing the way Americans can support and access clean energy regardless of where they live. In the past year, the company was awarded a $2.5 million cooperative award from the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative to reduce the costs of community solar and bring the technology to scale, and passed a significant milestone by serving more than 1 billion kilowatts of clean energy across nine states since 2011.

"CleanChoice Energy offers our employees the rewards of a career that helps make the world a cleaner and better place. Every day we work to transform America by switching homes and businesses to wind and solar energy," said Tom Matzzie, Founder and CEO of CleanChoice Energy. "This recognition by the Washington Business Journal underlines our belief that success goes hand in hand with enjoying where we work and what we do."

The company was recognized for its commitment to employee wellness, equity options, work-life balance, office space designed to foster creativity, as well as its corporate mission to open up clean energy access.

Consumers want renewable electricity, but they want it convenient and fast. As the first licensed retail energy provider offering only 100 percent renewable energy products to American homes and businesses, CleanChoice Energy has made it easy for people to choose clean energy as-a-service instead of as a home construction project. The company is a certified B Corporation and recently passed $1 million in total corporate donations to environmental and social impact organizations.

About CleanChoice Energy

CleanChoice Energy is a leading renewable energy company empowering residential and commercial customers to reduce emissions and support clean energy through 100 percent renewable electricity. CleanChoice Energy's mission is to make clean energy accessible for everybody. CleanChoice Energy supplies only clean renewable energy to customers, operating in eight states and the District of Columbia, bringing cleaner air closer to home. The company is a founding member of the Coalition for Community Solar Access, recently passed $1 million in total corporate donations to environmental and social impact organizations, and has been awarded the highest level of B Corp certification. For more information or to become a customer, visit: www.CleanChoiceEnergy.com

For press inquiries:

Kate Colarulli, 202-765-1290

[email protected]

SOURCE CleanChoice Energy

Related Links

https://cleanchoiceenergy.com/


The backbone of Coates' offering is Switchboard, their proprietary Content Management System software. Switchboard is data driven, connecting with a brand's CRM, POS, mobile and local marketing systems -- even leveraging external data features such as live traffic, weather and social media. Integrated analytics measure converted upsell offers, enabling chains to optimize their menu at each individual restaurant.

"What we're doing best today is taking restaurant level data to personalize and localize the drive-thru experience," says Leo Coates, company CEO. "That's particularly important with large organizations who need to have rules and logic in place to determine what goes in their restaurant and why, and what product they're showing their customers and when."

Coates is committed to pursuing the latest technology at the drive-thru, including beacon & mobile and AI modeling. Every tool is evaluated and optimized to improve order speed and accuracy, and provide a more personalized customer experience.

Some of Coates' innovations on display at the NRA show include:

Targeted, dynamic menu board animations driven by restaurant level data

Integration with Point of Sale systems to prompt suggestive sell and product bundling

Camera technology that closes the communication loop between staff and customer

Integrated analytics to measure success real time and optimize digital drive-thru menus at individual locations

Visit Coates at the NRA tradeshow on May 20-23, 2017 at Booth #6678 at Chicago's McCormick Place. In addition to their interactive drive-thru, Coates will be demonstrating a new generation of self-service kiosks and their Virtual Reality Tool that allows brands to economically model their customers' in-store digital experience.

About Coates Group

Founded in 1963, Coates applies technology and solutions to deliver relevant, personalized digital merchandising content for quick service restaurant brands (QSR) and the retail industry. Coates' data-driven CMS software Switchboard, self-order kiosks, digital drive-thru and outdoor displays are used by leading brands across 35 markets globally. The privately held company is headquartered in Australia with offices in Japan, India, China, and U.S. operations based in Chicago.

Coates Group Contact

Sue Faust

(708) 557-8287

[email protected]

www.coatesgroup.com

SOURCE Coates Group

Related Links

http://www.coatesgroup.com


EUGENE, Ore., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- College Choice, a leading authority in college and university rankings and resources, has published a ranking of the 25 Best Colleges in Missouri for 2017.

http://www.collegechoice.net/rankings/25-best-colleges-in-missouri/

Seeing that in the near future, it is estimated that 60 percent of all jobs will require a college education, the state of Missouri has announced its "Big Goal" to make sure that 60 percent of adults earn a certificate or degree by 2025. It's a state that is focusing on higher education, so College Choice has developed a list of Missouri's best colleges.

"The state of Missouri has the headquarters of some of the biggest companies in the country: Monsanto, Anheuser-Busch, O'Reilly Auto Parts, and others," Christian Amondson, Managing Editor of College Choice, said of the ranking. "Where you go to college will affect where your networks will be, which will make it easier to find a job later on. Missouri, then, might be a strong option for where you want to connect with classmates, professors, and alumni who can help you boost your career."

College Choice developed its list by looking at student body diversity, academic quality, and return on investmentthe differential between tuition costs and average early career earnings.

The ranking for the 25 Best Colleges in Missouri finds Washington University in St. Louis in the top spot. College of the Ozarks is in second, and Saint Louis University rounds out the top three.

The entire ranking, listed in alphabetical order, is as follows:

Avila University

Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

College of the Ozarks

Culver-Stockton College

Fontbonne University

Lindenwood University

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Missouri Baptist University

Missouri State University-Springfield

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Northwest Missouri State University

Rockhurst University

Saint Louis University

Southeast Missouri State University

Southwest Baptist University

St Louis College of Pharmacy

Truman State University

University of Missouri-Columbia

University of Missouri-Kansas City

University of Missouri-St Louis

Washington University in St Louis

Webster University

Westminster College

William Jewell College

William Woods University

College Choice is an independent online publication dedicated to helping students and their families find the right college. The site publishes rankings and reviews that make finding the best colleges for different interests easier and more fun, as well as resources to help students get into, pay for, and thrive at the college of their choice.

Contact:

Christian Amondson, Managing Editor, College Choice

Web: http://collegechoice.net

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (541) 255-3801

SOURCE College Choice

Related Links

http://www.collegechoice.net


AMSTERDAM, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Constellium N.V. (NYSE and Euronext Paris: CSTM) announced today the signing of a multi-year contract with Robert Bosch to supply Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) profiles for the automotive industry. This agreement reinforces the partnership Constellium's Decin plant, based in the Czech Republic, has had with Robert Bosch since 2009. Under this new contract, Constellium will continue to provide its innovative customized aluminium alloys for tailored solutions to meet rigorous quality and delivery requirements. With a ramping up volume of several million pieces per year in 2016, additional long-term solutions will be supplied to several Bosch plants worldwide with an expected overall volume per year targeted to double, subject to auto market demand and ramp-up of future ABS solutions.

"The contract awarded today further strengthens our longstanding relationship with Robert Bosch. It also demonstrates Constellium's expertise in providing tailored products for the automotive market. Thanks to aluminium's high strength-to-weight ratio, and our R&D-focused approach, we are pleased to partner with the industry to develop the next generation of solutions with our customers," said Paul Warton, President of Constellium's Automotive Structures and Industry business unit. "The contract we announced today further contributes to our plans to increase Decin's total capacity in the coming years."

In 1978, Robert Bosch was the first company to introduce ABS  an active braking safety system for emergency situations  to the market and is today considered the worldwide market leader. Since aluminium was introduced into the automotive industry, Constellium has become a leading supplier of lightweight vehicle solutions including ABS body profiles, helping auto manufacturers reduce vehicle mass while advancing safety, comfort and performance1. As a full service supplier, Constellium collaborates with customers resulting in industry leading product and process innovations.

Constellium's Decin plant manufactures customized aluminium extrusions in soft and hard alloys with a variety of finishes for global markets. The Decin location is the largest integrated hard alloy facility in Europe and employs more than 650 full-time employees. The site currently has an integrated foundry, 12 presses for direct and indirect extrusion production, as well as equipment for additional downstream operations.

About Constellium

Constellium (NYSE and Euronext Paris: CSTM) is a global sector leader that develops innovative, value added aluminium products for a broad scope of markets and applications, including aerospace, automotive and packaging. Constellium generated 4.7 billion of revenue in 2016.

www.constellium.com

Forward Looking Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release may contain "forward looking statements" with respect to our business, results of operations and financial condition, and our expectations or beliefs concerning future events and conditions. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as, but not limited to, "believes," "expects," "may," "should," "approximately," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," likely," "will," "would," "could" and similar expressions (or the negative of these terminologies or expressions). All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Many risks and uncertainties are inherent in our industry and markets. Others are more specific to our business and operations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of Constellium and Wise Metals to achieve expected synergies and the timing thereof; Constellium's increased levels of indebtedness, which could limit Constellium's operating flexibility and opportunities; the potential failure to retain key employees, the loss of customers, suppliers and other business relationships slower or lower than expected growth in the North American market for Body-in-White aluminium rolled products, and other risk factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F, and as described from time to time in subsequent reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The occurrence of the events described and the achievement of the expected results depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

1 For further information on Constellium's aluminium product offerings available for the automotive sheet and extrusions market in automotive, an interactive module can be downloaded at http://www.automotive.products.constellium.com/ as well as on the Apple store and on Google Play under the name "Constellium automotive products".

SOURCE Constellium

Related Links

http://www.constellium.com


WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Corporate Whistleblower Center Says, "We are urging an employee of any type of company involved in importing products from China to call us at 866-714-6466 if their employer is intentionally misclassifying the Chinese products to avoid US anti-dumping rules and duties. We believe the whistleblower reward potential for this type of information could be very significant as we would like to discuss.

Chinese Ship America's Watchdog

"We would be also very interested in hearing from US manufacturers who can prove importers are evading US anti-dumping rules. In these instances-we would propose a collaboration to shut the importers down. One of the biggest problems we see with US anti-dumping policies by the Department of Commerce is their websites on the topic of anti-dumping are not coherent and their websites do not provide useful or meaningful information-especially when it comes to Chinese imports." http://CorporateWhistleblower.Com

The Corporate Whistleblower Center is interested in hearing from an employee of a company that is circumventing US anti-dumping duties by misclassifying specific types imported products from China. These imported Chinese products include but are not limited to:

Bedroom furniture

Rolled steel

Cast Iron plumbing pipe

Cooper plumbing pipe

Hardwood flooring products

Manufactured plywood products

Any type of plumbing cast iron or copper fitting

On May 1st, 2017, the Department of Justice announced that a furniture importer agreed to pay $275,000 to resolve allegations that the company improperly evaded customs duties on imports of wooden bedroom furniture from the People's Republic of China. (PRC), in violation of the False Claims Act.

The settlement announced resolved allegations the importer evaded antidumping duties on wooden bedroom furniture imported from the PRC between 2009 and 2014, by misclassifying the furniture as non-bedroom furniture on its official import documents. At the time of the imports alleged in this case, wooden bedroom furniture from the PRC was subject to a 216 percent antidumping duty; non-bedroom furniture was not subject to any antidumping duties.

According to the Corporate Whistleblower Center, "If an employee of an importer can prove their company is circumventing US laws to evade US anti-dumping fees and duties we are urging them to call us anytime at 866-714-6466 to discuss what their potential whistleblower reward could be. Why sit on a potentially winning lotto ticket without ever knowing what the reward potential could be?

"If you are an executive of a US based manufacturer and you have proof a company is knowingly circumventing the Department of Commerce's anti-dumping regulations regarding Chinese imports please call us anytime." http://CorporateWhistleblower.Com

Simple rules for a whistleblower from the Corporate Whistleblower Center: Do not go to the government first if you are a major whistleblower. The Corporate Whistleblower Center says, "Major whistleblowers frequently go to the government thinking they will help. It's a huge mistake. Do not go to the news media with your whistleblower information. Public revelation of a whistleblower's information could destroy any prospect for a reward. Do not try to force a company or individual to come if they are involved in a scheme to falsely label products made in China or to avoid customs duties on imported products. Come to us first, tell us what type of information you have, and if we think it's sufficient, we will help find the right law firms to assist in advancing your information."

The Corporate Whistleblower Center is the premier advocate for whistleblowers in the United States. Unlike any group in the US, they can assist a potential whistleblower with packaging their information and providing the whistleblower with access to the most accomplished whistleblower attorneys in the nation. For more information, potential whistleblowers can contact the Corporate Whistleblower Center at 866-714-6466 or visit http://CorporateWhistleblower.Com

For attribution please refer to the May 2017 Department of Justice press release on this topic: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/import-merchandising-concepts-lp-and-two-individuals-agree-pay-275000-settle-false-claims-act

Media Contact:

Thomas Martin

[email protected]

866-714-6466

SOURCE Corporate Whistleblower Center

Related Links

http://CorporateWhistleblower.Com


CrowdFlower's platform enables the categorizing, labeling and cleansing of data at scale. As AI systems increasingly enter the mainstream, their usefulness is often defined by the quality of the training data used. While a machine can process complex mathematical equations or structured data in milliseconds, it struggles to make decisions when data is more abstract or subjective, such as images or video. As a result, a machine must be taught and the lesson plan is built using training data.

"The CrowdFlower team has had a front row seat to the emergence of Computer Vision, and we've been able to build our platform's capability based on the needs and requests of our customers as they figure this out," said Robin Bordoli, CEO of CrowdFlower. "Now, new customers come to us and ask us how they should be labeling images for self-driving cars, or consumer product companies identifying SKUs on retail shelves, or aerial images from drones or satellites, or even cancer cells for medical research. We've taken the best practices from working with these industry pioneers to drive that learning back into the platform and how we structure successful customer engagements."

CrowdFlower's Computer Vision offering allows data scientists to easily create and execute an image annotation job on the CrowdFlower platform. The platform supports line annotation, bounding box annotation, and pixel-level annotation, and leverages a combination of human and machine intelligence to create large-scale high-quality image training sets.

"A human-in-the-loop workflow is incredibly important for Computer Vision. With something like autonomous driving, errors in the AI system can be devastating," said Dr. Barney Pell, Ph.D., AI pioneer and Machine Learning Fellow at the Creative Disruption Lab at the University of Toronto. "The quality of modern AI systems based on machine learning is most directly impacted by the quality and quantity of data. CrowdFlower helps companies improve their machine learning models by continuously providing high-quality training data at scales required for performance. Moreover, training a model is not a one-time thing -- new edge cases constantly emerge, and that model needs to learn, otherwise it could fail. This is where humans come in to augment this process  serving as a great example of the theory that humans and machines are better together."

To learn more about CrowdFlower, and its Computer Vision technology, visit www.crowdflower.com/use-case/image-annotation

About CrowdFlower

CrowdFlower is the essential human-in-the-loop AI platform for data science teams. CrowdFlower helps customers generate high-quality customized training data for their machine learning initiatives, or automate a business process with easy-to-deploy models and integrated human-in-the-loop workflows. The CrowdFlower software platform supports a wide range of use cases including self-driving cars, intelligent personal assistants, medical image labeling, content categorization, customer support ticket classification, social data insight, CRM data enrichment, product categorization, and search relevance.

Headquartered in San Francisco and backed by Canvas Venture Fund, Trinity Ventures, and Microsoft Ventures, CrowdFlower serves data science teams at Fortune 500 and fast-growing data-driven organizations across a wide variety of industries. For more information, visit www.crowdflower.com.

SOURCE CrowdFlower

Related Links

http://www.crowdflower.com


Being an official partner with the American TESOL Institute (ATI), DaDaABC provides a series of online, comprehensive training courses to ensure that their aspiring instructors are qualified for teaching. More than just a working opportunity in becoming a certified ESL online English instructor, DaDaABC aims to offer a passionate career out of helping and connecting their instructors with Chinese students.

Adams, a DaDaABC instructor from Liverpool, said, "Joining DaDaABC was one of the best decisions I've ever made. After graduating from college, I did not have an idea as to what I wanted to do, but that was until I became an instructor for DaDaABC. How amazing it was that I could work from home, and teach a kid online who is thousands of miles away. I first thought that teaching would just be a part-time job for me, but now I truly believe that this is a lifelong career for me."

With DaDaABC, instructors can enjoy the convenience of being able to connect with their students anytime and anywhere, and feel a great sense of accomplishment and achievement. In today's ever-changing market, being a DaDaABC instructor is also a big step in the right direction for personal career development because instructors can gain a valuable set of skills and experiences in online education.

Hui Zhi, founder and CEO of DaDaABC, said, "With the continuous innovation of technology, learning English online will become a more immersive and intelligent process. DaDaABC will continue to apply advancements in technology alongside professional management to bring the best service and teaching experience to our students. We care immensely about them, and want to guide them in thinking, exploring, and growing while learning English. We care about our instructors as well, and are constantly striving to create more career opportunities for them."

In addition, DaDaABC is the first authorized online testing center in China that currently offers the PTE Young Learners Test. Recognized internationally, the PTE Young Learners test is a fun English language assessment for students age 6 to 13. DaDaABC is offering this test to students so that parents can see the legitimate results of their children's progress.

Becoming Friends: Students and Instructors Paired Using the "Fixed One-on-one Teaching Model"

These days, more and more parents are going online, and sharing the tremendous progress that their children have made since enrolling with DaDaABC. Parents are also glad to see the special friendship that develops between their children and their instructors, and as a result, has made their kids more sociable and outspoken.

On Weibo, a popular microblog China, one parent wrote, "We've been using DaDaABC's platform for four months, and already we see a big difference in our child, Vicky. She was not willing to speak English at first, but now she loves talking to her instructor. They laugh and sing during their sessions together, and because of that, Vicky looks forward to her online classes each week. Anna has been her instructor from day one, and she is a fantastic teacher. We greatly appreciate DaDaABC's fixed one-on-one teaching model, and the impact that it has had."

Within the EdTech industry, the "fixed one-on-one instructor" is a significant feature of the DaDaABC curriculum, with particular emphasis on "fixed." This feature refers to an algorithmic system that best pairs a student to an instructor. The specific algorithm used is the parking algorithm. Prior to their first class, students will be evaluated on various aspects, and using their results, the system accurately analyzes and then arranges the instructors by the best match for the student. Once matched, the instructor is "fixed" for each class, and is well equipped with a personalized set of teaching materials. The algorithm can also deal with more complex instances, such as sick leaves and makeup classes.

Because the instructor is, at any given class, in charge of teaching just one student, he or she will have the best idea of the student's learning progress. Along with this understanding, the instructor can then select the best teaching materials suited for the student's personality and characteristics. After years of research and constant modification, as well as integration of the advantages of offline education, DaDaABC's "fixed one-on-one instructor" teaching model is the most efficient and practical model yet.

Alex, a DaDaABC instructor based in Boston, said of this model: "I think [it] is a very intelligent model. I used to teach a class of 30 students, and it was overwhelming; I couldn't give each student the care and attention they need. After joining DaDaABC, I only need to focus on one student at a time, and I can easily gauge his or her progress. On top of this, I really enjoy being a friend to my students."

About DaDaABC

Founded in 2013, DaDaABC is the most innovative English training institution in China, and was established to provide what has become one of China's most successful intelligent English learning platforms for children. Winner of over 15 awards and recognitions in 2016, DaDaABC developed a leading English training system focused on one-on-one online tutoring and encourage youngsters to learn and practice while having fun with instructors, and announced a total capital raising of 500 million RMB in Series B and Series B+, which will be used in market expansion, curriculum development and learning experience improvement. DaDaABC has been helping students from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, France, Germany, and other non-English speaking countries. For more information, please visit: http://www.dadaabc.com/teacher/job

SOURCE DaDaABC

Related Links

http://www.dadaabc.com


NEW YORK, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and rideshare company Lyft are partnering to offer SkyMiles members more opportunities to earn miles doing something they can do every day  requesting a ride. Starting today, SkyMiles members can earn miles for every Lyft ride, and for a limited time, earn bonus miles during their travel for rides to and from the airport, everywhere Lyft operates.

Delta and Lyft Team Up To Reward Customers with First-of-its-Kind Partnership

Lyft is the latest company in a series of innovative new partnerships for Delta. In November 2016 Delta launched a first-of-its-kind partnership with Airbnb offering SkyMiles members the ability to earn miles as a host or as a guest in millions of unique homes around the world. Delta's partnership with CLEAR, an innovative biometric identity verification platform, allows SkyMiles members the opportunity to expedite the TSA security clearance process at exclusive discounted rates.

"We're thinking about our customers' whole travel experience and it's important that Delta customers are taken care of not just in the air, but on the ground," said Sandeep Dube, Delta's Vice President - Customer Engagement & Loyalty. "We want Delta customers to choose the brands that they love throughout their journey, and be rewarded for it because they are SkyMiles members. That's why we're excited we've found a good fit with Lyft."

Lyft is the exclusive rideshare partner for Delta, making SkyMiles the only major U.S. airline loyalty program to let members earn miles through any Lyft ride.

"We are proud to announce Delta as our newest strategic partner, an iconic brand in the transportation landscape," said David Baga, Chief Business Officer at Lyft. "In working with the Delta team we discovered that our two companies share similar values, emphasizing customer focus and having employee-centric cultures. This first-of-its-kind partnership rewards our customers while providing them with a seamless end to end travel experience."

How It Works

It's as simple as linking SkyMiles and Lyft accounts, and requesting a ride. All SkyMiles members are eligible. Customers who are not already enrolled in the SkyMiles program can sign up for free through the partner page or Delta.com/enroll to become eligible. To download the Lyft app, visit Lyft.com/app-sms.

SkyMiles member Lyft benefits offered exclusively at Delta.com/Lyft include:

One mile per dollar* spent on all rides, with unlimited mileage earning

Limited time launch bonus of two bonus miles for a total of three miles per $1* spent on Lyft ride(s) to or from any airport location

spent on Lyft ride(s) to or from any airport location New rider $20 credit broken down into two $10 Lyft ride credits

credit broken down into two Lyft ride credits All Lyft rides are all eligible to earn miles including Lyft Line, Classic, Plus and Premier

SkyMiles members can use their miles, which never expire, to travel to over 1,000 global destinations. Award tickets start at just 10,000 miles, plus taxes and fees, for one-way awards. Members can also use their miles to upgrade seats, gain access to exclusive events with SkyMiles Experiences, buy memberships to Delta Sky Clubs, buy premium drinks at Delta Sky Clubs and more.

* Excludes taxes, tolls, tips and fees.

Terms apply and are available at https://www.deltalyft.com/terms-conditions/

About Delta

Delta Air Lines serves more than 180 million customers each year. In 2017, Delta was named to Fortune's top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the sixth time in seven years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 322 destinations in 58 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry's leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, and Facebook.com/delta.

About Lyft

As the nation's fastest-growing rideshare company, Lyft is preferred by drivers and passengers for its safe and friendly experience, and operates in more than 300 cities across the U.S. The tech disrupter transports nearly 20 million riders per month and offers its customers both scheduled and on-demand ground transportation.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines

Related Links

http://www.delta.com


NEW YORK, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On May 31, Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of The Dr. Oz Show, will present the 2017 American Turkish Society Philanthropy Awards to Nevzat Aydn, co-founder and CEO of Yemeksepeti, and Dr. Tamer Seckin, founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, at their Gala on Wednesday, May 31 in New York. Both awardees will be honored for their commitment to improving the lives of so many in the United States and Turkey.

Under Nevzat Aydn's leadership Yemeksepeti, the leading online food delivery service in Turkey, operates in 64 Turkish cities and in Cyprus, with more than 1,000 member restaurants, 5.2 million users, and 150,000 orders delivered to 400,000 people on a daily basis. Yemeksepeti is rapidly expanding to other countries. In 2013, Mr. Aydn was named number one on Fortune Turkey's 40 Under 40 list which recognizes the country's top young business leaders and innovators. He was among the 150 international entrepreneurs invited to participate in the Entrepreneurship Summit held by US President Barack Obama in 2010. In 2015, Yemeksepeti was acquired by the German-based company Delivery Hero for $589 million.

Ranked amongst America's top surgeons and gynecologists, Dr. Tamer Seckin has committed himself to the treatment of endometriosis, a disease of the female reproductive system. In 2009, Dr. Seckin founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA), an organization that works to raise awareness and emphasizes the critical value of surgical excision of endometriosis. The EFA is the first research and advocacy foundation organized by a private physician. Under his guidance as Medical Director, the EFA strives to increase disease recognition, provide advocacy, facilitate expert surgical training and fund landmark endometriosis research.

For more on the American Turkish Society or to attend the Gala, please visit www.americanturkishsociety.org

SOURCE The American Turkish Society
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Emmes Corporation today announced that Dr. Paul VanVeldhuisen, chief operating officer and principal investigator, co-authored a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The study focused on the efficacy and safety of a commonly used, off-label drug called Avastin in treating macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion. The study also addressed how Avastin compared to another drug, Eylea, which has been approved by the FDA and is being used to treat the same disease.

The 2-1/2-year study with nearly 400 patients concluded that Avastin was as effective as Eylea in improving vision after six months of treatment. The cost of Avastin is $60 per dose compared to Eylea's $1,850 per dose.

Macular edema resulting from central retinal vein occlusion is the second most common retinal vascular disease and can cause vision loss. An estimated 16 million adults worldwide are affected by retinal vein occlusion.

The research was sponsored by the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. The Study of Comparative Treatments for Retinal Vein Occlusion 2 (SCORE2) was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology conference in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 9, 2017.

According to Dr. VanVeldhuisen, this was the first large-scale study ever conducted to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of these two drugs in patients with central retinal vein occlusion.

"I'd like to acknowledge the leadership of Drs. Ingrid Scott, Michael Ip and Barbara Blodi, who led the team in this important research," he said. "It's been an honor to work closely with these outstanding researchers."

Dr. Anne Lindblad, president and chief executive officer of Emmes, noted, "We have a long history with the National Eye Institute and are proud of our contributions to ophthalmic research. We look forward to continuing to lead clinical trials that contribute to new, better and less expensive treatment options."

About Dr. Paul VanVeldhuisen

Dr. VanVeldhuisen joined The Emmes Corporation in 1993 and was Emmes' principal investigator of the Study of Comparative Treatments for Retinal Vein Occlusion 2 (SCORE2) sponsored by the National Eye Institute. He has served as principal investigator for both government and privately funded research projects and has authored or co-authored 70 papers since he joined the company. Dr. Van Veldhuisen was named a vice president in 2006 and was promoted to the newly created position of chief operating officer last year. He received the company's Public Health Impact Award in 2013 for his team's research on the safety of cesarean sections. He holds a Ph.D. in epidemiology from The George Washington University, an M.S. in biostatistics from the University of Washington, and a B.S. in mathematics from Calvin College.

About Emmes

We collaborate with our clients to produce valued, trusted scientific research. Our team members at Emmes are passionate about making a difference in the quality of human health, and we have supported more than a thousand studies across a diverse range of diseases since our formation in 1977. Our research is contributing to a healthier world. For more information, visit www.emmes.com.

SOURCE The Emmes Corporation

Related Links

http://www.emmes.com


ATLANTA, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a culprit of contentious couple fights. It's the start of parental chore wars. Let's face it, doing dishes incites dread in most households. In an effort to prevent dishes from dividing us all, Georgia-Pacific's Dixie brand is celebrating National "No Dirty Dishes Day" on May 18.

As the leader in disposable tableware and other conveniences for busy families, Dixie knows consumers want help with ways to cut down on mundane household chores. And if doing the dishes is at the top of that list  Dixie paper plates can help.

Dixie Ultra 176-count plates will be a Best Deal on Amazon on Thursday, May 18 (No Dirty Dishes Day), when consumers can save 20 percent off with one time purchase or up to 30 percent with Subscribe and Save. To celebrate "No Dirty Dishes Day," Dixie Ultra 176-count plates will be a Best Deal on Amazon on Thursday, May 18, when consumers can save 20 percent off with a one time purchase or up to 30 percent with Subscribe and Save.

National "No Dirty Dishes Day" should be everyone's guilt-free pass to spend less time in the kitchen dealing with the daily dish dilemma and more time doing the things people love by using paper plates during mealtimes.

To help make this a reality, Dixie Ultra 176-count plates will be a Best Deal on Amazon on Thursday, May 18, when consumers can save 20 percent off the strongest paper plate available among leading national brands with a one-time purchase, or up to 30 percent with Subscribe and Save. Dixie is also launching an integrated marketing campaign incorporating custom online video, search, social media and blogger support to encourage shoppers to imagine never doing dishes again.

"The Dixie brand is all about freeing up time for today's busy families and giving them more confidence that our quality products will work for every occasion," said Rafael Garcia, senior brand director, Dixie. "With a plate that is 10 times stronger than the leading uncoated plate that can stand up to the heaviest, messiest meals families can dish out, consumers might never do dishes again."

Make #NeverDoDishes a reality and let imaginations run wild as we think about all the fun things we can do instead of the dishes.

About Dixie

Dixie Consumer Products LLC, a Georgia-Pacific company, manufactures the Dixie brand of disposable tableware. Headquartered at Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of building products, tissue, packaging, paper, cellulose and related chemicals. The familiar consumer tissue brands of Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP include Quilted Northern, Angel Soft, Brawny, Sparkle, Mardi Gras, Vanity Fair as well as Dixie. For more information, visit www.gp.com.

SOURCE Georgia-Pacific

Related Links

http://www.gp.com


SAN FRANCISCO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Enlitic, the world's first medical deep learning company is pleased to announce that it won the top prize at the first Cube Tech Fair in Berlin, Germany, beating out 250 of the world's most innovative companies.

During the final round, COO Kevin Lyman gave a demonstration of Enlitic's medical deep learning diagnostics platforms in front of competition judge (and Apple co-founder) Steve Wozniak to take home the top prize of 1 Million - the largest prize of its kind, worldwide.

The competition is the latest success for Enlitic on its path towards commercializing its medical deep learning technology. "Because Enlitic was the first company to enter this field, our technology is the most mature in the world. We've demonstrated to our partners in blind tests that we can rapidly and accurately identify anomalies in medical images  the only company in the world with this capability," said Sally Daub, Executive Advisor and Board Member who has been advising the company on commercialization strategy since Fall 2016. "We chose the Cube competition for its global reach. With partners like Bayer, representatives of government and a vast network of potential customers, it was the ideal opportunity to showcase Enlitic's medical deep learning technology and its array of applications in pharmaceutical research, diagnostics, and patient care."

Founder, Jeremy Howard said, "When I started Enlitic, I quickly realized that the best way to help doctors is to find and highlight all medical abnormalities  not just a small set of afflictions. That vision has now become a reality, and it is really rewarding to see Enlitic's technology getting recognized in this way."

About Enlitic

Enlitic, Inc. ("Enlitic") is the world's first medical deep learning company. For its unique algorithms, engineered from the ground up by renowned data scientists, machine learning practitioners, and medical experts, it was named one of the world's "50 Smartest Companies" by MIT Tech Review. By combining medical images, texts, and other data, Enlitic's technology leverages billions of clinical cases to accelerate pharmaceutical research and drug trials, drive clinical efficiencies, and improve diagnostic accuracy, speed and patient outcomes. Enlitic is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

About CUBE

CUBE (www.cube-global.com) is a global ecosystem dedicated to bridging the gap between top B2B startups and major industry leaders. With a deep understanding of startups and corporations and their vastly different cultures, CUBE connects these unlikely partners through a network of touchpoints worldwide, and acts as the most efficient B2B matchmaking service available. Through a year-round program CUBE also offers industry and startups a space to collaborate via its Cooperation Space in the heart of Berlin. The highlight event of the year is the CUBE Tech Fair, that brings global visibility to the most important industries in startup innovations by promoting projects between leading industry players and startups. CUBE was founded in June 2016 with Dr. Torsten Oelke as executive chairman and global founding partners Bayer, Dell, Messe Berlin and VW.

SOURCE Enlitic
LONDON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- There has been an exponential rise in the occurrence of various diseases. Enzyme inhibitors are used as diagnostic agents to detect various diseases thus fueling the growth of enzyme inhibitor market. Moreover, usage of these inhibitors in the manufacturing of pesticides and herbicides favours the market growth. However, the existence of strict regulations increases the cost as well as launch period of new drugs, thereby hampering the growth of the global market.





Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4823104/







Developing nations of North America and Europe has high growth because of improved diagnosis rate for the diseases, accessibility of medical facility and presence of established infrastructure. Asia Pacific market is expected to flourish due to the existence of large patient pool, enhancing healthcare infrastructure in developing nations such as India, China, and South Korea.



Some of the key players in the market include Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Merck KGaA, Novartis AG, Pfizer, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, Roche and Takeda Pharma.



Type of Enzyme Inhibitors Covered:

- Reversible

- Irreversible



End Users Covered:

- Agrochemical

- Pharmaceutical

- Biotechnology

- Food & Beverage

- Other End Users



Disease Indications Covered:

- Arthritis

- Cardiovascular Disease

- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders

- Gastrointestinal Disorders

- Inflammatory Diseases

- Other Diseases



Applications Covered:

- Pesticide Synthesis

- Drug Development

- Diagnostic Agent

- Other Applications



Regions Covered:

- North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

- Europe

o Germany

o France

o Italy

o UK

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

- Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o Rest of Asia Pacific

- Rest of the World

o Middle East

o Brazil

o Argentina

o South Africa

o Egypt



What our report offers:

- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

- Market share analysis of the top industry players

- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

- Market forecasts for a minimum of 6 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4823104/



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

http://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

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ATLANTA, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) today announced that Chief Financial Officer John Gamble and Senior Vice President of Investor Relations Douglas Brandberg will meet with investors in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 24th. Gamble will meet with investors in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 25th.

Gamble and Brandberg will discuss the company's first quarter 2017 performance, as well as the strategic outlook for 2017.

An archive of the presentation will be available at investor.equifax.com.

About Equifax

Equifax is a global information solutions company that uses trusted unique data, innovative analytics, technology and industry expertise to power organizations and individuals around the world by transforming knowledge into insights that help make more informed business and personal decisions. The company organizes, assimilates and analyzes data on more than 820 million consumers and more than 91 million businesses worldwide, and its database includes employee data contributed from more than 7,100 employers.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. It is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index, and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EFX. Equifax employs approximately 9,700 employees worldwide.

Some noteworthy achievements for the company include: Ranked 13 on the American Banker FinTech Forward list (2015); named a Top Technology Provider on the FinTech 100 list (2004-2015); named an InformationWeek Elite 100 Winner (2014-2015); named a Top Workplace by Atlanta Journal Constitution (2013-2015); named one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies (2011-2015); named one of Forbes' World's 100 Most Innovative Companies (2015). For more information, visit www.equifax.com.

SOURCE Equifax Inc.

Related Links

http://www.equifax.com


WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Government Employees is joining with other employee organizations in opposing any attempts to privatize the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control system.

AFGE is one of seven organizations representing FAA's rank-and-file employees and managers that sent a joint letter to leaders from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in opposition to privatization.

Seven organizations representing employees and managers at the Federal Aviation Administration, including the American Federation of Government Employees, are speaking out in opposition to any attempts to privatize the nation's air traffic control system.

"Quite simply, overhauling the entire aviation system by removing air traffic control from federal oversight and funding will be a serious setback for its development and growth," the letter states. "Our air traffic control system is a national public asset and we strongly believe it should remain in the public trust."

The FAA operates and maintains the National Airspace System, which safely transports two million passengers to and from their destinations on about 70,00 flights per day. The commercial aviation industry is a cornerstone of the American economy, contributing $1.5 trillion to the economy each year and supplying more than 10 million American jobs.

Privatization would jeopardize the FAA's almost-completed work to develop the nation's Next Generation Air Transportation System, commonly called NextGen, which is being spearheaded by FAA researchers and engineers at the William J. Hughes Technical Center outside Atlantic City, N.J.

"FAA employees have decades of specialized experience maintaining the National Airspace System that cannot be replaced without great costs to American taxpayers and great risks to the flying public," said Ron Consalvo, president of AFGE Local 200, which represents more than 340 federal employees at the technical center.

The tech center is a major hub of economic activity in the region, issuing $425 million in contracts to 239 businesses in fiscal 2016  primarily small businesses and those owned by minorities, women, service-connected veterans, and other disadvantaged groups.

"Considering that aviation accounts for more than 5 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, we cannot gamble with the future of our air traffic control system," the joint letter states. "Privatization is unlikely to make the system more efficient or less costly, but would introduce a significant level of uncertainty into the global aviation economy."

The Congressional Budget Office says privatizing the air traffic control system would increase the nation's deficit by $20 billion over 10 years and billions more in subsequent decades. The Department of Defense says it has "serious concerns" about the impact privatization would have on national defense  specifically on critical military assets managed jointly by the Pentagon and FAA, including drones, communication systems, and surveillance.

"Privatizing air traffic control will raise costs to taxpayers and the flying public, jeopardize our national security, and throw the FAA's entire operation into chaos," AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. said.

Joining AFGE in signing the letter were the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the FAA Managers Association, the National Association of Government Employees; the National Federation of Federal Employees; the Professional Association of Aeronautical Center Employees; and the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 700,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees

Related Links

http://www.afge.org


"Lisa has demonstrated incredible leadership qualities in managing and improving our Credit Administration Department," said First Sound Bank President and CEO Jon Shelton. "We are extremely fortunate to have someone of her caliber now join our executive management team."

Cleary began her banking career as an assistant vice president and loan operations manager for Fortune Bank in 2007 and was promoted to vice president and Small Business Administration (SBA) assistant manager for the bank in 2010, a position that she continued to hold after the 2013 merger with HomeStreet Bank. Following her departure from HomeStreet, Cleary took an extended leave to travel the world before joining First Sound Bank.

She is a 2005 graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, with a bachelor's degree in business administration management and organizations, and graduated with honors from Pacific Coast Banking School in 2013. Cleary, who participated in the Washington Bankers Association Executive Development Program from 2009-2010, was awarded a scholarship by the organization to attend Pacific Coast Banking School.

About First Sound Bank

Seattle-based First Sound Bank offers customized banking for small- to medium-sized businesses, organizations, not-for-profits and professionals in the Puget Sound region. The Bank is committed to delivering personalized service, convenient access and competitive rates to support the needs of the business community. First Sound Bank offers online banking at www.firstsoundbank.com plus an expansive array of cash management services, as well as ATM banking throughout the country and abroad.

SOURCE First Sound Bank

Related Links

http://www.firstsoundbank.com


NEW YORK, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Information Builders, a leader in business intelligence (BI) and analytics, data integrity, and integration solutions, today announced a growth equity investment led by Goldman Sachs' Private Capital Investing group (NYSE: GS). This investment will further extend Information Builders' leadership position in the large and growing market for BI solutions.

Gerald Cohen, president and CEO of Information Builders said, "We are extremely pleased to have Goldman Sachs as an investor. Their investment in Information Builders affirms the value of our world-class technology and services and reinforces our efforts for growth moving forward."

The Private Capital Investing group is Goldman Sachs' investment platform dedicated to providing junior capital to growth and middle market companies throughout North America. The group is co-headed by Michael McGinn, managing director at Goldman Sachs, who will be joining the board as part of the investment. Also participating in the financing is Bregal Sagemount, a firm with an established track record of software investing.

"Goldman Sachs is pleased to contribute to Information Builders' continued growth and innovation in the business intelligence industry," said Stephen Kerns, vice president in Goldman Sachs' Private Capital Investing group. "Information Builders has a long history of market leadership and customer-focused solutions, as demonstrated by its very strong reputation and impressive customer base. We look forward to working with Information Builders to further position the company for long-term growth."

Deloitte acted as lead financial advisor to Information Builders on this minority investment transaction.

About Information Builders

Information Builders provides solutions for business intelligence (BI), analytics, data integration, and data quality that help drive performance improvements, innovation, and value. Through one set of powerful products, we enable organizations to serve everyone  analysts, non-technical users, even partners, customers, and citizens  with better data and analytics. Our dedication to customer success is unmatched with thousands of organizations relying on us as their trusted partner. Founded in 1975, Information Builders is headquartered in New York, NY, with global offices, and remains one of the largest independent, privately held companies in the industry. Visit us at informationbuilders.com, follow us on Twitter at @infobldrs, like us on Facebook, and visit our LinkedIn page.

About Goldman Sachs

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.

Press Contacts

Kathleen Moran

Information Builders

(917) 339-6313

[email protected]

Tracey Frederickson

LEWIS

(781) 761-4500

[email protected]

SOURCE Information Builders

Related Links

http://www.informationbuilders.com


Hollinger, 42, joined GoldOller in 2009 as Director of Acquisitions and ascended almost immediately to Principal and Executive Vice President/COO. According to Richard Oller, GoldOller's Executive Chairman, Hollinger's promotion is recognition of the central role Jake has played fostering the rapid growth and success of GoldOller which today owns and operates more than 2 Billion of real estate assets.

"Jake is an intuitive strategic planner, disciplined investor, and very talented operations manager who helped craft GoldOller's unique culture of team work which as led to our extraordinary results. His varied talents, limitless energy and decency, have been a catalyst for our dramatic growth and success." Oller said.

Jeff Goldstein, GoldOller's Co-Chairman said "Jake is a trusted and talented partner who has earned the respect of his team, his partners and this promotion. Jake will continue seeking opportunities for acquisitions and growth, while always acting to ensure GoldOller maintains its performance edge."

The promotion was a surprise to Hollinger when it was announced by Oller and Goldstein at the firm's annual GO MEET retreat. "More than a hundred GoldOller team leaders and associates from across the U.S. rewarded Hollinger with a standing ovation. That's the real acknowledgement," Oller said.

Hollinger graduated from Harvard University with honors and received his MBA from Harvard Business School. Hollinger resides in Philadelphia with his wife Beth and their two young children.

About GoldOller

www.goldoller.com

Formed in 2008 by industry veterans Richard Oller and Jeffery Goldstein, GoldOller is an emerging leader in the multi-family housing industry and an innovative owner-operator of apartment communities throughout the United States. GoldOller owns and operates apartment communities in 17 States valued in excess of 2 billion dollars, containing about 16,000 units.

Multifamily Management Services, a GoldOller affiliate, provides third party management to communities containing about 30,000 units, while other affiliates develop, own, and operate condominium, office, hotel, industrial, and retail assets. GoldOller has corporate offices in Philadelphia and New York City, as well as regional offices located in Kansas City, Atlanta, and Orlando.

CONTACT: Richard Oller , 267-322-5600 ext. 115, [email protected]

SOURCE GoldOller Real Estate Investments

Related Links

http://www.goldoller.com


EVANSTON, Ill., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Great Lakes Protection Fund (GLPF) is pleased to announce that Lee Swindall has been appointed to serve as the organization's new Executive Director. He will join GLPF in July 2017.

Mr. Swindall is a distinguished executive leader with an accomplished record of managing large-scale public / private partnerships during his 35-year career. He will be the third Executive Director to hold the position since GLPF's founding in 1989, and his vast experience and diverse skillset make him uniquely qualified to advance the organization's mission to protect and preserve the Great Lakes, one of our nation's most precious natural resources.

Since 2011, Mr. Swindall has served as the Vice President of Sector Strategy Development with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). A division leader at WEDC, Mr. Swindall led a wide-array of sponsored programs to aid and promote state economic development. He and his team worked closely with public entities, private industry, and a host of nonprofit organizations to ensure agency resources were allocated effectively to positively impact communities throughout the area. He also served as an administrator for the Targeted Industry Projects portfolio, a fund designed to spur growth and advance economic progress.

Mr. Swindall has been a member of the Board of Directors of The Water Council in Milwaukee, WI, a group founded to align water related industries with the area's freshwater research community. "I've always been passionate about the success of our region," he stated. "And as an avid hiker and lover of the outdoors, I've long admired the majesty of the Great Lakes and respected their contribution to our environment. I'm looking forward to collaborating with the exceptional team at GLPF to ensure that the Great Lakes continue to thrive, through innovative grants that will preserve this resource for generations to come. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this terrific organization, and I can't wait to get started."

Prior to WEDC, Mr. Swindall was the Acting Executive Director of the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), where he led WMEP mission initiatives and oversaw daily operations. Previously, Mr. Swindall was the Principal and Vice President of Marketing and Client Relations for the global consulting firm Argea, Inc. Early in his career, he worked for a wide range of international financial institutions, including Thomas McKinnon / UBS / Paine Webber, Shearson / Lehman Brothers, Inc., CM&M / Hong Kong Shanghai Bank, and Market Makers Group Amsterdam.

"Lee is an exceptional talent and a man of great integrity," noted Debra Shore, Chair of the Board of Directors with GLPF. "His well-proven leadership skills  and his established record of engaging diverse groups to work together to promote the region's public interest  make him a perfect fit for our organization. He has the right experience to lead GLPF forward, and we're thrilled to welcome him to the organization."

Mr. Swindall follows Russell Van Herik, who announced his retirement earlier this year after serving GLPF with distinction for over 20 years. "Russ had an enormous impact on our organization," added Ms. Shore. "We are grateful to him for his tireless dedication to GLPF, and his countless contributions over the years will forever benefit the Great Lakes region. We thank him, and wish him, the very best."

The Governors of seven of the eight Great Lakes states created the Great Lakes Protection Fund in 1989 to help them protect and restore their shared Great Lakes resources. The Fund is the first private endowment created to benefit a specific ecosystem. Since 1989, The Fund has awarded more than $78 million in grants to academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private sector partnerships to catalyze the continuous development of new technologies, innovative methods, and practical regional actions to improve the health of the Great Lakes watershed.

For more information please visit www.glpf.org.

SOURCE Great Lakes Protection Fund

Related Links

http://www.glpf.org


CHICAGO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Grubhub, the nation's leading takeout marketplace, today announced its integration with industry-leading point of sale (POS) systems, Breadcrumb POS by Upserve and Toast. Restaurants using these systems can now manage all of their orders, both in-house and takeout, from one device. The new integration will also allow restaurants to more efficiently staff, save time on menu updates, consolidate financials and free up space on the crowded delivery tablet counter.

Grubhub's POS integration raises the bar for in-house restaurant technology efficiency and eliminates the need to use multiple tablets, offering restaurant employees a streamlined restaurant operations experience. This means more time for staff to focus on what matters most: serving up delicious food.

"We're completely focused on creating technology that enhances the experience of our restaurant partners," said Stan Chia, Chief Operating Officer of Grubhub. "With restaurant feedback in mind, we've built integrations designed to create efficiencies for restaurateurs. These improvements will positively impact the bottom line of restaurateurs, by helping restaurant owners spend less time on management logistics and more time creating great food."

Some key benefits include:

Improved staffing efficiencies - Streamlining restaurant management functions means restaurateurs can deliver more orders for negligible incremental labor. This leads to significant cost savings, particularly for high-volume restaurants

Streamlining restaurant management functions means restaurateurs can deliver more orders for negligible incremental labor. This leads to significant cost savings, particularly for high-volume restaurants Smoother restaurant operations - Managing orders and inventory directly from the POS system allows staff to focus on serving up delicious food, rather than spending time tracking orders on multiple tablets

Managing orders and inventory directly from the POS system allows staff to focus on serving up delicious food, rather than spending time tracking orders on multiple tablets Save time on menu updates - Menus updated via the POS system will automatically update on Grubhub's website, and on the mobile web and apps. This offers significant time savings to restaurant employees

Menus updated via the POS system will automatically update on Grubhub's website, and on the mobile web and apps. This offers significant time savings to restaurant employees Better business insights - Consolidated financial information makes balancing the books and managing tips easier and more efficient

Consolidated financial information makes balancing the books and managing tips easier and more efficient Fewer devices in-house - Integrating into one in-house system allows restaurant owners to reduce the amount of hardware at each restaurant, clearing the crowded counter of delivery tablets to create a more functional space

"We're thrilled to welcome Grubhub to the Upserve Marketplace as our newest ordering partner, enabling instant online ordering to Breadcrumb POS to improve productivity, speed delivery time and eliminate errors," said Angus Davis, CEO and founder of Upserve. "Building on the early success we saw with shared customers during the pre-release shipped last quarter, we are excited to now bring this new program to many more of the 32 million active diners who enjoy over 23 million meals per month on the Upserve platform."

"Toast Restaurant POS is an all-in-one mobile, cloud-based platform built specifically for restaurants. Incorporating key facets of the guest experience into one tool, Toast integrates online ordering, gift card capabilities, loyalty programs, labor reporting, and sales data," said Chris Comparato, CEO of Toast. "We are excited to bring our best-in-class customer support and service to Grubhub users nationwide."

Grubhub's point of sale integration -- a top request from its restaurant partners -- is already creating efficiencies for much-loved restaurant chains including Protein Bar, along with local favorites like NYC's Mile End Delicatessen and Chicago's Bombay Wraps.

"Protein Bar and Kitchen's focus on serving delicious, healthy food to guests has been greatly accelerated due to the power of Grubhub's marketplace," said Jeff Drake, CEO Protein Bar and Kitchen. "In addition, Grubhub continues to demonstrate its leadership and restaurant partner focus by innovating on products such as POS integration, that will allow for unparalleled execution of 3rd party online orders."

"We work hard to create Montreal-style specialty foods for our diners to enjoy, and appreciate the additional reach and awareness brought about by online ordering," said Joel Tietolman, co-owner of Mile End Delicatessen in New York. "Grubhub and Breadcrumb's POS integration allows us to update our in-restaurant and takeout menus at the same time, on one platform. This saves us time each day, and ensures that our diners can choose from the most updated menu items, whether they're eating in our restaurant or dining in the comfort of their own home."

"Our restaurant has one simple mission: to bring the delicious street foods that we ate growing up in Bombay," said Ali Dewjee, owner of Bombay Wraps in Chicago. "Since the integration of our Breadcrumb POS with Grubhub, it's been easier than ever to manage our back-of-house functions, giving us more time to bring the amazing tastes of Bombay to the people of Chicago!"

For more information about Grubhub's POS solutions, go to get.grubhub.com

To find takeout restaurants available in your area, check out Grubhub.com. If you are interested in becoming part of the Grubhub Delivery team, please visit driver.grubhub.com. To find out how your restaurant can join Grubhub, check out get.grubhub.com. To learn more about Grubhub and its portfolio of brands, please visit newsroom.grubhub.com.

About Grubhub

Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) is the nation's leading online and mobile takeout food-ordering marketplace with the most comprehensive network of restaurant partners and largest active diner base. Dedicated to moving eating forward and connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, the company's platforms and services strive to elevate food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub is proud to work with more than 50,000 restaurant partners in over 1,100 U.S. cities and London. The Grubhub portfolio of brands includes Grubhub, Seamless, AllMenus, and MenuPages.

SOURCE Grubhub

Related Links

http://www.grubhub.com


SAN FRANCISCO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP regarding the Optical Disk Drive Products Antitrust Litigation:

LEGAL NOTICE

In Re Optical Disk Drive Products Antitrust Litigation

United States District Court, Northern District Of California

Case No. 3:10-MD-2143-RS (MDL 2143)

If you purchased a new computer with an internal ODD, a stand-alone ODD designed for internal use in a computer, or an ODD designed to be attached externally to a computer while a resident of Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wisconsin during the period of April 2003 to December 2008 for your own use and not for resale, you may be eligible for benefits from settlements reached in antitrust litigation currently pending in federal court. ODD refers to a DVD-RW, DVD-ROM, or COMBO drive manufactured by one or more Defendants or their alleged conspirators. For class members to ensure cash payment, you must file a claim online or by mail by August 1, 2017.

This notice is a summary only. For the precise terms and conditions of the settlement, visit www.OpticalDiskDriveAntitrust.com .

Para una notificacion en Espanol, llamar 1-877-368-9020 o visitar

www.OpticalDiskDriveAntitrust.com .

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?



The Court has certified a class of indirect purchasers of ODDs. Separately, plaintiffs have reached proposed settlements with three defendant families: Koninklijke Philips N.V., Lite-On IT Corporation, Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions Corporation, Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (collectively "PLDS"), Pioneer Corporation, Pioneer North America, Inc., Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan Co. (collectively "Pioneer"), TEAC America, Inc., and TEAC Corporation (collectively "TEAC") in antitrust class action lawsuits involving the price of a computer with a ODD and a stand-alone ODDs manufactured and sold by certain companies ("Litigation").

WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENTS?

Individuals and businesses that, during April 2003 to December 2008, purchased a new computer with an internal ODD, stand-alone ODD designed for internal use in a computer, or an ODD designed to be attached externally to a computer anywhere in the enumerated states for their own use and not for resale. Purchases made directly from an ODD manufacturer and the purchases of Panasonic-branded computers are not included. A list of manufacturers may be found at www.OpticalDiskDriveAntitrust.com or by calling 1-877-368-9020.

WHAT DO THE SETTLEMENTS PROVIDE?

The settlements provide for $55.5 million in new recovery for class members. Specifically:

The PLDS settlement provides for a $40 million settlement fund.

settlement fund. The Pioneer settlement provides for a $10.5 million settlement fund.

settlement fund. The TEAC settlement provides for a $5 million settlement fund.

These new settlements are in addition to $124.5 million already reached in previous settlements with four defendant families (Panasonic, NEC, Sony and HLDS), which have received final approval by the Court. Class members are still able to make claims on the original $124.5 million in settlements. You can submit a simple online claim form with no proof of purchase required. If final approval is granted to the settlement, Class members who have filed valid and timely claims will receive cash payments distributed electronically. If you are a Class Member with valid and timely claims and would prefer to receive a physical check, please submit a written request by August 1, 2017 to In re ODD Products Indirect Purchaser Litigation, PO Box 43424, Providence, RI 02940-3424. IPPs propose to compensate members of the state classes according to a plan of distribution which provides for a pro rata share of the settlement fund based on: (1) the number of ODDs purchased by the class member; and (2) the number of valid claims filed. Any remaining funds may be distributed in a second round to class members, or, depending on the funds remaining, be distributed to the California Attorney General for use in prosecuting consumer and antitrust claims. Under no circumstances will the money go back to the defendants.

WHO ARE RELEASED

The settlements release Koninklijke Philips N.V., Lite-On IT Corporation, Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions Corporation, Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions U.S.A., Inc., Pioneer Corporation, Pioneer North America, Inc., Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan Co., Ltd., Pioneer Digital Design and Manufacturing Company, TEAC America, Inc., and TEAC Corporation from claims made in this Litigation.

YOUR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS

Get a Payment

File a claim online or by mail by August 1, 2017. The simple online claim form only takes 3-5 minutes for most individuals. Claims may be submitted online at www.OpticalDiskDriveAntitrust.com or by mail to In re ODD Products Indirect Purchaser Litigation, PO Box 43424, Providence, RI 02940-3424.

Exclude Yourself

You can choose to exclude yourself from the PLDS, Pioneer, and TEAC settlements and keep your right to sue the defendants on your own. If you exclude yourself, you can't receive any benefits from the settlements. Your written Exclusion Form must be postmarked by July 14, 2017. Please see the full notice at www.OpticalDiskDriveAntitrust.com or call 1-877-368-9020 for complete instructions on how to exclude yourself from the settlements .

File an Objection

You can ask the Court to deny approval by filing an objection.

Objections must be in writing and postmarked on or before July 14, 2017. Please see the full notice at www.OpticalDiskDriveAntitrust.com or call 1-877-368-9020 for complete instructions on how to object from the settlements, and/or notify the Court of your intent to appear at the Final Approval Hearing .

Please note that you cannot ask the Court to order a larger settlement; the Court can only approve or deny the settlement. If the Court denies approval, no settlement payments will be sent out and the lawsuit will continue.

Go to a Hearing

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on September 7, 2017, at 1:30 PM at 450 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco, CA, Courtroom 3- 17th Floor to consider whether to approve or deny the settlements and a request for attorneys' fees up to 25 percent of the settlement funds. You or your own lawyer may ask to appear and speak at the Hearing at your own expense. The Hearing may be moved to a different date or time without additional notice, so please check the website below for additional information.

WHO REPRESENTS ME?

The Court appointed Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP to represent the Settlement Class. You may hire your own attorney, if you wish, at your own expense.

HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

This notice is a summary only. You may access the settlement agreement and other relevant documents on the docket at the office of the Clerk of the Court for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 450 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays, or online through the Court's Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov .

For more information, please contact the Settlement Administrator at 1-877-368-9020 , via email at [email protected], or visit www.OpticalDiskDriveAntitrust.com . You may also contact Class Counsel at Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro at [email protected] .

PLEASE DO NOT TELEPHONE THE COURT OR THE COURT CLERK'S OFFICE TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS SETTLEMENT OR THE CLAIM PROCESS.

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

Related Links

https://www.opticaldiskdriveantitrust.com


DALLAS, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- InfraREIT, Inc. (NYSE: HIFR) ("InfraREIT" or the "Company") today announced the results of the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders held this morning at 11:00 a.m. Central time at the Fairmont Dallas Hotel, 1717 North Akard Street, Dallas, Texas.

At the meeting, stockholders approved the election of three Class II directors to serve for a three-year term and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. The directors are Hunter L. Hunt, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Hunt Consolidated, Inc. and Chairman of Sharyland Utilities, L.P.; Harvey Rosenblum, Professor of Financial Economics in the Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University; and Ellen C. Wolf, retired, former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of American Water Works Company.

The stockholders also approved the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.

"We would like to thank our stockholders for participating today in our annual meeting and for your continued support of our company," said David A. Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of InfraREIT. "Our performance in 2016 demonstrated once again that we can deliver sustained growth by building on our strong business foundation and our alignment with Hunt as InfraREIT's manager, development partner and largest owner. We remain committed to investing in infrastructure to support the region's growing renewable energy and oil and gas sectors and to help ensure safe and reliable service to customers in the Sharyland service territory."

About InfraREIT, Inc.

InfraREIT is a real estate investment trust that owns rate-regulated electric transmission and distribution assets in the state of Texas. The Company is externally managed by Hunt Utility Services, LLC, an affiliate of Hunt Consolidated, Inc. (a diversified holding company based in Dallas, Texas and managed by the Ray L. Hunt family), and the Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HIFR". Additional information on InfraREIT is available at www.InfraREITInc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that state InfraREIT's or its management's intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions about the business, financial performance and prospects of the Company, which, by their nature, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, the risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release speaks only as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any 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.

For additional information, contact: For Investors: Brook Wootton

Vice President, Investor Relations

InfraREIT, Inc.

214-855-6748



For Media: Jeanne Phillips

Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs & International Relations

Hunt Consolidated, Inc.

214-978-8534

SOURCE InfraREIT, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.infrareitinc.com


VIENNA, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs (GTH-GA) has awarded the inaugural DNA Database Hit of the Year award to the Italian Carabinieri and Polizia di Stato for its dedicated work on the Yara Gambirasio murder case. The winning case was selected from 50 cases submitted by 15 countries, and was chosen by a panel of seven international judges with career backgrounds in forensic DNA. The award was announced during the annual Human Identification Solutions (HIDS) Conference held in Vienna, Austria.

"The DNA Hit of the Year Award is designed to bring increased awareness to the incredible power of forensic DNA databases to solve crime and provide closure to victims and their families. It also recognizes the dedication of investigators and forensic scientists throughout the world who use DNA databases to pursue justice," said Tim Schellberg, GTH-GA's President.

The judges selected the Italian case from five finalist cases. The four runner-up cases were from China, Austria, and two from the United States. A full list of submitted cases and a presentation describing this year's award and case highlights can be found at www.dnaresource.com/hitoftheyearmain.html

Yara Gambirasio (of Brembate di Sopra, Italy) was murdered on November 26, 2010. To identify the suspect, whose full DNA profile was found at the crime scene, Italian authorities developed the world's largest known DNA mass screen database. Using this tool, investigators and analysts embarked on a complex and exhaustive familial DNA searching scenario that ultimately led to an arrest on June 14, 2015. The suspect was convicted on July 1, 2016. "I have never seen a case where so much effort was put into finding a suspect through the use of DNA. The men and women of the Italian Carabinieri and the Polizia di Stato should be commended for their tireless work to identify the person that matched the DNA left at the crime scene," said Rock Harmon, Retired Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Alameda County, California (USA), and one of the judges for the 2017 Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs Hit of the Year Award.

About GTH-GA

Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs is globally recognized as experts in forensic DNA database policy, legislative, and law. For nearly twenty years, consultants at GTH-GA have consulted in over 50 countries and states on legislation and policies to establish or expand criminal offender DNA databases.

SOURCE Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs
The executives named to the annual Women of the Channel list span the IT channel, representing vendors, distributors, solution providers and other organizations that figure prominently in the channel ecosystem. Each is recognized for her outstanding leadership, vision and unique role in driving channel growth and innovation.

"These extraordinary executives support every aspect of the channel ecosystem, from technical innovation to marketing to business development, working tirelessly to keep the channel moving into the future," said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company "They are creating and elevating channel partner programs, developing fresh go-to-market strategies, strengthening the channel's network of partnerships and building creative new IT solutions, among many other contributions. We congratulate all the 2017 Women of the Channel on their stellar accomplishments and look forward to their future success."

Chastain's career spans more than 16 years and includes roles in partner relationship management, strategic planning and marketing. She currently oversees Episerver's global network -- which comprises more than 800 channel partners worldwide -- leveraging strategic alliances with technology partners to bolster engagement and expand customer reach and competitive advantage.

"I am honored to again join this prestigious list of highly talented and successful executives," said Chastain. "While we've seen more diversity in the technology field in recent years, we still need to raise awareness in order to better balance the gender scales. It's encouraging to see groups like Women of the Channel create a community of like-minded women that support each other and help educate the tech industry as a whole on diversity in the workplace."

Chastain is currently an active member in the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP) and their Women in Technology (WIT) community, participating on the leadership team for WIT at Microsoft's annual partner conference, Inspire.

The 2017 Women of the Channel list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/wotc.

About Episerver

Episerver connects digital commerce and digital marketing to help organizations create unique digital experiences for their customers, with measurable business results. The Episerver Digital Experience Cloud combines content, commerce, multi-channel marketing, and predictive analytics in a single platform to work full-circle for businesses online  from intelligent real-time personalization and lead-generation through to conversion and repeat business  with unprecedented ease-of-use. Sitting at the center of the digital experience ecosystem, Episerver empowers digital leaders to embrace disruptive, transformational strategies to deliver standout experiences for their customers  everywhere they engage. Founded in 1994, Episerver has offices in Australia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, UAE, UK and the USA. For more information visit www.Episerver.com.

About the Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com

Episerver Contact:

Rachel Teitt

Director, Analyst and Public Relations

+1 614 817 1847

[email protected]

The Channel Company Contact:

Melanie Turpin

The Channel Company

(508) 416-1195

[email protected]

SOURCE Episerver

Related Links

http://www.episerver.com


GLP-1R is a well-recognized drug target for type 2 diabetes, exemplified by several peptidic therapeutic agents on the market, with combined sales of several billions of dollars each year. Worldwide, the costs associated with treating diabetes and its complications are estimated to exceed $200bn a year. Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate throughout the world, with the most significant and recent growth occurring in China.

The GLP-1R structure was determined in complex with negative allosteric modulators (NAMs). The NAMs block the activation of GLP-1R by inserting into the cavity between helices VI and VII, while PAMs bind mainly to the space between helices V and VI enabling the activation. "This structure is one of the holy grails of GPCR drug discovery," said Professor Raymond Stevens at the iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University who co-led the study.

Orally available small molecule therapeutics have been vigorously sought after by many pharmaceutical companies for several decades to replace the peptides. "GPCRs that bind peptides can be particularly challenging for small molecule drug discovery given multiple points of connection," said iHuman Associate Professor Gaojie Song.

"This major undertaking started in 2002 when we were looking for small molecule GLP-1R agonists," said Professor Ming-Wei Wang of SIMM and Fudan University who co-led the study. "Our failed efforts in making the first orally active GLP-1R agonist Boc5 led us to conclude that high resolution structural biology is the preferred solution to drugability."

Collaborating institutions include Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University of Southern California, and Novo Nordisk. Financial support for this work comes from the Shanghai Municipal Government, ShanghaiTech University, National "1000 Talents Program for Foreign Experts", Shanghai "Pujiang Talents", GPCR Consortium, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Related Links

http://ihuman.shanghaitech.edu.cn/

http://english.simm.cas.cn/

SOURCE ShanghaiTech University

Related Links

http://ihuman.shanghaitech.edu.cn/


Located on a 30-acre site on The University of Texas at Austin campus, the library houses more than 45 million documents, an extensive audiovisual collection, including more than 650,000 photos and 5,000 hours of recordings, and 54,000 artifacts donated by the President and Mrs. Johnson, their family, friends and the American people. Looking to bring those pieces to life in the digital realm, the library enlisted Springbox to help set the new standard for using digital to spotlight a presidential library.

"This really is a fascinating project for all of us here at Springbox," said Amalia Hardee, Senior Account Manager at the agency. "Our team is made up of University of Texas alums, history buffs, even a librarian. We are truly passionate about transforming LBJ's legacy in the digital realm."

In addition to showcasing President Johnson's archives in innovative ways, Springbox will help define key personas, brand guidelines, creative boundaries and user experiences. The team is committed to creating a website that will give visitors a deeper, more enriching understanding of LBJ's place in history and continuing impact.

About Springbox

Springbox is a digital agency headquartered in Austin, Texas. They've built a robust team of problem solvers who thrive on creating strategies that improve awareness and executing on big ideas that map back to their client's goals.

For more information about Springbox, visit www.springbox.com.

Contact: Jenny Hopkins

Springbox

Phone: (512) 391 0065

[email protected]

SOURCE Springbox

Related Links

http://www.springbox.com


WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Many of America's leading information, software, publishing and other businesses as well as multiple national trade associations today unveiled the Corporate Committee for Library Investment to advocate for federal library funding.

As Congress turns to funding the government beyond next September, CCLI launches against the backdrop of Administration proposals to eliminate most federal library funding and the agency that distributes those funds to every state. Members of CCLI are united by the common belief that America's libraries are business-building, job-creating, workforce-preparing engines of the U.S. economy in every corner of the country. The group formed to tell that story to Congress and other federal policy makers who control library funding and to encourage every American business to do the same.

CCLI today delivered a letter, which remains open to signature by any business of any size, to all members of the United States Senate. (Eight companies made a similar delivery in their own names on May 11.) The letter expressly asks senators to sign two letters to their colleagues on the Appropriations Committee calling for $186.6 million in FY 2018 funding for programs under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and $27 million for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program (IAL). LSTA funding goes primarily to a population-based matching grant program that puts states in charge of how federal funds are spent. IAL allows school libraries and non-profit groups to buy books and educational materials for the nation's neediest children.

CCLI also will work to: rapidly reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act, which created LSTA; and assure that any infrastructure investments authorized by Congress both include library facilities and leverage the nation's 120,000 libraries to make high-speed broadband service available in every corner of America, especially in rural and other underserved communities.

CCLI was co-conceived by Gale, a Cengage company, and the American Library Association, which will provide logistical support for the group. Founding members include Baker & Taylor, bibliotheca, Candlewick Press, Corporate Graphics International, EBSCO Information Services, Encyclopedia Britannica, Findaway, Follett, Gale/Cengage, Information Today, Jamex, Mackin, Macmillan, OverDrive, Peachtree Publishers, Pearson, Penguin Random House, Prendismo, ProQuest, Public Information Kiosk, The RoadRunner Press, Rosen Publishing, SirsiDynix, the American Booksellers Association and the Software and Information Industry Association. CCLI's membership is continuouly updated online at fundlibraries.com. The following comments may be individually attributed to CCLI members as noted:

"The American Booksellers Association strongly supports increased federal funding for America's libraries."

Oren Teich, CEO, American Booksellers Association

"Full funding for the Library Services and Technology Act and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program is critical. In an age of rapid technological innovation, libraries enable citizens to keep pace through easy and affordable access to the internet and other technological resources that help them find jobs, start businesses, and provide skills training necessary for the 21st Century economy."

Ken Wasch, President & CEO, Software and Information Industry Association

"Now more than ever, America's public libraries are reaching deep into all facets of the communities they serve offering patrons vital services that are having a profound impact on their lives."

David Cully, President, Baker & Taylor

"Libraries play a critical role within communities across America, promoting literacy without discrimination and providing educational opportunities that transform lives and fuel lifelong learners. Today's libraries equip citizens with literacy tools and resources that enhance employable skills and stimulate the country's economy."

Matthew Bellamy, Chief Commercial Officer, bibliotheca

"There is nothing more vital to a community than a library. Where else can someone go to expand their thinking and learn about the world around them then this place. A library is more than importantit is vital."

Matt Keller, Capstone Chief Marketing Officer.

"EBSCO has worked with libraries for more than 70 years and understands the value they bring to their communities. CCLI brings together companies who are in a unique position to share concerns about library funding and highlight the impact libraries have on their users."

Tim Collins, President and CEO, EBSCO Information Services

"As schools across the country struggle to curate content and connect students with digital resources, librarians are positioned like never before to play a leadership role in their schools and districts. A great library program is the foundation for a future ready district."

Nader Qaimari, President, Follett School Solutions

"Libraries are critical infrastructure in the knowledge economy. Gale supports the Institute of Museum and Library Services and LSTA funding in order to protect private sector jobs and ensure millions of Americans can continue to rely on their state, public, school, and university libraries for the information they need to succeed at school, work and life."

Paul Gazzolo, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Gale, a Cengage company

"At Mackin, we stand together with our colleagues and CCLI, supporting and reinforcing the fact that libraries are essential to the growth of our communities. They must be funded appropriately, as tomorrow's thinkers, leaders and shapers of the future depend on it."

Randal Heise, Owner, Mackin Educational Resources

"Libraries provide a proven economic catalyst for every community in America. They empower our citizens to enter and enhance our workforces, enable businesses to be competitive, and inspire thousands of startups and entrepreneurs every year. America's libraries drive successful outcomes for all of our cities and states."

Steve Potash, CEO & President, OverDrive

"The American public relies on libraries. Schools thrive with them. Communities and economies are strengthened by the services they provide. Let's do the right thing and keep our libraries strong with the federal funding that they so greatly rely on."

Margaret Quinlin, President and Publisher, Peachtree Publishers

"Community and school libraries help ensure that learners of all ages have access to the information they need to succeed in the digital age. They deserve our support."

Tim Bozik, President, Global Product, Pearson

"Federal funding for libraries is critical if Americans in rural and urban communities, both young and old, are to have the materials they needfrom books to computers with current software to Internet/broadband accessto find that next job, start that next business, or complete that next level of education. Think of our public libraries as the base on which the engine of our economy sits."

Jeanne Devlin, Publisher, The RoadRunner Press

"Libraries and librarians serve our nation in so many ways: whether providing coding classes for students, job information for job seekers or job changers; online access for those citizens without computers at home, health resources or multi-lingual materials. When the library's doors remain open for business, patrons thrive and our economy prospers."

Roger Rosen, CEO & President, The Rosen Publishing Group

About CCLI

The Corporate Committee for Library Investment(CCLI) is a group of companies and national trade associations working to educate Congress and other federal policymakers about the extraordinary value of federal investment in America's libraries. fundlibraries.com.

SOURCE American Library Association

Related Links

http://www.ala.org


LANSING, Mich., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A study by performance analyst firm Cloud Spectator finds that Liquid Web LLC, a $100 million managed hosting provider, beats rivals Amazon, Rackspace and DigitalOcean when it comes to website and cloud application performance. Liquid Web's virtual machines (VMs) exhibit faster processing and disk speeds, while performing more transactions and sustaining more requests per second.

Website speed is key to delivering great visitor experiences. Many web users abandon pages taking longer than a few seconds to load. Also, Google penalizes websites for being too slow, as faster websites excel when it comes to search engine optimization and conversions.

To measure website performance, the Cloud Spectator report looked at the performance of each piece of the LAMP stack. LAMP is comprised of four components: Linux VM, Apache, MySQL and PHP, which together serve website and application content to visitors. The quality of a user's overall website or application experience begins with the quality of the LAMP stack performance.

Study results

Linux VM  Liquid Web's virtual processor (the VM's brain) performs tasks up to 6 times faster than Amazon AWS, and roughly 3.5 times faster than Rackspace and DigitalOcean. Input/output operations per second of Liquid Web sites performed anywhere from 2.5 to 4.5 times better. Faster processing and disk speeds lead to better overall web server performance.

Apache  Liquid Web's ability to serve website requests was 2.5 to 3 times better than the competition. The more requests served per second, the better the performance of the server.

MySQL  Liquid Web's VM handled transactions at a rate of almost 4 times the speed of Amazon AWS, DigitalOcean and Rackspace. MySQL, the most common database for storing information, allows visitors be quickly served information.

PHP  Liquid Web's VMs demonstrated the ability to execute PHP code, which is the most common programming language, at a rate nearly twice as good as its cloud rivals.

"Reviewing the LAMP components, Liquid Web clearly offers the highest server-side performance for users," said Melanie Purkis, Liquid Web Managed Hosting Product Manager. "That's not a coincidence. Liquid Web is investing in the most up-to-date platforms and technologies to deliver faster website and application performance, giving people an all-around better experience, especially those with mission-critical sites."

There is no doubt that the adoption of web and cloud technologies continues to accelerate at a phenomenal rate. A recent survey of 450 web-dependent professionals by Liquid Web found that nearly 80 percent of designers, developers, digital agencies and SMBs expect their businesses will be more reliant on cloud and web technologies in the next five years.

As more and more companies move to the web and cloud, the expectations put on the infrastructure supporting these platforms, such as web and cloud hosting services, will continue to increase exponentially.

"If a website or application fuels the revenue generation of a business, the choice of a hosting provider should be a strategic one," said Purkis. "We understand performance matters and underperformance can cost our customers millions. That's why we are committed to employing the most helpful humans in hosting so those who manage mission-critical websites and apps can attend to business and leave the managed hosting to us."

Methodology

Cloud Spectator collected data on entry-level VMs across Liquid Web, Amazon, Rackspace and DigitalOcean for a period of 48 hours. In that two-day time frame, they ran multiple iterations of performance tests, and the median results were used to in this report.

About Liquid Web

Liquid Web powers content, commerce and potential for SMB entrepreneurs and the designers, developers and digital agencies who create for them. The $100 million web hosting and cloud services provider, known for its high-performance services and exceptional customer support, delivers reliable, highly-available, secure and hassle-free hosting backed with a human touch. Liquid Web offers a broad portfolio designed so customers can choose a hosting solution that is hands-on or hands-off or a hybrid of the two. The company owns and manages its own data centers, providing a diverse range of offerings spanning from bare metal servers and fully managed hosting, to managed WordPress, and continues to evolve its service offerings to meet the ever-changing needs of its web-reliant, professional customers. With more than 30,000 customers spanning 150 countries, the company has assembled a world-class team, global data centers and an expert group of 24/7/365 solution engineers. As an industry leader in customer service,* the rapidly expanding company has been recognized among INC Magazine's 5000 Fastest Growing Companies for the last 10 years. Liquid Web is part of the Madison Dearborn Partners family of companies. Madison Dearborn Partners LLC ("MDP") is a leading private equity investment firm based in Chicago. For more information, please visit www.liquidweb.com, or read our blog posts at http://www.liquidweb.com/blog. Stay up to date with all Liquid Web events on Twitter and LinkedIn.

*2016 Net Promoter Score of 71

PR Contact

Liz Pandzich

[email protected]

SOURCE Liquid Web

Related Links

http://www.liquidweb.com


OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LockPath, a leading provider of governance, risk management and compliance (GRC) solutions, announced today that it will be a key sponsor of Compliance Week 2017. The annual conference, now in its 12th year, is the most prestigious event designed for senior compliance, risk and audit executives from around the globe. Compliance Week 2017 takes place May 22-24 in Washington D.C. at the historic Mayflower Hotel.

"The Compliance Week conference brings together experts and senior compliance leaders from major companies around the world," said Chris Caldwell, LockPath CEO and founder. "LockPath is excited to be sponsoring and presenting at this distinguished event in the compliance space."

Featured on the agenda will be Sam Abadir, Director of Product Management at LockPath, and Joe Filer, Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Privacy Officer at Harland Clarke Holdings. They will present "From Managing Risk to Creating Value" at 11:15 a.m. on May 23. This session will cover the following points:



Ways to quantify the business value of compliance decisions.

The difference between metrics and risk-adjusted metrics.

How to transform a team or department from a necessary cost to a competitive advantage.

Abadir has more than 20 years of experience helping companies realize value through improving processes, identifying performance metrics and understanding risk. In the past five years, Abadir has worked with software companies, like LockPath, to build the tools that help companies create and manage value in a structured and efficient manner.

As Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Privacy Officer for Harland Clarke Holdings, Filer has direct responsibility for the management of a comprehensive information security program that is designed to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of both client data and company sensitive information across three different companies.

"The level of our speakers, attendees and sponsors makes our annual conference the must-attend event for the compliance community. Our program addresses best practices in compliance, audit and risk program management as well as important trends in enforcement and regulations. We keep the compliance community aware and up to date." said Bill Coffin, editor in chief of Compliance Week.

At the event, LockPath will also host a conversation at 2 p.m. on May 22, led by Dennis Keglovits, Vice President of Professional Services at LockPath. The discussion will focus on current trends in SOX controls auditing.

Compliance Week 2017 will feature content-rich keynote sessions, lively concurrent panel discussions, and small-room "conversation" sessions. Topics include ethics, internal control, compliance programs, IT risks, privacy, financial reporting, international regulations, investigations, audit committees, and more

For more information or to register, please visit the Compliance Week 2017 conference website.

About LockPath

LockPath is a market leader in corporate governance, risk management, regulatory compliance (GRC) and information security (InfoSec) software. The company's flexible, scalable and fully integrated suite of applications is used by organizations to manage risk, demonstrate regulatory compliance, and automate business processes -- all in order to achieve audit-ready status. LockPath serves a client base of global organizations ranging from small and midsize companies to Fortune 10 enterprises in more than 15 industries. The company is headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. For more information on LockPath and the Keylight Platform, visit lockpath.com. Follow LockPath on LinkedIn and on Twitter at @LockPath and @KeylightGRC for the latest in industry, company and product news.

About Harland Clarke

Harland Clarke is a leading provider of intelligent solutions and operational excellence through its integrated payment solutions, multi-channel marketing services, and retail products. By delivering data-driven solutions through its superior analytical capabilities, it empowers more than 11,500 financial, retail and commercial clients and 5 million small and medium sized business customers to cultivate, retain and acquire new business. Harland Clarke is a catalyst for growth and has earned the trust of clients ranging in size from major financial institutions and corporate brands to small businesses and individual consumers. Client focus has earned the company a reputation for exceptional quality, performance excellence and superior customer service. Harland Clarke is a wholly owned subsidiary of Harland Clarke Holdings Corp.

About Compliance Week

Compliance Week, published by Wilmington, is a subscription-based information service on corporate governance, risk, and compliance that features weekly electronic newsletters, a monthly print magazine, proprietary databases, industry-leading events, and a variety of interactive features and forums. Founded in 2002, Compliance Week has become the premier compliance resource for public companies and the organizations that support them. Our magazine, website, electronic newsletters, databases, and live and virtual events are leveraged by tens of thousands of financial, legal, audit, risk, and compliance executives. www.complianceweek.com

Follow Compliance Week on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts

LockPath:

Danielle Scotto

Lumina Communications for LockPath

[email protected]

Harland Clarke:

Debbie Serot

[email protected]

SOURCE LockPath

Related Links

http://lockpath.com


RICHMOND, Va., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading community development financial institution (CDFI) Virginia Community Capital (VCC) and the nationally recognized Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (CRE) today announced the launch of LOCUS Impact Investing (LOCUS), a new social enterprise to empower place-focused foundations to invest their capital locally to build prosperous, vibrant communities.



"We are entering a new era in philanthropy and community investing that requires different, more comprehensive solutions," said Teri Lovelace, LOCUS President. "LOCUS Impact Investing provides an on-ramp for foundations around the country that want to engage in local investing for impact, but who currently lack the financial expertise or resources to do so."

Increasingly, place-focused foundationsor philanthropies whose efforts are concentrated in a geographic locationare looking to complement traditional grantmaking with direct community investments, and they seek to do so in a way that manages risk and aligns with their charitable purposes. To unlock this new source of capital effectively for the benefit of communities, foundations need access to a different set of capacities.

LOCUS can help these foundations by assessing the landscape for deals, conducting financial due diligence on specific deals and partners, providing investment services (sourcing, servicing, monitoring and impact tracking) and building internal foundation capacity for continued impact investing.

"We are pleased to see LOCUS, led by a longtime member of Mission Investors Exchange, bringing its resources to help meet the needs of foundations in this sector," said Melanie Audette, Senior Vice President for Mission Investors Exchange.

LOCUS pairs VCC's mission-aligned investing expertise in Virginia with CRE's national community economic development expertise. CRE brings field-tested expertise and resources in entrepreneurial development and community development philanthropy. VCC, as a regulated financial institution and a certified CDFI, created over $915 million of project impact in underserved communities and grew $15 million to over $218 million in assets dedicated to building prosperous, vibrant communities.

Collectively, the two organizations have worked with over 30 CDFIs and empowered more than 40 foundations to expand their assets and engage in community economic development, unlocking local capital for community impact. Building on the collective expertise of VCC and CRE, LOCUS offers a continuum of solutions for foundations and donors as they define their role in this new era of community investing.

"As Virginia Community Capital looked to leverage its experience with local investing to a broader national audience, we found in the Center a partner with a national reputation and deep experience in community development philanthropy essential to the successful launch of our new social enterprise, LOCUS," said Jane Henderson, CEO of Virginia Community Capital. "Through LOCUS Impact Investing, we believe we can empower more foundations to explore and engage in local investing for impact."

Ultimately, LOCUS will serve as a supportive partner as foundations and donors embark on local investing for impact. With this support, place-focused foundations will be better equipped to make community investments (program- and mission-related investments) that build prosperous, vibrant communities.

To learn more about LOCUS, visit locusimpactinvesting.org or follow us on Twitter @LocusImpact and on LINKEDIN.

Virginia Community Capital is a regulated financial services holding company that operates a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and a for-profit bank, Community Capital Bank. As a CDFI, VCC provides credit and financial services to people, businesses, and communities not served by mainstream lenders. Community Capital Bank is the first regulated bank in America to earn the designation of a Benefit Corporation (B Corp.) setting a new model for the financial industry.

The Center for Rural Entrepreneurship helps communities throughout the U.S. and Canada build a prosperous future by supporting business, social and civic entrepreneurs. We work in partnership with communities to provide research-based, asset-focused, comprehensive and customized economic development strategies emphasizing entrepreneurship and community development philanthropy. The Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating under Virginia Community Capital.

LOCUS Impact Investing operates three related entities under the umbrella of Virginia Community Capital. LOCUS Capital is a benefit corporation and registered investment advisor providing financial services (due diligence, servicing, monitoring and reporting) for direct mission investments. LOCUS Solutions is a 501(c)(3) organization that can support place-focused foundations to achieve greater impact by actively engaging in community economic development through mission-aligned investing. LOCUS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) foundation that can help individuals and other foundations use donor-advised funds for direct economic and community development investments.

Contact:

Ann Chaffin  [email protected], (402) 730-6785 cell

SOURCE LOCUS Impact Investing
"We are excited to bring a new level of convenience and personalization to our customers in Southern California with UberEATS," said Paul Tulaphorn, McDonald's franchisee and association president of the local McDonald's owner operators group. "Our customers have told us they enjoy experiencing McDonald's in new ways, and this is just one more way for them to enjoy their favorite menu items."

Customers can place McDonald's orders on the UberEATS mobile app or on UberEATS.com, using the same account they use to take Uber rides and track their order, as an UberEATS delivery partner brings their meal directly to them. The full menu at participating McDonald's restaurants will be available for delivery with the exception of soft serve cones. An UberEATS booking fee applies to each order.

"With UberEATS, you can get the food you want, where you want it, delivered at Uber speed. We're thrilled to partner with McDonald's to give fans in Southern California easy access to their McDonald's favorites at the tap of a button," said Allen Narcisse, General Manager of UberEATS Southern California. "People in Southern California search for McDonald's in the UberEATS app almost daily, so we're excited to expand our reach and deliver what they've been craving."

Delivery is just one way that McDonald's is enhancing the customer experience through added convenience. McDonald's of Southern California is innovating its customer experience by making interior and exterior improvements to their restaurants, which include a more modern design, digital menu boards, table service and self-serve kiosks. Southern California customers can also enjoy a range of balanced menu items that fit their lifestyle, including the Egg White & Turkey Sausage Breakfast Bowl, and smoothies and parfaits made with nonfat vanilla Chobani Greek Yogurt.

About McDonald's of Southern California

McDonald's of Southern California is comprised of more than 600 franchised and company-owned McDonald's restaurants in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Learn more at http://changeisheremcdsocal.com/ and follow us on Instagram @mcdonalds_socal and Twitter @McDonalds_SoCal.

About McDonald's USA

McDonald's USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

ABOUT UberEATS

UberEATS is Uber's stand-alone meal delivery app that makes getting food as easy as requesting a ride, whether you're at home, the office, or the park. Uber is leveraging its technology and expanding its driver partner network to deliver food to hungry customers who can track their order, get an upfront delivery time, and use the same account they use to take rides. UberEATS is available globally in more than 70 cities, bringing millions of people the right food, for right nowat the tap of a button.

CONTACT:

Havonnah Johnson

310-469-2270

[email protected]

Heather Krug

310-854-8126

[email protected]

SOURCE McDonald's of Southern California
Alimorad Farshchian, M.D., founder and medical director of The Center for Regenerative Medicine, founded in 1999, has developed innovative, safe and effective stem cell treatments for Parkinson's Disease, spinal stenosis and other physical ailments, such as back and knee problems. More recently, he has developed stem cell-derived eye drops that have successfully treated a range of eye disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa.

Since 2006, Dr. Farshchian has treated more than 11,000 patients in more than 50 countries with his proprietary stem cell therapies. Despite his major innovation and success with stem cell therapies, he is best-known worldwide for successfully treating the late Michael Jackson for his addiction to prescription painkillers and also for an ankle injury before what would have been the new tour Jackson planned before his death.

Stem cells are the body's most fundamental raw materials -- the cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. They either become new stem cells or specialized cells, such as retina cells for the eyes. No other cell in the human body has the ability to generate new types of cells that address specific bodily functions.

Beginning in 1999, Dr. Farshchian, a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, began a quest to develop new and more effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease. In 2006, he began experimenting with revolutionary stem cell treatments that involve using the patient's own stem cells, known as autologous stem cells, which are reinjected into the patient's body after minimal processing.

"I've experienced great improvement as a result of the stem cell treatments," says 62-year-old Sharon Davis of Cocoa, Florida, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease three and a half years ago. After taking medications for more than three years that did not eliminate her symptoms and also had unpleasant side effects, she sought out Dr. Farshchian after he successfully treated her 37-year-old daughter, Heather Fleckinger, who had suffered from chronic and severe lower back problems for five years.

A series of three monthly stem cell injections significantly relieved Ms. Davis's symptoms, especially the shaking she was experiencing on her right side, and reduced her need for prescription medications. "Based on how much he helped me, I tell everybody I know to go see him," says Ms. Davis, who is continuing treatment in the hope her symptoms will be completely alleviated, ending her need for any medications.

Her daughter, Ms. Fleckinger, says, "I feel like Dr. Farshchian saved my life. Before I went to see him, I wore a back brace and took daily medications, but my back problems still prevented me from doing my job as a horse trainer and I had to wear a back brace almost constantly. Over a five-year period, I also tried chiropractors and acupuncture, but nothing worked."

Then, she says, a series of three stem cell injections from Dr. Farshchian over a one-week period cured her. "Within three weeks, my back felt much better," she says. "And after four weeks, it didn't hurt at all. I could hardly believe it. I consider it a miracle." She returns for follow-up "booster shots" every six to 12 months.

Rose Rubino, a 69-year-old business owner from Cape Canaveral, has been treated with Dr. Farshchian's stem cell therapies over the last seven years for knee problems, severe arthritis, and spinal stenosis.

"The first time I went to see him, I was scheduled for knee replacement surgery," Ms. Rubino says. "But I ended up being able to avoid surgery because of the incredible result I got from the stem cell injections." She received three injections over a one-week period.

Three months later, her 54-year-old sister suffered a frozen shoulder. Doctors told her the condition required arthroscopic surgery. Instead, based on Ms. Rubino's recommendation, she saw Dr. Farshchian, who treated her successfully with a single stem cell injection. "So she was able to avoid surgery, just like I was," Ms. Rubino says.

Over the past five years, Dr. Farshchian has also successfully treated Ms. Rubino for arthritis and spinal stenosis. "Dr. Farshchian saved my life, as far as I'm concerned," she says. "Nobody ever told me that as I aged, I would develop all these painful physical ailments that would supposedly require surgery. And every time, Dr. Farshchian's stem cell treatments worked. I consider myself his unofficial spokesperson, because as far as I'm concerned he performed multiple miracles in my life. So I tell the world about him, every chance I get."

Dr. Farshchian's latest progress is in the field of optical regeneration. He has developed proprietary eye drops, trademarked as iFarshchian Drops, to treat retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that involves a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina.

The drops are uniquely developed for each patient from his or her own stem cells and are engineered to penetrate the sclera, or white outer layer of the eyeball, in order to find damaged eye cells and rejuvenate them.

Dr. Farshchian stresses that recently reported and serious complications from therapy at a South Florida clinic that injected stem cells into the eyes of patients were the result of flawed delivery of the therapy, rather than the therapy itself, which has been proven safe and successful in ongoing clinical trials at University of California at Irvine and at RIKEN Laboratory in Kobe, Japan. He also emphasizes that his eye drops are less invasive and safer than injections.

This spring, Dr. Farshchian's eye drops successfully treated 89-year-old James Enochs of Prince George, VA for degenerative eye disease. "I've already had significant improvement in my ability to read an eye chart," says Enochs, who was successfully treated with stem cell therapy by Dr. Farshchian for chronic knee problems seven years ago. "My eyes had been very sensitive to wind and light. And I've noticed a significant improvement in that sensitivity. I can only speak about the eye drops from my own experience. But for me, they have already delivered pretty remarkable results." He will now continue to use the drops at home.

"Dr. Farshchian is a very brilliant and innovative doctor," Enochs says. "I was just about as skeptical as you could be the first time I came to Miami seven years ago for treatment on my knees. But I had a huge success with my knees, and was able to avoid the surgery that my orthopedist wanted to perform. Now I've also had success with my eyes. So I'm very impressed with his work with stem cells. I'm not a skeptic anymore."

Because Dr. Farshchian uses only autologous stem cells -- those taken from a patient's own body -- the therapies are neither restricted nor regulated by the Food & Drug Administration. But, Dr. Farshchian points out, he fully complies with all stem cell-related FDA recommendations.

"The three primary disorders that I treat with stem cells -- retinitis pigmentosa, Parkinson's Disease, and spinal stenosis, are difficult to treat traditionally because they are stubbornly resistant to surgery," Dr. Farshchian says. "That means that most patients with those conditions are in dire need of a new alternative that works. And very few of them are aware yet of the dramatic breakthroughs being made with stem cell therapies."

His stem cell treatments are not Dr. Farshchian's first major medical innovation. Almost 20 years ago, he coined the term "orthopedic regenerative medicine" to describe the highly effective new treatments he developed for common ailments such as arthritis.

The Center for Regenerative Medicine is located at 1001 NE 125th Street in North Miami. For more information, call (305) 891-4686 or visit ArthritisUSA.net.

SOURCE Center for Regenerative Medicine

Related Links

http://arthritisusa.net


This new technique, called "proxy-CRISPR," provides access to previously unreachable areas of the genome. Most natural CRISPR systems, found in bacteria, cannot work in human cells without significant re-engineering. However, proxy-CRISPR provides a rapid and simple method to increase their usability without the laborious need to re-engineer native CRISPR proteins.

The company has filed several patent applications on the proxy-CRISPR technology. These patent applications directed to the proxy-CRISPR technology are just some of several CRISPR patent application filings made by the company since 2012.

"With more flexible and easy-to-use genome editing technologies, there is greater potential in research, bioprocessing and novel treatment modalities," said Udit Batra, CEO, MilliporeSigma. "As a leader in genome editing, MilliporeSigma's new technology is just one example of our commitment to solving challenges in the genome editing field, and we will continue to make CRISPR research a priority."

MilliporeSigma's research on proxy-CRISPR, "Targeted Activation of Diverse CRISPR-Cas Systems for Mammalian Genome Editing via Proximal CRISPR Targeting," was published in the April 7, 2017 edition of Nature Communications. The article explains how to make CRISPR more efficient, flexible and specific by opening up the genome for the cutting of DNA, giving researchers more editing options.

CRISPR genome editing technology is advancing treatment options for some of the toughest medical conditions faced today, including chronic illnesses and cancers for which there are limited or no treatment options. The applications of CRISPR are far rangingfrom identifying genes associated with cancer to reversing mutations that cause blindness. CRISPR enables genome editing using an enzyme called Cas9 to cut DNA, but this has limited targeting abilities. This limitation led to MilliporeSigma's focus on proxy-CRISPR.

MilliporeSigma has a 14-year history in the genome editing field, and was the first company to globally offer custom biomolecules for genome editing (TargeTron biomolecules and zinc finger nucleases), driving adoption of these techniques within the global research community. MilliporeSigma was also the first to manufacture arrayed CRISPR libraries covering the entire human genome, accelerating cures for diseases by allowing researchers to explore more questions about the root causes. MilliporeSigma supports development gene- and cell-based therapeutics and manufactures viral vectors, as well. In 2016, the company launched a genome editing initiative aimed at advancing research in this area through a dedicated team and enhanced resources, further solidifying the company's commitment to this field.

The new technology is a follow-on to MilliporeSigma's existing CRISPR applications. The company's next suite of genome editing tools for the research community, to be launched later in 2017, will include novel and modified versions of Cas and Cas-like proteins.

MilliporeSigma's CRISPR Epigenetic Activator (p300-Cas9), which advances the way scientists explore epigenetic modification and associated diseases, was recognized as one of the Top 10 Innovations by The Scientist in 2015.

All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.

About the Life Science Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

The life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has 19,000 employees and 65 manufacturing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products enabling scientific discovery. Udit Batra is the global chief executive officer of MilliporeSigma.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany completed its $17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in November 2015, creating a leader in the $125 billion global life science industry.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has six businesses  Biopharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Biosimilars, Life Science and Performance Materials  and generated sales of 15 billion in 2016. Around 50,000 employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company  since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. The company holds the global rights to the name and the trademark "Merck" internationally except for the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

SOURCE MilliporeSigma
NEW YORK, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mizuho Americas today announced the addition of Managing Directors James Lee and Tom McCrohan to expand the technology sector focus of their US equity research team. Lee joins as a senior internet sector analyst based in Boston, while McCrohan will cover financial technology and payments companies as a senior analyst in New York. Both report to Managing Director and Head of US Equity Research Sheryl Skolnick.

Lee comes to Mizuho from CLSA, where he served as Managing Director and senior analyst covering the global internet space, including the US and China. Over the past decade he has also led China and US media, technology, telecom and IT consulting sector research at Sterne Agee, W.R. Hambrecht/AGC, Fidelity Capital Markets and UBS. Lee has been recognized by Starmine as a top stock picker in the internet and software services category.

Before joining Mizuho, McCrohan also served as a Managing Director and senior equity research analyst for CLSA. He has covered financial technology and payments companies for the last thirteen years in senior analyst roles at Sterne Agee, Janney Capital Markets, Fulcrum Global Partners and KBW. In 2016, McCrohan was named "#1 Overall Stock Picker" by Thomson Reuters.

Matt DeSalvo, Head of Equities at Mizuho Americas, stated, "We are excited to add James' global perspective and wide-ranging experience in the internet sector and Tom's strong fintech and payments expertise to our US Equity Research team. These hires, together with the recent additions of Paul Fremont in utilities and Jeremy Scott in restaurants and proteins, further highlights our commitment to building a dynamic research product better positioned to deliver unparalleled insight to clients and investors in these important sectors."

Mizuho's growing US equity research platform also includes dedicated sector analysts in energy (MLPs, oil and gas exploration & production, utilities) healthcare (biotechnology, healthcare services, specialty pharmaceuticals) REITs and technology (hardware/software, internet, semiconductors).

About Mizuho Americas

Mizuho Americas is a leading financial institution comprising several legal entities, which together offer clients corporate and investment banking, financing, securities, treasury services, asset management, research and more. With professionals in offices throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Chile, Mizuho's operations in the Americas connect a broad client base of major corporations, financial institutions and public sector groups to local markets and a vast global network. Learn more at mizuhoamericas.com

Mizuho Americas is an integral part of the Japan-based Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: MFG). Mizuho Financial Group is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, offering comprehensive financial and strategic services including private banking and venture capital through its subsidiaries. The group has over 900 offices and 56,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia. At the end of 2016, its total assets were $1.8 trillion. Learn more about Mizuho Financial Group at mizuho-fg.co.jp/english.

SOURCE Mizuho Americas
Avison Young's latest white paper says new FASB and IASB standards will have dramatic impact on corporate balance sheets if firms do not structure their leases correctly today

TORONTO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Most companies are not on track to comply with new real estate lease accounting rules when they begin to take effect in 2018. The U.S.-based Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) will implement new standards on Dec. 15, 2018 and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) will follow on January 1, 2019. Many firms are struggling to collect the necessary lease accounting data that must be gathered beforehand. Although the effective dates seem far away, they are rapidly approaching  but few companies have analyzed how the rules will impact their financial statements.

These are some of the key findings noted in the new Avison Young White Paper: "The Big Change to the Lease Accounting Standards  New rules will significantly impact a company's enterprise value unless firms act now", released today.

"This white paper emphasizes that there are many things that real estate lessees and lessors can, and should, be doing today with respect to their lease structures, business operations and financial reporting processes," comments Avison Young Chair and CEO Mark E. Rose. "By planning and starting early, companies can more effectively manage the process  and minimize the surprises."

Avison Young Principal Sean Moynihan, the white paper's author, says the new FASB and IASB standards will require leases with a maximum term of more than one year to be capitalized; most importantly, no leases will be grandfathered in. Therefore, in many cases, the impact will be immediate and material to tenants' financial statements.

"The main point about the FASB changes is this: How you negotiate the financial terms and conditions of a real estate lease will impact the financial success of your company," explains Moynihan. "By getting proper advice, from an advisor, who deals with the lease on the front end before the lease is done, your firm can control the impacts to your balance sheet and income statement. Many companies will be scrambling to gather the necessary information in 2018 if they don't start preparing now."

As the white paper notes, the new lease accounting rules pose dramatic changes for tenants globally. For lessors of real estate, the FASB and IASB are, generally, leaving in place a model similar to today's lease accounting requirements, with income statement and balance sheet treatment similar to the way that leases are currently accounted for.

However, the same does not hold true for tenants; the new lease accounting standard creates significant changes to the presentation and measurement of the lease obligation on the financial statements of almost every company.

"Under the forthcoming lease accounting standards, a lease will create a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, to be placed onto the corporate balance sheet," states Moynihan. "Under the FASB's model, leases will be evaluated and categorized as either Finance (similar to capital leases today) or Operating (similar to operating leases today). Under the IASB's proposed model, all leases will be classified as a Finance lease. Under both models, leases will be capitalized onto a firm's balance sheet, but with very different effects on shareholder equity, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and overall profitability."

He adds that seemingly insignificant factors, such as tenant improvement allowances and lease renewal options, will have important implications for financial statements.

Since existing leases will not be grandfathered under the new rules, every lease in a company's real estate portfolio could negatively impact its financial statements. All public companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges, which must include comparative financial data in their financial statements, will effectively be required to transition to the new rules in advance of 2018 to stay compliant with U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, according to the white paper.

"One of the key challenges for corporate decision-makers is that using discounted cash flow to compare, analyze and structure real estate leases, which has been the common practice for more than 30 years, does not provide enough information to make an informed business decision," adds Moynihan. "Executives should take a much more active role in the negotiation process by consulting with their tenant advisor, auditor and colleagues in the finance department to ensure that the impact is fully understood  before a lease is signed."

The white paper, which is aligned with Avison Young's risk-mitigation strategy, recommends that companies' top executives take three immediate actions:

Identify the right team members  particularly finance and real estate specialists  to help your company transition to the new standards.



Conduct a strategic evaluation of the existing lease portfolio, starting with the largest leases, and assess how they will be accounted for under the new rules. Assess the impact on EBITDA and other key financial ratios and evaluate whether there is any potential impact on loan covenants.



Consider renegotiating leases now, even if they are not up for renewal, in order to mitigate some of the less favourable impacts that would otherwise occur. Throughout the negotiation process, work closely with your tenant advisor to address areas of concern with an eye toward protecting financial statements.

Avison Young is the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its principals. Founded in 1978, the company comprises 2,400 real estate professionals in 80 offices, providing value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial, multi-family and hospitality properties.

Avison Young (Canada) Inc. and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on, for tax, legal or accounting advice. Readers should consult their own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. The information contained herein was obtained from sources that we deem reliable and, while thought to be correct, is not guaranteed by Avison Young (Canada) Inc.

For further information/comment/photos:

Sherry Quan , Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations, Avison Young : 604.647.5098; cell: 604.726.0959 [email protected]





, Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations, : cell: Sean Moynihan , Principal, Avison Young : 404.865.3679 [email protected]





, Principal, : Mark Rose , Chair and CEO, Avison Young : 416.673.4028

www.avisonyoung.com

Avison Young was a winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies program in 2011 and requalified in 2017 to maintain its status as a Best Managed Gold Standard company.

Follow Avison Young on Twitter:

For industry news, press releases and market reports: www.twitter.com/avisonyoung

For Avison Young listings and deals: www.twitter.com/AYListingsDeals

Follow Avison Young Bloggers: http://blog.avisonyoung.com

Follow Avison Young on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/avison-young-commercial-real-estate

Follow Avison Young on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/AvisonYoungRE

Follow Avison Young on Instagram: www.instagram.com/avison_young_global

Editors/Reporters

 Click on link to view and download Avison Young White Paper: "The Big Change to the Lease Accounting Standards  New rules will significantly impact a company's enterprise value unless firms act now"

https://avisonyoung.uberflip.com/i/824319-ay-white-paper-big-change-lease-accounting-may-2017

 Click on link to view and download "Infographic: The New Lease Accounting Standards"

http://www.avisonyoung.com/fileDownloader.php?file=files/content-files/Research/White_Papers_Topical_Reports/AYInfographicNewLeaseAccountingStandards_May2017Final.pdf

SOURCE Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (BC)

Related Links

www.avisonyoung.com


The signing ceremony for "The MOU between the United Nations Development Programme and HNA Group" and the celebration for the launch of the "2017 Report on Overseas Sustainable Development of Chinese Enterprises: Supporting the Belt and Road Regions to Achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" took place today at the UNDP Country Office in China. Attending the event were representatives from the embassies of many countries, state-owned and private enterprises, chambers of commerce, civil society organizations, academic institutions and bilateral assistance institutions.

With a three-year tenure, the Advocate's mission is to promote overseas sustainable development of Chinese enterprises. The Advocate assists in enhancing the overseas sustainable development capabilities of private enterprises and small and medium enterprise, facilitating the exchange and sharing of overseas sustainable development experiences and best practices with Chinese enterprises.

Mr. Chen Feng, Chairman of the Board of HNA Group, said: "Being an active advocate and participant of the Belt and Road initiative, HNA Group is committed to pushing forward sustainable development worldwide by effectively coordinating the global industrial resources in its three core businesses -- aviation and tourism, modern logistics, and modern financial services. The Belt and Road initiative has not only brought a brand new solution for the current global economic and development issues but also offers a historical turning point for the integrated development of Eastern and Western civilizations. We hope that the ties formed today between HNA and UNDP will mark the beginning of our joint effort to stimulate the sustainable development of Chinese enterprises overseas."

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in around 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.www.undp.org

HNA Group is a global Fortune 500 company focused on tourism, logistics, and financial services. Since its founding in 1993, HNA Group has evolved from a regional airline based on Hainan Island in southern China into a global company with approximately $145 billion of assets, over $46 billion in annual revenues, and an international workforce of 410,000 employees, primarily across America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.hnagroup.com.

SOURCE HNA Group
"Stephanie is an integral and invaluable part of MSA's legal team  and MSA overall  and we are incredibly proud of her for being recognized with this well-deserved distinction," said Douglas McClaine, MSA's Senior Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer. "As Deputy General Counsel and Director of Litigation, Stephanie has delivered multi-million dollar cost savings to MSA through innovative outside counsel management and by applying lean manufacturing principles to litigation management," he continued. "Her commitment to MSA, to our mission that men and women may work in safety, and to the in-house legal community are truly commendable and worth emulating."

Ms. Sciullo, who works at MSA's headquarters in Cranberry Township, Pa., joined the company in 2010 after working for global law firm Reed Smith, LLC as an associate attorney specializing in litigation.

In addition to her MSA responsibilities, Stephanie has worked to better the Pittsburgh in-house legal community as a leader in the industry and as an advocate for gender equity. As an adjunct professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University, Stephanie designed a course offered at both schools  called In-House Counsel in Modern Corporations  to encourage business-minded action in the legal community.

Just last year, Stephanie launched a Women's Negotiations Workshop where women law students learned to negotiate compensation, promotion, case responsibility, and client exposure opportunities to help develop empowered women lawyers in our Pittsburgh legal community. She is a graduate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in politics and philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh.

The inaugural In-House Counsel Awards, established in collaboration with the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, acknowledges the significant role in-house counsel plays in the success of a business enterprise, and recognizes those attorneys  or teams of attorneys  that use legal skills to achieve excellent business outcomes. In addition to the recognition, Stephanie and the other honorees will be featured in the Friday, May 19 issue of the Pittsburgh Business Times.

About MSA



Established in 1914, MSA Safety Incorporated is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures. Many MSA products integrate a combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive product line is used by workers around the world in a broad range of markets, including the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, the fire service, the construction industry, mining and the military. MSA's core products include self-contained breathing apparatus, fixed gas and flame detection systems, portable gas detection instruments, industrial head protection products, fire and rescue helmets, and fall protection devices. With 2016 revenues of $1.15 billion, MSA employs approximately 4,300 people worldwide. The company is headquartered north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, Pa., and has manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. With more than 40 international locations, MSA realizes approximately half of its revenue from outside North America. For more information visit MSA's web site at www.MSAsafety.com.

SOURCE MSA

Related Links

http://www.msasafety.com


MESA, Ariz., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Myndshft Technologies announced today they have become a member of Galvanize, a Colorado-based entrepreneurial ecosystem designed to support technology startups. Myndshft will have an office in the Galvanize Phoenix campus.

Galvanize campuses are known as vibrant communities that connect local entrepreneurs, startups, coders, and driven individuals. Myndshft looks to collaborate with start-ups, social innovators, and leading technology companies through their membership in Galvanize.

"We are thrilled that Myndshft has joined the Galvanize community. Their innovative work with big data and the philosophy of collaboration to drive engagement is a perfect complement to our community," commented Diana Vowels, Galvanize General Manager. "Our data science students and entrepreneurs can learn from this team, so it's great to have them present on our campus."

Myndshft is working at the intersection of IoT, fast data and machines through CognitiveBus, their cognitive IoT platform as a service. Already proven in manufacturing, warehousing, energy management and supply chain, CognitiveBus is squarely targeted at solving problems that require instantaneous event detection and immediate response through intelligent automation.

"We're excited to have the opportunity to be a part of Galvanize. Diana and team have done an incredible job building an organization and environment that puts Phoenix amongst the elite for innovation and entrepreneurship," said Myndshft CEO Ron Wince. "We're looking forward to finding opportunities to work with some of the start-ups in Galvanize as well as supporting the growth of IoT in the local community and region."

The Phoenix location will be Myndshft's 4th office with other offices in Mesa, AZ, Bangalore, IN, and Des Moines, IA.

About Galvanize, Inc.

Galvanize is a dynamic tech learning community that offers education, workspace and networking for students, startups and large companies. Galvanize teaches web development, data science and data engineering to students, offers support and workspace to over 700 member companies and provides over 200 networking events across nine urban campuses throughout the nation. Galvanize campuses bring together entrepreneurs, students, investors, mentors, and great people and companies to develop the skills, mindset and networks necessary to thrive in a technology driven world. To learn more about Galvanize, visit http://galvanize.com or like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GalvanizeHQ or follow us on Twitter @Galvanize.

About Myndshft Technologies LLC

Myndshft is working at the intersection of human-centered design, big data, and cognitive computing. Through our own Cognitive Internet of Things platform-as-a-service we are co-developing smart, connected applications for manufacturing, fulfillment and logistics, commerce, healthcare, and financial services. For more information about Myndshft, visit myndshft.com.

Myndshft, the Myndshft logo and all other Myndshft trademarks are owned by Myndshft Technologies LLC and its affiliates.  2017.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Royle

Myndshft Technologies

[email protected]

PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12640315

SOURCE Myndshft Technologies

Related Links

http://www.myndshft.com


The GoodNes skill for Amazon Alexa, available now in the Alexa Skills Store, allows users to activate top recipes from GoodNes.com, Nestle USA's resource to help consumers transform simple ingredients into delicious meals, snacks and drinks for all occasions. Customers can open the skill by saying, "Alexa, open GoodNes." From there, they can ask further questions like "Alexa, what are the ingredients, " "Alexa, tell me about nutritional information " and "Alexa, what utensils will I need ?" and access interactive, voice-assisted visual guides and content to enjoy a richer cooking experience. The skill was developed by Nestle's Silicon Valley Innovation Outpost (SVIO) in San Francisco, and marks the beginning of their efforts to build new consumer experiences that elevate time spent in the kitchen.

"We developed the GoodNes skill for Amazon Alexa to help digitally-enabled consumers looking for simpler, more convenient, and more inspirational meal solutions and guidance," said Josh Baillon, Digital Innovation Manager. "This cooking skill is just one of many exciting innovations we are working on here at the SVIO."

"Customers love asking Alexa for help in the kitchen, so we're thrilled that GoodNes is taking the cooking experience to the next level," said Rob Pulciani, Director Amazon Alexa. "With the GoodNes skill, not only can customers easily ask Alexa for recipes and guidance, but they'll also receive helpful on-screen guides and cues within a web browser on their laptop or tablet. We're excited for customers to begin using this new functionality within the GoodNes skill for Amazon Alexa."

The GoodNes voice-assisted cooking skill for Amazon Alexa can be found in the Alexa store. Once the skill is enabled, users can link their account with their email to receive a link to their unique visual guide. The GoodNes visual guide is compatible with Chrome and Safari web browsers on tablets, laptops and desktop computers.

For a look at how the GoodNes skill can assist your culinary experiences, take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gokfK46Bryo&feature=youtu.be

About Nestle in the United States

Nestle in the United States is committed to being a trusted leader in nutrition, health and wellness. Our 51,000 employees in the United States are committed to enhancing quality of life, contributing to a healthier future for individuals and families, our communities and the planet. Nestle in the United States offers a wide and varied portfolio of food and beverage products for people and their pets throughout their lives. Nestle in the United States consists of eight main businesses: Nestle USA, Nestle Waters North America, Nestle Nutrition, Nestle Professional, Nespresso, Nestle Health Science, Nestle Skin Health and Nestle Purina PetCare Company. The United States is Nestle S.A.'s largest market with combined product sales in the United States totaling more than $27 billion in 2016. For more information, visit Nestleusa.com or Facebook.com/NestleUSA.

Media Contacts:

Nestle USA, Inc.

Edie Burge

+1 818 551 3284

[email protected]

SOURCE Nestle in the United States

Related Links

http://www.nestleusa.com


WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Animal neurotoxicity study findings for one of 60 Pharmaceuticals, LLC (60P) investigational agents have been accepted for publication in Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, a peer-reviewed journal.

The journal article indicates that super-therapeutic doses of the investigational antimalarial agent tafenoquine (administered at levels greater than would be used in actual treatment) appear to be free of neurologic toxicity in adult rats. Tafenoquine is an investigational antimalarial agent being evaluated for the prevention of malaria in adults. For the full article please go to: http://www.travelmedicinejournal.com/article/S1477-8939(17)30077-7/fulltext

The study, specifically designed to assess maximum tolerated dose and neurobehavioral effects of tafenoquine, measured clinical, blood, behavioral, motor activity and central nervous system changes after the drug was administered in rats at levels greater than expected to be used in actual treatment with humans. No histopathological changes in the brain were found at doses up to the minimum lethal single dose in adult rats.

Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, causes 429,000 fatalities and 212 million clinical cases annually1. Travelers, employees of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and military forces deployed to malaria-endemic countries are all at risk2.

"We are committed to improving the health and lives of people around the world through developing products that can help treat and prevent tropical diseases," said Dr. Geoffrey Dow, 60P CEO.

About 60P

60P, founded in 2010, focuses on discovering, developing and distributing new medicines for treatment and prevention of tropical diseases, including malaria and dengue.

60P's mission is supported through in-kind funding from the United States Department of Defense. The company also collaborates with prominent research organizations in the U.S., Australia and Singapore.

60P is headquartered in Washington DC, with a subsidiary in Australia.

Further information is available on the company's website, www.60degreespharma.com.

The statements contained herein may include prospects, statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

The statements expressed herein are those of 60P and do not necessarily represent those of the United States Department of Defense or Department of the Army.

1CDC. 2017. Malaria Facts. https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/facts.html

2WWARN. 2017. Antimalarial Drug Resistance. http://www.wwarn.org/about-us/malaria-drug-resistance

CONTACT: Lois Kaufman, President

Integrated Marketing Services

[email protected]

609-683-9055 x203

SOURCE 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, LLC
For many months, Nebraska has experienced declining tax revenues. Since last year, I have been working to constrain spending in my agencies in preparation for budget cuts. In the first part of this year, the Legislature and I worked together to make cuts for the current fiscal year.

Since then, the Legislature has continued to work on the next two-year budget. As they worked on the budget, I urged spending restraint because state revenues have continued to deteriorate. Just a few weeks ago, the board responsible for predicting state revenues lowered projections, and last week the Revenue Department announced that tax receipts fell short $55 million in April. And thats just in one month! Nebraskas revenues have come in below what forecasts predicted 14 of the last 22 months.

Because tax revenues continue to worsen, we must take new, responsible steps to tighten our belts. Last week, the Legislature sent over the next two-year, $8.9 billion general fund budget for my consideration. The budget I received from the Legislature did not constrain spending enough in light of declining revenues, and included a gas tax increase and a risky budget gimmick.

Rather than constraining state spending, the Legislature attempted to raise the gas tax and take the money out of the Roads Department to spend on other parts of state government. Over the past two years, I have been clear that I oppose increasing the gas tax because it hurts working families who can least afford a tax hike. We are already one of the highest taxed states in the country. As of January, our gas tax was 27th highest in the nation with more increases coming in future years under current law. Increasing it more would only worsen our tax climate which has the fifth highest property taxes and 14th highest income taxes. Tax hikes make it more difficult to grow Nebraska.

Additionally, the Legislature decided to lower the minimum reserve in the states checking account, rather than making needed cuts. The minimum reserve provides the cushion in our checking account critical to protecting the financial integrity of the state. Lowering the minimum reserve would be similar to a family spending the cushion in their checking account on non-emergency spending. It should be avoided at all cost.

To prevent a tax increase and protect the budget, I have vetoed a total of $56.5 million over two years. These are thoughtful and measured reductions, which protect important priorities. Here are a few key facts you should know about my vetoes:

They reduce various state agency appropriations by a half of a percent (0.5%).

They include an $11 million line-item reduction to State Capitol renovation funding that is not immediately needed.

Some programs and agencies are excluded, including those already reduced by 3 percent or more.

The budget, after line item vetoes, protects the property tax credit relief fund, Corrections reform, public safety, and state aid to K-12 schools.

While $56.5 million over two years may not seem significant in the scope of an $8.9 billion budget, senators will be lobbied hard in the coming days by special interests. State agencies and special interests with state contracts will spend significant effort and time to persuade your senator not to make these modest and responsible cuts to the budget.

If you want to see senators sustain my vetoes, make these cuts, and put the budget on firmer financial footing, they need to hear from you. I have already been meeting with senators to urge them to sustain my vetoes, but the voices of working Nebraska taxpayers like you need to be heard in this discussion. You can make a difference. Visit www.NebraskaLegislature.gov to find your senators phone number and email address.

Last week, Unicameral Speaker Jim Scheer announced that the Legislature plans to adjourn on May 23rd. The budget is the last major issue the Legislature has to consider for this legislative session. I will continue to work with senators in these final days to constrain spending and balance the budget without raising taxes. As always, I hope you will contact me if you would like to share your thoughts on this issue or any other.
WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine listening in on two young artists falling in love after connecting over a wrong number. That's the premise of the new weekly 30-minute podcast, "Jules & James," from Through the 4th Wall Productions, an award-winning leader in immersive theater. The "Jules & James" podcast launches on May 22, 2017. The pilot and first two episodes are already available to listen to at meetjulesandjames.com.

Jules & James connect over a wrong number. Listen in on their calls as romance builds, then follow the couple on a fully immersive, cross-platform, interactive experience. Fall in love with the unknown.

"Jules & James" is a love story. But the podcast defies genres by introducing themes outside the scope of most romance novels. The characters explore their lives as artists coming of age in modern Europe, with discussions ranging from philosophy, religion and science to films, literature and how to navigate adulthood.

"Jules & James" is the story of Jules, a British screenwriter and director living in London, and James, an American painter living in Paris. When Jules accidently calls James, the romance begins. The weekly 30-minute podcast, which takes place in real time as the relationship develops, allows the audience to eavesdrop on the lives and growing relationship of the characters.

The first season of "Jules & James," based on telephone conversations, has finished production with 24 episodes. The second season will be a fully immersive, interactive experience utilizing social media, video and even live performances. The audience will follow Jules and James as they meet in real life with London and Paris as their backdrop. Producers are working now to build online identities for Jules and James, including their professional websites and social media accounts. Listeners will be able to peek into the lives of the characters and interact with them.

"Our live productions are immersive experiences where the audience plays an active role," says Jennifer Schwed, Co-Founder of Through The 4th Wall Productions. "'Jules & James' isn't just a romance podcast, it will also become fully interactive. Listeners will be able to get their romance fix from the podcast alone, or they can go all the way down the 'Jules & James' rabbit hole, learning everything about the characters and even interacting with them. We're already building on our interactive plans for the second season."

The "Jules & James" podcast is available on Apple iTunes, Stitcher (Android/PC), Google Play Music and TuneIn Radio.



About Through the 4th Wall Productions: Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area, Through the 4th Wall, LLC is a film, theater and interactive digital media company. To learn more, visit throughthe4thwall.com and meetjulesandjames.com.

(Click here to download a zip file with a collection of Jules & James graphics.)



Contact: Jennifer Schwed, Co-Founder, Through The 4th Wall Productions

(703) 282-5162 | [email protected]

SOURCE Through the 4th Wall Productions

Related Links

http://throughthe4thwall.com


FELTHAM, England, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nomad Foods Limited ("Nomad Foods" or the "Company") today announced that it will hold its 2017 annual meeting of shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") at its London headquarters located at No. 5 New Square, Bedfont Lakes Business Park, Feltham, Middlesex, TW14 8HA on June 19, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. London time. The Company's board of directors fixed the close of business on May 5, 2017 as the record date for shareholders entitled to receive notice and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The Company has filed its annual report on Form 20-F, including its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the "annual report"), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Company's annual report can be accessed through the Investor RelationsSEC Filings link on its website, www.nomadfoods.com, as well as on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The notice of the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders and the proxy statement related to the meeting are also available through the Company's website at www.nomadfoods.com. Shareholders may request a hard copy of the Company's annual report, free of charge, by contacting the Company at Nomad Foods Limited, No. 5 New Square, Bedfont Lakes Business Park Feltham, Middlesex TW14 8HA, Attention: Investor Relations.

About Nomad Foods

Nomad Foods (NYSE: NOMD) is a leading frozen foods company building a global portfolio of best-in-class food companies and brands within the frozen category and across the broader food sector. Nomad Foods produces, markets and distributes brands in 17 countries and has the leading market share in Western Europe. The Company's portfolio of leading frozen food brands includes Birds Eye, Iglo, and Findus.

Primary IR Contact

John Mills, Partner

ICR, Inc.

Phone: 646-277-1254

E-mail: [email protected]

Important Regulatory Notice

This announcement contains "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical fact or statements in the present tense, and can be identified by words such as "targets", "aims", "aspires", "assumes" "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "hopes", "may", "would", "should", "could", "will", "plans", "predicts" and "potential", as well as the negatives of these terms and other words of similar meaning. The forward-looking statements in this announcement relate to the Company's expectation to hold its annual meeting of shareholders. The Company cautions that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should, therefore, not be placed on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement apply only as at the date of this announcement and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results.

SOURCE Nomad Foods Limited

Related Links

http://www.nomadfoods.com


Wag! is now available in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Washington D.C . Dog owners in participating cities can now have their dog walked at the touch of a button  even when they aren't home. Wag! is so confident that people will love the experience, they are giving users their first walk free!

Using Wag!, dog walkers can be summoned with as little as 30 minutes notice. Walks can be tracked on users' phones by GPS in real time. A "pup report" is delivered by the app at the end of each walk, including a picture/video of the pet, map of the route taken, and details on exactly when and where the pet did its business. Each Wag! walk is insured and bonded.

Dog owners can schedule a 20, 30, or 60-minute walk at any time of the day or night, as walkers are available 24 hours a day. For homes with multiple dogs, it costs just $5 for each additional dog to be walked.

"We are proud to expand our services to these pet loving cities across the country," said Josh Viner, co-founder of Wag!. "Dog owners can now have peace of mind that their dog can be walked by a safe and trusted walker, even in a pinch. As many pet lovers are also busy with professional and social responsibilities, it makes sense to provide them with services that can ease the stress of pet ownership with the touch of a button."

Wag! is also using its platform to encourage pet adoption, and has partnered with select shelters in the cities it serves to donate walks to new pet parents. Also, for every dog walked via Wag!, the company provides a meal to a dog in a shelter via its partnership with Rescue Bank.

About Wag! - Founded in January 2015, Wag! is an on-demand app-based mobile service that allows dog owners to hire thoroughly vetted dog walkers in as little as 30 minutes. The app notifies owners when their dog is picked up and allows them to follow the walk through Wag!'s GPS "Puppy Tracker." When the walk is finished, the owner receives a "Pup Report" indicating distance travelled and time, along with a "pee & poo" record, a photo/video and any notes the walker may need to communicate.

SOURCE Wag!
WATCH HILL, R.I., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ocean House announced the appointment of Executive Chef Nicolas Bour, who will oversee all culinary operations for the resort, including the Forbes Five Star fine-dining restaurant Seasons, the more casual Bistro, four outdoor dining venues, and banquets operations.

A bi-coastal culinary veteran, Chef Bour joins Ocean House from Humphreys in San Diego, CA. Previously, Bour was Executive Chef at Loews Coronado Bay in San Diego, where he was instrumental in restructuring the food and beverage program at the resort and opened two new dining outlets. Before joining Loews Coronado Bay, Bour founded AVANT Restaurant at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, which was awarded Best Restaurant in 2013 by San Diego Magazine. Bour received first place dish in the San Diego Food & Wine Festival in 2013 and was included as a celebrity chef at the Kentucky Derby in 2011. Some of his additional notable career highlights include successfully serving over 14,000 covers in four days for the inauguration of President Barak Obama, cooking privately for King Hussein bin Talal of Jordan, and cooking by invitation at the James Beard House in New York.

"We are excited to welcome Chef Nicolas Bour to our executive leadership team," said Daniel Hostettler, the President and Managing Director of Ocean House Management, LLC. "With his depth of experience in a multitude of restaurants and hotels, I believe Chef Bour is an extremely valuable asset to the future of the resort's culinary direction and to our associates."

About Ocean House:

Ocean House, one of New England's last grand hotels, re-opened its doors in June 2010 after a $140 million rebuild and restoration. The 136-year-old property, originally built just after the Civil War, is perched high on the bluffs in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Guests enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean, Montauk and Block Island from the resort's 49 guestrooms and 18 signature suites. The resort offers farm-to-table dining, the12,000-square-foot OH! Spa and more than 10,000 square feet of event space This stately property is only one of eleven hotels in the world to garner three Forbes Five-Star designations for hotel, spa and restaurant. For more information, please visit OceanHouseRI.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Ocean House Management

Candice Traskos

[email protected]

401-584-7060

SOURCE Ocean House

Related Links

https://www.oceanhouseri.com


PORTLAND, Ore., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OIA Global, a leading worldwide transportation, supply chain management, and packaging solutions provider announces new LCL services to Canada as the first phase of their 2017 expansion of its dedicated LCL Express programs. "Customer demand for our Express LCL services has been very strong," noted Dante Fornari, OIA's Executive Vice President, Global Logistics. "The Canadian market has been on our radar since we launched the first LCL programs in 2008 into the Midwest," he added.

OIA Global has been expanding ocean services for its customers who continue to optimize their import/export logistics spend by utilizing consolidation services for shipments that formerly may have required airfreight service in order to meet time critical deadlines. Bill Yankow, OIA's Director of LCL Consolidation said "the new service includes automated shipment visibility from origin to final destination driving supply chain simplicity and ease of use for the small to medium sized importers into Canada." OIA will be announcing LCL expansions into several new markets later in 2017.

The Canada service began on May 1st, 2017.

About OIA Global

Since its founding in 1988, OIA has grown into a $1 billion supply chain management leader, delivering clients a unique combination of global logistics, materials sourcing, and packaging solutions. With over 1,200 professionals in 69 owned offices and a worldwide presence in 27 countries, OIA designs innovative solutions that optimize supply chains around the world. OIA is privately owned by Indianapolis-based LDI, Ltd., with more than a century of experience funding and operating high potential, middle-market companies. For more information, please visit www.oiaglobal.com and www.ldiltd.com.

OIA Global Media Contact

Jerry Levy

Director of Marketing & Communications

T. 503.736.5900

E. [email protected]

SOURCE OIA Global

Related Links

http://www.oiaglobal.com


TOPANGA, Calif., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Topanga Days is back! In its 44th year, the three-day family-friendly festival and fundraiser for the Topanga Community Center continues to draw a diverse group of people together through an eclectic mix of 25 musical acts on two stages and plenty of activities that are fun for all ages plus local artists and vendors, food, Kids' Zone and the outrageous and wacky Memorial Day parade. This year's musical lineup features the enduring '70s psychedelic rock band Jefferson Starship on Saturday, May 27th at 5:30 p.m., and L.A.'s own Ozomatli on Sunday, May 28th, at 5:30 p.m., both on the main stage. The lineup also includes: The Brothers Gage, Deb Ryder, Few Miles South, Greenhorn Brothers, Hard Shine Blues Band, Kummerspeck, No Small Children, Raised on TV, Soluzion, The Blue Dolphins, Venice and Whiskey Sunday, among many others.

Jefferson Starship takes the Topanga Days' main stage on Saturday, May 27th at 5:30 p.m. L.A.'s own Ozomatli to perform on Sunday, May 28th, at 5:30 p.m. at Topanga Days.

Madcap games and contests like Three-Legged Race, Baby Derby, Bubble Gum Blowing Contest, Egg Russian Roulette, Cherry Seed Spitting, and the notorious Pie Eating Contest, make for inter-generational excitement and the perfect family outing. A highlight of the weekend is the Memorial Day Parade on Monday morning, May 29th. The parade has an unabashed stream of floats, cars, horses, dogs, kids, fire trucks and more. This year's Grand Marshal is Wendie Malick, the actress best known for her starring roles in Hot in Cleveland and Just Shoot Me!. The parade ends at the entrance of the Topanga Community Center, where the festival continues with a flag raising ceremony honoring members of the military, and local teen powerhouse Gabbi Beauvais will sing the National Anthem.

Food fare ranges from BBQ and Pizza to Mexican and Thai Vegan, with old-fashioned Kettle Corn, funnel cakes, ice cream, smoothies and much more. There will be beer, wine and our popular sangria bar, too.

Parking is available on the street with free shuttle service. Only service dogs with appropriate and current papers, wearing vests, are allowed.

Single Day Pass

Adults: $15 for TCC members / $25 for non-members

Seniors (65+): $15

Kids (ages 6-12): $15 (Except Saturday  $5 for member kids)

Kids Ages 5 & Under: Free

Military with ID: $15 (Except Monday  free)

3-Day Passes

Adults: $40 for TCC members / $60  non-members

Kids (ages 6-12): $30 for TCC members / $40 non-members

Kids 5 & Under: Free

Topanga Days takes place Memorial Day Weekend from Saturday, May 27th, 2017, to Monday, May 29th, 2017, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. The event is located on the grounds of the Topanga Community Center at 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Topanga, CA 90290. The parade on Monday begins at Pine Tree Circle, 120 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA, and ends at the Topanga Community Center. Info: [email protected] or call 310-455-1980. For more information and tickets, kindly visit topangadays.com.

Media Contact:

Alexia Haidos Itzigsohn

[email protected]

310-478-7111

SOURCE Topanga Days

Related Links

http://topangadays.com


OLYMPIA, Wash., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to Washington State Governor Jay Inslee's veto of ESHB 1504, Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad President Eric Temple issued the following response:

File Photo of Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad President Eric Temple

Eric Temple stated, "Today Governor Inslee vetoed bipartisan legislation that would have helped rural communities prosper, brought jobs back to our state, as well as tax revenue for our schools. ESHB 1504 would have defined freight rail dependent uses within the Growth Management Act (GMA) and allowed counties to write rules on how the land would be used. The bill was supported by both parties in the legislature, and also by a broad coalition including agriculture, labor, local governments, ports, and railroads.

"By over 80% margins, the legislature passed modest common sense reforms to the GMA, which would have allowed local communities greater flexibility in zoning land adjacent to railroads for rail dependent uses. The goal of the legislature was to create more family wage jobs, protect the environment, reduce congestion, broaden the rural tax base, and preserve Washington State's railroad system. Had this bill received the Governor's signature, and not his veto, it would have done just this.

"ESHB 1504 is necessary, as large parcels of rail served parcels zoned for rail users are the scarcest type of land in our state. During a twelve month stretch in 2016, four different companies needing railroad served parcels considered locating in Clark County. Because of the limitations imposed by the GMA, there was no land available, and not one of the 7,300 jobs was created here. Many of those citizens will be forced to commute to Portland to support their families, something to consider when the estimated cost of replacing the Columbia River I-5 bridge is currently $3 billion.

"ESHB 1504 would have had positive effects on the environment. It's a well-established fact switching from truck to rail reduces the carbon footprint by 75%. Forcing Washington businesses to transport by truck, or forcing businesses to locate to another state and transport the final freight miles to Washington State by truck, is not good for the environment, causes wear and tear on our infrastructure, and increases congestion.

"ESHB 1504 would have protected resource land, and also protected shortline railroad infrastructure, by allowing counties to determine the best uses for rail served land in their own communities. The bill was limited to cover only parcels which were both in rural counties and adjacent to railroad tracks. This language alone would exempt well over 99% of Washington State lands from these changes. In addition, common sense and economic reality would have protected the remaining less than 1% of the property. In Clark County, the area in question is a couple of hundred acres of underutilized farmland located on a four-lane highway, a railroad, and between the cities of Vancouver and Battle Ground. Of the nearly 75,000 acres of agricultural land in Clark County, these changes would have affected less than half a percent.

"ESHB 1504 would have helped provide much-needed revenues for school and fire districts, as well as other essential services such as law enforcement. According to the Federal Government, Clark County agricultural land generated just $680 in annual sales per acre, and Clark County property tax assessors place a taxable value on this land as low as 50 cents per acre. The economic reality of these numbers creates enormous challenges for these communities. By comparison, if Seattle-based Amazon.com was limited to $680 in sales per acre in 2016, they would have needed a land mass roughly the size of Washington, Oregon, and California combined for their $136 billion in sales.

"The irony is, Governor Inslee promotes himself as a leader who cares about the environment, wants to create family wage jobs, and supports school funding as well as other essential services, all of which this bill would achieve.

"By vetoing ESHB 1504, Governor Jay Inslee is hurting rural economies, job opportunities, and losing tax revenue for all of Washington. We urge the Legislature to override his senseless veto."

ABOUT: Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad is the operating company for the Clark County-owned 33-mile long Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, and has been in business since 2004.

MEDIA CONTACT: Eric Temple 425-649-1104 [email protected]

Related Images

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image2.png

SOURCE Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad
FREMONT, Calif., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Procera Networks today announced that PacketLogic/V has successfully participated in the New IP Agency's (NIA) Public Multi-Vendor Interoperability Event for the Big Communications Event 2017. This testing focused on the interoperability assessment of Management and Orchestration solutions (MANO). The different solutions tested included the NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) and the Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM) with Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) and VNF Infrastructure (NFVI) from different vendors.

"Interoperability is critical to create a viable, open market for service providers to choose the best NFV solutions," said Carsten Rossenhoevel, Managing Director, EANTC. "Our report includes detailed insight into the state-of-the-art of multi-vendor NFV MANO implementations. Procera has demonstrated continuous commitment to public NFV interoperability and performance testing."

"NFV interoperability is a critical aspect of moving NFV from the lab into deployment," said Alexander Havang, CTO for Procera Networks. "Procera's participation in this testing demonstrates our commitment to accelerating the movement to deployable NFV solutions for network operators, and multi-vendor MANO testing is critical to moving large-scale NFV demplyments forward."

The testing included 7 vendors, with 4 NFVi platforms, 3 MANO platforms, and 4 VNFs participating in the testing. The test results are available in the test report available at http://www.eantc.de/fileadmin/eantc/downloads/News/2017/EANTC-NIA_BCE2017-WhitePaper-FINAL.pdf

About NIA

The New IP Agency (NIA) (www.newipagency.com) is a not-for-profit independent initiative providing information, education, analysis, community services and testing to support and accelerate the development of a global economy based on open, advanced, virtualized IP networks.

About EANTC

EANTC (European Advanced Networking Test Center) is internationally recognized as one of the world's leading independent test centers for telecommunication technologies. Based in Berlin, Germany, the company offers vendor-neutral consultancy and realistic, reproducible high-quality testing services since 1991. Customers include leading network equipment manufacturers, tier-1 service providers, large enterprises and governments worldwide. EANTC's proof of concept, acceptance tests and network audits cover established and next-generation fixed and mobile network technologies. http://www.eantc.com

About Procera Networks, Inc.

Procera Networks is a leading provider of virtualized Network Intelligence enablement platforms for Communications Providers, Enterprises and Governments. The continued development of its award-winning ScoreCard and eVolution technologies, in addition to the benefits its solutions hold for network operators around data insights, traffic management, and policy control, means Procera is capable of meeting the ever-changing needs of service providers both today and in the future.

For more information, visit http://www.proceranetworks.com or follow Procera on Twitter @ProceraNetworks.

Press contact

Andy Eldridge

EarlyWMC for Procera Networks

[email protected]

SOURCE Procera Networks, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.proceranetworks.com


MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, Minn., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Minnesota Medical School is proud to announce Clark Chen, MD, Ph.D. as the Lyle French Chair in Neurosurgery and the Head of the University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Neurosurgery.

"Dr. Chen is an innovative leader with a strong track record in research and clinical care," said Dr. Brooks Jackson, Dean of the Medical School and Vice President for the Health Sciences. "His leadership will be instrumental in enhancing our strength in the neurosciences and his oncology research will increase synergies between the neurosciences and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota."

Dr. Chen is a nationally recognized brain tumor researcher and surgeon, with a dedicated interest in understanding how glioblastomas acquire resistance to radiation and chemotherapy. He is an NIH RO1 funded investigator with research focused on developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for brain tumor patients. He is also a leader in the study of DNA repair and gene therapy in brain tumors.

"Dr. Chen's research laboratory in the Masonic Cancer Research Building will co-locate him with other top scientists in tumor oncology, neuro-oncology and pathology. Future collaborations among laboratories will yield new insights into glioblastoma research," said Douglas Yee, MD, Director, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.

"The University of Minnesota has a world-class scientific research and clinical community. It has a tremendous legacy in academic neurosurgery," said, Dr. Clark Chen. "I am excited and honored to take on a role that will allow me to build upon the excellent leadership and research of generations of neurosurgeons."

Chen is currently the Chief of Stereotactic and Radiosurgery, Vice-Chairman of Neurosurgery and Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). He played pivotal roles as the Principal Investigator of several surgery-based brain tumor trials, including studies using viruses engineered to destroy brain cancer cells. Clinically, he was at the forefront of developing and applying novel surgical tools, including the use of laser and ultrasound, as a treatment for brain tumor patients. Prior to his role at UCSD, he led the brain tumor programs at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed papers in the field of neuro-oncology, including publications in Nature, Nature Genetics, Science Translational Medicine, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

He is also the recipient of several highly competitive research awards including the Damon Runyon Fellowship Award, the Sidney Kimmel Scholar Award, the Burroughs Wellcome Foundation Career Award in Medical Sciences, the Sontag Foundation Distinguished Scientist Award, the Doris Duke Foundation Clinical Scientist Award, and the Forbeck Scholar Award.

In 2015, Dr. Chen received the Presidential Award of Achievement from the President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou. The award is given annually by the Taiwanese government to individuals of Taiwanese heritage who have made exceptional contributions to their profession. Chen says his work is motivated by his patients and his family.

"I am the first in my family to have received a college education, and I remind myself constantly, that I am the son of two extraordinary people who have devoted themselves to my success. I also remind myself of the many brain tumor patients who the current standard of therapy fails," said Chen. "The reason I chose my profession is to keep the promise that I made to my mother  to study all the things that she never had a chance to."

Dr. Chen received his B.S. in biology from Stanford University, his M.S. in epidemiology from Columbia University, and his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard Medical School. He subsequently completed his neurosurgery training at the Massachusetts General Hospital, including a clinical fellowship in radiosurgery and a second fellowship on stereotactic neurosurgery.

"Dr. Chen brings unique and valuable experience to the University of Minnesota," said Jackson. "I am excited to bring a physician-scientist of his caliber on as a member of our leadership team."

The University of Minnesota Medical School, with its two campuses in the Twin Cities and Duluth, is a leading educator of the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and the school's 3,370 faculty and affiliate physicians and scientists advance patient care, discover biomedical research breakthroughs with more than $177 million in sponsored research annually, and enhance health through world-class patient care for the state of Minnesota and beyond. Visit http://www.med.umn.edu to learn more.

Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota is a Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute. For more than 25 years, researchers, educators, and care providers have worked to discover the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and cancer-related disease. Learn more at cancer.umn.edu.

Contact:

Naomi McDonald, UMN Medical School, 651-785-4171, [email protected]

SOURCE Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

Related Links

http://www.cancer.umn.edu


BOSTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhythm today announced the expansion of the company's Phase 2 clinical trials of setmelanotide to the treatment of Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) obesity. Setmelanotide is a potent, first-in-class melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist in development for the treatment of obesity caused by genetic deficiencies in the MC4 pathway, a key biological pathway in humans that regulates weight by increasing energy expenditure and reducing appetite.

"Bardet-Biedl syndrome affects vision, kidney function, and other organsbut the obsessive appetite without relief, along with the burden of obesity, are often the most important issues for people living with this condition, including many of our patients," said Robert Haws, MD, Medical Director of Clinical Research at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation and an investigator for the study. "We are therefore very excited about the setmelanotide study as a potential treatment for this condition."

This initial study is an open-label, Phase 2 clinical trial of setmelanotide for the treatment of BBS obesity. The clinical trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of setmelanotide administered once daily by subcutaneous injection in patients with BBS obesity.

"Patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome suffer from devastating symptoms, with no approved treatment for the obesity and hyperphagia caused by this genetic disorder," said Keith Gottesdiener, CEO of Rhythm. "We are very pleased to expand the setmelanotide clinical program to Bardet-Biedl, and we are hopeful that this trial supports its potential to improve the lives of patients living with this rare genetic disorder."

About Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a life-threatening, ultra-rare orphan disease with a prevalence of approximately one in one hundred thousand in North America, which we estimate has an addressable patient population of approximately 1,500 to 2,500 patients in the United States. BBS is a monogenic disorder that causes severe obesity and hyperphagia (extreme, unrelenting hunger) as well as vision loss, polydactyly, kidney abnormalities, and other signs and symptoms. For these patients, hyperphagia and obesity can have significant health consequences for which there is currently no approved treatment. Recent scientific studies identify deficiencies affecting the MC4 pathway as a potential cause of the obesity and hyperphagia associated with BBS.

About Setmelanotide

Setmelanotide is a potent, first-in-class MC4R agonist in development for the treatment of obesity caused by genetic deficiencies in the MC4 pathway, a key biological pathway in humans that regulates weight by increasing energy expenditure and reducing appetite. The critical role of the MC4 pathway in weight regulation was validated with the discovery that single genetic defects along this pathway result in early-onset and severe obesity. In 2016, The New England Journal of Medicine reported results from a setmelanotide Phase 2 trial in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) deficiency obesity that demonstrated substantial weight loss in two adult patients. At ObesityWeek 2016, investigators presented initial data for the first patient enrolled in a Phase 2, open-label clinical trial of setmelanotide for the treatment of leptin receptor (LepR) deficiency obesity. Both POMC and LepR deficiency obesity are rare genetic disorders associated with severe, early-onset obesity and unrelenting hyperphagia. The initial efficacy data with setmelanotide in these disorders demonstrate that setmelanotide has the potential to provide meaningful efficacy for genetic disorders that result in defects in the MC4 pathway that are upstream of melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), restoring lost function by activating the intact MC4 pathway below the genetic defect. The company is currently evaluating setmelanotide for the treatment of the following genetic disorders of obesity: POMC deficiency obesity, LepR deficiency obesity, Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Alstrom syndrome, POMC heterozygous deficiency obesity, and POMC epigenetic disorders. Rhythm recently initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial of setmelanotide in POMC deficiency obesity.

About Rhythm (www.rhythmtx.com)

Rhythm is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing peptide therapeutics for the treatment of rare genetic deficiencies that result in life-threatening metabolic disorders. Rhythm's lead peptide product candidate is setmelanotide, a first-in-class melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist for the treatment of rare genetic disorders of obesity. Rhythm supports The Genetic Obesity Project (www.GeneticObesity.com), which is dedicated to improving the understanding of severe obesity that is caused by specific genetic defects. The company is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adam Daley Bart Henderson Berry & Company Public Relations Rhythm, President & Founder 212-253-8881 857-264-4281 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Rhythm

Related Links

http://www.rhythmtx.com


CALGARY, Alberta and NEW YORK, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vesta Energy Corp. ("Vesta" or the "Company") today announced it has entered into definitive agreements with respect to a C$295 million equity financing round (the "Transaction") priced at C$4.50/share, co-led by energy private equity firms Riverstone Holdings LLC ("Riverstone") and JOG Capital ("JOG"). Other investors in the round include certain funds managed by JOG and the Vesta management team. In conjunction with the investments by Riverstone and JOG, Vesta has announced a private placement offering of up to C$10 million to existing shareholders at C$4.50/share.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Vesta is a privately held exploration and production ("E&P") company led by Founder and CEO Curtis Cook focused on the development of light oil properties in the shallow Joffre Duvernay Shale oil play. Mr. Cook is joined on the management team by Paul Smith (CFO), Grant Rabe (COO), Jenny Ngo (CAO) and Dermot O'Connor (VP Exploration). Vesta's management team brings strong industry experience from companies such as EOG Resources, Renaissance Energy, and Talisman Energy, and has an impressive track record of value creation across a variety of US and Canadian shale plays.

Vesta has assembled a contiguous land position of over 200,000 net acres within the Joffre Duvernay Shale oil play. The Company currently has 23 wells on stream and is producing approximately 3,500 boe/d, of which 80% is light oil. The Transaction is anticipated to close on May 26, 2017, and will provide Vesta with sufficient capital to execute on an accelerated development program across its extensive land base.

Curtis Cook, Founder and CEO, said: "We are excited to partner with Riverstone and to welcome Olivia Wassenaar and Denzil West to the Vesta Board of Directors. Riverstone will assist the Company in accelerating its development of the Joffre Duvernay Shale oil play and ultimately showcasing the play to the broader North American investment community. Riverstone brings a strong financial acumen as well as a deep understanding of the development of shale resource plays through the likes of Mark Papa, Riverstone partner, CEO of Centennial Resource Development, and former CEO of EOG Resources."

Olivia Wassenaar, Managing Director at Riverstone, added: "Our investment in Vesta reflects the confidence we have in Curtis and the entire Vesta management team. By applying learnings from US shale plays, Vesta is developing the Joffre Duvernay Shale oil play into a world class resource and one of the most economic plays in North America. We look forward to partnering with the management team and JOG to continue to grow the business."

Ryan Crawford, Managing Partner at JOG and Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented: "We are pleased to welcome Riverstone, a leading energy private equity investor in North America, as a partner. The management team at Vesta has established a scalable, high quality, light oil resource, in a highly strategic location in Central Alberta, and has developed an organization that is unique and innovative in its approach to field operations. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to realize Vesta's potential."

Vesta's financial advisors for the Transaction were BMO Capital Markets and Goldman Sachs Canada.

About Riverstone Holdings LLC

Riverstone is an energy and power-focused private investment firm founded in 2000 by David M. Leuschen and Pierre F. Lapeyre, Jr. with approximately $36 billion of capital raised. Riverstone conducts buyout and growth capital investments in the E&P, midstream, oilfield services, power, and renewable sectors of the energy industry. With offices in New York, London, Houston, and Mexico City, Riverstone has committed over $35 billion to more than 130 investments in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

About JOG Capital

JOG Capital is a private investment firm that focuses on exploration & production opportunities in Western Canada. JOG Capital was formed in 2002 and has become a leading provider of private equity to Canadian junior exploration and production companies. JOG has established six oil & gas funds with aggregate capital commitments in excess of C$1.2 billion.





Media Contacts

For Riverstone:

Jeffrey Taufield / Daniel Yunger

Kekst and Company

(212) 521-4800

For JOG:

Ryan Crawford

Managing Partner

(403) 232-3306

For Vesta:

Curtis Cook

President and CEO

(403) 233-2888

SOURCE Riverstone Holdings LLC
SALT LAKE CITY, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RizePoint, the global leader in quality experience management software, awarded scholarships to 20 Canyons School District students for STEM-oriented summer camps as part of the second annual RizePoint STEM Scholarship Awards. Award recipients9 girls and 11 boysrange from 5th through 10th grade. The awards cover the cost of summer camps in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, with camps focusing on fields such as robotics or marine science.

"It is an honor to recognize these ambitious students," said Michelle Suzuki, Chief Marketing Officer. "One of our company goals is to contribute to the future of tech in Utah. We love helping local students develop an interest in science and technology, and it's always a pleasure to meet students with a love of learning and the drive to do more."

This is the second year RizePoint has recognized local students with STEM scholarships. The company, based in Cottonwood Heights, developed the program in collaboration with Canyons School District as a hands-on way to contribute to the development of STEM education in Utah. This innovative program is the first of its kind, but Canyons School District hopes the RizePoint commitment will make others aware of the opportunities available to contribute to STEM education in Utah.

The competitive grant application brought in more than 40 applicants, and required a personal statement from the student about their STEM ambitions, as well as a letter of recommendation from a friend and a teacher. Students wrote about everything from an interest in programming, to curing chronic disease that affects family members, to building robots that will help people and animals. Applications were evaluated by Canyon School District officials and a committee of RizePoint employees for completeness, creativity, and merit.

"Canyons School District has placed an emphasis on achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics since its inception in 2009. Thanks to the partnerships in the community like we've formed with RizePoint, we'll be able to further and strengthen our efforts to inspire and educate the next generation of computer programmers, engineers, scientists, architects, and teachers," said Sherril H. Taylor, President of the Canyons Board of Education. "The RizePoint program not only provides summer-camp learning opportunities, it also presents the opportunity for students to learn how to apply for a competitive grant. We had more students apply than we were able to fund, and we hope to expand the scholarship pool next year with more business partners."

Students will be recognized in front of their families and peers at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 17, at 4 p.m. at RizePoint, 2890 E. Cottonwood Parkway, #250, Cottonwood Heights.

About RizePoint Corporate Social Responsibility

Four company-paid volunteer days per year amounting to more than 2,000 hours in the community

Efforts to create a diverse and inclusive work environment

Annual STEM scholarship awards, partnered with Canyons School District

School supply drives collecting more than 2,000 items for Canyons School District students

For more information visit https://rizepoint.com/solutions/corporate-responsibility/

RizePoint At-a-Glance

RizePoint mobile and cloud-based software helps organizations improve the quality, safety, and sustainability of their products, services, and facilities.

RizePoint's software is used by 5 of the top 8 hospitality brands and 5 of the top 8 food service brands.

RizePoint serves more than 387,000 users in 120 countries and territories, speaking 40 languages:

105,000 food service restaurants



27,000 hotels and resort properties



13,000 grocery and retail stores

About RizePoint

RizePoint  formerly Steton Technology Group  is the global leader in software solutions that proactively safeguard enterprise compliancefor both internally imposed standards and externally imposed regulations. RizePoint software builds and protects brand equity by enabling a consistent customer experience. Our customers gather better data, see necessary actions earlier, and act faster to correct issues before they become costly liabilities. Considered the industry standard for food service, hospitality, and retail, RizePoint mobile and cloud-based solutions serve nearly 2 million audits with 200 million questions answered annually. RizePoint is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, visit RizePoint.com.

Press Inquiries:

Whitney McCarthy

801.285.9827

[email protected]

SOURCE RizePoint

Related Links

http://www.rizepoint.com


Rob Canales, Co-Founder and CEO of ROKA said, "As an independent brand taking on the Goliaths of a monopolistic market, we're incredibly honored to have our eyewear recognized for its unrivaled performance and comfort. ROKA is a company with the passion for performance that enables athletes to achieve their dreams, and our eyewear redefines the standard and sets a new high mark for what is possible."

ROKA's Phantom eyewear required more than a year of R&D with some of the world's most advanced factories and material suppliers. Packing under-the-hood technical innovations that deliver the ultimate in comfort and performance, the aviator design salutes the heritage of classic eyewear style to prove performance optics don't always have to take styling cues from science fiction.

Unique to ROKA frames, GEKO Pad technology utilizes biomimicry for the secure grip of gecko foot geometry. Crafted with a proprietary elastomer and engineered with patented patterning, the pads achieve a no-bounce, ultra-secure fit that maintains retention even during the sweatiest, most strenuous activity. ROKA performance eyewear also features rock-solid durability with the low weight of titanium to offer a "forget you're wearing them" experience.

Optimized with premium nylon lenses by Carl Zeiss Vision for visual fidelity and razor-sharp clarity, ROKA eyewear exceeds ANSI Z87.1 standards for optical performance and impact resistance. The lenses are enhanced with a superior hard coating for abrasion resistance, a hydrophobic & oleophobic coating that reduces fog buildup and resists smudging, and an anti-reflective coating that mitigates distracting reflections and glare. All these features are packed into designs offered at price points that deliver unmatched performance at an exceptional value.

Canales concluded, "There's a tremendous amount of pride that goes into every product we develop, and this award validates all the hard work we put into performance gear that makes a difference for athletes striving to achieve their best."

Twice a year, Outsides Buyers Guides deliver the worlds most comprehensive review of the gear, tools and technology that are essential to enjoying the active lifestyle. Considered the most trusted source in the industry, the guide is the result of input from reviewers who put thousands of products through rigorous testing every year. Only the best make it into the annual Spring and Winter Buyers Guides.

Visit www.roka.com to learn more about the company's growing lines of premium performance eyewear, apparel and equipment. Follow ROKA on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About ROKA

ROKA is a performance design company dedicated to helping athletes unlock their potential. For more information, visit www.roka.com.

SOURCE ROKA Sports, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.roka.com


CHICAGO and NEW YORK, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosenthal Collins Group LLC (RCG), a leading independent futures clearing firm, today announced the appointment of Brian Ager as President of the firm's new Institutional Foreign Exchange (FX) Division in New York. Ager has spent more than three decades in financial services, including more than 22 years of management, trading and sales experience in foreign exchange futures and cash markets.

RCG President Maureen Downs said: "We're thrilled to welcome Brian to RCG in this important new role, where he will help us grow our footprint in New York and expand the breadth of our product offering with an institutional FX presence. Brian has a terrific track record of building a global client base, executing all types of FX products and managing major client accounts, and he'll bring that expertise to bear on our behalf. Over time, he will recruit a team of talented, experienced institutional FX professionals to support our growth in this sector."

Ager said: "I'm absolutely delighted to join RCG to lead the entirely new operation of the Institutional FX Division. As a market maker and price distributor, we'll be utilizing the best technology to deliver solutions to our clients that help them manage price risk and market volatility. I'm looking forward to establishing a team of talented sales professionals that not only provides high-level service to our clients but also treats our liquidity providers and business partners with the utmost respect."

Since 2011, Ager served as Senior Director of New York FX Sales & Trading for R.J. O'Brien & Associates. From 2009 to 2011, he was a Director of FX Sales & Trading for RCG. Previously, Ager was Vice President, FX Institutional Sales for Citibank and for RBC Capital Markets, beginning in 2000. His FX career began in 1994 at AIG International, where he started on the spot FX desk and earned a promotion to the FX sales desk to manage the firm's high priority clients. In 1998 he moved to the AIG head office in Greenwich, Conn. as Assistant Vice President of FX Institutional Sales.

Ager joined AIG Europe (UK) Ltd in 1986, working as a commercial property damage and business interruption underwriter until 1994.

About RCG

With more than 90 years of experience in the futures industry, Rosenthal Collins Group is one of the world's leading regulated Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) offering trading execution, clearing, brokerage, managed futures services and a full range of electronic trading services to institutional, commercial, professional and retail customers around the globe. The firm has developed its own electronic trading platform, RCG Onyx Plus, tailored to the needs of its clients. RCG holds clearing memberships on all principal U.S. futures exchanges and has access to world futures markets through a network of correspondent relationships. RCG has over 35,000 active accounts and more than 150 correspondent brokerage relationships. Further information about Rosenthal Collins Group can be found at www.RCGdirect.com.



SOURCE Rosenthal Collins Group

Related Links

http://www.rcgdirect.com


AUSTIN, Texas, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, announced today CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Sally Craig, senior director, channel, Americas, to its prestigious 2017 Women of the Channel list.

Its an honor to be recognized among so many successful women in the 2017 Women of the Channel list. The goals for the Epicor Channel over the next year are to fine-tune the program and continue to focus on assisting partners with development and enablement in order to drive revenue growth, said Sally Craig, Sr. Director, Channel, Americas, Epicor Software.

The executives who comprise the annual Women of the Channel list span the IT channel, representing vendors, distributors, solution providers, and other organizations that figure prominently in the channel ecosystem. Each is recognized for her outstanding leadership, vision, and unique role in driving channel growth and innovation.

CRN editors select the Women of the Channel honorees based on their professional accomplishments, demonstrated expertise, and ongoing dedication to the IT channel.

Craig is a results-focused leader who has successfully led the Epicor Americas Channel teams to focus on better supporting the overall channel with the Epicor Partner Program. The Epicor Channel team has also actively supported broader initiatives to improve training available through not only Epicor University, but also through monthly channel webinars on educational and industry topics. Craig also played a key role in launching, and now supporting, the Epicor Partner Advisory Council which is a group of partners across the Americas who collaborate with Epicor and represent the channel on key initiatives.

"These extraordinary executives support every aspect of the channel ecosystem, from technical innovation to marketing to business development, working tirelessly to keep the channel moving into the future," said Robert Faletra, CEO, The Channel Company. "They are creating and elevating channel partner programs, developing fresh go-to-market strategies, strengthening the channel's network of partnerships, and building creative new IT solutions, among many other contributions. We congratulate all the 2017 Women of the Channel on their stellar accomplishments and look forward to their future success."

"It's an honor to be recognized among so many successful women in the 2017 Women of the Channel list," said Craig. "The goals for the Epicor Channel over the next year are to fine-tune the program and continue to focus on assisting partners with development and enablement in order to drive revenue growth. We look forward to expanding our channel partner base by providing a solid foundation that produces business opportunities through offering an end-to-end suite of integrated solutions that are recognized by analysts, private companies, and the industries we serve."

The 2017 Women of the Channel list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/wotc.

About the Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com

Epicor Channel Partner Program

Epicor looks for channel partners that are leaders in their field, committed to excellence and customer satisfaction. Part of the Epicor Partner Network, the channel program is a comprehensive sales, marketing, training, and support program thatcombined with award-winning productsoffers significant opportunities for business growth in a highly competitive and dynamic marketplace. Recognized by The Channel Company as one of the top vendors providing the best partnering elements in a channel program, Epicor earned a 5-Star rating in the 2016 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide is the definitive listing of technology vendors that service solution providers or provide products through the IT channel. To learn more about becoming an Epicor partner, e-mail [email protected].

About Epicor Software Corporation

Epicor Software Corporation drives business growth. We provide flexible, industry-specific software designed around the needs of our manufacturing, distribution, retail, and service industry customers. More than 40 years of experience with our customers' unique business processes and operational requirements are built into every solutionin the cloud or on premises. With this deep understanding of your industry, Epicor solutions manage complexity, increase efficiency, and free up resources so you can focus on growth. For more information, connect with Epicor or visit www.epicor.com.

Epicor and the Epicor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. Other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners. The product and service offerings depicted in this document are produced by Epicor Software Corporation.

Contact: Lindsay Ortega

Senior Specialist, Public Relations

Epicor Software Corporation

+1 952 417 5022

[email protected]

SOURCE Epicor Software Corporation

Related Links

http://www.epicor.com


BOSTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Santander US CEO Scott Powell today announced the Bank's new initiative called Cultivate Small Business to help foster small business ownership in Greater Boston's low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Cultivate Small Business is designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs in low-and moderate-income neighborhoods build and sustain their businesses, with a focus on women, minority and immigrant-owned businesses in food-related industries. The program will provide industry-specific education, networks and mentoring as well as small capital grants for business owners. Santander's three strategic partners in this initiative are CommonWealth Kitchen, Babson College and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC).

"We created this program to give budding entrepreneurs in underserved neighborhoods access to an educational program and a network of established business owners who can mentor them and share their knowledge on how to successfully grow a business," said Scott Powell, CEO, Santander US. "At Santander, we know how important it is to support our local communities and this collaboration with our like-minded partners will make a meaningful difference in helping small businesses grow and underserved neighborhoods flourish."

Santander's Cultivate Small Business initiative will start in October 2017 and run through June 2018. The pilot program will be open to approximately 30 of Greater Boston's food-related business entrepreneurs in the early stages of developing their companies.

"Targeting early-stage entrepreneurs is a sound strategy, since the strongest growth in small business is happening at the entrepreneurial level  in companies with fewer than five employees," said Nam Pham, Assistant Secretary, Massachusetts Office of Business Development & International Trade. "Focusing attention on food service opens the door to many women, minority and immigrants who traditionally start family-run restaurants, bakeries, catering services and food markets."

Santander's collaborative partnerships in the public, private and non-profit sectors will ensure the delivery of an integrated program that gives participating entrepreneurs the building blocks and know-how they need to be successful business owners and reach new levels of sustainability and growth. Cultivate Small Business will include four key components:

Networking  The program will be coordinated by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City , a non-profit organization dedicated to helping small inner city businesses thrive. ICIC will bring its impressive network of inner city business owners, research resources and policy expertise to designing and implementing the pilot of this initiative.

 The program will be coordinated by the , a non-profit organization dedicated to helping small inner city businesses thrive. ICIC will bring its impressive network of inner city business owners, research resources and policy expertise to designing and implementing the pilot of this initiative. Education  Santander's partnership with Babson College will develop a customized business education curriculum that will combine in-person business classes at the College's downtown Boston campus with online sessions that participants can access remotely. In-person sessions will emphasize peer and participatory learning.

 Santander's partnership with will develop a customized business education curriculum that will combine in-person business classes at the College's downtown campus with online sessions that participants can access remotely. In-person sessions will emphasize peer and participatory learning. Mentoring  Through collaboration with CommonWealth Kitchen , an innovative community-based food business accelerator that provides shared kitchen space along with a continuum of business and technical assistance services, program participants will have access to industry-specific advice and support. Participants will be a part of the CommonWealth Kitchen community where they can learn practical business lessons from early-stage and established businesses ranging from food trucks, caterers and restaurant owners to wholesale packaged goods businesses. CommonWealth Kitchen will also provide customized technical assistance for each participant. In addition to food business mentors, Santander Bank volunteers will assist participants in strengthening the financial and operational aspects of their businesses.

 Through collaboration with , an innovative community-based food business accelerator that provides shared kitchen space along with a continuum of business and technical assistance services, program participants will have access to industry-specific advice and support. Participants will be a part of the CommonWealth Kitchen community where they can learn practical business lessons from early-stage and established businesses ranging from food trucks, caterers and restaurant owners to wholesale packaged goods businesses. CommonWealth Kitchen will also provide customized technical assistance for each participant. In addition to food business mentors, volunteers will assist participants in strengthening the financial and operational aspects of their businesses. Capital Grants  As part of the Bank's philanthropic initiative, all participants will be able to apply for small grants administered by CommonWealth Kitchen. These funds will be available for a wide range of purposes to help participants further their business goals and will be granted in stages as participants complete key phases of the program.

The online application process for Cultivate Small Business will open in June, but can be accessed initially by sending an email to [email protected]. Applicants must reside in or represent a food-related business in a low- to moderate-income neighborhood in Greater Boston. The business must have earned between $25,000 and $1 million in revenue in the most recent full calendar year and have been in operation for at least one year as of June 1, 2017, or otherwise demonstrates readiness to participate. Businesses should also have between one and 10 full-time equivalent employees. Applicants will be notified in September if they have been selected for the program.

Powell announced Cultivate Small Business at a breakfast this morning at the Roxbury Innovation Center and was joined by officials representing the City and State, including Pham. The event also featured a panel of stakeholders who shared their insights on the role small businesses play in communities and how food-related businesses offer unique opportunities for low-income and minority entrepreneurs. Moderated by Kara Miller, host of WGBH's Innovation Hub, the panel included Gwen Robinson, Santander's Managing Director of Corporate Social Responsibility; Jen Faigel, Executive Director and Co-Founder of CommonWealth Kitchen; and food industry business owners Teresa Maynard of Sweet Teez Bakery, Sherie Grillon of Nola's Fresh Foods, and Jared Auerbach of Red's Best.

As part of Santander's commitment to small businesses, the Bank has turned the U.S. Small Business Administration's 'National Small Business Week' into a month-long celebration, which includes a series of activities in May dedicated to supporting small business owners. The Bank made a $25,000 donation earlier this month during 'National Small Business Week' to Entrepreneurship for All, a Lowell, MA-based non-profit organization that mentors entrepreneurs and fosters small business growth in underserved mid-size cities in Massachusetts. Also this month, team members from Santander's Business Banking group are donating their time by providing financial education classes and mentoring to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Santander Bank, N.A. is one of the country's largest retail and commercial banks with more than $83 billion in assets. With its corporate offices in Boston, the Bank's 9,500 employees, 675 branches, 2,100 ATMs and 2.1 million customers are principally located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Madrid-based Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN) - one of the most respected banking groups in the world with more than 125 million customers in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. It is managed by Santander Holdings USA, Inc., Banco Santander's intermediate holding company in the U.S. For more information on Santander Bank, please visit www.santanderbank.com.

Media Contacts:

Ann Davis

617-757-5891

[email protected]

Nancy Orlando

617-757-5765

[email protected]

SOURCE Santander Bank, N.A.

Related Links

http://www.santanderbank.com


SEATTLE, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 12, 2017, Security Properties purchased Bordeaux Apartments, a 124-unit multifamily property built in 1989 and located in Bothell, WA for $26,000,000. SP now owns a total of 17 assets in the Seattle marketplace.

The property is located at the northern end of Bothell, WA near Martha Lake. Being minutes from the I-5/I-405 interchange, Bordeaux offers residents convenient access to all three of the region's largest employment centers with Seattle and Bellevue both 20 miles south while Everett is just 10 miles north.

Bordeaux Apartments - Bothell, WA Bordeaux Apartments - Bothell, WA

Martha Lake is home to approximately 17,000 residents with an average household income of approximately $93k/year. The property's unique central location provides easy access to numerous job centers and outstanding access to area retail. Ten minutes southwest of Bordeaux is Alderwood Mall, a 1.3 million square foot regional shopping center. Alderwood hosts a total of 166 retailers, including Apple, H&M, Nordstrom, and REI. Additionally, Mill Creek Town Center is just five minutes northeast of the property and offers more than 80 retail stores, boutiques, restaurants, and services, including three grocery stores.

The business plan is a moderate value-add. Common areas will all be updated and all deferred maintenance will be repaired. Security Properties intends to modestly renovate the 96 original units. The renovated spec will include black appliances, cabinet doors / painted boxes, flooring, lighting and plumbing fixtures, baseboard, sprayed countertops, door hardware, interior paint, mirror surrounds, blinds, and curved shower rods.

According to Davis Vaughn, Director at Security Properties, the acquisition was made because, "Bordeaux offered us an asset priced significantly below replacement cost in an area with convenient access to both jobs and retail. Bordeaux has value-add potential we will unlock with our renovation program and enhanced management. As the Seattle MSA continues to grow, we expect this location to thrive resulting in excellent returns for our investors."

The property will be managed by Security Properties-affiliate Madrona Ridge Residential.

About Security Properties

Security Properties is a national real estate investment, development, and operating company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more than 47 years, Security Properties has provided quality housing to its residents as well as excellent financial performance for its investors. Since its founding, Security Properties has acquired or developed over 66,500 residential units at a cost of over $3.35 billion. Security Properties maintains a focused multi-family strategy supported by integrated teams of professional acquisition, development, construction, investment, and property management specialists. For more information, visit www.securityproperties.com

News media contact:

Ed McGovern, 206.622.9900

[email protected]

SOURCE Security Properties

Related Links

http://www.securityproperties.com


WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Physician Hospitals of America (PHA) applauds Senator James Lankford (R-OK) for introducing important legislation that will improve patient access to physician-led hospitals. The Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017 would repeal the ban on physician-owned hospitals enacted in 2010 as part of the Affordable Care Act. This important bill  a companion to H.R. 1156 introduced by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) in the U.S. House of Representatives  lifts restrictions on the formation and expansion of these high-quality, low-cost facilities. "We applaud Senator Lankford for supporting high-quality, more affordable care options for Medicare and Medicaid patients. Once enacted, this bill will improve patient access, increase quality and competition, and lower the cost of care," stated Dr. Blake Curd, President of Physician Hospitals of America.

Dr. Curd added, "Medicare and Medicaid patients deserve access to physician-owned hospitals because we are among the highest quality performers in the nation," based on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding overall quality, value-based purchasing (VBP), and readmissions.

The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program administered by CMS rewards hospitals for high quality of care and patient satisfaction. In FY 2017, 7 of the top 10 hospitals with the highest overall performance in the program were physician-owned. In fact, 40 of the top 100 performing hospitals in the CMS VBP program in FY 2017 are physician-owned, although they represent only 5% of participating hospitals. Physician-owned hospitals also result in significant savings for Medicare. An analysis of CMS payment data demonstrated that physician-owned hospitals save Medicare $3.2 billion over a 10-year period.

Dr. Frederic Liss, a PHA Board Member, noted that physician-owned hospitals "stand ready to enhance choice and competition for patients," in an increasingly consolidated hospital environment. He added that "physician-led patient care allows for greater innovation in health services and enhances the doctor-patient relationship."

Physician Hospitals of America is joined in its support for Senator Lankford's legislation by dozens of other leading national and state healthcare organizations. The following is a list of stakeholders who recently co-signed a letter of support for this important legislation:

American Academy of Otolaryngology Musculoskeletal Tumor Society American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives National Association of Spine Specialists American Association of Hip & Knee Surgeons OrthoForum American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons Scoliosis Research Society American Association of Neurological Surgeons Rothman Institute American Association for Hand Surgery Premier Orthopedics American College of Cardiology Peachtree Orthopedics American College of Surgeons Ortho Georgia American Medical Association Signature Medical Group American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Connecticut Orthopaedic Society American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Colorado Orthopaedic Society American Osteopathic Association Delaware Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons Idaho Medical Association American Society for Surgery of the Hand Illinois State Medical Society Arthroscopy Association of North America Indiana Orthopaedic Society Congress of Neurological Surgeons Iowa Orthopaedic Society Kansas Orthopaedic Society New Mexico Medical Society Minnesota Orthopaedic Society Ohio Orthopaedic Society Missouri State Medical Association Orthopaedic Society of Oklahoma Medical Association of Georgia South Dakota State Orthopaedic Society Medical Society of Virginia Tennessee Medical Association Maryland Orthopaedic Association Texas Medical Association Maryland State Medical Society Texas Orthopaedic Association Massachusetts Orthopaedic Society Utah State Orthopaedic Society Nebraska Medical Association Washington State Orthopaedic Association New Jersey Orthopaedic Society Wyoming Medical Association

Physician Hospitals of America, or PHA, offers support, advocacy and educational services to the physician owned hospital industry, reflecting at all times the best interests of the patients, physicians, and other providers who play an inextricable and essential role in the provision of healthcare services.

Contact: John Richardson

Executive Director, PHA

(202) 367-1113

[email protected]

SOURCE Physician Hospitals of America
DARMSTADT, Germany, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Not intended for UK-based media

ASCO Abstract #

M7824 (anti-PD-L1/TGF- trap): 3006; Avelumab: 9086, 9530, 9557, 4528, 3059, 5037, e21070, e21065, e20581; Tepotinib: 4087, 8547, e15676, 20541; M3814 (DNA-PK): 2556, e14048; M7583 (BTKi): e14101

ASCO data highlights Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany ' s strong and rapidly accelerating pipeline in oncology, spanning immuno-oncology to DNA damage response

New avelumab data in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma and previously treated metastatic urothelial carcinoma, following recent U.S. FDA accelerated approvals

Oral presentation on new immuno-oncology approach anti-PD-L1/TGF- trap (M7824); potential first-in-class bifunctional immunotherapy

Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today announced that new research from its growing broad oncology portfolio, from immuno-oncology (IO) to DNA damage response (DDR) approaches, will be presented across a broad range of hard-to-treat cancers at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting (ASCO; June 2-6, Chicago). Over 40 abstracts showcase the impact of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's commitment to shaping cancer care today and tomorrow, including data for avelumab*, which is being developed in collaboration with Pfizer, Erbitux (cetuximab), and pipeline updates on the anti-PD-L1/TGF- trap M7824, the DNA-PK inhibitor M3814, the BTK inhibitor M7583, and the c-Met inhibitor tepotinib**. In the U.S. and Canada, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, operates its biopharmaceutical business as EMD Serono.

"We are focused on delivering innovation that matters to patients, as shown in our ASCO data that spans across IO and DDR approaches to tackle some of the hardest-to-treat cancers," said Luciano Rossetti, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Research & Development at the biopharma business of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, was among the first to leverage the potential of the PD1/PDL1 pathway for patients, and we continue to build on that progress with our ASCO presence and the two recent FDA accelerated approvals for avelumab."

Multiple avelumab presentations at ASCO include data in first-line metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) and previously treated metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC), as well as results from the Phase Ib trial from the avelumab combination trial with axitinib in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval*** for avelumab for the treatment of mMCC and pretreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic UC. Avelumab is currently being evaluated as both monotherapy and combination therapy in an extensive clinical development program. Beyond mMCC, locally advanced or metastatic UC and RCC, further avelumab abstracts in non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma will be showcased.

In addition to avelumab data, Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, will also feature new research at ASCO on its investigational bifunctional immunotherapy anti-PD-L1/TGF- trap (M7824), which is thought to simultaneously block both PD-L1 and TGF-. An oral presentation will showcase dose escalation Phase I clinical data exploring the potential of M7824 in advanced solid tumors.

Pipeline updates at ASCO also include early clinical results for both Tepotinib, an investigational small-molecule inhibitor of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, M7583, an oral, highly selective, covalent inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), and the first clinical data for M3814, an investigational DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) inhibitor. Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is investing significant resources in the promising area of DDR to be a leader in this field. Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has recently in-licensed two promising clinical-stage programs from Vertex.

This highly focused approach to research and development channels Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's scientific expertise in areas of high unmet need, a legacy started with Erbitux. Multiple presentations at ASCO reinforce Erbitux as a standard-of-care treatment in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), providing valuable information about biomarkers, disease response, and the importance of tumor location in mCRC, to best target treatment to the right patients.

*Avelumab is under clinical investigation for treatment of NSCLC, RCC, DLBCL, SSCHN and mCRPC and has not been demonstrated to be safe and effective for these indications. There is no guarantee that avelumab will be approved for NSCLC, RCC, DLBCL, SSCHN and mCRPC by any health authority worldwide.

**Tepotinib is the proposed nonproprietary name for the c-Met kinase inhibitor (also known as MSC2156119J).

Tepotinib, M7824 and M3814 are under clinical investigation and have not been proven to be safe and effective. There is no guarantee any product will be approved in the sought-after indication by any health authority worldwide.

Notes to Editors

Accepted Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany-supported key abstracts slated for presentation are listed below. In addition, a number of investigator-sponsored studies have been accepted, including multiple abstracts related to Erbitux and avelumab (not listed).

Presentation Date / Time Title Lead Author Abstract # (CDT) Location M7824 (TGF-ss trap) Oral Presentation Solid Tumors Preliminary results from a phase 1 trial of M7824 (MSB0011359C), a bifunctional fusion protein June 5 targeting PD-L1 and TGF-beta, in advanced solid tumors JL Gulley 3006 13:15-16:27 Hall D1

Presentation Date / Time Title Lead Author Abstract # (CDT) Location Avelumab Oral Presentation Renal Cell Carcinoma (JAVELIN Renal 100) First-line avelumab + axitinib therapy in patients with June 5 advanced renal cell carcinoma: results from a Arie Crown phase 1b trial TK Choueiri 4504 8:00-11:00 Theater Poster Sessions Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (JAVELIN Solid Tumor) Exposure-response and PD-L1 expression analysis of second-line avelumab in patients with 9086 June 3 advanced NSCLC: Data from the JAVELIN Solid Tumor trial JL Gulley 8:00-11:30 Hall A Merkel Cell Carcinoma (JAVELIN Merkel 200) First-line avelumab treatment in patients with metastatic Merkel 9530 June 3 cell carcinoma: preliminary data from an ongoing study S D'Angelo 13:15-16:45 Hall A Merkel Cell Carcinoma (JAVELIN Merkel 200) Exploratory biomarker analysis in patients with chemotherapy-refra 9557 June 3 ctory metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma treated with avelumab I Shapiro 13:15-16:45 Hall A Urothelial Carcinoma Updated efficacy and safety of avelumab in metastatic urothelial carcinoma: pooled 4528 June 4 analysis from 2 cohorts of the phase 1b JAVELIN Solid Tumor study AB Apolo 8:00-11:30 Hall A Renal Cell Carcinoma (JAVELIN Renal 101) Avelumab plus axitinib vs sunitinib as first-line treatment of advanced renal June 4 cell carcinoma: phase 3 study (JAVELIN Renal 101) TK Choueiri TPS4594 8:00-11:30 Hall A Pan-Tumor (JAVELIN Solid Tumor) Safety profile of avelumab in patients with 3059 June 5 advanced solid tumors: a JAVELIN pooled analysis of phase 1 and 2 data K Kelly 8:00-11:30 Hall A Lymphoma (TiP) (JAVELIN DLBCL) Phase 1b/3 study of avelumab-based combination regimens in patients (pts) with relapsed or June 5 refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) R Chen TPS7575 8:00-11:30 Hall A Prostate Cancer (JAVELIN Solid Tumor) Avelumab in 5037 June 5 metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) F Fakhrejahani 13:15-16:45 Hall A Head and Neck Cancer (TiP) (JAVELIN Head and Neck 100) JAVELIN Head and Neck 100: a phase 3 trial of avelumab in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) vs CRT for 1st-line treatment of locally June 5 advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN) NY Lee TPS6093 13:15-16:45 Hall A Publications Merkel Cell Carcinoma (JAVELIN Merkel 200) Non-progression during avelumab treatment is associated with clinically relevant improvements in health-related quality of life in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma M Bharmal e21070 N/A N/A Merkel Cell Carcinoma (JAVELIN Merkel 200) Patient experiences with avelumab vs chemotherapy for treating Merkel cell carcinoma: e21065 results from protocol-specified qualitative research H Kaufman N/A N/A Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (JAVELIN Solid Tumor) Comparative study of two PD-L1 expression assays in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Z Feng e20581 N/A N/A

Presentation Date / Time Title Lead Author Abstract # (CDT) Location Tepotinib Poster Sessions Hepatocellular Carcinoma Phase Ib trial of tepotinib in Asian patients with advanced hepatocellular 4087 June 3 carcinoma (HCC): Final data including long-term outcomes S Qin 8:00-11:30 Hall A Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Phase Ib study of tepotinib in EGFR-mutant/c-Met- 8547 June 3 positive NSCLC: final data and long-term responders Y-L Wu 8:00-11:30 Hall A

Publications Hepatocellular Carcinoma Final phase Ib data for the oral c-Met inhibitor tepotinib in patients with previously treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma S Faivre e15676 N/A N/A Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma Phase II trial of the c-Met inhibitor tepotinib in advanced lung adenocarcinoma with MET exon 14 skipping mutations PK Paik 20541 N/A N/A

Presentation Date / Time Title Lead Author Abstract # (CDT) Location M3814 (DNA-PK) Poster Session Solid Tumors A multicenter phase I trial of the DNA-dependent 2556 June 5 protein kinase (DNA-PK) inhibitor M3814 in patients with solid tumors M van Bussel 8:00-11:30 Hall A Publication Solid Tumors A phase Ia/Ib trial of the DNA-dependent protein kinase inhibitor (DNA-PKi) M3814 in combination with radiotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors B Van Triest e14048 N/A N/A

Lead Author Presentation Date / Time Title Abstract # (CDT) Location M7583 (BTKi) Publication B Cell Malignancies Phase I/II, first in human trial of the Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) M7583 in patients with B cell malignancies S Rule e14101 N/A N/A

For further information and press materials please visit:

http://www.emdgroup.com/emd/media/media_center_oncology.html

All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the EMD Group Website. In case you are a resident of the USA or Canada please go to http://www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Avelumab

Avelumab is a human antibody specific for a protein called PD-L1, or programmed death ligand-1. Avelumab is designed to potentially engage both the adaptive and innate immune systems. By binding to PD-L1, avelumab is thought to prevent tumor cells from using PD-L1 for protection against white blood cells, such as T-cells, exposing them to anti-tumor responses. Avelumab has been shown to induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in vitro. In November 2014, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer announced a strategic alliance to co-develop and co-commercialize avelumab.

***Indications

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for avelumab (BAVENCIO) for the treatment of (i) metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older and (ii) patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or who have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. Continued approval for these indications may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. Avelumab is not approved for any indication in any market outside the U.S.

Important Safety Information

The warnings and precautions for BAVENCIO include immune-mediated adverse reactions (such as pneumonitis, hepatitis, colitis, endocrinopathies, nephritis and renal dysfunction and other adverse reactions), infusion-related reactions and embryo-fetal toxicity.

Common adverse reactions (reported in at least 20% of patients) in patients treated with avelumab include fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, diarrhea, nausea, infusion-related reaction, peripheral edema, decreased appetite/hypophagia, urinary tract infection and rash.

For full prescribing information and medication guide for BAVENCIO, please see http://www.BAVENCIO.com.

About Erbitux (cetuximab)

Erbitux is a highly active IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). As a monoclonal antibody, the mode of action of Erbitux is distinct from standard non-selective chemotherapy treatments in that it specifically targets and binds to the EGFR. This binding inhibits the activation of the receptor and the subsequent signal-transduction pathway, which results in reducing both the invasion of normal tissues by tumor cells and the spread of tumors to new sites. It is also believed to inhibit the ability of tumor cells to repair the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy and to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels inside tumors, which appears to lead to an overall suppression of tumor growth. Erbitux also targets cytotoxic immune effector cells towards EGFR expressing tumor cells (antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, ADCC).

The most commonly reported side effect with Erbitux is an acne-like skin rash. In approximately 5% of patients, hypersensitivity reactions may occur during treatment with Erbitux; about half of these reactions are severe.

Erbitux has already obtained market authorization in over 90 countries world-wide for the treatment of RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer and for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany licensed the right to market Erbitux, a registered trademark of ImClone LLC, outside the U.S. and Canada from ImClone LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, in 1998.

About M3814

M3814 is an investigational small-molecule inhibitor of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). DNA-PK is a key enzyme for non-homologous end-joining (NEHJ), the most important DNA double strand break repair pathway (DSB), and could potentially enhance the efficacy of many commonly used DNA-damaging agents such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. M3814 complements Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's extensive DNA damage response (DDR) portfolio and is currently in Phase I studies.

About M7824

M7824, anti-PD-L1/TGF- trap, is an investigational potentially first-in-class bi-functional immunotherapy designed to simultaneously block two immuno-inhibitory pathways (PD-L1 and transforming growth factor beta) that are commonly used by cancer cells to evade the immune system. The aim of this investigational drug is to control tumor growth by restoring and enhancing anti-tumor immune responses. M7824 is currently in Phase I studies for solid tumors.

About Tepotinib

Tepotinib (also known as MSC2156119J) is an investigational small-molecule inhibitor of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase. Alterations of the c-Met signaling pathway are found in various cancer types and correlate with aggressive tumor behavior and poor clinical prognosis. Tepotinib is currently under evaluation in Phase I/II trials.

About Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life - from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of  15.0 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand except in the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160629/384917LOGO )



SOURCE Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
BOSTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SimpliSafe, the nation's fastest growing home security company, today announced its top 6 tips for a safer summer. With Memorial Day around the corner, SimpliSafe wanted to help people prepare for fun in the sun.

"According to the FBI, summer is the peak season for burglaries as people head outdoors and on vacation," said Melina Engel, vice president of marketing. "At SimpliSafe our mission is 'Every Home Secure,' so we thought we should share some common-sense tips to help keep families safe this summer season."
TROY, Mich., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Socialgist announced today a strategic partnership with Reddit, the home of online conversation. The hugely popular platform known as "The Front Page of the Internet" will rely on Socialgist's infrastructure and services to deliver world-class data products. This will ensure important insights are available to those interested in understanding and engaging with Reddit's highly active community.

"Brands have long sought to fully engage with Reddit's enormous and enthusiastic user base, learn what they care about and how best to reach them," said Jon Oelman SVP at Socialgist. "Bringing Reddit's public API onboard will open powerful tools for the analytic community and their customers to gain valuable insights from one of the top global social platforms. We're thrilled to help such a prominent platform and more importantly work with the great people on the Reddit team."

This partnership marks the first time that public Reddit data will be commercially available for analytics while adhering to the Reddit compliance standards. Approved customers will be able to leverage the massive scale of Reddit, a top 10 website in the US with over 270 million global monthly users.

"We're excited to partner with Socialgist as the Reddit community continues to grow," said Alex Riccomini, director of business development and media partnerships at Reddit. "Authentic conversations take place on Reddit every day that lend an ear to brands who are invested in understanding sentiment and perception. With Socialgist, brands can gain valuable insights while maintaining compliance with our existing API  something that's top of mind for us."

About Socialgist

Socialgist works with the world's leading platforms including YouTube, SINA Weibo, Foursquare, Disqus and many others. Socialgist supports the largest users of social media data in the world, including enterprise-class social media listening applications, business intelligence algorithms, and predictive modeling for finance and research. Socialgist provides two core services, sourcing of specific social media data sources and data management. Socialgist secures and manages social data for the largest companies and largest brands in the world, so they don't have to. For more information visit www.socialgist.com, follow us @socialgistcorp or email [email protected].

About Reddit

Reddit, dubbed "the front page of the Internet", is the home of conversation online. Communities are built around users submitting, voting and commenting on content, stories and discussions centered around their passions. With over 270 million global users monthly, Reddit is home to the most open and authentic conversations on the Internet. For more information, visit about.reddit.com.

SOURCE Socialgist

Related Links

www.socialgist.com


MADISON, Wis., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Through the support of the American College of Radiology and the contribution of leading experts from the Society for Pediatric Radiology, National Decision Support Company (NDSC) customers can now access a greatly expanded range of Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) covering Pediatric Imaging.

The Pediatric AUC are the result of a direct collaboration between the SPR and the American College of Radiology (ACR) to develop new pediatric criteria for delivery through NDSC's ACR Select. Volunteers from leading pediatric institutions nationwide collaborated with members of the ACR's decision support team to develop the criteria.

A team of over 30 SPR experts reviewed each ACR Select topic to incorporate age and gender specific Pediatric indications. Led by Dr. Marta Hernanz-Shulman with guidance from Dr. Mike Bettmann, Chair of the ACR's Rapid Response Team, the experts developed AUC that cover 374 Pediatric Specific indications and 376 exams that cover 2912 clinical end points for pediatric imaging.

"With the contributions of the Pediatric Radiology experts working with Dr. Hernanz-Schulman, we have gone from a limited set of a little over 100 indications to a vastly expanded set of nearly 400 indications for the pediatric population," said Dr. Michael Bettmann, MD, FACR. "That is not everything, but we have made a giant step in guiding the use of imaging in children and that is why I am excited. This simply has not existed for children before."

"Children are more sensitive to radiation and they will live longer and therefore have a chance to have more studies, so you don't want to radiate unnecessarily," said Dr. Marta Hernanz-Schulman, MD, FAAP FACR, Medical Director, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. "Selecting the best imaging test can be a complex process, particularly in Pediatrics. We have responsibility to support physicians in making the best decisions."

The SPR AUC consider patient age and ionizing radiation exposure in the guidance to ensure pediatric patients do not receive unnecessary ionizing radiation. The pediatric age range varies on different topics where alternative recommendations are made. When delivered through CareSelect Imaging, these new indications now address the clinical setting as well as patient age and gender, so that the system displays the relevant guidance for the patient.

CareSelect Imaging currently contains AUC sets from multiple PAMA-qualified Provider Led Entities including the American College of Radiology (ACR Select), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

The Pediatric AUC will be delivered with all future ACR Select content versions at no additional fee.

National Decision Support Company will be at the 2017 SPR Annual Meeting in Booth #11. Stop by and talk with our team about how you can get started with the new pediatric content set.

About National Decision Support Company

National Decision Support Company delivers enterprise-wide Clinical Decision Support solutions that enable more appropriate care, improve population health, and reduce cost. NDSC's CareSelect Imaging converts published guidelines into actionable criteria that is delivered directly into the EMR workflow. Criteria covers adult and pediatric patient populations featuring guidelines sourced directly from the Society for Pediatric Radiology. For more information, visit www.nationaldecisionsupport.com.

About CareSelect Imaging

CareSelect Imaging expands on NDSC's foundational ACR Select solution to deliver a comprehensive range of Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for diagnostic imaging in both adult and pediatric patient populations. AUC is sourced from a growing list of qualified Provider Led Entities (qPLE), including the American College of Radiology, the American College of Cardiology, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging to ensure compliance with the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA).

SOURCE National Decision Support Company
Celebrations included a private dinner hosted by their Royal Highnesses, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway at their Residence 'SKAUGUM'. Speakers included Erna Soleberg, Prime Minister of Norway who also opened the 2017 Business for Peace Roundtable attended by nearly 200 Board Chairs and CEOs from leading global companies, investors, civil societies and politics. The Award Committee included Nobel Peace Laureate Ouided Bouchamaoui, Nobel Economics Laureate Finn Kydland, Governing Mayor of the City of Oslo Raymond Johansen, and Board Chair of Business for Peace Foundation Per Saxegaard.

The Oslo Business for Peace Award is not bestowed in recognition of philanthropy or for corporate social responsibility. It is given to individual business leaders who are willing to take risks and who challenge and inspire their surroundings, in order to reach a better union between business and society. The award is conferred when enlightened leadership has a business contributing to the potential between business and society, rather than retreating to claims that "the business of business is business".

Award Committee member Ouided Bouchamaoui stated: "This year again, the Business for Peace Nominees are the proof that working ethically and looking for sustainable development is viable and worthy. The nominees are accomplished entrepreneurs helping people in need and showing the world that being businessworthy can also serve the values of trade."

Elon Musk (USA)

Elon Musk receives the Award for his leadership of the way forward in the automotive industry, and for his showcasing of business' ability to help confront and solve the world's most demanding and complex problems. The battery technology of Tesla has recently been successfully combined with solar energy in his company SolarCity, USA's second largest provider of solar systems.

Dr. Harley Seyedin (USA)

Dr Harley Seyedin is an Iranian immigrant to USA, who has spent his life building a multi-national electricity and low carbon infrastructure development business with great success in China and Southeast Asia. He has lived more than 20 years in China and for the past 12 years he has held the position as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China.

Murad Al-Katib (Canada)

Murad Al-Katib, son of Turkish immigrants to Canada, receives the Award for his entrepreneurship in leading the way in sustainable agriculture and contributing to feeding millions of refugee families in the Syrian crisis. His company AGT Food and Ingredients is one of the world's largest lentil companies, handling about a quarter of the global supply.

Durreen Shahnaz (Singapore)

Durreen Shahnaz receives the award for her work in spearheading the transformation of the way financial and capital markets work, focusing on purpose and maximizing impact. Her work in Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), the world's first stock exchange dedicated to social enterprises -- which she founded in 2009, has positively impacted 10 million lives to date.

Please find the justification for the Honorees here.

SOURCE American Chamber of Commerce in South China
ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- St. George's University is proud to announce the appointment of Neil C. Olson, DVM, PhD, as the new Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Olson is currently Dean of the University of Missouri (MU) College of Veterinary Medicine and will officially take over the position of St. George's current Dean, Dr. Timothy Ogilvie, on August 15, 2017. SGU has benefited greatly from the vision and leadership of Dr. Ogilvie, who is stepping down after a highly successful three-year term as Dean.

"Under the direction of Dr. Ogilvie, the School of Veterinary Medicine has flourished, and our students have continued to excel and to receive the very best veterinary medical education," said Dr. G. Richard Olds, President of St. George's University. "We look forward to welcoming Dr. Olson and working with him to continue building our program and reinforcing our commitment to veterinary medicine and research."

As Dr. Ogilvie did so wonderfully during his tenure, Dr. Olson will oversee the SVM's academic units, centers, and initiatives, while providing leadership for the planning, development, implementation, assessment, and improvement of all of the School's programs, policies, and infrastructure. He will lead a contingent of more than 100 faculty and staff at St. George's University. In addition, he will represent the SVM among the 48 other schools of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education worldwide.

"I am honored to continue the great work that my predecessor, Dr. Ogilvie, has already laid out," Dr. Olson said. "I hope to keep building upon our numerous partnerships with other institutions across the world to recruit and train the best veterinarians. I'm also excited to continue developing our curriculum so that veterinary students can take advantage of the unique global environment that Grenada has to offer."

Dr. Olson has helped the University of Missouri make significant strides during his ten-year deanship. Among them is the recent establishment of a new animal radiation oncology and imaging facility outside St. Louis. Prior to his appointment at Missouri in 2007, Dr. Olson spent nearly 25 years at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in a variety of administrative and professorial roles, including Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, and Director of the CVM's Centennial Biomedical Campus.

Dr. Olson obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing his surgery residency within Michigan State University's Department of Small Animal Surgery and Medicine, he went on to earn his Doctor of Philosophy in physiology from Michigan State University.

Dr. Olson brings with him a tremendous research background, including several programs funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and American Lung Association. In addition, he has contributed to such publications as the American Journal of Veterinary Research, British Veterinary Journal, and American Journal of Physiology, and has served as a reviewer for more than a dozen scientific journals. He is a member of the AVMA, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and American Physiological Society (APS).

Dr. Olson succeeds Dr. Ogilvie, who is retiring after a three-year term as SVM Dean. His outstanding service and dedication to the University has been wide-ranging, and St. George's is pleased that he has agreed to assist in the leadership transition in the coming year. His contributions to St. George's have been invaluable in establishing superior instruction and commitment to student success as hallmarks of SVM.

About St. George's University

St. George's University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the island of Grenada, in the West Indies, to its programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, science, social science, information technology, and business. St. George's is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. The University's over 17,000 graduates include physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world. The University programs are accredited and approved by many governing authorities and repeatedly recognized as the best in the region. For more information, visit www.sgu.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Caroline McCann

(631) 665-8500 ext. 1396

[email protected]

Miriam Cho

(202) 471-4228 ext. 101

[email protected]

SOURCE St. George's University
CHICAGO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- kCura, developers of the e-discovery software Relativity, today announced that Stoll Berne, a Portland, Oregon-based law firm best known for its expertise in complex business litigation, intellectual property litigation, plaintiff class actions and real estate transactions, has licensed Relativity as their primary platform for e-discovery.

The firm selected Relativity for the platform's complete functionality, including everything from processing to email threading and technology-assisted review, said Josh Ross, managing shareholder of Stoll Berne.

Whether it's litigation, an internal investigation, or compliance projects, Relativity provides a complete set of flexible tools to help organizations manage large volumes of data and quickly identify key issues.

"The e-discovery processes we used before required a lot of steps  importing, exporting, and then importing again," said Ross. "With Relativity, we can eliminate many cumbersome processes and our team will spend more time engaging with cases in a way that benefits both attorneys and clients."

With Relativity, Stoll Berne will be able to process, analyze, and review data without moving between systems. Keeping data in one application will allow Stoll Berne to simplify e-discovery workflows and get to review faster, leading to time and cost savings that will be passed on to clients, said Ross.

"We're excited Stoll Berne chose Relativity as their e-discovery solution," said Nick Robertson, chief operating officer of kCura. "We're looking forward to working with them to simplify and accelerate the e-discovery process for their clients."

About kCura

kCura are the developers of Relativity, an e-discovery platform used by more than 12,000 organizations to manage large volumes of data and quickly identify key issues during litigation, internal investigations, and compliance projects. Relativity has over 150,000 active users in 40+ countries from organizations including the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 70 Fortune 100 companies, and more than 195 of the Am Law 200. Corporations, law firms, and government agencies use Relativity on-premises, in the cloud, or as a hybrid platformwith hosted, on-demand solutions available through a global network of partners. As a platform, Relativity also allows developers to design, build, and integrate applications that extend its functionality. kCura has been named one of Chicago's Top Workplaces by the Chicago Tribune for six consecutive years and received the CityLIGHTS Lighthouse Award from the Illinois Technology Association in 2016. Please contact kCura at [email protected] or visit http://www.kcura.com for more information.

About Stoll Berne

Deeply rooted in the great Northwest and nationally recognized for outstanding work for more than 30 years, Stoll Berne is best known for its expertise in complex business litigation, intellectual property litigation, plaintiff class actions and real estate transactions. Reflecting its commitment to give back to the community, the firm donates a generous amount of its gross revenues each year to charitable organizations. Stoll Berne is located at 209 SW Oak Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97204. www.stollberne.com.

Contact

Mike Gilhooly, kCura

[email protected]

(708) 814-5281

SOURCE kCura

Related Links

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OMAHA, Neb., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) found that a novel device can significantly reduce contamination of blood cultures, potentially reducing risky overtreatment and unnecessary use of antibiotics for many patients. This approach could also substantially reduce healthcare costs, according to the study.

Thousands of U.S. patients get their blood drawn every day for blood cultures in order to diagnose serious infections such as sepsis, which can be a deadly condition. A small but significant percentage of the blood cultures are contaminated, due in part to skin fragments containing bacteria that are dislodged during a blood draw.

This leads to false results that can mislead clinicians into thinking a patient has a potentially serious bloodstream infection. The consequences are costly and put patients at risk.

Lead author of the study was Mark Rupp, M.D., professor and chief of the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases and medical director of the Department of Infection Control & Epidemiology at Nebraska Medicine, UNMC's hospital partner.

With traditional blood draws, about 30 to 40 percent of patients with contaminated blood cultures are prescribed antibiotics unnecessarily. This contributes to antibiotic resistance and undermines nationwide efforts to improve antimicrobial stewardship. A large number of patients get another, unnecessary blood draw. For many patients the risks include an extended hospital stay and potential side effects of antibiotics.

"A lot of people think this is a minor problem," said Dr. Rupp, who conducted the study in Omaha. "However, contaminated blood cultures are a big deal. Physicians can be led astray and patients may be harmed by additional tests and unnecessary antimicrobial therapy."

The prospective, controlled study, conducted with 904 patients and 1,808 blood cultures, compared standard procedures to the SteriPath initial specimen diversion device (ISDD) to determine whether blood culture contamination was reduced. The ISDD is a sterile blood collection system that diverts and sequesters the first 1.5 to 2 milliliters of blood  which often carries contaminating skin cells and microbes. This part of the blood is discarded.

Blood culture contamination was significantly reduced through use of the ISDD.

Dr. Rupp said results showed an approximately 88 percent improvement (decrease) in false positives with the ISDD compared to standard phlebotomy procedures. The results are published online in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

"We were able to decrease the false positive rate significantly through use of this device  from 1.78 percent down to 0.2 percent, which represents an 88 percent reduction," Dr. Rupp said. "The 1.78 percent baseline rate of contamination may seem small, but we should strive to decrease adverse events to the lowest possible level because of the impact to the patient and the burden to our healthcare system. We quite clearly showed the rate of contamination was significantly reduced, and that decrease has a very big impact."

He said contamination rates routinely range from 0.6 percent to 6 percent in U.S. health care institutions.

Costs associated with blood culture contamination per patient case ranged from $1,000 in 1998 to $8,700 in 2009. A more recent study in the United States observed excess charges of $8,720 per contamination event.

"If a midpoint cost estimate of $4,850 is used, and the added cost of the device is not taken into account, it equates to a cost avoidance of $1.8 million per year at our institution alone," Dr. Rupp said. "If the low rate of contamination that we observed in the study, 0.22 percent, was applied to all blood cultures throughout the country, billions of dollars of excess costs could be avoided."

A culture of blood is performed in patients with a serious infection and a reasonable likelihood there is bacteria in the bloodstream. If the blood culture is positive (microorganisms are detected) the clinician is notified. But a contaminated blood culture with a false positive can mislead a clinician into thinking the patient has bacteria in the blood. That may result in the patient's being put on antibiotics unnecessarily, or being switched to an antibiotic that may not cover the actual infection.

"What is important about this device is it can greatly limit the blood culture from being contaminated, so physicians are rarely fooled by false-positive results. It gives clinicians confidence that results are accurate," Dr. Rupp said.

The study was supported by Magnolia Medical Technologies, Inc., through a research contract.

Additional Resources

We are Nebraska Medicine and UNMC. Our mission is to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities through premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Flickr

For more information, contact Vicky Cerino

University of Nebraska Medical Center Public Relations

[email protected], O: 402 559-5190, C: 402 350-0898

SOURCE University of Nebraska Medical Center

Related Links

https://www.unmc.edu/


NORTH HAVEN, Conn., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than two months after introducing its new organic line of gourmet pumpkin seeds, SuperSeedz announced it has received the ChefsBest Quality in Craft Award, an award presented to brands that surpass quality standards established by independent professional chefs.

"I am very excited to receive such a prestigious award for our new organic products," says Kathie Pelliccio, founder of SuperSeedz. "We put a lot of thought and love into developing these new organic flavors and it is a great honor to receive such recognition."

Includes Pink Himalayan Salt, Garlicky Dill and Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt

The new organic SuperSeedz products were subjected to ChefsBest's rigorous Sensory Attribute Quality Analysis (SAQA) process, which was developed by leading sensory experts to evaluate taste and quality in terms of appearance, aroma, basic tastes, flavor and texture.

"The award is designed to recognize unique, high-quality products, and based on our evaluation, the new organic line from SuperSeedz was a clear winner," says Lisa Liguori, CEO of ChefsBest. "ChefsBest has been awarding America's best tasting foods for more than 16 years, and we're proud to honor SuperSeedz with the Quality in Craft Award."

The three new SuperSeedz organic flavors, Pink Himalayan Salt, Garlicky Dill and an indulgent Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt item, were introduced earlier in the year. Each is Organic certified, Non-GMO Project verified, vegan, allergy-friendly and will feature up to eight grams of complete, plant-based protein.

The new line is the latest innovation from the company that has been the number one premium pumpkin seed brand and the fastest growing for the last two years. "Consumers have definitely responded to our concept," said founder Kathie Pelliccio. "And because SuperSeedz has consistently added incremental growth to the snacking nut and seed category, we're really becoming an integral part of retailers' product mix. We think our organic offering will be even bigger."

About SuperSeedz

SuperSeedz is the no-shell gourmet pumpkin seed snack founded by Kathie Pelliccio, a mother of five, chef and entrepreneur. The idea was cooked up when Kathie was experimenting with dry-roasted pumpkin seeds as a healthy snack for her family. Years later, the business has since grown from a small seedling into the number one premium pumpkin seed brand, encouraging consumers to eat pumpkin seed snacks in a fun flavorful way. SuperSeedz are sold at grocery, health food and gourmet food retailers across the U.S., including Whole Foods, Sprouts and Safeway/Albertsons Inc. stores. For more information, visit the SuperSeedz booth at the Sweets & Snack show (#1790) or contact Joe Lupica at [email protected], (760) 473-9209, superseedz.com

About ChefsBest

ChefsBest identifies and honors the best tasting grocery products in order to support the companies that make them and the people who choose to select them. Through its headquarters in San Diego and the Center for Taste in San Francisco, the organization has judged thousands of grocery products and bestowed its Best Taste and Excellence awards on the highest-quality products since 2000. Through ChefsBest, brands can unlock coveted ad claims and consumers can garner insight they need to purchase the best-tasting and highest-quality ingredients. ChefsBest awards are a nationally recognized trust mark used by numerous brands, both in and out of the grocery aisle. For more information, visit ChefsBest.com.

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SOURCE SuperSeedz
Aiming at nurturing creative talents, heritage metalwork techniques and brand promotion, Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair has hosted several competition events and seminars with national authorities and received an overwhelming responses from the jewellery industry. This year, AKACHEN ART will present a selection of art jewellery to refresh a brand new concept in design and metalwork techniques. In addition, Glamour Fine Jewelery, well-known for its collection of precious gemstones, will showcase its gorgeous jewel designs to attract connoisseurs.

GIA Alumni & Associates Taiwan Chapter Re-exhibits at Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair to Display Scarce Gemstones

The GIA Alumni & Associates Taiwan Chapter, led by its president Mr. Jimmy Hsu plans on expanding the showcase scale this year to announce its high-end jewellery and other goods from the membership, such as Jeweler, AIDA Diamond, VS Art Jewelry Design, Carato Fine Jewellery and Fancy House Gems. The Group pavilion highlights GIA members' unique commodities and supports new business opportunities in jewellery industry. The value of fine jewellery displayed by GIA Taiwan not only shines bright in the way of jewellery product's creation and metalwork, but is also estimated to value over USD10 million.

Due to the turndown in Taiwan jewellery market caused by global economic decline and low profit of strike price, the industry phenomenon tends to be distressed. Nevertheless, it never discourages jewellery sector's ambition eyeing high-end market and connoisseur's desire to purchase precious gemstones. The President of Taiwan Jewelry Industry Association, Ms. Hung Mign-Li bluntly noted, "Many young designers have emerged as an important figure after overseas contests and have continued producing astonishing works in name of studio in Taiwan. Our exhibition is here to spread Taiwan's creative jewel artworks worldwide and attract more overseas exhibitors to have them learnt from each other. Taiwan's soft power must be continuously introduced and communicated to keep this industry's competitiveness sustainable. Taiwan, in the near future, is expected to play an significant role in the global jewellery market."

Register as a visitor online now to get free admission to "Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair". For more information about the Fair, please visit www.taiwanjewelleryfair.com or contact: UBM Asia Mr. Cliff Wu or Ms. Rita Hung, TEL: +886-2-2738-3898; E-mail: [email protected].

SOURCE UBM Asia Ltd., Taiwan Branch

Related Links

http://www.ubmasia.com


The Asian Quick Service Restaurants Expand U.S. Presence

TSX Trading Symbol: "MTY"

MONTREAL, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Thai Express (www.ThaiExpress.ca) is proud to announce that it has opened its first location in the United States, in the food court of the Mall of America, in Bloomington, MN.

"This is the first of many locations in the United States for Thai Express. We are thrilled to bring the American consumer one of MTY's most successful Canadian brands" said Stanley Ma, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of MTY Food Group Inc. ("MTY"). "We plan to aggressively develop Thai Express in the United States in the coming years; opening the first store is a great milestone in our development plan".

About Thai Express

Thai Express is a new take on traditional Thai cuisine that began in Canada and is currently expanding into the U.S. Tailored to your taste and prepared fresh when you order, Thai Express provides fun, flavorful and healthy meals. As a premier Thai food franchise, the company believes in providing variety, quality and authenticity at modern food boutiques. In 2004, Thai Express was acquired by MTY Food Group Inc. and now has over 285 locations across North America. For more information about Thai Express, visit www.ThaiExpress.ca.

About MTY Food Group Inc.

Headquartered in St-Laurent, QC (Canada), MTY is one of the leaders in the quick service restaurant industry, with 60 brands and over 5,500 restaurants in operation in the United States, in Canada and internationally. MTY's network is expected to generate over $2 billion in sales in 2017. To learn more about MTY, please visit the company's website at www.mtygroup.com.



Forward-looking statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are often identified by the words "may," "might," "believes," "thinks," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends" or similar expressions and reflect management's expectations regarding future events and operating performance, speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements include statements about MTY's expectations regarding its ability to expand the Thai Express brand and business in the United States. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from MTY's expectations are detailed in filings of MTY's annual and quarterly reports and include the following: risks related to MTY's ability to successfully implement its domestic and international growth strategy; risks related to MTY's ability to compete domestically and internationally in an intensely competitive industry. Other than as required under Canadian securities laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, change in expectations or otherwise.

SOURCE MTY Food Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.mtygroup.com


ROCKVILLE, Md., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Waters, nestled within Arkansas Hot Springs National Park, is among the latest hotel properties to join the Ascend Hotel Collection by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH), one of the world's leading hotel companies. Known for celebrating and inspiring individuality, the Ascend Hotel Collection is the first and largest global soft brand featuring best in class unique, boutique and historic independent hotels and resorts.

"We are so proud to welcome The Waters to the Ascend Hotel Collection. From its ideal location and soothing design aesthetic to its warm service culture, The Waters adds a truly distinctive offering from the heart of Arkansas to this rapidly expanding global portfolio," said Janis Cannon, senior vice president of upscale brands for Choice Hotels. "This unique, historic gem offers travelers a peek into history, while still providing the modern amenities and conveniences that upscale travelers expect."

The 62-room boutique hotel is centrally located in the Hot Springs Central Avenue Historic District. As the region's name implies, for generations, people have travelled to the hot springs to "take to the waters". Today, visitors still enjoy the natural setting at nearby spas, including Quapaw Baths and Spa, a sister property to The Waters.

Inside the hotel, design touches highlight this local history. Three-story tall Corinthian terracotta columns welcome guests in the historic 1913 marble lobby, which was once a doctor's office that dispensed prescriptions for the therapeutic baths.

The hotel's restaurant, The Avenue, is led by Le Cordon Bleu graduate and recent Arkansas Hospitality Association winner Casey Copeland. The establishment is best known for its southern artisan cuisine and wide variety of unique small plates and shareables.

Other amenities include:

Free Wi-Fi

Valet Parking

Dry cleaning services

Attached boutique offering make-up services and beauty products called Blushed Beauty Boutique

Refrigerators available in every guest room

Direct access to the Hot Springs National Park hiking trails

hiking trails Spa services available at sister property, Quapaw Baths and Spa, located across the street

"Joining forces with the Ascend Hotel Collection underscores our commitment to delivering one-of-a-kind, memorable guest experiences that will help continue to revitalize downtown Hot Springs and attract more visitors," said Robert Zunick, Co-Owner. "Choice Hotels pioneered the hotel soft brand concept with the Ascend Hotel Collection, so we know we are in excellent hands and on board with the best."

This hotel participates in the award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty rewards program, rated no. 1 in USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards list. Membership is free, offers fast rewards, instant perks, and exclusive member rates when booking directly at www.choicehotels.com. Members can redeem points towards free nights, airline miles and more while staying at any of Choice's 11 global brand hotels, including Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway, and the Ascend Hotel Collection.

Ascend Hotel Collection: let the destination reach you.

The Ascend Hotel Collection is a global portfolio of unique, boutique and historic independent hotels and resorts and is part of Choice Hotels International, one of the world's leading hotel companies. Recognized as the hotel industry's first "soft brand" concept, Ascend has more than 170 properties open and operating worldwide, including in France, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, Australia, Canada, and the Caribbean region. Membership with the Ascend Hotel Collection enables distinctive, independent properties to gain a global presence while maintaining their local charm. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com/Ascend.

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the world's largest hotel companies. With approximately 6,500 hotels franchised in more than 40 countries and territories, Choice Hotels International represents more than 500,000 rooms around the globe. As of March 31, 2017, 795 hotels were in our development pipeline. Our company's Ascend Hotel Collection, Cambria, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, and Vacation Rentals by Choice Hotels brands provide a spectrum of lodging choices to meet guests' needs. With more than 30 million members and counting, our Choice Privileges rewards program enhances every trip a guest takes, with benefits ranging from instant, every day rewards to exceptional experiences, starting right when they join. All hotels and vacation rentals are independently owned and operated. Visit us at www.choicehotels.com for more information.

 2017 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.choicehotels.com


MADRID, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sublimotion, the world's first gastronomic performance experience, based at Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, is launching its new season with a combination of cutting-edge technology and a crew of leading professionals and artists from the world of gastronomy, drama, music, art, design, technology, magic, illustration and neuroscience.

For its fourth season, Chef Paco Roncero has created a kitchen team that features his great friends, chefs Dani Garcia, Diego Guerrero, Tono Perez and pastry chef Paco Torreblanca. With eight Michelin stars between them, the A-team showcases the chefs' gastronomic flair and talent in crafting the new Sublimotion 2017 experience.

The soundtrack to Sublimotion 2017 has been put together by Alfonso G. Aguilar, a film score composer with a prestigious career in Los Angeles. Alfonso has designed a musical menu to enhance the haute-cuisine experience and awaken the senses.

Spain's globally renowned, innovative illusionist Jorge Blass has added an element of magic to this year's gastronomic spectacle by contributing his knowledge and experience to spellbind and captivate the audience.

In a first for the arts, Madrid-born illustrator Juan Carlos Paz, aka 'BAKEA', puts a new meaning to the term 'a sweet tale', by combining his illustrations with the deserts of pastry chef Paco Torreblanca. The combination includes additional ingredients such as a choreographed service, overhead projection and a bespoke soundtrack that will set a new precedent in using gastronomy as a spectacle.

Responsible for the design of the decor and experimental tableware is Alicante artisan, Jose Pinero, who has created a number of original, exclusive designs in his workshop for the new season's gastronomic show.

For the second consecutive year, DJ and music producer Wally Lopez adds the essence of Ibiza's nightlife with a scene that features a prism of electronic musical sounds to reflect the island's musical heritage and accompany the haute cuisine.

This year, Sublimotion has also enlisted talented professionals from theatre, events and etiquette fields, such as Jose Maria Silva (from circus company Alehop), playwright Queralt Riera, fashion designer Roberto Diz, and Gerardo Correas (from the International School of Protocol) to investigate the evolution of a new art form.

Combining augmented and virtual reality with gastronomy, and radical scene changes ranging from an early 20th century cabaret, an avant-garde future, to the heart of south-east Asia, there's no doubt that this year's gastronomic experience will be the greatest Sublimotion yet.

For press kit, please click here

For information on other sponsors, please see here.

Watch the teaser video here

For hi-res images, please click here

About Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza

Europe's first Hard Rock Hotel, a five-star hotel set on the Playa d'en Bossa beach, Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza has become a meeting point for international personalities and trendsetters, combining the Hard Rock philosophy with the true spirit of the Mediterranean. An event which combines the style and energy of the legendary brand with Ibiza's vibrant island atmosphere.

Its 493 rooms, 235 of them Suites, make this the largest five-star hotel on the White Island. The hotel boasts brand facilities such as Rock Spa, Body Rock,

Rock Shop and Roxity Kids Club as well as the island's largest convention centre with capacity for over 600 people. Palladium Hotel Group, part of Grupo Empresas Matutes, operates the Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza under license from the international brand.

Further information: http://es.hrhibiza.com/

SOURCE Sublimotion

Related Links

http://www.hrhibiza.com


WELLESLEY, Mass., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference (BCERC), widely considered the premier conference for entrepreneurial research, was established in 1981 to provide a dynamic venue where academics and real-world practitioners link theory and practice, and to encourage and increase quality research in entrepreneurship. The 2017, BCERC Call for Papers received 491 abstracts from lead authors from 38 countries. Of these, 300 researchers are attending the conference from 25 countries to present papers.

In addition to the conference, and hosted in conjunction with BCERC since 1985, Babson College will hold the 2017 BCERC Doctoral Consortium Program, co-sponsored by the University of Oklahoma Michael F. Price College of Business. The Doctoral Consortium provides doctoral students with the opportunity to gain insight into current research issues through intense interaction with consortium faculty, and seeks to encourage scholars and educators to become leaders in the field of entrepreneurship education. The Doctoral Consortium received 76 applications from 19 countries for 25 participants.

BCERC is pleased and honored to have co-sponsorship with the University of Oklahoma Michael F. Price College of Business. Established in 1928, the Michael F. Price College of Business ensures the enduring global competitiveness of Oklahoma and the nation. As OU's second-largest college, the Price College of Business educates over 4,000 students through undergraduate, master's, executive and doctoral programs across six academic divisions in Accounting, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, Finance, Management and International Business, Management Information Systems, and Marketing and Supply Chain Management.

The college boasts over 25 nationally ranked programs. U.S. News & World Report currently ranks the college's undergraduate program in the top 50 (#48) on its list of "Best Undergraduate Business Programs." The Steed School of Accounting is consistently ranked in the top 10 at both the undergraduate and graduate level among other business schools of its size by Public Accounting Report. The Center for Entrepreneurship is consistently ranked second in the nation among public universities at the undergraduate level and among the top 10 by Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine. The International Business program ranks in the top 30 by U.S. News & World Report for the 11th consecutive year. The Price College Full-Time and Professional MBA Programs are among Bloomberg Businessweek's Best B-Schools of 2016, and ranked as a Tier I program by CEO Magazine the past two years. The Executive MBA is also ranked as a Tier I program by CEO Magazine and among the top three in the world by Find-MBA.com the past two years.

Babson College and the University of Oklahoma are honored to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation sponsorship of the Doctoral Consortium Program. Local sponsors of the conference also include the Norman Economic Development Coalition, the Norman Chamber of Commerce and VisitNorman.

On Friday evening, June 9th, at the Oklahoma Memorial Union, the Best Paper Awards for the 2016 issue of Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research BCERC Proceedings will be announced. The Best Paper Award Sponsors are: The Babson College Bertarelli Family Award for The Best Paper on the Topic of Family Entrepreneurship; The Ewing Marion Kauffman Emerging Scholar Award; The Journal of Small Business Management (JSBM) Award for The Best Paper on the Topic of Public Policy; The G. Dale Meyer Award for The Most Relevant Research in Social Entrepreneurship; The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) for The Best Paper on a General Topic of Entrepreneurship and The Oregon State University Best Paper Award for the best paper on the topic of Ethics in Entrepreneurship. Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research BCERC Proceedings (FER) contains summaries of the presented papers, and the abridged papers of the selected top 40 papers. FER is the most comprehensive collection of empirical research papers on entrepreneurship, representing research from institutions from around the globe.

About Babson College

Babson College is the educator, convener, and thought leader for Entrepreneurship of All Kinds. The top-ranked college for entrepreneurship education, Babson is a dynamic living and learning laboratory where students, faculty, and staff work together to address the real-world problems of business and society. We prepare the entrepreneurial leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge and the skills and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in a common purpose to make a difference in the world, and have an impact on organizations of all sizes and types. As we have for nearly a half-century, Babson continues to advance Entrepreneurial Thought & Action as the most positive force on the planet for generating sustainable economic and social value.

CONTACT: Brianna Radicioni, [email protected]

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

SOURCE Babson College

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http://www.babson.edu


Tim Nixon, Head of Sustainability Thought Leadership, Corporate Responsibility & Inclusion at Thomson Reuters, and co-author for the report commented, "A significant finding of this report is there is an increasing correlation between sustainability and growth. Committing to rigorous decarbonization will not adversely impact financial gain and will positively increase shareholder value over the long term. This argument is critical to ensuring that the Global 100 remain committed to operating responsibly."

Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment shared, "The message we hear from the private sector is that going green is good for business, and transparency is a crucial part of this shift. The markets are moving rapidly, and the private sector is where some of the most exciting low-carbon innovations are taking place. This is essential if we are to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, and close the emissions gap."

The Global 100 currently contribute a significant portion of worldwide emissions annually. Any significant progress will require their buy-in. This report specifically explores:

The most current publicly available emissions data from the Global 100

New data on emissions from value or supply chains from the Global 100

Key pathways to decarbonization for the Global 100

The impact of shareholders and investors on this trend

The impact for companies as investors begin to reward carbon-intensive companies for developing and executing decarbonization plans.

Lance Pierce, President of CDP North America, commented, "What's powerful about this report is that it not only clearly articulates the problem posed by high emitting companies, it also highlights what the leaders are doing to innovate, and a pathway to success whether you are an investor or a corporation. At CDP we are delighted to partner with Thomson Reuters in helping show how the "Sustainability Premium" is real, and to pull back the curtain on the trend toward how the businesses of the future will be managing themselves.

Patsy Doerr, Global Head of Corporate Responsibility & Inclusion, commented, "Our clients increasingly see ESG data and trends as important for their work across the investing, tax & accounting, and legal marketplaces. This report is another milestone for professional risk managers globally who can and do influence the direction of the global economy."

In collaboration with CDP, data for the report was gathered from publicly available GHG emissions data from businesses and from estimates either from CDP or Thomson Reuters environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) research data. Thomson Reuters ESG research data gathers standardized, objective, quantitative and qualitative ESG data from an estimated 5,000 publicly listed companies.

View the full report here.

About CDP

CDP is an international non-profit that drives companies and governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. Voted number one climate research provider by investors and working with institutional investors with assets of US$100 trillion, we leverage investor and buyer power to motivate companies to disclose and manage their environmental impacts. Over 5,800 companies with some 60% of global market capitalization disclosed environmental data through CDP in 2016. This is in addition to the over 500 cities and 100 states and regions who disclosed, making CDP's platform one of the richest sources of information globally on how companies and governments are driving environmental change. CDP, formerly Carbon Disclosure Project, is a founding member of the We Mean Business Coalition. Please visit www.cdp.net or follow us @CDP to find out more.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of news and information for professional markets. Our customers rely on us to deliver the intelligence, technology and expertise they need to find trusted answers. The business has operated in more than 100 countries for more than 100 years. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges (symbol: TRI). For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com.

Contacts

Noelle Campbell

Senior Director, Corporate Affairs

Thomson Reuters

Email:[email protected]

Phone: 646-223-4558

Camilla Lyngsby

Media and Communications

CDP

Email: [email protected]

Phone number: 646-668-4184

SOURCE Thomson Reuters

Related Links

http://www.thomson.com


LOS ANGELES, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mental health industry watchdog Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) International reports thousands have signed its petition launched during Mental Health Month supporting a ban on the use of electroshock treatment and is organizing a march in San Diego, California to garner more support against its use.

The march and rally against electroshock (also known as electroconvulsive therapy or ECT) will be held outside the San Diego Convention Center, coinciding with the annual convention of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), which has been lobbying the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, which regulates the ECT device), to increase its use, including its use on children. In a letter to the FDA, the APA states, "Having access to a rapid and effective treatment such as ECT is especially meaningful in children and adolescents...."[1]

CCHR says that the risks of electroshock today make it so potentially dangerous, with the FDA reporting permanent memory loss, brain damage and death, that the procedure should be banned for all age groups.[2]

The march and rally will also draw attention to the March 27 announcement from India that the country will ban the use of electroshock on children under its Mental Health Act.[3] To date, four states in the U.S.California, Colorado, Tennessee and Texashave prohibited shock treatment use on children.

In addition to India and the U.S. states, in 2014, Western Australia banned ECT for those younger than 14. The state also imposed a $15,000 fine and two years' imprisonment for anyone performing ECT on minors, further exemplifying, as CCHR says, the need for similar penalties in the U.S. and globally.[4] CCHR wants a nationwide ban as the documented risks of ECT are well established.

Evidence presented to the FDA in 2016 included studies of inter-cranial bleeding and loss of brain tissue following ECT.[5]



In Clinical Psychiatry News, neurologist Sidney Samant said: "ECT produces effects identical to those of a head injury. After multiple sessions of ECT, a patient has symptoms identical to those of a retired, punch-drunk boxer."[6]



neurologist Sidney Samant said: "ECT produces effects identical to those of a head injury. After multiple sessions of ECT, a patient has symptoms identical to those of a retired, punch-drunk boxer."[6] In 2014, a study published by Cheryl van Daalen-Smith, RN, PhD, Associate Professor, York University and others said: "The ongoing and growing interest within psychiatry in prescribing electroshock or shock-like proceduresin children is of grave concern," and "given the volume of evidence demonstrating its substantive brain-damaging outcomes, we call for an immediate global ban on the use of electroshock on all children."[7]

A 2016 petition to the Acting Commissioner of the FDA also addresses the failure of the FDA to require ECT device makers to provide clinical trials proving ECT is safe and effective. The petition, citing a deposition of the president of one ECT device manufacturer, said the company had "never done any study or investigation regarding the safety and efficacy of ECT provided by its devices."[8] Specifically, the president said "[the company] does not do research."[9]

Thousands are expected at the San Diego march taking place on Harbor Street on Saturday, March 20, 2017 at 1 p.m. Signs and banners stating, "ELECTROSHOCK: TORTURE, NOT TREATMENT" will be featured. CCHR says this is to draw attention to a 2013 report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment who equated forced electroshock with "torture" and recommended banning all "forced and non-consensual" electroshock "against persons with disabilities."[10]

Another educational feature in San Diego is the display of CCHR's world-acclaimed Traveling Exhibit on the history of psychiatry, which includes an historical and contemporary look at ECT and other psychiatric treatments. The Exhibit, opened from May 16 to May 27, 2017, from 9 a.m.9 p.m., is at 1047 J Street, San Diego. Admission is free. CCHR is inviting psychiatrists attending the APA convention to also tour the Exhibit.

Contact: Amber Rauscher, [email protected] or (323) 467-4242.

About Citizens Commission on Human Rights:

As a mental health industry watchdog, CCHR's mission is to inform and mobilize the public against violations of human rights and civil liberties committed under the guise of "mental health." Put Patients Above Profit. Take Action Against Abuse.

References:

[1] Letter to Robert M. Califf, M.D., Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, from the American Psychiatric Association, March 10, 2016, https://psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Advocacy/Federal/APA-FDA-ECT-reclassification-comments-03102016.pdf.

[2] "Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Devices for Class II Intended Uses," Draft Guidance for Industry, Clinicians and Food and Drug Administration Staff, 29 Dec. 2015, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices//UCM478942.pdf; Neurological Devices Panel, Center for Devices and Radiological Health Medical Devices Advisory Committee, Food and Drug Administration, pp 148-149, 27 Jan. 2011, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/neurologicalDevicesPanel/UCM247594.pdf.%20Accessed%20December%203.

[3]Rhythma Kaul, "Mental Healthcare Bill decriminalising suicide attempt passed by Parliament," Hindustan Times, 27 Mar 2017, http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mental-healthcare-bill-that-decriminalises-suicide-attempt-passed-by-parliament/story-iL3DXiatxP7BFhS2t4zGCM.html.

[4] "Electroshock therapy on under-14s banned in WA after law passes Parliament," ABC News, 17 Oct. 2014, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-17/mental-health-bill-passes-wa-parliament/5822874

[5] Jonathan Emord & Associates, Citizens Petition to FDA Commissioner, August 2016, p. 17, http://emord.com/blawg/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1-ECT-Citizen-Petition.pdf

[6] Robert Morgan, John Friedberg, M.D., et al, Electroshock: The Case Against, (Morgan Fdn Publishers, CA, 1999) p. 73, https://books.google.com/books?id=1593GRf_HC8C&pg=PA73&lpg=PA73&dq=John+Friedberg+ECT+is+like+traumatic+brain+injury&source=bl&ots=0CVqvH-55Z&sig=_-KHdqDmPOsspHj_3iUd-mJvOUY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1-cHioePTAhVO5GMKHW29Ai0Q6AEIWDAI#v=onepage&q=John%20Friedberg%20ECT%20is%20like%20traumatic%20brain%20injury&f=false.

[7] Cheryl van Daalen-Smith, et al., "The Utmost Discretion: How Presumed Prudence Leaves Children Susceptible to Electroshock," Children and Society, Vol. 28, 205-217 (2014), https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261719777_The_Utmost_Discretion_How_Presumed_Prudence_Leaves_Children_Susceptible_to_Electroshock.

[8] Emord & Associates, Citizens Petition to FDA Commissioner, August 2016, p. 43, http://emord.com/blawg/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1-ECT-Citizen-Petition.pdf.

[9] Videotaped Deposition and 30(b)(6) Examination of MECTA Corporation, Volume I, Portland, Oregon, November 18, 2004, Exhibit 9 of the Citizens Petition by Emord & Associates, http://emord.com/blawg/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/ECT-Petition-Exhibits-Part-3.pdf.

[10] A/HRC/22/53, "Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Mendez," UN General Assembly, Human Rights Council, Twenty-second Session, Agenda Item 3, 1 Feb. 2013, p. 21, para 85, http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session22/A.HRC.22.53_English.pdf.

Related Links

CCHR International Website

Petition to Ban Electroshock

SOURCE CCHR International
BALTIMORE, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Transamerica today announces the availability of a new, first-of-its-kind, hospital indemnity insurance policy designed specifically for hospital systems and provider-owned health plans. Transamerica Provider SelectSM supplemental insurance policies pay double cash benefits when employees' hospital care is received at a treatment center designated by the employer. Transamerica Provider Select is designed for use by national and regional hospital systems, hospital-owned health plans, or any employer looking to potentially reduce medical plan premiums and help employees better manage their out-of-pocket medical costs by using preferred treatment centers.

Transamerica's new "Provider Select" supplemental insurance policy offers twice the cash benefits for hospital care at designated facilities

"Transamerica recognizes that health and wealth are linked. When people are hospitalized, sometimes their finances face a tough recovery," said John Stanley, Transamerica vice president and managing director for employee benefits. "Transamerica Provider Select offers twice the cash benefits for hospital care at employer-designated facilities to help people when hospital care is needed."

Transamerica Provider Select insurance policies go beyond typical major medical insurance to help employees and their families in the event of required hospital treatment. This hospital indemnity insurance policy is available as an optional workplace benefit for employees. Transamerica Provider Select provides cash benefits which may be used for any purpose, including to help employees meet their health plan deductibles, co-pays, coinsurance or simply cover personal costs, such as time lost from work. Employees can use any hospital they choose for treatment, but the cash benefit is doubled when they use a hospital on the employer's designated list.

"Hospital employees may have special appreciation for these policies, because some hospitals already offer employee discounts for treatment at the employer's facility. Using the employer's designated treatment center can lower medical care costs for both the employee and the hospital. Transamerica Provider Select pays double cash benefits on top of any discounts that the employee already receives," Stanley noted. "In addition, with the growth in Accountable Care Organizations and narrow networks, Transamerica Provider Select provides an incentive to drive care to facilities that offer high quality care along with wise health care spending."

Employees are able to compare the benefits between non-designated and designated treatment centers. Policy costs are payroll-deducted, and employees can choose to insure family members as well. "The ultimate goal is to engage employees in their own health care decision-making, which can result in improved quality of care for the employee and long-term cost control for the employer." Stanley added.

Financial advisors and agents can find more information about available voluntary benefits insurance at www.transamericabenefits.com, or by contacting Transamerica at 803-354-6310.

About Transamerica Provider Select

Transamerica Provider Select is a group hospital indemnity insurance policy that offers cash benefits for policy-specified hospital care. Transamerica Provider Select Hospital Indemnity Insurance is underwritten by Transamerica Life Insurance Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa under Policy Form Series CPGHI700 and CCGHI700. Forms and numbers may vary, Insurance may not be available in all jurisdictions. Limitations and exclusions apply. Refer to the policy, certificate and riders for complete details. THIS IS NOT MAJOR MEDICAL INSURANCE AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MAJOR MEDICAL INSURANCE. IT DOES NOT QUALIFY AS MINIMUM ESSENTIAL HEALTH COVERAGE UNDER THE FEDERAL AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

About Transamerica

With a history that dates back more than 100 years, Transamerica is recognized as a leading provider of life insurance, retirement and investment solutions, serving millions of customers throughout the United States. Recognizing the necessity of health and wellness during peak working life, Transamerica's dedicated professionals work to help people take the steps necessary to live better today so they can worry less about tomorrow. Transamerica serves nearly every customer segment, providing a broad range of quality life insurance and investment products, individual and group pension plans, as well as asset management services. In 2016, Transamerica fulfilled its promises to customers, paying more than $7.2 billion in insurance and annuity benefits, including return of annuity premiums paid by the customer. Transamerica's corporate headquarters is located in Baltimore, Maryland, with other major operations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Transamerica is part of the Aegon group of companies. Based in the Netherlands, Aegon is one of the world's largest providers of life insurance, pension solutions and asset management products, operating in more than 20 markets worldwide. For the full year of 2016, Aegon managed $784 billion in revenue generating investments. For more information, please visit www.transamerica.com.

Media inquiries:

Julie Quinlan

213-742-5134

[email protected]

SOURCE Transamerica

Related Links

http://www.transamerica.com


CHICAGO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the next 40 years, the global food system will experience an unprecedented combination of pressures. Global population will boom, competition for land, water and energy will intensify and become increasingly apparent. And as emerging markets shift the business landscape, food will be at the center of the change.

Join us on May 18, as newly appointed Tyson Foods CEO, Tom Hayes, discusses how these complex changes will impact the global food market. Hayes will also share how Tyson Foods is fostering innovation through the Internet of Food, sustainability and proteins.

Speaker:

Tom Hayes, CEO, Tyson Foods

Moderator:

Rita "Janie" Gabbett, Executive Editor, Meatingplace

Event Details

Global Leaders Series: Thursday, May 18, 2017

Fairmont Chicago  200 N. Columbus Dr.

Registration and Networking: 7:15 a.m. ; Breakfast Program 8:00 - 9:15 a.m.

Platinum Series Sponsor: KPMG LLP

Gold Series Sponsor: Dover Corporation

Gold Sponsor: North Highland

Media Sponsor: The Wall Street Journal

Silver Sponsor: A.T. Kearney

Program Affiliates: Chicago Innovation Awards, Institute of Food Technologists

About The Executives' Club of Chicago:

The Executives' Club is Chicago's premier membership organization and business forum. For more than one hundred years, The Club has been a valued resource for Chicago's business leaders - connecting members, providing opportunities for strategic relationship development, access to intellectual exchange and world class speakers, and enhanced exposure to the broader business community. For more information, visit www.ExecutivesClub.org.

SOURCE The Executives' Club of Chicago

Related Links

http://www.executivesclub.org


CHICAGO, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 50 security, fire and safety officers who serve and protect Chicago residents and tourists at Navy Pier will initiate an unfair labor practice strike on Thursday, May 18.

The officers, represented by Teamsters Local 727, had been employed by SMG and co-managed by Navy Pier, Inc. (NPI). A new employer, Allied Universal, assumed management of the officers today with NPI and has refused to recognize the Teamsters' collective bargaining agreement. Allied has made clear it plans to eliminate 90 percent of the union positions and replace experienced security professionals earning $24 an hour with outsourced workers making just $13. Allied also plans to eliminate officers' pensions and dramatically reduce their health care benefits.

"Navy Pier, Inc. and Allied have colluded to replace dedicated officers with less experienced workers for the sake of profit," said John Coli Jr., President of Local 727. "What's happening at Navy Pier is despicable and unconscionable. Management is putting our members' livelihoods at risk and the safety and security of the general public at Illinois' top tourist destination. Thousands of people visit Navy Pier every day, and NPI and Allied have no regard for their well-being."

Underscoring NPI's misplaced spending priorities, the Chicago Sun-Times last June reported NPI executives received 'big bonuses,' even though attendance at Navy Pier has fallen (bit.ly/2qSeI1Z).

Local 727 was forced to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board after NPI Chief Operating Officer Brian Murphy physically intimidated union representatives outside Navy Pier. The Teamsters will be filing additional charges against NPI and Allied.

Furthermore, another union has complicated the Teamsters' efforts to protect its members. As NPI and Allied abuse security, fire and safety officers at Navy Pier, it is seeking to bring in SEIU Local 1, and plans to hire at $13 an hourmuch less than the existing Teamsters' contract.

"It's ironic that SEIU drives the Fight for $15 campaign to raise the minimum wage, yet Local 1 is being used by this company to lower the long-established wages and benefits at the Pier," Coli said.

Local 727 represents 43 security, fire and safety officers at Navy Pier, where the union has stood up for workers' rights for decades. The officers will take to the picket line early Thursday morning.

"I've been a part of the Teamsters Union for 15 years," said Officer Jeanine Kofron. "What's going on with Allied now is insane. They're trying to force us down. They're trying to force us out."

Contact:

Michael Brandfon, (847) 696-7500

SOURCE Teamsters Local 727
In March 1917, S.E. Massengill purchased the site and transformed it into a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. According to historical records, the Massengill brothers purchased their first piece of manufacturing equipment, a $25.00 hand-operated tablet machine and began the legacy. Old photographs show a nostalgic view of the building painted "Laboratory - The S.E. Massengill Company - Manufacturing Pharmacist". In 1971 the site became home to Beecham Laboratories North American Headquarters. King Pharmaceuticals acquired the site in 1993. The site was sold to Pfizer in 2011, and in July of 2013 UPM Pharmaceuticals purchased the facility from Pfizer.

It is a true rarity in the pharmaceutical industry that significant modern production would occur at one site for 100 years. During that time, operations have expanded from a small facility footprint of less than 10,000 square feet and only two small buildings, to a modern campus of over 475,000 square feet and additional warehouse and distribution space of almost 250,000 square feet. James E. Gregory, CEO of UPM said, "We are proud of the legacy of the Bristol, Tennessee site in the history of the pharmaceutical industry. The success of the products and the growth of the capabilities of the site stand as testimony to the many outstanding employees who have worked here over the past century."

UPM Pharmaceuticals, Inc. originated as a drug formulation and cGMP laboratory within the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, a recognized leader in industrial pharmaceutical innovation and education. Today UPM offers a full breadth of capabilities from early research and development to clinical trial material manufacturing and commercial scale product supply. It is also DEA approved to handle CII-CV manufacturing. The Bristol site has several low humidity manufacturing suites and the ability to handle potent compounds in dedicated suites.

James E. Gregory commented, "We remain vigilant in our commitment to our history, our entrepreneurial passion, family values and a strong quality and compliance culture. Our last FDA audit was in October of 2016. It was a general GMP inspection of all systems and a preapproval inspection of a product that our R&D team developed. No 483's were issued and approval of the site to manufacture the product was recommended. Obviously, we were quite proud of this result. We also have yearly DEA Inspections given our capabilities to handle controlled substance products and have had no notice of violations or 'for cause' investigations. UPM is fully committed to quality and manufacturing innovations to assure the timely supply of needed medicines."

A new, proactive approach to quality was adopted at UPM in 2016 that is client-focused and includes implementation of manufacturing quality assurance (MQA), the use of metrics to evaluate performance and realignment of its laboratory functions to increase both efficiency and responsiveness. Together these changes add up to the accelerated delivery of high-quality products. UPM has hired additional quality experts to ensure that this new approach is successful, and added quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) staff.

About UPM Pharmaceuticals

UPM Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an independent drug development and contract manufacturer serving the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We provide high quality drug development services including custom formulation development, cGMP clinical and commercial manufacturing, analytical methods services, and stability testing. UPM's clients enjoy service that is customized and fast with total quality management characteristics of a customer focused business. Our history includes successful collaborative interactions with small virtual and large billion dollar companies providing customized product development services and solutions. UPM focuses on drug development for dosages with oral routes of administration, in solid dosage forms such as capsules and tablets, and semi-solid creams and ointments. Our 475,000 square foot commercial manufacturing facility based in Bristol, Tennessee allows us to serve our clients' needs from early stage development to large scale commercial production.

For more information:

Mary Lee Schiesz

Manager of Marketing

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 (423) 989-7057

SOURCE UPM Pharmaceuticals
"On behalf of every Voya employee, I would like to convey how honored we are to be recognized by the NYSE for the work that we do to make a positive difference in society," said Voya Chairman and CEO Rodney O. Martin, Jr.

Voya  which has earned external recognition for ethics; governance; diversity and inclusion as well as equality; environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility  also announced the launch of its Voya Cares program, which is designed to help people with special needs, and caregivers, plan for the future they envision.

"Serving the special needs community is an extension of Voya's efforts to help all Americans plan, invest and protect their savings  to get ready to retire better," Martin said. "This is especially true for people with special needs and disabilities  as well as their families, caregivers and other benefactors  by helping them address the financial and emotional challenges that come with their unique situations."

In addition to Martin, participants at the event included Jill Houghton, president and CEO of the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and college students in the USBLN Rising Leaders Mentoring Program. Voya is a corporate partner with the USBLN, a national, non-profit, non-partisan business to business network that helps business drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain, and marketplace. The chair of USBLN's board of directors, Jenny Lay-Flurrie, who is the chief accessibility officer for Microsoft  and the first deaf Chief Accessibility Officer in the world  also attended the event. The USBLN students met Martin a day earlier when they participated in a "job shadow the CEO" session as part of Voya's fourth annual National Day of Service, a companywide effort during which thousands of its employees give back to their local communities.

"We have seen first-hand Voya's growing commitment in becoming disabilities inclusive in the workforce and market place," said Houghton. "We are excited to be a part of their day in ringing the NYSE opening bell, as they are truly a company positively impacting society."

Voya Cares features educational resources designed to help visitors map out the future they envision for their families as well as learn more about navigating government benefits and leveraging various legal tools to help achieve their desired futures. Later this year, the program will evolve to:

Connect customers nationwide with Voya Financial Advisors who are specially trained to assist members of the special needs community.

Feature an enhanced focus on serving members of the special needs community within the corporate clients of Voya's Employee Benefits, Retirement, Investment Management, Annuities and Individual Life businesses.

More information about Voya's support for members of the special needs community, as well as the financial and emotional challenges they face, can be found on Voya's Supporting People with Special Needs webpage.

As an industry leader and advocate for greater retirement readiness, Voya Financial is committed to delivering on its vision to be America's Retirement Company and its mission to make a secure financial future possible  one person, one family, one institution at a time.

Media Contact:

Jeanne LaCour

Voya Financial

(212) 309-8949

[email protected]

Investor Contact:

Darin Arita

(212) 309-8999

[email protected]

About Voya Financial

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings  to get ready to retire better. Serving the financial needs of approximately 13.6 million individual and institutional customers in the United States, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $11 billion in revenue in 2016. The company had $505 billion in total assets under management and administration as of March 31, 2017. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible  one person, one family, one institution at a time  Voya's vision is to be America's Retirement Company. Certified as a "Great Place to Work" by the Great Place to Work Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible and has been recognized as one of the 2017 World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, as well as one of the Top Green Companies in the U.S., by Newsweek magazine. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook and Twitter @Voya.

SOURCE Voya Financial, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.voya.com


BETHESDA, Md., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE: WD) (the "Company") announced that it has hired Jamie Butler as managing director in its Capital Markets group. Based out of the Company's headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, Mr. Butler is responsible for sourcing equity and debt for development projects and stabilized assets across all property types, with a focus in the Mid-Atlantic region. Throughout his career, Mr. Butler has arranged financing for commercial real estate transactions totaling over $10 billion.

Brian Casey, senior vice president, commented, "We are thrilled to welcome Jamie to Walker & Dunlop. Along with an impressive origination track record, Jamie brings expertise in construction and development financing, which will be extremely valuable to our many clients seeking this competitive loan type. We see a large opportunity for continued growth in the Mid-Atlantic, and Jamie's strong client and investor relationships will help us expand our presence in the region."

Prior to joining Walker & Dunlop, Mr. Butler was senior vice president at CBRE in the firm's capital markets group, where he arranged equity, mezzanine debt, and senior debt through a wide range of capital sources. He was previously vice president in the Capital Markets group at Cushman & Wakefield (formerly Cassidy Turley). Mr. Butler has received numerous industry recognitions and consistently ranks among the top producers in the region by the Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Association.

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate services and finance companies in the United States providing financing and investment sales to owners of multifamily and commercial properties. Walker & Dunlop, which is included in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, has over 550 professionals in 28 offices across the nation with an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction.

SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.walkerdunlop.com


WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease today encouraged all hospitals committed to women's cardiovascular care to apply for a one-year funded membership to WomenHeart's National Hospital Alliance. The National Hospital Alliance is a collaborative partnership between WomenHeart and more than 40 leading hospitals across the United States committed to advancing women's heart health.

These grants, supported by the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, will support hospitals that reach underserved women. Special consideration will be given to hospitals in communities with the highest prevalence of heart valve disease, including those in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York and Washington.

"While many people know that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, heart valve disease is often overlooked," said Mary McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of WomenHeart. "In fact, heart valve disease is the third most common cause of heart problems in the U.S., and can pose unique challenges for women. These grants will help ensure that women with heart disease  and especially heart valve disease -- will benefit from valuable WomenHeart resources and peer-led support services in their local hospitals."

Although women develop problems with heart valves as often as men do, some issues  including abnormalities resulting from rheumatic fever and mitral valve prolapse  occur more often in women than in men. Heart valve disease is a particular challenge for women of childbearing age, since in severe cases it can increase pregnancy risks for mother and baby. Older women also are at risk for leaky or blocked heart valves.

Hospitals chosen for participation will receive financial support for a one-year membership in the WomenHeart National Hospital Alliance from July 2017 through October 2018. Hospitals will be entitled to nominate up to two women diagnosed with heart disease to be trained at the annual WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium, to be held October 6-9, 2017 at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Once trained, these women will return to the hospital community as a WomenHeart Champion, to provide peer support and community education about women's heart disease.

National Hospital Alliance member hospitals also receive training and technical assistance from WomenHeart to establish and maintain a post-discharge, peer-led WomenHeart Support Network for female heart patients  a proven model to improve patient outcomes. Other benefits include: access to WomenHeart's educational materials, participation in special educational programs, training to serve as a spokesperson during media opportunities and professional education for their hospital and clinician staff.

Applications must be accepted by June 9th for consideration. The Call for Applications form is available online and should be submitted to [email protected]. Grant applicants are asked to use the subject line "GRANT APPLICATION" and also include the name of their hospital.

About the WomenHeart National Hospital Alliance

The WomenHeart National Hospital Alliance is an innovative collaborative partnership between WomenHeart and more than 40 leading hospitals throughout the United States committed to advancing women's heart health. National Hospital Alliance members ensure female heart disease patients have access to gender-specific information, education and patient support services that empower them to take charge of their heart health. Additionally, the NHA provides ongoing education for clinicians on new and emerging research related to women's heart disease.

About WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is the nation's only patient centered organization solely serving the nearly 48 million American women living with or at risk for heart disease  the leading cause of death in women. WomenHeart is devoted to advancing women's heart health through advocacy, community education, and the nation's only patient support network for women living with heart disease. WomenHeart is both a coalition and a community of thousands of members nationwide, including women heart patients and their families, physicians, and health advocates, all committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives. To receive a free on line heart health action kit or to donate, visit www.womenheart.org.

SOURCE WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

Related Links

http://www.womenheart.org


Fax over IP application is compatible with key Avaya team engagement solutions

Helps businesses securely and easily transmit vital business and confidential documents

MONTREAL, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - XMedius, a leading global provider of Secure File Exchange solutions, today announced that its flagship solution, XMediusFAX 8.0, is compliant with key team engagement solutions from Avaya, a global provider of business communications software, systems and services.

XMediusFAX is a patented and robust Fax over IP (FoIP) solution, compatible with secure and standardized FoIP protocols. XMediusFAX helps businesses leverage their communications network to securely and easily transmit vital business and confidential documents. The application is now compliance-tested by Avaya for compatibility with Avaya Aura Communication Manager 7.0 and Avaya Aura Session Manager 7.0.

XMedius is a Technology Partner in the Avaya DevConnect programan initiative to develop, market and sell innovative third-party products that interoperate with Avaya technology and extend the value of a company's investment in its network.

As a Technology Partner, XMedius is eligible to submit products for compliance testing by the Avaya Solution Interoperability and Test Lab. There, a team of Avaya engineers develops a comprehensive test plan for each application to verify whether it is Avaya compatible. Doing so enables businesses to confidently add best-in-class capabilities to their network without having to replace their existing infrastructurespeeding deployment of new applications and reducing both network complexity and implementation costs.

Quotes:

"We are delighted that XMediusFAX has successfully completed compliance testing with the Avaya Aura Platform. This reinforces our commitment to provide Avaya clients with a high availability Fax over IP service that seamlessly integrates with their communications environment."

-- Jean Champagne, president and CEO, XMedius

"XMedius helps ensure Avaya customers have access to affordable, yet high-capability fax solutions. Fax-over-IP is a vital component in team engagement and we are pleased that XMediusFAX has successfully completed compliance testing with this latest release of the Avaya Aura Platform."

-- Eric Rossman, vice president, Developer Relations, Avaya

Additional Resources

www.devconnectmarketplace.com/xmedius

www.avaya.com/devconnect

www.xmedius.com

About Avaya

Avaya enables the mission critical, real-time communication applications of the world's most important operations. As the global leader in delivering superior communications experiences, Avaya provides the most complete portfolio of software and services for contact center and unified communications with integrated, secure networking offered on premises, in the cloud, or a hybrid. Today's digital world requires some form of communications enablement, and no other company is better positioned to do this than Avaya. For more information, please visit www.avaya.com.

About XMedius

XMedius is a global leader in the field of secure file exchange for businesses. Its on-site and cloud-based software solutions enable businesses to exchange sensitive and confidential data in a secure manner. Founded in 1993 and based in Montreal (Canada), the company operates in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific rim. With more than 13,000 deployments in SMEs, large enterprises and service providers, XMedius solutions are present in many markets, including the financial, health, government, manufacturing, retail, legal services and education sectors. For more information about XMedius and its solutions, visit www.xmedius.com.

SOURCE Les Solutions XMedius Inc.

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Customers can download the Zeel Massage app for iPhone or Android or go to zeel.com to get started, and can customize and schedule each massage with a few simple steps. Specify the gender of the massage therapist, massage length and type (Swedish, deep tissue, sports, prenatal, couples, or sleep massage), and choose a desired time and location. A Zeel Massage Therapist will arrive to set up an in-home luxury spa experience in as little as an hour. Massages are available as early as 8am and as late as 10:30pm, 365 days a year, including holidays.

Zeel users can take their massage experience to the next level by joining Zeel's membership, Massage Zeelot, the only in-home massage membership. Along with a discounted massage each month, Zeelot members receive a complimentary professional massage table and high-end sheet set (valued at $379) that is theirs to keep. There is no initiation fee to join, a 90-day trial option is available, and membership can be shared on-site with other household members. A Zeel Massage membership is ideal for customers who seek stress relief and wellness benefits on a regular basis.

"Zeel is committed to a strong presence throughout Florida, and has been since our launch in Miami in 2013," said Samer Hamadeh, founder and CEO of Zeel. "We are excited about offering Zeel's spa-quality massages throughout the largest city in Florida."

Zeel promises quality, safety, reliability, and five-star massages from its extensive network of over 9,000 Zeel Massage Therapists, who are all experienced, vetted in person by the Zeel team, and licensed and insured in their state of practice.

Zeel offers competitive pricing compared to other massage providers in the area. The price of a 60 minute in-home, on-demand Zeel Massage in Jacksonville is $105, including tip; Zeel Massage members pay just $87 per 60-minute massage. All payments are simple, cash-free, and include 18% gratuity with the therapist payment and tip clearly indicated on every receipt.

Committed to Powering Massage Everywhere, Zeel also offers a staffing solution for spas with Zeel Spa; a platform for hotels to provide in-room massages with Zeel Concierge; and on-site chair massages at workplaces with Zeel Corporate Wellness.

About Zeel

Zeel created the Massage On Demand category in 2012 and was the first company to bring same-day, in-home massages to customers. Zeel is the leading and largest on-demand massage company with more than 9,000 licensed massage therapists in its network of over 65 U.S. cities. Zeel offers the most reliable on-demand massage service in as little as an hour, 365 days a year, with start times as early as 8 am and as late as 10:30 pm. Zeel delivers the highest quality, five-star massages from licensed, vetted massage therapists to homes, hotels, workplaces, and events. With best-in-class security protocols and white glove customer service, Zeel customers enjoy massages in the comfort, convenience, safety, and privacy of the place and time of their choosing. Booking, scheduling, and payment are made easy with the Zeel Massage app for iPhone and Android. Zeel is also home to Zeel Spa, the on-demand staffing solution for spas; Zeel Concierge, which enables hotels to provide in room massage bookings for guests; and Zeel Corporate Wellness, which brings Zeel Chair Massages to companies, events, and workplaces.

SOURCE Zeel

Related Links

http://zeel.com


SHANGHAI, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (the "Company" or "ZTO") (NYSE: ZTO), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China, today announced the appointment of Mr. Hongqun Hu as the chief operating officer of the Company, effective May 12, 2017.

Mr. Hongqun Hu has served as the chairman of Zhejiang Tonglu Rural Commercial Bank, and the governor and chairman of Zhejiang Tonglu Rural Cooperation Bank. Mr. Hu has thirty years of experience in financial services and management. Mr. Hu received an executive MBA degree from Zhejiang University, and a bachelor's degree in finance from Ningbo University.

"We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Hu as our Chief Operating Officer," commented Mr. Meisong Lai, ZTO' s chairman and chief executive officer. "We are keen to work together with him closely on the continued growth of our business in the coming years."

About ZTO

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO) ("ZTO" or the "Company") is a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China. ZTO provides express delivery service as well as other value-added logistics services through its extensive and reliable nationwide network coverage in China.

ZTO operates a highly scalable network partner model, which the Company believes is best suited to support the significant growth of e-commerce in China. The Company leverages its network partners to provide pickup and last-mile delivery services, while controlling the mission-critical line-haul transportation and sorting network within the express delivery service value chain.

For more information, please visit http://ir.zto.com.

Contacts:

ZTO

Investor Relations Department

E-mail: [email protected]

Christensen

In China

Mr. Christian Arnell

Phone: +86-10-5900-1548

E-mail: [email protected]

In US

Mr. Tip Fleming

Phone: +1-917-412-3333

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.
Flughafen Wien Group announced operating results for the first quarter of 2017. Passenger volume at Vienna Airport is developing excellently, says Julian Jager, Member of the Management Board of Flughafen Wien AG.

Following the good level of growth in the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a strong rise of 14.6% in april in the number of passengers, which is mainly due to the new offerings in the summer flight schedule and the Easter holidays. Flight traffic to Eastern Europe also expanded strongly, and we achieved growth of more than 35% to and from Russia in April 2017 due to the additional services offered. This good development is also reflected in rising income from the shopping and food & beverage businesses. The expected passenger growth of up to 2% in the entire year 2017 could be surpassed if the very favourable development at present continues. That is why more runway capacity on the ground will be necessary in the long term, adds Julian Jager.

The number of passengers handled at the Vienna Airport flight hub rose by 3.7% to 4,562,824 travellers from January to March 2017 in spite of the Easter holidays in April this year. The number of local passengers was up 4.5% in the first three months of 2017, whereas the volume of transfer passengers climbed by 0.8%. Passenger traffic to Western Europe was up 3.7% compared to the 3.6% increase in people flying to Eastern European destinations. Far Eastern destinations showed a 4.4% growth in passenger volume, and the number of passengers flying to the Middle East rose by 9.8% in this period. Due to seasonal capacity decreases and the deployment of smaller aircraft, the total number of passengers flying to North America fell by 19.4%. In contrast, passenger volume to Africa developed positively, expanding by 13.6%.

The number of flight movements fell by 2.0% in the period January to March 2017 from the prior-year level to 47,864 starts and landings. The average seat occupancy (seat load factor) showed a largely stable development at 66.7% in the first three months of the year 2017 compared to 66.8% in the previous year. Cargo volume (air cargo and trucking) increased by 1.4% in the same period to 65,440 tonnes.

Vienna Airport including its foreign strategic investments in Malta Airport and Kosice Airport handled 5.6 million passengers in the period January to March 2017, representing a 6.6% increase in passenger volume compared to the prior-year period.

The foreign strategic investments of the Flughafen Wien Group in Malta and Kosice Airports are also developing well. Malta Airport reported a strong rise in passenger volume of 22.2% to 981,955 passengers in the first three months of 2017. During the same period, Kosice Airport reported a considerable rise of 8.5% in a year-on-year comparison, handling a total of 76,472 passengers.

Revenue of the Flughafen Wien Group in the first three months of 2017 were up 4.3% to  160.6 million, whereas EBITDA rose 1.6% to  60.7 million. EBIT improved by 3.5% to  26.0 million, and the net profit for the period increased by 9.8% to  15.9 million in Q1/2017 due to the improved financial results. Net debt was reduced once again to  324.6 million. The free cash flow totalled  40.7 million (Q1/2016:  116.2 million).

Passenger development to date in 2017 increases the probability that passenger development of Flughafen Wien AG will surpass the previous maximum expected growth of 2% in the original guidance for the entire year 2017 for Flughafen Wien AG and outperform the upper range of 3% forecast for the Flughafen Wien Group. Revenue is expected to rise to more than  740 million, and EBITDA of more than  315 million is targeted. From todays perspective, the net profit after taxes should reach a level of at least  120 million. The net debt of the company should be reduced below  350 million.
Once again Central Florida is the nations most visited destination with over 68 million annual guests according to 2016 statistics released by Visit Orlando. And March passenger traffic figures at Orlando International Airport (MCO) reflect that steady growth.

In March some 4 million travelers moved through MCO, which is a nearly 2.9 percent climb over the previous year. For the first quarter of the year, traffic at MCO is also up nearly 2.9 percent with over 11 million passengers.

Recent news of Central Floridas national leadership in attracting visitors to the region is a catalyst for Orlando International Airports current $3 billion capital improvement plan, says Phil Brown, Executive Director of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. We must continue to expand our capacity to help the region build upon its reputation as a valuable global travel destination.

Airlines continued to invest in the market with more flights and seats to the destination. Leading the way in March was Spirit Airlines adding 131 thousand seats over March of 2016 followed by Frontier with 70 thousand new seats, JetBlue with 27 thousand additional seats and Southwest with 24 thousand new travel opportunities to Orlando.

Airlines adding flights at MCO in March were Alaska, Norwegian, Frontier, jetBlue and Spirit.

March 2017 Statistical Data:
New Delhi, May 11 : Even as Calcutta High Court judge Justice C.S. Karnan's whereabouts remain a mystery, the Supreme Court was moved on Thursday seeking suspension of the six-month sentence awarded to him for contempt of court, which the apex court has said it will consider.

Justice Karnan has sought stay of the May 9 order convicting him of criminal contempt of court and sentencing him to undergo imprisonment for six months till the final disposal of his petition filed on Thursday.

As Karnan's counsel Mathew J. Nadumpara mentioned the petition before the Constitution bench, hearing the challenge to 'triple talaq', at the fag end of the proceedings on Thursday, Chief Justice J.S. Khehar, who is heading the bench, told the counsel that they will consider it.

When Nadumpara mentioned the petition, CJI Khehar asked: "Who are you?"

At this, the counsel said that he was appearing for Justice Karnan and produced the waqalatnama, or authorisation, by him, and said it had been notorised in Chennai.

Nadumpara told Chief Justice Khehar that he had approached a large number of lawyers (advocate of record) to file the petition "but they all refused as they are very afraid of you" (SC bench).

To this, the CJI asked, "Where is Karnan?"

Nadumpara answered: "He is in Chennai."

CJI Khehar then said, "You have mentioned it, we will consider", but gave no commitment.

Of the five-judge bench hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of "triple talaq", only CJI Khehar and Justice Kurian Joseph are part of the seven-judge bench which had "unanimously" held Justice Karnan guilty of contempt and awarded him six months jail.

Karnan was said to have left the State Guest House in Chennai for the Shiva temple in Srikalahasti town in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

Nadumpara later said that Code of Criminal Procedure should be read into Contempt of Court Act, 1971 and a person being proceeded under it should be presumed to be innocent till proved guilty.

Nadumpara said in the case of Justice Karnan he was convicted and held guilty without any charges framed against him.

Speaking for himself, Nadumpara said that if a person guilty of contempt offers a "conditional apology" and the same is accepted by the court then he would stand discharged from the conviction.

He said that he was saying this as a counsel and not on behalf of Justice Karnan.
New Delhi, May 13 : Sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra's indefinite fast against the AAP on Saturday saw high drama with a ruling party legislator attempting a counter fast outside the former's house, but was detained by police.

Sanjeev Jha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from Burari, attempted to hold a counter hunger strike outside Mishra's Civil Lines house to demand that he present proof of his bribery allegations against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Jha was detained by the police, who said the legislator did not have the requisite permission.

Mishra, who began his hunger strike on Wednesday, accused Kejriwal of using Jha as a pawn to disrupt his agitation. He insisted that he will present proof of his allegations only to investigative agencies.

He is on fast demanding that Kejriwal reveal the source of funding of the foreign trips of five AAP leaders - Sanjay Singh, Ashish Khetan, Satyendar Jain, Raghav Chadhha and Durgesh Pathak - in the last two years.

"I would like to advise Jha against sitting on a hunger strike as he is being used as a pawn," said Mishra, and alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will resort to "new drama" to distract attention from the "foreign trips controversy".

"They must know that I will handover the evidence only to investigative agencies. But Kejriwal wants that I hand them over to the 'thief' who then will judge himself and then proclaim himself to be innocent (referring to Kejriwal). That is not going to happen," he asserted.

AAP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia dubbed Mishra's hunger strike as "BJP facilitated".

Mishra declared that Kejriwal's attempts to foil his "Satyagraha" will not be successful.

Mishra alleged that the Chief Minister has asked "at least 20" MLAs to launch hunger strikes to counter him "but only one (Jha) was willing".

He said that Jha should be provided security, alleging that there could be an attack on Jha to portray Mishra in bad light.

"I would urge the police to provide security to Jha. Those who can attack me can go to any extent to prove me wrong," said Mishra, who was hit by a man on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a team of doctors examined Mishra and advised immediate hospitalisation, but he refused.

"He needs immediate hospitalisation but has refused to do so. We have asked him to drink more water," said a doctor.

Mishra on Friday too had refused hospitalisation despite his weakening condition. Mishra said he will drink only water during his fast.

Jha has accused Mishra of "lying" and declared he will join the agitation if he can prove his allegation of having seen Health Minister Satyendar Jain handing over Rs 2 crore to Kejriwal at his residence.

"If Mishra can prove his allegations to be true, I will myself join him in demanding Kejriwal's resignation as the Chief Minister," Jha told the media.

He also wrote a letter demanding to know when and how did he go to Kejriwal's residence when he saw the Chief Minister being handed over the cash.

"It has been six days that you levelled the allegation, but have not presented any proof. Rather you have been changing your statements. It proves that you have been lying," Jha said in the letter which was uploaded on social media sites.

Mishra in his reply, said he has the evidence and will hand them only to probe agencies.

Sisodia said the fact that police refused to let Jha hold a counter agitation goes to prove that the Bharatiya Janata Party was behind Mishra's hunger strike.

"Police have not allowed Jha's hunger strike, which he wanted to launch demanding proof of Mishra's allegations. It is evident that (his) Mishra's hunger strike is being facilitated by the BJP," Sisodia told the media.
New Delhi, May 14 : Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Sunday sent a notice to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's political adviser Vibhav Patel asking him to join the investigation in the alleged Rs 400-crore water tanker scam on Wednesday.

"After rebel and sacked Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra told the ACB that two persons -- Vaibhav Patel and Ashish Talwar -- close to Kejriwal were responsible for the delay in action in the water tanker scam, the ACB sent a notice to Vibhav Patel," a senior officer of the ACB said.

Kapil Mishra on Thursday recorded his statement with the ACB, after he submitted evidence in support of his allegations that two persons close to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tried to influence the scam probe.

Ashish Talwar is also likely to be summoned after Patel's statement in the case is recorded, according to the official.

The Rs 400-crore water tanker scam involved alleged favouritism shown in the allotment of contracts to private water tankers to supply water to areas not falling under the Delhi Jal Board's network during the previous Congress government in Delhi.
Ranchi, May 14 : A senior Maoist commander involved in the killing of a former minister and beheading a police official surrendered to police here in Jharkhand on Sunday.

Kundan Pahan, who was a synonym for terror in three districts of the state, gave himself up in the presence of Additional Director General of Police R.K. Mallik and CRPF Inspector General Anand Latkar among others.

Kundan carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head, Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Dwivedi told reporters.

He was involved in the killing of former Minister and then legislator Ramesh Singh Munda in 2008, the beheading of police Inspector Francis Induwar and in the loot of Rs 5 crore from an ICICI cash van.

A total of 128 cases were lodged against him in the state, said Dwivedi.

Kundan was notorious in Ranchi, Khuti and Seraikela-Kharswa districts. Ranchi and Jamshedpur districts were under his operational control.

On his orders, Special Branch Inspector Induwar was abducted from Khuti. He was then beheaded, triggering terror.

Kundan joined the Maoists in 1999 at age 16. He became a member of the Regional Committee in the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist in 2006. In 2012, he became Secretary of the Committee.

Speaking on the occasion, police officer Mallik said Maoists have an opportunity to surrender in 2017. "Otherwise they will face consequences in 2018."

Jharkhand Police has launched a new programme under which Maoists are encouraged to surrender. Till now, 107 Maoists have surrendered.

Early this month, another top Maoist commander, Nakul Yadav, also carrying Rs 15 lakh reward on his head, surrendered.

Speaking to reporters, Kundan said: "I take responsibility for all the incidents in which I was directly or indirectly involved. I admit I committed mistakes and will try to reform myself."

His two elder brothers were also Maoists. One surrendered and the second was arrested.
New Delhi, May 15 : The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to hear on Monday the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the alleged Indian spy sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court.

An Indian legal team led by former Solicitor General Harish Salve is already in the Hague.

"We may have a hearing on MondayA," Salve said, after India won the stay over Jadhav's death sentence at the ICJ last week.

India is scheduled to first argue its case. This would be followed by arguments from the Pakistan team led by Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf.

The Indian team is expected to focus on the violations of the Vienna convention by Pakistan on the issue of denying consular access to Jadhav, and on the lack of transparency in the Pakistani military court, which India said was "illegal".

India moved the ICJ last week to save Jadhav after Pakistan denied consular access despite 16 requests.

Pakistan has said the Indian move to approach ICJ was an attempt to divert attention from "state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan" and that it was analysing the ICJ's authority in the matter.
Chennai, May 15 : Superstar Rajinikanth on Monday kept his fans guessing on his entry into politics saying if it is God's will, he will step into the arena.

He also said if he enters politics, he will be truthful and will not entertain people who want to make money.

"God decides what we have to do in life. Right now, he wants me to be an actor and I'm fulfilling my responsibility. If God willing, I will enter politics tomorrow. If I enter, I will be very truthful and will not entertain people who are in this to make money. I won't work with such people," Rajinikanth told his fans at a meet-and-greet here.

The 66-year-old star described his brief stint in politics two decades ago as a "political accident".

In 1996, during the Tamil Nadu assembly election campaign, Rajinikanth denounced J. Jayalalithaa and her politics. His strong remarks contributed to her defeat.

"I did a mistake by supporting a political alliance 21 years ago. It was a political accident. Since then, politicians have misused my name on several occasions. But I have to clarify, I'm not joining any party," he added.

Addressing a large gathering of his fans, Rajinikanth requested them to refrain from smoking and drinking.

"Take care of your family and children. Don't waste your life by smoking and drinking. Drinking and smoking not only affects your health but also your decision making ability. I have been affected enough so please take my advice seriously," he added.

Rajinikanth also confirmed he will commence shooting for his next yet-untitled Tamil project with director Pa. Ranjith from May 28 onwards.
The Hague, May 15 : India on Monday put up a spirited defence and urged the international court to immediately suspend the death sentence awarded to alleged spy Kulbushan Jadhav in Pakistan, saying "the situation is grave" and there was fear that he may be executed even before the court decides the case.

Lawyer Harish Salve, who led the Indian legal team at the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ), said the matter was "urgent and hence India approached this court" that took up the case "at such a short notice".

Salve told the court that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran in 2016, brought to Pakistan, presented as an alleged Indian spy and confession was extracted in a military custody.

"Pakistan did not inform India of the arrest," Salve said, pointing out that India had moved the ICJ seeking suspension of the sentence awarded to Jadhav by a military court following a "farcical trial".

The former Indian Navy officer was awarded the death sentence by a Pakistani military court last month, a year after he was arrested on espionage charges. India says Jadhav has been kidnapped and framed.

Islamabad has rejected 16 Indian requests for consular access to Jadhav, who is held at an unknown prison in Pakistan.

Salve said a communication from Pakistan dated May 12 didn't clarify what the charges against Jadhav were.

"Pakistan said Jadhav's sentence is based on credible evidence in espionage against Pakistan. India refuses these allegations. India has taken measures to ensure appropriate legal measures for Jadhav. It is not known whether Jadhav will seek clemency in the present circumstances."

Salve cited three past similar cases in which the ICJ had intervened. These cases include Paraguay versus the US in which the court decided that the American government needed to take steps to give rights of access of a Paraguayan national.

In Germany vs the US, Salve said, the court held that execution of a German national was "an irreparable damage to justice".

Deepak Mittal, an Indian official, told the court in his opening remarks that there was a fear that Jadhav may be executed soon even before the decision of the UN court. "Jadhav has not got the right to get proper legal assistance and the right to consular access. There is an immediate threat to him to be executed even before a decision is passed."

Mittal told ICJ President Ronny Abraham, who presided over the proceedings, that India's repeated requests to Pakistan on consular access to Jadhav were denied.

"India learnt from press reports that the death sentence was awarded to Jadhav on the basis of an alleged confession. Pakistan has not provided the chargesheet, any documents on the case despite repeated requests.

"It is clear that Jadhav has been denied of his right to seek legal counsel. Jadhav's parents have applied for visa to travel to Pakistan which has fallen on deaf ears."

V.D. Sharma, a Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry and co-agent, said Pakistan had failed to comply with all its legal obligations by denying consular access to Jadhav ever since he was arrested in March 2016.

Sharma also urged the court to restrain Pakistan from "giving effect to the sentence awarded by the military court" and to direct it to annul its decision.

The day-long hearing, which began on Monday morning, involves two sessions of an hour-and-a-half each to India and Pakistan to make their cases.

Pakistan's session will begin in the afternoon.
Julian Burton has been appointed General Manager of Las Terrazas Resort & Residences in Belize, effective immediately. In his new position, he oversees the day-to-day operations of luxury resort and residential development on Ambergris Caye.

Bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience in hotel management and operations, Burton most recently served as general manager of Cenizaro Hotels and Resorts The Residence Zanzibar. He began his career in hotels in food and beverage and through the years quickly rose to hold senior positions, including just 7 years in as the youngest General Manager for UKs Macdonald Hotels Group. Since then he has held management positions at a range of luxury hotels from Bluebay and Forte to Starwood.

An avid diver and certified PADI divemaster, Burton plans on weekly dive excursions for guests.
Washington, May 15 : Chelsea Manning, the transgender US soldier convicted of espionage for leaking national security secrets, will remain an active-duty following her release from a military prison, according to the Army.

Manning, whose sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama, will not be paid after her May 17 release from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, but will be eligible for healthcare benefits and have access to commissaries and military exchanges, the Army told USA Today on Sunday.

Manning entered prison as a man named Bradley.

She later changed her name, identified as a woman and received hormone treatment while incarcerated.

While Manning's court-martial conviction remains under appeal, she will remain a private in the Army, said Army spokesman Dave Foster.

"Private Manning is statutorily entitled to medical care while on excess leave in an active duty status, pending final appellate review," Foster told USA Today on Sunday.

However, the Army refused to disclose the other terms of Manning's release, six years before her eligibility for parole, citing privacy concerns.

She was sentenced to 35 years for releasing hundreds of thousands of secret documents to WikiLeaks. Manning appeared at court martial in the uniform of an enlisted man.

Like all soldiers, Manning will be assigned to an Army post but it is unclear where and to whom she will report.

While in prison, Manning had received hormone treatment and care for gender dysphoria.

She had also been informed that she was eligible for sex reassignment surgery to be paid for by the government.

However, if the appeal of her conviction is denied, she could be dishonourably discharged, which mandates a loss of benefits, including health care.

Manning, who has a Twitter account managed by her supporters, said she was looking forward to her release, reports the USA Today.

"Celebrating a new hope, and a return of the sun."
Geneva, May 15 : Investigations are on to assess the full extent of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo which is believed to have already claimed three lives, WHO has said.

WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti on May 13 visited Kinshasa to discuss with national authorities and partners ways to mount a rapid, effective and coherent response in order to stop the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

The visit follows notification by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government of an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Likati health zone, Bas Uele Province, in the northern part of the country bordering Central African Republic.

The Likati health zone is around 1,400 kilometres from the capital Kinshasa.

"To date, the outbreak is reported in a remote and hard to reach area and appears to be geographically relatively limited. However, investigations are ongoing to assess the full extent of the outbreak and, therefore, high vigilance still needs to be maintained," WHO said on Saturday.

On May 10, 2017, a multidisciplinary team led by the Ministry of Health of DRC and supported by WHO, under the new WHO Emergency Programme, and partners, was deployed to the Likati health zone, Bas Uele Province to conduct an in-depth field investigation.

The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) has been activated to provide additional support if required.

Reinforcement of epidemiological surveillance, contact tracing, case management, and community engagement are under way.

"We are grateful to WHO and other partners for the swift support in carrying out investigations that led to the confirmation of this outbreak," said Oly Ilunga Kalenga, Minister of Health of DR Congo.

"A strong multi-sectoral response, better coordination, public awareness, community engagement and adequate resources will be critical in our efforts to stop the outbreak," he added.

The first case occurred on April 22 in a 45-year-old male. He was transported by taxi to hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver also fell ill and later died. A third person who cared for the first case also became ill and subsequently died.

At present, 25 contacts of the second patient who died are being followed. Of the cases and deaths, one has been tested polymerase chain reaction PCR-positive for Ebola.

This is the eighth outbreak of Ebola virus disease since its discovery in 1976 in DR Congo.

The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed more than 11,300 people.
The Hague, May 15 : India on Monday demanded before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Pakistan annul the death sentence of alleged spy Kulbushan Jadhav and see that he was not executed as his trial was held under "farcical" circumstances in violation of the Vienna Convention.

"I urge the ICJ to ensure that Jadhav is not executed, Pakistan reports to this court that the action (of not executing him) is taken and that no action is taken that might prejudice the rights of India in the matter of Jadhav," noted lawyer Harish Salve submitted in his over hour-long presentation before ICJ President Ronny Abraham in the Hague.

The ICJ had last week stayed the execution of Jadhav on a petition by India, which approached the UN court after 46 years on an issue with Pakistan.

The former Indian Navy officer was awarded the death sentence by a Pakistani military court last month, a year after he was arrested on espionage charges. India says Jadhav has been kidnapped and framed. Islamabad has rejected 16 Indian requests for consular access to Jadhav, who is held at an unknown prison in Pakistan.

The brunt of Salve's argument was that the entire matter of arrest, chargesheet and trial of Jadhav were all done in violation of the UN Charter and Vienna Convention in farcical circumstances and on concocted charges as Jadhav was not given legal assistance to defend himself.

Salve, who led the Indian legal team at the Hague-based ICJ, said the matter was "grave and urgent" and hence India approached this court which took up the case "at such a short notice".

The Indian lawyer told the court that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran on March 16, 2016, brought to Pakistan, presented as an alleged Indian spy and confession was extracted in custody before a magistrate. He was incommunicado and the trial was also held incommunicado.

He urged the ICJ President to take note of the farcical nature of the circumstances of the military court.

Salve said the provisions of the Vienna Convention recognised that any prisoner has a right to be tried by an independent tribunal as established by law and he should be tried in his presence and defended by legal aid assigned to him. In Jadhav's case all the basic provisions of human rights were "thrown to the wind", he said.

The facts presented by India establish the violation of all principles of UN charter and Vienna Convention because of the nature of the trial which destroyed any credibility or sanctity of the army court's decision sentencing him to death, he said.

Salve cited three past similar cases in which the international court had intervened. These cases include Paraguay versus the US in which the court decided that the American government needed to take steps to give rights of access of a Paraguayan national.

In Germany versus the US, Salve said, the court held that execution of a German national was "an irreparable damage to justice". He also referred to a case between the US and Mexico in which lives of 54 Mexicans were at stake as they faced execution.

After the court adjourned for a three-hour break to hear Pakistan's arguments, Salve told the media outside that he expected India to be provided justice by the court.

Earlier, Deepak Mittal, Joint Secretary, of the Pakistan, Afghanistan, India Desk at the Ministry of External Affairs, told the court in his opening remarks that there was a fear that Jadhav may be executed soon even before the decision of the UN court.

"Jadhav has not got the right to get proper legal assistance and the right to consular access. There is an immediate threat to him to be executed even before a decision is passed."

"India learnt from press reports that the death sentence was awarded to Jadhav on the basis of an alleged confession. Pakistan has not provided the chargesheet, any documents on the case despite repeated requests.

"It is clear that Jadhav has been denied of his right to seek legal counsel. Jadhav's parents have applied for visa to travel to Pakistan which has fallen on deaf ears."

V.D. Sharma, Joint Secretary (Legal and Treaties) in the MEA, said Pakistan had failed to comply with all its legal obligations by denying consular access to Jadhav since his arrest in March 2016.

Sharma also urged the court to restrain Pakistan from "giving effect to the sentence awarded by the military court" and to direct it to annul its decision.

The day-long hearing, which began on Monday morning, involves two sessions of an hour-and-a-half each to India and Pakistan to make their cases.

Pakistan's session is to begin in the afternoon.
Kolkata, May 16 : A police complaint has been lodged against Tipu Sultan Mosque Shahi Imam Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati - the cleric who recently threatened 'jihad' and refused to take off the beacon from his vehicle - by the mosque's trustee board on Monday, an official said.

"We have lodged a police complaint against the serving Imam, Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati in Bowbazar police station for forcefully snatching away the keys of the mosque's official room," head of the Board, Anwar Ali Shah told IANS over phone.

According to Shah, the office room was opened in the mosque under direct order of the High Court and is being used to store the official documents.

"The documents of complaints against Imam Barkati is stored in the room. It seems he has taken away the keys to destroy those documents so that it does not reach the trustee board for validation," he alleged.

On reports that Barkati has been sacked as the Imam, Shah said nothing has been officially announced by the mosque authority.

However, he revealed that a process has been started to terminate him from the post after evaluating the charges against him.

"It is not official yet. However, Barkati is aware that steps would be taken against him for constantly making wrong statements and politicising a religious institution. That's why he is hellbent on destroying the papers," Shah claimed.

The sources at the mosque said that a deputation would be given to the mosque and the respective police station to remove Barkati from the position of Imam, followed by a public meeting on Tuesday.

"The decision on Barkati would be officialy announced by the trustee board on Wednesday afternoon," the source added.

Barkati, considered close to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is known for his repeated controversial and provocative comments.

Only last week he had warned of a 'jihad' if India was declared a Hindu Rashtra, and also refused to take off the red beacon from his car saying the privilege was granted to the Shahi Imam by the British government.

He had also drawn flak for commenting that Muslims would "fight for Pakistan if India became a Hindu state".

His comments led to a hue and cry, with the BJP and other Sangh Privar outfits dubbing him "anti-national" and senior West Bengal minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, regarded as a prominent face of the ruling Trinamool Congress, calling Barkati an RSS agent.

Finally, under pressure from the state government, Barkati was forced to take off the beacon from his vehicle.
Washington, May 16 : US President Trump welcomed Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at the White House, for their first face-to-face meeting.

Crown Prince Al-Nahyan is a "very special person, highly respected", Trump said during a brief photo opportunity in the Oval Office on Monday.

"And loves his country, I can tell you that, loves his country. And I think loves the United States, which to us is very important," USA Today quoted the President as saying.

The two leaders spoke about "regional security matters," trade and bilateral investments, as well as about the defence cooperation agreement between the two countries, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said at his daily press briefing.

The Pentagon announced a week ago that the sale of 160 Patriot missiles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had been approved at an estimated cost of $2 billion, the aim of which is to fortify the Arab nation's defence ability.

The meeting came four days before Trump begins his first international trip, which first will take him to Saudi Arabia where the President wants to encourage Washington's Arab and Muslim partners to take new and bold steps to promote peace in the region, according to National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.

Despite Trump's anti-Muslim discourse during his election campaign and his signing of two executive orders blocking US entry to refugees and citizens from several Muslim majority nations - although those orders were blocked by US courts - the White House has insisted that the measures are not designed to persecute those who profess the Muslim faith.

Trump is also slated meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.
Crotone (Italy), May 15 : Police in Italy on Monday smashed a mutil-billion euro migrant reception racket allegedly being run by the Calabrian mafia '(Ndrangheta) and arrested 68 members of its powerful Arena clan.

Among those detained were a parish priest and Leonardo Sacco, head of a Catholic charity that ran the Cara 'Santa Anna' - Europe's largest migrant reception centre - in the coastal town of Isola Capo Rizzuto in Calabria's province of Crotone, daily Corriere della Sera reported.

Thanks to its ties with parish priest Edoardo Scordio and Sacco, the Arena family won lucrative tenders worth at least 30 million euros to provide maintenance and other services to Cara 'Santa'Anna', which can hold 1,500 migrants, Corriere cited investigators as saying.

The suspects held on Monday face charges including mafia association, extortion, holding illegal weapons, defrauding the state, tax evasion, according to police.

Apartments and luxury cars were also seized in Monday's operation which deployed over 500 police officers on the orders of anti-mafia prosecutors in Catanzaro, reported Corriere.

Sacco boasted a string of high-level political contacts and was photographed with the Pope, ex-Premier Matteo Renzi and billionaire media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, as well as Senate speaker Pietro Grasso and foreign minister Angelino Alfano.

He regularly presented reports on progress in fighting the 'Ndrangheta.

Scordio was paid a staggering 132,000 euros in 2007 alone for "spiritual assistance" to migrants, investigators said.

Monday's sting followed a probe that uncovered the Arena clan's grip on the local economy in Catanzaro and in Crotone, notably the online betting sector, where it enjoyed a "dominant position" and turned over tens of millions of euros of undeclared income, police said.
Tokyo, May 16 : Amid ongoing discussion about his abdication, Japan's Emperor Akihito has cancelled his engagements due to health problems for the second time in 2017, an Imperial Palace spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Akihito, 83, has been absent from his engagements since Monday afternoon due to symptoms of fever, a cold and cough, although he is getting better, the spokesperson told Efe news.

The Emperor was on Tuesday scheduled to receive soldiers being honoured by the government, but the event was attended by his son Crown Prince Naruhito instead.

Akihito also missed a meeting with a group of volunteers in charge of cleaning the palace, and was replaced by his wife Empress Michiko.

The Emperor previously cancelled several other commitments in late January due to a fever.

In August 2016, Akihito expressed the desire to abdicate the throne, citing his age and poor health.

A government panel has proposed to devise special legislation for the abdication, without amending the 1947 law which has no provision for a ruling Emperor to abdicate.

The Japanese monarch has been in ill health for several years.

In 2003, he was treated for prostate cancer, and in 2012, he underwent coronary bypass surgery.
Pyongyang, May 17 : North Korea on Tuesday rejected a United Nations Security Council press statement issued on Monday condemning its test-firing of a medium long-range ballistic missile.

A spokesman of North Korea Foreign Ministry said that Pyongyang "categorically and totally rejects the UNSC's statement which called into question its bolstering of nuclear deterrence for self-defense," according to the Korean Central News Agency.

"The right of self-defense is the first criterion of sovereignty. Therefore, the accusation against it is an undisguised encroachment upon sovereignty and an act of rude interference in internal affairs," said the spokesman.

North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Sunday which hit a target some 780 km away into the East Sea, according to its official media.

The UNSC and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday both slammed the missile launches conducted by North Korea.

The Security Council "strongly condemned the most recent ballistic missile launches" conducted by Pyongyang on April 28 and May 13, the 15-nation UN body said in a press statement.
Abuja, May 17 : At least 27 people were killed in a recent attack by gunmen in the central Nigeria's state of Niger, a local official said on Tuesday.

Ibrahim Inga, head of the State Emergency Management Agency, who confirmed the attack, said the victims were killed when marauders stormed Epogi community in the state's Mokwa district.

According to Inga, 21 people had died immediately after the gunmen unleashed terror on the community early Sunday. Three bodies were later recovered from a river and three more victims died while receiving treatment on Tuesday.

He said security operatives in the area had put the situation under control.
Washington, May 17 : US President Donald Trump will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, West Bank next week during his trip to the Middle East, a senior US official said on Tuesday.

The meeting will come after Trump's meeting with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem and will convey his administration's eagerness to facilitate an agreement that ends the conflict, said Trump's National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster here at a White House briefing.

The White House said early last week that Trump will express his support for Palestinian self-determination.

However, it remains unknown whether Trump will publicly express his support for a two-state solution, a longstanding US stance on the issue.

Before Trump's trip to Israel and the West Bank, he will visit Saudi Arabia, where he and Saudi leaders will sign several agreements "that will solidify US-Saudi security and economic cooperation," said McMaster.

Also in Saudi, Trump will address leaders from over 50 Muslim countries in a speech "on the need to confront radical ideology and his hope for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world," McMaster added.
North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA expects record level of travel during this Memorial Day Weekend. AAA says there will be one million more travelers than last year taking to the roads, skies, rails and water, creating the highest Memorial Day travel volume since 2005.

The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 25 to Monday, May 29.

By the Numbers: Memorial Day Travel Forecast

2017 will mark the third consecutive year of growth in Memorial Day travel with 2.7 percent more travelers than last year.

34.6 million Americans (88.1 percent of travelers) will drive to their destinations, an increase of 2.4 percent over last year.

2.9 million Americans are taking to the skies this Memorial Day, increasing air travel by 5.5 percent over last year.

1.75 million travelers, an increase 2.9 percent from 2016, will look to other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses.

Drivers will pay the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2015. Airfares, car rental rates and mid-range hotels are all trending higher than last Memorial Day.

Travelers still hitting the road despite higher gas prices

While AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2015, the vast majority of holiday travelers (88.1 percent) are still planning to hit the road. Automobile travel will grow by 2.4 percent this Memorial Day, with 34.6 million Americans planning a holiday road trip. The national average price for a gallon of gas today is $2.34, 11 cents more than last year.

More Americans are planning to rent cars for their holiday road trips this year. AAA's car rental bookings are 19 percent higher than last Memorial Day. According to Hertz, the busiest day for car rental pick-ups is expected to be Friday, May 26, based on last year's data.

Large increases in flying and travel by other modes this Memorial Day

While road trips continue to reign supreme for Memorial Day, more Americans will fly, ride the train or bus, or take a cruise vacation compared to last year. Air travel is expected to increase 5.5 percent over last year, with 2.9 million Americans taking to the skies this Memorial Day. Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will increase 2.9 percent, to 1.75 million travelers.

Airfares, hotel and car rental rates on the rise

According to AAA's Leisure Travel Index, average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes will be 9 percent higher this Memorial Day, with an average round trip ticket landing at $181. Hotel costs have also increased since last Memorial Day, with the average AAA Three Diamond Rated hotel costing $215, or 18 percent more than last year. Daily car rental rates will average $66, which is 7 percent more than last year.

AAA to rescue more than 330,000 motorists this Memorial Day

AAA expects to rescue more than 330,000 motorists this Memorial Day weekend, with the primary reasons being lockouts, flat tires and battery-related issues. AAA recommends motorists have their vehicles inspected by a trusted repair shop, such as one of the more than 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America. Members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance.

AAA and Waze share perspectives on holiday travel

According to Waze, the free, real-time crowdsourced traffic and navigation app, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York are the busiest metro areas this Memorial Day weekend, based on last year's accident and traffic jam data. For travelers visiting or driving through these cities, be aware of high traffic volumes on Thursday and Friday  New York City sees an average 27 percent increase in accident alerts on these two days.

Many Memorial Day vacationers traveling abroad this year

While the vast majority of travelers are planning a Memorial Day road trip, many other Americans will take advantage of the long holiday weekend and travel internationally, with Europe especially popular this year. The top destinations for Memorial Day weekend, based on AAA travel bookings, are:

Orlando, Florida Rome, Italy London, England Dublin, Ireland Vancouver, Canada Seattle, Washington Las Vegas, Nevada New York, New York Paris, France Honolulu, Hawaii

According to Hertz, the busiest airport pick-up locations for travelers planning to rent a car this Memorial Day are expected to be Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Orlando (MCO), Atlanta (ATL) and Denver (DEN), based on data from 2016.

Download the AAA Mobile app before a Memorial Day getaway

Before setting out for Memorial Day, download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Travelers can use the app to map a route, find lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, make travel arrangements, request AAA roadside assistance, find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and more. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.
Mumbai, May 17 : Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who believes in the right to basic education for every child, has decided to do his bit in providing free education to underprivileged children.

Talking about the initiative, Sushant told IANS here: "My team is working on the idea where we are selecting a group of schools, and we will take a merit test of the kids. If the kids pass the exam, we will take care of their education cost for a year."

"Next year, they again have to sit for the test to get the free education. This is the first step and will work on other models. But I think this process will give kids a new excitement and encouragement to study and make them more competitive."

Born and brought up in Patna, Sushant had a desire to study abroad and couldn't fulfill his dream because of financial crisis. Otherwise, he has always been a studious person and cleared multiple engineering exams.

Asked about his opinion on importance of education, Sushant said: "My mother always taught me that we educate our children not to become a doctor or engineer, but the impact of basic education reflects on their thought process and decision making. So even if you are getting into a creative profession like acting, your basic education will open your mind enough to think analytically.

"Therefore, I have taken this small step towards providing basic education to deserving children."

Having gained popularity with television serial "Pavitra Rishta", Sushant stepped in to Bollywood with the film "Kai Po Che" and got critical and commercial success of "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story".

Currently, the actor busy promoting "Raabta" which is slated to release on June 9.
Bengaluru, May 17 : The recurrence of severe drought in many parts of the country has prompted state governments to devise innovative water management techniques and the immediate success in some of them in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka has kindled a ray of hope. But there are also voices of caution.

Activists and experts said such schemes may not be sustainable in the long term and may damage the natural water percolation system.

Water Conservationist Vijay Borade said Maharashtra's Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan -- launched in December 2014 -- mainly involves deepening and widening of streams, canals and rivers and will have a long-term negative impact on the recharging of underground water and its quality.

"There is rock after a layer of soil, which is exposed after de-silting and deepening activities. If the rock is exposed, how will water percolation happen? Water will just run off. Naturally, soil holds water and helps in recharging the underground water table. Although we see water availability today due to the Abhiyan, underground water-levels will be depleted in the near future," Borade told IANS.

The removal of the soil layer also destroys natural filtration system, leading to water contamination.

Borade said the Maharashtra government did not address his complaints and suggestions on the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan.

Borade, a winner of the Maharashtra government's Krishi Bhushan Award, said due attention should be given to soil conservation rather than just focusing on water conservation.

"We lose 15 tonnes of soil per acre annually as it washes away with running water. Unless we check soil erosion, water infiltration will not happen. One should not be worried of rains, they will come. One should think of soil conservation, which will take care of water conservation," he contended.

Interestingly, Borade has a reason to back his claims. Kadwanchi village in the heart of Maharahstra's drought-prone Marathwada region, is said to have never faced water scarcity in the last 10 years due to an effective watershed management plan.

Borade also lauded the efforts of the Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Trust (SSIAST), Bengaluru, in taking up the rejuvenation of 30 rivers in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu by reviving natural water resources, terming this a sustainable effort.

Geo-hydrologist and SSIAST trustee Y. Lingaraju said watersheds are developed at various locations for effective percolation and sustained water flow to the river basin.

"For the rejuvenation of Kumudavathi river near Bengaluru, we are developing watersheds at 18 locations. This includes construction of boulder barriers on canals and streams to promote soil moisture and water percolation, construction of recharge wells, big tanks and injection pipes of up to 500 feet," Lingaraju, a former director of the Karnataka State Remote Sensing and Application Centre.

SSIAST's efforts have borne fruits as Makankuppe, Tavarekere, Mondigere and Teppadabeguru villages on the outskirts of Bengaluru have witnessed improved water availability in tanks and lakes during the last two summers after watershed techniques were implemented, Lingaraju claimed.

Meanwhile, Shakeel Ahmed, Chief Scientist at Hyderabad's National Geophysical Research Institute, said the Telangana government didn't carry out any scientific studies before launching its Kakatiya scheme in March 2015.

"Initial results seem good but we are not sure of long-term impact since no scientific study has been carried out. It could be no longer sustainable if the water percolation system is disturbed. If aquifer mapping is done, the government will be in a position to implement the scheme in a scientific and effective way," Ahmed told IANS.

The aquifer mapping could be done through helicopter-mounted optics-based technology, he suggested.

(Saurabh Katkurwar was in Bengaluru at the invitation of SSIAST. He can be contacted at saurabh.k@ians.in)
New Delhi, May 17 : Gay-themed love story "LOEV" is garnering accolades and is being appreciated at prestigious film festivals on foreign shores. But in India, the film, which explores a same sex romantic relationship, will not even release in theatres and director Sudhanshu Saria says people have a very conservative idea about the film.

In India, "LOEV" has released on video-streaming app Netflix and not in film theatres. Saria says he and his team are facing ample problems in "getting the bigger critics to review us".

"People have a very conservative idea of what a film is and how it should be released. We are having a tough time just getting the bigger critics to review us because we haven't released the film in theatres. The critics know why we aren't in theatres -- there simply isn't a way to get our sort of film out and these are the very journalists who write about our draconian censorship laws," Saria told IANS in an email interview from Cannes.

"Frankly, it's disappointing that when a film like ours fights with dignity and chooses to screen in its original format, instead of championing the film, the critics are making excuses for not reviewing the film," he added.

Saria said the Oscars "don't care how the film was released" and believes that "our critics or awards bodies" should also not care about such things.

"A film is a film, let it be critiqued or rewarded for its merits," he said.

Saria is "confident enough to challenge anyone to find a performance more vulnerable and moving" than late actor Dhruv Ganesh in "LOEV", who passed away earlier last year of tuberculosis.

Not promoting the film as a voice for the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer) community, Saria says enough films have been made about the "heteronormative oppression".

"This film isn't interested in saving them (members of the LGBTQ community) from any kind of heteronormative oppression at all -- enough films have been made about that. This film actually doesn't give a damn about society's attitude towards this community. It simply tells a love story with dignity and care, the same dignity with which (late filmmaker) Yash Chopra made 'Lamhe' or 'Kabhi Kabhie'," said Saria, who has produced and directed projects like "His New Hands", " I'm Here" and "A Tight Spot".

"That might be the most political thing about the film. The film will find them and they will find the film -- I'm not worried about that at all," he added.

Pointing out that members of the LGBTQ community should not be referred to as "them" as if "they are in some ghetto community living in the bushes", Saria says it's a shame that society has not been able make each member feel safe enough to open up.

"Every person reading this interview knows someone in their family, someone in their workplace, who belongs to this community. We may have compelled them to hide in open sight, and not tell us their truth, but let's not for a moment pretend that they are somewhere far away without access to media or what not. And shame on us for making everyone not feel safe enough to be honest with us," he said.

Is Indian society living in denial in the context of love between two individuals of the same sex?

"I think we are professional hypocrites. Everyone knows everything, but we look the other way and choose not to talk about it. We don't want to acknowledge the truth because it forces us to actually deal with it, change and grow.

"Honestly, it's our collective loss that our diverse society isn't allowed to live its truth. There is a lot of love and value in everyone, regardless of the superficial label we stick on them. The moment we start embracing them, we can let them live their life to the fullest and that enriches everyone," Saria added.

It is high time, said Saria, that Indians acknowledge some truths that are very much there but we seem to turn a deaf ear towards them.

"A repressed or frustrated person will always act out in some way; you can't force someone to live out a lie without any repercussions. This is a much greater problem than censorship or cinema and it's high time we evolved and acknowledged some truths," he said.

Saria, whose aim is to contribute to the public discourse, push buttons and get people to talk about subjects like homophobia, sexual orientation and consent, feels motivated when the screening of thought-provoking films leads to debates or passionate arguments.

(Kishori Sud can be contacted at kishori.s@ians.in)
Washington, May 17 : US President Donald Trump had asked former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey to end the probe into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's ties with the Russian ambassador here, the media reported on Wednesday.

According to sources, the request was documented in a memo written by Comey that quoted Trump as saying: "I hope you can let this go."

The White House has however rejected the new allegations. According to a White House official, a "conversation of that nature" did not happen.

"While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, he has never asked Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any probe involving Flynn," the official said in a White House statement.

"The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Comey."

The revelation on Tuesday escalated the already raging political crises engulfing the White House triggered by the FBI's probe into alleged cooperation between Trump aides and Moscow, and reports that the President shared classified information to top Russian officials, CNN reported.

The stunning new developments triggered immediate claims from Democrats that Trump was guilty of obstructing justice and extreme concern from the President's Republican allies on Capitol Hill.

Adam Schiff, the highest ranked Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said this intervention by Trump, if correct, amounted to "interference or obstruction of the investigation", the BBC reporterd.

Senator John MCain reportedly said at a dinner that the Trump scandals had now reached "Watergate size".

Trump on May 9 fired Comey, who led the FBI investigation into the ties between Russian officials and Trump's presidential campaign, an issue that Congress also addresses.

Flynn has been at the centre of that investigation shortly after Trump's arrival to the White House.

Flynn advised Trump on foreign policy during the campaign and was later appointed NSA, a position he was forced to resign after lying about his contacts with the Russian Ambassador in Washington.

Sources said that Comey was so appalled by the request at an Oval Office meeting on February 14 that he wanted to document it to share his recollections of the encounter with senior FBI officials.

The report has put a new complexion on Trump's firing of Comey, a move he later confided to NBC News was motivated by anger over the Russia probe.

A source said the encounter between Comey and Trump unfolded after the then FBI Director was in the Oval Office briefing Trump along with Vice President Mike Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

After the briefing, Trump "asked Sessions and Pence to leave", the source told CNN.

According to Comey's memo, the President said: "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

The President told Comey that Flynn, who was fired for lying to Pence about the content of his telephone conversations with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak before the inauguration, hadn't done anything wrong.

Tuesday's developments sent shockwaves up to the Capitol Hill, where there has been increasing disquiet among Republicans due to allegations that the President divulged classified information to Russian officials.

Republican Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a letter from the FBI asking for the handover of "all memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the President".
Lucknow, May 17 : The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday suspended three policemen, including a station house officer, for laxity in the twin murder case of bullion traders in Mathura, an official said.

The killings triggered protests in Mathura and neighbouring areas on Tuesday, forcing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to dispatch Power Minister Shrikant Sharma and the DGP Sulkhan Singh to personally visit Mathura and monitor the probe.

Sharma, who is a BJP legislator from Mathura, met the bereaved family members on Wednesday and the DGP held meetings with local police officers.

Singh asked them to nab the culprits at the earliest.

CCTV footage was being checked to identify the criminals. An official privy to the probe said two men have been identified.

The two bullion traders were killed on Monday night in their shop and the assailants had decamped with gold worth more than Rs 4 crore.

Opposition parties have been up in arms against the state government and had raised the matter in the ongoing assembly session.

The furore forced Adityanath to give a statement in the House assuring everyone that his government was committed to establishing law and order in the state. He said the criminals would soon nabbed.
Kabul, May 17 : Armed assailants on Wednesday stormed the compound of National Radio Television in Afghanistan (RTA) in the eastern city of Jalalabad, triggering heavy fighting is underway.

According to a Tolo News report, the attack started at 10 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday morning. Eyewitnesses said one attacker detonated explosives to enable the other assailants to gain access into the compound.

An RTA employee said that at least 40 people work in the compound and many managed to escape but some are still trapped inside.

Afghan National Army troops arrived on the scene and have cordoned off the area.
New Delhi : If you are happy with your city's cleanliness and want it to be recognised, it might be a good idea to begin by downloading a government mobile phone application.

Citizen engagement appears to be driving national cleanliness rankings more than municipal claims and independent verifications, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of 20 cities in the 2017 Swachh Survekshan report released by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD).

The government evaluated cities' performance on citizen engagement through a mobile application "Swachhata-MoUD", -- which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store -- for a maximum of 150 points of the total 600 points for "citizen engagement".

Of the 20 cities that IndiaSpend studied, 13 scored 85 points and above in the "Swachhata App" sub-category. Nine of these saw an average rise of 10 ranks over 2016. The seven cities that scored 80 points and below fell 36 ranks behind, on average, the analysis showed.

"The Survekshan methodology needs a serious relook as it is rewarding cities with environmentally unsustainable practices and discouraging cities working towards behaviour change and local solutions," Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, was quoted as saying in the Financial Express.

"The methodology used to rank cities appears flawed" due reasons such as to leaning heavily on declarations made by municipalities, mistaking relative outcomes for absolute values and the vulnerability of citizen feedback to manipulation, the Hindustan Times reported on May 7, 2017.

The Swachh Survekshan report is an annual exercise by the MoUD to measure the progress of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2014.

Unlike in 2016 when the report assessed 73 cities, 434 cities have been assessed this year and ranked on the basis of cleanliness and sanitation.

The MoUD modified the scoring pattern for ranking cities on cleanliness this year: It transferred 100 points previously allotted to "municipal documentation" to "citizen engagement".

Municipal documentation refers to urban local bodies' (ULBs') assessment of their own infrastructure efforts on collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste, and strategies for open defecation-free towns.

Citizen engagement consists of two parts: Online, telephonic and social media surveys, and the use of the Swachhata App for citizens to connect with their ULBs. The app carries 150 points, which accounts for 25 per cent of citizen feedback points (600 points) and holds 7.5 per cent weightage in the overall scoring of 2,000 points.

The app, which seeks to connect urban local bodies with citizens to identify and solve local waste management issues, has been downloaded up to one million times, according to data from the Google Play Store. For perspective, India has 367.48 million internet subscribers while its urban population is over 377 million.

Citizens can post a complaint of garbage pile-ups and mismanagement by taking a picture and posting it through the app. The app captures the location and forwards it to the concerned city-corporation after which it is assigned to the concerned ward-level sanitary inspector. Citizens can also check the status of their complaint.

Weightage for the third parameter "direct observation" -- on-ground inspection of actual work carried out to improve sanitation and hygiene -- remained unchanged at 500 points.

Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have emerged as the top two states with most number of clean cities, 12 and 11, respectively, in India's top 50 clean cities.

While higher scores on documentation and observation did not necessarily translate to better rankings, Swachhata App and citizen engagement scores seem to be directly correlated to city rankings, an IndiaSpend analysis showed.

We analysed the scores and ranks of 20 cities -- the top 10 cities of 2016 and 2017, and those declared as "fastest-moving" with a population of over a million.

Tirupati, which did not feature in the 2016 Swachh Survekshan report, was ranked ninth in 2017 after scoring the highest (135/150) in the Swachhata App sub-category.

Indore and Bhopal, which hold the first and second ranks, respectively, jumped 24 and 19 spots ahead from 2016, scoring 120 and 130 points on the App.

Chandigarh, Rajkot, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Greater Mumbai, which were in the top 10 in 2016, fell nine, 11, 19 and 63 spots behind to 11th, 18th, 29th and 72nd, respectively, in 2017 after scoring 30-80 points in the Swachhata App sub-category.

Gangtok, which was ranked eighth in 2016, scored zero on the App and fell to the 50th rank in 2017.

Higher scoring in the overall segment of "citizen engagement", including citizen feedback through online surveys, phone surveys and social media, helped the rise of 2017's top four cities -- Indore, Bhopal, Vishakhapatnam and Surat.

Indore, while failing to achieve top scores in other parameters, scored over others in the "citizen engagement" parameter to bag the title of the "cleanest city in India".

Bhopal ranked second overall, and holds the second-highest score in the Swachhata App (130). The two Madhya Pradesh cities held the 25th and 21st ranks in 2016.

Vishakhapatnam showed the highest number of citizens engaging with the ULB -- 190,000 -- among the cities considered for the study, and rose from fifth to third rank in 2017. The port city scored 90 on the Swachhata App.

Of the cities that figured in the list of top 10 cities of 2016, only half remained in the top 10 in 2017: Chandigarh, Rajkot, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Gangtok and Greater Mumbai dropped below the 10th rank.

Better scoring on "municipal documentation" did not lead to improved rankings: Chandigarh scored the highest (883 on 900) among all cities in the study, but dropped nine ranks to 11th in the 2017 report (from second place in 2016).

Greater Mumbai, which dropped from 10th to 29th this year, scored 91.5 per cent in this category, above Tirupati (89.9 per cent), now ranked ninth. The overall scores of both Chandigarh and Greater Mumbai had declined -- by 0.85 per cent and 0.07 per cent.

High scores on "direct observation" did not yield better results. Mysuru, ranked first in 2016, fell to fifth rank in 2017 despite scoring the third-highest (460 on 500) on this parameter. It scored 0.32 per cent lower than the previous year.

Referring to Mysuru, which had also topped the rankings in 2014, Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu asserted that it did not imply cleanliness has declined in the city. "The spirit of competition is sought to be promoted through such surveys to help cities know where they stand in absolute terms and in relation to other cities as well."

While the report does not offer explanations for the decline of the top 10 cities in 2016, Indore's efforts in sanitation lauded in the report ranged from segregating waste to using plastic waste for road construction and repair. It also praised the city for drawing "graffiti on walls" to spread awareness and for "composing melodious jingles to encourage mass participation which plays in the garbage collection trucks as they traverse the city".

The efforts of Bhopal, Visakhapatnam and Surat mentioned in the report range from converting waste to energy and practising on-site composting to erecting "Asli Tarakki (real progress) hoardings and awareness by Swachhatagrahis".

At the fifth spot, Mysuru's sanitation and hygiene endeavours, as described in the 2017 report, are nearly the same as its competitors ranked ahead. While the southern city, unlike the top four, does not track its garbage collection vehicles with global positioning system (GPS) or engage informal waste-pickers (Bhopal does not do this either), the report praises its unique efforts to privatise garbage collection and transportation.

(In arrangement with IndiaSpend.org, a data-driven, non-profit, public interest journalism platform, with whom Alison Saldanha is an assistant editorand Ojaswi Rao is an intern. The views expressed are those of IndiaSpend. Feedback at respond@indiaspend.org)
Pyongyang, May 17 : North Korea has justified its latest long-, medium-range ballistic missile test-firing as "routine work to raise nuclear capability for self-defence", rejecting the UN Security Council's condemnation.

"The successful test-fire of Hwasong-12 is of special significance in ensuring peace and stability in the Korean peninsula, and it is the greatest victory of the Korean people," Xinhau news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying on Tuesday.

North Korea is also stepping up diplomatic actions to seek support and understanding from other countries over its missile launch.

The Foreign Ministry on Monday briefed envoys of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-states on the present situation.

North Korean officials accused the US of pressuring other countries into severing or degrading diplomatic ties with it by misusing "sanction resolutions" against it.

They were referring to a recent meeting between US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Asean officials in Washington, during which Tillerson called on Asean countries to degrade diplomatic ties and cut interactions with North Korea.

"Such pressure by use of 'sanction resolutions' devoid of legality, morality and impartiality is a blatant infringement on the independence of a sovereign state and act of interference in others' internal affairs," said a senior North Korean diplomat.

North Korea on Sunday test-fired a ballistic missile, which "accurately hit" the targeted open waters 787 km away after flying to a maximum altitude of 2,111.5 km.

Both the UN Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday slammed the missile launches.

The UN Security Council "strongly condemned the most recent ballistic missile launches" conducted by North Korea on April 28 and May 13, the 15-nation UN body said in a statement.
Chennai, May 17 : Superstar Rajinikanth on Wednesday yet again refused to clear doubts whether he was taking a plunge into politics.

"What I want to say I have already conveyed two days ago. I have nothing more to say for the present," Rajinikanth told reporters when asked if he has decided to join politics. He was reacting to media questions during the photo sessions with his fans.

Asked about Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan inviting him to join the BJP, he said: "No comment."

After meeting his fans on MOnday, the actor said that if he enters politics, he will be truthful and will not entertain people who want to make money.

"God decides what we have to do in life. Right now, he wants me to be an actor and I'm fulfilling my responsibility. If God willing, I will enter politics tomorrow. If I enter, I will be very truthful and will not entertain people who are in this to make money. I won't work with such people," Rajinikanth told his fans, who had gathered at Raghavendra Mandapam here.

One of his die-hard fans said: "If Rajinikanth sir becomes a politician, he will be the best."

Another fan said: "Thalaiva should announce his own party and clean up Tamil Nadu. He is the only one who can save Tamil Nadu and take it forward again."
New Delhi, May 17 : Suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kapil Mishra took a dig at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and asked when was the last time he went to his office.

"People of Delhi might not know that last year he (Kejriwal) went to his office only for two days," Mishra alleged in a letter to the Chief Minister.

"Does Kejriwal have the guts to show his performance report to the people of Delhi?"

Mishra also described Kejriwal as the only Chief Minister in the country without any portfolio and "who hardly works".

"Kejriwal is the Chief Minister who takes maximum holidays and now he shall soon become the Chief Minister against whom maximum cases of corruption would be there," the sacked minister said.

Mishra also dared Kejriwal to prove any one of his allegations wrong.

"Open challenge to Kejriwal, at least prove one allegation wrong. I have written about you only," he said.

Mishra was sacked as the Water, Tourism and Culture Minister on May 6 following internal bickering in the ruling party.
According to the foreign arrivals at Asia Pacific Destinations in 2016 compared to 2015 Cuba, Ukraine, and Argentina showed the strongest annual growth. A new study reveals an increase of three percent in foreign arrivals into 47 Asia Pacific destinations for 2016 to record an aggregate inbound count of close to 600 million.

Despite the significant challenges being faced by Turkey's tourism sector the annual net increase in arrivals into the Asia Pacific region was still strong, adding close to 18 million additional arrivals to its total foreign inbound count year-on-year.

Seventeen of those destinations had double-digit growth rates ranging from more than 30 percent for Nepal and Korea (ROK) and over 20 percent for each of Mongolia, Japan and Vietnam. Growth was once again uneven with seven Asia Pacific reporting contractions in foreign arrivals in 2016 compared to 2015.

The strongest destination sub-regions for annual growth between 2015 and 2016 were South America with an annual increase of over 13 percent, Oceania with a gain of more than 11 percent and South Asia with close to 10 percent growth.

Across the three major regions with Asia Pacific, Asia was the front runner for foreign arrivals by volume with almost 436 million international arrivals (70%), followed by the Americas with close to 147 million arrivals (34%) and the Pacific with 24.5 million international arrivals (12%).

Intra-regional travel flows were extremely strong for Asia and the Americas with 94 percent and 78 percent respectively of their inbound volumes arising from within the same region. The Pacific was the only destination region to see the majority of its arrivals come from outside that region; more than 52 percent of foreign arrivals into the Pacific in 2016 came from Asia as opposed to the Pacific which generated 32 percent of the inbound arrivals to that region.

Origin markets in Northeast Asia were the largest generators of absolute volumes into Asia Pacific in 2016, led by China and Hong Kong SAR which generated 108.5 million and 93.7 million arrivals respectively. These were supported by Macao SAR, which generated 24.4 million arrivals as well as Korea (ROK) with 23.2 million, Japan with 20.3 million and Chinese Taipei with 19.8 million arrivals originating in those markets.

The USA, Canada and Mexico also rated within the top ten generators of foreign arrivals in 2016, producing 45.8 million, 24.9 million and 20.3 million arrivals respectively into Asia Pacific in that year.

Singapore was the only Southeast Asian origin market within the top ten listing, generating close to 19.9 million arrivals for the year.

There were some very strong annual growth increases from a number of origin markets such as Cuba (+52%), Ukraine (+41%) and Argentina (+24%).

Similarly for a number of origin sub-regions, each of which added significant incremental volumes to the absolute count into Asia Pacific destination sub-regions between 2015 and 2016. Northeast Asia topped that list with an additional eight million arrivals within its own sub-region, and 4.4 million additional arrivals into Southeast Asia.

The reverse was also true with Southeast Asia generating 2.2 million and 1.8 million additional foreign arrivals into Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia itself respectively while in the Americas it was North America into Central America that rated highly, adding more than 1.2 million additional arrivals between 2015 and 2016.
Srinagar, May 17 : Police in north Kashmir's Bandipora district on Wednesday arrested three persons accused of abduction and rape of three minor girls in two different incidents.

Two persons, identified as Ahsan Mir and Yasir Ganai, residents of Kaloosa village, had abducted two minor girls from Bandipora.

They took them to a Pahalgam health resort, held them in captivity for two days and raped them, the police said.

The victims' families had lodged an FIR.

In another incident, a person identified as Shamroz Malik was arrested in Arin village of the same district for abducting and raping another minor girl.
Islamabad, May 17 : Four "hardcore terrorists" sentenced by military courts were executed in Pakistan on Wednesday.

The Army's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the terrorists were involved in heinous offences including terrorism, killing of innocent civilians, attacking a mosque, destruction of educational institutions and attacking law enforcement agencies and armed forces, Dawn reported.

All four convicts were active members of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. They were identified as Ahmed Ali, Asghar Khan, Haroon ur Rasheed and Gul Rehman.
Dhaka, May 17 : A Bangladesh court on Wednesday sentenced to death 23 persons, including a Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader, for the murder of four activists of the Awami League and its student organisation in 2002, a media report said.

Additional Public Prosecutor Jasmin Ahmed confirmed the verdict and said that it was pronounced by Narayanganj Second Additional District and Sessions Court judge, Kamrunnahar.

Of the 23 sentenced to death, 19 persons including, BNP leader Abul Bashar Kashu, were present in the court, while the remaining four were absconding.

Awami league is a political party of which Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the president.

According to the prosecution, Kashu and others tortured the four activists, after picking them up from their houses on March 12, 2002, and later burnt them to death, bdnews24 reported.

One of the four murdered persons belonged to Awami League's student organisation, Chhatra League.

Jasmin said he was satisfied with the judgment.
Sydney, May 17 : An Australian court sentenced a man to 22 years in prison on Wednesday for assaulting two 24-year-old female tourists, a Brazilian and a German, in the remote locality of Salt Creek in February 2016.

Roman Heinze, 61, was found guilty of aggravated kidnapping, causing harm with intent to cause harm, endangering life and indecent assault, according to the South Australia's Supreme Court ruling, reports Efe news.

The accused, who had got in touch the victims through an online car-sharing portal, was also convicted of indecently assaulting another young tourist in 2014 and violating the conditions of his bail by committing the attack in 2016.

Justice Trish Kelly called Heinze's crimes "utterly depraved" and sentenced him to 22 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 17 years.

"In committing these crimes you have undermined yet again the reputation of this country as a safe, friendly and attractive destination for young backpackers from all over the world," Kelly told the defendant.

Heinze attacked the Brazilian woman from behind, tied her up, tore her bikini with a knife and raped her, while stabbing the German - who tried to save her friend - in the head with a knife.

"Your crimes against (the Brazilian woman) in the sand dunes in the Coorong were committed solely in pursuit of the gratification of your own perverted sexual fantasies and desires," stressed Kelly.

"The offence committed against (the German woman) in chasing her down like a frightened rabbit and running her over and at her again and again was utterly depraved," the judge added.
Seoul, May 17 : Samsung Electronics has sold over 10 million of its Galaxy S8 and S8 plus smartphones in less than a month.

Samsung S, the first device of the smartphone series, had taken seven months to achieve the same numbers.

South Korean Chosun Ilbo daily published the figures citing sources from Samsung, who refused to confirm or deny the figures to EFE news on Wednesday.

The new models of the Galaxy S series went on sale on April 21 in South Korea, Canada and the US and subsequently in other markets, including Europe, and will be launched in China on Thursday.

The company is planning to launch the smartphone in around 120 countries by the end of May.

According to analysts, given its current success, the S8 could end up surpassing the 50 million units its predecessor - the Galaxy S7 - sold.

Meanwhile, pre-orders for Galaxy S8 exceeded one million in South Korea, where 260,000 units were sold on the first day of its release, according to the report.
Jerusalem, May 17 : Israel will maintain strong military ties with the US, the country's Defense Minister said on Wednesday.

The statement was the first Israeli comment following US President Donald Trump's alleged intelligence leak reports, Xinhua news agency reported.

The relationship with the US "is unprecedented in its contribution to our strength. This is how it has been and how it will continue to be", Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

He said the US had been Israel's closest ally and this alliance "is deep, significant and unprecedented in volume".

The Washington Post reported on Monday that Trump leaked "highly classified information" regarding the Islamic State in Syria to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as well as Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak during a White House meeting last week.

According to reports, US officials said the alleged leak endangered the life of a spy planted within the IS by Israel.

Trump defended his right to share anti-terrorist information with Russia. However, he did not tell whether it was highly classified.

Trump is expected to arrive in Israel on May 22 for his first official visit to the country.
New Delhi, May 17 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of 10 indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) for nuclear power generation.

"The cabinet has approved to install 10 indigenously built PWHRs," Union Minister Piyush Goyal said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Goyal, who is Union Power and Coal Minister, said the new PWHRs will generate 7,000 MW power. At present India generates 6,780 MW from nuclear power.

Goyal also said that nuclear reactors, which will produce 6,700 MW, are under implementation and these are expected to be completed by 2021-22.
London, May 17 : The bathroom scale you use every morning may soon measure much more than your weight. Researchers in Lithuania are developing multifunctional scales that could one day measure more than 20 health parameters and warn us about potentially dangerous life conditions.

A team of researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) have already developed a prototype of multifunctional body composition scales which can help identify the problems in the person's arterial condition by the pulse arrival time from heart to the feet.

The researchers are now improving the model by adding new functions and parameters.

"We are continuously increasing the number of parameters, that can be measured using our scales. For example, alongside arterial stiffness, the scales can also detect cardiac arrhythmia (improper beating of the heart)," said Vaidotas Marozas, Director of the KTU Institute of Biomedical Engineering.

"I believe, that in the future, the multifunctional body composition scales will measure more than 20 various health parameters," Marozas said in a statement released by KTU.

Body composition scales supplemented by handlebar and matching technologies can measure a person's pulse through sensors on the handlebar and footpad electrodes.

"We are measuring the speed of blood pulse wave: the faster the speed, the stiffer the arteries, which, in turn can already warn about the development of arteriosclerosis, and the latter can be the cause of increased blood pressure and other conditions," Birute Paliakaite, who is working with the team of researchers from the very start of the project, said.

Among other conditions, the researchers are aiming to integrate the function of recognising the development of hyperkalemia into the scales.

"When a person has final stage of renal insufficiency syndrome, he or she has to undergo dialysis several times a week. As kidneys cannot manage keeping the balance of microelements in the organism, the risk of potentially life threatening conditions, such as increased potassium concentration in blood, i.e. hyperkalemia, arises," Paliakaite said.

When indicating this potentially life-threatening condition, the scales would notify the doctor, who might decide to move the planned dialysis into earlier date, the researchers said.

What is more, the researchers believe that such a household health monitoring device would not even cost people a fortune.

"Our technology is less complex than that of a smartphone, which needs expensive materials and elements. We are creating data processing algorithms, and our main resource is our intellect," Marozas said.
London, May 17 : A British Pakistani doctor who has been crowned MasterChef champion for 2017 after besting 64 amateur cooks has credited her family for supporting her hobby of cooking -- starting with Pakistani and Kashmiri dishes.

Saliha Ahmed, 29, triumphed in the final of MasterChef after defeating two rivals and made headlines around the world for impressing the judges with her Pakistani-Kashmiri-inspired three-course meal, The News International reported.

A record six million viewers watched Saliha storm to victory over music teacher Giovanna Ryan and DJ Steve Kielty who are considered amongst the top chefs.

In an interview with Geo News, Saliha credited her family with her cooking skills and reserved special thanks to her doctor husband Usman Ahmed for pushing her to take part in the coveted competition.

"It's been a long journey, I always wanted to go on this show but I thought I can't make it because I didn't have time due to my full-time job as a doctor with the National Health Service (NHS).

"Then around two years ago, we were blessed with a baby boy and I became very busy but Usman filled my application form without even consulting and encouraged me to take part in the competition. He saw talent in me and believed in me."

Saliha was born in Watford to Pakistani parents Tariq Mahmood and Amina Khatoon, both doctors with the NHS. Her grandparents originate from Srinagar but moved and settled in Lahore at the time of partition -- and that explains why Saliha's show-stopping finale dish was inspired by Kashmiri and Pakistani food.

Saliha, a fluent Urdu speaker, explained how she went through a gruelling experience over several months to make it to the final.

The run-up involved working on the weekends, sacrificing annual leave for many months for filming and going to restaurants and cooking almost everyday after work to ensure that she is cooking new dishes and doing the right thing.

"I couldn't have reached here without putting in a lot of hard work. After I was crowned the MasterChef 2017 champion, I was overwhelmed by the positive feedback -- so many people from Pakistan contacted me to congratulate and to give positive feedback. It's impossible to describe in words the happiness I have felt. I must say Allah has been kind to me," she said.

Saliha's extended family lives in Lahore and Rawalpindi. "In our household, cooking has always been like a craze. Kashmiri families are known for celebrating what they cook and eat. My parents are Kashmiris and my mother-in-law is also a Kashmiri and she is a brilliant cook, in fact she is the one who taught me how to cook Shaami kebab, the recipe for which I used for the finals."
Agartala, May 17 : Drinking water supply to lakhs of people in Tripura was stopped after ONGC drilling waste spilled over into a key river, officials said here on Wednesday.

"Drilling waste contained with chemical and oils from the ONGC's abandoned drilling site at Mandai (in Baramura Hill Ranges) was spilling over into Howrah river since Tuesday.

"Immediately we have shut four major water treatment plants and stopped supply of drinking water in the Agartala Municipal Corporation areas and its adjoining areas to prevent people drinking polluted water," Water and Sanitation Department Chief Engineer Bishu Debbarma told reporters.

He said that the engineers of the Water Supply Department and West district administration officials are testing the water at a regular interval and working round-the-clock to stop the spillover.

"We expect that the situation would be normal by tonight (Wednesday) or early tomorrow (Thursday). We have also asked the ONGC to take suitable measures to prevent the spillover of drilling waste," Debbarma said.

The four major water treatment plants, that draw in supply from the Howrah river, cater drinking water to at least six lakh people in Agartala Municipal Corporation, adjoining Ranirbazar Municipal Council and Jirania Nagar Panchayat Areas.

Water Resources and Sanitation Minister Ratan Bhowmik, District Magistrate Milind Ramteke, engineers of various departments camping the affected areas and supervising the remedial works.

An Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) spokesperson said that the company finished their drilling works at Mandai in Baramura Hill Ranges around a week ago and maintaining the standard scientific practice, did "effluent treatment" by finally covering the waste by high quality plastic sheets.

"To take away the waste substances, the local people cut off the plastic sheets leading to the spill over of drilling waste into the nearby Howrah river. Recent rain might have further worsened the situation," the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, as the Howrah, like other Tripura rivers, flows into Bangladesh, officials of Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh here informed their government of the development and are monitoring the situation.

"We have informed about the spillover of chemicals and oils into the Howrah River to the Water Resources Department in Dhaka to take suitable steps," said Assistant High Commissioner Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain.
New Delhi, May 17 : Union Minister of Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here on Wednesday discussed the implementation of central schemes in the state, an official said.

The two discussed in detail various issues related to the implementation of flagship schemes of the Union government in the state, the Ministry of Urban Development said in a statement.

During the meeting, Naidu informed the Punjab CM about "the recent initiative of conducting review meetings across the country to take first-hand report on the issues and to evaluate the status of various programmes and initiatives" relating to his ministries.

The two leaders also discussed the possible areas of collaboration between the two governments to facilitate effective implementation of these schemes.

They also discussed the delegation of more power to the states by the Narendra Modi government under cooperative federalism.

The Ministry of Urban Development runs flagship schemes like Smart Cities, Swachh Bharat Mission, National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), among others.

Under the Smart Cities initiative, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar in Punjab have been selected for development.

The AMRUT scheme is being implemented in 16 cities of Punjab -- including Amritsar, Jalandhar and Malerkotla.

Senior officials from Punjab and the central government were present during the meeting.
New Delhi, May 17 : The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the setting up of an agriculture research institute in Assam, to help spur growth in north eastern states.

Briefing media on the Cabinet decisions, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said the government had plans to bring a green revolution in the north-east region and the new Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in Assam would "play a crucial role in bringing a second green revolution" in the country.

"Development of the north-eastern states has been a priority for the Modi government and the new institute will play a crucial role in driving growth in the region," Goyal said.

The institute would be set up at a cost of Rs 155 crore, Goyal said.

"Not a single agriculture research institute was built after 1967. In 2014, the Modi government approved two such institutes. Construction of the one in Ranchi has already started. But there was not any development in the case of the Assam institute as the previous government did not allot land. The (current BJP-led) Sarbananda Sonowal government has allotted 587 acres for the institute," Goyal said.

The IARI-Assam will be the third such institute after those in New Delhi and Ranchi. It will have student capacity of 67 for MSc and 106 for PhD in agricultural sciences programmes.

"By 2020-21, the institute will produce about 90 PhD students every year. The institute will drive agricultural progress in Assam and other northeastern states. About 85 per cent of the people in Assam are dependent on agriculture," Goyal said.

The Agriculture Ministry said the IARI-Assam will have "all the hallmark identities of IARI in New Delhi", including all sectors of agriculture like field crops, horticulture crops, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, piggery, silk rearing, honey production.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said IARI-Assam would work on the agrarian challenges and complexities of northeastern India in coordination with all existing central and state governments, R&D institutions and private sector enterprises.

"(It will undertake) research, education, extension programmes in its mission towards developing quality human resource, generation of farmer-friendly technologies to enhance productivity, quality, profitability, promote agro-based industries and generate employment opportunities for holistic and sustainable development of the agriculture sector in the region," a release quoted Singh as saying.

The IARI-Assam has 100 per cent outlay of the central government on 587 acres of land provided by the Assam government. The proposal for 98 positions has been approved, the release said.
Dhaka, May 17 : Chikungunya disease has been spreading rapidly in Dhaka following intermittent rains, and the government has asked people to be alert about the mosquito-borne viral infection, a media report said.

ASM Alamgir, Senior Scientific Officer of Bangladesh's disease monitoring arm, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), has confirmed the outbreak, bdnews24 reported.

The viral disease is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes and can cause fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

IEDCR has advised patients to take rest under bed-nets, preferably permethrin-coated ones.

The organisation has also advised people to remove stagnant water from flower pots and flowerpot plates, used tyres, tree holes, and other sources to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

Alamgir said that patients and family members have to be educated about risk of transmission and ways to minimise the risk.

Chikungunya has no cure and treatment is done to relieve symptoms.

Bangladesh reported the first chikungunya case in 2008 in northern Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.
Gurugram, May 17 : Haryana Police chief B.S. Sandhu on Wednesday said nodal officers from the northeast will be appointed at state police stations to help people from the region here.

Director General of Haryana Police Sandhu said this while announcing a reward of Rs 2 lakh to anyone providing clues related to the culprits behind the gang-rape of a woman from Sikkim in a moving car in Gurugram.

He said officers from the northeast would be appointed, especially in Gurugram, on deputation basis.

The nodal officers would help the people from the northeast region in a better manner as they will understand their language and culture, he said.

A Sikkimese woman was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by three men in a moving car on Sunday in Gurugram and thrown out on a road in Delhi.

The incident took place when she was returning from Delhi around 2 a.m. to her residence in Sector 17-C, Gurugram. The woman had gone to Connaught Place to meet her friend on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old victim, in her statement to the police, said that as she neared her house, she was dragged into a Swift car by three men, who took turns to rape her and later dumped her in Delhi's Najafgarh area.

She later approached some passerby and told Delhi Police about the incident which alerted Gurugram police.

A case of rape was registered against three persons in Sector 18 police station. One of the accused was addressed as Deepak by others, police said.
New Delhi, May 17 : Australian hair care brand Kevin Murphy has forayed into the Indian hair care market. Officials said India is a unique market where people want to express who they are through how they look.

The brand has entered the Indian market in association with its franchise partner Headstart.

Two educators from Australia, including Nathan Gorman who is the Head Master and Design Director, Asia Pacific and Middle East; and Wade Blackford, Style Master and Primary Educator, Asia Pacific and Middle East are here to launch the brand both in Delhi and Mumbai.

During the four-day launch, the hair maestros will not only be showcasing the expert styling techniques they rely on but also shedding light on the products' benefits.

"Getting to know the market is very important to brand Kevin Murphy. We believe that fashion is becoming quite global but we also believe that each market has its own idiosyncrasies that we need to understand to provide better service," Blackford told IANS.

"This is my third time coming to India and I have noticed in this amount of time that when I've gone out for dinners... That a lot of women have gotten shorter hair cuts and layers in their hair. So it's not about long straight hair all the time," he added.

Gorman is also excited about the India launch of the brand.

"I think each country is very unique and has its uniqueness but also in India and the world there is a concept of individual styling where people want to express who they are through how they look. For example, someone might be an Indian woman but she would like to express herself as a different version when she goes out, stays at home and so on. And this is becoming more and more important nowadays," he said.
Durban, May 17 : India has turned out to be the best performing market for South Africa, with a growth of 21 per cent in 2016, against the average increase of 13 per cent for the country as a whole, Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa has said.

"South Africa is a melting pot of cultures, so the tourists feel very comfortable here. Our rich culture and history makes us a destination for India, especially because the relations between our two nations are very close," said Xasa at the INDABA tourism fair here.

There is a very large Indian population in South Africa, dating to over 150 years ago, Xasa said.

INDABA, by far the largest tourism fair in the African continent, was inaugurated by President Zacob Zuma on Tuesday.

Besides South Africa, tourism professionals from 21 other African countries were participating in the fair that attracts buyers and leading travel companies, as well as media, from around the world. It will go on till May 19.

"We had already doubled our market in India between 2009 and 2013. In 2014, we lost a bit of ground due to air connectivity and visa backlog, but now we are back in force," added Hanneli Slabber, CEO of South Africa Tourism in India.

South Africa is also looking for lucrative segments like MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and business travel in the Indian market.

"There is a lot more potential in the Indian market. Our common culture and heritage is of course a strong point... I think we can do much more in small and medium enterprise segment and also vis a vis women in business. We want to partner more and learn more in these areas," the minister said.

The CEO of South Africa Tourism in India said the country has rapidly adapted to the Indian expectations.

"Seven years ago, one of our major drawbacks and barriers for travel from India was about food... Today, in South Africa, you will not find a restaurant that does not have vegetarian food on its menu. It is freely available now not only in metro cities but also small towns in the countryside," Hanneli Slabber said.

Tourism Minister Xasa said China is another focus market for South Africa.

Promoting tourism to Africa has not been without its challenges, though. Crime figures high on the list.

Along with other African nations, South Africa is also perceived as dangerous. But Slabber said that the reality on the ground is different.

"What we have done incredibly badly is how we have marketed South Africa after 1994. Earlier, we did have a problem of crime. But we have not managed to do is to communicate how the country has moved from 1994 to 2017," Slabber said.

"To reassure our tourists, we have also had for a while a unique telephone number for tourist safety where the tourists can be facilitated in terms of lost passports and documents, pretty much like India has done now."

Slabber said South Africa also suffers from incidents that happen in other African nations. One such case was the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which dampened the traffic from India.

"Indians don't realise that we in South Africa were very far from the Ebola-affected areas," she said.

Another drawback is the air connectivity as South African Airways has still not re-started its direct flights to India.

"We are trying to come up with solution as far as the air connectivity is concerned. There is no direct flight and looking at a huge country like India, it is a major concern. But, there are a few airlines who adapted their timings in order to facilitate travel to South Africa," Slabber said.

She said that the country have collaborated with Rwanda Airlines that has started a first direct flight from Mumbai to Kigali and from there to Cape Town.

"The fares are extremely attractive, about Rs 25,000, including taxes. We are also collaborating with Etihad and Abu Dhabi to have improved connectivity with India," said Slabber.

Slabber said to promote cultural tourism, South Africa has developed new options like home stays.

"We have developed home stays, because people want to experience South Africa like a local, eat like a local, live like a local."

President Zuma urged other African nations to leverage their tourism potential from source markets such as India, just as his nation has done.

"Africa is investing in infrastructure development projects that will help us promote tourism. One of the key goals is to work towards a seamless travel experience across the continent," he said.

(Christine Nayagam can be contacted at c.nayagam@mediaindia.eu)
Kolkata, May 17 : Public sector lender Allahabad Bank is looking to reduce its exposure to corporate lending from 65 per cent of its total loan book to 50 percent for risk mitigation, its MD and CEO Usha Ananthasubramanian said on Wednesday.

"There is a shift happening (in loan portfolio). We have a heavy corporate book. We want to re-balance the loan book.

"The loan book break-up is 65:35 (65 percent corporate and 35 per cent retail), so we want to improve it to 50:50," she said, adding: "We will be very selective in corporate loan sector-wise, rating-wise and at what form of guarantee will come."

On big-ticket corporate lending, Ananthasubramanian said: "We will be choosy in those loans in terms of geography, sector and rating. In certain sectors, we may be breaching the cap, so we cannot go on and increase our exposure there.

"Maybe, there are some sectors, where we have not much exposure, but we are doing well, there we want to grow lending."

She however did not specify the time line by when rebalancing would be achieved.

Ananthasubramanian also indicated the bank would rationalise some of its branches.

"We may go for rationalising of some branches and may not go for aggressive expansion. Last year, we had merged eight branches in Kolkata... we have started spotting those kind of branches where we can have a merger," she said.

She said the bank would focus on aggressive recoveries of non performing assets (NPAs), re-balancing of loan books from high risk corporate book to diversified book. She also said the bank could require Rs 2,000 crore of capital infusion in the current fiscal.

The bank on Monday posted a net profit of Rs 111.16 crore in the quarter ended March 31, 2017 as compared to a net loss of Rs 581.13 crore in the year-ago period. It, however, narrowed its loss at Rs 313.52 crore in 2016-17 as against a loss of Rs 743.31 crore in the previous fiscal.

Capital adequacy ratio stood at 11.45 percent as March 31, 2017 as per Basel III norms.

The bank's gross NPA stood at 13.9 per cent and net NPA 8.92 per cent as on March 31, 2017.
The Hague, May 17 : The International Court of Justice will announce its verdict on Thursday on India's appeal against the death sentence awarded by a Pakistani court to alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

The verdict is set to be announced at 3.30 p.m. IST.

The verdict comes after India and Pakistan clashed on Monday at the ICJ over Jadhav with New Delhi invoking the court's jurisdiction to see that the death sentence against him is annulled immediately.

Pakistan has said that India had no right to invoke the jurisdiction of the court because the Vienna Convention does not provide for matters relating to spies, terrorists and those who indulge in espionage.
Moscow, May 17 : Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Moscow is ready to provide US Congress a transcript of the talks between its Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a press conference, Putin said the transcript could be provided "if the US administration finds it appropriate".

The Trump administration has come under fire over its handling last week of the firing of FBI Director James Comey and then revelations earlier this week that the President provided highly-classified intelligence information to Russian officials, CNN reported.

Trump met Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at the White House on May 10. According to a report in the Washington Post, Trump revealed to them valuable intelligence information on the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The US President on Tuesday hit back at the accusations, claiming it is his right to share information on security as he sees fit.

But he did not confirm or deny whether the information was classified.
New Delhi, May 17 : The Delhi government's Anti Corruption Branch on Wednesday questioned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's political adviser Vibhav Patel in the alleged Rs 400-crore water tanker scam.

According to the ACB sources, Patel was questioned for more than three hours. He arrived at the ACB office around 11.15 a.m. and was questioned till 2.30 p.m.

The ACB had summoned Patel on Sunday after rebel and sacked Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra told the ACB that two persons -- Patel and Ashish Talwar -- close to Kejriwal were responsible for the delay in action in the water tanker scam.

An ACB offical related to the probe told IANS: "Patel has denied any involvement in the matter. Thus, we will once again cross-question Mishra on his allegation and if required, Patel would also be told to join the probe."

Mishra recorded his statement with the ACB on May 11, after he submitted evidence in support of his allegations that two persons close to Kejriwal tried to influence the scam probe.

Talwar is also likely to be summoned after Patel's statement in the case is recorded, according to the official.

The Rs 400-crore water tanker scam involved alleged favouritism shown in the allotment of contracts to private water tanker operators to supply water to areas not falling under the Delhi Jal Board's network during the previous Congress government in Delhi.
Kolkata, May 17 : Tipu Sultan Mosque's controversial Imam Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati, who had threatened 'jihad' if India was declared a Hindu Rashtra and refused to remove the red beacon from his vehicle, was sacked from the post by the mosque's trustee board on Wednesday.

The two-page 'notice of termination of service' was issued to Barkati by Arif Ahmed, trustee of the Prince Gholam Mohammad Waqf Estate here.

"Janab Barkati has been handed the termination notice, which is effective from today (Wednesday), for making anti-national statements and indulging in constant controversy. He would be given around seven to ten days to vacate his office in the mosque," Ahmed said at a press conference here.

The sacking comes two days after a police complaint was lodged against Barkati by the mosque's trustee board.

The letter pulled up Barkati for not responding to two requests for explaining his conduct and failing to respond to the show cause notice issued to him.

"Subsequent to the show cause notice, you have physically abused the co-trustee and made comments that can incite the people to violence," the letter said.

It also warned Barkati that "appropriate action" would be taken if he chose to "violate any terms of the letter of termination".

Ahmed said Barkati was show-caused in February and March.

"We, on behalf of the trustee board, gave Barkati two warnings for his controversial public statements in February this year. He was also show caused in March. We had to take a decision to terminate him today as he did not rectify himself," Ahmed said.

Barkati, considered close to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is known for his repeated controversial and provocative comments.

Last week he had warned of a 'jihad' if India was declared a Hindu Rashtra, and also refused to take off the red beacon from his car defying a central government decision. Barkati had argued that the privilege was granted to the 'Shahi Imam' by the British government.

Barkati was forced to take off the red beacon from his vehicle on Saturday, under pressure from the state government.

He had drawn flak for commenting that Muslims would "fight for Pakistan if India became a Hindu state".

His comments led to a hue and cry, with the BJP and other Sangh Privar outfits dubbing him "anti-national" and senior West Bengal Minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, regarded as a prominent face of the ruling Trinamool Congress, calling Barkati an RSS agent.

Ahmed also described as "technically incorrect" Barkati's claims of being a "Shahi Imam".

"Someone can be called a 'Shahi Imam' if he is appointed by a Shah or king. The Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi was appointed by the Mughal dynasty. So technically he can say that his forefathers can be called a Shahi Imam, but that was not the case with Barkati," he explained.

Asked about Barkati's successor, Ahmed said nothing has been decided about that.

"We haven't taken a decision on that yet as he has just been terminated. Choosing an Imam of such a prestigious mosque is a time consuming process. Meanwhile, the muezzin present in the mosque would conduct the prayers," he added.

Referring to the police complaint lodged against Barkati two days ago for allegedly snatching away the keys of the mosque office, Ahmed hoped the law would take its due course.

"Yes a police complaint has been lodged against him and we are hopeful that the law would take its course. There is no reason to think that he is above the law," he added.
New Delhi, May 17 : The CPI-M said on Wednesday that Uttar Pradesh might descend into violence if aggressive rightwing Hindu groups were not checked.

"If this situation of aggression under the patronage of the ruling party with complete impunity continues, many parts of UP are in danger of descending into spirals of caste and communal violence," CPI-M leaders Brinda Karat and Subhashini Ali told President Pranab Mukherjee here.

The President was told that the formation of a BJP government in Uttar Pradesh had encouraged vigilante groups, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's Hindu Yuva Vahini, to attack sections of people with impunity.

"BJP leaders, including elected representatives, have also participated in these attacks," they said.

The CPI-M leaders' meeting with the President followed the attack on Dalit families from Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh by upper castes on May 15.

"The President gave the delegation a very sympathetic hearing and expressed his anguish," the Communist Party of India-Marxist said in a statement.

"He said he would do whatever was in his power to ensure justice to the Dalits."
The Hague, May 17 : The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will announce on Thursday its verdict on India's appeal seeking revocation of the death sentence awarded by a Pakistani court to alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

In a statement, the court announced that it will "deliver its order on the request for the indication of provisional measures made by India in the Jadhav Case (India v. Pakistan), on Thursday" at noon (3.30 p.m. IST) in a public sitting.

Judge Ronny Abraham, President of the court, will read the decision, it said.

The decision comes after India on Monday sought the court's intervention for an immediate suspension of Jadhav's death sentence, fearing that the Indian national may be executed even before the ICJ decided the case.

Indian lawyer Harish Salve alleged that the trial of Jadhav, a former navy officer, was held under "farcical" circumstances in violation of the Vienna Convention.

The lawyer told the court that Jadhav was kidnapped in 2016 from Iran where he was pursuing his business after retiring from the Indian Navy, brought to Pakistan and was shown to have been arrested in Balochistan and presented as an alleged Indian spy.

His alleged confession admitting he worked for India's external spy agency R&AW and his involvement in terror activities was extracted in a military custody, Salve said.

He urged the court to direct Pakistan to see that Jadhav was not executed and "no action is taken that might prejudice the rights of India or Jadhav with respect to any decision the court may render on the merits of the case".

Jadhav was awarded the death sentence by a Pakistani military court last month, a year after he was arrested on espionage charges. Islamabad has rejected 16 Indian requests for consular access to Jadhav, held at an unknown prison in Pakistan.

Salve demanded that Pakistan should annul Jadhav's death sentence as he was not even given a chance to defend himself.

Pakistan, however, rejected the plea on the ground that India had no right to invoke the jurisdiction of the UN's highest court because the Vienna Convention does not provide for matters relating to spies, terrorists and those who indulge in espionage.

Islamabad also asked the court to reject India's plea for provisional measure in the case.

India approached the ICJ on May 8, accusing Pakistan of "egregious violations" of the Vienna Convention in the matter of the detention and trial of Jadhav.

Denying the charges, Pakistan has maintained that it had requested an Indian assistance in the investigation of Jadhav's alleged "involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan", which it said New Delhi did not provide.

The face-off over Jadhav has brought relations between the two rival neighbours to a new low.
Lucknow, May 17 : The Uttar Pradesh government has fined a total of 2,250 people and collected Rs 1,98,096 during 2016-17 for using tobacco products in public places, an official said on Wednesday.

The government fined 12,444 people and collected Rs 14,28,261 between April 2013 and March 2017 for violating Section 4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA, 2003), by smoking in public places.

Section 4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce Production, Supply and Distribution) Act COTPA 2003 prohibits smoking in all public places.

This information was provided by the government in the Rajya Sabha in response to a question, an NGO working for tobacco-free society told IANS.

'Public Place' is defined as any place to which the public has access whether as of right or not and includes all places visited by general public. Boards containing the warning "No Smoking Area - Smoking Here is an Offence" have to be displayed prominently at the entrance of public places.

The new Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath recently banned the consumption of 'gutka' and 'pan masala' in all government offices, educational institutions and hospitals in Uttar Pradesh.

"Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated tremendous commitment towards safeguarding the health of people of the state from second-hand smoke. This praise-worthy step will go a long way in saving lakhs of lives", said J.P. Sharma, Executive Director, Vinoba Seva Ashram, an NGO working for tobacco-free society.

The COTPA, enacted in 2003 and applicable to the entire country, was mainly to discourage the consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products by imposing progressive restrictions and to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke.

The implementation of COTPA is best done when the system and mechanism is institutionalised, he added.

As per Section 12 of COTPA, any police officer, not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, can take action against such violations.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India 2009-10 released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conveys that 33.9 per cent population of Uttar Pradesh is using tobacco product in one or the other form.

Uttar Pradesh has 2.3 per cent cigarette smokers, 12.4 per cent bidi smokers and 25.3 per cent smokeless tobacco users.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), second-hand smoke is a major cause of serious diseases and premature death in non-smoking adults and children. Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including at least 60 known to cause cancer.
New Delhi, May 17 : Amid reports of several ATMs remaining shut due to a possible virus attack by WannaCry ransomware, the largest public lender of the country State Bank of India (SBI) on Wednesday said that it has not been affected at all by the malware and all its ATMs were fully functional.

"We have not been impacted at all. None of our ATMs have been asked to shut down," SBI Chief Information Officer Mrutyunjay Mahapatra told IANS.

SBI has close to 59,000 ATMs out of over two lakh ATMs in the country.

Mahapatra said that 80-90 per cent of the old ATMs have already got the security patch, and the remaining are being updated, but none of the ATMs have been shut down as SBI has a secure closed loop network and robust firewalls.

"80-90 per cent of the old ATMs have already got the security patch. Wherever remaining, our engineers are updating. We are doing a review, and putting additional security patch if needed," he said.

"Ours is a close-looped network, where all servers end to end are ours. We are dealing with public trust and public money, so we are very careful about it. Our security network is very high and we have very robust firewalls. We run anti-malware quite often," Mahapatra told IANS.

The ransomware is said to affect the ATMs which were installed 5-7 years back and are running on the Windows XP software. The newer ATMs which run on Windows 10 are said to be safe from the malware attack.

"Roughly our 50 per cent ATMs are running on Windows XP. ATMs installed 5-7 years back have Windows XP, but they are not greatly vulnerable. Malware files are large in size and cannot travel through firewall. However, for Windows XP, new security patch has been updated," he said.

Mahapatra claimed that the ransomware attack was aimed at harming the economy but the banking sector has not been affected by it.

"Malware attack means they want to bring down the system. Their idea is to bring down the economy. This is more mischief than reality. As the CIO of SBI, to my knowledge no such thing has come to my notice. To my knowledge other banks are also not affected," he said.

"There is no need to panic. Taking advantage of this situation, miscreants may send mails to reveal their old password, that should be avoided," he added.

ATM manufacturer AGS Transact Technologies, which has an installed base of 60,000 ATMs in the country, said they were working with the partner banks to secure their network and updating of the security patch.

"We ensure regular updates of the security patches on the servers to protect all ATMs in our network from such attacks. Additionally, we are working closely with our partner banks to secure their network and eliminate chances of any vulnerability," Mahesh Patel, President and Group Chief Technology Officer, AGS Transact Technologies, told IANS.

"The WannaCry attack is a wake-up call for all countries including India, which is at the cusp of digital revolution. It brings to the fore the collective need for Indian companies to be more vigilant and treat cyber-security as one of their highest priorities," he said.

(Meghna Mittal can be reached at meghna.m@ians.in)
Chandigarh, May 17 : Punjab's Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday ratcheted up his tirade against the previous Parkash Singh Badal government, saying that a latest communication from the union government to Punjab had pointed out "glaring irregularities of financial nature".

Sidhu revealed that Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, in a communication to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, has pointed to "glaring irregularities of financial nature in the matter pertaining to release of central and state share of funds to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)".

"The Akalis should stop justifying their faults and bad-mouthing the Congress government on the issue of holistic development of the state across all sectors as the dark reality of their decade-long rule has been unmasked by the union Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry," Sidhu told media here on Wednesday.

"As per the communication, not only was the state's share not released but there was delay in releasing central government's share too, making it an anomaly of a very grave nature," Sidhu pointed out, adding that the previous Shiromani Akali Dal government in Punjab had indulged in acts of omission and commission.

The Akali Dal, along with alliance partner BJP, ruled Punjab for a decade (2007-2017).

Sidhu said the Badals should come forth and be answerable to the public about their "hollow claims" in the name of development.

"People of Punjab will never forgive the unholy alliance for this huge betrayal and bartering away the interests of the state," he added.

Sidhu had earlier accused the Badals of diverting central funds to benefit their family business interests.
New Delhi, May 17 : The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved an agreement on faculty exchange between the National Defence College here and the National Defence College in Dhaka, Bangladesh, an official said.

A statement referred to the "common challenge" of terrorism faced by both India and Bangladesh, and said the exchange of faculty would help bring "symmetry" in the capacities of the two armed forces.

The Union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave an ex-post facto approval to the agreement, signed between the National Defence College, New Delhi and the National Defence College, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The agreement was signed during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in April.

The objective of the agreement is to institutionalise regular exchange programmes and establish sustainable mechanisms between the two National Defence Colleges with the aim to enhance mutual cooperation in the field of national security, development and strategic studies.

"Given the geographical and cultural closeness between the two countries, there are many common challenges like countering terrorism that need joint action. Hence, there is a need for better coordination and cooperation among the armed forces," an official statement said.

"The exchange of faculty members of the premier institutes will help to bring symmetry in the capacities of the armed forces and contribute to countering and managing common threats and challenges much better," it said.

The agreement establishes the framework for enhanced cooperation in the field of military education concerning strategic and operational studies.
Chandigarh, May 17 : The Haryana Police has proposed engaging police officers from north-eastern states amid rising incidents of crime against people from the region, especially women.

Haryana Director General of Police B.S. Sandhu told the media here that a proposal would be sent to the government to take officers on deputation from the north-east.

"These officers would be appointed as nodal officers in police stations to tackle the problems being faced by persons from those states, presently living in Gurugram and Faridabad," he said.

Sandhu said police had announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh for information leading to the arrest of the accused in the recent Gurugram rape case.

The Haryana Police has launched 'Operation Durga' in some towns and cities to ensure a safe environment for women and girls.

Sandhu said the campaign would also be launched in rural areas.
Kabul, May 17 : Five Islamic State militants attacked the state-run national TV building in Afghanistan's eastern city of Jalalabad on Wednesday, leaving six persons including four attackers dead.

The audacious attack on Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) in Nangarhar province ended after about four hours of heavy gun fighting, said government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani.

There were five attackers in all, he told Tolo News. One was a suicide bomber who blew himself up and three were killed by security forces while the fifth was arrested.

The attack, which took place close to the Governor's house and local police headquarters, started at 10 a.m. after the militants equipped with arms and suicide vests stormed the compound of the TV station.

Khogyani said two civilians, including a security guard of the complex, were killed.

Witnesses said one attacker detonated explosives to enable the others to gain access into the compound.

Early reports said at least 40 people work in the TV station compound and many managed to escape. Some, however, got trapped.

As the fighting raged, the militant group's AMAQ news agency said on instant messaging service Telegram: "ISIS fighters are currently carrying out an attack inside the state broadcasting building in Jalalabad."
New Delhi, May 17 : In a major decision to fast-track Indias domestic nuclear power programme, the union cabinet on Wednesday approved construction of 10 units of indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR).

"The cabinet has approved installation of 10 indigenously built PWHRs of 700 MW each," Union Minister Piyush Goyal said at a media briefing after meeting of the Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Goyal, who is union Minister for Power and Coal, said the decision will result in significant augmentation of the country's nuclear power generation capacity.

He said India's installed nuclear power capacity is 6,780 MW from 22 operational plants, and another 6,700 MW is expected to to be generated by 2021-22 through projects under construction.

The government had in July 2014 set a target of taking nuclear power capacity to over 14,000 MW by 2024.

The decision on construction 10 PHWRs comes days before the Modi government completes three years in office.

Goyal said the move will give manufacturing orders to domestic industry to the tune of nearly Rs 70,000 crore and is expected to generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment.

"As the government marks three years of its people centric-governance, in a first of its kind project for India's nuclear power sector, the 10 new units will come up as a fully homegrown initiative," Goyal said.

He said it would be one of the flagship "Make in India" projects in the nuclear power sector.

The Minister said the project will help transform the Indian nuclear industry by linking the goal of a strong nuclear power sector with the country's indigenous industrial capacities in high-end technologies.

"With manufacturing orders to domestic industry, it will be a major step towards strengthening India's credentials as a major nuclear manufacturing powerhouse," Goyal said.

He also linked the decision to the government's clean energy goals and low-carbon growth strategy.

"It supports India's commitment to sustainable development, energy self-sufficiency and bolsters global efforts to combat climate change," he said.

An official release later said that the project will bring about substantial economies of scale and maximise cost and time efficiencies by adopting fleet mode for execution.

It said the 10 reactors will be part of India's latest design of 700 MW PHWR fleet and will have state-of-art technology that will meet the highest standards of safety.

The release said the approval marks a statement of strong belief in the capability of "India's scientific community to build our technological capacities".

"It underscores the mastery our nuclear scientists have attained over all aspects of indigenous PHWR technology. India's record of building and operating PHWR reactors over the last nearly 40 years is globally acclaimed," the release said.
New Delhi, May 17 : Sweden on Wednesday asked India to consider measures to further ease doing business in the country, especially in the areas of corporate tax and the repatriation of dividends by foreign companies.

These among other issues were discussed at the India-Sweden Joint Economic Commission meeting here between the respective delegations led by Indian Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and Trade Ann Linde.

Briefing reporters here following the 18th Joint Commission meeting, Linde said among the issues facing Swedish companies in India are simplification of investment procedures as well as changes in corporate tax policy that would incentivise the repatriation of divvidends.

"We discussed issues in corporate tax faced by Swedish companies, qmong other matters, with Minister Sitharaman.

"However, corporate tax matters have only been placed on the table at this point and we agreed that the proposals be discussed throughly by experts so as to arrive at an agreement," she said, adding that it was "not possible to find a solution to all the challenges in a single day".

The minister noted that Sweden, with its 170-odd companies operating in India, had an old business relationship with the country dating to the beginning of the 20th century. Some of these firms like telecom major Ericsson and vehicles maker Volvo, have become household names in India.

The minster said Swedish companies have been reinvesting in India, leading to a 20 per cent increase in the number of jobs created in the last 2 years.

"Swedish companies directly employ 185,000 people in India, while creating up to 1.3 million jobs indirectly," Linde said.

On the occasion, the minister released the latest Business Climate Survey made of Swedish companies in India.

Speaking to reporters later, Swedish heavy vehicles major Scania President Stefan Palskog said: "It is the infrastructure and incentives that the Indian government can show to encourage sutainable solutions that will determine the next phase of Swedish investment in India."

The India-Sweden bilateral trade volume has been growing and was worth $2.5 billion during 2014-15.

An Indian Commerce Ministry statement later said India and Sweden agreed to set up a mechanism to facilitate mutual investments.

"The two sides agreed to establish mechanisms for Swedish/Indian companies to facilitate their investments and business in India and Sweden," an official statement here said.

Both sides also identified telecommunications, sustainable urban transport and road safety, traditional medicine and food science and technology as other areas of cooperation.

Both countries are also working to sign an MoU to strengthen cooperation in the field of Intellectual Property, it added.
Beijing, May 17 : Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE's Minister of State for Defence Affairs, and Vice Chairman of Central Military Commission of China General Fan Changlong discussed military ties between the two countries at a meeting here on Wednesday.

The officials exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest, including international counter-terrorism efforts as well as boosting stability and peace.

The Chinese official welcomed Al Bowardi's visit to China, stressing that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an important strategic partner of China in the Gulf region.

Al Bowardi also met Chinese Defence Minister General Chang Wanquan.

The two meetings were attended by a number of senior officers from the UAE'S General Command of Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence.

On the Chinese side, the meetings were attended by several military officials.
Srinagar, May 17 : The first ever premiere of a Bollywood movie was on Wednesday held in Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar.

'Sargoshiyan', shot extensively in Kashmir, is the first Bollywood film shot in the troubled state after separatist violence started in 1989 but is not focused on violence or unrest.

Director Imran Khan said at the event that the movie was about unexplored picturesque locations and the fact that Kashmir remains a safe destination for tourists and film makers.

The premiere was held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of the Dal Lake.

Lead actors including Imran Khan, Alok Nath, Sara Ali Khan, Tom Altar, Inderneil Sengupta and Hasan Zaidi attended the show.

The director thanked the Jammu and Kashmir tourism department and the J&K Bank without whose support he said the movie might not have been made.

'Sargoshiyan' is scheduled for release on May 26.
New Delhi, May 17 : The Congress on Wednesday slammed the BJP-ruled central government and said it had "completely failed" on all fronts no matter which parameter was used to evaluate its performance.

Talking to reporters here, Congress leader Manish Tewari said there were five universally accepted benchmarks to evaluate any government's performance and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government failed in all of them.

He said the five parameters include social cohesion, internal security, economic development, international relations and commitment to institutionalism.

"On each of these counts, the report card of the government is more than blotted."

Tewari said that social cohesion and social balance had "completely gone for a toss" in the past three years.

"It is primarily because this government doesn't believe in the founding values of the Indian state and the idea of India," Tewari said.

"This gets reflected in the assault on freedom to eat, freedom to dress as you like, to think, express and most importantly, the freedom to live your life free of any fear or intimidation."

Attacking the BJP on the issue of internal security, Tewari said the "Kashmir failure" was in front of everyone.

"The alliance of the ideologically incompatibles - the BJP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - has proven to be an abject and miserable failure," he said.

The Congress spokesperson said the government had no coherent strategy to deal with Left Wing Extremism either.

"All you saw from this government in the past 36 months were failed tactics, repeatedly leading to loss of lives," Tewari said.

He said the government had failed on the economic front as well with the GDP growth rate declining from 7.9 per cent in 2015-16 to 7.1 per cent in 2016-17.

"If you rule out the statistical jugglery of the base year, the Indian economy is actually growing at only 5.1 per cent," he said.

Tewari added the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government also failed to maintain a balance between the US, Russia, China and the European Union.

"In the last 36 months, I have not seen any evidence of this government having any policy on Pakistan except u-turns, flip-flops and somersaults."

Tewari said the last three years were also marked with an increasing conflict of the government with the Supreme Court, and destabilisation of opposition ruled states.
New Delhi, May 17 : A 50-year-old woman has been arrested on charges of stealing over Rs 9 lakh in cash from a relative's house, police said on Wednesday.

Shabnam was taken into custody after police raided her Laxmi Nagar house in east Delhi and found the stolen cash and silver jewellery.

Deepak Kumar of Khirki Extension in south Delhi and his wife visited their relative Shabnam on May 7. When they returned home, they found the cash and jewellery gone, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ishwar Singh told IANS.

Once cornered, Shabnam told detectives that she knew that there was a huge amount of cash at Kumar's house.

She stole the keys from his wife's purse, went out on the pretext of getting her maid treated and rushed to their house in south Delhi to steal the cash and valuables, the officer said.
Panaji, May 17 : The only major port in Goa Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has filed a complaint against Western India Shipyard Limited (WISL) alleging mischief, after a dry dock partially sank on Wednesday, sparking fears of a potential oil spill.

On Tuesday, the tilting of the dry dock -- used to repair ships -- and minor spillage of oil from its hollowed body triggered panic among the workers of the shipyard.

"A complaint has been filed against the shipyard. Care is being taken to tidy the situation," Mormugao Port Trust public relations officer Seby Coutinho told IANS.

Officials at the Harbour Police Station in South Goa said MPT's complaint against WISL had been filed under Section 434 of the Indian Penal Code.

The WISL ship repair facility, where the dry dock has partially sunk, is located on MPT grounds in Mormugao sub-district, located 50 km from Panaji.

While no WISL official was available for comment, a spokesperson for the Indian Coast Guard said dry docks have little to do with oil storage, so there was no danger of an oil-spill.

An MPT official, however, said that minor oil spill on Tuesday could have resulted from some oil residue in the caverns of the dry dock.

MPT chairperson I. Jeyakumar told reporters earlier on Wednesday that oil booms had been placed around the dry dock in order to prevent any spillage.
Kolkata, May 17 : Tipu Sultan Mosque's controversial Imam Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati, who threatened 'jihad' and refused to take off the red beacon from his vehicle, was sacked from the post by the mosque's trustees on Wednesday.

However, a defiant Barkati refused to heed the order, saying the trustee board had no right to remove an Imam.

The two-page 'Notice of termination of service' was issued to Barkati by Arif Ahmed, trustee of Prince Gholam Mohammad Waqf Estate here.

The sacking comes two days after a police complaint was lodged against Barkati by the trustee board.

"Janab Barkati has been handed the termination notice which is effective from today for making anti-national statements and indulging in constant controversy. He will be given seven to 10 days to vacate his office in the mosque," Ahmed told the media.

The letter pulled up Barkati for not responding to two requests for explaining his conduct and failing to respond to the show cause notice issued to him.

"Subsequent to the show cause notice, you have physically abused the co-trustee and made comments that can incite people to violence," the letter said.

It warned Barkati that "appropriate action" would be taken against him if he chose to "violate any terms of the letter of termination".

Ahmed said Barkati was show-caused in February and March.

"We, on behalf of the trustee board, gave Barkati two warnings for his controversial public statements in February. He was also show caused in March. We had to take a decision to terminate him today as he did not rectify himself," Ahmed said.

Barkati, considered close to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is known for controversial and provocative comments.

After the central government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, Barkati issued a fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering Rs 25 lakh to anyone "who cuts of Modi's beard, shaves his head and smears him with black ink".

Last week he warned of a 'jihad' if India was declared a Hindu Rashtra and refused to take off the red beacon from his car, defying a central government decision.

He also drew flak for commenting that Muslims would "fight for Pakistan if India became a Hindu state".

His comments led to a hue and cry, with the BJP and other Sangh Privar outfits dubbing him "anti-national". Senior West Bengal Minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, a prominent face of the ruling Trinamool Congress, called Barkati an RSS agent.

Under pressure from the state government, Barkati was forced to take off the beacon from his vehicle on Saturday.

Ahmed described as "technically incorrect" Barkati's claims of being a 'Shahi Imam'.

"Someone can be called a 'Shahi Imam' if he is appointed by a Shah or king. The Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi was appointed by the Mughal dynasty. So technically he can say that his forefathers can be called a Shahi Imam, but that was not the case with Barkati," he explained.

Referring to the police complaint lodged against Barkati two days ago for allegedly snatching away the keys of the mosque office, Ahmed hoped the law would take its due course.

"There is no reason to think that he is above the law," he added.

Barkati refused to attach any importance to the termination notice.

"The trustee board has no right to remove an Imam because the Imam is chosen by the Muslim community. I continue to be the Imam," he said.

He blamed three Trinamool leaders - Chowdhury, Sultan Ahmed and Nadimul Haque - for the termination letter issued to him.

"Mamata Banerjee is not in town now. Let her come back. I will talk to her. I have her backing," he said.

Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member Md. Salim welcomed Barkati's removal.

"The sacking only proves that the peaceful people here are not going to tolerate the politics of fatwa, mosque and imam.

"I hope this decision will bring to an end the mixing of religion and politics," said Salim.
Bengaluru, May 17 : A city civil court on Wednesday granted a seven-day anticipatory bail to former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) lawmaker H.D. Kumaraswamy in a mining scam in which a serving IAS officer was arrested on Monday.

"Judge Vanamala Anandrao has given the seven-day anticipatory bail to my client to enable the public prosecutor to file objections by then," Kumaraswamy's counsel Hasmath Pasha told IANS.

The JD-S lawmaker from the Ramanagara assembly segment, 60 km from here, filed for an interim bail on Tuesday, fearing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the anti-corruption watchdog Lokayukta (Ombudsman) would arrest him in the mining scam that rocked the state from 2001-1010.

Kumaraswamy, who was the JD-S Chief Minister in 2006-07, is alleged to have given permission to extend the lease to Janthakal Enterprise, for extracting iron ore from the mineral-rich Ballari, Chitraduga and Tumukar districts and export it.

The license was extended for 40 years (1985-2025) on August 23, 2007, to the company owned by jailed mining baron Vinod Goel by former Mines and Geology Department Director and Principal Secretary Gang Ram Baderia on the basis of two forged letters from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

"I have no comment on the anticipatory bail given to Kumaraswamy. I respect the court order," SIT Inspector General of Police K.S.R. Charan Reddy told reporters.

Kumaraswamy, younger son of JD-S supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, alleged that his opponents were trying to silence him by filing false cases and conspiring against him politically.

"I am ready to cooperate with the SIT though the case is a political conspiracy against me," claimed Kumaraswamy at Raichur, about 500 km from the state's northern district.

According to a complaint by Right to Information (RTI) activist T.J. Abhraham to the anti-corruption body, Kumaraswamy and many officials were involved in de-reserving forest areas in Ballari, about 330 km from Bengaluru in the state's northern region.

Abraham filed the complaint with the findings of the former state Ombudsman Justice N. Santosh Hegde, who investigated the multi-crore mining scam in the state from 2001-2010 and indicted many politicians, ministers, lawmakers, officials and mining firms for their involvement in the irregularities.

On Monday, Karnataka's Principal Secretary, Revenue, Ganga Ram Baderia was arrested by the Special Investigation Team of the state's Lokayukta) for his alleged involvement in a mining scam a decade ago.

"Baderia gave permission to Janthakal Enterprises Ltd to export 1.2 lakh tonnes of iron ore on receiving Rs 10 lakh bribe from the mining firm when he was Director of the State's Mines and Geology Department in 2007," Lokayukta Inspector General of Police K.S.R. Charan Reddy said.

Baderia, a 1989 IAS batch officer, had also recommended renewal of the mining firm's lease, with forged documents for allowing it to mine iron ore from the reserved forest area in Ballari district, as evident from his official notings in the files.
Agartala, May 17 : The Tripura government on Wednesday created 13,000 non-teaching posts in two departments - ostensibly to "accommodate" 10,323 teachers facing the axe due to a March 29 Supreme Court verdict.

Announcing the decision of the council of ministers, which held a meeting on Wednesday, Education and Law Minister Tapan Chakraborty said that 12,000 non-teaching posts were created under the Education Department and 1,000 posts under the Social Welfare and Social Education Department.

"The government would soon start the process to recruit eligible people for these 13,000 newly created posts. However, applicants for the 12,000 posts under Education Department must have five years teaching experience," Chakraborty told reporters.

"Those 10,323 government teachers losing jobs after December 31 due to the apex court verdict can apply for the newly-created 13,000 posts," he said.

He said that as all the 13,000 posts are for non-teaching jobs, they would not fulfil many of the criteria laid down in the Right to Education Act.

The Left Front government in Tripura was placed in an awkward situation after the Supreme Court terminated the jobs of 10,323 government teachers.

"Considering all aspects and to overcome the situation that arose after the Supreme Court verdict, the Tripura government in a significant step created 13,000 posts in two departments to accommodate 10,323 teachers and to protect their jobs," a senior minister told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The Supreme Court on March 29 upheld the Tripura High Court order to terminate the jobs of 10,323 teachers, but allowed them to continue in service till December 31.

The court asked the state government to frame a new Employment Policy by April 30, to initiate fresh recruitment by May 31 and complete it by December 31.

The Supreme Court allowed all serving teachers, candidates not selected and others to participate by relaxing the age limit but subject to possession of other required qualifications.

The Supreme Court order came on three special leave petitions filed by the Tripura government, the terminated serving teachers and aggrieved job seekers.

The Tripura High Court division bench headed by then Chief Justice Deepak Kumar Gupta (now elevated to Supreme Court) terminated the jobs of these teachers citing irregularities.

The newly created non-teaching posts include Academic Counsellor (1,200 posts), Student Counsellor (3,400), School Library Assistant (1,500), Hostel Warden (300) and School Assistant (5,600) and Early Childhood Coordinator (1,000).

The Minister said the applicants for the post of Academic Counsellor must hold Post Graduate degree, while for the posts of Student Counsellor, School Library Assistant, Hostel Warden, candidates must be at least Graduate, while for the remaining posts the qualification would be secondary and higher secondary degree.
New Delhi, May 17 : Delhi Police arrested two drug suppliers of an inter-state cartel in south Delhi and seized 22.5 kg of party drug ephedrine, valued Rs 22 crore, which was meant for supply to a foreign national in Dwarka, police said on Wednesday.

The two men would supply drugs to rave parties in posh areas of Delhi, Chandigarh and other states.

Police said Ashok Kumar, 45, and Lalmuankima, 29, residents of Adarsh Nagar in Delhi and Mizoram respectively, were arrested on a tip-off on Monday night when Kumar came in his car to hand over the ephedrine to Lalmuankima in Pochanpur village of Dwarka.

"They disclosed that they used to prepare ecstasy (party drug) with the help of ephedrine which they supplied to rave parties in posh areas of Delhi and Chandigarh, Mizoram and northeast states and parts of Punjab," Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said.

"Kumar earlier used to work in a pharmaceutical company in Delhi and supply drugs collected from pharma companies to various parties. He gathered knowledge about the illicit use of ephedrine in preparing party drug tablets," Yadav said.

"This drug is widely used by party revellers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The ephedrine tablets are also mixed with drinks and consumed in rave parties," the officer added.

"Lalmuankima said that he is working for Aizawl and Mizoram -based drug traffickers and had come to Delhi to collect the drug consignment from Kumar in order to deliver it to a foreign national living in Dwarka," he added.
Rome, May 17 : The Senate, the upper house of Italy's parliament, on Wednesday approved a bill introducing the crime of torture with 195 votes in favour, 8 against and 34 abstentions.

The bill now returns to the lower house of parliament for final approval.

Italian Justice Minister Andrea Orlando urged the Chamber of Deputies to vote the bill into law without delay, saying it filled "a very grave gap in Italian legislation".

Italy is required to introduce the crime of torture under the 1984 UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, ratified by the Italian parliament in 1988.

Luigi Manconi, the Italian Senator who presented the torture bill, refused to take part in Wednesday's vote, claiming that a series of amendments made to the draft law had "turned it upside down" since the original version was approved by parliament's lower house in April 2015.

The Council of Europe rights watchdog has repeatedly urged Italy to pass a torture law to punish episodes of brutality such as the infamous police raid against anti-globalisation protesters at the Genoa G8 summit in July 2001.

Eighty-two people were wounded, 61 of them seriously and three critically in the raid by masked anti-riot police at Genoa's Armando Diaz school, where protesters were sleeping. A British journalist attacked by police was left in a coma with rib and spinal injuries and many people were beaten senseless and had bones broken during the raid.

The Italian government has agreed to pay six victims of police brutality at the Genoa G8 summit 45,000 euros each in compensation, the European Court of Human Rights said in April.

In 2012, 25 Italian police officers were found guilty of falsifying evidence concerning the Armando Diaz raid but none served jail time, due to the expiry of Italy's statute of limitations.

The national police chief at the time of the Genoa G8 summit, Gianni De Gennaro, was acquitted at the end of the appeals process.
New Delhi, May 17 : Neighbouring Haryana has commenced releasing water for Delhi and supply in the national capital would return to normal by Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said.

"Haryana has started releasing water. Production likely to be normal by tommorow (Thursday) morning and distribution by tomorrow (Thursday) evening. We are constantly monitoring the situation," Kejriwal tweeted on Wednesday.

Water supply in the national capital was hit after Haryana on Monday evening reduced water supply to the city.

On Tuesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government asked Delhi's Lt. Governor Anil Baijal to request Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to intervene on the water-release issue.

The national capital faces shortage of water every summer and engages in a tussle with Haryana.
Jagdalpur, May 17 : A total of 21 Maoists surrendered to police here on Wednesday, officials said.

Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range Vivekanand Sinha said that out of them, 14 were from Darbha Division's Kanger Valley and the remaining seven from Ketekalyan Area Committee.

"They include a platoon member, a local operation squad member, people's militia members, a member of DAKMS area committee, four from the Chetna Natya Manch, and two Sangham members," he said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Sundarraj P. said that the platoon member Lakshman hailed from Bhadrimahu village from where 14 other Maoists had surrendered earlier, leading to the Ketekalyan Area Committee becoming defunct.

All the surrendered rebels will be eligible for the state government's rehabilitation policy under which they will get Rs 10,000 assistance each, he added.
New Delhi, May 17 : A parliamentary committee has summoned senior officials of the Election Commission to discuss electoral reforms and the the issue of EVMs' reliability may also be taken up, said informed sources on Wednesday.

Sources said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, chaired by Congress' Anand Sharma, is scheduled to meet on May 19 on the issue of comprehensive electoral reforms.

The issue of reliability of EVMs is also likely to also figure at the meeting.

The sources said the discussions on electoral reforms are expected to extend to a few subsequent meetings with the poll panel.

The Election Commission had convened an-party meeting on May 12 in view of concerns expressed by some opposition parties on EVMs and had announced that all future elections will be held with paper trail.

The poll panel also said that it will hold a "challenge" for political parties to prove their allegations that the machines were or could be tampered with.

In the all-party meeeting, several opposition parties had conveyed their apprehensions about the reliability of EVMs with some demanding going back to the old system of ballot papers. The poll panel however had ruled out any possibility of of the machines being tampered with.
Washington, May 18 : A US House of Representatives spokesperson has said that it was "obvious" that there were people who wanted to "harm" President Donald Trump by leaking documents of former FBI Director about alleged pressure exerted on him by the mogul.

"We need the facts. It is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president and that means before rushing to judgment we (must) get all the pertinent information," Efe news agency quoted Paul Ryan as saying on Wednesday.

The New York Times recently made revelations about Trump's request for Comey to end the FBI investigation into the links between the Kremlin and former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Ryan said that Congress will call James Comey to testify after the FBI chief was fired by Trump last week.

Comey had been heading the FBI probe into the connections between Russian officials and Trump's presidential campaign.

"I'm sure we're going to want to hear from Comey," said Ryan, adding that "our job is to be responsible, sober and focused only on gathering the facts. That is what Congress does in conducting oversight of the executive branch."

The House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday asked the FBI for all documents prepared by Comey regarding his conversations with Trump.

The Times reported that Comey wrote in a memo that Trump told him that "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go," referring to the Flynn investigation.

The Democrats in Congress have emphasised the seriousness of the accusations of Russian involvement in the election, not to mention the accusations that Trump tried to obstruct justice, and have demanded an independent investigation into the matter.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that "the country is being tested in unprecedented ways" after learning of new reporting saying that Trump asked Comey to shelve the investigation.

Meanwhile, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff, said that "Enough is enough," adding that "Congress needs to get to the bottom of this."

The top lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee invited Comey to testify in both open and closed hearings regarding the investigation he was heading.

Republican Senator Richard Burr, the committee chairman, and the assistant chairman, Democratic Senator Mark Warner, announced in a statement that they had sent a new letter to Comey, who had rejected their previous invitation because he wanted to testify in public, not exclusively in private.

The request came after The New York Times revealed on Tuesday the existence of a memo Comey had written showing Trump's attempt to obstruct the FBI's Russia investigation.
Phi Kappa Phi has announced approval of three new chapters. "We look forward to installing these new chapters so they can begin recognizing their best students with invitations to membership. - Dr. Mary Todd, Phi Kappa Phi Executive Director

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has announced approval of three new chapters to be established at institutions across the nation. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nations oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.

The three institutions granted a charter for a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi include Long Island University, Nova Southeastern University and United States Air Force Academy.

Once installed, these chapters will join more than 300 Phi Kappa Phi chapters in the United States and the Philippines. The Society currently inducts approximately 30,000 new members each year on its chapter campuses.

We are pleased to welcome these three institutions to the Phi Kappa Phi community, said Society Executive Director Dr. Mary Todd. The grant of a charter is a mark of excellence for an institution. We look forward to installing these new chapters so they can begin recognizing their best students with invitations to membership.

The Societys board of directors approved the institutions petitions to establish a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi based on select criteria. Approved institutions must be a regionally accredited four-year college or university with an established reputation of excellence and an expressed commitment to upholding the values of the Society.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded 120 years ago under the leadership of Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students, along with faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

About Phi Kappa Phi

The Societys mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others." Since its founding, more than 1.5 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $15 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, $1.4 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit http://www.PhiKappaPhi.org.
DAVENPORT | The report that President Donald Trump revealed classified information to Russian officials last week drew condemnation from Democrats on Tuesday, as they renewed their call for a special prosecutor.

However, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, while saying he hadn't been briefed on the matter himself, pointed to the administration's defense of the president and said Congress' intelligence committees are best suited to look into the matter.

The Washington Post reported Monday night Trump revealed classified information to top Russian diplomatic officials in a meeting at the White House last week. It surfaced Monday afternoon and occupied much of official Washington on Tuesday.

"Russia is not our friend, yet President Trump seems extraordinarily comfortable inviting Russian agents into the Oval Office and sharing with them highly classified intelligence thats too sensitive to even share with our allies," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, said.

She and U.S. Reps. Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois, and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, called for a special counsel to look into Trump ties to Russia. Meanwhile, Bustos and Loebsack said the revelations are focusing attention on "national security risks," as Loebsack put it, rather than on the economy.

"This latest international incident underscores the importance of having a truly independent investigation led by a special prosecutor to uncover the full extent of President Trumps ties to the Putin regime," Bustos said Tuesday.

Grassley said he didn't know himself whether the disclosures were problematic. But he pointed to National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster's defense of the revelations and noted the president has "the authority to declassify and share information he deems necessary in the interest of our national security."

McMaster said the president's remarks to the Russian ambassador and foreign minister last week were "wholly appropriate."

A spokesperson for Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said: "Senator Ernst has questions about what information was shared and hopes to learn more from the administration soon. As she has made clear, Russia is not our friend, and the U.S. must be extremely cautious in our engagement with them."
QSAN, enterprise data storage manufacturer, today announced the launch of the XCubeSAN 5200 series, the product range that meets SMB and Enterprise needs. The XS5200 series is the most advanced QSAN product to date, offering state-of-the-art hardware and the new SANOS 4.0 SAN storage operation system.

The XCubeSAN 5200 series products come in a wide range of form factors and host connectivity options, all fully modular and include redundant feature. The XS5200 range of SANs includes the worlds first 2U 26 bay, small form factor XS5226 in both dual active/active and single controller version (upgradeable). QSANs host interface cards enable the XS5200 systems to offer outstanding flexibility with 10Gb ports built in, and additional 16Gb Fibre Channel and 10Gb iSCSI (SFP+ & RJ45) options.

The XS5200 allows hybrid interfaces, so customers can mix any two host connectivity types into a single chassis, allowing for maximum flexibility.

QSANs new SANOS 4.0 is equipped with a refreshingly simple to use web GUI and can easily be deployed into any infrastructure. SANOS 4.0 is packed with a large selection of value-added features, including optional QCache 2.0, QSANs SSD cache technology. QCache 2.0 can improve random read performance by up to 23 times and random write by up to 12 times.

QSANs XS5200 offers ultra-high performance:

n Stunning performance  the XCubeSAN 5200 series can deliver an astounding 12,000MB/s sequential read and 8,000MB/s1 sequential write in throughput. Using SAS SSD storage, the systems are capable of up to 1.5 Million sequential IOPS.

n Advanced RAID level TechnologySANOS 4.0 supports all RAID levels including RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 30, 50, 60, and N-way mirror.

n QThin  QSANs efficient thin provisioning technology is built-in XCubeSAN products, allowing user to allocate disk storage space in a flexible manner based on the minimum space required.

n QTiering  QSANs intelligent automated data tiering technology is now available on XCubeSAN products, allowing users to intelligently assign data to the right disk for the level of access.

n Backup Features  Snapshot, Local Volume Clone, and Remote Replication are all free of charge allowing secure data for less.

n Integrated Virtualization  The XS5200 is highly integrated with leading hypervisor platforms of VMware VAAI, Windows Hyper-V ODX, and Citrix XenServer. These make the XS5200 an ideal primary storage system for virtualized datacenters to help provision, migration and management of VM storage both faster and more efficiently.

n Scale-up Solution  The XCubeSAN XS5200 storage capacity can cascade with XCubeDAS XD5300 12Gb SAS expansion enclosures, allowing up to 10 expansion units and support up to 286 drives with over 2,6PB of raw storage capacity for future data growth.

n Super Capacitor M.2  The XCubeSAN now offers BBM and Super Capacitor cache protection modules to protect data against power loss.

Built with interoperability for the most popular operating systems, the XS5200 can be used for datacenter storage, server virtualization, archiving, cold storage, backup, large-scale surveillance, video streaming and editing. Moreover, the XCubeSAN 5200 series can provide more than a 50% increase in performance, thanks to QSANs revolutionary technology and built-in Enterprise features.

About QSAN

QSAN Technology, leading storage technology designer and manufacturer, was founded in July 2004. Building on our vast experience in the industry, QSAN strives to build enterprise class storage systems that pride ourselves with outstanding performance, secure data protection and comprehensive data management. QSAN endeavors to provide the industry with high quality data storage systems that are simple, secure, scalable and reliable. For more information, please visit http://www.QSAN.com
Digital Delay / Pulse Generators Solve Complex Timing Applications in Canada

Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation (San Rafael, CA) was awarded a recent contract to deliver precision timing solutions to Polytechnique Montreal, a teaching and research institution in Canada. The institution is widely recognized for its ground-breaking engineering research, graduating 600 engineers per year in fields ranging from robotics to 3D Modeling to geothermal engineering. Berkeley Nucleonics has been a supplier of timing technology since the early 60s and offers constant innovation for research in the field of femtosecond timing and low jitter signals.

The latest Digital Delay / Pulse Generators being supplied to Polytechnique were chosen because of their ability to address several applications in a user-friendly benchtop platform. Independent channel capabilities in the Berkeley Nucleonic instrument, such as amplitude and time domain controls coupled with electrical and optical output functionality, ensure a broad range of tests can be accomplished efficiently.

At the heart of the timing systems offered by Berkeley Nucleonics, a digital control system is married to an analog front end to provide ultra-high performance signal control. The software, packaging and power for the systems are user-customizable with application specific constraints being addressed. The timing solutions are scalable also, with up to 200 channels of femtosecond timing controlled from a single interface and synchronized to a single clock.

It is an honor to be selected, time and time again, by the top research organizations worldwide, comments Junior Choe, Product Manager for Timing Systems. Our Canadian and European Manufacturers Representatives provide local application support also.

About the Company 

Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation is a manufacturer of precision instrumentation for Test, Measurement and Nuclear Detection Systems. The company was founded as a spin-off of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 1963 and has pioneered timing systems from its onset. New developments in low jitter designs, femtosecond timing, RF and Microwave Signal Generators and wide-band spectrum analysis have positioned the company at the cutting edge of signal generation and analysis. Learn more at http://www.berkeleynucleonics.com .
Insurance is undergoing monumental change. We are entering a world where the availability of data to predict, mitigate, transfer and manage risk has never been greater and the fundamental rules of risk are being rewritten. Altumai understands these market factors and assists organizations in realizing their vision and the future of insurance.

Headquartered in Chicago IL with additional offices in Los Angeles CA, Altumai is led by Lars Skari and Simon Prowse. Lars comes to Altumai following over 25 years of management and technology consulting experience assisting Fortune 500 financial services clients with business and technology transformation. He was until recently the Managing Partner for Infosys Consultings financial services and insurance practice. The transformation in the insurance ecosystem offers tremendous opportunity for value creation, and will disrupt incumbents that are not able to change. We formed Altumai to be the industrys innovation integrator, serving an unfilled need in the marketplace to work with the industry to transform, said Lars Skari, Managing Partner, Altumai.

Simon brings over 20 years of insight and experience into the development and deployment of business focused, technology driven advanced analytics solutions. With executive leadership positions within IBM and SPSSs Analytics solutions divisions Simon is uniquely placed to help organizations realize the benefits of todays opportunities. The proliferation of wearables and other IoT devices gives an unprecedented potential to improve health and safety, reduce risk and optimize reliability. The insurance industry is in a unique position to drive real benefits from these solutions. Altumai helps the insurance industry realize the benefits of IoT and drives beneficial changes in the way people work, play and protect their assets and loved ones, said Simon Prowse, Managing Partner, Altumai.

About Altumai

Altumais mission is to pioneer IoT driven, advanced analytics enabled solution development, deployment and commercialization for the Insurance ecosystem. Altumai works with clients to re-imagine and innovate, taking new ideas from Proof-of-Concept stage to implementation by providing consulting, change- and project management and system integration capabilities, often in partnership with the clients existing vendors. Altumais goal is to co-create practical, outcome-based solutions that leverage new technologies to leap-frog existing business outcomes. Then, using collaborative approaches, Altumai works with clients to launch, manage and operate new commercial ventures. To learn more about how Altumai can help your company, please visit http://www.altumai.com
Working with the Louis Armstrong House Museum on redesigning their website has been one of the greatest honors and most enjoyable projects ever.

Digital Natives Group (http://nativesgroup.com) congratulates their client, the Louis Armstrong House Museum (http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/), on the launch of the museum's new website. This new website, designed and developed by Natives, celebrates the life and work of jazz icon Louis Armstrong, as well as promotes his historic home and museum in the neighborhood of Corona, Queens.

The new, fully-responsive website is the result of a comprehensive redesign process that included interviews, site visits, archival research, competitive analysis, and more. Visitors will find a large assortment of vivid imagery, some never before publicized, culled from reviewing over 10,000 photographs. Home-recorded audio of Louis himself discussing his life and career further brings Satchmo to life.

Full visitor information is also available on the new site, including brand-new 360 photography of the homes pristinely-preserved rooms. Nearby places to eat and stay are listed, and information for group tours is readily accessible. The new site will also be a valuable communications tool for the museum, with a robust blog and events section, and both email newsletter and social media integration.

Working with the Louis Armstrong House Museum on redesigning their website has been one of the greatest honors and most enjoyable projects ever. The joy of Louis Armstrongs infectious personality permeates the site, and now our whole team cant stop humming along. What a wonderful world indeed, congrats to the whole team! said Ben Guttmann, Partner at Digital Natives Group.

The Louis Armstrong House Museum is a National Historic Landmark and a New York City landmark. The museum is a member of the American Alliance of Museums, the Association of African American Museums, the Museums Council of New York City, the New York State Museums Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and NYC & Company. The museum is a constituent of the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College. Visitors may take a 40-minute guided tour the museum every hour on the hour, Tuesday-Friday 10:00AM to 5:00PM, and Saturdays and Sundays 12:00PM to 5:00PM.

This new website is the latest project for Natives, a problem-solving digital marketing agency in New Yorks Long Island City neighborhood. In addition to the Louis Armstrong House Museum (http://nativesgroup.com/work/louis-armstrong-house-museum/), Natives specializes in action-oriented websites, mobile apps, and marketing campaigns for similar tourism and trade brands both domestic and global.
HANA.EXPERT Healthcare Subject Matter Experts Our clients have taken a proactive approach and have engaged HANA.EXPERT to conduct security assessments, create storage strategies and define security mitigation plans, said Oscar Perez President of HANA.EXPERT.

This weekends ransomware attacks on hospitals, demonstrate the vulnerability of healthcare organizations in dealing with cyber-attacks. In the UK, Hospitals are recovering from the recent Cyber Attacks. Patients were affected by having their private information compromised, canceling or delaying treatments. Hospitals are fertile grounds for hackers. Healthcare organizations store millions of patient clinical and financial records. Hospitals also have to share sensitive patient information with multiple different organizations. Our clients have taken a proactive approach and have engaged HANA.EXPERT to conduct security assessments, create storage strategies and define security mitigation plans, said Oscar Perez President of HANA.EXPERT.

HANA.EXPERT helps Hospitals to protect their Healthcare Data and Applications. We protect cloud applications, websites, web applications, critical databases, files and Big Data repositories from hackers and insider threatsultimately protecting your patients data Patients Matters Most.

HANA.EXPERT is also offering new clients free Security Requirements Discovery Sessions. The Discovery Sessions consist of a planning process that starts with the identification of the company's core business goals. A scorecard is developed to measure the pre and post event scores against the participants' understanding, belief, or commitment to corporate goals such as innovation and continuous improvement. The Discovery Session helps to identify: What the client think/know before the meeting? What the client think/know after the meeting? Where were the gaps and how could they be better addressed?

For more information on the Complementary Security Requirements Discovery Sessions, please contact:

Tom McDonald

Territory Sales Manager

Tom(at)Hana(dot)Expert

302 715-0062.

About HANA.EXPERT

HANA.EXPERT has deep Healthcare industry expertise. We have more industry-specific experience than any of the other Security, Big Data, and Business Intelligence technology consulting firm. HANA.EXPERT has experts who have a career emphasis in the area of Security, Business Intelligence, Management Information Reporting and Enterprise Data Warehousing for more than fifteen years. Our Subject Matter Experts provide a level of expertise and experience that is unique in the industry.

HANA.EXPERT's Healthcare practice offers security, business intelligence, regulatory compliance, and technology consulting services to providers, payers, and suppliers around the country. We serve healthcare clients, providing assistance with information and business risk management, security, Big Data, analytics operations improvement, and business intelligence performance improvement. HANA.EXPERT's web site is located at http://hana.expert/. You can contact HANA.EXPERT at Info(at)HANA(dot)EXPERT, Tel. 1-(302)-715-0062 and Tel. 1-(877)-212-9407.
Cargo - B2SB Marketing Specialists "This years study illuminated many things, but it validated that the traditional marketing and sales funnel is dead, really dead." Dan Gliatta, Managing Director of Cargo

Cargo, (thecargoagency.com), a marketing agency that specializes in helping Big Brands market to Small Businesses (B2SB Marketing), has released their latest small business study (B-Side) Deep Diving with Crusaders. B-Side is an ongoing research project that brings a voice to Small Business Owners (SBOs), and this years study is the agencys fourteenth edition.

This years North America study surveyed 600 SBOs and focused on the way they purchase. The study tracked multiple points of the SBOs purchasing journey, from how they consume content, to how receptive they are to marketing messages, how they make purchases, and why they may or may not complete the purchasing cycle.

The study, which provided insight on how Big Brands can better target Small Businesses, also broke down Small Business Owners by mindset, and found that a majority of SBOs (80%) consume like sharksconstantly hunting for content, information, and value: a mindset Cargo has termed the Crusader. The study also revealed that Small Business Owners purchase path is anything but linear. Instead, SBOs are utilizing multi-channel approaches to evaluate brands, their content, and their messaging all of which affect their overall purchasing behavior.

Every year our agency invests time in furthering our understanding of SBOs and this year was no exception. We make a point to check in with SBOs as they inspire all we do here at Cargo. This years study illuminated many things, but it validated that the traditional marketing and sales funnel is dead, really dead, said Dan Gliatta Managing Director of Cargo.

For more information, and to read the full study, visit: http://www.thecargoagency.com/small-business-study/deep-diving-with-crusaders

What the Study Found:



70% conduct research online

66% plan ahead for business purchases

89% consider up to 3 brands

74% make a necessary purchase within a week of starting their search

50% want to see more value messaging from marketers

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ABOUT CARGO

Cargo is a new model marketing and advertising agency that specializes in helping big brands connect with small businesses, otherwise known as B2SB Marketing. The agency was established in 2006 and has offices in Greenville, S.C., and Toronto, Ontario. Cargos client brands include Lenovo, Mercedes-Benz, Bridgestone, Direct Energy Business, Mitsubishi Fuso, 3M, Canon Canada, and Daimler. Cargo is a member of AMIN Worldwide, a global alliance of over 50 marketing agencies. For more information visit thecargoagency.com.
With the caliber of speakers and focus of the agenda, we are shifting the conversation from whether restaurants should be offering these services, to how they can best overcome the operational challenges of off-premise.

Speakers from Technomic, DoorDash, P.F. Changs, Red Robin, Fazolis, Potbelly, and more, will discuss the biggest off-premise challenges and opportunities at the The 2017 Restaurant Takeout, Delivery and Catering Symposium.

Now in its third year, the Symposium is the only event of its kind and is designed to focus solely on the issues and best practices tied to building an off-premise restaurant business. This is especially important as technology providers and third-party delivery channels are fighting for market share.

This summit speaks directly to the restaurant executives tasked with building takeout, delivery and catering platforms, said Erle Dardick, founder and CEO, MonkeyMedia Software, The Catering Institute and Catering Insights. With the caliber of speakers and focus of the agenda, we are shifting the conversation from whether restaurants should be offering these services, to how they can best overcome the operational challenges of off-premise.

Symposium attendees will experience interactive sessions featuring a roster of high-level catering executives who will take a deep dive into the complexity of off-premise. Interactive sessions will feature variety of topics related to off-premise, including:



Building scalable off-premise strategies

The impact of third-party digital ordering platforms on off-premise operations

How to develop winning delivery strategies

Building a professional catering sales teams

The future of off-premise  deep automation

Pepsi, Relevant Mobile, MonkeyMedia Software, Accurate Box, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Georgia Power, Georgia Restaurant Association, Inktel, LBP Manufacturing, Paytronix, Primary Color, Retail Data Systems, South Carolina Restaurant Association, Southern Champion Tray, Technomic, Voice Teleservices, Whirley DrinkWorks, and WNA.

The Symposium will be held June 6, 2017, from 8:30 a.m.  5 p.m. at Georgia Power Company in downtown Atlanta. General admission is $549. (Click here to register.)

About The Catering Institute

The Catering Institute is an education and certification institute for restaurants and suppliers implementing or improving takeout, delivery & catering operations. The Catering Institute ensures that executive, management, leadership and all other team members are focused on the common goal of ensuring their catering programs are a success and that programs maintain scalability for future growth. In addition, The Catering Institute team works closely with MonkeyMedia Software during the implementation of Monkey, The #1 Cloud Platform for Takeout, Delivery & Catering.
The national law firm Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry is pleased to announce that attorneys Stewart M. Weintraub and Kenneth I. Trujillo have been named 2017 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, while Matthew Olesh and Jennifer Weidler Karpchuk have both been named a 2017 Pennsylvania Rising Star.

This marks the 14th year that Weintraub, who chairs the firms state and local tax (SALT) practice group, has been named among the elite Super Lawyers, and the 13th year that Trujillo has been recognized as a Super Lawyer. Olesh has been named a Pennsylvania Rising Star since 2013. It is the second straight year that Karpchuk has been recognized among Pennsylvanias high-achieving young attorneys.

A program of Thomson Reuters, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who, through a peer review and independent research process, have been identified as attaining a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only the top 5 percent of Pennsylvanias 50,000 lawyers and the top 2.5 percent of up-and-coming Pennsylvania attorneys are named to the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Candidates are evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, including verdicts and settlements; honors and awards; special licenses and certifications; pro bono and community service efforts; and scholarly lectures and writings. The ultimate objective of Super Lawyers is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse list of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for other practitioners and consumers searching for legal counsel.

Since being admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1971, Weintraub has focused his practice upon state and local taxation. From audits through trials and appeals to the appellate courts, Weintraub represents clients in all aspects of state and local tax compliance and litigation.

His practice also includes helping clients plan and structure transactions so that all state and local tax obligations are minimized. A longtime respected tax professional in Philadelphia, Weintraub began his career with the City of Philadelphia Law Department. Now in private practice, he has been a shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka since 2010.

A shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka, Trujillo, for over three decades, has represented U.S. and foreign corporations and government entities, executives, lawyers, and other individuals with particular emphasis on contract disputes, securities, antitrust, education, and other regulatory issues. His practice involves complex civil litigation and class actions, and he counsels clients on regulatory matters and internal investigations.

Trujillo also has represented numerous public officials and government entities, including city council members, mayors, governors, states, cities and Native American tribes in civil and criminal matters. He has extensive jury trial experience, having tried to verdict civil and criminal cases ranging from personal injury to civil rights to complex class actions.

Karpchuk represents clients in various matters related to state and local taxation. Her clients include those challenging audit determinations and real estate assessment decisions, seeking refunds from state and local governments, handling administrative appeals, litigating unresolved disputes in state and local courts, and handling post-trial appeals.

Karpchuk is a co-author of the Pennsylvania Tax Handbook, as well as the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Bar Association Tax Section State and Local Tax Committee Property Tax Deskbook. She is a frequent contributor to the firms SALT blog, as well as State Tax Notes.

About Chamberlain Hrdlicka  Chamberlain Hrdlicka is a diversified business law firm with offices in Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and San Antonio. The firm represents both public and private companies as well as individuals and family-owned businesses across the nation in a wide variety of practice areas, including commercial and business litigation, tax, tax controversy and litigation, federal white-collar criminal defense, corporate, securities and finance, employment law and employee benefits, energy law, estate planning and administration, intellectual property, international and immigration law, and real estate and construction law.

# # #
On April 27, 2017 participants from companies located in the Asheville North Carolina area took part in the Fit Company Challenge, a corporate wellness event hosted by the Fit Company Institute. The challenge provided area companies an opportunity to come together as a team and spend a morning exercising, pushing their physical and mental limits and showing the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Companies split their team into squads of 3 to 4 people who worked together to complete a variety of fitness stations to challenge their fitness level and earn points for their company. Teams chose what level to go through each course which allowed participants of all fitness levels to push their physical fitness without going too far out of their comfort zone.

In their second year competing in the challenge Phenix Research Products moved up from 2nd place in the medium division in 2016 to 1st place in the medium division in 2017. From 2nd year team member Philip Wikoff, The 2016 Fit Company Challenge left an indelible, inspiring mark on all of us who entered from Phenix. For the 2017 Challenge, Phenix opened a gym facility in-house, ramped up our conditioning, and entered over half the company in the Challenge. We even lived to boast about it the next day. Bring on 2018!

On event date, personal trainers from Hard Exercise Works (http://www.hardexerciseworks.com) and Blue Ridge Crossfit (http://www.blueridgecrossfit.com) assisted teams through the various courses. Participants challenged their strength, conditioning, power, agility, and ended with a test of endurance to show their companies and colleagues that they practice what they preach. Participants used their involvement to bring out company team members, and family members to cheer them on and promote the importance of having fun and effective corporate wellness programs at their companies.

The challenge was held at UNC Asheville, located a short drive from downtown Asheville, North Carolina.

The following is a list of the top finishers in Asheville that participated in the 2017 Spring Fit Company Challenge:

Top Finishers by Division

Large Division

1) Champion Credit Union

Medium Division

1) Phenix Research Products

2) Consolidated Metco Inc

Small Division

1) Living Stone Construction Inc.

2) AvL Technologies

3) Sanesco Interantional, Inc

Micro Division

1) Epsilon

2) Capstone Health Alliance

3) ID.ology Interior Design

Top Teams By Course

Course 1  Level 2

1) Phenix Research Products - #1150 (Tie)



Phil Wikoff

Randy Gilliland

Greg Schulz

Zack Gash

1) Champion Credit Union - #1163 (Tie)



Jake Robinson

Marc Trull

Ben Bailey

Nathan Whitson

3) Capstone Health Alliance - #1146



Andrea Howell

Stephen Bava

David Pearson

Kimberly Walker

4) Champion Credit Union - #1158



Anna Rose

Trista Huston

Lisa Clowers

Matt Wells

Course 1  Level 1

1) Champion Credit Union - #1157



Lori Chappell

Brittainy Crawford

Hilary Brindley

Nikki Hopkins

2) AvL Technologies - #1144



Mark Chambers

Michael Marks

Lisa Schulz

Tom Hansen

3) Phenix Research Products - #1152



Dawn Clark

Debi Brucker

Jan Luquire

Sharon Baker

4) AvL Technologies - #1145



Callie Boyd

Lou Johnson

Jameela Griffin

Chris Richards

Course 2  Level 2

1) Phenix Research Products - #1150



Phil Wikoff

Randy Gilliland

Greg Schulz

Zack Gash

2) Phenix Research Products - #1151 (Tie)



Bryant Fouts

Andrew Pickens

Justin Fell

Connor Schulz

2) Champion Credit Union - #1163 (Tie)



Jake Robinson

Marc Trull

Ben Bailey

Nathan Whitson

4) Champion Credit Union - #1157



Lori Chappell

Brittainy Crawford

Hilary Brindley

Nikki Hopkins

Course 2  Level 1

1) Consolidated Metco Inc - #1168



Sean McDowell

Marie Olson

David Witte

2) Consolidated Metco Inc - #1169



Zach Stamey

Everett Lynch

David Maloney

3) AvL Technologies - #1144



Mark Chambers

Michael Marks

Lisa Schulz

Tom Hansen

4) AvL Technologies - #1145



Callie Boyd

Lou Johnson

Jameela Griffin

Chris Richards

Course 3  Level 2

1) Phenix Research Products - #1150



Phil Wikoff

Randy Gilliland

Greg Schulz

Zack Gash

2) Champion Credit Union - #1157



Lori Chappell

Brittainy Crawford

Hilary Brindley

Nikki Hopkins

3) Sanesco Interantional, Inc - #1141



Laura Esmond

Marina Braine

Miranda Satterfield

4) Phenix Research Products - #1151



Bryant Fouts

Andrew Pickens

Justin Fell

Connor Schulz

Course 3  Level 1

1) Consolidated Metco Inc - #1168



Sean McDowell

Marie Olson

David Witte

2) AvL Technologies - #1144 (Tie)



Mark Chambers

Michael Marks

Lisa Schulz

Tom Hansen

2) Epsilon - #1148 (Tie)



Mike Baldwin

Jenn Beck

Matt Fraser

Marc Monacelli

Cramer Snuggs

4) AvL Technologies - #1145



Callie Boyd

Lou Johnson

Jameela Griffin

Chris Richards

About the Fit Company Institute, LLC:

The Fit Company Institute is based in Austin, Texas and is dedicated to help companies thrive through wellness. The Fit Company Challenge helps companies be their best by creating the most productive, focused, energetic, happiest, and cohesive teams possible.

Find more at http://www.fitcompany.com and upcoming events in DC, Boston, Nashville, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Denver, and Chicago.
Delaware County full-service law firm Raffaele Puppio is pleased to announce that four of its attorneys have been named 2017 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

Attorneys Michael A. Raffaele, Michael V. Puppio, Jr., and Gabrielle C. Sereni have been named Super Lawyers, while attorney Robyn E. Musi has been named a PA Rising Star. Raffaele and Musi were honored for their prowess in family law, while Puppio was recognized for general litigation and Sereni was honored for school and education law.

A program of Thomson Reuters, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who, through a peer review and independent research process, have been identified as attaining a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only the top 5 percent of Pennsylvanias 50,000 lawyers and the top 2.5 percent of up-and-coming Pennsylvania attorneys are named to the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Candidates are evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, including verdicts and settlements; honors and awards; special licenses and certifications; pro bono and community service efforts; and scholarly lectures and writings. The ultimate objective of Super Lawyers is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse list of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for other practitioners and consumers searching for legal counsel.

About Raffaele Puppio  Raffaele Puppio is one of the largest and most established full-service law firms in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Attorneys within the firm are known for their legal prowess among the bench and bar in Delaware County, having decades of experience representing school districts, municipalities, businesses and individual clients, helping to solve legal problems while avoiding future legal issues. The attorneys provide sound legal counsel in the areas of education law, government and municipal services, family law, general litigation, personal injury, commercial real estate and business transactions, elder law, estate administration and planning, and criminal law.

# # #
Slice (http://www.SliceLife.com), the platform that connects people with authentic local pizzerias and enables pizzerias to build loyalty with customers, today announces a $15 million Series B funding round led by GGV Capital with participation from existing investor Primary Ventures. The company has raised $20 million to date. Slice also announces the hiring of new CMO, Ryan Scott, to lead marketing efforts as it continues to scale and penetrate the $45 billion domestic pizza market.

Slice plans to use the funding to expand its investments in mobile applications and restaurant technology to develop new product capabilities for an enhanced user experience. The new funding also enables Slice to reach new markets and continue to level the playing field for independent pizzerias by providing partners with more resources to increase sales, while maintaining control of their brand.

Slice is bringing mobile commerce to the $45 billion U.S. pizza market, empowering independent merchants to compete with the big boys, and is part of a broader trend we see with technology uniting consumers and the merchants they love at a very localized level, said Jeff Richards, Managing Partner, GGV Capital and new Slice board member. Its pretty rare we find an entrepreneur like Ilir who has built a company from scratch to reach thousands of merchants and more than 2,000 cities on a very small amount of invested capital. We cant wait to see what he and the team accomplish over the next few years as they build a phenomenal platform that benefits both consumers and independent pizzerias around the world.

In conjunction with the latest funding, Ryan Scott joins Slice as the companys new CMO where he brings years of experience in high-growth marketing for two-sided marketplaces. As former CMO of Seamless, Ryan pivoted the previous enterprise brand to a consumer brand and spearheaded corporate efforts to accelerate geographic expansion leading up to its merge with GrubHub in 2013. Upon joining forces, Ryan oversaw all marketing efforts on behalf of GrubHub and played an integral role in executing its IPO in 2014.

Slice is quickly becoming the leader in the growing trend of verticalization of mobile businesses -- those unique and successful companies with deep understanding of consumers needs around a specific category, like HotelTonight and Lyft for instance, said Ryan Scott, CMO of Slice. For us, that category is pizza. When someone craves pizza, theres no alternative, and other food apps dont help you satiate your specific craving, they are more focused on surfacing alternatives. Slice is committed to making it easy for people to get their favorite homeslice quickly, efficiently, and economically. And we are as committed to serving our pizzeria owners as we are the people who love pizza. Im excited to join the team as we continue to grow.

In his new role as CMO of Slice, Ryan will focus on brand-building and driving adoption and usage of Slice across iOS and Android, along with its web platform.

Our mission will always be to support independent pizzerias across the country by serving as the end-to-end marketing and technology platform to help their business grow while driving efficiency in their day-to-day operations. Its our goal to meet and exceed the mobile demands of pizzeria customers nationwide while allowing owners to focus on what they do best -- make and serve great pizza. said Ilir Sela, founder and CEO of Slice. Our platform is built to serve as a gateway to loyalty, so rather than rotating customers to other restaurants, were making it easy for them to order and reorder from their favorite pizzeria. Ultimately, our goal is to deliver an extraordinary consumer experience, and that starts with shifting consumption back to the independents.

About Slice

Slice is the leading online and mobile pizza ordering platform that connects every pizza lover with their favorite authentic, local pizzeria. Customers can find pizza near them, place an order through Slices website, iOS or Android app, and check out with a stored payment method or Apple Pay, making the process as easy and quick as possible. Slices marketing and innovative technology solutions allow independent pizzerias in over 2,000 cities nationwide to grow their business and maintain control of their brand locally. Every order is supported by Slice's 24/7 customer service team to ensure all orders are successfully processed. Founded in 2010 by Ilir Sela, Slice is a privately held company headquartered in New York. To date, Slice has raised $20 million from GGV Capital, Primary Ventures and others. For more information, please visit Slicelife.com or download the Slice iOS or Android app.
We are confident that DSA will effectively communicate our ability to meet the stringent expectations medical OEMs place on safety, quality and efficiency." Michael Stuart, VP Global Sales, Inventus Power

Inventus Power, a systems manufacturer of battery packs, chargers and power supplies for the consumer, commercial, medical and military markets, today announced it entered an agreement with David Schnur Associates (DSA), the leading technical sales representative company serving the medical device industry. According to the agreement, DSA will provide Inventus Power with sales and marketing support to medical device OEMs in key global medical device markets including the Western United States, Texas and Minnesota, as well as Mexico, Costa Rica, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Israel.

Inventus Power has been designing and manufacturing medical battery packs, chargers and power supplies for global OEMs for almost 60 years, and David Schnur Associates has almost four decades of experience focusing on custom components and assemblies for the medical device industry.

Like Inventus Power, DSA understands the increasingly complex requirements of todays medical devices. We are confident that the DSA team will act as a seamless extension of our sales force and will effectively communicate our ability to meet the stringent expectations medical device OEMs place on safety, quality, reliability and efficiency, said Michael Stuart, Vice President of Global Sales for Inventus Power.

The DSA team is highly technical, very consultative and customer-focused. We take pride in the breadth and depth of our relationships with medical device OEMs, said Barry Schnur, Vice President of DSA. We are excited to partner with Inventus Power as the company has the experience, technology, capabilities and resources our customers are seeking in a power solutions partner.

About Inventus Power:

Inventus Power, founded in 1960, is the worlds largest power systems manufacturer that integrates and delivers battery packs, chargers & docking stations and power supplies across the consumer, commercial, medical and military & government markets and is located in ten countries across four continents.

With headquarters in Woodridge, Ill. and manufacturing facilities in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, China and Malaysia, we are globally positioned to be a catalyst for our customers success. Inventus Power utilizes decades of design, engineering and market expertise to apply innovative technology to our OEM customers devices, and ensures a reliable, high quality product through our vertically integrated processes and performance testing capabilities. For more information about Inventus Power, please visit inventuspower.com and follow @inventuspower.

About David Schnur Associates:

David Schnur Associates is the Wests leading provider of outsourced sales engineering services to the medical device industry. Headquartered in Northern California, 12 sales offices serve key medical device markets in the Western US, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ireland, the UK and the Middle East. Since 1978, the sales engineers of DSA provide local, technical expertise in polymer and metal components, assemblies and materials critical to medical device manufacturers. For more information about DSA visit http://www.dschnur.com.

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Oasis Smart SIM Olivier Leroux, CEO, Oasis: Oasis Smart SIM provides a full end-to-end embedded connectivity solution based on the secure and reliable USIM technology, which is already embedded in millions of devices in form of cards, modules or or Integrated UICC."

Oasis Smart SIM, the expert in (e)SIM embedded Operating System and mobile networks connectivity and activation solutions, announces today that it has been collaborating with Tata Communications to implement an end-to-end embedded connectivity solution in the recently-unveiled Tata Communications MOVE mobility and IoT platform. This will enable its enterprise customers mobile devices to connect seamlessly to the companys global network, which provides them with enterprise-grade, secure connectivity across 240 countries and territories.

The Oasis solution includes the supply of bespoke SIM and eSIM products to Tata Communications enterprise customers, together with the set-up of a state-of-the-art delivery and remote SIM provisioning center located in Singapore.

Oasis custom-designed products and solutions are derived from EOS and Helios product ranges which were developed per the GSMA Remote SIM Provisioning technical specifications, but also offer cost-effective and technology-agnostic methods to implement profile provisioning in the IoT space. The solution is fully integrated with the Tata Communications MOVE platform through APIs.

Mick Higgins, VP of Mobility, Tata Communications: At Tata Communications we believe that everything should be born connected, with embedded connectivity within everything, and for everyone. Incorporating Oasis Smart SIM technology into Tata Communications MOVE will play a part in how we will enable our enterprise customers to connect seamlessly around the world, as they look to drive their digital transformation with the latest mobile technologies.

Olivier Leroux, CEO, Oasis: At Oasis Smart SIM weve been working for years to provide a full end-to-end embedded connectivity solution based on the secure and reliable USIM technology. Our technology is already embedded in millions of devices in form of cards, modules or Integrated UICC. Our collaboration with Tata Communications is a further demonstration of the strength of our technology expertise.

About Oasis Smart SIM

Oasis Smart SIM provides both end-to-end and customized services to enable the deployment of global USIM technology connectivity and management. Oasis' mission is to embed USIM technology in all connected devices and provide secure services to manage their activation and connectivity. This value proposition is ensured by Oasis offering: a full set of services for embedded and reprogrammable SIM, along with solutions for activation, connectivity and subscription management. Oasis contributes in shaping the globally connected world by combining leading edge USIM technology and disruptive business models in a migrated focus from products and solutions to software and services.

About Tata Communications

Tata Communications Limited (CIN no: L64200MH1986PLC039266) along with its subsidiaries (Tata Communications) is a leading global provider of A New World of Communications. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises and communications service providers.

The Tata Communications global network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks and a Tier-1 IP network with connectivity to more than 240 countries and territories across 400 PoPs, as well as nearly 1 million square feet of data centre and colocation space worldwide.

Tata Communications depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services and leadership in global international voice communications. Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.

http://www.tatacommunications.com

Press Contact Tata Communications

Kersti Klami

+44 207 029 9742

kersti.klami(at)tatacommunications.com
Were proving that social and environmental responsibility doesnt have to come at the expense of businessits in fact imperative to the financial success and long-term growth of an organization.

Acterra has announced that stok has been selected to receive a 2017 Acterra Business Environmental Award in the Acterra Award for Sustainability category, the programs highest honor, which recognizes businesses whose programs achieve significant triple bottom line benefits and advance the state of sustainability across industry sectors.

stok is a real estate services firm that optimizes the financial and environmental performance of buildings, while improving the well-being of people and planet. The company counts six of Forbes top 15 most valuable brands as clients, and has contributed to the certification of dozens of net zero energy buildings, and hundreds of LEED projects globally.

stok was first recognized by Acterra in 2015, when the Zero Net Energy Center won in the Sustainable Built Environment category. In addition to providing services that optimize the built environment, stok also prioritizes environmental and social sustainability throughout its own operations. The company offers team members the first ever impact rated fossil-free, gun-free 401(k) plan, and champions an innovative flat management structure based on organizational biomimicry. As part of its commitment to an equitable workplace, stok published a JUST label from the International Living Future Institute and achieved B Corp Certification to publicly disclose its progress as a responsible organization. These efforts inspired stok to implement equitable compensation guidelines that remove bias and negotiation from salary conversations, family-friendly maternity and paternity leave policies, and flexible work schedules.

stok clearly operates with environmental sustainability and intention at every level, the judges said in their decision to award stok. stoks commitment to social sustainability is exemplary, shown by the creation and 100% participation rate in their fossil-free, gun-free 401(k), innovative management structure, and continued commitment to improving their JUST scorecard.

Were proving that social and environmental responsibility doesnt have to come at the expense of businessits in fact imperative to the financial success and long-term growth of an organization. Were honored to be acknowledged by Acterra, and hope to inspire others to optimize triple bottom line impacts in every aspect of their work and operations, said stok founder Matt Macko.

Acterras Business Environmental Awards is one of the San Francisco Bay Areas oldest and most prestigious environmental recognition programs. Begun in 1990, it is considered a champion among awards programs due to its broad geographic scope and rigorous judging process.

stok will be honored at the 2017 Acterra Business Environmental Awards Ceremony & Reception on Wednesday, May 24th at Intuit Inc. in Mountain View. For complete information about the 2017 awardees and ceremony, visit acterra.org/bea.

About stok

stok is a vertically integrated real estate services firm focused on creating a radically better built environment. stok balances the financial and performance goals of its projects with social and environmental needs, resulting in restorative buildings, exceptional workspaces, high performance systems, and lasting, trusted relationships with its partners. In all that stok doesfrom real estate strategy, to construction management, to building analysis and certificationsit takes a broad-thinking, partner-focused approach to solving complex problems. For more information, visit stok.com.

About Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet

Acterra is a San Francisco Bay Area 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Palo Alto that brings people together to create local solutions for a healthy planet. Acterra focuses on what you can do locally to address current environmental problems. In the face of daunting environmental challenges, Acterras science-based approach instills hope while building community. For more information,visit acterra.org.
HealthSherpa Consumer Advocates Represent Diverse Population To Deliver Efficient and Empathetic Support "Our focus on diversity and inclusion truly sets us apart from other organizations, said Catherine Cat Perez, co-founder and chief product officer of HealthSherpa. Our team of consumer advocates have walked in the same shoes as many of our enrollees."

HealthSherpa, the premier health insurance enrollment company, announced ongoing support for individuals and corporate partners to provide health insurance coverage for part-time, temporary, seasonal, 1099 and other non-benefits eligible employees. Focused on year-round support, the company selects consumer advocates who are knowledgeable and caring as they help individuals find and enroll in healthcare plans. HealthSherpa has an established commitment to diversity and inclusion to ensure team members are representative of the people being served, to better understand, connect with and support them.

Our focus on diversity and inclusion truly sets us apart from other organizations, said Catherine Cat Perez, co-founder and chief product officer of HealthSherpa. Our team of consumer advocates, who act as customer support helping individuals find the best health plans for their needs, have walked in the same shoes as many of our enrollees. They empathize and can efficiently offer helpful tips. In addition to setting high standards for diversity and inclusion, HealthSherpa is committed to investing in tools and resources to help mitigate bias in recruiting, hiring, and employment.

A vocal advocate of diversity  especially women in technology  Perez has been featured on several panels, including Leap Tech Talent plus the upcoming Comcast Diversity in Tech Summit and Y-Combinators Startup School discussion on diversity and inclusion.

Perez partners with Alysia Angel, director of support, who champions diversity and inclusion efforts at HealthSherpa. They manage HealthSherpas consumer advocates, ensuring the majority come from nonprofit and social work backgrounds. Consumer advocates are trained to help all populations, including part-time and seasonal employees, independent contractors who file 1099 forms, those in career transition and qualify for COBRA, early retirees under 65 years old or those eligible for retirement. Available five days a week, the consumer advocates can connect them to the federal healthcare marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP (Childrens Medicaid).

We are honored to have Cat as a member of our executive team and serving as a change agent in the industry, said George Kalogeropoulos, founder and CEO of HealthSherpa. With diversity as a priority, weve seen increases in our net promoter score, our customers willingness to recommend our services. We believe our team members are happier with a company culture of inclusion and dedication to customers. This company vision and value benefits health plan enrollees, employees and our sales growth.

HealthSherpa continues to focus on building avenues into the community it serves, in part through a storefront in downtown Sacramento, Calif. This allows people to schedule in-person meetings with consumer advocates to enroll in health insurance. The office is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call (855) 772-2663, email customer_support(at)healthsherpa.com, or visit http://www.HealthSherpa.com and click the Schedule Appointment link under Contact.

About HealthSherpa

HealthSherpa is the best way to get individual health coverage, with experience enrolling over 800,000 people. HealthSherpa partners with large employers, insurers and more than 18,000 insurance agents to support consumers searching for, enrolling in, and utilizing high quality, affordable health insurance coverage. Backed by leading investors including Core Innovation Capital and Mitch Kapor (founder and CEO of Lotus, Kapor Center for Social Impact), HealthSherpa's mission is to help every American feel the comfort and security of having health coverage. The company delivers innovation, technology, and customer service by real people to make coverage easier to understand, faster to sign up for, and simpler to use. Learn more at http://www.HealthSherpa.com.
WAGO Plant Tour

Representatives from Custom Air Products & Services, Inc. (CAPS), a leading commercial and industrial heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) company based in Houston, Texas (US), recently attended Hannover Messe 2017, the worlds leading trade fair for industrial technology in Hannover, Germany. Products and technologies explored at the 2017 show, with the theme of Integrated Industry  Creating Value, will bring value and encourage innovation for future CAPS product lines.

Custom Air products & Services, Inc. (CAPS) one of the largest custom HVAC Manufacturers in North America with over 40 years of experience specializing in the design, construction, installation, modification, and servicing of industrial, commercial and offshore HVAC equipment was among a group of US companies invited to attend Hannover Messe 2017, by WAGO Corporation. As an innovative electrical supplier to CAPS, WAGO Corporation is an industry leader in electrical interconnect and automation solutions, with headquarters in Minden, Germany.

This opportunity to explore leading edge technologies works well with our own dedication to provide innovation in our exceptional custom designs and products and works toward solidifying CAPS global footprint in the HVAC industry, commented CAPS CEO Taylor Norris.

Among the 225,000 attendees, CAPS was represented by John Phan, Engineering Manager and Robert Martin, Electrical Manager, both of whom share an impressive commitment to innovation within the HVAC industry. CAPS continues to roll out new designs annually and at the helm of the design innovation drive is John Phan seeking innovative solutions from all parts of the globe. As CAPS continues to lead the HVAC manufacturing industry, we continue to explore new and valuable solutions for future products. Whether in finding valuable solution suppliers, discovering ways to implement new technologies, or locating more reliable and innovative components, one thing we are sure of is that technology will continue to be a part of our custom products, noted Phan. CAPS platform for quality and innovation is a cultural commitment that is built into every one of the thousands of HVAC units delivered each year.

About Custom Air Products & Services

Custom Air Products & Services, Inc. is a full-service HVAC company that specializes in the design, construction, installation, modification, and servicing of industrial and commercial HVAC equipment. CAPS employees are committed to providing exceptional custom design and quality workmanship at competitive prices.

Custom Air Products & Services currently occupies six (6) modern facilities, totaling 300,000 square feet in manufacturing facilities. These buildings include manufacturing, fabrication and modifications, paint booths, a parts warehouse, engineering offices and a training facility. CAPS products and services are provided to customers throughout the United States and abroad with manufactured equipment operating on six (6) continents and in (52) countries.
The Case for Investment in Adult Basic Education. Only 36 percent of our programs report operating with any state or federal funding  the lowest ever reported in our nine years.

36 million American adults function at low literacy levels and need the help of adult education programs that focus on their unique needs. Each year, ProLiteracy surveys its 1,000 member programs across the country. The data collected is used to measure the impact that program services have on adult literacy statistics, and to determine trends in the field.

The latest survey shows an ongoing decline in the percentage of adult literacy programs that receive federal and/or state funding. Just 36 percent of programs reported receiving any kind of government funding in 2016, down 10 percentage points just in the last six years. While government funding has decreased, demand for services is up. ProLiteracy members served 222,397 students during the 2015/2016 fiscal year, but 67 percent of programs reported having waiting lists.

Kevin Morgan, president and CEO of ProLiteracy, said, Our members are community-based organizations that are doing more with less. Only 36 percent of our programs report operating with any state or federal funding  the lowest ever reported in our nine years of surveying ProLiteracy members. Despite declines in funding, demand for adult education services has increased substantially. Federal, state, and local governments have to realize that increased funding for adult education has a positive return on investment for a multitude of social issues, including job creation, economic development, crime rates, and K-12 test scores.

The ProLiteracy survey shows that approximately 16,300 students reported obtaining a job or a better job last year as a result of increasing literacy skills.

ProLiteracy recently released a white paper on research by Dr. Stephen Reder called The Case for Investment in Adult Basic Education. Reders research proves the correlation between participation in adult basic skills programs and future increases in income, literacy levels, high school equivalency attainment, and postsecondary engagement, Morgan said. This impact measurement is important to our organizational mission, as it shows a positive return on investment in adult literacy programs.

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About ProLiteracy

ProLiteracy believes every adult has the right to literacy. ProLiteracy, the largest adult literacy and basic education membership organization in the nation, is committed to creating a world in which all adults are literate. ProLiteracy has 1,000 member programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and works with 52 nongovernmental organizations in 34 developing countries. ProLiteracy develops educational programs that help adults acquire the literacy practices and skills they need to function more effectively in their daily lives with reading, writing, and basic math skills, as well as financial, digital, and health literacy. For more information about ProLiteracy, please visit http://www.proliteracy.org.
(Pictured) Jennifer Fiore and Angela M. Gonzales, Executive Director Servicios Latinos De Burlington County

Andrews Federal Credit Union served as a Gold Sponsor for Servicios Latinos de Burlington Countys Cinco de May Celebration Award Dinner. The event recognizes organizations, businesses, and individuals for their partnership, support, and contributions to the Latino community in Burlington County.

During the event, Univision Anchorwoman, Ilia Garcia, recognized President Paul Drayton Jr. from Rowan College at Burlington County, Yubelkis Fernandez from Yudi's Hair Salon (Latino Minority Business Owner), and two Latino students who have demonstrated to be an inspiration to their families and community.

It is an honor to support Servicios Latinos de Burlington County, said Andrews Federals Jennifer Fiore, Mt. Laurel Branch Manager. The tremendous impact they provide within the local community is an inspiration to all.

About Servicios Latinos de Burlington County

Servicios Latinos of Burlington County provides social services to the Hispanic community. They assist clients with any needs they may have, which may include help in paying bills, taxes, assistance with interpreting letters they receive, seeking employment, seeking housing, and any kind of translation or interpreting assistance they may need. The agency provides assistance in educating the Hispanic community in Burlington County about the area in which they live.

About Andrews Federal Credit Union

Andrews Federal Credit Union was founded in 1948 to serve the needs of military and civilian personnel by providing a vast array of financial products and services. With over $1.5 billion in assets, Andrews Federal has grown to serve more than 120,000 members in the District of Columbia, Joint Base Andrews (MD), Springfield, Virginia (VA), Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ), and military installations in central Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In addition, the Credit Union serves as a financial partner with many select employee groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and New Jersey.

To learn more about Andrews Federal Credit Union and its community involvement, or to become a member, call 800.487.5500 or visit http://www.andrewsfcu.org.
Just a Few of the May Meeting Attendees The LIHLA looks to be a valuable Long Island association, with a wide array of hospitality industry orientated entities and individuals becoming active and participating members.

On Thursday, May 4, 2017, the Long Island Hospitality and Leisure Association (LIHLA) held its second meeting of the year for Long Island Hospitality Industry professionals and students. It was held at the Long Island Hilton from 8:00 am - 10:00 am. The event was sponsored by the Long Island Business News.

Attendees included Long Island Hoteliers, Restaurateurs, Hospitality Industry suppliers, representatives from Discover Long Island, college students, and PR and Marketing agencies. Professor Tina Ferro from St. Joseph's College, and several of her students, conducted a Q&A panel to present tourism related viewpoints from the collegiate Millennials. The attendees were invited to ask impromptu questions to the panel as it relates to Millennial Travel Trends. Overall, approximately 15 questions were asked of the panel, and they provided attendees with straightforward answers.

The LIHLA also had guests Gary Cucchi, Vice President of Progressive Marketing Group, and Bill Corbett, Jr., from Corbett Public Relations, which are both Long Island-based companies, give a joint presentation regarding some innovative and tactical Marketing and PR tips. The topics they covered during their presentation can be found on the LIHLA's website at http://www.lihla.com.

The meeting opened with a complimentary breakfast provided by the Long Island Hilton, followed by opening remarks of the LIHLA's President, Ken Walles. The LIHLA also paid tribute to a long time representative of tourism throughout New York State, including Long Island, Dave Thornton, formerly with Destinations of New York State (DONYS), as Dave passed away last month, but he is a destination marketing pioneer and legend to many.

The LIHLA is a Long Island Hospitality Industry Association, and its objective is to present Long Islanders that work in one of the largest industries on Long Island (e.g. Tourism) with an opportunity to network together and discuss various aspects of the industry, which includes, but is not limited to travel trends, legislation, growth, setbacks, challenges, opportunities, college and university relations, etc. The LIHLA used to be known as the Long Island Hotel and Lodging Association; however, the LIHLA changed the name to broaden its membership base, and attract all tourism related entities and individuals. It's the hopes of the LIHLA to grow the organization, and develop relationships and partnerships between Hospitality Industry Professionals, which at times there is a disconnect, as Long Island is an extremely large and diverse tourism destination, but the LIHLA intends to change that.

The LIHLA is looking ahead, and would like to see more Board Members, and then perhaps create various committees with active members to address multiple industry related topics, and continue to provide services that are meaningful, helpful and valuable to Industry partners.

As of late, the one topic the LIHLA is paying close attention to is the proposed hotel occupancy tax increase on Long Island, as there are varying opinions regarding the necessity for Discover Long Island to receive additional funds from both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and there are varying beliefs and opinions that the Counties can and should look at ways to cut wasteful spending, and be more transparent and accountable with the current funds they receive through the occupancy tax collected by hotels throughout Long Island. One of the latest topics that is intertwined with the proposed tax increase is short-term rentals that are often advertised through companies such as Airbnb and HomeAway. There appears to be a lot of attention and focus on these short-term rentals, as many do not collect or pay the hotel occupancy taxes that legitimate hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts collect and pay. It appears that there is a proposed Bill that is being looked at and considered on a State level that will address the short-term rentals and the many related issues that a lot of Long Island Hoteliers have with them. The aforementioned is a primary example of the things the LIHLA brings to the attention of their members, and helps create dialogue between members, and other Long Island organizations and associations.

On Friday, May 12, 2017, Kristen Jarnagin, the President and CEO of Discover Long Island, was asked via e-mail if there were any updates regarding the Sunset Tax, and the proposed Long Island Hotel Occupancy Tax. That question was not answered, which is the second time that the question has been asked of Jarnagin without a response. There is some information circulating that the proposed Hotel Occupancy Tax increase is tabled, and may not be an issue for the next couple of years or so; however, the LIHLA is not confirming that at this time. The second question asked of Jarnagin was in regards to short-term rentals on Long Island (e.g. Airbnb & HomeAway). Although the question was specifically directed to Jarnagin, her reply was as follows, Our board has not taken a formal position on Airbnb. This in and of itself is something the LIHLA would like to further discuss with Full Members, County Legislators, State Representatives, and those willing to have open and transparent discussions regarding these pertinent matters.

Recently, New York State Republican Senator Rich Funke proposed a Bill (S 5978), which is legislation and an Act to amend the multiple residence law, in relation to prohibiting short-term rental of private dwellings. This is something that can be viewed by visiting the following link: [https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/rich-funke/legislation

The Bill (S 5978) is something that the LIHLA will pay close attention to, and will report on as things progress.

Again, the LIHLA looks to be a valuable Long Island association, with a wide array of hospitality industry orientated entities and individuals becoming active and participating members.

The LIHLAs upcoming events and meetings include, but will not be limited to the following: Additional guest speakers, roundtable discussions, panel discussions (Q&A), college scholarship fundraising event in September, meetings with additional Associations, Organizations, Colleges and Universities throughout Long Island, etc.

For additional information, and to become an active member, please visit http://www.lihla.com.
Ido Bornstein-HaCohen Im excited to be joining Conversocial at this crucial time for development in the social engagement ecosystem

Conversocial, a leading social customer engagement platform, today announced the appointment of Ido Bornstein-HaCohen as Chief Operating Officer to oversee and guide global operations across the Conversocial organization.

Bornstein-HaCohen has vast experience in managing, selling and marketing cloud solutions and is extremely familiar with the digital customer care space, joining Conversocial after spending more than 5 years at LivePerson, ultimately serving as Vice President, Head of Corporate and Business Development. There, his responsibilities included leading LivePersons acquisitions and integrations as well as overseeing LivePersons most strategic partnerships. As such, Bornstein-HaCohen was responsible for spearheading LivePersons relationship and integration with Facebook Messenger for consumer-to-business communications.

Idos extensive experience in the contact center space and in-depth operational know-how will be invaluable for our next stage of growth, said Joshua March, CEO and Founder of Conversocial. Messaging and social are the fastest growing channels for customer service, and Idos intimate grasp of the brand-consumer relationship over digital channels will further our goal of enabling brands to deflect phone calls and increase customer engagement over social platforms that are convenient and effortless for consumers.

In his role as COO at Conversocial, Ido will apply his in-depth expertise and operational experience to oversee all commercial functions including sales, partnerships, marketing, customer success, professional services, and HR.

Im excited to be joining Conversocial at this crucial time for development in the social engagement ecosystem, in which consumer demand is driving brands to switch from traditional care channels to social and messaging, said Ido Bornstein-HaCohen. Having worked directly with some of the most prominent customer engagement and social platforms, I know first-hand the value of instant, effortless engagement at scale between brands and their customers and look forward to ensuring that Conversocial continues to grow as the leader in the social customer service space.

About Conversocial:

Conversocial (@conversocial / http://www.conversocial.com) is a leading customer engagement platform for todays always-on mobile, social customer. Delivering a unified approach to a new generation of customer interaction, Conversocial enables hundreds of global brands including Hyatt, Tesco, Alaska Airlines and more to ensure they are supporting in-the-moment resolution, at scale, to drive profitable and lasting relationships. Socially empowered consumers have a voice and a choice, requiring brands to engage across multiple channels including Facebook Messenger, Twitter, SMS, Instagram, Google Play Store Reviews, YouTube and more, while offering seamless consistency and cohesion. Conversocial creates a clear path for engagement that combines best-in-class technology and world-class services.

Conversocial is a select member of the Twitter Official Partner Program, Official Instagram Partner and a Facebook Preferred Developer. For more information, visit @conversocial/ http://www.conversocial.com.

For Media Inquiries:

Brandon Weinstock

Headline Media

brandon(at)headline-media.com

US +1 914 336 4878 | UK +44 203 769 2637
OSAGE | The Mitchell County Board of Supervisors has hired a consulting environmental engineering firm to address the operational needs and continued odor issues at the countys wastewater pretreatment facility.

The supervisors have hired Webster Environmental Associates, of Louisville, Ky., for $29,700 to conduct a study. In addition, SEH, of Mason City, will be assisting the firm locally with completing the study; specifically, the oxygen needs for the tanks, at a cost of approximately $10,000.

SEH engineer Tom Madden said he and a company representative both agreed the odor issues are based on the way the three influential tanks are operated.

If aeration is added, it will change the dynamics of the system significantly, Madden said. With this in mind, it is counterproductive to develop an odor control system for the tanks prior to addressing the septic issues.

Once the septic issues are addressed, then it is appropriate to further evaluate the odor control issues.

Madden said the same thinking holds true for addressing the sludge storage tanks.

He stated if the sludge was mixed together, which is not being done currently, it would create a specific environment, which would change the odor control needs.

Therefore it is also recommended that the sludge mixing system be installed prior to engaging in the odor control improvements for the sludge storage tanks.

Madden said there was a definite process that needed to be followed to properly address the multiple issues, which have an effect on each other.

In the short-term, the city, which operates the facility for the county, has changed out the media in the storage tanks and has applied a biological-based odor control used for the smell in hog and cattle manure pits.

These are just short-term band aids, supervisor Joel Voaklander said. They will work for a couple of months.

Madden said he would return Tuesday with a list of possible costs for other items needing to be addressed, including equipment and structural engineer costs.
comScore Local is delighted to work with the Calkins Digital team to expand our digital measurement services across the fast-growing local OTT segment of the marketplace, said Steve Walsh, Executive VP, comScore Local.

Calkins Digital today announced that it is working with comScore to streamline the integration of verified third-party audience measurement data on emerging OTT platforms, a critical step in the process of local media owners monetization of their content and audience across their digital platforms. Specifically, comScore local television data will be integrated into Calkins Digital s OTT and mobile app suite. The integration of third-party data will provide joint Calkins Digital and comScore clients with greater efficiency when it comes to measuring digital video on OTT platforms.

As audiences continue to migrate towards streaming video, local content providers and advertisers need a dependable, credible way to understand OTT performance, said Yancey Douris, Director of Business Intelligence, Calkins Digital. Understanding these expanded local audiences through the use of comScore data is paramount.

comScores local TV data, in combination with their worldwide leadership in digital measurement, will provide Calkins Digital clients with comprehensive cross-platform measurement. With this data, media owners, agencies and marketers can better understand the totality of their audiences, and how those audiences use various content platforms both today and in the future.

comScore Local is delighted to work with the Calkins Digital team to expand our digital measurement services across the fast-growing local OTT segment of the marketplace, said Steve Walsh, Executive VP, comScore Local. We know Calkins Digital well and appreciate their market leadership from their days as a station ownership group, and now in their new and exciting role as a provider of OTT services to local stations.

Calkins Digital and comScore have already teamed with a mutual partner, Graham Media Groups KSAT San Antonio, on their San Antonio TV-branded news apps on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV devices. Calkins Digital incorporated comScore measurement into KSATs OTT apps in order to provide the client with comprehensive digital video measurement.

We believe that this collaboration will move the industry to very meaningful monetization of this new distribution platform, said Calkins Chief Digital Officer Guy Tasaka. We're very excited to work with the comScore team as we share a common vision and end goal.

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About Calkins Digital

Calkins Digital is an award-winning technology and strategy provider for digital media organizations and an innovator in the Over-The-Top streaming video environment. Calkins Digitals full stack of OTT and video solutions includes strategy consulting, branded OTT and mobile app development, analytics and support. Calkins Digital is a part of Calkins Media, a family-owned media company headquartered in Bucks County Pa. with a strong history of publishing and broadcasting. For more information please contact Emily Dresslar, Head of Strategic Partnerships at edresslar(at)calkins.com or visit us at http://www.calkinsdigital.com.
We quickly realized by drilling the data down to the Service level that Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) were a cost strain. The PMMC model allowed us to identify the sweet spot between SNF length of stay and exceeding the stop gain.

PMMC, a leading revenue cycle management company, helped JFK Health complete a successful first year in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) program by providing bundled episode analytics and a collaboration strategy with its physicians to reduce spend and earn a repayment from CMS.

PMMC provided JFK with actionable analytics so the organization could quickly evaluate spend performance among its post-acute care (PAC) providers and pinpoint the cost savings opportunities. By the completion of the first year, JFK Health finished $242,000 under the episode spend target and earned a repayment of $171,000 from CMS after the stop-gain limit was applied.

The data is what provides the insight for the hospitals to make decisions to hit the targets, explained Steve Miller, Director of Managed Care at JFK. We quickly realized by drilling the data down to the Service level that Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) were a cost strain. The PMMC model allowed us to identify the sweet spot between SNF length of stay and exceeding the stop gain.

JFK Health decreased its length of stay by more than 50 percent -- from 21 to 10 days.

The model, which requires hospitals to manage spend across the entire episode of care, is uncharted territory for many providers. An inherent challenge in this model is the need to build collaboration among the hospital and its physicians.

To help build this collaboration strategy, PMMC consulted with the physicians at JFK Health. By presenting a transparent, third-party perspective supported by data, JFKs physicians responded positively.

The relationship with a third-party like PMMC is unquantifiable. It made the process more transparent and really solidified the message of the need for collaboration, added Steve Miller.

Going forward into the second year of the program, JFK Health envisions its physicians being more engaged and taking more of a leadership role.

JFK Health is one of approximately 800 hospitals required to participate in the CJR model, a five-year program intended to hold hospitals financially accountable for the quality and cost of a CJR episode of care and incentivizes increased coordination of care among hospitals, physicians, and post-acute care providers.

With PMMCs bundled episode analytics, hospitals can easily compare its own costs for the entire episode to CMS targets  as well as internal benchmarks  on a quarterly basis.

About PMMC

PMMC provides high value revenue cycle software and services to improve the financial performance of healthcare organizations. Our software and expertise focuses on payment accuracy and identifying more revenue opportunities across the revenue cycle.

PMMC helps hospitals identify underpayments and denials, increase price transparency, and manage bundled payments. Clients see, on average, a 10 to 1 return on investment with software and services.

About JFK Health

JFK Medical Center, an affiliate of JFK Health, is a 498-bed full-service, acute care hospital, and the adjacent JFK Johnson Rehabilitative Institute. Located in the heart of Edison, NJ, it has remained at the forefront of quality care in the region since its inception in 1967. Today, JFK accommodates more than 20,000 admissions, 3,000 births and 60,000 Emergency Room visits on a yearly basis. The Medical Center features a complete array of services, including general surgery, emergency medicine, mental health, orthopedics, maternity and pediatric care. It is home to two world renowned institutes: the JFK Neuroscience Institute and the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, as well as JFK Haven Hospice, JFK Imaging Center and the Center for Wound Healing.

JFK Medical Center is proud to be rated the #1 stroke program in New Jersey and in the top 5% in the entire country. With a Gold Plus award for stroke care by the American Heart Association and a comprehensive and primary stroke center designation, our neuroscience program is unmatched with both neurological and rehabilitation services.
With the Delta partnership, the AIM campuses gain an industry resource in their efforts to train students in their quest to become FAA certified aviation maintenance technicians.

Aviation Institute of Maintenance Campuses Selected to Partner with Delta Air Lines

A number of Aviation Institute of Maintenance campuses have been selected for a

partnership with Delta Air Lines. With this partnership, the campuses gain an industry resource in their efforts to train students in their quest to become FAA certified aviation maintenance technicians.

A number of Aviation Institute of Maintenance's (AIM) campuses have been selected by Delta Air Lines for a partnership in an effort to prepare for the hiring needs brought about by the forecasted demand for qualified aircraft maintenance technicians.

Over the last few months, Delta TechOps, the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) division of Delta Airlines, has been evaluating aviation maintenance schools, searching for institutions that demonstrate a commitment to meeting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards as well as Deltas high principles that exceed these industry standards.

Selected for these partnerships include AIM campuses located in the metro areas of Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX and Washington D.C, along with campuses in Las Vegas, NV and Chesapeake, VA.

This partnership is an incredible opportunity for our students and graduates that will allow us continuous improvement of our Aviation Maintenance Technician program by partnering with one of the premier leaders in the aviation industry, says Ben Sitton, Executive Director at the Aviation Institute of Maintenances Atlanta metro campus. Delta Air Lines recognizes the high demand of the Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) position and we are honored to be a resource to assist them in attaining the industrys best and brightest AMTs.

About Aviation Institute of Maintenance

Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) is a network of aviation maintenance schools with campuses coast-to-coast across the United States and headquarters located in Virginia Beach, Va. AIM students are trained to meet the increasing global demands of commercial, cargo, corporate and private aviation employers. AIM graduates are eligible to take the FAA exams necessary to obtain their mechanics certificate with ratings in both Airframe and Powerplant. AIMs campuses are located in the following major metro areas: Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Mo., Oakland, Calif., Orlando, Fla., and Norfolk, Va. Learn more at: http://www.AviationMaintenance.edu.

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Wells Fargo is continuously looking to improve security while enhancing the customer experience. Were excited to welcome Uniken to the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator program and look forward to collaborating on advanced mobile security solutions, said

Uniken announced today that it has been selected to participate in the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator program. The Startup Accelerator program has a strong reputation for identifying and bringing to market innovative technologies that help shape the future of financial services and the customer experience. During the next six-months, the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator will collaborate with Uniken on its REL-ID security platform aimed at consumer mobile applications deployed in strongly regulated environments.

We are excited to have been selected for the program by the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator, and for their time and financial investment in Uniken, said Bimal Gandhi, CEO of Uniken. It is a great validation of our innovation in delivering great security with a strong focus on the customer experience to the global banking and wealth management space. Being able to tap into the knowledge and experience that Wells Fargo has in the financial services industry will further evolve our game changing security platform. We are eager to collaborate with them in further evolving our phenomenal omni-channel security solution to meet the financial industries needs of security, operations and brand experience.

Wells Fargo is continuously looking to improve security while enhancing the customer experience. Were excited to welcome Uniken to the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator program and look forward to collaborating on advanced mobile security solutions, said Steve Ellis, head of Wells Fargos Innovation Group.

About Uniken

Uniken is a cybersecurity company that ensures customers digital channels have the controls required to survive zero-day attacks while maintaining a great customer and brand experience. Unikens REL-ID security platform delivers customer friendly, continuous omni-channel authentication services combined with comprehensive protections against failures of the OS and transport layer. Their patented security technology provides the controls necessary to protect against credential compromise, network attacks and device malware, satisfying the user experience, security and compliance needs in a mobile-first world.

Uniken serves personal and corporate banking, enterprise communication, and defense and government markets and has 28 implementations, with 6M users, 250M+ interactions and $400B monetary assets protected worldwide. Uniken was most recently a finalist at the Benzinga FinTech 2017 Awards and winner at the FinTech Finals in 2016. The company is based in Chatham, New Jersey.

Media:

Julie Suter

Marketing Communications, Uniken

julie(dot)suter(at)uniken(dot)com

212-520-2557
Datto helps Reading Buses defeat ransomware Reading Buses is a great example of how backup and disaster recovery can be used to keep businesses operational despite new sophisticated threats.

Datto, the leading provider of total data protection solutions for businesses around the world, today announced the successful deployment of its business continuity solutions at Reading Buses, Readings leading public transport provider. Dattos technology will empower the provider to defend against ransomware attacks and other downtime threats.

Reading Buses serves the areas in and around Reading, and has more than 150 buses and 400 drivers. Coordination of resources involves the use of various industry-specific solutions, and every single mile of operations needs to be recorded and reported to the Traffic Commissioner for auditing. Failure to provide data can result in fines. Moreover, businesses of a similar size to Reading Buses are increasingly falling victim to ransomware attacks. Muni, San Franciscos public transport authority, for example, was targeted in 2016 when its ticketing system was taken offline for more than 24 hours. Ransomware is evolving in its sophistication, often accessing systems protected with antivirus in place, encrypting critical data and causing damaging downtime. With thousands of individuals relying on Reading Buses each day, its imperative for the company to be operational 24/7.

Recognising the need for a solution that could protect all of its data from unforeseen events, Reading Buses asked Complete I.T. (CIT)  its managed service provider (MSP) based in Buckinghamshire  for a recommendation. CIT suggested Dattos Total Data Protection solutions, which enable fast, frequent backup and restoring of data and systems. Data from Reading Buses is now stored and backed up both on-site and in Dattos private cloud at regular intervals, and is available to be restored at a moments notice.

Providing a first class service is paramount, but downtime was becoming a more regular occurrence, said Mark Price, IT manager at Reading Buses. We were repeatedly targeted with ransomware but we couldnt simply disregard emails from unknown senders, as we receive many enquiries each day from passengers. We needed a solution that would work in the background and enable us to restore systems quickly; ensuring our customers werent affected, we didnt lose revenue and our reputation was safe. Datto was the perfect fit.

Dattos solution was called into action almost immediately on deployment, when Reading Buses was able to quickly restore systems following a ransomware attack. Arriving as an email attachment, the ransomware strain Locky quickly encrypted the machine of the unsuspecting user, as well as many shared locations across the business the user had access to. Whereas Reading Buses would once have suffered significant downtime due to the attack, Datto was able to locate the infected files, remove them and restore all relevant information from the back up. Reading Buses was operational again within minutes. No ransom was paid.

The entire project has been a huge success, said Colin Blumenthal, Managing Director at CIT. Initially, Reading Buses only used Datto to back up its critical systems, but it has since upgraded its data protection service and the company now protects all aspects of the business, including vehicle maintenance and payroll.

Ransomware is an epidemic and every business is at risk of falling victim to it, said Andrew Stuart, Managing Director at Datto EMEA. While it may be a type of malware, antivirus isnt sufficient to prevent it from taking hold. Reading Buses is a great example of how backup and disaster recovery can be used to keep businesses operational despite new sophisticated threats.

For further information, please refer to the Reading Buses case study.

About Datto

Datto protects business data and provides secure connectivity for tens of thousands of the world's fastest growing companies. Datto's Total Data Protection solutions deliver uninterrupted access to business data on site, in transit and in the cloud. Thousands of IT service providers globally rely on Datto's combination of pioneering technology and dedicated services to ensure businesses are always

on, no matter what. Datto is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut and has offices in Rochester, Boston, Portland, Toronto, London, Singapore and Sydney.

About Reading Buses

Owned by Reading Borough Council (RBC), Reading Buses serves the area in and around Reading. Established over a century ago, it has a strong focus on customer service and innovation. Just under 70 percent of its fleet is considered environmentally friendly and includes 31 hybrid, 34 gas and 24 Euro6 diesel buses.

About CIT

Complete I.T. are an IT Support Provider based in Wooburn Green, with 5 more offices throughout the UK, Bristol, Swindon, Oxford, London and Peterborough. With over 24 years experience in supporting over 400 SME businesses across many different industries. The CIT team of over 140 is largely made up of technical experts who are dedicated to ensuring their clients infrastructures are enabling them to meet business goals. Being local to their clients is key, enabling CIT to get to them quickly in case of an emergency. CIT are a consultative business working closely with clients to become a part of their

business. http://www.complete-it.co.uk.
The medicine maker Those of us who are privileged to be colleagues of Maik have long known that we work alongside an exceptionally talented individual.

G-CON Manufacturing, Inc., the leader in prefabricated cleanroom design and construction, announced today that their Chief Executive Officer, Maik Jornitz, was recognized as a Top 10 Industry Influencer on The Medicine Makers 2017 Power List. The UK publications Power List celebrates 100 individuals involved in bettering the pharma industry and bringing life-changing medicines to market across four categories.

Jornitz ranked eighth in the "Industry Influencers" segment. He was recognized for his influence on the industry in implementing new technologies in regard to 1) more flexible facility assets, 2) process designs and 3) regulatory initiatives which all serve to improve aseptic processing standards.

I feel honored by the recognition and being part of this distinguished group of experts and industry influencers. It is motivating to know ones efforts support the industry and in particular the patients served by the industry, Jornitz stated.

Mr. Jornitz has previously received multiple other awards including the prestigious Martin Van Trieste Pharmaceutical Science Award. This award honors a Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) member for outstanding contributions made toward the advancement of pharmaceutical science.

Those of us who are privileged to be colleagues of Maik have long known that we work alongside an exceptionally talented individual, said David Shanahan, Chairman of the Board of G-CON. Formal recognition of his accomplishments is very gratifying and reflects the strength of the world-class team that we have assembled in support of G-CONs mission to transform the cleanroom industry.

The Medicine Maker Power List recognizes 100 pharmaceutical professionals across four categories, each made up of 25 noteworthy professionalsand each with its own top ten:



Masters of the Bench  scientists and researchers whose late-night lab work lays the foundations for new therapeutics.

Industry influencers  individuals who drive industry best practices and regulations, as well as new manufacturing techniques and technologies.

Business Captains  leaders and entrepreneurs who turn scientific ideas into marketable medicines.

Champions of Change  patrons of the industry who are striving to make the world a better place by getting medicines to those who need them the most.

View the complete 2017 Power List at http://www.themedicinemaker.com/power-list/2017.

About G-CON Manufacturing

G-CON Manufacturing designs, builds and installs prefabricated, autonomous cleanroom PODs. G-CONs cleanroom POD portfolio provides a number of dimensions for a variety of uses, from laboratory environments to personalized medicine and production process platforms. The POD cleanroom units surpass traditional cleanroom structures by virtue of their scalability, mobility and the possibility of repurposing the PODs once the production process reaches its lifecycle end. For more information, please visit the G-CONs website at http://www.gconbio.com.
BBB and ComEd Team Up to Warn Customers  Alarming Trends in Door to Door and Utility Scams in Chicago Neighborhoods

With the return of warm weather, deceptive door-knockings and utility scams are kicking into peak season.



The Better Business Bureau and ComEd, which have a long standing business alliance of more than 90 years, are teaming up to warn consumers around the Chicago and Northern Illinois areas to watch out for fraud.



According to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker Risk Report Home Improvement Scams were the #1 riskiest scams in the USA.



Steve Bernas, president and CEO of BBB Chicago and Northern Illinois says, Consumer safety is at the core of our mission and deceptive door-knockers often con consumers into agreements for shoddy home services or make attempts to steal money and I.D. information with false claims regarding their alarm, cable, or electric services.



Fidel Marquez, senior vice president of Governmental and External Affairs, ComEd, says they continue to see trends in a variety of energy-oriented scams. Those problems range from utility impersonators conning customers at their doorsteps to scammers calling to threaten service disconnect unless an immediate payment with a prepaid credit card is made.



We are continuing to see an unsettling number of scams, including phone impersonations where scam artists call customers claiming they are a utility representative and proceed to swindle unsuspecting victims out of money or financial information, said Fidel Marquez, senior vice president of Governmental and External Affairs, ComEd. We are committed to keeping our customers informed of activity that could impact their service or accounts, and we are pleased to join efforts with the Better Business Bureau to get the word out and raise greater awareness among our customers.



Increasingly, ComEd is seeing Hispanic-owned businesses and residents being targeted. Norma Chilaca, the owner of Nickys Hotdogs in Garfield Ridge, was the recent victim of a utility scam in which the imposter called and threatened to disconnect the restaurants service unless immediate payment was made via a prepaid credit card. Keeping our restaurant up and running is a priority, so when the caller threatened to cut off our power, we rushed to pay without question, said Chilaca. By the time I realized it was a scam, the money was long gone.



BBB and ComEd urge anyone encountering any type of scam to report it to the BBB Scam Tracker, and to call police if anyone attempts to scam you at your door. Anyone who believes he or she has been a target of a phone scam is urged to contact the Illinois Attorney Generals office toll free at 1-800-386-5438 (TTY 1-800-964-3013) or visit the Illinois Attorney Generals web site at http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov and click on the link Protecting Consumers.



Customers can avoid being scammed by taking a few precautions:





Do not feel compelled to open the door to anyone you dont know and always ask to see a company photo ID before allowing any worker into your home or business.

Never provide social security or personal information to anyone initiating contact with you claiming to be a utility representative or requesting you to send money to another person or entity other than your local utility providers.

When in doubt, check it out. Be skeptical of individuals wearing clothing with old or defaced company logos. If you have any doubts, ask to see a company photo ID.

Never make payment for services to anyone coming to the door.

For home repairs always take the time to check the references and ratings of the company before doing business with them.

If customers have concerns about the status of their ComEd account, they can also contact the company at 1-800-EDISON1.





ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2016, people turned to BBB more than 167 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as home to its national and international programs on dispute resolution, advertising review, and industry self-regulation. BBB Serving Chicago and Northern Illinois serves 19 counties in Illinois.



ABOUT ComEd: Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation, the nations leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 7.8 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 10 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the states population.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Thomas Johnson Better Business Bureau: 312-245-2643
With our Vantiv certification, weve married the ease and functionality of the Handpoint platform with one of the leading acquirers in the integrated payments space.

With the payments industry in a period of rapid evolution, its essential that ISOs and ISVs move swiftly to integrated payments to reduce merchant churn and grow their merchant partner base. By certifying with Vantiv, Handpoint gives ISOs, ISVs, and merchants a technological edge and speed to market with its robust Platform as a Service for integrated payments.

Today, many payments companies are looking for differentiation that enables them to stand out from the competition, and speed to market is critical. Yet, channel partners and merchants are left to link together a maze of hardware and software, certifications, and integrations. Handpoint has eliminated this complexity, giving ISOs a scalable turn-key platform to migrate to integrated payments, no matter their current level of sophistication. ISOs and channel partners utilize the Handpoint Platform to go to market quickly with integrated POS, and can efficiently scale with Handpoints cloud-based tools to board merchants in seconds, easily deploy terminals, and even remotely configure, activate, update, support, and enhance card readers.

Vantiv ISOs can leverage Handpoint to get to market with integrated solutions aligned to their strategy and unique merchant portfolios, whether they need an off-the-shelf integrated MPOS app or want to resell one of the many integrated tablet POS solutions using Handpoint. ISOs on the platform also can leverage Handpoints powerful and accessible SDKs to integrate end-to-end payments into their own POS software, adding Handpoints semi-integrated mobile EMV and NFC card readers with P2PE and specialized features such as Tip Adjustment.

Handpoint Developer Partners have integrated to Handpoints PaaS solution, in some cases, the very same day. Building tools that empower developers to have more options and functionality with less work is a core mission of Handpoint, and our Vantiv certification is yet another step forward in this endeavor. Handpoints CEO David Gudjonsson said:

"Enabling developers to build powerful and secure payments functionality for their organizations is a key focus of Handpoints PaaS solution and our mission to support seamless commerce and payments. With our Vantiv certification, weve married the ease and functionality of the Handpoint platform with one of the leading acquirers in the integrated payments space. This powerful combination will be a great opportunity for ISVs, merchants, and ISOs who are looking for a robust and flexible payments platform solution.

With Handpoints Vantiv certification, ISVs and ISOs can move seamlessly to integrated payments with both industry-leading technology and processing capabilities. To learn more about Handpoint's Vantiv certification, please visit us at Handpoint.com or contact us today.

About Handpoint:

Headquartered in Iceland with offices in the UK and USA, Handpoint is a next generation Platform as a Service (PaaS) provider to the payments industry. Handpoint has pioneered major innovations in the mobile payments market through its innovative PaaS solution, including developing easily integrated EMV payments, and has won multiple awards for the high pace of innovation in developing their end-to-end integrated payments migration platform.
Dr. Wendy Braund Dr. Braund is a leader in public health practice and preventive medicine on a national stage, and we are proud to have her guide our efforts to move public health research and policy into practical application.

The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health has selected Wendy Elizabeth Braund, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.Ed., F.A.C.P.M., as the new director of its Center for Public Health Practice and associate dean for public health practice. She will join the schools faculty as a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management.

Braund, who has a strong history in public health administration, most recently served as state health officer and public health division administrator for the Wyoming Department of Health. She will join Pitt Public Health on July 1.

Dr. Braund is a leader in public health practice and preventive medicine on a national stage, and we are proud to have her guide our efforts to move public health research and policy into practical application, said Donald S. Burke, M.D., Pitt Public Health dean and UPMC-Jonas Salk chair of global health. She is a dynamic and innovative practitioner with extensive experience in public service and policy. I am confident she will craft and lead a strategic vision for the centers future and continue to build on regional collaborations to improve population health.

Pitt Public Healths Center for Public Health Practice was established in 1995 with a mission of linking academia with professional public health practice to contribute to better health for all Pennsylvanians. The center has a strong focus on education and runs or provides support for programs that train public health practitioners in the latest best practices for their professional fields. It also places dozens of masters and doctoral students in internships with public health agencies annually.

The Center for Public Health Practice at Pitt Public Health is an invaluable resource for state and local health regulators, public health organizations, emergency responders and other public health practitioners, said Braund. Im excited to lead the center in new and innovative ways to bring research and practice together for the betterment of public health, while continuing the fantastic work its faculty, staff and partners perform every day.

Prior to the Wyoming Department of Health, Braund was with the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration and served as chief of the Public Health Branch and acting chief of the Geriatrics and Allied Health Branch.

Braund earned her M.D. from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed a residency in preventive medicine at Johns Hopkins University. She earned her M.P.H. at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and also earned degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Duke University. She completed the executive education program for state health leaders at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

She serves on the Board of Regents of the American College of Preventive Medicine, as a trustee of the American Board of Preventive Medicine, and as a representative to the American Medical Association Section Council on Preventive Medicine, among other appointments. Since 2013 she has been a site reviewer on the Council on Education for Public Health.

Gerald Barron, M.P.H., has served as acting director of the Pitt Public Health Center for Public Health Practice for the past two years. He will continue as deputy director of the center, director of the M.P.H. program in Pitt Public Healths Department of Health Policy and Management, and associate professor of health policy and management, and behavioral and community health sciences.

Under Gerrys stewardship, the center built and maintained strong relationships with state governments in our region, developed its faculty and enhanced its training programs, said Burke. We all thank him for his service.
Secure Enterprise Video Platform (EVP), now available as SaaS solution on Microsoft Azure. Videos are the communication medium of the future for companies. The high scalability of Microsoft Azure supports and complements the secure Enterprise Video Platform from movingimage.

movingimage today announced that the companys secure Enterprise Video Platform (EVP) is now available as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. Operating the solution on Microsoft Azure not only guarantees flexibility and high availability for international users, it also enables them to access a wide range of services on Microsoft Azure that perfectly complement the features of the EVP, such as the text-to-speech function and image recognition services that are offered as part of Microsoft Cognitive Services.

We made the strategic decision to cooperate with a global cloud service provider for our enterprise video platform in order to better support our many international customers, says Rainer Zugehor, CEO of movingimage. We opted for Microsoft after carrying out a thorough evaluation. Microsoft Azure offers an outstanding technology. Our live-webcast application has already been available on Azure for a while. Now customers can also access our entire video management portfolio on Azure.

With Microsoft Azure datacenters worldwide, movingimage can offer its international customers more flexibility and scalability. And for those companies that require it, the public-cloud version of EVP on Microsoft Azure can specifically be hosted in European data centers where the data is subject to European data protection regulations.

Videos are the communication medium of the future for companies, says Stephanie Keinert, Lead for Partner Streaming Solutions. The high scalability of Microsoft Azure supports and complements the secure Enterprise Video Platform from movingimage.

About movingimage

As the leading global provider of secure enterprise video technology, with locations in Tokyo, New York and San Francisco, movingimages mission is to revolutionize how enterprises and organizations use video. Their software-as-a-service enables companies to efficiently manage all their video assets centrally and stream them in the best quality on any device. Movingimage boasts an extensive customer portfolio of over 500 companies, including DAX-listed corporations such as the Volkswagen Group, Allianz and Bayer.

For more information visit http://www.movingimage.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/movingimage_com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movingimage.company

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/movingimage
Owler, the leading community-based business insights platform, announced the launch of its inaugural Top-Rated CEO Rankings, which provides a true market view of CEO ratings based on over a quarter million inputs from members of the Owler Community. The ratings break down the most-liked CEOs across the country by industry and city, as well as compares CEOs at public and private organizations.

According to the report, Craig Jelinek, CEO of Costco, is the highest-rated public company CEO, with a rating of 94.9. Marriotts Arne Sorenson is close behind with a rating of 93.9 and Capital Ones Richard D. Fairbank rounded out the top three public company CEOs.

People living in Nashville have the best chance of working for a beloved CEO, according to Owler. Of the 30 cities with the most businesses listed on Owler, Nashville has the highest average CEO rating with a score of 82.4. And contrary to popular belief, good and bad CEOs are not evenly distributed across industries. Owler found that Marketing and Creative, Travel and Hospitality, and Automotive industries have higher rated CEOs than any other industries. Unsurprisingly, the airline industry has the lowest ranking CEOs.

Owlers first annual list of top-rated CEOs is the only official ranking that provides a true market view of Americas best-loved leaders, said Jim Fowler, Founder & CEO, Owler. These executives received high approval ratings from employees, suppliers, partners, and even competitors, to beat out 99.4 percent of other CEOs featured on our platform. They truly are the best of the best in the global marketplace.

Owlers 2017 Top-Rated CEO Rankings report includes all CEOs with 10 or more ratings spanning across 50 cities and 25 industries. Employees, followers, competitors, and other general users of Owler were asked to rate CEOs. Owler analyzed approval ratings of the top 5,000 most-rated chief executives included their top-rated CEO rankings.

Resources:

To review the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.owler.com/ceo-ratings.htm?segmentName=Overall

To see a summary of the key findings on our blog, please visit: http://blog.owler.com/ceo-rankings-deeper-dive/

About Owler

Owler is the worlds largest community-based business insights platform that business professionals use to outsmart their competition, gain competitive insights, and uncover the latest industry news and alerts. Owler is powered by an active community of 1 million business professionals who contribute unique business insights such as competitors, private company revenue, and CEO ratings. From startups all the way to large enterprises (including 96% of the Fortune 500), CEOs, salespeople, marketers, product managers, and all types of business professionals use Owler daily. Launched in 2014, and funded by Norwest Venture Partners and Trinity Ventures, Owler is headquartered in San Mateo, CA with offices in Spokane, WA, and Coimbatore, India.
Caitlin, Starry and Kevin all have inspiring stories, and we are proud to say that we have helped them on their way to success.

New England College of Business today announced the lineup of student speakers for its commencement ceremony on May 20. The three 2017 graduates, Caitlin Mancuso, Starry Poe and Kevin Goehring, were selected to speak by the Commencement Committee.

Both Mancuso, who currently works as Assistant Vice President of Corporate Audit at State Street Corporation, and Poe, an Assistant Vice President of Human Resources at Leader Bank, will be receiving MBAs. Poe also earned her Associates and Bachelors degrees from NECB.

Goehring, a Professor of Aviation at Sacramento City College and Managing Broker at California Seller Realty, will receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Attending NECB has been a great decision that has opened opportunities that I never thought possible, said Goehring.

According to NECBs 2017 commencement theme, Invest in Yourself, each graduate will speak about the investments they have made in themselves and will detail how their NECB education has helped them to achieve their personal and professional goals.

Caitlin, Starry and Kevin all have inspiring stories, and we are proud to say that we have helped them on their way to success, said NECB President Howard Horton, Esq. We wish them the best of luck as they move up in their careers.

The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. and last approximately two hours. The student speakers will follow NECBs commencement speaker, Michelle Cully, founder, President and Owner of Xpressman Trucking & Courier.

About New England College of Business

Founded in 1909, New England College of Business (NECB) is a leading higher education institution offering quality education and online degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Serving students across the United States, NECB is an online college accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. For information on NECB, visit https://www.necb.edu/, follow NECB on Twitter or connect with the school on Facebook.
To market an advertise a unique and luxurious product, such as the Dual Tank Whiskey Flask, in a visual and virtual world, collaboration with an equally unique and visual design team is only fitting. The uniqueness of the project allowed the QA Graphics team to explore new design trends and show the world what we are capable of, said the design team.

When Neil Ferrier Chief Conspirator of Discommon Goods, a luxury design brand, presented a unique opportunity to QA Graphics; an exciting business venture was born. Ferrier sought out the Iowa-based design firm, seeking a 3D marketing video with an animated exploding view of their newest product, a Dual Tank Whiskey Flask. The final 3D rendered video was amazing and served as a distinguishing supplemental marketing tool, emphasizing every ornate detail and texture of the Dual Tank Whiskey Flask from multiple perspectives in a digital space.

The Flask was truly a special and exciting project for QA Graphics team and a fantastic way to showcase the design teams diverse skills and talents for sales and marketing applications. As an original design collaboration between Discommon and two other unnamed international luxury brands, the digital replication and details of the product were of the utmost importance. Using QA Graphics state of the art rendering farm, QA Graphics 3D design team brought to life photos, CAD images, video clips, and schematic designs into an incredible, attention grabbing, animated 3D graphic representation; leaving Ferrier only to say, Unreal. You have seriously blown me away. The video looks incredible. - Which means a lot coming from a designer whose company prides themselves on product differentiation, luxury quality, and the product experience.

To market and advertise a unique and luxurious product, such as the Dual Tank Whiskey Flask, in a visual and virtual world, collaboration with an equally unique and visual design team is only fitting. The uniqueness of the project allowed the QA Graphics team to explore new design trends and show the world what we are capable of, said the design team.  View the flask video here http://bit.ly/2qauYaf.

QA Graphics 3D Design - Using a state of the art rendering farm, our talented 3D modeling team can transform your photos, existing graphics, schematic designs, or ideas into incredible 3D graphic representations. The company also provides marketing solutions such as interactive applications, 3D design and animation, UX design, videos, and more. Visit https://www.qagraphics.com/3d-design/ to learn more!

Discommon Goods - Discommon Goods was born out of a desire to create the pieces that were stuck in our heads. Collaborating with designers from all fields (from automotive to super yachts) we have given a simple promise: work with us and we will make exactly what is in your head. No market studies, no asking for approval from the product team, just unadulterated execution of creativity using the coolest materials and processes from around the world. To learn more visit: http://www.discommon.com
Lack of access to healthcare leads to poor public health outcomes, and ultimately we all pay for that. - Barbara Anthony, Pioneer Institute

New policy briefs from Josh Archambault and Barbara Anthony, two senior fellows in healthcare at Pioneer Institute, offer differing prescriptions for how Massachusetts should navigate uncertainty in the healthcare market, as Congress debates the fate of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA).

In "What Massachusetts Should Do in an Uncertain Healthcare World, Josh Archambault argues that the Commonwealth should focus on providing access to care rather than just insurance coverage, and should adopt successful reforms from other states. With the potential that at least some provisions of the Affordable Care Act may be repealed, he contends that Massachusetts leaders should not simply default to what we had prior to the ACA.

All options should be on the table and state policy makers should look to successful reforms in other states, Archambault said. Massachusetts cannot afford the status quo and we need to be bold and open to new ideas for both the commercial and Medicaid markets.

Archambault argues that MassHealth, the Commonwealths Medicaid program, has expanded so much that nearly two million of 6.8 million state residents are now enrolled in a taxpayer-funded safety net program. We now almost have the same percentage of our population enrolled in Medicaid as much less wealthy West Virginia does, Archambault said. At over $16 billion annually, MassHealth accounts for more than 40 percent of the state budget, and is starting to crowd out spending on education, public safety and infrastructure.

Archambault proposes a renewed focus to move more residents into private commercial insurance.

To make the commercial market affordable to those on Medicaid, Archambault offers numerous free-market solutions that should be considered in a post-ACA world. He discusses changing insurance regulations and rules that govern medical providers, taking a hard look at the Connectors mission and reason for existence, looking at invisible risk-sharing to help those with pre-existing conditions, and enhancing transparency by giving rebates to patients who choose high-value providers.

Barbara Anthony offers a different perspective in What Massachusetts Should Do as Uncertainty Engulfs the U.S. Healthcare System. Anthony argues that America has a mixed economy with both free market principles and social welfare programs that lift all boats, and this hybrid should infuse the current healthcare debate. According to Anthony, it is in our national self interest to find solutions that preserve both free market principles and the interdependence of our common welfare.

Anthony argues that the Commonwealth should keep laws guaranteeing that no one is denied insurance due to pre-existing conditions, and that Massachusetts continue the individual mandate. Anthony asserts that health insurance works best when everyone  healthy, sick, young and old  is insured under the biggest umbrella. Lack of access to healthcare leads to poor public health outcomes, and ultimately we all pay for that. She added, In this country, your ticket to healthcare is called insurance coverage.

Anthony offers a 10-point program to Massachusetts policymakers that includes increasing individual penalties for those who do not purchase affordable insurance, government action to bring prices of entities with entrenched market power more in line with what a competitive market might produce, an assessment on employers whose low-wage employees have swelled the Medicaid programs, more open disclosure from MassHealth/Medicaid about cost savings resulting from the managed care directives that MassHealth was required to adopt, and more vigorous state Division of Insurance review of carrier rate requests.

More on Medicaid

Archambault argues that despite the $16 billion a year the state spends on Medicaid, recipients often struggle to gain access to healthcare providers. He points to surveys conducted by the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) that have found that even though Massachusetts has the most doctors per capita of any state, at times just 50-60 percent of internal medicine and 60-70 percent of family medicine offices accept Medicaid patients. Archambault says the problem is even worse in some parts of the Commonwealth and for specialists. For those not on Medicaid, the percentage of offices accepting new patients was 85-to-more-than-90 percent.

In terms of reining in Medicaid spending, Anthony argues specifically companies that either dont offer coverage or dont attract substantial numbers of employees to the plans they do offer should play a role in solving the Medicaid funding problem. She says a recent proposal by Partners CEO and President David Torchiana merits consideration.

Dr. Torchiana recommended that employers above a certain size that have low-income workers on Medicaid should be required to pay the Commonwealth a per-employee fee in place of the premium contribution they would have made toward employee health insurance. The contribution would be less than the cost of employer-sponsored insurance, so employers would still benefit but the concept of employer responsibility would be maintained.

Anthony sees three options when it comes to Medicaid spending. Anthony argues that the state must treat program integrity as a matter of ongoing review, removing ineligible program participants on a regular basis. Beyond that, the Commonwealths options are limited to either tightening eligibility requirements (thereby limiting access) or opting out of the ACAs Medicaid expansion; these latter two options would have undesirable public health consequences and would cause major policy upheavals.

Anthony does not find Archambaults proposals to make private insurance more affordable (thereby allowing more Medicaid enrollees to afford commercial coverage) realistic. She thinks premiums would have to fall far below what even subsidized plans currently cost before large numbers of people at or near the federal poverty line would be able to afford private insurance.

Transparency

Archambault urges Massachusetts to look at programs from two other New England states. New Hampshire saved $12 million and patients received $1.2 million in incentive payments for choosing lower-cost, high-value providers. In Massachusetts, the Group Insurance Commission is piloting a similar program. This approach reduces costs and rewards innovative providers, and should be expanded to more individuals in the state.

This is an area where Anthony and Archambault agree. Both support incentive-based transparency programs. She urges that the Commonwealth become more aggressive in promoting healthcare price transparency and calls for greater leadership by the executive branch, the attorney generals office and the business community.

Helping Those with Pre-Existing Conditions

Archambault wants more than transparency and advocates strongly for a risk-sharing plan that was implemented in Maine before it was superseded by the ACA. Maine had an invisible risk-sharing/risk-pool program that didnt segment individuals with pre-existing conditions out of the regular individual insurance market or charge them a higher premium. Instead, insurers determine who to designate for the program based on health information. The end result was lower premiums for all age groups and coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions and those with very high medical costs.

This approach causes carriers to price coverage as if all policy holders are healthy rather than all sick. Premiums of Maines largest issuer fell by about 70 percent for the young and by about half for older residents, making it more likely that young, healthy individuals would sign up for insurance.

Anthony counters that the Maine program resulted in some benefit cuts, including maternity care, additional cost-sharing and higher out-of-pocket costs. While she recognizes that the Maine program did not stigmatize those with pre-existing conditions or charge them higher premiums, she is very concerned about high-risk pools in general, now that the House of Representatives has passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA).

Anthony points out that under the AHCA, which would effectively repeal the Obamacare mandate to purchase insurance, states would be allowed to permit insurers to charge people with pre-existing conditions more for coverage than those without such conditions. States would be able to do this if they set up high-risk insurance pools or other mechanisms to mitigate risks to insurers with high-cost patients. According to Anthony, the poor history of high-risk pools is resurfacing thanks to the AHCA.

Recent articles in the New York Times and CNN Money stated that there were 35 pools around prior to the ACA. According to Anthony, these reports highlight that the main problem with high-risk pools is that they were underfunded, typically charged higher prices, often contained annual and/or lifetime caps on coverage, and covered only a fraction of those who were potentially eligible.

About the Authors:

Barbara Anthony, lawyer, and well-known consumer advocate, is a Senior Fellow at Pioneer Institute focusing on healthcare price and quality transparency. She is also an associate at the Harvard Kennedy Schools Center for Business and Government. She served as Massachusetts Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation from 2009 to 2015. She has been quoted and cited in The Washington Post, Beckers Healthcare, The Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, The Boston Business Journal, State House News Service, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, the Springfield Republican, and CommonWealth magazine, and has been interviewed on WBUR, WBZ, and television news programs in Greater Boston and across the country.

Josh Archambault is a Senior Fellow at Pioneer Institute. Prior to joining Pioneer, Josh worked at the Heritage Foundation, as a Legislative Director in the Massachusetts State Senate, and as Senior Legislative Aide in the Governors Office of Legislative Affairs. His analysis has appeared in news outlets such as USA Today, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fox News, NPR, Boston Herald and The Boston Globe. Josh holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard Universitys Kennedy School and a BA in Political Studies and Economics from Gordon College.

Pioneer Institute is an independent, non-partisan, privately funded research organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts through civic discourse and intellectually rigorous, data-driven public policy solutions based on free market principles, individual liberty and responsibility, and the ideal of effective, limited and accountable government.
L.L.Bean's Iconic Bean Boots Here at L.L.Bean, we work hard to foster a culture and atmosphere of inclusion and ensure employees understand how their efforts contribute to our ongoing success, as well as take pride in the work they do, day in and day out.

Internationally recognized outdoor retailer L.L.Bean, best known for its Bean Boot, and legendary customer service was recently named by Forbes magazine as one of Americas Best Midsize employers for 2017. Each year, Forbes compiles a list of which U.S. companies are the best at making employees feel happy and inspired. This is the third time in a row L.L.Bean has made the Forbes list. In 2015, they were ranked as one of Americas Best Employers at #5, and in 2016, they topped the list of Americas Best Midsize Employers at #1.

Americas Best Midsize Employers in the U.S. 2017 were chosen based on a survey conducted by Statista, one of the worlds largest statistics portals, from a vast sample of 30,000 American employees working for large or midsize companies with between 1,000 and 5,000 employees. The willingness to recommend ones own employer was used as the most important metric of assessment, where employees were required to rate their employer on a scale from 0 to 10. Other factors included workforce diversity, compensation, opportunities for advancement and more.

Here at L.L.Bean, we work hard to foster a culture and atmosphere of inclusion and ensure employees understand how their efforts contribute to our ongoing success, as well as take pride in the work they do, day in and day out, said L.L.Bean company president and CEO, Steve Smith. To be recognized so prominently three years in a row by such a well-renowned institution like Forbes is an incredible honor. Without our employees remarkable talents and unwavering commitment to provide world-class customer service, we simply would not be the organization we are today.

About L.L.Bean, Inc.

L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. Still family owned, Shawn Gorman, great grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean, was named Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2013. While its business has grown over the years, L.L.Bean continues to uphold the values of its founder, including his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. In the past five years, L.L.Bean has donated over $6 million toward conservation and land stewardship. L.L.Bean operates 34 stores in 16 states across the United States, along with 25 stores in Japan. The 220,000-sq. ft. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, ME, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year. L.L.Bean can be found worldwide at http://www.llbean.com, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+ and Instagram.

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Tabush Group named by CRN to 2017 Tech Elite 250 & 2017 MSP 500 lists Were extremely honored to once again be honored by CRN as an innovative leader in our industry focused on providing IT services for small to midsize organizations.

Tabush Group, a cloud computing, technology solutions, and IT services company, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Tabush Group to its 2017 Tech Elite 250 list and its 2017 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneer 250 category.

The annual Tech Elite 250 list honors an exclusive group of North American IT solution providers that have earned the highest number of advanced technical certifications from leading technology vendors, scaled to their company size. To compile the annual list, The Channel Companys research group and CRN editors work together to identify the most customer-beneficial technical certifications in the North American IT channel. Solution providers that have obtained these elite designations  which enable them to deliver premium products, services, and customer support  are then selected from a pool of online applicants.

The solution providers selected for our annual Tech Elite 250 list have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and gained strong industry credibility by earning some of the most difficult IT certifications available from top technology vendors, said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company. Attainment of these exclusive certifications strengthens the channel as a whole by invigorating partnerships and enabling the delivery of exceptional customer service. We congratulate each of these organizations and look forward to their continued success.

Our investment in training our team is an investment that has paid for itself many times over, said Morris Tabush, Founder and President of Tabush Group. We strongly believe in continuing education, and work hard to ensure that our team receives the appropriate business, technical, and service skills training to help them succeed individually and as a whole.

The annual MSP 500 list recognizes North American solution providers with cutting-edge approaches to delivering managed services, shining a light on the most forward-thinking and innovative of these key organizations. Their offerings help companies navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of IT, improve operational efficiencies, and maximize their return on IT investment. The MSP Pioneer 250 category recognizes companies with business models weighted toward managed services and largely focused on the SMB market.

Managed service providers play an increasingly important role in the day-to-day operations of businesses across North America, said Faletra. MSPs help organizations streamline their spending, effectively allocate limited resources, and benefit from advanced expertise in the latest technologies.

Were extremely honored to once again be honored by CRN as an innovative leader in our industry focused on providing IT services for small to midsize organizations, said Tabush.

Coverage of the Tech Elite 250 and MSP 500 are featured at http://www.crn.com.

About Tabush Group

Tabush Group is a leading provider of virtual workspace, private cloud, and managed IT services that specializes in technology solutions for small to midsize businesses in the fields of law, real estate, construction, investment management, and professional services. Our mission is to help organizations succeed through our passion and experience. Building upon that experience, Tabush developed an all-in-one cloud solution called Boxtop, which delivers all of a companys IT needs as a simple, secure, and scalable service, allowing small business owners to focus on growing their companies. Boxtop includes virtual desktops, cloud infrastructure, storage, backups, security, and unlimited support. Founded in 2000, Tabush is a privately held company headquartered in New York City, with data centers in New York and Washington State. Additional information about Tabush and its services can be found at http://www.tabush.com, and additional information about Boxtop can be found at http://www.goboxtop.com.

About the Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. http://www.thechannelco.com
The results of a hair transplant can restore the self-esteem of a patient, greatly improve his overall quality of life and give a person more self-confidence in social and work situations. - Parsa Mohebi, MD

A recent study in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery showed that men who had a hair transplant were deemed to be more attractive, youthful, approachable and successful. These perceptions were helpful in leading to a better overall quality of life for the hair restoration patients. These results support a previous study conducted by Dr. Parsa Mohebi, the founder of Parsa Mohebi Hair Restoration.

The previous study, performed along with Dr. William Rassman, examined the psychological impact of hair loss as well as the positive effects of a hair transplant. Our study surveyed the changes experienced by 200 patients who had hair transplants in the past, stated Dr. Mohebi. The study questionnaire featured multiple criteria including self-confidence, level of happiness, energy level, feelings of youthfulness and anxiety as well as how the procedure impacted their career and sex life. When discussing the results, Dr. Mohebi said, We found the patients showed significant improvements in each of the criteria. The results confirmed the significance of a healthy head of hair to the self-esteem of a male patient.

Dr. Mohebi says the results of the new JAMA study substantiate the results from his earlier study measuring the psychological and social impacts of hair loss on men with male-pattern baldness. A full head of hair has always been a symbol of power and strength. Therefore, hair loss can have a devastating psychological impact on the self-worth of a person, stated Dr. Mohebi. He went on to say, Hair loss can negatively affect a person in many ways including their intimate relationships, self-confidence and work performance. It can also be an underlying cause of depression. There have been studies suggesting that patients with an active social life who experience hair loss early in life are more inclined to suffer from psychological issues related to the hair loss.

Hair restoration can help prevent or reverse many of the psychological problems linked with hair loss. Dr. Mohebi says that the more a person suffers from the negative aspects of hair loss, the greater their psychological well-being can be after a hair transplant. According to Dr. Mohebi, The results of a hair transplant can restore the self-esteem of a patient, greatly improve his overall quality of life and give a person more self-confidence in social and work situations.

About Dr. Parsa Mohebi:

As the first chairman of the FUE Research Committee of the International Society of Hair Restoration and creator of several methods and techniques in modern hair restoration, Dr. Mohebi, along with his staff, provides his patients with the most advanced hair restoration techniques currently available. Dr. Mohebi has been in the forefront of new research and developing the latest technology to advance the field of hair restoration. Dr. Mohebi is a Diplomat of the American Board of Hair Restoration and a fellow of the International Society of Hair Restoration.
From left, Douglas Reilly, a PhD candidate in biology and biotechnology, and Professor Jagan Srinivasan discuss results from a recent experiment with C. elegans.

Many complicated neurological disorders appear to have a gender bias. Women, for example, are more likely to develop Alzheimers disease, while men are at greater risk for Parkinsons disease. Understanding some of the molecular mechanisms that may account for this gender-specific neuronal bias is the aim of a research program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) funded by a new five-year, $1.6 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The project is led by Jagan Srinivasan, PhD, assistant professor of biology and biotechnology at WPI, and principal investigator for the new grant. If we can understand the differences in the basic neurobiology of males and females, then perhaps that knowledge will help us devise better treatment strategies for neurological disorders that have a gender bias, he said.

The research will be conducted using the small, soil-dwelling worms known as Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). An adult C. elegans is about 1 millimeter long and has approximately 1,000 cells, about a third of which are dedicated to its nervous system. Despite its small size, the worm is a complex organism capable of carrying out all of the processes required for animal survival, including foraging for food and seeking out mates, making it one of the most powerful research models in molecular biology.

Most C. elegans worms are self-fertilizing hermaphrodites, carrying both egg and sperm cells. But a very small percentage of the C. elegans population is fully male (there are no fully female C. elegans worms). Srinivasan will use that gender differentiation to explore varying neural activity, focusing on a cluster of neurons that allow the worms to smell cues from their environment.

It is known that in human cases of Alzheimers, a diminished sense of smell is one of the early symptoms of the disease, said Srinivasan, whose earlier research analyzed the electrical activity of sensory neurons located near the male worms head that detect and process olfactory cues and allow them to navigate their environment and find a mate. So, focusing on understanding the circuit mechanisms that show gender differences in the worms olfactory system may give us new information that is relevant for what is seen in human neuropathology.

In previous studies, Srinivasan discovered a novel sensory circuit with feedback loops involving four worm neurons that process environmental cues. In the newly funded project, Srinivasan and colleagues will dig deeper into the molecular mechanisms that actuate the olfactory nerve circuitry in the male worms, seeking to identify the specific neurotransmitters and neuropeptides involved. The project will also study how signals propagate through the worms neural circuits following an olfactory cue to affect behavior. The male-specific findings will then be compared to the activity in hermaphrodite worms.

Dirk Albrecht, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at WPI, a co-investigator of the grant, also studies how neuronal signals govern behavior using the worm model. He has developed several imaging technologies and data processing algorithms that allow for visualizing specific neuronal activity in free moving worms. The new project seeks to image multiple neurons, in multiple worms, responding to multiple stimuli in real time. And we know the responses will be different in each animal, Albrecht said. That means we need to develop new technologies to push the existing boundaries of imaging throughput and analysis to handle the experimental load. That makes this an exciting and important challenge.

The Srinivasan and Albrecht labs are part of the growing worm community at WPI, and the imaging and bioinformatics technologies developed through their work will become enhanced platforms promoting further interdisciplinary research programs across the WPI Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center.

We are very fortunate to have Dirk and his team right down the hall to collaborate with, Srinivasan said. Its a great example of the interdisciplinary research work, blending science and engineering, that is possible here at WPI.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nations first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. WPIs talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the universitys innovative Global Projects Program. There are more than 40 WPI project centers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.

Contact:

Michael Cohen

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, Massachusetts

508-868-4778, mcohen(at)wpi(dot)edu
Walter Howl joins Greenberg TraurigsPhoenix office as Of Counsel in the firms dynamic Corporate and Securities Practice. Walter brings with him 15 years of experience and will concentrate his practice on corporate and commercial real estate law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, general corporate and business law, real estate financing transactions, acquisition and disposition of improved and unimproved property, leasing, and title issues.

Walter joins Greenberg Traurig from a transactional boutique firm in Phoenix. He earned his J.D. from University of Michigan Law School and his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.

About Greenberg Traurig's Phoenix Office

In Arizona, Greenberg Traurig counsels clients on a wide range of critical issues, such as litigation, mergers and acquisitions, securities, labor and employment, real estate, public finance, bankruptcy, and intellectual property matters.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One firm worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the second largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2016, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
ISSI has a tremendous reputation in the benefit fund administration industry and they share ASIs client-service values and commitment to delivering the highest quality solutions. Together we bring a unique set of capabilities to serve this market.

Advanced Solutions International (ASI), a leading global provider of software and services for associations and not-for-profits, today announced that it has acquired Innovative Software Solutions, Inc. (ISSI) as a wholly owned subsidiary. Based in Maple Shade, New Jersey, ISSI is the leading provider of benefit administration software and services to multi-employer/union affiliated benefit funds in North America.

ASI brings strong technology, infrastructure, management and financial resources to ISSI, all of which complement ISSIs leadership position, subject-matter expertise, product line, and plans for continued growth and expansion within the Taft-Hartley/Multi-Employer marketplace.

Both companies will continue to support, maintain, and develop their current product lines and ISSI will continue to operate as an independent entity with no material change in management, staffing, or day-to-day operations. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

ISSI has a tremendous reputation in the benefit fund administration industry and we know they share ASIs client-service values and commitment to delivering the highest quality solutions, said Bob Alves, Chairman and CEO of ASI. Together we bring a unique set of capabilities to serve this market. The future has never looked brighter for both companies.

We are excited to join ASI as a wholly-owned subsidiary, said Jim Barling, President of ISSI. With this merger, we now have a partner that values our strong market presence, subject-matter expertise, and exceptionally talented staff. ASI will help us take ISSI to the next level for all our constituents and we are looking forward to this new chapter in our companys evolution.

About ISSI

Innovative Software Solutions, Inc. (ISSI) is a software company headquartered in Maple Shade, New Jersey, that provides computer system software and services for the administration of multi-employer benefit funds. With more than 250 systems installed in North America, a 160-person staff, and a product suite that covers every facet of multi-employer benefit fund administration, ISSI is the leading provider of benefit fund administration software to fund offices and third-party administrators in the market. Learn more at http://www.issisystems.com.

About ASI

Advanced Solutions International (ASI), founded in 1991, is a leading global provider of software and services to associations and not-for-profits and has helped thousands of clients increase operational and financial performance through best practices, proven solutions, and ongoing client advisement. ASI is the provider of iMIS 20, a cloud-based Engagement Management System (EMS) that helps clients connect with constituents, improve retention, and grow revenue. Learn more at http://www.advsol.com.
CLEAR LAKE | Vickie Meyer had never met Denny Schnathorst before last Thursday, but she's grateful the Iowa State trooper was there to help.

And that he is a good babysitter.

Meyer, of Lake Mills, was driving through Clear Lake when the sound of her 13-month-old granddaughter's fussing in the back seat reached the point of no return.

"She was being fussy that day, dropped her bottle (and) she didn't really want it; she didn't really know what she wanted," said Meyer, of Lake Mills.

After pulling over to the side of Highway 122 just east of Interstate 35, she quickly trotted out to retrieve the fallen bottle.

"About the same time I pulled over, my check engine light came on," she said. "And, it was like, 'Oh, great!'"

Then she noticed Schnathorst pulling his squad car behind her.

He asked if there was anything he could do to help, and after some investigation, the best thing Meyer could think to do was to buy oil for her van.

She asked if Schnathorst would follow her to the nearby Kwik Star gas station and watch her granddaughter while she ran in to get the oil.

He would.

He stood right next to the door watching Ana while I ran inside and go the oil, she said. It was so sweet.

So thrilled with Schnathorsts help, Meyer asked him to pose for a picture so she could post it on Facebook and share a feel-good story about local law enforcement.

It was later posted on the Iowa State Patrols Facebook page, where it generated nearly 2,000 likes, 200 shares and nearly 100 comments.

Meyer was surprised by the traction the post got on social media, but glad that people were able to hear a positive story about law enforcement officers.

Theres so much negative these days, and it seems like all the negative gets so much publicity, but you dont really hear a lot about all of the positive things that they do, she said.

Schnathorst, of the agencys Fort Dodge post, was touched by Meyers sincerity.

It really makes you feel good, because there are a lot of people out there who appreciate what you do, said Schnathorst, who was in the area helping out the State Patrol's Mason City post. Its really, really refreshing in these days and times to hear that.

It also provided a little diversity in his daily routine, as Schnathorst hasnt had many opportunities in his 23 years as a trooper to showcase his babysitting skills.

He picked them up thanks to his own children, twins graduating this year and a junior at the University of Iowa.

No, not often at all, but it was really easy, Schnathorst said, chuckling. The child was behaving like anybody would hope she would.

I never heard a peep out of her.
Attorney Jenny Calvert As advances in technology move at an incredible pace, so must the ability of companies to protect their investments in intellectual property.

Attorney Jenny Calvert shared her insights on the topic of litigation strategies at the 2017 Intellectual Property SpringPosium. The event, which is part of the Atlanta Bar Associations CLE program, was held at the Lake Lanier Islands Resort in North Georgia and brought together over 60 leading IP attorneys from across the state.

Calverts session was titled IP Litigation Strategies: TC Heartland, Halo and the New Federal Rules, Oh My! and included panelists from top IP law firms in the region. Calvert believes the conference provides an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and contacts, while helping to ensure law firms continue to serve the needs of clients involved in high-stakes litigation involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other intellectual property.

As advances in technology move at an incredible pace, so must the ability of companies to protect their investments in intellectual property, said Calvert. The SpringPosium is an excellent venue for learning about and sharing the most effective strategies for winning complex cases, and Im already looking forward to next years conference.

About Hill, Kertscher & Wharton, LLP: Nationally recognized for its representation of businesses and individuals, HKWs corporate, employment, and intellectual property attorneys serve as trusted counsel to clients in Georgia and throughout the United States. The firm is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is also recognized by Best Law Firms in America.
Attorney Lisa Dwyer, of The Steingold & Dwyer Law Group, recently filed a motion in a case (Case No. 15-cr-20800 filed in the United States District Court Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division) stemming from a violent altercation in which her client (defendant) sustained a head injury after being pistol whipped while defending his brother from an armed attacker. The defendant later received a medical marijuana card due to the migraines he suffered as a result of said injury.

Court documents state that the defendant was growing two marijuana plants in his backyard that were secured, and on one occasion the plants were targeted by thieves. The defendant decided to protect the plants and his home by designing signaling devices or small explosive devices to alert him to when someone was within inches of the two plants. Court documents further state an alleged thief later stepped on the small explosive device and was injured.

The defendant was charged with the manufacture of a firearm (destructive device), in violation of the National Firearms Act, and possession of an unregistered firearm and explosive materials, and at such time was deemed a prohibited person in that he was a marijuana addict or user. Court documents further state the defendant counters these allegations as he was lawfully using his medicine pursuant to the State of Michigans medical marijuana laws. Furthermore, he faces 5- and 7-year mandatory minimum sentence counts based upon these charges.

On behalf of my client, I have filed a motion seeking injunctive relief or the prevention of the government to seek certain charges against him, specifically the prohibited person counts, concluded attorney for the defendant Dwyer, who has more than 20 years experience representing those accused of criminal activity. This motion for injunctive relief seeks to enjoin the AUSA from seeking conviction on these mandatory minimum counts because Congress has refused to appropriate funds to prosecute marijuana-related offenses in states where medical marijuana is legalized.

About The Steingold & Dwyer Law Group

Attorneys at The Steingold & Dwyer Law Group specialize in criminal defense, including murder and other homicide cases, drug crimes, white collar crimes and conspiracy. David Steingold and Lisa Dwyer also have expertise in a number of sub-categories of criminal defense. For more information, please call (313) 962-0000, or visit http://www.steingolddwyerlaw.com. The law office is located at 400 Monroe St., Suite 280,

Detroit, MI 48226.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
June 17, 1967 - Battle of Xom Bo II Audiobook Narrator, Mark Sando, did a moving performance in his reading of my book, June 17, 1967  Battle of Xom Bo II.

Subterfuge Publishing is proud to announce the Audiobook adaptation of June 17, 1967  Battle of Xom Bo II. The audiobook is a collaboration between narrator, Mark Sando and author, David Hearne. Mark Sandos professionalism, creativity, and personality delivers another layer of authenticity to Hearnes award winning book. Author, David Hearne, who has been battling cancer for the last 5 months was grateful that he had partnered with Mark Sando as the narrator because as Hearne said, Mark is a voice actor who can run with an audio book project on his own and deliver a superb audio version of a book with little input from the author. Hearne also stated, Narrator, Mark Sando, did a moving performance in his reading of my book, June 17, 1967  Battle of Xom Bo II. The AudioBook is now available on multiple platforms including Amazon.com, Audible.com, and iTunes.

On the occasion of the battle's 50th Anniversary the audiobook, June 17, 1967 -Battle of Xom Bo II, tells the true story of a battle that pitted less than 500 1st Infantry Division soldiers against 800 to 2000 Viet Cong from the 271st Regiment. The bloody clash took the lives of 39 Americans and seriously wounded 150 more. It is the minute-by-minute story of what happened that day in the steamy jungle and the story of the men who fought so valiantly to survive the ambush. It is the story of the loved ones left behind and the wounded who struggled to become whole again. It's a story that is the result of talking to many of the survivors of the battle and the wives, brothers, sisters, or friends of those who were there when over 8000 artillery rounds rained down around LZ X-Ray to dislodge the entrenched Viet Cong. June 17, 1967, is a story of war, men, and the loved ones. It is the story of the youth, culture, and happenings that made the battle of Xom Bo II such an enigma for the summer of love in 1967.

The audiobook of, June 17, 1967  Battle of Xom Bo II will have special appeal to 1st Infantry Division veterans that were a part of Operation Billings at landing zone X-Ray. Specifically, members of the Black Lions 2/28th, Rangers 1/16th, Vanguards 1/18th and other veterans of the 1st Infantry Division will appreciate this telling of their story of the devastating battle that happened 50 years ago in the Vietnam jungles about 47 miles northeast of Saigon.

Narrator Mark Sando, who is from Burnsville, Minnesota, a southern suburb of Minneapolis, has numerous audiobook narration credits under his belt which include Trans-Siberian Express by Warren Adler, Midway Inquest: Why the Japanese Lost the Battle of Midway (Twentieth-Century Battles) by Dallas W. Isom, The Cooper Saga 07 (Stories 61-70) by Bill Bernico, We Fight for Peace: Twenty-Three American Soldiers, Prisoners of War, and Turncoats in the Korean War by Brian D. McKnight and Cold Comfort by E. Abernathy. Sando, served in the Marines between 1974 and 1978 and after his discharge spent many years as an engineer in an aerospace company.

David Hearne is the author of two novels, The Christmas Special, Hulaguss Web, and a book of short horror stories titled Bloodstained Tales of Sin and Sex. Hearne has won multiple awards for his work. June 17, 1967  Battle of Xom Bo II, won first place from the Texas Association of Authors for non-fiction wartime and had also won awards at the New England Book Festival, The London Book Festival and the Florida Book Festival. He has also won numerous awards from the Southeast Texas Press Club. Hearne is currently working on a book about his battle with Metastatic Squamous Cell Neck Cancer. David Hearne and his wife currently own and operate the Book Nook Inn bed and breakfast in Lumberton, TX. Hearne can be contacted by email at David(at)david-hearne(dot)com, or you can read more about him at http://www.david-hearne.com
It helped us get certified in under two months for both contact and contactless chip and be among the first processors in the U.S. to offer Quick Chip for EMV technology for all major payment brands.

Today Clearent launched Quick Chip technology for EMV, a solution that significantly speeds up chip card transactions to make them just as fast as a card swipe. Software vendors can implement the new technology in less than a week with Clearents Semi-Integrated EMV solution.

More than 70% of U.S. merchants have yet to adopt EMV according to The Strawhecker Groups survey, despite the 2015 liability shift that made them liable for in-person counterfeit card fraud. There are several factors that have deterred adoption including slow chip card transaction times and a complex EMV certification process for point-of-sale (POS) providers. Quick Chip technology solves the transaction time issue for merchants by making chip card payments as seamless and fast as a 2-second card swipe.

A standard EMV network certification for a software vendor takes 3-6 months for each integration  software, hardware, and processor. With Clearents Semi-Integrated EMV solution, payment data bypasses the POS solution altogether  keeping it out of scope for EMV certification. Semi-integration also prevents the POS solution from needing to be PCI PA-DSS compliant, meaning even faster time to market for the software vendor. For the software vendors merchants, it reduces their PCI scope, making compliance faster, easier and less expensive, because sensitive cardholder data is not stored or transmitted on their systems.

Clearent worked with Visa to offer Quick Chip technology for EMV on Dejavoos suite of POS terminals. With Quick Chip, merchants will be able to have faster, more secure checkouts. The new Quick Chip for EMV technology is really a win-win for merchants and their customers, says Stephanie Ericksen, Vice President of Risk and Authentication Products at Visa. Clearent was among the first payment processors to complete certification of a Quick Chip solution and will be able to offer their partners and merchants an improved EMV checkout experience with the new technology.

By offering Quick Chip for EMV technology, software vendors can provide a seamless payment experience that will help improve merchant retention, said Dan Geraty, CEO of Clearent. We were very fortunate to be included in Visas Quick Chip VAR Incentive Program. It helped us get certified in under two months for both contact and contactless chip and be among the first processors in the U.S. to offer Quick Chip for EMV technology for all major payment brands.

Software vendors can learn more by visiting clearent.com/integrated-software/ or they can call Matthew Stanley on our ISV team directly at 919.916.5809.

About Clearent

Clearent is a full-service, fully integrated payment processor and merchant services provider. Its commitment to honesty and transparency has made it one of the most trusted companies in the payments industry. Clearent has more than 300 employees, 45,000 merchants, and $14 billion in processing volume. Its headquarters are in St. Louis, Missouri and it has offices in West Palm Beach, Florida and Louisville, Kentucky. From traditional point-of-sale terminals, mobile solutions, and tablet-based systems to a custom-built virtual terminal, eCommerce plug-ins, and hosted payments, Clearent can help small business owners securely accept payments just about anywhere. The companys proprietary processing system gives it more flexibility to deliver products that truly help its sales teams and partners stand out from the competition and sign more deals. It also helps the company deliver flexible pricing options, accurate, on-time residuals, and a suite of graphical portfolio management tools that are updated daily. Clearents Next Day Funding service is also unique because of its 11:00 p.m. Eastern cut-off time, which is one of the latest in the industry. The company has consistently been named to several prestigious lists year after year, such as the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies, The Nilson Reports list of top U.S. acquirers, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Top Workplaces award, and the St. Louis Business Journals list of fastest growing private companies. To learn more, visit clearent.com/integrated-software/ or call 866.205.4721.
New statistics show that Delaware soybean farmers have increased yields by 25 percent since 2010 while reducing their land, water and energy use. We work hard to produce soybeans more efficiently each year, while reducing our impact on the environment, all with our neighbors and future generations in mind.

New statistics show that Delaware soybean farmers have increased yields by 25 percent since 2010 while reducing their land, water and energy use. The information comes from a national report examining sustainability in the soybean harvest.

Delawares farmers produce soybeans in all three counties. By continuously improving their management practices and adopting new technologies, they have dramatically increased their productivity over the years, while using fewer resources.

Based on statistics from the United Soybean Boards Soy Sustainability research, Delaware soybean farmers produced 5.5 million bushels on 175,000 acres, averaging 32 bushels per acre in 2010. By 2015, they were able to produce 6.9 million bushels on 173,000 acres, averaging 40 bushels per acre.

Thats a 25 percent increase in bushels produced and on fewer acres. And theyve done so while reducing their impact on the environment. Since 2010, theyve:



Reduced water use per acre irrigated by more than 22 percent

Reduced energy use per bushel produced by 12 percent

Reduced the number of acres needed to produce one bushel of soybeans by 25 percent

Reduced soil erosion per bushel produced by a third, and

Reduced CO2 emissions per bushel by 24 percent

A high-quality and high-yielding soybean harvest and a healthy environment are not mutually exclusive. At the center of both is a sustainable farm, says Jay Baxter, chairman of the Delaware Soybean Board and soybean farmer from Georgetown, Delaware.

We work hard to produce soybeans more efficiently each year, while reducing our impact on the environment, all with our neighbors and future generations in mind.

The sustainability report was compiled using data collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, among other sources. The United Soybean Board has placed a high priority on defining and measuring sustainability of the nations crop.

Delaware soybean farmers now plant about 180,000 acres per year, harvesting more than 6.9 million bushels and contributing $60 million to Delawares economy.

The Delaware Soybean Board consists of nine farmer-directors and the Secretary of Agriculture, and administers the federal soybean checkoff programs in the state. Under the soybean checkoff, one half of one percent of the net market value of soybeans is assessed at the first point of sale to support research, marketing and education programs to benefit the soybean industry.

For more information visit http://www.desoybeans.org.

About Delaware Soybean Board: The Delaware Soybean Board administers soybean checkoff funds for soybean research, marketing and education programs in the state. One-half of the checkoff funds stay in Delaware for programs; the other half is sent to the United Soybean Board. To learn more about the Delaware Soybean Board, visit http://www.desoybeans.org.
Education  and girls education in particular  is often cited as one of the key pathways out of poverty, but in many parts of the world women and girls still face significant barriers that prevent them from attending school. Now, a field study in Malawi reveals psychological factors played an important role in whether girls attended school, even under conditions of extreme poverty and deprivation: Girls were significantly more likely to attend class when they were intrinsically excited about school and learning, even when they struggled with a lack of basic resources at home.

The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

We are prone to think that giving girls a reward for going to school will increase their motivation. Instead, our results indicate that stimulating their intrinsic joy of learning is a stronger predictor of their actual school going behavior, even under conditions of severe poverty, says researcher Marieke van Egmond of the University of Hagen in Germany, lead author on the study.

Even though a significant part of the global population lives under conditions of poverty, empirical psychological research with people living in poverty around the world is rare. Studies like this one are vital to determining whether theories and findings obtained in Western, industrialized settings hold for people who are exposed to very different life circumstances.

In general, girls really want to go to school, enjoy learning, and go to great lengths to do so. In psychological terms, they are intrinsically motivated, van Egmond explained. Poverty and social dynamics, however, work against them. Cultural beliefs and attitudes reinforce the idea that girls wont use their education or that they are not smart enough to continue with school. In other words, they dont feel like they belong in school, they dont feel competent and lack power.

To better understand the psychological factors that can help marginalized girls stay in school, van Egmond teamed up with the international development non-profit Theatre for a Change (TfaC) and researchers from One South to conduct a field study. TfaCs program focuses on empowering marginalized girls through school-based girls clubs.

Study participants included 642 girls and young women between the ages of 10 and 22 years old living in rural Malawi, a landlocked country in southeastern Africa that ranks 170 out of 188 on the United Nations 2016 Human Development Index. Participants were randomly selected from girls attending schools in Theatre for a Change school programs.

Interviews for the study were conducted by a specially trained team of 24 bilingual (English and Chichewa) female interviewers. The interviewers surveyed the girls about their intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for attending school, their health, and how frequently they didnt get enough to eat, didnt have enough clean water, lacked medicine or medical treatment, or lacked any cash income.

The researchers measured school attendance by looking at the number of days that girls had attended school over the month of February 2015.

School attendance was significantly higher among girls who were intrinsically motivated to attend school  those who said they enjoyed school and learning for its own sake  regardless of the level of resource scarcity that the girls were exposed to. Extrinsic motivation  that is, going to school because it is expected or normative  did not predict school attendance.

The results suggest that interventions that target aspects of intrinsic motivation, such as a sense of competence and autonomy, may be as effective as economic approaches in achieving behavioral change, as long as fundamental structural barriers (such as access to pens and paper) are overcome.

The take home message is that development projects that aim to increase the school attendance of girls in impoverished settings need to not only aim for female empowerment, but for creating environments in which girls feel that they belong and feel able to learn as well, van Egmond says. This will stimulate the girls intrinsic motivation to go to school, which is a strong predictor of their actual attendance.

Such interventions could ultimately lead to wide-ranging benefits, as research suggests that attending school provides lifelong health and economic advantages to women and girls, including higher incomes, better health care, and better education for ensuing generations. Yet, according to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, there are 33 million fewer girls than boys in primary schools worldwide.

Van Egmond and colleagues plan on extending this research to other countries in the sub-Saharan region in order to see if the patterns observed hold in different cultural contexts.

Co-authors on the research include Andres Navarrete Berges and Tariq Omarshah of One South and Jennifer Benton of Theatre for a Change.

Theatre for a Change Malawi received funding from the U.K. Department for International Development. The current project was funded within the framework of the Girls Education Challenge (Reference No. 8329).

All materials have been made publicly available via the Open Science Framework. The complete Open Practices Disclosure for this article is available online. This article has received the badge for Open Materials.
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The Poetry Foundation has named poet, novelist, and journalist Margarita Engle as the new Young Peoples Poet Laureate, a title given biennially in recognition of outstanding achievement in poetry for children. She is the first Latino to receive the honor. Engle will succeed current laureate Jacqueline Woodson on June 12, promoting a love of poetry among young readers and advising the Poetry Foundation on projects in support of that mission. The position comes with a $25,000 prize.

Poetry Foundation president Henry Bienen said of the appointment in a release, Margarita Engles passion, knowledge of nature, and curiosity about the world make her work fascinating to children and adults alike. We are delighted that Ms. Engle has accepted the position of Young Peoples Poet Laureate.

Engles memoir in verse, Enchanted Air, earned the 2016 Pura Belpre Author Award and was named a Walter Dean Myers Award Honoree. She is also the author of such young adult novels in verse as Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal, The Lightning Dreamer: Cubas Greatest Abolitionist, and The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cubas Struggle for Freedom, for which she received a Newbery Honor and a Pura Belpre Author Award.

Over the course of her two-year tenure, Engle hopes to share her lifelong passion for poetry with children. Ive been writing poetry since I was a small child, and I loved poetry all through my teen years, Engle told PW in a phone interview from her home in California. I think its a safe place for children and teens to put their emotionsand theyre bursting with emotions. She also hopes to lessen the intimidation factor that often comes with reading poetry. When given a chance, so many children will not only love poetry, but also write poetry. Especially if adults dont teach them to be afraid of it, Engle said.

Engle has already begun shaping her platform as Young Peoples Poet Laureate. I want to choose the theme of peace, or paz. Its a bilingual theme, and maybe if I can draw in other poets it will become multilingual. She believes that poetry plays a critical role in times of political tension. Im imagining a time and place when children and teens of opposing factions could listen to each others voices and discover common ground [through literature].

Engles anticipated projects include creating bilingual videos of poetry readings and other resources for use in classrooms and libraries. In 2018, she will work with the Chicago Youth Poetry Festival and the Teacher Institute in Chicago. She also hopes to partner with the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom.
Beijing, China, May 17, 2017 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications and a leading supplier of automotive electronics worldwide, together with Allystar, a spin-out from CEC Huada Electronic Design Co. Ltd. and a leading Chinese GNSS chip designer, announce their cooperation to develop and market GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) solutions for automotive products and other applications.

GNSS solutions and technologies, including China's BeiDou navigation system, are playing an ever-increasing role in many different domains, related to smart mobility. Specifically, enhanced-precision location technology enabled by multi-constellation GNSS solutions, in combination with radars, cameras, and various sensors, will be a key enabler for autonomous cars.

ST and Allystar are already co-marketing highly reliable products for the automotive market and cost-competitive products for the consumer market.

"GNSS positioning technologies are vital for a variety of services and applications and will be one of the key building blocks for autonomous-driving solutions. Working closely with Allystar, the Chinese leader in GNSS/BeiDou solutions, allows ST to better address the enormous positioning market of China and Asia," said Marco Monti, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Automotive and Discrete Group, STMicroelectronics.

"Smart mobility for the autonomous car includes technologies capable of sensing the vehicle's environment and its navigation without human input. Many automotive companies are planning and developing vehicles with automated driving systems. Cooperation with ST allows Allystar to benefit from the variety of ST's automotive and other highly reliable products when serving customers in this fast-growing market," said Sun Zhong-Liang, General Manager, Allystar.

About Allystar

Allystar Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a spin-out from CEC Huada Electronic Design Co., Ltd., was founded in Shenzhen, China on December 6th 2016. Its capital is 400M RMB. The joint venture board members of Allystar include CEC Optics Valley, SAIC Motor, BAIC Motor, Ningbo Bird Company, Jinjia Group. The core team of Allystar has many years of successful experiences in Integrated circuit design, GNSS algorithm development, security logistic management system, product solution design, etc. Allystar's focusing on several markets including a wide variety of secure location applications, such as GNSS, high precision positioning, secure IoT, autonomous vehicles, etc. Allystar is the first Chinese company ranked in the international top 10 of GNSS chips, and has won many important prizes and awards in China recognizing its R&D excellence and innovation capability.

About STMicroelectronics

ST is a global semiconductor leader delivering intelligent and energy-efficient products and solutions that power the electronics at the heart of everyday life. ST's products are found everywhere today, and together with our customers, we are enabling smarter driving and smarter factories, cities and homes, along with the next generation of mobile and Internet of Things devices. By getting more from technology to get more from life, ST stands for life.augmented.

In 2016, the Company's net revenues were $6.97 billion, serving more than 100,000 customers worldwide. Further information can be found at www.st.com

For Press Information Contact:

Allystar

Fan Changyong

fanchy@allystar.com

STMicroelectronicsGrace DengSr. Corporate External Communications Executive+86 10 5797 9928
Celebrating Our Service Members

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G'day! It's Murray here. I've put together a little quiz to test your musical knowledge. Think you can score top marks in Murray's Magic Music Quiz? Give it a go now!
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 's (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) approved a contract with Barletta Heavy Division, Inc. , for the construction of improvements to the Wellington Maintenance Facility.

The cost of the Wellington Maintenance Facility project through FY18 is $98.28 million.

The project will rehabilitate the Wellington Carhouse in Medford to prepare the location for the arrival of 152 new Orange Line vehicles. Six pilot Orange Line cars will be delivered in December 2017 with delivery of the new Orange Line production fleet beginning in December 2018. Improvements to Wellington Maintenance Facility include an expansion of the carhouse by one service bay to allow for the maintenance of an enlarged Orange Line fleet, rehabilitation and modernization of the existing lifts, cranes, wheel truing machinery, roof, MEP and other updates, the addition of elevators and other accessibility accommodations and a new electronics room for new vehicles.

Construction advertisements for the project began on March 23, 2017. An independent cost estimate was set at $82.35 million with the bid opening on May 11, 2017. Four bids were received with MBTA staff recommending Barletta Heavy Division, Inc., as Barletta provided the lowest bid of $72.58 million.

The Wellington Maintenance Facility construction project is one element of the Red Line/Orange Line Infrastructure Improvements Program. The Programs total costs are $470.36 million for FY18 and FY19 and that total includes the Orange Line Test Track and Wellington Yard project, the Wellington Yard Expansion from Tracks 33 to 38 project, the Wellington Yard Zones A and B project, the Red Line Test Track project, the Cabot Maintenance Facility project, the Cabot Yard Rebuild for Zones A through C project and Red Line and Orange Line signal system enhancements.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, JERSEY, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SUBSCRIBE FOR OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE ANY NEW ORDINARY SHARES OF WENTWORTH RESOURCES LIMITED IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH ANY SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

17 May 2017

Wentworth Resources Limited

Results of Private Placement



Wentworth Resources Limited ("Wentworth" or the "Company"), the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: WRL) and AIM (AIM: WRL) listed independent, East Africa focused oil and gas company, is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Private Placement announced on 16 May 2017.

New Common Shares have been successfully conditionally placed, or subscription agreements entered into, with new and existing investors for a total of 16,953,496 new Common Shares of no par value (the "Placement Shares") at a price of 25 pence per Placement Share (approximately 0.32 US$, 2.73 NOK), raising approximately US$5.5 million (GBP 4.2 million, NOK 46.3 million) in aggregate before expenses. The net proceeds of the Private Placement are estimated to amount to approximately US$5.1 million (GBP 3.9 million, NOK 43.2 million).

The net proceeds of the Private Placement will be used in order to advance the Tembo appraisal program in Mozambique as well as provide general working capital. The Placing Price represents a discount of approximately 7.7 per cent. to the VWAP of the existing Common Shares on AIM of 27.1 pence on 16 May 2017 and of approximately 13.0 per cent. to the VWAP of the existing Common Shares on the Oslo Stock Exchange of 3.1 NOK on 16 May 2017 (being the latest practicable trading period prior to the date of this announcement).

Bob McBean, Executive Chairman of Wentworth, commented:

"We are very pleased with the successful outcome of this raise which was oversubscribed and provides the Company with working capital flexibility ahead of the potential step up of gas demand in Tanzania, whilst supporting the Company's ongoing Tembo appraisal programme in Mozambique. We have now carried out an extensive technical review and evaluation of the Tembo gas discovery and are in the process of identifying an industry partner to join in the drilling of an appraisal well in 2018. I and the Board would like to thank our existing shareholders for their continued support and welcome our new shareholders at an exciting period ahead for Wentworth".

The latest Corporate Presentation is available on the Company's website www.wentworthresources.com.

Admission

Application has been made for Admission of the Placement Shares to trading on AIM (as depositary receipts) and it is expected that such Admission will become effective and that dealings in the Placement Shares on AIM will commence at 8.00 am BST on 19 May 2017. It is further expected that the Placement Shares will be admitted to trading on the Oslo Stock Exchange as from the same time. The Placement Shares will rank parri passu in all respects with the Company's existing Common Shares.

The Private Placement is conditional, inter alia, upon Admission becoming effective and the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not being terminated. The Placement Shares have been conditionally placed by Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited and GMP FirstEnergy as agents of the Company with certain existing and new institutional and other investors pursuant to a placing agreement (the "Placing Agreement"). Under the terms of the Placing Agreement Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited and GMP FirstEnergy will receive commission from the Company conditional on Admission of the Placement Shares and the Company gave customary warranties, indemnities and undertakings to Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited and GMP FirstEnergy in relation to its business. Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited and GMP FirstEnergy has the right to terminate the Placing Agreement in certain circumstances prior to Admission.

Total Voting Rights

Immediately following Admission, the Company's issued share capital will consist of 186,488,465 Common Shares. The Company does not hold any Common Shares in treasury. This figure may be used by shareholders to determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company.

The Placement Shares will represent in aggregate approximately 9.1 per cent. of the Company's total enlarged issued ordinary share capital on Admission.

The Placement Shares have not been registered under the US Securities Act and were only offered and sold (i) to investors outside the United States and that are not US Persons in reliance on Regulation S under the US Securities Act and applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements in the relevant jurisdictions, and (ii) in the United States to "qualified institutional buyers" (QIBs) as defined in Rule 144A under the US Securities Act under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

The book-building process for the Private Placement was completed on 16 May 2017. Notices of allocation were sent to the investors on the same date.

Settlement of the Placement Shares is expected to take place on or about 19 May 2017 through payment by subscribers against delivery of the Placement Shares (in the form of depositary interests representing the underlying shares) through CREST for trading on AIM and through the VPS for trading on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

Definitions used in the announcement of the Company on 16 May 2017 apply to this announcement unless the context requires otherwise.

About Wentworth Resources

Wentworth Resources is a publicly traded (OSE:WRL, AIM:WRL), independent oil & gas company with: natural gas production; exploration and appraisal opportunities; and large-scale gas monetisation initiatives, all in the Rovuma Delta Basin of coastal southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique.

Enquiries: Wentworth Geoffrey Bury,

Managing Director gpb@wentworthresources.com

+1 403 993 4450 Lance Mierendorf,

Chief Financial Officer



lance.mierendorf@wentworthresources.com

+1 403 680 8773 Katherine Roe

Vice President Corporate Development and Investor Relations



katherine.roe@wentworthresources.com

+44 7841 087 230 Crux Advisers Investor Relations Adviser

(Norway) +47 909 808 48 Carl Bachke Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited AIM Nominated Adviser and Broker (UK) +44 (0) 20 7710 7600 Callum Stewart Ashton Clanfield



GMP FirstEnergy Broker (UK) +44 (0) 20 7448 0200 Hugh Sanderson

David van Erp

FTI Consulting Investor Relations Adviser (UK) +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 Edward Westropp

Kim Camilleri

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This announcement may contain certain forward-looking information. The words "expect", "anticipate", believe", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "forecast", "plan", and similar expressions are used to identify forward looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made in light of management's experience, current conditions and expected future development in the areas in which Wentworth is currently active and other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Wentworth undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predicted outcome will not occur, including some of which are beyond Wentworth's control. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in exploration, development and production, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures, the imprecision of resource and reserve estimates, assumptions regarding the timing and costs relating to production and development as well as the availability and price of labour and equipment, volatility of and assumptions regarding commodity prices and exchange rates, marketing and transportation risks, environmental risks, competition, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources and changes in applicable law. Additionally, there are economic, political, social and other risks inherent in carrying on business in Tanzania and Mozambique. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could vary or differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. See Wentworth's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2016, available on Wentworth's website, for further description of the risks and uncertainties associated with Wentworth's business.

Notice

Neither the Oslo Stock Exchange nor the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange has reviewed this announcement and neither accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this announcement.

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

This announcement is for information only and does not constitute or form part of an offer or invitation to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities or investment advice in any jurisdiction.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT INTENDED, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED, AS AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. THE SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY DESCRIBED HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "US SECURITIES ACT"), OR THE LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY JURISDICTION THEREOF, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, RE-SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR DELIVERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, ABSENT REGISTRATION OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE US SECURITIES ACT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION IN THE UNITED STATES.

The distribution of this announcement and the Private Placement of the Placement Shares as set out in this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken that would permit an offering of such shares or possession or distribution of this announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required by the Company to inform themselves about, and to observe, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This communication does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United States, the United Kingdom or in any other jurisdiction. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States, United Kingdom or in any other jurisdiction. This communication is directed only at persons (i) having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), (ii) who are high net worth companies, unincorporated associations and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated in accordance with Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (iii) other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment activity in connection with the Private Placement will only be available to, and will only be engaged with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents.

In member states of the European Economic Area, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive (Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State).

This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements", including within the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act and Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and can be identified by the use of a date in the future or forward-looking terminology, including, but not limited to, the terms "may", "believes", "estimates", "plans", "aims", "targets", "projects", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "will", "could" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include matters that are not historical facts and include statements regarding the Company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. A number of factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this announcement reflect the Company's view with respect to future events as at the date of this announcement and are subject to risks relating to future events and the Company's operations, results of operations, financial condition, growth, strategy, liquidity and the industry in which the Company operates. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this announcement will be realised. Neither the Company, Stifel nor GMP FirstEnergy undertake any obligation nor do they intend to revise or update any forward-looking statements in this announcement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement (except, in the case of the Company, to the extent required by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA"), the London Stock Exchange or by applicable law, the AIM Rules or the Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules). None of the future projections, expectations, estimates or prospects in this announcement should be taken as forecasts or promises nor should they be taken as implying any indication, assurance or guarantee that the assumptions on which such future projections, expectations, estimates or prospects have been prepared are correct or exhaustive or, in the case of the assumptions, fully stated in the announcement. As a result of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, prospective investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements in this announcement or any other forward-looking statements it may make. Forward-looking statements in this announcement are current only as of the date on which such statements are made.

This announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility of, the Company. This announcement is for information only and does not constitute an offer or invitation to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities or investment advice in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful, including without limitation, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Jersey or South Africa. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdictions. Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.

Neither Stifel nor GMP FirstEnergy nor any of their respective affiliates, parent undertakings, subsidiary undertakings or subsidiaries of their parent undertakings nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees or advisers nor any other person accepts any responsibility whatsoever and makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, for or in respect of the contents of this announcement and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, no responsibility or liability is accepted by any of them for any such information or opinions or for any errors or omissions.

Stifel, which is regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting solely for the Company in relation to the Private Placement and nobody else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to the clients of Stifel nor for providing advice in relation to the Private Placement or any other matter referred to in this announcement. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed upon Stifel by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or the regulatory regime established thereunder, Stifel does not accept any responsibility whatsoever or make any representation or warranty, express or implied, concerning the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification, or concerning any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with the Company, the Placement Shares or the Private Placement and nothing in this announcement is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or future. Stifel accordingly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all and any responsibility and liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to herein) which it might otherwise have in respect of this announcement or any such statement.

GMP FirstEnergy, which is regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting solely for the Company in relation to the Private Placement and nobody else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to the clients of GMP FirstEnergy nor for providing advice in relation to the Private Placement or any other matter referred to in this announcement. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed upon GMP FirstEnergy by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or the regulatory regime established thereunder, First Energy does not accept any responsibility whatsoever or make any representation or warranty, express or implied, concerning the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification, or concerning any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with the Company, the Placement Shares or the Private Placement and nothing in this announcement is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or future. GMP FirstEnergy accordingly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all and any responsibility and liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to herein) which it might otherwise have in respect of this announcement or any such statement.

Any indication in this announcement of the price at which Placement Shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. No statement in this announcement is intended to be a profit forecast and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of the Company. The price of Placement Shares and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested on disposal of the Placement Shares.

The Placement Shares will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the London Stock Exchange and the Oslo Stock Exchange. Neither the Oslo Stock Exchange nor the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange has reviewed this announcement and neither accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this announcement.

Neither the content of the Company's website (or any other website) nor any website accessible by hyperlinks to the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this announcement.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Canada wants to mandate the use of inward-facing video cameras in the cabs of locomotives, according to a bill filed in Parliament.

The Transportation Modernization Act filed May 15 by Transport Minister Marc Garneau if passed would amend Canadas omnibus Railway Safety Act to require the installation of Locomotive Voice and Video Recorders (LVVR) technology.

Railroads say the video equipment will improve rail safety, but labor groups oppose it over workplace and privacy concerns.

Minister Garneau has shown tremendous political leadership with todays announcement on inward-facing cameras, and I thank him for his commitment to safety, said CPs President and Chief Executive Keith Creel, in a statement. Having the ability to use this technology in a proactive manner will allow us to prevent incidents and improve rail safety  further protecting the public, our employees and the goods we transport for our customers.

The new rules mandate the installation of LVVR in locomotive cabs to further enhance the safety of the rail transportation system in Canada, including allowing for federally-regulated companies to conduct analysis via random sampling in order to identify safety concerns as part of ongoing safety management; to determine the cause of a reportable accident/incident not being investigated by the Transportation Safety Board; and to address a prescribed safety threat.

Creel, who has led efforts to adopt LVVR, said, By implementing LVVR as a preventative, proactive, behavior-changing tool we will promote safe behaviors and improve safety. We recognize the need to use this technology in a way that is respectful of our employees, and are committed to working closely with government, regulators and the unions to do so.

Earlier this year, CP launched an awareness campaign, www.cprailsafe.ca, which highlights the safety benefits of inward-facing cameras. The railroad said it uses LVVR technology in 50 of its locomotives operating in the United States.
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When Laurel Amtower was diagnosed with cancer in late 2009, she and her parents were floored. Laurel, an English professor at San Diego State University, had been having trouble keeping her balance, and her family doctor sent her to have a magnetic resonance imaging test, or MRI.

A doctor came into the room and told Laurel, You have a brain tumor.

We had no idea where to go, said Laurels mother, Pat Amtower, a Rancho Santa Fe resident. Doctors later told Laurel her tumor, called a glioblastoma multiforme, was inoperable, and she died about 10 months after her diagnosis.

Pat and her husband, Dick, felt their family needed much more support during the traumatic experience of the cancer diagnosis, and that the follow-up by their health-care providers at the time was chaotic and uncoordinated. They determined to do what they could to prevent other families from going through the same thing.

We had a horrible experience, said Dick.

The Amtowers, through a $5.7 million donation to Sharp HealthCare, founded the Laurel Amtower Cancer Institute and Neuro-Oncology Center, which opened its doors in 2015. The center, located at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, is designed to provide patients and their families throughout the region with state-of-the-art care, as well as a variety of emotional and practical support as they deal with their diagnosis and treatment.

The centers focus is on brain and spinal tumors, and its aim is to help our patients and families with a difficult diagnosis and difficult times, said Dr. Charles Redfern, the centers medical director.

Redfern and the Amtowers spoke with a reporter in a conference room in the cancer center named in tribute to Laurel Amtower, during the month of May, which is Brain Tumor Awareness Month.

The center treats patients from all three hospitals in the Sharp system, including Sharp Memorial, Sharp Grossmont and Sharp Chula Vista. Annually, the center treats about 165 patients with primary brain tumors, and another 350 patients whose cancer began elsewhere in the body and spread to the brain, said Redfern.

In establishing the center, said Pat Amtower, one of the couples requirements was that any patient would be seen by a cancer specialist within 48 hours of contacting the program.

Youre not going to sit around worrying about this, Pat said.

Redfern said he personally meets with the new patients and helps them come up with a plan for moving forward, which could include treatment at Sharp or referral to another facility.

When you get a brain tumor diagnosis, Dick said, You want to be seen ASAP.

We can design a plan to optimize your chance of defeating this, said Pat.

The Amtowers moved to Rancho Santa Fe 17 years ago to help Laurel and her husband with their baby daughter. Dicks background is in manufacturing electronic inspection systems and Pat helped drug and medical device makers get their products through the regulatory approval process.

Laurels brother, Rich, lives with his family in Washington state, where he works in the video gaming industry with Nintendo.

The couple has devoted their time to caring for Laurels daughter - their granddaughter - who is now heading off to Cal Poly to study agricultural science.

In addition to supporting the Sharp brain cancer center, the Amtowers support such programs and causes as Meals-on-Wheels, education, government oversight and cultural entities, said Pat.

According to Pat and Dick, Laurel earned her masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Washington, after doing her undergraduate work at UC Irvine. Her specialty was critical theory and medieval literature.

During the semester when she was diagnosed with brain cancer, Laurel invited her graduate class to have their final session at her home. She taught her last class, on Chaucer, online, creating podcasts for her students each week. She also wrote a blog during her illness, sharing her positive approach to dealing with such problems as vertigo and memory loss.

One thing that impressed her friends and family was the strength and positive attitude she displayed during her illness, said her mother. She even joked about her cancer, describing it with a line from the film Ghostbusters: Here we have a Class 2 non-repeating phantasm. Nasty bugger, too.

Laurel died on Aug. 29, 2010. She was 44 and lived in Encinitas.

For more information about the Sharp brain and spinal cord cancer treatment program, visit bit.ly/2pG6A4l
On May 1, 30 years after releasing its founding charter, Hamas unveiled a revised version of the document that appears to soften the group's stance toward Israel. The major takeaway is that Hamas is open, at least in principle, to accepting the 1967 borders of a Palestinian statea major sticking point in previous failed negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Its previous position had always been to call for the destruction of the state of Israel.

The revised charter, which still contains some of the more incendiary language of the original, was announced the same week that U.S. President Donald Trump met with Mahmoud Abbas, the longtime leader of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas's main political rival. It also comes amid a continuing Egyptian blockade of Gaza. Since assuming power in 2014, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's government has tightened security along the Gaza border, shut down many of Hamas's tunnels (including by flooding some with sewage), and harassed Gazan fishermen who have strayed into Egyptian waters. The loss of the tunnels is a serious logistic challenge for Hamas, especially considering the critical role they served as an underground avenue for smuggling fighters, weapons, and hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of goods into Israel.

But aside from the benefits of currying favor with Cairo or shifting media focus away from Abbas, a major component of Hamas's rebranding is strategic. Indeed, the changes to the charter raise a number of questions about Hamas's political future. Although hard-liners in the Israeli political elite may claim that nothing has changed, even minor tweaks in a terrorist organization's ideology and political platform can have lasting and outsize effects, providing the momentum necessary for further changes down the line. It may be imprudent to expect Hamas to engineer a radical departure from its worldview, but the recently announced shift could smooth the way toward progress with Israel.

Flexible Tactics

Historically, Hamas has had links to the Muslim Brotherhood and has shared ideological roots with the insurgent Egyptian Islamic Group (Jamaat al-Islamiyya), active throughout the 1990s, and Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which once claimed the current al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, as a member. Since its inception, Hamas has maintained a hard line toward Israel while representing the strand of Palestinian politics that rejects a two-state solution.

Hamas considers the conflict with Israel an existential struggle rather than a mere dispute over borders.

The group has focused on the importance of traditional Islamic values and has called for the elimination of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic state in Palestine. It considers the conflict with Israel an existential struggle rather than a mere dispute over borders. In the original charter of 1987, Hamas makes clear that its purpose is to elevate the concept of jihad of the sword, or offensive military actions, in its efforts to mobilize Palestinians. The language in the revised charter, importantly, does not renounce violence and still considers jihad a legitimate right of the Palestinian people.

But even before the charter's revisions, Hamas's tactics had proved flexible over time. Despite its occasional inflammatory rhetoric, its ideologymuch like Hezbollah'sis pragmatic, and the group has demonstrated flexibility before. At various points, including in 2006, Hamas called for a temporary ban on suicide operations, perhaps in an attempt to increase its appeal among a broader swath of the Palestinian population. It has also worked across the Sunni-Shiite divide to cooperate and collaborate with Iran in what has become a more complicated relationship since the beginning of the civil war in Syria. In the same vein, the charter revisions suggest that Hamas is flirting with the idea of a more moderate position vis-a-vis Israel and a negotiated political settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Dropping the language explicitly calling for Israel's destruction also suggests an effort by Hamas to portray itself as more of an Islamic national liberation movement and less of an offshoot of the transnational Muslim Brotherhood, which has been systematically targeted by the Egyptian government.

Still, even if Hamas is able to fully trade the bomb for the ballot box, it remains to be seen whether Israel will ever truly accept the group as a serious political entity. One obvious difficulty is the significant number of terror attacks and suicide bombings the group has carried out throughout the course of the insurgency.

A History of Violence

When Hamas first emerged in 1987, Israelis welcomed it as a counterbalance to Yasir Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization, which promoted an ideology of aggressive Palestinian nationalism and was more worrisome to Tel Aviv at the time. (In fact, Israel initially viewed Hamas as a temporary nuisance with no real capacity to present a threat, and with little popular legitimacy, according to the Middle East scholar Beverley Milton-Edwards.)

However, Israel soon realized that Hamas was a highly capable adversaryand one whose forces were willing to die for their cause. Hamas's military wing, Izzadhin al-Qassam, began carrying out suicide attacks in 1993, which it believed would give the group a tactical and strategic advantage over the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). During what became known as the second intifada, from the fall of 2000 to early 2005, Hamas unleashed ( PDF ) a torrent of suicide bombings that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israelis while inflicting severe psychological trauma on the Israeli populace.

In response to these attacks, Israel launched several major offensives against Hamas over the past decade. These include Operation Cast Lead during the Gaza War of 200809, Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, and the sustained bombing of Gaza in 2014 during Operation Protective Edge, which Israeli officials argued was aimed at disabling the Hamas network of tunnels and its ability to smuggle men and materiel to replenish its depleted ranks.

Historically, the group's use of suicide bombings does not seem to have caused its popularity to ebbin a 2002 survey, nearly 70 percent of Palestinians said they believed suicide bombings were a legitimate tactic in the conflict with Israel. After each battle, Hamas emerged badly bruised, but not beaten, even while it stressed the asymmetric nature of the conflict and portrayed itselfcorrectly in the eyes of manyas the underdog in the fight against a ruthless occupying force.

The Future of the Conflict

Signs of a changing strategic calculus within the Hamas leadership were evident as early as 2006, when the group decided to enter the political arena and won a stunning victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections. The choice to sit for elections, always a critical decision point for an insurgent or terrorist group, was highly controversial among its membership. Organizing for elections cost money and, in the eyes of some militants, diverted precious resources from the overarching goalattacking Israel. Many of the group's leaders, including Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, both assassinated by Israel, consistently remained skeptical of the efficacy of diplomacy and the peace process throughout their tenure within the organization.

With the language calling for Israel's destruction scrapped, one major concern is that there could now be an opening for more radical groups to gain strength in Gaza.

And with the language calling for Israel's destruction scrapped, one major concern is that there could now be an opening for more radical groups to gain strength in Gaza. Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conflation of the two groups, Hamas has continuously disassociated itself ideologically from al Qaeda, releasing a statement in 2007 that accused Zawahiri (at that time deputy to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden) of undermining Palestinian ( PDF ) jihadists for more than a decade and a half and rebuked al Qaeda's targeting of innocent civilians, even as other ultraconservative Salafist groups continue to pledge fealty to al Qaeda or the even more radical Islamic State (also known as ISIS). The growth of these groups in the Palestinian territories should be a major cause of concern to Israeli officials.

Yet there are grounds for hope. As with all long-standing conflicts, change will likely come gradually and could be accompanied by setbacks and false starts. But as terrorist chieftains mature, they often come to terms with what violence can and cannot achieve. Within Hamas's leadership, rapprochement with Israel could be viewed by some as a far more productive prospect than a third intifada or another skirmish with the IDF.

But the question remains whether the modified charter represents a shift by Hamas away from violence and toward a more lasting and peaceful political presence or a ploy to buy time to rearm until the group grows strong enough to once again challenge Israel militarily. The answer will have a major impact on the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader Middle East.

Colin P. Clarke is a political scientist at the nonprofit RAND Corporation, an associate fellow at the International Centre for Counter Terrorism (ICCT)-The Hague, and the author of Terrorism, Inc.: The Financing of Terrorism, Insurgency, and Irregular Warfare.

This commentary originally appeared on Foreign Affairs on May 17, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Forty-five years have passed since humans last set foot on an extraterrestrial body. Now, the moon is back at the center of efforts not only to explore space, but to create a permanent, independent space-faring society.

Planning expeditions to Earth's nearest celestial neighbor is no longer just a NASA effort, though the U.S. space agency has plans for a moon-orbiting space station that would serve as a staging ground for Mars missions in the early 2030s. The United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing, is planning a lunar fueling station ( PDF ) for spacecraft, capable of supporting 1,000 people living in space within 30 years.

Billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Robert Bigelow all have companies aiming to deliver people or goods to the moon. Several teams competing for a share of Google's US$30 million cash prize are planning to launch rovers to the moon.

We and 27 other students from around the world recently participated in the 2017 Caltech Space Challenge, proposing designs of what a lunar launch and supply station for deep space missions might look like, and how it would work.

The raw materials for rocket fuel

Right now all space missions are based on, and launched from, Earth. But Earth's gravitational pull is strong. To get into orbit, a rocket has to be traveling 11 kilometers a second  25,000 miles per hour!

Any rocket leaving Earth has to carry all the fuel it will ever use to get to its destination and, if needed, back again. That fuel is heavy  and getting it moving at such high speeds takes a lot of energy. If we could refuel in orbit, that launch energy could lift more people or cargo or scientific equipment into orbit. Then the spacecraft could refuel in space, where Earth's gravity is less powerful.

The moon has one-sixth the gravity of Earth, which makes it an attractive alternative base. The moon also has ice, which we already know how to process into a hydrogen-oxygen propellant that we use in many modern rockets.

Roving Luna

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite missions have already found substantial amounts of ice in permanently shadowed craters on the moon.

Those locations would be tricky to mine because they are colder and offer no sunlight to power roving vehicles. However, we could install big mirrors on the craters' rims to illuminate solar panels in the permanently shadowed regions.

Rovers from Google's Lunar X Prize competition and NASA's Lunar Resource Prospector, set to launch in 2020, would also contribute to finding good locations to mine ice.

Imagining a moon base

Depending on where the best ice reserves are, we might need to build several small robotic moon bases. Each one would mine ice, manufacture liquid propellant and transfer it to passing spacecraft. Our team developed plans to accomplish those tasks with three different types of rovers. Our plans also require a few small robotic shuttles to meet up with nearby deep-space mission vehicles in lunar orbit.

One rover, which we call the Prospector, would explore the moon and find ice-bearing locations. A second rover, the Constructor, would follow along behind, building a launch pad and packing down roadways to ease movements for the third rover type, the Miners, which actually collect the ice and deliver it to nearby storage tanks and an electrolysis processing plant that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.

The Constructor would also build a landing pad where the small near-moon transport spacecraft we call Lunar Resupply Shuttles would arrive to collect fuel for delivery as newly launched spacecraft pass by the moon. The shuttles would burn moon-made fuel and would have advanced guidance and navigation systems to travel between lunar bases and their target spacecraft.

A gas station in space

When enough fuel is being produced, and the shuttle delivery system is tested and reliable, our plan calls for building a gas station in space. The shuttles would deliver ice directly to the orbiting fuel depot, where it would be processed into fuel and where rockets heading to Mars or elsewhere could dock to top up.

The depot would have large solar arrays powering an electrolysis module for melting the ice and then turning the water into fuel, and large fuel tanks to store what's made. NASA is already working on most of the technology needed for a depot like this, including docking and fuel transfer. We anticipate a working depot could be ready in the early 2030s, just in time for the first human missions to Mars.

The Earth-moon Lagrangian Point 1 is the perfect pit stop for a spacecraft on its way to Mars or the outer planets.

To be most useful and efficient, the depot should be located in a stable orbit relatively near both the Earth and the moon. The Earth-moon Lagrangian Point 1 (L1) is a point in space about 85 percent of the way from Earth to the moon, where the force of Earth's gravity would exactly equal the force of the moon's gravity pulling in the other direction. It's the perfect pit stop for a spacecraft on its way to Mars or the outer planets.

Leaving Earth

Our team also found a fuel-efficient way to get spacecraft from Earth's orbit to the depot at L1, requiring even less launch fuel and freeing up more lift energy for cargo items. First, the spacecraft would launch from Earth into Low Earth Orbit with an empty propellant tank.

Then, the spacecraft and its cargo could be towed from Low Earth Orbit to the depot at L1 using a solar electric propulsion tug, a spacecraft largely propelled by solar-powered electric thrusters.

This would let us triple the payload delivery to Mars. At present, a human Mars mission is estimated to cost as much as US$100 billion, and will need hundreds of tons of cargo ( PDF ). Delivering more cargo from Earth to Mars with fewer rocket launches would save billions of dollars and years of time.

A base for space exploration

Building a gas station between Earth and the moon would also reduce costs for missions beyond Mars. NASA is looking for extraterrestrial life on the moons of Saturn and Jupiter. Future spacecraft could carry much more cargo if they could refuel in space  who knows what scientific discoveries sending large exploration vehicles to these moons could enable?

By helping us escape both Earth's gravity and dependence on its resources, a lunar gas station could be the first small step toward the giant leap into making humanity an interplanetary civilization.

Gary Li is a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. Danielle DeLatte is a Ph.D. student in aeronautics and astronautics at the University of Tokyo. Jerome Gilleron is a Ph.D. candidate in aerospace engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Samuel Wald is a Ph.D. student in aeronautics and astronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Therese Jones is a Ph.D. candidate in public policy at the Pardee RAND Graduate School.

Disclosure statement

Gary Li receives funding from the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Danielle DeLatte receives funding from the University of Tokyo. Jerome Gilleron is a member of Space Generation Advisory Council. Samuel Wald does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above. Therese Jones receives funding from the Homeland Security Operations and Analysis Center and the National Defense Research Institute. She is affiliated with RAND.

This article was originally published on The Conversation on May 14, 2017.

Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
As Uganda undergoes a period of rapid urbanization (expected to increase from 13% in 2010 to 60% by 2040 [ PDF ]), the number of people eating meals outside the home is also on the rise. Most urbanites seem to be looking for food that is convenient and affordable, and Kampala's growing street food industry delivers. Food processing and sales account for more than 30% of the informal market and provides economic opportunity for the poor or marginalized in urban centers, especially women. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations has recommended ( PDF ) street food enterprises as a good way to diversify household income with little capital investment, highlighting how small enterprises can continue to grow over time. But what about households who rely on sales as their only form of income? More often than not, food vendors get trapped living day-to-day, and are unable to further develop their enterprises.

Street food vendors typically cater to lower-income, price-sensitive consumers and need to keep prices low to compete successfully in the marketplace. In addition, a fair amount of their income must be used to purchase ingredients for the next day's food offerings. After paying their daily living expenses, too many street vendors don't have sufficient capital to maximize their sales and profits.

The Pardee RAND Graduate School recently teamed up with the African Center for Economic Transformation on a project promoting highly nutritious, drought-tolerant native grainsmillet and sorghumin Uganda, culminating in a Superfood Cook-off Competition finale that paired professional chefs with local vendors to create nutritious and affordable street foods using these sustainable grains. After the event, we interviewed the participating street vendors to find out more about their business goals and the obstacles they face.

Consta Adong, 40, from Lira, Uganda is single and has no children. She operates a vending booth at the Nakawa Market in Kampala and sells traditional food from the region where she was born. Adong had been able to save enough money to rent a market stall and buy a cooking stove to prepare larger meals. However, she usually runs out of food before she runs out of customers. After selling about 50 plates per day, earning the equivalent of $32 to $44, and paying her helpers, she only has enough left to buy ingredients for another 50 plates of food the next day. Adong says she believes there is demand for at least 100 plates of food per day but without credit, she cannot afford the ingredients to meet that demand and must forego the potential profits.

Milly Sebuliba, a 45-year-old mother of six children, has been operating a vending booth in Nakasero Market for over 10 years. Sebuliba typically sells about 40 plates per day, and has at least 10 to 15 clients looking to buy food after she has run out. She rents space at the market, but because she cannot afford the license fees to cover a one-year period, she pays a higher rate to rent month to month. A long-term license would save her money and provide more stability, according to Sebuliba. She says an infusion of the equivalent of about $150 into her business would give her ample capital to secure her position in the market and allow her to purchase more supplies. Sebuliba estimates she could pay it back in six months.

Another street vendor said he sees opening a restaurant as an opportunity to make a better income. Asiimwe Nicholas, 30, completed a college degree in hotel management and has a wife and a baby. In the street food business for three years, he targets university students with items such as chips (French fries), roasted chicken, and sausages. He estimates that a loan of about $2,650 in U.S. dollars would allow him to open a brick-and-mortar establishment and that it would take him between 18 months and three years to repay the loan.

The street food vendors all appeared to be hardworking and enthusiastic. But their reality is starkmany are one family or health crisis away from losing everything. In Kampala, selling food on the street is technically illegal, and the Kampala City Council Authority intermittently cracks down on local vendors. However, many of the sanctioned markets are already full, and renting a space costs money. Micro-loans could potentially help move these vendors up the economic ladder, but a broader social safety net in addition to a small influx of capital is needed. Improved vendor registration, regulations regarding the cost of renting market booths, and the provision of safe and energy-efficient cooking equipment could improve the economic stability of vendor households.

Street vendors would greatly benefit from the development of an appropriate infrastructure in tandem with food safety standards, rules of hygiene, and an increased focus on healthful products. Kampala's growing population also would benefit from receiving increased access to nutritious and affordable foods.

Michele Abbott is an assistant policy researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and a Ph.D. candidate at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Deborah Cohen is a senior scientist at the RAND Corporation. This blog post was written for the Pardee Initiative for Global Human Progress.

Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
The resolution of the ongoing dispute about the Gaza Strip and West Bankoften referred to as the Palestinian Territorieswill likely depend on the outcome of peace negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. As the future of the Palestinian people arguably rests on what happens after peace becomes a reality, RAND has focused on and recommended policies for economic and infrastructure development in a post-peace era.
Russian Major General appeals sentence for misappropriation of Defense Ministrys property

ST. PETERSBURG, May 17 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) - Retired Major General Vladimir Poleshchuk has filed an appeal against a 7-year prison sentence passed on him for misappropriation of housing property belonging to Russias Defense Ministry, the Krasnoselsky District Court of St. Petersburg told RAPSI on Wednesday.

Poleshchuk and his assistant, warrant officer Olga Solovyova were convicted and sentenced on May 11. Solovyova received a 2-year suspended sentence.

According to investigation, the Major General has appropriated 16 apartments belonging to the Defense Ministry.

As chief military investigator Alexander Sorochkin said in 2014, probe into Major General in Reserve Poleshchuk was opened over signing social rent contracts with people unrelated to his military department, for properties that were later privatized. As a result, the personnel on waiting lists were deprived of social housing while the state sustained losses of over 16 million rubles, he added.

Poleshchuk pleaded guilty in court and shifted the blame on his assistant.
Moscow City Court extends detention for three Probusinessbank ex-managers

MOSCOW, May 17 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court has extended detention of three former managers of Probusinessbank charged with embezzlement of 2.5 billion rubles (about $43.9 million) until August 17, RAPSI learnt on Monday from the courts press-service.

Defendants in the case are former vice-president of business development Vyacheslav Kazantsev, ex-head of corporate finances department Nikolay Alekseyev and manager Sergey Kalachev.

In February 2016, the Basmanny District Court ruled to detain the defendants.

On April 26, 2017, the Ostankinsky District Court of Moscow sentenced Alekseyev to four years in prison. His case was reviewed separately because he had admitted his guilt. Additionally, Alekseyev was fined 1 million rubles ($18,000). The court also granted a lawsuit filed by Probusinessbank, the victim in the case, seeking to collect 2.44 billion rubles from the defendant.

According to investigators, from September 2014 to July 2015, Alekseyev, acting as a head of the banks corporate finance department, conspired with 15 accomplices to embezzle funds belonging to Probusinessbank. Accomplices are believed to be unidentified managers and employees of the bank. Allegedly they used their office positions to enroll their subordinates, employees of the Life financial group and heads of sham companies.

In August 2015, the Russian Central Bank revoked the license of Probusinessbank, acting upon the results of an inspection revealing that the banks management carried out large scale operations having markings of assets stripping of the bank.
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Silver Spring, MD, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

African penguin populations have been declining for the past few decades. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), its members and partners are taking action to help reverse this trend. Today, they are launching the Invest In The Nest campaign on Kickstarter, the innovative crowdfunding platform. The campaign seeks to raise $150,000 to help build and place 1,500 artificial nests for African penguins in South Africa and Namibia.

AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are conservation organizations dedicated to helping save species and generate awareness about what is impacting animals in the wild, said Dan Ashe, President and CEO of AZA. We believe the Kickstarter community is a natural fit to invest in the nest, and more importantly, play a direct role in helping to save this species.

A dedication to species conservation is the reason behind why AZA and its members created AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction, a program that brings together the expertise and resources of AZA, its members, and partners to help save species from extinction. Establishing new artificial nests is a priority identified in the AZA SAFE African penguin conservation action plan, and necessary to help save African penguins.

Were always excited about campaigns that expand our worldview and actively contribute to innovation around the globe. Invest In The Nest is pushing boundaries in the practice of conservation and bringing optimism and direct action to the Kickstarter backer community, says Clarissa Redwine, Kickstarter's Design and Technology Outreach Lead for the West Coast. "This conservation effort takes backers through the process of designing, building, and installing habitat structures that will help save endangered African penguins, helping Kickstarter backers play a vital part in protecting wildlife."

Supporters of the campaign wont go away empty-handed. A variety of rewards is available for backing the Kickstarter campaign, including exclusive behind-the-scenes opportunities at some of the best aquariums and zoos in the country, as well as original penguin art, symbolic penguin adoption kits, t-shirts, totes, posters and more. Some additional, exclusive rewards will also be offered during the campaign.

In addition to the great rewards, Stonyfield, the countrys leading organic yogurt maker and a proud sponsor of AZA SAFE, is helping AZA reach its campaign goal by kicking in $30,000 toward the $150,000 goal. As part of Stonyfields year-long effort, they will not only be contributing funds to fieldwork, but will also aim to encourage kids and their families to see animals and conservation projects first hand at zoos and aquariums through an on-pack offer to get families out to visit AZA member zoos and aquariums in their communities. Now through the end of September, families who buy two YoKids yogurt packs can visit azasafe.stonyfield.com to get a free kids admission to a participating AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium with the purchase of a full-price adult ticket.

It isnt often a cow has an opportunity to help save a penguin, but our support of AZA SAFE and its Kickstarter campaign really allows us to make a difference for these endangered animals, said Natalie Levine, Stonyfield Brand Director. By making sure this campaign gets off to a strong start, we aim to not only support the recovery of endangered African penguins, but also inspire others to do the same.

If fully funded, the nests will be constructed by hand in South Africa, helping to create jobs for residents.

Additional background about the project, including information on the engineering and testing that went into developing the nests, can be found on the Invest In The Nest Kickstarter campaign page at www.aza.org/kickstarter.

About AZA

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and eight other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.

About SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction

SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction combines the power of zoo and aquarium visitors with the resources and collective expertise of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and partners to save animals from extinction. Together we are working on saving the most vulnerable wildlife species from extinction and protecting them for future generations. To learn more, visit www.aza.org/aza-safe.

About Stonyfield

As the leading organic yogurt maker, Stonyfield takes care with everything it puts into its yogurts and everything it keeps out. By saying no to toxic persistent pesticides, artificial hormones, antibiotics and GMOs, Stonyfield has been saying yes to delicious, healthy food for more than 30 years. With their direct milk supply program, Stonyfield helps to grow the number of organic dairy farms in New England  and through their support of the Wolfes Neck Dairy Farmer training program, Stonyfield works to train the next generation of organic farmers. To learn more about all Stonyfield products and more, visit www.Stonyfield.com.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/114a2f1b-2ea0-4357-b76a-8e8be3a0e0a2

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bd06d34b-e414-44de-90e0-aa278cd57989
Russian Supreme Court upholds sentence for preparation of terror attack in cinema

MOSCOW, May 17 (RAPSI, Oleg Sivozhelezov)  The Supreme Court has upheld the sentence for fifteen persons found guilty of preparing terror attack in Kirgizia cinema located in Moscow, RAPSI learnt from the courts press-service on Wednesday.

The courts Military Commission has dismissed an appeal filed against the sentences issued by the Moscow District Military Court on April 22, 2016. The ruling came into force.

Earlier, the Moscow Prosecutors Office reported that in April 2016 several Russian citizens and one citizen of Uzbekistan received prison terms ranging from 11 to 13 years.

The defendants in the case were found guilty of preparing a terrorist attack, unlawfully obtaining, possession and transportation of weapons, ammunition, explosives as part of an organized criminal group as well as illegal construction and modification of weapons as part of the group.

The court found that a member of At-Takfir Val-Khidzra extremist organization, Tazhib Makhmudov, organized a criminal group and enrolled other people into joining. Makhmudovs plan involved a terror attack in Kirgizia cinema in early January 2014. Members of the criminal group were arrested on November 26, 2013.
Bill on supervision of released criminals adopted by State Duma

MOSCOW, May 17 (RAPSI)  The State Duma passed in the third and final reading a bill envisaging post-prison supervision over criminals, who had served terms for serious crimes including terrorism and extremism.

The bill was submitted to the lower house of parliament by the Russian government in December 2014.

Under the draft law, compulsory administrative supervision would apply to individuals of majority age convicted of committing serious and particularly serious crimes of a terrorist and extremist nature, connected to infringement on life of law enforcement officers, public officials and persons executing justice or investigation, after their release.

A similar measure would touch people sentenced to imprisonment for murder, tortures, involvement of children in a criminal gang or committing serious and particularly serious crimes as well as causing grievous bodily harm if the crime had been committed on grounds of political, ideological, racial, national and religious hatred and enmity or animosity against any social group.

Moreover, the bill stipulates oversight for individuals served prison sentence for certain administrative violations repeatedly committed throughout the year including drunk driving, refusal to undergo medical examination for establishment of the fact of alcoholic, narcotic and drug abuse intoxication.

Convicts without a permanent home or place of temporary residence and child molesters would be also supersized after their release from prison.
Council of Europe head concerned about blocking of Russian social networks in Ukraine

Context Ukrainian President Poroshenko extends sanctions against Russia

MOSCOW, May 17 (RAPSI)  The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjrn Jagland has expressed his concern regarding blocking of several major Russian social networks and websites in Ukraine by a decree of President Petro Poroshenko, the Councils press-release reads on Wednesday.

Blocking of social networks, search engines, mail services and news web sites goes against our common understanding of freedom of expression and freedom of the media, Jagland said.

On Tuesday, Ukraines President Poroshenko issued a decree on extension of sanctions against 1,228 Russian citizens and 468 legal entities.

Individual restrictive measures include among others ban on entry into Ukraine for up to 3 years; blocking of assets for up to 3 years; prohibition on participation in privatization, lease of government-owned property; cancellation of official visits, meetings and negotiations; deprivation of state awards; ban on establishment of a business connection and carrying on business in Ukraine.

Blocking of assets would be applied to companies as well. Moreover, legal entities would be restricted from trading. Sanctions against companies also include suspension of executing economical and financial obligations and measures on prevention of disinvestment.

Among other legal entities, major Russian social networks, websites and online services were also subjected to these sanctions. Ukraine introduced restrictive measures against such Russian giants as Yandex, Kaspersky Lab, Vkontakte and Odnoklassniki social networks, Mail.ru and others.
English Chinese (Traditional)

AUSTIN, Texas, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SolarWinds, a leading provider of powerful and affordable IT management software, today announced it has completed the acquisition of Scout Server Monitoring. The transaction closed Friday, May 5, 2017. As part of the acquisition, Scout Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Andre Lewis has joined SolarWinds.



With Pingdom Server Monitor, formerly Scout Server Monitoring, SolarWinds enhances its already deep server monitoring capabilities with out-of-the-box simple, yet rich SaaS-based server monitoring developed by DevOps professionals for DevOps professionals. In addition to all the great features Scout customers have come to rely on, they will now also benefit from even deeper investment in the product, along with streamlined access to the complete SolarWinds portfolio of SaaS-based tools to better manage, optimize, and troubleshoot the full stack at every layer, from the infrastructure and application layers through the end-user experience.

Were very excited to add Pingdom Server Monitor, formerly Scout Server Monitoring, to our portfolio of products, said Christoph Pfister, executive vice president, products, SolarWinds. With it, developers and DevOps practitioners have access to an affordable, SaaS-based server monitoring solution. We look forward to investing in it and we welcome Andre Lewis to the SolarWinds team to help in those efforts.

Pingdom Server Monitor joins Pingdom website uptime and performance monitoring products, as well as Librato, Papertrail, and TraceView in the companys SaaS portfolio of products for monitoring cloud-native applications, servers, and other infrastructure to address the complex performance and reliability challenges inherent in todays cloud environments.

The era of cloud and digitalization is driving exponential application growth and increased complexity, Pfister added. Its clear that cloud-native developers and DevOps teams need faster troubleshooting that enables them to more easily solve problems and improve performance across the full stack, including servers. The goal of our SaaS portfolio, and the market-leading products within it, is to provide just that, and to do so at an affordable price.

For more information about any of SolarWinds IT management products, including downloadable, free 30-day evaluations, visit the SolarWinds website or call 866.530.8100.

Existing Scout Server Monitoring customers, now with SolarWinds, can contact support.server@pingdom.com for more information.

Additional Resources

Connect with SolarWinds

About SolarWinds

SolarWinds provides powerful and affordable IT management software to customers worldwide, from small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises, managed service providers (MSPs), government agencies, and educational institutions. We are committed to focusing exclusively on IT, MSP, and DevOps professionals, and strive to eliminate the complexity that our customers have been forced to accept from traditional enterprise software vendors. Regardless of where the IT asset or user sits, SolarWinds delivers products that are easy to find, buy, use, maintain, and scale while providing the power to address key areas of the infrastructure from on-premises to the cloud. This focus and commitment to excellence in end-to-end hybrid IT performance management has established SolarWinds as the worldwide leader in both network management software and MSP solutions, and is driving similar growth across the full spectrum of IT management software. Our solutions are rooted in our deep connection to our user base, which interacts in our THWACK online community to solve problems, share technology and best practices, and directly participate in our product development process. Learn more today at www.solarwinds.com.

The SolarWinds, SolarWinds & Design, Orion, and THWACK trademarks are the exclusive property of SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC or its affiliates, are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other countries. All other SolarWinds trademarks, service marks, and logos may be common law marks or are registered or pending registration. All other trademarks mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only and are trademarks of (and may be registered trademarks of) their respective companies.

 2017 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.




For months the world has waited with bated breath for Emmanuel Macron to save France, Europe and democracy by succeeding in his outwardly improbable campaign to become the next French president. Now that he has, it is time to ask: what, with the 'Far Right' duly slain, does he actually have a mandate for?

A great many things separated Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, not the least the vexed question of the European Union.

His En Marche! 'party' is presented as a shake-up of the establishment. But as far as French policy in Europe is concerned, what Macron has been elected to do is maintain the status quo. There will be no deviation from the course France has been on since the Treaties of Lisbon (2007) and Maastricht (1992).

Some have called it a soft 'coup'. Little more than a quarter of voters are actually enthusiastic about the kind of socially and economically liberal future Macron stands for. Patriotic, socially conservative voters have struggled to forgive him for his campaign assertion that there is 'no such thing as French culture, only a culture in France. And it is diverse.' Alone among the first round's four top-polling candidates, Macron is an out-and-out Obama-esque liberal globalist.

Refusing to hide either his Catholicism or attachment to French culture and calling for a rapprochement with Russia, even Macron's main 'centrist' rival, Francois Fillon, threatened to shake this cosy world up. It's a fact that still makes the former's sudden appearance as an 'independent' candidate groomed for public life by the existing administration and retaining close ties with it seem more than a little convenient.

Certainly, the form of democracy has been respected, but has its spirit?

To take a single example, France has had since Charles de Gaulle a venerable history of strategic independence. A fortnight ago, some 60% of first-round voters cast their ballots for candidates seeking a degree of distance from Washington and a better relationship with Moscow. They won't get it.

In her disastrous debate performance last Wednesday, Le Pen remarked acidly that whoever won, 'France will be led by a woman'  either herself or German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to whom she alleged Macron will continue France's impotent 'submission'.

To his credit, this is what Macron seeks to avoid. The problem is that the logic of monetary union means that only by surrendering more national powers to Brussels can Paris hope to wrest control of Europe's destiny back from Berlin.

To save the euro, Macron plans to put Paris's weight behind another round of European integration, creating a Eurozone finance ministry to police member-state budgets, issue collective Eurozone bonds, and effect fiscal transfers between members. He has mooted the creation of a Eurozone parliament. This is the road to a post-national and post-modern United States of Europe, which much of the European elite has been quietly working towards for a lifetime.

This could have presented Le Pen with a rich vein of questioning. She let it slip through her fingers. Her complete failure to press Macron about his plan was a shame not so much for her electoral fortunes (she is clearly unfit to be president) as for French democracy. Macron's views on Europe's destiny demand a vigorous interrogation they didn't get. Unspeakably, she let Macron get away with presenting them as Europhiles like to present them: historically inevitable.

Much of the French electorate is under no illusion about the sovereignty France has surrendered in recent decades. In 2005, 55% of French voters voted against a European constitution, only to have it imposed by treaty anyway. Dissatisfaction with the slow strangulation of national politics that membership imposes has only grown as more and more powers are transferred beyond the people's review to Brussels.

This anger will continue to be ignored. If Macron gets his way, France will sign itself up for a new round of European integration far deeper and more heedless of national sovereignty than that envisaged (at least in their public statements) by the euro's original architects, but demanded by the logic of the project they set in motion. It was fitting that in celebrating his victory on Sunday night, Macron took to the stage to greet his supporters not to the strains of La Marseillaise but Beethoven's Ode to Joy  the European Union's official 'anthem'.

I am not sorry Le Pen is not president of the Republic.

But despite her legion deficiencies, what Le Pen tapped into was the perfect legitimacy of frustration with the logic of an ideology of European integration that allows Europeans the privilege of democracy only on condition of renouncing more and more of the actual content of national politics, if not the whole notion of the nation as repository of the common good and community of political action.

Though she ended the night winning more votes than any Front National candidate before her, Le Pen (who had temporarily stepped down from leadership of the party) won only two departements, both in the heavily de-industrialised, semi-rural north.

It was here in 1936 that the French Catholic (and sometime royalist) writer Georges Bernanos chose to set his Diary of a Country Priest, a novel that purports to record the sufferings of an anonymous young priest amid the spiritual disenchantment of a modestly well-to-do countryside, where the old taproots of church, tradition, nation and work were being dug up in favour of science, commerce, progress and easy middle-class comfort. Bernanos's vision isn't exactly the situation that France faces today, but it is in many ways an earlier iteration of it.

In Wednesday's debate, Macron accused his adversary of preaching an escape from history. What the class he represents is too little aware of, however, is how captive it is to its own.

To bien pensants in Paris, Brussels and Berlin, it is an article of faith that at the root of all of the 20th century's many and terrible miseries was 'nationalism', an excess of patriotic feeling. Dismantling loyalties to Europe's ancient kingdoms (and glorious modern republics) is for this reason inseparable from the European Union's ultimate raison d'etre.

But this is not how it seemed to a young French patriot, about Macron's age, in London in 1943. Writing in support of De Gaulle's anti-fascist Free France, Simone Weil attributed her country's ignominious 1940 defeat not to a surfeit of deeply-rooted patriotic feeling but the characteristically modern malaise brought about by the deficit of it, earlier described by Bernanos.

Le Pen may or may not be finished. But the spiritual needs she has, however inadequately, spoken to  for belonging, for rootedness in one's own country's traditions, history and past  will not for that reason vanish. Humanity's ability to fulfil its nature as a truly political animal depends on it.

Ultimately, Macron is a proponent of a France ouverte  an 'open France' comfortable with further European integration, globalisation and the continuing high levels of immigration that have turned the country into one of Europe's most culturally and ethnically diverse (or divided, depending on your point of view).

When Macron waltzes into the Elysee, the Paris elite will be tempted to hail the inevitable march of history. Yet squarely two-thirds of first-round votes went to candidates (including the far-left Jean-Luc Melenchon, who promised an EU renegotiation and referendum) in open rebellion against overlapping elements of the borderless, internationalist and ultimately deracinated future that many voters, especially those in the provinces, perceive as being prepared for them by their betters. The conditions are ripe for a stupendous act of cultural and political overreach.

'Whoever is uprooted themselves,' wrote Weil, 'uproots others.' France will not be a happier country five years from now if the only legacy of a Macron presidency is further uprooting.
In our 2017 forecast, we predicted that Venezuelas government would not survive the year. Throughout 2016, the administration of President Nicolas Maduro faced political gridlock and nationwide protests that seemed to be reaching a critical point, and the problem has not subsided. For more than a month now, large-scale protests against the government have taken place across the country nearly every day. The death toll continues to rise as protests show no sign of stopping. As the crisis continues to escalate, we look at the constraints and imperatives of the different actors to determine how the situation could unfold in the months ahead.

Chances of External Intervention

Despite media speculation, foreign intervention either in support of the government or of the opposition is not a viable way to end this crisis. The political costs associated with any type of external intervention, including military action, a trade embargo and broad sanctions, are extremely high. Of all the countries that could intervene on behalf of the opposition, the United States is by far the most capable. But the United States current strategy is to let countries handle crises within their own regions rather than inserting itself in affairs extraneous to its interests. Washington has more immediate concerns to deal with  Venezuela is relatively low on its radar.

International organizations could also intervene, but they lack the capability or political will to do so. Groups such as the Union of South American Nations International, the Organization of American States and the Common Market of the South, or Mercosur, do not have organized, joint security forces, and they have limited means of influencing the behavior of their member states. But more important, Venezuelas relationship with these groups is ambiguous: Caracas announced its intention to leave the Organization of American States and is currently suspended from Mercosur.

Mercosur could invoke the agreement its members made to uphold democracy and impose punitive measures such as ceasing trade, stopping communications, banning travel and closing borders. But the group has yet to enact these measures. Once a precedence has been set, it is difficult to undo. And those most affected by this crisis are the Venezuelan people and supporters of the opposition movement. Other Mercosur members and countries in the region do not want to impose measures that could cause harm to a civilian population that is already facing severe consequences from the upheaval.

The Venezuelan government is also unlikely to find any supporters abroad who are willing to intervene. China has started to distance itself from Venezuela, reflected by the lack of new loans and by the closure of Chinese companies operating in Venezuela. Beijing will consider the Venezuelan crisis a domestic affair, so long as whoever is in government continues to sell oil to China.

Russia has provided some support to Venezuela by supplying oil to Cuba, which received large shipments of cheap Venezuelan oil until 2015. Russias willingness to supplement the supply helps Venezuela maintain its relationship with Cuba. But Moscow is unlikely to offer any further support to the Venezuelan government considering that Russia is already heavily involved in places like Syria and Ukraine. The situation in Venezuela is, in other words, peripheral to Russias national interests. Cuba has helped somewhat with security reinforcements, but Havana does not have the resources to help Maduro quell social unrest entirely.

Other Options for the Opposition

Without foreign support, the opposition will need to rely heavily on public protests to increase pressure on the Maduro government. While some opposition figures continue to seek support from other governments in the region, the call for ongoing protests suggests the opposition knows that help is not on the way. The current wave of unrest is among the largest and longest-running against the Maduro government. And with the momentum on their side, protesters wont stop now.

The Maduro government enjoys little, if any, public support, and it doesnt have the money to spend its way out of the problem. Maduros approval ratings hover around 21-26 percent, according to the most recent polls. And anecdotal evidence suggests that the actual level of support for Maduro is even lower. His support comes from a strong inner circle and a system based on political patronage. The members of his inner circle need Maduro to stay in office to maintain their livelihoods. Others get access to jobs and other benefits in exchange for their affiliation with the government. Public employees have reported that they must participate in pro-government rallies and show support for Maduro or risk losing their jobs. Now, even neighborhoods like El Valle in Caracas that strongly backed former President Hugo Chavez are turning against Maduro. His inability to continue meeting the promises made by Chavez has caused Maduro to lose this groups support.

So far, Maduro has resisted resignation and a negotiated exit from power, believing he can withstand the protests against him. Previous negotiations failed in part because Maduro refused to concede on any of the oppositions major demands. At this point, a change in constraints would be necessary to prompt a change in Maduros behavior. This would happen if Maduro feels personally threatened by the unrest. If Maduro believes that his security forces can no longer protect him or that his personal safety is in jeopardy, he will be forced to rethink his stance on leaving office.

The Role of the Military

If the military and other security forces can no longer keep the protests in check, it will be a game changer for the Maduro government. So far, we have seen security forces retreat to more defensive positions (that they can hold), but no major casualties among these forces have been reported. This means they have managed to maintain territorial control, though they cannot prevent the protests from being organized in the first place. The military could lose its ability to keep the protests under control if demonstrations grow larger, if protesters become more coordinated or armed, or if security forces fail to enforce security measures.

The military currently supports the government and will not try to overthrow it. There are multiple factions within the military, but the division between top-tier and lower-tier officers is the most concerning for Maduro. The higher ranking members often benefit from government business, kickbacks and illicit activities like the drug trade. They dont want to see Maduro fall because their prosperity is linked with Maduros. They also dont want to govern, and therefore will not overthrow him.

The lower-level officers, on the other hand, do not get additional financial payoffs from being part of the military. The relationship to watch moving forward is the interplay between the opposition movement and lower-level officers of the security forces. Earlier this year, the opposition courted these officers, encouraging them to support the people over the government, but failed to win them over. Since then, there have been unconfirmed reports that the government has detained lower-ranking officers. Aligning with the opposition could appear more attractive, however, if the government were unable to pay these officers salaries or if extreme violence were used against civilians. If security forces align with the protesters, Maduros safety could no longer be guaranteed.

The security situation in Venezuela will deteriorate even further before there is a break in the government. Once this break occurs, some type of election will be held to legitimize the new government. But whoever ends up in power will still face an economic crisis and will still have to rebuild the country. These problems necessarily require time to solve.
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Administration process in UK is a necessary part of previously announced restructuring plan

Paragon will continue to operate in normal course during administration

Paragon remains on track to emerge from chapter 11 in July

HOUSTON, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paragon Offshore plc (Paragon or the company) (OTC:PGNPQ) announced today that the companys board of directors filed an application with the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Companies Court of England and Wales (the English Court) for the appointment of two partners of Deloitte LLP to serve as joint administrators of the company (the Proposed Administrators and, upon their appointment by the English Court, the Administrators) in the United Kingdom under paragraph 12(1)(b) of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986 (the Application). A hearing on the Application is expected to be scheduled shortly in London at the English Court.

Paragons decision to apply for the appointment of the Proposed Administrators is a necessary component of the consensual plan of reorganization (the Consensual Plan) under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code that the company announced on May 2, 2017. Under the Consensual Plan, Paragons existing equity will be deemed worthless and the companys secured creditors and unsecured bondholders will receive equity in a new reorganized parent company.

We believe that the appointment of administrators is an important positive step forward in Paragons restructuring process, said Dean E. Taylor, Paragons President and Chief Executive Officer. In connection with their support of the Consensual Plan, which contemplates the appointment of the Proposed Administrators, the ad hoc committee of term lenders, the steering committee of revolving lenders, and our unsecured creditors committee each also support the Application. Our Consensual Plan will eliminate more than $2.4 billion of existing debt and allow us to emerge from chapter 11 as a stronger, better positioned company capable of managing the challenges of this difficult environment. If the Application is approved by the English Court, the next milestone will be our confirmation hearing, scheduled to commence June 7, 2017 in Delaware, following which, if confirmed, we expect to emerge from chapter 11 in July.

Under administration, Paragon will continue to conduct business in its normal course. Drilling contracts will continue and vendors and employees will continue to be paid. The Administrators will assume all powers to manage the affairs of the company; however, Paragons existing board has agreed to remain involved in an advisory capacity to the Administrators until the company emerges from chapter 11, and the existing executive management team will remain responsible for the operational management of the Paragon group.

Additional Information

Details of the Consensual Plan can be found in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on May 3, 2017. Additional information will be available on Paragons website at www.paragonoffshore.com or by calling Paragons Restructuring Hotline at 1-888-369-8935.

The Application is scheduled to be heard by the English Court on May 23, 2017 at the Companies Court, The Rolls Building, 7 Rolls Building, Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 1NL. The hearing of the Application may be adjourned or continued from time to time by the English Court. Further details of the Application (including details of the time set for the hearing of the Application in the English Court, and copies of certain documents filed with the English Court) will be available on the U.K. Administration tab of the companys chapter 11 website hosted by KCC at www.kccllc.net/paragon.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is serving as legal counsel to Paragon and Lazard is serving as financial advisor. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Creditors Committee and Ducera Partners LCC is serving as financial advisor. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Revolver Agent and PJT Partners is serving as financial advisor. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Term Loan Agent and FTI Consulting, Inc. is serving as financial advisor.

Forward-Looking Disclosure Statement

This document contains forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the Consensual Plan, Paragons ability to obtain approval of the Consensual Plan, its ability to implement the proposed transaction set forth under the Consensual Plan, contract commitments, approval of the Application, Paragons operations under administration, Paragons capital structure and competitive position following emergence from bankruptcy, the bankruptcy process including timing and steps, and implications for shareholders, as well as any other statements that are not historical facts in this release, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These include but are not limited to risks associated with the general nature of the oil and gas industry, risks associated with the companys restructuring, actions by regulatory authorities, customers and other third parties, and other factors detailed in the Risk Factors section of Paragons annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, Paragons most recently filed report on Form 10-Q, and in Paragons other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated.

About Paragon Offshore

Paragon is a leading provider of standard specification offshore drilling services. Paragons operated fleet includes 32 jackups, including two high specification heavy duty/harsh environment jackups, four drillships, and one semisubmersible. Paragons primary business is contracting its rigs, related equipment and work crews to conduct oil and gas drilling and workover operations for its exploration and production customers on a dayrate basis around the world. Paragons principal executive offices are located in Houston, Texas. Paragon is a public limited company registered in England and Wales with company number 08814042 and registered office at 20-22 Bedford Row, London, WC1R 4JS, England. Additional information is available at www.paragonoffshore.com.
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Tattoos are a very personal choice and tell a story. If not done right youll be looking at it forever, so youd better be sure that person about to stick a needle in your skin knows what theyre doing. This months offerings come to us from Garrett Greer and reflect his military and family history. Keep the submissions coming, dear readers.

Recon Jack

Artist: Josh Ridge

American Tattoo, Miramar, California

Garrett Greer: The big tattoo on my left arm is what is called a Recon Jack. This is a tattoo thats coveted by members of the Force Reconnaissance community. The tattoo signifies different parts of a Recon Marines job. There are six individual guns that make up one wing, signifying my time spent in close-quarters battle and black side. The other wing is an eagles wing signifying airborne/military freefall. The middle is a skull with a crack going down it for perseverance, with three bullet holes for pain, misery, and suffering. The Ka-Bar and paddle signify our history with the raiders. The flaming bowl on top represents another qualification for Pathfinder. I waited six years to get this tattoo; its an honored symbol, and I wanted to prove myself to the community before I went around representing it.

Right sleeve work

Artist: Unknown

American Tattoo, Papillon, Nebraska

Garrett Greer: The tattoo on my right arm is of a sniper in a tower shooting a Nazi on my lower arm (shaded-out tattoo). The tattoo on my upper forearm is of a Russian solider with a gas mask and AK-47. The tattoo on the back of my right arm reads Give War a Chance. I decided to get all these tattoos to show how times and war have changed, but there will always be an enemy that will rise and must be defeated. Everyone always says give peace a chance. That doesnt seem to work so I personalized it to Give War a Chance. Everything is Russian to show respect to my heritage and family.

Got a gun tattoo youd like to share? Please send some well-lit, high resolution photos to [email protected], along with your name, the tattoo artists name, the studio name and city in which it was done, and 50-70 words on what the tattoo is of and why you got it. By sending in submissions, you grant TEN: The Enthusiast Network the unrestricted, transferable and sub-licensable, irrevocable, royalty-free, world-wide, and perpetual license to reproduce, distribute, publicly display, make derivative works of, and otherwise use the submissions in any media whatsoever now known or later invented throughout the world for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or not.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. and STAMFORD, Conn., May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green House Data, a leader in cloud hosting, colocation, hybrid IT, and managed services received a new $16,000,000 credit facility from Post Road Group, a privately held investment firm based in Stamford, CT.



This capital infusion along with its recent equity raise will accelerate the companys national growth strategy into new geographic markets and expanded service product portfolio via strategic acquisition.

Today, Green House Data operates in eight geographic markets, with the core market in North America, serving customers across 49 US states, 6 Canadian provinces, and several states in Mexico. The company also services North American based locations of international organizations. In partnership with Post Road Group, Green House Data is actively seeking acquisition expansion opportunities.

Historically, our company has self-funded through bootstrapping and individual investors, said Jason Graf, VP Finance, Green House Data. However, as Green House Data has grown, we looked for a capital partner with greater resources to ensure we can move quickly in this dynamic market.

In 2015, Green House Data acquired FiberCloud, an established provider of cloud hosting and colocation in the Pacific Northwest, including a significant footprint in the Westin Building Exchange. On March 31, 2017, Green House Data acquired Cirracore, an Atlanta-based infrastructure provider of enterprise-ready Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and hybrid cloud.

We were excited to work with Green House Data because they have developed an aggressive growth strategy to expand upon their high-growth market position, said Michael Bogdan, Managing Partner and head of corporate investing at Post Road Group. We look forward to seeing how Green House Data is able to increase revenue, improve their bottom line, and ultimately continue to consolidate other brands and locations into their portfolio.

MVP is proud to have been part of helping Green House Data complete this important transaction. They are an outstanding company and team, and it will be exciting to see them produce even greater results for their customers and shareholders with a stellar capital partner like Post Road Group, said Brian Pryor, Managing Director, MVP Capital.

Green House Datas exclusive transaction advisor was San Francisco-based MVP Capital.

Celebrating their 10-year anniversary in July of 2017, Green House Data has expanded from a single facility in Cheyenne, Wyoming to over 100,000 sq ft of white space and cloud connectivity with access to over 250 carriers, service providers, and content providers spread across west, central, east, and southeast locations.

About Green House Data

Green House Data is a cloud hosting and colocation services provider with highly energy efficient, green data centers located across the country and supported by a 15 Minute Hear from a HumanSM SLA. The company is a certified VMware provider, SSAE 16 Type II and HIPAA compliant, as well as a B-Corp and EPA Green Power Partner. Visit www.greenhousedata.com to learn more.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Susan Davidson poses with her boyfriend Kirk Brassfield. Davidson has been battling lyme disease since October of 2016.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Group Ten Metals Inc. (TSX-V:PGE) (OTC:DCGCF) (the Company or Group Ten) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Tim Thiessen as Chief Financial Officer, and of Mr. Brian Cloney and Mr. Douglas Warkentin to the Companys newly-formed Advisory Board.



Mr. Tim Thiessen is a Chartered Accountant with 20 years of international accounting and finance experience, the last 13 of which have been spent in the mining industry. Currently CFO at Metallic Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:MMG) and Foran Mining Corporation (TSX-V:FOM), he previously held this position with SnipGold Corp. (acquired by Seabridge Gold Inc. in June 2016) and Aurcana Corporation. Mr. Thiessen spent 7 years as Vice President of Finance for TSX-listed Endeavour Financial Ltd., an advisory firm in the mining industry specializing in mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing and was part of a team that spawned industry-leading companies such as Silver Wheaton Corp., UrAsia Energy Ltd., Peak Gold Ltd. and Coastal Energy Corp. Mr. Thiessen is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and has also held the positions of Controller with Endeavour Mining Capital Corp. and Auditor for Deloitte LLP, with a focus in the mining and financial services industries.

Group Ten is also pleased to announce the formation of an Advisory Board, initially consisting of Mr. Brian Cloney and Mr. Douglas Warkentin, to assist in guiding the Companys technical and financial progress. Further additions are anticipated in the coming months.

Douglas Warkentin, BSc., P.Eng., is a Metallurgical and Process Development Consultant with over 30 years of experience in the mining and mineral processing industries. Currently Senior Metallurgist at Kemetco Research Inc. in Richmond, British Columbia, Mr. Warkentin has conducted mineral processing, hydrometallurgy, minewater treatment and resource recovery on a broad array of base, precious and high-tech metals projects for international clients. He was a co-founder of Group Ten Metals and served on the Companys Board of Directors from October 2007 to July 2014. He is the author of numerous technical papers and holds a series of patents for mine water treatment and process technologies. Mr. Warkentin graduated from UBC with a degree in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering, and has been a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC since 1992.

Brian Cloney is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 35 years of public accounting experience and is currently the principal of BMC Institutional Supplies & Services Inc., a private Ontario corporation providing management, compliance and financial consulting services in the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to this, he was a Chartered Accountant at the accounting firm, Brian Cloney CPA & Associates, a position he held since 1985. Mr. Cloney has extensive experience in the mining industry, holding the Chief Financial Officer position with a number of publicly-traded exploration and development-stage mineral resource companies. Mr. Cloney was a Director of Group Ten from March 2014 to June 2016 and is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NWT Copper Mines Ltd.

Group Ten Metals President and CEO, Michael Rowley stated, We are very happy to be strengthening our team with such comprehensive financial, technical and corporate governance expertise. The addition of Tim Thiessen as CFO adds a key pillar to the Companys foundation. Tim has an extensive background with exploration and development-stage mining companies and brings tremendous expertise in M&A and corporate finance; transactions that are highly-relevant to Group Ten as we execute our business development plans. Messrs. Cloney and Warkentin bring a wealth of knowledge and connections in their respective areas of expertise to the Advisory Board. I would like to thank Mr. Tim Johnson for his hard work and support as Interim CFO over the past eight months through our transition period. We expect to make additional announcements with respect to the team and projects over the coming weeks and months, including potential acquisition opportunities which are currently being evaluated.

About Group Ten Metals Inc.

Group Ten Metals Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of high-quality mineral exploration assets in North America. The Companys core holdings include a large land position adjacent to, and along trend with, Wellgreen Platinums Ni-Cu-PGM project in the southwest Yukon Territory and the Black Lake-Drayton gold project in the Rainy River district of northwest Ontario.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors:

GROUP TEN METALS INC.

Michael Rowley

Michael Rowley, President, CEO & Director

info@grouptenmetals.com

Tel: (604) 357 4790

TF: (888) 432 0075

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
'Well constantly keep improving the environment for manufacturing and investors, be it Indian or foreign, so that they find it easier to do business here.'

'A strong rupee shouldnt be seen only as a deterrent for exports.'

In the run up to three years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge) Nirmala Sitharaman says it is time to consolidate some of the major initiatives as well as take new steps. She tells Subhayan Chakraborty and Indivjal Dhasmana in an interview that the government will find a way to incentivise sectors, even if the World Trade Organization norms force India to phase out export subsidies by 2018-end. Excerpts:

Soon, this government will complete three years in office. Do you feel its time for consolidation of major initiatives taken so far or do you think new measures can be rolled out now?

It has to be a blend of both. Consolidation is absolutely required because the major initiatives taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have shown steady results, at least in the commerce and industry ministry, and it is necessary to consolidate these. So its the best time for both consolidation and for new things.

Say, for instance, Make in India was brought in as agriculture was laden with under-employment. Even in some states that were progressing well on agriculture employment, the situation was uneconomical. And, therefore, there was emphasis on making India a manufacturing hub.

There was an emphasis on making India a better place for investment as well as a place for manufacturing, for India and for exports. So for me, consolidation of Make in India will have to be worked on.

How is the government looking to link the issues of Industry 4.0 with all this?

The exercise Ive started is to understand sectorally and to talk to states to ask how ready they are for Industry 4.0. I am open to accommodating all industries which are ready, partly-ready and not at all ready.

Im going to factor in other policies to see how best this is going to help in our attempt to make India a manufacturing hub and to ensure employment. The government is pushing Digital India, which in a way is consistent with Industry 4.0 - robotics, internet, knowledge-based economies, smartness in cities, smartness in manufacturing.

I will also be able to link Skill India with this. This has already started and were coming out with a new industrial policy, which will absorb the 2011 national manufacturing policy as well as face industry 4.0 issues and push Digital India. We have just started engaging with states. Hopefully by September, which marks three years of Make in India, I should come out with an industrial policy.

Has demonetisation affected the plan to boost industrial growth, because the Index of Industrial Production has contracted in February?

These are monthly fluctuations. I will not get tempted to comment based on these. On demonetisation, I have said it did have an effect during the two-three weeks of that quarter, after the announcement was made in November.

The effect was in sectors where migrant and unskilled labour was involved. However, most labour-intensive export-driven sectors have also taken upon themselves to have the Jan Dhan work accentuated to give bank accounts to workers who didnt have it. So I dont think the industrial policy will bear the brunt of demonetisation. That phase is long gone.

How long will it take for the industrial policy to boost job creation?

In sectors such as defence and railways, where big investments are happening, numbers will be available only after the gestation period. So I would not conclude in a hurry that no employment is happening.

Similarly, I am also guided by the principle that the government alone wont be able to create all jobs. What were also doing is to ensure that the spirit of entrepreneurship among citizens is kept up. That is where the Stand Up and Start Up India policies, together with Mudra, are driven towards.

The Prime Minister has also given direction on potential job increases. Is it a new initiative?

Some months ago, the PM made it explicitly clear that every investment proposal that comes to the Cabinet should have at least a paragraph on direct and indirect employment. So all of us have been very clearly geared towards doing that due diligence.

How will things get better for companies such as Apple under the new industrial policy that the government is planning? They have cited many problems in starting manufacturing here

Things will improve for everybody. No policy is made for only one company. I can only say that manufacturing being our focus, well constantly keep improving the environment for manufacturing and investors, be it Indian or foreign, so that they find it easier to do business here.

Has Apple made a fresh case for itself after the government launched a phased manufacturing policy for mobile phones and electronics?

I havent had any fresh request from them.

You seem to have changed your stance on the issue of rupees valuation. Now, youre pitching for a stronger currency as it reflects the strength of the economy. Have you given up on letting the rupee finding its true value?

The rupee finding its true position has always been the governments stance and the government has never had any intention of artificially lowering or boosting it. I dont know where the earlier debate started. But it was probably part of a Cabinet note doing the ministerial rounds in which I had said internal reforms are needed to give exports a substantial boost.

One of the things we had suggested was how the rupee might or might not help in this. I dont know how it came out that the commerce department was in support of tweaking the value of the rupee.

But, again, recently when asked about the rupee appreciation, I did say that exporters have been facing such currency fluctuation for the past year. So I am confident that exporters would have factored in that it is becoming the new normal. A strong rupee should not be seen only as a deterrent for exports.

The economy is not only dependent on exports, but on the domestic market as well. So thats the background with which this debate and the earlier narrative happened.

Is the rupee gaining strength a reason behind India increasingly pushing for a rupee trade mechanism with other nations?

Ages ago, we had a rupee trade with the erstwhile USSR, which took a back seat with the country becoming several independent republics. It didnt get revived after liberalisation. That this will boost trade is one of the inputs I got during a review of the foreign trade policy.

Is the government keeping the export target of $900 billion by 2019-20 intact in the current foreign trade policy?

There hasnt been even a single suggestion by industry or anyone else that would mean expressing doubts over this target.

Wouldnt the industry find it difficult to deal with disruptions such as demonetisation, the proposed GST roll-out and now a possible change in the financial year cycle?

I think the economy, including manufacturers and exporters, have an advantage of information being given to them on time. Except for demonetisation, for obvious reasons, it was not a bolt from the blue every time.

Of course, each one will have to make certain adjustments in compliance and record-keeping. I dont see them as disruptions. On the contrary, they are streamlining the economy.

India is set to lose the right to provide direct benefits to exports under WTO laws by 2018. How is the government looking to tackle this?

We cant let sectors that need help go high and dry. This wont stop me from executing my right to support them through an agreeable route.

How receptive are other nations of Indias proposal for trade facilitation agreement on services at the WTO? Also, do you feel it will deter the US administration from imposing restrictions on the visa regime?

Although the two issues are related, I dont think they are related in the sense you are asking. The trade facilitation agreement on services is a larger issue of a much-needed framework and understanding of global services trade. Of course, it has a long way to go, it has to be discussed, questions have to be answered and we have to seek the cooperation of all members.

But on the H1-B visa, an executive order can be stretched only to an extent. I again put my faith in the Indian information technology sector because it has seen the details of what is coming - from not only the US, but also Australia and other nations.

The sector is factoring in such changes. But there is a shortage of the required skillset among local talent. Recent data show not only Indian companies, but US companies are also using the H1B visa system to recruit.

Are you looking at the IT issue as short-term aberration or is this going to continue?

I don't look at it as a short-term aberration. It will have long-term impact, though not a negative one. But Indian industry will have to factor this in while taking decisions.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters
'Small investors usually rely on tips or recommendations from a friend for stock picking.'

'These platforms offer them unbiased research for making their investment decisions.'

Tinesh Bhasin finds out more.

Often, retail investors don't get proper advice on stocks, relying on a friend or the neighbourhood broker's tips.

Even many bigger brokerage houses maintain separate research divisions for retail and institutional investors, with the quality of reports for the latter being far superior.

To help small investors pick stocks with high-return potential, a few companies have started offering stock recommendations based on computer algorithms.

These include companies such as MarketSmith India, MarketsMojo and Angel Broking's ARQ.

Some of the parameters for stock picking are the same across platforms.

They analyse past performance, compare companies with their peers, evaluate financials and look at the valuations.

But each has a different approach thereafter.

Some give more weight to earnings and therefore recommend momentum stocks, while others give greater weight to valuations.

A few even suggest when to exit a stock.

They also have model portfolios to showcase their recommended stocks' performance vis-a-vis benchmarks.

One advantage of these algo-based platforms is that the investor can avoid the bane of being poorly advised.

"Small investors usually rely on tips or recommendations from a friend for stock picking. These platforms offer them unbiased research for making their investment decisions," says Sriram Iyer, chief executive officer, AR Wealth Management.

These platforms, Iyer adds, are well-designed and user friendly with ranking and scoring. Those investors who genuinely want to evaluate stocks can use them to arrive at better-quality picks.

These platforms are especially well-suited for those who have just entered the stock markets.

They offer either stock recommendations or model portfolios.

Markets Mojo, for example, offers lists of stocks that fit their various investment criteria: Top 10 selected from all the listed stocks, top 10 diversified stocks, top 10 large-caps, mid-caps, and so on.

MarketSmith India has 38 stocks in its model portfolio and an Idea List of another 47 stocks.

These platforms combine fundamental and technical analysis to evaluate stocks.

"A combination of the two helps in better analysis of the stock. While fundamental analysis tells you about the company's strengths, technicals offer attractive entry and exit points," says Anupam Singhi, chief operating officer at William O'Neil India, the company that owns MarketSmith.

The drawback of such algo-based models is that they rely entirely on quantitative parameters.

"The data used to analyse the company is historical. While we are working on it, there's no predictive analysis as of now," says Mohit Batra, founder and CEO, MarketsMojo.

He gives an example: Before a company's results are announced, an individual can see the stock reacting. If the results are not going to be up to the mark, the stock corrects and vice versa. Quantitative analysis cannot predict such movements.

Similarly, before an adverse news hits the company, there's selling.

Computer-based platforms don't immediately capture such events until the news is out and factored into price.

Historical data also don't capture the markets' changing dynamics.

When the markets fell during the global financial meltdown of 2008, many quantitative models failed to capture the correction then.

Quantitative models also cannot capture turnaround companies unless this starts reflecting in the results, or in fundamental and technical parameters.

At present, information technology stocks have gone out of favour as multiple problems plague the sector.

There's a possibility that some management may be able to weather the storm and turn their companies around.

A fundamental analyst who has spoken to the management and been a long-time watcher of the company may be able to predict the turnaround much earlier than computer-based platforms.

The algorithm used in these platforms are evolving.

"Among many technologies used, we also deploy machine learning. What is not possible today can be built into the evaluation parameters with time," says Vaibhav Agarwal, head of research and ARQ at Angel Broking.

While computer-based stock research has evolved, and is a decent option for beginners, more evolved investors should use their own qualitative research as an added filter to zero in on better quality picks.

Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
After months of delay, Paytm is now all set to commence its payments bank operations from May 23, having received the final approval from the Reserve Bank of India.

...Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) has received the final licence from the RBI and would commence its operations on May 23, 2017, it said in a public notice.

The company will transfer its wallet business, which has over 218 million mobile wallet users, to the newly incorporated entity -- PPBL -- under the payments bank licence awarded to a resident Indian, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder of One97 Communications that owns Paytm.

After May 23, the Paytm wallet will move to PPBL. In case consumers do not wish for that, they have to inform Paytm, which will in turn transfer the wallet balance to the consumer's bank account once such details are shared. Such communication will have to be made before May 23.

In case the wallet has been inactive with no activity in the last six months, the transfer to PPBL will only happen once the consumer gives specific consent.

Payments banks can accept deposits from individuals and small businesses up to Rs 1 lakh per account.

Paytm was earlier slated to begin operations around Diwali last year. In 2015, the RBI had awarded in-principle approval to Sharma to set up a payments bank along with 10 others.

With the objective of deepening financial inclusion, RBI kicked off an era of differentiated banking by allowing SFBs (small finance banks) and PBs (payments banks) to start services. A total of 21 entities were given in-principle nod last year, including 11 for payments banks.

Later, three entities -- Tech Mahindra, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company and a consortium of Dilip Shanghvi, IDFC Bank and Telenor Financial Services  backed out of the payments bank licensing.

Currently, Airtel and India Post are the only players that have started payments bank operations. Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank is expected to launch services in the first half of this year.

Sharma will hold the majority share in Paytm Payments Bank, with the rest being held by Alibaba-backed One97 Communications. However, the Chinese entity will not have a direct shareholding in the payments bank.

Post the government's announcement of scrapping old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in November last year, Paytm has emerged as one of the main gainers as a huge number of people move towards digital currency. Wallet companies like Paytm and Mobikwik have registered a spike in user base as well as the number of transactions.

Image: Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder of One97 Communications that owns Paytm. Photograph: Getty Images.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana or PMJAY has not been a runaway success by any yardstick. Not all stores are running, and many are poorly stocked.

IMAGE: A Jan Aushadhi shop being inaugurated in Chandausi, eastern Uttar Pradesh. Photograph: Kind Courtesy @pmbjp_bppi/Twitter

At a time when the government is trying to make the prescription of generics compulsory, the Prime Ministers Jan Aushadhi Yojana is in the limelight once again.

As a large portion of unbranded generics is sold either in Jan Aushadhi stores or chemists at government hospitals, the governments flagship project promising drugs at affordable prices is likely to get a renewed push, according to officials.



Launched in 2008, as Jan Aushadhi Scheme under the UPA regime, it was renamed Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana or PMJAY by the current NDA government. While the stores continue to be known as Jan Aushadhi, a re-branding exercise has been initiated for the outlets now. A move is on to rename all Jan Aushadhi stores as PMJAY, it is learnt. In fact, social media has been abuzz, referring to the project as 'PM ki jay' (victory for the PM).



In the process of re-branding, chief ministers will be asked to inaugurate at least a few stores, with the new name, said a government official.



The origin



Whatever its name, the takeoff has been slow for Jan Aushadhi. The initiative is seen as a non-performer in most states.



Consider the numbers:

Between 2008 and 2015, only 99 Jan Aushadhi stores were functional.

While the government targeted stocking 200 drugs in these stores, an average of only 40 to 100 were available during this period.

The number of stores has subsequently increased to 1,235, which is not even a half-way mark of the goal of 3,000 stores by March 2017.

The number of drugs has seen an increase too. Estimates suggest more than 700 drugs are available at a few of these stores. However, most outlets have not gone beyond 200-odd drugs.

Currently, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are among the outliers with their tally of stores -- at 189, 168 and 149 respectively -- ahead of others.





IMAGE: The inauguration of a Jan Aushadhi shop in Kollam, Kerala. Photograph: Kind Courtesy @pmbjp_bppi/Twitter .

How the stores work



Its not the numbers alone that tell a story. People on the ground narrated their experiences to show that most of these stores are inadequately stocked and are unable to fulfill the objective of the governments ambitious project to provide affordable medicine to the masses.



At a Jan Aushadhi store contacted in Jaipur, the pharmacist Anand Agarwal said, Every time we place an order for surgical items, the distributor gets back to us saying drugs cannot be supplied till the time Bureau of Pharma PSUs in India provides them with the stock. Despite several reminders, BPPI has not resolved the problem.



Agarwal is not the only one facing such a problem. For instance, the empty shelves at the Jan Aushadhi store outside Delhis Ram Manohar Lohia hospital indicate that things are not well. Almost every patient who comes with a prescription is asked to come later as there is no stock.



A resident of Mysore and owner of a Jan Aushadhi Store there, Swaroop, said, I note down the coordinates of the customers and inform them once the distributor gets me the requisite medicines. Just as in other cases, the distributor in the state doesnt have enough stock that can be supplied to all stores. Any distributor is usually equipped to supply around 200 drugs.



Each state has only one distributor which makes it difficult for drugs to be disbursed to all stores.



Model outlet



One of the earliest stores opened in Delhis Shastri Bhavan, which houses the department of pharmaceuticals, is supposed to be a model for all other stores. It too has skeletal facilities.

A source pointed out that this was opened to give ministers a sense of the concept, so that they could encourage people in their constituencies to open such stores. But the model store failed to upgrade over the years. The pharmacist at the outlet however argued that there was no demand for surgical items and syrups, so he did not keep them.





IMAGE: Medicine stocks at a Jan Aushadhi shop in Thrissur, Kerala. Photograph: Kind Courtesy @pmbjp_bppi/Twitter .

Then there are others who got into the business unaware of the rules. They havent been guided by the BPPI on matters like signing the procurement agreement. One such is the owner of a Jan Aushadhi store in east Delhi. He said, I have another pharmacy. I will sell drugs from there.



The modalities



Once an individual or NGO obtains a licence from the BPPI, a support of Rs 2.5 lakhs is given. They are also entitled to reimburse up to Rs 1 lakh for purchasing furniture, and another Rs 50,000 for computers etc. At the time of obtaining alicence, an individual needs to get into an agreement with the BPPI for procurement. As per norms, anyone who has a diploma in pharmacy can open a Jan Aushadhi store.



The perception is that Jan Aushadhi has failed to script a success story as these stores have relied only on patients who visit public health centres or hospitals as generics are usually prescribed by these centres and not private practitioners or hospitals. Things may change now.
Whether they live away from their families or with them, all CEOs struggle with work-life balance, says Shyamal Majumdar.

IMAGE: PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi at the Women In The World Summit in New York City in 2016. She said that though she did not regret pursuing her career, managing family life and work was "not easy." She acknowledged that she was filled with "heartaches".

Photograph: Jemal Countess/Getty Images.

"Personally, living a long distance from my wife and son has been a challenge," said Ashish Nanda, director of Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, in his communication to members of the IIM-A community last week.

Nanda has decided to resign from his post nearly four years after he took charge.

A day earlier, Coca-Cola India boss Venkatesh Kini said he was quitting for personal reasons.

Though he didn't say much beyond this, people close to him say Kini was getting tired of leading the life of a forced bachelor as his wife and children are based in the United States. He had moved to India in 2012.

Others give different reasons for his resignation, but that's another story.

Nanda and Kini joined an increasing number of leaders who didn't mind the 24x7 work pressure, but found it difficult to live away from family beyond a certain point.

This is what an outgoing CEO told the HR head in his exit interview: Living apart can be a real killer as you suddenly realise that the psychological safety valve is missing when you come back from the day's work.

The CEO also said when he lived with family, he moaned about how boring it was and how suffocating he felt when family life interfered with professional commitments. Now I would go back in a shot, he said, adding at first, it (the resignation) seemed like a hard choice, but the more he sat with the choice, the more certain he became that it was the right choice.

This was much the same what Hugo Barra, the person tasked with expanding Xiaomi's reach beyond its native China, said while announcing his resignation.

Barra said his decision was strongly motivated by a feeling of detachment from his family and the life he had built up in Silicon Valley: "What I have realised is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return."

Some, of course, make a mess of it even while staying with family.

One senior professional, for example, wanted to maintain his work-life balance by cutting back on the one thing all of us could use more of -- sleep. He wanted to set aside sacred times that are purely for family -- family dinner, for instance. This usually meant he worked a few hours after dinner.

But the guilt of not spending enough time with family just never goes away, it seems.

PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, for example, acknowledged that managing her family life and work is "not easy" and while she does not regret pursuing her career, she is filled with "heartaches" for not spending as much time with her daughters when they were growing up.

Speaking at the Women in the World Summit sometime back, Nooyi said she would tell her younger self to be "careful" of the choices she would make since missing out on her children growing up will eventually "hurt".

There is obviously no universal solution to this problem of loneliness among CEOs as it all boils down to making personal choices.

While some revel in the "lack of family time" as it helps them concentrate more on the job and constantly think about work -- whether they are in office or on the ski slopes. They also want to be the best on all parameters: cost, quality, product innovation -- everything.

And many of them have been super-successes. For example, GE's former chief executive, Jeff Immelt, had said he had been working 100 hours a week for the last 20 years of his career.

At the same time, some others have chosen to give it all up at the peak of their career. For example, the day database company MongoDB announced that Max Schireson would step down as CEO, he published an explanatory post on his personal blog entitled, Why I am leaving the best job I ever had.

The short answer: Schireson wanted to spend more time with his wife and three kids in Palo Alto, and the switch to a less hectic role with MongoDB should allow him to do that.

Schireson could have left his job without a detailed explanation. Instead, the outgoing CEO decided to use his story to help advance the cause of engaged fathers.
Given the hotel's prime location, it is obvious that there will be some serious bidders trying their luck when an auction is held in the second half of this calendar year.

IMAGE: Taj Mahal Hotel on 1, Man Singh Road, New Delhi, was once the location of a small hotel named Fonseca's till the Taj group, with difficulty, leased it and opened it in 1978. Photograph: Kind Courtesy Taj Mahal Hotels.

The location of this hotel can't get better.

This is 1, Man Singh Road, of Lutyens Delhi. Housing luxury hotel Taj Mahal, operated by Indian Hotels for 39 years.

Decks have been cleared for the auction of this property, minutes away from the seat of central government authority.



It is obvious that there will be some serious bidders trying their luck when an auction is held in the second half of this calendar year. New Delhi Municipal Council, which owns the 3.78 acres on which the 294-room hotel stands, will conduct the auction.





IMAGE: The Man Singh Road Taj, when it opened, changed the hotel scene in India's capital, which till then had only the Oberoi Intercontinental and The Ashoka. Photograph: Kind Courtesy Taj Mahal Hotels.

There are many unknowns. Investors who are keen to bid for the Taj Mansingh (its popular name after the road on which it is located) seek more clarity about the entire process, to evaluate the case and secure internal approvals. NDMC has not come out with details yet.

When it had first decided on auction, it had got SBI Caps to execute it. That did not happen as Indian Hotels challenged the decision, first at the high court and then at the Supreme Court. Indian Hotels lease had expired in 2011.



The financial terms on which NDMC had offered this asset to Indian Hotels is not known and there has been no recent auction in the area. But we have some sense of older auctions in the city. For example, Accor Hotels, which in 2009 won an auction to set up twin hotels (Pullman and Novotel) in Delhis Aerocity, is understood to have paid an upfront licence fee of Rs 220 crores to Delhi International Airport Ltd and an annual fee of about Rs 8 crores, with a five per cent annual escalation clause for the 30-year lease. The two hotels have 670 rooms and also enjoy commercial space.





IMAGE: This Taj became famous for many of its eateries like Casa Medici, the city's first Italian restaurant, the House of Ming which brought Sichuan food to Delhi and the popular Machan. Photograph: Kind Courtesy Taj Mahal Hotels.

Then, almost a decade before, the Leela Group acquired a three-acre lot near prime diplomatic area for Rs 700 crores. And, pumped another Rs 900 crores to build a 260-room property. It is a different story that Hotel Leelaventure has for three years tried to find a buyer for this hotel, to reduce its debt.



It is unlikely that the Taj gets sold with the land. If it did, the valuation could cross Rs 1,500 crores. Some aggressive bidders might even pay a couple of hundred crores more, say experts. In the more likely event of a lease, the upfront fee could be Rs 300-400 crores, with an annual fee based on some revenue share model.

Indian Hotels was willing to pay a guaranteed annual Rs 21 crores for the first 10 years, Rs 25 crores for the next 10 years and Rs 30 crores for the last 10 if NDMC would have renewed its lease for a 30-year period. These were based on revenue projections. The actual pay might have been higher.





IMAGE: The Leela Group acquired a three-acre lot near prime diplomatic area for Rs 700 crores. And, pumped in another Rs 900 crores to build a 260-room property but is finding it difficult to turn a profit. Photograph: Kind Courtesy Leela Group.

In addition to licence fee, a new operator would sooner or later also have to invest heavily on renovating the 40-year property. EIH is investing Rs 325 crores to completely redo the 51-year-old Oberoi Delhi which has 283 rooms.

Renovating the Taj could cost as much as Rs 300 crores, a challenge for any entity to make money, as the operating earnings might be only Rs 70-80 crores. Indian Hotels, which has earned a profit from the property all these years, could be more aggressive in the bidding than others.



That apart, there is much interest in the asset.

We would be very keen to evaluate the opportunity but, as of now, there is no information on the bid structure. We also hope NDMC gives adequate time for institutional buyers to evaluate prior to bidding, said Ashish Jakhanwala, managing director and chief executive officer at SAMHI, a company owning 18 hotels operational under the Hyatt and Marriott brands.

Bigger domestic hotel companies like Oberoi Group and ITC could also come into the fray. And, some sovereign wealth funds.





IMAGE: There have been earlier hotel auctions in the city. For example, Accor Hotels, which in 2009 won an auction to set up twin hotels (Pullman and Novotel, above) in Delhis Aerocity, is understood to have paid an upfront licence fee of Rs 220 crores to Delhi International Airport Ltd and an annual fee of about Rs 8 crores. Photograph: Kind Courtesy Novotel.

A couple of other executives in the sector said it was difficult to take a call to bid or not at this stage. Knowing the tremendous billboard effect of the Taj, there are brands that could go for it only for the location and, therefore, be willing to settle for a relatively lower return than they would have for other properties.



Sector officials also say the lease period has to be longer than the 33 years that was initially offered to Indian Hotels. Since a large capital investment would go and returns will be spread over a number of years, the lease period has to be longer.



The location does not get better for a hotel. We do not wish to speculate on the new terms on which NDMC will auction the property. Any brand realises there will be a huge cost associated with the asset. Therefore, commercial sense has to support a strategic vision of owing this hotel, said Raj Rana, chief executive officer at Carlson Rezidor, which operates 84 hotels under brands like the Radisson and Park Plaza.
'Whichever option India chooses, it should be clear to the government that the China-Pakistan nexus poses a clear and present danger to national security,' says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).

IMAGE: Leaders attending the Belt and Road Forum pose for a photograph at the Yanqi Lake venue on the outskirts of Beijing, May 15, 2017. Photograph: Ng Han Guan/Reuters

Leaders from almost 30 countries gathered in Beijing last weekend to endorse President Xi Jinping's 'One Belt, One Road' (OBOR) initiative, now called 'Belt and Road Initiative,' BRI.

The project is designed to help achieve Xi's Chinese Dream -- rejuvenation of the nation and building a prosperous society. India has wisely decided to stay away from the summit and OBOR.

First articulated in 2013, OBOR is designed to boost China's strategic outreach and, consequently, extend its sphere of influence well beyond its borders.

It is also expected to give a fillip to the stagnating Chinese economy by utilising available cash reserves as capital and idle construction capacity.

By creating new infrastructure and jobs in the countries through which it runs, OBOR will ostensibly aid socio-economic development and, in the bargain, also create new markets for Chinese manufacturers.

OBOR is a carefully calculated initiative to increase Chinese influence.

China will give soft loans to the participating countries to help them pay for the infrastructure that will be created.

The source of funding will probably be the China-sponsored and dominated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, AIIB.

As many of the participating countries will find it difficult to repay the loans on time, they will be dependent on China for staggering repayments or postponing them.

In either case, they will be indebted to China.

In military terms too, OBOR will result in a win-win situation for China as it will lead to an increase in the number of People's Liberation Army troops in the countries on China's periphery, much like has already happened in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Chinese leadership hopes OBOR will make a significant contribution towards the achievement of China's goal of becoming the unchallenged numero uno economic and military power in the Indo-Pacific region by 2049, a century after it won its independence.

The $4.4 trillion initiative will create communications arteries linking manufacturing hubs in mainland China with markets in Asia and Europe.

It will also link China with areas rich in natural resources like mineral deposits.

The project will involve building new roads or upgrading existing ones on land.

It will also involve building ports all over the Indo-Pacific region as part of China's Maritime Silk Route initiative.

Naturally, these ports will act as logistics hubs for the PLA navy and enable it to extend its area of operations. In due course some of these ports could be upgraded to naval bases.

So far, the AIIB has approved OBOR-linked projects in Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

The most notable of these is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC, that will link Kashgar in Xinjiang with Gwadar port, which China is already developing, on Pakistan's Makran coast.

Dubbed a 'framework of regional connectivity', China and Pakistan claim it will benefit them, but also have a 'positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, India, Central Asian Republic, and the region.'

Besides infrastructure (expressways and link roads, airports, railways and mass transit systems, development of ports, water treatment plants and optical fibre cable), the CPEC will include several 330MW to 660MW coal-fired power plants, hydel projects, solar parks, wind farms, transmission lines, coal and iron ore mines, industrial parks and special economic zones, and colleges, hospitals and vocational training centres.

A major thrust area of the CPEC is agriculture. 'From provision of seeds and other inputs, like fertiliser, credit and pesticides, Chinese enterprises will also operate their own farms, processing facilities for fruits and vegetables and grain' (Dawn newspaper, May 15, 2017).

The CPEC 'plan envisages a deep and broad-based penetration of most sectors of Pakistan's economy as well as society by Chinese enterprises and culture.'

The CPEC projects are in various stages of implementation (external link).

IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, left, with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters

A product of China's all-weather friendship with Pakistan, the CPEC project is being seen as the Chinese equivalent of the Marshall Plan.

Originally valued at $46 billion, the CPEC project is now estimated to cost $54 billion.

The project is expected to generate up to 2.3 million jobs by 2030 and add 2 to 2.5 per cent value to Pakistan's GDP. The project has been included by China as part of its 13th five-year development plan.

Besides access to Gwadar port for Chinese merchant shipping and the PLA navy, China will be able to link Xinjiang and Tibet to a warm water port closer to the two provinces than China's eastern coast, even though the cost of transportation of goods over the Karakoram range in the Himalayas will be prohibitive.

However, despite the obvious advantages of the CPEC to both countries, the project is getting bad press in both China and Pakistan.

Commentators in both countries have been questioning the long-term viability of the project on the grounds of sub-optimal utilisation.

While the Pakistanis are apprehensive about their country's ability to pay back the huge loans that will pile up, the Chinese worry about Pakistan's ability to ensure the safety of their engineers and staff.

Both sets of arguments have merit.

The Baloch leadership has declared openly that they will not allow the portion of the corridor running through Balochistan to remain open even for a day as the Pakistan government will not pay any royalty to them.

India does not approve of the CPEC project as part of the corridor will pass through Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir, both of which are under illegal Pakistani occupation and, hence, disputed areas.

Handing over territory in these areas permanently to the Chinese would amount to a violation of India's sovereignty.

As it is, Pakistan has become China's de facto 24th province. Any further Chinese inroads into Pakistan, particularly the presence of PLA troops in large numbers, would be harmful for India's national security interests.

India can sit by and watch the CPEC unravel, as it well might. Or India can provide political, diplomatic and moral support to the Baloch people who may be engaged in disrupting the corridor.

Yet another alternative would be to set in motion actions to create an Indian-led parallel to the BRI-CPEC.

Initiatives like BIMSTECH could be pursued with greater vigour than has been the case till now.

Whichever option India chooses, it should be clear to the government that the China-Pakistan nexus is gaining ground and poses a clear and present danger to national security.

It would be prudent to invest more in defence preparedness and the protection of critical infrastructure.

The present defence budget pegged at less than 1.60 per cent of India's GDP is too little for comfort.

Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd) is Distinguished Fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.
While some say an agreement was reached over the Panama Papers, others suggest that Nawaz Sharif may have handed the CPEC to the military in exchange for his survival, says Rajeev Sharma.

From the recent tweets posted by Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations, it appears that all is well between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Pakistan army chief.

The army has clearly been mollified by Sharif and therefore withdrawn its April 29, 2017 release, which rejected the prime minister's decision on the Dawn leaks case (which last year exposed the civilian government-military rift in Pakistan) based on the inquiry committee's report.

So what's new?

It is well known that Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif are past masters at navigating their way through any labyrinth.

Before analysing the possible deal between General Bajwa and Nawaz Sharif it is worth quoting the latest ISPR release verbatim for it speaks volumes.

The May 10 release states, 'The tweet on 29 April 2017 was not aimed at any government office or person.'

'Recommendations as contained in Para 18 of the Inquiry Committee Report, duly approved by the Prime Minister, have been implemented, which has settled the Dawn leaks issue. Accordingly, ISPR's said Twitter post stands withdrawn and has become infructuous.'

'Pakistan Army reiterates its firm commitment and continued resolve to uphold the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and support the democratic process,' the release states.

If Nawaz Sharif removed Tariq Fatemi -- one of his key advisors -- as an outcome of the inquiry committee's recommendations, then why did the army reject the government's first notification, stating it was not in line with what the inquiry panel recommended?

The only plausible reason is that the army thought that others implicated in the case including Sartaj Aziz -- Sharif's foreign policy advisor -- should be sacked.

These individuals are suspected of having leaked the information about an army-Sharif rift that appeared in the Dawn newspaper last October and provoked tremors in the Pakistani ruling establishment that refuse to die down.

The army was also keen that action be initiated against Cyril Almeida, the Dawn columnist who reported the rift.

On the same day the ISPR settled the Dawn leaks issue, Pakistan's interior ministry issued a notification which inter alia asked the All Pakistan Newspaper Society to initiate action against Almeida and the Dawn newspaper.

The Sharif government also proposed that a code of conduct for journalists be put in place when covering national security issues.

The notification endorsed Sharif's proposal to withdraw the foreign affairs portfolio from Tareq Fatemi, Sharif's special assistant.

After Dawn published Almeida's report on October 6, 2016, the Sharif government constituted a seven-member inquiry committee headed by retired Justice Aamer Raza Khan on November 7, 2016. The committee was to have submitted its report within 30 days.

Apart from Justice Khan, the committee had Najeem Saeed, provisional ombudsman, government of Punjab; Syed Taher Shahbaz, secretary establishment; Dr Anwar Usman, director, Federal Investigation Agency, Punjab; and a representative each from the Inter-Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau and Military Intelligence.

The first victim of the Dawn report was then information minister Pervez Rashid who was sacked for apparently not preventing Almeida from publishing his report about the civil-military rift over dealing with terrorists in Pakistan.

Some media reports claimed Rashid had leaked the information about the high-level national security meeting in Islamabad where the government and military clashed on the terrorists issue.

Fatemi was likely made a scapegoat because the inquiry committee could not find anyone else to blame.

In his parting letter to colleagues in Pakistan's foreign ministry, Fatemi rejected the allegations and insinuations made about him. Of course, he did not specifically refer to the Dawn leaks case and the inquiry committee report.

At the high-level meeting last year, Sharif apparently informed the military that it was time to act against terrorists operating within Pakistan or the nation would face international isolation.

More damning were Shahbaz Sharif's reported remarks that the Pakistani security establishment worked behind the scenes to set any arrested terrorist free.

Essentially, the Dawn report pointed to the differences between the civilian government and the military on tackling terrorism.

This is well known as seen in the Sharif government's handling of Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist Muhamad Saeed.

Most Pakistani terrorists are creations of the Pakistan State, specifically the military and the ISI. Which is why Nawaz Sharif's national action plan on counter-terrorism -- drawn up after terrorists attacked an army school in Peshawar on December 16, 2014 and killed 133 children -- didn't get very far.

The army wanted to control even this undertaking by establishing military courts to try terrorists.

What deal did Nawaz Sharif and the army strike to settle the Dawn leaks issue?

Informed sources say a part of the deal involves the Panama Papers, where the sources of Sharif's family wealth has come under domestic and international scrutiny.

Pertinently, the leak of Indian steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal's meeting with Sharif in Murree occurred a few days before the army-government patch up, suggesting that the army is against any Pakistan overtures to India.

Sharif was happy to use that card in his dealings with the army.

What he likely told the army was that the Jindal meeting is part of back channel diplomacy with India.

The other possibility could be that Sharif has handed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor on a platter to the military in exchange for his political survival till the 2018 election.

IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, right, with Pakistan amy chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
India is failing to take advantage of its important ally, Japan as much as it should, notes Mihir S Sharma.

India's most important bilateral relationship may not be with the United States, or China, or even Pakistan. Objectively, it's our bond with Japan that may be most vital. No country is, at the moment, more capable of contributing to transforming our economy than is Japan; and only with the US does a security partnership have more potential.

But, in spite of the warmest possible atmospherics, under both current and past administrations, India has not moved swiftly enough to take advantage of the possibilities inherent in this relationship.

This is another way in which Indias development trajectory and priorities are visibly different from what Chinas were when the Peoples Republic was at approximately the same level of development that we are now about 20 years ago.

China did not just embrace trade, but also went all-out to welcome Japanese investment in spite of deep, mutual cultural suspicion. And, second only to the savings of overseas Chinese, it is Japanese money -- hundreds of billions of dollars of it -- that has transformed China.

Now, as China turns hyper-nationalist and its growth model splutters, the Japanese are desperately looking elsewhere, including to India. And Japans already doing more than its fair share in India.

As Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pointed out recently on her widely reported visit to Japan, when the financialised islands of Mauritius and Singapore are excluded, Japan is the largest investor in India; its poured in $25.2 billion since 2000. And the country, which is awash in savings -- with over $8 trillion in its pension and insurance funds as long ago as 2010 -- is readying an infrastructure push comparable to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative.

The Shinzo Abe cabinet has sanctioned over $200 billion in infrastructure investment overseas -- money that will, needless to say, be disbursed on much easier terms than the Chinese will offer. When it comes to funds and expertise for infrastructure, we dont have any other more realistic options at the moment than Japan.

Then theres the strategic side of things. The Japanese military -- constitutionally limited to self-defence -- is now permitted to come to the aid of allies, under a new "collective self-defence" law.

Abe, who recently laid out a timetable to rewrite the pacifist post-war constitution, has been determined to see Japans maritime reach increase; its huge new helicopter carrier Izumo -- the largest ship the country has built since the Second World War -- is currently "escorting" a much smaller US supply ship in the Pacific, amid heightened tensions with North Korea.

And in July, of course, the Indian, American and Japanese navies will conduct the Malabar exercise together; perhaps Australia will join, perhaps it wont. (Parenthetically, Im not certain why reports emerged from the India-Australia-Japan trilateral meeting last week that its New Delhi thats seeking to block Australian participation. If its just about the recent visa legislation passed by Australias government, then thats tremendously short-sighted. I hope theres something else there we havent been told.) Simply put, if the US under Donald Trump pivots away from Asia, then theres little alternative for India but closer cooperation, especially at sea, with Australia, Singapore, and Japan.

As far as I can see, therefore, the logic to wholeheartedly embrace Japanese capital and fully engage with the Japanese military establishment is overwhelming. And yet it seems that were failing to do so as much as we should.

In fact, tones in Tokyo can turn a little sour when it comes to India. Not all of it is the governments fault. It isnt the Indian state that is responsible for the extraordinary losses that Daiichi Sankyo took in its ill-fated purchase of Ranbaxy. But, certainly, the terrible saga of that big buy, the largest and most visible sign of Japanese commitment to the Indian private sector, had a chilling effect on further investment.

But there are other things that the Indian state must be held responsible for. One such is holding up the payment that the Tatas were contractually bound to make to NTT DOCOMO. It comes as an incredible relief that the Delhi high court put an end to that late last month by saying the Reserve Bank of India had no grounds to prevent the Tatas from following through and paying NTT DOCOMO what was owed. It incidentally also made it clear that India still respects international arbitrations, something that investors in Tokyo had begun to doubt.

And the irritants continue to come. Tamil Nadu, for example -- supposedly a business-friendly state -- is chasing after Nissan, refusing to refund Rs 2,000 crore that the company is owed under a bilateral investment treaty. This is after the company invested Rs 4,500 crore in the state in the years to 2015, and planned to double that investment. What is the point of ministers -- and the prime minister -- flying to Tokyo to promise investment, if this is what companies there read in the business press about India?

Heres my simple point: Japan is willing to make an exception for India, and to treat India as an exceptional partner. There are solid reasons for this; they are aging, we are not; they need returns, we have growth potential. But we are not willing to reciprocate. If Japan is our most important bilateral relationship, we have to go out of our way to treat them in the exceptional manner that they are trying to treat us.

This problem is mirrored on the security side of the relationship. True, this government has at least dumped the hesitations of the previous one, and included Japan in Malabar in spite of outraged bellowing from Beijing. But Japan went out of its way to offer us the new US-2 seaplane. Thats a big deal as Japan doesnt normally sell on high-tech defence equipment. It fits our needs. It could be claimed that it was needed for search-and-rescue operations, but it was clearly dual-use.

Stationed at the Joint Command at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for example, its 4,500-km range would make it ideal to police the crowded shipping lanes going into the Straits of Malacca. It was offered to us first eight years ago -- the offer was upgraded four or five years ago -- but it is still under consideration. Are we mad? Why precisely are we going out of our way to antagonise an important ally, and one whom we will need ever more support from as time goes by?

Theres a lot that must be done, and swiftly. India must send more students and trainees to Japan. It needs to take advantage of the technical training programme that Abe is stealthily using to increase inward migration. India must promise to do whatever needs to be done to make the Abe government more comfortable with the idea of Indian nurses practising in Japan.

Theres an enormous demand for caregivers as the countrys population ages. If it requires a string of new nursing colleges, perhaps in the Northeast, where Japanese is taught, so be it. But above all, an attitude adjustment is needed. Like China did for decades, we need to make Japan feel welcome. Its relationship with Japan transformed China; it could transform us, too.
Seeking to give a fresh impetus to India's domestic nuclear power production, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a proposal to indigenously build 10 atomic reactors, the largest ever approval granted for such facilities in one go.

Once completed, the 10 reactors of 700 MW each will give much needed fillip to the domestic nuclear industry.

The Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors will be developed by the department of atomic energy.

"A total of 7000 MW capacity will be added. It will help produce clean energy," Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said.

India currently has installed nuclear power capacity of 6780 MW from 22 operational plants. Another 6700 MW of nuclear power is expected to be added by 2021-22 when currently under-construction projects go onstream in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

The 10 reactors would be built at Mahi Banswara (Rajasthan), Chutka (Madhya Pradesh), Kaiga (Karnataka) and Gorakhpur (Haryana).

"As the government marks three years of its nation and people-centric governance, in a first of its kind project for India's nuclear power sector, the 10 new units will come up in fleet mode as a fully homegrown initiative. It would be one of the flagship Make in India projects in this sector," a government statement said.

With likely manufacturing orders of close to Rs 70,000 crore to the domestic companies, the project is expected to help transform Indian nuclear industry and likely generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment.

"The Cabinet's decision reflects the government's commitment to prioritise the use of clean power in Indias energy mix, as part of low-carbon growth strategy and to ensure long-term base load requirement for the nations industrialisation.

"It also supports India's commitment to sustainable development, energy self-sufficiency, and bolsters global efforts to combat climate change."
COMPANY REGULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT

17 May 2017

Result of Annual General Meeting

At the Annual General Meeting of Irish Continental Group plc ("ICG" or the "Company") held today, Wednesday 17 May 2017, all resolutions proposed were passed on a show of hands.

The full text of each resolution was included in the notice of the Annual General Meeting circulated to shareholders on 12 April 2017.

Details of valid proxy appointments held by the Board are available on the Company's website www.icg.ie.

Copies of the above documents will be submitted to the Irish Stock Exchange and the UK National Storage Mechanism. These documents will therefore shortly be available for inspection at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM and at the following address:

Companies Announcement Office

The Irish Stock Exchange plc

28 Anglesea Street

Dublin 2

Tom Corcoran

Company Secretary
Avenging the Sukma attack, security forces claim to have gunned down 12-15 Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Basaguda-Chintalnar area on Sunday.

Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore reports.

In a four-day long joint combing operation, the 204th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force, District Reserve Guards and the Special Task Force of the Chhattisgarh police killed 12-15 Naxals in the Basaguda-Chintalnar area, a supposedly Maoist stronghold that lies at the junction of the states Bijapur and Sukma districts.

Incidentally, neither the dead bodies nor any arms and ammunition was recovered after the ambush, which continued till late evening on Sunday, nor have the Naxals issued any statement about the deaths.

The operation was conducted days after the Maoist attack on a CRPF contingent claimed the lives of 25 troopers.

Deputy Inspector General, Dantewada range, P Sundarraj, who recently replaced controversial Inspector General SRP Kalluri, told Rediff.com over the phone that based on the feedback received from local villagers and the jawans who were part of the operation, 12-15 Naxals were killed on the evening of Sunday, May 14, in a gunfight between the Maoists and the security forces.

While a jawan of the STF has been martyred in this incident, two constables of the DRG were injured, but out of danger, he said.

The two DRG guards were airlifted to a hospital in Raipur and are safe, he added.

Taking advantage of the topography and night cover, the Naxals retreated from the ambush site, the DIG said.

Apparently, there were 100-150 Maoists who were waiting to lay a Burkapal-like ambush in Basaguda-Chintalnar area but since the security forces were ready for this eventuality in the wake of the April 24 killings, the Maoists could not inflict any harm, the DIG claimed.

Few of these Maoists were wearing uniforms that the CRPFs CoBra Battalion wears and few were wearing the Maoists black uniform, Sundarraj said.

In the initial exchange of firing on the morning of May 14, two of our jawans got injured and were immediately evacuated by Indian Air Force helicopters from the spot. Later in the evening, as the combing operations continued, the Maoists attacked again in which one of our STF jawan was martyred, he said.

The DIG said the Naxals did not suffer substantial casualties during the morning ambush and so they continued to track the troops movements, regrouped themselves and attacked the security forces again as the sun was setting.

"After the Maoists suffered heavy casualties in the evening of May 14, they stopped tracking our movements and our jawans reached their camps on May 16, Sundarraj said.

We had general information about the military battalion of the Naxals in that area and so we were ready for such attacks by them.

Talking about the road-building exercise in the Maoist strongholds coming to a halt, Sundarraj said, Those jawans who were assigned for this exercise have been asked to join the combing operations against the Naxals as we are going ahead with some serious operations against them after the Burkapal ambush.

The road-building exercise is continuing in areas where the Naxals dont have their strongholds but it has not stopped completely, he added.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday asked the army to remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across the border, days after two security personnel were beheaded by the Pakistani army after crossing the Line of Control.

Jaitley, while reviewing the security situation of Jammu and Kashmir at a high level meeting, also asked the forces to deal firmly with the inimical elements but ensure safety of the innocent people, officials said.

The meeting, where newly-appointed Defence Secretary Amit Mitra and Army chief General Bipin Rawat were also present, took place against the backdrop of spurt in terrorist attacks and incidents of stone-pelting in Kashmir and repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the LoC.

The defence minister, who arrived on Wednesday evening and soon after chaired the meeting, was briefed on the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and steps being taken to restore normalcy in the Valley through close coordination amongst all the government agencies, officials said.

He was also apprised of various measures to strengthen the counter-infiltration grid along the Line of Control, where Pakistani forces have been indulging in shelling and

attacks.

Jaitley lauded the valour, sacrifice and patriotic fervour of every soldier who is serving in these challenging situations for national integrity, saying the entire country is proud of them, the officials said.

He urged all soldiers to continue the good job being done and ensure safety of the innocent people while dealing firmly with the inimical elements.

He also impressed upon the commanders to maintain strict vigil along the LoC and remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across.

Jaitley, who also holds the finance portfolio, will preside over the GST Council meeting on Thursday.

He is also likely to meet Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

The visit of Jaitley and Rawat to Kashmir comes against the backdrop of beheading of two Indian security personnel by Pakistani military in Poonch district earlier this month which was termed barbaric by India.

While Rawat hinted at retaliation to avenge the killings, Jaitley had said the sacrifice of the two soldiers will not go in vain and that the armed forces will react appropriately.

Pakistani troops have also been repeatedly violating the ceasefire on the LoC and have been shelling Indian Army posts and civilian areas.

The Kashmir valley has witnessed a spurt in incidents of violence and militant attacks in the last couple of months.

The Pakistani troops were involved in 67 ceasefire violations in the first four months of 2017, with maximum of 26 incidents reported in April, according to Army sources.

They said a total of 27 terrorists were killed between January and April in counter-insurgency operations.
United States President Donald Trump has been embroiled in a controversy following a pair of media reports accusing him of trying to quash a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe against his former National Security Advisor James Flynn, and disclosing highly classified information to Russia.

According to a report published in the New York Times on Tuesday, Trump asked sacked FBI Director James Comey to end the investigation against Flynn.

I hope you can let this go, the US president told Comey, a memo, written by the former FBI chief, published in the report said.

Comey was abruptly fired at a time when he was leading an investigation into whether Trumps election campaign had links with Russias alleged interference in the US polls.

The request was made by Trump after Flynn resigned as the national security advisor following surfacing of reports that he had maintained links with the Russians.

Sourcing its story based on two people who read the memo, the daily claimed that Comey wrote the memo detailing his conversation with Trump immediately after the meeting, which took place a day after Flynn resigned.

I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, the US president asked Comey.

He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go, Trump had said, adding that Flynn had done nothing wrong.

I agree he is a good guy, Comey said, according to the memo.

The Washington Post also published a report which alleged that Trump shared highly classified information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a White House meeting last week.

The report cited current and former US officials, who said the presidents disclosures jeopardised a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State.

The revelations swung the White House into action which strongly refuted the allegations.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the resident has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, a White House official said.

"The president has utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr Comey," the official said requesting anonymity.

Last week, FBI Deputy Director McCabe told a Congressional in a testimony that the White House had not interfered with any investigation.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democrats demanded an investigation into the allegations and Trumps relations with Russia.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said he was shaken by the report in the NYT.

"And we are only one day removed from stunning allegations that the president may have divulged classified information to a known adversary. Concerns about our national security, the rule of law, the independence of our nations highest law enforcement agencies are mounting, he said on the Senate floor.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said if the reports are true, the Trumps brazen attempt to shut down the FBI investigation is an assault on the rule of law that is fundamental to the American democracy.

"At best, President Trump has committed a grave abuse of executive power. At worst, he has obstructed justice. With each passing day, Trumps actions give greater and greater urgency to the need for a full and independent investigation of the Trump-Russia connection, she said.

Pelosi said the Democrats will file a discharge petition to demand a vote on the bipartisan bill to establish an independent, outside commission to investigate the presidents ties with Russia.

"Soon, the Democrats will also introduce a legislation to create an independent counsel to get the facts free of President Trumps meddling, she said.

"If the President has nothing to hide, then he should welcome independent investigations to remove all doubt of a cover-up. The American people deserve to know what President Trump is so desperate to keep hidden, she added

Indian American Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi termed the revelations as a serious breach of the law.

"Today we learned that former FBI director James Comey documented his conversations with President Trump in a series of memos. In one memo, Mr Comey claims that after clearing the room, President Trump asked him to end the investigation of General Michael Flynn. If true, this would be a serious breach of the law, he said.

"What comes next is uncertain but investigations into this matter must begin, as those into the Presidents Russia ties must continue. All the Comey memos should be turned over to Congress, any unclassified memos should be released to the public and President Trump should submit to investigators the tapes with which he threatened Mr Comey, he demanded.

Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley said this is a blatant abuse of power, and a thorough, independent, and bipartisan investigation should be completed as quickly as possible.

"If true, Donald Trumps attempt to influence and intimidate the FBI director to block an investigation is a textbook definition of obstruction of justice and it would be an impeachable offence, Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said.

"If this continues, the Republicans will lose any remaining credibility, Jayapal said while calling for an independent investigation into the issue.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump talks to the media as retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn stands next to him at Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said he wanted to float his own party due to differences within the Congress two years ago, but never toyed with the idea of joining the Bharatiya Janata Party.

It is absurdity, he said, brushing aside reports that he wanted to join the BJP.

They have produced stale news. This is two years ago when there were differences in the Congress and I said I will form my own party. Where is the question of joining the BJP? I think there are too many channels and there is too little news, he said.

Amarinder, however, said there are ups and downs in politics and predicted that a time will come when the Congress will bounce back, as has happened with the BJP which rose from only two seats.

There will come a time when the Congress will rejuvenate. I am sure that effort will be made... I am sure there will come a time when we will bounce back, he said.

Speaking at a function to mark the Delhi launch of his book on the Saragarhi battle and the unveiling of his biography The Peoples Maharaja, he said he did not shy from speaking his mind on controversial subjects like the alleged Khalistani leanings of the Canadian defence minister and the human shield action of an Indian Army Major in Kashmir.

He stuck to his stand on Khalistani support in the Canadian government and said the Justin Trudeau dispensation had several members who were Khalistani supporters, including Sajjan Singh.

His (Sajjans) father was part of the Khalistani movement that has brought trouble in Punjab, he said.

Amarinder also reiterated his support for Major Nitin Gogoi, saying he took the right decision to protect the lives of his own men and said as a soldier he did a great job.

I think the entire Indian Army supports him and I hope he gets an award for meritorious service, he said.

Claiming to be a positive man, who always preferred to look at things and situations positively, Amarinder came out candidly with his views on various subjects, while mincing no words in offering his criticism where he thought it was merited.

In his biography, he also referred to an episode in his biography, where he felt betrayed by the then Prime Minister Chandrashekhar, whom he had talked to in getting 21 Khalistani terrorists to surrender, only to find them shot dead a few months later.

Asked about the demise of Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab, Amarinder said he merely read the situation on the ground and found that there was no groundswell in the partys favour, just a hype in the media, especially the social media.

The people of Punjab wanted a stable government and voted for one, he said.

The Punjab chief minister refused to be drawn into criticism of 95-year-old Parkash Singh Badal, saying he had nothing personal against the Badals. He also said it was not him who got him arrested, but was a result of the legal fallout.

On the SYL canal issue, Singh said warned of the revival of terrorism and naxalism if the canal was constructed, causing southern Punjab to go dry.

He pointed out that water was the main issue in the Anandpur Sahib resolution and could once again become the source of contention and violence in the state.

Amarinder said drugs was a major concern, which his government was tackling with all its might. He also felt that industrial revival and infrastructural development was important for Punjabs revival.

He also narrated excerpts from own latest book on military history, The 36th Sikhs in the Tirah Campaign 1897-98 -- Saragarhi and the defence of the Samana forts, that struck an emotional chord with the audience.

The book, The Peoples Maharaja authored by Khushwant Singh, brings out interesting incidents of his life from his childhood days to the present times.
A Democratic lawmaker has called for impeachment of United States President Donald Trump for his alleged involvement in obstruction of justice, after news reports revealed that he had asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to stop investigations against former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

In fact, Congressman El Green from Texas on Wednesday became the first US lawmaker to demand impeachment of Trump from the House floor.

I rise today Mr Speaker to call for the impeachment of the President of the United States of America for obstruction of justice. There is a belief in this country that no one is above the law. And that includes the President of the United States of America, Green said on the House floor.

The Congressman said that his call for impeachment is a position of conscience for him and asked the American people to speak up.

Each member of Congress has to make his or her decision. This is where I stand, I will not be moved. The President must be impeached, Green said.

At the same time, he noted that impeachment does not mean the president will be found guilty.

It simply means the House of Representatives will bring charges against the president, he said a day after the New York Times reported that it found a memo in which the sacked FBI Director James Comey said that he was asked by Trump to stop Flynns investigations.

Soon thereafter another Republican lawmaker was seen supporting the impeachment move.

Yes, he told The Hill newspaper when asked if the details of the memo if true merited impeachment. But everybody merits a fair trial, he was quoted as saying.

However, the House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said that he has full confidence in Trump. I do (have confidence in Trump), he told reporters at a news conference.

He also urged the lawmakers to be sober.

That is our job, to be sober, to be passionate and to follow the facts wherever they may lead, he said.

It is obvious -- there are some people out there who want to harm the president. We have an obligation to carry out our oversight, regardless of which party is in the White House. That means before rushing to judgment we get all the pertinent information, Ryan said.

The White House has denied the allegations of obstruction of justice.

While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the President has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn, it said.

The President has the utmost respect for the law enforcement agencies, and all investigations, the White House said, adding that this is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Comey.

Ryan supported the White House.

There is an FBI investigation going on right now with all things related to Russia, done by the career professionals at the FBI who are going to continue to be career professionals. And the acting director just said the other day that no one has tried to impede that investigation, he told reporters at a news conference.

Image: US President Donald Trump arrives for the US Coast Guard Academy commencement in New London, Connecticut. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters
'I have a high-paying job, so there's no monetary reason for the suit.'

'It just hurt so much that I couldn't ignore it anymore,' Anvita Bajpai tells Nikita Puri.

Anvita Bajpai often introduces herself as a 'human-centric product visionary'.

Using technology to better human lives, says Bengaluru-based Bajpai, is what keeps her going. It is also what supplies her bread and butter, mostly.

Bajpai is a part-time writer.

While researching for the business and technology portals she contributes to, Bajpai felt she had a knack for storytelling, and published her first book of short stories in early 2014.

And up until April, Bajpai's name was known only in a few circles, and the mainstream literary world was not one of them.

In the last few weeks, Bajpai has been catapulted into the limelight.

It is in response to Bajpai's legal suit that sales of Chetan Bhagat's latest, One Indian Girl, have been stopped following a temporary injunction on April 19.

The charges Bajpai levels against Bhagat are damaging if the court finds merit in them: She feels the flow of One Indian Girl, the theme and narrative style, is eerily similar to a story she had published in 2014.

Bhagat's book came out about six months ago.

Reviews that outlined the plot of Bhagat's book first alerted Bajpai about its similarities to Drawing Parallels, one of the four stories in Life, Odds & Ends (Lifi Publications).

Though there's no text directly copied from Bajpai's first attempt at fiction in Bhagat's seventh book, both stories see a female protagonist negotiating through work and personal life, finally finding love in the third man, among other things.

As "new authors do," Bajpai had given a copy of her book to Bhagat at the Bangalore Literature Festival in 2014 for feedback.

Incidentally, both Bhagat and Bajpai have identical backgrounds: Both of them studied at IITs and IIMs and went on to have regular full-time jobs before trying their hand at writing.

Bajpai's second book, a documentation of the lives of 14 people who've taken the plunge to do "something new," came out last year.

She's awaiting the release of her third book (Pages from My Diary).

Bhagat, whose Five Point Someone is slotted to be taught in Delhi University, feels the development involving Bajpai is 'deeply unfortunate.'

'This is an absolute surprise for me as I have never read any of this author's works. My stories are always original, including One Indian Girl, and it is unthinkable for me to do anything like what is suggested,' Bhagat wrote on social media.

In her complaint, Bajpai also brings up the fact that this isn't the first time Bhagat faces such allegations: Birbal Jha, a teacher of spoken English in Patna, had accused Bhagat of lifting the plot for Half Girlfriend from his bilingual play, Englishia Boli.

"I have a high-paying job, so there's no monetary reason for the suit," says Bajpai.

"Many people told me this would get very stressful and would eat up a lot of my time. I thought over it for weeks, but it just hurt so much that I couldn't ignore it anymore."

T V Prabhakar, a professor at IIT-Kanpur Bajpai worked with early on in her career, remembers her as a "very bright, articulate and motivated kid" who was an "excellent programmer and built data-base driven Web sites when it was still an upcoming technology."

So, it comes as no surprise that Bajpai now consults with start-ups and works towards technological advancements, the latest being a patent for a sensor-based system which can provide real-time assistance while cooking.

Her complaint seeks Rs 1 lakh as damages, "because my lawyers told me that's what the court proceedings could amount to," she says.

Bajpai also feels this will be a lesson in "standing up for oneself" for her seven-year old daughter, Yashoda.

Even when Bajpai was in college, she "was one of the few women during her time here (IIT-Madras) who spoke up," recalls her professor at IIT-Madras, Hema Murthy.

Bhagat never did give Bajpai the feedback she had hoped for. But if Bajpai's allegations are proved in court, as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

IMAGE: Reviews that outlined the plot of Chetan Bhagat's One Indian Girl first alerted Anvita Bajpai about its similarities to Drawing Parallels, one of the four stories in her book Life, Odds & Ends.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Anvita Bajpai/LinkedIn
Fearing imminent arrest and likely reprisals from the CRPF -- 25 of whose jawans were gunned down by the Maoists inside a jungle just 200 to 300 metres away from their homes on the afternoon of April 24 -- young Adivasi men and women in Burkapal abandoned their homes and fled into the jungle.

Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore and Uttam Ghosh report from the ghost village.

Photographs: Uttam Ghosh

INMAGE: Standing forlornly in front of his locked house in Burkapal, this boy's eyes betrayed trauma.

He kept staring blankly at us.

Perhaps, he was asking: 'Like the CRPF jawans, don't children like us too need counselling for the horrors we witness in conflict zones?'

'Don't the Adivasis here suffer from malaria?'

'Don't Adivasis too pine for their family members who flee into the jungle abandoning their young ones?'

Unfortunately, he could not speak to us; neither could we because of the languages we spoke.

The interpreter with us did try to speak with the villagers about their issues, their fears, their concerns, but the women just kept saying "They (those young and able in the village) ran into the forest."

Small children, old men and women, went about their chores when Rediff.com visited Burkapal village.

Old men rested under the shade of their neatly done, clean verandahs.

Women were busy peeling raw mangoes or tending to mahua fruit spread on the ground to dry in front of their houses.

Most homes had their doors ajar; some were carefully locked.

The entire village -- roughly about 40, 50 homes and a population of not more than 400 Adivasis (as per the Central Reserve Police Force estimate) -- separated by a wide, under-construction road with the spot where the ambush took place, wore a deserted, haunted look.

Children, some of them showing signs of malnutrition and mental trauma, seemed oblivious to the absence of their fathers or the goings-on around them.

***

IMAGE: Most women who stayed behind were busy peeling raw mangoes, breaking seeds that they had collected from the forests or tending to mahua fruits spread on the ground for drying.

Small children helped their mothers with whatever they could.

While the CRPF strongly believes the villagers were hand-in-glove with the marauding Maoists, the Adivasis, feel the locals, always get trapped in the battle of supremacy between the security forces and the Maoists.

"Just a few weeks ago, the Burkapal villagers shared friendly relations with the CRPF," says Durga Pal, a local activist from Dornapal, who often visits the villagers.

She requested her location and name be changed; she expects trouble from the CRPF if her identity is revealed.

The Burkapal villagers, she sees, were seen as close to the CRPF, sharing information about the Maoists with the paramilitary forces.

"Madvi Dula, a former sarpanch of Burkapal, was picked up and killed by the Maoists on March 9 because they suspected him to be a CRPF informer," she says.

"His body was thrown closer to our camp near that village," a CRPF officer from a village where Dula's body was located had told us about it.

"And now the CRPF thinks the villagers were involved in the April 24 massacre," says Durga, explaining why the men and women from the village had abandoned their homes.

***

IMAGE: Swachcha Bharat: The Adivasis take great care to keep their surroundings neat and clean.

Overlooking a decent porch, most Adivasi homes in Burkapal were built close to mango trees.

Ask the women who had stayed behind in the village knowing well that the CRPF would come looking for their menfolk, and women too, about why the village was deserted, and they keep repeating themselves.

"They ran away after the incident (the Burkapal killing of April 24, where 25 CRPF jawans were killed)," woman after woman said.

They say nothing when asked how often the CRPF visited their village in search of their men and women after the April 24 ambush.

"Nobody trusts anybody in such times," Durga says, when told about the silence of the villagers in Burkapal.

"The CRPF and local police harasses them no end after such attacks," she says.

A CRPF officer along the Dornapal-Jagargonda stretch echoes Durga, but in another context. "We give them utensils, food, water, clothes and what they do is stab us in the back."

"It is wrong to say that the Adivasis did not help the CRPF," asserts Dr Varnika Sharma, a military psychologist and researcher with the Indian Council of Social Science Research, ICSSR.

The CRPF's civic action programme in Burkapal, she says, did help the force engage with the villagers.

"But when Naxals killed their village (former) sarpanch just a month ago, that sent a strong message to the villagers that the Naxals can kill anybody, any time and did not fear the CRPF. That took them (the villagers) away from the CRPF," Dr Sharma says.

***

IMAGE: While we saw women and children and old men outside some homes, many of them, like this one, were locked.

As part of the CRPF's civic action programme, that the force runs for the welfare of the villagers, the CRPF's Burkapal camp was entrusted with the task of befriending the villagers of Burkapal, and several other villages under their jurisdiction, to engage them in a development dialogue.

"The villagers were a regular at the camp with many small children often visiting these camps for food," says a CRPF jawan, adding bitterly, "But now they have done this to our jawans."

Immediately after the April 24 ambush, the CRPF rounded up several villagers and charged them with being Maoists or abetting the extremists.

"It was this fear that drove the villagers away into the jungle," says Durga.

"Do you think without the information provided by the villagers about our movements the Maoists would have known where to lay the ambush?" fumes one CRPF officer while linking the involvement of the Burkapal villagers in the ambush.

The distrust is deep and complete, and when this happens sanity and common sense takes a back seat, Durga points out.

"Why would the Burkapal villagers help the Maoists in the killing of CRPF jawans bang opposite their own village? Wouldn't they know that if such a thing were to happen, the first target of the CRPF would, obviously, be their village? Why would they dig their own grave?" she asks.

According to Durga, neither the Maoists nor the CRPF have any concern for the Adivasis who get sandwiched in their battle to capture people's hearts and lands.

To prove that Maoists too consider the Adivasis as cannon fodder, she runs the same argument.

"If the Maoists were to really care for the Adivasis, who they call their very own, why would they pick the spot so close to a village, any village? Don't they realise that their acts of violence put the lives of their own in jeopardy?"

"The Maoists are hypocrites too," she says.

***

IMAGE: Most children looked forlorn and weak; victims of a conflict that they don't deserve; a conflict not of their making; a conflict that will shape their future soon.

Their parents may or may not support the Maoists, but the CRPF seems to have drawn the line: "If they did not help the Maoists, then why did they flee the same day? Chor ki dadhi main tinka," says one CRPF officer.

"Had they stayed back, they would have either been slapped with false cases or killed in a fake encounter," counters Durga.

Yet another case of being trapped in a vicious circle.

Adivasis, across Bastar's Maoist-affected areas, are trapped in a vicious circle.

Faced with a gun, they are left with no choice. It is only the fear of the gun that they heed.

"They help the Maoists under the shadow of the gun. They help the CRPF too under the shadow of the gun," says Durga about the predicament that confronts the Adivasis who just want to go about their own lives inside the forests.

"The Maoists kill them if they side with the CRPF and the latter stage fake encounters against those supporting the Maoists," Durga says.

Durga knows that life inside the forests will not change any time soon. She believes the battle between the CRPF and the Maoists is in for a long haul.
LINCOLN, Neb., May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tim Barber, Duncan Aviations London-based Aircraft Sales Rep, is pleased to announce that he has had good interest and inquiries since joining Duncan Aviation this spring, and in just six weeks secured the companys first listing in Europe, followed swiftly by a second within 8 weeks.



Having the Duncan Aviation brand is a big benefit when speaking with clients and prospects because they know theres a wealth of technical support available to support their sale, Barber says. The Duncan Aviation brand is generally known throughout the region, but few actually appreciate the scale of the business. Even fewer are aware that we have transacted nearly 3,500 aircraft, many that have occurred across borders, since our beginnings more than 60 years ago.

The first listing is a 2002 Citation Excel with 4187 Total Time and 3,732 landings. The engines and APU are enrolled on Power Advantage and the airframe is on Pro Parts. It is also being offered as a fractional ownership opportunity with quarter-shares available and established charter income. To see the listing, visit: http://da.aero/aircraft-sales/G-CGMF.

The second listing is a 2006 Hawker 850XP with 3300 Total Time and 1,500 landings. The engines and APU are covered by JSSI. This listing will soon be available on Duncan Aviations website at www.DuncanAviation.aero/aircraftsales.

Barber, who is representing the aircraft sales and acquisitions services of Duncan Aviation across EMEA, is also working on the acquisition of a Hawker 900XP for a client and has a number of other sales projects that are in an advanced stage of negotiation.

Duncan Aviation is known worldwide for its extensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services for business aircraft. The company supports business aircraft owners with a network of three large, full-service facilities, more than 20 avionics satellite locations and engine Rapid Response team launch offices located at busy airports across the United States. These teams travel worldwide and help operators around the globe. Their expertise and model-specific knowledge is regularly tapped by Duncan Aviations Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions team to help them locate and accurately position pre-owned aircraft on the market.

To contact Barber, reach him the following ways:

tel: +44 203 2 87 89 86

mob:+44 7836 352 676

email: tim.barber@duncanaviation.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tim_bizav

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timbarber2

To learn more about Duncan Aviation, visit www.DuncanAviation.aero or stop by Duncan Aviation at stand G88 at EBACE 2017 held May 22-24 at Palexpo Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland. Barber will be attending EBACE along with Arjen Groeneveld, Duncan Aviations European Regional Manager for Service and Support sales, and other Duncan Aviation representatives. Visit www.DuncanAviation.aero/ebace to see Duncan Aviation attendees and show announcements.

About Duncan Aviation Aircraft Sales and Acquisitions

Founded in 1956 as a business aircraft sales organization, Duncan Aviation has been locating, buying and selling business aircraft for customers worldwide for more than 60 years. Operating in all kinds of market conditions, Duncan Aviations aircraft sales consultants and market analyst have the experience of more than 3,000 aircraft transactions to help them provide customers with the best acquisition and sales options to maximize their clients aircraft investments. They are backed by the technical knowledge and expertise of Duncan Aviations 2,100 team members, whose resources help the aircraft sales team make connections, value aircraft, determine future aircraft worth and truly understand the business aviation market.

About Duncan Aviation

Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of government and business operators and other service providers. Services include major and minor airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit systems, full paint and interior services and preowned aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has international aircraft components solutions experts available 24/7/365 at +1 402.475.4125 who can handle any aircraft system problem with immediate exchanges, rotables, loaners or avionics/instrument/accessory repairs and overhauls. Complete service facilities are located in Lincoln, Neb., and Battle Creek, Mich. Additional locations include Provo, Utah, and more than 20 other facilities strategically located throughout the United States to provide customers with local support and the quickest response to avionics, engine and airframe Aircraft On Ground (AOG) situations.

For more information about any of Duncan Aviations services, call +1 402.475.2611 or visit www.DuncanAviation.aero.
WASHINGTON, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Solera Health, a preventive care benefits manager, announced today the appointment of Danielle P. Turnipseed, JD, MPP, M.H.S.A., as vice president of government affairs and policy. In her new role, Ms. Turnipseed will lead the companys Washington D.C. operations with a focus on the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP), driving state DPP access for Medicaid populations and complementary efforts to reach the commercial, employer, and individual markets.

Soleras platform technology creates a marketplace connecting the 86 million U.S. adults at risk for type 2 diabetes with the over 1,000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized digital, national or community-based Diabetes Prevention Program providers (DPPs). The company, in its role as a preventive care benefits manager, makes chronic disease prevention programs affordable, accessible and efficient by connecting at-risk individuals with a diverse range of lifestyle modification programs as a covered medical benefit. Soleras national scalable model was designed to consolidate highly fragmented programs and services into one integrated network allowing health plans and medical providers to increase consumer access and participation while lowering associated costs.

Danielle is an accomplished healthcare veteran with deep health policy expertise in population health and specifically in diabetes prevention, including her extensive work with health plans and employers, said Brenda Schmidt, CEO of Solera Health. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Solera team as we believe her extensive industry knowledge and legislative experience will be extremely valuable as we continue to extend our impact on chronic disease prevention and management efforts at the national, state and hyper-local level.



Ms. Turnipseed is a practicing lawyer who brings to the position over 15 years of healthcare policy experience. Most recently, she was the vice president, prevention and population health at Americas Health Insurance Plans where she served as the resident expert on prevention, wellness, and population health related policies, issues, recommendations, and best practices on the clinical affairs team. In that role, she directed a multi-year, multi-million dollar CDC cooperative agreement to prevent diabetes. Prior to that position, she worked for two United States Senators as their health legislative assistant and policy advisor with particular attention on increasing access to health insurance for the uninsured, pharmaceuticals, HIV/AIDS, health disparities, Medicare, Medicaid, physician and medical device issues, regulations and payment policies.

Im thrilled to join Solera Health at such a pivotal time in the population and preventive health conversation on Capitol Hill. We are on the cusp of tremendous changes in the healthcare field and have a great opportunity to shift from acute and emergency care to chronic disease and prevention, said Ms. Turnipseed. But with the advent of DPP for Medicare beneficiaries, and states increasing interest in DPP for Medicaid beneficiaries, working with federal and state governments will be required to offer these programs in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Solera is in a prime position to help support these efforts and I look forward to leading the company in our related legislative and regulatory initiatives.

About Solera Health

Solera Health is a preventive care benefits manager that connects patients, payers, and physicians with community organizations and digital therapeutics providers, simply and securely. Solera helps consolidate highly fragmented programs and services into one integrated network, allowing health plans and medical providers to increase consumer participation while lowering associated costs. Solera proactively identifies the best fit program provider based on each individuals unique needs and preferences, which has proven to have a significant impact on improved patient outcomes at a fraction of the cost of traditional medical care. For more information, visit Solera Health at www.soleranetwork.com, call 800-858-1714 or follow us on Twitter @SoleraHealth or LinkedIn.
French English

JCDecaux wins RET's large outdoor advertising contract for Rotterdam

Paris, 17 May 2017 - JCDecaux SA (Euronext Paris: DEC), the number one outdoor advertising company worldwide, announced today that its Dutch company, JCDecaux Netherlands, has been awarded the 5 year exclusive contract for the entire portfolio of outdoor advertising assets owned by the Rotterdam Public transport company RET, one of the largest in the country.

This contract which has been operated during the last 30 years by the same company (Mediamax until 2000, then Viacom Outdoor, CBS Outdoor and, since 2013, Exterion Media) covers all advertising bus/tram shelters and subway advertising panels (approximately 3,000 panels), as well as all tram bodies and busses.

Jean-Francois Decaux, Chairman of the Executive Board and Co-CEO of JCDecaux, said: "Winning this contract is a game changer for our Dutch company which will not only be able to offer almost all types of outdoor advertising in Rotterdam, which is the second largest city in the Netherlands, but also provide for the first time a one-stop shop solution for national advertisers with a unique coverage in 9 of the 10 largest Dutch cities. This historic decision should help us to gain market share in the very competitive Dutch media market, where Outdoor advertising is less than 5% of advertising spend. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with RET, which will complement our strong collaboration with the City of Rotterdam."

Key figures for JCDecaux

2016 revenue: 3,393m

JCDecaux is listed on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris and is part of the Euronext 100 and Euronext Family Business indexes

JCDecaux is part of the FTSE4Good and Dow Jones Sustainability Europe indexes

N1 worldwide in street furniture (559,070 advertising panels)

N1 worldwide in transport advertising with more than 220 airports and 260 contracts in metros, buses, trains and tramways (354,680 advertising panels)

N1 in Europe for billboards (169,860 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Europe (721,130 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Asia-Pacific (219,310 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Latin America (70,680 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Africa (29,820 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in the Middle-East (16,230 advertising panels)

N1 worldwide for self-service bike rental scheme: pioneer in eco-friendly mobility

1,117,890 advertising panels in more than 75 countries

Present in 4,280 cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants

Daily audience: more than 410 million people

13,030 employees

Communications Department: Agathe Albertini

+33 (0)1 30 79 34 99 - agathe.albertini@jcdecaux.com

Investor Relations: Arnaud Courtial

+33 (0)1 30 79 79 93 - arnaud.courtial@jcdecaux.com
Ethiopia: Terrorism verdict for Facebook posts is a shameful affront to freedom of expression

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 16 May 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Ethiopia: Terrorism verdict for Facebook posts is a shameful affront to freedom of expression, 16 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591bf6a24.html [accessed 10 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 response to news that former Ethiopian opposition spokesman Yonatan Tesfaye has been found guilty of "encouragement of terrorism" in connection with his posts on Facebook, Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes, said:

"Today's verdict is a miscarriage of justice. It is yet another example of how the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation is used to target and destroy people who criticize the government. All Yonatan did was express himself online. This is not a crime, yet he now faces up to 20 years in jail under this draconian and deeply-flawed law.

"This ruling is a shameful affront to people's right to express themselves and further entrenches repression in Ethiopia."

Yonatan, a former senior official in the opposition Semayawi (Blue) Party, was arbitrarily arrested in December 2015 for comments he posted on Facebook, in which he criticized the government's response to protests in the Oromia region.

He will be sentenced on 25 May.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Ukraine: Revoke Ban on Dozens of Russian Web Companies

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 16 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Ukraine: Revoke Ban on Dozens of Russian Web Companies, 16 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591bf7314.html [accessed 10 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.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on May 15, 2017, signed a decree banning public access to Russian social media platforms, news outlets, and a major search engine widely used in Ukraine, Human Rights Watch said today. Poroshenko should immediately reverse the ban, which affects such internet platforms as VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, RBC, and Yandex, and take steps to protect freedom of expression and information in Ukraine.

"This is yet another example of the ease with which President Poroshenko unjustifiably tries to control public discourse in Ukraine," said Tanya Cooper, Ukraine researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Poroshenko may try to justify this latest step, but it is a cynical, politically expedient attack on the right to information affecting millions of Ukrainians, and their personal and professional lives."

Ukrainian internet service providers would be required to block access to internet companies that are on a government sanctions list. The decree includes an appendix with a widely expanded list of individuals and companies under sanction in Ukraine. Experts said it would be hard to enforce.

The decree imposes a ban on access to popular Russian social media networks, such as VK (formerly VKontakte) and Odnoklassniki, both owned by the Mail.Ru Group. Alisher Usmanov, an oligarch with close ties to the Kremlin, owns stakes in the Mail.Ru Group. As of April, 78 percent of all internet users in Ukraine, or around 20 million, had a VK account.

The decree also orders a block on public access to the Russian search engine Yandex and its various services, such as Yandex.Music, Yandex.Money, and dozens of others with .ua and .ru domains. As of March, 48 percent of internet users in Ukraine used Yandex daily.

Various software programs, such as the language processing software ABBYY and accounting software 1C, used by many Ukrainian companies, have also been banned. Other companies affected are the Russian media companies RBC, Ren-TV, TNT, NTV Plus, the 1 Channel, Zvezda, Moscow 24, a Russian state news agency Rossiya Segodnya, and internet security companies Kaspersky Lab and DrWeb. Russian banks, airlines, oil companies, defense industry companies, and Crimean businesses are also affected.

The presidential decree, which enacts a decision by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, was published on May 16, 2017. It is one in a series of measures imposing economic sanctions on individuals and legal entities with ties to the Russian government. Such sanctions include freezing of assets in Ukraine and other economic and financial restrictions; for individuals, it also means a ban on people on the sanctions list entering the country.

The decree expands the list of those under sanction in Ukraine to 1,228 individuals and 468 legal entities in Russia, Russia-occupied Crimea, areas in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by Russia-backed separatists, and other countries. The duration of sanctions varies from one to three years.

The decree assigns monitoring the sanctions to Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers, the National Security Service, and the National Bank of Ukraine.

Oksana Romaniuk, executive director of Kyiv-based Institute of Mass Information, told Human Rights Watch that the government had not provided a valid justification for why such a broad ban on online companies was necessary. She also insisted that the decree would be hard to enforce without changing the law. Currently, only a court can order internet service providers to take action against a website. The head of Ukraine's internet association, Oleksandr Fedienko, said in a media interview that Ukrainian internet service providers don't have the technical ability to block Russian social media and news websites. He also said the ban would be ineffective due to a variety of ways to circumvent online censorship.

Ukraine is a party to the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which guarantee freedom of expression, including access to information. Only restrictions that are necessary and proportionate for a legitimate purpose may be imposed, and the ban set out in the decree does not pass that test.

In the past two years, Poroshenko has signed similar decrees introducing sanctions. In June 2016, a presidential decree banned 17 Russian journalists, editors, and media executives from traveling to Ukraine. In September 2015, the government banned several hundred Russian individuals and legal entities from entering Ukraine for a year. Among them were 41 journalists and bloggers from several countries, including Russia, Israel, the United Kingdom, and Germany. In May 2016, Poroshenko removed 29 people from the list of those sanctioned.

"In a single move Poroshenko dealt a terrible blow to freedom of expression in Ukraine," Cooper said. "It's an inexcusable violation of Ukrainians' right to information of their choice, and the European Union and Ukraine's other international partners should immediately call on Ukraine to reverse it."

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Tajikistan: Travel Ban on Rights Lawyer

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 16 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Tajikistan: Travel Ban on Rights Lawyer, 16 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591bf7ac4.html [accessed 10 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.

Tajik border guards on the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border on May 14, 2017, prevented a prominent human rights lawyer from leaving the country, Human Rights Watch and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee said today. Tajik authorities should immediately rescind the ban on Fayzinisso Vohidova and immediately and unconditionally release three other human rights lawyers imprisoned or detained on politically motivated charges.

Border guards with the State Committee on State Security at the Auchi-Kalyacha border post stopped Vohidova as she sought to travel to Kyrgyzstan. They detained her for eight hours, stating there was a "defect" in her passport and that she "had no right to leave Tajikistan." In the weeks preceding her stop, Tajik security services interrogated Vohidova several times. She had made critical remarks about the government's imprisonment of Buzurgmehr Yorov, a human rights lawyer who was sentenced to 25 years following a prosecution and trial that appeared politically motivated.

"Tajik authorities are blatantly violating Vohidova's right to freedom of movement," said Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "This appears to be part of a pattern to keep critical voices, including Tajikistan's independent lawyers, from spreading information about the ongoing and severe political crackdown in the country."

Vohidova, a Khujand-based lawyer known for her human rights and criminal defense work, has long been the target of government harassment and intimidation for taking on politically sensitive cases. When she was stopped at the border, the guards initially asserted that there was a problem with the stamp on her passport before conceding that Vohidova had been put on a list of people banned from leaving the country. There is no avenue for citizens to appeal a travel ban.

Arbitrary bans on travel, including to leave one's own country, violate article 12(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees everyone the right to leave any country. Tajikistan became a party to the ICCPR in 1999.

In April, Vohidova made a public appeal to President Emomali Rahmon on Facebook, criticizing the government's imprisonment of Yorov and of Nuriddin Makhkamov, another independent lawyer. The two were first arrested in September 2015, days after saying they would provide legal representation to members of the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT).

Yorov and Makhkamov were sentenced in October 2016 to 23 and 21 years, respectively, on politically motivated charges of inciting social unrest and issuing public calls for the overthrow of the government. Prosecutors later successfully added two years to Yorov's sentence, charging him with insulting a government official, for citing a stanza of the 11th century Persian poet Omar Khayyam during his own trial. An approximate translation, available on RFE/RL, reads:

With these ignorant few who foolishly

Consider themselves the intelligent ones of the world

Should be donkeys, because they are so deep in donkeyness

That they call "blasphemous" whomever is not a donkey

Tajikistan's Prosecutor General's office brought new charges against Yorov in March 2017 for "insulting the president." The charges refer to an interview Yorov gave to an independent news website Payom.net, in which he stated that the laws under which he worked as an attorney were signed by Rahmon. Therefore, the president would be the appropriate party to whom any accusations of corruption should be made. Yorov faces up to five additional years if convicted on these charges. He had no legal representation during most of the trial on the new charges.

Human Rights Watch and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee have repeatedly labeled Yorov and Makhkamov's prison terms arbitrary and said that Tajik authorities should immediately and unconditionally release them. A third lawyer, Shukhrat Kudratov, has been in prison since January 2015 after he acted as the legal representative of an imprisoned opposition figure, Zayd Saidov. Authorities had publicly announced that Kudratov would be released in an amnesty in late 2016, but he remains behind bars.

Human Rights Watch and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee believe there is a pattern of Tajik security services placing travel bans on perceived government critics and the relatives of dissidents abroad, including by confiscating their passports. On March 8, 2017, border guards in the Kulob airport removed Hafizamo Gadoeva, sister of an exiled opposition figure, Sharofiddin Gadoev, from her Moscow-bound flight. Authorities told her that she and her children had been banned from leaving the country because of her brother's opposition activity.

On December 29 and 30, 2016, Tajik security services in Kulob, Dushanbe, and the Vakhsh district of the southern Khatlon region detained relatives, including children, of at least two dissidents living outside of Tajikistan, confiscating passports and accusing the dissidents of being "extremists."

"Tajik authorities have jailed dissidents and lawyers in the past two years and are now turning the country's own borders into de facto prison walls," said Marius Fossum, Central Asia representative for the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. "The total lack of checks on the power of the State Committee for National Security leaves citizens without recourse."

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Kazakhstan: Trade Union Leader Jailed

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 16 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Kazakhstan: Trade Union Leader Jailed, 16 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591bf7f24.html [accessed 10 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.

A Kazakh court on May 16, 2017, sentenced a trade union leader to two years in prison on politically motivated embezzlement charges, Human Rights Watch said today. In addition, the trade unionist, Amin Yeleusinov, 55, is banned from engaging in any trade union activities for five years, will have any "illegally obtained property" confiscated, and must pay US$26,300 in damages. Yeleusinov's conviction is the latest development in an ongoing crackdown on independent labor movement in Kazakhstan, Human Rights Watch said.

The targeting of Yeleusinov for prosecution appears to be motivated by the government's discontent over protests in western Kazakhstan in January. Oil Construction Company workers staged a hunger strike against the closure of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, after which Yeleusinov and his colleague, Nurbek Kushakbaev, were arrested.

"Yeleusinov is the second trade union leader to be imprisoned in Kazakhstan in the last two months," said Mihra Rittmann, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Kazakh officials should know that imprisoning trade union leaders in retaliation for legitimate trade union activities is a serious violation of the right to freedom of association."

Yeleusinov, chairman of the Oil Construction Company trade union, was convicted on criminal charges of "large-scale embezzlement," "publicly insulting a state official," "disobeying a state official," and "committing a violent act against a state official." The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of seven years.

On May 16, an Astana court approved an agreement between the prosecutor and Yeleusinov, in which Yeleusinov was given a lesser sentence of two years if he admitted guilt.

Tolegen Shaiqov, a defense lawyer for Yeleusinov, told Human Rights Watch that Yeleusinov only agreed to a deal after he learned that Kushakbaev had been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison. Yeleusinov suffers from rheumatic heart disease and was worried his poor health would not last a seven-year jail term, his lawyer said.

Shaiqov said that Yeleusinov did not get a fair trial. Among other concerns, during the investigation and trial, both an investigator and the judge denied defense motions to gain access to exculpatory financial documents that had been confiscated during the investigation.

Another trade union leader, the president of the now-shuttered Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, Larisa Kharkova, is also under investigation on alleged embezzlement charges. Kharkova remains under close police surveillance and her freedom of movement is restricted, a union colleague told Human Rights Watch.

International bodies, including the International Trade Union Confederation and the former United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of association and assembly, Maina Kiai have expressed serious concerns about harassment of trade union leaders and the closure of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Kazakhstan in recent months.

"Yeleusinov and Kushakbaev are paying a hefty price with their freedom for defending the rights of workers in Kazakhstan," Rittmann said. "The Kazakh government should end this crackdown on the independent trade union movement and let workers organize freely."

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Kazakhstan: Journalist Stabbed En Route to Brief Diplomats

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 15 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Kazakhstan: Journalist Stabbed En Route to Brief Diplomats, 15 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591bf8d34.html [accessed 10 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.

A prominent Kazakh journalist and activist was violently attacked in the early morning hours of May 14, 2017, Human Rights Watch said today. The Kazakh authorities should ensure that the attack is investigated promptly, thoroughly, and impartially and that the attackers are identified and brought to justice.

Ramazan Yesergepov, chairman of the board of Journalists in Danger, a Kazakh media freedom group that provides legal advice and representation and training for journalists, was stabbed in the abdomen by two unidentified men during a train journey from Almaty to Astana. He was scheduled to meet in Astana with foreign diplomats about activists and journalists imprisoned in Kazakhstan and about the government's failure to comply with United Nations Human Rights Committee decisions, including in his own case. Yesergepov was hospitalized following the attack and underwent surgery.

"This violent, targeted attack on a prominent journalist-activist and long-standing government critic raises serious concerns," said Mihra Rittmann, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The Kazakhstan authorities should ensure that there is a thorough investigation of this vicious attack and that those responsible are identified and brought to justice."

Yesergepov, 61, had stepped out of his compartment for some air when two unidentified assailants stabbed him in the abdomen with a sharp object. Yesergepov told Human Rights Watch that the men identified him as that "Magnitsky" guy. The reference appears to relate to Yesergepov's public call for Kazakh officials to impose visa and financial sanctions on anyone allegedly involved in torturing and killing whistleblowers. A similar United States sanctions law relates to the death of Sergei Magnitsky, a lawyer, in a Russian prison.

Yesergepov said he was taken to the hospital at the next stop, in Shu, a town in southern Kazakhstan, where he underwent surgery. The police have opened a criminal case for attempted murder.

Rozlana Taukina, director of Journalists in Danger, told Human Rights Watch she believes the attack was politically motivated because of Yesergepov's harsh criticism of government, in particular of the authorities' refusal to implement the UN Human Rights Committee March 2016 decision regarding violations of Yesergepov's right to a fair trial and unlawful detention. The committee monitors provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and can consider individual complaints.

Yesergepov has repeatedly appealed to government and judicial bodies to carry out the decision, but the authorities have not taken any action on his case, he said. On Friday, May 12, Yesergepov filed a lawsuit against the head of the presidential administration, the chairman of the Supreme Court, the prosecutor general, and the ministers of foreign affairs and finance over the failure to enforce the decision, he said.

Yesergepov is the former editor of the independent newspaper Alma-Ata Info. After his newspaper published an article alleging corruption against local officials based on classified documents, he was sentenced to three years in prison in August 2009, on charges of disclosing state secrets. He was also banned from engaging in journalistic activities for two years. Yesergepov's trial was not open to the public, and he was denied a lawyer of his choice. He was released on January 6, 2012, after he completed his sentence.

The authorities should ensure that the investigation into the attack on Yesergepov examines the possibility that he was attacked in retaliation for his outspoken criticism of government and his media freedom activism, Human Rights Watch said.

The environment for free speech and media freedom in Kazakhstan is highly restrictive. It is marked by harassment and attacks on independent journalists, closure of independent and opposition media outlets, prohibitive penalties for civil defamation, and criminal penalties for libel.

This is not the only time a critical journalist has been the target of a violent attack in Kazakhstan in recent years. In August 2013, Igor Larra, a journalist with the independent newspaper Svoboda Slova, was badly beaten by four assailants in his hometown, Aktobe. In April 2012, two unidentified men stabbed Lukpan Akhmedyarov, a journalist with the independent newspaper Uralskaya Nedelya in Uralsk, eight times and shot him with a non-lethal weapon.

"This violent attack on Yesergepov is a pressing reminder of the highly restrictive space for freedom of expression in Kazakhstan," Rittmann said. "The Kazakh government should take immediate and urgent steps to lift restrictions on independent journalists and media outlets so they can carry out their work without fear of violent repercussions."

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Iran's candidates must pledge to defend media freedom, RSF says

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 17 May 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Iran's candidates must pledge to defend media freedom, RSF says, 17 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591bf9914.html [accessed 10 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 two days to go to the presidential and municipal elections that the Islamic Republic of Iran will hold on 19 May, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) appeals yet again to all candidates to give a clear undertaking to defend the freedom to inform.

RSF issued a series of recommendations to the candidates on the eve of the 2013 presidential election. Four years later, the same recommendations are unfortunately still valid and are still needed for media freedom in Iran.

There has been some progress, such as a fall in the frequency with which the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance suspends media outlets. But President Hassan Rouhani, who is running for reelection, did not keep his 2013 campaign promise to defend "free speech and media freedom."

The level of media freedom is still abysmal and Iran is still one of the world's five biggest prisons for journalists and citizen journalists, with a total of 27 detained. It is also one of the world's biggest prisons for women journalists.

During a campaign meeting that President Rouhani gave on 15 May, his supporters chanted slogans calling for the release of political prisoners and blaming Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for their detention. "My arms don't have enough strength on their own to solve certain problems but they will be more effective with a vote of more than 51%," Rouhani responded.

It is true that the justice system and the Revolutionary Guards, under the Supreme Leader's command, are responsible for most of the persecution of journalists and suppression of independent reporting. But Rouhani cannot escape his share of the blame.

As official guarantor of the Iranian constitution's application, he could have put a stop to this unacceptable state of affairs. Rouhani's intelligence ministry has moreover been guilty of harassing journalists and media outlets that have criticized his administration.

Unusually aggressive campaign

The campaign for this presidential election, which observers regards as crucial for the country's future, has been marked by virulent mutual attacks among the various candidates.

Rouhani has repeatedly attacked "those who for 38 years have known only how to imprison and execute," in allusion to his leading rival, Ebrahim Raisi, a cleric allied with the Supreme Leader.

Raisi was prosecutor general for years and is now the special prosecutor of the court for clerics, which tries crimes by members of the clergy. He was also a member of the feared commission appointed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1988 that passed death sentences on thousands of prisoners who refused to renounce their beliefs.

More than 29 members of the European Parliament signed a letter on 13 May calling for the release of all Iranian political prisoners, including journalists and citizen journalists. "The Iranian authorities should protect journalists and civil society actors and must allow full access to the Internet and social media platforms, in line with the use by the leadership of the Islamic Republic itself, which is fervently communicating online," the letter says.

RSF points out that it will be impossible to regard the Iranian people as free until these demands have been met. RSF therefore urges all the candidates to undertake to:

* Seek the unconditional release of the 27 journalists and online information activists currently imprisoned in Iran.

* Overhaul Iran's media legislation in order to protect media freedom in accordance with article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party.

* In particular, decriminalize media offences and guarantee the freedom to inform without discrimination based on language, religion or political opinion. A revision of the 1986 press law (amended in 2000 and 2009 to include online publications) is urgently needed. The law allows the authorities to verify that the media "do not endanger the Islamic Republic," "do not insult the Supreme Leader," and "do not disseminate false information." Amendments that require online publications to be licensed must be repealed.

* Ensure that journalists enjoy the right to free association, including the right to form unions and to join them in order to protect their interests.

* Ensure that Iranian citizens enjoy the right to be informed and the right to free, uncensored and unmonitored Internet access. The creation of a "Halal Internet" (National Internet) designed to impose a digital apartheid constitutes a grave danger for Iran.

* End arbitrary acts and impunity. The instigators and perpetrators of the murders of dissident journalists have never been punished. The many cases include Ebrahim Zalzadeh, Majid Charif, Mohamad Mokhtari, Mohamad Jafar Pouyandeh and Pirouz Davani, all executed by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security in November and December 1988. They also include the deaths in detention of Zahra Kazemi (2003), Firat news agency reporter Ayfer Serce (2006), blogger Omidreza Mirsayafi (2009), former Abrar Economy reporter Alireza Eftekhari (2009), journalist and women's rights activist Haleh Sahabi (2011), Iran-e-Farda journalist Hoda Saber (2011) and blogger Sattar Beheshti (2012).

Iran is ranked 165th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index.

Read the the Handbook for Journalists during Elections, which contains practical advice on all aspects of news coverage during what is a very sensitive and important process in a nation's life..
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.
Chicago, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association will present its 43rd Annual Freedom Award and Distinguished Service Awards on May 18, 2017.

The Freedom Award honors individuals who, through their thinking, accomplishments or profession, reflect the basic tenets of freedom. The award recognizes their work, high ethical standards, efforts to help mankind and initiatives to improve society and our nation.

Lanning Macfarland, Jr., Chairman of the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, will receive this years Freedom Award.

The Alumni Association also will honor Dean John E. Corkery, Professor Ann Lousin, Hon. Charles P. Kocoras and alumnus Mauro Glorioso ('97) with Distinguished Service Awards.

Corkery served as John Marshalls dean for nearly a decade; Lousin has been a professor at John Marshall since 1975; Kocoras is a U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, served as the Chief Judge from 2002 to 2006, is a member of the law schools Board of Visitors and also serves as an adjunct professor; and Glorioso is the Chairman of the Illinois Property Tax Appeals Board.

The award ceremony and reception will be held at the Chicago Cultural Center from 5:00-7:30 p.m. The award ceremony will start at 5 p.m.

About The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association

The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association is an independent, nonprofit organization which works in close collaboration with John Marshalls Office of Alumni Relations & Development. The Alumni Association is governed by a board of directors who direct all alumni activities that are independent of the law school.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cf81c69a-31e8-4fea-bb88-e5e1c80220e6
Displaced by war, Yemenis face hardship and hunger

Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Author Shabia Mantoo Publication Date 16 May 2017 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Displaced by war, Yemenis face hardship and hunger, 16 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591c0a2b4.html [accessed 10 November 2022]

When the fighting reached his doorstep last year in the city of Hajjah, 130 kilometres northwest of Yemen's capital Sana'a, Mohammed Saeed and his four children fled to the neighbouring Hudaydah governorate in search of safety.

The 60-year-old former electrical engineer had brought his children up alone since the death of his wife before the outbreak of conflict in 2015. But while they were able to escape the bullets and bombs, the terrible hardship that accompanied their forced displacement was to have tragic consequences for his youngest son, aged just 10.

"Because of the situation, I lost one of my children to malnutrition," Mohammed explained. "We just don't have enough to eat. Sometimes we have food and sometimes we don't. We are very poor, we have no means to support ourselves and we just depend on whatever we get from humanitarian organizations."

Mohammed's plight is sadly all too common in a country where two million people are currently displaced and 17 million are considered food insecure as a result of the conflict, now in its third year.

Hudaydah is currently host to more than 109,000 displaced Yemenis, who along with the conflict-affected local population are said to be facing critical levels of food insecurity.

Amid warnings of a possible intensification of fighting in Hudaydah itself, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, recently warned that up to half a million people could be displaced by an increase in hostilities there. In response, the agency is leading efforts with humanitarian partners to respond to any fresh displacement.

UNHCR is pre-positioning supplies to be able to respond in the event of mass displacement and will help establish humanitarian hubs along major displacement routes to offer respite to people fleeing violence, UNHCR spokesman William Spindler told a news briefing in Geneva on Tuesday (May 16).

It will also provide mobile core relief kits, protection services, emergency shelter and household assistance at the final destinations of the displaced, in the form of shelter materials, vouchers, financial assistance or cash subsidies for rent, depending on needs.

Fatima, a 35-year-old mother of five from Hajjah, fled to Hudaydah shortly after the start of the conflict in early 2015. Their escape followed an explosion near their home that left Fatima badly burned, and she still suffers severe pain from her injuries as a result of not being able to afford proper medical treatment.

With Fatima's husband - a former construction worker - unable to find work in Hudaydah, they are currently living in an unused building with 20 other families, and have had to resort to scavenging food from restaurants and sending their children to beg in the streets just to survive.

Many of those displaced in Hudaydah like Fatima are anxious about possible intensifications in hostilities, unsure of how and where they would flee.

"We are scared by the situation but what are we supposed to do?," Fatima asked. "Even where we live now, a bomb fell near our building. We are very afraid."

With UNHCR's humanitarian supplies at critically low levels, the agency has appealed for US$ 99.6 million in order to respond to current and anticipated displacement in Yemen, but has so far received less than a quarter of the requested amount.
Papua New Guinea: Guardian reveals a policy of cruelty on Manus Island

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 17 May 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Papua New Guinea: Guardian reveals a policy of cruelty on Manus Island, 17 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591c4dc24.html [accessed 10 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.

Responding to The Guardian's revelations that camp managers and security staff on Australia's detention centre on Manus Island have sought to make conditions as inhospitable as possible, Amnesty International's Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Champa Patel, said:

"The documents published by the Guardian today reveal that the Australian government's service providers planned a policy of deliberate cruelty, making life intolerable in order to coerce them to relocate.

"Despite warnings of the extreme risks that refugees would face, there were plans made to forcibly move them into new camps without a plan to resettle them. Such a callous indifference to the safety and well-being of refugees puts them at great risk. This inherently abusive system must be dismantled and the refugees must be brought to safety.

"There needs to be an immediate, independent and effective investigation into these shocking revelations and what the Australian government knew. And the people responsible must be held to account."

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Mexico: Fifth journalist killed this year in sickening assault on freedom of expression

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 15 May 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Mexico: Fifth journalist killed this year in sickening assault on freedom of expression, 15 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591c4e234.html [accessed 10 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 killing of a journalist in Mexico - the fifth such incident this year -highlights the alarming situation of freedom of expression in the country, said Amnesty International.

Javier Valdez Cardenas, founder of Rio Doce media and reporter for La Jornada and El Noroeste, was shot dead a few metres away from his office in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa. Javier was known for his work covering organized crime and drug trafficking. In 2011, he received an international prize for press freedom from the Committee to Protect Journalists. This is the second assassination of a journalist from La Jornada in 2017.

"Being a journalist in Mexico seems more like a death sentence than a profession. The continuing bloodshed that the authorities prefer to ignore has created a deep void that is damaging the right to freedom of expression in the country," said Tania Reneaum, director of Amnesty International Mexico.

"For media professionals who, like Javier, dare to boldly report on issues such as crime and security, the country has become a hostile environment. Media outlets such as La Jornada should not be under threat. This crime, like all the others, should be investigated independently and impartially and all those who are suspected of being responsible should be brought to justice."

According to the organization Article 19, 105 media and communications journalists have been assassinated since the year 2000. Reporters without Borders have said that in 2016, Mexico was the country with the third highest death toll for journalists worldwide, surpassed only by Syria and Afghanistan.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Second anniversary of closure of independent radio stations

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 17 May 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Second anniversary of closure of independent radio stations, 17 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591c4f944.html [accessed 10 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.

No independent radio stations have been broadcasting in Burundi since the authorities closed them down two years ago this week. The government still harasses and persecutes journalists and media outlets although it is now trying to create a semblance of pluralism in order to defuse international criticism. No one is fooled inside Burundi and, in the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Burundi is now ranked as a country where the situation is "very bad."

Access to information is extremely limited. According to a report published by the newspaper Iwacu, the volume of news and information available on radio stations in Burundi is 73% less than before the authorities closed Radio Publique Africaine (RPA), Radio Bonesha, Radio-Tele Renaissance and Radio Isanganiro in May 2015.





Radio Isanganiro resumed broadcasting in February 2016 but only after giving a signed undertaking to the government. The other radio stations remain closed on the official grounds that they are still subject to an investigation that has yet to be concluded and may never have begun. Online social networks have filled some of the gap in the circulation of news and opinion but they are not immune to rumour and tend to be rather one-sided.





Scores of journalists are still living in exile while those still operating in Burundi are often threatened because of their profession and are often accused of working for "news media outside the country." They are subject to constant restrictions and, when travelling anywhere to cover something, they must first notify the local authorities of their presence.





The Burundian Union of Journalists (UBJ) was closed in October 2016, at the same time as the main human rights groups. The few media outlets still operating tow the government line or have to be extremely careful in order to avoid incurring the authorities' wrath.





There has been growing talk since 2015 of journalists being the "collaborators" of foreign government or "enemies of the nation." The regime tolerates and even encourages such rhetoric, which fosters a climate of fear and self-censorship among journalists. It also legitimizes threats and acts of violence against them.





So, for the past two years, the media diversity that once characterized Burundi has been no more than a fading memory.









Behind the facade of pluralism





When Radio Isanganiro was allowed to reopen in February 2016, it had to give a written undertaking to adhere to certain editorial policies and, in the view of both journalists and listeners, it has operated under constraint ever since.





The authorities often intervene to get the station to "correct" its reports or to discourage its reporters from covering certain stories. Radio Isanganiro's reopening is nonetheless held up as evidence of the government's good intentions towards the media.





New media outlets that tow the government line, such as Ikihiro, have been created by government allies. The former spokesman of the National Intelligence Service (SNR), Telesphore Bigirimana, now heads the Burundian New Agency (APB). And the government does not hide its desire to one day reopen other media outlets that are still closed.





But if that happens, it will almost certainly be without their former staff. Arrest warrants are still pending for the directors of the leading radio stations and the mere fact of having been out of the country for a long like suffices to render journalists guilty. The journalist Jean Bigirimana went missing in July 2016, two weeks after returning to Burundi from attending a training session abroad. He has never reappeared.





This desire to restore apparent media "normality" was clear in communication and media minister Nestor Bankumukunzi's comments on 3 May (World Press Freedom Day). While recognizing that the media continue to face difficulties, he urged media bosses to "hold on" until (international) partners resume providing them with funding.





This was an extraordinary request, given that Burundi refuses to give the European Union the human rights guarantees that would be necessary for state subsidies to resume.





Gabriel Bihimugani, the deputy head of the National Communication Council (CNC), went so far as to claim that Burundi has made major advances in media freedom in the past year.





He must have forgotten the arrests of two French journalists in January 2016, Bigirimana's disappearance in July 2016, the arrest of a US journalist in October 2016, the arrests of Burundian journalists by the SNR and the police, and the online campaign of harassments and threats against Deutsche Welle correspondent and SOS Media Burundi coordinator Willy Eloge Kaneza.





"There is now a danger that a facade of pluralism will create the illusion of a return to normality although an entire generation of trained and professional journalists is still in exile and cannot return, said Clea Kahn-Sriber, the head of RSF's Africa desk.We call on the Burundian government to stop harassing journalists and to conduct impartial investigations into the cases of journalists who have been attacked or who have disappeared. In particular, light must be shone of Jean Bigirimana's disappearance. An investigation was launched in order to mollify his fellow journalists and family but seems to have been abandoned. To this end, we urge the authorities to cooperate fully with the UN Commission of Enquiry on Human Rights in Burundi."





Burundi is now ranked 160th out of 180 countries in RSF's World Press Freedom Index, after falling another four places in the past year.
Iran refuses hospital transfer for jailed human rights defender on hunger strike for 40 days

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 17 May 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Iran refuses hospital transfer for jailed human rights defender on hunger strike for 40 days, 17 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591c77834.html [accessed 10 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 Iranian authorities must immediately transfer Atena Daemi, an imprisoned human rights defender, whose health has sharply deteriorated in recent days, to a hospital outside of prison so that she can receive the specialized medical care she requires, said Amnesty International.

Atena Daemi, who has been on hunger strike for 40 days, has been coughing up blood, suffered severe weight loss, nausea, vomiting, blood pressure fluctuations, and kidney pain. Doctors have warned that she requires immediate hospitalization. However, the authorities at Tehran's Evin prison have refused to authorize her transfer to a hospital outside prison for medical treatment.

"Deliberately denying specialized medical treatment to someone in critical health is not only blatantly unlawful but also cruel and may amount to torture. By refusing to transfer Atena Daemi to hospital, the Iranian authorities are causing damage to her health and are potentially putting her life at risk," said Magdalena Mughrabi, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

"Atena Daemi is only in prison because the Iranian authorities are punishing her for her human rights activism. Now, in addition to this injustice, they are inflicting needless suffering on her by depriving her of medical care.

"Instead of flouting their international human rights obligations by recklessly ignoring Atena Daemi's medical needs, the Iranian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release her and address the grievances underpinning her hunger strike."

Atena Daema began her hunger strike on 8 April in protest at the suspended prison sentences imposed on her sisters Hanieh and Ensieh for "insulting public officers on duty" after an unfair trial. Amnesty International believes that they were targeted simply because they are related to her.

On 8 May, after briefly losing consciousness days earlier, she was transferred to a hospital outside of prison for medical tests arranged by her family, but was returned to the prison before her test results were received. At a follow-up appointment on 15 May, her doctor advised that she needed to be immediately admitted to hospital. However, she was returned to the prison again the same day. Later that day she was taken to the prison clinic after coughing up blood.

Atena Daemi has been in prison since November 2016 serving a seven year prison sentence, reduced from an original 14 year sentence. She was convicted, following an unfair trial, on trumped-up national security-related charges arising solely from her peaceful human rights activities. The court verdict cited as "evidence" comments she had made on Facebook criticizing executions and human rights violations in Iran, her participation in solidarity events for death row prisoners, distributing anti-death penalty pamphlets and having ties to human rights defenders and the families of those killed during the post 2009-election crackdown.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
CARMEL, Ind., May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KAR Auction Services, Inc. (NYSE:KAR), today announced that its CarsArrive Network (CarsArrive) subsidiary has acquired the vehicle transportation business of Dependable Auto Shippers (DAS). CarsArrive is the worlds only fully automated used vehicle hauling solution with more than two million vehicles delivered each year. The addition of DAS will extend CarsArrives transportation and logistics solutions into the growing consumer market segment.



CarsArrive has developed a leading portfolio of products and services that help dealers, wholesalers, fleet managers and other commercial customers ship their vehicles safely and efficiently, said Michael Briggs, president and CEO of CarsArrive and Recovery Database Network, Inc (RDN). We are excited to bring our strong history, expertise and commitment to quality and service to meet the vehicle shipping needs of consumers.

Online vehicle purchasing, particularly dealer-to-consumer transactions, has generated increased consumer demand for vehicle transportation and logistics services. Additionally, consumers are looking for dependable vehicle logistics solutions for relocations and other personal vehicle transportation needs. CarsArrive currently delivers vehicles to private homes on behalf of selling dealers, but with the addition of DAS, will extend their integrated network to serve consumers directly.

If theres a vehicle to be moved in any channel for any customer, CarsArrive wants to be there to move it, said Briggs. Consumer-centricity is the next phase in our evolution, and well bring the strength and confidence of the entire KAR platform to help us deliver value, convenience and exceptional service.

CarsArrive Network provides an online marketplace where shippers and carriers come together and conduct business in a trusted and secure environment. Their North American network of automated vehicle transport services includes more than 4,500 registered carriers representing over 30,000 trucks.

About KAR Auction Services

KAR Auction Services (NYSE:KAR) provides sellers and buyers across the global wholesale used-vehicle industry with innovative, technology-driven remarketing solutions. KARs unique end-to-end platform supports whole car, salvage, financing, logistics and other ancillary and related services, including the sale of approximately 5.1 million units valued at over $40 billion through our auctions. Our integrated physical, online and mobile marketplaces reduce risk, improve transparency and streamline transactions for customers in 110 countries. Headquartered in Carmel, Ind., KAR has approximately 17,400 employees across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. www.karauctionservices.com.
Los Angeles, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/17/2017 --Vermont Urgent Care is a full-service urgent care in Los Angeles that provides the attention and care that patients expect from their healthcare providers. At this urgent care in Los Angeles patients are in good hands from the moment the walk in the door, and long after they leave.



The urgent care in Los Angeles is now offering sexual health services, including STD testing. For those that qualify, STD testing can be performed for free. This urgent care in Los Angeles wanted to offer this additional and necessary service due to its importance. STDs that go undetected and untreated can cause serious, long-term damages



The leading urgent care center in Los Angeles understands that by offering affordable and fast healthcare to their community, patients can get back to the normal day to day activities sooner, which is beneficial to everyone. The urgent care in Los Angeles does their part to ensure that their patients are functioning at their fullest ability by providing outstanding healthcare.



About Vermont Urgent Care

Popular Vermont Urgent Care is a friendly urgent care in Los Angeles that provides care for a lower cost than that of an emergency room. The urgent care in Los Angeles has recently added sexual health services to those that are looking to educate and protect themselves from potentially risky behavior.



For further STD testing, sexual or general health information visit VermontUrgentCare.org/ or make an appointment to visit them at 1435 S. Vermont Ave #100, in Los Angeles, CA 90006.
From 2-7 to sectional champs, Monrovia has one question: 'Why not us?'
Chicago, United States, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) recently reviewed Simon's Agency's Debt Collection Services using the Peer Review process. After undergoing the rigorous review, Simon's Agency's Debt Collection Services for Healthcare has been awarded the "Peer Reviewed by HFMA" designation.

Simon's Agency has provided debt collection services to the healthcare industry for over 50 years and has expanded its operation significantly over the last decade by leveraging the experience of its management team as well as the expanding role of technology in operations and patient communication.

"For Simon's Agency to earn this designation for our debt collection services speaks to the dedication our team has to both our clients and our clients' patients. I am so proud that our team could earn this designation because I know how hard we work to satisfy our clients each and every day. This recognition will allow us to showcase this in a very tangible way," said Simon's Agency President and Owner Phil Bova.



HFMA's Peer Review process provides healthcare financial managers with an objective, third-party evaluation of business solutions used in the healthcare workplace. The rigorous, 11-step process includes a Peer Review panel review comprising current customers, prospects who have not made a purchase, and industry experts. The Peer Review status of the healthcare business solution and its performance claims are based on effectiveness, quality and usability, price, value, and customer and technical support.

"We're pleased to have Simon's Agency achieve their HFMA Peer Reviewed designation," said HFMA President and CEO Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA. "The HFMA Peer Review process assures our members, through a rigorous evaluation, that the reviewed healthcare business solution meets an objective, third-party assessment of overall effectiveness, quality, and value."

About HFMA

With more than 40,000 members, the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) is the nation's premier membership organization for healthcare finance leaders. HFMA builds and supports coalitions with other healthcare associations and industry groups to achieve consensus on solutions for the challenges the U.S. healthcare system faces today. Working with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, HFMA identifies gaps throughout the healthcare delivery system and bridges them through the establishment and sharing of knowledge and best practices. We help healthcare stakeholders achieve optimal results by creating and providing education, analysis, and practical tools and solutions. Our mission is to lead the financial management of health care.

About Simon's Agency, Inc.

Simon's Agency, Inc. has a proven 50-year track record of client satisfaction by leveraging state-of-the-art technology, one-on-one client relations, and the vast experience of our management team and multi-lingual collections staff to recover our clients' outstanding receivables. We understand the importance of good bedside manners when it comes to collections and execute with firm, yet compassionate, language and tact. As a leader in debt recovery solutions for five decades, Simon's offers an unparalleled understanding of the tools and techniques required to deliver superior results to clients and patients alike.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d0bac4e-7e71-4957-b4bf-d10d1310438f
A Fun Mystery - Detective Style Series

Western scene courtesy of Pixabay.com

I have just recently become a fan of Patricia McLinn and her series called Caught Dead In Wyoming. I was looking for a mystery to read and the title of the series caught my attention since my youngest lived in Wyoming for a while several years ago.





Suffice it to say, I have not been disappointed in the books. I just started the 4th book in the series last night. Ms. McLinn has me captivated with her plots and characters. Each book has moved along nicely with plenty of interesting little twists and turns.





I think one of the things that has captivated my attention is the ability of Ms. McLinn to describe living in a small town in a believable and sometimes humorous way. The stories take place in and around a small town in Wyoming. Having grown up in a small town, I recognize the excellence in her writing by the characters she has included in her make believe town. Every small town would have people like them. One of my most favorites is the check-out gal at the one and only grocery store, Penny. That woman is hysterical!





The premise of each book is that E. M. Danniher (Elizabeth) has had a rather successful career as a TV news broadcaster in cities like Chicago, New York and Washington D.C. All was fine until her divorce. Her now ex-husband was on the management side of television and had really messed her up in the last contract that he had her sign. Should I mention she didn't pay close enough attention to the dirty little details until it was too late?





So, Elizabeth finds herself working at a small little television station in Sherman, Wyoming. She is to finish out her contract with the network in this western town. The only job that the station manager will give her is a consumer affairs position called "Helping Out". No longer will she report on National News but will help people resolve problems with defective toasters and such.





It doesn't take long for an event to crop up that causes Elizabeth to use her journalistic detective skills and to solve a mystery and crime.



I do not like to spoil stories for people so I am not going into a lot of detail for each of the books that I have read so far. What I will say is that the cast of characters that the author has created are so well thought out that you almost feel as if you know them. I also get the feeling that the author knows first hand what it feels like to be an outsider in a small town. All of this makes the stories enjoyable and the plots believable because they seem so real and are entertaining to boot.



The main character, Elizabeth, is funny, smart, good at her job but also a little broken and vulnerable. She finds a way to make some new friends and enemies. All in all, I think that if you like to read mysteries that this series; Caught Dead In Wyoming is a great one for you to begin to read.





Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.
UPDATED at 10:30 A.M. EST on 2017-05-22



The head of Cambodias opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Wednesday called on his partys candidates to remain above the fray amid a slew of threats from Prime Minister Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) in the lead up to local elections set for next month.



Speaking in the capital Phnom Penh ahead of a 14-day campaign period beginning on May 20, CNRP president Kem Sokha told a gathering of 103 top ranked female candidates that the party must adhere to nonviolence and avoid trading insults with the CPP ahead of the countrys June 4 commune elections.



We are not cowards, brothers and sisters, but we are well aware that we are marching towards our goal, he said.



Let me give you the example of a race: If we want to overtake our challengers and they turn to block us with their legs, should we bother ourselves with attacking them back? Do not engage, just continue on, brothers and sisters!



Kem Sokha made specific reference to a warning by defense minister Tea Banh on Sunday that the army will smash the teeth of anyone protesting an election win by the ruling party and quickly suppress any demonstrations by CNRP members like those that followed the oppositions loss in national elections in 2013.



Let the people make a judgment in regard to those who want to smash our teeth or whatever they plan, he said.



We really do want their votes, but the people can make their own decisions. If they prefer those who want to smash our teeth, they should vote for them. But if they prefer gentle people, such as those in the CNRP, please vote for the CNRP.



Kem Sokha suggested that the people of Cambodia will eventually elect peace lovers to lead the country, adding that the CNRP will opt for a nonviolent approach in both words and deeds during the upcoming campaign.



Tea Banhs remarks came less than a week after Cambodias prime minister Hun Sen warned of civil war if the public does not support his CPP in local elections on June 4.



Hun Sen, who has already ruled Cambodia for three decades, has made similar threats in recent months, with CPP-controlled media regularly alluding to violence if the party loses.



In response to Kem Sokhas speech, CPP lawmaker and spokesperson Sok Ey San said Wednesday that the people of Cambodia are already well aware of which party can maintain peace in the country and which one will be stirring up trouble after next months polls.



The people dont need  a party that only knows how to speak lies and cheat them from one issue to another, he said.



The people need a constructive party that protects peace for the sake of bringing progress and prosperity to their livelihoods.



From left to right, Kem Sokha, Pol Ham, Mu Sochua, and Eng Chhay Eang at an extraordinary congress in Phnom Penh, March 2, 2017. Credit: RFA Deputies elected



Also on Wednesday, the CNRP held an extraordinary congress to elect Mu Sochua, Pol Hom and Eng Chhai Eang as the partys vice presidents after amending a crucial bylaw in a bid to placate the Ministry of Interior, which rejected its previous method of selecting the same leaders in March.



At the conclusion of the extraordinary congress, CNRP spokesperson Yim Sovann announced in a press briefing that the three lawmakers had been named vice presidents and said the party will forward official documentation detailing its hierarchy and leadership profiles to the ministry.



Last month, the CNRP amended Article 47 of its internal regulations a second time, after an initial change at another congress in March, to state that if there is no vice president, the steering committee must choose new ones from its members by an absolute majority of votes, which it did Wednesday.



The clash between the CNRP and ministry over the oppositions leadership selection process began in March after former party president Sam Rainsy resigned.



On March 31, the CNRP notified the Ministry of Interior of amendments to its party bylaws after the ministry had declared the oppositions appointment of Kem Sokha as president and the three lawmakers as vice presidents illegitimate, throwing its participation in the upcoming elections into question.



The ministry had claimed that the appointments during a March 2 extraordinary congress ran afoul of the CNRPs statute, based on documentation the party filed in 2013, requiring a moratorium on electing a new president for 18 months after the post was vacated.



The CNRP had amended the statute at the congress before appointing new leadership.



On Wednesday, Ministry of Interior spokesperson Khieu Sopheak said the ministry had yet to receive an official letter from the CNRP concerning the election of the oppositions vice presidents and declined to say whether the new appointments were done in accordance with the partys bylaws.



I dont dare comment on anything yet, he said. We will have to wait for the letter before we can make a determination.



Observers say the CNRPone of 12 political parties competing for 1,646 commune council seatscould give the CPP a run for its money in the June polls, foreshadowing a possible CNRP win in national elections scheduled for 2018.



Reported by Neang Ieng and Vandeth Van for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.



Correction: A previous version of the article erroneously stated that political parties are permitted to campaign for 12 days ahead of the June 4 ballot.
The son of Chinese rights lawyer Chen Jianguang (blurred image), who appears here alongside his mother Zou Shaomei in an undated photo, was denied access to primary school after his father made public allegations about the torture of his client and fellow lawyer Xie Yang.

Authorities in the Chinese capital have placed restrictions on the young son of a prominent human rights lawyer, preventing him from enrolling in primary school, his parents said on Wednesday.

Chen Jiangang, who helped to expose the torture of his client and fellow lawyer Xie Yang, said his eldest son has been prevented from enrolling in primary educationcompulsory for all Chinese childrenafter the local police station put political pressure on the school.

Chen's wife Zou Shaomei said she had been told about police contact with the school by one of the teachers.

"The teacher told me directly that the school principal had had a phone call from the local police station," Zou said. "They didn't want our son to go to this school."

"It's not clear whether this is coming from the local police station or higher up," she said. "The teacher said that this is the first time the school has ever had anything like this happen, and they all thought it was very strange."

"I think the authorities are trying to threaten my husband," she said.

But police in Beijing's suburb of Tongzhou later denied that they were behind the decision, Chen said.

"This still hasn't been sorted out, and we are waiting to hear back," Chen said. "The police got in touch with us, and they refused to admit they had done this."

Chen said he didn't believe them, however, and thought that the move was a form of retaliation for his exposure of Xie Yang's torture while in police detention.

"His kindergarten class is visiting the primary school today," he said. "There were no problems when he was in kindergarten, because we hadn't had the Xie Yang case then."

"I don't know why the Tongzhou district police department would do something like this," he said.

Chen, Zou and the couple's two sons were all detained and escorted back to Beijing by state security police during a recent family trip to the southwestern province of Yunnan, sparking sharp criticism from the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner in Geneva.

Fellow rights lawyer Chen Jinxue, who was hired to represent disappeared rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong, hit out at the ruling Chinese Communist Party's "thuggish" behavior.

"This is a thuggish way to go about things; they are trying to threaten Chen Jiangang," Chen Jinxue said. "In China, it's very common to see this sort of guilt-by-association [affecting families of dissidents]."

"This hasn't yet happened to my family, but this sort of chain reaction isn't something one can control or avoid," he said.

Ongoing harassment

The U.N. hit out earlier this month at China's ongoing harassment of lawyers, through continued detention, without full due process guarantees and with alleged exposure to ill treatment, as part of a nationwide crackdown that began in July 2015.

It 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.

More than 300 lawyers, law firm staff and associated activists and family members have been detained, placed under restrictions or charged with crimes linked to state security, with dozens still under some form of detention or house arrest at an unknown location even after their 'release.'

Hong Kong-based political commentator Ching Cheong said China's state security apparatus has a substantial domestic spying component, dubbed "stability maintenance."

"In future, we can assume that there are people all around us who could be spying on us, informants," Ching, who served a five-year jail term for "revealing state secrets" as part of his job as a journalist, he said.

"We heard lately that Beijing is planning to train high-school students and students' associations to become spies," he said. "So we can see that the definition of 'harming state security' has suddenly expanded to encompass every aspect of life."

"This will naturally rely on large numbers of people becoming spies," he said.

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 Ding Wenqi for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to and Goh Fung for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
ORLANDO, Fla., May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Corporate Capital Trust, a business development company that provides individuals the opportunity to invest in the debt of privately owned American companies, will hold an earnings call to discuss financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, on May 24, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.



To listen to the earnings call, please dial 866-524-3160; a passcode is not required. Due to the fact that Corporate Capital Trust is in an open proxy solicitation, the company has elected not to host a question and answer session following the call. A recording of the call will be available on Corporate Capital Trusts website, CorporateCapitalTrust.com, approximately 48 hours after the call. The recording will be available for a period of 30 days following the call.

About Corporate Capital Trust

Corporate Capital Trust is a non-traded business development company that offers individuals an opportunity to invest in privately owned American companies. The company is externally managed by CNL and KKR and its investment objective is to provide shareholders with current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. The company intends to meet its investment objective by investing primarily in the debt of privately owned companies, with a focus on originated transactions sourced through the networks of its advisors. For additional information, please visit CorporateCapitalTrust.com.

About CNL Financial Group

CNL Financial Group is a private investment management firm providing real estate and alternative investments. Since inception in 1973, CNL Financial Group and/or its affiliates have formed or acquired companies with more than $34 billion in assets. For more information, visit CNL.com.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages investments across multiple asset classes including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit and hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation at the asset level. KKR invests its own capital alongside its partners' capital and brings opportunities to others through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at KKR.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

This communication may be deemed solicitation material in respect of the proposals set forth in the Companys preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 11, 2017 (the transactions). In connection with the transactions, the Company has filed, and intends to file, relevant materials with the SEC. Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement with the SEC, the Company will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the stockholder meeting relating to such matters. STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO), AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THESE MATERIALS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT. The preliminary proxy statement, the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by the Company with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SECs website http://www.sec.gov, at the Companys website http://www.corporatecapitaltrust.com, or by writing to the Company at 450 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801, telephone number 866-650-0650.

The Company and its directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Companys stockholders with respect to the transactions. Information about the Companys directors and officers, as well as the identity of other potential participants, and their respective direct or indirect interests in such matters, by security holdings or otherwise, are set forth in the preliminary proxy statement and will be set forth in the other materials to be filed with SEC.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release may include "forward-looking statements." These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of Corporate Capital Trusts management and on the information currently available to management at the time of such statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the words "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "estimates" or similar expressions that indicate future events. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Corporate Capital Trusts expectations include those disclosed in the current prospectus for the public offering of Corporate Capital Trusts common stock.

Corporate Capital Trust is advised by CNL Fund Advisors Company (CNL) and KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC (KKR), affiliates of CNL Financial Group and KKR & Co. L.P., respectively.

###
As passionate beer fans, Sterling Stokes Jr. and David Hunter recognize the talent of the brewers and the quality of the beer that drive the success of the craft breweries in central Virginia. But something else inspired them to create platforms to promote and support the breweries: the tightknit community the breweries have forged, both in their dealings with one another and with their customers.

Stokes, 40, crossed over from enthusiast to scene supporter a little over six years ago through his blog RVABeermeister.com. Since the launch of his blog in April 2011, Stokes has written more than 668 posts, all promoting in some small way the happenings and offerings of the local craft beer scene.

If you want an example of how the Richmond beer community draws people together, all you have to do is look at my highest viewed post to date (9,100 views), says Stokes. The post centered on the honoring of the life of Hardin Brotherton (brother of Lisa Brotherton Pumphrey of Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery) as members of the beer community had formed a team to participate in the Richmond chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Preventions Out of the Darkness walk at Deep Run Park on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. Yes, breweries bring money to Virginia and notoriety to Richmond but it will always be their personal aspects that bring people back to them time and time again.

Stokes, a home brewer, first started writing about beer for GayRVA.com and then branched out on his own. Starting my own blog gave me more control over my posts and allowed me to make my own deadlines which was great since I already had a full-time job as a chemist.

Stokes, who lives in Henrico County with his partner, Douglas, has been enjoying IPAs lately from the Answer, the Veil, and Triple Crossing. They have been using the hop bursting technique employed by West Coast breweries like Russian River to create IPAs that have all of the hop flavor and aroma but none of the harsh bitterness.

Hunter, 51, a managing creative director in digital design for a financial services company, lives in the Short Pump area on Henrico. A home brewer as well, Hunter decided he wanted to pay back the Virginia breweries for the joy their products gave him, and the relationships he had formed with brewers. In March 2013, he launched the Facebook group called Fans of Virginia Craft Breweries.

The group is not about what beer is better than the other but to let fans know whats out there so they can make up their own minds, says Hunter. In a little over four years weve grown to 11,586 members, all by word of mouth. This is a very special community. There are deep feelings about the product, and strong personal connections.

Hunter, a frequent poster himself described the variety of posts from members. We have posts asking for recommendations, posts about what beer youre drinking at a Virginia brewery, posts that are discussion oriented, and which can grow quite heated, and a daily Roll Call led by fan Matt Fisher who asks fans what they are drinking on that particular day.

Hunters favorite style of beer is a hoppy imperial red or a red double IPA. Pressed to cite a standout local beer, Hunter responds I have many favorites but Ill pay homage to the beer that sank the craft beer hook, Midnights Rockville Red, an Irish Style Red Ale. It sits at 5.5 percent ABV and is dark burgundy in color. With only 23 IBUs, it has notes of caramel with a roasty finish.

Considering theres now a Facebook group nearly 12,000 members strong partly because of the hook set by Rockville Red, a pilgrimage to Midnight Brewery in the Rockville area of Goochland County may be in order, for those who have not experienced it. You never know what inspiration may come of it.
New York, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Senator Bill Larkin (R-C-I, 39th District) proudly inducted West Point graduate Major Scotty Smiley into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.

Major Smiley epitomizes what service and sacrifice in our military is all about, said Senator Bill Larkin. When Major Smiley was wounded in combat he could have just went home and let that be the end of his service. Instead, he worked tirelessly to become the first blind active-duty officer in military history. Major Smiley continues to inspire countless Americans with his perseverance and patriotism.

It was an honor to be recognized today as part of the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame, said Major Scotty Smiley. I am especially honored that I was nominated by a decorated WWII and Korean War combat veteran, Colonel Bill Larkin. This is a day my wife Tiffany and I will not soon forget and will forever be thankful for. New York holds a very special place in our hearts.

Major Scotty Smiley

Scotty Smiley attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. After four great years, he graduated and attended Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School. In 2005, while leading a 45 man Platoon in Mosul, Iraq, Scotty found himself in front of a suicide car bomb. Shrapnel from the blast blew through Scottys eyes leaving him blinded and temporarily paralyzed; he woke up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center a week later. After this incident, Scotty was determined to continue to serve in the Army, becoming the first blind active-duty officer in military history.

The Army Times named Scotty Soldier of the Year in 2007 and in 2008 he won an ESPY as the worlds Best Outdoor Athlete. After receiving a Master of Business Administration from Duke University, Scotty taught the core course in leadership at West Point and then commanded the Warrior Transition Unit at West Points Keller Army Medical Center. Scotty is a recipient of the Armys prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award and holds an honorary PhD from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY. In 2010, Scotty received a Father of the Year award in New York.

After many years of service, Scotty retired from the military in 2015. Over his military career Major (Retired) Smiley received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings and Combat Diver Qualification Badge. He currently works with the capital markets department at Drexel Hamilton out of New York as an investment banker for corporations and banks around the world.

With a passion for using his story to build hope in this world, Scotty authored Hope Unseen in 2010 and now travels all over the country speaking and sharing his message of perseverance, courage and hope. He is an avid adventurer and has completed the Coeur dAlene Iron Man, climbed Mt Rainer, gone skydiving, surfing and is always looking for his next chance to try something new. Scotty is married to his high school sweetheart, Tiffany. They are proud parents of Grady Douglas, Graham Elliott, and Baylor Scott.

Originally published by the office of WILLIAM J. LARKIN, JR.

About Drexel Hamilton, LLC

Drexel Hamilton, LLC is a New York State-certified service-disabled veteran-owned broker-dealer. The firm was founded in 2007 by Lawrence Doll, a two-time Purple Heart recipient, on the principle of offering meaningful employment opportunities to disabled veterans. With more than 100 professionals, the firm employs 40% military veterans, half of whom are service-disabled.

For more information, visit. www.drexelhamilton.com.





77 Water Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10005 | Phone: +1 212-632-0400 | Fax: +1 646-412-1500 | www.drexelhamilton.com



A Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Broker-Dealer

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The Richmond School Board worked to heal its relationship with the public Tuesday by asking residents whats needed in a new schools chief.

Bruised by the turbulence surrounding Superintendent Dana Beddens early exit, board members are holding four forums to solicit input after being lambasted over a lack of transparency in negotiating the once-beloved officials departure.

I think its a good first step, 4th District board member Jonathan Young said of the meetings. But its not enough; I think if we rely on just these four community sessions, we will have failed colossally in addressing the trust issue.

He encouraged the dozens of people who turned out to Huguenot High School on Tuesday to roll up their sleeves and be very candid in their assessment of the district.

Huddled around tables in the schools library, six teams scribbled answers to prompts such as what qualities a superintendent should have and the importance of communication to the districts success.

Focus sharpened on school climate, including issues that district employee Sam Banks, 38, said were present when he was a student at Chimborazo Elementary School.

Ive been around a long time, Banks said. And I keep seeing the same problems. You get a new superintendent, a new administration every few years  thats not going to solve the problem until we do.

District data show that about 1 in 5 Richmond Public School students miss 18 days of school or more per academic year.

And as of May 7, 23 students had been shot so far this school year. Among the school-related shootings are a 1-year-old child of two Richmond Public Schools students and five students who were shot to death, according to school division officials.

Teachers need more support from administrators in navigating tension with parents over student behavior that should not be considered acceptable, Banks said.

These kids may not have enough to eat, they may be going through some things, and they will act out, Banks said. But the response shouldnt be No, I know his situation, let it go, because its not going to get better if you dont talk to him about our expectations and how we can help him meet them.

The insights shared in a round-robin session at the end of the meeting were exactly what Board Chairwoman Dawn Page said she was hoping for.

No one person can fix everything; its going to take everyone, said Page, who represents the 8th District. At the end of the day, its about doing whatever it takes for our children to receive the quality education that they so deserve.

The meeting came a day after the board punted on a decision to name an interim replacement for Bedden, 50, who is stepping down next month, two years before his contract was to expire.

Although the change was cheered in public meetings by some who felt Bedden was no longer serving the school divisions roughly 24,000 students, it was seen as an affront by others who stressed the importance of continuity and worried that Bedden had not been given enough time to implement a plan he developed to boost the districts overall poor academic performance.

The average tenure of an urban schools chief was about 3.2 years in 2014, according to a survey conducted then by the Council of the Great City Schools. Bedden came to Richmond in January 2014.

His departure was announced without meaningful explanation and comes with a $300,000 price tag, according to the terms of a severance agreement that also forbids board members or Bedden from speaking critically of one another in public.

The 7-1-1 vote to approve the move and ensuing silence elicited sharp criticism of the board earlier this month, and it continued into a public comment period Monday in which one speaker wished board members good luck in a few Novembers.
Year after year, Janice LoBello returns to Richmond to attend the police departments memorial for fallen officers, which includes her brother.

Patrolman David A. Cooper was killed Feb. 10, 1970, in a crash while he was responding to assist a fellow officer who had been in a serious accident just blocks away.

It never gets any easier, said LoBello, of Chesapeake. But it makes you feel good to know that they are remembered.

During a ceremony Wednesday morning at the Richmond Police Training Academy, the names of the 29 officers who have died in Richmond since 1869 were read. A bell tolled and a candle was lit for each of them. Cadets in the departments training academy saluted each of their photos or names  photos werent available for Patrolman Thomas Kirkham and Special Officer Richard O. Busch, the first two officers lost in the line of duty in 1869 and 1870.

This shows us how important it is for us to stay together, said recruit Junius Thorpe. On the job and in death.

Thorpe said hes reminded how dangerous this job can be, but he doesnt think twice about becoming an officer. Its sad to see the families and think your family could be in the same position, said recruit Kenia Marte. But it makes me proud that I chose the blue family.

Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham remarked on the similarities of police work through the years.

In 1870, they were dealing with the same issues were dealing with today, Durham said, alluding to the death of Busch, who was gunned down on the corner of Broad and Jefferson streets on March 20, 1870. He was helping fellow officers disperse a group of men causing a disturbance when someone in that group opened fire, killing Busch and injuring another officer.

We must keep those names in our minds and hearts, Durham said. We must never forget.

The department is investigating four of its own officers involved in two separate shootings in as many days. Around 11 p.m. Saturday, officers were called to a residence in the 3800 block of Cheverly Road where they encountered a man on the porch. Three patrol officers fired their service weapons. No one was injured.

On Monday, an officer shot and killed 29-year-old Jaison Fitzgerald during a traffic stop on Lynhaven Avenue. He was wanted for a shooting earlier that day.

Each day, officers put on the uniforms, put on our badge, and we must honor those who have gone before us by striving for nothing less and excellence in all that we do, Durham said. That excellence and professionalism just may save our lives or the lives of our fellow officers.

Cheryl Wade was engaged to Officer Thomas F. Mongo McMahon when he was shot in the chest Oct. 14, 1998, by a fleeing suspect. She lit up speaking about him Wednesday.

We didnt have all that long together, but it was the best three years of my life, Wade said. There is not a day that passes that something doesnt trigger it. Its just there. Its always there. I dont think you ever really get over it.

***

Monday began National Police Week, and departments throughout the country have held similar services.

Henrico County police held a ceremony Tuesday evening by the police statue in the countys municipal complex. Chesterfield County Police will hold a service at 7 p.m. tonight at Ironbridge Church, 10900 Iron Bridge Road.

Last week, Virginia State Police honored Trooper Chad P. Dermyer, 37, who was killed March 31, 2016, during a training exercise at the Greyhound bus station in Richmond. His portrait was unveiled during the ceremony May 10 and hung inside the Virginia State Police Academy among 61 others of troopers killed in the line of duty.
NEW YORK, May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 500,000 registered nurses are expected to retire by 2022. To prevent a shortage of nurses in the healthcare field, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects over 1.1 million new nurses must enter the industry. The field of nursing provides job security, good wages, career advancement and diversity in the work environment. By becoming a nurse, the individual provides a fresh perspective of care and emotional support to patients and their family members.



As an aging population sets the stage for a nursing shortage, the American Health Council has named its choices for Americas Best Nursing Schools as follows:

1. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

With a long and rich history entrenched in academic excellence, and a distinguished alumnus that includes renowned achievers: Mary Adelaide Nutting (Worlds First Professor of Nursing), Isabel Hampton Robb (Founder of Modern American Nursing and the First Dean of the University) and Ernestine Wiedenbach (Major Authority in Maternity and Clinical Nursing) to name a few, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is an institution that continues to pioneer innovation in nursing and contemporary medicine. Founded in 1889, Johns Hopkins University prides itself as one of the oldest schools of nursing in the nation. Ranked #1 nationally among graduate schools of nursing, #3 for online programs, and named the most innovative graduate program in nursing in the country, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing offers an array of academic programs from pre-licensure to masters and PhD programs.

2. WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS

Originally named The Training School for Nurses, Washington University in St. Louis School of Nursing was established in 1905. The university is a private research institute that is organized around seven schools including an outstanding medical and nursing school. At Washington University in St. Louis School of Nursing, prospective students will utilize new technology and real world experiences in their nursing academic programs. Students have an array of specialties to choose from including: neonatal and home care, nurse educator, pediatrics, family practitioner, forensics and much more, which provides students who graduate from this institution the opportunity for career growth in the nursing and healthcare industry.

3. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Located in Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania  also known as Penn Nursing  is ranked among the top graduate schools for nursing education in the United States. With a flexible undergraduate curriculum, Penn Nursing provides a traditional and fast track undergraduate program that includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree certificate attached at completion. This Ivy League institution has a 93% NCLEX pass rate for first-time US-educated test takers and is the only Ivy League institution to offer a bachelors, masters and PhD degree program. Lastly, Penn Nursing is the ideal choice due to their laboratory of innovative and translational nursing research, where nurses can research on genetics, biochemistry, metabolism and much more.

4. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

According to Kiplingers Personal Finance Magazine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) has been ranked 1st among the 100 best U.S. public colleges facilitating premium academics at an affordable price. With a reputation of excellence spanning three centuries, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a solid undergraduate field of study which includes: 77 bachelors degrees, 109 masters degrees and 66 doctoral degrees. The School of Nursing at UNC-Chapel Hill is recognized as one of the best in the nation in upholding excellence in education, practice and research in nursing. Each program is designed to provide students with the requisite knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to function effectively the field of nursing.

5. UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

Established in 1939, the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing consistently ranks high in several areas of specialization including: anesthesia, psychiatric/mental health clinical nursing, and pediatric primary care. Equipped with a faculty of fellows from the American Academy of Nursing, the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing is a top-notch nursing school offering undergraduate (BSN), accelerated 2nd degree BSN, post graduate (MSN), doctorate (Doctor of Nursing) and online programs respectively.

6. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

Located in the heart of New York Citys Midtown Manhattan, New York University (NYU) Rory Meyers College of Nursing was originally founded in 1932 and over a decade later in 1947, the nursing education program was established. With a state-of-the-art clinical simulation center, the nursing school provides students with hands-on opportunities to become accustomed to the latest in medical procedures and tools. Ranked 5th overall in research funding by the National Institute of Health, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing offers undergraduate, graduate and clinical health programs in both a traditional (4 years) and accelerated (15 months) setting.

7. DUKE UNIVERSITY

Nationally recognized as a research driven institution, Duke University School of Nursing was one of the first schools in the country to offer a graduate nursing program. Established in 1931, Duke University School of Nursing was developed under the direction of Dean Bessie Baker and Instructor Ann Henshaw Gardiner. As one of the nations top school of nursing, Duke University School of Nursing offers several undergraduate, post graduate and doctorate programs. Additionally, the nursing school offers online masters and doctorate program to aid distance learning. Adorned in Georgian style architecture, the campus of Duke University is equipped with state-of-the-art cutting edge technology to bolster learning and research.

8. CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing serves as the nations top ranked nursing school due to a rich history and culture of attaining distinction and innovation in nursing education, research and service provision. Established in 1923, Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, with an array of specialized masters programs, tailor-made for students according to their dissenting educational interests and areas of practice. As the home of one of ten World Health Organization centers in the U.S., Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing is a pioneer in the development of the nations first practice doctorate in nursing, acute care nurse practitioner program, gerontological nursing program, BSN perioperative requirement, and the advanced practice flight nursing program.

9. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

Founded in 1949, University of California Los Angeles School of Nursing is one of the professional schools of the UCLA Center for the Health Sciences. With a faculty of forty-seven tenured and thirty-eight adjunct professors, UCLA School of Nursing provides the intimacy of a small school setting, coupled with the benefits of being a component of one of the worlds largest research universities. The school offers undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programs in nursing with a demanding course of study in both a classroom and clinical setting.

10. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO

Honored as the Top Public Recipient of NIH Research Funding for six consecutive years, the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing has upheld a reputation of exemplar of excellence and innovation. With over a century long worth of nursing education history, UCSF School of Nursing has trained and graduated the next generation of leaders in the field of clinical care, policy development, academia and nursing research within the state and around the nation. The school offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs in the following specialties: adult gerontology, occupational & environmental health nursing, sociology, advanced public health nursing, and much more.

For more information on the Best Nursing Schools in America for 2017, please visit: https://bestinnursing.org/best-nursing-schools/

About the American Health Council:

The American Health Council is the nations only organization with a constituency representative of all sectors of the healthcare industry. From the coasts to the heartland, the American Health Council has drawn Affiliates from major metropolitan hubs and small communities. These Affiliates span generations and have reached different stages of their careers  from recent graduates to retirees. More information about the American Health Council and its mission can be found at: http://americanhealthcouncil.org

Additionally, the American Health Council strives to provide recognition and support for those individuals and institutions making the difference in patients lives day in and day out. Throughout 2017, the AHC is honoring Americas Best Doctors and Nurses, as well as the nations best medical universities and hospitals. The American Health Councils Best in Medicine and Best in Nursing awards programs honor the individuals and institutions that have contributed significantly to medicine and nursing, as well as the training and education of physicians and nurses. The most current selections for these honors may be viewed here: http://bestinmedicine.org and http://bestinnursing.org.
A man who was badly burned in a house fire in Stafford County earlier this month told responding deputies and at least one neighbor that his wife doused him with gasoline and lit him on fire, court records state.

The incident occurred May 1 on Devonshire Lane in the Hampton Oaks subdivision. Both the man and his wife remain hospitalized in different facilities. Sheriffs spokeswoman M.C. Morris Moncure said detectives have still been unable to interview either one.

No charges had been filed as of Tuesday.

According to multiple affidavits for search warrants filed in Stafford Circuit Court, a neighbor called 911 the morning of May 1 and reported seeing a naked woman outside holding two knives. The man was seen running with severe burn injuries to his upper body, and both people appeared to be suffering from stab wounds.

The husband is quoted as saying, She doused me with gasoline and lit me on fire. She is trying to kill me.

Police said the man has since been unable to speak further with investigators because of his medical condition.

Court records state that the woman was still outside and naked when police arrived and refused to talk to deputies. She repeatedly screamed when anyone got close and was also injured. She was eventually taken for medical treatment and a knife was recovered from her, records show.

Inside the home, police found a melted plastic cup on the charred bed in the master bedroom and a gasoline can. There was also severe fire damage in the home, which had been foreclosed on and sold at auction in March, court records state.
A West Coast company is in the early stages of proposing a solar farm in Hanover County.

OneEnergy Renewables of Seattle is forming plans for a small renewable energy solar project north of Old Church Road along U.S. 360. Plans call for a 20-megawatt project that would cover 165 acres over multiple parcels, according to a public notice from the Department of Environmental Quality.

Gia Clark, OneEnergys director, met with Hanover staff on Wednesday to float the idea for the project and to get feedback about things the company would need to keep in mind if it moved forward with filing plans.

Its all still pretty conceptual, Clark said.

The DEQ notice says OneEnergy Renewables has given notice of plans to submit the needed documentation for a permit by rule for the solar project, which has been dubbed Sweetspire Project. OneEnergy has given notice to the DEQ for a similar proposal in Isle of Wight County.

Clark said OneEnergy is a small fish in the solar industry that has experience working with agricultural communities in Maryland. Clark said one of the upsides of working with Hanover is that the locality is familiar with solar developments.

In February, Hanover approved plans for a 222-acre solar facility to be built along U.S. 360 in Mechanicsville, near the King William County line. The 20-megawatt facility is backed by Henry Broaddus who is partnering with the company SunEnergy1 of North Carolina on the project. As of last week, site plans had not yet been submitted for Broaddus and SunEnergy1s plans.

Supervisor Faye O. Prichard could not comment on specific solar proposals but did say in general that she supports solar farms.

It gives farmers options, Prichard said. Most people who live in Hanover love the fact that they live in a rural county, but when farmers dont have options to use land in responsible way, thats when farmers sell land for development.

Part of the reason OneEnergy was attracted to do business in Virginia is because Dominion Energy has signaled its interest in renewable energy and the region has ties to the PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission entity that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity across the regional grid.

In the case of the site OneEnergy is eyeing in Hanover, the company identified the location and reached out to the landowner about the project.

Clark would not say where specifically the project is proposed. A Google map on the DEQs website locates the project just east of River Road along Mechanicsville Turnpike. That places the project in the vicinity of the other solar project in the works for Hanover.

OneEnergy Renewables was formed in 2009 and develops solar projects across the country, including in Maryland, Oregon and New York. The company specializes in pre-construction development of ground mounted solar projects.

Clark said the company hopes to do some kind of community outreach to get feedback from Hanover residents.

Kate Larkin, a OneEnergy associate, said the company is interested in having a low impact on the land it leases for its solar projects. She said solar farms are typically temporary and are removed after their 25- to 30-year lifespans.

OneEnergy emphasized that it is still trying to determine whether moving forward with plans in Hanover would be worth it. Should it move forward with its plans in the county, at best it would be a three-year process.
COVINGTON, KY, May 17, 2017 - The board of directors of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ASH) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.225 per share on the company's common stock. This represents a reduction from the previous quarterly dividend of $0.39 as a result of the recently completed separation of Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV). However, when combined with Valvoline's most recent dividend, the total cash returned to shareholders of both companies is approximately equal to what Ashland paid prior to the separation, consistent with prior expectations.

The Ashland dividend is payable June 15, 2017, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2017. As of April 30, 2017, there were 62,229,987 shares of Ashland common stock outstanding.

About Ashland

Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a premier global specialty chemicals company serving customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including adhesives, architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical. At Ashland, we are nearly 7,000 passionate, tenacious solvers - from renowned scientists and research chemists to talented engineers and plant operators - who thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex problems for customers in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com to learn more.

C-ASH

(TM) Trademark, Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Investor Relations:

Seth A. Mrozek

+1 (859) 815-3527

samrozek@ashland.com

Media Relations:

Gary Rhodes

+1 (859) 815-3047

glrhodes@ashland.com
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Something sounds different with Delta Rae these days. The Durham, North Carolina, sextet, in three Southwest Virginia appearances since 2012, has shown itself a highly dramatic bunch, mixing huge performance energy with mostly acoustic songs that cross folk, rock, pop and blues.

The band recently released an EP, A Long And Happy Life, on the Big Machine Label Groups Valory Music label. A little context: Big Machines biggest act is Taylor Swift, who recently completed her multi-million-selling switch from country-pop to full-on pop music. Florida Georgia Line, Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett, Jennifer Nettles and Rascal Flatts are part of the label group, too.

Pop A Long and Happy Life into a player, and what comes through the earbuds is more like modern-day Nashville, Tennessee, than Delta Raes recent musical profile. It sounds more like country radio-friendly Little Big Town or Lady Antebellum than past Delta Rae favorites Bottom of the River or Dance in the Graveyards. And with harmonies from siblings Brittany, Eric and Ian Holljes (pronounced something like hurl-zsez, bassist Grant Emerson said) and Elizabeth Hopkins, the band has the vocal power to match anything coming out of Nashville these days.

Boiled down, Delta Rae is a country band now, something that it has been slowly becoming throughout its eight-year history, Emerson said in a phone call last week. The throwback folk of Peter Paul & Mary, James Taylor-style soft rock, Motown soul and Joni Mitchell comprise a cross-section of the bands musical interests, he said.

It is a complex thing, but I think  the thing we share with [country] is storytelling, Emerson said. Thats something that is very important to us.

Listeners can hear for themselves when the act returns to Harvester Performance Center on Friday. The band, on the first night of a new tour and with a new stage show, will perform songs from the EP, along with music from a forthcoming full-length album, Emerson said. But crowd favorites from Delta Raes first two releases, the full-length Carry The Fire and the EP Chasing Twisters, will be part of the action, too.

Well hit all the marks that we believe we should, he said.

The band had funded Carry The Fire through a Kickstarter.com campaign when it signed with Warner Bros./Sire Records, on the strength of a performance in front of Sire co-founder Seymour Stein. Emerson said that Stein stopped the band 30 seconds into a song to call more people in to listen to the act.

I think in some ways we were just trying to find ourselves, he said of the debut disc. When we signed with Sire, we had just completed a Kickstarter campaign. We already had written it, recorded it and were ready to release it. Those were the 12 songs we had. Those were more folk. There was some epic-ness in there and some witchy darkness with Bottom of the River and Dance in the Graveyard.

It felt more indie, or artsy. But Dead End Road, on that record, I feel like is a country song.

Working on Chasing Twisters in 2015, the band met Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Julian Raymond, who has become their artist and repertoire representative at Big Machine.

We formed a very close bond with him, Emerson said. He gets us, and understands the band. We value that relationship and guidance. Being able to work with him and Scott [Borchetta, Big Machines founder, who discovered Swift] has been incredible, and its been very challenging.

Delta Rae heads into a new chapter of its history as a new version of ourselves, he said.

Im excited and Im nervous as hell about it. ... I want to be cautious about it, because I think in certain ways thats healthy, he said. The response that weve been getting from the new music has been really encouraging.
Feeding America Southwest Virginia closed on its purchase last week of a crime-ridden Melrose Avenue building with plans to transform it into a community solutions center.

The nonprofit finalized the $275,000 purchase on May 11, one week after investigators say a fire was intentionally set to the building at 2328 Melrose Ave.

The Roanoke City Council voted to approve $250,000 through the federal Community Development Block Grant program to help Feeding America complete the purchase.

It is important to us, as council, that this area come to life in a great way, Mayor Sherman Lea said at an announcement outside the building Wednesday.

The building has been home to numerous restaurants and nightspots over the years, including Lowells Restaurant and Lounge, known for its pound cake and home-cooked soul food. After Lowells closed in 2008, incidents of violence began. Most recently the building housed Ms. Chocs Lounge, which experienced a number of shooting incidents, including a police shooting. A still-unsolved triple shooting prompted the restaurant to shut down in June, less than a year after it opened.

Shortly after Roanoke police Capt. Rick Morrison led a prayer vigil outside the nightclub nearly a year ago, he came up with the idea to turn it into a place that would provide resources for the community. Collaborating on the venture are community advocates, religious leaders, police, Feeding America and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. Feeding America distributes food through a network of food banks and feeding programs.

This is a bold statement that when people come together with a purpose, positive things will happen, Morrison said.

On Wednesday morning, crews were already working to gut the structure. The goal is to open the community center by next summer. It is expected to provide services such as a community kitchen, feeding programs, job training, a headquarters for community discussions and a place to meet with police officers.

The fire that broke out in the building May 5 is not disrupting plans, Feeding America Southwest Virginia President Pamela Irvine said. Police say they have a suspect in the case, but no arrests have been made.

This place will rise from the ashes, Irvine said.

Morrisons prayer vigil moved Irvine to get involved with the project. On Wednesday, Irvine asked police officers, city council members, religious leaders and nonprofit leaders to gather around again to pray for the successful completion of the center.

When you have faith, good things happen, Irvine said.
LEXINGTON  Meeting for the first time since a special grand jury found widespread dysfunction at the Rockbridge Area Department of Social Services, a board that oversees the agency was both defensive and contrite Wednesday.

Several board members bristled during the public comment session of their monthly meeting, when Lexington resident Mark Reed suggested they should all resign.

I believe that this board, while honorable in its intentions, has failed and continues to fail the children of Rockbridge County, said Reed, who as a former social services worker in Michigan has closely followed the controversy.

Board member Vicki Turner said she found Reeds call for dissolving the board and starting anew with better-trained representatives a little threatening.

I just dont understand you at all, member Bill Spence told Reed. Its like youre on a vendetta.

Reed said his intent was not to threaten, but seek reform.

I think this is a good start, an exchange with local residents, he said of a meeting that offered one of the most detailed public discussions by board members since news broke last summer that some reports of child abuse and neglect were ignored by the social services department.

Turner said there was no doubt that the special grand jury report exposed a systemic breakdown in an agency where abuses went unchecked.

We are part of that problem, and we are victims of that problem, Turner said.

While acknowledging it was not an excuse, Turner said the board was spectacularly under-informed by its previous director, who took early retirement after problems were first revealed by an internal social services review.

After a seven-month investigation, the special grand jury concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against a former supervisor who stymied reports of child abuse, either by feeding them into a paper shredder or instructing her subordinates in the Child Protective Services Unit to take no action.

However, the panel offered a number of recommendations to correct problems  including better oversight from a board appointed by the three jurisdictions served by the agency: Rockbridge County, Lexington and Buena Vista.

This board appeared to take a hands-off approach to CPS, even when board members were contacted by CPS caseworkers who had concerns, the grand jury found.

Even after infant deaths, the board asked no probing questions, the report stated, a reference to the death of a 4-month-old girl in a home deemed high-risk by caseworkers who took no further action.

Board member David Dax said some of the problems uncovered at the agency were linked to a rogue supervisor who was not held accountable by her boss, which was more of a personnel issue that a policy matter to come before the board.

Im not trying to make excuses for the board, but it seems to me that normally something like that should be handled by the executive director, he said.

The departments new director, Suzanne Adcock, told the board that some of the grand jurys recommendations already have been set in motion, including better training for board members, background checks and performance evaluations.

But during the public comment session, Rockbridge County resident Susan Lawrence said the board still needs to do a better job of reaching out to the community.

One recommendation from the grand jury was that the board immediately convene a public meeting with CPS caseworkers and representatives from the governing bodies of the three jurisdictions served by the social services department.

That proposal did not come at Wednesdays meeting. Adcock said afterward that she is open to the idea, but that logistical challenges and heavy caseloads by her staffers have prevented the department from scheduling such a meeting so far.

As for the rest of the recommendations, Adcock said she is developing an action plan to present to the board at a later meeting.

Turner said the board is committed to positive action. Give us a chance to make it right, she said.
Wednesday

Potpourri Club Lunch Meeting

The speaker for our luncheon program will be Melody Warnick, a Blacksburg author who will review her newest best-selling book, This is Where You Belong. Meeting will be in the Inns Drillfield Room. Guests are always welcome. Call to reserve a spot.

When: 11:15 a.m.

Where: The Inn at Virginia Tech, 901 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg

Cost: $15 per person

Contact: Julia, 961-2655

Blacksburg Sports Club Lunch

We will be meeting once a month until we resume our regular meetings Aug. 23. Our summer meetings will be June 14 and July 12. Please visit our website to see who the speakers will be.

When: 11:30 a.m.

Where: Custom Catering, 902 Patrick Henry Drive, Blacksburg

Cost: $9

Renter Education Workshop

Do you pay rent? Do you know your renter rights? Or, do you know your landlord rights? New River Community Action is offering this workshop for individuals and residential landlords. Topics include a guide to leases, deposits and payments; repairs and other common disputes; and fair housing and eviction laws in Virginia. Please register at least two days in advance.

When: Noon to 2 p.m.

Where: Pulaski Library, 60 Third St. NW, Pulaski

Cost: Free

Dems@Amelias

A casual opportunity to socialize with fellow Democrats in Montgomery County.

When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Amelias Pizzeria & Restaurant, 1130 Cambria St., Christiansburg

Cost: Free to attend

Third Wednesday Wind-Down

John and Bob of People Our Age will perform folk rock, blues and favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Enjoy dinner specials too.

When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Compadres Mexican Restaurant, 1106 E. Main St., Pulaski

Cost: No cover

Contact: Sergio, 616-4193
A local charity club has raised more than $15,000 to help provide college mentors for local school kids.

100+ Women Who Care New River Valley raised $15,200 for College Mentors for Kids at its quarterly meeting last month in Blacksburg, the group announced this week.

The money will go to mentorship programs at Virginia Tech and Radford University, according to a news release.

The nonprofit College Mentors for Kids operates chapters in a handful of states and pairs over 2,500 first- through sixth-grade children with 2,700 local college student mentors, according to that organizations website.

The mentors hold weekly after-school activities focused on higher education and career, culture and diversity, and community service to promote the importance of education, show them the benefits to cultural understanding, and teach them ways to give back to their community, the website stated.

100+ Women Who Care NRV is affiliated with a national fundraising organization that encourages individuals to support nonprofits in their own communities. Attendees of quarterly meetings each give $100 that goes to a different charity chosen by the group at each gathering.

Meetings are held in January, April, July and October at Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill in Blacksburg. The next 100+ Women meeting is set for 6:15 p.m. on July 18, according to the groups website.

The NRV 100+ Women organized in April 2016, and according to a group news release has raised more than $62,000 for charities and causes in the counties of Floyd, Pulaski, Giles and Montgomery and in Radford.

A portion of the donations is matched by the Blacksburg-based Secular Society, a tax-exempt nonprofit foundation established in 2013 by retired Virginia Tech physics professor Peter Trower to benefit women and the arts in Virginia, New York and elsewhere.

According to its 2017 tax filing, the Secular Society gave $7,750 to 100+ Women Who Care.

For more information, visit http://100wwcnrv.wixsite.com, http://thesecularsociety.org or http://www.collegementors.org.
Business News Fire Severely Damages Business In Fostoria Iowa | RobinsPost News & Noticias

CORALVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) - Business owners are ... Beth Cody, the owner of A-1 Uniforms, said her business wasnt damaged by the fire, but by the efforts to put it out. [Fire crews] had ... Read More A north central Iowa organic soybean business filed for bankruptcy Monday, saying it owes at least 100 creditors $10 million. It's the state's second grain business to run into financial ... Read More IOWA CITY, Iowa (KWWL) -- A house fire in Iowa City on Sunday morning caused about $385,000 in damages. According to a Facebook post from Iowa City Public Safety, the Iowa City Fire Department was ... Read More An overnight fire has destroyed a building in Lake Park, Iowa. According to KUOO Radio, Lake Park Fire Chief Brandon Ehret said they were called to 26 Avenue B West, the former Methodist Church, a ... Read More DES MOINES  Up to $96 million in business capital, including loans, will be made available to Iowa start-ups and small and veteran-owned businesses under a state plan approved this week by the ... Read More A fire Wednesday afternoon resulted in a small western Iowa town being evacuated. Around 11:30 AM, a pickup was pulling a load of bales, when it caught fire. We paged ... Read More Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Iowa has over 243,900 small businesses, making up 93% of ... Read More CHARLOTTE, NC.  The increasing cost of transportation and inflation have prompted Charlotte-based Krispy Kreme, Inc. to close its facility in Burlington, Iowa, later this month. In an effort ... Read More An Iowa man went to a dog kennel business run by his estranged wife earlier this month and fatally shot her, police said. Christopher Eugene Prichard was charged with first-degree murder for ... Read More NEW YORK (AP)  Small businesses are stocking the shelves early this holiday season and waiting to see how many gifts inflation-weary shoppers feel like giving. Holiday shopping was relatively ... Read More DES MOINES  Up to $96 million in business capital, including loans, will be made available to Iowa startups and small and veteran-owned businesses under a state plan approved this week by the ... Read More
Business News Bcsc Business Exec Best In Indiana | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The state of Indiana uses ADM to allot tuition funding ... ADM counts and changes over the past 20 years, during which time BCSC enrollment was, according to a recent demography study ... Read More BCSC has a detailed agenda that is released several days before its meeting and is also posted at the administration building, which meets the requirements of Indianas Open Door Law as far as ... Read More A business in Indiana County is surviving inflation by simply focusing on being honest with its customers. Zach Morrow, co-owner of Noble Stein Brewery, has had to raise prices because of ... Read More Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Indiana ranks as one of the most entrepreneur-friendly ... Read More According to Niche, an education research platform, Culver Academies, located in Culver, ranks as the best private high school in Indiana. Culver Academies enrolls a total of 832 students ... Read More Personal finance website WalletHub has released its 2023 Best College & University Rankings and three Indiana schools are among the top 100. The website says with the first early decision ... Read More so choosing the best policy comes down to your priorities. Here are some considerations to weigh. There are a lot of excellent pet insurance options available in Indiana. Each provider in this ... Read More David Watkins is the State Director of the Indiana Small Business Development Center, and he is invested in creating an environment for small business success. There are ten Small Business ... Read More That's why Newsweek partnered with the respected global data research firm Statista Inc. to establish a ranking of Best Nursing Homes ... Resident Council 6 Indiana Masonic Home Health Center ... Read More Indianas total private employment is 2,773,600. The DWD attributed the new jobs to gains in the leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, financial activities, construction ... Read More Sports betting in Indiana has been legal online/on mobile and in retail settings since September 2021. Check out the best betting sites for bettors in the Hoosier State. Indiana joined the growing ... Read More Man Charged With Stabbing 2 NE Indiana Cops Enters Plea Deal NEW HAVEN, Ind. (AP)  A man charged with stabbing two northeastern Indiana police officers has agreed to plead guilty to two counts ... Read More
Economy News Investing In Public Infrastructure Services Key To Boost Cambodia S Economy Wb | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Amman, Oct. 24 (Petra) -- Investing ... of services in daycares, expanding social protections for male and female workers in the sector, as well as the impact of the expansion on women's economic ... Read More ICT experts have tasked the Nigerian government to prioritise the provision of infrastructure ... public and private sector establishments, stated that efforts at building Nigerias digital ... Read More COVID-19 can affect the global economy in three main ... Who Are the Global Key Players in This Public Cloud Application Infrastructure Services Market? What are Their Company Profile, Their ... Read More a measure of infrastructure and equipment investing. Chinas economy expanded at a 0.4% annual rate in the second quarter, its weakest growth rate in more than two years. The Federal Reserve ... Read More Panellists at the just concluded NITRA ICT Growth Conference 2.0, have emphasised the need for an urgent review of Nigerias state of infrastructure so as to position the country to massively ... Read More Sign up for the New Economy Daily newsletter, follow us @economics and subscribe to our podcast. Indias economy showed signs of slowing-but-steady growth last ... Read More Despite controversies over other issues, the economy remains ... update (its free) or follow us on Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news. Read More (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday that inflation was not becoming "embedded" in the U.S. economy and domestic investments in semiconductors and research would help ... Read More Clara Chan UTA will increase its investments into creator economy and Web3 startups ... will also serve as an extension of UTAs ongoing early-stage investment work carried out through the ... Read More U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen participates in a discussion at the annual Freedman's Bank Forum at the Treasury Department in Washington, U.S., October 4, 2022. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy/File ... Read More Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJs news explainers break down the day's biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news. Read More Australias new government plans to raise spending on ... We are still optimistic about the future of our economy and the future of our country, but there is no use pretending that we don ... Read More
Health News Vermont Teachers Governor S Health Plan Assault On Unions | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The major party candidates for Vermont governor subtly ... more affordable, its become less. The housing crisis has been barreling at us and there is no plan. Weve seen the most overdose ... Read More With less than two weeks before the midterm elections, teachers unions have donated ... to the organization's website. Kelsey Koberg is an Editor with Fox News Digital. Get all the stories ... Read More Gov. Steve Sisolak, D-Nev., lost an endorsement from a top teachers ... plan to address these issues over the next four years; and we did not." The Real Clear Politics average tracking the ... Read More Governor Phil Scott (center) leads a briefing with McClure Foundation Executive Director Carolyn Weir (left) and state Labor Commissioner Paul Harrington (right) Vermont Governor Phil Scott ... Read More The Vermont Health Department said it ... levels monthly and that the town's Water and Sewer Commission will also look at the report. The original news that the fluoride had been reduced for ... Read More Our editorial content is based on thorough research and guidance from the Forbes Health ... Medicare.govs plan finder tool. The tool also displays each plans rating from CMS. If you live in ... Read More The largest teachers union in Nevada announced Tuesday that it would not make an endorsement in the gubernatorial race between Gov ... Lombardo has a plan to fix Nevadas broken education ... Read More Five unions of state government employees made deals with Gov. Phil Murphys administration ... the health plans, he said. I think we could, if we put our minds to it, come up with a plan ... Read More Nevada Democratic Gov ... health benefits, the union said. To our members we say: vote what you know. Sisolak touted his education record in a series of Tweets not long after CCEAs ... Read More Experts say that's an essential step in battling medical misinformation, an escalating problem as more people turn to social media for news, knowledge and advice about all things health-related. Read More Vermont earned ... to invest in health tech startups. People with ties to IDX and BioTek continue to serve as investors and mentors for the new wave of companies. The region's two major academic ... Read More A patient waits for care in the hallway of the emergency department at Salem Health in Salem, Ore., last January. Oregon's three candidates for governor ... even after teachers received priority ... Read More
Health News Climate Change Is Affecting The Health Of Islanders Today A Top Un Negotiator Warns | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Climate change doesn't just affect our ... how climate change harms our health and which groups are affected the worst. "The way the climate is changing has real relevance to children," Bernstein said ... Read More When you have to shut down a hospital operating room (OR) because there's so much wildfire smoke your instruments can't be kept sterile, you know climate change is affecting health care. Read More Experts have called climate change the "greatest global threat to health." Extreme heat and pollution are linked to many conditions including asthma and heart disease  and heat kills more ... Read More So why shouldn't companies be required to report how their business affects the climateand how climate change will affect a company's financial health? The U.S. Securities and Exchange ... Read More
Health News Future Of Massachusetts Health Care Topic Of Worthington Forum | RobinsPost News & Noticias

It may come as no surprise, but Massachusetts is at the top of the list when it comes to a recent study ranking the best states for health care. "Massachusetts has the best patient to dentist ... Read More Ranked by Mass. PPO members as of 12/31/21 Denella Clark, President and CEO of Boston Arts Academy Foundation, has been recognized by The Arcadis IBI Group, an award-winning landscape ... Read More Health care is notoriously complicated, a fragmented system that often presents challenges for the average person to navigate. Even though most in Massachusetts have insurance, either privately ... Read More James Welch with the Committee to Protect Public Access to Quality Dental Care told WGBH News ... in Massachusetts and has smaller premiums to begin with. The Massachusetts Health Care Reform ... Read More (Allen, 10/26) Meanwhile, in Massachusetts ... gone to study a psychedelic drug as a treatment, NBC News says. Meanwhile, the health care impact of words and labels related to addiction is ... Read More MEANT HEALTH DAY. DOUG: ITS A DAY TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE FACING THE HEALTH ISSUES. ANTOINETTE: SOMETIMES FINANCIAL BARRIER STOP THEM FROM GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED. A LOCAL GROUP IS ... Read More Consumer-led healthcare will change patient care pathways, driving the industry to grow and collaborate in new ways, both with patients around their own health ... on MedCity News through MedCity ... Read More But within my community, people didnt really prioritize their health care, and most didnt have a primary care physician. I knew I wanted to be a nurse when I was in second grade and ... Read More In the past decade, private equity has moved aggressively into health care, gobbling up physician practices and even entire hospitals. But what exactly is private equity? And what does its ... Read More Nov. 2, 2022  People who suffer from chronic pain at age 44 are more like to report pain, poor general health, poor mental ... of Children's Genetic Risk for Future Alcohol Misuse Nov. 3 ... Read More Review your options and make the best choice to try a minimize your out-of-pocket health care expenses. Your Financial Future is written by certified financial planner Gary W. Boatman, MBA and CFP ... Read More RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Oct. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inland Empire Health Plan's (IEHP) Inaugural Future of Health Summit convened more than 100 top health care visionaries and thought leaders ... Read More
Elections News Licking Elections Board Sends Complaint Against Commissioners To Ohio Elections Commission | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Licking Countians will choose its state representatives for two newly configured Ohio House districts in the upcoming general election. Read More
Elections News Croatia Braces For Local Elections Amid Growing Crisis | RobinsPost News & Noticias

a standard warning before all major elections but one that warrants increased vigilance this year amid threats to local election workers. Specifically, the FBI is warning voters against ballot and ... Read More Get the latest Pennsylvania politics and election news with Your Local Election HQ. On Twitter, Zignals analysis found that tweets amplifying conspiracy theories about the upcoming election ... Read More Social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Twitter say they're taking steps to prevent the spread of misinformation about voting and elections ... organizations and news outlets like the ... Read More When it comes to voting, not only do they run local elections, but county clerks also oversee elections of state and federal candidates within their jurisdictions. To Ricky Hatch, the Weber County ... Read More Editors note: Dont miss out on up-to-the-minute election news, subscribe to our weekly ... to volunteer as poll watchers even amid a rise in threats to those workers. Typically, in ... Read More But all of those are harder to summarize in national news coverage than the races ... But these days state and even local elections are part of a more nationalized political system. Read More To really understand an election ... But can Democrats grow their ranks? Much of their campaign seems to be banking on it. Of late, in the face of worse economic news, the Democrats have faced ... Read More Social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Twitter say they're taking steps to prevent the spread of misinformation about voting and elections ... organizations and news outlets like the ... Read More Election officials have warned about a clash with next year's local elections on 4 May if a bank holiday is added to the coronation weekend. The coronation of King Charles III will be on Saturday ... Read More A Facebook search for the words election fraud first delivers an ... created partnerships with fact-checking organizations and news outlets like the AP, which is part of Meta's fact-checking ... Read More
Elections News Early Elections To Be Held In Austria After Coalition Breaks Down | RobinsPost News & Noticias

With 15 days to go to Election Day, early voting is already ... as intimidating behaviors," said CBS News election law contributor David Becker. Tensions high after armed individuals reportedly ... Read More A FACTOR critical in deciding the outcome of an election is the time when it is held. The power to fix the election schedule is, therefore, considered important in democracies. Over a span of 11 ... Read More with several states surpassing the number of early voters in the 2020 presidential election. NBC News Mark Murray breaks down which high-stakes races to watch as election day approaches. Read More In 2018, Republicans held the lead in ... and lost Senate control, after two runoff elections in Georgia the following January  GOP voters had cast 35.8% of early votes at this stage ... Read More LIZ Truss has dramatically RESIGNED as Prime Minister after just 44 days in office ... Here we explain whether or not there could be an early general election... General elections normally ... Read More (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) The coalition ... a Congressional election in Nevada, an outcome he falsely blamed on fraudulent mail-in ballots. Marchant told conference attendees that in the days ... Read More Malaysias Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has called early elections after ... coalition. Speaking on state television on Monday, Ismail Sabri said the date of the election, which has to be ... Read More These accusations arose after Ismail was named prime minister by the King in August last year, with the support of 114 members of parliament, and the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition returned ... Read More Voter registration is over and early voting has started in Ohio ... their campaigns and Ohio's political landscape during and after the election. Seasoned news judgement and years of political ... Read More occurring on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This year the midterm elections will be held on November 8, 2022. Each midterm election cycle, Americans have the chance to vote on ... Read More A runoff election is a second election that is held ... to Fox News' Power Rankings. Exit polls, also known as election exit polls, are surveys conducted of voters immediately after they leave ... Read More It should be significantly more convenient to vote early in the general election than it was during the June primaries, which were held just a few weeks after South Carolinas early voting law ... Read More
Elections News Snap Elections In Austria With Wunderwuzzi | RobinsPost News & Noticias

FILE --Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen addresses his supporters during an election rally in Vienna ... 21 hrs ago Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Read More Austrian President Secures Re-Election With Clear Win ... A separate projection by ARGE Wahlen for news agency APA produced nearly identical results to SORA's, putting Van der Bellen on 56% ... Read More The President of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen, is the undisputed favorite in Sunday's presidential elections in Austria, where he aspires to revalidate what would be his second term in office. Read More FILE PHOTO: Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen presents election campaign posters for upcoming presidential elections in Vienna, Austria, September 23, 2022. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File ... Read More To really understand an election, you have to understand the motivations ... We've got the data for it: tens of thousands of interviews in our CBS News polling over the year where people ... Read More Election Day is less than two months awaybut one key race wont be on most ballots. Theyre school board elections, and thats a big problem for families nationwide. In 37 states, school ... Read More Our USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau is dedicated to bringing you important news about the 2022 election and helping you make an informed decision when you vote. Voter registration is over and early ... Read More Malaysia's prime minister dissolved parliament Monday to clear the way for snap elections in a bid to restore ... jsm/mba/mtp The Barron's news department was not involved in the creation of ... Read More The 2022 midterm elections will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The midterms are elections that occur halfway through a president's four-year term. All 435 seats in the U.S. House are up for ... Read More WASHINGTON  Millions of Americans will submit their ballots or head to the polls for the 2022 midterm elections in November. While presidential candidates won't be on the ballot, there are ... Read More FILE --A small chapel stands on a hill in front of the North Chain mountains in Innsbruck, Austria, Saturday, June 1, 2019. Austria will have Presidential elections on Sunday. Austrias liberal ... Read More MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Tropical storm Julia was downgraded from a hurricane as it crossed the Central American country of Nicaragua after slamming into its... KYIV (Reuters) - The external power ... Read More
Elections News In Iran S Presidential Elections Reformists Hopes Are Limited | RobinsPost News & Noticias

For the past two months, following the detention and death of Mahsa Amini, a twenty-two-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, protests have shaken the Islamic Republic of Iran. The regime of Ayatollah ... Read More In his message congratulating Abdul Latif Rashid's election as the President of Iraq, Ayatollah Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi expressed hope that the new government ... Baghdad would develop and deepen even ... Read More Iran dismissed President Biden as a "tired" politician and condemned U.S. "interference ... Election season is here! Get the latest race updates, exclusive interviews, and more Fox News politics ... Read More The FBI has warned that an Iranian government-tied hacker group ... in connection with the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In its memo Thursday, the FBI warned, these techniques may be ... Read More TEHRAN (Tasnim) - In a message sent to the Iraqi people and government on Thursday, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran ... the hope that Abdul Rashid Latif's election as the new ... Read More Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is accusing Republicans of plotting to "steal the next presidential election." Clinton, whose 2016 White House hopes were dashed by former President ... Read More DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Irans president on Thursday accused the U.S. of conducting a failed policy of destabilization targeting his nation, as Iranian protesters continued to call for ... Read More Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Monday that ... pdm/kam/pjm The Barron's news department was not involved in the creation of the content above. This story was produced by AFP. Read More Israel's President Isaac ... then talked about the elections taking place in both Israel and the U.S., saying "Our friendship transcends all political differences." "I hope that together we ... Read More The midterms are elections that occur halfway through a president's four-year term. All 435 seats in the U.S. House are up for election, as well as 35 seats in the Senate. Thirty-six states and 3 ... Read More
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Potus News Top Trump Aide Won T Say If Western Wall Is Part Of Israel | RobinsPost News & Noticias




Potus News Israel Highlights Deep Ties With U S After Trump Shares Intel With Russia | RobinsPost News & Noticias

During a meeting at the White House with Israeli President Herzog, US President Biden highlights Israels ... after over a decade of frayed and frozen ties. A defense official tells the Walla ... Read More Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said he sees a positive trend in Kyivs relations with Israel after the two countries shared intelligence about Russias purported use ... Read More Seemingly set out to berate Jewish Americans over what he perceives as being a lack of support for Israel, Trump said ... it's the exact opposite." Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and ... Read More Former president Donald Trump attacked American Jews in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, saying Jews in the United States must "get their act together" and show more appreciation for ... Read More Former President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Jews in the US to be more appreciative of his administrations work regarding Israel ... Netanyahu said on Fox News Life, Liberty ... Read More Former President Donald Trump attacked Jews in the U.S. on his ... Orthodox Jewish news publication, last year that Jewish people who live in the United States dont love Israel enough ... Read More Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid expressed Thursday "deep concern" over Russia and Iran's military ties in a conversation with Ukraine's foreign minister, after ... Israel. jjm/dwo The Barron's ... Read More Former President Donald Trump wrote that "U.S. Jews have to get their act together" on his social media platform Truth Social Sunday morning, saying "no President has done more for Israel than I have. Read More Former U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks about American Jews "getting their act together" on Israel "before it is too late", are bigoted and stoke antisemitism, Jewish groups have said. Read More Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said he sees a "positive trend" in Kyiv's relations with Israel after the two countries shared intelligence about ... I see us moving forward". Read More
Potus News Now I Get It Watergate And The Trump Russia Investigation | RobinsPost News & Noticias

"He's not entitled to engage in a back-and-forth court to get ... Trump, who has long called the Department of Justice's investigation into his campaign ties to Russia a "hoax", is now under ... Read More Donald Trump in the final days of his presidency repeatedly threatened to out government sources involved in the Trump-Russia investigation ... about the need to get the names out into ... Read More Were happy now that ... that Trump could be blackmailed. Trump had described the dossier as fake news and evidence of a political witch hunt against him. Durhams investigation lost another ... Read More Durham hasnt delivered anything in three-plus years resembling the Watergate ... News posted it online. The dossier contained unverified allegations about Trumps connections to Russia ... Read More Get the full experience.Choose your plan For two years, Trump had insisted that it wasnt. He took to calling the Russia investigation ... Durhams probe  now more than three years in ... Read More But Durham hasnt delivered anything resembling the Watergate ... pressure from Trump and Republican lawmakers to release more internal FBI files about the Russia investigation. Read More Bring on the Durham Report: The special counsel can now tell the story of the FBI and the Russia ... investigation said in its 2019 public report that it did not establish that members of ... Read More "The disgraceful judicial system was on full display yet again with the Danchenko Verdict," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Durham could not get ... Durham's investigation, longer than Russia ... Read More Former President Donald Trump was ... Just fyi. POTUS is pissed, reads the message, dated Dec. 11, 2020. breaking news - Supreme Court denied his law suit. He is livid now. ... Read More
Potus News The Trump Effect On Iran S Election | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Following nearly every major GOP loss on Tuesday, conservative pundits on Fox News averted attention to the major reelection victory for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the red wave in the Sunshine ... Read More Former president Donald Trump issues a veiled threat at Ron DeSantis if the former governor chooses to run for president in 2024. Read More Iran remains committed to developing a working nuclear weapon. The U.S. needs to be equally committed to preventing one. Iranian policymakers grow more and more transparent: Tehran is not posturing ... Read More Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev met with top Iranian leaders in Tehran on Wednesday as the two nations pledged to deepen relations to counter pressure from the US and its allies. Read More US President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Russia's withdrawal from the strategic Ukrainian city of Kherson showed Moscow has "real problems" in the war. Read More
Science News Science Nerd Takes On Congress Top Climate Denier In Texas Race | RobinsPost News & Noticias

But its important for the science ... We deliver climate news to your inbox like nobody else. Every day or once a week, our original stories and digest of the webs top headlines deliver ... Read More Stacker compiled a list of counties most concerned about climate change in Texas using data from the ... 26.3% - Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 55.0% - Total ... Read More As Texans confront rising temperatures, declining water supplies, increasingly severe weather events, sea level rise and more, follow The Texas Tribune's coverage as we investigate what climate ... Read More Oct. 26, 2022  Scientists have discovered a way to create a material that can be made like a plastic, but conducts electricity more like a ... Nov. 4, 2022  Astronomers have discovered the ... Read More In a recent study of the best colleges and universities in the U.S., two North Texas institutions made the top 10. A college degree ... Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter. Read More BROWNSVILLE, Texas  Science teacher Jorge Jasso takes pride ... Even though the race is more competitive than expected in a district favoring Democrats, Gonzalez told NBC News this week that ... Read More A Texas thief took off with a skeleton and a rocking ... but the thief just decided to take off with both items. The thief is seen loading the gangly ghoulish decoration in to the back of a ... Read More WASHINGTON  In 24 of the 38 Texas ... deniers running for Congress lists Moran as raised questions, a lesser category than outright denial. Moran did not respond to requests from The News ... Read More In a new episode of This Week in Texas, ABC13's political reporter Tom Abrahams sits down with two local Congress members who speak about significant issues facing voters this election cycle and ... Read More AUSTIN  A 24-21 win over Iowa State on Saturday helped Texas move up two spots to No. 20 in this weeks Associated Press Top 25. The Longhorns (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) have won three straight games ... Read More Researchers can now show how the dreaded poliovirus behaves when it takes over an infected cell and tricks the cell into producing new virus particles. Polio was thought to be almost eradicated ... Read More Companies are increasingly trying to keep their climate pledges away from public scrutiny. The phenomenon, known as green hushing, has become pervasive even as businesses set more ambitious ... Read More
Science News 12 Preschoolers Injured When Science Experiment Explodes | RobinsPost News & Noticias

An instructor and six students received minor injuries after an explosion in the Chemistry ... BREAKING, OCT. 20, 4:40 PM: Several people have been injured in a potential accident involving ... Read More William Massello, a science teacher and football coach, was conducting an experiment for students ... up the front got the blast from the explosion. Kids started running out of the classroom ... Read More School officials indicated the incident, which some students described as an explosion and fire, occurred during a classroom demonstration. "Three students were treated and transported to VCU ... Read More Schools around the world have closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, leaving parents and teachers scrambling to figure out how kids can learn at home. We can help! Science News Explores and the ... Read More Children are more likely to thrive in the subject if theyre encouraged to experiment and explore rather than to be scientists. Read More Kids are quick to say they shouldn't have to ... other people can shape their growing sense of right and wrong. But experiments to pinpoint exactly what kinds of interactions are most helpful ... Read More An explosion forced a dozen people out of their homes in Paterson on Monday night. The explosion happened on 11th Avenue. One of the displaced residents says she was sitting on her porch when she ... Read More Officials say at least 53 people were injured after the bus was hit by an explosive device in the Mopti area on Thursday and exploded in a massive fireball. The explosion happened on the road ... Read More An explosion at quarry in Schuylkill County has left at least two people injured. Schuylkill County emergency dispatch confirmed that a dynamite truck at Summit Quarry in Joliett exploded this ... Read More Two local shepherds sustained injuries in a bomb explosion which rocked the hilly area under Meja police station in trans-Yamuna region of the district on Friday afternoon. The injured have been ... Read More Kids love dressing up for Halloween. They also love fun science experiments. On Tuesday evening, they got to experience both during Spooky Science Family Fun Night at First Presbyterian Church of ... Read More
Science News Open Sesame Science Centre Inaugurated In Jordan | RobinsPost News & Noticias

That was a prevailing idea in 2019, when I started as the social sciences reporter at Science News. But when I began digging into a possible story on the phenomenon, I encountered an incoherent mess. Read More "Definitions are tools at the service of better science," they write. "Our definition allows scientists to share knowledge and thereby explore new ways of studying learning in different systems." ... Read More The glutamate rushes down the corridor and as it passes a door it kicks it open. The calcium response ... waves in plants appears in Science Advances. John Innes Centre. (2022, October 21). Read More Now, there has also been movement in this space in Ireland with a new Open Science Charter launched by Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) research centre for software. Launched at the ... Read More Science News // 2 days ago Moon to turn red during last total lunar eclipse until 2025 The moon will turn red Tuesday morning during an astronomical phenomenon unlike any other until 2025. Read More The center would expand upon existing education and outreach opportunities, and is expected to open in 2023 ... atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. Science News // 2 days ago Moon to turn red ... 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 To help state universities improve their rankings, governor and chancellor Anandiben Patel on Sunday inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Centre for Ranking, Accreditation Mentoring (UPCRAM) at ... Read More The bats fly much slower as they leave their cave compared to open airspace (they can reach speeds of nearly 100 mph if the area is clear). My team found the hawks seemed unfazed by the confusion ... Read More President Biden highlighted the new debt-relief site in a press briefing on Monday, saying the forgiveness program is now open and calling it a "game-changer for millions of Americans." ... Read More "But that's not fair!" If you're a parent or a teacher, you've probably heard this countless times. To most young children, "fair" simply means treating everyone equally. Kids are quick to say ... Read More
Science News Peter Thiel S Foundation Spawned A Science Based Venture Fund That Just Raised 46 5 Million | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Well send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest US midterm elections news every morning. Peter ... s next political kingmaker. Yet just three weeks before the elections, Thiel ... Read More By Ryan Mac Peter Thiel, the Los Angeles-based technology investor, is pursuing Maltese citizenship through Maltas ... one million New Zealand dollars to an earthquake relief fund. Read More CNBC's Ylan Mui reports on the Senate race in Arizona. Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox Get this delivered ... Read More Billionaire venture capitalist, PayPal cofounder and major MAGA Republican donor Peter Thiel is seeking ... him a multi-million-dollar compound and an escape from the U.S.he has expressed ... Read More Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news ... of the Thiel Foundation. Vance was a principal at Mithril Capital Management, Thiels venture ... Read More The British tourist who answered the door of a third-floor apartment had no idea she was staying at the residence of one of the worlds richest men. Peter Thiel, the billionaire and Republican ... Read More Tech billionaire Peter Thiel and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells political operation have been in a standoff over how to fund a key ... PAC could each pump $5 million into the Arizona ... Read More Re-energized this election cycle, the tech entrepreneur joins other mega-donors apparently out to undercut the political system Peter Thiel is far ... as White House science adviser. Read More They also share a patron: Peter Thiel, the billionaire tech entrepreneur ... "patriotic," I'd normally say that's fine. Yet there's just something weird about a billionaire libertarian with ... Read More They also share a patron: Peter Thiel ... author in the U.S. Senate race in Ohio, would be well ahead of Democrat Tim Ryan. But the race is tight, polls show. Yet theres just something weird ... Read More
Technology News The Case For Terminating All Technology | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Data theft and fraud, cyberattacks and breaches of critical systems, electricity networks and financial markets are all part of rising risks. Communication technology ... of fake news for example ... Read More It is not the case that technology has no role to play in adverse ... good solutions against bullying  cyber or otherwise. News reports regarding a spate of suicides, specifically in Tamil ... Read More BOPIS requires technology or a system that makes it efficient and successful for all parties involved ... across other products. These cases show that QR codes can deliver personalization ... Read More Rapid wire termination technology makes connecting wires to a connector substrate ... are designed to slide into plated-through-holes and exert spring like action in all directions. This evenly ... Read More While payroll technology has been on the market for decades ... employees who work in virtually all types of businesses in New York. While Forework has developed attorney-backed formulas for ... Read More Two years ago, the pandemic thrust courts into using technology whether they liked ... into more business-oriented tech projects such as case management systems, or court scheduling systems. Read More Forensic genetic genealogy is what allowed investigators to crack the Golden State Killer case. Now, researchers want to level up using the power of mathematical analysis. Read More Clubs NSW says the scheme will be used to combat problem gambling, but experts warn of a lack of safeguards and regulation The rollout of facial recognition technology in all New South Wales pubs ... Read More Even before the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020, the agriculture industry was dealing with a number of headwinds, from hurricanes and poor planning disrupting crop growth cycles to the impact of ... Read More MEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Agero, whose leading B2B software and services enable auto manufacturers, insurers, fleets and others to support their customers at every stage of vehicle ... Read More An important global debate is underway about the disruptive impact of new technology ... commonly used to mislead and deceive. For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Read More
Travel News Travel Spending In Central Oregon Soars | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Last week, we released a study titled Assessing Oregons Local News & Information Ecosystem: Connecting news, information, and civic health. Our findings are deeply concerning. Read More Law enforcement in Oregon have issued a warning to the public after at least three live hand grenades washed up on the shore of a beach along the state's central ... wrote in a news release. Read More In this episode, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Makenzie Elliott talk about the best adventures in the touristy Central ... the Explore Oregon Podcast, featuring stories and travel tip ... Read More She notes that people in the eastern part of Oregon previously sought health care in Idaho, and now with that states total abortion ban, they may need to travel longer distances; about 78% of ... Read More Travel Oregon partnered with the states nine federally recognized tribes to create the Travel Guide to Oregon Indian Country. The guide features descriptions and locations of tribal ... Read More Oregon was one of just six states to gain a seat after the 2020 census. The most hotly contested race is in the 5th, which stretches from Portlands affluent southern suburbs to the central high ... Read More Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and ... Read More One person died in a massive pileup involving dozens of vehicles and semi trucks on an Oregon interstate. State police troopers responded to a crash on southbound Interstate 5 involving 15 to 20 ... Read More SALEM, Ore. A waiting and vetting period would be baked into gun purchases in Oregon if a measure on the November statewide ballot passes. If voters approve the measure Nov. 8, buying a gun would ... Read More The head of the U.S. Forest Service has denounced the arrest by an Oregon sheriff of a Forest Service employee after a planned burn in a national forest spread onto private land. The criticism by ... Read More Protesters, some of them armed, threw rocks and smoke bombs outside a drag queen story time event at an Oregon pub over the weekend EUGENE, Ore. -- Protesters, some of them armed, threw rocks and ... Read More
Travel News Memorial Day Travel More Than 1 Million In Georgia Expected To Take Trips | RobinsPost News & Noticias

More than one million people have already voted in Georgia's 2022 elections, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced Wednesday. "As of Wednesday morning, Georgia is well over the ... Read More (Atlanta News First) - More than 1 million ... day, which is Nov. 4. For Brandon Kelly of Clayton County, voting early is all about convenience. He also wanted to vote without having to take ... Read More For weeks, Georgias Democratic ... instead of waiting until Election Day. Voters apparently listened. Get the full experience.Choose your plan More than 1 million Georgians have voted early ... Read More ATLANTA  Georgia surpassed 1 million votes cast in the early voting ... of reasons for heading to the polls ahead of Election Day. Some said they intend to keep doing so in the future. Read More Early voting in Georgia has surpassed 1 million two weeks ahead of the ... Georgias turnout contributes to more than 11 million Americans nationwide who have already cast their ballots ahead ... Read More ATLANTA  Millions of dollars have helped Georgia homeowners who have fallen behind on mortgage payments during the pandemic, leaving more than $300 million that has gone unclaimed. Since the ... Read More CLEVELAND, Ohio  Greater Cleveland continues to rebound from the dramatic tourism downturn caused by the pandemic, attracting 16.1 million ... affecting travel decisions now more than ongoing ... Read More Turnout from Georgia's first day of early voting set a new state record for a midterm election, state election officials said. More than 131,000 ... were cast on Day One, the office said. Read More The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga raised more than $1.2 million from 1,475 donors over the 24 hours of the third annual Mocs Give Day on Oct ... Florida and Georgia, the federal ... Read More More than three times as many domestic overnight trips ... 344 million on domestic same-day visits and 51 million euro on outbound same-day visits in the first half of 2022. Tourists take ... Read More More than one million ... morning, Georgia is well over the One Million mark with 1,017,732 voters casting their ballot during Early Voting," said Raffensperger, adding, "Georgia has had record Early ... Read More
Us News Report Us Official Promises Israeli Embassy Move By End Of Trump S Term | RobinsPost News & Noticias

One former British embassy official in Israel later described ... now slated to house a new US diplomatic compound, following President Donald Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem ... Read More Israeli President Isaac Herzog will on Sunday mandate a nominee to form a government, his office said, a move expected to see the return of former premier Benjamin Netanyahu following the victory of ... Read More Donald Trump has said that US Jews ... general for Israel in New York, Alon Pinkas, told The New Yorker for a piece outlining Mr Trumps legacy in the country at the end of his term that ... Read More A group of 20 Democratic members of Congress called on the Biden administration this week to oppose Israels membership in the US Visa Waiver Program, Haaretz reported Friday. The program would waive ... Read More A second poll for Kan gives Netanyahus bloc 60 seats. More from the top US official, who tears into critics from the Trump administration and the Israeli ... At the end of the buoys, the ... Read More Former President Donald Trump on Sunday criticized Jews in the United States ... Israel more. He also stressed his track record of support for Israel, even saying he could easily be the country's ... Read More condemned Trump's remarks in a statement to Newsweek on Sunday. "We don't need the former president, who curries favor with extremists and antisemites, to lecture us about the US-Israel relationship. Read More "There's a bloc that is in Israel called the Netanyahu Bloc, and that's in polls at 60/61 which is right around the threshold we need," Dermer said ... Read More Washington on Thursday brushed off comparisons of Israels military presence in the West ... Lapid on Friday took to Twitter to brand the report "anti-Semitic." On Saturday, Price said that ... Read More Provided by City AM Tourists look from the Mount of Olives at the panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem The UK government will not move the British embassy in Israel ... of the state of Israel ... Read More
Us News North Korea Missile Tests Us Warns Against Supporting Pyongyang | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The launch on Friday  Thursday in the United States  took place from Sunan District of Pyongyang, the North ... missile and rocket tests and air force maneuvers as a warning against South ... Read More South Korea says that North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea in its first ballistic weapons liftoffs in two weeks. Read More North Korea added to its recent barrage of weapons demonstrations by launching four ballistic missiles into the sea on Saturday, as the United States sent two supersonic bombers streaking over South ... Read More North Korea has launched more than two dozen missiles over the last two days in response to U.S.-South Korean military exercises that began Monday. Read More Thus far, however, Kirby said that "Mr. Kim has proven unwilling to take us up on that ... additional sanctions against Pyongyang after over North Korea's missile tests, one of which overflew ... Read More Korea, Japan have been closely monitoring the Punggye-ri nuclear test site North ... and missile defense," to defend its allies, Japan and South Korea. Warning Pyongyang against escalating its ... Read More The United States flew a supersonic bomber over ally South Korea as part of an enormous combined aerial exercise involving hundreds of warplanes in a show of force meant to intimi ... Read More (Photo: Korean Central News Agency, Korea News Service via AP) KCNA said the missile tests were in response ... to South Korea and the United States, informing them of North Korea's nuclear ... Read More North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un has supervised tests of long-range cruise missiles ... use nuclear weapons against South Korea and the United States if it perceives its leadership as under ... Read More The back-to-back launches, the Norths first ballistic missile tests ... to South Koreas Defense Ministry. South Korea and the United States have strongly warned North Korea against using ... Read More
Us News Last To Die In Afghanistan Us Marines Back To Helmand | RobinsPost News & Noticias

During that time, 2,641 US troops lost their lives, while 20,744 were injured in combat. One day after the withdrawal of the last US forces from Afghanistan, Milley wrote, 11 Marines ... Read More Food has no taste and sleep gives us no rest ... Mast was sent on a temporary assignment to Afghanistan. Mast, then a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, was a military lawyer for the federal ... Read More During 20 years of combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, few Marines gained any experience in ... Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies  which ... 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 A new report from the Pentagon found that 519 US service members died by suicide in 2021, a decrease from the 582 cases in 2020. The 519 deaths last year involved active-duty, reserve, and ... Read More The assurances were given during a meeting between US Department ... that ended in 2001 came back into force with them taking power last year. More than half of Afghanistans 39 million people ... Read More "Late this morning (Tehran time), Siamak was taken back into custody by the IRGC and ... was just granted permission to leave the country last week so that he could seek medical treatment. Read More "For us working class ... Richie told Fox News that increased political division is a severe concern for the direction of America. "I want to see the country go back to the way it was a couple ... Read More Kenneth Frank McKenzie, commander of US Central Command, announced the completion of US withdrawal from Afghanistan during a Pentagon news ... who died in Afghanistan last week, Psaki ... Read More A new report from the Pentagon found that 519 US service members died by suicide in 2021, a decrease from the 582 cases in 2020. The 519 deaths last year ... said during a news briefing Thursday. Read More
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Us News Israel Lauds Us Security Ties Following Trump Disclosures | RobinsPost News & Noticias




Us News Us State Of Georgia Executes Convicted Murderer | RobinsPost News & Noticias

TONIGHT, INVESTIGATORS HAVE THE SHOOTER IN CUSTODY AND PIN HIM TO A MURDER. AND OUR STATE AND IN GEORGIA. BUT THATS ... SHE JOINS US NOW FROM THE WEST PALM BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH ALL ... Read More A judge sentenced William Van Poyck to die for the 1987 murder of Glades Correctional Institution prison guard Fred Griffis. He was executed in 2013. Read More Two people have been arrested in connection to a 2020 murder of an 18-year-old man whose body was found in an Upstate retention pond, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI said the ... Read More Dedrick Murray was convicted of kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault, terroristic acts with serious physical injury, and stalking. On Sept. 26, 2019, deputies were called to a Publix ... Read More A convicted Arizona murderer who escaped custody in Georgia was sentenced to life in prison last week, authorities said. Read More The Oklahoma City Police Department says a man wanted in connection to a 2019 murder was arrested Nov. 4 by U.S. Marshals in Atlanta, Georgia. Read More The ritual of the last meal for inmates condemned to die across the country has fascinated the public for years as one expert says it's "not a stretch" to compare it to Jesus' "Last Supper." ... Read More Texas plans to execute Tracy Beatty on Wednesday evening for murdering his mother in East Texas in 2003. Beatty, now 61, was found guilty of fatally strangling Carolyn Click, the end of a violent and ... Read More New York states parole board is to release a convicted cop killer decades after the cold-blooded murder. Five decades ago, Anthony Curtis Blanks "assaulted, pursued and executed" Larchmont ... Read More Oct. 20 (UPI) --Oklahoma executed Benjamin Cole Thursday for killing his 9-month-old daughter Brianna. Cole was the sixth death-row inmate executed at Oklahoma's McAlester state prison this year. Read More WASHINGTON - Three members of a far-right US ... convicted of conspiring to abduct Ms Whitmer and detonate a bomb over the tough Covid-19 pandemic restrictions she imposed on the northern state. Read More January 10 - The Georgia Bulldogs defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This is Georgia's first ... Read More
Us News The Us And Mexico May Be Teaming Up To Fight Heroin But The Enemy Is Tougher Than It Appears | RobinsPost News & Noticias

SAN DIEGO (AP)  The Biden administration agreed to accept up to 24,000 ... and may come from other countries, administration officials said. It also remains to be seen if Mexico has limits ... Read More A day after a Venezuelan migrant was expelled from the US to Mexico, The Post witnessed her ... alone recording up to 2,100 migrants in a single day. Pina was held by Immigration and Customs ... Read More It's significantly cheaper than ... million US citizens are estimated to live in Mexico, according to their country's embassy, which does not keep official records. They can stay for up to six ... Read More "They lied to us ... status in Mexico. Despite the new increased use of Title 42, illegal crossings do not appear to be slowing down, with Fox News border team seeing more than 500 migrants ... Read More The move comes just more than a week after a ... the Reuters news agency reported. Last week, Ebrard said Mexico would appeal a September 30 US federal court decision that dismissed the country ... Read More The US and Mexican governments also announced a new program, which began on October 18, to allow up to 24,000 ... detained more than 200,000 Venezuelans at the US-Mexico border between January ... Read More MEXICO CITY (AP)  The Mexican government filed another U.S. gun lawsuit Monday, this time against five U.S. gun shops and distributors it claims are responsible for the flow of illegal weapons ... Read More "The more voices and people that speak up and ... they may not go there, which could affect access and outcomes. U.S. News' honor roll hospitals tended to perform worse than other hospitals ... Read More Doug Ducey had placed to fill gaps in the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border PHOENIX -- The state of Arizona has sued the federal government to be able to keep more than 100 double-stacked shipping ... Read More A group of up to 15 US senators asked ... Its deeply distressing to read that more than one in 20 tap water tests performed in Chicago were at or above US government limits and one third ... Read More The Mexican government has filed another lawsuit against U.S. companies it claims are responsible for the flow of illegal weapons into Mexico MEXICO CITY -- The Mexican government filed another U ... Read More
Us News Alabama State Senate Leader Skipping Us Senate Race | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Republican Katie Britt on Tuesday Britt will fill the seat held by Richard Shelby, her one-time boss who is retiring after 35 years in the Senate. Britt was Shelbys chief of staff before leaving to ... Read More Election results provided by the Associated Press. Estimated vote counts are provided by the Associated Press and informed by past turnout, advance votes cast and early returns. Read More See election results, a county-by-county map and more for the Alabama State Senate election on. Read More Republican J.D. Vance bests Tim Ryan in Ohio Senate race. Democrat Josh Shapiro defeats Trump-backed Doug Mastriano in PA gubernatorial contest. Read More Pennsylvania lieutenant-governor and US Senate candidate John Fetterman waves during his 2022 US midterm elections night party in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  REUTERS/Quinn Gablicki John Fetterman, the ... Read More At the same time, there are several closely watched governors races in states throughout the US, including in Florida, where Republican Ron DeSantis is expected to cruise to victory over his ... Read More Gubernatorial races in Arizona and Oregon were too close to call after Election Day. Incumbents had strong showings in Florida, Texas, Michigan. Read More Republicans will hold Alaska Senate seat in a race that will go to ranked choice voting. Texas News ... Read More Seats in the House and Senate aren't the only races on the ballot this year. Across the country, dozens of candidates are running for governors. Read More A new sense of uncertainty has risen over Pennsylvanias pivotal Senate contest. Democrats are struggling to remain optimistic about John Fettermans candidacy after a rocky debate performance. Fetter ... Read More
Us News Israel Says Ties With Us Unaffected After Trump Lavrov Accusations | RobinsPost News & Noticias

While many US Jews are generally supportive of Israel, they have consistently rejected accusations of ... to do with Israel. Trumps posting came days after the right-wing Zionist ... Read More Luke Tress is an editor and a reporter in New York for The Times of Israel. WASHINGTON  Upcoming elections in both Israel and the US should not affect bilateral ties, said President Isaac ... Read More Instagram and Twitter removed posts by the artist, who had been featured on conservative Fox News host Tucker Carlson's show. Trump has ... to lecture us about the US-Israel relationship," Anti ... Read More Former President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Jews in the US to be more appreciative of his administrations work regarding Israel ... News Life, Liberty & Levin. To say ... Read More Former President Donald Trump on Sunday criticized Jews in the United States ... Israel, even saying he could easily be the country's prime minister given his approval rating there, which he says ... Read More The United States is aiming to weaken the EU on the military and economic levels, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview. Read More Donald Trump has said that US Jews should appreciate what hes achieved for Israel before its too late. Mr Trump claimed that Evangelicals have been more appreciative of his support for ... Read More No President has done more for Israel,' says former US president Donald Trump on his Truth Social application Former United States president Donald Trump on Sunday told American Jews to "get their ... Read More A government led by opposition leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu that includes far-right Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir could damage Israel ... then US president Donald Trump to leave the ... Read More He added: "It's long overdue to stop using Jews as a political football." Trump also faced accusations of antisemitism in 2020, when he referred to Israel as "your country" while speaking to American ... Read More Russia open to Putin meeting Biden at G20 Lavrov also said on Tuesday that Russia will not turn down a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden at a forthcoming G20 ... Read More
Us News Russia Us Ties Democrats Push For Inquiry | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Critics questioned why Biden should pursue diplomacy with Moscow when Russia has committed war crimes and as Ukraine makes gains on the battlefield. Read More Kremlin-connected businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin has admitted that he interfered in U.S. elections and would continue to do so. The statement by the man known as Putin's chef because of his ... Read More Therese Coffey defends PMs Cop27 snub as standard practice - New prime minister accused of massive failure of climate leadership in skipping summit ... Read More Suella Braverman has learnt from her mistakes, PM insists - New prime minister claims Braverman has taken accountability ... Read More
Us News Trump S Intel Leak Reportedly Endangers Israeli Spy But Us And Israel Laud Ties | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is eyeing a return to power, and fellow Likud member Danny Danon believes there is a good chance that it will happen. Read More
World News Call For Papers Community Involvement In The Management Of World Heritage In Africa | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Highlight your research and enhance its visibility to your field and community by submitting to one of our calls for papers, for our upcoming Guest Edited Collections. For enquiries, please ... Read More natural and Indigenous heritage, outlook reporting, site management, World Heritage system processes, environmental law, international law and diplomacyin a roundtable on reforms to the ... Read More The call, written by 16 editors of leading biomedical journals across Africa, said damage already ... The authors slammed the international community's failure to meet its promise of providing ... Read More The Jamestown Human Rights Commission discussed ways of increasing community involvement during last Fridays Human Rights Commission meeting. The committee is seeking ways to engage with the ... Read More Haiti Calls for Help at the UN as World Mulls Assistance By EDITH M ... The Security Council and the international community must seek a different course to respond to the security and ... Read More The bond vigilantes are back. The UKs fiery experience over the past few weeks should be a wake-up call for the rest of the world. Continue Reading Show full articles without ... Read More These crises are severely affecting many parts of the world, particularly ... mobilizing financing for Africa's adaptation efforts. "The international community is at a crossroads. Read More Alok Sharmas intervention puts pressure on Trump-appointed Bank chief who faces calls to resign The UK has joined calls for sweeping reforms to the World Bank, to focus much-needed funding on ... Read More Haiti's Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus said he came to the Security Council with a "distress call" from the Haitian people to tell the world they ... the international community must seek ... Read More Haiti's Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus said he came to the Security Council with a distress call" from the Haitian people to tell the world they are not living  they are suffering." ... Read More UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The United States and Mexico said Monday they are preparing a U.N. resolution that would authorize an international mission to help improve security in Haiti, whose ... Read More
World News Phoenix Zoo Plans Turtle Conservation Efforts Ahead Of World Turtle Day | RobinsPost News & Noticias

PHOENIX - The Phoenix Zoo lost more than a dozen pelicans from the bird flu as it's spreading through the country and other parts of the world. Sixteen pelicans once called a lake at the zoo home. Read More After 16 years of leading the nonprofit organization, Mike Warren is retiring as Turtle Bay Exploration Parks chief executive officer. Read More A new low-cost sensor designed to resemble a sea turtle egg enables ... will emerge almost to the day  providing valuable information for conservation efforts and turtle nest management. Read More Last week, the government proposed a new farm levy as part of a plan to tackle ... best job in the world. But when its rain, drizzle, and you get home and listen to the news, Swansson ... Read More The science shows that conservation ... world on animal welfare. The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Biaza) and UK licensing standards give the highest level of protections to ... Read More MIAMI - The loggerhead sea turtle named "Baymax ... according to Zoo Miami and the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. The decision was made after multiple efforts to resolve an infection Baymax ... Read More PHOENIX  Millions of lights will ... and our brand-new music and light show that will take you around the world, reads a statement on the zoos website. Guest can enjoy from a variety ... Read More Special events are planned from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the Little Zoo for World Lemur Day. Planned special events ... For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head ... Read More 14 (UPI) --A 100-year-old Ohio man who holds the Guinness World Record for being the world's oldest practicing doctor said he has no plans to retire ... with his typical day lasting from 9 a.m ... Read More Helen impressed Zoo fans with her big personality and longevity at 64 years old and was affectionately called the "Grand Dame" of the gorilla world. She had been on quality of life watch and was ... Read More The Indianapolis Prize, the world's leading animal conservation award, has selected 51 nominees who exemplify the dedication and effort to save ... management of sea turtle populations in more ... Read More
Variations on Frankensteins Monster, from the Monster Charity Project.

THERE was gore galore at a star-studded national horror convention last weekend.

Fright fans from around the country visited Magna for HorrorCon UK 2017  a festival of all things fearsome.

Celebrity guests included Sid Haig, better known as killer clown Captain Spaulding in The Devils Rejects.

He was joined by Cassandra Peterson  most famous for portraying horror hostess Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

She took to Twitter during the event, praising attendees for their Elvira costumes and tattoos.

And John Jarratt  star of outback murderfest Wolf Creek  travelled from Australia to meet and greet the crowds.

The stars took part in Q&A sessions before chatting with fans and posing for pictures.

There were short movie screenings, featuring judges top picks from Sheffield film festival Celluloid Screams.

And a macabre market in the main hall sold cosplay props, comics and even creepy cupcakes.

There was also a peculiar petting zoo featuring hairless rats, tarantulas and snakes.

More than 3,000 people attended the two-day convention, many in impressive, movie-inspired costumes.

Organiser Gill Bell said: The celebrity guests were really popular  Sid kept going all day to make sure he signed autographs for all his fans, only finishing at 6pm on Saturday. Then he did it all again on Sunday.

Fans of Elvira were delighted to meet Cassandra, as she hasnt been to the UK recently. We noticed many a teary eye leaving her table.

And John was delighted to be in Sheffield, as he is a big fan of Joe Cocker.

She added: Many people said Magna being ideal for a horror convention, as it is a lot like a horror film set.

See below for a selection of pictures courtesy of Lee Evans.
Mountain Province Diamonds Inc . announced the results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine treated approximately 492,000 tonnes of ore through the process plant and recovered approximately 867,000 carats on a 100% basis for an average grade of approximately 1.76 carats/tonne. This recovered grade is approximately 17% above budget for the first quarter. The Companys attributable share of first quarter diamond production was approximately 424,830 carats.

In the eight months since commencing production ramp-up in August 2016 to completion of the third sale in March 2017, Mountain sold a total of approximately 523,000 carats for total proceeds of US$40.4 million or approximately US$77 per carat.

In the three months to March 31, 2017, the Company conducted three sales through its diamond broker based in Antwerp, Belgium for a total of approximately 522,000 carats, which included Fancies and Specials. Proceeds of approximately US$37.7 million or an average of US$72 per carat were received by April 5, 2017.

Gem and near-gem diamonds contributed approx. 96% of the diamond sales proceeds at an average price of US$118 per carat. The remaining 4% of proceeds came from industrial diamonds at an average price of US$7 per carat. Gem and near-gem diamonds represented approx. 57% of the first quarter sales by volume.

Subsequent to quarter end, on May 5, 2017 the Company closed its fourth sale at an average price of US$86 per carat, a 19% increase from the average first quarter realized price per carat. The Company expects to begin recording revenue starting from the fifth sale which occurs in mid-June.

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2017, the Company reported a net loss of $2.1 million or ($0.01) per share.



Alex Shishlo, Editor of the Rough&Polished European Bureau in Brussels




Dominion Diamond Corporations share price gained more than 3% last week following reports that the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) was considering making a bid for the miner, Rapaport reported.

CPPIB is studying Dominions books and is one of more than five parties that have signed agreements with Dominion to access its confidential data, Reuters reported Thursday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the process.

The pension group is unlikely to make an offer on its own, and may instead give financial backing to another company with expertise operating mines, the sources said in the report. Dominion  which owns the Ekati mine and 40% of the Diavik mine  did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Rapaport News. CPPIB declined to comment.

CPPIB, headquartered in Toronto, also reviewed Dominions books in 2015, when the miner was working with Rothschild & Co., according to the same sources. Dominion had brought in the investment bank to work on efforts to help increase shareholder value, including exploring a potential sale.

This past March, Dominion dismissed an informal $1.1 billion takeover proposal from the Washington Companies. At the time, Reuters also reported that Stornoway Diamond Corporation, owner of the Renard mine in Quebec, had held merger talks with Dominion.




J.C. Penney said jewelry was one of its stronger areas for sales in the first fiscal quarter, even as the retailers overall revenue fell, Rapaport reported.

While the company did not release figures for the division, it said comparable sales for fine jewelry were positive.

Our fine-jewelry performance is a classic example of great alignment between the merchants and the stores, chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison said in an earnings call last week. The merchants have done an outstanding job of selecting inspiring products at a value, and the store team delivered outstanding product knowledge training and customer engagement.

Group net sales declined 3.7% to $2.71 billion in the three months that ended April 29, the store chain said.

Meanwhile, Macys reported a 7.5% drop in sales to $5.34 billion for the quarter. Management was encouraged by pilot programs in fine jewelry, the department-store group said last week. However, fashion jewelry and watches had a weaker performance during the period.




The current record holder is UK-based Ludo, also a maine coon, which measured in at 118.33cm long in October 2015. (Omar) was tiny when we got him but then he just started growing and was 10kg at one year old, Ms Hirst said to media. He has now an Instagram account and in two weeks the followers increased to 8 million. The maine coon is one of the largest domesticated breeds of cat, with ancestral origins unknown but one of the oldest natural breeds in North America and at the same time one of the more popular cat breeds in the world. Its a large and sociable cat also nicknamed the gentle giant.

Ms Stephys cat Omar eats a couple of scoops of kibble at breakfast and raw kangaroo for dinner. He likes to hide in small places. He is really good at opening doors, sliding doors, kitchen cupboards, shower doors, wardrobes, hell get past all of them. If the Guinness World Records will validate him, Ms Stephy Hirst and her partner Rowan Lawrence will prepare a special culinary celebration for their pet.
Its pretty bad. We have at least one deceased so far and were still in a search pattern, Wisconsins Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald told media describing the scene as total devastation. The National Weather Service reported the tornado touched down in the area just after 5:30 p.m. All ambulances and firefighters in Barron County were called to the area. Many people were trapped inside their homes. The park had around 50 homes. Several law enforcement agencies and the Red Cross rushed to help residents in the area. The storms could continue into Wednesday, but CBS Minnesota meteorologist Matt Brickman said that drier, cooler conditions are expected to move in by Thursday. Another tornado struck a rural area in western Oklahoma, leaving damage in its wake. The storm knocked out telephone service. A person is known dead.
In one of the most stunning developments in the Trump administration's first 110 days in power, FBI Director James Comey was abruptly dismissed on Tuesday.

The administration attributed the decision to fire Comey to recommendations from the Justice Department that included disapproval of the way the FBI chief handled the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server.

A statement from the White House said President Donald Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

A search for a new permanent FBI Director will begin immediately, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement.

The move has generated considerable criticism, however, as it comes as Comey was leading an investigation of potential ties between Russia and Trump's presidential campaign.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued that Comey's firing reinforces the need for a special prosecutor to investigate the Trump campaign's ties to Russia.

"If an independent special prosecutor is appointed, there still can be some faith that we can get to the bottom of this," Schumer told reporters. "If not, everyone will suspect a cover-up."

Trump fired back at Schumer on Twitter, noting that the Democratic leader previously indicated he did not have confidence in Comey.

"The Democrats have said some of the worst things about James Comey, including the fact that he should be fired, but now they play so sad!" Trump tweeted.

Trump claimed Comey had lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington and predicted lawmakers would thank him for firing the FBI director when things calm down.

According to a report from Politico, the president didn't call Comey to inform him of the decision but sent a private security guard to deliver the termination letter to FBI headquarters.

Comey was reportedly shocked to learn the news about his dismissal on TV while addressing FBI agents in Los Angeles.

Trump was enraged by the FBI chief investigating his associates and deliberated for more than a week before ousting Comey, Politico reported.

It is the third firing of a high profile Trump administration official following the dismissal of Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
Wendy's Co. (WEN) reported a profit for the first-quarter ended April 2, 2017 that declined 12.2 percent from last year, reflecting a year-over-year increase in other operating expense that was related to a lease buyout gain recognized in the first quarter of 2016, partly offset by lower depreciation and amortization expense and reorganization and realignment costs. It reiterated adjusted earnings per share outlook for fiscal 2017.

Adjusted earnings per share and revenue for the first-quarter beat analysts' expectations.

In the Wednesday's pre-market trade, WEN is currently trading at $15.81, up $0.71 or 4.74%.

The company reiterated 2020 G&A expense savings target of approximately $35 million; expects to achieve approximately three-quarters of savings by end of 2018.

Net income for the first-quarter of 2017 declined 12.2 percent to $22.3 million from the previous year's $25.4 million, while quarterly earnings per share were $0.09 flat with last year.

Adjusted earnings per share were $0.09 in the first quarter of 2017, compared to $0.11 in the first quarter of 2016. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.08 per share for the first-quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The 18.2 percent decrease resulted primarily from the certain items and reflects a 7 percent year-over-year reduction in the weighted average diluted shares outstanding.

Operating profit was $60.7 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared to $63.8 million in the first quarter of 2016. The 4.9 percent decrease resulted primarily from a year-over-year increase in other operating expense that was related to a lease buyout gain recognized in the first quarter of 2016, partly offset by lower depreciation and amortization expense and reorganization and realignment costs.

General and administrative expense was $52.4 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared to $64.7 million in the first quarter of 2016. The 19.0 percent decrease resulted primarily from lower professional fees and legal reserves, a year-over-year decrease in incentive compensation accruals and cost savings related to the Company's system optimization initiative.

Total revenues for the first-quarter declined about 24.6 percent to $285.8 million from $378.8 million last year. Analysts expected revenue of $282.57 million for the quarter. The decrease resulted primarily from the ownership of 301 fewer Company-operated restaurants at the end of the first quarter 2017 compared to the beginning of the first quarter 2016, which resulted in fewer sales at Company-operated restaurants, partly offset by higher franchise royalty revenue and fees and franchise rental income.

The company-operated restaurant margin was 16.7 percent in the first quarter of 2017, compared to 17.2 percent in the first quarter of 2016. The 50 basis-point decrease was primarily the result of increased labor rates, partly offset by lower commodity costs.

As previously announced at the Company's Investor Day on February 16, 2017, the Company expects to reduce G&A expense to approximately 1.5 percent of global system-wide sales by 2020 on its path to an adjusted EBITDA margin of 38 to 40%. Approximately three-quarters of the total G&A expense reduction of approximately $35 million is expected to be realized by the end of 2018, with the remainder of the savings being realized in 2019.

The company reiterated its 2017 net new unit growth expectations of about 1 percent in North America and about 12.5 percent in International.

The company continues to facilitate franchisee-to-franchisee restaurant transfers in order to ensure restaurants are operated by well-capitalized franchisees that are committed to long-term growth. During the first quarter the Company facilitated 116 Buy and Flips and now expects to complete approximately 475 in 2017, which exceeds the original target by 75.

The company announced the declaration of its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share, payable on June 15, 2017, to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2017. The number of common shares outstanding as of May 4, 2017 was 245.5 million.

In addition, the company continues to expect adjusted earnings per share for 2017 to be in the range of about $0.45 to $0.47, an increase of approximately 13 percent to 18 percent compared to 2016. Analysts expect annual earnings of $0.46 per share.

During 2017, the Company now expects adjusted EBITDA of approximately $400 to $406 million, an increase of approximately 2 to 4 percent compared to 2016.

The company continues to expect to achieve certain goals by the end of 2020. It projects Global systemwide sales of about $12 billion in constant currency and excluding Venezuela; and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 38 to 40 percent.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
United Airlines has apologized to a passenger whose ticket was canceled after he used his phone to record a dispute with airline employees.

Navang Oza, a passenger traveling from New Orleans to San Francisco, said that a United Airlines agent canceled his ticket when he started to record a confrontation about his checked bag.

The incident happened at New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport when Oza checked in for a flight home to San Francisco. Oza complained to a United Airlines agent about a $300 charge for his checked bag, when he had paid just $125 to check the same bag on the first leg of his trip.

Oza said he decided to film the incident when the agent became rude.

In the video, the United Airlines agent can be seen telling Oza that he does not have her permission to record the interaction. She then tells her colleague to "cancel the reservation."

The agent took out her own phone and started to film Oza. Eventually, she called airport police.

However, the police officer told Oza he could continue to record since an airport is a public space. But the ticket agent was adamant that Oza could not travel until he deleted the video.

Ultimately, Oza re-booked his flight on a different airline.

In response to the incident, United Airlines said in a statement, "The video does not reflect the positive customer experience we strive to offer, and for that we apologize. We are reviewing this situation, including talking with Mr. Oza and our employees to better understand what happened."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Canadian stocks fell Tuesday, as the rally in gold and oil prices petered out.

Traders were in a cautious mood due to reports that President Donald Trump disclosed highly classified information to Russian officials. A Washington Post report claims Trump revealed details of an Islamic State terrorist threat to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in a White House meeting last week.

The TSX Composite Index was up 83.79 points to 15,545.68.

Energy stocks struggled as the world's oil watchdog gave a mixed assessment of the global supply picture. The International Energy Agency said non-OPEC output would grow by 600,000 bpd this year, but that are in the process of re-balancing.

Still, crude oil slipped back below $49, and energy stocks dropped 1.2 percent. Financials continued to slump, losing 0.6 percent amid lingering concerns about contagion related to Home Capital Group (HCG.TO).

Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz on Monday downplayed concerns that Home Capital's subprime troubles will spread to major banks.

Bell Canada says 1.9 million email addresses were illegally accessed by hackers unrelated to the WannaCry hack. BCE shares were fractionally lower.

Canada is moving toward a new airline passenger bill of rights that will outlaw overbooking on flights. Air Canada shares rose 5.3 percent.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Singapore's non-oil domestic exports declined for the first time in six months in April, defying economists' expectations for a further strong rise, data from the National Enterprise Singapore showed Tuesday.

NODX dropped 0.7 percent year-over-year in April, reversing a 16.5 percent spike in March. Meanwhile, economists had expected a 13.0 percent climb for the month.

Exports of electronic products grew 4.8 percent annually in April, slower than the 5.2 percent gain in the prior month. It was forecast to increase by 9.3 percent.

The increase in electronic domestic exports was largely contributed by ICs, parts of PCs and disk media products.

At the same time, non-electronic NODX fell 2.9 percent yearly in April, in contrast to a 20.8 percent surge in March.

On a monthly basis, NODX dipped a seasonally adjusted 9.0 percent in April, after a 1.1 percent drop in the preceding month.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
President Donald Trump had asked former FBI. director James Comey to drop a federal investigation into links between his ex-national security adviser and Russia, U.S. media reported.

The explosive report was published by New York Times on Tuesday, citing a memo Comey purportedly wrote shortly after an Oval Office meeting he had with the president in February.

"I hope you can let this go," the U.S. president told Comey, according to the memo the newspaper released.

The White House has denied the report, saying, "The president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn."

Flynn resigned on February 13th. In his letter of resignation, the top official in charge of the nation's security said he had inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding his phone calls with the Russian ambassador to U.S. before the Trump administration assumed power.

The Trump-Comey meeting was held on February 14th, and the latter wrote the memo detailing his conversation with Trump immediately after the meeting, the New York Times reported, claiming it was based on two people who read the memo.

The Times cites the memo as proof that Trump tried to directly influence the Justice Department and FBI investigation into links between his associates and Russia.

This is the second media report in as many days that puts the president in the shadow of suspicion over allegations of his Russian connection.

The Washington Post reported Monday that Trump divulged highly classified information to Russian officials at the White House last week.

The White House strongly refuted that allegation too, but a defiant Trump asserted that he has an "absolute right" to share details pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety with Russia.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
By SA Commercial Prop News

Artists rendering of Elim Mall in Limpopo



Almost 80% of people who live in Elim, Limpopo, shop in other cities. Now this is set to change with Twin City Developments retail strategy for the new Elim Mall.

Anchored by Shoprite in a 3,500sqm store, the R220 million Elim Mall will, for the first time, bring comprehensive, targeted convenience and fashion shopping to the doorstep of Elim residents in a first phase 17,500sqm single-level shopping centre, featuring 50 stores.



Developed in joint venture by skilled property developer Twin City Development and designed by Leon Jacobs Architects, Elim Mall is bringing market-matched retailers to local shoppers to create a relevant and appealing retail attraction to Elim residents. Twin City Development are owners of retail developments such as Blue Haze Mall in Hazyview, Twin City Mall in Burgersfort and Twin City Mall Bushbuckridge. Ribola Property Development is a local partner and former land owner.



Set to open in September 2012, the mall will also include a superbly-positioned service station and will incorporate a brand new taxi and bus rank-making shopping easy and accessible for local commuters. The mall is also served by 884 parking bays.



We have chosen a uniquely suitable location at a bustling intersection, with high traffic volumes and excellent exposure, at the cross roads to Louis Trichardt, Giyani and Levubu, contributing to considerable flow past the site, says Johan Visagie of Twin City.



And this is where Retail Network Services expertise comes in to play.



Extensive research undertaken prior to the development of Elim Mall reveals a marked service gap in specific retail facilities for local residents.



There are some complementary retail facilities nearby and the new Elim Mall will be an extension to the current limited retail offering in Elim. It provides the opportunity to introduce tenants not currently available in the area, explains Gavin Tagg of Retail Network Services. The addition of Elim Mall will provide critical mass to the node and promote its enhanced attraction and popularity.



Retail Network Services is a full-service specialist retail leasing company which ensures that the intricate, and often puzzling, tenant mix is crafted to suit each centre's unique footprint, with successes the likes of Pan Africa Shopping Centre in Alexandra and Edendale Mall in Pietermaritzburg, Mdantsane City in East London, Tsakane Mall in Springs and Jabulani Mall in Soweto to its name.



Twin City Development acknowledges the importance of commuter transport systems and has incorporated within the centre a popular taxi rank with 72 bays, serving over 110 taxis, as well as a bus drop off and collection area. Part of the development will also be the construction of a new Engen Filling Station.



Research has confirmed that the area has a considerable amount of customers and this is expected to grow at 4% a year, says National leasing manager for Retail Network Services, Jonathan Tagg. Elim Mall is also situated across the road from Elim Hospital, with its 400 bed capacity which generates substantial inflow with patients and visiting families. This is an extremely busy intersection and is where all the commercial activity of Elim and surrounds is present. However, many of these people currently leave Elim to shop in Louis Trichard because their retail needs are not being met locally.



The size and retailer mix at Elim Mall will assist in limiting the current outflow of shoppers to areas like Louis Trichard and Giyani, which is currently calculated to be 78%.



It is essential to select retailers for the tenant mix which appeal to the Elim market and meet their specific everyday needs, explains Jonathan. This is the essence of a successful retail centre  for the shopper, the retailer and the owners  and this is what Elim Mall will provide.



The first phase has almost a 80% national tenant mix, with Shoprite as main food anchor. RNS is in advanced tenancy discussions with numerous other national retailers. Twin City has also acquired adjacent land as part of the joint venture, which land will enable them to satisfy retail demand going forward, being able to extend the centre up to 45 000 squares GLA.



In addition to keeping retail spend within Elim, the development of Elim Mall will also contribute to job creation and economic empowerment within the community, on an ongoing basis. More than the numerous jobs created for the ongoing operation of the mall, a centre of this size usually generates hundreds of retail job opportunities, depending on tenant needs. The developers encourage retailers to hire from the local community.



During construction, some 140 workers will be employed on site at peak production and, wherever feasible, these will be local sub-contractors.



Twin City Development pioneered retail in previously disadvantaged townships where they have achieved unrivalled success  and Retail Network Services are one of the only companies to get the tenant mix right in this new and largely unchartered area of growth within the retail sector and can also engineer retail in small suburban convenience centres as well as the mammoth super regional shopping malls.



Earthworks for Elim Mall are under way and the centre is scheduled to open in September 2012.
By SA Commercial Prop News - I-Net Bridge

Nedbank Corporate Banking has acted as joint funder of a further R500 million syndicated loan to Tsogo Sun - bringing the total facility to just over R7 billion.

The facility would be used to support Tsogo Sun's strategy to continue to invest in the hotel and gaming industry, the bank said on Thursday.

The Tsogo Sun Group now consists of 14 casinos in South Africa and 95 hotels primarily in SA, but also in seven other countries across Africa and in the Middle East.
Turnout for general election less than expected for Saline County

Ballots are still being counted as of Wednesday, but it seems the turnout for the 2022 general election was lower than expected by the county clerk.
By Associated Press  17 May 2017, 12:00AM

By Associated Press  17 May 2017, 12:00AM

MEXICO CITY (AP)  Authorities say a man armed with a knife has attacked a priest inside Mexico City's cathedral.

Mexico's National Security Commission says the Monday attack was carried out by a man with French nationality. The motive for the attack was unknown.

The Rev. Miguel Angel Machorro was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Mexico City archdiocese spokesman Hugo Valdemar told local Radio Formula that the priest's life was out of danger.

Members of the Federal Protection Service charged with overseeing the sanctuary detained the assailant and turned him over to Mexico City law enforcement officials.
Dear Editor,

Just recently, the government decided to add Christianity in the Constitution to be the official religion of Samoa however, the new tax policy on pastors and on churches as planned by the Government contradicts Christianity.

When it comes to the truth and the origin of things according to Samoas foundation, the Government needs to be very careful because according to the Bible the foundation of Samoa, the imposing of tax on priests (pastors) is unnecessary; it is a wrong thing to do. Therefore the Governments new tax policy to impose tax on pastors and churches is unnecessary.

In the Old Testament (OT), the role of the tribe of Levi (Levites) of being priests (pastors) was starting from Israels departure from Egypt. The priest role was given specifically by God to the tribe of Levi (Levite) to take over because of Gods own will and because of the loyalty of Moses and Aaron (descendants of Levi) to God.

Part of that role as priest is the making of sacrifices to God from Israelites offerings. When Israel arrived and settled in Canaan, the land of Canaan became the land of Israel. The land was divided amongst the twelve tribes of Israel as their inheritance.

The tribe of Levi was not given with any lands to be inherited according to Gods plan. Therefore according to Gods plan, the descendant of Levis only inheritance is the work of God or priest. What ever the Levite earns from the work of God that is for the Levite to keep even the sacrifices for God including tithe was also given to the Levites to inherit.

The tithe is a tenth of Israels produces and earnings set apart for God. It was commanded by God. It is for Gods work and for the supporting of priests.

The priests took out the tenths from Israels sacrifices as for their sacrifices for God.

That situation is explained very clearly in the books of Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Judge, Joshua, Malachi and others. Deuteronomy 18:1-2  The priests, the Levites  all the tribes of Levi  shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and his portions.

Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as He said to them.

There was a change about the entitlement for the priest role in the New Testament (NT). That new change about the entitlement for the priest role is the fulfilling of Gods announcements to Israel as in the OT. Some of those announcements are in the books of Deuteronomy (Chapter18:15-18) and Malachi (Chapter 3:2-3, 8, 9).

Deuteronomy (Chapter18:15-18) is Gods announcement about a new prophet for Israel because Israel did not want to listen to the word of God that Moses told them in Horeb. Deuteronomy 18:15-18 The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.

Him you shall hear according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.

And the Lord said to me: What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.

Malachi (Chapter 3:2-3, 8, 9) is Gods announcement about the coming of Jesus to correct the wrongs of the Levites. Malachi 3:2-3, 8, 9 But who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when He appears?

For he is like a refiners fire and like launderers soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!

But you say, In what way have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.

Therefore the priest role in the New Testament was not given specifically anymore to the tribe of Levi. Anybody including the gentiles was entitling to become as a priest through faith in Jesus and by the acceptance of Jesus to be the salvation.

So the new entitlement for the priest role was starting from Jesus but the sacrifices or donations for the priests to inherit were not changed.

So a non-Levite priest such as Jesus or such as a Samoan priest, his inheritance is still same as the ones as explained in the OT. His inheritance is what he earns from the work of God at where ever he serves for the work of God.

Because the work of God is a continual mission until the end of this world, therefore the sacrifices or donations for the priests to inherit is still continuing and will be continuing until the end of this world.

According to the gospel in the NT in relation to sacrifice and love, Christians are free to choose or set apart any portions from their produces and earnings for sacrifices and donations. That means, the sacrifices and donations are depending on affordability.

Therefore the sacrifices and donations can be a tithe or any portions that is more or less than the tithe. However, despite of that situation about the gospel in the NT, people of other religions in Samoa and around the world have decided to use the exact portion of tithe as in the OT as their sacrifices and donations.

It is still a right thing to do if they are honest about the keeping of that exact portion from their produces and earnings for their sacrifices and donations. However, whether it is an exact portion of tithe or any other portions, there is nothing wrong about it.

They are still sacrifices or donations for the work of God and for the priests to inherit. As I mentioned before that according to Gods will, the sacrifices and donations for priests and for the work of God is Gods. It was not done because of the power or an authority of any human being.

It was commanded by God the creator of human beings. So the imposing of tax on pastors and on churches is wrong. It is stealing or robbing of Gods belongings. That is disobedience and dishonoring of God.

Furthermore, there is another interesting story in the Bible in the Book of Ezra (Chapter 7) about the king of Persia and the work of God. His name is Artaxerxes.

During Artaxerxess reign, Israel and Judah were still in captivity in Persia. He is a gentile king but he honored the God of Israel with his governments wealth. He donated his governments wealth to rebuild Jerusalem and he released the people of Israel to return to Israel.

Not only that but he also made a declaration to prevent the priests and the work of God from taxation. Our Government should also learn a lesson from that story about the king of Persia.

The nation of Persia is the second kingdom of five different kingdoms that ruled the world in the ancient times. The five kingdoms are Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and the assemblage of different small kingdoms arose from the fall of the Roman Empire after the Roman Empire got struck by Jesus and His gospel. Jesus is the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God on earth. The establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth was started from/by Jesus in Israel when Israel was under the control of Rome during the reign of Caesar.

The arrival or the presence of Jesus in Israel is the fulfilling of Gods announcements regarding a new leader like Moses for Israel and the coming of Jesus to correct the wrongs of the Levites the priests.

As a result of Jesuss presence in Israel, it causes an enormous divisiveness and tensions between people of Israel and their leaders such as the priests, the Pharisees, the Scribes and other sects.

Apart from that, there was also a great tension between Jesus himself and the Pharisees, the Scribes and other sects. Jesuss presence was so tough with those leaders because they couldnt handle Jesuss wisdom about the law, truth, righteousness and everything else including the miracles that Jesus did.

As a consequence of those situations, there were lots of people turned away from the leaders of Israel and followed Jesus. Accordingly, the leaders of Israel made plans to kill Jesus and one of those plans involves tax that was paying to Caesar as in Matthew 22:15-22.

Matthew 22:15-22 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money. So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, Whose image and inscription is this? 21 They said to Him, Caesars. And He said to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods. 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

In verse 21, Jesus said to the Pharisees to render to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods. If I explain Jesuss answer to the Pharisees in other words according to my understanding of the OT and NT is this. The government of Rome has taken out its taxes from the people of Israels earning and that is Caesars. The Pharisees as always must set apart from their earnings the sacrifices for God and that is Gods. So it seems very clearly from Jesuss answer, the things that have been commanded by God to set apart for God since Israels departure from Egypt and those things are sacrifices. That is the truth and that also is the truth about Christianity.

The other clear situation that I have been identifying from Jesuss answer to the Pharisees is the unique of the Kingdom of God. The money and currency was used by Israel during Jesuss time was Roman money and currency. So the Israels earnings are Roman monies with the image of Caesar on them.

The tenth or other portions of those money earnings are sacrifices or donations for the priests to keep and for the work of God.

That is the submission of Caesar and the kingdom of Rome under Jesuss authority and the Kingdom of God. That same situation was happening in all other nations around the world where Christians scattered to spread the gospel of God.

For that reason, our Government must not mixed up things set apart for earthly kingdoms with things set apart according to Gods command for the work of God or for the Kingdom of God.

Once someone becomes as a priest or as a servant of God, he/she leaves his/her family behind and devote his/her life to serve for the work of God at which ever areas or places he/she had the calls for.

That means when the priests left their families for the work of God, they cant take their family possessions with them for their survival. They rely on the work of God for survival. That is Gods plan and Gods will.

If they earn prosperities from the work of God, they deserve it. The Bible is also speaking about that situation about the reward for anybody who seeks first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness as in Mathew 6:25-34. However, if someone takes the pastors role for granted, that person will suffer the consequences of his/her unnecessary behavior.

So it is understandable according to the Bible, it is a Christians responsibility to provide for the pastors. Growing up as a Christian when I was young, my parents gave most of our earnings for the work of God.

They never challenges or questions anything at all. When my father gets paid on every fortnight before he passes away, he pays off our debt account at the shop and then buys himself a small Vailima.

But the first thing my father does before he goes to the shop, was putting away the money for his big Vailima; the work of God. So not only that my father obeys the command of God but also, he obeys the command of his earthly boss, my mother.

The boss always reminds everything of the church to my father. I realized lately in life when I found out the truth myself from the Bible that my parents was doing the right thing when my father was still alive and I am very proud of them about that situation.

My parents sets that great example for me and my siblings to follow even though I didnt really understand at that time when I was young and when my father was still alive about the Bible and about what was going on about all those things relate to church.

I always thank God about that important gift that He put in the hearts of my parents because that gift is an inspiration for me about the truth of God.

I believe Mr. Editor that all other families in our country; they have been through the same situation about church that I have been through. Their heart is *the work of God. That is the reason why there is nothing can stop the power of the Kingdom of God from growing when Christians donate from the heart.

I also believe Mr. Editor, that is how Christians conquered the world starting from the time of Jesus and Caesar in Israel and Rome until now days, in the time of the Holy Spirit and our Head of State in Samoa. Apart from that, the Christians were also able to conquer with the small sacrifices they had because it was commanded by God.

As we learn from the history of Christianity, there was no one can stand the power of God when God uses his power through small things to defeat big things.

Therefore if the Government cares to listen about the truth in the Bible the foundation of our country, then the Government should reconsider its new plan of imposing of tax on pastors and churches.

However, although that the Governments plan to impose tax on pastors and churches is unnecessary but the motive and the goal behind that plan are necessary and they are very important.

So may God bless the Government with some other ways in order to fulfill and achieve its goal for our country. Last but not least, the Government must also avoid taxes on other non-Christian religions in our country according to the teachings of Christianity about love.

Nanai Malonuu

Lealaiauloto Nofoaiga

Fagamalo
The joint venture between Samoa and Virgin Australia is heading for a divorce.

In a little over six months from now on 5 December 2017, Virgin Samoa, the airline formed as a result of the joint venture, will cease to exist.

This was confirmed in a letter from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi to the Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Australia Pty Ltd, John Borghetti.

Dated 12 May 2017, a copy of the letter has been obtained by the Samoa Observer.

Following numerous extensive discussions and negotiations held between V.A. and the Committee members of the Special Negotiating Team (S.N.T.), Cabinet has unanimously decided not to re-new the Joint Venture (JV), Tuilaepa wrote.

The Cabinet has decided that the current arrangements of the JV, is no longer the Direction that Government and ultimately Samoa should take at this time.

Tuilaepa acknowledged the Airlines contribution and its work in Samoa.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the excellent work we have undertaken together to date, and I do sincerely hope we can still work together in the future, he wrote.

We thank you for your services and hope we are able to do business again in the future.

As for the logistics and timeline, the Prime Minister said Cabinet has given the Airline until the end of the year.

We note the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure has extended the International Civil Aviation Licence for another five (5) months until 5 November 2017 as per Cabinet Direct FK (17)15 dated 26 April 2017.

However, we understand as per the V.A. report titled Samoa Airline JV-SNT Interim Progress Report dated 14 April 2017, that the current JV arrangements will need to be extended for up to six (6) months as a transitional measure to ensure connectivity is maintained, regardless of Governments decision.

As such, we advise that our perspective is that the JV is extended to 5 December 2017.

During that period  the terms, conditions and legal obligations of government (and all parties) under the current Shareholders Agreement for the JV we hold to be active and they remain intact.

The governments decision not to renew the joint venture doesnt surprise members of the industry. It is public knowledge that Prime Minister Tuilaepas government has been unhappy with the airlines performance for some time now. Concerns have been raised since Virgin Australia went into partnership with Air New Zealand.

Both Airlines have repeatedly downplayed the concerns.

But this has done little to allay fears about alleged collusion on airfares and other issues.

Last year, Prime Minister Tuilaepa criticised a dividend payment of $5.7million by Virgin Samoa to the government, saying it wasnt enough.

Its been two years and its been a while since the last dividend, he said.

When the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure (M.W.T.I), Papalii Niko Lee Hang, was asked for a comment last year, he said there were some problems with the joint venture.

Weve noticed that a lot of benefits are not coming straight to us, the Minister said. So thats why our government is now looking at finding our own airline.

We now have a committee working on finding us a new airline to carry our flag.

There is a great need to have our own airline. The main problem we now have with our joint venture is the money coming in. Thats why we are now looking at getting our own airline.

Polynesian Airlines has recently announced plans to revive its international flights operations. Prime Minister Tuilaepa has also revealed discussions with other major airlines  including Emirates  about flying to Samoa.

Virgin Samoa, formerly Polynesian Blue, flies between Samoa, Australia and New Zealand.

It is owned by Virgin Australia Holdings (49%) and the Government of Samoa (49%) with the remaining percentage owned by the Grey Investment Group.

In 2005 Virgin Blue Holdings signed an agreement with the government of Samoa to operate the joint venture airline. Its first flight was on 31 October 2005, between Apia, Auckland and Sydney.

Polynesian Blue was rebranded Virgin Samoa in 2011 and a new livery was unveiled for one of the Boeing 737-800s operated by Virgin Australia.

Attempts to contact the Airlines local office for a comment yesterday were unsuccessful.
The Minister of Communications and Information Technology (M.C.I.T.), Afamasaga Rico Tupai, has expressed disappointment about questions raised by the media in relation to the Tui Samoa Cable and American Samoa.

He has asked that the media refrain from seeking information on the Tui Samoa Cable, as sensitive negotiations are ongoing.

Please be patient, he said. Stop asking me questions about the commercial part of the deals. Otherwise, when they fall through, we will go back to square one.

Speaking during the Chamber of Commerces monthly meeting, the Minister blasted the Samoa Observer over a front-page story on Tuesday titled  Cable Divides Samoas. The story highlighted concerns by the American Samoa Governor, Lolo Matalasi Moliga, about the Cable and how it was presented to them.

The story agitated the Minister.

As you saw my very ugly face on the front page of Samoa Observer, we are talking to American Samoa, he said.

Im very mindful the media is here and theyve been asking me questions all weekend. Unfortunately, you have to respect, when you sign an N.D.A. (non-disclosure agreement), with your partners, you cant disclose commercial plans.

I ask you all, whoever is in the media thats here, even the private sector, if we can just be patient for a little while. As I go through the discussions, you will find we are on a very critical path in terms of deals. Securing deals with our overseas partners.

The Minister said Samoa has a lot to lose if these deals fall through.

If we disclose the commercial parts of these deals, theres a very big risk that these discussions can fall out and then were back to square one.

All of these discussions are ongoing at the moment and moving very fast.

The Samoa Submarine Cable Company and government are working hand in hand and we are operating in a very small window of opportunity, a very tiny window of opportunity that we are jumping in at the moment.

The Minister also said the government had failed to submit a bid for a maintenance vessel on time because of interruptions in the media.

A little while ago, there was supposed to be a Cable ship offloading in our wharf, he said. Thats not happening. Unfortunately, theyve decided to take it back to New Caledonia for their offloading.

As part of the Cable coming, were also trying to attract over the maintenance vessel. There is a company called the Submarine Cable Maintenance for the Pacific. There is a contract for ten years and the contract is up while they are in New Caledonia.

We are attracting them. Were working hard with government and all other stakeholders, the Samoa Submarine Cable and Samoa Ports Authority to put together an offer.

We passed the time when we had no offer because of all the interruptions that were in the media about the off loading of the Cable at the wharf.

Afamasaga explained that Samoa has been granted another opportunity to submit a bid, which they are working on.

Fortunately, weve been granted another time frame for submissions. We have now until the end of the month of May to submit another offer, he said.

He highlighted the benefits that having the maintenance vessel docked in Samoa will bring to the country.

I can tell you when this boat comes to Samoa, it will be here for five years plus, its a ten year contract were looking for. It brings to Samoa an equivalent of three million U.S. dollars to our economy in terms of berthing lease.

Were going to build a warehouse at the wharf to house all the spare parts of cables.

Benefits to us is the funds injected into our economy. One other benefit is that were going to have all this warehouse to house all the submarine cable spare parts.

This is biggest benefit, its that if something goes wrong with the cable in Tuasivi or somewhere past Savaii we only pay for the boat to come from here to the part where the service is interrupted.

Currently, if we have the cable and the boat still anchors New Caledonia or Fiji or Hawaii, if something goes wrong with the cable, we have to pay for the boat to come from New Caledonia to fix our cable. Not only will there be a delay but it will be very costly for us. When that costs us, it affects the bottom line and thats you.
Qualcomm filed a breach of contract lawsuit late Tuesday against four Taiwanese contract manufacturers that build iPhones and iPads for Apple  the latest salvo in an escalating war between two tech giants over patent royalties.

Qualcomms court action is in response to Apples steps last month to block its contract manufacturers from paying Qualcomm for use of its cellular patents in iPhones and iPads.

Apple is definitely behind this, and certainly what the contract manufacturers would say is the reason they are not paying, said Don Rosenberg, Qualcomms general counsel. Our response to that is you are big, sophisticated companies. You have contractual obligations. You have license agreements with us that dont involve Apple. You are responsible for paying that.

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The lawsuit falls short of more drastic moves that media outlets speculated Qualcomm would pursue against Apple  including seeking to ban imports of iPhones and iPads into the U.S.

Last week, Bloomberg reported Qualcomm would ask the U.S. International Trade Commission to issue an injunction prohibiting iPhone imports, citing sources familiar with the companys plans. The story was widely repeated.

Rosenberg declined to comment on why Qualcomm chose a lawsuit in San Diego Federal Court against Apples contract manufacturers rather than going to the U.S. International Trade Commission to bar iPhone imports.

We dont like suing our licensees, said Rosenberg, noting that in the past decade the company has brought just one patent infringement case against a smartphone maker. And we wont unless we are really put in a corner and forced to do that, and we are forced to do that here.

The lawsuit names iPhone/iPad assemblers Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., known as Foxconn: Pegatron Corp.; Wistron Corp.; and Compal Electronics  all based in Taiwan but with manufacturing operations in China and elsewhere.

All have long-standing patent license agreements with Qualcomm and continue to pay patent royalties to Qualcomm on smartphones and tablets that they make for other companies besides Apple, said Rosenberg.

The lawsuit seeks unpaid royalties of at least $1 billion and damages, as well as attorney fees and other costs.

What they are saying is Apple is not paying us, so we are not paying you, and Apple has told us not to pay you, said Rosenberg. And we said, that is interesting, but that is between you and Apple.

He continued, Presumably you have a contract with Apple. You ought to go enforce that contract against Apple. I hope they take that action.

Over the past eight months, Qualcomms patent licensing business has been under fierce attack by anti-monopoly regulators and technology giants including Apple, Samsung and Intel.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission fined Qualcomm more than $850 million and seeks to dismantle the way it licenses its patents. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued Qualcomm in January over similar grounds, and Samsung and Intel have filed friend of the court briefs supporting the FTCs case.

Apple joined the assault shortly after the FTC and perhaps has been the most aggressive in maneuvers against Qualcomm, which believes that Apple is behind a global attack on the company.

It is a complicated dispute. Apple reimburses Foxconn and the other contract manufacturers for patent royalties owed to Qualcomm.

Early this year, it withheld $1 billion in reimbursements on the grounds that Qualcomm had reneged on a separate royalty rebate agreement with Apple in retaliation for Apples cooperation with anti-trust regulators.

Then last month, Apple quit reimbursing Foxconn and the others altogether for Qualcomm patent royalties  claiming it couldnt pay until the dispute was resolved.

As a result, Qualcomm slashed its financial forecast for the year.

Qualcomm pioneered a good portion of 3G/4G cellular radio technology and holds thousands of patents on its inventions. Its technology is inside nearly every smartphone.

The company licenses patents based on the price of the entire device, and it has agreed to provide certain patents under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms because they are included in wireless industry standards.

Qualcomms royalties top out at 5 percent of the device price, but typically come in lower depending on each licensing agreement negotiated with handset makers..

Apple and regulators claim Qualcomm abuses its market power to overcharge for standard-essential patents and block competition. They are pushing for patent royalties based on the cost of the cellular modem chip instead of the entire phone, and they want Qualcomm to agree to license not only smartphone makers but also rival chip outfits such as Intel and Samsung.

Asked about Qualcomms latest lawsuits, Apple referred to comments that Chief Executive Tim Cook made during the company recent first quarter earning conference call.

"The reason that were pursuing this is that Qualcomms trying to charge Apple a percentage of the total iPhone value, said Cook. And they do some really great work around standards-essential patents, but its one small part of what an iPhone is. Its not  it has nothing do with the display or the Touch ID or a gazillion other innovations that Apple has done. And so we dont think thats right, and so were taking a principled stand on it.

Qualcomm has counter-sued Apple, is appealing the Korea Fair Trade Commission decision and has asked a Northern California federal judge to dismiss the FTC case. A hearing on the dismissal motion is slated for mid-June.

ALSO:

Samsung sides with FTC in anti-trust case against Qualcomm

Apples lawsuit against Qualcomm signals escalating war on business model

Under Trump administration, FTC lawsuit against Qualcomm could disappear

Qualcomm faces FTC lawsuit over patent licensing

Qualcomm slapped with $865 million fine from S. Korea regulator

Qualcomm to pay $975 million in China probe

Business

mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com;

Twitter:@TechDiego

760-529-4973
The little girl, just 8, had been stabbed more than two dozen times in her San Marcos apartment. Barely alive, she was found next to her mother, who had not survived the attack.

The child spent the next week in a medically induced coma. When she awoke  on Christmas Day 2012  Cathy McLennan was at her bedside. McLennan, a forensic interviewer specializing in child victims, had spent the morning there, called in by a prosecutor hoping the girl would share her story.

Didnt seem likely it would happen that day.

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She was really sleepy, McLennan recalled. It didnt look like she was going to talk to me.

McLennan stepped away, ready to leave the room. Then a small voice came from behind her: I know who did it.

McLennan is a nationally recognized forensic interviewing expert who for years ran the Forensic Health Services program in Escondido. For more than three decades, her nondescript offices on Fig Street have been the first stop for law enforcement officers when they encounter a child victim of violence or abuse of any kind.

Now, after 33 years of interviewing more than 3,000 child victims, hearing stories of neglect, beatings or molestation, McLennan is stepping into retirement.

I know everybody thinks it is a horrible job, because it is sad, she said. It is sad, but it was not a horrible job.

McLennan spent her professional life connecting with children at the lowest points of their lives. Her job isnt to counsel, but to gather victims stories. What the children say to her  typically in a small room with a one-way mirror  lands in police reports and court files, and sometimes in front of juries.

With her patient and calming presence, children open up to her, sometimes disclosing sexual abuse they have long kept secret.

I am not just observing their agony, she said. I hope that if I do a good job here, and it goes to court, I have helped that child. That has kind of sustained me, I was doing something.

In the mid-1980s, she was a social worker at Palomar Medical Center when she was recruited for a new program at the hospital.

She has since interviewed child victims in some of North Countys most notable crimes, including the shooting at Kelly Elementary School in October 2010.

In that case, a mentally ill man jumped the fence and opened fire on second-graders on the playground, striking two girls. (Both were hit in the arm, and survived.)

Within days, McLennan and her colleague Christina Shultz took the unusual step of going to the campus  usually the kids come to them in Escondido  and interviewing about 50 child witnesses, to gather information in the case against the shooter.

The kids  many of whom had not opened up to their parents  were so anxious to talk about what they saw, McLennan said.

She was amazed at the detail in their stories  information that made it into trial, like the testimony from one boy who heard nearby bangs and pops as he hung from a jungle gym.

Shultz, who is now the supervisor at the center, credits McLennan with teaching her the finer points, the ability to keep quiet, be patient and let a child speak. Shultz said shes been inspired by McLennans connection with children and her honest relationships with law enforcement. Its a tough act to follow.

If you ask me what I want to be when I grow up  I want to be Cathy McLennan, she said.

Police and prosecutors are equally impressed. Chief Deputy District Attorney Summer Stephan has long worked with McLennan, including on the Kelly shooting, and calls her one of my favorite people.

Cathy McLennan is in a class of her own when it comes to giving a voice to children, especially children who have been harmed by someone, Stephan said. She has a special talent to gain the childs trust, and get them to open up, but also the ability to explain it to a jury so it all makes sense.

For all the forensic centers good works, budget woes threatened to shut it down four years ago. The normally publicity-shy McLennan joined others to rally donors to keep the doors open. In the time since, the center has struck deals that will expand their services across the region.

Ironically, from the ashes it rises, McLennan said.

Not unlike the child victims she helps. The little girl who McLennan interviewed in a hospital bed more than four years ago was able to identify the killer  an acquaintance of her mother.

The girl said she woke to find him stabbing her mom, and when she tried to intervene, hed turned the knife on her.

Authorities had already arrested him before the child spoke to McLennan, but the girls statement bolstered the case. Months later, when the killer  whod pleaded guilty  was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison, the young survivor was in court to watch it.

With her retirement, McLennan is taking a breather, spending time with her husband  I married my best friend  and traveling a bit. But look for her to keep working for the welfare of kids.

I will figure out something to do that involves children, she said. I just think kids are so pure.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
A walking tour through the historical downtown area of Rancho Santa Fe is set for Saturday.

The guided tour, A Walk through The Village of Rancho Santa Fe, will feature nine buildings, with receptions at the Inn of Rancho Santa Fe and La Flecha House.

The tour will focus on urban design and the architectural contributions of Lilian J. Rice, master architect for the plan of Rancho Santa Fe Village and downtown.

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Rice, who was born in National City, was one of the first women to earn a degree in architecture from the University of California Berkeley in 1910 and was one of the first woman in San Diego to be licensed as an architect.

The tour will highlight architectural design elements, influences, details and materials that Rice used when she designed the village, primarily in the 1920s, with the goal of creating the quiet serenity of a Spanish village.

Rices building designs were Influenced by the areas original Osuna Mexican adobes along with her travels to countries such as Spain, Mexico, Cuba and her appreciation of outdoor living.

The tour is hosted by the American Institute of Architects & Women In Architecture, Palomar Chapter, and will be led by Vonn Marie May, curator for the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society and author of Images of America, Rancho Santa Fe.

A tour preview will begin at 11 a.m. with a display of the history and background of Rancho Santa Fe, including artifacts and curated museum displays, at the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society in the courtyard of La Flecha House 6036 La Flecha. The tour is slated to begin at noon.

The tour is followed by a post tour social with a recounting of the history of the Hunts Club and the Santa Fe Hunt at the Inn of Rancho Santa Fe designed by Rice and built in 1922.

Tickets: $30 online in advance; $35 at door; students (with valid ID) $15 or $18 at door. Proceeds benefit the Women In Architecture, A Committee of The American Institute of Architects, Palomar Chapter. For tickets and reservations, visit www.AIAPalomar.org/event/WIASpringTour/
Wild Wonders wildlife education center in Bonsall is holding a community outreach event Friday for Endangered Species Day.

The 10-acre ranch is home to more than 100 animals ranging from armadillos, cheetahs and wallabies to Siberian lynx, kookaburra and alligators.

The ranch offers a variety of animal education programs, including a rainforest program and African program. Many of its animals serve as ambassadors on its Big Backyard North American Wildlife Education Program. The ranch was opened in 1991 by wildlife biologist Jackie Navarro, who previously worked as an educator at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

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Fridays event will feature animal encounters and will highlight the binturong, or bear cat, from Southeast Asia, which is facing threats such as deforestation, hunting and pet trade.

A portion of the event proceeds will be donated to the Arctictus Binturong Conservation, a group focused on protecting binturongs.

Other festivities planned at the outreach event include Thai dancers and Asian crafts for sale. Southeast Asian food will be served.

The event is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Wild Wonders, 5712 Via Montellano.

Tickets: $55.

Visit wildwonders.org
Ana Estevezs 5-year-old son recently asked whether the happiest day of her life was when he was born. She told him it was the best day ever.

Now she holds out hope that the next best day of her life will be when her boy returns home.

It has been 32 days [and] almost three hours since I last hugged my son, kissed him or told him how much I love him, she said Wednesday during a news conference where authorities asked for the publics help for information regarding the childs disappearance.

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 A $20,000 reward is offered for information about missing 5-year old Aramazd Andressian Jr.

Estevez reported her son  Aramazd Andressian Jr., also known as Piqui  missing April 22 after her estranged husband failed to show up for a planned custody exchange in San Marino.

Since then, multiple law enforcement agencies have scoured land from Santa Barbara County to South Pasadena in search of the child. Authorities are hoping a $20,000 reward for information will inspire someone to come forward with clues. There is also a GoFundMe account to supplement the reward.

The boys father, Aramazd Andressian Sr., 35, had been found unconscious April 22 about 6:30 a.m. in Arroyo Park in South Pasadena without the child and was briefly hospitalized. Authorities said he had taken prescription drugs that were not his.

The father has given inconsistent and misleading statements to authorities, said Lt. Joe Mendoza with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Andressian was briefly held on charges of child endangerment and child abduction, then released because of insufficient evidence. He has hired a lawyer and has refused to speak with investigators, giving only a written statement provided by his attorney, Mendoza said.

On Wednesday, Mendoza said that the father is a person of interest in the case. It is unknown if others are involved, but Mendoza said investigators are keeping an open mind.

Aramazd was last seen alive about 1 a.m. on April 21 after leaving Disneyland with his father and other relatives, authorities said. Investigators also believe Andressian visited the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area with Aramazd before the child was reported missing, but there were no confirmed sightings of the boy. Witnesses told authorities they saw the father there alone.

The next day, the father was found unconscious with injuries, including abrasions to his arms and a cut on his head. Investigators are looking into whether the injuries were self-inflicted. His car, a gray BMW, had been doused with gasoline.

Hes been deceitful since the very beginning, said Sheriffs Det. Louie Aguilera, the lead investigator on the case. Aguilera said fire personnel who responded to the park that morning said Andressian was deliberately unresponsive.

On Wednesday, the childs mother addressed the media for the first time since the disappearance. She said the last time she saw her son was via a Skype video call on April 18. She said that she is heartbroken.

My sons disappearance is my worst nightmare, she said, adding that she believes Aramazd is still alive. She told her son to be brave and that she loves him.

I am counting the days when I will see you again, Honey, she said. And I will never stop looking for you.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriffs Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

nicole.santacruz@latimes.com

For more crime news, follow @nicolesantacruz on Twitter.
In a rare move, both the captain and executive officer of the San Diego-based warship Anchorage were fired Tuesday after a loss of confidence in their ability to effectively lead and carry out assigned duties, according to the Navy.

Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, commander of Navy Surface Forces, relieved Capt. Jeff Jenny Craig and his second-in-command, Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Johnson. He appointed Capt. Tom Workman, director of the Littoral Combat Ship Implementation Team, to lead the Anchorages crew until permanent replacements can be selected.

The dismissals stemmed from maintenance problems found in the Anchorages propulsion system during a March inspection. Commissioned in 2013 in Alaska, the seventh San Antonio-class landing dock vessel sustained no damage to its engine or other vital components, but reviews by Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and Naval Surface Forces uncovered widespread improper procedural compliance throughout the warship, according to Navy spokesman Cmdr. John Perkins.

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Our commanding officers and their executive officers must maintain the highest standards of accountability, and their commanders must have confidence in their ability to lead, Perkins said.

Attempts to contact Craig and Johnson for this story were unsuccessful.

A career pilot decorated for combat valor, Craig took command of the Anchorage on Dec. 16. During his 24 years in uniform, Craig served as a pilot of the EA-6B Prowler and an instructor at Electronic Attack Weapons School before rising to become the executive officer of Electronic Attack Squadron 132.

In late 2010, he led the Scorpions in the first operational deployment of an EA-18G Growler. They returned from the eight-month tour on July 12, 2011, with Craig having led the squadron in the skies over Iraq and Libya. His Scorpions flew more than 700 missions and maintained a 100 percent sortie accomplishment rate, according to the Navy.

A graduate of the Navys Nuclear Power Program, Craig, 46, served aboard the carrier Theodore Roosevelt as the flattops executive officer before taking the helm of the Anchorage five months ago. His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with a Combat V for valor and the Strike Flight Air Medal.

Johnson, 38, is a career Surface Warfare Officer with extensive sea duty aboard the dock landing ships Carter Hall and Germantown before coming aboard the Anchorage 12 months ago.

The Anchorage underwent extensive maintenance after returning to San Diego in late 2015 from a seven-month deployment. In February, the Anchorage served as the flagship for Exercise Iron Fist, annual war games conducted by the Marine Corps and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.

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cprine@sduniontribune.com
In February 1991, Marine Capt. Eddie Ray and his troops faced down a vastly larger enemy force during an intense battle of the Persian Gulf War.

According to a military medal citation for Ray, his courage, composure under fire and aggressive war-fighting spirit earned him the Navy Cross, the United States second-highest honor for combat valor.

A quarter of a century later, Ray prefers to dwell on the bravery of the Marines who served with him during that mission.

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When (the Navy Cross) was ... awarded, all I could think about was all the other people who really made it possible, said Ray, now 62 and living in South Carolina. We operated as a team. All our training, all our preparation  everything we did seemed to come together at the right time.

The buildup to the war began in August 1990 with Operation Desert Shield and a coalition of 34 countries that joined to condemn Iraqs invasion of Kuwait and to prevent further aggression.

The war itself began in January 1991 and was mostly fought from the air.

By late February, however, with American units in Saudi Arabia under nearly constant Iraqi artillery fire, troops from the 1st and 2nd Marine divisions and the 1st Light Armored Infantry Battalion crossed into Kuwait and headed toward Kuwait City.

The following day, Feb. 25, 1991, Ray demonstrated extraordinary heroism when elements of the 1st Marine Division faced a counterattack from an Iraqi mechanized division near the Burgan Oil Fields, according to the Navy Cross citation.

He led his light armored vehicle division in rapid attacks against the enemy. He and his troops withstood massive amounts of enemy fire to defend their position. The division succeeded in defeating two Iraqi counterattacks.

I was just focused on what we needed to do next, Ray said. That doesnt leave time to be afraid. The main priority is to survive, and the only way to survive is to defeat the enemy.

He would eventually serve 30 years in the Marine Corps, rising to the rank of colonel, before retiring in 2008.

Ray said a long military career wasnt what he initially envisioned when he enlisted and then underwent training at places such as Camp Pendleton. For years, he thought each promotion would be his last. But he continued to rise through the ranks.

My experience in the military has influenced me in the direction of human rights more than I would ever have thought it would, Ray said. When I first came in, human rights seemed like a tree-hugger kind of thing. But now I see what an effect it can have.

He works with the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, whose stated mission is supporting strategic investments to elevate development and diplomacy alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.

Ray said: When theres a natural disaster or some other major problem around the world, if the United States can get there and provide aid, it wins friends, it prevents wars and it is money well spent.

I spent a lot of years destroying stuff, and sometimes thats necessary. But when you dont have to, and when you can leave things a little bit better, thats always a good thing, he added.

After retiring from the Corps, Ray was briefly the security director for a nuclear facility. He also returned to Iraq for a few years to work in the private sector.

Looking ahead, he has been accepted into a masters degree program at Emory University and plans to study international law.

And Ray serves on the board of Veterans & Athletes United, a nonprofit group founded by his friend and Army vet James Howard, who became a quadriplegic because of an improvised explosive device that went off.

Marshall is a freelance writer.
Lebowski Fest is striking NYC again this summer after skipping town for the past few years. (It wasn't kidnapped, just visiting friends in Palm Springs.) The oddball celebration of the Coen brothers classic 1998 stoner noir comedy will go down on the weekend of August 3rd and 4th. Brandt will fill you in on the details (from the press release):

Aug. 3rd - Movie Party - Special "silent screening" of The Big Lebowski where everyone gets a set of headphones to watch the film! This outdoor screening of the film is part of the Lincoln Center Out of Doors series and is absolutely free! @ Damrosch Park - 62nd Street (Between Amsterdam and Columbus Ave) - 10:30pm - Free!



Aug. 4th - Bowling Party - Unlimited bowling, costume contest, trivia contest and what-have-you. Admission includes bowling and shoe rental. Bowling is general admission and is not guaranteed. @ Lucky Strike Manhattan - 624-660 W 42nd St - 8pm to Midnight - $30 adv / $35 day of

The silent film screening, which will no doubt attract a crowd of Lebowski urban achievers chanting the movie dialogue in real time like the lead-up to a human sacrifice, sounds far f-cking out. And it's free. And we know that this is your homework. Tickets for the bowling and costume party go on sale here this Friday, May 19th at 10 a.m.

Will Russell co-founded Lebowski Fest with buddy Scott Shuffitt in Louisville, Kentucky back in 2002, holding the first gathering in a bowling alley as an informal joke shared by a small group of folks who realized they loved quoting the eminently quotable filmwhich at the time, let's not forget dude, let's not forget, was hardly the cult classic it is today. Now in its 16th year, the fest has grown into a recurring multi-city extravaganza, attracting thousands of fans of the film, and sometimes its stars as well. Russell went through a bit of a rough patch in his personal life not too long ago, and some of the Lebowski festivities were put on hold as a result, so we're glad to see him rolling his way into the the semis again. Dios mio, man.



You said it, man. Nobody fucks with the Jesus. (Katie Sokoler / Gothamist)
People often call Rep. Scott Peters office with a question that doesnt have a good answer: How do I get a space in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery?

The bad news is not really new. You basically cant.

The iconic cemetery in Point Loma has been closed to new casket burials since 1966, and the last open niche for ashes was filled in 2014. Essentially, the only spots left are for the spouses of military veterans already laid to rest there, as well as the infrequent case of a predesignated slot being given up.

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Federal officials plan to hold an unusual open house Saturday to market the high points of whats probably some peoples Plan B: Miramar National Cemetery.

Were really trying to encourage people to look at Miramar, said MaryAnne Pintar, district chief of staff for Peters, a San Diego Democrat whose district includes both properties.

In an extra flourish, there will be free public shuttle buses running Saturday to show off the cemeterys 313 rolling acres at the west end of Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.

Now its Miramars turn. We want to show them the beauty of the cemetery and the possibility of the expansion, said Rex Kern, director of both installations. I know that we dont have ocean views like we do at Rosecrans, but this is also a very beautiful, natural, desert-type environment.

Miramar National Cemetery community open house

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego

The Miramar cemetery opened in 2010 following a determined campaign by veterans in San Diego County. Proponents didnt relish driving to Riverside, the nearest open national cemetery, to bury their veteran friends and loved ones.

Now more than 2,600 people a year are laid to rest at Miramar, making it the 14th busiest site in the National Cemetery Administration portfolio.

1 / 6 Total interments in 2016: 8,518 (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 6 Total interments in 2016: 5,801 (Zack Seckler / Chicago Tribune) 3 / 6 Total interments in 2016: 4,282 (DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / Associated Press) 4 / 6 Total interments in 2016: 4,204 (Tom Fox / AP) 5 / 6 Total interments in 2016: 4,045 (Bob Owen / AP) 6 / 6 Total interments in 2016 at Fort Rosecrans Complex, which comprises the Fort Rosecrans and Miramar national cemeteries: 3,680 (breakdown is 2,651 at Miramar and 1,029 at Fort Rosecrans). (John Gastaldo / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Historic Fort Rosecrans is not the only closed cemetery that some people hanker for.

San Francisco National Cemetery, at the Presidio with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, probably tops the list, according to the anecdotal experience of VA regional and national officials with knowledge of the publics phone-call requests.

Close behind it is Golden Gate National Cemetery, which is on the peninsula south of San Francisco.

The most sought-after burial ground used to be the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, also known as Punchbowl. Its located within a volcanos crater just outside downtown Honolulu.

However, the VA built new walls with niches for ashes, providing some relief for the demand there.

Fort Rosecrans officials did the same thing at the Point Loma property  and it worked for awhile.

After Miramar opened to casket burials in April 2011, VA officials in Washington chose to abandon a plan to build more walls for ashes at Fort Rosecrans.

Some San Diego veterans have expressed dismay since the decision was disclosed in 2013. Despite letters sent by the public to local congressional offices, the VA did not reverse its decision.

So today, veterans in San Diego County are asked to get used to the idea of Miramar. And the new cemetery certainly has its fans.

Those supporters said the property that once resembled a dirt parking lot has grown into a more polished, serene destination. They cite the spare beauty of rolling hills covered in natural California plants, with succulents accenting the landscaping. A new 30-foot bell tower plays patriotic music throughout the day and rings the hour.

Its the only national cemetery with an avenue of flags that stays up around the clock, VA officials said.

Marine Corps F/A-18 jets, Osprey helicopters and other naval hardware rumble by overhead, the power of their engines sometimes forcing a break in conversation. As the joke goes, everyone at Miramar gets a flyover.

And, importantly, theres a sense of camaraderie among the frequent visitors  something that Fort Rosecrans doesnt have, observers said.

Its because these mourners share fresh grief. In most cases, their loved ones have died only in the past decade.

There a feeling of family here, said Kathy Bruyere, a retired Navy captain who volunteers at the Miramar information desk. Her husband, Tom, is buried under a section of headstones not far from the office.

A handful of people  a little more than 1,000 in 2016  are still interred at Rosecrans each year. Largely, they are spouses of the dead already placed there, who will join their loved one in a grave or niche.

In a few cases, people surrender their slots for various reasons, thereby creating newly available spaces. Thats how Navy SEAL Charles Keating IV, who was killed in Iraq in May 2016, came to be buried at Fort Rosecrans last year, VA cemetery officials said.

Otherwise, theres no waiting list or some other way to place a reservation for these surrendered plots.

In the recent past, VA leaders have found a place at Fort Rosecrans for troops killed in action, a final measure of respect despite the longtime closure.

Kern said this week that it cant happen anymore.

The message is that Rosecrans is closed for all new interments, and that if the family wants burial at a national cemetery, Miramar is where they will have to go from here on out. This includes any future active-duty or KIA burials, Kern said this week.

We just do not have the space available.

Military Videos  On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France  at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal

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Los Angeles first gave civilians a say in disciplining police officers during a time of crisis.

The city was reeling from the grainy video showing the pummeling of Rodney King, the acquittals of the four officers who carried out the beating and the riot that followed. Adding a civilian voice to the disciplinary process was proposed as an essential check against lenient decisions made in a department that often rejected complaints of excessive force.

Some LAPD officers bristled at the idea of outsiders judging their actions. But voters overwhelmingly chose to put a civilian on the three-person Board of Rights panels that decide the fate of officers facing termination or lengthy suspensions.

Twenty-five years later, Los Angeles voters on Tuesday approved an expansion of civilian influence over police discipline that was proposed under sharply different circumstances.

This time, it was the police officers union pushing for the change, believing more civilian involvement was better for officers than being judged by other cops.

Charter Amendment C allows officers to have their cases heard by all-civilian boards, an option long sought by the union representing the LAPDs rank-and-file amid complaints that the chief could unfairly influence a panels sworn officers.

Its a remarkable turnaround in the decades-old debate over how to discipline L.A.s police officers. In 1992, it was police reformers calling for more civilian oversight, believing outsiders would be more likely to hold cops accountable. But now, many department critics oppose the change, arguing that civilians have turned out to be more lenient in deciding discipline.

With Charter Amendment Cs approval, the stakes are high. How officers are held accountable for their actions has become a focal point in the national debate about law enforcement, drawing extra scrutiny after high-profile police shootings. In L.A., the Police Commission is making a push to reduce shootings by officers and now takes into account whether officers did everything they could to avoid pulling the trigger when deciding whether a shooting was justified.

The reason for more civilian oversight in 1992 was the belief that civilians were going to be tougher on officers, said Richard Drooyan, a former Police Commission president who served as an attorney to the panel that investigated Kings beating and on another that reviewed the subsequent Rampart scandal. More civilian oversight may swing the disciplinary pendulum in a different direction.

The measures impact, Drooyan said, will largely be determined by how tough the civilian panelists are on accused officers. It also depends, he said, on how those civilians are selected, who they are and what sort of experience they have.

Charter Amendment C marks the latest attempt to revamp a disciplinary system that has long been accused of being too soft or unfairly harsh toward officers  and sometimes faced both accusations from different groups at the same time.

An era of corruption in the LAPD

The 1933 election of Frank Shaw as the citys mayor effectively left the Police Department under the control of his brother, who sold jobs and promotions while strengthening relationships with L.A.s seedy underbelly. Vice officers offered prostitution and gambling rings advance warnings about raids for a price. One madam notoriously kept chilled champagne and Russian caviar on hand for the officers when they arrived.

A police lieutenant named William Parker  who later would become one of the most influential and controversial chiefs in the LAPDs history  worried that city-endorsed corruption left officers vulnerable to being fired if they insisted on following the law.

Parker proposed a disciplinary system that resembled a military tribunal to better protect police jobs. The police chief could not fire an officer at will; instead, his attempt to do so would be reviewed by a panel of three high-ranking officers, who would come up with their own recommendation after hearing the evidence against an accused officer. The chief could reduce the panels proposed penalty, but not increase it.

In 1934, voters narrowly passed an amendment  by 676 votes  to the City Charter creating the disciplinary boards. In the same election, voters shot down a proposal to allow Sunday dances at dance halls.

Decades later, the boards would come under fire for doling out lax punishments to officers found guilty of using excessive force or other serious misconduct.

Rodney Kings beating launches change

The 1991 beating of King once again focused the citys attention on how its police department handled misconduct.

A commission led by diplomat Warren Christopher produced a blistering, 228-page report that found that the LAPD often ignored complaints about officers. When the agency did investigate, the report said, the vast majority of inquiries into accusations of excessive force and other misconduct sided in favor of officers. Out of 2,152 allegations of excessive force made during a four-year period, only 42 were upheld.

The current system of discipline does not work, the commission wrote.

Warren Christopher, left, hands a copy of the Christopher Commission report to then-LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates. (Rick Meyer / Los Angeles Times) (Los Angeles Times)

To address some of those concerns, the commission proposed expanding civilian oversight of discipline.

Although the police chief was responsible for imposing punishments, the civilian members of the Police Commission should be able to oversee the disciplinary process and hold the chief accountable for his decisions, the report said. For the most serious cases heard by a Board of Rights, the Christopher Commission suggested that making one of the three panelists a civilian would bring a detached perspective and a more rigorous review of the evidence.

Less than a year later, L.A. voters overwhelmingly passed Charter Amendment F, a police reform effort inspired by some of the Christopher Commissions findings. Since then, the three-person Board of Rights panels have been made up of two high-ranking officers and one civilian.

Hired by the Police Commission and paid for their work, the civilians must have at least seven years of experience in arbitration-like work. Most are attorneys or professional arbitrators.

A new scandal and new focus on officer behavior

The Christopher Commission urged the LAPD to take minor misconduct seriously, listen to residents complaints about officers and better track accusations levied against cops.

Bernard C. Parks, the veteran insider appointed as chief in 1997, embraced the approach. Parks reformed discipline to ensure that all complaints were documented and investigated, no matter how small.

The number of complaints exploded. By 2002, nearly 6,000 complaint investigations were initiated annually in the 9,000-officer force, with penalties affecting, on average, almost 1 out of every 3 officers.

Parks said his method could help improve trust in police by showing residents the department was listening to their concerns.

Bernard C. Parks receives a salute from officers as he is formally sworn in as the LAPDs chief in 1997. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) (CC Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The changes coincided with another scandal that engulfed the department. Accusations that officers in the Rampart Division had beaten suspects, planted evidence, stolen drugs and lied under oath inspired a fresh look at how officers behaved.

But opponents said Parks system went too far, investigating officers for what they considered to be frivolous complaints, such as being discourteous or leaving a shift early. Some civil liberties advocates wondered whether the LAPD was too focused on minor misconduct instead of more serious problems.

Accounting for public complaints, including those that do not necessarily amount to misconduct, can raise the department's credibility with the public.  September 1998 newsletter from Chief Bernard Parks' office to LAPD rank-and-file

Most of the complaints involved allegations of minor wrongdoing, ending with nothing more than an admonition as punishment. Relatively few rose to the level of a Board of Rights. In 2001, a year before Parks was denied a second term as chief, the board heard 226 cases out of thousands investigated; 32 officers were fired.

Still, when disciplinary cases did go before the boards, some officers accused Parks of trying to influence the outcome of the hearings, saying commanders on the boards could be intimidated by the chief.

The unions suggestion? Add more civilians to the boards.

Police Chief William J. Bratton looks at Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa during a 2007 news conference at City Hall. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

2002-2009

The Bratton years

William J. Brattons seven-year tenure as L.A.s police chief saw increased scrutiny of the Board of Rights process, particularly after high-profile cases in which disciplinary panels let officers accused of misconduct go unpunished.

Perhaps the most controversial example came in 2003, when a disciplinary board determined that an LAPD officer was justified in shooting a mentally ill homeless woman brandishing a screwdriver. The 1999 killing of Margaret Mitchell had sparked protests and accusations of excessive force.

Though Parks, who was chief when Mitchell was killed, said he believed the shooting fell within LAPD policy, the Police Commission disagreed, ruling in a 3-2 vote that the officer violated department rules and should face discipline.

A Board of Rights, however, decided that the officer had acted properly and would not face disciplinary action.

The cold, hard reality of Los Angeles is that as chief of police, I lack the necessary ability to control and impose discipline on my staff.  then-LAPD Chief William J. Bratton, in a 2003 column published by The Times

Because LAPD chiefs cannot increase a penalty suggested by a disciplinary board, Brattons hands were tied. He and the Police Commissions president called for an overhaul to the disciplinary system, one that Bratton said should put more power in the hands of the chief.

The cold, hard reality of Los Angeles is that as chief of police, I lack the necessary ability to control and impose discipline on my staff, Bratton wrote in a column published in The Times.

Four years later, a disciplinary panel decided not to punish an LAPD officer in another controversial shooting: the killing of 13-year-old Devin Brown. The Police Commission and Bratton split on whether the officer was justified in shooting the boy, who police said tried to back a stolen car into the officer. Bratton said the shooting fell within policy, but the commission determined it did not.

A Board of Rights decision to clear the cop prompted outcry.

Bratton said he supported the ruling, but days later called for greater public access to disciplinary hearings. The Board of Rights hearings had been closed to the public after the state Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that information about discipline was confidential under state laws protecting police privacy.

A changing philosophy and more controversy

Beginning under Bratton and continuing after Charlie Beck became chief in 2009, the LAPD embarked on a new, unconventional way of handling misbehavior by officers that focused on changing the way they thought and acted.

Some officers who previously would have faced suspension were now given warnings known as conditional official reprimands. An officer who received such a reprimand was warned that repeat behavior would result in a harsh penalty  and potentially, termination.

When weighing officer misconduct, Beck said he looks at whether the officers actions were what he considers a mistake of the heart or a mistake of the mind. Mistakes of the mind are accidents that can be fixed through training, he said. But intentional acts, he believes, those mistakes of the heart, represent qualities he does not want in his police officers.

To me, its very much about why does somebody do something wrong, Beck said in a recent interview.

The reprimands, however, raised eyebrows among some police commissioners, who worried the department was too lenient on officers accused of serious misconduct. Other cases also prompted questions from commissioners, including one involving a well-connected officer.

Beck had spared the career of Officer Shaun Hillmann after he was recorded uttering a racial slur during an off-duty confrontation outside a Norco bar. A Board of Rights panel said the officer should be fired, but Beck disagreed, suspending Hillmann for 65 days instead.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck appears at a 2015 graduation ceremony for new LAPD officers. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

In 2013, the LAPD began surveying officers about their views of the disciplinary system. The review was initiated after Christopher Dorner, a former LAPD officer, accused the department of unfairly firing him and went on a retaliatory rampage, killing four people and wounding several others.

Though Dorners actions were widely condemned  and an internal review later concluded the unanimous decision by a Board of Rights to fire him was just  his complaints about the disciplinary system resonated with many officers who also believed the process was not fair.

The department has tried to make some adjustments. It stopped using the controversial reprimands. And last year, it adopted new guidelines that spelled out punishments officers could face for various offenses.

But for the union, the changes didnt go far enough.

Tensions flare between family members and friends of a man killed by an LAPD officer. The Police Commission was meeting to discuss new rules for the use of deadly force. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Charter Amendment C

In campaigning for Charter Amendment C, the police union argued that officers felt they werent treated fairly by a disciplinary panel on which two-thirds of the members work under a police chief who is suggesting serious punishment. Allowing the option of all-civilian disciplinary panels, union officials said, would help assure officers that theyd get a fair hearing.

But opponents argued that Charter Amendment C could instead result in more lenient treatment of misbehaving LAPD officers, pointing to a city report that concluded civilians are less severe than their sworn counterparts when weighing disciplinary cases.

The report, prepared for city lawmakers using LAPD data, looked at 287 Board of Rights hearings from 2011 to late 2016 and found that the civilian panelists were consistently more lenient than the sworn members. The numbers included 39 cases in which Beck had suggested an officer be fired, but a board acquitted the officer instead. In all of those cases, the report said, the civilian voted to acquit.

Union officials countered that the cases were rarely decided by a divided vote. Out of 229 cases in which Beck recommended termination, just 7% involved decisions in which the civilian member was more lenient than at least one of his or her sworn counterparts.

There were no cases in which a civilian voted for a harsher outcome.

L.A. Police Commissioners Cynthia McClain-Hill, left, and Shane Murphy Goldsmith meet with protesters after a meeting at police headquarters. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

kate.mather@latimes.com

For more news about the Los Angeles Police Department, follow me on Twitter: @katemather
Los Angeles voters picked seasoned political veterans in Tuesdays election, reelecting City Councilman Gil Cedillo and electing Monica Rodriguez to the City Council in races that saw a flood of spending by labor groups.

Cedillo trounced bike advocate Joe Bray-Ali, easily winning with 70.8% of the vote in his Pico-Union-to-Highland Park district seat, according to unofficial city results.

Rodriguez won 52.9% of the vote, beating Karo Torossian for the vacant San Fernando Valley District 7 seat, which includes Pacoima, Sylmar and Sunland-Tujunga.

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Torossian didnt concede Wednesday. His spokesman, Eric Hacopian, said the campaign is waiting to find out how many outstanding ballots are left to count.

Cedillo and Rodriguez were both helped by labor spending in the election, and their respective wins confirm that the 15-member City Council  which has just one registered Republican  will remain dominated by progressive Democrats.

A committee led by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, which represents about 600,000 workers, spent about $300,000 helping Cedillos 1st District campaign, according to the latest fundraising filings.

A powerful force at City Hall, the group has backed a new L.A. minimum wage, workers rights laws, and new construction and rail projects.

Federation head Rusty Hicks was one of several labor leaders who celebrated at Cedillos election party in Chinatown on Tuesday, part of a crowd of community leaders, politicians and lobbyists who feasted on Nicaraguan food and danced late into the night.

Hicks said in a follow-up interview that the labor federation boosted funding for Cedillo in the runoff after looking at the overall landscape of the councilmans race against Bray-Ali.

We wanted to make sure we saw him back, said Hicks, who praised Cedillos work for immigrants and middle-class workers.

Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council President Herb Wesson both endorsed Cedillo and Rodriguez and now benefit by having allies on the City Council.

Garcetti, whose top aides also helped raise funds for Rodriguez, congratulated the two winners in a statement Wednesday.

He also said Rodriguez will be a strong partner on helping the homeless, infrastructure and job creation.

Cedillo declared victory in his race early on election night, taking the stage to declare that voters had backed the candidate who wants to bring people together.

Supporters of City Councilman Gil Cedillo celebrate during his election night party. Cedillo easily beat his opponent, Joe Bray-Ali, with 70.8% of the vote. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

These voters in the 1st District are smart, Cedillo told the crowd. They chose experience, they chose an incredible record.

Bray-Alis campaign fell apart amid revelations that he left comments on a website known for explicit material, costing him his high-profile endorsements and backing.

Bray-Ali apologized for his online comments, but also blamed the media and said his remarks were taken out of context.

Rodriguez, a former Board of Public Works commissioner appointed by Garcetti, had the backing of at least seven City Council members and will fill the seat vacated by Felipe Fuentes, who resigned last year to become a lobbyist.

The City Council has just one other female member, San Fernando Valley Councilwoman Nury Martinez.

Rodriguez raised more than $305,650, nearly double the amount raised by Torossian, according to the latest fundraising filings.

She also benefited from more than $200,000 in outside spending in the runoff, with police union and business groups helping her campaign.

An outside group led by Service Employees International Union Local 99, which represents bus drivers, child-care aides and other workers, also backed Rodriguez and Los Angeles Board of Education candidate Imelda Padilla.

The Mission Hills resident has a varied political background, having worked for former Mayor Richard Riordan and councilmen Richard Alarcon and Mike Hernandez.

Issues facing the council in the coming months include a proposal that would restrict Airbnb and other short-term rental companies, and a plan to collect revenue from digital billboards.

Labor is seeing declining membership nationwide, but the heartbeat of the labor movement is in Los Angeles, said Raphael J. Sonenshein, executive director of the Edmund G. Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State L.A.

Labor spends very significantly in city elections and often in sync with the big endorsers, Sonenshein said.

Tom Hogen-Esch, professor of politics at Cal State Northridge, said he saw little difference ideologically between Rodriguez and Torossian, a planning deputy to L.A. Councilman Paul Krekorian.

Voters could have chosen Rodriguez because she has more experience working at City Hall, he said.

Bray-Ali ran a surprisingly strong campaign, Hogen-Esch added, up until the point that his comments on the provocative website Voat were revealed by LAist.

Bray-Ali had the momentum, Hogen-Esch said. But once the air is all out of the balloon, its really hard to go back.

Bike the Vote steering committee member Michael MacDonald believes Bray-Alis downfall during the campaign was a lost opportunity to test a grass-roots candidate against a powerful, well-financed incumbent.

Bike the Vote, which advocates for safer streets, endorsed Bray-Ali, but pulled that backing after learning about his online comments.

MacDonald questioned whether Cedillo will now heed voters concerns and work to make his office more responsive and collaborative on street safety and other issues that are important to District 1 residents.

About 39,000 ballots remain uncounted from Tuesdays election, which also included two Los Angeles Unified School District races and a charter measure, according to city clerk spokeswoman Sandra Mendoza.

The city must certify the results by June 13.

dakota.smith@latimes.com

Twitter: @dakotacdsmith

UPDATES:

2:20 p.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Mayor Eric Garcetti.

11 a.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Eric Hacopian.

9:55 a.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Rusty Hicks.

This article was originally published at 8:40 a.m.

10:44 a.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Torossian spokesman Eric Hacopian.
Charles and Mary Leigh Blek of Trabuco Canyon take a nice photo. You may have seen it in The Times last week, the Bleks smiling as they stood next to a cardboard cutout of Rep. Mimi Walters in Irvine.

Walters was a no-show at a town hall attended by hundreds who wanted to talk to her. Many of them were in a fever about support by Walters and other Republicans for the repeal of Obamacare .

These pitchfork rallies have been happening all over the country, with ticked-off voters speaking up about immigration and environmental policy too. On healthcare, Trump recently took bows for a half-baked House bill that bulldozed some of his oft-repeated promises about better and cheaper healthcare for all.

And Democrats  who happen to be having their own nationally televised identity crisis  see that as an opportunity to bounce Republicans in next years midterm elections.

These Reagan Republicans feel left behind

But it turns out the Bleks, who were wearing Brady Campaign T-shirts in the photo, are Republicans. With a phone call and a visit, I learned theyre an endangered species in the Trump era.

Theyre moderates, and their party of choice is currently led by a grenade launcher whose army of supporters felt forgotten, so they enlisted with the first guy who told them what they wanted to hear.

I like revolution as much as the next guy, but were learning now that knowledge, maturity and a plan are important qualities in a leader. And it seems to me that whatever the political party, there ought to be room in the tent for those who arent trying to set it on fire.

Ronald Reagan probably wouldnt stand a chance in a presidential primary today, said Mr. Blek, because he was too moderate. Mrs. Blek said she has not left the GOP but feels as if it has left her.

I believe there are a lot of Republicans who feel as I do, that we need to protect public safety and be accountable and responsible. But public safety will always be at risk, she said, as long as the gun lobby is calling the shots and Republicans are drinking the Kool-Aid.

Matthew C. Blek was shot and killed in 1994 by three teens who had killed a 37-year-old man 90 minutes earlier. (Courtesy of Blek family) (Courtesy of Blek family)

The Bleks have strong opinions on the healthcare bill that was kicked over to the Senate  a bill that analysts say would leave millions uninsured, slap older Americans with higher costs and make it harder for those with preexisting conditions to get coverage.

You dont throw out the baby with the bath water, said Mrs. Blek, who felt the flaws in Obamacare could have been fixed.

Shes a former school nurse who now runs the Laguna Hills office where Mr. Blek is an estate planning lawyer.

Within my practice we talk to a lot of parents and grandparents who are extremely concerned about keeping the preexisting condition clause  and insurance for those 26 and under, Mr. Blek said. A number of them have said that, but for Covered California, they would have no coverage at all.

It was not Trump, however, or healthcare, that drew the Bleks to the town hall meeting in Irvine. It was the issue of gun policy, which is why they wore those T-shirts. James Brady, Reagans press guy, became a gun control champion after being shot in 1981 in the assassination attempt on the president.

Our son was shot in 1994 by three 15-year-olds, said Mrs. Blek, speaking with traces, still, of disbelief as well as resolve.

Fighting for their son

Matthew Blek had been a high school wrestler who played guitar and violin. He studied math and physics at Fresno State and traveled to New York the summer before his senior year. He was walking back from a date when he was shot and killed in an apparent robbery by teens who had killed a 37-year-old man 90 minutes earlier.

The gun was a cheap weapon known as a Saturday night special, Mr. Blek said. At the time, Mr. Blek would learn, 80% of the Saturday night specials produced in the United States were made in a 50-mile radius of their Orange County home.

Mrs. Blek wrote a letter to the incarcerated teen who killed her son and asked where he got the gun. She said he wrote back, saying they were available by the truckload.

Rep. Mimi Walters speaks at a 2014 Capitol Hill news conference. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

The Bleks became activists. Mrs. Blek started the Orange County Citizens for the Prevention of Gun Violence, and she and her husband have lobbied for strict gun laws ever since. Mrs. Bleks current focus is speakforsafety.org, a campaign to offer family members and others a civil court process for a temporary restraining order, so that someone in crisis is unauthorized to possess or purchase guns or ammo.

As members of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Bleks went to the town hall in Orange County to speak up about Rep. Walters co-sponsorship of House bill H.R. 38, which would allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons in any state. Mr. Blek explained that if you get a gun in a state that has lax or nonexistent background checks, training requirements and standards for issuance, you can carry that gun into a state with stricter regulations, such as California.

Getting that legislation passed is a major goal of the National Rifle Assn. , whose Political Victory Fund gave Walters an A in 2015 for her support of gun rights. The NRA spent $30 million in support of Trump, who spoke at the lobbys annual leadership forum in April, vowing that the assault on 2nd Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end.

Orange County residents attend a town hall meeting in Irvine that Rep. Mimi Waters refused to attend. They voiced their displeasure over her views on education, immigration, the environment and healthcare. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

If the Bleks are discouraged by such developments, or by the difficulty of enacting assault weapons bans, or by the likes of radio barker Alex Jones  the Trump buddy who promoted a theory that the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre was a hoax staged by Democrats  they dont show it.

In 20 years of strict gun control policy in California, Mr. Blek said, our gun mortality rate has decreased 57%, which is 27% greater than the national average.

We are not by nature more violent than people in other countries, Mrs. Blek said. We just have easier access to firearms, and the result is a public safety epidemic.

In 2014, 33,700 people in the U.S. died of gunshot wounds and 81,000 were treated for nonfatal gunshot wounds. It costs at least $730 million a year to pay for the care of victims, according to a study by the American Journal of Public Health, and taxpayers covered 41% of the tab in the cases of uninsured patients and those on Medicaid . If healthcare reform means smaller contributions to Medicaid and millions more uninsured people, hospitals and taxpayers could be harder hit.

It was a badge of honor

Mrs. Blek said she was a soft-spoken, shy woman of 48 when her son was killed, but she found her voice. After 23 years of speaking up, she is not done honoring his memory or trying to protect others.

I remember very vividly being called an activist, and I thought that was a dirty word at first, she said. Then I learned it was a badge of honor.

Get more of Steve Lopez's work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopez

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UPDATES:

May 17, 2017, 4:45 p.m: An earlier version of this story had several paragraphs out of order.
The epic WannaCry cyber attack this past week, which took hundreds of thousands of computers hostage in more than 150 countries, is the biggest hacking incident in history.

It should be a real wake-up call about digital security for government agencies, corporations to small businesses, universities, hospital systems and consumers  yes, plain old people like you and me. It was also the latest of many wake-up calls, and yet past hackings have failed to motivate large segments of people and institutions to better safeguard their personal information.

If youre serious about protecting yourself in the digital world, then take the following tips to heart. Journalist Jonah Engel Bromwich at The New York Times has done a nice job of covering the most essential points, and the recommendations provided are straightforward, simple enough and reasonably priced (if its a step that involves paying a service fee or buying a device).

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By Jonah Engel Bromwich

There are more reasons than ever to understand how to protect your personal information. Major website hackings seem ever more frequent.

Quincy Larson, the founder of Free Code Camp, detailed the reasons it might be useful for people to make their personal data more difficult for attackers to obtain. He walked us through some of the basic steps, and we added a few of our own.

1. Download Signal or start using WhatsApp to send text messages.

Encryption is just a fancy word for scrambling your data so no one can understand what it says without a decoder key. Its useful for protecting information on your computer, but also for making sure prying eyes cant snoop on text messages and emails on your phone.

Signal is one of the most popular apps for those who want to protect their text messages. It is free, available for both iPhone and Android, and extremely easy to use. But it does require your friends to download and use it along with you.

One advantage Signal has over Apples iMessage, which is also encrypted, is this: The code it uses to operate is open-source, which is easier for an independent security expert to examine without special permission from its developer. You can be sure by looking at the code that theyre not doing anything weird with your data, Larson said.

In general, the idea behind the app is to make privacy and communication as simple as possible, said Moxie Marlinspike, founder of Open Whisper Systems, the organization that developed Signal.

WhatsApp, the popular chat tool, uses Signals software to encrypt its messaging. And in Facebook Messenger and Googles texting app Allo, you can turn on an option that encrypts your messages.

2. Be wary of clicking on unfamiliar links or documents. And promptly apply software updates.

Cyber criminals are increasingly resorting to ransomware, a type of software that locks down peoples data and threatens to destroy it if the attacker is not paid.

Such attacks are often spread through malicious email attachments and links  a practice known as phishing. So make a rule of not clicking on anything when you dont know where it will take you, even if it appears to come from someone you know.

Also, make sure to update your software regularly, particularly your operating system. Frequently, software companies will release updates that patch bugs and software vulnerabilities. But outdated or unauthorized copies of the software may still contain those security flaws. This is a particular problem with computers using Microsoft Windows, the most popular operating system in the world and therefore a big target for hackers.

Finally, for those using Windows, antivirus software can go a long way toward shoring up protection. Try such products from Bitdefender and Malwarebytes.

3. Protect your computers hard drive with FileVault or BitLocker  and back up your data to an online backup service, external hard drive or both.

Your phone may be the device that lives in your pocket, but Larson described the computer as the real gold mine for personal information.

Even if your data were password-protected, someone who gained access to your computer would have access to all your files if they were unencrypted.

Luckily, both Apple and Windows offer means of automatic encryption that simply need to be turned on. In Apples macOS, FileVault can be enabled from the Security and Privacy System Preferences panel. Microsoft Windows users must be running Windows 7 Ultimate or the Professional version of Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 to use BitLocker.

Similarly, keep your data backed up. If something happens to it, or you lose it all, you can recover quickly without hassle. An online backup service, like CrashPlan, backs up your data and encrypts it at the same time. Even an external hard drive gives your files an extra layer of security.

Backups will protect your photos, documents and other data not only from a technical malfunction, but from ransomware and other malicious hacking.

Make sure to test or check your backups periodically.

4. The way you handle your passwords is probably wrong and bad.

You know this by now. Creating strong passwords and never using the same password across websites is one of the simplest things you can do to protect yourself from digital invasion.

Not everyone agrees about frequent password changes. Most say you should use really strong passwords and no more than one password per site, THEN use password managers. Frequent changes mean you are tempted to write them down somewhere. They also can be irritating and inconvenient, tempting people to reuse passwords or make them too simple.

Larson recommends password managers, which help people store many passwords with just one master password. He uses LastPass but knows plenty of people who rely on 1Password and KeePass, and he doesnt have a strong reason to recommend one over another.

As far as creating passwords goes: Use a random word (an object near you, for example), scramble the letters and sprinkle in numbers and punctuation marks. If youre writing down passwords or using a password manager, you dont have to worry about making them memorable.

5. Protect your email and other accounts with two-factor authentication.

When you turn on two-factor authentication, anyone trying to sign in to your email account from new devices will have to go through a secondary layer of security: a code that is sent to your phone via text message. (Though, sadly, not through Signal.)

You should also set two-factor authentication for social media accounts and other websites where its available. But email is the most important account, since many websites use email for password recovery, a fact that hackers have exploited. Once they have access to your email, they can get access to banking, social media, data backups and work accounts.

6. Use a browser plug-in called HTTPS Everywhere.

Marlinspike of Open Whisper Systems recommends this plug-in, which was developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It ensures that youre using the secure form of websites, meaning that your connection to the site will be encrypted and that you will be protected from various forms of surveillance and hacking.

And this is a good time to note that you should always find out whether the Wi-Fi network youre using is secure. Public networks  and even private networks without security keys  often are not.

7. Invest in a virtual private network, or VPN.

The New York Times personal tech expert, Brian Chen, suggests using a VPN to shield browsing information, encrypt all of the data coming to or leaving your computer or phone, and hide your location.

VPNs create an encrypted tunnel through which all of your data is sent, meaning other computers or devices on the same network as your computer cant make sense of it. The only people who have the key in this case is your computer and the VPN provider you connect to when you turn it on. This is especially useful on public Wi-Fi networks, like at the airport or coffee shop, where you dont know who else is using the same network.

Some VPNs are free, while others require monthly subscriptions. The best offer apps for your phone as well as your computer. Chen highlights three providers: Freedome by F-Secure, TunnelBear and a service called Private Internet Access.

8. Remember that incognito mode isnt always private.

This feature, available on various web browsers, may sound secure, but pay attention to the clear warnings.

On Chrome, the second paragraph of the incognito home screen spells it out. You arent invisible, it says. Going incognito doesnt hide your browsing from your employer, your internet service provider or the websites you visit.

In reality, it simply keeps your computer from keeping a record of where you go. It doesnt stop sites from tracking and collecting data on you, and doesnt do anything to protect your online privacy or security. It does, however, keep anyone using your computer from knowing where you went.

9. Do sensitive online searches in DuckDuckGo.

Larson of Free Code Camp said if people are paranoid about Google, he strongly encourages them to use DuckDuckGo, an alternative search engine.

There are trade-offs. Googles search results are more useful and accurate than competitors precisely because of the ways it collects and analyzes information about its customers searches.

A Bonus: Cover your webcam with tape.

That way, if someone has found a way to compromise your computer, they cannot spy on you.

And yes, this happens. Even Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook worries about it.

Cybersecurity Playlist  On Now Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) slams Equifax On Now LA 90: Yahoo data breach worse than originally reported On Now Lifelock offers to protect you from the Equifax breach  by selling you services provided by Equifax 1:02 On Now California beer maker thrives in Germany On Now Cyberattacks on Hollywood On Now Hackers gain access to OneLogin On Now What is WannaCry? On Now Senate overturns privacy rules for Internet providers On Now Online pirates claim to hold Disney's latest 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie hostage, demand ransom On Now Yahoo warns users of malicious activity

hieu.phan@sduniontribune.com
Theres something different on the menu at a Mexican restaurant near Lincoln High, where orders of carne asada and other items are helping raise funds for neighborhood schools.

El Patron Mexico Food at 5065 Logan Ave. has named different items after Lincoln cluster schools, which receive 10 percent of each sale.

The fundraiser is part of an effort the community group Black Men United has launched to get more local businesses involved in supporting schools.

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Porter Steak Burritos, one of the newly renamed menu items, raises money for Porter Elementary School. The same goes for tater tots, now called Tater Knox, which helps Knox Middle School. The Lincoln Asada Burrito benefits Lincoln High.

The restaurant also created one bonus dish, The King Salad, which is named after the woman who brought the partnership to the cluster, Pamela King. Sales benefit all three schools.

El Patron also donated food for Horton Elementary School Cinco De Mayo Celebration, and provided Lincoln Asada and Porter Steak burritos for students, families, and community members. The restaurant also provided lunch for Porter Elementary School office staff and other staff members who were present.

Another local business, RBW Security, has committed to providing mentors at Knox Middle School to help build leadership skills and confidence in students.

Charles Alexander, a board member with Black Men United, said he hopes other neighborhood businesses will follow their lead, especially at a time when the school district is making cutbacks.

Theres enough businesses in the fourth district that should be willing to invest in childrens education, he said, referring to the neighborhoods City Council district.

The ultimate goal is to involve the businesses within Lincoln cluster area and invite other businesses to align together to possibly offset some of the impending cuts that we are currently facing that will definitely affect all children of color.

Other business owners interested in working with Black Men United can contact Alexander at blkunited@yahoo.com or attended the groups next meeting, scheduled for 8 a.m. May 23 at 3619 College Ave.

The group also can be followed on Facebook.

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

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A few weeks back, a man who had just returned from West Africa came to Thornton Hospital in La Jolla complaining of a fever.

The patient found himself quickly isolated in a private room while the hospitals infectious-disease team and the county health department were notified.

All this for a fever that probably wouldnt have made it past Thorntons triage station last year.

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But last year, the Ebola virus hadnt killed more than 3,300 people in a handful of African countries and was not on pace to pass the 1.4 million case mark by Jan. 20, 2015. Today no hospital, no matter how many oceans away from the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak, can afford to miss the common warning signs that the deadly virus is incubating in a patients bloodstream.

Such vigilance will continue to be crucial because the threat isnt going away soon, said Dr. James LaBelle, the chief medical officer at Scripps Health. In recent days, the first Ebola infection to be diagnosed in the United States emerged in Texas, and suspected cases popped up in Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

When another Ebola infection arises in this country, its not going to mean that our public-health measures in the U.S. are not effective. Its just going to mean that we have a global society, and its possible for this virus to incubate for 21 days and miss the screenings, LaBelle said. We are going to see sporadic cases like this on a regular basis certainly over the next few months, and likely this is going to go on for years.

The Dallas case is a glaring example of not spotting the warning signs.

The patient lied to customs and medical officials about key aspects of his illness. Doctors and nurses at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital failed to quickly quarantine him even though their records showed that he had traveled to Liberia, the worst-hit country in the Ebola crisis. Public-health officials, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Infection, have given wildly varying counts of how many people the man may have infected.

On Saturday, the patients condition worsened from serious to critical.

The new Ebola reality makes what happened at Thornton Hospital a few weeks ago all the more important. Though the patient did not turn out to be infected, he was immediately isolated as recommended by the CDC  a move that makes spreading the disease much less likely.

Dr. Robert Schooley, head of the Division of Infection Control at UC San Diego, said that while tragic, the Dallas case has made an immediate and positive impact on hospitals nationwide.

There already was a fairly high level of awareness about this. But this case in Texas has every emergency room in the country saying, Good grief, that shouldnt have happened, and were not going to let it happen to us,  Schooley said.

From the head of the CDC right on down the line to local public-health officials, health providers are united in the belief that Ebola is manageable.

They said the United States far better health care resources, vastly different cultural norms and long experience with highly infectious outbreaks like the swine flu will stop Ebola from becoming the scourge that it is today in West Africa.

Ongoing preparations

Local anti-Ebola efforts did not start with news of the Dallas case.

Last month we sent out information to hospitals, labs, ambulance providers, lots and lots of health providers, said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the countys public health officer.

She said there have been several cases like the one recently seen at Thornton, but none has required that a blood test be performed by the CDC.

She said in addition to disseminating the CDC protocols for identifying Ebola and preventing its spread, her department is going over guidelines with any industry that might find itself somehow involved with an Ebola patients care. From labs that might end up performing medical tests to mortuaries that might end up handling bodies, the county is working to make sure all of these entities know the proper infection-control procedures.

We train, we drill and we prepare for these types of situations, so its something were definitely ready for, Wooten said.

The last major test of the countys infection control preparedness came in 2009 when H1N1, which was briefly called swine flu, swept through the area and sent hundreds to the hospital. Some hospitals emergency rooms were inundated with patients that year, making it necessary to set up temporary triage tents to handle the overflow.

At one point, more than 3,000 people lined up at Qualcomm Stadium for vaccinations against H1N1.

Risk of infection

Wooten said theres simply no way Ebola would test the regions infectious-disease response capacity the way swine flu did.

The fact is, Ebola is just not as contagious as influenza or tuberculosis, she said. Its not airborne.

Direct contact with a patients blood, vomit or other bodily fluids is required for the virus to spread from one individual to another. Severe symptoms are usually not present until the end stages of infection, so touching someone who is infected and has only a fever is not likely to cause a new infection.

People need to understand that even if you have Ebola and you have a fever, youre not likely to transmit it, even by touching somebody, if youre not puking up blood or having bloody diarrhea, said LaBelle, the Scripps medical officer.

Isolating patients while they still have just a fever provides the best chance of stopping infection from spreading. If the onset of vomiting and other grim symptoms occurs in a properly equipped hospital room, rather than a familys home, there is minimal opportunity for the direct contact needed to infect others.

Helpful contrasts

There are some significant societal differences between West Africa and America that make an outbreak extremely unlikely here.

For one thing, the United States lacks certain cultural practices that have contributed to Ebolas spread in West Africa, including ritual body washing and touching of the deceased.

And the U.S. health system has much more treatment capacity than the African system does. This makes it a virtual certainty that anyone who comes down with Ebola in this country would be treated in an isolation room. In Africa, many patients receive care at home by family members who have no training and no protective equipment.

So, what message do local doctors have for San Diegans worried that Americas first confirmed Ebola case means they might end up getting the deadly disease as well?

Schooley, the UC San Diego infectious-disease director, said the regions residents should worry first about other medical threats.

Get your flu shot, he said. Youre much more likely to die of influenza than Ebola.
Arts programs, infrastructure and public safety would get more funding under budget revisions Mayor Kevin Faulconer unveiled on Tuesday, but his proposal doesnt include any immediate solutions to San Diegos worsening police officer shortage.

The mayor also wants to boost city reserves by more than $10 million in anticipation of significant budget shortfalls expected in coming years, as costs to fund the citys pension system continue to rise.

That would absorb the lions share of nearly $24 million in additional projected funding since Faulconer last month unveiled his proposed $1.4 billion operating budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

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More than $14 million of the new money comes from higher property tax revenue estimates and a larger surplus projected for the fiscal year that ends June 30. Another $9.6 million would be a result of the states gas tax increase.

Faulconer wants to use $2.4 million of the increased funding to restore more than half of a highly unpopular $4.7 million cut to arts programs he had initially proposed.

RELATED: Arts groups slam proposed 31 percent budget cut

Other proposed new spending includes about $10 million for infrastructure projects, $800,000 for a pilot program targeting graffiti and $100,000 each for tree planting and library programs.

The mayor also wants to spend $150,000 on a study exploring why San Diego is struggling so badly to recruit and retain police officers, leaving the department with 213 vacancies out of 2,039 budgeted officer slots.

While that proposal drew almost universal praise, some critics noted that the mayor didnt include any additional money for more immediate solutions such as compensation increases or allowing more overtime shifts.

The meager resources allocated toward the Police Department in fiscal year 2018 will do little to curb the ongoing exodus of police officers, which has resulted in the lowest staffing numbers in years, Councilman David Alvarez said.

Brian Marvel, president of the police officers labor union, two weeks ago said it was crucial for the city to fund some sort of stop gap measure to maintain minimum staffing levels to boost public safety and revive proactive policing.

RELATED: Union wants more OT hours as stop-gap for police officer shortage

On Tuesday, Marvel said it was frustrating the mayor chose not to address that concern in his May budget revisions.

Wed like to have seen that the safety of our officers and the demands of the community were being met with this budget proposal, Marvel said.

Councilwoman Barbara Bry, chairwoman of the councils budget review committee, said she understands the mayors decision to wait until completion of the study he wants to fund.

I want an in-depth recruitment and retention plan and I think we should wait to spend money until we know how best to spend it, she said.

Bry said, however, that she anticipates additional money will be needed to address the problem during the next fiscal year and that she plans to include roughly $3 million for unspecified recruiting and retention efforts in her final budget memo due next Monday.

Councilman Chris Ward on Monday proposed the city address the police officer crisis by suspending for one year the requirements of a June 2016 ballot measure mandating spending on infrastructure.

Suspending the Proposition H requirement, which would require support from at least six of the councils nine members, would free up $15 million for other budget priorities.

Ward proposed spending $6.9 million of that money on temporary measures to ensure minimum police staffing, as Marvel has requested, and to accelerate years-of-service pay increases for new officers, which would essentially boost starting pay.

Faulconer said on Tuesday that it would be a mistake to suspend Proposition H, which was approved by 65 percent of voters.

I strongly support Prop. H and it was approved overwhelmingly by San Diego voters, said Faulconer, stressing that the city cant neglect infrastructure in lean budget times. The city got in trouble because it didnt pay attention to those items years ago. We have to support the will of the voters.

Bry agreed, but said she was open to the idea in the future.

This year we are fine and we dont need to suspend Proposition H, she said. Next year, lets see where we are.

The mayor also included $100,000 in his proposed revisions to conduct a national search for the citys next police chief, which has been a high priority among the councils five Democrats with Chief Shelley Zimmerman planning to retire next spring.

RELATED: Council priorities include national search for next police chief

Bry, one of those Democrats, praised that decision. She also said its crucial for the city to gather input from neighborhoods about what they want in the next chief.

Marvel, the union president, was less enthusiastic.

I understand the desire for a national search, but I hope it doesnt override the desire to actually look within the department, he said. There are some extremely highly qualified candidates that would be excellent as chief of police.

On the restoration of arts funding, Faulconers proposed changes would mean $12.8 million instead of $10.4 million. But thats still a 15 percent cut and puts the city well short of a goal set in 2012 to ramp up arts spending to the same percentage it received before years of steady cuts began after 2002.

Councilman Alvarez also noted that the softer reduction would still force cuts to arts education programs.

Faulconer said the priorities reflected in his proposed revisions continue his focus on neighborhood services and infrastructure, noting that his budget would spend more on street repairs and other capital improvement projects than the city has in a decade.

RELATED: Faulconer budget cuts positions, arts but keeps focus on infrastructure

Were going to continue putting our neighborhoods first and keep the focus on the core services that our residents rely on the most, he said.

Council President Myrtle Cole praised that approach and the proposed revisions.

Im thrilled to hear that many of our priorities have been funded and reinstated in the mayors budget revisions, she said.

The mayor also touted his proposal to increase reserves, which had been projected to be $181 million in his initial budget proposal.

Thanks to belt-tightening at City Hall we have some leftover dollars from this years budget that we can put toward reserves to help us face future budget challenges from rising pension costs, he said.

The mayor urged council members not to let the urge to soften proposed cuts prompt them to veer from his plan.

This is the fiscally prudent approach to make sure our city stays on the right financial track, he said. We know that our pension bill will cause headaches for years to come so we have to plan ahead. So Im calling on the City Council to join me in doing that responsible thing, which is to look at the big picture, plan for the long term and save money today that we will need tomorrow.

Supporters of the citys ambitious climate action plan reiterated on Tuesday their concerns that Faulconers proposed budget shows a lack of commitment to achieving the plans ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions.

The revisions included no new funding for any environmental programs.

Were deeply concerned that the city is not on a path to hit its 2020 and 2035 greenhouse gas reduction targets, said Sophie Wolfram, a policy advocate for the Climate Action Campaign.

Among the infrastructure projects proposed in the May revisions are $5.6 million for drainage projects, $2 million for multiple police station upgrades, $1 million to reconstruct the Point Loma Fire Station, $600,000 for upgrades to the state Route 94/Euclid Avenue interchange, $500,000 for a storm drain upgrade in La Jolla Shores and $425,000 for turf replacement at Pershing Middle School.

Other proposed new expenditures include $290,000 to cover two new deputy city attorneys focused on domestic violence crimes, and $144,000 for a deputy city attorney focused on vandalism and other neighborhood crimes.

The council is scheduled to adopt a final version of the budget on June 5.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick
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Six cities are fighting against a state bill that would strip them of influence on an organization that helps build the San Diego areas highways, trolley networks, and bike lanes, and can appropriate billions in taxpayer money.

The legislation would give the most populous cities that belong to the San Diego Association of Governments more voting power, while diminishing the clout the smaller cities have. Its a change that could determine what train lines and highways receive millions of dollars in public funding for construction and upgrades.

The six cities that are opposed to the bill  El Cajon, National City, Solana Beach, Poway, San Marcos and Vista  are worried that theyll lose most of their influence on SANDAGs board, and that San Diego City and Chula Vista will have so much power, that those two larger cities wont have to collaborate.

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We want to have a voice, said San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond, a SANDAG board member. Its not like the little cities were driving the bigger cities, but we all had a say. Now were left out and it probably wont even be worth the drive down to SANDAG because a vote will mean nothing.

The bills author, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, D-San Diego, said SANDAGs current voting system has resulted in the agencys priorities falling out of sync with residents interests. While representing only a small portion of county residents, the opposing cities have outsized influence on SANDAG and its purse strings, she said.

What it allows is, because there are so many small cities, they only need 10 votes to veto something. And they represent around 15 percent of the population, she said.

Her bill gives the bigger cities influence on SANDAG thats proportional to their population while imposing new restrictions that prevent them from stampeding the smaller cities, she said.

At the end of the day, we are a country who believes in one person, one vote, Gonzalez Fletcher said. Our way of distributing transportation funds doesnt even come close to following that. There are ways that I think we protected small cities by not allowing just San Diego and Chula Vista to do something.

Of its several provisions, the bill changes how SANDAGs board votes, as well as how many votes each of its member organizations receives.

The current system requires SANDAGs board to meet two thresholds to approve most items on its agenda. First, 100 votes are allocated among the member cities with more populous cities receiving more weighted votes than the smaller ones. SANDAG includes representatives from the countys 18 cities and the county government.

As board members cast their weighted vote, they also cast a single, unweighted vote. Each member has one vote, except for San Diego and San Diego County which have two. An item must receive both majority of both the weighted and unweighted votes in order to pass.

If the bill becomes law, most of SANDAGs board members would still get one vote (San Diego and the county would keep their two) but if a member doesnt like the outcome, they could make a motion to require a weighted vote as well. (That would need a second from another member). No less than 51 percent of weighted votes from at least four different jurisdictions would be needed for the item to pass.

This new system prevents the smaller cities from derailing items that larger ones might support, while preventing the larger cities from completely controlling SANDAG. And while Chula Vista and San Diego would have more than half of weighted votes, they would still need support from two other cities to pass legislation, Gonzalez Fletcher said.

The city of San Diego, which currently has 40 of all of the boards 100 votes by weight, stands to gain the most influence, while Poway, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Coronado, Solana Beach and Del Mar each have one weighted vote and stand to lose the most.

The bill also removes a cap that gave jurisdictions, at most, 40 percent of the weighted votes even if they represented more than 40 percent of the people in the county. San Diego would receive 42 weighted votes, Gonzalez Fletcher said.

But the bills critics contend that it could change the dynamic of SANDAGs board.

The bill would supplant regional cooperation with urban domination by giving San Diego and Chula vista an unfair advantage in votes, Poway wrote in opposition to an early version of the bill. The regional voice is lost when you give the largest cities the ability to control the organizations agenda.

The overhaul is also opposed by the California Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, San Diego County Board of Supervisors, and SANDAG.

Bike San Diego says that the bill will help realign SANDAGs interests with its constituents.

The communitys repeated requests for equitable, healthier transportation options have been ignored and met with cold proposals to continue widening freeways in some of our most vulnerable neighborhoods, low-income and communities of color already devastated by pollution, it said.

Support and opposition to the bill has fallen along party lines, Gonzales Fletcher she said.

The city issue, if you look at who is on what sides, the small cities are controlled by Republicans, she said. They dont like to give up power. I understand that, but its not fair to the vast majority of people who are giving transportation funds.

The bill would also add layers of fiduciary oversight and determine which citys board member would chair SANDAGs board of directors. San Marcos Mayor Desmond said that the change to voting is the largest concern among smaller cities, and that they have no issue with the additional oversight.

The oversight provision was added after questions arose about the accuracy of financial models SANDAG used to predict revenue that would have been collected by Measure A, a failed November ballot measure that would have implemented a half-cent sales tax across the county largely for transportation projects.

Reports show that some within the planning organization thought that the financial model was flawed and would give an overly-optimistic forecast of how much money the tax would raise. That forecast was later used by SANDAG officials to gain voter support for the ballot measure.

The bill also amends the governance of the Metropolitan Transit Service and the North County Transit District.

The bill is currently in the Assemblys Appropriations Committee.

Twitter: @jptstewart

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1841
The deaths of two men found at an Otay Mesa strip mall Wednesday are being investigated as a double homicide, San Diego police said.

The bodies lay on a sidewalk, one on each side of the front door to Ritas Italian ice shop in the CVS shopping mall at Palm Avenue and Beyer Way.

Their names were not released, but they were described as homeless men ages 56 and 61 who were known to hang out in that neighborhood. Officers who regularly patrol the area recognized them, police homicide Lt. Mike Holden said.

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An officer on patrol first saw the men apparently sleeping and checked on them about 2:45 a.m. He discovered that they were dead. A man who was power-washing the parking lot at that time told officers hed noticed the pair about two hours earlier and thought they were sleeping. He did not disturb them and did not call police, Holden said.

A county Medical Examiners investigator was called in and found what appeared to be trauma injuries on the bodies, Holden said. Homicide detectives started an investigation about 5:30 a.m.

Holden said autopsies are needed to determine how the men died, as the cause was not apparent.

Police cordoned off one side of the parking lot. Investigators were on the scene most of the day, trying to find witnesses and looking for security camera video.

Late afternoon, Holden said investigators had talked to a number of people but declined to say if any of them were witnesses. Detectives were still looking for surveillance video, the lieutenant said.
The tip of the knife used to stab a restaurant manager in Solana Beach on Monday was later found lodged in his head, a sheriffs official said Wednesday.

Deputies would ultimately shoot the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Emmanuel Ibarra, a transient, during an altercation in Del Mar.

Investigators said Ibarra attacked Robin Rodriguez at the Rubios Coastal Grill on South Highway 101 shortly before 4 p.m.

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Rodriguez was taken to a hospital where doctors removed what appeared to be the tip of a knife from his head. He is expected to make a full recovery, homicide Lt. Greg Rylaarsdam said.

Shortly after the bloody attack, deputies found Ibarra several blocks away in Del Mar. Ibarra, armed with a knife, emerged from behind a concrete pillar near the train tracks under the Via De La Valle overpass and moved toward the nearest deputy, Rylaarsdam said.

While the deputy was backing away, he lost his footing and fell. A second deputy shouted at Ibarra, who turned toward him and charged. The second deputy shot Ibarra, who later died at a hospital, the sheriffs lieutenant said.

Its unclear if video evidence of the shooting was located. The Sheriffs Department has not outfitted its deputies with body cameras.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com
They fume privately at President Trumps coziness with the Russians. They wince almost every time he tweets. They talk among themselves about what might have been with a different Republican in the White House.

Yet even as each new crisis seems like it might be the event that moves GOP lawmakers away from Trump, key Republican leaders and rank-and-file members circle the White House, protecting the president from attack and shifting the blame to Democrats and the media.

Tuesday brought the sternest test yet of Republican willingness to stand with the president, as multiple news organizations reported that Trump had personally asked then-FBI Director James B. Comey to drop the bureaus investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

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The news  denied by the White House  hit a Congress that already was stunned by Trumps firing of Comey last week and his sharing of intelligence with Russian diplomats.

Whether the latest allegations will prove to be the tipping point for more GOP lawmakers remains to be seen, but initial reactions suggested many were standing behind the president.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard M. Burr (R-N.C.), who had voiced frustration over Trumps information-sharing with the Russians, cast doubt Tuesday evening on news reports that Trump had tried to stop the Flynn probe.

I actually believe the director might have told us that thered been a request like that, and it was never mentioned by him, Burr said. So somebodys going to have to do more than have anonymous sources on this one for me to believe that theres something there.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said it almost sounds like fake news.

But centrist Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida said that if the Comey allegations were true, it would be deeply, deeply troubling, disconcerting and it would open a new chapter of scandal."

In some ways, its little surprise that Republicans in Congress are supporting Trump. Lawmakers are largely reflecting their constituents, and polling shows Republican voters, and those who cast ballots for Trump, still overwhelmingly back the president.

But more to the point, if Republicans were to break ranks with the White House and begin to question Trumps ability to govern, what would happen next?

Any acknowledgement by Republicans that Trumps actions are unacceptable would lead to inevitable questions about what exactly Congress planned to do about it. And Republicans dont appear ready to answer that.

Very few Republicans have joined Democrats in seeking a special prosecutor or independent panel to investigate the Trump campaigns possible ties to Russian meddling in the election  much less in the calls for impeachment.

On Tuesday, however, Rep. Steve Knight of Palmdale became the third House Republican from California to back a special prosecutor. There is so much conflicting information from many sources; Americans deserve the opportunity to learn the truth, he said in a statement.

The dilemma for Republicans was on full display Tuesday in conversations and statements on Capitol Hill. While a handful of GOP lawmakers voiced rising concern over Trumps behavior, many stood by the president.

This man is subject to more criticism than anybody, any predecessor that I know of, said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah). It was a remarkable election and they cant stand it, so theyre going to do everything they can to destroy him. Its just that simple.

Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.), former chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said most new administrations have a rough start.

Look at President Clinton: When he started off, he had a real bumpy road for about a year and a half, Shelby said. Lets see what happens the next six, seven months. Everythings another day.

Republicans are loathe to derail their opportunity to make good on promises to cut taxes, repeal Obamacare and undo federal regulations as they control the White House and Congress. They know a Trump White House embroiled in scandal and investigations would be effectively crippled, and already the GOP legislative agenda has been overshadowed.

Trump is trying to accomplish a number of things we ran on, so hes got quite a bit of support, said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). It doesnt help to have a controversy swirling, but I cant say thats its distracting us from getting things done.

Democrats, appalled by Trumps behavior, are pushing Republicans to move beyond partisanship.

The country is being tested in unprecedented ways, said Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer. I say to all of my colleagues in the Senate: History is watching.

Democrats are demanding transcripts of Trumps conversation with the Russian ambassador and foreign minister as well as any tape recordings Trump may have made in relation to his contact with Comey.

After the New York Times reported that Comey had kept private memos of his conversations with Trump, including the one in which he claimed Trump asked him to drop the Flynn probe, Democrats are pushing to see those records as well.

A few Republicans are ready to join that effort. I have my subpoena pen ready, said Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chair of the House oversight committee.

But Democrats plea to Republicans so far has proved little match for Trumps staying power and ability to survive political missteps that would fell other politicians.

During the presidential campaign, when a recording emerged of Trump boasting about sexually groping women with impunity because of his celebrity status, many Republicans, including House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, distanced themselves from his campaign.

But then Republican voters by and large gave their candidate a pass, and Ryan and others had to scramble to mend their relationship with him.

Many GOP lawmakers continue to say the media is treating Trump unfairly.

He is, I think, having a volatile ride from a media perspective, but the underlying policies that I think are good for the country  tax reform, healthcare reform, rolling back the regulatory agenda of the past administration  all of these have a very consistently positive impact, said Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

Others could not easily put an optimistic spin on the concerns churning from the White House.

These are daily  well, not daily, hopefully, but seems like lately daily  distractions, and you just have to manage around it, said the Senates slightly exasperated No. 3 Republican, John Thune of South Dakota. Were proceeding according to plan, but less drama on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue would be a good thing.

Centrist Republicans were those most eager to distance themselves from Trump.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) tweeted Tuesday: Sharing classified info to one of our enemies is a threat to our national security, troops on the ground & relationships w/ trusted allies.

Said Rep. Barbara Comstock, who is in a highly competitive swing district in the affluent North Virginia suburbs: Once again we are faced with inexplicable stories coming from the White House that are highly troubling.

Asked whether he trusted Trump to handle classified information, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)  who Monday warned of the White Houses downward spiral  turned and shrugged: Sure.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

@LisaMascaro
A prominent open government attorney has sent a letter to the San Diego County Water Authority demanding the agency open up meetings previously held outside the publics view.

Attorney Cory Briggs on Tuesday called on the water authority to remedy a pattern of violations of Californias open meeting law, which limits the scope and frequency of unnoticed, unrecorded meetings. The idea is to prevent officials from conducting government business outside the view of the public.

At issue are closed-door gatherings of authority-appointed delegates to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, a regional agency based in Los Angeles.

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Tuesdays letter demands that the authority begin providing public notice of those meetings and open the gatherings to the public. Such letters are often sent as a precursor to a lawsuit.

The letter arrived less than a month after a U-T Watchdog review of payroll documents revealed members of the water board met behind closed doors more than 100 times last year  four times as often as they met in public. That tally included 22 regularly scheduled gatherings of authority-appointed MWD delegates.

Briggs letter said that, in the absence of a properly posted agenda, those meetings are illegal under the states Ralph M. Brown act governing public meetings.

The full extent of the violations is unknown at this time because, by definition, the circumstances surrounding secret meetings are known only to the perpetrators, he wrote on behalf of the nonprofit advocacy organization San Diegans for Open Government. Nonetheless, according to recent reporting by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the delegates are holding illegal secret meetings and have been doing so for a very long time.

Briggs declined further comment on the matter. The water authority said its still reviewing his letter.

The water authority maintains a longstanding commitment to comply with Brown Act requirements in all of our activities, wrote Mark Hattam, general counsel for the water authority, in a statement on Wednesday. We are reviewing the May 16 letter from Briggs Law Corp. and will be providing an appropriate response.

Authority spokesman Mike Lee said last month the authoritys delegates panel does not run afoul of the rules. He said the group isnt a committee at all, but a group of directors that represent the Water Authoritys interests in other venues  not subject to open meetings laws.

Four water authority directors are officially named to the delegates group. More than twice that many were paid to attend a typical delegates meeting in 2016. The gatherings were held in San Diego, not at an MWD gathering at its headquarters in Los Angeles. San Diego water board Chairman Mark Muir told the U-T last month that the authority has held some version of the same unnoticed, unrecorded meeting for at least 18 years.

Pay slips show Muir and others named to the authoritys 36-member oversight board were collectively paid more than $80,500 to convene an array of closed-door get-togethers last year  about 20 percent more than they were paid for meetings held in public.

The Brown Act, passed in 1953, only allows closed-door meetings of small collections of board members on a social or chance basis, or if their official task is temporary. As a 1996 Attorney Generals opinion described it, agency directors are not subject to the Brown Act if they are charged with accomplishing a specific task in a short period of time.

Brown Act experts contacted by U-T Watchdog last month said they werent convinced that all of the water boards unrecorded meetings met that definition. The authority says it scrupulously complies with open meeting law.
Tuesdays stunning accusation, denied by President Donald Trump, in The New York Times that then-FBI Director James Comey wrote a memo in February saying Trump asked him to drop the federal probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn  I hope you can let this go  could mark the beginning of the end for the 45th president, if corroborated by evidence and testimony.

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There are already attempts to frame this disclosure with a different spin, however, starting with questions about why Comey didnt bring this up earlier, given the gravity of the claim. But combined with Trumps firing of Comey last week over his frustration with the probe into Russias attempts to interfere with the 2016 election and Russias improper contacts with Trumps campaign aides  including Flynn  some Americans are wondering if we are seeing a reprise of the Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon.

While some parallels with Watergate are plain, whats driving this scandal doesnt seem to be a sinister attempt to manipulate American politics so much as Trumps astonishing ignorance of what is and isnt acceptable behavior from a U.S. president.

Trump has empowered ardent supporters by calling it ridiculous that he is suspected of colluding with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to win the White House and labeling such allegations as part of a plot to discredit his election. This much is true: Not only has no evidence emerged that the Trump administration acted to help Moscow, there is evidence Trumps position on some issues challenges Russias military and threatens Russias economy.

Still, it is one thing for Trump to be indignant about this big picture and another thing to reject all the evidence that Russia did indeed try to help Trump by hurting Hillary Clinton with massive leaking of embarrassing information. As columnist David Brooks wrote in commenting on this weeks other Trump bombshell  that Trump spontaneously offered sensitive information about terrorist plots to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak  his presidency is marked by immaturity, petulance and denial. The idea that it would be grossly improper to try to suppress an FBI probe or to ask the FBI director to demonstrate loyalty probably never even crossed Trumps mind. But ignorance of propriety is no excuse  and Americans should hope that House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other congressional Republicans agree, so we can have a serious congressional investigation of Comeys allegation  in addition to an independent probe.

Americans should also hope that in nominating a new FBI director, the president chooses a seasoned law enforcement veteran  not a partisan supporter who would have zero credibility. The new director and perhaps the federal grand jury already looking at the Flynn case should join Congress in trying to get to the bottom of Comeys allegation.

These are tense times in Washington  and a pivotal moment for the nation. Partisan rancor has never seemed more intense. But if there is anything Americans should be able to agree on, it is that presidents shouldnt interfere with FBI investigations. For the sake of the nation, lets hope that consensus can be reached.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
What do Leonardo DiCaprio, an endangered sea animal and the endless Mexican cartel violence thats killing citizens and journalists have in common? They all demand Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietos attention.

And none have been overlooked by him in recent days, as his Twitter account shows.

Pena Nieto on Monday took to Twitter to condemn the murder of narco journalist Javier Valdez whose killing that day has sparked protests and renewed calls for the countrys leader to defend the free press from violence.

In three tweets, Pena Nieto offered his condolences, promised investigative resources, and renewed his commitment to the free press.

Pena Nietos response to the murder of yet another Mexican journalist also follows days of intense online backlash over a series of tweets he posted in English days earlier to address DiCaprios call for more protection of the vaquita, an endangered mammal in the Gulf of Baja California.

Last Wednesday, DiCaprio tweeted a link to an online petition asking the Mexican president to save the last of possibly 30 vaquitas left in the world. The next day, Pena Nieto used his Twitter account to respond.

For the days that followed, Pena Nietos tweets were flooded with critical tweets in English and Spanish  not only for responding to a Hollywood actors call for help but also for his failure to address the countrys violence at the hands of drug cartels.

They kill Miriam Rodriguez and president @EPN tweets about the marine vaquita. Leo DiCaprio comes first. Priorities, one person tweeted in reference to a Mexican mother who was killed on Mothers Day after seeking justice for her daughters murder.

It looks to me that DiCaprio isnt aware of the situation of the disappearances, killings, executions, corruption and violence in this country, another wrote.

Criticism over Pena Nietos tweets is not new  last year, citizens condemned his softness toward Donald Trump s campaign pledge to make Mexico pay for the border wall  but the bitter responses from Mexicans underscores the lack of faith they have in their leader.

The countrys drug cartel violence, the kidnappings and murders that go unsolved, and the gasoline crisis, to name a few problems, have contributed to his lack of popularity. The Los Angeles Times in February reported that Pena Nietos approval ratings fell well below 20 percent with two years left in his term.

Still, more and more Mexicans and people around the world look to Pena Nietos Twitter activity, like President Trumps, for his response (or lack thereof) to almost every major event, global or regional.

On Twitter, Pena Nieto has offered reactions to almost every terrorist attack thats gripped the world, from the 2015 San Bernardino shooting to the terrorist attacks in Paris and elsewhere. Hes also used his Twitter account to tout his meetings with world leaders and other accomplishments.

On Tuesday, protests over the killing of Valdez continued around Mexico and online. On Twitter, the hashtag #NoAlSilencio, Spanish for no to silence, emphasized the countrys deterioration of the free press by cartel violence. Valdez was an award-winning journalist known for reporting on Mexicos drug trafficking and organized crime.

If the protests that followed Valdezs killing prove anything its that more Mexicans are turning to Twitter and using hashtags to demand a response from their leader, hoping that he will perhaps listen and do something.

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.
No, James Comey s memo doesnt prove anything in and of itself.

It didnt take long for armchair analysts to start conversations about obstruction of justice after The New York Times published a report Tuesday saying then-FBI Director James Comey wrote in a memo that President Donald Trump asked him to let an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn go.

While the White House immediately denied Trump had said anything like what he is accused of saying, comparisons were quickly drawn between what Comeys memo said Trump had done and President Richard Nixons near impeachment for obstruction of justice (among other articles).

A quick history lesson: Nixons resignation amid scandal meant he was never impeached, and only two U.S. presidents have been so sanctioned. Former President Bill Clinton was impeached on grounds of perjury and obstruction of justice while he was in the White House, but the Senate acquitted him in 1999, which is what happened to then-President Andrew Johnson in 1868. Johnson escaped removal from office by a single vote.

So there is some precedent for these questions arising. But if the memo does exist  and House Republicans have asked the FBI to produce it and other Trump-related memos written by Comey so Americans should know soon  and Comey can corroborate it with testimony, is that obstruction of justice?

Heres what you need to know.

Obstruction of justice is a felony offense for anyone who obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct or impede the due and proper administration of the law when it comes to legal proceedings being had before any department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation in being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress.

Lawfare Blog, a site featuring posts by prominent attorneys and associated with the Brookings Institute, notes that the longstanding position of the Executive Branch is that the sitting President cannot be prosecuted so the immediate question is not whether this pattern of behavioror any individual component of itcould support a prosecution and criminal conviction for obstruction of justice. Its whether it would support an impeachment in the House and a removal vote in the Senate.

The blog closes its lengthy post by forming another question: Does the pattern of conduct that is emerging, in the view of a majority of the House of Representatives and a two-thirds majority of the Senate, constitute an obstruction of justice of a type that is grounds for impeachment and removal?

Again: Its way too early to tell as Republicans have not in large numbers left Trumps side.

Heres how the blog pointed out that that three things need to be proven, and that two of them are likely, for there to be a criminal prosecution.

(1) There was a proceeding pending before the FBI. Check.

(2) Trump knew about the pending investigation. Check.

(3) Trump corruptly endeavored to influence, obstruct or impede the due and proper administration of the law This one is tough.

A criminal case would require proving that Trump acted corruptly with the specific intent of interfering with the investigation the attorneys write on Lawfare Blog. Thats very hard when youre dealing with the firing of an FBI director, a subject about which the President may have said all kinds of contrary things. Proving his precise state of mind beyond a reasonable doubt might be very tricky.

But the attorneys add that a reasonable person could understand Trumps alleged words as seeking to influence the investigation. Heres what the Times says Trump said:

I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

Lets take a look at what other people are saying.

First, weve got those who are convinced Trump engaged in obstruction of justice.

Now look at all the people saying they dont see it as obstruction of justice or think the discussion is fair.

What do you think? Is Trump in trouble? Or will he continue to be made of Teflon?

Comment below or tweet us at @sdutideas and we may add your thoughts to this page.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin
Plans by San Diego Gas & Electric and the Southern California Gas Company to build a high-pressure natural gas pipeline along Pomerado Road will be the subject of public meetings Wednesday in Escondido and Thursday in Scripps Ranch.

The Rancho Bernardo and Poway portions are part of an approximately 47-mile, 36-inch natural gas transmission pipeline proposed to be built from the Rainbow Metering Station near the Riverside County line to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The endeavor is being called The Pipeline Safety & Reliability Project.

The California Public Utilities Commission is preparing an Environmental Impact Report to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the project and has opened its scoping period, which will run through June 12. The meetings next week are part of that process, where community members may comment on the potential effects of the project, the scope of the Draft EIR and the issues and alternatives to evaluate in the EIR.

The Escondido meetings will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., and from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 24 at the Park Avenue Community Center, 210 E. Park Ave. There will be presentations at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.

The Scripps Ranch meetings will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 25 in Green Hall at Alliant International University, 10455 Pomerado Road. Presentations will be at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.

The PUC is also accepting written comments on the project through June 12. Those can be sent via email to sdgaspipeline@ene.com or by mail to Robert Peterson, California Public Utilities Commission, RE: Pipeline Safety and Reliability Project, c/o Ecology and Environment, Inc., 505 Sansome St., Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94111.

More information on the project can be found at sandiegopipeline-psrp.com.

Email: editor@pomeradonews.com
A 45-year-old man has been convicted for raping a woman in 1998 on a Brooklyn subway platform. Johnny Jacob was found through a "cold hit" search when DNA from the crime scene matched a sample in the New York State DNA database.

On March 2, 1998, a 19-year-old woman had exited an M train around 9:30 a.m. at the Fourth Avenue and 9th Street station in Park Slope when she was approached by a man who ordered her to the back of the platform, according to the Brooklyn D.A.'s office. The man then raped her and threatened to shoot her if she called the police.

The victim went to her jobit was her first day thereand the D.A's office says that her boss called 911. The victim was then treated at Lutheran Hospital and had a rape kit administered.

When Jacob was convicted of federal money laundering charges in 2007, his DNA was entered into the state database. DNA from the rape kit matched Jacob's, and he was arrested in 2013 for first-degree rape.

Jacob will be sentenced on June 2nd; he faces up to 25 years in prison.

"Thanks to the DNA evidence collected at the time of this attack the defendant has now been held accountable for this brutal rape. This case once again underscores the importance of DNA evidence in proving guilt or innocence. I'd also like to commend the victim for having the courage to testify at trial and bring this defendant to justice," said acting Brooklyn D.A. Eric Gonzalez.
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Snatched R Jilted by her boyfriend, a young woman convinces her mother to join her on a trip to paradise that turns out to be a survival nightmare.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword PG13 Young King Arthur becomes the king of Camelot after pulling a magic sword from the legendary stone.

Fate of the Furious PG13 While Dom and Letty are honeymooning, a mysterious woman woos Dom back into a crime ring and challenges the gang.

The Boss Baby PG A suitcase wielding baby arrives to an expectant family, and the 7-year old brother soon recognizes a sinister plot starting to unfold.

Beauty and the Beast PG Disney brings the classic love affair of a beautiful woman and a hideous prince to the screen with this live action musical.

How to Be a Latin Lover PG13 Dumped after years of marriage, a man discovers he is not the heartthrob he used to be and must embrace family.

The Circle PG13 A young woman is employed by a mega tech company but will soon discover the intrusiveness of their business threatens everyone.

Gifted PG13 A single father is challenged in taking care of his mentally gifted daughter as her mathematical abilities grow and relatives seek control.

Smurfs: The Lost Village PG Smurfette and her blue buddies Brainy, Hefty, and Clumsy discover a secret map that will reveal a huge Smurf secret.

Going in Style PG13 In this modern remake of three old-timers gone crooked, the old boys decide to rob a bank to pay their bills and help the kids.

Born in China G A poignant documentary filmed in China, focuses on a panda bear caring for her cub and the survival of other endangered species.

***Also Playing in Theaters***

Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, Battle of Memories, Busters Mal Heart, The Case for Christ, The Dinner, Get Out, Logan, The Lost City of Z, Love off the Cuff, Lowriders, Mothers Day, Phoenix Forgotten, Their Finest, The Wall, Your Name.

Coming to Theaters on May 19

Alien: Covenant R Ridley Scott returns with an alien adventure as the colony ship discovers a remote planet touted to be a virtual paradise. Stars: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride. Directed by Ridley Scott.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul PG In this fourth installment, the Heffley family ventures on a road trip to Meemaws birthday with a side trip. Stars: Alicia Silverstone, Tom Everett Scott, Charlie Wright, Jason Drucker. Directed by David Bowers.

Everything, Everything PG13 In this romantic drama, a teen breaks from her sheltered life when she falls madly in love with the boy next door. Stars: Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, Ana de le Reguera. Directed by Stella Meghie.

Coming Soon: The Commune, Wakefield, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell no Tales, Baywatch, Buena Vista Social Club: Adios, Drone.

New on DVD

xXx 3: Return of Xander Cage PG-13 Left for dead, Xander secretly returns for another assignment under the direction of his handler, Augustus.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter R Alice as sole surviving combatant against the undead returns to Raccoon City to destroy the Umbrella Corp.

The Space Between Us PG-13 The first human born on Mars joins his online friend during a visit to Earth, and they race against time.

Foreign, Classics, Documentaries, and more: A Mermaids Tale, Between Us, Extortion, Africas Great Civilizations, Patient, Gospel of Mark, Breakdown Lane, Good Morning, The Windmill.

Television: The Kennedys After Camelot, Nashville s3, Under the Grill s1, Murders at Barlume, The Bridge s3.

Guy Hanford, a film buff and Kensington Video owner for 33 years, retired after a 39-year teaching career in Ramona.
A motorist who allegedly drove drunk and got into a Mothers Day crash in Ramona that killed a pregnant woman, then summoned a Lyft driver to give him a ride to a bar, was charged today with eight felonies, including murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Andrew Dorian Milonis, 44, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment to the charges, which also include DUI and hit-and-run. His bail was increased to $3 million, and he faces 40 years to life in prison if convicted.

Milonis was heading east on San Vicente Road when his 2011 GMC Yukon pickup rear-ended a 2016 Dodge Dart near Arena Drive about 6:45 p.m. Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol. The impact sent the car veering into a center median, where it struck a tree, fatally injuring the driver, 29-year-old Jessica Foderingham, who was eight months pregnant. The San Diego resident and her unborn daughter were pronounced dead at a hospital.

Milonis allegedly fled following the collision, then abandoned his vehicle about a mile away and called for a Lyft driver to give him a ride to a bar on Main Street, CHP Public Affairs Officer Kevin Pearlstein said. Deputies found him at the Turkey Inn about an hour later and arrested him.

Milonis, a Ramona resident, is due back in court May 31 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial.
A Connecticut-based news agency is suing San Diego city and county officials in federal court, claiming that press credentials issued by the San Diego Police Department violate the First Amendment.

The lawsuit, filed last week in Connecticut by American News and Information Services Inc., centers on authorities' treatment of a freelance video journalist from Ramona whose press credential was taken away. It's the latest in a nationwide series of battles about the government's classification and treatment of journalists.

The task of figuring out who is a member of the press has become far more difficult in recent years because of advances in technology that make it easier for more people to record and publish information.

Access to a television station or printing press, which aren't easy or cheap to come by, are no longer required. Now, anyone can start up a personal blog for free and get to work recording newsworthy events with a smartphone.

The lawsuit demands that government officials in San Diego County should consider privately issued press passes equally valid as government-issued credentials, and that authorities should not interfere with any citizen's right to lawfully cover news.

In San Diego County, the hefty responsibility of determining who is a journalist falls on one agency: The San Diego Police Department. But the lawsuit contends that the government doesn't get to decide who is protected by the First Amendment.

San Diego police issued freelance journalist James Charles Playford a press credential but later took it away after someone filed a restraining order against him, a police spokesman said earlier this year.

After that, American News and Information Services issued Playford one of its own press credentials. But San Diego County law enforcement officials have not routinely honored the privately issued credentials, the lawsuit says.

San Diego County sheriff's deputies have arrested Playford four times since 2010 on suspicion of obstructing them in the performance of their duties. Playford, who has a reputation among police agencies for being loud and aggressive in his coverage, was filming police activity and did not comply with sheriff's deputies' orders to identify himself, move or leave.

Playford said Tuesday that he was within his rights as a member of the news media and as a citizen.

American News and Information Services is a small company founded in 1989 that works with freelancers across the country to gather information and collect video footage, founder and president Ed Peruta said. Playford is one of five freelancers associated with the company and the only one in Southern California, Peruta said.

Peruta said that the government is overstepping its bounds.

"The government should not be in the business of saying who is and who is not the news," Peruta said. "It's not their job and it's not their jurisdiction. News organizations say who the media is, not the government."

Press credentials

The San Diego Police Department's press credential is a plastic card that identifies the holder as a verified member of the news media.

To qualify for one, a member of the media must demonstrate a need to regularly cross police or fire lines and must pass a criminal background check, said Detective Gary Hassen, a spokesman for the San Diego Police Department who is in charge of issuing the credentials.

Additionally, the applicant's journalistic outlet must have been in existence for at least six months. He said the agency has issued credentials to bloggers, most notably those who work for Patch.com.

Hassen declined to speak specifically about ongoing litigation. But he said he reserves credentials for news gatherers who will come into contact with authorities in the field.

The card doesn't give the holder any special rights beyond what any private citizen has under the First Amendment, though there is a small exception in California law that allows journalists special access to some disaster areas, experts said.

However, government agencies often exercise discretion to give credentialed journalists additional access to crime scenes or routine events. Locally, they sometimes deny uncredentialed journalists admission to press conferences.

A recent press release from the San Diego County District Attorney's office, for instance, announced a news conference to discuss an indictment of members of a car-theft ring. At the bottom of the notice was the line: "NOTE: SDPD-issued news media credential required to attend."

Sheriff's deputies and police officers also often ask members of the media to display the credentials at crime scenes or other newsworthy events.

Hassen said when he is at news events, he honors press credentials issued by media agencies.

When asked if he thought that the police department's official press credentials were meaningful at all, Hassen said that depends on who you ask.

"The media seem to think so," Hassen said. "If you were to call and take a poll of television, radio and print, you would find they want the press pass."

Constitutional flap

Jim Ewert, general counsel for the California Newspaper Publishers Association, said Tuesday that the press passes may have placed San Diego officials in a vulnerable position.

"I think that could be problematic for the police department in that they're not supposed to discriminate between media sources," Ewert said. "That's pretty established case law throughout the country."

A recent case that chips away at the distinction between a journalist and a private citizen revolves around a man who used a cellphone to record Boston police officers making an arrest on a public sidewalk in 2007.

Officers noticed the man, Simon Glik, recording the scene and arrested him. He was charged with wiretapping because the cellphone camera recorded audio.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First District ruled that Glik was shielded by the First Amendment's protection of the press, even though he was not a professional journalist. The court cited several other cases in explaining the decision.

"As the Supreme Court has observed, 'the First Amendment goes beyond protection of the press and the self-expression of individuals to prohibit government from limiting the stock of information from which members of the public may draw,'" the ruling said.

"The First Amendment right to gather news is, as the Court has often noted, not one that inures solely to the benefit of the news media; rather, the public's right of access to information is coextensive with that of the press," the ruling said.

The American News and Information Services complaint, prepared by Connecticut attorney Rachel M. Baird, cites that case and others.

Peruta said he's not planning on backing down.

"I'm going to bring this case, I'm going to fund this case," Peruta said, "and I'm going to take this case to wherever it's got to go."
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)  Little action has been taken to clean up pollution caused by oil production in Nigerias Niger Delta region, either by the government or Shell Oil, Amnesty International and other groups charged Monday.

Oil production has contaminated the drinking water of at least 10 communities in the Ogoniland area but neither the Nigerian government nor Royal Dutch Shells Nigeria subsidiary have taken effective measures to restore the fouled environment, said the new report by Amnesty International, Friends of The Earth Europe, Center for Environment, Human Rights and Development, Environmental Rights Action, and Platform.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corp., the state-owned oil company, has not yet responded to a request by The Associated Press for reaction to the critical report.

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A detailed assessment of pollution in the oil-producing area was published in 2011 by the United Nations Environment Program, which said it will probably take up to 30 years to fully clean the area.

In the three years since UNEPs study was published, the government of Nigeria and Shell have taken almost no meaningful action to implement its recommendations, said the joint report.

The failure to fully implement any of the non-emergency measures after three years has resulted in a loss of confidence among many stakeholders. Even the emergency measures have only been partially implemented, the groups said.

Among those emergency measures, emergency water supplies were brought to communities affected by the pollution. But the communities say these supplies are erratic, often insufficient and the water sometimes smelled bad and was unpleasant to drink, said the groups report.

In its earlier study UNEP gave several examples of contaminated water and land, including at Nisisioken Ogale, in western Ogoniland. Families are drinking water from wells that is contaminated with benzene  a known carcinogen  at levels over 900 times above World Health Organization guidelines, said UNEP.

In July 2012 the government created the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) to implement the UN recommendations. But as of July this year, none of the NGOs monitoring UNEP implementation was aware of any action by HYPREP to meet this commitment, the groups said.

Oil production stopped in Ogoniland in 1993, but some of the equipment wasnt fully decommissioned, leaving it open to sabotage and corrosion, the U.N. report found. in January 2013 Shell requested approval from the government to decommission its assets in Ogoniland, and was granted an approval more than a year later, in February 2014, according to the report. Shells description of what has been achieved amounts to almost no action whatever, the groups said.

The people of Ogoniland continue to suffer the effects of fifty years of an oil industry which has polluted their land, air and water, the groups said. Only some of the emergency measures have been implemented  and then only partially.

The groups accused Shell of putting the blame on oil theft, rather than taking responsibility and acting on the findings of the UN report.

Nigeria, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is Africas largest oil producer and most populous nation. But several communities in the oil-producing Niger River delta say their areas are still underdeveloped, and their region has been polluted by oil spills, ruining their drinking water and their sources of livelihood including farming and fishing.

Oil companies say gangs that break into pipelines to steal crude oil are the main causes of oil spills in the region. Shell, the largest oil company operating in Nigeria, is now facing a lawsuit in the United Kingdom where the law firm Leigh Day, representing fishermen in the Niger Delta, is arguing the company isnt doing enough to maintain and protect its pipelines from being sabotaged by oil thieves. But Shell insists its following international best practice in its operations in the West African country.
A Clairemont man stole an Army tank and took it on a bizarre and destructive rampage through the streets of San Diego yesterday evening before it crashed to a stop over a freeway divider, where he was fatally shot by police.

Police identified the man as Shawn Nelson, a plumber in his mid-30s; neighbors said he had been acting strangely in recent months.

The tank he stole from the National Guard Armory sped through the streets of Kearny Mesa, leaving a wake of toppled telephone poles, geysers spewing from battered fire hydrants and scores of crushed vehicles.

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At least 5,100 San Diego Gas & Electric Co. customers were left without power in Linda Vista. Thousands of motorists were stuck on state Route 163, which was closed in both directions as police hauled the mortally wounded Nelson out of the tank and began sorting out the destruction he caused. No other injuries were reported.

I saw it come out of the armory, said Bobby Tarantino, but it didnt seem unusual until he started aiming at telephone poles and cars.

Barbel DAgostino, a 17-year resident of Armstrong Street, along the route the tank took, said she felt like she was in the movies.

This is the most bizarre thing that has ever happened on this street, she said. He wiped everything out on Ashford Street.

The tank was identified as an M-60A3, a 31-foot-long vehicle capable of speeds up to 30 miles per hour. It weights 57.3 tons when fully loaded for combat and carries a 105 mm gun and machine guns.

For years, it was NATOs main battle tank in the Cold War standoff against Warsaw Pact forces. Yesterdays unexplained rampage was thought to be the first emergency of its kind for San Diego police, accustomed to fighting crime -- not armor.

The only similar known incident occurred in July 1982, when an Army private from Pennsylvania stole an M-60 tank and tore through downtown Mannheim, in the former West Germany, causing $50,000 damage before plunging it into a murky river.

Police said tank stolen yesterday was unarmed, but its bulk is more than enough to make it an exceptionally lethal vehicle. Midway through the 25-minute emergency, police dispatchers reported that a special weapons and tactics (SWAT) sergeant expressed concern that police had no equipment that can take (a) tank down.

Were not equipped to handle a vehicle like this, police Capt. Tom Hall told a news conference later.

Jay Ferguson, a former Army tank commander now employed at The San Diego Union-Tribune, said an M-60 tank is operated by a steering wheel and is relatively easy to drive.

Driving an M-60, he said, you realize that theres some obstacles that you dont need to avoid (as in driving a car). You feel a lot of power, because thats a lot of weight behind you.

Police learned about the rampage at 6:46 p.m. from a detective who reported he was following a tank that was rolling over vehicles. Dozens of officers sped to the area, and Route 163 was closed.

Police and witnesses said the tank rumbled down the freeway and stopped after Nelson apparently tried to crash through the center divider north of Genesee Avenue. The collision tore off one of the tanks treads, disabling it.

Four officers -- including a reservist familiar with tanks -- then jumped atop the tank and used bolt cutters to open its hatch, which was in combat lockdown, as police and media helicopters circled overhead in the gathering dusk.

Police shot the driver as he put the tank into gear in what officers said could have been an attempt to throw the officers from the turret.

We kept shouting at him to come out, but he wouldnt, said San Diego Police Capt. Skip DiCerchio. We had no way of stopping that tank, he said. He obviously knew what he was doing. He was working that tank pretty good.

Nelson, long-haired and shirtless, was dragged from the tank by police. Paramedic Mark Caviness said Nelson had no pulse and was bleeding from a gunshot wound to the right rear shoulder. Police said he carried no identification.

National Guard Maj. Ed Gale said the tank theft was the first of its kind from the armory. The tank was one of 10 kept at the 22-acre facility.

It appears that he broke a lock (on the outside of the tank) and was able to re-enable the fuel shutoff mechanism, Gale said. At this point, it appears that he acted alone.

Sandra Pinell and her daughters, Jennifer, 15, and Heather, 12, were parked at an intersection in a Dodge minivan when they saw the tank approach. I decided to give him the right-of-way, said Pinell. The tank then turned and headed straight toward their vehicle. Pinells horrified daughters caught a glimpse of Nelsons face.

He threw back his head, said Jennifer. He was laughing and his eyes were bulging out of their sockets. Becky Jensen, a student at nearby Mesa College, said the scene looks like a war zone.

Its really scary, she said. I think it affects me more because of the Oklahoma City bombing. It just brings it a lot closer to home.

I could see his face, his head was sticking out of the turret, said a witness named Rick, who did not give his last name. He had long brown hair, probably shoulder length. He looked like he was having fun.

George Marantos, 28, who followed the tanks path, said the man appeared to turn hostile when he stopped to talk to a couple at the corner of Beagle and Ashford streets, near the start of the rampage.

He turned the tanks gun barrel and knocked down a telephone pole, which nearly hit gasoline pumps at Sams Texaco. Employees there said the stations tanks had just been filled with 4,000 gallons.

When he turned the turret around I thought it was loaded, said Marantos, visibly shaken. Thats when it got really scary. We dont even feel safe in our neighborhood.

I saw a tank coming at me, and I didnt think it was unusual at first, said Bobbie Farr. It headed right at my travel trailer, and all I could think was, God, I hope theres no kids out there. Farr said a police helicopter blared a warning to residents through its loudspeaker: Dont come out; your lives are in danger.

I started shaking, ran to find my grandson and stayed in the house, Farr said. Joey Morris, Farrs grandson, turned 11 yesterday and had just returned home from a Little League game at a field across the street from the armory.

I thought it was a parade, said Lisa Clark. Alma Lee, who lives on Ashford Street, came out to see the commotion with a shower cap still on her head. A fire hydrant outside her house had been knocked over by the tank.

Whats weird, said Jimmy Benavides Jr., who lives down the street, is that he turned on a dime just past my house, so he knew how to drive. He was aiming for my motor home.

The tank smashed into the drivers side of Benavides 25-foot Pace Arrow.
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/17/2017 -- Biomedical Textiles Market: Overview



Medical textiles is a wide class under technical textiles, which includes wound dressings, bandages, and hospital linen (external and theater linen). Biomedical textiles include those implantable on a patient such as arterial grafts, artificial skin and other organs, sutures and ligatures, and artificial repair fabrics. Hence, biomedical textiles can be defined as materials comprising of fibers that are specially designed for use in specific biological conditions, wherein biocompatibility and bio-stability with cells and biological environment are the factors determining the performance of biomedical textiles.



Every day the society is changing in the form of increasing population size and desire to have a longer life span. Factors such as unavoidable situations and hazards occurring in the civilization that lands an individual in a hospital and subsequent care required are the reasons for demand for biomedical textiles.



Browse Report @ http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/biomedical-textiles-market.html



Biomedical Textiles Market: Trends



Tissue engineering is an upcoming technology, wherein researchers are trying to develop textiles that allow the body to form new tissue around them. This would enable the body to not solely depend on synthetic material implanted in the body. Medical textiles is a speedily expanding segment of the technical textiles market and is expected to witness high growth in the near future.



For the last five decades, biomedical textiles and fiber-based implants are being used routinely to help in healing. There exist a number of biomaterials that can be used as medical textiles such as cotton, silk, fiber yarns, collagen, synthetic fibers (PTFE, carbon, polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, and polyurethane), viscose, and alginate. Some of these are bio-degradable, for instance, collagen, viscose, and cotton. The others are non-biodegradable, for example, PTFE fiber, carbon fiber, and polyester fiber.



The controllable degradability, biocompatibility, ease of processing, and significant mechanical strength are the factors considered for any biomaterial to be used for soft tissue repair, extracorporeal implants, health care and hygiene products, and other related purposes.



Biomedical Textiles Market: Segmentation



Based on usages of the biomedical textile, the market can be segmented into implantable and non-implantable (extracorporeal) materials.



Based on raw materials, the market can be divided into fibers, yarns, woven, knitted, nonwoven, and others.



Based on products, the market can be segmented into suture & ligature, vascular implants, soft tissue implants, hard tissue implants, hernia repair, lenses, dental biomaterials, plasters, dressings & bandages, pressure garments, and others.



Based on applications, the biomedical textiles market can be divided into ophthalmology, neurology, cardiovascular, general surgery, dental, orthopedics, all-purpose, and others.



Biomedical Textiles Market: Region-wise Outlook



The biomedical textiles market in North America and Europe is mature, due to established health care facilities and availability of sophisticated products in these regions. The market, being mature, provides limited opportunities in terms of untapped potential in the biomedical textiles market. Asia Pacific is expected to be a highly attractive market. Increase in the number of health care facilities in Asia Pacific is expected to boost the biomedical textiles market in the region, as the region accounts for more than 50% of the global population and emerging economies. The biomedical textiles market in Middle East & Africa is likely to expand at a speedy rate.



Biomedical Textiles Market: Key Players



Key players operating in the biomedical textiles market include Secant Medical, Tactile Medical, SWICOFIL, Confluent Medical Technologies, ATEX TECHNOLOGIES, US BioDesign, Bally Ribbon Mills, Meister & Cie AG, and DSM.



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.



Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Biomedical Textiles market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.



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The study is a source of reliable data on:

-Market segments and sub-segments

-Market trends and dynamics

-Supply and demand

-Market size

-Current trends/opportunities/challenges

-Competitive landscape

-Technological breakthroughs

-Value chain and stakeholder analysis



The regional analysis covers:

-North America (U.S. and Canada)

-Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)

-Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)

-Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)

-Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)

-Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)



The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industry's value chain.



A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.



Highlights of the report:

-A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market

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-Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments

-Market shares and strategies of key players

-Emerging niche segments and regional markets

-An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market

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Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/16/2017 -- The latest research report titled Global Coffee Market: Trends & Opportunities (2016-2020) provides an in-depth analysis of the global coffee market with detailed analysis of market sizing and growth, market share and economic impact of the industry. The report also provides the production and consumption analysis of the market. The report provides detailed market analysis of the global retail coffee market by value and volume along with the segments of the market.



The report provides detailed regional analysis of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America Middle East & Africa and Australasia for the coffee market. Regional analysis includes market sizing by value along with the production and consumption analysis. It also provides the retail sales value of each region.



The report also includes the country analysis of Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ethiopia and India. It provides the production and consumption analysis along with the export-import trends in each of the above mentioned countries.



Download Sample Copy of This Report : http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/703135



Furthermore, the report assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the global retail coffee market has also been forecasted for the period 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in global coffee market is stiff and dominated by the big players like Nestle. Further, key players of the coffee market The J.M. Smucker Company, Mondelez International Inc. and Strauss Group Ltd. are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.



Regional Coverage



Western Europe

Eastern Europe

North America

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa



Country Coverage



Brazil

Vietnam

Indonesia

Ethiopia

India



Company Coverage



The J.M. Smucker Company

Mondelez International Inc.

Strauss Group Ltd.



Executive Summary



Global coffee market increased at a significant CAGR during the span of 5 years i.e. 2011-2015 and projections are made that the market would rise in the next five years i.e. 2016-2020 tremendously. The market can be segmented on the basis of end-users as retail coffee market and food services market, of which global retail coffee market displayed an increase, driving the global coffee market. The increasing consumption of coffee led by the westernization trend in India, China and Latin America drive the market in the positive direction.



The growth drivers for the global coffee market are: rise in disposable income, rapid urbanization and increase in the population along with the emergence of caf culture and new consumer base. Despite the market is governed by various growth drivers, there are certain challenges faced by the market such as: aging of coffee trees, lack of government support, negative impact of climate change, price volatility and increase in production cost.



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Santa Fe, NM -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/17/2017 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/



Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles.



Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region.



Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child.



Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children.



BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins.

FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604.

SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England.

CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles.

CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth.

DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269



Contact Adam Green!

c: 801-809-7766

e: g3president@comcast.net



Santa Fe New Mexico General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Declares New Geneology Asset Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.mychocolatepod.com/



Women of Early Plymouth: Governor William Bradford reported that the Pilgrims were worried that the "weak bodies of women" would not be able to withstand the rigors of a trans-Atlantic voyage and the construction of a colony. Prior to the Mayflower, very few English women had made the voyage across the ocean.



Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke colony arrived in Virginia in 1587, and amongst those 120 colonists there were 17 women: a baby girl, Virginia Dare, was born after arrival. When re-supply ships came from England, they could not relocate the people. The colony had mysteriously disappeared, and was never seen again. The Jamestown Colony was founded in 1607, but relatively few women had yet made the voyage and taken up residence there.



The Pilgrim husband, as head of the household, had an important and difficult decision to make. Building a colony would be hard on a woman's "weaker body." It might be safer and healthier to leave her behind, and have her come later once the houses were built, and the general safety and successfulness of the colony were better established. But that could be several years. Could he live several years without his wife? How strong was his wife anyway, could she really handle it? Was it right to put your wife's life in danger in this manner?



As the Mayflower left England for America, there were 18 adult women on-board. Three of them, Elizabeth Hopkins, Susanna White, and Mary Allerton, were actually in their last trimester of a pregnancy. All the adult women on the Mayflower were married; there were no single women--although there were a few teenage girls nearing marriageable age.



While no women would die during the Mayflower's voyage, life after arrival proved extremely difficult. In fact, 78% of the women would die the first winter, a far higher percentage than for men or children. Dorothy Bradford was the first woman to die, and the only woman who died in the month of December. While many of the men, including her husband, were out exploring on Cape Cod, she accidentally fell off the Mayflower into the bitter cold waters of Provincetown Harbor. Most of the women's death dates were not recorded, but we do know that Rose Standish died on January 29, Mary Allerton died on February 25, and Elizabeth Winslow died on March 24. Most of the women died in February and March.



The Pilgrims did not leave behind any lists of the items they brought with them on the Mayflower, but historians have used a provision list put together by Captain John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) to take an educated guess. However, in 2012, Caleb Johnson, Simon Neal, and Jeremy Bangs started transcribing and studying a rare manuscript (a page of which is here illustrated) in the possession of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, that was written by one of the investors in the Pilgrims' joint-stock company. This manuscript actually contains several lists of suggested provisions the colonists should bring with them. It is the closest thing we can get to a list of what the Pilgrims would have actually brought.



A summary of some of the key items on the provision lists: http://mayflowerhistory.com/pilgrim-history/



-Food and Drink: Biscuit, beer, salt, (dried) beef, salt pork, oats, peas, wheat, butter, sweet oil, mustard seed, ling or cod fish, "good cheese", vinegar, aqua-vitae, rice, bacon, cider.



-Clothing: Monmouth cap, falling bands, shirts, waistcoat, suit of canvas, suit of cloth, Irish stockings, 4 pairs of shoes, garters. Slippers, plain shoes, little shoes, French soles, sewing needles.



-Bedding: Canvas sheets, bolster "filled with good straw", rug and blankets.



-Arms: Light armor (complete), fowling piece, snaphance, sword, belt, bandoleer, powder horn, 20 pounds of powder, 60 pounds of shot.



-Household: Iron pot, kettle, frying pan, gridiron, two skillets, spit, platters, dishes, spoons of wood, napkins, towels, soap, hand mill, mortar and pestle.



-Tools: Broad hoes, narrow hoes, broad axe, felling axe, steel handsaw, whipsaw, hammers, shovels, spades, augers, chisels, gimlets, hatchets, grinding stone, nails, locks for doors.



The extremely high mortality rate among women is probably explainable by the fact the men were out in the fresh air, felling trees, building structures and drinking fresh New England water; while the women were confined to the damp, filthy and crowded quarters offered by the Mayflower, where disease would have spread much more quickly. The two-month voyage was long enough; the women, however, remained living on the ship for an additional four months while the men built storehouses and living quarters on shore. Many of the sick were no doubt cared for on-board the ship by the women, increasing their exposure to colds and pneumonias. William Mullins died on February 21, apparently on-board the Mayflower since his will was witnessed by the ship's captain and ship's surgeon. His wife Alice and son Joseph had not yet died, but it wasn't too long before they did, orphaning their teenage daughter Priscilla in the New World.



Only five women survived the first winter. One of the five survivors, Mrs. Katherine Carver, died in May of a "broken heart," her husband John having died of sunstroke a month earlier. Weak bodies or not, by the time of the famous "Thanksgiving," there were only four women left to care for the Colony's fifty surviving men and children. The four women were Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster, and Susanna (White) Winslow.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/women



Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism. http://www.AdamPaulGreen.com , http://www.ImAdamGreen.com



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About MayflowerHistory.com

MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material.



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Anthropogenic effects on the space environment started in the late 19th century and reached their peak in the 1960s when high-altitude nuclear explosions were carried out by several countries. These explosions created artificial radiation belts near Earth that resulted in major damages to satellites. Another, unexpected impact of the high-altitude nuclear tests was the electromagnetic pulse.

Other anthropogenic impacts on the space environment include chemical release experiments, high-frequency wave heating of the ionosphere and the interaction of VLF (very low frequency) waves with the radiation belts.

In a paper recently published in the journal Space Science Reviews, researchers reviewed the fundamental physical process behind these phenomena and discussed the observations of their impacts.

Space Weather Events Linked to High-Altitude Nuclear Explosions

From 1958 to 1962, the U.S. and the Soviet Union ran high-altitude tests with exotic code names like Starfish, Argus and Teak. The tests have long since ended, and the goals at the time were military. Today, however, they can provide crucial information on how humans can affect space.

The tests were a human-generated and extreme example of some of the space weather effects frequently caused by the Sun, said co-author Dr. Phil Erickson, assistant director at the MIT Haystack Observatory.

If we understand what happened in the somewhat controlled and extreme event that was caused by one of these man-made events, we can more easily understand the natural variation in the near-space environment.

Space weather is typically driven by external factors. The Sun sends out millions of high-energy particles, the solar wind, which races out across the Solar System before encountering Earth and its magnetosphere, a protective magnetic field surrounding the planet.

Most of the charged particles are deflected, but some make their way into near-Earth space and can impact our satellites by damaging onboard electronics and disrupting communications or navigation signals.

These particles, along with electromagnetic energy that accompanies them, can also cause auroras, while changes in the magnetic field can induce currents that damage power grids.

The Cold War tests, which detonated explosives at heights from 16 to 250 miles above the surface, mimicked some of these natural effects. Upon detonation, a first blast wave expelled an expanding fireball of plasma, a hot gas of electrically charged particles. This created a geomagnetic disturbance, which distorted Earths magnetic field lines and induced an electric field on the surface.

Some of the tests even created artificial radiation belts, akin to the natural Van Allen radiation belts, a layer of charged particles held in place by Earths magnetic fields.

Other tests mimicked other natural phenomena we see in space. The Teak test, which took place on Aug. 1, 1958, was notable for the artificial aurora that resulted. The test was conducted over Johnston Island in the Pacific Ocean.

On the same day, the Apia Observatory in Western Samoa observed a highly unusual aurora, which are typically only observed in at the poles. The energetic particles released by the test likely followed Earths magnetic field lines to the Polynesian island nation, inducing the aurora. Observing how the tests caused aurora, can provide insight into what the natural auroral mechanisms are too.

Later that same year, when the Argus tests were conducted, effects were seen around the world.

These tests were conducted at higher altitudes than previous tests, allowing the particles to travel farther around Earth.

Sudden geomagnetic storms were observed from Sweden to Arizona and scientists used the observed time of the events to determine the speed at which the particles from the explosion traveled.

They observed two high-speed waves: the first traveled at 1,860 miles per second and the second, less than a fourth that speed. Unlike the artificial radiation belts, these geomagnetic effects were short-lived, lasting only seconds.

Such atmospheric nuclear testing has long since stopped, and the present space environment remains dominated by natural phenomena.

However, considering such historical events allows scientists and engineers to understand the effects of space weather on our infrastructure and technical systems.

NASAs Van Allen Probes Find Anthropogenic Bubble Shrouding Earth

VLF radio communications have been found to interact with particles in space, affecting how and where they move. At times, these interactions can create a barrier around Earth against natural high energy particle radiation in space, according to Dr. Erickson and co-authors.

VLF signals are transmitted from ground stations at huge powers to communicate with submarines deep in the ocean.

While these waves are intended for communications below the surface, they also extend out beyond our atmosphere, shrouding Earth in a VLF bubble.

This bubble is even seen by spacecraft high above Earths surface, such as NASAs Van Allen Probes.

The probes have noticed an interesting coincidence  the outward extent of the VLF bubble corresponds almost exactly to the inner edge of the Van Allen radiation belts, a layer of charged particles held in place by Earths magnetic fields.

Professor Dan Baker, co-author of the paper and director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder, coined this lower limit the impenetrable barrier and speculates that if there were no human VLF transmissions, the boundary would likely stretch closer to Earth.

Indeed, comparisons of the modern extent of the radiation belts from Van Allen Probe data show the inner boundary to be much farther away than its recorded position in satellite data from the 1960s, when VLF transmissions were more limited.

With further study, VLF transmissions may serve as a way to remove excess radiation from the near-Earth environment.

A number of experiments and observations have figured out that, under the right conditions, radio communications signals in the VLF frequency range can in fact affect the properties of the high-energy radiation environment around the Earth, Dr. Erickson said.

_____

T.I. Gombosi et al. Anthropogenic Space Weather. Space Sci Rev, published online April 13, 2017; doi: 10.1007/s11214-017-0357-5

This article is based on text provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
[Buenos Aires] Three South American countries have issued policies to regulate cannabis use for medical or recreational purposes. In recent weeks, firm steps have been taken to legalise the controversial plant in the region.

This also opens new opportunities for research into its therapeutic and pharmacological properties. But the measures are still the subject of debate among scientists, who have mixed views about legalisation and the need for clinical trials as well as control measures.

To date, research has shown that at least 45 different pathologies do not respond to conventional medicine, but they respond to cannabis.

Colombia and Argentina have issued policies to regulate the cultivation and marketing of the plant, as well as the manufacture of derived products. Uruguays policies cover recreational use of the plant  after more than three years of study, the government announced last month (April 6) that as of July, it will enable the sale of cannabis in pharmacies.

Chile, Jamaica and Puerto Rico have also approved medicinal use of the plant in recent years, while in Mexico a congressional debate on the issue is still pending.

Rules in three countries

People who want to buy cannabis in Uruguay must register, from May 2nd, at the offices of Uruguayan Mail. Anyone can buy up to 10 grams per week, with a limit of 40 grams per month, at a cost of US$ 1.30 per gram. Users will be identified by their fingerprints, with a device showing the pharmacist if the buyer is authorised and how much they can buy.

It is estimated that, initially, around 30 pharmacies will participate in the system.

In Colombia, the government issued an order on April 10 to regulate the management of cannabis seeds and their derivatives for medical and scientific purposes. It established four types of licence, all with a validity period of five years: for manufacture of derivatives, use of seeds for planting, cultivation of psychoactive cannabis plants, and cultivation of non-psychoactive cannabis plants. The order states that drugs may only be advertised or promoted in scientific or technical publications, addressed to the medical and / or veterinary body.

In Argentina, a law that incorporates the use of cannabis-based medicines to the National Public Health System was made official on April 19. This law was promoted more than a year ago by groups of mothers of children with diseases and neurological disorders, especially epilepsies, that do not respond to conventional treatments.

For now, cannabis will be used to treat refractory epilepsy, cancer, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, and others that the Argentine Ministry of Health deems appropriate.

The same regulation also applies to research, cultivation and production of cannabis by the State. It also guarantees the free supply  initially through the import of cannabis oil  to registered patients.

Debate over the science

But not everyone agrees with these developments. Marcelo Merello, director of the neurosciences department of the Foundation for the Fight against Neurological Diseases of Children (FLENI) in Argentina, highlights an enormous discrepancy between the lack of scientific data showing the usefulness of cannabis, the new regulation and the increasing demand for its use.

Science and research in this case go far behind regulations and that is a real problem, primarily for patients, and for doctors as well, Merello said in a statement posted on FLENIs website.

But Carlos Magdalena, a neurologist at the Children's Hospital Dr. Ricardo Gutierrez in Buenos Aires, questions this argument. We have [only] been able to do research for a very short period of time, because it was forbidden, Magdalena says. When some colleagues ask us for longitudinal studies we understand that they seek to devalue the evidence; its a way to avoid a possibility of therapeutic alternatives, to improve the quality of life that would be very imprudent to generate.

We should move forward in constructing a network that includes care, boosts teacher training, and institutionalizes the subject [of cannabis use] in health organisations, its the only way to make up for time lost. Carlos Magdalena, Children's Hospital Dr. Ricardo Gutierrez, Buenos Aires

A dozen case studies were presented at the last Congress in 2014, of the Argentine Society of Neurology  and Magdalena confesses they had to be done in secret, with a little shame.

He emphasizes that, for the first time, the traditional doctor-patient relationship, in which traditionally the first has the know-how and the latter is a passive being, is being reversed as a result of the recent policies.

For Merello, the benefit of approving cannabis oil is not so much for its use, but for the great door it opens to advancing scientific research. Science should be allowed to make a pronouncement on its usefulness and safety in the most expeditious way possible so that patients, if there are benefits, can take advantage of them quickly, he argues.

Policies that work for patients

Valeria Salech is president of the Chilean NGO Mama Cultiva, and mother of a 10-year-old boy with epilepsy and autism, conditions that she treats with oil from a cannabis plant she grows in her house. Very traditional and prejudiced doctors shut the doors for us saying that cannabis was not going to work, she says. We have even been expelled from the clinics for daring to challenge the doctor's authority.

Maria Laura Alasi, founder of Cannabis Medicinal Argentina, says there is a way to address concerns over addiction. Sometimes a single variety of oil does not cover all the needs, so it is necessary to rotate the type of cannabis so that there is no habit, she explains.

Because of these needs, and in order to avoid a regulatory approach based on provision of the oil by the laboratories, Salech and Alasi argue that it is necessary to legalize self-cultivation.

First world countries have incorporated it as a medicine into the therapeutic chain, creating a multimillion dollar industry, says biologist Marcelo Rubinstein, a researcher at the Research Institute in Genetic and Molecular Biology Engineering Dr. Hector N. Torres (INGEBI) in Argentina.

We should move forward in constructing a network that includes care, boosts teacher training, and institutionalizes the subject [of cannabis use] in health organisations, says Magdalena, adding that its the only way to make up for time lost.

With additional reporting of Daniela Hirschfeld, from Uruguay.

This piece was originally published by the Latin America and Caribbean desk.
Poland's Bialowieza forest is under a great threat from logging. Should it continue, it would slowly give way to a huge loss of biodiversity, says the European Union.

However, Poland can scale the conflict over logging to higher blocs, says the Polish Environment Minister Jan Szyszko, according to Phys.org The European Commission had written a "final warning" to Warsaw, explaining that it would take some legal steps that would bring down the logging in Bialowieza.

This UNESCO World Heritage forest lies in the border area of Belarus. It is among the oldest and largest forests of this area. It is part of the Natura 2000 network of protected regions.

The primeval forest is among the last patches of Europe that have been threatened with Poland approving petitions for large-scale logging. Poland said that the reason was a bark beetle outbreak, according to EU Observer. Poland defended the logging, calling it "protective logging" that can ward off insects, road traffic as well as prevent risks of forest fires. It affirmed that the logging is important in order to maintain a balance between the commercial and conservationist requirements.

However, scientists and NGOs had charged that Poland was using it only as an excuse for economic exploitation. EU authorities last year had started a new probe. Green groups had agreed that Poland was violating the EU's habitats directive. This is a 24-year-old rule book related to the protection of the species.

"We are not afraid to take this dispute to the EU Court of Justice," said Szyszko. "We are simply defending the environmental law based on Natura 2000."

The EU's executive branch had given one month to Poland to address the forest issues. Otherwise, it could also get summons by the EU's top courts, regarding the "urgency of the situation."
The mining industry has brought financial benefits to the residents of Antofagasta, a town located in the northern part of Chile. Unfortunately, the money they reap from the industry costs their health status as more residents are reported to have various diseases like lung cancer.

In an article published by Agence France-Presse, the mining industry in Antofagasta has helped the residents to raise their annual income to almost a double national average, which plays in $36,000. But in exchange, the mining industry is also attributed for giving this city in Chile the highest rate of lung death cancers.

In the latest data from the Public Health Institute, this city of Chile has more than a doubled average of lung cancer death at under 35 per 100,000 residents. The health agency also conducted a study about this and found 16 different metals in the dust in the mining sites of Antofagasta.

In an article published in Phys.org, the Antofagasta Medical College in Chile said that they found the following metals in the dust: arsenic, cadmium, zinc, chrome, copper, lead, and manganese. This is said to be far exceeding on the norm of Chile.

It is not only lung cancer that has been the reason of death in Antofagasta. Scientists in Chile also found a high number of bladder and skin cancer deaths among the citizens.

Antofagasta Medical College President Aliro Bolados said that these residents in the town of Chile are exposed to a biological experiment exposed to "such levels of contamination. "Scientists consider that the Antofagasta area is undergoing a biological experiment in having the population exposed to such levels of contamination," he said.

For people in Chile who are now in their forties or fifties, they have a more high risk of getting cancer in Antofagasta, Catterina Ferrecio, the deputy head of the Center for Advanced Study of Chronic Diseases, Epidemiology, and Cancer has said. "Despite having the highest per capita income, they have the lowest life expectancy in Chile," she said.
Apple has reportedly started sending out press invites for its much awaited WWDC 2017 developer conference. The four-day event that will start from June 5 will be held at McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif., at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. The WWDC 2017 will begin with a keynote address from Apple CEO Tim Cook.

While the invite does not reveal much detail about what the Cupertino-based tech giant will announce at the event, it is expected that the first developer preview of iOS 11 will be released at the WWDC 2017, Gadgets 360 reported. Among other things, the iPhone maker is also rumored to take the wraps off the highly anticipated Apple iMac 2017. Although nothing about the next-gen desktop has been officially announced, a lot of rumors surrounding Apple iMac 2017's specs, release date and price have already flooded the web.

According to Blasting News, this year there could be two new iMac 2017 variants: the 21.5-inch iMac and the 27-inch iMac Pro. Numerous sources from Apple's supply-chain based in Taiwan have reported that the two new iMac all-in-one (AIO) PCs will enter into production this month. It is expected that the upcoming iMac 2017 variants will get a release date in the second half of the year just in time for the holiday season.

Talking about Apple iMac 2017 specs, the next-gen iMacs are highly likely to come equipped with server-grade hardware including ECC RAM (Error Correcting Code). ECC RAM protects data memory from radioactive decay, electrical interference and cosmic rays. In addition, the iMac Pro 2017 variant is expected to get 64GB ECC RAM, Intel server chip Xeon E3-1285 v6, up to 2TB NVMe SSD and a latest discrete graphics card.

The devices are also rumored to feature Thunderbolt 3/USB Type-C ports wireless keyboards with Touch Bar and Touch ID functionality. Taiwan-based Quanta Computer will reportedly be manufacturing both the Apple iMac 2017 variants.

Notably, Apple iMac 2017's specs, release date or price has not officially been announced. Readers are advised to take the information with a grain of salt.
Yellow-eyed penguins are iconic in New Zealand. They are displayed on billboards as they greet tourists arriving at the main airports. However, despite their iconic status, they have not been protected as much as they have been marketed. Because of that, they could be extinct from the mainland in 25 years.

According to the Independent, only a few pairs of penguins now live in what once were busy breeding grounds. These birds are often caught in fishing nets and are often killed by unidentified toxins in the sea. Global warming is also thought to play a part in their dwindling populations.

New Zealand's other iconic birds, the northern brown kiwi and the Okarito brown kiwi, are already classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In a study published on the journal PeerJ, researchers developed a model to predict what could happen to the yellow-eyed penguins over the next decades. In the study, researchers found that the birds could become locally extinct by 2060, as ocean temperatures rise and affect their ability to breed.

Still, gillnets are among the biggest factors in taking out the penguin populations. In a Popular Science report, scientists believe that these animals get entangled in the nets, which have holes tailored to the size of fish they catch. Unfortunately, because the penguins do not see these gill nets, they end up drowning.

The lack of penguins in New Zealand is a problem not only for environmental concerns but for economuic reasons as well. Thomas Mattern, an ecologist at the University of Otago and lead author of the study, said that while four fishermen at the Otago peninsula could make a net profit of NZ$1 million (US$680,000), penguins bring in tourism. A single pair of penguions could bring in $250,000 per year to the local economy. With the penguin population dwindling fast, Mattern believes they have a bigger negative impact to the New Zealand economy.
After Microsoft's Windows Phones' huge downfall in stocks, the company made a long interval in its smartphone lineup. The company seems to be making sure that its next smartphone will be a huge hit and hopefully it can bring Microsoft on top of the mobile industry. The next Microsoft smartphone is rumored to bring the Surface brand name.

According to a Market Exclusive report, the Microsoft Surface Phone is already under development. Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella even confirmed that the upcoming Surface Phone may not look like any other regular smartphones that are available today. It seems like Microsoft is making a major design overhaul on its next smartphone.

Several tech enthusiasts are hyped after Satya Nadella announced that the Microsoft Surface Phone is not going to be a typical smartphone. Microsoft's innovative approach to its upcoming phone seems to be a good move.

According to Forbes, the Microsoft Surface Phone is going to be an ultra-portable device. There is also a chance that it will be fully compatible with the entire Windows 10 ecosystem.

The Microsoft Surface Phone is expected to include three different models. There will be a consumer model, business phone model and a special edition that is going to be the most expensive among the three. The Surface Phone is rumored to feature a 5.5-inch AMOLED display that comes with a 1,440  2,560-pixel Quad-HD resolution.

Some rumors claim that Microsoft will be using the Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chipset on the Surface Phone just like Samsung's Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. The Surface Phone could also feature a 21MP rear camera with a Carl Zeiss lens and an 8MP front camera for selfies and video calling.

Microsoft will be hosting another event in Shanghai this coming May 23. Fans are expecting that the company might announce updates regarding the most anticipated Surface Phone at the event. As for now, Microsoft has not commented on any of the rumors and speculations that are spreading online.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  Marilyn McNeil of Florence recently was accepted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

McNeil attends Liberty University online. She is pursuing an Associates of Arts Degree in Business Management to be completed by December 2017, and a Bachelors of Science in Business Management to be completed by May of 2019

McNeil is an Ash, North Carolina, native who went to West Brunswick High School in Shallotte, North Carolina. She moved to Florence in 1992.

NSCS is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is the nations only interdisciplinary honors organization fr first-year and second-year college students. Membership is by invitation only, based on grade-point average and class standing. NSCS has more than 1 million lifetime members and 300 chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
DARLINGTON, S.C.  The Darlington County School District again will provide expanded and substantial reading education throughout the summer for students reading below grade level thanks to more than $100,000 in grants.

The grants will help fund the Jump Into Reading summer camp through June and July. The S.C. Department of Education will provide a $75,000 grant, and the TEACH Foundation will devote $29,000. The state previously announced a grant for $37,000, but has since doubled its generous commitment.

The camp will again boast partnerships with the Coker College Wiggins School of Education, the YMCA of the Upper Pee, the TEACH Foundation and Sonoco. During the camp, Darlington teachers and YMCA staff will receive professional development from Coker College professors. The YMCA will also provide day camp opportunities for the students.

Superintendent Eddie Ingram thanked the districts staff for working to secure grants and the organizations funding the valuable program.

Summer learning loss is a well-documented problem for students. Children need as much quality exposure to vocabulary acquisition, reading and comprehension as possible, Ingram said. Those experiences, coupled with rigor and relevance, will serve to improve childrens academic futures as they move through school. We are excited to once again partner with Coker College, the YMCA and the TEACH Foundation to provide reading opportunities for students this summer. Im very proud of our staff who took the initiative to secure these funds.

The grants fund an expansion of the Jump Into Reading summer camp to include transportation and longer hours, which led to increased attendance last year. In years past, some students have shown as much as two grade levels of growth during the camp.

We know that children who do not read on grade level by the third grade are significantly more likely to leave high school without a diploma than proficient readers, said Sharman Poplava, executive director of the TEACH Foundation. TEACH believes the earlier we can promote good reading skills, the better chance we have for 3rd grade students to meet the reading level mark. Creating an additional learning environment for these students to succeed is paramount to their success.
Last summer, the world was introduced to the ominously-tall 666 foot 200 Amsterdam Avenue, which was slated to become the Upper West Side's tallest building. Since that original unveiling, two additional feet were added to the building to make it 668 feet tall. Despite this concession to foes of buildings that could also be portals to Hell, neighbors are still lodging complaints against the building and hope to stop it from getting built.

Upper West Side residents have taken aim at 200 Amsterdam, according to Crain's, and are getting support from local elected officials in their battle against the building. At issue is both the height of the building, and the weird way that the lot was carved out for its construction, which has drawn comparisons to gerrymandering. While residents are generally angry about the height of the building, there are also no height restrictions on the lot, so the zoning fight with the building is more about the odd lot that the developers, SJP Properties and Mitsui Fudosan America, bought in order to make their 668-foot building a possibility.

The issue with 200 Amsterdam's lot is that while the parcel of land the developers bought where the building will actually rise is 10,000 square feet, they purchased a lot that allows them to build a 100,000 square foot building. That in turn allows the building to rise to 668 feet. However, the lot itself moves through a number of properties that are near the proposed building, and the thing comes out looking like a totally messed-up grabber claw. That is not necessarily normal, according to one planning expert Crain's talked to, George Janes, who's helping fight the building.

City Council Member Helen Rosenthal has signed on to a zoning challenge of the building, according to Crain's, and so has Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. In a statement to Gothamist, Brewer's spokesperson said, "B.P. Brewer objects to both the height and the bizarre lot configuration. Zoning is how we protect New Yorkers light and air and make development predictable. Playing games with zoning lot shapes and sizes to achieve results that plainly shouldnt be possible under the zoning shouldnt be rewarded."

Brewer also endorsed a letter that Janes sent to the commissioner of the Department of Buildings, in which he laid out the case for why the building violates city zoning regulations.

In addition to the contorted lot and the height, some neighborhood residents have objected to 200 Amsterdam getting to remain in the coveted P.S. 199 school district while two longtime buildings near the school would get bounced out of the school's boundaries in an attempt to lower class sizes.
Recently Garcia, co-owner and chief operating officer at Cruise Planners, was invited to join Norwegian Sky's inaugural Cuba cruise. She took her mother Elda, who left the island at age 15 in 1957 and had never been back since.

'Years ago, I said Mom, let's go back,' Garcia recounted. 'She always said "No, I never left anything behind."'

Most of Elda's family left during the Batista dictatorship, and she finished high school in Miami. Vicky's late father, who had studied at the University of Havana at the same time as Fidel Castro, left in 1959 and reunited with his girlfriend, Vicky's future mom, in Miami where he started an accounting business and they married.

But Elda Garcia said yes to the Norwegian Sky cruise and for two days she and Vicky explored Havana, having one memorable experience after another. They were greeted with open arms at a tiny bar in Old Havana, bought art during a ship's shore excursion that visited two community art projects and rode in a classic car to landmarks like Plaza de la Revolucion en route to the famous Tropicana nightclub.

'That night was magical,' Garcia said of the Tropicana. Her mother had never been there as a girl; she was too young for what was considered a risque show. 'She loved it,' Vicky said. When the music started, Elda got teary-eyed; she knew all the songs.

For Vicky, born and raised in Miamiso close but yet so far away, for many years, from Cuba'to be in Cuba, listening to Cuban music, was surreal.' There was live music 'everywhere you went,' she said, with handfuls of musicians playing at many bars and restaurants. She also found the architecture surreal'so beautiful'and seeing many buildings webbed in scaffolding, she's heartened they'll be restored to their original charm.

'The people are so warm and friendly,' Garcia added, citing the tremendous hospitality she and her mother experienced. At a hole-in-the wall bar in Old Havana, the proprietors, a family, made room for the Garcias. When Vicky said her mom was Cuban, they hugged her, brought out food and 'just rolled out the red carpet.' Before leaving the Garcias were given markers to add their names to the walls that were dense with signatures from all over the worldmost dated 2017.

There were moments of sadness, too, when shortages became apparent. Sometimes items listed on restaurant menus weren't available: 'You would ask for a dish and they'd say we don't have it.'

Garcia thinks going by ship is nice because 'you take your hotel with you.' In 1991, she had traveled to Cuba for the first time to take clothing and money to family friends. She remembers daily power outages, broken elevators and water shut-offs.

A cruise is a good way to sample Cuba, in her opinion, and then go back on a longer land tour.

Now Garcia is planning a return trip of a week or longer with her mother and friends. Some of the places they want to revisit from their shore excursion include Fusterland and Muraleando, community arts projects where they made purchases, including a painting by a special-needs child. They'd also like to venture beyond to see Cienfuegos and other areas of the country.

Cuba is 'definitely a hot topic' among Cruise Planners' home-based agents who sell a variety of cruises and land tours. They have a closed Facebook group where they share information, and Garcia is putting together a Cuba webinar.

Some take-aways from her experience: Havana is 'super-safe; you never feel threatened.' That goes for shopping and vendors; nobody presses for a sale. No credit cards are accepted, so travelers should take plenty of cash.

'It's really easy to get off the ship and get CUCs (the currency for foreigners) exchanged at the terminal. They make it super-easy,' Garcia said. Terminal Sierra Maestra sits in the most historic part of Havana, easily walkable.

As for the Norwegian Sky cruise, hosted by Andy Stuart, president and ceo, Norwegian Cruise Line, and the Cuban-born Frank Del Rio, president and ceo, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, 'It was special, especially with Frank being from Cuba. It was special to be there and hear the emotion in his voice,' Garcia said.

'It was almost like you spent it with family. To be with so many cruise industry friends was pretty magical.'
Even volumes from the previously struggling Bohai Rim region rose 2.7% to 2.87m teu from 2.79m teu previously, while the Yangtze River Delta ports rose 4.1% to 1.64m teu from 1.58m teu in April last year.

The newly rising ports of the Southeast Coast saw volumes rise 5.0% to 382,600 teu from 364,300 teu and even the anaemic Pearl River Delta region saw an outstanding 7.1% rise in volume to 2.14m teu from 2.00m teu.

The sole port in the Southwest Coast cluster, Guangxi Qinzhou International Container Terminal rose 22.4% to 107,800 teu from 88,100 teu previously. And Cosco Shipping Port's international ports continued along their steady high growth path rising 45.5% to 1.53m teu from 1.05m teu.

Meanwhile the Port of Hong Kong saw volumes rise 10.0% to 1.74m teu in April from 1.58m teu in the previous corresponding period.

Performance at the main Kwai Tsing terminals was especially good rising 10.5% to 1.38m teu 1.25m teu the year before. While at the non-Kwai Tsing river trade and midstream terminal operators' ports volumes rose 8% to 360,000 teu from 333,000 teu.
The agreement will see both ports cooperate in port management and help in bilateral halal trade shipments.

Weifang and Northport will share experience, capabilities and resources in the fields of port management and related activities and will also carry out joint commercial and promotional activities.

Sime Darby president and group ceo Mohd Bakke Salleh, said the partnership has great potential to capture a slice of the fast growing halal market.

Halal is big business and this partnership aims to capture a market that is growing by 10% annually.

Weifang Port is strategically located in the prime region of the Bohai Sea economic belt, offering a major access into Chinas hinterland, he said.

Weifang Ports close proximity to the One Belt One Road network provides an added advantage to a proposed halal corridor linking the Muslim regions in China, namely Henan, Ningxia, Gansu and Xinjiang, where the Muslim population is estimated to be more than 30m people.

The port could also be a gateway and a future halal hub for the Korean and Japanese markets, he added.

Northports strategic location on the Straits of Malacca, surrounded by major commercial and industrial areas has made the port Malaysias preferred gateway for local shippers, said Northport chairman Khalib Mohamad Noh, adding that Northport is well-suited to be the main gateway to provide integrated logistics services for halal entrepreneurs wishing to market their products to China.
The deal through its units, Petronas LNG Ltd (PLL) and MISC, is with the consortium, comprising Engie, Mitsubishi Corp and NYK, to explore potential collaboration in promoting LNG as the preferred marine fuel.

Gas4Sea was formed last year to jointly promote LNG as the cleaner maritime fuel by providing ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation in the global market.

The collaboration is expected to enhance Petronas strong presence in the integrated LNG value chain and diversified LNG market portfolio, noted PLL chief marketing officer and ceo Ezhar Yazid Jaafar.

Petronas is looking at ways to further promote the consumption of LNG beyond the existing markets portfolios, and advocating LNG as marine fuel is a new frontier for the LNG sector. he said.

In addition, this collaboration will also support the usage of LNG as a fuel of choice for maritime activities, which is in line with Petronas effort in helping the industry reduce its carbon footprint, said Ezhar.
Broadwater County Sheriff Wynn Meehan received a call from dispatch around 3 a.m. Tuesday informing him one of his deputies was in a pursuit near Three Forks.

"They called a couple minutes later to say they couldn't reach him," Meehan said.

The sheriff was about halfway between Townsend and the scene when he heard another call. This one requested a coroner.

Broadwater County deputy Mason Moore was found dead outside Three Forks. The two men suspected of playing a role in his death are in custody in Missoula.

Moore, who had 15 years in law enforcement, signed on with the department based in Townsend three years ago.

"I lost a good hand," Meehan said. "It's going to be very difficult to try and replace him."

"Our deputy died protecting the citizens of our county and displayed remarkable courage until the very end. His actions will never be forgotten.

Moore, a husband and father of three, including twin teenage boys, moved to Montana from South Carolina, where he served as an investigator in major crimes. Prior to serving as a sheriff's deputy, he worked a couple years as an officer with the motor carrier division in Rocker.

By Tuesday afternoon, Meehan was spent. He, alongside the bulk of his 12-person operation, escorted Moore's body to Billings, where an autopsy was to be performed.

"I don't even know what the stop was for," Meehan said in a phone interview. He said it started as a traffic stop and the vehicle fled.

"It feels like three weeks have gone by and it's only been 14 hours," he added.

Through his devastation and exhaustion, Meehan also felt thankful for the outpouring of support Moore and his department received throughout the day. On the drive from Three Forks to Billings, a 170-mile trek, the 40 law enforcement vehicles in the procession guiding Moore's body were met with salutes and other displays.

"Every town we came through had fire trucks and flags hanging down," he said. "It was remarkable."

The law enforcement community has stepped up in an awesome way as well, Meehan said. From covering patrols to offering detention officers for the jail to sending in dispatchers, Meehan said he was amazed by the rallying displayed.

"So many have offered to give us a hand," he said. "We need to lean on each other and take care of each other."

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, who responded to the scene early Tuesday morning and later joined the procession, said in difficult times like these the extended law enforcement family is vital.

"We have been working to take care of them and cover their county, along with Gallatin County," Dutton said.

"Montana is not that big of a state, and we all feel the loss," he added.

State Attorney General Tim Fox noted the timing of the shooting.

"Its cruel irony that a law enforcement officer was shot and killed the day after Peace Officers Memorial Day. Tragic incidents like this should serve as a reminder to all of us to be thankful every day for those in uniform who serve and protect our communities," Fox said in a statement.

The suspects also fired at officers during a subsequent chase after the shooting.

"We are saddened by deputy Moore's death, but we are also relieved that no other law enforcement officers were killed in the apprehension of the suspects," Dutton said.

Back in Townsend, a local therapist worked with county employees grieving the loss of Moore, who is remembered as a quiet yet intensely funny man. When asked to describe Moore, many county workers responded "he was a good guy."

Moore didn't say much, but when he did, it was worth the wait, Meehan said.

"He had an interesting sense of humor," he added.

Laura Obert, county commissioner, said Moore will be remembered as a smart and compassionate man.

"He had a quiet confidence about him," Obert said. "He truly cared about people and what they thought."

"He was just one of those genuine souls."

Debbie Kelley, accounting manager for the county, said she found Moore impressive as an officer. On his off time, he served with the Three Forks Volunteer Fire Department.

"I think the biggest thing is to help the family," Kelley said. "That's the hard part."

Kelley said Moore was well-liked and a good match for the sheriff's office.

"It's been kind of quiet here today," she said.

"It's too close to home for things like this. It does make it personal."

Officials said a vigil or service will be held to remember Moore. Details will be announced later.

"Even though he's gone, he will always be a part of us," Obert said.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 Cayetano vows to help Du30 admin fulfill promise of change as new DFA Sec Senator Alan Peter Cayetano vows to continue helping President Rodrigo Duterte in fulfilling his promise of promoting the welfare of the Filipino people, as well as the country's national sovereignty and interest, territorial integrity, and national security. This was the pledge of Cayetano when he faced members of the Commission on Appointments at the Senate for the confirmation of his post as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Members of the CA unanimously voted for the appointment of Cayetano during the plenary session. "To the Honorable members of the Commission on Appointments... I have the honor and privilege to be before you today as you exercise your constitutional mandate to assess and decide on my fitness to serve the DFA as its Secretary," Cayetano said in his opening speech before the commission. The senator stressed that while much has been done in the field of foreign relations, "there is still so much to do" in order to affect more genuine changes for the country. As Secretary, Cayetano will introduce initiatives aimed at "advocating and pushing for our national interest, strengthening our bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries and organizations around the world, and of course the protection, welfare, and comfort of our Filipinos overseas, particularly our modern day heroes." The senator also took the opportunity to thank his colleagues in Congress "for helping President Duterte in fulfilling his mandate and vision." Cayetano had been a public servant since 1992. He was first elected as the youngest Councilor of the then municipality of Taguig, and was voted as Vice Mayor of the same municipality. He served three terms as Representative of the Lone District of Taguig-Pateros, and was elected as Senator in 2007. He currently holds the position of Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The senator had since been accompanying the President during his state visits to different countries. "These foreign trips have... given a face to our 10 million kababayans abroad. They are working hard, sacrificing much, asking for little.They are hungry for change," Cayetano stressed, as he expressed commitment to promoting the welfare of OFWs here and abroad.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 De Lima seeks mandatory human rights education Senator Leila M. de Lima has proposed a mandatory and continuing education and training on human rights among law enforcement and military personnel as well as public school teachers. De Lima, a former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), said she believes that there is a pressing need to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights among the country's law enforcement agencies She noted that there seems to be a popular view that the status of CHR may not be fully appreciated as the highest government machinery in the promotion and protection of human rights. "CHR is a partner of security forces in human rights education, the legislative department in rights-based approach to law-making, the judiciary in evolving breaches of human security through enforced disappearance, and intermediary between government and civil society," she said. Under Senate Bill (SB) 1230 she filed, the CHR shall undertake a program of human rights promotion and advocacy through education and training to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights in coordination with different agencies of government. SB 1230 shall likewise administer a Mandatory and Continuing Human Rights Education Program for the military, police, and other law enforcement agencies, as well as public school teachers, and shall draw up the components of the Program, accredit course and training providers, and issue certificates of completion to those who have successfully completed the Program. The Senator from Bicol urged Senate President Koko Pimentel to give priority to the passage into law of SB 1230, also known as the Commission on Human Rights Act, and be calendared in the Senate's legislative agenda. "CHR has proven its exemplary work as cornerstone of human rights in the country. This has been affirmed by the Supreme Court when it expressly commended the efforts of CHR in the investigation of the disappearance of Jonas Joseph Burgos, who was abducted 10 years ago," she said. "To empower the CHR as an institution through a Charter will therefore not only reinforce the recommendations and recognition of its contribution to safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms, but will serve the higher purpose of institutionalization of treaty commitments by the Philippine government," she added. Aside from Mandatory and Continuing Education, the other salient features of the bill are: Perform its Gender and Child Ombud roles to promote and safeguard the rights, interests, and welfare of the marginalized and vulnerable sectors, notably children and women;

Designation of human rights attaches in select Philippine embassies and consulates to address cases of human rights violations committed against overseas Filipino workers (OFWs);

Grant of power to issue legal protective measures, such as writs of injunction, restraining orders, and cease and desist orders, without waiting for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the matter;

Institutionalization of witness protection program to provide safety to witnesses as well as human rights defenders under threat and safeguard the integrity of evidence;

Establishment of witness auxiliary protection service to provide security, shelter, relocation and livelihood assistance to witnesses and their families;

Fiscal autonomy to allow it to operate independently of the Executive Branch to ensure the unhampered application and protection of human rights principles under any and all possible circumstances;

Establishment of Human Rights Protection Offices in 18 regions and provinces.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 De Lima warns vs Chinese loans for infra projects Senator Leila M. de Lima has expressed serious concerns over the US$167-billion infrastructure project of the Duterte administration that would be financed through foreign loans, mostly coming from the Chinese government. In filing Senate Resolution No. 377, De Lima called for a Senate probe to look into the terms of any loan agreement with China that may either put the country in dire debt or force the country into commitments undermining the Constitution or its sovereignty. "While there is a need to stimulate the economy, there is an even greater need for our economic managers to exercise extreme caution before advising our President to enter into any loan agreement of this magnitude," she said. "Lest we end up with a debt that our children, our children's children, and even several generations thereafter will not be able to repay, and with commitments that would violate the Constitution or undermine our sovereignty," she added. De Lima cited separate reports from Forbes Magazine and Reuters warning about the danger of long-term onerous indebtedness among allied countries under the China-espoused "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). BRI aims to connect countries of Asia, Europe, and Africa with each other, primarily through infrastructure projects that are to be financed, in part or in whole, by China, such as ports, roads, railways, and bridges. The Senator from Bicol, however, pointed out that some countries, such as Mongolia, Venezuela, and Sri Lanka had to resort to desperate measures to renegotiate their loans with China. For instance, she noted that Mongolia had to sell coal to China for only 11% of the international market price, Venezuela had to ask for more onerous loans from Russia, and Sri Lanka had to offer debt-for-equity swaps to China over infrastructure projects. "The principles of transparency and accountability dictate that the terms of any loan agreement that have the potential of undermining our sovereignty and of mortgaging our children's future be subjected to extreme scrutiny," she said. "It is the duty of Congress to keep the Executive Department in check, through the investigation of, and meaningful legislation on financial and economic policies that could affect our country well beyond the current administration," she added. The Duterte administration is reportedly banking on the financial support from foreign donors to fund its massive USD167-billion infrastructure program, around USD9 billion of which are to be funded through loan by China under the BRI. De Lima has also filed a similar measure, Senate Resolution No. 222, which calls for a Senate investigation into at least 17 investment deals worth of billions of dollars signed during President Duterte's state visit to China last year. She recalled two separate investigations conducted by World Bank (WB) in 2009 and 2011 which found at least seven Chinese firms and one individual to have engaged in "collusive scheme designed to establish bid prices at artificial, non-competitive levels." Some of these Chinese firms and their subsidiaries have been debarred from bidding or were found to be ineligible to engage on future WB-financial contracts until 2017, she noted.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 GORDON STRESSES NEED FOR REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS IN AGRI-FREE PATENTS Aiming for higher agricultural productivity, Senator Richard J. Gordon is set to call for the immediate passage of a consolidated bill which aims to remove the restrictions in agricultural free patents. Gordon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said the measure is expected to spur the development of the agricultural sector because it will unleash about two to three million agri-free patents, equivalent to at least P387B up to P1T worth of agricultural land. "One of the primary reasons for the persistent poverty in the country is low agricultural productivity. One of the causes of this low productivity is insecurity of land rights and access to credit by agricultural farm owners due to the restrictions on transfers and conveyances imposed by the Public Land Act on lands covered by agricultural free patents," Gordon, author of one of the consolidated bills, pointed out. "Due to the restrictions on agricultural free patents under the Public Land Act, the titles are non-tradable and non-bankable. Farmers are restricted from mortgaging or selling their land within five years from the issuance of the patent. Hence, they cannot use the titles as collateral to get additional capital to inject into their farms or pour into other investments," he added. Gordon's Senate Bill No. 1260, otherwise known as the Agri-Free Patent Bill, aims to make agricultural land titles immediately tradeable and bankable, provide farmer entrepreneurs much-needed access to credit, and create capital to make investments, create jobs, increase productivity, and reduce poverty in rural areas. The senator explained that the current situation makes for bad economics because patentees are: 1) restricted from mortgaging or selling their land within five years from the issuance of the patent, and 2) given the right to repurchase agri-free patents within five years from transfer or conveyance make for bad economics. "These restrictions under the Public Land Act render the agricultural free patents non-tradeable and non-bankable," he added. .During the hearing last week, resource persons who came from rural banks, concerned government agencies and other concerned organizations expressed support to the proposed removal of restrictions. Johnson Melo, of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines, said the passage of this measure will encourage banks to extend loans to the farmer entrepreneurs at better rates and terms.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 Speech of Senator Risa Hontiveros

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

May 17, 2017; Australian Embassy LOVE WILL WIN To Ambassador Amanda Gorely, thank you so much for inviting me today. I would like to express my gratitude to your country's continuing support to our human rights work in the Philippines, particularly the welfare and security of our LGBT brothers and sisters. This year's International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) is a reminder to re-commit ourselves to a future where everyone can live in peace and security no matter who we are and who we love. In a time when gay people are detained and tortured in the Russian region of Chechnya, shot at for simply having fun in a club in Orlando, and killed because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, similar to what happened to Jennifer Laude in Olongapo City, we have to remain brave and determined as we continue to fight for human rights and equality. More than ever, we must uphold the principle of global solidarity to fight and eliminate discrimination borne out from an outdated view of human sexuality. In 2011, when the United Nations High Commissioner was asked to report on discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity to the Human Rights Council, the following observations were noted all over the world: Different states had adopted or strengthened their antidiscrimination and hate crime laws. Some introduced legal protection for intersex persons. Others had abolished criminal sanctions for homosexuality, allowed marriage and civil unions for same-sex couples, instituted reforms granting legal recognition of transgender persons.

In other countries, programs had been established to ensure that the police, judges, prison guards, medical staff and teachers are receiving gender and sexuality training, that there are anti-bullying programs in schools, and that shelters are built to house homeless LGBT youths. These were significant developments. These will certainly contribute and strengthen our David-like resistance against the Goliath-like forces of hate and violence which the LGBTIQ community continues to face. In the Philippines, just a few weeks after Jennifer Laude's death, Mary Joy Anonuevo, a transgender woman, was stabbed 55 times in a club in Lucena City, Quezon. From 2008 to 2014, 29 cases of transgender killings were documented in the country, the highest in Southeast Asia and the second-highest in Asia. In another independent study, the UNDP reported that in the first half of 2011 alone, 28 LGBT-related killings had already been reported in the country. These numbers are extremely alarming. They represent a deadly and irrational prejudice against those who do not conform to the traditional notion of sexual identity and orientation and a deep-seated hate that we refuse to acknowledge and address. For a country seen by many as liberal and tolerant of different views, the Philippines still has a long way to go in protecting the rights and lives of the LGBT community. The Duterte government's attitude towards this problem is also troubling. While many governments chose to respond positively and pro-actively to this issue, the Philippine government has chosen to default. In the recent vote in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to retain the Independent Expert on Discrimination and Violence against LGBTIQs, the Philippines abstained. Citing our lack of policy against discrimination, the Duterte government has chosen to renege on our human rights obligations. We let hate win. This problem has been compounded by the growing climate and culture of sexism and misogyny in the country. Women's dignity in government has been reduced to body parts, rape jokes have become tolerable, online sexual harassment is now a political strategy to shut off contrarian views and catcalling is reinforced as a perverse 'compliment' to women and an exercise of the right to freedom of expression. We cannot continue to live like this. As a response, I filed the Anti-Discrimination bill to eliminate all forms of discrimination based on "sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE). It lists and defines discriminatory acts which are to be proscribed and penalized. The bill mandates the creation of social protection and diversity programs that will protect LGBTIQs rights and promote equality. It will ensure that discrimination, stigma, and hate would not hinder anyone from access to education, healthcare, employment, and other fundamental rights. My proposed measure will also compel the Philippine government to fully comply with its obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). It will give life to and uphold the equal protection clause enshrined in our 1987 Constitution. The bill was already sponsored at the Senate plenary and is currently in the middle of the period of interpellation. After nearly 2 decades, our bill seeking to protect the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) community from hate crimes and discrimination has finally reached the Senate plenary, and is being debated vigorously. Imagine our senators discussing the concept of SOGIE, which a year ago was totally unknown to many of them. However, the struggle is far from over. There are still many legislative hurdles that we need to surmount. Yet, with the unwavering support of advocates and different social movements working for equality, I am confident that we will be able to overcome the challenges and enact this landmark piece of legislation. Aside from this, my office has started to talk to advocates and study possible policy interventions to effectively address hate speech based on SOGIE. The old idiom, "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me" is not true. Hate speech loads guns. Discriminatory speech leads to discriminatory policies, which in turn becomes a license for prejudiced minds to assault and hurt those who they do not understand and/or those that they are taught to hate. The principle of nondiscrimination is one of the underlying thrusts of any democratic society. This kind of language has no place in our community. It is affording impunity for committing discrimination and tolerating human rights abuse. My dear friends, our long fight against discrimination is fueled by our uncompromising belief that a world that is equal and kind is possible. As we observe this year's International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, let us remind ourselves not only of the reality and ugly consequences of hate and discrimination, but also of the inspiration behind our activism for equality. The protection of the dignity of every human person must without reservation form part of our national policy. The Anti-Discrimination Bill is our commitment to the fundamental equality of all persons before the law, a fulfillment of our long and overdue promise--human rights for all. The revolutionary and martyr Dr. Ernesto "Che" Guevarra once said that "the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love." I believe this speaks well for our advocacy. Friends and fellow advocates, our struggle for equality is revolutionary, it is guided and nurtured by love. And in the end, love will trump hate. Love will win. We will win. Thank you.
Evan Barretts guest column in the Independent Record May 11 attacks Republican congressional candidate Greg Gianforte based on his success and on false accusations.

Barrett writes that if Gianforte is elected, for the first time in Montanas 128-year history, two (Sen. Steve Daines and Gianforte) of Montanas three Congress members would come from the same county, same city, same industry, and same company. While not identical, Gov. Steve Bullock and Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney were just elected to the states highest offices, while coming from the same county, city, and industry/employer (State of Montana).

Similarly, all of Barretts allegations against Gianforte can be rebuked, including restricting stream access, opposing legal protection from discrimination, and being a science denier.

Barrett cites Gianfortes record of using the courts to restrict public access to the East Gallatin River. This is a politically motivated exaggeration. The dispute wasnt about the publics access right. It was about fixing a boundary from an erroneously granted easement. Upon a site visit, Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) agreed with the Gianfortes. An agreement was successfully reached, and all along the Gianfortes have helped ensure public access to the river.

These types of access issues happen all the time. For example the Willow Creek Water Users Association, owners of Harrison Lake, is negotiating with FWP and others to settle property boundaries at the reservoir. Recent surveys show access to water at certain levels is in question, and state campground restrooms are built on association property. Does the association want to deny recreational access to the reservoir? No. It needs boundaries and access settled to have clean title for financing dam maintenance.

Barrett supposedly thinks socialist-leaning Rob Quists values are Montanan. As a 5th generation Montanan, let me tell you that the real value in this race is the experience and skill set that Greg Gianforte will bring in service to Montana when we elect him as our next Congressman. Greg will defend our way of life against federal overreach and work with President Trump to return prosperity not only to Montana but to America.

Quist reminds me of some of my cowboy hat-wearing uncles. They can talk a good line of bull and theyll say whatever it takes to get what they want. Like Quist, theyd be more at home joining the party with the swamp creatures in Washington D.C. than theyd be fighting to pull the plug.

Montana deserves a Congressman wholl look us in the eye and tell us the truth. Greg Gianforte is that man; Quist is not. Like my uncles, hell be dishonest whenever it serves his personal interest. Quist was once accused of fraud and deceit by a fellow band mate in a lawsuit over royalties. And, lets not overlook the constantly growing list of his financial misrepresentations, the latest of which were underpaying property taxes on rental property for years and under-reporting his income by over $50,000. Now get this. Last year, Quists income was in the top 5 percent of wage earners nationwide; yet, he had defaulted on a $10,000 Wells Fargo loan.

Many have moved to Montana for what they consider a better life and a chance at opportunity. Just like Rob Quist moved to explore opportunities in both New York City and Nashville. It didnt work out for him so he returned home. It did work out for Greg, so he stayed and made Montana home. With his wife, he raised four children in Montana and hes hardly unaware of daily challenges that face Montanans; he lived them and overcame them. Gianforte is a successful Montanan who calls Big Sky home.

Suzzann Nordwick, of Butte, is the current V.P. of the Montana Federation of Republican Women, finance chair of the Butte-Sliver Bow Republican Central Committee, and past Republican candidate for State Senate District 39.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 Sponsorship Speech of Senator Risa Hontiveros AUTOMATIC PHILHEALTH MEMBERSHIP FOR PWDS Mr. President, Dear Colleagues, I am happy to sponsor SB1391 under committee report no. 53, another social protection measure intended to cover one of the most vulnerable segment of our population - our PWDs. Ang ating mga kapatid na may kapansanan ay nahaharap sa dobleng pagsubok. Tulad natin, sila rin ay kailangang maging malusog at umiwas sa sakit, ngunit di tulad natin, mas hirap silang makakuha ng serbisyong pangkalusugan. It is doubly difficult when you have a disability and you become sick. The bill therefore proposes to expand the benefits already being given our PWDs through the Magna Carta for Person with Disabilities by including automatic Philhealth coverage to them. This way, our PWD brothers and sisters can at least be assured that when they get hospitalized, Philhealth will pay for all or some of the expenses. Moreover, the bill tasks Philhealth to develop exclusive packages for PWDS taking into account their specific health and development needs. Similar to what we did for our senior citizens, under our proposal, the amount necessary to pay for the premium of PWDs shall be sourced from Sin Taxes. Mr. President, isa ito sa mga panukalang batas na dapat noon pa natin naipasa. Alang-alang sa mga Pilipinong may kapansanan, I, along with the authors and co-sponsors of this measure, request all members of this august chamber to support the passage this bill. Maraming salamat po.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 Sen. Lacson's Sponsorship Speech for 3 ambassadors and 2 Foreign Service officers before the Commission of Appointments' plenary session Likewise, the Committee deliberated on the nominations of three Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and the ad interim appointments of two Foreign Service Officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Chairman, having evaluated their fitness and qualifications, your Committee ruled that the three nominees and two appointees possess all the fitness and qualifications to the positions which they were nominated or appointed. As the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, it is my privilege and honor to recommend that the Commission give its consent to the nomination of AMBASSADOR WILFREDO CUNANAN SANTOS as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Islamic Republic of Iran, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Prior to his nomination to his present post, AMBASSADOR SANTOS was the Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Qatar. He started his diplomatic career as a Foreign Service Officer IV in 1994 and has worked his way up in the hierarchy to assume significant posts in the Department of Foreign Affairs. I so move, Mr. Chairman. I also move that the Commission give its consent to the appointment of AMBASSADOR BERNADITA LEONIDA CATALLA, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Lebanon. For 24 years, AMBASSADOR CATALLA has been with the Philippine Foreign Service. She held various posts in DFA since 1994, particularly at the Philippine Embassies in Malaysia, Indonesia and most recently in Hong Kong, as the Consul General of the Philippines. I so move, Mr. Chairman. Likewise, this representation recommends that the Commission give its consent to the appointment of ATTY. ADNAN VILLALUNA ALONTO as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Yemen. ATTY. ALONTO is the son of the late Senator Ahmad Domocao Alangadi Alonto, who was known as the only Muslim elected to the House of Representatives, and subsequently to the Senate in the 1950s. The late Senator was also named among one of the 100 World's Greatest Islamic Leaders of the 20th Century. Having reviewed his credentials and documentary requirements, I recommend that the Commission give its consent to the appointment of ATTY. ADNAN VILLALUNA ALONTO as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Yemen. I so move, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, it is also my privilege and honor to recommend that the plenary approve the ad interim appointments of the two Foreign Service Officers, namely: 1. MR. ROBERT ERIC ALABADO BORJE as Foreign Service Officer, Class I. I so move, Mr. Chairman. 2. MR. JIM GABRILLO MINGLANA as Foreign Service Officer, Class II. I so move, Mr. Chairman.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 Pimentel: Federalism is the practical solution to PH age-old problems of poverty, inequality and instability SURIGAO CITY -- Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III today said the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) sees federalism as the practical solution to the age-old problems of poverty, inequality, and instability that continue to hobble the development of the country. He said federalism provides a system wherein national unity is maintained while at the same time recognizing and protecting the diversity of a truly diverse and multi-cultural Philippine society. Pimentel said federalism hopes to immediately involve the regions in national decision-making, accelerate economic growth, attain enduring peace in Mindanao and allow the preservation of culture and language of various ethno-linguistic groups. In a speech during the 116th founding anniversary of "One Surigao" before a huge crowd in Surigao City early this week, Pimentel said the mission of PDP Laban as a political party is to fix the country's problems through structural change to address their root causes. "PDP Laban believes in structural analysis in determining what ails the nation. We do not believe that mere changes in the personalities of our leaders can fix our nation's problems. We believe that we need to change structures and systems to address the root causes of our nation's problems," he said. Pimentel, who is also PDP Laban president, said based on the party's structural analysis, the Philippines is a tale of two extremes. "Philippine society has two faces. One is the face of progress, economic development, peace and order. The other is the face of poverty, conflict, and of having been left behind," he said. Under the current unitary system of government, he said economic development has been lopsided in favor of Metro Manila, the center of power, and the areas closest to it. Pimentel cited the cases of Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas, saying the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog together account for 62 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). "There is a correlation between GDP or productivity and poverty," he said, adding in these areas the poverty rate range from 3.9 percent to 6.8 percent with Metro Manila registering a poverty incidence rate of 3.9 percent, Bulacan 4.5 percent, Laguna and Rizal 5.4 percent each and Cavite 6.8 percent. These are in stark contrast, he said, to the poverty incidence rates of the poorest places in the country such as Bukidnon which has a poverty incidence rate of 53.6 percent, Sulu 54.9 percent, Northern Samar 56.2 percent, Maguindanao 57.2 percent, and Lanao del Sur 71.9 percent. The national average, he said, is 21.6 percent. Based on the locations of the rich and poor provinces, Pimentel said, there is a relationship between distance from Metro Manila, which is the center of power, and the poverty incidence of a place. "The closer the place is to the center of power, the better the chance of that place to economically progress," he said. Pimentel said this dichotomy in Philippine society, where there are places of wealth, comfort, and modernity, co-existing with places of extreme poverty, happened under a unitary system of government with Metro Manila as the one and only center of power. Since its formation in 1982, Pimentel said the PDP Laban has proposed the adoption of the federal system of government to fix the inter-generational problems of poverty, inequality, and societal instability resulting from the two faces of Philippine society. He said retaining the unitary system of government would only allow the rich regions to become richer, while the poor regions would become poorer because capital, talent, and infrastructure are already concentrated in the rich regions where the law and order situation is also better. "These rich regions will also still be the areas closest to the ones that can best take advantage of the economic growth that the Philippines is projected to enjoy in the years to come," said Pimentel, adding the gap between the rich and poor regions is also projected to widen. Pimentel said government should not allow the "two poles of our society to be too far apart, otherwise, Philippine society will break up and the Philippines will become a failed state." He said the Philippines needs structural change, which the Filipino people had demanded and President Duterte and his allies vowed to deliver, to allow the neglected places in the country to catch up with the more affluent communities.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 Speech Endorsing the Confirmation of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Foreign Affairs Secretary

By Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto

17 May 2017 Mr. Chairman, my dear colleagues : I stand with you today in endorsing the demotion of our dear colleague from a senator of the Republic to its top diplomat. His 19 years in Congress - 9 years in the Bigger House and 10 in the Better House - have prepared him for the grueling job ahead. I am saying that with authority because I believe that all the things he needed to learn in diplomacy, he learned in these two chambers, so much so that should he opt to ape his Ate and bike to his new office, there will be no need for training wheels. The current public image of the nominee is that of the president's loyal defender, his trusty ally, and devoted confidant. He willingly takes the slings meant for him, returning fire when needed, that in so far as the president's image is concerned, he is the true commander of the guards. If Bong Go is the body man who waits on the President hand and foot, he is the body vest that cushions the blows, which is not an easy job in a land where the president is the national punching bag. But it will be wrong to portray him simply as a partisan. What should not be forgotten is that he is foremost a patriot and a professional. He has logged a quarter-of-a century of public service. He is a lawyer, reportedly the most astute in a family of accomplished companeros y companeras. In Congress, he had done the required tours, which exposed him to all facets of policymaking, whether as a majority stalwart tenaciously pushing administration bills, or as an opposition leader who can be stubborn in his fiscalizing. He has chaired major committees, from Education where key reform measures were passed during his watch, to Foreign Affairs, where he, to cite a few of his prodigious outputs, shepherded the ratification of major treaties like the Paris Climate Accord, and bills like extending the period of validity of passports. In each of these, he puts on full public display the skills required to get things done. The tenacious curiosity in going to the bottom of scams when he was at the helm of the Blue Ribbon Committee. The charm to convince his colleagues to get behind measures as a majority or deputy leader. The dogged cross examination skills that ferret out truth and close down hiding places of lies. And in all of these, the eloquence to articulate his position, in a manner that cuts down his adversary and makes converts out of those who doubt. In his new calling, I know that he will deploy the right mix of talent and tact that will effectively advance the Republic's interests. And this reinvention is evident when he declared himself a no fan of microphone diplomacy, which is a volte-face (valt-fas) for a politician who has wielded a megaphone all his public life. If in these troubled times what we need is a Secretary of Foreign Affairs "with the knack of making a point without making an enemy," then we will find that man in Alan Peter Cayetano. It is thus with pleasure that I endorse his confirmation as Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 Sen. Joel Villanueva's sponsorship speech on Philippine Qualifications Framework Bill PQF: A Blueprint for Success of the Global Filipino Introduction and Updates on the PQF Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, it is my honor and privilege to sponsor Senate Bill No. 1456 under Committee Report No. 80 or "The Philippine Qualifications Framework or PQF Act of 2016". I would like to thank our Chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, Senator Francis Escudero, for giving priority to this very important piece of legislation, which I believe, is a big dream for our education sector. I fervently hope that we can make this dream come true by making the PQF, the blueprint for success of every Filipino, inherent in our educational and training system. Mr. President, the PQF is a product of collaboration and synergy of several government agencies like DOLE, TESDA, PRC, DepEd and CHED. Our friends and partners from the academe and industries also gave their valuable time and expertise for the continuous development of the PQF. Kahit noong wala pa tayo sa Senado, bukambibig ko na po itong PQF. Noong 16th Congress, binalak nating dalhin ito sa kongreso para maisabatas. Pero dahil kulang na rin sa panahon, tiniyak na lang natin na magpatuloy ang trabaho ng National Coordinating Council ng PQF. Malaking hakbang sa trabaho ng kasalukuyang PQF-NCC na makarating dito sa floor ang panukalang batas na ito. Malaking tulong po ito para mapabilis ang progreso ng ating PQF: While we already have structures and processes that have been documented and agreed upon, our qualification framework is yet to be operationalized. In ASEAN, the PQF is at the same level as Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand. Malaysia's qualification framework has been fully implemented and is already in its advanced stage since they shifted to outcomes-based qualifications since 2007. Singapore's Workforce Skills Qualifications System was inaugurated as early as 2005. Mr. President, the Philippines, together with other ASEAN member states, has established a National Qualifications Framework as the direct result of the interest in the creation of the free flow of skilled labour through "harmonisation and standardisation". Along with these developments has been the endorsement of the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) implemented from 2016 which created an impetus to ASEAN member states to either develop NQFs, like us, or review their NQFs, like Malaysia. Evolution of the PQF Mr. President, obviously, our PQF is a work-in-progress but it's not actually a recent development in the education sector. It has progressed since TESDA implemented reforms leading to a quality assured competency-based TVET system in 1998. The PQF was born in TESDA when in 2004, the agency adopted the Philippine TVET Qualifications Framework (PTQF) with four levels of qualifications: National Certificates I to IV based on units of competency developed with industry stakeholders. Then, it expanded through Executive Order No. 358 also in the year 2004, institutionalizing the interface between TVET and higher education through a unified National Qualifications Framework with equivalency pathways and access ramps for a Ladderized System. In 2012, former President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 83 to institutionalize the Philippine Qualifications Framework through the creation of a high-level PQF-NCC. In 2014, eventhough the PQF is not yet fully operational, it has already been embedded in Section 4 of Republic Act 10647 or the Ladderized Education Act of 2014. Now, Mr. President, I'm glad that we have an on-going legislative work for the institutionalization of the PQF and I urge your support for this particular measure. Historical Context and Emergence of the NQFs Mr. President, allow me to give you an overview or a context for the emergence of National Qualifications Framework or NQFs so that we can better appreciate the importance of having our own national qualifications framework aligned with international qualifications framework like the AQRF. At present, Mr. President, over 150 countries are now developing, or have developed, a National Qualifications Framework according to UNESCO. As you very well know, the process of globalization was accompanied by the strengthening of economic and financial linkages within geographic regions. Of course, the breakdown of borders resulted to a world economy that is simultaneously becoming more regionalized and more globalized. It also caused the formation of regional economies like the European Economic Community and of course, our very own ASEAN Economic Community which is the latest and still a very young community. This trend towards regional integration provided the impetus for the development of NQFs. That's why qualifications frameworks are not just at national level, there are also regional qualifications frameworks. Their main purpose is to help people moving from one country to another to work, or to continue their education or training. In this regard, Mr. President, globalization or regionalization profoundly emphasizes the shift from education to learning and from learning to lifelong learning because the world changes very rapidly and we need more and more individuals who are equipped with the "21st century skills" such as life and career skills, learning and innovation skills and information, media and technology skills. Hence, the development of National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) has been a major international trend in reforming national education and training systems. And it's not too late for us to further develop our PQF and make it fully operational especially in the midst of reforms and advancement in our education system. Now, because of the breakdown of borders and increased labor mobility, there is a high demand for comparability. Due to greater mobility of people - students, workers, professionals are moving, the question is whether their qualifications are also the same as the qualifications of other countries. For this reason, and as reflected in this bill, we want to institutionalize the PQF to deepen support to the national and international mobility of Filipino workers through increased recognition of the value and comparability of Philippine qualifications. Mr. President, we know for a fact that when a Filipino goes to another country to work, comparability of his or her qualifications overseas becomes a big isssue. And it is in this context that we have an increasing importance of qualifications framework like the PQF, and eventually, it will be "referenced" with the ASEAN Regional Qualifications Framework (AQRF). This is also one of the reasons why we have Mutual Recognition Agreements or MRAs which were developed ahead of the ARQF. As I've said, we already have the ASEAN Qualifications Framework which is now in transition. It is about to be implemented like the European Framework. Our plan, together with Thailand and Malaysia, is to have our PQF referenced with the AQRF by 2018 (Bautista, 2017). What is the PQF? Essentially, the development of the PQF has been influenced by globalization and rapid technological developments as well as the ASEAN Economic Community. And with that as a background, Mr. President, let me explain the PQF as a set or package of national standards and levels for outcome of education. FIRST, the PQF is a national instrument for the development and classification of qualifications according to a set of criteria or standards of learning achieved or qualification outcome within the educational system. Kapag sinabi nating qualification, ito po iyong mga certificates, degrees, diploma, formal awards na natatanggap ng isang indibidwal. Sa PQF, isinasalin ang mga qualifications na ito sa mga "statements of learning outcomes" at ang mga kaakibat na rekwayrments para makuha ang mga "learning outcomes" na ito. Kasama rito ang performance sa isang pagsusulit. At ito ang dahilan kung bakit kasama ang PRC sa mga bumuo sa PQF o mga requirements upang makapasok o umangat sa trabaho ang isang indibidwal. Second, the PQF is a hierarchy of levels of complexity of learning with level descriptors that include cognitive, functional, personal and ethical competencies. May iba't ibang antas o lebel ang PQF depende sa teyoretikal na kaalaman, iyong tinatawag na "know-how" o kakayahang makagawa ng isang partikular na gawain. Kasama din iyong pag-uugali o ang wastong pagdadala ng sarili sa iba't ibang sitwasyon at maging iyong mga pagpapahalaga o "values" ng isang indibidwal. Third, the PQF consists of 8-Level Qualifications Descriptors which is envisioned to give an individual the option to finish courses with a National Certificate 1 [ Level 1 ], NC2 [ Level 2 ], NC3 [ Level 3 ], NC4 [ Level 4 ] or graduate with a Diploma or Degree [ Level 5 ], Baccalaureate Degree [ Level 6 ], post-Baccalaureate Degree [ Level 7 ] or a Doctoral Degree [ Level 8 ]. ?? Sa PQF, ang Grade 12 po ang base o Level 1. Sa K-12 Curriculum po kasi, ipinasok na po natin ang tech-voc sa Senior High School. Samakatuwid, ang Levels 1-4 ay tech-voc at ang Levels 6-8 ay higher education. Iyon pong level 5 ang interface ng tech-voc at higher education. Clearly, the PQF will harmonize and weave together basic education, technical-vocational education and higher education into a unified, quality-assured system. For our students, the framework provides a clear picture of the competencies they need for the jobs they want while employers can easily identify the competencies their employees must possess. Implication of the PQF to jobs Mr. President, under the PQF, individuals can also get credits for working which I repeatedly mentioned during our committee hearings and discussions about the PQF. And right now, our inter-agency team is working intensively on the development of "pathways" and "equivalencies". We also included this in the proposed measure, Mr. President, to support the development and maintenance of pathways and equivalencies, which provide access to qualifications and assist people to move easily and readily between the different education and training sectors and between these sectors and the labor market. In fact, any person can get out of the formal education and come back as he or she gets credits from his or her work. In short, Mr. President, the PQF offers a very flexible system where a Filipino can benefit from formal, non-formal and even informal learning opportunities. For example, a tricycle driver studies and finishes a tech-voc course in small engine repair, and then establishes his own repair shop. After a few years, he decided he wanted to pursue his studies to be an engineer. The college or university should evaluate his credential in the tech-voc school as a mechanic and credits the relevant subjects when he pursues college. And when he graduates as an engineer and gets a license, his license should be one that would be recognized when he works abroad, say, in Singapore or Thailand. Sa kasalukuyan po kasi, Mr. President, hindi madali ang paglipat mula sa isang qualification patungo sa isa pa dahil may mga bakod na naghihiwalay sa ating education sector. Kaya't ang isang NC III holder sa automotive ay mahihirapang magpatuloy sa BS Mechanical Engineering dahil sa kawalan ng sistema ng credit transfer. Gayundin, ang lahat ng mga pagsasanay sa trabaho na nakuha ng isang indibidwal sa kumpanyang pinagtratrabahuhan ay hindi pa lubos na kinikilala ngayon ng ating mga education at training institutions o iyong tinatawag natin na recognition of prior learning. But this is one promise of the PQF, Mr. President, that if widely accepted, it can bridge lifelong learning and enhance the link between education and the economy or the labor market. This will put an end to our perennial problem of job-skills mismatch. And to make this happen, we are proposing adequate appropriation to be in place to allow the PQF-NCC to fulfill its functions, especially their on-going work on pathways and equivalencies. Benefits of the PQF Mr. President, the institutionalization of the PQF will bring several benefits to students and workers, training providers and the government. The PQF will pave the way for every Filipino to become a lifelong learner by allowing him or her to start at the level that suits him or her and then build-up his or her qualifications as his or her needs and interests develop and change over time. It's also good for the employers by assuring that standards and qualifications are consistent with job requirements or demand. Our education and training providers will also benefit from the PQF by ensuring transparency in training provision, conformance to standards and accountability for learning outcomes. The framework will also provide them with common understanding of policies and guidelines on credit transfers, articulation, portability, bridges, pathways and recognition of prior learning (RPL). For the government, the PQF will provide the standards, taxonomy and typology of qualifications as bases for granting approvals to providers and stakeholders. Most importantly, the PQF can change the mindset that undermines technical vocational education and privileges formal education only. Hindi po talaga lahat ay kailangang mag-kolehiyo dahil unang-una, ang mga trabaho po, na kadalasan ay mas malaki pa ang kita, ay mas binibigyang-daan ng tech-voc kaysa sa mga kurso sa kolehiyo. Ito ay dahil industry-oriented ang mga tech-voc programs. Malaking tulong ang PQF para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino na makabuo ng wastong desisyon tungkol sa pagtataguyod ng karera ng mga kabataang Pilipino. Mr. President, as I've mentioned, the PQF is a work in progress and there are many challenges ahead of us such as skills mismatch, absence of criteria and institutional pathways for recognition of prior learning, lack of labor mobility, etc., that may be impossible to overcome if we do not institutionalize the PQF through this measure. We believe that this bill should become a law to intensify the support to the PQF and engage more stakeholders in the process. After all, Mr. President, the PQF is a product of collaboration and what we need is to deepen this synergy for us to succeed in having a national qualifications framework, a blueprint for success, of the global Filipino. Pagtulungan po nating itaguyod ang ating PQF, ang hagdan ng bawat Pilipino paakyat sa mas maganda at matatag na kinabukasan. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I urge your support for the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 1456. Maraming salamat po at pagpalain tayo ng Panginoon.
Press Release

May 17, 2017 Villanueva alarmed over increasing cases of violations on occupational safety and health standards Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday has expressed alarm over the increasing cases of non-compliance with occupational safety and health standards (OSH) that resulted to the endangerment of workers' lives. The recent incident happened on May 14 when a fire gutted a warehouse of the Yokohama tire factory in Clark. At present, there are still no report on its cause and the number of injuries if there was any. "Nakababahala na po ang halos taun-taon nalang na kapabayaan sa lugar ng trabaho. Hindi lamang po ito nakakaantala sa negosyo kundi nailalagay din po nito sa peligro ang buhay ng ating mga manggagawa," Villanueva said. Villanueva, who chairs the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources, discussed today Senate Bill No. 1317 which seeks to provide administrative and criminal penalties for non-compliance with OSH. During the hearing, the Department of Labor and Employment's Bureau of Working Conditions revealed that there were 52 fatal and 54 non-fatal workplace accidents reported in 2014. The number increased to 125 fatal and 69 non-fatal reported workplace accidents in 2015. Meanwhile, as of October 2016 the bureau recorded a number of 22 fatal and 18 non-fatal workplace accidents. For the longest time, violation of occupational health and safety standards has no fines or penalties. DOLE only issues a Work Stoppage Order (WSO) if there is an eminent danger or would result to disabling injury. "Lumabas po sa ating pagdinig na work stoppage lang ang parusa, walang kulong o multa sa pag-violate ng OSH standards. Obviously, this practice has not been successful in inculcating culture of OSH compliance nor in addressing wanton disregard of OSH standards," Villanueva said. Under the proposed measure, an amount of P100,000.00 will serve as an administrative penalty for the erring employer for every day of non-correction of violation while an amount ranging from P250,000.00 to P500,000.00 or imprisonment of six years and one day to 12 years will be meted out if a worker dies. "I believe that non-compliance with occupational safety and health standards is a crime, it's a reckless endangerment that should not be tolerated," Villanueva said. "Violations of OSH standards are not only patent disregard of the standards but deliberate disrespect of the well-being of our workers and derogation of their right to safe and healthy workplaces," Villanueva concluded.
Villar says signing of law on 10-year passport validity a Duterte priority

After the approval by both houses of Congress of the bicameral conference committee report on the bill extending the validity of Philippine passports, Sen. Cynthia Villar expressed confidence that President Rodrigo Duterte will prioritize the signing of the bill into law.

"Extending the validity of passports from five to 10 years is included in the President's legislative agenda. With the speed and efficiency both houses of Congress provided in passing this bill, it goes without saying that we are all in agreement that this measure will work for the benefit of the traveling public, especially our overseas Filipino workers," Villar said.

During President Duterte's State of the Nation Address last year, he asked Congress to amend the 20-year-old law and extend the validity of passports.

Villar, vice chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations, said the Bicameral Conference Committee members agreed to adopt in full all sections of the Senate version or Senate Bill 1365.

The bill seeks to amend Section 10 of Republic Act 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 extending the validity of regular passports for a period of 10 years. For individuals under 18 years of age, only a passport with 5-year validity shall be issued.

Villar heads the Senate conferees with members Senators Joel Villanueva, Richard Gordon, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV.

Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica heads the House of Representatives conferees with members Representatives Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Ana Cristina Siquian Go, Alexandria Gonzales, and Aniceto "John" Bertiz III.

The Upper Chamber approved the bicam report in its plenary session on Wednesday while the lower house approved the report on Tuesday. The bill will now be submitted for the president's signature.
Growing up in rural Montana taught me how to be resourceful and what it takes to thrive in sometimes challenging situations.

I know a lot of Montana families struggle to make ends meet. They don't ask for much. They just don't want the government to punish those who work by stacking the deck against them.

Unfortunately, that's what we're getting out of leaders in Washington, D.C. We have a system that benefits millionaires and billionaires at the expense of working families. That has to change.

One of my top priorities in Congress would be to stop corporate interests dictating policies that benefit only themselves while leaving everyone else behind.

Each year, millions of American jobs are lost when corporations decide to close down their factories and move their operations overseas. And right now, those corporations are given big tax breaks while small businesses struggle with high taxes and regulations that limit their ability to grow and compete.

My opponent supports the tax system that rewards companies for outsourcing jobs.

In fact, he himself outsourced jobs to India and Armenia and profited off of helping companies eliminate American jobs.

As a small business owner and a product of the Montana farming and ranching community, I know what is at stake. Hard-working middle-class Montana families have been carrying the burden long enough.

My opponent wants to continue a failed system that gives tax breaks to the top. Hell benefit from it, but the average Montanan will not. Its big tax giveaways that doesnt help the local economy while passing the buck on to future generations.

In fact, just this week, the very D.C. special interest groups funding his campaign for U.S. Congress helped pass a health care bill that not only raises premiums on working Montanans, it also cuts taxes for those at the very top.

No real Montanan would do that.

We cant keep sending millionaires to Washington, D.C., to cozy up to special interests and expect them to look out for the rest of us. Or even to understand what life is like for working Montana families. The contrast in this race couldnt be clearer.

Self-interest and self-serving policies in D.C. have gone on long enough.

As Montanas Congressman, I will fight to give tax breaks to Montana working families and close loopholes that reward corporations that outsource jobs.

Im going to make sure we give small businesses and people who work hard a tax break instead.

Montanans are hard-working, self-reliant people. They dont ask expect handouts. They simply ask that everyone plays by the same rules.

As your next Congressman, I will be an independent voice that will fight to make sure the rules benefit all Montanans.

Rob Quist is the Democratic candidate for Montana's lone U.S. House seat.
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A GOP attack ad in a cutthroat Georgia congressional race features an unauthorized cameo from a San Francisco star: a Powell-Hyde Street cable car.

Officials from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency say they were surprised to see the cable car featured prominently in a commercial that sniped at Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff, portraying him as a torchbearer for San Francisco liberals.

The ad was funded by a Republican Super PAC called the Congressional Leadership Fund, which has ties to House Speaker Paul Ryan. It was first broadcast May 9 on TV in Atlanta and quickly went viral after Bay Area news outlets picked up the story.

This is a misrepresentation, SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose said, noting that the SFMTA has a policy against political advertisements. The SFMTA will send a cease-and-desist request to the PAC, he added.

The race for the House seat to represent Georgias Sixth District  a traditionally conservative swath of the northern Atlanta suburbs  has pitted Ossoff, a 30-year-old former congressional aide, against 55-year-old Republican Karen Handel. They are locked in a fierce fight to succeed Tom Price, who in February was confirmed as health and human services secretary in the Trump administration.

With the two candidates neck-and-neck ahead of a runoff election June 20, the race has become a critical test of President Trumps appeal in a district that has long voted Republican but suddenly appears to be up for grabs. Ossoff has raised much of his funding from donors outside the state who want to chip away at the Republicans House majority.

Among those donors are San Franciscans who are satirized in the ad. It includes a woman sporting a Nancy Pelosi/Jon Ossoff T-shirt in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, a hippie with braids at Fishermans Wharf, and a hipster with a ridiculous floppy hat on Broadway in the Russian Hill neighborhood, along with other caricatures. They thank Ossoff for pushing a West Coast agenda, saying he would raise taxes and cut military spending.

ISIS? Theyre overrated, scoffs the hipster, who wears a Cut the Military Now! button on her lapel.

In the final shot, a cable car rattles down Hyde Street with an Ossoff peace-sign banner Photoshopped to its side. That image struck Rose as a particularly brazen form of exploitation.

The cable car is an iconic landmark that attracts people and attention from all over the world, Rose said. And I think we can all agree that it is best left un-Photoshopped.

The Congressional Leadership Fund is dedicated to keeping a Republican hold on the House. The PAC hired District of Columbia public affairs company FP1 Strategies to shoot the ad in San Francisco on May 3. It paid $200 for a permit from the San Francisco Film Commission  the standard fee for anyone shooting a commercial, music video or Web content.

One day before the ad was broadcast, FP1 Strategies requested paperwork for permission to use an image of a cable car. Rose said he received FP1 Strategies request on Monday  a week later  but the agency has yet to respond.

The San Francisco Film Commission occasionally grants retroactive permits to use images of cable cars or Muni buses, said commission Executive Director Susannah Greason Robbins, but shes unsure whether MTA would sign off in this case.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

A spokeswoman for the Congressional Leadership Fund said the PAC had signed its portion of the paperwork and sent a check for $623 to the MTA. Neither Robbins nor Rose had received a check as of Tuesday.

It is no surprise that Jon Ossoffs favorite city is rushing to his defense to hide his connections to Nancy Pelosi and Bay Area liberals, the Congressional Leadership Fund spokeswoman said in a statement Tuesday.

We welcome the extra attention on our ad and Jon Ossoffs liberal record, the statement read. We worked with the San Francisco Film Commission to obtain proper permits, submit appropriate paperwork, sent a check for the full amount of the invoice, and followed all guidelines in producing our widely praised commercial.

Representatives from Handels campaign did not answer requests for comment.

Ossoff campaign spokeswoman Sacha Haworth dismissed the ad as a tired stock partisan attack, devoid of substance and offering no solutions for metro Atlanta.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon has been decrying Public Defender Jeff Adachis handling of immigrant witnesses and victims of crime  and hes taking his case to the state Capitol.

On Tuesday, the D.A. was in Sacramento to testify in support of a bill he is pushing to prohibit defense lawyers and prosecutors from questioning witnesses about their immigration status without consent from a judge, who would have to hold a closed-door hearing first. The bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, won approval from a Senate committee.

You cant just blurt out (a persons immigration status) in open court when there might be an ICE agent there, Wiener said.

The legislative move stems from Gascons anger over public defenders aggressive tactics toward some immigrants living in the U.S. illegally who say they were victims of crimes. He was especially upset about a domestic violence case this year in which prosecutors say Adachis staffers actively misrepresented themselves as the district attorney when interviewing the woman who reported the alleged crime.

Gascon said Adachis staffers were hoping to uncover information that could be used against the woman in court or to bully her into not testifying.

Adachi, whose office has long cultivated a reputation for championing immigrant rights and fighting deportations, called the allegations nonsense. In the domestic violence case, the judge said there wasnt enough evidence to back Gascons charge, then ruled that any mention of the accusers immigration status was irrelevant and couldnt be told to jurors. In the end, the defendant was acquitted of all but one count, a misdemeanor battery charge that resulted in a hung jury.

And therein lies the rub, according to Adachi. The D.A. is unhappy with the outcome and is trying to attack our office, he said. If there was any impropriety, the D.A. had an opportunity to prove it (in court), and couldnt.

Gascon and Adachi have been clashing for a while now over treatment of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal documentation. As The Chronicles Heather Knight reported last month, Adachis attorneys have been aggressive in questioning immigrants about their knowledge of visas that allow victims of some crimes to stay in the U.S. His attorneys say theyre simply mounting vigilant defenses for their clients.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The Wiener legislation being backed by Gascon, SB785, might make it harder for Adachis attorneys to go to the mat, but it faces a steep climb, requiring two-thirds approval from both the Assembly and Senate because it would take effect immediately upon the governors signature, instead of next year.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
Jeffrey Tambor says it frequently  that hes been very, very lucky in an overstuffed career that continues to this day with his Emmy-winning role in Transparent. But while hes right about a lot of things, hes wrong about the luck thing. Just reading his new memoir, Are You Anybody?, and spending a half hour on the phone with him reveal the real secret to his success: Tambor is a man who thrives on curiosity.

In fact, he owes his career to being curious. As a kid growing up across the street from San Francisco State University, curiosity led him to the schools Little Theater, where a couple of students were rehearsing for a play in which they would portray old men.

I dont know why I did, he says from Los Angeles. I just happened to take a walk down Holloway (Avenue) and I saw these steps and I walked in.

In the book, which hell talk about on May 25 at the Roxie Theater, he recalls sitting in the back of the theater at first and then moving forward each day, as the cast and crew grew used to the presence of the kid in the dark, watching them rehearse.

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It was the rehearsing that got me. I said, What is this? The way they treated each other. Its true what they say about ladies and gentlemen of the theater. I found it very comforting.

When he graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School, there was no question that hed study theater at San Francisco State, where tuition was $48 a semester.

I mean, $48. You cant go to Starbucks for $48, he says, with just a slight exaggeration.

Tambor, 72, grew up on 31st Avenue, and then the family moved to an apartment in Parkmerced before relocating to Westlake in Daly City.

His dad owned the Floorcraft store and used to drive the two of them to see plays at the Geary and Curran theaters in the company truck. He recalls seeing a touring production of No Time for Sergeants when the actor in the leading role tried to exit the stage and a doorknob came off in his hand. He couldnt get out; no one else could get in. Soon, the audience and the cast were laughing together.

At that moment, Tambor thought, Whatever this is, I have to join it. How wonderful.

The family hit some rough spots as Tambor was growing up, and both his siblings led troubled lives, but he rejects the idea that he sought some kind of refuge in theater or in spending hours reading at the West Portal branch of the San Francisco Public Library.

It would be too easy to be glib about that, he says, but does allow that books and theater went a long way toward getting my particular act together.

My education took place a lot at the hungry i, or the Purple Onion, or the Jazz Workshop. I would go over to City Lights and just sit there and watch. We would go down for a dollar meal and flamenco dancing. ... I was totally besotted by flamenco.

Jack Plunkett/AP

Are You Anybody? (Crown Archetype, 275 pages, $27) isnt one of those and then I played actors memoirs, although Tambor hopscotches through a career that included working in rep 40 years ago with Judith Light, now his Transparent co-star, and sharing the stage with the formidable George C. Scott in the Larry Gelbart play Sly Fox, based on Volpone.

When I first joined the cast, I was so in awe I could barely speak to him. I mean, that was Patton!

More often than not, when he writes about one of his roles, Tambors purpose is to offer a life lesson, something he does from time to time in his traveling lecture Performing Your Life, which grew out of his work teaching acting (including a long stint at the Beverly Hills Playhouse).

When he took the lecture to South by Southwest, someone said what he calls the magic sentence.

And it was, You know, what youre talking about with your actors applies to life. Shortly afterward, the talk became Performing Your Life: Whats Keeping You?, which he especially enjoys taking to college campuses.

Its a different world than my world, he says. When I went to school, they just handed you a degree and you went and you got a job. Well, that contract is no longer implied or even promised. So theres a lot of nervosity, and the questions are really quite something.

Tambors purpose in talking to college students is to give them the momentum to keep going, something hes never had to worry about, but he has seen others give up on their careers and is curious about what makes them stop, as he puts it.

So many friends who have stopped, and you always say, But they were so talented, probably more talented than I. Why did they stop? Its not a judgmental thing. Im just wondering why. It resonates a lot when youre talking to seniors in college now, who are all ready to shift.

While Tambor had a few droughty periods in his career, he says he never considered doing anything but acting.

I dont know why. I dont think it has anything to do with courage or anything. I just kept going, he says. If theres any secret, its to find people who get you.  I like work. Acting is really fun. I did two tours on The Love Boat, and The Ropers. Im very glad I did that. Thats all part of my history.

It also helps to get what he calls an attaboy from the people around you. He got that from Scott, back in the 70s, when the actor singled him out during curtain calls and told the audience to keep an eye on the young man whod flubbed his first line, but then climbed right back up and nailed the role.

In both his personal and professional lives, Tambor is big on support. At home in New York state, he has seen what an attaboy has done to build his son Gabriels self-confidence on the lacrosse field.

He lists Arrested Developments Mitch Hurwitz, The Larry Sanders Shows Garry Shandling and Transparents Jill Soloway as being especially supportive of actors in general and of him. He likens the Transparent cast to a family, and says of Soloway, Theres not only genius holding down the fort, theres great humanity. I think that comes through a lot in the performances.

Tambor won an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy two years in a row for playing Maura Pfefferman on Transparent, but hes still growing with the character.

Maura is learning at warp speed how to live her life, and Jeffrey is learning at warp speed how to play Maura, he says. One of the fail-safes about playing Maura is that Maura doesnt quite know how to put on her makeup, and thats the beauty of Maura. When she goes to the LGBTQ center, she doesnt know quite who to talk to or how to talk to them. When she goes there, wheres her age group and who does she talk to?

In his moving Emmy speech, Tambor said he hopes that hes the last cisgender male to play a transgender woman, but until that time, he is committed to doing right by Maura Pfefferman.

I feel she is more comfortable in her fourth season, he says, but there isnt a day that goes by that I dont feel the tap tap tap of do this right, do this right, do this right.

For the immediate future, Tambor will reprise his role as George Bluth Sr. in the just-confirmed fifth season of Arrested Development on Netflix, hell continue to voice characters on Archer, and he has six other projects either in pre- or post-production on IMDb.

Tambor is fond of a story about Karl Wallenda, the late founder of the great circus act the Flying Wallendas. Someone asked him, what do you do when youre not walking the tightrope? And he said, Wait.

To me, the whole life between action and cut is still a very, very exciting life, he says.

David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook. Email: dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV

Jeffrey Tambor: 7 p.m. May 25. Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St., S.F., sponsored by the Booksmith. www.booksmith.com/event/booksmith-presents-jeffrey-tambor-roxie-natasha-muse
Jack Welch, whose tenure at General Electric made him a management icon in the 1990s and 2000s, has been a huge fan of President Donald Trump's.

A longtime Republican supporter, he got behind Trump last year, praising his plans for tax cuts, regulatory reform and aggressive stance on terrorism. He's been called a member of Trump's "kitchen Cabinet" and lauded his business-minded approach to the presidency, saying on cable TV it's "like talking to a peer." Welch raised eyebrows in 2012 for claiming the Obama administration had skewed the jobs numbers; Trump frequently referred to the government's unemployment figures as being "phony" before becoming president.

GE's former CEO, now 81, is still a big fan Trump's policies, saying on CNBC Wednesday morning that he would give the president an 'A' for things like his Cabinet selections, his agenda and the business community's confidence. But Welch also had some sharp words for how the president is running the White House, calling Trump's approach to firing Comey a "rookie mistake," questioning his handling of messaging and communications and giving him an overall "D-minus" when it comes to managing the federal bureaucracy.

"I think without question we've got a guy that's on the right agenda with crappy management practices," Welch said on CNBC. He suggested he would give Trump a "D-minus" for management. "And," he noted, "I'm being an easy grader here."

Welch started with Trump's approach to firing FBI Director James Comey last week, which was done from afar - Comey was reported to have learned about his firing from a television news broadcast while addressing FBI employees.

"I don't want to argue whether Comey should have been thrown out or not. But clearly you don't fire him the way Trump fired him," said Welch, who is now chairman of an eponymous online MBA program at for-profit Strayer University. "Clearly you don't make any friends doing it the way he did it. There's going to be retribution. It's a minor league - it's a rookie mistake."

Welch then seemed to compare Trump to his predecessor. "You've got to give Obama credit. There was no trouble on that team," Welch said. "He had that team around him. They spoke with one voice."

Returning to Trump, he said, "He set a great mission: Make America Great Again. Get jobs back. Strong military. Lead the country. He had the mission. Now you align the troops around the mission, everybody buys it. If they don't get on the bus, throw them the hell off the bus."

Welch appeared to go on to presume that Trump knew who was leaking information, and that Trump would be able to fire them. "Why he's letting these people that are leaking everything hang around," he said, "it's crazy management."

One of the "Squawk Box" hosts asked Welch whether Trump should have known that from the business world, or if political leadership was a different thing. "No, I think he was an entrepreneur who ran his own shop," Welch said. "He never ran a bureaucracy, in my opinion. If you run a bureaucracy, they're in the weeds. They're behind the desk. They're whispering at the water cooler. You've got to nail them and get them the hell out of there. And he didn't do that."

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Welch also criticized Trump's handling of his communications team. "You've got to get your communications team all together with you, and they've got to live with you, so everybody gets the same message. Everybody speaks with one tongue. This is crazy. He says one thing, they say something else, and the press has a party."

Welch appeared to be referring to the shifting explanations Trump and his team have made regarding Comey's firing, as well as on Trump's sharing of classified information during an Oval Office meeting last week.

Though critical of Trump's management of the White House, Welch, a member of Trump's business advisory council, is clearly still a fan. "I love the people he's picked: Betsy DeVos, Scott Pruitt, the military side, Rex Tillerson. I love those people. I think they're great," Welch said, adding"there's an air of confidence" in the business community and among consumers. Welch also referred to the Russia story as one of "these little things" and said he thought any impeachment proceeding would "blow the market away."
Two San Francisco brothers accused of running a drug trafficking organization that pumped methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine throughout California and over state lines were indicted following a five-month wiretap operation that netted both their girlfriends and 19 others, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday.

Felix Lopez-Galindo, 32  nicknamed Fanta  and his brother, Pedro Lopez-Galindo, 30  nicknamed Zorro  were indicted last month on charges of possession with the intent to sell and conspiracy to sell drugs, as were their girlfriends, Natalie Hernandez, 21, and Carolina Soto, 28.

According to the complaint, Drug Enforcement Administration agents had been investigating the brothers and their organization since November, using GPS trackers, vehicle trackers, location monitoring of cell phones and pole-mounted cameras, as well as a tap of Felix Lopez-Galindos phone.

While their investigation led them to believe that Felix Lopez-Galindo was the leader and Pedro Lopez-Galindo the right-hand man, Special Agent Brandon Cahill wrote in the complaint that he believed Soto handled the money and Hernandez helped conceal evidence.

Two Fresno men also played a key role in the organization, Cahill said, in that Ismael Rodriguez Loreto, 33, was the organizations source of cocaine and Rafael Romero-Rodriguez, 20, was his runner.

From March 22 to April 27, agents listened to Felix Lopez-Galindo communicate with a number of the defendants using code words for different drugs. In one call with Hernandez, he told her to quit her job because her husband was a drug dealer.

On one occasion, agents followed Felix Lopez-Galindo and Hernandez as they drove to Fresno to pick up Rodriguez Loreto so Felix Lopez-Galindo could meet his source in Long Beach. Agents saw them leave with a heavy cardboard box that they then transferred to Pedro Lopez-Galindo and Soto in Madera.

Pedro Lopez-Galindo was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol on his way back to the Bay Area, and a drug-sniffing dog sniffed out more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, the scent of which Lopez-Galindo had allegedly been trying to mask with air fresheners, Cahill wrote. Soto had her 4-year-old son with them at the time.

The arrests of the others followed soon after, with several taken into custody Monday. In total during this time period, the brothers, their girlfriends and 14 others conspired to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and more than five kilograms of cocaine and heroin, Cahill wrote. Four more were in possession of drugs for sale, and one was indicted as a felon in possession of a firearm.

The other defendants tied to this drug trafficking operation are:

Carlos Ferran Leon, 33, of Hayward

Jesus Chavez Espinoza, 26, of San Jose

Efrain Torres, 28, of San Jose

Henry Javier Lopez Alverto, 29, of San Francisco

Xavier Eriberto Sanchez Hernandez, 25, of San Francisco

Juan Jose Flores Jr., 38, of Daly City

Yader Rubi-Morales, 25, of San Pablo

Branko Budimir, 29, of San Francisco

Julio Covarrubias, 38, of San Francisco

Theresa Carter, 27, of San Francisco

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Jose Villanueva-Canchola, 28, of San Francisco

Anthony Balenzuela, 56, of San Francisco

Lillian Larios, 37, of San Francisco

Antonio Serranorivas, 21, of San Francisco

Stephen Asmus, 25, of Redding

Lucy Lopez, 40, of San Leandro

Robert Zander Seaton, 33, of San Francisco

The first court appearance in this case is scheduled for June 15.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo
Just because it was called the Summer of Love, that doesnt mean the flower children werent ferocious. Some of them still are.

In the wake of Tony Serras complaints about distinctions between hippies and bohemians, Country Joe McDonald takes exception to the de Young Museum Summer of Love show curator who said she had trouble finding museum quality tie-dye. That attitude, he says, is rampant among movers and shakers attempting to hijack our Summer of Love who really have not a clue about it, he said.

The real Summer of Love happened in secondhand shops and communal kitchens, garages and backyards and parks. Spaghetti dinners and seeds and stems, he continued. We were poor young disenfranchised young people creating a new world out of whatever we could collectively lay our hands on and have fun with. None of us were museum quality. Curators and connoisseurs did not understand us then and they dont understand us now. But we did change the world on $1.50.

I hear you, Joe. At the time, I too, thought we were changing the world. But considering the mess its in right now, Im not so sure. The drafts no more, but the U.S. Defense Departments getting beefed up, prisons are filled with corporations making big bucks on them, women are paid less than men, Roe vs. Wade and voters rights are threatened.

Readers, did the Summer of Love change the world?

With similar goals, the Levi Strauss Foundation, the coffers of which are replenished by sales of Americas most treasured exports, announced on Wednesday, May 17, that it is donating $1 million in grants to organizations that protect the civil liberties of highly vulnerable communities across the United States and abroad, including immigrants, refugees, the transgender community and religious minorities.

Its clear that the grants reflect a political point of view.

Discrimination and stigma are anathema to our core values, said Foundation Executive Director Daniel Lee. This belief comes from our founder Levi Strauss, who was an immigrant himself, and still rings true today.

Among the beneficiaries: National Domestic Workers Alliance, United We Dream, Transgender Law Center, Mobilize the Immigrant Vote, Asian Law Caucus, Council on American-Islamic Relations, International Refugee Relief Assistance Project.

Watching White House press secretary Sean Spicey Spicer at his press briefing Monday, May 15, said Lee Houskeeper, reminded him of watching SPCA ads in which Joe Cocker sings You Are So Beautiful while trembling, scared and downcast dogs stare at the camera with empty eyes. And then theres the song Michael Fullerton cant get out of his mind: Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Nixon.

So the administration is inspiring many culturally aware Americans:

Sundays New York Daily News quoted Alec Baldwin on his Saturday Night Live impersonation of President Trump: There are many people who do Trump now, said Baldwin, and they have different Trumps. They have kind of a balls-of-his-feet-light Trump or what I like to call Gene Kelly Trump. But my Trump is miserable Trump. No matter what, he wins, he loses, hes miserable.

That quote inspired Patricia Kelly , widow of Gene Kelly (and a great friend of the San Francisco Ballet), to take to Facebook. Although she knows Baldwin didnt intend any real slight of Gene (and I do think Baldwins version is spot-on and Gene would, too), cant we please come up with better  less jarring similes and refrain from laxly linking someone truly decent with someone truly not.

In a 2015 Huffington Post essay responding to a similar description of Trumps ease, dancing through nativist, racist, misogynistic slop as if he were Gene Kelly, Patricia Kelly wrote that Trumps toxic comments about immigrants and women are completely counter to the spirit of Gene Kelly. Not only would Gene be appalled by Trumps deplorable words and actions, he would be stricken that such depravity could be tolerated  and sadly, even celebrated  in a race for President of the United States.

Connecting Gene to Trump is odious, emailed Patricia Kelly. It seems fairly lame to link Gene to a travesty like Donald Trump, simply because someone needs a dance analogy. ... Donald Trump represents everything Gene abhorred, everything he fought against his entire life.

Stephen and Ayesha Curry , who had seen Hamilton in the run-up to its official opening, were at a performance again on Thursday, May 11, reported Sara Ying Rounsaville and Lois Hirsch, who were both there, too. The audience broke into chants of MVP! MVP! and Curry turned in his seat to take a video of his cheering applauding fans. (The Warriors All-Star told ESPN recently that seeing the show had inspired him to get past a slump.)

Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik
The only time Greg Gianfortes New Jersey roots appear is when he speaks. Dont take my word for it. Listen to the archive of his interview with Sally Mauk on Montana Pubic Radio. In it, he does not even try to mask his arrogance, his disdain, his rudeness, his condescension.

Gianforte is not one of us. He exudes a sense of entitlement, as if Montanans owe him the Governorship, or now the consolation prize, a seat in the U.S. House. He blocked Montanans access to public lands. He has attached himself at the hip to Trump, a man less temperamentally fit to be President than almost anyone reading this letter. And worst of all, he wants to take away our health insurance. He didnt even have the courage to admit his position on healthcare publicly. It only came out because someone had taped a conversation in which he expressed his glee that the U.S. House passed a bill that would kick 75,000 Montanans off health insurance over the next 10 years.

In summary, a man who is arrogant, condescending and disingenuous, a man who wants to deny health insurance to low income Montanans and who has blocked our access to public lands may or may not be suited to represent the people of New Jersey. But he sure as heck is not the man to represent us in Montana. For the sake of our future, I implore you not to vote for Gianforte.

Richard Opper

Helena
Since the election, fewer eligible San Franciscans are taking advantage of food stamp benefits because of fears about immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration, said Trent Rhorer, executive director of San Franciscos Human Services Agency.

The city is concerned by a recent spike of withdrawals from CalFresh, or food stamps, among eligible households with at least one noncitizen. According to Rhorer, the political climate has sparked a rash of questions from participants, ranging from whether their personal information would be released to the federal government to whether the administration will cut food stamp benefits to immigrants.

The impact to those eligible families, and to the city, could be significant if trends continue.

They are putting their household in further jeopardy of not being able to pay the rent, or not being able to pay utility bills because they have to buy food, said Rhorer. These are benefits they are entitled to receive, and theyre playing by the rules. They shouldnt be penalized by this negative commentary coming out of the White House.

California already has one of the lowest food stamp enrollment rates in the country. In San Francisco, about 52,000 people  only half of eligible residents  participate in CalFresh. Thats a similar participation rate to the state as a whole.

Legal residents, including green card holders and those with official asylum or refugee status, are eligible to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), as the federally funded program is known nationally. In California, a family of four with a gross household income of less than $4,050 per month qualifies, and the average monthly benefit in San Francisco is $230. A household can qualify even if some members are not legal residents.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 2016

But since the election, statements from the Trump administration have raised concerns in immigrant communities about accepting food stamps. The agency identified a drop in new enrollments and a rise in withdrawals from the program, especially in the 9,500 participating San Francisco households with at least one noncitizen. In that group, 150 households withdrew from the program in March and April alone, whereas the normal rate is fewer than 60 withdrawals monthly. In the first four months of the year, new applications to the program have decreased by about 17 percent.

The numbers dont yet constitute a trend, but it was enough to cause the city and other partners like the nonprofit SF-Marin Food Bank to hold a joint event Wednesday to encourage low-income residents to apply  and to address their concerns.

The draft of an executive order that was leaked in January, but never signed, was particularly worrying, according to Rhorer. Called Protecting Taxpayer Resources by Ensuring Our Immigration Laws Promote Accountability and Responsibility, the executive order called for a policy that would deny admission of any alien who is likely to become a public charge  such as immigrants who may require food stamps. It also called for identifying and removing undocumented immigrants who have received those benefits illegally.

Recent events have also raised concerns that accepting food stamps and other benefits could get in the way of obtaining a green card. According to the National Immigration Law Center, accepting those benefits can be a problem only for those who misrepresent their immigration status when applying.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

People keep asking, How this might affect me? and Do you know if there are any changes to the program? said Jaqueline Marcelos of the Mission Economic Development Agency, which helps residents apply for CalFresh.

Privacy is an ongoing concern. Families that qualify for CalFresh benefits because the children are citizens when the parents are not, for example, may choose not to participate for fear that their personal information will be released to the federal government. But the city of San Francisco, which administers benefits within the county, said information about household members who do not apply is not released to the federal government, which also doesnt access its CalFresh systems for immigration enforcement action.

Whats unclear, however, is whether that policy would change if the executive order is signed. Also unclear is whether the administration will make changes to Snap that have been floated by House Republicans, such as adding new work requirements, which Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has hinted are possible. However, Trumps recently proposed budget cuts to the USDA did not include cuts to Snap.

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This week, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association made the case in a news release that the Snap program is the central component of the social safety net against food insecurity, said co-author Craig Gundersen of the University of Illinois.

In San Francisco, where 23 percent of residents struggle with hunger, the program has particular resonance. Many low-income families supplement CalFresh benefits with groceries from the food bank, said Paul Ash, executive director of the SF-Marin Food Bank, which distributes free groceries to low-income people. He said that without CalFresh, his organization would be overwhelmed.

I just cant stress enough how important having a strong CalFresh program is, Ash said. Some people think, lets let private charities do it. But we cant solve this problem.

Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan
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Nearly 10 years after he played his final major-league game, the Giants finally set a date to enshrine Barry Bonds on their Wall of Fame.

The club announced Wednesday that Bonds will get a plaque on the brick wall on Saturday July 8, at 3:30 p.m., before a game against the Miami Marlins.
Scientists are in a rush to create artificial intelligence, beings that can think and act human but that have no capacity for human feeling. In Alien: Covenant, the latest from Ridley Scott, we get a glimmer of what that would really mean  the mass production of potentially dangerous sociopaths.

In many ways, this new installment in the Alien series is a conventional horror movie, starting quietly and building in intensity, from the first hint of trouble to the thunderous life-and-death struggle at the finish. But its cinematic stylishness and its attention to modern-day anxiety raise it to something out of the ordinary.

The opening pre-credits sequence is a tribute to Stanley Kubrick, taking place in a spare, white room. Its a conversation about the source of creation between a human (Guy Pearce) and the very human-looking robot he has created (Michael Fassbender). The whole feeling is cold and somber, full of a sense of loss thats punctuated by the robots innocent observation that he is eternal but that the human scientist will eventually die. This brings an uneasy feeling, an inkling that humanity has bitten off a little more than it can chew.

Soon were in the midst of an outer-space emergency. The robot, Walter, is at the helm of a colony ship on the way to a distant planet. The human crew is in a state of suspended animation, but when a fire erupts, Walter wakes up the officers so they can pilot their way out of the crisis. Billy Crudup is the nervous, self-doubting captain, and Katherine Waterston plays his first officer. They lead an idiosyncratic and engaging crew consisting of Carmen Ejogo and Danny McBride, among others.

The emergency and the deaths of some of their crew members leave the survivors in an unsettled state that makes them ripe for rash choices. Unwilling to get back into their hibernation pods  where 46 of their company have been burned to death  they become intrigued by a human-sounding transmission from a nearby planet. This presents them with a choice: Either continue for another seven years to their planned and fully vetted destination or improvise. The shaky captain chooses to improvise  to send a reconnaissance team to the nearby planet and find the source of the transmission.

As anyone who has ever seen an Alien movie knows, winging it through outer space is never a good idea. But at first the alien planet looks perfectly nice. Theres water and sky and fertile-looking soil. Yet something is strange. Hear that? the first officer points out. Theres no sound. No birds, no animals, nothing.

For the uninitiated, the alien of the Alien movies is a particularly grotesque creation, not a single monster, but a species, with a head shaped like a bus, no visible eyes, and rows of little teeth. But whats especially horrifying is its gestation: As tiny buds, they float into a human orifice, making the host very, very sick. And then they come busting out through the torso, ready to jump on to anyones face and start eating it.

Its a testament not only to the movies aura of intelligence but also to its actual intelligence that the gruesomeness doesnt overwhelm everything else. Though the scale is large and the action takes up a fair chunk of the screen time, Alien: Covenant remains grounded in its ideas and in the struggles of its individual characters. And the idea most present is that things are beginning to get out of hand, that the mechanistic future promised by science is one in which human life will become cheap and embattled.

Fassbender is at the center of the film, playing not one but two robots, Walter and his older and more emotional predecessor, David. Waterston takes on the traditional horror-movie heroine role  the good woman who must face down the monster  with a probity that transcends the cliche. But the best thing about Alien: Covenant is the feeling that comes through the frames.

Yes, the movie may be fantastic and outlandish, but the aura surrounding it is unsettling in its familiarity. It is one of unspoken, undefined dread, a dread that isnt sci-fi and isnt even fiction, but that is already inside the audience.

Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Mick LaSalle

Alien: Covenant

Science fiction. Starring Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston and Billy Crudup. Directed by Ridley Scott. (R. 122 minutes.)
WASHINGTON - Congressional Republicans are increasing pressure on the administration to produce records related to the latest string of controversies involving President Donald Trump, amid flagging confidence in the White House and a growing sense that scandal is overtaking the presidency.

As the White House sought to contain the damage from two major scandals, leaders of two key Senate committees asked the FBI for documents related to former director James Comey, who was leading an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election before Trump fired him last week.

The Republican chairmen and ranking Democrats on the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary committees asked the FBI to hand over Comey's notes about his communications with the White House and senior Justice Department officials related to the Russia investigation.

Steven Senne/Associated Press

The Judiciary Committee leaders also asked the White House to provide any records of interactions between Trump officials and Comey, including audio recordings. In a nod to lawmakers' strong desire to hear from the former director, the Intelligence Committee leaders asked him to testify in both open and closed sessions.

Meanwhile, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday about whether Trump interfered in the FBI's investigation and invited Comey to testify.

The requests came after news reports revealed Trump's disclosure of highly classified material to Russian officials and an alleged attempt to shut down an investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. On Thursday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will brief the full Senate on Comey's firing.

On Wednesday, some members of the GOP began predicting that the party will rally behind some sort of independent investigative body to probe the two issues.

Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., co-chairman of the moderate Tuesday Group, said Wednesday that the collective political fallout from the past week "will make it difficult" for Republicans to resist a change in approach.

Dent said he does not like investigations by independent prosecutors because they "tend to take on a life of their own" and instead preferred an independent commission of outside experts.

"We may have to move in that direction," Dent said Wednesday at a forum moderated by Center Forward, a moderate Democratic organization.

The collision of the two stories Tuesday night left Republicans reeling, with a senior GOP senator comparing the situation to Watergate, and Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., directing the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to immediately seek records from the FBI.

Ryan was careful to strike an evenhanded tone Wednesday, saying congressional committees would continue to conduct oversight "regardless of what party is in the White House" but seeming to dismiss some concerns that have arisen in the wake of news about a memo by Comey suggesting that Trump had pressured him to drop the Flynn investigation.

"There's clearly a lot of politics being played here," Ryan said.

He noted FBI acting director Andrew McCabe's recent comment that there has been "no effort to impede our investigation." McCabe made the remark in a congressional hearing when asked whether the firing of Comey had affected the bureau's work.

Ryan also sounded a skeptical note about Comey's actions after the meeting in which Trump allegedly asked him to "let this go," referring to the Flynn probe.

"If this happened as he described, why didn't [Comey] take action at the time?" Ryan said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has not directly commented on allegations that Trump tried to pressure Comey. He did not mention the president or the controversies facing the White House during his morning remarks on the Senate floor and ignored questions from reporters in the halls of the Capitol.

As they pleaded for more information from the White House, lawmakers from both parties rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's unusual offer Wednesday morning to provide a record of the meeting in the Oval Office in which Trump shared the classified information.

"The idea that we would accept any evidence from President Putin is absurd," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in an interview with CNN.

"I don't talk to murderous dictators like Vladimir Putin, so Putin's word to me doesn't mean a whole lot," Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, a member of the Republican leadership, told the network.

"Probably the last person the president needs to vouch for him right now is Vladimir Putin," Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said in an interview with CBS News. "Its credibility would be less than zero." Concerns about Trump are clearly growing among Republican lawmakers.

On Tuesday night, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., compared the current situation to the Watergate scandal while speaking at an International Republican Institute dinner.

"We've seen this movie before. I think it's reaching the point where it's of Watergate size and scale and a couple of other scandals that you and I have seen," McCain told Bob Schieffer of CBS News. "It's a centipede, and the shoe continues to drop."

Asked Wednesday whether the imbroglio could lead to impeachment, McCain responded: "I have no idea on that - come on."

The senator's spokeswoman, Julie Tarallo, said the comparison was "simply meant to convey that the constant revelations of events surrounding Russia's interference in the 2016 election are reminiscent of past scandals, are not good for America, and require further scrutiny."

When asked what he'd say to Trump, McCain replied: "Get it all out. It's not going to be over until every aspect of it is thoroughly examined and the American people have made a judgment. And the longer you delay, the longer it's going to last."

Other Republican senators, while saying they need to review documents before making a final judgment, voiced doubts about Trump.

"There's a lot here that's really scary," Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said Wednesday morning in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. "It's obviously inappropriate for any president to be trying to interfere with an investigation."

Collins, a member of the Intelligence Committee, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, reissued calls Wednesday for the Justice Department to consider appointing a special prosecutor to probe Russia's election interference.

Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., is calling for a Democrat to replace Comey as head of the FBI. Toomey believes "changes are needed at the White House," spokesman Steve Kelly told The Washington Post in an email Wednesday.

And one of two House Republicans to endorse an independent investigation of the Comey matter said that if the details reported this week are true, it could be grounds for impeaching Trump. "Yes," replied Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, a member of the Oversight Committee, when posed the question by a reporter.

The White House has been largely silent since The New York Times first reported on Trump's alleged effort to end the Flynn investigation by pressuring Comey. Trump aides have not directly commented on the story and were absent from television shows starting Tuesday night, a notable difference from last week, when they blanketed the networks to defend Comey's firing.

Before the Times story broke, Trump aides had sought to tamp down the controversy over Trump sharing classified information with Russian officials. National security adviser H.R. McMaster called the action "wholly appropriate" to the conversation that occurred in the Oval Office.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Both Republicans and Democrats have called on Trump, who has suggested that he records his conversations, to provide a transcript of the meeting to congressional intelligence committees so they can assess what took place.

White House aides have neither confirmed nor denied the possibility that Trump keeps tapes of his meetings.

Democrats blasted House Republicans on Wednesday for doing little to probe Trump's potential ties to Russia.

"They do as little as humanly possible just to claim that they're doing something," said Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee.

"Our committee should already be conducting robust and transparent investigations," said Cummings, who joined 32 other Democrats on Tuesday night in calling for his panel to partner with the Judiciary Committee on a new probe of Trump's White House.

"Speaker Ryan has shown he has zero - zero, zero - appetite," the Democrat said.

Democrats' priority is advancing a bill from Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., creating a bipartisan congressional commission to investigate Russia's cyberintrusions, how the intelligence community handled the matter and the president's potential involvement.

The Democrats are hoping to file a discharge petition - which requires the signatures of a majority of all House members - to compel GOP leaders to schedule a vote on the proposal. But they could have trouble gathering enough support: As of Wednesday, The Post found only five GOP senators and 10 House Republicans open to some kind of independent investigation.

While several Democrats have called for Trump to be impeached over the Comey firing, the party's leaders reiterated that their priority was a special investigation.

Schiff cautioned that hasty talk of impeachment would distract from the need for a bipartisan probe - and mire the investigation in partisanship.

"It cannot be perceived as an effort to nullify the election by other means," he said.

Some rank-and-file Republicans dismissed the controversies out of hand.

"It's being made a bigger deal than what it is," Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., said, maintaining that leaks to the media were a more serious matter.

Trump "doesn't fit the model of a typical politician, and that's what the real issue is here. He's a business guy, and he wants to get things done."

Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., also was unperturbed by the latest reports. Back in Alabama, he said, there is "a lot of frustration that they're not allowing him to do his job."

"So far I have not seen anything that's that alarming," Aderholt said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Karoun Demirjian, Carol Leonnig, Ed O'Keefe, Amber Phillips, Kelsey Snell and David Weigel contributed to this report.
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San Francisco extracted a legal settlement Tuesday from online gun suppliers who may have tried to sidestep state and local bans on high-capacity gun magazines by advertising repair kits that could be used to assemble the forbidden weapons cartridge holders.

But the settlement, announced by City Attorney Dennis Herrera, is just a preliminary to the main events that may soon determine the extent of the right to own and carry a gun in California and across the nation.

Herrera sued five out-of-state companies in February, accusing them of violating state laws prohibiting the sale of gun magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds. He said Tuesday the companies have agreed to a 10-year settlement that forbids them from selling or advertising the repair kits in California and requires them to notify customers on their websites that the kits and the large-capacity magazines are illegal in the state.

Californians have spoken clearly. We dont want these weapons in our communities, Herrera said in a statement. I have zero tolerance for gun sellers who try to skirt the law.

The companies are Badger Mountain Supply of Washington state, 7.62 Precision of Alaska, Shooters Plus of Mississippi, LAK Supply of Wyoming and BuyMilsurp.com of Florida.

Herreras lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, said the companies falsely told customers that the kits were legal in California.

For example, the suit said, Badger Mountain Supply advertised that it would sell rebuild kits in two separate shipments so that California customers could obtain them legally. LAK Supplys website said, All hi cap magazine orders from ban states will automatically be converted into orders for repair kits.

Sean Brady, a lawyer for 7.62 Precision, Shooters Plus and BuyMilsurp.com, accused Herrera of a politically motivated shakedown of tiny businesses that cant afford to defend themselves. Brady said the websites singled out in the lawsuit havent been used by his clients for years to advertise or sell products in California.

But Brady, whose law firm also represents the National Rifle Association and its state affiliate, the California Rifle and Pistol Association, said those organizations believe in the constitutionality of these products and will be challenging the restrictions on these magazines as soon as possible.

Another group, the California Firearms Policy Coalition, has already filed suit contending the states ban on high-capacity magazines violates both the constitutional right to keep and bear arms and the prohibition on government confiscation of private property.

California law has banned the sale of high-capacity magazines since 2000. A 2013 law specified that the magazines could not be sold in disassembled pieces. A San Francisco city ordinance prohibited possession of high-capacity magazines in 2014, and California voters took the same step in November by passing Proposition 63, whose ban on possession takes effect in July.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court, with the addition of Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Trumps appointee, is weighing whether to take up a challenge to Californias concealed-weapons law. That law requires a law enforcement permit  virtually unavailable in the Bay Area and most of the states larger cities  to carry a concealed handgun outside the home.

A federal appeals court upheld the law last year and ruled that the constitutional right to keep a gun at home for self-defense, established by the Supreme Court in 2008, does not apply to carrying concealed weapons outside the home. That issue, crucial to the validity of many state and local gun laws, has never been decided by the high court.

The mystery is whats going to happen with Gorsuch, who could cast the deciding vote, said David Levine, a law professor at UC Hastings in San Francisco. He said last years appeals court ruling, which relied on laws and treatises from 15th and 16th century England to find no traditional Anglo-American right to carry concealed weapons, was clearly drafted to appeal to jurists like Gorsuch who claim to interpret the law according to its original meaning.

UCLA l aw Professor Adam Winkler said cases like Herreras settlement Tuesday reflect broader trends in a gun-control movement that has been reinvigorated in recent years, with California at the forefront.

Gun control has become a higher priority for Democrats in recent years, including prosecutors who may now be more aggressive in going after people or companies that seek to evade Californias strict gun regulations, Winkler said.

Brandon Combs, president of the California Firearms Policy Coalition, said those prosecutors could overstep their limits, even in California. For example, he said, the state and city might exceed constitutional boundaries on interfering with interstate commerce if they try to enforce the gun-kit ban against dealers who receive the products in this state for sale and shipment to states where theyre legal.

The broader these gun-control laws get, (and) the ... more expensive, itll be interesting to see how theyre enforced outside state lines, Combs said.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko<DP>@<DP>sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
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Dozens of University of California students and workers briefly shut down a meeting of the UC regents Wednesday to protest revelations that the presidents office kept $175 million in secret funds and paid fat salaries to staff while raising student tuition.

Calling the regents hypocrites and greedy the audience of students and workers stood en masse at the UCSF Mission Bay campus and refused to leave. Police declared them an unlawful assembly and ordered protesters from the room.

Shame on you, (President) Janet Napolitano! Shame on the Office of the President for padding your own pockets! Hannah Kagan-Moore, a graduate student instructor at UC Santa Barbara told the regents during the public comment period just before the protest.

In her recent probe of the finances of Napolitanos $686 million office, California Auditor Elaine Howle found that the presidents office had secret reserve funds of $175 million. Subsequently, the regents  following the presidents recommendation  raised tuition and fees for next fall and said they were forced to do so because of insufficient funding from the state.

The higher tuition and fees are expected to raise $143 million in the next year, less than the amount of reserves. The base price of a year at UC for California students will be $12,630, nearly 3 percent higher than the current $12,294. With additional campus fees averaging $1,257 a year, plus the cost of room, board and books, the total annual cost will top $34,000 for students living on campus.

The audit also found that the presidents office spent thousands on retirement, staff appreciation and holiday parties, and it determined that Napolitano pays her central office staff higher salaries than their counterparts in state government earn.

I see these administrators making millions of dollars. I see Janet Napolitano making more money than the president, Taylor Chanes, 21, a student at UC Irvine told the regents during the public comment period. Stop raising our tuition when you claim that state disinvestment is the reason  and then we find out that we have $175 million in hidden reserves.

Chanes, one of several students and workers who criticized the president for the audit findings, went on to describe how campuses have too little money to provide adequate mental-health services and academic support for all the students who need the help.

The regents meeting was shut down for less than 10 minutes. After it resumed, Napolitano reminded the remaining audience that her office will implement all 33 of the auditors recommendations for improving transparency and budget clarity.

Weve created a website where the regents, legislators and the public can track our progress, she said. We have important work ahead of us as we implement the changes in response to the audit.

The regents have already authorized their chair, Monica Lozano, to hire an independent expert to monitor compliance. Lozano said Wednesday that a progress report will be presented in November.

Gov. Jerry Brown is also withholding $50 million from UCs 2017-18 allocation of state funding until at least May 1 of next year, when the university will be asked to show that it has made progress in untangling the finances of the presidents office.

The audit also found that Napolitanos office, which performs many of the administrative functions for UCs 10 campuses, interfered in a campus survey from the auditor designed to learn how effective the offices assistance to campuses has been. Because of that interference  in which Napolitanos staff viewed confidential survey answers and required some campuses to change responses so that they reflected better on her office - the survey was rendered useless, Howle said.

Howle will present her audit findings to the regents Thursday, the final day of the regents three-day meeting, and the regents plan to discuss them in detail.

Napolitanos office will also offer its 2017-18 budget to the regents for approval, and one difference from last years budget is already obvious.

Last years budget was seven pages long. The new one is 30 pages, packed with details about spending and expected fund balances that were previously absent. Napolitanos staff says many of those programs were not secret and were presented to the regents and the public at other times.

Another difference: The new budget, $813.5 million, is 19 percent higher than this years $686 million.

The presidents two-part budget document for programs and administration says the budget grew because of the rising cost of the universitys education abroad system, patent management and other programs. In addition, the presidents office has been gradually taking over payroll functions for the university system.

The presidents office raises money in part by charging a fee to campuses. In her audit, Howle criticized the presidents office for repeatedly increasing the fee even as it squirreled away millions of dollars in reserves it didnt report to the regents. Many of Howles recommendations call for the presidents office to consider returning money to campuses.

In her new budget, Napolitano offers for the first time a chart showing details of the campus assessment.

It shows that her office raised the campus fee by 7 percent last year and 3 percent the year before, but that it had reduced it by nearly 1 percent the year before that. In the new budget, the campus fee remains at $312 million from all campuses. Thats an average of $31.2 million for each campus, although the amount varies depending on the number of students, employees and expenditures.

But another campus charge for the payroll service had not been previously included in the budget. The new presentation shows that the fee will rise to $52 million per campus, up from $20 million last year.

The meeting resumes on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at 1675 Owens Street in San Francisco.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com

Online: For all of The Chronicles coverage of the audit, go to www.sfchronicle.com/uc_audit/
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A couple in their 70s was found dead from apparent gunshot wounds inside a home near Novato on Wednesday morning, officials said.

The bodies were discovered by family members about 8:30 a.m. at the home on the 600 block of Bugeia Lane in an unincorporated area of Marin County just outside the Novato city limits, said Lt. Doug Pittman of the Marin County Sheriffs Office.

The circumstances of the deaths were not immediately released but investigators were looking into whether it was a murder-suicide.

The episode was an isolated incident and that there was no threat to to surrounding community, Pittman said.

The names of the dead couple were not immediately released.

Pamela Young, a neighbor, called the incident very disturbing as she drove slowly past the home Wednesday morning.

Its very unsettling, she said. It makes me sad because Im sure they had family and children.

Paul Bourke, who lives next door to the house where the deaths occurred, said he didnt hear any gunshots and learned of the incident from a sheriffs deputy who responded to the scene.

Im just shocked, he said. Im sad to hear anything like this happen to anyone.

Bourke said that while he didnt know the couple, he would often see them outside their home and wave.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky
We can proudly say, after years of knowing Greg and Susan Gianforte, that Greg is far and beyond the best qualified Candidate for US Congress representing our great state of Montana. He is an American First citizen and will be on Montanas Side.

Greg and Susan, his wife of 28 years, raised their four children in Bozeman backpacking and hunting on Montanas public lands. One of the most rewarding experiences of their lives together has been exploring our public lands and passing along these Montana traditions.

Greg Gianforte believes we need to get Washington out of the way so our economy can prosper, high-paying jobs can be created, greater opportunities can exist, and our Montana way of life can be protected.

Having served in the Armed Forces for 32 years, I know that we need a strong and well-funded military to protect America and its citizens which Greg Gianforte supports and Rob Quist does not!

We ask Montanans to support and vote for Greg Gianforte. You will be proud of him to be our US Representative from Montana. It is all about our future for our family and children!

Paul E. Vallely, Major General, US Army (Ret.), and Muffin Vallely

Bigfork
A long-anticipated scientific report about hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, explains just how much we dont know about the potential effects of chemicals used in the controversial oil extraction technique. The Legislature and Californias regulatory agencies need to heed the reports warnings and insist on more data from oil companies about their activities.

The environmental characteristics of many chemicals remain unknown, write the authors of the report, which was conducted by the California Council on Science and Technology and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

We lack information to determine if these chemicals would present a threat to human health or the environment if released to groundwater or other environmental media.

The report concludes that we dont know the risks and hazards associated with some two-thirds of the additives used in fracking, and the toxicity of more than half of the chemicals used in it.

Thats completely unacceptable, which is why the reports authors suggest limiting the use of chemicals with unknown environmental profiles.

Considering the fact that theres the potential for contamination (of both food and water sources) linked to fracking, the suggestion isnt much of a stretch.

The report also suggests the need for a stronger regulatory response to current practices. Even the researchers, for example, were surprised to learn that recycled wastewater from the oil fields is being used on crops.

State Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, has authored a bill, SB248, that requires a new inspections and data recording process for well operations. Last week, Pavley said she intends to amend her bill to include some of the reports recommendations.

The scientists are emphatic that state regulators must protect underground sources of drinkable water from being contaminated by fracking in shallow wells and other potentially unsafe practices, Pavley said in a statement. We agree with that conclusion, and we urge the Legislature to take action to protect consumers and the environment.
Drinking local wasnt always a choice. In an era before Anheuser-Busch merged InBev onto its name, Americans had no choice but to drink the output of their regional brewery. Even Budweiser, once upon a time, was the St. Louis local.

Ownerships, brand rights and distribution nexuses have shifted over time, but you still know a regional beer when you see it: in a can, usually with a Germanic-sounding name etched in shiny lettering that looks like it must have been designed when a Roosevelt was president. These beers are rooted in place, but are not craft beer. The style, whether a lager or light ale, is neutral, and therefore irrelevant: drinkable, never actually that good.

A handful of regional breweries  Milwaukees Best, Yuengling  were bought, went national. Some once-beloved institutions  Jax of Jacksonville, Fla., Brown Derby of Eureka  went defunct.

Others endure. In my hometown, Boston, its Narragansett. Baltimore lives and dies by National Bohemian (but call it Natty Bo when you go). Pabst now owns Milwaukees Schlitz, Washington states Olympia and San Antonios Lone Star. Sporadically, around California, you may still spot cans of two of San Franciscos original regional, non-craft brews, Acme and Lucky Lager.

Now Adam Lamoreaux, the former owner of Linden Street Brewery, is trying to bring regional beer back to Oakland. He calls this bid Old Kan Beer & Co., an anagram of his citys name. (Actually of Ok-land, but whos counting as?)

Ive always appreciated that era when somebody held a can in their hand, and you knew where they were from, Lamoreaux says. It wasnt too complicated and it wasnt too precious.

This endeavor would seem at odds with what Lamoreaux did at Linden Street, the craft brewery that he founded with his wife, Alice, in 2009.

When it opened, Linden Street was Oaklands first production brewery to open in half a century. Its signature German-style lagers helped define the modern wave of Bay Area craft breweries. But business was always tough. I was very naive, Lamoreaux says of the four-year process of getting the brewerys doors open. In a story that sounds increasingly familiar, he took on too much debt to grow the business. We dug a hole so big for ourselves just to get Linden Street open that we never found a way to get out of that hole, he says.

Last summer, Lamoreaux and Alice sold their shares in the company to other investors. "I was starting to feel like my chances of sticking around Linden were less and less likely," Lamoreaux says. The new owners moved the brewery to Jack London Square and renamed it Oakland United Beerworks.

Miraculously, a new landlord at the Linden Street building offered Lamoreaux his lease back. He gave us the opportunity to set the calendar back to zero and start over again, Lamoreaux says.

Starting over again, he decided, would require an about-face. He would not make craft beer. No IPAs, no mixed fermentations, no searching the Amazon, as he puts it, for some fruit that nobodys ever heard of before.

No hints, no notes, he now instructs his staff at Old Kan to say. Just beer.

Accordingly, Old Kan will make only three beers, all ales made with English malts: Original (a standard pub ale), Dark (a dark mild ale) and Light (a light ale).

Paul Chinn/The Chronicle

The pub has been open for about three months, but the brewery is still nascent. The light beer hasnt been released yet. And although all of the original Linden Street equipment remains on-site, Old Kan still hasnt gotten its brewing permit, so for now theyre contract-brewing at Hermitage in San Jose.

But thats OK, because even now, the West Oakland pub exudes the friendly, familial atmosphere you want from a beer bar. It goes without saying that its not pretentious or precious. Nor is it the hip, young parent scene that has overtaken many of our regions small breweries. Its quiet, save the reggae DJ you might encounter on a Saturday afternoon. Its pre-Jack London Oakland waterfront, after all, still industrial, still sparse, a place of tin cans, blue collars, hard hats.

In the context of what Lamoreaux is trying to achieve, it almost seems counterproductive to critique the beers. Nevertheless. The Dark (4.5%) I found delicious, roasty and barely rich, an easier-drinking ale version of Moonlights Death and Taxes black lager. The Original (5.5%) is fuller than the standard canned regional  too big and malty to satisfy a 16-ounce silver bullet craving. For a driveway beer, a houseboat beer, a road beer, I wanted something lighter. I await the Light eagerly.

Paul Chinn/The Chronicle

Preciousness has not been avoided completely. Chef James Syhabout of Oaklands Michelin-starred Commis wrote the menu, though I cant say it reads like Commis: pimento cheese dip ($7), buttered egg noodles with cheese ($6), tater tots loaded with ham hock ($12). And, of course, in addition to the two Old Kan brews on tap, a draft and bottle menu features plenty of beers of the rare-Amazonian-fruit persuasion, from Kern River, Evil Twin, Ex Novo and more.

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Which raises the central question here: In the paradise of craft beer that is the Bay Area in 2017, why would anyone forgo the sumptuous treasures from local breweries like Fieldwork, Cellarmaker and Rare Barrel in order to drink light ale from a can?

To that, Lamoreaux responds: All youve gotta do is go to Dolores Park on a Friday afternoon and scan the scene for tallboys of PBR or Olde English to see people who arent focused on the precious beer thing.

Regional beers may have once been about showing your hometown identity; now, holding one of those cans is equally about showing your personal ethos. Are you the nerd who brings a growler of brett-infected sour beer to the party? Or are you the guy who slams back a tallboy?

Theres one additional personal-ethos consideration Lamoreaux hopes youll make. PBR doesnt need your money, he says. If we can give people the same opportunity to make the same choice they make all the time, but by buying Old Kan, their money goes back into the community, theyll see it go back to the schools, to West Oakland.

In time, if Old Kan cans can become ubiquitous, Lamoreaux hopes that holding the beer will send a message. Not simply that youre the tallboy-slamming type, but that youre passionate about Oakland and you want to see Oakland win.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine, beer and spirits writer. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob

To order: Old Kan Original ($5), Old Kan Dark ($5)

Where: Old Kan Beer & Co., 95 Linden St., Oakland. www.old-kan.com or (510) 338-3965

When: 4-9 p.m Wednesday-Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, and until 6 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday-Tuesday.
In 1976, a year into his first term as governor, Jerry Brown signed a bill that came to be seen as one of the strongest environmental protection laws in the country. The California Coastal Act limited development along the 1,100-mile shoreline and guaranteed public access to the beach.

Yet just two years later, Brown had become frustrated with the commission tasked with upholding the coastal act. He made headlines in 1978, calling the commissioners bureaucratic thugs.

It was an early indication of Browns complicated relationship with the environmental movement, a dynamic that still shapes his job as governor. Weeks after returning from global climate-change talks in Paris that positioned Brown as an international environmental leader, the fourth-term Democrat is now facing the wrath of environmentalists at home, thanks to a new drama unfolding on the Coastal Commission.

Conservation advocates have been critical of the decisions made by Browns appointees to the commission, who have voted in favor of projects environmentalists opposed. Now they are furious that the commission is holding a vote next week to dismiss Executive Director Charles Lester. They view Lester as an environmental guardian and say commissioners appointed by Brown are trying to oust Lester to make the coastal agency more amenable to development.

It is kind of alarming that his appointees are trying to do this because it flies in the face of the environmental legacy that he wants to leave, said Stefanie Sekich-Quinn, coastal preservation manager for the Surfrider Foundation.

Pressure to intervene

She and other environmentalists are pressuring Brown to intervene. So far Brown has declined to comment on the situation; his spokesman, Evan Westrup, said in an e-mail, This is a matter the Coastal Commission initiated without any involvement from our office.

The criticism from environmentalists is reminiscent of the pressure Brown faced a few years ago from activists opposed to fracking, an oil-extraction method. They demonstrated in front of the Capitol, followed Brown to speaking appearances and raised the question of his environmental legacy after the governor signed a 2013 bill that fell short of activists desire to ban fracking in California.

On the other hand, environmentalists have hailed Browns efforts to combat climate change. He signed an executive order last year to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. He won legislative approval to increase the amount of renewable energy that flows to Californias electricity grid. He has made the battle against global warming his cause celebre, traveling to Italy for talks with Pope Francis and to Paris for the conference in December that resulted in an international deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Those who know Brown well are not surprised he is at odds with environmentalists on the latest Coastal Commission controversy.

He is not a 100-percenter on any of these things, and thats whats made him a pretty interesting and effective governor, said Orville Schell, who wrote a biography of Brown in 1978 and remains friendly with him.

The governor appoints four of the 12 members of the Coastal Commission, with the others named by the two legislative leaders. Lester and the commissioners he reports to are not commenting before the Feb. 10 vote.

Lester, who assumed leadership of the commission in 2011, has been through lengthy closed door performance evaluations in the past three years. Publicly, commissioners have pressed him for not providing enough information about projects up for permits and a lack of ethnic diversity among commission staff.

Evolution on environment

Meanwhile, Brown has demonstrated support for the commission. His budget proposal last month gave the commission 25 permanent positions that before had been temporary. The budget Brown approved two years ago gave the commission new authority to levy fines on property owners who block public access to the beach.

Environmentalists applaud those moves, even as they criticize Browns appointments for steering the commission in what they say is a pro-development direction.

In August, Browns appointees voted to take away public use of a portion of a Malibu bluff overlooking the ocean to make way for eight new mansions. In October, on a different project in Malibu, three of the governors appointees voted to approve a beach restoration project that excludes a public path advocates sought.

They are voting poorly to protect the coast, Sekich-Quinn said. Steve Blank, a former coastal commissioner appointed by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Brown may assume he has the support of environmentalists because he is a Democrat.

Under Schwarzenegger, there was an extended effort to reach out to a constituency he didnt own, Blank said. And now, with Brown, there is benign neglect of the constituency hell own forever.

Browns evolution from an environmental visionary 40 years ago to a fiscal watchdog today has put his legacy at risk, Blank said.

No one is going to remember his skills as an accountant. Its sad but true. But people will remember driving the California coast (as the result of) Jerry Browns signature in 1976, Blank said. I hope they dont remember it as Jerry Browns destruction in 2016.

CALmatters is a nonprofit journalism venture dedicated to explaining state policies and politics. For more news analysis by Laurel Rosenhall, go to https://calmatters.org/newsanalysis.
Gov. Jerry Brown was on a roll, enthusiastically preaching to a choir of environmentalists about how carbon use and global warming are a looming catastrophe for California and the world.

Stopping carbon will be like stopping a heroin addiction, Brown told a standing-room-only crowd at a downtown San Francisco hotel last month. We are addicted to carbon and something has to be done, and quickly, if the world is to be saved.

But a growing number of environmentalists argue that the governors long-standing refusal to ban hydraulic fracking, a controversial process that has helped revive the oil industry in California, opens the state to just the type of environmental disasters he regularly rails against.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Its hypocritical for Brown to call himself a climate leader, said Catherine Garoupa White of Californians Against Fracking, a coalition of environmental groups. The governors support for fracking is a huge smear on Browns green record.

Fracking is a technique in which wells are injected with a chemical fluid under high pressure to fracture underground rock formations to release oil and natural gas that are otherwise unobtainable. While fracking has boosted energy production across the nation, environmentalists argue that the fluid used can threaten the water supply, that more carbon pollutants are released into the air and, more generally, that producing more oil allows people to use more oil.

The state needs to move to an economy with 100 percent clean energy and get out of oil, said Dan Jacobson, legislative director for Environment California. The governor needs to play a leadership role in getting us off oil.

Thats easier said than done, Brown said last week at a Sacramento news conference.

As we bring down consumption, we can bring down production, the governor said, but since California residents now drive about 330 billion miles a year, most of it in vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel, theres a long way to go.

California is only producing 30 percent of its oil, Brown said. The rest comes in ships, mostly, but increasingly in trains.

Cutting the states oil production without cutting demand just means that more of Californias oil will come from other states or other countries, which may not have the strong restrictions on fracking and oil production that California now has.

I dont believe that makes sense, Brown said.

Thats a nuanced argument that also recognizes the historic economic role oil plays in California, which trails only Texas and North Dakota in U.S. production.

Education Images/UIG via Getty Images

Kern County alone pumps more oil than Oklahoma, accounting for more than 70 percent of Californias production and more than 90 percent of its fracked wells. While the miles of photogenic melon fields, almond orchards and vineyards get the magazine covers, for more than a century the countys financial strength has been its place as Californias oil patch.

Since the 1890s, the county has been the epicenter of the states energy industry, with 44,284 active wells pumping some 144 million barrels of oil in 2015, according to the state Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources.

In Kern County, oil and gas is a $4 billion industry with lots of well-paying jobs, said Nick Ortiz, president and CEO of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. Its a huge part of our economy, and the taxes we collect are very important to Kern County and our residents.

Its oil giants like Chevron, Occidental and Aera Energy, which is jointly owned by affiliates of Shell and ExxonMobil, that drive the energy business in the county. Of the countys top 10 taxpayers, eight are energy companies.

The sights and sounds of their business arent hard to find.

From the aptly named Panorama Park near Bakersfield College, a wooden rail fence snakes along a bluff that provides an awe-inspiring  and none-too-scenic  overview of Chevrons sprawling Kern River oilfield, fifth largest in the nation.

For miles, the hills have been stripped of almost all vegetation, the greenery replaced by hundreds of hulking oil rigs, pump jacks moving and clanking like some giants teeter-totter, working 24 hours a day to pull oil from underneath Kern County.

Even the areas lone flash of green, the willows, cottonwoods and other foliage that line the banks of the Kern River as it flows along the base of the bluff, is rudely interrupted here and there with squares of dirt, each housing a concrete pad and one or more oil rigs designed to make sure every possible drop of oil in the 16.6-square-mile field is harvested.

Its fracking that has kept many of the countys wells operating, said Ortiz, who worked on energy policy for the Western States Petroleum Association before joining the chamber.

Fracking is a way to keep alive certain oil fields and access oil thats now tightly locked, he said. The governor is taking a common-sense stand that recognizes we already have strict standards and stringent regulations.

In 2013, Brown signed SB4, Californias first law regulating the use of well stimulation practices like fracking. Although fracking has been used in the states oil fields since the 1950s, the new law marked the first time oil companies had to report fracking to the state.

Since 2015, well operators must get a state permit before beginning fracking. The permit requires information about water and chemical usage, as well as seismic monitoring and notification of neighbors.

But for many environmentalists, thats not enough. They argue that fracking puts Kern County residents at risk for air pollution-linked health problems like asthma, and warn that fracking fluid can infiltrate underground aquifers and ultimately contaminate the Central Valleys fertile farmland.

Even if the pollution could be contained, extending the life of oil fields wont solve the worlds climate problem, said Jacobson of Environment California.

Browns argument is that we can do oil drilling safer than importing oil, but thats not a good climate argument, he said. We need him to use his leadership and say that were going to leave some of that oil in the ground.

The fracking fight has been going on for years, much to Browns annoyance. At the state Democratic convention in 2014, for example, his upbeat re-election speech was interrupted by climate activists shouting No fracking and Ban fracking. At other times hes had to deal with hecklers shouting things like, Climate leaders dont frack.

The governor has fought back, arguing that a fracking ban doesnt make a lot of sense, and complaining that the people opposed to fracking, dont know what the hell theyre talking about.

This battle with environmentalists isnt something that would have happened during Browns first eight years in office, said Barbara OConnor, a retired professor of political speech at Sacramento State University.

Hes wiser now and realizes he cant do everything, and the state cant afford to do everything, she said. It doesnt mean he doesnt care, but he picks his battles.

Brown tried to explain that Thursday, arguing that California already has a more aggressive program to fight climate change than any city or country in the Western Hemisphere.

Certainly changes in our fracking laws are not off the table, he said. As we work our way through our goals, we wont take anything off the table that will make our state cleaner, more sustainable and more healthy.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
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Nearly 600 students from seven San Francisco elementary schools fanned out at Ocean Beach on Wednesday, wearing plastic gloves, toting trash bags and hunting for anything yucky.

In a field trip with a positive environmental twist, the second and third graders participated in the 24th annual Kids Ocean Day Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup.

For more than two hours, the children combed the beach for Styrofoam, discarded paper wrappers, tin cans and any other pieces of garbage marring the beach.

Though many got bored and abandoned their quest for trash to build sand castles and dig holes, the students get the gist of a statewide effort to educate them on how littering can have a bad effect on nature.

For most of the students, theyve never been to the ocean, which is kind of mind-blowing. Its always amazing the amount of children that have not been out here or the amount of children who dont understand how the trash gets here, said Tiff Murzi-Moyce, a spokeswoman for the Marine Science Institute, which organized the event.

Students ran in small groups, rolling in the sand, squealing, as they dug their hands into the damp beachfront.

Rocks are not trash, one of the chaperones yelled.

Five kids from Alamo Elementary School in the Richmond District squatted in the sand at least 20 feet from the water.

Kristina Kalinovski, a 7-year-old second-grader, wore a pink San Fran hat as she dug furiously into the sand.

We are trying to reach the water. Maybe there will be some trash there, Kristina said, holding a near-empty trash bag.

We found a lot of things, mostly crab shells, Kristina said.

As some kids continued scavenging for debris and others basked in the sun, 8-year-old Natalie Kurpuis waited patiently for the end of the field trip when she and the others gathered in the formation of a sea creature, and posed for an aerial photo while holding a sign reading, Come Together.

The design was inspired by Natalies drawing of a starfish, which won the San Francisco Kids Ocean Day Art Contest.

I was really surprised, but really happy, Natalie said of her winning drawing. I think its interesting how (sea stars) can regrow their body parts and how they can coordinate their tube feet  thats the little thingies they use to move apparently.

Though Natalie chose to draw a starfish, she said her favorite marine animal is the sea otter.

I just think theyre super, super cute, she said.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Students at a Marin County private school will have to retake their Advanced Placement tests after the president of the school tweeted a photo of them that ran afoul of College Board rules and regulations, officials said.

Parents were informed Monday that 177 students at Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield who took AP tests in chemistry, Spanish, government and English literature will have to retake the exams next week because the tables they were seated at werent wide enough and didnt place them far enough apart, according to school President Tim Navone.

Administrators routinely tweet photos from student events using the school Twitter account, and Navone posted one such photo of students sitting for exams on May 1, the first day of testing. AP tests in full swing. Show them what you know, Cats! he wrote in a caption, referencing the schools Wildcat mascot.

School administrators arent sure how the photo caught the eye of the College Board, but on May 4, the board contacted the school and expressed concerns about the testing conditions based on the dimensions of the tables the students took the exams on.

At the small school of 715 students, important exams such as the AP tests are taken in the gymnasium, which is set up with rented tables, Navone said

When they contacted us, we ended up correcting the table situation and the rest of the eight exams were fine, said Navone.

But the College Board still said the students who had taken the four tests on the narrower tables would need to sit for a retest.

We went through several appeals processes because we stand by the integrity of what the test conditions were  we felt the tests were valid, that they were proctored appropriately. We wanted to see if they could find a way to sanction the school but not the students, who had spent all these months preparing for the exams, said Navone.

On May 12, the College Board informed the school that its appeal had been rejected, although the organization did agree to waive any additional testing fee for students taking the retest, Navone said.

The fee for taking the AP tests is normally $93 per exam.

Navone said that despite understandable feelings of frustration and disappointment, parents and students have been remarkably understanding.

Our parents have been unbelievably wonderful and generous in their understanding of a mistake, as have the students, he said. I think their response has been wonderful.

A similar problem arose last year at Gunn High School in Palo Alto, when more than 800 students had exam scores invalidated because they were seated too close to one another and were not given different versions of the test, as College Board rules require.

And in 2013, the San Mateo Union High School District unsuccessfully sued the College Board when the organization said hundreds of students at Mills High School in Millbrae had to retake tests because of improper testing conditions.

Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi
With a little over a week before election day, a federal political action committee has filed a complaint against the Republican seeking to fill Montana's empty U.S. House seat.

The committee, called End Citizens United, is alleging Greg Gianforte could have used the Gianforte Victory Fund to circumvent federal contribution limits in a complaint it says was filed with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday. The Gianforte campaign has not received notice that the complaint was filed.

Gianforte is a Republican businessman from Bozeman who is running against Democrat Rob Quist, a musician from Creston. Libertarian Mark Wicks, an Inverness rancher, is also in the race.

The complaint stems from a call May 4, first reported by the New York Times, in which Gianforte told potential donors "if someone wanted to support through a PAC, our victory fund allows that money to go to all the get-out-the-vote efforts."

The Gianforte Victory Fund is a a joint fundraising committee that includes Greg For Montana (the candidate's group), the Montana Republican State Central Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee.

Joint fundraising committees are a legal way to solicit money for multiple campaigns or committees at a time. They make reports to the FEC listing their contributors and are bound by the same campaign finance laws that cap donations at $2,700 per person to a candidate.

The joint fundraising committees collect money and then disburse it to the groups that are a member of it. If a contributor has reached their limit on contributions to one member committee, the money is given to the next member or reimbursed.

In the case of this special election, the other groups that would get money from contributors who have maxed out on giving directly to Greg for Montana only have one candidate to spend the money to help in this election -- Gianforte.

That's why End Citizens United claims the joint fundraising committee is a way to circumvent limits, even though no one group has taken in more than the law allows, because all the money will still be spent just on efforts to get Gianforte elected since there are no other Republicans on the ballot.

However, the Quist campaign is in the same boat. That campaign also has a joint fundraising committee, the Quist Victory Fund, of which the only members are the Quist campaign and the Montana Democratic Party. That means any contributions the Quist Victory Fund receives -- whether given directly to him or to the Montana Democratic Party -- would only benefit Quist since he's the party's only candidate on the ballot this May.

Gianforte's campaign strongly rebutted the complaint Tuesday.

"This group is a sham and the complaint is bogus. This is a 100 percent phony complaint filed by a shady partisan PAC that has endorsed, supports and is backing Rob Quist. This isnt a valid complaint, it's laughable," said spokesman Brock Lowrance.

The Gianforte Victory Fund filed a statement of organization with the FEC on March 17 but has not yet filed any finance reports.

"The Commission should investigate this matter promptly to determine whether Greg for Montana received excessive contributions," the complaint said.

A candidate may accept up to $5,000 from a PAC and $2,700 from an individual in this election. A person can also contribute to a political committee as long as the contributor "does not give with the knowledge that a substantial portion will be contributed to, or expended on behalf of, that candidate for the same election."

In this case, End Citizens United says that since Gianforte is the only Republican candidate on the ballot this May, it is clear all donations to the Gianforte Victory Fund or the Montana Republican State Central Committee will support his campaign.

According to the complaint, a Gianforte campaign spokesperson said "Greg was simply stating that they can support the party if they want" and that Gianforte was not referring to the Gianforte Victory Fund but the state central committee.

End Citizens United says that doesn't change anything. If Gianforte is directing donors to contribute funds to the Montana Republican State Central Committee, it would still circumvent finance limits.

Both Quist and Gianforte swore off PAC money, though not from all types of PACs.

For example, End Citizens United, which has endorsed Quist, is a PAC that has donated $5,000 to Quist's campaign, which has said it will take money from ideological and labor PACs, according to a report from Roll Call. The same report said Gianforte's campaign will take money from "political party and leadership PACs."

Taking money from PACs is not illegal, but has been frowned upon in Montana politics.

According to its website, the FEC reviews every complaint on a case-by-case basis. If a violation has occurred, the outcome can range from a letter to a fine.

While the complaint raises questions about the possibility of circumventing federal contribution limits, it does not offer evidence of it happening, only explaining a situation under which it could occur.

Lowrence called the complaint a political move without merit.

"This fake complaint is nothing more than campaign activity for Rob Quist,'' he said. "Quist's campaign has become so desperate they are now using allies to file fake complaints to try and distract Montanans from the fact that Rob Quist has been caught trying to dodge property taxes and lying about his income on federal documents."
Chuck Davis, a dancer and choreographer widely regarded as Americas foremost master of African dance, died Sunday at his home in Durham, N.C. He was 80.

His death was announced by the African American Dance Ensemble, which he founded in Durham in the early 1980s and directed until 2015. No cause was given.

Mr. Davis, who often said that he considered dance an agent of social change, performed, choreographed, taught and otherwise evangelized for the dances of Africa and the African diaspora for more than a half-century.

He was known both for his recreations of traditional dances from throughout the African world and for his contemporary choreographed pieces that fused African traditions with modern dance.

Mr. Davis was most renowned as the founder and longtime artistic director of DanceAfrica, a festival held each Memorial Day weekend at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. Founded in 1977, the festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month.

DanceAfrica, a sprawling, multiday communal celebration, presents dancers and musicians from the United States, Africa and the diaspora, along with an outdoor bazaar selling African food and handicrafts. It has been reprised in cities throughout the United States.

We need reminders of our history, Mr. Davis, speaking of DanceAfrica, told the New York Times in 2001. It adds meaning to our lives.

Mr. Davis frequently traveled to Africa with his dancers to study dance and folkloric traditions, and lectured and gave master classes around the world. In North Carolina, he took his company to perform in schools, prisons and nursing homes, as well as on concert stages.

His vast knowledge of dance and music from the African continent, the Washington Post wrote in 2001, has helped make African dance part of the American cultural landscape.

All this from a man who in his youth had planned to become a nurse  until he realized that his love of dancing might well preempt that career.

Charles Rudolph Davis was born on New Years Day, 1937, in Raleigh, N.C., the only child of Tony Davis, a laborer, and the former Ethel Watkins, a domestic.

Growing up in the Jim Crow South, Mr. Davis attended all-black schools. In high school, he entered a Navy ROTC program, training as a medical corpsman.

In the late 1950s, after completing his naval service, he worked in a Washington-area hospital and planned to enroll in nursing school. At night, in Washington nightclubs, he began dancing to the strains of Afro-Cuban music.

Smitten, he enrolled in dance classes at a local studio; he later studied a range of dance traditions at Howard University.

Mr. Davis, who stood about 6-foot-5, felt compelled to compress his frame until he began working with the Trinidadian-American actor, dancer and choreographer Geoffrey Holder. Holder, who was 6-foot-6, taught him to exploit his long limbs in performance, something Mr. Davis did ever after.

Before long, Mr. Davis had forsaken his plans for a nursing career.

I decided that dance was the prevention, and nursing was the cure, he told the Los Angeles Times in 1995. And Id rather be part of the prevention than the cure.

During this period, he joined a small troupe, La Dalemo Trio, which performed in nightclubs around Washington.

We had seven minutes and you name it, we did it, Mr. Davis recalled in the 2001 article in the Post. We wore skimpy little costumes and we danced our little tuchises off.

In 1963, the day after he attended the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s March on Washington, the Nigerian-born drummer Babatunde Olatunji saw Mr. Davis dance. He invited him to join his music and dance troupe in New York.

Moving to the New York, Mr. Davis got there on Tuesday, learned the five ballets on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and premiered on Saturday, as he recalled in a 2012 interview with the Dance Heritage Coalition, a national dance-history organization.

In New York, he also studied with many titans of modern dance, including Martha Graham, Katherine Dunham, Arthur Mitchell, Alvin Ailey and Jose Limon.

Performing with Olatunjis troupe at the 1964 New York Worlds Fair in Queens, Mr. Davis was galvanized by a dance troupe from Sierra Leone, also on the bill.

Id never seen such fireworks on the stage, he later said.

He began to dream of traveling to Africa, studying its dance traditions and bringing them back to American audiences.

African traditions are based on respect, he told the Herald-Sun of Durham in 2006. Its my way of fighting racism.

In the late 1960s, after a stint in the company of the Colombian-American modern dancer Eleo Pomare, Mr. Davis formed the Chuck Davis Dance Company in New York.

Reviewing a performance by the company in the New York Times in 1973, Anna Kisselgoff called it witty and joyful, writing that the troupe was led superbly by Mr. Davis as both choreographer and dancer.

Mr. Davis was moved to bring African dance traditions to an even wider audience, he said, after he happened to see an old Tarzan film on television.

None of the natives in the cast were Africans, he told Dance magazine in 2004. It was all just fantasy, and not a good one. We are not ooga-booga, I thought, and we must show that we arent.

A result was DanceAfrica, over which Mr. Davis, in flowing robes, presided each year like a traditional West African griot.

The festivals emphasis on community meant that audience members could rarely expect to sit passively. Some might be called onstage to take part the dancing; all, by festivals end, would have joined Mr. Davis in reciting Peace, love and respect for everybody, the phrase that had long been his mantra.

As long as youre dancing together, Mr. Davis used to say, you have no time for hatred.

Mr. Davis retired as DanceAfricas artistic director after the 2015 festival and was succeeded by Abdel R. Salaam. At his death, Mr. Davis was the festivals artistic director emeritus. He leaves no immediate survivors.

His many laurels include two Bessie Awards, formally known as the New York Dance and Performance Awards and named for the dancer and choreographer Bessie Schonberg.

In 1999, the Dance Heritage Coalition named Mr. Davis one of the countrys hundred irreplaceable dance treasures. In 2016, the Brooklyn Academy of Music created the Chuck Davis Emerging Choreographer Fellowship, an annual award in his honor.

Mr. Davis had no illusions that the dances he presented on this side of the Atlantic were exact copies of the African originals, which he made plain in interviews.

We try to show African dances accurately, but theyre theatrical presentations, he told the New York Times in 2010. Authenticity happens in the space and on the soil.

He had learned an enduring lesson about authenticity long before, at the Worlds Fair. After a Nigerian troupe was unable to appear there, Olatunjis ensemble was slipped in as a covert replacement.

We were told not to speak English, Mr. Davis told the Raleigh News & Observer in 2015. The songs we sang were in Yoruba, so we sang the songs to each other so no one could accuse us of not knowing the language.

The jig was up, however, after a performance whose audience happened to include one Mrs. Hicks, Mr. Davis third-grade teacher from North Carolina.

I came off the stage singing, Mr. Davis recalled in the same interview. And when I danced past Mrs. Hicks, she said: Charles Davis, youre not from Africa! You wait until I tell your mother!

Margalit Fox is a New York Times writer.
As the founding CEO of Google Ventures, Bill Maris had experience with nearly every aspect of venture capital except for one: Persuading a group of investors to give him money.

After months of on-again, off-again conversations with potential backers, his new firm, Section 32, has completed its first fund with about $150 million. Maris has no partners in the venture, though he anticipates hiring someone in the next year.

Maris will be competing with plenty of other new venture groups for deals. Last year, 22 new firms raised a total of $2.2 billion for their first funds, the highest amount since 2008, according to the National Venture Capital Association, a trade group.

Section 32  a Star Trek reference  will invest in technology startups, partly with a focus on life sciences and biotech. Maris declined to disclose his investors.

He had planned to take $230 million in December to start his own shop but pulled the plug when some investors pushed him to operate in the Bay Area. Hes since abandoned those backers and set up Section 32 near his home in San Diego.

Human rights

$5 million

from Microsoft

Microsoft announced Tuesday that it intends to contribute $5 million over five years to the U.N. human rights office, assistance the agency called a landmark partnership that could prod other big private-sector donors to follow suit.

The company plans to develop and use technology to help the rights office predict, analyze and respond to critical human rights situations at a time of arbitrary killings, rapes, detentions without trial and other abuses around the world.

The partnership was created quietly last year. Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the office, said it reflects a commitment to use technology to promote human rights, and a recognition of the role the private sector can play.

An example of the technology being developed is an information dashboard, Rights View, to aggregate data on human rights violations by country and type.

Courts

Tuna-price cases updated

Executives overseeing the most popular tuna brands in the U.S.  Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee and StarKist  conspired to keep prices high for one of Americas favorite sandwich ingredients, according to criminal and civil court records updated this week.

A typical can of tuna today costs about $1.50, and the U.S. Department of Justice says that may be the result of price fixing by Thai, South Korean and U.S. seafood dealers, and major retailers are suing, alleging theyve been ripped off.

The U.S. government began investigating criminal price fixing between the three companies more than two years ago.

The companies supply about 80 percent of the $1.7 billion of canned tuna sold annually in the United States, according to court records.

Walmart and other top retailers have filed civil lawsuits.

The cases have been updated with a list of dozens of tuna executives, roping in some of the wealthiest businessmen in Thailand, where Chicken of the Seas parent company Thai Union is based.

Thai Union does not comment on ongoing legal matters, the company said. The other firms did not respond immediately for requests for comment.

Chronicle News Services
As the founding CEO of Google Ventures, Bill Maris had experience with nearly every aspect of venture capital except for one: Persuading a group of investors to give him money.

After months of on-again, off-again conversations with potential backers, his new firm, Section 32, has completed its first fund with about $150 million. Maris has no partners in the venture, though he anticipates hiring someone in the next year.
As technology companies race to invent the future, theyre turning to a metaphor borrowed from medieval times to explain their businesses.

Moat has become a favorite term of tech executives. Its typically used to describe products or services that protect a company from incursions by competitors. The word has come up 89 times since last year in earnings calls, presentations and other tech company events, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Two dozen of those were this year, and on the current trajectory, its likely to match 2016s total.

Moats, in the business sense, were popularized around the turn of the century by billionaire Warren Buffett. The concept initially took off in the financial services sector and spread more recently to technology companies. At a 2013 financial analyst meeting, Steve Ballmer, Microsoft Corp.s chief executive officer at the time, likened the companys investments in cloud infrastructure to a moat.

The use of the phrase within tech circles soon exploded, including by Ballmers deputies. Scott Guthrie, the executive vice president of cloud and enterprise at Microsoft, outlined the major projects his firm was undertaking to dominate cloud computing at the Deutsche Bank Technology Conference in September: You ultimately need to have three things, which create kind of a moat, if you will, around the market.

The tech industry loves its buzzwords. Apples Tim Cook and Googles Sundar Pichai have their favorites. However, Buffett is an unlikely person to inspire a tech trend. He has a reputation for avoiding most tech investments, with rare exceptions.

Jonah and Noah Goodhart said Buffett was the inspiration for the name of their digital analytics startup, called Moat. They started the company seven years ago after hearing Buffett outline the concept at a Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting.

Theres something pretty phenomenal about that word moat, Jonah Goodhart recalled telling his brother. If were going to build something, we should use that word. Last month, they sold Moat to Oracle Corp.

With time, the word has spread. Lee Kirkpatrick, chief financial officer of Twilio Inc., adopted the term to describe his cloud software companys strategy at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference in February. We are continually investing in quality and trust, and building that moat around the service, he said.

SPS Commerce Inc., which makes supply-chain management software, has been building the most moats of any company since the start of 2016, according to transcript data. Adobe Systems Inc., which owns PhotoShop, and iRobot Corp., maker of the Roomba robot vacuum, were also digging their own metaphorical water defense systems.

Another popular term in the tech industry is runway. Technology executives used the term 2,348 times in analyst calls, presentations and filings over the last decade, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The words popularity doubled from 2009 to 2010 and peaked in 2015.

CEOs convey their advantage by the type of vocabulary they use, said L.J. Rittenhouse, a consultant who develops communication strategies for companies. Whats wrong with saying opportunity? Runway conjures up the airline industry, which is not particularly attractive.

Nico Grant is a Bloomberg writer. Email: ngrant20@bloomberg.net
SANTA ANA  Immigration arrests increased by nearly 40 percent in early 2017 as newly emboldened agents under President Trump detained more than 40,000 people suspected of being in the country illegally  with a renewed focus on immigrants without criminal convictions.

The numbers released by Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan provide a snapshot of how the new president is carrying through on his campaign promises to make immigration enforcement a top priority.

Overall, 41,300 people were arrested for deportation. Nearly 11,000 had no criminal conviction, more than double the number of immigrants without criminal convictions arrested during a comparable period last year.

Even so, deportations carried out were down from late January to late April compared to a year ago despite the new presidents stepped up immigration enforcement effort.

The increase in arrests of people without criminal convictions has generated outrage across the U.S. from Trump opponents who believe otherwise law-abiding families are being rounded up.

The report was made public as the Trump administration seeks to promote its accomplishments despite a growing scandal over the firing of the FBI director and the sharing of intelligence with Russian officials.

The president puts this out to distract from the real affairs of our country, said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. It is unfortunate that he basically is using the pain and destroying our families as a way by which to give red meat to his base.

Some highlights in the numbers:

 41,300 immigrants were arrested on suspicion of being in the country illegally between Jan. 22 and April 29, up from 30,000 during a similar year-earlier period.

 30,500 of those arrested had criminal convictions, compared with 25,800 for the earlier period.

Immigration enforcement operations have generated headlines nationwide since Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 25. Many of them targeted violent offenders with felony records on crimes ranging from assault to murder.

But other immigrants have also been caught up in enforcement efforts, including people given leniency under the Obama administration.

Some examples highlighted by advocates include an Indian taxi driver in Southern California who lived in the country for nearly two decades and was arrested last week at a routine check with immigration authorities and a Mexican woman in Utah who was detained last month while shopping with her daughter.

Amy Taxin is an Associated Press writer.
A 30-year-old man who was fatally shot on Treasure Island last week was a graduate student at San Francisco State who was days away from receiving his masters degree in international relations, his professors said.

Yuchuan Guo turned in his thesis paper just two days before his roommates found him dead May 10 in a home on the 900 block of Avenue B. Police said he was killed sometime before 5:30 p.m. that day.

Few details have been released, but Guos professors said they were shocked when they learned of his death.

It doesnt make sense, said Sanjoy Banerjee, an international relations professor. He was a very good and decent person. He just did a lot of good work. He was very diligent, and its not believable that some kind of personal motive would have been involved.

Though the medical examiner identified the victim as Guo Yuchuan, his professors said his name was Yuchuan Guo. He had been studying at the university for two years and had gotten married the year before, said Amy Skonieczny, an associate professor of international relations.

Originally from China, Guo was fascinated with the Chinese national identity and sought to explore the topic through his other passion, filmmaking. Skonieczny said Guo spent a semester interning with a movie studio in Beijing and wrote a report looking at the evolution of the Chinese national identity through film.

His report was quite pioneering, Banerjee said He looked at film scripts over a long period of time and was able to divide Chinese movie history into different parts and observe the different subtexts about national identity in each of them.

He brought together two scholarly fields, film studies and international relations. In our field, that has not been done very often, and thats a reflection of so many things on his part. He was intelligent, of course, but it takes a certain amount of courage to tackle a subject that hadnt been tackled before.

Guos family members, who flew in from China after his death, declined to be interviewed. Skonieczny said the university planned to issue his degree to his family posthumously.

Banerjee said he couldnt shake the feeling that we as a university and we as a community have failed.

I dont know what we can do, but this doesnt feel right, he said. We have to acknowledge that he came to San Francisco State, to the city, with a reasonable expectation of safety and we all shared that expectation, and it didnt work out that way.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo
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The California Academy of Sciences is utilizing its position in once-groovy Golden Gate Park to welcome the anniversary of the iconic Summer of Love.

To mark the occasion, the museum is throwing a classic rock-themed NightLife soiree, complete with some of the original names and faces that helped make it famous.

Included in the night's billing are a host of music-themed attractions. Veteran music critic and Rolling Stone editor (and San Francisco Chronicle contributor) Ben Fong-Torres will take the stage in conversation with local radio icons "Irish" Greg McQuaid and Renee Richardson, and the Chronicle's former music critic Joel Selvin will speak about his experience covering the rock and roll of the day in the Haight.

Photographs of the era's artists and concerts, taken by Bill Graham concert photographer Alan Meyerowitz, will adorn the walls, and the Lost & Found Film Collection's Doug Walker will spill on some stories behind the photography of the day.

In addition to explorations of the day's music will be a few speakers that touch on other topics.

Founders from the Center for Sex and Culture, Robert Lawrence and Carol Queen, will "discuss the colorful history of Golden Gate Park and the cultural contributions that put free love on the map," and away from presentations, guests will be able to create some psychedelic patterned art of their own to take home.

There will, as always, be some science too; the night's educational focus will be on the scientific breakthroughs of the 1960s and how those revelations contributed to science and culture of the day.

Summer of Love NightLife takes place at the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park on June 1, 2017. Tickets are $12 for members and $15 for non-members, and are on sale now at their site.

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.
Come June 1, Nick Balla and Cortney Burns' Japanese spot in the Mission, Motze, will cease to exist. In its place, the chef duo will open Duna, an Eastern European-inspired restaurant. (Duna is Hungarian for the country's Danube River).

Motze will close on May 27 for a brief refresh before reopening June 1 as Duna.

If this comes as a surprise, then you probably weren't paying attention to Balla and Burns over the last year; see Jonathan Kauffman's definitive profile on the ever-evolving chefs here. Changes and spur of the moment pivots are the norm for these two, the same pair that turned Bar Tartine into a one of the country's more unique destinations before walking away to open Motze in the old Herbivore space (983 Valencia St., near 21st).

It took them only 45-days to flip the space and debut with a menu of Japanese-inspired fare and a tipless model meant to elevate the pay of restaurant staff. Within the first six months of being open, Motze moved from a traditional service format to fast casual. Chronicle critic Michael Bauer was not a fan of the experimental and unpredictable aspects of the restaurant.

And now, the entire Japanese concept is being scrapped for a bit more familiar for Balla and Burns.

Balla described the last few months as an "exploration" of Japanese cuisine.

Balla spent his teenage years in Budapest, while Burns' family has Eastern European Jewish roots; their cooking at Bar Tartine was very inspired by their backgrounds. They describe the Duna project as a "homecoming to their families' flavors."

The Duna menu is a compilation of Eastern European fare like a summer chop salad with Gyulai salami, cheese, and summer vegetables; chicken and avocado with spicy tahini and sprouts; spaztle, a soft egg noodle, served with chicken paprikas or cabbage rolls and sauerkraut.

It's worth nothing that, according to Tablehopper, Motze might pop back up at Duna in some brief capacity every now and then.

But for the foreseeable future, it looks like Nick Balla and Cortney Burns are striking out on their next journey.

983 Valencia St. at 21st St., 415-484-1206.

Justin Phillips is a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email jjphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips.
NEW ORLEANS  Workers took down a Confederate monument to Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard in New Orleans early Wednesday as onlookers watched from lawn chairs, defiant statue supporters waved Confederate battle flags and opponents celebrated.

It was the third of four such monuments to come down under a plan proposed by Mayor Mitch Landrieu and approved by the City Council more than a year ago. As with two earlier removals, it happened under cover of darkness. Work began soon after sundown and news outlets showed the statue being lifted off its base shortly after 3 a.m.

The statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee will be the last to come down. The city already has removed one statue of the Confederacys only president and a memorial to a white rebellion against a biracial Reconstruction-era government in the city.

Today we take another step in defining our City not by our past but by our bright future, Landrieu said in a statement. While we must honor our history, we will not allow the Confederacy to be put on a pedestal in the heart of New Orleans.

Landrieu called for removing the monuments in the emotional aftermath of the 2015 massacre of nine black parishioners at a South Carolina church. The killer, Dylann Roof, was an avowed racist who brandished Confederate battle flags in photos, recharging the debate over whether Confederate emblems represent racism or an honorable heritage.

The removal process has been anything but easy.

The City Council voted 6-1 in 2015 to remove the monuments after several contentious public meetings marred by heckling and debate. Contractors in the removal process have been threatened, and the work stalled for months as statue supporters looked in vain to the courts for help.

Those removing the first two memorials generally wore bulletproof vests, helmets and face coverings to shield their identities as the work took place well after midnight to minimize attention.

More recently, lawmakers in the Louisiana House backed a proposal aimed at keeping cities from removing Confederate monuments in a vote Monday that black lawmakers derided as divisive and offensive.

Workers at the Beauregard removal covered their faces and wore helmets but the atmosphere appeared slightly more low-key.

Rebecca Santana And Kevin Mcgill are Associated Press writers.
MISSOULA  One of the men allegedly involved in the killing of a Broadwater County deputy sheriff Tuesday morning triggered a massive standoff involving more than 100 officers in California 17 years ago, according to news reports at the time and confirmed Wednesday by law enforcement.

Lloyd Barrus, 61, was ordered held on $2 million bail Wednesday in his initial appearance in Missoula County Justice Court on 14 counts of attempted deliberate homicide and two of accountability for attempted deliberate homicide.

His son Marshall Barrus, 38, who was shot by law enforcement after firing at officers at the end of a high-speed chase Tuesday, died in the hospital on Wednesday, according to the Missoula County Sheriff's Office.

In March 2000, Lloyd Barrus, another son of Jeffrey Barrus and a woman named Cheryl Maarteuse, were arrested following an armed standoff in Death Valley that lasted more than 18 hours, according to multiple news reports of the incident.

Although the spelling of Barrus last name differed in the stories about the 2000 incident, authorities in Inyo County, California, Wednesday confirmed that the same 61-year-old Lloyd Barrus who was arrested east of Missoula on Tuesday was involved in that standoff.

In the 2000 incident, the three fled from a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper who attempted to stop them about 60 miles north of Las Vegas, and shot at officers during the 70-mile chase. After their vehicle broke down, the three ran, eventually hiding in a gully and starting the standoff, according to stories from the Washington Post and CBS.

During the standoff, the three reportedly damaged a California Highway Patrol helicopter to the point it was forced to land, but did not injure any officers before they were arrested.

Inyo County, California, District Attorney Tom Hardy, who prosecuted the criminal case resulting from the standoff, said Lloyd Barrus eventually pleaded guilty to a felony for assault on a peace officer. He was sentenced in July 2002 to 15 years in prison with credit for time already served.

Jeffrey Barrus, who was believed to have been the primary shooter, also pleaded guilty to a similar felony and received a 25-year prison sentence that he is still serving, said Hardy. Maarteuse was eventually sentenced to a year in jail for her minor role in the standoff.

Hardy offered his condolences to Montana law enforcement. I just cant imagine how horrible that must have been, he said.

On Wednesday, Deputy Missoula County Attorney Brian Lowney said Barrus mentioned the California standoff in an interview with officers. "He portrayed that in such a way as if he was bragging about it."

***

Broadwater County Deputy Sheriff Mason Moore, 42, was found shot to death early Tuesday morning after he stopped responding to dispatchers after calling in a chase near Three Forks around 2:30 a.m. An officer sent to assist him found his body.

The vehicle Moore was pursuing was spotted by Butte-Silver Bow County sheriffs deputies near Anaconda around 3:30 a.m., starting a chase that led all the way to the Rock Creek area near mile marker 129 on Interstate 90. Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff Ed Lester said both men in the SUV fired at officers during the chase.

Marshall Barrus was shot in the head after he got out of the passenger seat of the SUV and began firing at officers, according to multiple agencies. He was taken to the hospital, where he died Wednesday.

According to a court affidavit, Lloyd Barrus also left the SUV when it stopped at the end of the chase, and fired a 9 mm handgun at officers. He allegedly said in interviews after his arrest that he was attempting to force a suicide by cop.

***

Lloyd Barrus posts on his Facebook page includes images and links to stories on conspiracy theory websites including Infowars  the website run by Alex Jones, who has claimed the government conducted the Oklahoma City bombing and that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was staged.

Last fall, Barrus made a post that read The FBI & ATF killed more children at Waco then were killed at Sandy Hook. Where was the outrage then?

He has also posted several photos of the book The Vigilantes of Montana, of which he appears to own multiple editions, as well as photos seemingly linking the CIA to alien spacecraft.

Earlier in May, he posted images of pages from the Book of Daniel in the Bible where the word sheriffs had been highlighted.

***

The Broadwater County Sheriffs Office said a donation fund has been set up at Opportunity Bank in Townsend.

An online GoFundMe page has also been set up to support Moores family.

But law enforcement is warning people about a phone scam related to his death.

Police in Deer Lodge said they have received a complaint about residents getting calls from a person claiming to be raising money for Moore on behalf of the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and asking for credit card information.

Those calls are a scam. The MLEA is not soliciting donations, and while the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association is taking donations for Moores family, they are not soliciting them by phone.
Mikhail Metzel/TASS/ZUMAPRESS.COM/TNS

MOSCOW  Asserting himself abroad with his customary disruptive panache, President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday jumped into the furor over President Trumps disclosure of classified information to Russian diplomats, declaring that nothing secret had been revealed and that he could prove it.

Putin, who has a long record of seizing on foreign crises to make Russias voice heard, announced during a news conference in Sochi, Russia, that he has a record of the U.S. presidents meeting at the White House with two senior Russian officials and was ready to give it to Congress  so long as Trump does not object.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration said Wednesday that it will continue granting nuclear sanctions relief to Iran, keeping the Obama-era nuclear deal intact for now. But the U.S. also announced new unrelated sanctions in a bid to show it wasnt letting Tehran off the hook.

Under the 2015 deal, sanctions punishing Iran for its nuclear program were waived in exchange for Irans commitment to roll back the program. But continuing the sanctions relief requires the renewal of a six-month waiver. The most recent waiver, issued by former Secretary of State John Kerry in December, was set to expire this week.
DECATUR  A Decatur man, 25, is charged with threatening to kill a man with a knife in March, and in a separate case, battering and choking a pregnant woman until she passed out in June.

The 36-year-old male victim in the most recent case told police he was visiting a female acquaintance on Saturday evening, March 25 at her home on the 700 block of East Condit Street, when he encountered Justin Shavers inside the residence.

The victim said Shavers "became upset with his presence for an unknown reason and directed him to leave," said an affidavit by Decatur Police detective Jason Kuchelmeister.

Because the order to leave was not from the resident, the victim refused to leave. After a "brief face-to-face argument," Shavers "displayed a butcher-styled kitchen knife and threatened to harm him," the victim told police.

The victim then left the residence, but was followed outside by Shavers. As the two men "stood face to face, Justin threatened to kill him," according to the affidavit.

A 27-year-old woman who was at the residence said she saw the victim "push Justin away" during their initial argument. "She next observed Justin pick up a kitchen knife lying on a countertop and threaten to cut him if he touched him again," Kuchelmeister wrote.

Shavers, who is being held in jail on $10,500 bond, was arrested April 19 while in custody on charges of attacking the pregnant woman. In the most recent case, he was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of assault and disorderly conduct. He is being represented by the Macon County Public Defender's office in both cases.

In the attack on the woman, Shavers was arrested April 6 and arraigned on five felony counts, three of aggravated battery, and one each of vehicular invasion and aggravated domestic battery.

The 20-year-old victim, who was four-and-a-half months pregnant, told police that she was sitting in the rear seat of a vehicle parked on the 100 block of South Illinois Street, when Shavers "opened up her car door, reached inside, and proceeded to strangle her," according to an affidavit by Decatur patrol officer Christopher Eades.

He "put his hands around her neck for an unknown period of time before she blacked out, going completely unconscious due to her airway being completely restricted."

Shavers then "pulled her out of the vehicle by her right ankle, drug her inside (a house on East Main Street), and punched her multiple times," Eades wrote, adding her injuries were consistent with her statement.

Shavers entered a not guilty plea in the felony case. He is scheduled to stand trial in that case July 24. He is due in court for a status hearing Aug. 8 in the misdemeanor assault case.
BLOOMINGTON  Kirk Zimmerman's former girlfriend who was with Kirk Zimmerman around the time his ex-wife may have been killed testified Tuesday that she believes he is innocent.

Kate Arthur, who previously dated Zimmerman, gave details of her Nov. 3, 2014, visit with the suspect who is charged with murder in the death of Pam Zimmerman. Arthur said Zimmerman did not answer the door when she went to his Bloomington home shortly after 7 p.m. He asked her a short time later to return and she stayed until about 9 p.m., according to her testimony.

Zimmerman, 58, told Arthur that he had laid down and was reading when she initially came to the door.

First Assistant State's Attorney Adam Ghrist questioned Arthur for more than an hour during the pretrial hearing over whether the state will be allowed to introduce statements people claim they heard Pam Zimmerman make about her fears of her husband before she was killed.

When asked about her current relationship with Zimmerman, Arthur said she is a close friend and supports him and his family. She and Zimmerman had dated for 14 months before Pam Zimmerman's death, she said, adding that the two are no longer romantically involved.

Arthur said her evening at Zimmerman's home was "perfectly normal," and included talk about the next day's elections. Pam Zimmerman's body was found the following day in her Bloomington office. Police estimate that the 53-year-old victim was killed early in the evening on Nov. 3.

Arthur maintains she has been honest with police and denied she deliberately deleted text messages to keep police from seeing her conversations with the suspect, saying it's her habit to delete electronic messages daily.

Zimmerman's former girlfriend also was asked about a recorded jail call she had with Zimmerman in October 2015 before he was released on bond. She denied telling Zimmerman "we can just lie" during a conversation the two allegedly had about the legal protections available to a spouse who does not want to testify against their partner.

The contents of the call are expected to be discussed further Wednesday after defense lawyer John Rogers has a chance to review a transcript of the call. Arthur acknowledged that she had discussed marriage with Zimmerman before and after his arrest. During their relationship, Zimmerman was "very appreciative, considerate and affectionate," said Arthur.

Other testimony Tuesday included a conversation between Pam Zimmerman and a friend in the summer of 2013 in which she recognized the potential danger her former husband posed, according to a witness.

Bob Rogers told Judge Scott Drazewski about his warning to Pam Zimmerman that her ex-husband may pose a threat to her safety.

Rogers said, "I thought he could harm her badly."

In her testimony, Rogers' wife, Suzie Rogers, recalled her husband warning Pam Zimmerman to "be careful. I think it's possible Kirk could snap and kill you."

Bob Rogers said the cautionary remark was based on his "gut feeling and intuition." He said Pam Zimmerman was a casual friend he knew through their childrens' softball teams.

Rogers said Pam Zimmerman responded matter-of-factly: "Don't you think I know that? I've lived with him."

The couple acknowledged that they did not report Pam Zimmerman's alleged comments to anyone until they were contacted by a Bloomington police detective in April 2017.

The Rogers are among about a dozen witnesses expected to offer statements they allegedly heard in conversations with Pam Zimmerman late in her 20-year marriage to the suspect whom she divorced in 2012.

Defense lawyer Rogers has vigorously objected to the statements as inadmissible hearsay. Rogers disagrees that the state can use the statements under a legal provision that allows a victim's statements to be heard if it can be shown the suspect killed the person in order to keep them from testifying in court.

Ghrist argued Tuesday that Zimmerman killed his former wife, a Maroa-Forsyth High School graduate, to keep her from coming to future court hearings related to child support.

The hearing continues Wednesday with several more witnesses expected to testify about from the victim.
DECATUR  A 12-year-old boy was seriously injured early Wednesday morning when an unknown suspect forced his way into a residence on the 400 block of South Maffit Street and opened fire, striking him and a 20 year-old man, police said.

The 12-year-old male suffered several gunshot wounds, said Decatur police detective Sgt. Chris Copeland. Both victims were transported to St. Mary's Hospital. The 12-year-old male was subsequently airlifted to St John's Hospital in Springfield.

The younger victim is expected to survive, Copeland said. The older victim was treated and released.

The suspect was described as a tall, skinny black male, wearing all black clothing.

We are executing a search warrant at the premises where the incident occurred and processing the crime scene, Copeland said.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the police at (217) 424-2711 or CrimeStoppers at (217) 423-8477 or visit www.decaturcrimestoppers.org.

A reward will be given to anyone who provides information leading to an arrest.
DECATUR  Blowing dust created hazardous travel conditions across the region Wednesday, causing traffic crashes and apparent power outages.

Reports of dust storms came in from all over Central Illinois as the gusting winds hit speeds of 45mph and blanketed rural interstates and roads with clouds of blinding dust.

Meteorologist Ed Shimon said dust storms are rare in Central Illinois but Wednesday saw near-perfect storm conditions: The timing of dry weather with strong winds and just recently planted fields with a top layer of fine, ground-up earth, he said.

It all set the stage for a day like today.

In Sangamon County, the Illinois State Police reported that a 53-year-old Chatham man died after a traffic crash on Interstate 72 where visibility reduced because of blowing winds and dust. The man was driving a Pontiac when he struck the rear of a semi-trailer. His vehicle was disabled in the lane of traffic and then struck by a Toyota; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Toyota, a 63-year-old Herrin woman, was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The semi driver refused treatment.

A 16-year-old male from Mahomet died in Douglas County in another crash attributed to poor visibility. Wind and a large dust cloud were blowing across the roadway when the crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m., according to the Illinois State Police.

A semi was stopped in the roadway with its emergency flashers activated because of two traffic crashes blocking the road. A 2007 Toyota Corolla driven by the 16-year-old entered the dust cloud and was unable to stop in time to avoid striking the rear of the semi, police said.

The 16-year-old driver was removed from the vehicle and taken to Carle Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two male 17-year-old passengers from Mahomet were also taken to Carle with non-life threatening injuries.

Wind gusts could hit a high of 25-30mph Thursday but should ease steadily through the rest of the week. Some scattered thunderstorms were expected overnight Wednesday, but not much rain was anticipated.

Traffic lights at U.S. 36 and 36th Street, and on Baltimore Avenue, were not working at 7:15 p.m. The Ameren Illinois outage map showed an estimated 1,500 customers on the city's southeast side had lost power around 4:45 p.m. Power was restored by 9 p.m.

The Macon County Sheriffs Office has closed Illinois 121 between Park and Glasgow roads as it responds to two traffic crashes related to the storm, Sgt. Ron Atkins said shortly after 5 p.m.

He said both crashes involved two vehicles, but only one minor injury had been reported. Deputies reopened the road about 7 p.m.

Dust storms are highly unusual for Central Illinois, he said. Its going to be similar to low visibility in a snowstorm. Things will sneak will sneak up on you.
DECATUR  Dr. Stephen Huss' passion for the Decatur Park District never seems to lose altitude.

Huss, whose family has a distinguished history of support for the district, was honored with a park bench placed outside the Decatur Airport on Tuesday.

Jim Schwarz, president of the Decatur Parks Foundation, presented the bench in front of family and friends of the doctor. He honored the Huss family and their contributions to the park district and community

They've been friends with the park district and the park foundation for years, Schwarz said. They have a family history. It is great all he has done.

The idea of a bench at the airport originated with Huss' office staff.

They were wanting to recognize their kind boss, said Judy Locke, a former park board president. He is an understated individual.

Huss retired five months ago, and as a gift, the seven women employed in his practice presented the doctor with the plans for the bench. The women had an artist draw up the plans and gave their boss a framed picture of it. The style of bench is common throughout the parks in Decatur.

If you take a walk in Fairview Park, you'll see benches just like this, Huss said.

None of the women were able to attend Tuesday morning's presentation. Three are still working, while the other four retired at the same time as Huss.

The staff chose the airport, which is part of the park district, for the bench. Huss thinks the placement may have to do with his hobby: He owns an airplane and combines his love of flying with photography.

Huss' father, Royce Huss, was a member of the park board in 1967 and one of the founders of the Scovill Zoo, and the family continues to support the zoo. Huss and his wife, Carol, adopted a bobcat on the zoo's carousal. His son also purchased a penguin, naming it after his grandfather.

Huss said he was honored his employees thought of him in this manner and happy with the location they chose.

It was a gift from a hardworking staff, he said.

He said the bench is a reflection of his career in orthopedic surgery and his passion for aviation.

It is a great place to be, he said. It just goes together: flying and park district.
Tyrannomyrmex rex, an Asian ant known for its cannibal streak, hardly lives up to its fierce name, according to a new study.

The ants, named after the carnivorous Tyrannosaurus rex, have been shrouded in mystery since their discovery 20 years ago. According to Live Science, researchers had never observed a T. rex ant alive for an extended period of time, nor had more than a single specimen been collected.
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A perspective from Frank Somerville:

This is one of those stories that helps restore your faith in people. Recently there have been so many bad stories about what's happened to passengers on board airlines. This story is the EXACT opposite.

This story is about how the flight crew and passengers all pulled together for a family that was having a really rough time. (Especially when you find out where they were from at the end of the post)

Dean Cameron was on board the Alaska Airlines flight. And he gave me permission to post it.

This is what he wrote about what happened:

Here is a story of perspective from Dean Cameron.

Last night while returning home from a business trip I boarded my last connection in Portland at 10:00 PM.

On the plane was a family, Man, wife and 3 very young children. They were obviously of Muslim faith as the wife was in a hijab and the father had a headscarf as well.

The man had obviously suffered some trauma as his movement were almost epileptic and his speech was very slurred.

The three children were all very obviously scared and screaming at the top of their lungs....non-stop.

They were clinging to their mother and as FAA rules dictate they sit in their own seat with a seatbelt the anxiety, lack of communication, fear escalated when the flight crew was trying (carefully) to seat them.

This lasted 1 hour sitting on the tarmac.

People were graciously and willingly trying to give up their seats to have the children be as close to their mother as possible.

One man broke out his phone and started sharing fishing videos with one boy (this worked fabulously!).

I cannot say enough and with emphasis how well the flight crew of Alaska Flight #2346M handled themselves and the situation.

They were heroic (I do not toss that term around lightly) in the way they handled what could have gone very bad.

Oh, one more little fact.

Upon arrival at the airport (12:15 am) they were greeted by a large group of people holding a sign saying "Welcome to America", you see, this family were refugees from war-torn Somalia.

They were welcomed with grace, understanding, and compassion in a challenging situation.

Yes, welcome to America.

This is the USA I hope for.

--Dean Cameron

#RealPeopleRealStoriesRealLife

Frank Somerville is a contributor to SFGATE and anchors the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. news on KTVU. This post originally appeared on his Facebook page.
JAKARTA, Indonesia  Two men accused of having sex with each other were each sentenced Wednesday to 85 lashes in public, the first case of people being punished for homosexuality in the Indonesian province of Aceh under a strict version of Shariah law.

The sentences alarmed rights activists, who called the punishment excessive and a dangerous turn of events in Aceh, a semiautonomous province that has imposed a strict version of Shariah, the legal code of Islam.
Austria has banned wearing a full facial veil in public places, the latest move by a European country to restrict expressions of Muslim identity viewed as contrary to Western secular values. The decision immediately drew criticism from rights advocates and from representatives of Austrias Muslim community.

Under the new legislation, approved by parliament on Tuesday, women who wear clothing that covers their faces, such as burqas or niqabs, in places like universities, public transportation or courthouses will face fines of about $167. The measure will take effect in October.
A Kazakh journalist and civic activist was stabbed in the stomach on an overnight train Sunday before he was due to meet with European officials to discuss shrinking press freedoms.

Ramazan Yesergepov, 61, is the former editor in chief of independent newspaper Alma-Ata Info and spent three years in prison for his investigations into corruption, according to Human Rights Watch.

He now runs Journalists in Trouble, an NGO that provides legal advice, representation and training for journalists.

Following the attack he was taken to a hospital in the city of Shu and underwent surgery. He is now in a serious but stable condition, Radio Azattyk reported.

Yesergepov told Radio Azattyk that the attack was "directly related" to his professional activities and campaigning.

"I think this was done to scare other public figures, and journalists," he said.

At around 4am, Yesergepov said he had stepped out of his train compartment for some air when two men stabbed him three times in the abdomen with a sharp object.

He had been due to meet that day with ambassadors from several EU countries to discuss a number of journalists and activists imprisoned in Kazakhstan, including imprisoned newspaper editor Zhanbolat Mamay.

Mamay is awaiting trial on charges that he used his outlet to launder money. His supporters claim the case is politically motivated.

Yesergepov also planned to discuss with European officials the Kazakh governments failure to comply with UN Human Rights Committee decisions, including in his own case, Human Rights Watch reported.

In 2009, Yesergepov was jailed for three years on charges of "collecting information that contains state secrets", after his now-defunct newspaper published an article accusing local officials of corruption based on classified documents, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported.

He was also banned from practicing journalism for two years. His trial was closed to the public and he was denied a lawyer of his choice, according to Human Rights Watch.

Yesergepov also told Human Rights Watch that the two men who attacked him Sunday identified the journalist as that "Magnitsky" guy.

Lawyer Sergey Magnitsky died under suspicious circumstances in a Moscow prison after he revealed the involvement of Russian officials in stealing and laundering US$ 230 million in Russian tax money.

Yesergepov has made a public call for Kazakh officials to impose visa and financial sanctions on anyone allegedly involved in torturing and killing whistleblowers.

Kazakh police have opened an investigation into attempted murder.

occrp.org
When you take a photograph, time stands still. When you experience trauma, time stands still. When you die, we can only guess time stands still. And when you look at the United States history of international conflict, it seems like we are right where we have always beentime is standing still.

This is only scratching the surface of themes explored in Time Stands Still, opening this weekend at the Adobe Rose Theatre. The story follows Sarah, a photojournalist formerly embedded in a conflict zone, now home with her journalist boyfriend James as she recovers from injuries sustained while on assignment. Their jobs revolve around communicating with the public, but they're suddenly unable to communicate with each other. Their friend Richard, also in the news industry, enters with stars in his eyes for his much younger girlfriend Mandy.

While this is still a very new play (it debuted in Los Angeles in 2009), playwright Donald Margulies recognized the potential for dramatic and swift changes in US foreign policy. Accordingly, say the ART actors, in his script notes Margulies offers companies the opportunity to adapt the conflict location to suit current events, ensuring that the play will always be relevant. It originally features Sarah fresh home from Iraq, but the ART team, under the direction of Catherine Lynch, has placed the conflict in Syria.

According to the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University, embedded correspondents experience PTSD symptoms at an alarming ratesome studies found that up to a third of journalists covering conflict were affected. It is their job not to look away.

Maureen Joyce McKenna and Kevin Kilner are Sarah and James in Time Stands Still, in which professional communicators struggle to communicate. (Donal McKenna)

The cast, as part of their research, picked the brains of journalists and members of the military. Cast member and ART Artistic Director Maureen Joyce McKenna describes one of these meetings with a photographer: "I asked, 'Weren't you terrified?' And she said, 'No, I felt totally safe,'" McKenna recalls. "'I wasn't there. The camera was there.'"

That level of detachment may be vital in a Humvee, but it doesn't serve you once you're stateside. Sarah, portrayed by McKenna, and James (Kevin Kilner, a seasoned stage and film actor who nonetheless admits this challenging play "scares the crap out of" him; "This play is like Everest"), explore these intricacies.

But, of course, there are greater political issues at play. "There's something about being a woman in a man's world," McKenna says. "There aren't very many women that are embedded photojournalists. My character has made a commitment to telling the stories of women and children who are just the flotsam and jetsam in this whole process.  It's something that that deeply drew me to the role, because there are voices that are just not heard."

Alexandra Renzo, as breezy Mandy, acknowledges that it's easy to see her character as a pesky, sunshiney gnat buzzing around bigger issues. "Archetypically, she's the child who asks the most devastating questions in the simplest of forms," Kilner says of the character.

But Renzo asks the audience not to dismiss Mandy and, in doing so, not to dismiss lightheartedness. When asked what she brings from her own life to the stage, Renzo cites her father, a civil rights lawyer. "He forever sought justice in this very intense way," she says. But then he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. "He once saw a healer," she continues. "The healer said, 'The pancreas is where you feel joy. You haven't felt a lot of joy in your life, have you?'  That moment changed me in a lot of ways." She pauses. "So I seek joy, and trivial things, and I love simplicity and quiet moments and laughing. I think there's something really beautiful in that. And Mandy wishes that for people."

David Sinkus, whose character Richard is perhaps looking to leave the print industry, can relate. Sinkus and his wife, after having children and after living in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, decided to leave the city for New Mexico. "I had my focus changed toward my family, and to raise them to possibly change the world." He sees in Richard that shiftfrom career to family, from personal greatness to greater good.

So, that's all very heavy, yes. But the audience should not expect nights full of weeping and fist-banging. There is tons of humor in the showgallows humor, of course, because that's what journalists do best. Plus, "the incongruity of an innocent coming up against people who have seen such horror is funny, in many ways," Kilner says.

To ask what we can do for those in places like Iraq or Syria feels like too big a question. Not everyone can be expected to jump into the fray, shutter clicking. "Like all great playwrights," Kilner says of Margulies, "he challenges you to get involved, and to walk out with more questions than answers."

Asking how we, as individuals, can change the world may be too much. But something small can be immediately done: Consider a conversation. Think. Watch. Listen to others. And, at the end of the day, if you feel you truly communicated with the person next to you, that is the first step to understanding the world at large.



Time Stands Still

7:30 pm Thursdays-Saturdays, May 18-June 3;

3 pm Sundays May 21- June 4. $15-$25.

Adobe Rose Theatre, 1

213-B Parkway Drive,

629-8688

Santa Fe Reporter
Not long after Christian Waguespack arrived at the New Mexico Museum of Art as the new curator of 20th-century art, he commissioned several enormous color swatches as part of a risky pitch. Waguespacks first project, an exhibition titled Imagining New Mexico, represents a fresh take on the past 100 years of New Mexico art and culture. He dug through the museums vast collection, dusting off long-hidden paintings, photographs and sculptures. In order to show these historic works in a new light, he chose vivid shades of red, yellow, turquoise and blue for the walls of the show.

"I had large panels painted the colors I wanted, and I held them up against the walls," says Waguespack. "Then I made my saddest, most adorable puppy dog face."

The new palette passed muster with Director Mary Kershaw, and now the museum's Goodwin and Clark Galleries positively vibrate with color. Waguespack started his job this January, and he's wasted no time adding a jolt of modern-day energy to the museum's historic curatorial program. Imagining New Mexico debuted in early April, and it's only the beginning of Waguespack's mission to extract fresh narratives from well-worn local legends.

"For me, the idea was using the colors to conceptually bracket the different themes of the show," says Waguespack. He's hustling through the Goodwin Gallery, a space with radiating niches that periodically house curator Merry Scully's Alcove Shows, trying to stay ahead of a tour group led by a stern-eyed docent. "I can't compete with the docents or they'll beat me up," he explains with a grin.

The exhibition opens with a striking bronze bust of Georgia O'Keeffe by Una Hanbury, which guards bright yellow walls featuring interpretations of New Mexico within the tradition of the arts. Fritz Scholder, Laura Gilpin, Todd Webb and others offer diverse depictions of New Mexico's creative luminaries and their studios.

Across the room, bright red walls activate groups of artworks that explore different New Mexico traditions. One section contains fanciful portraits of cowboys; another features imagery of dance styles that were developed here; a third reveals religious iconography from the region. "Coming into this show, I didn't buy that there's one 'authentic' New Mexican identity," says Waguespack. "I think it's something that changes depending on the point of view you're looking at, so I wanted to bring together as many different points of view as I possibly could."

In the adjoining Clark Gallery, dazzling turquoise walls hold early- to mid-20th century New Mexico landscape paintings. "People have always responded to the land here," Waguespack tells SFR. "It's cheesy but it's true. It happened to me."

Waguespack is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and drove to Albuquerque on a whim to visit a friend in 2007. "Being from Louisiana, I had never seen a mountain, I had never seen snow," he says. He quit his job and moved to Albuquerque, where he got his BFA (in studio art and art history) and his MFA (in museum studies) at the University of New Mexico.

In his time at UNM, Waguespack interned and then worked at the UNM Art Museum. He curated an exhibition of Latin American photography there, which was a big breakthrough in his curatorial process. Anthropologists, Latin American scholars and a Guatemalan poet all contributed their voices to the wall text of the show. "It was particularly important for a show that was so much about place and identity that is not mine," Waguespack says. "I'm not Latin American, so I could contribute the art history part, but we had to go somewhere else for more depth."

After about seven years in New Mexico, Waguespack moved to Tucson for a little over a year to earn his doctorate in art history from the University of Arizona. His current job brought him back to the Land of Enchantment, and though he'd worked with historic New Mexico art in his time at UNM, he was a bit nervous.

"I've never lived in Santa Fe. Coming here brand-new, I'm expected to tell Santa Feans about their own history," he says. He's found that because the city has been an artistic hub for so long, locals are excited to discover new corners of this complex past. "It was an insane hive," he says. "If I had to draw a diagram, it would look like a dandelion." Waguespack has also worked on a retrospective for New Mexico modernist Cady Wells in his time at the museum, and is starting preparations for the museum's centennial exhibition this November.



Imagining New Mexico

Through Sept. 17. Museum admission $7-$12.

New Mexico Museum of Art,

107 W Palace Ave.,

476-5072

Santa Fe Reporter
A directive from newly appointed US Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructing prosecutors to seek the most severe charges available threatens to stunt recent progress toward less federal prison time for low-level drug offenders in New Mexico, defense lawyers and drug policy reform advocates tell SFR.

"Drug mule" cases make up many of the drug crimes prosecuted in federal court in New Mexico, federal public defender John Butcher says. Some low-level drug runners who get caught mid-shipment are apprehended in Albuquerque, the first overnight stop on Amtrak's Southwest Chief train from Los Angeles to Chicago. Others are picked up throughout the federally designated "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area," which runs east from Farmington down to Santa Fe and into Albuquerque before blanketing most of the southern border from Roswell on. The vast majority of federal drug charges in the state are for trafficking. Possession and brokering drug deals comprise a smaller percentage of crimes.

Drug mule cases, most often involving nonviolent and low-level drug offenders, were among those singled out in a memo issued by former attorney general Eric Holder in August 2013. It encouraged prosecutors not to charge such people with crimes that could trigger stiffer mandatory minimum sentences, which prevent judges from sentencing defendants to prison for fewer than a predetermined number of years. For example, since 1986, federal law has mandated that a person convicted of holding five kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute be sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison for a first offense.

Holder asked prosecutors to back off. If somebody was arrested with five kilograms of cocaine, but was not an organizer, did not have deep ties to criminal groups and wasn't carrying a gun or another indicator of violent intent, prosecutors were asked not to charge that person with the quantity that would have triggered the 10 years. Data from the US Sentencing Commission suggests that some federal prosecutors in New Mexico may have heeded Holder's directive. It shows that the percentage of sentenced federal drug offenders who received mandatory minimums immediately dropped from 42 percent in 2013 to 25 percent in 2014, and even fell to 20 percent in 2015, the most recent year for which information is available. That's about half the figure from 2006, the first year the commission began tracking this data. The decrease came even as the number of people prosecuted for trafficking rose from an average of 586 between 2010 and 2012before the Holder directiveand 646 between 2014 and 2016.

But Sessions has now directed prosecutors to reverse course. The new attorney general wants federal prosecutors to seek the most serious and readily provable charge against all defendantsregardless of circumstance.

"This is going to go after the low-level minimum participants with minor records, because they're the ones who were getting breaks [under Holder]," Butcher tells SFR. "Breaks" didn't mean that low-level runners weren't being charged or sentenced to prison after 2013, he says. But in some cases, they weren't getting the book thrown at them. Butcher suggests the new policy will have an outsized effect in New Mexico, with its relatively higher number of trafficking cases involving nonviolent offenders.

Under both the Holder and the Sessions memos, federal prosecutors have not been bound by law to exercise discretion either way in mandatory minimum cases; generally, US attorneys have the authority to determine how prosecutors in their districts handle them. For Molly Gill, a former prosecutor who is now the director of federal legislative affairs at Families Against Mandatory Minimums, that kind of concentrated power is a longstanding threat to the integrity of the US justice system.

"The most powerful person in the courtroom is not the judge, it's the prosecutor," says Gill. "Most people think it's the judge who decides your sentence, but in fact most of the time it's the prosecutor, especially if they use mandatory sentencing, because then they've become judge, jury and executioner."

The office of New Mexico Acting US Attorney James Tierney did not respond to SFR's inquiries as to how the Sessions memo will affect drug prosecutions in the state.

Emily Kaltenbach, who serves as both the senior director for the Drug Policy Alliance's criminal justice reform strategy as well as the organization's state director in New Mexico, fears the new memo will principally benefit the private prison industry.

"We have struggled with overdose rates for generations," she tells SFR. "And we know that overly punitive responses, which is what this is, will not result in less demand or sales of drugs." She points to Santa Fe's local drug diversion program as an example of a solution that is both compassionate and effective.

Since 2013, Santa Fe's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, wherein police work with case managers and the local district attorney to enroll low-level offenders in treatment programs, has served as a national example for non-punitive approaches to drug use. District Attorney Marco Serna doesn't think there's much overlap between those who would qualify for LEAD and those who could be charged with a federal drug crime, but he acknowledges that the city's approach stands in contrast to Sessions' hardline.

"For nonviolent crimes, we have our own state and local statutes, and luckily I get to influence how we handle it in the first district," Serna says. "And we won't be taking that approach."



Santa Fe Reporter
In the end, all the bills got paid. All the consultants did, too. Michael Bloomberg spent almost a million-and-a-half dollars in a losing effort and Big Soda spent more than $2 million to win.

Political action committees filed their final campaign finance reports Tuesday for the May 2 special election that saw 58 percent of voters cast a ballot against a proposed tax on sugary drinks. The 2-cents-an-ounce levy would have funded expanded pre-kindergarten programs in Santa Fe.

The American Beverage Association funneled more than $1.9 million into the Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K campaign group. To clear its books, Better Way took in $560,000 after the election, all from the ABA. In the final tally, records show the beverage industry trade group paid for all but $15 of Better Way's expenditures.

Including in-kind donations, which are supplies and services paid for by outside groups in support of a PACs cause, Better Way spent $2.18 million to beat back the tax.The group presented itself as a coalition of local businesses and citizens, but the reports show it was clearly a Big Soda venture. Most of the money went to out-of-state campaign-related companies. Winning the majority of votes cost the beverage industry more than $189 per vote, an expenditure it considered a worthy investment. Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K  is proud of investing its time and resources to inform voters on the harmful impact of the proposed beverage tax, spokesman David Huynh says in a text. We are thankful to the community for listening to our concerns, standing up for working families and small businesses, and overwhelmingly rejecting the proposed tax.The Big Soda spending left a bit of indigestion with proponents. Were not surprised that the ABA spent over two million dollars to defeat our efforts to fund pre-K for every child in Santa Fe. They represent corporations that only care about their profits, not about the health and well being of our community, political consultant Sandra Wechsler tells SFR in a text message.But tax advocates were hardly a ragtag bunch of progressives looking to fund a popular program with a creative stream of soda cash. They raised, spent and otherwise took in $1.88 million for the campaign. Thats $224 per vote.While Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales had his name pinned to the effort politically, the unsuccessful attempt to pass the tax was a resounding financial defeat for one man: former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg. The billionaire businessman paid for 78 percent of the Pre-K for Santa Fe campaign, donating $695,000 in cash. Including in-kind donations for things like research and media buys, Bloomberg spent $1.47 million.Wechsler and fellow consultant Eli Il Yong Lee, principals of a company they named SWELusing an acronym of their initialswere paid just shy of $62,000 over two months, according to finance reports. SWEL also took in about $19,000 for what appear to be expenses related to the campaign.Lee has a long past in progressive politics, and groups hes affiliated with were part of the campaigns inner circle. Lee and Wechsler co-founded Quadrant Metrics, a company that measures impact of spending by groups like unions and nonprofits. Wechsler tells SFR that Quadrant and SWEL are the same company. Pre-K for Santa Fe cut checks for more than $7,000 to Quadrant, some of which appears to be reimbursement for campaign expenses. Sara Berger, an Albuquerque attorney listed as the organizer of Quadrant, was paid more than $2,700 by Pre-K for Santa Fe. Wechsler says Berger is the attorney for Quadrant and SWEL.The Center for Civic Policy, a group for which Lee was the CEO from 2006 to 2010, was paid for $327 for office supplies. A related nonprofit, the Center for Civic Action, earned about $9,300 for data management.Smart Progress New Mexico, a locally based anti-tax group, took in a few hundred dollars and finished the campaign having raised $13,525. Founder Loveless Johnson III asked the Santa Fe City Council at its May 10 meeting for a chance to discuss options for expanding early childhood education.

Santa Fe Reporter
Two steps back

A recent memo from US Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered federal prosecutors to seek the harshest possible charge when moving forward on a case. That could put more New Mexicans in prison with much longer sentences. SFR looks at what's to come and how prosecutors had been considering the harshness of mandatory sentences before charging low-level drug crimes.

$4,000,000 for your thoughts

That's how much political action committees spent on Santa Fe's sugary-drink tax election. That works out to a whopping

. All but $15 of Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K's expenses were paid for by Big Soda, which pumped more than $2 million in cash and support into the campaign. Pro-tax groups spent $1.88 million, almost 80 percent of which came from former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Chomping at the bit

The New Mexico Capitol press corps can hardly wait for some action. It'll be more than two months since the session ended by the time they and the Legislature return to the Roundhouse next Wednesday. Over at the

Albuquerque Journal,

has a look at the tax reform package possibilities likely to draw lawmakers' attention during the special session that starts May 24.

Balderas out for gov

Attorney General Hector Balderas says he's

. Balderas, a Democrat, will instead run for reelection next year. A successful campaign would have him in office when Tom Udall's US Senate seat comes up in 2020. Udall will be 72 years old that year. Just sayin'.

False alarm

It wasn't just city police in Santa Fe, but the FBI and US Marshals who were interested in a reported abduction Tuesday. Witnesses said they saw a man

and scores of officers rolled out, searched cars and scoured the midtown neighborhood. Getting the word out worked ... sort of. The man involved called police to tell them it was a domestic dispute. Police say there was no crime.

ATF pays informants in NM stingand it pays very well

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives used traveling informants to make a slew of arrests of people it promised would be the "worst of the worst" in Albuquerque. That was hardly the case. Now, it's come to the light that those informants

as agents ferry them about the country.

Former Pojoaque first family moving forward

It's been one year since Tino Rivera passed away from injuries sustained in a car crash. His parents, former Pojoaque Pueblo governor George Rivera and wife Felicia,

about trying to move forward from the death of their youngest child. They've both left the Pojoaque tribal administrationnot by choice. But they've found hope in George's art and in Tino's love for dance.

Oh good

The city has reworked a plan to bring back the unmanned speed-ticketing vans that use radar, cameras and the good old US Postal Service to deliver your ticket. It's

, see? A first-time offense of driving any speed more than 10 mph over the limit will cost you $50, it's $100 for each violation after that within a two-year period. The proposal has to pass one more committee before the City Council might vote on it.

Thanks for reading! The Word is going to spend the day driving very close to the speed limit.

Subscribe to the Morning Word at sfreporter.com/signup

Santa Fe Reporter
Aircompany Armenias maiden direct flight from Yerevan to Tel Aviv is scheduled today at 17:55 Yerevan time. It will arrive in Tel Aviv at 20:25. Tel Aviv flights will take place every Thursday and Sunday.

At present, Tel Aviv is the fourth destination serviced by Aircompany Armenia. The company also flies to Mineralnye Vody, Voronezh and Beirut. It used to fly to Tehran, but the last two flights, scheduled on April 24 and 27, were cancelled.

All these destinations are serviced by the companys only aircraft  a Boeing 737-500, (EK-73736). The companys other, much newer, airplane, has always been operated by Georgian Airways. According to Aerotransport.org, the Boeing 737-700 has recently changed its Armenian registration number to the Georgian 4L-TGO. Thus, the aircraft has entered Georgia's airplane registry.

The other Armenian carrier, Taron-Avia, operating from Gyumris Shirak Airport, started flying to Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Samara in Russia last month. They also use only one airplane for all these destinations, a Boeing 737-500 (EK-73797).

Two other similar aircraft of the company (EK-73775, EK-73772) continue their flights in the Sudanese Badr Airlines fleet. The founder of Taron-Avia, Garnik Papikyan, announced that when they start flights to Moscow and Sochi in June, they will bring a second airplane to Armenia.

Photo: Aircompany Armenias plane in Beirut (from company's Facebook page)
I am person who is uncompromisingly black and unapologetically gay. Deal with it.

I am person who is uncompromisingly black and unapologetically gay. Deal with it. Alvin McEwen

[image: 653288 origin 1]Published by Reuters (Reuters)  Residents of five U.S. states voted in Tuesdays elections on whether to legalize recreational mar...

Why are Black queer men still deeply invested in casual sex and hooking up? Black queer sex may be more accessible, but it doesn't absolve us of hang-ups a...

Madeline Peltz, John Knefel, and Justin Horowitz @ Media Matters: Steve Bannons final message before the midterms: Mail-in ballots and Democratic votes ...

[image: RUSSIA-US-DIPLOMACY-BASKET-COURT] Griner, shown in a defendants cage during hearing in August, has been moved away apparently to a penal colony a...

As the 2022 midterm election morning dawned, Donald Trump could be found up bright and early yammering about election fraud that didnt exist. His accusati...

The Hill reports: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) announced he will stump for Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker on Thursday as the campaign shift...
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When the curtain rises on on the Miss New York Pageant, 31 contestants will embark on a an adventure that could steer them straight to the Miss America Pageant in September.

The Miss New York State Pageant and Pageant Preliminaries will be staged once again at the historic St. George Theatre over Memorial Day Weekend: May 26-28.

Staten Islanders competing for the much-coveted crown of Miss New York State are: Allison DeLuca, Miss Staten Island; Ashley Marie Davis, Miss Richmond County; Rose Bolella, Miss Manhattan; Melissa Calato, Miss Colonial; and Cassie Paradise, Miss Finger Lakes. Brittney Hollingsworth, Miss Brooklyn attends the College of Staten Island.

Kira Kazantsev, Miss New York 2014 and Miss America 2015, will host all three nights of competition.

Asia Hickman, Miss New York's Outstanding Teen 2017, will perform -- as will Camille Sims, Miss New York 2016 and second runner-up to Miss America.



The women crowned Miss New York will receive a $10,000 scholarship for being as well as the opportunity to compete in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City on Sept. 10.



St. George Theatre ticket information is as follows: 10 percent discount for seniors 65 years and older and students with student ID at the door only.

Preliminary Night One: Friday, May 26, at 7 p.m.; $50

Preliminary Night Two: Saturday, May 27, at 7 p.m.; $50

Final Night and Crowning: Sunday, May 28, at 3 p.m.; $55. Special Three-Show Combo Package: $120 (a $35 savings).

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com.

Schedule of activities in which the 31 local contestants will participate during pageant week:

Arrival: Wednesday, May 24; Lunch at the Commons Cafe, Bingo and Horse Races with the residents at Silver Lake Specialized Care Center, Dinner hosted by Pasticceria Bruno, Dongan Hills.

Thursday, May 25: Rehearsal at the St. George Theatre.

Saturday, May 27: Participating in Fleet Week with a private Coast Guard VIP Tour of the Coast Guard cutter Katherine Walker and USS Lassen and a Pizza Party at the St. George Theatre with the 2017 Star Princesses.

Behind the scenes:



Judges for this year's pageant are: Aimee Voshell String, Dana Rosengard, Sally Isburg, John Moskal, and Denise Garvey.



A total of $33,000 in scholarships will be awarded to the contestants at this year's pageant.

Contestants are also awarded In-Kind Scholarships to Actor's Connection and AMDA, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy.



For more information, check out MissNY.org.
The most unusual items in the way of one of a kind antiques do pop up now and then, whether in an antiques store, auction gallery, or on eBay. Nevertheless you have to know what you are looking for and be lucky enough to discover it before someone else does.

A few months ago while searching eBay for antique brass items, I came upon a dealer residing in Poole (a large coastal town in the county of Dorset), United Kingdom, offering an interesting pair of highly decorated pipe ember tongs dating to the 17th century. The dealer described them as "rare pair of Antique Brass coal fire tongs Dutch, German Augsburg, 17th century, both sides with people in period costumes." I have only come upon one pair in all my years of collecting, so I knew immediately this was a rare and special item to add to my collection of early brass objects. Besides, unlike furniture, these tongs take up little space.

Since it was available as a "Buy It Now" item, I didn't have to wait for an auction to finish. I could not click fast enough, especially since I did not want anyone else to beat me to it. I favor and enjoy collecting early Dutch and English antiques, so I knew these would enhance my collection a great deal.

The pictures on eBay were clear enough for me to see the lovely decoration that covered the entire length of the tongs, which measure approximately 131/4 inches. But, I would have to be patient for at least two weeks before they arrived, since they were being shipped by Royal Mail.

After they arrived safely, and went through customs -- like most antiques from abroad, I was more than anxious to open the box, because seeing in person is always better than pictures on a screen. As I carefully unwrapped the package, I could feel they were quite heavy. The decoration on the entire body was incredible.

The tongs were quite dark, especially the tips, which would be used to grasp the dark coal embers to a pipe. I decided to polish them and, like magic, all those dark areas totally disappeared, revealing even more detail. The engraving is superior when compared to other examples, which show little punch decoration. Most of such items were made from hand wrought iron. These brass pipe tongs are surely a work of art, especially for such a utilitarian piece. In the design, there are three figures on each side, all wearing period clothing, which appears to date them from the 17th century, as well as being of Dutch origin. To finish the pattern, the maker decided to even decorate the tips with a flower, which only enhances these tongs a great deal.

Shortly after, I decided to search other collections here and abroad but was unable to locate a similar pair or even close to it, which tells me these are indeed rare. Tongs became plentiful during the 18th century, especially in America. However, they were mostly made of wrought iron and were plain, that is, without any design.

These tongs not only could have been used for lighting a pipe, or candles for that matter, but could help keep the flame going by constantly moving the hot embers. In early times, most family members spent numerous hours around the fireplace, keeping warm and engaging in good conversation. Each fireplace had many tools for cooking and most houses possessed a pair of tongs. They were not too costly, since they were plain and usually made of iron.

Certain engravings, such as those done by Cornelius Vissher in the late 16th century, depict a family gathered around the open flame while the man of the house is using a large pair of iron tongs to light his pipe. We must not forget that these brass decorative tongs were not stock items, but were ordered to someone's specification and could be costly.

Many household items over the centuries have been made of brass, such as bowls, spoons, candle sticks, shoe horns, keys, and hundreds of other important and interesting articles. We must not forget that most brass items from early times were not for display, but were functional. Exquisitely engraved items such as tobacco boxes were often carried by someone on a regular basis.

I know that one day the opportunity will come when I will have to pass these down to another collector or museum who will appreciate their rarity and workmanship. These tongs could have ended up in the wrong hands, and could have been discarded or damaged by someone who had no clue as to their function, age, or significance.

Keep those eyes wide open so you do not miss out on finding something of interest that will give you pleasure and enjoyment. I sometimes wonder why I find all these lovely things; I guess it is to one day pass them on so others can understand to appreciate beauty made from all kinds of materials from centuries ago.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While she'll face off against Paul Massey in a Republican primary later this year, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis has secured Conservative Party backing in her bid to unseat Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The chairmen from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan endorsed the Republican Malliotakis and issued a joint statement.

"Over the course of her career in the New York State Assembly, Nicole Malliotakis has been a vocal advocate for conservative principles and policies in the Empire State," they said. "Assembly member Malliotakis has been in the forefront of working to cut the high taxes that are a heavy burden on every taxpayer in our city and state. In the Assembly, she has voted against tax and fee increases 297 times, for a total of $20.3 billion and she voted for 62 different tax cuts, saving New York taxpayers $9.8 billion. She's stood tall with law enforcement, especially the NYPD and she instinctively realizes that the root cause of crime is criminals. She'll fight to ensure that New York City keeps Riker's Island open and will stand arm to arm with New Yorkers to block any efforts to locate city jails in our neighborhoods. As a product of New York City public schools, Nicole has a clear understanding of what a great education can mean to the children of our city; she'll fight for high standards and against the special interests that seem intent on dumbing-down our schools. She also will fight for the expansion of charter schools in the five boroughs and tuition tax assistance for New Yorkers who send their children to religious or private schools. The Conservative Party is proud to endorse Nicole Malliotakis for Mayor of the City of New York."

Mike Long, state chairman of the Conservative Party, said Bronx Chairman Bill Newmark hadn't yet met with Malliotakis and so withheld his endorsement until he does so.

He added, "Our leaders really believe that Nicole makes the best possible candidate to take on de Blasio; she's not afraid of him ... She's got a lot of very strong grassroots support."

Long said Massey "reached out to" county chairmen but "he wasn't sure if he was going to seek their endorsement."

Massey spokeswoman Mollie Fullington said, "Over the course of this campaign, Paul Massey has spoken with a number of party leaders about their support."

She added, "Paul Massey is building a coalition campaign. He is the Independence Party nominee, expects to be the Republican Party nominee, and he has a vision for this city and the ability to execute it. He is the only candidate who can beat Bill de Blasio in November."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Okay, you know you're guilty of doing this, or at least your kids are: If you're a fan of General Mills' "Lucky Charms" cereal, you pick out the rainbow and pastel-colored marshmallows from the box or your bowl.

If that describes you, you'll be happy to know that Lucky Charms -- the popular cereal of frosted toasted oats with marshmallows -- has created 10,000 special "marshmallows only" boxes it plans to give away to winners of a national contest.

In order to win, you first have to buy a specially-marked box of Lucky Charms. The box will include a 14-digit code on the inside back panel. You then enter the code at MarshmallowOnly.com to see if you are one of the 10,000 lucky winners.

"Lucky Charms' specially-marked boxes for this promotion will be available on store shelves across the U.S. soon, with limited distribution, and will be more widely available in a few weeks. The sweepstakes will run through December 2017," General Mills advised in a statement. Winners will receive their box of Lucky Charms Marshmallows in the mail a few weeks after entering the code on the website. Will you be entering the contest to win one of the "marshmallows only" Lucky Charms boxes? Tell us in our Comment section. It's not the first time General Mills has used the promotion. In 2015, ten people won the first version of Lucky Charms "Marshmallows Only" cereal through a social media contest.
CITY HALL -- New regulations for pawn shops have been proposed to combat crime linked with the opioid epidemic on Staten Island and across the city.

The law covering pawnbrokers would be modernized under a bill introduced last week by Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) intended to better protect victims of addiction-fueled petty theft and burglary, according to his office.

Staten Island only has 9 licensed pawnbrokers, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs. There are over 300 across all five boroughs.

The proposed changes would require dealers to keep at least one "digital photograph" of the person who sells or buys items, not including still images from security footage.

Pawned items would have to be kept for at least 30 days after they were sold to the dealer, up from the current requirement of 15 days.

Electronic records of pawned items would have to be uploaded to a database accessible by the NYPD within 30 days of the transaction and must be retained for a minimum of seven years from the purchase or sale date.

The bill is meant to help friends and family whose possessions are stolen and pawned by loved ones to support drug habits.

"As all of us who have been working for so long to mitigate the damage wrought by this crisis already know, there is no silver bullet," Borelli said in a statement. "This is a problem which requires our consistent attention, and our strategy must always be changing in response to the environment we're facing."

'SAD REALITY'

The measure has already been backed the Detective's Endowment Association and District Attorney Michael McMahon.

"Those struggling with substance abuse issues in their family often face the sad reality of having their valuables stolen and pawned off by their own loved ones to help feed their addiction," McMahon said. "We also see cases where professional burglars prey on homeowners, such as in the case of the 'Ninja Burglar,' who broke into more than a hundred homes on Staten Island and then sold off people's personal property at various pawn shops."

There have been 35 suspected overdose deaths on Staten Island so far this year, according to the district attorney's office. At this time last year, 41 people died from an overdose in the borough.

The Health Department suspects there were at least 107 fatal drug overdoses on Staten Island last year, according to Borough President James Oddo. That's well over the 69 confirmed deaths in all of 2015.

Seth Stein, a spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio, pointed to the city's plan to reduce fatal opioid overdoses by 35 percent over the next five years.

"The administration is making groundbreaking new investments, like HealingNYC, and implementing new policies to help curb the opioid epidemic," Stein said. "We look forward to working with Council Member Borelli and reviewing his proposal."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While Staten Islanders voted in large numbers for President Donald Trump last November, his first few months in office have turned them off, disapproving of the job he is doing, with a margin of 57 to 40, according to a new poll from Quinnipiac University.

As Trump grapples with several recent controversies, his support citywide is unsurprisingly low, with New York City voters disapproving 74-22 percent of the job he is doing.

Republicans citywide approve 75-18 percent, while Democrats disapprove 91-7.

Asked whether they would like to see Trump spend more time in New York City, 81 percent of Staten Islanders polled said "No" while 13 percent said "Yes."

Of Republicans citywide, 61 percent said "No" while 26 percent said "Yes" and 85 percent of Democrats said "No" while 9 percent said "Yes".

The poll surveyed 1,019 voters across the five boroughs May 10-16. Citywide results have a margin of error plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Far fewer Staten Islanders were polled, so the margin of error for borough results is much higher at plus or minus 11.32 percentage points
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City will hold the second annual Weekend of Faith for Mental Health, in which 2,000 congregations across all five boroughs will devote services to issues of substance abuse from May 18 to 21.

First Lady Chirlane McCray will visit the Reformed Church of Huguenot Park in Huguenot on Thursday at 7 p.m. to encourage people to seek substance abuse treatment as part of ThriveNYC -- the city's $850 million plan to both improve mental health services and promote mental wellness.

City commissioners and elected representatives will also visit city congregations this weekend as part of the program, in hopes of reducing the stigma around substance use disorder.

Congregations in more than 40 cities across the country -- including Houston and Philadelphia -- will participate in the event for the first time this year.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island man is in critical condition Wednesday after a shooting in New Jersey, according to a media release from the office of the Middlesex County District Attorney.

The 44-year-old man was shot at approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday at a limousine company in Old Bridge, according to a media release.

An individual who picked up the phone at the limousine company told Patch.com, a local news site, that the shooting happened across the street.

The shooting is being investigated by Detective Michael Machen of the Old Bridge Police Department and Detective Mark Morris of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, accoridng to the release.



The investigation is active and is continuing, authorities said.

Add your comments to the conversation here.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Gary Sanchez hit a three-run homer, Chris Carter added a two-run shot and CC Sabathia got back on track as the New York Yankees rolled to a 7-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

Pitching on six days' rest, Sabathia (3-2) went 6 2/3 shutout innings to win for the first time since April 15. He struck out five and walked two before leaving with the bases loaded, but Tyler Clippard promptly fanned Whit Merrifield to escape the jam.

Clippard also handled the eighth before Jonathan Holder gave up a run in the ninth.

Sanchez drilled an 0-1 pitch from Jason Hammel (1-5) to center field with nobody out in the third, and Carter pounded a 1-1 pitch to almost the same place with two down in the fourth.
MOUNT PLEASANT  Promotions Unlimited, the former company that closed Jan. 27 without paying employees for their last work week or accrued vacation, must now pay a total of $203,933 to 52 former employees or face action by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

In a letter dated last Thursday, state Labor Standards Investigator Brian Buchanan wrote to Lorraine Greenberg of Roosevelt Capital LLC, the company that did business as Promotions Unlimited, telling her the findings of his two-pronged investigation.

On Jan. 27, Promotions Unlimited, 7601 Durand Ave., discharged its last 48 employees after laying off about 30 others in the preceding several weeks for a total of 77 jobs lost. Employees said the family-owned company, which was a local distributor to independent pharmacies, did not pay them for their last week of work, nor for earned but unused vacation time.

The closing was also a highly charged matter because the payroll company Roosevelt was using, but failed to pay, tried to claw back the pay of employees who had been using direct deposit of their paychecks, sending ex-employees into panic mode.

Moreover, vendors that had been doing business with Promotions had a freight company coming at them for shipping charges theyd previously been charged for by Roosevelt, but that Roosevelt had evidently not paid the trucking company for.

Buchanan was investigating, for the Department of Workforce Development, two types of complaints employees had filed with the state: that they were owed for unpaid wages and vacation pay; and that Roosevelt violated the Warn Act by failing to provide 60 days notice to employees of the shutdown.

On the latter complaint, Buchanan concluded that Roosevelt did not violate the law because the company was pursuing a new line of credit  an attempt that failed  and that denial of the funding was not foreseeable at the time notice would have been required 60 days prior to closing. He ordered that case be dismissed.

Unpaid wages, vacation time

However, Buchanan found that employees who provided records to DWD were indeed owed money by Roosevelt for unpaid wages and earned vacation time. Roosevelt did not dispute those points, he wrote.

But Roosevelt was unable to provide relevant records because of its failure to pay its payroll processor, Buchanan wrote.

When an employer fails to provide records, this department must rely upon the best available information when making its determination, he wrote. In this case, the reasonable records of the complainants are the best available information and are the basis for the unpaid wage determination. He found that Roosevelt owes $77,031 in unpaid wages to 52 former employees.

Buchanan made the same statement regarding unpaid but earned vacation and found Roosevelt owes those former employees $126,902 for that. Additional money may be owed to employees who have not yet filed a complaint, he added.

Individual paychecks

A spreadsheet attached to Buchanans letter shows the employees names and total amounts each must be paid by Roosevelt. Those amounts range from $640 to $10,000.

Buchanan ordered Roosevelt to make out individual checks in the correct amounts to those employees and send them to DWD, minus any legally required deductions, and with pay stubs. The agency will forward the checks to each person.

I dont feel confident that were going to get it, commented a discouraged Michelle Humburg on Monday, a 14-year employee of Promotions Unlimited who had been the sales and customer service lead. Ill believe it when I see it.  I know the states doing what it can.

Im so over it; whatever we get, we get, Humburg added.

Roosevelt has until May 26 to get the checks to DWD.

If I do not receive payment for wages due by (May 26), I will prepare the case file on this matter for litigation, Buchanan wrote to Greenberg. Any referral to court will include a request for the maximum penalty for the late payment of wages.

Its worth noting that liens were filed in early February as DWD asked the state Department of Justice to take proactive steps to pursue whatever action is available to secure owed wages, agency spokesman John Dipko said Monday. Those liens cover all real and personal property that Roosevelt has in the state of Wisconsin.

The Greenbergs have been unavailable for comment.
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The U.S. Treasury Department said it has frozen any assets that five Syrian people and five Syrian companies may have in U.S. jurisdictions and has barred Americans from conducting any financial transactions with them, citing Syria's "relentless attacks on civilians." Among those named were cousins of Assad.
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The sister of Mark O'Connor, who died in Canberra jail's on Saturday, says she doesn't want him to become the subject of political debate.

"He was my brother and he made mistakes but he was a good man," his sister told Fairfax Media.

Mark O'Connor died at the Alexander Maconochie Centre on Saturday night. The family says no foul play was involved. Credit:Jay Cronan

The family have not been told anything about the cause or circumstances of the 29-year-old's death at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, except that "there was no foul play", she said.

Mr O'Connor's family issued a statement on Wednesday, saying they were very upset.
Haig Park could be divided into "rooms" where each section would be used for different purposes, according to a draft strategy to revitalise the historic park.

Earlier this year, the ACT government called for ideas to make the oft-maligned park in Canberra's inner north more open and inviting.

City activation manager Caitlin Bladin and acting director of the Office of the Coordinator General for Urban Renewal Karen Wilden are using Canberrans' ideas to revitalise Haig Park. Credit:Karleen Minney

Canberrans have suggested everything from a multi-storey car park to a water park for the urban tree corridor which spans from Froggatt Street in Turner to Limestone Avenue in Braddon.

Because of the wide range of ideas that came through, acting director of the Office of the Coordinator General for Urban Renewal Karen Wilden said they wanted to split the park into areas or "rooms" with appropriate infrastructure that reflected the character and location of the section.
A Rebels bikie accused of storming a Turner unit with two other men armed with a fake gun denied he was chasing a drug debt, a court has heard.

Police went to the units on Forbes Street after a man allegedly phoned triple-0 from his bathroom and said he was hiding from three bikies who were in his living room looking for him about 6am on Saturday.

Nathanial Paton, 27, was allegedly one of three men who burst into the Turner unit on Saturday morning. Credit:Rohan Thomson

Nathanial Paton, 27, faced court with Darin Paul Keir, 37, and Brent Douglas Collins, 26, on Monday, charged with aggravated burglary over the alleged home invasion that eventually led to a four-hour police stand-off.

Collins has pleaded not guilty and denied any links to outlaw motorcycle groups. Keir and Paton have yet to enter pleas.
Ross Lane's return to the top role at Aussie handbag maker, Oroton  after a decade-long gap  has not been particularly triumphant.

Lane  whose family still owns a controlling stake in the group  watched the share price plunge again on Tuesday after yet another profit downgrade from the luxury group which can no longer afford the services of actor Rose Byrne.

The stock fell as low as $1 compared to a high of $2.80 in November last year.

To be fair to Ross, he has been left holding the bag for his predecessor, Mark Newman, whose excellent growth strategy for the luxury brand is now looking like a cheap Chinese knock-off.
Chinese investors wanting to buy Australian farms or agribusinesses must obtain "broad community approval" if they want to operate in Australia, according to a new report to be released in Beijing on Thursday.

The report, produced by Powell Tate Australia and Weber Shandwick China, finds "there is not a strong xenophobic sentiment against Chinese investment in Australian agriculture" but that there was a "significant misunderstanding" about such investment.

According to those involved in the sale, Mr Lu bought the dairy operation after a single three-hour visit in November 2015. Credit:Bloomberg

"Misperceptions" included views that: Chinese investors are state owned enterprises doing the bidding of the government; they care more about profits than people; they disregard the environment; and they ignore local communities and sensitivities.

The report says Australian agriculture needs Chinese investment, and the various concerns about such investment can be addressed.
A second American private equity firm has offered to buy Fairfax Media, while the original bidder has agreed to be grilled by a Senate committee about its plans for journalism at the media group.

The publisher of The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian Financial Review said on Thursday morning it had received an indicative, preliminary and non-binding proposal from Hellman & Friedman to buy 100 per cent of the company for $2.87 billion.

TPG's local boss Joel Thickins.

The bid values the company between $1.225 and $1.250 a share in cash, and assumes the company pays shareholders no dividends.

It comes after a consortium featuring US private equity group TPG Capital and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) made an approach to Fairfax earlier this month at $1.20 a share, or $2.76 billion.
Wesfarmers must balance its ambitions to reap $1.5 billion from the sale of the Officeworks chain with the reality of retail asset sales in a post Amazon Australia, analysts warn.

US office supply majors, such as Staples and Office Depot, trade on earnings multiples of less than half that which produced the $1.5 billion pricetag Wesfarmers is believed to have put on Officeworks.

"All you need to do is look at similar companies in the US to get a feel for what this business should trade on in a post-Amazon Australia and it's something more like five to seven times earnings," one analyst said.

"I'm not going to say it [Officeworks] should be sold on those multiples, but maybe it should a bit closer to them."
The Madison cellist Mark Bridges, left, is going on tour with the Vancouver composer Scott Morgan as the ambient musical duo High Plains.
Thousands of Americans have taken to the street this year to march for women's equality, environmental issues and an overhaul of the president's immigration policies. Now for the first time, the anti-Trump resistance movement is setting its sights on a corporation: McDonald's.

Organisers from the Women's March, MoveOn.org and the Bernie Sanders campaign spin-off Our Revolution, will join forces on Tuesday to march from Trump Tower in downtown Chicago to The Rock N Roll McDonald's a half-mile away.

Protesters want to put pressure on the fast-food giant to pay an hourly minimum wage of $US15. Credit:AP

Their goal: To rally the fast-food giant - and the country's second-largest employer - to pay an hourly minimum wage of $US15 ($20.23), and to allow its workers to unionise.

"McDonald's, frankly, is the Donald Trump of corporations," said Kendall Fells, organising director of the Fight for $US15, a labor movement backed by the Service Employees International Union, which is leading the effort.
The big Australian banks have a long history of successfully exercising political influence. They played a major part in bringing down Ben Chifley's government in 1949, for instance, after he tried to nationalise the private banking system. They fought off widespread calls for a royal commission into banks because the Turnbull government stood by them.

But the latest budget imposed a $6.2 billion tax on the largest five banks in the form of a 0.06 per cent a year levy on the total value of their borrowings. There is plenty of specialist criticism of the public policy aspects of this tax but the general conclusion is that the government will easily carry the day against any bank resistance.

The government itself, led by Treasurer Scott Morrison, exudes confidence that this measure is a political master-stroke. Most commentators agree.

The argument goes that the government has chosen a highly unpopular industry as a soft target. Most Australians wanted a royal commission but weren't given it. Most Australians now support this new tax. A recent Fairfax-Ipsos poll suggests 68 per cent are in support, including 74 per cent of Coalition voters and 75 per cent of Greens voters. Labor voters' support is lower (60 per cent) but still strong.
Regardless of whether or not you sympathise with former One Nation Senator Rod Culleton, the Western Australian is right in saying an apparent demand he pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars in wages, staff salaries and expenses is a bad look.

He argues he stood for the 2016 election in good faith, was sworn in and went on to do his job as a Senator for the better part of a year.

Mr Culleton's election was declared invalid by the High Court in February 2017 because at the time of the 2016 poll he had a conviction against his name over the theft of keys to a tow truck.

That conviction related to a 2014 repossession dispute at Guyra in NSW.

It was overturned when he pleaded guilty to larceny in the Armidale Magistrate's Court last October.
A massive cyber-extortion attack known as "WannaCry" wrought havoc across the globe last week, taking out much of Britain's National Health Service and, in a delicious bit of irony, the Russian Interior Ministry.

The attack was a long time coming, representing the inevitable merging of two plagues that have long ravaged the Internet: the invention of programs that can rapidly infect digital systems and the rise of Internet crime. Without action, WannaCry represents just the first of what will undoubtedly be a long nightmare of self-propagating criminal attacks.

WannaCry represents just the first of what will undoubtedly be a long nightmare. Credit:Bloomberg

The first Internet plague arose in 1988 when a small program, written by computer scientist Robert Morris Jr, escaped. This program, clearly written as an interesting experiment, ran on a single computer and, from there, attempted to contact other computers. Once it found another computer it attempted to exploit the victim using one of several vulnerabilities. When successful, it copied itself over and started running: First two computers ran the program - then four, then eight. Exponential growth caused it to quickly spread to all vulnerable systems on the Internet. Combined with a bug that caused it to effectively overload its victims, this acted to effectively shut down the Internet of 1988.

This was the inadvertent dawning of the worm, a program that spreads on its own from computer to computer. Since that time we've seen many other worms, including Code Red (the first widespread worm in the modern era, infecting 300,000 systems over 13 hours), Slammer (spreading worldwide in 15 minutes and even infecting a nuclear power plant), Blaster (silently infecting hundreds of thousands of Windows computers) and Witty (which took down network security monitors belonging to the US Army).
I wouldn't know Susan Bryant if I fell over her in the street, but I - and all of us - owe her a huge thank you.

Susan is the wife of Dr Andrew Bryant, the well-respected gastroenterologist who took his own life this month.

Dr Bryant was a senior medico, working long hours in private practice and in the public hospital system. He cared for every patient, and felt the loss of each of those he could not fix.

He was also a father of four; a dad who loved life, was known to sing and show off a few dance moves. He held a passion for classical music. He was a cyclist.
Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood has hit out at the ABC for using taxpayer money to boost the profits of multinational corporations such as Google and encroaching onto the terrain of newspaper companies at an appearance before a public inquiry into the future of journalism.

Mr Hywood, who is overseeing a plan to cut 125 editorial jobs at the media company, was also forced to defend his salary and performance bonuses under pointed questioning from senators suggesting his pay packet was excessive.

The chief executive received a base salary of $1.6 million and bonuses worth $2.7 million in the last financial year. Mr Hywood said reports he had been paid up to $7 million in total were "media speculation" but declined to state his total benefits.

Mr Hywood said he was not "anti-ABC" but was concerned about the public broadcaster "using taxpayer money to drive traffic" to its news websites by paying to boost its Google search results.
Punitive measures designed to convince asylum seekers on Manus Island to go home or settle permanently in Papua New Guinea have largely broken down or failed in their objectives.

Documents leaked to The Guardian have uncovered an ambitious push to drive refugees and asylum seekers out of the facility, including forced separation and phasing out cooked meals.

But most of the plans either never came to fruition or largely collapsed, leaving the Turnbull government scrambling to reduce the centre's population ahead of an October 31 closure deadline.

In the 12 months to 31 March, 76 people left Australia's regional processing centre - either to live in transit accommodation, accept resettlement in PNG or return to their country of origin.
Freedom of religion has wrongly and unfairly been used to deny marriage rights to gay and lesbian Australians and must be strongly resisted, Labor frontbencher Penny Wong has said.

In a rallying call for the separation of church and state, the South Australian senator blasted religious fundamentalists for limiting the freedom of "those who do not 'conform' to their views".

"Religious freedom means being free to worship and to follow your faith without suffering persecution or discrimination for your beliefs. It does not mean imposing your beliefs on everyone else," Senator Wong told the NSW Labor Lawyers gathering on Tuesday night.

"And it most emphatically does not mean deploying the power of the state to enforce one set of religious beliefs. One's own views should not determine the rights of others."
Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.
Imagine if you read this news story: Malcolm Turnbull has sacked the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police for continuing investigations into past links between Mr Turnbull's office and a foreign government.

The extraordinary move coincides with explosive new revelations of impromptu intelligence sharing with that same government, by the Prime Minister himself.

The unprecedented use of executive power to terminate the services of an independent statutory officer has sent shockwaves through the political, defence, and security establishments. Powerful security agencies are now in open conflict with the Turnbull government amid concerns about the administration of justice and the integrity of Australia's secret intelligence arrangements.

This fictional rendering conveys the gravity of events now swirling around Donald J Trump's idiosyncratic administration: what would happen if an Australian PM leant on the AFP to forget past links with a foreign government; extemporised on sensitive intelligence (gained from a trusted partner country) with a hostile government; and dumped the equivalent of the FBI boss without due cause?
For two decades, the king of the Netherlands has been putting the royal in KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

King Willem-Alexander said in an interview published on Wednesday that for the last 21 years, he has flown twice a month as a commercial airline co-pilot for KLM's Cityhopper subsidiary, a regional carrier that flies among European cities.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander regularly pilots for KLM. Credit:Peter Dejong

He was seldom recognised in uniform, particularly after the September 11 terrorist attacks, when safety protocols were introduced to limit access to cockpits, he said.

The king would often greet passengers over the intercom, but not readily identify himself.
Few things arouse my suspicion as much as white lefties denouncing identity politics. Not because I think identity politics is beyond criticism  the opposite in fact. There are problems with what we call identity politics which I will get to a little later.

But first, what gets my hackles up is how this attack on "identity politics" often follows a predictable pattern: take an example of systemic discrimination (usually against a woman), ridicule it as attention-seeking, and then moralise about how identity politics as a whole will be the death of the left.

Greens co-deputy leader Larissa Waters soothes baby Alia Joy after breastfeeding her in the Senate. Credit:AAP

And so it was last week when Crikey columnist Helen Razer derided Greens senator Larissa Waters for "tediously returning the Greens back to the fold of identity politics". Razer was referring to Waters breastfeeding her infant daughter in parliament  the first to do so  and her comment that the Liberal government doesn't "care about women".

Look, if Razer or anyone else wants to complain about Waters using the occasion to draw attention to herself, that's one thing. But to use this one incident to denounce all political activism that elevates the concerns of marginalised "identities" as useless, well that's another. That's the left's own version of dog-whistling; a call to shut down anyone they regard to be distracting from the "real issue" of working class exploitation.
Enrolments in NSW Catholic high schools have dropped for the first time in almost 20 years and are down overall in Catholic schools for the first time since 2008 as struggling families are forced into overcrowded public schools.

The latest enrolment figures show there are 219,862 students in the state's systemic Catholic schools, down 179 from last year, according to the minutes of the NSW Catholic Education Commission's March meeting.

Teachers warn the proposal will lead to more stress for our youngest students.

Schools in the Maitland diocese had the largest enrolment increase, with 392 extra students this year, while the largest decline was in the Parramatta diocese, with saw a drop of 353 students.

At the same, the latest enrolment figures from the NSW Department of Education show that some public schools within the area covered by the Parramatta diocese have ballooned by about 20 per cent in just four years.
A federal police raid on the eastern suburbs office of property development firm Rommark turned violent on Wednesday when company director Michael Teplitsky crash tackled a photographer and was handcuffed in front of horrified shoppers.

Australian Federal Police officers raided the company's Double Bay office on Wednesday morning, as officers conducted raids across Sydney as part of a wider investigation into an alleged $165 million tax fraud syndicate.

Officers sort through documents in the Double Bay office of property development company Rommark. Credit:Fairfax Media

Nine people were arrested on Wednesday as part of that investigation, including Adam Cranston, the son of Australian Taxation Office deputy commissioner Michael Cranston. He was arrested in Bondi and is due to face Central Local Court on Thursday.

There is no suggestion Michael Cranston had any involvement in or knowledge of the alleged syndicate.
The afternoon commute will also be affected by the bus strike through the inner west and south.

Despite an order from the Industrial Relations Commission, State Transit bus drivers in the inner west have refused to return to work today. They will be out until tomorrow morning.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union will hold a press conference at 11am, but attribute the strike to the snap decision of Transport Minister Andrew Constance to announce the privatisation of services this week.
A Brisbane teenager who suffered severe injuries after being kicked in the face while trying to leave an argument continues to fight for his life as his alleged attacker was denied bail.

The family of Joshua Waite, 17, remain by his bedside at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, where he has been in an induced coma since the alleged Friday assault outside Redcliffe McDonald's.

Joshua Waite remains in an induces coma.

Police allege Mr Waite smashed his head on bitumen after being kicked in the face.

On Wednesday afternoon he remained in a critical condition, a hospital spokeswoman told AAP.
The Crime and Corruption Commission has issued a warning to Queensland's public servants, saying it is not OK for them to "peek" at people's private information.

The warning comes after a Queensland police officer was fined for accessing the private information of friends, family, and Australian netball captain Laura Geitz.

The CCC has said it's not OK for them to "peek" at people's private information. Credit:Michele Mossop

Earlier this month Steven Patrick Wright, who had been on medical leave from the police force since November, pleaded guilty to illegally accessing the information and was fined $4000.

CCC chairman Alan MacSporran said some public servants have access to private and confidential information, and they had "an obligation not to misuse the access to this information."
A decade-old sexual assault investigation on the Gold Coast has been closed after DNA linked a 51-year-old man to the alleged attack.

Police charged the man on Tuesday with the December 2007 assault on a 16-year-old Brazilian student at Mermaid Beach after a DNA match was discovered in 2016.

The case was heard at the Southport Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. Credit:Chris Hyde

They claim the man threatened the teenager at gunpoint in a car, demanded a sex act before he thrusted the boy's head into his groin.

Police say the incident happened shortly after the boy accepted a lift from the man, driving him to a nearby car park, locking the doors and pulling out a gun before the assault.
A man has been charged over the weekend shooting of Gold Coast man in a car.

The 23-year-old man will face Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged with numerous offences including acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was arrested on Tuesday after a 31-year-old man arrived at the Gold Coast University Hospital with a gunshot wound on Sunday.

AAP
The Queensland government has knocked back a request from the family of high-profile suspected murder victim Sharron Phillips for a new inquest, citing a police investigation and lack of new evidence.

The Ipswich woman disappeared in 1986 and her body was never found despite hundreds of leads.

Siblings want police to search this Riverview block of land.

Her sister Donna Anderson called for the coronial investigation to be held after breaking her 27-year silence to Fairfax Media last year to call on police to examine her father's alibi.

Police reopened the investigation in the wake of comments from Ms Anderson and her brothers but failed to find any trace of the woman when they dug up a Carole Park property in June 2016.
The power of neural network machine learning is helping Google offer faster and more accurate translations when you're lost for words.

The key to solving complex computing challenges isn't always to simply throw more processing power at the problem but instead to actually change the way computers think about the problem. That's where neural networks come into play, attempting to mimic the steps which the human brain uses to solve problems, rather than simply relying on statistical analysis and data crunching.

Google Translate aims to be your personal translator as you travel the world. Credit:Adam Turner

In late 2015, Google's TensorFlow neural network machine learning team decided to apply the technology to the Google Translate service, which had already been operating for 10 years using phrase-based machine learning based on statistical analysis.

Only 13 months later Google revealed that it was using neural networks to overhaul its Word Lens feature, allowing it to support both Simplified Chinese and the more complex Traditional Chinese when you point your smartphone's camera at a sign to translate the text in real time.
Google's smart benchtop speaker is coming to Australia mid-year, challenging Amazon's Alexa for pride of place in Aussie kitchens.

Running the AI-powered Google Assistant, the voice-controlled Google Home lets users speak naturally to access a wealth of online services as well as listen to music and control smart home appliances. Google's smart speaker is coming to Australia mid-year along with four other new countries, as part of Google Home expansion plans announced overnight at the Google I/O developer conference in Mountain View, California.

Google's Home smart speaker is coming to Australia.

At the same time the Google Assistant is spreading its wings, expanding beyond Google Home and Android smartphones to Apple's iPhone as well as smart home appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and ovens. Google Assistant is also embracing the Internet of Things, with a new developer kit allowing hardware makers to connect practically any device to the internet and control it via Google Assistant.

"The Assistant is becoming even more conversational, always available wherever you need it and ready to help get even more things done," says Google Assistant VP of Engineering, Scott Huffman.
Google is taking the fight to the virtual reality giants, unveiling a new standalone Daydream VR headset which doesn't rely on a smartphone or an attached PC.

Revealed overnight at the Google I/O developer conference in Mountain View, California, the new VR headset will include a built-in screen rather than relying on a smartphone like Google Cardboard, Daydream View and rivals such as Samsung's Gear VR.

Clay Bavor, head of Google's VR division, speaks at I/O. Credit:Adam Turner

To offer a more immersive VR experience, the new standalone Daydream headset will also take advantage of the Google Tango augmented reality platform, using built-in dual wide-angle cameras to scan the surrounding environment. Dubbed "World Sense", it allow wearers to walk around in virtual worlds without fear of walking into real-world walls, without the need to place external tracking cameras around the room as required with the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR.

Game-makers will be able to port titles from these other VR headsets to run on standalone Daydream headsets, using development platforms like Unity and Unreal, although some graphics and other features will need to be scaled back to allow for the fact that standalone Daydream headsets will run on smartphone-style hardware rather than a PC.
Google's artificial-intelligence-based Assistant is on more than 100 million devices now, and the company is leveraging a longtime competitor to expand the technology to even more people.

At its developer conference overnight, Google said it's launching the Assistant as an app for Apple's iPhone, and that it will support many of the same functions as the service does on Google devices.

Google's Scott Huffman unveils Google Assistant for iPhone. Credit:AP

Users will be able to integrate with Gmail and complete various tasks through voice commands, Google said. The application will become available first for users in the US and support English. Other countries and languages will come later. This means users on iPhone will now be able to choose between Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana or Google's Assistant for the voice-activated assistant needs.

The announcement heralds a step by Google, whose Android system runs on the majority of the world's smartphones, to get a foothold on Apple's phones, which have smaller market share but are used by people who tend to spend more on technology.
When Kim Parr's teenage son was suffering on Sunday afternoon, she knew he needed an ambulance or his condition would deteriorate fast.

Liam, 16, has a rare and incurable disease called type four Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). He lives with an open wound in his stomach and two colostomy bags, but that weekend the bags had ruptured.

Liam Parr lives with a rare disease known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Credit:Facebook.

"I thought, we're not going to be able to survive the night, I just needed my son to get to the hospital," Mrs Parr said.

She called triple-zero, but the person on the other end of the phone told her Liam's condition was not "life-threatening" enough for an ambulance.
Melbourne Express: Thursday, May 18, 2017

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Good morning, there was a chance of showers this morning but it's all clear now. The rain has headed off overnight and there's a mostly sunny afternoon on the way, with a generous topping of 20 degrees.

Early on, it's still a chilly one out there. If I could squeeze a beanie on under the bike helmet, I'd have given it a go on the pedal in this morn. Speaking of, ever wondered why a beanie is so named? Nothing to do with legumes as such. They reckon the word comes from your bean, as in your head. Stick tha in your noggin and retain it.

Meantime, our nanna-blanket reading has the office temperature at "blankie regretfully left in the car." Put that down as chillier than expected, as decreed by the queen of the homepage.

Here's what the weather is doing right now
The Andrews government has been told it must choose between saving Victoria's endangered emblem the Leadbeater's possum or hundreds of timber industry jobs.

The government's forest taskforce has been told the only way to save the Leadbeater's Possum, is to stop logging in the Central Highlands.

Logging in Victoria's Central Highlands Credit:Justin McManus

The highlands are home to the vast majority of the state's 1500-3000 Leadbeater's possums.

The forests include areas designated for paper pulp and timber production and the industry estimates that more than 2100 jobs rely directly on logging in the area.
A woman who lured a drug dealer to a Perth house where he was beaten to death over a debt has rejected suggestions she masterminded the plot.

Johnathan Derek Pihema, Christopher Joe Moir and Matthew Howarth are on trial in the WA Supreme Court over the death of 29-year-old Jason Robert Edge on April 25, 2015.

Jason Robert Edge vanished on the ANZAC long weekend.

The prosecution says Jodi Abbott, who was dating Moir at the time and knew Mr Edge through methamphetamine use, picked him up from a train station and brought him to the Clarkson house under the pretence of a drug deal.

But she didn't tell him Pihema was waiting there to confront him over a $15,000 debt.
The mother of missing WA teenager Hayley Dodd says the introduction of "no body, no parole laws" is a positive step towards equality for victims of crime.

The State Government announced on Wednesday it would introduce no body no parole legislation into State Parliament, after a pre-election commitment from Labor.

Margaret Dodd has been petitioning for the law changes. Credit:Richard Polden

The new laws will mean murderers who do not co-operate with police to disclose the location of their victim's remains will no longer be eligible for parole.

WA Premier Mark McGowan told Radio 6PR the laws were "totally fair".
"It shouldn't be too bad if I don't tag off."

Those were the words of James Burton after he accepted a challenge from Perth's online community to visit every train station in Perth  all 71 of them.

The 21-year-old's unusual mission was sparked by a throwaway remark he made on Reddit on April 30.

"Someone on the Perth sub-Reddit posted a picture saying, 'Oh, they've finally opened up the Aubin Grove train station', and I posted in the comments and said, 'I should check that out, I've got some free time', and people scoffed and said, 'why on earth would you go there?'," he said.
"They're in the business of caring and dealing with the youth, and in the past they've looked at having separate facilities for males and females and they've obviously changed that decision," Mayor Sammels said. "They're the professionals and their decision would have been made on all the evidence that's been presented to them in the past." Y-Shac has facilities in both Rockingham and Spearwood that provide youths aged 15 to 20-years old who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness with crisis accommodation. They also offer 24-hour support from youth workers. Now it's about being able to respect each young person for who they are and what they're looking for at that particular time  so that's one really good benefit. A sad number

Almost 4 per cent of 15-19-year-olds in the Perth metro area are sleeping rough. Ms Rolle said youth homelessness was a big issue facing not just the Rockingham area, but the greater Perth metropolitan area, with about 4,500 young people sleeping rough on any given night. That's almost 4 per cent of all young people between 15 and 19 years of age in the greater Perth area, according to the Bureau of Statistic's 2011 Census. Housing Minister Peter Tinley said there were a variety of reasons young people could find themselves homeless. "These young people may be escaping an unstable home life, family or relationship breakdown, eviction, exposure to crime, drugs and violence or dealing with complex mental health issues," he said.

"They are greatly in need of a safe space that provides them with stability, guidance and access to agencies that can provide a range of support services." Ms Rolle said youth unemployment often preceded homelessness, with people under 25 years of age who haven't stayed engaged in education and training finding it particularly difficult to find secure employment and stable living arrangements. Mayor Sammels said while Rockingham had a high level of youth unemployment, he wasn't sure if it was a direct contributing factor causing youth homelessness. "Compared to the average, youth unemployment is higher in this region, but I don't know if that plays a role with [youth homelessness] or not." 'Breaking the cycle'

The news Y-Shac She said the new facility had been a great success so far. The new Rockingham facility, which was officially opened on Monday and is operated by Anglicare WA, first opened its doors in August 2016 and replaces the old Baldivis Y-Shac. Ms Rolle said the new center, which is located on Jecks Street in central Rockingham, significantly improved on the Baldivis facility. "The old property was on a semi-rural block, so there was no access to transport from there unless whoever was working at the time would drive someone to the train station. So basically we had a pick up and a drop off twice a day. "The other thing was that it had limited access to being able to go and hand out resumes, and it was also difficult for young people to continue with the school that they were enrolled in."

She said the new facility had been a great success so far. "It's been working really well. Young people are able to access public transport quite readily, there's a bus stop just up the road and they're able to get to shops and banks and employment agencies on their own, which is empowering them to be able to take responsibility and accountability for how they move forward for what it is they'd like to achieve next." Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk praised the new center and said it would play an important role in the community. "The new Y-Shac is an exceptional facility where young people receive the guidance they need to reach their potential in life and help break the homelessness cycle," she said. Ms Rolle said the services offered by Y-Shac had the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of those who it supported.
Austria has banned wearing a full facial veil in public places, the latest move by a European country to restrict expressions of Muslim identity viewed as contrary to Western secular values. The decision immediately drew criticism from rights advocates and from representatives of Austria's Muslim community.

Under the new legislation, approved by parliament on Tuesday, women who wear clothing that covers their faces, such as burqas or niqabs, in places like universities, public transportation or courthouses will face fines of 150, or about $225. The measure will take effect in October.

The ban is part of legislation aimed at improving the integration of immigrants, according to Muna Duzdar, a state secretary in the office of Chancellor Christian Kern.

Other elements of the legislation include mandatory integration courses, German-language lessons and requirements that asylum seekers do unpaid work while awaiting the processing of their claims. Under the new law, migrants who do not meet the requirements could see their welfare benefits slashed.
Dana Rohrabacher has long been a lone pro-Russian voice on Capitol Hill, defending Putin and urging dialogue with the Kremlin. Credit:AP The conversation provides a glimpse at the internal views of GOP leaders who now find themselves under mounting pressure over the conduct of President Trump. The exchange shows that the Republican leadership in the House privately discussed Russia's involvement in the 2016 election and Trump's relationship to Putin, but wanted to keep their concerns secret. It is difficult to tell from the recording the extent to which the remarks were meant to be taken literally. The House leadership has so far stood by the White House as it has lurched from one crisis to another, much of the turmoil fuelled by contacts between Trump or his associates with Russia. House Speaker Paul Ryan flanked by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the Republican Conference/ Credit:AP House Republican leaders have so far resisted calls for the appointment of an independent commission or a special prosecutor to investigate Russian interference, though pressure has been mounting on them to do so after Trump's firing of FBI director James Comey and the disclosure that the president shared intelligence with Russian diplomats.

Evan McMullin, who in his role as policy director to the House Republican Conference participated in the June 15 conversation, said: "It's true that Majority Leader McCarthy said that he thought candidate Trump was on the Kremlin's payroll. Speaker Ryan was concerned about that leaking." President Donald Trump has sought to play down contacts between his campaign and Russia. Credit:AP McMullin ran for president last year as an independent and has been a vocal critic of Trump. When initially asked to comment on the exchange, Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Ryan, said: "That never happened," and Matt Sparks, a spokesman for McCarthy, said: "The idea that McCarthy would assert this is absurd and false." FBI Director James Comey was sacked by Donald Trump. Credit:AP

After being told that The Post would cite a recording of the exchange, Buck, speaking for the GOP House leadership, said: "This entire year-old exchange was clearly an attempt at humour. No one believed the majority leader was seriously asserting that Donald Trump or any of our members were being paid by the Russians. What's more, the speaker and leadership team have repeatedly spoken out against Russia's interference in our election, and the House continues to investigate that activity." "This was a failed attempt at humour," Sparks said. Evan McMullin ran for president last year as an independent. Credit:AP Ken Grubbs, a spokesman for Rohrabacher, said the congressman has been a consistent advocate of "working closer with the Russians to combat radical Islamism. The congressman doesn't need to be paid to come to such a necessary conclusion." When McCarthy voiced his assessment of whom Putin supports, suspicions were only beginning to swirl around Trump's alleged Russia ties.

At the time, US intelligence agencies knew that the Russians had hacked the DNC and other institutions, but Moscow had yet to start publicly releasing damaging emails through WikiLeaks to undermine Trump's Democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton. An FBI counterintelligence investigation into Russian efforts to influence the presidential election would open the following month, in late July, Comey has said in testimony to Congress. Trump has sought to play down contacts between his campaign and the Russians, dismissing as a "witch hunt" the FBI and congressional investigations into Russian efforts to aid Trump and any possible coordination between the Kremlin and his associates. Trump denies any coordination with Moscow took place. Presidential candidate Trump's embrace of Putin and calls for closer cooperation with Moscow put him at odds with the House Republican caucus, whose members have long advocated a harder line on Russia, with the exception of Rohrabacher and a few others. Among GOP leaders in the House, McCarthy stood out as a Putin critic who in 2015 called for the imposition of "more severe" sanctions for its actions in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea. In May 2016, McCarthy signed up to serve as a Trump delegate at the Republican National Convention, breaking ranks with Ryan who said he still wasn't ready to endorse the candidate. McCarthy's relationship with Trump became so close that the president would sometimes refer to him as "my Kevin."

Trump was by then the lone Republican remaining in the contest for the nomination. Though Ryan continued to hold out, Trump picked up endorsements from the remaining GOP leaders in the House, including Steve Scalise, the Majority Whip, and Republican Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers - both of whom took part in the June 15 conversation. Ryan announced on June 2 that he would vote for Trump to help "unite the party so we can win in the fall" but continued to clash with the candidate, including over Putin. While Trump sought to cast Putin as a better leader than then-President Obama, Ryan dubbed him an "aggressor" who didn't share US interests. On the same day as Ryan's endorsement, Clinton stepped up her attacks on Trump over his public statements praising Putin. "If Donald gets his way, they'll be celebrating in the Kremlin," she said. Ukrainian officials were unnerved by Trump's statements in support of Putin. Republicans, they had believed, were supposed to be tougher on Russia. When Trump named Paul Manafort as his campaign manager in April 2016, alarm bells in Kiev started ringing even louder. Manafort was already well known in Ukraine because of his influential role as a political consultant to Viktor Yanukovych, the country's former Kremlin-friendly ruler until a popular uprising forced him to flee to Russia. Manafort had also consulted for a powerful Russian businessman with close ties to the Kremlin.

"Ukraine was, in a sense, a testing ground for Manafort," said Ukrainian political scientist Taras Berezovets, who became a grudging admirer of Manafort's skills in the so-called "dark arts" of political stagecraft while Berezovets was working for one of Yanukovych's political rivals. At the urging of Manafort, Yanukovych campaigned with populist slogans labeling NATO a "menace" and casting "elites" in the Ukrainian capital as out of touch, Berezovets said. Trump struck similar themes during the 2016 campaign. The FBI is now investigating whether Manafort, who stepped down as Trump's campaign manager in August, received off-the-books payments from Yanukovych's party, US officials said. As part of that investigation, FBI agents recently took possession of a newly-discovered document which allegedly details payments totaling $US750,000. Ukrainian lawmaker Sergii Leshchenko, who first disclosed the new document, declined to comment on his contacts with the FBI. A spokesperson for Manafort has said that Trump's former campaign manager has not been contacted by the FBI. Manafort has also disputed the authenticity of the newly-discovered document. Groysman, on an official visit to Washington, met separately with Ryan and McCarthy on June 15 at the Capitol.

He told them how the Russians meddled in European politics and called for "unity" in addressing the threat, according to US and Ukrainian officials. Ryan issued a statement after the meeting saying, "the United States stands with Ukraine as it works to rebuild its economy and confront Russian aggression." Later, Ryan spoke privately with McCarthy, Rodgers, Scalise and Rep. Patrick McHenry, the deputy whip, among others. Ryan mentioned his meeting with Groysman, prompting Rodgers to ask: "How are things going in Ukraine?" according to the recording. The situation was difficult, Ryan said. Groysman, he said, had told him that Russian-backed forces were firing 30-40 shells into Ukrainian territory every day. And the prime minister described Russian tactics that include "financing our populists, financing people in our governments to undo our governments." Ryan said Russia's goal was to "turn Ukraine against itself." Groysman underlined Russia's intentions, saying "They're just going to roll right through us and go to the Baltics and everyone else," according to Ryan's summary of the prime minister's remarks in the recording.

"Yes," Rodgers said in agreement, noting that the Russians were funding non-government organisations across Europe as part of a wider "propaganda war." "Maniacal," Ryan said. "And guess, guess who's the only one taking a strong stand up against it? We are." Rodgers disagreed. "We're not. . .we're not. . .but, we're not," she said. That's when McCarthy brought the conversation about Russian meddling around to the DNC hack, Trump and Rohrabacher. "I'll guarantee you that's what it is...The Russians hacked the DNC and got the opp [opposition] research that they had on Trump," McCarthy said with a laugh.

Ryan asked who the Russians "delivered" the opposition research to. "There's... there's two people, I think, Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump," McCarthy said, drawing some laughter. "Swear to God," McCarthy added. "This is an off the record," Ryan said. Some lawmakers laughed at that. "No leaks, alright?," Ryan said, adding: "This is how we know we're a real family here."
New Dehli: An Indian court ruled on Tuesday that doctors were free to carry out an abortion on a 10-year-old girl who was raped and impregnated by her stepfather.

Indian law severely restricts access to abortion after 20 weeks, except when the life or health of the mother is endangered. A medical board in the northern Indian state of Haryana determined that the girl's pregnancy was nearing the 21-week mark and that it posed no danger to the mother.

A number of high profile rape cases have helped create India's reputation as unsafe for women. Credit:Getty Images

But the law also allows for abortions under "exceptional circumstances", and the medical board petitioned the court for a decision on whether this situation met the criteria.

Dr SK Dhattarwal, head of the forensic medicine department at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak, said that, with the court decision, the medical board had determined that it was in the girl's best interest to perform the procedure as soon as possible.
Dublin: Enda Kenny, Ireland's prime minister since 2011, said on Wednesday that he would step down, first as the leader of his party and then, once a successor is chosen, as prime minister.

Kenny, 66, has been under pressure from within his party, Fine Gael, over his handling of a long-running corruption scandal involving Irish police misconduct. He hinted in March that he would step down soon, and his announcement on Wednesday made it official, effective at midnight.

Fine Gael lawmakers and other party members must choose a new leader by June 2, followed by a vote in Parliament for a new prime minister (known in Ireland as the taoiseach). Kenny will stay on as caretaker until then.

Kenny drew widespread attention in March when, during a St. Patrick's Day visit to Washington, he seemed to reproach President Donald Trump, raising the subject of the estimated 50,000 Irish people who are living in the United States illegally and who would be at risk if Trump keeps his campaign promise to round up undocumented immigrants.
Mexico City: Several prominent Mexican news outlets went dark on Tuesday to protest the murder of journalists across the country, including a brazen midday killing of veteran crime reporter Javier Valdez on Monday.

The "Day without Journalism" protests were staged by publications across Mexico, where at least five journalists have been gunned down this year and where few perpetrators are ever brought to justice.

Maria Herrera, a mother who became active in the search for Mexico's missing people after four of her sons disappeared, weeps after speaking about murdered journalist Javier Valdez during a protest on Tuesday. Credit:AP

On Tuesday, reports emerged of yet another attack, this time against a magazine executive in the state of Jalisco.

Sonia Cordova, an executive at the weekly Semanario Costeno and the wife of the magazine's publisher, was wounded and her 26-year-old son killed Monday night when a gunman besieged them in the city of Autlan, the state prosecutor's office said. Cordova remained hospitalised, the office said.
Representative Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. Credit:AP Dent said he does not like investigations by independent prosecutors because they "tend to take on a life of their own" and instead preferred an independent commission of outside experts. "We may have to move in that direction," Dent said Wednesday at a forum moderated by Centre Forward, a moderate Democratic organisation. FBI Director James Comey was sacked by Donald Trump. Credit:AP The collision of the two stories Tuesday night left Republicans reeling, with a senior GOP senator comparing the situation to Watergate, and Speaker Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, directing the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to immediately seek records from the FBI.

Ryan was careful to strike an evenhanded tone on Wednesday, saying congressional committees would continue to conduct oversight "regardless of what party is in the White House" but seeming to dismiss some concerns that have arisen in the wake of news about a memo by Comey suggesting that Trump had pressured him to drop the Flynn investigation. "There's clearly a lot of politics being played here," Ryan said. He noted FBI acting director Andrew McCabe's recent comment that there has been "no effort to impede our investigation." McCabe made the remark in a congressional hearing when asked whether the firing of Comey had affected the bureau's work. Ryan also sounded a sceptical note about Comey's actions after the meeting in which Trump allegedly asked him to "let this go," referring to the Flynn probe. "If this happened as he described, why didn't [Comey] take action at the time?" Ryan said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, has not directly commented on allegations that Trump tried to pressure Comey. He did not mention the president or the controversies facing the White House during his morning remarks on the Senate floor and ignored questions from reporters in the halls of the Capitol. As they pleaded for more information from the White House, lawmakers from both parties rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's unusual offer Wednesday morning to provide a record of the meeting in the Oval Office in which Trump shared the classified information. "The idea that we would accept any evidence from President Putin is absurd," Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, said in an interview with CNN. "I don't talk to murderous dictators like Vladimir Putin, so Putin's word to me doesn't mean a whole lot," Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, a member of the Republican leadership, told the network. "Probably the last person the president needs to vouch for him right now is Vladimir Putin," Representative Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said in an interview. "Its credibility would be less than zero." Concerns about Trump are clearly growing among Republican lawmakers.

On Tuesday night, Senator John McCain, a Republican, compared the current situation to the Watergate scandal while speaking at an International Republican Institute dinner. "We've seen this movie before. I think it's reaching the point where it's of Watergate size and scale and a couple of other scandals that you and I have seen," McCain told Bob Schieffer of CBS News. "It's a centipede, and the shoe continues to drop." Asked Wednesday whether the imbroglio could lead to impeachment, McCain responded: "I have no idea on that - come on." The senator's spokeswoman, Julie Tarallo, said the comparison was "simply meant to convey that the constant revelations of events surrounding Russia's interference in the 2016 election are reminiscent of past scandals, are not good for America, and require further scrutiny." When asked what he'd say to Trump, McCain replied: "Get it all out. It's not going to be over until every aspect of it is thoroughly examined and the American people have made a judgment. And the longer you delay, the longer it's going to last."

Other Republican senators, while saying they need to review documents before making a final judgment, voiced doubts about Trump. "There's a lot here that's really scary," Senator Ben Sasse said Wednesday morning in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. "It's obviously inappropriate for any president to be trying to interfere with an investigation." Collins, a member of the Intelligence Committee, and Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, reissued calls Wednesday for the Justice Department to consider appointing a special prosecutor to probe Russia's election interference. Senator Patrick Toomey, Republican, is calling for a Democrat to replace Comey as head of the FBI. Toomey believes "changes are needed at the White House," spokesman Steve Kelly told The Washington Post in an email Wednesday. The White House has been largely silent since The New York Times first reported on Trump's alleged effort to end the Flynn investigation by pressuring Comey. Trump aides have not directly commented on the story and were absent from television shows starting Tuesday night, a notable difference from last week, when they blanketed the networks to defend Comey's firing.

Before the Times story broke, Trump aides had sought to tamp down the controversy over Trump sharing classified information with Russian officials. National security adviser H.R. McMaster called the action "wholly appropriate" to the conversation that occurred in the Oval Office. Both Republicans and Democrats have called on Trump, who has suggested that he records his conversations, to provide a transcript of the meeting to congressional intelligence committees so they can assess what took place. White House aides have neither confirmed nor denied the possibility that Trump keeps tapes of his meetings. Democrats blasted House Republicans on Wednesday for doing little to probe Trump's potential ties to Russia. "They do as little as humanly possible just to claim that they're doing something," said Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee.

"Our committee should already be conducting robust and transparent investigations," said Cummings, who joined 32 other Democrats on Tuesday night in calling for his panel to partner with the Judiciary Committee on a new probe of Trump's White House. "Speaker Ryan has shown he has zero - zero, zero - appetite," the Democrat said. The Democrats are hoping to file a discharge petition - which requires the signatures of a majority of all House members - to compel GOP leaders to schedule a vote on the proposal. But they could have trouble gathering enough support: As of Wednesday, The Post found only five GOP senators and 10 House Republicans open to some kind of independent investigation. While several Democrats have called for Trump to be impeached over the Comey firing, the party's leaders reiterated that their priority was a special investigation. Schiff cautioned that hasty talk of impeachment would distract from the need for a bipartisan probe - and mire the investigation in partisanship.
Jerusalem: Jerusalem's ancient Western Wall made headlines again on Tuesday. The reason: Donald Trump.

In less than a week, Trump will visit Israel for the first time and part of his 24-hour trip here will include a short stop at the Jewish holy site.

A worker hangs Israeli and US flags on a lamppost along a freeway leading to Jerusalem, days before the planned visit of US President Donald Trump. Credit:AP

On Monday, however, Israel's Channel 2 News reported that members of a US advance team preparing the presidential tour told Israeli representatives that the Western Wall is not part of Israeli territory, therefore Israel could not be involved in planning that part of Trump's trip.

While it is customary for visiting dignitaries to go to the Western Wall - the outer wall of the raised esplanade that is called the Temple Mount by Jews and al-Haram al-Sharif by Muslims - US presidents usually defer the visit because that part of Jerusalem sits on territory that was under Jordanian control before the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
PHILIPSBURG:--- United Telecommunications Services N.V announces the start of a major brand revitalization focused on aligning customer experience with new technologies and improved business practices of the company. The company affirms its belief that creating a meaningful connection with the customer is essential in ensuring continued successful operations. The company has been providing telecommunication services on St. Maarten, Saint Martin, Saint Barths, Saba and St. Eustatius Curacao and Bonaire for many years and has evolved by integrating new technologies and business practices along the way, moving it far beyond what the company once was. Based on this evolution, the company initiated a brand revitalization project to ensure that the company fosters and further develops its relationship with the most important person: the customer.

The brand revitalization introduces a new brand identity that includes a new logo and icon. These will be used across all territories that UTS is operational in to maintain clear and uniform communication across all territories. The new UTS logo is comprised of the same three letters, U, T and S, used in a lower-case style to denote straightforward, bold simplicity. The logo will be used in combination with a new, very unique icon, intended as a symbol of connectivity, transformation, achievement, and hope.

The brand revitalization effort is more than simply introducing a new logo and tagline. Its about initiatives to improve customer experience at all moments that a consumer interacts with UTS. Examples of this are an entirely new phone system to greatly improve the accessibility of customer support to the customer, increased speeds in broadband packages, continued expansions in mobile and fiber infrastructure. Additionally, the company continues to work on identifying operational efficiencies and the bolstering of the essential skills UTS staffers need to provide exceptional customer service.

UTS also unveils Feel the Connection. A new brand tagline, marking the companys clear focus on the customers experience when connected by the reliable networks of UTS.

"UTS customers are central in everything we say and do are as diverse as the communities that we serve. The one thing our customers all have in common is that they are all people who work towards a better quality of life for themselves and their communities." said Glen A. Carty, CEO of UTS Eastern Caribbean " To get things done, they count on reliable and powerful connectivity to connect with others anywhere and anytime. We aim to provide the affordable solutions needed to give them access to information and tools that make them smarter, faster and more efficient. Important in that process is customer service that is respectful of their time and effective in resolving any issues."

Feel the Connection

The Over the past year, UTS has conducted extensive market research to develop the new approach to directly address the aspirations, needs, and expectations of its customers. The research results indicate that although UTS is a highly recognized telecom brand on the island territories where it operates, the general public would like to know more about what the organization is all about. By helping customers to know more about what UTS stands for in business and in our communities, UTS aims to make a connection with consumers beyond just the product description and price. UTS intends to (re)introduce itself by means of an advertising campaign that commences today, May 17th on telecommunications day. The campaign will involve a cross-section of print, video, social and other digital media, with a consistent look, feel and message that can be felt through every customer experience. Customers will also experience the new brand reflected in UTS stores on all of the territories where it operates. The transformation of the UTS stores will be completed by the end of 2017. The introduction of the new brand identity will be accompanied as well by various offers and promotional activities to emphasize the meaning behind Feel the Connection.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee will meet in a session on May 17, 2017. Representatives of the Independence for St. Martin Foundation will be present.

The Central Committee meeting has been set for Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at 14.00 hrs in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda points are:

1. Discussion on request for Parliament to convene a new constitutional referendum at the earliest possible date.

2. Approval composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to participate in IPKO and Tripartite in The Hague, the Netherlands from June 12-16, 2017.

3. Approval composition delegation and provisions Members of Parliament to participate in Committees, Board of Directors meeting and General Assembly of Parlatino from June 8-10, 2017.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.sx and via www.sxmparliament.org.
GREAT BAY(DCOMM):--- Representing St. Maarten Academy as the speaker for the St. Maarten Tourist Bureaus (STB) Jr. Minister of Tourism Inter-Scholastic Panel Discussion of 2017 will be Pamela Potmis. The Academy team has selected Adventure Tourism for their presentation.

The researchers assisting in this project are Domonique Fleming, Johan Agramonte, Diamonique Cocks, and Valecia Bradford, from the St. Maarten Academy.

All students are studying at the CAPE level and hope to gain an associate degree in tourism. Group discussions and research will be conducted in order to complete this project and to gather a more diverse range of information, the team stated.

The topic of adventure tourism is the cultural and natural discovery through physically active and exciting activities; therefore the project to be proposed will be a diving tour.

Reasons for this are because of St. Maarten is an island surrounded by dives sites that can be a memorable touristic experience for individuals visiting.

The dive sites can also serve as an advertisement for the island, as a means to generate more tourism. This can give the island great recognition and allow tourists to have an experience they cannot have anywhere else.

The point is creating a truly unforgettable experience in this field appeals to a niche in tourism that targets visitors who crave activity. Thus, should, therefore, deepen the St. Maarten tourism product, the team concludes.

The panel discussion will take place on Friday, May 19 at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel from 9.00am to 12.00pm.

The winner of the panel discussion will represent Sint Maarten at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Youth Tourism Congress in Grenada in October.

The participating schools are Milton Peters College four sections (MPC), Sundial School, Methodist Agogic Centre, St. Dominic High School, St. Maarten Academy and Charlotte Brookson Academy.
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Editorial: House Speaker Paul Ryan needs to be replaced with an adult
A Kenosha man faces 19 charges, including three arsons, after allegedly stealing property in New Lisbon in the spring of 2015.

Arthur E. Sagel, 34, was charged with the alleged crimes on April 25. For the three arson of building charges, Sagel could be fined $100,000 or be imprisoned no more than 40 years, or both, for each offense. For burglary of a dwelling, Sagel could be fined $25,000 or be imprisoned no more than 12 years and six months or both. Sagel faces four separate charges relating to burglary of a dwelling. For theft-movable property between $2,500 and $5,000, he could receive a $10,000 fine, a prison term of no more than 3 years and six months or both.

Sagel also faces six misdemeanor theft charges and could face a $10,000 fine or a sentence of nine months or both for each. In addition, the Kenosha man faces two criminal damage to property charges, which carry a $10,000 fine and a possible nine months in prison upon conviction, along with a possession of burglarious tools charge, which carries a possible $25,000 fine and no more than three years and six months in prison.

According to a criminal complaint:

The investigation into Sagels string of alleged arsons and burglaries began on March 23, 2015 after an empty house was set on fire in the city of New Lisbon. Authorities found foot tracks in the fresh snow and the state Fire Marshalls Office was contacted to investigate. The homes owner was interviewed and said there were several items stolen and damaged, which totaled about $2,780.

On March 26, Sagel allegedly broke into an electric sub-station in New Lisbon and stole about $1,000 worth of wire and caused more than $300 worth of damage. About one week later, Sagel set fire to another home in New Lisbon and on April 19 caused a fire in an evicted home in the city and stole copper piping. On April 20, a detective from the Juneau County Sheriffs Office questioned Sagel, who initially identified himself as Robert Miller. He said he was from Kenosha but was living with a resident on Broadway Street for a couple months. He was arrested for an outstanding probation warrant and taken to the county jail.

Upon further investigation, the detective found out Sagel tried to scrap some copper, coasted copper and dirty brass at Runick Metals. The detective spoke with the employee a Runick who checked in Sagel. He said the trunk of his car was full of cut copper and he also had a bolt cutter. It appeared the copper had been removed from a residence. The following day an investigation at Schroeders Salvage showed Sagel scrapped 370 pounds of wire at the facility.

Also that day, authorities executed a search warrant at the two apartments Sagel had reportedly been staying in. They recovered many stolen items, including various electronic equipment, tools and a chainsaw. Sagels roommates had allegedly attempted to pawn the stolen items at various pawn shops in Onalaska, La Crosse, Madison and Mauston. After changing her story several times, one of the roommates said she knew the items were stolen. The roommate stated they would use the money from the pawned items to purchase crystal meth.

Later in the interview, the woman said Sagel never admitted to starting the fires, but she suspected he did because he never wanted to leave evidence he was stealing from a house.

On April 24, a special agent from the Division of Criminal Investigation and a detective from Juneau County interviewed Sagel. He said he was aware of some fires and burglaries occurring in New Lisbon but denied being involved. Sagel said the pawned items that were sold were picked up at flea markets and not stolen.

Sagel attempted to end the interview by asking for a lawyer, but continued to speak after the detective showed him a trail camera photo at a vacant residence in New Lisbon matching his description. Sagel admitted to several of the burglaries and two of the break-ins. He said he was often intoxicated from alcohol and crystal meth when he committed the crimes and didnt remember breaking into a third home.

Sagel also broke into multiple storage units at a facility in the town of Clearfield. He allegedly broke off padlocks and took several items, including an air compressor, musical instruments and hundreds of DVDs.

An arrest warrant was issued for Sagel on April 25.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer enters her second term with Democrats likely to control all levels of power in the state Capitol for the first time since the 1980s and backed by a dramatic show of voters' support for keystone Democratic issues including abortion and voting rights.
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Wisconsin regulators are asking a La Crosse judge to reconsider his decision to halt work on a 7-mile stretch of a controversial high-voltage power line between La Crosse and Madison.

The town of Holland had asked the court to overturn the Wisconsin Public Service Commissions approval of the Badger-Coulee transmission line, arguing that the panel responsible for protecting utility consumers erred when it authorized a consortium of utility companies to build the nearly $580 million project.

The town also challenged the PSCs decision to route the line along the Hwy. 53 corridor on separate poles across the highway from another high-voltage line.

Judge Todd Bjerke denied the towns primary challenge but found the PSC failed to provide a rational basis for the routing and ordered construction of the La Crosse County portion stopped while the commission re-evalutes the route.

Attorneys for the PSC filed a motion appealing Bjerkes May 1 order, arguing it was based on misunderstandings of the facts and of his authority.

A joint venture of American Transmission Co. and several regional utility companies, including La Crosse-based Dairyland Power Cooperative, the 180-mile line will run between the Madison suburbs and Holmen, where it will connect to another high-voltage line, CapX2020, that runs across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

The owners say the lines will make the electric grid more reliable and provide a pipeline between remote locations with strong wind resources with population centers like Madison and Milwaukee where the energy is needed. The cost will be shared by customers in 15 Midwestern states and one Canadian province.

The town argued that Badger-Coulee is not necessary to keep the lights on in western Wisconsin.

While deferring to the PSCs decision on need, Bjerke said the PSCs record supporting its decision was incomplete, inaccurate, defective and/or false in part because the PSC did not provide its environmental impact studies.

PSC attorneys said they did submit the documents, which they listed on a 45-page affidavit submitted to the court.

Commission attorneys also argue that Bjerke overstepped his authority when he ordered work stopped and that he erred in his review of the siting decision.

The PSC says Bjerkes order will harm the state because the project is expected to mitigate expected overloads on the existing grid between now and 2023.

ATC, which is spearheading the project, began pre-construction work on the La Crosse County portion of the line in April. The southernmost segment, in Dane County, is completed, while ATC has yet to secure the necessary federal wetland permits needed for much of the rest of the construction.

A company spokesperson said its not clear whether the injunction would delay completion of the line, slated for late 2018.

Bjerke has scheduled a hearing for May 24.
UW-Madison officials had to wrestle back control over their Twitter account Wednesday morning after a hacker posted a series of bizarre and profane tweets to the universitys 160,000 followers.

Someone accessed the @UWMadison account and tweeted four times between 6:31 a.m. and 6:36 a.m., posting a YouTube link and a message that appeared to credit another Twitter user for the hack.

Twitter has suspended that users account.

lol why go to university when u can just sit at home and fail at life and stuff, one of the tweets read.

It was, needless to say, a sharp turn from the tweets typically posted by the social media-savvy universitys communications staff, which often focus on campus life, faculty research and athletics.

The tweets stayed up for about three hours as UW officials worked with Twitter to restore the account.

They were deleted at 9:30 a.m., and the university announced the hack was over about 45 minutes later with a tweet reading, Were back!

There were few details Wednesday of who took over the account or how the hack was carried out.

A university statement said officials did not know how the account was compromised, but said UW will undertake a review of its social media account security in the wake of the disruption.

UW-Madison accounts on other social networking sites did not appear to be affected, nor were the many other UW-affiliated accounts on Twitter, according to spokesman John Lucas.

There was also no indication any university computer systems or data were breached, Lucas said.

The hacked tweets did not include any malicious links, which might have compromised other users accounts, nor did they use threatening language aimed at any individuals or groups.

Kellan Terry, a senior data analyst for the social media consulting firm BrandWatch, said that indicates whoever hacked UW-Madison was probably trying to show off, rather than use the account for more harmful reasons.

They went looking around for social media mischief, so to speak, and they found it in hacking this Twitter account, Terry said.

University Twitter accounts are prime targets, he said, because they have large audiences of people, many of whom  in the case of students or alumni  are inclined to closely follow what the institution posts.

Lucas said he and Nate Moll, the universitys social media coordinator, could watch the hack unfold Wednesday morning as they received messages telling them about attempts to log in to the account, and to change its email address and password. They quickly started working with Twitter, Lucas said.

The fact that the tweets stayed up for as long as they did is a sign UW administrators were locked out of their account, Terry said.

Were proud of the account and spend a lot of time and effort curating it, Lucas said. As you can imagine, its not a good feeling to see something like this happen.

Were disappointed, but relieved that the damage wasnt more significant.

Terry said the hack likely would not have any long-term repercussions for UW-Madisons public image. Rather, he said, its a reminder for universities and everyone else to take the security of their social media accounts seriously.

This can happen to any individual or any organization, Terry said.

State Journal reporter Rob Schultz contributed to this report.
Georgetown, SC (29440)

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Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 61F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 61F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The Georgetown steel mills owners have signed a letter of intent with Liberty Steel, a subsidiary of Liberty House Group in the United Kingdom, for the plant's purchase.
NASA's SOHO spacecraft can study the atmospheric layers of the sun that extend off its central body. Total solar eclipses gave humans the first opportunity to see this region of Earth's nearest star.

Throughout human history, scientists have used the awe-inspiring event of a total solar eclipse to hunt for new information about the world not easily available through other means.

From the discovery of one of the most abundant elements in the universe to insights about the nature of space and time, solar eclipses have provided natural laboratories for intriguing scientific discoveries.

"We've used [solar eclipses] to discover the shape of our world and the curvature of the universe," Tyler Nordgren, author of "Sun Moon Earth: the History of Solar Eclipses from Omens of Doom to Einstein and Exoplanets" (Basic Books, 2016), told Space.com in an email. "How amazing is that?" [Total Solar Eclipse 2017: When, Where and How to See It (Safely)]

The nearest star

The sun may be the Earth's closest star, but this body's very brightness makes it a challenge to observe. The light from the solar body drowns out the fainter corona, the outer atmospheric layer of the star, a wispy region that becomes visible when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun during a total solar eclipse.

Trying to understand the sun without seeing its corona would have been like trying to learn about Earth without ever seeing its atmosphere, said Jay Pasachoff an astronomer at Williams College in Massachusetts. For more than 45 years, Pasachoff has studied solar eclipses, both the science they can produce today and what scientists have learned from them throughout history.

"The corona is a major part of the sun, though it is hidden from us on Earth's surface except for the glimpses we get every year or two at eclipses," Pasachoff said in an email.

The first recorded observations of the solar corona occurred during the total eclipse of Dec. 22, 968. Byzantine historian Leo Diaconus observed the event from Constantinople. In the Annales Sangallenses, he wrote:

"...at the fourth hour of the day ... darkness covered the Earth and all the brightest stars shone forth. And it was possible to see the disk of the sun, dull and unlit, and a dim and feeble glow like a narrow band shining in a circle around the edge of the disk."

A drawing of the 1860 eclipse reveals the first suspected image of a coronal mass ejection, a collection of charged particles ejected from the sun. (Image credit: G. Tempel)

During each 11- year solar cycle, the sun transitions from its solar maximum to solar minimum, when the amount of charged particles streaming from the sun in the form of solar wind, coronal mass ejections, and flares reaches its highest or lowest point. Before scientists could send satellites to space to study the corona, which became possible during the space age, researchers used solar eclipses to probe how the corona varied over that cycle, Pasachoff said.

According to NASA, eclipses also provided insights into coronal mass ejections (CMEs), material from the sun that is spewed into space via enormous explosions. If a CME collides with Earth, the event can harm power and communication systems, as well as astronauts in space. With the sun blocked during an eclipse, these clouds of charged particles could be spotted.

"In some cases, what we now believe to be a coronal mass ejection was seen during an eclipse," C. Alex Young, associate director for science of NASA's Heliophysics Science Division, told Space.com. The first record of a CME in progress was made during the total solar eclipse of July 18, 1860.

Solar prominences, the large accumulation of cooler gas held in place in the atmosphere by the sun's magnetic field, were also first recorded during a solar eclipse. The University of Montreal's website "Great Moments in the History of Solar Physics" calls the description of the May 1, 1185, solar eclipse found in the Russian Chronicle of Novgorod "the first fairly unambiguous description of prominences."

The sun's magnetic fields drive CMEs and other forms of space weather. Although magnetic field lines can't be directly seen, Young said that the charged particles that make up the corona trace the magnetic field lines, making them visible. So rather than a diffuse gas, the corona appears to have twisting, moving jets and lines running through it. Observations of the corona can then help scientists better understand the primary drivers of the space weather that can affect Earth and missions to other worlds, Young said.

Hot, hot hydrogen

In 1868, French solar physicist Jules Janssen traveled to India to observe a solar eclipse. By examining the light streaming from the sun's chromosphere (another layer of the atmosphere that lies closer to the sun's body than the corona), he and British astronomer Joseph Norman Lockyer independently discovered a new chemical element. He named this new find after the Greek word for sun, "helios," calling the new find "helium." Along with hydrogen, helium is one of the most abundant elements in the universe, but it wasn't spotted on Earth until 1895, marking the first time an element was discovered on the sun rather than on this planet.

Soon after the discovery of helium, American astronomer Charles Augustus Young and Scottish-born astronomer William Harkness independently discovered what they thought was another new element, which they called coronium, during the 1879 solar eclipse. According to Canadas University of Ottawa, it took another 60 years for scientists to determine that the coronium lines were instead caused by iron at very high temperatures, suggesting that the corona reached nearly 3.6 million degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 million degrees Celsius or 2 million degrees Kelvin), even though the surface of the sun is only about 10,000 degrees F (5,538 degrees C).

This discovery is counterintuitive, because the body of the sun is the source of its heat; it's as if the air around a bonfire were hotter than the fire itself. Scientists have not yet fully resolved this puzzle.

"The solar corona is hotter than the visible surface. Wow!" Young said when describing what, to him, is the most interesting historical finding related to eclipses. During the 1970 solar "eclipse of the century," NASA launched 32 suborbital sounding rockets to conduct meteorology, ionospheric and solar physics experiments. One of the most surprising discoveries, Pasachoff said, came when scientists looked at the corona and spotted a wavelength of light created by hydrogen atoms. Reaching millions of degrees, the corona had previously been thought too hot for hydrogen atoms to survive. Instead, they found that hydrogen was so abundant in the corona that some of it managed to survive in atomic form, Young said.

Today, scientists can create artificial eclipses with telescopes on Earth and in space by blocking the sun's light with an instrument known as a coronagraph. But Young said that these instruments have technical limitations "and still cannot come close to what nature provides during an eclipse seen on the ground."

The shadow of the moon falls on the surface of the Earth during a total solar eclipse in 2016. This image was captured by the NASA-NOAA Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft. (Image credit: NASA/DSCOVR-EPIC Team)

Home planet

Eclipses don't just teach humans about the sun; they also provide instruction about planet Earth. According to Nordgren, who is also a professor at the University of Redlands in California, over 2,000 years ago, solar and lunar eclipses helped scientists determine the size of the moon and that Earth is a sphere. Earths rounded shadow on the moon during a lunar eclipse revealed its shape, but calculating the size of the sun and moon took a bit more mat. Greek astronomer Aristarchus used lunar eclipses and geometry to measure the size of the moon, then used solar eclipses to extrapolate the size of the sun.

Because solar eclipses are so awe-inspiring, a wealth of written records usually surround them, and these accounts can help date events in history according to the Institute of Physics. For instance, the Greek historian Herodotus wrote of an eclipse occurring before the Persian invasion of Greece, which had been estimated to occur around 480 BCE. English astronomer John Russell Hind found that the area would have seen an eclipse on Feb. 17, 478 BCE, helping narrow down the timing of the historically significant event.

A total solar eclipse provided one of the first known instances of "citizen science," when members of the public have assisted in conducting scientific experiments. In his book, Nordgren described how Edmond Halley, the same man who discovered the comet that bears his name, engaged the public during the April 22, 1715, eclipse. Halley blanketed England with posters asking people to use their pendulum clocks to record how long the eclipse lasted at different locations, then mail him the results. He used the information to improve measurements of the moon's orbit and make better predictions about when future eclipses would occur.

Probing Earth's atmosphere

With modern instruments, scientists can use solar eclipses to study the nature of Earth's own atmosphere.

Ultraviolet light and X-rays from the sun can strip electrons from atoms in the Earth's upper atmosphere, in a process called ionization. Ionized particles tend to have an electric charge and one of the uppermost parts of the atmosphere, called the ionosphere, is defined by these ionized and electrically charged particles. The ionosphere requires a constant influx of X-rays and ultraviolet light to remain charged (otherwise the atoms and electrons will recombine into neutral atoms and molecules). When the sun sets the upper layers of the ionosphere are ionized by charged particles from space called cosmic rays.

"What this means is that some parts of the ionosphere  the lower parts  actively require the 'lights to be on' to exist," Bamford told Space.com by email. "Hence, they are only there during daylight and disappear at night."

During the 1999 total eclipse that occurred over the United Kingdom, Bamford organized a project to encourage eclipse watchers to track these changes during the eclipse. All an observer needed was a radio.

Many radio stations operate at frequencies that, during the day, are absorbed by the lower layers of the ionosphere, Bamford said. At nighttime, when the number of charged particles in the lower layers drop, some of the radio waves can travel higher up into the ionosphere before they are absorbed. Instead of bouncing off the lower layers, which ultimately shortens the distance they travel, the signal can bounce off both lower and upper layers, allowing them to be transmitted across longer distances (while still being heard across short distances as well). Thats why some radio stations can be heard across great distances only at night, even though distant listeners cannot receive the station's signal during the daytime. [Total Solar Eclipses: How Often Do They Occur (and Why)?]

A total solar eclipse can act like a snapshot of night because charged particles from the sun no longer stream through the ionosphere, and as a result radio waves can bounce farther than they would during regular daytime hours. The transition from darkness to light happens faster during an eclipse than over the course of a typical sunset, and even though the sun may only be completely covered for a few minutes, the ions in the atmosphere lose their charge and reconnect during that time, making it possible for radio signals to cross long distances (just like they do during nighttime hours). Bamford said the change in how far the radio signals can travel comes "pretty well instantly in proportion to the loss of light," then returns to normal when the sun reappears in the sky.

"What you hear is radio stations you'd ordinarily only hear at night, fade as  the eclipse [occurs], then fade out as the shadow passes," she said. "This does allow the general public to 'listen to the total eclipse,' even if they are not beneath the totality."

Understanding the nuances of how the atmosphere is altered by the rising and setting of the sun can help radio broadcasters avoid pumping radio signals out with more power than needed, which Bamford said "unnecessarily pollutes radio bands far afield and creates interference." During a total solar eclipse, different parts of the United Kingdom receive different amounts of sunlight, which should also influence so the ionosphere, and hence, how far radio waves can travel. By tracking how far a known signal travels during a solar eclipse, scientists could learn about how the presence or absence of sunlight influences the different radio frequencies, she said.

During the 1999 eclipse, Bamford's project requested that observers tune into a radio station in northern Spain that was detectable in the evenings in the United Kingdom, assuming the frequency wasn't obstructed by other local stations. Participants were asked to write down whether they could hear the station, and send in their responses along with their postcodes.

In the paper describing the project, Bamford stressed that the experiment was suitable for people of all ages, including the visually impaired, and didn't stop participants from viewing the eclipse. Even if local weather conditions prevented people from enjoying the eclipse by eye, rain and cloudy skies would not affect the radio waves, she said. The project received 1,700 responses by mail, in addition to more-detailed measurements by radio amateurs, who had access to more sophisticated equipment. Wedged between the southern region that could always hear the station and a northern region that could hear it only during the eclipse, there was a stretch across the middle of England that couldn't hear the station during the eclipse. This revealed what Bamford called "a skip-distance effect."

For the upcoming 2017 eclipse, Bamford said she thinks some amateur radio clubs might be doing various experiments, and ionospheric researchers will be making special observations, but no one has yet contacted her about performing a similar project by radio.

Other worlds

Solar eclipses can also reveal insights about other planets in the solar system. When the sun is covered during the upcoming Aug. 21, 2017 eclipse, Mercury and Venus will both be visible, as will Mars and Jupiter, according to Earthsky.org. Venus will appear about half an hour before the sun disappears, while Mercury will be revealed from about 30 seconds before totality until about 30 seconds after it, when the moon totally covers the disk of the sun. During the 2017 eclipse, at least one set of astronomers will take the opportunity to take the temperature of Mercury while the star is hidden behind the moon.

Eclipses have also provided the opportunity to search for other worlds. In the 19th century, scientists noticed that Mercury wasn't traveling quite the way it was predicted to: The planet's closest point to the sun in its orbit slowly shifted over time, slowly moving around the star. Scientists assumed that an unseen planet, which they called Vulcan, sat between Mercury and the sun, with the unobserved planet's gravitational pull shifting Mercury's orbit . When various eclipses hid the sun, astronomers searched in vain for the missing world. During the total solar eclipse of July 29, 1878, astronomers flocked to the United States' Rocky Mountains to hunt for the hidden planet, but never found it.

It wasn't until November 1915 that a young Albert Einstein killed off Vulcan for good when he presented his theory of general relativity. A massive body can bend and distort "space-time" (Einstein's name for the fabric of reality, which weaves together three-dimensional space with time). As Mercury orbits the sun, the curvature of space caused by the sun's gravity would cause the planet's orbit to shift very slightly, Einstein's theory predicted. According to general relativity, the curvature of space-time could explain the strange wobbles of Mercury far better than a hidden planet could.

In 1919, English astronomer Arthur Eddington traveled to the west coast of Africa to test another prediction that came from general relativity: that the path of light itself bends around a massive body. By studying how light from the stars behind the sun bent, Eddington and the eclipse provided observational evidence for Einstein's complicated theory.

While for most people, a solar eclipse can be a once-in-a-lifetime, awe-inspiring sight, it is clear that these phenomena can also reveal a wealth of information about the universe.

Follow Nola Taylor Redd at @NolaTRedd, Facebook or Google+. Follow us at @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
NASA wants to send humans to Mars, but getting to the Red Planet might require a hard deadline from lawmakers, according to experts at the 2017 Humans to Mars Summit in Washington D.C.

NASA's plans to send humans to Mars by the 2030s could depend on whether lawmakers set a clear objective and timeline for the mission, according to some of the people involved in that pursuit.

At the Humans to Mars Summit in Washington, D.C., last week (May 9 to 12), a panel of spaceflight industry members discussed some of the systems that will help humans get back to the moon and to Mars, such as habitats and deep-space transport vehicles.

NASA has a goal to send humans to Mars in the 2030s, and various initiatives are working toward that objective. Those efforts include the agency's construction of a massive rocket and human crew capsule, as well as plans to develop a "deep-space gateway" near the moon. But those steps may not congeal into a coherent human Mars program unless lawmakers step in, the panelists said. [5 Crewed Mission to Mars Ideas]

In the early 1960s, President John F. Kennedy gave NASA a clear objective: get humans to the surface of the moon by the end of the decade. That kind of clear, specific objective and timeline, laid out by lawmakers, may be what NASA needs now for its Mars plan, the panelists said.

"The human race is capable of incredible things when given a deadline. And they're capable of incredible procrastination without a deadline," said Rob Chambers, production strategy lead for NASA's Orion human space capsule at Lockheed Martin, who spoke on the panel. (Lockheed Martin is the primary contractor for Orion.) "We are closer to Mars today than we ever were to the moon in [1961] and [1962], bar none," Chambers said. "So what we need is a deadline."

Chambers was echoing comments from the other panelists, who agreed that a clear objective and timeline from Congress and the White House would be helpful, or even necessary, for getting humans to Mars. Their comments came in response to a question from the panel's moderator, Harley Thronson, a senior scientist for advanced mission concepts at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, who asked what they would like to hear from "the decision makers," including lawmakers and NASA leaders.

"What's your objective? When do you want to get there?" said Mike Fuller, part of Orbital ATK's business development division that's working with NASA. "Because that's going to  tell us how much we need to spend, when to spend it and what our milestones are along the way."

But Fuller clarified that those questions are predicated on a much larger issue: whether lawmakers want NASA to pursue a sustained human presence at or near Mars, rather than an initiative like the Apollo Program, which had no long-term habitation goals. If lawmakers decide on a sustained human presence in deep space, the program needs to be protected from fluctuations in funding or mission objectives that can happen across presidential administrations, Fuller said.

"I would agree with all of that; I would state it as 'set a goal,'" added Matt Duggan, manager for exploration at Boeing. "Whatever the goal is, set the goal."

Boeing is working on various parts of a "Mars architecture" that will include all of the elements needed to get astronauts off Earth, to Mars, down to the Red Planet's surface, and back home. NASA and private companies other than Boeing also have drafted Mars architectures that may use different vehicles at certain stages of the journey or may have slightly different mission objectives, such as putting humans into orbit around Mars, as opposed to landing on its surface.

"Right now, each of these architectures kind of guesses a goal, and guesses at a time frame, and guesses at what you're doing at Mars," Duggan said. "So just set the goal  that would be immensely helpful."

Members of a panel that will discuss Mars and cislunar architectures also discussed what Congress can do to help a human Mars mission. From left, Harley Thronson, a senior scientist for advanced mission concepts at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; Mike Fuller, part of Orbital ATK's business development division working with NASA; Humphrey "Hoppy" Price, chief engineer of NASA's robotic Mars Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Matt Duggan, manager for exploration at Boeing; Rob Chambers, production strategy lead for NASA's Orion human space capsule at Lockheed Martin; and Steve Overton, program manager for integrated space systems at Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Humphrey "Hoppy" Price, chief engineer of NASA's robotic Mars Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), discussed some of the realistic budget needs of a human Mars mission, which were explored in great detail in a report from JPL. Price said lawmakers should create a program with a specific name, in addition to a specific objective and deadline. That program should then become "a line item on the budget," which will help ensure it carries through election cycles.

"It would need to be informed with a reasonable budget, so that it would start off at, let's say, $1 billion per year," Price said. "And it would continue going up, and at some point, it would ramp up to whatever the steady state level of that program's going to be, which  I'll just put out a number; its a notional number, $4 billion a year  and it's designed so that this is a line-item-funded program every year."

Earlier, Price stated that, based on JPL's expense report, if NASA's budget remains fixed, a human mission to Mars will require that the agency eventually divert funds currently used to maintain the International Space Station. NASA is committed to its current level of funding for the station through 2024. Many spaceflight industry experts agree that the station is an important part of getting humans to Mars, because it provides a training ground for astronauts and a laboratory to better understand how humans can live in deep space, as well as an opportunity for small companies to conduct scientific research in microgravity.

But Price said that, based on the current outline NASA has presented for getting humans to cislunar space (meaning orbit around the moon or regions between the moon and Earth) in the 2020s, NASA will have to remove itself from the space station in 2024. Agency representatives have said they hope the commercial sector will take over more responsibility in low Earth orbit.

"We've got to make some decisions [today] about funding and where we're putting our money," said Steve Overton, program manager for integrated space systems at Aerojet Rocketdyne. "Obviously, [NASA has] priorities. And they want to do it all. That's really hurting us. We need to focus on one thing  Tell us what you're going to focus on specifically, and let's go for that. Right now, they've got the ISS. I don't want to say that anything is not important, but obviously, NASA's got a lot of priorities going on, and they need to focus on one thing. They only have a small pot of money."

The panelists expressed confidence that NASA and its commercial partners will be capable of fulfilling whatever goal and deadline lawmakers set.

"NASA and the commercial partners have a good history of working together and being partners in the development effort," Fuller said. "Give us the guidance that we're looking for, and basically, at that point, cut us loose. Let us run."

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Buzz Aldrin, a former NASA astronaut and the second person to walk on the moon, gives a speech at the Ellis Island Medals of Honor ceremony on May 13, 2017.

NEW YORK  Former NASA astronaut and Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and gave a speech about his dreams for human exploration of Mars during a ceremony here at the historic immigration site Saturday (May 13).

Aldrin, who landed on the moon alongside Neil Armstrong during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, was one of this year's 90 recipients of the prestigious award. Other recipients included the Nobel Peace Prize-winning teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, CNN journalist and TV host Fareed Zakaria, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Former NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin and his assistant, Christina Korp, arrive at the red carpet after taking a ferry from Manhattan to Ellis Island for the Ellis Island Medals of Honor ceremony on May 13, 2017. (Image credit: Geoff Chesman/ImageLinkPhoto.com)

As a springtime nor'easter drenched the tristate area, soaking celebrities and pummeling umbrellas in the wind, the awardees and their family members crammed inside the Miss Ellis Island Ferry at Battery Park in Manhattan and set off to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum  just a stone's throw away from the Statue of Liberty  to receive their medals.

Every year, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) presents the Ellis Island Medals of Honor "to a select group of individuals whose accomplishments in their field and inspired service to our nation are cause for celebration," the organization states on its website.

Buzz Aldrin and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who ran for president in 2016, seemed quite chummy during the Ellis Island Medals of Honor awards on May 13, 2017. (Image credit: Geoff Chesman/ImageLinkPhoto.com)

Aldrin's 1969 moon landing may have been the pinnacle of his career, but that's not the only reason he earned the award. Aldrin, who holds a Ph.D. in astronautics, also devised several crucial technologies for space travel throughout his extensive career, and continues to advocate for space exploration. [Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 Moonwalker, in Photos]

Most notably, Aldrin is a major advocate for sending humans to Mars. But he thinks we should first demonstrate the technologies required for humanity to go to Mars by doing practice runs to the moon, Aldrin told Space.com on the red carpet. He elaborated on his ideas for Mars during a speech he gave at the ceremony.

Aldrin spoke of his dream to see an international "lunar-Mars coalition" supporting Europe, Russia, Japan and China. Reusable spacecraft called "cyclers" would carry astronauts to the moon and back, followed by crewed trips to asteroids and flybys of Venus.

Add to that a rendezvous and refueling system with spacecraft "parked" at Earth's Lagrange points, and humanity will be ready to start expanding this kind of space-based infrastructure to the Red Planet with the ultimate goal of colonization, Aldrin explained. "Crews will be briefly trained at the moon before their flights to Mars."

Buzz Aldrin shows off his "Future Martian" t-shirt next to Space.com's Hanneke Weitering at the Ellis Island Medals of Honor ceremony on May 13, 2017. (Image credit: Michael Vargas)

Aldrin introduced his idea for a pathway to Mars in 1985. More than 30 years later, the 87-year-old space enthusiast is still advocating for it, and he continues to support space exploration in general.

Before coming to New York for the awards ceremony, Aldrin made a trip to Washington, D.C., to speak at the Humans to Mars Summit and visit the White House, where he spoke with officials about funding for space exploration.

"I am actively working on the future every day. My commitment to serving this country has never wavered, and I give it my all every day," Aldrin said during his speech. "I'm proud to stand here on Ellis Island, where so many dreams began for so many people.

"I hope to help shape the future of humans traveling among the stars and making homes on other planets," he added. "It is our nature to explore. We explore, or we expire. I will do all I can do to inspire the future generations. No dream is too high for those with their eye in the sky. I know, because I'm living proof."

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, seen here in a hangar at the company's New Zealand launch site, is scheduled to launch for the first time on May 21.

When Rocket Lab's small satellite launcher blasts off from New Zealand next week on its debut test flight, it will be more than just the Electron rocket that is on trial.

The flight, which Rocket Lab playfully named "It's a Test," also will serve as a shakedown for the world's first commercial spaceport for orbital flights and as a test of procedures for launching from a country that has never flown a rocket into space before.

"It's a test of not just the launch vehicle, but all this brand-new infrastructure," Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck said in an interview with Space.com. "There's apt to be some teething problems." [Electron Rocket Arrives at Launch Pad In New Zealand (Video)]

Although the rocket is flying from New Zealand, Rocket Lab's home base, the company also has headquarters in Los Angeles, putting launch oversight in the hands of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

On Monday (May 15), the FAA issued a license for Rocket Lab to launch three test flights of its Electron rocket from Mahia Peninsula, located in Hawke's Bay on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.

The 10-day launch window opens at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT) on Sunday (May 21).

No matter what results from the rocket's first flight, the second launch will not occur until sometime this summer, Beck said.

"We don't want to just fly one and then turn right around and fly the second one. We want to learn from the first flight," he said. "Even if it's really successful, there's still probably a couple of months of data analysis to go through and understand what margins we had, or if there are any improvements we can make."

The two-stage, liquid-fuel Electron rocket is powered by 3D-printed Rutherford engines that include first-of-its-kind electric turbopumps. The carbon-composite rocket is designed to deliver a payload weighing up to about 330 lbs. (150 kilograms) into a 311-mile-high (500 kilometers), sun-synchronous orbit for about $5.5 million per launch.

For its debut flight, the Electron will not be carrying any commercial payloads. Instead, the rocket is expected to put its heavily instrumented second stage into an elliptical orbit ranging from 186 miles to 311 miles (300 to 500 km) in altitude and inclined 83 degrees relative to the equator.

"There's over 20,000 channels of instrumentation on the vehicle," Beck said. "This flight program is all about gathering data together to understand vehicle performance. "

Rocket Lab's goal is to begin flying satellites for commercial customers this year. Among those waiting for rides are Cape Canaveral-based Moon Express, which is making a run for the $30 million Google Lunar X Prize, which has a launch deadline of Dec. 31.

"All customers have deadlines," Beck said. "We've been lucky that all our customers really want to see a good, solid launch vehicle ... We don't want to be experimenting with launch vehicles with customers' payloads aboard."

"We've come out of the ground-test program very successfully," Beck added. "Now we're just moving to the flight-test program  another step in the journey. The real prize is when we start flying commercially."

Irene Klotz can be reached on Twitter at @free_space. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
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Kingstown (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), May 17, 2017 (SPS) - The Frente POLISARIO Representative to the UN, Bujari Ahmed, invited by the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, has took part Tuesday at the Regional Seminar on decolonization, held this year in the Caribbean, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with the purpose of examining the situation in the Territories under colonial or foreign domination.

The Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the UN, Rafael Ramirez, as Chairman of the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United Nations, inaugurated the Seminar, assuring that "colonialism and foreign occupation is a disgrace to the United Nations" and urged to work In the eradication of this scourge, which currently plagues 17 territories worldwide.

The event saw an intense debate between the Saharawi Representative and the Moroccan Representative, which served to shed light on the maneuvers and misrepresentations of the facts and the position of the international community which still considers that the Saharawi people have the legitimate right to self-determination and independence.

The Moroccan maneuvers at this important meeting of the Committee failed again when the Committee rejected any doubts about the fact that in the name of the Saharawi people only the POLISARIO can speak.

At the meeting that will end with recommendations to the General Assembly of the United Nations, a large number of member countries of the Committee and Observers as well as France, Venezuela as Chairman of the Committee and Russia in the Vice-Presidency took part.

In this event was Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who has been deeply committed to the cause of colonialism and the importance of self-determination of peoples.

Gonsalves thanked the United Nations and in particular the Committee of 24 for their work, however he pointed out that many countries are still living under the yoke of colonialism and that after the independence of Namibia in the 1990s, only one country has achieved independence: East Timor.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, sent a message in the framework of the Caribbean Regional Seminar on Decolonization in which he recalled that it was fundamental to uphold the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and reaffirmed its Commitment to decolonization. SPS

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Julie Liddle, director of rural chartered surveyors Robson & Liddle looks at the options.

It is important to understand that the boundary line on the Land Registry title is often not compelling evidence of where the real boundary is located. A physical boundary and a legal boundary can be different things.

A Land Registry plan is only a general boundary and does not reflect the exact border between two areas of land. To establish where the actual boundary is, you must consider a range of facts contained in your title deeds as well as those of your neighbour.

Where matters cannot be agreed, evidence must be supplemented from other sources. This includes physical features on the subject area, historic maps, adjoining property deeds, intentions of the parties, etc.

When you think about it inaccurate plans submitted for registration, such as an approximate boundary or a thickly drawn line, can cause no end of trouble into the future. Earlier versions of Ordnance Survey plans can also cause issue when matters on the ground subsequently change. The rules on submission of plans to the Land Registry have changed but still need careful attention.

Of course, the most inexpensive way of resolving a dispute is talking to your neighbour direct to reach an amicable agreement on the location of the boundary. If you can come to an agreement you can formally register it with the Land Registry.

If it is not possible to reach an agreed settlement, there are several methods of dispute settlement you could pursue before the matter escalates to court. These include:

1. Mediation

This process involves a neutral third party bringing the two sides together to discuss their issue in an informal setting. Mediators are not legal advisers or judges and the process is not legally binding. This only happens when a resolution is reached and a written agreement signed.

2. Expert witness determination

This approach requires the two neighbours to jointly appoint an independent professional expert  for example, a qualified rural surveyor  and agree that his or her decision will be legally binding if both parties agree it should be. A site visit by a specialist rural surveyor sometimes reveals evidence of where the actual boundary is located on the ground. Examples of this type of evidence include old fence posts, hidden ditches, small streams and tree-lines.
Newton Rigg College, Penrith has launched a state of the art sheep husbandry training centre to provide the best and most modern facilities to equip the next generation of agriculturalists with the expertise and knowledge needed to help safeguard the future of this important sector.

The college is part of Askham Bryan College which has centres across the North of England and specialises in land-based courses, ranging from agriculture to countryside management, and from equine to horticulture.

Catherine Dixon, Chief Executive, said:

We are proud to use the latest technology in a traditional and local industry and develop a sheep husbandry centre which will support our students at Newton Rigg and across Askham Bryan College. The new skills they learn will enable them to contribute to their communities and to their local economies, safeguarding this important industry for future generations."

The showcase centre is based at Low Beckside Farm, Mungrisdale which is within some of the country's most difficult uplands.

Matt Bagley, Head of Agriculture said:

Our vision was to create a national centre of excellence to help future proof hill farming. Young people have a passion and a desire to learn more about upland farming; we wanted a building where we can transfer knowledge to the industry and so encourage young people back to upland farming. It's a wonderful vocation, part of the fabric of the UK, and we can't lose it.

Costing 430,000, the centre is multi-functional and versatile with removable animal penning areas which can be transformed from a lambing centre, to a vast storage space to a livestock handling area. The light and airy building is conducive to student learning, and lends itself to improved animal welfare plus greater efficiency of stock management.

What we have here is unique, said Mr Bagley. We are the only college to own an upland farm and are unique in the standard of the facilities we now have.

The latest technology has been included for example hand held scanners to record data from each animal  from weight to animal health to ear tag numbers, all of which can be analysed and used to inform the college's future stocking regime. The centre, which measures 36m x 25m x 2.95m also has a rainwater collecting facility.
Seminars, workshops and a very supportive opening speech from Brecon Beacons National Park Chair, Melanie Doel, inspired flockmasters facing difficult and challenging times.

She said Welsh Sheep 2017, held at Llwyn Bedw Farm, Talybont on Usk, near Brecon, presented an opportunity for sheep farmers to be proud. It was a day to showcase the industry and a reminder to decision makers just how much sheep farming means to Welsh communities.

Mrs Doel added:

As a National Park Authority we recognise the importance of the farming industry in shaping the National Park and supporting its local communities. We fully appreciate, and I fully appreciate as Chair, and applaud the work farmers put in to shape these special landscapes in the Brecon Beacons and across Wales.

Ive worked and lived for much of my life in this beautiful Park and I know how passionate and devoted farmers are to keeping it special. We are keen to work with bodies such as the NSA on a day to day basis, but also more strategically in helping to shape policy post Brexit.

She recognised that, with the financing of economic development in many parts of Wales having been largely driven by EU funding, there is real uncertainty about future funding. It seemed unlikely that the UK would continue to be a part of the Common Agricultural Policy, so there had to be a major re-structuring of the way agriculture works.

Welsh Government Agriculture Director, Andrew Slade, told the Brexit seminar that in a 25 year career in agricultural policy he had never known such uncertain and challenging times. He added that so many things are potentially up in the air, there was risk but also potential opportunity down the track.

There was, though, a bright future ahead for agriculture in the UK, and particularly Wales if risk was minimised and opportunities worked on. It was important to get the approach to Brexit right across the whole of Wales, the mission was to make the best of Brexit for Wales.

Trade and market access, particularly with red meat, meant access to the Single Market is particularly important. Ninety per cent of the 40% of Welsh lamb exported goes to the Single Market.

NSA Cymru Wales Chair Llew Thomas said that despite the weather, the crowds had come in huge numbers. The event had been an undoubted success for all concerned and he was grateful to everyone who had brought it together, particularly Event Organiser, Helen Davies.

He thanked more than 150 trade stands, organisations and breed societies who had supported the event. And he also extended his gratitude to the sponsors, who had helped to make it possible.

The venue, a traditional hill farm, rented from Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water, lies in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, with grazing stretching towards Pen y Fan, and extends to 1,000 acres. It has been home to five generations of the Williams family and supports a closed flock of 3,500 sheep and a herd of 70 suckler cows.
Madison Gas & Electrics new CEO, Jeffrey Keebler, pledged to keep the utility headed away from fossil fuels as he addressed his first shareholders meeting Tuesday.

We know renewable energy is important to many of our customers and to many of you, our shareholders, Keebler told the 1,850 people gathered for the luncheon meeting at the Madison Marriott West hotel in Middleton.

Keebler said he is committed to the goals of MGEs Energy 2030 plan that calls for 25 percent of the utilitys retail electric sales to come from renewable fuel projects by 2025, and 30 percent by 2030.

He laid out plans to move in that direction, including installing charging equipment in the homes of customers with electric cars and offering residential customers a smart thermostat program to hold down their power use during peak summer days.

Keebler said MGE is actively pursuing a site for a second Shared Solar program because the first one  a 500-kilowatt solar array on the roof of the Middleton municipal operations center that started operating in January  is fully subscribed and has a waiting list.

Keebler said MGE is in discussions with the city of Madison on the prospect of further use of electric vehicles in the citys fleet, and he said the utility will initiate a program called Customer Forward that involves updating technology to deliver information and interact with customers in the way they want to engage with us.

MGE also announced plans in February for the proposed Saratoga wind farm, in northeast Iowa, that could produce up to 66 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 47,000 homes when the 33 turbines are at top capacity.

This is how we will continue to build a community energy company together, Keebler said.

Keebler paid little heed, though, to a resolution introduced by a shareholder group  the first ever included on MGEs proxy ballot.

The resolution, proposed by MGE Shareholders for Clean Energy, called on MGE to develop a road map to transition the community toward electrified transportation.

We want MGE to be a leader in getting local experts, national experts also, to evaluate and develop a road map, using renewable energy to supply that, spokesman Don Wichert said prior to the meeting.

Wichert said that while the utility is taking some steps, its not a comprehensive nor a coordinated effort.

MGEs board had urged a no vote on the resolution.

Keebler announced results of stockholder voting at the end of the meeting, saying directors Regina Millner, Londa Dewey and Thomas Stolper had been re-elected, and shareholders agreed to a proposal for an advisory vote on executive compensation every year, but he lumped other resolutions together, saying more than 90 percent supported management positions on the questions.

In an interview after the meeting, Keebler said the board opposed the resolution because it called for leading a study beyond MGEs own facilities. Were very supportive of electric vehicles, he said, but added the company doesnt think another study is needed.

Asked why the resolution was not read, he said, We dont read any of the resolutions. Time just does not allow it.

Wichert said he was surprised the proposal was not even mentioned. On the plus side, Jeff Keebler did say a lot of great things and Im delighted that he said theyre going to move toward a cleaner energy future.

MGE officials also paid tribute during the meeting to Gary Wolter, who turned over the companys reins to Keebler in March after serving as CEO and president for 17 years, the longest-serving CEO in MGEs history.

Wolter, who continues as board chairman, said he will forever be grateful for the many years that I had the privilege to lead this company.
The couple set the ringside alight after Brians sparkilng performance on the trials field with their home-bred 17-month-old black and white dog, Moss, who is out of their top-class bitch Malta Gwen, bred by Carlaine Thom, of Malta Border Collies, based in Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland. She was bred to leading trial dog and proven breeder, Ricky Hutchinson's Sweep, an International Reserve Supreme Champion. Sweep has bred numerous trial winners across the world.

Now four-years-old, Gwen is the couples main farm and breeding bitch and Moss was among a litter of six, which were all sold, three of which are now trialling successfully. However, Brian wanted Moss back, so went out and bought her for a not inconsiderable sum.

But, Moss more than repaid the couples faith and confidence when becoming top dog on price, confirming pre-sale hype that he would do really well and could go to the top in the right hands when the subject of some frantic bidding, before finally falling to another Irishman who regularly sells dogs at Skipton, Pat Byrne, of Knockcroghery in County Roscommon.

I wanted a really good dog and went to see Moss in action on his home ground, and also his mother, Gwen, working, which was very important to me, as its all down to good breeding, said Mr Byrne, who will work his new acquisition on his 280-strong flock of Suffolk and Cheviot sheep, and Limousin and Charolais cattle.

It was the best price ever achieved at an official working dog sale by Brian and Aoife, and the second highest price ever seen at Skipton, bettered only by the world record price of 14,100gns (14,805) at the same venue 12 months ago by Cap, a 16-month old dog also bred in Ireland by Padraig Doherty, who with his brother Joe runs Ardagh Sheepdogs in County Donegal.

Breeders of top-notch working dogs are now increasingly filming their dogs at work and promoting them via social media channels and Brian White Sheepdogs facebook and youtube presences had done much to create all the hype ahead of the sale.

Its brilliant, but I felt under real pressure when taking to the trials field, as Moss had been the subject of such widespread interest. We had 3,600 views on youtube in two weeks alone, he said.

As well as Moss, Brian and Aoife, who farm pedigree Simmental cattle and Texel-cross and Suffolk-cross ewes, sold two more dogs at Skipton for 2,200gns each to scoop a total of 13,600gns (14,280) on a highly successful day.

First up was their September, 2015, black and white bitch, Maddy, which joined Welsh handler John Roberts in Betws-y-Coed, followed by Sweep, a two-year-old tri-coloured dog bred by Pat Byrne, their same days top price buyer, being by his Lad, out of Lynn. This one joined a buyer from Scotland.

Another highlight for the Irish was the 5,000gns achieved by a first-time vendor anywhere, County Galways Louise Amos, of Quories Border Collies in Cuppanagh, Woodlawn, Ballinasloe, with her highly promising nursery prospect, the home-bred March, 2016, black tri-coloured dog, Quories Bean.

He is out of Louises own Quories Moxy, since sold and doing well with her Welsh owner, bred out of her first trials bitch, Meg, and by Nip, from a good friend, International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) director, Angie Blackmore, of Gloucestershire, who also made her first-ever visit to Skipton at this years opening February dog sale, when she netted 5,550gns with two quality bitches.

Louise knows Angie from her time as a shepherdess in the south-east, spending ten years working in the Cotswolds and Ashdown Forest, before last year deciding to pursue a dream and become her own boss breeding and trialling dogs.

She upped sticks and bought a dilapidated cottage with an acre of land in Galway. The proceeds from the much-loved Bean, a reluctant sale to a Welsh buyer who requested anonymity, will assist the renovation process!

However, Louise, still keeps her hand in with the shepherding by returning to England for lambing, for the past two years in Northumberland with accomplished triallist and ISDS council member, Bevis Jordan, who gave some great advice and help in preparing Bean for the sale.

Already a keen triallist over the past decade, Louise has twice run in the English National before moving to Ireland, where last year she came sixth in the Irish National, winning her a place on the Irish team for the 2016 International and this years World Trial, due to be held in the Netherlands in July.

Shaun Richards, who runs Pen-y-Borough Sheep Dogs in Eldroth, above Settle, and is regular Skipton top price achiever, again did well with two 4,400gns and 4,000gns sales, the former with his August, 2015, black and white and top priced bitch Gill, who was bred in Scotland by JJ Templeton, MBE, by his Spot, out of Sky. The dog returned north of the border to the Scottish Highlands with regular Skipton buyer, Jock Sutherland, of Sangormore, Durness.

Earlier in the day, Mr Richards, who trains his dogs in the shadow of Pen-y-ghent, claimed 4,000gns with his home-bred November, 2015, black and white bitch, Pen-y-Borough Ann, by Marchup Roger, from another well-known local breeder, Andrew Throup, of Silsden Moor, whose dogs remain popular with the North Craven handler. Out of the since sold Derwen Lassie, Ann fell to well-known Welsh triallist Kevin Evans, of Penclyn Farm, Modrydd, Brecon, Powys, who bought three dogs on the day.

Television cameras were at the mart, having been following the progress of Shaun and Ann for a future programme, Britain by Bike, featuring London-born actor and radio presenter Larry Lamb and his son George, which will be screened on Channel 5.

A second young up-and-coming 16-month-old dog, Jet, also flew to 4,400gns. It came from Welsh handler and triallist Brynley Williams, of Ysceifiog, near Holywell in Flintshire. Bred by M Holts Rob, out of Titch, this too, fell to Mr Evans.
BROOKFIELD  Technology company Photronics reported second-quarter sales of $108.3 million, down 12 percent from last year, but flat compared to the previous quarter, the company announced Wednesday.

The company also announced it expects third-quarter revenues between $110 million and $120 million.

Brookfield-based Photronics manufacturers photomasks, which are key elements for making semiconductors and flat-panel displays.

Second-quarter revenues were essentially flat  as improving display photomask sales were offset by a decline in our high-end logic business in Taiwan, Peter Kirlin, CEO, said in a release. We were able to generate cash, building upon our already strong balance sheet.

Kirlin said the company achieved three milestones since its first-quarter report.

The first of two new writing tools is being installed to add (flat panel display) capacity, construction began on our new China (integrated circuit) facility; and we announced a new joint venture in China, he said.

Photronics announced on Wednesday an agreement with Dai Nippon Printing, or DNP, to form a joint venture focused on serving semiconductor manufacturers in China. A subsidiary of DNP will acquire 49.99 percent of Photronics wholly foreign-owned entity in Xiamen, China. Photronics will maintain ownership of 50.01 percent.

This combination is a testament to our great success in Taiwan and a strong desire by each party to extend this winning partnership into China for the benefit of local customers and the development of industry infrastructure, Kirlin said in a release. The growing importance of the China semiconductor market requires that we bring superior global resources and a broad spectrum of cutting edge technologies and methods in order to best ensure our customers success.  The joint venture also provides an optimal solution for shareholders as we are able to improve capital efficiency while offering advanced process technology and a broad product portfolio.

Sales of integrated circuits photomasks were $82.6 million, down 4 percent from the first quarter. Sales of flat-panel display photomasks were $25.7 million, up 10 percent from the first quarter.

Net income was $1.8 million, compared with $1.9 million for the first.

Heading into the third quarter, we are cautiously optimistic that we will achieve sales growth and margin expansion, Kirlin said.

cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338
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NEW CANAAN  A former treasurer of the towns Masonic Lodge was charged with felony larceny after he allegedly made more than $54,000 worth of personal purchases using the lodges money.

Earlier this year, a new treasurer took over at Harmony Lodge #67, which prompted an audit, according to New Canaan Lt. Jason Ferraro. During the audit, it was discovered there were funds missing.

On April 5 around 10:15 a.m., the New Canaan Masonic Lodge reported the missing funds and the New Canaan police investigative unit began looking into the matter. Detectives found that while Joseph McBride was treasurer of the lodge from 2012 to 2016, he used the lodge debit card to take funds from the lodges bank account without authorization.

Police said the Norwalk man made $54,000 in personal purchases throughout the four years he was treasurer for the lodge, located at 231 Main St.

New Canaan Police obtained a warrant for the Tierney Street resident on a charge of first-degree larceny.

On May 17 around 7 a.m., McBride turned himself in to New Canaan Police. He was processed and transported to Norwalk Superior Court, where he was arraigned for the class B felony.

McBride, 62, posted a $100,000 bond and is due back in court June 20.

Richard Memmott, grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, was unaware of the situation but said it is recommended lodges conduct an audit once a year. The decision to do so, however, is at their own discretion, the mason added.

Ferraro said he could not release any more information on the investigation at this time.

ekayata@hearstmediact.com; @erin_kayata
A year ago, just before the EU referendum, Theresa May was remarkably candid about the problems Brexit would cause Britain, how hard it would be to get a decent deal, and that most of what the Brexit camp were calling for was utterly unrealistic.

In a speech six weeks before the referendum she said: The reality is that we do not know on what terms we would win access to the single market.

We do know that in a negotiation we would have to make concessions in order to access it; these concessions could well be about accepting EU regulations over which we would have no say, making financial contributions just as we do now, accepting free movement rules just as we do now or quite possibly all three combined.

It is not clear why other member states would give Britain a better deal than they themselves enjoy.

Those who look after the public image of May, now of course the Prime Minister, make much of how she never rushes to judgement but likes to hear all the evidence before reaching a considered decision. Then, having made up her mind she does not change it, or so we are told.

One must assume, therefore, that the above comments were themselves made only after a careful weighing up of the arguments and a marshalling of all the facts at her disposal.

Whether or not she still believes the above  or cares  is not a question to be answered any time soon and certainly not before the election. However, a repeat dose of such realism would not come amiss, though there is precious little sign of it from our politicians who, in public, prefer to maintain the illusion that quitters can be choosers.

In private, however, it can be a different story. Someone with a decent amount of experience said the other day  on condition of confidentiality  that he was fairly relaxed about getting a deal on the reciprocal rights for EU people living here and British settled elsewhere in the EU. He was similarly sure that an intelligent and workable visa system could be developed over time as a replacement for free movement.

What did seriously worry him, however, was the prospect of leaving without a comprehensive wide-ranging deal for the financial services industry. To leave without that would be disastrous.

Now contrast this with the feedback from finance industry lobbyists who make the trek to Downing St to bend the ear of those in the Department for Exiting the European Union. The form for such meetings is that ministers and officials do not promise anything but they listen politely as the lobbyists run through a shopping list of items  matters which they consider fundamental, those they consider essential, and then those they would like to have if at all possible.

Increasingly these meetings turn out to be a rude shock. Their shopping list is waved away without any discussion, let alone any attempt to engage or understand the issues. Instead the Brexit team simply have one question. They only want to know how bad it would be if we left with nothing.

Nor is there any sense of urgency in the Brexit camp. The working assumption is that everyone will just have to wait and see what deal emerges. This ignores the reality of commercial life. Agriculture obviously has to plan ahead because it takes a year for a crop to grow, but in many businesses the planning horizon is a whole lot longer than that.

Some examples emerged last week at the British Insurance Brokers Association conference in Manchester  one of the biggest insurance events of the year in this country. One speaker pointed out that many insurance contracts go beyond two years and a policy in force today may lead to a claim being made several years in the future.

It is, however, illegal to pay a claim in Belgium  for example  if the insurer is not authorised there. So the insurance industry has policies in force in that country which it may not be allowed to honour should they lead to a claim. It is hard for any industry to function with this degree of contractual uncertainty and, as far as insurance is concerned, such certainty is fundamental  a point seemingly missed in Westminster.

Motorists are likely to get a shock too. Several of the cheapest motor insurance businesses which appear to be thoroughly British actually base their operations in Gibraltar  avoiding VAT and other tax is one reason they are so cheap. But the status of Gibraltar has been thrown into doubt  which, in turn, casts a shadow over the future of these policies. At worst, they will be invalid; at best they are likely to cost a lot more. Huge numbers will be affected because 25% of the motor industry is based in Gibraltar.

Then there is the issue of driving on the Continent without having to negotiate a separate policy and getting healthcare on holiday should that be necessary. The seamless way these things work at present is taken for granted. None will survive a hard Brexit.

It was all heavy stuff, which left the overwhelming impression that those charged with negotiating our exit have completely underestimated the complexity of what they are taking on and are seriously under-resourced if they are to attempt to do the job properly.

This did, however, bring one unintended moment of irony if not levity: the art of a successful negotiation is to speak in the language of the other side and understand the opposing culture, the conference was told. Such mutual understanding is essential, but will elude the British team, which is lacking in such cultural diversity.

The solution, it was seriously suggested, was that the British delegation should make up for its obvious shortcomings by hiring foreigners to do the talking for us.
D eveloper British Land is hunkering down for Brexit, slashing its debts amid caution over the potentially choppier waters ahead for the property market.

Although results on Wednesday beat City hopes, the shares slipped almost 3%, or 18p, to 656p on the gloomy tone struck by the company over the mixed picture of trading.

British Land has sold off 1.5 billion in property in the year to March 31, including its half-share of the Cheesegrater, to reduce borrowing while pumping a paltry 292 million into its pipeline.

It is reluctant to commit to new speculative developments without tenants lined up, but is in talks with potential occupiers at its Regents Place campus in central London and a hotel operator at its Paddington Central site.

Chief executive Chris Grigg said: It is appropriate given the uncertainty that Brexit will create in markets to be cautious, but we are cautiously optimistic.

Grigg, whose major banking tenants include UBS at Broadgate, added: Every bank is making contingency plans and rightly so because the outcome is not certain. There are a lot of people who will stay in London and there are a lot of people who dont need to be in Europe as well, so it is a mixed picture.

The groups trading profits, stripping out property revaluations, rose 7% to 390 million.

But at the pre-tax level profits slumped 85% to 195 million as its portfolio value dropped to 13.9 billion.
L uke Johnson, chairman of the bakery group behind Patisserie Valerie, on Wednesday criticised Labours election promises, claiming they would threaten business growth.

The opposition party yesterday set out its manifesto, including an increase in the minimum wage, a corporation tax hike and an excessive pay levy on salaries above 330,000.

Brexiteer Johnson, known for building the Pizza Express restaurant chain, described the manifesto as a very scary document, particularly the nationalisation plans and sharp increases in public spending and tax.

As far as I can see theres a real lack of real calculations in how it should all be funded and I think it would be very discouraging for those who are prepared to grow business to have these extra burdens and controls imposed.

Theresa Mays policies were more likely to stimulate growth, he added.

Johnsons comments came as his Patisserie Holdings Group reported an 11% rise in revenue to 55.5 million in its first half.

Pre-tax profits rose 15.7% to 9.7 million and the dividend was up 20% at 1.2p a share.

It recently opened its first store in Ireland and said encouraging early success highlighted the brands international potential.
S cribblers at Jefferies dealt Hikma Pharmaceuticals a fresh blow today as they predicted more pain for the drugmaker when it updates the market on Friday.

Hikma shares slumped last week after US regulators turned down its application for a cheaper equivalent to GlaxoSmithKlines Advair lung drug. The decision means the generic drug is unlikely to gain approval this year.

Jefferies slashed its rating from Buy to Underperform and reeled its target price in from 2160p to 1450p in a move which caused the shares to fall a further 53p, or 3%, to 1713p. The broker predicted the delay would hammer the Jordan-based companys profits.

We expect a cautious interim management statement on May 19. [We] believe the delay is likely to act as a serious drag to sentiment until the US business turns around, it said.

Hikma fell to the bottom of the FTSE 100 as the index flirted with new highs, edging down 0.43 points to 7521.60 after yesterdays record close.

EasyJet lost more ground after yesterdays nosedive on the market as brokers took aim at the airline. The shares slipped 12p to 1203p as Societe Generale and Canaccord Genuity downgraded to Sell and Kepler Chevreux dropped its Buy rating.

easyJet has experienced a significant increase in competition across its network in recent years, which we believe is likely to weigh on a potential yield recovery in the next 18 months or so, Canaccord said.

DIY retail giant Kingfisher was among the winners as HSBC upgraded to Buy, hailing its transformation plan as radical, ambitious and has a lower risk than headline performance targets suggest.

Shares in the owner of B&Q and Screwfix, whose workers Theresa May addressed yesterday, improved 6.4p to 364.6p. However, HSBC was downbeat on consumer spending and predicted trouble ahead for mid-cap players Dunelm and Halfords.

The investment bank downgraded both to Hold, causing home furnishings retailer Dunelm to dive 26p to 590p and the bike-to-car parts retailer to lose 9.72p to 350.38p.

On the junior market, cyber-security firm Corero Network Security, up 0.24p at 8.99p, added to gains on the back of the ransomware attack with another big software order.
The Legislatures budget committee on Tuesday approved state funding for five of six Elections Commission staff positions that have been supported by a federal grant thats set to run out, dismissing Gov. Scott Walkers recommendation to cut all six of them.

The governor argued that the commission can handle its workload without the positions that had been supported by the federal Help America Vote Act passed in 2002. But state and local elections officials disagreed, arguing that the jobs were critically important for smooth elections.

Republicans who control the Joint Finance Committee agreed to allocate about $304,000 in state money to fund five spots, but they rejected arguments from Democrats who said it was vital to keep all six.

This isnt horseshoes. This isnt how close you can get, said Democratic Sen. Lena Taylor of Milwaukee. Lets not pretend to be with them; lets be with them fully.

Committee co-chair, Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, said the commission can always return and ask for more staff later.

Were committed to help them be successful, Nygren said of the bipartisan commission the Republican-controlled Legislature created last year to replace the nonpartisan Government Accountability Board.

Democratic Rep. Gordon Hintz of Oshkosh said Republicans were nickel-and-diming the commission, setting it up for failure.

If election integrity is a good thing, we should do the right thing and fund their request, Hintz said.

Elections Commission leaders said the jobs are needed to ensure the state remains in compliance with its core responsibilities under Wisconsin and federal election laws, including providing training and support to local election officials, maintaining and improving the voter registration system, educating the public and assisting candidates.

The $57 million Wisconsin received under the Help America Vote Act went toward helping municipalities buy new voting equipment, building the states first statewide voter registration system and training local election clerks.

The money was used to pay for 26 positions, which was reduced to 22 in the current budget. Walker called for funding just 16 of those. The committee approved 21 positions, bringing the commissions full-time staff up to 31.

Commission director Mike Haas said he appreciated funding for 21 of 22 positions and will evaluate whether to seek more money for the remaining position.

The committee also voted to reduce payments to members of the elections and ethics commissions for each day they meet, from $454 to $227. Walker had wanted to cut it to just $50 per meeting to correspond with what members of other state boards and commissions get. Republicans said they wanted a higher amount to attract quality people to serve as commissioners.

The budget committee is working on changes to the two-year, $76 billion budget that Walker submitted in February. Its proposal has to pass both the Senate and Assembly and be signed by Walker before becoming law. The committee is expected to complete its work some time in June. The new two-year budget begins July 1.

The budget committee on Tuesday also voted to:

Change the process for determining where to place violent sexual offenders once they are released. Under the plan, offenders would be released to the county where they lived at the time they committed their crimes. Local communities would be given more of a say in where released offenders live, including proximity to schools, parks and churches. A judge would still have the final decision on placement. The proposal passed on a 13-3 vote, with Democratic Rep. Katrina Shankland joining all Republicans in support.

Increase by $6 million the money available to provide out-of-home placements, services and treatments for children and young people who have been involved with sex trafficking. Current treatment capacity is not expected to be able to keep pace with demand under a new state law taking effect May 29. That law requires state child protective services agencies to investigate all child sex trafficking cases and provide services where needed.

Reject a Walker proposal to create a refundable income tax credit for certain 18- to 21-year-olds who were previously in foster care but who aged out of the system at age 18. Nygren said the Legislature plans to create task forces to study foster care services.
N ine years after the ignominy of a government bailout, the bank is back in private hands. Its been a rough ride for Antonio Horta-Osorio but he tells Jim Armitage staff should be proud of the turnaround... and theres more to do.

Lloyds shareholders wont forget October 2008 in a hurry. Not because Katy Perrys breakout hit I Kissed A Girl was jangling endlessly on the airwaves, or because the Bond movie Quantum of Solace was premiering at Leicester Square.

Investors in the black horse bank will remember that fateful month because it was then, over the crisis-stricken weekend of the 10th and 11th, that Lloyds, its betrothed HBOS, and RBS had their first bailout from the government. As the financial world faced Armageddon, the regulators had insisted banks increase their capital buffers to prevent another Northern Rock-style collapse.

The only way they could raise the tens of billions needed was to accept funds from the taxpayer and hand over shares to the government in return. In the case of Lloyds and HBOS, that meant ceding control of a combined equity stake of 43%.

Today, having sat on billions of pounds of paper losses on that investment for years, the government finally sold off the last of its shares. The Treasury boasts that, when factoring in dividends and fees, it has not just got its money back but has made a profit of 500 million on its 20.3 billion investment.

Chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio, with a disarming grin on his tanned face, says: Everyone here has the feeling of being proud. It is a very important milestone.

Given what happened in the months and years that followed the bailout, it is little wonder that the day is being celebrated both at Lloyds and in Downing Street.

So, back to that fateful weekend in 2008. The ignominy of being rescued by the government  worsened by the fact that rival Barclays managed to avoid taking the Queens shilling by raising funds privately  was soon to get far worse. Three months later, Lloyds chairman Sir Victor Blank and chief executive Eric Daniels completed the takeover of crippled HBOS.

The two sides had been negotiating since July, first at the behest of Blank and Daniels (who had been looking for a transformational deal for years), then with the encouragement of a government desperate not to have to nationalise HBOS.

As time would quickly tell, bar RBSs move on ABN Amro, it was to be the worst takeover deal in British banking history.

Lloyds, which had not had the time to do proper due diligence on HBOS before swooping, rapidly discovered that years worth of HBOSs hugely risky loans to businesses, under corporate banking head Peter Cummings, were becoming practically worthless. Tens of billions of pounds of duff loans made at the top of the market, particularly in Irish property and hotels, had to be written off as the real estate market collapsed.

With the writedowns rising, the share price fell. On February 13, Blank and Daniels had to admit to the City that HBOS had turned in a 11 billion loss. The government retired Blank seven months later. Daniels followed him 18 months on. As he prepared for his exit, Daniels triumphantly told the City the bank had returned to profit.

Successor Horta-Osorio, who got the job in 2011 recalls a less rosy picture. In his greenhouse-like office with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides overlooking Gresham Street, we chat at a meeting table. On a shelf nearby sits a framed front cover of Euromoney magazine in which he is mocked up as Captain Scarlet.

The commander-in-chief recalls: Lloyds was in a very weak financial position. It had 200 billion of debt from the wholesale money markets, of which more than half was short term. Short term debt measured in months financing mortgages running for up to 30 years. It doesnt take a banking genius to realise thats a lethal liquidity cocktail. Also, of the 600 billion of loans we had, 200 billion were toxic assets. It was a very weak capital position, he adds.

Horta-Osorio says he needed to nurse the balance sheet back to health but the governments stake made it hard to go down the traditional route of writing off losses and raising capital from the markets. Instead, he says, Lloyds had to undergo a very diligent and difficult process of getting rid of those toxic loans, usually by selling them on at a discount.

Some turned out extremely well for the buyers. Specialist investors like Coller Capital, which bought chunks of the loans at 40p in the pound, went on to make billions in profit as the debts returned to health. But, says Horta-Osorio: We had no choice. We needed the capital.

Ivan Fallon, in his book Black Horse Ride, put the total losses to Lloyds from HBOS lending at 40 billion. Faced with these enormous liabilities and the macroeconomic hurricanes in Europe at the time, Horta-Osorio suffered a bout of stress-induced insomnia and had to be booked into the Priory.

You wouldnt have thought it today. With jet-black hair and clear, sensual dark eyes, the 53-year-old is a picture of relaxed health. He says he has never had a recurrence of the illness, having learned to bend like a palm tree when being buffeted by winds he couldnt control.

Not that hes a doddle to work for. He is described by colleagues variously as extremely hard-driving and trustworthy but distant on a personal level. Horta-Osorios inherited problems werent only of HBOSs making. On top of Cummingss catastrophic lending was the none-too-small matter of Lloyds leading position in the PPI mis-selling scandal. It ripped off millions of customers with products that now look likely to cost the bank some 17.3 billion in compensation.

It is also accused of not being blameless over the appalling treatment of victims of HBOSs Reading branch fraudsters, who were jailed early this year. Although the small businesses were fleeced before the Lloyds take-over of HBOS, they say Lloyds stonewalled their efforts to seek justice for years.

Horta-Osorio repeats his apology to those hit by what he calls the Reading crimes and reiterates his pledge to compensate deserving cases. Asked if he was aware of the victims complaints before the case came to court, he says: No, I was not aware. Not in any specific way was I aware.

As he worked through the Lloyds crises over six years in charge, the government started selling the taxpayers shares to institutional investors. The process accelerated until early last year, when ministers decided they wanted to sell them to retail punters and put the process on hold.

Many in Lloyds were frustrated by this, particularly as the Brexit referendum then triggered so much volatility in the markets that the retail sale idea was abandoned anyway. Horta-Osorio must have shared in the frustration but, always cautious in his words, he refuses to say. Whatever his feelings, banking sector analysts say that having now sorted the taxpayers stake in Lloyds, AHO, as his staff call him, will jump ship to take over from Stuart Gulliver when he retires as chief executive of HSBC next year.

Some shareholders have urged Lloyds chairman Lord Blackwell to get a succession plan under way, saying the scandal over Horta-Osorios private life last year (which he refuses to discuss) raised the question of who would replace the key man if he fell.

So, does Horta-Osorio fancy moving to the HSBC job? Does he fear getting bored now the firefighting is nearly over? Will he start taking the headhunters calls? He shakes his head and laughs: Honestly, I dont know where these stories come from. I am really happy here. There is still lots to do. With that, he talks about mobile banking, his takeover of 7 billion of MBNA credit-card loans, a new three-year plan.

Trouble is, compared with rescuing one of the biggest banks in the world, it all sounds, frankly, rather boring. That might be no bad thing for Lloyds shareholders after all theyve been through. But, for a man who scuba-dives with sharks for fun? I give him a year.
I t remains a mystery why the Prime Minister has recommitted her party to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands a year. She didnt need to make this politically rash and economically illiterate move. She was not the author of the pledge; David Cameron made it in opposition.

She knows better than almost anyone that net migration  the number of people arriving, minus the number leaving  is not in the gift of government, subject as it is to the vagaries of the world economy. Moreover, this target has a perverse incentive, in that the more people you persuade to emigrate from the UK, the more likely you are to hit it.

So you would assume that Mrs May would jump at the chance to bury the pledge. Thats what her Cabinet assumed; none of its senior members supports the pledge in private and all would be glad to see the back of something that has caused the Conservative Party such public grief.

But no. Mrs May has kept digging. So, how to achieve this reduction? Brexiteers suggested leaving the EU would keep foreigners out. They never explained that of the net migration figure last year of 273,000, 164,000 people came from outside the EU. As David Willetts pointed out here yesterday, we already have levers to reduce their numbers, but have sensibly not pulled them.

Conservative manifesto: what will be in it?

To meet the pledge, the number of both EU and non-EU migrants will have to be reduced by around two thirds. How is that to be achieved? No one in government can identify the third we want and the two-thirds we dont. Asked whether we want to stop bankers, builders, berry pickers or baristas coming from Europe, ministers are at a loss. The Business Secretary, Greg Clark, could not name a single sector that should have its supply of labour forcibly reduced. He knows that to do so would push up prices and hurt firms. Rohan Silva makes a similar point here.

Falling unemployment

Instead, ministers assert we need to train under-qualified British people to fill posts currently filled by over-qualified Europeans. But where is this army of workless Brits? The numbers claiming out-of-work benefits is at a 45-year low: todays unemployment figures show a decrease of 53,000 between January and March, to 4.6 per cent. No one has the stomach to tackle the thorny issue of people who are capable of working yet claiming sickness benefits.

What about the many Europeans who attend our universities? European students are a vital source of income and academic excellence for our colleges, and one would presume that a global Britain would want to export education and influence. Nor have people been told that they wont be able to marry a Danish boyfriend or French girlfriend and bring them to Britain. So who are the 100,000-odd Europeans we are supposed to be turning away? When the debate turns from the generality of reducing European migration to the specifics, the Government is floundering.

We have been here before. Over the past seven years, the Government has not been able to reduce significantly the numbers of non-Europeans coming here  though we could. The damage to the economy from seriously reducing work visas was judged too severe by an expert migration committee; the impact on community relations of further limiting family reunion visas was seen as unpalatable; and few thought we were taking in too many refugees. There are no other groups we can turn away.

Mrs May knows all this. She knows that a sensible immigration policy is driven by clear principles not arbitrary numbers. If one of those principles is no longer to be the freedom to move to work between Britain and Europe, we need to hear what its replacement will be. Recommitting to a failed immigration pledge, without knowing how to achieve it, is merely wishful thinking. She still wants to be a new broom. She should use the Tory manifesto tomorrow to sweep away this bad policy from the past.
I n all but the most important respect, Labours manifesto has already achieved its main objectives. It decisively tightens the grip of the Left upon the party. It sets a trajectory that marks a definitive and perhaps irrevocable break with New Labours election-winning formulae.

It restores, without apology, the ideology of tax-and-spend, the politics of envy and the principle that the state knows best. What the 124-page document conspicuously fails to do is present Labour under Jeremy Corbyn as a party that is serious about governing the country.

Even as the final preparations for the manifesto launch were being made in Bradford yesterday, John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, revealed in a Today programme interview that he did not know the scale of the national deficit. This ignorance would have been shocking had it not been woefully consistent with a clear pattern observed during the campaign by his shadow cabinet colleagues.

Repeatedly they have been unable to supply the most basic numerical answers to entirely predictable media questions about their policies. The Left has long believed piety is more important than precision. In this election, Labours most senior figures have turned that conviction into an art form.

Though Corbyn insisted that his great leap forward had been comprehensively costed, the manifestos fiscal claims were found wanting within hours of its publication. Labour promises tax increases of 48.6 billion to meet its extra spending commitments. But the Institute for Fiscal Studies calculates that the proposed measures would only yield between 20 billion and 30 billion  a shortfall that can hardly be dismissed as a difference of interpretation or a rounding error. It is not a partisan point to say that the sums do not add up.

Worse, Labours plans to renationalise the railways, National Grid and Royal Mail  a list to which McDonnell breezily added the water industry yesterday  are uncosted. The privatisation of the utilities has been a lengthy, transformative process, from the flotation of British Telecom in 1984 to the sale of Royal Mail four years ago. To reverse this revolution would be a formidable undertaking, and one that would entangle any government in legislative, political and financial complexity for years. How would Labour claw back the shares predecessor governments sold off? How would it meet the costs?

Again, Corbyn and McDonnell seem to believe their moral rectitude will sweep aside all technical obstacles. Like Star Treks Captain Picard, they simply say: Make it so.

Though Labour supporters at yesterdays launch cheered the manifesto to the rafters, voters will be wary of this failure of basic competence. The starting blocks of any general election are a demonstrable capacity to govern efficiently, to take difficult decisions and to identify priorities in circumstances of immense pressure. Corbyn made much yesterday of the voters duty to future generations. But why entrust the fortunes of our children to amateurs?

At precisely the moment Labour should be embracing modernity and confronting the challenges of the 21st century  automation, population mobility, fundamentalist terrorism, cyber-warfare  it has defiantly committed itself to turning back the clock. Renationalisation, crippling marginal income tax rates, the removal of incentives to business investment, a defence review that might imperil Trident: addressing the pathologies of 2017, the party reaches for discredited solutions from the past. If Margaret Thatchers ambition was to roll back the state, Corbyns is to roll back the future.

Why embark on such an electorally pointless endeavour? The answer has been supplied, inadvertently, by Len McCluskey, initially one of Corbyns most fervent supporters. In an interview with the Politico website, the leader of the Unite union said: I dont see Labour winning, I think it would be extraordinary. In so doing, he made explicit what the Left has been privately conceding for months: that the election is lost, that Corbyn has failed, and that the real battle begins on June 9.

What may look like a slow-motion train-wreck to voters has a very different significance to those who have seized control of the party. Why has Corbyn appointed Andrew Murray, a former chair of Stop the War and a Communist Party member until last year, to head his campaign team? Because his practical ambition is no longer to win the election but to consolidate and deepen the Lefts colonisation of the Labour movement, and to ensure his successor pursues similar ideological objectives.

Even as it declines as an electoral force, the party is undergoing a metamorphosis. Under Tony Blair, who built upon Neil Kinnocks courageous reforms, Labour was single-mindedly dedicated to achieving and staying in office. Under Corbyn, the Blairite Big Tent has become a windowless Wendy house. Labour now measures success by the number of members it signs up rather than the number of votes it attracts.

Needless to say, this is bad news for those whom the party was founded to represent, who must look elsewhere for practical policies offered by plausible politicians. It is also bad news for democracy. A healthy polity requires at least two mainstream parties capable of taking power. As long as the Left maintains its chokehold, Labours future will be bleak.

All of which has radically diminished the electoral challenge facing the Conservatives. But at a more profound level, the burden upon Theresa Mays party as the only credible force of government is growing daily. The more probable it becomes that the PM will achieve a decent majority on June 8, the more important it is that the Conservative manifesto, launched tomorrow, offers substance, inspiration and hope to all. Paradoxically, the pressure has rarely been higher.
A fter the Great Fire of London in 1666, King Charles II commissioned the architect Sir Christopher Wren to come up with a new masterplan for the City of London. Wren toiled away and produced a design featuring wide boulevards and Paris-style grand plazas, which would be built in place of the old random jumble of streets.

What happened next? While Wren built dozens of magnificent churches to replace those lost, his plan to tidy up the street layout came to nothing, as those who had lost homes or businesses rebuilt on their old plots. His utopian scheme was thwarted by the bottom-up energy of Londons traders and entrepreneurs.

This story tells us so much about the abiding character of our city. Now, in the same way as the citizens of 17th-century London resisted Wrens proposal, were going to have to fight the Governments top-down imposition of an arbitrary immigration target that has absolutely no relation to what the economy needs.

As you might have seen, the Prime Minister recently pledged to reduce net migration in the UK to tens of thousands  a massive cut from the current level of 273,000 a year. Every industry will be hit hard as a result  the public sector wont be able to find the nurses and social care staff we need, while construction, finance and the creative industries will all suffer.

This matters for all of us. London has more knowledge-based jobs than Paris, Frankfurt, Berlin and Milan combined  and our economy depends on being able to attract the brightest and best from around the world.

According to a recent Deloitte report, we need an extra 150,000 people with knowledge-based skills every year  far more than the UK alone can supply.

And when it comes to entrepreneurs creating new jobs, here too you find that global talent is key. Almost half the digital businesses in Londons Tech City were started by people born overseas  including Farfetch, Deliveroo and Transferwise. Unfortunately, the Government has no idea how companies will cope if thousands of skilled workers can no longer come here  or how visas will be apportioned.

As with most badly-thought-through policies, its small businesses that will be hit hardest. Theyre the ones who can least afford to lose out on the smartest recruits  and who will struggle most to pay the crippling legal costs and fees of our bureaucratic immigration system.

No wonder most Cabinet ministers privately admit its a terrible policy. It doesnt have to be like this. Of course the UK needs controlled immigration  but that would best be done with an Australian-style points system that means only workers with the right skills can come here, while avoiding an arbitrary cap on numbers thats totally unconnected to how the economy is doing.

As the Chancellor Philip Hammond said recently: You will not find, if you walk around towns in Britain and ask people how they feel about migration, that they have a problem with people with high skills coming to the UK because they recognise that those people make a positive contribution to the UK economy.

Hes right. The migration cap will do nothing except damage the economy and destroy jobs. London has always resisted this type of grandiose top-down scheme. This time will be no different.

From drains and dishwashers to being a true master of his art

Humble beginnings: Philip Glass worked as a plumber before becoming a composer

The hottest ticket in town tonight is at the Barbican for the British premiere of American Style, the new work by minimalist composer Philip Glass in collaboration with Laurie Anderson. (Its such a hot ticket that it had sold out before I could get one. Ill be at home instead.)

Glass is now seen as one of the most influential artists around, but it was a hard slog to get there. Until he was in his 40s, he worked as a plumber and drove taxis, and wrote music whenever he had a spare moment.

In his autobiography, Glass tells a story about installing a dishwasher in Manhattan, and looking up to find the famous art critic Robert Hughes staring at him in disbelief. But youre an artist, protested Hughes. I explained that I was an artist, recalls Glass, but I was sometimes a plumber as well and he should go away and let me finish.

So when someone comes over to fix your washing machine, look closely  it might just be the next musical genius of our age.
S o the Labour Party manifesto includes introducing a 45 per cent tax rate for those earning over 80,000, and 50 per cent for those earning more than 123,000 a year. Perhaps I could point out to Jeremy Corbyn that the last Labour government introduced a higher rate of tax for those earning over 100,000  not 45 or 50 per cent but in excess of 60 per cent.

This policy, which is not index-linked, reduces the personal tax allowance by 1 for each 2 earned over 100,000 and thus imposes a much higher effective tax rate on earnings between 100,000 and almost 125,000.

Could this be another instance of Labour not being able to do its sums, or is it just another desperate case of headline-grabbing?

Carol Perry



Undoubtedly the most eye-catching policy in Labours manifesto was the increase in income tax for high-earners, which would fund more free childcare and the NHS. It would be very disappointing if voters did not see this as a chance to improve our failing welfare system.

It is important that people compare these important policies to what the Tories are going to do. After all, this isnt a presidential race or about which leader is more popular. We need a party that is going to stand up and save our public services  and Corbyn has demonstrated that this is what we would get from a Labour government.

Jim Collins



According to Jeremy Corbyn his 136,000 salary does not mean he is wealthy. Tell that to the teachers, emergency service workers and Army officers who earn a lot less.

The average salary for employees in the UK is 27,000 and many people take home a much smaller amount. However, I doubt Corbyns ridiculous assertion will be challenged by grassroots Labour supporters. After all, they never question their union bosses, who have lived high on the hog for decades.

Robert Readman



For years, successive governments have failed to reform health and social care to cater for our ageing population, leading us to this current state of crisis. It is encouraging, then, that social care appears to be high up the political agenda in the election.

We hope all parties will acknowledge the importance of retirement housing by making it easier for providers to build more while also supporting existing housing schemes. But any new government must turn its words swiftly into action. It is time we stopped associating the word crisis with the wellbeing of our countrys most vulnerable people.

Jane Ashcroft, chief executive, Anchor

Join the conversation: #eselection2017



We must pay our debts to the EU

I am amazed your correspondents suggest that Britain can just walk away from what are arguably legal commitments to pay money to the EU [Letters, May 15]. It is just like a tenant doing a moonlight flit from a property without paying the rent.

Does anyone really imagine that the rest of the world will look favourably on a nation which wishes to trade but doesnt have much of a reputation in international financial circles? Why should any foreign nations sign any agreements at all with a Britain which, if it is a laughing stock now, will have developed into an international guffaw in the future?

Michael Rolfe



Regeneration only benefits developers

Haringey is one of many London councils which wants to knock down council estates in the name of regeneration. It wants to redevelop estates in Tottenham with the help of property company Lendlease.

In Southwark, the most recently built Elephant Park block has 51 flats, all of which have been sold abroad. There is nothing being built here for people on average earnings with average savings, never mind the poor.

This is regeneration solely for the profit of developers. For tenants, it is social cleansing and means the break-up of communities.

Paul Burnham



Teach staff to treat health conditions

The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Nasar Ahmed highlights a need for schools to have the right support in place for children with health conditions [May 15]. The coroner found that his care plan lacked crucial information and that school staff were unfamiliar with healthcare information.

With epilepsy affecting one child at every primary school on average, it is crucial that staff understand when to give emergency medication or call an ambulance. Without the right intervention, children are at risk.

Carol Long, CEO, Young Epilepsy

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MPs should help combat filthy air

Your excellent article, Ministers must clean up air quality in their backyards, May 9, might well include many others not named in your paper. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon will spring to mind for some of your readers commuting back to Sevenoaks, which is his constituency.

People have been banging on his door for a decade to try to get help with solving the local traffic nightmare and introducing air quality management areas, but he has done little about either.

Perhaps, in order to gain their support, he could pledge to reinstate the long overdue missing east-facing slip roads in the vicinity of junction five of the M25 by Sevenoaks, which undoubtedly would improve air quality in one part of Kent.

Tim Shaw



I live in Putney, a constituency represented by Education Secretary Justine Greening, an area highlighted as having blackspots of filthy air. These concerns were an issue two years ago when she was re-elected as our MP.

Interestingly, I recently received a Tory election leaflet with the heading Protecting our local quality of life in Putney. Given the current levels of pollution, I dont consider Greening is safeguarding our quality of life.

Neil Partridge

Join the conversation: #escleancityviews



Chelsea held all the aces this season

While not disagreeing with Gary Cahill that Chelseas Premier League title triumph deserves acclaim, there are three factors that distinguish them from Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea were not in European competition this season and therefore played fewer games than Spurs, meaning their players could rest longer between games. Spurs also cannot fund big-money signings such as Willian and Eden Hazard and their wage structure is more disciplined than Chelseas.

We are not comparing like-for-like teams  Chelsea are always more likely to win the league and should not be seeking respect.

Larry Sequeira

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Lucinda Chambers is stepping down from her role as fashion director of British Vogue.

Following 36 years at the magazine, she has confirmed that she will depart this summer.

Long-term editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman, who also leaves the publication in August, told Vogue.co.uk: "Lucinda has been the most wonderful creative collaborator, as well as friend, throughout my whole editorship.

"She has produced many of the most influential and inspiring fashion shoots in the world during her time as fashion director of this magazine as well as a huge number of our most remarkable covers.

Iconic Lucinda Chambers Vogue covers - in pictures 1 /17 Iconic Lucinda Chambers Vogue covers - in pictures Vogue Vogue Vogue Vogue Vogue Vogue Vogue Vogue Vogue Vogue Vogue Vogue Vogue

"It is impossible to overstate her vision, commitment, imagination and her ability to bring the best out of teams that work with her. I, like her many admirers, will be excited to see what she produces in her next chapter."

On the frow: Alexandra Shulman and Lucinda Chambers / Dave Benett

Chambers, 57, who started as PA to legendary editor Beatrix Miller before becoming [then junior editor] Grace Coddingtons assistant, has styled some of British Vogue's most iconic covers including the Duchess of Cambridge's first shoot for any title, for the June 2016 issue of Vogue in conjunction with the National Portrait Gallery.

Speaking to the Evening Standard she said: It was obvious from the start that I wouldnt be able to do my usual ball gowns and Wellington boots - as one paper put it - which is my natural instinct.

On today's announcement, she stated: "I adore British Vogue and am so very proud to have been a part of it for so long."

This marks a new chapter for the magazine which will see incoming editor Edward Enninful take over in August.
B ritains ambassador to Austria described how he had to flee from a massive wild boar as it chased him through woodland in Vienna.

Leigh Turner described how he came across a group of the animals while out walking before an adult boar charged at him in the Austrian capital.

He was forced to scramble to safety up a pile of wet tree trunks, receiving minor injuries in the process.

On his blog, the ambassador said the boar did not catch up with him as he fled through he Lainzer Tiergarten nature park.

Britain's Ambassador to Austria Leigh Turner was chased by a wild boar / AFP/Getty Images

In the post published on Monday, Mr Turner shared a photo of what he calls a pity-inducing splint on his hand.

A couple of the adults started, obviously disturbed by my arrival.

"I remembered that in this situation you were supposed to avoid alarming the animals. So I began, slowly, to walk away from the group, he wrote.

It was at this point at I heard the thundering sound behind me and turned to discover I was in a dangerous situation.

"Not having prior experience of boar attacks, I ran, seeking refuge.

"A pile of tree-trunks looked easier for me to climb than for the boar; I attempted to scale it and slipped on the wet wood, scratching and bruising myself in multiple locations as I scrambled to a place of safety.
L ondon painter Remi Rough is taking his street art style to France for a show celebrating four decades of graffiti.

He is one of 50 artists being exhibited, with his work including a giant mural on La Condition Publique arts centre in Roubaix, where the event is being held.

Curator Magda Danysz, who runs a gallery in Charlotte Street as well as in Paris, traces the street art scene from Seventies New York onwards in Street Generation(s), running until June 18.

The work of South Londoner Rough, who has taken his street art as far afield as Gambia and Dubai, can be seen around the capital with his trademark large-scale murals in locations including Walthamstow and East Dulwich.

Arts picks of the week: 15th-21st May 1 /7 Arts picks of the week: 15th-21st May Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour This glorious celebration of female friendship is making its way to the West End, after recently being crowned best comedy at the Olivier Awards. Youll laugh, youll cry, and youll respect this group of choir girls for smuggling so much Sambuca on a school trip.



Until September 2, Duke of Yorks Theatre Museums at Night Festival Over 30 museums and galleries across the capital will be putting on special night-time events this week for the return of the Museums at Night Festival. See cultural hot spots in a different light (well, it will be a bit darker actually) with a range of fun on offer including a life drawing class in the Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College.



May 17-20, locations across London; museumsatnight.org.uk Ghost Dances This much loved work is an integral part of Ramberts repertoire and forms part of the dance curriculum in schools. Its a stirring tribute to the victims of the Pinochet regime, choreographed by Christopher Bruce in 1981, and it returns to the London stage this week for the first time in 14 years.



May 16-20, Sadlers Wells; sadlerswells.com Alchemy Festival The Southbank Centre celebrates the UK and South Asias cultural connections with this annual celebration of creativity, now in its eighth year. Featuring contemporary dance, performance, music and literature, it is the biggest festival inspired by South Asian culture outside of the subcontinent.



May 19-29, Southbank Centre; southbankcentre.co.uk Life of Galileo Brechts play about Galileo shows how raging people can get if you tell them things they dont want to believe - it may be the perfect play for a post-truth age. And theres a lot to get excited about in the Young Vics production: Joe Wright directs, The Chemical Brothers Tom Rowlands has created original music, 59 Productions have used their dazzling visuals to turn the auditorium into a planetarium, and Yerma star Brendan Cowell takes the title role.



Until July 1, Young Vic; youngvic.org Royal Ballet's mixed programme There are four offerings in the Royal Ballets mixed programme, which begins this week. Audiences can enjoy celebrated works from celebrated choreographers William Forsythe and George Balanchine, a revival of Christopher Wheeldons Strapless, and a new abstract ballet by Liam Scarlett - a perfect ballet pick n mix.



May 18-30, Royal Opera House; roh.org.uk Bill Cooper Mat Collishaw: Thresholds Want to go to a photography exhibition form 1839? Well, you can. Matt Collishaws new virtual reality artwork transports visitors back to the time when British scientist William Henry Fox Talbot presented his first photographic prints. Including a soundscape featuring the sound of Chartist protestors who rioted on the Birmingham streets at the time, it promises to be an immersive experience.



May 18 - June 11, Somerset House; somersethouse.org.uk

He has been working as a street artist since the 1980s, creating murals and also showing work in galleries, and is known for created abstract images featuring coloured shapes and straight edges.
I ts an unwritten job requirement that young chefs have to be inflammable. Ive set myself on fire about 20 times, says Trullos Conor Gadd, one of five chefs who will join redoubtable restaurateur Claude Bosi on June 27 for his Young Chefs Dinner during London Food Month, the first of a yearly series.

You have a chefs towel sitting beside a flame, you fling it over your shoulder and before you know it half your head is on fire. Thats the most common mistake Ive made, says Gadd.

If you can stand the heat, though, you can stay in the kitchen. For Bosi, perseverance is key. Ive been doing this for 30 years. When I told my father I wanted to be a chef, he said once you start, you cant stop it, he says. The French chef is behind the rebirth of South Kensington landmark Bibendum, as well as the recently closed two Michelin-starred Hibiscus. Last night I finished at 10 to two, and I was back here for half eight this morning. Its a hard job. You decide to do it and its your whole life.

Alongside Gadd will be Sosharus Alex Craciun, Anglos Jack Cashmore, Clove Clubs Chase Lovecky and Lornes Peter Hall, chosen by LFM's creative directors Grace Dent and Tom Parker Bowles alongside Claude Bosi. These future stars will cook a five-course dinner at Bibendum under Bosis watchful eye. Theyre chefs who love the job, who take great delight in using seasonal produce, and who have got where they are because they put their heads down and work hard.

Bosi says the greatest reward is not the Michelin stars but having a bustling restaurant that people come back to for lunch and dinner every day. He tells his chefs that customers give you the money theyve been working for, so you need to be able to deliver every day. So how do Bosis young guns measure up?

Chase Lovecky, The Clove Club

Lovecky, 30, was born in Maine, USA, and came to the Michelin-starred Shoreditch restaurant via Momofuku in New York and Sydney  he met his current employer, Isaac McHale, Down Under. When you get to a new place, keep your head down and work hard. That will pave the way for success, he says. Growing up among Maines clam and lobster shacks, he has a passion for seafood but McHale has taught him a thing or two about Korean food. His Death Row dinner would be rice cakes with kimchi.

Signature dish: buttermilk chicken with pine salt.

Peter Hall, Lorne

The jump from chef to a restaurateur chef is a huge learning curve, says Hall, 32, who left The Square to open Lorne in February with sommelier Katie Exton. You want to spend time doing the things you love doing: dishes, food, and wine. Then all of a sudden youre spending whole mornings with the accountant.

He and his team of four can be found breaking down whole animals in the kitchen. You cant be squeamish. Its like working in a hospital, he says. Is he the finished product? There isnt a chef whos the finished article. Everybodys learning every day.

Signature dish: rhubarb, custard, gingerbread and pistachio.

Conor Gadd, Trullo

A handful of chefs, the superstars, have original ideas, says Gadd, 33. Ninety-nine per cent of other chefs get their ideas from being with people or in scenarios that inspire creativity.

His own ideas come from memories, like remembering a meal on a beach in Italy, which he brings to Trullo in Highbury. His best advice? The minute youre in the kitchen its a meritocracy. You could be a member of the royal family but if you cant handle it youre out quickly.

Signature dish: whole grilled mackerel with panzanella.

Alex Craciun, Sosharu

Everybody does one, two or three years in the kitchen and they want to become superstars, says Sosharus Alex Craciun, 31. He trained as an engineer and a hairdresser in Romania, where he was born, before following his love of cooking to Brazil, Copenhagen, Japan and London.

Here he worked with Jason Atherton at Gordon Ramsays Maze, then Pollen Street Social, and Sosharu, Athertons Japanese Izakaya-style restaurant.

Signature dish: temarki sushi rolls, tempura nori tacos filled with sushi rice and a variety of toppings.

Jack Cashmore, Anglo

The best praise you can get is from a fellow chef. Cashmore, 26, says: When someone like Claude asks you to work with him its like a small band going on tour with the Rolling Stones. He trained at Sat Bains in Nottingham, where he got a taste for the finer end for the restaurant scene, then went on to In de Wulf in Belgium.

I like to create menus that look light and simple but when you dig into them have depth, he says. You want people to ask: How did you do that?

Signature dish: burnt leek tart.

Tickets for the Young Chefs Dinner are 85 for canapes, amuse-bouche and five courses, 140 for the same plus matching wines.
The Madison City Council on Tuesday approved $1.9 million in additional funds to expand the plan of a Near East Side parking garage, two weeks after it denied the same request.

Council members voted 16-3 to expand the public 656-stall parking ramp planned for the corner of East Main and South Livingston streets.

At the councils last meeting May 2, the proposal failed to reach the 15-vote threshold needed to amend the citys capital budget on a 14-4 vote. But Ald. Ledell Zellers, whose district includes the northern part of the Near East Side, was absent from the May 2 meeting and requested the City Council reconsider the proposal.

The approval brings the projects total cost to $18.2 million for the four levels of parking and a separate 9,500-square-foot retail component.

Opponents of the additional spending argued the lease rate that nearby developments will pay to occupy a majority of the spots during the daytime is not equitable compared to what people pay for public parking ramp spots Downtown.

Gebhardt Developments Cosmos project and American Family Insurances Spark building, slated for the 800 block of East Washington Avenue, will lease 550 spaces for daytime use as neither of the buildings will have on-site parking.

The lease agreement with the city has rates starting at $56 per space per month.

The no vote is to stop an incredibly inequitable pricing scheme, Ald. David Ahrens said. Overwhelmingly, this is a private garage.

Sabrina Tolley, assistant manager for the Madison Parking Utility, said under the current lease agreement, the ramp would be able to cover its capital, debt and operating costs.

Supporters argued the ramp will not just benefit the private developments but can be used for visitors to Breese Stevens Field, Central Park and the growing number of neighborhood businesses during the evenings and weekends.

Zellers touted the ramp as a buoy to economic development on the Near East Side, saying the public garage makes sense for us as a city who wants to encourage more employment in this area.

Police policy items

The City Council also adopted on a voice vote 13 police policy recommendations Tuesday despite some lingering concern from Police Chief Mike Koval about directing police operations.

Council members voted to adopt a set of recommendations that directs city committees, Koval and the council itself to make changes to policing policy, procedures and practices. The Presidents Work Group on Police and Community Relations, formed last September, crafted the recommendations as short-term measures before California-based consultant OIR Group conducts a $400,000 study into the Madison Police Department.

Ald. Paul Skidmore appeared to be the lone dissenter during the voice vote.

Koval said in a May 11 letter to council members that he is willing to work on the substantive components of the six items related to the police department. But he asked that the council remove any compulsory language from those recommendations, questioning the potential political influence it could cause on himself and future police chiefs.

We are not against accepting these lawful recommendations. In fact, we support these recommendations, Koval said Tuesday. In the operational phases, police do not want to be seen as directed by politicians.

He said he was unclear why these recommendations were brought forth before the OIR report was finished.

But Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff said that any differences in OIRs recommendations would supersede the work groups set of recommendations.

That is just the work we do. That is what a legislative body does, she said.

Several council members lauded the work Koval and the police department do and his commitment to work on the work groups recommendations.

He is our chief, and we have his support, said Ald. Denise DeMarb. Im super happy about that.

The recommendations range from directing Koval to develop a comprehensive backup policy for officers to having the chief provide quarterly updates to the City Council on police-related statistics.

The changes to police policies are meant to improve community relations with officers and the police department.

This will begin to restore public trust, said Ald. Samba Baldeh.

Ald. Maurice Cheeks said he has received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the changes.
T he Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13  is being made into a musical to mark the hapless teens 50th birthday.

The stage version of Sue Townsends much loved diarist will come to Menier Chocolate Factory in July in a co-production with the Curve Theatre in Leicester, where it originally premiered in 2015.

Townsend, who passed away at the age of 68 in 2014, was celebrated for the Adrian Mole series, documenting the struggles of a self-styled misunderstood teenage intellectual. It began life as a Radio 4 play, before the first book was published in 1982, with eight further books published as part of the series.

The production is directed by Luke Sheppard, who previously directed the Olivier award winning London production of Lin-Manuel Mirandas In the Heights. Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary have written the book, music and lyrics.

It will preview from July 14 and run until September 9.
T he best conversations arent about what you say, they are about what you hear.

Yet, as much as we hate to admit it, we love to talk about ourselves. In fact, humans dedicate 30 to 40 per cent of their verbal output solely to self-disclosure. This number balloons to 80 per cent on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. And when people talk about themselves, it pays to be interested. Not just feigning interest, mind you  genuinely interested.

Harvard neuroscientists Diana Tamir and Jason Mitchell found that something changes in our brain when we talk about ourselves. Activity increases in the brain regions that form the mesolimbic dopamine system. Keyword: dopamine. Talking about ourselves gives us pleasure.

So to leave a positive impression, does this mean we should all go around being mostly silent during our interactions? Definitely no. Being interested is only the first piece of the puzzle.

As a human behaviour investigator, I study the hidden forces that drive our behaviour patterns in my lab  the Science of People. Over the past decade, Ive developed shortcuts, formulas, and blueprints for getting along with anyone.

Below are the three skills Ive found that will have you leaving any social interaction as the most memorable person in the room.

SKILL #1: BE A HIGHLIGHTER

I have a moderate obsession with office supplies. Nothing gets me going like a fresh pack of snazzy pens, a bunch of little notebooks, and a colourful array of sticky tabs. I remember inheriting my first bright yellow highlighter from my older brother  and by inherited, I do mean stolen from his backpack.

It was such a game-changer! That little stick of brightness helped me learn faster, remember more and emphasise important points. The best communicators do the exact same thing  they serve as conversational highlighters. They listen to learn more about a person, to remember what was said and then find the important points to act upon.

Its time to hack the art  and science  of listening. You can do this by being a highlighter: Bring out the best in people by highlighting their strengths. When you know what to listen for, you know exactly how to respond.

Highlighting is also a way of practising more refreshing and honest interactions. Highlighting is not about sugar-coating, its not about brown-nosing, and its not about sucking up. Its about honouring what you truly find noteworthy and getting real conversations started.

Emily McDowell has made an entire business out of speaking truth by highlighting people. And it happened by accident. In 2012, Emily had an idea for a different kind of Valentines Day card. She wanted to help the people on Valentines Day who are dating but not officially in a relationship.

So she printed up 100 copies of this card at a local printer and put it up on Etsy in late January 2013. She called it The Awkward Dating Card.

Talk about a conversation-sparker! Her cards raw honesty and humour took the internet by storm. Three months later, she got an order from Urban Outfitters for 96,000 cards. Emily started creating more honest posters, pins, tote bags, and paper products that help highlight anyone who receives them.

She has ridiculously candid birthday cards that say, Thinking about you is like remembering I have ice cream in the freezer.

I was turned onto Emilys amazing highlighting approach when someone handed me a card that said, I notice how awesome you are. It made my day! I then got myself a pack of McDowells cards to hand out that say, I love the shit out of you and You dont suck.

McDowells cards are powerful because they give both compliments and truth. Anyone can be a Hallmark card  doling out bland flattery and boring cliches. But highlighting is about more than just giving regular praise. Like Emily McDowell does with her cards, it is about truly expecting the best from people and helping everyone in your life perform, act, and show up as the best, most honest version of themselves.

The Pygmalion Effect

There is a famous Greek myth about the sculptor Pygmalion. According to legend, Pygmalion used a large piece of ivory to carve his vision of the ideal woman. His statue was so beautiful and realistic that he fell in love with it. Embarrassed and ashamed to admit his desires, Pygmalion made offerings to the love goddess Aphrodite. At her altar, he secretly prayed to meet a woman who would be the living likeness of my ivory girl.

When Pygmalion got back to his studio, he planted a soft kiss on the statue. To his surprise, he found the ivory lips warm. When he kissed her again, the statue came to life. Pygmalion then married the woman of his own creation.

The Pygmalion myth is about the self-fulfilling power of expectation. Pygmalion created a blueprint of what he wanted and then it came to life.

In other words, great expectations are met with greatness. Psychologists have found that this idea is no myth. This phenomenon is called the Pygmalion effect.

One study found that when voters were told they were more politically active than their peers (even if they were actually chosen at random), they had a 15% higher turnout rate than the control group. When donors are told that they are above-average givers (even if they are not), they in turn donate more to become above-average givers. When hotel maids are told that they have a high-intensity, calorie-burning job, they in turn burn more calories. When a computer gives automated compliments to students, those students perform better on tasks  even when students know those compliments are automated.

Positive Labels

Humans love to be given positive labels. They improve our self-image and gently push us to be better versions of ourselves. So as you use conversation-sparkers and see what unexpected directions they lead you in, allow yourself to be impressed by the person across from you. Listen for their eloquent ideas. Find ways to emphasise their strengths. Celebrate their excitement.

Take the rather silly example of the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter series. At the beginning of each school year, Hogwarts students are sorted into different houses by a magical hat that reads their minds, taking full measure of their hidden skills. Each house is known for different strengths, and as they move to the higher grades, students defining characteristics become more and more pronounced. Students in Slytherin tend to be sly, savvy, and interested in the dark arts, whereas those in Hufflepuff often end up in care-taking magical jobs like herbology and care of magical creatures. For better or for worse, the clearer the labels were given, the more we embody them.

Here are some examples you could use:

You know everyone  you must be a great networker!

Im amazed by your dedication to this organisation  they are lucky to have you.

You are so knowledgeable in this subject  thank goodness you are here.

Exponential Excitement

Another way of highlighting is to celebrate the victories of others as if they were your own. Good feelings multiply around other good feelings, and divide when they are not matched. When you see someone who is proud, excited or passionate, mirror and match it. This associates you with their feelings of pleasure.

You can say something simple:

I am so thrilled for you!

How wonderful that must be!

That is just the best news, congrats!

When I see something  anything  thats awesome, I always take the opportunity to highlight. I tell my barista his latte art is gorgeous. I gush over my friends new haircuts. I send out postcards telling people theyre ballers. Yes, really.

SKILL #2: BE A RAVER

Want to know one of the biggest missed opportunities in social situations? Introductions. I get some version of this email multiple times per week:

Hey Vanessa  I wanted to intro you to Dave. Dave, here is that intro you were asking for. Hope you two connect.

Boring! I have no idea who he is or why I should know him. The same thing happens at networking events, client meetings, and conferences. I am almost always introduced to someone in the most boring, generic way possible:

Vanessa, meet John; John, meet Vanessa.

This is a waste of an opportunity! Seize introductions as the perfect way to highlight people. Even if you have only known them for a few minutes, you can find something to rave about.

Vanessa, meet Dave. He is killing it in the software industry and just had a hugely successful launch.

Joe, meet Sue. She is an incredible painter and one of the most talented artists I know.

Kirk, let me introduce you to Annie. We just met and she is telling me the most fascinating story of her trip to South Africa.

You can even do this when youre the one introducing yourself:

Its so nice to meet you! I have heard that you have an incredible blog. Please tell me all about how you got all of your success.

Great to know you, a friend of John is a friend of mine. He always knows the most interesting people.

Its a pleasure! Your name tag says you work at Kens Bakery  they are my favourite pizza in town! Have you always been a pizza aficionado?

Why are raving introductions so powerful? First, you give people positive labels right at the start. Second, you tee up a great conversation and possible discussion topics for the people involved. Third, you get people talking about themselves  what they do and who they are, which produces dopamine. Yes, a raving introduction is ALSO a conversational spark. Boom: win-win-win.

SKILL #3: DONT BE A GOLEM

Do you know what the opposite of the Pygmalion effect is? The Golem effect.

The Golem effect is when low expectations lead to poor performance. Major Wilburn Schrank decided to test the Golem effect on incoming United States Air Force freshmen. Schrank randomly assigned labels to a group of 100 enlisted airmen at the US Air Force Academy Preparatory School. They were given one of five different made-up ability levels. The US military is all about labels, rank and position, so Schrank wanted to know if these labels have any effect on academic performance. Sure enough, for all of the data sets, the airmen who received the worst labels also performed the worst.

The Golem effect can have devastating consequences across the board. Dr. Brian McNatt found that the Golem effect is especially prevalent in the workplace. Think of bosses who pick favourites. Heres what happens:

Jeff is the boss. He hires a new sales associate from his alma mater, XYZ University. He takes her under his wing, they grab lunch more often, he gives her the best assignments. After all, Jeff thinks anyone from his alma mater has the best possible education, and he wants his fellow alumni to succeed. She benefits from the Pygmalion effect. Jeff expects the best from her and she performs at her best. Other employees see this favouritism and feel left out. One particular manager, Ken, went to ABC University, XYZs rival. Jeff is constantly ribbing Ken  jokingly, of course. Ken doesnt get invited to watch games at the bosss house on weekends. Jeff teases Ken for not being able to get into XYZ  Ken knows hes kidding, but feels the sting anyway.

Hallway chit-chat and water-cooler conversations matter. Expecting the best is not just important for new people, but also to build up the existing people in your life. What are you saying about and to your colleagues?

Being a highlighter is about constantly searching for the good in people. When you tell people they are good, they become better. When you search for whats good, you feel great.

We remember people who make us feel good and who make us want to be the best version of ourselves. You can optimise an interaction by expecting optimal outcomes. Elevate people by hacking listening, highlighting, and expecting the best in those around you. Being a highlighter helps you be the highlight.

Vanessa Van Edwards is Lead Investigator at the Science of People  a human behaviour research lab. As a published author and speaker she runs original research experiments on topics such as the science of attraction, human lie detection, body language hacks, and other people skills at ScienceofPeople.com. Her latest book, Captivate: The Science of Succeeding With People (published by Portfolio Penguin) was chosen as one of Apples Most Anticipated Books of 2017.
A 13-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of raping another teenage boy in a broad daylight attack in north London.

Police are investigating an alleged rape in Roe Green Park, Kilburn, at about 9am on Tuesday.

A forensic tent was set up at the scene and was still in place on Wednesday, witnesses said.

A Met Police spokesman said: Police investigating a rape in Roe Green Park, Kingsbury Road, at around 9am on Tuesday, May 16, have made an arrest.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested on Wednesday, May 17 on suspicion of rape.

"He remains in custody at a north London police station.

The victim, a boy aged in his early teens, was assaulted by another male in the park.

Schools in the area reportedly sent pupils home after hearing about the attack and warned students to avoid the park.

Officers from the Mets Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command are investigating.
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a string of alleged sex assaults in south London.

Detectives had linked the sexual offences in the Clapham and Wandsworth areas of south-west London after they occurred over the past week.

The Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday that a 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape.

He is in custody at a south London police station.

In the first alleged incident  at around 4am last Thursday  a woman, aged in her 40s, was followed from Clapham Junction and sexually assaulted by a man on Clapham Common North Side.

Detectives believe the same man had also followed a woman earlier that night at around 2.30am. The woman rang police to say she was being pursued.

And another woman, in her mid-20s, reported being followed home and sexually assaulted outside a block of flats in Clapham at around 11pm on Tuesday.

She was followed after getting off a train in Clapham Junction before being approached by a man in Falcon Road. The man walked off but attacked the victim in a nearby road.

The attacker finally fled after being disturbed by a neighbour.

On Wednesday, police put out a CCTV image of a man they wanted to trace in connection with the attack before making a fresh plea following details of last nights assault.

Officers have been carrying out extra patrols around the area to provide a greater police presence.
P olice are continuing to hunt for a sex attacker who is believed to have struck for a second time in south London.

Detectives have warned the man could strike again after they linked the latest assault to another sex attack last week.

A woman in her mid-20s was followed home and sexually assaulted outside a block of flats in Clapham at around 11pm on Tuesday, police said.

She was followed after getting off a train in Clapham Junction before being approached by a man in Falcon Road. The man walked off but attacked the victim in a nearby road.

The attacker finally fled after being disturbed by a neighbour.

Police are linking Tuesday nights terrifying attack with a sexual assault on another woman at around 4am last Thursday.

Sought: Police want to speak to this man about the incident / Met Police

On that occasion the victim, aged in her 40s, was followed from Clapham Junction and sexually assaulted by a man on Clapham Common North Side.

Detectives believe the same man had also followed a woman earlier that night at around 2.30pm. The woman rang police to say she was being pursued.

In all three cases the suspect is described as black, aged in his late teens to early 20s and wearing a hooded training top.

On Wednesday, police put out a CCTV image of a man they wanted to trace in connection with the attack before making a fresh plea following details of last nights assault.

DCI Mel Laremore said: We now believe that last night our same suspect committed another sexual assault and it is very important that we identify and speak to this man as soon as possible.

"So, I am asking for the public's help. Do you recognise him or know where he is? If you do, please call us as soon as possible. It is possible that he may go on to offend again.

"Were you out last night around 11pm and saw this man hanging around Clapham Junction station? He may have spent some time around the area prior to this.

"One line of enquiry is that he has links to this area of London, so if you live in or regularly socialise around Clapham Junction please think very carefully if you have seen him.

"Local officers are carrying out extra patrols around the area to provide a greater police presence. This will continue for as long as it is needed."

The CCTV released by detectives shows the man they wish to speak to in St John's Road, Clapham Junction.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the investigation team on 020 8721 4122, police via 101, tweet @MetCC or give information anonymously via Crimestoppers.
A "disturbing" fetishist targeted lone women at London bus stops and performed sex acts while staring their feet.

Aaron Black, 30, of Boundfield Road, Catford, made "unsettling comments about feet" to the eight victims he preyed on over nine months.

He was today convicted at Inner London Crown Court of eight counts of outraging public decency, six charges of exposure and one sexual assault.

Black picked out seven of his victims at bus stops in Shoreditch and Elephant and Castle between July and September last year.

He performed obscene acts in front of four women in City Road, Old Street and Elephant and Castle roundabout on July 26.

He targeted two other victims in East Road, Shoreditch, on August 14 and Old Street on September 7, before sexually assaulting another woman in Harper Road, Southwark, on September 24.

He preyed on his eighth victim in Molesworth Street, Lewisham, on April 2 while awaiting trial for the earlier offences.

Varinder Hayre, Crown Prosecution Service reviewing lawyer for London, said: Aaron Black was a serial offender targeting lone women in a disturbing manner, often at bus stops.

The women he approached gave evidence of the alarm and distress his obscene acts caused them, with many of them subjected to unsettling comments about feet."

The victims gave evidence in court shielded from the Black by screens.

He will be sentenced on Thursday.
F our men have been arrested in east London over an alleged terror plot on UK soil, police have said.

Scotland Yard said the four men  aged between 18 and 27  were detained on suspicion of being concerned in committing, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism.

The Met said the four arrests, all in east London, were planned and part of an on-going investigation by the forces counter-terror unit and MI5.

The arrests were also linked to activity in the UK, police said.

Three of the men, aged 18, 25 and 27, were arrested at their home addresses in east London.

The fourth man, aged 24, was arrested near to his east London home.

Police also raided five residential addresses in east London and one business address on Wednesday.

The four suspects are currently in custody at a south London police station.
A woman has been rushed to hospital after she was stabbed at a home in south-east London.

Emergency services sped to the scene of the incident in Ravenscourt Road, Orpington, shortly before 3pm on Wednesday.

Witnesses described seeing at least five armed response vehicles descend on the area, while a police helicopter was also reportedly circling above.

A woman, who was found suffering a stab injury, was taken by paramedics to a south London hospital where she remains in a stable condition.

Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, police said.

A spokesman added: A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

The incident is being treated as domestic-related.

Enquiries continue.
After another shooting, Mayor Paul Soglin on Wednesday called for more help from witnesses and victims to prevent further gun violence that has plagued the city this spring.

Soglin also said that the city deployed for the first time a still-evolving Rapid Response of community members designed to help individuals and families connected to gun violence after Tuesday nights incident.

The shooting, the latest in a spate of gun-related incidents, took place at 7:39 p.m. at PDQ, 3528 E. Washington Ave., although the lone victim ran to a nearby address, police said. The victim, whose injuries were not life-threatening, was taken to a hospital.

The city has seen 68 confirmed shots-fired incidents this year through Tuesday, including 13 so far this month, police data show. A year ago, there were 12 incidents for the entire month of May.

The citys efforts to address gun violence include a police response and new community-based initiatives, but there is one thing not within our control, Soglin said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Witnesses and victims have to cooperate.

A common thread among gun violence incidents is the reluctance of witnesses and victims to identify shooters and others involved, to describe vehicles and provide license plate and other information, the mayor said. Its the major reason the police have so many unsolved crimes, he said.

The results can be tragic, Soglin said. A number of people refused to share information as tensions escalated and three homicides occurred over a three-week period roughly a year ago, he said.

A refusal to cooperate can be interpreted as obstructing justice, but the Dane County District Attorneys Office has not pursued such charges against victims to avoid adding further trauma, Soglin said.

The answer does not lie in an increased presence in neighborhoods because individuals will simply go elsewhere, but rather more community involvement, he said.

The mayor offered more detail about the Rapid Response, which is still taking shape but will use community outreach to engage individuals involved and families affected by gun violence. The current plan is to begin intervention using existing resources and collaboration, with an 11-member team from the city, Dane County, social service providers and others discussing long-term strategies that will lead to a formal proposal in the summer.

More than 60 people attended a public meeting for community organizations and partners Friday, the mayor said.

The Rapid Response would help relocate families in danger or help facilitate a funeral, and also connect people with social services, the mayor said. He declined to share details of the initial deployment of the response Tuesday night, but said he is encouraged by the early results.

The program is not led by police and isnt about investigations or funding informants, Capt. James Wheeler, the lone police representative on the 11-member team, said later. Its a response by community members and social service agencies, he said. The other aspect is prevention. These are people with credibility. Lets go into neighborhoods and talk to people and chill things down a bit.

Soglin said there are still many details to be ironed out before the program is formally considered by the City Council in a couple of months. The issues include keeping community members who participate safe, liability and compensation for service providers, he said. The council will consider the program proposal, specific authorizations for funding, and contracts with organizations that will employ individuals making responses, he said.

Were still in the infancy of this, Wheeler stressed. Lets drop the silos and put our resources together.

I think this is going in the right direction, said Ald. Sheri Carter, 14th District, who attended the public meeting last week and the mayors press conference Wednesday. We have to embrace this at all fronts.

Soglin said, This is new for us. There is no model out there we know of. This is going to be unlike just about anything weve done before.
A 17-year-old boy has been stabbed just yards from the sites of two knife attacks in the past week, one of which saw a young man die.

Police rushed to Southbury Road in Enfield on Wednesday just after 2pm after reports that a man had been stabbed in Bush Hill Park, close to George Spicer Primary School.

Londons Air Ambulance landed nearby and the boy was rushed to an east London hospital for emergency care. Police have since said his condition is stable.

A Met Police spokesman confirmed that police were called at 2.01pm to Southbury Road.

Emergency services arrived at Bush Hill Park / Twitter/tangoman68plus1

"Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance," said the spokesman.

"A boy, believed aged 17, was found with stab wounds.

Interview with Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gallagher - London Live

"It is believed he was stabbed in adjacent Bush Hill Park. The park remains closed at this stage."

No arrests have yet been made.

The crime scene at Southbury Road is just yards from where a man was left in a life-threatening condition after being stabbed in the head on Sunday, and minutes from Hertford Road, the scene of a triple stabbing on Saturday night that saw an 18-year-old die and left two other youths injured.

Enfield residents responded with incredulity on social media.

Another Enfield stabbing. This time Bush Hill Park. When will this ever end? asked one user of Twitter.

Meanwhile concerned parents took to Facebook, with one writing: My children are almost 7, 5 and 2. It turns my stomach when I think about their future living around here!

Knife crime is a growing concern for residents in the area.

An angry mother confronted campaigning politician Nick de Bois at a peace rally in Enfield earlier this week to demand more police to enforce the two strikes knife-crime law he pushed through Parliament.

Angela Bailey, 40, led more than a hundred protesters on a silent march to the Hindu temple in Enfield where 18-year-old Joao Gomes was stabbed to death on Saturday evening.

Mr de Bois, who hopes to recapture the Enfield North seat for the Tories from Labours Joan Ryan, who was also in attendance.

Anyone who saw the incident should all police on 101, tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
T hese are the five biggest stories from the last 24 hours in the capital and across the globe.

Corbyn unveils 48bn raid on better-off in Labour manifesto

Jeremy Corbyn promised to hit high-earners with a wave of tax hikes to fund a radical programme of hope costing 48 billion.

Manifesto launch: Jeremy Corbyn / EPA

People earning more than 80,000 would pay a 45p rate of income tax while the 50p rate would be reintroduced to hit those on more than 123,000. The changes aim to rake in 6.4 billion a year.

Attacking a Britain run for the rich, the elite and the vested interests, the Labour leader unveiled a 48.7 billion tax raid on high-earners, the City, big businesses, private schools and wealthy individuals who own properties, particularly in London, through offshore trusts in tax havens.

Leading economists, however, said Mr Corbyns fiscal revolution would raise the tax burden to the highest for 30 years, with costs probably escalating to about 75 billion a year once investment spending is included.

Ian Brady's ashes cannot be scattered on Saddleworth Moor, coroner says

A coroner is refusing to release the body of serial killer Ian Brady until assurances have been given that his ashes wont be scattered on Saddleworth Moor.

Killer: Ian Brady / PA

Opening an inquest into the 79-year-old killer's death, senior coroner for Sefton Christopher Sumner said he also wants confirmation assurances that a funeral director and crematorium willing to take Brady's body have been found.

Coroner's officer Alby Howard-Murphy said Brady's cause of death was corpul monale and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Mr Sumner told the hearing he had received a request to release the body of Brady, also known as Ian Stewart-Brady.

Triple rail strike set to cause Bank Holiday travel chaos

Bank Holiday travellers are facing rail chaos as Southern workers plan a 24-hour walk-out coinciding with strikes at two other train operators.

Commuters are facing fresh rail strikes / Jeremy Selwyn

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Southern Railway, Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North will walk out on May 30, the day after the next Bank Holiday.

The Southern dispute started over a year ago, with RMT members having already taken 31 days of strike action, while previous stoppages have also hit Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North over plans for driver-controlled operation on new trains being introduced in 2020.

Talks were held on Monday between the RMT and Southern, without any breakthrough to the row over changes to the role of conductors to on-board supervisors.

Yvonne Fletcher murder suspect freed 'after MI5 blocked evidence'

The killers of PC Yvonne Fletcher may never be brought to justice because crucial evidence has been blocked by British security services, police have said.

Yvonne Fletcher in her police uniform

Officers investigating the 1984 shooting of PC Fletcher said they know who is responsible but cannot prosecute because they have been blocked from using evidence in court over "national security" concerns.

The family of the former Met police officer said they are "deeply disappointed" at the announcement but praised police for "leaving no stone unturned" during the investigation.

A spokesman for the Met said in it had enough material to identify those responsible for the murder of 1984 PC Fletcher outside the Libyan People's Bureau.

Missing 6-year-old girl found 'safe' after thief sped off with her in the back of car

Police were urgently hunting for a six-year-old girl on Tuesday who went missing after a man stole her fathers car in Waltham Forest and sped off with her in the back seat.

Missing: Police are urgently searching for Beatrice

Beatrice Felicia was sitting in the car at around 6.30pm when her father met up with a man who was pretending to be interested in buying the vehicle.

But as Beatrices Dad looked on in horror, the suspect jumped in and sped off Leyton High Road with the child in the back.

Police said shortly after 9pm saying that Beatrice had been found "safe and well" in Leyton by her grandmother, adding they did not know how she got out of the car.
A father whose daughter went missing after a thief sped off in his car while she was on the back seat said today: I thought I would never see her again.

Beatrice Felicia Alin was sitting in the familys Volkswagen Passat in Leyton, east London, at around 6.30pm yesterday when her father met up with a man who said he was interested in buying the vehicle.

But as Beatrices father Stefan Alin looked on in horror, the suspect jumped in and drove off with the six year old still in the back.

The incident prompted a city-wide hunt by police which lasted nearly three hours. Beatrice was eventually found safe and well nearby by her grandmother just after 9pm.

The building worker, 27, originally from Romania, said: He obviously didnt see her. He just sped off, I was in shock. I thought I would never see her again.

Beatrice, 6, was found by her grandmother

Everything went through my mind. When we found her I was so relieved. Its a parents worst nightmare.

She said the thief had ordered her out of the car staying just get out.

Police said Beatrices father had arranged to meet the potential buyer near a Jet petrol station on Leyton High Road, around two miles north of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Stefan added: I advertised the car, the guy rang and said he wanted to see it and would pay good money. He came and seemed fairly normal.

Her father arranged to meet a man near the Jet petrol station on Leyton High Road / Google Street View

He was in the drivers seat and I was outside the car with the door open. Beatrice was in the back seat because we had been shopping.

He added: When we found her she was in shock but is very tough and has taken it well. We just want to cuddle her.

All the family have been round. We would like to thank everyone who helped us looking for Beatrice and appealing for information. We are very grateful.

Police are still trying to trace the suspect and the car, a six-year-old brown Volkswagen Passat - which was last seen heading towards Chadwell Heath.

The suspect is described as Asian and aged in his 30s with short dark hair and a dark beard, and he was wearing a dark jacket with white fur lining on the hood and green Nike TN trainers.

Detectives had issued an emergency appeal to find the youngster, who was wearing a pink flowery top and grey leggings.

The post was widely shared on social media sites such as Facebook, where one user wrote: I cant imagine the emotional mess and panic the parents must be experiencing.
O ne in five child deaths in an east London borough is due to the baby's parents being related, a shocking report has found.

Redbridge council found that 19 per cent of baby deaths in the borough over the last 8 years were because of consanguineous relationships, meaning marriages between couples who are second cousins or closer relatives.

A health and wellbeing board meeting heard that 9 per cent of the children who died were from Pakistani families, where consanguineous marriages are more common.

The practice of marrying a second cousin is not illegal in the UK.

According to the Ilford Recorder, councillor Joyce Ryan told the meeting she was worried that communities in the area were not heeding the warnings about the relationships.

She said: Although everyone is battling hard at this it is something that some communities struggle to accept and sometimes do not want to accept.

Redbridge council has pledged to better educate Asian communities / PA

In total, there were more than 200 child deaths in Redbridge between 2008 and 2016, with the council reviewing 80 per cent of them.

Twenty-nine per cent of those were unexpected.

Half of the child deaths were among children of Asian ethnicities.

In response to the figures, the council has pledged to introduce further education of Asian communities in Redbridge.

Vicky Hobart, Redbridges director of public health, accepted consanguinity is an issue in the borough, but called on residents not to misunderstand the report.

She told the meeting: Consanguinity is very common in many cultures and the worry with something like this is that we are dealing with very small numbers.

It is important to note trends but we should not read too much into it.

The number of children dying from chromosomal, genetic or congenital anomalies was the second highest cause of death in 2009, with the number of consanguineous parents in the borough at their highest.

Consanguineous couples in Redbridge have declined since, with a similar fall in the number of child deaths from genetic anomalies.

The report examined all deaths in the borough of children up to the age of 18 since April 1st 2008, with the exception of stillborn babies and terminated pregnancies.

Details on deaths were supplied by the coroner to the Redbridge Child Death Overview Panel, which compiled the report.
I t was one of London's stranger social experiments - dump 15,000 2p coins on a towpath and then film what happens.

AirBnB host Jamahl McMurran and his guest Lana Mesic, a photographer, dreamt up the stunt to use up a mound of coins left over after being used in an art installation.

They bagged them up and hauled them down to the towpath on the Regent's Canal before setting up a camera in Mr McMurran's flat overlooking the area.

The pair got four hours of footage before they scheme came to a halt when two thieves turned up and swiped the 300 pile.

The coins were put there as part of a bizarre social experiment / @JHM_UK

Before the theft, Mr McMurran and Ms Mesic caught on film a cyclist standing in the mound before picking a handful of coins up and tossing them over his head, and children playing in the pile.

Other people attempted to take as many coins as possible, including a teenage boy, but most were thwarted by their weight.

Some played in the coins while others were nonplussed / @JHM_UK

Mr McMurran, who works for investment firm Seedcamp, told the Standard he was gutted when the coins were taken so soon, but still thought the experiment had been incredible.

This cyclist paused for a moment, apparently grabbing a handful 'for coffee' / @JHM_UK

Ms Mesic, a Croatian artist now based in the Netherlands, had the coins leftover from an art installation and was struggling to find a way to transport them back to the Netherlands.

I suggested putting them by the river as a joke one night over a drink and she genuinely started contemplating it, explained Mr McMurran.

A woman bends down and runs her fingers through the coins / @JHM_UK

"The next day I got home and she was actually preparing to do it. We bagged up the coins and took them out and then set up the camera.

It was completely random but very exciting. I was annoyed I had to go to work and miss it but we had the camera up recording everything from my flat.

However two men spoiled the fun when they turned up and made off with the entire pile / @JHM_UK

"It was completely spontaneous and we had no idea what would happen. Some of the footage is absolute hilarious, that one guy who stood in the coins is magical.

I was gutted that those two guys came along and started taking them.

"I wanted a homeless person to find them or for the coins to stay there for longer.

"I decided to put a few of the pictures on Twitter as it's quite a fun story."

The coins were placed on the canal's towpath near Kingsland Street at 9am and were all gone by 12.40pm.
A pensioner has died after being hit by a car at a busy junction in south London

David Pugh, 77, from Mitcham, had been fighting for life following the collision in Garratt Lane on May 4.

On Wednesday, detectives revealed he had died from his injuries.

They have now made a fresh appeal for witnesses to the crash, which happened at 11.30am at the junction with Tooting High Street.

Mr Pugh was taken to hospital by paramedics after being hit by a Volkswagen Touran.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "On Monday, May 15 detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit were informed he had died on May 10. Next of kin are aware.

"Detectives are continuing to appeal for any witnesses who where in the area of Tooting High Street and the junction with Garratt Lane when the collision occurred."

The car's driver stopped at the scene and has not been arrested.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Met's Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 020 8543 5157 or tweet @MetCC.
A n unruly passenger has forced a London-bound Ryanair flight from Bulgaria to be diverted to Austria, a spokesman for the budget airline has said.

Tuesday's flight from Sofia to London was forced to stop in the Austrian city of Linz while the "disruptive" passenger was handed over to police.

A Ryanair spokesman said: "The aircraft landed normally and the passenger was removed and detained by police upon arrival, before the aircraft continued to London Stansted shortly after.

"We will not tolerate unruly or disruptive behaviour at any time and the safety and comfort of our customers, crew and aircraft is our number one priority."

Austrian state broadcaster ORF reported the man is a 46-year old Bulgarian national and the disruption was alcohol-related.
L ondon bombings hero Paul Dadge has revealed how helping the victims of the 7/7 terror attacks inspired his bid to become an MP.

Mr Dadge, 40, who is the Labour candidate for the Cannock Chase seat in Staffordshire, was thrust into the spotlight following the 2005 attacks after he was photographed helping the woman in the mask.

The powerful image of the former firefighter coming to the aid of then 29-year-old Davinia Turrell was widely broadcast after the bombings in which 56 people died, including the four attackers.

Mr Dadge, a Labour member of four years, is taking on Conservative Amanda Milling in the June 8 poll in a bid to overturn the majority of nearly 5,000 she secured in the last General Election.

He returned from London to live in Staffordshire full-time in 2006 where he runs his own IT company and volunteers as a first responder attending 999 calls across the county.

Mr Dadge is standing for election in the Cannock Chase seat

Mr Dadge told the Standard: If I hadnt been involved in 7/7, it wouldnt have led to a series of events that has encouraged me to take a stand, and not just against terrorism.

I have a background of helping people. I spent time as a firefighter. I work as a volunteer. I enjoy helping people. To me this is a natural step.

Cannock Chase 2015 MP: Amanda Milling Majority: 4,923 over Labour

I will do politics in a different way. I think people want politicians to be more human.

Mr Dadge described the Labour manifesto, officially launched on Tuesday, as the most exciting manifesto launched in his lifetime.

There are many positives; it offers many policies for people across the spectrum of society, he said.

Unfortunately a lot of the time people vote not on policies,but on the image of individual people. You can have all the policies in the world but if the leader is portrayed in a bad light by the media.

Jeremy Corbyn, he is somebody who talks from the heart. He is very open and honest. I think its extremely disappointing that the Prime Minister is refusing to debate with him.

Mr Dadge accused his Conservative rival Ms Milling of repeatedly voting with the Government rather than with the best interests of her constituents in mind.

He said it was frustrating to see what the Tories had done to the constituency citing cuts to NHS services and education.
B oris Johnson was reportedly confronted by a Sikh woman after he discussed alcohol during a visit to a Gurdwara.

The Foreign Secretary was visiting a Sikh temple in St Georges, Bristol where he made remarks about ending tariffs on whisky between the UK and India.

But a Sikh voter who was there berated him for his remarks, asking: How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple? The Sikh religion forbids drinking alcohol.

Mr Johnson is said to have apologised after she told him about alcoholism in her family.

BBC politics reporter Pete Simson, who witnessed the exchange, said in a series of tweets: Sensational gaffe by Boris. After promising free trade to end tariffs on whisky between UK & India, Sikh lady informs it's against religion.

She's absolutely livid. Boris Johnson apologises. "How dare you talk about alcohol in a Sikh temple.

She told him about alcoholism in her family. He's apologised several times.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: He was simply making the point that a free trade deal with, for example, India could be huge for both sides.

"He pointed out that in India billions of litres of whisky are consumed every year but there is a 120 per cent (customs duty) on imports of Scotch whisky and wouldn't it be great if we could have free trade."

A source close to Mr Johnson said claims of a gaffe were "rubbish".

The source said: "One lady expressed her views based on a personal situation but the other 30 attendees warmly welcomed his remarks."

The source said Mr Johnson only said sorry when expressing sympathy about her personal story, and not as an apology.

Ms Johnson was in Bristol to support Conservative candidate Theo Clarke.
F or a man defending the smallest majority in the capital, Conservative candidate Gavin Barwell is surprisingly confident.

This is a highly marginal seat where everyones vote counts, the Governments housing minister says of Croydon Central, which he won by 165 votes in 2015.

We are confident that we are going to do better and are going to work right up to 10pm on June 8 to get the best possible result for Theresa.

Mr Barwells attitude may stem from the fact that he literally wrote the book on carrying a difficult election  his paperback How To Win A Marginal Seat is priced at 12.99 by Biteback publishing  and that he has what he believes is a strong local record.

Back for a rematch is his Labour rival Sarah Jones, who lost out to him two years ago and is keen to focus her campaign on Southern rail. At East Croydon station, she hands out leaflets amid her supporters cry of sack Southern, vote Labour. Her pitch to passengers hurrying home is that their service could be better run if the Government allowed the delay-ridden franchise to be taken over by Transport for London.

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If Ms Joness party is to stand any chance at all of toppling Theresa May, then it cannot afford to lose in this south London seat. Jeremy Corbyn launched his campaign here, promising to return when we have a Labour MP to deliver for the people of Croydon.

In Mr Barwell, who is also the minister for London, the Labour insurgency faces a formidable obstacle. Moderate, classless and modern in his views, the father of three is not easily painted as a caricature Tory. He went to school in Croydon and served on the council before becoming an MP in 2010.

Mother-of-four Ms Jones is also local, moderate and, coincidentally, a communications professional who has worked on campaigns for government, charities and the Olympics.

She is keen to put Southern on the ballot paper but transport is just one of the local issues in this fight. Education funding, knife crime and the NHS are other key battlegrounds. Housing emerges as the main concern of one previous Tory voter among the commuters hurrying by  civil servant Amanda Debrah, 24.

Croydon Central 2015 winner: Gavin Barwell, Conservative Majority: 165

She wrote a dissertation on Margaret Thatcher as part of her history degree at Kings College London, but is considering switching because of her frustration at the lack of affordable housing.

My issue is making sure that people can afford to buy before they are 50, she says. Im living at home and worried that Im not going to be able to afford to live in London. A lot of my friends are the same  we feel a bit robbed as a generation.

On the Lawdon estate in Shirley, where Mr Barwell is canvassing, house-building rather than the lack of it is influencing some voters. Andrew Walmsley, 67, a retired minicab driver, says that he voted Liberal Democrat at the last election, but will back the Tories this time because of Mr Barwells record in opposing horrible housing plans for nearby Shirley Oaks. It would destroy the whole area. I will vote for you because of that, Mr Walmsley tells the Conservative during a canvassing visit. A Leave voter, he adds that he is also switching because the Lib Dems are too Europhile.

Schools of thought: Labours Sarah Jones with constituent Vicki Skowronska, on the school run with son Oliver / Alex Lentati

Later on, Ms Jones stands outside the Ark Royal Primary Academy, claiming that the school will lose six teachers because of government cuts. Her message resonates with some. Graphic designer Vicki Skowronska, 38, arriving to take her seven-year-old son Oliver into class, says education is one of the main issues for me  all the cuts and takes a leaflet from Ms Jones.

Hema Rathod, 36, a mother of two who moved to Croydon from Mumbai four years ago with her husband, did not vote in the last general election but will do this time, although she is undecided as to who she will back. It will be whichever party is doing things for immigrants more, she says. I dont like Brexit either. The world should be all together.

Both Mr Barwell and Ms Jones agree that decisions taken by such waverers will be vital. Each claims to be winning over former supporters of Ukip, whose candidate came third in 2015 with almost 10 per cent of the vote. Mr Barwell has an advantage of being the incumbent with a record of work as their MP. Michael Ellis, 58, an ex-London Underground manager, tells him that he needs to get rid of Southern but says that although he is not one of your party he will vote for him because he has done a lot for constituents.

Philip Mugabi, 52, a printworker who also has a buy-to-let flat, criticises the Governments decision to end tax relief on rental property and is worried about punitive action against diesel drivers. He says, however, that although he has voted Labour in the past, he may switch. They look like they have lost something, he says. When Tony Blair was around they were more vibrant.

Brexit is raised occasionally. Sandy Sequeira, 66, a retired academic at Birkbeck University, tells Mr Barwell that she fears a negative impact on education and scientific research.

Mr Barwell, who voted Remain, points out that Mrs May promised to protect science as a priority in EU talks. Mrs Sequeira, who has previously voted Lib Dem, replies its easy to say, adding: I have not made up my mind. There is no opposition and that concerns me. Jeremy Corbyns a good man but I dont think hes a politician.

Ms Jones admits that the negative perception of Mr Corbyn is frustrating. She did not vote for him in either leadership election. With three weeks left, she and Mr Barwell agree the seat could go either way. Its winning over the undecided, says Ms Jones. Its all to play for.
J eremy Corbyn is seen as a less toxic Labour leader than Tony Blair, according to a poll.

Thirty-one per cent of people said they would consider voting for Labour under Mr Corbyn's leadership, as opposed to just 23 per cent who said they could back the party under former Prime Minister Mr Blair.

The figure for those who would not consider voting Labour under Mr Corbyn stood at 53 per cent - compared to 61 per cent for Mr Blair.

Yvette Cooper was the least toxic figure in a GFK poll for Business Insider in which people were also asked to give views on former Labour leader Ed Miliband and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. But forty-five per cent of people still said they would not consider voting for former Shadow Home Secretary Ms Cooper.

Mr Corbyn was found to be more likely to attract more voters than any of the other figures mentioned in the survey, highlighting the problem Labour faces in finding a leader who can compete with the Prime Minister's high popularity ratings.

AFP/Getty Images

An Ipsos Mori poll for the Evening Standard poll found that Theresa May enjoys a huge lead over Mr Corbyn when people were asked who would make the most capable Prime Minister. In Aprils poll, 61 per cent of people said Mrs May would make the most capable PM, as opposed to 23 per cent who picked Mr Corbyn.

General Election 2017 Campaign - In pictures 1 /57 General Election 2017 Campaign - In pictures Jeremy Corbyn joins leaders for the BBC's Election Debate Stefan Rousseau/PA Prime Minister Theresa May samples cheese at the Royal Bath and West Show in Shepton Mallet Leon Neal/Pool/Reuters First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during the launch of the SNP General Election manifesto at Perth Concert Hall Jane Barlow/PA Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the launch in central London of a Liberal Democrats campaign poster attacking the Conservatives' school meals policy Victoria Jones/PA Jeremy Corbyn appears on The One Show BBC Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron and the party's local candidate Sir Simon Hughes are given a baking lesson at Comptoir Gourmand, an artisan bakery in Bermondsey, London Gareth Fuller/PA Prime Minister Theresa May answers questions from the studio audience during a joint Channel 4 and Sky News general election programme recorded at Sky studios Stefan Rousseau/PA Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is interviewed by Jeremy Paxman during a joint Channel 4 and Sky News general election programme 'May v Corbyn Live: The Battle for Number 10' at Sky studios Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Getty Images Home Secretary Amber Rudd (left) and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott appearing on the BBC One current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday May 28, 2017. Abbott has said she no longer opposed the security services as she insisted her time as a graduate civil servant would prepare her for becoming home secretary Jeff Overs/BBC/PA A new poster by the Green Party featuring pictures of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary either side US Preseident Donald J Trump Green Party/PA Conservative party leader Theresa May during the Welsh Conservative manifesto launch at Gresford Memorial Hall, Gresford, Wrexham Stefan Rousseau/PA Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott during General Election campaigning in Hull Chris Radburn/PA A man is arrested after protesting against fox hunting as Theresa May arrives at the Welsh Conservative manifesto launch at Gresford Memorial Hall, Gresford, Wrexham Stefan Rousseau/PA Green Party co-leaders Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley launch the Green Party's 'Green Guarantee' of key priorities for the party at a general election campaign event in London AFP/Getty Images Julie Etchingham presents the ITV Leaders' Debate, a live two-hour debate with Caroline Lucas, Tim Farron, Leanne Wood, Paul Nuttall, Nicola Sturgeon ITV/PA Conservative party leader Theresa May during her party's general election manifesto launch in Halifax Danny Lawson/PA Demonstrations take place before the arrival of Prime Minister Theresa May as she launches the Conservative Party Election Manifesto in Halifax Getty Images Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond listens as Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during an election campaign event in east London Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn launches the party's manifesto at the University of Bradford, in Bradford Nigel Roddis/EPA Prime Minister Theresa May meets Cathy Mohan at Abingdon market in Oxfordshire during an General Election campaign visit Stefan Rousseau/PA Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron leaves the Royal College of Nursing conference at Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre following a General Election campaign visit Gareth Fuller/PA Screengrab taken from Facebook Live broadcast, hosted by ITV News of Prime Minister Theresa May answering questions sent in by users of the social media website, with presenter Robert Peston ITV News Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking about national security and foreign policy at Chatham House in Londo David Mirzeoff/PA Jeremy Corbyn the leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party holds one year old Angelo during a campaign event in Harlow, Essex Neil Hall/Reuters Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reads with children as he visits Brentry Children Centre in Bristol on 21 April 2017 during Labour's election campaign. Steve Parsons/PA Jeremy Corbyn looks around as he arrives at Savoy Place. His vehicle hit BBC Cameraman Giles Wooltorton on the way into the garage entrance Neil P. Mockford/Getty Images British Trade Union leader Len McCluskey falls on the steps outside the Clause 5 Labour meeting to finalise the Labour manifesto in Londo Andy Rain/EPA Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller breaks down after receiving an ovation from the crowd during her speech at the Convention on Brexit in central London Andy Rain/EPA The Liberal Democrat party campaign bus is unveiled at an event at the Harts Boatyard on 01 May 2017 in Surbiton Leon Neal/Getty Images Co-Leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas, speaks during the launch of the Green Party Brexit policy at the Space Studio in London Stefan Rousseau/PA The Liberal Democrat party leader Tim Farron listens to a speech during an event at the Harts Boatyard on May 1, 2017 in Surbiton Leon Neal/Getty Images Anti-racism protesters speak to the media after being removed ahead of UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall's speech Jack Taylor/Getty Images UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall gestures as he makes a speech as the party launch their general election campaign at the Marriott County Hall Hotel on 28 April 2017 in London Jack Taylor/Getty Images Britain's opposition Labour party Leader Jeremy Corbyn walks past a bus shelter with Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton, and local councillor Satvir Kaur (right), before meeting local residents Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott Diane leaving Four Millbank in Westminster, London, following her stumbling explanation of how the party would fund its plans for 10,000 extra police in an interview that left her struggling to do the sums live on air. Victoria Jones/PA Philip Hammond and David Davis at a General Election campaign event in Central London Jeremy Selwyn Pensioner Malcolm Baker confronts Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron while he was the election campaign trail in Kidlington, near Oxford Sam Lister/PA Prime Minister Theresa May eats chips as she meets with residents in Mevagissey, south-west England Dylan Martinez/AFP/Getty Images Conservative party handout of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on a new poster, warning that families face a tax and debt bombshell under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership Conservative Party/PA Nick Clegg delivers a campaign speech on the European Union at the National Liberal Club in London Stefan Rousseau/PA Ukip leader Paul Nuttall (left) eats grapes during a walkabout in Dudley town centre in the West Midlands, with Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge (right) and Phil Durnell, West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Richard Vernalls/PA Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband retweeted a photo of him mowing a lawn whilst canvassing in his Doncaster North constituency Jane Nightingale Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement on 18 April calling for a general election Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The latest research comes after Mr Blair, who won three elections for Labour, said he was planning to come back and "get my hands dirty" as Britain grapples with Brexit.

GFK Research Director Keiran Pedley told Business Insider: "These results cast doubt on how successful any political comeback by Tony Blair would be.

General Election polls and projections: May 16

"Much has been written on Corbyns unpopularity but these results suggest that Tony Blair is even more unpopular with the public. His biggest problem in terms of political credibility is that he no longer has an obvious constituency in British politics.

"He is even divisive among Labour voters."



The online poll surveyed 1,952 British adults between May 3 and May 14.
Y oung renters will be offered rent to buy deposit-free homes under plans unveiled by the Liberal Democrats.

The rent-to-own initiative is one of the flagship policies aimed at enticing younger voters revealed in the party's General Election manifesto which will launch today.

The Lib Dems say they will also restore housing benefit to young people, bring in bus passes for 16-21 year olds with a two-thirds discount, and lower the voting age to 16 if they gain power.

The party has also pledged to boost education spending by 7 billion over five years, double the number of businesses that take apprenticeships, and extend free school meals to all primary school pupils.

General Election 2017: What you need to know

The rent-to-own scheme would see monthly rents used like a mortgage with working tenants owning their own home over a 30-year period.

The party would use a Housing and Infrastructure Development Bank to help firms and housing associations fund the building of rent to own homes.

Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron, who launches the manifesto later today, said: "You don't have to accept Theresa May and Nigel Farage's extreme version of Brexit that will wreck the future for you, your family, your schools and hospitals.

General Election 2017 Campaign - In pictures 1 /57 General Election 2017 Campaign - In pictures Jeremy Corbyn joins leaders for the BBC's Election Debate Stefan Rousseau/PA Prime Minister Theresa May samples cheese at the Royal Bath and West Show in Shepton Mallet Leon Neal/Pool/Reuters First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during the launch of the SNP General Election manifesto at Perth Concert Hall Jane Barlow/PA Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the launch in central London of a Liberal Democrats campaign poster attacking the Conservatives' school meals policy Victoria Jones/PA Jeremy Corbyn appears on The One Show BBC Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron and the party's local candidate Sir Simon Hughes are given a baking lesson at Comptoir Gourmand, an artisan bakery in Bermondsey, London Gareth Fuller/PA Prime Minister Theresa May answers questions from the studio audience during a joint Channel 4 and Sky News general election programme recorded at Sky studios Stefan Rousseau/PA Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is interviewed by Jeremy Paxman during a joint Channel 4 and Sky News general election programme 'May v Corbyn Live: The Battle for Number 10' at Sky studios Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Getty Images Home Secretary Amber Rudd (left) and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott appearing on the BBC One current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday May 28, 2017. Abbott has said she no longer opposed the security services as she insisted her time as a graduate civil servant would prepare her for becoming home secretary Jeff Overs/BBC/PA A new poster by the Green Party featuring pictures of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary either side US Preseident Donald J Trump Green Party/PA Conservative party leader Theresa May during the Welsh Conservative manifesto launch at Gresford Memorial Hall, Gresford, Wrexham Stefan Rousseau/PA Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott during General Election campaigning in Hull Chris Radburn/PA A man is arrested after protesting against fox hunting as Theresa May arrives at the Welsh Conservative manifesto launch at Gresford Memorial Hall, Gresford, Wrexham Stefan Rousseau/PA Green Party co-leaders Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley launch the Green Party's 'Green Guarantee' of key priorities for the party at a general election campaign event in London AFP/Getty Images Julie Etchingham presents the ITV Leaders' Debate, a live two-hour debate with Caroline Lucas, Tim Farron, Leanne Wood, Paul Nuttall, Nicola Sturgeon ITV/PA Conservative party leader Theresa May during her party's general election manifesto launch in Halifax Danny Lawson/PA Demonstrations take place before the arrival of Prime Minister Theresa May as she launches the Conservative Party Election Manifesto in Halifax Getty Images Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond listens as Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during an election campaign event in east London Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn launches the party's manifesto at the University of Bradford, in Bradford Nigel Roddis/EPA Prime Minister Theresa May meets Cathy Mohan at Abingdon market in Oxfordshire during an General Election campaign visit Stefan Rousseau/PA Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron leaves the Royal College of Nursing conference at Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre following a General Election campaign visit Gareth Fuller/PA Screengrab taken from Facebook Live broadcast, hosted by ITV News of Prime Minister Theresa May answering questions sent in by users of the social media website, with presenter Robert Peston ITV News Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking about national security and foreign policy at Chatham House in Londo David Mirzeoff/PA Jeremy Corbyn the leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party holds one year old Angelo during a campaign event in Harlow, Essex Neil Hall/Reuters Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reads with children as he visits Brentry Children Centre in Bristol on 21 April 2017 during Labour's election campaign. Steve Parsons/PA Jeremy Corbyn looks around as he arrives at Savoy Place. His vehicle hit BBC Cameraman Giles Wooltorton on the way into the garage entrance Neil P. Mockford/Getty Images British Trade Union leader Len McCluskey falls on the steps outside the Clause 5 Labour meeting to finalise the Labour manifesto in Londo Andy Rain/EPA Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller breaks down after receiving an ovation from the crowd during her speech at the Convention on Brexit in central London Andy Rain/EPA The Liberal Democrat party campaign bus is unveiled at an event at the Harts Boatyard on 01 May 2017 in Surbiton Leon Neal/Getty Images Co-Leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas, speaks during the launch of the Green Party Brexit policy at the Space Studio in London Stefan Rousseau/PA The Liberal Democrat party leader Tim Farron listens to a speech during an event at the Harts Boatyard on May 1, 2017 in Surbiton Leon Neal/Getty Images Anti-racism protesters speak to the media after being removed ahead of UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall's speech Jack Taylor/Getty Images UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall gestures as he makes a speech as the party launch their general election campaign at the Marriott County Hall Hotel on 28 April 2017 in London Jack Taylor/Getty Images Britain's opposition Labour party Leader Jeremy Corbyn walks past a bus shelter with Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton, and local councillor Satvir Kaur (right), before meeting local residents Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott Diane leaving Four Millbank in Westminster, London, following her stumbling explanation of how the party would fund its plans for 10,000 extra police in an interview that left her struggling to do the sums live on air. Victoria Jones/PA Philip Hammond and David Davis at a General Election campaign event in Central London Jeremy Selwyn Pensioner Malcolm Baker confronts Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron while he was the election campaign trail in Kidlington, near Oxford Sam Lister/PA Prime Minister Theresa May eats chips as she meets with residents in Mevagissey, south-west England Dylan Martinez/AFP/Getty Images Conservative party handout of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on a new poster, warning that families face a tax and debt bombshell under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership Conservative Party/PA Nick Clegg delivers a campaign speech on the European Union at the National Liberal Club in London Stefan Rousseau/PA Ukip leader Paul Nuttall (left) eats grapes during a walkabout in Dudley town centre in the West Midlands, with Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge (right) and Phil Durnell, West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Richard Vernalls/PA Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband retweeted a photo of him mowing a lawn whilst canvassing in his Doncaster North constituency Jane Nightingale Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement on 18 April calling for a general election Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

"In the biggest fight for the future of our country in a generation, Jeremy Corbyn's Labour has let you down by voting with Theresa May on Brexit, not against her.

"The Liberal Democrats want you to have a choice over your future.

"You should have your say on the Brexit deal in a referendum.

"And if you don't like the deal you should be able to reject it and choose to remain in Europe.

"We want to give all our children a brighter future in a fairer Britain where people are decent to each other, with good schools and hospitals, a clean environment and an innovative economy.

"Not Theresa May's cold, mean-spirited Britain."

Mr Farron said the rent-to-own initiative would be a "staircase" to buying a home.

He told Sky News: "This is about allowing people to get their foot on the ladder, to begin to pay rent and to lead that to a staircase up to being able to own a property, part own it, and give people that chance to become a home owner should they wish.

"It seems to me that we have got to give young people especially the hope that home owning, if it is something that they wanted, they can have it."
Y oung people still living with their parents could get a loan of up to 2,000 to help them move out under plans unveiled in the Liberal Democrat manifesto today.

The proposal aimed at Generation rent would go towards rental deposits, which in the capital have soared to an average of 1,800.

Senior Lib Dem Sir Simon Hughes, who is the candidate for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said: Too many Londoners are being left behind by our broken housing market.

The market has failed to deliver, which is why we are setting out radical plans to help those being priced out of renting their own home.

In London 325,000 people in their twenties and thirties still live at home, according to charity Shelter.

This is the highest rate of adults living with their parents since 1996.

The government-backed loans would be for the under-thirties, paid back in instalments over a period of 12 or 24 months, and interest would be pegged to the cost of government borrowing, which is currently 1.14 per cent.

The 50 million policy is part of a package of promises made to young people in an attempt by the party to win back younger voters and offer more than their well-vocalised opposition to Brexit.

At his manifesto launch in East London tonight Lib Dem leader Tim Farron will also unveil their flagship rent-to-own initiative. This would see monthly rents used like a mortgage with working tenants owning their own home over a 30-year period.

General Election 2017: What you need to know

They would also restore the housing benefit entitlement for 18 to 21-year-olds and like Labour they would reduce the voting age to 16. An extension to the popular pupil premium payment for the most disadvantaged under-fives is another policy aimed at giving children a brighter future, according to their manifesto.

Their pledge to increase the payment to 1,000 per pupil per year would give an extra 20 million for the capitals nurseries and childcare providers.

General Election 2017 Campaign - In pictures 1 /57 General Election 2017 Campaign - In pictures Jeremy Corbyn joins leaders for the BBC's Election Debate Stefan Rousseau/PA Prime Minister Theresa May samples cheese at the Royal Bath and West Show in Shepton Mallet Leon Neal/Pool/Reuters First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during the launch of the SNP General Election manifesto at Perth Concert Hall Jane Barlow/PA Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the launch in central London of a Liberal Democrats campaign poster attacking the Conservatives' school meals policy Victoria Jones/PA Jeremy Corbyn appears on The One Show BBC Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron and the party's local candidate Sir Simon Hughes are given a baking lesson at Comptoir Gourmand, an artisan bakery in Bermondsey, London Gareth Fuller/PA Prime Minister Theresa May answers questions from the studio audience during a joint Channel 4 and Sky News general election programme recorded at Sky studios Stefan Rousseau/PA Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is interviewed by Jeremy Paxman during a joint Channel 4 and Sky News general election programme 'May v Corbyn Live: The Battle for Number 10' at Sky studios Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Getty Images Home Secretary Amber Rudd (left) and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott appearing on the BBC One current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday May 28, 2017. Abbott has said she no longer opposed the security services as she insisted her time as a graduate civil servant would prepare her for becoming home secretary Jeff Overs/BBC/PA A new poster by the Green Party featuring pictures of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary either side US Preseident Donald J Trump Green Party/PA Conservative party leader Theresa May during the Welsh Conservative manifesto launch at Gresford Memorial Hall, Gresford, Wrexham Stefan Rousseau/PA Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott during General Election campaigning in Hull Chris Radburn/PA A man is arrested after protesting against fox hunting as Theresa May arrives at the Welsh Conservative manifesto launch at Gresford Memorial Hall, Gresford, Wrexham Stefan Rousseau/PA Green Party co-leaders Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley launch the Green Party's 'Green Guarantee' of key priorities for the party at a general election campaign event in London AFP/Getty Images Julie Etchingham presents the ITV Leaders' Debate, a live two-hour debate with Caroline Lucas, Tim Farron, Leanne Wood, Paul Nuttall, Nicola Sturgeon ITV/PA Conservative party leader Theresa May during her party's general election manifesto launch in Halifax Danny Lawson/PA Demonstrations take place before the arrival of Prime Minister Theresa May as she launches the Conservative Party Election Manifesto in Halifax Getty Images Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond listens as Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during an election campaign event in east London Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn launches the party's manifesto at the University of Bradford, in Bradford Nigel Roddis/EPA Prime Minister Theresa May meets Cathy Mohan at Abingdon market in Oxfordshire during an General Election campaign visit Stefan Rousseau/PA Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron leaves the Royal College of Nursing conference at Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre following a General Election campaign visit Gareth Fuller/PA Screengrab taken from Facebook Live broadcast, hosted by ITV News of Prime Minister Theresa May answering questions sent in by users of the social media website, with presenter Robert Peston ITV News Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking about national security and foreign policy at Chatham House in Londo David Mirzeoff/PA Jeremy Corbyn the leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party holds one year old Angelo during a campaign event in Harlow, Essex Neil Hall/Reuters Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reads with children as he visits Brentry Children Centre in Bristol on 21 April 2017 during Labour's election campaign. Steve Parsons/PA Jeremy Corbyn looks around as he arrives at Savoy Place. His vehicle hit BBC Cameraman Giles Wooltorton on the way into the garage entrance Neil P. Mockford/Getty Images British Trade Union leader Len McCluskey falls on the steps outside the Clause 5 Labour meeting to finalise the Labour manifesto in Londo Andy Rain/EPA Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller breaks down after receiving an ovation from the crowd during her speech at the Convention on Brexit in central London Andy Rain/EPA The Liberal Democrat party campaign bus is unveiled at an event at the Harts Boatyard on 01 May 2017 in Surbiton Leon Neal/Getty Images Co-Leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas, speaks during the launch of the Green Party Brexit policy at the Space Studio in London Stefan Rousseau/PA The Liberal Democrat party leader Tim Farron listens to a speech during an event at the Harts Boatyard on May 1, 2017 in Surbiton Leon Neal/Getty Images Anti-racism protesters speak to the media after being removed ahead of UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall's speech Jack Taylor/Getty Images UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall gestures as he makes a speech as the party launch their general election campaign at the Marriott County Hall Hotel on 28 April 2017 in London Jack Taylor/Getty Images Britain's opposition Labour party Leader Jeremy Corbyn walks past a bus shelter with Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton, and local councillor Satvir Kaur (right), before meeting local residents Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott Diane leaving Four Millbank in Westminster, London, following her stumbling explanation of how the party would fund its plans for 10,000 extra police in an interview that left her struggling to do the sums live on air. Victoria Jones/PA Philip Hammond and David Davis at a General Election campaign event in Central London Jeremy Selwyn Pensioner Malcolm Baker confronts Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron while he was the election campaign trail in Kidlington, near Oxford Sam Lister/PA Prime Minister Theresa May eats chips as she meets with residents in Mevagissey, south-west England Dylan Martinez/AFP/Getty Images Conservative party handout of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on a new poster, warning that families face a tax and debt bombshell under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership Conservative Party/PA Nick Clegg delivers a campaign speech on the European Union at the National Liberal Club in London Stefan Rousseau/PA Ukip leader Paul Nuttall (left) eats grapes during a walkabout in Dudley town centre in the West Midlands, with Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge (right) and Phil Durnell, West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Richard Vernalls/PA Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband retweeted a photo of him mowing a lawn whilst canvassing in his Doncaster North constituency Jane Nightingale Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement on 18 April calling for a general election Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Early years pupil premium spending would also triple in Twickenham, Kingston and Sutton, where the Lib Dems are hoping to win back the seats they lost to the Tories at the last election.

The party has ruled out plans to scrap tuition fees, instead planning to restore maintenance grants.

The Lib Dems have claimed they are a pro-choice party after it emerged leader Tim Farron said abortion was wrong in a decade-old interview.

Election spokesman Sir Ed Davey told the BBC: Tim has made very clear he has changed his mind. Hes made it clear that he is pro-choice and the Liberal Democrats believe that women should have the right to choose.
T he EUs chief Brexit negotiator has insisted talks will begin just hours after the General Election, adding that he is not aiming for a no deal or bad deal.

Michel Barnier also dismissed suggestions the UK would have to pay up to 85billion in euros as an exit bill.

He said Britains financial liabilities will be dependent on the methodology used, adding that the European Council will work with the Brits, very calmly to reach an agreement.

Mr Barniers remarks came after Nigel Farage warned the UK could walk away from talks by the end of this year because of Jean-Claude Junckers bloody rude behaviour.

The MEP and former Ukip leader said the EU needs to make "grown-up, reasonable" demands.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage warned the UK could walk away from talks this year / Getty Images

Mr Farage's attack came after European Commission president Mr Juncker said the Brexit process shows how "united and prepared" the EU will be.

European Council president Donald Tusk also insisted the conduct of the talks must "show the European Union at its best".

He added that this must involve "unity, political solidarity and fairness towards the United Kingdom".

Mr Barnier, speaking as the European Parliament discussed the EU's negotiating strategy, said: "Our aim is to achieve an agreement.

"I certainly don't intend to have no agreement, no deal or a bad deal. We want to conclude a deal with the UK, not against the UK.

Brexit: Article 50 Triggered - In pictures 1 /26 Brexit: Article 50 Triggered - In pictures Britain's ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow delivers British Prime Minister Theresa May's formal notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels AFP/Getty Images Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Common PA Britain's ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow delivers British Prime Minister Theresa May's formal notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels AFP/Getty Images European Council President Donald Tusk holds a news conference after receiving British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit letter in notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels, Belgium Yves Herman/Reuters Prime Minister Theresa May takes her seat after announcing in the House of Commons PA The time 12:20pm shows on Big Ben on March 29, 2017 in London, England. The British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses the Houses of Parliament as Article 50 is triggered and the process that will take the United Kingdom out of the European Union begins Carl Court/Getty Images D-day: pro-EU protesters outside of the Houses of Parliament today as Theresa May prepares to trigger Article 50 AFP/Getty Images EU Council President Donald Tusk holds British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit letter which was delivered by Britain's permanent representative to the European Union Tim Barrow (not pictured) that gives notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty in Brussels, Belgium Yves Herman/Reuters PMQ's in The House of Commons PA Jeremy Corbyn speaking at PMQ's in The House of Commons Sky News Theresa May leaving for the House of Commons Jeremy Selwyn Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at the headquarters of Vivendi in Paris where he took part in TV interviews to discuss the imminent triggering of Article 50 by the UK to leave the EU Stefan Rousseau/PA Britain's permanent representative to the European Union Tim Barrow arrives at the EU Council headquarters for as meeting before hand delivering British Prime Minister Theresa May's notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels, Belgium Yves Herman/Reuters Britain's ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow arrives at the British representation of the European Union in Brussels Aurore Belot/AFP/Getty Images A giant headed Theresa May in Parliament Square, London during a protest by Avaaz after PM signed a letter to trigger Article 50 that starts the formal exit process by the UK from the European Union David Mirzoeff/PA British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson walks down Whitehall Jack Taylor/Getty Images Britain's PM Theresa May signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, invoking Article 50. AFP/Getty Images

"In fact, I very much appreciate on the UK side you could find the same spirit to reach a deal with the EU, not against the EU."

Mr Barnier said he hopes to start the talks as soon as possible, adding: "The day after the elections that (Prime Minister Theresa May) has called for on June 8.

"Clearly, the fact that elections take place just before the start of the negotiations will give a clear stability and visibility to our UK partners.

"That's what we need as well and I think that's one of the key elements for these negotiations to be a success."

Mrs May and her ministerial colleagues have repeatedly claimed no deal is better than a bad deal from the UK's point of view.

Mr Barnier, on the financial settlement expected with the UK, said: "I'm pleased Mr Farage is here because he quoted me.

"Now, I've never quoted these figures. The figures will depend on the methodology that we have to agree on. It'll also depend on the actual date of the UK's exit.

"It's not [me] who is going to set a figure. The European Council has said we're going to work together with the Brits, very calmly, to find an agreement on commitments undertaken.

"I'm going to do it perfectly calmly. It's not about revenge, it's not about punishment, I'm simply going to look at the figures and facts and the commitments that have been undertaken - no more, no less."

Relations between Brussels and London have been strained further by leaks about a difficult dinner in Downing Street attended by Mr Juncker, which reportedly ended with him saying he was "10 times more sceptical" of the likelihood of a successful Brexit.
S adiq Khan was on a collision course with the Labour leadership today after vowing to stand up for Londoners against any unfair new taxes.

The Mayor weighed into the tax row by pledging to fight against measures which disproportionately affected workers and businesses in the capital.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday unveiled a wave of tax hikes on businesses and the better-off to pay for 48 billion of spending pledges in his General Election manifesto. Mr Khan is understood to have particular concerns about higher rates of personal income tax and the impact of a Robin Hood financial transactions tax on the City.

He told the Standard: I will always stand up for Londoners  my job is to ensure that whoever is in Number 10 listens to what London needs. London has a particularly high cost of living, and whichever government is in power, I will carefully assess the impact of new taxes on Londoners and London businesses, and will stand up against any measures which hit Londoners disproportionately or unfairly.

Tax plans: Jeremy Corbyn / EPA

The Mayors comments, coming just hours after the Labour manifesto launch, make him the most senior party politician to publicly express concerns about its tax policy.

Labour said the changes  including a 45 pence income tax rate for those on more than 80,000 and 50 pence for earnings over 123,000  would only hit the richest 5 per cent. But earlier this month Mr Khan told the Standard that many Londoners on decent salaries were by no stretch of the imagination wealthy because of high living costs in the capital.

Labour moderates fear that a slew of new corporation taxes could stifle businesses and the City when they already face uncertainty over Brexit, putting jobs and growth at risk. The party hopes to raise at least 4.7 billion a year through a financial transactions tax, a policy that Mr Khan has described as madness.

However, the Mayor, who has endorsed his party leader as the best choice for Prime Minister, welcomed other Labour proposals.

The manifesto contains a range of excellent policies that Ive lobbied for, including additional funding for more police officers and for our hospitals and schools, he said.

It also contains crucial new infrastructure for London, including Crossrail 2 and rail devolution. There is no doubt that the biggest threat to jobs and growth in London is the Tories extreme hard Brexit and the only way to stop it is to vote Labour on June 8. But the party was further thrown on the defensive today by remarks made by union boss Len McCluskey, a key ally of Mr Corbyn, who predicted: I dont see Labour winning.

labour manifesto corbyn speech

The Unite boss claimed it would be a successful campaign if Labour holds just 200 seats, which means losing 29 MPs. His remarks were interpreted as an attempt to fend off a leadership challenge to Mr Corbyn.

Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey later said: I understand he is being very cautious but we are playing to win.

Meanwhile the Tories today claimed 300,000 London homes would become liable for death duties under Labours plans to put up inheritance tax by halving the amount families can pass to their children tax-free to 425,000.

Minister for London Gavin Barwell said city residents who have saved and improved their homes will bear the brunt of this tax.
S adiq Khan was today urged to join forces with newly elected mayors across the country to form a heavyweight Brexit group.

The influential body, including Manchesters Andy Burnham and the West Midlands Andy Street, would push ministers to protect their interests in negotiations with the European Union.

The Centre for London called on the city leaders to lobby for an EU deal that reflected the importance of service sector exports and gave them the power to continue attracting skilled migrants.

Its Convention of City Leaders - also including town hall chiefs - would also demand greater devolution over services as well as tax-raising powers to help boost their local economies.

The think tanks Brexit manifesto, published tomorrow, claimed that Government would be forced to listen to the voices of city leaders if they joined forces.

UK election: Labour's Brexit strategy in 60 seconds

Former mayor Boris Johnson worked with the Core Cities group, the UKs ten biggest cities which produce almost half of the nations wealth, in 2013 with a view to winning more powers over tax and services.

But Mr Khan needed to go beyond the largely paper partnership to create a properly funded and proactive alliance.

Tory mayoral victories in the West of England, West Midlands and Teesside could help the group get a hearing from a future Theresa May government.

The manifesto called for urgent clarity on transitional trade arrangements, to mitigate the loss of service-sector business in non-financial sectors such as media, law and architecture, as well as financial services.

It said the English regions and devolved authorities of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should be given the power to manage migration so they continue to attract the skilled labour they need.

This could include a generous visa regime for young Europeans, highlighting the vital contribution they make to the capitals economy, as well as soft power.

It also argued that London and other cities need to urgently tackle long-standing economic and social inequalities with new powers over skills, childcare, apprenticeships and local property taxes.

Richard Brown, Research Director at Centre for London, said: The Mayor of London should fight for a Brexit that keeps London open - to talent and trade - allying with newly elected metro mayors and other city leaders to make the case for the UKs cities. London and the ten core cities account for 50 per cent of the UK economy; the Government should listen to their voice.
A controversial buy-to-let tycoon has defended his decision to ban zero-hours workers, single parents and "battered wives" from renting his properties.

Fergus Wilson has also banned low-income workers, single adults and housing benefit recipients in his latest letting criteria.

Mr Wilson, long regarded as Britain's biggest buy-to-let investor with hundreds of properties in Kent, said "like any business we are consistently fine-tuning to best advantage".

Defending his latest letting criteria, dated June 1, the landlord said: "I am merely taking economic steps to ensure that we do not end up with people who are unable to pay their rent."

Mr Wilson said single parents, "battered wives" and zero-hours workers tended to be on low incomes and unable to meet the financial criteria to obtain a rent guarantee.

He previously provoked a backlash by banning Indian and Pakistani people from renting his homes because he claimed they left the properties smelling of curry.

Mr Wilson insisted he is not racist / PA

Although they were not included on his latest list, Mr Wilson said he would still not house them due to previous experiences of paying out to rid his homes of smells.

He insisted he is not racist, and that he has rented to "non-white" people, including Gurkhas. He said his stance is based on an economic judgement.

Mr Wilson said: "It is not the colour of their skin, but the smell of the curry."

Advocacy group Hope Not Hate has described Mr Wilson as "the unacceptable face of the housing crisis" and compared him to racist bigot Alf Garnett from BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission demanded a written assurance from Mr Wilson that he would not refuse to let a property based on race, colour, nationality or national origins.

Despite having to call in police following online abuse labelling him racist, the landlord remained unrepentant and insisted his motivation was to avoid financial risk.
A group of students produced a fake video in order to mislead the media for a project backed by their university.

The video featuring Lawrence Kemp, 21, a second year business management student at the University of Gloucestershire, went viral after it claimed he was finishing an essay in a nightclub.

Footage filmed by his friend, film student Danny Cotter, 22, claimed to show Mr Kemp trying to write the essay while others partied around him before eventually tempting him to get involved.

A University of Gloucestershire spokesman told the Press Association the video was produced for an assignment, in which the students were encouraged to make a video which went viral.

Lawrence Kemp, a second year business management student at the University of Gloucestershire, had been trying to finish the 2,000 word project hours before the deadline last week / PA

She said the students obtained permission from the nightclub to go in and film the video, and that Mr Kemp was "acting" throughout, adding: "Everything about it was fake."

Before reporting the story on Tuesday, the Press Association spoke to both Mr Kemp and Mr Cotter.

Both insisted the events in the video were accurate and gave detailed accounts of what it purported to show, with Mr Kemp subsequently sending a photo of himself with a results paper, claiming he had received a first for the project.

After it emerged the video was staged, Mike Parker, senior lecturer in film production, told BBC Bristol: "We advised them that they needed to out it at some point - build the news up as big as they could and then out it, because that would show their creative skills in terms of creating virals."

'He's only gone and done it': The business management student managed to file his assignment just one minute before the midnight deadline

However, the university spokesman denied that it knew the students had subsequently misled journalists about the events, and when asked if it condemned such action, responded: "Yes."

He added: "As soon as the university became aware that a creative assignment had become the subject of a news story, we contacted media outlets to ensure they understood that this was not a genuine event.

"We certainly don't condone misleading the media but we would point out that a simple phone call to the university would have cleared this matter up immediately."

However, when asked if it would usually release information about the studies of individual students, the university confirmed that it would not.

Peter Clifton, editor-in-chief at PA, said: "The Press Association goes to great lengths to ensure the accuracy of the content it produces.

"This is just as relevant with social media, and PA has detailed procedures to verify content we find on Twitter and Facebook.

"On this occasion we had lengthy written exchanges with both the student Lawrence Kemp and his colleague Danny Cotter, who had provided the video in the nightclub.

"Under detailed questioning, Mr Kemp maintained that the story was accurate, and this continued when he gave us further quotes to confirm his delight at getting a first for the work. He also provided a picture of his exam result. Mr Cotter's account corroborated the story.

"We are confident that our checking procedures are as rigorous as any in the media business, but if two people separately maintain, at length, that something is correct when it isn't, it highlights what a challenging area this is."

The Evening Standard published the fabricated story in good faith after it had been reported by the Press Association.
T he UKs death rate from air pollution is twice as high as the US and worse than Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, the World Health Organisation revealed today.

Levels of PM10 and PM2.5 particulates in Britain are twice as high as in Sweden, the EUs cleanest nation, and worse than Portugal, Ireland and Spain.

And the UK has fallen from 17th to 22nd place in Europe in terms of the number of health workers per head of population  supporting concerns about the NHS being unable to cope with a growing, ageing and increasingly ill population.

The pollution figures add to concerns over the impact of toxic air on health. According to WHOs World Health Statistics 2017 for the 194 UN member states, the UK had an average of 12.4 micrograms per cubic metre of air in urban areas, down 0.1 on the previous year.

Pollution in London 1 /8 Pollution in London This image taken near the Royal Observatory in Greenwich shows a thick layer of smog hanging over London Anna Rolls This image, taken in December 2016, shows the smog over London Pete Buckney This shot taken in 2015 from Hampstead Heath shows smog hanging over the centre of London Getty Images Pollution: thick smog hangs over London's Docklands PA Pollution hanging over the City of London 2011 FILE IMAGE AFP via Getty Images Smog: A thick layer of smog visible above London's skyline William Smith/@williamsmithorg

This was only the 12th lowest figure in Europe.

The UK had 25.7 deaths per 100,000 people attributed to household and ambient air pollution. The US rate was 12.1, Brazil was 15.8, Mexico was 23.5 and Argentina 24.6.

Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: This report confirms that the deaths attributable to air pollution are higher in the UK than for many other comparable European countries.

"Air pollution is a public health crisis hitting our most vulnerable the hardest.

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The next Government needs to bring in a new Clean Air Act to protect the nations lung health.
The number of untested sexual assault kits on Wisconsin police department shelves is much larger than the state Department of Justice initially reported and could grow as hospitals turn in their kits, agency officials said Tuesday.

According to the departments website, an inventory of police evidence rooms completed in March revealed 5,800 untested kits. Audrey Skwierawski, DOJs violence against women prosecutor, told the Attorney Generals Sexual Assault Response team during a meeting that the inventory actually turned up 6,372 kits. None of the kits are connected to any open cases.

About 4,600 kits have been designated for testing, meaning the victim has consented to testing, she said. Of the remaining kits, 45 percent wont be tested because the offender has already been convicted and 38 percent wont be examined because the victims havent come forward to give their consent. DOJ spokesman Johnny Koremenos told The Associated Press on Monday that 3,800 kits had been designated for testing.

More confusion ensued when Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel was asked if it was true that only 60 kits have been tested so far. Koremenos said a private lab had tested 50 kits and the state crime lab had tested an additional 13, but Schimel said Tuesday that he didnt know where those numbers came from. Skwierawski had to walk Schimel through the numbers.

Koremenos said in emails after the meeting that he provided the most up-to-date numbers the agency had on Monday. As for the question about how many kits have been tested thus far, Schimel didnt understand the question because the total number of kits tested adds up to 63, not 60.

Skwierawski said outside the meeting that the inventory numbers fluctuate as police send kits to DOJ and the agency physically counts them. Hospitals also are still sending in untested kits, she said.

We just keep getting new numbers, she said.

Skwierawski said the agency plans to send 200 kits to the private lab per month and expects to have all testing done by the end of 2018.

The kits contain forensic evidence that nurses collect from sexual assault victims that could help investigators identify offenders.

Some of Wisconsins untested kits date back to 1990. The kits have gone unexamined for a number of reasons, Skwierawski said. A prosecutor may have decided a case was too weak to warrant testing. A defendant may have pleaded guilty, negating the need for testing. Victims may have decided not to cooperate, forcing investigators to drop their cases.

A USA Today Network investigation in 2015 found at least 70,000 untested kits nationwide.

Wisconsin officials started exploring how many kits have gone untested in 2014 as victim advocate groups, chief among them the Joyful Heart Foundation, founded by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay, were pushing states to test unsubmitted kits in hopes of developing DNA profiles for serial offenders.

Democrats have blasted Schimel for moving too slowly on testing. But Schimel has said the state crime lab lacks the capacity to test the kits given the crush of evidence in current cases, forcing the agency to contract with the private lab, where testing can take months.

Complicating matters is the departments insistence on getting victim permission for testing. Skwierawski said the agency needs victim cooperation to prosecute, and moving ahead without them could alienate them. The department and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault have launched an outreach campaign urging victims to contact the agency.
A depraved sex predator who attacked two backpackers with a hammer on a remote Australian beach has been jailed for 22 years.

The 61-year-old so-called 'Salt Creek attacker' sexually assaulted one of the women before beating her friend in the head with a hammer and repeatedly ramming her with his 4x4 car during the violent attack in 2016.

Roman Heinze had met the women, who were hoping to catch a ride to Melbourne, through a website offering lifts.

But he instead drove them to an isolated beach in Salt Creek, Coorong National Park, south Australia, and set up camp.

He tied up one of the backpackers, a Brazilian woman, with rope and sexually assaulted her before hitting her German friend over the head with a hammer.

Heinze, 61, was previously found guilty on six charges.

The terrified woman tried to flee across the sand but was run over several times by Heinze in a four-wheel drive.

She eventually managed to escape after jumping onto the cars roof and hanging on as he tried to fling her away.

Heinze had previously been found guilty of six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life.

Jailed: Roman Heinze.

He also admitted a previous sex attack on a tourist in 2014.

On Wednesday he was jailed for 22 years by Supreme Court Justice Trish Kelly, who called him depraved. He will be eligible for parole in 17 years.

The judge added the attacks were committed solely in pursuit of the gratification of your own perverted sexual fantasies and desires.

There have been a string of high-profile attacks on foreign tourists in Australia in recent years. In March, a British backpacker who officials say had been sexually assaulted and held captive for two months was rescued.

Additional reporting by Associated Press.
U S lawmakers today demanded a major obstruction of justice investigation over President Trumps alleged attempt to shut down an FBI probe into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee called on the FBI to hand over all records of communications between Mr Trump and axed agency director James Comey.

Meanwhile Democrats on the committee sent a letter to their Republican counterparts asking them to launch a probe into allegations that Mr Trump and his senior advisors were engaged in an ongoing conspiracy to obstruct the various inquiries by the Justice Department, the FBI and Congress.

The former FBI director James Comey. / AFP/Getty Images

That move represents perhaps the most dramatic threat yet to Mr Trumps political future.

The latest bombshell came as the White House hit back at reports that the president personally appealed to Mr Comey to abandon the bureaus investigation into Mr Flynn.

According to a memo allegedly written by the ex-FBI chief, Mr Trump asked him to walk away from the Flynn probe, declaring the former general was a good man and saying, I hope you can let this go.

Legal experts told the Washington Post that the conversation, if it proves accurate, constitutes a plausible case for a criminal investigation.

Theres definitely a case to be made for obstruction, Barak Cohen, a former federal prosecutor who now does white-collar defense work at the Perkins Coie law firm, told the Post.

But on the other hand you have to realise that  as with any other sort of criminal law  intent is key, and intent here can be difficult to prove.

You have Comeys word against Trump, right? Mr Cohen added. You need somebody else that Trump may have spoken to that provides evidence of intent.

Legal analysts say that if tapes do, indeed, exist of the phone conversations between Mr Trump and Mr Comey they could prove vital to any court case.

Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, described the allegation that the president tried to pressurise Mr Comey as explosive. It appears like a textbook case of criminal obstruction of justice, he said.

The White House last night denied that Mr Trump sought to lean on his FBI boss. While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.

Mr Flynn was fired in February after it was revealed that he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russians.

The administration is also still fending off claims the president had disclosed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and the countrys ambassador to the United States at an Oval Office meeting last week.

Defending Mr Trumps actions, aides played down the secrecy of the information, which had been supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement.

In a statement released last night, Israels ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, said the partnership between the US and Israel was solid.
A Japanese princess will give up her royal status so that she can marry a graduate student she met at a party.

Princess Mako has become engaged to Kei Komuro, a former tourism campaign worker who once starred in a Prince of the Sea campaign.

The granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, the 25-year-old princess will lose her royal status when she ties the knot with Mr Komuro, who now reportedly works at a law firm.

The pair, both graduates from the International Christian University in Tokyo, met a party at a restaurant in Shibuya about five years ago.

Japan's Princess Mako at Emperor Akihito's 78th birthday in 2011 / AP

Japanese imperial law requires a princess to give up her royal privileges if she choses to marry a commoner.

According to public broadcaster NHK, Mr Komuro once worked to promote tourism to the beaches of Shonan in Kanagawa prefecture.

The broadcaster also reported that he has already been introduced to the princesss parents, who approve the marriage.

Little is known of the princess due to the royal familys secretive traditions in Japan, though according to local media she was the first member to attend university.

She also attended the University of Edinburgh on exchange during her course.

Japan is currently preparing legislation to allow Emperor Akihito, who is 83, to abdicate, which would be the first abdication in Japan in 20 years.
A huge sea creature that baffled the world when it washed up on an Indonesian beach has been identified by scientists.

Locals initially thought the mystery monster was a stranded boat after it was spotted on the shores of Seram island last week.

Closer inspection revealed it to be a rotting corpse, but the 50ft creature was so badly decomposed that its species remained a puzzle.

Some suggested the ocean beast was a giant squid.

But marine biologists said they believed the carcass belonged to a baleen whale, pointing to pictures of its recognisable skeleton.

Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of Whale and Dolphin Conservation, told the Huffington Post: "Giant squid are invertebrates and there are clearly bones visible (jaw, skull, vertebrate) so I am very comfortable saying its some type of rorqual whale.

The bleeding sea beast turned the waters red / Patasiwa Kumbang Amalatu/YouTube

Certain species of baleen whales (rorquals) have ventral grooves which run from their chin to their belly button. It is stretchy tissue that expands when they feed."

Edith Widder, CEO and senior scientist at the Ocean Research and Conservation Association, said images of the creature appeared to show baleen plates, which the whales use to sieve food out of water in its mouth.

George Leonard, chief scientist at Ocean Conservatory, also agreed the creature was likely to be a whale.

Trying to identify huge ocean creatures half a [world] away from a grainy video is tough to do, but once people start sharing specific information that begins to narrow in on defining characteristics of the creature, the identity begins to come into focus, he said.

Lab tests are reportedly being carried out in Indonesia to confirm the creature's identity.

Locals have called on the government to help remove the tonnes of stinking flesh, first spotted by 37-year-old Asrul Tuanakota in Malaku province.

Video footage and pictures have showed the carcass turning the waters around it red with blood.
A priest was stabbed in the neck in front of his congregation during a church service in Mexico.

Father Miguel Angel Machorro was left lying on the floor of Mexico Citys Metropolitan Cathedral as blood soaked through his clothes following the attack on Monday evening.

According to witnesses quoted in La Jornada newspaper, the priest was stabbed in the neck by a knifeman during Mass in what appeared to be an attempt to cut his throat.

The clergyman is now in a delicate but stable condition in hospital and it is thought he will survive.

The Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City is the biggest in the Americas. / AFP/Getty Images

Police reportedly detained a suspect as he tried to flee from the scene.

According to the countrys National Security Commission, the attack was carried out by a man with French nationality.

The archdiocese's lawyer Armando Martinez told a news conference that they do not yet have a motive.

He said: We cannot talk about terrorism, we cannot talk about motives because we obviously have no significant facts."
V ladimir Putin branded a scandal surrounding Donald Trump sharing classified intelligence with Russian officials as "political schizophrenia".

The US President came under fire earlier this week after it was revealed that he shared the sensitive intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak.

Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting Italian prime minister on Wednesday, the Russian president said he had "no other explanation" as to why President Trump came under attack other than "political schizophrenia".

Mr Putin then suggested that Russia should share the records of last week's talks between Mr Trump and Mr Lavrov with the US Congress, if the White House approved.

President Putin joked that that he would reprimand Mr Lavrov because "he hasn't shared those secrets with us".

He also lashed out at US politicians whipping up what he described as "anti-Russian sentiment" for being either "stupid" or "dangerous" and said that Moscow initially found debates about Russia's meddling in US politics "funny", but said it is now "concerned because it is hard to imagine what the people who produce such nonsense can come up with next".

Putin also branded the unidentified American politicians as either being "stupid" or "dangerous and unscrupulous", who are wittingly "causing the damage to their own country".
C helsea Manning, who was jailed for one of the US' biggest ever intelligence leaks, has walked free from prison.

US army intelligence official Ms Manning, who was born Bradley Manning, passed classified government materials to WikiLeaks.

Her 35-year prison sentence was commuted by Barack Obama in the final days of his presidency.

She was released on Wednesday after only serving seven years.

US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning was released on Wednesday. / EPA

Ms Manning, who was deployed in Iraq, was convicted in 2013 of 20 charges including violating the Espionage Act, theft and computer fraud.

She passed more than 700,000 documents, videos and battlefield accounts to the anti-secrecy group, founded by Julian Assange.

The ex-intelligence analyst - known as Private First Class Bradley Manning - acknowledged leaking the materials and said it was an attempt to expose what she believed was the US military's apparent disregard for the effects on civilians.

She became known around the world for her actions but was condemned for sharing some of the countrys most sensitive secrets and endangering sources, many of whom had to be moved.

Media wait at US Army base Fort Leavenworth in Kansas for Chelsea Manning to be released. / REUTERS

She has been held at Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas since her arrest in 2010 where she has twice attempted suicide.

Last week, ahead of todays release from prison, Ms Manning thanked former president Barack Obama who cut short her sentence in January this year.

Her jail term was one of 209 sentences reduced by the former president.

She previously said she looked forward to working "toward making life better for others with her new-found freedom and saw a future for myself as Chelsea after reassigning her gender while in prison.

"I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world," she said.

"Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine."

WikiLeaks previously tweeted a pledge claiming if Mr Obama granted Ms Manning clemency, founder Mr Assange would agree to be extradited to the US

Following the White House announcement in January of Ms Manning's release, Mr Assange - who is holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London - welcomed Mr Obama's decision and said he stood by his pledge.
T he first footage from a new documentary that will follow Chelsea Manning as she walks free from a maximum security military prison will be unveiled to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.

XY Chelsea will follow the former US army intelligence analyst, previously known as Private Bradley Manning, as she begins her life in the outside world as a trans woman.

Pulse Films has acquired the exclusive rights to her story and had access to her legal team for two years to make the movie, which has been co-financed by the British Film Institute (BFI) and executive produced by Oscar winner Laura Poitras.

The first footage will be shown to prospective distributors at an invitation-only event at the film festival.

Chelsea Manning freed from prison - a timeline of events

Manning is due to leave a military jail today after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence for leaking hundreds of thousands of classified government documents.

Former president Barack Obama commuted the transgender soldier's sentence in his final days in the White House, outraging Republicans including Donald Trump, who has described her as an "ungrateful traitor".

Manning was arrested in 2010 and convicted in 2013 of six violations of the US espionage act for leaking 700,000 secret military and State Department documents.

The trove, which included classified battlefield videos, was one of the biggest breaches of intelligence in US history.

She acknowledged leaking the files while working in Iraq, but protested that she had acted to raise awareness of the impact of US military action on innocent civilians.

She underwent gender transition in jail and will be released from a correctional facility at Fort Leavenworth, a US army disciplinary barracks in Kansas.

British director Tim Travers Hawkins has followed Manning and her legal team for two years as they fought to get her out of prison

He said: "When I first wrote to Chelsea at the military prison in Kansas, she could not be filmed, nor could I communicate with her in any way other than through letters.

Cannes Film Festival 2017 - In pictures 1 /160 Cannes Film Festival 2017 - In pictures Nicole Kidman and her husband musician Keith Urban REUTERS Nicole Kidman, Irish actor Colin Farrell and British actress Raffey Cassidy pose following the screening of the film 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' at the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Eva Longoria attends the "The Killing Of A Sacred Deer" screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Dave Benett Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban attend the official after party for "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" at the Nikki Beach pop-up during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Dave Benett Eva Longoria attends the "The Killing Of A Sacred Deer" screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival AP Jordan Dunn poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film The Killing Of A Sacred Deer at the 70th international film festival, Cannes Reuters Nicole Kidman poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film The Killing Of A Sacred Deer at the 70th international film festival, Cannes, AP Andie MacDowell poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film The Killing Of A Sacred Deer at the 70th international film festival, Cannes AP Izabel Goulart poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film The Killing Of A Sacred Deer at the 70th international film festival, Cannes, Arthur Mola/Invision/AP Sara Sampaio poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film The Killing Of A Sacred Deer at the 70th international film festival, Cannes AP Bernie Taupin, Spike Lee and Sir Elton John attend the World Premiere screening of 'The Cut', Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin's classics "Rocket Man", "Tiny Dancer" and "Bennie And The Jets" reimagined in video, supported by YouTube at The Cannes Film Festival at the Cinema Olympia in Cannes Dave Benett Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan attend the official after party for "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" at the Nikki Beach pop-up during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Dave Benett Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid attend the Fashion for Relief gala dinner during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Dave Benett Nicole Kidman signs autographs Eric Gaillard/Reuters Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore, and Salma Hayek Pinault attend the Vanity Fair and HBO Dinner celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Ro Dave Benett Jessica Chastain arrives for the premiere of 'The Meyerowitz Stories' during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Uma Thurman arrives for the Kering Women In Motion awards during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman pose for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film The Meyerowitz Stories at the 70th international film festival, Cannes AP Nicole Kidman poses for photographers during the photo call for the film The Killing Of A Sacred Deer at the 70th international film festival Arthur Mola/Invision/AP Salma Hayek arrives for the Kering Women In Motion awards during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Dustin Hoffman takes a picture as he attends the "The Meyerowitz Stories" photocall during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Andie MacDowell attends the "The Meyerowitz Stories" screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Olga Kurylenko poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film The Meyerowitz Stories at the 70th international film festival, Cannes AP Salma Hayek and Jessica Chastain attend the Women in Motion Awards Dinner at the 70th Cannes Film Festival Getty Images for Kering British-Thai actress Araya Hargate poses as she arrives on May 21, 2017 for the screening of the film 'The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)' at the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Ben Stiller and Dustin Hoffman pose as they arrive on May 21, 2017 for the screening of the film 'The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)' at the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festiva AFP/Getty Images Salma Hayek and Isabelle Huppert arrive for the Kering Women In Motion awards during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Robin Wright poses during the 'Kering Women in Motion Talk' photocall at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Juliette Binoche arrives for the Kering Women In Motion awards during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Isabelle Huppert arrives for the Kering Women In Motion awards during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes EPA Kate Moss attends the Fashion for Relief gala dinner during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Aeroport Cannes Mandelieu Dave Benett Naomi Campbell on the catwalk at the Fashion For Relief Charity Fashion Show as part of the 70th Cannes Film Festival PA Arizona Muse, Petra Nemcova, and Isabeli Fontana attend the Vanity Fair and Chopard Party celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Dave Benett Jessica Chastain attends the Vanity Fair and HBO Dinner celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Dave Benett Mary J. Blige attends the Vanity Fair and HBO Dinner celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Dave Benett Lily Collins attends the Vanity Fair and HBO Dinner celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Dave Benett Julianne Moore attends the Vanity Fair and HBO Dinner celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Dave Benett Bella Hadid walks the runway at the Fashion for Relief event during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Aeroport Cannes Mandelieu Dave Benett Kendall Jenner poses backstage at the Fashion for Relief event during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Dave Benett Bella Hadid poses backstage at the Fashion for Relief event during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Aeroport Cannes Mandelieu Dave Benett Laura Bailey attends the Vanity Fair and HBO Dinner celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Dave Benett Arizona Muse attends the Vanity Fair and HBO Dinner celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Dave Benett Daniela Lopez and Allie Rizzo attend a dinner hosted by Jamie Reuben & Michael Kives with Arnold Schwarzenegger to celebrate Jean-Michel Cousteau's "Wonders Of The Sea" during the 70th International Cannes Film Festival at Villa Golden Gate Dave Benett Uma Thurman and Arnold Schwarzenegger attend the Vanity Fair and HBO Dinner celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Dave Benett Emma Thompson and Jake Gyllenhaal attend the Vanity Fair and HBO Dinner celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Dave Benett Kendall Jenner, Naomi Campbell and Bella Hadid attend the Fashion for Relief gala dinner during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Aeroport Cannes Mandelieu Dave Benett Jourdan Dunn attends the Fashion for Relief cocktail party during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Dave Benett Kate Moss walks the runway at the Fashion for Relief event during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Aeroport Cannes Mandelieu Dave Benett Dave Benett Lily Collins attends the photocall for 'Okja' during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival, in Cannes EPA View on British actress Lily Collins' tattoo reading 'Love always and forever' as she attends the photocall for 'Okja' during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Tilda Swinton poses for photographers during the photo call for the film Okja at the 70th international film festival AP Jake Gyllenhaal poses during a photocall for the film 'Okja' at the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Director JR jumps during a photocall for the film "Visages, villages" (Faces Places) out of competition at 70th Cannes Film Festival Reuters Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal pose on May 19, 2017 during a photocall for the film 'Okja' at the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes AFP/Getty Images Rihanna attends the Chopard dinner in honour of her and the Rihanna X Chopard Collection during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Jeremy Scott and Cara Delevingne attends Magnum party during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival PA Petra Nemcova attends the Chopard dinner in honour of Rihanna and the Rihanna X Chopard Collection during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Julianne Moore attends the Chopard dinner in honour of Rihanna and the Rihanna X Chopard Collection during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Winnie Harlow attends the Chopard dinner in honour of Rihanna and the Rihanna X Chopard Collection during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Tallia Storm attends Magnum party during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Cara Delevingne attends Magnum party during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Petra Nemcova attends the Chopard dinner in honour of Rihanna and the Rihanna X Chopard Collection during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Julianne Moore attends the Chopard dinner in honour of Rihanna and the Rihanna X Chopard Collection during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Tallia Storm arrives for the screening of 'Nelyubov' (Loveless) during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Emily Ratajkowski arrives for the screening of 'Nelyubov' (Loveless) during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Lily Donaldson arrives for the screening of 'Nelyubov' (Loveless) during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Winnie Harlow attends the "Loveless (Nelyubov)" screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Uma Thurman arrives for the screening of 'Nelyubov' (Loveless) during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Petra Nemcova attends the "Loveless (Nelyubov)" screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Reuters Adriana Lima attends the "Loveless (Nelyubov)" screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Reuters Julianne Moore poses during a photocall for the film 'Wonderstruck' at the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Michelle Williams poses during the photocall for the film 'Wonderstruck' at the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Millicent Simmonds, Julianne Moore, Todd Haynes, Jaden Michael and Michelle Williams pose during the photocall for 'Wonderstruck' at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Emily Ratajkowski poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Bella Hadid is greeted by Susan Sarandon as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski have their own first night Cannes after-party on a yacht Mistress of Ceremony actress Monica Bellucci kisses actor Alex Lutz on stage Reuters Bella Hadid poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival EPA Lily-Rose Depp poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Uma Thurman poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival Reuters Naomie Harris poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival Arthur Mola/Invision/AP Jessica Chastain arrives on stage during the opening ceremony of the 70th international film festival in Cannes AP Marion Cotillard, Louis Garrel and Charlotte Gainsbourg attend the "Ismael's Ghosts (Les Fantomes d'Ismael)" screening and Opening Gala during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals Getty Images Lily-Rose Depp poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AP Eva Herzigova poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Will Smith poses for selfies as he arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Elle Fanning poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Julianne Moore and Susan Sarandon arrive for the screening of 'Les Fantomes d'Ismael' (Ismael's Ghosts) and the Opening Ceremony of the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival EPA Hailey Baldwin poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival Rex Features Emily Ratajkowski poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Ceremony host Monica Bellucci arrives on stage during the opening of the 70th international film festival inCannes AP Naomie Harris poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Elle Fanning and Susan Sarandon arrive for the screening of 'Les Fantomes d'Ismael' (Ismael's Ghosts) and the Opening Ceremony of the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Jessica Chastain poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Barbara Meier and Naomie Harris pose as they arrive for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Emily Ratajkowski poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival Getty Images Bella Hadid poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Sara Sampaio poses as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Ismael's Ghosts' (Les Fantomes d'Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Adrien Brody and Lara Lieto attend the "Ismael's Ghosts (Les Fantomes d'Ismael)" screening and Opening Gala during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals Getty Images Bella Hadid arrives at Nice airport ahead of the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Photopix/GC Images Pedro Almodovar, Jury President of the 70th Cannes Film Festival and Jury members Jessica Chastain and Will Smith Reuters Marion Cotillard attends the "Ismael's Ghosts (Les Fantomes d'Ismael)" photocall during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals Getty Images Susan Sarandon waves as she arrives on May 16, 2017 at the Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel on the eve of the opening ceremony AFP/Getty Images Jury member Jessica Chastain attends the Jury photocall during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals Getty Images Italian actress and master of ceremonies Monica Bellucci waves during a photocall ahead of the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images Julianne Moore arrives at Nice airport ahead of the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival GC Images Elle Fanning arrives at a cocktail reception for the jury at the Martinez Hotel EPA The official poster, featuring actress Claudia Cardinale, is seen on the facade of the festival palace Reuters Marion Cotillard and Charlotte Gainsbourg attend the "Ismael's Ghosts (Les Fantomes d'Ismael)" photocall during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals AP Bella Hadid arrives at Nice airport ahead of the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Photopix/GC Images Will Smith AFP/Getty Images Susan Sarandon AFP/Getty Images Jessica Chastain smiles upon arrival in Cannes Rex Features Will Smith arrives AFP/Getty Images Elle Fanning EPA Spanish director and President of the Feature Film Jury Pedro Almodovar waves as he arrives at the Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images My ever constant traveling companion #Chaplin #Cannes2017. Jessica Chastain Instagram's a picture of her flying to Cannes with her dog Jessica Chastain Staff members lay out the red carpet outside the Palais des Festivals AFP/Getty Images

"Regardless, I believed it was imperative to find a creative way to engage with her life and story. Now, with Chelsea emerging from confinement, the journey of this film has reached its most historic and exciting moment."

Mary Burke, senior production and development executive at the BFI, added: "Tim Travers-Hawkins is a visionary British artist and film-maker, whose power to find the very heart of a human story amidst faceless towers of control makes us very proud to back his debut feature documentary to ensure Chelsea's story rings out loudly across the world."

The documentary is one of a raft of films that will be jostling for attention as the 70th Cannes Film Festival gets under way.

The star-studded event will see Hollywood heavyweights flock to the French Riviera for a series of red carpet premieres.

Nicole Kidman has four projects on the bill, including the latest film by Lost In Translation director Sofia Coppola, The Beguiled, which also stars Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning and Colin Farrell.

She also stars in the second series of Top Of The Lake, which will be screened in full at the festival.

The festival runs from May 17 to 28 and will open with Arnaud Desplechin's Ismael's Ghosts.


B ridesmaids star Rose Byrne has lamented the Hollywood tradition where men crack the jokes and the women play the straight role.

The actress said female comedians were not supported by the film industry as being funny comes with an authority that people find hard to give women.

Having the power of a punchline was masculine and female characters in mainstream comedies were often a stereotype, she said.

She told ES Magazine: I think in a lot of mainstream US comedies women are always the nagging one, the downer. Those films are a bit misogynistic.

Rose Byrne - In pictures 1 /32 Rose Byrne - In pictures Rose Byrne attends the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art Getty Images Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen in Bad Neighbours Rose Byrne arrives at the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Getty Images Rose Byrne (Briseis) and Brad Pitt (Achilles) in Troy Rose Byrne, winner of the Comedy Actress award, attends the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards in Berkeley Square Gardens Dave Benett The cast of the new epic adventure film Troy: Eric Bana, Sean Bean, Rose Byrne, director Wolfgang Petersen and Diane Kruger PA Rose Byrne attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Getty Images Rose Byrne attends the 2015 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall Getty Images Rose Byrne and Actor Bobby Cannavale attend the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art Getty Images Rose Byrne attends the amfAR New York Gala at Cipriani on 42nd Street Getty Images Rose Byrne arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre Getty Images Rose Byrne arrives at the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards Getty Images Rose Byrne attends Glamour's 23rd annual Women of the Year awards Getty Images Rose Byrne arrives at the 4th AACTA Awards Ceremony at The Star Getty Images Rose Byrne arrives at the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Getty Images Rose Byrne arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards Getty Images Rose Byrne arrives at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards Getty Images Rose Byrne attends the "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art Getty Images Rose Byrne attends the Burberry "London in Los Angeles" event at Griffith Observatory Getty Images Rose Byrne with Jeremy Renner in '28 Weeks Later' Rose Byrne (Ellen Parsons) in 'Damages' Rose Byrne (Diana Wayland) with Nicolas Cage (John Koestler) in 'Knowing' Casanova; Rose Byrne (Edith) Rose Byrne (Renai Lambert) and Patrick Wilson (Josh Lambert) star in 'Insidious'

The Australian star of Bad Neighbours and Damages, 37, said the issue of the Hollywood gender pay gap should be raised with the producers who have the power to change stuff.

Two years ago, she jointly set up a production company The Dollhouse to make more films about women. Byrne, whose break came at 13 in Australian film Dallas Doll, said the company was a response to a broken film industry.

The only films that the studios are making are about robots and cars, she said.

The Sydney-born actress, who has a one-year-old son Rocco with actor partner Bobby Cannavale, moved to London aged 25 and bought a house in Hackney, which she still owns, with her sister Lucy. She is now based in New York.

Byrne was speaking ahead of the release of her latest project, The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks, about an African-American woman who died of cervical cancer in 1951 and whose cells were removed without consent.

They were used to create a cell line for ground-breaking research. Byrne plays a science journalist and Oprah Winfrey stars as Deborah Lacks, the daughter of Henrietta.

Byrne said she ended her maternity leave early to work with the TV legend and said of Winfrey: Hers is a physically and emotionally demanding role, so she was very meditative.
I SIS states its terrorism is justified by the tenets and scriptures of Islam, a claim contrary to most Muslims interpretation of their faith.

Channel 4s new documentary traces the roots of ISISs violent extremism and questions whether westernisation has a part to play. Heres everything you need to know:

Whats it about?

After a first controversial Channel 4 programme Islam: The Untold Story, Tom Holland is back with another documentary which could provoke complaint.

This time the historian is investigating whether ISISs extreme violence has foundations in the Muslim faith. He traces the roots of the terrorist organisations interpretations of concepts like jihad and caliphate, as well as the groups treatment of religious minorities.

Whos presenting it?

Historian Tom Holland is authoring the hour-long programme, asking whether ISISs ideology is at least in part a reaction to a westernisation of Islam that dates back to Napolean.

The documentary-makers previous Channel 4 show Islam: The Untold Story drew 1200 complaints when it was broadcast back in 2012, and this programme - with its assertion that ISISs sadistic acts have their root in an early strain of Islam - could also prove controversial.

Where was it filmed?

Holland travels to Paris, Instanbul, Sinjar and Cairo to find out more about the basis of ISISs extreme views.

Whens it on?

The show airs tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm.
Wisconsin Republicans  including House Speaker Paul Ryan of Janesville  sought answers from the White House on Tuesday about what exactly President Donald Trump said during a private meeting with senior Russian officials last week, with some calling for a full transcript of the conversation.

Trump defended his right to share "facts pertaining to terrorism" and airline safety with Russia, saying in a pair of tweets Tuesday he has "an absolute right" as president to do so. Trump's tweets did not say whether he revealed classified information about the Islamic State group, as has been reported.

At least three Republican members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation said the president needs to fully explain what was said in the meeting.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, a former Marine counter-intelligence officer in his first term representing northeast Wisconsin, said the White House needs to share a transcript of the meeting with House and Senate intelligence committees.

"While POTUS possesses the authority to disclose classified, even top secret, information, there's a separate question of whether he should," Gallagher wrote in one of a series of tweets Tuesday morning.

Gallagher said as an intelligence officer by training, "I know firsthand the life and death implications of safeguarding classified information. Our allies and partners must have the utmost confidence that sensitive information they share with us will not be disclosed."

Gallagher also said, "Regardless of what was shared in the meeting, it's dangerous to believe that Russia can be a reliable counterterrorism partner."

Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, like Gallagher, wants Trump to brief the intelligence committees "on what was shared and why," said his spokeswoman Nicole Tieman.

Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman is "looking forward to Congress being briefed on the matter," said his spokeswoman Bernadette Green.

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement that it would be "concerning" if Trump divulged classified information that revealed sources and harmed intelligence collecting efforts.

Doug Andres, a spokesman for Ryan, said on Monday night that "We have no way to know what was said, but protecting our nation's secrets is paramount. The speaker hopes for a full explanation of the facts from the administration."

Ryan, Johnson and other Republicans were highly critical last year of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, questioning whether classified information was compromised after then-FBI Director James Comey called her actions "extremely careless."

"So it stands to reason that individuals who are 'extremely careless' with classified information should be denied further access to that type of information," Ryan said then.

Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan, of Black Earth, retweeted Ryan's comment from last year along with a news story about Trump's meeting with the Russians and said, "Well this is awkward."

Pocan agreed with Gallagher that the intelligence committees should receive a transcript of the meeting.

Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said in July that his committee was going to look into the FBI's decision not to recommend criminal charges against Clinton.

Democratic Rep. Ron Kind joined with the Republicans in calling for Trump to tell the House and Senate intelligence committees what was said "and any damage it may cause."

"Our intelligence officers and allies go to great lengths to make sure any and all threats to the United States are addressed, and this careless sharing of information puts their mission and the safety of our country at risk," Kind said in a statement.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin said that Russia is not a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism. She said in a statement that Trump's actions are "threatening our partnerships with allies in the fight against ISIS and our ability to protect the homeland against terrorism."

Rep. Gwen Moore, a Milwaukee Democrat, tweeted that no one should be surprised that Trump puts Russia ahead of the United States.
M ichelle Keegan has been pictured filming in Nepal and South Africa for the upcoming series of BBC drama Our Girl.

In the first look photos, Keegan can be seen perching on a rock with a lush mountainous landscape in the background, wearing army fatigues.

The new series of the show will follow medic Georgie on three adventures overseas  first up shes deployed to Nepal as part of a humanitarian mission, following a devastating earthquake.

Michelle spoke of her excitement to be returning for another series in a statement:

Im so happy to be shooting the new series of Our Girl out in Nepal and so very excited to bring more stories of Georgie Lane to life. Its an amazing experience to be working on such important stories with such an incredible group of people, she said.

Our Girl - in pictures 1 /8 Our Girl - in pictures Michelle Keegan as Georgie Lane BBC / Coco Van Oppens Luke Pasqualino as Elvis Hart BBC / Coco Van Oppens Royce Pierreson as Jamie Cole BBC / Ben Blackall Ben Aldridge as Captain Charles James BBC / Coco Van Oppens Sean Sagar and Ben Aldridge as Monk and Cpt James BBC / Coco Van Oppens Anna Tenta and Yusra Warsama as Kicki and Nafula BBC / Coco Van Oppens

This year, Our Girl fans will have even more episodes to look forward to as the BBC has announced that they will be increasing the number of instalments from five to 12.

Series two saw Keegan take over from EastEnders Lacey Turner as the lead, starring as army medic Georgie Lane. It made for gripping viewing as Lane was kidnapped by terrorists while on duty abroad.

Also returning for the new series will be Luke Pasqualino as Georgies ex-fiance and Special Forces officer Elvis Harte and Ben Aldridge will back as friend and boss Captain James.

Our Girl will return later this year.
To kick-start an ambitious redevelopment of Downtowns Lake Monona waterfront, a Madison charity is funding the first steps of a massive green-space plan that could take decades to complete and cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Madison Community Foundation announced Tuesday that it awarded the Nolen Waterfront project $27,500 for a study to determine the feasibility and costs of constructing a roof-deck park over John Nolen Drive to expand Law Park.

The Nolen Waterfront project idea was put together by Madison Design Professionals Workgroup to better connect Downtown with Lake Monona by creating a roof-deck park over John Nolen Drive, improving the Blair Street intersection, and building a boathouse designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1893.

We are extremely grateful to the Madison Community Foundation for their willingness to invest in a transformative vision for the city and provide seed money to test its feasibility that will allow the project to move forward, said Tim Anderson, an architect and urban planner working with the group.

The work group is made up of Madison architects and urban planners who volunteer their time to work on civic projects. Nolen Waterfront is the groups largest undertaking, which was inspired by John Nolens 1909 city plan.

The redevelopment of the John Nolen Drive corridor wouldnt be instant and could come with a price tag of hundreds of millions of dollars.

The group cited New York Citys Highline Park ($260 million), Chicagos Millennium Park ($500 million) and Dallas Klyde Warren Park ($100 million) as examples of deck-roof parks that have generated billions of dollars in economic growth.

It could take decades to complete, said Tom Linfield, the foundations vice president. We want to support the visionaries in our community, and were in this for the long run.

The Nolen Waterfront project is also being considered by the city of Madison, which hired Strand Associates to perform its own study on options to better integrate Law Park into Downtown and rework the intersection of John Nolen Drive with Williamson, Blair and Wilson streets.

In a public presentation of preliminary findings in April, more modest options less costly than the roof-deck park came to the forefront. Strand Associates is expected to present its final findings to the city in July.

A more traditional pedestrian-and-bicycle bridge over John Nolen Drive was named as an option to connect Downtown to Law Park, which sits on the lakefront one to three stories below the ground level of East Wilson Street a block north.

Ald. Mike Verveer, who represents the Downtown district, said the City Council already approved the purchase of an easement to connect Law Park to King and Wilson streets above John Nolen Drive and the rail lines that run next to it. Those easements could be used for a range of options, from a simple bridge to loftier uses like the roof-deck park.

I dont want the community to get their hopes up that this will allow the city to move forward expeditiously in redeveloping the John Nolen Drive corridor, Verveer said. The reality is that significant city funds would be needed to make this a reality.

Verveer noted that the city budget does not currently include money for any developments in that area.

Linfield said the work group was originally offered a larger grant, but it said $27,500 was all it needed at this point in the process.

Madison 2092

The Nolen Waterfront isnt the only project receiving funding from the Madison Community Foundation. As part of the foundations 75th anniversary, it is awarding grants totaling $1 million over the next year to 12 hand-picked projects that Linfield said he hopes will have a lasting impact for the next 75 years.

One of those projects is an art exhibit called Madison 2092, which will engage artists, designers and architects to work together and create a vision of what Madison might look like in the year 2092.

Linfield said the collaborators will be encouraged to consider anything from the practical to the whimsical.

The grant was awarded to the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, and the exhibit is expected to run from Feb. 9 to April 8 of next year at the Overture Centers James Watrous Gallery.
SCOTTSBLUFF  The public places great trust in law enforcement, and for good reason. They are sworn to protect the innocent from deception, and keep the public free from intimidation.

This trust is gained through sacrifices of life and limb.

Each and every year on average nearly 150 police officers across our great country pay the ultimate price and make the ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities safe, Capt. Jamey Balthazar, commander of Troop E, Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), said Tuesday, at a memorial at the Troop E headquarters in Scottsbluff.

The Law Enforcement Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. bears 20,267 names; those killed in the line of duty. One hundred forty-five names from 34 states were added to the wall in 2016, and already in 2017, another 48 names from 28 states were added.

The deaths were from a multitude of reasons; gunfire, assaults, automobile crashes, drownings, being struck by vehicles and lasting injuries sustained after the 9/11 terrorist attacks 16 years ago.

Many of these deaths were violent, all tragic, and every one of those killed left behind loved ones, Balthazar said. These loved ones understand the sacrifice their husband, wife, father, mother, daughter or son made  will never be forgotten.

It is our duty to ensure it wont.

Troopers and Police Chiefs Kevin Spencer of Scottsbluff, and George Holthus of Gering, read off 13 names of the fallen who served with either the state patrol or local police departments, three of which where killed in the Panhandle.

Nebraska State Patrol Lt. Monica Bartling read off the name of fallen Trooper Loyal M. Zink, who was killed June 13, 1945, in an automobile accident 13 miles west of Sidney. Spencer read off the name of officer Albert W. Peterson of the Scottsbluff Police Department, who was shot in the line of duty by a suspected bootlegger on April 25, 1923. Holthus read off the name of officer James Ray of the Gering Police Department who was killed when his cruiser was struck by a semi on Aug. 7, 1959.

A wreath was placed next to the memorial honoring Zink, before the flag was lowered to half mast.

As the last note of taps rang out, and the Troopers returned to their posts, Balthazar thanked everyone for taking time to honor the fallen.
With prices for EpiPen allergy treatments, opioid overdose reversal injectors, rheumatoid arthritis medications and other drugs soaring in recent years, Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin reintroduced a bill this week requiring drug companies to justify steep cost increases.

The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, would make companies report spending for research and development, manufacturing, marketing and advertising on drugs for which prices increase more than 10 percent a year.

Today, many drug prices go up for no apparent reason, said Baldwin, D-Madison.

It seems they increase their prices simply because they can, she said. If we get these disclosures ... it will have a self-policing impact. ... It will be clearer how we should rein it in.

Vermont was the first state to pass such a law, last June. Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin proposed a similar measure last year.

Some questioned the significance of Vermonts law after the states first public report, released in December, contained no details about factors contributing to price increases for particular drugs because of a confidentiality clause protecting drug companies.

Baldwin said her bill would require more disclosure, though it would protect intellectual property. The measure, first introduced in September, is called the Fair Accountability and Innovative Research, or FAIR, Drug Pricing Act.

When Turing Pharmaceuticals raised the price of the AIDS drug Daraprim from $13.50 to $750 per pill in 2015 and Mylan boosted the price for a pack of two EpiPens to more than $600 last year from $265 three years earlier, price hikes gained national attention.

The rheumatoid arthritis drugs Enbrel and Humira went up 80 percent and 67 percent, respectively, to more than $3,500 a month, from 2013 to 2016, according to the Alliance of Community Health Plans.

Another example is Evzio, an auto-injector that delivers naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses. Kaleo Pharma has raised the price to $4,500 from $690 in 2014, Kaiser Health News reported.

Expensive specialty drugs  such as Sovaldi, a drug for hepatitis C, which can cost $84,000 for a 12-week course of treatment  account for a growing share of pharmacy revenue, UW Health pharmacist Joe Cesarz said at a forum in Madison last month.

However, prescription drug spending growth fell nationwide last year, according to a new report from QuintilesIMS Institute. Spending climbed 5.8 percent to $450 billion, less than half the growth rate the previous two years.